Volume I: The Nascency

By: xKatx

Summary: Sara was determined to get through the criminalistics conference feelings-free. They were staying with Nick's family, but Sara was determined not to get involved. It would bring her no where she wanted to be again…

Author's Note: Oh my gosh, you guys really love my story! LOL I can't thank everyone cause it would take way too long but all of you rock for your reviews! Sorry it's taken so long to update, but I'm tryin! I luv u guys tons!! *tears of happiness*

Request: Read and review!

Rating: PG-13

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In no time at all, Nick's family learned of the blossoming couple. Unlike Christine and Jared, who while being engaged were all over each other, both Nick and Sara were very conscious and polite about how much contact that made in front of others. Neither of them were comfortable doing anything except holding hands, hugging, and quick kisses while in the company of others.

          "I'm so proud of Nick," Marge said the following afternoon as she sat with her husband and her three oldest children, "Do you remember how he was with Vanessa?"

          "You mean how she was with him," Ed corrected her, and Marge nodded.

          "Yeah, I remember," Daniel commented, looking down toward the lake where the rest of the family was swimming, "They were all over each other. I can remember a thousand times where we would be in the living room and she would start making out with him right in front of us."

          "Yeah, but remember who it was," Cynthia said darkly, "Vanessa wasn't really what we thought she was. Sara is a lady."

          "With a mean right hook," Ed joked, "Nick told me she's been trained in hand to hand combat."

          "Well," Marge said, "She's a lady, but she's no doormat."

          "That's exactly what Nicky needs," Cynthia replied, "A woman who can love him, but also handle him."

The others laughed and nodded in agreement.

          "But," Ed interrupted, "We can't jump to conclusions. We're not even sure if they've said 'I love you' yet. Plus, it's not like their getting married tomorrow."

          "True," Marge said, "We only have one wedding in the future right now."

Everyone smiled as they remembered their second youngest sister was due to be married. The subject quickly changed, but the thoughts of Sara and Nick still lingered.

~

          "We only have one day left in Texas," Nick commented as he and Sara took a walk around the lake the evening, hand in hand as the sun went down.

Sara sighed and nodded, "Yeah. Back to the city."

          "Back to work," Nick groaned, and Sara laughed at his expression. She could help it – his face was priceless.

She looked out at the water, basking in the complete happiness she felt at that moment. To her, everything in the world was in place – everything was right.

          "Penny for your thoughts?" Nick asked with a grin as they stopped at a pile of rocks, where they sat together, their hands linked and their hearts both swelling.

Sara shrugged, "All I've gone through – right now, it just seems worth it if this is where I've ended up."

Nick flashed her a smile and nodded, pushing some of her hair behind her ear, "The feeling is reciprocated."

His hand rested on her cheek, and she leaned into his touch.

          "I wish I could see the future – that way I could see what's going to happen in the next week, month, year."

Nick shook his head, "What would be the fun in that?"

          "The excitement?" Sara suggested, "Of knowing something good is coming."

Nick smiled, and gently pressed his lips to hers, having fought the urge ever since dinner.

Sara kissed him back, but looked at him questioningly, "What was that for?"

Nick raised an eyebrow, "Can't a man kiss his girlfriend without question?"

Sara grinned cheekily, "That has a nice ring to it."

          "It does, doesn't it?" Nick replied, smiling at her.

          "I don't know about you," she said, "But I cannot stop smiling."

He laughed, "Don't worry, neither can I. I like it, though."

Sara nodded, "It's better than frowning, I suppose."

Nick rolled his eyes, "I try to never frown."

Sara looked at him out of the corner of her eye as she looked at the sinking sun, "It's kind of hard to smile when you're working on a case, though."

Nick nodded, "That's true."

The two sat quietly for a while, "But," Nick said as he wrapped his arms around her, "Let's enjoy smiling while we can."

Sara snuggled into his embrace, "I second that motion."

~

          "Must you go?" Marge asked her youngest son sadly. It was the next morning, and it was time for Nick and Sara to head back to Vegas.

Nick nodded as he stopped to hug his mother for the fifth time, "Yeah, Mom. We have to go. But don't worry, if Sara and I-"

          "Sh! You'll jinx it!" Marge said with a smile.

Nick rolled his eyes, "If Sara and I are still together by Christmas, we may come back down or we'll fly you and dad up."

Marge nodded, but the tears that had gathered in her eyes threatened to overflow.
          "Mom, I hadn't come home before until now," Nick said, "It won't be that bad. We can call and email and it's only a three day drive to Vegas or Dallas."

Marge nodded again, but couldn't speak.

Nick stopped loading the Tahoe as he pulled his mother into his arms, "Mom, why are you so upset?"

Marge shook her head as she hugged her son, "You're my baby boy, Nick. And I'm going to miss you. But these aren't tears of sadness – I'm happy. I'm happy you're going home with a woman who will take care of you."

Nick smiled, "I know, Mom. Dad said he's glad there'll be a woman around to keep me under control."

Marge burst into laughter, "Well, I'm also glad of that too. Nicky," she said, lowering her voice, "Are you and Sara going to be living together?"

Nick shrugged, "We haven't talked it over. I'm going to bring it up on the way back, though."

His mother nodded as she watched Nick continue re-loading the Tahoe.

          "Nicky," she said quietly, "Do you love her?"

Nick turned around and looked at his mom, "What?"

          "Do you love Sara, or do you just like her?"

Nick stopped, putting his hands on his hips, letting out a long breath, "I love her, Mom."

Marge smiled and nodded, "Good."

~

          "Nicky and Sara are together," Catherine said that evening as she lay Dylan into his crib and looked over at her husband.

          "Took long enough," Grissom commented as he looked down at his newborn son, "You think they'll be professional about it?"

Catherine looked up at him, "Of course they will. It's Nick and Sara, Gil."

Grissom nodded, but continued to have a worried expression on his face.

          "What?" Catherine asked as she tucked her baby boy in.

Grissom shrugged, "Do you think all these inter-office relationships could mess up the 'groove' of the team?"

Catherine laughed and kissed her husband, "Of course not! Nothing happened when we were married. What makes you think Sara and Nick's relationship will change things?"

Grissom shrugged again, avoiding his wife's gaze.

          "Ah ha!" Catherine said quietly, "I know what you're worried about!"

Grissom looked at her, "What?"

          "You're comfortable with the way things are and you don't want them to change, do you?"

Grissom tried to hide the confirmation in his face, but Catherine knew it was there.

She wrapped her arms around her husband and held him close, "Gil, we have two children, the lab is number one in the country, Nick and Sara are together – everything is good."

          "It won't last," Grissom replied.

Catherine shrugged, "No, probably not," she said, looking up at her husband, "But let's enjoy it while we can."

Grissom agreed with her suggestion by kissing her.

~

          "Can you believe Nick and Sara are together?" Greg asked as Warrick entered the break room.

          "I knew it would happen eventually," Warrick replied as he waited for Greg to finish with the coffee, "It was only a matter of time before they gave in."

          "Gave in to what?" Greg asked as he finished and moved out of the way.

Warrick grinned as he sipped his coffee, "Fate."

          "You believe in fate?" Greg asked as he got himself a cup.

Warrick shrugged, "Not necessarily. In some cases, I think things just kind of click in a pre-planned way. But overall I don't think everything that ever happens is completely planned out."

Greg shrugged, but didn't comment.

          "But I'm glad they are happy," Warrick said as he glanced at his watch.

          "Yeah," Greg agreed.

          "But they better be ready to work in forty-eight hours!"

~

          "Entering Nevada!" Sara said with a grin. It was mid-afternoon, the hot desert sun splaying its rays down upon the black Tahoe. Sara looked over lovingly at the man she no longer had to hide feelings from. Nick felt the exact same thing as he wondered what the future would bring for them. Across the arms of the two front seats, two hands lay linked together – a symbol of how nascency can bring even the most socially-introverted people from the dark to the light.

~

A/N: YAY! Volume One is DONE! I am currently beginning Volume II: Perpetual Ardency and the first chapters should be up soon! REVIEW and/or email me: [email protected] with ideas, suggestions, or questions! I shall return with the continuing saga of Nick/Sara, Catherine/Grissom(plus Lindsey and Dylan), and MAYBE a little Warrick/OC OR Greg/OC ;)