A/N: So.. here is the epilogue of the story and therefore the very last chapter. Thank you all again for reviewing the story, it always meant a lot to me reading your comments. I hope you enjoy the epilogue as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Jess

Epilogue

Calleigh felt a little bit unsure when she stopped at the grave and read the inscription on the gravestone. She'd never been really good at such things, talking to people who weren't there, and the fact that she'd never been close to this person didn't make it any easier at all. Still she needed to get something of her heart, no matter if it probably wasn't of any use.

With a smile she noticed the colorful bouquet of roses in the small vase on the left side of the stone and knew immediately who had left them there. Especially the pink ones were a dead give away. It may sounded selfish, but the fact that there was no red one, warmed her inside; she knew that this certain visitor showed their feelings with flowers and a red one would have probably made her a bit doubtful at first. But then again, she couldn't and wouldn't ever blame him.

Shaking herself, she took a deep breath and reminded herself that she wasn't here for spying, but for talking. "I'm sure you're surprised to see me here and to be honest I'm surprised myself. I probably don't even have the right to be here and ask you for a big favor, but I could really use your help."

It felt really weird to talk to a stone and Calleigh couldn't help but smile at the situation; but now that she'd started it, she would get through it. "It's about Horatio, well no surprise here, and Ellie," she continued with a smile. "I know that you didn't know Horatio for that long, but I'm pretty sure that you noticed that he's…prone to trouble? I mean… do you know any other man who drives a car with a ticking bomb inside?" she asked and waited as if she was waiting for a response. "See? Me neither. So I think its okay to say that he attracts trouble," she concluded.

"That's why I need your help to have an eye on him and on Ellie, too. She's his daughter and we can only pray that she didn't inherit it from him, but truth to be told, as far as I understand it, all Caines are attracting trouble, either on purpose or by accident," she sighed. "I'll do my best, but I can't be everywhere so it'd be very much appreciated if you can keep an eye on them."

Casually she slid her hands into her pockets and looked a bit around. "I know that he still loves you," she said softly. "And that's okay for me. You've given him a very precious gift and he will always love you for that. Horatio isn't a man who just falls out of love, at least that's not the man I know; so be sure that you'll always have a special place in his heart. And you know what? You have one in mine too. Without you…I don't think that Horatio would have opened up again after Tim's death. You probably didn't realize it, but you made him flourish again and I'm very thankful for that."

She took a small step backwards. "And I'm also thankful for the fact that you probably gave him your blessing to find someone else. I know that he talked to you and I'm sure that this made him realize one thing or the other. So thank you Marisol for trusting me enough with your family." A family, Calleigh had sworn her heart to.

"I'm not sure if I'll ever come back here again, but I just needed to talk to you at least once. Goodbye, Marisol," she made her farewells and turned around to go. There were two Caines waiting for her and she didn't want to imagine what they were up to again.

***

About 15 minutes later she arrived at home and stopped her car on the driveway next to Horatio's private car. Of course, it wasn't their home (as in the three of them), but it had most definitely become her second home in the last couple of months and she didn't mind at all. She loved Horatio's house and the garden, which was a real privilege when you were living in a big city.

Furthermore, her apartment wasn't designed to host three people, especially not a toddler and so it was always easier to stay at Horatio's than at hers. She had a small portable playard indeed, but this was more for exceptional situations, when it was too late to drive back.

They hadn't talked about moving together yet, but they had some kind of silent agreement about it, since Calleigh stayed almost every night and had probably more clothes stashed here than in her apartment.

With her own key she opened the front door and entered the pleasant coldness that was surrounding her immediately. It was one of these hot early summer days in Miami where you could either stay at home or go to the beach to get refreshed by the sea. Apparently though, the rest of her family had found a third way to spend this day; that's what it at least seemed like when she didn't find them in the living room, but the patio door slightly opened.

Curiously she walked to the glass door and couldn't help but fall in love with the sight in front of her. Horatio and Ellie were sitting in a baby pool and played with some toys, oblivious to the world around them. She made a quick decision and grabbed the camera that was waiting on the sideboard next to her; quietly she opened the door and tiptoed outside. There was no way that she would miss this rare chance to see Horatio like this.

Before she even registered it, she'd already made a couple of pictures and after she'd made sure that they weren't blurred, she put the camera onto the patio table and went downstairs to her two water lovers. "So are you enjoying your pool party?" she grinned and stopped next to the pool.

Horatio hid it well, but he was definitely startled by Calleigh. Normally he always knew when someone was watching him, especially when it was Calleigh, but it seems like his radar was out of order today. "Of course we do, Sweetheart," he grinned and pushed the yellow duck towards Ellie again.

"Hi," Ellie grinned and waved at Calleigh.

"Hey, Sweetness. Are you having fun with daddy?" Calleigh kneeled down next to her and gave her a hug and a kiss.

"Yes," she nodded enthusiastically and giggled when she got kissed.

"That's great. And I see that you're wearing your lovely pink Bikini and summer hat. You look beautiful," she praised her and was head over heels for this little girl.

"Well my daughter is always up to date when it comes to clothes, must be a Caine thing," Horatio chuckled and readjusted the sunshade a bit. He had put on some lotion on Ellie of course, but he didn't want to risk her getting sunburned.

"Funny you say that Mr. Caine, but it seems like you must have missed the latest memo," Calleigh teased him and eyed his dark blue swim shorts.

"What?" Horatio asked and followed her sight. "What's wrong with them? You don't seriously believe that I would wear pink ones, do you?" he asked stunned.

"Well why not? If you want to be up-to-date as you said, you have to go with the flow and this means pink my dear," she giggled. "You know just yesterday I saw a very nice swim short in white with big, pink flowers. I think they would fit you just perfectly," she fluttered her eyelashes at him.

"Don't you dare," he growled playfully and made a motion to splash the water.

With a start Calleigh got up. "Stop that," she said alarmed and took a step back. "And anyway, it was you who said something about the Caine trendiness, not me," she upped the ante.

Horatio just smirked at her and this time he really splashed the water and hit her just nicely. Her shocked face was worth all the tirades he would hear now.

"Horatio!!" Calleigh shrieked and looked down at her T-Shirt that now had dark spots everywhere.

"That was the revenge for slandering about my choice of clothes," he replied nonchalant and winked at his daughter who was enjoying the adults' antics.

"In…in..," she looked at Calleigh expectantly and bashed the water.

Calleigh, who had now taken a few more steps away, shook her head and eyed her boyfriend suspiciously. "Sorry Ellie, but there's not enough space for the three of us. Another time," she replied. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy being in the water, but she was anything but dressed for a little swim. "And I didn't slander Mr. Caine, I just told you that you should probably consider wearing other colors than these somber blues and blacks," she played with fire again, but knew that he couldn't hit her from this distance.

"In..," Ellie repeated her request.

"No Sweetie, not today," Calleigh said and tied her hair to a pigtail.

"You know what I think, Ellie? She's afraid of the water," Horatio chimed in. "And there's only one therapy for that," he said in a tone that spelled trouble. With a start he got out of the water and ran towards Calleigh, the moment of surprise clearly on his side.

Calleigh just yelped and did her best to escape him, but the garden wasn't as big as she wished and so this was rather difficult.

"You can't escape," Horatio laughed and used his advantage of being taller and faster without mercy. The fact that Calleigh almost stumbled over her own feet sealed her fate in the end. He quickly wrapped his arms around her and pressed his wet body against hers.

"Horatio stop that," she shrieked and laughed the same time. "You're making me all wet," she complained loudly and tried to wiggle out of his grasp.

"It's warm Sweetheart," he laughed and suddenly swift her from her feet and carried her to the baby pool.

"Horatio...Horatio don't you dare.. don't you dare," Calleigh warned him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm not wearing swimwear."

"So?" he just shrugged and stopped right next to the pool. "There's nothing that won't dry again."

Calleigh felt her jaw drop. He wouldn't do that, right? No, he wouldn't. He wasn't that mean, was he? No, he.. "Horatio!" she screamed when she felt like falling and frantically clung to his neck.

"Oops," he chuckled and lifted her up a bit. "You're really afraid of water, hm?"

Confused she looked at him and just slowly it dawned to her that he didn't let her fall. She took a deep calming breath, but didn't lose her hold. "Yes, when I have my cell in my pocket and when I'm wearing normal clothes," she told him and turned on her charm. "And you wouldn't want my clothes ruined, hm? Not to forget my cell?" she purred and stroked his cheek.

"Hmm," he tilted his head and thought about it. "I'm not so sure about it. On the one hand…it would be pretty mean, right?" he asked and saw her nod. "But then again, it would be really funny," he smiled devilishly and opened his arms again so she would slip downwards again. Her surprised scream was music to his ears, but of course he saved her once again. He probably wouldn't do that if this was a deep pool and when Ellie wasn't sitting in it, but he didn't want anyone to get hurt.

"Smarty-pants," Calleigh mumbled when she overcame the first shock. "Will you be a sweet thing and let me go again?"

Horatio just nodded and carefully put her down again on the grass. "Better?" he asked.

"Much better," she smiled and gave him a sweet kiss. She loved moments like these, when he came out of his shell and let out the rascal in him. He was utterly cute like that, not that she would tell him so, but nevertheless. It had taken them months to get here and with every day she became more and more attached to him. "I love you," she whispered and her heart skipped a beat every time when he returned the words…..

"I love you too," he smiled and stroked a lonely strand out of her face.

….because every time when she heard these words, she knew that he belonged to her as she belonged to him. She knew that he was not only giving them a chance, but living it. Before New Year's Eve, almost six months ago, she'd been so unsure if he'd open his heart again, but now she had the certainty. This was also a reason why she hadn't minded waiting for the very last step in their relationship and in fact it she was sure that waiting had been for the best.

"Daddy…Mommy…in," Ellie broke the silent communication between the two adults, who looked sheepishly at each other.

Horatio stole one last kiss from Cal and turned to his daughter. The first time when she had called Calleigh 'mama' and later on 'mommy' had been weird in a way and he wasn't entirely sure, but he believed that even Calleigh had felt a little bit awkward at the very first moment. Of course this had quickly changed into pride, but still it had been a major step in their lives. Now it felt natural to call Calleigh 'mommy' when he was talking to Ellie and there was no guilty feeling from his side. Calleigh was indeed the only 'mommy' Elena knew and just because she wasn't here biological mother, didn't mean that she couldn't be her mom. She cared deeply for her, Horatio could hear that in every word when she was talking about Ellie, and nothing else mattered. One day they would tell Elena about her other 'mommy', but for now it wasn't important.

Calleigh on the other hand was still shocked sometimes when Elena called her 'mommy', because she had never imagined this to happen. She was sure that her jaw had dropped the first time when Elena had called her 'mama' and she'd been very unsure about Horatio's reaction to that. But once again the man had surprised her and instead of correcting Ellie, he had immediately adopted the appellation. Now she felt only pride when she heard this word

"It's getting a bit chilly," Calleigh said and rubbed her arms. "I think it's better to get her changed," she looked questioningly at Horatio and waited for his Okay.

"You don't need to wait for my approval, Cal," he chided her softly. "Just do it if you think its right." He knew that Calleigh was sometimes still unsure about what she was allowed to do with Ellie and what not; just like now. But he didn't want her to ask for his permission. If this relationship was going to work then only with both of them as equal partners.

Calleigh just nodded and grabbed the towel from a nearby chair. "It's time to get out of the water, Ellie," she told her. "We don't want you to look like a crumpled plum, right?" she laughed and wrapped the towel around the child. Then she lifted her out of the water and gave her a kiss on the nose. "You and mommy will get changed, since daddy thought it was nice making her wet." With that she gave him a hard look and rolled her eyes when he just smirked.

"And of course," she continued and stressed the 'of course', "without him, because our changing room is for girls only." Now it was her smirking, while he pulled a long face. "And this was my revenge, Handsome," she drawled and carried Elena into the house.

Horatio just watched them disappear and looked crestfallen. "Damn woman will be the death of me," he mumbled to himself and picked up the other towel. Calleigh could be really mean sometimes; he could only hope that Ellie wouldn't imitate that. Two women against one lonely man was cruel enough.

After toweling himself he closed the sunshade and smiled when he heard the girly giggle coming from the master bedroom that was right above the garden. There was nothing better in the world than his two girls being happy and he savored every single moment of it. He knew that they'd been through a lot and he was sure that there was still the one or other pothole on their road, but he knew that they would make it.

A twist of fate had given him a daughter and taken his wife away.

A twist of fate had brought Calleigh into his life and had given him a family.

Maybe…just maybe fate wasn't so bad after all.

THE END