A/N: Back in August, I knew my life was about to take a complete 180, but I did not expect it to spin out of control as quickly as it did. Nothing bad or too crazy, just buying my first house and a baby (not mine, my sister's, but still, a new baby living with you kind of takes over life). Next thing I know, it's the holidays. And now, January, and finally I have time to write again. Truthfully, it's been a really nice break. I needed a breather.

I'm finishing this story off with a song by Hozier called "Arsonist's Lullabye". The song inspired the back half of this story, especially the scene in Hannibal's basement, and thought it'd be a great song to wrap up the story.

Thanks again everyone for reading!

Warning: M rating

Epilogue

Four Months Later

~"When I was a child, I heard voices

Some would sing and some would scream—"~

The banquet hall in the J. Edger Hoover building—the headquarters for the FBI— Washington D.C. was packed with agents, their spouses, and civilian work colleagues. Tables littered with glasses and plates, as Christmas decorations flickered and glistened from the lights of the chandeliers that hung from the ceiling. As the Director of the BAU, Pearsall, stood at the podium, Gil's eyes were on his team. A table had been reserved for all of them: Catherine, Nick, Warrick, Greg, Sara, and even Brass.

Brass had surprised them all when he arrived in a tux. Warrick and Nick wore regular suits and ties, though Warrick had undid his tie hours ago and it was stuffed into his suit jacket. Catherine had a sparkling black and silver dress that turned many men's heads, which she gladly recuperated.

Then, there was Sara. She wore a simple black dress that had a slit along the left leg. He'd helped her zip it up in the hotel room.

~"You soon find you have few choices

I learned the voices died with me—"~

"Here, let me help you with that," he said as he stepped up behind Sara in the bathroom. His hand went to the zipper on the back of the dress.

As he zipped it up, his eyes found hers in the mirror. She was beautiful. It wasn't often she got to dress up, so given the opportunity Sara decided to go all out. Her and Catherine had a spa day. Then they went to a beauty salon where they got their hair done and manicures. He thought she was gorgeous without the makeup and nail polish, but she said she wanted it. It made her feel sexy. Wrapping his arms around her, he pulled her close as his lips found her neck. He heard a deep sultry sigh and it went right to his groin.

Turning in his arms, she reached up and took the two ends of the bowtie in-between her delicate fingers. "Are you doing okay? You seem pretty nervous about attending a banquet."

He tilted his head up as she tied his bowtie as he said, "I'm not nervous."

She smirked. He wasn't fooling her one bit. She finished tying the bowtie and kissed his neck before moving aside as he regarded himself in the mirror to make sure the bowtie was straight and the black cummerbund was smoothed out under his tuxedo jacket.

He walked back into the room and saw her slipping on the black heels. His eyes trailed down her body, and saw her left leg through the slit in the black dress. His hand went to her left thigh as he pulled her close and kissed her lips. She sighed into the kiss as he wrapped his arm around her and lifted her up.

Her legs wrapped around his waist as his hand traveled over her thigh ass. She started laughing as she pulled away and said, "We just got dressed."

"Can't help myself. You're irresistible," he said into her neck as he eased her down onto the bed. As his lips attacked her neck, the phone in the room rang.

"Babe," Sara said with a chuckle as she reached for the phone. He didn't let up as she grabbed up the receiver and answered, "Sidle. Thanks, we'll be right down." She hung up the phone and told him, "Car's here."

He groaned into her neck, causing more laughter, before standing and holding out his hand for her to take. Pulling her up to her feet, he smoothed down her dress as he took a deep breath.

~"When I was a child, I'd sit for hours

Staring into open flame—"~

"You don't have to be nervous."

"I've never been comfortable with these sorts of things."

"It always amazes me how you can lecture for days in front of a classroom, but the moment you have to give a speech, you freeze up."

Shrugging, he said, "It's different. I guess that, uh…I don't like the recognition. I'm happy for you guys, though. You all worked hard."

"So did you. You saved my life."

As he looked at her, he felt the love he had for her well up into his chest. It'd been months since she'd been taken and held by Lecter. Her body had healed, but he'd heard her cries in her sleep, felt her tears on his neck as he body trembled from a nightmare. He almost lost her. "You saved mine."

~"Something in it had a power

Could barely tear my eyes away—"~

The tears swelled in her eyes as she was taken back by his words. He shook his head slightly as he stared into her eyes. There was a familiar pull in her heart; one he'd never thought would be there again. But, seeing the woman in front of him, he knew his future. In her eyes, he saw the rest of his life. He wanted to spend the rest of his days wrapped up in her arms. Whatever life threw at him, no matter the journey, he knew she'd be right there with him.

"Marcel Proust wrote that 'Love is space and time measured by the heart'. Sara, I've known for eight years how much I love you. My heart doesn't need anymore time to know that it wants to marry you."

She was nearly breathless as she said, "What?"

"I want to marry you." Her eyes rose in shock for a second as he realized what he'd said. Fear gripped his chest as he held his breath waiting for her answer.

With tears stinging her eyes, she said, "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah," she said again with more enthusiasm and less shock as her hands grabbed his face. "Let's do it."

The air left his lungs as he said, "Really?"

"Yes, of course, I love you."

He gave a nod as he leaned down to kiss her as her arms wrapped around his neck. Resting his head against hers, he said, "I love you too." Her eyes roamed over his body in the tux; her hands followed. Her intent was very obvious. "The car is waiting."

~"All you have is your fire

And the place you need to reach—"~

With great restraint, they moved away from one another. She grabbed the hotel keycard along with her purse while he grabbed his wallet and reading glasses. Putting both in his pockets, he followed her out of the hotel room. Once in the elevator, she took his hand in hers. He held onto it like it was a lifeline. Walking into the lobby, hand-in-hand, they met up with the rest of the team. Several eyes rose in surprise upon seeing them holding hands. It seemed that Greg already knew, along with Catherine and, of course, Jim.

Warrick was the least bothered as pulled Sara into a hug, telling her, "Look at you, girl, looking all happy. It looks good…" His hand clasped his shoulder as he said, "on the both of you."

He didn't need anyone's blessing to be with Sara, but he couldn't help but feel the gratitude at knowing his friends were happy for them.

Nick grinned wide as he asked, "How long has this been going on?"

Sara answered, "It'll be a year in two months."

"Should've known, with the way you two've been acting around each other," Warrick said as he held out an arm for Catherine. "We've got a thing goin' on," he said as he gestured to Catherine.

Catherine huffed out a laugh and swatted Warrick with her clutch. "Don't you wish?"

"I wish. You wish. We need to stop wishing—"

As Warrick and Catherine continued their bantering out of the hotel, he once again took Sara's hand in his as they followed everyone out of the hotel. Out on the street, a limousine was waiting.

~"Don't you ever tame your demons—"~

Clapping tore his attention away from Sara as he looked to the stage and saw his son walking up to the podium. Kevin needed the use of a cane to walk, but hopefully not for too much longer. As Kevin leaned against it to receive the medal awarded to him, he smiled as he leaned against the back wall and clapped along with the rest of the attendees.

Kevin took over the podium once Pearsall stepped away and as his son addressed everyone in the room, he felt a sense of pride well up inside. It was nearly overwhelming. He'd never thought that Kevin would be back in his life, but now that he did have his son back there was a sense of completeness that hadn't been there before. Between Keven and Sara, he felt like crying. It was odd, because he couldn't remember ever feeling like he wanted to cry over something like love. But there it was; an ache that grew inside his chest as his eyes went from his son back to Sara.

Her eyes searched him out and when they found him in the back of the room, they lit up. Smiling, he pushed off the wall and headed towards the front of the room. He stopped behind Sara, gave her a kiss, and then headed up to the stage as he son was handed another medal to present. Only it had his name on it, and it wasn't Will Graham, but Gil Grissom.

~"But always keep 'em on a leash—"~

Two Months Later

~"When I was 16 my senses fooled me

Thought gasoline was on my clothes—"~

There was a coldness tickling his legs, but his chest was comfortably warm. He felt content with lying right where he was and never getting up. A hot breath skidded over his throat as his arms wrapped tighter around the woman who was draped over his left side. The silky-smooth cloth of her pajamas teased at his fingertips, spending a shiver down his spine.

He had yet to open his eyes, he didn't need to. During the past year, he had memorized every inch of the woman, every freckle on her arms, scar on her body, and wrinkles on her face. He knew every spot that made the woman quiver and every spot that made her scream. Sara had succeeded in making him forget about the foolish belief that he was better off alone. So, he spent his waking hours reminding her just how truly grateful he was that she was there, loving him even though his fear remained.

~"I knew that something would always rule me

I knew the scent was mine alone—"~

Even with her asleep, he massaged her back with his fingers, keeping her at peace in her dreams. He never wanted her to feel troubled, not while she was with him. There had been times when she had hid her troubles from him when a case got rough and she did all she could to not let it show. But she could never hide herself from him for too long. It always came out. She had her tells.

And the makeup sex was wonderfully hot and heavy, clumsy and rushed and perfect. It wasn't always like that; sometimes it was tender and sweet, teasing and long and perfect. No matter how they got started or how they ended, it was always perfect. They were always together, in sync with each other's hearts, and that was all that mattered.

Yesterday had been different.

~"All you have is your fire

And the place you need to reach—"~

As he kissed the face of the woman he loved, she hummed in pleasure. Not caring that his right arm was numb and tingling where Sara was resting her head on it, or that his feet were cold where they stuck out of the blanket, he held still and marveled in her scent and warmth.

It'd been an extremely long week. Aside from working, they had finally moved in together. Last night had been their first night off to celebrate their new home, and life, together. She officially wore an engagement ring that he'd given to her just a few short hours ago. He'd made a romantic dinner which consisted of Sara's favorite vegetarian meal, along with wine. A lot of wine. It'd been nice, relaxing, and extremely comfortable as they got too comfortable on the couch.

As he twisted his head a fraction to place a kiss on Sara's jaw, a jolt of pain shot through his neck and caused his head to spasm. He groaned into the jaw instead of kissing it and rubbed at the back of his neck where it was tight.

"You okay?"

He opened an eye and caught Sara's sleepy brown eyes watching him. "Kink in my neck."

She mumbled something as she shifted closer and wrapped her arm tighter around his body. Her right hand went to the back of his neck pain. Rubbing it, she asked, "Better?"

The gentle message eased the ache as he groaned at the touch. "Hmm. My arm is dead." She started chuckling. Once her weight was lifted off his arm, he pulled it into his chest and flexed his fingers, worked out his wrist, and tried to rub his forearms back to life. "Now I'm better." He quickly muffled a yawn and relaxed back into Sara's warm body.

"How about we get more comfortable in our new California king bed?"

Peering over her shoulder, he caught the sight of the back of their couch. The quilt covering them was the one Sara had thrown over the back of it. Between the wine and his exhaustion, he did not want to move as he kissed her softly, sweetly, until she opened her mouth to his tongue.

Her hand snuck under his shirt, rubbing over his back, and the sensation tingled and made the ache he already had for her even harder. Her talented fingers that soothed his skin caused his body to melt into hers. Easing his leg further between her legs, he ignited a sharp intake of breath. It spurred his excitement and urged him on.

"Gil."

Hearing his name shivered out of Sara's beautifully parted lips made his blood rush faster down to his aching groin. As he tasted those sweet lips on his mouth, he began a steady, agonizing slow rhythm. It didn't take long for her to up the ante by teasing her hand down into his pants. The tips of her fingers brushed over his sensitive hot skin and he groaned into her neck as his hand slid under her shirt and cupped a breast.

"Bed," she said.

"Right here," he said.

She chuckled into his mouth as he kissed her lips again.

The phone rang. Hers. He nearly cursed as she pulled herself away from him to answer it. Disappearing into the bedroom, he laid on the couch and waited for her to return. He heard her soft voice grow louder, angrier, behind the closed door until he was on his feet.

~"Don't you ever tame your demons

But always keep 'em on a leash—"~

Sara stirred lazily on top of him as his arms tightened just a fraction to let her know he was there with her; he wasn't going to let her go unless she pried them apart. He felt the trickle of hair on his face as he turned his head, barely parting his eyes open.

She was staring at him, her smile sleepy and lovely as ever. She had never looked more beautiful. He knew she would disagree, saying something like her hair was a mess and she wasn't wearing any makeup. He touched her face, thumb running over her cheek, before he kissed her lips. Sighing in content, he ended the kiss.

"You're a furnace."

"One of the reasons why I sleep with as little clothes on as possible," he said with a chuckle as he buried his face into her neck as he rolled them onto their sides.

The smell of them together was unlike anything in the world. It was heaven. She was heaven, and she took him there every time she looked at him. Every time she spoke to him, touched him, and kissed him. Her arms wrapped around his neck and started to soothe his back and head with soft caresses.

They didn't say anything for a long time as they held each other, letting their hands and fingers soothe their muscles into gentle ease. It wasn't meant to excite or demand; it was to comfort. They both needed it after last night.

~"When I was a man I thought it ended

When I knew love's perfect ache—"~

Sara needed it more as her touch turned desperate as she pulled him into a hug. Ever since he let himself open up to her, he felt so much of her. Her anger and confusion, her sorrow, but what pushed all those aside and what poured from her now was love. He captured her mouth in his. In that kiss, he thanked her for loving him by pleasuring the lips that sent him to heaven.

In all the years he'd known Sara, he had thought that he could never, ever, get angry at her about anything to where it clouded his judgment and threatened his temper. Love made him do stupid things, but he never thought that it would ignite an already stressful and heated discussion into a full-force, no holds bar, yelling match.

She had wanted him to show her who he was at all times. She never wanted him to shut her out. He could get angry and yell, she wouldn't run away. She wouldn't get scared of him. She could take it. In the end, neither of them had won.

Ending the kiss, he asked, "Are we okay?"

~"But my peace has always depended—"~

She cupped his jaw, soothed over his face with her thumbs, as she told him, "We'll always be okay. I'm the one who should be asking you that. I'm the one who started it. I shouldn't've yelled like I did. You were only trying to help."

He really wished he could say that he couldn't remember what the fight was about. There were some things that he didn't need to know, just as there were some things that she did not need to know. He wasn't the only one with secrets. Sara had secrets too. When he had forgotten that last night, it had spurred their little yelling war.

However, even though she started it, he was the one that wouldn't let it go. He was the one who wouldn't let her walk away because she did to him what he'd promised never to do to her. She had shut him out, shut him down, and told him to leave her alone. The only thing that shocked him more than what she had done was what he had done. Last night Sara had achieved the unthinkable; she had driven him completely out of his mind with anger.

~"—On all the ashes in my wake—"~

And now, she was going to pay for that.

"Gil," Sara breathed out as he released her mouth and started on her neck.

The taste of her salty skin on his tongue never ceased to excite him. With soft feather-like kisses, and the teasing of his warm tongue over her skin, she began to quiver in his arms. Her hands continued to knead at his shoulders and back, and run through his hair and then along the back of his neck. She was urging him on, welcoming him; loving him. Apologizing to him as he did the same.

His hands started wandering, sliding into her pajama top after he unbuttoned a button, capturing her breast in his right hand. He massaged it, mended it as he rubbed his thumb over her nipple until she was panting in deep breaths. Releasing her, he unbuttoned the rest of her silky blouse and slid it off as his lips kissed over her shoulder. The way she was moving under him, he knew she was wet. He wanted a taste.

Rolling her over onto her stomach, he grabbed her pajama bottoms and pulled them down off her legs along with her underwear. Resting between her legs, spreading her cheeks, he got exactly what he wanted. Sara flinched then moaned, laughed as he ate her up. Placing open-mouthed kisses over her ass and up her back, he ached for her so bad it hurt.

"Gil," Sara moaned as he kissed her shoulder, her ear that made her chuckle. "Please…"

He loved hearing her beg. As he sat back and slid down his boxers, she rolled onto her back. He settled over her body as he ran his fingers down along her leg, leaving a trail of tingling skin before he lifted her leg up around his waist, giving him better access to her ass which he playfully squeezed.

"Please, babe…I can't—" Her voice was thick, heavy with want.

He kissed her neck one last time before reclaiming her mouth. Their hot tongues and lips tangled and danced with each other, igniting the burning pleasure even more. Her hand wrapped around him, causing him to tense. He breathed out as her body shivered under his as she guided him into her. He held her tight as he shifted forward and slowly filled her.

He felt her tremble under him as he pulled out then pushed in one more long and agonizing slow time, completely filling her. He heard her breath hitch as she bucked up against him. She had taken him all the way in and it felt so incredibly good. It was the best place on earth, being buried inside her like that.

"Babe, please," she pleaded near breathlessly.

The love he was feeling intensified as he heard her voice, knowing that she wanted and needed him just as much as he wanted and needed her. He was not going to last long. He was already so close. He had to take it slow or else he'd been done before she got started.

Kissing her over her neck, then over her swollen lips, he started a slow, gentle rhythm; easing in and out of her so they could enjoy the feel, building on that tight spark of pleasure that began to grow deep inside.

She grunted with every thrust that got faster as he tried to hit that spot every time. He knew he found it when she gasped and said, "Yes!"

He leaned back as he brought her leg up to his shoulder. She gripped the bed sheets tightly in her hands as he picked up the pace, sending her speechless, breathless, and gasping for more. Her chest gasped as the heat spread up her body. Her legs pulsed and tightened around him as she threw her head back and came. It was getting harder to think, to say anything as his breath came in short gasps. The heat engulfed his stomach, the growing tightness between his legs. He groaned and thrust as deep as he could into her one last time. He nearly froze as the quaking wave of pleasure overwhelmed him as he gave her everything.

Now, his body was a furnace. He was on fire as he spread out over top of her sweaty body, took a breast into his mouth and then the other. Licking the sweat off her body up to her neck, he rested on top of her as he fought to breathe.

~"All you have is your fire

And the place you need to reach—"~

Kissing her lips, her neck, he heard her say, "Don't…even think…about moving," she panted into his ear as she tried to catch her breath.

He smiled into her sweaty neck, releasing a deep and heavy breath of his own. He wasn't going anywhere. He could stay just like that for the rest of his life.

Something started to vibrate, and it wasn't the bed. "Is that the alarm on my phone?"

"My phone," she said. "I have to start getting ready."

He groaned and went back to breathing in her hair. "Not in my world."

Sara chuckled as she rubbed his back. "I don't want to get up either, but I have to. Ecklie will fire me if I'm late on my first day with Swing Shift."

He peered at her with one open eye. "That'll be the day."

"Gilbert, move your ass." The strict tone she was going for was ruined as she started laughing. "I need to shower."

"Why? You smell amazing."

She smacked him on the shoulder as she continued to giggle under him. "I mean it."

He finally shifted up onto his right elbow, slowly sliding off her, as he rolled onto his back. He moaned at the loss of her warmth and sighed in frustration. "If you weren't so slow at getting ready, we could have laid here for another half-hour."

"Uh-huh, and when I get out of the shower you better have coffee ready for me."

He watched as she made her way toward the bathroom; naked. "Nice view."

"Thought you'd like it," she fired back before she disappeared out of sight.

Minutes later he heard the shower start up. She was a wicked, wicked woman. He rolled back over onto her side of the bed and breathed in the scent left in on her pillow. He was slipping back into the comfortable gentleness of sleep when he heard a noise that wasn't coming from the shower.

Was that…a dog?

Rolling out of bed, he headed toward the bedroom door. He stopped, stared at the dog, and realized it was Jack. The moment it took his mind to register the dog, he heard a whistle and then a voice.

"Jack," Kevin said, "get back down here."

He eyed the dog that wagged its tail and hesitated on the steps as he looked expectantly at him before turning to run back down the steps. Shutting the bedroom door, he shook himself out of his shock as he went to the bathroom. He needed a shower after all.

"Hey, Sara," he called over the running water. He stuck his head around the curtain and smiled at the sight of the naked soaped up woman before him. "Want company?"

She peered over her shoulder, saying, "Am I still going to get my coffee?"

He grinned as he pulled the curtain closed after he stepped in. "Of course. And, uh…Kevin's here."

She raised her eyes in surprise as she said, "He is?"

"Yeah."

After they showered, he got dressed first, like always, as Sara took her time doing things like nails and makeup. He told her she didn't need all that, but…Women. She ignored him and did it anyway. She said it wasn't for him anyway. She did it for herself. It made her feel pretty.

He shook his head as he hurried down the steps to get her a cup of coffee. Glancing out the windows as he passed them, he saw the night sky and city lights, and heard Jack bark as he ran over to him.

As he petted Jack, he heard Kevin say from the kitchen, "I brought breakfast. Don't worry, I remembered Sara's a vegetarian. And, in case you're wondering, I didn't hear anything." The way he said that made him think otherwise.

"If you didn't hear anything then how'd you know there had been something to hear?" he asked as he straightened up and walked towards his son. He noticed Kevin no longer needed a cane to get around. "Why didn't you call? I could have gotten you from the airport—"

"I was already here, house huntin'."

His eyes shot up as he said, "You're moving to Las Vegas?"

Kevin walked around the counter and handed him a cup of coffee. "For Sara. Two sugars, no cream. To answer your question, the Las Vegas field office needed a new lead field agent and profiler. Threw my hat in the ring, got picked. I start, uh…" He looked at his watch and said, "Tomorrow."

"That was fast."

"No time to give a two weeks notice. The last guy upped and left the Bureau. Couldn't hack it anymore."

He gave a nod and felt the coffee cup in his hand. "Let me…Be right back." He said before turning around and taking Sara her coffee.

Walking into the bedroom, Sara said, "So, I assume he got the job?" as she didn't look up from painting her nails. He stared down at her and before he could ask, she answered, "We talk."

"And you didn't tell me?"

She put her nail polish down, took the cup, and said, "He wanted to surprise you in case he got it. Surprise?" she said with such an innocent look on her face that he had to kiss her.

Giving her a smile, he left the bedroom.

Kevin was standing in his living room, waiting for him. "We'll, uh…what'd you think?"

He didn't need to think about it. He closed the distance between them and pulled his son into a hug. Kevin didn't hesitate to hug him right back. There was so much he felt and so many thoughts. Realizing that he hadn't told his son how he felt in a very long time, he answered, "I'm glad you're here. I love you, son." He felt Kevin hug him back tighter.

"Love you, too, dad."

It was so hard to let go, but once he did, he pushed the tears away as he cleared his throat and said, "If you're looking to buy, you can put in an offer on my old townhouse. It's still on the market."

Kevin nodded. "Yeah, I know, Sara told me. I put an offer in on it the day I found out I got the job." Smirking, he asked, "You don't handle the paperwork, do you?"

He nearly laughed as he rubbed his neck. No, Sara did. Smiling at his son, he felt he couldn't be happier. For once in his life, he thought it would all be okay. There was such a thing as peace of mind. It wasn't something he had to go searching for, in the end, it found him.

~"Don't you ever tame your demons—"~

All he had to do was reach out and grab a hold of it.

~"But always keep them on a leash."~

The End.

PS: If you're wondering what was going on with Sara, well, I just might have a sequel story coming soon. Until the next one, thank you so very much for reading. Aside from "Beautiful Crime" by Tamer, "Arsonist's Lullabye" by Hozier, and Bach's "The Goldberg Variations", other songs I used for inspiration while writing this story were:

"Salt and The Sea" by The Lumineers (Will Graham background)

"Pendulum" by Pearl Jam

"fool for love" by GRLS (It reminded me of songs used during evidence collection scenes. It also had a disjointed vibe I was wanting.)

"Who Are You, Really?" by Mikky Ekko

"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" cover by Lorde (Heavily inspired Grissom's dream/flashback in the hospital after talking to Heather.)

"Speed Me Towards Death" by Rob Dougan (Kevin/Clarice in Montana)

"Blood On My Name" by The Brothers Bright (Final scene in château)