Calleigh laughed as Tim finished his story. She sipped the glass of wine in her hand and smiled sadly.
"What?"
"I uh... I just missed this, us talking." Calleigh replied. Tim nodded.
"Yeah, me too."
They sat in silence for a few minutes and Tim spoke again.
"I uh... I better get Christine home." he said quietly. Calleigh nodded and they stood up.
"Tim,"
"Yeah?"
"You did a good job of raising her." Calleigh said sincerely. Then in a teasing tone she added, "I'm shocked."
"Kelly isn't so bad either." Tim winked as they walked into the living room. "But she's got that southern stubborn streak."
"Aww..." Calleigh held Tim back as he went to get Christine. "Look at them."
Christine was fast asleep on the couch and Kelly was curled up in the leather recliner, also asleep. Their DVD had long ended, automatically going back to the main menu. Tim smiled and Calleigh looked up at him.
"She can stay here. God knows it'll be easier than trying to get her out to your car." she said quietly.
"You don't care?"
"Yes I care! She's my daughter but I'll kick her out to the curb once you leave." Calleigh smirked. "Of course I don't care. I'd actually like having her around."
"Same with me and Kelly." Tim mumbled. "Calleigh, we need to talk."
"I think we've talked enough today to last the rest of our lives." she joked.
"We talked about everything except us."
"There's nothing to talk about." Calleigh muttered, walking back into the kitchen. Tim followed her and saw she was putting plates in the sink. He walked up behind her and gently placed a hand on both sides of her waist. She froze for a minute but quickly relaxed.
"There's a whole lot to talk about. Why did you leave?"
"I couldn't stay with you anymore." Calleigh replied.
"Why?"
"They were born and you became obsessed with work. I felt like you wanted nothing to do with us. I couldn't handle everything anymore."
"Then why did you leave me with Christine?"
"You begged me remember? Begged me not to go. When I wouldn't give in, you asked if at least one of them could stay. Leaving her was the hardest thing." Calleigh said quietly. She turned around and looked Tim in the eye. "Leaving you was even harder. I knew that one day I'd see her again but I knew that you'd never forgive me for what I did to you."
"Alright, hang on a second. You three were... are my whole world. I can't understand why you'd even think that I'd want nothing to do with you. And lastly, I don't care what you do, I always will forgive you. There hasn't been one day that's gone by over the past twelve years that I haven't thought about you and Kelly. About how you were, or what you were doing, who you were with, if... if... if you still loved me."
"Tim.."
"Shh... last week Christine asked me why you left. I told her I didn't know and I couldn't handle being around everything that reminded me of you so then we left. She uh... she was the only thing that meant something to me. She asked why we came back to Miami then and I told her that I thought I got over you. Truth is, I couldn't... I couldn't no matter how hard I tried. Everyday at the lab, I hate letting you leave because I feel like I'm losing you all over again. But then I go back to work and everything's fine because you're there and I can make myself think that everything's back to the way it used to be."
Calleigh felt a tear slide down her cheek and then Tim's fingertips wipe it away softly.
"I did." she mumbled, feeling her heart begin to race.
"You did what?" His lips were so close to hers and it took every ounce of energy Calleigh had to not kiss him right then.
"I did still love you. I do still love you and I always will." she whispered. "There were so many times when I wanted to call you. When I wanted to find you and apologize a million times over but then fear took over and I was so scared that you had moved on and married someone else or you'd push me away. And I know I acted like a bitch when you came back but... I... I don't know why I did that. I saw you. I saw Christine and I wanted nothing more than to take you back into my arms right then."
"Calleigh, you're rambling." Tim teased.
"Why are we whispering?" she asked, their noses were touching now.
"Because our daughters are in the next room sleeping and we don't want them waking up and interrupting us. What... what would you do if I kissed you?"
"I'd never let you go again." Calleigh replied.
"Sounds good to me." Tim murmured and gently placed his lips on hers. Calleigh suddenly felt whole again. "I love you."
"No talking." she smiled and pulled him back to her.
S/C------
Tim smiled as he silently walked past the living room. The twins were still passed out in the same spots from last night. He made his way into the kitchen and stopped when he saw Calleigh. She was in a Syracuse Orangemen t-shirt and shorts with her hair up in a clip. Tim rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"You know I've looked everywhere for that shirt." he murmured in her ear. Calleigh laughed as he kissed her cheek.
"I was just about to say this shirt suddenly smelled like you again."
"And who says you don't act like a blonde." Tim teased.
"That's very offensive." Christine yawned, walking in. Kelly nodded as she stumbled in as well. "What's for breakfast?"
"Pancakes." Calleigh replied. "You like?"
"They better be better than Dad's."
"Now that's offensive." Tim smirked. "I can cook."
"No he can't." Christine whispered loudly to her sister. Kelly snickered.
"Tim, I thought you said you fed her more than take-out." Calleigh said. Christine laughed.
"The only thing he can cook is spaghetti. It was either his spaghetti, take-out, or we ate at Grandma's."
"Oh... you're already lying again." Calleigh teased.
"Thanks a lot Chris." Tim muttered. "I'll remember that next Friday when you get your allowance."
He leaned back into Calleigh.
"I can make a mean steak." he whispered.
"That I remember. Mmm, you should cook tonight." she whispered back.
"Maybe I should. Hey..."
Calleigh glanced behind her and Tim kissed her softly. She smiled against his lips and turned around all the way. Her arms snaked around his neck as their kiss deepened.
"Breakfast is burning." Christine said without turning around. Her parents pulled apart and Calleigh turned the stove down.
"I have to go home and get new clothes." Tim said quietly. "Unless you have more of my clothes hiding somewhere."
Calleigh smiled innocently.
"Leave before you make me burn the house down." she ordered.
"Yes ma'am." Tim smirked. Calleigh grabbed his collar and pulled him back to him for one more kiss. "I'll be back."
"'kay." Calleigh turned back to the stove and Tim started for the door, quickly kissing each of his daughters. Calleigh smiled. Things were going to go back to normal again.