I Do...Just Because

Seven months and four days ago, Calleigh never dreamt that she would be a married woman and a mom to a two-year-old girl today.

And no, she wasn't pregnant.

When Eric got down on bended knee in front of her during movie on their at-home date night she dissolved into tears. Regardless of how long, or not long they had known each other, Calleigh couldn't see her life without Eric.

And Nevaeh.

She and Eric had been officially engaged for just two days when they left work two hours early and tied the knot. Eric's parents and of course, the light of his and Calleigh's lives Nevaeh, attended. Alexx and Horatio came along, serving as witnesses. Eric had given his family all of six hours notice of his impending nuptials. No time to plan a reception to celebrate, but Eric insisted this didn't matter. They would celebrate in two weeks when the entire family was going to spend the long weekend on a resort in Tampa. The newlyweds were going to postpone the wedding night "celebration" because they both had to work the next day and the day, after which was Friday. But on Saturday night Nevaeh could spend the night at her grandparents' house. Pavel had suggested the little girl spend the whole weekend there but Eric said no. He didn't see his child much during the work week and wanted to spend Friday night and Saturday with her regardless of what he had to "postpone." He joked to his father that it would "make Saturday night even better."

Nevaeh wasn't sure what her parents' wedding meant.

Or how mommy could be happy but have tears in her eyes.

But neither mattered when there was cupcakes at home afterwards.

No one the couple worked with was surprised by their impromptu wedding. There was the fraction who betted, literally, it was a big mistake and Nevaeh was going to be the person who paid the price. Another who "just wished them the best" and the final fraction who betted (lierally) the two were meant to be together and would have a wonderful life with Nevaeh. The final bet, with the expense of life nowadays there was a private eighty or so percent who were convinced the couple would stick with one kid. Horatio Caine laughed the first time one of the lab technicians suggested the notion that Nevaeh would remain an only child. Having grown up in one, Eric had always said he wanted a big family. The change in the times and economy being completely irrelevant. Calleigh wasn't pregnant right now, she tried to make this clear. Everyone who had overheard the news of her marriage prior to her and Eric leaving the lab, thought so. Calleigh finally sent out a mass e-mail stating,

I guess ya'll have heard the news. Eric and I are getting married at city hall at 3:00. Thank you for your well wishes but we will be back at the lab tomorrow. And so everyone who needs to can get to the ATM can, and others can collect their winnings before shift, I will let everyone know now I am...NOT pregnant!

Calleigh Duquesne (soon-to-be Duquesne-Delko)

The e-mail had ended up going to Eric as well and he chuckled reading it. He had been getting the same looks and comments from everyone. Where as it seemed to be annoying his wife-to-be otherwise she wouldn't have sent out the e-mail on his computer screen, this amused Eric. It even amused him that people thought they wouldn't last. They would just have to show those people. On Monday morning Calleigh planned to file the already filled-out adoption papers, all she had to do was to date them. The home study, visits and interviews could get started. With the main process, the termination of her daughter's birth mother's rights completed two years ago, the process should be quick.