AN: Thank you for the continued support, here is the next chapter, enjoy!

Chapter 36: Another Birthday Surprise

When the plane landed in Los Angeles, everyone got off, and when Sara stepped out into the airport, she wasn't expecting to see anyone here to pick her up, but she chuckled when she saw MJ, Jo's now 19-year-old brother, holding up a sign that said. 'Mrs. Grissom.' He smiled bright when they had eye contact, and he lowered the sign.

They share a hug before Sara asked while they headed towards the entrance of the airport. "How is she doing?"

He looked over at Jo's longest friend with a worried look. "Wishing you were here with her."

"So, she doesn't know I was coming?"

MJ shook his head. "No, we felt it was best to surprise her."

She did call Josh when she was waiting for her flight to let him know she was coming today, rather than wait for his phone call.

Sara nodded in understanding then placed her hand on the younger man's arm, seeing how worried he actually looked. "Mike, she's going to be fine. How she, Josh is feeling is completely natural, this is all new to them so their feeling overwhelmed. Them going to the hospital this early is a precaution for them, to make them feel a little calmer with the nurses and doctors around for when things start to really happen."

Mike Jr. then smirked. "Yeah, make them feel better, but all of us feel we are on pins and needles."

Sara chuckled with a nod. "Yeah, pretty much."

He took a breath with a nod. "I am glad you are here though; I notice that you are a very good source of calmness for her. I know she didn't have many friends growing up, at least true ones, until you showed up."

Sara smiled. "That feeling is definitely mutual and reciprocated, she was my first true friend as well."

After arriving at the hospital, and on the floor Jo's room was on, Mike Sr. smiled at Sara as she walked towards him in the waiting area. "Sara."

Sara smiled in return while she hugged Jo's father. "Mike, it's nice to see you again."

"You too."

After they pulled back, he asked while looking down at her stomach with another smile. "And how are you feeling?"

Sara smiled wide while running her hand down her stomach. "Amazing."

"I'm glad, and I'm so happy for you and your husband."

"Thank you."

As he nodded, they hear Josh's voice behind them. "You made it."

Sara turned around and looked at the worried looking man. "Hi Josh, how is she doing?"

He sighed as they hugged. "I'm sure she'll be much better now that you are here, but no change."

While they pulled back, Sara asked. "I would like to see her now if I could, please."

He nodded before leading Sara to Jo's hospital room.

When they got to the door, he opened it and let her go in first, and Jo gasped at seeing her friend, then tears came to her eyes as she held out her arms. "Sara, what are you doing here now?"

Sara smiled as she walked towards her friend to give her a hug. "You think I was going to stay away from my best friend during one of the most important moments of her life."

Jo sighed while holding on to her friend. "I'm glad you're here."

"And there isn't anywhere else I would rather be right now."

Eventually Jo's water did break, but it seemed they still had a long wait ahead of them, so since visiting hours were ending, Josh told Mike and MJ that he set up rooms for them at a nearby hotel so they would be close to the hospital if something did happen, which they were very appreciative, then he looks at Sara and continued. "I wasn't sure if you had other arrangements. But if you want, I can call a room for you as well."

Sara shook her head. "No, it's ok, I think I'll just go to my mother-in-law's. Call me if anything happens."

He nodded with a smile. "I will."

After they share a hug, Josh pulls his vehicle keys out of his pocket and hands them to her, and Sara shook her head. "Josh, I..."

He smiled. "Hey, I'm not planning on going anywhere anytime soon, so least you'll have a vehicle to drive, your husband and best friend wouldn't forgive me if I let you ride around town in a cab, especially with you being pregnant."

She took a breath and took them. "Ok, but only because you put it like that."

He chuckled, and after they share another hug, he gave the guys a handshake before heading back to the hospital room.

When it was just Sara and Jo's brother and father, they agreed to go have dinner together before she headed to Betty Grissom's place.

Sara and Betty pull back from their hug, and Betty signed with worry while still a little shocked to see Sara here without the family. 'Is everything ok?'

Sara nodded with a smile as she signed in return. 'Everything is fine, Jo's in the hospital and I wanted to be there for her.'

Betty nodded in understanding before moving from the front door to let her in the house, and now with her bag in hand, Sara did just that, then after Betty closed and locked the front door, she signed again. 'Why don't you put your bag in the room, and I'll make up some tea.'

Sara nodded with a smile before heading to Grissom's old childhood room, which was mostly turned into Belle's bedroom for when she visits since she spends more time in there than her father does now because of the beach house he owns here.

When Sara and Betty met and sat at the dining room table, they each took their sips before Betty signed. 'How is Jo doing?'

'Her water just broke, but there is still plenty of time before that baby is coming out according to Josh.'

'Ah, so a stubborn one I see.'

Sara couldn't help but chuckle a little. 'Apparently.'

Betty smiled warmly. 'Just like my Gilbert.'

'Really?'

'Yes, 30 hours, so I say very stubborn indeed.'

Sara then signed with a smirk on her face. 'Well, nothing has changed much there.'

Now it was Betty's turn chuckle slightly, then she signed in return while giving Sara a loving look. 'Trust me, he was a lot more stubborn before you two had met, so you definitely changed him in that regard, and I also notice he is more open.' Betty then sighed as she continued. 'But maybe that part is a little my fault, a part of me just shut down when his father died for a lot of years. I tried to be the mother he deserved...'

Sara cuts her off with tears in her eyes while talking about the man she loved. 'You did an amazing job, you raised him to be the perfect gentleman.'

Mrs. Grissom did that familiar eyebrow raise as she 'asked'. 'Always.'

Knowing what her mother-in-law was talking about, Sara shyly smiled. 'Always, he's nothing but tender and loving, not to say there is no passion between us, more each time I believe, but even during those times...' Sara trailed off and shook her head with a chuckle, realizing she may have gone too far. 'Sorry.'

Berty chuckled again and shook her head with a smile. 'Nothing to be sorry about, you are always free to be open with me about anything.' Then she had a smirk on her face. 'Just maybe not when your husband is around on some things.'

Sara smirked again. 'Yeah, probably not, his head might explode if he knew what we are 'talking' about.' Betty smiled while Sara's phone was ringing, so Sara signed after seeing who was calling her. 'And speaking of my husband, he's calling right now.'

'Oh, I'll leave you...'

Sara cuts her off while putting the phone on speaker. 'No, it's ok, I'm sure he would love to 'hear' from you.' Betty nodded and stayed where she was sitting while Sara spoke towards the phone. "Hi babe, I'm with your mom now."

"Oh, well in that case, hi mom."

Sara signed that back to Betty, and Betty asked how him and her granddaughter were doing, so for about 10 minutes Sara signed what Grissom and Belle were saying, then finally Betty took her leave and headed for the living room so Sara could have privacy with her husband and daughter, and after talking with Belle for a couple of minutes, it was just Sara and Grissom on the phone.

She sighed in the phone after taking it off speaker. "I don't regret coming here, but man I miss you." She then chuckled and shook her head. "God, I sound pathetic, it hasn't even been 24 hours and I miss you like I've been away from you for a week."

Grissom sighed in return. "Then I must be pathetic as well, because I feel the same way. Like I said at the airport, we've done this too many times and I'm glad we never really got use it."

"Me too. I love you."

"I love you too." He then cleared his throat before smirking. "And honey, do I have to remind you that you do have a house there that you can be in right now?"

Sara chuckled. "I know, and I did think about that, but it is a little longer drive." She then sighed again. "Plus, I wouldn't want to be there without you, it just wouldn't feel right to me, and might I add a little lonely."

"Ok, but should I be worried that you're spending one-on-one time with my mom?"

Which had happened a few times when Grissom was still in Vegas, Sara would drive down to Los Angeles so Belle could visit with her grandma and vice versa. It obviously wasn't the same, but she knew his mother deserved some time with her granddaughter, even if he couldn't be there with them to enjoy the full family time.

Sara chuckled. "What, you afraid about some secrets being told?"

"Uh maybe."

Sara then smirked. "From whom, your mother or by me?"

"Truthfully, I would have to say both."

"Aw, well I don't think there is many secrets left to know about my man."

"Really?"

"Really."

"And surprisingly you're still with me."

Sara smiled warmly. "Always babe, even when I'm not physically beside you, I'm always with you."

"As am I with you."

Their warm moment was interrupted when Sara started to yawn, then she shook her head and spoke again. "I'm sorry, but I'm kind of tired."

"I don't blame you; you've had a busy day. I hope you have a goodnight."

"I'll try, and you as well. I love you."

"I love you too, tell mom and I love her as well. Also give Jo and Josh my best wishes."

"I will."

They say goodnight one more time before she finally hangs up with a sigh, then she takes the last sips of her tea before calling it a night, hoping she would get a goodnight's rest without her husband next to her.

September 16th, 2001

A little over 24-hours later baby girl Hudson-Price finally made her grand entrance with Josh and Sara on each side of Jo, encouraging her through the whole process, and by the time she was finally in Jo's arms, all three had tears in their eyes as Sara exclaimed. "Oh, she is so beautiful!"

Josh nodded with a sniffle. "Yeah, she is, just like her mother."

Josh moved to kiss his girlfriend's temple before Jo looks at her best friend. "You want to hold her?"

Sara shook her head. "No, I'll give you guys some time with her, let daddy hold her first." She then smirked. "Because I might not be able to let her go once I have her in my arms."

They chuckled, then Jo spoke with emotion. "Thank you, Sara, for being here for me."

"Always, and anytime you need it. Love you."

"Love you too."

Sara and Josh share a warm smile before Sara walked out of the room to give the new parents time with their baby and so she could update the guys.

Mike looks at Sara with a hopeful look when he saw Sara walking up to him and his son, Sara smiled bright as she spoke. "Well, grandpa and uncle, your granddaughter/niece is one happy and healthy little girl."

They smile and let out a huge sigh of relief, then after they each share hugs with her, Mike asked. "And Jo?"

Sara placed a hand on his shoulder. "She's perfect, emotional, but perfect."

MJ then smirked. "So, nothing has changed."

Sara shook her head with a smile. "Well, something has, she's now a mother."

Mike took a calming breath with tears in his eyes, not ashamed to show emotion in front of them. "Which she's always wanted to be, I just wish her mother was here to see this dream of hers come true."

Sara nodded before she shared another hug with him for comfort while MJ placed a comforting hand on his father's shoulder, wishing the same thing.

About 45 minutes later Josh came to get the group, and after walking into the room, Jo smiled at them while speaking with emotion. "Hi everyone, come and meet your niece/granddaughter, Evelyn Sara Hudson-Price."

Both Sara and Mike Sr. stop in their tracks, and Mike spoke with emotion. "Wait, you named her after your..."

Jo cuts her father off with a nod. "Mother and my best friend, I hope it's ok."

Sara and Mike, both said it was, then when they were close to the bed, Mike told Sara she could hold little Evelyn first, and Sara asked in surprise. "You sure? She's your granddaughter."

As Mike nodded, Jo spoke. "And you're her aunt, so come on."

Since no one had any objections of her being first, outside of her parents of course, Sara nodded before taking the baby from her mother's arms, and after she was settled, Sara took a breath as she looked down at the baby girl. "Wow, I'm an aunt, I never thought I would be a mother, let alone an aunt, at least before I met your mother." She then looked at Jo with tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Jo."

Jo nodded with tears. "You're welcome, and happy birthday."

Sara chuckled as she looked back down at the baby in her arms. "That's right little one, me and you are kind of bonded for life now, we share the same birthdays, but I don't mind." She then brings her up so she could give the baby girl a kiss on the forehead before whispering against her skin. "Welcome to the world Evelyn Sara Hudson-Price."

Eventually Sara did let the newborn go and wished the family a good evening before walking out of the hospital room, which that's when her phone started to ring.

She smiled as she saw who was calling, then answered it in a teasing tone. "Hello, Gilbert. I see you have perfect timing."

"Oh, and why is that?"

"I just walked out of the room."

Now it was Grissom's turn to tease. "Without the baby I would hope."

Sara chuckled. "Ha, Ha, very funny." Sara then sighed. "She is a beauty though, they did good."

"I have no doubt." He then cleared his throat before asking. "I was wondering if you could do me a favor."

"Oh, and what would that be?"

"Go to the beach house tonight."

Sara took a breath and shook her head. "Griss, we talked about this last..."

Grissom cuts her off. "I know, but humor me, please. And you might as well give Josh his vehicle keys back, you won't be needing them."

"OK, what's going on?"

He smiled on his end. "You'll see all in due time, dear. Love you, bye."

He hangs up before she had a chance to respond, then she gave her phone a curious look, like it had all the answers before shaking her head while clipping her phone back in place on her pants. She then turned and walked back inside the room and hands Josh his vehicle keys, all giving her curious looks as she did, which Sara had no answers for expect to tell them Grissom told her to.

So, after another round of goodbyes, Sara walked out of the room again and headed for the elevator, then once it stopped on the main floor, she headed out of the hospital, but she only took a couple of steps out before she stopped abruptly when she noticed a limo was parked in front with the driver by the back passenger side door holding a sign that read 'Mrs. Grissom.'

She took a breath and shook her head with a smile as she walked towards the limo. "Yeah, I'm Mrs. Grissom."

The man nodded with a smile and opened the door, and once she was in, he spoke. "Enjoy a few refreshments if you wish."

"Uh, I can't, I'm pregnant."

He nodded with a smile, already knowing that information. "And trust me, that won't be a problem, enjoy, Miss."

He then shut the door before making his way to the driver's side and got in, then started the limo and headed in the direction he was instructed to go after picking up Mrs. Grissom.

When they reached the beach house, the driver hurried out of the driver's side and opened the back door, and Sara smiled and said thanks as he helped her out, then as she was going to pull money out of her purse, he held up his hand to stop her. "No need Mrs. Grissom, it's all been paid for, even the tip."

Sara raised an eyebrow as she asked. "Do you know what's going on?"

The tall, young, dark-haired driver shook his head. "I'm sorry I don't, but enjoy your evening, and happy birthday."

"Thank you."

After a nod, he walked back to the driver's side door and got in before driving away as Sara turned to look at the beach house, and with the blinds tightly closed she couldn't see if there were any lights on at all, so she took a breath and headed for the front door, taking the keys out of her pocket, ready to unlock the door when she got there. But surprisingly the door was unlocked and when she opened the door, she didn't hear the alarm go off, so that meant it was disarmed and the lights were off, except she could see a light coming from the kitchen and there was candlelight in the dining room with the smell of food in the air.

Now there were two people who had the key to this house and the code for the alarm, outside of her and Grissom, (Jo and Betty), and she knew it obviously couldn't have been Jo, which even if it had been her, she didn't think she would get a candlelight dinner from her, nor would she be getting one from her mother-in-law, so she went for the obvious person, even though it did sound a little crazy he would be here now.

"Griss, I really hope it's you." She spoke as she finally shut the front door, her heart racing at the prospect of it actually being him.

A second later, Grissom smirked while coming out of the kitchen and setting the food in the middle of the table. "Now who else would be cooking you a candlelit dinner."

Sara had a wide smile as they walked towards one another. "What are you doing here?"

The moment they met in the middle, they held one another, and Grissom spoke with a sigh. "Since meeting you on your 21st birthday, I've never missed a birthday, yours or even Belle's, even when our schedules became completely unpredictable, that's one day I never wanted to miss, and I wasn't about to start now, of course after I got permission from both Belle and Nick."

Sara pulled back in worry. "Belle!?"

He cupped her cheek with a smile to calm her down. "She's staying with Nick and Ashley tonight, and Ashley will take her to school tomorrow morning." As she nodded, he continued. "And I know how you feel when neither one of us takes her to school, but I was torn, I wanted to be here for you for your birthday and stay with her so I could take her to school tomorrow, but..."

She smiled with love in her eyes for her daughter. "But our daughter broke the tie because she really wanted you to be here for me."

Grissom nodded with another smile, then smirked. "And she wanted to make sure we get lots of pictures of the baby."

Sara chuckled before sighing in content. "We have an amazing daughter."

"No arguments from me, and speaking of daughters, how is Jo's?"

Before she talked about Jo's daughter, there was something else she wanted to talk about.

"Before we get to that, I would like to talk to you about something else, you know, the limo."

He chuckled while taking her hand and walking her to the dining room table. "What? You didn't like it?"

"I'm not saying that I just hope you know I didn't need it."

He shook his head. "I know you didn't need it, but I wanted to do something special for you for your birthday."

Sara smiled wide as she cupped his cheek. "And I'll take seeing you unexpectedly over a limo as for my something special on my birthday."

He wrapped his arms around her waist. "Well, then you got both of us."

She ran her thumb up and down his cheek as she whispered. "Well thank you, I really do appreciate it, I hope you know that too." She then smirked. "Even when I fuss that I don't need those things."

"I do." He sighed, then asked. "I'm sure you didn't think your 30th would be spent like this."

"You know what, outside of our daughter not being here, it's perfect. Don't get me wrong, I love the family we built with our friends, but sometimes I don't mind the quiet celebrations." She then leaned towards him and whispered. "Besides, there are things I could do when it's just us that I can't do when everyone else is around."

Before he had a chance to speak, she pressed her lips against his and they shared a passionate kiss.

When they pulled back, and after he got his air back, he whispered. "If you continue to kiss me like that, we might have to postpone dinner."

Sara smiled with a glint in her eyes at first, then her eyes get wide, remembering something. "Your mom!"

He cleared his throat and shook his head. "Well, that was a mood killer."

Sara chuckled before giving him a sympathy look. "I'm sorry, but I would think your mom would be expecting me..."

He cuts her off with another shake of the head. "Nope, she knows I'm here. I figured she would get worried if you didn't go to her place after leaving the hospital, so I let her know I was here. But she does expect us to be there for breakfast tomorrow morning."

"That sounds like a plan."

"Ok, so getting back to our evening, how about you tell me about this new cutie that's entered our world while we eat."

She nodded with smile. "Gladly."

They share a small kiss this time, then after helping Sara to her chair, he went to his so they could enjoy this candlelit birthday dinner as Sara told Grissom about Evelyn Sara Hudson-Price.

After Sara had eaten her last bite, she took a breath and shook her head. "I don't know how you do it, but I think you outdo yourself every time with these meals."

And it was very rare, when he was cooking dinner, that they would have repeated meals in the same month, sometimes two months, which all depended on how the workdays ended for him.

Grissom smiles as he leans forward and takes her hand. "Then it's a good thing I'm still learning, and admittedly my mom still sends me recipes that I might want to try."

Sara smiled as she leaned forward to cup his cheek, love evident in her eyes. "My little chef, I swear you could be one in an alternate universe, I can so see that happening."

He took a breath as he moved her hand up to his lips. "As long as we still get together, I don't care what universe I am in."

She nodded while his lips touched her knuckles. "Absolutely, I wouldn't have it any other way."

They lean forward and started to kiss, and while the kisses were becoming more passionate, Sara's fingers went to his buttoned up, white, dress shirt, but she only got a few undone before he pulled back and shook his head. "Wait, dessert."

She smirked. "I thought that's what I was getting to."

He chuckled. "I think we are thinking about two different kinds of desserts." He then cups her cheek and continued with love and passion in his eyes. "Not that I don't love the one we were heading in, but I did get you an actual dessert."

He looked so excited/eager about this other dessert, so she nodded with a smile. "Ok, let's see if it can actually compare to the other 'dessert' I'm thinking about."

He then stands up with a smirk. "Maybe not fully, but it does come pretty close."

Sara just raised an eyebrow before Grissom turned and walked into the kitchen.

A moment later he walked back into the dining room with a slice of chocolate cake with a lit single candle on it, but it wasn't just any chocolate cake, she gasped when she saw it once it was near her. "Oh my god, it's from…"

Grissom cuts her off with nod and smile. "I figured since it was a big hit the first time around, why not get it again. Now should I sing, Happy birthday to you, Happy Birth…"

She places her finger up to his lips to stop him with a smile. "Not that I don't love your singing, I didn't get to sing to you on your birthday so fair is fair." He nodded and waited for her to blow out the candle, which she did after a short pause, then he asked as he used the fork and cut a small piece. "Do I have to ask what you wished for?"

She smiled. "Normally I wouldn't tell what I wished for, but I don't need to wish for it, I already have it." She then started to have tears in her eyes. "This life that I have, I don't know how I got here, like what you said about your plan, I don't think this was mine as well."

He moved the fork, which had the small piece of cake on it, towards Sara's mouth and as he slid that piece into her mouth, he spoke with a smile. "Well, a wise woman once told me that the best part of plans is that they can change. And it will only drive ourselves crazy if we think about the moments we could have missed that wouldn't have brought us here, so I just want to be grateful and happy that we are here."

After another bite swallowed, she takes the plate and fork from his hands and placed them on the table before cupping his cheek and bringing him closer to her. "My thoughts exactly." Then they started kissing again.

A moment later she pulls back and whispers. "As much as I love that cake, I'm sorry but nothing can compare right now on what I really want."

He smiled and cleared his throat. "I'll tell you what, how about you finish that cake while I'll finish the dishes."

While she could be tidy, even more so since meeting him, he was extra tidy, and with the exception of a few times and if there was an emergency that couldn't be delayed, it was very rare that Grissom would keep any dishes in the sink for very long, especially overnight.

But loving everything about him, even his little quirks, Sara nodded with a smile, accepting the terms. "Ok, but you have until I finish this piece of cake and me locking up and setting the alarm."

Grissom nodded with a smile. "Deal."

They share one more kiss before he takes what empty dishes there was on the table and headed for the kitchen while she enjoyed that creamy chocolate cake, thinking about the amazing life she's had since she was 16, when she moved to Boston and her life had changed for the better, and even more so five years later.

AN: Thanks for reading, and please review. I hope those of you who are going through a heat wave, like I am, is staying cool. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and until next time, always remember GSR4ever!