Grateful

Before this time in his life Eric hadn't given much thought to the department's policy that prohibited pregnant officers from being out in the field. Now he was grateful for it. Even without it, he knew Calleigh wouldn't stayed out in the field for long, she was a smart woman plus the health and safety of their baby was paramount to her as well as him. She would stayed just long enough to make her husband a basket case, which for Eric probably would be just a day. From the time Calleigh found out she was pregnant she was restricted to work in the ballistics lab. When she hit the six month point in her pregnancy—which was in two weeks, she would have to leave the ballistics lab because at the point there was higher chance of her being injured. Then till she went on her one-year maternity leave Calleigh would be on desk-duty. Eric didn't know any CSI in the lab who liked desk-duty and he knew Calleigh especially hated it. Both loved the action of being out in the field.

Eric smiled at the sight in front of him. Calleigh had left the lab at the usual time but he had to stay to finish processing a case. Calleigh was sound asleep in the couch. Her husband had told her not to wait up for him but he knew she wouldn't listen. He knelt down, stroked her hair and kissed her brow. She stirred and opened her eyes.

"Hey handsome," she said sleepily.

"Hey yourself," Eric replied smiling. "What are you doing out here?"

"We don't like our bed when you not in it with us," Calleigh said.

Eric smiled, kissing Calleigh's belly. "Daddy loves you, too, pumpkin. You're being a good girl tonight, you must be sleepy.

"Are you two hungry?" He asked softly.

"No. We had dinner. Rachel called just I got in the door. She bought over spaghetti and meatballs. She bought a plate for you, too."

Good Ol' Rachel, Eric thought.

His parents might not have been excited about his baby but two of his older sisters, Rachel and Natasha definitely were. The youngest in the family, Marisol seemed indifferent but everyone knew she was self-centered.

Eric carried Calleigh into their bedroom and carefully laid her on the bed.

"You two won't be by yourselves much longer. I'll be right in as soon as I eat."

Eric's mother had taught all of her children how to cook; Rachel and Eric had were her best 'students' of her four children. His new wife freely admitted she hated to cook and wasn't at all good at it. He had known this about her since they first met and it wasn't bothering him now that they were married. Being a woman didn't necessarily mean a person liked cooking or baking or had to be good at it just as being a male who knew how to cook didn't make you gay. Cooking was Eric's way to relax after work. His sister's cooking wasn't bad but personally he thought his was better, he thought smiling, putting his plate in the sink

Eric went to the bedroom and quickly stripped down to his boxers and slipped under the covers with his pregnant wife, wrapping his arms around her. He felt Calleigh's back snuggle into his front. His palm, draped over his wife's pregnant belly felt a tiny limb poke out under her skin. The CSI smiled, wondering if it was his daughter's hand or foot.

"I missed you today, baby girl. I love you, too. You and mommy are everything to me."