A New Addition
Pairing: Nick and Sara
It's New Year's Eve morning at Nick and Sara's apartment.
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.
New Year's Eve Morning
Nick woke up and looked at his alarm clock. It was too early to get up and do anything. He struggled to get back to sleep, but he couldn't. The last time he and Sara woke up was an hour and a half ago, Abigail was screaming and crying to be changed and fed. Sara was sleeping peacefully, he envied her at the moment. Deciding that he couldn't go back to sleep, he got up, grab the latest issue of a forensics journal and went to the living room to read. When he saw his father sitting on the couch reading the local paper, he jumped.
"Dad, what are you doing up at this time?" Nick asked with a yawn.
"It's a habit and I am kind of a creature of it," Thomas philosophized. "Why are you up at this time?"
"I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep," Nick sighed. "Abigail waked neither Sara nor me this time. I woke up on my own and Sara is still sleeping peacefully. How's mom?"
"Like Sara, still sleeping peacefully," Thomas said.
Nick lightly chuckled as he sat down next to his father.
"I can't believe this is the last morning of 2005," Nick said. "The past few New Year's Eves have been interesting for Sara and me."
"How were they interesting?" Thomas asked giving his son a strange look.
"New Year's Eve 2003 was the first and only one as an engaged couple," Nick observed. "New Year's Eve 2004 was our first as a married couple. This one will be our first as parents."
"What about Christmas, Thanksgiving and the other holidays?" Thomas asked. "Did you celebrate Mother's Day and Father's Day with her while she was pregnant?"
"Sara and I agreed that we would wait until after Abigail was born to celebrate those two days," Nick said.
"I see," Thomas said. "Her birthday is on Halloween. Are you doing to take her trick or treating and asking the neighbors to give her extra candy or treats since it's her birthday?"
Nick laughed at his father's question.
"Everyone at the crime lab asks me that same question," Nick protested. "I really don't know at this point since it would be a while until she can go trick or treating. Sara occasionally gets on my case about it, but I know she means well. She plans on going with us to make sure I behave myself. Besides, Abigail wasn't supposed to be born until November 8. She wanted to make an early entrance."
"It looks like she loves Halloween," Thomas chuckled.
Cynthia entered the room looking like she could use an extra hour of sleep. She saw her husband and son sitting having a conversation. She sat on the sofa and cleared her throat. The two men nearly jumped at the sound.
"Good morning, guys," Cynthia smiled.
"Good morning, mom," Nick said.
"Good morning, Cynthia," Thomas said.
"Sara is still asleep?" she asked.
"The last time I checked," Nick replied. "She was sleeping like a baby and I don't mean like Abigail."
"Well, I am going to make some chocolate chip pancakes," Cynthia said. "I know that would wake her up."
"Believe me, mom," Nick laughed. "Whenever I make the Stokes famous chocolate chip pancakes and she's still asleep, the smell wakes her up."
"Cynthia, for Pete's sake, let the poor woman sleep a while longer," Thomas protested. "Are you aware that she and our son wake up more frequently because of our newest grandchild?"
"Yes, I am aware of it," Cynthia hissed. "I have been here since mid-October, I was there when she was born."
"Uh, I am going to make like Switzerland and stay out of this," Nick said as he got up from the couch and wanted to go to Abigail's room. "I don't want to see or hear my parents fight or argue over something very silly at my apartment."
"Nick, we weren't fighting or arguing," Cynthia said. "You father and I were just pointing a few things out. There's no need to run to your daughter's room unless if you want to."
"I am just going to check on her," Nick said. "Just to see if she needs anything before she screams, cries and wakes Sara in the process."
"I'll wait half an hour before I make the pancakes," Cynthia said.
Nick nodded and went to his daughter's room. He approached the crib and saw her sleeping form. He quietly sat on the rocking chair in silent reflection of the past year. 2005 started out in Dallas when he and Sara were looking forward to a new year filled with wonderful possibilities. Now the year was winding to a close and they blessed with the arrival of their baby girl. He smiled at thought that infant daughter. The sounds of her cries immediately broke his thoughts. A few moments later, an exhausted Sara entered the room.
"Sara, I thought you were still sleeping," Nick said.
"I don't get a good morning," Sara whined.
"I'm sorry," Nick said. "You were still asleep when I woke up. I went to the living room to read the latest issue of that forensics journal. I found my dad sitting there reading the local newspaper. Then my mom wakes up and wants to make us chocolate chip pancakes. Oh Sara, good morning!"
"Good morning, Nicky," Sara said as he pulled her into an embraced and they kissed.
Abigail's cries interrupted the moment her parents were having. They gently released each other and tended to the now two month old infant.
"What's the matter, Princess Abby?" Nick asked.
"She is probably lonely," Sara said. "I fed her and changed her a little over two hours ago. She couldn't be that hungry and her diaper soiled that quickly."
"Sara, I think she needs to be changed," Nick said. "I'll take care of that. You go see if mom started making breakfast."
"Okay, I'll let you know if she's in the kitchen," Sara said as she left the room.
Nick picked Abigail up from her crib and carried her to the bassinette. He removed her pink sleeper and put it to wash. He went to the closet and picked out a simple pastel blue floral print one-piece with lace on the sleeves and collar for her. He proceeded with the diaper change. After that part was completed, he pumped a few pumps of the antibacterial hand gel and rubbed his hands with it. He put the one-piece on her and went to the drawer and took out a pair of white booties with a blue trim. He put one bootie on each of her feet.
"You look so adorable like that," Nick said. "Wait, I have to put a matching headband on your head, sweetie."
He went back to the dresser and opened another drawer. He looked around for a pastel blue lace headband and found it. He gingerly put it on and her ears held it. Finally, he gently picked the baby up and cradled her in his arms. All of a sudden there was a smell of vanilla and chocolate that permeated the room.
"Okay Princess Abby, your grandma is making a family favorite," Nick said. "Chocolate chip pancakes! I had made plenty for your mommy when she was pregnant with you. When you are able to eat them, I'll make some for you. Now, let's show mommy, grandma and grandpa how pretty you look!"
Nick walked towards the dining room. Cynthia already had the table set for four people and a highchair for Abigail.
"She looks adorable with that one piece," Sara said. "Nick, how did you managed to get that headband on her?"
"Very carefully," Nick chuckled as he put Abigail in her highchair. "She was good and didn't make such a fuss."
He went to help Cynthia in the kitchen. She made him bring the coffee pot and a pitcher of orange juice to the table. He then brought out a carton of milk and helped her served the pancakes. Sara, Nick, Cynthia and Thomas started to eat while Abigail was playing with a toy that her grandma gave her to play with.
"Mom, what have you planned for tonight when we ring in 2006?" Nick asked.
"I managed to book a small ballroom with a television set at the Bellagio," Cynthia smiled. "I know you are going ask me who is coming. It's just the family only. I invited your colleagues, but they politely declined."
"Our colleagues can't always celebrate holidays with the Stokes family," Sara said. "I think after having that Christmas party at Catherine Willows' place, they want to have their own celebrations to greet 2006."
"I understand," Cynthia said with a smile.
They continued to eat, talk, joke and laugh. When they were finished, Nick and Sara helped Cynthia with the dishes. Thomas took Abigail from her highchair and went to the living room to spend some time with her. About an hour later, they were joined by Sara, Nick and Cynthia. They were all looking forward to the celebration of a new year filled with more possibilities.
TBC