Before Everything
Chapter 2-April 1st, 2002
Mike kissed his newborn daughter who was only a few hours old. He was due back to boot camp and was fortunate to have even been given leave to be with his wife when she went into labor. He had joined the Navy a couple months before and would be completing training soon, but he would be fast-tracked to the Academy. They felt due to his training as a police officer, that he would be a good Naval officer.
He joined for a lot of reasons. He wanted to make the world a safer place for his little girl mostly. He couldn't do that as a cop because his efforts were fairly local. He could serve on a grander scale in the Armed Forces and the Navy had always been alluring to him. His grandfather had fought on D-Day and then on the Pacific theater the next year. The Navy was a natural choice. So, he quit his job, moved Christine into his parent's house and joined up. His mother, who needed something to focus on since Katie died, would help with the baby who had been named for her dead daughter. Mike and Christine had named their baby girl, Kaitlyn Elizabeth with the agreement when they had a boy; the name would include some sort of homage for his uncle Adam, who had also died.
"How are you feeling?" Mike asked Christine who was shifting uncomfortably in the hospital bed.
"Sore. Ready to be home. They said I would be kept overnight, though. When do you have to go back?" Christine asked.
"Tonight. I'm sorry." Mike told her sadly. Kaitlyn made a soft noise and Mike checked to see if she was awake. Mike thought she was perfect but most people would see her as red and wrinkled up. She had a bruise on her forehead from the difficult birth. Mike and Christine didn't mind at all.
"You're almost done with boot camp. I am shocked that you were accepted into the Academy. I thought one of the admissions requirements was that you aren't married or have kids." Christine remarked.
"Helped that Dad and Granddad were both Medal of Honor recipients. With this war starting, it got looked over. I'm glad your parents are going to help us." Mike said. He would have to live on sight but Christine's parents were going to help them with a place for Christine and Kaitlyn to stay. Mike would only be able to visit occasionally but was glad they would be close. Christine would do her baking to supplement their meager income.
"We will manage. I don't know how; but we will." Christine said. Mike had barely gotten into Academy and he was determined to be the best Naval Officer he could be. He just had to be as good of a husband and father.
June 2007
Mike had graduated from the Academy and just been given his first orders. The Med on the Pinckney. It was his first deployment and couldn't come at a worse time. Christine was six months along with twins. They had been so careful while he was in school so she didn't get pregnant, but either her birth control hadn't worked or the condom failed, in either case, they would be parents to a set of twins in September. A boy and girl. Hannah Margaret and Lucas Adam. As he walked into their little apartment and heard Christine and Kaitlyn's voices, he gulped. How would she react? The Academy had been a huge strain on Christine. They couldn't afford for her to go home to visit, she hated Annapolis and missed her family and neighborhood. Now, he was going to be gone.
"Honey, I'm home." Mike called and Kaitlyn came running for him. He picked her up and gave her a kiss. Christine waddled up to him and gave him a short kiss before looking at him suspiciously.
"What's wrong?" Christine asked.
"I've said three words and you think something is wrong?" Mike asked.
"I know you so spill." Christine ordered.
"I've been given my orders. I ship out to the Med in early August." Mike told her quietly.
"So, you won't be here for…" Christine asked as she pointed down at her belly."
"No, I'm sorry, honey. I couldn't tell them no. You know it caused some wrinkles that I was married or had a kid when I was in Academy." Mike said.
"Gee, I'm sorry it is such an imposition to have me and Kaitlyn." Christine said. She was pregnant, hormonal and very uncomfortable.
"I didn't mean it that way and you know it. I report to Norfolk next week. It's a bit far to do a daily drive but we could look for a place. My pay is better now." Mike said.
"Or, Kaitlyn and I go back to Chicago. Mike, I am going to need help when I have the babies. Mom will help and your mom will too." Christine said.
"But I want to have you and the kids close." Mike said.
"You won't be there and I will be contending with a five-year-old and newborn twins. Think, Mike. The last four years has been all about you. I am proud that you want to serve but I can't do this on my own. If you can't be here, why can't I go where I know I'll have help?" Christine said. She had a point but Mike hated it.
"Fine." Mike said as he walked into their bedroom. Kaitlyn was playing on the living room floor and Mike had an invitation to go out with some friends. Normally, he would stay home with his wife and daughter but he needed to decompress. He stripped out of his uniform, grabbed a pair of jeans and t-shirt and put them on.
"Are you going somewhere?" Christine asked.
"Yeah, Tom and Andrea and a couple other friends are going out for drinks. I'm going with." Mike told her as he put the shirt on.
"Glad I didn't have plans." Christine said sourly.
"Chrissy, I never go out. Any free time I have, I'm here. Besides, I'm going to be deploying with them. I need to spend time with them." Mike answered.
"Of course." Christine said before walking back into the living room. All Mike could do was groan. He understood why she was upset but the past four years had been rough on him too.
July 2008
After a year-long deployment, Mike was ready to be home. Home being in Chicago with his wife, daughter and nine-month-old twins that he hadn't met. Christine had moved back to Chicago before the twin's birth and was living with her parents. Mike would be sent to Florida for shore duty but would be given a few months before he had to. He grabbed his checked bag on the luggage claim at O'Hare and then stepped out, looking for Christine. He groaned when he saw the van that he hated. He would not be driving a van. Christine was in the driver's seat and didn't get out. Mike threw his suitcase in the back and jumped in the passenger seat.
"Where are the kids? I wanted to see them." Mike asked as he leaned over and gave Christine a kiss.
"Mike, it's almost nine o'clock. They are at home in bed. Its too late for them to be out. My mom is watching them." Christine chastised him as she pulled away and into traffic.
"Oh." Mike answered.
"I know you want to be with the kids, but I won a couple's night. Dinner, a show and a night in a hotel. Its tomorrow. It just happened that way. I kind of need a break and your mom said she'd watch them. The babies are teething and Kaitlyn has been really needy." Christine told him.
"That actually sounds nice." Mike told her.
"Good." Christine told him with a smile. He got the feeling she had been really wanting the time away with him. She was a very dedicated mother.
"I can give the kids kisses, can't I?" Mike asked.
"Of course. Kaitlyn is an insomniac. She might be awake and as I said the twins are teething. They don't sleep much." Christine explained.
"I'm here for a couple months and we're doing a bit better. Do you want to try and find a place?" Mike asked.
"When will you be deployed next?" Christine asked. They were getting close to the neighborhood they grew up in.
"I don't know. My CO was talking about me going to Mayport for a year. I know you prefer Chicago but its Florida and shore duty." Mike answered.
"I would be alright with that. Florida is expensive though." Christine said.
"No more than Chicago. Once we get home and I get settled, I can start looking. I would really love to have you and the kids close. I miss you all." Mike said.
"We miss you too." Christine told him.
Christine pulled into her parent's driveway. Mike looked over to his own parent's home but the lights were all off. They had not handled Katie's death well at all and Mike becoming a Naval Officer had been a constant cause of concern. He would go over first thing in the morning for a cup of coffee with his dad and so his mom could fuss over him. He could already hear her saying, 'You're too thin, Michael,' and his dad saying, 'Are you really okay, Son?'
As soon as they walked in, Mike heard the baby's crying and Kaitlyn came running to him. He put his suitcase down and picked her up. She cuddled up and kissed his cheek. Christine had gone to help her mom with the babies and Mike took the moment with his oldest. She was growing up too fast.
"I missed you, Daddy." Kaitlyn said.
"I missed you too, baby." Mike told her. He sat her back down on the floor but took her hand in his. He wanted to meet Hannah and Lucas.
"Can you tuck me in, Daddy?" Kaitlyn asked.
"You bet, but can I meet the babies first?" Mike asked and Kaitlyn gave him a happy smile.
"Yeah. They're cute. I'll brush my teeth." Kaitlyn told him. She was a very mature little girl and he was missing out on so much. He walked downstairs where Christine had taken over the basement. It would give them a bit of separation and privacy. Christine was holding Hannah and her mom; Sarah was holding Lucas.
"Here, I can take him." Mike said and Sarah handed Lucas over. The baby boy looked at Mike and started screaming, which caused Hannah to start crying in earnest. Sarah had already gone back upstairs and so Mike looked to Christine for help.
"Just give him a minute. He doesn't know you yet. Lucas, its okay; its Daddy." Christine told the baby. Lucas did calm a little hearing her voice and looked at Mike suspiciously. It was moments like this that Mike hated being in the Navy and gone so much. Hannah was also looking at him like he was a monster.
"Is this what the next ten years is going to be like?" Mike asked.
"Mike, it'll get better. They are just tired and within a day or so, you'll be a favorite person. Just be patient. Love them anyways." Christine told him as she laid Hannah down in a crib and indicated the other crib. Mike laid Lucas down and turned a mobile on. Kaitlyn came back in and Christine smiled at him. "Go with her and I'll settle them down." Christine insisted. Mike leaned down and kissed the top of her head.
"I love you." Mike told her.
"I love you too, and I will take a foot and back massage in exchange." Christine teased.
"The last time I gave you a massage, we ended up with twins." Mike teased back.
"That is not happening again. Remember, I took the crib out and put the playpen in." Christine joked. After the twins were born, she had her tubes tied. Mike wanted a larger family but he had to understand, he wasn't home to help her anymore.
"Sounds like fun." Mike said before walking into the little bedroom where Kaitlyn slept. She was already in bed, waiting on him with a book in hand.
"Read to me, Daddy?" Kaitlyn asked. Mike sat down next her, helped her get comfortable and then began reading the Dr. Suess book. By the fifth page, Kaitlyn was asleep. Mike kissed her again and shut her light off and shut the door. Christine had gotten the twins to sleep and was waiting on Mike.
"Ready for bed? I figured you would want to go over to your mom and dad's in the morning. They've missed you a lot." Christine said as she put her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss.
"Yeah, what time do the kids wake up?" Mike asked.
"You go to your parents. I'll handle the kids. Mike, in the last year, all your brothers and sisters have moved away. They're feeling a bit lost. My mom and dad still have most of us still around her. Molly and James in Dallas, Katie and Adam are dead, Bridgett moved to California and so on. Molly and James are talking about moving back and that will help if we end up in Florida with you." Christine said as she gave him a few more kisses.
"I really hope you guys come to Florida." Mike said as he kissed her back and led her to their small bedroom.
"It would beat the winter here." Christine said.
"Plus, I'll be there." Mike told her. They had made it to the bedroom, locked the door and Mike had gotten Christine's t-shirt off.
"Sorry, Mike; I haven't lost all the weight from the twins." Christine said as he lowered her to the bed.
"I don't mind." Mike said as he began taking his own clothes off.
"You look great. Really in shape." Christine said.
"What spare time I have, I work out. Nothing else to do other than work and sleep." Mike told her.
"Good, I like it." Christine told him as she pulled him onto the bed with her. Mike had to say, he was thrilled to be home.
In this story, I put Hannah and Lucas as twins. In the episode 'Nostos' they looked close to the same age in Mike's flashbacks, so I took the creative license in this story.
