A/N: Finally an update! Sorry for the delay. It just takes me a lot longer to write a chapter of this than it does of my other story. But at last, I made it. Good thing is I wrote two chapters so the next one is ready :) Thank you as always to Calim for the beta and to you great readers that have been with me on this for six and a half years! Yes, it has been going that long.

So, it's the day before the wedding and time for guests and family to arrive. How will Grissom cope with that and will everybody be accommodating to him? We will see…

Chapter 132

Laura and the captain left the lounge and Sara scooped up Dickens before taking Grissom's arm.

"Are you introducing him to the family, too?" Grissom chuckled as they moved into the hallway.

Her eyes narrowed at him. "Considering your concern for his climbing expertise…I'd rather not leave him unattended near any naked flames."

"Hmmm…" he mumbled.

Sara spotted Rana along with a group of staff waiting to collect coats and belongings from their guests and called her over.

"Yes, Miss?" the housekeeper asked.

"Can you take Dickens to my room please?" Sara asked, holding out the kitten. "Probably best we leave him in there for a while until company has arrived…"

Surprised, Rana looked down at the kitten. "Ummm…I guess so, Miss…"

Laughing, Sara untangled herself from her fiancé and reached for Rana's hand, dropping the kitten into her palm. "He doesn't bite," she giggled.

"No, Miss," Rana replied quietly, gasping when Dickens tried to leap from her hand but she was quick and caught him. "I'll take him upstairs now, Miss," she said, backing away towards the stairs.

Sara laughed again as Rana hurried up the stairs. "I can see Rana has never had a pet."

"No…she has your cousins…" Grissom responded.

The look Sara gave him was priceless. "Very funny…"

"I aim to please," he retorted, holding his arm out again when he heard Laura shout their names. "It seems we are missing the arrivals…" he concluded.

"Yes…" She reached up to his collar before taking his arm and straightened out the knot on his tie. "I'm glad you wore this," she said, running her free hand up his arm. "It looks nice…professional…"

"I'm glad you approve."

Giving him a pert smile, she took his arm. "Ready?"

He gave a single nod. "Ready…"

They both looked at the door, took a breath and headed towards the entrance. When they reached the steps they saw four coaches being unloaded by the workers and a large group of people gathered around giving each other hugs. The sounds of a child's laughter filled the air and Grissom looked off to the right to see a young boy and girl chasing each other in the snow.

"This will be one of the larger groups of family members," Sara quietly informed her fiancé as they began down the steps. "You have Uncle Garret and Aunt Violet…" she inconspicuously pointed out the people as she went, "…Cousin Amelia, her husband William and their two children Anna and Tyler. Cousins Cameron and Georgia and, of course…" Sara smiled the second she saw the oldest family member, "…my grandmother, Rose."

"Your Father's mother, right?" Grissom whispered.

Sara nodded. "My only remaining grandparent."

He swallowed, recognizing her from years past.

The group were chatting happily when Laura turned to her daughter, beckoning her over. "Come…come, child…say hello," she requested.

Attempting her biggest, welcoming smile, Sara took a firm hold of Grissom's hand and tugged him towards the family members.

"Sara…my dear…" Rose announced joyfully, holding her arms up to pull Sara into a hug.

As Sara's hand slipped from her fiancés she laughed at her grandmother's excitement. "Hello, Nana," Sara giggled, returning the embrace.

"Let me get a look at you," the older woman said, pulling back and cupping her granddaughter's cheeks in a both hands. Sara's smile remained bright although her cheeks went a little pink. "Have you lost weight?" Rose questioned lowering her hands and looking Sara up and down.

Sara's smile faltered. "A little, Nana," she admitted.

Rose glanced over Sara's shoulder to see Grissom behind her, her eyes narrowing a touch as she looked him over. "And is this the lucky gentleman?" she asked.

"Yes," Sara replied, turning to Grissom and holding out her hand. Taking a breath, he took her hand and moved forward. "Nana, this is Gil Grissom, my fiancé. Gil, this is Rose Sidle…"

"A great honor, ma'am," Grissom said, bowing his head in respect.

Rose smiled but the look in her eye made Grissom nervous. She was about to say something but Laura broke up the conversation.

"I suggest we get everyone inside and out of the cold," the lady of the house suggested. "We can do proper introductions inside over some warm coffee or cocoa."

Grissom breathed a sigh of relief as Rose stepped away but the smirk she gave him kept the nerves pinching in his gut.

"Are you all right?" Sara asked him, retaking his arm. "You look a little sheepish."

"I'm fine," he replied.

"Come on, children!" Violet shouted to her little ones who were still playing in the snow.

Sara giggled as the children ran towards them. "Aren't they cute?" she giggled.

Grissom smiled. "Yeah."

"They have grown so much since I saw them last," she sighed as they headed back towards the house. "Anna will be five now and Tyler three."

He gave a nod but jumped when he felt something tug on his hand and looked down to see Anna smiling up at him. They stopped and he stared at the child.

"What's your name?" Anna asked him.

"Um…" His right eye twitched, "…Gil."

"My feet are cold," she complained.

Grissom blinked not really sure how to reply. "Oh…"

"Can you pick me up?"

His head turned to Sara who scratched her nose and attempted to hide her grin. "Go ahead," she encouraged. "I think she likes you."

Opening his mouth he paused. "I don't know how to look after children," he whispered.

"She doesn't want you to be her father, Gil," Sara jested. "She just wants to get her feet out of the snow."

He looked back to Anna who was still smiling at him and then behind to her parents who were busy organizing the luggage with the workers.

Working his jaw, he bent and reached out, lifting her from the ground with ease. Wrapping an arm around his neck, Anna ran a hand over his beard.

"Fury," she giggled. "Papa is fury, too…"

"Indeed," he replied flatly.

Sara laughed at the lost look on Grissom's face.

"I like you," Anna said.

Grissom cleared his throat as Sara placed her hand in his back and they began up the steps.

"Thank you," he replied. "I like you, too."

Anna giggled again. "Are the horses still here?" she asked. "Last time we came, there were lots of horses and I like feeding them."

He shuffled her up a little in his hold, trying to slacken the pressure on his stomach. "Yes," he said softly. "We have lots of horses."

"Can I feed them?"

His lips pursed. "Maybe, but I think we'll need to ask your parents when, okay?"

She nodded. "Okay."

"We have a kitten, Anna," Sara cut in. "Maybe you could play with him for a while."

Anna squealed. "A kitten? And I can play with him?"

"I'm sure we can work something out," Sara laughed as they entered the house.

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

Grissom stepped out onto the veranda leaving the crowd of guests, family and Sara chatting away in various parts of the house. He just needed a little air and five minutes to himself. Meeting new people was one thing. This was far beyond that. He inhaled a deep breath, enjoying the cool air and leaned over the railing.

The morning and early afternoon had passed by very quickly. Lots more family and people had arrived for the wedding and wanted to express their wishes to the bride and groom to be. So far, all the arrivals had been family or friends from Sara's side, so Grissom was feeling a little out of his depth with all the strange faces around him.

Thankfully, so far, they hadn't had any probing questions in regard to their relationship. There had, of course, been lots of interest. But the simple and true answer was that Grissom was a land owner in his own right and made his own living. He had come to the Grove to help out an old friend and that was the truth.

"You'll catch cold out here," a soft voice came and Grissom spun around to see Rose standing behind him.

His tongue drew across his bottom lip. "I just needed a little air," he responded honestly.

"All a little overwhelming?" she asked sounding as if she actually cared.

"A little."

"You never really were the socializing type…"

He frowned at her, his heart skipping a beat.

She stepped closer. "I remember you, but you know that, don't you?"

Giving a gentle sigh, he slipped his hands into his pants pockets. "You always were rather perceptive from what I remember so, yes, I had a feeling."

Rose pulled her shawl a little tighter to her shoulders. "I think…" she paused in thought, her eyes working in circles as she attempted to calculate something in her head, "…you were about fourteen the last time I saw you. We missed coming the Christmas after because Thomas' father was unwell so I never did see you before you left."

"I'm flattered you remember so precisely."

She smiled. "I always remember the good ones and I know Thomas always thought of you as the son he never had..."

He swallowed, a gust of cold wind floating between them that sent a shiver down his spine.

"So…" She stepped closer, "…after being gone for so long you return to capture my granddaughter's heart?"

"It was not in the intended plan," he admitted. "I didn't return here expecting this to happen."

Her lips pursed. "I would say not. It is rather unusual for a common laborer to be permitted to wed into a high class family. Especially one as wealthy as mine."

His eyes narrowed. "I couldn't care less about the money or the class," he argued.

"No…" she cut in quickly. "You always did make your own way but this time, the money comes with the package whether you like it or not. Sara is heir to the Sidle fortune which also makes you an heir."

Folding his arms, he bit down on his bottom lip not entirely sure whether she was on his side or not. "Are you going somewhere with this? Do you doubt me or my intentions?"

"I'm just making sure Sara is making the right decision," she cooed.

He sighed. "I love Sara more than anyone could even contemplate and how much we have been through together these past months, you may never know. I would take her away today and support her myself if that was what I had to do and what she wanted. I would give my last breath ensuring she was safe."

Rose's smile returned and she took his arm, surprising him. "That's all I need to hear." She reached for his hand and pulled it up to see the ring on his finger. "And I know Sara loves you too otherwise she wouldn't have given you this…" She tapped the ring that had belonged to her husband, her eyes saddening a little. "I would expect you to pass this to your children or grandchildren someday, Gil. Tradition is everything. Never forget that."

"Yes, ma'am," he whispered.

She smiled again and Grissom felt his body relax as she guided him back towards the house but he stopped just as they reached the veranda doors.

"Do you…intend on uncovering my past to those that don't remember it?" he asked. "It may come up anyway but…"

"Why would I do that?" she replied softly, cutting him off. "It is no one's business but your own and I will tell you something, Gil…" She slowly reached her hand to fiddle with his tie, "…I'm not sure I have ever seen Sara this happy. Although there is a little something in her eyes I can't quite place, there is a joy there I have never witnessed. That joy…is you."

Now he found a smile. "Thank you," he said softly.

She sniggered and they entered the house. "You always were a good egg," she jested.

"Oh, there you are," came Sara's voice and she glided across the room to them.

"Here I am," he replied.

Her eyes narrowed. "What have you two been up to?" Sara asked suspiciously.

"Nothing," Rose replied. "We were just having a talk, that's all."

"Ugh huh…" Sara glanced to both of them, still sensing something odd. "Anyway…Taylor and Teri have just arrived from Alexandria, I thought you'd like to say hello."

"Great," he replied taking Sara's hand when she held it out.

"You two enjoy yourselves," Rose said to them as they stepped away, receiving a nod of gratitude from Grissom as he went.

"Are you and Nana getting acquainted?" Sara asked him as they moved into the hallway.

He stopped and faced her. "She remembers me," he admitted.

Sara's eyes widened. "What…do you mean?"

"I mean…she remembers me," he repeated.

"From when you were younger?"

He nodded.

"Well…" Sara rubbed her temple, "…what did she say?"

Running a hand over his beard, he looked up and down the hallway, smiling as Anna and Tyler chased Dickens into the library. "I think…she just wanted to make sure my intentions were what they should be."

"And are they?" she snickered, running a hand up his arm. His right brow inclined and she laughed. "One thing about Nana…she always had my best interests at heart and she always wanted me to be happy. I don't think we have to worry."

"I don't think so either," he agreed. "Well…" His head worked from side to side, "…I think we have her support, I just hope everyone else is as accommodating …"

"I hope so, too," Sara agreed on a sigh, glancing towards the doorway as Taylor gave them a wave after handing his coat to one of the servants.

Sara took Grissom's arm and they approached their guests with a smile.

"I'm glad you made it," Grissom said extending his hand to Taylor.

Teri gave a smile as her father shook Grissom's hand. "So are we," she replied. "It's nice to get out of Alexandria once in a while plus…we had a little wager and he wouldn't pay up until he had proof that he'd lost the bet." She held her hand out to Grissom and he kissed the back, his brow inclining at her comments. Then she reached to give Sara a hug. "I'm so happy you managed to tame him…" she whispered.

Sara's lips pouted as Teri pulled back.

"A wager?" Grissom questioned, giving Sara a look before returning his attention to the guests.

Taylor scratched his forehead, looking a little embarrassed. "Hmmmm…" he mumbled clearing his throat. "It's lovely to see you, my dear," he said, taking Sara's hand to bring it to his lips.

Sara gave him a smile although she looked intrigued by this so called wager.

"Now he's trying to change the subject," Teri snickered earning a glare from her father.

"So I was wrong," he admitted. "You win. I lose. Let's just leave it at that."

"Oh, you can't do that," she replied with a grin. "Not now that we've told half the story."

Taylor rolled his eyes, folding his arms across his chest.

"You see…" Teri continued, looping her arm through her father's, "…he was very disbelieving you would ever settle down, Gil, and marriage…he laughed at me when I said it may be a possibility if you and Sara…"

"I think that's enough…" Taylor squirmed. "I just…always saw you as a man who enjoyed his…um…freedom…" He frowned not sure how to work himself out of the mess he'd fallen into.

Sara laughed, patting him on the arm. Grissom just gawped at his friend.

"Taylor, it's fine," Sara interjected. "I think we get the point."

"Yeah…" Grissom mumbled. "I'm a one man band…."

"Well…" Sara pulled him closer to her. "Six months ago would you have seen yourself getting married?"

He shook his head.

"And you generally spent most of your time either working or alone…"

"I guess," he agreed.

She shrugged. "So there you go. You we're not perceived as a man who would marry easily. I'm just so very glad we changed that."

He exhaled a gentle sigh then gave her a tender smile.

"Well…" Sara held her hands out, "…I know you've had a long trip so how about some coffee?"

Taylor offered an enthusiastic nod. "Sounds good to me."

CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI

It was drawing on towards 7pm and everyone had gone to their rooms to change for dinner. A few guests were still to arrive and Grissom wondered how everyone was going to fit in the house. He knew the property housed an expansive amount of bedrooms but it boggled his mind as to how Laura had managed to fit everyone in.

Straightening the bow tie to his dinner suit he turned his attention from the mirror to look over his shoulder as he heard laughter in the corridor. A smile spread across his lips knowing it was the children with Dickens again. The kitten certainly had come in useful. Their laughter faded as they ran down the corridor and he glanced back to his reflection attempting to get the tie straight. He'd never been any good at this but always refused help with dressing. He was a grown man and had never needed that kind of assistance.

A knock came and he turned just as Sara stepped in.

"Are you ready?" she asked, gliding into the room. "We're going to be late for our own pre wedding dinner at this rate…"

His jaw dropped as she stopped in front of him, his eyes working up and down her length until they came to meet hers.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, reaching up to straighten his still crooked tie.

Licking his lips, his eyes moved over her face taking in every alluring line then up to her finally scrunched hair as it sat bundled tightly upon the top her head.

"Because you look stunning," he whispered, working his stare over the fine pink and cream silk satin dress one more time. He especially loved the uncovered arms and neck because it gave him so much more of her to look at.

She snorted, slipping her hand to his shoulder when satisfied the tie was finally in the correct position.

"It's not often you wear your hair up," he continued, lightly brushing his fingertips over her fringe. "But I like it."

Now her smile blossomed and she leaned in to give him a gentle kiss. "I'm glad you approve," she said softly. "And you don't look so bad yourself…"

"Do you think the masses will approve?" he questioned as she stepped back to check over his suit.

"If they don't…" Her hand ran down his right sleeve, "…then they must be blind and to be honest, I don't really care." She held out her arm. "Ready?"

Giving a nod, he took her arm in his and they walked to the door. The second they entered the corridor the smell of food was instantly sensed.

"Mother has turned the entire dining room into a mini banquet hall," Sara chuckled as they headed for the stairs. "There is enough food to feed an army."

"Are you surprised?" he asked as they descended the steps.

"Not really," she responded. "But at least the workers will have a treat over the next week. You know how much she hates using leftovers…"

"That I do," he retorted knowing from experience. "That I do…"

When they reached the hallway an angry voice caught their attention and they turned towards the door.

"Be careful with that!" a man snapped to a servant. "It's a brand new hat and I swear if it gets damaged…"

Grissom frowned as Sara let out a sigh.

"Oh, wonderful," she mumbled sarcastically. "I was hoping he wouldn't make it…"

The rancher's eyes narrowed in on the man and the way he reached for the woman by his side, roughly pulling on her arm when she was too slow to remove her coat. There was something familiar about him but Grissom already didn't like the way he treated those around him.

"Who is that?" he asked.

"That…" Sara unhooked her arm from Grissom's to take his hand, "…is Uncle Daniel and his wife Fiona. He's my father's eldest brother and, he's an ass," she finished on a whisper.

"I think I guessed that," he retorted. "And I remember him. Never very pleasant to many."

"No," Sara agreed. "He is a hardcore traditionalist through and through. Men are superior, woman live to serve and breed and servants better listen when he talks." She turned away taking Grissom with her, cringing when he shouted again.

"I said be careful!" he hollered.

Grissom stopped, turning back to face the doorway, his eyes narrowing in on Daniel. Just as he did, Sara's Uncle looked right at him and the two men stared at each other. The rancher felt his heart quicken, just a little, an eerie sensation sweeping over him. He already didn't like this man and he hoped for Sara's sake that he didn't cause any problems…

*** - "I devote you," said this person, stopping at the last door on his way, and turning in the direction of the sanctuary, "to the Devil!"

With that, he shook the snuff from his fingers as if he had shaken the dust from his feet, and quietly walked down-stairs."

*** - Extract taken from A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

A/N: Hmmm. Do I smell trouble? Evil hat is grinning at me. He's been banished from this story for a while and he want back in. Should I let him in? Please let me know your thoughts. The big day is nearly here! Isn't it...? LMAO.