Title: And I Tell You, This Is Love – 4/5
Author & Beta: Shadowfax27
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: Eric/Ryan
Category: Humor, Fluff
Fic Rating: PG-13 for some sexual innuendo – it's the Hardy Boys! Can you blame me?
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the cute little Halloween Penguin who decided to nudge me off the couch as I was watching CSI: Miami Monday night.
Summary: Ryan and Eric take their daughter trick or treating.
A/N: I haven't gone trick or treating since I was 17, but I do remember a lot of what we did back then. So I'm basing this fic on some of my personal experience.
Written Entirely For: Alligator138
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Chapter 4 – This Is Love
"I'll take care of him, Daddy," Ali assured him, her big green eyes sparkling with sincerity. "I promise."
"Papa?" Ryan now turned his attention back on Eric as he stood up. "What do you think about Ali getting this kitten?"
"I think Daddy needs to help us take care of the kitten. Don't you agree, Sweetie?" Eric asked in such a sickly sweet way that it was all Ryan could do not to wipe that mocking smirk off his face.
He should've known his lover would pull something like this.
"Yeah!" Ali nearly jumped up and down. "Daddy too! Daddy too!"
"Okay, okay!" Ryan nearly hollered, grinning broadly despite the trick that had just suckered him into adopting and taking care of a newborn kitten.
Ali continued to hold her kitten close as her dads spoke to one of the representatives about adopting said feline. They filled out a reservation form, put in a small "good faith" deposit, and promised to visit the shelter the very next day to formally register and adopt the kitten.
Naturally, their daughter was disappointed when she found out she couldn't take the kitten home with her that night, but they assured her that they would go to the shelter to claim the kitten first thing tomorrow morning.
And so, with one last cuddle and a gentle kiss to the kitten's head, Ali reluctantly put him back into the little pen and waved a little sad good-bye.
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They exited the building together, Eric loading Ali's tower costume and his horse's head into the trunk, before all three piled into their car. They were silent and contemplative for a moment as Ryan drove them home.
Then with an audible sigh that both men couldn't ignore, Ali broke the silence first.
"Papa?"
"Yes, darling?"
"Do kittens trot?"
Frowning at the seemingly off the wall question, both men cast a bewildered glanced at each other briefly before Eric ventured a response.
"I suppose they can when they get older."
"Oh."
"What do you think, Daddy?" Eric asked, fishing for Ryan's opinion.
"I think your Papa's right, Ali," Ryan answered, hoping that the little girl would elaborate.
But another silence followed, a silence that seemed to linger much longer than they expected, and it wasn't long before both men found themselves burning with curiosity.
Turning slightly to look at their daughter in the back seat, Eric finally prompted, "Why do you ask, Sweetie?"
"Just thinking…" was Ali's short reply before she let out another sigh.
The car settled into silence again, and Ryan took the opportunity this time to break it. Perhaps a change in topic would draw out a more satisfying response.
And so glancing in the rearview mirror at his daughter, he asked, "So… have you thought about what you're gonna name your kitten, Ali?"
"Mm-hmm."
"And…?" It was Ryan's turn to prompt her this time.
"And I think I found the perfect name for my kitty!" she declared proudly.
"Well, then let's hear it," Eric urged her on.
"Yeah, Ali. So what name did you decide?" Ryan pressed.
"Harry!" the little girl nearly squealed the name, a broad grin stretching her painted face.
"Ha- What?" Ryan asked, confused.
"Harry! I'm gonna call him Harry!" came Ali's pleased announcement.
"Harry?" Ryan frowned, casting a sideways glance at the Cuban.
"Uh-huh," the six-year old nodded.
"I'm sorry, Sweetie, but did I hear you right? Did you say 'Hairy'?" Eric asked.
"No, Papa," Ali corrected, laughing. "It's not 'Hairy,' it's 'Haaaa-rry."
"Ali baby, are you sure that's what you want to name your kitten?" Ryan asked, trying to make sense of why their daughter had chosen such an unusual name for a cat.
"I'm sure, Daddy."
"I mean, you could name him something cute like 'Cupcake', or, uh… or 'Cuddles'… or, or maybe even 'Chess-ter', you know? Since he's black and white, yeah?" Ryan suggested, glancing briefly at his partner for support.
"Yeah, yeah…" Eric chorused in, agreeing. "I think you're onto something there, Daddy. I like 'Chess-ter'. That would be a good name for a black and white cat. Don't you think so, Sweetie?"
"But I don't like those names," Ali protested.
"Okay. Well, uh… h-how 'bout 'Dexter'? Yeah… That sounds like another good name for a kitty, doesn't it?" Ryan tried again.
The little girl just shook her head, however, her mind already made up.
"No, Daddy. I like Harry. Plus he's all soft and fuzzy and hairy. It's perfect!" Ali beamed, and there was no changing her mind.
"Oh, is that why you named him 'Harry'?" Ryan asked, still trying to comprehend his daughter's reasoning behind the name. "'Cause he's gonna be a big fuzball when he grows up?"
"Yeah… But I like it because Harry's my favorite boy wizard, and he's really sweet and really smart, and I know that my kitten's gonna be smart too, and one day, my kitten's gonna grow up and can jump and run and hide, and then I'll have to chase him, and then he'll know how to trot, and then I can finally give him a middle name and call him Harry Trotter!" Ali explained in a rambling run-on sentence, all in one breath.
That said, it only took a moment before a face-splitting smile spread across both men's faces. Ryan and Eric shared a meaningful look, comprehending finally why Ali had chosen that particular name for her new pet. And letting out a soft chuckle, they finally agreed:
"Harry Trotter it is!"
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Much later that evening, as they were tucking their little girl into bed after she'd finally come down from her Halloween sugar high, Ali couldn't quite quell the excitement fluttering in her chest. They would be picking up Harry tomorrow, and she can't wait to bring him home and make him part of her small family.
She hugged her Daddy and her Papa tightly around each of their necks, telling them that she loved them and vice versa. In turn, Ryan and Eric planted a kiss on either side of her cheeks and bid her good night.
"Papa? Daddy?" Ali called out for the last time just as the two men were about to turn off the lights.
"Yes, Sweetie?" both men replied in unison.
"Thank you."
"For what, Ali?" Ryan asked.
Yawning, Ali replied sleepily, "For letting me take Harry home. For making him part of our family."
And with another yawn, Ali closed her eyes and immediately fell into a deep, exhausted sleep.
Of course, their daughter's last statement wasn't lost on either man as they turned off the lights in her room and closed the door gently behind them.
They had always been open and honest with Ali about the nature of their blended family:
They had adopted her when she was barely over a year old, and they couldn't have been happier with their decision to bring her home. There was no doubt in their minds that they wanted to become fathers. And although they were keen to explain to her what adoption was all about (once they felt that she was old enough to understand), they also made sure she knew and felt that they loved her like their very own flesh and blood.
They knew that in Ali's heart, there were no doubts that her Daddy and her Papa loved her dearly as their daughter.
"This is love..." they kept telling themselves. "This is as real as it gets."
And now, as their blended family prepared to grow from three to four, their daughter would at last receive the same opportunity to show unconditional love to another, even if it's only to a black and white kitten.
Walking hand in hand, the two headed towards their bedroom in silence, a knowing and proud smile tugging on both of their lips. The peaceful quiet told of an unspoken agreement between them as they wordlessly stripped down to their boxers and slipped easily under the covers.
There would be plenty of other nights (or mornings) for them to make good on their earlier promises of horse-riding and wild trysts and of seeing a handsome prince attempt to tame a fierce stallion.
But for now, they were quite content to just settle in each other's arms, close their eyes, and dream of "happily ever afters", Eric spooning Ryan from behind until they both fell into a worn out slumber.
It was a perfect way to end Halloween.
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TBC
The Halloween Penguin saw fit to dedicate this chapter to Ali and to fond memories of her Harry.
A/N: I had to think hard about what I wanted Ali's kitten's full name to be, and when it came down to it, well… Harry Potter's the only famous "Harry" that I know of. It was either that or Harry Connick Jr., hahaha… I think Harry Potter's better, don't you? Hence, the kitten's name: Harry Trotter. It's as creative as I've ever gotten with names, unless you include Sir Poundsalot, my Kinight in Pounding Armor (aka: my stubborn migraine)! But let's not got there…