Precious Chapter 1

It was the christening of Donna Jade and Daisy Joanne Caine. The service had gone without a hitch, and now they were in the Caine house celebrating.

"The service was beautiful, congratulations to the both of you."

Calleigh recognised that voice, "Anna! It's great to see you. I'm really happy you could make it to be godparents. Where's Hugh gone?"

Calleigh gave Anna a hug, "he's around somewhere. He'll be showing Chloe off to everyone. The rest of your team haven't met her yet."

"She's getting big now," Calleigh sounded surprised herself. Chloe was growing up very quickly and she felt that she was missing it with the McBreadles living so far away.

"Oh don't remind me, it's flying by. Anyway, where have your two gone?"

Calleigh looked around, Daisy Jo was fast asleep in the pram and Donna was in daddy's arms, trying to take daddy's bottle of beer from his hand. Typical Donna, always trying to get into mischief. She then noticed Hugh talking to Horatio, with Chloe sat on his lap.

"Well Daisy Jo is fast asleep over there and Donna is getting into trouble with daddy as usual."

Anna laughed, "I take it you both have your hands full?"

"Donna can be a handful, she's always on the go and wanting to get into things that she's not supposed to. Daisy Jo is a lot quieter. She loves her sleep, just like her daddy."

"So where does Donna get her mischief qualities from?"

Suddenly Calleigh felt a hand on her shoulder, "hey Lambchop."

Calleigh turned round and gave her dad a huge hug then turned to Anna with one of her arms around Duke's back, "this is my dad Duke, this is where Donna got her mischief genes from."

Duke mocked being offended, "now where would you get an idea like that from?" Duke grinned from ear to ear.

"Oh I wander! Daddy, this is Dr Anna McBreadle she's one of Daisy Jo's godmothers."

Duke put his hand out to greet Anna, "oh so you're Anna. Calleigh and Horatio told

me all about you both and your daughter. It's nice to meet you at last."

"Well thank you," Anna responded to Duke's gesture.

"Now where are those gorgeous grand-daughters of mine?"

"Now don't you go waking Daisy Jo up, you will be in trouble if you do."

Duke had a mischievous smile across his face, "now would I do a thing like that to you Lambchop?"

Calleigh's eyes narrowed to meet her dads, "I mean it dad."

"Okay, okay! Point taken," Duke wandered over to Horatio who was trying to wrestle his beer bottle from Donna, much to Stetler's amusement.

"Would you like me to take her?"

Horatio turned round to meet Duke, "oh yes please. I can't even have a sip without her grabbing my bottle. Rick's not being much help, he's just watching me struggle."

Stetler was stood trying to keep a straight face, "hey Daisy Jo is my god-daughter, not Donna," Stetler joked but was disappointed that his fun was over.

Duke took Donna from Horatio, "now then missus, you don't want to be starting that, granddad knows all about that. It's not pretty, just ask mummy."
Donna replied with pulling at Duke's eyelid, then flashed her big ocean blue eyes at her granddad which melted Duke's heart, how could he be mad at that? Horatio laughed.

Hugh had been sat in his wheelchair watching this episode take place with Chloe sat on his lap, "Horatio, exactly who are Donna's godparents and who are Daisy Jo's? I'm a bit confused."

Horatio chuckled, "well, Daisy Jo's godparents are Anna, Rick, Ryan and Alexx. Donna's godparents are yourself, Frank, Natalia and Eric."

Hugh was impressed, "now I have trouble remembering who Chloe's godparents are, but you have two sets to remember, rather you than me mate!"

"Uncle Ratio?" a little voice could be heard coming from Hugh's lap.

"Yes sweetheart?"

"Please can I have something to eat now?"

Horatio crouched down to Chloe's level, "I'll tell you what Chloe, do want to come and help me unwrap all of the food on the table?"

The little brunette's brown eyes open wide with excitement, "oh yes please!"

Horatio put his hand out and Chloe held it, "and if you do a really good job, you can get your food before everyone else."

Chloe got all excited and jumped off her dad's lap and went with her Uncle Horatio.

Stetler turned to Hugh, "you've lost her now."

Hugh smiled, "well, I don't mind, she doesn't get to see Cal and Horatio much or 'Ratio' as Chloe calls him."

Duke was struggling to keep Donna under control. She was wriggling about and pulling at Duke's face, hair, tie or anything she could get her little hands on.

"Are you okay there Duke?" Stetler put his empty bottle in the trash can next to him.

"Yeah, well, I don't think that there is any skin left on my face now," Duke laughed.

Stetler put his hands out to Donna who in turn reached out to Stetler. Duke felt relieved that he could keep his face in one piece.

As Stetler held Donna, whilst talking to Hugh and Duke, Eric walked past with Suze.

"So you do baby-sit children as well as Horatio?" Eric couldn't resist.

Stetler looked at Eric, he wasn't impressed. Suddenly, Hugh stiffed the air and screwed up his nose, "that doesn't smell too good."

Stetler lifted up Donna and could smell what Hugh smelt, he looked at Donna, "I think it's time you went back to your mother."

Eric, Suze, Duke and Hugh burst into laughter.

At the food table, Horatio had Chloe as his little helper and uncovering the food. He felt a pair of arms wrap around his waist. He gently turned round to meet Calleigh's smile. He put his arms around Calleigh, "hey gorgeous." Horatio gave his girlfriend a kiss on the lips. Chloe pulled a face, "mummy and daddy like to do that."

Horatio and Calleigh chuckled at the innocence of Chloe's comment. Horatio noticed over Calleigh's shoulder, Stetler making a beeline for them with Donna in his arms.