Maybe We're Wrong...
"MOMMY!" Cheyenna Caine screamed, running towards the door.
Calleigh and Eric smiled watching the two-year-old ran to her mom.
Aimee smiled and scooped up her child.
"Hello sweetheart!" She said, kissing her cheek. "Did you have a nice weekend?"
Maybe the godparents were wrong when they thought the children would be disappointed to see their parents return. The toddler chattered about she had met Eric's parents, played in their "swimmy" pool and how the older woman had given them hotdogs and ice cream.
Their friend and his wife looked quite refreshed.
When you have three children under five, including a ten-week-old baby as much as you love them, it must be good to have a few days with just your spouse, Calleigh thought. She and Eric would know this in the months to come.
Horatio had picked up four-year-old Rachel and she was telling him how she got to feel the babies in Calleigh's belly kick earlier that day.
"I don't know which one it 'as but it 'as cool!"
"I bet," Horatio smiled, glancing at Calleigh.
Lacy Michaels arrived with her grandson a few moments later. Horatio told the two to sit for a while. Austin's godparents were glad they hadn't been in a hurry to leave. The ten-week-old boy was sound asleep for a few short minutes when he was bought home. He appeared ready to cry then he saw his dad and smiled.
"Hi ya, buddy," Horatio said to him. He lifted the baby from the carrier and kissed his soft cheek. Austin's response was to kick his chubby little legs. "Did you have fun with nanny and poppy?"
The break had been great but the couple were ready to get back to their kids. He was fifteen years his wife's senior but how youthful a dad he was didn't surprise anyone who knew Horatio. Some who didn't know him personally thought he was a "grandpa" type of dad who was there for them emotionally, but "just patted them on top of the head and told them to go play or read them a story occasion" and tucked them into bed at night. To see him take as much part in the children's day-to-day care and get down on the floor, wrestle and play with them would surprise some people. Eric told people that his friend could do that even if he was older because of the years of "pent-up waiting." If Horatio was to be asked it was worth the years of being so lonely to be where his life was today.