A year later...

"...don't understand why you just don't call her!"

Tim sighed, listening to his mother rant.

"Because it's complicated."

"Your daughter is not complicated."

"She's not my daughter." Tim muttered.

"I don't want to hear you talking like that Timothy!"

"Well not anymore at least." he added, ignoring his mother. Karen Speedle glared at her son.

"Why do you have to be such an idiot?"

"Does she ever stop?" Tim asked, looking at his father. Jack shrugged and Karen smacked him.

"Call her. Tim, it won't hurt to call."

"Yes it will."

"Why are you a coward?"

"I am not."

Karen rolled her eyes and reached over Jack to get a letter.

"This came for you. Someone obviously figured out you were here." she said. "But I don't know why they sent it to my house."

"Because no one has my address." Tim muttered, reading the return address. What would Eric be sending him?

"You know you wonder why no one hangs out with you?"

"Why are you acting like I'm ten again? I'm 33!"

"Well you never call, never e-mail... it's like you dropped off the face of the earth Tim and all because of some girl!" Karen exclaimed. Tim opened the envelope and groaned, seeing it wasn't a letter but a wedding invitation. "Is it Calleigh's?"

"Well... unless Calleigh changed her name to Maxine Valera and is marrying Eric Delko then yes." he said sarcastically.

"Don't get fresh with me young man!" Karen scolded.

"I'm going to work. Thanks for breakfast."

"You didn't eat!"

"Bye Mom." Tim kissed her cheek.

"Tim, eat something for God's sake! You're so skinny! Are you going at least?"

"To where?"

"Eric's wedding!"

"No."

"Tim, you're his best friend."

"Doesn't mean I have to go."

"You know, I don't understand why I even try talking to you. Honey, I'm trying to help you."

"You know Alexx said the same thing." Tim smirked.

"Well she's a smart woman!" Karen smiled. Tim sighed, took the invitation, and left.

S/C------

"I can't believe how depressed you got because of some girl!" Karen huffed.

"Why am I here?" Tim asked.

"Because you need to eat! You live off McDonald's! You need more than pre-processed greasy shit! Besides, the family is getting together."

"Great."

"Tim, you have to let it go."

"Mom, you don't understand."

"I met Calleigh. But I don't understand why you just didn't say I love you to her. She's a nice girl Timmy."

"Of course she is. She gave you a granddaughter, whom may I remind you only exists because I got drunk and had no idea what the hell I was doing."

I would love to have her as my daughter-in-law." Karen went on like her son had never spoken.

"And I would love to have her as my wife but it's not going to happen. Are we still having the same conversation from when I moved back? When was that... like in the Stone Age?"

"I don't like when you get fresh with me! You know, I have seen Christine since she was born."

"Am I going to wiggle my fingers and magically make her appear?"

"Maybe you should start acting more like a father."

"Maybe you should butt out of my life."

"Timothy! I swear if you act this way to your uncle and grandmother then I'm going to..."

"Ground me?" he taunted.

"Ooh get out of my kitchen!" Karen exclaimed. Tim snickered and walked out of the house.

S/C-------

In Miami a few weeks later...

Eric looked around and saw Tim exit the terminal.

"Speed!"

Tim's head snapped up, hearing his nickname for the first time in a long time.

"Eric!" he grinned, hugging him tightly. "How's it going?"

"Good. You look tired."

"I just pulled a double then got on my flight." Tim yawned. "So Valera huh?"

"Yeah." Eric smiled. "How are you?"

"I'm fine."

"Yeah I'm sure you are."

"How's Christine?"

"She's good. She got big and doesn't stop talking, though most of it we can't understand."

S/C-------

"Look who I found wandering the streets." Eric smirked, walking into the break room. Alexx jumped up, hugging Tim tightly.

"Oh I can't believe you left!" she screeched. "I thought you would change your mind!"

"No I like it up in Syracuse. I have a good team. Of course you guys are way better than them." Tim smiled, moving onto Horatio. They shook hands and Horatio pulled him into a fatherly hug.

"You alright?" he asked. Tim nodded. Horatio saw the lying look in his eyes and made a mental note to talk to him later.

"Where is uh..."

"Where do you think?" Horatio smiled. Tim smirked and suddenly he couldn't moved. He didn't want to go down to Ballistics. "I think she'll shoot you when she realizes you were here and didn't say hi."

Tim nodded and went down to the lab. Calleigh was sitting there, hunched over paperwork, her hair cascading over her left shoulder. She took his breath away.

"You shouldn't sit like that." Tim finally said. "Turn into a hunchback."

Calleigh squeaked and looked up. He gave her a smile and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Hey."

"H-Hi. What are you uh... doing here?"

"Eric's wedding." Tim replied. "How are you?"

"Good. How are you?"

"I can't complain."

Calleigh nodded.

"That's good." she said. "So you work for Syracuse PD now?"

"Yeah." Tim nodded, glancing at her hand. No ring. Good. "How's Chrissy?"

"She's good. You can see her tonight if you want..."

"Yeah, I'd uh... I'd like that."

S/C-------

Calleigh unlocked her front door and led Tim into the house.

"Mom? I'm home." she called. Elizabeth Duquesne walked out and looked shocked to see Tim.

"Hi." he said quietly.

"She's in the living room." Elizabeth said, ignoring Tim. "I gave her a bath already."

"Thanks." Calleigh smiled slightly and her mother left. She looked at Tim and saw the frightened look on his face. "Go ahead."

They walked into the living room and Tim sighed slowly. Calleigh sunk down on the floor next to Christine and she looked up at her.

"Momma!" she jumped into Calleigh's lap and hugged her tightly. "Dora!"

Chrissy pointed at the TV.

"Yes I see Dora. Is that Boots with her?" Calleigh smiled. Chrissy nodded, then saw Tim lingering in the doorway. Why wasn't it like this already? Why wasn't he coming home from a long day at the lab and come home and see the two of them sitting in the living room, watching TV? Calleigh followed her daughter's stare and stood up, cradling the girl to her hip. Chrissy buried her head in Calleigh's shoulder and Tim smiled slightly. "Chrissy, you remember him?"

She shook her head.

"Well... this is Daddy."

"Daddy?" Christine repeated slowly. Calleigh nodded. "Hi."

"Hi." Tim smiled.

"Can Daddy hold you while Mommy get's dinner ready?" Calleigh asked. Christine stared at Tim, their identical eyes meeting. She saw she could trust him and nodded. Tim quickly took his daughter into his arms and Calleigh saw the content look on his face.