AN: Wow we made it to the last chapter, enjoy! Warning: A questionable word, mention of minor character death and implied/Suggestive adult behavior.

Chapter 50: Epilogue

17 years later

August 17, 2026

A lot can happen in 17 years, kids get older, move on and start their own lives, and the Grissom kids were no different.

Taron, their oldest son, who still looks a lot like his father, was now 24 years old. After he had graduated from high school, and while he eventually tolerated the move to Los Angeles, he never fell in love with the city, so when he got a scholarship offer to go to Berkley, he took it, moving back up to San Francisco, eventually renting the house he grew up in from his parents, along with a few other classmates of his and his best friend/'cousin' Austin Stokes, where he studied and got a bachelor's degree in mathematical engineering.

Devin, the second and last son in the Grissom family, is now 20 and has been going to Harvard since he was 16, just like his mother, and working to become a doctor, but unlike his father, a medical one.

Their youngest, second daughter and twin to Devin, Mary Jo's life took a turn while going into middle school, her hearing, while it wasn't common for it to happen to the younger ones with the genetic disorder, it does and it did, but that didn't stop her from graduating early and following her dreams of becoming an artist, and at only 20 years old, she was one of the best artists in the country.

Other things can happen in 17 years as well, death, it's a sad thing but it is a part of life, so in the summer of 2014, the Matriarch of the Grissom family had passed away, and anybody who knew Betty Grissom would say that the last four years of her life were some of the best because she was surrounded by her grandchildren.

Now what hasn't changed in the last 17 years, hell, the last 34 years, if you want to get technical, was the love between two people, two people who met because of a bet, a bet that had changed their lives in the most unexpected way they could have imagined. Their love was just too strong to let anything, or anyone come between them.

And currently, even after all this time, they loved sharing their love for one another.

Sara moved off her husband and lays down next to his side, they are both smiling as they tried to calm their racing hearts and catching their breaths, then she spoke softly while cupping his now white bearded cheek. "How was that birthday, boy."

Grissom chuckled. "I think I passed the 'boy' part a long time ago." He then gets a little more serious as he brings her closer. "But not bad, not bad at all my amazing, talented, irresistible, wonderful wife of 25 years."

She smirked. "Damn, 25 years already? Where has the time gone, it feels like I just married you yesterday."

He smiled with love in his eyes before sighing. "You sure about that, a lot has changed since we first got married."

She nodded in agreement but spoke softly as she ran her thumb up and down his cheek. "One thing hasn't, my love has only grown for you through the years, my heart still races every time you just look at me. I still desire you; I still want and need only you."

He smiled as he leaned towards her and they started to kiss, then after they pulled back, he smirked. "You do realize you're now married to a 70-year-old man."

She smiled as she moved her hand up to his now fully white hair. "Really? I haven't noticed."

Grissom shyly smiled, even after all of this time, she can still make him feel shy with her comments. "Sara..."

She cuts him off. "It's true, you may be 70 today, but I don't see it." She moved closer to him and whispered. "In fact, I think you are still sexy as hell." When he started chuckling and shaking his head, she asked with a raised eyebrow. "What? Why do you find that funny?" She then spoke softly. "Do you see me differently than when we first met?"

He surprised her by moving above her quickly and speaking with passion. "No, you are still the most beautiful woman in the world to me."

With now tears in her eyes, she asks. "Even after 4 kids and 34 years together?"

He smiled as he moved his lips down to her neck. "Especially because of that." After a few kisses to her neck, he moved his lips to her ear and whispered. "And I still desire and want only you."

As his lips and fingers on her body was driving her crazy, even after what they just did a few moments ago, she wanted to remind him that they still had to prep and prepare of his birthday dinner with the many guests that were showing up later. But she didn't want to stop what he was doing to her, and let whatever he was doing to her happen, and even though by the time they did get out of bed, shower and change, their timing on prepping was a little late than they had planned, there were no regrets whatsoever.

3 hours before anyone was planned to show up, their doorbell rung and they looked at one another before Sara sighed. "I'll get it."

Grissom nodded while Sara moved towards the living room, and after opening the front door, she did smile at the person she was now looking at. "Jo what are you doing here?"

Jo smirked. "Well, there is still a party going on, right? He didn't make you cancel it?"

Sara shook her head with a chuckle. "No, I'm allowed to plan for his big ones, but what I mean is that there is still 3 hours before anyone shows."

Jo smirked again while holding out a big plastic bowl. "I had a feeling you two would be 'running' late so I wanted to come and help if I can, and to give this potato salad."

Sara took the bowl and shyly smiled as she moved to let her best friend come in the house. "And how do you know we were 'running' late?"

Jo smirked one more time. "Because I see the way you still look at him, and with it being his birthday and all, you might have wanted to give him his present..."

Sara stops her friend with a chuckle. "Ok, yes we were 'running' late, happy now."

Jo just nodded with a smile before following Sara into the kitchen, where Grissom still was and asked with a smile. "Jo, what are you doing here?"

Jo smiled. "I'm here to help, so put me to work."

Grissom nodded as he pointed to the tray of ribs. "You can start on the ribs."

Jo nodded with a smile, took the tray and BBQ sause before walking out on the back deck.

When it was just Sara and Grissom, Grissom looked over at Sara with a raised eyebrow. "This is more than just helping, isn't it?"

Sara cleared her throat while opening the lid to the bowel Jo had given her. "She just thought we would be 'running' late today." When he softly replied with 'I see', Sara chuckled as she walked up to him to cup his cheek. "Oh babe, I can't help it if her, or anyone else for that matters, sees that I am still very much physically attracted to you. That part of our life has always been strong and I'm not ashamed of it, no matter how many comments, side looks or smirks I get, and I hope you feel the same."

He nodded with a smile. "Of course I do, and I guess I should be use to so it by now, but I'm..."

Sara cuts her husband off lovingly. "And I get it, you're still very private about some things." She then smirked while wrapping her arms around his neck. "But one of the things I love that you have come so far of is..."

He cuts her off as he brings her closer to him. "Kissing you in public."

Just as they were about to kiss, Jo spoke with a smirk. "So, do you want me to just cook while you two go back to your room?" They pull back looking like they got caught doing something they weren't supposed too, and Jo shook her head with a chuckle while she went back to the grill after speaking again. "I swear you two can be worse than newlyweds at times."

Sara smirked in return while removing her arms from her husband so he could continue to prep. "And proud of it thank you very much."

As the time for the party started to come near, more guests, or should they say by now family, started to show up, which included their ex-CSI team, Latoya, Lizzie, and Finn, and their families. Then came three of the Grissom 'kids'. Next were Josh, Brad, Nick, Ashley and Quinn with all of their 'kids', and while the group was spread out, with Sara and Grissom by their deck railing with Brad now cooking, they all hear a familiar voice behind them. "Hey Doctor Grissom."

Both Sara and Grissom turn around and smiled, both saying at the same time. "Which one?"

While Sara took a break from working after leaving her career as a CSI, she eventually decided she wanted her PhD and ended up becoming a physics teacher at UCLA University. However, after taking about a five-year break from being a CSI, she goes to the Los Angles lab, where Sam is now the director, every once in a while, to do consulting work.

Catherine chuckled. "That's right, there are two of you now."

Sara and Grissom chuckle as they headed towards Catherine, who had Warrick, their now 24-year-old twins, Lindsey, her husband Curtis, and their 10-year-old son and 6-year-old daughter, walking with her, and Grissom spoke with a smirk. "Actually, there are three of us, remember?"

Belle had also gotten her PhD and followed in more of her father's footsteps by working as an entomologist for the Los Angeles Crime Lab, a job her parents weren't that excited for her to get because of all the death she would have to deal with on a daily basis. But on the other hand, was happy that she was helping victims on their worst day and putting away those creeps.

As Curtis headed towards his mom with his two kids, Lindsey asked with a smile. "Where is Belle by the way?"

While they were greeting one another, Sara shook her head with a slight frown. "I don't know, I'm going to call her, see what's keeping her."

Lindsey nodded. "I want to come to."

Sara nodded and walked inside the house with Lindsey following, then once the twins headed towards the other 'kids', and Warrick went and joined Nick's group, it was now just Catherine and Grissom.

"Hi."

Grissom nodded with a smile. "Hi, Cath, how are you doing?"

Catherine smiled. "I couldn't be better. I have the most amazing husband, three fantastic kids, a perfect son-in-law, and two wonderful..."

Grissom smirked. "Grandkids."

Catherine chuckled. "Yes, I'm a grandma, and proud of it, don't forget that." She then smirked. "And I don't know why you are laughing soon to be..."

She trailed off when she saw Sara moving a little quickly towards them with Lindsey following right behind, which caused Grissom look at his wife in worry. "Honey, what is it?"

Sara moved closer to Grissom and spoke softly. "Belle's water broke while we were on the phone."

Grissom looked at her in shock. "What?"

Sara nodded. "Yeah, so Nathan is taking her to the hospital now."

He cleared his throat. "Should we tell the kids?"

Before Sara could speak, Catherine did. "Just go, I'll tell them."

Grissom looks at Cathrine. "Are you sure?"

Catherine nodded with a smile. "Yes, go be with your little girl."

Grissom smirked. "She's not so little anymore."

"No, but she'll always be to you."

Grissom nodded. "Thank you, Catherine."

"You're welcome, now go grandpa."

Grissom's eyes just lit up with one more nod before him, Sara and Lindsey started to rush out the back gate so they could take Lindsey's vehicle since theirs were blocked in the garage from the other vehicles in their driveway.

It was multiple hours of waiting, and at which point in the evening, the other three Grissom 'kids' showed up to wait it out in the waiting area, then finally they see a 6'0, broad shoulder, athletic build of a man with very short light blond hair and blue eyes smiled at the Grissom family. "Dr. Grissom, Mrs. Grissom, your grandson is here, and your daughter wishes to see you two now."

Grissom had tears in his eyes as he asked softly. "Grandson?"

Belle and Nathan, her husband of three years and fellow criminalist, wanted to keep the gender of their baby a surprise to their family, and surprisingly they did, even though there were times when they wanted to blurt it out.

The young man nodded with a smile. "Yes, sir."

Grissom shook his head with a smile as he placed his hand on the young man's shoulder. "Nathan, you've been married to my daughter for three years now, it isn't sir, it's dad, remember."

"Yes, si...sorry, dad."

They just chuckled and shook their heads, then Grissom released his son-in-law and spoke again. "Alright, let's go see our girl."

After Nathan nodded again, the Grissom family followed him to Belle's recovery room, and once they got there, Nathan knocked, waited for the 'ok' before opening the door, then the moment Sara and Grissom walked in first, Belle's eyes teared up while looking at her parents as she held her son. "Hi guys, there is someone who wants to meet their grandparents, Gilbert Arthur Grissom-Schwartz II."

They both gasped before Grissom shook his head with emotion. "Aw, butterfly, you didn't have to name him after me."

Belle sniffled. "I wanted to, I wanted to name him after the best man I've ever known, he deserved to be named after his grandpa."

Grissom chuckled and shook his head again. "My god, I'm a grandpa."

Belle chuckled with another sniffle. "You sure are, and I'm sorry, daddy."

Now looking at her daughter with confusion, he asked. "What could you be sorry about?"

"I ruined your birthday party."

Grissom smiled as he cupped his oldest daughter's cheek and spoke with love. "Are you kidding me? You just gave me one of the best birthday presents of my life, nothing was ruined, and I'm glad I get to share this day with my grandson."

After Belle kissed her son's forehead, she transferred him into her father's arms and just watched both of her parents fall in love with the newest member of the Grissom family.

Later that evening

The Grissom family stayed with Belle and her family until they couldn't anymore, then after them and their three other kids had dinner at a diner, which Grissom did get a pie with a candle on top so they could wish him a happy birthday, they headed back to the house and their kids settled into their childhood bedrooms for the night since it was too late to travel anywhere.

So, while their 'kids' were sleeping, Sara was standing at the deck railing while Grissom walked out on the deck carrying two wine glasses, and when he was close to his wife, he spoke with a smile. "Here, Dr. Grissom."

Sara turned around to see a beaming smile on her husband's face as she took the glass from him. "You just love saying that don't you?"

He smirked with a raised eyebrow. "Don't you as well."

They clinked their glasses while Sara nodded with a smirk. "Touche." Then she spoke softly. "And I know how it still affects you."

He smirked again. "Just as well as Mrs. Grissom does to you." Sara shyly smiled while Grissom continued after clearing his throat. "Although, I will say that 'Dr. Grissom', is a close second."

Sara sighed in content. "Another dream I didn't know I wanted until I had it."

He cupped her cheek with his free hand with love and proudness in his eyes. "And I'm so proud of you, honey. I know when you left CSI, despite your reasoning, it wasn't easy on you. But you ended up having another dream and went with it."

With tears in her eyes, she placed her free hand on top of his that was still on her cheek. "And I couldn't have done it without your full support, so thank you."

He ran his thumb up and down her cheek. "You're welcome." They just looked at one another for a few minutes before they turn their bodies so they were facing the darken horizon and listening to the ocean.

After a few minutes of silence between them, Sara spoke softly. "It's nice having the kids home, even though it's only for one night."

He wrapped his arm around her shoulders with a nod. "It is, and I'm so happy with everything their accomplishing in their lives, but I miss them so much."

She sighed with a nod. "Me too." She then smiled slightly as she spoke. "But you know, now we have a grandson to focus on, and while it won't take the full hurt away, least it will take a little sting out of it."

Grissom chuckled with a nod. "That we do. God, I still can't believe I'm a grandpa, another title I never thought I would have."

Sara shook her head with a chuckle. "Me neither, not even close." She sighed one more time. "But one I'm so damned proud of already."

"And you should be." He then smirked. "You deserve it, grandma."

She chuckled before she replied back with a smirk of her own. "And so do you, grandpa."

After they calmed down on their laughing they just looked at one another, and he replied, getting more serious. "Sara, these last 34 years with you have been amazing, even with the rough patches we've had to go through and the distance we had to endure, there isn't much I wouldn't change. I'm still deeply, head over heels in love with you and I'm ready for another 34 years with you."

Sara, with tears in her eyes replied with love. "Where do I sign up for that, because, I'm still deeply, head over heels in love with you too, and there isn't much I wouldn't change either, you are the father of my children, my husband, my soulmate, love of my life, my best friend and anything and everything in-between, and I couldn't have imagined spending the last 34 years of my life with anyone else." When he just stood there smiling, she asked with a raised eyebrow. "What?"

He cleared his throat before answering. "Who would have thought this grand love story would have started with a bet."

She chuckled and shook her head. "Still the best accepted bet of my life."

He kissed her temple and whispered. "I love you, Sara."

She sighed in content while being in his arms. "And I love you, Griss."

They just continued to stand there while looking out in the darken horizon, thinking about the life they shared the last 34 years and about their lives in the next 34 years, where hopefully they'll get to have more grandbabies, but knowing their love for one another was just as strong as when they first met because of a bet.

AN: Thanks for reading, please review. Like I said last chapter ending this story is a little bittersweet for me, this story, while I never knew how it would end when I started planning for it, had actually been in the works for years, when my dad was still alive, but for various reasons it never got done, so your early support really helped steer the story to the way it became, so thanks again for it and I hope overall you enjoyed it. It might be a bit before I post any new stories, but I'll try and get one out soon, so I hope you are all following along, enjoy what stories I do have out, enjoy any holidays I might miss, and I hope you all had a good/safe weekend.
So, with all of that said, until the next time, always remember, GSR4ever!