Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Unit Characters

Hey All!

This is the next chapter. The first half of this story is a lot of exposition. The second half there is an action plot. I just finished reviewing the whole story and so I'll continue to put up what I have. I hope that you're enjoying it and thank you for the review! Actually, Grey and Williams become more involved in the second part.

~Ciara~

Chapter 7

Liz sighed as she hung the final frame up in the living room. Over the fireplace mantel was a painted landscape. The mantel itself was adorned with pictures of the Unit and pictures of the kids. Liz had found a picture of the family with Tiffy and had placed it up there as well. She had had some of her furniture from her old apartment sent down. So she had replaced the old couch with her brown leather sleeper sofa. The room was now almost a deep blue with beautiful white curtains that fell to the floor compliment by white wainscoting. Lissy had painted her room yellow and they had bought her a new bedspread and curtains. Jenny decided she wanted a light blue room with purple accents. They had new pictures all framed. Liz had been timid about doing the master bedroom over. It was her room, but it had been their room. She had left it for last. When Molly had come over a couple days ago, Liz had expressed her fears.

"You're here, now. You do what you want to do. Mack said it was yours, and he doesn't say what he doesn't mean."

Liz had decided on light bluish green and with her curtains and bedspread. The outcome was stunning. The woodwork was painted white and the curtains were layers of sheer lace and silk giving the room a very peaceful feeling. She had hung up pictures of the girls on their horses and one of the three of them on a trail ride. The door bell interrupted her thoughts and she ran to get the door.

"Come in," she said to Molly and Kim. "I want to know what you think. Take a look around."

After they had finished, Liz put a pot of coffee and three mugs on the table. "What do you think? Do you think Mack'll like it? I ransacked the photo albums and I had pictures from when he came home."

"It's a different house. It's beautiful," said Molly.

Kim sighed. "I need to decorate."

"You're next, just guilt Bob into it," said Liz.

"He's going to love this," said Molly, running her hand along the leather couch.

"It seemed to fit the décor," said Liz.

"Did you do all of this?" asked Kim motioning to the wainscoting.

"I have a friend who owed me a favor," said Liz. She sighed. "I wanted to do something nice for them. They've been through so much."

"Did you stick to budget?" asked Molly.

"I did, due a lot to favors."

"This house is gorgeous. I'm so jealous," said Kim.

The doorbell rang. "Molly can you make sure the gravy isn't burning," said Liz.

"Sure."

Liz opened the door and smiled. She hugged the Colonel fiercely. "Uncle Tom you made it."

"I told you I would be here and besides I never could refuse you anything." He smiled. "Brought you some refreshments. I'm not too good at cooking," he said showing two brown bags on the ground.

"Well bring one in and leave the other outside so it can stay cold."

"Colonel," said Kim, surprised to see him. "Is everything all right?"

"I'm here on a personal level." He smiled at the bewildered look on Kim's face. "Liz forced me to come."

Kim laughed. "Well, I'm glad someone can twist your arm."

Molly came out of the kitchen. "Liz, I'm going to go pick the girls up from Mary's-," she stopped when she saw the Colonel "Colonel?"

"He's here for dinner. I thought I told you," said Liz.

"You did, I think. I just forgot. Great to see you, sir," said Molly, walking out the front door. "I'll be right back," she yelled.

"So, Uncle Tom what do you think?" asked Liz.

He smiled. "As usual, Liz you've outdone yourself. I don't know if Mack's going to recognize his own house."

"Do you think he'll like it? It'll break the girls' heart if he doesn't."

"Relax, he'll love it," said the Colonel with one of the few genuine smiles Kim had ever seen. "If he doesn't I'll break his knee caps."

"Didn't I teach you to play nice?" asked Liz, taking out a pie from the oven.

The baby monitor went off. "Oh that's Jane. Is she in Lissy's room?" asked Kim.

"Yea," said Liz, lighting the candles on the table.

"Where'd you find this table? It'll actually fit everyone," said the Colonel laughing. "What's it seat twenty?"

"Thirteen, plenty of room for everyone," said Liz, placing two pitchers of water down.

"Who you expecting?"

"Everyone," she said.

"We were hoping you were bringing some extra persons with you," said Kim.

"I do what I can."

Liz smiled. "I know," she kissed his cheek "I know you would have if you could."

Soon the house was bustling as the girls came in and then Williams and Grey who had gotten back from the mission only a couple hours ago.

"They're going to try to make it, but they just aren't sure," said Charles.

"Getting a flight is like getting federal funding," said Hector.

"Near to impossible," said Molly understanding.

Kim settled the last dish on the table. "Well let's eat." She looked out the window. "It sure is miserable out. Look at that rain."

Liz sighed, bringing over a bottle of wine. "That's for sure." She could have swore she heard a car door shut when she had been in the kitchen, but shook it off as her imagination when no one came in. Then she heard the doorbell.

"I'll get it," said the Colonel. He walked back. "Look what I found outside like the bunch of drowned rats that they are," he said as Jonas, Mack, and Bob walked in.

Kim and Molly threw themselves into their husbands' arms. The girls raced over to their fathers hugging him.

Colonel Ryan walked over to Liz. "Happy Thanksgiving, sweetheart," he said, kissing her forehead. "You got your wish for those girls."

"Thank you."

"How the hell did you manage to get a plane?" asked Charles.

"Um, I don't know. Someone must have made a call," said Bob, looking at the Colonel.

"Don't look at me. I'm just a Colonel."

"You boys go get dried up," said Molly shooing them away.

"Colonel Ryan," said Kim. She ran to him and gave him a kiss. "Thank you."

"Well that just might have made it worth it," he said.

"Do it again for Christmas, and you'll get a repeat performance," said Kim with a smile.

Dinner was so loud with laughter and voices that the Colonel was afraid he'd get a call from the MPs. Everyone stayed and helped clean up but before too long the house was empty again with only two sleeping girls in their new bedrooms and two adults putting away dishes.

"So what do you think?" asked Liz.

"What?" asked Mack.

"About the house?"

"I-," he looked around "Shit," he said, taking in the new décor. "I don't know how I could have missed that."

"You were tired."

"The girls, I didn't even tell them that I liked their rooms," he said. "I am tired and a bit drunk." He leaned against the counter, staring at her.

"I know," she whispered, sitting on the counter.

"Tiffy used to sit on the counter with her leg up like that."

"I'm not your wife," said Liz, jumping down from the counter. She tried to hide the hurt in her eyes.

"No, you're not," he said. "And neither was she."

Liz turned around. "What are you talking about?"

"We had been separated for months before she died. Tiffy's been out of the picture for awhile."

"What's that got to do with me?"

"When I was on that mission, all I could think about was you and what you do to me."

"Oh and what do I do to you?" she asked, her lip trembling with fear of rejection.

"Baby, you turn me on."

"Show me," she whispered, taking a step towards him.

He grabbed her by the waist and slammed her against his body. He kissed her fiercely, running his hands up her body. His kisses ran up her neck and down her arms.

"Not here," she whispered, taking his hand and leading him into the bedroom. He closed the door and pushed her up against it. He pulled down her jeans and then she pulled his off also. He yanked her shirt off working her upper body. She kissed him deeply and prepared herself for more when she heard Jenny in the hallway followed by Jenny calling for her.

"I have to-," said Liz, still breathing heavily.

"I know," he said, leaning his head against the door. "I know."

Liz grabbed her bathrobe and put it on quickly. "Jenny," she said kneeling next to the crying girl. "What's wrong, sweetie?"

"Daddy doesn't love me."

"What? Why would you think that?" questioned Liz, holding Jenny in her arms.

"Because he's never home and he didn't even notice my room. He didn't even care."

"Oh Jenny, you know how we are when we go out all day trail riding? You know how tired we are because we've been up since five in the morning and been traveling all day. By nighttime we're exhausted and the next morning I let you sleep in." Jenny nodded, rubbing her eyes. "Imagine having to do that for two weeks. How tired would you be? Do you think that you could come home and eat dinner or would you just want to go to sleep?"

"I'd probably fall asleep in my food!" sniffled Jenny.

"Mmmm… but your daddy, see, he loves you and Lissy so much that even though all he wanted to do was go to sleep. Came and sat through that big Thanksgiving meal and watched Miracle on 34th Street with you and put you to bed before he even thought about how tired he was. He always puts you and Lissy first."

"No. He goes on missions and he always leaves us even on our birthdays," said Lissy, walking out of her room.

Jenny nodded. "He's missed my birthday three times."

"Hmmm… I can see how you might think that he doesn't love you or that he doesn't put you first." The girls nodded. "But you're wrong. See even when he misses your birthdays he's putting you first because the mission he's on is making sure that you both are safe and protected. He makes sure that the bad men in the world never can hurt you."

"Really?" asked Jenny.

Liz nodded. "Of course. Do you think your daddy would do what he does if he didn't think it was good for you both?"

Lissy shrugged. "Why not?"

"Because loving someone means doing what is good for them, no matter what."

"I guess."

"Don't you think there are a million jobs out there that would pay better and be easier for your dad than working for the military?" Lissy nodded. "Why doesn't he do it? Because he knows this is what is best for his family."

"So he loves us?" asked Jenny.

"Doesn't he tell you all the time?"

"I guess," said Jenny.

"He doesn't?"

"When he sees us he tells us," said Lissy.

"Well he might just have to work on that," said Liz looking up to see Mack watching through the door. "But girls let me tell you a little secret that you'll soon realize. Men, suck at telling you what they mean especially when it comes to emotions."

"So he loves us?" repeated Jenny.

"More than you'll ever know," said Liz. "Now off to bed, you two."

Jenny hurried off into her room, but Lissy lingered a moment. "Thanks, Liz." She hugged Liz tightly before pulling away and walking back into her bedroom. Liz sighed, standing back up and walking into the bedroom. Mack was sitting on the bed his head in his hands. Liz sat down next to him and he held her tightly as they lay together on the bed.

"Go tell them," she whispered.

"They'll know I was here."

"No they won't. They'll just think I betrayed them. Do it."

He sighed, standing up. "Don't leave."

"I'll be here," she said, leaning back.

He smirked. "Good." He walked into Lissy's bedroom first. He stroked her hair gently. He kissed her head. "I love you, Lissy." He walked into Jenny's room and saw her stuffed bear had fallen on the floor. He picked it up and put it under her arm before kissing her on the head. "I love you, Jenny."

"I love you too," she whispered.

He sat with her for awhile just stroking her hair gently before he finally went back to his bedroom. He let out a soft laugh when he saw Liz asleep on the bed. She was in nothing but her black lace bikini panties and matching bra. He crawled into bed next to her and trailed his finger down her arm, but she was still fast asleep. He sighed, lying next to her and put his arms around her. She moved closer to him.

"You awake," he whispered.

"Mmmm," she murmured. "Stay."

He kissed her neck and then fell asleep with the coconut smell of her hair wafting into his semiconscious mind, lulling him into a peaceful sleep.

A/N Please Review