Author's Note: I apologize, again, for the delay in updating! I will try really hard to get them updated ASAP…and I promise it will go faster after the holidays end. Enjoy and, as always, Review!

Chapter 40 (OMG 40 chapters!!! I've written a lot!) – Curiosity Killed the Cat

Nick and Sara grew very close over the next few months. Sara was still worried about the lack of important people in Charlotte's life, but she seemed happy enough. Sara had her talk with Nick about Alex. It ended up involving a lot of tears, for both of them, but that was a definite turning point in their relationship. From what Sara had told him, Nick felt like he knew Alex. To tell the truth, he had felt a little threatened. It sounded stupid, but even just the memory of him had affected Sara so much that he thought he should really learn about this guy. Now he thought he knew a lot about him. That first night they had ended up talking for hours, but it wasn't finished. Now that Sara was comfortable thinking about Alex, she would tell him little bits of information here and there when they came to her. Simple things like, 'He liked to chew on pens,' and 'he would always bite his tongue when he wrote.' I didn't really make sense, but those small things made their relationship that much stronger.

Sara had never really felt welcome in any single place in her life after the age of 10, but she was getting to love her decision to move to Vegas more then anything. The entire grave shift was so close and Sara felt so welcomed, even though she was still 'the new girl'. Sometimes she would just sit back and watch how well each and every one of them got along together and she always found herself smiling.

Charlotte was growing fast and maturing even faster. Sara knew she wouldn't be a little girl much longer and she was desperately trying to spend as much time as possible with her so she wouldn't miss anything. Not long after they got home from San Francisco Charlotte had asked a lot of questions about Alex. She had had a similar talk with her that she had had with Nick. Charlotte had also asked for a picture, which Sara had to search a little while for. She had lots, but they were all packed away in boxes in closets. She picked out one of her favorites; them on their honeymoon. Sara had taken the picture when they were at this Mexican restaurant that had a boardwalk facing the ocean. Sara loved the picture and gave it to Charlotte to keep. As soon as she got it Charlotte carried it with her everywhere. After a few weeks it was creased and a little dirty, but Charlotte still carried it everywhere anyway.

That summer went by in a flash. It seemed like all criminals had come out with the dry, hot weather and everyone in the lab was pulling double and triple shifts. Catherine and Sara had the hardest time because their daughters were out of school and they couldn't be away for too long, but they worked out something that helped each other out. They would take separate days off and take care of the other's child while the other went to work. On all the other days they went to another babysitter or to Sara's cousin. Because the girls were spending so much time together, they became very good friends.

Nick and Sara were having problems finding time for each other because they were both so busy. Sara would never tell Nick, but she was secretly glad they weren't going too fast. She was ready to move on and everything, but at the same time she felt like they were going too fast. She didn't think she would be ready to go any faster then they were now.

Nick, however, had a different thought in his mind. He had fallen head over heels in love with Sara. He loved everything about her and couldn't get enough of her. He had always wanted to have the kind of relationship that went on forever, never getting old. He had started to get the idea that Sara could be it. She could be the one. And Nick was never a guy to sit around and do nothing. He was scared as hell, but he was going to do something about it.

After much consideration, he finally decided what to do. He had always been a bad liar and it took all he had to keep it a secret from Sara. He had to do this perfectly and to do that he knew he was going to need some serious help. He contemplated asking a lot of different people for help and finally decided that Catherine was perfect. She would know exactly what to do. Of coarse when he did tell her his half formed plan she totally freaked out. Her exact words were:

"OH MY GOD, ARE YOU SERIOUS?! I CANT BELIEVE IT! WHEN, WHEN, WHEN?!"

Thankfully it only lasted a few moments before she collected herself. She nearly blew his ear off in that moment and was very grateful when it was over. Nonetheless, with Catherine's help, Nick set up the perfect date.

Catherine told Sara that Lindsay wanted to have a sleepover with Charlotte and took her at about 6 that night. Nick showed up, conveniently, about half an hour later carrying flowers. His wardrobe had been chosen, conveniently, by Catherine. He was all in black and looking very irresistible, which Sara commented on. She was confused at first, because Nick had shown up so spontaneously, but he gave her some time and she went to change into something she could wear to the 'surprise restaurant'.

Sara had never liked surprised much but she was starting to like this one. She asked Nick to tell her where they were going about fifty times but he never caved. He just wore a goofy smile and told her, "I can't tell you. It's a surprise."

They pulled up to an Italian restaurant on the edge of Vegas. Sara had only been there once and loved it. The restaurant itself was old and its architecture was beautiful, but the patio out back was really something to brag about. It was very big and they had built a stage in the back where a band was frequently playing slow, romantic music. There were four couples dancing right now and a sign on the door said that there would be a special presentation from a professional dancer at 7.

The waitress led Nick and Sara to one of the many small round tables covered in a black table cloth. Nick seated Sara and sat beside her.

"Now this is a surprise," Sara said looking around. The August sun was starting to set in a huge orange ball, illuminating the whole restaurant in orange light, making everything look fantastic.

Nick just smiled. "Glad you like it."

Sara smiled back. "What made you take me here? We've never been here before."

Nick shrugged, trying to think quickly. "I…well we haven't had much time together lately…and I wanted to set aside a special night for just you and me." That sounded good. He reached over and stroked Sara's hand. She smiled again, leaning over and kissing him. They ordered and listened to the band, Nick eventually asking her to dance.

Sara smiled, thinking about the last time they had danced. It had been so long ago but it seemed like it had been yesterday. They got up and joined the couples on the floor. They danced awhile before the professional dancer got up and they went back to their seats. They were only sitting awhile when their meals came, followed by a bottle of Sara's favorite wine.

"You ordered this one?" Sara asked. Nick smiled and nodded while he poured her some. His surprise was one of the greatest she had ever had. They finished their meal, talking the entire time about nothing in particular. Sara loved their talks. They could just go on forever and never loose interest.

Nick looked at his watch after they were finished. It was coming up to 9 and he decided that it was time. He looked back at Sara and took her hand. She smiled, making Nick smiled even wider. They sat like that a few moments before Nick asked, "Sara?" softly.

"Yeah," she whispered.

"You know I love you?"

Sara nodded and kept smiling.

"You know I would do anything for you?" Nick went on.

Sara nodded again. She didn't know where he was going with this. She was a little confused and then it hit her like a bag of bricks.

"You know you make me so, so happy?" Sara used all her effort to keep the smile on her face. She knew what he was doing. Her brain screamed at her against her will.

"He's going to do it! He's doing it! Smile you fool! You want this!"

"Are you kidding me?! You aren't ready for this! Get out of there! You can't do this!"

"You know I-"

The waitress walked by with a tray of used glasses. She tripped over Sara's chair, tumbling onto the floor, breaking everything.

Sara jumped and looked up, thanking the skies for that. She jumped up, alongside Nick. A few other waiters and waitresses came over to help the fallen waitress. Nick breathed out a long sigh. "What perfect timing," he thought sarcastically.

The mess was cleaned up and the waitress apologized to them. She asked if they would like anything and Sara asked for the check, ever so casually. Nick was going to have to get that moment back and he didn't know how. They left not long after, holding hands to the car. Sara was very quiet in the car. She needed to think this over. She thought long and hard. She tried her best to do it logically.

Are you sure this is going to happen?

Yes.

Will he do it now that the moment is gone?

Probably. Nick never backed down.

Can you put this off?

Maybe.

Are you sure?

No.

Do you want this to happen?

Sara had to think about that one. Maybe. She looked over at Nick. He noticed and looked over at her. She took a hand off the wheel and laid it on hers. She looked down at it.

Sara sat in more deep thought while they drove to her place. When they pulled up Nick had to call her name.

"We're here."

Sara looked around. Sure enough they were sitting in Sara's driveway. She smiled and got out of the car. Nick followed her out and Sara walked up her stairs. She didn't know why she was in such a hurry to get inside, but her rush was put on hold when Nick jumped forward and grabbed her hand. She stopped. She looked around, trying to avoid his eyes. She felt like she had when she was on her first date with Jeff; reluctant to go through with it. Except there was one difference…Nick was actually good to her. Nick led Sara up to the front steps and stopped. He looked down the street. It was a cloudless night and the moon was shining very brightly.

"Look at the moon," Nick said softly, stepping a little closer to Sara.

Sara looked. It was pretty beautiful. For some reason, the sight of the moon calmed her. "Its beautiful," she answered. She stood there, just looking at the moon. She felt Nick's other hand slip into hers. Curiosity gripped her as she looked down at the hard object she felt in her hand. She raised it, instantly regretting looking at it. A saying washed over her brain.

Curiosity killed the cat.

Too true.

She looked at Nick. He was smiling like a fool. She looked down at it, not wanting to see what was inside. She looked back at Nick. She silently wished he wouldn't say anything. Too bad.

"Sara?" he kept smiling and she was glad it was dark. He couldn't see her look of terror. "I love you too much to say." Nick started to lower himself onto one knee. She suddenly saw Alex doing the same thing more then 7 years ago and shook her head to get that picture out of her head.

"I know that you are the one. You have made me so, so happy. Every time I see you my heart flutters and I never want to let you out of my sight. I never want to let you go. I…I want to spend the rest of my life with you…you and Charlotte…trying to make you both happy." Nick still had his hand in Sara's and he reached over and kissed it. Sara was paralyzed. She worried about her consciousness. Nick was still talking.

"I really think that if we were together forever we would be so happy. Every time I see you I fall in love with you all over again. I can't imagine a life without you and I want to make that feeling last forever."

Sara listened, still glued to the spot. She knew he was right. Everything he was saying went both ways…she really, truly loved him back. But could she do this? Could she get married again? She didn't know.

"Sara? Will you marry me?"

Sara knew it was coming but it still hit her like a tidal wave. She seriously worried about her consciousness. She could barely breathe, let alone answer Nick. The seconds ticked on as she felt her heart rate rise in her ears.

"Sara?" Nick stared to worry when she didn't give him an answer.

"Nick…" Sara couldn't get much else out, but she had to try. "I…I…"

Author's Note: Haa haa how's that for a cliffhanger?