AN: Thanks for the reviews, here is the last chapter of the story.

Chapter 17: Letting Go

June 26, 2027

As it got closer to the day William and Bella were going to leave, and while they didn't dwell on it constantly, there was a hint of sadness in the household, knowing that one, they'll miss him very much, and two, things won't ever be the same again.

And now that the day had arrived, there was going to be a big family gathering at the house, but before people started showing up, there were a few goodbyes that William wanted to do individually first.

Katie was in her room getting ready for the day when there was a knock on the door and her brother's voice. "Hey, you got a minute?"

Katie nodded with a slight smile. "Sure."

William walked in with his hands behind his back. "Don't be sad, Katie bear."

She took a breath and shook her head. "I can't help it, I'm going to miss you."

He gave her a smile and nod. "I'm going to miss you too." He removed his hands from behind his back to reveal a glass case that had a baseball in it, but it wasn't just any baseball, it was signed by a few players from the 2016 Chicago Cubs World Series Champions, it was still one of the best times of his life, and he can still remember it like it was yesterday.

Katie looked at what he was holding and asked. "What are you doing with that?"

He smiled and handed it to her. "I'm giving it to you." He then smirked. "And here I thought you were the smart..."

She cuts him off while shaking her head. "No, I can't take that, it's yours."

He walked up to her and kneeled down before taking her hand and turning it over so the palm was up then he placed the case on it as he spoke softly. "And I want you to have it, so please take it."

If there was one sport Katie actually kept up with it was baseball, and a lot of that had to do with the fact that two of her favorite men, who she looked up to tremendously, loved it. And a lot of the family members kind of thought that was a little funny, considering her mother went into labor during a World Series game.

Katie nodded before replying. "Thank you, William. I'm going to take really good care of it."

"You're welcome, and I know you will."

After a moments pause, she asked. "Can you tell me the story? Or are you too busy today."

William smiled as he moved so he could sit on the bed next her before replying. "I always have time for you, and are you sure? You've heard the story about a million times."

Katie nodded. "Please?"

Not able to resist that look, William nodded as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, then after taking a breath, he told her about that last 2016 World Series game/the morning after, the morning she was born.

(30 minutes later)

After leaving Katie's room, he headed back to his (main one) for a moment before walking down the hall and stopping in the doorway to his other sister's room, seeing Isabella sitting on the bed with a book in her hand, which seeing a book in ones hand in this household wasn't unusual, but William would say that Isabella could probably out-read them all on a weekly basis and tell them with complete clarity on what happened, even weeks after she finished them and was into a new one. So, to say their book collection has grown as a family was an understatement.

A now 13 year old Isabella could sense a presence, so she looked up from her book and smiled at her big brother. "What's going on?"

William walked into the room, once again removing his hands from his back, but this time revealing a glass butterfly case, one of his rarest ones, and when Isabella saw it, she looked a her brother in shock. "Are you doing what I think you are doing?"

He smirked as he handed it to her. "What do you think?"

Isabella shook her head. "Will, I can't..."

William cuts her off with a chuckle. "Oh come on, you've been eyeing this for years."

Isabella sighed. "Yeah, but if I had a choice between that and having you..."

She trailed off, and William sighed as he placed the case on her nightstand and sat on the side of her bed before placing his hand on her arm. "I know, but you know, as much as I love and will miss you guys, this is something I want to do, feel like I have to."

Isabella nodded as she placed her hand on his. "I know."

William continued with a smile. "I made a promise to our parents that I'll be back, do you think I would break that?"

"No, but..."

William cuts her off again. "There are no 'if's' 'ands' or 'buts' about this, I will be back here." He then smirked. "Besides, you just turned thirteen, you think I'm going to let dad have all the fun on keeping those boys away from you."

While Isabella wasn't the most popular girl in her class, she was a little more outgoing than her two siblings.

She chuckled and shook her head. "Great, two dads, just what I need."

He chuckled as he moved closer to her and whispered. "Hey, I'm your older brother and it is my job to protect you. In fact, the day you were born, I promised I always would, never forget that."

She started to sniffle as she replied. "And you've been the best brother/protector I could ask for, I love you and I'm going to miss you."

"I love and going to miss you too."

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead while she wrapped her arms around her brother.

After holding on to one another for several minutes, they started to pull back, which as they were, they heard their mother from the bottom of the stairs. "Breakfast is ready!"

They smiled at one another as he stood up from the bed, then he held out his hand.

She smiled a little wider as she placed her hand in his before he helped her up, then after looking down at the butterfly case, she looked at her brother again. "Thank you for the gift."

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as they started walking while he replied. "You're welcome."

When they walked out of the room, Katie was walking out of her room, so the siblings smiled at one another and William held out his other arm from her. Katie smiled a little wider as she sped up her walk until she was close enough so he could wrap his other arm around his youngest sister, and after kissing her head, he sighed. "Can you guys do me a favor?" They both said 'What' at the same time, making them giggle for a few seconds before William continued. "Look after mom and dad for me." Despite how accepting his parents have been about him leaving, he knew they'll miss him more than they'll let him see, knowing they just wanted him to be happy.

After the girls nodded with another round of smiles, he kissed their heads again before pulling away so the girls could go down the stairs first, and once they were all in the kitchen, they greeted their parents and Bella, then when he noticed the pancakes were shaped like animals, William chuckled and shook his head. "Dad you didn't have do this."

Grissom, who was standing next to the table, shook his head. "It wasn't me, son."

William looked at his mother, who was standing at the counter, pouring some coffee. "Mom?"

She also shook her head, but with a smile. "Not me either."

William then looked at Bella, who was on the other side of the island, with a raised eyebrow. "Bella?"

Bella smiled. "What? You think you and your parents are the only creative cookers."

William shook his head before replying a little shyly. "No, but it's just a tradition..."

Bella cuts him off as she walked up to him and placed her hand on his. "That shouldn't be discounted just because you're getting older, not if you don't want it to."

He smiled, happy that she understood him and not make fun of him, as he squeezed her hand. "Thank you, I really appreciate it." Then he slips his fingers through hers and continued. "And you can be as creative as you want in the kitchen."

While she could cook when she came into the Grissom household, she learned a lot more since she's been here.

She smiled as she moved closer to him and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

After a shared hug, they pulled back and went about the kitchen to get their breakfast before they sat down at the table to enjoy their meal together, the last breakfast they'll have as a family for awhile. But despite knowing that, they focused more on the moment than what will happen later, so they had a good time.

(A few hours later)

After breakfast was over and the dishes were done, Bella and William went to their rooms to pack, while the rest of the family was getting ready/cleaning the rest of the house for the going away party for William, and in extension for Bella.

When it was time to put the snacks out on the table, Grissom was in the kitchen pouring chips in a bowel when William came into the room. "Hey dad."

Grissom smiled at his son. "Hey buddy, what's going on?"

"Can we have a moment?"

"Anytime, you know that."

William walked up to his father, feeling very emotional. "Thank you."

"For what?"

He stopped in front of the man he looked up to his whole life. "For everything that you've given me, for showing me how a real man treats the woman he loves, for showing me that it's ok to be vulnerable, to be open."

Before William could continue, Grissom smiled with tears in his eyes. "Well, that one is all because of your mother, she showed me that it's ok."

He nodded with a smile. "Maybe, but you could have remained closed off to your children, and you didn't." He then placed his hand on his father's shoulder and finished. "And I know I've said this about a billion times, but I am honored to be your son and have you as my father."

They get into a hug as Grissom whispered. "And I don't care how much I hear that because I'll say the same thing a billion times over too, I couldn't ask for a better son. I love you and I'm so proud of you."

"I love you too, dad."

While they were in the hug, Sara walked in the room and asked with a smile. "What's going on?"

Father and son pulled back, and after kissing his father on the cheek, William grabbed the bowl of chips and crackers before turning around and walking towards his mother, then stopped and kissed her cheek. "Just telling dad how much I love him, and I love you too." Before walking out of the room.

When they were alone, she walked up to her husband, while he spoke after clearing his throat. "How did we get so lucky with him?"

She cups his cheek as she whispers with tears in her eyes. "He's the best parts of us."

He nodded, and after a soft kiss on the lips, they hugged one another for several minutes before they continued on with their tasks on getting other snacks, and drinks ready.

As time came and went, and the guests/family showed up, William took the time to thank everyone who had a hand in that helped him become the person he is/was becoming, even if it was a small hand.

Eventually he got Rick and Elizabeth alone in the living room, and Rick smiled before asking. "What's going on?" He then smirked a second later. "You're not breaking up with us, are you?"

The three chuckled before William shook his head and looked at Rick. "No way man, you're stuck with me, both of you are for that matter, so you better get use to it." They nodded with smiles before William continued after clearing his throat. "No, what I wanted to talk to you about is, can you two do me a favor, can you..."

Elizabeth cuts him off with a smile. "You don't even have to ask, of course we'll look after your family. I mean they are our family too."

William nodded with a smile. "Thank you, guys."

Rick smiled as he stepped up to his best friend and gave him hug. "No thanks needed."

While they were in hug, William whispered in his ear. "You take good care of her."

Knowing who he was talking about, Rick whispered in return. "With everything that I have."

"Good, man."

Once they pulled back, William held out his arms to his longest best friend, and Elizabeth smiled as she got into a hug with her longest best friend, before William whispered. "I know he can drive you crazy at times (She laughed at that), but give him a little break, he truly loves you."

"And I truly love him."

William nodded as they pulled back, then spoke while looking between them. "I know senior year can get a little tense at times, worrying about the future and all that, but try and enjoy it as much as you can."

The couple looked at one another with smiles as they slipped their fingers through one another before looking at their best friend. "We will."

Looking how happy they are, he nodded with a smile. "Good, I care about you both, and I just want you guys to be happy."

As they nodded with smiles again there was a knock on the front door, and everybody looked at one another in confusion as Rick asked. "Were you expecting anybody else?"

William shook his head 'no' while he headed for the door, then after opening it, he looked at the guest in surprise while Jason smiled. "I ran into your mother at the grocery store the other day and she offered me an invitation, if you're ok with it?"

William nodded with a smile as he held out his hand. "Come in, man."

They shook hands before William moved to the side to let him in, and as he was greeting Rick and Elizabeth, William closed the door before he joined them, then they headed back outside.

(A Few more hours later)

Sara was in the kitchen, getting a refill on her drink when William walked into the room, and she smiled when she saw him. "Oh no, here it comes."

William raises an eyebrow and asked. "Here comes what?"

She then smirked, masking the sadness under the surface. "I heard you went up to the 'family' and said your thanks towards them, kind of like your own personal goodbye." She then cleared her throat and spoke a softly. "And now it's my turn, last no-less."

William walked up to his mother and replied with a slight smirk. "One, haven't you ever heard the saying 'save the best for last?' Sara gave him a slight smile as he took her hand while continuing softly, knowing this non-goodbye would be the hardest. "And two, know this isn't goodbye, this is more like see you later until next time."

She took a breath with a nod. "I like that better, goodbyes sound too permanent."

William gave her a smile with a nod while squeezing her hand lightly, then as she tried to keep a hold of her sadness, he spoke again, explaining. "And, you're right, I was saying thank you to all of them because, while you and dad raised me, those people out there, helped shape me who I'm becoming, some may have influenced me more than others, but I look up to them all."

Sara smiled. "I'm glad we surrounded you with so many people who you can look up to in a positive way."

He nodded with a smile, then after a few moments of just looking at one another, their walls were cracking as he cleared his throat, trying to keep as much emotion out as he could. "Mom, there is so much I feel I have to thank you for, and I know you've heard it all before, but I...I uh..."

He trailed off and started to sniffle, and Sara brings her young man in her arms and hugged him while whispering. "It's ok, baby. I know. " She ran her hand up and down his back, repeating. "I know."

After a few moments of her comforting her son, she asked. "Can you promise me something, above everything that you've already promised?"

"What?"

She took a breath and asked with emotion. "Be safe, whatever you are doing out there, just be safe, ok?"

He nodded as they pulled back, then with a smile, he replied. "I will. I love you mom."

"I love you too."

They get into a hug one more time before going back outside for a little bit longer.

When it was time for the inevitable to happen, William and Bella said their 'see ya laters' to the extended family before the Grissom family, Rick and Elizabeth walked with them to the driveway since Rick and Elizabeth were the ones that were going to take them to the airport.

Once the family's emotional 'see you laters' with hugs and kisses were finished, the Grissom family watched William get into Elizabeth's vehicle, and didn't go back inside until they could no longer see it, which once they did go back into the house, the girls went upstairs while Sara and Grissom headed back outside to get comfort from those they cared about.

After a bit, and once everybody had left the Grissom household, the Grissom family tried their best to enjoy family time, but as much as they did try, everybody felt the missing piece instantly, and knew it was going to take time, which even then, they knew they would still feel the 'loss' until he came home.

When it was time for bed, and while the girls were in their room, Grissom was locking up the house before heading upstairs, then after passing his oldest daughter's room and closet, he stopped in the doorway to William's room on the right, since the light was on, and saw Sara sitting on the bed looking at both 'Cubbys', which the other one was named 'Cubby II'.

Grissom walked in the room and whispered. "Hey."

Sara looked up at her husband and gave him a slight smile. "Hi." She then sighed as she looked down at the stuffed animals again. "I guess this is how parents feel when they send their kids off to college."

He nodded as he sat down next to her on the bed. "I suppose so." Then he smirked. "But think of it this way, he'll be coming home for college." Even though she couldn't help but chuckle, it wasn't her usual type, not that he blamed her though. He spoke softly a second later while placing a hand on top of hers. "I know this time isn't going to be easy, but we'll get through this together as a family. Just please don't shut me out."

She nodded before doing a small smirk. "Now when exactly did the roles become reversed here? I remember a time when I'm the one that asked you not to shut me out."

He smirked in return. "I guess this old dog did learn a new trick after all." Sara just looked at him, her lips pursed, and knowing how she felt when he made comments like that, he just gave her that 'Grissom' smile, and a few seconds later she rolled her eyes with a smile before looking down at the nightstand, where there was a picture of the family, and he slipped his fingers through hers and continued. "He's going to be ok, it's not like he's out there alone."

"I know, but I still can't help but be worried until he comes back through that door."

"Believe me, honey, me too."

After a few moments of silence, they looked at one another and did a head nod before getting up from the bed and walking towards the door, and once they got there, they looked back and imagined their boy and some of the good times he had in his room, before stepping out in the hall after turning the light out, shutting the door behind them, then headed towards their room hand in hand, hoping their son will have an experience of a lifetime, but wishing for the day he'll be back home.

AN: That's it for the this story. Thanks for reading, and please review.

Now the good news, there is one more story in the series, so I hope you are looking forward to it, I'm thinking about posting the first chapter on Sunday. Thanks again for the continued support, I wouldn't have continued without it.
Hope you enjoy your weekend, and always remember GSR4ever!