Thousands of tiny white Christmas lights frosted the fence around Catherine's backyard. Off to the side, the bright Nevada sun had started its dissent into the horizon, as the property became littered with the guests of Greg and Sara's wedding. Warrick's musician friend Jake had turned on the sound system, and Catherine had just finished spreading daisy petals along a few patio tables. Greg's sister, Malena, was putting the finishing touches on the homemade cake as Nick double-checked his camera.
Lindsey stood at the front door, anxiously waiting for Greg's Denali to pull into the driveway. It was her job to let Warrick know when 'the Sanderses' had arrived. She ventured out to the stoop, leaning over the railing to get a better view of the street. Her pale green dress blew gently in the breeze, and she grinned widely. Everyone had a job to do. Even though Greg and Sara had told her mom and Warrick that they only wanted just a little party, Lindsey had watched her mother get that glint in her eye, and was a trusted co-conspirator in the throwing of the wedding reception. She had cleaned the house with her mother all week, set up the lights with Nick and Warrick and Uncle Jim, and had helped out Greg's sister, who, in her opinion, was even wilder and possibly crazier than Greg. Now, everything was almost in place, and she caught sight of a black Denali, identical to the one her mother drove, pull onto the street.
"They're here!" She ran into the house, heading straight to the backyard. "Warrick! Greg and Sara are here!" Commotion ensued, as everyone took their places. Moments later, Greg emerged from the sliding door, holding Sara's hand.
"Hey guys- whoa." Greg had stopped short, one foot in the backyard, the other still in the house. Sara pushed him lightly out of the way, coming to stand beside him. Her eyes grew wide as she took in the state of the backyard, hand flown to her mouth in complete surprise.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Greg and Sara Sanders." Lindsey called out, from Warrick's side. The applause that rose from the twenty-six people in Catherine Willow's backyard was heard all the way down the street. Greg grinned wildly, and turned to Sara, who was still taking in the backyard. He pressed a kiss to her temple, and that seemed enough to catch her attention. With a little encouragement from the occupants of the backyard, Greg twisted Sara in his arms into a ballroom dip, and firmly kissed her, with enough vigor that Warrick covered Lindsey's eyes.
Greg and Sara eventually pulled away from each other, as the handful of people in the backyard gathered around them, congratulating them. Greg let go of Sara's hand just long enough to hug Catherine, and kiss his sister. Sara hugged Warrick tightly, and kissed Nick. Moving through the small crowd, Greg noticed Warrick's musician friend standing off to the side, sliding a CD into the stereo. He and Sara had found themselves in the middle of the backyard, as a voice he didn't recognize came over the speakers, with a hauntingly uninhibited quality.
You, with your hand outstretched
Finger on the key
This lock that you release
Is opening but isn't free
And I hope that you can see
How it beats inside of me
Instead of pushing fear aside
I want to run I want to hide
I am vulnerably yours
Greg reached out to her, pulling her to him, wrapping one arm around her waist, holding her hand with his other. He pressed a kiss to her lips, and smiled against them as he felt her fingers make their way to the nape of his neck, lazily tangling themselves in his hair. They began their brand of dance, casually falling into step with each other. They ignored the other people in the backyard, both listening to the unfamiliar voice, and occasionally whispering something in the other's ear.
She, who is wanting me
Whose touch can make me cry
I can only understand
By never asking her why
Hear the contradictions fly
And as hard as I may try
Every truth becomes a lie
In the ache of her reply
I am passionately...
Sara twirled effortlessly in Greg's arms, he would let her go, then pull her back against him. Greg dropped his head to Sara's shoulder, wrapping both arms tightly around her waist. She smiled at something he whispered into her neck, and laid her arms across his shoulders, weaving her fingers into his unruly hair.
Yours
And the saddest eyes are
Yours
And the softest skin is
Yours
And the hope I borrow is
Yours
So won't you let me in I'm yours
All that I begin is yours
Every prize I win is yours
At your feet again I'm yours
All I am is yours
Warrick had slung an arm around Lindsey's shoulders, standing in between the blonde and Nick, who took a few pictures every now and then. He felt Catherine's hand on the small of his back, and turned, grinning widely at her. He felt her arm slip through his, as Greg spun Sara again, making her laugh, then pulled her close again. Warrick turned his attention to Catherine, who was watching Greg and Sara.
"We did good, Cath." She nodded, not taking her eyes from the pair dancing in her backyard.
"We did."
All I am is wanting you
I've fallen down and I can't seem to come to
If I should die before I wake
I commend my soul into this ache
Up above the world so high
Where the water tends to meet the sky
She's all I'm after by the toe
And I won't let go...
And I wanted you to know
That if you reap what you would sew
I would take it blow by blow
All I am is...
Sara let Greg twirl her, then pressed her body against his. She felt his hands run the length of her back, settling at the curve of her hips. He rested his forehead against hers, holding her close.
"I love you." Her voice was barely above a whisper, making him smile.
"I love you more." He chuckled, and she grinned at him, placing a hand on either side of his face, pulling him to her, kissing him soundly.
Yours
And the saddest eyes are
Yours
And the softest skin is
Yours
And the hope I borrow is
Yours
So won't you let me in I'm yours
All that I begin is yours
Every prize I win is yours
At your feet again I'm yours
All I am is yours
Yours
Greg twirled her one last time, and she pulled him into an embrace, stilling their feet as the melody died away. He kissed her chastely, and they broke apart, not yet willing to leave the other's arms. Greg flashed Sara a boyish grin, and took her hand, kissing her palm lightly.
…………
When everyone had a glass of champagne or sparkling cider in hand, Nick rapt a fork against the glass lightly, getting everyone's attention quickly.
"As ring bearer, in lieu of a best man, I just wanted to say a few words." He held his glass of champagne out before him. "Congratulations to Greg and Sara, we always knew they'd come around." He grinned in their direction, where Greg had wrapped an arm around Sara's waist, amused expression on both of their features. "Greg and Sara are perfect for each other. Never have I seen Sara smile as much as she has since she let Greg into her life. They are an amazing team, they are the best of friends, and they will be remarkable parents." Nick took a breath, his features becoming more serious. "I used to worry about the both of them, that Sara would bottle herself up, refuse to let anyone in, become married to her work, to cases, so no one would save her like she needed to be saved, and that Greg would settle for the woman he loved second best, because Sara was always his one true love. I used to worry that they would both let their lives fall into disarray, that Greg would spend his life wishing the woman he slept next to was Sara, and Sara would lose her faith in humanity, after too many cases and not enough time off." Nick glanced down at his glass before continuing. "I can speak for the entire lab, and everyone here when I say that I'm so glad they found each other, finally they looked at the trees and saw the forest. I only want them to be happy, and I know that they will be happy with each other, and their baby, who I'm sure I will spoil rotten." Nick raised his glass, and turned toward Greg and Sara. "To Greg and Sara, congratulations on finding the rarest of loves in the oddest of places. Best of luck with everything you do, everywhere you go, whomever you meet along the way." There was a chinking of glass, and murmur of agreement throughout the party. Sara made her way to Nick, throwing her arms around him and kissing him chastely.
"Thank you, Nicky." She let go of him to make way for Greg, who shook Nick's hand.
The rest of the party in Catherine's backyard went on smoothly, soon the small lawn was illuminated by the thousands of white lights along the fence, as the crowd started to wind down, and thin out, as shift began for most of the detectives and lab techs present. Grissom's absence earlier had registered in Sara's mind, and she was surprised to look over from a conversation with Greg's cousin from New York, to see the older man lingering by the sliding door. She excused herself, and made her way across the lawn, toward her boss.
"Hey." She came to stand beside him. His eyes flickered over her figure, taking in her dress.
"Hey. You look amazing."
"Thanks."
"I'm sorry I wasn't at the chapel, I just didn't want to get in the way." He stared at the ground, unable to meet her eye.
"It's ok, you're here now." Sara placed a tentative hand on Grissom's shoulder, encouraging him to return her gaze.
"I'm happy for you, Sara. I only ever wanted you to be happy." Grissom glanced toward her before settling his eye on Greg, who was dancing like a madman with Lindsey, making her double over in giggles. "I want you and Greg to be happy, Sara."
"Very little is needed for a happy life." Sara cited quietly, lips curling into a sad smile.
"Marcus Aurelius Antoninus."
"Russell Crowe and Stoic philosophy, my favorites." She grinned at him, and he returned her smile, feeling a bit more at ease.
"Hey, Mrs. Sanders!" One of Greg's cousins called out to her, and she glanced up before turning her attention back to Grissom.
"Who knew Greg was the conservative one?" She laughed, nodding toward the Sanders relative who had called to her. "I should go." He nodded in agreement, and she slipped her arms around him in an embrace. He returned the hug, breathing in the scents he had always associated with her, chamomile shampoo, freshly clean skin, freshly laundered clothes, a faint hint of lemons. As she let go, and pressed a light kiss to his temple, before leaving his side to join Greg's cousins, Grissom realized that Sara carried with her as well traces of scents he associated with Greg. He smiled to himself, not hearing Brass, who had seen the whole exchange, come to stand beside him.
"What's funny, Gil?"
"Even in the civilized world, the male marks his claim in the same manner as in the wild." Grissom took the champagne glass Brass offered him, clinking it against the older man's, shaking his head. "You guys did a nice job with the backyard."
The detective nodded, turning his attention to the crowd, and Grissom was content to watch Nick pull Catherine to him, laughing, and spin her around. Lindsey was standing on Warrick's toes, in a fit of giggles that could only be made by a thirteen-year old girl. Behind them, at the far end of the lawn, Grissom set his gaze on Greg and Sara. The younger man bent, placing a kiss to Sara's almost flat belly before placing one against her cheek, causing her to blush, and smile. Sara flung her arms around his shoulders, and Greg picked her up, spinning her around once before setting her safely back on her feet. Despite all the commotion and activity in Catherine's backyard, Greg and Sara had found a way to filter it all out, ignoring their surroundings.
This was true happiness, in it's purest form. A song always sounds sweeter when the singer thinks there is no audience, and Greg and Sara's love was something along the lines of singing in the shower in an empty apartment.
"Damn kids are so damn happy." Brass's words broke Grissom's thoughts, making him laugh.
……….
A/N: The song Greg and Sara danced their first dance to was "Yours" by Blues Traveler, on their Straight on til Morning album. The "hauntingly uninhibited voice" is John Popper. I strongly recommend downloading that song, or getting that album. It's magic. Every time I hear it, I cry, I love it so much.
More to come. Definitely time for the baby to make her appearance. :grins madly: