A/N: I'm back! I'm sorry if you all hate me! But I have some good stuff coming!
Disclaimer: I wish i owned Ryan.
Ryan climbed out of his car, and made his way through the grass, passing headstones of the dead. He stopped when he reached Tessa, standing over a small headstone, three rotted roses lying beside them. He didn't speak, instead he watched her, wipe a few tears from her face in embarrassment, and shake her head. He glanced at the headstone, while she tried her best not to fall apart in front of him.
Sergeant Joseph Daniel Owens. 04/14/1955- 10/04/2004
Dedicated soldier, devoted leader, caring father.
It suddenly clicked in his head why she named her son Joey. Why she was there in the first place. "I miss him," she whispered. "It's been five years, and I still think about him every day. He used to make me hot tea on days like these. And he'd tell me how successful I was gonna be. How I was gonna be takin' care of him when he got old. And then he got sick," she whispered, shaking her head. "It was so bad. He was so sick he didn't even know I was pregnant. It was horrible. He was supposed to die in combat. With his soldiers. Not from cancer."
Ryan wrapped his arm around her shoulders, and pressed a kiss to the top of her head, "He'd be proud of you."
"No," she shook her head. "He'd be disappointed. He'd want to know what I was thinking having a baby by myself. He would have made me tell you, Ryan. He would've…he would have made sure Kurt was behind bars by now. He would have told me the fire was some sort of sign from God, and that I'm strong and I can fight through it. I can fix it," tears began to fall more rapidly from her face, and she didn't try to stop them. "I can't fix it. I can't do anything about it! I'm not strong. I don't wanna be strong. I just want something good to happen to me for once!" she cried. "I wanna be happy!"
"Hey!" Ryan shouted, holding her tighter against his chest. "That's not true! You can too make this better! You are a strong person, Tessa. One of the strongest people I've ever met. And you. You have the most amazing gift in the world. You have Joey. The greatest kid ever. God gave him to us. He's ours. And I don't care what kind of shitty mood you're in, you always have him. So don't you dare say you're not happy. Because that kid brightens up your day and time. I've seen it."
"I love Joey," Tessa shook her head. She pulled herself away from Ryan, her brown eyes filled with tears as she looked into his hazel ones. "I'm not saying that. I'm just saying I'm not happy, Ryan. My life is in pieces. It always has been. And I just feel like I'm running around picking up one piece after another, and right when I think I've cleaned it all up something else comes. I made the best out of my pregnancy. Out of my father's death. I made a life. And now, it's all just collapsing around me. It's like I can't ever win."
"Let's get married," Ryan whispered, glancing at the roses lying on the ground. "Marry me, Tessa."
"What!" She laughed. "Are you crazy? Ryan. We're like not even dating."
"So?" Ryan asked, shrugging his wide, bulky shoulders. "Tessa. We have a son together. I don't just love you, Tessie. I'm in love with you. I wanna be with you."
Tessa paused for a second, turning back to her father's grave. She let out a loud sigh, and turned back to Ryan, crossing her arms over her chest. "I love you too," she admitted. "But I'm not marrying you."
"Tessie."
"Not until you get a ring," she informed him. "And do this far, far away from a cemetery, Wolfe."
"Deal," he chuckled nervously as he scratched his eyebrow. He was relieved she said yes, and he was even more excited to know that they were on the same page with their relationship.
"I'm hungry," she stated. "Let's get Joey and go out for breakfast." She turned back to face the grave, and mumbled a short goodbye before grabbing Ryan's hand to pull him away from the cemetery.
Kylie had been surprised when she saw Tessa step into the lab, a smile on her face. She was actually going to cooperate with her, Mac, and Niki today. She wasn't trying to give them trouble. The first week that the New York Lab had been in Miami she had given the cold shoulder. She didn't want outside help. She wanted to figure it out on her own.
"So Kurt knew my brother," Tessa explained. "They did some petty crimes together, and it escalated. I won't sit here and pretend like Zach is an angel. But he would never murder anyone. And the only thing I can think of why Kurt would do anything like this is because he's jealous or mad that I was always there to bail my brother out and not him."
The three listened patiently as she explained her history with the man behind the arsons. How she refused to date him numerous times, and how she'd woken up one morning to him trying to rape her, and how she'd kicked his ass a million times every time she found out Zach had been involved in a crime with him.
"I had a safe with all of Joey's things. His birth certificate, and what not. It went missing after the fire. I think he was in the house before."
Ryan opened the door to the conference room, causing Kylie to blush a bit. This didn't go unnoticed by Tessa. "Hey," Ryan said, stepping into the room. "Zach is being released in an hour. He wants to see Lena."
"Okay," Tessa nodded her head. "Ugh I'll take him to Dan's then."
"Do you mind if I question him first?" Kylie asked.
"Not at all," Tessa shook her head. "That's fine. Just ugh. Do you mind giving us a few minutes?"
"I'll ride over with you, Tessa," Niki offered. "Ryan and Kylie can go together."
Tessa glanced at Kylie who turned a shade of pink, while Ryan cleared his throat uncomfortably.
Niki sat in the passenger's seat asking questions about Tessa's personal life that she didn't really feel like answering. "Look," Tessa finally said. "I don't wanna come off as a bitch, because I do get that a lot. And I know you can be a tough person to get a long with also. But what the hell is going on with your girl and Ryan?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Niki replied coolly, giving Tessa a smug grin that informed Tessa she wouldn't spill her friend's secrets.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. I see the way she keeps looking at him. She seems like an amazing girl. But tell her he's off limits."
"To you?" Niki asked, letting out a snort. "You guys barely even talk. How long have you been dating? Like a week?"
"He's the father of my son." Tessa growled. "So guess what. He's off limits." She slammed on the breaks at a red light.
"Kylie's way hotter than you any way."
"I don't care. I have a child with him, and he's mine. Either you tell her to stay away or I will. And I don't wanna make the poor girl cry."
Niki bit her tongue. She didn't want Kylie in tears over Ryan either. "She's still hotter," she sang under her breath, just loud enough for Tessa to hear.
Ryan glanced at Kylie who was clearly too nervous to speak to him. "How's New York?" he finally asked her.
"Not as nice as here," she informed him. "So ugh. Tessa?"
"Yeah?"
"Well. Did you… I mean I guess I should have expected you to date after us or whatever."
"Yeah," Ryan cleared his throat. "Listen Kylie. I liked you. I did. But you were only here for one case. And we hooked up. And I really liked that you came and saw me after that, and the visit I had was nice too. But. It's just. I would never make you move here to be with me. And you shouldn't make me move there. It was just too complicated, and too expensive."
"Yeah," Kylie laughed sadly. "You moved on. I get it."
"Not really," Ryan sighed. "Tessa. I knew her back from college. She's… she is the mother of my son."
"What," Kylie laughed. "You have a son?"
"Yes."
"Ehw!" she giggled. "Oh my God. Wow. Thank you."
"For...?" Ryan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Saving me the trouble," she laughed. "I only liked you cause I thought you were some type of bad guy. Joke's on me, Mr. Mom."
"Mommy!" Joey screeched when Ryan opened his front door for Tessa to come in.
"Hey Monkey!" Tessa smiled, picking her son up and kissing his cheek. She set him down on the ground. "You're getting so big, soon Mommy won't be able to carry you."
"No!" Joey whined. "Ryan said that Mom-Mom Terry wants me to spend the night. Can I go to Mom-Mom Terry's?"
"Of course you can," Tessa nodded her head. "First, me and Ryan wanna talk to you, okay?"
"Why?" Joey asked frantically. "Did I do a bad thing?"
"Of course you didn't," Ryan laughed. He picked Joey up by his armpits and carried him to the kitchen table. "Sit down you little punk." Joey sat on his knees at the table and let out a giggle.
"What's going on you guys?" He asked.
"Remember when you asked why Lena had a Mommy and a Daddy?" Tessa started.
"Yeah," Joey nodded his head. "You're my Mommy. And Ryan's like Uncle Dan. Cept he isn't my Uncle."
"Right baby," Tessa nodded. "Ryan's not an Uncle. See sometimes. Mommy's and Daddy's…" Tessa stopped and glanced at Ryan for help.
"Sometimes Mommy's forget to tell Daddy's things," Ryan started. "When you grow up you'll learn that. But sometimes, a Mommy does something that's best for their baby. And your Mommy thought it was best to wait to tell your Daddy about you. Until he was grown up and a little more responsible. Do you know what responsible means?"
Joey nodded his head. "I'm sponsible when I feed Rex."
"Good," Tessa smiled. "So I wanted to wait until your Daddy was responsible. Because he didn't feed doggies when I knew him."
"Okay," Joey started. "So who's my Daddy then?"
"Well. Ryan is," Tessa breathed. "Ryan is your Daddy."
Joey's eyes widened as he glanced from Ryan to his mother. "Oh my God!" he cheered. "I have a Daddy! Ryan, do I get to call you Daddy?"
"Only if you want," Ryan smiled, letting out a laugh as Joey jumped off his seat and into Ryan's lap.
"I love you!"
"I love you too," Ryan smiled. "Now go get ready for Mom-Mom Terry's."
Tessa opened the door to the interrogation room where her niece was coloring pictures with Horatio. She glanced up, a smile on her face as she climbed down from the spinny chair. "Daddy!" she cheered hurrying towards Zach Owens. Her arms wrapped around his waist and her head buried into his stomach.
"Hi babe," Zach replied, picking his daughter up. Unlike Dan and Tessa, Zach had his mother's blonde hair and blue eyes, and he was significantly chubbier than his brother. "You ready to go home?"
"Yeah," she giggled. "I love you, Aunt Tess. But I wanna go home."
Tessa gave her a smile and leaned down to kiss her. "I'll see you later, boog."
Zach turned to Tessa. "Thanks for everything, T. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Tessa nodded her head. "Just do me a favor and stay away from Kurt." Zach nodded his head. "I mean it, Zach. I'll take her from you."
"I swear, T. I swear."
"Alright. I'll see you at Dan's next week for Thanksgiving."
"Yeah."
When Zach left, Tessa turned back to Horatio. "Thanks Lou," she sighed.
"Don't thank me, Miss Owens. I just did my job. And so did you. Kylie and Niki are close to closing the case with Kurt."
Tessa rolled her eyes. "Good the sooner this is over with the sooner we can go back to how things were."
"Has your insurance company given you a value on your home yet?"
Tessa shook her head. "Nope. Ryan's letting me stay with him though."
Horatio nodded his head. "Good luck with everything."
Ryan entered the room, causing H to leave. "Hey," Ryan smiled. "So Lena's with her dad now? And Joe's with your mom."
Tessa gave him a smile. "I have never not had any kids. Not for five years."
Ryan stepped closer towards her and grabbed her hands. "So I'm gonna call my parents tonight. I haven't told them anything about Joey. And since he knows, I think I should tell them."
Tess nodded her head. "Yeah," she smiled giving him a kiss. "That's a good idea. Your mom will be excited."
"Not really," he laughed. "She'll be upset I'm not coming for the holidays."
"Oh," she whispered. "Well we can fly them out here. I'm sure they'd wanna meet him and everything. Or whatever. I don't know."
"We'll see," Ryan nodded his head. "You wanna go home now?"
"Yes."
"And we can go somewhere nice for dinner."
"No," she shook her head, resting her hands against his chest. "I wanna stay in."
"I can make that happen."
"Yeah?" she laughed, following him out of the lab.
It feels good to be back! Also, I'm going to try and post a Thanksgiving chapter either tomorrow or Friday! Who doesn't love Turkey Day?
