Sara left the bathroom after straightening her hair and as she did, she remembered her conversation with Catherine that morning. Catherine had asked her how her hair stayed so healthy and beautiful despite the straighter being used every day. She'd shared her secret of washing it, conditioning it, and using a heat protectant. She also didn't continuously straighten her hair, she occasionally went to work with her hair wavy or curly, the weather being the deciding feature for the look.

Grissom sat on the end of the bed tying his shoe and she smiled as she pulled on her locket. The one he'd given her for their year anniversary. "You do remember that we're going out on Saturday, right? Me, Casey, Catherine, Sofia, and Wendy."

"I remember." He spoke without looking at her and as it was common, she took no offense with it. "Next weekend we leave for Los Angeles. I let Catherine know already and she said to ignore any calls from Ecklie, she'd handle it."

Walking around the bed, Sara put a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "I can't wait to meet your mother in person. Video chat with her is interesting at times because I confuse signs due to the angles."

"I have something for you." He stood up and walked to his nightstand and opened it, removing something from inside. "I just hope you won't rush out of here."

Sara watched him turn around and hold out a small velvet blue box. It was a small jewelry box, a ring, or a charm for one of her necklaces. Taking it gently, she opened it to see a ring that was so simple in design but also so perfect for her. The ring was gold that had a small rectangular diamond, laid in the band just so that the gold of the band held it in place. The diamond laid flat and wouldn't cause any issues with her wearing gloves or get caught on anything when she worked on the garage.

"Is this a proposal?" She finally looked up at him.

"If you want it to be, it can be. I just saw it and thought of you." Sara's attention went to the ring and everything they'd discussed and made decisions on.

"You really want to marry me?" It was asked curiously.

Grissom smiled as he thought over the answer to the question. "I want a life with you Sara. Married or not. Baby or no baby. If it's just us for the next two, three decades, I can say I'll have lived the best life I could imagine."

"I'll marry you without reservation." She stated as she began pulling him close by his arm. Sara kissed him and they stayed invested in each other's lips and tongue until the threat of not breathing divided them. Sara knew if they didn't have to be at work, they'd have returned to bed. He always chose the evenings to give her things or sweet talk her and it annoyed her when he did. They should be celebrating an engagement, not working.

"Just to be clear." She spoke as she watched him put the ring on her left ring finger. "I hate that you do this before work. I'm unable to persuade you to take me back to bed for celebratory sex."

Knowing where her mind was, he chuckled. "After work my Dear." He ran his hands over her own, thumbing the ring as he did. "I'll even promise to hold you down and…" Despite not anyone else being in the room besides Hank, he whispered the vulgarity he rarely used into her ear.

Blush rose to Sara's face as he spoke and when he pulled away, she glanced at his face. "I'll hold you to that."


The breakroom was chaotic when Sara arrived after collecting messages and assignments from Judy. Grissom was in his office trying to find a specific file that needed to be reviewed due to court occurring in the upcoming days. Catherine was trying to read a book and Sara knew it was a trashy romance novel. The redhead had no qualms about reading the books out in the open. Nick, Warrick, and Greg were playing a video game on a new gaming system and she only knew it was new because it wasn't the old one that had existed.

"We're engaged." Sara stated and the book went down to the table immediately. "He asked this morning, in his usual roundabout way."

"Let me see that ring." Catherine inquired and Sara held out her hand. "Who picked it out?"

Sara smiled at the idea of Grissom shopping for rings, it was a sight she wished she'd seen. "He did."

Catherine nodded. "It's rather small. Do I need to teach him how to shop for engagement rings?"

"I actually like it." Sara stated as she pulled her hand back. "It won't catch on my gloves or anything else. Besides, I'm not someone that likes huge rings or necklaces. Small and simple are my tastes and he knew what to look for."

Realizing the ring was what Sara wanted, the supervisor leaned back in her chair. "So this weekend when we go out, I'm ordering a round of shots for us to celebrate your engagement. You won't let me do anything else so a round of shots it is."

"One shot Catherine, anymore and I'm blotto. Beer or wine are the only thing I can drink and stay somewhat sober. Do you not remember my 'vacation' two years ago?" She used her fingers as quotation marks. Due to Catherine being her supervisor and having her file, the redhead knew her time off two years before had been after being pulled over drunk after dinner out with the boys.

"Ahh, right." The supervisor nodded. "Okay, no shots but we're taking you out to breakfast one day. Just us girls and some mimosas at the Venetian."

Sara smirked, "that I can get behind."

"Good."


The weekend came quick and Sara found herself getting ready to go out with her friends. It was strange to have friends, even if one was her boss, but either way she was happy. Her life was so different from the years before where she was a loner without a life. Instead she was engaged to a man who loved her just as much as she loved him. She had friends she was able to spend time with and work didn't control her life anymore. Grissom leaned against the bathroom doorway watching as she did her make up. Her attire she knew drew his attention as she wore a blue halter dress with a blue teardrop necklace that reached just under her clavicle.

"I'm considering keeping you at home."

Smiling as she finished her mascara, Sara turned to him for a half moment. "You'd be in for a fight." Opening the top drawer of the vanity, she removed a clip that existed among the hair ties and make up. Pulling out her brush also, Sara used it to brush her hair into a chignon.

Grissom walked over and took the clip from counter, sliding it into the place Sara held together with her fingers. Once her hair was up, he kissed her shoulder over the tattoo that was finally healed. Wrapping his arms around her, he watched her through the mirror and saw her smile grow. "I want you to have fun but be safe."

"I'm not drinking anything other than wine so I'll be fine."

"Just don't have too much fun."

Sara turned around and put her hands on his shoulders. "I will tell you this. When I get home, if you're still awake I will show you fun." Cupping his cheeks, Sara leaned in and kissed him. "I love you."

"'What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful.'"

Sara chuckled. "I like that book."

The sound of Sara's phone beeping from the bedside table made her push past him. He followed her out of the bathroom to see her checking her phone. "Catherine?"

"You know it." Sara grabbed her rarely used purse from the top of the dresser. "Don't wait up for me." Smiling, she brushed the tendrils of hair that she purposely left loose from the chignon. "Unless I'm too enticing, that is."

Grissom chuckled. "You are my Dear."

"I know I am." She shrugged, "to you at least."


The bar was packed but the five women managed to find a table. Catherine had taken one look at Sara and found herself astonished that she could dress up like she was. In fact all four women were shocked by the cleanup Sara was capable of. Sofia wore a red cocktail dress while Catherine and Casey had on tight black pants and nice tank tops. Wendy was just comfortable doing jeans and blue top and none of them would tell her she was not dressed for the occasion. The fact she was there was a success as it had taken several requests from all of them for Wendy to join.

"Okay, so how the hell is that under all the pants and shirts I see every day." Catherine asked Sara, "seriously, do you save it all for Grissom?"

Sara smirked, "well I rarely dress up but when I do, I know how to make a statement." She shrugged, "plus I had to go shopping after Gil cooked for me so much I went up two sizes. All new clothes and dresses. Most of my clothes I'd worn since Berkeley failed to fit me anymore. After that, I started cooking."

Casey pointed to Sara. "She's an amazing cook. Every time we have breakfast, I get spoiled."

"Two years ago, Sara couldn't boil water. Her suspensions worked in her favor, at least when it comes to cooking." Catherine chuckled, "so you're telling me, you gained weight after he cooked so you kicked him out of the kitchen?"

Sara picked up her wine, "of course. I mean, the man knows when to back off when I put my foot down." She smirked, "when I call him by his full name, he usually tells me 'whatever it is, I didn't do it' but he indeed do something."

"Fights must be epic." Sofia told her. "How bad? From yelling fit to cops being called?"

"Fifteen months, two fights. First, we settled within two to three hours and the second, under an hour." Watching as expressions ranged from shock to confusion, she continued. "We don't fight often, but if we do, it's a very short window between fight and make up."

Wendy shook her head to clear her mind. "You're kidding, right?"

"No."

"Right, you two spent a lot of time talking before you started dating." Catherine stated once she remembered. "How long is a while?"

Sara shrugged, "two months and then we had our first date. He took me to the body farm and we spent all day going over the various cases before having dinner."

"Body farm?" Wendy seemed confused.

"Anthropology and forensic students study human decomp and decay over periods of time. The location is nicknamed the body farm." Casey explained. "It's not pretty either. Bodies exposed to the elements or animals, or both. Most times it's what separates the CSIs from the lab techs. That's if your university or college program has access to one."

"And that's a date for you?" Wendy asked.

Catherine answered before Sara could. "For them two, about as close to romance as they get."

"Excuse me, I get romantic and sweet notes all the time. Poetry too."

"Okay, explain that." Sofia requested. "Poetry?"

Sara glanced down at her glass. "Who has heard the rumors about my family?" She looked up to see everyone looking at her. "All of you?"

"Yeah, everyone knows your mom killed your dad." Wendy stated, "but when someone asked him about it, Hodges told the tech to keep his mouth shut. If anyone even uttered a word about it, they'd regret it." Wendy sighed, "he sticks his head in everyone's business but for some reason on this topic, he's bitten people's heads off quicker than I've ever seen. I think it's because you were a kid when it happened."

Sofia glanced at Sara. "Give me names and they'll be arrested for harassment."

"I appreciate the offer but it's already been brought up in court once." Sara twirled the stem of her wine glass. "The phrase 'I love you' was used like a weapon. So, believing those words are very hard for me. Knowing this, Gil finds quotes that are full of love. I may say 'I love you' but he always has quotes for me in return. I have one tattooed on my shoulder."

"Really?" Wendy asked and Sara turned a fraction so the tattoo showed. "Okay, I get the phrase but the years? Why two years?"

"There's a private meaning between us regarding those dates but I can say it's the year we met and the year we started dating."

Catherine pressed Sara's shoulder so she turned completely so they could all see it. "Who said the quote."

"Not my usual area of study but I know it comes from the Bible. Song of Solomon 3:4. I'm getting another quote on my side in two months. The artist said he preferred waiting six months between tattoos so my body can heal."

"I didn't even realize you were one to get tattoos." It was Casey who spoke up.


Sara turned back around to face them. "Enough about me, what's going on with you Sofia? I heard a certain CSI took you on a date."

"Nick? Warrick? Greg?" Catherine immediately zoned in on the blonde. "Which of the boys?"

Sofia looked embarrassed as she took a sip of her wine. "Let me just preference this by saying I wasn't expecting the romantic date we went on. Apparently, despite what everyone thinks, Greg Sanders can be very romantic."

"Wasn't expecting that name." Catherine stated.

Wendy leaned in, "what happened?"

"Candlelit dinner on roof of his building. He actually cooked the meal; I could tell from some of the dishes. Dinner was good. Conversation was good. Sex was good."

Wendy shook her head. "I so need to find a guy."

"Me too." Casey told her. "Catherine, you looking to date?"

The redhead waved them off. "I'm good for now."

"What about Detective Vartann?" Sara inquired, "I could have sworn there was a spark."

"Alright, the woman who sat holding a torch for six years can see herself out of that conversation." Catherine smirked as she spoke to Sara. "You have no room to talk about sparks, Mrs. Grissom."

Sara quirked her lips. "Even when we get married, I plan to keep my maiden name. You guys don't have to call me that."

Casey nudged Sara. "It's a joke Sara. They aren't being serious."

"You should at least hyphenate your name." Wendy suggested, "his name carries a lot of weight in the forensic world and having that connection is a good thing. Protection if you're ever questioned. They'll think twice before touching you, academically at least."

After ten minutes, Sara stood up. "I'm going to get some water so give me five minutes." She pointed at Catherine. "No trying to plan a wedding."

"No promises."


Sara made her way to the bar and stood there waiting to get the bartender's attention. He eventually made his way over to her. "What can I get you?"

"Water."

He nodded. "Name on the tab?" The man bent down to grab a water bottle behind the bar as he asked.

"Sidle, and I'd like to close the tab." Once the bottle was in her hand and she'd handed over enough to cover her tab, she smiled. "Thank you."

"Sara?" Sara turned and found the last person she expected to see. Her ex stood beside her at the bar.

"Hank." She brushed back one of the loose tendrils of hair. "Hi."

She watched him look her up and down, likely because he never saw her dressed up. Of course, work still dominated her life when she dated him, the whole time she was the second woman but a glance at his hand told her he wasn't married. The woman he was dating probably learned another way about Sara. That or they hadn't gotten married in the three years since she'd told him she'd see him around. She hadn't and while thankful, she wondered why.

"It's so strange seeing you in a bar."

"Probably because I worked more than anything else when we were together." Together was stretching it. They had dated a year and she knew next to nothing about him. "I thought I'd be seeing you on the job but never saw you again."

He nodded. "I was encouraged to switch to the day shift."

"Encouraged?"

"Yeah, your boss. I guess he was on a case or something but he found me in the hall at Desert Palm one day. Apparently, he and your team took offense to what I did. While what I did was wrong, I got threatened heavily by him and that Nick guy and encouraged to switch shifts."

She nodded, "they're protective."

"Your boss said I made a mistake thinking hurting you would leave me without facing consequences. Told me stay away from you or I'd heavily regret it." He shook his head, "he's got issues, your boss."

"My boss is female." Sara told him, pushing back the tendril of hair on the other side of her face.

"He said he was your boss. Grissom, I remember his name from a couple cases where he was priority."

Sara nodded, "he was, not anymore. I won't apologize for my team being protective of me. I had a lot going on and you just were one of the straws that caused a cascade of issues to develop." Her lips quirked to the side before continuing. "Look, that was years ago. I've moved on and I hope you have."

He motioned to her hand. "You're married now. Congrats. I hope he's a great guy."

"The love of my life." She spoke sincerely.


Catherine caught her arm and narrowed her eyes at seeing Hank. "Well, this isn't a good scene."

"You were the other CSI there at the café." Hank stated.

"Yeah, I was." Catherine glanced at Sara, who stood with a bottle of water. "Hey, I should get you home. I have no doubt Grissom is waiting up worried."

Sara chuckled. "Yeah, I promised him I'd be home by midnight. We got a lot of cleaning to do before we head out to Los Angeles next weekend." She turned back to Hank, "bye."

"Sara, come on." Casey waved from a few feet away. "You're driving tonight and I'm exhausted."

"Casey, you're always exhausted." Sara told her as she caught the blonde's arm, "coming from an insomniac, that's not a compliment."

Catherine turned back to Hank once Sara was with Casey. "Talk or come near Sara again and they'll never find your body. This is your last warning. Grissom and Nick already gave you one years ago and now three years later I find you talking to her."

"What's going on here?" Sofia was the one to ask. "He bothering you, Catherine."

"No, this asshole dated Sara for a year a few years back. Except Sara was the other woman." Catherine shook her head. "Grissom and Nick made a point three years ago but I find him talking to her here."

Sofia took a step into Hank's space and he backed up. "Come near Sara Sidle Grissom again and I will personally book you for harassment. Once I do that, the paperwork will be lost and you will be a guest of Clark County for as long as it takes to refile it. I guarantee you that you will become the other guy and it won't be as nice as Sara has been to you."

As she stepped back, she turned and glanced at Catherine. "I'd take it under advisement, her mom is a lot higher up in the LVPD hierarchy."


Once Catherine caught up to Sofia, she smirked. "Sara Sidle Grissom?"

"You said Grissom made a point; well I wanted him to know that Sara has moved on with the same person who was protective of her. Plus I overheard her say Grissom was the love of her life while I was closing my tab. It's true and I wanted it thrown in his face."

"He did a number on her. Not physical but emotional and after Nick said Grissom went off on the guy, I found myself shocked. Nick told me everything and I can honestly say Grissom being even a foot near violent never entered my mind. Until I remembered how protective he is of Sara, even from the start. He'll refute it but even before she stepped off that plane years ago, she was his favorite."

Sofia seemed confused. "Near violent?"

"Nick said Hank tried to defend himself but Grissom slammed his hand against the wall by Hank's head. Told him to move shifts and never talk to Sara again or face consequences. That hurting one of his team isn't acceptable, but hurting Sara was another sin entirely."

"Another sin entirely?"

Catherine caught Sofia's eyes. "Those were the words Nick said he used."

"He loved her even then."

"Oh let's be honest, he's always loved her." Catherine stated. "And she him."


Sara heard Grissom puttering around the office as she walked down the stairs. Her shoes were in the hand and she'd taken her hair down in the car. Leaving him to what he was doing, she decided to get ready for bed. Exhaustion wound around her so tightly she just wanted to wipe off her make up, get into pajamas, and then relax in bed. The conversation of romance and sex before she left would be put on the back burner until the next day or sometime during the week.

"Hey Babe." Sara spoke as she walked into the office ten minutes later in her usual cotton shorts and tank top. He sat at the desk with his glasses on going over a timeline, she recognized it as one that he would use when consulting with other labs. "Hey, can we talk?"

He turned to her, "are you alright?"

"I'm fine but I'd like to talk. Join me in bed?"

Grissom nodded and stood up, leaving the paperwork on the desk. Sara knew it wouldn't go anywhere and even if it was faxed from another lab, she was likely cleared to see whatever the case was. It took ten minutes for him to get ready for bed but once he was ready, he joined her. Their Hank was already at the end of the bed on Sara's side. Sara rolled over and turned off her bedside lamp, leaving his on.

When she turned back towards him, he was watching her as he lay propped up on his arm. Sara moved over so he rolled onto his back, taking her into his arms. "What's going through your head?" He asked as he kissed her crown. "Something is bothering you."

"Not bothering me per say. Just surprised when Catherine spoke to me about what you did regarding EMT Hank."

He rubbed his hand against her shoulder. "Catherine told Nick who let it slip to me by accident. You and I had our issues but no one hurts my team without being warned of the consequences. Hurting you brought out a rage in me that I barely managed to contain. I could stand by and watch as someone made you happy but hurting you was unacceptable. I loved you even then and it was painful knowing he hurt you. He strung you along over a year and would have continued if not for that accident."

Sara nodded against his chest. "You couldn't console me so you tried to protect me. Pressured him to take the day shift."

"I'm surprised Catherine told you all this after three years."

"I ran into him at the bar." Sara felt as his hand run up and down her arm but paused for a fraction of a second. "He didn't do anything other than tell me what you and Nick did. I told him I had moved on and he should've too. He assumed I was married and I didn't contradict him, didn't want to." She pulled her head back a fraction so their eyes met. "Trust Sofia and Catherine to get territorial. It was Sofia who took it a step further threatening him and tacked your name onto mine to make it very clear who I was theoretically married to. I hugged her when I dropped her off at home."

"I'm sorry it happened."

"I'm not." She smiled, "seeing him reminded me who I have at home waiting for me at the end of a long shift. Someone I know everything about, who loves me without conditions. Someone who would never use me." Moving onto her arm to look at him, she smiled. "You're the love of my life Gil Grissom and I wouldn't have my life be any different."


Once she was resting against him once again, Grissom kissed her head. "Other than that did you have fun?"

"It's strange having friends but it was fun to just hang out with people who understand me. I've never had girlfriends before and I'm glad I finally do. Catherine is planning a brunch sometime next month at the Venetian to celebrate my engagement. Girls only."

"I'm sure that will be interesting."

Sara chuckled, "I have different interesting news you'll be shocked over."

"Hmm, what is that?"

"Our baby boy is growing up." She spoke playfully. "Greg made Sofia a candlelit dinner on his roof sometime in the past few weeks. Apparently, he and Sofia are planning another date soon."

"That's definitely different. I could see Nick dating Sofia but Greg, I can't picture it."

Sara smirked even though he couldn't see it. "She had that dreamy gaze for a half a second talking about it. I actually think she likes him and Greg is Greg. The fact someone like Sofia is paying attention to him, he must be over the moon. You should ask him what he plans to do next. Show interest."

"Is that a request or a prompt?"

"A suggestion." Sara kissed his chest and closed her eyes seconds before a yawn made itself known. "Tired."

Rubbing her arm a fraction, Grissom kissed her crown. "Sleep, I'm right behind you." He reached up and turned out the bedside light so the room was dark.


I don't know how that became that long a chapter. It just happened. Next they head to Los Angeles to see Grissom's mom.

Let me know what you think of this chapter if you so choose.

Also if you're interested, I posted a link in my profile to the website that has the ring I describe in this chapter.