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, Alexx Woods (Other), Madison Keaton (Other), Eric Delko, Suzie Barnham (Other)

Warnings: Adult Themes

Rating: PG-13

Chapter: 9 "Happy Birthday?"

Author's Notes: Since Madison's middle name has not been established, I'm giving her one

…………………

"Today is December fifth, and we have a birthday!" Mrs. Nanette announced. "Miss Madison Keaton is turning ten today," she continued. It was an afternoon tradition. They went over the calendar and counted down the days until Christmas and announced birthdays. It also made it convenient for parents who wanted to have a mini party in the classroom on their child's birthday. "Miss Duquesne has even been nice enough to bring in some cupcakes and milk for everyone…"

Madison beamed; she hadn't known that Calleigh was going to come to her school for her birthday. She watched excitedly as her teacher quickly put together a purple paper crown, decorated it, and then wrote her name on it. After the cupcakes were passed out, the class started to sing to her, and Madison smiled up at Calleigh when she noticed her cupcakes had purple frosting with purple sprinkles.

Calleigh stayed back and watched as the girls ate the cupcakes, keeping an eye on the involvement between Madison and the girls. After Thanksgiving, she was worried about her and how the kids would treat her. She frowned when she saw the two girls that had been rude at Thanksgiving stay at their desks, while the other kids went over and talked to Madison.

"She's doing really well here," Mrs. Nanette told Calleigh quietly as she watched the children.

"Yeah, she's happy here," Calleigh agreed. "Though those girls at the other end of the desks were rather rude to Madison after the play because they found out that Horatio and I aren't Madison's parents."

"Maybe we'll just have to teach about differences in families," Mrs. Nanette suggested. "A lot of kids here have blended families of some kind…"

Calleigh smiled, "I'd appreciate it…"

Mrs. Nanette stepped forward to re-take her class, "Alright children… Let's put our trash away, wash hands with soap, and then return to the table with your books."

Madison got up and quickly disposed of her cupcake wrapper before going over to Calleigh, "Thanks for bringing cupcakes for my birthday." Her mom had never done such a special thing for her in the past, and she thoroughly appreciated it. She felt like a princess in the classroom. "I love the purple frosting…but they didn't have purple frosting at the store when we went to get stuff for Emma's cake."

Crouching down, Calleigh wrapped her arms around Madison and held her close before kissing her cheek, "I made it special…just for you… Now, why don't you go wash up and then we'll head out?"

"We're leaving?"

"Mmmhmm I promised Horatio that I'd pick you up and we'd all have lunch together," Calleigh explained. It wasn't the whole truth, but that just added to the surprise later. She smiled brightly, "Hurry up, we've gotta pick up Chinese on the way."

Madison nodded excitedly and hurried over to the sink where her classmates were drying their hands. She dipped her hands under the running water before pumping soap into her hands. She rubbed her hands together before rinsing the soap off. Pulling out a couple paper towels she dried them, disposed of the towels, and then hurried over to Calleigh. "We ready to go now?"

Laughing lightly, Calleigh crossed her arms over her chest, "And where's your sweater? Backpack? Homework? Lunchbox?"

"Oh yeah!" Madison said hurrying off to the wall that had each child's name with hooks underneath to hold coat and backpack along with a cubby compartment underneath to hold homework and lunches. She found hers and shoved the things into her backpack before hurrying back to Calleigh. She held onto her crown to make sure it didn't fall off as she ran over to get Calleigh's hand. "Come on!" she told her.

Calleigh laughed again as she was hauled out of the classroom.

……………………………

"You promised that we'd have lunch with Uncle Horatio," Madison complained.

Calleigh sighed, "I'm sorry, Darlin'… I must have forgotten to sign those papers… We'll just have to stay for a bit, I promise," Calleigh told her as she walked around the outside of her car to the backseat removing the Chinese. "I better put this in the fridge inside so it doesn't go bad…"

Madison pouted and crossed her arms, "You and Uncle Horatio are always working…"

Locking the car, she headed towards the elevator with Madison. The parking structure was a bit dark, and she knew Madison probably thought that they'd be there all day if she was parking there. She watched as the ten year old walked ahead of her. She couldn't help, but smile as they headed into the building with the box of Chinese food. She knew that Madison was mad at her now, but she knew that wouldn't last long.

Madison got a visitor's pass and they headed upstairs to the crime lab. She frowned as the elevator doors opened to the crime lab and its front desk.

"Happy Birthday Madison!" Claudia greeted happily.

"Thanks," Madison said a bit quietly as Calleigh guided her towards the break room. "Please tell me it won't take that long… I'm hungry, plus Uncle Horatio is waiting for us…"

Calleigh tilted her head a bit, "We'll see…we'll see…"

She groaned and pushed the door opened and headed inside, "This is so unfair!"

"SURPRISE!"

Madison let out a squeak as the lights came on and people popped up. She turned back to Calleigh to see her laughing. She noticed that her uncle was on the other side of the break room. She smiled brightly at the thought that she had gotten to have a party with her friends at school and now she was having one with everyone from the lab.

"Happy birthday, Madison," Alexx said as she hugged the red headed ten year old.

She found herself quickly being hugged by everyone, even pulled into a swinging hug by her Uncle Eric. Finally, she found herself in her uncle's arms, and she stayed there for a few minutes before pulling back. "This surprise is for me?"

Horatio smiled and played with her paper crown for a minute, "Of course! You are the birthday girl, after all…" He looked up at Calleigh and the others. He noticed that Calleigh and Alexx had gone to work pulling out the food and setting up the table with the small white boxes and putting plates and utensils out. "You know, I need to talk to Madison for a few minutes…we'll be right back," he told Calleigh as he took Madison's hand and led her out of the room.

As they entered the hall, she looked up at him curiously, "Where are we going?"

"Outside for a few minutes," Horatio responded as he headed for the elevator. "You know ten is a very big year…"

Madison smiled, "It feels…special…"

Horatio smiled and nodded, "I'm glad," he told her as he pressed the elevator button once they were inside. "We really wanted your birthday to be special…" He headed out of the elevator with Madison once the doors were open and emerged into the fresh air and bright sun quickly. Heading along the more vacant side of the building he sat down with Madison on a bench. "I wanted to give you your present now…" he explained as he pulled out a small silver box complete with fluffy purple bow on top. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you," she said taking the box and fingering the bow for a minute. The ribbon was cloth, a sheer kind with silver edging that had wire in it to help it keep its shape. She carefully pulled the ribbon and then carefully lifted the top off of the small silver box. Inside was another box, a black velvety one. Madison giggled at the fun of the box inside of another and pulled it out with a bit of difficulty as the velvety one was a bit tightly set inside of the other. Popping it open, she stared at it. It was an oval gold locket. Four pink roses decorated the border accompanied by silver leaves and in the middle an embossed cross. "Oh…thank you, Uncle Horatio!" she said throwing her arms around him, the silver box and purple bow falling to the ground in the process.

"You're very welcome," he whispered as they pulled back from each other, he watched her stare down at it in the box. "You can put whatever pictures you want inside…" he explained as he reached down and pulled it free from the box and showed her by opening it. "And," he started as he closed the locket, "On the back," he continued as he turned the locket over in his hand to show her the engraving. In beautiful script was 'Madison Rose'.

"Awww…it's wonderful!" Madison beamed.

"How about if I help you put it on?" Horatio suggested. He knew that they'd been gone for a while now, but he wanted to talk privately with Madison about some things. He opened the clasp and then carefully put the necklace around Madison's neck before fixing the clasp in place. "There."

"I love it, thank you Uncle Horatio!" Madison said quickly as she looked down at her new locket. It was beautiful and perfect…and made her feel grown up.

"I wanted to talk to you about what you wanted on your birthday," Horatio told her. "How about if I can give you one wish, what would it be?"

Madison looked oddly at her uncle before looking down at her locket and thinking about the question. It was one that she really wanted to think about before answering, she wanted it to be something that was important and yet special. She looked up at him, "I want to be a Caine…I want to be part of your family…" She looked back down at the locket thinking through the wish, "Can I see my mother?"

The wish was something that Horatio had been trying to accomplish, but the lawyers had said that it would be better and easier for the case if they waited until after Suzie's trail. "You want to see your mother?" Horatio questioned. "I'm not sure if that's such a good idea, Sweetheart."

"Please?" Madison pleaded as she stared at him. Her blue eyes were wide as she waited for his answer. She knew maybe it sounded odd, but maybe…just maybe her mother could grant her the birthday present that she so desperately wanted.

Horatio let his head fall a bit as he thought about it. "It might be difficult for me to get you okayed to go in to see her, Madison…but let me try…"

"I want to see her today…"

Tilting his head, he looked up at her, studying her. She was certain she wanted to do it; he could see it in her eyes. He smiled at the thought of how grown up she was now… Sometimes he still saw her at four years old…and now Emma was nearly that age. "Alright…after we have our party, okay?"

"Promise?"

Horatio nodded a bit before speaking, "I promise…"

"Are you mad for me asking?" Madison asked as she got up cleaning up the mess she had made. She put the black empty box back into the silver one and held onto the purple ribbon as she stood and looked at Horatio.

"No, no…of course not, Sweetheart…" Horatio told her, "I'm just concerned… I want today to be a happy day for you…"

"I want it to be happy, too…"

…………………….

Horatio walked with Madison, "Are you still sure you want to do this?" He wanted to give her an out in case she'd changed her mind. He almost hoped that she would. Horatio worried about what Suzie would do or say.

"You don't have to come with me," Madison told him letting go of his hands as they neared the room. A guard was ready for them and was getting the door unlocked and opened.

"I'm going in with you," Horatio told her.

They entered the room, and Horatio found Madison's hand back with his and squeezing it. Suzie was sitting at the desk in the middle of the room dressed in a jumpsuit. Her hair was messy and Suzie didn't look so well. She was better off; at least inside the confines of the facility her drug usage was minimized. Horatio knew that bringing Madison to the correctional facility to see her mother wasn't the best idea, but it was a wish. A wish that he had promised to fulfill.

"Hi," Suzie greeted putting on a small smile, but didn't move from her seat. She watched as Horatio nodded to the guard, and the guard left. Horatio instead stood guard as he gave Madison a gentle push towards her.

Hesitantly, Madison approached her mother and the table. She'd left her birthday crown in the Hummer. All the cool presents she'd been given had gone home with Calleigh. She'd just been left with her locket and her wish…

She wasn't too sure about her wish anymore. It was scary, and her stomach felt sore as she thought about the past. "Hi," she finally said before pulling out the empty chair and sitting in it.

"You're getting so big," Suzie told her daughter, "And you look so pretty… Your uncle has been taking good care of you."

"It's December fifth," Madison prompted thinking that perhaps she didn't know the date. She had expected a happy birthday at least, if not a hug. When her mother just nodded and smiled, she turned to Horatio and suddenly wanted to leave.

Horatio moved away from his position at the wall and moved towards the table. At first his gaze was down, but then he picked it up a bit and looked sideways to Suzie. "Today…is Madison's birthday. Her TENTH birthday, Suzie." He paused looking down at Madison for a moment before looking at Suzie. "I asked her what was one wish she wanted. She said to see you."

Looking down, Suzie nervously played with her hands. "I…I can't believe I forgot your birthday, Madison." Tears filled her eyes; she was realizing that life felt a lot more miserable when she wasn't on drugs. She thought that maybe it was because she had gone back to drugs and had partied harder. She looked back up at Madison, "I'm sorry, Sweetie. Happy birthday…I wish I could celebrate it with you or give you a present or something…"

"You can," Madison responded quietly as she got up from her chair and went around the table. "Please let Uncle Horatio and Aunt Calleigh be my parents…" Madison hugged her mother, resting her head on her mother's shoulder. "I don't want to be the weird kid or the new kid at school anymore." She pulled back and stared at her mother, "They really love me and take good care of me… They make sure I have clothes, get shots…even though I don't like them, go to a really good school, and they always come to my school things…"

Suzie looked up at Madison and fresh tears emerged. "I knew you'd want her to be your mother," she said bitterly, "She's so perfect and blonde. She's pretty…and she's marrying your uncle. Makes for just the perfect family picture."

"I'd have two moms," Madison corrected. "At my school, there's a boy who has two moms and two dads… It's okay to have more than one."

"Suzie, you know that once you serve your time…which won't be too long and you can stay sober that you can visit Madison," Horatio spoke up. "There would have to be rules that everyone would have to agree to, but I think Madison would benefit from the blended family."

"Horatio get you the locket?" Suzie asked Madison, seeing the obviously new piece of jewelry around her neck.

"Yes," Madison said. "I can put pictures inside of it."

"Who are you gonna put inside?"

Madison frowned, "I don't know yet."

Suzie wiped away the tears and looked at Horatio, "It isn't nice, you using Madison to trick me into signing my rights away."

"He didn't tell me to come here," Madison said loudly. "I wanted to. I want to be adopted by Uncle Horatio. I don't want to have to tell the judge all the bad things you've done. Being a parent is about doing what is right for your child," Madison told her. "The lawyer told me, and my teacher says she's right. Letting me be part of Horatio's family is what's best for me and if you love me, then you'll do it," Madison finished. She stepped back over to Horatio and led him to the door.

Horatio had been quite surprised at his niece's impromptu speech, but impressed. Madison had said what she needed to. He knew Suzie was angry, angry at him, but he hoped that she saw what she was doing to Madison.

As they walked down the hall, Madison sniffled and wiped her face. She felt her uncle's arm around her and she tried to take in a calming breath. "I was hoping she'd say yes…since I'm ten now…and it's my birthday…"

"I'm sorry, Madison," Horatio said soothingly. "But we can make your wish of being part of the family come true a different way…it's just going to take some time…"

"Can we go home and see Aunt Calleigh and Emma now?" Madison asked upset.

"And Sheryl…too."

……………………….

TBC…