Chapter 2
"Are you okay sweetheart?" Horatio asked as he began to walk over to her when she didn't stand back up straight away.
"Yeah" she said softly as she reached over and pulled the book closer to her with a mild frown. 'Why's he hiding a book for?' Zoë thought to herself as she leant back and then very slowly stood up with the hairband and book in her hands. She read the cover and then looked over to Horatio as she tilted her head. He stepped back and looked down shyly as he took a deep breath. As he was looking down, he didn't see the smile appearing across her face as she looked back up to him from the book.
"You've been reading this baby book?" She asked with a genuine smile and he nodded shyly as he glanced up at her. He didn't even give himself time to look at her smile before he looked back down to the floor. 'Is he embarrassed by this?' Zoë questioned herself as she tilted her head and tried to work him out.
"I have this book downstairs handsome… you could have borrowed that one if you wanted." She said as she walked over to him with a smile and placed the book on the edge of the bed. She stood in front of him and looked up at him while he looked at her belly and pressed his lips together as he shrugged. It became clear to Zoë that he was actually embarrassed by it. 'Aww bless him. He's so cute.' Zoë thought to herself as she raised her right hand and placed her fingers under his chin just as he does all the time with her. She lightly lifted his chin and allowed her eyes to make contact with hers while he swallowed.
"There's nothing to be shy or embarrassed about Kitten, this is so cute and I'm really happy that you're actually reading something. Not all fathers do that, I'm really proud of you. Thank you, Horatio." She said softly as she removed her hand from his chin and fiddled lightly with his fringe as she gazed into his eyes with a dreamy smile pulling her lips to her ears.
"I saw that you liked the book and were getting a lot of information, I wanted to read it too, but I wasn't sure if you'd laugh if I read your book as it's for women." Horatio said shyly and quietly. She furrowed her brow as she looked from his right eye to his left repeatedly while she placed her palm against his cheek.
"Of course I wouldn't laugh; these books are for the Daddies as well as the Mummies. I'm happy to know that you're taking such an interest in everything. You shouldn't be embarrassed about that at all. I was going to suggest that you start reading something to try and get you ready, but it looks like you already have that covered." She smiled as she moved her right hand and placed it round the back of his neck as she put her left arm up and around him and pulled him closer. She pressed her stomach against his and smiled brightly at him.
"It's actually made me really hot for you... again." She smiled up at him and then watched the smile appear across his face. He tried to suppress his boyish smile while he wrapped his arms around her and began to feel a lot better in himself.
"I've got lots more books that you can read if you like, they aren't designed just for us Mummies. I can't believe you thought I'd laugh at you, I laugh at a lot of things, but that is heart-warming and really supportive." She smiled softly as she looked up at him as he moved his hands from her sides to her back where his hands snaked down into the back of the jogging bottoms which caused her to grin more.
"How else do you think I've been getting the knowledge that I have?" Horatio asked with a small smile as he concentrated on the feeling of her stomach pressing against his.
"Well, you're incredibly intelligent, I just assumed it was something that you already knew, like all of that knowledge you have of history, art and other stuff that you seem to pluck out of thin air." She said softly and Horatio smiled at her a little wider with a gentle chuckle. He then moved his nose and pressed it against hers with a smile.
"Do you still fine me attractive?" She asked out of the blue. Horatio stopped nuzzling her nose with his and frowned as he pulled his head back slightly to look into her eyes properly.
"Of course, you know I do, Zoe. I somehow find you more attractive, I didn't think that was possible. But you're carrying my daughters, they're in your tummy right now, to me it's a magical feeling and it turns me on more." He said softly as he gave her a reassuring smile as he looked warmly into both of her coffee coloured eyes but he could see that she looked a little confused.
"How come you've not got an erection though? I just said that I'm hot for you, you're usually begging to be taken out of your trousers by know." She said softly as she tilted her head. She then pressed her lips into a hard line as she began to mildly frown at him while she watched a cheeky boyish grin pull at his lips.
"I am… stand back, your tummy's in the way." He said softly as he released her and she moved back and then saw his tight trousers when she looked down. Her frown was immediately wiped from her face and replaced with a mischievous, devilish grin. His boyish smile only grew when he studied her grin as he placed his hands on the sides of her belly. "You didn't feel it because your tummy was in the way and I'm tucked away in my boxers right now." He said softly and she bit her lip before she began to lightly giggle as she reached up and placed both of her hands on his shoulders with the luminous seductive flame in her eyes that he loved to see.
"I think I should do something about that then." She grinned as she winked at him and he chuckled with a boyish smile and removed his hands from her belly to begin to undo his shirt buttons as quickly as he could.
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"What would you like Tyler to call you?" Calleigh asked Eric over the phone.
"Erm, I don't know, what do you think he should call me?" Eric questioned while he stood in the break room at work.
"We call you Eric at the moment, but he knows you're his Dad, so it's really up to you. Are you ready for him to call you Dad?" Calleigh asked softly. Eric sighed as he made himself a coffee at work, trying to make the decision. "Do you want my honest opinion?" Calleigh asked when she heard his indecisive sigh.
"Please." Eric said as he stirred his coffee and watched the coffee spin in the cup.
"I don't think you're ready for him to call you Dad, I think you need to meet him first and I think you need to spend some time with him and build up a bond, if that's still what you'd like to do in the future." Calleigh said softly.
"I think you're right Calleigh, I think I'm still in a slight state of shock too, I can't get my head around the fact that I have a son." He said honestly as he raised his hand to his head after stirring his drink and ran his hand over his head.
"I understand Eric, I will give you some time, in the mean-time, perhaps it may help you if I sent you some pictures or my ultrasound scans?" She asked softly.
"That could work, it's worth a try, I guess." Eric said softly as he glanced around to make sure no-one was going to enter.
"Okay, I'll send some things down and when you're comfortable and only when you're comfortable you can meet him, it's a daunting thing for men find out you're going to have a child when your partner is pregnant, let alone have someone tell you that you have a year and a half son." She said softly.
"Thank you for being so understanding, Calleigh." He said softly as he smiled warmly down at his coffee.
"Anyway, Tyler is now drawing on the walls, so I should go." She said softly and Eric couldn't help but smile a little more with a very light chuckle.
"Okay, take care." Eric said softly and Calleigh heard the amusement and knew he had a smile on his face through his voice.
"You too, bye Eric." She said softly before they hung up.
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Friday morning arrived and both Zoë and Horatio woke just as the alarm sounded. Zoë groaned as Horatio quickly pressed the stop button. She exhaled tiredly and blinked a few times before she placed both of her hands on her belly.
"Can we get rid of the alarm, the babies don't like it." She smiled tiredly as she looked over to him and he chuckled lightly. He then leant over and placed a light, loving kiss on her lips.
"Morning Daddy" she smiled once he'd pulled back a few inches to look into her eyes.
"Morning Mummy" he replied and she smiled with a giggle and then kissed him again as he placed his hand over her belly while he continued to look down into her beautifully bright eyes.
"I think they're kicking each other again." She said quietly as she looked into his sapphire coloured eyes and he nodded. 'They make me melt each time I look into them.' Zoë thought to herself as her smile began to grow more dreamy while she also concentrated on his delicate hand over her belly.
"I think so too." He replied quietly with his charming smile when he felt quite a big movement.
"What if one of them kicks the other baby too hard which causes that baby to come out early?" She asked smoothly as she looked at him, looking genuinely worried. Horatio began to laugh loudly as he rolled back onto his back and closed his eyes. 'Did she genuinely just say that?' He thought to himself as he turned his head and looked over to her with a radiant, amused smile. Her smile widened as she watched and heard him laugh more. 'It's too early for that…' Horatio thought to himself which is how he knew he found it so funny.
"You do come out with some classic things, Zoë." He said as he stopped laughing and smiled widely at her as he rolled back onto his side and placed his hand back on her belly. She furrowed her eyebrows innocently as she looked back into his eyes.
"I thought it was a simple question." She said smoothly as she raised a hand and pushed her fingers through his floppy hair.
"I can assure you that neither baby can come out if one baby kicks the other hard…" He said still amused by it all. 'Her brain really doesn't engage so early in the morning. One thing I hope they don't get from Zoë is her common sense… please, I hope they have my common sense. Was she joking? I never know when she's serious with questions like these.' Horatio thought to himself.
"Oh, okay. I guess that gives me some piece of mind." She said softly and he laughed again when he realised she was genuinely being serious with the question. He calmed himself and looked brightly into her eyes as he brought his lips closer to hers again. He gave her one kiss before pulling back again to admire her eyes. "Does the second baby help push the first baby out?" She asked softly as she raised her eyebrows again.
"No sweetheart." He said with a chuckle as his smile only widened more. "You're on top form with your questions this morning." He smiled and she smiled back with a light giggle. She found it amusing as he seemed so entertained by it all.
"I'm curious" she said softly before she bit her lip and he smiled with a light nod.
"It's good to be curious, but surely common sense would whittle out some of the questions you have? Val has even been through the birth briefly with us." Horatio said softly with a smile while he gently rubbed her stomach.
"Common sense? What's that?" She asked with a smile and he chuckled again as he looked down to her beautiful smile.
"I guess you're right." He smiled cheekily.
"Oi, you're not supposed to agree with me!" She said with a giggle as she playfully swatted his forearm.
"You said it." He smiled as he lowered his head an nuzzled her nose very briefly before she pouted at him.
"It's too early for any common sense. I do have it, but it hides somewhere." She grinned at him brightly. He chuckled a little and nodded at her, but she could see that he didn't believe her which only made her giggle a little more. "I've got to get up and go to the loo." She sighed when she suddenly got the urge to go. Horatio pulled back and laid down on his side to allow her to get up freely.
"Slowly" Horatio said softly and she nodded as she slowly sat up. He sat up with her and gave her a quick back massage before she got up and walked into the en-suite.
"Are we still going shopping today?" She asked as she walked back into the bedroom and then sat on the edge of the bed. She placed her hand on his chest as he'd laid back down.
"If you're feeling up to it sweetheart." Horatio said softly and she nodded as she allowed her fingers to move through his chest hair.
"Definitely feeling up to it, I'm already so excited! Can we go to the big furniture store first please? Can we get some things like a wardrobe, chest of draws and stuff for the new room?" She asked softly and he nodded as he reached over and placed his hand on her thigh with a gentle smile.
"What room would you like to use?" Horatio asked softly.
"I'm going to be a right pain, but I'd like to use the room where the gym is situated if that's okay? It's because it's the closest room to ours." She said softly and he nodded with a smile. 'I knew that was coming anyway.' Horatio thought to himself.
"That's fine sweetheart." Horatio said softly and she smiled as she planted her hand flat against his chest and felt the light beat of his heart.
"We'll also get the paint today." She said softly.
"Pink?" He asked warmly as he lovingly rubbed her thigh.
"Pink and white I'm thinking?" she asked softly and Horatio nodded. "I can't wait to have a pink room!" She squealed as she sat up straight and beamed brightly.
"I'm surprised the house isn't painted pink if I'm honest." Horatio said softly and she giggled as she leant back over to him and looked down into his eyes with a cheeky grin.
"That's a good idea…" She said before she lightly nuzzled his nose.
"No, we are not having a pink house." Horatio said when he saw her excitement. She lightly giggled as she sat back up and ran a hand through his floppy hair.
"Fine" she sighed but with a smile still pulling her lips from ear to ear. She then leant down again and placed and affectionate kiss on his lips before she sat back up again. "I'm going for a bath, I won't be too long." She said softly and he nodded as she slowly stood back up. He sat up and smiled warmly.
"Give me a shout if you need anything." He said softly and she nodded as she walked over to the chest of draws and pulled out a chocolate bar. "Why is there a chocolate bar in your draw?" Horatio asked with an amused smile as he sat up and moved to the edge of the bed.
"I've left snacks around the house so if I get hungry I don't have to go to the kitchen. Admittedly, most of them are healthy cereal bars, not chocolate bars." She smiled and Horatio chuckled lightly as he looked down to the carpet before he looked back up at her.
"That's a good idea actually." He said softly and she nodded as she picked up a towel and then walked out while she continued to eat the bar. He smiled to himself and then got up and had his shower. She walked back in with the towel wrapped around her. He pulled his boxers up and smiled at her. He looked to her belly under the towel and felt the butterflies in his stomach again. 'We're more than half way through the pregnancy.' He thought to himself with a charming smile as he pulled up his trousers.
"Do you want to get the small things like baby clothes today as well?" Horatio asked softly and she turned to him as she picked up a pot of moisturiser and sat on the edge of the bed to moisturise her legs and arms.
"Yeah, I'd like to, but whether I feel up to it after getting the big stuff first is a different question." She said softly and Horatio nodded as she looked back over to him and saw him with his trousers on. "Can you wear your jeans please? You look mighty sexy in them and they're probably easier to be walking around in. It's ultimately your choice, but I like it when you wear them." She asked warmly and he looked up to her and then nodded with a gentle smile as he pulled the trousers back down. 'She just wants to see more of my bum.' He thought to himself with a light chuckle as he pulled out the jeans from the draw and pulled them up. She watched him with a smile as she bit her lip. He then took his shirt back off and pulled on a plain, high-quality branded t-shirt. He looked back up at her and could see the seductive fire in her eyes. "You look incredibly sexy and casual right now." She said with a smile as she looked back around and continued to moisturise before she pulled on her underwear and then moisturised the rest of her body. He looked down to the floor with a smile as she stood and turned to him with a smile as her eyes really studied him in his casual attire.
"You must tell me when you've had enough, it doesn't matter if we don't get round to get everything, okay? Don't worry if we don't." Horatio said softly as he looked back up to her and she nodded with a gentle expression as she pushed her desires away.
"I suspect that Joe has already brought them a wardrobe full of clothes anyway, but he won't give them to us until I tell him that we've started shopping." She said softly and Horatio chuckled lightly as he nodded and placed his hands on his hips.
"I get that feeling too." He smiled as she sorted her bra out.
"Don't forget Kaitlin, she's probably already got them high heels for their 18th birthday…" Zoë smiled and Horatio chuckled as he looked back up at Zoë.
"They won't be going out until they're 30 and even then they'll have an escort." Horatio said softly and she giggled as she picked up another pot of moisturiser and moisturised her face.
"I thought as much." She smiled as she looked over to them. "You can't be too protective over them though, they will have to fly the nest at some point." Zoë smiled sweetly.
"Maybe when they're 30." Horatio said softly and she giggled again.
"I can see that happening as well… anyway, they're not even 3 months yet, let alone 30. I don't want to think about them leaving." She said warmly as she looked to his belt as he did it up.
"What are you wearing?" Horatio asked softly as he looked to the wardrobe.
"I'm not sure yet. I'm already boiling, so I don't think I'm going to go for leggings or jeans, is there any loose summery dresses?" She asked as she sat on the bed and began to massage one of her legs as she could feel a cramp developing. He walked into the wardrobe and checked around before poking his head back around the door.
"You've got a few in here, what would you like?" he asked softly.
"Can you show me, please?" She said as she turned and looked round as she gently massaged her legs. He came back and presented a selection on their hangers as he looked back to her. 'I've never seen her in a casual dress.' He thought to himself.
"Not the flowery ones." She said and he put them away before walking back out to still hold another 5 dresses up for her. She then then looked back round to him and lightly bit her lip.
"No actually, I liked that black with pinky-red flowers with the low neck dress." She said as she looked back to him and he sighed and then walked back in to pull it back out and stood by the bed.
"No I don't actually…" She said as she looked at it. Horatio sighed with a gentle smile as he looked to her, awaiting for her to choose as she bit her lip. "I like the navy blue one with white polka dots, what do you think?" She asked with a smile and he looked to the dress she was referring to.
"I've not seen you in it, so I don't know." Horatio said softly and she nodded.
"I'll try it on then, it should go over my belly." She said softly and he nodded and then handed it to her. She stood up and then turned to him once she had it on.
"I like it, it suits you." He said softly and she turned to the mirror to look at herself while she bit her lip. She then ran her hand over her belly as a smile appeared on her face.
"That is quite cute actually… I like it, especially with the baby bump." She smiled as she looked back to him and he nodded as he sat down on the bed while she quickly straightened her hair and applied a small amount of make-up. He then got up and walked over to her with a smile as his eyes drank her in.
"Come on, we're hungry." She smiled up at him and he nodded with a smile as he placed the other bag on the side and placed his hands on her belly before they turned and walked downstairs and had breakfast.
"Put some water and snacks in your handbag sweetheart." Horatio reminded her and she nodded.
"I don't want to put too many in there though, we can get some food in town." She said softly and he nodded with a gentle smile.
"But make sure you've got something." He said softly and she nodded. "Are you sure you want to go today, sweetheart?" Horatio asked softly and she nodded but he could see her hesitance while she put a few things in her bag. "Talk to me, beautiful." He said softly as he moved forwards and placed a hand on her belly whilst he placed his other on her lower back.
"We're not getting this stuff too early, are we? We're not going to jinx it or something, are we?" Zoë asked quietly as she looked over to him.
"No, we're not getting it too early sweetheart, I think we're pushing the limits of getting things too late if I'm honest. We won't be jinxing anything. When did you become so superstitious?" Horatio asked softly as she turned fully to him and lightly bit her lip as she furrowed her brow.
"Are you sure?" She asked and he nodded while he moved both of his hands to the sides of her belly.
"I promise." Horatio said softly and she nodded as she exhaled steadily.
"I'm only superstitious when it comes to things like this… I'm terrified of something happening to them… I'm even more scared of something happening to them and it being my fault because I've said something that's jinxed it. I mean, I'm not exactly the luckiest person alive." She said quietly as she looked down to his chest.
"I promise you sweetheart, nothing is going to happen to them and nothing is your fault." Horatio said softly and she nodded as she exhaled again and looked up at him. "We can leave it another week, sweetheart, but you may start to get quite uncomfortable." Horatio said softly.
"No, I want to do this now, please, it's going to take a few trips to town anyway to get everything." Zoë said softly and Horatio nodded with a gentle smile as he lightly rubbed her belly.
"Okay, we're going to take it slowly though, we're not going to rush around." Horatio said softly and she nodded. "Okay sweetheart, have a glass of orange juice and we'll be off." He said softly and she nodded and poured herself a small glass of orange juice and then walked out with him. They arrived at the furniture superstore and walked in hand in hand. Horatio could tell that Zoë was extremely excited which caused him to feel quite excited too. 'I'm getting excited over some furniture? I thought I'd never see the day. Then again, I do think it's purely because she's so excited.' Horatio thought to himself.
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They were in another superstore surrounded by shelves of paint. 'Just how many shades of the same colour can they have?' Horatio thought to himself as he looked at all the different colours of pink. 'There's got to be about 50 different colours, surely?' Horatio thought to himself.
"What shade of pink to you prefer?" She asked Horatio softly as she looked back to him and took hold of his hand.
"Well, I don't like that hot pink you have your eye on, I'm going to put that out there." Horatio said softly and she nodded with a light giggle.
"Fair enough, it is a bit intense for babies." She said softly. He moved forwards and picked up baby pink.
"This one?" Horatio asked softly as he turned back to Zoë with an inquisitive expression. 'We could be here all day if we don't agree on a colour.' Horatio thought to himself but he saw Zoë's smile widen.
"Yeah, I like that." She smiled and he nodded.
"Anything else you want to get while we're in here?" He asked softly and she nodded.
"Curtains, lamp and lightshade." She said softly and he nodded and then walked off hand in hand to collect the rest of the items.
"Oh my gosh, that lamp shade is way too cute! It's got Winnie the Pooh on it!" She grinned and Horatio smiled as he picked it up and studied the pink shade with the characters looking like they were dancing around. "Can we get one of those banner things that goes around the middle of the wall?" She asked and he nodded.
"Winnie the Pooh orientated?" He asked and she nodded enthusiastically. 'She's probably more excited about it than the girls will be.' Horatio thought to himself with a secret smile. 'I guess though, this is exciting for her as she probably never got things like that until she lived with David.' Horatio thought to himself.
"I hope they're Winnie the Pooh mad… I still love it." She smiled and he chuckled lightly, he didn't doubt that, he knew she still loved it. "You've seen my Winnie the Pooh teddy in the closet, haven't you?" She asked and he nodded with his secret smile still shining.
"And that Winnie the Pooh blanket…" Horatio said softly as he raised his eyebrows and she giggled while she lightly bit her lip and hugged his arm.
"That was a present for my 10th birthday… it's nearly 20 years old!" She smiled and his eyebrows rose."Did you like anything like that as a child?" Zoë asked softly as she looked up at him with curious eyes.
"Erm, I guess I used to like that old style Micky Mouse, I never had anything I was attached to though. I had a plain teddy bear… don't forget that I'm older than you and things like Winnie the Pooh weren't broadly known or even invented properly then. The characters that were around were very simple, just how I liked things like that." Horatio replied and Zoë nodded.
"Do you still have anything like that?" Zoë asked and he shook his head at her as he looked down.
"Really? You don't have anything like that?" she asked as they stopped and he shook his head again.
"I wanted to leave every part of my childhood when I grew up, including the little materialistic possessions I had." Horatio replied quietly.
"Oh handsome, I'm sorry, I hope I've not upset you?" Zoë asked and he shook his head.
"Of course you haven't sweetheart, don't worry," Horatio replied brightly as he smiled warmly at her and they began to walk again.
"I've never asked you outright Horatio… but what was your childhood like? You know a lot about mine and I've put 2 and 2 together with what you've given me, but I'm still in the dark. That's not a problem at all, don't feel like you need to tell me because you don't. I don't want to make you uncomfortable and upset you, I know things like this are very sensitive. I didn't want to ask you really… I didn't want to believe that you went through anything similar to me… it would break my heart to know that you were subjected to the same because you didn't deserve any of that." Zoë asked quietly and sounded unsure.
"You didn't deserve it either, Zoë. But yes, I was subject to–" Horatio began but heard something that stopped him.
"Zoë? Horatio?" A man called from behind them.
"Well talk later." Horatio whispered and Zoë nodded as they turned and saw Joe walking over to them.
"Hey" she asked with a smile and then saw him with a couple of pots of paint.
"How are you doing?" He asked as he walked over to them with a bright smile.
"We're really good thank you, just doing the first lot of shopping now." She smiled softly as she glanced up to Horatio who gave Joe a gentle smile and nod.
"I could have picked what you needed up, you should be resting." He said softly and she smiled.
"We wanted to see what they had to offer, it's for the girls room as you can see…" she said as she looked at the basket in Horatio's hand.
"I can see that now." He smiled softly as he looked back up at them.
"What are you doing here? Don't you have work to do?" She asked softly.
"No, I have the morning off as my meetings were cancelled so I decided I'd pick up the paint for the kitchen and study today." He said softly and Zoë nodded and looked down to the pots of pain in his hands.
"Ah, I like the colours you're going for, they're quite mellow, much like you." She said softly and he smiled.
"I like yours too." He replied softly with a smile and she giggled as she looked to the pink pot of paint in Horatio's hand.
"I know." She grinned as she looked back to him. "Anyway, we should be off, I'm getting hungry again." She said softly and he nodded with a smile. "We'll see you soon sweetie." She said softly as she quickly hugged him and then kissed his cheek.
"See you both very soon and have a lovely day. Horatio, if you need a hand with decorating, I'm more than happy to help out over weekends." He said softly with a gentle smile.
"Thank you Joe, I'll keep that in mind." He said softly and then shook Joe's hand once he'd put the paint under his other arm. They then went to pay while Joe walked off to pick up some brushes.
"I can't help with painting, can I?" Zoë asked as Horatio put the basket on the desk and he shook his head.
"Eric has already offered to help though, as well as Joe, so you won't need to help us." He said softly and Zoë nodded with a smile and then put the items in bags. Once finished and paid they went over to a small café in town to relax and have something to eat.
"Horatio, I'm really horny again." She said quietly as he sat back down opposite her as he placed their drinks on the table. She sat forwards with the devilish look in her eyes as she bit her lip. She reached over and placed her hand over his on the table.
"We're in public sweetheart, unfortunately there isn't anything we can do about that." Horatio said softly and she sighed as she nodded before she looked down to the table cloth and felt his skin beneath her fingers while she lightly ran her fingertips over the back of his hand.
"I know." She sighed again as she looked back up at him, but he could see the devilish look in her eyes multiply. "Can't we have a quicky in the car, please? No-one can see anything, the windows are blacked out in the back…" She asked softly and he chuckled quietly. 'Please say yes Horatio! Is that chuckle him saying yes? Would he actually make love to me in the car? I hope so…' She thought to herself as she bit her lip.