A/N: Sorry it took such a long time to update. I just moved and it took a little while to set up and then get back in the writing frame of mind. I want to thank all of you for your amazing reviews and support!
This is the last chapter of To See Her Smile. I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it. Thank you for taking this journey with me. Here's to you...
Epilogue
Six years later...
It was the annual Fourth of July picnic at Caine house and the noise and laughter filtering through the hot summer air filled Calleigh's ears. She grinned as she put her infant son up to her shoulder to burp him. She patted his back as she watch the action in the yard.
Eric was over by the grill talking to Alex's husband and flipping the hamburgers. Natalia sat by the pool talking and laughing with Alexx about something. Horatio and Ryan were no where to be seen, but she could hear squeals of laughter and knew they couldn't be too far.
Just then the screen door opened and Cindy stepped outside, carrying another infant, this one dressed in a little red and blue sun dress. She sat down next to Calleigh under the shade of the awning.
"There all better," Cindy said cooing to the little girl, "Now you can go to sleep."
Calleigh laughed, "Do they ever go to sleep when they're told?"
"No," Cindy said smiling, "but there is always a first time for everything."
Just then Horatio came charging around the corner, chasing after a little blond haired girl. "Gotcha!" he exclaimed, tossing the five year old over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She giggled and squealed, "Daddy! Let me down!"
Ryan came around the other side of the house, a five year old boy tucked under one arm. "I've got the other one H," he said, tickling the little boy and making him squirm with laughter.
"You wouldn't be tormenting my son, would you Ryan?" Calleigh asked with one raised eyebrow.
"No. Yes. Maybe," he said, "But your husband is tormenting your daughter."
"I'm allowed to do that cause I'm her Dad," Horatio said laughing, "It comes with the territory."
"Mommy," the five year old girl, Chloe, whined between giggles, "Make Daddy put me down."
"Alright, Horatio, let her go," Calleigh said, still rubbing the baby boy's back, "That goes for you too Ryan, put Aiden down."
"Spoil sport," Ryan said, putting his cargo on the ground, Horatio doing the same.
As the twins ran off to play, Calleigh watched them with a mother's admiration. She was so lucky. All of a sudden the baby she was holding let out a loud burp, making all the adults laugh.
"That's my little man," Calleigh cooed, smiling at her green eyed little boy.
"Here, let me take him," Horatio said, picking up the infant from Calleigh's arms. "How are you today Jackson?" Horatio asked his son, tickling his little feet and earning a smile from the baby.
"Horatio, the burgers are almost ready," Eric called from the grill.
"I guess I'll go get the salads then," Calleigh said, standing up from her chair and heading towards the kitchen.
"Let me help you," Cindy said standing, "Will you watch Chelsea for a minute Ryan?"
Ryan took the baby from his wife eagerly, "I thought you'd never ask. Mommy doesn't share you very well, does she?" he asked his daughter.
"I don't share?" Cindy said mockingly, "Who's the one that's always got the baby every time I lay her down for a nap and who's the one I have to wrestle her away from so I can feed her?"
"I guess you've got a point there," Ryan said and then speaking to his daughter said, "One thing you've got to learn right up front is that Mommy is always right."
"Ooo, he's a smart one," Cindy said with a laugh, kissing him on the lips before heading inside to help Calleigh.
As they sat eating on the grass, Calleigh looked around and couldn't help but feel grateful for everything she had in her life. Aiden and Chloe sat in front of her and she laughed at the particular way in which they ate their food. Horatio had baby Jackson on his lap as he ate and talked to Ryan and Cindy, who were playing with their own baby. She was surrounded by her friends and family and should couldn't ask for anything more.
Later that night after their guests had left and Jackson was asleep, Horatio and Calleigh sat out on the porch swing and watched Aiden and Chloe catch fireflies.
"Mmm," she said snuggling into his chest, "I wish we could stay like this forever."
"I would have to second that," he said, kissing her.
"I never thought I could be happy again after Noah died," she said voicing things that she had been thinking about all day, "But you were right, everything worked out alright in the end."
He pulled her closer to him, just letting the thought float in the air. A warm summer breeze blew by, scattering the fireflies the had been within the grasp of the twins. As Aiden and Chloe took off after the scattered bugs, Calleigh and Horatio smiled.
They had a future coming to greet them, and it was as bright as the Miami sun.
The End
A/N: Finished at long last. I'm sad in a way, because I really liked these characters and the story. As sort of an antidote, I am thinking of writing a companion story about Cindy; how she ended up in Rock Harbor and her life with Ryan. There is so much more about this character that you don't know and I would love to let you get to know her better. If you think this is a good idea, please let me know. I really appreciate the input! Thanks again!