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: #11 Truth

Word Count: 1400

Disclaimer: I don't own them.

Summary: Yelina returns to Miami to find that some things have changed.

Author's Note: Follows Memories of Things Past

They walked out of the airport chatting amiably. Horatio was surprised at how easily they slipped back into their old relationship. "So, how was Arlington PD?"

Yelina shrugged. "Not too different. Crime is the same everywhere," she answered with a chuckle. "More security issues though, being so close to DC."

Horatio nodded. "I can imagine." He looked down at Ray and asked, "You glad to be back?"

The boy was practically beaming. He nodded and said, "You bet."

He looked back at Yelina. "When does your stuff arrive?"

"Not for a couple of days," she answered. "I couldn't get the moving company to pick up until yesterday afternoon and then they have to transport everything down here." She shrugged. "We're going to stay with my mother until the condo is ready." She looked Horatio in the eye and smiled. "Thanks for setting that up for us, by the way."

Horatio ducked his head and smiled. "No problem," he said. "My old house is still available, if you want it."

"Thanks," she said. "You know, you never told me why you moved."

Horatio hesitated for a moment knowing this wasn't the right time to tell her everything. He looked away for a moment before saying, "It's a long story." Yelina nodded accepting that answer for the moment.

When they reached the car and got Ray settled in the back seat, Horatio pulled his sister-in-law to the side and said, "Look, Yelina, we need to have a talk." He glanced over to his nephew sitting in the car and added, "Alone."

Yelina's smile broadened and she reached up and brushed her hand over Horatio's cheek. "I agree," she answered softly.

Horatio dropped his head, feeling the slight blush rise on his neck. "I, uh,… Let me get the bags in the trunk," he said quickly and turned away.

Yelina got into the passenger seat while Horatio loaded their bags into the trunk. He stood there for a moment trying to calm his racing heart. He'd only had an inkling before his sister-in-law had arrived that she felt something for him. He had hoped that he was wrong. He was now pretty sure that he was not wrong and it was going to make what he had to do that much harder. He really didn't want to hurt her. But she had to know the truth.

He sighed and made his way to the driver's side of the car. He dropped the two off at Yelina's mother's house and made sure they were settled. They made plans to meet the next day for coffee and to talk.

On the ride home Horatio's mind kept wandering back in time. Back to when he and Ray had first met Yelina. As with many things in their lives, her presence had caused friction between the two brothers. Ray had argued that Horatio had only showed an interest in her because Ray liked her. Looking back now, Horatio couldn't argue with that.

The two brother's had had a very tense relationship ever since their parents were killed. Ray blamed Horatio for a lot of what had happened and the fact that Horatio had basically abandoned the family home afterward, leaving his little brother to deal with everything hadn't helped. It wasn't until years later that Horatio found out that Ray had taken it upon himself to pack up and close up the apartment and deal with the meager estate.

Horatio didn't know why he'd felt the need to compete with his brother over Yelina. Other that the fact that she was exotic, beautiful and seemed to be interested in both men equally. He had actually still been seeing Louis at the time albeit on and off, though nobody had known that then. Even his brother didn't know about his interest in other men. But in the end, Yelina had made her choice and he felt that it had been for the best.

He arrived home and pulled the car into the driveway then just sat there for a few moments wondering how he always managed to get himself into these situations. With a sigh he got out of the car and headed for the house. When he got inside he heard Tim laughing in the kitchen. Horatio found him sitting on the kitchen floor playing with Cloe. He smiled thinking that this was his family now.

Tim looked up and saw Horatio. He hopped up off the floor and walked over to him giving him a kiss. "How'd it go?" he asked. Horatio shrugged. "That good, huh?"

"We're meeting for coffee tomorrow," he said. "I was really hoping that I was wrong about this."

Tim eyed him carefully. "But you weren't, were you?"

Horatio shook his head. "No, I wasn't."

Tim pulled Horatio into his arms. Horatio laid his head on Tim's shoulder. "How do I tell her?" he sighed.

Tim could feel the tension in Horatio's body and felt he needed to lighten his mood a little so he said, "You just say, 'Yelina, I'm in love with someone else and he's wonderful and hansom and we have hot monkey sex every night before falling asleep in each others arms and I'm happy.'"

Horatio snorted out a laugh. "You're kidding right?"

Tim shrugged. "You don't think that'll work?" he asked with a grin.

Horatio shook his head laughing. His mood lifting. He locked eyes with Tim and said, "I love you," and leaned in for a kiss. When he pulled back he raised an eyebrow and asked, "Now what was that you were saying about hot monkey sex?"

Tim laughed and pulled Horatio toward the stairs.

888

Yelina stood at the bathroom mirror applying her makeup. Seeing Horatio and her mother again after so long had cleared from her mind any remaining doubts about returning to Miami. And she was looking forward to spending some time alone with Horatio today. She knew that the two of them had a lot to talk about.

They had agreed to meet at Peacock Park down by the water at eleven. Horatio made an excuse that he had things to do in the morning and wouldn't have time to pick Yelina up. In reality he wanted her to have her own car with her. In case things didn't go well, he didn't want her to feel trapped by having to have him drive her home.

Yelina arrived first to the park and took a seat by the water to wait. She smiled to herself thinking about what she wanted to say to her brother-in-law. She had been so happy to see him in the airport and it felt so good to be in his arms. She'd never regretted her decision all those years ago when she'd chosen to marry Ray. And though she would always love her husband' memory, she needed Horatio to know that she was ready to move on. She didn't want him to always see her only as his sister-in-law but as something more.

Horatio walked into the park a few minutes after eleven and found Yelina sitting on a bench looking out over the water. A slight breeze ruffled her long brown curls. Horatio took a deep breath and walked up to her.

"Hey," he said shyly.

Yelina smiled at him and returned the greeting, "Hey yourself."

They stared at each other in a moment of uncomfortable silence before Yelina got up and walked over, standing close to him. She reached out and ran a hand down his arm. Without thinking she leaned forward and kissed him.

Horatio's eyes closed as he felt Yelina's lips on his own. His mind was screaming at him to stop. After a moment Yelina pulled back and smiled at him. The words tumbled from his mouth before he could stop them.

"Yelina, we can't. I'm gay and with someone."

It took a moment for the words to sink in. He could see the emotions playing across her face, disbelief, hurt, and finally anger. The sound of the slap to his face echoed across the water as she turned and quickly strode away.

TBC