A/N: Slightly slashy thoughts ahead. Nothing too explicit, as usual, but Speed's determined that he's having his way with… well, you'll see. *sigh* I was trying to get him to wait until later, as if they get together now it could ruin a later sub-plot, but… well, Speed definitely has a mind of his own. And his potential partner's not much better.

Youtube link to "Oh, My Stars", which Speed sings to Avari: .com/watch?v=BWC0kOkaAfA&feature=PlayList&p=9D1CE1BBC793F87E&index=1

From now on, I'm only going to be doing one or two chapters for a year, until we get closer to the show. I'll cover important milestones for Avari, and other random things, but in general I want to skip forward.

Chapter Six: In which Avari turns one, and Speed is bullied by the girls.

-DLG-

Speed grinned to himself as he watched Horatio in the kitchen. The red-head had offered to help prepare food for Avari's birthday party, and didn't seem to be doing too badly.

Then again, it's hard to go wrong with fairy bread and pink lemonade.

It was Avari's first birthday, and Alexx had insisted that it was important for the toddler to have a party. Speed remembered the conversation well.

-DLG-

Speed and Calleigh had been observing an autopsy, while Alexx chattered away.

"...and pierced the stomach. Death was due to massive internal bleeding, and was very slow. Poor baby was alive for several minutes after being shot."

Speed nodded as Calleigh held out an evidence container for the bullet. She smiled at the 'clink' it made against the bottom and held it up for closer inspection.

"Looks like it matches the 9mm found at the scene. I'll test it to make sure though. Thanks Alexx," she and Speed turned to leave, before Alexx called them back.

"Timmy, I seem to recall that Avari's birthday is coming up. Is that right?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Little tyke's turning one on Friday."

"Hard to believe, isn't it?" Alexx smiled. "So when's the party?"

"Party?" Speed blinked. "Alexx, she's one. She doesn't need a party."

"Like Hell she doesn't!" Calleigh exclaimed. "Birthday parties are very important for young girls, right Alexx?"

"Right. Timmy, you are giving that baby girl a birthday party. We are all going to come and spoil her rotten with presents. End of story. Now pick a time."

Under the force of glares from both women, Speed held up his hands in surrender.

"Fine, Friday evening after our shifts end. I guess I can whip up something at home."

-DLG-

Now it was Friday afternoon. Speed and Horatio had finished off their case and managed to take off early. Megan, Calleigh and the newbie Chris were still wrapping things up and would be there later. Alexx and her family were coming, as was Andy, with his wife and new grand-daughter, Lizzie. Speed had a suspicious thought that Alexx had wanted this gathering just so that she could socialise with everyone in the same place away from work, though he didn't say it where she could hear him, as he valued his ability to reproduce again in the future.

Speed was currently standing in the doorway to his kitchen, Avari nestled on his hip, as they both watched Horatio finish up. It wasn't until H knocked the tub of butter to the floor that Speed realised that the scrutiny was making his colleague nervous. He derived no little glee from this, and decided to say so.

"Not often you see the unflappable Horatio Caine make a mistake, is it Princess?"

"Ra-ra!" Avari exclaimed. It was the closest she could get to Horatio's name at her age, but he didn't seem to mind.

"Shut up, Speed," he muttered good-naturedly. This earned a grin from the scruffy young man behind him, and a delighted "Speed!" from Avari. It had taken many people by surprise that she didn't say 'dada', instead opting for her father's nickname. He didn't mind in the slightest - after all, everyone else called him that, why shouldn't she?

They kept watching as Horatio cleaned up the mess he'd made, before he glanced at his watch.

"You know, people will start arriving soon. You should probably get her ready."

Speed rolled his eyes, but nodded and walked through the kitchen and out the other door. He really did like this house - every room seemed to lead to every other room, and it was surprisingly easy to get lost, considering how small it was. The fact that there was no logic to the layout played a big part in this. For example, the kitchen opened onto the dining area on one side, and Avari's bedroom on the other. On the other side of her bedroom was the bathroom, but there was no connecting door - you had to do a complete circuit of the house to get to it. Down the hall from the bathroom was the master bedroom, and through that was a room too small to be a bedroom but too big to be a wardrobe. At the moment, it was being used as a miniature library. It was an odd little house, which had rapidly become home.

Speed smiled at his daughter as they dressed her up in a black sun-dress, with a hot pink sash around her middle and pink sandals on her feet. It was certainly eye-catching, which was all part of the plan. If she ever got separated from him in a shopping centre, he'd be able to spot her quickly. The same was true with her knowing his nickname - instead of just saying that she'd lost her daddy, she could have him paged by name. Though going up to a security guard and asking them if they'd seen speed could possibly get them in trouble… but they'd burn that bridge when they came to it.

He finished tying up Avari's hair in dual ponytails, then heard the front door open and Calleigh shout out a greeting. The two of them already had an open-door policy with each other, much to the dismay of Calleigh's boyfriend. He had yet to receive a key to her place.

"Guess what, Princess? Auntie Calleigh's here," Speed informed his daughter excitedly. She let out another squeal, and Speed placed her on the ground so that she could run to greet her 'auntie'. Avari was already very confident when it came to walking and running, though she preferred it when she wasn't wearing shoes. Speed caught up to her in time to watch Calleigh scoop up Avari in her arms and swing her around. It brought a real smile to Speed's face - even though Avari didn't have a mother, she still had motherly affection from all the women at his work. Calleigh in particular seemed to have fallen in love with the little girl, and had brought along a large bag of presents.

"Happy birthday little one," she was currently telling the birthday girl. "Did you have fun today?"

"Birfday!" Came the excited response, followed by a delighted "presents!" as she pointed over to the corner of the living room. Calleigh laughed at the sight.

Apparently, Speed believed in spoiling his daughter. There was a play-table that he'd rescued from a local garage sale, stacked high with picture-books. The man had already instilled a love of reading in Avari, by which they meant that Speed would read to her at any opportunity, and Avari loved spending the time with her father. Calleigh was sure that the love of books would stay with her. There were also some dolls and a large teddy bear which she recognised from a store she'd visited a few weeks back. She remembered telling Megan about the place.

Next to the table was a large wrapped gift. Calleigh raised an eyebrow, and Speed shrugged.

"That one's from Horatio. I figured we'd wait and unwrap the presents once everyone got here, since you're so set on this being a real party."

"Fair enough," Calleigh nodded. "Guess I should put my presents over there too, huh?" Avari clapped her hands, giggling away.

"Hello?" They heard Alexx calling out, and Avari squealed another greeting. The doctor stepped into the room, smiling and carrying her son. Her husband followed with their daughter and another present.

"Hey guys," Speed nodded as Avari ran over for more cuddles. "Horatio's in the kitchen, there's chairs out back. Go wherever you want."

Calleigh slipped into the kitchen to say hello to her other co-worker, while Alexx and Dennis stayed talking to Speed. Shortly after, Andy turned up with his wife, Pamela, and little Lizzie, who was just learning to crawl.

"Howdy Speed," Andy clapped his young friend on the back in greeting. "Good to see you again. You remember my wife?"

"'Course I do," Speed pretended to be insulted. "What kind of a guy would I be if I forgot… uh… what's your name again?"

Pam and Andy laughed, then went out back with Alexx and her family. It was already far too crowded inside the house, but the yard was big enough to hold everyone comfortably.

Next to arrive was Megan and her husband, along with Chris, all of whom carried a present for the birthday girl. Avari immediately ran to Megan, knowing she'd get another cuddle. Cuddles were one of Avari's favourite things to do with people. She didn't seem to have Speed's reservations when it came to letting people know she cared about them.

Since everyone was now in attendance, they all went out into the yard. Horatio was copping a lot of teasing from Calleigh and Alexx in regards to his culinary abilities, and Speed decided to save him. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy seeing the red-head flustered, but he preferred it when he was the cause of the other man's discomfort.

"Wrap up the case then, Cal?" He asked the blonde. Calleigh screwed up her nose in distaste.

"We hit a dead end, with everything. The only clue was a stray leech we found on the carpet. The vic had no leech bites, but it was engorged with blood. We've drawn the blood and put it on file, but there's a good chance we're not gonna catch this guy."

"Damn," Speed muttered. "Hate it when that happens."

"Hey," Alexx scolded, "you two aren't going to spend the party talking work, are you?"

"No, mom," Calleigh and Speed responded in unison. Alexx laughed and shook her head. Those two… they were complete opposites in most regards, but so similar in others. It certainly made them a good team.

-DLG-

Eventually, it was time for Avari to open her presents. Speed enlisted Horatio's help to carry everything outside, and the two made short work of it in spite of the mountain of gifts. First up was the large one from Horatio. Speed helped his daughter rip open the paper, and she squealed in delight – it was a large doll's house in the shape of a castle. Speed shook his head and threw Horatio a grin.

"You're the one always reading her fantasy stories," Horatio shrugged. "Now she can make up her own."

"Fair enough," Speed muttered.

"And to go in the castle," Calleigh said as she held out the bag she'd brought. Avari made short work of the wrapping, and found several dolls and accessories for the castle. It was certainly a popular gift.

"I certainly feel upstaged," Alexx smiled as she held out her gift. It was a couple of new picture-books, which Avari immediately held out to her father.

"Read!"

"Later," Speed smiled fondly at her. "Finish unwrapping first."

Next up was Andy, who handed the little princess a soft package. Inside was a beautiful sky-blue dress that Pam had sewn herself. It looked like something a Disney princess would wear, and Avari clapped her hands in delight.

From Megan and her husband were some accessories for the toy castle – a dragon, a unicorn and some horses. From Chris was some furniture. It seemed the four of them had gotten together to sort out the present for Speed's little girl, and he shot a smile at them all. As much as he had protested the party, Speed was now glad that he had given in.

-DLG-

Later that afternoon, once everyone had gone, Horatio stayed behind, helping to clear up. Speed had gone to put Avari down for a nap, and Horatio was cleaning up the back yard. Granted everyone had been very considerate, and there wasn't much to do, but he couldn't help himself.

Gathering up some plates, he made his way inside. He deposited them in the kitchen sink, then paused as he heard singing from Avari's room. It seemed that Speed was quietly singing a lullaby of sorts. Horatio moved to stand next to the door and peered around the corner.

Inside, Speed was slowly dancing with his daughter cradled in his arms. She was drifting off to sleep, soothed by the rocking and her father's voice. Horatio agreed that it was certainly a lovely song.

"I remember the songs you sang to me
When I was a babe in arms.
Oh, my stars,
Oh, my stars,
Will you,
Navigate me home.

We are princes and princesses
So our pauper fathers told us,
As they carried us through darkened streets
With eyes, sad as soldiers.
To where no country and no colours and no borders could hurt us again…"

Horatio smiled and withdrew, leaving father and child in peace. It warmed his heart to see them so happy together. He was still recovering from the loss of his brother to the eternal narco-war, and often his thoughts would turn dark. But the simple sight of Speed singing to his daughter was enough to bring him peace for now.

The only problem was that he didn't want to go home to his empty house now. He wanted to stay here, where it was safe, and the outside world didn't exist. Sighing, he went back to cleaning up. Eventually, he knew, he'd have to leave. He just didn't want this perfect day to be over yet.