Author's Note: Guess who doesn't have a test until FRIDAY! It's me! In celebration, I'm posting the next chapter, then I'm going to the pool...with my notes. But, hey, at least I'll be at the pool, right? Okay. Don't sue me. I'm not getting paid. I don't own anything you'd want anyway, so it'd be a waste of your time and money to do so in the first place. School is good. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. It's time for me to catch some sunshine. I need a tan! Cheers!

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"Calleigh, it's me. Pick up!" Eric resorted to calling Calleigh's home phone because she hadn't answered her cell. "Calleigh!"

"Eric." She sounded breathless. "What's up?"

"Are you breathing heavy?" He'd always wondered what she'd sound like out of breath. It was leading his brain into dangerous places, though, and if he didn't nip this in the, uh, bud then he'd never get off of this particular tangent.

"Went for a run after work."

"It's dark! Calleigh, that could be dangerous. There's all kinds of crazy people out there."

"I'm a big girl, Eric." She laughed off his concern, but it was still touching. The fact that he cared warmed her heart. "I can take care of myself. Don't worry. And it's not that dark. Dusk, maybe, but not dark."

"I always worry. And it's not safe to be out there at night alone. Pretty girl. Alone. In the dark. Easy target."

"I'm hardly a target, Eric. I'm trained in self defense, hand to hand combat. I can handle myself. And I live in Bal Harbour, y'know. Not exactly crime central."

"I know. I know." He wasn't going to win this one by sheer will or force. He'd have to figure this one out from a different angle. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize, Eric." She relented just a smidgen. "It's sweet that you…care."

"I always care, Cal. Never question that."

"I won't." Her smile widened at his words, but she remembered that he'd called for a reason. "Why'd you call? I mean, not that I mind hearing your voice, but I'm sure you had a reason."

"Oh, I found a house. I think." His excitement was palpable, even over the phone. "Will you look at it with me? Will you come and see it?"

"Of course." It was so sweet that he wanted her opinion. Cared about what she thought. She loved it. Relished it. "When?"

"Tonight?" This house was amazing; maybe a little smaller than he'd originally dreamt of, but still. It was beautiful. There was a big back yard with a nice swing set. There was even a plot for a vegetable garden that the current owners had made. Three bedrooms weren't his first choice, but he figured he could add on a master bedroom if he needed to. You know, if four bedrooms became necessary at some point in the future.

"What time?"

"We can't go inside, but I can drive you by it any time. I can pick you up!"

"Come on over." Her voice had laughter in it. He was so excited, and she found it adorable. "I'll take a quick shower and get ready. You still have your key, right?"

"Yeah."

"Just let yourself in."

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Once Calleigh was settled comfortably and bucked into the front seat of Eric's car, she turned to look at him, his face fairly bubbling with excitement. She could see how happy he was, how thrilled he was to show her this house. She had an inkling about why this was so important to him, but they hadn't spoken about it yet. This relationship was too new to even consider going there yet, and Calleigh hated to be the one to spring the "where is this going" talk on a guy. Not because she was afraid they'd bolt, but because she hated the thought of having to commit. The odd thing was that the prospect of committing didn't frighten her as much as it used to. Not with Eric. And the kids. Craning her neck around to see in the backseat, she was greeted with wide eyes and smiles.

"Hey, there!"

"Hi!" Elena waved exuberantly at her, thrilled to see Calleigh. "I miss you."

"Oh, sweetie, I missed you, too. Both of you; all day long." She paused before turning her smile to Pablo. "How was school today, honey? Did you make any new friends?"

"Willy!" His eyes lit up with a wide smile. "Willy is my new friend. He sits next to me at school."

"That's wonderful, Pablito!" She patted his knee. "Do you have any more information about this project you have to do? I want to mark it on my calendar."

"April seventeen." He announced affirmatively. "Seven o'clock."

"At night?" She'd already whipped out her PDA to mark the date.

"At night."

"I'll be there."

"I have to talk about Cuba to everyone." He sounded a little apprehensive at the idea of public speaking.

"We'll practice until you get it just right." Eric promised him. "You'll be ready. Don't worry about it."

"Tía Clorinda says she will make food, too!" As much as this task worried him, he was just as excited about it. "And Eric is making CD with music of Cuba! Abuelo will send pictures, I talked to him on the phone at Tía Clorinda's house today."

"That's exciting, honey!" She was touched at how Pablo's family was rallying around him, but felt a little left out. Shoving down those feelings of jealousy, she put on a cheerful face and turned back around.

"You okay?" Eric didn't miss the shift in her mood. He never did.

"Yeah, of course."

"You know, I'm not much good at making posters and artsy stuff."

"Is that a peace offering?" She was supremely embarrassed that Eric caught on to her disappointment.

"Maybe." He grinned that cocky grin she loved so much. "Did it work?"

"Maybe." She heard his chuckle. "Yes."

"Good."

"What do you think?" Eric asked her as he unbuckled Elena from her booster seat and brought her around to stand on the sidewalk.

"Eric, it's lovely!"

"It's in a good school district, too." He was off, walking to one side of the house for a better view of the back yard, and bringing Elena along with him, hand in hand.

"See, there's a swing set!" He squatted down and pointed for Elena, then motioned to Pablo. "Come and look, Pablo!"

"Eric, this is so nice!" It was a beautiful one story home with a front porch that Eric knew Calleigh would love, beautiful landscaping and room for her flowers, and a garage. The garage only fit one car at a time, but he was prepared to park his outside. It rains a lot in Florida, and he didn't want Calleigh to get wet.

"There's three bedrooms." He grabbed Pablo's hand, too, and walked a little ways up the short driveway. Calleigh hung back for a moment, watching the three of them walk away together. The picture was so sweet, so she took a picture with her camera. She hoped the resolution would be good, and momentarily wished she made a habit of carrying an actual camera with her. Jogging back up the driveway, she caught up with them.

"Tell me more." She requested quietly.

"Three bedrooms." He barely paused to breath. "Living room with hardwood floors. Nice kitchen. Open, lots of light. Living room. There's even a study. I thought I could make it a sort of den or playroom or something for them. Something casual, you know? What do you think?"

"It's great, Eric." She stated quietly. It was suddenly all very real, and it hit her all at once. They'd live here now. Even further from her. That meant she'd see them less. Spend less time with them. Ignoring the hardening pit in her stomach, she forced a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "It's a wonderful house, Eric. For you and them."

"I want to put an offer down, but I have to sell my condo first. My credit isn't good enough for the risk of loan approval before I sell it."

"You must be worried."

"Yeah." He breathed out quietly. He was afraid. This was the perfect place to raise a family. Good neighborhood. Good schools. Good life. He didn't want it all snatched away because of some economic glitch and poor youthful choices.

"Will they wait?" She'd heard of it happening. "Hold it for you?" She hoped they would. He was so excited about this home, the idea of living here with Elena and Pablo. She knew how much Eric wanted a family, how much he wanted to be a dad. For a brief moment she considered praying to Eric's God that those people would agree to hold this home for him, and only him. That they would accept his offer and reject all others.

"Didn't ask." God bless Calleigh for having this knowledge. His realtor certainly wasn't about to help him out any. Perhaps it was time for a new one.

"Worth a shot." She shrugged. "Can't hurt to ask."

"I can't lose this, Cal." His voice was low and a little scared, and she knew immediately that she had to do something.

She was quiet for a second, then piped up. "Let me help."

"How?"

"That banker friend of my dad's?" He nodded. "Let me hook you two up. Maybe he can help."

"Calleigh, seriously?"

"Seriously." She affirmed, bending down when Pablo tugged on her arm to get her attention.

"Can I get the name of your realtor, too?"

"Tired of yours?"

"She's not exactly…helpful."

"I noticed." Calleigh dug around in her purse until she found her wallet, and then handed him a business card. "He's really good. Tell him I sent you."

"Remembers you, does he?" He raised an eyebrow, only half joking. The other half was pure, green envy.

"He might." She shrugged nonchalantly.

"I would." Eric smirked at her, all flirtatious and boyish. It made her knees weak. "I'd remember you." She just locked her eyes on his for a moment, grateful for the relative darkness of the sidewalk to disguise the flush that crept its way across her cheeks.

"Eric." She was embarrassed, but his honesty touched her.

"Calleigh?" Pablo interrupted the moment with a quiet voice.

"What's up, hon?"

"Elena's birthday is in July."

"It is?"

"My birthday is next month." He stated it very gravely, very seriously with eyes open wide. This was very important to him. He was going to be nine years old, and that was something one doesn't just mess around with lightly.

"Oh!" She stood up and raised an eyebrow at Eric. "Well, then I guess it's you we'll be throwing a party for, isn't it?"

"My party." He nodded proudly. "Eric says Willy can come. All my friends."

"Of course." She patted his hand. "The more the merrier!"

"I was informed that I, uh, got the dates mixed up." Eric admitted sheepishly. "We'll party for Elena in this summer."

"Well, it looks like we have a party to plan, don't we?"

"Sure do!"

Pablo looked between them with a cheerful smile. He wished his mother could be here to see his new life. Elena's new life. He missed her so much sometimes. Elena's heart was all fixed now, just like his mother always wanted. He was attending an American school, learning English. His family had banded around the two of them to help make a new life for them. Eric had welcomed them into his home and treated them the way Pablo had always dreamed a father would. Sometimes he felt guilty for thinking it, but he liked living here; and that thought made him feel disloyal to his mother, and he hated that. Her dream had been for the three of them to move to America, though, and while she wasn't here to witness it, Pablo was proud that he and his sister were fulfilling her vision.

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Eric switched realtors the very next day, put his condo on the market, and resolved to do more for Pablo and Elena. He and Calleigh poured over his finances the next evening while the children played, sodas and calculators and papers spread over the kitchen table.

"I'm cancelling my cable." Eric announced holding a bill up like a trophy. "That'll save about a hundred bucks a month."

"Good." She nodded. "You're not going to have to join a homeowners association are you?"

"Nope." He chuckled. "Not that kind of neighborhood."

"Alright. What else've we got?"

"My phone."

"Eric, you kind of need a phone."

"No, no." Eric handed her another stack of bills. "I can cancel internet, music, unlimited texts. I'll just reduce my plan."

"Eric, we use that for work a lot."

"Well, I'll just have to find another way. That money can be better used to take care of them."

"That is so sweet." She said quietly and grabbed his hand. "Eric, really."

"It's just what you do." He shrugged, as if making all these sacrifices were nothing. "They're more important than unlimited NFL coverage."

Calleigh got an odd look on her face as she pondered his words.

"What?"

"It's nothing." She brushed it aside.

"Cal, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing's wrong." She faced him fully and smiled softly as she recalled their conversation from a few years ago. "It's just…I was right."

"You were right?" He wasn't following her words and reasoning. "About what?"

"I was right. You're a great dad."

Eric was stunned into silence at her complement. "Calleigh, I'm…I'm no dad."

"I'm sticking with it."

"Well, you are a phenomenal mother." He returned her praise.

"Now, I am definitely NOT a mother." She laughed dryly. "You are at least related."

"Cal," His heart wrenched. "You know as well as I do that genetics isn't the only requirement to be a parent. Hell, I'm not actually related to my dad, but, you know, he still stuck around."

"They had a mother, Eric." She reminded him gently. "I can't take her place. No one can. I don't want to try."

"Oh, my mom sent this over." He dashed into the kitchen and grabbed a manila envelope. "I need a frame."

Calleigh opened the envelope and her eyes misted immediately. "Is this their mother?"

"Yeah. My cousin. Her name is Teresa. I thought I'd put it in the bedroom for them. You know, so they can remember her."

"She's very pretty." That was an understatement, really. Teresa had been a stunning woman, and there was no doubt that little Elena got her looks from her mother. Pablo had her features as well, and Calleigh could see the ladies chasing after him in a few years. "And that's really sweet of you, Eric."

"Thanks." He knew what was on Calleigh's mind, though. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"You're going to have to fight off the boys with sticks when Elena gets older."

"Sure am." He sighed. "I may need to increased the size of my gun collection. And they just might need cleaned every time she has a date. That is if I decide to let her out of the house before she turns forty."

"Forty, huh? Poor girl."

"I prefer to not think about that right now."

"Yeah." She understood that sentiment very well. "You gonna let Pablo out before that, though?"

"Don't lecture me about double standards, Cal."

"Why?" She placed both her elbows on the table and leaned forward. "You'll let a boy have a social life, but not a girl?"

"Cal, it's an exaggeration."

"I know, but it's still an antiquated idea."

"Calleigh, I don't want either of them grow up. Come on, you know that."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"I'll take a kiss, and we'll call it even?"

"You drive a hard bargain." Calleigh leaned enticingly across the table top, allowing Eric a great view that he tried to not stare at.

"Up here, Eric." Calleigh tipped his chin up and planted a fervent kiss on his mouth. "Am I forgiven?" She asked saucily when she pulled away.

"Maybe a few more will do it."

"You just let me know." Her eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Oh, I will." He assured her as he moved back in to capture her lips once more. "I will."

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Calleigh and Eric both had the next weekend off. She'd already helped Eric clean his apartment from top to bottom, she'd even baked bread in the oven to give the condo a nice, homey smell. Only one person was slated to come by, but he really wanted to get the thing sold.

"Where do you want to go?" Calleigh pushed her sleeves back down and dusted the flour off of the front of her shirt.

"Go?"

"We have to leave if people are going to be here."

"Oh. Okay. The beach?"

"We'll have to drop by my house." She was already grabbing Elena's swim suit from its place on the shower curtain rod. "I don't have a suit with me."

"Not a problem." Eric called down the hallway. "Pablo!"

"Yes?" He looked up from his homework.

"Grab your suit, we're heading for the beach!"

"Beach?" His voice quivered a little. "Why?"

"Oh, hey, buddy." Eric squatted down and hugged him. "We're just going for fun. We'll play in the water. Build sand castles. Buy food from vendors on the boardwalk. Then we'll come back home. All of us."

"No boats?"

"No boats."

"Okay!" Pablo tore himself away and dashed down the hall to change clothes.

"I love it here." Eric said softly to no one in particular as he helped Elena pick her way through the sand. Pablo's inital anxiety was replaced with excitement once he saw all the people and families playing on the beach. It wasn't that he didn't trust Eric and Calleigh, but the last time he'd gone to the ocean, his abuelo had packed him onto a small boat with his sister and sent them off to America. Apparently, in America, you go to the beach for fun, too. Pablo may have been born on an island nation, but he lived in a small town on the inland, and had never seen the ocean until that day with the boat.

"Here?" Calleigh had already plopped down the armload of stuff she was carrying.

"This is fine."

"Wanna play, guys?"

Calleigh laughed as she watched Eric run toward the shore hand in hand with the children. Elena got nervous when they got closer, though, and ripped her hand out of Eric's and ran back to the towels. Calleigh smiled and held out her arms.

"Come on, honey." Calleigh picked her up and settled Elena on her hip. "We'll do this together." Elena clutched her tighter and tighter the closer they got to the water. "Honey, it's okay." She tried to calm her. "I won't let go."

Pablo had already mastered the art of not getting dragged under when the waves hit by the time they made it to the water. "Elena!" He called out happily. "Come on! It's fun!"

Calleigh carefully waded out into the water and dipped Elena's toes in the water, loving it when the little girl shrieked with glee.

"Here." Eric came over. "Give her to me." Eric settled Elena on his shoulders to keep her out of the waves while he explained how to dodge waves to her. After a few minutes, she asked to be put down, so Eric gingerly sat her on her feet and quickly grabbed her hand, just in case. Glancing over at Pablo, his heart swelled as he watched him and Calleigh count down and jump simulateneously to "body surf" a large wave. Even though she was only in water up to her knees, a particularly large wave knocked Elena over and she fell on her bottom with a squeal. Eric moved to pick her up, but she was busy rolling in the sand, a permanent smile pasted on her pretty little face.

Eric patiently waited while Elena got acclimated to the water, then they moved out a little deeper. Elena lost her grip, and her hand slipped from Eric's grasp. Before he could get over to her, a nasty wave sucked Elena under, tumbling her head over heels toward the shore. His heart stopped beating immediately as he sprinted after her, hands furiously fumbling in the murky surf and plucking her awkwardly up out of the water.

"Elena!" He cried, close to tears as he cuddled her close to his chest and patted her back while she sputtered and coughed. "Elena, honey, are you okay? Baby, tell me you're okay. Talk to me, honey."

Her coughing fit subsided, and she shocked Eric by smiling at him, eyes shining. "Again!"

Calleigh's stomach uncontracted when Elena stopped coughing and spoke. She and Pablo had rushed over as soon as they saw her get pulled under.

"She's okay?" Calleigh ventured carefully, noticing, and not for the first time, how deeply Eric cared for his small cousins.

"She's fine." He breathed for what seemed like the first time in hours, and brushed her wet hair out of her face. "She's just fine." He sounded a little surprised, but mostly relieved.

"Eric!" Elena was wiggling in his arms, trying to get out of his grasp so she could play again.

"Okay, hold onto my hand this time." He clutched her hand securely as he attempted to slow down his heart rate. Fear of your child, or cousin in this case, dying is apparently a really good way to give yourself a heart attack.

Calleigh moved over closer to Eric, craned her neck up and gave him a peck on the cheek. "I told you you're a great dad." She whispered as she pulled away.

"She could have died." He protested her complement.

"She would have been fine. She IS fine." Calleigh ran her hand down his arm and squeezed his hand. "Eric," She knew how much the incident was going to eat at him. "She's fine. She's not even upset. You're doing great."

"I should have been watching her more closely." He berated himself. This was not the way to prove to the courts that you're a fit parent. Nearly drowning your child, he reasoned, was a good way to have custody revoked, and that was kind of the opposite of what he was going for here.

"Shhh." She silenced him with a kiss while Pablo and Elena watched. "She's fine. You're fine. Let it go."

"If the social worker finds out about this…"

"She won't. Or he won't. Whatever." Calleigh cut him off. "After a fun day at the ocean, do you think that is really what they're going to want to talk about?"

She did have a point, Eric reasoned. "I suppose we should just make sure they have lots of fun, huh? Give 'em something else to remember than almost dying."

"Sounds like a plan." Calleigh chuckled at his persistence. "And, Eric?"

"Yeah?"

"Let it go."

"Yeah."

Eric tried to shake off the feeling, but found it very difficult. He watched Pablo and Elena like a hawk, hovering around them like a freaked out parent. Calleigh noticed his attentiveness, but kept her mouth shut. There are worse things than a parent who cares about his children, she figured. At least she knew they'd always be safe.

"Eric!" Elena called, wading out a little further. "Watch me!"

He felt his throat close as he rushed after her. "That's too deep for you, sweetie. Come in closer."

"Watch me!" She put her head under the water and "swam" to him.

"Calleigh, did you see that?" He called out joyfully. "Did you SEE that? She swam!"

"I saw." She knew how much this meant to him. "You're planning a swimming career already, aren't you?"

"Butterfly." He asserted. "Or backstroke. Have you seen her kick? I mean, she'd be great at the backstroke."

"Let's work on the doggy paddle, first, okay?" She laughed and hugged Elena in congratulations. "Good job, baby."

"We should probably feed them some lunch." He glanced at his watch. "Don't want them to drown because they're too hungry to swim."

"I brought sandwiches."

"You amaze me." Eric wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her close. "Thank you."

"It's healthier than vendor food. Cheaper, too."

"I'm still getting them Italian ice." He bargained. "We always got Italian ice when we went to the beach."

"Grape popsicles when they're sick and Italian ice at the beach. Got it."

"Sounds like you've got it." He grinned at her as he handed out the sandwiches. "Calleigh?"

"Yup?"

"Pie? You brought pie?"

"It's just a little something I whipped up." She shrugged. "I had a bunch of apples, and I didn't feel like eating them. So I made pie."

"I love apple pie." His stomach grumbled, which helped make his point.

"Well, that's good." She handed Pablo some carrot sticks. "Because there's another one at home, and I don't want to eat it by myself."

"That will not be a problem." He assured her, helping himself to a helping of fruit salad and carrot sticks. "And thanks, for this, by the way."

"No problem." She speared a strawberry off of his plate and popped it in her mouth, ignoring the way he swallowed hard when she did so. It was the little things, she realized, that made him so perfect. Okay, not perfect, but close to it. The way he freaked out when Elena got pulled under. The way he looked at her, like she was the only person in his world. The way always knew what she needed. The way he stopped whatever he was doing and helped Pablo with his homework whenever he had a question. Eric caught her staring at him, and Calleigh blushed a little.

"You okay?" He grinned cheekily.

"I'm great." She assured him. "Do you need anything else?"

"I've got everything I need." He shook his head. "Everything."

After lunch, Eric settled himself in the sand and helped the kids build a sandcastle while Calleigh lounged in the beach chair and soaked up some sun.

"Time for more sunscreen, Eric." She called out, glancing at her phone for the time.

"Alright, kiddos," He helped them to their feet. "Time for sunscreen. We don't want you to burn."

He stood back and watched while Calleigh carefully smeared SPF 45 on Elena's face, making her giggle.

"Let's get your back now, honey." She spun the little girl around, and applied the sunblock.

"Your turn, Pablo." She patted Elena's back and sent her back to her sandcastle, put sunscreen on the little boy, then squeezed some extra out into her palm. Eric's mouth went dry as he watched her slather it on her arms and legs. Then her stomach. She caught his gaze and sent him a sultry look. "Can you get my back for me?"

"Yeah." He croaked. "No problem." He took the offered bottle and squeezed a bit onto his fingers, kneading her muscles lovingly. "You are stunning." He whispered in her ear as he gathered her hair to one side and moved it over her shoulder.

"Eric." She cautioned. "There's people everywhere."

"I'm being good." He promised. "For now."

"I brought a Frisbee." She pulled away and grabbed the plastic toy from her bag. "I thought we could play."

"Great." He rubbed his hands on the towel and took the Frisbee from her. "Hey, kids, wanna play a game?" He carefully tossed it in Elena's direction. She didn't catch it, but scrambled to get it, then threw it to Pablo.

"Hey, Calleigh!" Eric called her direction. "Are you gonna play?"

"Sure."

They'd played for a few minutes before Eric heard his name being called.

"Eric? Eric!"

"Wha…?" He turned around. "Sonya! What are you doing here?"

"Took the kids to the beach." She shrugged. "It's a nice day."

"Yeah. Same."

"You're really good with them." She complemented him quietly. "They look really happy with you."

"Well." He wasn't sure how else to respond. "I'm really happy with them."

They chatted for a few minutes, but before she left, she pulled him down to her height and whispered in his ear. "Your girlfriend is really pretty. Don't screw this up."

Eric smiled a little embarrassed, and glanced at Calleigh as she played with Pablo, dumping out packed sand to enlarge the castle. "I'm trying not to." He admitted.

"Took ya long enough." She smacked him on the back of the head, just like she did when they were kids, then kissed his cheek. "Go back to your family, Eric."

"My…yeah. I will. You, too." He hugged his big sister and waved as she walked away.

"Good talk?" Calleigh noted his perma-grin.

"Yeah. Really good talk."

"Good."

"She thinks you're pretty." He nudged her shoulder with his. "And she said I'm doing a good job."

Calleigh knew how much his sister's approval meant to him, so she leaned over and kissed him chastely. "You are. And don't ever question it."

"You're the best." He whispered as they sat back and watched the children play in the sand.

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A/N: I miss living near the ocean, but my pool will have to do for now (not really mine. Just the pool at my apartment). Anyway, read and reveiw! And thanks to everyone who has been reviewing. You write such nice things, it makes my day.