"Honest!" Marisol repeated the third time. "I had no idea Eric would go that far."
"I had no idea YOU would go that far," emphasized Horatio, closing the door behind him.
They began to walk down the stairs from his office when Marisol began to giggle, which turned into a laugh.
"And what is so funny, Mrs. Delko-Caine?"
"It's nothing," she giggled. "I just remembered how Eric would react every time I made fun of him. It's a good laugh."
"How about sharing the thought?" asked Horatio, fascinated about the given topic.
"Well," she let out, looking up, "When we were kids, I used to fool him all the time. And when I got too far, he would scream like a little girl, stomp his feet a couple of times as hard as he could, bawl like there's no tomorrow, and go running towards mama to tattle on me."
"Isabella?"
"Yeah," she confirmed. "Eric was such a mama's boy."
"And you were a daddy's girl."
"Still am," Marisol said happily. "And, you know what?"
"What?" Horatio chuckled, enjoying the look of pure glee on his wife's face.
"Sometimes, Eric still comes to mama for support when we get into our little arguments again," she told gleefully. "It's funny, really. That's why I kept playing tricks on him when we were kids. He couldn't fight for himself."
Horatio chuckled. Now, Eric wouldn't back down without a fight, he thought.
"OH!" exclaimed Marisol, turning to her husband. "One time, little Eric had to use the bathroom real bad, and I just stayed inside, waited for 10 minutes and went out."
"What happened?"
"Eric soiled his shorts and was crying when I opened the door." Marisol laughed hysterically. "You should've seen him!"
"You know, sweetheart—" Horatio stepped aside and let her go inside the elevator first. "—sometimes, you give me reasons to doubt your being an angel."
"Oh, really?"
"You're evil when it comes to your brother," the husband said jokingly.
Marisol gave him a skeptical look. "And I suppose the great Horatio Caine never made fun of his little brother when they were just boys?"
"I don't think I remember making fun of Raymund," Horatio thought about it. "Nor did I ever make him cry."
She maintained her skepticism. "Not even once?"
He looked at her. "Okay, maybe…once? Twice? I don't really remember."
"Don't lie to me, Mister."
Horatio gave her a look. "I'm not." And before Marisol could get another word out, he covered her mouth with his lips, giving her a soft and sensual kiss.
"You won't get away with that," said she in a satisfied sigh when their lips parted.
"I don't plan to," he smiled mischievously. Lips still centimeters away from Marisol's, he said, "How about we spend the night relaxing?" He gave her a soft kiss again. "My treat."
"Aren't you forgetting something?" she reminded him.
"Hmmm?"
"Mr. You-betrayed-me. Mr. My-life's-a-joke-now. Eric." She raised her eyebrow. "Ring a bell?"
"Well," he sighed, recalling the angry, shouting face, "knowing my brother-in-law, he's letting off some steam somewhere." He felt the elevator stop. "I'll probably get a chance to talk to him tomorrow…I want to bring back the smile on his face."
"I think…that won't be necessary," said Marisol, looking out when the metal doors slid open.
"How do you mean?"
Horatio turned to where she was smiling at and saw Eric walking beside Natalia, laughing.
They stepped out of the elevator, their eyes still locked at the two. And to their surprise, Eric took Natalia's hand as they got out of the building.
"Well, um," Horatio let out, confused yet happy at the turn of events, "that solves one of my problems. There's only this matter between Rick and--"
"I think you don't need to bother with that, too," she mentioned and pointed across the entrance hall.
From the Police Department, out came a smiling Rick and a giggling Yelina. Although they weren't exactly holding hands, both looked like they were enjoying each other's company.
Rick stepped aside, opened the door for Yelina and let her pass through. And at that moment, he met the redhead's gaze, who gave him a small smile and a reassuring nod of the head, which the brunette returned. Rick then stepped outside, with Yelina waiting for him.
"Well." Marisol smiled. "I suppose, that's that."
Horatio gaze at the spot where Yelina and Rick left, then gave a chuckle as he glanced away, saying, "I suppose so."
"So?" Marisol met Horatio's baby blue eyes with a glint in her hazel ones as she wrapped her arm around his. "Where were we?"
"Leave that…" He leaned forward, his lips brushing against her ear. "…to me."
Marisol gave him a loving smile before they headed for the exit, her head leaning on Horatio's shoulder, his hand intertwined with hers.
Far at the corner, a jaw-dropped Ryan Wolfe watched in silence as another of MDPD's couples walked out the building, loneliness bubbling in his stomach.
"You okay there, Ryan?" asked Alexx. They've been standing there since the departure of both Eric and Natalia together. And she was wondering how much more could her young SINGLE friend take.
"Just peachy, Alexx," he replied sourly, his face kind of like a pout. "Why is it that I'm always the only one left at the other side of the fence?!"
"You're exaggerating, honey," Alexx told him. Single people these days…
"No, I'm not."
And as if on cue, Jake and Calleigh walked out the Police Department, busy conversing with each other.
"How about we eat out tonight?" suggested Jake. "Up for some Cajun Chicken?"
"Only if it's your treat," Calleigh said, her blonde locks slightly bouncing.
"Of course," he answered. "Anything for my bullet girl."
"Good to hear," she said and gave him a peck on the cheek. "And after dinner, let's go to Al's shooting gallery. I want to beat your butt again."
"Well, by all means," Jake grinned. "I don't mind you doing a lot of things to my butt."
Calleigh laughed and slapped his arm. "Shut up!"
Alexx glanced away from the two and put her attention back on Ryan, who was now brooding a few feet from her at a corner.
She rolled her eyes. "Get a grip, Ryan."
"No," he said. "What I need to get is a girlfriend."
"You can even get a boyfriend for all I care," Alexx mumbled. "Just get some sense."
"What was that?" Ryan said, hearing her mutter.
"Oh, nothing, honey." She placed a hand at his shoulder, offering comfort. "Look, don't worry. You'll find your girl someday."
"Like when?" questioned Ryan cynically.
Alexx sighed. "Look on the bright side. You're not the only one who's single here." She thought for a moment. Who was still single other than him in MDPD? "How about Dan? He doesn't have a girl—"
Ryan looked at Alexx, confusion on his face at her abrupt stop. He followed her gaze and—"OH, COME ON!"
Dan Cooper and Maxine Valera exited the elevator…TOGETHER.
"So, um, I was thinking," said Dan a little shyly. "Would it be okay if I took you out for some dinner tonight?"
Maxine gave him a shy smile, her cheeks reddening. "Sure."
"Alright!" exclaimed Dan, punching the air.
"But only if I get to pay for dessert," she added.
"No problem," he agreed and the two of them went out.
"Ryan?" Alexx said, calling his attention. After that last scene, she didn't know what state he was in. "Ryan, baby? Ryan?"
He wasn't answering, so she said, "Want me to hold your hand while you walk me out to the parking lot?"
"Yes," he said in a whisper that Alexx almost hadn't heard him. "Please."
Little Horatio: Well, wadd'ya know…Couples: 6 (including Alexx), Ryan: 0.
Sorry for the delayed posting of this last Chapter. I was busy preparing my future, first stop: College. It is such a pain in the ass, let me tell you.
My cousin, Ivan, and I are living with our uncle, the Prince. You heard me right. Prince. It's not his name! It's just his title! And he's in charge of molding us so we can be part of the Royal Monarchy, meaning, we have to get to a good University, not get a score below 90 and graduate with flying colors, AND get a decent, high-paying job…like he did. That's right. And, oh yeah! Ivan and I need to achieve the perfect British accent. I'm not kidding. If you think I AM kidding, well…May you CHOKE on a GRAPE and DIE from it…I'm serious.
Anyway, many thanks to you for taking your time reading this story of mine. And a gigantoric THANK YOU to those who have been leaving reviews for moi. They're all so heart-warming (sob). Thanks, everybody!!!
F.Y.I…We have no computer in the house and I'm starving myself to the level of skeletal death to buy a laptop, so don't expect an immediate update on any of my in-progress stories. Sorry, but, in my family, I'm THE ONLY ONE who has to work to get what I want. Damn them…
BUT!
I will try my best to get to post new stories and chapters as soon as I can. That's if I can go to a nearby mall and have money, not to mention TIME. You see, my ALLOWANCE AIN'T THAT IMPRESSIVE. You can barely buy a jelly roll with what's left of my allowance after I spend some of it for transportation. I know, I know. I said I've been living with the Prince lately but that doesn't mean Ivan and I get spoiled. With him, it's "prove yourself first before you even THINK of negotiating with me." Those are his exact words. And that's what we get for having a successful businessman for an uncle. He may be fun, but he's extremely strict. But, hey! We still love 'im!
Okay, I've wasted too much of your time. Thanks again, everybody! I hope I made you happy with my stories. That's my only reason for writing them. I hope you enjoy the rest of my fics!
And, as always, leave a review if 'ya like! It helps me with my self-esteem! Joke! No, really…