Catherine sprayed her hair a little with a bottle of hair spray. "Perfect." she thought, admiring her appearance in the mirror. Soft makeup, sparkling eyes, new dress and the soft curls she knew her husband loved. She didn't wear her hair like that often, but tonight was appropriate. She adjusted the thin strap on her black dress. It was very simple, black, just above the knee, with a few sparkles. Then she fastened the clasp of her gold heart necklace adorned with diamonds. Now she was ready.

The white sheets on the queen-sized bed were freshly washed and covered with rose petals. Their scent made the room smell just as she wanted it. Scented candles of various sized had been placed on the nightstands and shelves.

The living room had been filled with candles just like the bedroom. The cake had finished thawing earlier in the day and was resting on the counter in the kitchen, waiting to be eaten. Next to it was a bottle of champagne on ice. The bright green numbers on the stove read 7:17. Everything was ready, and her husband would be arriving home soon. She quickly dimmed the lights and went to sit on the couch, the candles alluminating her soft skin. She sat with her long legs crossed, propping herself up on the end of the couch.

Her eyes were closed, thinking about how wonderful her evening would be.

******

He opened the cherry door. He set his keys on the foyer table and draped his coat over the staircase banister. He kicked off his shoes and walked into the dimly lit living room.

Candles surrounded the love of his life, as she sat on the couch, looking so damned sexy. His black pants and button down shirt matched her dress. He couldn't help but stare. "I've been waiting for you." She says in a low sultry tone. He made his way to the couch and sat beside her. He touched the curls with his fingers.

"You look so beautiful." He says, blue eyes shimmering with love. She says nothing. Her eyes sparkle. He leans in and gently kissed her lips. "Happy Anniversary."

"Happy Anniversary." She whispers back.

He leans in to kiss her again. She lets him, but stands up. "Hey, there's plenty of time for that later. First, I have something in the kitchen."

He takes her hand and leads he there. "Our wedding cake?"

"Yes, don't you know that you are supposed to eat the top of your wedding cake on your first anniversary."

"No, I didn't."

"And the champagne is the same champagne we drank at the wedding, and right here are the toasting glasses." She smiles

"I see. Allow me." He says, reaching for the champagne bottle. "Ready?" he asks before popping the cork. After he does she squeals and he pours the bubbling liquid in the glasses, handing one to her. "To us, and happy anniversary and…"

They tapped the crystal flutes together and drank one sip. "I love you."

"I love you too." He answers, and they kiss again. "Dance with me?"

"I'd love to."

They held hands as they walked back to the living room. He pulled out a cd and pressed play. She smiled as she heard their wedding song coming through the speakers.

Someday, when I'm awfully low
When the world is cold
I will feel aglow
Just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight

He spun her around and they danced so closely, her head resting on his chest his hands caressing her back, so incredibly romantic.

Yes, you're lovely
With your smile so warm
And your cheeks so soft
There is nothing for me
But to love you
And the way you look tonight

He thought about her, how beautiful she looked on this day exactly one year ago when they stood before their family and friends and made their love official. She was beautiful everyday, but that day as she walked down the aisle, he hair in curls as it was today, her dress flowing, her smile radiant, she really did take his breath away. And he thought about it everyday since.

With each word
Your tenderness grows
Tearing my fears apart
And that laugh
That wrinkles your nose
Touches my foolish heart

Lovely never never change
Keep that breathless charm
Won't you please arrange it
Because I love you
Just the way you look tonight

Just the way you look tonight.

After the song stopped she looked into his eyes and smiled. He tuned it off and kissed her, telling her he loved her.

"Why did you choose that song for us, I never did get the chance to ask you?"

"When I saw you, walking down the aisle towards me, you literally took my breath away. I knew I would never forget how absolutely stunning you looked. And you have always looked stunning, ever since I met you. But I think about it all the time, everyday. So I knew that song would convey my thoughts as best as possible. I wanted, I just I love you so much."

She couldn't help the tears that formed in her eyes. "…I love you too."

"Don't cry darling." They began to kiss, and she began to unbutton his shirt. Before she could get very far, she was swept off her feet, being carried to the bedroom. He smiled when he walked into the room. "My, my, you have been busy today." He says, admiring the room. He gently lay her in the rose covered bed and lit the candles she placed around the room. Then he joined her on the bed. He began to kiss her gently, but she was trying to take the kiss deeper.

She whimpered when he stopped. He looked at her, stoking her cheek with his hand. "Let's go slow."

"God he was romantic." She thought. She always enjoyed taking it slow once and a while. Soon he was propped up on his elbows above her nude body. Her eyes shimmered, her smile warm. He kissed her slowly and began to kiss every inch of her skin, causing her to sigh. She wanted to give him just as much attention. "Gil, please let me…"

"Cath, tonight is for you. And trust me, I am getting just as much pleasure out of this as you." He whispered. He loved touching her and he loved when she touched him, but tonight, he wanted to show her just how much he loved her.

When her movements became more frantic, he entered her, slowly and teasingly. His lips met hers at that exact moment and her moan melted into his mouth as her hips lifted. He moved with her, slowly but he threw a few quick hard ones in too. He felt her nearing the end, and he knew he himself couldn't hold on much longer, but her let her come first. Her body was shaking and spread butterfly kisses over her eyes. He still thrust inside her, allowing her to come down from her orgasm, her sighs and deep breaths guiding him along. After she was relaxed he began to rub her clit gently with his fingers. He was so so close, almost in pain. When she bucked her hips up he began to thrust harder and harder inside of her until he could no longer take it. He called her name breathlessly and exploded inside her. It cause her to arch up and cry out herself as she reached her second orgasm. He was happy, that was his intent, to allow her to come twice.

After their breathing had returned to normal and their breathless thoughts expressed he held her tightly in his arms, never wanting to let go. "I love you Gil Grissom."

"I love you too. Mrs. Grissom."

"Can you believe it's already been a year?"

"No. It's gone so fast. And I've loved every second of it."

"Me too."

******

She hadn't realized how long she'd been daydreaming until the phone ringing startled her. The clock read 10:41. Her husband should have been home hours ago. She was worried, he hadn't called, and he wouldn't miss their anniversary.

After while she was beginning to think that he forgot, and she began to cry. Tears because he didn't call, and tears of fear that something had happened to him. Upset and angry she blew out the candles and kicked off her stilettos and flicked on the TV.

When he arrived home, he saw his wife, sleeping on the couch, TV on. He looked around the room. He saw the candles and how she was dressed. He saw the messages he'd left hadn't been heard. He saw the cake and the champagne. He was angry that he had to work late, but just angry at himself for spoiling her evening. She had been waiting, probably worried sick. He changed his clothes and actually began to cry when he saw how their room had been decorated.

Immediately he ran to Catherine. He sat next to her, for the first time noticing the traces of tears on her cheeks. He gently shook her awake. "Cath, sweetie, I'm home."

It took her a minute to register what was going on. "Gil, where the hell have you been? I was worried sick." She asked, irritated

"Cath, I called, I there was a quad. I'm sorry. I knew we were supposed to have a quiet evening alone together. I-I'll make it up to you. I promise. I love you, you know that."

"Damn it Grissom!" she yelled, standing up. "Tonight is our anniversary and you don't come home, you call. Couldn't you have dropped by on your lunch?"

"Cath, I couldn't help the situation."

"I'm sure no one would mind if you said hey guys as you know tonight is mine and Cath's anniversary and I'd like to go home and spend the night with her. See ya tomarrow."

"Cath, look at me, please." He said gently.

She reluctantly tilted her face upward and looked at him, but quickly turned her puffy eyes away. He took his fingers and lifted her chin. "Cath. Look. I'm sorry. I know you are upset. I am too. I wanted nothing more than to spend tonight, all night with you. To celebrate, I just- Cath, honey. I promise to make it up to you. I mean I thought about you all day, I couldn't stop looking at your picture. Can you forgive me, please?"

She couldn't stay mad at him forever. She loved him too much. And she really did understand. It's part of the job, she just wished they could catch a break once and a while. She nodded slowly, letting him know he was forgiven. He smiled. "Good." Then he pulled her into his arms and held her. "Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?"

"No, you seemed to forget that too."

"Catherine, you look beautiful. I really mean that."

"Not anymore, not after I've been crying and sleeping on my curls."

"Yes you are. Now. To make this up to you, how about next weekend, we make it a long weekend and I take you up to the cabin in Aspen."

Her eyes lit up. "Sounds wonderful."

"I'm glad." He said kissing her tenderly on the lips. "Happy anniversary Mrs. Grissom."

"Happy anniversary. I love you so much Gil."

"I love you to sweetheart."

"Gil, I know that you are tired and so am I. But there is one thing that cannot wait. It has to be done today."

"What's that?"

"The cake and champagne."

"Okay, lets go."

Once they were both in the kitchen, the bright green numbers on the stove read 11:54. "Shit Gil! We only have 6 minutes."

"Okay, hurry, you cut the cake, I'll pour." They quickly completed the tasks.

"Toast first."

"Okay."

They clicked the crystal flutes together and drank their champagne. "To us." After drinking they sealed it with a kiss. "Hurry its 11:58"

He picked her up and set her on the island and then they fed each other a forkful of luscious chocolate cake. "Mmmm." She sighed. "Good we made it we got down one bite before midnight. We did it."

"Let's finish this upstairs." Cath took the cake and he grabbed their drinks.

In bed they cuddled and ate the cake. "Last little bit, want it Cath?"

"Uh, I couldn't eat another bite. I'm full." So he ate the last bite.

Gil reached inside his nightstand and pulled out a box. "Happy anniversary."

"Oh, Gil."

"Open it."

"Alright already." She carefully unwrapped the box and inside was a diamond tennis bracelet. Something she had always wanted. "Gil, it's beautiful. I love it. Thank you so much." She showed her appreciation with a kiss. Catherine took it out of it's velvet pillow and admired it. When she flipped it over she got another surprise. It was engraved, "Happily Ever After" because of their wedding. Catherine had always wanted her happy ending, to which she reffered to as happily ever after, like in a fairytale. He always promised her that she would get her happily ever after. When he proposed to her in their Aspen cabin, she said she finally got what she wanted, her happily ever after, it was him. After reading it she began to cry. "Gil, I, I don't know what to say. I"

"You don't have to say anything Cath."

"I know. I'm sorry. Okay, I have your present." She said handing him a small box.

Inside the box, Gil found a ring. It was a solid band, intertwined gold and plantium. "Cath, honey, I."

"I know. When your ring got stolen I know we were going to go pick one out, but I thought that I should because, you choose my ring, so I thought I would choose yours. And I thought that tonight would be an appropriate time to give it to you."

"I love it, but you didn't need to get me such an elaborate ring."

"I know, but mine it so elaborate, I thought you deserved the same thing, besides, I choose that one for a reason."

He looked at her, confused.

"Okay, my ring is plantium, and the plantium represents me. The gold represents you and the first promise ring you got me when we first became friends. They are intertwined because that represents you and me, our love, together forever."

"Together forever, Catherine." He repeated kissing her sweet lips.

Catherine slid the ring on his finger and then weaved her fingers through his. He cradled her in his arms as they lingered on the cusp of sleep. "Catherine, I'm sorry about tonight."

"Gil, don't be. I mean it's not the evening I had planned, but close enough. The whole point was to be alone together. And we are. That's what counts."

Moments later as Gil stroked her honey curls, he realized she had fallen asleep. Gently, he kissed her head. "Goodnight sweetheart. Thank you for tonight, it was perfect."

THE END