Leading Tone
the seventh degree of the major scale. This is so called because it seems
naturally to rise to the tonic a semitone above. In the minor scale this
note is used only when ascending, not descending (b)
Calleigh was not sure why one moment she was locked in an embrace with Horatio, preparing to experience their first kiss, and the next moment she was alone on the couch. She looked up in confusion and could not hide the hurt his sudden absence brought her.
Horatio knew Calleigh was confused and his sudden movement had probably felt like a rejection. He stood next to her and placed a hand on her face, gently forcing her to look at him.
"I'm sorry, I know you weren't expecting me to pull away, and I can't tell you how badly I wanted to, no, want to kiss you, but I needed to tell you something first. Just give me a second, ok?"
He was relieved to see a look of understanding cross Calleigh's face, and he backed away, gathering up discarded cups and plates and taking them to the kitchen while Calleigh repositioned herself on the couch. Calleigh was giving him the time he needed to gather his thoughts together, just as he had done for her earlier.
Finally, Horatio believed he was ready to say what he needed to say and he rejoined Calleigh in the living room. He sat on the couch and immediately rose up again, standing in front of the couch and shifting weight from one foot to the other.
Calleigh could not help a small smile at Horatio's uncharacteristic fidgeting. She had a good idea of what he was about to say and was relieved and touched that he wanted to say the words first, before anything happened between them. She waited patiently, trying to figure out a way to make this easier on Horatio, who was finally ready to speak.
"I'm not sure how to say this," he started, and was instantly interrupted by Calleigh's snort of disbelief. He looked up and saw an impudent grin on her face.
"Sorry," she said, letting him know with her tone she was anything but. "But you planned this whole evening out to an astonishing degree, right down to the beignets. I just find it hard to believe you didn't have this speech prepared in advance as well."
Horatio was floored. How could she be making fun of him at a time like this? She knew exactly what he wanted to say and she was casually making it into a joke! Horatio was about to get angry when he realized what Calleigh had just done. She had distracted him with her characteristic wit and humor and he had forgotten to be nervous. With a grateful look and a bit of laughter, he settled down into a more relaxed posture and continued his "speech." He saw Calleigh give him a nod of satisfaction and encouragement.
"Let's try this again," he said, much more comfortable this time. "When you came to Miami, I knew you were going to have a major impact on my life. You were brilliant and beautiful, but more than that you understood me completely, right from the start. You have always pushed me to be a better person, and somewhere along the way you became my reason for being. And what started out as the chance of securing a ballistics expert has turned into my best and only chance for securing true happiness. Calleigh, even though most people would say this is too soon for me to be saying this and we're just beginning our relationship, I know in the deepest part of me that you are the one I want to share my life with. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is I love you."
Calleigh felt tears slide down her face, and before she knew it she had stood up and closed the distance separating her from Horatio. She could not tear her eyes from his; they had always managed to captivate her in the past, but now, right this moment, she was absolutely mesmerized. She could see in his eyes the same emotions contained in hers; peace, joy, awe, passion, but most of all, love. She stopped about a foot in front of him, bringing a hand up to touch his face. A small smile played on her lips as she realized he had shaved before she came over; normally his face would have had a slight roughness by now, but his skin under her fingers was smooth.
He sighed peacefully and turned his face to nuzzle her palm, bringing his own hand up to cover hers before placing a gentle kiss in its center. Calleigh felt her knees go weak at the gesture. She tried to pull her hand back, but Horatio kept it resting against his face, lacing his fingers through her own before kissing her palm again. Calleigh saw the intent in his eyes and moved closer, eliminating the remaining distance between them.
"I love you too," she whispered.
Calleigh was not sure why one moment she was locked in an embrace with Horatio, preparing to experience their first kiss, and the next moment she was alone on the couch. She looked up in confusion and could not hide the hurt his sudden absence brought her.
Horatio knew Calleigh was confused and his sudden movement had probably felt like a rejection. He stood next to her and placed a hand on her face, gently forcing her to look at him.
"I'm sorry, I know you weren't expecting me to pull away, and I can't tell you how badly I wanted to, no, want to kiss you, but I needed to tell you something first. Just give me a second, ok?"
He was relieved to see a look of understanding cross Calleigh's face, and he backed away, gathering up discarded cups and plates and taking them to the kitchen while Calleigh repositioned herself on the couch. Calleigh was giving him the time he needed to gather his thoughts together, just as he had done for her earlier.
Finally, Horatio believed he was ready to say what he needed to say and he rejoined Calleigh in the living room. He sat on the couch and immediately rose up again, standing in front of the couch and shifting weight from one foot to the other.
Calleigh could not help a small smile at Horatio's uncharacteristic fidgeting. She had a good idea of what he was about to say and was relieved and touched that he wanted to say the words first, before anything happened between them. She waited patiently, trying to figure out a way to make this easier on Horatio, who was finally ready to speak.
"I'm not sure how to say this," he started, and was instantly interrupted by Calleigh's snort of disbelief. He looked up and saw an impudent grin on her face.
"Sorry," she said, letting him know with her tone she was anything but. "But you planned this whole evening out to an astonishing degree, right down to the beignets. I just find it hard to believe you didn't have this speech prepared in advance as well."
Horatio was floored. How could she be making fun of him at a time like this? She knew exactly what he wanted to say and she was casually making it into a joke! Horatio was about to get angry when he realized what Calleigh had just done. She had distracted him with her characteristic wit and humor and he had forgotten to be nervous. With a grateful look and a bit of laughter, he settled down into a more relaxed posture and continued his "speech." He saw Calleigh give him a nod of satisfaction and encouragement.
"Let's try this again," he said, much more comfortable this time. "When you came to Miami, I knew you were going to have a major impact on my life. You were brilliant and beautiful, but more than that you understood me completely, right from the start. You have always pushed me to be a better person, and somewhere along the way you became my reason for being. And what started out as the chance of securing a ballistics expert has turned into my best and only chance for securing true happiness. Calleigh, even though most people would say this is too soon for me to be saying this and we're just beginning our relationship, I know in the deepest part of me that you are the one I want to share my life with. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is I love you."
Calleigh felt tears slide down her face, and before she knew it she had stood up and closed the distance separating her from Horatio. She could not tear her eyes from his; they had always managed to captivate her in the past, but now, right this moment, she was absolutely mesmerized. She could see in his eyes the same emotions contained in hers; peace, joy, awe, passion, but most of all, love. She stopped about a foot in front of him, bringing a hand up to touch his face. A small smile played on her lips as she realized he had shaved before she came over; normally his face would have had a slight roughness by now, but his skin under her fingers was smooth.
He sighed peacefully and turned his face to nuzzle her palm, bringing his own hand up to cover hers before placing a gentle kiss in its center. Calleigh felt her knees go weak at the gesture. She tried to pull her hand back, but Horatio kept it resting against his face, lacing his fingers through her own before kissing her palm again. Calleigh saw the intent in his eyes and moved closer, eliminating the remaining distance between them.
"I love you too," she whispered.