Snapshots Part Two

A/N Kisses and rainbows to my betas Joan and Griot. As always let me know what you think.

"No," Sara said.

"Why not?" Gil pulled his son's fingers from his hair. Justin reached for another handful and bounced on his father's chest.

"Da," the boy said over and over again.

"I don't get that," Sara said as she laid down beside the two male Grissom's. "He won't say Momma but he says Daddy."

Justin blew bubbles of spit much to his father's delight.

"Why?" Gil asked.

"Because it's too soon. We just started counseling. We can't just move in together."

"We aren't moving. We are knocking out two walls." Gil held up two fingers for his son to see. Justin grabbed at the fingers.

"You are so good with him," Sara sighed as she kissed Gil's forehead.

"It's not helping me convince me you to knock out the walls," Gil lamented, savoring the feel of her lips on his cool skin."

xxx

"So can we move in together now?" Gil asked impatiently as he played with the fingers on Sara's hand.

Dr. Sing looked from Gil to Sara. "Is that why you come here Gil, to convince Sara to move in with you?"

"Yes," He said truthfully.

Sara cut her eyes at him stunned that he actually admitted it. "Gil.."

"No. No." Dr. Sing held up a hand. "It's honest. That's how he feels. There are worse reasons to come to counseling. I will tell you, Dr. Grissom, that we are almost there. Fair enough?"

Gil nodded, gripping Sara's hand tighter.

"If I can get you to articulate why you were so hesitant about becoming a father"

Sara felt heat sear through her body. "Do we have to talk about this?" Sara wanted to know. Her eyes were filled with pain.

"Why don't you want to talk about it, Sara?" Dr. Sing asked.

She looked at Gil. "It makes him sad. When he's sad, Justin and I are sad."

xxx

Sara was hovering between sated reality and erotic contemplation.

"Happy Birthday," he said, sleepily trying to fight the wave of drowsiness that was engulfing both of them.

"It's not my birthday yet," she whispered back.

Her body was draped over his. The ceiling fan cooled their sweating forms. Sometimes she needed the tangibility of his body to remind her that he was there and things were good between them.

"You were born at 12:14 a.m. It is now 12:15 a.m."

Sara didn't lift her head. He remembered what time she was born. She shuddered to think about the vegetarian incident. If she had left because he didn't realize that she didn't eat meat, she wouldn't have Justin or Gil.

"Open your eyes."

Sara did. "He pressed a thick white envelope in her hand."

"I know I am good, but it would be much less seemly if you left it on the nightstand."

She laughed as she ripped opened the envelope.

In it were all measure and sizes of traditional tickets and e-tickets. Tickets to concerts at the symphony and the opera. There were tickets to see Celine Dion and Norah Jones and Cassandra Wilson. There were tickets to David Copperfield and murder mystery games and Cirque du Soleil. Sara even found tickets to the Blue Men Group, which Gil loathed.

They all had different dates for the next year.

Sara kissed him hard, enjoying the taste of their mingled juices on his tongue. "We have dates for the next year. We have real dates for the entire next year. Wait till I go to playgroup. Who cares about Judith Winestock and her Escalade. I have tickets. Tickets to grown up events."

"Actually we have a date every other week for the next year. I have secured Lindsey, a Red Cross trained babysitter for normal hourly rate plus Algebra tutoring."

Sara took the tickets and fanned them over her naked body.

"Tickets," she sighed.

"And the dates start in exactly one month."

"One month? Why so long? What do I care? I wonder if Judy Winestock is up this late. You know what? I don't think I care. I am so sick of her perfect twins and her life and her perfect husband."

Gil slapped her naked ass. "Honey, you are rambling."

"Sorry."

"Don't you want to know why we start in a month?"

Sara kissed his beard. "Because we are going to Hawaii for a week vacation."

Sara licked dried sweat from his neck. Gil felt sensual rumblings in his belly.

"Actually we are going to Bermuda' for ten days."

Sara stopped and looked into Gil's clear eyes. "What..."

"And before you say it. It's a family friendly resort so we don't heave to leave Justin. They have childcare so we can have a little time alone."

He was stunned to see Sara dissolve in tears.

xxx

The cool breeze lifted the curtains of Gil and Sara's resort suite. He wasn't snoring and he hardly woke up congested like he did in Vegas. She would purchase a humidifier for their room. She would scent it with lavender and vanilla.

He is so good to me. Why can't I just let this marriage thing go? He's changed for the better. He's a good man. He loves me. I love him. We have a beautiful son.

Why can't I just be happy with that?

She kissed him quickly and he smiled in his sleep. She snuggled close to him and tried to be thankful for a happy, healthy family.

Sara sat across from the other couple, the Andersons. He was a biology professor. She was a Physics text book editor. They were a much better fit than the table mates from the day before, a used care salesman and a cocktail waitress.

When Andy and Sandy Hilton had eluded to the fact that they liked to swing, Gil had made their excuses and fled.

Tonight Ella Anderson had asked them how long they had been married. Gil had had responded that they weren't.

Sara was stunned to find herself embarrassed. She spent the rest of the meal starring into her lap.

Why couldn't she just tell Gil that the she wanted to get married?

Gil handed her a glass of champagne. His tie was loose. His jacket flung over a nearby chair. He looked young and sexy. Fatherhood had been good to him. It had wiped away years of jaded weariness. "You okay?"

Sara slipped her shoes off and propped them up on a rail of the balcony.

He admired her long, muscled legs. "You were quiet during dinner."

She smiled bravely and took a sip of the bubbly liquid. "I think I don't know what to do with myself with so much free time. Feels like I should be dong something."

He leaned over to kiss an ear. "You deserve it. You have made a good home for us."

xxx

The tall muscular man was not used to being intimidated by anyone. The only people he feared were his mother and his wife and now this slip of a one with the bourbon colored eyes.

The long limbed boy rested on her hip, thumb jammed into his mouth, blue eyes staring serene despite his mother's tirade.

"Another month, Jimbo?"

"My name is Jim."

"Look, Jimbo. You don't have another month. You have one week, as per our agreement. You remember that don't you, Jimbo? Our contract?"

The man tried again. "Yes ma'am. But I didn't know we would have to deal with structural integrity issues."

Sara covered her son's ears, much to his dismay. Mommy saying bad words always made for an exciting day.

"Jimbo, just say our foundation is shit. We know that Jimbo. We know that. We told you that."

She released her son's ears. He was starting to feel sorry for the man. His mother could be difficult. His father seemed to be the only person who could handle her when she was in one of her moods.

Sara hissed again. "You just wait until Grissom hears about this. He's going to take one of those dead bodies he works on and he's going to put the head in your truck, Jimbo."

xxx

"Honey."

Sara smiled as she heard Gil's voice. "When are you coming home? We miss you."

Gil dreaded what he was about to say. "I miss you guys too. Honey Jim called."

Sara glared at her son. Justin blew a spit bubble. His mother always thought he was in cahoots with his father. Mostly she was right.

"He says you yelled at him."

"Uh Huh."

"He says he's scared to come back out."

"Oh please. He's a six foot three, two hundred and fifty pound man. I weigh a buck twenty five with bricks in my pockets."

"He said you referred to dead bodies and heads."

Justin laughed. Sara hedged.

"It was a metaphor for our house."

"Right. Honey you can't scare Jim. You just can't. He's the best guy in town. He's a nice man. He's not a crook and he has four kids to feed, and a wife."

The children did Sara in.

xxx

Jim thrust a cake in Sara's direction and mumbled in his heavy Georgia accent. "My Naomi says I was to give you this."

Sara took the proffered treat and lifted the top off the carrier. "Chocolate chip pound cake," Sara said approvingly.

"My Naomi says I am supposed to apologize. I am not sure for what, but she said that anyone that has toddler should be allowed to cuss at any grown person. She also says I am supposed to knock off twenty percent."

Sara smiled. "Well my..." She was just about to say husband when it occurred to her that Gil was not her husband and it saddened her.

xxx

Gil walked down the long hallway, whistling a happy tune and flipping through his mail. He stopped when he saw the bubbles coming from the hall bathroom. Justin was soaking wet.

"I can't believe I said those words."

Justin's was glad that his father was finally home. His father was always far more reasonable than his mother. He could explain the crickets and the laundry detergent. His father would understand that it was an experiment. They were men of science. Gil Grissom could be reasoned with.

"What words?" Gil kissed Sara first then his son, lifting the boy from the floor, oblivious to his wet clothing. Sara remembered when she had tried to kiss her father one summer day, after playing in the fire hydrant. He had pushed her away. It was one of the only clear memories she had of the man.

"What did you do?" he said to Justin, who was on the verge of telling his father he was being maligned. He thought better of it when he realized that at least two of the crickets were dead. His father did not like dead bugs. He really should have thought his experiment out a bit more.

Sara huffed. "I, Sara Sidle, liberated woman said, 'Wait until your father comes home.'

Pride coursed through him as he found his son's wide eyes. Gil's own father had left and never come home. He looked into Justin's face. It never occurred to this little boy that Gil would not return.

He was surprised at the words that came out of his mouth. "I am quitting."

Justin let out the breath he had been holding and his father hugged his wet body close.

"Daddy's going to do some nice insect studies. Leave the criminals to someone who doesn't have the best little boy in the world."

xxx

Gil had been watching Dr. Phil and Oprah. They said that men were supposed to shoulder their share of responsibility with regard to housework if both parents worked.

Sara had finished her dissertation and was guiltily mulling over an offer from the university. Gil wanted to show her no one would suffer if she wanted to work full time.

That was what he was thinking as he emptied pockets, doing laundry while his son slept.

Justin was notorious for hording and hiding things in his pockets. Sara had discouraged the practice by spray painting a shoe box gold and gluing fake jewels on it. Now Justin mostly kept his treasures in there.

Absently he pulled something round from a pocket. He looked at the circles for a long moment.

A wedding band and an engagement ring.

He went to his kit and found his jeweler's loop.

Counterfeit.

He looked at the pants that he still had in one hand. They were Sara's favorite jeans.

He put the rings in the box he had carved himself in their backyard while watching his son chase butterflies. He tried to think what to do.

xxx

Gil liked how he felt when he walked in their front door laden with mail and purchases, calling out to his family. He felt strong and ridiculously middle class. He had it all. He had a family and the house and the mid sized sedan. Who would have ever thought Gil Grissom would lust after mediocrity?

Of course there was nothing mediocre about their lives. He had found the love of his life. They had a beautiful son. Sara was charging people ridiculous amounts of money for either of them to lecture or consult.

Those were his thought as he walked into his front door after his final hours as Night Shift Supervisor at the Las Vegas Forensics lab.

He carried chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of sparkling wine from one of their client's vineyards. He was just pondering the idea of Sara in the black thong he had purchased on a whim when he felt it.

A man knows his missteps and a smart man knows how to dodge them or rectify them. Gil wasn't sure what he had done as he found Sara in their office, but his mind searched for ways to minimize the damage.

She held the white paper lightly as if it stung or poisoned her.

"You bought that woman a ring."

"What..."

"You bought Vanessa an engagement ring." She eyed his purchases coolly. Her mouth was turned up to in a vicious grin.

"I..."

"Is this not a receipt for an engagement ring dated nine months after I gave birth to your sonour son?"

"It is a receipt for a ring" he admitted

Gil moved closer watching Sara's hand, her grip becoming tighter on the paper.

"And who did you buy said ring for?"

"Vanessa," Gil said simply. He needed more time than he had.

Sara read the receipt as if she were testifying in court. "One point six carats, color E, wow that's nearly colorless."

She stared at him for several seconds before she began to read again, only slower this time.

"Clarity VVS1 platinum engagement ring."

She nailed him with and volatile gaze. "The receipt says it was an engagement ring."

Sara looked in his hands. "Hmmm. I see champagne and chocolates and bag that probably contains a little skimpy number that you want me to parade my bare ass around in. How, you wonder, do I know that? Well I know that because I know you Gil Grissom. You like the idea of having it all. You like having the little woman that only works part time, whose turned your home into a regular showplace. The little woman that makes sure your son eats all his veggies and listens to the appropriate amount of Mozart verses Beethoven. The son who falls adoringly into your arms when you come home because his daddy is his hero. A notion the little woman encourages because she half idolizes him herself. She would never tell said son that his daddy didn't' want him before he was born. That he showed up after this little woman carried this little boy for nine months 7 days and two hours and twenty seven minutes and took to fathering like he did everything else, effortlessly."

Gil put down the packages on the leather chair that set to his right. Sara had searched six months until she found just the right chair.

He watched as Sara balled up the paper and drop it silently on the desk. Months of frustration bubbled to the surface and knocked the breath from him.

"Yes, Gilbert Grissom has it all. He has the homemaker at home. The smart professorial to show to his colleagues and his little whore in bed. Where she does everything but give him a menu of sexual delights to choose from. He has the perfect life. Hell he has the perfect wife. But I am not the little wife am I? Hell, I don't even see a plain wedding band, let alone a top shelf engagement ring."

The screaming started then. Sara's voice carrying through thick walls saying things that scared him and shamed him. Taking the champagne and smashing it against one wall.

"Play nice." That's what their son said from the doorway as he clutched his treasure chest that he cherished because his mother had made it just for him. Sara stopped cold and he knew what she was thinking. He saw it slide over her sharp features.

Her parents.

When she ran from the house, he did not try and stop her. That would only anger her more.

Take care of Justin first, she would say.

xxx

Gil dialed the number for what must have been the twentieth time. She had been gone for hours. He wasn't even sure if she had her cell phone.

Justin came into the empty living room. Gil had lain with him until he had fallen asleep. Now he was up again.

"Daddy still in trouble?" He wanted to know as Gil pulled him onto his lap, kissing the top of his curls.

"Yes."

"Telling stories bad. Mommy say never tell stories."

"She's right," Gil replied in a sad heavy voice.

"Bad," Justin admonished again as he pulled something from a hidden fold of his Spiderman pajamas. He pressed a red cellophane wrapped sucker and a penny with one side nearly rubbed off into his father's hands.

"Don't be sad, Daddy. Mommy don't stay mad always."

xxx

It was Warrick who found her playing slots at Circus Circus. She had been gone for nearly twelve hours. She had hoped for twenty four. She expected twelve.

"Only a mother would go to an amusement park to get away."

"Go away Warrick," Sara said wearily. "Just tell them you couldn't find me. Give me a few more hours, would ya?"

"You know I can't do that. Come on. Have you been drinking?" He was sure she hadn't, but needed to ask just in case.

"No."

"Win any money?"

"Two thousand dollars at roulette. Thousand at poker and Fifteen hundred dollars at poker."

Warrick dropped his voice. "Damn. How much you start with?"

"Couple hundred."

"We should get you mad more often. We all could retire. Now home to your Mister so the rest of us can get some sleep."

xxx

They were both sitting in the window when she pulled up with Warrick as an escort. Up and down went Justine Grissom as he screamed, "Mommy home."

Gil crossed himself for the first time in years.

xxx

He rubbed her back and gave her tea with a splash of brandy. He held her close and kissed her eyelids as tears escaped them.

Later, while smiling, he would chastise her for spoiling Justin with trips to Circus Circus every day for a week. He told her that he loved her. He told her that she was a good mother. He assured her that everything would be alright.

"You are not your parents." Sara returned skittish and melancholy insisting that she should leave Justin with him, until she could get her "temper" under control.

"Honey. Yes you got mad. Yes you screamed and you yelled and Justin was worried and maybe a little scared. But not traumatized. This is not a pattern. You don't do this all the time and you weren't' yelling at him. You were yelling at me. He knows that you would never do that."

His strong hands held the tea cup to her mouth. A tear splashed into the cup.

"The moment you realized that he was there. You left. You removed yourself from the situation. You are not a danger to Justin. Please let's just see what Doctor Sing says."

Sara made mewing sounds in the back of her throat and Gil was glad that she loved him enough, trusted him enough to let her guard down. "I don't want to be them."

"You aren't them. We aren't. "

He had talked to Dr. Sing quietly while Sara sat next to him on the long purple couch. She stared straight ahead as Gil detailed the pattern of her descent. He had known something was wrong but he had assumed things would be better when he was home more and able to help more with Justin.

She had been moody. She had always had a temper but recently things were different. There were snippy outbursts over nothing. Sleeping past noon. Crying jaunts in the bathroom.

Depression.

Chronic depression from which she had suffered for most of her life. She had self medicated herself with work and studying and seeking professional perfection.

Now with time to think and a less frantic pace, the grey despair surfaced.

Gil handed her the small pink pill. He held a glass of his home brewed root beer.

"How did you know?"

"Mom had it for awhile. Me too. When I was in college. Some after Holly was hurt."

He had called Dr. Sing and explained what he suspected. "You did? You took pills? I mean you took drugs. I thought it was all chemistry. You took them after Holly? "

Gil nodded. "It is. Situations sometimes prompt chemistry. Like if you are prone to ear infections and you swim often. "

"What else did Dr. Sing say?" She was frightened of the pill. A pill meant that you were weak and prone to lose control. A pill meant you had to depend on something outside of yourself and the people you loved.

"He said he is referring you to a therapist that deals with PSD."

She put her head on his shoulder. "Because of my parents."

"Uh Huh. And because of the kind of work you used to do."

"I don't want to take medication" she said putting the pill in her mouth and taking a sip of root beer. The bubbles tickled and soothed her scratchy throat.

"I know you don't. Just think how different it might have been if even one of your parents had been diagnosed properly and taken their meds and talked to someone."

"Am I going to have to take these always? What about if I get pregnant again?" They had been talking about another baby, but were still weighing the pros and cons."

"Dr. Sing says these are fine for pregnant women and it's a very low dosage."

"I feel like a failure. Drugs, just so I don't yell at the man I love."

"This won't stop you yelling at me if it's warranted. It WAS warranted. It will just temper your response. You will still feel things. The reaction will be more appropriate and you won't smash a fifty dollar bottle of wine against a wall."

"How long did you take them?" She asked laying her head on his shoulder.

"The first time? About a year. The second time a month or so. I didn't actually feel better until you were here. I wanted you to come so I could keep you safe. Whatever that meant."

"I know. You like having all your people where you can see them."

"So will Justin have to take them? I mean, do you think he will be predisposed."

He kissed her hair. "I don't know. He has some heredity to deal with. But he's growing up with both his parents. He's way more adjusted than either of us were at his age, I am sure. Lindsey takes a very low dosage. Although the doctor said she won't need that much longer.

"Catherine?"

"Yes Catherine has had some biological and situation issues. The fact that at least one of her brother's had a substance abuse problem probably means that they were both self medicating when they were doing coke. Look. The only one of our friends who hasn't needed a little help is Nick."

"Warrick?"

"Anxiety. That's why he gambled. When he stopped, he had to deal with the issue. When he was playing some kind of sport year round, the adrenalin kept him balanced."

"Brass?"

"Depression. That's why he drank, which made him more depressed."

"Greg?"

Gil laughed softly. "Hyper activity. But they never found a drug that worked. You ever wonder why he has so many hobbies? His parents just kept him busy and that's how he coped."

"How do you know all this stuff?"

"They have to tell a supervisor what drugs they are taking. When Brass was boss, I had to tell him. He told just so someone would know in case something happened to him."

Sara kissed his cheek. "I didn't know we were supposed to do that. How did I miss that?

"Were you ever taking anything when I was your boss?"

Sara sighed with contentment. "No. Maybe"

"What?" He pulled her closer to him and rested against the headboard.

"I was on antibiotics right around the time I got pregnant with Justin. Remember?"

The both took in the information for a moment.

"Glad you forgot to tell me," Gil said.

xxx

Gil placed the cold white towel on Sara's forehead. She gave a little sigh. It was good not to be alone, to have someone to take of you when you were sick. What would she have done if she had moved away to a place where she had no friends or family?

"You don't feel hot. I told you that salad dressing looked hinky."

Sara kept here eyes closed enjoying the gentleness that flowed from him. Sara kissed his hand knowing that it hadn't been the salad dressing.

"Maybe it's all the dust from the renovations. Maybe we should move into a hotel until it's finished."

"You are so good to me." She said gently

xxx

Another kid. He had not expected this. He had expected it to be Justin, Daddy and Mommy forever.

I hope this doesn't make Daddy mean again.

Daddy hadn't been too thrilled to hear about him but he had come around. Justin had figured he would. Even when he was trying to be his meanest he couldn't quite pull it. Justin could tell that his voice was directed to Sara's belly just checking to see how he was doing.

Justin usually kicked to let his father know that he was okay and that he couldn't wait to meet him.

When Justin was born, his father appeared a few hours later and Justin had been thrilled. He had soft hair on his face and pretty, sparkly eyes and he was big and cuddly and strong and smelled good. Justin thought between him and his mother he must have hit the parent lottery.

And when were they going to have the thing were Mommy got the same last name and there was cake and red juice and people dressed in fancy clothes?

xxx

Justin watched anxiously. He thought it was good plan that Mom had brought him for the announcement. Adorableness was called for during times like these.

Sara thrust the stick in Gil's direction.

"Look."

He peered at the white stick and the digital read out. Sara's shaking hand kept him from making out the word. Gil held her hand steadily.

Pregnant.

The word was clear as day. He looked at Sara, who had Justin poised on one hip. They both looked defiant. His son had the amazing ability to morph into either one of them at will.

"Ok." Gil didn't know what else to say.

Sara knew the irrationality of her words even before she spoke them. "Are you going to leave me? Cause if you are, I need to know."

Justin frowned at his father. Gil opened his arms and the boy leaped into them.

"Traitor," Sara mumbled.

"No one is leaving anyone. Sit down." He patted the place next to him on the couch. Sara heaved a sigh of relief.

"I thought we wanted another baby," Gil said, taking in her tense profile.

"I thought we were still in discussion. I don't want you to be mad."

He looked at her sad eyes. "I know this makes you nervous, considering the last time. But I would never do that again. You understand me?"

Sara gave him a slow smile. "Can we talk with Dr. Sing?"

Gil wondered at how they had both changed. "Of course we can. I am very proud of you."

"I think your Mom needs a girl."

Justin nodded. That would be nice. A little sister. He just hoped she wasn't like Mommy. He didn't know if he was ready to handle another one of those. If he knew how to write, now would be a good time to take notes.

xxx

Justin and his father had on matching LAVP denim hats pulled low on their heads. When they entered the cool store, Gil whispered that gentlemen should always take their hats off inside.

Justin nodded gleefully as he looked around the store. Everything was sparkly and shiny and reminded him of his treasure box.

"Let's see what we can find Mom," Gil said softly. Justin clapped his hands in appreciation and excitement.

xxx

Justin ran to where his mother was sitting and handed her the white shopping bag. His father was close on his heels.

"What is this?"

"Sister," Justin smiled proudly.

Sara looked into the bag and pulled out a lacy white dress with pearl buttons. "Oh, my. Did you pick this out for Sister?"

Gil put one hand on his son's head. "He insisted that we buy Sister something even though we went out to get him a good boy present. He doesn't want Sister to be left out when she get here."

Sara kissed Justin's cheeks and Gil's hand. "I think I have the best men in the world. "

She patted her belly. "This is very fancy. Do you think Sister will wear this to her christening?"

"Well" Gil took a seat beside Sara and pulled his son into his lap. "We thought there might be someplace else she could wear it."

Sara looked at the two look alike smiling faces. "Where are we going? Are we going on another vacation after the baby?"

"In a manner of speaking."

Justin wanted to get the show on the road. "Close you eye."

Sara did as he requested. She hoped she knew what was happening, but tried not to get her hopes up.

It was Justin who proffered the ring when she opened them again. "You get married."

xxx

"No."

Sara looked from Grissom to Grissom. She knew they were both counting on their cute factor. She would not fall prey to that.

Elder Grissom spoke first. "Aw, come on. You promised."

Justin chimed in. "Promise is promise."

"I said that you each could pick one food for the reception. One within the constraints of an elegant, tasteful menu."

They followed her as she went down the hall.

"Mommy. Promise is promise"

She stopped short and wheeled on them. She pointed to Justin first. "We are not having pepperoni pizza at my wedding. Newsflash, little Gil Grissom. I don't eat meat."

Justin showed two front teeth forgetting what he was standing firm on. He loved it when people called him that.

She directed her dark eyes at her husband to be. "And you. We are not having your home brewed beer in galvanized steel tubs. Beer is not a food. Beer is a beverage."

She fled down the hall. Gil and Justin followed calling, "Beer is made from hops. Hops is within an FDA food category. Come on."

"Promise is Promise Mommy"

Sara muttered to her daughter. "I need backup, baby girl, cause these two are going to send me around the bend."

xxx

Sara was hot. The air had not survived the renovation. The part to fix it could only be found in Jersey. She touched a damp head full of curls.

"Gil, I told you. You can't snuggle up to a pregnant woman when there is no air condition."

She heard him mumble something.

"What?"

She opened her eyes. Justin Grissom filled the space between them. He was dressed in Superman pajamas, clutching his inflatable word and wearing a helmet.

"Gil," She said again. Neither Grissom male stirred.

She touched his shoulder. He sat up in bed, eyes wide, sweat turning his hair into a cotton puff. "Is it time?"

Sara grinned. He had been on pins and needles since she had entered her eighth month.

He squinted in the darkness and made out his son's form. "What is he doing?"

Sara shook her head. "I thought you knew."

He touched his son's sleeping form. "Hey little man."

Justin repeated his own version of his father's earlier movements.. "Sister coming."

"No. Why are you dressed like that?" Sara said gently, a little mad at herself for waking the sleeping child.

Justin closed his eyes and clutched the plastic sword to him. "Daddy said I protect Sister. He protect Mommy."

Sara hugged his form as he dropped back off to sleep. "I love you, my sweet boy."

xxx

Sara and her hour old daughter were transfixed with one another. Gil alternated between crying and grinning until his jaw hurt.

"She's beautiful."

"She is." Sara said softly wondering at the head of black hair that was already starting to curl.

"She's never going on a date."

xxx

Sara and Gil looked at their son. He had adopted his stubborn stance. He would be a big man, a solid man, like his father. He didn't throw tantrums. He did not lie, because he lived in a world where telling the truth was always safe. He wasn't spoiled. He was gentle and sweet and a joy. Except when you broke a promise.

"Promise is promise."

Sara sighed. He was right. She wondered at promising a two and half year old that he could name his sister. Gil had warned her that residual guilt over the fight had lowered her usually perfect parental reasoning.

Their daughter was three days old and she did not have a name. She was referred to as Sister by her brother and Sweetheart by her father.

Gil read the list again. "Ariel, Cinderella, Dora, Jasmine, Mulan and Lilo."

Sara looked at the set of her son's jaw and intensity of his eyes.

"Want to know what they mean?" Gil asked.

Sara reached for her son. He sat next to her happy that the stalemate was winding down. Sister was asleep. She slept a lot which made protecting her easy. He checked in on her often and alerted his parents when she made the smallest movement. He was pretty sure that he had this bigger brother thing down. Now, if they would only see the wisdom of his name choices.

xxx

They were all there, Nick, Warrick, Greg, Catherine, Brass, Maria Grissom even Jim the contractor and his wife Naomi. They married in their backyard, filled with white flowers that Gil had planted in long white rows.

The men surprised even themselves. They toasted with home brewed beer named after each man. Warrick's was smooth, Nick's sweet, Greg's playful and Brass' had an edge. They laughed and cried and hugged one another.

Justin Michael Grissom, dressed in his tiny small tux and Jasmine Maria, in her pearl studded dress, were kissed and hugged and loved on for hours. Jasmine was convinced this was the best bunch that any little girl could ever have wanted. She wasn't exactly sure how they were all related, since they all looked so very different. But she would figure it out in time.

There was pepperoni pizza and caviar, chips and salsa and imported cheeses. They stayed too late and most drank too much. They all spent the night in the cozy house. The house that had been two separate structures was now one. Gil woke early and made them breakfast. Things were different, new and better than any of them had hoped.

Fin