He rapped on the door sharply. He'd left his key at home. The swim had done no good in calming him down but he had decided what to do. She came to the door dressed in a deep blue dressing gown that he'd picked up for her.

"I was wondering who was calling at this time of night." She smiled. He tried to smile at her but couldn't.

"Cal we need to talk." He said solemnly. Her face fell and she stepped back into the apartment.

"Ok…" she sat down on the couch.

"Cal Nat wants to go away for a few days and I've been thinking that maybe I should try and make it work. You don't want me to leave her and well that means that we're stuck in this stage of our relationship…" he paused. Or should I say affair… he thought. "…And it's not fair. I either want you all or not at all…" he laughed "… god I sound like a cheesy pop song." She laughed as well but then stopped.

"So it's over." She said simply. He nodded.

"I think so…" she stood back up and stepped closer to him.

"Ok. I understand." He took her face in his hands and whispered.

"I really do love you."

"I know." He kissed her forehead and turned and left.

The door closed and she sank down to the ground. The warmth of his lips still radiating off her skin. She touched her forehead and felt her eyes tear up. He'd solved her problem. She wasn't a mistress anymore.

He closed the door behind him and for the first since he'd been shot he felt a tear fall down his cheek. I'm doing the right thing…right? He asked himself. Then it hit him. The last time I thought I was doing to right thing I ended up married to the wrong woman…

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He grinned as Ani walked into the room. She was wearing Natalia's sunglasses on the top of her head and had also gotten into her make up bag, if the blue eye shadow up to her eyebrows and bright red lipstick was anything to go by. It was three weeks since they'd returned from Natalia's sisters house. The holiday had gone

"Anissa Maria Boa Vista Delko what have you been up to?" He said in the most serious tone he could muster.

"Playing grown up." She shrugged.

"With Mommy's things?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe…" she grinned. He shook his head, standing up he scooped her up into his arms and sat her down on the kitchen counter beside the sink. But not before he snapped a picture of her on his phone.

"Come on lets get you cleaned up before Mommy gets home from work." He winked at her and started the tap running. Gently he took the sunglasses off the top of her head. "These are a little too big for you, how about we pick you up a nice pink pair when I come home from work this evening." he asked and she nodded enthusiastically which didn't help his attempt to wipe the make up off.

"Can Calleigh come Daddy?" she asked. Eric stopped wiping and looked at her.

"I don't gets to spend much times with Auntie Calleigh anymore." She continued.

"Am I don't think so darling I think she has plans tonight."
"Did you have a fight or something Daddy?" She asked.

"No why Ani." He asked, he was concentrating so hard on cleaning her up that he didn't even notice Natalia walk into the kitchen, and neither did Ani.

"Cause she used come with us to the park to play swings and she used go shoppings with us but she doesn't any more."

"She's just been busy sweetheart."

"I miss her." Ani sniffed. He hugged her close to him and kissed her forehead.

"Me too Querida."

Natalia looked at them both and backed out of the room.

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Eric held on tightly to Ani's hand as the walked into the shop. She immediately pulled him towards the rack of children's sunglasses, as promised. He smiled as she took up a pair that looked oddly familiar.

"These look just like Aunty Calleighs!" she smiled.

"OH you're right they do. How about we get you a pair that look like mommy's or even ones that are totally different that can be just yours?" He asked.

"I like these ones Daddy." She held up a different pair, Barbie ones, totally pink

"I thought you might. Try them on." She put them on and he gasped, putting on the really high pitched 'girly' voice he knew made his beloved daughter laugh he said

"Oh my god they are divine! Oh they're so you" she laughed. And took the glasses off.

"Can I get these ones please Daddy?"

"Ok Sweetheart if that's what you want." She grinned up at him.

"Thank you Daddy." They strolled over to pay for the glasses hand in hand.

"How about we get some ice-cream angel?" He asked. She nodded furiously.

"Bubbly gum flavour!" she smiled.

"Just don't tell your…"
"Mommy…" she interrupted.

"Exactly Ani, she'd kill me if she knew I was giving you ice cream before dinner."
"No daddy theres mommy look." She pointed over to a bench, where in fact Natalia was sitting, with Wolfe. Eric stopped and just looked at her. She was smiling brighter then he'd seen in months and laughing. He was pulled out of his musings by a tug on his arm.

"Are we going over daddy? To mommy and uncle Ryan?" Anissa asked.

"Yeah go on I'll be there in a second."

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"He's not happy Ryan, it's getting worse!" Natalia said. Ryan let her continue. "I honestly thought that the time away might help. I mean he told Calleigh he was just busy I thought the break would help."

"Nat you cant run yourself ragged trying to make him happy. You have to be happy too." He said slowly.

"I need to keep us together for Ani." Natalia sighed.

"Even if you don't want to be with him?"

"Even then." Ryan reached over to take her hand when they heard a shout.

"Mommy, Ryan!" they both turned to see small Anissa running towards them with Eric close behind.

"Hey darling." Natalia bent down and lifted her up onto her lap.

"Look at what daddy got me" she said and pulled her new sunglasses out of the case.

"Wow they're lovely Ani." Ryan smiled.

"Hi Wolfe, Nat. I thought you were working late?" he said looking at his wife.

"We am… we were but we got the case closed." She said. The truth was she'd known when she'd text him to say she was working late that the case was already closed. That she was going for coffee with Ryan.

"Oh right." Eric nodded