A shrill cry sounded from the monitor, jerking Calleigh from her sleep. She had the comforter half way off when Eric caressed her cheek from behind, whispering to lay back down. Her eyes were already closed as Eric gently brushed her hair back and got out of bed.

Eric turned on the gentle-lighted butterfly lamp as he entered the nursery, frowning at his daughter's tears and the angry jerking of her tiny limbs.

He laughed as her tears ceased the moment his hand braced her neck and she was lifted up.

She gurgled as Eric laid her against his chest, sprinkling kisses against her forehead.

"Are you hungry, Querida?" He brushed a hand through her curls as they walked to the kitchen.

He shifted her into one arm as he prepared the bottle, laughing at the angry wrinkles appearing on her tiny forehead.

Eric grinned as Amelia ate greedily. He sat in the rocker, letting his eyes close as thoughts of his and Calleigh's life together brought a smile to his face.

ECECEC

Calleigh was exhausted, over-due, and peeing every twenty minutes was not helping a single bit.

She let out an exasperated sigh as she adjusted yet another pillow under her legs. She ran her hands against her temples a few times before leaning up to pull her hair into an up-do. If she weren't so grumpy and irritable, Eric would tell her how adorable her pout was.

Eric allowed himself to smirk at her as he circled to her side of the bed.

"You're cute, you know that?"

Calleigh crossed her arms at her chest, her smile hidden behind a harrumph, "your daughter won't come out."

"She just likes her momma. I can't blame her," Eric smirked, finally earning a smile.

"I kind of like her daddy."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Mhmm."

Her flirty response turned into a sigh of relief as Eric took her foot into his hand, massaging the sole. Eric stifled laughter as Calleigh's eyes practically crossed at the feeling.

ECECEC

Eric combed his free hand threw damp hair as Calleigh clamped onto his other one. She let out a strained whine and wiggled her hips, trying to force air into tense body. Eric moved a hand into the water to trickle it down her spine.

The stress of active labor had Calleigh wheezing, not able to keep up with her breaths. Eric reached behind to pull his shirt off, preparing to do more than just hold her hand. He immediately took her weight as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I can't breathe," Calleigh tensed, voice cracking.

The last time Eric heard those words, he was catching her in a quick descent to the floor.

"Look at me, baby," he said as he guided her face to his, sitting down fully into the tub. He waited until she made eye contact.

"You're doing so well, Cal. Breathe with me, you're so strong," he breathed for her, relaxing when she finally nodded against him.

"She's never gonna come out."

Eric wasn't sure what time it was; he'd lost track when holding her hand stopped helping the pain. He cringed as he felt her tense, knowing she'd lose her breath again.

He was determined to never let her lose it again.

ECECEC

"Mmamama," fifteen month old Amelia squirmed in her dad's arms, whimpering as she watched Calleigh walking away.

"She'll be right back, Querida," comforted by her daddy's voice, she relaxed as she brought a hand to Eric's mouth.

"Ddadadada."

"That's right, baby girl. Daddy's here."

Eric rolled the cart down the aisle to meet Calleigh half way, stopping to take in the sight. Her hair was up in a messy bun, her glasses running low on her nose. He smiled at the way it scrunched before she pushed them back up. She bit her lip as she decided which ingredients to buy for the baby puree.

Amelia let out an excited squeal and reached for the banana in her left hand.

"I guess we have a winner," Calleigh chuckled as she put the other fruit back and carted the banana.

ECECEC

Calleigh's eyes peeled open at the feeling of her hair being smoothed from her face, a grinning Eric beside her.

"You're awake."

"How long have I been out?"

"About an hour."

Eric leaned down to rest his lips against her forehead, savoring the feeling of her skin against his.

Calleigh relished in the feeling of Eric's fingers combing through her hair, a sense of calm settling in for the first time since the fire and her collapse. She lifted a hand to the cannula, removing it to rub her itchy nose. She smiled as Eric stroked her cheek under the tube.

"I was scared," Calleigh admitted quietly.

"You went down pretty fast, huh?"

"You caught me."

"I'll always catch you."

ECECEC

"You're givin' me goose bumps," Calleigh giggled at the feeling of Eric caressing her naked side with his fingertips.

"Is that so?"

"Mhmm."

Calleigh moaned as Eric trailed his lips against her collarbone, his fingers still tickling.

Eric grinned as her body responded to the attention, "Do you like that?" It was a whisper directed straight to her earlobe, rendering her speechless.

"Eric," she managed breathlessly.

"You're so beautiful," he trailed off as he kissed a hot path down her abs.

"Fuck." Her hips jerked has he traced the bones there.

Eric's eyes nearly crossed at the curse that slipped out. He couldn't get enough of her reactions.

"Is this okay?" Her heart melted at the sight of him peering up, his question soft and genuine.

"Always."

ECECEC

Eric tiredly entered their home after closing the garage, his eyes drooping.

He smiled at the sound of Calleigh animatedly telling Amelia that daddy was home. He could hear her shrieks of excitement and the bath water, without a doubt, soaking Calleigh.

He braced his shoulder against the door jam, taking in the sight of his wife making their daughter's bath toys talk. He laughed at the sight of Amelia's soapy curls sticking straight up.

"Daddy!" Her wide, brown eyes spotted him before he could surprise Calleigh.

He felt his heart flutter as Calleigh turned to look over her shoulder, her smile tugging every fiber in his body.