Grissom opened the door to their loft and was immediately assaulted by the smell of a home cooked meal. He smiled to himself as he entered. Kicking off his shoes and petting a loyal Hank who'd been there laying by the door, waiting for his return.

He walked down the stairs to see Sara stirring something in a pot on the stove. She turned to see him and smiled, "Hungry?"

"Whatever you're cooking smells amazing, dear." He moved to shorten the distance between them and scooped her up in his arms. Burying his head in the crook of her neck, taking in her scent. She exhaled deeply and smiled.

"So you haven't changed your mind then?"

He pulled back to look at her, a boyish grin daring to escape thin lips, "No." He patted his pocket, checking on the ring safety nestled there. "I have something for you."

"Oh?"

He pulled out the ring, holding it his hand now as he showed her, "It was my grandmothers." he paused for a moment, trying to read her, "I know you don't like the traditional sanctions of marriage... so if you'd rather not.."

The corner of Sara's lips pulled upward as she stared deeply into his soft blue eyes, barely looking at the ring, "I love it."

"Yeah?"

She simply nodded as he slipped it onto her finger, careful to not move her wrist splint. It fit surprisingly well for not having been sized. He laced his fingers in hers now.

"I feel...over joyed."

His voice was almost monotone, but she recognized the courage he was mustering do do all of this. To put himself out there to propose, to verbally express his feelings. This was way out of his typical comfort zone. She rewarded him by leaning in and kissing him softly at first. His hands roaming to the small of her back, up her shirt to feel her warm skin below his finger pads as she deepened the kiss.

Whatever was on the stove was quickly abandoned as the two made their way to the bed room, loosing a particle of clothing with each step.

They laid together now, her head on his chest, listening to his heart beat start to slow down. Ragged breathing causing their chests to rise and fall rapidly.

And then, he felt her flinch, hard. He propped himself up to look at her but could only see the top of her head.

"You okay?"

"Yeah." She managed, trying hard to mask the pain. As her ragged breathing began to subside, her still not fully healed rib raising and falling. Each breath causing a small flashback to its original injury. She closed her eyes tightly to will the thoughts away, but they kept creeping in.

Let me go back to three minutes ago. She pleaded internally, I was so happy just three minutes ago. But as it seemed to go recently, each time happiness filled Sara—which was always a direct result of being with Grissom—it somehow was snatched away with the sadness creeping in slowly.

Since the abduction, Grissom's presence had been enough to will away the bad thoughts, the enclosing depression. But now, laying in his arms, the memories were flooding in and breaking down the walls. His presence wasn't enough anymore, they depression was suffocating her slowly.

Her breathing evened out further, returning to normal now and the stabbing feeling subsided. Letting the assaulting memories flutter away. She could feel him stroking her hair with his hand, soft and gently touches gliding up and down her spine. He kissed the top of her head. The warm happy feeling began to bubble back up to the surface. Her ring clad hand draped over his abdomen, and for the first time, she took a good look at it.

She sat up and faced him now, pulling a bit of the sheet with her as she did, "Thank you." She smiled softly and continued at the sight of his furrowed brows, "My whole life, I never truly thought this could exist." She motioned between the two, "Two people could actually love and respect each other with no ulterior motives. I don't know—I guess I'm over talking again." She smirked slightly, "But I guess what I'm trying to say is... I'm overjoyed, too."

From there, the two enjoyed their night off together. They ate the dinner that Sara had prepared and took hank for a long walk around the neighborhood.

"So, my mother will be in town next week for a quick visit. She does some philanthropic work with the local deaf college."

"Gilbert College?"

He nodded, "You worked a case there once, a long time ago."

"Yes, that's when I learned you knew how to sign." She smirked.

"So, she's only in town for the day. Would you like to meet her? We can grab lunch." He was doing that thing again where the touches the fingertips of his hands together awkwardly, tentatively.

"Sure," She smiled, "That sounds nice." She paused a moment before turning to him, "Did your mother name you after that college?"

"Hu." He thought a moment himself, "I guess so."

There was a silence lingering between them as they continued to walk on, Hank yanking at his leash every now and again.

"You haven't been for a jog in a while." He mused out loud, "I'll go with you before shift if you'd like."

"Can't." She replied almost sadly.

"Can't?"

"Rib hasn't fully healed yet."

"Oh." Grissom felt ashamed to have not realized that, "I'm sorry—I—"

"No, no, you're fine." She waved it off as if it were nothing. But she felt the dull ache in her rib just thinking about it now. She though about telling him about that injury, about what really happened. She'd though about it on countless occasions, but always chickened out. He didn't need to know, she'd confirm to herself, it won't change anything if he knows. Best to just drop it.

But unbeknownst to Sara, Grissom knew. He knew of how that rib originally broke, how that small scar on her skin there really came about. How it wasn't just a birthmark like Sara had played off in the past. He knew because Crow had trusted him with that information. He had trusted Grissom to keep an eye on her, to tell him that story in hopes it would help him better help Sara. But what had he done with that information, he realized. He'd been so wrapped up on the fact that she was alive, that he didn't really take the time to think about her mental state. She seemed fine, he soothed himself. But then again, when did he ever really have a good idea of what Sara was thinking? He always seemed to be a step behind when it came to her feelings and thoughts. He sighed internally and looked at her. She seemed tired.

"Why don't we turn back home, I think Hank's had enough." Grissom placed a gentle hand on the small of her back and guided them back to the loft. The approached the loft to see a department issued Denali parked out front. The two exchanged a look before entering the building and walking up the stairs to their loft to find greg standing there knocking.

"Greg?" Greg's head snapped in their direction and he quickly dropped the fist he had clenched, ready to knock on the door once more. "What are you doing here?"

"Sara." The relief in his voice made him uneasy. "You weren't answering your phone."

"I must have left it inside..."

"Is everything alright?" Grissom chimed in.

"Yeah. I just—can I come in?"

"Of course." Sara moved passed him to unlock the door as Grissom unleashed Hank. Grissom and Hank made their way downstairs. He got Hank some food and fresh water as Sara and Greg took a seat on the couch.

"I'm sorry If I interrupted anything here... I didn't mean to just barge in."

"You're fine, Greg. What's going on?"

"I found a way to get you back on Grave."

"Greg..."

"Just hear me out. Catherine does your evals, you report directly to her. Ecklie can't deny she's qualified to do that. We'll keep the team on a two man rotation so that unless it's all hands on deck for a case, you and Grissom shouldn't ever overlap."

She sighed heavily, "I miss you guys too, I do." She paused a moment, "And it means a lot that you care enough to look into this, but—" She closed her eyes briefly, "That would have been possible had we not kept it a secret from the department. That option is no longer on the table."

"You should have just told him."

"Greg—"

Greg hung his head slightly in defeat until something caught his eye. He looked back up at Sara, eyes wide and bewildered, looking back and forth from her lap to her face.

"Sara..." His voice was a mere whisper now. She furrowed her brows in confusion before realizing. So much for that secret. She pulled her sleeve down over her cast and fingers. "When did..."

"Today." She spoke softly.

"I don't know what to say." Greg was speechless, dumbfounded.

"No one knows right now... I think we want to keep it that way for a little bit."

"Aren't you two sick of the lies, and hiding."

"We don't really think of it like that... we're just very private." She offered, but Greg didn't really buy it. He wrapped two arms around her and softly patted her back.

"Congratulations."

"Thanks." She smiled. But he could see the sadness through her eyes.

The day came when Grissom and Sara were set to have lunch with his mother, Betty. She stopped by his office, knocking gently on the door.

"Hey." He looked up and smiled.

She signed in reply, "Ready to head out?"

"Did you just sign?"

She smiled knowingly, "I tried to learn a little... I'm not very good and really only know some key phrases."

His boyish grin pulled at his lips as he signed in reply, "I'll drive."

They drove to the college together and walked through the campus green. Students sat along the courtyard, by the trees, books in hand signing to each other. It'd been a while since Sara was on an academic campus, she suddenly realized how much she missed being a student. Her attention diverted as she saw Grissom sign "hello" out of the corner of her eye. Her head turned to see a woman just a few strides away.

"Mother, this is Sara." He signed as they approached. He placed a hand on the small of her back as she picked up her hand to sign hello. Betty didn't reach for the warm gesture of a hug, nor the cold gesture of a handshake. She smile signed hello back.

Then confusion filled Betty's eyes, she took Sara's left hand in hers and looked to Grissom as she pointed to Sara's bare ring finger.

"Oh." Sara spoke as she pulled out the necklace tucked into her shirt, the ring dangling from the chain. She turned to Grissom, "Could you sign that it's safer this way for work. So not to get dirty?"

Grissom did as he was told, but Betty's confused look didn't dissipate. Not off to a great start.

The three walked to the restaurant just off campus and sat a small circular table. Grissom acted a good interpreter for the two as they got to know each other a bit better.

"It's so nice to finally meet you." Sara spoke, and used some limited signs to communicate, "I'm sorry I don't sign well."

Betty waved off the sentiment, offering, "It gets easier with time."

Betty then signed something a bit more quickly, too quickly for Sara to fully grasp what she ways saying. But Grissom quickly interjected, and for the first time that meal, didn't speak aloud what he was signing to his mother.

Betty continued though, and Sara made out a few quick signs: The sign for her name, 'Sara', the sign for 'mother' and 'father', the sign for 'where' and 'live' the sign for 'confused' the sign for 'children' and 'baby'. She then watched as Grissom quickly told his mother to drop it.

The car ride back to the lab was mostly silent until Sara finally spoke.

"It was nice to finally meet your mother." She smiled, "Thanks for inviting me."

Grissom shook his head, "She means well." He attempted to apologize.

She paused a moment, debating whether to ask him what she was thinking.. but finally curiosity took its hold, "Toward the beginning of the meal, what was she signing to you?"

Grissom kept his eyes on the road, fidgeting slightly, "She was asking about our future."

"Our future?"

"Um—You know. I'm an only child. She wanted to know if she should expect grandkids."

"Oh." Sara was now speechless. They had never really discussed that topic. At their age, with her childhood history, their commitment to work, she thought it was an unspoken agreement between the two.

"Do you want kids?" She turned to him, her voice shaky with hesitation.

"I don't think so." He turned to her briefly, his features soft, "I've never really given it much thought at all. Plus, at my age, with work never seeming to slow down." He paused a moment, "I'm happy with the way things are." He offered.

"Same." She spoke softly, "Did you ever want kids? When you were younger?"

"Again, I really never gave it much thought. I was always focused on school, science, work." He shrugged, "You?"

"I never wanted any." She smiled sadly, "My childhood kind of turned me off to the whole idea."

He placed a comforting hand on her knee as he pulled into the Lab garage.