"I'll get it," Steve spoke and he handed Natalie to Catherine.
Catherine was wondering who it was. Steve dried himself off a bit and put a shirt on before opening the door.
"Hey Sam," Steve spoke when he had opened the door.
"Hey Steve," Sam greeted his old Navy friend. "It's good to see you again."
They gave each other a bro hug.
"Likewise, thanks for coming."
"Thanks for the invite." Steve had asked Sam and his family to come over and spend New Year's eve with them. "Steve, you remember my wife Michelle."
"Yeah, it's good to see you again Michelle, you look good," Steve gave her a friendly kiss on her cheek.
"Thank you, it's good to see you too."
"This is my son Aiden and my daughter Kamran." Steve shook their hands. "Aiden became a cadet-sergeant last year."
"That's great, congrats. Following in your dad's footsteps?"
"Yes sir."
"You worked my with daddy?" Kamran asked.
"Yes, we were both in the Navy. Come on in guys. Hope you brought your swimsuits."
"So you and Catherine huh?" Sam said as the others walked on in.
"Yeah."
"I always knew you two would end up together. I could see it back then the way you looked at each other."
Steve looked at Sam. He was right, from the moment Steve saw Catherine he was in love with her.
"She's out in the yard. Why don't you guys change into your swimsuits and come join us. There's a bedroom over there."
Steve walked back outside as the Hanna family went to change.
"Who was at the door?" Catherine asked when Steve came back outside.
"Sam and his family."
"Sam? As in your old Navy buddy Sam?"
"Yeah, he lives in LA so I thought it would be nice to ask him and his family over for New Year's eve. I hope that's alright."
"Yeah sure that's fine. Do they know about you and me and Natty?"
"I told them we got married but I haven't told him about Natty yet."
"Okay, where are they?"
"They are just getting changed into their swimsuits."
"Ah okay."
Sam was the first to come out. Catherine had come out of the pool with Natalie. Sam was surprised to see Catherine standing there with a little girl.
"Hey Catherine," Sam greeted her.
"Hey Sam, it's good to see you again," Catherine gave him a friendly kiss on his cheek.
"It's good to see you too. Who's this little cutie?" Sam asked, referring to Natalie in Catherine's arms.
"This is Natalie, Natty, she's my daughter and Steve's."
"You have a daughter?" Sam replied surprised, looking at Steve.
"Yeah we do. She's ten months old."
"Wow, I did not know that. Congrats."
"Thanks."
A little later Michelle, Kamran and Aiden came out as well.
"Cath, these are Michelle, Sam's wife and their kids Aiden and Kamran," Steve introduced the others.
"Hi, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too Catherine," Michelle told her as she shook her hand. "And who's this little cutie?"
"This is Natty, our daughter, she's ten months old."
"She a little cutie."
"Thank you."
"Come on guys, let's have a seat," Steve said.
They sat down on the chairs in the back yard.
"Daddy, can I go swimming?" Kamran asked.
"Sure Kam."
Kamran walked to the pool and got in. Not soon after that Aiden joined her as well and played a game of basketball with his little sister. Natalie wanted to go in the pool as well so Catherine took her into the pool. Michelle joined her and they played with the kids in the pool.
"So, you and Catherine have a kid huh?"
"Yeah we do, I didn't know about it until seven months ago."
Sam looked at him with a weird face. "How could you not know you had a kid?"
"Well, long story short Catherine had stayed in Afghanistan after we went there to help a friend of her. She came back in May for Kono's wedding and afterwards she told me we had a three month old kid."
"Wow, that's something. I can't imagine what that must have been like."
"Yeah, I was pretty pissed at first but we worked it out and I'm very happy to have her and Natty in my life."
"Yeah, you've got a nice family here."
"Thanks."
The two families enjoyed the afternoon outside and in the pool. Around dinner time Steve and Sam started the grill. Michelle and Catherine were inside getting everything ready. Sam and Michelle had taken some more stuff for dinner with them. Aiden was keeping Natalie and Kamran company in the pool. Steve kept an eye on the pool from the grill. Natalie was in her floater and she was having fun with Aiden and Kamran.
Just after 6pm everyone sat around the table outside and enjoyed a nice barbecue. Natalie sat in her high chair in between Steve and Catherine. Natalie ate some pieces of bread along with the jar of mashed carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. Natalie behaved herself really well at the table until just after 7pm.
"Come on sweetie, time for bed," Steve spoke as he picked Natalie up from her chair. "Say goodnight to mommy."
"Goodnight Natty," Catherine said and gave Natalie a kiss.
"Night, night, everyone," Steve spoke as he waved with Natalie's hand.
"Goodnight," everyone replied.
Steve took Natalie inside. He washed her before putting her pajama on.
"Goodnight sweetie." Steve gave her a kiss and placed her in her travel bed.
Steve gave Natalie her pacifier and turned the music mobile on. Steve grabbed the baby monitor and quietly left the room. Steve hoped she wouldn't wake up tonight with the firework. The rest stayed outside and enjoyed the barbecue. After dinner they went to swim some more. Everyone was having a good time. Just before midnight Catherine went inside to get the champagne as Michelle got the fritters ready. Catherine pored a glass of champagne for everyone and a glass of non-alcoholic champagne for Kamran. Steve put his phone on the table and waited as the clock counted down.
"Ten, night, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, happy New Year!" They all counted down.
"Happy New Year honey," Steve told Catherine and gave her a kiss.
"Happy New Year baby."
Everyone wished each other a happy new year and enjoyed their champagne and fritters. They saw some beautiful fireworks up in the sky. They all stayed out until a little after 1am before going inside. Sam and Michelle were staying the night there. Steve had called the owner and she was okay with it as long as they would pay for it.
Steve pulled Catherine close once they were in bed.
"I'm really looking forward to the new year with you and Natty," Steve admitted.
"Yeah me too. It's gonna be an amazing year. I just know it."
"Yeah, how can it not with you and Natty," Steve replied with a smile.
"I love you Steve."
"I love you too Cath."
Steve gave Catherine one more kiss before he gathered her in his arms and they fell asleep.
….
The third Steve and Catherine had to go back to Hawaii. Just after 7am the owner came. Steve had asked her to come sooner since their flight would leave at 10am. She inspected the house to make sure everything was in order. When everything was in order Steve paid her for the additional fee of having the Hanna family stay over. Steve put their stuff in the rental car and drove them to the airport. Steve parked the car in the parking area for the rental company and they pulled out their luggage. They walked into the airport. Steve pushing the cart with the luggage and Catherine pushing the stroller. Steve returned the keys for the car before they walked to the check-in desk. They checked themselves in and dropped their luggage off before walking to the gate. They passed customs and they waited at the gate until they could board the flight. Just after 9.30am they could board the flight. Catherine pulled Natalie out of her stroller just before they boarded the plane and gave the stroller to the ground crew. They again had the front seats. Just after 10am they left the airport. They would be at Hawaii around 2pm, local time.
They were about thirty minutes out from Oahu when the plane started to shake.