Old Friends & Good Times

Despite not having given birth to him or raising him from a baby, Horatio knew the bond Aimee had with their son was just as strong as the one she had with Faith. Kyle seldom mentioned much about life when it had just been him and his dad, except for a fun memory now and then. There were many of those and even if she weren't in them Aimee really enjoyed listening to both her husband and son tell the stories. She was grateful to have come into their lives but there was no doubt they'd had a wonderful life before her, too.

More people wanted to ask than who did, but ut was wondered if the looks he got as a older dad and husband bothered him? Was it harder to keep up such young children since he "wasn't 25 anymore?" The answer was no. Though he may not have had the energy of a twenty-five year old anymore, Horatio considered himself to be in good shape for forty-two years of age. He didn't have a problem keeping up with his young son, or missing sleep at night thanks to baby Faith. Sometimes it was the only chance got to spend quality time with her.

And for having a young wife? Well, the looks and comments of "that's your wife?" only caused him to smile. The comments silently said "I know what you see in her, but what does she see in you?"

For the moment, the family's life was free from fear. It would remain this way till the trials of their tormenters started in two weeks.

Julia Albery and Rick Stetler's trial for their attempt on Aimee's life started in 14 days. In hopes of getting acquittals, or at the least lower counts, their lawyers wanted to sever the case and have the two tried separately.

However the couple wouldn't hear of it.

"Neither one of us did anything," they both stated emphatically.

Not severing the case the couple put themselves in more jeopardy of being convicted but Rick and Julia refused to listen to their lawyers. The judge had sided with the defense on one thing, since Julia was yet convicted of shooting Horatio Caine, it couldn't be mentioned during the trial.

Six years ago, after being shot in the line of duty Horatio's close friend and collogue Tim Speedle had left the crime lab. He had made a full recovery but had decided to take a job teaching forensics at a university in Naples. Tim had met Aimee a few months after she and Horatio were together a few months and he had attended the bachelor party that Eric had thrown for their friend. Unfortunately he wasn't able to attend the Caine wedding. The moment Tim met Julia Albery, he knew she were trouble.

But for a brief time Horatio were smitten with her and didn't realize what the woman truly was till it was too late.

And there was a baby boy on the way.

Nonetheless, like everyone else who knew him they had never seen Horatio so happy as when he bought Kyle home from the hospital. Tim saw another glimmer pf happiness in his friend now that Aimee were in his life. He knew there was yet another now with Faith Roslind Caine in the picture.

Tim was taking his three weeks vacation when the trial started to come to Miami to support his friends, whether that was in the courtroom or outside of it. Tim would never tell Horatio "I told you so" about the woman who had at least given his friend a beautiful son. He knew that all too well. As far as Rick Stetler went, Tim always loathed the guy.

But he never expected him to try to kill anyone.

Till now.

"Uncle Speed!"

Tim arrived in Miami three days before the trial was to start. He was surprised that Kyle remembered him after over a was "stress leave" till the trial and sentencing was over. Aimee didn't have to testify so she had no intentions of going near the courthouse. At some point, the prosecutor wasn't sure when but Horatio was going to have testify about how Julia reacted to Aimee's presence in Kyle's life. He would also testify to the fact for the first year of Kyle's life, even though she no longer retain parental rights, and the court and both lawyers had records of this, that Horatio were open to have limited visitation with their son but only at a visitation center and supervised by a third-party known to Kyle. When Julia didn't exercise this for that time, it was clear Julia didn't want to get to know the child and the invitation were revoked.

He would tell the court of how angry Julia were about Kyle referring to his then-fiancé, now wife, Aimee as "mommy." Julia wasn't aware of Aimee's plans to adopt Kyle, since she no longer had any rights to Kyle Horatio thought it was none of her business.

Tim Speedle "Speed" was looking forward to spending time with all of his old team—including Ryan Wolfe, the CSI who had taken over his position. When Ryan first started at the Miami-Dade Crime Lab, upset at his best friend's departure, Eric gave Ryan the cold shoulder, constantly called him a "replacement" and compared Ryan's skills to Speed's incessantly. Ryan had been near the end of his rope when Speed visited and noticed this happening.

"Man, will you knock it off!" Tim told Eric taking him aside. "I know it's going to take some time for you to get used me not being here, but Ryan is a member of the team now, Treat him like it! He's not the reason I left, so don't blame him for it. I choose to leave the lab. Stop saying he'll never measure up to me. He's not me but if H hired him the guy knows what he's doing!"

Eric immediately felt bad and apologized to Ryan. Ryan could understand where Eric had been coming from yet he knew he wasn't treated right. Eric did a 180 degree on how he treated Ryan after that and the two were now good friends.

Being a husband and father wasn't for him but Tim knew it was absolutely was both Eric Delko and Horatio Caine.

It was about time that Eric and Calleigh admitted they were in love. He was glad to hear they were expecting, though he wondered how the CSIs would juggle work and two babies.

"Hey Kyle! Gee, you've gotten so big!" Tim told the boy.

The boy had lost his two front teeth and Tim also noticed that Kyle's blonde hair was beginning to turn a shade of red.

"I think one of daddy's friends is here," Aimee said, walking into the room with Faith in her arms. "Hey Speed. Long time," she greeted the visitor.

"Hi Aimee. Good to see you. She's cute," he greeted, looking at four and a half month old Faith.

Faith smiled at Tim.

Horatio returned from the store then. He was put in charge of getting the "essentials" for the barbeque that was taking place tonight.

"What's up, man?" Horatio said, he and Tim sharing a "man-hug."

Lacy was coming to the Caines' to watch the kids tonight so Aimee could be on the patio with the team. She could tell Horatio was absolutely looking forward to tonight.

That didn't change the fact that he wanted Speed to meet his kids. The two men and Kyle played soccer in the backyard and Kyle showed His father's friend how high he could build a tower of blocks. Horatio had got his friend to got to hold Faith, even though Tim wasn't used to babies. His nerves didn't appear to bother Faith, who smiled and cooed in his arms.

A party with friends was just what the couple needed to release the stress of the coming week. Horatio definitely wanted the kids to come out and see everyone for while before bed. Aimee could see how much her husband was looking forward to tonight.

"With mom spending the night, I might even get a little tipsy," Aimee teased Horatio when they were getting ready.

"Hmm," Horatio said kissing her. "I hope you do."

I fixed errors Kyle's age and school in Chapter 38! In other News A new chapter of the Family Life Series is in the works, it should be up soon!