Grissom took Lydia out to dinner one evening to tell her what had been bothering him for some time. They had talked about many things throughout the evening, but he knew that he was just avoiding what he needed to say.

"Liddy, I need to tell you something."

"What is it Gil?"

"In my family there is a genetic disposition for hearing loss. Your Grandmother is deaf, as you know. There was a time when I was losing my hearing as well, I had surgery to correct it, but it still has the potential of recurring."

She thought about what he had said and responded, "So you're saying that I have the potential of losing my hearing as well, and that any children of mine have that potential too?"

"Yes, there is that possibility. I've wanted to tell you for some time, but I've never had the courage to say anything, but your mother and I both thought that it wouldn't be right for you and Greg not to know this since you're getting married."

"Greg doesn't know does he?"

"No, he doesn't. The only one of our colleagues who ever found out was Cath."

"I'll tell him, it's only fair."

"I understand, and he should know, he is going to be my son-in-law. There is another thing that your mom and I wanted to ask you."

"What is it?"

"She had wanted to know if I'd consider adopting Lindsey. I said that if she wants to I would love to have her be my daughter, but we're both too afraid to ask her, and we wanted to know if you'd be willing to ask her for us."

She smiled slightly. "I'll ask her, and I don't think she'll say no, but I'll ask for you two."

"Thank you," he said. He paid for the meal, and then hugged her as they left.

The next day, she had two people to talk to; she didn't know which one would be easier to tell first, so she did the only thing she could think of, she talked to Sara.

She went over to her friend's apartment at about noon, and she told her everything as they drank coffee. Sara wasn't really surprised by either thing, but she did realize that it was going to be hard for Liddy.

"They do like putting you in the middle don't they?"

"With Greg it isn't because it would be my responsibility to tell him anyway. With Lindsey however they know that I'm closer to her so hearing something like this from me sounds nicer."

"I guess. I think that you should handle it with Greg first, and then deal with telling Lindsey."

"All right, I'll give it a shot, but I still don't know if either is really the best course of action to take first."

"Don't worry about it, they're both very rational people and since Lindsey is already in high school the news shouldn't be too much for her to deal with. He's already going to be her stepfather, so she probably won't be too troubled by it."

"Ok, well wish me luck."

"I do, lots of luck, you'll need it."

"Thanks Sara."

"Any time Lid."

When Lydia was done hanging out with Sara she drove over to Greg's apartment where she told him the news. He took it surprisingly well that any children they had could become deaf, and that Lydia too could become deaf. He said that no matter what he loved her. She was very relieved at how he handled it, and then after she was done being with him, she went home to talk to Lindsey.

The sisters sat on Lindsey's bed as Lydia explained what she had been asked to say. "They want to know if you want to be adopted by Gil."

"I don't know, that's something I never even thought about. I don't know if it would feel right."

"It would mean that you're more than just my half sister, and it wouldn't mean that you'd have to call him dad and forget that Eddie was your father. I don't even call him dad, it's too weird, because I'd be changing what I've thought of him as for twenty some years. I know that you care about him though, like I do, and it might just make things easier legally."

"What do you mean?"

"In case mom would die, which I know that neither of us wants, before you're an adult then he could be your parent without signing any extra documents."

"I see. I know that he wouldn't want me to call him dad and pretend that he is my dad. I'll think about it, and then I'll give them my answer, how about that."

"Sounds good to me sweetie."

So Lindsey thought about it, she talked to her friends in school about it the next day, and finally she told her mom that she wanted Grissom to adopt her. That made everyone even happier.

TBC...

Like I said, the things they needed to say weren't too major. I think that after ch. 27 I'm going to go on hiatus for awhile, just because I need to get some things accomplished around the house and for my school year this fall (summer assignments : ( The weddings are in the next two chapters! and if you want a sneak peek into it read my story Hope, and you'll find out two very nice things : ) (that's all I'm gonna say) The next two chapters will be up before next week since they've already been written (well I'm just starting 27) and ifI do go on hiatus (probably won't : ) I'll return in mid-August... (27 won't end with a cliffie either! I promise!)

Thanks for the reviews! Linneke, gckyr, jewelbaby, CSIFan4Life (I realize that if I waited longer I might get more : )