A/N: At last, a day off and I can post and maybe even write! Yay. Been a tough slog at work so I appologise for the delay. This chapter is a bit of a milestone for me and marks 6 years of this story. That's pretty insane. I do think though we will be finished by the 7 year mark, lol. I would hope so anyway.

Thank you as always to those who have followed me on this amazing journey, all your thoughts keep me going and please keep them coming. And thank you to Calim for sticking by me and being more of a help with every single chapter that goes by.

So, lets see how New Years is going to start shall we? Let's hope Evil hat can stay away... :P

Chapter 153

Leaving their room after a little time alone, Grissom and Sara held hands as they walked down the hall meeting William and Amelia as they exited their own bedroom.

"Hello you two," Amelia greeted.

Sara gave her cousin a smile, noticing she looked a lot better than she had a short while ago. "How are you feeling?" she asked as they all continued walking towards the stairs.

"I'm fine," Amelia replied. "I always seem to have stomach issues when I'm expecting. I had the same issue with Anna and with Tyler. It generally passes pretty quickly."

"Congratulations by the way," Grissom said as they reached the stairs, allowing the couple to begin descending first.

Amelia clung to her husband's arm and gave a hearty smile, looking at them over her shoulder. "Thank you," she answered. "And thank you for looking after the children earlier. That was very much appreciated. It can be tough trying to rest with them running around."

"No bother at all," Sara cut in. "We enjoyed it. Didn't we?" she asked, giving her husband a look and a grin.

"Yes, we did," he agreed. "Where are they now?" he then inquired.

"I believe they are running Nicolas and Gregory ragged somewhere," William answered. "They collected them a little while ago but where they are now, I'm not sure."

As they reached the hallway, instant shouts of the children caught everyone's ears.

"The lounge…" Grissom concluded, his great sense of hearing giving him the confidence to narrow down the location.

"Agreed," Amelia laughed and they set off towards the room.

Upon entering, the group paused in the doorway, each family member unable to hold in their laughter at the sight before them. Nicolas lay stretched out on the floor, Tyler jumping up and down on his stomach. Anna was chasing after Gregory as he attempted to catch Dickens who darted from one chair to another.

"Well…," Sara began, a bright smile upon her lips, "…now I've seen everything."

"I can't believe how much energy they have," Grissom said just as Anna paused in mid chase and turned to them.

"Mama!" the little girl called and immediately ran to her parents. William swept her up just as Tyler headed their way after hearing his sister's shout. "Can we see the horses now?" Anna asked, looking at her mother and then in Grissom's direction. "Can we ride, Uncle Gil? Can we?"

"Ride!" Tyler shouted, reaching out to tug on his mother's dress. "Horse!"

With a tender laugh, Amelia glanced to Grissom and then to her husband and back to Anna. "I don't know, sweetheart. It's getting late and I'm not so sure it's going to be safe for you two to start learning to ride in the snow." She looked back to Grissom. "Or am I wrong?"

Sara clung onto her husband's arm, interested in his answer.

"You are right about the riding," Grissom replied, rubbing his chin. "It's tough for someone like me to even ride in snowy conditions so I really don't think it's a good idea for the children to try with the grounds as they are. But…we still have an hour or so of daylight so I'd be happy to take them to the stables. They can feed the horses some apples and maybe next time you are down this way we can think about some riding lessons. Once it's safer…"

"You'd really do that for them?" Anna queried.

Grissom nodded. "As long as you are comfortable then I'd be more than happy to teach them."

Squeezing his arm a little tighter, Sara smiled at him when he glanced at her. His concerns in regard to safety were completely accurate but it made her feel good that he had offered to teach the children at a later date and spend more time with them now. She hoped the more time he spent with them, the more he would open to the idea of their own children.

"That sounds good to me," William said. "And thank you, Gil. For offering your time. Whenever it may be."

The rancher gave a bashful smile. "My pleasure. That's what families do, right?"

"Absolutely," Amelia answered then laughed as Tyler began running in circles around her.

"Hey, be careful with Mama," William warned his son. "Don't be pushing her over now."

Tyler stopped at his father's warning, looking up to his mother. "Mama still sick?" his quiet voice asked.

"No, sweetheart," Amelia answered, running her hand through his hair. "But you need to be careful around me all right? I can't be getting bumped or pushed right now."

Nodding, Tyler decided to run around Grissom's legs instead. As the others laughed, he was getting dizzy watching the boy run in circles.

"Sara, I suggest you take them to the horses now," Amelia began, "before Gil keels over."

Pulling his attention from Tyler, Grissom rubbed his eyes then glanced at Sara as she snorted, leaning over to look at Anna. "Ready to see the horses?" she asked.

Anna nodded furiously, the brightest smile finding her lips. "Yes!" she shouted enthusiastically. "Yes, yes, yes…"

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Sara held onto the children's hands as her husband pulled open the stable door. Once the door was open, he turned and clapped his hands together.

"Are we ready?" he asked.

"Yes!" the two children shouted together.

Crouching down, Grissom held up a finger. "Now…because the horses are inside we have to respect them, all right? This is their home and don't want to spook them do we?" Sara smiled as the children listened and shook their heads. "We can pet them and feed them and…"

"Can I sit on one?" Anna interrupted.

Pushing himself up, Grissom looked to his wife who grinned at him. "We'll see," he replied, holding out his hand for Anna to take.

Leading her inside, Grissom released her hand to close the door and she was off, scampering towards the stalls.

"I'm glad we're in an enclosed space," he began, ensuring the clasp on the door was tight, "because I would have lost her by now otherwise."

"She's a child and she's excited," Sara laughed, letting go of Tyler who ran after his sister.

"What would you do if I ran away when I got excited?" he asked with a smirk.

Her eyes shot to his then narrowed. "Spend many a night alone."

Chuckling, he took her hand as they approached the stalls to see Anna at the end, happily chatting away to Dante who had his head propped over the top of the open door.

"He says he's hungry," Anna told her brother and Tyler looked up just as Dante snorted, causing the young boy to giggle.

Pandora's head appeared to their left and Tyler pointed. "More horse!" he shouted.

One by one all 12 horses popped their heads over their stall doors causing Anna and Tyler to clap with joy.

"Well," Grissom began, looking at the scene before them, "they've certainly gained the horses attention."

Sara smirked. "It would seem so."

Reaching out, Grissom rubbed between Dante's ears. "I'm going to open the door, all right?" he started, looking his horse in the eye. "But you'll need to be very careful of the little ones. Am I clear?"

Dante gave another snort, took a step back and nodded.

"Anna, Tyler," Sara began, holding out her hands. "Step back with me while Gil opens the stall."

The children quickly did as they were told and, as she pulled them out of the way, Grissom unbolted the stall door.

"We need more than one," Anna informed Grissom as Dante took a few steps closer. "Tyler needs one and I need one."

Grissom's right brow soared. "Do you now?"

Anna nodded and Grissom looked back at Dante. "Pandora?" he asked.

Dante swiftly nodded earning a smile and a pat from Grissom. Unbolting her stall, he gave her the same speech. "Same rules for you. Nice and easy with the children."

Giving a cheerful snort, Pandora moved slowly to the opening of her stall and looked to Dante, the two of them whickering at each other. Hoisting up the bucket of apples from the work bench, Grissom approached the children.

"Can we feed all the horses?" Anna asked, looking behind her at all the curious animals watching what they were doing. "It's not fair if they don't all get an apple."

"You're quite a tough one to please, aren't you?" Grissom told her and the little girl smiled.

"You have to be fair," Anna reiterated. "Mama and Papa told us to share."

He blinked hard as Sara reached out and took the bucket from him. "Why don't you take two apples and Anna and let her feed Dante and Pandora and I'll take Tyler and start feeding the rest."

"Sure…" he replied a little bewildered at the words coming from Anna's mouth. She was only five yet had more morals than a lot of adults he knew.

Sara held the bucket up and smiled at Grissom's perplexed look. Waiting until he took two, she turned to Tyler. "Come on. Let's start at the end." The boy vigorously nodded and scampered ahead of her.

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As darkness began to fall, Grissom ushered everyone out of the stable and back toward the house. The children had enjoyed themselves immensely. Not only had they fed the horses but each had managed to wrangle from him a lift onto Pandora who, much to Grissom's relief, stayed calm.

Stepping back into the house, they handed off the children to their parents and made their way upstairs to change for the night's celebratory activities. Removing his jacket, Grissom dropped it onto the bed and reached for his tie, pausing as Sara came towards him. Dropping her arms over his shoulders, she pulled him close.

"Thank you for today," she said, rubbing her nose against his. "I know you don't have much experience with children but you were wonderful."

He gave a shrug. "Really?"

Leaning in, she kissed his lips. "Really."

"Well…" His hand rose, his fingers brushing a lose hair on her forehead back into place. "I'm glad you think so. It's nice to see the children happy."

"It sure is," she answered, taking a step back, her hands rising to begin unfastening his tie. "So, have you put any thought into what you are going to wear for the party?"

"Actually, I was thinking about wearing just a bow."

Her head shot up and, as he smirked, she rolled her eyes. "Funny, Gil. I can just imagine the reaction to that one. Although…"

His eyes narrowed. "Although what?"

Pulling his tie off, she smirked. "I might let you do that for me. I'm sure I can find a nice pink bow that would fit quite nicely…"

"Sara!" he half snapped, half laughed. "Please…just…stop right there." Grabbing his tie from her, he threw it onto the bed. When she wriggled her eyebrows he held up a finger. "There is no chance you are getting me in just a bow so if you don't mind…take that ridiculous thought from your mind."

"Pity," she cooed. "I could have had so much fun…"

Shaking his head he began unbuttoning his shirt getting half way down before she snorted and turned around.

"Little help with my dress?" she asked, pointing behind her to the buttons.

Smirking, he stepped close, brushing her hair out of the way before kissing her on the back of the neck then started on the buttons. "Maybe you could wear a bow for me," he whispered, kissing her neck again but this time his lips trailed delicately across her skin and she sighed.

"Hmmmm…" she whispered, leaning back into him. "Carry on like that and I'll do anything you say."

Popping the last button he smiled and she turned to face him, the front of her dress falling open to reveal the top of her lovely chest. That…immediately distracted him.

"Anything?" His eyes shot up to meet hers and her lips pursed.

"Gil…," she began, her hand raising, her index finger finding his lips and running along them, "we only have a little over an hour before the party starts…"

He licked his lips as she removed her finger and stepped closer, ducking his head so his lips almost touched hers. "Plenty of time," he breathed before taking her mouth and engulfing it with his own.

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Standing behind his wife as she sat brushing her hair, Grissom fiddled with his bow tie.

"Why do I have to dress like I'm getting married again?" he grumbled.

The smile already on her face grew and she looked at him in the mirror. "Because it's a celebration and," she said, her eyes working him up and down, "I just love you in a black suit."

"Oh? So this is a completely biased decision on your part then?"

Laughing, she placed the brush down, stood and faced him. Reaching for his tie, his arms dropped as she began straightening it. "Can you blame me for wanting my husband to look good?"

His lips pursed. "Don't I look good anyway?"

She giggled again, looking into his eyes once satisfied the tie was perfect. "You would look good in a potato sack."

"Hmmm…" he answered with a smirk. "Maybe I should wear one of those…"

"Don't even think about it," she threatened, turning back to the mirror, gliding her hands down the front of her blue silken gown. "How do I look?" she asked.

Taking her shoulders, he spun her back around and wrapped his arms around her waist. "You look fabulous," he answered softly.

Giving him a quick kiss she then smiled brightly. "Then I guess we should go."

He smiled back. "I guess we should…"

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Arm in arm they descended the stairs and instantly Grissom's nostrils flared.

"My," he began as they reached the bottom, "something smells good."

"Ohhhh," Sara cooed as they headed down the hallway. "You are in for a treat. Mother's New Year's parties are almost as extravagant as the weddings"

"Lord help us."

Snickering, they followed the sound of talking and stopped in the doorway to the living room to find people already gathered there.

"Who normally comes to these things?" Grissom whispered, looking around the room.

Nicolas and Gregory were dressed to the nines, standing by the bar. Violet and Garret sat on the sofa, a glass of wine in their hands as they chatted away. And, over in the corner, Grissom spotted Catherine with the captain and Laura accepting a glass of champagne from a server.

"On this great evening, our home is open to all who wish to stop by," Sara told him. "But I know father invited Catherine because of her father's death. She usually spends it with her own family.

Grissom frowned, glancing to his wife. "She still has a family. Where's her daughter?"

Sara gave him a sad smile and sighed. "Sadly, Catherine has never been great in the motherly department but let's leave it at that."

As Laura looked there way and gave them a wave, Grissom took a breath. "Well, let's get this party going, shall we?"

Maneuvering through the room, they headed for the captain and Laura, Grissom noticing Catherine's beady eyes checking him out.

"My, my," she began, "don't we just look dashing as usual?" Her eyes fixed upon her friends and she gave him a sultry smile.

"Yes, he does," Sara agreed, pulling her husband a little closer. "And he's all mine…"

Rolling his eyes, Grissom held up a hand. "Can we not fight about me, ladies?" he asked in a joking manner. "The night is still very young and I don't think I'll make it to midnight if you carry on…"

Laura laughed, waving her hand through the air to get the server's attention who was currently occupied by her nephews. "Keep your eye on the boys, Thomas," she requested. "At this rate they'll be drunk before dinner let alone be able to see the clock strike midnight."

The captain's eyes sprang to the bar and then narrowed. "I'll go and have a word," he said firmly before stepping away.

"So," Catherine started, before taking a quick sip from her glass, "how are you both finding married life?" she asked, placing her full attention upon the newlyweds.

"We've been married four days, Catherine," Grissom moaned, "so why don't you ask again in a month?"

Sara tugged on his arm and his eyes shot to her. She gave him a 'behave' smile and he rolled his eyes. His friend's constant nosiness had always irritated him and he just couldn't help his reaction.

"We are doing great, thank you," Sara answered nicely although she understood her husband's point of view. Catherine had always been a pain in the backside with a twinkle in her eye for her man.

"Happy to hear it," Catherine sighed as the servant came up to them, holding out a tray filled with glasses of champagne.

Taking two glasses, Sara held one out to Grissom who took it with a smile. Just as he took a sip, Tyler and Anna came running into the room followed by Rose and their parents.

"Awww," Sara laughed in delight at the sight of the children.

Tyler looked like a little gentleman in his black suit with a matching bow tie while Anna's three tiered silken red dress made her look very grown up. Until she began spinning in circles and nearly bumped into her father.

"They are adorable…" Sara continued as Amelia did her best to calm Anna down.

"And excited as ever," Laura snorted.

"Do they ever stop?" Grissom chuckled as Tyler came wobbling towards him.

Laura nodded then grinned. "When they're asleep."

The captain stepped away from his nephews, who now looked very sorry for themselves, and greeted his mother with a kiss. She took his arm and they approached the chatting group just as Tyler decided to hold his arms up to Grissom.

"Up!" he shouted.

"I think you have a new friend," Sara told her husband, reaching to take his glass.

He gave her a look before lifting the eager boy into his arms. "Yes, I noticed," he replied.

Tyler giggled, reaching for Grissom's tie and poking it. "I have one. See?" He looked down at his own bow tie and the group smiled.

"Two dashing young men," Laura complimented.

"I'll second that," Sara added, reaching her hand to Tyler's hair to run her fingers through it.

Approaching with Rose on his arm, the captain smiled at them. "Shall we move to the dining room?" he suggested. "Dinner should almost be ready and we can continue with drinks in there until it is."

Laura nodded and looked to her daughter.

Sara smiled. "Sounds good to me."

*** - "Those were drinking days, and most men drank hard. So very great is the improvement time has brought about in such habits, that a moderate statement of the quantity of wine and punch which one man would swallow in the course of a night, without any detriment to his reputation as a perfect gentleman, would seem, in these days, a ridiculous exaggeration."

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

A/N: So far so good... Will the night continue to be so pleasent? I hope so :P