A/N - so...we're seeing where this goes... xoxo - tmtcltb

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One Year Later - December 2016

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Andrea strolled towards the patio, assuring each group that she passed that she just needed a bit of air. As she finally slipped through the door, she took a deep breath of the frosty air.

Behind her, the now-traditional Christmas Eve party was going strong. For the first time since the Nathan James left Norfolk two and a half years ago, the past year brought no new crisis. There were still the now-expected post-virus issues to handle. The collapse of the governments of both Greece and Cameron, a major oil spill in the North Pacific when an underwater earthquake caused an unmanned oil rig to collapse, a polio outbreak in India, and perhaps the worst of all, a national election where the guy Andrea didn't like won, Oliver having decided not to run.

But every crew member who was alive a year ago remained alive, and that by itself was cause to celebrate.

Which was the reason why Andrea was ignoring the three large kegs that sat in the middle of the ballroom, despite most of the partygoers being in uniform. After all that these men and women had been through, she was not going to be the one to end the fun.

"There you are," Mike murmured, appearing out of the darkness. He slipped an arm around Andrea's waist from behind, causing her to jump. She turned, then pulled him towards her for a lingering kiss. Enjoying the steady beat of his heart against her hand, realizing how much she had missed him over the last two weeks. Mike had made it to St. Louis late that afternoon, having stopped in Norfolk on his way back from Europe to dedicate a new destroyer, giving them no time before the party for a more private reunion.

When he finally lifted his head, brushing a soft kiss across her forehead, Andrea straightened his collar. "I don't see any mistletoe, Admiral."

Mike chuckled. "I didn't think I needed any this year, Captain."

"Aren't there rules about the Secretary of the Navy kissing his Chief Naval Officer?" Came an amused voice from behind them, and Andrea almost groaned as she recognized Tom's voice.

Over the past year, she and Mike had been nothing if not discrete. Although they frequently attended events together, they always remained perfectly professional while in uniform, or in public. Not that they were keeping anything a secret. Their close friends, including Tom, knew about their relationship. They simply chose not to be overly demonstrative, especially in light of their very public roles in the Navy.

"Pretty sure that they are the same rules as the ones about instructors not kissing their students," Mike replied cheekily. He turned towards Tom, but kept an arm looping around Andrea's waist.

"Touché." Sasha stepped into the dim light, her own arm around Tom's waist. As though they, too, had escaped to the patio for a bit of privacy. "It's good to see everyone so happy tonight."

Andrea glanced towards the glass doors. While her heart still ached for those who were not here tonight, Sasha was right. It was good to see people so happy. Wolf was teaching Azima to limbo, while Carlton and Cameron did shots. Danny and Kara had disappeared early in the evening, presumably to celebrate their anniversary in private, but in the corner Kat sat on Ray's lap feeding him pretzels. Alisha was dancing with her new girlfriend, the two attempting to start a conga line. Even Meylan was in attendance tonight, chatting with Jeter and Rios.

"Yes, it is," Andrea said quietly.

"Well, it's rather chilly. Are you headed in?" Tom asked.

Mike pulled out a cigar. "We'll join you in a few."

The couple disappeared, Tom's hand resting on Sasha's back as they walked through the door. Andrea waited while Mike lit his cigar. "She's good for him."

"She is." Mike paused. "I wish she didn't have to spend so much time in the field. I wish none of them did."

Andrea nodded, frowning as she recalled her lunch with Kara yesterday, one where the younger woman admitted to some strain in her marriage with the two of them on such different schedules, rarely being home for more than a week or two at the same time. Hopefully tonight would be a good opportunity for them to reconnect. A good opportunity for all of them to reconnect, to reflect, hopefully focusing more on what they now had than on what they had lost.

They stood in comfortable silence as Mike puffed on his cigar. There had been a few moments of awkwardness over the last year, as they moved from friends to lovers, and a few very rather loud arguments. But, overall, Andrea had been surprised by the ease of the transition, an apparent benefit of already knowing most of the other person's habits - good or bad. She recalled Mike's words, from what felt like a lifetime ago.

"I've been married for most of my adult life. I miss that sometimes. Having someone to come home to at the end of the day."

Andrea reached out to take Mike's hand. "I missed you. I'm not used to sleeping by myself any more."

Mike chuckled. "I've become an old man. When I say that there is nothing that I would like more than to go home and go to sleep, together, in our bed, I really mean it."

"That's the jetlag talking," Andrea replied crisply.

"I went by the house while I was in Norfolk." Mike blew out a ring of smoke. "Actually, I've decided to sell the place."

Andrea turned, studying his face. Despite having made major strides in the past year in reconciling birth and death records, as well as identifying bodies, there had been no news regarding Mike's family, leaving him in a sort of limbo. Although Mike claimed to have made peace with their deaths after Rota, Andrea recognized the difference between making that statement and dismantling the home where he lived with his family. The last place where they had been together. "Are you sure, Mike?"

Mike gazed at her steadily. "I talked to Clayton about having Christine and the girls formally declared dead. He said the process will take a few months. Once the paperwork is done, I'll have clean title to the house. Norfolk is getting crowded, I'm sure that someone will buy it."

Andrea looked down, studying their joined fingers. "If this is because of me..."

But Mike cut her off. "I want to get married, Andrea."

She froze, head jerking up, certain that he must have misspoken. But Mike simply continued to puff on his cigar. Andrea pulled her hand away, crossing her arms over her chest, finger tapping as she considered him. "You are married and, last time I checked, bigamy was still illegal."

"True, but in about three months, I won't be married anymore." Mike grinned at her. "That gives you nine months to think about it. Same time next year?"

Andrea shook her head at Mike, but then found herself laughing. "It's a date."