New Love In Wintertime (Rd 14, Horatio/Marisol)

[callmedirk.livejournal.com]

Title: New Love In Wintertime
Author: Sara (callmedirk)
Rating: G
fic_variations Prompt/Claim: The Four Seasons- Horatio/Marisol
Word Count: 1141
Spoilers: None, I guess.
Warnings: None. Slightly AU, if anything.
Author's Notes: Got a little carried away with this last fic for the round. I couldn't make it stop. ;) Also mentions Stella Bonasera from CSI: NY.



It was the middle of winter when he left Miami for New York City for two weeks. Stella had called him crazy for leaving Miami for the freezing rain and the big snowflakes covering the streets, but she also knew he needed to get away. The holidays had taken a toll on him, even seven months after Marisol's death. He'd gone to the Delko family home for Christmas, but he still felt like he didn't belong. Even though his mother-in-law welcomed him with open arms because he'd loved her daughter enough to support and marry her despite her illness, Horatio still felt like he hadn't completely earned that love. And he would never get the chance to love her and be loved back, as those hopes died with her in May.

They'd planned on children and a house, maybe a dog and cat. The old cliché of the white picket fence was something he'd actually looked forward to with Marisol. But those dreams would never come to fruition. Or at least—he thought that.

He'd gone to New York to get away right after the New Year, to be alone for a week or so. But some things never change and his cell phone rang incessantly. He sent most of the calls straight to voicemail, but when he saw the Delko family's home number followed Eric's cell number he flipped his phone open.

"Eric? What's going on? I think your mother has called me as well. Is something wrong?"

"I—I wouldn't say wrong, H," Eric's voice was odd. "But—we found something in with Mari's papers today that we thought you should know about. And you might want to sit down,"

Horatio sat on his hotel room bed and ran his free hand though his red hair.

"All right, I'm sitting then," he said. "What papers?"

"You know the morning of the shooting? After you left her for court?" Eric said.

"Yes,"

"She—she went downtown and put your names on an adoption agency list, H."

Horatio felt his heart clutch for a moment and he let out a soft breath. Eric continued talking.

"So we called the place and—they have a—a little girl for you," he said quietly.

Horatio swallowed. He rubbed the back of his hand over his eyes.

"Did—did you tell them about Marisol?" he asked.

"We did," Eric replied. "Actually, they knew from the news, of course, and recognized your names. But it didn't seem to faze them. Apparently, Mari was very specific that if something were to happen to her during or after consideration, that they were to still consider you by yourself,"

"Oh," Horatio said softly. "Um—all right then, I guess I'll come back home."

"H, we'd understand if you didn't want to, or couldn't—" Eric said. "Not just my family, but all of us here."

"I know that, Eric," Horatio replied. "But it's what she wanted. What we wanted. And I can't let a child go unwanted. Can you tell the agency to give me a couple of days? I'll be back by Monday and we'll go from there."

They spoke for only a few minutes more and Horatio flipped his phone shut and lay back on the bed, closing his eyes and feeling a dull ache creep behind them. He sat back up and got up to down a couple of aspirin. Sighing softly, he wrapped a scarf around his neck and buttoned up his coat, reaching to the bed to slip his phone into his pocket. He stepped out of the hotel onto the bustling, snow-covered sidewalks of New York and sucked in a deep, cold-blasted breath.

I have to go back and do this for her. For Marisol to live on, I have to bring that little girl home and make her mine—make her ours.

He tugged his coat tighter around him and walked on through the city.

Monday morning, Horatio sat nervously in a hard plastic chair inside a small office. Lining the walls were photographs of smiling children with their brand new families. He'd already met with the caseworker and his lawyer, and had looked over the paperwork. He'd already decided to meet the little girl and decide then and there, ready to follow his heart.

He heard footsteps in the hall and he turned to see the caseworker holding the hand of a tiny girl with shining red hair and big brown eyes. His breath caught in his throat for a split second, seeing himself and Marisol in the little face. He got up from the chair and knelt down.

"Hi," he said softly. "What's your name?"

The shyness set in, and she turned her face for a moment, and then looked back at him.

"Ava," she whispered.

"That's a pretty name," Horatio smiled gently. "How old are you?"

A little hand lifted and flashed four fingers. His smile got bigger and she smiled shyly back. He looked up at the caseworker and nodded. The older woman smiled broadly.

"Ava, this is your new daddy," she said gently. "You're going to a nice home,"

Ava let out a little squeak and Horatio opened his arms. She tumbled into his embrace and he cuddled her close.

"Welcome to my family, Ava Marisol Caine," he said softly, kissing the tousled red hair that oddly looked so much like his own. His new daughter's face broke into a big smile and he stood, scooping her into his arms, ready to take her home for the first time.

One year later, Ava was sitting in Horatio's lap as they talked to Marisol as they had every other week since she'd become a Caine. She not only knew her mother now, but also had quickly found her way into the hearts of the entire lab and his team. Horatio liked to tease Ryan, as Ava had a bit of a crush on him. Her uncle Eric doted on her, and Calleigh and Alexx would take her out for "girly days". Ava told her mother these stories, all cuddled in her father's lap. His arms were wrapped securely around her, as the little girl's face grew more and more animated as she told of kindergarten and her friends. When she was finished, they both stood up. Ava laid a pink rose next to Marisol's grave.

"I love you, Mommy," she whispered. Horatio smiled and laid a white rose next to the pink one, touching his fingers to the carved name.

"As I do too," he said softly.

His daughter slipped a small hand into his and they walked to the car.

Where springtime made him so down and miserable, he knew that winter would now always be his favorite time of year, knowing that his family had been made complete during a cold time in his heart.