Reunion
Chapter 11-Hannah
Hannah was bored. Katie and Gavin were working, and Hannah didn't want to go back to their apartment. She decided to go to her dad and Susan's suite. She wanted to meet her younger siblings and he had told her she was welcome. She just hoped that Susan agreed. On her second knock, Susan let her in.
"I hope it's okay that I came up here. I didn't want to go home, and Katie and Gavin are working." Hannah asked.
"Of course. We were trying to figure dinner out. Your dad wants to take me out on a bit of a date, but we don't have a babysitter here and we don't expect that from our Secret Service agents." Susan explained and Hannah felt compelled.
"I could watch them! I know they don't know me, and you and Dad really don't know me, but I promise, I will take good care of them. Please?" Hannah begged. She wasn't sure why she had felt so strongly about it. She had helped Katie with Gavin a lot and helped the neighbor with her kids a lot, but otherwise didn't have a lot of exposure to kids.
"I…appreciate that. Let me go get your dad." Susan said with a smile. Hannah could tell that Susan was overwhelmed and probably needed a time out with her husband. If Hannah could figure it out, she'd give them the whole night. Maybe once they moved to Texas, she could watch the triplets and her dad and Susan could take a vacation away.
A minute later, Mike appeared. He looked tired but delighted to see Hannah. Susan had stayed in the bedroom with the triplets and Mike gave Hannah a huge hug. She had missed those hugs. They were one of the many reasons she had missed him. He gave the best hugs.
"I've missed these hugs." Hannah said as she rubbed Mike's back.
"I've missed giving them to you all. Sue told me that you wanted to watch the triplets so we could go out for dinner. You sure? Our kids are hellions." Mike commented.
"Dad, I'm an undercover cop. I hang out with gangs and prostitutes. I'm pretty certain I can handle three six-year-olds. Besides, I am going to text Gavin and have him come up if that's okay? Neither of us is the workaholic that Katie is." Hannah commented as Mike pulled away.
"So did not want to know about you hanging out with gang bangers and prostitutes. And yes, Gavin and Katie can come up. We can order a couple pizzas for you all. Paxton will try and eat a whole one by himself." Mike told her.
"That would be fine. Did Susan tell you that I was thinking of moving to Texas too?" Hannah asked.
"Yes, and you three are more then welcome. We are good friends with the sheriff down there and can see about getting your credentials transferred. Isn't quite as busy as here though." Mike said as they sat down on the couch.
"I need that. Undercover work is not so much fun, and it really worries Katie. Just got to get her convinced to move down there." Hannah said.
"I talked to her about it. I know Gavin said he would move down there, but I was afraid he would back down. He doesn't know me at all." Mike said as he picked at his hand.
"When Gavin says something, he follows up and he knows that Katie needs a break. As long as you treat Katie good, you and Gavin will be fine. Gavin is…very protective of Katie and with all this with Smith, he feels really guilty about her being hurt by him. But, so do I." Hannah explained.
"Not your fault and not his. Its mine. I should have looked harder for you all and not trusted Smith. I can't change that now. I just hope you all can forgive me." Mike stated. Hannah felt terribly. She hadn't realized how deep that pain would go.
"No, Dad. Its not your fault either. We know how hard you looked. We read the articles. We just couldn't get to you. I guess fate had the idea that we would be reunited here." Hannah said as she reached over and squeezed Mike's hand.
"I wish it had happened a lot sooner." Mike said.
"Me too. Why don't you go change into a suit or something and take your wife out?" Hannah asked.
"Alright. I'll tell Sue to get ready and warn the kids not to be complete heathens." Mike said as he stood up.
"I'll text Gavin and Katie." Hannah said. As he walked away and into the bedroom, Hannah typed a text into their group message.
"Hey, I am up in Dad's suite. I told them I would watch the triplets so they could go out for dinner. You guys should come up." Hannah texted. She thought about adding her dad and Susan to the group message but decided to wait.
"Is there food?" Gavin asked.
"He said he would order us a couple pizzas." Hannah messaged back.
"I'm game." Gavin sent back.
"Katie?" Hannah asked for a response.
"Just look after the triplets for a couple hours?" Katie asked.
"Yep. Dad is wanting to take Susan out for supper." Hannah responded.
"Okay, Gavin and I will be up in a bit." Katie answered.
Five minutes later, Mike, Susan and three of the cutest kids ever walked out of the bedroom area. The triplets were cute but also had an ornery look about them. The girls had Susan's red hair and Paxton looked like Mike.
"Guys, this is your older sister, Hannah. She is going to stay with you all while Daddy and I are downstairs eating dinner. She will call if you cause any trouble." Susan explained. Hannah had to smile. Despite trying to sound forceful, Susan was a bit of pushover where her kids were concerned.
"I second that. Hannah, this is Noelle. She has one blue eye and a green eye. Anna always wears dresses. And Paxton." Mike introduced them.
"Nice to meet you three. Dad, Katie and Gavin are coming up too." Hannah told them.
"Good, you'll need reinforcements." Susan said with a laugh.
"Hannah, I'll order a couple pizzas for you all from room service. Pax, you are not to eat the whole pizza. You will be sick and there will be a lot of food tomorrow. Clear?" Mike asked his youngest son.
"Yes, sir." Paxton said. Hannah had to smile. Paxton looked a lot like Mike with unruly dark blonde hair and dimples. Despite the harsh tone in Mike's voice, he adored the little boy. Hannah remembered seeing a magazine article about the 'First Family' when the triplets were about six months old. One picture of Mike and Paxton, with Mike wearing a white dress shirt and Paxton in a onesie that said "Daddy's Buddy" on it stuck out. It had stayed on the fridge for years.
"We'll be fine. You guys both look nice. You should go." Hannah said as she leaned over and kissed Mike's cheek. She gave Susan a shy hug. "I really love that dress. It looks amazing on you." Hannah commented on the olive-green floral dress that Susan was wearing. She had hated how the media called Susan all kinds of names. Horrible things.
"Thanks, honey. Call us if you need us. We'll just be downstairs and there is an agent at the door. I'll let them know that Katie and Gavin are coming up." Mike said as he bent down and kissed both girl's foreheads and ruffled Gavin's hair. Hannah realized that the same scene might have taken place twenty years before with her, Katie and Lucas. He raised up and kissed Hannah's forehead and then grabbed Susan's hand.
"Seriously, call us. We'll send some pizza up." Susan said as she patted Hannah's arm before she and Mike left.
"So, what do you want to do?" Hannah asked.
"Mommy packed our Lion King DVD." Noelle said.
"Ah. My favorite! Let's watch it." Hannah said. Anna ran and got the movie and Hannah set up the DVD player in the living area. To her, it was the perfect evening and Katie and Gavin would enjoy it too.