Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters used in this story. But I do own the random people.

Summary: The last five years have been hard. She felt like everything was going wrong, but when you have two small children you learn they come first and that your needs should be pushed aside.

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The Transient

- : Chapter 6 : -

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The entire day seemed to move in slow motion. All sounds became mute, and nothing else in the world mattered except for the fact that he was gone and never going to come back. His parents insisted the limo the group people were in. She sat her arm being hugged tightly by the little blond haired girl whose hair was curled up in pigtails, that sat in her lap. Sitting beside her was tiny little twin of her husband. She wished he would cry but all day he just sat there staring off into space.

Further down the line of seats sat friends and family. Eric had finally broken-down, he kept his straight face through the entire morning as he spoke with Tim's family, but he couldn't hold it in anymore and sat there face in his hands while Valeria rapped an arm around him holding him close. Alexx sat teary eyed. Her husband sat quietly next to her.

Ryan had his head up against the side of the limo obviously thinking deeply to himself while Horatio sat silent his usual somber toned face looking out the window of the other side.

Tim's mother had insisted for Calleigh family to join them in the limo as well there was more than enough room, but the usual Duquesne southern hospitality and manors took the drivers seat. "No, no this for you and Tim's friends. We will meet you at the funeral and afterwards everyone can come back to our home and we will have dinner. No exceptions." Nikki stated giving off the same radiant smile as her cousin would have if she was happy. She took the arm of her husband while Calleigh's father opened the door for Calleigh's mother.

Calleigh looked outside the window hoping the moving scenery would calm her nerves. She began to perk up she could have swan she saw Tim riding his bike along side only to be brought back to reality when the limo hit a small bump. However, she did smile. It may not have been Tim, but Ben his hair blowing in the wind while his suite coat and tie where safely hidden under his black leather jacket.

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The young men finished their cohesive firing as the large group in black sat quietly looking at the closed walnut coffin. A top it sat two large arrangements of white lilies and roses. The preacher finished his sermon as Tim's father rose from his seat and helped Horatio lower the coffin into the grave.

Calleigh was in desperate need for someone to hold her. To help all the building pain and sorrow go away, and for some reason when she felt this need her eyes glanced from the grassy floor over to the hung head of Ben. Both him and Tim were so different in style and manor, but there was just something about him that intrigued her and scared her at the same time. Especially now, now was not the time to have these feelings it was her husbands funeral.

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The large Mediterranean styled home was crowded with cars from friends and family. The limo used to take a few of those members to the funeral sat in front of the driveway on the street. To just the typical onlooker this site would just be looked as large mid-day house party.

It was relatively quiet inside the home. People had dispersed into smaller groups, some talking about moments they remembered with Tim ranging from childhood to the last time they spoke with him, and others would be talking about the big game that was coming up because of their obvious discomfort on mentioning anything about Tim.

One of the small groups sat over in the sun room their small plates of assorted food being nibbled at as they spoke about work and what their department was going to do now that he actually was gone and not on "leave" like many had been lead to believe.

Finally, the night has come and the dinner all had been promised set out in the buffet area as their temporary guests filed out of the home giving each a final goodbye. A large southern home cooked meal was what they all needed and Calleigh watched her Godchild and so called niece Emily set the large dinner table for all the guests while TJ set the table in the kitchen for the children. "It will be ready in fifth-teen minutes everyone!" yelled Calleigh's mother Caroline.

The yell brought Calleigh from her dazed state that she has been getting on and off all day. She looked into the cracked door and smiled as she watched her mother and aunt fight off Tim's father from touching anything in the kitchen. "Richard this is our treat go sit down and enjoy yourself." She heard one say.

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The fifth-teen minutes had pasted everyone was gathering towards the large display of food. Calliegh began to place small portions of each on too two different plates and walked into the kitchen placing them on their assigned places. She realized finally that her two little ones were the only ones not there. "Have any of you seen Emma or Danny?" The group of children shook their heads so Calleigh was now off on a mission.

She had started her search on the second floor. Looking in the guestroom that had over the years become the extra room in Nikki's home for herself, Emma, and Danny while their new home was being renovated. Neither were in there so Calleigh made her way down the stairs. She looked in the playroom Emma and Danny were no where to be seen.

As she gave up and began walking back towards the dinning room she passed by the now desolate living room, and in the corner of her eye she saw a large figure laying on one of the couches with a small figure laying on their chest. Quickly deciding it was a long shot but she should go and look anyways so she walked into the room.

There they were. Danny a sleep laying his head on the arm of one side of the chair his body taking up one of the large seat cushions. Emma on the other hand was using the larger body Calleigh had noticed like it was a bed her small head lying against the man's chest. Calleigh shook her head with a smile as she realized who had his arm rapped around her baby girl. Ben laid there eyes shut his hair in his face. He looked like he belonged there; it began to scare Calleigh again just as it had fore the past few weeks, but seeing her children sleeping calmly in his arms and at his side. Just seemed right.

'Maybe moving on isn't such a bad thing to be thinking about.' Calleigh thought to herself. 'Tim would want us to be happy and Ben does enjoy spending time with them.' Was her last thought before bending over and picking up Emma from Ben's arms. "Baby its time to eat dinner." Calleigh whispered softly as her daughter rubbed her eyes and yawned. She set her down and shook Danny's shoulder softly. "Sweetheart. It's time to get up Grandma just finished fixing dinner." Danny lifted himself from his cozy spot and hobbled over too Emma and took her hand walking with her to the kitchen.

"How long were you there?" asked Ben with a small yawn as well.

"Long enough to see how good you are to them…"

"Well, they deserve it." He stretched his arms and walked off to the dinning room with Calleigh. Once at the table he pulled out a chair for her and watched her sit and took the place next too her.

Calleigh leaned to her right side so that only Ben was able to hear her voice. "Thank You." That not being meant for the chair.

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TBC…Please review. Long last few days. Delayed Happy Holidays to everyone by the way! Hope this chapter works out.