"I was terrible. I can't believe I was so... What's the word?"

"Nervous?"

"I was about to say awful, but nervous works too."

"Sorry sweetie."

"Right. You didn't have to agree so quickly, you know."

"Well, you shouldn't have asked. I'm all about the honesty, Gil."

"I thought you were all about the shoes."

"Funny. I care for shoes but, despite your shortcomings, I love you more."

"More than even those sandal things you paid $400 for, the ones you look at sometimes just to monitor their beauty."

"They are beautiful."

"No, they're shoes. And you didn't answer my questions."

"You noticed that. I had hoped I was getting out of answering."

"So you love the shoes more than me?"

"I wouldn't say more, I wouldn't say less... But I wouldn't say more."

"You're lucky I love you, Catherine."

"I know, I remind myself every day how very lucky I am."

"Good save."

"Thanks, I try. I do know how lucky I am, Gil. I really do."

"Let's agree we're both very lucky and move on to the fun stuff."

"There will be no fun stuff in here... I mean it Gil, quit it."

"Well that's nice, I make all this effort for you, and this is the thanks I get."

"Explain to me this notion of effort you have in your mind Gil Grissom."

"I have wine..."

"You have cheap wine which you stole from the other room."

"I had to display stealth to do that, I don't often utilise stealth Cath."

"You think this is funny, don't you? You're thinking this is sweet and funny?"

"I am sweet and funny... But I'm new at this."

"You're new at being sweet, or being funny? Or is it the trying to ravish women in cloak rooms?"

"The first bit, the ravishing part I have experience with."

"There will definately be no fun stuff tonight Gil."

"You say that now, but when I do this..."

"Okay, hands go in your pockets now mister. No touchy touchy in public."

"That's not what you said the last time."

"Yeah, well, I'm changeable. What can I tell you? We have to get back out there."

"No."

"You're being childish."

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Not."

"Are."

"Not."

"Gil, I will have to hurt you if you insist on acting like this. You're supposed to be the sensible one, try to hold on to that."

"They scare me, Catherine."

"Only because you let them, sweetie. Don't let them."

"Explain to me exactly how I do that?"

"You won me over, didn't you. Try a little of that charm on them."

"Yeah, but you never scared me like them."

"Really?"

"Okay, you scared me a little... But I kinda liked it."

"Yeah I know, that's why I did it. Come on, let's go face our audience. We're not hiding in here all night, they'll be looking for us."

"I'm no good with them Cath, and she'll hate me for it."

"Gil..."

"Sorry."

"I know, don't be. You're so sweet, you really think she'll hate you?"

"There was a lot of sweating out there, Cath. My level of discomfort was significant, people were looking."

"No one was looking, they were having fun."

"It was chaos."

"Sort of, but they were having fun. Lindsey was having fun."

"I'm no good with her friends."

"You're good with her."

"What if I embarrass her?"

"And dragging me in here to fool around wouldn't do that."

"I never thought of that, it's actually a very good point."

"So let's go face them. You know Lindsey loves you, she's just so happy we're all here together. This has been her happiest birthday in the longest time. And that's because of you, remember that."

"So I just have to face them?"

"Yeah, it'll be a piece of cake. Eighteen girls on a crazy, sugar high, easy."

"If you say so, but I really do suck at this."

"Sshh, stop saying that, you just need some practise. I'm a pro, just follow my lead."

"So what am I?"

"You, my dear husband, are a ranked amateur... But you'll do fine. You need to get great at this because there will be lots of days like this in the future."

"Days where I get to drag you away from prying eyes to kiss you?"

"No. Well, that too, but I mean birthdays and parties and kids running all over us. We've got all of that ahead of us with this little one."

"I know, but today feels important. It feels like if I screw up with Linds today, then it'll be a bad omen for the future. What if I'm nervous with our baby too."

"Then Lindsey and I will be there to help. And what makes you think we're not nervous? You just can't show any fear, sweetie. It's how parents have been surviving for centuries."

"See that's what makes me nervous again, when you say it out loud like that. I don't feel prepared enough to be anyones parent."

"Well you are, and you're about to be again, so suck it up."

"Nice words, please don't use 'go team' again."

"I've learned my lesson on that one. Come on, hold my hand. Maybe I need some support too."

"I'm used to being so sure, Cath. I'm used to control, and having all the answers. And out there, all those girls wanting to have fun, wanting me to help them... I feel I'll let them down, I feel that they'll be constantly hoping for someone funnier, someone cooler."

"Yeah, that's why you have me..."

"Thanks."

"I'm joking here, I think all that stuff too, I told you. I hide it better, remember that whole smelling fear bit? You want to get better, you care, that's why I love you. It's why you belong here, it's why we're going back to face the lions."

"I'm afraid."

"You think you're afraid now, just wait till you're changing nappies."

THE END