Wow! Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Sorry for the little delay in updating. CRAZY WEEK! But i'm off for a long weekend now, so I'm hoping to get some extra writing done this weekend! Anyway...here is the next chapter from the E/C fairytale inside my head.

PS. I obviously don't own CSI: Miami or this would have happened in the show...I swear I'm not bitter

They sat together in the restaurant. The two children sat across from them, enjoying the ice cream that came with their meals. They were sitting closer then they needed to be, but neither one was complaining. Calleigh drew small circles on the top of his hands, ever so lightly, with her fingertips. He reveled the feeling of it. He was not looking at her, as they were both staring at the children, but he knew she was smiling. In fact her smile mirrored his own. They sat there in peaceful silence while the children ate. Just basking in the newfound happiness. Suddenly he heard a laugh escape her lip. Looking across at the two children, he knew exactly what she was laughing at.

Patty had the remnants of her chocolate sundae all over her face. Eric watched, fascinated, as Calleigh quickly reached into her purse, pulled out a wet-nap and gracefully moved to the other side of the table to clean her off. Patty stared into Eric's eyes as Calleigh wiped her face.

"Thank you." She simply said.

Eric smiled at the little girl. "For the ice cream? You're welcome, sweetheart."

The little girl smiled back and then looked up at Calleigh, who was still trying to get the stubborn chocolate sauce off the girl's face. "Calleigh?"

"Yes chocolate monster?"

"Can the policeman come over to your house with us, when we're done eating?"

Calleigh brushed a few hairs off the girls face, and smiled. "It's your house too now, Patty." She said, now moving on to cleaning the girl's hands. "And why don't you ask him if he would like to come over."

Eric smiled, knowing that statement meant she was in favor of the invitation. Patty once again looked over to Eric.

"Mr. Policeman?"

Eric chuckled "You can call me Eric, sweetheart."

"Um. Okay. Eric?"

"Yes Patty?"

"Do you want to come over and play with us some more."

Austin suddenly realized the potential fun of having another male around and joined in the conversation. "Yeah! We could play video games! I just got some new ones from Calleigh! We could…"

"Austin?" Calleigh interrupted.

"Yes?"

"He hasn't said he wants to come over yet. You should let him answer before you make any big plans." She winked at the boy.

Eric was mesmerized by her. The ease at which she adjusted to parenting these two children was amazing to him. She was so beautiful like this.

"Eric?" Calleigh smiled at him as he stared at her. She felt his love in that moment and knew she was doing the right thing.

He suddenly realized they were all waiting for his answer, and laughed at his own attention deficit.

"Yes. Of course. I would love to come over." He winked at Patty and she giggled, while Austin pumped his fist in the air.

"Why don't we pick up a movie on the way home…ugh…I mean…to your house." He stammered clumsily, realizing quickly that he had just referred to their home as his own. But he just felt so at home with them. With all of them. This was right. He just knew it.

Calleigh, now finally finished with the cleanup of her new daughter, discarded the wet nap as she walked back over towards Eric.

"That sounds great, Eric" she said as she leaned down and pressed a light kiss to his cheek.

He blushed, unsure of whether she meant the movie or his slip. To make matters worse, she gave another wink, this time in his direction, sending his internal pressure into overdrive.

Children present, children present…he repeated over and over in his head, in an effort to stop himself from doing the one thing he really wanted to right now.

Calleigh, however, seemed perfectly at ease as she lightly laid a hand on his shoulder and turned to face the children.

"Okay guys. You ready to go?"

"Yeah!" they children exclaimed excitedly.

She looked down at Eric, moving her hand to his other shoulder so her arm was now around him. "And what about you? Are you ready to go home."

Well, I guess that answers his earlier question!

He could not speak, afraid to burst the bubble he was currently floating in, so he simply nodded and smiled back. She removed her hand from around his shoulders and reached for his hand. He gladly accepted, and dropping a few $20 on the table for the meal, he stood and they followed the children out.

Back at Calleigh's house, they sat together in her very cozy, but now seemingly very full, living room. The two children were sprawled out on the floor in front of the television while Calleigh and Eric sat on the couch.

They were sitting about a foot apart, not wanting to confuse the children, but they both had their arms draped across the back of the couch, and Calleigh was running her fingers up and down the length of Eric's arm.

His whole body was humming and though he tried, he could not seem to concentrate on the movie they were all supposed to be watching. He was having a hard time even looking away from Calleigh, let alone focusing on what was on the television.

Every once in a while he would here Austin exclaim "Awesome!" or "Cool!" but he honestly could not tell anyone what he was so excited about.

Suddenly Calleigh glanced over and their eyes met. She looked so peaceful. He wanted to talk to her about everything but he knew now was not the time. He didn't want to force any of it. He knew they were going to have to talk eventually, but right now he was just content to feel her touch on his skin.

She smiled at him and it was so full of love he nearly reached across to kiss her. Knowing she would not approve of that in front of the children, he grabbed her hand in his and brought that to his lips instead. Calleigh smiled in response and wiggled just a little closer to him.

The electricity between them was nearly unbearable. His kiss on her hand had sent currents through her whole body. She quickly glanced at the children, who were still engrossed in the movie, before moving a few inches towards him. She wanted to feel his arms around her. Slowly, inch by inch, she wiggled in his direction until his arm was draped comfortably around her shoulders. With a happy sigh, she nestled into him, resting her head just below his and turned back to watch the movie.

Eric just smiled and tightened his hold on her a little, happy with the place they were right now.

Suddenly, Patty turned to look at them. Seeing them together, she smiled and stood up from her place on the floor. She picked up the blanket she had been laying on and walked towards the couple.

Eric was a little scared that Calleigh would move away, now that one of the children was aware, and although he understood why and did not begrudge it at all, he dreaded the potential loss of her. Calleigh, however, did not move an inch and just smiled at the little girl.

Patty continued her path over the couch and promptly began to climb up into Eric's lap. Surprised but delighted, Eric helped her up the rest of the way. She settled in on his lap, with her fuzzy pink blanket and curled herself into both Eric and Calleigh simultaneously. Eric draped his arm lightly around the little girl, to keep her from falling, while Calleigh placed her hand out for the little girl to grab onto.

They sat like that for several minutes until Patty's slow, steady breathing alerted Eric to the fact that she was asleep.

"I think we've lost this one for the night." He whispered to Calleigh.

She pointed in the direction of Austin, still lying on the floor. "Listen.." she whispered back.

Eric listened and heard the soft low rumble of Austin snoring. He chuckled. Calleigh smiled and reached over to run her fingers through Patty's hair. "It looks like we lost them both." She sighed happily and looked up so her and Eric's eyes met.

"This was a great day, Eric." She reached up and touched his face.

He could barely form a response. "It was…"he breathed.

Again, she lightly touched her lips to his. She nearly lost herself in the feel of it. She allowed his warmth to surround her before finally pulling away.

"Do you want to help me get them to their rooms?" she quietly asked.

He smiled at this invitation, knowing that Calleigh did not ask for help lightly. She really was letting him in.

"Of course." He answered, giving her his trademark sideways grin.

She felt her stomach flip when she met that smile and had to give her head a small shake as she stood to walk over to where Austin was sleeping.

Eric watched as Calleigh tried to gently nudge the nearly teenaged boy awake. The boy stirred and begrudgingly began to gather his blanket and pillow to make the long haul to his room.

Eric repositioned the sleeping child in his arms so he could stand without disturbing her sleep. He too, was quickly on his feet and looking to Calleigh for direction.

She whispered back to Eric as she led the still half asleep Austin down the hallway to his room.

"Her room is at the end of the hall on the right. Across from our..uh..mine." she blushed as she caught herself. "Um…I'll just get him settled and then I'll be right in."

Eric was beaming. He looked deep into her eyes, acknowledging her almost statement to himself. "Take your time." He simply replied.

Calleigh, still blushing, smiled in response as she led Austin the rest of the way to his room.

Eric walked to the bedroom at the end of the hall and opened the door to the room on the right. He smiled at the carefully decorated room. There was a princess bed with pink blankets, a white carved dresser with a vanity and the entire room was decorated with butterflies.

When did she have time to do this? He thought to himself.

He gently laid the little girl down on the bed, and began to undo her shoes. He had done this so many times for his nieces; it had become second nature to him. Once he had her shoes and socks removed, he began hunting for a nightgown. Just as he reached the dresser, Calleigh came into the room.

"Top drawer." She whispered, walking over to the little girl sleeping on the bed.

Eric removed the nightgown from the dresser as Calleigh struggled to lift Patty's shirt over her head.

Eric chuckled and came over to help. "Here, if you lean her forward, it gets a little easier." He said in a quiet voice. He moved the sleeping child to a sitting position and leaned her slightly forward allowing Calleigh to lift the shirt up and off the girl. Eric then quickly and deftly slipped the nightgown over Patty's head and arms and pulled it down over her back. Calleigh then lifted her gently towards her pillow while Eric gently pulled back the blankets and covered her up.

Once the little girl was all tucked in, he smiled at how natural it felt to complete such a simple domestic task with the only woman he had ever loved.

Calleigh smiled back, blinking back a few happy tears. She couldn't believe she had almost let logic talk her out of letting Eric back into her life.

Again, she reached up to rest her hand on the side of his face. "We make a good team." She said positioning herself in his arms.

"Yes we do." was his reply as he reached his arms around his waist. He placed a light kiss to her forehead as she sighed.

"Eric?" she said, lifting her emerald eyes to meet his.

"Cal?" he answered, noticing a shift in her demeanor.

"We should probably talk…" She bit her lower lip, not wanting anything to ruin the perfect happiness she was currently feeling. He sensed her apprehension and drew her close.

"You're right we should," he whispered in her ear. "But, don't worry. I'm not going anywhere."

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