Thanks for the reviews everyone! Keep them coming!

So this chapter takes care of a few housekeeping issues. Hope you don't mind!

Please keep the reviews coming!

PS. I still down own CSI Miami

Once the kids had been dropped off at school, Eric and Calleigh made the quick drive to work. Calleigh let Eric drive, as she was feeling nervous, knowing that Horatio already knew about their relationship. She knew they had policies regarding coworkers seeing each other, but hoped, like in so many other circumstances she had seen, they would choose to look the other way. She loved working with Eric. She didn't want that to change. The only assurance she had was that Horatio would not tell anyone. She knew he would play it close to the vest to keep his team together. But that only relieved her tension, somewhat.

When they had been playing their on and off relationship dance before, it was never this serious. Never this permanent. But maybe she was worrying for nothing. They weren't officially living together….yet, she thought. And with that thought her stomach did a little flip. They hadn't yet had that conversation. Not really. But, it seemed like the right thing to do. Didn't it?

She decided to throw caution to the wind and just ask.

"Eric?" she said cautiously.

"Yes, gorgeous." He answered, turning for a split second to flash his best sideways, charming grin.

She smiled in response, relaxing instantly.

"Are we living together? I mean officially? I don't want to pressure you into anything…I know I asked you to stay but…I mean, I know you still have your place…and you can keep it if you want to…I don't want…"

"Calleigh!" he chuckled, interrupting her slightly nervous rant.

"Do you want me to be living with you? Officially?" he did his best to make eye contact while still keeping an eye on the road.

She smiled and quietly replied.

"Yes. Yes I do. But only if you want to."

Eric's answering smile was enough to ease whatever tension she had left.

"It's all I want, Calleigh. You and the kids. 100% of the time." He reached over and wrapped his strong hand around her much smaller one. She answered his touch by entwining her fingers with his. She was in awe of how completely he had given himself to her. And her to him. While they had been going back and forth with each other for a while, she never imagined how perfect it would be when they finally settled down. She had hoped for it, but whatever pictures played in the depths of her mind couldn't even come close to the perfection of this new reality.

That is when her initial anxiety returned.

"What about work. If they find out. I mean, they will find out. If you have the same address as me and you list the kids and me as next of kin…"

Eric chuckled again.

"We'll figure it out, Cal." He said reassuringly. Horatio was family too. Eric knew he would do everything and anything to keep them together. He pulled the car into the MDPD parking lot and shut off the engine. He turned to face her completely and placed one hand on either side of her face.

"I don't want you to worry, Cal. I'm not giving up any part of you without a fight. Not the work part, not the home part, none of it." He reached in to place a quick kiss on her lips. "I love you. And this family we're building….it's the most important thing I have done. I won't let anything get in the way. Do you understand?" he leaned his face toward her to press his forehead to hers.

She took a shaky breath, the emotion of the moment nearly more than she could bear. This was really happening.

"I love you too, Eric." She breathed.

The kiss that they shared in that moment was filled with so much honesty, truth and love, that both of them knew that what they were feeling was the truest form of love. Neither had any intention of letting go any time soon.

The kiss deepened quickly, their passion getting the better of them, when suddenly….

Tap tap tap

They were brought very quickly back to reality by the noise and both jumped at the intrusion.

On the other side of the window stood Walter, grinning wildly.

"Pretty sure that's illegal guys. Public indecency or something!"

Ryan came up quickly behind him.

"Seriously. Get a room."

Calleigh blushed while Eric just grinned, too happy to care that they had been caught.

Both of them quickly adjusted their clothing and got out of the vehicle, ready to be teased.

"Ok, ok," Calleigh laughed. "Do your worst!"

All three men just laughed, while Walter placed him arm around Calleigh's shoulder and gave her a friendly squeeze.

"We're just kidding, guys. We're happy for you. Honestly, I didn't think you too would ever get your shit together."

Ryan reached the front of the group and turned around to face them all.

"So what's the story, guys? What finally made you take the leap?"

Eric flashed a quick glance at Calleigh, wanting to take his cues from her about how much to disclose. Before he could get a read on her face, they suddenly heard.

"Gentlemen! Don't you two have a case to work?" Horatio removed his sunglasses so Walter and Ryan could see he was talking to them. His smile contradicted his tone, letting them know they were not really in trouble.

Ryan smirked and leaned in towards Eric.

"I want details later, buddy." He said before heading off with Walter towards their SUV.

Horatio turned back towards Calleigh and Eric, both of them looking a little nervous.

"So, I think we need to talk." He said, putting his sunglasses back on.

Figuring it was all out in the open; Eric grabbed Calleigh's hand as they made their way to Horatio's office. He didn't care if people saw. Calleigh's returning squeeze told him she felt the same way. As they entered the office, Horatio turned to them, removing his sunglasses and placing them on his desk before reaching back to close the door behind them.

"Have a seat, guys." He said warmly, wanting to ease their tension.

"Horatio, you should probably know that Calleigh and I…" Eric began.

Horatio quickly raised his hand to stop him as he sat behind his desk.

"I could tell when I saw you at the beach that things were pretty much sewn up between you too. So I went to see HR this morning. And we had a nice long talk."

Calleigh leaned forward nervously.

"Horatio, please don't split us up. You know how well we work together! Please, just…"

Again he raised his hand to silence her.

"Calleigh it's fine!" Horatio said, smiling. "The only thing that HR asks is that you sign these forms." Horatio handed them each a small bundle of paper.

"It basically states that you guarantee to maintain a professional relationship at work and you are not permitted to file any grievous harassment complaints resulting from your personal relationship. Pretty standard stuff."

Calleigh and Eric sat dumbfounded. Eric began quickly perusing the document.

"That's it?" he said incredulously.

Horatio laughed at the response.

"Well as it turns out, there are no specific rules prohibiting coworkers from dating in the MDPD. It's just frowned upon, to use their phrasing." He smiled, seeing the relief on both their faces. He couldn't help but allow their happiness to infect him. The warmth and love the two of them radiated was palpable. He just wished it hadn't taken so long to figure it out for themselves.

As Eric and Calleigh both signed the documents in front of them, they both reveled in how light they felt. This was the one area they were unsure of. The work dynamic. And now that it was truly resolved, they could go on building their future. Once and for all they were a pair.

Eric looked towards Calleigh, once the documents were placed back into Horatio's hands, and gave her a small wink and a knowing stare. Horatio could see they were speaking without having to say a word, as he had watched them do so many times before.

Calleigh took a deep breath as she saw the words in Eric's eyes.

You and me. Forever.

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