A/N: Hello! Sorry it's taken me so long to update this story. Real life has a way of just getting in the way at the worst times. Anywho this chapter is inspired by Lady A's Just a Kiss. I hope you enjoy it and please leave me a review. Even if it's just a word or two it truly makes my day :)
I nervously paced back and forth in the foyer of my townhouse. I checked my watch for the hundredth time and realized it was still too early to leave. With a sigh I decided I'd work on finishing my latest crossword puzzle before I left.
Tonight was the first night of the rest of my life. Might sound a bit dramatic for a first date but this wasn't just any first date. This was my first date with Sara. Sara, the same woman who'd occupied my dreams for more years than I can remember. Sara, the woman who captured my attention and my heart from the first moment we met. For years I let fear dictate my actions, never letting her get too close. But fear is a funny thing. When I saw her helpless at the hands of Adam Trent I knew that the fear of losing her and never knowing her was worse than the fear of taking that final leap.
We'd grown closer since her suspension, rekindling the friendship that started at a forensic science conference in San Francisco. Now I knew that I couldn't waste another minute not knowing what it would be like to love and be loved by this woman. After we wrapped our case, I went over to her place. I brought coffee and her favorite donuts. A peace offering of sorts. I had planned on inviting myself in and talking to her about anything and everything, working up the courage to ask her out. But when she opened the door all the emotions of the past 48 hours came flooding back and I quickly pulled her into a fierce hug nearly burning us with hot coffee.
"Griss… You ok?" She'd asked me after a minute.
I stared at her momentarily transfixed by her beauty. She was in sweats with her hair pulled back, but I'd thought she'd never looked more beautiful. When I realized I still hadn't answered her I took a shaky breath before replying.
"Am I too late?"
She would later tell me I looked like a little lost puppy and she could see how hard it was for me to ask. I was terrified that she'd say I was too late. She pulled me close again before whispering in my ear.
"Never, you could never be too late."
That night I told her I wanted to take her out on a proper first date. She laughed and said it was a little late for that. I insisted. We both knew that our relationship was not going to be a conventional one. We both knew that it would need to be kept a secret which meant that most of our time would be spent out of the public eye. For this reason I wanted to take her out for our first date. Do something special, since I knew we wouldn't get to do that too often.
She relented and I told her I would take her out Saturday night as we both had the night off. I left her apartment feeling like a huge weight had been lifted. Now I just had to plan something perfect. Sara deserved nothing less than perfection. Of course Sara is a minder reader and must have sensed my nervousness because as I was walking in the door my phone started ringing. It was Sara.
"Gil, whatever you plan I will love. I'll be happy if we just order takeout and rent a movie."
While that thought held some appeal it would have to wait. It wasn't special enough. Sara Sidle might be a low maintenance type of woman but that didn't mean that she didn't deserve the best.
I found out that there was a park not far from my house that was showing classic movies outdoors (weather permitting) on Saturday nights. I decided I'd plan a nice picnic and we could watch the movie (this week's feature was Roman Holiday). I spent an entire morning after shift preparing a vegetarian menu I thought she'd like. I then went shopping to ensure I had all the necessary ingredients.
But then the panic set in. Maybe this wasn't enough. I had a picnic basket packed. I'd bought a nice bottle of wine and a big blanket but I was petrified. What if she didn't have a good time? What if she didn't like what I made? What if… I look at the clock and realize I'd been in a mini panic for so long that if I didn't leave I was going to be late. I grabbed the basket and blanket and raced to my car. I put everything on the backseat as I settled in taking a deep breath. I had the car detailed the day before. Even though it's usually spotless I wanted to make extra sure it was.
Fifteen minutes later I pulled into her parking lot and headed up the stairs to Sara's apartment trying my best to calm my nerves. When she opened her door I had to remember to breathe. She was wearing hip hugging black jeans that showed off her impossibly long legs, a red fitted top and her hair was naturally curly (my favorite). I was just standing there staring and then she giggled before leaning up and kissing my cheek, breaking me out of my reverie.
"Ummm you look nice… I mean you look good… uhhh I mean you look really beautiful tonight. Well you always look beautiful but," Oh God I was rambling. Someone stop me.
She giggled again and put her hand to my cheek, her caress a soothing balm to my frayed nerves.
"Thank you, you don't look too bad yourself Dr. Grissom," she said with a twinkle in her eyes. I knew she was as nervous as me but how was she able to hide it so well? This woman was certainly a mystery, an intricate puzzle I was more than willing to spend a lifetime trying to solve.
I let Sara control the radio on our drive and she sang and hummed softly as I drove. She had such a beautiful voice. Most of the time she was unaware that she was singing, if she knew she'd get a sheepish smile on her face and stop. I said nothing, not wanting to break the spell.
When we arrived at the park not many people had arrived yet so we were able to pick out a spot of our choosing. She chose to sit in the middle a ways back from the screen. I spread out our blanket and placed the picnic basket down before offering her my hand and helping her sit.
I pulled out a bottle of wine I'd brought with me and poured two glasses. Sara proposed a toast to a beautiful evening. Everything about this evening was already so beautiful simply because she was there that I eagerly toasted back. After a few minutes I opened the picnic basket and started pulling out some of the food I'd prepared.
I pulled out some sliced veggies and homemade hummus. I had overheard her tell Greg one night how much she loved hummus so I'd made sure I looked up recipes and bought all the necessary ingredients. It wasn't as hard to make as I'd thought. I just hope it met her approval. Sara had once commented on being my star pupil, always seeking my approval and I had to chuckle because the roles were definitely reversed and I was the one desperately seeking her approval.
We sat side by side as she dug into the food.
"Oh my God Gil! This hummus is Aaaaammmmaazing! You have to tell me where you bought it. This is definitely going to replace the brand I usually buy," she said enthusiastically.
I was quiet for a minute, before I softly replied.
"Ummm, well I didn't buy it. I made it. I heard you telling Greg how much you loved hummus so I researched the recipe and bought all the ingredients. It was actually easier to make than I thought."
Her brow furrowed before she responded.
"You made this for me?" she asked incredulously. I realized in that moment that people had never done for Sara Sidle what she so obviously deserved.
"Well you like humus and I like to cook so it seemed simple enough."
"You did this for me." she repeated her simple statement before breaking out into the most beautiful smile I'd ever seen and I had to remind myself to breathe as she threw her arms around me.
Lying here with you so close to me
It's hard to fight these feelings
When it feels so hard to breathe
I'm caught up in this moment
Caught up in your smile
"So was this your way of ensuring a second date? Knowing I'd be hooked on your hummus?" An eyebrow rose as she tried not to giggle while speaking.
"You figured out my plan," I said, smiling back, finally starting to relax.
Once I relaxed I realized for the millionth time how much I enjoyed Sara's company. From our first meeting in San Francisco, I was able to be myself. No pretense. I never had to worry about impressing her or censoring myself. She was impressed with it all, even the bug parts.
"You know I still can't believe that man choked to death on chili covered cockroaches. Seems so improbable. Had to be one of our weirdest cases. I'm telling you now I'd never eat them. Imagine?! You're allergic to chili peppers but don't know because you've never eaten them and you find only after you've eaten cockroaches covered in them!" she said as she sat back against my chest, her legs outstretched between mine.
"I guess you don't want to see what I've packed for dessert?" I said with a gleam in my eyes.
"Don't tell me you brought chili covered cockroaches!" she said, turning around with a face of disgust.
I laughed before replying.
"No, of course not. I wouldn't bring those for dessert. I brought chocolate covered ones instead."
I could only keep a serious face for so long and as soon as I cracked Sara swatted my arm before playfully elbowing me in the ribs. See I could make a joke about chocolate covered cockroaches and she didn't run; who wouldn't love this woman?
I've never opened up to anyone
So hard to hold back
When I'm holding you in my arms
We don't need to rush this
Let's just take it slow
The movie starts and Sara is instantly captivated and I know I've made the right choice taking her to see it. At one point she whispers to me that when she was little she dreamed about being a princess and about being part of a royal family. She had always thought somehow then her life would be perfect. But as she got older, and as this movie reminded her, life is more like the story of the prince and pauper and she's happy she isn't a princess.
"Look how long it's taken regular old me to get you to ask me out. Imagine if I was a princess?!"
She looks back at me as she says it, a playful fire burning in her eyes. I chuckle and lean down and kiss her because well this woman is just so adorable how can I not? She's stunned into silence and I suppress the urge to let out a long slow whistle. I, Gil Grissom, have rendered the great Sara Sidle, master of overtalking, speechless.
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No I don't want to mess this thing up
No I don't want to push too far
The movie ended and hiding my obvious disappointment was a real struggle. Spending the last few hours holding Sara in my arms had been heaven. The weather had been perfect, not too hot, not too cool. The sky was clear, leaving a perfect window to the twinkling heavens above.
Now I had to take Sara home. The night would be over and I felt a little like I was Cinderella and it was nearing midnight. Soon the spell of this enchanting evening would be over. Also I was nervous because while I assumed Sara had a good time; she seemed to indicate as much, I wasn't confident (I never am around her). Also there was always the question of whether or not she would invite me in for 'coffee.' Well guys know what that's code for. The problem was I wanted to be invited in for 'coffee' but at the same time I didn't. I wanted to know that she was having a hard time ending the evening as was I. I also wanted her to know that I desired her, but on the other hand I wanted her to know that she was worth so much more to me than 'coffee' on a first date.
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright with just a kiss goodnight
We pulled into her parking lot and I raced around to her car door. I gave her my arm and told her I'd escort her upstairs. She raised an eyebrow at me when I told her no gentleman lets the date end until he's sure the lady has made it home safely. This made her giggle and I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.
When we finally made it to her door it was the moment of truth. Did she have a good time? Was it good enough that she'd want to see me again? If she did want to see me again was she only seeing me for my hummus? While that last thought was utterly ridiculous but when you're as nervous as I was nothing seems too far fetched.
"Would you like to come in for coffee?" She asked after opening her door.
My pulse started racing. She had a good time. Scratch that. She had a great time and didn't want the night to end. I took a deep breath before I replied. How could I make her understand that I didn't want the night to end? That I'd enjoyed myself so much I didn't want to spend one second of life going forward without her, but that I also had such an immense respect for that I wanted to take this slow. I didn't want to screw this up.
I know that if we give this a little time
It'll only bring us closer to the love we wanna find
It's never felt so real
No it's never felt so right
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright with just a kiss goodnight
"Sara, I have dreamed of taking you out on a first date for what seems like forever. I have spent this past week agonizing over what we were going to do. I wanted it to be nothing short of perfect because you deserve that and so much more. I would love nothing more than to continue our evening but I need to go home."
I was hoping she would see the look in my eyes and understand but I soon realized I needed to explain myself better and I needed to do it quickly.
"Oh sure I understand it's late. So I guess I'll just see you tomorrow night at work."
As I saw a hurt look cross her face, I felt like someone punched me in the gut.
"Sara no I think you misunderstood. I want to come inside but this is the first time ever in my life that I am terrified I am going to screw this up. I have never felt this way about anyone and I just want to do this right. You deserve that Sara. You deserve to be courted. So please honey let me do that? Doesn't mean I don't want you. I just want this to last Sara. Tonight, this. Well this will be my last first date. After tonight I am certain my search is over."
With those words I leaned in and gave her a tender kiss. When it ended I looked down and saw her eyes were misty but she had the sweetest smile on her face.
"Sara would like to come over tomorrow morning for breakfast? I make a mean omelet."
The tension now broken she laughed as she told me that she'd loved to and she'd see me at 9.
No I don't want to say goodnight
I know it's time to leave
But you'll be in my dreams
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Just a kiss on your lips in the moonlight
Just a touch of the fire burning so bright
No I don't want to mess this thing up
I don't want to push too far
Just a shot in the dark that you just might
Be the one I've been waiting for my whole life
So baby I'm alright
Ohh...
Let's do this right with just a kiss goodnight
With a kiss goodnight
A kiss goodnight
After she closed her door I did something very uncharacteristic. I actually jumped and did a quick dance. I was so excited; like the male lead in a rom com movie. I didn't care if I looked ridiculous, in fact I know I did but Sara Sidle just agreed to a second date! I'd just had the best night of my life, spent under the stars with the woman of my dreams. She'd tell me shyly the next morning that she was actually relieved I'd turned down her invite for coffee. She too wanted this to work out and she admitted that no guy had ever thought she was worth courting before and it had felt nice.
So that's how the courtship of Sara Sidle began. It wasn't all roses, I'm still a stubborn mule who's been single for nearly my entire life so I knew it wouldn't be all smooth sailing, but it was worth it, because she was worth it. I had found the woman of my dreams and there was no way I was letting her go.