"Yuck Ava! Give me back Robin!" T.J yelled.
"But he loves Starfire!" she giggled, making the two action figures hug and kiss. Calleigh sat on the couch, laughing quietly. Nicky was asleep next to her, his head buried in her lap.
"Guys, I'm gonna go put Nicky to bed. Play nicely."
Calleigh lifted Nicky up into her arms and carried him upstairs. She came back a few minutes later to find her two oldest children still fighting.
"What is the big deal T.J?" she asked.
"Because it's gross!" he shuddered. Calleigh smiled and picked up the phone as it began to ring. "They're Teen Titans! They protect the world not kiss!"
Calleigh put a finger to her lips and turned her attention to her phone call.
"Hello?"
"Hi beautiful."
Calleigh smiled and sat down on the couch.
"You got in okay?"
"Yeah. I'm at the hotel and called, just like you said. How are the kids?"
"Fighting over Robin and Starfire."
"Ah... Ava making them kiss again?"
"Yeah." Calleigh giggled. "How is it up there?"
"Cold. Are they busy?"
"Killing each other."
"Can I talk to one?"
"Which?"
"Either."
"Ava, you want to talk to Daddy?" Calleigh asked. Ava quickly dropped Robin and Starfire and took the phone.
"Daddy?"
"Hey princess. Are you being good for Mommy?"
"Yeah. I miss you."
"I miss you too baby."
"I want you home."
"I know Ava but I have to be here. I'll be home soon. How was school?"
"Boring. We finger painted."
Tim chuckled. Ava was a bit... advanced for her age.
"When are you coming home?"
"Remember what I told you this morning?"
"Friday." Ava said gloomily.
"Today was the last day of school." Tim said. "Until what? January 3?"
"Yeah..."
"Oh honey, I'll be back soon."
"Okay. Here's T.J... Hey Dad."
"Hey Sport."
"We were in gym today and we played kickball. I got to third base."
"Great."
"And I got someone out a first."
"Awesome. What else did you do?" Tim asked, staring out the window. He listened as T.J rattled off his day, then handed the phone back to Calleigh.
"I'd let you talk to Nicky but he's asleep."
"That's okay."
"How's New York?"
"Freezing. How are you?"
"Lonely. I want you home."
"I want to be there. Only a few days."
"I keep telling myself that."
"Okay uh... I should get to bed. Gotta get up early tomorrow."
"Yeah."
"I love you."
"I love you too. Call me tomorrow."
"I will. Night baby."
"Night." Calleigh clicked the phone off.
-----------S/C---------
"Mommy?"
Calleigh looked up and smiled, seeing Ava there.
"Come here."
Ava climbed up onto the bed and snuggled up next to Calleigh. She smiled and put her book down.
"And what is the matter Miss Ava?"
"I miss Daddy."
"I know angel. I miss him too but he'll be home soon."
"I wish I didn't give him Teddy."
Calleigh chuckled.
"But it was a good thing you did." she said. "Daddy needs something to remind him of us."
"Is he gonna be home for Christmas?"
"Yes Ava. He wouldn't miss it for anything." Calleigh said, stroking her daughter's dark curls. "He's gonna be home way before Christmas."
"Really?"
"Mhmm. Now didn't I put you to sleep a while ago?"
"I can't sleep without Teddy." Ava mumbled.
"You wanna stay here?"
Ava nodded and buried her face in Tim's pillow, breathing in his comforting scent. Calleigh smiled and turned the light off. Tim needed to come home. Fast.
-----------S/C----------
Okay so he lied to her. Well not really. He had every intention of going to sleep but when he finally lay down, he couldn't sleep. Tim kept reaching over for Calleigh but found an empty space. He sighed and rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. When that became uncomfortable, Tim sat up and sat Ava's bear sitting on the small table. He stood up and grabbed it, staring at it for a few minutes and felt a tear run down his cheek. He hated Horatio right now.
----------S/C-------- A/N: Robin and Starfire are from Teen Titans, courtesy of my lil sis.