Trouble Begins
Calleigh Duquesne-Delko was watching as her daughter played in her playpen with her stuffed animals. Now twelve and a half months old, Emily Marisol Duquense-Delko was half of her whole life. Calleigh smiled as her husband, Eric Delko, walked into the room. He was the other half of her life. Calleigh smiled at Eric. "You about ready to head to bed?" Eric asked her. "I was going to let Emily finish winding down, but then I was," she said. "Dada!" Emily said, a smile spreading across her face. Eric smiled. "Yes, Dada's here," he said, picking her up and holding her. She smiled, beginning to play with the collar of his shirt. "I'll finish putting her down. "You can go get ready for bed," Eric said. Calleigh nodded, and as Eric went to put Emily to bed, Calleigh headed off to the shower.
The next morning, Calleigh woke as she heard noise in the kitchen. As she looked at her clock, a smile suddenly spread across her face. Getting a rather mischievous grin, she quickly rolled out of bed, reaching underneath it. She pulled out a plastic rectangular box, wrapped in blue paper. She silently tip-toed towards the kitchen. As she peered in, she could barely stifle a giggle. Eric was making pancakes, only, instead of making them the normal way, he had found cookie cutters and was making them into shapes. Or, more like attempting anyway. "Boo," Calleigh said. Eric jumped and turned around, sending pancake batter all over the side of his face. She grinned, still keeping the gift out of sight. "Mornin' sunshine," she said with a grin. "Calleigh, what are you doing up? I wasn't expecting you up for another.... twenty minus," he said. She smiled. "You having fun out here?" Eric looked at the mess he'd made of the kitchen. "Can I ask the occasion?" Calleigh asked. "No, you may not," Eric said with a grin. "Then you should really flip those pancakes before they burn," Calleigh said with a grin. Eric quickly turned around, managing to flip them before they burned. "You made me say it last time," he said. Calleigh smiled. "Ok, alright, happy anniversary Eric." He smiled, plating the pancakes before he turned back to her. "Happy anniversary Cal." He smiled, then kissed her on her nose. She smiled, then moved the gift into view. "I got you something." Eric smiled. "I got you something too, but I need to finish breakfast first," he said. She smiled. "Alright, but hurry up." "You want to go get Em?" he asked. Calleigh smiled. "Alright, I can manage that," she said.
Soon, they were all sitting at the table. Calleigh was eating a deformed heart-shaped pancake, while Eric ate what had once slightly resembled a flower. Emily was making a bit of a mess as she ate her own breakfast. Calleigh smiled, patiently cleaning up after her daughter. "My mother volunteered to watch her today," Eric said. "She'll be here shortly to pick her up." Calleigh nodded. "And Horatio said we could stay home today as long as they didn't need us," she said. Eric nodded, finishing off his breakfast. Calleigh finished as well, and began to help him clean up.
Not long after they'd finished, Eric's mother had arrived and took Emily over to her house. As soon as Eric shut the door, he turned to Calleigh. "Shall we exchange gifts now?" he asked. "I think you'll like what I got you." Calleigh smiled. "fine, fine," she said. he smiled, then quickly headed upstairs to the bedroom.
Calleigh opened her gift, going rather slow just because Eric was sitting on the edge of his seat, wanting her to open it so badly. Calleigh smiled. "it's another charm for my bracelet," she said with a smile. This one was a small silver shield, much resembling the badge that everyone at the Miami-Dade Police Department carried. "You like it?" Eric asked. Calleigh smiled. "Eric, it's perfect," she said with a smile. Then. she pushed him his gift. He opened it, smiling as it revealed some new shirts, as well as a gift card to his favorite store. "Cal, this is great," he said. "Not as good as what you got me though," she said with a smile. "He just smiled, then leaned in, kissing her gently.
Calleigh suddenly felt Eric deepen the kiss, before he pulled back his head. "Calleigh.... have you ever thought of having more children?" he asked softly. Calleigh's face went ash white. Dr. Clyde's words began to ring in her ears again. Calleigh had never called her back after that day, but her words still seemed fresh on her mind. "Calleigh?" Eric asked. Calleigh sighed, closing her eyes. "Eric, I can't," she whispered softly. "Cal, it's ok, really," he said, kissing her forehead. "If you're still not comfortable, that's ok," Calleigh sighed. "Eric, it's been almost three years now." "But Cal, you and I both know that what happened to you was something you will never forget," he whispered, pulling her close. "I know Eric, but it's still getting better," she whispered. "But I still can't." "I know Calleigh, I know." Calleigh swallowed the lump in her throat. She couldn't hide it from him anymore. "No, Eric, you don't know," she said softly. "What do you mean?" he asked. "I mean I've been lying," she said softly, her voice quivering. "Eric, I'm not ok," she whispered. "In fact, I've been putting things off that I shouldn't have. Eric..... my memories aren't the only things keeping us from children, but me myself. The doctor said it was because of what Ivan did, as well as the miscarriage, but... Eric, I can't have any more children," she whispered. She fought back the tears as she explained everything in detail to him. Eric was completely silent, even after he finished. "Eric, I'm sorry," she whispered. "it's not your fault," he whispered slowly after a moment. Calleigh wanted to respond, when her phone rang. Wanting to get out of the awkward moment, she answered it. "Duquesne." She only used that name with work, so no one got her mixed up with Eric. "Calleigh, we need you and Eric to come in. Major crime unfolding." "Alright Ryan, we're on out way," she said. She hung up her phone, then looked at Eric, who had by now stood up and was staring put the window. "They need us," she said softly. He was dead silent as he nodded, heading to get ready. The ride to the lab was one of complete silence.