Ok so firstly I must apoligise for the delay to this chapter. My muse decided it needed a holiday and left for new fandoms. It finally came back at 0200 today so hopefully this last chapter does actually make sense :)

Thank you all SO much for reading and reviewing (Especially those who have been here from the start), it really means a lot as this was not only my first C/S story but my first multi-chap fic as well.

Here is it is, chapter 9, The End.

Chapter 9

Catherine couldn’t believe how easy it was, sitting there holding hands with someone who, not twelve months ago was barely a friend. The confirmation that all the lingering looks and innocent touches hadn’t been her imagination was making her feel slightly giddy. She was about to say something; break the silence when a waitress came over with a tray of pancakes and coffee.

“Good Morning ladies, compliments of the gentlemen over at table five” She pointed in a vague direction before she placed the tray on the table and walked away.

The two women looked at each other with confusion in their eyes before turning their gaze towards where the waitress had indicated. They were greeted with the sight of two faces grinning broadly at them, each figure in turn giving a mini wave.

Catherine laughed and shook her head. “So were the whole team in on driving me crazy this shift?” She asked.

Her companion shrugged and took a sip of coffee before replying. “Nick helped me set the whole thing up.” She admitted with a smile. “He even tried to talk me out of it y’know.” Her smile turned into a grin. “Turned out he had a bet on with Warrick. He thought you would be the one to make the first move.”

Catherine’s eyebrow rose high on her forehead. “He did huh?!” She asked glancing towards her co-workers before turning her attention back to the grinning woman in front of her. “Wonder where he’d get an idea like that from…”

A balled up napkin hit her square in the chest causing her to laugh once again. ‘God, I can’t remember the last time I’ve laughed so much in such a short period of time. How is this so easy? Natural?’ A gentle squeeze to her hand brought her out of her internal musings.

“Hey, where’d you go?”

“I was just thinking.” She whispered slowly raising her eyes to see concerned brown looking back at her.. “I… this… whatever this is, it…” she took a deep breath trying to find the words to express what she was experiencing. “I feel happy.”

Leaning across the table she took the other woman’s free hand in her own, gently rubbing her thumb across warm knuckles. “I feel more than happy. You know what I mean?”

Brown eyes gazed into hers with an understanding that made Catherine’s heart swell.

“Sara.” The name slipped from her in a whisper. She wanted to say more but time was catching up with her and instead she felt herself yawn.

“Oh God I can’t believe I just did that.” Catherine said pulling her hands back and covering her mouth. “I’m so sorry, what a way to spoil a moment huh?”

Sara couldn’t help but laugh. “Come on sleepy, I’ll walk you to your car.” She smiled before laughing again as the balled up napkin bounced off her head.

“Watch it, Sidle.” Catherine growled as she rose from the table. “I’d hate to have to ruin these flowers.”

As the two women left the diner, Sara’s hand rested comfortably in the small of Catherine’s back. Neither one of them spoke until they reached the older woman’s car.

“So I, guess I’ll see you this evening?” Sara asked, feeling suddenly nervous.

“Yeah, I guess you will.” Catherine smiled. She wasn’t really sure what to do next. She knew what she wanted to do but worried it was too soon. Instead she turned to get into her vehicle.

A gentle hand on her arm turned her back around and she felt something being pressed into her palm. Looking down she saw the three cards, before tender hands cupped her cheeks bringing her gaze up.

“Will you?”

The question was asked so genuinely and so softly that Catherine answered the only way she could. Leaning in she placed a gentle kiss on Sara’s lips, whispering her reply.

“Yes.”

Fin.