Chapter 23

Finally the day had come. He had planned it for such a long time and today was the great day. Horatio entered the break room, where all the others were waiting for him.

"H. Where's your girlfriend, or won't she come today?" Eric asked.

"Of course she'll be here today. But I have no idea where she is right now." He got a cup of coffee and sat down. "Hey you did a good job." He looked at the desk, which was full of presents and in the middle was a birthday cake with Calleighs' name on it.

"Thanks. And? Where's your present? Or have you already given it to her?" Alexx asked.

"Am I not enough as a present?" he twinkled at her. "No just kidding. I'll give it her tonight."

"What is it?" Eric asked.

"I'll tell you tomorrow. Otherwise you might tell her accidentally." He hid his smile behind his cup. Alexx was about to reply something not very nice when Calleigh entered the room.

"Happy Birthday Calleigh" she was welcomed by the small group. Everyone hugged her. Calleigh was emotional. Horatio was the last one who hugged her.

"Happy Birthday honey." He kissed her. "You'll get my present tonight, not that you believe I forgot you" he whispered in her ear.

"Ok. I'm looking forward to that" she whispered back.

"That's enough. Come on pack out your presents." Speed interrupted.

"Tim you're more nervous than me."

"I guess he is waiting for the cake." If looks could kill, Eric would have been dead.

"Don't let provoke yourself Timmy. So this present is from us altogether sugar, the cake is my present." She hand her a packet. Calleigh sat down and opened it. A wooden casket emerged.

"What is it?" she asked excited.

"You'll see when you open it."

She opened the casket and was speechless. "Folks you're crazy." she replied finally, still astonished.

Now Horatio wanted to know what it was. He looked into the casket. In it was an antique 45er Colt, with a beautiful ornament on its grip. It looked like twines. She took it out of the casket and had a close look.

"It's beautiful folks." She hugged them one after another. "How did you get onto this idea?"

"Well Cal let me think about it. You're our ballistic, we call you bullet girl. After all, I have no idea" Speed said.

She opened the other presents. Speeds' present was a gun cleaning set for the new gun.

Eric presented her bullets for the Colt.

"But don't test them on H, I guess he can't jar with them." Speed smirked towards her.

"I have to prove you right Speed."

"As long as he behaves correct, I don't see a reason to use it." She twinkled at Alexx.

Horatio looked a little bit nervous, but the kiss demonstrated him that she didn't mean it serious. She cut the cake from Alexx and they spend a nice afternoon together.

In the evening Horatio drove to Calleighs' apartment. To be sure she had his key again, but on her birthday she was at her home. In the car he checked a last time if he had everything with him that he needed. He got out of the car and opened the front door with his key.

"Cal are you ready?"

"Just one minute." He heard from the bedroom.

He sat down on the couch and went through his plans for this special evening in his mind.

"Hey handsome." He glanced at her and she looked gorgeous. He stood up and made towards her.

"Happy Birthday honey." He kissed her and arranged himself behind her.

"What's your plan?"

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes?"

"Good." He pulled out a scarf and blindfolded her.

"What are you doing with me?"

"It's a surprise." He opened the door and led her to the car. "Are you ready?"

"Do I have another choice?"

"No" he laughed and drove off.

After a little while he stopped the car.

"Here we are."

"Can I take off the scarf?"

"Not yet."

Calleigh had no idea where she was or what his plan was, but she was more than curious. He helped her to get out of the car. She fancied hearing the ocean, but this wasn't uncommon in Miami.

"Horatio where are we?" He pulled her after him. The ground felt weird under her feet. He stopped and took off the scarf. He looked at her with his blue eyes.

"Do you know this place?"

"We.. we're on this part of the beach where we.."

"Exactly. Where we became a couple. And look we have full moon and the stars are there too." He gave her a smile.

"Oh handsome, what a romantic present."

"Cal?"

"Yes?"

"This isn't the present."

"Oh. All the better." She laughed so impish like he used to do.

"You know Cal, there is a reason why we're here. Not only because it's romantic. I turned it over in my mind several times where I can give you my present and than I remembered our first date. And I knew that this place is perfect for that."

"Horatio you make me nervous."

"Not bad, I'm nervous myself. Cal I love you more than I can say."

"I love you too Horatio."

He looked into her green eyes and braced up. "You had no luck with your former relationship, neither had I. We found each other and we have all the luck in the world. Do you know where the luck came from?"

She shook her head lightly, tears were forming in her eyes.

"Well, it came from the stars." He said and they looked up in the evening sky.

"Actually I had this attention a long time ago, but something intervene it." He pulled out a little casket out of his pocket, kneeled down and opened it. "We never know what the future brings. But I hope you're the one I share my life with." He took a deep breath. "Calleigh Duquesne, will you marry me?"

She looked surprised at the ring, looked into his eyes which were full of love and certainty, swallowed and said

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this last chapter. Maybe, there will be an epilogue, if you want one. Please let me know. Thanks for your Reviews.