The Approaching Storm

Julia was back in Miami. For a little bit at least. From the few friends of hers who still lived in Miami she had learned that Horatio Caine were engaged. That she didn't care about but the fact that her son was calling this woman "mommy" and after Horatio got married this woman, Aimee, Julia thought with rage, was going to adopt her son, wiping her name off Kyle's birth certificate like she never existed, incensed Julia.

How dare they do this!

Julia had never wanted to be a mother and when she exited his life, Kyle wasn't supposed to have a mother, ever. A distant stepmother, maybe but not a woman he bonded with as if she gave birth to him, not Julia. She had watched from the street as Horatio's new fiancée had excited the home she shared with him and Kyle. Aimee was on her way to a bridal shop to look at dresses. Julia had also got a glance at her son on the patio, Kyle Caine was a tow-headed version of his father. Julia was glad that she didn't have to look at this sight everyday. But seeing the boy kissing Aimee goodbye and calling her "mommy" Julia's anger began to rise.

Young thing, huh, Horatio? Julia thought as she drove.

She snorted as Aimee smiled and giggled with her mother, best friend and two cousins while she tried on various white gowns. After almost two hours she settled on a strapless straingt gown with detachable train, decorated with sequins and pearls. All getting teary eyed, saying the gown was "perfect."

Horatio's perfect life nauseated Julia. Who did Horatio think he was, letting Kyle call another woman "mommy?" The kid was supposed to grow up in a single-parent home with a workaholic cop dad and start acting out early and giving his father stress early in life. From what she saw, this wasn't happening.

Her next stop was the crime lab to see Horatio Caine.

Horatio was not at all happy to see her. He was floored when she demanded to see her son.

Horatio closed his office door and scoffed.

"Your son? Kyle is my and Aimee's son. You ceased to be his mother the moment you signed those papers and after wanting nothing to do with him his entire life, now he has someone else who loves him unconditionally, you want in? Fuck, no!"

Whether or not Julia saw Kyle was completely up to Horatio Caine. She had no legal recourse, not even the best high-power attorney could find a legal loophole for her to be granted visitation.

"This isn't over, Horatio," Julia said icily.

"It is, Julia," Horatio growled. "I'm warning you. Stay away from my son and my fiancee."

As Julia was storming from Horatio's office, Rick Stetler noticed her.

Aw. Someone else who hates the big H as much as I do, he thought.

Rick managed to catch up with Julia in the parking lot. He introduced himself.

"I understand you have a problem with Horatio Caine," he said. "That makes two of us. Maybe we could help each other."

This meeting was not a good thing for many people.

"Did you find your dress, my love?" Horatio asked that evening after dinner.

"I did," Aimee replied. "But your eyes won't be seeing it till the big day."

Horatio had proposed six weeks ago but they hadn't set a date yet.

"I guess we should start making other reservations."

The two planned to have a civil ceremony, location unknown so far but an outdoor ceremony and reception was planned. They were looking at dates in August. Eric Delko was going to be best man but along with Ryan Wolfe and Frank Tripp, Kyle was standing up for his father as well. Aimee planned to have her best friend Maria as her matron of honor, her two cousins, Macy and Ella be bridesmaids. The party was without a flower girl.

The next few days the couple decided on a date.

August eighth. That was seven weeks from now.

The venue had also been selected, the engaged couple had been lucky enough to view it when it was set up for another wedding. It was exactly what Aimee pictured for her wedding day. The catering was relatively easy to pick thanks to all the business cards that was always left on the bulletin boards at Aimee's workplace. Now all that had to be done was pick the male attire. Aimee had a feeling it was going to be easier getting Kyle into a suit and tie than the groom.