The woman in the dark suit looked around at the assembled group, smiling warmly. "Welcome, everyone. If you'd like to gather 'round a little tighter, that would probably improve your collective view." A shuffling of feet greeted her pronouncement as the small crowd moved closer to the high table where the woman stood with Grissom, who was cradling the baby, and Sara.

The woman looked to her companions for their approval, then drew in a breath spoke again, this time more authoritatively. "Friends, we've gathered today to welcome a new life to our world in with this simple celebration. Gil and Sara would like to thank you all for being here to celebrate with them and welcome their child.

"A child's life is powerfully affected by the amount of love she receives. In you who are gathered here, this child has found a deep pool of love and devotion, and because of the emotion you offer her, her life will be richer and she will, in turn, be able to love more deeply. For this, Galina thanks you, and in return, her parents would like to share with you her name and it's meaning."

She swept an arm toward Grissom, who stepped forward and began to speak. "This beautiful girl," he said, holding Galina out toward the friends and family surrounding him as he tried to remember the speech he and Sara had written, "is Galina Laren Grissom. 'Galina' is a Russian name, and as I'm sure you all know, neither Sara nor I is Russian. The reason we chose to give our daughter this first name is the meaning behind the name. 'Galina' means 'bright one' in the language from which it comes, and we believe thoroughly that this baby is and always will be the bright light of our lives. Even before birth, she was a guiding light to her parents, and we wanted to honor her with a name that would reflect that.

"The name 'Laren' is given in honor of my mother, Lauren Grissom, who died in 1998. We had originally not planned on naming our child for anyone else, but the more we discussed it, the more strongly we felt that this little one needed to be able to give meaning to a woman who cannot be with her in body. So, Mom," he concluded, eyes half closed as he tried to hide the sheen in them, "we hope you approve of your granddaughter, and we promise that she will grow up knowing that you would have loved her.

"Now," he finished, stepping back, "we'd like to ask Galina's godmother, Catherine Willows, to read a verse that embodies what we hope our daughter's life to be."

Catherine stepped forward, smiling proudly and meeting the shining eyes of her daughter, who watched from beside Warrick. "Um ,hi," she said quietly, momentarily nervous as she thought of her responsibility. "I'm going to read a short poem, like Grissom said. So . . ." She raised the piece of paper she held and began to read.

"If a child lives with criticism
he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility
he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule
he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame
he learns to feel guilt.

BUT,

If a child lives with tolerance
he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement
he learns confidence.
If a child lives with fairness
he learns justice.
If a child lives with security
he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval
he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship
he learns to find love in the world."

            She smiled slightly as she finished reading, then walked further forward to stand beside Sara. Reaching out to squeeze her friend's hand, she whispered, "Thank you, Sara. I love her already."

            The woman in the suit stepped forward again and spoke. "Now Sara will repeat the promises she and Gil wish to make to their daughter."

            Sara took a deep breath, then took Galina from Grissom's arms and looked down into the tiny face. "Galina, we promise you that with us, you will always find a warm home and warm hearts. We will always love you, even when you misbehave and play with Grissom's spiders after being forbidden." The group laughed at this, as Sara had intended, and her voice became a little stronger. "We promise to support you throughout your life, no matter what, and we promise to protect you with our last breaths. And," she added with a small smile, "whether you want it or not, you're guaranteed a life of learning and investigating because of who your parents are."

Gentle applause greeted these promises and Sara grinned widely, then stepped back to Grissom, who put an arm around her. Carefully handing Galina to Catherine, Sara watched as the blonde stepped toward the table again to meet Warrick, who was approaching it from the other side, and spoke.

"Warrick and I, as your godparents," she said lovingly, "would like to promise you our strength and support throughout your life. We will take care of you and guide you should you need us. We promise that when your daddy brings home one too many decaying-blood experiments or your mommy decides to pull a triple-shift, you can stay, day or night, with one of us."

Catherine walked around the table to Warrick, who couldn't hide the pride on his face. "To symbolize our promises, Galya," Warrick said, "we give you this locket. Inside is a picture of Catherine and I on one side, and a picture of you the day you were born on the other." He held up a silver necklace that looked as long as the baby was and fastened it around her neck carefully. "It may be a little big for you now, but like the baby clothes your parents have set aside, you'll grow into it."

Warrick and Catherine took their places next to Grissom and Sara again, and Grissom took the baby while the woman in the suit spoke. "Welcome to this circle of love, Galina Laren. May all of life's pleasures and blessings stay with you as you grow, guided by those who have celebrated with you today." Standing back as Grissom and Sara stepped forward, she smiled. "Now we present to you: Galina Laren Grissom!"

Applause and a few wolf whistles greeted this pronouncement as the audience moved forward as one to extend their congratulations to the child and her parents.

A/N: The ceremony you just read is called a Naming Ceremony. It is a non-religious alternative to a christening/baptism, and based on what we know about Grissom and Sara, I decided that it was the ceremony they would be most likely to have.

Another A/N: Before I get fifteen million comments correcting me on it, no one is sure whether Grissom's mother is alive or not. I chose to believe, back in chapter 30-something, that she was dead, and so she'd dead in this story. I can't exactly go back and change references to her in 121 "published" chapters now, even if I wanted to – it would get very confusing. So give me a break and do that whole suspense of disbelief thing while you read J