Disclaimer: It's been a year; hopefully by now everybody knows CSI: Miami does not belong to me.
Author's Note: Wow; a year simply flies by, doesn't it? I missed two deadlines and had a Douglas Adams moment. I will always send my deepest regards to Mr. Hathaway, b8kworm, and SunMee; your collective support means the world to me. So many new friends have been made this year, however, the triad, in particular, must be named: Marianne, kdeb, and Andrea. Finally, I always intended to do a follow up to Nights Under, so here goes. So many, many thanks to Marianne! You rock my world to infinity. Finally, I love my betas.
Summary: If anything, the moment for turning back was six months ago when he gave her the choice to meet him for dinner. For him, his choice had been made the moment he walked up to Calleigh in the club.
Rating: R
Archive(s): Evidence of Things Unseen, Lonely Road, mine. Anybody else, email me; I like to go visiting.
Pairing(s): Horatio/Calleigh
Spoiler(s): None that I'm aware of.
Must read Nights Under the Full Jazz Moon first.
***** ***** *****Title: Full Moon Promises
Author: Laeta
Email: ladylaeta@yahoo.com
Chapter 3: Twilight Proposal
True to both their words, Horatio convincingly persuaded Calleigh to agree to this abbreviated day. They walked together into the late afternoon sun, squinting simultaneously as the full force of the light hit unaccustomed eyes. Habit directed their steps towards the parking area, and Horatio did his very best to hide the grin he wore at Calleigh's surprise as she noticed the conspicuous lack of a Hummer.
"How'd you get here, Horatio?"
He gave up hiding his amusement and said as seriously as he could: "I walked."
The scoff she gave him was entirely worth the fist in his shoulder.
Then, Calleigh turned and led their redirection towards her car with a well practiced shake of her head. The smile fashioning her lips was hidden by the cascade of her hair, but Horatio's grin gave him away. It was clear that he knew exactly what her reaction was to his non-convincing innocent play on words.
Habit had him handing Calleigh into the driver's seat before he moved to the opposite side of the car. Meanwhile, she had the car started and windows rolled down to catch the sea breeze when Horatio settled into the passenger seat. There was no need for him to fiddle with the seat's sliding feature; it already was set to accommodate his height.
She turned expectantly towards him.
"So, Handsome, you've turned me into a delinquent. Where to now?"
Once again, he felt the deepest sensation of gratitude that followed any act of complete trust on her part. He gave her the half-smile she favored.
It took only a second for her to determine their destination; it was entirely in Horatio's delivery. There was only one place in all of Miami that warranted that particular uniqueness. Without a word, the white business card was drawn from a pocket and handed to her with its print facing downward.
In the fraction of time that it hovered between them, Calleigh felt a nervous anticipation run its course through her body. She had made him swear to keep that restaurant for special occasions, so it always would be a place of happy memories.
Horatio saw the hesitation, noted it, and watched as Calleigh brushed it away. Her fingers were steady when she reached towards the card and used two fingers to flip the printed side upwards for her perusal. The self-conscious smile barely caught in her eyes reassured him more than words ever could. His breath left his body when the smile reached her lips and utterly transformed her face from contemplation to the ready-for-anything grin she saved only for him.
Gently, she placed the card into the compartment between their seats and shifted the gears of the car from park to reverse and then to drive. Then, just before she concentrated on driving, Horatio found his hand in hers for a brief moment as they, literally, went into their future together.
*****He knew the restaurant was beautiful at full night, but it did not prepare him for the stunning arrangement of the outdoor eating area under the hazy late afternoon sun. Candles were replaced with small reflective mirrors that brought the sun from the west to the east and soothingly lit the tables.
The music was still that soft combination of jazz instruments, and he could not help his own reaction to it. Unbidden, the arousal and the memories heated Horatio's blood.
Calleigh did not help matters when she whispered against sensitized skin as they were led to their table. He cursed the laughing grin that told him she knew her words had not been processed by his brain.
The grin was still in place as she ordered for both of them, reversing their roles from their very first private dinner. Then, she proceeded to keep him engaged in inane conversation topics as they dined but not wined; she took pity on him there. It seemed as though Horatio's diminished mental capacity enabled Calleigh the freedom to openly flirt with him as she rarely ever did since she preferred the more subtle, simmering coy behavior. Either way, Horatio always arrived at the same conclusion: he was a fool to wait as long as he did.
Eventually, he managed to bring himself back under some semblance of control; he did not miss the amused grin from his life's partner when he began to return double edged entendres. Still, though, he could not help feeling a little out of character, uncomfortable in his own skin. He had no qualms about blaming the ring, which constantly remind him of its presence in his pocket.
They danced their dance to the soul wrenching melody of Ever Since We Met, and Horatio was comforted by the routine of it. Calleigh's nearness, ironically, now settled and calmed him; that was the moment he felt the anticipation suddenly morph into nervousness. The arousal inspired by the restaurant peaked behind the jitters that tingled his fingers and toes. He had to do it sooner or later, and at this very moment, he heartily vowed for sooner.
It left him spinning: just as the thought passed, Calleigh whisked them out of the restaurant proper and onto the beach. It was full twilight now and the start of that unique period when the sand was cool and the water was warm. Like six months ago, when they had the beach under the waning moon all to themselves, Horatio and Calleigh had the twilight stretch of sand for their own to experience.
She sat comfortably in the circle of his arms, leaned back against his body. He could see the contentment layering her face, and though her eyes were closed, he knew that her happiness went right to her soul. It did for him.
The simplest change in her breathing rate alerted Horatio that his twenty-four hours were now up.
"I know I said a full day, Horatio, but - what's going on?"
He did not speak a word; preferring to let his action shout louder and more eloquently than any prepared speech, he withdrew the small ring box from his pocket. A deft flick of his finger and the ring was bared to Calleigh's now questing gaze.
She executed a smooth quarter turn against the subtle friction of the sand and his body. Eyes were bright with disbelief and the future.
Horatio simply closed the distance between his lips and hers and whispered, "Traditional rules say I needed this before I could have you."
"It's beautiful."
"It's perfect. So are you."
"So, now's the right time?"
"If you'll still have me, sweetheart."
Her beaming smile broke through his tenuous hold on his hopes for the future. And, if he did not know her answer already, he had it with her next words.
"Good. I'll race you home. And this time, Handsome, you're not kicking me out. Never again, got it?"
Horatio's laughter marked the trail they used to the car.
© RK 05.Jan.2004
