"Are you ready to go to the park with Uncle Horatio and Calleigh?" Susie asked her daughter.
"
Yeah, I can't wait, Mommy. Miss Calleigh is very nice. She helped me feel bettr when I was sick. She makes Uncle Horatio smile lots to," Madison added.
"That's good," her mother replied. Conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. Madison ran to open it. "Ask who it is first, Maddy," Susie reminded.
"Who is it?"
"It's Uncle Horatio and Calleigh." Smiling broadly the little girl opened the door and tackled the two adults with huge hugs.
"I think someones happy to see us, what do you think Horatio?" Calleigh teased.
"I think you might be right," he agreed.
"Here's a juice box and and orange if she gets hungry," Susie said walking into the entry way.
"Thanks, we'll have her back after dinner if that's okay?" Horatio checked.
"It's perfect, be good, Maddy," her mother admonished.
"I will, Mommy. C'mon let's go!" she cried. Smiling the two CSI's followed the little girl out of the house and to the hummer. Opening the back door Horatio lifted the girl into the backseat and buckled her into the booster seat he had for her. Smiling at Calleigh over the roof of the car he climbed in behind the wheel and headed for the park he usually took Madison to. -------------------
"Miss Calleigh will you push me on the swings, please?" Madison asked as they reached the playground.
"Of course I will, but you don't have to call me Miss Calleigh. Calleigh or Cal is just fine.
"Okay, Calleigh. Let's go!" Madison cried grabbing the blonde's hand and dragging her to the swings.
"You comin' Handsome?" Calleigh asked.
"Think I'll sit here on the bench and watch for a bit. I'll join you in a few minutes." Nodding she started to push the five-year-old smiling at her giggles and shreeks.
"Calleigh?" Madison questioned.
"Yes, Maddy?"
"Do you like Uncle Horatio?"
"I do very much. He's very nice and kind."
"But do you like him like him?" Leave it to a five-year-old to make me face the fact that I'm in love with my boss, Calleigh thought.
"Yes I do like him, like him," she whispered softly.
"That's good cause he like likes you likes you to," the girl answered.
"What makes you say that he likes me like that?"
"He's always smilin' when you're around and when I ask about you his eyes go all googley as Mommy says." Calleigh laughed at the description.
"I'm not sure if he likes me like a boyfriend and girlfriend like each other but I'm glad to have him as my friendd."
"Do you want him to be your boyfriend?" Madison asked.
"I don't know, maybe," Calleigh answered. Madison smiled as her head bobbed in excitment.
"Do you like to swing Calleigh?"
"Yeah it's my favorite thing to do."
"Uncle Horatio!" Madison called. Standing from his place on the bench the lieutenant made his way over to the two girls.
"What can I do for you sweetheart?"
"You should push Calleigh on the swing. I'm gonna go slide on the slide."
"That's a wonderful idea. Stay where I can see you, though."
"I will," the redhead said jumping off her swing and running for the slide. "Make sure to push her real high," she instructed.
"I will," Horatio answered as he started pushing Calleigh who had sat down on the vacant swing.
"So what did you two talk about?" Horatio questioned.
"Oh, nothing much," Calleigh responded quickly. Turning he gazed into her eyes waiting for her to continue. "She asked me if I liked you as in boyfriend/girlfriend like."
"And what did you say?"
"I said I do," Calleigh whispered.
"Really?" Horatio questioned. By this time he'd stopped pushing her and was standing in front of her.
"Yes," she answered biting her lip.
"Did she say anything else?"
"She said you liked me like that to. She said when I'm around you smile and when she asks about me your eyes get all googley to use her mother's word." Blushing Horatio ducked his head.
"She's right I do like you," he admitted softly.
"Well then, what are we going to do about that?"
"This," he answered just before capturing her mouth in a kiss. The teasing voice of Madison drifted over to them.
"Uncle Horatio and Calleigh, sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g first comes love, then comes marriage then comes a baby in a baby carriage." Both adults laughed and pulled apart.
"So we're boyfriend and girlfriend now?" Calleigh confirmed.
"Yes we are, ma'am." Just then a cry from Madison grabbed there attention. Looking up both adults rushed to her side. Madison ly crumpled on the ground holding her left arm. ---------------
"What happened, Maddy?" Horatio called gently.
"I fell off the slide and scraped my arm," she whimpered.
"How did you fall off the slide?" Calleigh wondered.
"I was standing at the top and slid down on my feet. I fell off when I got to the bottom.
"That wasn't a good choice, was it Madison?" Horatio scolded gently. The little girl shook her head.
"No it wasn't."
"You won't do it anymore, will you?" her uncle asked her.
"No, Uncle Horatio," she sniffled.
"Good girl." While they had been talking Calleigh was searching in her purse.
"Ah ha," she cried holding up a hand.
"What?" uncle and niece asked in unison.
"I found a band-aid, would you like me to put it on?" Madison nodded as he held her arm out for Calleigh. "There you go, all better." Glancing at his watch, Horatio noted the time.
"It's time for dinner, how about McDonalds?"
"Sounds good to me," Calleigh replied.
"Yes, please," Madison agreed.
"Well then, lets go," Horatio said standing up and grabbing each of their hands before heading for the car. The rest of the night went by uneventfully and before they knew it Madison had been dropped back off with her mom and Horatio had taken Calleigh back to her apartment.
"Would you like to come in?" Calleigh invited.
"I'd love to." Settling on the couch they each enjoyed a glass of wine as they watched a made-for-tv movie. Lifting her glass, Calleigh said,
"To new beginnings."
"To new beginnings," Horatio repeated.
Finished.
A/n, I know it's literally been forever since I wrote anything on this story and I'm sooooooo sorry. All I can say is writers block. Do you want more with Madison and these two? If so let me know.