Dreams Really Can Come True
"Eric….careful, that's my neck you are squeezing! You are choking me!"
"H settle down, I am just attempting to straighten your tie….it was off center."
"H, I know your nerves are on edge, but everything is going to be fine," Eric said with a smile attempting to bring some calm to the situation.
"Hell, Eric this whole thing is stressful….I think that's the way women design it just to rattle our nerves," Frank Tripp added.
The three men were gathered in a room off of the ballroom of the Marriott in Miami Beach waiting for the signal to move.
Unbeknown to Frank, Alexx was coming through the door and heard his comment, "Sugar, you wouldn't believe what is in our arsenal to get your nerves rattled!"
"Alexx, I have 3 ex-wives so, I have a pretty good idea of most women's arsenals!" Frank answered in his usual gruff voice.
Turning her attention away from Frank she whistled, "Horatio, don't we look handsome in that color! It brings out your coloring beautifully!"
"Thank you Alexx, that's what Calleigh told me when she picked out the gray tuxes. Even does something for Francis over there!" Horatio said as he chuckled at Frank's….humph.
"Well, I can assure you that when you see Calleigh, Frank here is going to have to make sure he has your arm because you might just fall out!" Alexx said as she smiled.
"I get weak in the knees anytime I am around her Alexx," Horatio replied.
Alexx thought, well Sugar it sure took you long enough to figure out what you needed to do about that.
"Alexx, Kyle found Calleigh alright didn't he?"
"Yes, Horatio, Kyle found the correct room and I told her he was waiting outside in the hallway until it was time."
"I know Kyle feels honored to escort Calleigh, but I just wish Kenwall could have kept his bad habit in check long enough to be the one walking with her. I know he has hurt Calleigh terribly by not being here," Horatio replied.
Suddenly the door opened and the wedding director poked her head in and said, "Time for the groom and best man!"
Horatio quickly felt his calm unraveling and he abruptly grabbed Frank's arm and asked him, "You do have the ring, don't you?"
"Of course I do man, everything is a go, c'mon let's go get you hitched."
"See you later H, Alexx and I are going out and join the guests," Eric said as he slapped Horatio on the shoulder as he passed.
It was a pleasant late fall afternoon and the wind coming off the water had unexplainably calmed so that the decorations and guests were not being blown away. The sun was lower in the sky with just the beginning hints of evening color to come and as always, clouds were forming on the horizon to the east.
Horatio, with Frank behind him walked down the brown carpeted aisle toward the front. As they took their places with the minister, Horatio cringed when he looked at the back row of chairs and saw Kenwall Duquesne. Of all things for that man to show up and ruin Calleigh's day, Horatio thought. Well, at least he looks as if he knows where he is so THAT's a plus.
At that point the music began and people focused their attention to the back. Natalia was the maid of honor and Horatio thought she looked lovely in the long, flowing eggplant color dress. As she approached Horatio she blew a kiss to him and winked. Horatio gave her his biggest smile.
Then the music changed and the guests rose to their feet, blocking Horatio's view except at the end of the carpet. He was not prepared for the next vision he saw at the end of the aisle. Suddenly, there stood Calleigh looking as if she were an angel right out of heaven! Dumbstruck as he was, Horatio could see Kyle's smile spread across his face as he saw his father's reaction.
As the pair made their way slowly down the aisle, Horatio did begin to feel weak in the knees. Frank remembered what Alexx had warned and reached out and took hold of Horatio's right elbow. "You lucky bastard," Frank whispered in Horatio's ear.
Calleigh had chosen a dress with a plunging neckline that continued between her breasts. It also had an empire waist, which made her appear taller. The dress had a short train in the back, so she could dance after the wedding. She wore a tiara of native Florida flowers, accented with dark gray and eggplant ribbons. Her blonde hair was softly curled around her face and flowed down below her shoulders.
Horatio beamed from ear to ear as Calleigh approached him and Kyle gave his Dad a big wink and took Calleigh's right hand and gave it to his father. Calleigh and Horatio turned to face the minister, but Horatio could not resist leaning over near her telling her she looked gorgeous and that he loved her.
The wedding ceremony went without a hitch, rings were exchanged and before he knew it, Horatio heard the minister say he could kiss his bride. Lifting Calleigh's veil, he sucked in a quick breath. Her soft green eyes were swimming in tears and she softly whispered "I love you Horatio." That was all he needed to hear as he kissed her deep and passionately, almost forgetting where they were.
Cat calls began to sound out from the guests and the couple broke their kiss and smiled at each other noticing the tears beginning to flow down both their cheeks. Taking care not to smudge Calleigh's makeup, Horatio gently dabbed her tears with his handkerchief and she wiped his with hers. Then the couple turned to face their guests and the minister said, "I introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Horatio Caine. Cheers and clapping resounded as they began to walk toward the back, arm in arm to the music.
The only difference in this wedding was the discretely placed armed plainclothes police officers around the perimeter, careful not to intrude on the ceremony. Two or three were mingled among the guests, just in case, but thankfully everything was quiet. Horatio and Calleigh both realized this was a necessary part of the ceremony, given their profession.
Horatio and Calleigh were told by the director to wait there behind the guests until the photographer was ready and then they were joined by Natalia and Frank. As they stood waiting for the guests to disperse back inside the hotel for the reception, Calleigh's father Kenwall approached them and seemed to be sober.
"Lambchop, I am so sorry….I let you down, but I wouldn't have missed your day. I cleaned myself up and sobered up enough to make it. You are beautiful! I can see the love you have for each other and I welcome a son into our family." With that he gathered Horatio into a bear hug, patting him on the back, "Welcome to the family Horatio…."
Horatio felt uneasy, but returned the hug the big man gave him, "Thank you, Sir."
"Kenwall, son….call me Kenwall, Sir sounds too formal."
Calleigh smiled, she was glad her father got himself together enough to come to their wedding.
Then Kyle approached his father and said, "Congratulations Dad!" and gave him a big hug. This hug brought more tears to Horatio's eyes.
Breaking the hug, Horatio placed both hands on each side of Kyle's face and smiled, "Thank you Son, it means so much to me that you could be part of our special day! Where is Katlin?"
"She is talking with Alexx right now." Kyle responded.
"Go tell her to stay for the pictures with us, I want you and our daughter-in-law in the pictures," said Horatio smiling.
Turning back to Calleigh she found that Kenwall had meandered toward the hotel after he promised Calleigh he would stay away from the bar and she and Natalia were enjoying a conversation.
"Horatio, I must say that you look very dapper in that tux!" Natalia commented, and then got a light swat from Calleigh.
"Forget it girl….he is taken!" Calleigh said with a huge smile toward Horatio.
"I am, and always will be Sweetheart," Horatio replied pulling Calleigh close.
Just then the photographer came and got them for pictures. After the pictures, the group headed for the hotel and the ballroom. Horatio noticed that the sun was in the early stages of setting and the colors in the sky were more beautiful than he had ever seen.
Horatio had scooped Calleigh into his arms and carried her to the hotel so she would not have to walk through the deep sand.
Calleigh playfully said, "Careful Handsome…..we don't want to do your back in before the honeymoon!"
"Sweetheart, you are light as a feather!"
"Excellent comeback for a newly married man," Calleigh snickered and laughed.
More pictures were made of Horatio and Calleigh cutting the cake and drinking from their champagne flutes. Calleigh resisted cramming cake into Horatio's mouth, as she remembered his warning if she were considering doing that and she did not want to start off on the wrong side of her new husband so, she cooperated. It was hard though, he kept making her laugh while the photographer was snapping the pictures.
Everyone was enjoying the food and drink and the soft music the band was playing. As it turned out, Kenwall was actually behaving as Horatio had kept his eye on him to make sure he didn't sneak over to the bar.
After visiting with their guests and grabbing a bite here and there, and a flute or two of the bubbly, Horatio and Calleigh suddenly heard their cue to make their way to the dance floor.
The band leader speaking into the microphone, told the guests that the groom had made a special request for them to play a certain song and they were about to do that.
"Here they are ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom enjoying their first dance together," and with that the music started. Horatio took Calleigh into his arms and lightly kissed her lips.
Calleigh gasped when she heard the words being sung and looked up into Horatio's blue eyes. It was "I Owe You" being sung by Lee Greenwood! LEE GREENWOOD…..Calleigh thought, as she broke contact with Horatio's beaming face to look on the platform to see the man standing there, looking straight at them singing his song:
You believe, that I've changed your life forever
And you're never gonna find another someone like me.
And you wish, you had more than just a lifetime to give back all
I've given you, and that's what you believe.
But I owe you the sunlight in the morning
And the nights of all this loving that time can't take away
I owe you more than life now more than ever
I know that it's the sweetest debt I'll ever have to pay.
I'm amazed when you say it's me that you live for
You know that when I'm holding you, you're right where you belong
And my love, I can't help but smile with wonder
When you tell me all I've done for you 'Cause I've known all along.
But I owe you the sunlight in the morning
And the nights of all this loving that time can't take away….
Horatio and Calleigh looked deep into each other's eyes as the words washed over them and all Calleigh could finally whisper was, "Oh, Horatio my love….how? How did you manage to do this?" Horatio only smiled.
"You are surely a man of many surprises, Horatio Caine," Calleigh said as she kissed her new husband passionately.
Finally breaking their kiss, Horatio responded, "As they say, you ain't seen nothing yet, my beautiful wife."
Alexx, Natalia were watching the couple dance with tears flowing down their cheeks. "Now, isn't that just the sweetest sight you could ever see," said Alexx. "My babies are finally where they belong….with each other."
Even the men of the team looked on with misty eyes, though none of them would want to admit it. Frank finally proclaimed in a loud voice, "Well, it is about damn time those two got together! Geez, I was beginning to wonder what I was gonna have to do to make this happen, but seems they finally got the message."
The song ended and Lee Greenwood congratulated the couple saying, "That song was dedicated to two of Miami's finest, Horatio and Calleigh. May your new life together be one of love." And after those words he stepped off the platform onto the floor to shake Horatio's hand and give Calleigh a kiss on her cheek. The photographer was ready and stepped in to capture him with the couple.
The bandleader then announced the dance floor was open and the fun was just beginning.
Horatio and Calleigh walked back to where the team was sitting and shooed them out on the dance floor. Eric and Samantha were together and Ryan and Natalia. Frank and Walter were stag, but enjoyed watching the others.
After resting a bit, Kenwall stood up from the table and looked at Calleigh and asked, "Lambchop, may I have this dance?"
"Of course Daddy, I would love to." They walked out on the dance floor and danced to a slower song.
"I don't have to ask if you are happy Lambchop, I can see you are."
"Oh Daddy, I am very happy. I love Horatio with all my heart, but the best thing is that I know he loves me the same way."
"I am happy for you, all that matters is that you are happy and he cares for you. The rest can be worked out if you already have a foundation of love."
The song ended and they went back to the table. Horatio and Calleigh danced to a few more songs before they agreed it was time to leave.
Natalia caught the bouquet when Calleigh threw it in the air. Afterward, Horatio began dragging out his enjoyable task for several minutes and elicited numerous cat calls, he finally took off Calleigh's garter and flung it into the crowd of men with Eric the winner. Both Eric and Natalia looked at each other and nervously laughed.
Frank approached the couple as they headed to the door and assured them he would be at Horatio's condo at 10:00 a.m. in the morning to drive them to the Amtrak station.
Kyle and Katlin hugged them both and wished them a safe trip and would see them when they returned home from the honeymoon.
Horatio and Calleigh approached his Acura in the parking garage, thinking they had hid it from the guys but they found out wrong. Horatio let out a loud groan when he saw his car.
"Well, guess we'll have to run through the car wash before we go home."
Calleigh giggled and replied, "Did you really think you could hide the car from the team?"
"Not really, but I thought we might have a chance to escape unscathed."
It was 2:30 a.m. before Horatio could carry Calleigh over the threshold of their condo and to bed. Before they undressed, Horatio pulled Calleigh into his arms and asked her, "Have I told you lately how beautiful you are Mrs. Caine?"
"Only a million times tonight, Lieutenant Caine."
"Let me make it a million and one, you are so beautiful Calleigh Marie Caine." Then he leaned down and captured her in a passionate kiss. Slowly they undressed each other taking care not to damage her dress before lying down together in their bed and making tender love.
TBC….
