Greg took a deep breath in an effort to calm his nerves. He was afraid again. Amy pulled into the driveway of the Sanders’ home and the three exited the vehicle. Greg left his luggage in Amy’s car getting the feeling he’d only be dragging it back out to it anyway. They removed their jackets and hung them up in the closet connected to the foyer. Greg took another deep breath and followed Amy and Sara into the rather large living room where a small party had gathered – many of those present were colleagues of his father who was the Vice President of a major medical centre (one that specialized in prenatal health and paediatrics… among other things). The official anniversary party wouldn’t be for another two days. The guests who noticed him gave him distasteful looks as they took in his enlarged stomach and bare ring finger. All of his parents’ friends shared their views on marriage and children – they were acceptable only if done in that order. It only took a few minutes for his parents to notice his arrival and by the tight expressions on their faces they were feeling exactly how he expected them to. But they were in the middle of a large crowd so it wouldn’t do to get angry just yet.
“Gregory darling,” his mother said in a falsely sweet voice. “How lovely of you to make it. I thought you might not have wanted to make the trip.” Her full meaning was not lost to him. She was in her clouded way telling him it would have been less embarrassing to her and his father if he just hadn’t bothered to show up without an explanation. She had made it seem as though she knew about it when she didn’t. He caught sight of Leo Martin who had a condescendingly smug expression on his face. He and Greg had always been at odds. It was a little acknowledged fact that Leo had been born a Carrier but had undergone a complete hysterectomy as a teenager. Of course he would see this as a triumph – and probably his only triumph when it came to outdoing Greg.
“Of course I’m here. Mother. You know I wouldn’t miss you anniversary for anything,” he replied making a small attempt to maintain a cheery voice to at least keep up appearances for the time being.
“Of course dear why don’t you go lie down and rest. I’m sure you’re exhausted after such a long trip. He inwardly rolled his eyes. She just wanted him out of the room but couldn’t say it that way in front of so many witnesses.
“He’s been extremely supportive,” Greg assured her. “For a long while after I found out only Catherine knew about it she’d figured it out on her own. Nick sort of found out by accident a couple months ago.”
“I uh tripped at a crime scene when I was about five months pregnant,” Greg explained. “He caught me before I fell but ended up wedged between me and a wall. Apparently the baby didn’t like be quashed between us and kicked him.” The girls chuckled.
“Put it this way,” Sara managed to say through the laughing. “Nick’s a pure Texan.” Finally getting the drift. Amy also burst out laughing. Greg just rolled his eyes and sighed dramatically – which only made the girls laugh more. Hours later the party downstairs ended and Greg’s parents requested Greg to meet them in his father’s study.
“Gregory,” Amelia Sanders addressed her only son. “You’re our son and we love you,” she began. “We want you to be happy and live a successful life you know this. We want every opportunity available to you and will help you in any way we feel we can.”
“Gregory we want to help you,” she said as she stepped closer to him. “We know some doctors on your father’s company's payroll that will still perform the procedure at this stage. They’ll be discreet. No one will know.”
“What are you saying. Mother?” Greg could hardly believe his ears. He didn’t want to believe his mother was actually suggesting what he thought she was suggesting.
“We’ve already taken the liberty inquiring on you behalf son,” Vernon Sanders spoke up from behind his desk. “The company will fully fund the procedure.”
“All we need to do is set up the appointment and we’ll be able to have this problem taken care of and this whole mess straightened out darling,” Amelia continued. Greg was shocked beyond anything else in his entire life.
“C-can we go to- to your house now?” Greg asked in a small voice as he tried to control the sobs that were strongly threatening to escape.
“Of course,” Amy said as the three left the house. An hour later the three were sitting in Amy’s guest room. Greg resting on the bed. Amy and Sara sporting looks of pure outrage.
“I can’t believe they would even suggest such a thing,” Sara choked out. “You’re seven and a half months pregnant for one and more importantly it’s none of their business to go a head and make plans for an abortion for you. You’re a grown man for Christ’s sake!”
“Well this is Amelia and Vernon Sanders we’re talking about,” Amy said as she paced the room absolutely livid at her aunt and uncle. “Don’t you worry. Greg if they want to try force anything on you they’ll have to do it over my stone cold corpse.” Sara nodded and agreed.
“Don’t mention it. Greg,” Sara said softly. “I’m your friend and Amy’s your cousin. We’ll always be there when you need us,” she assured him.
The next morning Greg awoke to the feeling that he was being watched. His eyes fluttered open and he spied a figure sitting on the chair Sara had occupied the day before. “Hey babe how you holding up?”
“Nick?” he asked in disbelief as he struggled into a sitting position. “What’re you doing here?” Nick stood up and took a seat on the bed next to Greg helping him up.
“Sara called me last night and explained the whole thing with your parents,” he explained pulling Greg into a comfortable embrace. “I took the next available flight out here.” Greg snuggled into Nick’s shoulder. “I almost fainted in shock when I seen Sara by the way,” he added and Greg chuckled. “Man your mother sounds like a piece of work.”
“Yeah she’s something else. As Papa Olaf tends to say: they broke the mould when they made her – then beat the hell out of the mould maker for good measure.” They shared a laugh.
“I’m not sure really,” Nick replied a small grin on his face. “Sara said you were upset. I guess I just figured you’d appreciate another familiar face and some extra support.”
“I have an idea,” Nick said after a while. “Why do you me. Sara and your cousin do some fun leisurely activities today? Get out and you can show me some of the sights. You look like you can use some relaxing sight-seeing.”
“It’s a date then.” True to his word the entire day was both fun and relaxing. They didn’t do anything at all strenuous and both Greg and Sara were able to fully enjoy the events of the day. Greg was happily chatting with Sara about babies as the plane taking them back to Las Vegas took off.
“I know it will. Nicky,” Greg returned the smile. They reached the apartment complex and Nick carried Greg and Sara’s suitcases in for them. Sara and Amy quickly followed. Greg had offered to let them crash at his place – though Sara was going to have to share a bed with him and Amy was going to be stuck on the couch but the girls didn’t mind.
“Man I can’t wait until the rest of the team gets a look at you Sar,” Nick said as he placed Greg and Sara’s luggage in the front room.
“I just wanted some fresh Las Vegas air,” Greg replied. He was feeling even more guilty over the fact that Nick still didn’t know. Nick took a seat beside him.
“Greg. I want to ask you something but if you think it isn’t a good idea that’s fine,” Nick asked softly as he cradled Greg's body to his.
“After Sara told me what happened between you and your parents and what they’d suggested. I felt… honestly. I felt like I needed you here,” Nick said looking down at his hands. “I was so worried about you and about the baby. I kept thinking what it would do to you if you lost the baby and what it would do to me if I lost you both.” Greg reached over and slid his hand into one of Nick’s. “With the time we’ve been spending together lately. I’ve realized that I want to be a part of your life and your baby’s life in a more profound way… if that makes any sense.”
“You’d raise someone else’s baby?” Greg asked tentatively. For some reason Greg found that he needed to know how Nick felt about raising a baby that wasn’t his. If he was truly fine with that. Greg could find a little assurance that the truth wouldn’t be taken so hard. Nick looked into Greg’s eyes.
Greg turned his head away to look around the yard then back to look at Nick with a grin on his face. “Yes. I think I rather like that idea,” he said.
“I think I like it too.” Nick smiled back and softly placed a kiss on Greg’s hand. He kneeled in front of Greg to bring his head to the level of Greg's rounded belly placing his hands on either side of it. “So what do you say? I know I don’t have any experience being a daddy but I’d love to give it a shot,” He spoke to the baby. Greg could feel it turning towards the sound of Nick’s voice. Nick grinned as he felt the child move. “I think that’s a yes. See. I knew you'd agree with me!”
“It’s not corruption it’s quality time between the non-carrying parent and the unborn child. It’s very delicate we must bond. Now if you’ll excuse us,” Nick quipped as he turned back to the baby inside Greg and Greg raised an eye-brow at how easily Nick accepted parenthood – Nick seemingly completely oblivious to the full meaning of the statement.
“Oh sure. I’ll just go into the house and leave you two to your “bonding” corruption,” Greg sarcastically chuckled. “Deviants,” he muttered with a smile.
“Just so I’m clear why exactly is Greg moving in with you?” Warrick asked as he helped Nick move Greg’s things into Nick’s house two days later. The darker man had formed a suspicion in his mind the moment Nick asked him to help move Greg’s things he was just looking for confirmation. Nick placed the box in his arms on the floor and sighed.
“Well. Sara – who’s been living with Greg’s cousin in San Francisco – called me the evening he left Vegas and explained to me what happened. After she told me it was like everything fell into place in my mind. I didn’t even have to think about it when I booked a flight out there. I just wanted to be with him and be there for him.”
“Yeah. I’ve kinda loved him for years. I’ve just never gotten up the nerve to tell him,” Nick said as the two went back out to the moving truck to bring in more boxes. “Truthfully. I still haven’t told him or rather I haven’t said the exact words. I mean. I have told him that I want to be a big part of his life and his baby’s life. I just haven’t told him I love him.”
“He’s moving in with you and is willing to raise his baby with you,” Warrick pointed out. Of course he left out the conversation he’d had with Catherine at the date/breakfast they’d had earlier today. They’d been secretly dating since Sara’s going away party and this morning Catherine had shared a little theory of hers she’d had for a while now.
Her theory? Greg – who’d been single for over a year before getting pregnant – had gotten pregnant at the same party she and Warrick had gotten together at. She’d also keenly picked up on Nick and Greg’s attraction for each other (which had become easier to pick up on ever since they’d all found out about Greg’s baby). Her little theory also went as far to say that Greg and Nick were in denial about their attraction and at the party well in vino veritas: truth in wine. This obviously meant she figured Nick was the biological father of Greg’s baby – and by the sound of it Warrick figured Nick was intending on playing the father of Greg’s baby who quite possibly was actually his own baby as well. In all honesty. Warrick hoped Catherine’s theory was true. Little did he know he wasn’t the only one currently in the room who wanted the theory to be true – even if one of them wasn’t aware of the theory’s existence.
Two weeks later Greg was officially on maternity leave and comfortably settled into what was now his and Nick’s house. Amy had flown back home – for the time being. Sara had decided to transfer back to the Las Vegas Crime Lab but she was holding off on submitting her transfer request forms due to the fact that she was currently on maternity leave herself. Also for the past two weeks she’d been hiding out at Nick and Greg’s place – swearing them both to secrecy about her own pregnancy as she struggled with a way to tell Grissom. Nick was planning a ‘Welcome Back Sara’ party that he would throw once she finally decided to fess up.
Nick’s family had been thrilled to learn of his new relationship – and who it was with. His mother had immediately wanted to come to Vegas for a long visit to “spend some quality time with that future son-in-law of hers” as she put it. But Nick was able to fend her off saying that marriage between him and Greg was still uncertain. Of course his mother didn’t care and said she’d travel to Las Vegas after the baby was born. Two months prior Nick’s brother – who already had twin girls – had given birth to a baby boy. Greg had been spending some time since his return to Las Vegas having phone conversations with the experienced Carrier and was able to shake off any lingering fears he still had.
“So have you and Nick thought about names for the baby yet?” Sara asked as the two lounged around Greg’s living room watching romantic comedies eating caramel popcorn and drinking orange juice one evening after Nick had gone to work. Even though Nick was still as clueless about his baby as Grissom was he was taking a more active part in helping Greg make decisions about the baby. They were a couple after all.
“What can I say,” Greg shrugged. “I like my music.” He took a sip of his orange juice. “And the baby likes Nick’s” he added. Sara just shook her head and returned her attention to the television. “So what have you considered?”
“Well. I like Andrew for a boy and I’m not sure about whether I prefer Kari or Danielle for a girl.” They watched the movie some more before Sara asked the question she’d been wanting to ask for a while. “So what last name you giving the baby?”
“Hmm we haven’t decided yet. Honestly we haven’t even broached the subject. I was thinking that we could either go with the hyphenation of Sanders-Stokes or just go with Stokes,” Greg replied. “But I’m not sure what Nick would want.”
“Yeah. I’m not sure why though. He’s been so wonderful since he found out about the baby in general and now he’s willing to raise a baby he thinks is someone else’s as his own. I don’t know why I’m holding off still.”
“Yeah well they may be Sanders’ too but I kinda like the name. It’s part of who I am. I mean they may share it but the name’s not what makes the person,” Greg explained and Sara smiled. “But I’d love to have the excuse of hyphenating,” he added after a few moments. They finished the movie they were watching and popped in another one. “Hey Greg can I ask you a personal question?”
“Sorry. Sar but the answer is no,” Greg chuckled then elaborated. “As you’re well aware women ovulate every month and basically when the released egg is unfertilized the blood that’s built up in the uterus walls is released and washes out the unfertilized egg.” Sara nodded. “With Carriers on the other hand the ovulation is triggered by the presence of sperm meaning that if a Carrier engages in unprotected sex as the submissive partner he will without a doubt become pregnant – unless of course he’s already pregnant.”
“So you’re saying that if a man is completely unaware he was a Carrier like you were and he “bottoms” – no pun intended – he will get pregnant and not even know it? Again like you were.”
“Yep. And on average women are born with about one million eggs in their ovaries. You ladies already come fully equipped for conception. Carriers though don’t have ovaries per se.”
“Well when we’re born we have all the parts of a shall we say “normal” man. As we get closer to puberty our uterus is formed our skeleton somewhat reshapes itself – I still haven’t been able to figure that one out – and this complex little tube system connects one of the testicles to the uterus.”
“Kind of it’s more complicated though. Its function has been found to take a sperm cell from the Carrier’s testicle and mutate its structure from a sperm to an egg. As you can imagine a sperm and an egg come together much like a lock and key – you can’t get far with only two keys.”
“Hey. I have it on good authority locks have just as much fun,” Greg retorted. They threw a bit of popcorn at each other before turning back to the movie.
The next morning Greg woke up to a slightly familiar scene. He was lying in a now only somewhat strange bed with an arm wrapped around his chest – a silver ring displayed on the middle finger of the hand. He stretched and the arm tightened around him a bit. He sighed contently and leaned back into Nick’s frame nothing but skin separating them.
“Morning,” Greg replied with a yawn. He let out a grunt of discomfort as the baby sent a hard kick into one of his ribs. “Looks like someone else is awake as well,” he commented as he rubbed the sore rib. Nick chuckled and soothingly massaged the area.
“Guess Baby doesn’t agree with the notion of sleeping in.” They remained silent for a long while content just to focus on the movement of their child. Their child. The thought crossed Greg’s mind and he felt his eyes begin to sting. Sara had been right he was afraid it was too late to tell Nick. He was afraid Nick would be angry that he’d lied for so long and leave him.
“Nick! Greg!” Sara’s frantic voice reached them where they sat at the kitchen table eating lunch. Amy had flown back into Vegas and dragged Sara with her to do a walk-through at a house she wanted to buy.
“Greg it’s your parents they’re planning something,” she explained. “I had to go to the store after Sara and I looked at that house and I ran into Leo Martin of all people.”
“I don’t know but that isn’t the point. He said something about your parents arranging to have you admitted into one of the hospitals owned by your father’s company to ‘clear up your little problem’ for you.”
“That’s exactly what we’re going to do,” Greg’s mother’s voice sounded. The four turned to find Amelia and Vernon Sanders walking into the house with four security guards from Gesunde Kinder (1) the company Vernon Sanders worked for in tow. Nick looked ready to shoot someone and kept his eyes trained on as many of the guards as he could.
“Gregory. I told you in San Francisco. You’re our son and we will help you in any way we feel we can.” Greg looked at her in complete shock.
“No. I’m not now get your hands off me!” Greg screamed. Chaos was breaking loose as the guards tried to drag Greg away from Nick. Nick was starting to throw punches. Amy was pleading with Greg’s parents to reconsider while Greg’s parents were pleading with Greg to comply.
“Las Vegas Police stop what you’re doing and put your hands in the air!” Everyone in the living room stopped moving as they turned to the person who’d spoken. There were about six officers standing with Captain Jim Brass. Behind them stood a several members of the Las Vegas Crime Lab – Grissom and Catherine included.
“I suggest you men take your hands off my CSI’s,” Grissom said to the security guards who were gripping onto both Greg and Nick. The men complied and stepped away. Greg. Sara (who’d returned when Brass had shouted). Nick and Amy quickly went over to where the Forensic personnel were standing.
“Griss what’re you all doing here?” Greg asked as he got closer to where not only Grissom and Catherine were standing but also Warrick and of all people. Ecklie.
“Sara called me directly and told us what was going on,” Grissom explained as he took in Sara’s form. Sara noticed this and blushed but didn’t look away.
“You really couldn’t expect us to just let them endanger the lives of our personnel and for all we know future personnel,” Brass quipped as Detective Sofia Curtis and other officers handcuffed the guards and even Greg’s parents before dragging them out to the awaiting police cruisers. “You may not be police officers but you’re still law enforcement and believe it or not there are many on the Force who actually hold the nerd squad in high regard.” Just then Greg clutched his stomach and double over in pain.
“Please calm down Mr. Stokes. The pain Greg is in right now is due to the fact that the birth canal has been forced to open at an accelerated rate due to his early labour,” Dr. Thomas explained. Nick and Catherine were standing on either side of the bed Greg was currently occupying. Catherine couldn’t help but smirk as she watched Nick freak out. Due to the pain Greg couldn’t help but roll his eyes. He wasn’t even as worked up as Nick and it was happening to him.
“Well if Mr. Stokes and Ms. Willows would excuse us I can check to see how far you’ve dilated.” Nick looked like he wanted to stay but Catherine took a firm hold on him and dragged him into the hall. Grissom and Sara had both remained at Nick and Greg’s house to discuss the issue of their own child. The current occupants outside the room were Warrick. Sofia. Brass and Ecklie.
“Alright. I think Nick should stay with Greg,” Ecklie said noticing the frantic worry in the young CSI. “But I’m afraid the rest of us need to get back to work. Shift starts in an hour.” Catherine turned to Nick and was about to ask him to tell Greg they’d be by after shift when a loud shout came from the room they’d just exited.
“Okay good luck man,” Warrick smirked as he and the rest left Nick to hurry into the room. He rushed to Greg’s side as a nurse entered with a wheelchair.
“Easy for you to say you’re not the one who has to do this!” Greg snapped and immediately teared up. “Nick. I’m so sorry,” he choked after Dr. Thomas excused himself for a moment – Greg wasn’t fully dilated yet so there was still a ways to go.
“I- I should have told you sooner,” Greg cried as the pain settled into rhythmic contractions. “I should have mentioned what happened the night… day… of the party. I shouldn’t have just ran out. I-“
“At the party for Sara,” Greg started as tears fell down his cheeks. “I drank too much and next thing I knew I woke up,” Greg’s babbling was starting to become incoherent and another contraction racked his body.
“Then when I found out I was pregnant I was terrified,” Greg continued as though he wasn’t hearing what Nick was saying. “But I couldn’t get rid of it. I couldn’t bear the thought.” Nick rubbed Greg’s back and the younger man leaned against him. “Even though I was so afraid of your reaction I couldn’t get rid of it. This baby it’s you and me. Nick,” Greg buried his face in Nick’s chest and cried. “It’s yours. Nick.” Nick smiled softly and pressed his lips to Greg’s forehead.
“I have to confess that I’ve kinda had a feeling it was mine for a long time now,” Nick said softly and Greg turned his teary face up to look at him. Nick wiped away Greg’s tears. “And I have vague memories from the party.”
“I knew you were scared and I was scared too,” Nick replied. “The memories were so foggy that I was convinced they were only dreams. I thought you’d never feel the same way I do.”
“But I still lied to you,” Greg continued. “I let you believe your memories were just dreams. How can you forgive that so easily?” Nick smiled softly.
“Because I love you. G,” he replied. “And after all the time and everything that’s gone by since that party you’re here about to give birth to my child. And you want to give birth to my child. That means more to me than anything I can say.” He kissed Greg’s temple and rested their foreheads together. The tears falling from Greg’s eyes doubled but weren’t from sadness or pain.
“Yes. I do,” Nick confirmed. “I’ve loved you for years I just haven’t been able to figure out a way to tell you.” A few tears escaped the corners of Greg’s eyes.
“I never thought you’d ever feel the same way as me. Nicky,” Greg said softly. “I learned long ago it was better to repress and ignore what I was feeling. It got to the point that I’d rather have you as a friend than not have you in my life at all.” He sniffed and Nick wiped his tears away.
“I can understand that completely. Until recently neither of us thought it possible that there could have ever been an ‘us’. So don’t be sorry. We’re here together. How we got here is all part of the journey.” Greg couldn’t help but smile at this. Nick was right. They were here and that was all that mattered.
It was the early hours of the morning when Nick entered the waiting room to find the nightshift sprawled out over the assorted couches and chairs. Sara was sleeping on the couch with hear head on Grissom’s shoulder. Grissom’s cheek leaning on the top of her head. Catherine and Warrick were seated in a similar position on a second couch. Amy. Sofia and Brass were occupying a couple of somewhat cushioned chairs. He got a cheeky grin on his face and snuck up behind Warrick and Catherine. He gently shoved Catherine and caused them both to fall over and jerk awake.
“Well we know that,” Sara said as she noticed the incubator located on the opposite side of Greg’s bed. Inside was a small baby its little hand opening and closing as it adjusted itself to the outside world.
“He was about five weeks early so they’re keeping him in the incubator for a little while just to be safe,” Greg explained as he gazed happily at the infant.
“Oh yeah. I forgot you didn’t know,” Nick grinned sheepishly. Greg had filled him in on the fact that only Sara and Amy had any clue. “He’s mine.”
While Sara and Amy smiled the rest choked out various responses like “he’s yours?”. “I knew it!” and “why didn’t you tell me?” – the last two being stated or demanded by Warrick and Catherine respectively.
Six weeks later Nick and Greg were finally able to bring baby Kyle home for the first time. In that time with the help of their friends they were able to get the baby’s room all set up in time. They’d decided to have a double “Welcome Home” party for both Kyle and Sara – who was passed her due date and moody about it. Like the going away party that happened earlier that year it took place after shift and everyone was there. Even Hodges (the Trace Tech) was happily fussing over little Kyle – when Greg would let him near the baby.
“Hey Sara how you doing?” Greg asked conversationally as he was burping Kyle (or trying to). Sara had moved into Grissom’s townhouse the same day they’d had their discussion regarding their baby.
“Oh tosh,” she replied happily. “This is my grandson. I’m thrilled.” Greg smiled widely as he wandered over to where the refreshments were.
“Greg. I still can’t believe you had a baby,” Wendy Simms the DNA Tech bubbled happily. “I’m so happy for you!” She threw her arms around her neck and started crying. Greg looked pleadingly at Hodges who stood next to her. “He’s so cute! Just like you and Nick.”
“I just love you is all,” Nick replied as he walked into the room. They wrapped their arms around one another as they watched their son sleep.
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