I hold no rights to anything CSI except to look upon them lovingly every Thursday night.

I have to give thanks to Peggy who keeps my writing on the up and up. She’s my proofreader, my editor, and my friend.

A/N Please, R&R!

Family, Like It or Not

Chapter 102

“So, what are you and Gil going to do with all that money?” Gwen asked with a smile.

Sara grinned. “We’re forcing the kids to see the place where we met.”

“Another trip to San Francisco?” Gwen teased. “I’d think you’d seen enough of that place.”

Sara sighed. “No way! It’s the place I first fell in love with your brother. I guess you don’t get it.”

“Why would you think I don’t get it?” Gwen’s feelings were a little hurt.

“You don’t really have a place like that with Jim.” Sara didn’t make eye contact sensing she’d hurt Gwen’s feelings.

Gwen held back her smile. “I suppose you’re right.”

As Christmas 2023 approached, Gil, Sara and the kids were preparing for their holiday in San Francisco. Hogie wasn’t thrilled to be leaving his girlfriend behind over Christmas, but he would have to manage. Isabella was thrilled to have the chance to see where her parents met. They had a Christmas Eve flight, and Jim was taking them to the airport.

“Ok, Grissoms, we’ll see you back here January 2, 2024. We’ll miss you on New Year’s Eve.” Jim kissed Sara and Isabella and shook Gil and Hogie’s hands.

Sara grabbed Jim into a hug. “You have a great Christmas, Jim. Do something special for Gwen. I may have hurt her feelings the other day.” She broke the hug, and they were off before Jim could say another word.

The Brasses had a Christmas Eve tradition as well. Jim and Gwen started it the first Christmas after they met. Sam and Tom would be with their sitter for only about an hour or so. Now that the boys were older they usually spent Christmas Eve with their girlfriends’ families, so Jim and Gwen would have lots more time for tradition.

“Is everything ready, Mary?” Gwen asked into the phone.

“Sure thing, Mrs. B. You should have at least a half an hour completely undisturbed.” Gwen heard from the phone.

“Thanks, Mary. We’ll be there in about ten minutes.” Gwen hung up the phone. “Jim are you almost ready?” Gwen started toward the bedroom.

“Just about.” Jim called from behind the door. “You go ahead…I’ll see you there.”

“Ok. I love you.” Gwen called as she grabbed her coat and headed for the door.

“I love you, too.” Gwen heard his voice call from their room. She closed the door behind her and took the waiting cab to her destination.

She sat on the bench. Unlike the first time, she is alone. She had to do a bit of shopping for the outfit. She’d lost quite a bit of weight since that day. She thought the green sweater she wore now was much more flattering on her anyway. As if on cue there he was. Same half smile as the first time. He was wearing the same pale yellow shirt unbuttoned at the collar. He had replaced the jacket, but it was exactly the same as the other one, just a little newer. She watched as he walked toward her down the hall. She didn’t have the opportunity to ‘watch’ his approach that first time. She had other concerns, but he was all she wanted to focus on tonight.

“Hey,” Jim said. “Merry Christmas.” He sat down beside her on the bench.

“Merry Christmas.” Gwen leaned into him and kissed him. This little exchange has happened every year for more than 15 years. Even when Gwen was only days away from when Tom was born. This was their thing. No one except Mary, the receptionist who replaced Judy and Judy of course, knew about it. While the reception area of the Las Vegas Crime Lab wouldn’t be considered by most to be a romantic spot, not like San Francisco for example, for Jim and Gwen it was very romantic. It was where their love affair began.

“Shall we?” Jim asked.

“Absolutely.” Gwen answered. She took the arm he offered and allowed him to escort her to his car.

When they pulled into the parking lot of their second destination they shared a smile. “I called ahead. They’ll have our booth all ready.” Gwen grinned.

“I wonder if they think we’re crazy. Here every Christmas Eve.” Jim asked as he helped her out of the car.

“JoAnne! It’s great to see you as always!” Gwen greeted the waitress who was their waitress that first time, too.

“Merry Christmas, you too.” JoAnne led them to their booth. “The usual?” She asked them.

Jim nodded. He leaned in and whispered to Gwen. “You know she retired three years ago?”

Gwen looked confused. “What?”

“Yep. JoAnne only comes in for us.” Jim kissed her lightly and leaned back.

“Here you go.” JoAnne put down their pie and tea. “Merry Christmas. This year’s on me.” JoAnne winked at them. “I’ll see you next year!”

After they finished their pie and tea Gwen stood and asked her husband. “Ready for the last part of this little tradition?”

“I’m always ready for that.” Jim winked.

Gwen sighed. “Maybe I should have said the next to last part.”

“Oh, you mean the present. Sure, I guess that would be nice, too.” Jim offered his arm, and they left the diner for home.

They arrived home in short order and realized that the ‘secret gift’ exchange would have to wait until after the boys went to bed. As far as Gwen and Jim were aware, the boys weren’t even home yet.

Jim unlocked the door and stepped aside for Gwen to enter to find the boys in silly matching footie pajamas and Santa hats. “Merry Christmas!” Sam and Tom called together.

Between bouts of laughter, Jim asked. “What’s with the suits and why are you home so early?”

Sam decided to answer. “The girls thought these would be ‘fun’. We got another gift to open tomorrow.”

“I hope it’s not socks.” Tom chided.

“As for why we’re home early,” Sam continued. “It’s Christmas Eve, and there is something to be said for tradition.”

Gwen smiled at her son. “Ok, go ahead.”

Sam smiled. “So, Mom. Where were you and Dad?”

“That’s for us to know, and you to ask again next year. Now, go pick one gift from under the tree, and we’ll get this finished.” Gwen shook her head at Sam. He’s asked her that same question every year since they first arrived in Vegas. She thinks he may have some idea now, but every year he still asks.

Jim and Gwen took their usual places on the couch. Tom always chose the biggest gift for the Christmas Eve present. Sam did just the opposite and chose the smallest of his gifts to open. After the boys had made their choices, Gwen smiled at them and said, “Go!”

Sam’s gift was a set of keys. And, Tom’s gift was a five gallon bucket which contained special car wash soap, three sponges, and two special car towels. Neither boy seemed to understand that their parents knew them both very well.

“I don’t understand. I have a set of keys.” Sam furrowed his brow.

Tom nodded in agreement. “And, I have no clue what this is supposed to be.”

Jim smiled at his boys. “Well, Tom. That’s a car washing kit. You’ll be taking over the job of washing our cars.”

“That’s Sam’s job.” Tom inquired.

“Well, that’s part of Sam’s gift. He’ll have another car to wash.” Jim smiled and waited for it to register.

“NO WAY!” Sam stood and ran to the garage door and opened it to find a navy blue, 1992 Camaro. It was a little worse for the wear, but it was safe and ran incredibly well. “AAAAA! A 1992 navy-blue Camaro. It’s like the one in the poster in my room!” Sam closed the door to the garage and gave both of his parents a huge hug. “Thank you SO much! I promise I’ll take excellent care of it and be very responsible and safe. I gotta call Abby.” Sam hugged his parents again and took off up the stairs in his red footie pj’s to call his girlfriend.

“I’m not normally one to complain. But, as I see it, Sam just got a car, and I got another job.” Tom stood in front of his parents. “Am I the only one who sees how this could appear unfair?”

Gwen smiled at her youngest son. “We thought about that, Tom. You’re just not old enough for a car. But, we thought maybe we could do something.” Jim reached into his pocket and handed his son a different set of keys.

It was Tom’s turn to run to the garage. Just behind Sam’s car stood a 2002 Segway. Tom’s eyes grew as big as saucers. “Woo hoo! He ran and hugged his parents and thanked them over and over. “Sam!” He called up to his brother as he started up the stairs. “Sam! I got a Segway!”

Jim looked at his wife. “I think that went well.”

She stood and took his hand. “It just gets better from there.” They unplugged the tree and turned off the lights. As they headed toward their room they called good night up to the boys as they did every night. What came next was saved just for Christmas Eve. They went into their room and closed the door. “Well?” Gwen asked him.

Jim crossed to his dresser and removed the small box from his top drawer. “I’m ready.”

Gwen went into the closet and returned with a large box. “Me, too!”

“You want to go first?” Jim asked.

Gwen nodded, and they sat together on the end of their bed. Gwen quickly tore off the wrapping paper and looked for a moment at the black velvet box. It was bigger than a ring box, but smaller than a necklace box. Jim was a little worried. “Honey? Are you going to open it?”

She smiled at him. Gwen carefully lifted the top of the hinged box. The smile that crossed her face illuminated the dimly lit room. “I love it. Would you put it on?” Gwen winked at him.

“Look under the cotton. There’s more,” Jim said as he did what she asked and put on the first part of her gift.

When Gwen lifted the cotton, there was a platinum heart shaped locket with their initials engraved on the front. Gwen opened the flip down locket to find a photo of her, one of Jim and one of each of the boys. “It’s beautiful, Jim. Thank you.” She leaned in and kissed him. Then she giggled softly.

“My turn.” Jim grinned. Gwen laughed at him.

“Yours has two parts as well.” Gwen handed him the box. It was quite heavy.

Jim tore off the paper and flipped off the top. “Wow! This is great!” Jim lifted the official New Jersey Devils Hockey Jersey out of the box.

“That part is for you. The other part is for me.” Gwen winked.

Jim waggled his eyebrows and lifted the cardboard which separated the jersey from what lie beneath. When Jim saw this second part of the gift he laughed. “Great minds think alike.”

“Put it on.” Gwen’s eyes held ‘that’ look. He could see the normal green of her eyes go dark.

“I’ll be right back.” Jim excused himself to the bathroom and made quick work of his gift. When he returned he found Gwen standing in the doorway to the walk-in closet in the green satin nightgown that matched her eyes.

“Now that’s a gift wrap I’ll take great care removing,” Gwen said breathily. Jim stood before her in his riding suit from ‘Mame’. Well everything except the hat. He walked toward her slowly, and they met at the end of their bed. Jim leaned down and kissed her softly but with a powerful intensity. Gwen whispered, “It tickles my nose.” She looked up at his first gift to her, the ‘mustache’ he wore in ‘Mame’.

Jim’s pale blue eyes glinted with desire. “Let’s see what else it tickles.”