Disclaimer: I think we all dream that this belongs to us, even though it does not. But as Eleanor Roosevelt said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."

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15

When they walked into the hotel he grinned as he watched heads turn in their direction. Every man in the lobby was jealous and every woman envious. He'd already checked in before picking her up so he veered her straight to the elevator with the hand on her back. Once inside, Sara spoke for the first time. "Are you taking me to a hotel room?"

With a smug smile, "Yep."

Silence loomed between them as the elevator stopped on the top floor and they walked into their room. Once inside, he walked straight to the telephone, "This is Gil Grissom…Yes, the Penthouse…We're ready for dinner, now…Yes, the champagne also…No, I'll call down for the dessert later…That'll be fine…Thank you."

He heard a laugh from behind him, "So, we're eating dinner here?"

He turned and crossed his arms in front of his chest, "Of course. What else would we be doing in a penthouse suite?"

"Well, I can think of one thing."

Still smiling, "How low you must think of me to think that I would bring you to a hotel room for that."

"Better than the back seat of a car."

"I don't do that."

"Good, me either."

"Good. But I do do this." He walked across the room, turned on the stereo and walked back towards her, dropping his coat on the couch on the way. He pushed her wrap off her shoulders and draped it over a nearby chair, "Sara, will you dance with me?"

"I'd love to." They glided in each other's arms to a song neither knew and never stopped as the song ended and another started. The whole world around them disappeared and they fell into the peaceful world of love created for just the two of them. If not for the knock on the door from what he expected was dinner, they probably could've danced all night. After a kiss on her cheek he reluctantly pulled away and answered the door.

"Good evening Dr. Grissom. Would you like this set up on the table?"

"Yes, thank you." Once they were alone again, "I hope you're hungry."

"Very." After they both sat, "Thank you, Grissom. This is all…beyond any expectation I ever had."

"I think I should be thanking you."

"For what?"

"For everything. For being the only woman that would ever put up with me, the only person who would've stuck around this long after everything I've put you through and for…for loving me."

"Then, you're welcome."

"You know, when you first told me that…that you loved me, you were right when you said I wasn't ready to hear it; you're right about a lot of things. But I've thought about that a lot and I know now that I'm ready to let you love me. I know that may sound…strange, but it's important to me that you understand."

She picked up her fork and began eating, "Grissom, I understand that allowing love in our relationship is a big step for you, that's why I haven't pushed it on you since the first time I said it."

He smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. He was right; she was so good for him. She could take any tense situation and ease his mind with a few simple words. Following her cue, he began to eat as he talked, "It amazes me how much you know me, sometimes. In fact, it scares me. I guess that's the biggest reason why this is so hard for me. I've never let anyone really know me. You know me better than anyone and I think that's why I pushed you away." After a short pause, "There's something I'd like to tell you, but it might be hard to listen to." After a nod of her head, "The last person that saw me, was a woman I met on a case. Her name was Lady Heather. It fascinated me that she read me so easily. She told me things about myself that I don't even know if I'd even admitted to myself. I, uh, I kissed her. But then I accused her of murder. At that moment, I convinced myself that I wasn't cut out for the whole relationship thing. Once I let somebody in, I found a reason to push her away. I look back on that now and realize how stupid I was. I was fascinated with her for the same reason I pushed you away."

"Do you regret pushing her away?"

"I did at first. I don't anymore."

"Why?"

"Because I don't love her."

"And do you think you're ready for the whole relationship thing now?"

"I think so."

She breathed a sigh of relief and moved on to her next tough question, "Are you still looking for a reason to push me away?"

He looked at her then, deep into her eyes. "I'm trying not to."

"Good."

"I just need you to know, that if something comes along and it seems like I'm pushing you away, I want you to remind me of this conversation."

With a huge smile, "I can do that." She tried to lighten the mood, "Do you want me to push you around a little, too? Maybe a couple smacks or knocks on the head?"

He chuckled, reveling again in how good she was for him, "We'll see."

"Fine! Take away all my fun!"

"Speaking of fun, I have been remembering things a lot lately, things about us. Do you remember that night at Harvard when we got caught in the rain?"

They both started to laugh, "Yeah! We both got soaked! It was the first time I heard you swear. You draped your coat over my head and we ran for cover under a big oak tree."

"Then we huddled there. You were shivering! Then you said, 'Hell with it!' and ran back out into the rain."

"You watched me dance out there for almost a full minute before you dropped your coat and joined me. I figured you thought I was nuts!"

"I did. It was great. You were so happy then. I miss that."

"You left your coat there."

"I know."

"I still have it."

He was shocked, "What?"

"Yeah, I went back the next morning, I guess to remember. When I saw it lying on the ground, I picked it up. I tried to find you, to give it back, but you'd already left."

With regret in his voice, "I never said good-bye."

"You had a case to get back to in Vegas." There she was forgiving him again, but he heard no regret in her matter-of-fact tone. "I had the coat dry cleaned. It's in my closet."

"How come you've never mentioned this before?"

"Because I decided it was my piece of you."

"Good. Then keep it." She smiled at him and he wanted to reach across the table and gather her in his arms. She was so special. Then out loud, "My dream come true."

"What?"

Slightly embarrassed, "Uh, sorry, I was just thinking out loud." Knowing she wasn't going to drop it, "I was just thinking of how special you are to me and I said you're my dream come true."