It was a beautiful September 13th evening. The best part was that they had it off. Gil Grissom swallowed and once again, completely out of character, looked in the rearview mirror of his Tahoe. He met his own ice-blue eyes and sighed deeply. He brushed at his newly grown beard and looked down at his black shirt. The matching black silk tie shone a bit in the waning late evening light. He picked a white fuzzy off of his black trousers. He whipped his head up as he heard the passenger door open. His breath caught in his chest as the perfect vision that was Catherine came into view. She hiked herself up into the large black SUV. Her reddish-blonde hair was shining and fell about her shoulders in a copper waterfall. Her blue-green eyes were sparkling. The very low cut, halter top style 'little black dress' she wore left nothing to the imagination. The skirt was mid-thigh length, and when she settled into the seat, it was pulled up almost at her hips. She wore a pair of strappy kitten-heeled sandals. He was positive that she was not wearing a bra. He looked away in the pretense that he needed to adjust the mirror he had been gazing into as he waited for her. She saw the act and smirked. She smiled in victory because she had evidently made the statement she wanted to.

"What? Do I have spinach in my teeth?" she asked, her sultry voice tinged with mirth. He heard the click of her seatbelt.

He cleared his throat and she watched his ears turn red. "No," he managed. "You look... incredible," he said, turning back to her. Their eyes met immediately and locked. His reflected the fire she ignited in him and they shone as bright as two stars that had began to twinkle in the darkening sky above them. Hers were full of anticipation and love... as yet fully expressed.

"Let's go... They don't hold reservations at Du Breff forever," she gently warned, turning her head to look straight ahead. He continued to gaze at his lovely companion and smiled his lopsided grin. Without a word, he pulled off the parking break and they were off...

... 20 minutes later, they were settled at a cozy table for two near the center of the large dining area. The candlelight played off their eyes and hair. They had both been ignoring what this night really was, what it implied and what was to follow by simply calling it dinner. Their hearts were racing and they gasped for air with each breath despite their calm and elegant appearance.

"I sure hope they cleaned this joint up since the last time we were here," she quipped, breaking the silence. He whipped his head up and their eyes once again met immediately. He knew she had been watching him. He smirked. Both thought back to the meat grinder and the body and... They had returned to the scene of another crime on one of their previous 'dates' by seeing a movie at the movie theater, so they thought it fitting to come full circle here as well... They exchanged smiles... He went to put his thin, oval framed glasses on, but she softly reached out and caught his arm, silently telling him to "Leave them off." She let her hand linger on his forearm. Their eyes remained locked.

"You gonna read the menu to me?" he asked softly. "Otherwise, I need to put these on."

"I forgot, you're an old man," she teased, giving his wrist a squeeze as she slid he hand away. He snuffed in mock insult and she watched as he slid them onto his perfect nose.

They fell into comfortable silence as they looked over the menu. The friendly waiter, who actually remembered them from their days of interrogation and investigation, took their order and left them with a knowing smile and an unnoticed approving glance over her shoulder as she moved away from their table.

Catherine watched as Gil suddenly relaxed and a gentle, thoughtful smile spread across his boyishly handsome face. He turned his attention back to her. "What?" she urged gently. He said nothing, but stood and came to her side. He offered her his right arm. She accepted in tender surprise, their eyes never breaking contact as he lead them to the somewhat crowded dance floor.

IT'S TIME TO HOLD MY HAND AND TAKE A CHANCE
IT'S TIME TO PAY THE BAND AND START THE DANCE

The strong, powerful female voice belonged to Broadway star Linda Eder and she sang for them.

WE HEAR THE MELODY, WE KNOW THE SONG
IT'S TIME, I THINK
WE'RE ON THE BRINK OF WAITING FAR TO LONG

She was in a daze, but she felt him gently place her right hand on his shoulder and take her left in his. He wrapped his arm gently but protectively around her slight waist. She wanted to cry. He was so warm and safe and strong. She knew that he was remembering the last time they were in each others arms, the day he had his successful surgery to repair his hearing, just as she was. He began to move them in slow, soft rhythm to the romantic, light swing ballad.

WHY NOT BELIEVE OUR EYES AND CROSS OUR HEARTS
DISPENSE WITH ALIBIS, ENOUGH FALSE STARTS
IT'S TIME TO PUT AWAY OUR CHILDISH THINGS
AND TIME TO TRUST IN US AND WHAT TOMORROW BRINGS
IT'S TIME TO RISK IT ALL AND SHOOT THE MOON
SO JUST LET GO AND FALL, IT'S NOT TO SOON
BEFORE THE CLOCK STRIKES ONE MORE CHIME
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN MOVE LOVE OFF THIS DIME
'CUZ WHEN WE KISS, WE BOTH CAN SEE ... IT'S TIME
IT'S GETTING TO LATE FOR A LENGTHY DEBATE, SO LET'S GO FOR THE WIN
LET'S GIVE FOREVER A SHOVE SO THAT LOVE CAN BEGIN!

The instrumental music was magical. She gasped in glee as he actually spun her away from him, keeping hold of her hand, and pulled her back- expertly. He then two stepped and guided her around in a turn. She was on a cloud. It finally happened. All the remaining fear was chased away by the soaring saxophone and the remaining walls crumbled with the trumpets flair.

"You never told me you could dance," she smiled.

"You never asked," he said with a smirk and love glowing in his eyes that were locked with hers.

IT'S TIME TO LET IT RIDE 'CUZ TIME WON'T WAIT
IF LUCK IS ON OUR SIDE, IT'S NOT TO LATE
BEFORE WE STUMBLE PAST OUR PRIME
I KNOW TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE THIS CLIMB
'CUZ I BELIEVE FOR YOU AND ME... IT'S TIME!

The music climaxed and ended- too soon. They were totally unaware of the world as they stood there, wrapped in each others arms. Their first kiss was a very public one, one that brought smiles to the faces of all that saw them. When they softly pulled apart, they pressed their foreheads together. She pressed against him and they held each other tightly. She nudged him towards the door.

"What about dinner?"

She nodded. "It can go to Hell because I'm in Heaven..." she said.