Holidays at the Stokes Place

Pairing: Nick and Sara (Of course! I wouldn't have it any other way)

Nick and Sara look at a scrapbook and video of their wedding.

A/N: Parts of this chapter are accounts from Nick and Sara's wedding video. Those parts will be italicized.

Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own Sara, Nick or any other mentioned character on CSI. If I did own Sara and Nick, they would have been hooked up and hitched already! (Writers of the show: take notice!) Although, they are just a reference, I don't own Tim Speedle and Calleigh Duquesne from CSI: Miami. However, I do own Nick's family and Sara's parents. Also, the church where Nick and Sara were married in is fictitious.

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Scrapbooks and Wedding Videos

After breakfast, Nick and Sara decided to have a day of rest. They just didn't feel like going anywhere today. Tomorrow, they are taking some of their nieces and nephews to the Dallas Zoo. That meant getting all the energy they needed mustered up. Nick disappeared from his room for a few minutes. Sara was lying on top of the bed, but not sleeping. Nick returned with a scrapbook and a videotape.

"Did you find the right ones?" Sara asked slowly getting up to a sitting position.

"I think I have everything except the popcorn," Nick said putting both the book and the tape next to Sara. "Give me about another five minutes."

Five minutes later, the smell of buttery popcorn entered the room. Nick came back with a bowl of popcorn fresh from the microwave. He put it on one of the night tables and sat next to Sara.

"I can't believe your mom saved our wedding invitation," Sara said looking at the inside front cover of the scrapbook.

"She has done that for my brother and sisters," Nick said. "She has scrapbooks of all of our weddings, including hers."

Sara was looking at the invitation. She smirked and chuckled at the sight of it.

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Sidle

request the honor your presence

in celebrating the marriage of

their daughter

Sara Margaret

to

Nicholas Anthony Stokes

Son of

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Stokes, Sr.

on Friday, the twenty-eighth of May

two thousand four

at two o'clock in the afternoon

Second Community Church

104 South Main Street

Dallas, Texas.

Reception following ceremony.

"Would you believe some of the insanity that was involved in planning our wedding?" Nick asked after eating some popcorn.

"It almost didn't happen because of the arguments between our parents," Sara said. "It was my parents that nearly ruined the plans due to their lack of reason. Thank goodness that nothing terrible happened and it was a beautiful event!"

(Begin Flashback, Dallas, Texas, January 2, 2004)

Nick and Sara are with his parents at 'Stokes Manor' discussing the upcoming wedding. Cynthia is on the phone with Sara's parents. She had put the call on speaker phone so Thomas, Nick and Sara could listen in on the conversation and maybe participate in the discussion.

"Alexandra, I don't know what the Sidle family tradition is when it comes to weddings," Cynthia said trying to hide the gradual loss of her patience. "Your daughter and my son want to get married in Dallas. They want to have it in the same church where I married Nick's father almost 49 years ago. Nick's brother and sisters also got married at that church."

"My daughter was born and raised in the San Francisco area," Alexandra said. "Why can't your son marry my daughter here in the Bay Area? Or our kids now live in Las Vegas, they could have the wedding there."

"I think I have made myself clear," Cynthia said. "Nick wants the wedding in Dallas and so does Sara. I intend to honor their wish, but I don't understand why you don't want them to be happy."

Nick and Sara gave each other an incredulous look. They chuckled softly as they heard Cynthia Stokes fight Alexandra Sidle over their kids' wedding location. They silently rooted for Cynthia.

"I still don't understand how a woman as normal and rational as you could come from a woman that is so unreasonable and strange," Nick whispered into Sara's ear.

He had met her parents when they went to Tamales Bay so Nick could ask her parents if he could marry her. They both knew what her parents were like.

"This is coming from a woman who was married by some hippie guru or something in some makeshift sacred place," Sara whispered back. "My brother was married by the Justice of the Peace at City Hall. Both sets of my grandparents were married in church. I guess I would be the first in two generations of my family to marry at a real church."

"Alexandra, if you are going to be like that," Cynthia thought of her ultimatum. "I think Nick and Sara will call off their wedding and possibly elope in any freaky and strange chapel in Vegas."

Good ultimatum, mom, Nick thought. Although Sara and I would never dream of calling it off, but if it's to get Mrs. Alexandra Sidle to agree to let us have our wedding in Dallas, it would be worth it.

"Mom, I love Nick and we are getting married in Dallas whether you like it or not," Sara finally spoke to her mother. "I don't care if you want to come or not, but the wedding will be at the church where his parents and siblings had their weddings. Nick and I want that tradition to continue."

"Listen to Sara," Nick pleaded with his future mother-in-law. "This means a lot to her and me. I love your daughter so much and marrying her in Dallas is what we both want. I know you might have wanted to fly my family to the Bay area for the wedding. However, Sara and I chose to have the wedding here. Just give her a sense of tradition that you never had. The church is a very beautiful one and it complements Sara well. You have a very beautiful and smart daughter and she deserves to be married in a place that suits her. You will make a big major mistake if you deny us this opportunity."

"Nicholas Anthony Stokes, you are a man of reason and with the power of persuasion," Alexandra said calmly then her tone turned cold. "I'll let you have the wedding in Dallas, but I won't go."

A moment later, they hung up. Nick, Sara, Thomas and Cynthia were silently processing what just transpired with the phone call. Cynthia couldn't believe that her future daughter-in-law could have a mother that was either an irrational idiot or just plain unreasonable. Thomas wanted to personally go to Tamales Bay and give Alexandra and her husband Michael a piece of his mind. Nick and Sara were proud of their victory.

"You think that my mother won't come like she had threatened," Sara said breaking the silence. "My dad will drag that woman's irrational ass to the Dallas bound plane, to the hotel and to the church. He has to give me away! She is the mother of the bride!"

"Sara, I am sure Grissom would have that honor of giving you away," Nick said. "That is if your parents won't come."

"No, I think Brass would have a better choice for giving me away," Sara said. "Maybe even Dr. Robbins."

"Everything's going to work out fine," Nick said pulling her in an embrace. "I won't let some party poopers ruin our big day."

(End flashback, return to Dallas, December 27, 2004)

"My parents did show up and dad gave me away," Sara said. "Looking back, my mom really enjoyed herself. She was glad that she went to Dallas despite the fact she was almost arrested at San Francisco International Airport for threatening an airline counter agent. Dad had her sedated after they went through security."

"How come I have never heard this story before?" Nick asked with a chuckle.

"I didn't hear it until I got an email from my brother before we left Vegas a few days ago," Sara said. "That was news to me too."

"Yuck, I don't know what possessed my mom to put that awful photo of my cousin Eddie dancing the Chicken," Nick said looking at a photo in the scrapbook.

"Nick, do you remember this one?" Sara said quickly turning the page to spare Nick from any further visual trauma. "This was Tim Speedle and Calleigh Duquesne posing after she caught the bouquet and he caught the garter."

"Yeah, they were married about six weeks after we did," Nick said. "Grissom was nice enough to allow us to go to Miami for the wedding. I was one of Tim's groomsmen and you were Calleigh's matron of honor. We had a lot of fun there."

"I want to kill that fucking punk kid," Sara said as she and Nick looked at another photo. "My nephew was lying on the floor looking up Louise's dress. Why did they take a picture of something so perverted? How come it is in the scrapbook?"

"Well, whoever took that photo wanted one of Louise dancing," Nick said. "It is very likely that he or she didn't know that fucking stupid punk was one the floor. If I had known that, I would have used my connections with the Dallas Police Department. That kid's scrawny ass would have been arrested and likely had to encounter his aunt's father-in-law in court. He would have had Texas style justice coming out his ears."

"I love the way you think," Sara said. "Let's watch the video of our wedding, I want to see what those photos missed."

Sara turned on the television and put the tape in the VCR. She hit play and it started with an animated intro with graphics saying 'Nick and Sara's Wedding, May 28, 2004, Dallas, Texas, USA'. It started with procession of two of Nick's nieces as flower girls daintily dropping flower petals down the aisle. That was followed by one of his nephews as the ring bearer. The best man, Tom, and groomsmen, Grissom, Brass, Tim, Warrick, Greg and two of Nick's friends, were already at altar. The bridal party consisted of Nick's sisters, nieces, Catherine Willows, their colleague and Nick and Sara's friend Calleigh Duquesne. Everyone in the bridal party was wearing burgundy satin dresses with a delicate looking lilac lace pattern covering the bodice. Those dresses were custom made since Sara wanted the two theme colors. They looked gorgeous.

"Here comes the biggest moment," Nick said almost fighting Sara's hand for the remaining popcorn. "When my dad sees this, he chokes up."

"It is my favorite moment," Sara said.

The 'Wedding March' piece started to play. Sara wore a simple and elegant looking wedding gown and part of her veil covered her face. She was carrying a small bouquet of burgundy and ivory colored carnations, tea roses and a spray of lilacs. Michael Sidle linked his arm to his daughter's and they proceeded down the aisle. Nick was wearing a black tuxedo, matching dress slacks, a white button down shirt and a burgundy necktie. When he saw Sara approach him and her father unveiled her face, he had a grin and there was a tear in eye. He wanted to compliment her, but that would have to wait until after the ceremony.

The ceremony started after Michael said he was giving away his daughter to Nick and kissed her on the cheek. Nick took Sara's hand and they approached the minister. The vows and wedding rings were exchanged. Sara did her best not to cry since she didn't want to ruin her makeup. Cynthia was seated in the front row right side and she was crying. Alexandra, who was dragged to Dallas kicking and screaming, sat directly across the aisle from her son-in-law's mother also cried.

"By the power vested in me and in the state of Texas," the minister said. "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Nick gently pulled his bride into an embrace and they kissed.

"It brings me a great honor when I say this," the minister said. "Let's give a warm Texas size first time introduction to Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Anthony Stokes."

Nick and Sara walked up the aisle happily in shock and disbelief of what had just happened. Sara wondered if this was all a dream and somebody had to pinch her. Nick was looking forward to the surprise that awaited them outside the church after the guests threw birdseed at them and photos were taken. The newlyweds would get to the place of the reception by a horse drawn carriage.

"You are the most beautiful bride in the world," Nick finally said to his wife.

"And you are the most handsome groom in the universe," Sara said.

Suddenly the tape cut to the start of the reception with everyone finding their assigned seats. Heather was chasing after two of her daughters to get them off the seats that were especially reserved for Nick and Sara. Calleigh Duquesne and Tim Speedle were sitting at the table with Warrick and his girlfriend, Grissom and Catherine, Brass and his daughter Ellie, Dr. Robbins and his wife and Greg with a girl nobody really knew. Sabrina's three sons were running around and their mother had to stop them before they destroyed something. Suddenly, everyone, now seated, was waiting for Nick and Sara to arrive. As they entered the hall, the announcement was made.

"Here they are," the MC said. "Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Stokes have just arrived! Now you have to do the tradition first dance as husband and wife."

The DJ played the song that Nick and Sara selected as their song. They were dancing and lip synching. Bolero by Ravelle played and that was when Michael danced with his daughter and Cynthia danced with her son. Everyone took turns dancing with the bride and groom.

Nick suddenly stopped the tape.

"What are you doing?" Sara asked.

"I am going downstairs to make more popcorn," Nick said.

"Can I help?" Sara asked.

"Sure, you can," Nick said.

They both went down to the kitchen. Nick placed the bowl on the counter and opened the pantry. He took out the package containing the unpopped kernels and butter flavored oil. He placed it the microwave for the amount of time according to the instructions. While waiting, open a cabinet door and took out two coffee mugs. Sara was sitting at the kitchen table wondering what Nick was doing.

"Sara, do you want coffee or tea?" he asked.

"I would like a cup of herbal tea," she said. "I want a break from coffee."

"How does this green tea with roasted brown rice sound?" he asked.

"That sound interesting," she replied. "I have always wanted to try it!"

Nick took a teapot a filled with enough water for the two of them. Meanwhile the water was getting heated, Nick tend to the popcorn. He carefully emptied the contents into the bowl and went upstairs. Sara kept an eye on the water until Nick returned. When he did the water started to boil and Sara turned off the stove. He took out two teabags and placed one in each cup. He poured the water into the cups and waited a few minutes before carefully taking out the teabags and squeezing some of the liquid into each cup. Nick and Sara took one cup and went back upstairs.

"Nick, can we fast forward to the part when Greg makes an ass of himself?" Sara asked with a whiny tone in her voice. "He is dancing with that girl and he acts like a total idiot."

"Only if we could see the bouquet and garter tosses," Nick said. "And when we cut the cake and fed each our pieces of the cake. Oh, I forgot then end part when there is a montage of photos of us when we were babies, kids, teenagers and young adults. Do we have a deal?"

"Yes, we do," Sara said successfully hiding her reluctance.

Nick played the tape and fast forwarded it to the moment before Greg Sanders made a total ass of himself. At first, he didn't understand why Sara wanted to see the lab rat turned CSI behave like a lunatic. Then he realized that it was the most hilarious moment of the reception. Maybe he could have used the footage to blackmail the spiky haired CSI. When that moment came, both Sara and Nick were laughing at the way Greg danced with his girl of the moment.

"I wonder who put a live piranha in his boxer shorts," Sara said.

"No, I think it is his pet goldfish that taught him to dance," Nick said. "We should remind Grissom and Catherine not to invite Greg to the reception. He can still come to their wedding."

"Nick, that is not fair," Sara said. "I think Grissom and Catherine should still invite Greg. That way, if things get boring during the reception, we have a weasel to provide our fellow guest with some amusement."

"Damn, I love it when you make a good point," Nick said.

The time came in the tape for the bouquet toss. All the single and engaged women gathered around and Sara was standing a few feet in front them. She had her back turned to them and toss her bouquet. A moment later, she turned around and saw it was her friend Calleigh Duquesne, a CSI with the Miami-Dade Police Department, who caught the bouquet. They both posed for a picture.

A few moments later, Sara was sitting on a chair. She pulled part of the bottom of the dress. Her right leg was lifted so Nick could remove her garter. There was already a crowd of single and engaged men gathered waiting to catch it. Nick was several feet away from them and his back was facing them. He tossed back the garter. Tim Speedle, Nick's friend and Calleigh's colleague and fiancé, caught it.

Nick fast forwarded the taped to when it was time for him and Sara to cut the cake and everyone had the champagne toast. They cut two small pieces of the 5 tiered chocolate wedding cake that was filled with vanilla custard and topped with fondant and beautifully decorate with burgundy and lilac fondant flowers. Nick and Sara linked arms so they could feed each other the cake. Someone else cut pieces of it and served it to the guests. Champagne was also being served and that was the cue for the toast by the best man, Tom Stokes.

"When my kid brother Nick asked me to be his best man for his wedding," Tom said. "At first, I admit that it was a tough decision and I wasn't sure if he wanted any his friends to do it. Then, I realized that it was an honor to be his best man and I agreed to it. Today, Nick married the girl he was mesmerized with since the day she walked into his life. Sara, let me say welcome to the Stokes family. I remember that October 2000 day that Nick called me and told me that he saw the woman he was going to marry while he was throwing dummies off a hotel rooftop. I think our parents and sisters got that same phone call. I guess since then he couldn't stop talking to us about Sara. Our parents told him to bring her over to Dallas to meet her. When he finally did, we knew that she would eventually become part of our family. That day is today and we couldn't be any happier. I would like to propose a toast to Nick and Sara on their special day and many more!"

Tom lifted his champagne glass and everyone followed.

"To Nick and Sara," everyone said.

"I have known Nick for nearly seven years and Sara for nearly four," Catherine said. "I had witnessed first hand that these two were meant for each other. It just took some time and a few near misses. Even our colleagues took notice, including our boss Gil Grissom. After Nick proposed to Sara, we knew that it was getting to the point that this was serious and for real. Sara asked me to be her maid of honor and I immediately jumped at the chance. We didn't start out as good friends, but now, Sara considers me the big sister she never had. My toast to Nick and Sara would be may you have many happy days!"

"To many happy days," everyone said.

Sara fast forwarded the tape to the montage of photos of her and Nick growing up from babies to married CSIs. There was an alternating pattern between Nick's photos and Sara's. She saw a picture of Nick as a baby. He definitely was born with the Stokes charm, Sara thought. Nick saw one of Sara when she was a little girl with pigtails and a cute smile. He couldn't believe that little girl grew up and married him. They were both laughing at each other's teen year photos. Nick focused his attention to a photo of Sara and a friend that was taken in Boston during the wintertime. Sara looked good with snow, he thought. Sara looked with intrigue at a picture of Nick and a few of his fraternity brothers singing some song at a karaoke night. The final photo brought tears to their eyes was the one taken during their engagement party and it was the one Grissom took.

"It was a lot of fun," Nick said.

"Do you mean watching the video of our wedding day?" Sara asked. "Or is it the actual day?"

"Both were lots of fun," Nick beamed. "We did have to fast forward a few things while watching the tape, but it was cool to watch the good parts."

"Thank you for sparing me another look at your cousin Eddie dancing the chicken," Sara said.

"Sara, the sight of my idiot cousin dancing like that would even make his mom's sister vomit," Nick confessed. "I refuse to show that and can't believe production service didn't edit it out."

Nick stopped the tape, rewound it, took it out of the VCR and placed it in it case. Along with Sara, he finished looking at the scrapbook. Sara helped him put the tape and book back where Nick found them. They went back to their room and watched some Discovery Channel while they finish drinking their tea and eating the popcorn.

"I love you, Nick," Sara said embracing him.

"I love you, too, Sara," Nick said giving her a gentle kiss.

TBC