Work starts in 2 hours, and I still haven't slept at all. My brain keeps re-living every second of that wonderful kiss with Greg. I glance at the clock and sigh heavily. I should really go to bed, but I don't think I can. Insomnia has served Grissom and Sara well in life, so it might do me some good too. Flopping back on the couch has done absolutely nothing for me, so I get up and wander to the kitchen. I fill the teakettle and put some water on to boil; the house feels so cold right now. Rubbing my hands together, I turn on the heat. It's hard to explain how I feel right now… drained but awake, kind of scared of what the next shift will bring. I stare out the window at my driveway, where Greg will be in a few hours to pick me up for work. Suddenly, something small melts on the window. Surprised, I turn my gaze upwards to the sky. Snow is cascading down from the heavens. I watch the flakes grow in size as they hit my window. I can't really help it; I giggle like a little girl. Snow has always been able to brighten up my day. Running to the door, I pull on my boots and throw a scarf around my neck. I fling open my door and walk out into the darkness. I feel my arms lift from my sides, and I spin in circles, my eyes closed. Call me crazy, but snow just seems magical to me. Always has and always will. As I'm dancing in the snow, a sudden light gets into my eyes. I squint towards the source and see Greg's car pulling into my driveway. He hops out, holding a thermos and a huge grin on his face.

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The snow falls on our blanket, despite our attempt to set up our picnic dinner under a tree in the park. Greg brought hot chocolate- somehow, he knew I don't drink coffee- and a chicken and rice dish. I cringed when I saw it, but was pleasantly surprised to find that Greg, unlike most men, could cook wonderfully.

"So you like it Alexis?" I nod, chewing thoughtfully and looking up at the sky as the flakes fall steadily. "What's on your mind?" I swallow and smile at him.

"A few things, actually. Just thinking about the case, Christmas…"

"Christmas?"

"Yeah… it's only 10 days away, you know. I really should be getting some shopping done… on that note, what do you want for Christmas, Greg?" His eyes widen a bit; I can tell he wasn't expecting me to ask him.

"Um… actually, I'm pretty good. I already got one thing I really wanted for Christmas." I smile happily at him.

"Me too." He leans in and kisses me gently on the lips; the snow sticks to my hair and I kiss him back. He tastes like chocolate. He pulls back and looks into my eyes adoringly, and reaches up and brushes the snow from my hair. "How much longer until shift starts?" I ask, leaning into his chest while his arms wrap around me.

" We still have half an hour until we have to start leaving." I grin and snuggle deeper into his chest. He plants a kiss on the top of my head and we stare at the falling snow together.

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My eyes flutter open and I look around sleepily. Snow has blanketed every inch of the park, including mine and Greg's outstretched legs. Then I realize what's happening.

"Greg… wake up. Greg!" I turn around and shake him forcefully. His eyes snap open and he looks at me, eyes still dull with sleep.

"What is it?"

"What time is it?" He groans and unwraps his arms from around me in order to look at his watch.

"Oh, damn!" He tries to get up, but I'm still entangled with him. I move quickly out of his way and he jumps up. He reaches out his hand and helps me up, and without pausing for a breath, leans over and starts scooping our picnic things into the basket. I bend down and help him.

"How long do we have, Greg?"

"Two minutes until shift starts."

"Shit." The things in the basket, we scamper to Greg's car, tripping over our own feet as we throw the things inside and get into the car. Greg starts and engine and backs out like a madman. I squeeze my eyes shut and hope we get there okay.

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Still scurrying like crazy, we stumble into the break room. Sara, Warrick, Nick, Catherine and Grissom all stare at Greg and me; we're both red-faced, panting with our pants wet from the snow. Muttering apologies, we sit next to each other. As slowly the focus switches back to Grissom, Greg reaches over and grabs my hand under the table, squeezing it gently.

"Now that Greg and Alexis have decided to join us… everyone's name is in this…" Grissom holds it up with a bit of distaste. "Santa hat. So everyone just reach in and grab a name, then bring their present by the 23rd at the latest." I nod, familiar with this. We did it last year, too; only then I didn't really know anyone in the lab. I had gotten Grissom and bought him a book about rare spiders. His face had broken out in a huge grin when he'd received it, making me feel really at home in the lab for the first time. Someone had given me a certificate for Starbucks, further proof that no one really knew me at that point. I still put a smile on my face when I received it.

Grissom held out the hat in front of me. I reached in, fishing around for a piece of paper. Greg, Greg, Greg… I prayed. My fingers found a piece of paper and pulled it out. Sara leaned in from my other side, and Greg fished through the hat. I unfolded the piece of paper.

Gil Grissom

I let my breath out, trying to hide my disappointment. What are the odds that I'd get Grissom again? I let my hand fall to my lap. Sara looked straight ahead, but under the table, she extended her hand, her piece of paper folded in the palm of her hand. I reached out and took it, swapping it for my own. Sara smiled at me, and I unfolded my new piece of paper.

Greg Sanders

I smiled happily at Sara. Grissom took the remaining piece of paper from the hat and everyone started talking together.

"How did you know?" Sara rolled her eyes at me.

"Please, Alexis. This is the second shift in a row you two have showed up late, together." I blushed furiously, looking out the corner of my eye to see if Greg had noticed anything. He was talking to Warrick, and thankfully was unaware of our conversation.

"Okay, everyone, let's focus on the case." We all stopped talking and sat attentively, listening to Grissom's every word.

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Shift was coming to a close, and we hadn't really gotten anywhere. Warrick and Greg had been sent off half way through shift to respond to a concerned home owner who had come home after vacation and was certain that he house had been broken into and someone was inside. There was no one inside. However, some of the woman's more valuable jewelry had been taken, so I was left missing Greg almost all shift.

The Baxter case was frustrating the hell out of me. We had found the knife that we assumed had been used to kill her, but it was still being processed in the lab. The sheets had been processed; there had been 3 sets of DNA; Gunnar's, Kelsey's, and an unknown female. Besides that, we hadn't made much progress at all.

"Alexis…" someone called me from out in the hallway. Most of the nightshift had already left. I walked out into the hallway, looking down one way for someone familiar. Suddenly, arms wrap around me from behind. Cool lips found their way to my neck and I laughed, turning around to face Greg. Instead of his chocolaty brown ones, cruel green eyes stare into mine. I inhale quickly, and Gunnar takes that opportunity to move his lips to mine. I struggle fiercely, but he's whirled me around and pinned me to a wall. Tears spring to my eyes as he roughly kisses me, his body pinning mine against the wall. I whimper in fear as he pulls away, breathing heavily onto my face. Someone's coming down the hall now, and Gunnar snaps his head towards the oncoming intruder, a hiss-like noise coming from his throat. I sob quietly, and this seems to remind him of my presence. He kisses me again, and then leans close to whisper something in my ear.

"Tell anyone and you're dead… you know, you're just like your sister."

Then lets me slump to the ground as he runs through the doors, disappearing outside. Horrified, I wrap my arms around myself, rocking back and forth and sobbing into my knees. Someone's hand touches my back and I push them away, looking up with tear-filled eyes. Sara's concerned face is there, and I quickly scramble up, standing to face her.

"Alexis?" Her voice is filled with shock. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Sara, really…" she wouldn't believe me if I told her, anyway.

"Do you… do you want to go out for a cup of coffee or something?" Great.

"No, I'm… I'm good, really. See you tomorrow, okay?" Without waiting for an answer, I walk out to my car. I get inside as quickly as I can, and after locking the doors, I curl up on the seat, letting myself cry. I swear, I can almost feel Angel's little arms wrapping around me and her hands stroking my hair, trying to make me stop crying.

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Yeah, I'm evil… so sue me. Alice, I hope you have a good move, and I'll write more soon!