Title: What the Future Holds
By: Fran Holland
Pairing: Gil/Nick
Rating: PG

Gil woke to the sun streaming in the French doors of the bedroom.  For a second, he forgot it was Saturday and thought he was late for work.  For the first time in many years, the thought of work did not depress him.  He had been teaching at the University of Nevada for almost two years and he enjoyed every minute of it.  He also spent a lot of time on the road doing lectures for seminars in both entomology and forensic sciences.

Rolling over to his side, he gazed lovingly at his lover, his best friend, his soul mate.  Nick’s face was relaxed in sleep, and he definitely did not look 44 years old.  They had celebrated their birthdays last month and Gil did not feel his 56 years today.  In fact, he felt younger than he had in a long time.  He guessed it was the way he lived now.  Nick still kept him abreast of what was happening with the lab, but even Nick did not work as hard.  After Gil had left, Catherine became supervisor of the night shift and within three months, Nick had applied for and got the position as day shift supervisor. 

Their life together was normal now.  They both got up at the same time, had breakfast and went off to their respective jobs.  Gil got home first usually and most days he started dinner.  Their evenings were spent like most married couples.  Sometimes they went out to dinner, but most days were spent home.  Gil had his weekends off, unless he was traveling and he cleaned the house and ran the household errands.  On Nick’s days off, Nick took care of the yard work, maintained their vehicles and did the laundry. 

After four years together, they still seemed to be in the honeymoon stage of their relationship.  When anyone looked at the two of them, they were usually in awe of the love that radiated from both of them.  Gil could not resist brushing his fingertips over the rough stubble on Nick’s cheek.  Nick slowly opened his eyes and gave Gil a small smile.

“Hey.  What time is it?”

“Sorry I woke you.”  Gil whispered.  “It’s a little after eight.”

“It’s okay.”  Nick said softly as he stretched and yawned.

Gil could look at Nick’s toned body for hours, but he only got a glimpse of it as Nick rolled quickly out of bed and slipped into the master bathroom.  With his head back on his pillow, Gil tried to talk himself out of lying in bed all morning.  Suddenly, his eyes widened.  Today was one of the most important days of their lives.

Swinging his legs off the bed, he pulled on a pair of sweatpants and pulled open the bedroom door.  He smiled to himself when he heard the sounds coming from the room right next to theirs.  Stepping into the doorway of the brightly painted room, Gil looked at his son playing with his Legos next to the large window.

The small child caught Gil’s movement out of the corner of his eye and turned with a grin.

“Papa come play.”  The child signed.

Gil knelt down to wrap his arms around the boy.  He pushed back and said, “We have to eat breakfast.  Remember, today is a special day.”  Gil signed the words as he spoke.

The little boy cocked his head to one side and signed, “Pancakes or cereal?”

“Cereal.  It isn’t Daddy’s turn to cook breakfast today.”  Gil spoke the words and signed quickly.

Cory knew at the tender age of four that his Papa could only cook fancy foods and his Daddy could cook just about everything, especially pancakes.  Cory had been two years old when his mother killed Cory’s father and older brother.  She had come after Cory, but a neighbor had heard screams and ran over to the house.  She had turned the gun on herself and pulled the trigger.  Cory, deaf since birth, had quickly wrapped Nick around his finger and thus began the long ordeal of adopting the dark haired, blue-eyed little boy. 
“It’s my special day.  Daddy should cook pancakes.”  Cory signed with a grin.

Gil smiled and stood up, lifting the child easily in his arms.  Together they walked back to the master bedroom.  Nick was back in bed, feigning sleep.  Gil put his finger to his lips in with exaggeration, tiptoed across the room.  He set Cory down on the bed and with excited glee, the boy jumped onto Nick.  Straddling his short legs over Nick, he bounced up and down, giggling uncontrollably.

Nick quickly signed, “No fair.  I wanted to sleep more.”

“Pancakes, Daddy.”  Cory signed while continuing to bounce.  Nick looked over at Gil and spoke, while signing for his son’s benefit.

“Isn’t it Papa’s turn to cook today?”

“Papa cooks cereal.”  Cory made a face.

Nick moved suddenly and Cory was soon on his back with Nick tickling his belly.  Gil sat down on the edge of the bed and watched the two play for several minutes.

Nick looked up and met his eyes.  He gave Gil a warm smile.  “Today’s the day.”

Gil took Nick’s hand in his and reached out for Cory’s hand too.  Nick grabbed Cory’s other hand and brushed his lips along Gil’s knuckles and then Cory’s.

Cory pulled his hands away and signed.  “Please, Daddy.”

“Please what?”  Nick asked.

The little boy put his hands on his hips and poked his lips out.  “Pancakes.”  He signed and returned his hands to his hips.

Nick grinned and whispered to Gil, “He’s been hanging around you too much.”

Gil just arched his eyebrows and signed, “Pancakes, Daddy.”

Nick tossed his pillow at Gil and soon the three had a pillow fight going.  Gil withdrew first and stood up.  “Alright, you two, time for breakfast.  We have a lot to do today.”

An hour later, the breakfast dishes were in the dishwasher, both men had showered and Gil was giving Cory his bath.  Nick had picked up all the toys on the living room floor and returned them to their rightful place in Cory’s toy box.  Nick let his hand run over the smooth wood.  It had been his as a child and he had actually cried when his parents had driven all the way from Dallas to bring it right after Nick and Gil had announced their plans to adopt Cory.  Letting his eyes roam around the room, he let his mind drift back to the day before they were to bring Cory home for the first time.

****

“Greg, would you toss me the screwdriver.”  Nick was wrestling with the mini-blinds.  Greg had been putting together a miniature table and chairs. 

“Phillips or flat?”  Greg asked without looking up.

“Phillips.” 

Greg picked up a screwdriver and tossed it underhanded across the room.

“Greg, you could put someone’s eye out with that.”  Catherine had called out from the closet.  She was in charge of putting up all the clothes, shoes and other things that the lab, Nick’s family and all their friends had given them at the surprise baby shower the previous night.

“Sorry, Mom.”  Greg said with a smirk.

During all the banter of Catherine, Greg, Archie, David and Wendy as they all moved around the small room, Gil had slipped out.  Nick did not notice until the last screw was in place. 

“Hey, where’s Gil?”

Catherine came over to him and pointed towards the closed door of their bedroom.  “I think he has a case of nerves.”

Nick looked at all his friends, then looked around the perfect little boy’s room.  “I want to thank ya’ll for helping with this.  It makes it all the more special knowing we have friends like you.”

Catherine pulled Nick in for a hug.  “We’ll always be here for you guys.  Now, we’re going to cut out so you and Gil can have some alone time before your life is turned upside down by a toddler.”

After all the goodbyes were said and Nick had cleaned up the tools, he did a final vacuum of the carpet.  Only then did he open the door to the bedroom.

Gil was sitting at his computer, staring intently at the photograph that was his wallpaper.  The picture was one that Nick had taken in the backyard of the foster family that was keeping Cory until their paperwork went through.  Cory and Gil were both lying in the grass watching a beetle and Gil was forming Cory’s hands into the words for grass, dirt and beetle.

Nick walked up behind Gil and put his hands on Gil’s shoulders.  He leaned down and kissed the older man’s neck.  “I can’t believe we can bring him home tomorrow.”

When Gil didn’t speak, Nick moved so he could sit on the corner of the desk.  “Hey, Babe, are you okay?”

Gil looked up and whispered.  “What if I’m not a good father?”

Nick went down on his knees beside Gil and took Gil’s face in his hands.  “You are going to be a great father.  You will teach him so much.”

Nick wrapped his arms around Gil and held him for a long time.  Finally, he pulled back and stood.  “Come on, I want to show you something.”

Gil rose and allowed Nick to lead him by the hand down the short hallway to what they now referred to as ‘Cory’s Room’.

Gil stood at the threshold and smiled.  “They did a great job.” 

Nick smiled.  “We have terrific friends.”

“I have a terrific boyfriend.”  Gil said, squeezing Nick’s hand. 

Silently, they both gazed around the room with its blue painted walls dotted with bright colored drawings of various friendly looking bugs.  Caterpillars, ladybugs, dragonflies and even a praying mantas were all painted beautifully. 

“Who would have thought that David Hodges was so artistic?”  Gil said, tracing the outline of a pink caterpillar by the light switch.

Nick watched as Gil moved forward and picked up a tiny set of pajamas that Catherine had left laying out on the twin size bed.  He held them up and said, “I’m scared that this small person is depending on me.”

“We’ll be fine, Gil.”  Nick took the pajamas from Gil and held them up in front of him.  “Besides, between Catherine, my mom and all my sisters, I figure we won’t be alone with Cory until he’s in high school.”

Gil laughed and shook his head, “You’re probably right.

Turning off the light, the two men went down the hall making sure the doors were locked and the lights were off.  Tomorrow their lives would be changed forever.

****

Nick shook himself from the memories.  Their life had changed.  For the better.  Cory was a joy and everyone loved him.  He picked up sign language very fast from both Gil and his teacher at the special pre-school.  Gil was very touched that Nick’s entire family, right down to the youngest nephew had taken a class on sign language. 

Cory’s laughter broke into Nick’s thoughts and he turned to see a very naked little boy run into the room with Gil not far behind holding out a towel.

“He takes this after you.”  Gil said in exasperation.  Nick gave him a grin and scooped up the slippery child, getting his shirt wet in the process.

“Hey, I can’t help it if we like to be naked.”  Nick handed the still laughing child to Gil and whispered.  “Besides, you like it when I’m naked.”

“Careful, the school is working on his lip reading skills and I really don’t want to explain certain things to our four year old.”

Gil bent down and stood Cory on the floor and finished drying him, while Nick went to the closet and pulled out the miniature suit that Nick’s mother had picked for the occasion.

Working together, both men dressed the small child and allowed him to put on his own new shoes.  When he was done, Cory went over to the large mirror behind his door and looked at himself.  He turned and signed.  “Big boy now.”

Gil grabbed Nick’s hand and gave it a squeeze.  Nick smiled and kissed him gently on the lips.  “You aren’t going to get all mushy on me, are you?”

“I’ll be fine.”  Gil whispered and the three of them walked out of the room and down the stairs.

In order to get everyone where they need to be with as small a fuss as possible, Jim Stokes had rented two limousines and they pulled up in front of house a few minutes later.  Jim got out of the first one and grabbed Cory up in a big hug, then pulled in his son and Gil.

“This is a good day.”  Jim said emotionally.  Nick hugged his father tighter for a second and then the four of them got back into the limousine.

Nick buckled Cory into the toddler seat that someone, probably his mother, thoughtfully installed in the limo.  After that was done, he sat back and looked around at his family, at least part of them.  The other half was in the other limo.  His mother reached across to kiss her newest grandson and she signed “I love you, Cory.”

“I love you, Grandmama.”  Cory signed back.

When the limo pulled up to the courthouse, Nick locked eyes with Gil.  “This is it, Babe.” 

Gil smiled and brushed his lips across the knuckles of Nick’s hand. 

It took a few minutes to get everyone out of the limos and the entire clan made their way up the steps.  Once inside the door, Gil and Nick were both shocked and delighted to see Catherine, Greg, Riley, David and Wendy waiting inside.

Catherine came forward to hug each man.  “We wouldn’t have missed this for the world.”

Since Jim and Gillian were holding Cory’s hands, Gil and Nick were free to hug all their friends from the lab and the buzz of conversation and laughter got so loud that a security guard finally came over.

“Excuse me, folks, please quiet down.  Court is in session.”  He said sternly.

Duly chastised, the group followed Gil’s lead towards the courtroom at the far end of the hall.  Standing outside of Courtroom D, he paused before opening the door.  Nick squeezed his hand and nodded.  The entire group made their way into the courtroom and took up seats in the front.  Gil turned and picked up Cory and the two of them joined Nick in front of the gallery railing.  A beautiful blonde woman waited for them at one of the tables and she beamed up at both of them.

“Are ya’ll about ready for this?”  She asked in a thick southern accent.

“Ye…Yes.”  Nick’s voice cracked and Gil turned quickly to look at him.  Nick’s eyes swam with emotion and Gil smiled and said softly, “Who’s getting mushy now?”

Nick grinned and turned as the door of the judge’s chambers opened and a bailiff stepped into the courtroom. 

“The Honorable Charles Reeves in the adoption petition of Cory Michael Stephens.  All rise.”

Charles Reeves walked into the room in his black robes and Cory patted Nick’s leg.  Nick looked down and Cory signed. “Bad man?”  His looked so scared that Nick scooped him close.  “No, baby, good man.”  Nick spoke directly to the child and signed.

“You may be seated.”

Once everyone was seated, Judge Reeves looked down at the table.  “Ms. Garner?”

The blonde woman rose.  “Judge Reeves, the child, Cory Michael Stephens, has lived with Nicholas Stokes and Gilbert Grissom for two years and they have completed the requirements for adoption written down in the Legal Code of the State of Nevada.  I have the report by the Department of Children’s Services that they have completed their investigation and find Mr. Stokes and Mr. Grissom to be exemplary parents for this child.”

“I have read the file and would like to speak to the child in private please.  I have also asked a court appointed child psychologist to be in chambers with me.”

Nick turned and hissed through clenched teeth at his attorney.  “What is this all about?”

Gil placed a calming hand on Nick’s arm.  “Don’t upset Cory.  It will be okay.”

Gil touched Cory to get his attention and then signed, “The good man up there wants you to go and visit him for a few minutes.  Can you be a good boy for Papa and Daddy?”

Cory bit his lip but nodded and took a few tentative steps towards the bench.  When the judge stepped down and held out his hand with a warm smile, Cory smiled back and quickened his steps.

After the door was closed, Nick rounded on the attorney.  “What the fuck is going on.  You didn’t tell us this would happen.”

“Nick, calm down.”  Gil’s words were said softly near Nick’s ear.

“Mr. Stokes, Nick, this is not unheard of.  Sometimes a judge will want to speak to a child alone.  Children are more apt to say what they really feel if their parents aren’t around.”

Nick turned and looked back at his parents.  His father gave him a nod and his mother’s smile eased his anxiety somewhat.  There was a lot of talking among the family and friends which stopped abruptly fifteen minutes later when the door leading to the judge’s chambers opened and Cory scampered out holding a stuffed rabbit and grinning.  He was followed by the judge.

The bailiff stood up from his seat by the door.  “All rise.”

“You may be seated.”  The judge said as he took his seat at the bench.

“Mr. Stokes, Mr. Grissom, would you please stand.

Nick once again held Cory and they stood.  Gil could feel Nick trembling beside him and he put his hand to the small of Nick’s back to steady him.

“I have to admit to both of you that I had reservations because of your homosexual relationship, but after talking to your charming, well mannered and very intelligent child, I am hereby granting the final adoption proceedings.”  He glanced down at the file in front of him. 

“I will also grant the name change.  Congratulations Cory James Stokes-Grissom on your new parents.”  With that he banged the gavel and the courtroom erupted in applause and laughter.  After a lot of hugging and backslapping, the judge banged the gavel again and everyone quieted.

Mr. Stokes, Mr. Grissom, I also see in your file that you are planning a civil ceremony today to formalize your own relationship.  I would like to request that you allow me to conduct this for you unless you have your hearts set on one of the probate judges instead.

“No sir.  We would be honored.”  Nick said with a grin.  They had planned to go upstairs and have a probate judge do the ceremony but Nick liked this a whole lot better.  He handed Cory back to his parents and grabbed Gil’s hand and together they walked up to the bench.  Judge Reeves stood up and walked around so that he was standing with them.  In his hand he had a bible and he opened it to a bookmarked page.

He turned to the bailiff.  “Randy, will you run upstairs and get the forms for me.”

“Yes sir.”  The bailiff walked quickly out of the courtroom.

“Let’s begin.”

Nick looked at Gil and then back at the judge.  Gil’s hand on his was gripped so tightly that the circulation was being cut off, but Nick didn’t even try to pull away.

The next few minutes were a haze to Nick, he remembered responding when the judge asked him to, but he could not remember the words.  All he could think of was the fact that he and Gil were making the biggest commitment two people could make and they had a son. 

“Do you have rings?”

“Yes sir.”  Gil said, fishing the ring box out of his pocket.  He opened it and pulled out the plain gold bands that they had picked out a few months ago. 

Once the rings were on their fingers and the judge pronounced them married in the eyes of the Laws of the State of Nevada, the entire crowd of family and friends surged forward enveloping the couple. 

The judge backed up and smiled as he watched the excitement.  The bailiff returned with the proper forms and he signed his name with a flourish.

Nick and Gil both signed their names and shook the judge’s hand.  Nick looked around at all the smiling faces and knew this was the happiest day of his life.  He met his father’s gaze over the crowd and his father mouthed the words, “I love you, son.”

Nick said the words back and then signed the words to his son, who was in his Papa’s arms.  He looked up at Gil and signed the words to him too.

“I love you too, Nicky.”  Gil said over the head of their son.

THE END.