FINAL Chapter 42

Meanwhile - Back in Miami, when Horatio, Aileen and Tommy had left on Friday, Hannah had played up for a while, but with Alexx's expert care, she soon quietened down and after being fed, she went to sleep for the rest of the morning. Following lunch Alexx took her outside for some fresh air for a while, it was a warm pleasant afternoon and as she sat on a lounger reading a magazine she had brought with her, Hannah laid contentedly in her stroller.

Mid afternoon, they went back inside and Alexx laid her on blanket on the floor so that she could kick her little legs in the air. This was good for her, and she watched her antics for a while, as she handed her different baby toys to grip on to - she loved making a noise with her rattles. Hannah was getting strong now in her movements; she had just rolled over on to her tummy and tilted her head up to look around her. Alexx was pleased at what she was noting; Hannah's neck and back muscles were strong now. Then she rolled back on to her back and kicked away, and gurgled happily. While she was so contented, Alexx sat on an armchair and did some cross-stitch she had brought with her to pass the time.

Late afternoon Henry phoned to check she was okay, and Kyle arrived at 6:00 pm.

Following a meal, they spent a relaxing evening, listening to some music, watching television and talking about a variety of topics, and as he promised his father Kyle stayed overnight, and as he had nothing special arranged for Saturday, he decided to stay over until Sunday.

Saturday afternoon he took Alexx and Hannah for a drive to the Palmetto golf club, where they took a walk around the gardens with Hannah in her stroller, and then on the way back he stopped at his own apartment to pick up some fresh clothes. Alexx admired the apartment, she had not seen it before and then as it was sunny, they decided to sit on the deck for a while and Kyle made Alexx a drink, and giving it to her smiling said, "My turn for a change Alexx."

"Why thank you Kyle, most kind of you."

When Kyle sat down she asked, "How are you and Amy getting on Kyle?" She asked the question because much as she had enjoyed his company, she loved the young man, so much like his father now, but she had wondered why he was with her and Hannah, rather than with his girl friend during the day especially as it was the weekend.

"We're ok Alexx. I think. Amy decided to go back to university to study law with the aim of becoming a solicitor, or so I thought, but seems that despite Michael Hayes telling her it was a hard career for a woman and that her social life would become non-existent, she sees herself going towards wanting to be a defending lawyer. This means she is studying hard, and will be for some considerable time, a few years in fact, and this also means I will not see too much of her. I want her to be happy, but would it be selfish if I say I'm not sure if I will be able to cope with that? I envisaged having plenty of time with her, that is what I really want, but her being at University is already making a difference. Maybe it is best to call a stop to the relationship now, so that she can fully concentrate on her career, and while we are still good friends."

"Do you love her Kyle, or is she just someone very nice to go out with for her company?"

"Well I don't think I can be in love if I am feeling like this can I? I thought I loved her but I am not sure now that it is true love otherwise I would not be talking so easily about calling it a day, I don't want a part time girl friend Alexx."

"Oh, that sounds really selfish doesn't it?"

"Kyle you have only known her for what, five months? If it is already not feeling right then perhaps you should call it a day, you are both so young still, but don't be in such a hurry...you will know real love when it comes your way. Your heart will tell you so."

"Alexx, one day before I returned to Afghanistan, and before dad and Aileen were married, we were sitting on the beach, and as Aileen wandered off with Tommy his eyes followed her until she was out of sight, and he looked so happy, the love just shone out of his eyes. However, they had not known each other very long then and I asked him how you know when you have met the right person. He told me that you know you are in real love, when your heart skips a beat the minute the person you love comes into a room, and your chest feels like you cannot breathe for a second, and that your eyes just want to follow the person you love wherever they go. He still looks at her that way Alexx. That is real love isn't it?"

"I thought my heart was telling me I was in love Alexx, but doubts have crept in."

"Well there are all kinds of love Kyle, and I have always said your father and Aileen have a special love, and remember it came to your father late in his life. Both he and Aileen had experienced many things in life before they met, and maybe they just met at the right time. His feelings would have been more mature than yours could ever be as of now. Perhaps, at your age, you are looking for the impossible right now."

"As you spend more time with Amy, who I understand is a very nice young woman, your feelings may change. Sometimes love just creeps up on you, and you are young...you have plenty of time Kyle."

Then as Kyle took the cups back to the kitchen, and washed them up, Alexx was thinking that Kyle wanted what his father had, nothing wrong with that, love was all around him right now where the family was concerned but Horatio had waited years to find a love like he had now. She hoped Kyle would find someone like that one day, because she had a feeling that he would not want to settle for anything less and he may fail to have a good relationship with someone in the future because of it. Maybe he was just feeling a bit low because he was not seeing Amy this weekend. She hoped that was all it was.

Saturday evening, now back at his father's apartment, Kyle was cuddling Hannah on his lap after Alexx had fed her some pureed muck as he called it, it looked most unappetising to him, but she had eaten it with no fuss, and as he was looking at her fondly, something dawned on him that made his eyes mist over.

Alexx returning from the kitchen saw his look and worried asked, "Are you alright Kyle?"

Smiling now Kyle replied, "I'm fine Alexx. I was just sitting here thinking that Tommy and I are stepbrothers, although it feels as if he should me my real brother, he has crept into my heart so much, but this little one on my lap really truly binds us all together, doesn't she?"

"She has both our bloodlines in her so unites us completely. It is magical – don't you think Alexx?"

Alexx looking at him fondly thought Kyle had just uttered some precious words.

Then Kyle laid her on the sofa next to him for a while with her head on one of the cushions when all of a sudden he said, "Quick Alexx, look at her, she is trying to sit up...OMG just look at her." Alexx sitting across the other side of the room smiled, she was indeed trying, but not quite strong enough just yet. Her little face was going red with the effort.

"Well aren't we a strong little girl," she said going over to her, and picking her up, " But you are not quite ready are you, and you had better wait until your daddy and mommy come home because they would hate to miss you sitting up for the first time."

"How long will it be Alexx?"

"It depends on the strength of the baby Kyle, but the average time is between six and seven months. Your little sister is strong though, she could be sitting up before Christmas."

That night Kyle went to bed with a smile on his face, he had been happy being with his baby sister, and had enjoyed talking to Alexx about personal things. She was easy to talk to and he understood more and more why his dad and Aileen were so fond of her.

Sunday morning he had a call from Amy asking him if he wanted to go to her place as she was free for the day, and as the family would be home that afternoon he left with Alexx's blessing.

Alexx watching him leave smiled, as she was thinking he seemed happy enough with Amy for now, his face had lightened up when he received the call. He had probably just had a down spell this weekend, but time would tell.

At 4:00 pm Horatio, Aileen and Tommy were safely back home and Hannah sitting in Alexx's arms got excited when she saw them. Horatio immediately put his arms out and said, "Come to daddy princess, we have so missed you," and taking her from Alexx's arms he kissed her on the cheek and then sat down on the sofa with her nestled in the crook of his left arm and smiled at her as she grasped one of his fingers gurgling away happily. Alexx smiled at them fondly, Horatio with his daughter in his arms looked so happy, he was a born father; such a shame Kyle had never had his father in his early years went through her head, though she knew well they had a terrific relationship now. Horatio with his wisdom had played it carefully until Kyle had finally accepted that his father would always have been there for him had he had the chance.

Then coming away from her thoughts Alexx asked them if they would like a drink and getting affirmative responses left them for a few minutes and when she returned with coffees, they all sat in the lounge talking for a while. Horatio, Aileen and Tommy all speaking at different times told her all about their trip to New York and the wedding. She smiled when Aileen told her about Tommy acquiring some aunties and uncles while there, and Tommy suddenly asked, "Alexx will you be my auntie as well?"

Alexx looked at Aileen and Horatio in turn and grinning said, "Tommy I would be proud to be your auntie. Come and give me a hug." A beaming Tommy did as asked, while Horatio and Aileen looking on chuckled quietly to themselves. Tommy's family was expanding.

Then Alexx told them how good Kyle had been in staying with her and taking them out Saturday afternoon, only leaving this morning to go and see Amy. She also told them about Kyle's lovely remarks about his sister uniting them all, they were just too precious not to have passed on to them, but she held her tongue regarding Kyle opening up to her about Amy, that had been between her and him.

Aileen and Horatio were pleased Kyle had stayed, and a lump had come to their throats when Alexx told them what he said about his sister.

Then Aileen got up and left the lounge for a minute and returned with a JFK shopping carrier bag and presenting it to Alexx said this is just a little something to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for looking after Hannah for us." Knowing she would not accept payment for looking after Hannah Aileen had shopped at JFK airport and bought her two silk scarves and some perfume, as a gift for her help.

Alexx, smiling, graciously accepted, she loved the gifts, and she knew not to protest. Unknown to her yet, Horatio had ordered a basket of flowers for delivery to her home the next day.

At 7: 30 pm Alexx having declined staying for a meal with them, thinking it was time to get back to Henry she left to go home with Horatio and Aileen's thanks ringing in her ears.

Not long after Alexx had left, Hannah was laying on her blanket on the floor with Horatio sitting on the floor with his back resting against the sofa as he kept his eye on her. Aileen and Tommy had just returned from putting stuff away in their bedrooms, when with great delight they saw Hannah trying to sit up with their own eyes. Horatio immediately helped her sit up and held on to her while she sat there for a moment looking all around her before he gently laid her back down, and looking up at Aileen now sitting on the sofa, he had moisture in his eyes. She placed her arms around his neck and kissed him on the top of his head as he said, "What a wonderful weekend this has been. And our daughter has just topped it off."

Then Tommy having seen what happened from the armchair he was sitting in knelt down by his sister and gave her a kiss on the forehead and laying his hand on the top of her head gently he said, "I love you Hannah." This made Horatio and Aileen's eyes fill with moisture again.

The following morning, Monday November 12th, and an hour after arriving at work, Horatio stepped outside the building for a few minutes, casually looking around and enjoying the sun on his face. It was cooler now, as the summer season was slowly changing to winter, but still very warm, the winters in Miami were very mild. He was feeling contented. All his friends were happy in their lives, and he certainly was. His family meant the world to him, he had never been happier. Colin had moved in with Yelina just a few days ago, and he was happy about that. He was convinced they would be good together. He liked and respected Colin and knew without a doubt that he would take care of Yelina well.

Unaware that Kyle had spoken to Alexx the day before he was thinking that Kyle and Amy seemed to be happy enough, although he was not sure how strong they were, but they seemed good for now. Amy had high ambitions though - she was a clever young woman. He was not sure how Kyle would handle that, he sensed Kyle would like a girl friend not quite so ambitious, but time would tell. They were both young yet and may well seek other relationships in the time ahead of them although he admitted to himself that he hoped they would remain strong, he believed in his heart that Amy was good for Kyle.

His daughter was progressing in leaps and bounds now. Then he smiled as he remembered her efforts to sit up the night before. She had looked so determined.

Eric was doing a great job as his deputy, and the new CSI, Stephen Jenkins was already in his first two weeks showing that he had made the right decision to recruit him. He had felt a need to strengthen the team as now he had a family he took all leave entitled to him, which meant Eric covering more, thus leaving them one short in the field more often, and it balanced out the fact also that Calleigh was part time. They had never recruited another part timer to balance her shortfall of hours or the sad loss of Jessie, and Stephen now being part of the team had plugged the possible gaps due to absences.

At the wedding, Michael had informed him that he may well be coming to Miami in the near future, just for two weeks to help support James Burton, in providing him with some assistance to his weakened prosecutors team.

Smiling, he turned and walked back into the building, making his way to his office, grabbing a coffee on the way. He had just taken his jacket off and draped it on the back of his chair, and was about to sit down, when his cell phone vibrated. Lifting his jacket up from his chair, he fumbled for it in the inside pocket and retrieving it noted the caller was Frank.

"Frank."

"Horatio you and the others need to get down to South West 81st Avenue, Pinecrest. We have what on first glance looks like a triple murder... three dead bodies and a lot of blood splatter. Tom Loman is already on his way."

Sighing, Horatio called the rest of his team together; put his jacket back on quickly and dashing out of the building mumbled, "Here We Go Again."

THE END

A/N...Thank you all for reading my story. I have enjoyed your company and truly appreciated all reviews.

I hope you have enjoyed enough to stay with me for my next story, which I will start publishing on Monday, 30th April.

My next story "Coincidences" starts in April 2014. Six months have elapsed, and Horatio will have a major problem to deal with when a woman found beaten near to death alongside a murdered undercover FBI Agent will only speak to Horatio once she is able to talk. He becomes extremely anxious when he finds out who she is and what she has to tell him. Two FBI agents, Dennis Sackheim and Glen Cole both of whom have been at odds with Horatio in the past, come back into his life...but why? Once again, Horatio is going to need the help of friends as this case unfolds, especially Colin Johnson, experienced in undercover work himself. A new character in New York will become a lovable friend to all of them by the coincidence of knowing the woman badly beaten up in Miami.

At a late stage in the story, Aileen will get the shock of her life and it will have an impact on the entire family.