They finally made it to the lab on time, which didn't happen very often. Nick knew Grissom came to figure out if Nick or Sara were late then they probably had a good reason and it probably had to deal with the kids. But Grissom was able to just look over him and Sara being late like nothing happened.
Sara grabbed Maddie's hand and Nick took Alex out of his car seat, "Come on, little guy."
"Mommy, can I pway wit my toys?" Maddie asked as they entered the building.
"Maybe later, okay? Just make sure you're a good girl." Sara said picking her daughter up and setting her on her hip.
Maddie gave Sara a smile that Sara knew she had inherited from Nick, "I aways good gurl, Mommy."
"Yes, you're are."
"Honey, I think that Alex needs his diaper changed." Nick told Sara while making a face that told her he didn't want to do it.
"Well, take him into the locker room." Sara said giving him a smile.
"But it's your job as Mommy." Nick said with a pout.
"No. My job as Mommy is to feed, clothe, and make sure they eat their veggies. Your job as Daddy would be to change dirty diapers, give them baths when they get filthy, and kiss their boo-boos when they get hurt. I'll be in the break room with Maddie when you're done." With that she turned and walked toward the break room, with the smile still on her face.
"Okay. I guess it's just you and me. But it better not be too nasty." Nick said but all Alex gave him was a huge smile. 'Oh this isn't good.' Nick thought.
Nick walked into the locker room and set Alex down on the bench. He kept a hand on Alex's belly so he didn't try to roll off and grabbed a diaper out of the diaper bag. Nick then went to changing it. As he undid the tabs on the side and started opening the diaper, Nick got a sniff of what was inside and gagged.
Warrick choose that moment to walk in. "All man. That sinks." He said pinching his nose.
"Yeah. You're tellin' me. Some how Sara always knows when he's done something like this." Nick said trying to hurry up and finish the job.
"Well, they don't call her 'Mommy' for nothing."
"It's doesn't mean I can like being put on diaper duty." Nick said gathering up Alex in his arms and picked up the dirty diaper.
"Nick, man you should have thought about that before you got Sara pregnant the first time."
"For your information, we wanted to have kids." Nick said baiting Warrick.
"Man, I didn't say that. I mean those kids are lucky to have you and Sara. They couldn't have asked for better parents." Warrick took the bait: hook, line and sinker.
"Then you wouldn't mind disposing of this." Nick said dropping the dirty diaper in Warrick's open hand.
"All man. Come on."
"Thanks." Nick just walked out of the room leaving Warrick to find the nearest trashcan.
Nick walked back to the break room to see that the party had started and everyone was engaged in some sort of conversation. Sara was talking with Catherine near the coffee machine and from what Nick could hear they were talking about Alex. Grissom was sitting at the table with Archie across from him. Greg was sitting on the couch with Maddie and from the looks of it Maddie was enjoying Greg's sock puppet show. David and Doc Robbins were standing near the veggie tray, talking about coroner stuff and eating the veggies. Brass and Bobby were sitting at the opposite side of the table from Grissom and Archie. By their hand gesturers, Nick figured they were talking about guns.
"Hey guys. It's the man of the hour." Warrick said walking into the break room and putting his arm around Nick.
"Thanks, 'Rick. But this party's for Alex." Nick said as everyone stopped their conversations to look at them.
"Who'd ya think I was talking about, you?" Warrick asked slapping Nick on the back, then walking toward all the food.
"No. Uh, I, uh…" Nick stammered; his ego deflated.
Sara walked over and took Alex from Nick whispering in his ear, "It's okay honey. You're the man of my hour."
Nick didn't say anything; his blush said it all.
Maddie rushed over to fill her father's empty arms as everyone took their turns at holding and talking to Alex.
A couple of hours later, the party was still going strong. Everyone had pulled up a chair and was sitting at the table. Alex was asleep in Catherine's arms and Maddie was sitting in Warrick's lap with her head leaning on his chest. Sara could tell that Maddie wouldn't be awake for long. 'Not after chasing Greg around for the last thirty minutes' Sara thought.
"No, no. I think my favorite was Halloween last year." Brass said, "Greg you were hilarious in that huge pumpkin costume." Everyone laughed at the memory; Greg just blushed.
"Well, you shouldn't have told me that everyone was dressing up." Greg said glaring at Warrick.
"Hey, I couldn't help it. But you did seem a little excited to dress up though." Warrick said defending himself.
"Halloween was my favorite holiday growing up. I once dressed up as a CSI when I was like ten. Who knew it would come true?" Greg could remember begging his mom to let him be a CSI that year. She had argued that he was ten and should dress up as Superman or something. He had countered that he was too old to be dressing up in such childish costumes. She had finally given up and let him wear it.
"What's your favorite holiday, Grissom?" Nick asked.
It didn't take him but a split second to decide, "National Bug Day." Grissom answered.
"When's that?" Catherine asked rolling her eyes.
"August 27th." His tone implied that everyone should have known that date.
"I never knew that there was a 'National Bug Day'." Sara said. She knew Grissom was obsessed with bugs, but to have a whole day set out just for them that was kind of ridiculous.
"Yup. They have a fair and a convention every year in Randsburg, California. I've been once or twice."
"Really, huh. Admit it you've been more than once or twice." Nick said accusingly.
"Okay, okay. I admit it. I've been every other year since I graduated from college. But it's really a lot of fun. You should go with me sometime." Grissom said turning to look at Nick with both his eyebrows raised.
"Uh, I don't think Sara would let me off my fatherly duties to go Gris. I'm sorry." Nick turned toward Sara, who was sitting next to him. He grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze, telling her to pick up where he left off.
Sara decided to do otherwise. "Come on, Nick. Grissom did say it would be fun. Plus, I can handle Maddie and Alex for a day or two by myself. I am their mother."
"But, uh…I, uh." Nick couldn't think of what to say, so he said what came to his head first, "Well, I am their father."
"Coming from the guy who didn't want to change Alex's diaper because he knew it would be a stinker." Sara deadpanned.
Everyone laughed except Nick, who seemed like the comment had hurt his feelings.
"Well, I am you know." Nick muttered under his breath.
"What?" Catherine asked.
"Nothin'. I'll be back." Nick stood and headed out of the break room toward the bathroom.
"I'll go get him." Sara sighed. She walked toward Catherine and took Alex from her. "I'll be back."
Sara followed Nick's path and saw him headed into the men's restroom. She didn't even hesitate as she marched in the bathroom with Alex still sleeping in her arms.
Nick looked up from the sink when he heard someone enter the restroom. Sara was the last person he expected to walk through the door. "You do know you're in the men's bathroom?"
"Yeah. I came to see what's wrong." Sara replied moving Alex to a better position in her arms.
"I just came to use the bathroom."
"Really. 'Cus I can see through your macho exterior, mister." Sara walked to where he was standing and stood next to him.
"Fine." Nick said giving in, "What you said just hurt my feelings."
"Stop pouting. You know we were all kidding. You're their father, no ifs, ands, or buts. Okay?" Sara held out Alex for him to take.
Nick looked down at his son. Their son. He couldn't help but think how much better life was now that he had a family to call his own; now that he had kids; now that he had someone to carry on his name. "Okay." He said reaching out to take Alex in his arms. Then he leaned forward and placed a kiss on Sara's lips.
"Let's go back to the party." Sara took his free hand and together, with Alex still asleep, they walked back toward the break room.
When they arrived at their destination, Nick noticed that Doc Robbins, David, Grissom, Catherine, Brass, and Archie had all left. " Where did everyone go?" He asked.
"A 419 out in Henderson came in and Ecklie told us to get back to work and I quote 'The fun's over'." Warrick answered.
"Okay. I guess since we have today off, we should get going too." Sara walked to where Warrick was still sitting with a now sleeping Maddie. She picked her up and Maddie immediately found a comfortable position in her mother's arms.
"I should go see if Grissom or Cath needs me. Thanks for bringing the kids by." Greg said heading out the door.
"Yeah, thanks. See you guys later." Warrick echoed before he turned and followed Greg.
"We should get these guys home. They're pooped." Nick said looking around to see if they were leaving anything.
"Alright. Let's go." Sara grabbed the diaper bag and walked out ahead of Nick.
They managed to get both sleeping kids in their car seats without waking them before Nick drove them all home.