AN: Thanks for the reviews and support, here is the next chapter. Warning: Implied/suggestive adult behavior

Chapter 2: Her best times

Sara opened her eyes and gets a bigger smile on her face as she thought of the next few birthdays after that.

After that birthday dinner, the next three years, at that point, were the best she ever experienced, especially when it involved a significant other. She finally found a boyfriend who was willing to celebrate, even if she hadn't been in the mood, the day she was born.

Flashback

September 16, 2005

Four months ago, two significant events happened in their lives, one, they almost lost Nick, who was kidnapped and buried alive.

Luckily he was found alive and they slowly got back to normal life, or as normal as CSIs can get.

And two, that night they found and rescued Nick, Sara's and Grissom's friendship evolved into something more, something that was honestly building from the moment they met and even more so the last year. Strong feelings were revealed that night, most of Grissom's whys were finally answered and there was lots of kissing, crying and holding one another until he had to leave the next morning.

Now, outside of them hiding their relationship the last four months, things couldn't have been better for them, they were happy and in love, more than they had been in their lives before meeting one another.

Earlier that evening, after having a few birthday drinks with the team at the bar, which Grissom left early, Sara headed to his place, where she was greeted with a home cook meal before they took the celebration to his bedroom, an act that still felt new, even after two months.

As they were laying in his bed on their sides, the sheet up to her chest and to his waist, they couldn't stop smiling at one another.

He moved his hand and cupped her cheek before he spoke softly as he ran his thumb up and down it. "You look so happy."

She smirked as she placed her hand on top of his. "Isn't that a good thing after what we just did?"

He chuckled lightly before he spoke again. "I would hope so, but it's more than that. I've been seeing this look on your face the last four months."

She smiled as she moved closer to him. "It's because I've been so happy, the happiest I've been in my life." She started to lean down and kiss him but stopped when she saw his frown and asked. "What is it?"

He sighed. "Even though we have to hide it?"

There was no hesitation in her reply. "Yes it sucks that I can't shout it out from the rooftops on why I'm so happy, but I get that this has to be the way right now, and I'm still 100% behind you, I trust you."

He moves his hand from her cheek for a moment so he could move his body until they were eye-level before he cupped her cheek again as he spoke softly but with a determined look. "And one day we will be out in the open, I promise." She nodded with a smile as she cupped his cheek again.

They lean towards one another and peck each other on the lips a few times before he whispers against them. "Before we pick things up again, I do have an actual present for you."

After he pulled back, she shook her head and spoke while he turned his body towards his nightstand and opened the top drawer. "Griss, you know you didn't..."

He cuts her off as he turned his body back towards her and hands her a small square wrapped present. "I know, but I wanted to."

She smiles as she moves up, taking the sheet with her, so she could sit up with her back against the headboard. "Well, thank you."

He smirked as she took the box from his hand. "You haven't opened it yet."

While she was opening it, she was speaking. "I'm sure that whatever you got me, will be..."

She stopped talking when she lifted up the box lid and saw what was inside, and after several seconds of silence then tears started to come into her eyes, he gets worried. "Sara? Did I do something wrong?" Then he started to get mad at himself. "I knew I should have bought you..."

She cuts him of as she shook her head and took his hand. "No, it's perfect."

He raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"

She nodded with a smile and sniffle, squeezed his hand and lifted a key to his townhouse out of the box. "This means you're opening up your world to me, you're trusting me, and that means more to me than anything you can buy at a store."

Feeling a little emotional himself, he clears his throat before speaking softly. "I'm really trying."

She sets the key back in the box and placed it on the other nightstand, moved closer to him and cupped his bearded cheek before running her thumb up and down it. "I know you are and I couldn't be more prouder of you, or more in..."

She trailed off and looked down, which he immediately lifted her chin up and whispered with a sparkle in his eyes. "Love?"

Even though they've said it a handful of times already, it still felt a little foreign to say and hear at times because they don't have to hide what they feel from one another anymore after so long of not saying it out-loud.

She nodded with a sparkle in her eyes. "Yes, more in love with you."

"Me neither."

They leaned towards one another and started kissing again, this time taking it deeper as she started to lie back down on the bed, him following until he was above her, and after they pulled back for some much needed air, they place their foreheads together and she whispered. "Now, seeing it is still my birthday, how about we do a little more celebrating?"

He started to smile. "Your wish is my command."

Her growing smile gets cut off as his lips touched hers, not that she would be complaining one bit about it.

September 16, 2006

Another year had come around, another birthday had arrived, and just like the previous year, not only did the team celebrate with her at a bar but Grissom once again left early and she met him at his place. The only difference is that she got to open the door with her key, a key she's used very frequent in the last year, seeing as most of their time was spent here, when they weren't at the lab of course, which was more times than they cared to admit.

She smelled the always wonderful scent of his home-cooked meal as she was putting up her shoulder bag and jacket on the hangers that was on the door, then after she made it into the kitchen area, she grabbed the glass of wine he had poured for her, sat on the barstool at the kitchen island and watched the man she loved as he cooked for her, a task she thoroughly enjoyed watching, not only because she could see the stress of their 'day' wash off him, but she knew once the meal was done it would be one of the best meals she's ever had, which wasn't new because it seemed like every meal she's had of his tops his previous ones, even if it's something she's already had of his.

Not a lot of people knew he was a good cook, something his mother started teaching him at a young age, and she was thankful she was one of those people who got that privilege of knowing/enjoying it...among other things as well.

She silently smiled at that last thought.

After dinner, he handled the dishes, even though she tried to convince him it was her 'job' tonight since he cooked. But it was her birthday and he wanted her to relax, which she did for a little bit, but as he was finishing up, she walked up behind him, wrapped her arms around him before she started to kiss his neck, causing him to sigh and close his eyes as she moved her lips up to his ear. "I know something else that will help me relax."

He smiled in return while her fingers moved to the buttons of his shirt, and after the first two came undone, he cleared his throat and placed his hands on hers to stop her action before speaking softly. "And while I would love to help with that, can I show you something first?"

A little curious, she nodded. "Sure, what is it?"

She moved her arms from him before he took one of her hands and walked them towards the couch in the living room, and after helping her sit down, he walked towards his desk, opened the top drawer and pulled out a file, then headed back to the couch and handed it to her, her curiosity only peaked more as she took it from him.

He sits down next to her as she opens the file, immediately seeing it was interior pictures and descriptions of a few apartments/townhouse/condos, so Sara asked with a smile. "What exactly are you trying to tell me? You are thinking about moving and you want my opinion?"

He cleared his throat with a slight nod. "In a way yeah, but I want your opinion based on if you could see yourself living there too."

She was about to look at another photo but stopped all action when he said what he did and looked at him in shock. "Griss?"

"You heard me right. I was hoping we could make the move together, I would like us to live together." When she hadn't spoken in the next few seconds after he stopped talking, he continued, now a little unsure. "Of course if you're ready, we can..."

She cuts him with tears in her eyes. "You really want to do this?"

He nodded again, that boyish smile that always gets to her heart showing up. "Yes, very much so, and while I know most of your stuff is here, and it would be simple enough just for you to move the rest of your stuff here, I want us to have a place that we pick out together." When she looked down at the photos again without saying a word, he continued. "I know this is a big step, but I feel I'm ready to make it, and like I said, if you need more time to think it thro..."

Sara cuts him off this time as she lifted one of the listings out of the stack. "This one, I think we should check out this one a little more closely."

Grissom's eye's lit up as he asked. "Really?"

She nodded with a smile, some tears finally falling down her cheek. "Yes, you're right, it is a big step. But I feel I'm ready for it too."

He cupped her cheek to wipe her tears away as he whispered. "I love you so much."

"I love you too."

He gives her a smile as he continues to run his thumb up and down her cheek, her smile growing. "We are moving in together."

His smiles grows as well. "Yes we are, honey."

She chuckled while she placed the file on the coffee table before repeating her words as she moved closer to him. "We are moving in together."

His chuckle was cut off when her lips touched his, not that he minded too much.

Eventually she was on his lap before they slowed down their passionate kissing, and once she caught her breath, she whispered while their foreheads were touching. "Thank you for another wonderful birthday."

He runs his hand up and down her back. "Anything for you, especially on your birthday."

She smiles and pecks him on lips before moving off of him, then she held out her hand. "And I know what we can do to make it over the top."

He stood up, but instead of taking her hand, he surprised her when he picked her up bridle style and headed for the bedroom, saying. "It looks like we have two things to celebrate this evening."

She chuckled, then he stopped in the doorway while she replied. "Bring it on, bugman."

She saw so much emotion in his eyes and face, showing her how much this next step in their relationship really meant to him, so she cupped his cheek and ran her thumb up and down it with love in her eyes before they shared one of the sweetest kisses they ever shared as he walked them into the bedroom, closing the door behind them.

September 16, 2007

Going into her 36th birthday hadn't been that smooth. She was still dealing with the after-effects from being kidnapped, placed under a car and being left out in the desert to die. Not to mention being split from the team she had worked with since she's been in Vegas, (Grissom did offer to be the one to switch, but she didn't want to do that to them or him to be honest) because her and Grissom's relationship was finally revealed, not that she had a problem with that part since they started to really talk about telling everybody, but how it was revealed wasn't how it should have been.

But even with everything she went through, and is still going through, she wouldn't change a thing about her relationship with Grissom, which despite the new challenges they've had since they had to be on different work hours, was stronger than ever.

She won't doubt it's been lonely at times when she had to sleep alone, but they've done the best they could under the circumstances, and for this year's birthday, he suggested they go out of town to celebrate it.

At first when he had asked her that, she was admittedly surprised because during their two year relationship they didn't really do vacations, especially ones that involved going out town. Of course it wasn't for the lack of trying, they tried multiple times. But when you got two workaholics who would jump at any chance to do a case, or was required to have all hands on deck, which was most of the time, plus add the challenge of trying to schedule time away, when it involved multiple days, so it wouldn't look suspicious was, to say the least, difficult.

However, his reasoning on the suggestion this time was pretty much on point.

One, he felt they could use the time away, especially after the months, she, they had, and two, there was no hiding anymore, and providing no big case came their way, they could do more vacations and no one would bat an eyelash, so agreeing with him wholeheartedly, they headed for the city where it started it all for them...San Francisco.

For the next two days they spent their time at the beach, saying hi to a few ex-colleagues of Sara's and going to museums, particularly the art ones, then on the third day, Sara's actual birthday, they had a few drinks with her ex-colleagues before he took her out to a movie and dinner, taking their dessert (figuratively and literally), back to the hotel room.

Hours later, Grissom gets out of bed to use the bathroom while Sara, tightening the sheet around her, gets out of bed and walks toward the balcony door and looks out in the ocean that was slowly darkening.

A few minutes later, Grissom, only in his boxers, walks out of the bathroom and heads towards Sara before wrapping his arms around her and kissing the side of her head once she was settled against him.

They took a moment of silence before she whispered. "Thank you for bringing me here. You were absolutely right, we needed this after everything that's happened."

He whispers in return. "You're welcome." Then he closes his eyes and continued. "And I'm so sor..."

She cuts him off as she turned in his arms and cups his cheek. "Hey babe, we talked about this already, it isn't your fault. I could/would never blame you for what happened, you believe me right?"

"Yeah, I just wish I could have protected you better."

She shook her head as she continued while running her thumb up and down his cheek. "We didn't know that was going to happen, and even if we did, what? Were you going to be my bodyguard 24/7."

He smiled a little with that boyish grin while wrapping his arms around her waist. "Well, now that you mentioned it..."

He trailed off and she chuckled as she removed her hand from his cheek only to wrap her arms around his neck and brought him closer. "That wouldn't have been practical." She stopped and took a breath before finishing. "Now, I just want to continue to move on."

Looking concerned, he asked. "And have you?"

Sara frowned. "Griss, why are you..."

He cuts her off softly, still looking concerned while he moved his hand and cupped her cheek. "You don't think I haven't noticed before this trip you looked a little tired, worn out?"

She sighed. "Ok, I've had my good days and bad, but a lot of it is because I'm still trying to get use to my new working schedule." Before he could speak again, she continued with a small smile as she took his hand and lead him back to the bed. "And no, I haven't changed my mind about working swing shift, the team still needs you."

Before they get to the bed, he stops them, then turns her around and cups her cheek one more time while asking softly. "And what do you need?"

Her look turns dark with desire as she whispered. "Right now. I just want to spend the rest of the night with my boyfriend, continue to enjoy whatever time I have left with him before we get back to the real world."

He smiled as he brings he closer. "Well, considering this is still your birthday, your wish is my command, dear."

Their kissing grew passionate as they got back into bed.

Before they crossed that line, he pulled back and looked down at her, speaking with emotion. "I love you, so much. I hope you know that and that I would do anything for you."

She cupped his cheek with tears in her eyes. "I know that, and that's what makes me love you too, especially how you've been with me since I got out of the hospital, I couldn't ask for a better partner, a better boyfriend."

A second later the desire stirred back up between them and they couldn't hold back any longer.

End of flashback

AN: Hope you enjoyed that. Thanks for reading, and please review. A couple more chapters to go.