Long Live Longmire

A/N: In the spirit of Longmire and the First Warrior I am writing this fic hoping it will inspire others to retweet #LongLiveLongmire until our favorite show is signed with a new network. This fic set in the future. I will rely on your reviews for motivation!

The snow pelts down on the highway keeping pace with the snowplow. The road is clear enough to pass so I figure the airport is still clear and H.T.'s flight will land on-time. Much to my dear wife's chagrin, the initials Lucian stuck on Henry Thomas the day he was born stuck, and he has been HT since the newspaper display announcing his birth nearly 23 years ago.

I am officially retired and officially an old man, Vic's old man to be exact, she lets everyone know as if they had to ask. I chuckle as I think of my lady. She is so full of pepper and she enjoys being the Sheriff of Absaroka County. When I announced my retirement five years ago, Vic had been my long serving Under Sheriff and she was elected in overwhelming fashion. She was uncontested. I tease her about that but am quick to remind her no one else is more qualified.

I slide on my coat and my new O'Farrell hat, head out to my pick-up, and start for the local airport. The electronic telephone rings and I fish in my coat pocket to retrieve the cell phone. Yup, I finally had to acquiesce and get a cell phone when HT and Grace were growing up.

"Yup"

"What are you wearing?"

"I'm naked"

"You driving naked again? That's it, I'm checking you into Shady Pines, tomorrow."

We both laugh

"Hey, babe, you headed to the airport?"

"Yup"

"Tell my baby I love him and I can't wait to cook for my men tonight."

"I will"

"k"

"Hey, Vic" I pause for effect, " I love you."

"You better"

I smile and she laughs on the other end of the phone. "I love you, too."

The smile stays on my face as I put the phone back into my pocket. I look out onto the open space engulfing the highway and thank God for blessing me twice with two amazing women and such a wonderful family. The snow is starting to come down a little harder and the wind isn't helping any. I'm thinking in the back of my craw that HT shouldn't be on a plane and he shouldn't be flying in this weather trying to get home.

"Hey, Mike"

"Sheriff"

"Ha, that's my wife"

"Shoot, Sheriff, I mean Walt. How the hell are ya?"

"Doing well."

"How's the air traffic? This weather fit for flyin?"

"I'm assumin' HT is on the flight from Missoula?"

"Yeah, he didn't want to make the drive because of the storm coming in, didn't want to be stuck."

"Well it took off on time and it's only about an hour and ten minutes so they should be here soon. I can call up to the tower if you want?"

"Nah. I'll go get a cup of poker coffee and wait."

"Alright, Walt. Good to see ya."

I nod my head and curl up my mouth. I try not to worry about my boy but I can't help it. I sit in the old marred brown plastic chair and sip my poker cup. I take comfort in knowing my entire family will fill our cabin in the next few days. We haven't been together since the twins graduated from college. It was nice having Grace and HT only 4 hours away when they were in school together. I didn't worry about my baby girl having her brother there on campus. Sometimes, I think it was the other way around though, because Grace is very much her mother's daughter.

The plane is about 15 minutes overdue. I walk out to the edge of the tarmac. Mike eyes me and ambles over.

"Hey Mike are we overdue?"

"Yeah, but the tower had contact with the flight"

"Is Stu up there?"

"Sure is Sheriff"

"Will you radio up and ask him if I can come on up?"

"Sure thing"

Mike keys down on the portable radio he carries on his waist. The worn leather pouch is probably as old as HT.

"Stu says come on up."

"Thanks, Mike. Appreciate it." I pat his shoulder as I walk by him.

I haven't been in the control tower since the last load of Federal prisoners came through when I was Sheriff. I watched the US Marshall plane land, refuel, and take off to Arizona without incident. Ever since my one man search and arrest party with Wayne the Marshall's have flown prisoners past or through Absaroka County. I didn't put up an argument when they made the transport rule change.

It was during that manhunt that I came to terms with the internal boil and my feelings for Vic. After plunging into the near freezing water my desire to fight to stay alive was partially motivated by the fact that I wanted and needed to see her again. I could hear her voice, "I don't like this one bit." She was awfully mad. God, she was beautiful when she was mad. Hell, she still is beautiful when she's mad. I slap my knee and curl my mouth up as I chuckle about my wife.

I buzz the security panel and Stu unlocks the door. He puts out his right hand and I shake it, firmly.

"Thanks for letting me come up, Stu."

"No problem, Walt. How the hell are ya?"

"Doin' good. Just here to pick up HT but his flight is late from Missoula."

"Yeah that's the only flight we have scheduled on the docket tonight with this storm. They should have beat it in though. I talked to the pilot about 30 minutes ago and they were on time doing fine."

"Did he report any trouble?"

"Negative"

That little tickle is back. Something is wrong. Something is wrong with my boy.

If you want the back story about Walt, Vic and the kids read my Walt and Vic - Moments In Time Chapters 5-17. Thanks!