A/N not mine, I own nothing.
Memorial Day Memories
He sat the Seals cap on her head, he chuckled softly when all he could see were her soft brown curls sticking out from under it.
He looked at her closely and the twinkling blue eyes that peered at him. He remembered the day he did the same thing for her mother.
"Papa! This hat is too big!" she exclaimed.
"That's okay baby, this is a special hat. It will keep you safe, it did for me and your Mama."
"How Papa?"
"You see the man who gave me this hat was a very special person. He sacrificed his life for mine, and now he watches over all of us, especially when we wear this hat."
"Like an Angel Papa?"
"Just like an Angel, Baby."
"How do I thank him?"
"Every night in your prayers and today we are going to a ceremony where you can tell him thank you."
"Okay Papa." She jumped off of his lap and took of running after her little brother. Which caused him to laugh again.
He felt a tingle on the back of his neck and knew his Babe was nearby. He turned around and saw her standing in the doorway, with her hand resting in her rather large baby bump. She was due to give birth to their third child any day now and was looking rather uncomfortable at the moment.
He stood and walked over to her, placing his hand over hers. He stooped down slightly to give her a qiuick kiss on the lips. He pulled back and smiled at her.
"Thank you for getting up with them this morning. I was exhausted."
"Anytime Babe."
"What time do we need to leave for the wreath laying?"
"We need to leave by noon, so you have two hours. I can get the kids ready."
She nodded and went upstairs to get ready. Once he had Sofia, and Tomas' things together for this day, he had some time to himself. He thought about the journey to this point in his life.
He wouldn't be here if Michaels hadn't stepped in front of him when that bomb went off in Iraq. They had been on a joint mission between the Rangers and Seals.
Moments before the bomb had gone off he handed Ranger his Seals hat, telling him that it would keep him safe. It had, but at the cost of his friends life. He was pulled out of his memories by Stephanie asking him if he was ready to go.
They gathered up the kids and their things, then set off for the cemetery.
Once they were there, they walked over to Michaels grave. Ranger was to have the honor of laying the wreath upon it.
A large crowd had gathered and the speaches began. Soon taps began to play and Ranger began to make his way to the carpeted area in front of the headstone.
He slowly placed the wreath, saluted, and walked away. As he walked away he had to fight back the tears. Once he was in Stephanie's arms he couldn't hold it back any longer.
Suddenly he heard her gasp, and felt something wet against his leg. He let out a full belly laugh.
"Babe, you never disappoint," he told her softly.
He sent the kids with Lester and took Steph to the hospital. Five hours later their son was born.
"What should we name him Babe?"
"Let's name him Donovan Michael."
"Are you sure?"
"He wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him and for him to be born today, on Memorial Day. I think it is perfect."
"Thank you."
He sat there holding his newborn son, he sent up a small prayer of thank you to Donovan Michaels. Stephanie was right, none of them would be here right now if it wasn't for him.
A/N To those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, Thank You. You shall always be remembered.