AN: Thanks again for the reviews!, Enjoy this last chapter. Hope you love it.
Chapter 10: Forever Yours
The next morning Calleigh opened her eyes, yawned and lifted her head up from laying on his hand, she turned her head to look at him and what she saw surprised her, his beautiful blue eyes were open and he had that little grin on his face.
She was speechless for a minute before she spoke. "Let me go get the doctor."
She didn't want them to interrupt later, but when she got up he put his hand on hers and spoke. "It's ok, they already know that I am up. I told them to let you sleep."
She nodded and sat back down, with her hand still in his she spoke again. "How are you feeling?"
He moved and winced a little as he said. "I am little sore, but other than that I am ok, the doctors seemed to think your presence was the key for me waking up." As they smiled at each other she was suddenly lost for words.
After a few minutes of silence he speaks again. "But there is something I am confused about." She looked at his line of sight and saw him looking at the ring, then they looked back at each other and he continued. "When did we get married? Was I even present?" He smirked.
She chuckles a little. "We had to tell a little fib so I could come in and be with you."
"They told me and I quote. 'Your wife has never left your side.' end quote."
She shook her head and replied. "I was here the whole time, I didn't leave your side except for a few times when I needed too or when I got dragged away to eat." He nods in understanding, and before he spoke again she continues. "Horatio we need to talk and I want you to listen, ok?" He nods. "When you came over to my house that morning and saw Eric it wasn't what you thought it was. He came over after our date, we talked and he slept on my couch and that was it, nothing happened and it wouldn't have because I am in love with one man and that is you."
She saw that Horatio was going to speak, so she spoke again before he could, needing to get this out so he would understand everything. "I think I had always loved you from the moment we met, it's just that our timing has always been off and somehow I just kept getting involved with the wrong men that ended up hurting me in someway. I am tired of that I need a man who I know won't hurt me and that is you. When I look at you I see everything I want in a man, everything. Horatio I really, truly, deeply, love you and I can't believe it's taken me this long to tell you."
Tears started to go down her cheeks, so he took his hand out of hers and puts it on her cheek as he spoke. "Can I talk now?" She sobbed with a small laugh. After he wipes more of her tears away he continued. "Calleigh you are so young and beautiful, and you telling me that you love me has been a dream come true, and I have to say I love you too and I know I have the moment I saw you."
He wiped the remaining tears away as she speaks. "How come you never told me?"
He gives her a small smile. "I didn't think you would feel the same way. I am so much older than you and I am nothing like the guys you dated, especially the last two."
Her last two boyfriends were Eric and Jake. They were both young, muscular with dark hair, where as he was older, slim with red hair. She looks into his eyes when he said that and she knew he meant the way he looked compared to them.
She took his hand off her cheek, stood up, shook her head as she stepped up to the head of the bed, then she cups his cheek and said. "You're right you are nothing like those guys, you are better Handsome." He looked into her eyes and could tell she was telling him the truth, she didn't care what he looked like, only that he loved her and would never break her heart.
He smiles, she smiles back before she leans toward him. She stopped a few inches from his lips and when they couldn't wait anymore he closed the gap and they kissed,. It was soft yet passionate and it made his heart monitor spike. A few seconds later the door opened fast, which made Calleigh and Horatio pull back, then they looked at the door and saw a nurse look at them with a smile as she backed out.
When the door shut, Calleigh and Horatio look at each other and chuckled a little.
After they calmed down, he puts a hand back on her cheek and said. "I love you sweetheart."
She leans back down and kissed his forehead, then looks into his eyes and said. "And I love you Handsome."
They peck each other on the lips before she moves the chair further up the bedside and sat down. As they started talking she slips her hand into his, and before they knew it they talked through their whole day with a few laughs here and there, both feeling lighter and more in love than anyone ever thought, which the nurses and doctors thought this was just a regular thing with them.
By the end of next shift the graveyard team caught the boys who almost killed Horatio, so everything was working out.
1 year later
Today was a very special day for two people, it was their wedding day.
After their I Do's they were sitting down at their table at the reception party watching their guests.
Nick, Catherine and their 4 month old girl was in a three person dance.
Greg was trying to catch some woman's eyes.
Warrick and his new wife of four months, BreAnna, was dancing close together.
Ryan with his wife of one year, Amanda and their 2 month old son, were sitting at their table eating.
And Eric, Natalia, Alex and Kyle were sitting at a table talking.
Everybody was so happy for the couple, finally getting their shot at happiness.
Sara and Grissom couldn't make it, because they were out of the country. Their research grant was approved and they were out doing their research, Sara also gave birth to a little girl.
The song ended and just as a new song was starting, Horatio looks at his new wife and asked. "Are you ready to dance Sweetheart?"
She takes his hand and replied. "With you? always."
They smile at each other, get up and walk to the middle of the dance floor, and once the music started everybody was quiet, back in their seats and watched them.
The couple looked around, looked at each other and she said. "They're all watching us."
He smiles. "Let them watch, it's just us." She smiles back and they just stared in each other's eyes, knowing they will never get tired of doing that.
After a few minutes of silence he speaks again. "Thank you for making me the happiest man on earth."
She moves her hand from his shoulder and puts it on his cheek as she speaks again. "You're welcome and I will admit this is the happiest moment of my life, I get to spend the rest of my life with the man I love more than anything. I did mention I love you today right?"
"Yes Ma'am." She smiles bigger and leans her head on his shoulder, and as he puts his arms around her he asked. "Why do you do that?"
She leans back to look at him and said. "Do what?"
He tilts his head and replied. "Every time you ask me if I love you and when I saw yes you light up more then any other times."
"Oh no reason just a wise person told me to tell you as much as I can."
She didn't want to tell him Sara was the wise person who said that, it was only between her and Sara.
Horatio shook his head and responded. "Well in that case I love you too." He smirks, she smiles back as he brings her closer and tucks her in his arms, now it looked like they were just moving their feet, but they didn't care.
He gets serious a few seconds later. "I really do love you Calleigh."
She nods and replies. "I know and I love you too."
She pulls her head back and they peck each other on the lips before he tucks her back in his arms, keeping her loved, safe and protected, just like he will be doing for the rest of his life.
She wraps her arms around his waist keeping him in her arms, just like she would be doing for the rest of her life.
They were both very happy with that and thankful they had a chance to pick up the pieces of their broken hearts and mended them with their love, just like it was always meant to be.
There you have it, the Ducaine happy ending we all deserve.
AN: I want to thank all the Ducaine fans who reviewed, favored the story/me, followed the story and read it, you all made me feel very welcome and I appreciate it, I just hope I did the couple justice.