Title: Homecoming
Author: Aeon Cole
Rating: PG-13
Warning: Slash (Is that even a warning anymore?)
Fandom: CSI Miami
Pairing: Horatio/Speed, shades of Horatio/Yelina
Table: #5 Light
Prompt: #5 Home
Word Count: 1200
Disclaimer: I don't own them.
Summary: Yelina returns to Miami to find some things have changed.
Author's Note: Follows Memories of Things Past
Yelina sat back and stretched her legs a bit. A bit was all she could manage in the cramped 737. She glanced to her right and looked down at her son. He was fast asleep, having passed out shortly after the plane took off. She ran her hand gently over his hair. He stirred but didn't wake.
She redirected her attention out the planes small window and sighed. She had mixed feelings about returning to Miami. In the end her son's wishes had prevailed. He wanted to be home again. He hadn't been happy since they'd moved to Virginia. At first she was certain that his mood was due to losing his father but she came to realize that he wasn't happy being away from Miami, his grandmother, and his uncle.
A small smile worked it's way across her face as she thought about seeing Horatio again. It had been two long years but at the time she had needed to get away. Away from the memories of Ray and everything that had happened. Away from the temptation that was right in front of her. Horatio hadn't been happy when she and Ray, Jr. had left but he'd understood why Yelina felt she had to leave.
Yelina had spoken to him several times over the past few weeks in preparation for her return. She was glad that her request for a transfer back to Miami-Dade PD had gone through without any problems and she was certain that Horatio had a lot to do with that. And he had managed to find them a place to live until she found a new house.
Talking to him on the phone, she'd sensed a difference in him but she couldn't put her finger on just what it was. She'd found out from him that he'd moved but hadn't yet sold his house. He'd offered it to her but she was uncertain. He'd already done so much to help them since Ray died. She didn't want to take advantage and she didn't think she could afford to buy it from him just yet.
"So when does Yelina arrive?" Speed asked.
Horatio looked up from the newspaper he was reading or more accurately, staring at. "This afternoon," he answered. "I have to pick them up at the airport at one."
He went back to the paper. Speed eyed him carefully. He'd expected him to be more excited about his sister-in-law's return. He also noticed that he had been staring at that same page for half an hour now and decided to call him on it.
He walked over to Horatio with a smirk on his face. He snagged the paper from his hands before the redhead could react. "Hey," Horatio protested. "I was reading that."
Speed looked him in the eye and said, "That must have been an interesting article since you've been staring at it for a half hour."
Horatio pursed his lips and grabbed Speed's arm, pulling him down into his lap. "You're very observant," he said.
Speed grinned at him. "CSI, remember?" he retorted.
Horatio couldn't help smiling and he pulled Speed's face in for a kiss. Speed pulled away quickly and said, "Oh, no. You're not going to distract me." He knew his partner all too well. Anytime he didn't want to talk about something he could find some very interesting ways to change the subject. But that wasn't going to work this time.
Speed leaned back and asked, "What's bothering you? Aren't you happy Yelina and your nephew are coming home?"
Horatio shrugged. "Of course I'm happy they're coming home. I haven't seen my nephew in two years." He paused for a moment. "It's just…" He shook his head.
"Just what?"
"I, um, I haven't actually told her…" Horatio trailed off.
Speed smiled. "You haven't told her about us, have you?" Horatio looked down and shook his head. Speed placed a hand on Horatio's chin, raising his head and forcing his lover to look him in the eye. "Why not?" he asked.
"It's complicated," he answered.
Speed cocked his head. "How so?"
Horatio sighed. "Well, I'm not sure how she will react. And Ray, Jr. is only ten. He probably won't understand."
"From what I remember of Yelina, she's pretty open-minded. I can't see her holding any prejudices against us." Speed leaned in and gave Horatio a quick kiss. "Besides, the heart only sees what's on the inside. It doesn't care what it's wrapped in."
Horatio shook his head. "That's not the problem," he said as he looked Speed in the eye.
Speed's mind raced through a series of possibilities and landed on one he didn't quite believe. "Wait a minute," he said suddenly. Horatio raised an eyebrow. "Are you telling me that your sister-in-law is, I mean… Horatio."
"I'm afraid she thinks that she is coming back to me. I mean, I won't lie to you. There was something there once," he tried to explain. "But she chose Ray."
"And now she's free and your in a committed relationship," Speed said, beginning to understand Horatio's dilemma. "And to top it off that relationship is with another man. Does she have any idea?"
Horatio smirked. "As you recall, I hid it pretty well for a long time."
"You are going to tell her, aren't you?" Speed asked.
Horatio rolled his eyes. "Of course I'm going to tell her," he replied. "Besides the moment she walks into CSI someone will say something to her about it. We're not hiding anymore."
Speed turned so that he was straddling Horatio's lap. He placed his hands on the redheads shoulders. He leaned in for a kiss. "Good," he said when he pulled back. "Because I don't want any competition."
Horatio waited at the airport for his sister-in-law's plane to arrive. He kept going over in his head different ways of telling her that he was gay. He still wasn't very good at this part. He knew he would want to get her alone to tell her then let her explain it to his nephew.
Yelina and Ray, Jr. disembarked the plane and walked out into the airport terminal. She took a look around and for the first time in a long time, felt like she was home. Her doubts about coming back were beginning to fade as she strode through the building.
As they reached the security area, Ray, Jr. noticed his uncle on the other side of the gate. He squealed, "Uncle Horatio," and took off running.
Yelina tried to reign him in but he was too fast for her. The boy reached Horatio and flung himself at him, wrapping his arms tightly around his uncle's waist. Horatio ruffled the boy's hair as Yelina walked up to him. Their eyes locked for a moment and Horatio smiled.
"Welcome home," he said as they embraced. As he held her he thought, 'This is not going to be easy."
TBC
