Grissom looked between the sleeping infant in his arms and the feeding infant in Sara's. The wonder of it all came over him as he wrapped an arm around Sara's shoulders. She looked up at him and smiled briefly before turning to look at the baby in her arms again.
"We did it." She whispered. Grissom could say nothing, what she said put into words what he was felling. He kissed the top of her head and held her tighter. They stayed silent for another few moments. Both lost again in the wonder of it all.
After a short while Sara looked back up at Grissom, her eyes and face alight, a soft smile on her face.
"We still need to name them." She murmured.
Grissom grinned at her. "I told you. I like baby 1 and baby 2. That way when breakfast is ready I can just shout baby and all 3 of you will come running."
"All 3 of us?"
"Baby 1, baby 2 & you, baby."
Sara bumped him gently, "I really want to dislike what you said. I'm sure you're teasing me with it. I just don't know where." She told him, a smile still playing across her face.
"Would you want it any other way?" He asked her, a wide grin stretched across his face. Sara put her head on one side as she considered.
"Something for the pain would have been good." She smiled. Grissom leant his head down until it rested on hers. His cheek resting against the top of her head as they both looked down to watch the baby she was nursing finish. She burped her without really thinking, it all seemed to be coming naturally to her, that coupled with stories and tips from Catherine, and having to look after some of the children in the foster home when she was little, meant she already knew what to do. She still seemed to take to it naturally, surprising even herself at how maternal she had become.
Grissom stayed resting his head against her. "I love you."
"I love you too." She muttered back. They simply sat for a while, watching their children and relishing in the closeness of each other.
"How you feeling now anyway?" Grissom asked after a while.
"Small, and a bit sore. But I'll be fine. I just need to get use to not carrying 2 babies around inside of me. I'll need to lose some weight now anyway." Grissom stayed silent, and even though she wasn't looking at him she could hear his unvoiced question. "I still look about 4 months pregnant, and while that's not much it's enough to mean some pants won't fit me." She felt Grissom nod.
"What about Ella? As a name for one of them, what do you think to Ella?"
"It's perfect. I thought you were still supporting baby 1 and baby 2 though. I think we need to come up with a second name still.But Ella sounds perfect for one of them."
They battered other names about for a while, agreeing on some, disagreeing on others. The names became more and more unusual as time went on, as both strove to outdo the other in thinking of the most unusual names. They soon ended up both collapsing into laughter, Sara giggling and Grissom chuckling.
"Ok, so we at least have a short list now don't we. We have it down to 4 names we like that we might use."
"Yes. We could do it by meaning or significance or something, because she could suit any of these names. Ok, so to start with: Portia?"
"Used in Shakespeare, in Merchant of Venice and in Julius Ceaser. Comes from Latin."
"What latin?" Sara asked suspiciously.
"Ermmm, either pig or offering, depends on who you ask. Mainly used from Shakespeare though now."
"Ok, next one, Juliet?"
"Another Shakespeare name, Romeo and Juliet and Measure for Measure. Means downy. Good song called Juliet as well."
"Louise?"
"Comes from an old German word meaning Famous Warrior. I like the name Louise."
"Harmony?"
"Comes from the Latin. Means harmony as in musical or joining. I like Harmony. It works."
"Mmm, Harmony?" She looked up at Grissom, "I think we've found our second name."
He looked back at her. "I think you're right." He said softly. He lent down and kissed her gently. "So, baby 1 is called Ella, and baby 2 is called Harmony."
Sara nodded and turned to look at the child in her arms. "We probably ought to take advantage of the time their asleep to do what we want."
Grissom nodded, "What do you want to do then?" She turned to look at him. "I want to ask you a question."
"Well then ask away my dear."
Sara opened her mouth to speak, "You kn-" was as far as she got before she heard Catherine creeping quietly back into the room. She hadn't even realised they had gone, and only noticed Catherine because she saw her, otherwise she had been in her own world with Grissom and their children."
"Hey Cath." She called out to her.
"Heya Sara. Can we come in and take photos yet?" Sara nodded. "I'll ask you later." She muttered in Grissom's ear, sending shivers down his spine as he felt her breath on his skin. Sara kissed him quickly again before standing up and moving to a sofa which was more comfortable than where they were. She patted the seat next to her and Grissom came to sit next to her.
The next 45 minutes passed in a second blur of congratulations as the techs, Judi and David also came in. And a blur of flashes from everyone taking photos. Fortunately neither Ella nor Harmony woke up despite the noise and light. They found out that the power had come back on, and soon both were exhausted. Catherine spotted this and quickly shooed everyone out of the room.
"By the way, I picked up another cot for you, the same as the first one, I remembered what you told me about it and the person who sold it to you remembered you anyway. He said he'd never seen a couple who seemed so perfect for each other. He only met you for 10 minutes and he knew. Why on earth did it take you two years to work it out? Anyway, are you ok to drive or do you want me to give you a lift? Actually, I'll need to drive anyway, both of you two have a child to hold." She then dragged Grissom and Sara, each carrying a baby out of the break room and into the car, neither managing to fit in a word as Catherine continued talking.
Finally she stopped talking as she pulled up outside Grissom's house, but she still managed to talk as she walked them to the door and handed them a key back. "By the way, I took the key out of your bag Sara when I dropped off the cot, here you go. Also I fixed it so that you are both off for at least a week, Sara you can have up to six months, Gil we can get you 3 months at a push but first you need to come back for a week after your week off. Bye guys, sleep well, while you can. I'll bob in and see you sometime. See you later. Bye."
By this time she had reached her car and pulled away. Leaving neither of them time to say anything. Grissom simply took the key from Sara which Catherine had handed her and unlocked the door.
They headed in and put the babies in their cots. Both hovering in the room, not wanting to leave them alone. But there was simply not enough room in either room for them to stay in the same room as the children where they could find somewhere for them to sleep.
"Sara?" He asked softly. "We need to take Catherine's advice and sleep while we can. We'll be up with these two soon enough, and neither of us are going to be much good if we're exhausted from staying in here to wtch them.
Sara nodded. But neither of them moved. Eventully Grissom led Sara out of the room. "Come on, let's get to bed." Sara again only nodded, and both were silent as they changed and climbed into bed.
They both lay on there side watching the other. "Gil? I've just realised. I never finished asking you that question."
"No, you didn't. So what was it you wanted to ask me sweetie?"
"You know how you said that while I was asleep it wasn't a dream? Well, I was wondering. While I was asleep did you speak to me?" Grissom didn't want to scare her away and so stayed silent and waited for her to continue. "I'm sure you spoke to me. You told me that you loved me and that you were proud of me. Did you say that?"
Grissom spoke softly, unsure of her reaction if she remembered it all. "Yes. I did. While you were asleep."
"Did you mean it? All of it?"
"Yes." Grissom answered still unsure of where she was going. He sought her eyes in the darkness, found them and watched them, noticing that her eyes were also fixed on his.
"You know I'm not ready yet. I will be one day. But not yet. I'm sorry." He spotted a tear almost fall from her eye. He reached out to her took hold of her hand and placed their joined hands together between them as he move closer. He kissed her gently. He took her hand with his other hand and with his first hand wrapped his arm around her waist.
"I know sweetie. I'll wait. I'll wait until your ready, and I'll love you even if you never reach that stage. I don't blame you. I love you, I'll wait forever and more for you. I've never loved anyone as much, and I never will." The tear now fll down her cheek as he spoke.
Her expression became sorrowful and mildly thoughtful. She kept her eyes connected with his.
"Gil. I think I'm ready."
For the names thanks to Jessica (review of chapter 27) for one of the names (Harmony.)
As for the other names Portia is for me, Juliet I just like the name, Louise is in honour of Lou (Loubric) for her constant support and encouragement through all my work.
And the name Ella is also dedicated to her. Thanks Lou for all your help, support and friendship has really helped me through any periods of block I have had. Couldn't have got this far without you and your CD. Thank You.