The Note

Mac Taylor smiled at what he heard. He so had to call Horatio Caine when he got the chance. His friends and parents of his goddaughter had told the latest news on Aimee and Horatio Caine's baby boy. He laughed at what Danny said about flying to Miami. Lindsay said if that were his condition for that, then he wouldn't going anyway. The couple had decided to name the baby Austin.

"Nice name," said Mac.

Back in Miami with the toll being pregnant was beginning to take on Aimee's energy, in addition to the fact the pregnancy was not letting Aimee sleep much at night Horatio was making sure she had help with the children a good part of the time when he wasn't there. Though he knew his wife had been joking when she teased him about making this pregnancy much difficult Horatio did feel somewhat guilty.

He really felt bad when after he heard her get up to the bathroom and she didn't come back to bed. He heard her go the living room. Horatio rose the bed and went to check on her. He found his wife prompted up in the recliner, eating a banana, a glass of milk and a yogurt was on the side table. There was a blanket over her legs and she was flipping through the channels with the tv remote.

"Hey," he said softly.

"Hey. What are you doing up?"

"'You okay?" Horatio asked, not answering her question.

Aimee nodded. "I just couldn't sleep. It's too uncomfortable laying down. This position is much better. Go back to bed. You gotta work in the morning. I'm fine."

Horatio kissed the top of his wife's head. When he turned and headed in the direction of the hall she thought he were going back to bed. Instead Horatio came with a blanket and a pillow from the hall closet. He laid them on the couch.

"What are you doing?" Aimee asked.

"I will go to sleep," Horatio said, "just here on the sofa."

"Horatio," Aimee sighed, shaking her head. "You don't have to stay here with me."

"I know I don't have to, Aim, but I want to."

Again Aimee knew there was no use arguing with him even at 3 in the morning he wouldn't give in.

"I'm going to watch this Family Guy Marathon. Will that bother you?"

Horatio shook his head.

Horatio opened his eyes at 5:15am and saw that his wife had finally fell into a deep sleep. He stood and went to the recliner, picking her up in his arms, careful not to wake her. It bothered him that it wasn't possible for him to take the day so Aimee could rest. She couldn't take care of the girls on such little sleep. He made a mental note to call his mother-in-law at seven. He may not have been able to call in sick but he would be late to look after his daughters till Lacy arrived.

"Where's mommy?" Rachel asked at the breakfast table. It was 7:30 and daddy was usually gone to work by now.

"Mommy's sleeping. She didn't sleep well last night. Nana is coming over to take care of you guys. I'm gonna stay with you guys till she comes," Horatio answered, kissing his older daughter's head.

"I help! I watch Cheyenna for mommy, daddy!" Rachel said.

Horatio smiled at his daughter and tussled Rachel's chestnut brown hair.

"Thank you, sweetie. But you're too little for that yet."

Growling from her stomach woke Aimee at close to nine o'clock. First she heard her daughters' and her mother's voice downstairs then she thought about how she hadn't fallen asleep in bed. She glanced over at the night table. There was a folded piece of paper with her name written on it. She picked it and read the contents.

Good morning my sweet,

I didn't want to wake you. You looked so peaceful when you were asleep. No need to rush out of bed. Your mom's downstairs with the girls. I'll be home as soon as I can tonight.

Love you all

xxxxoxox

Horatio

Aimee smiled at the paper. That was her husband. He had carried her from the living room to their bedroom without her even stirring. Aimee told him repeatedly not to lift and carry her while she was pregnant. She was always afraid he would injure himself. Again he would never listen. Horatio didn't find his wife heavy at all. When she wasn't pregnant Aimee's weight was below the hundred pound range. Even now carrying a six pound baby at only six months pregnant, Aimee was barely 120 pounds.