FB, FW Chapter 3

The front door burst open, "Dammo has entered the building! Now where is that cousin of mine?"

Horatio headed towards the front door, "hey Dammo, how have you been?" he gave his cousin a hug.

"Great now that I've got here. Chicago is a long way from here."

Hugh followed behind Damien and closed the door, "he's been telling me some stories about when you two were younger on the way here form the airport."

Horatio blushed slightly as Kyle came through, "now I'd like to hear some of those stories. Dad hasn't told me the sorts of things that he used to get up to whilst growing up."

Damien put his arm round Kyle's shoulders, "you're Kyle right?"

"Yes sir I am."

Damien frowned, "call me Dammo, I hate it when I get called sir. It makes me feel old, I'm not as old as your old man yet."

"Oi, I heard that! You're only three years younger than me."

"Cuz, you are still older than me."

Horatio rolled his eyes at him, this was going to be a long day, especially where Damien is concerned, "you're suit is in the lounge. You need to get ready as soon as you can."

"Chill, I've only just got off the plane. Give the jet lag a chance to set in," Damien winked at Kyle, "he's so uptight when he's nervous."

Kyle laughed as Horatio retaliated, "okay Dammo, that's enough, please just get ready."

Damien fetched his suit from the lounge and went into the bathroom to get himself ready.

Hugh pulled up next to Horatio, "where's Eric gone? His car isn't out there."

Horatio proceeded to tell Hugh of the events that had taken place so far, well, what he knew of what had gone on.

Eric pulled up in front of the house and rushed inside to be greeted by Natalia. She was dressed in her pastel pink, strapless bridesmaid gown.

"Wow, you look great."

Donna and Daisy Jo came running through, "Uncle Eric!" they both chorused together.

"Well don't you two look adorable," Eric looked back at Natalia, "where's Calleigh?"

"She's upstairs with Alexx and Anna. Chloe's up there as well, she didn't want to leave Anna's side. I think she's a bit over-whelmed by it all. You'd better get your cravat and jacket on before Alexx sees you."

"Too late for that, honey," Alexx walked down the stairs in a pastel pink dress with a little pastel pink jacket on, "get yourself sorted before I sort you out myself."

The twins stood there giggling, "ha ha, you got told off by Auntie Alexx!" Donna teased.

Eric playfully stuck his tongue out at Donna as he got himself ready. Anna came downstairs carrying Chloe, "oh come on Chloe, you're getting too heavy to be carrying anywhere, let alone down the stairs."

Chloe just hid her face in Anna's chest.

"What's wrong with Chloe?"

"Don't worry Eric, she's not used to all of these people running round frantically. She's just a bit restless."

Anna put Chloe down at the bottom of the stairs but she still clung to her mother's white trousers and pulled at her pink floral top wanting to be picked up again. Anna refused to pick her up again as her arm ached.

Eric sorted himself out but Alexx wasn't satisfied. She proceeded to straighten him out.

"Oh come on Alexx, I'm a big boy now, I can dress myself."

Alexx smiled, "obviously you can't as you're not all straightened out. That's better,"

Alexx patted his shoulders to indicate that she'd finished fussing over him.

The sound of a door shutting could be heard coming form upstairs. Calleigh stood at the top of the stairs, she looked absolutely amazing.

"She looks like a princess," gasped Daisy Jo.

"No, mommy looks like a fairy queen," protested Donna.

Alexx took their hands, "she looks beautiful. Daddy will be happy."

As Horatio stood at the alter waiting for his bride with Damien stood by his side, the organist was playing music to keep the atmosphere going.

"Dammo, have you got the ring?"

Damien looked at Horatio, "of course I've got the bloody ring! I'm the best man aren't I?"

"I was just making sure. I just have a bad feeling something is going to go wrong."

"Stop being so negative, she'll turn up. She'd be a fool not to."

"Thanks Dammo."

"What for?"

"Coming here today, and for trying to make me feel better."

"Don't get all soppy on me, that's as soppy as you going to get from me, you know that don't you?" Damien jokingly nudged his older cousin.

"I know. Just don't start crying half way through the service, you know that I'd never let you forget it if you do," Horatio knew exactly how to wind him up.

"As if I'll do that."

Stetler and Frank wandered down the aisle to find a good seat. Maxine shifted over a bit to make room for the men.

"Hey Maxine, isn't Calleigh here yet? It's nearly time to start," Frank parked himself next to her.

"Mmm, don't think so," Maxine gestured towards Horatio at the front, "he doesn't look too nervous considering he's about to get married."

"You know Horatio, he doesn't like to let on how he's feeling."

Stetler turned to Frank and Maxine, "who is that other red head?"

"The best man? That's Horatio's cousin, I think," Maxine wasn't too sure.

Frank piped up, "yeah, Horatio told me all about him. He told me that I'd know who he was when I saw him."

The three of them looked towards the front, Maxine turned to Frank, "I can see what Horatio means by that statement."

Frank and Stetler chuckled. Anna came rushing down the aisle towards Horatio.

"She's here, good luck," she gave Horatio a hug then went and sat down next to Hugh.

"How did it go this morning?"

Anna sighed, "stressful! I don't remember our wedding day being as manic as that."
Hugh smiled and took his wife's hand in his, "I remember it well."