Author's Note: Thanks to my savior restless-mess for throwing some thoughts out there and getting me to consider the chapter in a different way. She got me unstuck! Thanks to all of you for the reviews, and for being so patient. I'm really still not happy with this chapter, but with finals coming up it wasn't going to get better anytime soon and I wanted to get it posted for you all. I think I'm experiencing the curse of a multi-chap… Everything I write for it feels boring, monotonous, and sometimes downright awful, but hopefully I get re-inspired. =)

Just a warning: we're probably down to just a few chapters of this…maybe two or three and then an epilogue?

Happiness is a firecracker sitting on my headboard

Happiness was never mine to hold

Careful child, light the fuse and get away

'Cause happiness throws a shower of sparks

Calleigh leaned back into the couch, sighing softly as she let it support her weight, and propped her feet up against the edge of the coffee table. With a phone pressed to her ear she waited patiently, dressed in comfortable pajama pants and a soft grey t-shirt.

She smiled when Eric emerged from the kitchen to join her, handing her a steaming mug of decaffeinated tea that, judging by the smell, had the perfect amount of honey mixed in. Mouthing a "thank you," she settled in with it, taking a cautious sip.

Eric watched her carefully, eyes appreciatively raking over her pregnant curves. With a smile, he noticed that she could only tuck her legs in so far now before her belly interfered. He also noticed her discreetly arch her back and then shift slightly to alleviate some of the pressure. Vowing to take care of that later, he smiled and ran a hand over her ever-growing bump.

Calleigh smiled again, but her attention was quickly diverted when she finally heard a voice on the other end of the line. She replied with a nervous, "Hey, Dad."

"Calleigh Jane," he sing-songed, letting out an appreciative whistle. "It's been a long time since I spoke to my baby girl. How've you been?"

"I've been good," she answered after a silent chuckle and a roll of her eyes. "Great, actually," she corrected, meeting Eric's eyes and smiling. "How about you?"

"Oh, I can't complain. Got a few good cases I'm workin' on right now," he said, and she hated that she had to wonder if he was telling the truth. "You still chasing those criminals down?"

With a pointed glance down, she smoothed her hand over her t-shirt-covered belly and laughed. "Well, I haven't been doing a whole lot of chasing lately, actually, but I've been processing a lot of evidence."

"I always said you were too pretty to be a cop," he told her for the millionth time.

"No offense, Dad, but I think you're a little biased."

Ignoring her protest, he continued on, "You and your sister both. Most beautiful little girls in all of Louisiana…bright eyes, pretty smiles… Now, I hear you're both comin' to Kristin's wedding."

"Yeah," Calleigh confirmed, nerves beginning to stir up her stomach. She was closer to telling him, closer to having to deal with this and them.

Beginning to feel her lower back go numb from the way she was sitting, she shifted again, this time turning to rest her back against the cushions lining the arm of the couch. She curved her legs up again, but Eric took her heel into his palm and gently tugged her feet into his lap. Sighing as his soothing fingers massaged her arch, she smiled gratefully. "Eric's coming, too…"

"You're still seeing him?" Interest perked, Kenwall found himself smiling. "I like that man. He's a good, solid young man, Calleigh. I remember when he helped me with that case."

Calleigh grinned, amused by the fact that she was thirty-seven and her father was still referring to her love interest as "young man." Knowing her dad, that wouldn't change anytime soon.

"Mmhmm," she agreed. "He's a wonderful man." Eric met her eyes, finding nothing but adoration there as he kneaded his thumbs into the soft ball of her foot. She sighed again, eyes trailing over his features – the peppering of stubble along his jaw, the curve of his lips as he smiled, the softness in his eyes when he looked at her.

"He has a good head on his shoulders," Kenwall continued, and as Calleigh's eyes continued to trail over her fiancé's body she had to acknowledge that the shoulders were not bad either. Now thoroughly distracted, she felt a strong inclination to peel the fitted tank off Eric's upper body, toss it aside, and glide her fingers over the well-defined muscles in his shoulders and chest… She bit her lip, hugging the warm mug of tea to her chest.

"So when are you coming in?" he asked, bringing her away from inappropriate daydreams and back to the conversation. She blamed hormones and her need for distraction for conjuring up images of shirtless Eric while on the phone with her father.

"Next weekend." Swallowing down the lump in her throat, she added, "Friday."

"Well, you just let me know your flight information and I'll be there to pick y'all up."

"Dad," she began, her defense mechanisms already kicking in. When had she ever been able to count on him to show up? Never. It was always hit or miss, and the misses seemed to come at the most disappointing times. "We'll rent a car, really. It'll be late anyways."

"All the more reason you shouldn't be driving after a long flight," he insisted. Calleigh had always found it difficult to out-reason a lawyer, albeit not impossible for her…but she was too tired to wrestle with a stubborn old man.

"Okay." She sighed, conceding but not getting her hopes up. "I'll e-mail you the flight info."

He began to launch into pleasantries and she sat there in silence, waiting for the nerve and the perfect moment to intervene. Eventually he was quiet, and as Eric's hand snuck up to her ankle and glided over her calf, she finally found her voice.

"Hey, Dad?" He was silent, which was his way of being attentive. "Before I get there… I wanted to ask you something."

"What is it, baby?"

She smiled at the irony. "I just need to know if I should be calling you Grandpa or Granddad…"

Kenwall felt his stubborn, calloused heart melt like it had the day Anna had been presented to him, all clean and unbelievably tiny, wrapped amid pink blankets. And just when he'd thought it couldn't happen again, it had with Calleigh, his youngest, his baby. Then his little princess had picked up a rifle. She'd been tough as nails since the age of six – earlier, really. She practically grew up on her own, went to college, and made something of herself despite all his shortcomings and mistakes.

"My little girl's havin' a baby?" he asked, awe coloring his every word.

"Yeah," she confirmed, smiling hesitantly and meeting Eric's eyes again. This was one of the many ways the misgivings of her childhood would always live on. She was ecstatic about the baby, but her father would likely never know the full extent of her excitement. She'd learned long ago to protect her emotions, to guard them with everything she had in her. "I'm having a little girl, actually."

"Well," Kenwall began, absolutely smitten with his grandchild already, "I suppose she can call me whatever she wants to."

"It'll be a while before she's calling you anything," Calleigh pointed out, "but good to know." Her lips curved upward just slightly and she took in a deep breath, then taking a calming sip of tea. "Anyway, I'll send you that flight information tomorrow…"

"Alright. You take care, sweetheart. Tell Eric not to let you work too much."

"I will," she assured. "Bye, Dad."

With a prolonged sigh she set her phone down, finally able to focus on the wonderful, delicate pressure currently being applied to her other foot. Eric met her eyes, finding apprehensive relief there.

"Sounded like he was happy…" Eric noted. Sliding his hands upward, he let his palms glide over her calves in more of a caress than a massage.

"Yeah," Calleigh agreed wistfully. "It's just… He can pretend over the phone."

Carefully resting her leg back down on the sofa, Eric slid up next to her, attempting to fit in the small space between her and the back of the couch. She moved to accommodate him, turning onto her side so she faced him.

"I won't know how he is until I get there," she continued. "And even then he'll put on a show."

Letting out a deep breath, Eric kissed her forehead, his hand cradling the back of her neck. There was nothing to say, really. He didn't want to give her false hope or prepare her for disappointment. He didn't want to say things he couldn't be sure of, so he simply rested his forehead against hers.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," he promised.

Despite everything, she found herself smiling, wondering when she'd suddenly become not alone in dealing with her family. She supposed it was the day she'd let him kiss her because from that moment on he'd been more than willing to deal with all the issues her dysfunctional family had brought on. But it was before that, really. He had always been willing; he'd just been waiting for her.

"We," she repeated, tilting her head in. Her nose brushed against his just before their lips touched and she smiled, pressing her palm to his cheek. Mouths melding together, they closed the distance between them. She intertwined their legs, her bare feet brushing against his calves, and he broke away to kiss the side of her mouth.

"Mmm," he mumbled against her lips. "You're stuck with me now."

She laughed softly, pressing a teasing kiss against his lips, and whispered back, "Other way around," before she brushed her lips against more insistently.

His hand settled at her waist and she cupped the back of his head, trying to bring herself closer to him, but her belly bumped against his awkwardly and severely impeded their proximity.

"Hmm," she let out thoughtfully, both of them glancing down.

"The start of many interrupted moments." Eric chuckled, his fingers creeping beneath her t-shirt to touch the bare skin of her stomach.

She narrowed her eyes at that comment, her hormone-driven body wanting nothing to interrupt what she so desperately wanted to start. With a fierce determination she sat up, and when he followed suit she pinned his shoulders to the back of the couch.

"You were teasing me when I was on the phone with my Dad."

He raised a brow as she straddled him, her hands immediately beginning to toy with the hem of his tank. Smiling, he held her waist and looked up at her amusedly.

"I was giving you a foot massage," he corrected. "Because you insist on wearing heels even though you're nearly six months pregnant and then you complain about your feet hurting."

"Without a shirt," she added, completely ignoring his explanation. "You were giving me a massage without a shirt."

He shook his head, laughing softly as she removed his tank that apparently did not qualify as a shirt.

Calleigh pursed her lips, obviously displeased. "I'm trying to seduce you and you're laughing at me…"

Her comment – and that face – only made him smile more, but he softened a bit, feeling guilty. "I'm sorry, Cal," he began, again slipping his fingers beneath her shirt to caress her sides. "It's just… You're very cute like this, all pregnant and hormonal." Emphatically, he moved his hands to her belly, marveling at the sight of her like this yet again.

"Cute?" She raised a challenging brow, but he was already making up for his slip-up by pulling her shirt over her head and pressing his lips to the newly-revealed skin of her chest.

Urging her down into his lap, he trailed kisses upward, reaching her collarbone and then finally gracing the sensitive skin on her neck. His hands followed suit, sliding up to toy with the lacy black straps adorning her shoulders.

He pressed a teasing kiss to her pulse point and felt her sigh. Grinning, he kissed her jaw and then just the very corner of her mouth, loving the little noise of protest she let out. His fingers raked through her hair, settling at the back of her head.

"And sexy," he mumbled against her lips. He looked up, admiring her dark green eyes and finding blonde hair everywhere. "Very sexy."

Laughing, she cradled his face in her hands, finally taking what she wanted as she pressed her lips to his. As the kiss deepened he pulled her closer, her arms now wrapping around his neck as her belly again pressed against his. Just as he'd parted his lips and let his tongue graze her bottom lip, he felt a distinct…something thump against his stomach.

He immediately froze, placing his hand on the side of her belly, and she pulled away to look at him.

"Did you feel that?" she asked, already smiling.

"She just kicked me…" His voice was filled with awe, and as he ran a hand down the front of her belly he felt it again against his palm – a faint but strong, sharp kick.

"Now you know how I feel," Calleigh said, just as awestruck as she laid her hand over his.

"Hi, pretty girl," he whispered, kissing her skin just over her belly button.

Calleigh moved her hand to the back of his head, softly massaging the base of his neck as she watched on. She was completely amazed by the happiness on his face as he ran his hands over her belly, trying to track the baby's movements, but this time she could easily share in it. And when he mumbled something about a strong kick and his little girl swimming the butterfly, she had to laugh.

After a few minutes he was still entranced and she rolled her eyes, playfully annoyed. "Baby, you are not helping my cause here."

Eric chuckled, placing one final kiss to her belly. "Told you that'd be the first of many interruptions."

Calleigh had to smile. Placing a loving hand atop her belly, she admitted, "I can't say I mind."

"Just means we have to make the most of it before she's here." Smiling, he rested his forehead against hers, pointedly brushing his lips with hers and sliding his hands around to her waist.

Kissing him back, she trailed her hands down over those oh so perfect muscles in his shoulders and grinned "Bed?"

"Bed," he agreed.

* * *

Clorinda could tell something was off. Despite the warm glow of happiness radiating from both Calleigh and her son, and Calleigh's loving touches to her belly, Clorinda picked up on something else in Calleigh's eyes. Maternal instinct told her it was anxiety, and she was sure it had everything to do with this afternoon's impending flight to Louisiana.

That was precisely why she'd invited family over on a Friday morning for breakfast. She'd anticipated that Calleigh would need to be around family – a real family that actually acted as such. She knew Calleigh needed to stand on some solid ground before potential chaos.

And it was helping. Calleigh quickly became lost in conversation as a distraction, but she drifted away easily, distance in her eyes. Clorinda found her perched at the breakfast bar, her eyes fixed on Eric across the room though her mind was obviously elsewhere.

"Estas bien, mija?" Clorinda asked, watching as Calleigh was seemingly swept out of her daze and straightened up.

"Yeah," Calleigh assured, giving her a not quite convincing smile. It wasn't a lie, really. "I'm okay."

Clorinda pursed her lips a little, taking in Calleigh's somewhat bright but distant, tired eyes. "You need to rest before the flight," Clorinda said decidedly, pulling a stool out for her from the bar. Calleigh smiled at her motherly intuition, obediently taking a seat and sighing as it all caught up with her – the hectic past few weeks at work, the impending trip. Clorinda watched her knowingly, but Calleigh, always pleasant, smiled up at her.

She knew Calleigh well by now – knew she didn't disclose such information easily. Calleigh was calculated and guarded, and though she obviously couldn't open up just yet Clorinda hoped that someday she could feel comfortable doing so with her.

"You know," Clorinda began carefully, hesitantly, "Nothing can make up for what you have lost, but you are more than welcome to consider us your family now."

Calleigh's eyes softened and her lips curved upward gratefully, incredibly thankful for this respectful reassurance. His family was so warm and unassuming, so unlike her own. Without official titles or even the knowledge of that ring on her finger, they had already welcomed her into their family with open arms.

"I hope the trip goes well," Clorinda added sympathetically. "But either way…we're always here. You're creating your own family now."

"Thank you," Calleigh said softly. In an uncharacteristic, open gesture, she laid her right hand atop Clorinda's and smiled.

Eric hesitated at the doorway, afraid he was interrupting, but Calleigh looked up at him, her touch slowly leaving Clorinda's hand. Clorinda followed her eyes and stood, touching Calleigh's arm affectionately once more to reaffirm her words. Encouraging Eric to come in, she exchanged a knowing look with her son as she left and he entered.

"Hey," Eric greeted, using that soft, endearing tone he used only with her. Smiling, he gripped her hips and carefully turned her around on the stool so she faced him.

"Hey." She grinned, resting her back against the bar.

"How are you doing?" he asked, spreading his legs to widen his stance and lean into her slightly. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he urged her to let him support her and she did, bringing her arms around his shoulders.

"Better," she admitted, swallowing down the lump of nerves in her throat. She let out a deep breath, hooking her hands together at the base of his neck. "Your mom's kind of amazing…"

"Yeah," he agreed. He didn't know the details – didn't need to, really – but they'd clearly shared a moment. As soon as the thought entered his mind, he was smiling and whispering, "Did she notice?"

Calleigh smiled. Save for secretive glances, pointed kisses to her left hand, and Natalia's "hooooly bling" comment, they'd managed to keep the engagement relatively quiet. They were deliriously happy, but it was more of a calm excitement they experienced, and neither of them were proponents of large public displays. The plan was to show up and let his attentive, inquisitive family do the rest.

"No," she answered. "No one has."

Eric chuckled, resting his forehead against hers as their eyes sparkled with their shared secret. "For people who have been hoping for this for a long time, they're kinda slow."

"Little bit." She laughed softly, and the genuineness of it eased him.

Sighing contentedly, she felt the anxiety coiled within her begin to alleviate for now. Eric tended to have that effect on her. Moving her hands to his cheeks, she felt his rough, unshaven face beneath her palms and urged his mouth to hers.

"I love you," she whispered just before brushing her lips with his. Engaging in a slow, loving press and slide, she left her anxiety behind, openly accepting comfort and love in lieu of uncertainty.

In silent response he kissed her back, thankful for the private moment amid all the hubbub of family members arriving. As if the overtly loving gesture while around so many family members wasn't enough of a stretch for her, he pushed for a deeper kiss and she laughed against his lips. And then, surprising him, she completely obliged.

Hoping to God his mother didn't walk in, she let him hug her waist tighter and pull her closer. He kissed her again and she parted her lips for him, his head tilting for better access.

A moment later she broke away, though, feeling the weight of a pair of eyes on them. Her eyes flickered to the doorway for a moment and she smiled, looking back at Eric.

"We have an audience…"

Intrigued, Eric looked over, finding a very giggly Isabel leaning against the doorway. He grinned, playfully walking over and tickling her mercilessly before lifting her into his strong arms.

"Que pasa, Princesa?" he asked, settling her against his side.

"Nothin'." She smiled, holding onto Eric's shoulder with one arm. "I got to leave school to come say bye," she announced proudly, paying only mild attention to her grandmother, mother, and aunts streaming into the kitchen. Instead her eyes were focused on Calleigh, her brows furrowing as she struggled between curiosity and manners. "You got bigger…"

"Isa!" Amelia reprimanded, though Calleigh was only laughing. "The baby got bigger, not Calleigh."

"Oh…" Seemingly embarrassed, Isabel ducked her head against Eric's shoulder as the room filled with laughter. All embarrassment was quickly forgotten, though, as Calleigh absentmindedly rested her left hand over her apparently much larger bump and Isabel immediately spotted the new addition to her usually bare hands. "You gave her the pretty wedding ring!" Isabel exclaimed, unknowingly drawing the room into an astonished silence.

Uncomfortable under the weight of everyone's stares, Calleigh looked to Eric and smiled.

"Oh my God," Christina let out, grinning excitedly as she walked over, took Calleigh's hand in hers, and glanced at Eric proudly. "It's about damn time."

Suddenly Calleigh and Eric found themselves surrounded by hugs and congratulations, accurate in their prediction that his family would make a big enough deal of the engagement without their help. And as Eric's mother leaned in, hugging the both of them, Calleigh had never before felt so much a part of something.

With that came the realization that visiting her hometown would be so much different now. Before, she had both nothing and everything to lose. She had no firm ground to stand on amid the chaos, only her own strength and a well-crafted set of defense mechanisms.

Now she had Eric and – as hesitant as she had been to accept it – a family. Now she had stability to cling to. Now, she realized, when she had this to come home to the instability of her own dysfunctional family was a little less disappointing.