Sara Meets The Stokes

Pairing: Nick and Sara

After arriving at Dallas-Fort Worth airport, Nick introduces Sara to his brother and niece Eliana Stokes. When they arrive at Stokes Manor, Sara meets Nick's mother and a few other family members.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the CSI characters. I only own Nick's family.

Meeting the Stokes, Part One

Nick and Sara were waiting in baggage claim to pick up their suitcases. Actually, Nick would pick both of them up since he didn't want Sara to get hers. Sara thought chivalry went out with the vassals, but it was alive and well in 2003. Most of Sara wanted this treatment, but a tiny part of her wondered if it will ever stop. She didn't care, she's got Nick.

"Uncle Nicky, you are really here!" a teenage girl shrieked running towards the couple and focusing her attention on Sara. "You must be the Sara that I hear so much about-"

"Sara, this is my niece Eliana," Nick said. "She is my brother's oldest daughter. Eliana, this is my girlfriend Sara Sidle. She is a CSI just like me."

Almost immediately a man looking like a slightly older version of Nick approached the three people.

"Nick, it's great that you came!" the man said. "Where is that little lady of yours? You have to introduce me to her."

"Tom, this is the Sara Sidle," Nick said. "I have been telling you about her for nearly three years."

"My baby brother has been telling us a lot about you," Tom said. "Don't worry, it's been all good things. I would have to kick his ass if he even thinks of saying one negative thing about you."

"Uncle Nick, Sara, how was the flight from Vegas?" Eliana asked.

"It was great," Nick said. "We fell asleep about an hour into the flight. I got us first class seats and we were spoiled."

"Wow, you are spoiling Sara," Eliana said with a giggle. "Sara, you will definitely be treated like a queen!"

"Eliana, let's get your uncle and his girlfriend to Stokes Manor or grandma will have a major fit," Tom said. "They both need rest after a flight. Listen, you will still see them later. Your mother, Trey and Louise have yet to meet Sara. In fact, the rest of the family needs to meet her."

"You see, Sara, they are looking forward to meeting you," Nick whispered into Sara's ear. "My brother and niece already love you!"

Tom helped them bring their suitcases to his car. Nick sat in front with his brother meanwhile Sara and Eliana sat in the back. Both Sara and Nick wanted to sleep in the car, but with a chatty teenage girl in the car, it was impossible. Sleep would have to wait until they got to Stokes Manor.

"Eliana, did you start high school, yet?" Sara asked.

"I am already in high school," she replied. "I am going be a sophomore soon. I go to the same high school as some of my cousins."

"Yeah, some of their teachers think that they are all siblings," Tom said with a chuckle. "But not all of them are."

"I can imagine you driving those teachers crazy at times," Sara said.

"We try not to," Eliana said.

"I heard you mention Stokes Manor," Sara said changing the subject. "What is that place?"

"It is our childhood home," Nick said. "It is a very big spacious house with 12 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms. From 1958, when my sister Kathleen was born until I was born in 1971, my parents had to expand the house to accommodate the growing family. They included a few extra bedrooms and bathrooms for guests. On the premises, there are two small guest houses, an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, a multipurpose backyard, a small garden and a horse farm."

"Wow, it must have been fun growing up in a place like that," Sara observed.

"Yeah, it was," Nick smiled.

An hour later, Tom pulled into a driveway. Nick knew that they had arrived at Stokes Manor. Tom and Eliana got out of the car and entered the immense house, but not before telling Nick and Sara to stay in the car. A few moments later, the forty-something man and the teenage girl were accompanied by a woman in her early 70s. She saw Nick and he saw her. He immediately unfastened his seat belt and got out of the car.

"My baby boy has come home!" the older woman said.

"Mom, it's great to see you!" Nick said embracing her. "Now, I want you to meet-"

"Oh my God!" Nick's mother shrieked as she saw the young woman sitting in Tom's car. "Sara, is that you? Get out of the car, girl, and let me see you!"

Before Nick could even say anything to interrupt his happy mother, Sara got out of the car. She approached the older woman and smiled.

"Yes, Mrs. Stokes, I am Sara Sidle," Sara said. "Your son has told me a lot about you."

"Nicholas has told me plenty about you, too," she said. "Please, call me Cynthia!"

The two women embraced like they were long lost friends.

"Tom, help your brother with his and Sara's suitcase," Cynthia said. "Eliana, Sara and I are going inside the house. I am going to introduce her to Audrey, Trey and Louise. You guys can join us as soon as you put the baggage upstairs."

"What about your husband, Nick's father?" Sara asked.

"He called and let me know that he was leaving the court for a vacation," Cynthia said. "He is a judge working in Austin. I don't see him much, but I am glad that he is taking some time off to see his kids and grandkids. He's also looking forward to meeting the girl who finally caught our youngest child."

"I am looking forward to meeting him and the rest of the family," Sara smiled.

"I wouldn't be surprised if you will become a part of the family in the near future," Cynthia whispered.

That comment caught Sara off guard. She and Nick have been dating for three months and marriage wasn't on their minds as of yet. True, they met after Gil Grissom recruited her out of the San Francisco Crime Lab to investigate Warrick Brown after Holly Gribbs was shot. Nick and Sara could have been together a lot sooner if it weren't for some near misses and that Sara was dating Hank who turned out to be a piece of human garbage.

"Sara, are you okay?" Cynthia said. "Did I say something that put you in a daze?"

"Just that part about me becoming a part of your family threw me off guard," Sara said. "I am sorry if I offended you."

"Sara, I should be the one apologizing here," Cynthia said. "I shouldn't rush you and my son into marriage. I was just thinking aloud. Nick loves you dearly."

"I know he does," Sara said giving Cynthia a soft pat on the shoulder.

Meanwhile outside the house

"Nick, I think you finally found that perfect girl," Tom said. "That Sara is cute!"

"She is also smart and tough," Nick smiled. "I love her and she loves me."

"Is it true you first laid eyes on her when you were tossing dummies off a hotel rooftop?" Tom said. "Or is it going to be a part of some Stokes family legend?"

"It's true, not a family legend," Nick smiled. "I saw her talking to our boss when she first arrived in Vegas. My heart was fluttering with joy when I looked at her."

"Do you think she will be my sister-in-law?" Tom asked.

"Tom, we haven't gotten to that point yet," Nick said. "I don't want to scare Sara away by rushing things. Yes, I would like to marry her, but we hope to cross that bridge when we get there."

"Let's just get inside the house before Mom, Audrey, Sara and the kids have to call the Dallas Police Department to search for us," Tom said with a chuckle and shaking his head.

"The search party wouldn't last long," Nick said. "Don't forget I used work for them for a few years. There will be plenty of reunions. The chief would have sent more officers to Stokes Manor to retrieve the wayward cops and CSIs of the DPD."

"Nick, shut up and let's get in the house," Tom said sarcastically.

After the two men put Nick's suitcase in his old room and Sara's in one of their sister's old room, they joined the women, girls and a teenage boy in the living room. Nick found an empty seat on the couch next to Sara and sat next to her. He snaked his arm around her waist and pull her closer to him. She laid her head on his shoulder.

"Tom, Nick, I am glad that you decided grace us with your presence," Cynthia said. "I already introduce Sara to Audrey and the other kids. I am brewing some coffee, but it will be enough for every one here."

"Nick, I just had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Sara," Audrey said. "She is bright and lovely. You are a very lucky man."

"Thank you," Nick smiled and planted a kiss on Sara's forehead.

They spent the next hour talking more and drinking coffee. When Tom saw Nick and Sara's eyelids growing heavier, that was the cue for him and his family to go home. They each told Sara that it was a pleasure to finally meet her and she said the same for them. After they left, Nick got up and help his mother with the dishes. Sara wanted to help, but Nick insisted that she stay seated. She fell asleep on the couch. Cynthia gently woke her up.

"Sara, I had spoken to my daughters and they will come by with their families tomorrow," Cynthia said. "They understand that you and Nick had just arrived and are exhausted from the flight."

"Mom, I'll take Sara up to her room," Nick said.

"Nick, your father called," Cynthia said. "He also won't be here until tomorrow. He is having dinner with a colleague and will stay in Austin for another night. Now, the two of you just get some rest, I will wake you up for dinner."

Nick and Sara went upstairs. He showed her his old bedroom and it looked like a young man's room with posters of favorite sports teams. There was a fraternity paddle hanging on the wall. There was a desk with a chair, a bookshelf with a few books, a dresser with a picture frame and a bed.

"I guess this place hadn't changed since I moved to Las Vegas," Nick said.

"This is an awesome room," Sara said.

"Thank you," Nick said.

Sara had been to Nick's place several times and it looked different from his room. It was a bachelor pad, but it started to look more like it belong to a man that was willing to settle down. His old bedroom looked more like a young man's fantasy.

Nick took Sara to her room. It was feminine looking, indicating that it once belonged to one of Nick's sisters. The walls were painted a soft lilac color and the furniture reflected the room's femininity. Sara spent a few moments looking around and started to love the place she would be staying for a week in.

"Sara, I am going to my room," Nick said. "We are both exhausted from the flight and we need some rest. I'll see you at dinner tonight. I love you!"

"I love you, too," Sara said.

He pulled her into an embrace and they kissed. A few moments later, they were in their rooms asleep.

TBC