Spring 2005:

There was still a slight chill in the air as the cherry blossoms were beginning to bloom along the Mall in Washington, DC. Nick and Sara had flown in the night before to attend a forensics convention and they were trying to squeeze in a little sight seeing before that evening's seminar on 'Multi-jurisdictional Coordination in Profiling and Tracking of Serial Killers'. Several of the key players that had nabbed the DC area sniper were discussing the case with a special emphasis on ballistics evidence.

Sara let out a contented sigh as they neared the Jefferson Memorial.

Nick glanced over at her and raised a curious eyebrow, giving her hand a squeeze. "Tired?"

She shook her head and smiled at him as they walked over and then sat down on the steps and looked out over the Tidal Basin. "No, just happy." She found herself leaning her head on Nick's shoulder wishing that this moment with him would never end. Their nights off together were a rare event, but despite that their relationship had blossomed and after the rumors and speculation had died down at the lab people began to see a very transformed Sara Sidle. So when Grissom had offered to send them both to this convention in DC, they'd jumped at the opportunity, both from a professional standpoint and a personal one.

"I'm happy too." Nick closed his eyes and breathed in the scent of Sara's hair. He was thoroughly enjoying getting to spend this much time with her. He had never felt about any woman the way he felt about Sara. He smiled as he recalled their walk through the Natural History Museum earlier that day. They had woven through the displays of gems and jewels and when they had come to the Hope Diamond, Nick found himself getting emotional. He had glanced over at Sara as he felt her squeeze his hand and that's when he had noticed that her eyes were glistening with unshed tears at the emotion that was welling up in her. He'd leaned over and softly kissed her, hoping that she knew that she was far more valuable to him than any gem.

Sara's thoughts seemed to be in the same place as Nick's. "I wonder how many women never hear that they're beautiful."

Nick squeezed her hand. "I love you."

She smiled. "I know. I love you too." She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked into his eyes. "I never really felt beautiful until I met you." She radiated beauty. The confidence that she'd gained from Nick constantly building her up made her shine from the inside out.

"You always have been." Nick replied with a smile, leaning over and kissing her softly.

They sat there like that for a while, trading soft gentle kisses and just enjoying being close as the sun began to dip in the sky casting a golden hue against the marble columns of the Jefferson Memorial.

Nick pulled away slightly and rested his forehead against hers. "Looks like the sun's starting to go down."

Sara let out a sigh. "I guess we should go so we can get dinner before the opening seminar tonight." She started to stand, but Nick caught her hand in his and stopped her.

"Not just yet." He smiled at her and then gestured out towards the Tidal Basin. "We've still got a few minutes to enjoy this."

Sara settled herself next to him again smiling at their intertwined fingers. "I always liked DC, but it never occurred to me that it could be so romantic until I came here with you."

"You said that about Dallas at Christmas too." Nick teased with a grin.

She let out a soft chuckle. "I guess it just depends on who you're with." She was glad that she'd fallen in love with Nick. She hadn't expected it, but it had turned out to be one of the most life altering events in her life.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence as they watched the late afternoon sun bathe the Washington Monument in a golden light across the basin.

Finally Nick cleared his throat. "Can I ask you something?" For some reason, he felt a nervous sensation in his gut unlike no other he'd ever had.

Sara looked at him a bit quizzically. "You know you can ask me anything." As they had gotten closer they had shared more and more with each other. The night that Nick had told her that he'd been molested when he was nine had given her the courage to reveal her troubled family life and some of the baggage that she carried as a result. She trusted him implicitly and couldn't think of any question that she wouldn't answer.

"Good." Nick smiled and then leaned over and kissed the end of her nose.

Sara let out a soft giggle. "So what did you want to ask me? Because if it's about that cookie recipe, you can forget it, I'm sworn to secrecy." She had baked cookies a few times and had brought them into the lab, and Nick had raved about them so much that he'd even asked her for the recipe. She wasn't about to tell him that it was from the back of the chocolate chip bag.

"It's just something that I've been wondering about for a while." Nick hoped he looked calm, cool and collected because he felt anything but as he gathered his courage.

Sara furrowed her brow as she looked at him. "What is it?"

He smiled at her earnestly. "I love you." He took a deep breath and continued. "I've never loved anyone the way that I love you."

Sara felt a tiny pang of doubt, this sure as hell didn't sound like a break up speech, but she didn't want to let her mind wander to where he might be going with this. "I love you too." Her voice was a whisper.

"Maybe this is too soon, I don't know. All I know is that I love you and I don't ever want to lose you." He fumbled with something in his pocket for a moment.

Sara's eyes began to widen as the realization of exactly where he was going with this hit her. She felt an overwhelming wave of emotion roll over her as she saw Nick pull out a small blue velvet box. When he pivoted on the steps and knelt in front of her, Sara tried to stifle a sniffle.

Nick flipped the box open to reveal a diamond solitaire ring. He grinned at her as he felt tears stinging his eyes. "I love you so much, and I wanted to ask you if you would spend the rest of your life with me. I would be so honored if you would become my wife. Would you marry me, Sara?"

Sara couldn't say anything for a long moment as she regarded him, and then with tears streaming down her face she nodded her voice barely a whisper. "Yes." She had never imagined that she could be this happy and as Nick slipped the ring onto her finger she realized that he had been the one man that had seen her true value and he'd helped her to see that she could love and be loved in return.

The End

Author's Note: The response to the first chapter of this story really took me by surprise and it really made me think about how many women really don't get to hear that they're beautiful, and just how special they are. I truly appreciate each and every person who reads my stories. There are many other things that you could be doing with your spare time and yet, you're here reading this now. Thank you. I hope that you'll take the time today to tell someone close to you today how much they mean to you because each day is a gift and you may not get another.

Special thanks to Mel for giving me honest feedback on this story, perhaps one of these days I can tap your medical knowledge instead of your fluff juice. And to all of the Snickers out there, this story is for you.