Title: Til' Death do us Part
Chapter 10 – The Sins of a Mother?

Calleigh hurried into the lab and up to Eric. "I just had another run in with Jake," she told him almost out of breath.

"Are you okay? What happened?"

"I told him to leave us alone – forever."

"How did he take it?" Eric asked in concern.

"He was pretty mad," she frowned. "But I think he'll take the warning…at least I hope he does," she huffed.

Eric gently rubbed her back and could feel her tense and nervous. "Take it easy today okay?" He said softly.

"I will…talk to you later," she said. She just left his side when she looked up and saw a woman walking toward Eric. "What on earth…" she said as she noticed his mother walking up to him with a frown. "Oh no…"

"Mom?" Eric asked quickly.

"Eric…we need to talk," Carmen, his mother said with urgency. "Now."

"Okay," he said looking around for Calleigh. But although she could see him; he couldn't see her. "I want you to meet my w…"

"I need to talk to you about her," his mother started.

"What? What is this about?"

"Please…in private," she told him.

Eric led her to a room and they sat down. "Does dad know you're here?"

"No…I didn't tell him about what you told me…"

"What? You mean that Calleigh and I are married? You didn't tell him…is that what this is about? Did you tell him about Alexander?"

"No," she frowned. "I was going to but then I got a call, from a man…he said that he is Calleigh's lover and that your marriage was false and…"

"What his name Jake Berkeley?" Eric sighed.

"Yes…you know him?"

"Mom, ignore him," Eric stated firmly. "He's an idiot! Whatever he tells you is a lie. He hates me and wanted Calleigh…he can't handle the fact that she's with me. It's no big deal. I'm more worried about you not telling dad…well…about Alexander…my real father."

"This man…Alexander, have you talked to him lately?" Carmen asked softly.

"No," Eric lied; knowing inside he didn't want to worry her further. "Why didn't you tell Pavel? Does he even know I'm not his real son?"

"No," Carmen said sadly.

"Mom, you have to stop lying," Eric moaned as he leaned back in his chair. Calleigh continued to watch and knew the conversation was more than a little strained.

"Eric, I have to protect you," she tried.

"You can protect me by telling Pavel the truth," Eric stated firmly.

"Eric, if I do I lose him. It's either that or ignore this until…I cannot choose."

"No you have to choose…between yesterday and tomorrow," Eric told her.

"It's not that easy," Carmen sighed.

"Yes it is," Eric insisted.

"Eric, I am doing this for you."

"THEN TELL THE TRUTH!" Eric shouted. He noticed a few stares and quickly calmed down. "Then for me…tell the truth. Dad…Pavel…whatever, he was mad when I took this job and abandoned his dream of me being an engineer…but he got over it. You need to be clear with him. If you don't tell him the truth about our marriage then I will have to. Can't you see…when this is past and I get my papers I will ask Calleigh to marry me and we will have a proper ceremony and wedding and…"

"Then we can wait until then," she told him.

"What?" Eric asked in shock. "You don't want to come over now? Are you ashamed of me? Of us?"

"I could never be ashamed of my son," she said touching his face.

"Well you are telling me you are by not telling dad the truth."

"Eric, I'm afraid of what he'll say…my mistake has already cost you so much…"

"Then you need to tell him…" Eric insisted.

"I will lose him," she frowned. "This was an affair; just one night with Alexander…your work was nothing compared to my betrayal," she told him.

"Then you need to tell him now…please," Eric begged her. "Before this goes any further."

"I will…when the time is right. Eric you have to trust me."

"Why? You haven't told me the truth yet…why should I start now!" He snapped in anger.

She looked at him in shock and Eric immediately felt remorse for his harsh and angry words. "I'm sorry," he offered. "But you need to come clean."

"Take care of your new wife Eric…"

"Mom, don't do this," Eric moaned as she pushed herself up to leave.

"Eric…"

"Mom, please…" Eric begged.

"I have to go."

Eric hurried after her but she only gave him a small hug and kiss on the cheek and then turned to leave. She got into the elevators; her son's defeated expression still burned into her memory.

"Eric?" Calleigh asked softly.

"She hates me…"

"What? No she…"

"She won't tell dad…Pavel," he said, his shoulder slumping; his back still to her. "She refuses to tell him and won't come over to meet you and isn't happy about this…our marriage," he said looking at her with a crushed expression; his eyes threatening to spill.

"I'm so sorry," Calleigh stated in misery.

"My mother still wants to lie. She hasn't learned from this," he moaned. "I just…" he said turning to leave.

"Eric…"

"Please Calleigh…I just need a minute," he said turning to leave.

Calleigh grabbed his arm and turned him around. "You always do this…want to leave…now talk to me," she insisted. "What else did she say?"

"She's ashamed of me," he lamented. "Otherwise she'd tell…"

"Did she say that?"

"No," he huffed. "But I know…I just…" he tried again as his voice cracked. "She caused this and now…I can't do this…I'm sorry," he said pulling free and then turning and walking to the men's room; opening the door and then disappearing from her view.

Calleigh rushed for the stairs, raced up them, hoping to head off his mother in the parking lot. "Carmen!" She called out; making the older Cuban lady turn and look at her with a frown.

"Yes? Do I know you?"

"Not yet, but you will," Calleigh smiled. "I'm Calleigh Delko and I'm your new daughter in law and I won't let you hurt Eric any more."

"You don't understand," Carmen started.

"Neither do you…now it's time you heard my side," Calleigh stated firmly.

Carmen looked at the determined young woman before her and smiled slowly. "I can see why my son loves you," she said softly.

"Well I love him and we both want you to share our new life with us."

"But…"

"I won't let you do this…walk away and pretend like nothing happened. I asked Eric to marry me because his real father had a chance to do the right thing and didn't. I don't regret that decision but I think you will regret keeping this from Pavel," Calleigh told Carmen. "Please…help me help Eric to enjoy this arrangement. He already has a lot to contend with."

"This Jake person?"

"What? What about Jake…how do you know him?" Calleigh asked in haste.

Carmen told her what Jake said and then what Eric told her.

"Eric is right, but you and I need to talk…please just a few minutes. I care too much for Eric to let this rift develop. He loves you and needs your support…please," Calleigh tried again. "Just hear me out."

Carmen looked at the younger woman before her and knew she owed her that much. "Okay," she smiled.

Eric finally exited the men's room and hurried into the lab; offering his token good morning to Eddie and then eager to get started and let the work before him take his mind of his mother and Jake.

He looked around for Calleigh but she was gone; he immediately felt bad for pushing her away. She was right…he did push her away when things got tough – that was his MO. He was trying to change it, but it was still hard. He honestly thought inside that his mother would have told his father and they would have worked through everything as a family – now he feared that would never happen.

So with a stony expression and a sullen disposition he pushed himself back into his work; determined to make the day pass by with the thought that Jake Berkeley was now history.

Calleigh, however, finished her conversation with Eric's mother and hurried back to the lab. But she was stopped on the main floor by Ryan, who needed her help with one final detail of the Rider case and so she was not able to go and tell Eric the talk she had with his mother. She knew he was hurting and upset; but she was worried that he pushed her away again. Oh Eric…will you ever just open up completely?

But like Eric, she too was very happy that Jake would finally be gone for a bit and let them just start to settle in.

Little did they know their troubles with Jake Berkeley were not quite over.

XXXXXXXX

Jake checked in for his new assignment and then set about finalizing his evil plan. "You don't deserve her Eric," Jake snided. "And if you don't deserve her then you shouldn't have her."

Jake made a call and then started to write a few things down. "Soon Calleigh…soon you will be mine and Eric will be helpless to do anything. In your darkest hour where will your husband be?"

XXXXXXXX

Eric tried Calleigh's cell but it wouldn't answer; he was told later that she was still in court with Ryan, trying to put an end to their new case.

"So what's the report going to say?" Eric asked Eddie.

"It'll say that I think you are doing a good job and that I have no concerns and neither should they."

"That means a lot," Eric smiled. "Thanks…but as strange as this sounds, I kinda liked having you here."

"It wasn't that bad," Eddie smiled. "You know I always did wonder what you science geeks did," he stated, making Eric laugh.

Calleigh finished up with Ryan and then asked Horatio if she could book out early. He agreed and she hurried home to get things ready.

"What do you mean she went home early?" Eric asked Horatio about an hour later. "Is everything okay?"

"She didn't say," Horatio frowned.

"Damn it," Eric cursed as he dialed home. "Calleigh?" He asked in concern. "H said you went home early, everything okay?"

"Yes, everything is fine."

"Calleigh, I'm so sorry about earlier. I was just mad about mom and then Jake and…"

"Eric, Jake is going away on an assignment and we won't have to contend with him for some time. And your mom…just relax about that. Trust me…she'll come around," she told him in a kind tone.

"So you're not mad at me?" He asked quickly.

"Well I might punish you when you get home," she teased.

Eric lightly laughed and then sighed. "I am sorry. I really am sorry for pushing you away."

"Everything will be okay."

"Boy I wish I could believe that," Eric huffed.

"Just hurry home. I have a surprise for you," she smiled over the phone.

"Oh I like the sound of that," he said as he hung up. With those happy words and some encouragement from her, the rest of his day seemed to pass by with ease.

Eric stopped his car and rushed inside. "Calleigh?" He called out as he closed the front door.

"In here," she called out as she exited the bedroom. "How was your day?"

"Well once again it ended better than it started," he told her. "I am sorry I was so curt earlier. I was just angry about Jake's words and then mom…"

"What? Wait a sec, what did Jake tell you?"

"Another voice mail about you marrying me for something to do," he frowned. "But now that he's on that assignment I'm kinda relieved," he said giving her a hug. He looked past her to the table that was set for four people instead of two.

"Uh…did I miss something? Who are we having for dinner?"

"We had plans, remember?" She smiled.

"Calleigh, they won't come," he said in sorrow.

"Have a little faith," she said kissing his cheek. She pulled away just as the doorbell rang.

Eric looked at her in shock. "No…it can't be…is it?"

"Will you please get the door?"

Eric hurried to the door and pulled it open; staring at his parents in shock.

"I uh…"

"Hello son," his mother whispered as she hugged him close. "You have an amazing wife," she whispered. "You hang on to her."

"I intend to," Eric said pulling back and looking at his father, Pavel.

"Eric," Pavel said firmly as he went to shake his son's hand.

Calleigh noticed the stiffness between Eric and his father and felt her nervousness starting to grow inside. She wasn't sure if Eric would be mad, but she knew they had to try to make peace; in truth, she did it for him – Eric – her husband who she loved.

Eric welcomed his parents inside and then introduced them to Calleigh. Calleigh gave them each a hug and then offered to give Carmen a small tour; allowing Eric to be alone with his father.

"Did mom tell you?" Eric asked softly; as he sat beside Pavel on the couch.

"She did," he sighed.

"And?"

"And I wish I known sooner," Pavel frowned. "If I had known you might have been deported I would have forged a birth certificate for you."

Eric looked at him in surprise.

"You are my son," he said touching his back in a loving manner. "I would do anything for my family."

"But I thought…" Eric's voice started weakly. "Were you mad when she told you?"

"What makes you think I'm not still mad?" He asked with a frown.

"I wish I had known also…I just found out myself," Eric sighed.

"It will change things," Pavel told him.

"Change? Like what?" Eric asked in haste.

"I just learned a few hours ago that my only son isn't really mine. That my faithful wife wasn't that faithful. That isn't something that I can just ignore and pretend didn't happen," he said sadly.

"But…"

"It's not your concern, Eric," Pavel stated.

"Yes it is," Eric replied. "You guys keep trying to tell me it's not my concern…this is my life…and therefore it is my concern," Eric tried.

"This is between your mother and myself," he said in a low tone.

"I am your family!" Eric said.

"And that is why this must be between your mother and myself," Pavel replied.

"I…" Eric started.

"Please…let's talk about something else."

"I just feel like everything is falling apart and it's my fault," he lamented in sorrow.

"Eric you have grown into a fine young man. You have a good head on your shoulders and a beautiful woman who risked everything to help you. I couldn't be more proud," Pavel said, patting Eric on the back.

"Thanks," he smiled. "That means a lot. What do you think of Calleigh?"

"I think she's amazing…what she did…she must really love you," Pavel noted.

"She does. And I really love her," Eric sighed as he watched them come back. "I'm just afraid I might lose all of this."

"That's life son…we all face that."

"But what if…"

"Eric, you can't sit and dwell on the negative…"

"But you are," he said. "With mom. I'm just afraid you'll break apart and it'll be my fault," Eric moaned.

"Eric, whatever path your mother and I travel down will not be the same path as you and your wife. You have your own future to contend with."

"Got any good advice?" Eric asked with a smile.

"Actually…" his father started.

Calleigh looked at Eric and his father and noticed they weren't displaying the same tense postures as when she had first left; now they were talking and smiling.

Oh Eric, I'm so glad, she smiled inside.

Calleigh called them for supper and then for the next few hours, the conversation was light and centered around non-descript things like their next diving adventure; what was on the news and what the next steps for them as a couple would be.

Then it was time to call it a night. "Thanks for coming," Eric said to his mother. "Thanks for doing this."

"I love you Eric," she smiled warmly at her son; lovingly touching his warm face. "I'm just sorry that you had to go through all this."

"Yeah me too," he said hugging her close. "But in the end I think I did okay."

"More than okay," she smiled as she gave him a quick kiss and then went to give Calleigh a hug. "Take care of my boy," she told her.

"You don't have to worry about that," Calleigh smiled.

Eric gave his father a small hug; and although tonight wasn't the happy fest he hoped for him and his father, it was a start.

Eric held Calleigh in his embrace and watched as his parents slowly walked to their car a few hours later. Eric waved bye and then watched them pull away and disappear from view. Eric closed the door and then looked at Calleigh in surprise.

"How did…I mean when did…you're amazing," he smiled, looking at her with a wondering expression.

"Your mom and I had a little girl talk this afternoon," Calleigh smiled.

"But how did…she's stubborn and…I mean I got it from her and…" his voice trailed on.

"I just told her what a wonderful son she has and that she has to listen to me. I also told her about my big gun collection and the rest is history," she winked.

"Right," Eric smiled as he kissed her warmly. "Well I can't thank you enough…I owe you…"

"Oh really?" She teased. "I think I might hold you to that."

"Please do," he teased in return. "How about right now?"

"No time like the present," she smiled. But then she noticed his frown. "What is it? Didn't tonight go okay for you?"

"I'm worried Pavel might leave mom," Eric huffed in misery. "Now I wish I hadn't told her…"

"Eric, your mom kept things from you and look what that got all of you," Calleigh tried in an inoffensive tone; not wanting to cause a fight. "You of all people should know the value of the truth."

"Yeah but maybe ignorance is bliss," he told her in anguish. "Calleigh if they get a divorce then…"

"There is no doubt this will be a tough situation for them to work out…but they need to do that…we cannot interfere," she said touching his face. "But I love the fact that you are so concerned. Your caring for others…it's one of the reason's I love you so much."

"But Calleigh…if they pull apart," Eric started in sorrow.

"I don't know what to say because I don't know what they'll do. But all we can offer is our love and support."

"Damn Alexander Sharova!" Eric cursed in anger.

"Don't let him ruin a nice evening," Calleigh smiled. "Please?"

"I'm sorry," Eric frowned. "I just wanted things to be fixed…"

"Well as you know, sometimes things can't fix themselves very fast. They just need time. Okay?"

"Okay," he smiled softly. Eric pulled Calleigh into his arms and hugged her warmly. "Come on…I need you to cheer me up."

"What did you have in mind?" She smiled.

"Surprise me," Eric teased.

A/N: hope these filler chapters aren't too boring. THanks