Gil walked through the hallways of the lab, feeling the emptiness as only a skeleton staff manned the usual bustling lab, as people took extra days to extend their holidays. His footsteps seemed to echo through the building.

He arrived at his office, closing the door and sitting behind his desk. His clear desk, but this did not fill him with the sense of accomplishment it should have. It was a testament to him working, what for Las Vegas, was a quiet holiday season, the clear desk, together with the well-thumbed issue of the Journal of Applied Entomology and the half written article for the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

It should have made him happy, it would have made him happy, except for the fact that while the rest of his colleagues and friends had been celebrating, he'd come to a startling realization. He was an outsider, alone for Christmas, nobody to share hopes and wishes with as one year passed to another. It wasn't that he had no friends. He'd been invited to a host of places to share the various celebrations people had planned, he had, however, used work as an excuse to attend none.

Now all the festivities were slowly coming to an end, he had listened as they'd shared their reminiscences of the holidays, the surprises, the special events, the wishes, hopes and plans they'd thrashed out for the coming year. He had none of this, as his one wish was beyond comprehension.

He reread the article correcting a few details. He tried to continue with it, but found the task impossible, his mind would not allow his thoughts to remain on the subject of the paper. He knew why. It was the same reason he had that odd fluttering in his stomach, the reason he'd chosen to wear the blue shirt and the leather jacket today. He picked up the entomology journal and tried to reread the article about fire ants, but again his mind began to stray.

A soft knocking at the door, then the door gently easing open, interrupted him. He knew who it was without looking up.

"Gil, what happened? Your desk, I can see the wood!"

He chuckled, his eyes meeting hers; "Well not all of us get swept away to Fiji for a month. Nice tan by the way."

"You could have come. You were invited. I..." Her voice trailed of, maybe he didn't feel the same way, maybe it was presumptive to assume she'd captured his heart in the same way he'd ensnared hers.

He shook his head. "A month away, I don't know how you persuaded Ecklie to allow you the time. He'd never have let us both go."

"Are you sure about that? Is that the real reason, or are you just afraid of what would have happened?"

He looked up alert. Then shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Right." She drew out the word, allowing him to become aware of the fact that his lie had been uncovered. "So my last night in front of the Bellagio fountains, never happened. Not only have I acquired a tan, but I'm also hallucinating."

He stood, then walked around the desk, coming to stand before her, close enough to feel the feather light caress on his skin as she breathed out, be intoxicated by her scent, yet far enough away not to actually touch her. The air between them seemed to crackle, as their eyes fought a battle for dominance. The raising of her right eyebrow was his doing, a final challenge or an invitation; he chose the later and agonizingly slowly reacquainted himself with her lips. Those some lips he'd tasted in the moonlight before the Bellagio fountains. "You mean that?" He asked as he drew back.

She smiled. "Well that's a start." She leant up, her arms looping around his neck, her hands lost within the waves of his hair as she pulled his head towards her, her lips latching onto his, seeking the pleasure she'd spent the last month yearning for.

Finally, he pulled back; knowing to continue here upon this path they'd taken could halt everything before it had begun. He needed to talk to her, make her understand; seek the reassurance of her feelings before he could commit further.

"I missed you." She whispered, as she rested her head against his chest.

He chuckled. "I think I got that loud and clear."

She pulled back, softly punching his arm, "Gil are you laughing at me."

"Would I?" He tried to feign innocence, but was unsuccessful.

"Yes, I believe you would." She managed to maintain a straight face for all of five seconds, before giggling. "God, I missed you."

He stroked her upper arm. "You were missed too." He noted with delight her smile at his words. Then he pulled her to the sofa, she curled against him rather than sitting, he delighted for a few moments in the feel of her so close. The fears that had filled him earlier slowly started to surface, and as they did, his body involuntarily stiffened, as he fought to keep them at bay.

Sensing the change in his mood, she straightened up, so she could see the truth he was trying valiantly to hide. "What? What is it Gil?"

He sighed. "You know me so well."

She smiled, "It's because I…." Again the words failed her. She did not know why, maybe it was because they were too valuable, that once they were spoken, they could not be unsaid. Maybe it was because for the first time, in a relationship with a man, her heart was doing the talking and her brain was in agreement.

He caught her stumble. A whisper of hope filled him. What could she be about to admit, did she really love him, hold his heart secure, like he held hers? "You what?"

She blushed, her eyes shooting to the hem of her shirt she was idly fiddling with. "I don't think it's right to say it."

"Say what?" He persisted.

There was something in his voice that gave her confidence, an indication of the sharing of the same feelings, a longing. She dared to look up, her eyes meeting his, seeing the promise within them. She tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear, and then took a deep breath, her eyes never faltering from his. "I was going to say I love you."

"You what?" He whispered, no mockery, no anger.

"I love you Gil Grissom." Feeling empowered for finally voicing her hearts secret desire. She reached out, resting her hand over his heart. "You have captured my heart, I freely give it you, as I know with you it will be safe."

He leant forward, kissing her forehead, "I love you Catherine Willows. I will shield your heart from harm. I gave you my heart long ago; it just took me until this past month to realize it. I didn't know I was lonely until you weren't here beside me."

Slowly, their lips met, as they played out their hearts will.

Gil smiled as their kiss ended. Resting back against the sofa, he pulled her close, her head once more resting on his chest, above his heart. "I never dreamed this wish of mine would come true. I feared my life would continue to be that of a recluse, I would grow old, die alone, nobody to share my life with, no one to make plans with, no one to return my love. You have given me a new life, a new hope. I love you."

"I love you." She whispered. "Always have, always will."

The End.