AN: Disclaimer in prelude. I guess this contains spoilers for the final four eps of the season…considering that Horatio and Marisol do get married. And since I haven't seen the final four, I am taking liberties with the wedding. Please review and enjoy!

Chapter One: From Bad to Worse

(A Year and A Half Earlier…)

Calleigh Duquesne stared at it in dismay. This could not be happening. This was bad. This could NOT be happening.

Shit.

This was happening.

She closed her eyes and took four deep, calming breathes. Calleigh opened her blue eyes. Damn. It was still there.

She glanced wearily around the stall of the public bathroom she was crouched in. The stall was painted an odd green color, favored in Miami. She slowly bagged it, and slid it into her purse.

She should have known, she should have been more worried when she was late. But she had been late before, so she didn't think much of it at the time. Until now.

Until now…

She unlocked the stall and stepped out. She would have to do it with her head held high…after all…wasn't it what she had always wanted?

Yes…but not like this.

She washed her hands and stepped back into the quiet hustle of the lab. Calleigh tucked an errant strand of blonde hair behind her ear and went to find her boss.

CSI MIAMI

Eric Delko was not in a good mood. He was in a very bad mood, as it were. His fists were clenched tightly at his sides as he stared at his sister.

This could NOT be happening.

"You did what?" Delko hissed.

Marisol stared up at him. They were in the break room. She was seated on the couch while he paced recklessly back and forth.

"We got married," she said promptly, holding out her hand for him to see the ring.

"You got married."

"Yes."

"Why?"

Marisol looked at him. "We love each other."

Delko felt like he was going to be sick. He hadn't wanted this to happen. Not this, anything but this.

"You got married," he said again.

"I believe we've already established that," Marisol said coldly. Delko looked at her, his eyes softening slightly.

"Did you stop to think about what he's going to go through when…when you…"

"When I die?" Marisol asked. Delko sat on the coffee table across from her and took her hands in his.

"He said he'd always be there for me."

"He's already lost so much…"

Marisol stood up abruptly. "So have I! I'm losing everything. But not this…"

Delko stood up slowly.

"Not what? His love, his pity?" his voice grew sharp.

"No…" Marisol placed her hands over her stomach.

"His baby."

CSI MIAMI

For the first time in a very long time, Horatio Caine was a happy man. He was married, to a beautiful woman, and life was good. Very, very good. Of course, not many knew that he was married. He was not one to broadcast his private life at work.

His eyes scanned the building. Calleigh stepped out, her golden hair glowing in the sun. She put her sunglasses on and pulled out her cell phone.

He leaned against his hummer and waited. His wife would be coming out soon. She was telling her brother about the marriage.

Marisol Caine, it just sounded good. Eric Delko, his long time friend, was now his brother in law. He wondered briefly how Eric would take it.

The doors to MDPD opened and Marisol stepped from the building. Her eyes scanned the parking lot and spotted him. She walked slowly down the steps and over to him.

"Hello Handsome," she said with a smile.

Horatio smiled in return," Hello Beautiful."

Marisol stood on her tip toes and planted a kiss on his lips.

Horatio smiled and held the door to the hummer open for her. "Ready to go home, Mrs. Caine?"

CSI MIAMI

Calleigh frowned. She couldn't find the LT anywhere. She paused outside the break room and glanced in. No Horatio, just Eric and his sister. Her frown increased. It looked like they were fighting.

She glanced up at Horatio's elevated office. The blinds were open and the door was closed. Did he actually leave on time? It was so out of character for him. She headed for the elevator, deciding to check elsewhere.

The elevator doors slid open and Ryan Wolfe stepped out, right into her.

"Easy there, Ryan!" she said with a small smile.

"Jeez, Cal, I'm so sorry," Ryan knelt and began picking up the file he had dropped. Calleigh knelt beside him and helped.

"Not a problem, Ryan, maybe next time you get off an elevator you need to keep your head out of a file."

Ryan smiled and nodded. "Thanks Cal, see ya later."

"Hey Ryan?"

"Yeah?"

"You seen Horatio?"

Ryan nodded. "He's in the parking lot. He gave us all the rest of the afternoon off. I'm dropping these by his office and heading out." He waved the file.

"Thanks," Calleigh said. Her frown returned. It was very out of character for Horatio to give them the day off…

The elevator finally stopped. She headed out and nodded walked out. The blazing Miami sun burned into her eyes before she got her sunglasses pulled down.

She scanned the parking lot expertly, knowing exactly what to look for. There he was.

Her cell phone rang. With a sigh, she pulled it out and answered it.

"Duquesne."

"No, I do not want to adopt a highway. How did you get this number? Well, take it off your list."

She hung up in a huff. While she was on the phone, Marisol Delko had walked out. Calleigh watched as Marisol headed straight to Horatio. Calleigh felt if she frowned much more her face would freeze like that.

She stepped off and began to follow. Her heart stopped when she heard the words that came from Marisol's mouth.

"Hello Handsome."

Handsome? No one was allowed to call Horatio Handsome but her…and she was his…

"Hello Beautiful," Horatio replied.

No…she was his Beautiful…not Marisol. Calleigh dropped behind another hummer and watched through the window as they kissed.

"Ready to go home, Mrs. Caine?"

Calleigh clenched her eyes shut, feeling the tears beginning to well.

This could not be happening.

But it was.

AN: Please review! Did Marisol and Horatio calling each other that just piss anyone but me off? (and I wrote it, go figure) I don't like Marisol…tell me how I'm doing portraying someone I hate.