Gil Grissom smiled to himself. Here he was, sat waiting at the table for her. A lesser man would have appeared smug, but not him, no he was blessed. After a lifetime spent helping others, gaining closure for those who couldn't speak for themselves, hiding behind a microscope, a lab coat and bug racing, he was now doing something for himself. He thought his life was complete, only now realising what he now had, did he reflect on how empty it had been.

He'd not been unhappy. He'd just existed, been the reliable person everyone could count on when they needed a holiday day shift swapping. Until two years ago that was. Two years of bliss. Now here he was, on the feast day of a priest who'd given his life to marry couples in Ancient Rome, waiting for the light that had entered his life, his wife, to return to his side, knowing like the saint he'd willingly give up his life for her.

If I was a sailor man
If I was lost at sea
I'd see your light shining there
Off the rocks, off the sand
That light would be all that I'd see

He'd known from the moment she'd entered his life she'd be by his side for the rest of it. But never, not even in the moments of deepest dreams did he imagine she'd want to share her life with him as his wife.

They'd worked together for nearly twenty years before he summoned the courage to cross the barrier and ask her out. He'd felt they were losing touch; they seemed to spend more time fighting than caring, the division of their separate shift patterns adding to that growing crevice. He'd had a choice try to repair the fissure, or let it grow to the depths of the Grand Canyon.

So, he'd arrived early one Thursday night, palms sweating, knees trembling slightly and stomach empty due to the knot of nerves that had prevented any thought of breakfast entering his head. He'd rehearsed the speech on the drive to the lab. Parked his Denali, and then rehearsed it again in front of the rear-view mirror. Feeling far from confident but determined not to fail, he'd sought her out, thankful to the fates that had allowed her to work on paperwork that night.

He rapped gently on the doorframe to her office, before entering and closing the door behind him, not willing to have the lab witness this scene.

"Cath?"

"Gil." She looked up, one eyebrow raised in anticipation.

He sucked in a deep breath. "I was wondering … hoping really … if you weren't … that is if you'd like to … I've got tickets for Mamma Mia on Saturday and I was wondering, would you like to go … with me."

Her smile lit the room. "I'd love to. What time will you pick me up?"

He smiled in return. "Errr, we could go and get something to eat before … or after, that is if you want to?"

"This sounds like a date."

"If it was would you change your answer?"

"Maybe I've been waiting for you to ask."

"Maybe I'm asking." He waited nervously for her next move, his heart pounding, surely she could hear it.

"O..kay, so it's a date!" Her giggle was infectious, immediately banishing the knot of nerves.

"If I'd have known you'd say yes, I would of asked a long time ago."

Catherine stood, slowly moving towards him reaching her hand behind his neck, pulling his lips to meet hers for a gentle kiss. "I guess that means we've got a lot of time to make up for."

He leant in again, his hands softly holding her face as he looked into her eyes, examining them as if seeing them truly for the first time. Then slowly, so painfully slowly, he let his lips meet hers in a second kiss. "I think we're doing very well so far Cath." He whispered after releasing her lips.

She smiled sweetly, a smile full of love directed towards him. "Gil, we need to stop this now, or I'll never be able to let you go."

"What's so wrong with that?"

She leant her head against his chest, playing nervously with a button on his shirt. "I don't want to ruin anything, okay. I don't want to lose you through some act of stupidity on my part. I don't want to lose this chance, with you. I've loved you for so long, yet all we seem to do lately is fight and it frightens me. What if we take a chance and everything shatters? I don't think I know how to live without knowing you would be there for me."

He kissed the top of her head. "Catherine I promise you I will always be there for you, no matter what happens. Believe me I value you, love you, and care for you. I will never knowingly hurt you, you are the best part of my life."

They held onto each other taking comfort in each other's presence and declarations of love. As if cementing their promise of future love, a future life together.

And if I was the king of the world
With all the world to set free
You'd be the one there to force my hand
To make a stand
Give me that sweet release

Three months later, palms once again sweaty Gil had, for the first time in his working life, refused a request to take a shift on Valentines Day. He had different plans; a blue velvet box was secured in his jacket pocket as he entered the restaurant.

They'd ordered their meal; the wine had been delivered to their table some five minutes previously and Gil was already on his second glass. His fingers rapped absently on the white linen tablecloth. His eyes remained on her face, yet his brain could not comprehend what she was saying.

Finally Catherine had had enough, She reached across and grabbed Gil's left hand. "Gil, Gil! What is it?"

"Hmm, what honey?"

"Whatever it is that has you elsewhere. You haven't heard a word I've said all night."

"Sorry."

"Is it me? Am I boring you? It is, isn't it? Look it's been fun the last few months, but if you want out you only have to say, no hard feelings." The pain was evident in her eyes, betraying the falsehood of her words.

"No! Cath how could you think that?" He reached up and brushed away a tear that was making the lonely journey down her right cheek. Knowing now he could delay the inevitable no longer, he shuffled back in his chair, coming to stand before her, dropping to one knee he took her hand. "Catherine, in the past few months you have taught me to live. You have taught me to love and have taken my heart. I can think of no better guardian. I want nothing more than to love you for the rest of my days. So, Catherine, I'm asking, will you marry me?" He retrieved the box from his jacket and opened it before her.

She pulled the hand she still held closer, placing it above her heart, capturing his eyes with her own as she replied. "Yes."

They sealed their promise with a kiss, and then the meal was forgotten as Gil left a handful of bills on the table in their haste to return to the privacy of his townhouse.

Those are the dreams that a
Dreamer Dreams
Those are the dreams
That he dreams

He'd never dreamed he'd be standing at an altar, dressed in a suit awaiting his bride. Then the chapel doors had opened blinding him briefly with the sunlight that flooded in. But that was nothing in comparison to the vision that it also permitted to enter.

Lindsey Willows with a huge grin on her face, dressed in an ivory dress, walked slowly up the aisle, followed by her mother, supported by Jim Brass whose beaming face rivalled Lindsey's.

As she reached the altar Catherine had lifted the veil that hid her features. "Hi."

"You came."

"You asked." She smirked.

"I love you."

"Love you more."

The priest cleared his throat to bring the couple back to reality, before starting the service to witness their love.

Fill you up so high
So high you wouldn't come down
Those are the dreamers dreams

He had tonight, once again refused a Valentine's night shift. He was sat at the table in the restaurant where he'd taken the biggest leap of his life. His wife was meeting him there, unable to find anyone to take her shift.

He knew of her arrival before he could see her. It was uncanny how she could affect him so. He could tell when she was near, his stomach flip-flopped in anticipation of seeing her. Stupid to some, they'd been separated merely hours but for him that was too long.

Her eyes captured his across the room and his heart almost stopped at the image of her. A figure hugging short black dress, which was cut low at the front allowing a teasing glimpse of her breasts. Her hair curled bounced as she sashayed towards him. He was all to well aware of the admiring gazes she was getting, yet she seemed oblivious having only him in her sight, which made him love her all the more.

She leant down on reaching the table, capturing his lips in a searing kiss. "Sorry I'm late, a double homicide tonight."

He chuckled. "So this didn't take an hour to get ready." He waved his hand up and down indicating the care she'd taken with her dress.

She pouted in return, sticking her tongue out. "You know you love it." Then lowering her voice and smiling seductively she added. "If you are really good, I'll let you unwrap me later on, if you like this, you'll love the layer underneath."

Gil blushed, reaching for the water on the table while his wife hid herself behind the oversized menu, all too well aware of the effect her words were having her husband.

If I could see in you
All the things you want me to
And if I could walk a mile in your shoes
An old cliche, anyway
But if you could just do the same
There's nothing we couldn't so
Surround you with a silver crown
Fill you up so high
So high you wouldn't come down

They managed to finish the meal this time. Few words were spoken they weren't needed. Just a look, a smile, spoke more than any words could.

As Catherine finished the last bite of her lemon mousse. Gil smiled, reaching his hand across he traced the outline of her lips, brushing away imaginary particles. He then reached under the table, retrieving a white leather box.

He took hold of her left hand, idly letting his thumb twist her wedding and engagement bands. "Catherine, each day, each hour, each minute you spend in my life you make it better. You chase away all my fears; you give me the strength on the hardest of days, the coldest of nights to continue. When I married you I couldn't imagine being any happier, yet by some miracle, some magic you have made me so. When I am with you, beside you I feel like I can fly, take on the world, become invincible. I want you to know that for all eternity, this life and whatever comes after I will love you and be by your side."

He opened the box to reveal an eternity ring studded with diamonds and sapphires to match her eyes. Catherine just gazed at him her eyes open in wonderment.

He took the ring from the box sliding it slowly onto her ring finger. As it met her engagement ring, their eyes locked, swiftly followed by their lips.

As their kiss ended, Catherine grasped hold of his hand. "I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you. What have I done to have someone like you make me feel so loved?"

"Simple, you loved me."

Those are the dreamers dreams
Those are the dreams That a Dreamer dreams
Those are the dreams
That he dreams
Fill you up so high
So high you won't come down
Those are the dreamers dreams

The bill paid, Catherine rested her head on Gil's shoulder as his arm wrapped around her shoulders, to make the journey home.

"I love you Gil Grissom."

"I love you more Catherine."

The End