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BONUS POSTINGS ALERT!
Hey guys. This story has taken on a bit of a life of its own and as per usual with these things I can't seem to stop tweaking so what I'm gonna do is break it up into three parts so I can get this first bit posted. I'll post chapters 2 and 3 tomorrow and Sunday.
Atlantic City (1/3)
Borgata Hotel & Casino
Friday 2:00 P.M.
Joseph Rollins followed the uniformed bellhop across the room, handed her a generous tip and thanked her for the help with their bags. As soon as the suite's heavy oak door closed behind the enthusiastic young employee with a soft thud he turned to face his traveling companions.
"This place is amazing," Elizabeth said, her head on a swivel, taking in floor to ceiling windows and the tasteful furnishings. "I'm not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't this."
Nonna smiled. "When people hear Atlantic City they usually picture tacky and kitschy. This place is pretty much the opposite of that."
"I'll say." Joseph nodded his head in agreement.
"Look at this view." Grandma Ang's eyes moved from the hustle and bustle thirty floors below at street level to the placid water of the Atlantic Ocean clearly visible from the hotel's upper floors.
Elizabeth stood beside her mother. "It's a whole different world from up this high, isn't it?"
Something on the table in the corner of the room caught Joseph's eye. As he moved closer he saw a plate of assorted sweets and a basket of fancy coffees and teas. He picked up the note sitting beside the items on the table, read it, and smiled.
"Have a good time and try not to get into any trouble. Five-0 has no jurisdiction in Atlantic City. Love Steve, Catherine, Danny and Mary."
The women all chuckled as they joined him in examining the goodies.
"I'm sure these cookies aren't as good as yours, Nonna," Elizabeth smiled as she peeled back the plastic wrap covering the tray, "But I'm gonna have one anyway."
"Me too." Joseph eyed the cookies hungrily. "But there's no way they'll be as good as your knot cookies. I'm telling you, every time the UPS man knocks on the door I get excited. There's nothing better than a surprise cookie delivery from New Jersey."
"The poor man hates to knock on the door now if the package is from anywhere else," Grandma Ang said with a twinkle in her eye. "Joseph always looks so disappointed."
He smirked. "I shared a knot cookie with him once and he couldn't believe how delicious they are. He said he'd never had one before."
"Well he's lucky he's had one now," Elizabeth teased. "Getting you to share the knot cookies isn't easy."
"I'll double the batch next time," Nonna said delightedly. She was always happy to spread love with food.
"I'm not sure it would matter," Grandma Ang winked. "Joseph really loves those cookies. He could easily eat a double batch."
"It's true," Joseph nodded unashamedly. "But the good news is I try to take on extra chores to wear off the calories. Like putting these bags where they belong."
He reached down to pick up Nonna's suitcase and overnight bag. "Anyone have any preference as to sleeping arrangements?"
The suite had two bedrooms, each with two queen beds, located off opposite ends of the comfortable living room.
"Ang and I will share a room," Nonna said. "That way we won't disturb the two of you when we stay up late talking about our kids and grandkids and great grandkids. If that's ok with you, Ang."
"Absolutely," Grandma Ang nodded. "Sounds like fun to me."
"Ok," Joseph shook his head with a smile. "But just so you know, I haven't had to break up a late night sleepover gab session since Catherine was a teenager but I'm pretty sure I still remember how to do it."
"We'll keep that in mind." Nonna patted his arm as he moved past her before reaching down and snagging a French macaroon from the cookie tray.
"What time is it in Hawaii?" Grandma Ang looked at her watch and attempted to make the conversion in her head. "Maybe we should call the kids and let them know we got in safely."
"That's a great idea," Elizabeth said. "It's a little after 8 A.M. so they're definitely up."
Five-0 Headquarters
Friday
8:15 A.M.
The team was gathered around the smart table reviewing the evidence on their latest case when Catherine's phone buzzed with an incoming call. She smiled when she saw it was from her mother. She didn't step away as she answered, knowing Danny and Steve would want to hear what was happening first hand.
"Hi, Mom," she said with a smile. "I'm here with the whole team. I'm gonna put you on speaker."
"That sounds good, honey," Elizabeth replied. "I'll do the same."
Catherine placed the phone on the table in front of her. "Can you hear me ok?"
"Loud and clear," Elizabeth assured her as Joseph came out of the bedroom and brightened at the sound of his daughter's voice.
"Good. How's everything there. Are you getting settled in?" Catherine asked excitedly.
Steve smiled at her enthusiasm. Normally it was the kind of thing he might tease her about but this time he couldn't. He was every bit as thrilled about the trip as she was.
"We are. This place is amazing," Elizabeth responded.
"And thank you for the cookies and fancy coffees," Nonna added. "They were a lovely surprise."
"We knew they could never be as good as yours but we wanted you to have a little something to help keep your energy up," Danny chuckled.
"We'll have to flip a coin to see which kind of coffee to make first," Grandma Ang said. "They all sound delicious."
"Enjoy them," Steve said. "We asked and they said they'd have the right kind of coffeemaker in the room … "
Joseph glanced at the room's sideboard. "They do."
I can't remember the last time I ever stayed in a room this fancy," Nonna said, clearly impressed by her surroundings.
"Ditto," Grandma Ang added. "You kids really outdid yourselves."
"We're glad you like it," Catherine smiled, please that all seemed so happy with the suite.
"We won't keep you." Elizabeth said. "We know you're working. We just wanted to let you know we got here safe and sound."
"Thanks for calling," Steve replied sincerely. "And if you need anything you know where we are."
"Have a good time," the rest of the team chimed in.
"We will," Nonna assured them. "Oh and tell your friend we appreciate him arranging the early check-in." She looked at the other women in the room with a twinkle in her eye. "That way we have plenty of time to get ready for the show tonight."
Steve and Danny sighed loudly in unison.
"Have fun," they both grumbled as Catherine, Kono and Chin smirked at their ongoing discomfort at the thought of Nonna and Grandma Ang attending the burlesque review.
"We will," Grandma Ang chimed in, unable to resist getting in on the teasing. "We'll tell you all about it next time we talk."
"Can't wait," Steve said through a clenched jaw.
"You be safe. All of you," Elizabeth said. "We'll talk later."
"Bye. You guys have fun." Catherine disconnected the call and slipped the phone back into her pocket.
"Well I'll tell you one thing. I do not want to hear the details of that show," Steve said adamantly, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Luckily they don't allow picture taking at those kinds of things," Danny nodded, then suddenly looked stricken. "They don't, do they?"
Chin and Kono shrugged non-committally.
"You two aren't helping." Catherine pinned the cousins with a playful glare before turning back to Steve and Danny. "I'm sure you won't have to look at any pictures. And if you stopped making it so obvious how much you hate the idea of them going they'd stop teasing you about it."
"Easier said than done," Steve groused as Danny nodded in agreement.
Atlantic City
Borgata Hotel & Casino
Friday 3:00 P.M.
Nonna and Grandma Ang decided they had plenty of time to head to the casino and play the slot machines for an hour or so before coming back to the room and changing for dinner and the 8:00 P.M. performance of Burlesque at the Music Box Theatre.
Joseph and Elizabeth readily agreed. This weekend was all about Nonna and Grandma Ang having fun and whatever they wanted to do was just fine with the 'chaperones'.
Just as Joseph hung up from making a dinner reservation at Fornelletto the bedroom door opened and Nonna and Grandma emerged wearing matching t-shirts and beaming smiles.
"What … how did you … those are adorable," Elizabeth said as she moved closer to get a better look.
The grandmas were wearing white t-shirts with a picture of Steve, Danny, Catherine and Mary on the front, the same picture Grandma Ang had taped to the top of her lucky parfait container of BINGO chips. Emblazoned in black script were the words—My Grandchildren Got Me This Trip for Grandparents' Day.
"Where did you get those?" Elizabeth gasped.
"Kristy had them made for us at the mall," Grandma Ang said proudly.
"Ah," Elizabeth nodded. "That explains the mysterious package she delivered the other day."
"I wanted them to be surprise." Grandma Ang clapped her hands together, pleased she'd managed to keep the secret.
Joseph pulled out his phone and snapped some pictures. First of just Nonna and Grandma Ang and then with Elizabeth standing between them, all smiling brightly.
"I know some people that will absolutely love these," he said. "Now what do you say we go win some money?"
Casino Floor
3:30 P.M.
The grandmas smiled proudly each time someone commented on the shirts and happily regaled their new friends with stories of Steve, Catherine and Danny and how they were keeping Hawaii safe as well as their times in the Navy and with the New Jersey Police Department. They also spoke proudly of the progress Mary was making her life and what a great mother she'd become.
"You're very lucky," one older woman said enviously. "I'm lucky if I can get my grandkids to come over for dinner a couple of times a year."
"It's hard for them to get away, what with their jobs and Danny's Grace is in school and has all kinds of activities, and Mary has Joanie," Nonna explained. "Still they make it a priority to get back east to visit as often as possible."
"Plus," Grandma Ang smiled, "my daughter and son-in-law and I have started a new tradition of travelling to Hawaii for Thanksgiving. Last year I had my picture taken standing on a surfboard with a handsome man."
"Do your grandkids wanna adopt me?" a younger woman asked jokingly.
"When it comes to family there's always room for more," Nonna smiled.
Thirty minutes later Joseph stood next to Elizabeth near the edge of the room watching Grandma Ang and Nonna hold their audience spellbound.
"They're having the time of their lives aren't they?" he asked as he slipped his arm around his wife.
"Yes they are," Elizabeth smiled. "This was a great idea."
"They certainly love talking about the grandkids," Joseph smiled affectionately.
Elizabeth's tone was wistful. "They sure do."
"What are you thinking about?" Joseph nudged her shoulder. "You're a thousand miles away."
"I was just thinking about the first time Catherine brought Steve home for a visit."
"I remember it well," Joseph nodded, joining her in the memory. He'd met Steve prior, first in Catherine's apartment and then at lunch, but the visit was the first time he'd gotten to spend any amount of time with the man his daughter was clearly so fond of.
"He's a good man, that was clear from the start, but there was something in his eyes. He clearly loved Catherine but he'd been so hurt and seemed so afraid to love and to let himself be loved." Elizabeth shook her head, wondering for the millionth time how the adults in Steve's young life could have all failed him so monumentally.
Joseph nodded. "I remember watching his eyes as he tried to take everything in. It was like the concept of an actual family was foreign to him."
"And look at him now," Elizabeth grinned. "His face on a t-shirt while two women, neither of whom he's related to by blood, gush on about him like he's one of their own grandchildren."
"He's come a long way," Joseph agreed. "The love of a good woman certainly helped. I have personal experience with what a difference that can make."
Elizabeth smiled softly and kissed him on the cheek. "You make it very easy."
"Thank you. I do my best. Hey … I have a pocketful of quarters. Wanna give one of these machines a whirl?"
"Why not?" she smiled. "I'm feeling very lucky today."
Five-0 Headquarters
Friday 9:40 A.M.
Steve had just hung up from talking to Duke when his phone rang again, this time with a call from Mary.
"Hey, what's up?"
The sound of his sister's sniffles had him instantly on alert.
"Mary what's wrong? Are you okay? Is Joanie okay?"
"We're fine. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. It's just … " Mary said, trying to compose herself but failing.
"Just what? What's wrong?" There was no way Steve was going to relax until he knew exactly what was going on.
"Did you get the pictures Joseph texted?"
"I haven't had a chance to look." Steve grabbed a stack of new faxes out of the machine and headed into his office. "I've been on the phone most of the morning."
"I didn't mean to interrupt you. I know you're busy. When you get a chance though … "
"No, it's fine. I'll look now. Hold on."
Steve pulled up the texts from Joseph and looked at the pictures. It took him a minute to process what he was seeing.
"Wow."
He was nearly speechless.
"I know. Aren't those … I mean … it says 'my grandchildren'." Mary lost her battle to keep her tears at bay. "Grandma Ang and Nonna consider us …" She trailed off as the tears began to flow harder.
"That's … wow … yeah … " Steve said around the lump in his throat.
He loved both Nonna and Grandma Ang and knew they loved him back, even if it had taken him a while to actually wrap his mind around that fact, but there was something about seeing the sentiment in writing, and knowing they wanted to share it with everyone in Atlantic City that might see their shirts, that made his heart flutter unexpectedly.
Having them also include Mary, and knowing their love for his sister was every bit as deep and genuine as their love for him, was icing on the cake.
"It doesn't seem like that long ago I was convinced I'd never know what it felt like to be part of a real family."
"I know," Steve sighed. "I'm sorry you ever had to go through … "
Mary cut him off. "No more apologies. That's all in the past. Whatever happened back then brought me to where I am today. I can't regret it because it made me appreciate what I have now that much more."
"I'm glad," Steve smiled.
He was so proud of Mary and so happy that she was finally coming into her own. The strength he'd always known she had was finally showing through. He was sure part of that was becoming a mom but he also knew it was thanks in large part to the influence of Catherine and Elizabeth and Grandma Ang and Nonna.
Strong role models one and all.
"I called you because when I saw those pictures the strangest thing happened."
"What?" Steve asked softly.
"I looked at them and my first instinct was to call you. But not to say I couldn't believe we get to be part of this family. I just wanted to call and say how cool the shirts are and I wonder what the other people in the casino think. You know what I mean?"
Steve smiled when he realized what she was trying to say.
Her first thought was no longer disbelief that she was actually loved by these people. She no longer felt unsure about her place in their new family.
"They really are cool, aren't they?"
"Yes, they are. They're exactly the kind of dorky shirts grandmas make and wear in public to embarrass their grandchildren."
"Except we're not embarrassed."
"No, we're not. Because we know how lucky we are."
"Yes, we definitely are." Steve looked up and smiled as he saw Catherine enter the bullpen.
"OK I gotta run. I wanna get some laundry done while Joanie is distracted watching Sesame Street. I just wanted to make sure you'd seen the pictures. Give my love to Catherine and tell her I'll call her later."
"Will do."
"I hope Nonna and Grandma Ang aren't too tired for a quick Skype tonight after the Burlesque show. I can't wait to hear all the details."
"We were having a nice moment there and then you had to go and ruin it," Steve sighed.
"What's the matter big brother. I mean sure there's some nakedness … you know a few bare breasts and all … but … "
"I'm done talking to you." The exasperated tone in his voice made Mary giggle. "Clearly Catherine has involved you in her plot to drive Danny and me crazy with this whole burlesque thing."
"It's just so easy," Mary said in a sing-song voice.
"So I'm told." Steve smiled as he watched Catherine look at her phone. Her hand flew to her mouth and he knew she was looking at the pictures Joseph had sent. "I gotta go, Mare. I'll talk to you later."
"Talk to you soon."
"Hey, before you go. I just wanna say … "
"What?"
"It's good to hear you sound so happy."
"Thanks. It's good to feel happy."
"I can't argue with you there." As Steve continued to watch Catherine Danny entered the bullpen waving his arms wildly and holding his phone. When Catherine smiled at him he rolled his eyes. Steve assumed he was reacting to the t-shirts with his usual grumpiness.
But beneath all the grumbling Steve knew his partner loved his family far too much to be embarrassed by such a display.
"Give Joanie a kiss from us."
"I will. Talk to you soon."
Steve disconnected the call and headed for the bullpen.
"Have you seen these pictures?" Danny asked and he couldn't help but smile.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I have."
END CHAPTER 1
Next up: The Burlesque Show
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