A/N: Hello, hello :) I'm baaaaaack and do I have a little surprise for you in this chapter? Let me know if you spot it ;-P I expect blinking, possibly cussing and maybe a few groans. But, you had to expect it, right? Lol.

Thank you so much for all your reviews, they are fantastic! Plllllllease keep them coming. And as always I bow to calim for giving me your time and skill to help this story near it's conclusion. We still have a weeeee way to go yet but we're getting there.

Please note – Story is a slight "M" for sexual references. Please read responsibly.

Let's go :D

Chapter 146

Grissom and Sara walked hand in hand towards the house, both their faces baring identical smiles. The day had started with a bang, literally, and they were both currently beyond content.

"It's a little warmer today," Sara said, looking around at the snow covered grounds. "Still cold but a little warmer…"

"Hmmm…" Grissom mumbled as they reached the steps up to the front door.

"I think mother's going to be very surprised to see us so soon," she continued as they began climbing. "And it's going to be difficult avoiding all the people still here, you know that don't you?"

Pausing when they reached the top of the stairs, he pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Hopefully we can do what we need to do and get out again. Although, I need to speak with your father about when he wants me back to work. We haven't discussed it."

"I don't really think that's crossed his mind, Gil. And it shouldn't be crossing yours either. Not yet. We just got married."

"I know but…"

"No but's," she stopped him, placing a finger over his lips. "For once, stop thinking about everyone else."

His lips pursed and she lowered her finger. "You're the only one on my mind right now and that I can guarantee."

"Glad to hear it," she snickered retaking his hand.

Grissom opened the door and they entered the house, both immediately surprised by how quiet it was. A single servant scurried across the hallway towards them but that was it.

"Where is everybody?" Sara asked, pulling the scarf from around her neck.

Shaking his head, Grissom unbuttoned his coat. "I have no idea."

"Good morning, ma'am, sir…" the servant greeted, taking their coats.

Sara gave a smile, taking Grissom's arm once they were disrobed of their outside clothing. He pointed towards the kitchen.

"I'm going to go and organize the bath, okay? Why don't you go and find your mother…"

Kissing him on the cheek she pulled back and flashed him a smile. "See you in a minute."

They parted ways and, as he headed for the kitchen, Sara walked through the hallway deciding on which room to try first. Then Rana emerged from the lounge carrying a tea tray.

"Good morning, Rana," Sara greeted.

"Oh, Madam Sara," Rana replied sounding a little surprised. "Good morning, ma'am. I wasn't expecting to see you today."

Sara gave her a smile. "No, um, we needed to…freshen up and don't have the facilities to do so at the cabin. Gil has just gone to the kitchen to organize it for us."

The housekeeper nodded her understanding. "I will go and find him and sort it out for you right away, ma'am."

"Thank you," Sara replied with appreciation. "And thank you so much for breakfast. It was absolutely perfect."

Rana smiled. "No problem, ma'am."

Smiling back, Sara looked up and down the hallway. "Have you seen Mother?"

"She's in the lounge, ma'am."

Nodding her thanks, Sara headed toward the lounge, seeing her mother sitting by the fireplace, knitting needles swiftly moving in her fingers.

"Good morning, mother."

Looking up, Laura stared at her daughter in surprise. "Sara?" she eventually said.

A small smile crossed Sara's lips as she passed through the room watching as her mother stood, placing the ball of wool and needles down on the chair she had been sitting in.

"Has something happened?" Laura asked sounding worried.

"No, mother," Sara replied quickly and with a snort. "Everything's fine."

Laura shook her head. "I don't…" She frowned. "I didn't think we'd be seeing you today."

Sara bit her lip slightly as she answered. "We…need to clean up a little. With the weather…the well at the cabin isn't usable so we have no water."

Laura's eyes narrowed for a moment, then her lips parted as a look of realization crossed her face. Slowly, she reached out and took Sara's hands.

"Did you?" she asked quietly. "Were you able…" she trailed off as Sara blushed, bashfully licking her lips before leisurely nodding.

A bright smile hit Laura now. "Ohh…" Laura sighed happily, pulling her daughter into an embrace. "I'm so happy for you, sweetheart. I really am…"

Giggling, Sara enjoyed the hug. "Me, too."

Pulling back, Laura looked her in the eye. "Did he look after you?"

Clearing her throat, Sara could feel her cheeks reddening again. "Mother…" she moaned knowing exactly how intimate that question was.

"I'm just…" Laura shrugged, "…curious…and…looking out for you."

"Do all mothers ask their daughters how good their wedding night was?"

Laura gave a smirk. "Probably just me but we're not really like everybody else are we?"

Now Sara burst out laughing. "He was…" she inhaled a very satisfying lung full of air, "…amazing…in every way shape and form."

"Patient?"

"Yes," Sara replied quietly and extremely sincerely this time. "Very…"

Laura's smile grew but their conversation halted when Grissom wandered in. "The water will take about an hour to heat up enough for two baths," he said, approaching the two most important ladies in his life. Sara gave him a smile. "So, what are we talking about?" he asked when reaching them.

"Oh…" Sara stuttered, her eyes shooting to her mother's, "…um…."

"We were talking about you two opening your gifts while you wait," Laura cut in pointing to a table in the corner, no doubt saving both of them some embarrassment.

"That sounds like a plan," he answered. "Would you like to do that, honey?"

"Sure." She cleared her throat and took his arm. "But where is everyone?" she asked, looking around. "The house feels deserted."

"Your father is just over at the workshop organizing some weather repairs. As for everyone else, those who have not returned home have gone for an excursion into town. Your cousins decided they wanted to play host."

"You didn't want to go?"

Laura gave half a smile as they headed towards the gifts. "I was happy for the peace and quiet. Yesterday tired me out."

"I know how you feel," Grissom answered and he grinned as Sara's eyes shot to him.

"Well…here we are," Laura said with her arms spread over the massive array of gifts on the table.

"Wow," Sara exclaimed. "That's a lot of presents."

"There were lots of people here," Laura said. "And some even gave you two gifts."

Puffing out his cheeks, Grissom slipped his hands into his pockets. "This could take a while."

Giggling, Sara tipped her head to his shoulder. "We don't have to open everything now just enough to keep us busy until the water is ready."

Nodding, he reached for the first wrapped parcel and held it out for her. "The first honors are yours, my dear."

With a happy chuckle, she took the parcel and read the tag. "You know I think you should start opening as well otherwise we won't get through half of these."

"I think I can manage that…"

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Almost an hour later the couple had gotten through just over half of their gifts and the table was packed full of amazing offerings. Jewelry, picture frames, clocks, handmade clothing, stationary, confectionary and candles. Not to mention the giant pile of household items. Grissom especially loved the matching set of leather riding boots Rose had given them. They always came in useful.

"Our house will be complete by the time we have finished opening all of these," Sara laughed as she revealed another crockery set.

"I wonder if the actual building is in here somewhere," Grissom jested and Laura laughed.

Just as Sara was about to reach for another present, Rana stepped into the room and approached them. "Your water is ready, ma'am," she announced.

"Thank you, Rana," Sara answered.

Rana gave a nod. "One bath is waiting for you in your new room. Just call me when you require the water changing." That said, she backed away and left them.

Sara blinked glancing to her mother. "You've already given us a room?"

"Of course," Laura replied swiftly. "The second master. You didn't think you'd be staying in that little thing you're in now did you?"

"Mother, my room is huge," she laughed. "It would have been just fine for us."

"Nonsense," Laura argued. "And both of your things have already been moved, so just shush and enjoy it."

Rolling her eyes, Sara looked to her husband. "One more gift before we go?" She pointed to a large box at the back. "That one has me curious."

"All right," Grissom agreed, leaning over the table to grab the box. It was a lot lighter than it looked. "Not very heavy," he said placing it in front of them and gesturing a hand for Sara to undo the ribbon.

Grinning, she did so and then took hold of the lid, popping it from the wooden crate. Everyone leaned over the top to see what was inside and they all frowned at what they saw.

"What…on earth…is that?" Sara asked.

Shaking his head, Grissom's brow pinched. "I have no idea but…it looks like some sort of model."

"It's tiny," Laura said.

"Yes, it is," Grissom answered reaching into the box to pull out the miniature model. "And it looks…so precise…"

All three of them looked over the miniature that sat in his hands.

"Well, I don't get it," Sara admitted. "It looks like a barn with an upturned wagon in it. What is the point of that?"

Grissom's eyes narrowed in further onto the model. The detail was immaculate, all engraved, painted wood and most certainly handcrafted. The wooden walls, beams, hay bales, two horses which looked exactly like Dante and Pandora and the wagon's details were so precise it could have been the real thing. Then he spotted something underneath the wagon. Carefully picking up the tiny sculpture, they all peered at what it revealed - a person, a female person lying on the ground.

"Is that supposed to be someone?" Sara asked.

"It almost looks like you," he said looking at her.

Sara's eyes narrowed. "That just makes this even weirder. Why on earth would I be stuck under a wagon in a barn?"

"I kind of like it. It must have taken some serious time and skill to make."

"It gives me the willies," she argued. "But you feel free to keep it." She tapped his arm. "Preferably where I can't see it."

"Do we know who it's from?" Laura asked.

Putting the model down, Grissom checked the box and lid but nothing. He shook his head. "There's no card, tag or anything."

"And you're saying this isn't odd?" Sara said. "We don't even know who sent it or where it came from."

He looked at her and she could tell his brain was working a million miles an hour. Anything like this fascinated him and she knew if she didn't pull him away now, they could be at this mystery for hours.

"Let's go bathe before the water gets cold, huh? You can play with that some other time."

He heard Laura chuckling behind him and pursed his lips. "Fine…let's go…"

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Sara led Grissom towards their new room and it was a weird feeling. This would be their first official abode as a couple. Yes, they'd been at the cabin and would return there for a while but this was different. This would be their permanent place of rest and…other things, until their own house was built. But, she was actually thankful for this particular room. It was far away from the regular inhabitants of the house so she knew their privacy would be as high as it could be.

"Here we are," she told him, pushing the door open.

He stopped just past the doorway and looked around. "Laura knows that there's only two of us, right?"

Turning around Sara raised her arms, pushing the door closed before dropping them to his shoulders. "I'm sure she's aware of that," she answered, running her fingers over the collar of his shirt.

He tipped his head closer to hers. "This room is big enough for ten people let alone two. It's twice as big as the cabin."

She shrugged. "So? At least we'll be comfortable. You need to stop worrying so much." Her fingers found his lips and she gently stroked them, noticing they parted slightly under her touch. "But if you'd prefer we moved closer to everyone else then I can…"

"Take your clothes off," he demanded huskily, cutting her off.

Her right eyebrow soared and her lips pursed. "I'm bathing first then, am I?"

Slowly rotating his jaw from left to right, he took a small step back, his eyes working down her body then back up again. "Well…it's a big tub. We could…share…"

"Together?"

"Hmmm…" he mumbled, dropping a kiss onto her cheek and she pulled him back close as his lips slithered around to her ear. Her giggle that began soon turned into a moan and she swiftly ran her hands through his hair, tugging his head away from her before they got lost in another bout of lovemaking because she knew that's exactly what he was thinking.

"If you carry on like that, the water will be cold before we get around to using it."

"Shame," he breathed, his fingertips tracing through her hair.

She snorted, taking his hands and tugging him further into the room. "We have the rest of our lives, Gil. Bathe now and you can have that later…"

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"Oh…that feels so good…"

Grissom grinned at Sara's moan and continued to massage her scalp with his fingertips.

Nestled snuggly between his legs in the tub she looked over her shoulder at him and gave a very happy sigh. "You are the master of hair washing, Gilbert Grissom."

"I have my talents," he replied, massaging just a little harder and she melted back into his chest.

"Yes, you do…"

His smile grew. "So…Mrs. Grissom, what is on the agenda after we are all clean and tidy?"

"I don't know. What would you like to do?" Leaning forward he kissed her shoulder and she giggled. "Apart from that," she snorted. "At this rate we'll be spending all our time under the sheets."

"Is that such a bad thing?" he answered.

Now she laughed but her laughter faded into another moan as his right hand suddenly found her breast.

"You're so soft," he whispered in her ear, pinching her nipple. "I could just touch you all day long."

Swallowing heavily, she raised her hand to gently cover his. "We could…take a walk, get some fresh air," she said a little breathlessly. "I'm sure Dante and Pandora would love a little exercise and some company."

"That sounds like a plan," he agreed.

"Yes…" she sighed, her eyes closing as his hand pulled from hers and slithered down her stomach. "Gil…" she groaned, her head dropping back onto his shoulder as his hand slipped between her parted thighs.

"Hmmmm?"

"We'll never…oooh…leave this…room…if you carry on." Her voice hitched as his fingers pleasured her.

He nipped at her earlobe, his fingers gliding over her tender flesh. "Sure we will, it will just be a little bit later than you thought…"

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Grissom was whistling as they entered the stable and Sara grinned at him.

"You really are pleased with yourself, aren't you?" she stated and he smiled. "I'll get you back for the tub, you know that don't you?"

"I hope so," he replied, waggling his eyebrows.

Snickering, she tugged on his hand and they approached the stalls. Dante popped his head over the open door and gave them a cheerful snort.

"Hey, buddy," Grissom said, rubbing his hand between his horse's ears. "Feel like taking a walk?"

Dante gave another snort and Sara laughed, moving to the next stall to let Pandora out. "I think he likes that idea."

"Me, too," Grissom agreed, opening the bottom door and watching as Dante trotted out, passed him and immediately went to Pandora, giving her a healthy lick on the nose once she was out of her stall.

"I never realized how much the two of you are alike," Sara snorted.

Grissom's brow soared. "When did I ever lick you on the nose?"

"Oh, give it time," she joked. "And I was referring to how he treats his lady. She always seems to be his first priority."

Taking two apples from the basket on the table, Grissom gave one to each horse and then held his arm out for his wife. "Yes, you are most certainly my first priority. In each and every single way…"

*** - "Come!" rejoiced Grissom, laughing boastfully. "Though I don't prefer any claim to being the soul of Romance (for I hope I know better), still I am a tenderer sort of fellow…"

*** - Extract taken from A Tale of two Cities by Charles Dickens. (Adapted)

A/N: So now what? Nice little twist huh? Does it mean Evil hat is back? Not necessarily :P Let me know your thoughts :D