Re: "MaCalleigh....What should've been".
Before opening gifts, Mac asked everyone to gather together at the tree, and wrap their arms around each other, as they prayed.
Dear Lord, We thank you this season, for bringing our families together, in warmth and in love. We thank you for the friendships, the health, and the guidence you give each day. But most of all Lord, we would like you to bless our troops overseas, and protect them, guide them, and allow them a wonderful christmas holiday of peace and joy, with their families, who are far away. "Amen".
"Amen....said the Taylor family, as they finished the prayer.
Sitting around the fireplace, and the tree, Mac passed Macalleigh to Calleigh, as he played Santa. Picking up the first gift, he placed on Macalleigh's knee, took her little hands, and helped her open it. "Oh my...said Calleigh, that is beautiful Horatio and Stella, you shouldn't have". Showing the gift to the others, they all sighed, for inside the box, was a 24carat necklace, with an dainty Angel with wings, who was holding a dangling tiny cross. "That is truely beautiful, said Mac as he kissed Stella, and shook Horatio's hand. "You are very welcome, and I had it blessed by the church, for Macalleigh.
As Mac unlatched the hook, he placed it on Macalleigh's neck, and fastened it. "Aww..look at her, she is an Angel, said Horatio reaching for her. Holding her against his arm, he sat her upwards, protecting her neck, and as those gorgeous eyes opened, everyone stared, and sighed, as she yawned, and fell back into sleep. "Okay, seeing our Angel has decided to fall back asleep, we will start with the other gifts for now. "Stella, this is for you, from Calleigh, and I, Horatio, from Calleigh and I, Danny, Hawkes, Lindsay, Flack, from Calleigh and I".
Opening their gifts together, they all stared in shock, for inside were . Lindsay's had a gold shaped oval locket, and when it opened, it fell down, opening more, revealing tiny single picture's, of Mac, Calleigh, Macalleigh, Danny, Lindsay, Flack, Sheldon, Horatio, and Stella. "Oh this truely wonderfully, and look on the front, it says "NY Family". As the boys opened their's quickly, the found gold DogTags, that opened and revealed the same pictures. "Oh Mac...Calleigh, these are to much, cried Lindsay. "No Lindsay, they are perfect".
Putting on their necklace's, Danny said....."My turn now". Reaching under the tree, he pulled out Mac, Calleigh, and Macalleigh's. "Thanks Danny, should I wake Macalleigh". "Nah, let her sleep, we will watch her open hers when she wakes up". As Mac and Calleigh opened them, they smiled. For inside, where two matching black suits. "Oh my Danny, Scuba gear, what is this for"? "This is for you and Mac, Lindsay has the other half". Getting up, Lindsay pulled the envelope off the tree, and passed it to Calleigh.
As they opened it, they seen two tickets for Scuba Diving in Miami. "Oh my, is this a hint, to take a vacation at my second home"? "No...we figured you, Mac and Macalleigh would be visiting Miami again, and we thought it would be nice, for the two of you too go Scuba Diving". "It's wonderful, thanks guys", said Mac. "Now mine, said Sheldon, as he pulled out a huge package. "Oh goodness, is this for Macalleigh"? "It is, and she's going to love it, but before that, here is yours and Mac's. Calleigh opened hers first, and found a black silk nightie, with a black silk cover. "Oh...this is naughty Sheldon, laughed Calleigh, as she seen Mac's reaction. "Ummm...hmmm... no trying that on, till we are alone love". "Open yours Mac", said Sheldon. As Mac opened his, he noticed black silk pajama's, with a blck robe. "I think this is a sign love". "I think you are right Mac".
"Okay my turn, said Flack. Reaching under the tree, he pulled out a tiny gift box, for Macalleigh, and two larger boxes, for Mac and Calleigh. "Oh my, said Calleigh, as she shook it. Opening it wide, she seen the beautiful pure white silk jumpsuit, "this is truely gorgeous Flack, thank you". "Come on Mac, your turn". Opening his package, Mac found a wallet, engraved with his name "Det Mac Taylor", wow, this is great Flack, thank you, so much guys".
While the rest of the family opened their gifts, Mac took Macalleigh upstairs to change her. "There you go Daddy's Angel, said Mac, as he looked at the necklace shinning. "That is so beautiful my Macalleigh, shall we dance"? As Mac danced with his daughter, Calleigh watched from the door. "How is she Mac"? "She's great Mrs.Taylor, would you care to join us"? "I would, thank you". Dancing around the floor, Macalleigh leaned into her daddy's chest, laid down her head, curled her little fist, around his heart, and fell back to sleep.
"Do you know what love"? "No..what handsome". "I think Macalleigh's gifts, are going to have to wait, a little longer". Sound asleep, Mac carried his beautiful Angel back downstairs. Standing over her Calleigh said..."Do you think she'll be okay, with that necklace on"? "She'll be fine love, as she's not rolling yet". Taking his wife, by the hand, they walked downstairs. "Well it's about time, we still need to see your gift, you got Calleigh", said Danny. "Oh, that's right, you sit here love, and close your eyes".
As Calleigh closed her eyes, Mac with the help of Danny, Flack, and Sheldon, dragged out the giant flat gift. "Okay, open your eyes sweetheart". Opening her eyes, Calleigh said..."Oh my, what is it"? "You'll have to open it and find out". Tearing off the paper, Calleigh cried, "oh...oh...I can't believe this, what have you done". Stella, and Horatio were stunned, for in front of everyone, stood a murual that went center of the firplace, and across both walls, of the Miami/NY teams. "Oh Mac, this is to beautiful, look at the full circle of both our families, with Macalleigh in the middle, and on each side, was the Miami team to the left, and the NY team to the right.
Everyone was silent, for this truely was a masterpiece, that was done with pride, and care. Still in tears, Calleigh stood up, and said thank-you to everyone. "Come hear love, said Horatio, as he embraced her in his arms, and as the rest of the families joined in, they had formed the circle of united love. "Shall we hang the murual"? asked Sheldon. Getting the ladders from the gargage, Danny stood on the left, Sheldon on the right, and Mac in the middle. With a couple hooks, they had the murual hung over the fireplace, and across each wall.
Stepping off the ladders, everyone stared in awe, for there were no words for it, for this masterpiece, that brought two CSI families together in respect, in comfort, in warmth, and in love. "Waa....waaa, cried Macalleigh. "Would you like me to take her Calleigh"? asked Stella. "Not right now, I need to feed her, and then I'll bring her back, to open her gifts". Leaving the room, Mac said...."Do you think she loved it"? "Yeah Mac, she more than loved it, you could see it in her eyes", said Horatio.
TBC....