A/N: Ok guys, here is the first full chapter. I hope you all enjoyed my little prologue and it got your taste buds a'tinglin :)

I thank you all for your reviews and confidence. Please, please keep the input coming. It means a lot to me and sometimes you guys can actually influence what I write!

One thing to remember with this story please is that I started writing it probably over three years ago, so it's set in a time when GSR was still very much in our hearts and things were much different back then even the way characters were and the way they acted.

Thanks to SSC for the read through and the vote of no changes required. Ahhhh, must mean I've grown :D I love you babe xx

Ok, so here we go and let the Guilt begin...

Oh almost forgot - *Evil hat on* Mwahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa... *chuckles*

Chapter 1

The night before...

Sara sighed as she lifted her shirt and stared at her plump body in the full length bathroom mirror. Her bump was indeed mighty. Thirty-three weeks pregnant and every little bit of it was showing. Smoothing her hands over her tummy she frowned and was so engrossed in thought that she didn't notice Grissom sneaking up behind her. She jumped as her husband slipped his hands around her front to rest on her soft but stretched skin.

"God, Gil!" she yelped. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

Chuckling into her back, Grissom shifted her t-shirt to run his lips over a small piece of exposed shoulder before bringing his chin to rest upon it. He looked at her through the mirror and grinned.

"Sorry."

"No you're not," she replied pouting her lips, trying her up most not to grin back. "You do it all the time."

Grissom's grin broadened. "You got me."

Now Sara smiled, slipping her hands over his. "Yeah, I do, don't I?" she sighed.

"Oh yes."

"Is Mike asleep?" Sara asked.

"Finally," he mumbled, nibbling on her shoulder again. "He is so excited about tomorrow, I have a feeling he will be up early."

Giggling, Sara tipped her head back automatically sensing his attentions.

As he ran his lips softly over her neck, she sighed a long, soft breath.

"Gil..."

"Hmmmm...?"

Swallowing hard she gripped onto her husband's now roaming hands as they smoothed over her stomach, halting his caresses.

"I can't."

Softly, he turned his wife to face him, her bump brushing against his own stomach.

"Why?" he asked with a tender tone.

"Because I'm huge or didn't you notice?" Her voice cracked with a tinge of embarrassment. "I'm so fat and I have stretch marks up to my arm pits, so I'm not feeling particularly sexy right now."

Averting her gaze from his, Sara looked down and began fiddling with his shirt buttons. "Plus, the last time we tried, it took us forever to find the right position, I feel so stupid."

Slipping a soft finger under her chin, Grissom lifted, brining her eyes back to meet his. He smiled. "But it was worth it, no?"

Pouting her lips, she grinned.

"And honey, you're not fat. Pregnant yes. Fat no. And you are beautiful, nothing less. You shouldn't feel embarrassed by the miracle of life."

Playfully hitting him on the chest Sara swallowed the lump in her throat.

"What?" he chuckled.

"Do you always have to be so damn smooth?"

"I was being honest, my dear, nothing more."

The right side of Sara's mouth hitched a smirk and for a long moment the couple gazed into each other's eyes.

Finally, Grissom dipped his head and captured her lips with his own, soft at first but as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly to his body, the kiss intensified.

Unable to fight the tingling building in her lower body, Sara surrendered to his advances, her hands sliding up his back to cling tightly to his broad shoulders.

"Hummmm..." Sara found herself whimpering as her husband's lips moved to her throat where he nibbled tenderly.

"Are you sure I can't change your mind?" he mumbled into her neck, giving her soft skin, another delicate peck.

Giggling, Sara pulled back, her eyes glazed and needy. "I think you just did." She grinned, grabbed his hand and tugged him into the bedroom as quickly as she could.

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"You think that's enough?" Sara's gaze fell to Michael sitting on a stool by her side. He peered at the array of food sitting on the kitchen table and smiled.

"Yes..." he replied quickly, "...lots."

Sara smiled.

"Zoo!" Michael then shouted excitedly.

With a hearty chuckle at her son's evident excitement, Sara packed up their mass picnic into a bag.

"Yes, zoo and we can get there for when it opens, can't we? As you were so eager to get up." She winked at her son and he smiled broadly.

"Gil! Are you ready?" Sara called and Grissom emerged from the bedroom.

"Yeah, just got to let Hank out for a pee, be two seconds."

She smiled as her husband whistled and Hank came bounding from the study, his tail wagging furiously.

Moving to the fridge Sara sought out the liquid refreshments for their day and packed them with the picnic.

A few moments later Hank ran back into the house, followed by Grissom who was now talking on his cell phone. Picking up her purse from the table, Sara looked over as a heavy sigh caught her attention.

"Okay, Conrad, give me about forty-five minutes."

Throwing her purse back down onto the table, Sara stormed from the kitchen as Grissom hung up. Her eyes bore into his.

"Please tell me you just didn't say that?" she barked.

Another heavy sigh echoed from Grissom lips. "Honey, I'm sorry, I..."

"No, Gil!" she shouted. "No work! Not today, we have had this day planned for months, you know that. You promised me, you promised your son. We haven't had a day together in weeks."

"I have to take this Sara!" Grissom snapped.

Michael jumped down from the stool and scuttled into his bedroom, he hated it when his parents fought. It didn't happen very often but when it did, he liked to be far away.

"Why the hell is a case more important than your family?"

Grissom didn't answer and gnawed heavily on his bottom lip.

"Gil, answer me!" Sara shouted again, folding her arms firmly across her chest.

Shuffling nervously, Grissom struggled to look Sara in the eye now. "Heather Kessler's granddaughter has gone missing, she is asking for my help..." He finally managed to say, swallowing hard as his wife's face darkened and her eyes narrowed.

"Heather..." She shook her head in disbelief. "So yet again, you put her before me."

Grissom sighed. "It's not like that, Sara, and you know it."

"Bullshit, Grissom!"

He cringed, she barely called him that anymore and he hated it but he prepared for the onslaught. He knew his wife was pissed.

"She calls and you go running..." Sara continued. "Are the rest of the team incapable? Why is this any of your concern anyway? If someone wants to pull a double that's fine but this isn't even Grave's shift and have you not had the next two days booked off for the last two months? You have always put Heather before me and you damn well know it!"

"Honey..." Grissom stepped forward and reached for her. "It's not like that and she's just..."

Sara pulled away. "Don't touch me, Gil."

Feeling his gut clench, Grissom swallowed hard.

"I suggest you call Ecklie back and tell him that you are not available to attend."

Opening his mouth to respond the CSI was cut short when his cell rang again. "What?" he almost screamed flipping it open, but then he listened, "Where? No I will be there as soon as I can..." He turned his back to Sara as he continued the conversation and she felt the blood boiling through her veins. He really was going.

That was enough for her. She stomped from the room and headed for the bedroom. Grissom was so engrossed in his phone call he didn't even notice. She grabbed an overnight bag and quickly filled it with a few essentials before heading to Michael's room. She snatched a few things for him before dropping the bag onto the bed and looked to her son sitting on the edge.

She sighed, zipped up the bag and held her hand out for Michael. "Come on, sweetie."

"Zoo?" Michael asked unsure.

Sara smiled. "Yes baby, we are still going to the zoo, at least you and me are okay?"

Michael frowned. "Daddy is coming?"

Sara softly stroked her son's cheek. "I'm sorry, Daddy has to...it doesn't matter, we will have fun okay?"

Michael nodded and took his mother's hand. She hurried from the bedroom, swinging the bag over her shoulder. Rushing to the kitchen she grabbed the picnic before noticing her husband pacing around the living room still engrossed in his conversation. Her nostrils flared with anger but she didn't stop and rushed for the front door as fast as her aching legs and bloated body would allow.

Grissom turned as she opened the door and pulled the phone from his ear. "Hold on..." he mumbled. "Sara! Sara what are you doing?" He noted the overnight bag hanging from her shoulder and his heart rate increased dramatically.

Sara only stopped briefly but she didn't turn around and before Grissom could even take a step towards her, she and Michael were out the door and it slammed behind them.

"Damn it," he grumbled bounding towards the door after them. "I'll call you back," he spoke quickly, running after her.

Launching himself out of the house he ran quickly down the driveway.

"Sara!" he shouted just as she was getting into the car. She looked over to him, trying so hard to fight the fury and bitterness inside her, but she couldn't. Failing to acknowledge him she quickly got into her Prius. Slamming it into reverse she screeched down the driveway. Grissom ran as fast as he could, trying to catch up but he was too slow, all he could do once he reached the end of the drive was watch her car as it disappeared down the road.

With a heavy sigh he brought up her number on his cell and pushed call. He waited and waited as it rang on the other end.

"This is Sara, leave a message."

"Sara," Grissom gasped into the phone, trying to catch his breath. "Honey," he hesitated, "Please...call me back, don't do this, please..."

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Sara's car pulled into the parking lot of the Southern Nevada Zoo and she parked up. Turning in her seat she looked at her son playing with his favourite ant.

"We're here, Mike," she informed him.

Quickly looking through the window, Michael smiled when he spotted the zoo entrance across the lot. Unbuckling his safety straps, he reached for the door handle.

"Baby wait!" Sara said quickly and Michael stopped.

"Wait for me, this car lot is busy, so you need to be careful."

The young boy pouted but nodded and waited for his mother to get out of the car.

She shuffled from the car and groaned. Her back was killing her today but she pushed it from her mind along with the rage she was still feeling. That did take her mind off the pain, just a little.

This was supposed to be a fun day for her son, so she tried to smile as she opened the door, determined to make sure Michael enjoyed himself with or without his father. Michael jumped from the car to stand by his mother's side.

"Zoo, zoo, zoo!" he shouted bouncing up and down.

A gentle laugh fell from Sara's lips.

"Sara?"

She turned swiftly upon hearing the surprised but yet, familiar voice behind her.

"Tony?" She was as equally surprised.

He smiled. "Hi."

"Hi." Sara smiled in return and looked to his side to where his daughter Emily clung to his hand.

Michael waved to Emily with a smile and she giggled.

"Of all the places to run into each other," Tony laughed.

"Yeah, you finally took some time off did you?" Sara grinned.

Tony nodded. "Yeah, finally and I remember you saying you were coming here but I didn't realize it was today." Looking behind Sara to her car Tony frowned, "Just you and Mike?"

Bowing her head for second she sighed, "Just me and Mike." Looking up she smiled weakly.

"Oh, well, um..."

"It's okay, Tony." Sara knew she'd told him all about their outing and that it was supposed to be a "family" occasion. "He just couldn't make it."

"The usual?" the lawman asked softly knitting his brow again.

Sara's response was a simple nod.

"Well..." Tony looked to Emily and then Michael, "...you are more than welcome to join us. Four friends are better than two, right guys?" He looked to the two children once more and they both nodded furiously.

With a quaint smirk Sara felt the dead weight on her shoulders lighten. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely." He smiled.

"What do you say, Mike?" Sara looked to her son. "Shall we join Tony and Emily?"

Michael didn't even answer; he rushed the few steps to where Emily was and grabbed her hand with a smile.

"Well," Sara chuckled, "I think he likes the idea."

Tony laughed. "You have anything you want me to help you with, Sara?"

"Oh no," she said quickly. "We just have a picnic that's all, I can manage." She turned to open the car and grabbed their bag.

Despite Sara's words Tony rushed forward, pulling Emily and Michael with him. "Let me help you with that," he insisted grabbing the bag. "You shouldn't be carrying anything heavy."

Letting Tony take the bag, Sara smiled at him. "Thank you."

"My pleasure."

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Grissom arrived at the Kessler residence, frowning as he exited his Denali. The numerous squad cars outside the house left as he pulled up. The only car left seemed to be Catherine's. There was no crime scene tape, no officers, no activity, nothing.

Walking up to the house he entered through the open front door and almost bumped into Catherine who seemed to be on her way out.

"Grissom! What are you doing here?" she asked quickly.

"Catherine what's going on? Where is everyone?" he responded.

"False alarm," Catherine replied placing her kit on the floor.

Shaking his head in disbelief the supervisor caught a glimpse of Heather through the patio doors at the far side of the lounge. "What?"

"A misunderstanding, Allison is fine. Heather just panicked when she woke up to find she was gone. Jerome came to pick her up early and didn't want to wake Heather..."

Sighing, Grissom rubbed his bearded chin.

"What are you doing here anyway?" she enquired. "Did you not have plans today?"

"Ecklie called me."

"Oh, did he?" Catherine folded her arms. "Well that was nice of him to tell me. I was on my way home but he called me in because days were tapped out."

Opening his mouth to respond Grissom was cut short.

"Grissom?" Heather's voice caught their ears.

Tilting his head, Grissom saw the ex-dominatrix standing just a few feet away. For some reason; he just couldn't bring himself to be angry at her, even if his day had been interrupted.

Catherine rolled her eyes. "Why don't you turn around, get in your car and get back to your plans before Sara has you sleeping in the study.

Smiling weakly his eyes floated back to his second in command. "Sara needs a chance to calm down. I'll check on Heather and then think about heading out there."

Sighing, Catherine picked up her kit. "Suit yourself, I'm going home."

Grissom nodded as she passed him and couldn't help but notice the small shake of her head.

"Bye, Grissom," she called as she left.

He turned his attention back to Heather and slowly approached her. She folded her arms uneasily across her chest.

"Hi," Grissom said softly.

She smiled weakly. "Thank you for coming but I'm very sorry I wasted your time, just know I didn't do it intentionally." She hugged herself tighter. "You are one of the few people I trust in this world so...I didn't mean to ruin your day."

Slipping his hands into his pockets Grissom smiled at the compliment. "It's okay. Want to tell me what happened?"

"I'm sure you have more important things to tend to than my overreaction," Heather sighed.

He thought for a moment. He had tried Sara half a dozen times since leaving the house with no success. He didn't even know where she would be now, or whether she had even taken Michael on their planned trip. And he knew his wife; she would still be fuming at him. She would need some time to cool off.

"Actually, I don't, well I have a little time, so..."

Heather smiled more sincerely now. "Would you like some tea?"

"That would be nice, thank you."

"The least I can do," the lady grinned and Grissom followed her towards the kitchen.

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Sara slumped down on the bench holding her tummy and sighed with relief. They'd seen the lion's den, the tigers and monkeys before stopping at the play ground. Sara just wanted to sit for a while, so she was happy when her son saw the swings and went bounding towards them.

"Had enough already?" Tony chuckled, sitting beside her.

With a feeble smile Sara rubbed her stomach feeling a kick. "My inner body is just being a little irritable and I'm just a tiny bit achy. I'll be fine in a few minutes."

Suddenly the laughter of children filled the air and Sara smiled as she watched Michael chasing Emily around the huge sand box. "They really do love playing together don't they?" she sighed

Also smiling, Tony nodded his agreement before turning his attention back to Sara.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Watching as Sara took a bottle of water from her bag he came to the conclusion that she wasn't being entirely truthful. "Want to talk about it?"

After sipping from the bottle Sara looked at him. "I'm just a little frustrated."

"Gil?"

"Am I that predictable?" Sara asked popping the lid back on the water.

"No," Tony smiled. "I'm just a good guesser."

"Hmmm..." She shuffled on the bench trying to get a little more comfortable. "I appreciate the shoulder, Tony, I really do." She faced him. "But I'd rather just try and enjoy the day with my son, okay?"

"Okay," Tony agreed, "but, you have to promise me something."

Sara knitted her brow. "What?" she asked curiously.

"If you ever need to talk to a friend, about anything, you will call me." He grinned, "I'm a good listener."

Now Sara smiled. "Okay, I will."

"Daddy, Daddy!" Emily's shouts broke up their conversation and both Sara and Tony looked back to the play ground, "Swings! Push us!"

Michael and Emily ran to the swings and Sara laughed at their excitement.

"Wanna push, Mommy?" Tony chuckled.

Sniggering, Sara held up defensive hands. "I think I will have to pass on this occasion. I don't think my arms will even reach beyond the..." She looked down to her bulge, "...bump."

Standing, Tony winked before running towards the little ones...

A/N: So, if you read Affliction, you will remember Tony, which may help a touch but isn't essential.

How am I doing so far then? Typical Grissom (from the time) huh? Please let me know what you think And review. I'm off to finish the next Calling chapter and will hopefully have that up for you soon :)