Chapter 29:

A/N: One of the last. I don't know if I'll end it in this chapter, or the next. One of them probably. Okay. Here we go. Thank you for the reviews!

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Opening his eyes, Eric waited for the headache to hit him. But it never came. Glancing down at the brush of blonde hair, the previous nights events came flooding back to him, and he smiled. Glancing over at the clock, he frowned. It was nine already.

"Cal," He whispered. She shifted in her sleep and mumbled something he couldn't comprehend. "Calleigh, we have to get up." He told her, louder than before. She stirred, and then opened her eyes.

"Ugh." She groaned. "What time is it?"

"Nine." Eric answered, "And we've got to be out of here by eleven. We have a plane to catch at one."

"I don't want to get up." She mumbled, closing her eyes again. Eric leaned over and pressed a kiss to her lips, which she responded to immediately.

"See?" He smirked, "You're not as tired as you think. And we've got to get ready to go."

"Fine." She sighed. "You know, it's funny, you telling me that we're going to be late."

"Yeah." He laughed, getting out of bed and quickly heading for the shower. "You coming?" If she was at all asleep before that comment, no one would have known it judging by the speed she was out of bed at.

Forty-five minutes later, they were dried off and dressed.

"At least I know how to get you out of bed." Eric winked. Calleigh just chuckled and continued to pack her things up.

"I don't want to leave." Calleigh pouted as she attempted to get her suitcase shut.

"Cal," Eric began, "I promise nothing will change when we go back."

"I know. It's just… what if Horatio, or worse, IAB don't let us work together anymore… or what if…"

"What if what?" Eric knew what she was going to say. At least he thought he did.

"What if one of dies." She finished quietly, sitting on her suitcase.

"It won't happen." Eric shook his head.

"Eric, we both saw it happen to one of our best friends. Tim was here one day, and gone the next… you can't say that." She argued.

"You're right. But… I'd rather have this now, and worry about getting shot when we get shot. Even if we stop this right here, right now, and decide to forget all about this trip… I'd still love you Calleigh. Nothing's going to change that. It would just hurt more if you died and I never got to tell you. If I never got to kiss you." Eric told her.

"I'm sorry Eric." She apologized. "I have no idea where these insecurities are coming from."

"It's okay Cal." He told her with a smile. "As long as we're good?"

"We're good." She nodded.

"Do you need some help with that?" She was still sitting on her suitcase, and struggling to get the zipper done up at the same time. Approaching, he reached around her and did up the zipper. "I told you you packed too much." He laughed.

"Oh, I did not." She smiled. "You didn't pack enough! Look how easily your suitcase did up."

"We were only here for like, three days." He informed her. "How many clothes did you need?"

"I wore almost everything in here!" She defended herself.

"Almost being the operative word." Eric teased. "But the thing is closed now… I'm just glad there was no where to shop here."

"Me too." Calleigh laughed. "Cause it would have taken more strength than both of us have to shut that suitcase."

"Are you insulting my strength?" Asked Eric, mock hurt. He flexed his muscles and Calleigh laughed again. Eric loved how easily he could make her laugh.

" No Eric. I love your muscles." She told him.

"I knew there was an ulterior motive." He shook his head, but she could see the smile on his face.

"Right. And what was your ulterior motive?" She joked.

"Hmm. Where to start." He teased.

"Cute, Eric." She rolled her eyes.

"I'd have to say it was either your gun collection or all your high, weapon like shoes."

"Weapon like shoes?" Calleigh raised an eyebrow.

"Fine. It was the gun collection." Eric sighed. "There. I said it." Calleigh just laughed and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you for helping me with my luggage." She whispered.

"No problem." He gave her a chaste kiss before finishing up with his luggage. Calleigh walked around the room, surveying it to make sure they hadn't left anything behind. "We're good?"

"We're good." She nodded. "What time is it?"

"Ten fifteen." He answered.

"Should we head out?" She proposed.

"Might as well." He shrugged, grabbing his bag, then hers.

"Eric… you don't have to," She started before he cut her off.

"It's fine Cal. Besides, I need to use my illustrious muscles. Keep them looking good." He joked.

"Well, if you put it that way," She shrugged with a smile. He carried their bags down throughout the hallways until they reached the front lobby. "Think she'll be working?" Calleigh asked with a smile.

"Knowing our luck." Eric shrugged. He didn't care about Mindy anymore. He never had, only when he thought she could jeopardize his chances with Calleigh, but when he looked at it overall, she'd really just helped bring them together. "Really, all she ever did was bring us closer."

"I guess you're right." Calleigh nodded with a smile. Walking up to the front desk, they were indifferent to the fact that it wasn't Mindy working at the desk.

"We're checking out." Eric told the woman.

"What's your name, sir?" She asked, not even bothering to look up.

"Delko." He told her. She looked up at that, and smirked, looking back down again.

"I hope you enjoyed your stay." She told him curtly, a bit of a smile playing on her lips.

"I did, thanks." Eric smiled.

"Have a safe trip home."

"Thanks." Calleigh put in this time. Walking away from the desk, she added to Eric, "Obviously Mindy has a big mouth."

"Obviously." Eric nodded, as they walked outside. Calleigh shivered.

"Now what am I going to do with this winter coat in Miami?" She asked with a laugh. "Or these snow pants. Or the gloves…" She trailed off.

"Well," Eric started, "We'll have to start taking these vacations more often."

"I'd like that." Calleigh smiled.

"Maybe next time, since you know, we won't have the whole feelings thing to worry about, we'll get some skiing in."

"Maybe." Calleigh nodded. "I did enjoy skiing. Except for when I fell and got all that snow and almost froze to death."

"Except that part." Eric nodded sympathetically, though there was a hint of mockery in his voice. By this time, they were at the car and Eric was shutting the trunk. "Ready to leave?"

"Ready to leave." Calleigh nodded. As they got in the car and drove away from the resort, she kept her eye on the mountains becoming smaller and smaller behind them. Because under those mountains and in that resort, their lives had changed forever.

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A/N: Okay. So I was going to have a whole getting on the plane, airport, home kind of ending… but I thought this was sort of nice. If this isn't satisfactory and everyone thinks I should add just one last, thirtieth, chapter onto this, then I shall. But it won't be overly long, and for now, this is complete. Until a sequel. But I won't start a sequel until I finish all my other Miami stories. Or it's Christmas. Though we all know which will come first, hello Christmas! But, I just wanted to say that you guys rock a lot, for reviewing and reading right until the end of this excruciatingly long story! I love you!