A/N: And we've arrived at the final chapter. It was always intended to finish like this. I hope that you all like how this turns out. I'm sad that this is finally over. I've enjoyed writing this so much, and have been encouraged and overwhelmed by your support through your wonderful reviews. They are all so very much appreciated. This story would never have been possible without the amazing beta by picollina789. As this was only my 2nd go at writing for CSI and her first as a beta I really think she did an amazing job, and we made a great team. Piccolina789, this chapter is most definitely for you. And i really hope all my reviewers enjoy this chapter as much as you have the rest of the story. xx
Three months later
August 17th
Catherine looked up from the menu just in time to see Gil, his arm linked through Sara's, step through the front door. She watched as they placed sunglasses on their heads at the same time, in perfect symmetry.
She waved to let them know she'd seen them. With a quick glance at each other, the lovebirds approached the table, Sara with more of a waddle in her gait, with smiles on their faces.
"Hey, its the birthday love bug!" quipped Nick with a beaming smile. He half-rose from the booth they were sitting in and shook hands with Grissom.
"Happy birthday, Gris!" the salutation was echoed by the others.
"Thanks, " he replied with a grin.
Catherine kissed his cheek and then turned to Sara.
"Hey, look at you!" she greeted as she hugged Sara briefly. "You look ready to burst, it's only been a week since we last saw you!"
Sara rolled her eyes.
"Tell me about it," she replied as she puffed out her cheeks.
Gil stepped back to let her enter the large booth first before joining her on the end. He leaned in close to her, his left arm falling automatically behind her, his hand resting on her side.
Catherine watched with a smile on her face as Gil and Sara chatted with the guys, marveling at how much Gil had changed over the last few months since leaving the lab. Now that he wasn't constrained by the ties of professionalism as their boss, he'd slowly allowed himself to relax around them.
It hadn't happened overnight. Over the succeeding weeks and months as the investigation continued into Rory Dunbar's past, he'd allowed them a small glimpse into his and Sara's still private world.
As the investigation continued, new evidence was brought to light and suspects were arrested and charged, Gil and Sara's tension continued to ease as the knowledge of their safety increased.
It was while they'd all been celebrating the conviction of Rory and his associates, which also included his two nephews, that Gil had kissed Sara for the first time in front of them.
Catherine's thoughts returned to the present and she spotted Sara's crystal butterfly pendent. The champagne-colored crystal was encased in diamonds in the shape of a butterfly with its wings folded back. It brought out the brown of her eyes and went well with her sliver-grey maternity blouse.
"That pendent is gorgeous!" Catherine complemented Sara.
Gil and Sara shared a glance, their eyes sparkling.
"Gil gave it to me this morning."
Catherine raised an eyebrow.
"You do realize that you're the one that receives gifts on your birthday, not the other way around?"
Grissom turned to face Sara with a look in his eyes that gave Catherine goosebumps, knowing that none of her conquests had ever looked at her in quite that same way.
Gil brought up his hand, resting it gently against Sara's baby bump, smiling proudly.
"I have everything I want right here and the best is yet to come."
"There's no guarantees that today is the big day," Catherine reminded him. "Only a small number of babies arrive on their due dates. If Cricket, is anything like their father… they'll definitely need a big hint."
Sara shifted uncomfortably next to Gil as the twinge in the small of her back increased slightly. As she became increasingly restless, Gil rose from his position on the bench to allow Sara to head for the restroom, for what Gil considered to be the thousandth time that morning.
She'd been feeling restless for a few days, pacing through the townhouse, not sure exactly of where it was she wanted to be. Early one morning, he'd awoke alone in bed, only to find her attempting to rearrange the kitchen. He'd managed to persuade her to return to bed, only for her begin the frequent trips to the bathroom.
Grissom watched as Sara waddled to the restroom, making no effort to hide the fact that he was checking her out.
Catherine leaned a little closer to him over the table with a mischievous grin on her face, unable to resist an opportunity to tease him.
"Gil," she said softly.
"Gil," she repeated just a little louder, when it became clear that he hadn't heard her.
"Hmm?" he answered, sounding distracted as he continued to watch Sara.
"Roll your tongue back in and close your mouth."
Grissom turned to face Catherine with a smirk, his eyes gleaming with a love he no longer had the desire to hide. When Sara returned, rubbing her back, Gil rose to his feet to allow her to enter the booth.
"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked as he returned to her side, beginning to massage her back without a second thought.
Sara nodded, ignoring the slight tightening across her bump. Their breakfast orders came and talk turned to other matters. They finished up breakfast and said their goodbyes, promising to see each other soon. As Grissom and Sara walked to their car, Gil grasped Sara's hand in his, entwining his fingers with hers.
Sara's pace slowed until she came to a stop and she puffed out her cheeks, rubbing the spot on her bump when she felt the slight tightening again.
"Are you sure you're feeling okay?" Gil asked as he stood watching her.
Sara nodded, looking up at him with a nervous smile.
"I'm fine, stop fretting," she teased, and they continued to walk the short distance to the car.
"I'm not fretting," he replied as he walked beside her, a hand on her arm. "I'm just wondering if we should cancel our plans and get you checked out at the hospital."
"It's far too early to think about cancelling our plans," she answered as they neared the car.
While they hadn't really made any specific plans for Grissom's birthday, they had made arrangements for lunch at La Cave at the Wynn, where they'd had their first date.
When they reached the car, Sara turned to face him. Her hands glided up his shirtfront, her hands coming to rest behind his neck. She stroked the hair on the nape of his neck.
"I love you," she whispered, his hands coming to rest on either side of her bump as their lips met in a slow kiss.
When they parted, she caressed his bearded cheek and said, "Happy birthday, Gil."
His thumb brushed against her cheek, tracing her jawline, before brushing lightly over her lips.
"I love you too, honey," he returned softly, as he drew her closer. "And the best is still to come."
The kiss continued for several minutes before Sara drew back with a soft, surprised, "Oh!". The slight tightening she'd been feeling was growing in strength. She turned her gaze to Gil with a mixture of excitement and dread on her face.
"Maybe getting checked out isn't such a bad idea after all," she suggested.
Later that night, once the assignments had been handed out, Catherine headed back to her office.
Sinking into the chair with a sigh, she stared at the stack of never-ending paperwork. Since taking over the supervisor position, she had come to understand why Grissom had loathed it so much and frequently allowed it to slide. He'd never been one for office politics... or any politics for that matter.
Her gaze fell on the jar containing the radiated foetal pig sitting on the far corner of the desk that Gil had insisted on giving to her as a "office warming" gift. The corners of her mouth twitched upwards.
He had kept his word on keeping in touch, although the breakfast meeting that morning had been the first time they'd all been together since the baby shower three weeks before.
It had been good to see him looking happy and relaxed, or at least as relaxed as any father-to-be could expected to be on the eve of becoming a father for the first time.
Her glance returned to the piles of paperwork, and she decided to take a leaf out his book and forgo the paperwork a little longer.
She turned her attention to the laptop, deciding to check her emails first. Among the usual memo's and other internal correspondences was an email from Conrad Ecklie, who had been promoted to sheriff once the investigation into Rory Dunbar had concluded.
Underneath Conrad's email was one from Gil, sent just a few hours previously. She quickly opened it, a huge smile appearing on her face as tears pricked her eyes.
It was a photo of very happy and proud looking Grissom, his arm around a smiling but clearly exhausted Sara. Sara was cradling a newborn whose features mirrored Gil's, with curly brown hair and the bluest eyes to rival his father's.
Underneath the photo was a small caption.
"Mother and baby are well and doing great. Sara did fantastic. We decided that Daniel James suited him much better than Cricket. Love from all three of us."
Catherine leaned back in her chair and shook her head slightly. It was still so unbelievable to see Gil as a married father of one. But if anyone deserved happiness, it was Gil Grissom.
Finally, he could have his happily ever after.