I can't tell you how excited I am. I feel like a child again. Actually, it's better than that. When you're a kid, Christmas is all about Santa and the presents...Well it was for me - I don't know, maybe I was just an especially selfish child. But now, now I'm a man, Christmas is about family. About love. And I know today will be filled with love, and laughter, which is just as big a draw. Did I not mention that I'm spending the day with my favourite family? Christmas with the Grissoms, I can't tell you how excited I am.

I thought I was going to endure a lonely Christmas this year. Daniel, my partner, is in London working and can't get home for the holidays. I was prepared for a self indulgent day, you know the sort. Eating ice cream for breakfast, ice cream for Christmas lunch, and ice cream and cake for a snack later. That and not getting out of my pyjamas all day. I was sort of looking forward to it, a pity party for one. But that's not going to happen, today I get to share their family Christmas. Have I mentioned yet that I'm excited...

"Hey Gil, Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas Jon. If that is really you underneath all those parcels."

"I went a little crazy. Never leave gift shopping to the last minute, Gil - you tend to over compensate. I decided Christmas wasn't happening this year until you guys invited me over, hence panic buying."

"Okay. Get in here."

"Thanks."

"Do you want to put all your parcels under the tree while I get you something to drink? Water is it?"

"I can't believe you're being mean to me on Christmas."

"Egg nog then?"

"You are a cruel man, Gil Grissom. I hope you treat Catherine and Lindsey better than this."

"I do, they don't take any of my crap. I've tried to introduce an egg nog tradition here, but the women of the house put their collective feet down. Champagne for Catherine and for Linds, orange from a champagne glass. So champagne or juice?"

"Is it good champagne?"

"It's champagne I bought for Catherine, what do you think?"

"Champagne then."

"Right. Did you talk to Dan today?"

"Yeah. He's very jealous I'm here today, and that he's stuck in a hotel room. I miss him."

"I know, he called earlier to wish Linds a merry Christmas. Lindsey, God bless her, pointed out the benefits of his hotel bound Christmas. I think it was mainly that he gets out of peeling sprouts and helping with the washing up."

"That's my girl. Okay, that's your girl, but I love her for it."

"I know. She's looking forward to you being here so much, we all are. Hopefully next year I'll get to cook for you and Dan."

"That would be nice. Wait a minute, you're cooking? You're doing all the food?"

"Catherine did it last year, so I'm doing it this year - so actually next year will be Caths turn to cook."

"No problem, if you're cooking on alternate years I'll only be back every two."

"Did you just mock my wives cooking?"

"I believe I did."

"Okay, we'll keep it between the two of us. Anyway, take this bottle of champagne and get out of here. Lindsey is next door handing out gifts, and Cath is upstairs having a bath, so go up and chat and leave me to create the perfect meal for my family."

"I swear one of these days I'm taking you home with me."

"Cath would kick your ass."

"Yeah. Okay, I'm going upstairs to bother her. We expect a gourmet meal when we come downstairs."

"Get out of here."

I love Gil Grissom. I've never told him out loud, but I hope he knows. There is a risk of me saying it today, I get emotional around Christmas time, and Dan isn't here to keep me in check. But I mean, what's not to love? He makes Cath and Lindsey happy, and he cooks - I love the guy. I love that he's willing to share his home with me today, that they all are.

"Cath? Are you decent in there, Gils sent me up with champagne." I hover outside the bathroom door, awaiting my permission.

"Get in here with my alcohol Jon."

"Woman, it's like a steam room in here. Are you trying to lose weight? Cause I gotta tell ya, you don't need to Cath."

"Right. I like a hot bath, that's all. Anyway I'm indulging my husband."

"You're indulging your husband by relaxing in a steaming hot bubble bath, while he slaves downstairs creating the perfect meal."

"Yeah. Gil wants us to have traditions. One he is keen on is that I have a lazy morning , that I pamper myself. Or that he pampers me, I suppose."

"I hate you. You are the luckiest woman in the world."

"I know, and you know that you love me. Merry Christmas, sweetheart."

"Merry Christmas, Cath. So are you staying in there all day or..."

"Turn round. I'm getting out."

"Turn around? Since when did you get shy?"

"Only Gil gets to see the good stuff, that was one of our wedding vows."

"Yeah, I heard that was a popular one these days. Okay, my eyes are averted."

"Okay, we're on the move, I need to get dressed. By the way, you look very nice today."

"'Very nice', is that the best you can do? I look great, I've got new pants and a gorgeous shirt. I look amazing."

"Whatever. Did Gil tell you Daniel called earlier, he mentioned that he might get home next week."

"I hope so, I miss him awful. I have to thank you again, honey, for letting me come over today. I love this family."

I still have my back to Cath as I confess these words, so her embrace was unexpected. She lays her forhead against my back and wraps her hands round my waist, and she holds me for a moment. I love this family.

"We should go downstairs before I start getting weepy Cath."

"Okay, but you do know we'll be watching 'It's a Wonderful Life' soon, so you'll be weepy then anyway."

"Yeah, well it wouldn't be Christmas without a cry."

"I know."

And with that we move downstairs, happy in the moment, and happy that today will be special.

"Cath, how did you persuade Gil to take today off? Last time we spoke, you were worried he would bale and work this year cause he didn't last year."

"I know. He was so cute about it. He worries that he's being unfair, and that he should make more sacrifices cause he's the boss. But he was more worried about ruining Christmas for Lindsey. So we get him today, thank goodness."

"I'm glad."

"Is that because you know Gils cooking rather than me?"

"A little."

And then the man in question joins us in the living room, closely followed by an over excited Lindsey.

"Uncle Jon, did mom tell you that we waited?"

"I was getting to that, Linds."

"Waited for what honey."

"For you. We waited to open our presents until you got here."

"Why do you think I was so happy to see you."

Gil is so cute when he grins like that, I guess he's excited about Christmas too.

"You guys didn't have to do that. You should have opened them as a family."

"You are family, idiot. Now, enough with the talking and more of the gift giving."

"I apologise for my wife, she's very demanding."

I love this. The teasing and the warmth. And I'll overlook that Cath just called me an idiot, she also called me family. I think I'll be crying before I start watching sad movies. This room is turning into a wrapping paper dumping ground, Linds and Gil are in the middle of all the carnage - both squealing with excitement, really it's too cute. I wish his collegues could watch the serious scientist now. I look across at Cath in this moment and our eyes meet. We share a smile filled with warmth and understanding, and love. Love for this little family, who've let me move into their lives with such ease. With no effort and no complaints, they've made me welcome today, and for that I will love them forever. I should probably stop with the gushing, making myself a little sick. One morning with this lot on Christmas, and I change from my usual sweet sarcastic self into a weird happy guy.

"Uncle Jon, open mine now."

And Linds and I give ourselves over to the joy of Christmas, opening packages filled with scarfs and pyjamas, and importantly, chocolate, which we attack with abandon. So consumned are we by the pleasure of chocolate Santas that I miss the gift giving begin between our favourite couple. I am awakened from my sugar rush by Caths delighted shout.

"It's gorgeous Gil."

I'm not sure what he says to her in return, cause he whispers the words in her ear. Whats with that? Privacy? This is not something I am very keen on, I want details of the good stuff. I could make things up, but that would be wrong, even for me. Anyway, Cath seems to like it as she rewards him with an amazing smile and a full on smooch, infront of the kids...

"Mom, Gil enough with that. We are trying to eat here, we don't need to watch old people kiss. So what did you get?"

"You call me mom again and you'll be eating a microwave meal for one for your Christmas dinner. Understand?"

"Yes mo... Yes. Sorry honey. Is that more diamonds I can see on your finger?"

"Mmm. It is."

"Oh my goodness, an eternity ring, I'm gonna cry."

"Shut up, you're worse than Gil."

"But she means that with love, Jon."

And I know she does cause she's Catherine, and cause she's grinning that grin that I love, that everyone in this room loves. Cause we're family, and the ties of friendship are as strong as the ties of blood in this room. A fact which brings me more joy than I could ever express. I know that Cath and Gil see so much of what is wrong with the world when they are at work, so in their home they make sure everything is right and good. Which it is, in these hours that we will spend together everything will be right and good. I wish you all the same kind of peace this Christmas.

THE END