Title: Love's Burden

Author: innocent choir girl (ff-dot-net), shannyfish (From Out of the Lab/Miami Heat/LJ)

Summary: Sequel to "Two Lives". When Horatio finally feels safe and comfortable with his family, an old burden is thrust back to him shaking the world he had so carefully kept whole.

Category: Ship Ahoy! Calleigh/Horatio

Genres: Angst, Drama, Established Relationship, Romance

Characters: Horatio Caine, Calleigh Duquesne

Warnings: none

Rating: PG

Chapter: 9 "Perfection"

Author's Notes: Check out the CSI RPG that I'm getting ready to start up! Want to join? Check out the message board

http://csitacoma (dot) proboards54 (dot) com/

I also wanted to just let all know that I do appreciate the comments, but I have had to change the settings for my stories so that I no longer accept anonymous commenting after someone blantingly flamed a story with no real reason (because they thought something happened that didn't) and didn't even give me the chance to reply to it. Fanfiction(dot)net only allows authors to only respond to signed comments.

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Calleigh smiled, she was simply glowing as she stared at her ring on her hand as she laid there in bed. The night before had been the most beautiful night of her life…and she felt like her life was getting better and better. Horatio finally seemed to be taking their family as a priority…and Calleigh loved it. His arms were around her, and she couldn't remember feeling safer…so loved. She continued to stare at the two rings…each symbolizing something unique in their lives…their life together and their daughter… The gems were sparkling in the light that had splashed in through the curtains…

They had snuck back into their room the night before and had just had a quiet, peaceful night together. It had been extraordinary…even if it had been nothing too special. They had had strawberries and more champagne to celebrate…Calleigh wasn't used to the alcohol, but it had helped her sleep through the night. She was sure that without it, she would have been up all night staring at her hand in the dark. Her life was definitely changing…for the better…and Calleigh just hoped things would continue.

"I love you," Horatio whispered as he tightened his grip on her. His face nestled in her hair, smelling the wonderful fragrance coming from it. He didn't want to move. The memory of the night before had been re-running through his head all through the night, and had brought a smile to his face. He opened his eyes and saw her hand held up and the sun dancing off of it.

Smiling, she turned in his arms and wrapped hers around his neck and leaned in kissing him. As she pulled away from him, she smiled even brighter, "Mmm I love you, too…" Giggling, she leaned in as he did for another kiss. The passion there was more than they'd experienced in the past. It was something special…better…it was so much more than just love…it felt like a higher level of that…

He held her close and tucked her head under his chin, running his hands up and down her back, loving the feeling of their skin touching as the arms rubbed against each other and their legs. It was limited touching…but Horatio enjoyed every minute of it… It was just a small way for them to be close…and now everything seemed so much more special. "They're quiet," he whispered with a smile. He hadn't wanted to bring attention back to reality…cloud nine was much more comfortable…but they had girls that he'd promised them that that day they'd be able to fully and freely enjoy the parks together…everything…including the fireworks display at the end of the night.

"They're being nice," Calleigh told him before placing a kiss gently to his lips. She didn't want that morning to end…though she knew it was destined to… There was no way that they could get around hiding out in the bedroom all day.

"They gave up all the nighttime parades and fireworks for us last night," Horatio pointed out. He craned his head and kissed her forehead. "We owe them a full day of activities…"

Calleigh smiled, "We have great girls, don't we?" she said brightly.

"We really do."

"I miss Emma…it feels like forever since I got to hold her…" Calleigh whispered as she stared at Horatio. She knew they had a completely different relationship than others had…she and Horatio had a little girl together…and Emma took the top slot as far as priority went… Horatio knew that, and she was happy that he had put Emma and their family first. She knew that now, their family was going to be perfect…even with Madison and Sheryl… Madison seemed to blend into their family perfectly once they had made her feel more comfortable, and Sheryl had made herself part of the family without them even knowing. Calleigh thought it was perfect for them.

Horatio leaned in kissing her before starting to sit up and placing a kiss to Calleigh's forehead. "Why don't we go and see the girls? Maybe have an early lunch at the Rainforest Café in Downtown Disney…Madison and even Sheryl thought it looked like fun." He pulled her with him and heard her whimper slightly. They'd have their time…he knew that when they were up in the mountains that they'd be able to sleep in all day if they wanted to. Once she was sitting up, he searched around for a pair of pants, and watched as Calleigh did the same. They'd graduated from sleeping in full pajamas to just a t-shirt and boxers for him and a tank top and panties for Calleigh. Horatio, of course, wasn't complaining, he'd learned to just make sure his pajama bottoms were close by so he'd be covered in case Sheryl was early to the house…being there wasn't any different.

Grabbing her pink pajama knit bottoms; she threaded her legs through and pulled them up. "Alright…girls now…us later…" she said trying to pretend to be annoyed with it, but couldn't keep back the smile that had crept to her face.

"We have all our lives for us now," he pointed out as he rounded the bed and joined Calleigh as they both headed for the door that joined the two rooms together.

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The morning had gone along smoothly. They had eaten before they had emerged into the crowded Disneyland Park, which he was sure everyone was happy about. As they waited in what Horatio thought was an absurdly long line for a child's ride, he watched as a father started to hassle the ride attendant. The man was complaining about the wait, and Horatio tilted his sunglasses and watched as the man continued. Everyone else seemed to have no problem waiting…he had seen other rides that had longer lines… He looked down at Madison who was excitedly waiting for the carousel ride. Looking around to the other children, they all looked the same. When he saw the man opening his mouth again, he stepped forward and cut him off, "I think you should pay attention to your daughter, and leave the attendant alone."

Calleigh turned and saw Horatio confronting the man and let out a small sigh, he couldn't give up protecting the people…even if it included people in another state… She scooped up Emma, not wanting her to get stepped on in case there were any problems, and stayed back with Sheryl and looked down at Madison. If she needed to get involved, she would, but she'd let Horatio handle it until then.

"I'm not talking to you!"

"You are now," Horatio said placing his hands on his hips. He stared at the man, "You're going to stay quiet and wait until it's your daughter's turn…and…you're going to apologize to the lady for being so rude."

"Who do you think you are?! Park polite police?"

He smiled a bit and let out a laugh. Though he wasn't in Miami and he was on vacation, it was hard to pull from his norm of his slacks, button up shirt, jacket…and badge. He flashed it, figuring the man wouldn't be able to see that he technically didn't have jurisdiction in California. "Not exactly…" When the man suddenly went quiet and turned around, Horatio smiled and then turned to Calleigh to see the smirk on her face. When the next group entered the carousel area, Horatio cleared his throat. He watched as the man looked back at him and then he quietly apologized to the attendant.

"Can't let go?" Calleigh asked quietly as they entered the area to wait to be the next group onto the carousel.

"How much longer could you have listened to him?" Horatio challenged with a smile.

"Not much longer," she admitted with a smile.

"Is it our turn, yet?" Madison asked looking up at Horatio. She was so excited about their day. They had pretty much covered a good amount of the park the day before…but she loved carousels… She had ridden it the day before, and she felt like a princess…she was just missing the crown.

"Almost," Horatio told her with a smile.

"You're gonna ride a pony today, too, right?" she asked with a smile. She had tried to get her uncle to ride the carousel the day before, but that hadn't gone over very well…and he had ended up just standing and watching. Sheryl had gotten on a horse, Calleigh had stood next to Emma while she rode, and Madison had gotten her own horse… Why wouldn't he ride, too? "Please?"

Horatio sighed and looked over to see Sheryl and Calleigh smiling, too. "I think I'm too big…" He looked down and then looked back over at Madison, "This one time." The minute he saw his niece's eyes light up, he knew it was definitely worth it. As the gate opened, he followed Madison, Sheryl, and Calleigh. He watched as Sheryl quickly found an empty orange decorated white horse, and then Calleigh put Emma on one next to Sheryl and started to buckle their daughter in place. He felt a tug on his hand and looked down to see Madison had found two for them. Smiling, he gave in and followed Madison and got up on his horse as Madison got up on hers.

The carousel lasted only about two minutes, but Horatio did enjoy it. He got to see Madison laugh and her whole face brighten. Getting off his horse, he helped Madison down, "So, why do you like this ride so much?" he asked as they headed for the exit behind Calleigh and Sheryl.

"I get to feel like a princess," she told him with a smile. Madison hadn't been on a real horse before, but the carousel was a nice compromise.

"Perhaps," Horatio said holding her hand as they exited and he headed off while Sheryl and Calleigh went on a search for the stroller. They had been in the shops in the castle the day before and Horatio had watched as Madison had played with the sparkling tiaras there, but when he had asked her if she had wanted something she had told him no. A crown for Madison seemed like the best way to complete her feeling of being a princess. He led her in and over to the counter where the tiaras were sorted in plastic clear bins by color and style. "We should make you into a princess…" he said and tried to find a tiara that was perfect for Madison.

She giggled, "Do we all get crowns?" she asked as she looked over the selection. She knew which one she liked the day before, but she wanted to make sure that that was the one she really wanted.

He smiled, "That one, I am definitely staying out of."

"But what about Calleigh and Sheryl and Emma?" she asked.

"I don't think these will fit Emma very well," Horatio pointed out and motioned to the metal combs the tiaras were attached to. "And I don't know which one they would like."

"We could ask them…"

Horatio was about to respond to that when he saw that they'd been found, and so had the stroller. "There you are…we were just talking about you."

Calleigh smiled, "What are we up to?"

"Uncle Horatio says I can be a princess," Madison said proudly. "I told him we should all be princesses together and have crowns…but you need to pick which one you want."

Calleigh smiled, "That's nice… I think you and Sheryl should be princesses…"

"Only if I get to be a pirate princess," Sheryl spoke up.

"I want you to have one, too," Madison said holding out a diamond-looking crown that had a heart in the middle for Calleigh. "Look, this one matches your one ring," she said. She was excited about her uncle getting married…and more so that it meant that she got to be in it.

"I think it's a great idea," Horatio said as he took the tiara from Madison's hand and placed it on Calleigh's head before leaning in and kissing her. "I think it's more like queen rather than princess," he said against his lips.

Calleigh giggled, "Queen, huh?" She pulled back and saw that Madison was trying to hide a giggle. Apparently them being so open was odd to the girls, but something Calleigh thought they'd get used to it though. "I suppose we could all act like royalty…"

"You've always liked American royalty…this'll sort of be close," Horatio teased.

She smiled at him and then looked down at Madison as she held onto the tiara, "Good pick. Now, which one are you gonna get?" she asked as she moved to get a better look at them. "How about this one?" Calleigh asked holding up one with diamond-looking and purple sparkling gems in it. She thought it would look pretty with Madison's bright hair.

Madison took it and looked it over, before she smiled and looked right at Calleigh. "I think it's great!" Looking over, she saw that Sheryl was looking through the tiaras, too. "Did you find one?"

Holding up a pirate crown that had black and red gems and in the center was a skull and crossbones, she smiled. "I have found the pirate crown…" Sheryl proclaimed happily.

"Alright, Ladies," Horatio said and headed with them to the counter and had it all paid for. Since the shop was busy, he suggested that they manage the crowns outside. And outside they went through a small little side tunnel taking them to the side of the castle. He pushed the stroller along and watched as Sheryl hurried to get Madison to a bench ahead and started to arrange her hair. He looked over to Calleigh, who was standing next to him, "Aren't you going to put yours on now, too?"

Calleigh smiled a bit shyly, "Maybe later… Let the girls have their fun now…" She watched as Sheryl arranged Madison's hair and put the tiara in and then arranged her own. "I promise I'll wear mine later…"

"How does it look?" Madison asked as she bound over to her uncle and Calleigh. She spun around to give them the full affect of the crown. It was also nice because Sheryl had piled all of her scarlet curls up on her head, so she didn't feel so hot.

"You look just like a princess," Horatio told her and then leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Where are we off to next?"

"It's Sheryl's turn to pick a place," Madison told him. "She's going to choose Pirates of the Caribbean, because she likes pirates. Her computer even has a pirate ship on the screen."

Horatio smiled, "Alright…you ladies lead the way," he told her as he straightened up and put his arm around Calleigh and pushed Emma's stroller along with his other hand.

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TBC…