First Meeting

Aimee Michaels had always thought she would never, repeat, never date a man with children.

There was too much drama involved.

But that changed in a heartbeat.

Ever since that fateful lunch with Horatio Caine, Aimee Michaels knew he had a son. And it was as clear as day that his son was number one in his life without him having to say the words. She never had a problem with this as they began to date. In fact, she would have had a major problem with the opposite. Big enough for her to cease to date him of that were the case.

Thankfully it wasn't.

Aimee soon learned Horatio was raising his son alone and had been since the boy was born. He initially only told her that Kyle's mother was not in his life at all. Not telling exactly why. But as the two spent more time together he would tell her why. Even if the child had a father like Horatio, Aimee couldn't fathom how any woman would not want to raise her child or at least be a part of his life. But if Kyle's mother felt this way the boy was definitely better off. Both adults had fallen in love with each other rapidly. But with a child involved in the situation both wanted to make certain their relationship was indeed going to have a future before Kyle met Aimee. After they had been together over four months, they were sure their relationship was headed in the right direction. Horatio told her he would like for her to meet his son.

Aimee was eager to do so. She had seen many pictures of the boy from his proud dad. Aimee did suggest though that Kyle and she meet on "neutral ground."

"We think alike, ma'am," Horatio replied.

Both smiled.

The following day was Saturday. They arranged to meet up at a local park. Aimee would stop by the nearby deli and get some sandwiches and snacks so the three could have a picnic lunch. Horatio told her his son liked the baloney sandwiches there, on white bread and with lots of mustard.

"Where are we going, daddy?" Kyle asked curiously from his booster set in the backseat. He sported black shades to match his dad.

"We're going to eat lunch outside, today," Horatio said looking at the boy in the rareview mirror.

"Outside? Yay!"

"And you know what else?" Horatio asked.

"What?" His son replied.

"You're gonna get to meet my friend Aimee."

"Do you think she'll like me?" The boy asked.

"I'm sure she will, son. I'm sure she will."

Horatio spotted Aimee at the designated picnic table after parking the car, he was hard to recognize out of his work suit, wearing jeans and a gray t-shirt. The two smiled when they saw each other. The two gave each other a tiny peck on the cheek when Horatio, Kyle holding his hand, reached the table.

"Aimee, I'd like you to meet my son, Kyle."

The little boy who wore a red Lightning McQueen T-shirt and blue jeans smiled up at her.

"Hello Kyle," Aimee said, bending down to Kyle's level and reaching out to shake the boy's hand. "It's so nice to finally meet you. Your dad told me so much about you."

"He did?" Kyle asked, sounding surprised.

"Yep. He says you're a really good snakes and ladder player."

Kyle grinned.

This was all it took to break the ice between the two. Kyle told Aimee he was five years old and went to preschool. He would be six on his birthday and would go to kindergarten in September. His favorite movie was Cars and when he grow up he wanted to be a race car like Lightning McQueen.

"Oh wow. I think you would be an excellent race car driver," Aimee said.

"Not a race car driver," Kyle said, putting emphasis on the word. "A race car!" He said pointing to his shirt.

Aimee smiled and glanced at Horatio who just smiled and shrugged his shoulders. His boy had quite the imagination.

Kyle couldn't believe Aimee had bought his favorite lunch from the deli, a baloney sandwich with lots of mustard on white bread, a chocolate chip cookie and apple juice box.

"She got my favorite!" Kyle said excitedly.

"I know," Horatio smiled.

"Thank you, Aimee!" Kyle said.

Kyle dominated the conversation with Aimee. Horatio just looked on with a smile. The boy told her about the toy cars he had at home, about his swing set and sandbox in the backyard. He proudly told her that there was pond in their yard that had ducks in it, maybe she could come over and play with him some time.

Aimee smiled and said she would love to. She walked the two to their car and hugged Kyle back when he wrapped his arms around her neck.

"I promise I'll see you soon, okay?" She said to the boy.

Kyle nodded, a big smile on his face.

Horatio strapped Kyle into his booster seat and closed the car door. He walked to the back of the car and he and Aimee shared a hug and deeper kiss.

"I thought you were my girlfriend," he whispered, kissing her with a grin.

"I guess I'm easily swayed," Aimee whispered back. "Call me tonight?"

"You bet."

Even though both had the day off from their jobs. Aimee completely understood that Horatio wanted to spend the day with his boy and wasn't going to ask him to take time from Kyle to spend time with her.