AN: Thanks for the support, here is the next chapter.

Chapter 10: In Texas Part 2

The next morning

Laying in bed in their sleeping clothes, their feet was intertwined, one of his arms was around her waist while the other one was propped up so he could lay his head on the palm of his hand as he watched the woman he loved, which sent his heart racing thinking of those words, sleeping, and while it might not be a lot of couples favorite activities, he enjoyed it just fine, especially when there were no bad dreams and she was sleeping so peacefully.

A few moments later, he started to smile brightly as he watched her eyes start to flutter open, and once they were all the way opened and she had focused on what was in front of her, she started to smile. "Good Morning."

He sighed in content. "Yes it is."

She stretches, then gets comfortable again, their legs intertwining once again, his arm back around her waist while she cupped his cheek with one of her hands, and after a few moments just looking at one another with bright looks, she chuckled while shaking her head. "I can't believe this. We didn't even do anything last night, but everything feels so different."

He moved his hand that was around her waist up to cup her cheek. "That's where you are wrong, we did do something, we said I love you for the first time, and whether we already knew that deep down inside, having those words out there changes everything, for the better in my opinion."

She started to smile wider as she moved closer to him. "Exceptionally better."

He smirked. "You just always have to up one me, don't..."

He gets cut off when her lips touched his for a sweet kiss on the lips before she pulled back, but only a breath away so she could reply. "And don't you forget about..."

This time he cuts her off with a more passionate kiss.

When they started to slow down, they ended after a few soft pecks, then they pulled back as he whispered. "I love you."

Once he laid down, she snuggled deep in his arms before she whispered. "I love you too."

They spent several minutes just laying there, enjoying the moment in each other's arms before Sara had to use the bathroom, so they kissed each other softly before she got out of bed, which he watched her until she reached the door, causing her to smile as she walked out of the room, then closing the door behind her before she headed for the bathroom.

Once she walked out of it a few moments later, she still had that smile on her face with a very dreamy look, and that's the look she had when Stephanie had walked out of her room and saw her. "What's with that look?"

Sara shook her head, that smile still on her face. "What look?"

Stephanie smirked. "That smile, the dreamy look..." She then stopped as she gasped softly. "Oh my god, you two didn't..."

Sara cuts off her best friend immediately, knowing where she was going. "What! No! You think this is the place we would want our first time to be at?" Stephanie shook her head with a cringe, causing Sara to nod. "Exactly, besides, we still aren't ready yet."

"Ok, but something did happen last night. I've never seen that look on your face before, so spill."

There was obviously no one going down the hall but she looked both ways anyways, then stepped closer and whispered. "We said I love you to one another for the first time, and while it really wasn't a surprise to either of us, it just felt amazing that it is finally out in the open."

There was a slight pause before Stephanie congratulated her, then she headed for the bathroom and closed the door, leaving a curious looking Sara in the hall, like she just went back in time when she first told Stephanie about her and Grissom, and that got her wondering what was going on with her, so when the bathroom door opened a few moments later, Sara asked. "Ok, it's your turn to spill."

Stephanie asked while walking towards her bedroom, Sara following behind her. "Spill what?"

"I thought you were ok with me and Grissom."

"I am, why?"

She walked towards the bed and sat down while Stephanie was going through her clothes to pick something out to ware. "Well, I mean I wasn't excepting you to jump in with a song for the revelation, but I thought you would be a little more happy about it."

Stephanie turned around and looked at Sara with a smile. "Sorry, believe me, I am, just when you said that it got me thinking."

"About?"

She sighed as she walked towards her best friend and sat down next to her. "What my dad said yesterday about some couples not getting their happy endings." Sara frowned a little before Stephanie took her hand and continued quickly. "Not that I don't think that will happen to you two, I have no doubt you guys will go the distance, I'm just wondering what type of love I'll get." She sighed. "Or if I'll ever get one."

Sara didn't mean to laugh, but she couldn't help it as she squeezed her best friend's hand. "Steph, you're 15 years old, you're acting like you got one foot in the grave. Of course you're going to find that one, and you will get that happy ending."

Stephanie shook her head. "You don't know that for sure, Sara."

Sara sighed with a nod. "OK, you're right I don't, but I'm going to do everything in my power to help you find it, I have no doubt he's out there, somewhere."

"I hope so because I would really like it if I found a love like you and my cousin's."

Sara smiled as she squeezed her best friend's hand again. "Well, while I know it isn't the type you're looking for, I love you, and I hope it will hold you over until you find him."

Stephanie smile through her tears, Sara always had a way of making her feel better. "I love you too, and thank you."

"You're welcome."

After they hugged one another and said they'll meet one another downstairs to join the rest of the family, Sara left the room while Stephanie got up from the bed so she could change for the day.

They were just finishing breakfast when Cameron asked. "Park, momma?"

Jennifer gave her four year old a small smile and shook her head. "Baby, I'm sorry, but..."

Cameron cuts her off. "Park, pease."

Stephanie saw Michelle was about to speak, but Stephanie spoke towards the young boy. "Hey buddy, do you mind if I take you?"

Cameron thinks about it, and really at this point he just wanted to go, so he didn't mind who takes him, and he nods before Stephanie looks at Jennifer. "If you're ok with it?"

"You sure?"

While Stephanie nodded, Sara and Grissom said they would tag along, and Jennifer nodded with a smile. "OK." She then looked at her son and continued. "Now you be a good boy for your sister, ok?"

Cameron nodded with a smile before Michelle cleared her throat as she stood up. "I'm going to go get ready."

Jennifer was going to take Michelle shopping today.

After Jennifer nodded, Michelle took care of her dishes before going upstairs.

About 10 minutes later, Stephanie headed upstairs to get her jacket, and after getting it, she walked to her sister's room and knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's me."

"Come in."

After Stephanie opened the door, she stepped in the room to see Michelle sitting on the bed with her jacket in her hands, so she asked. "Hey, what's going on?"

Michelle took a breath and shook her head. "Maybe I made a mistake agreeing to go with Jennifer today."

Stephanie sits down next to her. "Why are you saying that?"

She looked at her older sister, now with tears in her eyes. "I just had a sudden thought that maybe I am betraying mom by going with her."

"No way, Michelle." Stephanie shook her head and wrapped her arm around her sister before giving her a comforting smile. "Mom isn't that type of person. In fact, if I really know her like I think I do, if she was right here in this room she would encourage you to go."

Before Stephanie could continue, Michelle smirked. "Pigs would have to fly before she even steps foot in this house, let alone this room."

Stephanie chuckled with a nod. "You're probably right on that one." She then took a breath. "But, I honestly do believe that she would want you to do this, she would want you to get to know her better." She sighed before finishing. "Because like it or not she is family, and there is nothing we can do to change that, so you might as well try to make this situation the best you can."

"Is that mom speaking or you?"

Stephanie smiled with a slight chuckle. "Probably a little of both."

"And are you ever gong to follow your own advice?"

"I'm not there yet, so in the meantime, it's what I say not do."

Michelle nodded in understanding before asking one more thing. "Are you ok with me going?"

No hesitation, Stephanie nodded with a smile. "Of course, you looked kind of excited when she brought it up last night. I truly want you to have fun, enjoy yourself."

When her younger sister didn't see any doubts, they hugged. "Thank you, Steph."

"You're welcome."

After they released their hug, Michelle stood up from the bed, they said goodbye before Michelle rushed out of the room, while Stephanie stood up with a smile, happy for her younger sister.

Since Max wanted to stay home with his father, it was just Sara, Grissom, Stephanie and Cameron going to the park, and after they found a spot in the shade, Sara and Grissom sat down on the blanket the group brought and pulled out their books while Stephanie walked Cameron over towards the play structure.

After about 45 minutes they were all under the shade now when a small group of High School guys walked over to them, and when they were close, one of them, who was around their age, had brown eyes and short brown hair with an athletic build, carrying a baseball mitt, asked in his Texan accent while looking at Grissom. "Excuse me, but we are a man short, you want a play a game with us?"

Before Grissom could speak, Stephanie makes an objective noise before looking at Sara, who was playing blocks with Cameron. "Sara?" When Sara looked at Stephanie, she continued. "Why is it that every time a guy needs an extra player, they always ask for another guy?"

Sara, who could care less about sports, especially when it involves some type of ball (although she has been known to watch a baseball game with Grissom from time to time), shook her head with a smile, knowing Stephanie was up to something. "I don't know."

Before Stephanie could speak towards the guy who spoke first, he smirks as they held eye contract. "Probably because most girls wouldn't step foot on a baseball field."

There was a slight pause, the air around the two shifted, and Stephanie spoke with a raised eyebrow. "Maybe you shouldn't assume that's all girls, and possibly you've been hanging out with the wrong ones."

There was another pause before the guy spoke again, this time he had the eyebrow raised. "It would assume so, on both accounts." Stephanie hid the blush from the way this guy was looking at her now, but she couldn't stop her heart from skipping a beat, which she tried to ignore while he continued after clearing his throat. "Now the question is, can you actually play? Because no offense, we don't do underhand throws around here."

Taking that as a challenge, a challenge she whole heartedly wanted to take on, Stephanie stood up, now was eye-level to him, and replied in a serious tone. "No offense taken, and give me the best you got."

Another pause from the guy before he cleared his throat again and looked to his left, where is best friend/baseball & football teammate was standing next to him, and asked. "What do you think Ricky? Since she'll be on your team."

No hesitation, Ricky, who also had an athletic build, slightly taller than his best friend with short red hair and green eyes, smiled. "I like her attitude, and she has seemed to thrown you off your game a little, so let's do this."

They all chuckled before Stephanie looked down at Sara, and Sara nodded with a smile. "Go have fun, Cameron is in good hands."

Stephanie nodded with a smile. "Thank you." She then kneeled down in front of her younger brother. "You be a good, boy, ok?"

He just nodded with a smile. "Ok, sissy."

Stephanie smiled and kissed his forehead before standing back up, then she followed the guys towards the baseball field, and once they were out of earshot, Grissom looked at Sara before smirking. "Should we have told them that Stephanie has played baseball since T-Ball?"

Stephanie has always loved baseball, getting that love from her grandfather and great-uncle at a very early age, so when she was old enough to play, that's exactly what she did, all levels up until Sophomore year, which her and her mother fought for her to play in High School with the guys. And even though she found a new sport to love, track, she still plays baseball when she can with Tyreek and his friends at the park.

Sara shook her head with a smirk. "Nah, not only will it teach this guy a lesson that you shouldn't assume things/read a book by its cover, it would also be a nice story to tell their future kids on how they met, and that their mother got one up on their father."

Grissom looked at her after she said that last comment in surprise. "Wait, kids? Those two?"

Sara chuckled with a nod. "What, you didn't see it?"

He shook his head. "I guess not, but I was kind of distracted with my thoughts, thinking this boy is in for a rude awakening."

She chuckled again. "Fair enough, but I definitely saw it, even felt it."

"Well, I guess time will tell on what lies ahead for them."

After Sara nodded, it was silent for several minutes before she spoke again. "I'm glad you don't think that all guys are better than girls."

He raised an eyebrow. "In sports, no way, especially when it comes to Steph..."

Sara cuts him off with a smile. "Also, life in general."

"Oh, well I would never assume that because I believe girls are sometimes better than guys in a lot of different ways, especially you."

Sara now gets a little shy with the comment. "Me?"

He nodded with a smile and continued with honesty. "Of course, you have a beautiful mind, one of the best in our class. I see a lot of potential in you, and I can't wait to see what you do, what you become."

She cleared her throat and looked down at Cameron. "No pressure there."

He chuckled slightly before replying softly. "Hey." When they have eye contract again, he continued with love in his eyes. "Whatever you do or become, I just want you to be happy doing it, that's all I ever want for you, no matter what, always remember that."

Feeling a little shy again, she brushed it off as she crawled the length of the blanket to cup his cheek and whisper. "Well, you make me happy."

He started to smile. "And that makes me happy."

They kept staring at each other's lips, debating on what they should do with them being out in the public, then he sighed and cupped her cheek before whispering with another smile. "Come here."

She smiled in return before moving closer so they could share a tender kiss, and after pulling back, he kissed her on the forehead before she moved back completely, their eyes and faces beaming as she goes back to playing with Cameron while he watched them, thinking like she did last night when it came to her and their future with kids, life looked pretty good right now.

About an hour and a half later

It all came down to the last batter, which was Stephanie, who had a decent outing in which she got on base 2 out of the 3 times she was up at the plate, and scored the first run, putting her team up 1-0 for a short time.

Now the other team was up by one with Ricky on third and another teammate on second, so all she needed was a good hit in the gap and it should do it.

The pitcher, which Stephanie couldn't stop thinking of him as the cute guy, threw the first pitch high so it would get her chasing and she would swing and miss, but she didn't bite, so ball one.

The next one she made contract, but it was foul, strike one.

The next pitch, foul, strike two,

Then another ball, and another one, so now it was a full count, meaning one swing and miss she was out on strikes and the game would be over, or a ball thrown out of the zone, she would be walked, if she didn't swing.

Both took their turns to regroup and Stephanie's 'team' was cheering her on, while the 'pitcher's' team was cheering him on, even good nature teasing him that he was losing to a girl, despite their team being up by one.

Once they were set, Stephanie waited patiently, shutting down all the distracting thoughts (which was mostly about the guy in front of her) for the time being, and after another moment the pitcher finally threw the ball, Stephanie read it perfectly and swung, the ball hit the bat and flew through the air, the players on the bases had started running on contact. It went deep towards the
center-field, landing just out of reach for the fielder, but he recovered quickly, picked up the ball and threw a missile to home plate, just missing the winning runner by a step, causing Stephanie's team to erupt in joy, cheering like they just won the world series, and Stephanie was right in the middle of it.

After a few minutes, the players started to break away from one another so they could pack up their equipment, and before Ricky went to deal with his things, he smiled as he held out his hand towards his teammate. "Great game. I've never seen you around here before, are you new? And if you are, do you have plans on joining the baseball team? Because I'll gladly give a good word to the coach."

Stephanie chuckled while shaking his hand, but before she could speak, the other guy spoke behind her. "Make that two good words."

Her and Ricky release each other's hand before Stephanie turned around and spoke to him. "And I would really appreciate it, but it wouldn't do you any good, seeing as I'm only here for the week, spring break, you know."

If Stephanie didn't know any better she might have thought she saw a little sadness in the guy's eyes before they became unreadable while Ricky spoke with a smile. "Man, we could have used you this year."

They chuckled while the guy nodded before Stephanie looked at Ricky with sympathy. "Sorry."

He waved it off, and after saying it was nice to meet her, Ricky walked away, leaving Stephanie and the other guy alone, and after a moment, they both spoke at the same time, saying the same thing.

"Sorry."

They chuckled before he cleared his throat and spoke. "You first."

She smirked. "Oh, I was just apologizing for causing you to get thoroughly picked on by your team that will probably last through the rest of your High School Education."

He shook his head before smirking. "Admit it, no you're not."

"Wellll, ok, maybe a little."

"So, the truth comes out." After another round of chuckling, he spoke again, explaining his 'sorry' "I was taught better than to assume something without the facts, so I apologize."

"It's ok, you aren't the first guy to underestimate me, and I'm pretty sure you won't be the last."

He sighed and spoke without thinking. "Then they are idiots, just like I was."

When he turned embarrassed, Stephanie was liking him even more, but knew she was setting herself up for a heartbreak because of the distance between them when she leaves, so she mentally shook her head, trying to banish all thoughts of these new feelings towards this cute guy, and cleared her throat before speaking again. "I have to go."

She turned and started to walk away, hoping he would do the same without another word so she couldn't fall any deeper by getting to know anything more about him, but she didn't get that wish because he spoke, causing her to stop. "Wait, I just realized I don't even know your name."

She turned around and shook her head. "My name shouldn't matter, we'll probably never see each..."

He cuts her off as he walked closer to her. "It matters to me."

Looking deep in his eyes, she couldn't help but tell him. "Stephanie Grissom-Richardson, but I'm mostly known as Stephanie Grissom."

Before he could say another word, she had turned back around and started walking again, telling herself she didn't want to know his name, even though deep down she desperately did. But whether she wanted to know it or not, he didn't give her a choice either way when he said his next words with a smile as he watched her walk away, or what he felt like she was 'running' away from what she was starting to feel, because honestly, he was starting to feel something too. "It's Nick, Nick Stokes, by the way."

AN: I hope you liked that surprise. Thanks for reading, please review. Stay safe.