Title: Life Goes On
Author: innocent choir girl (ff-dot-net), shannyfish (From Out of the Lab/Miami Heat/LJ)
Summary: Third in the "American Family Series" (which consists so far of "Two Lives" and "Love's Burden"). While planning the wedding, Suzie returns and trouble ensues because of it…not only over Madison, but over the life that Horatio wants to give her and what he fully intends on following through with.
Category: Ship Ahoy! Calleigh/Horatio
Genres: Angst, Character Study, Drama, Established Relationship, Romance, Suspense
Characters: Horatio Caine, Calleigh Duquesne, Yelina Salas, Alexx Woods, Eric Delko, Madison Keaton (Other), Dan Cooper (Other), Ray Jr. Caine (Other), Sheryl (Original Character), Emma Caine (Original Character)
Warnings: Adult Themes
Rating: PG-13
Chapter: 7 "Picture Perfect"
Author's Notes: none
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"Are you sure I can pick anyone I want?" Madison asked hesitantly. She didn't want to get into trouble, even though Calleigh had told her to pick out whatever costume she wanted. She knew that some of them were really fancy, and were no doubt expensive in turn.
Calleigh nodded with a smile, "Anything, Darlin'."
Sheryl held Emma on her hips looking through toddler costumes, and smiled at Calleigh. "Don't worry…I'll find a nice Nemo-ish costume for the little turtle."
Smiling, Calleigh responded, "I don't doubt that…" She moved away from Sheryl and Emma to go and help Madison. "Hey…" she said crouching down alongside Madison. "Any idea what you want to be?"
"Can I be a princess?" Madison asked.
"You already are one."
Madison smiled brightly, "I'm not…"
"You think I'm lyin'? You ask your uncle…"
"Can I be Dorothy? Like from the Wizard of Oz? Even though my hair isn't the right color?" Madison asked looking at the gingham dress.
Calleigh smiled brightly, "There is nothing wrong with your hair, Sweetheart," Calleigh told him as she reached up and fingered one of Madison's scarlet curls. "You know Judy Garland's hair was a reddish brown… I think you'll make a beautiful Dorothy…"
"Will you braid my hair and everything?" Madison asked with a smile.
"Of course I will…" she said and pulled the dress off of the rack. "How about if you go try it on and I'll go see if they have some ruby slippers and maybe a dog in a basket?"
Madison nodded and ran off for the dressing rooms. It took her no time to change into the costume, and by the time she was done and walked out, Calleigh was waiting for her. "It fits, doesn't it?" Madison asked as she turned around for Calleigh.
"Beautiful…" Calleigh beamed and held out a pair of ruby sparkling shoes and a basket. "I figure you can pick out the perfect Toto…" She smiled as Madison slipped on the shoes and held the basket. She looked perfect. "Alright, how about changing back and we'll go ahead and get those?"
"Calleigh?" Madison asked quietly as she slipped off the shoes and set them and the basket by Calleigh's feet. "I get to go Trick or Treating?"
"Of course."
"Can we have a party? Like Emma's birthday? A Halloween party? You think Ray Jr. will want to come and maybe he'll go Trick or Treating with us?" she asked chewing on her bottom lip.
"I bet if you call him," Calleigh said as she bent down, resting her hands on her knees. "He'll come…and I bet we can get everyone to come from the lab just by offering food," she added with a smile. The smile on Madison's face made Calleigh feel so wonderful…and she wondered if Suzie Barnham knew exactly how special and wonderful her daughter was. Madison had disappeared into the dressing room by the time Sheryl made it over. "What sea animal did you find?"
"A turtle!" Sheryl beamed. "It's Squirt! From Finding Nemo! Isn't that awesome?"
Calleigh laughed lightly, "Emma's gonna be the little sea turtle forever now, isn't she?"
"Just wait until she learns how to swim."
"Tut-uh!" Emma said happily tugging at the costume in Sheryl's hands.
"Alright… Turtle…I get it," Calleigh said giggling before kissing her daughter's cheek. "Like Mommy can say no to you."
………………………
Halloween came along quickly, but Calleigh thanked God for having such great family…that was truly what the lab had become… Everyone had brought something, which had helped since Calleigh hadn't been able to get everything finished with Emma having gotten sick from candy corn earlier in the day and then helping Madison get ready like she had promised.
"Damn, I wish I had brought a costume," Eric said frowning when he saw all the fun that Alexx's kids, Ray Jr, and Madison were having running around the house.
"You mean you didn't dress up for the kids?" Dan Cooper asked interrupting the conversation that Eric had started with Ryan. "That's sad guys…"
Ryan smirked, "I don't see you with a costume."
Cooper smiled, "Good thing I look out for you guys… C'mon," he said motioning them out to his car. "H mentioned that Madison was going to be Dorothy…so…" he said as he opened his car and pulled out two large bags and threw them at Eric and Ryan. "I decided to make us the Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and the Tin Man."
"Coop, you're awesome," Eric said happy with his Tin Man costume.
"I know," he smirked and held his Scarecrow costume as he closed up his car. "I figured Madison would be thrilled."
"Why am I the Cowardly Lion?" Ryan questioned.
Eric laughed, "Fate?"
"Funny…"
………………………….
Dan had convinced the guys to change without telling anyone what they were doing and then snuck back into the living room area. "Anyone know where the yellow brick road is?" Dan asked aloud.
Calleigh turned and took in the three in costume and smiled brightly, "Oh my God, you guys are the greatest, you know that?" she asked as she approached them. "And y'all look so cute… Madison's gonna love it," she said as she gave them each a kiss on the cheek. "I'm going to need pictures."
"Make sure we all get copies," Alexx spoke up smiling.
"Greeat…" Ryan groaned.
"Uncle Eric!" Madison yelled when she spotted him in silver. "You're the Tin Man!" she realized as she approached him and hugged him tightly. Ever since she'd heard Eric refer to Emma as his niece, she'd started to refer to him as her uncle.
Eric hugged her and picked her up, "Hey there," he greeted with a big smile and kissed her cheek. "We're all here to skip down the yellow brick road with you…"
"I do not skip," Ryan argued.
"You'll skip for Madison," Coop spoke up.
"You didn't tell me that everyone was going to be from the Wizard of Oz," Ray Jr. told his mother as they entered the Caine household. "I could have been one of those blue flying monkeys."
Calleigh giggled and turned to Ray Jr., "Actually…the guys surprised us all…it wasn't planned…promise."
"Where's Horatio?" Yelina asked curiously not seeing him around, but noticing Alexx and the others all in the living room.
"He's in with Emma… She was crying for him, so we gave up on putting her in her costume and he took over," Calleigh informed her soon to be sister-in-law. "Might wanna check to make sure they're not both sleepin' in the nursery though…"
"I think I'll do that," Yelina said before heading down the hallway.
…………………………
Horatio had been on the floor with Emma, who was dressed like a turtle and they were practicing swimming as far as she could tell. She hadn't been able to hold in her laughter at the sight of her brother-in-law down on the floor with the toddler. "No Papa turtle costume for you?" she joked.
Looking up, Horatio smiled, "Sadly…no…" he said pushing himself up and letting Emma practice her swimming on her own. He took a couple steps over to Yelina, but keeping his eye on Emma. "It's good that you guys came…"
"Madison looks beautiful…and she has a whole group now… Have you seen Eric and the others?" she asked curiously.
"No…why?"
Yelina smiled, "You'll have to see for yourself…"
"Okay…" he said slowly figuring it was something he had to see for himself.
"How are the wedding plans coming along?" Yelina asked tilting her head.
Horatio smiled and looked over to her, "They're coming along… Calleigh and I were discussing having another baby…"
"Another baby?" Yelina asked in surprise and shock. "Are you guys ready for another child? Raising a toddler and a ten year is a lot, Horatio…"
"We've decided to just let things fall into place…how they fall," Horatio told her.
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TBC…