Title: Lessons Learned

Author: Daish

Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize. I do however own Jeff, Jenny, Lauren, and Peter.

Pairing HC

Summary Horatio puts his foot in his mouth and learns a valuable lesson.

A/n Ok guys thanks to my local radio station clear 99 I heard this song and I thought of this little fic. I may continue this after the first chapter if you guys want me to. Please give feedback.

Calleigh Duquesne smiled at the sight of her husband Horatio walking into the house and leaning down to pick up one-year-old Peter and spin him around causing him to giggle. Then he looked down and smiled as he saw four-year-old Lauren standing next to him with her arms raised up, in a silent request to pick her up. Horatio did and after he spun her around he placed both children on the floor and turned to give Calleigh a kiss.

"MMM hey Handsome did you have a good day?"

"Yes did you enjoy getting off early today?"

"Yes I did I am glad that my boss let me off early he can be such a slave driver sometimes," Calleigh said with a smirk.

"Where are Jeff and Jenny?"

"They should be getting home from school any minute," Calleigh said just as two miniature versions of Horatio, including the red hair came bouncing into the house, all the while chattering about what happened in the lives of seven-year-olds that day.

"Hey mommy, I drew you a picture," Jeff said handing his mom a picture.

"Thanks I love it so much, sweetheart," Calleigh replied as she leaned down and gave him a kiss.

"I drew you one too Daddy," Jenny said with a beautiful smile of her own. Horatio smiled as he took the picture and gave each of his children a hug.

"Ok guys go do your homework then you can watch a little bit of TV until dinner," Calleigh said.

"But mom I want to watch cartoons now," Jenny whined.

"Yah watch cartoons now do homework later," Jeff added.

"Jennifer Grace Caine, Jeffery Randal Caine! I said homework now cartoons later, is that understood?" Calleigh said as she gave her two older children a stern look. Yes Mom they both replied before heading off to do their homework. Calleigh finished preparing dinner while Horatio colored with Lauren Michelle and Peter Nicholas.

"Hey Cal, do you need any help with dinner?"

"No it is done but could you get Peter and Lauren washed up for me and tell Jeff and Jen to get washed up please? Horatio nodded as he picked up his son and headed to do what his wife asked.

Everyone was sitting down and enjoying a wonderful meal of baked chicken, corn, and carrots when Calleigh looked up and could tell that Horatio had something on his mind.

"Horatio, what's on your mind?"

"Well after you left today I got a memo about a conference on ballistics in Las Vegas and they asked you to come and make a presentation. The conference starts Monday and lasts until Friday."

"Monday but that's two days away and I can't leave you with four children under the age of eight for a week."

"Actually yes you can and I have some vacation time and even if I have to go to the lab I can take the two little ones with me and keep an eye on them their. You know that you want to go and learn more about the pretty guns that you love so much," Horatio replied with a twinkle in his eye."

"Ok if you're sure but I can stay here if you want to."

"Honey, go I can take care of our children how hard can it be to take care of four kids?" Calleigh got a devilish smile on her face, as she turned to reply to her husband's last comment.

"Ok Handsome, I'll go but lets make a bet if you can survive with the kids by yourself for a week without me then I will do any decomp cases we get for the next month. If you can't survive then you have to do any decomps we get in the next month. Is it a deal?" Calleigh asked with a smirk.

"Ok sure it's a deal," Horatio replied as he held out his hand for Calleigh to shake.

"Oh and I will be calling the team for regular reports," Calleigh said as she got up and began to clear the table, humming quietly to herself. She couldn't wait to see how next week turned out.

"Calleigh, you mean to tell me that you're leaving that wonderful husband of yours alone with four children for an entire week?" Alexx asked as she talked to Calleigh on the phone.

"Yes that is exactly what I mean. He told me about this conference, and when I said that I couldn't go because I couldn't leave him with four kids by himself, and do you know what he said?"

"No what did he say?"

"He said that I should go and how hard could it be to take care of four kids?"

"Oh my! he has no idea what he's getting into does he, honey?"

"Nope and I'm not gonna tell him. We made a bet that if he can survive the week without me I would do any decomp cases we get for the next month. If he doesn't then he has to."

"Oh way to go," Alexx said with a laugh.

"Listen, Alexx, I would love to keep chatting but I have to go and pack for my trip but I also said that I would get reports from the team so I will talk to you sometime next week."

"Ok I will talk to you later, and Calleigh, I promise that I won't let any harm come to your children."

"Ok talk to you later Alexx."

"Bye Calleigh," Alexx said as she hung up and thought about what the intelligent but insane Horatio Caine was getting into.

"Hey Speed, I am putting you in charge of the lab. I will come in if I need to but Calleigh is going to go to that conference in Las Vegas and I am going to take some vacation days and take care of the kids. I decided that instead of taking the two younger ones to daycare if I have to go into work I could bring them to the lab for a while," Horatio said as he talked with a laughing Speed.

"Oh have fun H. I will take care of the lab and good luck next week."

"Thanks, Speed, but I will be fine," Horatio said as he hung up and climbed into bed next to his sleeping wife wrapping his arm around her and letting sleep claim him.

"Bye sweetheart you be good for your daddy and listen to your brother and sister ok Lauren?" Lauren nodded and gave Calleigh a kiss on the cheek. Calleigh then gave her other three kids a hug and a kiss before turning to Horatio.

"Be careful and please call me when you get to Las Vegas ok, sweetie?"

"Yes I will and are you sure that you will be ok?" Calleigh asked as she leaned in for a kiss.

"Yes I will be fine now go!" Calleigh smiled as she got in her car and turned on the radio just in time to hear the DJ announce the next song to come on.

"Ok all you Lone Star fans here is the new fun single Mr. Mom, enjoy." Calleigh turned up the radio when she heard the beginning lyrics, and began to laugh thinking about just how much like this song Horatio's next week was going to be. (The lyrics would be here but it is against the rules here. If anyone wants the fic with the lyrics they can email me my email is in my profile.)

TBC?