A New Addition
Pairing: Nick and Sara
The Las Vegas Crime Lab is celebrating Christmas at Catherine's place. The team helps Abigail celebrate her first Christmas. Cynthia flies the rest of the Stokes family to Vegas to celebrate with the crew.
Disclaimer: I don't own Nick, Sara or any other CSI character. I do own Nick and Sara's families and any other non-CSI character.
Abigail's First Christmas
Nick and Sara entered Catherine's house with Abigail in her baby carriage. Both Nick and Sara were dressed in business casual clothes. Abigail was dressed in a burgundy dress, a baby headband on her head that had a ribbon matching her dress and white booties with lace on the ankles. Nick gingerly lifted her from the carriage. Catherine approached them and smiled.
"Hey Nick and Sara," Catherine smiled as she took Abigail off Nick's arms. "I am so glad you are here. Hello there, my little Munchkin. You are getting to be a big girl!"
"Catherine, she is going to be two months old on New Year's Eve," Nick smirked. "Where's everyone?"
"Greg is playing a computer game with Lindsey," Catherine said. "Grissom and Brass have gone to pick some last minute food since we are having a Texas themed barbeque. Warrick, Mia, Jacqui and Bobby are helping your mom and dad make rounds with their Tahoes or Denalis to pick up the rest of your family. I am still floored over your mom flying the clan to Vegas again to help the newest Stokes celebrate her first Christmas. Is she aware that I don't have much space to accommodate at least fifty people? I wonder if they are going be here on New Year's Eve."
"Knowing them," Nick chuckled. "They would be here, but my mom wants to rent a banquet room at the Luxor. She would demand they put a TV in the room so we could watch the countdown to 2006."
"Mom, some moron tried to email us a virus," Lindsey said. "Greg deleted the email."
"He did the right thing," Catherine said still holding Abigail. "Now, I want you to run a virus scan. Hurry it up, we have a party and the guests are showing up. 'Uncle Nick', 'Aunt Sara' and 'Cousin Abigail' have arrived. You know, go tell Greg to run it for us. I want you to stay here and hang out with Nick, Sara and Abigail.
"I'll be right back," Lindsey smiled.
"Catherine, let her hang out with Greg," Sara said. "We have plenty of time to hang out with her."
Catherine was about to respond when Warrick arrived at her house with Tom, Audrey, Eliana, Trey and Louise. The three teenagers immediately gravitated to their uncle, aunt and infant cousin. Their parents approached Catherine.
"You must be Catherine Willows," Tom said. "My kid brother has told me about you. I am Tom Stokes, Nick's brother, Sara's brother-in-law and Abigail Melanie's uncle. This is my wife Audrey and those three kids swarming my brother and his family are our kids Eliana, Thomas III or Trey and Louise."
"It's nice meeting you both," Catherine said. "I saw you and your family at the Thanksgiving party at the Bellagio and at Nick and Sara's wedding 19 months ago in Dallas. I didn't get a chance to meet you."
"We are a large family," Tom was sympathetic. "It's kind of hard to get to know us individually in one moment or two."
"Hey Tom, I didn't see you come in," Nick interrupted.
"Nick, my kids were surrounding you, Sara and Abigail," Tom chuckled. "I couldn't see you, so Audrey and I decided to talk with Catherine. Take me to see your wife and that sweet baby girl."
"Sure," Nick said to Tom and then to Catherine. "Excuse us, Catherine."
"No problem," Catherine smiled. "Nick, why don't I take Tom's kids to hang out with Lindsey?"
"That's a great idea!" he smiled.
The Stokes brothers approached the small group with Catherine at least a foot behind.
"Eliana, Trey and Louise, I would like to talk with your Uncle Nick and Aunt Sara," Tom said.
"Kids, I have a daughter slightly younger than you that you can hang out with," Catherine said. "I am sure she would like to have some new friends, even if they are related to two of my colleagues."
"Catherine, keep Eliana away from Greg!" Nick shouted as Catherine took his teenaged nieces and nephew to the room where Greg and Lindsey. "He tried to flirt with my niece Zoë!"
"Who tried to flirt with our niece?" Tom inquired.
"Greg Sanders, the newest CSI who was our lab rat," Sara chimed in. "Guys, I am here to have a good time and help Princess Abby celebrate her very first Christmas! Don't ruin this by reflecting on what Greggo did to our niece this past Thanksgiving."
"Stop calling my goddaughter 'Princess Abby'," a man's voice sounding like Warrick's said making Nick jump.
"Warrick, don't sneak up like that again," Nick said sharply.
"Hey, if you continue to give her nicknames in my presence," Warrick countered. "I will sneak around and make you jump."
Tom gave Sara a pleading look. She replied with a look saying 'You know boys will be boys look'. Tom thought of something.
"Guys, as much as I want to see my kid brother and his best friend argue over something so silly," Tom intervene. "There is a baby here who when she is older will ask her parents what her first Christmas was like. She wouldn't want to hear that her father and godfather were arguing about her having a nickname or two."
Warrick and Nick just laughed for a moment. Tom was confused, but Sara tried to explain her husband and friend. He smiled at her as an expression of understanding.
"Nick, which sister has three kids, all of them boys?" Warrick asked.
"That would be Sabrina Stokes-O'Brien," Nick smiled. "Don't tell me that her boys managed to destroy your Tahoe!"
"No, my Tahoe is fine," Warrick chuckled. "She made sure they respected my property. You might want to tell Lindsey to lock the door of her room just in case if they want to mess it up."
"Lindsey!" Nick shouted as he ran to where her room was located.
"Sara, where did Nicky go?" Sabrina asked with her youngest son clinging to her leg.
"He went to warn Lindsey Willows about your boys," Sara said.
"You have no idea what it's like," Sabrina whined. "My husband and I had to get them to behave themselves in Warrick's Tahoe. We had to give them toys and games to amuse and distract them. I am not looking forward to the hormone crazed teen years when they go crazy for the girls in their school."
"I am sure they will charm the girls," Sara smiled. "I am sure they inherited the Stokes charm."
"Wow, I can't believe how your little Munchkin has grown in the past month," Sabrina said looking at Abigail and changing the subject. "She is so cute and adorable. Can I hold her?"
"Sure, she loves her daddy's family," Sara said giving Abigail to her sister-in-law.
"What about her mommy's family?" Sabrina asked with concern.
"A few weeks ago," Sara said. "My parents arrived at our place uninvited and all hell broke loose. My mom held Abigail for a few moments and the baby was fussing, screaming and crying until Nick took her from my mom's arms. That is the short version."
"I heard about it when I called mom," Sabrina said. "Nick answered the phone and he told me about what happened. I am so sorry that you had parents like those. I also feel bad for Nick for having jerks like them as in-laws."
Before Sara could respond, Kathleen and Heather's families arrived with the help of Jacqui, Bobby, Cynthia and Thomas. Warrick already left to pick up Wendy's family. Bobby left to get Marissa and her family. Jacqui went to find Catherine and Grissom so she could talk to them. Thomas and Cynthia stayed with the children, their spouses and grandchildren that were already and the Willows-Grissom residence.
An hour later, Grissom, Brass, Bobby, Warrick, Greg and the Stokes men were outdoors with a few grills and barbeques some of Catherine's neighbors had lent her for the occasion. Nick used one grill to make grilled pizza for Sara and whoever else didn't want Texas barbeque. Thomas turned to look at what his youngest son was doing and approached him.
"Nicholas, what are you making?" Thomas asked.
"It's grilled pizza," Nick said. "I have a friend who owns a gourmet food shop that's five minutes from my apartment complex and he taught Sara and me how to make it. I made the dough and put it in Catherine's freezer last week. It is really good."
"I've heard of it," Thomas smiled. "However, I haven't had it yet. I am sure there is a pizzeria in Dallas that offers grilled pizza, but your mother and I have yet to visit one. Are you making one just for Sara?"
"I am making enough for anyone who wants to have some," Nick smirked. "It's not just vegetarian toppings I am going to put. Josh is making some barbeque and shredding it just for the meat eaters' pizzas."
"Make one for your mother and me," Thomas said. "We would love to try it. That is after you make vegetarian pizzas."
"Sure," Nick smirked.
Sara went to the backyard and approached Nick. He saw her and smiled.
"What do you want on your pizza?" he asked.
"Did you get the shiitake and Portobello mushrooms?" Sara asked. "I would also like some Spanish onions and spinach."
"Yes, I just bought those yesterday and gave them to Catherine to put in her refrigerator," Nick winked. "Would my wife like fresh mozzarella on top?"
"Throw in some fresh basil and roasted garlic," Sara winked back. "I will be a happy camper."
"Where is Abigail?" Nick asked.
"She is with, Jacqui, Catherine, your mom and sisters," Sara replied. "They are admiring the little outfit we picked out for her to wear tonight."
"She looks cute in that dress," he smiled. "I want to take her to one of those professional photo studios and have her pictures taken professionally."
"Nicky, you really read my mind," she chuckled. "Well I have to get back into the house. I am sure you want to talk about the bowl games with the guys."
"Actually, I would rather give my wife a hug and a kiss," Nick beamed.
While keeping one eye on the grill, he pulled her into an embrace and kissed her passionately. The other men were staring at the couple and cheered Nick on.
"Who needs mistletoe when we have fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil," Sara said with sexy tone.
Nick laughed and gently released her.
"Oh, it's a Merry Christmas after all," Nick smirked.
Sara left to return to the house. Nick was still watching her go inside.
I love that woman so much, Nick thought as he returned his focus on making the grilled pizzas.
It would be another two hours before dinner was ready. The Christmas dinner would be al fresco to Catherine's relief. She didn't know how she was going to fit so many people inside the house and the large bulk of that was three generations of the Stokes family. When Cynthia suggested the idea, Catherine first panicked. The older woman assured her that they could enjoy a Christmas dinner with Texas style barbeque and Nick's grilled pizzas outdoors.
Dinner was kind of buffet style. There were three huge bowls of the same mesclun salad with a choice of a few dressings. The barbeque was kept warm in several roasting pans. Nick kept the pizzas he finished making in a few of the grills. He was careful of not putting the vegetarian ones with the ones that had shredded barbeque on top together. He didn't want to deal with the Wrath of Sara for putting the two types of pizza in the same grill. The cornbread was being warmed in Catherine's oven as well as a few side dishes that Jacqui, Warrick, Sara and Nick made in advance. Catherine made some fresh corn on the cob that she steamed close to the last minute before the numerous guests had arrived.
"Nick, this pizza is delicious," Cynthia said. "Who taught you how to make it?"
Nick looked at his father and smiled. He then looked at his mother and his father back again, still smiling.
"I have a friend who owns a gourmet shop close to my place," Nick said. "He and his wife offer cooking classes during the weekends. One of their offerings was how to make grilled pizza. Sara and I took that course when she was four months pregnant with Abigail. Since then, we make them once a month."
"One time, we invited our colleagues for dinner at our place," Sara added. "We made the pizzas and got rave reviews from everyone."
"I would like to meet that friend of yours," Thomas said. "I just want to thank him for teaching my son and daughter-in-law how to make this wonderful pizza."
"Thanks," Nick beamed.
The rest of the salad and main course portions of the dinner were spent talking, joking and laughing. Brianna Grimaldi and Abigail Stokes had both cried during the dinner and their mothers picked them up to either feed or change them. It was almost comical when Marissa and Sara brought their babies into Catherine's room at the same time. Brianna needed to be changed while Abigail needed to be fed. Marissa and Brianna left the room almost immediately, but not before Marissa told Sara that she will see her outdoors. Sara stayed in Catherine's room longer so she could nurse Abigail.
Sara was about to return to her table when Nick came in.
"Is everything okay, Sara?" Nick asked with concern in his voice.
"Abigail is fine," Sara smiled. "She was hungry, so I fed her."
"We are having berries for the fruit course," Nick said. "Lindsey made it with red raspberries, golden or white raspberries, blackberries and blueberries with a splash of simple syrup. I don't know what we will have for dessert, but I do know there'll be several choices. Unfortunately, one of them is fruitcake."
Sara grimaced at her husband mentioning the famous dessert that has been the butt of jokes for ages. She only hoped that the dessert spread offered more appealing options, like Nick's favorite -- tiramisu.
"Let me take her back to the table," Nick said taking Abigail off Sara's arms and cradling the infant in his.
They went back to the backyard, walked around and talked to a few of Nick's sisters. When Lindsey brought a big bowl of mixed berries, it was everyone's cue to return to their seats until they were told to help themselves. Catherine, along with Jacqui and Bobby, assemble the dessert spread.
"Now, when you get your berries," Catherine loudly announced. "Don't touch the desserts until I tell you to."
As soon as everyone got the berries, they were seated. They had more conversations about work, school, families and vacation plans. There were also jokes told and laughter following. Occasionally, the two infants' cries would disrupt the fun, but the moms took care of them.
After Catherine gave her guests the okay to serve themselves dessert, they looked at the offerings and made a single file line. When Nick saw a tray of tiramisu, his eyes lit up like a little boy whose parents gave him a new puppy. It just so happened that he was behind Catherine in the line.
"Catherine, how did you know to buy tiramisu?" Nick asked.
"I know my friends," Catherine smiled. "Another thing, your mom was here two days ago. She brought some ingredients with her and made it."
"My mom can be full of surprises," Nick chuckled. "You should try it! It's delicious! She first made it for us when Sara and I were in Dallas last Christmas."
"Nicky, you've talked me into trying it," Catherine said.
Once everyone got what he or she wanted, they were seated and started to eat. Those who had Cynthia Stokes' tiramisu, were complimenting her on a wonderful dessert after finding out she made it. The fruitcake was hardly touched. Instead, it provided an opportunity for some of Nick's nephews to make jokes about it. Poor Catherine didn't know what to do with it whether to put in the freezer or throw it out. There were more conversations and jokes between bites and sips of beverages.
An hour later, almost everyone helped with the clean up. Since paper plates and plastic ware was used, there was less time needed to wash dishes used for each spread. Jacqui and Bobby helped Catherine with the dishwashing. The tablecloths were cleaned and put away.
Another hour later, everyone was inside the house. It was time to sing Christmas Carols. They were sitting around the living room on the couch, sofa or the carpet. Grissom played a CD containing the instrumental version of the Carols. They sang everything from 'Frosty the Snowman' to 'Joy to the World' to 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'. There was also 'Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer' that Nick and Sara wanted to teach everyone their parody of the song 'Ecklie Got Run Over By A Tahoe', but decided not to since they didn't want to lose their jobs. (A/N: The lyrics to that song can be found in the bonus chapter of 'Holidays at the Stokes Place'.) Sara sang 'O Holy Night' solo and that caused a tear to slide down Nick's face since it was so beautifully done and the crowd applauded afterwards. The closing song was 'Winter Wonderland'.
Two hours later, the only people left were Grissom, Catherine, Lindsey, Nick, Sara and Abigail. Warrick, Bobby, Jacqui, Greg, Mia, Thomas and Cynthia were making their runs dropping off Nick's siblings and their families at their hotels.
"Did you guys have a great time?" Catherine asked Nick and Sara.
"Yes, we did," Sara said.
"Thanks for putting up with my big family," Nick said. "They just wanted to be here to celebrate our daughter's first Christmas."
"Well, I had to improvise," Grissom beamed. "If Catherine had to do it all over again, she would in a heartbeat."
"Sara, you were awesome singing that song," Lindsey said.
"Thanks, Sweetie," Sara said.
Lindsey started to yawn and wanted to go to bed. She hugged and kissed everyone 'good night' and wished everyone a Merry Christmas. She also kissed Abigail in the forehead and left to go to her room.
When Thomas and Cynthia arrived, Nick and Sara prepared themselves and Abigail to leave. The four Stokes wished Catherine and Grissom a Merry Christmas and exchange, hugs, kisses and/or handshakes. Nick, Sara, Abigail, Thomas and Cynthia left the house to go the apartment. While riding in the Tahoe they were singing 'Joy to the World'.
TBC