Sorry this wasn't added earlier today, something came up and I couldn't update this. And as for all your questions on if Sara is leaving or staying... You'll have to read the next few chapters for your answers. But here's a hint: I'm a softy at heart... Hee hee hee!

And thanks to everyone for the reviews! Hope you enjoy!

Sara woke up and looked at the time then she turned to see Catherine awake and looking at her.

"Hey, beautiful" Catherine said before giving Sara a kiss

"Mmmmm" Sara said, "This is nice, waking up next to you again." Sara yawns and stretches and then stares at Catherine

"What?" Catherine said amused

"Come with me" Sara said with a smile

"What? Where? It's 2am" Catherine asked as Sara gets out of bed putting her uniform back on

"I want to show you something" Sara said kissing Catherine "Get dressed. I got something to do first" Sara said walking away

20 minutes later they're on the road with Catherine trying to figure out where they are going. The ride is silent, both in their own thoughts. Catherine sees a sign for Lake Mead and realizes Sara is following the signs

"Why are you taking me to Lake Mead?" Catherine asked

"I have something to show you" Sara smiled before slowing down and parking up.

Sara jumps out and goes to the trunk of her car, pulling out a backpack, flashlight and a jacket

"Here, put this on" Sara said to Catherine "It's going to be cooler and could get windy"

"Why? Where are we going?" Catherine questioned as she puts on the jacket

"It's a surprise" Sara said taking Catherine's hand in her own, turning on the flashlight and walking towards a path

They walked down to a secluded beach. As soon as they reached the sand, Sara starts counting and ended at 17, then she took off her backpack retrieving a mini shovel and started digging. About a foot down, Sara pulls out a locked box and put it in her backpack. Sara turned around and smiled at Catherine

"Come with me, please?" Sara asked and Catherine nodded unsure what was going to happen next, but she trusted Sara.

Sara led them down to the edge of the beach, close enough to the water but far enough away to not get wet. Then she pulled out a blanket and a thermos, sat down and asked Catherine to join her. Catherine sat down between Sara's legs. While Sara wrapped her arms around Catherine's waist and rested her head on Catherine's shoulder and looked out over Lake Mead, both content to be in each other's arms again

"You know how I would leave whenever we fought and sometimes I didn't come back until late morning?" Sara asked

"Yeah, you always had me wondering if you were ok" Catherine replied

"Well, I would come here to think, to clear my head. Sometimes, I would stay until sunrise" Sara said, grabbing the box from her backpack and placed it in Catherine's lap

"I wrote letters to you, every single time. I was planning on giving it to you after we've been together after 50 years or when the laws change and we could get married. Whichever came first, but if that happened, then I would've given it to you on our wedding night." Sara reached into her pockets and pulled out her keys

"Do you remember that whenever you asked me what this key was for, I would say 'the key to my heart"? Sara said removing the said key from her key chain and handing it to Catherine

"Yeah, I never knew what you meant by that."

"Open the box and find out" Sara kissed Catherine's shoulder

Catherine opened up the box and saw notebooks in the box. Catherine picked up the first notebook with '2007' written on the front then she saw a notebook for every year they were together all the way back to 2001.

"I told you I wrote you a letter every time" Sara said smiling into Catherine's neck

Catherine picked up the notebook entitled '2005' and opened to a random page

February 3, 2005

Today we fought about the Melton case. I knew it was coming; we were pissing each other off all week. It unfortunately escalated to us arguing in the halls and me getting suspended by Ecklie. You had asked why I go off the deep end every time a domestic violence or abuse case comes along. I wanted to tell you and I knew you would keep pestering me until I told you. So I yelled at you, knowing you would soon drop the topic. I will tell you why I'm affected by those cases, but not at this time. I just can't do it now. Sorry.

Love,

Sara

"I remember that fight. I thought you had left me."

"I stayed and watched the sunrise, and I couldn't leave you. I loved you too much to leave" Sara said while gently sucking on Catherine's neck

"I especially remember the make up sex with that fight!" Catherine laughed

"Oh so do I. It was actually the first time I told you I loved you. But we were exhausted by the time our shift came along." Sara laughed too

"I didn't want to leave our bed, I wanted to hold on to you and lay in your arms because I was so scared you would leave me"

Sara kissed Catherine's neck again "Read another one" and nodded to the box

Catherine pulled out a notebook from 2003:

February 17, 2003

Eddie was murdered a few days ago. I wanted this case because I wanted to find whoever killed Eddie and why they left Lindsay in the car. I wanted closure for you two. I know you're hurting right now and I should forget what you said. But those words really hurt me. I had begged Grissom for the case. I couldn't sleep, I was so focused on finding who did that, and yet you told me I wasn't doing my job properly.

You knew exactly how to press my buttons; you wanted me to hurt as much as you were. We haven't spoke since I closed the case and you confronted me on it. It's killing me knowing you're hurting and I can't take away that pain.

But I know we'll get through this. I love you; I won't ever leave your side. I will try my best to be there for you and Lindsay. You two are my life, if I can't have you in my life, my life will become null. I know what I have to do now

Love,

Sara

"I'm sorry I said those things, Sara"

"Long ago forgiven. I can't stay mad at you for long."

"You texted me early in the morning, asking me to meet you at our diner. I thought you were crazy, but I still went. I arrived and saw you sitting in a booth. I watched you for a few minutes. You were staring out the window and you looked so beautiful. I sat down and you smiled at me. Your eyes lit up. We sat in silence getting lost in each other's eyes" Catherine recalled

"I didn't think you would come" Sara said quietly

"I did though" Catherine said

"I know. I knew at that second you loved me. You didn't have to say it. I felt it."

"I did too" Catherine leaned back into Sara

They sat there admiring the closeness they have right now

I should be uploading the next chapter sometime today. Hope you enjoyed!