CHAPTER 7
"Christmas Gift"
The Cabin
8am
December 25
It was a crystal clear morning, beautiful and perfect for a day like today. Chance had enjoyed the sunrise with him and now happily played on the floor near the fireplace with one of his new toys. He was excited with the new gifts and seemingly oblivious to how the world was crashing down around his father.
String had slumped onto the sofa, merely sitting there; he hadn't touched any of the gifts at all, especially not the small box shaped one from Caitlin sitting by itself near the mantel. Even a couple gifts bought for Caitlin sat untouched on the other side of the room. He chose to stay away from them, knowing if he got close enough to touch them he'd probably only throw them out of reach again. That's how his whole life was - happiness and comfort visible, but not attainable; if he ever actually reached them, they would be thrown just out of his reach again.
He had told himself to move on. He had reached a crossroad in his life and chosen a new path. He had chosen fatherhood and it would have its challenges of its of its own, although nothing like the ones he had faced, but necessary ones. Life came with many challenges, and he seemed to have more than his fair share of them, but now Chance needed him and he had to do everything in his ability to give him the life he deserved, no matter how poorly, make that how terribly, his own personal life was going.
String sinking deeper into his own black thoughts, grew almost completely unaware of the world around him until his son, having climbed into his lap, threw his arms around his neck and buried his head against his chest.
Letting out a long sigh, he pulled Chance closer to him in a tight hug. He knew that no matter what happened, he planned to be there for his son as long as humanly possible and that with Caitlin, or not, he was going to be a good father to his dearly beloved son.
"Daddy's Wolf," Chance suddenly said.
Sure enough, only a second later Airwolf screamed overhead and gradually slowed, coming to a complete stop in the clearing next to the cabin.
String liked the analogy, even liked how Chance could already recognize the distinctive sounds of Airwolf, although he hadn't even heard her coming and that did bother him somewhat, but it couldn't be 'Daddy's Wolf' anymore, no matter how much he wanted it to be. What did they want from him anyway? He had already made it clear that he wouldn't and couldn't be a member of the Airwolf crew any longer.
A moment later Mike was at the door, followed by Dom.
"Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas," he repeated, still trying to figure out the meaning of the visit.
"Well, you gonna invite us in and party or are we going to have to invade?"
"I guess you can come in. The cabin wouldn't be much match for Airwolf, would it?"
"Come on, cheer up buddy," Mike grinned. "Oh, just to warn you, I brought me a new date - meet Adria."
Adriana followed them in.
"Hey Rivers, isn't she a little young for you?" String asked, only half-joking. Surely, the girl couldn't be more than in her early twenties.
"No way! I brought you a Christmas gift, so don't complain. You aren't the only one who gets the pretty ladies."
What on earth would Rivers bring him? Hawke thought in wonder. He probably didn't want to know.
Then stepping back, Hawke stopped dead in his tracks, eyes widening in surprise and locking with hazel ones for a moment before the impenetrable mask hid his stunned features.
Caitlin stood in the doorway as the rest of the world momentarily faded away. She was the last person in the world he was expecting to see, yet there she was.
He stayed silent, not knowing what to say and unable to speak even if he had known.
Caitlin, also transfixed to her position, silently considered the situation - it was somehow different than she expected although she didn't really know what to expect. Not knowing what else to do, she let instinct take over and soon found herself wrapping her arms around him and caught in his powerful embrace before finding herself lost in fervently searching intense blue eyes.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, knowing how badly she must have hurt him making him think she had left him. "Sometimes you may drive me crazy, but I love you and I always will. I'm not planning on leaving you. Never forget that Stringfellow Hawke."
Hawke buried his face in the rook of her neck, fighting back tears as he held her. "I know now," he whispered, holding her tight and wrapping his fingers in her hair. "I know now."
Giving a gap-toothed grin, Dom ushered the others out, closing the door behind them.
