Lacing her boots violently, Catherine was fixated on one thought and one thought only. Gil Grissom. Everything had to look perfect for two reasons. Number one being that it was New Year's Eve and she had decided that everything in her life would be perfect this time around. Number two…

I WAS BORN A STUBBORN SOUL.
AIN'T AFRAID OF THE GREAT UNKNOWN,
NOR THE WINDIN ROAD THATS ALL UPHILL.

The awe inspiring Gil Grissom was number two. There was a big New Year's Eve party at her house and he was coming. Usually they would opt for a quiet New Year alone talking, because Gil hated huge parties. But this year Catherine had decided to pull him out of his comfort zone. That way there was less chance of him being able to defend himself against her plans.

"Good one Catherine, thinking in army terms now." She rolled her eyes at herself in the mirror. "You're such an idiot." She muttered. Adjusting her cleavage in her top she looked again at the mirror. "But a goddamn sexy idiot, that's for sure."

THIS IS JUST A STUMBLIN' BLOCK;
INTIMIDATING WALL OF ROCK.
IF YOU THINK THIS BROKEN HEART WILL BREAK MY WILL.

As she reaches the bottom step he enters the room. Her plan is suddenly thrown out the window and her breath catches in her throat. She knew he could scrub up well, she unconsciously smiled as images of Gil in a tuxedo filled her mind, but tonight he looked so… so…

"I wasn't sure what to wear." He mutters. At this moment, Catherine realises she's been staring at him with her mouth open.

"That's um…" She swallowed and took a breath before continuing. "It's perfect." She gave him another once over. Black pants and a white dress shirt. He almost could have been in a tux. He'd shaved but only enough, leaving stubble where his beard usually was. Somehow it made him so much sexier. Was that even possible?

I'M GONNA TAKE THAT MOUNTAIN.
AIN'T NOTHING GONNA SLOW ME DOWN.
AND THERE AIN'T NO WAY AROUND IT.

"You look stunning." He smiled. She looked down at what she was wearing. Knee high boots, stockings, mini-skirt and a dark blue blouse. Her hair was partly pulled back, while some of it was hanging loosely around her face.

"Thankyou." She smiled shyly, her right foot turning in like a teenage girl who had just been asked out. Luckily to save her from an awkward silence, Lindsey bounded into the room.

"Uncle GIL!" She hugged him tightly. "I have to show you what I got for Christmas."

"But you showed me on Christmas day." Gil laughed.

"No, she got a gift in the mail yesterday from your mother." Catherine interrupted. "I'll take your coat." She slipped the black jacket off Gil's arm and watched as Lindsey grabbed his hand and made him follow her up to her bedroom. Opening the closet door Catherine slipped inside and turned on the light.

"Okay, think Catherine think…" Both her inner sense and her inner child were working hard to find what she'd down with her plan when it flew out the window, figuratively speaking of course. Every part of her mind was working overtime now to secure the plan.

GONNA LEAVE IT LEVEL WITH THE GROUND.
AIN'T JUST GONNA CROSS IT,CLIMB IT, FIGHT IT:
I'M GONNA TAKE THAT MOUNTAIN.

"I can't just kiss him now." That was what her plan revival had amounted to. She would kiss him at midnight but more passionately then any other New Year's kiss. "Think Catherine." She massaged her temples. "Okay…" She calmed down. "Firstly, you're talking to yourself. Secondly, you're talking to yourself inside a closet." Taking note of both facts, she opened the door and headed for the kitchen. "I can't just kiss him now." She repeated to herself. Glad that no one else had arrived yet and Gil was upstairs. She began to focus on the cooking instead, trying to clear her mind for a while.

IT'S OVERWHELMIN', LOOKIN' UP.
AN' KNOWIN' IT'S THE CHALLENGE OF ME,
AGAINST THIS HEARTACHE TO SURVIVE.

"Cath?" Gil walked around the kitchen bench to find Catherine on her hands and knees trying to find something in the cupboard. His eyes moved straight to her butt, giving him the greatest urge to pinch her. Quickly he looked elsewhere. "Um… Cath?"

"Ow." She hit her head coming out of the cupboard and sat on the ground looking up at him. "Yeah?"

"Need help with anything?"

"Um…" She was finding it overwhelming looking up at him. Was he always so tall from that angle? At that moment the doorbell rang. "Yes, could you please answer the door?"

"Of course." He paused. "Do you need a hand up first?"

"No, I'm fine." She smiles as he leaves. Once he's gone she rubs her head, sure that it will bruise from the painful bump.

I MAY SLIP AN' I MAY FALL,
BUT EVEN IF I HAVE TO CRAWL,
I'LL BREAK THROUGH TO THE HEALIN' SIDE

"Hey Catherine." Warrick smiled as he entered the kitchen. "Need some help?"

"Hey War, and no I think I'm fine." Catherine smiled.

"Looking pretty hot there." Warrick whistled as Catherine stood up and dusted herself off.

"I don't normally look hot?"

"Don't you go pulling me into one of your traps, Spiderwoman." He winked at her. "But I assume you've already locked on your target."

"What?" Catherine spun around, surprised by his comment.

"Oh come on Catherine. You're gonna bag Gil aren't you?" He lowered his voice to help with how embarrassed she was obviously feeling.

I'M GONNA TAKE THAT MOUNTAIN.
AIN'T NOTHING GONNA SLOW ME DOWN.
AND THERE AIN'T NO WAY AROUND IT.

"You guessed right, War." Catherine sighed, leaning on the bench so they were face to face. She bit her bottom lip. "I don't think I can go another year without telling him." She could still feel her cheeks burning as she talked.

"So it's not just gonna be a midnight kiss like very other year?" He grinned, knowing it was bugging Catherine how much he knew about her feelings for her best friend.

GONNA LEAVE IT LEVEL WITH THE GROUND.
AIN'T JUST GONNA CROSS IT, CLIMB IT, FIGHT IT:
I'M GONNA TAKE THAT MOUNTAIN.

"Exactly, this year it's all or nothing." Catherine smiled proudly. She was prepared to finally take what she'd wanted for so long.

"Well then, this should be an interesting night." Warrick laughed.

~~

AIN'T JUST GONNA CROSS IT, CLIMB IT, FIGHT IT:
YEAH, I'M GONNA TAKE THAT MOUNTAIN.
AIN'T NOTHING GONNA SLOW ME DOWN.

Catherine glanced at her watch. Seven minutes till midnight. Her eyes scanned the room, only to find Gil talking to Brass. She made her way past her co-workers (including day shifters who just seemed to turn up) and placed a hand on Gil's arm as she came up beside him. "Jim, I hope you don't mind if I just steal Gil away for a minute."

"Thank god, I was getting sick of looking at him." Brass laughed. "Be my guest."

"Thanks." Catherine smiled, taking Gil's hand and leading him away from all the noise.

"Cath, where are we going?" Gil asked as they headed for the back door via the laundry.

"You'll see." She smiled to herself. She opened the door and lead him into her back yard. She sat down on the grass, tugging his arm a little as she did so.

"Catherine?"

"It's been what? Ten years since we've done star spotting on New Year's Eve. Come on, don't be a party pooper." She pouted a little and tugged on his arm again. As he sat down next to her she quickly looked at her watch. Two minutes.

"It's really been ten years?" He asked as they lay down on the grass staring up at the sky.

"Yeah, we stopped the year Lindsey was born." Catherine sighed.

"Ah."

AND THERE AIN'T NO WAY AROUND IT.
GONNA LEAVE IT LEVEL WITH THE GROUND.
AIN'T JUST GONNA CROSS IT, CLIMB IT, FIGHT IT:

"They're beautiful aren't they." She whispers, unaware that his attention has moved from the night sky to her.

"Gorgeous." He smiles and quickly looks back at the sky before she looks at him.

"One minute." She nudges him as she looks at her watch.

I'M GONNA TAKE THAT MOUNTAIN.

"It brings back so many memories to do this under the stars again." Gil sighs. At his words Catherine smiles, that was exactly what she was hoping for. She held up her arm so they could both see her watch with what little light they had.

5…

Catherine bit her lip…

4…

She was beginning to get nervous…

3…

But her mind was set…

2…

She was going to do this…

1…

They turned to face each other, still lying on the cold grass. Catherine closed the gap between them, rolling on her side to get a better angle. There was cheering and singing inside but neither of them heard it, both to engrossed in this sparks flying between them as their lips touched.

I WAS BORN A STUBBORN SOUL;
THIS IS JUST A STUMBLIN' BLOCK;
I'M GONNA TAKE THAT MOUNTAIN.

Catherine pushed herself forward and rolled on top of Gil as she deepened the kiss. Even with just that small amount of extra contact, Catherine was content in the thought that she could take on whatever the New Year threw at her. She pulled back from him to get some oxygen, not really wanting it but knowing she needed it. They stared into each others eyes.

"Happy New Year, Gil." She whispered, unsure of exactly what his reaction was. Her mind began to taunt her. ~ Good one Catherine, you've really screwed up this time ~ Then his hand snaked up her back to the back of her neck.

"Happy New Year, Catherine." He smiled and pulled her down to kiss her once more.