A/N: Here's the next chapter, way sooner than I planned on, but I've got a lot more time on my hands then I thought I would. The next couple of chapters are going to be very light hearted, so enjoy it because it won't last too much longer... Keep reading and reviewing and I can promise you there'll be more chapters soon! Thanks so much to all those who have reviewed already; you guys are the greatest!
As soon as Calleigh and Ryan's car had disappeared into the distance, Horatio turned to the three children now in his charge. "Well guys," he said bending down so that he was more at eye level with the younger two, "What do you want to do first?"
Emily rolled her eyes and giggled. "The same thing we always do when we come to your house," she said, making it clear he should know, "Go to the carnival!"
"Alright then," Horatio said standing, "What are we waiting for? First one to the Hummer gets to pick the first ride we go on!"
The children dashed to the car, with Horatio close on their heels. Emily won and so the first ride of the afternoon was bumper cars. After that they rode the Tilt-a-Whirl, the Ferris Wheel, the carousel (for Kelsi's sake of course), and ended the afternoon with a few carnival games.
"What are we going to do now?" Kelsi asked, clutching the teddy bear that Horatio had won her at one of the booths.
"How does dinner at The Carribean sound?" he asked knowing the response to the question before he even asked it.
A chorus of cheers from the children answered him. The Carribean was an expensive themed restaurant with a kid-friendly atmosphere. It had been their favorite ever since Horatio had taken them there to celebrate Josh's first soccer championship. They especially liked the fried ice cream that was decorated with lit sparklers.
When they arrived at the restaurant, they were seated in their favorite booth overlooking the indoor tropical gardens. While they ate they laughed and talked and teased each other. It made Horatio feel like a young man again to joke around with his nieces and nephew.
After dinner they headed to a local park for some basketball before bed. "Kelsi's on my team!" Horatio said as he dribbled the ball down the court.
"That's okay," Josh grinned back, "Emily's a better player anyway."
"We'll show them, won't we?" Horatio whispered conspiratorially to Kelsi who nodded and giggled before taking the ball from Horatio.
After a half hour Josh and Emily's team was ahead by one point. It was getting dark and the kids were getting tired, but Horatio was determined not to lose. Kelsi had the ball and was headed down the court, dribbling as best as she could (which, for a four year old, wasn't half bad.) She got to the basket and at the last minute Horatio scooped her up and helped her make a slam dunk.
"Hey, no fair!" Josh said, giving his characteristic half smile, "You totally helped her!"
"Well, when she grows a few more inches, we'll have a rematch and then see who the better team is," Horatio said, after taking his victory lap with Kelsi on his shoulders.
"Alright," Emily said, "but I still think Josh and I will kick your butts!"
"Are we going to let them trash talk us like that?" Horatio said turning his head to look up at Kelsi.
"No way! You guys are going to be the losers!" she said, making a "L" on her forehead.
Horatio laughed and gave her a high-five. "I think we'd better go home for tonight," he said, swinging Kelsi off of his shoulders, "Otherwise you guys are going to be too tired for all the fun things I have planned for us to do tomorrow."
"Ooo, what kind of things, Uncle Horatio?" Emily asked, her wide eyes showing her excitement.
"It's a surprise, but I will tell you that you're going to need your swimming suit!" Horatio said with a smile.
"The beach!" Kelsi guessed, squealing with excitement.
"Maybe," Horatio said, "Maybe not; you'll just have to wait and see."
The drive home was fairly quiet; Kelsi had fallen asleep almost before they pulled away from the park and Josh and Emily were trying very hard not to fall asleep themselves. When they pulled into the driveway, Horatio turned off the car and went around to the backseat of the Hummer, carefully picked up the sleeping princess and gently carried her inside, the other two children following close behind him. While Josh and Emily changed into their P.J.'s, Horatio helped a still mostly asleep Kelsi slip on her nightgown. He tucked her into bed, pulling the covers up over her, and kissed her on the forehead. "Goodnight sweetheart," he said softly. As he turned to leave, he heard her murmur sleepily, "'Night, Uncle Horatio. I love you." He smiled to himself. "I love you too Kelsi," he whispered as he turned out the light and shut the door.
After tucking Emily in and saying goodnight to Josh, Horatio went into his study to look over some case files that he had been working on. After about an hour he heard a noise and looked up to see Josh standing in the doorway.
"Hey, buddy," Horatio said, putting down the case file he'd been looking through, "What are you doing up so late?"
"Uncle H, can I talk to you for a minute?" Josh asked hesitantly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
"Of course," Horatio said moving over to his nephew and guiding him over to the couch where they sat down side by side, "What's on your mind?"
"Have you ever felt like people want you to be something that you don't want to be?" Josh said, fiddling with the pillow on the couch as he spoke.
"Well," Horatio said, trying to figure out where this conversation was heading, "I don't really want to be the hero that people make me out to be all the time because of my job, but I don't think you want to talk about that. Why do you ask?"
"It's just my mom and dad," Josh said in a rush, as if keeping it inside one second longer would make him explode, "They want me to be this great CSI someday, to follow in their footsteps and be like them. They said that I'll make a best CSI there ever was because it's in my blood."
Horatio sat quietly for a moment before he spoke, "You don't want that though, I take it."
"No, not really," Josh said sadly, ducking his head to avoid his uncle's eyes.
"What do you want to do?" Horatio said, watching the boy intently.
"I want to be an architect and design stadiums and maybe even bridges." Josh said, looking at the floor.
"Well what's wrong with that?" Horatio asked.
"I'm afraid I'll disappoint my mom and dad if I don't become a CSI; that's all they ever talk about for me; they always tell their friends how smart I am and how awesome it will be when I can work alongside them in the crime lab. I'll be letting them down." Josh explained.
"Let me tell you a secret," Horatio said putting his arm around the young boy, "Parents want nothing more from their kids than to see them happy and enjoying life. Your parents could never be disappointed in you for following your dreams and succeeding in life."
"Then why do they always talk about 'Josh Wolfe, CSI extraordinaire'?" Josh asked, convinced that for once his wise uncle did not have all the answers.
"Being a CSI is something your parents have in common; it's something that they both love and it is actually what brought them together. The reason they talk about you becoming a CSI is because they want to share the thing they love most, apart from each other and their children, with you." Horatio said, turning Josh's face towards his own, "That does not mean that they'd be any less happy with a son who is an architect. If you don't believe me, talk to them."
"Maybe I will," Josh said slowly.
"They'll love you just the same, I promise." Horatio said, "And if they don't you can always move in with me," he finished raising his eyebrow with a half-grin on his face.
Josh smiled. "Thanks Uncle Horatio," he said.
"Anytime," Horatio said standing and giving Josh a hug.
A/N: For all you CaRWash fans out there, check out this cool music video at http/ It's really awesome!