CHAPTER 1

The last one to leave the plane, String finally started slowly down the steps, taking his time trying to make the trip as painless as possible for his bruised body.

Dom waited at the bottom of the ramp in anticipation. He already knew the chances of Saint John coming back were slim, had known it a painfully long time and remembered it again each time String re-upped or extended his tour. He still missed him, but today was a day to celebrate. His boy was coming home.

Déjà vu, Dom thought as he waited as close to the flight line as he was allowed. There hadn't been as long of a separation, but there was just as much reason to celebrate today.

The plane landed and eventually the engines wound down to a stop, the passengers slowly coming down one or two at a time, picking up more along they way as the line continued. Again towards the end, he saw String first coming hand in hand with Caitlin, his new daughter in the other. Mike, his arm still in a sling, followed, with Saint John behind him ending the group.

It was good to see them although he knew he probably wasn't as glad to see them as they were to be back. Coming to greet them, he threw his arms around each of them, embracing them in a powerful hug.

"Good to see you, Dom."

"Not as good as it is to see all of you."

With a weary grin he handed over the tiny bundle he carried in his arms. "I think it's about time you meet you new granddaughter. This is Mia."

Cradling the baby, he looked down at what he thought must be the quiescence of perfection, amazed at just how small she was. Suddenly he could understand String's fears of breaking her, yet at the same time couldn't bear the thought of setting her down. "She's beautiful, String. And don't you worry about anything. I know you're going to do a fine job raising her just like you have been with Chance."

"That remains to be seen, I wouldn't say my track record is all that great myself. But let's not dwell on that at the moment though. Right now I just want ten hours of uninterrupted sleep."

"That's understandable. Catching up can wait until tomorrow I guess. Climb into the jeep and I'll drop ya'll off at home."

"You don't have to drop us off, Dom. I know you're tired too. We can stay at the hangar tonight or-"

"Nonsense. You may think that until you try sleeping on one of those old cots, but one you do I can assure you you will feel differently. If you don't mind not going out the cabin tonight, I'm not going to argue, but at least stay at my place tonight. Bunk beds and a sofa have got to be better than a piece of material stretched over a metal frame."

"Ok," he agreed, too tired to fight. And it was better, he knew, a lot better.

"You can stay with Ellie and I if you want to, Mike," Saint John offered.

"You sure? I mean, I could get a hotel in town or something if it's an inconvenience."

"It's not a problem, I have a lot more room now that… I never told you did I? Wow, I've been an idiot! Do you remember Ellie Mae?"

"Yeah."

"We're engaged, planning on getting married soon, maybe in the summer. I wanted to ask if you'd be in the wedding, but just realized I never told you we were getting married."

"Congratulations. I wish you both the best. As far as being in it though, I would love to. I just don't know where the Air For- You know what? To hell with it. Of course I'll be there. I'd be honored to."

"It's not going to be a problem with your schedule? I would understand if it was. You still have to meet your quals sometime soon I know, and-"

"I'm not going to be flying much like this anyway for a while. It will work out," Mike assured him. "I may not know how exactly yet, but I'll make sure it does. After all, it's not every day your best friend gets married."

\A/

The Next Morning

Just out of the shower, Saint John finished getting dressed as quickly as possible, afraid the bedroom door would eventually give way to the herd of kids eager to greet him after his extended absence.

Even as he finished fastening his belt, he opened the door, getting pounced upon by Le, Chance, and Joshua as soon as he did so.

"Saint John," Ellie called from down the hall as soon as he had managed to free himself.

"Yes?"

"The others are meeting at the diner for breakfast, are you going?"

"Sure, what time?"

"In fifteen minutes."

"Alright, I'll be ready," he answered, glancing at the clock on the nightstand. It would be more of a lunch meet, it already being 10:45, but he'd like the chance to catch up all the same. "Is Mike around?" he asked as he walked up the hall toward the living room where his fiancé was finishing getting ready.

"He just stepped outside," she replied. "What exactly happened to him?" she queried in a quieter tone, afraid she would somehow upset him if he overheard.

Saint John shook his head. "I don't know the details. His pickup plane was booby trapped, the whole thing blew sky high when they stepped inside."

"How's he doing? He looks pretty good, but…"

"It's wait and see. He messed up the one arm really good; the burns weren't as bad as they seemed though."

She nodded in acknowledgment. "What about Caitlin and String? They were only here for a minute last night. I heard she lost the kid, but I didn't want to ask so soon."

"She lost one," he confirmed, the expression on his face reminding her it wasn't east for him either. "Almost lost both, " but Mia appears to have inherited the propensity for survival. Plenty of doctor visits since she's premature, but they think the odds are looking pretty decent." He just hoped he could say the same for the rest of them.