AN: Thanks for the support, here is the last chapter. Warning: Implied adult behavior
Chapter 55: Celebrating Love
After the rest of the families greeted Sara and Grissom, the big group broke into smaller circles, which of course didn't stay the same for very long, there was a lot of moving around as everyone was trying to catch up as much as they could, while the various ages of everybody's kids were doing their own thing, Billy, Holly and Thomas were talking to one another, the late teens-early 20 year olds, which included Josh and Bryce Holland, Juliet, Faith and Horatio and Calleigh's 18 year old daughter were talking, the 16-13 year olds were mostly on their phones, but there was some conversations, the 10-5 year olds were running around in the yard/playing on the play structure, while the 3-1 year olds were in a play pen that they set up in a corner on the deck.
Eventually the late afternoon turned into early evening, and the food they had ordered for dinner started to show up, so they all sat down at their assigned tables that was spread around the deck and yard and started eating with of course more talking/laughing, then halfway through their meal, the speeches started, some teasing while others were more sincere, but no matter what they said, Sara and Grissom knew it came from a special place in their hearts.
When the last of the guests/family members said something, Grissom stood up and cleared his throat before speaking and signing for his mother, everybody's attention was immediately on him. "First and foremost, Sara and I want to thank everybody for being here. We know it couldn't have been easy with scheduling and the last minute change of location, but truly it means a lot to us that we can share this special occasion with everybody that we care about." After the cheering/ whistling/clapping ended, Grissom turned his attention to his three children, feeling a little more emotional. "Secondly, I want to thank my children, not only for what they done for us today, but for just being who you are, you're growing into men and a woman who I not only love with all my heart but respect as people. You've given your mother and I so much joy and light in our lives, and we couldn't imagine you three not in it." After another round of cheering while the Grissom 'children' signed 'I love you', causing him to nod and smile before he added. "And speaking of joy and light, B.J., our grandson, just added more to it in our lives."
Everybody's attention turned to B.J., who was at one of the kids table and shyly smiled while drawing out the word. "Grandpa." Causing everybody to chuckle with an added 'awe', while they were also still trying to wrap their minds around the fact that Grissom and Sara were now grandparents.
Once everybody calmed down, there was one more thing he wanted to say to the most important woman in his life, the woman who was there through his teenage/awkward stage (which at times he still feels a little awkward), she stuck 'by' him during his college years, where they spent more time apart than together, supported him and took most of the slack when it came to Billy, while working the hours she did he might add, when he went back to college so he could get his PH.D, and was by his side when he felt his life would never be the same after his 'hearing' scare. She was honestly the reason he got up every morning, and he knew without a doubt that the love and joy he feels when he looks at her wouldn't be the same with any other woman.
He cleared his throat before looking at his wife, who was already trying to stop her tears, knowing that what ever he was going to say was from his beautiful heart.
"And Lastly, I can't end my speech without acknowledging, my beautiful wife of 25 years, who also happens to be my best friend since I was 10 years old. I knew my life had changed the day I met her, I just didn't realize how much or how powerful it would actually become, and even after 33 years as a couple, it's more powerful than it was when we shared our first kiss." He took her hand as he finished with emotion. "My life wouldn't have been the same had you not come into it, so thank you for everything you've given me and done for me through the years, I love you, I'll love you forever."
Sara stood up as everybody wiped their tears away, then he cupped her cheek and wiped her tears away before they share a soft kiss and hugged.
After they pulled back, Grissom sat down while Sara remained standing, then after wiping a few stay tears away she shook her head and smiled. "Well, I don't know how I am going to top that."
Everybody chuckled before Sara continued after clearing her throat. "Those who know my story knows that I didn't grow up in the best situation, which ended tragically. But that tragic event led me to, not only being in the best home I could have possibly been in, surrounded by so much love and joy I never got to experience much before (Sara looked at Jacob and Maria before looking at her husband), but it also led me to this man, my handsome husband of 25 years.
The way I feel about him has never wavered in the 33 years of being with him, even going though the harder times, it has only strengthened it. He's giving me everything and more that I could have hoped for, especially our three amazing children, whom I love with all of my heart (She looked at their kids, which they were beaming with 'I love you' signs to her before she looked at husband again), he's showed/taught me what true love is, he changed his life plans around when the unexpected happened and was there for me every step of the way with no complaints, working hard to provide for his family. He's my best friend, my rock, my home and I can't imagine sharing my life with anybody else. I want to also thank you for all that you have done and given me. I love you, I'll love you forever."
Grissom stood up again, and they shared another kiss and hug while once again there wasn't a dry eye around, all still in awe of the couple that inspires them, even Maria and Jacob were inspired by them and they were the longest couple married in the family.
At one point in the evening, Holly, who was still dating Thomas, and Juliet were talking in the kitchen. The older half-sister was feeling a little concerned after finding out that Billy was now a father, so after expressing her concern, Juliet tried to reassure her.
"I know finding out he is a father should change everything, but it doesn't to me, I love him."
"I know you do, and I would never say you can't do it, considering you're the one that mostly took care of our other younger siblings when our dad was hardly around, but a child, especially one that's not yours, is a game changer, whether you want to admit it or not. Things will not be the same."
Before Juliet could speak, they hear Billy's voice as he entered the kitchen. "You're right Holly, things are very different then they were just a few days ago."
Holly was about to speak in a reassuringly tone. "Billy, I'm just..."
But Billy cuts her off with a smile, not feeling offended at all. "I know you're concerned about your sister, I would be too if my sister ended up in a situation like this, but know this, while the life that we envisioned has changed so unexpectedly, my feelings for her hasn't. In fact, they've only gotten stronger." He wrapped his arm around Juliet's shoulder as he continued. "And I also want you to know, I gave her an out, but she rejected it completely."
Holly looked at her sister with a little shock, and Juliet nodded with a smile and tears in her eyes. "I told you, I love him, and that little boy is amazing. He may not be mine biologically, but I've already fallen in love with him. And yes, things are more complicated a lot earlier than I had expected it would be, but that's life, and you and I both know that when you're with the right person, all those curveballs that show up are worth it, which I firmly believe that what I have with Billy is." She took a breath before saying the hardest thing she ever said to her sister. "I love you and I respect your opinion, I've always have, but if you're not behind this new development or can't at least try to accept it, then I don't know where that will leave us."
Holly moved closer to her sister and cupped her cheek with tears in her eyes. "Of course I am behind you, you're my younger sister, so I worry. I just want you to have everything you ever wanted in your life. If anybody deserves it, especially in our dysfunctional family, it's you."
Juliet nodded with a smile. "I do have everything I ever wanted, and so much more than I thought possible. I feel my life is only looking brighter from here."
While B.J. was less responsive to Juliet at first, and there was still no doubt more room for progress, everybody involved felt that things were looking up.
Seeing the truth and happiness in her sister's eyes, Holly nods. "Ok. I believe you and love you, so much."
Billy removed his arm from his fiancée, which they decided to postpone the announcement until B.J. is more comfortable with Juliet, so the sisters could hug.
"I love you too."
As they were pulling back, Thomas's voice was heard from the kitchen doorway after seeing the three of them. "Everything ok in here?"
The three of them looked towards Thomas and nodded as he walked into the room, then after a moments pause, Thomas looked at Billy and said. "Wow, a father now, huh?"
Billy nodded with a smile. "Yeah, still feels a little foreign to say and think about, but I'm ready for the challenge."
Thomas nodded. "Congratulations, that boy is pretty lucky." He then looked at Juliet. "Double lucky I might add."
They both smiled shyly with nods before Billy spoke. "Thank you." After Thomas nodded, Billy and Juliet were heading towards the door, but then he stopped and looked at Thomas again. "Hey Thomas, I never asked this before, but why did you do it?" Thomas looked at Billy with a raised eyebrow as Billy explained. "That evening in Miami you told me that Juliet asked about me? But we all know she never did, so why did you convince me that she did?"
Thomas replied in a sincere tone. "Let's just say that your parents weren't the only ones who saw you two that day. I saw the spark too, and I knew if there was one guy out there that Juliet could believe in, it would be you. And yes I realize we hardly knew one another at the time, but if you were anything like your mother, whom my father admires greatly, then I knew your guy's match would be perfect. It was a gamble for sure, but hey, what's life without taking a little gamble?"
Juliet spoke with tears in her eyes. "You did it for me?"
Thomas nodded as he wrapped his arm around his girlfriend's shoulder. "Holly wanted to see you happy again, I did too, and I wanted to try and make it happen, I just had to find the right guy for you."
Juliet then took Billy's hand, and with a beaming smile, she commented. "I would say mission accomplished."
They all chuckled before Billy and Juliet walked out of the room, and once Thomas and Holly were alone, she cupped his cheek and said. "And if hadn't said it before, thank you for carrying, not only for me, but my siblings, particularly Juliet, as well."
"No need to thank me, I love you, I love your siblings." He looked around to make sure they were alone before leaning towards her ear and whispering. "And I can't wait to be your husband, we should think about telling them soon."
Holly smiled with her eyes sparkling. "We will, and I love you too."
They kiss softly before walking out of the room and back outside to rejoin the party.
Although dancing wasn't part of the original plan, they did put some music on and quite a bit of guests/family members actually did end up dancing, including 20 year old Bryce Holland and Faith, which made their parents take notice of a certain chemistry between them.
Before the music stopped all together, everybody wanted to see Sara and Grissom share a dance, so to make them happy, they took each other's hand, walked to the middle of the deck, once most of the tables were put away, they held each other close and started moving their feet as their eyes remained on one another, getting lost in each other's eyes while feeling like they were the only two there, which before they knew it, the music did stop and the family members/guests started to leave the house, until just the Grissom kids, plus Juliet and B.J., remained, then they left after another 15 minutes, finally leaving Sara and Grissom alone.
Once they made sure the doors were locked and the lights turned out, they headed to the master bedroom, the same room they shared on the first night they became husband and wife, so really it felt almost fitting that they ended up here on their 25th wedding anniversary.
Not much was said when they walked into the room, which after 33 years together, there wasn't anything new to share on how they felt about one another, they've heard it all before, so they did what they did best when words weren't spoken, they used their eyes, their hands/fingers, their lips, their bodies to show one another exactly how they felt.
Afterwards, Sara was wrapped up in a sheet up to her chest while the sheet was to Grissom's waist, they were laying on their sides as they let their heart rates slow down back to its normal pace, both beaming like it was their first time, then he cupped her cheek and ran his thumb up and down before speaking softly. "I'm so glad I can still give you that look."
She sighed in content, closing her eyes at the feel of his hand on her skin before opening them up and whispering in return with emotion. "I'm glad I can still give you that look too."
He smiled a little wider. "25 years being married, honey."
She nodded with a smile that was growing. "25 years and counting, don't you forget it."
He moved closer to her and whispered as he lowered his lips to her. "Never."
Their lips touched lightly at first before it started to grow, but before he moved above her, she started to slow them down, and after a soft kiss at the end, she whispered while trying to catch her breath as their foreheads were touching. "So, was it?"
He cleared his throat before asking. "Was what?"
She pulled back a moment later and cupped his cheek with a smile. "That night before we officially started, I said us could be the best thing that ever happened in our lives, so was it?"
His eyes was beaming, but he asked. "You tell me."
She ran her thumb up and down his cheek with another beaming smile. "Without a doubt. I love you."
He whispered in return. "I love you too."
When their lips met again, they replayed every moment, from the first until this one, in their minds, both thankful that they followed their hearts that night, even when things got tough, they never gave up on one another, and never will.
AN: That's it, I want to thank all of those who read, and a very special thanks to those who reviewed, Favorite and Followed, I can't believe it's finally done after 55 chapters and 4 months, and who knows I might bring this family back (If there is any interest in it)
I think I'm going to take a small break, but then I'll hopefully be back with more, so until then, go back and enjoy what I've already written if you want, please stay safe, and always remember GSR4ever!