Title:Peace
Author: jenbachand
Rating: General
Pairing: Grissom/Sara
Disclaimer: I made no profit from the writing of this fic.
Spoilers: None really. Part of my Geek!Kids universe.
A/N: This was my birthday gift for mingsmommy, originally posted to lovetheming. Thanks to phdelicious for the beta. Happy Birthday Lisa.

"Happy Birthday dear Mommy. Happy Birthday to you."

I smile at my family as I blow out my candles. All fifty of them. Betsy was very adamant about making sure they were all on there. As a budding teenager, she likes to tease me about being the older hot mom. I'm still in pretty good shape if I do say so myself.

It is odd sometimes to realize that I am at the point where Grissom was when we first got together. Staring at the moms that make their way to our house with their daughters and sons, none of them older than 40, I can finally grasp what a big step it was for my husband to take in his life. I can also understand why he sometimes felt the need to isolate himself. Although if he tried to pull that stuff today I think I'd have his ears mounted right next to his butterfly collection.

When I got home this afternoon my house was very quiet. Not something out of the ordinary for a house full of readers who can also communicate through sign language. But there was no music playing, no television; I couldn't even here the dogs snoring. Betsy's room was my first stop in my quest for my family. She was hunched over her desk scribbling away with a book laid open in front of her.

"What's up kiddo?"

"Dad's evil. He took us to the bookstore today and Robbie picked up a book about rocks, and he decided it would be a good time to start geology lessons," she said while flipping through the pages. My husband's insistence on home schooling our kids had perplexed me at first, but our daughter was currently averaging two grade levels ahead in all her subjects, and our son's abilities were progressing along very well also.

"I didn't even get to pick a new journal," Betsy finished looking up with a pout on her face.

"I told you we'd go get you a nice new journal this weekend." I said hugging her. "Your dad's planning something, and having something you can both learn about gives him a bit of a break. Of course I'm sure your book has a whole lot more words than your brother's does," I finished, looking at the heavy tome.

"I have one more essay question to finish and then Dad said we're going out to dinner," she said as she started writing again.

"I'll leave you to it then."

Gil and Robbie were in the office. They were signing something about rocks; I picked up that much. The kids are much better at signing than I will ever hope to be, but I try.

"Hey boys," I said when they paused. Robbie bolted from Gil's lap and ran to me.

"Did you have a good birthday mommy?"

"I did. Judge Meadows let me go early because it was my birthday," I said as I winked at Gil.

"Daddy says we're going out for dinner to celebrate, but we're going to have cake here at home," he said as I picked him up. He's getting too big for me to do it, but I can't help myself. My baby is growing up so fast; I want all the time I can have where he's still small.

When we got back from dinner, the entire team was at our house. That was when Betsy started making a big deal about the candles.

And of course Greg had to encourage her. He still treats her like the precocious smiling toddler she was, but I think she secretly likes it. Plus he buys her anything she wants.

As they all started singing "Happy Birthday" to me, I thought about all the perils I've faced in my life so far. The highs and lows that have left their mark on my soul and on my body. I am thankful for all of it; they have made me who I am. I make my wish and blow out all the candles, with the helpful assistance of my children.

"Did you make a wish?" my darling husband whispers in my ear. His hands wrap around my waist from behind.

"Of course," I reply, smiling. Betsy is dishing out the cake and directing Greg on the proper size scoop of ice cream to put with the pieces. Both dogs are circling around his feet waiting for the first casualty of the night.

My birthday wish is simple. It is the same thing I have wished for since I was a little girl. It hasn't always been in my life, but the last fifteen years have been mostly full of it.

Peace.