So, I watched the season finale of CSI miami and was a little disappointed, so I thought I'd write down what I wished it would have contained. I have no idea where this is going, but I guess we will find out. Enjoy!

It would be easier to pass it off as just a friendly gesture. Easier than considering the truth. But what he did. It meant more. So much more than she would ever be able to tell him.

As she stared across the room at the two new beautiful additions to her life, she smiled. She was happy. And yet, she still felt a pull towards something more. Something she had always wanted but had never been able to hold on to for long. But this happiness was enough to sate her for now. And she knew she had him to thank.

The sheer thought of him caused an ache in her chest. A longing. He did offer…she thought, then quickly shook the notion out of her head. I need to know I can do this. By myself. He had praised her for putting the kids first. She knew he wanted more from her. He wanted to make a family with her. She just didn't know if she was ready for that. She felt a slow burn creeping up her neck as she thought of that conversation. As she cleaned his wounds and he leaned ever so slightly into her touch. There was electricity between them even she couldn't deny. And now, as she watched her 2 beautiful adopted children playing in her home, she suddenly realized how much more they had.

She reached for her phone, wanting to talk to him again, and then quickly placed it back on the table. Again she shook her head. Don't be silly. Just call him and thank him again. That's not crossing a line. She thought. And yet she knew that all she wanted was to cross that line. She wanted to leap over it at full speed. She wanted the picture perfect family, along with the handsome husband and gorgeous kids. He didn't make this choice…you did! She looked again at the phone. Her longing was nearly unbearable. But then again…..he did offer….She smiled again as she remembered his quick acceptance of her plans to adopt and his humble offer to help. She let a small giggle escape her lips as she recalled the sideways smile he had when he said it. She loved that smile. It was the one she considered only hers.

She looked back down and the phone once more before slowly picking it up in her hand. She turned it around in her hand, weighing the pros and cons of calling him, when suddenly, it rang. She gave a small jump before turning it once more to read the caller id. She smiled as she read the name in the display.

"Eric Delko"

"Hey!" she answered, cheerfully. She smiled warmly at the small chuckle she heard on the other end of the line.

"Hey, Calleigh. I just wanted to check in and see how things were going with the kids." He didn't want to pry, he just loved hearing her happy. The last time they had talked, her happiness practically leapt through the phone. It made him feel warm.

"Things are amazing. Really, Eric. I…."she felt the next words catch in her throat.

"Calleigh?" he thought he had heard her voice crack when she said his name.

She cleared her throat and tried again.

"I just…I don't know how to thank you for what you did…I'm just so…"she couldn't hold back the tears any longer.

Eric was slightly stunned. Calleigh did not cry. But even through the phone he could tell these were not tears of sadness.

"Hey, hey! Don't cry Cal!" He wished so badly he could be there in front of her. To hold her. "All I ever wanted was to make you happy…"

"Eric" she breathed his name into the phone. She wanted to touch him. To feel his arms around her. Suddenly, she didn't care about what had happened before. She deserved to be happy, and she knew he would be a part of that. "Can you come over?"

Eric smiled. He didn't want to read too much into the invitation. They were friends after all. …family…she had once said. He pushed down the hope that was bubbling up inside him and took a breath to steady himself. "Of course. I'll be there in ten."

She smiled as she felt the anticipation of seeing him spreading through her body like a warm liquid.

"Okay. See you then."

As he walked up to her house, he felt nervous.

What is wrong with you? He thought to himself. This is Calleigh! Just calm down.

He took a shaky breath as he reached out to ring the doorbell. Suddenly, before his finger made contact, the door flew open and Calleigh launched herself from the threshold into his arms. Stunned, but ecstatic, he held her tight, as though it might be the last time he would get to feel her like this. But she made no move to free herself from his arms. She only held on tighter.

"Calleigh?" he whispered in her ear, still a little confused.

She knew she had to explain herself, but she wasn't ready to let go. She held onto him as tight as she could and just breathed in every aspect of the man in her arms.

He wasn't going to be the one to break the contact. He knew that much. He had learned, over the years, that Calleigh will only talk when she was ready and so he held her and waited. Though he didn't know for what.

Suddenly a shrill cry came from inside the house. In no more than a heartbeat, Calleigh was out of his arms and running towards the family room. He smiled at her quick reaction. He followed her inside, taking the open door as an invitation. He rounded the corner to the family room to see Calleigh kneeling down in front of the small brown haired girl who was now whimpering as Calleigh rubbed slow circles on her back. A small smear of blood could be seen on the girl's knee. Calleigh, in the most soothing tone Eric had ever heard her use, looked over towards the kitchen and asked. "What happened, sweetheart?"

Eric watched as a curly blonde haired boy walked out of the kitchen with a wad of paper towels in his hand. "She fell off the couch and scraped her knee on the coffee table. I told her not to jump." The boy said, matter-of-factly. The boy looked over towards Eric, just realizing his presence. "Hey! I know you!"

Calleigh smiled towards Eric as she took the paper towel from the boy's hand and placed it lightly on the little girl's knee. The little girl had stopped crying, also fascinated by the man now standing in their living room. Calleigh looked back towards the seemingly frightened girl.

"Do you remember my friend, Eric?" she asked the girl. The girl shook her head, dislodging the last few tears that had settled in her long eyelashes.

"Well, then I guess some introductions are in order!" She pulled the little girl up into her arms and stood in one fluid movement, as though she had been doing it her whole life. Eric marveled at the gracefulness of it. He watched as the small girl curled herself into Calleigh and tucked her own head under Calleigh's chin.

"Patty, this is my friend, Eric. Eric," she smiled in Eric's direction. "This is Patty."

The boy came over to stand by Calleigh, looking only slightly nervous. Calleigh put her arm around his shoulder. "And this handsome young man is Austin. Austin, you remember Eric, don't you?"

Austin smiled, all apprehension gone. "Yeah. You work with Calleigh and the police, right?"

Eric smiled back at the outgoing young boy. "Yeah, Buddy. I work with Calleigh."

Austin looked up at Calleigh. "That's cool. Does he have lots of guns like you?"

Eric laughed at the boy's candor and Calleigh's sheepish expression. "No Austin. He doesn't."

Austin gave a simple shrug and then touched his sister's leg, still dangling from Calleigh's arms. "Patty? You don't have to be scared of him. He's not a stranger. He works with Calleigh. He's a policeman too!"

Patty looked over towards Eric, now with curiosity rather than fear. She turned her gaze back towards Calleigh. "But you're a police WOMAN?" she said as though everyone else should have figured it out sooner.

With that, Calleigh and Eric both laughed at the girl's sudden change of demeanor. Eric took a step towards the two and held out his hand towards the young girl.

"It's very nice to meet you, Patty." She took his hand and shook it with a shy smile on her face. Eric then turned towards the boy. "And nice to officially meet you, Austin." He said, extending a handshake to him as well.

Austin smiled in return. "You too! Hey Patty! Do you want to come watch TV with me? SpongeBob is on!"

"YEEAAAHHH!" Patty cheered and wiggled her way out of Calleigh's arms. Calleigh giggled and let her down gently. Both Calleigh and Eric watched as the two children happily settled themselves on the couch to watch cartoons. Calleigh then looked back at Eric and reached out to take his hand in hers.

"Let's go out back and talk."

Eric stammered as he felt the warmth of Calleigh's hand rush through his whole body.

"Ugh….yeah…okay…"

She smiled at his seemingly nervous energy as she led him through the patio door onto the back deck. She stared for a while at the red and orange hues that graced the sky as the sun began to slip below the horizon. Still holding his hand, she took a deep breath.

"Eric, I…" she began. All of a sudden, Eric could not resist her beauty. He took the hand that was enveloped in his own and pulled Calleigh towards him. He knew it was risky. She may not want this. But he couldn't seem to stop himself from pulling her into his arms. She surprised him by reaching her arms up and around his neck as their bodies came closer together. He paused there, gazing into her eyes, silently asking permission. She gave it by closing the gap between them and joining her lips gently to his. It reminded him of their first kiss. Sweet and simple, but full of meaning. He smiled as she pulled her face back to look into his eyes.

"Are you changing your mind? About us?" He said with his cockiest smile. The look of pure joy on his face made her laugh out loud.

"That depends." She answered, coyly. "On whether you meant what you said…"

Calleigh nervously chewed on her bottom lip as she waited for him to process her question. She watched as understanding colored his face.

"You mean about helping you? With the kids? Of course I meant it. I meant every word." Now it was his turn to smile. "I even meant some I didn't say."

She beamed at him as he moved his hand from her waist to brush a stray piece of hair off her face.

"I'm ready to make a life with you, Calleigh. To help raise these kids." He looked down, a little embarrassed. "I think I could be a good father." It sounded almost like a question.

Again, she leaned in to place a sweet kiss on his lips.

"Eric. You will be a great father. But we are going to have to take this slow. Give them the time they need." She added cautiously.

He nodded and held her closer, smiling. "I know. It's a lot to take in all at once for a kid. I mean, they just got a great new mom, and then this strange guy shows up, all handsome and charming, and sweeps her off her…."Calleigh giggled as he moved his lips to her neck.

"Calleigh?"

A small voice called from the patio door.

Eric moved to step away from Calleigh, embarrassed at being caught, but she kept her arm firmly around his waist.

The little girl was eyeing them with suspicion. "What were you doing?"

Calleigh removed her hand from around Eric's waist. He felt cold at the loss of contact. But just as quickly, she placed her hand in his, intertwining their fingers together. He smiled as he looked down at the little girl. This is really happening! He thought.

"Giving my friend a hug." Calleigh said simply.

"Why?" the little girl asked.

"Because that's what you do with the people you love. You hug them." Calleigh had knelt down to be at eye level with the girl.

"Oh. Like you hug me and Austin?"

Calleigh dipped her head to the side, contemplating the question. "Yes, but that's a different kind of love."

"I don't get it." The little girl said with an air of frustration.

Calleigh laughed. "You will. When you're older."

Eric, still holding Calleigh's hand, was nearly beaming, listening to her tell her that she loved him without actually telling him anything. He squeezed her hand lightly in response. She squeezed back, acknowledging their silent conversation.

She did love him. It took all of this for her to realize it. But she definitely did love him. Oh Goodness. It will be hard to take this slow. She thought.

Eric knelt down, also at eye level with the young girl, and joined in the conversation.

"Hey Patty? How would you and your brother like it if I took you guys and your new mom to dinner?" As he spoke to her new daughter, Calleigh felt the warmth of his love radiating through their joined hands. Again, she gave a little squeeze.

"YEEEAAAHHH!" Patty screamed. "Can we have burgers?"

Eric and Calleigh laughed. "Of course, baby." Calleigh ran her fingers through the little girl's hair. "You can have whatever you want?"

Patty instantly starting running back inside, screaming in joy. "! We get to go for BURGERS! With Calleigh's policeman friend!"

"Cool!" they heard Austin reply from inside.

Calleigh again snaked her hands around Eric's waist, and just enjoyed the warmth of it.

"So, I guess that's my name now. Your policeman friend." He laughed.

"Oh don't worry. You'll be more than that in no time." She leaned up to place one more kiss on his lips before ending their embrace and walking inside.

Eric was left standing on the deck, grinning like an idiot.

So...it can end here, or I can keep going...What do you think? R&R please!