AN: Thanks for reading, and review. Here is the next chapter.

Chapter 4: Time to let go

July 4, 1990

Before Horatio knew it, it was time for his brother's wedding day.

Since he was the best man, he showed up the day before for the bachelor's party, and while it was a little crazy/wild, his brother didn't do anything too stupid that would cause the wedding to be canceled, which made Horatio happy because he didn't want to see anything that would hurt/make Yelina cry/sad.

When it was time for the ceremony, Horatio stood at the end of the aisle next to his brother, along with three other groomsmen, and when they saw Yelina coming down the aisle in the most beautiful wedding gown on, admittedly both of their hearts raced. But the minute the father declared Raymond and Yelina as husband and wife and they kissed for the first time as a married couple, Horatio promised himself that he'll do all that he can to try harder to stop the feelings he had for her, knowing now more than ever she was untouchable. She was his brother's wife now, she was part of the family.

Once the reception came, Horatio sat down in his assigned seat, which the person on his right sat a very attractive Hispanic woman, and while they had a good time getting to know one another, and any man would probably try and take things further, (And a few years younger Horatio just might have done that), but now that he just turned 30, he was looking for something a little more serious. Of course, after he healed from this event, so after their one dance (Once the bride and groom had theirs), the woman felt their moment had passed for taking things a up notch, so she gave him a beautiful smile and walked away.

Horatio watched her with a sigh before he heard behind him. "May I have this dance?"

Horaito turned around and smiled as he held out his hand almost automatically. "It would be my pleasure, Mrs. Caine."

Yelina chuckled as she placed her hand in her brother-in-law's. "I will say I'm going to have to get use to that name."

He nodded with a smile before asking while they started dancing. "Are you using it for work?"

Yelina shook her head. "No. For work purposes, I'm keeping my maiden name, but any another time I'm Mrs. Caine."

He took a breath before asking. "And how does that feel?"

"Good, better than good even. It feels like I've been waiting for this for a long time."

Feeling truly happy for her, even though his heart was breaking a little, he gave her another smile. "I'm truly happy for you and my brother, I hope you two have a wonderful life."

"Thank you, Horatio. I hope you know how much that really means to me."

Horatio just nodded, and when the dance was done, Yelina started the hug between them before she asked softly. "Do you ever wonder about 'what if' moments?"

Horatio tried to stop his racing heart, because of course he had, especially when it came to her, like 'what if' he had met her first? But then knowing it only drove him crazy thinking about it, he had to stop, and not wanting to admit that he had, he cleared his throat and replied softly. "They only tend to make you go crazy, so I try and not to."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

After they pulled back, they looked into one another's eyes, and it had to be one of the most charged moments that ever happened between them, but then just like that the spell was broken and she cleared her throat before speaking softly again, but in a determined tone. "I love your brother very much."

Horatio nodded with a smile as he took her hand. "I know you do, and remember, even the times he drives you crazy, he loves you very much too." Yelina nodded before Horatio finished. "Also, never forget that whatever you need, you let me know, we are family now."

As Yelina nodded again with a smile, they hear Raymond's voice. "I hope you're not changing her mind now."

They chuckled as they looked at Raymond walking up to them, then Horatio spoke as he moved Yelina's hand to his brother's and released it. "I couldn't even if wanted to, you are a lucky man."

Raymond nodded with a smile as he took his wife's hand. "Believe me, I know that." He then looked at his wife with bright eyes and kissed her hand before continuing. "I'm going to wake up every morning next to this amazing woman and count my blessings."

Yelina smiled shyly, which she doesn't normally do that, but she noticed ever since she met Raymond, she's done that a lot, before they kissed softly, which Horatio tried to advert his eyes, just because he was truly happy for them and vowed to seriously move on with his life, doesn't mean it didn't hurt when he saw them kiss.

After husband and wife pulled back, Raymond looked at his brother and said with a beaming smile while holding out his hand. "Thank you, bro for being here today."

Horatio shook his brother's hand with a smile of his own. "You're welcome. I wouldn't have missed this moment for the world. I'm really proud of you Ray."

Not trying to feel emotional, Raymond couldn't help it as he released his brother's hand before bringing him in a hug, which Horatio wasn't into much, but this was his brother, so he hugged him in return as Raymond whispered. "I love you man, and I hope one day you get your happy ending."

"I love you too."

After they release one another, him and Yelina shared a smile before Horatio headed for his table while the bride and groom shared another dance as husband and wife.

Once the reception ended, Horatio drove to his favorite spot in Miami, the beach, stood about midway, placed his hands on his hips, sighing as he looked out towards the ocean.

The next afternoon

New York

After Horatio made it home, he had called Derrick to let him know, then not long after that there was a knock on the door, so he gets up from his couch and opens the door, seeing Derrick smile as he lifted up a six-pack of beer with a sympathy look.

Without saying a word, Horatio moved to the side before shutting the door once his friend was in his apartment, and once they sat down on the couch, they started to drink a few beers in silence, then Derek started to speak as they started on their third one. "How did she look?"

Horatio took a breath, and with the alcohol running through him, which he wasn't really known for a drinker, seeing how it did to his dad, his feelings and lips where a little more loose than usual, so he didn't even hesitate. "Beautiful, completely beautiful, I don't think I ever..." He stopped when he realized what he was saying out loud. "I mean..."

But Derek cuts him off with a known look. "I get it now."

Horatio shook his head. "What I said was nothing, it was just a..."

Derek cuts him off again. "What you said was something and the truth, and now I understand why you didn't date much the last five years, or when you did, they lasted a little shorter than usual, and I'm sorry, man."

Horatio sighed as he took his last drink, then he stood up and spoke as he walked towards his window. "He saw her first."

"That's tough, but maybe it's a blessing in disguise."

He turned to his friend with an unreadable look. "What are you talking about?"

Derek gets up from his seat with a smile. "I'm saying that maybe it wasn't meant to be with her because it's meant to be with someone else, that she wasn't the 'one' because your 'one' is still out..."

Horatio cuts his friend off this time, understanding what he was saying but asking in an unbelievable tone. "And you really believe that?"

Derek sighed with a nod. "I understand your skepticism, and I use to feel that way too. But then I met Felicia and all bets were off, I knew she was the 'one' the moment our eyes met. I mean I saw my future right there and then." When he was still looking at him with an unbelievable look, Derek chuckled with a nod as he placed his hand on his friend's shoulder. "It true, and I firmly believe this is not the end for you, one day you'll get this feeling too." Before Horatio could speak, Derek finished. "It may not happen right away, and unfortunately go through a few other relationships, but I would start preparing for her."

Horatio paused before he shook his head. "I don't know if it's the beers in me or your optimism, but I actually want to believe you that there really is someone out there for me." Derek just nodded with a smile while Horatio turned and looked out the window with a sigh, wondering when he'll meet his 'one'.

AN: Thanks for reading and please review. Hope you are all being safe out there.