Grissom breathed in deeply. That calming lavender scent filling his nostrils. He smiled through closed eyes, feeling her weight around him, knowing now it was not just a dream. Her head laid on his chest, arm draped lazily across his bare abdomen. He kissed the top of her head, feeling her soft hair against his bearded face.
The sun filtered through the light weight curtains of the bedroom, birds chirping outside. He turned his head toward the window, it's view covered in Asclepias Tuberosa that he'd planted to attract butterflies to the garden. He laid there for a while, not moving a muscle so as not to wake Sara. He felt more content in this moment then he could ever remember.
Soon though, he did feel her stir against him. "Good morning." He whispered and watched as Sara leaned her head up toward him to look into her eyes. A smile spread over her face, "Good morning." She breathed back before nuzzling her head back against his chest.
They spent a lazy morning together of bare limbs intertwining, smiling kisses and gazing into eyes. Eventually they made their way to the kitchen and made breakfast together, just like they had countless times before. It really did feel like no time had passed at all.
"Sara." He spoke turning to her as he pour orange juice into two glasses, "I uh—" She watched his eyes dart nervously.
"What is it?" She pressed softly, something she rarely did to him. Usually she'd let him gather his thoughts in his own pace. But she was feeling anxious at his mannerisms now.
"I wanted to apologize. I realize I never really have and I—"
She shook her head, "We were both at fault Gil."
"I let you go." He spoke in a voice so small and ashamed that she had to strain to hear him.
"And I let you." She offered, "It took two people to bring us to that point but, I'm ready to leave all of that in the past if you are."
He smiled, "I am." They sat down and enjoyed their breakfast together. A simple one of eggs, fruit, toast and juice. Sara stared out the window at the wild garden Grissom had planted. She smiled, knowing that he'd specifically and strategically planted certain species to attract his favorite insects. As they continued their breakfast, Sara could tell there was still something on Grissom's mind. Something bothering him.
"What's on your mind?" She asked.
"Oh–I..." He realized that he had no poker face when it came to Sara—something he'd somehow forgotten. He took a breath in to steady himself, "I need to tell you something but, I'm afraid it will upset you."
"Okay." Sara cleared her throat trying her best to brace herself. Her mind raced with the countless possibilities of what could be unnerving him.
"We uh—you see, we never actually got divorced."
"Excuse me?" Her eyebrows shot up so high he was surprised they didn't jump off her face.
"Well, you sent back the papers but then, they got destroyed on my boat—a wave," He added at the end in way of explaining, "... and I—"
"You didn't want to put me through signing them again?"
"Yeah."
He watched as her face changed expressions, traveling through her thought process until she finally shrugged and said, "Well that makes this easier now, doesn't it?"
He smiled, she was so simple. So easy to be with. So uncomplicated in so many regards. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." She smiled widely.
"Okay then." He looked down at his eggs and then back up to her, a small smile placid on his face.
November 2015
Grissom and Sara were out to sea. They'd decided to continue to work with the organization Grissom had been involved with for at least three more months before deciding on where they should refocus their time. There was ongoing talks of conservationist efforts, finding ways to devote themselves to the environment and the betterment of humankind. All of the options on the table excited them both greatly.
Grissom looked around the boat from the top where he was steering. Sara had been standing next to him minutes earlier before suddenly retreating down the stairs. He looked behind him, wanting to point out a group of sea otter's along the shoreline to her.
"Sara?" He spotted her clenching the boat's side railing and heaving over it. He quickly threw the boat into auto pilot and rushed down the stairs to her side, placing a gently hand on her back, "Honey, are you okay?"
She heaved again, expelling her stomach contents to the ocean water.
"Sorry." she finally spoke as she straightened herself out.
"Sea sick?"
"I don't think so. I've never been queasy on boats before." She thought a moment, "I think I have a stomach bug. I haven't been feeling great for a few days now."
Grissom nodded, "Well, we're on our way back now. You should take the week to rest up on land." Sara nodded in agreement, causing Grissom to worry. It was very out of character for her to not put up a fight on a topic like this. "You sure you're okay?" His soft blue eyes squinted with worry.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Really." She nodded again. Then he watched as her face lost its color again. She whipped back around and heaved once more over the side of the boat.
Grissom retreated back up to the top of the boat and turned the boat around, knowing Sara was in no mood to gaze at sea otters. He redirected their path back to the Santa Monica seaport.
Just an hour later they docked. Sara had continued to be sick for most of the ride back. Luckily, it seemed to subside by the time they got int the cab, headed back to the cottage.
A week later and Sara was still experiencing random waves of nausea.
"Maybe you should go to the doctor. Just to be safe." Grissom pushed.
"I'm fine, Gil."
This exchange happened so many times that they both lost count. It wasn't until another week past, when the nausea still wasn't subsiding that Sara caved in. "Alright." She threw her hands up, "I made an appointment with a primary care doctor for tomorrow."
"Good." He'd kissed her on top her head and returned to working in the garden. She watched as he flipped through an old and used gardening book with little notes written all over the margins. She leaned in to get a better look at it, noticing it was not his handwriting.
"Whats this?" she asked flipping through the pages.
"It was my fathers." He spoke, not breaking his attention from the task at hand. "I've been trying to recreate the garden he'd built when I was young. Of course, with a few modifications." He motioned with his head to the plants and flowers against the side of the house that attracted butterflies.
She smiled and kelt down next to him, "Need help?"
"I'd love some." He glowed, handing her a platers shovel and a small sack of seeds.
The next morning, Sara slipped out of bed early to make it to her appointment. As she finished getting ready she contemplated not going, she was feeling completely fine. But as she went to put down the car keys a wave of nausea hit her again. She sprinted to the bathroom, making it just in time. Okay. She looked up in silent resignation.
Sara drove 20 minutes to get to the doctor, silently praying the whole time not to get nauseous. Luckily, the feeling stayed at bay.
Grissom woke to find Sara was already gone. He got up and stretched the sleep away and decided to spend the rest of the morning in the garden. He breathed in the morning air, letting it fill his lungs with the sweet smell of nectar and flowers. Sara had been with him in Santa Monica for almost two months now. In that time, they'd moved the rest of their belongings from the house in Vegas to Santa Monica, she'd accompanied him on a few sea missions for the shark preservationists organization, and the two had discussed more solidified plans for how they'd like to spend their days.
Sara had secured a researcher position with Santa Monica College in their environmental conservationist department while Grissom had joined an organization in the private sector with a similar cause. Devoting this next chapter of their lives to a new application of the sciences they both loved felt right. Both were also looking forward to having the structure of a job in their lives again. While these last couple of months had been enjoyable and relaxing, working in the garden, going out on boat at their leisure, they new that it was time to join something greater.
Grissom was just turning off the hose, having watered the plants, when he saw Sara pull into the drive way and get out of the car.
"Good morning." He smiled as he dropped the garden hose and approached her. She still looked a little pail. "How'd it go?"
"Good, good." She said a bit absently.
"So? What do you have? Just a stomach bug?"
"No." She paused and looked at him, taking in his appearance. His well rested face, soft blue eyes, sun kissed skin. Dirt caked on his cheek, wearing that goofy straw hat. She bit her lower lip, "It's a parasite."
"Oh?" He moved in closer to her, concern in his eyes, "What is it? Balantidium coli? Naegleria fowleri? Did you get it while we were on the boat?"
"No, nothing like that." She smiled, trying hard to keep her composure here. "The latin word for it would be gravidity."
Sara watched as he thought for a minute, trying to piece it together. "Gravidity?" He repeated, "That just means heavy." His brows scrunched with concern.
"Okay, another term for it would be gestation." She pursed her lips in a smile and watched as Grissom dropped the gardening gloves he held in his hand. His straw hat falling to the grass as his hand went through his messy hair.
"You're pregnant?" She could tell it wasn't fully registered with him yet. His voice small and confused, his eyes searching hers. "You're pregnant?" He repeated. This time she nodded, smiling wider now. "You're pregnant." Third time, disbelief still laced heavily in his voice.
"That's what they tell me."
"Sara. You're pregnant." His voice much more enthusiastic now, having heard it allowed enough for it to really sync in for him. He scooped her up in his arms and twirled her around, hugging her tightly as she laughed. When he finally put her down he took her lips in his and kissed her deeply.
"You still want to have a child?" She asked through a smile, knowing the answer.
"I named my boat Ishmael." Is all he responded with. That boyish grin that made her melt was plastered to his face. It looked like it may never come off. He kissed her again and again and again. Feel such an immense, overwhelming joy take over his body.
"How far along are you?"
"Seven weeks." She said a bit bashfully, "I should have known."
"I'm finding it hard to wrap my head around this." He spoke honestly. "Seven weeks ago I thought I'd never see you again. And now here we are, about to have a family." As he spoke he realize that that first night together must have been when she'd conceived.
She nodded, feeling the same level of awe he felt—just not having the words to express it.
"You're okay with all of this?" He spoke a bit hesitantly now, knowing she'd never bee fully sold on the idea of kids.
He watched as she nodded softly, "Gil." His names slipped off her tongue, "There is nothing else I want more." He pulled her into his embrace, holding her there tightly. Swaying her back and forth in small, rhythmic movements.