"Uh, Calleigh..."

"Shhh," she whispered, putting a finger up to his lips to silence him. "Just sit back and relax."

She could feel Horatio's breaths become quicker and heavier.

"Horatio, you're too nervous."
"I...I..."

"I told you, just relax..."

Her hand ran the length of his now-hardened unit, which made him exhale greatly. She could feel his nervousness exit him with each successive breath. When she put her mouth over him, she could see him close his eyes as he continued to release his nervousness.

"Calleigh," he whispered. "I'm about to..."

Too late. Calleigh let his warmness rush into her mouth, much to the moans from Horatio.

After she was done partaking in the warmth, Calleigh looked up and smiled at Horatio, who in turn returned the compliment. She brought her eyes up to his and looked deep into them.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I...love you," he whispered back between heavy breaths. "Now...now it's my turn."

With that he stood up and guided her to the bed. When he started to unzip her jeans, she started to giggle.

"Oh Horatio..."

----------

They sat in bed for the rest of the night, holding hands as the candles began to burn out. Calleigh melted when she saw the fading light of the candles flicker in Horatio's eyes.

"You're beautiful," Horatio whispered to her with an obviously genuine smile.

"As are you," she replied with her trademark sunny grin.

"I'm sorry we couldn't...fully consummate our relationship. We'll just have to wait a little while longer."

"Don't be sorry, Horatio. What you did for me tonight was far better."

Horatio smiled. "I wanted to show you my feelings."

"And for that I am truly grateful. So..." She stopped as she tried to regain control of her emotions. She was cursed with a paralysing nervousness.

"What is it, Calleigh?"

"So, are we...together, as in boyfriend/girlfriend together?"

"We are."

Calleigh could then relax, for she knew she no longer had to fight for his heart. Horatio gathered her in his arms and they fell asleep together, the world once again melting away around them. At that moment, Calleigh felt the familiar safety in his arms as she did that fateful night under the moon. Nothing could touch her now.

----------

Calleigh awoke the next morning to the sound of the shower running. She walked in, disrobed, and stepped into the shower, much to Horatio's surprise.

"Good morning," he said cheerfully.

"Good morning."

This was the first time Horatio caught a glimpse of Calleigh's bare chest. He swallowed hard.

"Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"No," Horatio said. "It's just...I haven't seen them yet."

"Well, now you have," Calleigh slyly remarked as she wet her hair. Horatio approached her, brushed the wet strands from her face, and delivered a long yet deeply satisfying kiss.

She found that Horatio was very sexy when he was wet. The way his red hair clung to his head sent her heart racing. She couldn't help but run her fingers through it.

"I've always been in love with your hair," Calleigh confessed.

Horatio smiled. "They called me Howdy Doody in school."

"Did that make you sad that they were making fun of you?"

"No. They learned that calling me that wasn't such a good idea after the fifth grade...I was the first one to go through puberty and I was taller than all of them for the longest time."

"Well then, I guess you got the last laugh."

"I did."

"I still think it's sexy, but I found it even sexier when I saw that you have it everywhere."

Horatio blushed.

"Calleigh, can I...uh...ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Am I...what you expected?"

"What do you mean?"

"Is my...size...what you expected? I have a kind of reservation about my body, and I don't want you to be disappointed."

She drew close to his face. "You are better than you think you are, trust me," she whispered.

"I just...wanted to make sure."

"Why are you so self-conscious about your body?"

"I...don't know. I just want to please you."

"Horatio, you are a very handsome guy. I don't know who told you otherwise but you take my breath away. Please believe me."

"I do. And you...you leave me speechless."

Calleigh blushed as well. When she saw the deep wound in his stomach, however, she frowned.

"Calleigh...what is it?"

"Every time I see your injury, it makes me mad that I allowed Resden to do that to you."

"Calleigh...please don't blame yourself for this. You got the kill shot in before he did this...there was nothing more you could have done."

Calleigh gently rubbed the wound. "I wish I could make this disappear." Horatio was worried because Calleigh still believed this was her fault.

"Calleigh...please don't blame yourself. It was all Resden, okay?"

Calleigh looked up at him. "Okay."

Horatio smiled and tilted his head. "Okay."