The Trainer
Chapter 14
As Mike had predicted, Hannah had a rough day. She seemed extremely tired and much more moody than normal. She was angry with Willow for not being available and Mike ended up being kind of the middle man. He and Andrea offered to cancel their reservations, but Willow insisted on them going. They were both overly emotional and seemed to need the time away. Mike got Hannah settled on the couch and she was cuddling with Lauren. Mike, Andrea, Hannah and Wolf sit down to talk in the kitchen where they could keep an eye on the twins and MJ.
"Our reservation is for seven. We should be home by about ten but if something comes up; call." Andrea told them. Willow noticed that she was wearing the friendship bracelet and it made her smile.
"We want you two to have a good time. If its an emergency we'll call but otherwise, we won't." Willow assured them.
"I talked to Hannah but she's moody. They started her on a new medicine and it seems to have altered her personality. I don't like it." Mike stated. Hannah had always had a very sweet personality, but she had lashed out at Mike and Willow several times that day.
"The seizure meds are rough. If it continues, you may need to talk to her doctor. And besides; she is pretty upset with me." Willow told him.
"I know but it isn't like her. Hannah is generally so forgiving." Mike remarked. He was obviously worried sick.
"I'll talk to her some more. I want you guys to enjoy tonight." Willow told them.
"Alright; so, Lauren was just fed and changed. She likes a bath to calm her before bed but if you don't want to do that; it's fine. If you do it; her bathing tub is in our bathroom. You'll find all the stuff you need in there. She loves to be lotioned down before she goes to sleep, and it does help her to stay asleep longer. Her cord did fall off yesterday so there's medicine on our bathroom counter for her belly button. You know where her sleepers are. She'll want fed before she goes to sleep. She's been taking four ounces. She's a little piggy. Burping is a must with her. Most of this, you already know. We also give the twins a bath and they are to be in bed no later than nice. Don't let them try and tell you otherwise. Generally, your dad reads them a story together and that knocks them out. You know MJ's routine. He has gotten into the habit of a glass of milk and a peanut butter and jelly toast sandwich before bed. He loves cuddling before bed. Hannah generally takes her bath but since her incident last night; she maybe hesitant. She may also try and get out of taking her new medicine. She hates the taste and it does make her ill." Andrea filled Willow in as she grabbed her purse and kissed her kids.
"Noted." Willow agreed. Most of it, she knew but she also knew, Andrea hadn't left the baby with anyone but Mike yet and she was nervous. Andrea was a good mom. Mike had bent over and was talking to Hannah. Willow had to admit that she was slightly jealous of how tender Mike was with Hannah. They had a totally different relationship, but Hannah was also a different sort of person.
After several hugs and promises that they would be back later, Mike and Andrea were out the door. The kids had already eaten, and Lauren was happy as a little clam laying on Hannah's chest. Wolf was occupying the twins and MJ with a game of Candy Land and Willow sat down next to Hannah who had sit up.
"So, are you still upset with me?" Willow asked.
"A little but I just don't feel good. Just tired and my head feels all buzzy." Hannah told her as she kissed Lauren's head.
"I really am sorry I wasn't home or available. Dad and I have discussed it." Willow apologized for the tenth time that day.
"I know, he said. It was embarrassing that he had to pick me up out of the bathtub." Hannah acknowledged what was really bothering her.
"I bet it was. I wouldn't have been able to lift you out of there though. Would you have preferred a stranger?" Willow asked.
"No…that would have been bad. I do know; Andrea covered me up as good as she could. Just embarrassing. Dad said not to stress about it. His line was that he had given me baths when I was little, changed my diaper and all that. It scared them." Hannah told her.
"It did. Dad was pretty shaky this morning." Willow agreed. She wouldn't tell Hannah about their dad sobbing in her arms for fifteen minutes, but it was important that Hannah know that Mike worried about her.
"And Andrea too. She has watched me close all day. I do think I won't take a bath tonight. I'll take a shower. I would prefer Wolf not see that much of me. Dad is bad enough." Hannah said with an ornery grin on her face.
"He would prefer that too. Don't worry about it, Hannah. Dad doesn't regret doing what he did. He would be destroyed if something happened to you. We all would." Willow reassured her.
"He said that too. Andrea too. Hard to imagine they would be like that." Hannah said quietly.
"They would be. I was watching Dad with you earlier and wishing that he would be as tender with me as he is with you. I've always been the tomboy. Dad and I go to the range. You and Dad went to an art exhibit." Willow encouraged her.
"I suppose but I bet he enjoys the range more." Hannah told Willow.
"Maybe but he enjoyed the time with you most. Its with you that we all get a reset. The art exhibit may not have been Dad's cup of tea, but he's talked about it for a week solid. What you guys did, what you saw. He takes me to the range and we may joke about one of us not hitting the target for an hour or so but that's it." Hannah told her firmly.
"I guess. He's already planning our next trip out. He's taking MJ to a baseball game next week though. I think they need that time." Hannah said as she gestured towards their younger brother.
"I agree. Dad's worried about his relationship with MJ." Willow stated.
"He is but Dad loves that little boy. It was almost like the second they saw each other, they loved each other. I think MJ just really wanted a dad and we had both told him so much about Dad. And he loves Andrea too." Hannah agreed.
"He does. That was a bit hard for me to get used to. How quickly he started calling her Mom." Willow mentioned. It was something she struggled with.
"You have to remember, Mom died when he was two days old. He only knows what we've told him. We are not his mother. There are times you've had to act the part, but Andrea is that person now and we need to let it be. She won't let MJ forget that he had another mother who loved him and we can tell him our memories of her. It's how Mom would have wanted it to go and you know it." Hannah advised.
"True. I am honestly thankful Dad had someone like her. Their relationship is odd though." Willow mentioned.
"Not really. Watch them together. They are partners and friends first. I think that is where Mom and Dad failed. They obviously loved each other but they forgot to just be friends before they were a couple, parents or each other's lover." Hannah told her. It had been no real secret that their parent's marriage had been troubled but apparently something worked because they had managed to create MJ.
"They don't seem as affectionate." Willow commented.
"Part of that with Mom and Dad was an act for our benefit. Dad and Andrea have been in the Navy for years, where public displays of affection are frowned on. This morning, after you gave Dad that bracelet for Andrea from Lily? He brought it upstairs and put it on her wrist. Andrea started crying and Dad just hugged her. They thought I was sleeping. He probably held her for ten, fifteen minutes. No doubt in my mind; they love one another. Plus, they do kind of have three kids." Hannah acknowledged.
"Yeah…um, Hannah, remember a couple doesn't have to be in love to make a baby. I think we've discussed this." Willow teased and smiled at her sister's reddened face.
"We have. So, have you and Wolf?" Hannah teased right back.
"Have we what?" Willow asked, knowing she had stepped into a trap.
"Made a baby? I wouldn't mind a niece or nephew." Hannah joked.
"Not as far as I know. I went and got a shot the other day. Supposed to prevent a baby." Willow told her firmly.
"So, you felt the need to have birth control? My guess is, the reason you didn't answer your phone was because you were in the middle of the action that might have created a baby." Hannah asked.
"Jesus, Hannah! There are children present." Willow teased in a low voice.
"Just stating a fact; but you do realize those shots aren't always effective?" Hannah stated.
"I know. Other preventative measures took place. No worries." Willow assured her.
"So, how was it? I bet after what happened, you were scared? Nervous?" Hannah asked. Willow realized that Hannah had been worried about her wellbeing, which was sweet. Willow decided to confide in Hannah which meant separating her from the other kids and Wolf.
"Hey, babe, we're going upstairs to get Lauren settled. You okay?" Willow asked Wolf.
"Yeah, we're good." Wolf told them, and Hannah and Willow went upstairs and began giving Lauren her bath. Lauren was full of smiles and cute, little noises.
"So, I'm fine. Wolf was a gentleman. He was slow and deliberate. Gentle. I had spoke with my therapist yesterday. I was overthinking things majorly. If it had been just some random guy; it might have been different, but I trust Wolf. It was incredible." Willow assured her.
"Good, I'm glad it went well. I just wanted to make sure he hadn't hurt you. I would have stabbed him with my fork." Hannah replied. It was not normal for Hannah to say such things, so Willow chalked it up to her new medication. It was sweet, sort of.
"Your fork, huh? I bet you could find a knife or a gun somewhere in this house if you had looked." Willow teased as she washed Lauren off.
"Oh, I wouldn't want to hurt him. Just, let him know where I stood. So just let him know, if he hurts you; he has me and my fork to worry about." Hannah stated, completely serious.
"I think you are a mess." Willow told Hannah as she lifted Lauren out of the bath water and Hannah toweled her dry.
"Maybe. Why don't you go back downstairs and get her bottle so you can kiss on your fiancé?" Hannah suggested as Willow carried the baby to Mike and Andrea's bed to put her sleeper on.
"Okay, but will you be alright?" Willow asked.
"Yes, I'll be fine. My head is still all buzzy feeling. What do you think Dad and Andrea are doing? I bet they're all kissy faced too." Hannah asked, still apparently doped up.
"As long as they're having a good time; that's what matters. Be back." Willow told Hannah.
In the City
Andrea took a drink of her wine and smiled at Mike. He was suffering through having to wear a tie in a restaurant that served so little food; they would be picking up burgers on the way home. Her version of the perfect date night and Mike's were a little different.
"So, what do you think of the retirement thing?" Andrea asked. They were trying not to talk about the Navy, the kids or the house.
"If that is what you want, I support it. I'm not ready, myself but if you are, then put your papers in. There won't be a financial concern; in fact, since we wouldn't really have day care costs, we would save money…I'm assuming we wouldn't?" Mike asked.
"No, I want to stay home with the kids." Andrea assured him.
"Then go for it." Mike told her.
"What's on your mind?" Andrea asked as she reached over and squeezed Mike's hand.
"Just worried about Hannah. And trying not to be. I should be concentrating on you." Mike stated.
"I would expect nothing less. You're a good dad. You love the kids." Andrea assured him.
"Are you okay with this? All the changes?" Mike asked.
"Yeah. I'm okay with it because you aren't so sad anymore. You haven't had a single nightmare since they were found." Andrea told him.
"I didn't even realize. I still miss Lucas, but I can handle that. Thinking my girls were gone was too much. Now, knowing how much I've missed with them and MJ hurts." Mike told her as he leaned back in his chair and waited for her to finish so they could go get a real meal.
"Just spend as much time as possible with them. I'm done. Let's go get a burger, old man." Andrea told him as they stood up. Mike had already paid the bill and he wrapped an arm around her.
"I know I don't say it very often, but I love you." Mike told her as they walked out and got in his truck. He even opened the door for her. They weren't into flowery shows of affection or even words of affirmation. It was easier to just act out their love. Making his coffee in the morning, him watching the kids long enough for her to take a relaxing bath, that sort of thing.
"I love you too." Andrea said as she leaned over the truck console and gave him a kiss.
"And I did make us a reservation for our night out. I checked your calendar for when you're follow up appointment was and got the next weekend. I spoke with Willow this afternoon. She's on board to watch the munchkins." Mike told her as he started the truck.
"Perfect. We need to start saving money for her wedding." Andrea suggested.
"Willow is the type that will elope and then call me later. I would love to be there; give her away but I also know my daughter. She's too practical." Mike argued as they were driving towards their favorite burger place. The only reason they didn't go there to begin with was because Willow had made the reservation for them.
"Maybe she'll go for a small backyard wedding or something of the sort. A compromise. Course, they haven't set a date." Andrea argued as she looked down at the friendship bracelet on her wrist. She couldn't help but to think about Lily and Mike knew it.
"You okay? You're thinking about Lily?" Mike asked even though he knew the answer.
"I always think about her but more so today for some reason. Maybe its because of Hannah's seizure last night or the fact that Willow, Lily and Hannah played together so much when they were younger and now Willow is getting married and I'm realizing that I will never see Lily in her wedding dress. Maybe that's why I want Willow to have something nice for her wedding day. Just like when MJ laughs and you have to leave the room because it reminds you of Lucas." Andrea agreed.
"I'm hoping there will be a day that I can hear him laugh and not have to walk away. I'll talk to Willow and see if I can convince her to have a small wedding even. I don't think they have done any planning whatsoever. Everything is still new and euphoric. Or maybe talk to Wolf, he might be able to convince her. I think she will go along with it if we keep it small and inexpensive. Here's our burger place." Mike said as they pulled into the small place with big, fat burgers. It was their go to place when they were 'dating.' "I'll come around."
Mike came around and opened the door for Andrea. He had taken his tie off and she had exchanged her heels for a pair of ballet type flats that she had stowed in the truck. As soon as she jumped out; Mike pulled her into another hug. They stood for a minute and then continued into the burger place; arm in arm. The waitress smiled as soon as they walked in.
"It's my favorite couple! Your usuals? Awfully dressed up?" The waitress, Stacy asked as she seated them.
"Yeah, I want the bacon cheeseburger toaster and an order of onion rings. Our oldest daughters are watching the kids and so we had to suffer through a five-star restaurant for her. Came here for real food." Mike joked.
"Your oldest? I guess I'm confused because I thought your daughter was like three and weren't you just pregnant?" Stacy asked, and Andrea choked on her water.
"Oh…it's been a busy few weeks. Mike's kids were found, and his first wife had had a baby. MJ is six. And yes; Lauren is two and a half weeks now. She's doing well." Andrea filled her in for Mike.
"Oh, that's wonderful. I love happy stories. What will you have, Andrea?" Stacey asked.
"Thanks. I want the swiss melt and a large order of fries. Extra onion and no mushrooms." Andrea told her.
"How you stay in such good shape is beyond me. We'll have your orders soon. In the meantime; do you want your milkshakes?" Stacey teased.
"YES! Although, I don't want my pregnancy craving. Cherry cordial for me." Andrea told her and then smiled at Mike.
"Chocolate peanut butter for me but bring two straws for both, please. I want to try hers." Mike commented, and Andrea chuckled as Stacy walked away.
"You do realize, we've had three kids which means we have exchanged bodily fluids; at least twice. I think we can share a straw. You still have that phobia of people eating or drinking before or after you?" Andrea joked.
"Yes. And it's a different bodily fluid that we've exchanged. I won't let my phobia get in the way of that." Mike teased back.
"I would certainly hope not. That wouldn't be any fun for me! Even though I'm benched right now, I have big plans for that weekend. Course; after tonight, Willow may reneg on her offer to watch the kids. Lauren can be a cranky butt." Andrea commented.
"If she can handle a criminal, she can handle a three-week-old. Besides, its good practice for her." Mike agreed.
"I figure it will be fine until Lauren realizes it isn't me or you putting her to sleep. She maybe okay with Hannah though. Good practice for when she and Wolf have your grandchild." Andrea teased.
"Oh, God. I don't even want to think about that." Mike told her. He had gone pale and Andrea decided to just keep teasing him.
"What exactly do you think they were doing last night? She could already be pregnant and…" Andrea continued.
"Oh, God, stop." Mike said as he put his head in his hands, rather dramatically. Stacy had shown up with their milkshakes and was laughing at Mike.
"Stacy, his daughter is recently engaged, and I was teasing him about her getting pregnant." Andrea filled her in.
"How do you think babies are made?" Stacy asked him.
"They're hatched." Mike stated.
"Says the man that's had seven kids. That kind of theory is probably why." Andrea joked.
"Not a strong advocate of birth control, why would his daughter be any different?" Stacy asked.
"Ladies!" Mike said, trying to stop them.
"So, when can we expect number eight?" Stacy asked.
"Never. Andrea made me see a doctor while she was still pregnant. Very painful procedure." Mike admitted.
"It couldn't have been worse then childbirth." Stacy chastised him.
"She had an epidural." Mike told Stacy.
"Oh, man. Epidurals don't mean there's no pain. She had your baby, suck it up." Stacy harassed him.
"I can't have a pity party?" Mike asked. Andrea was laughing at his reaction.
"No. You can't. But, look at it this way, Mike. You don't ever have to worry about condoms again. And, when I get the baby fever again, Willow will swoop in with your grandbaby. We can spoil it and then send it home again." Andrea told him.
"I do like that idea." Mike told her as Stacy walked away to get their order.
"I thought you would." Andrea told him with a cheeky grin. Mike was blushing, and Andrea was highly amused. Stacy walked up with the orders and both of them dug into their food. They were both hungry enough that there wasn't much conversation; other than sharing fries, onions and their milkshakes. Most people would hate their idea of a date night, but it was perfect for them.