Chapter 10.
Calleigh was on her bed crying hugging a teddy bear when Dave knocked on the door, entered and sat down next to her.
"Daddy is mean and Dave I really love her," she said between her cries.
"I know. He just got a bit surprised like the rest of us," he said.
"I didn't choose this you know, it just kind of happened. I mean the day after that dork Eric dumped her, she dressed like a guy and I just had to have her," said Calleigh with a little smile.
"You never were the one to chase after boys in the first place," he said and stroked her gently.
"She makes me happier than I ever thought I could be," she said.
"Good then you should be with her, now tell me about this Julia person," said Dave.
"Don't know all that much about her. She's my teacher and is dating one of my other teachers' professor Caine and they are going to have a little one together. She says mum is her bio mum, but I have seen a picture of her parents the one that raised her, they seem really nice. She used to drink until she found out about the baby, which reminds me has daddy quit?" she asked, after summing it all up.
"He does once in a while, but not long of the time," said Dave honest.
"Wish he didn't at all, I really missed you big Dave," she said and stretched out her arms for him to bend down and hug her, which he did.
"And I you Babygirl," he said and smiled at her, when they heard a knock on the door.
"Enter," said Calleigh and saw Julia came in, she looked at them and asked, "So since you called her Babygirl she's the youngest one right and he is the oldest since you called him big Dave?"
"Yeah Dave is five years older than me and the twins Nick and Adam three years older," said Calleigh and smiled at her.
"Big family," she said.
"Yeah, so you got any siblings?" Calleigh asked curiously.
"No, but I got two dogs at home," said Julia and sat down on a chair.
"You do. What kinda dogs?" asked Calleigh.
"A golden retriever called Lucky and a Forster called Spike," she said.
"Cool, so what are your parents like, what do they do and such?" asked Calleigh.
"Mom is a teacher and dad is an architect and they love each other very much, they had been together for a while, but couldn't have children before they got me," she said.
"Oh," said Calleigh.
"So what are your or is it our parents like?" asked Julia, this time she was the curious one.
"Uhm, dad is a defense attorney and a very good one, when he stays off the bottle that is and mum is lawyer too" said Calleigh.
"Calleigh was dad's joy in life when he was of the bottle, he treasure her more than anything and he taught her everything he knows, even how to handle guns and this one is the only one that went to college," Dave said proudly.
"So what do you do then?" she asked.
"Me, Nick and Adam are cops, went to the police academy," he said.
"And I wanna work in the force when I'm done with school too," she said proudly, and smiled at him.
"And a very good cop you'll be," he said and stroked her gently.
"Not good the best," they heard Adam and Nick say from the door as they entered the room.
Julia looked at the four Duquesne children that now were sitting on Calleigh's bed, her brothers seemed to treasure her above all and she also seemed to love them greatly, Julia wondered if she could ever be a part of it.
"Oh guys since Julia is one of us, we gotto do new handprints," said Calleigh excitedly.
"Yeah, be right back, just gotto get colors and a big sheet," said Adam, ran out and came back with paint colors and a five big pieces of paper.
Julia looked confused and Calleigh explained, "When we were younger we painted our hands and put it on a piece of paper and hang at our walls in our rooms as a reminder that no matter what happened we would always stick together as we are family. So when we got older we did a new one so we could bring with us to the place where we lived to always kinda be with each other. I have mine in my dorm room."
"Mine is in my office," said Dave.
"Mine is in the living room of my apartment," said Adam.
"And mine is in the bedroom and you should have one to because once a Duquesne…" said Nick.
"Always a Duquesne," the other three shouted out and laughed.
"Oh I want pink," said Calleigh, mixed the red and the white and painted on her hand and printed all the five papers.
"Blue is mine," said Dave and did the same.
"I'll take grass green then," said Nick and did the same.
"Purple," said Adam and printed the papers before all eyes were on Julia.
"I dunno which color to choose," said Julia honest.
"Just pick whatever pops in," Dave said and smiled at her.
"Hmm orange then," said Julia, mixed it and printed all the five pieces of paper before Calleigh said:¨, "Now we gotto sign them all, we use the nicknames we have."
Calleigh signed with Babygirl Duquesne, Dave with big Dave, Adam with super cop Adam and Nick with Nicky boy before they looked at Julia and Dave said, "We gotto give her a name."
"Yeah totally," said Adam.
"Name or something else?" said Calleigh looking at Julia.
The four of them looked at her and tried to figure out something smart as Julia still sat a bit over whelmed by it all when Nick said, "Oh I know."
"What," the other three said and looked at him.
"Princess Julia, she kinda looks it with the blonde hair and all," said Nick.
"Hey," said Calleigh.
"Easy Babygirl you know what I mean," he said.
"Yeah and I agree," she said with a giggle.
"So do I, now you gotto sign it Princess Julia," said Dave.
Julia just smiled and did so before Adam said, "Who wanna climb trees while these dry of?"
"I do," everyone yelled and ran downstairs and out, Julia just followed as she now was one of them.
Natalia was sitting in her car downtown and didn't really know what to do, and it had gone a few hours without having heard from Calleigh.
She was wondering if the best thing to do was to turn her car around and drive home when her phone rang, she picked up and said, "Natalia."
"Hey sugar, where are you at?" she heard Calleigh ask in the other end.
"I'm downtown just about to drive back," said Natalia with a sigh.
"You were gonna leave me," she heard Calleigh say, there was sadness in her voice.
"I didn't feel to welcome and maybe it's better if I do," Natalia replied.
"You are so not leaving or breaking up with me," said Calleigh in a serious tone.
"But..." said Natalia.
"No buts now come back to me," Calleigh said in a rather firm tone.
"I will," said Natalia.
"Good you know I love you right sugar," said Calleigh.
"I do, so how did things go with Julia?" asked Natalia.
"What a mess, us children have accepted her as our, but mum and dad aren't too happy. Turned out after Dave was born, mum had an affair that lead to Julia and dad didn't wanna raise a bastard so he made mum put her up for adoption and never try to have contact with her. Poor Julia she seems real low now that she knows, but she's with my bros so she should be okay," said Calleigh calmly.
"And you how do you feel now that you know?" Natalia asked.
"Okay…" said Calleigh.
"You're angry since they hid it for so many years aren't you," Natalia concluded from the short answer with the pause behind.
"A bit yes, I can understand why, yet I can't," she said.
"I understand, but there was one thing I was wondering about though," said Natalia.
"Yes," said Calleigh.
"Which police department are you applying to?" she asked.
"Was thinking New Orleans as I want to be closer to my brothers," said Calleigh honest.
"I see," said Natalia.
"You want to stay where you are don't you?" said Calleigh.
"I do, I like Cali," she said.
"What about Calleigh?" Calleigh wondered.
"I love you Calleigh, more than words can say and I don't want to break if of no matter what should happen," she said honest.
"Good, are you getting close?" Calleigh asked impatient.
"I am, but we are not doing it in our parent's house," said Natalia.
"Why not I am randy and I want you," she said.
"Yeah Nat why not, you should see her, she's so randy and ready for you," said Jake in the other end.
"Jake, you idiot give me my phone back," said Calleigh annoyed.
"So where did you run of to, you missed all the action," said Jake with a chuckle.
"Oh you know I went to shop something pretty and shiny for my girl," said Natalia.
"What did you buy her," she heard Valera say.
"Well that is between me and her," said Natalia.
"Bet it is something real expensive," said Samanta.
"Give the phone back," said Calleigh even more annoyed.
"That is was yes," said Natalia.
"Is it an engagement ring?" asked Valera
"Dude they haven't been dating that long, or is that what you bought?" asked Jake.
"No it's not," said Natalia.
"Then what, do tell," said Valera.
"No," said Natalia.
"Give me the phone now or I'll beat you all black and blue," said Calleigh, getting rather impatient.
"Oh really," Natalia heard Jake say.
"You're just stupid," Natalia heard Calleigh say and could tell by the tone of her voice that she was on the verge of crying.
"Val, give me my girl and please drag the boy of yours and Sam out so I can talk with her," said Natalia.
"Will do, come on hon" she heard Valera say.
"Honey, are you okay," said Natalia in a concerned tone.
"Yes, just want you here," said Calleigh.
"I'll be right up, just have to park the car," said Natalia and hung up.
A moment later Natalia for the second time entered Calleigh's bedroom and looked around. The walls were in a light shade of purple and were covered with pictures of hunks, horses and guns. She had a king-size bed with a bunch of stuffed animals and a grey gun locker on the floor. Calleigh also had a couple of closets and a makeup table in there.
Natalia looked at Calleigh that now lay on her bed looking back at her, her eyes looked sad and a bit worried, but still happy.
Natalia quickly sat down next to her to bend down and gave her a kiss to comfort her.
"This is hard, to suddenly learn about this and all," said Calleigh.
"I know honey," said Natalia and kissed her again a little rougher this time.
"I was wondering about something," said Calleigh.
"Yes," said Natalia.
"Can I uhm meet your family sometime or are they against us too?" asked Calleigh.
"I don't think they are totally against it and yes you can, my sisters will adore you," said Natalia and smiled at her.
"Cool," said Calleigh.
"So your parents are okay with the other three staying here," said Natalia.
"All, but you, not that it matters as you are staying," said Calleigh in a firm tone.
"Mhm," said Natalia and looked into her emerald eyes before adding, "What did they do?"
"What do you mean?" Calleigh replied confused.
"Your parents, you hardly mention your home so I assume it wasn't always a happy place," said Natalia.
"Uhm daddy gets kinds rough when he's angry or have a bad day and mummy didn't come between, spent lots of nights away from home growing up, safest, but also a lot of happy times," said Calleigh silently.
"But your brothers seem really nice," said Natalia.
"They are the best," said Calleigh with a smile.
"You look tired," Natalia said as she stroke Calleigh's face gently.
"Long day, just gonna…" Calleigh managed to get out before she drifted off.
Natalia watched her as her phone started to ring, so she went out to take it and said, "Natalia hello."
"Hey Nat it's me," she heard her sister Christine say in the other end.
"Hey Christie, how are you?" Natalia asked.
"Totally fine, I meet a dude, what about you, I though you be home for Thanksgiving, we totally miss you," said Christine.
"Oh shoot I was so crazed that I completely forgot to tell you that I'm not coming," said Natalia feeling badly about not doing so.
"Are you at school, you shouldn't be there at Thanksgiving," said Christine.
"I'm not at school," said Natalia.
"Where are you, did you run off with a bloke you didn't tell us about," said Christine curiously.
"You're with a bloke, oh tell us," she heard her youngest sister Anya say.
"Well, it's not a bloke, it's a girl, I got a girlfriend which I love very much," said Natalia waiting for their reaction.
"You got a girl, what's she like, is she girly?" asked Anya.
"Does she got any handsome brothers?" asked Christine.
"She is girly, yet not and is the sweetest one there ever was, she's fun yet serious when needed, she's working really hard with school and the sorority as she is the president, she's also a cheerleader and she wants to work in the police force like her three older brothers, and yes they are handsome," said Natalia with a giggle.
"Cool, but seriously Nat when are you coming back," said Christie.
"Don't know, in not too long I hope, so how are mum and dad," she asked.
"Totally fine, but we gotto go our dates are here, have fun with your girl," said Anya and hung up.
Natalia was about to walk back into Calleigh when she heard Kenwall say, "May I have a moment."
"Yes," she said and sat down in the stairs with him.
"You really do love my daughter don't you," he said.
"I do," she replied.
"How long have you been seeing her?" he asked.
"Three months or a little longer," she said.
"I see," he said.
"I know you don't exactly approve," she started when he interrupted, "I never said that, I have to get to know you better before I make up my mind, so I'll let you stay here, but only if you follow my rules along with the rest."
"Of course sir," said Natalia as she went back to Calleigh.
At the same time Julia, Nick, Dave, Adam and Horatio was down on the local pub shooting pool, drinking and talking.
"So you're gonna have a baby, that means I'm gonna be uncle right," said Adam and smiled at Julia.
She nodded which made him put a hand on the belly and say, "Hey there little guy, I'm your uncle Adam and when you come out I'm gonna teach ya all about sports."
Julia giggled a bit. She still couldn't believe that they were accepting her that easy that they did, they were already treating her like she had always been their sister.
"Adam, you're hopeless," said Nick and shook his head.
"Totally not, oh you gotto celebrate Christmas with us now," said Adam.
"Yeah that would be really cool if you both wanted to do that," said Nick hopefully.
"Guys she got her own family to she might wanto celebrate Christmas them since she's here now," said Dave and smiled at Julia.
"Oh yeah that's right, didn't mean to say anything wrong," said Adam honest.
"I tell you what since I want to celebrate both places couldn't I spend some days at your house and some at mum and dad's if your parents won't mind that is," said Julia figuring it would be best to get their approval first.
"Cool, we can ask tomorrow morning as I think we'll stay here for a while," said Adam and walked over the pool table with Nick.
"So do you still think it was a bad idea to come here?" asked Horatio as he put his hand on top of Julia's.
"No and now I suddenly got brothers and a sister, but I completely forgot to ask what you want to do for Christmas?" she said and looked down.
"As long as I'm with you I don't care all that much about where we are," he said.
"You are just the greatest," she said and gave him the softest kiss as she heard the three brothers go, "Awwwwwwww".
That night Calleigh and Natalia lay in her bed cuddling and whispering sweet nothing to each other when Natalia suddenly asked "Calleigh, what do you want for Christmas?"
"I dunno exactly," said Calleigh trying to think of something.
"Which reminds me I bought something for you while I was out," said Natalia, reached for her purse and handed Calleigh a little box.
"Oh what did you buy me?" Calleigh asked curiously.
"Open it and see. It will fit you when you become a cop" said Natalia.
Calleigh opened it and found a necklace with a gun, the grip covered with diamonds and matching earrings. She smiled and said, "Thank you so much honey I love it."
"Glad you do, let me put it on," said Natalia and put it on Calleigh and added, "Very cool.
"I'm always cool," said Calleigh with a giggle."
"That may be, but I'm cool too," she said.
"You are, so what do you want for Christmas?" Calleigh asked.
"All I want for Christmas is you wrapped with a red bow," said Natalia and smiled at her.
"Oh really is that so," said Calleigh and got on top of her sweetheart and started to kiss her lovingly.
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