Chapter One

“So you and Speedle.” Eric was teasing me for the millionth time in the past three months. He was sitting behind me at the kitchen table, sipping his Cuban brand of coffee whilst I prepared a chicken stir fry.

“No not me and Speedle.” I remarked firmly with my back to him. He’d been teasing me mercilessly for the past few months about how me and Speedle should be getting together sometime soon. Little did he know…

I turned to him waving the spatula threateningly in his direction.

“What is your weird little fascination with attempting to get me and Speedle to hook up?” I asked him, placing a hand on my hip. Eric stared at me innocently sipping his coffee.

“Well since you ask so nicely…He’s a lonely guy in need of some TLC, you’re an attractive female. You do the math.” I ignored his comment and turned back towards the sizzling pan in front of me manipulating it with my spatula again.

“He’s sarcastic, and gruff and stubborn, and hardly ever shaves.” I added; practically feel Eric’s lips curve into a smile.

“Perfect match.” He snorted, ducking as I threw the dish cloth at his face. He caught hold of it and set it down on the table. I glared at him over my shoulder before returning to my stir fry. With all honesty I had to say this was the longest I’d ever kept a secret like this to myself. I’d been in a relationship with Speedle for the past three months. Nobody knew, at work we acted as professionals, at night well…we were lovers. I loved to think this was the labs best kept secret.

“Eric… Uncle Eric…” Abbey yanked at Eric’s knee as placed his coffee cup down on the table. Over the last few months Eric had taken a more effective role on our lives than I ever would have imagined. He became a primary figure in both our lives, but more so Abbey’s. Uncle Eric wasn’t genetically her uncle, but he fitted well into the emotional role, as he did with me. Eric was the big brother I didn’t really have, and part of the father role that Abbey would never have. Yet I was making up for that big time right now. Timmy Speedle was becoming more like her parent every day. When she caught flu, he was the only one who could persuade her to take the cough syrup the doctor had given us, and damn I had tried. When she’d lost Brownlow the bear on a boat trip around the harbour, Tim had been the one to surprise her with a multicoloured stuffed fish, which diverted her attention from her other missing companion.

Abbey’s squealing bought me out of my reverie as I came to see Eric bouncing her playfully on his knee, her flailed up in the air, waving her picture book above her head. At least he wasn’t teaching her Spanish. Unconcerned I took the pan off the stove and began dishing out the meal, taking care to put a smaller portion on to Abbey’s plate. Picking up the plates in my hands I almost dropped them when I head Eric asking Abbey in a mischievous attempt to tease me.

“What do you think of mommy and Speed Abbey?” I almost dropped the plates. Barely making it to the table, I gave Eric an eye narrowing glare which he ignored, probably guessing there was nothing to it.

“I don’t like it when they kiss, it’s gross.” My eyes widened as I slumped down into my own seat repeating the phrase “Was the lab’s most well kept secret.” Eric’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at me dumbfounded. A look of contentment brushed across his face as he leaned over ton me again with a grin on his face.

“So you and Speed?” I picked at my food, slipping it into my mouth.

“It’s nothing really.” I told him, staring into my plate distracted. Abbey was now in her chair, happily munching on the crispy vegetable ion front of her.

“He stays here every night and read me bed time stories. Sometimes he does the voices too.” Abbey told Delko confidently, scooping more food onto her mouth. I groaned inwardly. I was never gonna live this down. Delko raised his eyes up to meet mine, a grin etched on his face.

“Nothing eh?” he replied. I pursed my lips together whilst playing with my food. Abbey was humming to herself now, swinging her little legs as she did.

“How long has this been going on?” Eric asked, slipping some food in his mouth. He didn’t seem mad, in fact he seemed overjoyed. Probably due to the fact he can mercilessly tease us both now. I scooped some food into my mouth and chomped down on it thoughtfully.

“About three months.” I answered with a smile. For our three month anniversary, Tim had taken me to the beach, with a gourmet picnic he’d made himself. We watched the sun go down and made love on the beach.

“You only got here three months ago.” Eric grinned from across the table, leaning on his elbow to support his face.

“So?”

“So you work fast girl.” I shot him a look of distaste before replying.

“It was just something that kind of happened.” Eric snorted in reply. I glared at him.

“You just “fell” on him?” he laughed, that forced a smile to my lips.

“It was the day where Abbey came back to Miami.” I didn’t want to say the time Mark brought her over and left her here. Every time I mentioned Mark Abbey clammed up. So in our household he didn’t exist anymore. He didn’t exist in our lives anymore. Eric nodded in response to my statement. I knew he remembered that day as well as I did. It was practically hell day. Mark had brought Abbey back weeks earlier than he was supposed to, telling me he wanted nothing to do with her. Investigating a crime scene, I’d nearly had my throat slit, and Speedle had been stabbed. It had been a hard day and after everything I kind of resolved that I should take care of Speedle for a while, whilst he was on the mend. Which in turn resulted in the first few steps into our relationship.

“So you’ve kept it a secret for three months? While I’ve been trying to set you both up.” Eric shook his head in disbelief.

“Don’t you feel like you’ve been tricked?” I teased. Eric’s fell on me as he began rather innocently.

“So when I ask Speed tomorrow…” I interrupted him quickly.

“Don’t you dare.” I murmured, narrowing my eyes at him. “It’s a secret for a reason.”

Eric raised an eyebrow in reply.

“You’re ashamed to be seen with guy that never shaves?” He mocked.

“Speed’s face feels like a cat.” Abbey offered from her place at the table, still eating it slowly. I stifled a laugh as did Eric.

“No. We’re just trying to keep it professional. All work, no play in the lab. It’ll bring out all sorts of rumours.” I told him, pushing my plate away from me. I hadn’t realized I’d been eating so much whilst I was talking.

“God knows you don’t need anymore of that.” Eric pointed out. He was standing up now, taking both mine and his plates to the sink.

“You finished with that Princess?” he asked Abbey. She nodded pushing her plate towards him. She turned to me smile full beam.

“Thank you mommy.” I returned her smile, as I helped her off of her chair and into the floor.

“Your welcome sweetheart.” I answered. Abbey moved up to Eric, standing next to him as he washed the dishes in the sink.

“I want to help.” She told him matter of factly. Eric eyeballed me before crouching down to Abbey.

“I think you’re a little small to help Princess.” Eric told her. Abbey pouted at him, hands on her hips.

“Mommy lets me put the forks and spoons away.” She told Eric hotly. He laughed at her stance.

“Sure.” As he dried he gave Abbey the forks and spoons so she could put them away.

“Hey, do you need any help with Abbey’s birthday party?” Eric asked me, leaning against the counter while he dried some of the cutlery. Abbey was turning four in the next few weeks, and it was up to me to organise a small birthday party with around fifteen children of the same age running around and playing party games. When it came to this, I was clueless.

“Alexx is giving me a hand with the ideas and stuff for the party. I’ll probably need some help setting up before hand, and tidying after. Do you mind?” I asked him. He smiled good naturedly and shook his head.

“Of course not, I’d be insulted if you didn’t invite me.” He told me.

“I could never leave Abbey’s Uncle Eric out.” I commented in a childish voice.

“If you need any help…” he added.

“I’ll call you.” I told him enforcing the subject. I’d become a bit better about accepting help from others. I stood up taking a dish cloth and started wiping the table.

“Hey what do you think of all this new stuff?” I asked him curiously, glancing at him as I moved around the table. Over the last three months the lab had gone through a complete make over, the labs had changed and it was taking a while to get used to the new surroundings that we were in. On top of that new staff and a new department had been brought in. New lab techs had been hired in the last week, CSI Ryan Wolfe previously from patrol was now working with us, doing a mixture of things. Right now he was doing some of Speed’s work, due to the fact Speed was in a conference until late tonight, He’d be in tomorrow. Ryan Wolfe specialised in a variation of things while came in pretty handy. Natalia Boa Vista had also been employed; her speciality cold cases, her and Eric seemed to be getting on pretty well.

“It’s weird to get used to, but a lot of things are making it easier.” He smirked. Him and Ryan weren’t getting on so well, ever since Ryan claimed Delko’s evidence on a case.

“Like Boa Vista?” I remarked smiling. Eric looked at me stunned. I let my eyes drift back down to the table top.

“You’re not exactly very subtle.” I explained gently. He grinned at me.

“Anyway one else having a secret relationship in the lab?” he shot back. I shook my head, still not wanting to tell him about Marisol and Horatio. Now that was the lab’s most well kept secret.

“I invited her to the party you know, she’s coming.” I told him conversationally, talking about Natalia.

Eric gave me contented smile, shaking his head and not saying anything more about the subject. Putting the drying towel away and he lifted Abbey up over his shoulder.

“Come on monster, I’ll take you out for ice cream.” He said, with a grin at me.

“Give mommy five minutes peace.” I watched him grateful as he carried a squirming Abbey outside to his car. It was great to have family sometimes, I let out a deep breath and took this opportunity to call Speed.