Tealeaves and Thorns

"Aww..." Whereas Maddie sounded disappointed.

"But remember, sweetheart, we're going to have other sweet treats there. Candy and cake." He reminded her and Maddie's eyes lit up again.

"Gummy worms, too!?" She asked with a hopeful smile and Horatio chuckled.

"Gummy worms, too." He agreed without second thought. They hadn't even discussed gummy worms, but he didn't see a problem with those.

On the topic of where to have the wedding, though, he was now thinking about it right here at home. It wasn't something they thought about or even considered until now, and it was certainly big enough to have people over. It wouldn't be the first time, either. Well, the most they've had over were Maria's family and the wedding would be double the people because of his team and whatever staff they hired for catering and other services they'd need... he looked around the kitchen, his mind clearly at work. It would probably be a bit much, even with them having the main part of it on the beach behind their house. And then Maria brought up the cleaning which was a very valid point. Of course, he'd make sure she wouldn't have to do any of the cleaning. He'd be more than willing to do it, but at the same time, after their wedding, cleaning was the last thing they'd want to be doing. He wanted to spend his time with her, enjoying their wedding night however they decided to spend it. Something else they'd need to discuss because if it was only months after Nicky was born, giving time Maria to recover, he'd be too young for them to be able to go anywhere. If anything, they could spend at least the night and the next day together if Maddie and Nicky were with her family.

"Mm, you're right. We'll have a look at the venues first, see if we find something we really like. But I want you to know, sweetheart, that if we do decide to have it right here, I'll have everything taken care of. Clean up, included." He promised with a warm smile, reaching out to touch her hand, but he also knew she wouldn't want him to have to spend their wedding night cleaning, either. They'd want to spend it with each other.

Maria watched him, listening to him as he cleared up. It was these little moments that she loved the most. She adored him so much when he was just doing these little domestic things, looking after her and Maddie. She scratched Olive's head and the kitten started to purr, stretching a little before curling up again. "You're right, so it was before Erin was born."

"We could." Maria said.

"Could I come too?" Maddie asked. "I want to see all the wedding things."

"I think, perhaps, that might be a day you go and spend with grandpa. These places are really busy and mostly for grown-ups." Maria told her. "You can't go to everything-" Maria said when Maddie whined.

"But I can still pick things right?" Maddie asked with a big grin.

"Yes, you can still pick stuff. I wouldn't trust anyone elses opinion about sweets." Maria chuckled. "Now are you finished?"

"Uh huh!" Maddie nodded.

"Then let Daddy wipe your face and maybe we can all go watch a film?" She suggested.

And even though it was hard to talk about sometimes, it... didn't feel all that hard to talk about it with her. It was easy to talk about anything and everything with her, and it felt good, too. It made him feel better, made him feel lighter, but he just worried about dampening the mood because of it. He didn't want to bring down the conversation or turn it dark talking about the things his dad did, especially with how much they were enjoying talking about camping. He hoped one day they'd be able to actually go camping. Maybe they could look into campsites around New York. Were there even any?

He let out a hum of contentment when she lifted her hand to cradle his face and he placed an appreciative kiss against her palm, then smiled when she started to talk about the pets she had when she was younger. Though he hadn't experienced the heartbreak like she, or her grandparents had, he still understood why they'd be hesitant to have another after losing one. "I could see you with a hamster," he grinned, imagining the tiny animal in the palm of her hand or on her lap while she was sat all snug reading. The way she said we when talking about rescuing an animal had him feeling all warm. He liked when they talked about doing things together, when they talked about their future. "Yeah, we could." He agreed with a soft hum, his way of letting her know that he listened, that he heard, what she said. He liked the idea of one day having a pet with her... especially since he never had one growing up.

She needed him to know it, she needed him to know that none of it was his fault. She'd told him before, many times but she wouldn't stop telling him, because he needed to hear it. Every word.

"I loved that hamster. It used to come out to say hi to me and it used to sit and read with me.... sort of." She listened to him talk with a smile. "I don't think I mind what it is, as long as we rescue it. it can be the scruffiest-looking, three-legged, blind in one eye, one-eared thing and I would give it all the love it needed and more." Maria admitted.

And though he'd only been teasing about being taken off of the family tree, a quiet sense of relief settled over him at their reassurance and it was visible in his eyes, the way they softened and how his shoulders relaxed a little. He believed them, of course, but... still. He'd just never want to do anything to upset her father or to compromise or complicate this beautiful life they had all created together. A life he cherished every single day, every single moment spent with them. A life he still sometimes couldn't quite believe was real. Or rather, questioned what he did to deserve it. What he did to deserve them. His two girls. The two loves of his life that were sitting here next to him, in their kitchen. Inside of their home. Talking about their wedding.

"Mm, I don't know that we'll need barriers. Especially if we end up taking up a large amount of the beach. Then again," that brought up another question. "It depends on where. If we want it here, behind our house, or in another part of Miami. I'm sure there are venues on the beach itself, or venues that reserve parts of a beach." It just meant they'd need to do some research, but the idea of having it here at home, he liked that idea. Though that meant having everyone over and having the house, itself, set up. And he'd been about to ask Maria her thoughts when Maddie asked about chocolate covered bacon.

"You really want try it?" He asked with a grin and Maddie nodded, her mouth a mess with sauce. "Alright, then I'll try it with you. We'll see if we can't find a place that has some and if not, we'll make it here."

"REALLY!?" Maddie asked with a beaming smile and Horatio nodded with a chuckle before he grabbed a napkin and started wiping off her mouth, making her giggle.

"I think that's something to think about." Maria nodded in agreement, her brow furrowed though, as much as she'd love to have it here. Have it on their little slice of heaven, she was thinking about the cleanup afterwards. At least at a venue, people did that for you. You could go home away from it afterwards. "My only issue with here, depending on the size of the guest list, is the cleanup after. We'd have all that the next day, even if it was a company we hired. At least at a venue we don't have to worry about that." Because right now Maria couldn't think of anything worse than having to clean up after a big party, not with the way her back was starting to ache and her feet were swelling. It was all just a natural part of being pregnant, that baby growing well meant you got more tired, it became harder to do things.

As Maddie and Horatio talked Maria finished her salad, then finished her drink. Watching the pair of them with a smile on her face then turning her attention to Olive, who having finished her food decided to jump back up on the chair and when Maria patted her bump, she jumped straight up and curled up.

"It feels like it." Horatio huffed, sounding almost pitiful. How long had he been studying then? Had it really not been that long? Honestly, the second Maria walked in here, he forgot what he'd even been reading and studying because instead, he found himself studying her. He found himself wondering how the hell he'd gotten so lucky and he'd just felt... inspired to use one of his many charming pick up lines. Even if Maria thought some of them were ridiculous more than they were charming, but still. If they made her smile, if they made her laugh, it was a success to him.

"And what exactly are you going to do in this break?"

She was trying to be the firmer of the two of them. His studies were... well, they were a lot more complex than hers. English Language and literature was almost easy for her. It was the learning she enjoyed more than anything. Maria had chosen it mostly because she loved the subject, but also, a bachelors would mean that she could study further to be either a teacher or librarian.... depending what she chose.

At the moment, on top of starting university, she'd also taken a job at the university library and she loved it. It could be tiring, working and studying, but they were managing and Maria loved both so much it didn't really seem like work or difficult.

She knew Horatio's studies were more complicated, and he absolutely needed to focus. She was trying to help him, but it was increasingly hard when he was doing that to her neck.

I've been travellin' a hard road Baby, lookin' for someone exactly like you I've been carryin' my heavy load Waitin' for the light to come shining through Someone like you Make it all worthwhile Someone like you Make me satisfied Someone exactly like you

Horatio Caine and Maria Bloomsco ( @tealeavesandthorns )