A New Life Together

Horatio's recovery period, from the gunshot wound he sustained breaking up a robbery in New York City, while he and Calleigh were on their honeymoon, was just about over. In two days he would be back in the crime lab and Calleigh would be teaching criminal investigation classes at the Miami-Dade Public Safety Training Institute. As Horatio relaxed in a chaise on their patio after helping Calleigh with dinner, he stared out at the beach and the blue-green water and couldn't help but feel conflicting emotions. He was actually raring to get back to his routine at the lab, but at the same time, he would deeply miss the time he had enjoyed being with Calleigh during their leisurely days and nights together at home. He thought also about how they enjoyed a short trip to the keys for a couple of days of shopping, eating and relaxing, something that was going to be hard to do for some time with both of them working.

His thoughts were suddenly broken, "Hi Babe….penny for your thoughts." Calleigh said as she sat down beside him on the chaise offering him one of her radiant smiles.

"Hi Sweetheart…..I was just thinking of how it was almost time for me to head back to the lab and you back to the Institute…..you have no idea how I have loved being here with you day and night."

"Aww, Handsome, I have been sad thinking about that too, but we knew the day to go back was coming. We need to promise each other that we will find time for us after we get back in the work groove."

"Yes, we will definitely need to do that. I am going to make every effort to leave after the day shift is over, and if there is paperwork I need to finish up, I will bring it home with me. No more late hours, because now I know you will be waiting for me at home," Horatio responded as he reached out to pull Calleigh down to join him.

They lay in the chaise holding each other close and enjoying the pleasant wind softly swaying the palms and the sky changing colors with the impending sunset. Fall in Miami could only be detected by slightly cooler evenings than summer, but the sunsets were more spectacular.

Calleigh was the first to break the silence. "Handsome, I could stay here with you for hours, but if we are going to have a decent dinner, we'd better get up and take it out of the oven."

Horatio turned and gave her a deep, lingering kiss. Breaking for air he quipped, "Can we have dessert first?"

Calleigh giggled and lightly swatted him on his chest and playfully said, "Horatio Caine….you are so bad!"

"What?" Horatio retorted with an amused expression on his face. "You can't blame a guy for trying!"

Then he began tickling her, just to hear her laugh…..it was the most beautiful sound in the world he thought.

After dinner, Horatio popped a couple of CDs of Tony Bennett in the player and they cuddled on the couch. They stayed like that for some time enjoying the music, until Horatio began kissing Calleigh's neck and trailing light, moist kisses across her collarbone softly murmuring, "I believe we talked about dessert earlier….." Calleigh responded with soft moans of pleasure as Horatio began unbuttoning her blouse.

Later that night, their passion completed satiated, they laid in each other's arms in the bed as the soft cool breeze coming in the window provided welcomed relief from the heat generated from their tender lovemaking.

The next morning as sunlight streaked across their bedroom, Calleigh lifted herself onto one elbow and stayed like that for a few minutes just looking down into Horatio's peaceful face as he was still sleeping. She just couldn't believe all the years they had danced around each other, afraid of the other not having the same feelings and were too afraid of ruining the close friendship they enjoyed. Now, they had a lifetime together and Calleigh felt blessed that they had the opportunity to experience it together.

Horatio began stirring and gradually opened his blue eyes just enough to see Calleigh's green eyes looking down at him.

"Good morning my beautiful wife…..did you sleep well?"

"Heavenly…..I think dessert last night helped!" Then Calleigh gave Horatio one of her radiant smiles.

"With your beautiful smile, who needs the sun in the morning?"

"You are so sweet, my Love…..I love you Horatio," then with her fingers, Calleigh began lightly tracing down the side of his face and down to his lips, then leaned in and gave him a loving kiss."

"Oh, Calleigh, you are the sweetest one," then Horatio enfolded her in his arms, and it appeared breakfast was not going to be anytime soon.

The next thing they knew it was 11:30 a.m. and they were starved. Horatio stirred first and heard his stomach protesting with a loud growl, signifying that it had been a long time since dinner the night before.

Calleigh giggled and said, "Guess that was a call for breakfast, huh?"

Horatio laughed saying, "Go ahead and get your shower and I will start the coffee and breakfast."

They kissed and then set about getting ready for the rest of their day. While Calleigh showered, Horatio made the coffee and whipped up some blueberry pancakes with turkey sausage links, and fruit smoothies.

"Ummm, something smells divine," Calleigh declared as she entered the kitchen. Then turning and looking at the table near the windows that gave them a view of their patio she exclaimed, "Well, look at you, you set the table with a tablecloth and fresh flowers….how pretty."

"This is our special morning before getting back to the grindstone so, I thought we should have a special breakfast," Horatio smiled as he took her in his arms for a warm hug.

"I am ravenous….and I love your pancakes Handsome!"

They satisfied their hunger and then lingered over coffee for a while.

"That was a wonderful breakfast. Thank you Handsome."

"You are welcome, Sweetheart."

Horatio could tell that Calleigh was deep in thought and seemed to want to talk about something that was weighing on her. He continued to sip his coffee, wondering if she wanted to talk about whatever was on her mind.

"Horatio…." Calleigh softly asked in a sweet voice.

"Yes Sweetheart…." Horatio responded over his coffee cup.

"We talked about this before we were married, but I wanted to make sure we were still on the same page. Do you still want to have a child?"

Horatio looked at her with a sparkle in his eye and asked, "Sweetheart, are you pregnant?"

"No, at least as far as I know I am not. I would love to have your child though because I know you would make a great father, but before it happened I wanted to make sure it is what you want too."

Horatio tilted his head and took Calleigh's hand in his and smiled, "Sweetheart, I would be the happiest man in Miami if we were to have a child together."

Standing up from the table, Horatio took Calleigh's hand and pulled her up from her chair and into his arms for a warm hug. Leaning back slightly he looked into Calleigh's soft green eyes and shook his head lightly and cupped her face tenderly then said, "You would be a wonderful mother, Calleigh" before their lips lovingly joined in an intense kiss.

After cleaning the kitchen, Horatio decided he better get cleaned up and dressed to be ready for their day. They had decided to have a leisurely afternoon, since it would be the last for some time. Later in the evening, they were due to go to Alexx's house for a bar-b-q with the rest of the team.

Arriving at Alexx and Henry's, Horatio and Calleigh made their way to the backyard where everyone had gathered.

Alexx saw the couple first and walked to them saying, "Here are my babies," and hugged Calleigh, then Horatio. Turning serious for a moment while she had Horatio's ear, "Sugar, how is your shoulder feeling?"

"Still sore Alexx, but it is doing fine."

"Well, when you go back to work tomorrow, I want you to keep in mind that it is still healing, you understand?"

"Yes, Alexx I will remember that….still the mother hen, aren't we?"

"I know you Horatio Caine, you will forget all about taking care of that shoulder once you get in that lab of yours," Alexx replied with a stern face." Horatio only smiled at his former ME.

Horatio and Alexx walked over and joined Calleigh and the rest of the team. "H," Eric shouted as he headed for his boss. "Still planning to come back to the lab in the morning?

"I'll be there Eric. How is everything going?"

"Fine, but I will sure be glad to have you back. The paperwork is about to sink me! I don't know how you have done it all these years, but I have everything caught up….I didn't want you to come back and find a ton of work waiting on you."

"Thanks, Eric."

The evening was filled with good food and conversation, but it was getting late and everyone had work tomorrow, including Horatio and Calleigh. The ladies helped Henry and Alexx clean up and then everyone gave their appreciation to the hosts for another great bar-b-q.

Arriving home, Horatio and Calleigh took a short stroll down the beach from their house, arm in arm before heading to bed.

Horatio awoke the next morning at 5:30 to the alarm clock buzzing. Turning back to Calleigh he lightly ran his hand over her side all the way down her thigh and said, "Wake up sleepy head, time to get ready for work."

"Hmmm," Calleigh responded sleepily. "Handsome, you ….go ahead and get a….shower. I will just lie here and rest some more until you are through."

By 6:15, Horatio was ready to head for the lab. Calleigh did not have to be at the Institute until 8:30, so she could see Horatio off to work.

Walking him to the door, Calleigh threw her arms around Horatio and said, "Handsome, have a good day and please, please be careful."

Horatio returned her warm embrace and assured her, "Always, my Love and I hope your day is wonderful. Call me later, ok?"

"I will."

Reluctantly, Horatio broke their embrace, and walked to the Hummer thinking, I am a very lucky man.

TBC…..