Disclaimer: Don't own CSI: Miami… what else is new?

A/N: Hee… XDD

Finals weeks are over! XDD … and now relaxation until next week… -.-

TY to floofymiko for lil' help with words and such… XDD

Chapter 14:

There was a deathly quiet. Aside from Eric, who was picking himself up from crashing into the doorframe and falling to the ground, no one moved or spoke. That hurt...why's Marísol here? Did I hear her correctly? This must be some kind of really bad joke.

Natalia refused to look Eric in the eye. She was too scared to see what his expression would be. This is bad-no, embarrassing…I can't believe Marísol! What am I gonna do? Just say she's lying, it's nothing? It's too obvious…because I'm not getting rid of this child. This day is too stressful…

Marísol was chewing on bottom lip furiously to keep from exploding with the laughter that was filling up within her chest. If she wasn't going to ever say anything, then something had to be done. I wonder whose children those are…and why would Eric be giving two children a tour of the lab? Strange, but sweet. It's funny how they sort of look like Nat and Eric…

Ella and Jem were excited. They were finally in the break room. Ella was happy that she could finally see her mommy and eat some food. She had so much to tell her. And Auntie Marísol is here too! Yay! We can all eat together! We just need Unky H! …I hope daddy is okay…he missed the doorway. He should pay attention more…he's always telling me too. Jem was happy to finally be eating. Since he had not had the luxury of eating a piece of candy before, like Ella had, he was completely starving. His stomach, advocating this, grumbled continuously. Those bags say Thank You' on them…those must be food…I wonder if mommy's gonna finish that… He darted around his daddy, Ella following, to the food, but was stopped by Marísol.

"Hi! Why don't we wait outside and give these two some alone time to talk." She smiled sweetly to the two children.

The siblings groaned. Jem spoke up. "How come mommy and daddy have to have so many problems today?" They complied to a very befuddled Marísol, but not before running over to the fruit basket and grabbing something to eat. "Hey, Ella, wanna banana?"

"I love 'naners!" She caught the fruit as it was tossed to her. Yay! I caught it! Cool. "Which one are you eating?"

"I'm eating an… apple." He grabbed a bright green Granny Smith. "Hey…there's that funky fruit that Mommy and Daddy love." Both children giggled happily.

"That's poma…pomaganate." They giggled again.

Everybody in the room forgot their problems temporarily as they relished in the children's senseless discussion. With fruit in hand, the boy and girl went up to Marísol and were ready to leave the room, for the time being. They were determined to come back and eat the meal that their father had apparently gotten for them. Marísol led them outside into the hallway, slowly and quietly closing the door to the break room, and patiently waited for her husband's appearance.

That left Natalia and Eric. Alone. Together. Natalia took a seat where all her food and the still semi-full 'Thank You' bag rested. Eric sat in a chair close to Natalia and refrained himself from taking her hands into his and gazing intently into her eyes. Part of this was because she seemed more interested in ogling the small oddly-shaped crater in the table.

"Is there something that you wanted to tell me Natalia?" He laughed dryly. Yeah…great way to break the silence, Delko.

"So, you didn't hear your sister? And you just happened to slip on your way in here?" She wasn't buying his act of sincere care. No one's this…dumb? That's not the right word though…I just know that he absolutely hates me…so I wish he would just get it over with and say it…so we can both move on…I can raise this baby myself…

"Is it true then? You're really pregnant, with my… our baby? When did you find out? We ended a while ago…" I know she wouldn't make something like that-who the father is- up…she's just not that type of person…

Here it goes… "Um…remember a few months ago when I-we had that pregnancy scare?"

"Yeah." That was a close one…wait…WAIT… Natalia coughed as Eric eyes widened in realization.

"Well. Surprise!" Wow…that's terrible, Natalia…Great way to break it to him…

"Why…Why didn't you say anything? At all. Why did you say you weren't pregnant?" Eric felt hurt all over again. The tender scars that were left on his heart from the last time were beginning to reopen.

Natalia unnecessarily went on the defensive. "And what, Eric? You wouldn't have told Ryan that I was 'clear for landing'? I'm curious about that." I'm stooping down so low. I'm not even mad or anything…I'm just sick and tired of this day…why can't it be over already…

"I'm sorry, Natalia. But that's the past…we need to start thinking about the future…of…our baby." I'm going to be a papí… He licked his lips in nervousness and took her hands in his. "I don't know what you've been going through these past couple of months, but I want you to know that now I'm going to be here one hundred percent of the way." It's going to be difficult since we're both harboring suspicions and all, but I'm not going to be the one that leaves her on her own.

"I don't want you to feel obligatedto help me through this." I don't want to be an obstacle in your way to happy 'white-picket fence' life…not that he seems like the type of guy who would want that…

"I'm not doing because I have to, well on some level maybe I am, but I'm doing it because I want- because I want to take responsibility. It isn't fair that what happened to us should determine the baby's fate. I want that child to have both a Mamí and Papí around."

Natalia blushed. He's still holding my hand…his eyes are so…warm…NATALIA! WAKE UP! This is too absurd and ridiculous…do NOT get all tingly and weak at that! Remember Luke! Remember what he did? Do not forget! Do NOT! Natalia abruptly yanked her hands away and looked away. "I don't need your help. I can take care of myself."

Eric sighed slightly. I'm not giving up just yet, but she's probably not going to be too happy with what Horatio has to say…

For the present moment, the banana was quelling her hunger grumbles. She looked over to her brother to see what he was up to. He was 'attempting' to eat the apple. Marísol was pacing around while watching them. She's probuhlee waiting for Unky H. What's Jem doing? She voiced her thoughts.

"What? I'm just eating my apple." Stupid tooth…with everything happening…I forgot that it was loose…it hurts.

"You look like you can't."

"I can too eat an apple." Just to prove that he could, he bit fully into it, but instead of eating the apple his front tooth lay stuck in the fruit jutting out. Red blood dribbled out of his mouth onto the equally red fruit. "Awww…sick!" He grinned making Ella shriek in absolute horror. He's dying!

Marísol was instantaneously by the two children's side. Swiftly arriving were Natalia and Eric, who had been exiting the break room, and Horatio, who was coming to check on his CSIs and was pleased to find his wife.

Ella was still shrieking and crying. The banana peel had fallen out of her hand.

Right away, Eric did the first thing he could think of, which was pick her up. He bounced her slightly, like a parent would do to calm a crying infant, and murmured a soft short Spanish lullaby that his mamí used to sing to him when he was a child. Ella buried her head in the curve of her daddy's neck and sucked her thumb. Her tears quickly dried and she wrapped her free arm around her father. Natalia observed in wonder at how the man before her had simply flipped on the parental switch.

Marísol stepped over to Horatio to talk about their plans for later that night while Natalia dealt with Jem. The latter woman crouched down and took the apple from Jem. "Are you okay?"

"This is awesome! I thought it was gonna hurt and everything, but it was so cool! The apple just RIPPED it outta my mouth! Now I can give it to the tooth fairy!" The kid smiled widely revealing a gap in his mouth and pink teeth.

As Natalia pulled out the tooth and gave it to Jem, she said, "You need to rinse your mouth and get all that blood out." He looks like he took a blow to the mouth. She smiled as she ruffled his soft mat of brown hair, making him scrunch his nose adorably. He looks so happy and cute. I guess it's because it's his first tooth.

"Imma gonna go rinse there." He ran into the break room and pulled up a chair to help obtain a good height so he could properly rinse his mouth at the faucet. Natalia stood up to assist Jem. My son…heh…no, he thinks you're his mother…that doesn't mean he IS your son…

She looked over to see Eric holding a now sleeping Ella, her thumb half in her mouth, half out. I guess…I guess he really could make a great father…someday… She chewed her lower lip in nervousness. Eric looked up and their eyes locked. A big and warm smile unexpectedly spread across his face. With pink-tinged cheeks, Natalia immediately turned away. I can't…he hates me…he's only doing this because he found out…I mean two months ago he was extremely mad and upset…he hates me…maybe he's a great parent, but would he be a great husband? She trembled at the memories of her previous marriage.

"Natalia?" Eric was whispering as to not wake Ella up. Natalia dreaded that she had either uttered her thoughts aloud or the man before her had read them. "I'm gonna go help Jem out with his tooth. And, um, I think Horatio needs to talk to you."

"Oh." She gave him the apple. "I'll be right there." She had to finish her half-eaten sandwich. Eric nodded and walked over to the break room, while Natalia walked over to her ginger-haired boss.

"Marísol, can you give us two a minute?" He smiled warmly to his wife, kissing her hand gently.

"Of course, Horatio, I'll be in the lobby waiting for you." She smiled happily as she walked away, a woman truly glowing from pregnancy.

"Horatio, did you find something out?" Like why…how…if Luke was involved with what happened to Mr. Paledez…argh, I have no idea what he's capable of.

"Ms. Boa Vista…I don't want to concern you with the details of the case other than we believe that your ex-husband, Mr. Litano, may have been involved in the murder of his patrol officer."

"May have been? No witnesses?" This isn't good. Breathe…

"As of now, nothing reliable…" We need a positive on McFinley's statement. "There are a lot of loose ends that need to be tied."

"What do you want me to do?" She was completely stressed out and on the edge, but she was willing to push herself to the brink to find out what exactly was going on.

"You said that you don't know what your ex-husband is capable of?"

"Yes?" She, at once, began to think of the worst.

"I would like for you to be placed under protective custody for a couple-"

"What? I can protect myself! Isn't that for witnesses?"

"It's not a matter of whether or not you can protect yourself. You work for me and I'm concerned about your safety."

"What about…" She trailed off. I was gonna say, 'What about my sisters?'…but they're both hanging out in California for a summer modeling internship. "Who-Who's the officer? Anyone I know?" Better not be some random person…guy… She nearly shuddered at the thought.

"Eric." Natalia was so shocked that she was left speechless. "I thought it would be better for the four of you to stick together."

"The four of… the children? What if they're someone else's?" Highly improbable…I'm just pissed. How can they make a decision about my 'safety' without me around?

"Have you done a DNA test?"

"A what?" OH… DUH… BRILLIANT NATALIA! Well, that would make Eric equally intelligent. "Oh…that's a good idea." Natalia shook her head in disbelief as a grin materialized onto her boss's face.

"I've already informed Eric that you two will have a couple of days off to lay low." He paused. "At least until we figure out what exactly is going on." The grin turned into a slightly perplexed frown.

"What so we can 'relax'? Luke took that away from me when he decided to leave jail and kill his patrol officer. I need to figure out what's going on…I need to. I have to come to work tomorrow."

"Ms. Boa Vista. I don't need an anxious CSI overworking herself."

"Horatio. If I sit around-lay around- doing nothing, all I'm gonna be doing is thinking about him…about what he could do…not just to me…but to Eric and those kids…I just don't know what to do… Maybe I should just let him take me… then it'll all be-" She was shaking a little now.

"Shhh…don't be ridiculous. That's not the correct way to stop him. We have a job to do. That's protecting the innocent. You, my dear, are an innocent and one of my CSIs. So don't think you can go put yourself so carelessly in danger. You also have a family who loves and cares about you."

At first, Natalia thought that her superior was referring to Eric, Jem, and Ella, but then she realized that he meant Anya and Christine. If I did something irrational like that…how would they live? They're not making a whole with their modeling, especially since they usually spend more than they earn…and Christine's still in school… and the look on Jem's face when I briefly passed out- if they really are mine, then what would they have done if I did something like that…and…and Eric…would he be upset? The CSI rubbed her itchy eyes. I refuse to cry openly. "What do I do then?"

"Nothing. We call it a day."

"So that's it?"

"I expect you and Eric gone within an hour. No overtime today."

"What about you?" So, that it? They're going to figure everything out tomorrow?

"My wife's waiting in the lobby." Horatio smiled, making his laugh lines deepen and eyes crinkle.

"Horatio?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Do you promise that you'll call me if you have something…like a crime scene to process?"

"I promise to call you if we have something solid."

That's good enough I guess. "Thank you."

"It's not a problem…not a problem at all. Now I expect that you have at the very least a good night's rest." He put on his dark shades and turned around to walk over to the lobby.

Natalia sighed. What at Eric's house? How does this protective detail thing work anyways? I just hope he really does call as promised. May as well talk it over with Eric… Wait…does he…did he already know? She fumed slightly. We need to work out this whole not telling each other thing…otherwise this 'relationship'-real or not- is not going to work. …And we need to do a whole DNA test…

"How're you feeling, Jem?" Natalia asked as she returned to the break room.

"Mukch better! This sandgwich is yurmmy! If Ella doesn't wake up soon…I'm gonna eat ghers too!" There were some bloody tissues surrounding him that Eric was cleaning up. Ella had been placed on the couch against the wall where she continued to suck her thumb and sleep soundly. It had been a long day for her.

Natalia stopped Eric from throwing out the bloody tissues. "We're going to need those…and a strand of her hair." Responding to Eric's arched eyebrow, "They think that they're ours…well we need to do a DNA test to prove it."

Realization smacked Eric in the face. "Oh."

"Yeah…I did the same thing when Horatio told me." Natalia laughed and couldn't stop. Eric, not seeing what was that funny, joined in anyway. Today's been one heck of a ride…laughing just helps deal with everything… She walked over to the little girl and found a long brown hair on her, or really Eric's, shirt. "Alright, let's find Valera and give her these 'trinkets'."

Eric grinned. "I'm sure she'll be thrilled with the extra work."

A/N: A splash of cutseyness never hurt anyone… sorry if it's OOC… it wasn't intentional… XD

eep… Throwing Heat was crazy amazing… poor delko! .