AN: Thanks for the continued support, here is the next chapter. Warning: Implied/suggestive adult behavior

Chapter 3: Family Time

October 12, 1998

There was only one thing, or should they say one person, who could stop them from kissing in that moment, and the moment he heard that voice, he pulled back from Sara, stood up and took a few steps towards the little girl who had shoulder length brown hair, those beautiful brown eyes and the only other smile that rival Sara's in terms of making his heart skip a beat, running like he had never seen her run before, then the moment she was near him, she jumped into his arms and he picked her up, held her close and closed his eyes, almost sobbing from finally holding her in his arms for the first time in a month.

"Hi daddy. I've missed you."

He sighed in content before he whispered. "I've missed you too, butterfly."

He kissed her head as he continued to hold her tight.

Flashback

Late December 1992

The moment he heard her say those words his eyes shot to hers and shook his head. "I wouldn't have questioned that."

She just shrugged while replying. "I just know with our situation, I'm sure that's were a lot of men's thoughts would have gone to."

Very sincerely, he spoke as he took the object she still held out to him. "Well not me, I trust your word."

She just nodded before he looked down at what he had grabbed from her hand, then his breath had nearly left him while seeing the proof from a sonogram picture that he was in fact going to be a father.

As he stood there in utter shock, he just couldn't believe it, one minute he was going about his life with his work and hobbies keeping him 'company', then this beautiful brown eyed beauty bulldozes into it, changing it forever, then changes it once again three months later when he finds out she's pregnant with his baby.

However, despite all these big changes in his life that has happened rather quickly, he surprisingly didn't want to run away from this. No, he never planned or thought he would become a father this way, or if he was honest with himself, a father period, but somehow this felt right to him. Sure, he didn't know the whole story about the mother of his child, but he couldn't see himself sharing a child with anyone else but her, no matter how crazy that seemed.

Just as he was getting ready to voice his thoughts, Sara cleared her throat and spoke again after looking at her watch. "I better go if I want to catch the next flight back home."

Grissom's eyes immediately shot up to hers again. "Wait, what, you were just going to drop this bombshell in my lap then turn around and leave without talking about this?"

Trying to keep her emotions intact, she spoke again. "I just know as the father of my baby you should know, so now that you do, I wanted to give you time to process this alone, this is huge and not something you should feel forced into, so I'm giving you that space."

He took a breath and spoke softly. "Sara…"

But she cuts him off. "And listen whatever you decide, I'll respect it. You can be as involved as you want, or not at all, it's up to you. Just know that I am keeping this baby. Sure, it's not going to be easy, but I'll have my girls with me, and they are willing to help anyway that I need it, so you don't have to worry or feel guilty about any of this, it's going to be ok, we'll be ok."

She then turned around and started to wipe her tears away, knowing she was about to walk away from the only man she's ever and will only love, despite only knowing him for a weekend. But like with him, her life was forever changed with their first encounter, in more ways than one obviously, and also like him, she hadn't planned on becoming a mother like this, or if she was honest with herself, a mother at all, but she wouldn't change this turn of events in her life for anything. She was already committed to this little one growing inside of her, even if she had to do it without the father of her baby. At least she'll always have a piece of him forever.

She only took a few more steps away when she heard his voice, almost cracking. "Sara wait!" She did stop but didn't turn around and felt him close behind her a few seconds later as he asked softly. "What do you want me to do?"

She shook her head, still wiping her tears away while still trying to not show him how she's really feeling. "Griss, I can't tell you…"

He cuts her off. "Do you want me involved?" A few seconds went by and there was no response, so he moved his hand to her shoulder and turned her around, seeing in her eyes she was fighting what she really wanted to say, so he gives her that smile before asking the same question she had asked him that night in the hotel parking lot that changed the course of their lives, that ultimately lead them to this moment. "If you let your heart speak in this moment, what would it say right now?"

Her sob finally came out as she replied what was in her heart. "I want you involved, I want my baby to know who his or her father is."

Not able to stop it much longer, he moved his free hand up to cup her cheek but did it slowly just in case she wanted him to stop, which he had nothing to worry about, and when his hand did cup her cheek, her breath hitched before he spoke softly. "Then he or she is going to their father."

Another sob came out as she asked, needing him to be sure. "Griss, are you…"

He cuts her off with another smile. "I'm 100% sure. I'll be there for our little one." He then moved closer to her and slowly wraps his arms around her to hug her as he whispered. "You are not alone in this. I'll be there for you too."

Needing to hear those words from him more than she realized she started full on crying as she held on to him, letting out all of the fear and worry, feeling more relieved than she had been since finding out she was pregnant.

End of Flashback

October 12, 1998

When father and daughter pulled back to look at one another, Belle Grissom frowned as she cupped her father's smooth cheek. "Daddy you are crying, are you sad?"

Grissom shook his head with a smile. "No sweetheart, I am just so happy to see you that tears are in my eyes."

And he had no desire to wipe them away for the moment.

She nodded with a smile before asking. "How long are you staying this time?"

"How does eight days sound to you?"

Of course she wanted her daddy to stay forever, but she knew that wasn't possible, they explained it to her multiple times through the years, and while she fully didn't understand their reasons on not living together, considering she knew they are a couple and love each other very much, she doesn't dwell on it and enjoys whatever time he does get to spend with them, which is different each visit. So, with what her father just said, she nods with a smile, happy it was more than a day or two.

"Sounds good daddy. Can you come play with me?"

"For a little bit, and I'll be there in a minute."

She nodded again, kissed her father's cheek, and after setting her down, she greeted her mother, said goodbye to her 'aunt' Ashley before running towards the play structure.

As they watched the little girl run towards the play area, Ashley looks at Grissom with a smile. "Nice to see you again Grissom."

Grissom nodded with a smile in return. "Nice to see you too. You doing ok?"

"Yes. You?"

"I can't complain." He then looked at Sara as he finished. "Especially right now and for the next eight days." Sara smiled shyly while Grissom looked at Ashley again. "I'll talk to you later."

After she nodded, Grissom gives Sara another smile before heading towards the play structure to go be with his daughter while the two women watched.

The women watched the little girl get on the swing before her father started pushing her, then a moment later, Ashley looks over at Sara, who was still watching them without hiding any emotions from her face, so it was clear to see just how much Grissom being here brightens her up, which wasn't anything new the last six years since he started showing up in San Francisco for doctor's appointments then visits once Belle came.

Sara could feel eyes on her, so she turned her head and asks with a smile. "Yes, can I help you?"

Ashley smiled in return as she stated the obvious. "You are so completely in love with him."

Sara then asked with a smirk. "Is that really news to you?"

Ashley shook her head with a chuckle. "Of course not, you fell in love with him the night you accepted that bet."

Sara shyly smiled before asking after clearing her throat. "You got a point to this conversation?"

"I just don't understand why you two are still living in different states."

Sara shook her head and turned towards the bench so she could pack up their food. "Ashley, you know why."

"Yeah, in the beginning I could see why you wouldn't exactly rush that step, but it's been six years, so why…"

Sara cuts her friend off with a sigh. "He has a life in Vegas. He loves his job, I can't ask him to give that up."

Ashley then smirked. "Uh correct me if I'm wrong but there is a crime lab here, and don't you work there? I'm sure they could find him a spot, especially considering how valuable his skill set is."

Sara sighed again. "Yeah, like he's willing to leave one of the top-rated crime labs to come here."

Not that the crime lab in San Francisco was bad, it's just they could hardly get the funding for the higher tech equipment or the good personnel.

Very sincerely, Ashley replied. "I think being with you and his daughter just might override what lab he walks into."

"Maybe, but why risk rocking the boat when things are ok the way it is."

"But it's not perfect."

Trying to keep her emotions together, Sara replied softly. "I learned a long time ago that life isn't perfect, and you don't always get what you want." Ashley was about to speak, but Sara continued before she could. "So, it is what it is right now."

Ashley looks at her longtime friend and asked, even though she pretty much already knew the answer to it. "You do want him here longer than visits, don't you?"

"Of course I do! It breaks my heart every time I see our little girl sad when her father has to leave, it breaks my heart every time he has to leave."

Sara looked away to wipe her tears away and Ashley placed her hand on her friend's shoulder before replying sincerely. "Then talk to him Sara, tell him how you really feel."

Sara nodded as she turned back around to look at her friend. "I know you're right. I'm just scared of losing him. I don't want my daughter to lose him either."

Ashley shook here with a smile, feeling very confident that things will work out for her friend. "I don't think either of you will lose him."

Sara raised an eyebrow as she asked with a smile. "How can you be so sure?"

"Because that man is completely in love with you, and maybe he's scared too and is just waiting on you to make the first step on changing the situation."

Sara nodded while bringing her friend into a hug, very sure about the first comment Ashley had said while hoping she was right about the second one, because while it had been good between them and he had been a wonderful father to their daughter and partner to her, especially under the circumstances, she was ready to at least have him living in the same state, and the rest they could figure out later.

Later that evening

After they had dinner, they had a little family time where they taught her how to play chess upon her request, then a few hours later, he was reading her to sleep, but instead of it being quick like when her mother reads to her, it was taking a long time, so Grissom looks over at his tired girl with a smile as she was fighting sleep. "Sweetheart, you need to get some sleep. You don't want to be tired for school in the morning, do you?"

Feeling tired and emotional, she sniffled. "I'm sorry daddy, I just want to spend as much time with you as possible."

He sets her book on her nightstand, moved to get out of her bed, then kneeled down and placed his hand on hers and whispered, trying to keep as much emotion out as possible. "I know you do. I want the same thing so much. But tomorrow is a new day and you still have to go to school, and I have to go teach. You don't want to be too exhausted after school that you can't spend time with me at all tomorrow, do you?"

She shook her head with a yawn, her eyes slowly closing. "I love you daddy."

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "And I love you, butterfly, always."

She was out before he pulled back, and when he did, he just watched her sleep until Sara stopped at the doorway to watch them.

He took another moment just watching his daughter before he gets up with a sigh, then after making sure she was properly covered, he turns around and heads to the doorway of the room before stepping out and closing the door so it was cracked.

Sara and Grissom look at one another before he brings her in his arms and spoke softly. "If I never said this to you before, I want to thank you for her. She has been the brightest light in my life that I could have ever hoped for."

She smiled as she ran her hand up and down his back before replying just as softly. "I want to share that same sentiment."

They pull back a moment later and he continued. "And I know things couldn't have been..."

She places a finger to his lips and whispered. "Let's not talk about that right now."

He raises an eyebrow and takes her hand from lips and asks. "Ok, is there something else you want to talk about?"

She knew there were a few things she needed to get off her chest, but at the moment she didn't want to talk at all, she wanted something else, something she had been missing for a month.

So, going with that thought, she shook her head with a smile as she slipped her fingers through his and lead him to her bedroom.

Once they got inside and the door was shut, their eyes started to fill up with passion and it was only seconds that passed before their lips touched and their fingers went to buttons and zippers to the top layer of clothing, then he picked her up, causing her to gasp against his lips while he turned them around and headed right for the bed, slowly lowering her down.

When they were desperate for air, they pulled back and looked into each others' eyes, the passion only getting stronger while he lowered himself back down to her, both not wanting to waste any more time on not being together completely.

Flashback

Late December, 1992

The sound of kids playing in a nearby playground broke up their moment, and after they pull back, he cleared his throat before asking. "I know you said you wanted to catch the next flight, but can you stay for a little bit longer?"

She nodded with a small smile. "Yeah, I can do that."

"Ok. Let's get out of here."

After she agreed with him, he led her to his vehicle before he drove them to his townhouse, and once they got inside, he asked if she wanted anything to eat or drink, which she just accepted water before asking if she could use the restroom.

While she was in the restroom, Grissom had grabbed two waters and set them on the kitchen island before picking up the sonogram picture so he could look at his baby, still couldn't believe this was happening.

He didn't know how long he stood in his kitchen just looking at the picture, but eventually he heard Sara's soft voice as she stood on the other side of the kitchen island. "I know you weren't expecting something like this happening the night you accepted that bet."

He chuckled and shook his head before looking at her while replying. "And I'm sure you weren't either when you went through with the bet."

She shook her head with a smirk. "Not at all." She then sighed as she continued. "But it is happening, it can't be changed, and even despite the circumstances, I don't want to change it."

He took a step towards her and placed his hand to her cheek to cup it as he whispered. "And I would never ask you to."

Now with tears in her eyes, she whispered. "We are going to be parents then."

He then brings her in his arms and held her to him. "Yes, we are."

She took a breath as she enjoyed the contact, then she asked. "Is becoming a father something you ever imagined before?" When she felt him tense a little, she pulled back and continued. "And please be honest, no matter what your answer is."

He nodded and held out his hand, which she took it, then they grabbed their waters and headed towards the couch while he answered her question. "Honestly, no, for a very big reason."

They sat down and she asked. "Which is?"

Knowing he needed to tell her what she could be getting into with a child that had half his DNA, he took a breath before speaking again. "My mother is deaf, and it's hereditary, so the thought of passing that down to my child kind of scared me away of ever considering becoming a father."

Which that thought still terrified him, but like they established, what's done is done and a baby was coming no matter what, so they'll just have to wait and see if their little one will have the same fate as his or her grandmother.

After telling her what he just did, he looked down half expecting her to gasp in horror and run out the door, exclaiming how she could have been so stupid to get involved with him in the first place, but that didn't happen. In fact, he felt her hand slip into his while she spoke softly. "I can see why that's scary, as parents we want the very best for our children, we want them to be happy, healthy and perfect in every way. But in my eyes this child is going to be perfect no matter what could happen in the future."

Hearing and seeing the truth in her eyes, made him smile as a weight felt like it had been lifted off his shoulders before speaking softly. "That's sweet of you to say."

"And it's the truth, deaf or not, I'm going to love him or her forever."

They just sat there with their hands still together in silence before he asked. "Now your turn, you ever thought of becoming a mother?"

She shook her head with a chuckle. "Uh, no. Far from it in fact."

"Can I ask why?"

"To say my childhood wasn't ideal would be a huge understatement." She slipped her hand out of his, stood up from the couch, walked towards the window and looked out of it, needing that space. "I just never really had that role model on how to be a good parent, you know. Besides, babies and I just never mixed well so I never thought of me as the motherly type."

Still sitting on the couch, he spoke with a smile. "Well, I happen to think you'll be a wonderful mother."

She turned around and shook her head with another chuckle. "You barely even know me to think that."

He stood up and started walking towards her, the smile still on his face. "I know enough."

She couldn't help but smile back at him, then she frowned and looked down while speaking softly again. "Grissom, when I said my childhood wasn't ideal, I wasn't exaggerating. It was..."

He cuts her off while bringing her face back up before cupping her cheek. "If you want to tell me about your childhood now, then that's fine, I'll listen. But if you're not ready to say it, then it can wait until you are."

"Don't you want to know what you're getting yourself into?"

He ran his thumb up and down her cheek as he replied. "All in due time, besides I heard the journey is half the fun."

Once again all they could do was stare at one another before spoke again. "You're really serious about this Grissom?"

No hesitation, he nodded. "Yes, so please let me know your doctor's appointments, preferably in advance if you can so I can ask for the time off."

"I will." She then chuckled. "Are we crazy for doing this?"

He smirked with a nod. "Probably." He then gets more serious then he's ever been. "But I don't care. To me this feels right, righter than I ever felt in my life."

She nodded as she wraps her arms around him and whispered. "I also never felt anything more right in my life."

End of Flashback

October 12,1998

While Sara was sleeping on her front, the sheet up to her waist so her bare back was showing, Grissom, who had the sheet up to his waist, was laying on his side running his hand up and down her back with a smile on his face, being with her never felt old, it felt like the first time every time. He just hates it when he has to leave her and their daughter, it actually feels like his heart is being ripped out of his chest every time he has to get back on that plane to go to Vegas and he just doesn't know how much longer he can do it.

Deep down he knows he needs to talk to her to tell her how he truly feels, how he's felt about it the last six years, but he's afraid that he might lose her, that maybe she still wants it this way, so why rock the boat.

He sighed as he shook his before he leans down to kiss her shoulder, then as he was settling down in bed next to her, he hears Sara's sleepily voice. "Griss?"

He places his hand on her back with another smile. "Yes, honey."

"You know I love you, right?"

He smiled wider with his heart skipping a beat just like it always does when he hears those words from her. "Yes, I do. And you know that I love you too, right?"

She nodded with a smile while her eyes were still closed. "Yes."

He leans forward and kisses her forehead before whispering against it. "Sleep tight, honey."

He heard her mumble the same thing before she was back into a deep sleep, and after watching her for a few more minutes, he was also out like a light, happy to be back with his family and was going to enjoy it to the fullest.

AN: Thanks for reading, and please review. I hope you all had a safe and wonderful weekend, until next time. GSR4ever.