Thanks for your understanding when it comes to the chapter thingy…
Okay, so… Hope you enjoy!
Michelle leaned close to Jack as they walked towards the rest of Jack's family. Jack smiled and pressed her closer.
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Theresa looked up just in time to see Jack enter the backyard. Her older brother had a cast on his right arm, no surprises there, but the woman beside him… That was a pleasant surprise, especially the way they seemed to belong together. Like they with every movement told the world, 'this one belongs with me…'
She picked up Hannah and headed for the last two people to arrive. She had heard of this 'Michelle' but she had yet to meet her.
"Tessa!" Jack grinned, his eyes glistening with stars as he saw them, "And cute little Hannah!"
Theresa smiled and adjusted her hold on her daughter so the baby would face the couple instead.
"Hi-ya baby… You remember uncle Jackie?" Jack grinned as he bent down to try to make eye contact with the baby, he brought his left hand up for the baby to wrap her hand around his fingers. "It's me who is gonna teach you all you want to know about football. I'll let you know which team we're cheering for… And which teams we consider as mortal enemies…"
The six month old baby kicked out and made a sharp noise.
That's what I'm talking about girl…" Jack grinned.
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Theresa, 'Tessa', and Michelle had barely been introduced to each other when one of the other Dalton sisters called out for Tessa.
"Here, can you take her for a bit?" Theresa asked handing over Hannah to Michelle, who ended up with that 'now what?' expression, before she looked down at the grinning little girl and her heart melted like an icicle in Death Valley.
"She's a cute one, ain't she?" Jack grinned.
Michelle nodded, "She is…"
"Shhhh… I was talkin' to Hannah…" Jack chuckled, offering Michelle a flirtatious wink.
Michelle couldn't help but blush. Then she directed her attention to the infant in her arms, whispering, "Don't tell your uncle this, but I think he's very handsome… Can you keep that a secret? Just between the two of us?"
Jack grinned, quietly imagining a day in the future when that same woman could possibly be holding their daughter, or son. He wouldn't get his hopes up, he knew how his line of work worked. You never really got to enjoy the slow and quiet family life. It just never happened.
He smiled and enjoyed the moment, also taking the liberty to have a quick daydream where he and Michelle had like four or five kids of their own, but then it was back to reality again when Tessa came back to them and could carry Hannah around on her own again.
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"Jack!" a VERY familiar voice called out from behind them. Both Jack and Michelle turned abruptly to find exactly who they thought they would find.
Michelle's jaw went slack as she saw Jack's twin brother for the first time. They were so alike each other that it was almost unbelievable. The only differences between them was a few pounds, the way they 'styled' their facial hair and haircut. Other than that, they were identical. Same eyes, same smile. They even walked similar.
"Man, good to see ya!" Nick grinned as he jogged over. He stopped as he came close enough to hold a regular conversation, then he looked her over. "And you're the one Ma hasn't stopped chattin' about… Nice to finally meet ya…"
He held his hand out to shake hers, but she already knew what came next. She was not mistaken. She had strong arms wrapped around her shoulders.
"Nice to see ya brother…" Jack grinned, before being wrapped in his brother's arms himself once he let go of Michelle. "How are ya doin'?"
"I'm good. Great!" Nick grinned as he stepped back, one hand lingering on Jack's left shoulder. He looked Jack up and down, "You're obviously doing great too. They obviously haven't made a pen-pusher of you yet…"
The last comment was delivered with a nod towards Jack's cast.
Jack chuckled, "It'll be a cold day in hell when that happens…"
"Well, people are debating whether hell is cold or warm, you know…" Nick chuckled, "But, I wouldn't like to be one of your colleagues if you were forced to be in an office all day. I actually think that could have been dangerous…"
"You're probably right…" Jack chuckled.
Nick did too. Then he looked Jack up and down, a slightly annoyed look on his face, "Man… I was wondering why Box mentioned that I had gotten bigger… Think I've been pretty stable the last four years… But now I get it."
Jack looked down at himself. He had to admit, there were a bit of difference from his own agent-and-army-lifestyle body and to his brother's more comfortable looking body,
"What?"
"You're getting skinnier every time I see ya…" Nick chuckled and pointed at Jack's waist, "Withering away to nothing, that's what you're doin'"
Jack laughed, pushing his belly out to make it look bigger, then he wrapped an arm around Michelle's shoulders. "Nah… The way this one's been feedin' me I'm getting fat soon…"
Michelle couldn't help but chuckle.
"Would you mind that honey?" Jack looked down at her, his cast resting over the stomach he was working so hard to stick out.
She shook her head, "Would I have been feeding ya so darn much if I was afraid of you getting a little chubby?"
Jack shrugged.
"-I'm not afraid of that…" Michelle assured him.
"But would you prefer it?"
Michelle shrugged, "I want you to be comfortable. Whether that is like how you are now, or with 20 pounds extra… -Or more…"
Jack smirked, still looking down at Michelle. "So you're prepared for the future?"
She chuckled again, "As long as you're prepared for me getting fat and ugly, then I'll be prepared for you…"
"Nah… You'll never get ugly…" Jack winked, "That's impossible. Whatever else might happen, that I can handle…"
"Well, I think Box is about finished BBQ-ing, so… Maybe we should head on over?" Nick offered, jabbing his thumb in the direction of the table.
Okay, short little thing, I know… -And what do you think about that snippet with Tessa and Hannah?
This family reunion looks like it will take more chapters than I thought…
