Thanks for the reviews! I really appreciate them! I'm so sorry this chapter took so long! I've been unbelievably busy, but I will try harder in the future. Anyway, here's chapter 26.

Calleigh arrived home, looking forward to telling Eric about the case being over. She just wanted to put everything behind them and try to move on, she knew it wouldn't be that easy for Eric after everything he had been through, but they had to try.

"Hi," she shouted, walking further into the hallway.

"Hey," Eric said, appearing from the kitchen, "good day?"

"Yes," Calleigh said, smiling, "we got him!"

"Really?" Eric asked.

"Yup, we got the evidence and then he had no choice but to confess."

"Good," Eric replied, pulling Calleigh into a hug. It had been so long since he had just held her, been close to her, he pulled away and then leaned down to kiss her gently on the lips, "I love you."

"I love you too," Calleigh replied, reaching up to kiss him again.

Eric pulled away before it got too heated. He couldn't believe it could finally be over and they could move on.

"Oh, I called the church and hotel about the reception and made the final arrangements, the flowers are sorted and you and Alexx and Natalia need to go to the dress shop to get the final changes to be made to your dresses, the suits are ready, the invitations are ready, I just need you to check them and I cooked so we can eat as soon as you are ready." Eric exhaled; he had been so busy on the phone today he couldn't believe how fast the time had gone.

"Wow," Calleigh said, "you did all of that?"

"Yup," Eric replied, "it's taken me ages, but you don't need to worry about it."

"Thanks Eric."

"Follow me," Eric took her hand and lead Calleigh into the kitchen. He had dimmed the lights and lit candles and set the table for them to eat.

"Wow Eric, this is amazing!"

"Sit down, you haven't seen anything yet," Eric said, pleased with himself for having organized this. Eric walked over to the stove and plated up the food onto the two plates before carrying them to the table and placing one down in front of Calleigh and another in front of him and he took the seat opposite her.

"You must have been so busy," Calleigh said before picking up her knife and fork and beginning to eat slowly, "um, this is delicious, how come you never cooked it before?"

"I was saving it for a special occasion," Eric said.

"So what's the occasion?" Calleigh asked.

"Well you got the guy what more reason is there than that?" Eric asked.

"Yeah, but you didn't know that until I just told you-"Calleigh was interrupted by Eric.

"I knew you would," Eric said, "you were always going to get them and somehow I just knew it would be today."

"Thanks Eric, this is amazing."

"You deserve it Calleigh," Eric said, "don't think I don't know how hard this has been on you, you've had to put up with me, the case, being pregnant and it's taken it out of you. To be honest I have no idea how you have managed to survive everything without having some sort of breakdown! I promise you, you don't need to worry about that anymore, I intend to take very good care of you."

"Eric," Calleigh said, speechless, "I don't know what to say. Thank you."

"Don't say anything, just eat."

They both ate in a comfortable silence until they were finished. Calleigh stood up and began to pick up the plates in order to clear the table.

"Ah, ah," Eric stopped her, "you're doing nothing but relaxing, now stay where you are, we still have dessert to eat."

"What is it?" Calleigh asked, excitedly.

"You'll have to wait and see, now be patient."

Calleigh sat back down and tried to peer at what Eric was doing whilst he was in the fridge. Eventually appeared with a chocolate cake and placed it in the middle of the table, returning to the kitchen to get the plates and a knife. He then cut cake for the two of them and sat back down at the table and began eating.

"Um, this is gorgeous," Calleigh said quietly, "where'd you get it?"

"I didn't, I made it."

"No way! Really?"

"Yes," Eric replied, "why?"

"I didn't know you could bake cakes."

"Well I have to keep some things a surprise don't I? Otherwise you'd get bored."

"Of you? Never." Calleigh replied before continuing to eat the cake slowly enjoying each mouthful.

When they had finished, Eric cleared up and they made their way into the lounge where Calleigh sat down on the couch next to Eric, resting her head lightly on his shoulder.

"What film do you want to watch?" Eric asked.

"You choose," Calleigh replied, "after all, you cooked."

"OK, how about 'Mr and Mrs Smith'?" Eric asked.

"Sounds good," Calleigh replied. Eric stood up and placed the DVD in the player and settled back onto the couch with Calleigh. He lay back and she placed her head on his chest as she turned her head to watch the TV.

Halfway through the film Eric noticed Calleigh had fallen asleep, he wasn't surprised she had been exhausted after everything she had put up with. He left her there lying on him for the rest of the film, trying to make sure she wasn't too uncomfortable. When the film had finished he rolled over slightly and slid out from underneath her and then picked her up carefully and carried her into the bedroom and placed her on the bed, pulling back the covers and then covering her up. He undressed himself and then climbed in next to her, he pulled her body closer to him, he gently stroked her belly, he still couldn't believe his baby was growing there. He needed to be near her, to feel her next to him, he had missed her.

He was still haunted by the memories of what had happened, he didn't want to burden Calleigh with it, and although he had managed to leave the house on his own now, he was still terrified. He knew it would take time, and that he should tell Calleigh, after all she out of everyone should understand after what she had been through. He didn't want to remind her of that, he just wanted to be able to get over it and forget what had happened. He was reminded of the times she had woken up screaming; he didn't want to have to go through that he just wanted to put it behind him.

Calleigh moved in his arms and he held her tighter. Eventually he became too exhausted to think anymore and he fell asleep.

"Oh my goodness, you look beautiful!" Alexx exclaimed, watching Calleigh spin around in front of her in her wedding dress.

"Do you really think so?" Calleigh asked, "it's not too much?"

"Calleigh you look amazing!" Natalia added.

"Thanks," Calleigh said, "I can't believe this is happening, I'm so excited."

"It's going to be fantastic," said Natalia, "you're so lucky! You get to marry Eric and he loves you so much, you can tell how much when he looks at you, he's besotted."

"I love him too, more than I ever thought possible! I can't believe we're getting married!"

"You're fantastic together," added Alexx, "you deserve to be happy."

"Thanks Alexx," Calleigh added, spinning around in her dress one more time, "the dress might be a bit tight by the time the wedding comes though, I'm already piling on the pounds, I feel so huge."

"Calleigh, you can hardly tell you're pregnant and I don't think it's all that likely that you are going to put on that much weight in the next 2 weeks and besides you can hardly tell you're pregnant," said Alexx.

"You're just being kind," Calleigh said. "OK, now you two need to try on your dresses."

Alexx and Natalia both disappeared into the dressing rooms and reappeared two minutes later.

"Wow," Calleigh said, "they're beautiful…I mean you're beautiful, wow."

"This material is so nice, and the colour is amazing," said Alexx.

The dress maker started on Natalia first, pinning the areas near the bottom of the dress, ensuring that it was the correct length before doing the same on Alexx's dress.

"OK, you're done, these will be ready for you to pick up next week, is that OK?"

"Yes, that's great, thanks," replied Calleigh. "See you next week."

Calleigh, Natalia and Alexx all left the dress shop, "where next?" Calleigh asked.

"Let's get some lunch," Natalia suggested.

"Great idea!" Calleigh replied, "there's an lovely Italian place down the street if you fancy it."

"Sounds good," replied Alexx.

TBC…

Thanks for reading and if you did please please review, it's what keeps me writing! I'll update much sooner this time, I promise!