Tealeaves and Thorns

His grin turned into a warm smile when she mentioned Sunday morning cartoons, his mind thinking about it. “I’d like that.” He said, his voice barely above a whisper, sounding thoughtful and hopeful. Because he would. He would love being all cuddled up with Maddie watching the cartoons he used to love as a kid. Seeing her enjoy them, giggling when something funny happened, gasping when it was surprising and just always smiling. God, he could envision it so clearly, so easily and it showed in the way he went quiet with that tender smile on his face.

And it grew even more when they started to talk about the wedding. Images of that day now filling his mind. Maria looking absolutely breathtaking in her dress, walking down the aisle, towards him, their eyes meeting across the room and staying on each other the entire time. Never leaving, never straying. Not even for a second. Maddie having left a path of flower petals, looking just as beautiful in a matching dress of her own. The sharing of vows, slipping on their rings, kissing, dancing, cutting the cake - all of it. He could see it all so clearly and it was making his heart beat harder. It was making him feel warm all over, making that smile reach his eyes that were shining with love and excitement. God, he couldn’t wait.

He wanted to marry her as soon as they were able. He wanted to marry her as soon as possible, but he wanted her comfortable. He wanted her to be able to enjoy the day without becoming easily exhausted and without the risk of illness that came with being pregnant. He wanted this day to be perfect for her. To be exactly as she envisioned and hoped for. She deserved that. She deserved everything.

“Then we’ll wait. As soon as you’ve recovered, we’ll marry.” He said, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. Because it wasn’t just after she’s given birth, it would be after she’s had time to recover. He wanted to make sure she felt well enough on their wedding day. And he was fully prepared to do everything possible to make her recovery smooth, too. He’d make sure she got all the rest she needed. He’d was even thinking about taking some time off of work so he could stay home with her and help with the baby, maybe a couple weeks if his team could manage. Which he believed they could. They were more than capable. It wouldn't just allow Maria some time to rest, but it would allow them some time as a family.

He wrote down Noah and Ethan, then wrote down Sawyer and Theodore, as well. Theo and Teddy for short, which he did like, but when she said Felix, he couldn't help but grin. "Isn't there, um, isn't there a famous cartoon cat named Felix?" He asked, then laughed. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. It's the first thing that came to mind." Which meant they probably wouldn't be using that one either. Or maybe it would still be an option. He wrote it down just in case. "Isn't it interesting? How some names are more fitting for certain generations than others? Joe is another that comes to mind. Karen, too." He wasn't quite sure how to explain it, but Maria would understand given what she said about the name Ron.

"We'll wait." Maria nodded because she knew he was right; they were both right. It would be better; it'd be more fun and less stress too. He was right about the recovery too because she hadn't actually thought about recovery. About how there was additional time after giving birth, probably because when she'd given birth to Maddie she hadn't felt like she had that time, she still been recovering from Adam, and then there'd been court and preparing for that on top of being a new mother. It wasn't like she had chance to really take stock. She just had to get on with things, even with her dad and Harvey there.

"Oh god, there is a cat called Felix, good catch." Maria laughed, shaking her head and closing the magazine for a minute as she looked over at him. "Veto it, take it off and scratch it out," She said. "Joe? Do you think? I've never minded Joe or Joseph, what makes you think of it as a for a certain generation?" Maria asked him curiously. "I do agree about Karen though."

When Horatio moved to press his lips to her belly, Maria put a hand on his head, carding her fingers through his hair and smiling down at him.

So now that they knew, now that they were together, there was no having to hold themselves back. There was no wondering. There was no uncertainty. And so, they were always flirting. They were always touching, always kissing - they were constantly physically affectionate and inseparable. They felt comfortable with each other, and with that, bold and daring. He often said things that made her blush, that made her weak and the knees, and he loved it. He loved being able to elicit those reactions from her like he was doing now, just with his words, and she was doing the same to him. She was a lot bolder than she used to be, both with her words and her actions and he loved it so fucking much. She was sexy as hell and he wanted her to know that, he wanted her to feel and believe how beautiful and sexy she was.

The air between them had changed a little, but not in a bad way. No. It felt charged. Thanks to their flirting and the way she was acting, her silence and how she was shifting in her seat now and then hadn’t gone unnoticed by him. She was turned on, wet between the legs and the thought made his shorts tighten. Even more so when he began to talk about having her right here, right now in the table. The way she looked between it and him made his cock twitch, wondering if she was actually considering it. He was resisting the urge to slip his hand underneath the table and feel exactly what that image, that idea, did to her but then she shook her head, saying not here and she was right. He knew he was right but fuck, arousal was a dangerous thing. It made one’s judgement foggy and yet… yet they were still maintaining eye contact. She was still shifting in her seat, like she was still thinking about it.

And so was he.

The way he was talking about her naked and spread out, Maria swallowed. A noise left her when he talked about her pulling him in for a kiss, when he talked about touching her. It was involuntary and almost a whine. Breakfast was forgotten as she just stared at him, her eyes starting to fill with lust and longing.

Maddie and H (@ltcainemdpd)

It's not easy to find someone who cares It's not easy to find magic in pairs Now that you have him, hold him, treasure him from day to day It's so easy

"Deal!" She giggled, nodding and hurrying to the table so she could start eating the breakfast.

"Sweetheart, I think we should have a box in the bedroom." He said, that amused grin still in place. It wasn't leaving anytime soon. "Otherwise you'll wake up with a craving for them at three in the morning and you'll either have to come in here to get them or you'll send me. Not that I mind." He made sure to add, pressing a kiss to her cheek. He never minded. And she knew that. Even if she was craving something from somewhere specific, he wouldn't hesitate in going out to get it. No matter how early or how late. With as much as she had to endure, what with the pain, exhaustion and nausea, she deserved any and every craving. She deserved everything she wanted and desired.

Horatio had already taken a few bites by the time Maria started on hers and his eyes widened with another amused smile following a heartbeat later when the yolk burst and managed to land on her pajamas. "Hold on, sweetheart." Horatio laughed, stood up and grabbed the roll of paper towels from the kitchen counter, bringing it to the table along with a knife. Then he looked to Maddie who was a mess of her own! Oh, this was quite the picture. Maddie a mess with yolk and hot sauce on her face and Maria also a mess with yolk on her lips and on her pajamas. His eyes were alive with amusement and affection for the both of them, in awe of them and how alike they looked in this moment. "What am I going to do with the two of you?" He asked, words filled with jovial laughter as he tore off a couple of paper towels after returning to his seat. "She's not the only one making a mess. C'mere." He laughed with a shake of his head as he leaned in to help wipe Maddie's face, not wanting that hot sauce to get inside of her nose or else it might sting.

At her question, Horatio pulled his hand back and his eyes were filled with tears from his laughter, shining with amusement and warmth. Filled with love and adoration for his two girls. "I do, sweetheart. I really do, and do you know why?" He asked, watching as she took another big bite and shook her head, getting some yolk on her chin. He chuckled and wiped it off. "Because of you. Because of you and Momma." He gently squeezed her nose under the paper towel, making her giggle and pull back, shaking her head.

"Do you mean it, Daddy?"

"I do, sweetheart. I really do. This is the best father's day I've ever had. The, um, the first one I've had and it's been really special. And I look forward to all of the other Father's Day I get to spend with you." He said, the laughter having died down, but the warmth and love still, and always, there. He really was looking forward to all of the future Father's Day he'd get to spend with them. Mother's Day, too. Birthdays, holidays... all of them. The holidays that he's spent with them for the first time - Christmas, New Years, Valentine's Day and now Father's Day, have truly been the best he's ever had. They were the greatest treasure life had ever given him.

He was right though, they did probably need a box in the bedroom, because cravings like this, sometimes, were insane. Sometimes she craved something so bad that everything else made her feel sick, nothing would sate the hunger in her except the thing she was craving.

Maria also hated the fact that she seemed to be becoming more clumsy. Maria pulled off some paper towels when Horatio put them on the table. She dipped them into the glass of water on the table, just a little and then started to dab at the yolk on her pajamas with it.

"These are going to need washing." She muttered, smiling over at Horatio as he cleaned Maddie up and then told her that it was the best Father's day. She was glad he was loving it so much. That she'd been able to make him so happy. She took the knife and cut the bagel into smaller bites.

When Horatio said about spending the day at home, Maria had to admit she was a little relieved. She was feeling... not quite peaky but she was definitely feeling a little warm and maybe even a little self-conscious. Still if Horatio wanted to go shopping she absolutely would, he didn't seem to want to though.

"Are you sure you don't want to go shopping?" Maria asked Horatio as she sipped her juice.

He heard the doorknob and it made him step back, giving her room to come out and when he saw her, when he saw the red around her eyes and the tears inside of them, his heart dropped into his stomach. And then it shattered when she admitted that she didn’t think this was a good idea. The words hurt. God, did they hurt. No words had ever stung harder than that, but he nodded. He nodded because… she was right. She was probably right and he’d always made things complicated by starting this at all. He complicated her life, her future, and he was prepared to do anything he could to make it right. Even… even if it meant transferring to another university. If that’s what was best for her, he’d do it. He’d do it because he loved her. Fuck, he loved her so much.

“Alright, swe—“ he stopped himself there and cleared his throat. He couldn’t say it. Couldn’t call her that anymore so he’d been about to say he would grab his keys but then those words fell from her lips and he froze. Did she just — she did. Those words that he’d been wanting to say to her, the words he’d been fighting so hard not to say only because he didn’t know if it was too soon for them, too soon for her, had been said out loud by her first. She loved him. She was in love with him. He would’ve kissed her right then and uttered them back to her had the situation been different. Had she said them with a smile. Had this moment been anything else. Because she was talking about how he deserved better than this. Comparing herself and what she owned to him and god, his heart broke all over again. So that’s what this was about. That’s why she was upset. Because she felt bad about herself, because she felt like she wasn’t enough for him.

God, she really didn’t know that she was, in fact, everything to him.

“Oh, sweetheart, C’mere.” Horatio frowned, stepping closer to her again and gently taking her face into his hands. “Look at me for a moment?” He encouraged so softly, his thumbs stroking just underneath her eyes to help wipe away the tears. “You are not stupid, Maria. You are nothing close to it and I don’t want to ever hear that, okay? Do not measure your worth by the lies you were taught to believe.” Because he knew, he knew how some people had treated her, but he also knew some of it was also what she had made herself believe. “You are, god sweetheart,” he shook his head with a sigh, like he couldn’t quite believe she was real sometimes, that she was with him. “you are so goddamn smart, and beautiful, and selfless. You’re extraordinary.” He wasn’t saying any of it lightly. He meant it. He meant his words.

“It isn’t about the money. It isn’t about what you have and you need also to remember, sweetheart, that I’ve been here a bit longer so I’ve had more time to earn and save.” What with his career as an officer and detective. He didn’t want her to compare herself like that, didn’t want her to ever feel like she wasn’t enough. Because she was. God, she was more than enough. She was everything and he needed her to know that. He needed her to know—

She looked away from him. She knew it was for the best but she was still afraid. She was afraid he was going to confirm all those horrible things she felt about herself. His hands were on her face and she knew, she knew he was going to be so nice and so sweet as he let her down gently. The least she owed him was to look him in the face.

She looked at him as his thumbs brushed her tears away. This was going to be it wasn't it. He was going to be so nice and so sweet and she was going to leave here heartbroken. She was going to leave here with the first person she ever felt at home with, the first person she'd loved, realising what a mistake this all was.

You're extraordinary.

Maria's gaze met his again, tongue wetting her lips where they'd dried slightly. Did he really mean that? He looked like he did. She swallowed again as he continued.

And then,

And then he said he loved her. Maria's mouth dropped open slightly as she watched him, her gaze on his as though she was looking for something that told her he was just being kind. It wasn't there though and he was continuing. He was telling her how deeply he'd fallen in love with her and Maria's heart was singing in her chest.

He was talking about how he was worried he wasn't enough for her but all Maria could hold onto was the fact that he loved her. That this incredible, loving, kind, generous, perfect man in front of her was in love with her. That his feelings went as deep as hers. It was like she couldn't quite believe it.

"You love me." She repeated the words like if she said them they might somehow not be true. "You love me. You love me and I love you." She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth again. "You're everything to me Horatio, I-I want to give you everything. I want to be the reason you smile when you think no one is looking at you and the reason you can sleep soundly and the reason you want to come home." She admitted. "I love you so much- I just-"