A/N: And here it is.. finally.. the birthday has arrived. I know you've been waiting for this day since the beginning. LOL Once again I'll divide this chapter into two parts or it'd be too long. Thank you all for your reviews. I love them.

Chapter 6.1

Horatio was busy preparing the barbecue, when he heard the doorbell ring. A quick look at his watch told him that it was actually too early for his guests, since he didn't expect them to arrive before 7, but then again, his team was always a bit unpredictable when it came to free food and drinks. Smiling at this, Horatio entered the house and walked to the front door and while doing so, sneaking a glance into the kitchen where Stella was busy preparing her pita. "I'll get it," he said, even though there was no need to do so. He and Stella had only been "living together" for only a couple of days, but it actually felt like years to him and this in a good way.

And it seemed like Horatio wasn't the only one feeling like this, because without thinking twice, Stella turned towards the entry and lifted her hands that were covered in flour and dough. "Thanks."

Yes, they were really quite a pair. Mentally shaking his head, Horatio looked through the peep hole and was surprised to see Natalia standing there. She was the last one he had considered of arriving so early, but life was apparently always full of surprises. "Natalia," he greeted her when he opened the door, "what brings you here so early?"

"I'm sorry, Horatio," she gave him a sheepish smile. "I just came by to give you the punch. I'm not sure if I can make it tonight, because I was called in a few moments ago by the night shift and...oh well... it looks like it's going to be a big case."

"Oh no," Horatio's smile disappeared immediately. "What a shame," he sighed when his eyes fell onto the bowl in her hands. "And still you made the punch, this wasn't necessary…"

"It was. I promised you and I'll keep my promises," she smiled at him and shook her head. "And it was nothing actually, I can make it with closed eyes," she laughed and tilted her head in question and surprise when she heard a female voice calling Horatio.

"Horatio, where are you hiding your baking paper?" Stella called in slight frustration, because it was nowhere to be found. Only god knew where the man was hiding it.

"I think this was my cue," Horatio smiled coyly and gestured towards the bowl. "Give it to me, no need for you to carry this heavy thing."

"Oh I can manage," Natalia quipped. Her female curiosity was on full alert now, because she didn't recognize the voice at all. "Just tell me where the kitchen is," she continued and entered the house, when Horatio stepped out of the way.

"First door on your right," he instructed her and knew only too well that there was no way to stop her now.

When Stella heard someone nearing the kitchen, she turned around and put on a disapproving face, which immediately disappeared when she saw Natalia entering the room. It seemed like the kitchen was the room where she was meeting all new people. "Oh hi.."

"Hi," Natalia greeted her with a big grin. "Don't mind me, I just wanted to drop off the punch," she said easily and put the bowl down onto the small kitchen table.

"Stella, this Is Natalia Boa Vista. Natalia, this is Stella Bonasera," Horatio introduced the two, knowing that it wouldn't be the last time that he had to do that this evening.

"I'd offer you a hand, but," Stella smiled at the other woman and raised her sticky hands.

"That's fine, don't worry," she put her off with a small smile. "I'd really like to stay longer," and dear lord did she want to stay longer, "but I need to get going or they'll call me again," she said apologetically.

"It's a shame that you can't be here," Horatio said and started to rummage through his cupboards. "But why don't you give me a call later on and we'll put something aside for you in case you can make it?" he offered her.

"That'd be nice, Horatio. I'll definitely give you a call no matter what. Oh by the way, have you heard of Ryan?" she asked and watched the scene in front of her. She'd never seen Horatio acting around a woman like this in his house. Of course she knew he'd been married with Eric's sister, but somehow, the team had never managed to come together, while Marisol had been alive. Of course she had no idea if this woman actually was his girlfriend, and she actually doubted that because the rumour mill had no bets on him at the moment, but there was something going on; she just couldn't put her finger on it. And this was driving the CSI in her mad.

"Yeah," Horatio nodded and grinned broadly when he handed Stella the baking paper. "There you go, ma'am" he said smugly and then turned his attention back to Natalia. "He's confined to bed. When I saw him Wednesday morning, I sent him straight back home."

"Well he's been coughing and sneezing for a few days now," Natalia nodded in understanding and jumped in surprise when her cell rang. "Oh snap! I really need to get going. It was nice meeting you, Stella," she nodded at the woman and then looked at Horatio. "I'll give you a call. Later!" she waved and quickly made her way to the front door, while taking the call.

"Now that was quick," Stella commented when she heard the door shut.

"Yeah, that's our Natalia," Horatio said lightly and eyed the dough. "It's already finished?"

"Uh-huh, I told you it is easy," Stella replied and put the dough onto the baking plate. "She's one of your CSIs?" Of course Stella was curious about this pretty woman in Horatio's life. Not because she was jealous or something, no, she just...wanted to know.

"Yeah, she's one of our DNA specialists," Horatio nodded in response and opened the oven for her.

"She's…pretty." "Okay where did that came from?" she berated herself.Well maybe she was a bit jealous, but only a bit. She had no reason for that anyway.

"She is," Horatio chuckled softly and wasn't a hundred percent sure, but her comment sounded like she was testing him a bit. Maybe this was a purely natural thing, or maybe he was on the wrong track anyway, but he decided to reassure her. "And she also has the tendency to attract the wrong guys, so I'm trying to keep an eye on her," he continued then and closed the oven again.

"You're perfect in making a fool of yourself, Stella. Now get a grip and concentrate on other things." "I uhm..didn't mean it like that," she said quickly and did her best to concentrate on her new task – scrubbing her sticky hands.

"So you think she isn't pretty?" Horatio couldn't help but tease her again and laughed when she shot him a glare. "Peace?" he grinned and offered her a small towel. Before she could reply though, he continued, "Natalia's been through a lot in the last couple of years, especially when it comes to her not so happy marriage with a beating husband. She's safe from him now, since he's dead, but the wounds still need time to heal."

And Stella knew exactly how long it could take until time healed such wounds. "I didn't mean to pry.."

"You didn't and it's okay. I think it's a good idea to tell you a few things about my team anyway, since you'll meet them in a few hours. I don't want you to be thrown in at the deep end, especially since I know my team and their...hmmm… nosiness."

"Nosiness? As CSI's? Now that's a surprise," Stella smiled, thankful for his change of topics.

"It is, isn't it?" he winked and motioned her to follow him. "Okay...where to start? Ah...let's start with our charming Cuban and his not so secret liaison with my second in command…."

"No Natalia, it's perfectly alright that you won't make it," Horatio cradled his cell between his head and his shoulder and tried to grab some bottles from the fridge. "Of course I'm not upset; I'd be upset if you'd come over here though you're dead tired," he assured her and smiled at her reply. "You know me, I'm always looking out for my friends. So promise me that you drive home now and don't feel bad about the party. And yes that's an order Miss Natalia." Doing his best to not let the drinks slip out of his hands, he just waited for her reply and said goodbye to her. Of course he would have liked to see her on the party, but it was almost 11 pm and Natalia had been working for the whole time, so she rather needed a bed or a hot bath then driving here. There was always another party after all and his guests were quite a handful already.

And talking about handful, he just knew that they were breeding mischief when he entered the garden again. It was never a good sign when his team was huddled together. "Hey, stop concocting," he warned them and gave out the new drinks.

"Concocting? We?" Frank did his best innocent impression, which was rather futile because he couldn't stop grinning.

"Well I was in the house and you were huddling together. That's always dangerous," Horatio pointed out and sat down next to Stella. "I hope they didn't try to turn you against me," he whispered to her, but loud enough so the others could hear it as well.

"As if they'd ever try that," Stella whispered back, clearly amused by his antics.

"Ha, you don't know my team as well as I do," Horatio shot back and winked at Alexx, who was sitting across from him.

"Nonsense, we just talked about things we hate to encounter at crime scenes and I talked about ants," Calleigh explained and shivered at the thought. Ants had never been her friends and never would be.

"True, you never liked those insects," Horatio nodded and knew all too well about Calleigh's phobia.

"As if you like insects," Stella couldn't help but throw in.

"Why? I'm not afraid of them."

"But your face was quite pale when Dr. Grissom gave his lecture about them," she pointed out and grinned at him.

"First of all," Horatio started and waved his finger at the amused stares of his team, "I'm always pale. And second, it surely wasn't me who sought refuge in a bomb seminar just to avoid the critters," he arched his brows and gave her a pointing glare.

"Mhm and it was pure coincidence that you'd been there as well instead of listening to Gil?" Stella didn't back down, though she had to admit that he was quite right with what he said.

"Oh well, bombs are my special field," Horatio started and was interrupted by Alexx.

"Oh yes, he attracts anything which is ready to explode," she nodded. "So you really have to look out for him."

"Very true, do you still remember when he drove into this building, minutes before it was blown up?" Eric asked and reached for his glass. "I almost wet my pants while I waited for him," he shook his head.

"Why did you do that, Dad?" Kyle asked, because this surely wasn't harmless.

"We knew that there was a hostage inside and we couldn't stop the detonation. So the only solution had been to drive into the building and get the man out." Of course he knew that this had been a great risk, but sometimes he had the slight tendency to not think about such things.

"And of course it was you, who had to drive," Frank snorted and shook his head.

"Well," Horatio countered and looked at his Texan friend, "let me remind you that I'm not the only one here who's attracting trouble, right Frank? Wasn't there something about a…landmine?"

"Oh don't remind me of that," Frank just grumbled and should have known better than to challenge the redhead.

"A landmine? Here?" Stella asked intrigued. "So do I have to be worried when I go to the beach?"

"Only when Frank is with you," Horatio deadpanned and couldn't help but laugh. "Miles of beach and our Frank located the only landmine around by stepping on it."

"You stepped on it?" Kyle and Stella asked in unison.

"Yeah," Frank mumbled. "Teaches me to go to the beach," he then added and looked at Horatio reproachfully. "And you were just standing there and enjoyed the sight while I was scared shitless!"

"Oh yeah I did," Horatio snickered. "I've never seen you so subdued before in my whole life."

"Now that's not nice Dad," Kyle shook his head at his father and Stella agreed wholeheartedly.

"Hey, I wasn't that bad, I was with him the whole time," Horatio defended himself in mock hurt. Frank had been a nervous wreck and there'd been no way that he would leave his friend alone in that situation. He had had to stay calm for Frank no matter how nervous he had been inside himself.

"That's true, he'd been there even when the Bomb Squad started their work," Alexx nodded.

"Yeah, and you know what he said when the bomb was finally defused and I said something about that's hell of a way to start a day?" Frank asked. "He said, "and it's only eight o'clock"."

At that, Horatio and Eric started to laugh again. "And days later this water heater crashed into your car," Eric brought out and laughed even harder.

"My new car," Frank mumbled.

"Yes, you had just bought it," Horatio underlined that with a nod. "And people call me a trouble magnet," he shook his head in dismay. "That's not fair."

"Oh that's more than fair, Honey," Alexx intervened. "While Frank has had bad luck, you're literally searching for such situations." Seeing his look, she gave him a knowing stare. "And don't look at me like that. Who's driving a car with a bomb inside?"

"Well…," Horatio got a little smaller in his chair, "that...uhm…would be me I guess. But I had the best intentions," he clarified halfheartedly.

"You see," Alexx ignored her friend and looked at Stella, "he is a trouble magnet, even though he's one with good intentions."

"The evidence leads to that conclusion," Stella nodded and smiled when she heard Horatio groan.

"It's very impolite to pull the birthday boy's leg," Horatio exclaimed and did his best to hide his grin.

"It's not your birthday yet," Kyle pointed at his watch.

"Et tu Brute?" Horatio asked and sighed theatrically. "Then let me rephrase that; it's not nice to tease the host. There, better?"

"Yes it's better, but it has pretty much the same non-existing effect," Eric smiled and had a nice time while teasing his brother-in-law. He would have loved to tell the story about Artie's Playground, because he knew that Horatio would look like a tomato then, but since Kyle was there, he refrained from doing so. Sure, the boy wasn't a kid anymore, but he was quite sure that Horatio wouldn't like it; not to forget the ladies…they'd probably have his head and other important body parts.

"Tell me Stella, does Mac have an open workplace in his lab?" Horatio asked.

"Why? For Frank or Eric?" she asked confused.

"No, for me of course. Can't you see that my own team doesn't take me serious?" he asked in his best whiny-puppy-dog-tone, which could melt every woman's heart.

"Aww," Stella cooed and stroked his cheek. "You really have a hard life here, don't you?" she asked sympathetically.

"Yes," Horatio nodded and definitely enjoyed the touch and the warmth coming from it.

"Hmm, then...," Stella thought out loud and furrowed her brows deep in concentration. "Oh I think there's an open job," she suddenly smiled then.

"Really?"

"Uh-huh," she nodded enthusiastically and patted his cheek. "Just days ago Mac complained about all the paperwork; I can tell him that you'd be happy to take care of that."

"Indeed," Horatio grumbled and ignored the laughter around him.

"This was way too easy, I'm sorry," she said, but sounded hardly apologetic. Instead she winked at him and pressed a kiss on the area where her hands had been just seconds before. "Forgive me?"

Ignoring the stares and silent gasps of his friends this time, Horatio did his very best to keep his pale color. "Maybe," he said and tilted his head a bit to the side, "when I'm older."

Getting the hint, Stella just smiled to herself and settled back into her chair. She had leaned towards him much more than she'd realized. "That makes me happy."

Looking around and seeing the bemused and curious stares of his friends, Eric folded his arms in front of his chest and put on his best evil smirk. "Soooo," he started, "we've heard about Gil Grissom, insects and bombs...what else happened in Boston?" He was a CSI and he knew for sure that no one, except of Alexx maybe, kissed Horatio on the cheek like that. And no woman flirted with him like this; oh well they did try, but Horatio always managed a polite but declining reply. But this? This was different.

Horatio had complained about teasing the boss before? He hadn't seen anything yet.

Now the real party had started.

"H in a children clothing store?" Eric couldn't believe his ears; and looking at Frank, the man couldn't either. "What did you buy? A small suit?"

"Lucy's a girl, Eric. Even you should know that she wouldn't wear a suit but a dress," Horatio pointed out and rolled his eyes. Why had he told them about his shopping tour with Stella? Oh yes, so they wouldn't press any further and find out about other more…personal…things that had happened between him and her.

"That's really cute," Alexx was head over heels and Calleigh was with her over the rainbow.

"And he actually picked out something as well," Stella went on, totally oblivious of the fact that she didn't make it easier for Horatio. But even if she had realized it, she wouldn't have cared, because this was nothing to be ashamed of.

"Oh really?" Eric drawled and gasped for air when Calleigh rammed her elbow into his side.

"What did he find?" Alexx asked without giving Eric a second glance.

"Oh he found a little nightgown…in pink."

Frank did his best to stifle a laugh, but didn't succeed. "Pink, what else, huh?"

"As if you've never bought something for your three daughters, Frank," Alexx shot him a motherly-warning glare. When Frank snapped his mouth shot, she nodded at him. "I thought so."

"Well at least I have the girls on my side," Horatio thought to himself. This was always very important, especially if one didn't want to end up like Delko, who was still gasping for air. "Serves you right Eric, you should know that Calleigh's a small bomb package. And being her boyfriend doesn't safe you from such reactions."

As much as it was entertaining to see the other boys squirm, Kyle had heard enough about babies and dresses and pinks. He was a young man after all and all those particular subjects were not important or interesting for him at all. Not being able to stifle a slight yawn, he had a look at his watch and realized with a start that it was almost midnight. "Oh crap!" If this conversation would go on, they'd forget about his dad's birthday completely. Now he just needed to find a way to get them all back on track. Now this was going to be "easy".

It was a good thing then that Frank had noticed the yawn and couldn't help but tease his friend's offspring. "So tired already? And here I thought today's youth could party all night."

Feeling several pairs of eyes on him, Kyle did his best not to squirm in his seat. "Uh..well…it's late…," he mumbled and as on cue, everyone looked at their watches. This in turn, resulted into rushed mumblings and three women getting up from the table at once.

"We'll be back in a moment," they announced and Kyle, knowing that there wouldn't be a better opportunity, got up as well and followed them inside.

Tilting his head, Horatio watched them flee and furrowed his brows. "Now that was subtle," he commented lightly and looked at his remaining guests. "Should I be worried?"

Sharing a look, Frank and Eric just shrugged and gave him their best innocent looks. "We promised to take this secret to our graves," Frank answered cryptically and Eric upped the ante. "You know Calleigh can be quite intimidating with a gun in her hands."

"I see," Horatio nodded and then added with a smile, "Cowards."

The grins he got in response told him more than he needed to know.

Inside the house, the three ladies and one young man had gathered in the kitchen and were busy decorating a cake with small candles. Well the women were, while Kyle hoped to steal some of the icing.

"Stop that," Alexx chided him softly and rapped him over the knuckles. "You'll get a piece of it soon enough."

"Sorry," Kyle replied sheepishly and gave her his puppy dog impression, something he had definitely inherited from his father. "I just love cakes."

"A sweet tooth, mhm?" Stella asked and smiled at the boy. "Your father is the same, but don't tell him that I told you about his secret."

"I promise," Kyle grinned and rubbed his hands. "So what did you get him?"

"Ever heard of curiosity killing the cat?" Calleigh asked amused and took the team's presents into her hands.

"Yep, but I'm not a cat and my dad is a CSI; no one would ever dare to kill me," Kyle replied confidently and reached for his own present.

"Well then Honey, lead the way before your dad has a case in his own home," Alexx chuckled and motioned the others to follow Kyle's lead.

Tbc

Any ideas for Horatio's presents?