Title: One Thing Leads to Another
Author: Kacey
Rating: FRT or PG-13
Fandom: CSI: Miami
Pairing: implied Eric/Ryan
Summary: The team finally meets Eric's son.
Disclaimer: I don't own them. Just borrowing them for fun.
Fic Prompt: # 18: Children
Warnings: Inspired by the table on AU100, I think. Anyway, on some lj, I don't remember which one. I've created an AU based on the characters in CSI: Miami and the premises of the show. Also totally inspired by the Sylum Clan, not that this contains vampires, because I assure you, it does not. I do not own these characters, their creators and producers, CBS, etc. do. Each story will be part of this AU. The overall rating is FRMA or NC-17, but not all stories will be rated that. In this AU, Ryan is not a cop or CSI. And Speed is alive. The main pairings are Eric/Ryan, Horatio/Speed and anyone else I might add in. Some stories might be crossovers, I'll try to give warnings for each story.
Note: Late Season Two

***

Alexx and her family, Peter, her husband, and Janie and Bryan, her children, pulled into Horatio's driveway for the barbecue they were having to meet Eric's son. Calleigh, Ray, Jr. and Yelina came out to greet them, helping Alexx carry in the food, the kids running off together into the backyard. Frank opened the door for them and then followed them into the kitchen.

Speed and Horatio looked up and smiled at the newcomers. They were at the refrigerator taking things out and placing them on the island to be carried outside. Now all they needed was for Eric to show up. A few minutes later, Eric pulled up in the driveway, parking next to Alexx's SUV.

He got out of his car, opening the driver's side passenger door, helping out a boy. They then walked around to the other side, helping out a little girl.

Frank, who was at the door to help them in, looked back and asked, "I thought Delko only had one child?"

"He does," Horatio answered. "I'm fairly positive that the girl is his son's sister."

Nodding his head in understanding, Frank opened the door for when they were closer, greeting Eric and saying hello to both children. The boy looked up and around at everyone once they were in the house and promptly hid behind Eric. The girl, on the other hand, bounced up to Frank and held out her hand.

"I'm Desdemona, but you can call me Des," she introduced. "That's my brother, Antony, but call him Tony. When he feels more comfortable, he'll come out from behind Poppa."

Eric winced at that term, smiling pleasantly down at her when she looked up at him. Des then bounced over to everyone, introducing herself and her brother in the process. Alexx thought she was absolutely adorable, and the two took to each other right away. A few minutes later, Des followed Alexx outside, already calling her Aunt Alexx.

Evil smile on his face, Speed asked, "Poppa?"

"Yeah," Eric uncomfortably said, walking over to them. "She's decided that since Tony gets to have two fathers, so does she, especially since he's her brother."

"Well, well, Eric," Calleigh teased. "Seems like you get an instant family. All that's missing is the wife."

"There won't be a wife," Tony piped up. "Daddy already said he's not getting married again, and Grandma Delko said that Poppa won't ever get married."

"Really?" Eric asked. "Momma said that?"

"Two nights ago when we had supper," Tony solemnly said. "She was complaining about that fact that she has four children and only eight grandchildren."

"Was she now?"

All he did was nod his head and look in the direction his sister had run off in. However, he didn't run after her; he kept himself attached to Eric's side.

"Don't you want to go play?" Eric asked, desperation in his voice.

Speed quickly turned around and tried not to laugh out loud, Horatio shooting him a reproachful look. Yelina smiled kindly and asked, "Why don't we go take a walk and meet everyone else, little one?"

The boy looked at her and then up at Eric. Finally, he took a step away and reached out for her hand. She took it and led him out the door, shooting an amused smile at Eric. Sighing heavily in relief, Eric slumped back against the wall he was next to and groaned, "I never knew that having a kid was so much work."

Loud laughter came from Speed's direction. He slid down the cabinet and sat on the floor, holding onto his sides he was laughing so hard. Horatio smiled in amusement while Eric rolled his eyes in exasperation. After several minutes of listening to his laughter, Speed finally took a deep breath and stopped laughing.

Looking up at Eric, he said, "You were so very obvious at trying to get rid of him, Eric. Although, it does look like you got two for the price of one. She's a little fire cracker. Must be quite entertaining to have around. I'm surprised Wolfe let you take his daughter as well."

"We, the two of us, don't have much choice," Eric admitted. "Tony won't go anywhere without her. I think that threw Ryan for a loop as well."

"Ryan is it?" Speed asked. "He lets you call him Ryan?"

"It's his name," Eric replied. "What am I supposed to call him, 'Tony's father'?"

"Mr. Wolfe or Wolfe works just as well," Speed commented.

"That just confuses Tony and Des," Eric explained. "We mutually decided that it would just be easier to call each other by our first names."

"Oh. Anyway, help us carry out this stuff," Speed ordered.

"Yes, sir," Eric teased.

"What time is your family coming over?" Horatio asked.

"Later. They wanted to give you guys a chance to meet Tony. None of us knew that Des was coming along until this morning," Eric replied. "Not even her father."

"She's very forward and has no concept of shyness," Horatio commented.

"No, she doesn't," Eric said.

"I sense a story behind that," Speed teased.

"Keep sensing all you want," Eric shot back, grabbing a load of things and walking outside.

Speed laughed, and he and Horatio followed Eric outside.

----------------------------

Four hours later, Des had fallen asleep in Speed's lap after talking his ear off about anything and everything. He had fallen asleep not long after she had. Alexx thought it was rather cute. Eric thought it was absolutely hilarious and had taken several pictures; he wasn't going to let Speed live this down. After about an hour nap, Eric's family showed up for dinner.

Horatio woke Speed up, who woke Des up. She spotted Clorinda and ran right over, chattering away at a hundred miles an hour. Clorinda looked incredibly amused, but, nonetheless, was absolutely delighted to entertain her. She had thought that it was great when it became obvious that Eric had gained two children, not just one. Des absolutely adored Clorinda and vice versa.

Once again, everyone sat down and ate. After they had put a pretty good sized dent in the food, the children ran off to play again. The adults sat at the tables and talked or played cards. Calleigh, Eric, Marisol and Speed were in a pretty competitive game of Pitch when Ryan walked through the gate and into the backyard.

"I'm sorry to just, well basically trespass, but I really need to speak with you, Eric," he said. "I really, really hate to ask this of you, but…could you keep Des overnight as well? I have a slight emergency."

"What's the emergency?" Eric asked.

"Senora Carlotta's youngest son was arrested," he tersely explained. "I need to bail him out and find out what the DA has on him in order to figure out how to proceed."

"Sure, I can keep her," Eric said. "But you have got to tell me how to tire her out. She's wearing me out."

Smirking, Ryan replied, "She'll do that to you. Just let her run wild. By about nine, she'll be out."

"Do you promise?"

"No, I'm not making that promise," Ryan laughed. "Once she finds out she's staying over, she'll be too excited to sleep. Your best bet would be not to mention it at all."

"Gee thanks," Eric sarcastically responded.

"No problem, man," Ryan said. "And thank you so much. I can't wait until my grandparents get back from Europe and Grandpere takes over daily operations of the firm again. It'll be like having a vacation."

"Does she need anything?"

"I have her bag in the car. Let me just go get it."

"I'll just go with you. Then you can come say goodbye to your kids --"

"And have something to eat, young man," Clorinda sternly said. "You've lost weight since the last time I saw you. You need to make sure you eat regular meals."

"I need to get to the police station --"

"Don't argue with me, young man," Clorinda warned. "Just ask Eric what happens."

"Very well, Clorinda," Ryan acquiesced.

"Good. I'll make you a plate," she ordered. "Go say hello to your children."

"Yes, ma'am."

Ryan sat down and talked with them as he ate, Tony attached to his side like he would never let go. Des, on the other hand, climbed up on Eric's lap when he sat down next to her father. She would talk to both of them and make them talk to each other. Everyone thought it was extremely amusing, including Ryan. He left about an hour later, leaving Eric with an extremely giddy Des who was running around the backyard talking with everyone.

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Two years later

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Speed walked back over to the tree that Eric and Ryan were hiding behind. When he could see them again, he smiled. They were standing together, arms wrapped around each other, simply soaking up each other's presence. With four kids, I'll bet it's really hard to find time alone, Speed thought.

"All right guys, Alexx says your time is up. Get over here pronto," Speed said.

"We'll be right there, Speed," Eric said, muffled by Ryan's shoulder.

"I'll be waiting on the other side of this tree," Speed warned. "If you're not around here in two minutes, I'll take drastic measures."

Ryan laughed and asked humorously, "And just what would those 'drastic measures' entail?"

"I haven't decided yet, but that doesn't mean you'll like it."

"I never like your measures, Speed," Eric said. "They always involve you embarrassing me."

"You shouldn't make it so easy then, Eric."

Groaning softly, Eric promised, "We'll be right there. Go away."

Looking back over his shoulder, he smiled when he saw them kissing again. Turning back to their friends, he made his way back. Ryan broke off the kiss several minutes later, breathing heavily. They were just about to go join their friends when Alex's angry cry cut through the park.

"There goes the rest of my day," Ryan pouted. "Why doesn't she want you?"

"She just loves you more," Eric teased. "That or she's just more used to you."

"I hate you," Ryan said, pushing Eric off of him to go take care of their daughter.

"Not what you said last night, love."

"Shut up, Eric."

***