Daddy's Baby
The first time he held his daughter in his arms Eric cried, hard. Chloe was barely 12-hours old. Eric couldn't imagine nine months ago that he would be holding a tiny baby in his arms. Eric had held newborn babies before, his sister's children but the emotion he was feeling now was a million times more overwhelming.
"Hi sweetheart," he whispered to the baby, kissing her head.
She's so beautiful, he thought.
The little baby stretched and yawned, her brown eyes opening. Eric smiled, kissing the tip of Chloe's nose and lips. "I love you, baby girl," he murmured to her.
Eric couldn't wait to take Chloe home. The new father spent the next day and a half at the hospital with his daughter, learning to take care of her. The nurses were only too happy to show him.
From the moment he had Chloe home Eric reveled in the joy of being a father to his daughter. He didn't want his mother or anyone else taking care of Chloe when he was around. He quickly became at ease at bathing her, feeding her, changing her diapers and getting her to sleep. When his daughter was four-days-old, having met her grandparents, aunts and cousins, daddy Eric decided it was time for Chloe to meet her CSI family.
"Come here, my angel," Eric said, picking and kissing his newborn before putting placing her in her carrier. "You know daddy loves you. Now you're going to meet more people who love you. Your uncle Horatio can't wait to meet you."
Horatio had been a great friend to Eric since they met. He had been there anytime Eric needed someone to talk to in the last month since Melissa had come to the lab, even if it was at 4 a.m. when Eric couldn't sleep thinking of the fact he might soon become a father. His boss and friend was always there to listen. Eric planned to ask Horatio to be Chloe's godfather. Horatio had never got the chance to be a father, Eric didn't mind "sharing" Chloe with him.
Alexx was walking down the corridor when she saw Eric walk in with the baby in his arms. She ran over to him.
"Oh, let me see! Oh, Eric! She's so beautiful!" Alexx exclaimed.
Eric grinned. "I know."
His old friend, Tim Speedle "Speed" wasn't comfortable holding the newborn but both Calleigh and Horatio were.
No one knew that driving home that evening Calleigh cried tears of joy realizing she found the love of her life and that his baby, even if she didn't birth to her was hers.
Three months after Chloe was born Eric was notified by registered mail that Melissa had formally relinquished all parental rights. He was now his daughter's sole legal parent.
