Part 23

Catherine relaxed against the back of the couch. "That was a wonderful dinner."

"It was good…even if I do say so myself," Gil decided, sitting down beside her. "Thank god for dishwashers."

His arms opened and Catherine smiled, leaning up against him.

"This is so good," Catherine murmured, kissing his chest. "I've missed this."

"Me too," Gil replied. "I've missed you."

Catherine's fingers laced with his. "I'm here now. And you're here."

Gil's spare hand slid underneath her shirt, caressing her stomach. "I love you, Cath."

"I love you too," she replied, her eyes slipping shut. "That feels good."

"The house is so quiet."

"Nice, isn't it?"

"Very."

"We have amazing kids," she said.

Gil smirked. "We had an amazing time making them."

"We did indeed."

They sat contented for a few moments, happy to just enjoy their marriage alone for a night.

"Hey, Gil?" Catherine said, a small smile playing at her lips as she felt his hand slide further up her shirt.

"Yeah?"

"Race you upstairs?"

Warrick Brown finished loading the dishes into the dishwasher.

"Dad!"

Warrick turned around to find his five year old son, Michael, staring up at him with folded arms. "Hey little man, what's up?"

"There are too many women in this house, that's what!"

Warrick arched an eyebrow. "Ookay. What happened?"

"I'll tell you what happened! We got to all say what movie we wanted to watch! I voted for Hercules and the girls voted for Sleeping Beauty."

"And?"

"We're watching Sleeping Beauty!"

Warrick smirked. "Okay, come on. Let's go talk to mom."

Mandy looked up as he walked in. "Hey. What's going on?"

Michael began making faces at his two sisters, three-year-old Jenna and two year old Alicia. Lizzie Grissom giggled.

"Michael," Mandy growled.

"Sorry," Michael replied. "But there are way too many women in this house!"

Lizzie pouted and held her arms out. "You don't want me here?"

Michael crawled up beside her, hugging her. "Nah, you can stay."

"Michael says Sleeping Beauty is a girly movie," Warrick explained.

"Tis not!" Jenna cried out, Alicia echoing her.

Mandy looked at Warrick. "You guys are outvoted."

"Not fair!" Michael groaned.

"There is a really cool guy bit in Sleeping Beauty," Lizzie suggested. "You know, like when the prince is hacking through the dark forest?"

Michael's ears pricked up. "Hacking?"

"AHHH!" 11-year-old Alexander Stokes launched an attack on his 6-year-old brother, Christopher.

Jamie and Matt Grissom joined in.

Sitting on the couch, 4-year-old Caitlyn wrinkled her nose.

Nick walked in, smiling at his daughter. "Hey, sweetheart."

"Hi, Daddy," she replied, a smile on her face. "Boys are stupid."
Nick pouted. "I'm a boy."

Caitlyn gave him a look. "Uh-uh. You're a daddy."

"That's certainly true." He gave her a kiss on the top of the head, then walked over to the pile of wrestling boys and deftly lifted Christopher off the top. "No wrestling around mom's good vase."

Max arched an eyebrow. "You know, every time I come over Uncle Greg, Aunt Claire says that the batteries are almost worn out on the singing gnome."

"This is true," Greg agreed, turning on the playstation.

"And it's still here." Max grinned. "You better be careful. Aunt Claire might drown it in the bathtub."

"Nah, she loves me too much," Greg decided. "Right Claire?"

Claire smirked, a free hand resting on her swollen abdomen. "You're worth keeping."

"Dad says it's scary that you're breeding," Max said, picking up the control.

"Yeah, well you're parents bred, and they got you," Greg explained.

"I prefer to think they were practicing for perfection," Max replied. "Bet I can kick your butt at drag racing."

"You're on!" Greg told him, turning on the game.

Catherine took a deep shuddering breath, kissing Gil's hand that she had gripped earlier.

He grinned at her, pressing a kiss to her lips as she snuggled beside him.

"So good," she murmured, kissing him again. "Way too long since we did that."

"Agreed," he replied, hand stroking her hair. "You okay?"

A slow smile spread across her face. "Mhm."

"Love you, beautiful," he whispered. "I love watching you when we make love."

Catherine looked up at him, blushing slightly. "So I've noticed." She laid her head down again. "You okay?"

"Absolutely perfect."

"Uncle Greg?"

Greg looked down at the little boy he had just tucked into the sleeping bag. "Yeah?"

"If the judge is stupid and says Matt has to go with the evil lady…can we hide him here?"

Greg smiled sadly at Max. "I wish we could, mini me."

"This sucks."

"My Action Man sleeping bag?"

Max sent him a look. "No. My brother."

"Your brother sucks?"

"You know, for a DNA guy, you're pretty dense sometimes."

"My apologies."

"I'll forgive you. This time." Max leant up and hugged Greg. "Night, Uncle Greg."

"Night mini me."

Catherine rolled over in bed, waking up when she realized Gil was gone. Before she could call for him, he appeared in the bedroom doorway, a breakfast tray in his hands.

"Well, well," she smiled softly. "This is service."

"I figured that since we don't get to do this often, because of hungry kids, we needed to do it this morning."

"Sounds perfect," Catherine decided.

Gil smiled back at her and sat up next to her on the bed. Catherine snuggled against him. "What did you make?" she asked.

Gil lifted the cover of one of the plates. "On this plate for Madame, we have scrambled eggs, tomato and bacon." He lifted another plate. "On this plate for Madame, we have pancakes." He gestured to the mug. "Piping hot coffee and…" he lifted his other hand up. "A rose for the lady."

Catherine leant up and kissed him. "You're amazing."

"So are you," he told her, hugging her tight. "Hungry?"

"Famished. I worked up an appetite last night."

Gil chuckled. "Indeed you did. So did I."

"Eat," Catherine ordered him, pointing a forkful of egg his way.

Gil took the proffered food from the fork. "Hmm. Very good, even if I do say so myself."

Catherine grinned and ate some herself. "Nice work, Dr. Grissom. I think I'll keep you."

"You better," Gil reminded her.

"BOMBS AWAY!!!" Max cried, launching himself into the Grissom family pool.

"MAAAX!" Lizzie and Lindsey cried in unison, trying to get themselves away from the splash.

Being the weekend, the Grissom's were enjoying what might be their last time as a whole family.

Gil and Catherine felt it keenly, and Catherine stayed as close to her kids as she could.

"Don't splash your sisters," Gil told Max sternly, before hopping into the pool, his hands going around his wife's waist.

"Hi," she whispered, leaning against him. "Where were you?"

"I turned the phone onto permanent messages. I don't want anything to interrupt this weekend."

She rested her head against his chest. "Have I mentioned how wonderful last night was?"

"Mhm." He kissed the top of her head.

"And how wonderful you are?"

"You…" Gil frowned as he saw a snorkel rise up between them. "Cath? Do you ever get the feeling you're being watched?"

Catherine looked down. "Max!"

The little boy burst up between them, droplets of water cascading down his face. He grinned at them. "Hi!"

Catherine looked at Gil, who smirked back at her. In one quick movement, they reached down, grabbed hold of him and tossed him.

Max squealed as he splashed down. He came up spluttering. "SEE! That's what I'M talking about! FUN people, FUN!" He paddled over to them. "DO IT AGAIN!"

"Me next!" Jamie cried, making his way over.

Matt swam over, dunking Max under the water, who then leapt onto his back.

"Hey!"

Catherine laughed as she watched Gil dunk their sons in the water, with Matt's assistance. A wave of sadness fell over her and she shook it off, going to sit by the edge of the pool.

"Mom?"

She looked up, smiling as Lindsey sat beside her. "Hey, sweetheart."

"You and Dad have a good date last night?"

Catherine smiled. "It was amazing. We…"

Lindsey put a hand up. "No disgusting details."

Catherine smirked. "It wasn't disgusting when we did it."

"EW! Mom!"

"He made me breakfast in bed." Catherine watched the boys. "It was wonderful."

"Nice break, huh?"

Catherine looked up at her daughter. "What do you mean?"

"You looked like you were about to cry."

Catherine turned her attention back to watching the boys. "I'm fine. Just a little tired."

Lindsey took her mother's hand and squeezed it. "Everything's going to be okay, you know."

"Cath!" Gil called out with laughter. "Help! I'm being bombarded!"

"Come on mom! Don't hide!" Max cried.

Catherine wiped the moisture from her eyes. "We better join them before Max stages a coup." She slid back into the water, making her way over to the group.

Sunday night, Gil carefully peeked into Matthew's room. Max had curled up next to his older brother. He smiled slightly and closed the door. Lindsey and Lizzie was fast asleep in her room, and Jamie had also fallen asleep. He headed back into his bedroom, smiling as he found Catherine curled up on the bed, eyes closed.

He knew that she was worn out. He worried about her too.

Gil sat on the side of the bed, staring at the wall for a moment, contemplating their lives at the moment. He sighed and rubbed his face.

Catherine's hand snaked up and rested on his shoulder. Without needing any words, she urged him to lie down.

She curled up on the bed and Gil spooned himself behind her, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"Love you, Cath."

"Love you too, Gil."