AN: Thanks for the support, here is the next chapter, and a revelation that could change everything, or will it?

Warning: Implied/Suggestive adult content

Chapter 9: William's Curveball

September 16, 2026

Sara woke with the feel of her husband's lips on her cheek then neck and his soft voice. "Sara, time to wake up."
Once she opened her eyes and they connected with her husband's bright blue eyes, he smiled and said. "Happy Birth..."
She cuts him off, groaning as she closed her eyes and moved her body to the side so her back was facing him, making him chuckle as he took a hold of the blankets and lowered them down. "Oh no you don't, you didn't let me crawl under the covers and hide on my birthday, so I can't let you do the same. Besides." He moved down so his lips were near her ear. "If you're not awake, you won't get your present."

She opened her eyes and turned her head up so she could look at her husband again, and smiled. "Did you say present?"

He chuckled again with a nod. "Yep, just like the kids, can never resist a present."

She smiled wider before she sighed. "Even though I told you that I didn't nee..."

He placed a finger to her lips to stop her. "I know, but you knew it was going to happen anyways, so humor me."

She nodded with another smile. "Ok."

As she moved so she could sit up in bed, Grissom grabbed a long stem rose from her nightstand and handed it to her, which she took and smelled it with a smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, but that's only the beginning." She was about to speak, but one look from him, she made a gesture that she was locking her mouth shut and 'threw' away the key, making him smile with a nod before he pulled a square box out of his pants pocket and handed it to her.

She placed her rose back on her nightstand before taking the box from her husband's hand, then after lifting up the lid, she looked down and saw that it was a silver necklace that not only had their kid's birthstones, but theirs as well, along the front of it, she then looked into her husband's eyes with tears in her eyes, and he smiled as he acted like he pulled a key out of his pocket and whispered. "It's ok, I always have an extra one."

She made a noise between a sob and closed mouthed chuckle as he moved closer to 'unlock' her mouth before she spoke. "It's beautiful, Griss."

"Yeah?"

She nodded while he took the necklace out of the box, and after he moved closer to her, he placed it around her neck and clipped it together in the back and whispered in her ear. "Happy Birthday, honey."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered. "Thank you, babe."

"You're welcome again, but there is more."

She sighed as she pulled back. "Griss..."

He cuts her off with a smile. "Catherine and Carly want to take you out for drinks after shift, dinner here with me and the kids, then after that...well, you'll just have to wait for that one."

She chuckled. "So, you're not telling me everything?"

He smirked. "Hey, I have to have some secrets. I have to keep things interesting sometimes."

She moved her hand to cup his cheek as she replied in reassuring tone. "Believe me, you do. I love you."

He moved his head forward and whispered. "And I love you."

They kiss softly, but before they could deepen it, there is a knock the door, and the sound of their son's voice. "Hope you guys are decent in there."

They chuckled as they placed their foreheads together, then he lifts his head up and kissed her forehead before standing up and speaking towards the door. "Come in."

The door opened a second later, and like what happened on Grissom's birthday, the kids came in with their breakfast, so Grissom moved to his side of the bed and sat up in it, but what was different with Sara's pancakes was that hers were shaped into math numbers and symbols, making her chuckle while she looked at her kids and Bella with tears in her eyes. "You guys are amazing. Thank you."

William stepped up to his mom and gave her a hug while whispering. "You're welcome, mom. Happy Birthday. Love you."

They pull back and she cupped his cheek. "And I love you, baby."

William smiled shyly, knowing Bella was in the room to hear that nickname, but Sara gave him a look that said she didn't care who was in the room with them, he was her 'baby', and always will be, no matter how old he got, so William just nodded and cleared his throat while the girls wished their mom a happy birthday before Bella joined in.

As hugs were finishing up, William spoke to the girls. "Alright girls, I'm leaving in 10 minutes, so get your things ready for school, I'm giving our parents a break this morning."

The girls nodded with a smile and rushed out of the room, along with Bella as William looked at his parents who were smiling with appetitive looks, so he smiled in return. "Enjoy the rest of your morning, and I'll see you guys later."

"Thank you, son."

William nodded at his father before wishing his mother another happy birthday, then walked out of the room, clicking it shut as he walked out in the hall.

While it clicked shut, Grissom looked over at his wife and smirked. "Well, that saved about 45 minutes of our morning. What do you suppose we can do in that time?"

She looked over at him, giving him a passionate look. "I believe we can think of something, after our breakfast of course. I mean our kids went through all of this trouble I would hate to waste it."

He smiled with passion in his eyes. "Then we better eat up."

A moments pause as they looked at one another before they started on their breakfast, although, admittedly they did eat a little faster than usual, not wanting to waste a moment of their alone time before they had to go to work.

Once William dropped his sisters off at the middle school, which was their final year there, he drove him and Bella to the high school before parking in the student section, then as they were unbuckling their seat belts, Bell asked. "So, do you need me to help you study?"

Every morning before school William likes to take that time to go over his notes or his homework one more time, just to make sure everything was perfect before the start of class, which he normally likes to do that alone so he didn't get distracted, a little quirk that his friends respected.

William shook his head with a smile. "No, it's ok. I'll see you in English class (3rd Period)."

Bella nodded with a smile. "Ok, I'll see you then." Before she gets out of the vehicle with her school bag.

William watched her and took a breath before he got out himself with his backpack, which was no longer spider-man, it was a solid blue one with black straps, then he headed for the quietest place at school, the library.

After checking what he felt like he needed, he looked at his watch and saw that there was 15 minutes before the start of class, and instead of finding his friends, he felt he still needed this downtime by himself this morning, so he pulled out his mystery book and started reading, letting the background noise, like the clicking of the keyboard from the computers or a student's cough or the scraping of the chair legs against the tile floor, wash away from existence.

But what he didn't notice was that about 5 minutes into his reading, his ex-friend Jason, who knew his habits pretty well since he's been doing this since he was in grade school, sat down next to him and started talking to him, mostly asking if there was anything between him and Bella because he was really interested in her and wanted to ask her out officially, but wouldn't do anything if he she was 'his' girl.

And when he smiled and pats William on the shoulder, William almost jumps out of his seat, scarring them both as William looked at him wide-eyed, and Jason asked in concern. "Hey man, you ok?"

There was a moment of complete silence before everything started to come back to him, the sound of the clicking of the keyboard, now two student's cough one after the other, and he nodded while taking a breath and his heart started racing, even more than it was. "Yeah, what did you say?"

Still trying to get his bearings back from seeing his old friend react the way that he did, Jason cleared is throat and ran his hands through is medium length blond hair and said. "What I was saying is that, wait, are you sure you're ok?"

William nodded again as he picked up his backpack from the floor and started placing his books in there. "Yes, go on."

Jason nodded. "Ok, yeah, um, well I was asking you if I can ask Bella out." William paused his actions while Jason continued. "And I won't if you're not totally cool with it. I know how much you use to like her, but that was all in the past, right?"

William was now zipping up his bag when he thought back to what he said to his father last month on his birthday.
"You didn't want her to be tied down with someone who was going deaf, you felt she needed to be with someone better."

He mentally shook his head before looking into Jason's blue eyes and smiled. "Even though we stopped being close a long time ago, I still think you're a great guy, Jason." He sighed as he continued. "And she's a great girl, anybody would be lucky to be with her." He then finished with. "All I ask is that you don't hurt her, promise me Jason."

Jason nodded his head, speaking in a serious tone. "You have my word, man."

After seeing the truth, William nodded. "Ok."

Jason nodded with a smile. "Alright, thank you."

William just nodded again as they stood up, and while they were walking towards the doors of the library, Jason asked. "Hey, isn't it your mom's birthday today?"

William smiled again with a nod. "Yeah."

He smiled in return. "Tell her I said happy birthday."

"I will, thank you."

Jason nodded before he said with a smile. "You're welcome, man your mom use to always make the best after-school snacks."

William chuckled before replying softly. "Actually, I'll tell you a little secret, it was my dad's after-school snacks."

The other boy chuckle. "Wow, really? I had no idea." He then sighed and got a little sentimental. "From what I remember about them, they were always great parents."

William nodded, trying not to get emotional. "The best."

They took another moment to acknowledged a friendship they once had before everything changed, then Jason cleared his throat and said. "I'll see you in class."

After William nodded again they went in different directions, despite them being in the same first period, but William headed towards the bathroom, walked in until he reached the sink, then he placed both hands on each side of it and looked at himself in the mirror as he heard the school bell as clear as day, then a second later it became muffled like the sound was being blocked, so he looked down and turned on the faucet before using both hands to cup the water and splash some on his face, which he repeated the action a few more times before he sighed as his eyes remained closed while the ringing of the bell came back into focus again.

From the way he understood it, this shouldn't be happening to him now, he was too young. But like his father said a month ago, maybe he was just the exception to the rules.

Later that night

William was very thankful that another incident didn't happen for the rest of the day, and after having dinner with the family, William and Bella were doing the dishes while the Grissom girls were in the living room and Sara and Grissom were upstairs changing clothes for their night out.

He grabbed the rest of the glasses off the table and headed for the sink as he spoke after clearing his throat. "So, I saw you and Jason talking after school, did he ask you out?"

She nodded. "Yes, and I told him that..." She stops herself and looks at him with a smirk. "Hold on, how did you know he was going to do that, do you seriously know everything? Or were you doing your lip reading trick?"

He couldn't help but chuckle at that, then he cleared his throat and said. "No on either, he asked me if he could."

Her smirk went away and he thought he saw sadness before they became natural as she asked. "Wait, he asked you if he could ask me out, and you said yes?"

"Yes."

Now she asked softly, still trying to not show him her sadness. "But, I thought that..."

She trials off, and he asked. "You thought what?" When she didn't answer, he continued, while his heart was breaking. "Don't let his jock look fool you, he really is a good, smart guy, you can't do better."

She then harden her feelings as she asked. "And this is what you really want, me going out with another guy?"

Not wavering on the path he set himself down, he nodded. "Yes."

Now both of them hardening how they really felt for one another, and the situation, Bella nodded. "Ok fine, if that's how you really feel, maybe I will go out with him."

"It is."

"Excuse me."

She then hands him the plate she had in her hand and walked towards the doorway to the kitchen before rushing upstairs, slamming the door to her temporary bedroom, making Sara and Grissom, who had just walked out of their room, wearing semi casual clothing, look at one anther with concern before they walked to the closed bedroom, then Sara knocked and asked. "Bella, you ok?"

Sadly, Bella answered. "I'm fine Mrs. Grissom, you and Dr. Grissom enjoy your night, don't worry about anything."

They sighed before Sara continued. "Ok, but call if you need anything."

"Alright."

They started walking a moment later, and they were halfway down the stairs when they heard glass breaking in the kitchen. The girls were getting up from the couch to check it out when Grissom told them in a stern tone. "Girls, just continue to do what you were doing."

He didn't use that tone very often, but when he did, the kids listened to him, so they nodded and sat back down on the couch, going back to the movie they were watching while their parents headed towards the kitchen, stopping in the doorway and saw their son cleaning up the glass, so Sara walked in the room and asked softly. "Baby, what's wrong?"

He cleared his throat and shook his head. "It's nothing mom, the glass slipped out of my hands." Before she could continue, he looked up at her, and at first she saw sadness before they became unreadable, an act he got from his father during the first years of knowing him, before he spoke again with a smile. "You guys have a good night, we'll be fine here, I promise."

Still a little hesitant, not able to get the look out of her mind, she asked. "Are you sure?"

He nodded with the dustpan in his hands as he stood up. "Yeah."

Knowing there wasn't much she could do if he wouldn't talk to her, she nodded. "OK, but call if you guys need anything."

They also had the Browns and Boldens close by if it was a major emergency and they couldn't get to them in time.

He nodded again with a smile as he stepped up to her and kissed her cheek. "I will, love you, mom."

She cupped his cheek and replied with love in her eyes. "I love you too, baby, and always remember you can tell me anything."

He cleared his throat with one more nod. "I know."

She removed her hand from his cheek with a nod. "Ok, have a good night."

Then as she turned to walk towards her husband, Grissom was wishing his son a goodnight before they walked back into the living room to wish their girls a goodnight, then they walked out of the house.

(35 minutes later)

After Sara and Grissom left the house, he took her out to get some ice cream before driving them to his childhood stomping grounds, well the Marina to be exact, making Sara chuckle as they walked hand in hand on the docks. "And why exactly did you drive us all the way out here?"

He smiled as they passed a few tied up boats. "You'll see."

She kept quiet as they passed a couple more boats, but once they stopped at the end and he slipped his hand out of hers, she gets wide-eyed when he steps on one of the white boats with a small cabin. "Uh Griss, what you are doing? You know it's is against the law."

He nodded with a smile. "Yes, it would be if it wasn't ours."

She looked shocked. "Wait, ours, as in we own it?"

He took a breath and replied. "Well, technically I have an agreement to make payments on it. But yes, it's essentially ours."

She shook her head, still completely amazed at her husband. "How did you..."

Grissom cuts her off. "David (Amy's Husband) found this on the internet and thought he could restore it to its natural beauty, and once he was done with it, they asked if I was interested, and after I saw it, it got me thinking about..."

She cuts him off with a smile. "When we spent some of our travels on a boat."

He nodded with a smile before asking. "So, what do you think?"

From what she could see she liked, so she nodded again with another smile. "I like, you did good."

He smiled a little wider as he held out his hand, saying the words he used years ago, which she even used. "You trust me, Mrs. Grissom?"

Even after 18 years, which in two months it would be 19, married to this man, she still loved that name and wore it with pride.

She smiled a little wider as she placed her hand in his while whispering as he helped her in the boat. "Intimately."

They held one another for several seconds in silence before he whispered. "You remember the last time we were on a boat?"

She sighed in content, loving the feel of his arms around her. "Well, it wasn't the last time we were on one, but it was the most memorable one."

He ran a hand up and down her back. "It was our one year anniversary, and you gave me the best gift any woman could give a man."

She smiled shyly as they pulled back while she replied. "But as you know it didn't happen that night."

He cupped her cheek. "No, but it was the first night you were ready to create a life with me." He started to get emotion as he finished. "And outside of you marrying me, that meant everything to me."

With tears in her eyes, she placed her hand on top of his as she spoke softly. "I know, but you knew after we had the discussion about kids, they were always in our plans, I just had to be..."

He cuts her off. "We, had to be ready." After she nodded, he smirked. "And now that we have them?"

She smirked. "We did good." He started to chuckle with a nod before she sighed and unwrapped her arms around him before walking towards the side of the boat. "But there is something going on with one of them."

She tired not to think about her son since they left the house, knowing William wouldn't want that, but she couldn't help it.

He walked up to her and placed a hand on the small of her back before speaking softly. "Sara, he is a sixteen year old boy."

Sara shook her head before looking at him. "I don't know Griss, something feels different, and I don't think it's a typical teenage issue."

When he saw the concern, he looked concerned. "You really think so?"

She sighed and shook her head. "Yes, no. I don't know, maybe I'm just being an over worried mother."

He moved his hand to cup her cheek. "You're an amazing mother, and I hope that if he is really going through something, he'll come talk to us. He knows he can come talk to us, so there is only so much we can do until he does."

Knowing her husband was right, she nodded. "Yeah, you're right. I'm sorr..."

He cuts her off while running his thumb up and down her cheek. "Don't ever apologize, you know no topic is off limits at anytime, especially when it involves our kids."

She smiled as she cupped his cheek. "And don't ever forget you're an amazing father."

With emotion again, he whispered. "Thank you."

She shook her head and wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered. "No, thank you."

They kissed an held one another, hoping their son would come to them if something serious was going on with him.

When they pulled back several seconds later, she cleared her throat and asked. "So, is this finally it with the surprises?"

He chuckled before replying. "One more thing."

She groaned teasing as she watched him walk into the cabin of the boat. "Gilbert!"

He came back to her with two glasses filled with champagne a few moments later, and after handing her one, he cleared his throat and spoke. "To my beautiful wife, who has been on this earth for..."

Sara cuts him off with a smirk. "Don't finish that sentence."

He chuckled with a nod before amending. "Ok, to my beautiful wife, who I've known for 28 glorious years."

She nodded with a smile. "Now that's better."

He continued after cupping her cheek again. "When we first met I felt lost, so if you had never came to be, I would have felt lost my whole life, so thank you for finding me." He cleared his throat before finishing with emotion. "To the love of my life, the mother of my children, my best friend and everything else in-between, I want to wish you a happy birthday, may there be many more."

Sara sniffled as she whispered while they clinked their glasses. "You and your damn words, Griss."

He smirked after they took their sips. "Yeah, and what are you going to do about it?"

She moved closer to him and whispered. "Well, first of all...this."

Then she kisses him passionately, and when they pulled back, they placed their foreheads together and he whispered. "Is that all you got?"

She drained the rest of her champagne before taking his hand and leading them towards the cabin before whispering. "I'll show you exactly what all I got."

He drained the rest of his champagne and wrapped his arm around her waist and whispered. "Unless I show you first."

They stopped at the doorway of the cabin before she turned around, giving him one of the passionate looks he's ever seen, which was saying a lot. "That sounds like a challenge, Dr. Grissom."

He smirked. "You up for it?"

She placed her fingers on the buttons of his shirt and asked. "Are you?"

Seeing that passionate look on her face as she continued to work the buttons on his shirt already sent him over the edge so he brings her in another passionate kiss as he moved them inside the cabin, closing and locking the door instantly, leaving a trail of clothing as they headed for the medium sized bed, which they didn't leave that spot or the boat until the wee hours of the night/morning, and while they might have to drink a little more coffee than usual during the day, they didn't regret a single passionate moment they shared.

AN: More to come. Thanks for reading, and please review.