A/N: Those you know belong to those you know. I own the rest, including the dead bodies. No profits for me. This is AU, but I'll borrow what I want from Seasons past including 4. Please R&R. Thanks.

Thank you all for the reviews.


The restaurant was busy, but not unpleasant. Dinner had been nice. A good mix of delicious food and enjoyable conversation. Dessert was beyond description. Annabel took a bite of her tiramisu, closed her eyes and savored the taste. She licked a couple of crumbs from the corner of her mouth. She sighed, looked over at Horatio and smiled.

"This is so good. You should have gotten some."

Horatio smiled back over his coffee cup. "I'm glad you are enjoying your dessert."

Annabel was about to say something else when her pocket buzzed and she jumped. She reached down and ended the vibration. Shortly after that it started again. Annabel sighed. She hit the silence button again. For a third time, her phone started vibrating.

"Someone is trying very hard to get a hold of you," Horatio observed.

"I wish they would just go away," grumbled Annabel.

"You can go ahead and see who it is. I don't mind."

Annabel sighed. She pulled out her phone and flipped it open without looking at it.

"McGinty."

"Hey, Annie."

Annabel frowned. "Ro? Listen, I'm a little busy right now. Can I call..."

Ro laughed on the other end. "I know, Annie. What I didn't know is that you were on a date."

Annabel's frown deepened. "I'm not, but how..." Annabel started scanning the room. Horatio tensed seeing the confusion and concern on Annabel's face.

"Annabel?"

Annabel covered the phone. "It's my cousin, Rochelle, it's just weird though." She went back to the phone. "Ro, you're creeping me out. What's going on?"

Rochelle laughed again. "He's very cute. You look like you're having fun."

Annabel glanced at Horatio. "I enjoying dinner." Annabel stood up and continued looking around the restaurant. Horatio tracked her gaze, his unease growing. "Rochelle DiFranco, where are you?" Annabel finally spotted her cousin sitting by a window with her phone up to her ear. Rochelle waved at her. Annabel broke into a wide grin. "Ro, you are so dead." Annabel held up her phone and made a big show of snapping it shut. She turned to Horatio. "I'm sorry I'll be right back. I have to go murder my cousin."

"I don't suggest you do that. I'd have a tight case against you," he smiled.

"Fine, just great bodily harm then. I'll be back. I'm sorry." Annabel crossed the restaurant and stopped in front of Rochelle's table.

Rochelle looked up and smiled. "Why hello, Annie. So what brings you here?"

"Ro, what the hell are you doing in Miami and why didn't you tell me you were coming last night when you had me on the phone?"

"What no 'Hi, cuz. Nice to see you?' No hug?"

Annabel sighed and gave Rochelle a big hug. She turned to Rochelle's husband and hugged him too. "Hi, Marc. Can't you control this woman?"

Marc laughed. "Hello, Annie. Control, Ro? Right."

Annabel turned back to Rochelle. "So, what brings you to Miami? And why didn't you tell me?"

"Marc booked us a cruise. A late anniversary gift. After all, who wants to be in Miami in August? We thought we'd surprise you, but you weren't home. Now I see why." Rochelle gave Annabel a sly smile.

Annabel rolled her eyes. "It's not a date."

"Oh, I know. Because you don't date. So… are you planning on introducing me to your 'not a date?'"

Annabel sighed heavily and pulled Rochelle up by the hand. "I'll bring her right back, Marc. Probably in one piece."

"Not a problem, Annie. Whenever you're done with her." Marc turned back toward his dinner. Annabel led Rochelle back across the restaurant. Horatio stood up as they approached the table.

"The person who was persistently ringing my phone was my cousin and dearest friend, Rochelle DiFranco." Annabel nodded back at Rochelle's table. "The poor guy suffering back there is Ro's husband, Marc." Rochelle punched Annabel lightly in the arm. Annabel punched her back. "Ro, this is Lieutenant Horatio Caine." Rochelle held out her hand and Horatio shook it.

"Nice to meet you, Lieutenant Caine. Annie had been telling me about this Italian restaurant she was dying to try, but she neglected to mention anything about you."

"Ro!" Annabel slapped Rochelle's arm. Rochelle just grinned at her.

"I'm sorry that isn't entirely true." Rochelle shot Annabel a wicked glance. "She mentioned a Horatio Caine headed up the crime lab. What she neglected to mention was that you were terribly handsome and she had a non-date with you. Did she bother to change, or is she still dressed from work?"

Annabel blushed scarlet. She wished the ground would swallow her up. Right that minute. "Oh, God. You are so dead, Rochelle DiFranco."

Horatio was enjoying Annabel's discomfort. He adopted a mock-serious look. "Annabel, you are really going to have to stop threatening your cousin." Horatio smiled at Rochelle. "She's wearing a clean shirt."

Annabel's eyes went wide. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Horatio, stop encouraging her."

"He was doing of the sort. Annabel, you really shouldn't be threatening me. Not with a police lieutenant right here."

Annabel's mouth opened and closed several times. She turned away from Rochelle and Horatio. "I don't believe this. I'm leaving," she mumbled and started to walk away. Horatio caught her hand. Annabel stopped.

"I'm sorry, Annabel." Horatio tugged on her hand and pulled her back next to him.

Annabel looked around the restaurant. Several people were watching the trio. "We are creating a scene."

Horatio looked around. "So, we are. Sorry, Annabel."

Ro looked at their table. "I see you've had desert, but Marc and I haven't. Do you two want to join us? Have some coffee or something? We don't have to stay here."

Annabel nodded. "Sure. As long as you promise to behave, Rochelle."

Rochelle held her hand up to her chest in mock chagrin. "Me behave? Always." Annabel shot her a nasty look and Rochelle got serious. "I promise. Marc and I will meet you and your non-date outside." Rochelle gave a pointed glance at Annabel's hand which was still resting inside Horatio's. Annabel blushed and dropped Horatio's hand like it had burned her. Rochelle just nodded and returned to her husband.

-----------------

Marc and Rochelle dropped Horatio and Annabel back at the original restaurant with a promise to get together again after the cruise was over. The two women stepped a little away sothey could talk privately. Annabel gave Rochelle a fierce hug.

"I've missed you, Ro."

"I'm not the one who moved across the country." Rochelle glanced over to where Horatio was talking to her husband. "Although, if this is what you find in Miami."

Annabel rolled her eyes. "Rochelle, don't make me regret saying I missed you."

Rochelle leaned in and whispered in Annabel's ear. "I've haven't seen you smile so much in a long time, Annie. That's all I'm saying."

"It's not that easy, Ro."

"Only because you make it hard."

Annabel shook her head. "I'll see you in about a week." She gave Rochelle another quick hug. "You have a good time on the cruise."

Rochelle looked at Marc, smiled and then back at Annabel. "Oh, I plan to. You might try it some time. Having a little fun that is."

Annabel rolled her eyes. "Take care, Rochelle." They rejoined the men. Annabel gave Marc a good-bye hug. "You keep her out of trouble, Marc."

"I'll try, Annabel." He shook Horatio's hand. "Nice to meet you, Horatio."

"Marc, Rochelle. Have a good trip." Annabel stood with her arms crossed over her chest and her shoulders hunched as the couple got in their car and drove off.

Horatio walked Annabel silently to her car. When they got there, Annabel stopped and looked up at Horatio.

"I'm sorry about Ro. She can be a bit much at times. I love her to pieces, but sometimes..."

"Rochelle wasn't that bad. You two are close. She just wants you to be happy, Annabel."

Annabel leaned against her car, crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Horatio's shoes.

"I know. I wish it was just that easy." Annabel chewed on her lip. She looked up at Horatio and sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get so morose suddenly. I really did have a nice time, Horatio. Thank you."

Horatio stepped closer to Annabel. "It's fine, Annabel. You have nothing to be sorry about."

Annabel looked down, closed her eyes and shook her head. Horatio reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. Annabel titled her head to the side and sighed heavily. Horatio touched her cheek. "Annabel," he said softly. "Annabel, open your eyes and look at me."

Annabel shook her head. "No." she barely whispered.

Horatio stepped closer. "Annabel."

"This isn't a date. I don't date, Lieutenant."

"So you've said many times, Detective." Horatio tugged Annabel into an embrace. He rested his chin on top of her head. Annabel stood stiffly for a few heartbeats. She uncrossed her arms and wound them around Horatio's waist, under his suit coat. Horatio kissed her hair. "You're scared, Annabel."

Annabel nodded. "Completely and totally terrified, Horatio." A chuckle rippled though his body.

"You scare me a little too, Detective." He gave Annabel a squeeze and released her.

Annabel looked up and frowned at him. "That's not really what I meant."

Horatio smiled, his eyes crinkling. "I know." He ran his fingers along her jaw.

"You're not going to kiss me, Horatio."

Horatio dropped his hand and shook his head. "No, I'm not. This isn't a date."

Annabel made and annoyed noise, reached up, wrapped her fingers around the back of Horatio's neck and drew him down into a kiss. Horatio chuckled again against Annabel's lips and then kissed her back. He drew her against him and deepened the kiss. Annabel broke it off and traced her fingers over his lips.

"I've got to go home. It's late and I have to be into work tomorrow." She made no move to step away. She raced he lines at the corner of his eye.

Horatio pulled her fingers back to his lips and kissed the tips. "You're right. You need to go home." He kissed her lightly and opened the door to her car. "Call me when you get home."

"I'll get home fine, Horatio."

"And yet I insist."

Annabel laughed. "I'll call. Good night, Horatio."

"See you tomorrow, Annabel."

"Later today. I told you it was late."

"Good night, Annabel." Annabel got in and Horatio shut her door. He stepped away and Annabel drove off.