Disclaimer: I should probably do a proper one of these, at least once. All of CSI and the stuff associated with it belong to CBS and Co. blah, blah, blah.

A/N: Thanks for the AWESOME reviews and support! I have so much fun writing this bit of fluff, and I'm glad y'all enjoy it. Nothing much to say; I think though that I will wait to 'drop the bomb' on the team for a while. Also, I use a little Norwegian, except it's just in italics and not my lame attempt at Norwegian with a translator. Now onto the long awaited ball scene!

A Marriage of Convenience?

Chapter Six

"Saaaarrrrrraaaaaaa," Greg whined through her closed door. It was a quarter till seven, and with the traffic, it would take them a half hour to get to the Venetian. It was safe to say that they were running a little late.

"What?" she called back.

"The limo has been here a while, we're going to be late, and I can't get my cuff-links on," Greg continued to whine, but when Sara opened the door and stepped out a minute later, he froze.

She looked gorgeous, although that didn't even begin to describe her appearance. The gown looked stunning on her, especially paired with the low strappy heels she wore. Her hair was twisted back from the front, and clipped in place with delicate little clips. The rest of her hair had been curled and pinned up, a few strands left down to accentuate her neck and shoulder line. Sara had gone very light on the make up, only using lipstick and a light gray eye-shadow, nothing else. In regards to jewelry, she wore a simple diamond solitaire pendant on a delicate silver chain, with matching studs. Tonight, she also wore her wedding and engagement rings, as did Greg, except on her right hand.

"Sara…" Greg breathed as he looked her over. "Words fail me, for once. You look, radiant vennen min, for lack of a better word!"

"Thanks kjære, you look great yourself," she complimented as she walked over to him to fix his cuff-links.

Greg was wearing a black tuxedo. The three-button, satin lapel tux fit his long frame perfectly. With the tux, he wore a crisp, white, dress shirt, complete with French cuffs. His tie was a steely gray that complimented the tux perfectly. As Sara finished, a knock came at the door.

"Ms. Wilkinson, good evening!" Sara greeted as Greg pulled open the door.

"Well you two make a handsome couple," she smiled as Greg pulled Sara to his side. "I saw the limo, and I remembered that you two work with the police, so I put two and two together. I just wanted to say have fun."

"Thanks Ms. Wilkinson, we'll be sure to," Greg smiled back as he took Sara's hand in his.

"Oh to be young again and in love," she sighed wistfully as she walked them down to the limo. "Have fun, be safe!"

"We will," Sara called out, and with a last wave, the limo pulled away.

Even with the limo driver taking a few short cuts, by the time they arrived, it was half past eight. As the driver opened the door, Greg and Sara were bombarded with flashes of light as they emerged onto the red carpet that had been placed in honor of the mayor. The reporters didn't really know who they were, but they had arrived in a stretch Lincoln town car limo, so they must be pretty important. Greg and Sara ignored their questions and quickly made their way inside the Venetian, and to the ballroom.

"Sara, Greg!" Catherine met then almost as soon as they entered, having just been to the bathroom nearby.

"Cath, you look fabulous!" Sara hugged her.

"Thanks, so do you," she returned the compliment. "And you too Greggo. Come on, I'll show you where we're sitting."

"Hey guys!" Greg greeted as they came up to the table. Grissom had come with Catherine, Warrick was with Mia, Nick was with a trafficking officer named Whitney, who he had been seeing a few weeks.

"Wow, Sara," Nick stood up to hug her, and shake Greg's hand.

"Damn girl," Warrick grinned, also standing up.

"You like?" Sara put on a coy smile as she spun around for them.

"You look lovely Sara," Grissom complimented, fighting a laugh at the looks on Nick and Warrick's faces as they saw the backless dress and froze on their way to sit. "Sit down you two."

"Thanks," Sara said, to both Grissom for the compliment, and to Greg, who pulled out her chair for her.

"Anytime," Greg nodded, taking the seat next to her, and looked around. "Okay, what is up with the classical music? I mean, don't get me wrong, it's great and all, but it's not exactly danceable to unless you're from the seventeen century."

"Well, there's a tradition at these balls," Whitney launched into the explanation, having been the only one of them to ever attend before. "Some couple has to dance a waltz or something before any other music can be put on. Usually this isn't a problem because two narcotics cops, Michael and Ophelia Johnson, have been ballroom dancing partners as a hobby, so they've always done it. However, she's at the hospital on bed rest because she's pregnant with triplets and she's about seven months along."

"I know how to waltz," Greg spoke in Norwegian to Sara.

"Really?" she replied, also in Norwegian. It was fun to see the confused looks on their co-workers faces as they tried to figure out what they were saying.

"Yeah. My mom made me learn cause of some of the events I had to attend as a kid. I always had to go dance with the single girls."

"My mom made me take ballroom dancing classes in the hope that it would make me more graceful."

"Would you care to dance then, so they can change this awful music?" Greg held out a hand as he stood up.

"It's been a while, but sure, anything to change the music," she patronized him with a laugh, taking his hand.

Everyone's eyes turned to the couple moving to the center of the floor. As a new piece of music started, Greg moved his right hand to Sara's back, just under her shoulder, and took her right hand in his left firmly. She placed her left hand on his upper arm, and after tensing their arms so they weren't limp, he pulled her into a traditional, opening, box step. Once they became more familiar with the beat, he began leading her through some turns and twinkles, all the while making sure they were rising up and down with the music. As the song ended, they executed one more turn, and Sara dropped a curtsy while Greg bowed at the waist slightly. The room burst into applause.

"We didn't do too badly," Sara commented, slipping her hand into Greg's offered arm.

"Not to bad! That was awesome for me! Considering I haven't danced in years like that," he protested as they neared the table.

"Man, I feel like I hardly know you two, you keeping busting out with the secrets," Nick shook his head. "First speaking Norwegian, and now ballroom dancing of all things. Anything else you want to let us in on?"

"Hmm," Sara placed a finger against her chin, pretending to decide. "Let's see, what to tell you…It's hard because there's just so many secrets you know."

"Ha ha very funny," Nick rolled her eyes at Sara's sarcasm.

"Thanks, I thought so too," Sara rolled her eyes right back.

"Well thanks, because now they're playing decent music," Warrick smiled as a jazzy song came on, and turned to ask Mia to dance.

And so the ball continued. The DJ played a variety of songs, from varying genres of music, as well as requests. Nick and Whitney, as well as Warrick and Mia, were up dancing for almost every song. Catherine spent most of the evening dancing and networking with important figures. Grissom danced to slower tunes, but spent most of his time talking with Brass and a few others. Greg and Sara remained at the table, talking, and listening to the music.

"Hmm…" Sara thought of another question to ask. They were playing 'Truth or Truth' which was just like 'Truth or Dare' but without dares. "What's your favourite color and why?"

"Yellow," he replied. "And probably because it's just such a happy color to me, and brings back fond memories. I remember when I was really little, my dad had this old yellow sweater that my mom knit for him as a Christmas present; it was their first Christmas together. Anyways, I can remember climbing on his lap late in the evening while he drank his cup of coffee and falling asleep to the sight of the fire crackling in the fireplace, his arm wrapped around me."

"I can see you doing that," Sara smiled at the mental image that brought. "What's your question for me?"

"Well, you're a girl, so I know you must have had one," he said. "An ideal wedding fantasy, if money were no object and you could do whatever you wanted."

"I never thought much about it," she replied honestly. "I always was too involved with my studies and school to really worry about dating much."

"Still, I know you had to have thought about it," he pressed on.

"Maybe once or twice," she gave a small smile as she reminisced. "When I was a teenager, I used to dream about it. I always pictured myself getting married in a rose garden at night, under a canopy of stars. I always imagined I'd be in this gorgeous, white dress, with a ridiculously long train. Surrounded by friends and family, with my prince charming at the end waiting for me. And then our first dance would be to some romantic song. I never really picked one, cause I always had so many favorites, but now I think it'd probably be 'I Swear' sung by John Michael Montgomery."

"Hey Sara," he said softly, reaching out and taking her hand in his.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

"What for?" She looked confused.

"For not being able to be prince charming and give you the wedding you dreamed of."

"Greg, it's fine," she was quick to assure him. "Besides, we couldn't exactly do all that with the time constraints we had. Really, all it ever was to me when I was a kid was a dream. I never thought it would come true. And I liked our wedding. It was small and intimate, and I don't think either of us would've really enjoyed a big fuss."

"Nah, I guess not," he laughed.

"Hey Sara, can I steal you for a dance?" Warrick came over.

"Sure, but where's Mia?" Sara wanted to know as she stood up.

"Hodges wanted a dance," Warrick grimaced, taking her hand and leading her onto the floor near Nick and Catherine who were dancing.

"Good evening Greg," Al Robbins greeted, sitting down next to Greg. His wife Celia was dancing with Grissom.

"Hey Doc," Greg replied absently, his attention focused on Sara.

"You know, contrary to popular belief, looks can't kill," Robbins quipped. "And who's incurred your wrath?"

"I'm not angry, just a little jealous, and of Warrick."

"He's just dancing with Sara," Robbins looked at him curiously. "Not to tell you how to act, but you don't really have any right to be jealous."

"She's my wife, of course I have every right!" Greg snapped before he could stop himself.

"Wife?"

"Oh I shouldn't have said that," he moaned, and let his forehead drop onto the table.

"You're serious, aren't you?"

"Yeah," Greg gave a resigned sigh. "We weren't planning on telling anybody for a while because we don't anyone to think it's affecting our work. We only got married a few days ago. We've been dating since July, and we got engaged at the beginning of November. We debated having a big wedding, but decided we'd rather just keep it quiet and amongst ourselves. So if you wouldn't mind not telling anyone, we're going to try and keep it under wraps a while longer. We're enjoying our little secret."

"Of course," Robbins smiled. "I remember what it's like to be young and in love. And knowing that you are the only two who know about it. Congratulations."

"Thanks Doc," Greg smiled back, and gave a sigh of relief as he walked away. Their secret was still safe. Feeling very happy about that fact, he stood up and made his way to the DJ booth to request a particular song. The DJ promised to play it next, and as the song finished up, Greg made his way onto the floor as his request started. 'I Swear' by John Michael Montgomery.

"Dance with me?" He wrapped his arms around Sara from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.

"I would love to," she smiled, leaning back into him for a moment before thanking Warrick.

"You said you thought this would be a good first dance song," he said quietly as she turned around. He took her right hand in his left and let them rest against his heart. Her left hand rested on his upper arm as his other hand rested on her back and pulled her close to him. She leaned her head against his shoulder, and he rested his head against hers, breathing in the scent of her perfume.

"And you remembered," she smiled against him as they swayed back and forth to the music.

"Of course, you're my wife," he said by way of explanation. "Oh and by the way, Doc Robbins knows."

"How?" she pulled her head up and looked him in the eyes. Not angry, just curious.

"I was watching you and Warrick and got jealous, and when he said I didn't really have a right to be, I blurted out that you were my wife so of course I did," he gave her a sheepish grin as he leaned his head down to better hear her.

"In a macho, cave-man kind of way, that's very sweet," she laughed, leaning her head forward so their heads rested against each other.

"Don't worry, he said he won't tell," Greg explained. "I also told him that we got married a few days ago, and that we've been dating since July, and got engaged at the beginning of November."

"Okay, I think I can remember that. You know, maybe when we get home we should talk some more. Finalize the details of our relationship and all. Like what type of dates we went on, and most importantly how you proposed to me. Because once everyone does find out, you know the first thing Catherine's going to ask is how you proposed, and what you said, and where we were."

"Yeah, that's Catherine for you," he laughed. "I'm glad I don't have to deal with that."

Back at the table, the others had regrouped, and were watching Greg and Sara. Catherine was growing more suspicious about the two of them, and wondering if there wasn't something going on, even though they denied dating. And while at Greg's house, she had picked up on several things; she wasn't a CSI for nothing. First, Sara had known where everything was in the kitchen, and moved around with ease. You don't learn where things are in someone else's house in only a couple of days, at least not that familiarly. Secondly, in the living room, she saw several books and magazines that she knew Greg wouldn't subscribe too, such as some women's clothing magazines. Something was definitely going on between those two, and she was determined to find out, sooner or later, no matter what.

"You know, I'm really beginning to wonder if they aren't lying about being involved," Warrick voiced her thoughts.

"Yeah," Nick agreed. "I mean, c'mon, just looking at them makes it seem obvious."

"If they say they're just friends, then we should believe them," Grissom put his two cents in.

"Really Gil, just look at them! Would you and a 'friend' dance like that?" Catherine turned to look at him.

"No," he sighed, knowing that she was right. "However, regardless of whether or not something is going on between them, we need to respect the fact they want to keep it private. And I don't want anyone bothering them. They'll tell us when they're ready, if something is going on at all."

"But Gil…" Catherine pouted, wanting to question the couple who was now heading back to the table.

"No buts, and that goes for all of you," he looked around the table at each of them before putting a smile on as Greg and Sara came over and took a seat.

"Hey, why's everyone so quiet?" Sara raised an eyebrow as she looked around.

"No reason, we were just watching you two dance," Catherine said nonchalantly, and Grissom shot her a look.

"Okay," Sara said slowly as she watched their silent exchange. "So is there anything else planned for the evening?"

"In a little while the Mayor will give some speeches, thank us for our un-failing efforts, then there'll be more dancing until the end of the ball," Catherine rattled off, having spoken with Ecklie earlier.

"Fun," Greg said dryly, not being fond of speeches in the slightest.

Greg's feelings that speeches were boring proved to be very true as the night wore on. The mayor got up about a half hour later and droned on for a little over an hour. Nothing of which he said was interesting in the slightest, and the CSI's all found themselves wishing they could leave. Finally though, the droning ended, and the DJ began the music again.

"Well that was a complete waste of time," Nick said with a yawn.

"Yeah. I'd much rather be at home," Warrick agreed.

"Hey, why don't we just leave now?" Greg suggested. "We can crash at my place, order some take-out, and watch a movie."

"We're in," Catherine spoke up for herself and Grissom.

"Count me in," Warrick said, and Mia nodded.

"Us too," Nick agreed after Whitney nodded.

"Cool," Greg smiled, standing up.

"All right, we'll meet you at your place in a while then?" Grissom asked Greg as they all stood up.

"Sure, unless you all just want to catch a ride back with us," he suggested, knowing there weren't enough spaces for all their cars. "Parking will be easier that way."

"I don't think we all want to squeeze into your tahoe Greg," Nick looked at him as they left the ballroom.

"Then I guess it's a good thing we didn't take a tahoe, isn't it Nicky?" Sara smiled at him as Greg motioned to the limo driver who was talking with some others just inside the vestibule.

"What'd you take?" He looked at her curiously as they moved outside.

"You'll see," was all she said, giving a shiver in the cool night air.

"Here," Greg quickly shrugged off his tuxedo jacket and slid it over her shoulders. "Oh, here's our ride."

"A limo, whoa," Warrick looked impressed. "And a Lincoln town car stretch at that."

"My mom arranged it," Greg said in reply to the unasked question about why he had a limo.

"Sirs and Madams," the driver nodded, coming around and opening the door for them.

So they headed back to Greg and Sara's townhouse, stopping at a Chinese place to pick up some food, and Blockbuster to rent a couple of movies. There was much debate about what to pick, but they finally settled on 'A Beautiful Mind' and 'Shall We Dance?' on behalf of the girls. Arriving at Greg's, Sara offered the girls sweats and t-shirts to change into, and Greg did the same. The girls all burst out laughing when they saw the guys, especially Grissom. Greg's sweats were typical grey and black, but his t-shirts were all brightly colored, with crazy logos on them. Grabbing some forks, they popped in 'A Beautiful Mind' and sat around on the couch, chairs, and floor in the basement rec-room. Not too long after they finished eating though, they all eventually drifted off to sleep. The long day combined with full bellies and content minds, made for perfect sleeping conditions, and so they did.

A/N: Okay, next chapter will be up on Sunday like usual. Sorry this one's a day late, but we had our power go out yesterday, and I didn't have my laptop battery charged, so I couldn't go on the internet. Thanks for not being too mad :-) Hope you all liked it. I thought it was kinda fun, but hey, that's just me. Anyways, review if it makes you happy, but I just hope you enjoyed it regardless!