A/N: I have no idea if this crosses all decent boundaries of fluff and cheese, but if it does, well…deal. Sorry. The kids are turning my brain to mush.

Yes, teaching is going well. I had my first evaluation Friday, and my follow-up meeting was this morning, and I got glowing reviews, so I'm happy! My fourth period class was REALLY trying today, though.

Grissom had rented out one of the large rooms at the Venetian for the wedding reception. After the cursory photographs were taken, he and Sara walked hand in hand toward the big room where their guests were waiting for the party of their lives.

Grissom turned to Sara and said, "You ready to meet Mom?"

Sara winced and said, "I'm nervous, I have to admit. I know it's ridiculous since we're already married, but I'm afraid she's going to be in a bad mood because of the delayed flight, and I really want her to like me."

Grissom snorted at this. "Bad mood? Look, sweetheart, delayed flight or no, I guarantee you she's in a rapturous mood. She just saw her 48 year-old son get married for the first time, to a woman who's still young enough to give her some grandchildren. I'd say she's okay with the situation. And besides, it's not as if you've never spoken with her before. You just haven't met her face-to-face."

Sara nodded, contemplating this.

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Emily Grissom had almost missed her son's wedding. She had been unable to fly in to Vegas until Saturday because of an important investor's meeting at her art gallery, and her flight from Los Angeles had been delayed because of an unspecified security breach. She had finally landed at McCarran at 4:30, with only an hour and a half to claim her luggage, get to the Venetian, get changed into her wedding suit, and get seated. It had been tight, to say the least, but she had made it, in no small part due to Al Robbins' skillful—and speedy—negotiation of the Las Vegas roadways. Her tardiness had caused a most unusual situation, though. She was sure that she was a rarity—a mother at a wedding who had yet to meet her future daughter-in-law. Naturally, she and Sara had "talked" on the phone on a number of occasions leading up to the wedding, and she already knew that she liked Sara very much. She had a wonderful personality, but even more, Sara's presence had brought about a change in her son that she had thought she would never see—Gil Grissom was lively, happy…vibrant.

And now as she stood in the large reception room, waiting to see her son wearing something she had completely given up on—a wedding band, she began to grow anxious.

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Grissom and Sara stepped into the reception room, and Grissom immediately made a beeline for his mom, pulling Sara gently along behind him. "Mom!" he said happily, releasing Sara's hand to sign. "Did you enjoy the wedding? How was your flight?"

Sara watched in awe as their fingers flew furiously for a moment before Grissom finally turned with a huge grin and pulled Sara forward. "And this, of course, is Sara," he signed and spoke. Sara smiled as she took in the only other woman who had ever had Gil Grissom's heart. She was an elegant and beautiful woman of 70, but didn't look a day over 60. Her sleek silver hair was pulled back into a French twist, and she had a graceful figure that made Sara wonder if she'd ever been a dancer. And those eyes—Grissom blue.

Sara shyly stepped forward and signed "Pleased to meet you," just as Grissom had taught her. She felt clumsy and stupid, but Mrs. Grissom loved the gesture. She laughed, a beautiful bubbling sound, as she stepped forward and took Sara's face in her hands. "You are so beautiful," she said reverently. "And I am so glad to finally meet you." With that, she pulled Sara forward into a tight hug, and Sara was surprised to see the glint of tears in her mother-in-law's eyes. When she released Sara, she looked at her with a tearful smile and whispered, "Thank you for making him so happy."

Grissom and Sara both blushed furiously, then broke into wide grins.

Grissom and Sara began the traditional meet-and-greet, making their way around the room to welcome their guests, until the DJ announced that it was time for the bride and groom's first dance. Grissom stepped forward with a large grin, reaching for his bride's hand. Sara anxiously moved toward him, wondering what song he had chosen for their first dance as husband and wife. He had been very adamant about choosing the song and saving it as a surprise for her. Grissom took Sara into his arms and whispered, "This song is a guilty pleasure—and it makes me think of you."

Sara listened intently as the first notes of the song filled the air. It sounded familiar, yet different. When she heard the first lyrics and realized what it was, she threw back her head and laughed.

"Blue jean baby…LA lady…she was a seamstress for the band…"

"Tiny Dancer?" she asked incredulously.

"Yup," he confirmed. "But not Elton John's version, obviously. This is Tim McGraw's cover of it."

"Ballerina, you musta seen her, dancing in the sand.

Sara looked confused for a moment. "Wait a minute, isn't he a country singer?"

"Told you it was a guilty pleasure."

"And now she's in me, always with me…tiny dancer in my head."

Sara grinned and let Grissom move her around the dance floor, stepping lightly and fluidly as they shared their first dance together. It was an unconventional first dance, but a great song nonetheless, and besides, nothing about Sara and Grissom's relationship was conventional.

"Oh, how it feels so real, lying here with no one near,

Only you, and you can hear me when I sing softly, slowly,

Hold me closer, tiny dancer, and count the headlights on the highway.

And lay me down in sheets of linen,

You had a busy day today…"

The photographer moved around them, permeating their dance with flashes of light, but Grissom and Sara didn't notice. They were lost to the world, smiling and laughing quietly to one another.

When the song came to a close, Grissom gently tilted Sara's head down and kissed her forehead lightly, causing a soft "aw" to ripple through the crowd. He blushed and reached for her land to lead her off the dance floor, but the DJ intervened. "Not so fast there! We still have to have the father-daughter dance, and I've been informed that the bride wants two dances, so Sara, go grab the first lucky man and get out there!"

Sara smiled and walked toward Dr. Durham, hand outstretched. Terry's face lit up as she pulled him toward the dance floor. The first strains of James Taylor's "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" came wafting from the speakers as Terry pulled Sara in tight. He whispered something in her ear, and she hugged him close and laid her head on his shoulder for a moment before allowing herself to enjoy dancing with her surrogate dad to the light beat of the music. When the music ended, he leaned forward and kissed her cheek reverently before walking her over to Jim Brass for her second dance.

Brass bowed playfully before leading Sara back onto the dance floor for her third dance in a row. "Unforgettable" began playing as Brass led Sara around the floor, surprisingly skillfully.

"Jim," Sara began, "I just want to thank you for all the times you've been there for me. It really means a lot." She rushed the words before she could get all emotional. "Through the drinking, the near burn-out, the…well, everything. I just want to say thanks."

She blew out the breath she'd been holding as she said her piece. When she dared to look back into Jim's eyes, they were filled with complete tenderness. "No need to thank me, Doll. You're special to me, and I just never wanted to see you get hurt." He brushed her face with the back of his fingers, and she smiled.

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When Sara and Jim's dance ended, the DJ finally uttered the words Sara had been dying to hear since the reception started. "Ladies and gentlemen, it's now time for the mother-son dance, so if you'll all welcome our groom and his mother to floor, they're going to display their skills for us. I've been told they're quite good, so prepare to be wowed."

Sara grinned so hard she thought her face would crack. 'About time our friends knew that Grissom can do something besides regurgitate the Latin names of every species of insect known to man.' She looked over at the highly skeptical faces of her co-workers and bit her tongue to keep from laughing out loud. Watching her husband lead his grinning mother out on the floor, she thought, 'Oh, yeah…this is gonna be good.'

The DJ looked giddy as he started spinning a classic—Rosemary Clooney's "Mambo Italiano." The music started out slowly, and Grissom and his mother moved in perfect harmony as he led her in a series of intricate spins and dips. Then with no warning, the song took off, and so did the couple on the dance floor, much to everyone's surprise. Sara knew perfectly well that the woman had absolutely zero hearing, but you would never guess it by the skill she displayed in following her son's lead—not to mention the skill he displayed in leading a completely deaf woman around the dance floor. Sara grabbed the camera that she had already loaded with black and white film. The three photography classes that she had taken in college were certainly going to come in handy right about now.

She moved around the room, snapping pictures left and right as she enjoyed the sight before her. She made sure to get several pictures that captured both Grissom and his mom, as well as the looks on the faces in the crowd. As she was making her way from one side of the room to the other, she passed behind a gaping Nick, leaning her head back and saying, "Still wondering how he managed to get laid on our first date?"

Nick seemed oblivious, but Greg, who was unlucky enough to overhear, clutched his ears as if burned. "Dammit, Sara, will you stop that?" he whined pathetically.

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Before Sara knew it, the DJ was announcing that it was time for the bouquet toss, and would all single ladies please step to the center of the room? Sara grinned as she sauntered to the middle of the dance floor and observed the group of women behind her. Catherine was front and center, Lindsey was next to her, and Ashley, Elizabeth, and Mia from the DNA lab were right behind them. A couple of other single women from the lab were standing around, looking vaguely uncomfortable. The DJ started playing "Brick House" and Sara got into position as the photographer crouched near her, ready to capture the moment for posterity. Sara caught the gleam in Grissom's eye and winked, knowing exactly what he was thinking. She glanced over her shoulder once, catching Catherine's eye, and without warning tossed the bouquet over her shoulder and straight in her maid of honor's direction. The bouquet fell easily into Catherine's outstretched hands. Sara laughed gleefully and shot Nick a meaningful glance.

Sara bounced to Catherine and grabbed her into a hug, giggling. "Guess who's getting the garter?" she said slyly into her ear. Catherine pulled back with an amused, wide-eyed gasp. Sara giggled some more.

"Okay, all you single guys! Come to the center of the dance floor and get ready to see some leeeeeg!" the DJ called. "It's time for the groom to get down and dirty with his new bride!"

Sara tossed back her head and laughed at the slight flush creeping up Grissom's face. She was enjoying this way too much. Jim placed a chair in the middle of wooden dance floor, and Sara sat down in it with a flourish as the DJ began playing "Macho Man." She made a big show out of crossing her right leg over her left, exposing the two garters she wore there through the lengthy split in the side of the dress. Grissom, who was beginning to get into the little game, kneeled in front of her and made a lecherous face as he reached for her leg. Sara uncrossed her legs and placed the ball of her right foot squarely on Grissom's chest, granting him easy access. He placed his hands at her right ankle and slowly ran them up her calf toward her thigh, eliciting whistles and catcalls from the crowd. Sara shot Catherine a smug look, as if to say, "See? I told you I needed to take extra time shaving my legs this morning…"

When Grissom reached the lower of the two garters, he slid his fingers underneath it suggestively, hooking it on the first two fingers of each hand. Slowly, he began sliding it down, only to grab it with his teeth—to everyone's total shock—when it reached her knee. He continued his path, and came up with the garter between his teeth, as if he'd been doing nothing more innocuous than bobbing for apples. He took the garter in his right hand and held it up for the crowd to see. Sara glanced over at Greg, who had a blank stare on his face. 'Poor guy's gonna be scarred for life...'

Grissom stood up and walked over to where the single men were gathered. Nick, Warrick, and Greg formed the front of the line, an eye-rolling Brass just behind them, and Archie, Hodges, and an engaged but still arguably single David bringing up the rear.

As Grissom placed the garter over his finger, slingshot-style, and prepared to launch it toward the men, Nick leaned toward Greg and said in a low voice, still facing straight-ahead, "Don't even think about it, Bro."

Greg, never taking his eyes off Grissom's back, returned, "Wouldn't dream of it. I wouldn't miss this for the world."

At that moment, Grissom let the garter fly, and Nick and Greg simultaneously pushed backwards, preventing any of the guys behind them from stepping forward to grab it. A brown hand shot up out of the crowd and Warrick, seemingly oblivious to the conspiracy surrounding him, snatched the garter from the air. Nick glanced over just in time to catch a glimpse of the look on Catherine's face which was, to say the least, priceless.

Warrick looked down at the baby blue prize in his hand, then looked over at Catherine and grinned, suddenly understanding. She graced him with a matching grin as the photographer stepped forward to get a picture of Grissom and Warrick together. The DJ then announced, "All right, folks, let's get these two together for a special dance!"

Warrick and Catherine rolled their eyes, grinning. He walked over to her and reached out his hand, taking her in his arms, and then moving her into a smooth spin as the DJ spun Harry Connick, Jr's version of "It Had to Be You."

Sara and Grissom watched in awe as Catherine and Warrick moved fluidly together. They were incredible dancers. It made perfect sense, though. Warrick was a musician and a decidedly groovin' guy, and Catherine had danced for a living. A decidedly different sort of dancing, of course, but it was dancing nonetheless.

Sara's eyes narrowed as she watched them. They were putting up a good front, but she was fairly certain that they were oblivious to the presence of anyone else in the room. She stole a glance at Lindsey, who looked as if she couldn't decide whether to be mildly disgusted or happy for her mom.

Sliding her glance back at the couple on the dance floor, Sara observed that they had moved so close to one another that even a crowbar would probably be useless—and they both had their eyes closed. Warrick's face was half-buried in Catherine's hair, and his right arm was wrapped tightly around her waist. His left hand was holding hers, which had come to rest against his chest.

"Gee, you think there's something between them?" Grissom's voice whispered in her ear as he came up behind her. Sara giggled appreciatively before gasping. Grissom's head jerked up to see what the fuss was about. He added his own gasp when he saw what was happening on the dance floor. Warrick's lips were pressed gently to Catherine's.

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Four hours and the entire contents of an open bar later, the party was winding down. Grissom and Sara were disgustingly lovey-dovey, a drunken Nick was doing some hard-core macking on Ashley, Warrick and Catherine had given up all pretenses and were hanging all over each other, and Greg was doing the chicken dance with Elizabeth.

Brass was cutting a rug with Emily Grissom, an inebriated David was finally getting the nerve to dance with his fiancé in front of his colleagues, and Hodges was desperately trying to get into Mia's pants.

As the time approached 11:30, the DJ made the announcement for the last dance. "Bride's choice!" he called. Sara poked her tongue out the side of her mouth, pretending to give the issue some serious thought.

She went to the DJ's booth and made her request, and smiled as she walked dreamily back toward her husband. The sweet notes of a piano filled the air as Grissom took his bride into his arms. "Colour My World," he smiled. "Chicago."

"Mmm," she said lazily. "One of my favorites."

Slowly, other couples joined them on the dance floor. They found themselves dancing next to an equally dreamy-looking Catherine and Warrick, and Sara couldn't resist the opportunity. "'Bout damn time," she needled under her breath in Warrick's direction.

"Hey, hey," he defended. "She's a very intimidating woman."

"Yeah," Sara snorted. "Imagine what she'll be like in bed."

Grissom spun her away just as she caught the look of shock residing on the faces of both Warrick and Catherine.