A/N: Thank you for taking time to read this short story. Right now, we plan to add one more chapter.

Christmas 2015

Chapter 3

In windows that flanked the door, narrow trees glowed with soft white and gold lights. More lights fanned from the door, ran along the porch ceiling and covered two evergreen plants in the small front yard. Deeper inside the house, barely visible beyond the trees by the door was the 'real' Christmas tree, covered in colored twinkle lights and sparkling ornaments.

Gil Grissom knew he had never decorated as much for Christmas as he had this year. Lights were hooked to every possible surface reached with an eight foot ladder—not as many lights as some of their neighbors, but more than he'd ever done. The search for trinkets had not taken long because his wife considered anything she could glue a hook on an ornament; that meant sea shells, driftwood, boat bells, pine cones, leaves, and acorns. She'd found smooth glass stones on a beach one day and gathered a handful for the tree. He was amazed by her creativity and the appearance of the tree.

In Las Vegas, he had worked most holidays. Only once had he and Sara had Christmas day off—they had slept most of the day—and celebrated with a small rosemary 'tree' with gifts of books and music. This year, they had made promises of two gifts each, something wished for. That had been easy—both wanted books—but one of the wrapped boxes was definitely not a book. He had opened his safety deposit box and removed his mother's small jewelry box; it was wrapped and waiting.

Opening the door, he smelled cookies and smiled. He had been correct about a cookie baking project from the bags of flour and sugar that had appeared in the pantry. But it wasn't the aroma of cookies that caught his eyes.

"You're home!"

Sara was half way down the stairs, feet bare, hair curling around her face, and she was radiant.

Gil Grissom was unable to speak as he was pulled to his wife like a magnet to steel.

Softly, he said, "Christmas is early." His hand touched the sheer gossamer fabric of—he thought it was a short cape—that did nothing to hide what was underneath. Very little, he thought, as his hand moved from the sheer fabric to the red satin ribbon holding a triangle of fabric between her legs.

"Oh, Sara," he whispered. A soft laugh escaped when he said, "This isn't cookies."

Her response was a musical laugh and a backward move to the next step as she said, "Would you like cookies…or…"

In a second, he was beside her, a groan coming from his mouth as his hands went to her face, framing it between his hands. Without a word, he lowered his lips to hers.

The touch of his tongue against her lips caused Sara to think she might drown under the impact of his kiss.

The next few minutes were a haze of movements, stroking caresses, tender kisses that combined to stir passions and remove most of Grissom's clothing. Their bed was ready, covers turned back, curtains drawn to darken the room.

"I need a shower," he said as they tumbled onto the bed.

"No, you smell like the ocean."

He was very careful to leave Sara's red bra and panties until last. His hand stroked slowly from her breast to thigh, lifting the slender ribbon that held the triangle in place.

As his lips kissed a path along her neck, he asked, "And where did you find this?"

Sara's neck arched as his tongue played along her ear and his finger tips slipped under her panties.

She whispered, "Amazon has everything!" Lifting one leg, she wrapped it around his butt and pulled him between her legs.

This was heaven, he thought as his hand closed on her backside and slid effortlessly between her thighs. Grissom's fingers moved, exploring, searching, setting Sara's passion flaming along her spine.

Sara stroked, kissed, and caressed him as they responded to each other as well-known lovers do, building a spiral of sexual excitement. He knew where to touch her; her kisses were in places that caused him to groan.

Suddenly, his mouth fastened on hers and he thrust fully into her in one, long stroke. For several moments, the fascination, the grip of passion moved between them, slowly, deliberately, letting her pull him back every time he retreated.

Sara whispered his name as he eased into her again, into the moist warmth of her body. His body surged as he felt the sudden tension coming from Sara, knowing she was close to her climax. Her head tipped back as she cried out, convulsed gently and clutched him with her arms and with the strong contractions of her orgasm. Almost immediately, a shuddering release broke over him.

Several minutes passed before either moved and when he did, it was only to roll onto his side, gathering Sara close so they could remain together in an aftermath of quiet contentment.

Grissom's hand caressed Sara's back, along her spine, to the cleft of her butt. He said, "Dear God, I love you. My life has changed, Sara. Our lives are changing."

For a response, he heard a soft purring hum before she said, "It's a surprise—after all this time—I—I had given up-thought it would never happen."

Grissom chuckled, saying, "You were abundantly fruitful and I—I was loaded."

Sara buried her head against his scruffy neck and laughed. "I love you, Gil."

The day before, they had heard the words and seen the lengthy testing performed a few days earlier showing normal or negative results for a long list of possible problems. They could celebrate; they were going to be parents.

And Gil Grissom, at the age when most men were grandparents, found the image of his wife growing round with pregnancy sent a thrill of satisfaction through him.

A/N: Thank you! Now, take a second and send us a few words about the story! Some of you had guessed what was changing in the lives of Grissom and Sara! The 4th chapter may have more surprises!