Disclaimer - I don't own the Miami characters - sadly, they belong to Jerry Bruckheimer and CBS. I do own Tim's wife and son, though and any other characters I might introduce as this little story progresses.

Rating - PG

Summary - Horatio finds one day that nothing is as he thought it was.

A/N - I've been gone a long while, and MAN is it good to be back! It's hard to find any time for writing when you're working fifteen and sixteen hour days. I've finally wrapped my head around my new job and this story just wouldn't leave me alone. Every time I watch an episode that doesn't feature my beloved Speed, I find something else to write about.

It was surreal. Horatio had been to New Orleans many times before. He'd met Calleigh here - so very many years ago now. This city had changed the course of his life once before, and he feared it was going to do so again.

Leanna chatted absent-mindedly as she maneuvered her Jeep through the interstate system. Horatio nodded every so often, listening only half-heartedly to her.

"We're almost there," she said, guiding the vehicle down on off-ramp and onto a thoroughfare. He began paying attention, charting in his mind the turns Leanna took into a subdivision of large, well-maintained homes.

His brow furrowed in utter confusion and he almost laughed. The Tim Speedle he had known and loved would not have been caught dead living in a neighborhood like this - his taste was far too modern for the traditionally styled homes.

"What?" Leanna asked curiously, acknowledging his confusion.

"I just didn't expect..." Horatio let the thought trail off without completion as Leanna pulled into the driveway of a large two-story red brick home. In his wildest dreams, he never would have chosen this house as the Speedles'. She pressed a button on her visor to raise the garage door.

"I chose the house, in case your wondering," Leanna said with a slight smirk.

Horatio's eyes went wide and a gasp caught in his throat at the sight of a midnight blue Ducati motorcycle in the third stall of the garage. Tim's trademark black helmet hung precariously from one of the handles.

"And he chose that," she added, sliding down off the leather seat.

"MMMMOOOOOOMMMMMYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Horatio and Leanna turned instantly to find an ebony haired little boy racing up the driveway toward them. Leanna dropped to her knees immediately, grinning and holding her arms open wide as Nicholas raced into them. "Hello, my beautiful boy," she cooed, peppering his face with tiny kisses.

"Good God," a petite blonde who reminded Horatio of Calleigh gasped, bending over at the waist to catch her breath. "Lori, honey," she said with a thick Southern drawl, "you know I would never, ever let him run across the street, but he took off like a bat out of hell from the backyard. Kid's got ESP or something, I swear," she added, finally regarding Horatio with a nod and toothy grin.

"Lori," the woman said sweetly, never taking her eyes from Horatio's, "who might this handsome fellow be?"

Leanna laughed and stood, collecting Nicholas into her arms. "Horatio Caine, I'd like you to meet my neighbor and friend, Shelby Collins. Shelby, this is Horatio. He's a friend of mine and Tony's."

Horatio took her extended hand in his and pressed a small kiss onto it. Shelby's bright blue eyes lit up. "My, my, handsome and chivalrous. Dangerous combination."

"It can be," Horatio grinned.

Leanna rolled her eyes and began making her way into the house. "Were you a good boy for Aunt Shelby?" she asked Nicholas.

"He was a doll," Shelby drawled before Nicholas could answer his mother. "Lord, he always is, never a lick of trouble." She turned her attention back to Horatio. "So, how long will you be visiting us, Mr. Caine?"

He smiled softly. Shelby Collins was laying it on thick, but he couldn't help but be charmed by the Southern bell. She reminded him too much of Calleigh. "As long as my work keeps me here," he answered. "And, please, call me Horatio."

"My, my," was her only response as the group made their way into the kitchen. Horatio could feel Tim in this room. Modern, stainless steel appliances, restaurant quality stove, granite counter tops, professional cookware hanging from a rack above the island. This was Tim Speedle's room. He could almost see Tim bustling around, perfecting one of his amazing pasta creations.

Shelby caught a glimpse of the time from the clock on the microwave and sighed. "Gotta go," she said wistfully, "second shift starts in about two minutes."

"Second shift?" Horatio asked curiously.

"My three kids will be getting off the school bus very soon, and I need to go knock back a little Mommy medication before they invade," she explained with a wave of her hand.

He laughed. She could talk about "mommy medication" all she wanted, but it was obvious from the glint in her eye that Shelby Collins was a fantastic mother.

She kissed Leanna gently on the cheek and ruffled Nicholas's hair with her fingers. "Nick has helping Aunt Shelby make lasagna today. Can I count on the three of you for dinner?"

"What can I bring?" Leanna asked.

"That handsome fella would be a good start," Shelby answered with a wink in Horatio's direction. "I'll see you all at 6."

"I think she likes you," Leanna said with a bright grin after checking to make sure Shelby was gone.

Horatio laughed. "I think she just might."

"Shelby's great," Leanna sighed, opening the refrigerator and taking out a bottle of blue juice. She sat Nicholas on the counter and twisted the top off. The three-year old accepted it without a word. "She's been going through a rough divorce, but you'd never know it to talk to her. She's always positive."

"She didn't mention Tim," Horatio mused.

"She thinks he's working out of Washington for a few weeks. I told her it was all very last minute, very hush-hush. Her soon to be ex-husband works for the government, so she didn't think anything about it," Leanna explained.

"Mommy?" Nicholas asked, taking a quick sip of his juice, "who dat?" He pointed a chubby finger at Horatio.

"That, Nicholas," Leanna answered, running her fingers through his unruly curls, "is your Uncle Horatio."

"Ray-see-oh?" he echoed in a slight Southern twang.

"Hi, Nick," Horatio said, flashing his most child-friendly grin and striding over to where Nicholas still sat on the counter. "I've known your Mommy and Daddy for a very long time."

"I no know you," Nicholas said with a pout, hiding his face against the soft fleece of Leanna's jacket.

Definitely his father's son, Horatio surmised, trustful of no one. "Well," he said softly, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a small candy bar. Nicholas' chocolate eyes brightened. "I think we are going to be fast friends."

Nicholas grinned - and Horatio's heart skipped a beat. It was the same lop-sided grin his father had. The boy accepted the candy from Horatio and quickly handed it to Leanna for opening.

Leanna shook her head. "I really shouldn't let him have candy this late in the afternoon, but he'll run it all off at Shelby's tonight." Nicholas impatiently kicked his feet against the light oak drawers as Leanna unwrapped the candy. She handed it to him and Nick devoured it in three bites.

"Why don't we get you settled in?" Leanna asked with a sigh. "It may be the last peace you get for the day once Shelby gets ahold of you again."

TBC...