A/N: Last chapter! We planned for this story to be a February story! And end on Valentine's Day-a bit late! Enjoy!

The Day of Love and Friendship

Chapter 7

Within steps of the building that served as a temporary home, Sara realized she was exhausted. Her husband seemed to know without words that the interviews had been difficult for her.

He said, "Get a shower—I'll fix drinks."

When she hesitated, he added with a smile, "I'll be there before you are out." But as Sara disappeared, he realized they had not eaten anything since breakfast and it was mid-afternoon. He placed bread and cheese, a piece of fruit, and a pack of cookies on a plate. Picking up two bottles of beer, he managed to carry everything in one trip to the bedroom just as Sara stepped out of the bathroom.

"You brought food! I wondered what happened to you!"

Grissom put the food on a table and opened the French doors to a small balcony. "Sorry—I realized we hadn't eaten." He moved toward his wife and gave her a quick kiss. "We're going out to eat later," another kiss, "I haven't forgotten it's Valentine's Day but we need something before then."

Sara, wrapped in a towel, sat on the floor and put together a sandwich, handing it to Grissom as he opened the beers. She said, "The shower helped—I didn't realize how tired I was."

He ate quickly, headed to the shower, and returned in a few minutes.

With the doors open, the room was filled with a warm soft breeze and the distant sound of surf. Sara was no longer on the floor; still wrapped in the towel, she was on the bed, waiting.

As he grinned, she said, "Happy Valentine's day, dear."

He forgot any fatigue he might have felt earlier as he took a few steps to the bed. And in the moment their lips met, Sara let him know her desire was greater than the physical or mental tiredness she's mentioned.

He wrapped his arms around her and looked at the gentle, beautiful face he loved more than life itself; her slim arms and sleek legs wove around him as supple vines, binding them together. Her body was so familiar to him, as was the aching excitement that penetrated every cell of his body. Kissing her slowly, Sara responded with a groan of pleasure. His hands removed the towel, throwing it in the direction of the floor; the towel around his waist had already landed in a heap as he'd joined her in bed.

Grissom was over her, leaning to kiss her, his mouth playing with her in kisses so lazy and prolonged that Sara could not tell when one ended and another began. His naked body, still damp from a shower, pressed against hers felt as smooth as satin yet as strong as steel. With tender, intimate kisses and touches, he made her purr with desire, wanting more.

Her breath caught in a gasp as he shifted his body, moving between her thighs as her hips arched to meet him. For a quiet moment, he held above her.

"Gil," she whispered over and over in an erotic incantation, taking his head between her hands, pulling his face to hers as he moved the crucial distance.

In another moment, he'd found a rhythm that sent a tide of ecstasy over her until her breath came hard and fast and there was nothing else in the world to think about but the pleasure of one's lover bringing her to this peak of sexual climax.

As she regained senses, she experienced a second wave of pleasure as her husband's features went taut with excitement; his breath scraped in his throat as he whispered her name. She cradled his face, kissed him, as he groaned into his own climax.

When Grissom opened his eyes, the afternoon light had considerably diminished and the sky was tinted lavender. His hand moved enough to feel the warmth of his wife's body—her belly, he thought. Her hand responded by covering his and he knew without looking that she was reading.

"Have you got a new book?" His voice was husky from sleep.

He felt the ripple of a laugh before he heard it. She said, "I love this book."

"How many times have you read it?"

Another swell of laughter as she said, "As many times as you've read your Shakespeare."

His hand moved upward; finding the rise of her breast, he caressed one, then the other, saying, "I love you, Sara. Not just here—in bed, after sex—but all the time."

She smiled, placed her tattered paperback book on the small table and kissed him. "I have something for you." She moved off the bed and retrieved a wrapped package from the closet. "Not romantic—but I liked it."

Grissom unwrapped the gift, lifted a soft blue shirt from the box and said, "It's perfect. I'll wear it tonight."

Later, they took one of the small boats and sailed to the west side of the bay where one of the expensive tourist restaurants was located. When they arrived at the private dock, Grissom made a phone call and a few minutes later, a young man arrived with a basket of food.

"So this is your surprise!" Sara said with a laugh. She'd dressed in her nicest pants and a pink shirt because her husband had said they were "going out".

Leaving the bay, they sailed across wakes of small boats ferrying tourists from land to the cruise ships anchored out of the bay and cleared the island in time to watch the sun slip over the far-away horizon. The sky filled with purest gold, the water was deep turquoise becoming a darker blue along the horizon, paling to a clear emerald around the boat.

They watched as small colorful fish swam around the boat seeking safety or food in its shadows. A turtle paddled to the surface, nibbled at algae, and disappeared.

"This is a beautiful place," Sara said as a large fish or dolphin splashed a few yards away causing a million sparks of reflected light as it vanished.

Grissom said, "We could stay here—for a while longer—there is such a need for people to help."

"We'd have to find another place to live."

Laughing, Grissom said, "I know where there is an empty apartment—above a butcher's shop."

Sara grimaced at his words. "I don't think I could live above a butcher's shop—do you think Maggie might open it as something else."

As he lifted the top from the food basket, Grissom said, "You know, she could use some help—maybe we should make an offer. Help her get out by paying rent."

The boat barely moved in the calm ocean as they spread their dinner between them. The food was everything Sara loved—potato pancakes with cheese, empanadas, salads with mango and hearts of palm, cucumbers and avocadoes, and a box of desserts of sweetened meringues and flaky pastries.

Before the sky wrapped its blanket of complete darkness, they returned to the research center, docked the boat, and walked slowly back to the apartment.

"This has been a perfect ending to Valentine's Day," Sara said. She kissed Grissom's cheek and added, "Your shirt is not nearly as romantic as dinner on a boat watching the sun set but," she nuzzled her face against his shoulder, "you look gorgeous in blue."

Grissom chuckled, "The day isn't over—I have one more surprise for you. And you are going to love it."

As directed by her husband, Sara got ready for bed and waited while he disappeared into the bathroom. She noticed he carried a small paper bag with him. Sitting in bed, she realized it was taking him longer than usual but she did not pick up her book; she waited, watching the door.

When the door opened an inch, Grissom said, "Are you ready?"

"What have you done? Yes! Open the door!"

The door opened fully and her husband stepped out into the bedroom. Sara's mouth dropped open; her hand covered her mouth as unexpected laughter erupted.

"Oh my god, where did you get that?"

Grissom spread his arms and legs in a traditional Vitruvian-da Vinci pose as Sara climbed out of bed, laughing so hard tears ran down her face. He changed his pose to flex his arms as a muscle man.

Slowly, Sara circled him, her hands running along his arms, his back, along his bare butt, fingers wrapping around the black suspenders that went over his shoulders to the bright red wrapped protrusion at his groin.

Stepping away from him, she said, "I spent years in Vegas and I've never seen this—this before." She touched him, eyes playful, asking, "Is this all you?"

"All yours," he said, laughing as he pushed her back to bed.

Her laughter continued as she teased the black ribbons from his shoulders, using her mouth to pull them off until she reached the silky red fabric. She paused for a second, pushing him to his back, holding him with her hands as she finished removing the cloth. He knew she was pleased with this surprise; as he was with her meticulous attention. As she continued to use her mouth, her lips, her teeth, her tongue, his response was a pleasurable, very sexy and rumbling growl.

The End!

A/N: Please help keep GSR, Sara and Grissom alive in fanfiction by leaving a comment! And reading as many GSR stories as you can! Thank you for your continued support!