Disclaimer: Not mine, no profit made.
A/N: A short one concerning the first date. As usual, nothing explicit, though I may do a 'missing scene' style one-shot at a later date.
Chapter Eleven: Horatio, Speed and Avari start making their own little family.
-DLG-
Horatio drifted awake and tried to stretch, only to find that he was curled into someone else. As he came awake, various aches reminded him where exactly it was that he'd fallen asleep, and he opened his eyes. Looking around, his memory was confirmed. His head was resting on Speed's shoulder, the younger man's arm wrapped around him protectively, and they were still on the couch. As Horatio gently sat up properly, Speed's eyes opened as well. He grinned as his older companion tried to get the uncomfortable kinks out of his back.
"You know," Speed commented dryly, "that's not the kind of sore I had in mind for the morning after your first sleepover." Horatio's face turned the same colour as his hair, and Speed let out an evil laugh. "We've still got time before we have to be at work. How about it?"
"Speed…" Horatio muttered, half exasperated and half elated. It was an odd mix, but one he often felt around his… he was suddenly at a loss as to how to mentally catalogue Speed. Boyfriend? That sounded as though he was a teenage girl. Lover?... That was probably the closest he was going to get for now.
A glance at Speed's suggestive leer told him that his lover hadn't been entirely joking, and he glanced at the clock.
"Speed, it's nearly seven. You still need to get Avari ready for child care before getting to work yourself."
The scruffy scientist frown, then quickly gave Horatio a kiss before standing.
"Okay. But come back tonight – wait, no, Avari has swimming tonight. Come back tomorrow night, and we'll do it properly." Horatio wasn't given a chance to answer, as Speed wandered away and into the kitchen.
"Princess!" Speed called out to his daughter. "Where'd you get to?"
"Here!" Avari ran out of her bedroom, already dressed. "Can I have chocolate spread for breakfast?"
"If you put it on toast."
"Yeah! Is Ra-Ra staying for breakfast too?"
"I dunno. Hey Ra-Ra!" Speed called out cheekily. "You staying for breakfast?"
"If… if that's okay," Horatio looked from father to daughter. He'd never really been in this position before, but they both seemed to be taking his continued presence in stride. Avari ran to him and took his hand.
"You can sit next to me!"
And that seemed to be that.
-DLG-
"Hey Alexx," Speed called out as he saw her walking down the hall. "You got a minute?"
"Sure, Timmy," she smiled at him.
"I was wondering if you could watch Avari for me tomorrow night." Alexx just looked at him, stunned. He was leaving Avari with someone else when he wasn't at work? That was new.
"Of course I can," she assured him. "Is something wrong?"
"Nah," Speed grinned. "I have a…" he trailed off as he realised that he'd never actually outed himself, and neither had Horatio. And while he was sure that Alexx wouldn't have a problem with it, Horatio might not want the lab knowing about their still-developing relationship just yet. "I have a… friend coming over."
"Oh," Alexx smiled and nodded knowingly. "A significant pause friend. Anyone I know?"
"Yeah," Speed admitted. "But it's still new, and we haven't talked about whether we want to go public or not."
"Fair enough. How about I pick up Avari from child care tomorrow afternoon, and you can come get her Saturday morning."
Speed paused. He wanted some privacy with Horatio, it was true, but was he ready to spend the whole night away from his daughter? He'd never done that before. Alexx stood patiently, knowing that this was something Speed needed to do. After all, Avari wasn't going to stay at home forever.
"Okay," he eventually nodded. "But… call me if anything happens, okay?"
"I will," Alexx assured him. "You have fun with your hot date. Just don't give Avari a younger sibling yet, okay?"
"No fear of that," Speed smirked as he walked away. Although, if it were possible to get Horatio pregnant, he certainly wouldn't mind trying.
-DLG-
Friday evening arrived, and Speed was late in getting home. Megan, not knowing about his plans, had kept him at the lab running tests for half the evening. By the time he pulled his bike into his driveway, Horatio was already there, sitting in his car and wondering what the hell he was doing there.
One look at Speed's predatory smirk, however, was enough to calm his nerves. No matter what happened when the rest of the lab found out, at least they'd go out with smiles on their faces.
-DLG-
Horatio woke late on Saturday morning, only to find the rest of the bed empty. He bit down the disappointment and started to get up. Apparently to Speed, it had been just a fling, one enjoyable night and it was all over.
Slowly he pulled his clothes on – no easy task, as he first had to find them all in Speed's chaotic bedroom – then went to leave. He paused, however, when he saw the note taped to the bedroom door at eye level. A large grin spread across his face as he read it.
H-
I've gone to fetch Avari. Can't stand being away from her any more. You'd better still be here when I get back. But you should probably put some pants on. Avari's not ready for a lesson in sex ed.
-S
Horatio laughed, and went to the kitchen to start making breakfast. After all, he'd been told to stick around. Might as well make himself useful.