Disclaimer: I own nothing but Frankie and the plot. Believe me, things would be very different, if I owned Horatio and co!
A/N: This is the third installment of the Just Another Fed series. What started as a one off story has turned into a bit of an epic! This will be less cased based than Trouble in Paradise, because there will be enough for Frankie and Horatio to cope with. As expected, everything is not as straight-forward as it seems, after all it is Miami!
The title comes from a quote by historian Charles Beard. The proper quote is 'When it is dark enough, you can see the stars' and it seemed to fit this story. It will get very dark for Horatio and Frankie, but it is only because of the darkest moments that we can appreciate what we really have.
Enjoy, and as always please, please review and tell me what you think.
Alexx was worried. There was no point trying to lie to herself, she thought, she might as well admit it. She was worried about Frankie. She hadn't been herself for the last month or so, and people were beginning to notice. Especially when Horatio just shrugged off any comment on the matter. Alexx was determined to get to the bottom of this particular mystery and headed off to find back up. After all, she considered, Frankie was far more likely to give in and share what the problem was if she was faced with her two best friends.
Calleigh readily agreed to the plan, and they found Frankie in her office, flicking through some paperwork on the latest case. She looked up and smiled as they entered. "Hey guys, what's up?"
Alexx, after a brief glance at Calleigh, spoke first. "We just needed a word with you. Privately."
Frankie instantly beckoned them further into her office, and Calleigh shut the door, ensuring no one could hear what was said. "Is everything all right? What's going on?"
"Are you all right?" Calleigh asked, touching her friend's arm lightly. "You've been acting strangely for the last few weeks, and Alexx and I are worried."
"Strangely?" Frankie stalled.
"You're really quiet, but if anyone mentions it you become the life and soul of the party for about ten minutes, and then, when you think no one will notice, you go really quiet again."
"And you don't come out with us anymore, you've always got an excuse of some description, and we're worried!" Calleigh finished for Alexx.
"Sugar, we're your friends, and we're concerned about you. If there's something wrong, we'd like to help." Alexx leaned forward to emphasise her point.
Frankie shifted awkwardly in her seat. The lesson from this was obviously she was not meant for undercover work. Lying was not her strong point, even lying by omission. Superstition sounded silly now she might have to explain it.
Alexx took her silence for unwillingness to talk. "Even Horatio is acting strangely. He won't listen to us when we ask if you're all right, and he is distracted most of the time, as though he can't concentrate. Now that's just not Horatio."
Sighing, Frankie hung her head. "All right, I'll explain. There's nothing wrong with me, I'm absolutely fine. In fact," she added, a smile creeping across her face, "you could say that I'm as healthy as any woman ever gets."
"What do you mean?"
Frankie laid her hand on her stomach and waited expectantly. Alexx and Calleigh realised at the same time and squealed in delight, both pulling her into a tri-cornered hug. "You're pregnant?" Calleigh asked, already sure of the answer. Frankie nodded, biting her lip. "So why on earth didn't you say so?"
"It's bad luck to say anything before the first three months are passed," she explained ruefully. "At least, that's what my mom always said. It may be silly, but I just don't want to risk anything where this baby is concerned."
"Horatio does know, right?" Alexx was smiling now, her worries past.
Frankie arched one eyebrow. "Do you really think he'd ever forgive me if I didn't tell him instantly?"
"How far along are you?"
"Two months."
"So that would make it…." Calleigh paused as she did some mental calculation, "when you were on honeymoon?"
"Yep. Turns out Paris is really romantic," Frankie said, smiling widely.
"Wow." Calleigh leant back and grinned at her friends. "One final question: can we be godmothers?"
Horatio was staring at the evidence in front of him, trying to focus. The bloody shirt in front of him probably held the key to this case, but he simply couldn't concentrate. All he could think of was his wife – and it still gave his a glow of pleasure to think of Frankie as his wife – and their child. Their child. He smiled to himself as he thought that. Boy or girl? He didn't much care, but he had a feeling that it might be a girl. His daughter. Every time he mentioned that to Frankie, she only shook her head and laughed, but he was convinced it would be a girl.
He wanted to shout the knowledge from the rooftops, but he had given in, as he did to anything she asked of him, and agreed not to say anything for the first three months. Still, it was increasingly hard not to say anything, especially as it was all he could think about. Shaking his head, he tried once again to focus on the shirt in front of him. It was dove grey, almost exactly the same shade as Frankie's eyes. Would their child take after her more or him? He hoped she took after her mother.
Grimacing at his own foolishness, he blinked a couple of times, determined to do some work this time. He was actually beginning to get somewhere when Alexx interrupted him.
"Congratulations sugar," she said, laughing at the speed at which Horatio jerked around to look at her. She hurried to explain, "Calleigh and I dragged it out of her, and don't worry, we've promised to keep it quiet." A little more seriously she added, "I'm thrilled for you, really I am."
A slow smile lit his features. "Not as thrilled as I am, Alexx."