A/N: Ok so this chapter is a bit longer and quite Grissom / GSR centric. When I started writing it I got a new idea into my head about what was going to happen...hopefully you will like it! Oh and please review - they keep me sane =]

A short drive later one of Cape Town's largest retail complexes stood before them. Catherine and Sofia stood in awe for a minute at what was in front of them, before approaching the doors pulling a reluctant Sara behind them. They men trudged dutifully after them knowing that their day would be spent carrying bags and choosing their words very carefully when asked the question every man fears 'how do I look?'

Once inside Catherine and Sofia surveyed the layout of the mall, observing the number of floors, location of stairs and elevators, area of each level and a rough estimate of how many stores were on each level. When their eyes met again they shared a satisfied nod.

"Alright boys, try to keep up!" Catherine called over her shoulder as she moved determinedly through the crowds of shoppers.

They made their way through the mall strategically, walking along the left hand side first then back along the right thus ensuring that no shop was missed. The mall held a variety of stores to suit almost every taste and need. There were designer boutiques, electronics and gadget store, book shops, music emporiums, men's clothing stores and even some more eclectic clothing stores that Sara enjoyed. They made their way around the ground floor with a military efficiency; no more than 20 minutes per store, use of dressing rooms only when necessary and no unnecessary queuing. They had visited almost every shop on the ground floor in little over an hour and a half. On their way towards the next place they passed a small coffee shop nestled in between a music and DVD shop and a sporting goods store that Catherine was pretending not to see. It was then that Greg remembered the vow Nick had made to him to get him to agree to this torture. He was definitely craving caffeine right now.

He turned to Nick, looking pleadingly at him to stay true to the promise he had made earlier. Nick couldn't help at smile at an almost 30 year old man using puppy dog eyes to get what he wanted. Still a promise was a promise.

"Uh...Cath? I promised Greggo a coffee this morning, any chance of a pit stop?" He motioned towards the coffee shop. Catherine considered this for a moment before answering.

"You two can go get coffee if you want. But you're going to miss the shoe store." She seemed shocked when they didn't seem to care. She checked her watch. "Well I was thinking we could maybe grab some food in about a half hour anyway, so why don't you meet us at the food court?"

"Ok." Nick nodded and he and Greg started towards the coffee shop.

"Take me with you!" Sara called out from behind Catherine.

"Oh no you don't!" Catherine spun around on her heels to face the younger CSI. "You're coming shoe shopping with us. Now about those boots that you wear..." Catherine said as she slung her arm around Sara and led her towards the shoes.

Nick shook his head and laughed as he watched them leave. Beside him Greg sent a silent prayer to whichever God had sent Nick Stokes to be his saviour. Not only because he so desperately needed caffeine hit but also because he had needed to go to the bathroom for the past half hour but had been too terrified to suggest a bathroom break.

-

By the time they reached the food court Grissom, Warrick and Brass had each been loaded up with armfuls of shopping bags each, which was funny because none of them could remember buying anything. All they knew was they had never been so glad to see uncomfortable metal seating arranged around plastic benches. Sighing with pleasure they dropped the bags and sat down now able to turn their attention to the only part of the day that actually interested them – lunch.

"Hey!" Sara smiled as she sat down beside Grissom. They greeted her.

"Having fun?" Grissom asked his partner of just over a year now. She rolled her eyes at him.

"Not as much fun as you're having." She smirked back at him. "Listen I have to go to the restroom, would you order my food while I'm gone? I am starving!" She groaned.

"Of course." He nodded. "What do you want?"

"What are you having?" She asked.

"I was thinking Mexican."

"Ok then just get me what I usually get." She said hurrying off as she seen Catherine and Sofia coming towards them. He chuckled slightly to himself as she sped past them. This was his chance.

"Catherine!" He called. "Could I have a word with you please?" He motioned to one side for her to join him on his way to the Mexican food place.

"What is it Gil?" She asked, studying her friend's face, worried by how serious he looked. He took a deep breath and braced himself.

"I have a favour to ask you."

"OK...what is it?"

"Alright so here's the deal. Sara and I have been dating for almost a year now. And I would like to propose to her while we're on this trip. I have a plan but I need some assistance so, will you help me out?"

Catherine stared at him, opening and closing her mouth like a fish out of water while she tried to gather her thoughts to speak. She had always known Grissom was in love with Sara. She had known that their younger colleague returned his feelings. Hell she might have even suspected they were dating. But she was not prepared for Grissom, her oldest friend, to drop this bomb on her. A thousand questions raced through her head all fighting to get answered first. Frankly she was still having trouble comprehending the fact that Gil Grissom had actually managed to open himself up to someone and start a relationship.

"What? How? When? What?" Her brain was over loaded.

"Sara and I are a couple. We have been for almost a year now and we live together in my town house. I'm not sure the exact date we started dating but it was sometime after the Adam Trent case." He answered all her questions plainly. She considered the information for a moment then smile broadly.

"Way to go Gil! You finally pulled your head from that microscope eh?" She was happy they had finally stopped dancing around each other and were now happy. "And you want to propose?" This was the biggest shock of all.

"Well yes." He shrugged. "I've never thought of myself as the marrying kind but my ideas have changed since I met Sara. I know it might sound silly but I would like nothing more than to stand in front of all our friends and promise to love her forever."

"Wow!" That was all she could say. "So what do you want me to do? Ask her for you? Because I have to say I think the proposal would mean a lot more if it came from you." She joked as he ordered his and Sara's food.

"No I have a plan but I can't do it all alone. So the first thing I need you to do is take this little shopping expedition of yours near a jewellery store and distract Sara for a while so I can buy a ring." He informed her. He would tell her the rest of the plan as and when he needed to.

"I can do that, sure no problem!" She nodded. Then the reality of it all kicked in and she teared up a little. "Oh my God this is so huge! I'm honoured that you want me to be a part of it!" She smiled and pulled him into a hug.

"Just one more thing Catherine...I need you to keep quiet about this. All of it not just the proposal. I want it to be a surprise on all sides when I do this." He said in a serious tone. She glared at him. How could he give her such a juicy piece of gossip and then take it away from her like that? Then again it would be worth it in the end when all of this had played out.

"Alright!" She sighed. She wasn't sure how long she could keep something like this inside, so whatever he was planning it had better happen soon.

They made their way back to the group where Grissom handed Sara her veggie burrito. They were all talking amongst themselves so no one notice that Catherine had been silent the entire meal. She was preoccupied, she was busy replaying moments between Grissom and Sara that she had observed over the past year and seeing them in a whole new light.

-

With all the stores on the ground floor shopped out they moved up a level and began their attack on these stores. Their initial shopping rush satisfied by bags full of shoes and clothes from downstairs Catherine and Sofia eased up on the strangle hold they had on the group allowing the other members more freedom to browse at their leisure. As they were walking along window shopping Catherine spied a jeweller's midway down on the right hand side. She nudged her supervisor and discreetly pointed to it. Then she quickly formulated a plan. There was a book and music store across the way; perfect.

"Hey Greggo!" She called. The young man turned nervously, wondering what he had done wrong. "There's a music store a little way down there, don't you want to go check out the Cape Town music scene? I'm sure there'll be tons of loud CD's you can buy and play really loud around the penthouse." She suggested. He looked at her trying to figure out if it was a trick. There were no obvious signs she was trying to trick him so he decided to make a break for it while the going was good.

"Alright!" He shrugged.

"Say Sara, why don't you go with him?" Sara had been miles away, day-dreaming, when the mention of her name brought her back to earth.

"What?" She looked around to find who had been talking to her.

"Why don't you go with Greg?" Grissom repeated himself. "You've almost finished that book you're reading I thought you might want to pick one up."

"Oh, yeah you're right." She remembered. She took Greg's arm and they headed towards the music and book store.

'Alright!' Catherine thought. 'Now for step 2!'

"Wow! Look at that jewellery store. Warrick weren't you looking for a new watch?"

"I don't think so." He started, earning himself a pinch on the arm from Catherine.

"I think you were." She smiled forcefully.

"I mean yes, I forgot the...uh...strap broke on my other watch. Let's go check it out." He sighed. He didn't know what she was up to which made him even less trilled to be involved in it.

"I'll come with you." Grissom said trying to sound nonchalant.

"Us too!" Sofia said, dragging Brass by the arm. Nick looked apprehensive.

"I think I'll just catch up with Greg and Sara." He gave them a puzzled look. "Y'all enjoy watch shopping."

Ideally Grissom would have liked to be alone in the jewellery store but at least Catherine had achieved the main objective and distracted Sara. Once inside Wilson and sons jeweller's Grissom silently slipped away from the rest of the group as they gathered around the vast display of timepieces. He was browsing inconspicuously in the engagement and wedding band section when one ring caught his eye. He wanted a closer look at it. He tried to catch the shop assistant's attention but was so far failing. Nervously he looked to find the rest of the group still browsing watches and tried again. He sighed when no one came to his aid and was just about to give up hope when a voice caught him off guard.

"Can I help you sir?" A tall, thin man in his late thirties – early forties stood waiting behind the counter to serve him.

"Is that the one you want to see?" Another voice came from his right hand side.

"Catherine!" He was surprised by her presence. "What are you doing here?" He asked, afraid she would bring the attention of the whole group with her thus ruining his plan.

"You are about to make one of the most important purchases in your and Sara's life, did you really think I was going to leave you alone on this?" She asked sceptically. He stared at her blankly indicating his answer was yes.

"Well I'm not. I'm not going to pick one for you or intrude I'm just her to guide you." She smiled.

"I don't need any guidance." Grissom replied stubbornly.

"Well I just want to provide a little feminine input. I really don't want Sara to have some cockroach shaped engagement ring because I know you Gil and if such a monstrosity existed you would buy it and so help me God I am not going to let you mess this up." She ranted, sensing e was less than receptive to her she added, "The one you were looking at is pretty." She smiled and nodded.

"Well thanks." He said, caught off guard. "But what about the others? I don't want them all over here while I'm doing this. It's bad enough they're in the same store!"

"Relax! Warrick is under strict instructions to keep them well and truly distracted until I return."

"You told him!" Grissom was about ready to kill her.

"No!" She was almost offended. She actually hadn't told him...yet. "I promised, didn't I?"

"Well then how did you get him to agree to distracting is co-workers?" Grissom was curious.

"Warrick knows when not to ask questions!" She said ominously. Grissom was a little frightened. "Anyway let's not keep this man waiting. Do you know Sara's ring size?"

"Well no." Grissom said. "But I did bring this." He slipped his hand in his pocket and produce a silver ring with a little amethyst stone in it. Catherine nodded her approval, she was impressed. He handed the ring to the assistant her measured it and told him Sara's size.

"Thanks." Grissom smiled at the man. "Now could I please see that ring in that size?"

"Of course sir!" The sales assistant was impressed by the man's taste. He had selected a white gold band with an emerald cut diamond, about 1 carat, with ornate detailing surrounding the stone. He retrieved the correct size from under the counter and held it out.

"That's nice!" Catherine cooed as Grissom turned the ring over in his hand. He was studying it, watching the way the light caught the stone reflecting it out across the room. It was perfect, he square cut stone would long beautiful on Sara's long, elegant fingers.

"It's perfect." He whispered. "I'll take it!"

"An excellent choice! I'll get you a box for it." The shopkeeper smiled. Catherine muffled a small excited squeal in her hand.

"Sorry." She bit her lips to stop her doing it again. "It's just so exciting!"

"Here you are sir! Congratulations whoever this is for is a lucky woman." Grissom smiled and thanked the man. "Now will you be paying in cash or by card?"

Grissom glared at Catherine who stood glued to the spot. She looked back at him innocently.

"Go away!" She said plainly. She pouted but respected his wish for her not to know the value of Sara's engagement ring and walked off. She had a fairly good idea of the price anyway.

-

After a four hour shopping marathon everyone was glad to see the sofas in the penthouse when they got home. Warrick's arms ached at the shoulders from carrying all of Catherine's bags but at least he had gotten a new watch out of it. Sara was quite pleased with her purchases too. Under the watchful and perhaps forceful guidance of Catherine she had brought home some new pants, two new tops, an evening dress and some new shoes. She had also picked up a few items in the music and book store. However no one was quite as happy with their purchases as Grissom was. The small, black velvet box pressed against his leg from inside his pocket reminding him of just how special this trip was going to be.

"Not that that experience wasn't great, because it was!" Greg said sarcastically. "But how about tomorrow we let someone else pick what we do. Maybe even do something fun for members of the group with a Y chromosome?"

"Ok." Catherine agreed. The two new pairs of shoes, two evening dresses, various other items of clothing and pieces of jewellery combined with the hot piece of gossip and mission Grissom had given her meant she was too happy to even care. "Tomorrow's activities are your choice."