I wake in the morning deliciously satisfied and aching in all the right ways. I smile as I look at my lover. I hope he stays. I hope I don't have to dream about this and more, that it becomes a daily occurance. I shudder, suddenly all of my happiness gone, and I wonder. I wonder if he'll stay. I wonder if he did this all out of pity. I wonder if he loves me, I know I said 'I love you' to him a few times last night.

Gil begins to stir, and I brace myself for the rejection. He wakes slowly, turning to look at me with a puzzled expression on his face. I flush and look away, wishing he would say something. A slow comprehension dawns as he sees our clothes strewn about the room. I can't take the silence, "Fuck Gil, say something!"

He turns to me, expression guarded. Then the mask slips, and he looks sad. My mortification must have shown for when he speaks it's with a tenderness I've never known. "Cath, just to confirm, last night, ah, we, ah, did we…?"

I choke back a sob and nod.

"Then I want you to know, I've loved you for a long time. I wish I'd had the courage to tell you sooner, or even last night… I'm not going anywhere. I love you and I'll be here for you from now until I die."

I look at him, eyes wide, tears running down my face. I can't believe what he just said. I'm still digesting his words when he smirks and says, "Fuck Cath, say something!"

I give a watery smile. "Gil, you can't imagine how long I've waited to hear you say those words." Doubt creeps into my voice, "Do you really love me?"

"Yes."

That has to be the simplest answer given by Gil Grissom. I smile at the thought.

"Catherine, I don't normally do this, make love before the date that is. So do you think that tonight you and I can have dinner?"

I'm surprised, I never pictured Gil as the type to romance a woman. What the hell… "I'd love to have dinner with you."

He smiles, slips from the bed, and then into his clothes. He sees my baffled expression, and explains, "I have some things I need to take care of. I'll be here to pick you up at eight o'clock." As he walks out of the room he calls, "Dress up!"

I slip under the covers, a smile plastered to my face and decide to get a bit more sleep before going to get ready.

I look at the clock as I wake and almost scream. It's five o'clock, I only have three hours until Gil comes back.

I walk to my closet to find a dress that's fitting. As I search through numerous black dresses, I frown. I can't quite find the right one. My mind jumps to the gorgeous dress one of my exes gave to me. I smile happily, it's perfect.

At precisely eight o'clock, a knock at the door make me look away from the mirror. I call out, "It's open!"

"Catherine?"

"I'll be there in a minute."

I can almost feel his anticipation. I look myself over one last time. Hair done in an elegant twist with curls falling at perfect angles. A small gold heart pendant that Gil gave me for Christmas last year is hanging around my neck. A black dress that falls to mid-thigh, thick off the sholder straps that make an X across my chest covering in just the right places, and the odvious implication that I'm not nearly as modest as most people think.

I smile, take a deep breath, and walk to the living room. I cough slightly to draw his attention away from the bookshelf, and he spins around. His reaction is what I was going for. His jaw drops, and he makes a few inarticulate sounds in his throat. This is one for the records, Gil Grissom left speechless.

"I believe the words you're searching for are, 'Fuck Catherine, You look good!'" I smirk, excited to have impressed him.

"You do love… Damn do you… Ah, shall we be going then?"

"Yes, we shall."