Chapter 21

"Where's Cath?" Nick looked around the locker room. "I thought she was done for the night too."

"She hasn't come in here since I've been in here." Warrick shrugged on his jacket. "Maybe she's in the bathroom? She has been looking a little green around the gills today. I think she might have the flu Jess brought home from school last week."

"Don't suppose either of you are interested in going out for some beers or something?" Greg asked as he entered the room.

"It's seven in the morning, Greggo!" Nick rolled his eyes. "A little early for getting drunk, isn't it?"

"Hey, it's five o'clock somewhere!" Greg pouted. Warrick shook his head at the cliché Greg had spouted. "And you've gone out with me before. Back when you were young and single. Now you're old fuddy-duddies."

"Sorry Greg, if you're asking me to choose between you and my wife….you lose." Nick chuckled.

"Warrick?" Greg looked pitifully at the taller man.

"Sorry, G." Warrick shook his head. "I've got big plans tonight."

"Plans?" Greg looked at him with interest. "Can I join you?"

"Hell No!" Warrick roared, laughing. "My plans are to stop and buy my girl some flowers. Take my daughter to school, go home and get my wife naked. That's definitely not something I want you involved with!"

"Is there a special occasion, or are ya just horny?" Nick teased, seeing the Greg was too embarrassed to fulfill the duty.

"It's an anniversary of sorts." Warrick grinned dirtily. "Plus, I got a voicemail from Gemma that she has a surprise for me."

"Warrick, I hate to break it to you, but women never call to tell you they want to have sex with you." Nick deadpanned. "For a woman, a surprise is that the kitchen sink is stopped up or that they bought a new comforter for the bed."

"Maybe your woman, but not mine." Warrick smirked haughtily. "My woman loves having sex with me. We happen to have a very active and creative sex life."

"Warrick Brown!" The screech spun all three men around towards the door, hands going to their guns. A very red-faced Gil Grissom stood there, glaring at Warrick. Warrick suddenly wished one of the guys would accidentally shoot him.

"Uh-oh." Nick grunted as Warrick looked apprehensively at his boss.

"Hi,….Gil." Warrick tried to act casual but no one bought the innocent act.

"Warrick, I've asked you before to refrain from discussing my daughter in that way around me." Gil scowled at his son-in-law with anger and disgust.

"With all due respect," Unfortunately, Greg chose this moment to find his tongue. "You weren't around when we started the conversation and we didn't expect you to come in."

"Shut up Sanders." Gil didn't look at the young man; he continued to glare at Warrick. "For the last time Warrick, if you insist on talking of this, please do not do it in this building."

"Yeah Boss." Warrick nodded, shamefaced. "Sorry about that."

"Besides, she's called me three times. She threatened me bodily harm if I keep you late today. She wants you home." Gil added before spinning on his heel and disappearing as quickly as he'd come.

Warrick hurried in the house, to find that it was empty of all the normal morning noises. He'd seen Gemma's van in the driveway, so he knew she was there somewhere. Taking two steps at a time, Warrick ran up the stairs. Jessica's room was empty. The nursery was empty. Feeling the fear and worry rush through him, he sped into their bedroom. Gemma was sitting on the bed, obviously waiting for him.

"Roses, Warrick?" She questioned as he thrust the bouquet towards her in an unromantic way. "Airmail?"

"I'm sorry; I'm doing this all wrong." Warrick was immediately contrite. "I had this all planned out differently."

"Had what? I thought this was all my planning." Gemma smelled the roses. "I thought that I called you."

"I had this planned already." Warrick admitted with a blush. "I was going to romance you into bed after taking Jess to school. By the way, where is she?"

"Lucy is taking her to school and watching Suzie for a few hours. I'm picking up the girls after school and keeping them for her this afternoon." Gemma gave him a smile that told him she had a secret.

"What are you to up to?" Suspicion flowed through his veins. Narrowing his eyes, he studied his wife. "What's the deal, Gemma?"

"I told you, I have a surprise for you." Gemma gave him her best enigmatic smile. "The better question is what you are up to. Why the flowers and plans for romance?"

"It's our anniversary. I just wanted to celebrate it with you babe." Warrick grinned devilishly, waggling his eyebrows at her.

"Warrick, our anniversary isn't for another three months!" Gemma pouted. "Don't tell me you've forgotten our anniversary date already!"

"Not that anniversary. It's a different anniversary." Warrick chided softly. "I do believe it's you who've forgotten."

"What anniversary?"

The devilish smile took up his entire face. "Gemma, Think back upon a little rundown shack in the middle of a grove of trees. The chill in the air on one of the last days before the Oklahoma winter came in with a vengeance." Warrick's voice grew husky as it lowered to a near whisper. Gemma's face grew warm with a flush as she realized what he was referring to.

"Warrick!" she protested in embarrassment. You want to celebrate the first time we-"

"Made love. Yes. I remember it all very clearly. I remember he coldness of the November frost in the air that we soon melted away. I remember the way you tasted. I remember the way you smelled. I remember how you shivered, and how I didn't know if it was from the coolness of the air or the way I was touching you. I remember the little sounds you made when I removed your clothes."

"Warrick!"

"I remember the way your skin felt as I touched it for the first time. Soft and smooth." He sad against the softness of her neck. "The way you tasted…."

"Warrick…."

"And how you wrapped your legs around my hips so tightly."

"Damn it, Warrick-"

"And how, when you cried out my name, it was like a symphony to my soul. Being there with you…..was like finally coming home."

"Please, Warrick, stop, don't say anymore." Gemma was openly crying now. Warrick pulled her into his arms, showering kisses over her face before finally feasting on her lips.

When he finally came up for air, his eyes were twinkling like a mischievous sprite. "So, where's my surprise?"

"I don't know if I want to share right now. You're awfully full of yourself as it is." Gemma shook her passion-flushed face, leaning in to nibble on his collarbone.

"Hey, I was promised a surprise and I demand to see it." Warrick shivered as her lips played havoc on his senses. "Come on, Baby. Play fair."

"I always play fair." Gemma pulled away, eliciting a whimper of protest from her husband. Reaching into the draw of her beside table, she handed him a small rectangular box with a sad, half-smashed bow on it. Warrick gave her a quizzical look as he accepted the odd-looking gift. Pulling the lid off, he peered inside.

"What the hell…?" Warrick struggled for breath as what he was looking at sunk into his brain. A pregnancy test that displayed the positive sign.

"Well, you did promise me a son." Gemma retorted impishly. "I guess I cashed in a little early."

"You're serious?" Warrick realized he was trembling as he put the box aside and gathered his wife into his embrace. "We're pregnant?"

"Yeah." Gemma stared into the sparkling green orbs, trying to gauge his reaction. "This okay with you?"

Swallowing violently, Warrick nodded. "Hell yeah. We did a pretty good job with the last one."

"Yeah, we did." Gemma agreed, moving back to nibble on his earlobe until she had wrung a moan of pleasure from her man. Blowing gently on the damp flesh she teased, "Wanna practice for the next one?"

"Hell yeah!"