Six months later

"Here's to a departmental legend," Rick was saying, holding up his glass. "And the biggest pain in the ass I've ever had to deal with. Happy retirement Horatio."

"Here! Here!" Everyone raised their glasses to the toast and drank.

"My turn!" Eric exclaimed. "To my mentor and brother. It's not going to be the same without you."

"Here! Here!"

"Me next!" Calleigh exclaimed. "To the greatest boss and mentor in the world. And thanks a lot because now I have to break in two newbies!"

"Hey!" Walter protested. "I'm right here!"

"And I'm not a 'newbie'," Jesse Cardoza insisted. "I just took a hiatus to L.A. for a while."

"Me next," Frank spoke up. "Horatio, I thought only one person would be in this department longer than me, and that was you, you son of a gun. What the hell am I supposed to do now?"

"Don't step on any land mines," Horatio answered. "Thank you all for coming and wishing me well. To tell you the truth, I never thought I'd retire either. But the heart attack was my wake up call. And even though it was mild and the doctor cleared me for regular duty I have a new perspective on life. I need to take care of myself more, and the man I love will help me do just that." Horatio wrapped one arm around Ryan's waist.

"That's a tall order Ryan," Nick stated. "Are you sure that you're up to the challenge?"

"I am," Ryan answered. "I've been researching how to live a heart healthy lifestyle after retirement. The key is to stay active, eat healthy, and get regular checkups."

"Thank you Dr. Wolfe," Horatio commented. "Just what I needed, my own personal trainer, physician, and nutritionist."

[Back-story: Horatio's Heart Attack

It had been two months since Horatio was acquitted and back on the job. On the surface, everything seemed fine, but the fluttering in his chest when he was unsettled was coming more often now, especially since Ryan had been accepted into a clinical psychology program at the University of Florida. He was a peer counselor at U2 but they wanted him as a licensed staff member and that meant more schooling. Horatio had helped Ryan apply and was his biggest supporter when he was accepted, even though it would mean a long distance relationship nine months out of the year for the next two years.

One day, on his way to a crime scene the fluttering in his chest turned into an intense burning and he couldn't breathe. He pulled over to the side of the road and was just able to call for backup before passing out.

He woke up in the hospital with a teary Ryan beside him and a doctor leaning over him. The doctor informed him that he had suffered a mild heart attack and Ryan, with tears streaming down his face, informed him that Frank and Calleigh had discovered him unconscious in the Hummer.

After numerous tests, the doctors determined that Horatio's 'flutters' were caused by an irregular heart rhythm. After a week in the hospital he was sent home to recover. For once, Horatio followed the doctor's orders to the letter. The look on Ryan's face when he woke up was not something he ever wanted to see again. He took six weeks off of work and let Ryan take care of him; changed his diet and began an aspirin and digitalis regimen. He started seeing a cardiologist and secretly a psychiatrist. Horatio learned that the stress of his job and the fear of losing Ryan once he went to graduate school (something he refused to admit, even to himself) was partially responsible for his heart attack. The psychiatrist strongly advised Horatio to consider retirement, and stressed the need for him to talk to Ryan.

Horatio did decide to retire, and Ryan decided not to leave for UF; opting for the online program instead. ]

"So what are you going to do now H?" Walter asked. "I can't see you sitting in a boat and fishing all day."

"Well Walter, Ryan and I are going to travel for a few months. I always wanted to see Europe, especially Ireland and Norway, the homeland of my father and mother respectively."

"So you're half Irish and half Viking?" Nick asked. "No wonder you didn't like me when you first met me, I'm German."

Horatio chuckled. "You may be onto something there. But after that I'm looking into consulting for agencies that require my expertise in Criminology."

"Your phone will never stop ringing," Rick predicted.

Later, after everyone else had left Eric and Nick stayed behind to talk with Horatio and Ryan.

"So when do you guys leave for Boston?" Ryan asked Nick.

"Sunday," Nick answered. "And Eric and my family are more excited than me."

"Is that right?" Horatio asked.

"Yeah. My mother and sister have been on the phone constantly with Eric and can't wait to meet him. My dad and brother want to meet him too."

"And they want to see you Nick," Eric reminded his lover. "It's been way too long."

Nick sighed. "I know, I know."

Eric wrapped his arms around Nick. "Mach dir keine SorgenLiebe, alles wird in Ordnung sein."

"Hey, no German," Ryan protested. "You could be making plans to steal my car and I woudn't know it."

Eric laughed. "Relax Wolfe. I just told him not to worry and that everything would be fine."

"They don't even know he can speak German," Nick added. "We're going to surprise them."

"How long are you going to be in Boston?" Horatio asked.

"Well I took the full two weeks off and we're going to be in Boston for at least a week," Eric answered.

"Hmphf," Nick snorted. "As if they are going to let you escape that soon. Especially after they learn that you speak the mother tongue."

"That's not all I can do with my tongue," Eric teased. Horatio grinned, Ryan giggled and Nick blushed a deep scarlet.

"Alright H, Wolfe, we're out."

"Have a safe trip," Horatio told them. "And your family has forgiven you Nick. You must forgive yourself."

Nick nodded. "You sound like Eric. I'm working on it. Good night guys."

After Eric and Nick left, Horatio and Ryan snuggled together in bed. "So H, are you ready for this new chapter in your life?"

"I am," Horatio answered. "As long as you are there with me. Ryan, I have to be honest. My biggest fear was retiring and becoming useless and forgotten. But you've showed me that there's much more to life than being a cop. I'm ready to open a new chapter of my life Ryan. As long as it's with you. I love you Ryan; always."

"I love you too Horatio. Always."

Horatio Caine and Ryan Wolfe spent the next few months travelling Europe and the United States, finally ending their travels in January 2014. Horatio became a consultant for many law enforcement agencies, but turned down job offers from the DEA and FBI. Ryan finished his degree in clinical Psychology and he and Nick opened a branch of the U2 men's crisis center in Boston. Horatio finally accepted a job as deputy chief of the Boston PD forensic investigation unit. Eric took a job with the Navy Criminal Investigation Service specializing in open water investigations. Horatio and Ryan & Nick and Eric were married in a double ceremony in Martha's Vineyard in October of 2015.

The End.

Well chicas (and chicos) I hope you enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for a happy ending. Remember, thank you for your support! Special Dedication to Daxy, Olliebella, and Ajay1960; but I love you all!

Peace & Love,

NG714