This is not connected to any of my other stories but it is another Mike-centric. I am horrible at picking titles to bear that in mind! Please review and enjoy. Will only be 2-3 chapters long

Christmas Surprise

Chapter 1

Mike looked at the Christmas tree sitting in the living room. It wasn't decorated and there were only three presents under it. One for Christine and the other two for his girls. He wasn't even sure why he had bought them or had put the Christmas tree up. He had lost almost all hope that they would be found. He had not bought anything for Lucas because he knew for a fact that Lucas had died. He still missed him but he was finally at peace where he was concerned. He tidied up the kitchen and threw some laundry into the dryer. The townhouse was too big for him but it was what he was given due to his position in the government. He would have preferred a studio apartment. All he had was empty bedrooms at the townhouse. Tom and his kids had moved into the townhouse next to his and the Green's were on the other side.

The President had volunteered Mike and Tom both to serve food at a soup kitchen that night. Since getting back from the Med, the scientists had made the seeds grow into a usable food source and the famine was becoming a bad memory. People were still starving though and were flocking to St. Louis for help. The President thought that since Mike and especially Tom was the face of the Nathan James, they should be a part of helping the people. It wasn't like Mike would be doing anything else, just watching an old movie on the television and trying to not think of his missing wife and daughters.

Mike locked up and walked over to Tom's. They were riding together to the soup kitchen. Sasha was there helping the kids decorate sugar cookies. It was a sweet domestic scene that made him miss his own family even more. Tom was still getting ready so he sat down at the kitchen island and started munching on the cookies. Sam wasn't as interested in the decorating so he hopped next to Mike on the barstool and started scarfing cookies down.

"Better slow down, Sammy. Sasha is going to want you to eat dinner."

"I know but the cookies are so good. Dad spends more time getting ready then Sasha and Ashley put together."

"Oh, yeah?" Mike noticed the blush on Sasha's cheek. He was apparently not supposed to know how long it took Sasha to get ready. He was well aware that she was spending a lot of time with the Chandler's. Mike was happy for Tom but was also a little jealous. Despite the issues he and Christine had had, he missed her.

"Okay, okay. I'm ready. Mike, are you eating all my cookies?"

"Maybe. They're good. Sam has eaten more than me though."

"Blame it on the ten year old?"

"Yep. Let's go."

Mike and Tom both said their goodbyes to Sasha and the two kids and made their way out the door. Tom's house had Christmas decorations all over and a bookshelf full of board games. As Mike walked by them, he remembered all the times he and his oldest daughter, Caroline, had played Monopoly. It had been their "thing." He hadn't played Monopoly in almost three years.

The church where the soup kitchen was taking place was packed and the crowd bugged Mike. Tom was more of a social butterfly then him and he hated being around so many people. The organizer, Mrs. Lambert, gave them both aprons with their names stitched on them and put Tom serving the turkey and Mike serving the mashed potatoes. Tom greeted everyone warmly and held conversations with several people. He was holding the line up and Mike was getting aggravated. He wanted to go home to his frozen pizza, beer and a movie.

"Tom, you're holding these people up."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry."

They served about a dozen more people and Tom was starting to stall things again. Two young girls and a woman with brown hair had caught his attention. They were in the line and talking to one another. They hadn't noticed him. The youngest girl looked like his youngest daughter and the woman looked a lot like his wife. The older girl was thinner but looked similar to his oldest daughter. He elbowed Tom to try and get his attention.

"I know, you want to go home. It doesn't hurt you to be around people, Mike."

"No, look at that woman and with the two girls. The younger one is wearing a purple coat with the scarf."

"I see them, they look familiar."

"They look like Christine and my girls."

"Mrs. Lambert, Mike and I need to take a short break." Mike could see irritation in the woman's eyes but she quickly found two more volunteers. Mike felt like he was going to be sick from the nerves. Part of him, the biggest part, wanted it to be them, but there was also fear because it might not be them or they might reject him, completely. Tom was at his heels as he made his way to them. The woman's back was to him. She was Christine's height and the hair color was the same. There was more gray but it was the same color. He got to her and lightly touched her arm.

"Christine?" The woman spun around and her jaw dropped. Mike immediately noticed the worry lines on her face. She looked exhausted. Both girls looked just as surprised.

"Mike, oh my God. I thought you were dead. This is the last place in the world…"

"Daddy?" Hannah practically jumped into his arms. He was shocked at how little she weighed. It didn't look like she had grown an inch in the three years since he had seen her. Christine had tears pouring down her face and Caroline was teary eyed. He pulled them both in with his free arm. He didn't know how long they stood like that, but Tom finally tapped him on the elbow.

"Mike, Wolf and Miller are here helping, they'll give me a ride home. Get out of here."

"Okay, thanks." Mike pulled away and noticed that Christine wasn't wearing a coat. Both girls had coats on and it was bone chilling cold outside. It made him feel terrible. He had also noticed that she had a bad cough.

"Alright, let me grab my coat and we'll head to my house."

"But, Daddy, I'm really hungry. We need to stay in line so we can eat." Mike saw the fear in Hannah's eyes and it made him feel even worse.

"We'll stop by the store before we go to my house."

Mike had made his way to the coat closet and found his coat. Instead of putting it on himself, he wrapped the coat on Christine and handed Caroline his gloves. Hannah had a pair. His mind was beginning to spin with all the details of things he needed to work out. Groceries, more furniture, Christmas, there was so much and he was only assuming they wanted to go with him.

"Christine, I want you girls to come home with me but I want you to want it too."

"We don't have anywhere else to go tonight. It's supposed to be below zero and I don't think the shelter is taking anyone tonight. I am really glad to see you. I guess I'm still in shock. Let's go."

Mike put an arm around her and gave Hannah his hand. Caroline was staying pretty close to. It made him wish he had a third arm. He nodded at Tom as he walked out with Christine and the girls. He was thrilled to be taking them home, despite all the unanswered questions and the lengthy to do list.