"Sara..." Catherine murmured as she burst through the door, startling the young brunette.

Sara spun on her heels, turning her attention away from the two-way mirror and the middle-aged man that sat forlornly on the other side, meeting the eyes of the woman trying to gain her attention. "What?"

"Y'seen Grissom?" she asked, only half her body leaning into the room.

She nodded toward the glass, heart racing at what she'd heard her supervisor confess. "He's still in the interrogation room."

"Alone? Or is he still questioning the doctor?"

"He's alone."

Catherine immediately made her exit, calling a hasty, "Thank you!" over her shoulder.

Sara drew in a deep breath, and slowly turned back to the lonely man on the other side of the glass. "Grissom..." she whispered.

"Grissom?"

Gil looked up from staring intently at the table in the interrogation room, meeting the sea-blue eyes of the only woman to fully capture his heart. "Cath..."

She smiled that darling smile at him, and thousands of Cupid's arrows pierced his heart... much like they did every time she smiled at him. "Hi," she breathed, sitting across the table from him. "You okay?"

He rubbed his hands over his face. "Yeah, I'm okay," he muttered, voice muffled by his hands. "I'm just... worn out."

"Seems to me like there's more to it than that."

"Did you hear what I said to the doctor?" he asked, suddenly fearful that she'd heard his speech about lost chances.

She made a face. "No... why?"

He dismissed it with a wave of his hand. "No reason."

"Gil, is this about the vic looking like Sara?"

"In a way."

Catherine regarded him seriously for a moment, needing to ask, but unsure if she wanted the honest answer. "Are you in love with her, Gil?"

"Sara?" he balked, eyes going wide at her suggestion. "No! Of course not... I look at Sara like she's my daughter."

"Daughter?" Sara repeated dubiously, folding her arms across her chest. "Then who the hell was he talking about?"

"Then what about Sara?"

"Just... the fact that I could lose her. The fact that I could lose any one of the people in my life I care about at any time." He chuckled grimly. "I mean God, Cath... what if I lost YOU?"

She smiled, attempting to reassure him. "Well, you'd have to command the troops all alone... and you wouldn't be able to hand half your paperwork off to someone."

"I'm serious," he replied, the vulnerability in his voice giving him away.

"Is that what this was all about?" she asked, something suddenly clicking in her brain. "Me?"

"Of course it is," Sara muttered through gritted teeth. "Why wouldn't it be?"

Her supervisor had always favored the strawberry blond, despite the blatant advances Sara had been making on him for the past few years. Shaking her head at the display taking place on the other side of the mirror, Sara made for the door, flinging it open as she grumbled to herself, "He doesn't know what he's missing."

Catherine shrugged, glancing down at her hand as she slid it across the table toward him. "I could've sworn this was about Sara."

When he didn't venture a response, she reached for his hand. "Gil..." When she gained his attention, her eyes becoming lost in his royal blue pools of light, she smiled gently... affectionately. "You won't lose me. You'll never lose me." She squeezed his hand just slightly. "I'm always gonna be here when you need me."

Slowly, while searching her eyes, he broke into a half smile. "Thank you," he replied softly.

The pair just smiled at each other for an extended moment, both wondering what to say or do next. Catherine finally broke the tense moment by squeezing his hand once more, rising from her chair. "Gil, why don't you come over tonight?" she asked. "You've had a long couple of days. Come over tonight and have dinner with me."

"What about Lindsey?"

She smiled. "Lindsey's at girl scout camp until this weekend." She tugged on his hand lightly. "So... come on!"

Still hesitant, he attempted to keep the mood playful. "I dunno, you aren't gonna... *cook* or anything, are you?" He grimaced.

She laughed, a musical sound that filled his ears and brightened his heart. "No, I promise, I won't cook! I was actually thinking we could go someplace nice for dinner, and then maybe just have a movie night or something."

He smiled. "Sure... that sounds good."

The pair headed for the door, Gil pulling the door open for his beauty and gesturing for her to go through first. Nodding a thank you, Catherine smiled at him over her shoulder. "So be sure to dress up a little, but bring comfy clothes for later."

"Okay... what time?"

"Eight-ish?"

"I'll be there," he agreed with a smile, and his heart began to race as he wondered just what she had in mind for the evening. And, adding to his racing heart and rapidly skyrocketing blood-pressure, he began to wonder... was it a date?

Gil straightened his black satin necktie briefly before reaching his fist up to knock. He hadn't felt this nervous about going out for the evening since he was a teenager... although tonight, any of those nervous feelings he had way-back-when were now magnified by twenty. Catherine was, without a doubt, the woman of his dreams... the woman he would love forever, no matter if she returned his feelings or not. When he'd given his speech to the doctor about taking a chance, he'd said he couldn't do it. He couldn't risk it. But, thinking back on that statement now, he realized just how wrong he was.

Someone young and beautiful was offering him a chance at a new life... and he WAS going to take it. His job, his bugs, his reputation... he'd throw it all away to be with Catherine Willows... a woman seven years his junior, but undoubtedly his soul mate.

When the door opened, Gil had to physically stop his jaw from plummeting to the floor. Catherine stood before him in all her exquisite glory, wearing a beautiful black halter dress. The V in the dress scooped dangerously low, ending just above her belly button, and as she smiled and twirled for him, he sucked in a breath at the realization that the dress was also backless... the flared skirt ending at her knees. She accented the look with a double-stranded liquid silver necklace that dangled tauntingly between her breasts, with liquid silver earrings to match.

"How do I look?" she asked, smiling impishly. She knew she didn't need to ask... the wide-eyed, slack-jawed look on his face was enough to answer her question.

"You look..." He snapped his eyes up to her face, knowing that if he kept them on her dress much longer, his brain wouldn't be able to conjure up the perfect adjective. "You look phenomenal," he finally sighed, melting into a smile. He glanced over his shoulder in his peripheral vision, slowly bringing out what he'd been holding behind his back. "So phenomenal, in fact, that I'm not sure these are good enough for you now." And he held out a bouquet of beautiful white lillies to her.

"Gil..." she whispered, the butterflies in her stomach unleashing themselves. This was beginning to feel like a real date. "You didn't have to bring me flowers..."

"It wasn't an issue of having to," he replied with a smile, catching her eyes after she'd finished smelling her lillies. "It was an issue of wanting to."

"Wow... and they're my favorites, too..." Snapping back to reality and realizing they were still standing on her doorstep, she took a step back and allowed him to enter. "Come in."

He smiled, brushing past her just slightly as he did so. The scent of his cologne whirled around her for a moment and she was entranced, her legs turning to the consistency of jelly. "Y-you look great," she finally stammered.

He whirled on his heel to smile at her. "Thank you," he replied.

Her eyes slowly widened, catching sight of what she'd missed when she first opened the door. "Your beard..." she murmured in astonishment... "It's gone!" She had to fight from running up to him and caressing his clean-shaven face. She missed the sight of that face. He suddenly looked years younger... especially now without his glasses, and she felt her grin widening without her conscious consent.

"Yes, well, I thought it was time for a change. That beard was starting to make me look old anyway," he replied, absent-mindedly rubbing his newly-bare chin.

"Well, I thought it was kinda sexy," she purred, stepping closer to him. Deciding to be bold and to take a chance, she lightly ran the backs of her fingers across his cheek. "But I do like this look better." Eyes sparkling, she smiled flirtatiously at him as she asked, "Was shaving it off worth it?"

He grinned. "Do you *really* like this look better?"

"I always have," she replied honestly.

"Then it was worth it."

They stood perfectly still, just smiling into each other's eyes, the back of Catherine's fingers still resting against Gil's smooth cheek. When she uncurled her fingers to rest her palm on his face, he brought his hand up to cover hers. He knew it was customary to wait until the end of the date to have the first kiss, but he couldn't resist her.

When his face started nearing hers, her soft voice brought him back to reality. "We should go..." she breathed, barely audible. She desperately wanted to feel his lips against hers, but knew that at this point, if he did such a thing, she would be completely unable to control herself... and that surely would scare him away. Tonight was about easing the troubled mind of her best friend and supervisor... not pouncing on him like some horny teenager on prom night.

"You're right," he whispered, pulling away. He smiled down at her lovingly, watching her nervously putz with the bouquet of lillies still clutched in her hand. He nodded toward them. "Do you have a vase for those?"

"Why, yes I do," she replied. "In fact..." She went over to her shelf of knick-knacks and picked up a bright blue crystal vase. "I think I'll put them in the fancy vase."

He chuckled slightly at this, then followed her with his eyes as she went into the kitchen to fill the vase with water. Once her flowers were neatly arranged and proudly displayed in the center of her kitchen table, she made her way back to him. "Okay, let's go," she sighed. "Don't wanna be late for dinner."

"Of course not," he quickly agreed, grabbing her silk wrap off the arm of the couch and helping her drape it around her shoulders. He then placed a hand feather-lightly to the small of her back... much like he always did... and guided her out the door.

"Catherine, this is incredible," Gil murmured, his eyes taking in the rippling water and the bright lights of the Vegas strip from their vantage-point on the outdoor patio of the Picasso restaurant.

The Bellagio hotel was known for its five-star restaurants, and this one was no exception. The entire restaurant decor consisted of all of Picasso's paintings, ceramics, sculptures, and tiles. The carpet and furniture had been exquisitely and specially designed by Pablo Picasso's son Claude, and the entire restaurant had the feel of a Mediterranean village, thanks to the brick-and-beam ceiling and the gesso-covered burlap walls.

Catherine smiled, sipping at her cocktail, glancing over at her companion as the evening breeze blew back her strawberry blond strands. "I pull out all the stops when someone I care about is going through rough times," she purred.

He glanced sideways at her, meeting her aquamarine eyes, smiling warmly at her. "I appreciate the gesture."

She shrugged. "It's the least I could do. I mean... after all these years, and all these times you've selflessly taken me in when I was going through my stuff with Eddie... and being there for me in the hospital when I was having Lindsey. Everything you've ever done to help me out or make me feel better, Gil, means the world to me... and I never thought I'd get the chance to properly show my gratitude."

He chuckled lightly, shaking his head. Not at anything she'd done wrong, but just at her. Her sweetness, her honesty... her beauty. When he saw her shiver from the chilly breeze, he frowned. "Are you cold?"

Without waiting for a response, he pulled her close, standing behind her and placing his arms around her waist as they stared out at the water together, his cheek nestling comfortably against hers. He felt her smile against his cheek, and shortly after, he felt her cross her arms, placing them over his. When she sighed wistfully, her voice coming out as almost a hum, he pulled her in tighter, wanting to just pull her inside him and never let her out.

Neither dared to move... neither dared to speak. Each were cherishing the moment far too much to ruin it with actions or words. Both could only watch the moonlight play off the rippling surface of the water... each wondering if the other could feel the palpable electricity leaping and sparking between them. After a long moment of comfortable silence had passed, Catherine spoke, her soft voice emanating through his head. "Thank you for keeping me warm," she murmured dreamily, allowing herself to be bold and nuzzle her cheek against his briefly.

He leaned his mouth against her ear, the scent of her shampoo taking him over. "It's entirely my pleasure," he whispered, adding quickly, "My dear."

"Mmm..." she hummed again and sank against him, wishing she could crawl inside him forever. When she felt his lips on her cheek, just barely brushing her skin in a feathery kiss, she sucked in a breath. She needed to kiss him. She couldn't wait until the end of the night... it was now or never.

She turned, never leaving the circle of his arms, her eyes meeting his as she draped an arm over his shoulder, her wrist hanging limp for a moment just past his shoulder before she turned her fingertips to the nape of his neck, gently caressing the salt and pepper curls concentrated in that area. Blue met blue, and as their eyes searched the other's, both knew exactly what they wanted in that moment.

Gil reached his right hand up to her face, gently caressing her cheek while his left hand played up her spine, fingertips gently tickling. "Catherine..." he murmured, in a way she could tell something important was coming...

"Willows, party of two?"

Gil and Catherine searched each other's eyes momentarily, both reading the disappointment etched in the other's, before reluctantly breaking apart to follow the hostess. Gil gallantly held his arm out for her to take, and she gave him a dazzling smile before hooking her arm through his, feeling like the most beautiful woman in the world as he escorted her to their table.

Catherine moaned, her eyes slipping shut and rolling back in her head as her tastebuds sprang to life. "Oh my God, Gil..." she murmured, voice muffled from the food in her mouth. "You have GOT to try this lobster..."

He smiled, peering at her through his lashes. "Didn't your mother ever tell you not to talk with food in your mouth?" he teased gently.

She smiled sheepishly, and covered her mouth, lowering her fork to her plate as she finished chewing. When she was done, her hand fell to her lap... her sheepish smile still playing across her lips. "Sorry."

He merely chuckled, taking a bite of his own food, savoring the taste. Catherine watched avidly... "Good?"

Swallowing quickly, he nodded. "Mm-hmm... you should try it."

"Okay, but first you've gotta try my lobster." She speared a small piece of the meat inside the gigantic red lobster tail with her fork, dipping it in the Sofrito sauce it came with. Keeping one hand under the fork to catch anything that would drip off, she extended the fork to Gil. "Here..."

She leaned toward him slightly in her chair, the two of them opting to sit beside each other rather than across the table from one another, and Gil met her halfway. She placed the fork in his mouth, watching his reaction as it slipped from between his lips. He moaned when the taste of the lobster registered with his tastebuds. "You're right," he murmured when he'd finished. "That was good."

She smiled her response and watched as he reached for his own fork, spearing a piece of lamb from his plate, dipping it in a brown sauce before offering it to Catherine the same way she had to him. He cocked his head just slightly, a half smirk toying with the edges of his gorgeous lips. "A little lamb for MY little lamb?" he quipped, eyes twinkling boyishly in the dim lighting.

She too cocked her head as she gave him a look.... that look that was half exasperation, half utter amusement. He loved that look. She then leaned forward and took the fork between her lips, eyes slipping shut as she too, savored what was offered to her. "Wow..." she breathed when she'd finished. She nodded toward the plate. "I think that's the best lamb I've ever had. What was that sauce you dipped it in?"

"Au jus," he replied with a smile.

She nodded. "Yummy."

"Mm-hmm."

They proceeded to take turns eating from each other's plates, hands and forks occasionally crossing over the other's as they enjoyed the comfort of being so familiar with one another. "Gil..." she murmured after a long moment had passed. "I don't wanna push you, but... if you wanna talk about that last case... with that Debbie girl..."

He nodded his understanding, taking a sip of his wine. "I know," he replied. He shrugged. "There's not much to talk about, though. I mean, after I realized how much she resembled Sara I basically just panicked about losing the people I was close to." He glanced up to her. "Especially you."

"Why especially me?" she asked softly.

"Come on Cath, surely you know this by now..."

She smiled gently, hoping this would be the turning point she'd been waiting for... "Well..."

"You and I have been friends for over eighteen years now. You know things about me that I wouldn't dare tell anyone else." Missing her glancing disappointedly at her lap, he continued. "I mean, sure, I'm close with Warrick and Nicky and Sara. They're my proteges... I consider them to be my children." He shook his head. "But none of them match up to you."

When she looked up to meet his eyes, he caught her sad smile. "Thanks, Gil..." she whispered. "You know you mean a lot to me, too."

He eyed her carefully. "Of course..." Why did she look so sad? And like a bolt of lightning, it hit him. "Cath..."

She chuckled, "Ya know what? Let's change the subject," she replied quickly. "I brought you here to cheer you up, not drag you back down, so let's talk about something else."

"Okay..." he replied slowly, the look in her eyes telling him she wasn't up for arguing about it. He'd have to find a way to clarify things for her later.

"Good." Her mood lightened, and she nodded toward his plate. "Can I have more of your lamb?"

He then shot her a playful glare and slid his plate to the other side of the table, away from her. Catherine laughed.

The drive home had been peaceful, though laced with tension. After dinner, they had a wonderful dessert, and when the bill came, Gil had refused to let her pay. Catherine had put up a fuss, but only until he gave her that look that dared her to defy him. After that, she let him have his way.

Pulling into her driveway, he put the Denali in park, and placed his hands over Catherine's as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "Stay there," he told her, then climbed out.

She furrowed her brow, watching him cross in front of the windshield to the other side of the car, and when he opened up her door, she smiled at the realization of what he was doing. He extended a hand to help her down, which she gratefully took. "Why thank you, kind sir," she said cordially, stepping down from the high seat.

"You're quite welcome, madame," he played along.

She chuckled. "Who said chivalry is dead?" she asked rhetorically.

After she'd hopped down, he shut her door behind her and led her up to the house... their fingers laced together the entire way. They paused at her doorstep, and he gently disentangled his fingers from hers as he smiled down at her. "Well, this was an enjoyable way to spend my night off," he murmured.

"Me too," she agreed. "Thank you for allowing me to cheer you up."

"Well..." he sighed. "Thank you for cheering me up."

They smiled at each other momentarily, neither wanting to break the stare, but both knowing that at some point, they either had to part ways or head inside. "Well... I suppose this is goodnight," Gil murmured, absent-mindedly glancing toward the Denali.

"It doesn't have to be," Catherine whispered, which immediately drew his attention back to her eyes.

"What?"

"Why don't you come inside for a little bit?" she suggested. She shrugged. "I could put on some coffee. We could talk or watch a movie or... things." Her cheeks flushed as she desperately hoped he didn't know what she meant by 'things.'

He smiled, realizing he'd been awarded one more chance to rectify what he'd said in the restaurant. "Sure. That sounds nice."

She smiled, then turned to unlock her door, leading him inside. She set her keys on the table beside her door, her other hand still clutched in Gil's. When she turned to look at him, he stepped away and grazed his fingertips along her shoulders, removing her wrap to hang it up for her. She smiled her thank you and reached for the lights, turning half of them on before making her way into the kitchen.

When her eyes caught on the crystal vase filled with lillies, she burst into a smile. She'd been having a wonderful evening... despite being a tad disappointed by what Gil had said in the restaurant. Her smile remained as she turned away from the beautiful flowers, resolving that her night could still turn out differently than she thought. Once she had the coffee started, she made her way back into the living room, furrowing her brow as she heard the sounds of her CD collection being rummaged through. "Gil?" she called, coming around the corner.

She glanced down to find him crouched in front of her CD cabinet. "What are you doing?" she asked.

He waved her away. "Go stand over by the stairs."

She arched an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Because," he replied cryptically. "You can't see what I'm picking out."

"Alright..." she replied slowly, eyeing him warily, but indulging him anyways. Her heels clicked on the hardwood floors as she made her way to stand by the banister, leaning on it slightly as she watched in slight confusion... and slight amusement. "What exactly are you doing?"

"I'm looking for a song."

"What song?"

"I can't tell you," he replied with a small, secretive smile.

She chuckled at this. "Then how do you know the song you're looking for is one that I have?"

"Just trust me... you've got it."

She shrugged. "Okay."

After another good minute or so of rummaging through her CDs with Catherine intently watching, he'd found what he was looking for. "Aha!" he exclaimed, keeping the case hidden from her view as he took it out and placed it in her stereo.

He slowly stood as a piano and strings intro filled the room, and Catherine gasped as she realized what he'd chosen. It was her favorite Van Morrison song. "Gil..." she murmured.

He simply smiled at the look of loving awe on her face, and slowly crossed the room to her, realizing in that moment that he would do anything for her. He'd cross the entire galaxy to get to Catherine. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally found himself standing in front of her, and he extended his hand as he stared deeply into her eyes. "Miss Willows, may I have this dance?"

She grinned, his boyish charm spearing her heart as he leaned down to kiss the hand she'd placed inside his. "Of course you may," she whispered, and practically floated across the floorboards as he led her to the center of the room, staring deep into her eyes as he wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her right hand in his left, swaying her gently as the song began...

*Have I told you lately that I love you*

"I love this song," she whispered, never breaking eye contact with him.

He nodded, a small smile twitching at the corner of those lush lips of his. "I know."

*Have I told you there's no one above you*

She draped her left arm across his shoulders, bringing her body closer to his as they swayed together, slightly under-tempo from the music.

*Fill my heart with gladness, take away my sadness*

Just like on the patio of the restaurant, he nestled his cheek to hers, her eyes slipping shut at the sensation. She felt him smile against her cheek before he sang the next line to her...

"Ease my troubles, that's what you do..."

"Gil..." she whispered, pressing closer.

*Oh the morning sun in all its glory*

"Catherine, I want you to know how much you mean to me," he murmured, his deep voice sending a pleasant vibration into her body through her cheek and down her spine. "I realized tonight at dinner that I'm not saying what I should be saying... that I'm not properly conveying to you just how much you mean to me..."

*Greets the day with hope and comfort, too*

"It's okay," she whispered, smiling against his cheek.

"No, it's not," he softly replied. "I'm so used to keeping things inside that I just completely ignored what you were trying to get me to say."

*And you fill my life with laughter, you can make it better*

She chuckled, the sound just barely audible. "Gil, I wasn't trying to trick you into saying something you don't feel."

He nuzzled against her hair, eyes slipping shut briefly as her scent swept him away. "But I do feel it," he insisted, his hand on her back pulling her tighter into his embrace. "I feel it every day, every moment that I'm near you. You take every problem in my life away just by being there..."

*Ease my troubles, that's what you do*

"Like when you showed up at the hospital before my surgery," he continued. "I'd been so worried about how things were going to go... but when I looked up and saw you standing there, I knew that everything would be fine."

She smiled, letting go of his hand only to snake her other arm around his shoulders, pulling him closer to her as she rested her forehead against his neck. She sighed when she felt his arms wind tightly around her waist, hugging her to him tightly for a moment before loosening his grip to continue their slow dance.

*There's a love that's divine, and it's yours and it's mine*

"I only wish I'd been there for you when Eddie died," he whispered.

*Like the sun at the end of the day*

"Gil, it's understandable," she replied, shrugging her shoulders lethargically as her eyes slipped shut... "Nothing to feel guilty about."

*We should give thanks and pray to the one*

"But I wanna make it up to you," he insisted, leaning down to look at her while he tipped her chin up with his finger.

*Have I told you lately that I love you*

"You don't need to," she whispered, her breath a puff of air against his lips. "I'm still indebted to you for all the kindness you've showed me over the years." She shook her head lightly, not wanting to break their stare. "No one's cared for me the way that you have, and for that, I'll be eternally repaying the favor."

*Have I told you there's no one above you*

He smiled into the sea-blue depths of her eyes. "Catherine, you're amazing to me."

*Fill my heart with gladness, take away my sadness*

She giggled softly. "Gil..."

He grinned at the sound of her crystalline laugh, and pulled her close once again.

*Ease my troubles, that's what you do*

As they swayed slowly together, Gil's thoughts began to drift. He'd never been one to take chances, but after what happened in his last case... he had to. He just had to suck it up and take a leap for once in his life. He craned his neck slightly to look down at her... at the strawberry-blond head currently resting against his chest... and he knew he wouldn't be let down. Just with that simple glance at the incredible woman in his arms, he knew it was right.

*There's a love that's divine, and it's yours and it's mine*

Catherine's eyes slipped dreamily shut once more, and she sucked in a breath through her nose, the scent of Gil's cologne flooding her senses. She knew he was about to have a revelation... an epiphany. She knew their relationship was about to take a huge turn, but instead of rushing it... instead of hurrying along pent-up confessions of love in order to feel his lips on hers, she waited.

*And it shines like the sun*

She knew it would happen. With the way their conversation was going so far, she knew it would happen within the next few moments. She didn't want to rush it this time. Being in Gil's arms was a glimpse into her heaven... and she was in no hurry to leave.

*At the end of the day we will give thanks, and pray to the one*

"Catherine..." he murmured, and her heart leapt into her throat...

"Hmm?"

*Have I told you lately that I love you*

His finger once again reached her chin, tipping it up so she would meet his eyes. When she did, they stared at each other for an extended moment, both wondering if this was the pivotal moment. He wanted to get the words out, but staring into her eyes, he was briefly left stunned. All he could manage was, "You are so beautiful to me..."

*Have I told you there's no one above you*

She smiled broadly, a dazzling sight that warmed every inch of him inside and out. "Geez Gil, you sure know how to make a girl blush," she teased.

*Fill my heart with gladness, take away my sadness*

He returned the smile, his hand reaching up to cup her face, his thumb stroking her cheek. "Well..." he murmured, "I kinda wanna see if I can make you blush a little more..."

And with that, his lips closed over hers.

*Ease my troubles, that's what you do*

Catherine inhaled deeply through her nose, fully aware that he'd been about to kiss her... but completely unprepared for just how wonderful it would feel. Her hands, with a mind of their own, traveled into his hair, caressing the soft salt-and-pepper curls she loved so much.

*Take away my sadness, fill my life with gladness*

Gil slipped his hand to the back of her neck, pulling her closer as their lips captured each other repeatedly in a loving, passionate kiss. As close as she was already, it wasn't close enough for him. While one hand disappeared into her hair, the other snaked completely around her waist, curving around her stomach as their tongues mingled together, pulling her so tight to his body that not even a sliver of light would've been able to pass between them.

*Ease my troubles, that's what you do*

Catherine gently pulled away from the wonderful sensation his lips were creating on hers. "Gil..." she breathed.

"I love you, Catherine," he declared softly. "I can't stand to run from it anymore. I'm completely in love with you."

*Fill my life with gladness, take away my sadness*

"I love you, too," she whispered, cupping his face in her hands. She drew him toward her for another kiss... this one long, slow, and loving.

*Ease my troubles, that's what you do*

They pulled away with identical dreamy expressions, both sets of eyes half closed wistfully. "Gil..." she murmured, caressing his shoulders.

"Hmm?"

She stared deep into his eyes momentarily before whispering, "Come upstairs."

His eyes widened immediately. "Really? Are you sure?"

She giggled at the look on his face. "Yes, I'm sure. That is, unless you don't want to. Then--"

He stopped her voice with a passionate kiss, holding her tight against his body. When he broke away, a combination of lust and love clouded his eyes. "Of course I'm sure," he breathed, his thumb stroking just beneath her earlobe while he cupped her neck. "I just didn't want you to have any regrets."

Her sea-blue eyes pierced his soul. "Believe me, I won't. Will you?"

He searched her eyes, finally choking out, "No."

She smiled in response, then took his hand and led him up the stairs to her bedroom. On the way up, Gil could only stare in open-mouthed awe at the back of her head, disbelieving that this was finally happening to him. After eighteen years of loving her, watching her go through meaningless relationships, and care for Lindsey on her own, he was finally allowed the chance to be with her. And he wasn't gonna screw this one up.

When they'd entered her bedroom, and the door had shut softly behind them, he pulled her in for a breath-stealing kiss, his fingers tangling in her sleek strawberry-blond strands. Unlike the kisses downstairs, this one held more fervor... along with a promise of things to come. When they pulled away, he held her gaze, staring far into her eyes... the blues saying everything he was unable to verbalize.

His eyes never faltering from hers, he moved her hair gently out of the way and leaned to kiss her neck, starting at her earlobe and moving toward her shoulder. His fingertips played across the small of her back, tickling up her arms until they grazed across her shoulders, heading for the back of her neck. He fumbled briefly with the clasp of her dress.... finally undoing it and bringing the top of the dress down to expose her breasts.

"Wow..." he breathed, choking on his words. "You are... so beautiful."

She smiled warmly, her tone light and teasing. "Gil, you've seen my breasts before," she commented, recalling the days when she used to dance, and he would come and visit her at work.

"I know," he replied, "I just... have never been able to fully appreciate them before." He glanced down at her chest as his hands moved to fondle her, before he trailed his eyes back up to watch her reaction.

Her eyes slipped shut at the feel of his hands on her, and a soft moan escaped her lips. "That feels amazing," she whispered.

He smiled, and leaned down to let his lips and tongue take over. "Good," he murmured.

After lavishing her breasts thoroughly, he allowed his lips and tongue to explore further south, bringing the dress with him as he knelt in front of her, his arms wrapping around her slim abdomen while he payed special attention to her belly button. He ran the tip of his tongue in lazy circles around it before dipping it inside repeatedly, causing her to giggle, her stomach spasming against his lips.

He looked up at her, "What?"

"That tickles."

His eyebrows raised slightly, his voice suddenly filled with concern. "Want me to stop?"

She reached down and touched his face, "Oh God, no!" she insisted, and caressed his cheeks as encouragement for him to continue.

With a brief smile, he obliged, trailing his tongue over her abdomen once more before licking a trail down to the place where the dress was currently resting... slung low on her hips, just above her most intimate of areas. At this, he paused, his arms still wrapped around her waist... and he let his eyes drown in hers briefly, knowing that if they were to continue down this path, there would be no going back.

Searching Catherine's eyes for doubt or hesitance, he found none... just pure love and desire written in her sparkling blue eyes, and he smiled, slowly rising to his feet... pushing her dress past her hips as he did so, allowing it to fall to a pool around her ankles. He took her hand, sharing her smile while he helped her step out of her dress, allowing her to gingerly kick off her shoes a moment later.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered again as he pulled her back into his arms, pressing her naked body against him as he searched for her lips with his.

She grinned and hummed contentedly against his lips, wrapping her arms around his shoulders while her fingers found the curls at the nape of his neck. When she pulled away, her grin was almost devilish. "And you're too overdressed for my liking," she purred.

Her eyes watched her hands as they trailed up his chest from his waist, grazing the lapels of his suit before wandering to the windsor knot on his tie. With a gentle tug, she'd loosened it enough to pull it over his head, and he smiled as he watched her... loving the look of concentration her face held while she worked his tie. He almost chuckled at the adorable way she bit her lip, her brows knitting together as she divested him of the constricting accessory, tossing it carelessly over her head seconds later.

When her eyes met his, she smiled sheepishly, knowing what the grin on his face meant. She simply stretched up on tiptoe to kiss him while his hands flew to her waist... and she practically gasped at the feel of his hands on her bare skin, caressing and kneading lovingly. She worked the buttons on his shirt as they kissed, somehow getting all of them undone without really paying much attention.

Once she had his shirt buttons undone, she slid his jacket off his shoulders and let it fall to the floor, grinning up at him as he chuckled softly. His shirt followed the jacket, hitting the floor only mere seconds later. She then allowed her hands to wander, her eyes following every move made by her hands. She caressed his smooth, hairless chest, lightly grazing her fingernails over his nipples... then smiled when she heard him suck in a breath, her name tumbling from his lips in a sigh seconds later.

"You're gorgeous, Gil..." she whispered, taking his bottom lip between her teeth and caressing it with her tongue.

He groaned at this fantastic sensation and practically dove into her mouth, his tongue exploring every corner. His breath came out in quick rasps when they parted. "Do you have any idea what you do to me?" he whispered shakily.

She smiled confidently, pressing her body against him, her pelvis brushing against his, and the hardness in his pants. "I think so, yes..." she whispered back, kissing him quickly again before moving her kisses to his earlobe and neck.

"Well, my response is obvious..." he breathed, his hands grasping for any bare inch of skin available to him. "Yours is not."

She smiled against his neck, the point he was trying to make obvious, and she gently grasped one of his hands that was resting on her hip, guiding it across her abdomen before allowing him to venture lower... allowing him to feel her response. When she felt his hand on her, her eyes snapped shut, and his low moan caressed her ears as his finger began to toy with her, bringing her toward the crest quicker than she would've imagined.

"Bed," she choked out, and he nodded his response, his hands finding her hips as he guided her backwards, stopping when the back of her knees bumped the mattress.

Holding her gaze, he stripped the rest of the way, unlatching his belt and unzipping his pants before sliding them to his ankles, stepping out of his shoes and socks before dragging his boxers down. She smiled and took his hand, as he did for her, and helped him step out of the pile of fabric he was currently standing in, before he gently brought her lips to his, slowly guiding her down onto the bed.

Their desire having been stirred to the breaking point, their hands moved in a flurry to caress and fondle, their hurried explorations conveying their need for one another. "Gil..." Catherine panted when she'd had enough. "Please... I need you."

"I need you too, Cath," he murmured, moving her onto her back gently while he kissed and nipped at her neck.

"Please make love to me," she whispered.

He lowered his lips so they were just a hair away from touching hers, his breath coming out as a warm puff of air against them. "I love you," he breathed, then pressed his lips to hers as he slid slowly inside her.

He moved slowly within her, but with purpose... her pleasure first and foremost on his mind. Catherine moaned and arched her body into him, her hands needing to touch him anywhere she could reach. She pulled him tight to her, knowing he was as close as he could possibly be... but needing him closer still.

Gil whispered his love for her into her ear, kissing along her shoulder as he slowly brought her closer and closer to the edge. "Catherine..." he whispered as he pulled slightly away.

"Hmm?" She raised her eyebrows in question, her eyes closed at the sensations he was stirring in her.

"Open your eyes..." he coaxed, and smiled when he met her sea-blue irises.

She returned the smile, her eyes delving deep into his as he brought her closer and closer to climax. When it hit, it hit without warning, and her mouth dropped open as she cried out, her eyes still locked with his. He held her gaze, intensely, and continued to thrust into her as he brought her down from the high, then leaned close to capture her lips with his... the tempo increasing.

"Gil..." she whispered as she pulled away. She knew he was close. "Open your eyes..."

He did as she asked and locked eyes with her once more, the intensity and raw desire written in her eyes bringing him closer and closer to the edge. Without breaking their gaze, he moved his thumb to her clit, and stroked it softly in circles while his thrusts continued to quicken. She gasped, keeping her eyes centered on his, as another orgasm began to build. When she felt him swell within her, she knew this was it, and when he pressed lightly on her clit, she fell over the edge with him... her climax only intensifying when she felt him spilling inside her.

They rode the wave of pleasure until their bodies could no longer hold them up... then they collapsed against the mattress, immediately curling into a passionate embrace. "Gil, that was amazing..." Catherine breathed. "It was so... so..."

"So...?" he coaxed, a smile plucking at the corners of his lips.

"Good," she finally sighed, and this caused him to laugh.

"How poetic..." he quipped, and his laugh was cut short as her lips pressed to his.

"That was all I could manage," she whispered against his lips... "I'm afraid you've left me breathless, and completely unable to form coherent thoughts or sentences."

He grinned. "I think that's the best post-coital compliment I've ever received," he murmured, and leaned in for another kiss. "And I'll agree... this was one hell of a way to distract me from my problems."

She giggled, then paused as she found herself lost in the calm pools of his eyes. "Gil, you won't lose any of us," she whispered, her eyes following the backs of her fingers as they caressed his cheeks. "You know it'll be okay, right?" She met his eyes once more.

He smiled warmly... lovingly, and wrapped his arms completely around her lithe frame as he drew her toward his lips for a kiss. "As long as you're right beside me," he whispered, giving her tiny pecks on the lips while she smiled at him, "Yes... everything will be just fine."

"Good," she replied, and soundly kissed his lips before turning on her side.

Without hesitation, he curled his body against hers, her back to his front, and wrapped an arm around her waist as he snuggled close to her, his lips hovering over her ear as he sang softly, "*Ease my troubles, that's what you do...*"

With that, he gave her a soft kiss on her earlobe, then buried his face in her hair and held her tight as they drifted off to sleep.

~FINIS~