AN: Thanks for the reviews, here is the next chapter.
Chapter 7: New roles in his life
March, 1991
It was an uncharacteristically slow afternoon for the detectives, but it did give them a chance to catch up on paperwork, which that's exactly what Horatio and Derek were doing when the phone from Derek's desk started ringing.
He picked it up a second later. "Miller." He then gasped as he pushed his chair back suddenly and stood up in surprise. "OK, I'll be right there Shelia." (Felicia's older sister by two years)
He hung up another second later and looked at Horatio, who was looking at him in concern. "Felicia has gone into labor."
Horatio smiled. "Go then, I'll stop by the hospital later."
Derek nodded with a smile as he grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair before rushing towards the exit of the station, shouting 'I'm going to be a father!' Over and over until his co-workers, who were cheering, couldn't hear him.
Horatio shook his head with a smile as he goes back to his paperwork.
After a few hours, and since it was still pretty slow, their captain told most of them to leave, so Horatio stood up from his chair, grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and headed out of the station so he could head to the hospital.
When he arrived there, he was greeted warmly by both of Felicia's and Derek's parents and a few other family members from both sides before he sat down in one of the empty chairs.
Some more time had passed everybody by when another member of Felicia's family showed up, and it wasn't just any member, it was her cousin, whom Felicia was not only closets to, like a sister, but the one Horatio had a brief relationship with.
They smiled at one another as Horatio stood up. "Hi Vanessa."
They share a hug while she replied softly. "Hi Horatio, how are you?"
As they pulled back, he replied. "Not too bad, yourself?" Before she could reply, he noticed a ring on her left ring finger, then looked at her with happiness. "You're engaged?"
Vanessa, who was around 5'7 with a slim build and brown eyes nodded with a smile. "Yes, Terrance finally asked me last night."
Horatio brings her in his arms again while the rest of her family gasped with smiles on their faces. "Congratulations."
"Thank you."
Once they pulled back she was immediately in the arms of her family members, causing her to chuckle. "And thank you to you guys as well."
As they were pulling back a few moments later, Derek was rushing down the hall with one of the biggest smiles that they had ever seen on his face, his wedding probably the closest it has ever been to it. "He's here and he's the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, outside of his mother of course.
They all chuckled while the families were giving him hugs and handshakes, which included Horatio.
After the partners pulled back from one another, Derek asked him. "You want to come see him?"
Horatio nodded with a smile. "Of course, but I was going to let your family visit him first."
Derek's mom spoke before anybody else could. "It's ok, you can go first."
Horatio smiled at the older woman with a smile. "You sure?"
Derek's mom walked up to Horatio and cupped his cheek as if she was his mother and continued softly. "Yes, you're family too. I hope you know that, Horatio."
The feel of a motherly touch had been sorely missed since his own mother's passing, so it took everything he had to not sigh in content, then he spoke softly. "Yes Mrs. Mil…"
She cuts him off with a smile. "Claire."
Horatio nodded with a smile. "Claire."
After Claire removed her hand, Horatio looked at Derek with a smile, which Derek nodded with a smile of his own. "Well you heard her, come on man."
When Derek started walking in the direction he came rushing from a few minutes earlier, Horatio followed him.
Derek knocked on the door the moment he stopped in front of it before they heard Felicia's voice. "Yeah come in."
Derek opened the door and stepped in the room.
When Horatio stepped inside the room, as much as he saw the happiness in Derek's eyes before, it seemed to have gotten brighter when he saw him look at his wife and son, and for the first time in his life, he actually felt that longing of wanting a wife and a kid. And one day if he was lucky enough to get both, then he would treat them like they were the greatest things that ever walked on this earth.
He mentally shook his head while Felicia smiled at him. "Well come here Horatio, come meet your godson."
Horatio stopped in shock. "What?"
Derek smiled shyly. "That is if you want the title."
Horatio smiled brightly as he continued to walk towards them. "I would be honored, but are you sure?"
Felicia nodded with a smile and tears in her eyes while Derek spoke with emotion. "We are very sure, and like what my mother said, you are family, you are my brother, it felt like you were my brother the moment we had met."
Horatio nodded. "I felt it too, and thank you, I would be happy to be…"
He trails off and Felicia spoke as she looked down at her beautiful son. "D.J., after his father."
Horatio nodded with a small chuckle. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised on that, should, I?"
They chuckled as he moved closer to the bed, then after little D.J was placed in Horatio's arms, he looked down with a smile. "Hi little man, I'm your godfather, and from this day forward you'll always be protected."
April 11, 1992
Miami
It was a little over a year later when Horatio was back in the hospital for the same reason, but different location and couple, and while this time wasn't or didn't feel any more important to him than the last time he was 'here', it was no doubt different, it was for...
Before Horatio's thoughts could continue, Raymond comes rushing into the waiting area in excitement, where Horatio was with Yelina's big family.
They all congratulated him with handshakes and hugs, then the younger Caine stopped in front of his brother, they both smiled brightly before Horatio brings his younger brother in his arms for a hug and whispered with emotion. "Congratulations, baby brother, you're a father."
Part of Ray wanted to break down from all of the emotion he was feeling, but held it in for the moment with a nod. "Thank you, big bro, and for being here."
They pull back a second later and Horatio cupped his younger brother's cheek. "I wouldn't have missed this moment for the world."
While he did have to take time off work, which he wasn't known to do very often, he was truly happy to be there for his brother for this special occasion.
Ray nodded his head and cleared his throat before stepping back while Horatio moved his hand from his brother's cheek, then after it was decided Horatio got to go see the baby first, Ray led the way.
The moment they stepped into the room, Ray had tears in his eyes that he couldn't contain any longer as he looked at his wife holding his newborn son.
Horatio took a breath, also feeling a little emotional himself, then smiled at the new mother as he walked closer to the hospital bed. "You never looked more beautiful."
Yelina chuckled and shook her head. "And you're so full of it, Caine."
The brothers chuckled before Ray shook his head with love in his eyes as he leaned down to kiss her cheek. "My brother speaks the truth, babe."
As he was pulling back, Yelina then cleared her throat before lifting her son towards Horatio. "Would you like to hold your nephew?"
Horatio nodded instantly, and the moment the youngest Caine was placed in his arms, he felt the urge to protect him, like for little D.J., from any harm. Things were going to be different for this Caine, he was going to have a better childhood than him or Ray ever did, he was sure of it, he would even make sure of it if he had too.
It was almost like Ray was reading his brother's thoughts as he spoke with emotion, this time letting it all out for only his wife and brother could see. "My son is going to have a different life than we ever had, Horatio, I promise you." He then looked at his wife, tears slowly going down his cheek, which wasn't an emotion his wife got to see very often, so she was in complete awe of him as her husband finished. "And I promise you that too, he'll never be harmed from me."
Yelina, feeling her own tears coming, raised her hand to cup his cheek. "I know that babe, you are a good man, a good husband, and no doubt in my mind you'll be an amazing father."
Horatio chimed in for that last part. "She speaks the truth, Ray."
They chuckled before Yelina finished her speech. "And above everything, I trust you with my life, with our son's life."
He smiled like he just got the keys to universe as he leaned down so they could share a sweet kiss, then while they were pulling back, Horatio spoke after clearing his throat. "So, what are we calling this newest Caine?"
Yelina looked at Horatio with a beaming smile. "In honor of his father, Raymond Jr."
Horatio looked at his brother, and Raymond nodded with a smile. "It was the name she wanted, so..."
Horatio then smirked. "So, she won."
"Of course, doesn't she always?"
They then started chuckling while Yelina shook her head with a smile. "You know I'm still in the room, so you can stop talking like I am not."
They chuckled one more time before Horatio turned his attention back to the little one in his arms, then with a sigh of content, he leaned down and kissed his forehead before whispering. "Well, Ray Jr., you sure hit the jackpot with this one, you couldn't have asked for better parents."
Raymond walked up to his brother and whispered to his son. "Or a better uncle, who will always be there to protect you if or somehow I can't."
The Caine brother's share eye contact, and Horatio nodded with a smile, but there was also a determined look in his eyes. "Always Ray, you have my word. I'll protect him with my life."
"Like you've always done with me."
"And I always will."
"I love you, Horatio."
Not one to share many feelings outward, but with a new one in his arms, Horatio couldn't help but reply back with emotion. "Love you too, Raymond."
When Horatio looked down at Raymond Jr. again, he knew, while he was just the role of uncle, his life suddenly felt different, and maybe it was time to start thinking of a new change in his life.
AN: Thanks for reading, and please review. Hope you are all safe.