Disclaimer – Please see chapter 1.

A/N – First of all I would like to thank everyone of you sincerely, that has followed this epic story, encouraged and supported me to continue on with it, and have continually left wonderful reviews for me. You are all great people! Special thanks go out to Kathy - My Kate for being not only a wonderful writer yourself, but a great friend and sounding board from day one of this story almost a year ago. Which leads nicely into my next note. Kathy is the reason I am in deep thought, as to, if I really want to consider doing a sequel to this story in the future. I am still considering this option at this moment in time!

This story is dedicated to all of you GSR fan's,William Petersen & Jorja Fox for bringing us the Grissom & Sara Romance.

This chapter is not beta'd as usual, so mistakes are totally all mine, please accept my apologies in advance. Please R&R Enjoy!

Dead bodies and New Life – Chapter – 173 Epilogue

Six months later;

Daylight was just breaking as she ended another quiet night shift at the crime lab, pushing her key into the lock, Sara opened the door to her unusually quiet home, the lights were all off and Hank wasn't greeting her at the door as normal.

Even though she was much earlier, after being sent home because of the lack of new cases to solve, their home would always be a hive of activity now at 630am, with Gil cooking breakfast, or tending to William, as CJ and Andy energetically raced around the house getting showered, changed and their things together for school, before a somewhat calmer breakfast shared together.

Closing the door with a soft click, then depositing her cell, keys and purse in the hallway, she ambled through to the kitchen which was deserted, she turned and was about to make for the stairs when she heard a muffled low bark from Hank in the family room.

Frowning a little at hearing the dogs sound come from the room, knowing that one of the kids usually took him up to their bedrooms at night, she decided to find out why Hank was downstairs on his own.

Pushing open the slightly ajar door, she walked into the mostly darkened room, except for a soft lamp that was lit on the side table, beside one of the couches.

What she now saw made her heart melt, Gil was laid on his back on the couch in only pyjama bottoms, hair all messed, glasses askew on his nose, his smaller edition of Shakespeare's poems and sonnets fallen haphazardly to the floor, Hank curled up tight in front of the couch protectively both fast asleep.

But it wasn't so much that image alone that melted her heart, she had witnessed this scene several times before. No, it was William wearing only his diaper, laid on his tummy over his fathers chest, one tiny hand was being held gently by Gil close to his chin, the other large hand was placed securely and protectively over the tiny expanse of Williams back.

Soft contented breathing sounded from their son, as Gil let out a soft whisper of a snore occasionally as his chest rose lifting William each time he exhaled, both looked incredibly contented and relaxed in their slumber.

Creeping over to the cupboard in the corner, Sara pulled out their video camera and positioned herself so she could film the delightful scene for posterity, after five minutes of glorious footage, she replaced it back in the cupboard and glanced at her watch, we need to be getting the kids ready for school soon, they're later up than they should be, she thought as she made her way back over to her husband and son.

Leaning over Sara put her hands softly onto William to pick him up, but as she started to lift him,Gil's eyes flew open and he tightened his hold on the baby.

"Hey, it's only me honey" Sara said in a quiet tone as Gil relaxed his hold and let her lift up the infant to her own chest.

William fussed a little as Sara rubbed his back to sooth him, but he rubbed his face into her shoulder wakening slowly with a little whimper.

"Tough night?" Sara asked as she watched Gil sit up, stretch, yawn then remove his glasses so he could rub sleep from his eyes.

"Yeah, he's been grizzly and fussing all night. That tooth really needs to come through soon so that he can get a full good nights sleep" Gil said putting his glasses on the coffee table, then looking up at his wife as she patted Williams back trying to get him to settle again.

"How come he's only in his diaper?" she asked as William wriggled and whimpered in her arms.

"He was a little hot with all his crying and fussing, so I left his other cloths off to cool him down. Why is he cold?" Gil asked concerned that he might have made his son cold with leaving him undressed, as he stood up next to her putting his hand to the baby's forehead.

"No, he's fine, don't worry honey" she said still trying to sooth William to no avail, and knowing it would only be a matter of time before his loud protest would be heard "How long has he been sleeping?" she asked as she moved the infant to her other shoulder.

Glancing at his watch Gil let out a low groan "We've both had a couple of hours the whole night" he said running his hand through his hair tiredly "Ill get breakfast, the kids should be up getting ready for school by now" he said stretching his back then catching the huge yawn with his hand.

"No, you take William and lay back down, or go to bed and I'll get breakfast and the kids up" Sara said sympathetically to him, as the first of in a series of loud cries was emitted from William in protest of being awake once more.

Gil grasped his tiny son from Sara and brought him to his chest under his chin, as he rubbed his back slowly, talking to William in a low voice "Hey, hey, come on now Buggy, go back to sleep for Daddy. That's it, settle down to sleep again, Mommy and Daddy wont disturb you again. That's it. Shhhhhhhh" he said as William began to quieten and calm in his Dad's warm embrace.

Seeing William finally look to be settling again, Sara smiled then leaned over to kiss Gil briefly "Go to bed Gil, I've got everything covered here" she said.

Feeling Williams movements still against his chest, Gil released one of his hands from the baby's back and brought it down to Sara's swollen tummy caressing it fully with his open palm wide "You sure honey? You've just done a shift at the lab and your pregnant, you should be the one taking things easy?" he asked affectionately as he felt slight movement from his unborn child.

Laying her hand on top of his briefly before letting go she said "Yeah, I'm sure. We had a quiet night, no new cases and I've been sat down most of the time. So you go ahead and get some sleep, I'll be up after the kids have got off to school" she said with a quick peck to his lips and a special smile for him.

"Okay, but take it easy and don't over do it" He said as he made for the door.

An hour later the school bus arrived outside, first Andy approached his Mom to give her his usual hearty hug and bye's before leaving, feeling her tummy for movement of his soon to be sibling.

Then CJ came racing down the stairs after nearly forgetting something for school, she hugged her Mom eagerly, then bent and kissed the protruding abdomen "See you later bug baby" she called as she ran out the door after her brother.

Sara eventually trudged of to join her husband in bed after tidying up the breakfast thing and doing a couple of chores.

An hour before their normal family dinner time, first Jim and Heather arrived bearing treats and gifts for the kids and expectant mother as usual, then Catherine turned up with Warrick and Lindsey in tow, then Nick and Greg showed teasing each other about some women on a case flirting with them both as they came in the door.

"So who's taking the orders for pizza then?" Greg asked as he dropped down onto the floor in front of the TV next to Andy and CJ.

"I am, shortly Greg, don't worry we wont forget you" Jim called over to him, as William then grabbed his police badge fixed to his pocket, then ravenously started chewing on it with gusto covering it with saliva.

"Hey Buggy, I need that for work tonight. Let Pa have it back little man" Jim said as he tried to relieve his grandson of the item.

William tried his hardest to keep a tight grip of the leather badge holder that was great for chewing on, but Jim managed to prise it free of his hands, straight away the infants bottom lip quivered, followed by eyes beginning to tear up, then he turned his head seeking out none other that his Daddy, who always seemed to be the best one at soothing him when upset.

Finding his Daddy stood with his arm around his Mommy, talking to Uncle Warrick and Heather, about his enjoying his early retirement, being home with William and spending time writing chapters for a new forensic handbook he was developing.

He'd not been called out so far in his new capacity as a consultant entomologist and serial killer expert, but that was okay because it freed up more time to spend researching other projects he was excited to pursue in the future.

William let out a pathetic cry as the dams burst, his arms reaching in the direction that he wanted to be in with his Daddy, letting the person in question know he wanted him ASAP.

"Hey hey little man, it's okay I didn't mean to upset you. Those teeth still driving you crazy huh, not breaking through yet. Awwww come on William, Shhhhhhh, I'll get you your own badge holder, how about that. I'm sorry you cant have this one, Shhhhh?" Jim said trying to sooth the baby now trying his hardest to lean out of his embrace towards Gil only a few yards away.

Hearing the cry immediately, both Gil and Sara looked over "Daddy's little boy wants you" Sara said grinning at Gil, then over at her father trying to sooth her clearly upset son.

Gil stepped over to Jim quickly holding his hands out for William, who soon settled into his fathers chest holding him around the neck with a vice like grip, as he whimpered and cried rubbing his face into the side of Gil's own face.

Rubbing soothing circles on his back and turning his face into William's, Gil spoke in a soft tone "Hey, it cant be that bad William. What's up huh? Your teeth bothering you again?" he said calming his son who was now sniffling with his fist in his mouth rubbing it against his gums.

Jim held up his slimy leather police badge holder containing the badge "He got a hold of my badge again Gil. You know I'd let him have it, but it could be full of all kinds of germs, and the last thing I want is a pissed of pregnant Sara gunning for me" he said cleaning off the saliva with a handkerchief, then stuffed both in his pocket.

Sara gave Jim a mock glare before running her hand through the mass of untidy tight brown curls of William's head affectionately "Did grandpa upset Mommy's little man huh?" she said smiling as William turned to look for him Mommy.

"Sara...He had my badge again" Jim said apologetically.

"He may due a feed too, so don't worry Jim, I was only teasing" she said as she pulled William into her arms "I'll take him upstairs to nurse and settle him, wont be too long" Sara said as William gripped a hold of her hair in his fist.

Forty minutes later Sara had William fed and settled in his crib, baby monitor switched on and hooked to her belt as she entered the noisy and animated family room closing the door behind her.

Jim and Gil were sat on the rug cross legged, Gil with CJ in his lap, and Jim with Andy in his as the two kids showed the old's how to play the Wii game, everyone else in the room including Archie, Hodges, Doc and his wife,Wendy & Mandy, who must have arrived while she was tending to her youngest son, where calling out instructions or adding comical comments.

Warrick got up from the couch to allow Sara to sit down next to Catherine "The pizza's are ordered and should be here soon, and the guys helped me set out some other nibbles and stuff" Catherine informed a tired looking Sara.

Game over flashed up on the TV screen, Gil groaned at being the looser to Jim, who was now pumping the air with his fist in celebration.

Helping CJ up off his lap then standing, Gil shook his legs to get some feeling back into them as several of the males in the room dived for the Wii controller.

Nick now had CJ on his lap calling them team 'Stokes' v's team 'Brass'.

Greg, Archie, Warrick, Wendy and Mandy were sprawled out around the floor, Rebecca Robbin's, Al and Heather occupied one couch, while Catherine, Lindsey and Sara occupied the other.

Gil spotted the empty arm chair but wanted to sit next to his wife, Catherine seeing his dilemma shuffled out of her current seat dragging Lindsey with her over to the chair freeing up room for him.

Sitting down gingerly so as not to jostle his wife, who looked like she was ready for a nap he put his arm around her and pulled her into his side so her head could rest on his shoulder "Better?" he asked with a kiss to her head.

"Yeah, just a little tired is all" Sara said in low more intimate tone to her husband.

Gil placed his free hand over the top of Sara's resting it on top of the baby bump that protected their unborn child "You want to go back upstairs for a nap, and I'll save you some pizza for later?" he asked quietly.

"Ummmmmmm, no, not right now I'm comfy right here" she said lazily finishing with a tired sigh.

"You sure honey?, it's a little noisy in here, your not going to be able to nap here" Gil said using his arm around her back to rub up and down it soothingly.

"Yeahhhhhhh, I'll nap okay, I just like having all the family round every now and then. Don't want to miss it. We don't do this enough as it is" Sara said taking her hand off the bump and placing it around her husbands torso and snuggling right into his warmth.

"I know what you mean. I never thought that I would envision this many people in our home together, and I'd feel happy and contented by it all" Gil said with another kiss to her hair.

"Ummmmmmm" was all Sara mumbled, as she began to relax enjoying the comfort of her husband and family, as they carried on with whatever they were all doing around her.

Tribute to a Family

by Michelle Moran

I don't know how it started, or how it all began.

But god created families, as only our lord can.

He was teaching what it means, to love honour and obey.

He wanted a strong bond, that we don't see much today.

He wanted someone to hold us, and show respect for others.

He wanted someone who'd be gentle, And so he created Mothers.

He wanted someone strong, A support filled with love.

And so he created Fathers, sent from heaven above.

Brothers and sisters came next, with that, an instant friend.

Someone to look up to, Some one on who to depend.

When he put them all together, He was amazed at what he done.

He had created a family, Created by only two.

How many we've become and it's all because of you.

We have a lot to be thankful for, The memories through the years.

The many times together, Full of laughter, full of tears.

I don't know where we'd be today, if it weren't for the two of you.

To show us strength, support & love.

Like only the two of you do!

A/N I hope the epilogue was worthy of the story, and answered some of the remaining questions for you. I deliberately left the sex of the baby unknown for if I decide to do a sequel, and if I don't, you can decide for yourselves the sex and name! I have totally enjoyed my journey with you all and our GSR family, and it is very sad to have to end it here, but end it I must. Take care everyone, have fun be happy!

Please take the time to leave a final review for the story, I would be really interested to hear comments on the story as a whole, so that it may help me decide on a sequel or not.