Proposal

Title: Proposal

Author: MYBIGBLUEBOX

Series: C.S.I

Rating: T

Genre: angst/comfort

Spoilers: none

Characters: Gil Grissom, Sara Sidle, Catherine Willows

Disclaimer: God knows how many times you've all read these disclaimers but I'm going to say it all again just coz. I don't own these characters they are all property of channel 5, CBS productions and the writer.

Summary: Gil proposed to Sara what is her answer? Finally Sara has what she wants out of life.

Dedications: Everyone who's read anything I've done over the years and gave their constructive criticism.

Warnings: very violent and a strong reference to rape. Bad language and despair. Explores the feelings of rape victims so please mind the rating, if you are affected by any of these subjects.

Note: The song used is Christian Agularia's Too Beautiful for Words. Also I'm really sorry that this chapter took so long to upload, I've got GCSE exams in 5 months (the real thing!) and revision is taking up a lot of my time. Also it's been such along chapter and I really wanted this t be a good chapter as it's such a land mark in these characters lives. Thanks for being so patient.

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Grissom's POV

I watch her, butterflies playing inside my stomach. Gentle tears glaze her eyes and she takes my hand in hers. I almost don't hear her answer, she whispers it so quietly.

'Yes, of course I will.' A smile ghosts over her face, shining radiance into my home, into my life. I sweep her off the couch into my arms, spinning the both of us around and around until I'm too dizzy to spin anymore. I kiss her forehead and slip on the delicate gold band.

'I know it's simple, I just thought..' She silences me, placing her fingers gently on my lips.

'Gil, it's perfect.' She gazes down at her hand, tears make their way slowly down her face, contrasting with her growing smile. I brush the tears away and sit on the couch watching our friends congratulate and hug her. Nick, Greg, Jim and Warrick all make a fuss off her, Cath comes and sits next to me.

'I'm so happy for you Gil, you suite each other.' I turn to her, she stares out at Sara and the guys her eyes lingering on Warrick.

'You know I wish I was like you, I wish I had someone.' Warrick looks over at Cath, watching her with concerned eyes, eyes that if I'm not mistaken display love in their depths. Cath sighs and looks away from him to face me. I smile at her gently, I take her hand in mine, and squeeze it gently in support. Sara bounds over to me looking like she might burst with happiness, I can't help but grin at her ecstatic expression. Cath gets up and hugs her tightly before taking her hand to admire the ring.

'Good choice Gil, it's beautiful.' Sara sits next to me and I drape an arm over her shoulders. We watch as Cath goes to stand next to Warrick, they talk to each other for a moment before Warrick leads her out.

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Sara's POV

I roll over to face Gil, he watches me in the dark, his eyes gentle in the soft light. He places a light kiss to my forehead, I smile at his gesture. My new fiancee, I can't believe it, it's so surreal I might be forgiven for believing it's all a dream. Tomorrow Cath is going to bring over some wedding catalogues, there is so much to fit in to so little time and I only have two weeks of leave left before I return to work. Gil's fallen back to sleep his breath gentle on my forehead, warming me through. There is no where in the world I'd rather be.

7 HOURS LATER

'Come on Gil get up Cath and Lindsey will be here any second, you're not even dressed yet!' I shout at Gil form the bathroom, tugging a brush through my hair, scowling at the dismal results that are reflected back to me from the large wall mirror. I hear Gil mumbling to himself about women and early mornings, I walk down the hall and lean on the door post, he looks up at me, a slight frown on his face as he tries desperately to focus in the early morning light.

'Hey handsome.' I try desperately hard not to laugh at his dishevelled appearance. He looks at me darkly, and glances at the clock on the bedside table, his jaw drops.

'Sara! it's Saturday and your getting a 52 year old man up at nine in the morning.' He throws a wounded look in my direction. I laugh openly at him and walk over to him and sit on the bed. He looks up at me.

'Aww poor baby. I almost feel sorry for you.' He looks expectantly at me, hope filling his woeful eyes.

'So if I play your pity right, you'll let me lie in a little longer?' I lean down and kiss him quickly on the lips, and get up before he can make a grab for me.

'Nope.' I throw him his pants, he catches them clumsily, tossing them to the end of the bed, burying his face into the pillow groaning and pulling the comforter tighter around his body. So he's going to be stubborn is he? I reach over for the comforter and pull as hard as I can. I almost get it, he catches on and pulls back just as hard.

'Hey! Who's comforter and bed is this?!' I laugh hard and tug at the comforter again.

'You invited me!' He pulls back so hard I tumble into the bed and onto his chest, shrieking with laughter. I feel his arms tighten around me over the comforter that somehow managed to get tangled around us. The doorbell rings shrilly at us, demanding attention. Gil in his momentary surprise loosens his hold on the comforter, I seize my chance and grab it rolling out of bed, and run for all I'm worth with his only source of warmth. I stop in the doorway and turn to face him, sticking out my tongue at him.

'Get up okay honey.' His expression darkens as he grabs for his pants. I blow him a kiss and laughing hard I go to answer the door.

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Grissom's POV

When I emerge from the safe sanctuary of my room, I am faced with the most beautiful sight I've ever witnessed. My fiancee is choosing wedding dresses for our wedding. Funny though I never thought I'd want any of this, the domestic scene, but I'm enjoying it, I love have someone else around, listening to the sounds of another person existing in the same house as me, sharing my personal space. I turn to the kitchen and make myself a cup of coffee which I nearly drop when the girl's shrieks reaches my ears, I turn around quickly, anxiety filling me. I am greeted by ecstatic smiles. Cath is laughing as Lindsey parades around my living room waving one of the many catalogues around in the air, Sara runs over to me.

'Gil we found the perfect dress! Look, it's so gorgeous!.' She takes my hand on pulls me over to the sofa, she releases my hand to wrestle Lindsey for the catalogue. She rushes back over to me triumphantly holding the catalogue high out of Lindsey's reach and pushing it into my hands. She stabs at the picture of a beautiful, crisp plain white dress, with a wrap around, close fit style waist, beaded satin bodice and a long flowing train. It was perfect, I could just see Sara in it. I sneaked a look at the price tag, $3,000, the number rolls around my head, how much was too much to spend on a wedding dress? I look up at Sara, she reminds me of a child that desperately wants that new toy in the shop, begging me with her eyes for it.

'Anything you want Sara. it's your day honey.' I kiss her gently as she squeals in delight. Her hands entwine in my hair as she pulls back.

'It's OUR day baby.' I smile at her and kiss her again. We break apart as Lindsey expresses her disgust at our embrace.

'Ewww man that's so gross! Mom don't you dare ever get a boyfriend!' The room explodes in laughter. It's so good to feel Sara laugh in my arms.

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Sara's POV

JANUARY 30TH 2007

Nerves fill me up, Cath helps fit me into my dress with the help of my cousin Lily and best friend Lauren. The tight strings of the corset like fitting tighten around my chest making me feel slimmer and more feminine than I ever have before with my life. I have three bridesmaids, Cath, Lindsey and Lily, Lauren had to be the maid of honour. I couldn't resist but have my little five year old niece as flower girl. I always said I would never over do the cute on my wedding day but now it's here I want everything I can possible pack in. Lauren fixes my curls with spray and delicately entwine little white roses and lavender down the sides. Lindsey paints my face with makeup, Cath assures me she's the best. I glance nervously in the mirror, it looks fantastic not too over done, so far. Lindsey taps my nose with the eye pencil.

'Hey no peeking I'm not done yet.' Like a five year old that's been caught with it's hand in the cookie jar I look anywhere but the mirror guiltily. I look on in rapture as my friends and family giggle and do each other's hair and makeup. Lauren finishes my hair and signals to Lindsey to finish. Lindsey puts the finishing touches to my makeup before ushering everyone away from the large full length mirror we got specifically for this occasion. Everyone watches me as I make my way towards the mirror making me feel even more self conscious than I already am. I step in front of the mirror and I can't believe it, I can't believe it's me. I look, beautiful. My eyes fill with tears. Lauren comes up behind me and wraps an arm around my shoulders.

'Hey girl no tears, you'll smudge you're make up.' Cath puts a tissue into my hands and I dab at my eyes. The car arrives and toots it horn loudly.

'Oh God he's here already!' Lily exclaims, and rushes over to the flowers and quickly arranges them more to her satisfaction. The room explodes in movement and last minute panic. We grab up everything we can manage and check ourselves in the mirror as we rush past, down the stairs and into the waiting car. Cath and Lily hold my train well out of the way of the sidewalk. We clamber all arms and legs into the back of a gorgeous white limo with gold ribbon framing the front. We speed through Las Vegas, down the strip and pull up at a period Catholic church. Gil insisted upon a Catholic service, after Jim got shot he started praying again. I step out into the soft glow of the late January sunshine, a chill breeze blows, ruffling my hair and trying pathetically to whip up my skirt. I don't feel it, my head is buzzing with the adrenaline of just standing in the shadow of the awesome church, waiting to marry the man I've sought after for years. Lauren grabs my hand and squeezes it gently as the music plays from inside the massive oak doors. We decided not to have the boring old wedding march, we settled on a piece by a foreign composer that Gil has had rotting away in his CD collection for years. It was playing the first night I stayed at his place. The Priest emerges from the bright interior of the church and waves us to him. We form a line in front of him, my niece, me, Lauren and Lily and Cath and Lindsey. My head is rushing, like just before you sit down on that roller coaster you've been secretly hoping that your best mate wouldn't notice and make you ride on. That excited scared feeling. The Priest asks everyone to stand, he smiles and gives me a thumbs up, before we set off down the isle.

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Grissom's POV

Nerves settled in long ago. Maybe because I'm back in church again, maybe because I want to be the best I can for Sara. I crane my neck to see her as the procession marches forward towards me. All I can see is the Priest, beaming at me, his Bible clasped in his hands like a bouquet. He moves past me and I can finally see my soon to be bride. She comes to a stop in front of me and my jaw drops. Beautiful isn't the word, as a matter of fact I don't think a word exists that could describe how utterly amazing she looks. We both turn towards the Priest, Sara whispers to me.

'I take it that the stunned, jaw a mile long expression is a good sign?' I glance over at her and smile widely.

'Something like that yeah.' She beams at me, and turns her head back towards the Priest who has since begun welcoming the congregation. Now we can start again, together, I feel for Sara's hand and grasp it tightly in my grip. Finally we're happy together.

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Catherine's POV

THE RECEPTION

It was such a beautiful wedding. I can't believe they've actually done it, after all the pain and suffering and waiting they have both been through. It's getting late and I suppose that I better get Lindsey home, she fell asleep about an hour ago, still I don't want to leave, maybe... maybe he will ask me to dance. The track changes and a new song comes on.

When I try to describe
How I feel when you hold me
I get butterflies
I hear lullabies
It's hard to explain

Like the scent of a rose
Or the sound of the rain
Is too precious and too wonderful
To give it a name

I look over at Griss and Sara wrapped deep in each others arms, and I look at Warrick, he hasn't moved all night, the same spot for hours now. As I watch the couples move across the floor, I want that to be me. After Eddie I promised myself, never again. I thought it was the best for me and Lindsey, I don't no maybe she needs a father figure and I sure as hell could do with a little bit of what Griss and Sara have now. Warrick catches my eye. Neither of us move away or towards each other.

Too beautiful for words
A symphony inside me
Too beautiful for words
I can not take them lightly
Can you hear my silent heart

It's on the tip of my tongue
But my lips are still sealed
Only violins
And then innocence
Can show you how I feel

I stroke Lindsey's hair as she sleeps, she would kill me if she knew. My little girl grew up so long ago now and it almost feels as if I've been left behind, no longer the biggest part of her life. Yeah sure we're still close but not like it used to be. I look back up as a shadow falls across me, and I am faced with Warrick.

And I hear them again
At the end of the day
I'm all teary eyed
When we kissed goodbye
There's nothing I can say

Too beautiful for words
A symphony inside me
Too beautiful for words, oh
I can not take them lightly
Can you hear my silent heart

He takes my hand and pulls me up, I think about protesting, Lindsey needs me there. I look back down at my teenage daughter and realise that she doesn't need me as much as she used to. Now is for me, for once it's all for me. We join Griss and Sara on the floor and move amongst the bodies.

Must be a million times
I tried to express this love of mine
When it goes this deep
When it tastes this sweet
It's not easy to define, ohh

Too beautiful for words (too beautiful)
A symphony inside me (a symphony inside of me)
Too beautiful for words (for words)
I can not take them lightly

I lay my head on his shoulder. I feel the warmth of his skin under the shirt, I can't remember the last time I was this close to a man. My arms around his back, and his around mine pull us close to each other. I need this, I need him and I guess before I even realised it I fell for him in a big way.

Too beautiful for words (too beautiful ohh)
A symphony inside me (a symphony, oh)
Too beautiful for words (ohh, too beautiful baby)
I can not take them lightly
Can you hear my silent heart

Ohh yeah, yeah, oooh...

As the song ends and we pull apart, I look down at our joined hands. His wedding band is gone. I look up at him and catch him watching me. I open my mouth to speak, he places his finger tips gently across my lips.

'She left me. Two months ago.' His eyes swim gently with tears, sparkling in the dim light of the hall. I clasp his hand in mine.

'Let's get out of here. I want to go home.' He nods at me, understanding. We move to Lindsey and wake her. I won't be alone, not tonight.

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Grissom's POV

A YEAR LATER

A whole year, one gorgeous year, with one gorgeous wife. Dinner is finished the dirty dishes stacked forgotten in the sink. Anniversaries, the best thing after marriage. I recline back on the couch and think about the last year, how we got there, together. There could be nothing better than this, surely. I hear footsteps hurrying towards me. I sit up a little, whatever it is it has to be important. Sara appears in the doorway, her face is flushed, tinted pink, an unreadable expression on her face. I stand and walk over to her and take hold of her upper arms.

'Sara? What is it honey?' She looks up at me, that expression still stuck there.

'There's something you should know.'

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Once again apologise on the late arrival. I'm estimating one more chapter and this story will be finished and I will move on to pastures new, I will write more C.S.I. I hope you enjoyed this new chapter please review!!