Title: Break a Few Eggs
Author: WhatBecomesOfYou
Pairing: Calleigh/Eric
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Theme: #17- kHz
Disclaimer: I do not own CSI: Miami or any of the characters from it. I'm just borrowing them and will return them intact to their rightful owners when I'm done, promise.
Notes: Written for 30_kisses on LiveJournal. This was originally a chapter to a fic I had started late last year, cleaned up and edited slightly.
"3..."
Calleigh felt his strong arms wrapped around her, as they stood face to face, the music paused for the final countdown into 2010. She pressed her face into his chest and smiled. There was no place she'd rather be right then than where she was.
"2..."
Eric breathed in the scent of her hair, intoxicatingly close. They were relatively "out" as a couple, so to speak, but this party had been the first time they were actively socializing with their friends as a couple. And he found it refreshing that he didn't have to hide anymore. It was all in the open, and now that he had left CSI, it wasn't even an issue of departmental fraternization anymore. More of a "thank God you two finally opened your eyes," as Natalia had so succinctly put it.
"1..."
He pulled her closer to him and as 2009 and all of its trials and tribulations, glories and sorrows, came to a close, he knew that this was the only place he wanted to spend the rest of his years with.
"Happy New Year!"
He bent his head as she arched her neck upward, meeting somewhere in the middle for a New Year's Day kiss, equal parts passionate and hopeful. Hopeful that 2010 would be the best year of their lives.
The morning light streamed in through the windows, painting the bed sheets a vivid hue of many colors. Calleigh forced herself to get out of bed when her clock radio alarm went off on accident, streaming static into the tranquility. The sheets were warm and comfortable, yes, and there was always the issue of disentangling her legs from Eric's. Not that it was an issue she particularly wanted to go away any time soon, she mused to herself as she remembered Ryan's catcalls of "get a room, you two!" the night before, and how it had been the first time they had truly taken his advice to heart...
It just made the decision on whether sating her appetite with breakfast or cuddling up next to her boyfriend and catching a few more minutes of precious sleep was more important that much more difficult.
Her stomach rumbled just then. "Fine," she muttered under her breath, easing her way out of bed. "You win this time." She glanced back at Eric, still safely cocooned within her blankets. If there was one thing she enjoyed doing, it was watching him sleep, and she had a sneaking suspicion that it was one of his favorite things to do as well.
The hunt for breakfast food was on. After a cursory search of the pantry - and a mental note made to buy Cheerios the next time she went to the grocery store - she turned to the fridge to seek inspiration. If it was as empty as she feared, then she may just have to wake Eric up and have them go out to a restaurant for a New Year's Day breakfast. Spotting a nearly full dozen of eggs, she smiled. Ham and cheese omelettes would be a good way to start a New Year, and also use up a little bit of leftover holiday ham. Practical, edible, and delicious - a combination that couldn't be beat, in her mind.
After the omelettes were finished, she slid them onto the very few clean plates that were left. Now for the part she never liked doing. She went back in the bedroom and bent down next to the bed, looking at Eric's tranquil face. Gently, she began pressing soft, fluttery kisses to his cheeks and lips. "Wake up, sleepyhead," she whispered, gliding her hand over the top of his head. "I made us breakfast."
He shook his head as he woke up. "You didn't have to, Cal," he said. "But I'm never going to turn down your cooking." The promise of waking up to her cooking every day was one of the reasons he liked spending the night as much as he could. Not that there weren't other reasons, of course. Just the good food was a nice bookend to the morning after.
"Then get out of bed, Eric Delko," she said, turning to walk back out the door. "Omelettes don't last forever."
As they sat at the kitchen table, Calleigh's knife slicing through the omelette, Eric popping another carefully cut piece into his mouth, there was a content silence. They were comfortable enough with each other by now that words didn't need to be spoken. Not anymore.
"So, you make a New Year's resolution this year?" Calleigh asked.
He shrugged. "Not to get shot at this year," he said, laughing slightly. "Seems like a decent resolution, considering the past few years. I'm tired of spending time in hospitals."
"Yeah," she said, frowning and turning back to her omelette.
"What 'bout you?"
"To avoid inhaling smoke. The whole hospital time thing," she said, looking up and winking. "No, really, I don't have one this year."
"I do."
"Oh?"
"To not let the best thing I've ever had slip through my fingers." He fixed his gaze on Calleigh, the look that always sent shivers down her spine.
"I'll be sure to let -" she started, before he cut her off.
"I mean you. I'm not letting you go, Calleigh."
"Nothing coming between us?"
"No. Nothing."
"Then I can't wait to see how this year turns out for us." She smiled and took the plate from him, placing it on top of her own.
As she washed the dishes meticulously by hand, and Eric went into the bathroom to take a shower, she hummed to herself. The year already seemed brighter and it was only eight o'clock on New Year's Day.
Hopefully this year would end up being good for both of them.