Thank you dear readers and those who take time to comment.

You all are a true inspiration. I enjoy building the story of Elvis and Georgie. There was so much we missed. And such potential...

Chapter 14

New Beginnings with Family and Friends

Elvis was sat on a chair in the lounge enjoying a generous portion of his mother's lasagna.

So much for the family dinner last night. They spent the time getting this whole celebration in order. He smiled inwardly. Coming here today was not at all what he expected. He wasn't even sure he deserved it, but somehow the folks here seemed to think so. As he was about to take another fork full, Grace approached him. She easily sat down next to him. "Keep eating," she said, "you need to put some meat back on you." Elvis smiled and swallowed. "Thank you for your hospitality," he said. "No. Thank you Elvis," Grace said. Elvis stared at her. Did he miss something? Grace placed her hands in her lap. "You saved Georgie. You've kept our girl alive. She loves you Elvis, and that's plenty for me." "I love her Grace. Always ave," he said placing the plate aside. "No, no, keep eating," she said handing the plate back to him. "You've been around my mother too long," he laughed. "She knows best," Grace said with a wink.

After a moment, Grace said, "Do you have any pictures of your daughter?" Elvis almost dropped his fork. "I do, yeah. On my phone." Grace held the plate for him. Elvis proceeded to scroll through his gallery. He tapped open a photo of Laura. Grace looked at the picture. She was mesmerized. The little darling was so cute. Her hair was light, but she was the image of Elvis. "She's precious" she said. Elvis was stunned. "And I'll bet quite the handful if she's anything like you," She said. Elvis grinned, "maybe a bit, yeah," he said. "You will bring her to visit, yeah?" "Of course," he said.

Lulu came over to them. "Lulu, want to see Laura?" "Yeah! Let me see." Grace handed her the phone. Lulu looked from the phone to Elvis. "She looks just like you!" "Poor kid," Elvis said laughing. "More like poor daddy. You're gonna have a time of it when she gets older," Grace said lightly. "Hmmmm," Elvis murmured.

Georgie joined them. "How are ya?" she asked Elvis. "Fine," he said. "Eat up. There's dessert too." "Yeah, you could use another plate!" Lulu said. "Haven't finished this one," Elvis said looking from one to the other. "Don't you think Laura looks like Elvis?" Lulu asked Georgie. Georgie looked at her then at Elvis. "Yeah. She does." "Would she be my niece?" Lulu asked. "She would, yeah," Georgie said smiling at Elvis. "I'm an aunt!" Lulu chirped. "Epic!"

Elvis laughed and almost choked. "Guess you won't be shaking anything today eh Elvis?" Lulu joked. "Uh, not today. Negative. Or any day really," Elvis said. "That would make me a grandmother!" Grace suddenly said. "Mum!" Georgie said. "Well, it's true," Grace said, "See what you've done Elvis!" "Getting a bit dramatic aren't we Grace?" Elvis said just before taking another fork full. She touched his shoulder and gave a little squeeze, "I'm gonna get the desserts ready, come on Lulu, help me," Grace said and they were off.

Georgie sat down next to Elvis. "I gotta hand it to ya George. You kept the element of surprise." "Well, you always said surprise was an essential part of tactical maneuvers."

"My dad's giving your dad samples of scotch," George said. "Should prove interestin ," Elvis said. "I see Marie's got a thing for Fingers," Elvis noted. "She does, yeah," Georgie said. "I tried to warn her." "You're no soldier rule?" Elvis laughed. "Doesn't work now does it Georgie?" "You're Special Forces remember? Only applies to squaddies," Georgie said and they looked at each other and laughed.

"Beats the hospital rations eh?" Charlie said walking over and handing Elvis a beer. They clinked their bottles and both took a hefty sip. "So Elvis, Spanner will be taking requests shortly but in the meantime you have to submit to a briefing." Charlie said. Elvis looked at Georgie. She was rubbing her hands together and looking around as if trying to locate someone. There they were – she gave whoever it was a nod and then focused back to Elvis and Charlie.

"What's goin on?" Elvis said with a bit of concern peaking in his voice. Spanner appeared. He was carrying 2 bottles of beer and had a zippered case tucked under his arm. He handed Georgie one of the bottles. "To Elvis!" he said and the three lifted their beers and then Elvis chimed in with his. After all four had taken a generous swallow and Georgie grimaced at the taste, Spanner got down to task. He proceeded to unzip the brief case. Elvis looked up at Charlie, who was somewhat smiling but clearly serious. What the fuck! Elvis thought. Spanner looked down at him. "Orders from Whitehall boss." Elvis lost what little color he had remaining. Georgie took his plate away. Elvis wiped his mouth and destroyed the napkin in his fist. "Go on," he said. Spanner handed Elvis the folder. All three had eyes on him and he felt acutely uncomfortable.

He opened the folder. …"On the order of Colonel….Captain Harte is assigned …" Elvis eyes scanned the document. Georgie was chewing her lower lip. Charlie crossed his arms in front of his chest and Spanner smiled his toothy grin. Elvis let out a sigh of relief. He wasn't quite sure what he expected to read in those orders, but this certainly was not it. He worried he would be relegated to some desk job until he mended and if he wasn't already somewhat mad, that would certainly do the trick.

"Well?" Georgie said anxiously. "Not one to be at a loss for words Elvis," Charlie said. "Boss" Spanner said.

"Do you three already know what's in this?" Elvis asked. "It's classified boss," Spanner said. Elvis gave him a withering look. "Classified my arse!" Elvis said. He looked at Charlie, "Did you know about this?" "That's an SF matter mate." Elvis looked at Georgie. She lifted her eyebrows but did not say a word. "Should we get you a good pencil sharpener?" Charlie said, trying to maintain a serious air. Elvis closed his eyes and started to chuckle, "Fuck sake!" "I think he'll need poopie bags," Georgie said. Elvis looked at Spanner. This could not be better by a long shot!

"You'll have to go to Hereford boss," he said. "Yeah. Yeah I will," Elvis said looking back at the file. "Do they have a picture?" Georgie asked clearly delighted for him. Elvis lifted a few pages, "Yeah, right here." His face lit up. "Pyro," he said and lifted the file up for them to see. Georgie put her arm around Elvis' shoulders and kissed him on the top of his head. He reached an arm around her waist. "To Pyro!" Spanner said and raised his beer. All four followed suit in the cheer and Elvis grinned from ear to ear. Spunky and Jackson then joined them. "We'll miss ya boss, but it's only temporary," Spunky said. Elvis nodded. He was so thrilled. He would be helping with military dog training at Hereford. That was the best possible assignment he could have been given.

Across the room, Marie stood watching them. She of course was not happy that Elvis was here. She stayed away from him so far and really had no intention of approaching him at all. To her dismay, she was the only one that felt that way. Oh she fancied him alright. She always found him handsome and fit. But he never once showed any interest in her. His heart belonged to Georgie and the rest of him for that matter. She hated that he had a rather keen intellect and knew what she was about. But he apparently never made any mention to Georgie or she would have been all over Marie like a rash from poison ivy. Yes. She better stay clear of him. Georgie loved him and there was no denying that.