The next morning was a trying affair. Greg tripped over his own cast getting out of bed and woke Nick up when he crashed to the floor. Far from being angry, Nick picked him up and smiled at his cuss words. The trying began when they entered the kitchen to find Lisa making omelets – the only type of egg neither Greg nor Jason liked. Nick did enjoy them, but he supported Greg by also refusing the proffered treat and fetching the boxes of cereal from the cupboard. They all ate in silence with Greg eyeing his parents with dirty looks, making it clear he really didn't want them there. Jason sighed, knowing that Greg had brought them here for him, and despite all the hurt they'd done to his father, they'd done naught to him but ignore him because of where he came from. So he struck up a conversation with Mark about science, which Mark knew little about, but he listened avidly to Jason's excited words. Lisa's disapproving face clearly said she thought Greg was a corrupting influence, that the young boy should be thinking of cars and construction or even girls. Not science. Greg, however, was very proud. Nick was too, oddly enough.

After breakfast Greg and Nick went off to the indoor pool. Greg couldn't actually swim because of his cast, but he put on his swim trunks anyway and splashed his good foot in the water, enjoying watching Nick do laps. He loved to watch the wet muscles ripple under his tanned Texan skin. Thinking about that almost took his mind off his family troubles until he heard the door open behind him and a startled gasp of "oh my goodness!" resounded through the echo-prone room. He looked over his shoulder and found – whom else – his parents, and they were staring at his back, horrified. He sighed and struggled to raise himself to his feet. Nick stopped swimming and began treaded water, watching his love cautiously in case his temper get out of hand again.

"Gregory, what happened?" Greg's mother was saying. Jason popped his head out from behind her and gave him an apologetic look. Greg understood. He hadn't mentioned where they'd be hiding, so Jason had no way of knowing he'd be in here. He faced his mother.

"Oh nothing, I just got blown up a little bit," he remarked offhandedly. He knew it would drive her wild, being passed off like her concerns weren't important. That had always wound her up, and she had been too old to change, even back then. Her irritation mingled with her flabbergasted expression and Greg almost laughed at the resulting look.

"You got what?" she exclaimed, puttering forward to get a look at his back again. He turned and faced away from them, allowing them a full view of his scars.

"I was working with unstable chemicals, and they blew up in my face. I got thrown through a glass wall, third degree burns, all that fun stuff. That was my first accident." He turned back around to see his parents' faces, loving that he had kept them out of his dire moments, and loving that it hurt them. He could see it in their faces, they were wounded that they hadn't been told he was in danger. Nick pulled himself out of the pool and grabbed a towel, wiping himself down as he padded up behind Greg and openly tracing the marks there. He was far from repulsed.

"I'm sorry, first accident?" Mark flustered about, his eyebrows disappearing in to his receding hairline. Greg nodded casually.

"Oh, yeah. I was out in the field when I was attacked by a gang. They almost beat me to death, actually. They'd already killed another man that night, and the only thing that stopped them from killing me was because they thought I'd die anyway when they walked away." He was concentrating hard on his folks, so he missed the cringe Nick and Jason shared as he spoke so bluntly about one of the biggest scares of both their lives. Nick patted his back and handed him his shirt before reaching for his own. The Texan continued to absently dry his shorts with the towel as the family staring contest continued, and Jason began considering waving a hand between them, to check if any of them were even paying attention anymore. After a while Lisa shook her head and dropped her eyes.

"Gregory, if we had known, we would have come," she said. "Do you think we care so little about you, that we wouldn't care if you died?" Greg considered her, tilting his head to the side as if wondering about her words.

"Yes actually. I do think that. You've never proven otherwise, what else am I supposed to think?" He let that sink in before asking Nick for help and walking away on his one crutch, hating the arm strapped tight to his chest for making him look weak. Guilt swelled as a tiny bubble inside him, but the only guilt he felt was for leaving Jason to deal with those two coots, not for speaking to them like that. All they deserved in his mind was to be ignored like he'd been ignored, and to be cast aside like he'd been cast aside. But he knew he wouldn't do that. He wanted Jason to have the family he didn't, and if he could get his parents to accept the boy, then he'd be in with the rest of them, and he could meet them all and revel in their love. Love they'd kept from Greg, the blonde thought bitterly. He suddenly stopped walking and Nick gave him a curious look. Neither heard Jason leading his grandparents down that very hall close behind.

"Oh god, Nick, this must be horrible for you! I'm sorry that you're suddenly caught in the middle of my problems," Greg began ranting on, apologizing many times, until Nick cut him off with a tender kiss that scattered his thoughts and almost knocked him off-balance. They pulled apart and Nick rested their foreheads together, holding him close.

"Hush love. I'm glad that I'm here to help you. The Lord above knows what you would be like if I weren't here to keep an eye on you!" he chuckled a bit and then jumped out of his skin as a voice boomed from a few feet down the hall.

"What did you just say, Nicholas?" Mark asked intently. Greg held his breath and counted backwards from ten. Repeatedly. How did they keep finding him and popping out of nowhere? It was a little nerve-wracking to know he didn't even have privacy in his own home. Nick didn't loosen their embrace as he turned his head and repeated his words verbatim. Mark stared openly.

"You believe in the good Lord?" he asked, very surprised. Nick blinked.

"I was raised Christian," he verified. Mark and Lisa shared a look that went a long way and Mark slapped the side of his own leg.

"But you're…"

"Gay?" Nick ended the sentence for him. "I know I'm living in sin, sir, but to be honest I couldn't care less. I'm happy, and that's the ultimate goal Jesus fought for. Joy and freedom. My sins will be forgiven when I get up above, because I still pay homage to God and I still fight to bring justice for the weak. And so does your son. You'd do well to realize that he's done nothing wrong, and that he's grown in to a better person without you there." He glared at his in-laws, daring either one of them to say something. Greg wasn't sure what shocked him more, that Nick stood up to his parents, his words, that he wasn't afraid of what they thought, or that their reaction was a very guilty, thoughtful silence. They thought his words over thoroughly and the three Vegas boys waited breathlessly to see what the verdict would be. Mark cleared his throat about five times, and crossed and uncrossed his arms, ending with shoving his hands in to his pockets. Lisa didn't move a muscle as she stared at the wall. Mark finally took a deep breath.

"You have a point Mr. Stokes," he admitted, "a point that we failed to see before. I suppose that Mrs. Sanders and I have much to think about. Gregory, we came to tell you that we're leaving early. We have Jason's cell phone number, and we'll keep in contact with him. We'd…we'd very much like you to come to Christmas dinner this year. And…and we'd like it if you want to bring your…partner. I guess that's all. Goodbye." He walked up and laid a hesitant hand on his son's shoulder, then he continued down the hall, sadly silent. Lisa mimicked him by coming closer, but she paused and didn't touch her son. Instead she reached in to the handbag she carried and produced a thick wad of envelopes. She held them out to Greg, who took them curiously. She laid a hand on his wrist.

"I written you many times over the years, but the words were never right. I cry every year on your birthday. Gregory…I've always loved you. I'm sorry that I didn't know how to tell you." She gave him one last sad look, and then followed the direction her husband had taken. If Greg could have slid down the wall, he would have. As it was, he just stood there, rocked to the core by her words. He stared at the letters she had handed them. Some were faded with age, some were newer, but they were all well worn from being read and reread. Jason and Nick looked on as he opened them one after another. Each fluttered from his hand as he finished it, but none were ever finished. They all stopped halfway through, ending with tear stairs and angry scribbles. When the last letter had dropped from his hands he used them to cover his face and drop his head back to hit them wall. Life hated him, he decided, and love was never on time. He walked away down the hall, and for many hours afterwards neither Nick nor Jason could find him. They gave up and left him to his solitude, not saying a word when he appeared in the living room doorway and plopped himself on Nick's lap. Nick only gathered his morose love in his arms and gently rocked him back and forth.

Greg insisted on returning to work with Nick the next day, Monday. Grissom was hesitant to let him, but as Greg pointed out, he didn't need his legs and he could still use his left hand, just not the arm. So long as he held things close to his chest he was still fully functional. He was quiet most of the day, not giving any flamboyant presentations of DNA results like he usually did, and it bothered the team. They'd seen the animosity between him and his parents though, so they kept themselves from asking him anything. They hounded Nick, however. He didn't go in to any private details, but he said that Greg had fought with his parents about Jason, and they'd been on the outs since the boy was born. He felt it wasn't his place to provide any other details.

The next day he was a bit better, and by Wednesday there were no signs of sadness left, though he wasn't exuberant and hyper like he usually was. Nick kept as close an eye on him as he could while he was around, but he had to spend most of the day on Fremont and 14th with Sara. But while he was gone he had the other lab rats act as his eyes, and he made frequent check up calls to various people. He hoped Greg didn't know he was acting like a mother hen. He would either tease Nick or get offended, and neither option sounded appealing. By the time shift was over, Greg was exhausted and Nick could see it in his face when he got in to the lab from processing his homicide/suicide scene. It was still undecided which it was. Greg was only too grateful to get home and fall right in to bed, leaving Nick to check on Jason. The brunette opened Jason's door and scared the poor boy out of a year of growth, since he'd been fervently attached to Natasha's lips. Nick raised an eyebrow at them and told them to keep it clean or he'd keep the intercom on at night and let Jason listen to his two fathers. Jason shuddered as he left, laughing.

In the next couple months Greg returned to normal fast, but his irritation at his incapacities grew with every day. It was evident in the annoyed expression on his face when he had to ask for help and the scowl he unconsciously affected whenever he was stumping around on his own. His arm was slowly regaining function, but he still couldn't flex the muscle or lift anything. It was his legs and his ribs that gave him the most grief. He wasn't sure if his ribs were healing because they were still tender. Nick became exasperated after a while and called the hospital to ask how long the cast would be on. He choked when he was told that Greg still had another ten months to go. Greg was not happy. Actually, he yelled and ranted and kicked his cast-covered leg in to the couch. That turned out to be a bad idea, and Nick had to cover his mouth to drown the screams, so they wouldn't scare Jason.

The months dragged by slowly after that. The CSIs learned when to avoid Greg, and how to spot an impending mood swing. Nick devised ways to divert said mood swings and shared them with his grateful coworkers and thankful son. When he wasn't in a bad mood, Greg was generally happy, and he began to listen to loud music again, which his friends both appreciated and recognized as inevitable torture. Jason's marks in school rocketed with two smart, science-minded men in the house to help him study his problems. When he complained about an English project, the two brunettes discovered a hidden flare for poetry buried deep inside their blonde loved one. Greg had flushed and admitted, very much embarrassed, that he loved to read poetry and he could recite most Shakespeare verbatim. In between work and homework, the two men also taught their son to drive in his birthday car. The first time Jason brought it humming out of the shed, Greg reached out a hand and ran it reverently along the side, whispering to the machine like a horse whisperer for cars. Oddly enough, it was discovered that the car always seemed to ride better when Greg whispered for her, and Jason picked up the habit.

When Greg got full function back in his arm, he returned to kitchen duty at home and doubled his efficiency at the lab, now being able to do everything on his own without having to ask for help. He still paged people to come get their results though, rather than going and handing it over himself, since walking was a pain. He and Nick often spent their nights in heated passion, writhing against each other between the sheets, out of breath, out of control, and out of their minds with happiness. Nick did his best to find a way every day to show Greg that he loved him, and after a while he noticed that Greg had been doing that for him all along. He didn't mention anything. Life continued for everyone in a steady, comfortable rhythm.

On the ninth month of waiting, Jason witnessed a car accident, and had a chance to flash his civilian's badge, which he always kept clipped to his belt and tucked out of sight. The cop who arrived at the scene was very impressed that one so young would have such a badge, and he paid close attention to Jason's statement, which later appeared in the paper, much to the delight of all who knew him. Jason sent a clipping of the article to his grandparents, whom he talked to every so often. Greg didn't care to ask exactly how often. But he cut out his out copy of the article and tucked it away in a scrapbook. Jason received his license soon after and played havoc with the worry button on both his fathers as he played with the boundaries of his curfew. A few long talks were had after the third time he came home at noon without calling.

On the eleventh month of 'imprisonment', Greg was uncontrollable. Knowing he only had one more month left until his leg was free sent him through a loop and he waiting suddenly became unbearable. He kicked his leg at the couch again, but made sure no one was around so that he purposefully missed at the last second and avoided the pain. The maneuver made him look slightly ridiculous, and he was glad he was alone. He became aware of his friends being secretive at work because whenever he walked in to a room, whoever was there would suddenly stop talking or start a whole new subject. His questions were dodged expertly and he hid out in his lab a lot, pouting. What ever it was, Nick was in on it, but even the threat to withhold sex didn't get anything out of him. Greg gave up after a while, and loftily ignored the way people stopped talking around him. Actually, he loftily ignored people. They seemed to find that even more amusing than him trying to find out what they were up to.

Finally, an entire year after the accident and his son's birthday party, he was loaded in to the passenger side of Jason's Corvette and they were driving to the hospital. Greg had not gone to California to join his parents for Christmas, but he'd sent Jason by plane, and the youngster returned with many stories of relatives' reactions to him, and many invitations for Greg to rejoin the clan. He was still thinking about it. But as they drove to the hospital, the ragtop down and the wind blowing in their faces, Greg didn't think of anything at all. He closed his eyes and let the air rushing by strip away the worries of the past years and a half. Nothing seemed to matter in the cool wind, and then they pulled in to the parking lot and he beat his family out of the car in his hurry to get the blasted plaster off his limb.

Nick and Jason laughed as he watched the entire time the cast was being removed. He didn't even flinch as the safety saw came within millimeters of his skin. Then it fell away and he greeted his leg like a person, which made even the doctor snort behind his mask and safety goggles. The doctor warned him that it would be weak from disuse of the muscle, but Greg would hear none of it. He lowered himself to the ground and experimented a bit to find his limits. Then he limped over to Nick and grinned.

"Do me," he whispered. Nick threw his head back and roared which laughter, and then they took him home. He had to limp a bit, but it wasn't as dysfunctional as everyone thought it would be. Greg hadn't heard anything, but he'd seen it in people's faces: they didn't expect him to heal right. Four breaks in the same leg, two in the femur, most people never recovered from that. But the blonde had spent many hours just sitting, immersing his mind in his own body, and paying attention to every minute sensation. He knew a long time ago, he'd be just fine. Greg exhausted himself walking from one room to another, enjoying the feeling of being upright, then he sent Jason to bed and pulled Nick in to their room.

Nick watched with soft eyes as Greg slowly undressed them both, and they kissed until they were out of air repeatedly. Greg pinned Nick to the bed and straddled him, loving the closeness. Their hands roamed everywhere, teasing nipples, grabbing muscles, tracing tan lines. Their lips collided again and again, only parting to suckle on hot flesh and nip at each other's neck. Greg shivered when Nick's tongue found that spot just behind his ear and ground his naked groin down in to his partner's. Nick moaned and rolled his hips up, seeking more. Things happened so rapidly that the next thing they knew, Greg was sliding inside Nick and they were both crying out and Nick was clinging desperately to Greg as he moved slowly in and out, angling for the older man's prostate and stroking it every time. His breathing came harsh and uneven as he slid in and stilled. Nick moaned in protest, calling out his name. Greg moved for him, only for him. Then Nick was tightening, spilling all over their stomachs, and Greg didn't last long after that. He came with Nick's name on his lips, whispering it over and over like a mantra. They collapsed side by side and snuggled in close, trying to take in air at a more normal rate. When they calmed, Nick caught Greg's eye.

"Marry me," he said suddenly. Greg smiled, thinking he was kidding.

"That's illegal, love," he bantered back. Nick nodded, his face completely serious.

"Here. It's legal in Canada." Greg's smile grew playfully wider.

"But we're not in Canada," he pointed out, wondering where this game was going. Nick looked so serious as his eyes bored in to Greg's. He shifted a bit so he could see the blonde better.

"Not yet, but we will be in a few months," he declared, leaning away from Greg to fiddle around in the drawer of his nightstand. Greg sat up and gave his back a quizzical look. He was thoroughly confused. When he asked what Nick was talking about, the older man had a hint of laughter in his voice. "I had a year to plan this Greggo," was all he said. Greg watched him shout out in triumph as he pulled something from the nightstand, then he rolled back over and knelt on both knees in from of him. Greg eyed him apprehensively, not sure what to expect. When Nick opened his hand he held out a simple silver band.

"Marry me Greg. Be mine. Forever. I'll be a father to your son, a sun in your rainy days, a vent when you're angry, anything. I'll be everything. Marry me." Nick held out the band and Greg stared at it, speechless. He reached for it reverently and Nick slid it on his to his hand. He twirled it around his finger; it was a perfect fit.

"Nick…I…" he looked up with tears in his eyes and Nick smiled gently.

"Say yes," he whispered. Greg cried out.

"Yes!" he shouted, throwing his arms around his lover's neck. Nick caught him and they rolled together, almost right off the bed. Nick produced an identical band and slipped it on his own hand, and they made love all over again because it felt so right. Then they donned clothes and woke up Jason and the three of them celebrated all throughout the day, during which they should have slept, until it was time to go to work and school. Jason gave them both a great big group hug before heading out in his car, leaving the two men alone. They stood in the doorway of their house and held hands, staring deep in to each other's eyes.

"Are you happy?" Greg asked his love. Nick smiled and laughed at the absurdity of such a question.

"I've never been so happy," he confirmed. That was all Greg needed. They piled in to Greg's car today, and he drove them to work. It took a few hours for someone to notice. It actually took until lunch, when everyone was in the break room. People were chatting in couplets in various corners of the room, and Greg was talking with Catherine when he made an unconscious hand gesture. The flash of silver caught her eye and she shrieked, covering her mouth with one hand and pointing at Greg's ring with the other. The others gathered around to see what the commotion was. Catherine insistently pointed at his hand, and Greg sheepishly hand it up, wiggling his fingers. Catherine's hand came down shakily.

"You're engaged?" she breathed. Nick came up behind Greg and wrapped his arms around the younger man's waist, smiling brighter than the sun ever had. He held up his own hand and entwined it in Greg's so that their bands rested next to each other. Catherine shrieked again and threw her arms around them both, and congratulations flowed from the group. Nick told them how he'd proposed, and they all confessed to helping him plan the trip to Canada, although none knew it was so that they could marry. Sara and Catherine dabbed at their misty eyes, and the men all crossed their arms gruffly. The happy couple, in the midst of it all, only had happy eyes for each other as they swayed side to side and smiled together.

Both Greg's parents and Nick's parents came to the wedding, and Greg had a long talk with Mark and Lisa. At the end, he found the beginnings of forgiveness budding inside his no-longer lonely heart. Jason served as Best Man for them both, they had no others stand with them, and an old college friend of Nick's who had gone in to the priesthood joined them in holy matrimony. Jason flew to California while Nick and Greg spent their honeymoon in the middle of nowhere in a Canadian cabin in the woods, redefining their conceptions of love. When they returned to Vegas, they were fully aware that the state of Nevada did not recognize them as spouses, but their hearts would know the truth. The city did not recognize Nick as Jason's father, but the teen knew different. Their small, tight family fell in to life with smiles, happy hearts, and enough love to knock Jesus off his cross.