Just under a month later, after I believe around thirteen dates and two visits to the ER, Sara and my relationship took a massive step forward when I moved in with her after the Nigel Crane business. At first it was just going to be a couple days while my home was a crime scene. I think they had found twenty holes in my ceilings, and at least four tapes of me sleeping; once with Sara -- but it was just of us sleeping, the tiring activity before hand was thankfully omitted. They also found small pile of dirty clothes, which had been mine, which he had in the attic beside a stack of some of my personal documents. Anyway, I was way too creeped out to stay there after that so Sara and my living arrangement was extended to a couple of weeks while I searched for a new place. However, after a couple of weeks of living together, it just seemed so natural that I gave up the house-hunt as soon as she nervously suggested that we extend the arrangement indefinitely.

And I'm proud to say that that was barely over eleven months ago and I am currently just waiting for my wonderful girlfriend to return home from her case to surprise her with our one year anniversary dinner. This is a few days late to celebrate it, but on our actual anniversary we were both detained by an important case and ended up missing the reservations at the fancy restaurant that I had to book for three months in advance… So we've been looking for a night out for the last few days to make up for it, and since Gris and I finished up the Arnz case before Sara and Catherine could wrap up the Kamikaze Granny, I headed home early to prepare for tonight.

First I began Sara's favourite vegetarian dish -- which I have become quite good at, if I do say so myself -- and then quickly began to decorate the dining room. I used the best white table cloth and set the places with the fancy china, silver utensils and crystal wine glasses, you know, the whole works. I brought out the wine to chill in a bucket of ice and placed candles sporadically around the room, lighting a few to set their flowery fragrance in the air. I checked on the food again before I changed into some dressier, yet casual, clothes. And the finishing touch was sprinkling some rose pedals around our bedroom as well as a path from the front hall to the table. "Nick?" her voice floated down the hall as the front door swung open and closed.

"In here," I called while patting my pocket to make sure the ring was still in there and out of sight. It'll hopefully have a new home by the end of the night. Satisfied that it was hidden, I resumed my task of stirring the sauce. I kept my eyes on the pot of red paste while I strained my ears to listen to her approach. She entered the kitchen and immediately came up behind me and wrapped her arms around my stomach. She isn't quite tall enough to rest her head on my shoulder to see what I'm making, but her eyes were peering over just enough to catch a glimpse of it.

"What's all this?" a wondrous tone accompanied her words as she kissed my shoulder and then my neck.

I looked over my shoulder to give her hairline a quick kiss. "It's dinner. Happy anniversary, Sweetheart."

"Oh Nicky," she murmured, giving a squeeze of my middle.

"You go get changed into the dress that your wonderful boyfriend laid out on the bed for you, and by the time you get back dinner should be ready and on the table," I smiled at her lovingly. She nodded in compliance and walked out of the kitchen. As she passed by the dining room I heard an appreciative gasp.

"Wow, you really went all out." She called from the other room.

"Of course I did; it's our first anniversary... sort of…" I shouted back as I began to take the food out of the oven and I set the sauce to simmer. "A lot of time and effort went into this set-up tonight. So, if you don't like it… well, just pretend you do." I laughed out loud at my own little joke while silently hoping that it wouldn't become reality. I gave liberal portions on to each plate and brought them out to the table. Then I put on a little "mood music" and lit the rest of the candles.

It wasn't long before Sara returned; she looked absolutely stunning in the little red number I had set out for her, with her hair freshly pulled back and some fresh attention to her make up. "You look beautiful," I replied as I met her halfway across the room for a more attentive greeting than before, since now I didn't have any food to take care of. After a few minutes of sweet, slow kisses -- her favourite kind… okay, lately, mine too -- we made our way to the table to begin our meal.

"So did you finish off your case?" I asked as I broke some food apart with my fork. Hopefully she had or I may not have her fun attention tonight.

She quirked a dangerous eyebrow at me, "You really want to talk about work?"

"No; I just wanted to know whether you have to get up to go into work early tomorrow to wrap up the case or whether you can stay up late…" I attempted a seductive tone and ended with a suggestive wink.

"Oh," she giggled lightly. "Then yes, we did wrap it up, so we can stay up as late as you can handle."

"Careful Sidle, that sounds like a challenge," I warned.

"Maybe it is," she smiled at me and I grinned back at the implications. I reached across the small table and covered a hand she had resting on the table with my own. We sat there grinning stupidly at each other in silence for a few minutes. These are my favourite moments with Sara: when we're doing nothing but it's spectacular, when the rest of the world melts away and leaves us alone, when I know that this is exactly where I belong, where I'm supposed to be, because I don't want to be anywhere else.

"I love you," I whisper softly. It's not the first declaration, we did that shortly after I moved in with her, but we decided that we wouldn't overdo it. Sara thought that we should reserve the words for special occasions because we both know how we feel whether or not it's stated everyday and this way the words are extra important when they're said. I think it might also have something to do with the fact that she's not used to expressing such strong feelings so freely… Doesn't really matter though. I don't care how often it's said so long as it is said and reciprocated.

"I love you too," she whispers back and I can feel my heart soar. It gets me every time. She leans forwards slightly, indicating that she wants another kiss. And really, who am I to deny her? After a few moments, we return to our meals.