A/N: Sorry for the delay-one more chapter to follow and bring this one to a close. Thank you to all of you who have stayed with us!

Gil Grissom's Romance Part 2

Chapter 35

Gil Grissom had gotten up early to enjoy the clear, cool morning, sitting on an open deck overlooking a small canal; by the time he'd finished reading a day-old paper, he had finished his coffee and a slightly stale blueberry muffin. For a few minutes, he stretched his legs and marveled at his mother's investment in a place that had been on the edge of urban destruction. It had come a long way since then; now it was one of the most sought after, pricey neighborhoods left with water access. They would probably sell it, he thought.

They—he smiled—all of his thoughts included "they", he realized. He checked his phone, found no message, and packed a cooler, giving his living quarters a slap and a promise before closing the door and taking the stairs with quick steps. He felt better than he had in months and, as he started the car, he grinned at his own satisfaction with the turn of his life.

Sometimes, like today, he couldn't believe how lucky he was. He freely admitted how he'd screwed up, running away when the love of his life wanted to be with him. He had apologized so frequently that Sara had finally stopped him with dire threats. Determined to make up for lost time, he had spent two weeks closing down his nomadic life. He had packed boxes, found places to donate the few pieces of furniture he would not move to Vegas. He had talked to several realtors about the building where he lived.

Looking up at tall palm trees, silhouettes against a clear blue morning sky, majestic in their way but, he thought, really just tall, skinny trees, dramatic in location but useless for anything. He liked living in Los Angeles, or rather, living on the city's edge where one had the illusion of living in a small town.

It did not take long for him to thread through a neighborhood and reach his destination and park his car. Here the strong, salty air tinged with the smell of wildlife—fish, otters, a few seals—met his nose. Hauling the cooler to the boat, he settled in to clean. He had already spent several days removing personal belongings and now he cleaned and polished prior to meeting a boat broker.

He would sell his boat. If Sara wanted to live in Vegas, he was going to live there too.

An hour later, he glanced at an approaching figure; the bright mid-day sun's reflection caused him to pull a double-take, and then, surprised, he dropped the buoy fender back into the water.

Strolling toward him, a tentative smile on her face was Sara. Unexpected; he had talked to her hours earlier—she had been at work—in Vegas. When she reached the boat, he extended his arms to assist her.

Completely surprised, he was at a loss for words but words didn't matter as she returned his embrace—a hold that grew longer as he cupped her face between his hands, pushed his fingers into her hair, and held her head in place and kissed the corner of her mouth.

Then he gently angled her face and kissed her the way he had dreamed; as he deepened the kiss, she responded. After a slow dance with hers, he withdrew his tongue enough to touch the tip of it to the center of her upper lip, just inside, just a flick. Her breath stopped, then started again, hard, fast. He sent his tongue deep again.

They made adjustments for jackets, her bag, until they fit together like puzzle pieces. Her hand came between them. Her thumb touched his chin before she kissed it lightly. Then they were kissing again, frantic and breathless.

A wave caused the boat to knock against the dock. Sara arched into him as he steadied his feet, finally lifting his face away from hers.

With a smile, he asked, "What are you doing here?"

Making a quiet laugh, she pointed back to the parking lot, saying, "I left a cab there—I wasn't sure you'd be here."

He said, "Wait right here—do you have more—more stuff—a bag?"

She nodded and he quickly climbed out of the boat and headed up the ramp. A few minutes later, he returned, rolling a small suitcase.

"You didn't bring enough," he said as he climbed back into the boat.

Sara looked around the deck of the boat. "I don't think you have room for much."

Placing his hands on her shoulders, he pulled her into another hug. "What are you doing here? Our plans were—I was coming to Vegas next week." Pulling away from her but keeping his hands firmly in place, he added, "How'd you know where to find me?"

"I went by the house first—and—and—Tom was opening up the gallery. He said you were probably here and gave me the address." Softly, she laughed, "He also offered to unlock the place upstairs."

Grissom chuckled and kiss her again. "Thank God he didn't. The place is a mess—at least I can explain when we get there."

Sara's thumb rubbed against the stubble on his cheek. "I needed to see you, Gil."

Softly, he said, "I'm happy you came."

Slowly, they parted, keeping their hands together as he showed her the deck, the small cabin, the equipment. At some point, he handed her a bottle of water.

She protested when he told her of his plans to sell the boat.

"I'm going to live with you," he said with a grin. She gave him an unabashed smile and kissed his cheek. Like besotted teenagers, they hugged each other, kissed, and smiled because they could.

After a while, they emptied the cooler of the cheese sandwiches and apples he'd packed. And talked—of her work, his plans to move, about weather and sports—light, easy conversation.

He had pulled out a folding chair for her while he sat on the cooler. "Tell me why you are here?"

She looked beautiful; a blush on her face that was more than a few hours in the sun but in her eyes, he recognized an unspoken worry.

He said, "What's up?" as he took her hands in his. "Work? Or something else?"

The sigh that came caused a brief moment of alarm; yet she wasn't sad. Her head tilted upward and in that moment, he saw a glisten in her eye. A tear.

"What's wrong?"

Sara shook her head, slowly. Her chin trembled even as the edges of her mouth attempted a smile. He gripped her hands and waited.

After a long moment, she said, "I don't want to be lab director." Her eyes came to his. "I—I never really wanted the job—it—it just sort of fell in my lap when D.B. left and Nick was already gone."

Grissom's hands cradled hers and then he brought her hands to his lips, kissing her fingers before saying, "its okay. You don't have to do it."

Silence followed as Sara bit her lip and looked away. The thought crossed Grissom's mind that she and Catherine had butted heads.

When she spoke, her voice trembled. "It's not just the job." She took a deep breath and said, "I'm—I'm pregnant."

He knew what she'd said, but was as certain he had misunderstood. "Say again?"

A soft giggle, nervous or uncertain; in a whisper, she said, "I'm pregnant." Her hands twisted within his hold, but his remained tightly clasped.

"You're pregnant?"

Following his hushed words, neither Sara nor Grissom moved or said anything. The only sound was that of quiet lapping of waves against the boat.

Slowly, her face turned to his. He loosened his grip.

Placing his hands on the cooler, he pushed himself up and then reached for her hands and pulled her up. He cradled her face between his hands, letting his eyes rove over her face. She closed her eyes and let her neck go limp so his hands supported her head.

Her lashes were wet. Gently, he leaned toward her and kissed each eyelid before wiping a thumb across her lashes and placing her head on his shoulder. He said, "Pregnant—after..." He chuckled, holding her tightly against his body as she leaned into the fit that was always natural for them. "You've seen your doctor?"

He felt a nod.

"And what did she say?"

"That I was definitely pregnant." Sara pulled away so she could look at his face. "Honestly, I thought—I thought I was passed this—I—I had made peace with not ever being a mother—and—and this might not last." Her voice wavered on her last words. Tears formed in her eyes. Blinking her eyes, unsuccessful at dispersing tears, she said, "Two tests—both times HCG levels were—indicated pregnancy."

Grissom searched to remember; there had been a time when he knew what HCG meant in pregnancy. Deciding it did not matter now, he pulled her close again.

"We will get through this—whatever happens." And then he laughed. A spontaneous blurt of his own edginess but it relieved an under lying tension. "I guess all that celibacy did something."

Sara gave him a dubious look, took a deep breath, and laughed. "I thought it was the new job—I was tired all the time. And then—after you left—I—my period didn't come." She sighed, moved her hand to his face and let her fingers trace from his ear to his chin.

Grissom smiled and kissed her. He said, "Let's celebrate—go out on the boat with me. We can get some food—I know a place that's perfect and we can dock right at the restaurant."

In a few minutes, they stowed everything on the deck in the cabin. Grissom pulled the fenders inside the boat, and both climbed the ladder to the standing bridge.

As the boat picked up speed, Sara slipped her hand into the crook of his elbow, steadying her body against his.

"A sunset cruise," Grissom said and waved a hand at the disappearing sun.

The boat heaved several times as it made its way through surf that seemed to explode spumey waves into a misty wall. A rocky jetty followed the coastline as Grissom turned the boat into the setting sun.

The sky, delicate in its yellow and orange, streaked with purple and blue, glowed, reflecting into the ocean and the sun sparked orange flames as it sank along the horizon.

They hurtled along with the careless speed natural to one who was familiar with the signs and lights of the area. As they passed a few boats, Grissom pointed to landmarks as the city sparkled with light.

Sara watched him. Without saying a word, she recognized his sensation of being freed from the pull of land. At some point, he slowed the boat and showed her where he was living, not on the coast, but a few blocks inland, among a web of small canals.

She looked into his eyes and saw the love in their blueness that had given her purpose for so many years. He smiled as she did. For the first time in years, she actually thought "Everything is going to be fine."

A/N: Thanks for reading! Can you take a few seconds to send us a comment, review, or a 'hello'! One more chapter coming soon!