Okay, so I've got yet another jam-packed weekend. Zoo tomorrow with two of my small cousins and then on Friday I'm having the major hair re-do-over thingy (gotta get a cut and colour, there goes a few hours) and then Friday night i'm out at Strike bowling with some old work buddies, seriously miss them and then Saturday i'm going to be seeing my little brother and sister for the first time in YEARS, gosh they're getting so tall and my little sister...she looks exactly like me at that age, it's scary. THEN! Sunday is the Baptism for my little princess (neice) and I'm Godmother so i've actually got to stand up there and DO something...woe. Busy girl. Anywho, that's another bunch of days with no updating but I hope the fluff overload in this chapter can tide a few people over. Either way, I want to thank CalleighEric for the suggestion of Sugarland's song "Love" because the lyrics are fabulous! And even though I've used them in this chapter, I'm feeling the need to use different lyrics from that song in a later chapter, but we'll see.

I know it's a short one. Sorry about that. :)

Miami has the Dolphins
The Greatest Football Team
We take the ball from goal to goal
Like no one's ever seen
We're in the air, we're on the ground
We're always in control
And when you say Miami
You're talking Super Bowl.
~ Miami Dolphins Fight Song.

With a beer held securely in the crook of his elbow, and a bunch of popcorn in his fist, Eric made his way to the front door. He could hear his dad yelling from the couch and laughed because he could decipher exactly what was going on in the game, from his father's reaction and the fact that Ade had let a word slip out that Eric just knew he was going to regret when his Tio finally realised and slapped him upside the head. Pulling open the door, he grinned as he shoved the popcorn in his mouth and greeted Duke with a wave. "Come on in," He coughed, realising that it probably wasn't the best idea to put the food in and then speak, but the damage was already done. "the game's just started and Dad's already losing it."

Duke laughed as he followed his son-in-law into the house, closing the door behind him. "Where's Calleigh?" He questioned, shaking hands with Pavel as Ade waved across the loungeroom and Ryan, sitting on the floor by the coffee table with his legs jammed under it so there was no way he'd be forced to get up and collect the beers, nodded his head in greeting.

"She didn't tell you?" Eric questioned, setting his beer down and heading into the kitchen. "She's gone shopping for maternity clothes with Mom and Charlotte." Eric noticed that the older man looked somewhat disappointed, but it didn't last long. Duke knew as well as he did that Calleigh'd rather sew her own eyelids shut than watch the game with them and they were all aware that she'd been complaining about her clothes being too tight, for weeks. Just that morning, Eric had suffered a whole twenty minutes of - "But these jeans fit yesterday!" - before she had finally decided on a flowy white skirt and an Orange halter-top that he kept imagining himself taking off instead of watching her put it on because his eyes had been completely fixated on how it pulled tightly across her belly. For weeks his favourite past-time was to touch that belly, to have both of his hands spread out across it, stretching his fingers out as far as he could to cover it completely as though it somehow made him feel closer to the baby. Calleigh seemed to love it too, smiling brightly each time he'd stop her in her tracks and just touch her. She could be cooking dinner or folding laundry or reading a book contentedly and he'd just swoop into her bubble and press his palms to her belly, causing her to giggle and grin and stare at him as if the stars themselves were now match for the gold of his eyes. "Did you want something to drink?" He asked Duke and the man nodded his head with a wide smile, no longer feeling disappointed that he wasn't going to see his daughter likely until the game was well over.

"Has she got any of that sweet-tea made up?" He looked hopeful and Eric grinned, dipping his head into the fridge and producing the decanter Calleigh had made up before she left.

"She knew you were coming." He smirked and poured him a glass and patted him on the shoulder as he made his way back into the loungeroom, dropping himself back into his chair and burying his hand in the large bowl of popcorn as all of the men in the room erupted in cheers as their team scored. Duke found himself happily joining the party, taking up the lounge-chair with Calleigh's tattered brown blanket hanging over the back as Ade moved down to the floor, feeling that Ryan's plan to trap himself under the coffee table in order to avoid beer duty, was the best plan of the day.

"We need nachos." Ade declared, rolling his head back on the couch and looking up at his cousin. Eric just gave him a look and took a swig of his beer, doing his best to ignore him. "Eric," He pressed and the older man laughed, rolling his eyes.

"You can have Nachos if you make them and if you clean up any evidence that you did." Eric took another swig of his beer before continuing. "Even the idea of mexican food right now makes Calleigh feel sick."

"Nevermind then," Ade played with the edge of the label on his bottle. "popcorn will do. I wouldn't want Calleigh on my case."

"No," Eric delcared at the same time Duke did, causing both men to smirk. "you don't." The spoke in unison again, stared at each other and then laughed, turning back to the game suddenly when Pavel, who's attention hadn't swayed from his favourite team on the screen of Eric's plasma, jumped to his feet with a cheer, startling them back to attention.

When she who had no mother, suddenly has two.

Climbing out of the car a little awkwardly around her growing belly, because her Crossfire sat so low to the ground, Calleigh grinned as she met eyes with her mother who was leaning against her car. Carmen climbed out the passenger side, carrying both her handbag and Calleigh's as she rounded the front, smiling as she stood across from the woman who could have been Calleigh's twin, were she seventeen years younger. Calleigh's hair was still growing back and because it was only just reaching her shoulders, tickling her bare collarbone when she walked, she looked so much more like her mother than she would have been willing to admit. Her mother's botox not withstanding, though they weren't to speak of that. They were both slight and blond with green eyes and Carmen smiled her way as Calleigh introduced them.

"Carmen, this is my mother, Charlotte. Mom this is Eric's mom, Carmen. I don't know if Eric introduced you at the wedding but it was all a little crazy that day." She laughed and Carmen patted her arm gently, sensing that she was nervous and trying to reassure her that she had no reason to be. Charlotte didn't miss the gesture, but thought better of making a comment by biting down on her lip. She could see by the way that they interacted, that she had a lot to make up for in terms of being a good mother. This woman had gained her daugther's trust and while she was grateful to realise that Calleigh had that kind of support, she couldn't help but feel that this connection they seemed to have, was only going to make matters worse for her. She didn't begrudge the relationship though, because it was a far better thing that she love her mother-in-law than if the relationship was as strained as her own. That would have left Calleigh completely stranded and alone, and even though she was hard-pressed to show it, that was the last thing she would have wanted.

"It is lovely to meet you." Carmen nodded with her quiet, Cuban accent and Charlotte inclined her head. "Calleigh has told me some things about you, but I would love to get to know you better."

"Well, I think you're at a disadvantage," Charlotte laughed. "because it feels like she's told me everything about you."

It was true. Calleigh had told her mother as much as she possibly could about Carmen. How warm she was, how kind. She'd told her how she'd taken her in and accepted her as one of her own. She told her how she consistently felt loved in Carmen and Pavel's home and she felt so comfortable with them and the rest of Eric's family. Consciously, she hadn't told Carmen about the issues that they shared, she didn't tell her in any great detail, about her childhood because she knew that Carmen was already protective of her, the way one would expect a mother would be and she'd been worried that if she divulged too much of their past, she'd have a barrier up against Charlotte. But she knew that Carmen wasn't a stupid woman, she understood that Calleigh's childhood hadn't been fantastic and she understood, from what she'd seen, that at the very least her father was attempting to make amends. Now, with little to go on apart from how very much mother and daughter seemed to resemble one another, Carmen was happy to spend the day discovering new truths about the daughter-in-law she'd already come to love.

"Oh, mija, this is adorable." Carmen cooed, holding up a tiny pink dress with raspberry coloured tuling and a white bow around the middle. The perfect size for a baby of about four months. Calleigh's face melted into a smile, making her way across the store and reaching out to feel the fabric. It was soft and the ribbon was made of satin, making Calleigh grin but shake her head because she was finding it harder and harder to stay determined that she didn't want to know if it was a boy or a girl.

"It's so hard when the clothes are so cute." She laughed, and stretched out the dress as Charlotte joined them. "But I have to be realistic. Eric and I both decided that we want the baby in neutrals, just to start out."

"There are gorgeous sets over here," Charlotte pointed, making her way over to the racks of tiny white and cream baby onsies with matching hats and booties. "what do you think of these?" She held up a set that to Calleigh, looked like it'd barely fit a mouse, but it said newborn on the tag and she dipped her head, examining it with a smirk. It was cream and so soft between her fingers. It had a small elephant embroidered on the chest in grey and she practically gushed when she noticed the matching beret. "When you were born," She started quietly and Calleigh found herself turning to her mother suddenly, staring at the side of her face as she slowly rifled through the tiny baby clothes, doing her best not to meet Calleigh's eye. "I wanted to put you in nothing but pink. I was excited," She smiled solemnly, shaking her head to clear it and taking deep breaths. "the one time your Daddy came for the ultrasound, we learnt we were having a girl and the first thing he did was go out and buy a pair of pink ballet slippers I'd seen in a store window about a month before." Charlotte chuckled nostalgically. "they didn't actually fit you until you were nearly four, but you carried them everywhere."

Calleigh smiled, having no recollection of the shoes at all. But it was nice to hear that her mother had been excited, once upon a time. Sometimes it was hard for her to imagine that there was a time when her parents had welcomed her in their lives, but she was slowly starting to realise that those times far outweighed those moments in the past when they'd lain their woes on her shoulders. Sometimes it was just so much easier to remember the dark times because good was good and it disappeared so fast when she was happy.

"When Eric was six," Carmen spoke gently, stepping up on the other side of Calleigh and taking the newborn set she'd fallen in love with, into her own hands. Calleigh knew that the gesture meant she was intending to buy it for her, but she didn't fight it, not this time. She figured that to have these two women in the same moment, was worth the doting if only to make them both equally happy. She had plenty of time to resist their generosity. "all of my girls were sharing this one, pretty little dress. It was Marisol's absolute favourite but Maria, she was a small child and she was proud that it still fit. But my Eric," She chuckled. "he had decided that if the three of them could share one dress, he had a claim to it to." Calleigh giggled with her hand in front of her mouth, having a fair idea where this story was going. "Pavel was never a strict man and he could never deny his children what they wanted. I returned home to find three crying daughters and a small boy in a pink dress, covered in mud because he had been digging for buried treasure."

Charlotte swiped at a tear that formed in her eye and Calleigh held her hand to her belly as they laughed so hard because the image of Eric in a dress, was just too hilarious. "He never told me that." Calleigh continued to giggle, feeling an ache in her side because it was just too much and Carmen smirked.

"I would imagine that he no longer remembers, but I don't believe he would have said anything if he did."

"No," Calleigh agreed. "I don't think so."

"How about some lunch?" Charlotte questioned, grinning and Calleigh nodded, patting the top of her belly.

"I think that's a good idea, if I don't eat something I think this little one is going to start pulverizing my bladder. Ooh!" She exclaimed, pressing her hand to the side of her belly as she felt a sharp jab against her ribs. Quickly, she grabbed Charlotte's hand, pulling it up to the spot where the baby's foot had hit her and she smiled, waiting for it to happen again. When it did, the surprised expression that Charlotte had on her face, from being the one Calleigh reached for to begin with, slipped away as she felt the movements of her grandbaby beneath her hand. "It still feels so strange." Calleigh smiled, watching her mother's face.

They didn't notice how intently Carmen was watching them, nor did they notice the smile that spread on her lips as Calleigh moved her mother's hand across her belly as the baby moved around and Charlotte's smile grew wider and wider, licking her bottom lip in concentration as she tried her hardest to feel every kick. Carmen slipped away quietly, she paid for the tiny suit with the matching beret and she grinned as she handed it to Calleigh when they were out of the store. Happy for the grateful smile that covered Calleigh's pretty face. Carmen felt that the three of them had broken the ice quite nicely. She found herself liking Calleigh's mother because even though Calleigh couldn't bring herself to completely admit it, Carmen could see in her eyes that her heart had forgiven her mother so much of her pain. She had an honesty about her face that appealed to her, something that she could see clearly in Calleigh's eyes and she felt excited for the hours of shopping that still lay ahead of them because for the past few months, since her hair had started to grow back and the pain from her surgery had ebbed away, she felt that Calleigh had regained so much of her former self and grown to revel in the parts of herself that she never used to feel so free in sharing. She was happier now and she glowed so much brighter and Carmen could see by the longing looks that Charlotte bestowed upon her daughter when she wasn't looking, that she was as proud of her as she, herself, felt.

"Do you have any plans for your baby shower?" Charlotte asked as they waited in line for their salads.

Calleigh shrugged. "Well, Natalia and Valera said something about wanting to throw one for me and I have strict instructions from Melissa to give her enough time to get down here."

"Well, that sounds good then."

"Yeah," Calleigh nodded. "it should be nice. I just hope they don't organise any of those silly baby games." She screwed her nose up like a child who'd just been force-fed brussel sprouts and Carmen laughed heartily.

"Then don't let my Maria help them organise." She said pointedly.

Calleigh giggled. "Duely noted."

"Is it the first summer storm? Is it the colours of Fall?
Is it having so little and yet having it all?
Is it one in a million? Is it a chance to belong?
Is it standing right here and singing this song?"
~ Love, Sugarland

"Wow, you bought a lot." Eric smirked, coming up behind Calleigh as she dumped her bags on the kitchen counter with a lound 'oomph'. He laughed, snaking his arms around her waist and pressing his hands to her belly and she leant back into him, dropping her head against his shoulder and leaning back until she could see his face.

"Well, I needed a lot." She justified and he shrugged, neither agreeing nor disagreeing as he dipped his head to press a kiss to her lips. "Did you want to see what I got?"

"As long as it's not ammo for your 9mm, you've got my full attention."

"Oh," Calleigh smirked playfully. "I knew I left something in the car." Eric laughed and hugged her tighter, feeling the baby moving against his hand like it was the most normal thing in the world. "Bring the bags in here and i'll show you," She coaxed him, slipping out of his arms and heading up the hall, towards their bedroom. It didn't really matter to him whether she'd bought out the entire store or bought one hat and when they finally made it to the bedroom, the bags of clothes she knew she'd now be able to wear at work and the tiny little baby accessories Carmen and Charlotte had stuffed in her bags when she wasn't looking, didn't matter. Eric guided her to the bed, yawning after a strenuous day of drinking beer, eating popcorn and lurching his whole body off the chair when the Dolphins either scored or nearly did, and with gentle hands he rested her down on top of the blankets. Calleigh sighed as she watched him pulling her cork wedges off her feet, smiling and adoring the way he kissed her ankle before moving to her other shoe.

With sleepy eyes she looked up at him and even though the light was still shining through the windows and dinner was a good few hours away, Calleigh could feel sleep taking over. Pavel and Carmen had left as soon as the women had returned and by the empty decanter of sweet-tea left on the kitchen counter, Calleigh knew that her father had been there and that all the evidence pointed towards the notion that he'd actually enjoyed himself. She felt Eric's fingers flutter against her side and rolled towards him, pressing her back to his chest as she closed her eyes. "Just a few minutes," She whispered, feeling her own breathing slow in time with the small brush of Eric's on the back of her neck.

"I'll be here," He whispered, kissing the back of her neck, just above the clasp of her necklace with the crescent moon pendant.

"I know." She grinned into her pillow.

"Hey, Cal," He smirked, knowing that she wasn't going to open her eyes at all. She'd been out all day with his mother and hers, likely looking through every baby store in Miami-Dade county and she'd been on her feet since early that morning. She was feeling more and more weighed down and he could see that the day had taken it's toll.

"Mmm," She answered and he knew that even though she didn't have the energy to answer, she was listening.

"Love you."

She muttered something that sounded a lot like 'I love you too.' But her words were muffled in sleep and her pillow, but the sentiment made it's mark. He kissed her again, feeling the baby pushing against his hand and with a smile, he gently caressed the spot where the tiny little fist, or foot, had struck him.

"Shh, your momma needs to rest." He whispered, grinning when the baby's shuffling stilled as though he'd actually been heard and Calleigh's hand rose up, curling her fingers through his and pulling his arm around her tighter, snuggling in for a deeper sleep than she'd intended, but he didn't mind.

TBC.