17
They decided to stay home on New Year's Eve. Neither one of them liked the crowds nor the fact that everyone would be driving home intoxicated. Instead, they had a nice dinner, rented a pay-per-view movie and by 11:30, they were cuddled on the couch with their coffee cups.
While watching the crowd on television in New York City, Grissom commented, "I don't understand why people would want to be there tonight. There is no way I'd want to be squashed between ten drunk people like a sardine on a cold New York City street at midnight on New Year's Eve. Don't these people have common sense? And the people that get married there? My, God, what is the world coming to?"
"I'd have to agree with you about not wanting to be there, but I think getting married there might be romantic."
"Romantic? With all that yelling and shouting? All those people that you don't even know? And there is no way I want my wedding televised!"
"Afraid of who might be watching?"
"No. You know how private I am. I actually wouldn't care if there was no one else there but you, me and the Justice of the Peace."
"No minister? No religious ceremony?"
"Is that what you want?"
"No. I actually would prefer a non-denominational or a non-religious ceremony, but I thought you were brought up catholic."
"I was. But have you seen me go to church for anything other than a funeral or a case?"
"No."
"That's because I don't believe in church. I believe in God, but not religion. I don't believe that a church, which is just a group of people, should be able to tell me how to live my life. Therefore, no minister, father, priest or reverend."
"What about your mother? Wouldn't you want her there?"
"I guess I never thought about it. She wouldn't be able to hear anything."
"But she'd be able to watch. She'd get the point. You must have gotten your intelligence from her."
"I like to think so. I suppose I would want her to see me get married. But she's even more private than me and she hates to travel. Maybe we should just go visit her."
"I'd love to meet your mother."
"I'd like you to meet her. We'll plan a trip."
"Okay. So, you want a small, non-religious, very private ceremony."
"Is that all right with you?"
"It's perfect."
"Good. You know, we should probably go look at wedding rings."
"You know, I was thinking, and I don't know what I want to do about that. I don't think we're going to find a wedding band I can wear with this ring you designed."
"I guess I never thought about that. So, do you want a band at all?"
"It's not that I don't want one, it's just that you put so much thought into designing this ring that I don't want to take away from it."
"Well, maybe we could think of something else. I was thinking that I'd like to inscribe our initials on my wedding band, like on the key chain you bought me for Christmas."
"That sounds like a good idea."
"The mall will be closed tomorrow, but maybe we could go to the jewelry store on Tuesday."
"Okay." Pointing to the television, "Look. There's a couple getting married."
"And you find that romantic?"
"Well, they say that what you're doing when the ball drops at midnight is what you'll be doing all year. What better thing could there be than celebrating being married?"
Without a word, Grissom shut off the television, stood up, picked Sara up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom. When he laid her down on the bed, he said, "I can think of one thing."
"Grissom!"
"You know I'm right."
"You usually are."
"And?"
"Well, you have about ten minutes to be, uh, doing whatever it is that you want to be doing when the clock strikes midnight."
"That would definitely be you."
Neither one of them knew at what point midnight hit, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was that they would love each other for the rest of their lives.