Mommy
So far two-year-old Chloe Delko hadn't asked why she had a daddy but no mommy. Calleigh filling those shoes as a surrogate mother even though she still didn't call her father's girlfriend "mommy" seemed to delay the child's curiosity on why she didn't have anyone to call "mommy." Eric hadn't looking forward to explaining to his young daughter why her mother had abandoned her. He had spoken to a therapist months ago about what to say so Chloe wouldn't think it was her fault—as young children tend to do. Whenever Chloe did ask about the woman who gave birth to her and why she wasn't around all he could tell her was the problem was with her biological mother, not her. She hadn't done anything wrong, that many people loved her unconditionally, including Calleigh.
Eric had bought his daughter home from the hospital when she was two days old. He bought her to meet his CSI family at work two days later. From the moment Calleigh had first held Chloe Delko, she was baffled that a mother could just walk away from her child. Such a beautiful child at that. Her own mother had been far from nurturing but Calleigh couldn't believe anyone could be so cold towards a baby that she had given birth to. Looking into Chloe's eyes—the same ones as Eric—Calleigh could not deny she was in love with Eric Delko.
She didn't realize that feet away, watching her hold his daughter Eric realized what he felt for Calleigh was not lust or puppy love, honest true love.
Calleigh moved into Eric's apartment three months after Chloe's second birthday. There was no doubt now that Chloe thought of Calleigh as her mom and Calleigh thought of Chloe as her child. She could not have loved her anymore if she had given birth to her. It was a stormy night full of thunder and lightening just days after Calleigh moved in that Chloe had started calling Calleigh "mama" and do so from then on. Eric had to work a late shift at the lab and it was just the two home. It was 9:05 and Chloe was awaken by the thunder. Calleigh heard little feet suddenly running down the hall and then she saw Chloe round the corner of the living room and jump into Calleigh's arms on the couch.
"Tengo miedo, mami. No me gusta el ruido! es demasiado fuerte! haz que pare!!"
Calleigh had grown up in Louisiana but obtained a degree in Spanish from Miami University and having spent years in Miami she had become as fluent in Spanish as her boyfriend and Chloe.
"No pasa nada, mi bebé. No va a lastimarle, mami no lo dejará,"
Calleigh's eyes started to tear up after Chloe fell back to sleep in her arms.
She called me Mami, she thought.
When she was sure that the little girl was asleep, Calleigh put Chloe back in her crib. When Eric arrived an hour later, he saw the tears in Calleigh's eyes and was alarmed.
"Chloe. She woke up scared from the thunder. She called me mommy."
Eric first thought this had bothered Calleigh. He put his arms around her and kissed her head.
"Gee, Cal, I'm sorry. I'll talk to her in the morning. I promise."
"No, Eric. It felt wonderful. I love her, Eric. I love you. I want to be Chloe's mommy."
Eric smiled and kissed her again. I love you, too, Cal."
Translations
Tengo miedo, mami. No me gusta el ruido! es demasiado fuerte! haz que pare!
-I'm scared, mami. I don't like the noise! It's too loud! Make it Stop!
No pasa nada, mi bebé. No va a lastimarle, mami no lo dejará,
- It's all right, my baby. It won't hurt you. Mommy won't let it.