Gil finished grading a stack of essays and dropped them into their relevant box. Glancing at the clock he smiled; his office hours were over in twenty minutes and he could leave to go home. His phone buzzed and he picked it up, reading the message from Candy.

'You have some very strange pets!' Grissom frowned and then pocketed his phone. Candy had been texting him periodically throughout the day to keep him updated on his wife, as per his request. Pondering the meaning of her text, he finished up in welcome quiet. He tossed a few files into his bag and left for the evening, humming to himself as he walked home. Hank and Lucy came bounding up to him as he walked through the gate; he stopped, smiling, to make a fuss of them. Now out of her cast and thoroughly healed, Lucy was happy, healthy and thriving, and full of the over excited youthful energy that all puppies seem to possess. Grissom laughed as she tumbled around Hank, pushing him until the pair of them tore off around the garden. Hank had adjusted wonderfully to having another companion, and was completely besotted with Lucy. Sammie was sprawled in the sunshine by the front door, watching her friends with one eye as she dozed. Entering the hall, he found the cottage strangely quiet. From past experience he knew Sara and Candy were able to sit and chatter about anything and everything. He wandered into the kitchen and put his bag on a chair, stopping to examine the table. Half a dozen sketches were scattered around Candy's drawing pad and pencils; he studied the images carefully, beautiful black and white renderings of the animals; a forest decorated with such vibrant autumn colours he was momentarily transported back to a fall day in Paris when he and Sara had strolled through a park, hand in hand and lost in the moment. His eyes were then caught by the current, incomplete drawing still attached to the book. It showed a Madagascar Hissing Roach crawling across what he assumed was a chair, but he couldn't be sure because it wasn't finished. His lips twitching with amusement, he moved to study Sara's project, and felt a surge of warmth flow through his veins. The face of the doll was complete; brilliant green eyes stared up at him, black brows and eyelashes framed and emphasised the colour. A delicate nose and a smiley mouth completed the picture. He could see where she had started to add the hair; a mass of long black wool decorated one side of the scalp that had yet to be sewn together, meaning the entire head was still flat. Lying next to the fruit bowl were the arms, complete with tiny fingers and nails. Marvelling over the detail Sara had invested into her project, Grissom went looking for her, stopping with a smile when he reached the living room. Candy was lying across the armchair, her legs over one arm, her head propped against the other. Sara was curled on her side on the couch, covered in a tangle of cats. They both looked worn out. Seeing him, Juliet jumped off the couch and ran to him, demanding attention. Sara stirred and yawned, rubbing her eyes.

"Hey," she greeted him sleepily. Gil sank down next to her as she sat up, Juliet in his lap.

"How's your head?" he asked, leaning in to kiss her forehead.

"It aches still," she said, frowning as she pressed her lips to his in a much more satisfying kiss. Smiling to herself she pulled back. "How was work?"

"Very quiet," he said, as Candy stretched out and sat up in the chair. "Michael was arrested on Friday night after he left the party."

"What?"

"Seriously? Sally didn't say anything about that and she knows all the gossip."

"I don't think it's been made public knowledge yet, the biology department just found out this afternoon."

"What happened?" asked Sara, shifting to lean into Gil, who wrapped an arm around her.

"He tried to strangle Rachel."

"What?"gasped Candy, aghast.

"Their twelve year old son called the police. The neighbours heard her screaming and called 911 as well. Michael was arrested and he was dismissed from his job. He's being charged with attempted murder, assault and domestic violence. He dislocated his seven year olds shoulder when he tried to stop Michael from hitting Rachel, and he broke Rachel's nose." Sara's mouth fell open as Gil explained how the police and neighbours had caught him with his hands around Rachel's throat and her subsequent loss of consciousness. "They have strong evidence against him," said Grissom soberly, "He'll go away for a long time." The three sat there quietly, absorbing the enormity of the news. It was only when Candy glanced at the clock and gasped that they moved back to the present.

"I'm sorry," gasped the teen, "I have to go, my brother and I are going out to dinner."

"Thanks Candy," grinned Grissom.

"No problem," she giggled as they moved to the kitchen and Candy gathered all her art supplies.

"I do not need a babysitter," groused Sara.

"Of course not," agreed Gil, putting his arms around her from behind and kissing her temple. Candy laughed at them and left. Gil turned Sara gently in his arms and caressed her cheek.

"Are you sure you're feeling alright?" he asked, his fingers skirting the edge of the glued wound in her scalp.

"Yes," she replied softly, her eyes closing with pleasure at his touch.

"Good," he breathed, before pressing his lips to hers in a soft, intimate and lingering kiss.

"Mmmm," hummed Sara when he pulled back.

"That was the kiss I wanted to give you earlier," he murmured in her ear. He moved them both gently until he was sitting on a chair and she was straddling his lap. Her arms linked around his neck; he wrapped one around her back, holding her snugly to him, and the other slipped into her hair as his lips found hers again. Their kisses were slow, soft and passionate; exploring and yet tender. "My God Sara," he gasped between kisses, as his hand crept under her shirt and roamed over her back. His other hand left her hair and trailed down the side of her neck slowly. Sara sighed against his lips and hummed with pleasure when his hands slipped around to her front and danced over her belly, before skimming up to her breasts. Hearing her ragged breathing and feeling his pants become tightly restricting, Gil was about to suggest they move to the bedroom when the doorbell rang. Sara rested her forehead against his, uttering expletives. Breathing deeply to calm herself, she slid off his lap and straightened her clothes, grinning when he went to the sink and thrust his hands under the cold tap, cupping water in his palms to wash his face.

"This had better not take long," grumbled Sara, heading for the hall and the front door. Standing at the sink, running cold water over the veins of his wrists to cool himself down, Gil listened as Sara opened the door. He couldn't make out the words, but he could hear her speaking slowly, almost hesitantly, only to be answered first by a female, then a male. Frowning, he dried his face and hands, straightened his clothes and hair, then joined his wife. Standing in the doorway were two police officers.

"Good evening sir," said the woman, "I'm detective Lena Jacobs, and this is officer Joshua Barrs."

"Gil Grissom," he said, stepping forward to restrain the overexcited dogs trying to barge past the officers.

"We would like to ask you a few questions about Friday night, and the incident at the Dean's party." Sara sighed and Gil hid a smile, knowing what was on her mind as they all moved to the living room to talk. It was nearly two long, drawn out hours later when the officers left, and Sara stretched out on the couch as Gil let them out, frustrated. Grumbling about interruptions she ambled onto the kitchen for a glass of water. Gil hugged her from behind, kissing her temple.

"At least they'll have a good case against him, from the sounds of it," he commented, kissing her again.

"Yeah, I don't begrudge an interview. They just have impeccable timing."

"Do they ever," snorted Gil as Hank started barking outside.

"Let's take them for a walk," suggested Sara. Gil changed into jeans and a t-shirt while Sara put out cat food and gathered the leashes; Lucy was still to excitable to walk on her own, and Hank only needed minor encouragement to charge after her when she made a bid for freedom.

Arm in arm they meandered across the grounds of the school, away from all the bustle of the campus area and its hive of student activity.

"Sara," said Gil, hesitantly, "there's something I think we need to talk about."

"That sounds serious," she said, turning to look at him. "Should I be worried?"

"No dear. But it's getting closer to November, and we haven't talked about what... how you... ah...we haven't made any plans." Smiling Sara stopped and kissed his cheek, amused by his uncharacteristic flustering. She looped her arm around his waist, and he about her shoulder as they continued walking.

"I believe what you mean is, we haven't discussed any sort of birth plan or what it will be like when we bring her home."

"Bring her home."

"Yes, home! From the hospital! You can't seriously think I'd want to be anywhere else when she arrives do you?" Grissom sighed with relief and hurriedly shook his head.

"No dear, the hospital is good, very good," he nodded. They walked on for a while before he dared to ask his next question.

"What about," he began, before faltering. Sara laughed to herself, wondering how a man could be so clinically detached and able to talk about any aspect of bodily functions in great detail while in a professional setting, but then have almost a complete inability to raise the subject on a personal level. To spare him any further struggles she said,

"Naturally."

"Ok, and what about...?"

"Pain medication?"

"Well, yes."

"Only if it's absolutely necessary." She felt him flinch against her. "Gil, women have been giving birth for centuries without modern medicine and pain relief. I think it will be ok."

"Hmm," he replied, unconvinced. Sara frowned and stopped him, turning so they were face to face.

"What's the matter honey?" she asked, concerned.

"I don't want to see you in pain," he cringed. Sara smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him softly and lovingly.

"Do you know how much I love you?" she asked, pulling back to smile at him.

"No," he grinned, shaking his head, "how much?" Sara smirked and kissed him again, this time with a lot more enthusiasm. "Hmm, not bad," he mused when they parted. "I love you more though," he laughed. Sara smiled and took his hand, pressing it against her belly as the baby kicked her repeatedly.

"She's been kicking me all day," she said, wincing. Gil ran his hand tenderly over the spot where he could feel a tiny foot slamming into Sara's stomach. The movement stilled and the pair linked hands and turned to continue their walk. They were leaving the park and heading back towards the cottage when, unnoticed by Gil and Sara, who were quietly chatting about name possibilities, Lucy saw a rabbit. She lunged forward, barking madly, and tore the end of her leash out of Sara's hand.

"No," bellowed Sara as Gil winced at her abruptly elevated tone. Hank howled, and tore after her. Gil stumbled into a bush, letting go of the boxer in the process. Laughing helplessly, Sara tried to pull her husband out of the shrubbery and keep her eyes on the direction the dogs had gone. Struggling against the leaves and one particularly errant branch, they managed to finally get him back on his feet; Sara bit her lip to keep from laughing at him as she pulled a handful of leaves out of his hair.

"You ok?"

"Fine," he laughed, scanning the area for their wayward dogs. "I don't see them," he groaned. He looked at Sara, an eyebrow raised. Sara blew her two fingered, deafening whistle to summon Hank. "I wish I could learn that," sighed Gil as Hank came thundering towards them.

"I tried to teach you," retorted Sara as she yelled for Lucy. There was no response from the puppy. Sara scowled; they hadn't finished training yet, and Lucy was not the best at paying attention.

"Lucy," shouted Grissom. "Lucy, come back here." Still nothing.

"Hank," said Sara, scratching his ears, "fetch Lucy." The boxer took off back across the park, heading for the trees. With a sigh, Sara and Gil started off after them.

...

It was almost two hours later when they stumbled into the cottage, filthy, sweating and exhausted. Identical scowls marked their faces as they fed the dogs, and then staggered off for a quick shower before tumbling onto the bed.

"I'm going to permanently secure that puppy into the yard," groaned Sara as she curled on her side and wedged a pillow behind her aching back. Gil laughed with dry good humour. They had chased, herded, followed and beckoned Lucy for ages. The puppy had steadfastly refused to give in and come back to them, resulting in numerous incidents involving the trees and bushes of the park, a stretch of slippery grass in Sara's case, a muddy puddle concealed by reeds on the edge of a pond in Gil's case and a hoard of irate bees, which fortunately did not manage to sting either scientist. Sara inspected her palms for lingering grass stains, yawning.

"You ok dear?" asked Gil, running his fingers through her tangled hair.

"Mmm hmm, just thinking," she mused.

"What about?"

"I love our pets dearly, but I think they must have been conspiring against us today."

"That's reminds me," said Gil, handing her one of two oranges he had snagged from the kitchen. "I got a strange text from Candy that said something about our animals being weird?" He looked at her, both eyebrows raised in a silent question. Realizing she hadn't managed to tell him about the mass exodus of cockroaches from the office she snorted with mirth as she recounted her day with Candy. Gil listened and winced at her story; he had spent the better part of the day wondering what it was he thought he had forgotten to do that morning.

"If you ever leave the lid off the top of the tank again dear, I will personally shut Juliet in the room until she catches every last one of them," declared Sara, as she yawned and stretched her aching legs.

"That would be a waste of all the training we've put into them," he remarked. "I think they'll be real contenders in San Diego."

"You'd better keep them secure then, hadn't you?" she smirked as she concentrated on peeling her orange.

...

...

I'm sorry for the delay, this chapter just wouldn't come right. please R&R :)