Disclaimer: I do not own CSI, The Christmas song, or The Arrow and the Song. I just use them to tell the story.

A/n: Yes, it's more fluff. After this though, things will get more drama like. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 16

"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose…"

Sara closed her eyes and listened as her father sang. She snuggled into the couch, her head propped on a Rudolph the Reindeer pillow. She opened her eyes and watched the twinkling Christmas tree lights dance across the ceiling.

A fierce storm raged outside, but inside all was warm and toasty. She wasn't even scared of the thunder and lightning.

Shifting, she turned over and watched as her father played the piano, his voice floating over the room. Glancing over she saw her mother sitting in her favorite chair listening to the music.

Her brother was laying on his stomach on the floor, trying to figure out what was in the boxes under the tree.

"Tiny tots, with their eyes all aglow, will find it hard to sleep tonight." Bill glanced over at Sara and watched her eyes drift closed, and then pop back open. He smiled. "They know that Santa's on his way, he'll have lots of toys and presents on his sleigh, and every mother's child, is going to spy, to see if reindeer really know how to fly…"

Sara's eyes drifted closed again as she drifted into sugar plum dreams.

Sara slowly swam up from her dream, wanting to cling to it. The smile on her father's face stayed with her as she opened her eyes. She smiled.

Christmas music filtered up the stairs, and Sara stretched as she remembered what day it was. She swung her legs over the bed and sat up. The sun filtered into the window. Outside a cold wind buffeted the windows, and Sara smiled wistfully. As warm as the desert could be during the day, the nights could turn cold, and Sara wished she could be home, cuddled up with Gil. Sighing she stood and made her way to the bathroom.

"Merry Christmas!" Rona called from the kitchen.

Sara walked in and edged her way onto the stool by the center island. "Merry Christmas. What do you have planned for today?"

"Oh, nothing much. James is coming over and we're going to exchange Christmas presents." She placed a cup of coffee in front of Sara. "That may take a while. I have something really special for him," she laughed.

"Well, I won't get in your way. Grissom is calling around noon and I'm probably just going to stay in my room the rest of the time." Smiling, Sara sipped her coffee. "You guys will have the run of the house."

"Well, don't forget dinner tonight, eight sharp," Rona said, bending to take a quiche out of the oven.

"Oh, I'll be there. Who else is coming?" Sara asked.

"Just you, me and James," Rona answered.

"What are we having?" Sara asked, apprehensively. So far she hadn't had to make a big deal of being vegetarian. She just ate the non meat things, but she didn't want to insult Rona by not eating what she'd cooked. On the other hand, she didn't think she could eat turkey.

Rona smiled. "Oh, the regular stuff, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, except for you; I got a tofurkey for you."

"Oh, Rona, you didn't have to do that. I could have just eaten the vegetables.' Sara blinked back tears at the thoughtfulness.

"Oh, it was no problem. I'm glad to do it for you." She smiled as she sat a slice of quiche in front of Sara. "Bon appetit."

Sara smiled. "Thanks."

Later, Sara lay in bed reading. Her mind was only half on her book because she was willing her phone to ring. Grissom was late. He was never late, and it worried her that he hadn't called yet.

Sara jumped when the phone finally rang. She grabbed it and answered breathlessly. "Hello?"

"Merry Christmas, Darling." Grissom's voice sounded across the line, calming her.

Sara tossed her book aside, not bothering to mark her place. "You're late," she chided.

Grissom laughed, "I know, I'm sorry. I'd explain, but it would take too much time away from our time together. Don't worry, I'll tell you about it later."

Sara smiled. "Oh, I'm not about to complain. I'm just glad to talk to you now.

Grissom laughed, "A bit impatient, aren't you?"

"Only to hear your voice," Sara said, seriously.

Grissom sighed. "Believe me, I know that. It seems odd not having you here with me."

Sara sniffed back tears, "It's so much harder than I thought it would be; not seeing you or the guys everyday. I even miss Hank's sloppy kisses."

Grissom laughed. "Well, he misses giving you those kisses. But he has nothing on me." He was silent a moment, then, "The gang misses you too."

Sara sighed, "I keep thinking about how this would have been the first Christmas we could have celebrated with them as a couple. Not that I'd give up ur Christmas's alone together." She giggled. "Remember our first Christmas together?"

"How could I forget, we spent half of the day working a homicide, and the other half locked in my bedroom… celebrating," he said with a chuckle.

They were silent a moment as they thought about that day.

Finally, Sara broke the silence. "So, are you ready to open presents?"

Grissom laughed. "You lasted longer than I thought you would. Are you sure you haven't opened it yet?"

Sara huffed, "Hey, I wouldn't do that." Her indigence faded and she laughed. "I have been tempted though. I will admit to giving it a few shakes."

"Have any ideas about what it is?" He asked.

Sara pouted. "No, it doesn't make a sound."

"Well, let's not wait any longer," Grissom said with a laugh.

Sara was off the bed and grabbing the gift from where she'd placed it before he finished the sentence. Not bothering to be careful with the wrapping, she tore it off and ripped open the box. Pulling out a handful of bubble wrap, she uncovered another box. Sighing in exasperation, she grabbed it and tore it open as well. Her hands stilled. "Oh, Grissom, it's lovely." She pulled out the oval shaped platinum locket and clicked it open.

The two souls she loved most stared back up at her; Gil, looking handsome, on one side, and Hank, looking bored, on the other. "Oh, Gil, I love it!" Tears slipped down her cheeks.

Grissom gave a little grunt. "I'm glad you like it."

"Oh, I do, I really do." She quickly clasped it around her neck. The chain was long enough that she could easily lift it to see the pictures whenever she wanted.

"Did you see the inscription?" Grissom asked.

Sara frowned as she turned it over and read. 'Two souls lost without you. Hurry home, Love Gilbert and Hank.'

Sara laughed. "I love it." Sudden tears filled her eyes again. "I wish I could put my arms around you."

"Well, why don't you?" Grissom asked.

Confused, Sara asked, "What?" she looked up as her door swung open.

Grissom stood there, his phone to his ear. "I could use that hug , too."

Sara was speechless for two full seconds before she flung her phone down and vaulted off of the bed and into Grissom's waiting arms.

His arms closed around her and they stood like that for long minutes. Finally, he pulled back. "Happy to see me?"

She grabbed his arms and pushed him back onto the bed. "Mister, you don't know the half of it," she said, launching herself onto the bed beside him.

Hours later Sara propped herself next to a sleeping Grissom and studied his face, soothing her fingers over his brow. She leaned down and kissed him gently and whispered, "Thank you."

Grissom smiled at the woman holding out her hand, sticking out his own to shake it. "It's nice to meet you, Rona."

"It's good to finally meet you, too." She looked over at Sara who was talking to James. "I think she needed this visit.

Grissom nodded. "So did I." He looked around. "No guests on Christmas?"

"Oh, no, we close for the week of Christmas. We make up for any lost revenue on New Years, we're always booked solid for the first week of the year." Rona gestured to the bar. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No, thank you." He smiled. "It would probably knock me out. I was only able to get the day of Christmas off and I didn't get away until late this morning. I had to really push to get here in time. Luckily my flight was early."

Rona grimaced. "Sorry to hear that." She turned to the others. "Okay, guys, if you're ready, we can go ahead and eat."

Dinner went quickly, with both couples wanting to get back to their own celebrating. Before they separated for the night, James proposed a toast. "To love and happiness, may everyone find what we have."

Everyone toasted, and after a round of goodnights, they went their separate ways.

Sara led Grissom back up to her room. "So, are you sleepy, or do you want to stay up a bit?"

Grissom smiled. "I think I can last a bit longer. Besides, I haven't opened the gift you gave me yet."

Sara smiled. "I wondered when you were going to get to that."

He shrugged. "I wanted to spend time with you first. It's out in the car, I'll go get it, and you get comfortable.

While he was gone, Sara undressed and got into bed.

When he got back, he was carrying a small box. "You know, this box has had me very curious. I can't wait to find out what…" He broke off when he saw her lying there, completely bare. He cleared his throat. "Suddenly it doesn't seem so important."

Sara laughed. "C'mon, this is nothing you haven't seen before."

Grissom shook his head. "But it always takes my breath away. You take my breath away."

Sara smiled. "Well, I hope you get your breath back soon, you're going to need it."

Grissom walked over to the bed. "I think I can handle it."

Sara shook her head. "No, no. You have to open your present first."

Grissom tore at the wrapping impatiently. The box held two things. One was a magnet. Grissom laughed. "Who would have thought to take a picture of two coccinellidae mating?"

"I don't know, a ladybug porn director?"

Grissom laughed. "I think that's one part of the bug community that I'll stay away from." He picked up the second item. It was a small book of poetry by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. A ribbon marked a poem about halfway through. Turning to that page, he found a slip of paper. 'Grissom, you gave me this poem before you left for your Sabbatical to assure me that you'd come back again, I give it to you now for the same reason.' The poem was The Arrow and the Song.

Sara cleared her throat. "I shot an arrow into the air, it fell to earth I knew not where. For, so swiftly it flew, the sight could not follow in its flight…"

Grissom picked up from there. "I breathed a song into the air, it fell to earth, I knew not where; for who has sight so keen and strong, that it can follow the flight of song…"

There voices joined together for the last stanza. "Long, long afterward, in an oak, I found the arrow, still unbroke; and the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend."

"No matter where I go, or where I land, you'll always find me." Sara whispered.

Grissom laid the book down and crawled across the bed to her. "Believe me, I know that." he whispered back.

The night passed with little sleep for either of them. Neither of them regretted it.

TBC…