Chapter 36:

It took a lot of research and last minute planning for Eric and Calleigh to actually pull off the impromptu trip. They didn't actually want to take Alyssa on a plane just yet, being that she was a two-month old infant but the airline assured them that it was safe and prepared them with everything they needed to know for Alyssa's first flight. Driving seemed like the better alternative but the difference between the two-hour flight and twelve hour drive made flying a better choice.

Their flight landed in New Orleans at 7:22pm. From there, the picked up the rental car and headed to the hotel.

Eric had been just a tad bit suspicious that Calleigh drove but those thoughts left his mind when he realized that this was Calleigh's hometown and she would know how to navigate around the city better than him without getting lost. Still, the original plan was to get Layla. So why were the going in the direction of the hotel?

The car came to a stop in front of the hotel and Calleigh looked over at Eric. Her mouth opened as if she was going to say something but she soon closed it, playing it off as a yawn. One thing she hated was debating with herself. A look at their small baby told her that she was ultimately making the best decision: Eric should take Alyssa in the hotel so that she could rest properly. On the other hand, Calleigh knew Eric would protest against her driving through darkness to Darnell and not know what to expect at Joshua's house. Had it been earlier, it could've been a different case.

"You ready?" Eric asked.

Calleigh snapped out of her thoughts. "Yeah..."she said, her mind still thinking. "You know, Alyssa's really tired. Maybe you should take her up to the room. I can go to Darnell..." As expected, she noticed Eric's face frown and he opened his mouth to protest. "Eric, I'm a police officer. I have my weapon, I'll be okay."

"Cal..." Eric started.

"Eric please, I promise I'll be safe but Alyssa, she really needs to rest. I have my phone. I have my gun...I used to make this journey all the time. Right now, I need you to take care of yourself and Alyssa."

Eric let out a strong sigh. Nothing he could do could make Calleigh change her mind and he didn't want to leave Calleigh alone. He didn't like the idea of her traveling by herself at night. If something happened to her, how would he ever live with himself? He shook his head no. "Calleigh, I can't let you go by yourself."

"Eric," Calleigh started. "We're wasting time. I promise I'll be okay. Don't let Alyssa suffer. Look at her, she needs to rest comfortably."

Eric glanced at Alyssa. She did look peaceful while she was sleep. He sighed again and looked at Calleigh. "Okay." For him to give in like that was like someone was holding a gun to his head. "I'll take Alyssa up to the room. Be careful and call me regardless of what happens."

Calleigh smiled. "Of course I will." She hugged Eric and placed a kiss on Alyssa's forehead. "Take care of her."

"Always."

Calleigh watched as Eric got out the car and take Alyssa with him. With a smile and a wave she pulled away and headed to Darnell.

--

Going down the dark roads, Calleigh was left to nothing but her thoughts. She didn't know what to expect...this was never her life, never supposed to be her life. The back and forwardness had to end and hopefully today or shall she say tonight would put and end to it all.

"Why did you give me up?" Calleigh could here Layla's small voice constantly in her head. That question, it was just something she didn't have the answer to. She never blamed Layla for wanting to live with her dad again; she knew him longer. Plus, one thing she could never live with in her mind, she gave Layla up. Plain and simple, she gave Layla up.

That thought brought tears to her eyes, causing her eyes to blur. She quickly blinked hard. Calleigh needed her full vision right now. Out on these dark roadways, her ears needed to be sharp and vision needed to be clear. One wrong move and she'd end up somewhere in a ditch.

She passed a road sign and her stomach fluttered. In less that twenty minutes, she'll be at Joshua's house. She didn't know what to expect. After all, Layla had been gone for two months, anything could have happened. But on the other hand something did happen...at least enough for Layla to call her and tell her that she needed her.

Calleigh parked in front of Joshua's house. She turned off her headlights and wasted no time getting out and walking to the door. She kept her hand on her bag, feeling for her gun. Out in the darkness, it gave her comfort to have it. She inhaled and exhaled deeply and finally knocked on the door. A few minutes later, the door opened.

"Calleigh," Joshua said in shock. "What are you doing here?"

Calleigh wasn't into playing games right now and wasn't in the mood for them. In her most serious face, she spoke up. "Where's Layla?"

"You can't-"

"Don't give me that crap," Calleigh yelled. "Because when you were in Miami, you visited Layla whenever you wanted. I know the law just as well. Plus I'm Layla's mother."

Joshua sighed and looked back towards his living room.

"Where's Layla?" Calleigh asked again.

Joshua opened the door wider. "You can stay right here. I'll go get her." Before he left he turned around. "Oh, I know you're visiting the state and all but I have a family here. I would appreciate it if its not interrupted."

Calleigh bit off a retort and cut her eyes. "That's fine," Calleigh said. "I was planning to take her with me."

"Yeah about that," Joshua said. "How much time do you think you'll need. I mean, its 7:50pm now and Layla has a 9:00pm bedtime."

Calleigh didn't bother to hid her annoyance and displeasure. She hated when people irritated her. "Would you please get her?"

Joshua disappeared in the upstairs of his house. A few minutes later, Layla appeared on the steps. It must have taken some convincing to get Layla out of her room. However, she was here now and her smile brightened the room when she saw Calleigh.

"Mommy!" Layla said, running to Calleigh. She hugged her tightly.

Calleigh smiled and hugged Layla just as tightly. She picked Layla up and continued to hug her.

"I miss you so much!" Layla whispered. She wrapped her small arms around Calleigh's neck.

"I miss you too Layla." Calleigh nearly had tears in her eyes. "You want to hang out with mommy for a while?"

Layla nodded her head.

Calleigh turned towards the door. She didn't have much time but she was gonna spend as much time as she could with Layla right now. She helped Layla into the car and helped her put on her seatbelt. Calleigh missed this feeling. It made warm memories come to her. She closed the door and climbed in the front seat. Carefully, she pulled off.

--

Twenty minutes later, Calleigh was pulling into a familiar place she visited a few times when she was a child. Turning the car off, Calleigh stepped out and helped Layla out the back seat. She smiled at Layla's cheers for ice cream.

Once inside, they ordered their ice cream and sat at a booth.

Layla looked up at her mom and smiled. Are we going home after ice cream?"

Calleigh tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. That question, Layla already asked twice and Calleigh tried her best to avoid it but it was only so far she could continue to avoid the question. "Hey, enjoy the ice cream now. We'll talk about that later." She watched as Layla sat back and put a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth. For now, she seemed satisfied with that answer.

"Mommy are you mad at me?"

"Of course not," Calleigh said. "I don't want you to ever think I'm mad at you, okay?"

Layla nodded her head.

Fifteen minutes had gone by and they were finished with their ice cream. Another glance at her watch and Calleigh noted the time at 8:35pm. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," Layla said happily.

--

"We're going home?" Layla asked as Calleigh put her in a seatbelt.

"Layla..." Calleigh started. She just had to go ahead with the truth. "You have to go back home with your dad."

"Why?" She had already started pouting and her eyes got blurry from tears. "I want to go with you."

Calleigh's heart was breaking for Layla. "I know you do but its more complicated than you think." She stopped talking and wiped away Layla's tears. "I promise, I'll be back tomorrow."

Layla continued to cry. "You are mad at me."

Calleigh shook her head no. "Layla, I'm not mad at you."

Layla cried and wiped away her own tears. "Do you want me anymore?"

"Layla of course I do." Layla's comment brought tears to her eyes. "I love you Layla so much."

"I love you too Mommy."

Calleigh hugged Layla and kissed her forehead. "Will you be a big girl for the night and I'll be here tomorrow?"

Layla wasn't happy about the compromise but she nodded her head. "Are you gonna come back for real tomorrow?"

"I am," Calleigh said. "And tomorrow we'll spend the entire day together, okay?"

Layla nodded.

Calleigh nodded and climbed in the front seat. She connected her seatbelt and headed back to Joshua's house.

A/N: Thanks to everyone who's kept up with this story. I very sorry about the long delay between updates. Things have been so hectic lately.