The Story of Your Mami & Papi

Calleigh Delko smiled listening to her husband talk to their three-day-old daughter in Spanish. They both intended to teach their baby Spanish from the beginning but it wasn't like there was going to an exclusive language at home. Both were going to speak to Nevaeh in whichever language came out of their mouth.

"Usted sabe usted esta preciosamente al mami y al papi?" She heard him say.

Nevaeh was going to know how precious she was to them every day, every moment of her life in the future.

"Did she answer ya, daddy?" Calleigh asked when he came back into the room from the nursery. "Does she know how precious she is?"

Eric smiled. "She didn't answer me but I think she does."

For years there was an unofficial, unwritten rule at the department that officers couldn't become romantically involved and remain on the same shift. The Delkos had "got in under the wire" so to speak. The rule had only come official last Tuesday. That meant officers who were already involved or married were unaffected, unless a specific pair were proving they couldn't effectively work together. Neither Calleigh or Eric were worried about their ability to work together and be professional once Calleigh went back to work. Neither's relationships had been really serious but they both had dated co-workers before and had been able to keep things professional then too. Eric was taking a month off to be with Calleigh and Nevaeh. The first week he called in sick and then the department offered three weeks paternity leave. Eric was definitely taking it.

Horatio called his friends the fourth day that they had their child home. He asked shyly if he could come over to see his goddaughter. He hadn't seen Nevaeh since the hospital.

"Sure!" Eric said. "You got good timing. She just woke up."

"Who's that?" His wife asked.

"H. He wants to come over and see our precious princess."

Calleigh smiled. She looked forward to seeing how Horatio would interact with their baby. The lieutenant had been wonderful with Nevaeh at the hospital when she wasn't even a day old. It was evident he already loved Nevaeh very much. Both were looking forward to seeing how Horatio was with the baby in a home environment.

"Just wait till you're old enough to play with toys, lil' one," Calleigh said, giving her baby an Eskimo kiss. "Your uncle's gonna have you spoiled. See that over there?" she said, turning the baby so Nevaeh could see the bouncey seat.

"He gave you that. You're a bit too tiny for it yet but I think you'll enjoy it. See all the pretty rings?" Calleigh said about the colorful toys in baby's reach in the front.

After four days, fatigue was slowly starting to set in for the new parents. When uncle Horatio came over and told the couple they should go take a break and he'd take care of his goddaughter till they got up the two agreed.

"I just fed and changed her, diapers are in the room and there's a bottle in the frig," Calleigh told Horatio, eager for rest and totally comfortable with their friend caring for Nevaeh.

"Okay," Horatio replied. "Say 'night mommy, night daddy. Have a good sleep.'" he said, waving the baby's hand at her parents.

The loving way that Horatio spoke to their child made both Mami and Papi smile. They knew the newborn would be happy with him while they slept. The couple fell asleep almost immediately once they both got comfortable in bed. They didn't get to hear Horatio tell their daughter a story. The story of her Mami and Papi.

"I bet mommy and daddy have told you just how much they love you and how special you are. A lot of people love you.

"I've known mommy and daddy for a long time. I tell you, sweetheart, I knew from the moment they met, that mommy and daddy were meant to be together. The day mommy started working at the lab the second they saw each other they froze. They don't know I know this. They don't know I saw them. Your dad's never been shy but when he laid eyes on your mom he looked and sounded like a teenage boy again. I think he almost forget his own name. I laughed.

"And your mom blushed really bad when your dad smiled at her. She had to look away from him. I guess she didn't want him to see it. It didn't take long for them to become best friends and everyone could see it. I think they fell in love with each other in less than a year, maybe two at the most. And although it was so obvious to the entire world, and they both knew it deep down, it took a long time and both daddy and mommy going through very bad things for them to finally say those three little words. It's not my place, when you're old enough they'll tell what those bad things were.

"I've seen them happier than I ever seen in the whole time I've known them. You're a truly special girl, Nevaeh."