Author's Note: Oh my God, last chapter! Sob. I love this daft story but sadly this is the last chapter. I didn't fail my math exam for all of you that care; it yesterday morning at 8:30 am. Anyways, enough with my babbling, I better shut up and write it before I start crying. Yes, that's right; this is an emotional event for me!
Ahem….on with the chappie
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Sara awoke to bright sunlight in her eyes again. She was wrapped in Greg's arms, her head resting on his shoulder. No sooner had she yawned there was a soft knock on the door.
"Miss Sara, Uncle Greg, can I come in?" Michelle's voice asked.
"Sure Sweetie," Sara called back as the child opened the door. Michelle walked over to the bed, climbing up onto the mattress beside Sara and lying down with them.
"Do you have to leave today?" the girl inquired. Sara sighed, looking down at the Michelle whose light brown hair was falling in her face again.
"I'm afraid so, your Uncle Greg and I have to go back to work tomorrow," Sara answered, stroking the girl's hair. Michelle frowned as she sighed dejectedly.
"I don't want you to go back to work," she grumbled. Sara shook her head.
"We have to Michelle, otherwise how am I supposed to buy you presents for Christmas?" Greg inquired, yawning as he talked. Michelle let out a squeak. "That's what I thought." He laughed, kissing Sara's cheek before leaning over her and tickling his niece. Michelle giggled.
Sara bit her bottom lip, trying to keep the tears that were forming in her eyes from falling. She wanted nothing more than a family at that moment.
"Sar, you okay?" Greg questioned, seeing her eyes water up. Sara nodded, smiling meekly at him as Michelle jumped from the bed, running out the door.
"I just…I never had anything like this as a kid and well, I never knew what I was missing and now, well, its just really nice to see all this. I'm gonna miss it here," she said, wiping at her eyes. Greg kissed her lips then.
"Well, I was gonna come up again at Christmas, I'd like for you to come back with me. I know how Mare's gonna react already, she'd be thrilled."
"You sure?" Sara asked, looking at him objectively. Greg laughed, placing a hand on her cheek.
"Yes Sara, I'm positive. I bet you that Mary's gonna say something about Christmas before we leave today. You just watch," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper as he closed the gap between them and began to devour her lips.
"Yes, I'm going to say something about Christmas, but first I'm gonna say that you two REALLY need to get up and dressed. The kids are going to school in twenty minutes and in an hour we need to leave for the airport. And also, save the umm…physical relations until you get back to Vegas eh? I don't need Michelle learning what REAL sex is," Mary chuckled, shaking her head as she stood in the open doorway. Greg jumped back from Sara, blushing like mad. "You've still got the deer in the headlights look down to a tea Gregory," she commented before leaving.
"I'm going to go get dressed," Sara announced, slipping out of the bed.
"Can I help you?" Greg quipped. Sara shot him a devilish glance before crossing the hallway and shutting the door behind herself. Greg smiled, Mary was right; this had turned out to be a great weekend. As he stood to get dressed he thought about work and everything that had happened.
When he had left to come to Mary's on Thursday morning he had witnessed Sara getting called into Grissom's office. He knew that it wasn't something good just by the tone their boss had used. Sara had flown off the handle at Nick and Catherine that day and Greg knew she was in for a punishment.
Sighing, he pulled off his night shirt, replacing it with a t-shirt. He had never expected Sara to appear. There was a part of him that had always wished she'd just show up at his door one day and that she'd fall as deeply in love with him as he was with her. He just never thought it would actually happen.
Maybe his sister and brother-in-law had always been right; maybe you just needed to wait around a while until fate decided to take its course. What Greg did know for certain was that he was pretty damn happy about how things were turning out.
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"Mom, PLEASE can't I come with you to the airport?" Clara pouted.
"I've told you already Clara, you have school today. You can say goodbye to Uncle Greg and Miss Sara before you leave. Now please eat your breakfast," Mary sighed, dropping a bowl of cereal on the table in front of her daughter.
"Clara Maret Summerson, do not think about your mother like that! She just wants you to go to school, as do I. You and Cody have to keep up with your classes," Kevin said bluntly, leaning against the kitchen counter. Clara frowned, slouching in her chair.
"Hey Clara, don't fret, John and I will take you and Cody to school on our way home," Abby said, sitting down next to her older sister who gave her a smile of thanks.
"Really?" Clara questioned.
"Sure," John agreed, placing a hand on his wife's protruding stomach as he stood beside her chair.
"Okay, I'll go get Cody," Clara rushed, running upstairs.
"What about your breakfast?" Mary called after her. "Kids," she muttered. Kevin, Abby and John laughed.
"Did you get to see the you know what Kevin?" Abby inquired, picking up an orange.
"Indeed I did Abs, you and Mare did a great job on it. I think they're gonna love it," Kevin answered, sipping on his coffee.
"Good morning!" Greg beamed, coming into the kitchen and heading directly for the coffee pot. Mary shook her head again, sighing softly. All of this reminded her so much of when she Abby and Greg were kids. She would be watching her siblings while their parents were at work and she'd always let them get away with drinking coffee. Mary watched as her brother poured two cups of coffee, fixing them in two different ways. No sooner was she about to ask why Sara walked in, smiling as he handed her the one cup, kissing her on the cheek.
"Aunt Abby, Uncle John, Cody and I are ready to go to school," Clara proclaimed.
"Alright then, c'mon Abs, go grab your coat, I'll get Clara and Cody into the truck as well as our bags. Mare, Kev, thanks so much for having us. It was great to see you guys again. And you as well Greg. Sara, it was a pleasure meeting you," John said, giving them each a hug before bolting up the stairs to retrieve his and Abby's bags.
"Well Mare, I'll see you in a week, right?" The younger woman asked.
"You bet Abs, do take care of yourself," Mary answered, hugging her sister.
"I'll see you in a month and a bit Abby," Greg grinned, ruffling her hair slightly and causing Abby to roll her eyes.
"Bye Sara," Abby said, hugging her. "I hope you're back here at Christmas," she whispered.
"It was a pleasure to meet you Abby, now I know who to call when I need blackmail material," Sara whispered back. Abby laughed. Giving a quick wave Abby and Clara left the kitchen.
"Bye Miss Sara, bye Uncle Greg!" Clara said, grabbing onto first Greg, then Sara.
"Bye Kiddo," Greg smirked, causing Clara to roll her eyes like her mother always did.
"Bye!" Cody grinned. "I still want you to be our new Auntie," he said, directing the statement at Sara.
"We'll see, Sara answered, ruffling the boy's hair before he ran out of the kitchen with his sister.
"Urg, it's going to be so quiet here tonight," Mary muttered.
"Quiet? Mare, you have five classes tonight and we have three kids. How is that quiet?" Kevin inquired with a smirk playing on his lips.
"You know what I mean!" Mary defended. "Have you two got everything packed?" She asked Greg and Sara.
"Yes," they replied in unison.
"Good. We'll probably leave in twenty minutes because of morning traffic. That and I have to pick something up from Kate on the way to the airport." The blonde rambled, picking up some dishes and putting them in the sink.
"Um, I guess I'll drive my rental car to the airport," Sara said, finally realizing that it was still there.
"It's okay, I'll take it in when I go to work in an hour, I'll grab a ride from a co-worker to get back,' Kevin piped up, not even looking up from the papers he was now reading.
"Are you sure?" Sara inquired.
"Yep, don't worry about it Sara." Kevin said.
"Kate? As in Katherine that you've been friends with since we were kids? Why do you need to get from her?" Greg prodded.
"Yes Kate, Katherine, whatever you want to call her. And as for what I have to get from her, it's none of your business Greg. If you really want to know use your CSI skills and find out. Now, if you don't mind, I have to go get Michelle dressed because she's coming with us. So finish up with breakfast and get your bags in the car," she continued, walking towards the stairwell.
"Kevin, what does Kate do again?" Greg asked.
"Nope, not telling you Greg, I don't want to risk the wrath of your sister," Kevin responded.
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Greg, Sara and Michelle sat in the car, watching as Mary jogged up to the front door of a large house on the edge of Buffalo. A woman, around Mary's age, with black hair opened the door, smiling broadly.
"Can I go see Auntie Kate?" Michelle asked, fidgeting with her seat belt.
"No Michelle, your Mom said to stay here with Miss Sara and me," Greg replied, trying to see what Kate was giving his sister. Mary shoved something in her purse before pointing towards the car. "What is she saying?" he wondered aloud.
"Greg, did no one ever tell you about curiosity?" Sara inquired, trying to hide her smile.
"Yes, but we're CSI's Sara, we get paid to be curious," Greg retorted, his eyes still on the blonde and black haired women. Kate waved at him, a smile on her slim face. Greg shook his head, waving back before turning back to Sara. They were sitting in the back of Mary's car, Michelle in between them, safely buckled in her car seat. "I don't see why we couldn't take the van." He added.
"Mary said something about straw and cotton candy being everywhere after the fair. That and she said your parents need to go into town today so they were going to use it," Sara explained as she and Michelle played a clapping game. Greg looked at her, smiling.
"We really do have a lot to talk about," he said. Sara glanced up at him, nodding.
"What do you have to talk about Uncle Greg?" Michelle questioned, clapping her hands against Sara's.
"Um, lots of stuff Michelle," Greg stumbled, not really wanting to discuss it with his niece.
"Okay," the four year old replied simply. Greg let out a sigh of relief, realizing that his sister was only about three feet away from the car.
"Ready?" Mary asked, getting back in the driver's seat and buckling her seat belt.
"As ready as we're going to be," Sara responded. Mary nodded, looking at the three people in her backseat before turning the car back on and putting it into gear.
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"Well Gregory, it was great to see you, and Sara, I'm so glad I got to meet you. Please do come back with Greg for Christmas, we'd all love to see you again," Mary said, Michelle in her arms as they stood in front of the boarding gates in the airport.
"It was great seeing you too Mare," Greg answered, hugging his sister tightly and ruffling Michelle's hair affectionately.
"Thank you so much for having me Mary, I'll see what I can do about work for Christmas," Sara replied, hugging Mary too.
"Oh, before you guys go, this is for you," Mary announced, pulling out a package from her purse (which was abnormally large and able to hold binders and books). She gave it to Greg before pulling out a second package, this one a long slender wrapped box which she gave to Sara. "I hope you like it. Anyways, I've gotta run, I have to meet up with some of my students. Call me when you get home to let me know that you're safe. That goes for you as well Sara; Greg can give you my house and cell number. Bye!" Mary said.
"Bye Uncle Greg, bye Miss Sara!" Michelle called as she was carried off by her mother, tears falling from her blue eyes.
"Do we have to go back?" Sara asked, sniffing slightly.
"Yeah," Greg answered, taking her hand as they walked to the gate where their plane was beginning to board. He eyed the package in his hand with apprehension. He was never sure what was coming from his sister, she could be so cryptic at times.
After they gave their tickets to the woman at the gate entrance they walked down the corridor and boarded the plane, sitting down in their seats.
"What did Mary give you?" Greg questioned, pointing to the box in Sara's hand.
"Oh! I dunno, let me see," Sara replied, pulling at the paper and finding a note attached. It read:
Sara, I think that you'll know what this is for. I know that you probably don't want too raise too much suspicion at work so I thought this may be useful. I really hope that you're able to join us for Christmas and that you're able to meet the rest of our family; God knows that we consider you part of it. I hope you enjoyed yourself and if you ever need anything don't hesitate to call me.
Love Mary
Sara was wiping tears from her eyes by the time she finished.
"I love your sister," she muttered.
"Not more than me though I hope," Greg smirked causing Sara to punch him lightly in the arm. She then opened the rest of the box, coming face to face with a grape-vine like silver necklace.
"My God," Sara commented, picking up the chair and admiring it. "It's so people don't think we're engaged, because otherwise I wear my ring on my left hand," Sara told Greg, gently unclipping the chain, taking the ring off her finger and putting it onto the necklace. Greg then took it from her, clipping it around her neck.
"There," he said, admiring the way the rubies sparkled against Sara's skin. "Beautiful."
"What's that?" Sara asked, pointing at the large package on his lap.
"No idea. You open it," Greg said, passing it to her. Sara nodded, taking the paper off it and gaping at the front cover of a photo album.
"What on earth?" she muttered. The title on the album read "A Thanksgiving We'll Never Forget" Glancing quickly at Greg she opened the cover. On the first page was a picture of her and Greg, playing in the leaves, below it a comment written in black calligraphy ink.
"This was the first time we saw you two together, evidently you didn't know that we were watching you playing in those leaves." Greg said, reading what it said. "Figures Mary and Kevin would see that," he added with a chuckle. Sara smiled, flipping the page.
"Oh Jesus!" Sara laughed. The second picture was when she had pulled him in the leaves, accidentally having him fall on top of her. Greg smacked his forehead.
"My sister should be a spy or something," he groaned. Flipping through the rest of the book they saw pictures of themselves playing soccer, sitting on Mary's car eating cotton candy, Greg carrying Sara up to bed after the fair, having a war with pumpkins and kissing under the mistletoe. The last three pages were from Thanksgiving itself. The first being the picture Kevin took of Sara sitting on Greg's lap, and the second being a shot of the entire family, the one where they were kissing to be exact. The final shot was where Sara was carrying Michelle up to bed, Greg's arm around her waist.
"Mary and Kevin put so much effort into this…for us," Sara whispered, brushing a tear away from her cheek.
"Yeah," Greg agreed, taking Sara's hand in his own and kissing the back of it.
"We have a lot to talk about Greg, more than you know," she said.
"I think I have an idea," Greg replied. "What are we going to tell the guys back at the lab?"
"Nothing for the time being. I don't want them asking any questions, and I definitely don't want Grissom finding out just yet. I love you Greg, and I'm not ashamed of anything, it's just, well, it's going to be a real shock to everyone."
"I know, I think that we should wait a while before telling them too. Hell, let's just let them figure it out for themselves," Greg said. Sara nodded, leaning her head on his shoulder as she put the album away in her carry-on bag.
"This really has been the best Thanksgiving ever," she exclaimed.
"Why's that?" Greg questioned.
"Because," Sara began, looking him directly in the eyes. "After all these years I finally have something to be thankful for."
The End
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A/N: Alright! That's it! It's finished! Who-boy that was emotionally draining to write. Yep, it so was. Anyways, thank you everyone for reading and reviewing. It means so much to me to know that people actually like what I write.
The sequel, entitled "New Outlooks" will hit computers near you in August or September, depending on my schedule this summer. It's basically about Greg and Sara going back up to NY for the Christmas holidays. There are a bunch of new characters that you'll meet, and most of the ones that were in this fic will make a re-appearance at some point or another. But that's all I'm going to tell you. Well, that and that not all of the fic takes place in NY, there's a bit in Vegas at the beginning and end too. Okay, shutting up again.
Thank you all again so much for reading!
Hugs and kisses (if you want them)
--Jules