A/N : Sorry for the wait. Anyway, I'm glad you liked the previous chapter. Would really like to thank every single one of the reviewers.
Enjoyyyy ;)
The next morning, Horatio decided not to report for work to just stay home to spend his time with his kids and Calleigh. He didn't wake Calleigh up and went straight to the nursery to have the twins showered and ready for the day. He made them sit on their baby chair as he prepared their Banana & Strawberry flavored baby food. Once he finished feeding the twins, he progressed to making French Toast with Caramel Sauce and Strawberry on the side plus a glass of Orange Juice, just the way Calleigh liked it.
"Morning handsome." Calleigh gave a morning kiss to both the twins then to Horatio. "You got them showered and fed." Horatio nodded and smiled.
"I even made you breakfast." He said as he placed the plate in front of her. "Special just for you."
"Aww. That's very sweet of you. But I thought you only made this for special romantic times?"
"It doesn't matter sweetheart. Tuck in and enjoy." Horatio smiled then took the fork in her hand and started feeding her. "I've fed them, now it's your turn." Calleigh smiled.
"You're not going to work today?"
"Nope. I'm going to stay home today and spend some time together with my wife and kids." Calleigh started tearing up. "Hey…I'm going to come back. Please don't cry sweetheart..I'm going to call you every single day." Horatio stepped up and reached out for her hand. "Trust me sweetheart." Calleigh nodded and he wiped off her tears and continued feeding her. That morning, Horatio and Calleigh spent their time together, playing with the twins and just being with each other. When afternoon comes, Calleigh made lunch while Horatio took care of the twins, continuing their playtime. Calleigh, after finishing making lunch, didn't call Horatio on the spot. Instead, she stood behind the wall just watching Horatio played with his kids. She loved the sight of him just sitting and being very relaxed. He was with his kids, playing with the soft toys and imitating voices. Even Alayna and Horatius looked very calm and safe in his hands. They were smiling and laughing at Horatio's act and they looked just like him when they smiled; the shy and reserved smile that she would definitely miss so much from him.
'Oh handsome. I wish you didn't have to leave. I don't know what I am supposed to do without you. How am I supposed to live without you. What if you don't come back? What if something goes wrong and you will never return to us; to your family? I can't do this Horatio. You think I am strong but I'm not. I need to know that you're safe with me. ' She thought to herself. She was thankful for Alayna and Horatius who are going to be with her when he wasn't there but everything is going to be different. The babies will definitely miss him and try to find him but she knew that he had to do it for their safety. She understood that but she was afraid that today was the last time that the twins and herself would ever see him, alive. Horatio felt her presence behind him.
"Calleigh..What are you standing there for?" Horatio spoke up, breaking her train of thoughts.
"Oh uhm…Nothing. I was about to call you for lunch. It's ready." Horatio nodded and brought the twins with him.
"So let's see, what did mummy make for us…" He talked to the twins. "Oh look. Daddy got some of mummy's special lasagna. And let's see what you two got. What did mummy make for them?"
"I made them some pumpkin puree." Calleigh replied cheerfully then flashed her 1000-watt smile.
"Oh that sure sounds very delicious." He said in a delightful tone yet cringed at those words.
"It's for them. Not you. Don't give me that face. Now put them in the chair and you go eat your lunch. I'll feed them." Horatio nodded and complied. After lunch, the couple put the twins back to sleep since they were already tired from playing too long with Horatio. Calleigh and Horatio afterwards settled down in the living room just enjoying each other's company.
"I love you Horatio." Calleigh broke the silence, stroking his hair as he lied down on her lap. Horatio shifted and turned to look at her. "I love you too sweetheart." He then turned towards her baby bump and started talking. "Hello there. How are you doing in there kiddo? I hope you're not being naughty in there and hurting mummy." He said while rubbing her belly. "When daddy is not here, you cannot kick mummy so hard alright. I'll always love you like I love your mummy, your sister and your brother." He then kissed her baby bump. Calleigh smiled at that. He was the best father she could ever have for her children. Their moment together was disrupted by the cries of one of the twins.
"I'll get that." Horatio said and got up then rushed to the nursery. "Oh there Horatius…Why are you crying buddy.." He cooed as he picked his son up. Horatius didn't stop crying despite being carried by his father. Horatio had to bring him out of the room so that he wouldn't disturb Alayna from her sleep. "Shhh…Daddy's here…Why are you still crying…" Horatio cradled his son gently to stop him from crying but he wasn't stopping. "Hey what's wrong Horatius…"
"Horatio what's wrong?" Calleigh appeared in front of Horatio.
"I don't know. He won't stop crying.." He replied. Immediately after, Horatius threw up on Horatio. "Oh god." Horatio looked down on his shirt and it was covered with orange fluid; the remains of the pumpkin puree. Horatius' cries were getting louder and hysterical.
"Come here. Pass him to me. You get that shirt off first." Horatio nodded and handed Horatius to her then went to the room to get changed. When he returned, Horatius was a little bit calmer but still crying. "I think he's having a fever. He feels warm. Let me get the thermometer." Calleigh handed him back to Horatio and rushed to the nursery to get the thermometer.
"Shhh…daddy's here…" He tried to soothe Horatius. "Mummy is going to get you something okay..And you'll feel much better after that." He continued cradling him but he was still crying. Amidst the cries, Horatius threw up on Horatio once again. Horatio could literally feel his shirt being soaked with the liquid. He went into his room and placed Horatius on the bed then quickly took off his shirt and picked Horatius back up. "Calleigh.. Have you gotten the thermometer?" Horatio was panicking. He has never seen his son this sick and hysterical.
"Yeah. Here it is." Calleigh then quickly started taking his temperature. Just as she was taking his temperature, Horatius threw up again. "Oh you poor baby. I'm sorry Horatio."
"It's okay. It's a good thing I'm not wearing any shirt. Let's get him something."
"104. He's definitely having a fever. I'm going to get Ibuprofen for him. Just stay with him for a while more. I hope he doesn't throw up anymore." Horatio cringed. He sure doesn't need Horatius to throw up on him anymore now that he was already covered with it. He cringed at that thought.
"Are you angry that daddy has to leave? Or do you not want me to leave..that's why you fell ill?" He asked softly to the baby in his arms. "I can't do that buddy. I have to do my job to protect you. Right now I'm your guardian. I have to protect you."
"Okay here. I got it. Do you want to hold him? Okay never mind. You just hold him since you both are already dirty enough." Horatio frowned at her. She smiled cheekily. Calleigh took the syringe for the medicine and started to fill it up before feeding it slowly to the baby. "Okay there. We're done. You'll be better in no time. Come here. Give him to me, I'll clean him up before putting him to sleep. And you Mister, go get cleaned up." Horatio nodded and passed the baby to her then went towards his room to have another round of shower.
"Horatius…I know you don't want daddy to leave but he has to. He's trying to protect us. Get better soon alright sweetie. We don't want daddy to worry so much. It would affect his job and we can't lose him.." Calleigh said softly as she was wiping Horatius with a wet towel before putting on a fresh set of clothes for him. Just then, Horatio entered the nursery, clean and fresh as she was holding Horatius, trying to put him to sleep.
"How is he doing?" He asked, walking towards his wife and baby.
"He's quieter now. I think it's easing him already." Horatio smiled and he just wrapped his arm around his wife's waist as she was holding Horatius in her arms. "I think he knows that you're leaving soon and he doesn't want that." Calleigh said quietly as she looked down on her son who was much quieter than before.
"I know sweetheart..I know..but I have to do it." He pulled her closer to him and kissed her on the top of her head. "Let's put him to bed and we'll go watch a movie together." Horatio then took the baby in his arms and started cradling him gently. "You choose the movie. I'll put him to sleep." Calleigh nodded. Horatio continued cradling him gently and slowly, rocking him back and forth. He knew that this separation would be tough on both the babies and his wife, especially for the babies since they are very close to him. He knew that the babies would definitely miss him and he too, would miss them. He was feeling very guilty that he had to leave his two young babies and a pregnant wife to fend for themselves. Although he knew that Calleigh could very well do it, he was still guilty. He really did not want to leave his family but he needed to do it to keep his family safe.
After a while, Horatius finally fell asleep in his arms. "Sweetdreams my boy." 'I hope you can forgive me, Son.' He thought inside. He gave Horatius a kiss and lay him gently inside the crib then headed out to the living room where Calleigh was already waiting for him.
"So what have you chosen sweetheart?" He asked as he lowers himself onto the couch beside Calleigh.
"I don't want to watch a movie. I just want to spend time with you. Can we do that?" Horatio turned and look at her. He took her hand in his and kissed it gently.
"Of course you can sweetheart. I am glad to do just that." He smiled then draped his arm across her shoulders, bringing her closer to him. They stayed like that for a few minutes until Calleigh broke the silence.
"What time will you be going?"
"Frank will pick me up at 6. My flight is at 9. Are you coming along?" Horatio turned to look at her.
"Of course! How could you even ask that Horatio. You're my husband." Calleigh was a little hurt by his question. She wouldn't have thought that Horatio would ask her such questions.
"Sweetheart, I didn't mean to ask that. But I don't want you to get sad later and there's no one to comfort you." Horatio showed pure concern in his eyes. He knew that if Calleigh were to follow him to the airport to send him off, she would get emotional all over again and he did not want that. It hurts him to see his wife get sad and the fact that he will not be there to comfort her makes the feeling worse.
"I'll be fine handsome. Just make sure to call me when you reach." Calleigh replied, trying to sound a little happier, which failed miserably.
"Come here sweetheart." He then opened his arms to take her into his embrace. Calleigh held onto him so tightly as if her life depended on it. Horatio slowly let her go then went to switch on a movie for the both of them. They had a few hours to spare and there was nothing else to do but enjoy each other's company at home. Horatio decided to watch a comedy movie to lighten up the mood and they finally decided on one. As they were watching the movie together, Calleigh snuggled up into him, head on his chest and just enjoyed listening to his heartbeat. Horatio could feel her chuckling and giggling at the funny scenes. He was really grateful that the movie managed to at least cheer her up a little. Time passes by quickly as they were enjoying their time together and their time was interrupted by the sound of a vehicle outside their house. Horatio checked his watch. It was time.
TBC... Reviews? What do you think? Reviews are much appreciated ;)