"Ryan, I don't know what I'll do if Calleigh doesn't make it" Natalia said as they drove to the hospital in Ryan's hummer.
"Nat." Ryan began as he squeezed her hand. 'You know Calleigh. She's the toughest girl I know." Natalia glared at him. "One of the toughest girls I know. Anyways, she's a fighter. She'll make it through."
"God I hope so." Natalia whispered as she leaned back in her seat. "I hope so." They spent the next 20 minutes of the ride in silence, still holding hands. When they arrived at the hospital Ryan put the car in park and turned Natalia's head towards his. "She'll make it" Ryan whispered "I promise." He planted a kiss on her lips and then drew back. She smiled weakly. "Ok. We better go inside." Ryan jumped out and walked over to Natalia's side and opened the door. "M'lady" he said in a fake accent.
"Why, Thank you, kind sir." She giggled and took his hand as she stepped out of the car. They walked to briskly up to the hospital together, their minds quickly moving from a fantasy back to their friend's well-being. They pushed through the doors of the ER into a frenzied waiting room. They noticed Eric standing at the desk, arguing with the nurse. Natalia and Ryan walked up to the desk.
"I don't care if she's in intensive care! I need to see her!" He yelled.
"Sir," They nursed said. "No visitors will be allowed for a few hours, unless she asks for them."
"Delko, dude. Calm down." Ryan said softly. "As soon as she wakes up, you know she'll want to see someone." But, she didn't wake up right away, her lungs sent her into a coma and the doctors decided to keep her in it until her lungs had healed more. The whole team took turns staying with her. Two and a half weeks after the accident, after shift, Ryan and Natalia were sitting in the waiting room together, leaning into each other. When Eric came running into the room, they tore apart. But, he didn't run up to them, he stopped Calleigh's doctor and began speaking. They walked off together, and forty-five minutes later Eric came out and told them she was awake, and that they could see her. After a short visit they left the hospital together. Natalia fell asleep in the car and, when they arrived at her home, stirred, but refused to wake up. Eventually, Ryan gave up and carried her in. He placed her on her bed and moved to leave, but her arms stayed locked around his neck. He pried them apart and set them on the bed beside her, but, once again when he moved to leave, she held him back. Her hand grasped the back of his shirt. She stared at him with pleading eyes.
"Stay." She ordered. Then, looking around moved to the other side of her bed. "You seriously couldn't remember I can't sleep on the left side?" he shrugged. She stuck her hand under the pillow and pulled out a pair of PJ's. Then she walked towards the bathroom. She stopped, turned around and pointed to the bed left side. Ryan gave in and pulled his shirt off while kicking off his shoes. He climbed under the sheets and waited for her to come back. She re-entered the room, PJ's on, hair down, face washed. She climbed in next to him and laid her head on his chest. Within the next five minutes, she was asleep. Ryan lay there for another hour, stroking her hair, before drifting into a peaceful sleep.
I 3 C.S.I - I 3 C.S.I.
10 months later, Ryan and Natalia stood in Calleigh's hospital room together. Calleigh was sleeping, Eric was in the cafeteria and Horatio had left to follow up on a lead in their current case. They stood together in the corner together. Natalia cuddling her new goddaughter and Ryan behind her, his chin on her shoulder, arms around her waist.
"Ryan, she amazing." Natalia whispered "I want one."
"I know you do honey." Ryan said back. "And I'll make you a deal. We reveal us to the team next week. That's the first step."
"Marry me, Ryan." Natalia said. Ryan grinned into her shoulder.
"I think that's my line. But, yes. Of, course I'll marry you."
"Do I have to get you a diamond ring?"
"You know what? You said the words. I guess you can have the rock." They broke apart when they heard Calleigh stir. Right on cue, baby Talia began to whimper. Natalia gave the baby back to her mother. Later that evening, Natalia was cooking up some taco meat when a small velvet box appeared in front of her. She whipped around and came face to face with Ryan.
"How'd you get it so quick?" She asked excitedly.
"I already had it." Ryan answered. "I planned on proposing in a week."
"Our one year anniversary?" She smiled as she talked. "I'm sorry I didn't wait."
"Don't be. The faster were engaged, the faster were married. So, do you want it?"
"Oh! Right! Yes!" Natalia held out her hand. Ryan slid the band on her ring finger. She wiggled it. "I don't want to wait a week to tell people! Can't we tell them tomorrow?"
"Of course." Ryan answered "The only reason I said next week is because that would be after I proposed. But, we don't have that problem anymore." The next day, Natalia walked into the break room and 10 minutes later, Ryan walked in. Calleigh had been released that morning and was hanging out at the lab with Natalia (the baby). Natalia sat down at the table and sipped her coffee, purposely using her left hand.
"I knew it!" Calleigh screeched. Ryan and Eric both almost fell out of there chairs. Horatio, who had just walked in, looked at Calleigh like she was insane. "I knew it! I knew it! I! Knew! It!" Natalia smiled. Calleigh kept giggling, then hugged Natalia, then Ryan.
"Dude! Congrats!" Eric slapped Ryan's back "Wait? When did you start dating Natalia?"
"Uhhhh… about 358 days ago." Ryan said. Calleigh was staring intently at Natalia, her eyes wide and pleading.
"Yes Cal. You are my maid of honor." Calleigh screeched again and hugged her. "We worked this all out already. You're my maid of honor. Eric is Ryan's best man. Walter and Ryan's old friend Mark are groomsmen. Anya and Cristine are the other bridesmaids. Horatio is going to give me away. Mark's son Billy will be the ring bearer, even though he insists that he's too old. And saving the best for last…"Natalia pulled Little Natalia out of her seat. "You… are my little flower girl."
"Nat. My daughter is two weeks old." Eric said "How exactly is she going to walk down the aisle?"
"I also planned that out. Disregarding tradition, you and Calleigh will walk down last, and will pull a white wagon, containing Natalia, behind you and Billy will walk beside it. Now, it's my day off. And since Calleigh isn't actually working, we are taking Talia with us, to go pick out dresses. Anya and Cristine will wear what ever I pick out and since I'm the bride… so will you."
"Fine," Eric said. "But, please no pink bowties.
"Nope, yellow long ties."
"Wait." Ryan cut in. "We didn't agree on that." But, the girls were already out of the room.
"Dude," Eric said "You're the groom; don't expect to be consulted on much more than what you have for dinner. At the dress shop, the girls were having the time of there lives. They had already picked out an empire waist bridesmaids dress, sunshine yellow with a crisp white ribbon under the bust. They even managed to pick a bridesmaid dress that had a matching flower girl dress. Now they were in the bridal gown section, and Natalia was acting as calm as possible, but Calleigh could see she was getting frustrated.
"Nat. Try a different style." Calleigh said "Fit and flare doesn't seem to be working."
"Um. Ms. Boa Vista." The store assistant said nervously "I think you should try this one on, I mean, if you want to." She held up a slightly poofy white dress. "Your body type is more suited for a princess style." Natalia looked at Calleigh, she shrugged. Natalia took the dress and entered the dressing room. As soon as she looked in the mirror, Natalia knew the dress was perfect. The dress highlighted the tiny bit of curves Natalia had, and made them look bigger. The bust was a band of fabric that was tapered in the middle and held that way with a heart-shaped stone. The torso lay perfectly smooth on her stomach, and then the skirt poofed out a bit, widening her hips, just a bit. She walked slowly out of the room and the assistant came scurrying over, holding a pair of strappy sandals and a veil. Natalia slipped the shoes on, the assistant slipped the veil into her hair, and she stepped on to the pedestal. Natalia heard Calleigh gasp behind her.
"I know, this dress, it's perfect." Natalia whispered "I don't even want to try another one on, because this, this is my dress. Calleigh clapped her hands and the assistant beamed. Natalia leaned down and hugged her gently. "You are amazing."
I 3 C.S.I. - I 3 C.S.I
2 months later, the last detail of the wedding was being finish, Natalia and Ryan sat at their now shared home, tying white bows on the centerpieces. The wedding was the next day, and all they had to do was take the final decorations over to the hotel where the wedding was being held. At 6:00 that night, Eric and Calleigh, along with Baby Talia and Calleigh's overnight bag, arrived at their home. Ryan grabbed his bag, planted on last kiss on his fiancée's lips and left with Eric, leaving Natalia and Calleigh to stay at their home with the baby. That night, Natalia lay in her bed alone, Calleigh was in the next room, and was finding it hard to sleep without Ryan next to her. At midnight, after trying in vain to sleep for a one hour, Natalia reached on to the nightstand for her cell phone she pressed speed dial #1 and then the call button. She waited as it rang four times.
"Wolfe." Said the sleepy voice of her fiancée.
"How can you be sleeping?" She hissed into the receiver "Were getting married tomorrow, and you're sleeping?
"Just a sec, sweetie." He said. Natalia heard some rustling, and then a door closed. "Kay, you're good."
"Ryan Wolfe! How are you not lying awake? You should be like me! I have been, nervous and missing you. And you're sleeping?"
"Calm down, Nat. What do you want from me?"
"Just talk, or hum, or sing. Do that for a few minutes! Actually, no. I'll set a timer on the call and then we can fall asleep listening to each other."
"Sure, fine, whatever. Can I go back to sleep now?" Natalia gave him her consent and then slipped back into bed; 10 minutes later she fell asleep, listening to the sound of Ryan's soft snoring. The next afternoon, the roles were switched; Ryan was practically jumping out of his chair with nervousness, but Natalia was perfectly calm. Everything had gone off without a hitch, her hair and makeup was done, her dress was on, and so were the bridesmaids and the flower girl. At the moment, Calleigh was showing Natalia, who was playing happily with her tiny bouquet of fake flowers, off to Anya and Cristine. An half hour later, they were ready for the wedding. They all proceeded down the aisle and just as Natalia joined hands with Ryan at the alter, a shot rang out. The bullet hit the wall, lodging itself just inches from Ryan's head. All eyes snapped to the back of the church, just to see Nick, Natalia's ex, drop the gun and bolt away. Ryan, Eric and Horatio, as well as some of the officers in attendance, ran after him. Calleigh looked at Natalia, expecting her friend to be weeping, but instead her eyes found a stomping mad Natalia, and Calleigh could see she was ready to kill nick. Eric and Ryan came back in the room, escorting Nick by his arms. Horatio stood behind them, calling for some officers to come and pick Nick up. Natalia stomped over to Nick and got right up in his face.
"How dare you? HOW DARE YOU?" Natalia screamed "You have some nerve! Some nerve trying to ruin my wedding! The happiest day of my life!" Nick smirked. Natalia just got madder. She slapped nick across the face. Ryan released Nicks arm and put his hands on Natalia's shoulders, pushing her back.
"Calm down, Talia. Calm down." He said soothingly. "They'll take him away. Just please calm down" The back-up soon showed up.
"Nick Townsend, You are under-arrest for the attempted murder of a police officer." They pulled him away, and the wedding continued. Natalia was beaming, but Calleigh could see the anger that was hiding under the sparkle in her eye.
"Mr. Wolfe." Began the priest. "Do you take Natalia to be your lawfully wedded wife?
"I do." He said confidently
"And Vista. Do you take Ryan to be your lawfully wedded husband? The tears that had begun to fall made it hard for her to speak clearly.
"I-I do." She stammered out.
"Well then, by the power vested in me, by the great state of Florida, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Mr. Wolfe, You may kiss your bride." Ryan wrapped Natalia up in a passionate kiss, and everyone clapped. They ran back down the aisle together, smiling and laughing.
I 3 C.S.I - I 3 C.S.I
3 months later, Natalia was at the lab. She opened a bottle of acetone, and when the smell hit her, the nausea that had been bugging her all morning got horribly worse. She ran down the hall, covering her mouth with her hand. She pushed through Calleigh, Eric and Ryan.
"Nat!" Ryan called. They headed after her, but Ryan and Eric stopped outside the women's bathroom. Calleigh ran in and found her kneeling on the floor. She pressed her hand to Natalia's sweaty forehead.
"You don't have a fever, Sweetie. Are you sick?" Calleigh said worriedly
"Maybe. But, I only feel sick in the morning? And I've never actually got
Sick. The acetone I had in the lab set me off." Natalia said "I feel fine now."
"Nat? Could you be pregnant?"
"Um… yeah I guess."
"Ok… were going on a break, to the pharmacy" They pushed past the guys as they exited the washroom. "Be right back. Girl stuff."
"Nat! What's wrong?" Ryan said. She just bit her lip as Calleigh pulled her away. A half hour later, they were back in the locker room. Calleigh sat, holding Natalia's hand, while staring at the timer on her phone. The timer beeped. They walked back into the bathroom and Calleigh pulled the stick out of the water.
"You ready to know the fact that will impact the rest of your life?" Calleigh whispered
"When you put it that way, you make it sound so scary." Natalia choked out.
"Well, put on a brave face, cause your baby can't have a wimpy mom."
"What? It's positive?"
"Congrats!" Natalia beamed.
"You know, I was shocked at first… but now I'm just ecstatic."
"Are you scared to tell Ryan?"
"Yes…and No."
"Well, might as well get it over with." Natalia and Calleigh walked down to the trace lab, where Eric and Ryan were trying to look like they were doing something, but failing.
"Talia!" Ryan practically shouted "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"Yep, I'm fine. And so I our baby."
"What? Really?" he picked her up and spun her around as best he could. Then kissed her smack on the lips, even though they were in the middle of the lab.
"You know we still have to confirm it at a doctor's appointment. Right?"
"I don't care! We're having a baby!" he ran out of the room and practically skipped down the hallway.
"Now that." Eric said "is a side of him I have never seen."
"Eric, I haven't even seen that side of him." Natalia responded. One week later, the pregnancy was confirmed, 6 months later, Natalia was going through a very irritable stage, she could see why Calleigh had snapped at Ryan. She was standing in the breakroom, not sure where to go since she was banned from DNA and Trace, because of the harsh chemicals, and Firearms, because the noises could damage the babies ears. She sat down on the couch grumpily and waited for someone to come tell her what to do. The others walked in, and found her, they began suggesting things for her to do.
"Audio-Visual?" Calleigh said.
"Your paperwork?" Ryan suggested.
"My paperwork?" Eric said, apperantly jokingly.
"Ehh…, boring and don't push it Delko!" Natalia snapped. Eventully, they all had to leave, but Natalia had an idea. She went around and asked people for name suggestions,by the end of the day, she had a pretty substansial that night, she and Ryan crossed off the ones they disliked and narrowed it down to 2 girls names and a boy's name.
"So." Ryan began " If it's a girl, it's either Calleigh Danielle or Avery Michelle."
"And if it's a boy," continued Natalia. "It's definatlely James Ryan."
"So which girl's name?"
" I don't know! I love them both."Later that month they found out they would have to was pregnant with a beautiful baby girl. And three month's after that, Natalia was strictly confined to desk work, as she soon found out, a baby really did make you huge. She was in the break room, bringing some coffee over to Ryan, when she suddenly keeled over and groaned.
"What's wrong?" Ryan said. " Is it the her?"
"No. I stubbed my toe." But later that day, as they were putting their stuff away in the break room, the same thing happened, Natalia keeled over and groaned..
"Stubbed your toe again?" Natalia grit her teeth and glared at him.
"No, Ryan. My water just broke. That was a contraction.
I 3 C.S.I. - I 3 C.S.I.
In the delivery room, Natalia screamed. The baby,Calleigh Danielle, had been delivered in one push, but Natalia didn't deliver the placenta. Suddenly, the doctor looked shocked.
"There's another one." He said, astonished. " There twin's."
"What!" Screamed Natalia before it turned into a groan.
"Congratulations, Mr and Mrs. Wolfe. Your having two." After a lot of pushing and screaming, Avery obviously got her mom's stubbornness, Natalia sat in her bed, holding two pink bundles. The team came in and were as surprised as Natalia and Ryan when they found out they were twins. The godparents, Eric and Calleigh, and Horatio, took turn holding each of them. Now one and a half year old, Talia, peered at them in her parents arm's.
"Ba-by." She said. They all gasped. Calleigh handed Avery to Ryan and picked up her daughter.
"My baby said her first word!" Calleigh exclaimed. Talia beamed, obviously happy with herself.
"Hey, hey, hey…." Natalia cut in. "She is not going to steal my babies thunder." Calleigh stopped spinning her, but kept right on smiling." Then, exactly at the same time, Avery and Calleigh started wailing. Ryan handed her a blanket, then when her chest covered both babies. The guys all kind of looked uncomfortable. "What? It's the natural way, Calleigh didn't do it beacuase Talia was already attached to her bottle. Anyways, I covered with a blanket. And… this is why god gave us two…" the guy's just looked more uncomfortable. "Whatever, anyways. Ry.. were gonna need a lot more stuff.