AN:Thank you for the reviews, here is the next chapter.

Warning: Mention of death from a minor character. I'm sorry :( It was hard to make this decision, but for it to be realistic, it had to happen eventually.

Chapter 14: Making a decision

February 13, 2027

While Katie was over at Ryan's house so she could hang with her best friend, Emily, Isabella was next door at the Boldens with her best friend, Andrew, Sara was at work, Grissom was out on the deck grading papers, and Bella was sitting up in bed while reading a book when there was a knock on the door frame, so she turned her head and gave William a soft smile. "Hey, how are you doing?"

After Christmas and the New year, even all through January, things were going as smooth as everything could possible go, then February came, and it happened, while William's hearing was better than ever, what they wished would never happen, but knew it would soon, after 12 years, they said goodbye to their beloved and faithful dog, Max.

Of course the family took the loss hard, but there was no surprise that William took it the hardest, and as much as Bella wanted to comfort her boyfriend, Sara told her that, like his father, she shouldn't be surprised if he pulled away from her for a bit, needing that space to grieve on his own first, so she gave it to him, but also told him that when he was ready to talk or just hold one another in silence, she'll be waiting for him.

As he came in the room, still looking a little sad, she shook her head and replied to her own question. "I'm sorry, that was probably a dumb question, of course you're not doing..."

He cuts off her rambling with a slight smile as he stopped at the side of the bed. "It's ok to ask that." He then sighed as he finished. "And I guess I'm as good as could be expected."

She nodded before asking. "Holding time?"

With a hopeful look this time, he asked softly. "Please?"

She smiled as she placed her book off to the side and held out her arms. "Come here."

He smiled as he moved so he was laying in her arms with his ear against the place of where hear heart was, hearing it beating, making him think and feel it was one the best sounds he could ever hear, then he sighed in content and whispered. "Thank you, and I'm sorry I've kind of pushed you away these last few days."

She ran a hand up and down his back as she spoke softly. "It's ok, your mother gave me a heads up that you might do that, and that you'll seek me out when you're ready."

He smiled slightly. "Well, she always tells me I am my father's son."

She chuckled lightly before replying softly. "Yes, she did mention that to me too."

He just nodded before they laid there in silence, then he spoke after clearing his throat. "Have you decided what you wanted to do after graduation?"

Bella's uncle had asked her if she wanted to do one more round of traveling before she started her College education, knowing once she started it, it might be years, if ever, she'll get this opportunity again.

Bella nodded, knowing this was going to be hard for them, but, in her heart she felt it was the right choice. "I'm going to take my uncle up on his offer." When she felt him tense a little, she spoke as she ran her fingers through his hair. "But I promise you, I will be back here. I will be going to college with you. This separation will only be temporary. I mean, we'll be ok, right?"

Even though William was already offered to go to so many colleges, including Harvard, it was already a foregone conclusion that he would be going to UCLA, making both parents happy because he'll be close to home.

No hesitation with his response. "Of course we'll be ok." He sighed as he took her hand and slipped his fingers through hers. "I will miss you, though."

"I know, I'll miss you too." She then smirked/joked. "Of course you wouldn't have to miss me if you just came with me." There was a moment of silence, and Bella asked in concern. "William?"

He started to smile before he asked. "You're right, why don't I just go with you?"

Bella gasped as she looked down. "I was joking."

He moved his head off to the side so he could look up at her, and said with his eyes sparkling. "I'm not, why can't I go with you?"

She chuckled before replying. "Um, how about your parents, for one?"

Before he answered that, he frowned before asking. "You do want me to go with you right? And you're not just using my parents as an excuse?"

She cupped his cheek as she spoke from the heart. "William, I would love for you to come with me. It would be amazing if we got to share that experience together, and I could show you some of my favorite places." She then sighed before finishing. "But, I can only imagine what your parents would think about this, and I don't want to come in-between you and them if a rift was to happen, I can't allow that...I won't let that happen, they mean too much to you."

William shook his head and smiled. "I don't think that would ever happen, they love you as much as..."

He trailed off when he realized what he was about to say, and Bella looked at him wide-eyed as she asked softly with her heart racing. "Love me as much as...What were you about to say?"

With his heart racing, he said the words he had only said to his family. "Me. They love you as much as I do."

She smiled with tears in her eyes. "You love me?"

He nodded before he replied with emotion. "Yes, but I don't think that was much of a surprise."

She shook her head and ran her thumb up and down his cheek. "No it isn't, but to hear the words, only makes this more real."

Still with emotion, he whispered. "And this is to me, this is as real as it gets."

Now with emotion from her, she nodded. "For me as well." They moved their faces closer, then when they were only a breath away, she whispered. "I love you too, William."

After a sweet, gentle kiss, with a hint of passion in it, they pulled back slowly, then he spoke as they opened their eyes. "So, it's settled then, I'm going with you?"

Bella was going to open her mouth to say something, but then realized she probably wasn't going to convince him to change his mind, so she asked. "You sure this is what you want?"

William nodded. "Yes." He took a deep sigh before continuing. "After everything that's happened, I feel I need this break before I commit myself on continuing my education. Besides, we agreed that we will be back here when it's all said and done, right?"

She nodded with a smile. "I know how much going to UCLA means to you, means to your parents, so of course."

He smiled, liking this idea more each second. "Then, I see that everybody wins here."

Seeing the happiness and excitement in his eyes, made her happy and excited, but before she completely gave in, she asked. "And you're sure?"

"I am."

She sighed one more time before asking. "So, how are we going to convince your parents?"

William raised his eyebrow. "We?"

She smiled with a nod. "We are in this together, right?"

He chuckled, nodding again before replying in a serious tone. "Yeah, we are." Then he continued with a smile. "And I think once we get my dad on board, we'll be good."

"Really?"

He nodded again, his smile getting a little bigger. "Oh yeah, mom and can be putty in dad's hands, and when that happens it's hard for her to say no."

Bella chuckled before she whispered. "I can totally see that."

He then smirked. "Why, you see it in me?"

She shyly smiled and mumbled. "Maybe."

He smirked. "I'll have to keep that in mind." They chuckled before he moved towards her lips again. "I love you."

They slowly kiss, and after they pulled back, she replied. "I love you too."

After kissing her cheek next, he moved so he was sitting on the side of the bed and asked. "You want to go for a walk?"

She nodded with a smile before moving so she was sitting on the side of the bed next to him. "Happy to."

They stood up, slipping their fingers through one another before walking out of the bedroom.

Two days later

Once dinner had ended, and the Grissom girls had their dessert, they went into the living room, while William, Bella, Sara and Grissom were finishing up theirs, William then cleared his throat and said. "Mom, dad, can I...we talk to you?"

While so many thoughts were going through Sara and Grissom's head on what could their sixteen your old son and his girlfriend talk them about, Sara asked with a little caution in her tone. "About what, baby?"

When William and Bella shared a look, that only made Sara and Grissom more nervous, then he spoke again after a smile. "It's about after graduation, where I have decided to go."

Both Sara and Grissom mentally sighed in relief, thinking his confession was a little less serious than it was, then Sara nodded with a smile. "I thought we already knew where you were going. It's always been UCLA for you, for as long as we could remember in fact."

"It is, and that's where I am going to go."

Grissom sensing something, asked. "There is a 'but' in there, isn't there?"

William nodded. "I'm going to go there, eventually."

Sara raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, 'eventually'?"

"I mean, it's where I'll go after taking some time off from school."

Everybody could hear a pen drop before Sara started to speak. "William...

But he cuts her off as he looked at her. "Mom, while I know you would never force us or demand that we all have to go to college, I also know how important education is to you and how much you would like to see us go, and I will, I swear, just after I take a little time off." He then looked at his father and continued before Sara could speak. "And dad, didn't you say that when you traveled, it was the best times of your life?"

Grissom couldn't help but smile at that, his son was using his words against him, but he wasn't lying then and he wasn't going to lie now, so he took a breath and nodded. "It is true." When Sara looked at her husband, he gave her a shy look before continuing. "It was, honey. "Then he sighed before speaking again. "And honestly, if I had the opportunity when I was our son's age, I would have liked to travel then too. But I knew my mom would never be happy that I did. Not that I regret my choice, but I would also be lying if I didn't admit that if I had to do it over again, I might have chosen differently."

"I guess we know whose side your father's on." She then smirked at her son. "Which was exactly what you wanted, right?"

William smiled shyly, and before Sara could continue speaking, Bella spoke for the first time since the conversation was brought up. "Mrs Gris...I mean Sara, I also know how much schooling means to you, so I give you my word that I will get your son back here, he will go to college."

It was still going to take Bella a little time to call her Sara, especially with her dating her son.

There was a pause before Sara spoke after clearing her throat. "I need a little time."

The teenagers nodded before they stood up and left the room, and when it was just Sara and Grissom, Grissom cleared his throat and said softly. "I'm sorry hon..."

She cuts him off with a smile as she places her hand on top of his. "I don't blame you for telling them that because frankly I agree with it."

Grissom raised an eyebrow as he looked at her in shock, between the two of them, she was the one that was actually the hardest when it came to making sure the kids went to school, not that she needed to be too demanding since they were always good at going to school.

"Really?"

Sara chuckled with a nod, knowing where he was coming from. "Yes, really." She took a breath before continuing. "And I know this experience will be one of the best he'll ever have, not only for himself, but for them as a couple as well. It will be something they'll remember for the rest of their lives."

"But?"

She cleared her throat and looked down. "And I know it's a little selfish of me, but I'm afraid that once they are out there, exploring, despite their promises, they will not be coming back here, at least permanently."

Now he understood, so he squeezed her hand and replied. "So, it isn't so much you're worried whether he'll go to college or not, but if he'll end up going or living somewhere else?"

"When it comes to his education, I was, and am never worried that he would continue it for as long as possible." She smirked. "I mean, we are talking about the same boy who would try to fake us out by being well when he was sick, just so he could go to school." Grissom chuckled with a nod before she finished shyly."But, I always thought, or hoped was more like it, that he'll live here, close to us. Like I said, I know it's a little selfish of me."

When she couldn't look at his eyes because she felt so embarrassed, he gave her a warm smile and slipped his fingers through hers as he replied softly. "It's what I want as well, believe me, and despite the many opportunities they could find themselves having, I don't think you'll have to worry about him coming back home."

She couldn't help, but she started to sniffle as she looked at him. "How can you be so sure of that?"

He smiled as he cupped her cheek with a smile, knowing his son pretty well. "Because one, his family is here, and two, like you said UCLA has always been his dream school, which both of those things will pull him back here, and the one thing, or should I say, the one person who could potentially pull him away from those two things, just promised us she wouldn't, and I believe her." He then smirked a little. "Plus, he's part Sidle, and once something gets in his mind, there isn't much that that will change it."

Sara nodded with a small chuckle, before she took a breath and asked. "And you're really ok with this?"

He nodded with hesitation. "I'll miss him when he's gone of course, but he has his whole life to spend in a classroom, which is what he seems to be aiming for anyways, and traveling, how it's meant to truly be, won't be there as long, so I say let them experience this while they can."

She nodded. "I guess you do have a point." Then she asked, had heard the longing in his tone. "You miss traveling?"

He smiled and brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it before whispering. "While I've enjoyed this life with you here, yeah a part of me does miss it. I wasn't lying, those years were some of my favorite, pre-kids."

She smiled with another nod. "Mine too." She then cleared her throat and asked. "What do you say in a few years, when the girls are in college, we take a little trip? Maybe not like the one we did back then, but maybe go to some of our top places?"

With the smile on his face again, he nodded. "Ok, as long as one of them is Paris."

She moved closer to him and whispered. "You're on, bugman."

He whispered in return. "Have I told you how much I still love that nickname?"

"Oh, maybe once or twic..."

Their lips touched for a soft kiss, and after pulling back, she took a breath and replied. "I guess we better tell them what we decided."

After Grissom nodded, they got up from their seats and walked into the living room, where William and Bella was hanging out with the other two girls, then Sara cleared her throat. "William?"
William turned around, along with Bella, before Sara continued. "I expect you to keep in touch as much as you can, a few calls added if you can." William started to smile brightly as Sara looked at Bella and continued softly. "And please look after my boy?"

Bella nodded with a smile. "You got it, Mrs. Griss...I mean Sara."

William stood up, excited as he asked. "So, I'm going?"

Sara nodded while Grissom replied. "Yes, son, you are welcome to go."

He cheered and ran up to his parents to give them a hug, before Katie asked in confusion. "What do you mean he's going?"

William looked at his youngest sister before giving her a smile. "I get to travel with Bella."

Katie narrowed her eyes and replied. "Wait, you're leaving us?" Before either one could speak, she looked at Bella and said the most hurtful thing she's ever said, to anybody. "You're taking my brother away from me?" Then she ran upstairs as she shouted. "I've already lost my dog! Now I'm losing my brother!"

Bella, along with everyone one else, stood there in shock before William walked up to his girlfriend. "She didn't mean that, she's just shocked."

Grissom cleared his throat before saying. "I'll go talk to her."

William then turned to his father and asked. "Can I?"

After Grissom nodded, William walked up to his other sister and cupped her cheek. "Isabella?"

She nodded with a smile. "It's ok, I'm happy for you."

"Thank you, just know I won't be gone forever."

Deep down Isabella knew that, so she nodded again. "I know, I know you can't stay away."

He kissed her forehead before heading upstairs to comfort his youngest sister, while the rest of the family comforted Bella.

When he got to the last door on the right, which was across from their parents room, he knocked on the door and asked. "Can I come in?"

A small voice could be heard. "Sure."

William walked into his sister's room, seeing Katie laying on her side with her back towards him as she was petting hers and Isabella's cat, Princess, then he smirked a little as he grabbed the chair that was at her desk and moved it so he was next to the side of her bed. "You know for a Grissom kid, I'm surprised how wrong you were down there." When she didn't answer, he sat, clearing his throat before continuing. "For one, Bella is not 'taking' me away from you guys, I'm choosing to go with her. And two, you aren't losing your brother, you are stuck with me for the rest of your life and beyond. Besides, there are some things I want to see you do, that I don't want to miss out on."

There was a pause before the little girl asked. "Like what?"

He smiled. "Well, for one, graduation. Seeing my two favorite sisters in the same class, both up for Valedictorian no doubt, I wouldn't want to miss that day for anything."

Katie giggled, not able to stay mad at her brother for too long, before turning around so she was looking at him. "We are your only two sisters so we have to be you're favorites."

He nodded as he moved forward and placed his hand on hers. "And I love you both so much."

Katie started to have tears in her eyes as she asked. "Then why do you want to leave?"

He took a breath and replied. "In life, especially after going through a difficult time like I have been through, sometimes you just have to, or need to as the case can be at times, is step back and take a break before continuing the path you've already chosen to go down or to start a new one."

They all hadn't had it easy lately, but knowing William faced the brunt of it, she understood where he was coming from, so she nodded. "So, you need to take a break?"

William nodded before whispering with emotion. "But I promise you, I'll be back. I also have to help dad keep those pesky boys away from you when they start coming around."

Katie made a face and shook her head. "Boys, Yuck!"

He chuckled before cupping his sister's face, seeing so much of their father and mother in her. "Believe me, I was the same way, but that always won't be the case. And I have to make sure only the best gets to be with the most beautiful youngest sister I have."

Katie smiled shyly as she whispered. "William."

He chuckled, just like their father, before replying softly. "It's the truth. And above everything, I can't stay away from you guys for long, even if I want to, you, our sister and our parents mean everything to me."

Katie then sniffled. "Well, not everything."

He smiled, not surprised at all Katie was on top of that faster than a snap of the fingers. "Ok, you're right. But Bella didn't come here to take over my life or replace anybody who is already in it, she just wanted to see if she could be a part of it. She would never do anything that would hurt me, and she knows how much you guys mean to me. Deep down I know you know that."

Katie nodded with a sigh. "I do, and I'm sorry for what I said downstairs."

"Apology accepted, but you should tell her that too."

Once she nodded again, she moved her arms up so she could hug her brother, and after he picked her up and placed her on his lap, he hugged her back as she whispered. "I love you, William."

"And I love you, Katie bear."

After they pulled back, she got off his lap and they headed downstairs, where she ran towards Bella and gave her hug while apologizing, and when the girls pulled back, Bella smiled. "It's ok Katie, I understand where you are coming from, but know I would never keep him away from you guys." She then smirked in a teasing tone. "And hey, I may want to give him back sooner than you all want."

Everybody chuckled as William shook his head with a smile. "Ha, Ha, very funny."

Bella winked at her boyfriend. "I'm just joking, sweetie."

He teased back. "Yeah, I bet you are."

Still in a teasing mood, she fired back. "Oh, I know you love me."

Realizing what she had said out-loud, in front of everybody, she looked at him a little shocked, considering they only said those words a few days ago with just the two of them. She wasn't sure if he wanted everybody else to know, even though she suspected that they all would know by now anyways, it just wasn't official to them yet.

William knew he had two ways to play this, joke it off or just straight out admit it, and the look Bella was now giving him, let him know that either way was ok with her. But he didn't think too hard on it because he didn't want to hide it, not that it mattered anyways, considering they already knew, but for to be out in the open, he smiled as he walked up to her and cupped her cheek before nodding. "You're right, I love you, so much."

Then right in front of his family, they shared their first, known, public kiss, causing their sisters to cheer at first, before looking away while Grissom wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulder as warmness filled their hearts, seeing their son so happy.

As the couple pulled back, Sara cleared her throat and asked. "Anybody want anything to drink?" Before they all answered, she headed for the kitchen.

William looked at his father, and he nodded with a smile, he nodded in return before walking into the kitchen, seeing his mother at the fridge with the door opened, but she wasn't reaching for anything, so he cleared his throat and asked. "Mom?"

She shut the fridge and looked at her son with a small smile. "Yeah, what did you want to drink again?"

He shook his head with a smile as he walked up to her. "I know you didn't come in here for drinks."

Sara took a breath and said. "Will..."

But he cuts her off as he took her hand. "I know you're torn between wanting to see me happy, but not quite ready to see me grown up."

No point in lying about it, Sara cupped his son's cheek and replied with a smile. "Always my smart little man." She then sighed and replied. "It's just going to take me a little time is all. Just know it's nothing against her or you two being together, it's just something mothers, well, really all parents, go through."

He nodded in understanding before replying with a smirk. "I guess you just didn't have as many years to get use to it as grandma did with dad."

Sara chuckled before replying. "Well, that's a good thing for my sake, or else I wouldn't be here, living this life." She then replied with more emotion. "And there is no where else I would rather be, no other life I want."

With tears in his eyes, he stepped up and gave his mother a hug while whispering. "I love you, mom."

Wrapping her arms around her son, she whispered. "And I love you, ba...William."

It was hard not saying the nickname she's used since he was a baby, and while he'll always be her 'baby' no matter how old he got, she knew it was time to start seeing him as the young man he's becoming.

Eventually he'll tell her she didn't have to stop using his nickname, but for right now, he smiled, happy she was trying to see him not as a little boy anymore.

After they pulled back, they headed back into the living room.

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