Chapter 2
21:30 Austin Residence Hawaii
'They are late, they should have been home half hour ago. I'm going after them" said an agitated Dan Austin. He was just getting his jacket when the front door opened and his wife walked through the door. 'What took you so long, and where is my sister?' asked Dan.
'Relax darling. Meg was called by Admiral Smith on an emergency. Apparently his daughter's computer went up in smoke and he called Meg to prevent a national disaster. She had stored on the hard drive all the plans of the future wedding and she was throwing a fit. And I was late because I had the take a cab back' said Allison giving her husband a long kiss.
'Hey, get a room you two' said Cathy a bit embarrassed.
' But I thought Julia's wedding isn't for 2 years' asked a confused Dan.
'You don't get it dad. A wedding needs careful planning, every detail thought over carefully" said Cathy with a dreamy look on her face.
"Oh boy, I know that look. It was the same your mother had when she was planning our wedding, and I still have nightmares" said Dan with a mock smile.
"Watch it mister, or you will be sleeping the rest of your leave on the couch" said Allison
"Ok, I give. Were you able to talk to Meg" asked Dan.
"Yes and it was just as we suspected' said Allison with a sigh.
"It kills me to see her that way, Meg was never the same after that" said Dan with a pained voice. "The Meg I knew was a lively, spunky person. She could light a whole room with her smile and make everyone feel better after talking to her. Even after dad's death she was able to pull back quickly, but I guess it's because she was just a kid.'
"Well that is why Cathy and I are going to help her get back to her old self, and I know just how" said Allison winking at her partner in crime.
"Oh dear, why don't I like the sound of that?" said Dan in disbelief. 'But whatever you do please make sure I still have a family to come back to, I would hate to have to break in a new wife and daughter' said Dan trying to duck his head from the pillows his girls were throwing at him.
"Well I see that you three are having a good time" said Meg who was standing by the door. 'Just remember that if you break any of the pillows I am not going to clean the mess"
"Shut up" said the Krennick-Austin family, throwing the said pillows in Meg's direction.
"Ok, this means war" said Meg running after her brother with a pillow in her hand. "And you two are next on my black list" she said pointing at the girls
"Bring it on sister" they shouted after her.
They spent the rest of the evening playing and laughing like one happy family, all their worries and problems forgotten… at least for now.
Meg sat in her bed staring at the ceiling when she heard a knock on the door.
'Cathy what are you doing up at this hour? It's almost 1 o'clock" asked Meg while she was lifting the bed sheet to make room for Cathy next to her.
Although she was almost 16 she still liked to cuddle next to Meg when she felt sad or had something in mind. And Meg could not complain, she loved her like she was her own daughter and sometimes was sad about the fact that she was not able to adopt her. Bruce had died just before they could apply for custody, but eventually everything turned for the best. The judge assigned temporary custody to her mother, and after her role in bringing about the marriage of her brother, Cathy remained with the Austin clan.
She still had to laugh and also wonder at how things had developed between her brother and her commanding officer, especially when it seemed that they couldn't stand each other.
It happened right after Bruce's death. She and Allison were on medical leave, and were recovering from their injuries. Although they were not caught in the explosion, they still had cuts and bruises from the glass of the windows they were pushed through, and also from some debris that had fallen on them from the blast.
Meg had wanted to get away from Italy and try to forget all that happened and wanted to get back home to her horses and to Cathy and her mother. Her CO was worried about her and so ordered Krennick to go with her in order to keep an eye on her at least until she got back to her family. Also he saw the opportunity to get Krennick out of his hair, the woman frightened him.
So Meg and Allison were expected home by her mother on Monday morning but because their flight had some delays they arrived on Monday evening. At the same time her brother was on temporary leave from his ship and had volunteered to go pick his baby- sister and her friend form the airport. And that was the moment their lives had changed.
Allison and her were waiting for Dan to pick them up, but he was running late. Meg decided to go to the bathroom before the ride home so she left Allison alone with their bags and their coffees.
When Meg came back from the bathroom the image that greeted her was one of amusement and of shock. She saw the airport guards trying to stop her CO from strangling her brother. In it's pure Austin style Dan had managed, God knows how, to bump into a very tired and also annoyed Krennick, spilling the coffee onto her favorite shirt and also instead of apologizing he called her stuck up.
The only way she managed to tear them apart was by threatening them with letting the guards take them to the local jail on any charges they saw fit.
The whole ride home was one on exasperating bickering on both parts. Even her mother was astonished at the way they fought. Her son was a very calmed and pacifying man.
But Meg saw the sparks that flew between them even when they were not fighting.
So she started to accidentally make herself scarce when they were in the same room, to take Allison with her on her horse rides and ask her brother to help Allison with her horse.
In time and with help from Meg, Dan was able to see the true nature of Allison Krennick. And it was not the one of a Dragon Lady, but was one of a strong, independent woman, with good character and principles, and also a person who cared very much about the people around her. And the icing on the cake was the way Allison and Cathy got along. It was the first time even Meg saw that side of Allison.
The shock came when she and her mother were told by both of them that they were getting married in the week-ed with the local justice of peace, as Dan had to get back to his ship. It also made things easier with Cathy's adoption.
Meg thought her mother would have a heart attack, but in the end she was happy for them.
When Meg asked Allison on why the rush, her answer was "I'm not getting any younger, this might be my last chance at a family. And your brother is the only naval officer who is not intimidated by me, personally I think he's crazy but we will see how it all goes".
Six months later the adoption papers came through, and after another six months they had the wedding and also moved together in their new house in Hawaii. Allison requested a transfer to Pearl Harbor to be close to her husband.
Meg was brought back from her reverie by Cathy who was asking her if she was alright.
"Yes Cathy, just a little caught up in the memories" said Meg kissing Cathy's forehead.
"About uncle Bruce" asked Cathy with a sad voice.
"No, about your parents actually" said Meg with a small laugh.
"Yeah they are something else. I still can't believe that I have such a great family" said Cathy with a smile, but Meg knew that something was bothering her.
"So, sweet pea, care to tell me what's wrong? You wouldn't crawl in my bed in the middle of the night if you were ok, you'd be in your room fantasizing about Prince Charming" said Meg giving her another tender kiss.
"I had a dream about mom and JD" said Cathy looking down at her hands.
Meg knew that Cathy felt guilty sometimes about being so happy with her knew parents.
"And was it a good dream" asked Meg.
"I guess. They were sad and told me not to forget them" she said with sadness in her voice.
"Cathy stop feeling guilty I am sure you mom and JD are happy for you wherever they are and all they would want for you is to live a happy life. And who is to say that it wasn't your mother that made for us to meet' said Meg winking at her.
"Yeah, I think you are right" said Cathy her spirits brought up a bit. "After I met you I always dreamt that you and your partner will come back for me and you would become my parents. I liked him, I think he would have been a great dad. You looked good together and I could tell he really liked you" said Cathy with a grin.
"A how would you know that Kitty Kat" asked Meg pocking her on her side with a finger.
"Because of the way he looked at you. It's the same way dad looks at mom" replied Cathy through giggles.
They started tickling each other and they ended up continuing the pillow fight they had down stairs early that evening. In the end Cathy fell asleep cuddled next to Meg.
