Chris unlocked the door to their house while Kat held Connor in her arms. He swung it wide open and said, "Beautiful ladies first."
Kat walked into the house talking to Connor, "Welcome home baby boy."
"So little man, this is your new digs. What do you think?" asked Chris, "Got to be better than your cramped living quarters for the past nine months."
"Chris," scolded Kat.
"I'm just saying," said Chris, "Want to see your room buddy?" The couple took Connor to his nursery, which was painted a pail green since they hadn't known the gender until the birth, "So what do you think?"
Connor yawned and Kat chuckled, "Look at him he's ecstatic." She placed him in his crib and turned off the life shutting the door behind her. She followed Chris to their room where he was unpacking the bags from the hospital. She wrapped her arms around Chris and said, "So another eighteen years. You ready Dad?"
Chris turned around and kissed Kat, "Ready for takeoff Colonel."
"So you both agree that you want to withdraw your divorce papers correct?" asked the official.
Hector and Gloria looked at each other and Hector nodded, "Yes mam. We're both positive."
"Okay then," she said sliding a form across the table, "I just need you two to sign here and that will stop the divorce. But you both will need to obtain another marriage license should you both plan on marrying again."
The couple hadn't thought about obtaining another marriage license, though they did have other plans in mind, "Thank you mam," said Gloria after they both had signed the paperwork.
"Wow. Another marriage license," said Hector, "I hadn't even thought about that until she mentioned it."
"Well I had another idea," said Gloria.
"Which is?" asked Hector.
"How would you feel about an actual wedding?" asked Gloria.
"You mean? You mean with vows and dresses and all that stuff?" asked Hector.
"Yeah, I mean we never had an actual wedding," said Gloria, "Maybe this is an opportunity for it."
Hector thought about the idea for a few moments, "Okay, well let's look into it."
"Yeah?" asked Gloria excitedly.
"Yeah," he answered.
"Joan, where is my paperwork?" asked Roland looking all around their house.
Joan looked up from the breakfast she was cooking and answered, "I don't know honey, did you leave them in our room?"
"I checked there, they weren't there," he answered, I've looked everywhere for them."
"Did you leave them in your office at Hopkins?" asked Joan.
"Oh no, not again," he answered remembering where the papers were.
"I suggest you get going them, love you," she said kissing him.
"Love you too," she said.
"See ya Dad," said David.
"Have a good day dude," said Roland.
Denise knocked on the door to the Hanson house with Molly in tow. A few moments later, Blake answered the door, "Denise," he greeted her.
"Nice to see you Blake," she greeted back. Molly ran ahead into the house over towards Julia's bassinet in the living room, "Molly, remember to be gentle."
"Okay Mommy," she said.
Tonya came from the kitchen, "Hey Denise," she said embracing her.
"Hi Tonya," said Denise, "So how is my beautiful Goddaughter."
"She's in her bassinet. And I see someone has already realized that," said Tonya glancing over at Molly.
Molly ran over to Tonya, "Tonya can I see Julia?" she asked innocently giving Tonya her famous puppy dog eyes.
Blake chuckled lightly. Tonya always had a soft spot for Molly and her innocent eyes. He was terrified to find out how Tonya would be with Julia in a few years, "Yes Molly, I'll hold her and let you see her," said Tonya.
Molly squealed happily and sat down on the couch. Even though Julia was already four months old, Tonya sincerely hoped that Julia would not sequel like that in her toddler years. Of course the noise woke Julia who started crying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here," Tonya soothed her baby. Thankfully both Blake's and Tonya's voices soothed her fairly quickly, "You have to be quiet around her Molly because she doesn't like loud noises."
Molly smiled and nodded. She started rubbing Julia's head. Molly kissed Julia on the top of her head, "Mommy will you have any babies come out of your tummy?"
Denise sat there for a few moments trying to figure out how to answer her daughter, "No honey, Mommy won't be having any more babies."
"I don't think we will either," Blake chuckled lightly.
"Are you sure?" asked Denise surprised.
"Yeah as much as I love this little pumpkin, I don't know if I want to go through another pregnancy and birth," said Tonya honestly.
"Understandable," said Denise.
Julia started to cry again and Tonya started rocking her again, "I think it's time for me to feed her again," she said.
"I'll let you two go," said Denise, "Come on Molly, you want to go to the park today?"
"Yes Mommy," said Molly excitedly.
"Call me if you need anything," said Denise to Tonya.
"When have we not," said Tonya.
Michael entered from home later that not, exhausted as all get out. With Joan in Baltimore, Frank in D.C., Kat taking her maternity leave along with Chris taking family leave, and Nicole not fully cleared for active duty since her head injury, Kevin and he were the only two officers really keeping things going on post. Claudia Joy entered the foyer from the kitchen when she heard him enter, "Hey sweetheart how was your day?"
"Long and exhausting. Kevin recovers from his injury only to have our Garrison Commander retire, our Brigade Commander in D.C., our Intelligence Captain not fully cleared from a head injury, and our Air Force contacts on leave with the baby," he rambled.
Claudia Joy chuckled lightly, "Well if it's any consolation, you and Kevin are doing a terrific job working your butts off to keep the place running and you're also very lucky to have wife that makes you a nice dinner."
Michael smiled at the prospect of food, "Yeah I am a lucky guy aren't I?" he said and kissed Claudia Joy.
The couple sat down for dinner when Claudia Joy spoke, "so I heard from Emmalin today."
"Yeah?" asked Michael, "How is she doing?"
"So far the semester is going well. She's busy with final papers and exams but soon she'll be able to call herself a junior," said Claudia Joy.
Michael hesitated for a few moments, "What about Zach?"
Claudia Joy paused, "Yes, they're still together if that's what you're asking." Michael nodded, "Honey, they're fine," said Claudia Joy grabbing his hand.
"I know," said Michael squeezing her hand, "I trust them both, but she'll always be our little girl."
"Yeah," Claudia Joy admitted, "At least we have three God children to spoil now," she joked referring to Sara Elizabeth Burton, Molly Sherwood, and Connor Richardson.
"Hopefully not grandchildren anytime soon," said Michael.
Claudia Joy smiled slightly. After the couple finished dinner she stood up and said, "Hey honey, I'm going to take a bath. You want to join me?"
Michael watched his wife leave the room and head upstairs, swaying her hips as she walked, "Twenty five years later and she still knows how to turn me on," he groaned following her to their bathroom.