She is sprawled across my sofa, something I only discover while heading for the kitchen to grab some water. It's 3.30am, I thought I was home alone. I didn't realise Catherine was here, surely I should have sensed her. Goodness knows she intoxicates me during my waking hours, I assumed her power would not diminish while I slept.

She is stunning, still wearing the gown she wore to Doc Robbins party. I can't take my eyes from her. She was the most stunning woman at the party, she is always the most stunning woman at any party. But tonight? I can't tell you. Well it made my decision for me. The one I have been wrestling with for the last month, or maybe since the first time I kissed her. I need to waken her up, I need to talk to her. Part of me just wants to hold this moment with me forever - watching her sleep like a goddess loaned to earth for a short time. I want to make it more permanent, the gods cannot have her back. She belongs with me now. I belong with her now.

Maybe I had too much to drink earlier, cause I'm beginning to get a little maudlin. Need to wake up Cath, she will lighten the mood as she always does. I kneel on the floor to touch her face, to kiss her awake.

"Cath, sweetheart, you need to wake up."

"Mmm. Just five more minutes and then I'll get ready for work."

"Sweetheart, it's the middle of the night. You need to sleep in an actual bed."

"Gil. Gil. You left before me, so I thought I would pay you a visit. Couldn't quite make it to your bed. Oh, I just lay down for a few minutes then I couldn't get up again. The Doc should not be allowed to dispense wine."

"Baby, you should have called and I would have come over to you, I just thought you were staying to drink with the guys."

"'The guys', that's how you talk about the Doc and the Mayor. Wait a minute, you just called me 'baby'. What's with that."

I smile at her, cause it's beginning again, this wonderful dance that we dance. I can't resist this side of her. Who am I kidding, I can't resist any part of her. But when she teases me and we laugh like I know we are about to - well, I'm a gonner.

"I'm trying out names for you, terms of endermeant. I'm trying to find one that fits."

"Cath works."

"No, I want to find a name that only I can use for you."

"'Kay. But not 'baby'."

"Why, I think it's sweet."

"I'm a mom. I'm forty. It doesn't fit."

"You call me Bug Man."

"That's different."

"In what way?"

"I thought it up, and I like it. If you don't like it then find yourself a new girlfriend. Those are my incredibly fair terms..."

"Okay. Then I'm going to call you darling."

"No you're not. We're not British."

"Then honey."

"No."

"Dearest."

"Are you kidding now?"

"Okay, well I was watching you sleep and I decided that you look like a goddess."

"This is going somewhere I like..."

"It occurs to me that I didn't mention how beautiful you look tonight."

"Well, Gil, I looked GREAT earlier, but I'm pretty sure the shine has gone now. Too much wine and lounging on sofas will do that to a girl."

"You're wrong you know. You look better now, all sexy and dishevelled and MINE. You look like you belong here."

"Exactly how much did you have to drink tonight? You're getting sentimental on me baby."

"Why can you say 'baby' and I can't?"

"Cause, baby, I have the sass to pull it off."

"Okay. I have one more suggestion for you. It's a big one though."

"You are not calling me PRECIOUS."

"Well, that's good. I really want to call you Mrs Grissom."

"What...?"

I didn't know anyone had the power to do that these days. I just rendered Catherine Willows speechless, a first.

"I've been thinking about this for a long time. I love you Cath, can't make it through the day without you. I need to seek you out constantly, to touch you, to reassure myself that there is beauty in the world - and that a little of it belongs to me. I love your smile, your eyes, your heart, your kindness, your legs. I should have prepared a speech because I'm not doing very well here, but I can tell you I want to be your husband. I want you to be my wife."

"You're doing okay. I like that name, I would love for you to call me Mrs Grissom. Sweetheart is okay too."

She's smiling now as she moves to kiss me, this wonderful woman who I will promise to love forever. Who I will love forever. I can't wait.

THE END