I was planning to go on a little longer than this, but the story seemed to naturally draw itself to a close. At least there will be no more waiting for updates…until my next story! I hope you like the fluff; it's not usually my 'thing' but I felt this story needed some after so many chapters of angst and trauma!

I hope you enjoyed it.

Em x

Sara sat on her sofa, feet up on the table in front of her, attempting not to fall asleep. It was quite a struggle; everything was exhausting her. She had been back at work for a few weeks and was on the road to recovery. She hugely appreciated the support she was getting from everyone but somehow something still was not quite right inside. But the one thing that always kept her going was still there. She placed a hand over her stomach and cherished the feeling of knowing there was a life growing inside her. The doorbell aroused her from her dreamlike state and she went to open it. There on the doorstep was Grissom. She embraced him.

"I missed you," he murmured into her hair.

She pulled away with a smile on her face. "I only saw you a few hours ago, Griss."

"Far too long."

Sara laughed and stepped aside to let him in. They made their way through to the living room and Sara flopped down onto the sofa once more.

"You look exhausted," Grissom said, his eyes narrowing with concern. "Have you had enough sleep?"

"I used to go days without proper sleep, Grissom," she replied, trying to laugh off his concerns. She was shattered but she knew her own body; she was not worried and she did not want Grissom to be.

"There are two of you to worry about now, Sara. I want you to take it easy. Maybe you should have the night off."

"I can't keep taking time off every time I feel tired, Grissom. I'm only two months pregnant; there's a long way to go yet."

"I know, but-"

"But nothing. The Dr. in front of your name doesn't give you medical training."

Grissom could not help a smile gracing his lips; if her stubbornness was anything to go by then Sara was right, she wasn't ill, just tired. He sat himself down on the sofa beside her and placed an arm carefully around her shoulders. She gently rested her head on his shoulder. "What would I do without you?" she spoke softly.

"Without my over protectiveness and constant fussing, you mean?" he replied, a glint in his eye.

"Without all of that, and your bugs and your weird experiments and your strange comments that no one can decipher…"

"Hey, hey," Grissom interrupted. "I think this started off as a compliment."

"I love you." The minute the words were out of Sara's mouth she wished she had not said them. She did not want to move too fast; to make Grissom feel trapped. "I'm sorry," she blurted, and then wished she had not said that either.

"Why are you sorry?"

"I- Well- You-"

"Did you mean it?"

"About being sorry?"

"About loving me."

"That depends."

"How can it depend, Sara?" Grissom's face was grave yet caring.

"It depends on your reaction."

"In that case, say it again."

"What?"

"Just say it."

"I love you."

Immediately, Grissom pressed his lips to her. The kiss was tender, all enveloping. Sara felt like she might just disappear into him. He pulled away all too soon.

"Was that the right reaction?" he asked, bashful. Sara wondered how he could kiss her like that and then be shy about it. She could only stare into his eyes. "I'll take that as a yes. I love you too, Sara."

Sara felt a pressure in her chest, a shortness of breath. She had dreamt of hearing those words; this all just felt like a figment of her imagination. She continued to stare into those beautiful eyes. "Really?" she managed to stutter.

"Really."

"But-"

"Sara, don't ruin the moment," Grissom laughed. He gently pulled her body towards his, so her head was once more resting on his shoulder. "I love you. And I love this little one." He placed his hand upon her stomach; the bump was not yet showing but he could notice that his previously stick-thin Sara had put on some weight.

"Pinch me," Sara sighed, after a couple of minutes of relaxed silence. "Prove to me this is real."

"I would," Grissom replied. "But I don't want to hurt you."

"That's a pathetic excuse."

"But true."

Sara giggled; the sound was girly, happy, relaxed. It was a side of Sara that no one saw very often and Grissom felt privileged, especially when he considered what Sara had been through in the past few months to make her anything other than happy and relaxed.

"We should go, Griss."

"Go where?"

"Work?" Sara laughed, amazed at how quickly Grissom seemed to be able to forget what she had previously viewed as the centre of his life.

"We don't have to."

"How did you reach that conclusion?"

"I haven't taken a day off for more than a year."

"Well I have more than made up for your overtime in the last few weeks."

"Just one night?"

Sara pulled away from him and stood up.

"Nope. We're going." She turned to look at his protesting face. "Anyway, if you don't turn up soon, your bugs will start to think you're having an affair."

Grissom stood up. "They'd be right." And he pulled Sara in for one more kiss.

"You two were looking pretty close," Catherine grinned as Grissom left her and Sara behind staring quite disinterestedly at a computer screen.

Sara smiled. "Yes."

Catherine pulled her eyes away from the screen and focused them on Sara. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Yes, we were looking close."

"Come on, Sara. Don't leave me hanging. Tell all."

"There's not much to tell."

"Oh yeah?"

"No, really. He's just been visiting a lot. He's a great support."

"And…"

"And…we're in love." Sara realised how corny the words sounded blurted out like that; like a bad romantic movie. But they seemed to have the desired effect on Catherine.

"Oh my God! Grissom told you he loved you?"

"Yes," Sara replied nervously, slightly unnerved by Catherine's excitement.

"I don't think Grissom has ever told anyone that in his life, Sara. This is serious."

"What's serious?"

The two women turned around to see Greg in the doorway. He observed the scene, the two women completely ignoring their work, huddled together like gossiping teenagers. Sara's face was blushed red; Catherine's was bright with excitement.

"I think I better go buy a hat," she announced.

"What?" Greg queried, deeply confused.

"We could be about to see our first CSI wedding."

"Excuse me?" Greg still looked confused. Then suddenly it dawned on him. "Sara – you're getting married!" He stopped. "Who's the lucky guy?"

"Grissom," Catherine replied on Sara's behalf, seemingly amazed at his inability to spot the obvious.

"Grissom?" Greg seemed surprised.

"What about Grissom?" Warrick entered the room, closely followed by Nick who held out a file, clearly about to ask a question, oblivious to the excitement in the room.

"Sara and Grissom are getting married!" Greg cried out.

"Really?" Warrick started. "That's…weird; but great. Congratulations."

"Uh, guys-" Sara began, but before she could continue Nick had thrown himself on her.

"That's so amazing, Sara. I'm so happy for you," he said, sounding dangerously close to tears. "I knew you guys were going to make it."

"Is something wrong?" Grissom's voice stopped everyone mid-excited-sentence. He looked concernedly at Sara, surrounded by the team, her face deep crimson.

Nick detached himself from Sara and rushed up to Grissom. He threw his arms around him. "Griss, we heard the news. It's so great!" The look on Grissom's face was pure panic. Sara could not help but laugh as she struggled to get everyone's attention.

"Hey, guys!" she cried out, and managed to get their eyes on her. "As I was trying to say – we're not getting married."

"What?" Nick yelled, immediately seperating himself from Grissom. "How can you do this to me, you two?"

"I think everyone got a bit carried away." Sara glanced at Grissom and, observing the look of utter confusion and panic on his face, burst out laughing. She made her way over to him and wrapped an arm around him. Turning to face the team, who all appeared baffled, she went on. "Grissom and I are not getting married. It's a bit soon. We're very happy as we are – aren't we?" Grissom nodded slowly, still coming to terms with getting engaged and then breaking off the engagement in a matter of seconds.

As everyone joined the laughter and Grissom became aware of his surroundings enough to embrace Sara, she tried to track her journey from living hell to about as close to heaven as she thought she was ever going to get. She soon gave up. She realised that how she got there did not matter, it was where she ended up that counted. And she could not think of anywhere she would rather be.