Hey guys. So sorry for the uber delay with this. Bette disappeared for a while so I've had no inspiration for anything! Plus uni is starting to get a little crazy with deadlines and stuff *pout*. Here's the final chapter. Hope you guys didn't get fed up and abandon it!
Later that evening, Catherine sat at home, waiting patiently for Lindsey to pick a movie for them to watch. Movie night had become a weekly tradition that Catherine tried her hardest to stick to, even when work was crazy. As Lindsey tried to decide between two movies, Catherine's mind wandered back to the events of the previous evening. Never in a million years had she dreamed she'd wake up in Gil's bed after what could only be described as an amazing night, only for it to go horribly wrong in the light of day… She sighed quietly and closed her eyes for a brief moment.
Upon arriving home, she'd been met with a barrage of questions from her mother Lily, who was still at the house after seeing Lindsey off to school. The questioning had intensified once the older woman had seen the marks adorning Catherine's neck and shoulder. The latter had dismissed the inquisition, retreating to the safety and solitude of her shower, the hot water soothing her aching muscles and frazzled brain. When she emerged from her bathroom a while later, Lily was gone, something Catherine was eternally grateful for. She'd managed to get a couple of hours sleep, waking just in time to apply some make up to the marks Gil had left before Lindsey arrived home. The girl, while young, had indeed inherited her mother's observation skills, rolled her eyes and headed to her room for a while to complete her homework.
Her daughter's voice dragged Catherine from her reverie.
"Mom? The movie's starting." Catherine smiled and moved the bowl of hot popcorn to allow Lindsey to sit beside her. She suppressed a groan as the opening titles of 'An Affair to Remember' rolled. She liked it, and was glad Lindsey had begun to appreciate older movies, but this was the last thing she needed right now, her failed 'encounter' with Gil still painfully fresh in her mind.
A couple of hours later and they were on the final scene. Cary Grant had just arrived at Deborah Kerr's apartment. Catherine could feel the tears welling up in her eyes as she listened to the dialogue. She stole a glance at Lindsey, whose own tears were trickling freely down her cheeks. Catherine swallowed the lump in her throat and passed the box of Kleenex to her daughter, making sure she took a couple for herself. Lindsey smiled sheepishly, accepting the box and wiping her face with a tissue.
Minutes later, as the end credits scrolled across the screen, both Willows women had been reduced to blubbering wrecks.
"Why on earth did you pick this movie? Catherine mock complained before blowing her nose and adding the tissue to the growing pile between them on the sofa. Lindsey shrugged.
"I have no idea. We'd never watched it together so I thought… I always forget how sad it is!"
Catherine chuckled.
"Can I make a request? The next movie has to be happy."
"How about Erin Brockovich?"
"No!" Lindsey looked at her. "The Donna Jensen parts always make me cry." Her daughter rolled her eyes then turned back to the DVD shelf.
Lindsey quickly made a selection, slipped the disk into the machine and pressed play, settling herself back onto the couch.
'This girl is trying to kill me,' Catherine thought as the first scene of 'Pretty Woman' began to play, offering a fake smile to indicate she approved of the choice.
Three quarters of the way through the film, Catherine had to subtly wipe a tear from the corner of her eye as Julia Roberts was driven away from the hotel and Richard Gere. Both mother and daughter jumped at the sound of someone knocking at the door before looking at each other, silently debating who was going to answer it. Lindsey rolled her eyes at her mother's raised eyebrow, then proceeded to make a big show of rising from the sofa and crossing to the door. She pulled the door open and stared, confused at the person on the other side.
"Uh, mom? It's for you." She let the door swing to, moved back into the house and flopped onto the couch. Catherine stared at her, then stood and crossed the room, pulling the door open fully once more.
Her eyes widened as they landed on Gil, who was standing nervously on her porch.
"Gil? What are you do…" Her sentence trailed off to silence as he produced a bouquet of flowers from behind his back, offering them to her. Stunned, she remained still, prompting him to take a step towards her.
"I wanted to apologise. Things didn't really come out the way I meant them to this morning."
Upon hearing this, Lindsey's eyes widened and her mouth fell open in shock as her mind made the connections. She grinned and turned back to the movie, keeping one ear on the conversation behind her.
Catherine meanwhile had recovered slightly, now leaned against the door frame with her arms crossed over her chest, staring pointedly at Gil.
"What exactly did you mean to say?"
Gil sighed, taking another step towards her. He was silent for a few moments, choosing his words carefully.
"I've never been good with this kind of thing Catherine, talking about my emotions. I know exactly what I want to say, but things normally get a little… lost in translation."
A ghost of a smile played briefly across her lips as he spoke.
"So, what exactly got 'lost in translation' this morning?"
Gil took a breath, searching for the right words.
"I…" He sighed deeply. "I was scared Cath."
Her eyebrow rose, but he spoke again before she could comment.
"I thought you wanted it to be just a one night thing. I was scared that you didn't want the same thing I do. I… I want a relationship Catherine. I don't want to be your 'fuck buddy'."
Catherine's eyes widened.
"A fuck buddy? Is that what you think I want?"
Gil bit his lip. "Cath, I know that you've… that there have been a few men in the past."
Inside, Lindsey winced.
"Bad move Bugman," she mumbled.
Catherine's mouth fell open and she stared at him. Glancing over her shoulder she stepped out onto the porch, pulling the door to behind her. When she spoke again her voice was low, an icy edge creeping into her tone.
"Gil I'm not a whore. I've slept with maybe 10 men in my entire life, including you. So don't you dare make assumptions about something you obviously have very little insight into!"
He opened his mouth to speak but she cut him off.
"And anyway you're wrong." She laughed coldly at his shocked expression. "You really don't get it do you? There's nothing more I want than to have a relationship with you. I love you Gil Grissom and I have done for a very long time. But you can't seem to pull your head out of your ass long enough to notice!"
There was a few moments of silence before Gil stepped forward, confusion coloring his features.
"So, what exactly is going on here?"
Before Catherine could reply the door behind her flew open.
"I can't rake this any more!" Both adults stared at Lindsey as she stepped out onto the porch, pinning Gil with a stare so much like Catherine's it was scary.
"She just admitted she loves you, and I don't think it would be that much of a leap to say you love her too. So for God's sake forget about what ever the hell got 'lost in translation' this morning! You," she turned to her mother, "Accept his flowers and his apology! And you," turning to Gil, "Just KISS HER ALREADY!" With that she sped back into the house, leaving the very stunned adults staring after her.
A minute of silence passed before Catherine turned once more to Gil.
"I think I'm going to have to have words with…" The rest of her remark was lost into Gil's mouth as he moved forward and captured her lips with his own. She responded after a moment, wrapping her arms around his neck and tilting her head, deepening the kiss, while his arms snaked around her waist, pulling her closer to him.
A few moments later they broke for air.
"What was that?" Catherine gasped.
Gil shrugged. "I was taking Lindsey's advice. I can't have both Willows women mad at me."
The woman in his arms raised her eyebrow slightly.
"So how exactly are you going to stop me from being mad at you?"
He smirked slightly and pulled her closer, his voice dropping as he spoke.
"Oh I have a few ideas," he replied, kissing her softly before moving his lips to her neck, easily rediscovering the sensitive spots he'd found the night before. Catherine moaned quietly and closed her eyes, until a voice from behind caused them to snap open.
"Uh, guys. I'm happy for you and all, but Uncle Gil, I really don't need a demonstration of how you gave my mom those hickeys."
El Fin!!! Hope yall liked it. Let me know what you think by clicking on that green button :D
Lily
-x-