The Return & Advice

Was he looking forward to today? Horatio wasn't sure as he got dressed. It had so long since he had been at the lab there was a part that was looking forward to returning to work. Then there was the part of him that felt good he would be supporting his family again.

But then there was a fact that Faith was just three weeks old. Aimee smiled when her husband insisted he get to handle Faith's night feedings and morning feeding before he took Kyle to school.

"Bye, Faith. Daddy loves you," He said, kissing the baby on the forehead. Horatio kissed his wife deeply. "I'll see you this evening. I love you."

"Love you, too."

Aimee locked the door behind her, something she had got into the habit of doing in the months before. And it wasn't like they were expecting company till lunchtime when her parents picked up Kyle from school.

Frank laughed at the stacks of photos that was laid out on the table in the breakroom, all of Faith Caine in her first three weeks of life. The team were standing around looking at various images. Frank couldn't deny the baby was adorable, no doubt that it was only a fraction of the pictures taken in the last twenty-one days. Horatio was one proud papa; he had taken as many pictures of Kyle when he was born. And from the photos Aimee Caine looked like a happy mommy.

"When ya gonna bring her in so we can see her?" Ryan asked.

"Tomorrow morning," Horatio smiled.

The day went somewhat fast but not fast enough for Horatio. Though Alexx told him this separation anxiety would fade off soon Horatio wasn't as sure; when Kyle was born, after spending six months off with him it was months before the same feeling stopped.

Horatio and his wife had heard of Julia's hopes of having a baby with Rick. They were understandably incensed but in the middle of the day it it was revealed that wouldn't happen because it couldn't.

To quote Frank, Rick's first wife had the "sense to take him to the vet and have him neutered." Apparently when he got married the second time, he tried to have to the procedure reversed, unsuccessfully. Horatio agreed that by the time Rick's second wife became his second ex, the woman had to be grateful for that. He said he wondered where this first woman was, she should be sent flowers. When Calleigh heard about Rick being compared to canines she found it highly offensive.

To dogs.

"Look, daddy's home," Aimee said to the tiny girl in her arms.

"And is he ever glad to be," Horatio said, kissing Aimee then Faith. "Did not like being away today."

They both knew it was going to take time for everybody to get used to Horatio working again.

"Did the team enjoy all your pictures today?" Aimee teased.

"They were a big hit," Horatio smiled, "but they asked when they can see the pretty girl in the flesh."

Aimee thought it was a great idea to bring Faith in to meet everyone else at the lab the next morning. The two could drove in separately so Aimee and the baby could leave after.

Holding Faith Caine even made tough Frank Tripp melt.

"You're such a pretty girl, you know?" He asked her.

Even Ryan, who had no experience with babies was smitten with her. He could see why the parents were so happy. It must have been an amazing having two such great kids.

Eric was again taken up with his goddaughter. He and his wife told the parents that whenever they wanted a night without the kids to give them a call.

"You should have one," Aimee said to Calleigh. "What you guys waiting on?"

Calleigh just laughed.

She and Eric had started trying to conceive a few weeks ago.

"What?" Aimee asked.

This was a unique question and something that she never understood but tried not to judge.

Who did you invite to be in the delivery room when you gave birth?

A co-worker of hers was now pregnant and had called Aimee asking for advice. Aimee told her she only had her husband there, and it was planned that way from the beginning. Aimee didn't understand why if one was in a supportive, loving relationship why a pregnant mom would want anyone else, including their own mother, to be there.

Aimee and her mom Lacy were very close but had Lacy expected to be in the delivery room when Aimee gave birth?

Absolutely not. Lacy agreed besides the necessary medical staff, it was meant to be an intimate experience between the mother and father.

This "guest list" thing people had nowadays for a baby's birth was ridiculous, Aimee thought. It's not a friggin' party!

"Horatio was there; that was it," Aimee replied.

"Your mom wasn't there?" The friend asked, seeming shocked.

"No," Aimee said. "She wasn't there when we conceived, so why should she have been?"

Not to mention she would not have been able to handle seeing the level of pain I was in, she thought.