A/N: With only 13 days until Christmas, I couldn't resist in posting it now. This story is an epilogue to Reunions, which is an AU story where Miller fall in love with Wolf's sister Larrin (OC) and includes another OC called 'Doc' a.k.a. Hannah St Claire who had a flirty thing with Wolf. This story is set after S3 thus some things and timeline are out of sync with the show. Please suspend all reality on this fiction as I made it all up to suit my imagination including the weather. So please enjoy!

Chapter One

"I'm saying you should probably dial it back just a little bit like you did in here." Tex advised Larrin as they returned from Miller's apartment where Larrin had asked for his opinion on her decorating Miller's apartment. It was like Christmas had exploded in the apartment which was rather confronting at least for Tex. He knew Miller would love it just because Larrin did it. The two were a grossly adorable couple. They had promise rings and talked about their future and making it work with Larrin's goals and his job with the Navy. They managed to find a compromise in it all, they didn't even fight. Something Tex thought was unnatural but made no comment on.

"But I thought Americans do Christmas all big and wonderful." Larrin said with a frown as she and Tex placed the grocery bags on the table. Kat was out with friends doing some kind of volunteer program for school. She wouldn't be home for a couple more hours.

"Yeah, we do but we don't turn our houses into a department store window display." Tex joked, he saw Larrin's confusion and remembered that she didn't really have a frame of reference. Something he'd learnt on the drive back to the house but it did explain why when they decorated the tree at his house she kept looking for more decorations even when he assured them that they had enough.

They'd discussed Christmas in Australia and apparently the Taylor's version of Christmas was sweating through a heat wave with a two gum tree branches covered in fairy lights and presents underneath. So the current snow covered St Louis was a real culture shock for her but then Thanksgiving had been amusing for all given Larrin had eaten half a can of cranberry jelly mistakenly thinking the sliced jelly was canned beetroot that had gone off. But she ate it without complaint because she thought it was rude to mention that it tasted 'off'.

"It's our first Christmas. I just want it to be perfect." Larrin told Tex with a sigh as she moved into the kitchen to start making Gingerbread and Anzac biscuits for Christmas tomorrow. Weather permitting it was going to be a big gathering of anyone who was in St Louis at Tex's house. From what he knew it was going to be around 20 people but then there was a forecast for heavy snow. Not that anyone had RSVP for event but then it was pot luck and Tex bought paper plates and plastic cutlery to cut down on the washing.

"Trust me, Miller will just be happy seeing you tonight when we meet them at the airport." Tex assured her, he watched Larrin's shoulders tense and she turned to face him.

"Ah, I'm not going. Ms Miller told me not to go to the airport to meet Eric." Larrin told him, Tex sometimes wanted to tell that woman to take a flying leap given she had no right to tell Larrin what to do. But he also understood her reasons, she was a single mother who wanted time with her son who'd just suffered a fairly public and traumatic experience.

"It's not about you. It's just been her and Miller for a long while. It's hard to adjust to having a third person in the mix." Tex said diplomatically. But he knew it didn't help.

"She told me I should just go back to Australia as it's going to happen sooner or later. I know she'll be there, so I don't want to create a scene." Larrin said looking dejected and hurt, she tried everything to get on Ms Miller's good side but failed miserably. Even when Miller was taken hostage by Pirates, the woman wouldn't give Larrin the time of day and told her to just go. It wasn't just Ms Miller but also the fact that she wasn't ever going back to Australia.

Wolf had gone to Australia, he'd found out their family had died during the riots. The shock of their family's death and it just being the two of them had deeply impacted them both. The grief had torn their sibling relationship apart as Larrin had been ready to jump on a plane to say goodbye to their family; to have some closure but he informed her there wasn't anything left. He'd been angry and lashed out, it was how he processed the pain, he'd told her to stay in America and that he'd come home but that promise he'd given over 8 months ago.

He didn't come home, he just disappeared until she got a phone call a week ago saying he was on the Nathan James and be in St Louis on Christmas Eve. she had wanted to tell him to not bother but he was her brother and as much as it hurt for him to abandon her as he did. She understood why.

The pain and grief of losing her family had consumed her for a time and Wolf's silence had cut deep. Miller had been there with her for a time but then he was called for deployment. She understood his duty and managed to wish him well. In his absence others stepped up and helped her.

Hannah and Rachel kept her busy with work and her studies. Tex and Kat were happy for her to live with them as she couldn't stand being alone. It was nice to be back at Tex's house, she loved staying at Miller's apartment when he was home but at this junction of her life. She needed to be surrounded by people. She was lucky as she had many people around her that cared and she cared for them too.

"I think you shouldn't worry about her. If she wants to hate you then that's her loss." Tex said to her.

"Yeah." Larrin said defunctly but she wanted Ms Miller to like her. But she couldn't do anything right and she seemed to be of the opinion that there were many nicer American girls that would suit her son. So she just pushed the thoughts away and focused on making biscuits because baking was fun and she knew Wolf would love having Anzac biscuits as it was a taste of their old it was a peace offering of sorts.

"What can I do?" Tex asked her, but before Larrin could answer the front door opened. A cold blast of icy air came through the door as Kara came in dressed in winter wear holding what looked to be a mini pink Michelin man which was Frankie in disguise.

"Oh you're home." She said with a smile of relief as she shut the door behind her.

"We are." Tex said with a smile.

"Huge favour." Kara said.

"You want us to look after Frankie." Tex said as the pink marshmallow was waving it's arms.

"Yes, my mom is down with a bad cold." Kara said looking exhausted, the really nice part was that 'bad cold' wasn't a code word for 'hangover' as Debbie had been sober for 8 months counting and it seemed to be sticking this time.

"Sure, hand over the Marshmallow." Tex said with a smile as he lifted a four month old Frankie out of Kara's arms. The baby girl was dressed in a puffer onesie that made her look like a mini Michelin man. It seemed like overkill for a short walk from next door but no one made a comment as it was damnable cold outside. The weatherman was predicting heavy snowfall which Larrin couldn't wait for as she was enjoying the snow but hadn't manage to catch the part where the snow fell from the sky moment only the aftereffects.

"Thank you, I'm late for work." Kara said immensely grateful.

"It's always the way. They give you a promotion yet?" Tex asked, Kara had been the one to take down Alison Shaw who'd been a spy for the MSS. She'd been feeding intel to the Chinese Government that led to the Pirates being able to kidnap Miller and the others, the deaths of the crew on the Shackleton and Haywood. One of the IT guys had find out how the information was being sent but Kara had done the legwork and found the leak.

"No, but I think I'll be forgiven for being late in this weather. I've gotta go." Kara said, she kissed Frankie's forehead in a gesture of goodbye before she rushed out the door.

"How's that? Looks like I'm forever surrounded by women." Tex said with a smile as Frankie tried to grab his beard but her puffer onesie had inbuilt gloves that impede her efforts.

"Like you're hating it." Larrin said as she pulled out the ingredients she needed.

"Nah, I love it." Tex said fondly as he laid her on the dining table. He removed the puffer onesie off and lifted Frankie back into his arms for a cuddle. "Hi, yes I have facial hair it's very exciting." he told her as Frankie was learning to grasp things and his beard seemed to always get her attention. She tried to grab his beard but at the last minute Tex turned his head and blew a raspberry on her tiny hand that made her giggle.

"We'll be making port in half an hour, then just 20 minutes to the airport where a Hercules will take us to St Louis." Burk said as he sat down next to Miller who was sitting opposite Danny, Wolf and Sasha. Sasha had become an honorary member of their team, and Miller had to admit she kind of reminded him of Larrin in that she was totally kick ass, intelligent and fit right in with the rest of them.

"That's great. I can't wait to get home." Danny said with a sigh as he and the others had no duties while the ship made port. So it was all a waiting game as they had their bags packed and ready to go. His phone pinged with a new message. all those around the table were receiving messages as they were in mobile range. "Back in mobile range." he said as he opened the message from Tex and smiled.

"Awwh, that's adorable." Sasha said with a chuckle as she looked over his shoulder to see it was baby Frankie covered in flour and god knew what; holding a raw crushed Gingerbread man in her hand. The caption read 'baker in the making'.

"Yeah, that's my girl destroying everything in sight." Danny said proudly as he showed the photo around to the others. The men wore smiles of appreciation before Danny turned it back to himself to read the other messages to see what he'd missed out. Kara and he had made the decision that she'd text him videos and photos and whatever to keep him up to date on what was happening at home.

"Everything alright Taylor?" Burk asked as Wolf was looking at his old Nokia phone darkly. Wolf shook his head and looked at Miller.

"You knocked up my sister." Wolf said with a look that could kill. He'd received over 23 missed calls and had voice to text messages for voice mail. All of them were nearly indecipherable except the common theme of 'Lair-in' and 'pregnant'. Meaning his sister was knocked up an Wolf only knew of one person who could be responsible for that state.

"What?" Miller asked confused as he had messages from Larrin and they were all good news and hints of his Christmas present. Not like he cared as he just wanted to get to his apartment and lay in their bed and sleep with her in his wanted other things too like kissing her senseless and reacquainting himself with her. But he just wanted to see her and be with her.

"She phoned me and left messages. I thought you'd let her finish her PhD." Wolf said, pissed as his sister was pregnant which meant her priorities would shift and she would be further delayed from reaching her goals which wasn't fair after the hell she had gone through.

"Trust me, Larrin is not pregnant an she finished her PhD. three months ago." Miller assured him, he knew who was pregnant but it wasn't his place to say and frankly Wolf was being a bit of an asshole. He'd been that way since he found out his family was dead. Granted it meant they all cut him slack but Miller wasn't going to let this time go. Because his relationship with Larrin was none of Wolf's business and he felt it wasn't respectful for Wolf to talk about it so publicly.

"Because the Navy taught us safe sex is very important. Miller always follows the rules." Burk said jokingly defending Miller.

"Shut up Burk." Wolf said angry at Miller, but if her were honest he was more angry at himself for being out of the loop with his sister. He knew if a real emergency cropped up the CNO would have told him. But now he was learning Larrin had finished her PhD. He wondered when she decided to do that and then figured maybe the pregnancy made her speed up the need to get it done.

"No, you're coming down hard on our boy when he's been nothing but a gentleman to Larrin. They've been dating for a while and if they want to have kids it's really got nothing to do with you." Burk told him in a matter of fact manner. Not that it was his business but he felt protective of Miller as the man had a rough go this deployment and Burk felt that if Larrin was pregnant it should be good news. Not the excuse for a fight and angst.

"We're not having kids yet." Miller said as he felt the need to say as much. Even though he' made no promises to Wolf, there had been an understanding that Miller wouldn't impede Larrin in reaching her goals.

"Yet my sister is pregnant." Wolf argued.

"No, she's not. She's faithful unlike some people." Miller said muttering the last part but Wolf heard it.

"How could you know for certainty?" Wolf asked ignoring the gibe at his character.

"We're saving ourselves for Marriage." Miller said bluntly, his cheeks went a deep red as he realised he just announced that he was abstaining from sex. Something that was not cool and he didn't like talking about his sex life with his friends. Sure he and Larrin hadn't had sex yet but they'd done a lot of other things but he wasn't going to say that.

"What?!" Burk said before he burst out laughing in disbelief. Danny kicked him under the table. Wolf looked stunned.

"I think that is incredibly romantic." Sasha said smiling in a way that made Miller feel less like he was a loser as most guys think if you dated a beautiful woman then you must have sex with her. To not do so was like committing a crime. It was also a bragging right, one Miller didn't understand as he thought it was disrespectful but he kept his mouth shut.

"Agreed." Danny said taking Sasha's side. He liked that Miller wasn't the average 20 something who only thought with dick or stomach. He'd been that guy and was glad he'd matured out of it now.

"Doesn't explain the messages." Wolf said, Sasha snatched his phone from him and started reading the messages. She frowned.

"It Santa. I olay day...you want a bee like that Lair in Kaye... the rest is dashes which means the machine couldn't pick up the words. last part; Pregnant, cull me." She read out loud. Those at the table looked to Wolf like he'd lost his marbles.

"That makes no sense." Burk said with a frown as he didn't know how Wolf made the conclusions he had.

"Agreed." Danny said looking confused.

"Christmas balls ain't up last week, Mill her boned me but I see you R too busy?" Sasha asked as she read the next message out loud which lead to more frowns. She knew she was reading the messages verbatim but they made no sense and encryption was her one of her many specialities.

"That is terrible. What am I going to do with my Christmas balls if they ain't up?" Burk deadpanned much to the amusement of everyone though they couldn't figure out why it was amusing.

"How old is that phone?" Danny asked looking at Wolf's phone and he knew the reasons why his messages were all screwed up was probably due to his weird affliction in being unable to upgrade his tech.

"It's not that old." Wold said defensively.

"Dude, it's a flip phone. I'm amazed it still works." Burk said.

"Santa called you a lot about pregnancy and Lair in." Sasha mused with a wry smile. She read out a few more which left them all very confused but it was easy to see how Wolf might have drawn his ludicrous conclusion.

"Lair-in is Larrin my sister." Wolf told her, he felt like he lost three IQ points when he said 'Lair in' and cringed.

"Yeah but who knew Santa was so up in your business?" Sasha asked him with a smile as Wolf snatched the phone out of her hands with a frown.