Catherine looked up as her husband walked through the door, three children in tow. It was her favourite time of the year, especially since she and Gil had gotten married. Married. After five years of wedded bliss, Catherine and Gil were still very much in love and it showed through the three-year-old and two-year-old that followed her older daughter Lindsey through the door.

"Cath, you’re home," Gil said, approaching her and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Her children followed, Lindsey hanging back while the other two assaulted her legs.

"And how was Christmas shopping?" Catherine had sent them out to get a few things for their dinner tonight. It had become a tradition since she and Gil had gotten married that Sara, Nick and Warrick joined them for Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve. Catherine had forgotten a few of the more important Christmas things and so, Gil, Lindsey, Amanda and Darren had been drafted into getting the ingredients for her.

"It was a vewy big store," the youngest, Darren, piped up, still secured to his mother’s leg. Amanda grinned.

"Daddy let Lindsey, Darren and I go look at toys while he got the food!" she exclaimed. Catherine smiled, bending down and freeing her legs from her youngest children.

"Perfect. Now, I want you three to go and find the presents for the others." Amanda looked confused.

"What others?" Catherine smiled softly.

"Sara, Nick and Warrick are coming to dinner tonight. Just like they have for the last five years," Lindsey supplied wearily. Catherine shot a concerned glance at her eldest but Lindsey smiled. Catherine understood immediately.

"Then Daddy will come and play with you. Linds can help with dinner." As much as Catherine knew Lindsey really didn’t like helping with meals, she wanted some time with her daughter. This was as good a time as any. The children scampered off to find the colourfully wrapped gifts.

"Are you sure that’s okay? You don’t want my help?" Gil asked, wrapping his arms around her from behind. Catherine relaxed into his chest.

"Lindsey and I are going to handle it. Very nice of you to offer though," she answered softly. Gil dropped a kiss on her cheek once again, but this time trailed his lips down her neck to her shoulder.

"Don’t start anything you won’t be able to finish, Mr. Grissom," Catherine growled. Gil smiled.

"Can I help it if you’re irresistible Mrs. Grissom?" Catherine shivered. She was still trying to get used to being Catherine Grissom and not Catherine Willows. She pushed away and turned to face him. His cheeks were slightly tinged pink from the frosty December air, but to Catherine, that made him look that much more sexy. It was that moment that the children decided to return.

"We found them Mommy!" Amanda squealed, Darren not far behind. Catherine smiled at the two with gifts in their arms.

"Go put them under the tree with Daddy," she instructed lightly, grinning at Gil. He mock glared at her before following his children out into the living room. Lindsey entered the kitchen moments later.

"Hey, sweetie. How are you doing?" It was a question Catherine asked every year. Although before she and Gil had gotten married she had asked Lindsey for permission - she had of course agreed immediately - something inside Catherine told her Lindsey wasn’t completely comfortable with the arrangement.

"You ask me that every year, Mom."

"And every year you give me the same answer. I’m just checking, you know."

"You’re just being my mom," Lindsey replied, picking up the plates from where they were sitting on the counter and moving them to the dining room. When she returned, Catherine was leaning against the counter, looking out the window.

"What’s wrong?" Catherine faced her daughter.

"You’re a fantastic big sister, you know." Lindsey smiled.

"No need to be insecure, Mom. There’s a lot I have seen and I honestly wouldn’t have my family any other way." Catherine smiled, her fears shoved away for another year.

"Now, how about we mash some potatoes?"

Sara, Warrick and Nick arrived on time as always. Catherine greeted them warmly. They had all become like family since they had worked on the graveyard shift together and even after Catherine’s multiple pregnancies and Gil and Catherine’s marriage, nothing had changed.

"Merry Christmas!" Sara said spotting Gil, Amanda and Darren on the floor playing. Amanda and Darren rushed to give her a big hug.

"Hi, Aunt Sara!" Catherine smiled once again as she closed the door. Her youngest children had grown up to call her colleagues by aunt and uncle rather than their names. It was something that made Catherine all fuzzy inside.

"Go wash up. Dinner’s ready," Catherine said to her children while she led her friends into the dining room.

"Wow, Cath, you really went all out!" Nick said, quoting himself from prior years. Catherine rolled her eyes.

"It’s the same as it has been for the last five years, Nick," she replied watching him pull out a chair for Sara. She couldn’t help but smile. She wasn’t a CSI for nothing. Her children came bounding back into the room with large grins on their faces.

"When do we get to open presents?" Darren asked unabashedly. Catherine could feel herself turning slightly pink. That was another tradition. Opening presents with Sara, Warrick and Nick, before Christmas day.

"After dinner, like we do every year," she replied over her shoulder. Lindsey was in the kitchen, pulling out the mashed potatoes from the oven.

"You have been a fantastic help, Linds. Go say hi," Catherine said shooing her daughter out of the kitchen. Gil came in to help with the table and carving the turkey. Catherine picked up the mashed potatoes in one hand and the rolls in the other and placed them on the table. She met Sara’s eyes as she sat.

"Something’s different about you, Cath. You seem all glow-y." Catherine blushed.

"I’ll take that as a compliment, Sara."

"This one’s for Amanda," Warrick said, handing the small girl a colourfully wrapped box. Amanda tore the wrapping off to reveal...

"I wanted one of these! I asked Santa for one too!" She held up a doll that resembled her.

"Does she have a name?"

"Lindsey," Amanda replied promptly. Catherine smiled.

"Why Lindsey?" Sara asked, a shadow of a grin also on her face.

"After my sister, of course," Amanda replied instantly. Lindsey stood from her spot on the floor and drew her little sister into a big hug.

"Thanks kiddo," she whispered. Catherine pulled the camera from Gil’s lap and quickly snapped a shot of the two. Tears of happiness stung her eyes slightly.

"And last but not least, this one’s yours, Lindsey," Sara said, handing a similarly wrapped package. Lindsey’s eyes widened as she took the paper off of the box. This too was a doll, but a more mature doll. A doll for a teenager.

"Are you going to name your doll?" Amanda asked in all innocence.

"Amanda, after my little sister." Catherine blinked back tears before clearing her throat.

"Linds? Can you give out those cards on the mantle piece, please?" Lindsey did as she was asked, surprised to find one for herself, Amanda, Darren and her step-father in the bunch.

"Why do we get them too, Mom?"

"Open them and see." There was the ripping of paper as the envelopes of the cards were opened. Sara was the first one to gasp.

"You’ve got to be kidding me!" A huge grin lit up her face as realization dawned on her features.

"To a new sister? I’m already a sister, Mom."

"And I’m already a father twice..." Gil stopped, looking in shock to his wife. "You’re not..." Catherine nodded.

"Congratulations!" Nick exclaimed.

"I don’t get it," Darren said, his small arms reaching up to his mother. Catherine picked him up and set him on her lap.

"You’re going to be a big brother, Darren." His little nose wrinkled up, still confused.

"Mommy’s having a baby." His eyes widened and Catherine couldn’t help but assume she knew what the next question was going to be. Lindsey was faster.

"Come on, Darren. Let’s go put away your new toys in your room." She took her two siblings out of the room and left the adults to discuss the new information.

"I can’t believe it! Again! It seems like only yesterday you were taking a year off and you’re going to be taking another one?" Sara’s mock disbelief was evident and Catherine hit her lightly.

"I’m half innocent here," she replied, holding her hands up. The room broke out into laughter.

Later that night, when she and Gil were climbing into bed, Catherine couldn’t help but turn to face him, a huge smile lighting up her features.

"And what are you all smilie about?" Gil asked her a similar grin on his face.

"I couldn’t believe I was pregnant again either, you know," she stated as solemnly as she could with the smile on her face.

"It was the best Christmas present I could have received, Cath. Thank you," he replied. Catherine’s smile grew as she burrowed beneath the covers and snuggled up to her husband.

"Goodnight, Gil. I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart. Merry Christmas."