Spoiled Rotten by Uncle H

"H!" Chloe screamed, running to him.

Horatio smiled and bent down as the little girl practically flew across the room into his waiting arms. He had arrived early, deciding that he would take Chloe with him to the supermarket to get some groceries. Horatio never really kept all the that much in the house because he was seldom home. He knew he had to get kiddy essentials like apple sauce, fruit loops, milk, apple juice and animal crackers, he was also out of bread, Kraft singles and peanut butter. The two were going to make pizza together so they had to get the ingredients for that. Horatio was going to get some frozen dinners, including Chloe's favorite, chicken nuggets, corn and mashed potatoes.

"Hello my angel," he murmured, kissing the child's face. "Are you ready to go?"

Chloe nodded.

"Are you taking anybody with you?" Horatio asked, referring to stuffed animals.

Chloe nodded again.

"I'm taking Buttons and Larry," she said. "Dere in my suitcase wit my jammas and clothes." She pointed to the Little Mermaid rolling Luggage.

Buttons was a brown teddy bear and Larry was a plush dog, a black, white and brown one. Where the child got the name "Larry" nobody knew. There wasn't any need for her to bring any other toys.

"Do you mind if I go in and say 'hi' to Ethan before we go?"

"He's in his chair," Chloe said. "I want to say bye-bye to him 'fore I go."

The Holiday Inn Suite somewhere in Dade County

"This is amazing," Calleigh said, sighing, laying back on Eric's shoulder in the hot tub in their room.

"I know. I never thought I'd enjoy silence like this," he chuckled. The oysters and other aphrodisiacs from the buffet were starting to kick in. They would have had worries on their moods about their oldest child was getting the attention she deserved but with the knowledge that Chloe was with Horatio they concentrated on each other. "Guess what this silence makes me want to do?" Eric grinned.

The couple weren't in the hot tub much longer.

At the supermarket Chloe picked out chocolate chip cookies with M & M's from the bakery for dessert and Horatio bought apple pie. They made sure not to forget the cool whip to go with the treats. As they were in the aisle getting the pizza ingredients Chloe saw a root beer display. Horatio noticed the girl's eyes.

"That's your favorite soft drink, isn't it, sweetie?"

"Yeah," Chloe said, nodding.

Horatio knew that Chloe's parents did not allow the child to have the fizzy drink too often.

But she's mine this weekend. I can give her what I want, Horatio thought.

The duo ran into former police detective turned private investigator Yelina Salas.

"My goodness! You've certainly grown since the last time I saw you!" Yelina said to Chloe.

The last time Yelina Salas had seen the Delkos' daughter she was seven months old.

Back at the Delkos' residence Chlorinda had invited her best friend since childhood Laura over for a chat and to see her grandson. She complained bitterly to the other woman how Eric had told her how she was treating her two grandchildren very differently. The woman's reaction made her even more irritated. Laura had seen this behavior over at Chlorinda's before, the first time she met Ethan.

"I'm glad Eric sees that. I did," Laura said.

"I don't do that!" Chlorinda defended.

"You do! When is the last time in the past three weeks that you said more than 'hello sweetheart. Are you helping mommy and daddy with your brother' to Chloe since Ethan's been here? I know it's wonderful to have another grandchild and that Ethan's special 'cause he's the first grandchild to carry on the family name but come on! Just because Chloe is no longer a baby and isn't the baby of the family doesn't mean she doesn't need your affection and attention anymore!

"You're mad 'cause Chloe's with her godfather tonight; I haven't met him or seen them together because I've heard they have a beautiful, close relationship and he spoils her with attention when they're together. Personally I'm glad that's where she's at right now because she certainly deserves to be fussed over."

This conversation caused a light to slowly turn on in Nana Delko's head.

At Horatio's, Chloe was hungry. The two decided that they would make pizza for lunch tomorrow. They would have frozen dinners now.

"After we eat I'll show your surprise," Horatio told Chloe.

"Okay!"

The entire weekend Horatio wasn't going to bring up the topic of Ethan, unless Chloe did. After eating Horatio told Chloe she should take her luggage with her to her first surprise because Buttons and Larry might want to see it too. When he opened the first door, the one to the bedroom Chloe's eyes widened. The double bed had a lilac Disney Princesses bedspread on it and there was a matching lamp on the chest of drawers.

"Wow!" Chloe exclaimed.

Horatio smiled.

"Why don't you take Larry and Buttons out and put them on the bed, see what they think of it?"

"Okay!"

Chloe took her plush friends out of the suitcase and placed them on the bed.

"I tink they like it," she said.

Putting her clothes in the two bottom drawers of the dresser Chloe said "you put a bed here for Ethan, too."

"I did," he replied. "But I don't think he's going to be staying here for a while."

"Yeah," Chloe said with a smile. "'Cause he's a little baby and I'm a big girl."

"You are."

The second room was even a bigger hit.

"That's amazing!" Chloe said, seeing the room with all her and some new stuff like some Dr. Suess books, a Veggietales DVD like the one she had at home, more coloring books and crayons and the board game Candy Land . "Tank you, H!" She said, giving Horatio a big hug and kiss.

"You're welcome, pumpkin," he said.

They sat down on the floor and played two games of Candy Land before Chloe decided she wanted to watch the Veggietales DVD before bed.

Hope you all enjoyed this longer chapter! A big thank you goes out to my 3.5 year old cousin for his favorite word "amazing."