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

Chapter 11: In Texas Part 3

Later that night

Stephanie didn't talk about him, or even tried to not think about him for the rest of the afternoon/ the early part that evening, but when things were a little more quieter around her and in her head while the family was sitting around watching a movie, she couldn't help it. She only knew two solid things about him, his name, and that despite him losing, he was a good baseball player, which it also helped he was cute, not that she paid too much attention to looks, but...

'God was he cute' Stephanie mentally shook her head from those thoughts and sighed before saying. "I'm going to make the popcorn."

They all agreed with that idea, so she stood up before heading towards the kitchen, and after Sara, who was cuddling on the love seat with Grissom, moved from his arms, stood up and followed her into the other room, then she smirked while they were alone. "It looks like love has a new name."

Watching the popcorn popping from within the microwave, Stephanie sighed in a dreamlike state. "Yeah." Then she shook her head, bringing herself back to earth. "Wait, what, no." Sara chuckled, causing Stephanie to sigh again, this time in a more frustrated way. "And it's crazy to be feeling this way, I hardly know anything about me."

"All it takes is one moment."

This time Stephanie smirks. "That's what I hear." Sara smiles before Stephanie sighed again. "But I'm torn on what to do, there are some reasonable reasons not to purse this feeling any further."

"True, but there are also good reasons too."

"I know." Then after pause, Stephanie shook her head. "But, how I'm feeling is probably a waste, considering he might not even feel close to what I am feeling."

"I don't know Steph, I mean I don't want to get your hopes up, but I saw something there."

"You did?" After Sara nodded, all Stephanie could say at the moment was 'Wow'.

A few moments have passed in silence, except the popcorn popping in the microwave before Sara asked. "So, what are you going to do?"

After taking out the popcorn from the microwave, Stephanie opened it and poured some in the bowls that was sitting on the counter, then after picking one up and eating it, she finally spoke. "I think I'm going to let fate decide this one." When Sara raised an eyebrow, Stephanie continued with a nod and smile. "Yes, I'll go to the park tomorrow and if he's there/shows up I know it was meant to be. And if not, then, well I guess I will attempt to move on like nothing happened."

"Steph, are you..."

She cuts her off. "So, will you cover from me for a few hours tomorrow?"

"Of course I will."

Sara was going to continue, convince her there could be another way to do this, but knowing her like she did, there was no chance her mind would change.

"Thank you."

"I'm your best friend, there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you. I will always have your back, even at times when I'm worried."

Stephanie waved it off like it was no big deal, even though Sara knew it was a bigger deal than she was letting on. "There is nothing to be worried about. If he's there great, we'll go from there and see what happens, but if he's not, then I guess other fish in the sea, right?"

Before Sara could comment, Stephanie asked her to get the other bowls of popcorn before she walked out of the room.

Sara took a deep breath before grabbing the bowls and walking back into the living room.

After changing into sweatpants and a t-shirt in the bathroom, Sara headed back into the guest bedroom she was sharing with Grissom, where he was in his sweatpants and a t-shirt, sitting up in bed reading an entomology book, because what started out as a little boy who liked bugs was turning into more than just a hobby, and while Sara could do without seeing some of the creepy crawlers he manages to find from time to time, she was happy he had found something he was passionate about, and supported him to the fullest.

Once she dropped her old clothes off on her suitcase she crawled into bed and moved so she was next to him before laying her head down against his shoulder with a deep sigh, and with him knowing her so long, he was starting to pick up on the type of sighs she makes, so he asks while his concentration was still on his book. 'What's bothering you?"

Sara couldn't help but smile, he knew her so well, then she lost her smile and spoke softly. "It's your cousin."

Before she could continue, he chuckled while shaking his head. "How come when she is doing something you don't exactly approve of she's 'my' cousin, but any other time she's your best friend."

Sara hadn't really thought about it like that before, but now that he mentioned it, he was right, causing her to chuckle while shaking her head. 'I don't know."

Once they calmed down, Grissom asked. "So, what had my cousin done now?"

"It isn't what she has done, it's what she's going to do, and it's not that I don't approve, I'm just worried about her."

Now all of his attention went to his girlfriend. "What is it?"

After telling him that she was going to let fate decide her next relationship, he took a moment before he commented. "Wow."

She nodded. "I know, and if she goes to the park tomorrow and he doesn't show up, you know she's going to put on a brave face, but I know it's going to tear her up inside. You should see the way she already looks when she's thinking about him."

He cleared her throat and tried to speak with caution, not wanting to offend his cousin. "Well...you know she's always been a little boy crazy."

"True, but like I told you earlier, I still feel this one is different."

He took a breath and spoke softly after a moment. "So, should I try and talk her out of going, and find a different way of meeting him?"

She turned her head and raised an eyebrow before replying, even though she already knew the answer to that. "You think that would work?"

Grissom's response was instant. "Nope. She's part Grissom, and when we have our minds made up, it's hard to shake it away."

Sara smiled a little wider as she moved her hand up his chest and placed it over the spot on where his heart was before speaking with love in her eyes. "Which on one hand that makes me happy, because I know I won't be 'shook away' anytime soon." He chuckled before she finished a little soft/sadder. "But, on the other hand it doesn't relieve me of my worry. I just hope it works out for her."

He kissed her temple, then they each moved so he could place his glasses and book on the night stand before they both laid down on their sides, face to face with wrapped arms around one another as he spoke. "I know, me too."

With both of them getting sleepy, they yawned, shared a few pecks before closing their eyes while whispering their love for one another.

The next afternoon

After Stephanie had lunch with the family, she told her father she needed a little time to herself away from the house, and even though this trip was suppose to be time as a family, he ok'd, even offered to drop her off at the mall or wherever she wanted to go, but she chose to walk since the park was only a few blocks away.

When she got to her destination, but unlike yesterday, she chose a sport closer to the baseball field. She set up a spot, sat down so her back was against the tree, pulled her favorite book out of the bag she had brought and proceeded to read while waiting if fate was in her corner today.

Once an hour had passed with no sight of him, she told herself to wait another half an hour, then when that thirty minutes came and went, she waited another thirty minutes.

She sighed as she was finishing up the latest chapter before closing her book, then she looked up and around to make sure he wasn't there before she packed up her bag, stood up, grabbed and folded her light blanket, placed her backpack strap over her shoulder and started to walk without looking back, holding her head up high while trying to convince herself that this was a good thing. That at the end of the day she just saved her heart from worse heartbreak, considering they didn't even live in the same state, so realistically how was this going to work in the long run?

But all that convincing her heart on what she just thought and the many more reasons why it wouldn't work, threw out the window when she heard his voice, which he sounded out of breath, behind her. "Wait, I'm sorry I'm late. I had to do some chores for my sister...my oldest sister to be exact."

Stephanie turns around with a beaming smile and bright eyes as she asked, not able to stop herself from wanting to know something more about him. "How many sisters do you have?"

He took a moment to catch more of his breath before he answered with a smile as they stepped closer to one another. "Five, all older than me, with a brother between the third and fourth one, you?"

"One full sister, a foster brother, 2, almost 3 half-brothers, a stepsister, and then there is Sara, she's been living with me and my family since we were nine. She's my sister/best friend and is dating my cousin, which that's who I was with yesterday."

Now, with full breath, he raised an eyebrow at the variety of her siblings. "You seem to have an interesting family life."

She chuckled with a nod. "That's understatement if I ever heard one."

He chuckled in return before continuing in a sincere tone. "I would like to hear about them."

Shyly smiling, she replied. "I would like to hear more about yours too."

They took a moment to just look at one another with the beaming smiles still on their faces, amazed that they were standing in front of one another in one of the most spontaneous decisions either one has ever made in their young lives.

When her smile and eyes started to dim a moment later, he gets concerned. "What's wrong?"

She sighed. "Unfortunately I have to leave, I promised my dad this would be his day, and I'm not sure if I'll get to come back here the rest of the time that I'm here."

Feeling a little disappointed, Nick sighed. "That's too bad." As she nodded, he asked. "Do you have a pen and paper?" She nodded again while opening her backpack before she rummaged through it until she grabbed her notebook that she liked to draw/write poems in and a pen before handing it over to him, then after opening it from the back, he wrote as he spoke. "In the meantime, you can always call me, I hope we at least get to talk some more."

Stephanie smiled a little wider with one more nod as she took the items back once he was done. "Yeah, I can do that."

With a beaming smile on his face again, he replied. "Good, because I would really like to get to know you."

"Me too."

After spending a few more moments of just looking at one another, she took a deep sigh and turned around before starting to walk away while he watched her, both feeling their hearts racing like never before.

Sara and Grissom were cuddled on the front porch swing when they saw Stephanie walking up the front porch stairs, and while removing her head from Grissom's shoulder, Sara asked with a hopeful look. "Well?"

At first Stephanie tried to look sad, which was really hard to do since she was so happy right now, and that got Sara and Grissom to look at her with sympathy in their eyes, then in an instant, her eyes and smile got bright. "He showed up." She then chuckled as the couple looked at her with a mixture of shock and joy. "I just can't believe he showed up. Although I will it admit, it came at the last second."

Sara stood up from her spot, shaking her head as she walked up to her best friend. "Hey, the important thing is that he showed." Stephanie nodded with the smile still on her face as the two girls shared a hug.

As they were pulling back, Sara asked again. "So, you two are really doing this?"

"Yeah, I guess. I mean we didn't really talk about that, but he did give me his number."

"Well, there you go, it's a start."

While Stephanie nodded she walked towards Grissom, whom she noticed hadn't said anything yet. "So what are you thinking, cuz, you've been quiet."

He took a breath before looking at his cousin. "Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for you, but I am also..."

Stephanie cuts him off with a nod. "Worried that this could all blow up in my face, I know, and believe me, despite how happy I am right now, I can't deny that it's in the back of my head too. But, I just want to enjoy this for as long as I can, I think I deserve a little happiness right now."

Both Sara and Grissom smile, but it was Grissom who spoke after taking her hand. "Oh Steph, you deserve all the happiness in the world, I would never deny that, so if you're ok with this, then I'm ok with it, I'll always have your back."

Stephanie moved closer to him to they could share a hug. "I know, that's why you're my favorite cousin."

After they pulled back, she kissed his cheek and stood up, then after hugging Sara one more time, she headed for the front door, leaving it cracked for Sara and Grissom once she stepped inside the house.

As Grissom stood up, he spoke after a small sigh. "He just better not hurt her."

She smirked, but Grissom knew she was serious. "I know, or I would have to kick his butt."

He took her hand while raising an eyebrow. "Just you, huh?'

She chuckled before replying sincerely. "We've already established you don't have a mean bone in your body."

Before she could start walking towards the door, he squeezed her hand lightly as he replied, feeling a little offended. "I would you know." She turned around and looked at him, surprised at how tense he looked as he continued. "I would protect you, and Stephanie for that matter, any way that I can, there isn't anything I wouldn't do for you two."

She cupped his cheek with a soft/apologetic look in her eyes. "I know babe, and I didn't mean to imply that you couldn't, I just can't see that side of you, I mean I don't want to see that..." She trailed off as thoughts from her violent childhood, which Grissom still knew nothing about, came through her, causing her to look down and close her eyes.

Grissom looked worried at the sudden shift of his girlfriend's demeanor, so he lifted her chin up before cupping her cheek and asking softly. "Where did your mind just go, are you ok?"

She cleared her throat and nodded. "Yeah, sorry about that."

He then brings her in his arms, causing her to immediately feel safe as he whispered, almost as if he was reading on where her thoughts went. "I would never hurt you, especially like that, you're safe me."

She smiled as she snuggled deep in his arms. "I know I am. I love you."

"And I love you."

They pull back after a few moments, peck each other on the lips before finally walking inside the house.

4 days later

Stephanie was in her room, drawing when there was a knock on the door-frame. "Yeah, come in."

She heard his father's voice a second later. "I'm going out to get ice cream, want any?"

With her focus still on the picture she was drawing, she nodded. "Sure. Mint..."

He cuts her off with a smile. "Mint-Chocolate chip, I know, I remember."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

He turned to walk out of the room, but stopped just before reaching the door, then turned back around and asked after clearing his throat. "So, who is he?"

She stopped drawing and lifted her head up, but didn't turn around. "Who is who?"

"The one you've been calling every night, running up my phone bill for."

Her face gets a little red, but still doesn't turn around, and shook her head. "It's..."

He cuts her off again. "And please don't say nobody, I think we both know that would be a lie, and I thought we were past that."

She took a breath, and this time turned around in her seat and told him. "A guy that I met at the park the other day."

"I see, and that's why you wanted to be alone on Monday?"

"Yes, but I didn't see him until I was leaving, and we didn't plan together to meet up, it was more like we wanted to see if the other one would show up."

"Testing fate."

"Yeah, something like that."

"And is this something you really want to pursue?"

After a short pause, she continued with a sigh. "I know how bad the odds are at this, but I can't help how I feel, and in my heart I know I have to see this through, no matter what happens in the end."

Knowing this moment would eventually come, even though in his opinion it happened too fast and was a little hard to see, he knew he needed to let his daughter grow up and see her in relationships, so he makes a decision for tomorrow, the last full day he'll be around his daughters until summer break.

"Why don't you call him up tomorrow and invite him over for the day and dinner."

Stephanie looked surprised at first. "My last full day here?" And after her father nodded, she asked with curiosity. "But why? Are you asking me to do this because you want..."

He cuts her off, understanding her skepticism, but wanted to reassure his intentions were pure. "I'm asking you to do this because I want to meet the boy who's brought the kind of happiness to my daughter's face/eyes that I haven't seen in a very long time."

Seeing the truth in his eyes, made her feel emotional as she stood up from her chair, then she walked up to him and gave him a hug without hesitation. "Thank you, daddy."

He took a sharp breath while hearing her call him 'daddy' for the first time in years.

Even though she still calls him dad, which he feels is a miracle in itself to still get that title from her, he's missed her calling him 'daddy'.

He wrapped his arms around his oldest child, closed his eyes and whispered with emotion, thankful to have this moment with her. "You're welcome, sweetheart."

Next Evening/after dinner time

About an hour after breakfast, Stephanie called Nick to invite him over, which he jumped at the chance almost right away, and when he showed up, Ricky was with him, so he could get to know the girl that was making his best friend so happy, but he only stayed a couple of hours.

Now as time was dwindling down for Nick to go home, Sara and Grissom left Stephanie and Nick out on the back deck so they could have a little time to themselves, something they didn't really have much since her brothers took an immediate like to him and wouldn't leave him alone, and even though it was a little frustrating for Stephanie, she got to see a glimpse on how he was with younger kids, and it only made her like him even more.

After a few moments of taking turns talking about one another, Stephanie asked. "As great as getting to know you has been, I have to ask, are we doing this, for real?"

She needed to know officially on what they'll 'be' when she leaves tomorrow.

Nick smiled that smile that Stephanie has already fallen for as he replied. "Yeah, I really want this." He then gets a little softer. "But I'll understand if you want to see other people too."

Stephanie looked shocked he would say that. "Wait, is that what you want?"

He immediately shook his head as he took her hand, causing both of them to have sparks throughout their bodies. "Of course not. I just know that long distance relationships can be hard, especially with young couples, and I want you to be happy."

She squeezed his hand reassuringly. "I am happy. I also know the odds are already stacked against us, but I'm ready to put up a fight for us, as long as I know we are fighting for the same thing."

With no hesitation, he smiled wider. "We most definitely are, I want to see what happens between us."

Feeling the absolute best that she's ever been in a long time, Stephanie nods with the biggest smile on her face. "Me too."

AN: Thanks for reading, and please review. Stay safe!