Catherine stood with Gil watching Lindsey in the park running after a soccer ball, the young girl having recently taken up the sport, wanted to show off to her mom and Uncle Gil as she'd just been picked for the school team.

Gil looked down at the woman he held in his arms. He could not believe his luck; he was the envy of the majority of the men they worked with in their daily lives. At times, he almost had to pinch himself to realise that this wasn't some dream; that Catherine Willows had indeed agreed to go out with him. More than that, they'd built a relationship that had now seen them dating for the past six months. Lindsey was becoming like a daughter to him, and he began to feel comfortable. Not that he'd been uncomfortable before, but he'd done his best to distance himself from both his colleagues and his friends of late. He'd once described himself as a ghost, and he'd slowly been retreating into the background again, trying to camouflage himself against the daily onslaught of attempts by his team to create a family around him. In doing so, he'd nearly lost what he'd valued most, Catherine. Somehow she'd had faith in him and held out until he was ready. Of that he'd always be grateful. Keeping his eyes on Lindsey, he gently pulled her closer, so she was nestled in front of him.

"Hmm, I could stay like this forever," she breathed.

"Your wish is my command," He pulled her tighter, only to have her turn and look up into his eyes, her own eyes sparkling.

"Marry me, Gil?"

"What?"

"You heard, marry me?"

"Are you sure? I mean, why would you.."

"If you're going to question my motives here so I can boost your ego, you're going to regret it." With that, she pulled up her right hand and lightly punched him on the shoulder, before encircling both arms around him, standing on her toes and reaching her lips up for a kiss. "What'll it take for me to make you realise that I love you? I cannot think of ever sharing my life with anyone else. You are whom I want. If I have to wait another twenty years for you to realise it, I will. But sooner or later, I want you to marry me." Again she reached up to kiss him, bringing her hands down so her fingers could entwine with his, then lifting his left hand to her lips and kissing his ring finger.

"I thought I was supposed to ask you, that's all," he half breathed, eyes searching her face for any sign of doubt.

Catherine half chuckled, "Check the date."

"February 29th, so?"

"Well, on leap year day it's etiquette for the woman to ask her man to marry her, and I didn't wanna wait another four years. So?"

I wanna laugh
Until I cry
Wake up with you each day 'til the day I die
Let's go to New Orleans
And watch the parade
Take funny pictures, eat jumbalaya, and drink lemonade
And when the day is finally over
And we stumble home
Before we sleep
Baby marry me

Gil drew in a breath, once again searching her eyes, for some sign of doubt. He was only just getting used to the idea that she wanted to spend her free time with him, share her's and Lindsey's life with him. The last thing he'd expected was this offer of a lifetime commitment to each other.

Sensing his doubts, Catherine fought to control her emotions. She'd planned on asking him that night, with Lindsey safely away at a sleepover for her friend's birthday. She had it all planned a lazy romantic evening just the two of them, no work, no interruptions. She'd even got hold of Warrick when she heard he was in charge of shift and made him realise the importance of not disturbing either of them. But partly her impatience, partly the moment overtook her, standing there in Gil's arms it had all seemed perfect, trouble was it was too perfect. She should of known the fates that overlooked her would butt in, but why now? Why was she fated never to have the relationship she had craved so long cemented? It was obvious Gil wasn't ready, she needed to gracefully withdraw her request and hope she'd not ruined what they already had.

"It's okay Gil, you don't have to answer. Just got caught up in the moment." She turned away from him to see Lindsey turn quickly whilst maintaining control of the soccer ball. "You going to be able to make her game next week? I know she'd love to have you there."

"Wouldn't miss it," he murmured, for once glad she couldn't see his face. How had she done that? Why had she done that? It was true, how could someone like her even want to be with him. Just when he thought he'd found a home, a release from all the horrors he saw on a daily basis, it was snatched away from him. When she'd asked him to marry her, his heart had seemed to rise up into his throat, throbbing away and preventing him from answering, his hesitation, his self-doubt had cost him. In a few seconds he'd stood with the promise of a new life, then through his own doing had watched it be snatched away as quickly as it had been offered. Despite this he had made a decision, he would hold onto Catherine and this new life with both hands, and maybe when he felt the fates were favouring him, he'd be the one doing the asking, but for now he had to salvage what he could and let her know he wanted her. He squeezed her once again close to him, as a cool breeze signalled the oncoming sunset.

"What time does Lindsey need to be dropped off?"

"Umm around six, they're watching a marathon of Harry Potter, so she doesn't want to be late."

"Would you mind taking her? I've a few errands to run."

Catherine couldn't believe what he'd just asked. How had things turned out so badly from her uttering two words? Two words she'd since withdrawn. It was clear he didn't even want her, how could she be so stupid as to rush into things. She managed to control her voice enough to let a brief, "Okay," pass her lips, knowing that the evening ahead would be a long one.

After dropping Lindsey off at her friend's house, Catherine had made the journey home with the radio volume turned up, she needed the distraction, silence gave her the opportunity to think, which would lead to regrets then she knew the tears would soon follow. Entering her house, she looked in the refrigerator briefly, gave up the idea of eating anything and instead went and uncorked the bottle of red wine she'd put away for their special evening, after all there was no need for it to go to waste.

She'd barely managed a couple of sips of her wine when a knocking at her door interrupted her. Sighing heavily, she got up from the sofa, why was it whenever she needed to be alone someone decided to force their company upon her. As the knocking increased, she let out a half irritated shout, "Coming"

As she opened the door, she was expecting to see one of her friends who'd not been warned to stay away that evening. Instead she was met by a man, in his 50's, wearing a chauffeurs uniform. "Ms Willows, I've been sent to pick you up, with orders not to tell you by whom. I can however assure you my motives are purely honourable, here is my company's card should you wish to check my validity, I'm sure they'll reassure you."

Catherine stared open-mouthed, not sure what to say, she finally managed, "No that's okay. Can you give me ten minutes to change?" She asked hopefully, looking down at the baggy sweatshirt and sweatpants she'd changed into after dropping off Lindsey. When the chauffer nodded curtly, she invited him in, but he politely refused stating that he'd rather stay with his vehicle.

She'd dressed quickly, choosing some semi casual black pants and a blue silk blouse, an outfit that could stand scrutiny both in a smart restaurant and in a ballpark. Now as she sat in the back of the limousine, she wondered what she was doing. Catching the look of increasing panic pass over her face, the chauffer caught her eye in the rear-view mirror.

"Hey, no need to worry, I'm not going to leave you anywhere you don't want to be, one word to me and I'll have you out of there."

She couldn't help but smile at the sweetness of the gesture, "Thanks."

She received a smile in return; then turned her gaze to the passing landscape. It was clear they were heading away from town towards the desert. After nearly two hours of driving, the car pulled off the open road and slowly made its way along a dirt track. The night seemed so black, something she wasn't entirely used to thanks to the incessant artificial lights of Las Vegas. Butterflies started to play in Catherine's stomach and her hands suddenly felt cold, as the limousine stopped.

Her chauffer stepped out and slowly stepped to the rear of the vehicle. He opened the door for her, and then held out his arm. Patting her hand as she took his arm he reminded her, "One word and I'll have you out of here, but something tells me you won't be using my escape route."

He led her up the path to a blanket that had been laid out on the ground, with an assortment of her favourite foods laid out upon it. There was no sign of anyone as she apprehensively sat on the blanket, rubbing her arms out of nervousness rather than cold.

A couple of minutes later the silence was broken by a voice she knew too well, "Catherine, I'm sorry I hurt you. I was frightened, I couldn't believe that you could possibly love me, but instead of telling you I broke your heart. I love you more than you could know; it scares me how much I care for you. Every moment we're apart you fill my mind. Please forgive me."

She turned to see Gil facing her a single rose held in his hand. Quickly rising she went to him, pulled his head down towards hers so their foreheads met and whispered, "I'll always forgive you, no matter what you do. Just as you say you love me, know this, you captured my heart from the moment I first laid eyes on you. For the past six months you have consumed me. You are my life, you and Lindsey. I need to ask you..."

Before she could go any further, he put one finger to her lips indicating she stop. He knelt on one knee before her, with the rose now forgotten laying somewhere on the ground, he pulled a small blue velvet box from his pocket, opened it, offering it up to her with the words, "Marry me?"

Catherine could feel the tears welling in her eyes as she knelt in front of him, "Yes," she whispered, leaning in for a kiss.

Gil fought with the ring in the box, eventually getting it out and putting it on her finger, before pulling her up, leaning his head back and screaming into the night, "She said yes!"

Catherine couldn't help but laugh as the word `yes' echoed around the canyon they were in. Recovering her senses she asked, "Why now, not before?"

He led her across to the blanket, helping her down so she sat half leaning against him. "I never thought you could possibly love me the way I dreamt of. In the park when you asked me, I was about to say yes when you withdrew the offer, but I knew I had to do something to let you know how I felt, so here we are."

"I love you, I just never knew you could be so..."

"Romantic," he offered.

"Yeah, that's the word," she giggled.

I wanna drive
Until we get lost
Lie in a field staring up at the sky
While you point out the southern cross
Somehow I know
Without asking why
That you love me more in a minute
Than anyone could in a lifetime
Dancing in the parking lot
While the band plays inside
Sweep me off my feet

After they'd finished eating and Gil had tidied the remaining food into containers and taken them to the limousine, he returned to the blanket and held Catherine to him, supporting her back with his body as she half laid down.

"So bug-man, did you bring me out here so you could propose in front of your little bug friends."

He poked her just below the ribs, and was rewarded with a squeal, "No, my whole life doesn't revolve around bugs and crossword puzzles, no matter what you may think. I did take astronomy classes in high school."

She leant her head back to look up at him, "Yeah." Then pointing randomly at the night sky she asked, "So what's that?"

"Probably Flight 1186 from Los Angeles," he grinned down at her, causing her once again to erupt in giggles.

They lay together for a couple of hours, Gil pointing out different stars and constellations to Catherine, in between Catherine admiring her new piece of jewellery. It was only when she let out her third shiver in less than five minutes that he suggested they return to the limousine.

Gil picked up the blanket, folding it with the help of Catherine, then putting it over his left arm, while his right went around Cath's shoulders pulling her close as they made the short walk to the vehicle.

The chauffer couldn't help giving Catherine a wink and a smile before adding, "Told you you'd not need the word."

She returned the smile, holding up her left hand and receiving his congratulations.

"Do you want to drop by the lab and share our news?"

Catherine was a little surprised by Gil's question, he didn't normally want to share aspects of his life willingly with the team, "Okay, now you're going completely weird on me. What have you done with the shy introvert I fell in love with?"

He smiled back at her, "He's still here, just can't believe his luck at getting you to say yes, and wanted witnesses so you couldn't back out."

That earnt him a dig to his ribs from her, before she answered him, "I really want it to be our secret for now. Once we've told Lindsey tomorrow, yeah, we'll tell the rest of the team, but I just want it to be one thing we share before the roller coaster of wedding arrangements takes over."

"That's fine by me sweetheart. Now scoot over here, it's a long way back to town and I want to spend all that time as close as possible with you."

As the limousine left them at Catherine's home some two hours later, Gil half carried, half walked Catherine to her house. Once inside he scooped her up and made the way to her bedroom, laying her on the bed, he went back downstairs to check the locks and turn out the lights. He gazed slowly around the lounge, his eyes catching sight of a picture of Lindsey and Catherine giggling into the camera. His stomach turned in excitement, this felt so right, they were going to be a family. Quietly he made his way up to Cath's room to find her already asleep, allowing himself to watch her for a couple of minutes, he then gently lifted the comforter tucking it around her, before stripping to his boxers and joining her. He leant around her grasping her hand, breathing in the scent of her hair, before sleep soon claimed him.

Baby, marry me
We don't need no preacher man
readin' from a good book
And I don't want no fancy dress
Ain't no ceremony
For the vows that I took
From the moment I met you
I have been blessed
So let's make a toast
And drink up the wine
Here's to you lying here next to me
Until the end of time
Wherever you are
I wanna be
And anything that means anything to ya
Means everything to me
Sneakin' out the back door
While they're throwing the rice
And they'll talk for weeks
But we're all we need
So baby, if your free

Gil woke to an empty space beside him, slightly disorientated, it took a couple of seconds before he realised what had happened the night before. Smiling he stretched then recovered his clothes, quickly dressing before following the scent of coffee.

He found Catherine, sitting at the kitchen counter reading the paper a cup of coffee in her hands. "Hey."

"Hey, sleep well?" she asked lifting her face to be kissed.

"Yeah, but waking without you was a disappointment."

"We slept late, I've got to go and pick up Linds in fifteen minutes."

"I'll come with," he offered without being asked.

Catherine had been a little nervous of telling Lindsey about the change in relationship between herself and Gil. She knew her daughter idolised Gil, he'd always been a part of her life, but was wary of how she'd react to him becoming a permanent fixture in her life. She needn't have been concerned, as upon hearing the news Lindsey launched herself at the two of them, trying to make her arms encircle the two adults. This was then followed by what seemed like 101 questions about the wedding.

They had to spend the best part of the afternoon trying to calm her down before taking her to her Aunt Nancy's for the evening. They'd arranged to arrive there early in order to share the news with Catherine's sister.

When they entered the break room at the start of shift, they did so holding hands, quickly finding seats next to each other. Gil cleared his throat, calling the occupants of the room to attention, "Before we start this evening, I've some news to share with you." He looked to Catherine who smiled and nodded. Taking hold of her left hand he continued, "Last night I asked Catherine to marry me and she said yes."

Catherine wrinkled her nose letting a beaming smile cover her face. Warrick got up and moved towards the two of them; hugging them, he kissed Catherine's cheek and shook Gil's hand, offering his congratulations. He was soon followed by Nick and Sara.Greg; never one to miss out on an announcement, soon joined the gathering.

As the shift ended Catherine joined Gil in his office, "Any regrets?"

"No. Why?"

"I just can't get used to this new `sharing my life with others Gil Grissom'."

He chuckled, "So long as it means sharing my life with you, I vow to continue."

Marry me
Baby, marry me
marry me

The End.