A/N: A rewritten version of an original draft I'd written. Will edit over time.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Story Notes: Set in Season 5, before (pre) 5x14/5x15.
Eric was taking Carla and Luke to the beach for a day. He'd not even known he had kids until his ex-wife shows up and just passes them on like baggage. All she said was 'i don't want them anymore' and it really hit him. He had kids. And he was already in a bit of a problem with that lawsuit so he didn't know how he was going to manage. But he would find a way. Horatio, Calleigh, Ryan, Alexx and Frank had all realised that they were his kids. Natalia too. She babysat them yesterday when he was working a double. Even though neither of them knew where they stood in their relationship, she would still be there to help him with his instant family.
"Daddy! I want to play in the sea!" Carla called to the Cuban.
"Papi!" Luke also called.
Eric sighed. He really couldn't do this. "Ok, ok.. we'll go and paddle for a bit." He assured the four, almost five year olds. "Dad I don't want to paddle." "Luke-" The little boy stomped his foot and turned away from his dad. Delko was stumped. How did he do discipline without breaking the kid? He picked up his phone and made a phone call. He needed help and he knew that Natalia was in the area.
"Hey Bonita, you got a sec?"
"Hey love." She said in her usual peppy tone.
Eric smiled. "Hey.. I'm having a bit of a problem with the kids. Carly wants to go and paddle, and Luke.. is being difficult. I don't know what to do." He hears Natalia giggle. "Ok, let's just say I'll see you." He inwardly chuckled. "Love you." "I know." She laughed. He hung up and put his phone away, looking at his boy, still stubborn as ever.
"Luke, come on."
He shook his head. "No."
"Luke Timothy Delko, don't make me come over there." Natalia was approached the beach as she heard Eric getting clearly frustrated. She saw Carly standing on the sand in awe and walked over to the little girl with a friendly smile. "Hi sweetie! Where's your daddy?" "Arguing with Lukie." She answered.
Natalia took her hand and they walked over to where Eric was standing, a few metres from Luke. "Luke, babe, come on. I promise I'll buy you some ice cream later if you listen to your daddy." The little boy heard Natalia's voice and complied, turning around. "Ok. I'm sorry daddy." He joined his family and then ran with his sister towards the see as Natalia and Eric slowly followed.
"How do you do it?"
"Do what?"
Eric laughed. "How do they listen to you?" Natalia sheepishly smiled and shrugged. "The power of persuasion as well as silent discipline. I'll teach you sometime."
Boa Vista hadn't minded coming to his rescue. He was still learning about parenthood and the difficulties of it. Natalia didn't mind being the mother figure in their lives. She was with Eric, and accepting his kids was something she had no problem doing. The brunette would be on his speed dial if he needed anything because she had some idea, and in his eyes, more idea than he would ever have.
Delko felt that nobody would've reacted quite the way Natalia reacted. She was so easygoing and calm about the whole thing, it had him reassured. He was sure that his ex hadn't treated the kids the way they were supposed to be treated and having them with him was better than sending them back to their birth mother who couldn't give a damn about either of them. Eric did love Carla and Luke. He really did.
"Hey 'Tali! Will you and daddy come and play?" The little girl asked her excitedly.
Natalia nodded. "Of course we will!"
Luke and Carla loved Natalia. Eric knew that. And they knew that Natalia was his girlfriend, and had no problem with it. Not at all. They had taken Natalia to be like the mother they never had. She treated them like her own and that was all they wanted. Luke had wondered if they were ever going to get married, and Eric had said 'One day'. Both kids were just waiting for the day they could officially call her their mom because they knew how much their dad was in love with her.
Eric planned on making Natalia his wife one day. One day. She was.. almost like his other half. The person that kept him grounded when he lost it. His best friend. The person he turned to. His everything.. and he didn't ever want to lose his everything. She was all he had ever needed, and all he wanted. With two kids in their lives as well, Eric couldn't be happier. And he knew that the period of disarray was coming to an end.
As they splashed around in the water, Eric whispered to Natalia. "You'd marry me, wouldn't you?"
"I'd marry you anyday," She answered.
They shared a short and sweet kiss, both soaked from head to toe. "One day I want to find a boyfriend who looks at me the way daddy looks at 'Talia!" Carla declared. "Natalia is great." Luke added. The couple laughed, shaking their heads. "They really like you." "So I've figured.."
"This our life now.." He said with a smile. "It is.. and I wouldn't have it any other way." Natalia responded.