This is an story "insert" if you will. You need to read "To Their Surprise" to understand the events. But basically, Marisol survives, and that alters all that follows. I guess this will be part of a "Surprised" universe, as I have other stories planned, usually one-shots, of what would have happened between Horatio and Marisol, if she had lived. This portion is complete, and I'll post chapters frequently, depending on reviews/reactions. Fluff, action, and introspection.
Marisol Caine sighed as she turned in front of the mirror. She knew intellectually that she was 8 months pregnant, not fat. But she felt like she looked enormous, especially if she turned sidewise. Horatio kept reassuring her that she looked marvelous, glowing, beautiful, amazing. He never seemed to run out of adjectives. And she was tall, so that she carried a lot of the baby inside, but still.
"Sweetheart, are you ready?" called Horatio. "We're supposed to be at your mom's in 45 minutes, and traffic looks bearish." Horatio came around the corner, and caught Marisol in front of the mirror. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her protruding belly. He nuzzled under her ear and whispered. "You're gorgeous, you know that don't you?"
Marisol huffed and leaned back against Horatio's tall frame. "How do you do that?" she asked. He flashed her his quick grin in the mirror but made no answer. She rolled her eyes. She knew he was a quick study of human behavior, he probably knew what she was going to feel before she did. Sometimes she could almost feel annoyed, but he was careful not to flaunt it.
Carmen Delko was standing in her living room, blatantly hiding from the chaos in her kitchen and back yard. Pavel and Eric were horsing around with one of her son's-in-law and her granddaughter, while one of her daughters was working in the kitchen. She was watching out the window, waiting for Marisol and the man she had married. She sighed, she really needed to reconcile herself to the fact that Horatio was a decent man. But, it still rankled that Marisol had married him without telling her parents. And then he had whisked her away and placed her in hiding. The ensuing month had been terrifying. Both Eric and Marisol had disappeared.
It had ended well, Eric and Marisol had both reappeared. Eric showed up first, obviously exhausted but quietly triumphant. He reassured her that Marisol was safe, and would return soon. The following week Marisol had appeared on the doorstep, with Horatio in tow. She would never forget the ensuing evening!
Carmen opened the door and was overjoyed to see Marisol on the porch. She saw the Horatio behind her, but she was totally focused on Marisol. She grabbed her in a fierce embrace. "Mari," she exclaimed, pulling her into the house. "Pavel! Mari's back!" she yelled into the interior of the house. Horatio quietly followed them inside
"Mari, where have you been?" Carmen asked. "Your father and I've been worried sick. Chica, what happened?"
Marisol looked back at Horatio. They both knew that the next hour was going to be full of revelations and emotion. She hoped Horatio was up for it! He stepped up alongside her.
"Mrs. Delko, why don't we sit down, and I'll explain," inserted Horatio. "Is Mr. Delko around? Perhaps he could join us?" At that moment Pavel Delko burst into the room.
"Marisol! Thank God you're safe," exclaimed her father. He wrapped her up in a bear hug, then held her at arm's length. "Wherever you've been, you look well. You look really well," he said, eyeing her closely.
"Mami, Papi, you know that Horatio and I have been dating awhile," began Marisol. They all sat, Carmen and Pavel in their respective chairs, Horatio and Marisol on the couch. Her parents nodded. And of course, they knew a lot about Horatio from Eric. It had eased their concerns when they first heard about Mari's new "boyfriend". Eric had always had high praise for his boss, so they had just watched and waited.
Now Horatio stepped into the conversation. "Mr. and Mrs. Delko, you know that Eric and I have dangerous jobs," he began. "Last fall I found out that the Mala Noche had put out a contract on my life."
At this news Carmen flinched, and Pavel gave a low hiss. Carmen wanted to put her arms protectively around Marisol, and she wondered at how she had been maneuvered into sitting so far away from her. She realized suddenly that Marisol was aligning herself with Horatio. She filed that away for future reflection.
"For the past few months I've been very careful, not to appear in public too often with Marisol," Horatio continued. "We never go to the same place twice, and I never take the same route to her place." Pavel listened closely, and nodded in approval. Raised in Russia he could understand what Horatio had done.
"Now we come to more recent events," said Horatio. "Marisol, why don't you tell them the next bit."
Marisol smiled at Horatio, and turned to her parents. "Mami, Papi, I found out last month, right before I went away, that I'm in remission. I'm not cured, but for now I'm free of symptoms."
Carmen squealed joyfully, and leaped up. She crossed to Marisol and hugged her. "Praise God!" she exclaimed. "I'll light a candle in church tomorrow!"
Pavel crossed himself, and said a silent prayer of thanksgiving. His eyes shone with happiness for his daughter. But he knew there was more to this story. Horatio moved from the couch to Carmen's chair, which allowed Carmen to sit with her daughter and hold onto her. Pavel watched Horatio watch the women, a very faint smile resting on his lips.
"Now, tell us, daughter, why did you have to go away?" asked Pavel. "Did it have to do with this gang?"
Horatio again took up the narrative. "The day after Marisol found out about the remission the Mala Noche made an attempt on her and Eric's lives. They knew that I consider them family, and they were attempting to break me. They failed, thanks to Eric's quick thinking, and the heroic sacrifice of one of Miami's police officers."
Carmen now felt like she was on an emotional rollercoaster. First her missing daughter turns up, tells her that her boyfriend is in deadly danger, then that she was in remission from leukemia, and then that an evil crime organization was trying to kill her. Her spinning head and heart were the only thing keeping her from exploding on the spot.
Horatio watched her sympathetically, but he accurately had figured that any real threat would come from Pavel. Marisol's father had become icily still. He would wait, Horatio knew, till he had all the information he needed to decide what to do with him.
"I sent Marisol to a friend, in New York. He kept her safe there, while Eric and I tracked down the man who had ordered the attack," continued Horatio. Now he looked directly at Pavel. "Eventually we went to Brazil, and tracked him down, and his boss. Neither of these men will ever leave Brazil again."
Horatio saw the tight nod of understanding and approval from Pavel. He knew that he had been understood. Carmen, no stranger to the world of dangerous men, from her youth in Cuba, also understood. This was another one of those things to ponder later.
"With the help of some federal agents we've eliminated the Mala Noche from Miami, so that threat's ended," finished Horatio.
"Thank you, Horatio, for returning her safe to us and restoring order to our community," replied Carmen. Pavel nodded affirmation. "And now, what? I can see there is more."
Horatio flashed one of those rare smiles, as he realized that Eric had received some of his observational skills from his mother, for all her emotional Latin demeanor.
"Mami, I'm thirsty. Can we go to the kitchen, and make up a pitcher of something?" asked Marisol, standing and drawing her mother up with her. Horatio had asked her to give him a little time alone with her father, and this seemed a good moment.
Internally, Pavel laughed. He could see that Horatio and Marisol were carefully orchestrating the evening. First the alternating good and bad news, now this little subterfuge to allow Horatio some time alone with the girl's father. He had a feeling he knew what was coming. His Russian sense of humor came to the fore. Externally, he let his face fall into a faint glower.
The women left the room, and Horatio came to the corner of the couch nearest Pavel's chair. Pavel took a close look at Horatio's face, and saw his firm resolve. He also realized that they were closer in age than he previously thought. Now his glower was not entirely fake, as he thought Marisol deserved only the best. She was young and beautiful, and he realized that Horatio must be close to 50 years old. Still it seemed as if Marisol had made a good choice, if all that Horatio had implied was true.
"Mr. Delko, I'm in love with Marisol," bluntly stated Horatio. "I have been for a while. I don't give my heart easily, but she has owned it since the first date. We thought we might only have a little time together, because of the leukemia and the Mala Noche, so we may have acted hastily. I can't ask for your permission, but I would like your blessing."
"What are you telling me, Horatio?" growled Pavel. 'Oh,' he thought to himself, 'this is too much fun. I just have to manage Carmen's reaction.'
"We were married, the day before I had to send her to New York," admitted Horatio.
"Married? Married?" Pavel shouted. He leaped up and lapsed into Russian curses. But Horatio had been watching his eyes, and saw the twinkling humor there. Internally he relaxed and decided to let the situation play out according to Pavel's designs.
Carmen burst into the room, in response to the shouting. "What's going on, Pavel, speak English," she cried out. "What's happened?"
"This zopé has gone and married our daughter," shouted Pavel. "I will kill him, this dishonorable xuy!"
"What!?" exclaimed Carmen. "Marisol, is this true? And Pavel, stop swearing!"
"Yes, Mami, we were married last month," said Marisol firmly.
"Holy Mary, chica, what were you thinking," shrieked Carmen.
"I love him, Mami, Papi. And he loves me," proclaimed Marisol. Horatio was proud of her, she had dreaded this confrontation, but he had insisted, her family had a right to know. So, they had planned on how the evening would go, and Horatio had coached her a little. The only surprise was the knowledge that Pavel had figured it out. Horatio stepped up to Marisol, and took her hand.
"Mari, this man is almost 20 years older than you, it's indecent!" shouted Pavel. "He could be your father!" There, his one real concern was out. He stepped toward Horatio, hoping he was as quick as Pavel had figured.
Horatio stepped in front of Marisol, and said in a low voice, "You don't want to do this, Mr. Delko. Family means a lot to me, but Marisol means the world. Don't alienate her. We're married, it's done." Pavel saw the look in his eyes, and realized he was relieved that he liked Horatio, and wouldn't have to fight him over Marisol. Horatio obviously had no fear of him.
Carmen, thinking that the men were about to come to blows, suddenly became calm. "Pavel, let's sit down and talk this out. Mari, bring the sangria," she ordered. While her head was turned Pavel winked at Horatio. Horatio's trademark crinkle around the eyes was the only acknowledgement he got. But it was enough. The two men had come to an understanding, with barely a word spoken.
Carmen was not as resigned. She had been cheated of a wedding for her daughter. But she did want to keep peace in the family. She moaned and fretted a bit longer, enough to keep the men distracted. Some of her concern was soothed when Horatio showed her the picture of Marisol, Cardinal Benedetti and himself in the church. Horatio realized he had his work cut out for him when it came to charming his mother-in-law. He was, however, on a first name basis with his father-in-law by the end of the evening.
Carmen was reflecting on that evening when a new SUV pulled up in front of the house. It was a beautiful shade of blue, big enough to be safe, but not so large as to be difficult to park. Just as the driver hopped out and she realized that it was Horatio, Eric came into the room.
"Mami, are you hiding?" he teasingly asked. He followed her gaze. "Oh, good, H and Mari are here."
"Is that a new car?" she asked, watching as Horatio went around to the passenger side, and helped the very pregnant Marisol out. He gave her a quick hug.
"Yeah, he wanted Mari to have a car she could get in and out of easily, without having to bend so much. It's better for her back, and will be great when the baby comes," he answered.
"He really does cherish her, doesn't she?" mused Carmen.
"Mami, he worships her," said Eric. "It's kind of scary sometimes."
At that moment Marisol tapped on the door and came inside. The short walk had winded her, mostly due to the early summer heat and humidity.
"Marisol, Horatio," welcomed Carmen. "Come in, out of the heat. Praise the Lord for air conditioning. Come in, Mari, sit." Marisol and Horatio both noted that she had used his name, which was rare. Perhaps she was thawing a bit.
"How are you feeling, hija?" asked Carmen. Marisol had sat down and assumed the classic pose of a very pregnant woman, with her head resting on the back of the chair and her right hand gently rubbing her abdomen. Carmen covered Marisol's hand with one of her own, just as the baby athletically kicked. "Guau!, the little one is lively!" she exclaimed.
"I'm a little tired, Mami, but I feel fine," replied Marisol. "Only a month to go."
"We can hope so, Mari, but first babies tend to come late," admonished Carmen.
"Oh, Mami, don't say that!" exclaimed Marisol.
Eric and Horatio exchanged a glance, and started to edge out of the room. They could face down criminals, terrorists, and any variety of guns, but two Delko women in the same room was more than they wanted to take on.
"Hey, Sis, do you want a drink?" asked Eric. He started toward the kitchen. "And you, Mami, do you have a drink yet?"
"Yeah, Eric, a glass of ice water would be great," replied Marisol.
"Yes, I left it on the kitchen table, Eric," answered Carmen. She turned to Horatio. "Horatio, why don't you slip out of that jacket. It's too hot a day to wear it. Pavel and Nicky are out on the patio, go say 'Hello'".
To Marisol's surprise Horatio immediately complied, slipping the jacket off, and handing it to Carmen. "Yes, ma'am," he said, and stepped toward the back of the house.
Carmen watched him go. Marisol interjected, "Mami, that's amazing, you got him to take off his coat. It's like his armor, he must be really relaxing here."
Eric came back in with their drinks. "Here you go, Mami, Marisol. I'm going out back with H and the boys. That's amazing, how did you get his coat off?" said Eric. He wandered off toward the back of the house.
"Why is it so unusual that he took his coat off?" asked Carmen. "It must be 85 degrees, and humid out. Why would he wear a jacket?"
"Sit down, Mami," started Marisol. "I can explain a little." Carmen sat on the couch near Marisol. She and Horatio had discussed how much she could tell her family. "Horatio had a very difficult childhood. His father was an abusive alcoholic and mistreated his mother."
"Ahh, that is hard," exclaimed Carmen. "That explains why he never drinks."
"Yes, that's it," continued Marisol. "He might take a little wine at home, but he never drinks now, because the baby might come at any time. He doesn't want the least bit of alcohol in his system when he might have to drive at any moment."
"He takes good care of you," stated Carmen.
"Mami, I feel like a princess," said Marisol. "And his past is why he is so polite to all women, even sometimes potential suspects. Do you notice he calls you "Ma'am"? He calls all women that, even Calleigh and Alexx, whom he has known for years."
"He is a caballero, a gentleman," replied Carmen. "But what does that have to do with the coat?"
"Ah, the coat," said Marisol. "The coat is like his armor, Mami. It is a barrier between him and the world. It means he has really relaxed here, that he took it off. And of course, he is very fair skinned, he has to protect his skin from the sun."
"I've been a little hard on him, haven't I?" sadly said Carmen. "I felt like he had stolen you away, at first. I'll be nicer to him, Mari, I promise."
"Thanks, Mami," replied Marisol. "He really is a great man. But don't go on about it, he doesn't like being the focus of too much attention."