Chapter 38
This question was discussed in great length on the ride from the mall back to Mac's apartment. After spending almost an hour in the video store with good natured arguments over the best movies to get, they ended up with a bag full of movies that they could not possibly get through watching before Chloe's grandparents would come to pick her up. It was finally decided that they would order a pizza at AJ's favorite parlor in McLean. By the time they grabbed the things they needed and made the drive to McLean that it would be ready for them to pick up.
Saturday, 6 December 2003
1700 EST
AJ's house
McLean, Virginia
They arrived at AJ's home and everyone helped to carry things into the house. Mac and Chloe took their bags to the guest room, while AJ took the pizza into the kitchen. He then went to let Dammit out. Both girls could hear the excited barking as the dog hurried to do her business so she could hurry back inside to greet the guests that she had heard arrive.
Dammit came rushing into the house when AJ opened the door for her. She greeted Chloe first because Mac had stopped for a minute in the bedroom to drag a comb through her hair. Mac entered to see Chloe standing nose to nose with Dammit, who had her paws on Chloe's shoulders licking her entire face.
"Oh, you are so sweet!" Chloe cooed at Dammit. "You make me miss my dog, Jingo."
"How is Jingo, Chloe? I bet Mac misses him too."
"Yes, I do."
"He is really old now, and he can hardly see, but he is still really sweet. How soon can we eat? I'm starved!"
"Teenagers! Always hungry," Mac grinned.
"Are you trying to say you're NOT hungry?" Chloe asked with a smirk. Mac's guilty look was all it took to get both Chloe and AJ laughing.
"Teenagers, and Marines!" AJ said between laughs.
Mac harrumphed, "Yeah, like you won't eat as much or more that us, you squid!"
"That is SIR Squid to you Marine!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," she replied, "Just bring out the pizza and we will see who has the bigger…appetite."
AJ raised his eyebrows at her challenge, before returning one of his own, "Careful, Mac, when Chloe's grandparents pick her up, you will be alone and unprotected."
Chloe grinned evilly, "Hey! No need to wait! I wouldn't interfere!"
"Oh, thanks! Remind me to return your Christmas present!"
"Yeah, right."
While everyone was still chuckling, AJ brought in the pizza, plates, and napkins. "Chloe, there's tea and pop in the fridge, could you get drinks for everyone?" AJ requested.
"Sure, what do you two want?"
"Tea," they said in unison, and then laughed.
When both Mac and AJ reached for the last slice of pizza at the same time, their hands met, then their eyes locked, and they were lost in all the emotions and feelings from the past twenty-four hours. They were finally able to look away, only to find Chloe contentedly munching on the last slice, grinning at them between bites.
They looked at each other, AJ nodded, and they both tackled Chloe at the same time from either side. They began to tickle her mercilessly and Dammit was the winner over all! She got the remainder of the slice when Chloe dropped it.
After the tickling match was over, they finally settled down to watch the movies that they had picked up at the video store. Chloe had convinced them to get Lord of the Rings I and II, Mac had seen the first one, but not the second, and AJ had seen neither.
When the first one was done, they all stood for a stretch-break. AJ suggested popcorn and went into the kitchen to make it when both females agreed. Chloe changed into her pajamas while they were waiting on the snack. Everyone cuddled up on the couch when AJ came back with one large bowl. He was between Mac and Chloe, with Dammit trying to cover all three sets of feet.
Chloe slept through the last twenty minutes of the second movie, and Mac had to nudge her awake so she could go to bed. After making sure she was safely tucked in, Mac returned to the living room where AJ was cleaning up the mess they had made. "Let me help with that, AJ."
"I can manage, it's not much. Why don't you let Dammit out for her nightly business, while I finish up here?"
"Okay. Come on Dammit," she called, and the dog quickly followed her to the door and went running into the yard. It was only four minutes later that AJ joined Mac on the back porch. "It is so quiet out here," she sighed.
"The quiet and the privacy are some of the best qualities about this place.'
"You are a very private person, aren't you?" Mac asked without turning to look at him. She could feel him standing close behind her and remembered what it had felt like to be in his arms before Chloe had interrupted them yesterday.
To be continued…