Crazy

Horatio never denied he wanted a family. But if someone told him his family would start when he were 41 he'd told them they were crazy. For years he practically avoided being at home. It was empty and cold. Sometimes Alexx teased him if he had found someone in the next two years she was getting him a cat to keep him company. Now Horatio hated being away from home.

Tonight he had got home in time for dinner. One look at his wife, almost 6 months pregnant and Horatio could tell she were very tired. Even if their little girls were behaving which they did most of time keeping up with them while pregnant was hard for Aimee. The four had dinner together and then Horatio told Aimee to take a break.

"I got it. I'll clean up and get these two ready for bed. You go put your feet up," he said, giving her a kiss and stroking her round belly.

"Thank you," Aimee said smiling, kissing him back. "I'm actually going to go take a bubble bath."

Aimee sighed laying back in warm water, inhaling the scent of the lit candles deeply. She knew how lucky she was. Not every husband would tell his wife to go take a rest and he would clean up the kitchen and get two toddlers ready for bed after he had worked all day, even if she were pregnant.

Aimee smiled as she vaguely heard her husband getting the girls ready for bed in the other bathroom. She heard two sets of little feet run down the hall to the living room and Rachel call out "weady daddy!" meaning the children had picked the stories they wanted read or the DVD they wanted to watch. Passing the living room twenty minutes later she saw the trio were watching The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. As always Cheyenna was almost asleep already. It was 7:20 and the girl consistently fell asleep around 7:45 at night. Three-year-old Rachel got to stay up till 8:30 and wouldn't usually fall asleep till she were tucked into bed and she were alone. When he were sure his younger daughter were asleep Horatio excused himself and placed her in her crib and then came back to watch the rest of the movie with Rachel.

Laying back in bed in the master bedroom Aimee smiled and opened her eyes to the feeling of her baby move. It was faint, she only begun to feel the sensation in the past two days but it never failed to fill her with happiness.

"Yes, baby," she said rubbing her round abdomen. "Mommy loves you. Daddy does, too. He can't feel you move yet when he touches mommy's belly but in a few weeks he will. I know you love it when Daddy talks to you, don't you?"

The mother-to-be had drifted into a light sleep when her husband came into the room at 8:45 after tucking their oldest into bed. He smiled at peaceful she looked. He stroked her hair and placed a soft kiss on her brow. His left hand stroked where his son was growing. He lowered his head and kissed Aimee protruding belly.

"I love you, little guy," he whispered.

Horatio quietly undressed down to his boxers and climbed into bed next to his wife. Feeling his presence Aimee turned over and put her hand on his chest.

"Hey," she murmured.

"Hey," he replied, taking the chance to give her a deep kiss, which Aimee really enjoyed. "You smell good. You enjoy your bubble bath?"

"Uh-huh. I'm a lucky girl. Not every husband would let a woman relax after he spent all day chasing down criminals."

"Well, I am a rare breed," Horatio said, "but every man should do that. Even if the beautiful lady isn't carrying." His hand rested on Aimee's abdomen again.

"Two weeks or so, babe," she said. "But he can hear ya."

"I know," Horatio smiled.