Disclaimer: (is planning a new plan to take over the CBS HQ...) Maybe for the sequel, eh?(stops to think about what she just said) Then again, that's if the inspiration tells me I need a sequel...
Notes: Gelf, for guessing ahead of time what the surprise was, you get two plushies - a Shalimar and an Emma plushie, for you to do whatever you wish to do with them. (presents plushies to gelf ceremoniously) :)
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Chapter 19 – Epilogue
"Happy birthday, Daddy." Alex leaned in to give her father a kiss on his cheek. Adam grinned, hugging her.
Holding out a gaily – if not neatly – wrapped present, Alex grinned at her father, who took it, thanking her.
"I thought I said no presents this year," he grinned, shaking the box gently as he tried to guess what was inside. Nodding at Alex's obviously pregnant form, he added, "The grandchildren are more than enough for an old man like me."
"Don't be silly, you're not that old." Alex smiled. "And you said I couldn't give you any presents, but that rule didn't apply to Nick. He bought it. I wrapped it – and we hope you like it."
Her husband sauntered up just then, wrapping an arm around his wife's shoulders as he wished his father-in-law a happy birthday.
"Thanks for the present, Nick." Adam shook it again, asking, "What's inside?"
"Nothing special, Adam, just a new shirt," answered Nick, before he turned to his wife. "By the way, Chris has been yelling for you for the past twenty minutes."
His wife sighed and said, "I'll go see to him, then."
She didn't have to go very far, Greg came running by just then, pursued by Nick and Alex's three-year-old son, Christopher Adam Stokes, and Chris' twin sister, Ava Gillian. Both twins had inherited their father's darkly handsome looks and their mother's love of mischief.
"Greg!" squealed Ava in delight as they finally caught up to the panting lab tech, who was wondering why he had even started this game of tag.
"We caught you!" sang Chris proudly.
"And I've caught you!" said Alex, scooping up her son quickly. He giggled, snuggling into her arms as his father rescued Greg from Ava.
"Just promise me the next one will be quiet," pleaded Greg dramatically, pretending to faint.
Hiding a smile, Alex had a sudden vision of Greg being pursued by three noisy children in the years to come, and she quietly said, "We'll see, Greg."
Nick set Ava on the ground and offered, "Here, let me take Chris. You're tired."
"I'm not that tired," replied Alex firmly, but she allowed Nick to take her little boy from her arms and help her to a chair.
Looking up, Alex found that she was finally…content and happy with how her life had turned out. In all her wildest visions, she had never foreseen this sort of happiness – she sighed, looking around at her family and her friends in her CSI family who were gathered here for Adam's birthday party.
Nick settled in a chair beside her just then. Ava had dropped off to sleep in his arms, and Alex felt relieved.
"You know," Nick said, turning to her. "Adam said there's a possibility that the twins have inherited your 'gifts'."
"I know," Alex sighed. She reached over to ruffle Ava's hair, smiling softly at her daughter. "It's 50-50, since you're a perfectly normal human being – lucky dog," she teased.
He grinned, leaning in, his tone of voice seductive as he said, "You know, later tonight I could show you exactly how 'abnormal' I can be if I want…"
"Nick," Alex said, doing her best imitation of her mother, "Not in front of the children."
He laughed, but quietly, so he wouldn't wake Ava. "Well," he said, "If they do inherit your powers, I can't promise that I'll be able to help much…but I promise to stand by you no matter what."
"Cause you love me and all that?" asked Alex, smiling.
"Yeah, cause I love you and all that," agreed Nick. He leaned in to kiss her, then rose and said, "I'd better get our two troublemakers to sleep. You rest up, okay? I'll be back."
"Okay," Alex agreed meekly, watching him as he walked away. Her eyes widened as over his shoulder, little Ava stirred, and raising a hand, she literally produced a tiny spark of electricity from the ends of her fingers, giggling as she did so.
"Oh," breathed Alex. Her husband hadn't yet noticed, but wait till she managed to tell him…
"So, I guess it does run in the family after all."
Alex turned to see Grissom, standing just behind her. The entomologist had reacted well to becoming a grandfather, and had been even more pleased when they had given their daughter the name "Gillian" as a second name.
"You knew?" Alex asked, not really surprised, but curious. "You knew about my powers all along?"
"Adam and I sat down for a heart-to-heart while you were on your honeymoon a few years back," replied Gil. He shrugged. "He didn't tell me everything, but he told me enough for me to understand that you were different."
She was silent for a moment, before she asked, "Do you mind?"
He thought that over, then replied, "Honestly? No. It's not whether we have powers or not that makes us who we are, Alex. It's what we have in here that counts." And he placed her hand over her heart.
"Your mother taught me that," he smiled. "And I think she's right. And maybe, just maybe, you and Nick are the key to teaching the rest of the world that important little message as well."
Finishing, he smiledand said, "You've built a bridge of love between our two worlds, and the other thing your mom taught me is that a bridge built out of love is more powerful than any other, and will withstand the test of time better than steel or concrete ever will."
And with that thought, Gil left, and Alex nodded slowly to herself as she took in all that he had said.
"Hey," Nick's voice said, and she turned to him. "The others are about ready to cut the cake."
She took the offered hand, and gave him a kiss.
"What was that for?" asked Nick, when she pulled away. "Not that I'm complaining."
She smiled. "That's my secret," she answered. "But mostly, it's because I love you."
"Now," she said, turning to walk ahead,"Let's go cut that cake."
The End-
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Well, that's it people! The fic that I started so long ago (last year) has finally ended! (sobs) And it's (sniff) time to say... (sniffles more) goodbye!
(bursts into tears)
Right, to all my reviewers, who have stuck with me until now, I thank you all so much for your support and friendship as I wrote this fic. (blows nose loudly) This is the final time I will do shout-outs for Gifts and Curses, and I just wanna say I will miss everyone a lot - of course, there is always the possibility of a sequel. Maybe. I dunno. I have to think about it.
(You guys convincing me to do a sequel in your final reviews would help a lot, i think. >:) )
Shout-outs:
love N/S - I think George looks good no matter what, but lately his almost bald head has been annoying. i'm glad it grows back. (hugs) I'll miss you! You've been here since the start. (sniffles) But anyway, my e-mail is in my profile if you ever wanna contact me.
gelf - Do you have recently discovered psionic abilities? How did you guess? (sticks tongue out at gelf) Anyway, you got your plushies, so... And don't you have a fic to finish?
CatherineLouise - (stage whisper) Don't worry, dear. I dance with my Nick plushie all the time. You'll learn to ignore the stares and whispers. What do those people know about anything, right? Insane is fun! (cue evil laugh)
SpectralLady - Your dog's allowed in the house? You're so lucky - mine have to stay outside in the yard. And hide that plushie well...i might not be around to give you another if you lose it.
Kat Hawkins - A cow? (tummy rumbles) Just for me? Aw...that's sweet of you. (looks hungrily around) So, where is it?
And her fathers...well. They reacted quite well, didn't they?
Okay, that's it! This fic is over, time for me to send you all home, i've kept you guys here long enough...
(bawls some more)
(sniffles) I can't let you go! I think I need therapy.
(goes off to see her shrink Dr Kilmartin)
And people! People! Yoo-hoo! Don't forget to drop me one final review!
(cries into Dr Kilmartin's shirt at the word "final". Dr Kilmartinscribbles on his clipboard, and pats RK9 on the back)
Dr Kilmartin: Right. Um. I'll take care of her. You guys can go now. Thanks for everything! (sighs as RK9 dissolves into more tears) What am I gonna do with her now?
