Greg sat at his desk checking his email before shift started. Smiling he opened the first message waiting for him; he had been beginning to think his best friend had dropped off the face of the earth.

To: .

From:

CC:

Subject: Hello from New Hampshire

Greg (and team)

I'm sorry it's taken me this long to send a message; we've been busy settling in and getting accustomed to life here. Gil is enjoying being back in the classroom, and has started a four week seminar in entomology this week and so is as happy as can be. He has even acquired seven new racing roaches to replace the last set that met an unfortunate end at his mother's house while we were in Europe. Our evenings consist of building a race track and trying to train the bugs ready for competition. There are no words to tell you how much I am looking forward to the conference later in the year.

I also have a job, one I walked into rather than applied for. I have been redesigning the operational systems for an animal rescue centre; it's a lot of paperwork, but it's a puzzle to solve, and I love animals. Hank, Romeo and Juliet have settled in nicely, and in addition to the roaches, have two new playmates. Socks is a rescue cat I fell in love with at the centre, and Lucy, who will hopefully come home next week, is a injured greyhound puppy I found in a park and took to the centre, where I also rescued a fish from a very scary teenage boy and his equally terrifying mother. Shakespeare, nee Anthrax, now lives on the kitchen counter and is a source of fascination for Socks.

The scenery and weather are both beautiful, and we are staying in a small cottage on the edge of campus. It's very peaceful and seems strangely normal, whatever this is. Something to entertain you Greg; our first morning here I was up to my elbows in engine grease fixing our neighbour's truck. I don't have to tell you that Gil found this amusing as well! I think that's all I have for now, but I'm attaching a couple of photos of where we are.

Miss you all, stay safe

Love G and S

Greg clicked on the link to see a gorgeous photo of an idyllic cottage surrounded by fog and early morning light. Noticing the others outside the office, heading for the break room, he whistled and waved them in.

"Damn," said Nick, "Sara should be a pro photographer."

"Beautiful," agreed Catherine. Greg clicked on the next shot, and grinned. Sprawled on her stomach on the bed, Sara was reading a journal surrounded by Hank and three cats, one of which was draped over her shoulder, peering at her book. The final shot was one of Grissom walking in a park with Hank; they were passing under a leafy tree and were framed in the rays of light penetrating through the canopy above them. As the others filtered out, Greg hit reply.

To:

From: .

CC:

Subject: Re: Hello from New Hampshire

So I do have a best friend after all

I love the pictures, and you're right, I am amused that you didn't even make it a full day before dismantling an engine. So, two weeks from now, I'm going to be in Boston for a three day weekend for a college friend's wedding. I have the first day to myself, not that I've mentioned this to Catherine of course. How are you fixed for company? Let me know,

Missing you a little more every day,

Love Greg

...

Sara was working on invoices on Friday afternoon when the door to the office blew open and a jubilant Candy burst in, waving a sheet of paper in triumph. Sara took a step back from the filing cabinet just as Candy seized her in a furious embrace.

"Thank you," she whispered, tears in her eyes.

"I take it you got the grades," stated Sara, and Candy stepped back and wiped her eyes happily.

"I'm going to art school," she grinned, handing Sara her final grade printout.

"Well done," said Sara, examining the straight A report card. "When's graduation?"

"Tomorrow."

"Are you excited?"

"Very," agreed Candy, her eyes gleaming. Suddenly her expression changed and she darted back out the door, returning seconds later with a bag, which she handed to Sara. "This is for you, for helping me."

"Thank you," said Sara, touched. She opened the bag and reached inside, pulling out a mound of soft, deep purple fabric. Shaking it out, she discovered it was an impossibly soft cotton baby blanket, the front of which was covered with a hand drawn design stitched into the fabric. A tapestry of animals, ladybugs, butterflies and caterpillars surrounded beautifully worked flowers and leaves, and in the very bottom corner were a series of tiny letters scrawling Candy's signature. "You did this?" she gasped in awe.

"The design yes," confirmed Candy, "I had the stitching done."

"It's absolutely beautiful," sighed Sara, "thank you so much."

"I'm glad you like it," smiled Candy, helping Sara fold the blanket and put it back in the bag. "I have something else too," she giggled. "It's a little silly, but it made me think of you when I saw it." She handed Sara another smaller package. Sara pulled off the paper and started laughing. "I thought you could use them to teach her math, when she's old enough." Feeling an emotional tug in her heart, Sara suppressed tears and hugged Candy.

"I have something for you too," admitted Sara, reaching under the table for a wrapped gift. Candy tore the paper off to reveal a framed photograph of a golden retriever jumping out of a pond, both dog and the streams and droplets of water frozen in the air, the sun glinting off the shining surfaces of the water.

"I thought you could put it in your dorm room if you wanted," she shrugged, as Candy poured over the image.

"When," she began, thinking hard.

"Last Sunday, you were in the park with Sammie," said Sara, referring to Candy's beloved dog. "I was there with Gil and Hank and my camera. I saw Sammie before I saw you and I took the photo. I was going to come over and say hello, but Hank ran off after a rabbit."

"It's beautiful," breathed Candy.

"Happy graduation," congratulated Sara.

...

After work, and following directions from Candy, Sara made her way into town. Her first stop was a craft shop, where she spent quite a while make her choices. After that, she made her way, with resignation, to the maternity store and then the clothing section. Despite her best efforts, she could not make the modified fastening of her own jeans work any longer. Hating the idea that she would buy clothes that she would wear for a few months at most, she purchased two pairs of jeans and a pair of cut-offs. She could not bring herself to buy any shirts, and for the moment, she still had enough of her own that fit. Grimacing, she made her way home and settled at the kitchen table with her project.

...

Sara was so intent on her task that she didn't hear Gil come in and call her name. It was only when he peered over her shoulder and blocked a stream of light that was illuminating her work that she looked up at him.

"Hey," she said, putting down her needle and thread and standing up to kiss him.

"What are you doing?" he asked as they broke apart. Sara cocked her head to the side slightly, thinking about her project. With a soft smile she told him about her afternoon with Candy, and fetched out the blanket and magnetic fridge numbers.

"She kind of inspired me," admitted Sara. "I had a rag doll when I was a little girl, right up until I went into foster care. So I'm making one," she said, indicating the bits of fabric, yarn, thread, ribbon, buttons and needles spread across the kitchen table. Without warning Grissom tugged her into his arms and kissed her deeply, over and over. They were both breathless when he pulled back, resting his forehead against hers.

"I love you," he murmured in her ear before kissing her again.

"That's not the only thing I did today," she said, as he sat next to her and examined her work so far. When he looked questioningly at her she sighed and grumbled, "I bought some new pants." Gil started laughing at her expression.

"Why are you so adverse to maternity clothing?" he asked, trying to keep a straight face. She glared at him.

"I don't know, I just am," she muttered rebelliously. "I like my own clothes." Realizing there was no point in continuing the discussion with her, he changed course.

"Have you heard back from Greg?"

"Yes, he'll definitely be here. He should arrive around lunch time on the Friday and he'll leave the following afternoon."

"Have you eaten?" he asked, looking at the late hour, courtesy of his Friday night seminar. Sara shook her head, concentrating on setting a row of tiny stitches.

"Ok, what do you want for dinner?"

"How about grilled cheese?" she suggested, "I can't be bothered with anything else." Suppressing a smile at her mood, Gil got to his feet and kissed the top of her head, then went to change before he could laugh. By the time he returned to the kitchen and started getting things out for dinner, Sara had cleaned up her project and put it all in box out of the way of curious paws. Over a post dinner chess game Sara broached a subject she had been stewing over all afternoon.

"Are we going to set a time limit?" she asked. He swiped one of her peices and sat up to look at her. They were sat opposite each other on the couch, their legs intertwined and all three cats sprawled between them.

"I've been trying to focus on twenty weeks," he admitted.

"Me too," she said, thoughtful. "I was wondering though, if you've had any thoughts about names?" Glancing at the board she made her move. "Checkmate." Gil's eyes widened.

"Its twenty weeks today," he said slowly, his gaze locked on hers. "I may have caught myself considering possibilities, for a middle name."

"Just a middle name?" she asked. He nodded. "Same here," she admitted.

"Anne," he suggested.

"Emilia," she proposed, then frowned. "You want to use my middle name?"

"I like it. I like Emilia too."

"Ok then, possibilities." They smiled at each other, revelling in the liberation of the first steps toward believing in a truly good outcome. Sara stroked Socks as the cat crept further into her lap.

"I have a question," she said slowly, watching as he teased Juliet, tickling her paws. Gil looked at her, waiting. "I was wondering how you would feel about asking Greg to be her godfather?"

"Really?" Sara nodded, her expression serious.

"There is no one I would trust more, if something were to happen to us, to take care of her." She looked at him hesitantly.

"I agree," he said. "That is one thing I have been thinking about." Sara gaped at him, and they both started laughing.

"Wow baby girl," said Sara, a hand on her stomach, "You don't have a name yet, but you have a godfather."

"If he agrees," Gil pointed out.

"We can ask him when he gets here," she suggested. He nodded and yawned. "Are you tired?" she asked, surveying him. Reading her expression he shook his head.

"Not at all dear," he stated, reaching her hand and leaning forward to kiss her palm. He gently extricated himself out from under the pile of cats and then helped Sara to her feet. "Not at all," he continued, grinning wickedly as his lips found hers.

...

The following morning Sara opened her eyes and yawned slowly. She rolled over and looked for her husband. He was still fast asleep, muttering to himself. With a start, she realized he was dreaming about her, amorously. Glancing down the length of his body she giggled, knowing she had a golden opportunity on her hands. Moving slowly and gently, she kissed her way across his chest and neck. Using feather light touches, her fingers danced down his body, helping his arousal. His mutterings became more pronounced and she trailed kisses over his jaw and slipped into a straddle over his body. His eyes opened as their bodies connected; his hands flying up to grasp her hips as she began to move against him. Fully awake and gasping with pleasure, he gently flipped them over to increase their movement. Sara moaned with desire as he kissed her deeply, his tongue thrusting out to meet hers while his fingers massaged her breasts and nipples. Picking up his pace, he slid his hand further down their bodies, teasing her most intimate area, making her hiss with pleasure. Sara ran her hands down his back and over his rear, pulling him closer and closer. Sara plummeted over the edge, pulling him with her as he exploded inside her. They lay tangled together, sweaty, sated and exhilarated.

"Good morning lover boy," she gasped, laughing. Gil rolled her into his arms and kissed her thoroughly before releasing her.

"That was an amazing way to wake up," he mused, storing the idea away for future use. Trailing his fingers over her bare shoulder, he leaned up on his elbows so he could look down into her face. "How about we do some research today?" he suggested, his eyes locked on hers. Sara reached up and pulled him down into another impassioned kiss.

...

Several hours later they wandered down the fifth aisle of the store for the sixth time, pausing in the same place as last time.

"We're in agreement then?" said Sara, catching his gaze. He nodded, grinned, and looped his arm around her waist. "We need to pick sheets," she mused, as he took a ticket number from the display to put with the other one they had already agonized over. Over in aisle seven they found themselves again battling indecision, until Sara unearthed the perfect find. A soft green sheet set decorated with leaves that would complement Candy's blanket nicely. As they waited in line to check out, Sara noticed something else in Gil's hand and she resisted the urge to laugh out loud at the small plush green and purple caterpillar. They had debated, studied and discussed their options to the nth degree before reaching a few key decisions. The first was no pink, as neither was particularly fond of the colour and they didn't want to set a precedent. Second, the all in one car seat that went from newborn to toddler was the most practical, as was the equivalent crib to child size bed. Third, they wanted to be as practical and eco friendly as possible. Back at the house, Sara investigated the second bedroom while Grissom examined the contents of the car seat box, spreading it out over the bed. Sara decided that sliding the bed over to the wall would make plenty of room for the crib in the corner; turning to tell Gil her plan, she found him nose deep in the instructions, his glasses in danger of slipping off. Her lips twitching in amusement, Sara fetched the blanket, caterpillar and magnetic numbers. Since Greg would be staying the night soon, Sara put the smaller items in the car seat and then the whole lot in the closet. With a sigh Gil settled to some unfinished grading while Sara spread her doll making supplies out and began to work on the hands. She had been stitching steadily for almost an hour when a strange, fleeting cramp-like sensation made her yelp and drop her needle.

"What?" asked Grissom, his head snapping up. He saw her panicked expression and fear seized him instantly. "What's wrong? Sara what is it?" He leapt out of his seat and ran around the table, dropping to his knees in front of her and seizing her hands. "Sara, talk to me," he implored. She stared at him, a strange expression on her face.

"I think," she began, and then stopped, her eyes wide. Taking one of his hands, she pressed it to her stomach and waited. Moments later they both felt what had shocked her so much.

"Is that...?" he whispered. Tears in her eyes Sara nodded.

"Yeah, it is."