Disclaimer: Not my characters… I just use them. But the Stokes Family Characters Belong to me.

Archival: Sure just lemme know first

Rating: PG

A/N: Okay, I know that I said that I was going to do only an epilogue and that's it, but I decided that I wanted to continue the story for a little bit longer. It just didn't seem right to end it so soon.

Also, the updates are going to be a little slower than normal… School started on January 20, (gotta love the Cegep system in Quebec… 6 weeks off at xmas) so I don't have as much time to write, but the updates will be coming, I promise!

~~Lisa

Texas

Sara stepped out of Nick's Tahoe. They had rented one before attempting the drive to Texas from Las Vegas. She heard Nick's footsteps behind her and felt his arms go around her waist, his face in her hair. She heard him sigh contentedly. "You are going to love Texas, and my family is going to love you."

Sara smiled and put her hands on his. "I know they will. How could they not?" She laughed. Turning her head a little, she planted a kiss on his cheek. "Now lets go introduce me to the Stokes family." As soon as Sara said those words, she saw the front door open and two people stepped out.

"Mom! Dad! I didn't expect you to be home." Nick said. He had been hoping that he could have shown Sara around first, but he wasn't entirely disappointed.

His parents, Claire and Thomas Stokes smiled at their son. Carrying their bags, Nick and Sara started walking to the house. Nick pulled his mother into a hug. "Hi Ma. I missed you."

She smiled and hugged her son back. "I missed you too."

Nick pulled away from his mother and shook his father's hand. "Dad."  Nick was surprised when he felt his father pull him into a hug. "I missed you too Dad." Stepping back, Nick began grinning broadly. "Mom, Dad. This is Sara."

Sara stepped forward and smiled at them. "Hi."

"Welcome Sara. I'm glad to see someone has been taking care of Nick." His mother said, smiling. She took Sara's bag out of her hand and gave it to Nick. "It's time for you and I to have a chat." She took Sara's hand and led her into the house. "You take the bags Nick dear."

Nick grinned at his father. "You may have been in the police force, but she's the commander in chief, eh Dad?"

Thomas Stokes smiled. "Shh. Don't tell anyone." 

~~The Lab~~~

Gil and Catherine were walking to their car hand in hand. "So, Lindsay is with her father tonight?" Grissom asked.

Catherine tossed her head back and laughed. "Yes, Grissom she is with Ed tonight."

Kissing her lightly on the cheek, he grinned. "Hmmm… I wonder what we can do to pass the time."

Catherine smiled at him. "I can think of a few things." She rested her hand gently on his chest.

Grissom's eyes lit up. "Oh, so can I Cath. So can I."

Catherine kissed him. "We can start with the laundry and then with the ironing. Oh! And the housework…" Grinning she turned away from him and continued on her way to the car.

"Very funny Catherine. You're a comedian." Gil said sarcastically.

"I wasn't joking." She said, smiling again. She unlocked the doors and got in on the drivers side. I'm in the driver's seat tonight, Gris.

~~Texas~~

"So there he was, in the middle of a big rain storm, wearing only his diaper. It was a Kodak moment!" Nick's mother hooted. Tears were rolling down her cheeks from laughing so hard. Sara was laughing equally as hard.

The front door opened. "NICK!" A voice squealed from the doorway. Nick got up and ran toward his sister, hugging her fiercely.

"How have you been Jess?" He asked.

"Real good Nicky." Behind Jessica stood a man, whom he guessed was Jess's fiancé. "This is Wade. Wade, this is my younger brother Nicky."

Nick reached forward to shake the man's hand. "Nick will do just fine." His handshake was firm but friendly. He didn't want to completely ward off this man, but wanted to warn him at the same time.

Sara stepped from the kitchen and saw the reunion and the look on Nick's face when he saw his sister. Clearing her throat, she announced her presence. Nick waved her in. "Jess, Wade, this is my girlfriend, Sara. Sara, this is my oldest sister and her fiancé Wade."

Jess stepped forward and hugged Sara. "It's so good to meet you! I've heard so much about you."

Sara smiled back at the woman. She could definitely get used to all this camaraderie.

Wade looked at her and saw the bruises on her face that were slowly fading. "If you don't mind me asking, are you all right?"

Sara swallowed hard. "Uh… fine. Why?"

"Because you…" Wade stopped as he felt Jess elbow him in the ribs.

"There is plenty of time for that later. Let's go say hi to Mom and Dad." Jess led Wade to the kitchen. She stopped and whispered to Nick. "You had better be taking care of her."

Sara walked over to Nick and stepped into his arms. He pulled her to him and felt her relax in his embrace. "Don't worry Sara. You don't have to say anything to anyone. It's up to you to tell everyone."

"Thank you Nick." Sara pulled back enough to kiss him. Their kiss deepened; Sara's hands reaching up to play with his hair, Nick's hands splayed across her back.

Jess came into the room. "Ahem…" She said clearing her throat as Sara had done earlier. "Mom said that we should start getting ready for supper."

Sara and Nick jumped apart.

"Thanks." Nick said and went back to kissing his girlfriend. His sister rolled her eyes and walked back into the kitchen.