Before Everything

Chapter 3-Mayport, Florida

Christine loved the little cottage that they had moved into. It was off-base, 3 bedrooms with an office that could be used as a bedroom, two bathroom and perfect for their growing family. On Mike's days off, they drove to the beach. The kids were growing and were healthy. Mike had made some connections with other officers and their wives, which gave them babysitters so when he and Christine wanted to go out. They had to trade babysitting but it worked out. He and Christine got at least one date night a month and had even taken salsa dancing lessons.

The one downfall was that as long as Mike stayed on land, he was not going to advance. Mike was ready to deploy even if Christine wanted to stay in Florida. They had been in Florida for three years. Kaitlyn was in school and the twins would be in preschool the next year. He had a been ordered to Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island and the fight was on. Christine hated Rhode Island without never being there and had threatened to take the kids back to Chicago. The drive to Rhode Island was a long and silent one.

Mike had gotten them into an updated Colonial-style home that Christine would love. He had a couple months before he deployed and he would spend that time settling Christine and the kids in. Getting Kaitlyn and the twins adjusted to their new schools and spend some one on one time with his wife. He figured that would help more than anything.

Two Months Later

The kids adjusted well enough but Christine still hated Rhode Island. She had gotten a little job baking breads, pies and rolls for a coffee shop. Something she could do from home. If it wasn't for that, Mike and Christine would argue constantly. He walked into their house with a bouquet of flowers, a box of chocolates and his expected deployment date. Christine was working in the kitchen drizzling chocolate on croissants.

"Honey, I'm home." Mike said before getting into the kitchen. Christine had flour on her cheek and some sort of chocolate splattered on her apron.

"Hey." Christine said simply before looking up to see Mike. She smiled when she saw the flowers and chocolate. They'd had an argument the night before and Mike was smart enough to make up to his wife. He didn't want any animosity between them since he was deploying in a week. He laid the items down on the table and pulled Christine into a hug. He even got a kiss in response. "What's wrong? You only bring flowers and chocolate home when something is wrong." Christine asked.

"I brought it home to make up for last night." Mike answered.

"And?" Christine asked as she finished the croissants.

"I deploy next week, Chrissy. Med on the Pinckney." Mike answered. He could see the crestfallen look on Christine's face and prepared for another argument.

"I see. How long?" Christine asked.

"They think six months but they aren't sure. With the war going on…" Mike said.

"I know. No exact dates." Christine said. Mike could hear the tears in her voice. She typically responded with anger so tears were something new.

"Is something going on?" Mike asked.

"Dad called this morning. Mom had a biopsy yesterday. Had a lump on her left breast. The results and scans are back. She has cancer everywhere. Liver, kidneys, lungs, a spot on her brain, throat. They've given her six months." Christine said and Mike pulled her into a hug. She had began sobbing into his chest and he just held her. She and her mom were close.

"I'm so sorry, honey." Mike said. He kissed Christine's neck and just held her close. He didn't know what else to do.

"She wants to come here for a week or so. She's wanting to spend time with all of us kids before she gets too weak. I told her it was fine. I told Dad I could come back to Chicago to take care of her but she doesn't want that. She doesn't want me to pull the kids out of school." Christine said.

"You do whatever you think is best. I can't get out of the deployment though…" Mike said and Christine nodded.

"I didn't figure you could. Its okay. I'd like to have you here but I understand." Christine said.

"When do you need to deliver these?" Mike asked.

"Actually, they are picking them up." Christine answered just as the doorbell rang. As she and Mike talked, she had been packaging the croissants up and Mike answered the door. He didn't know the woman well that Christine worked with but led her through the house. After a short conversation, the woman had left with the baked goods and Christine began cleaning the kitchen up. Mike helped her and within fifteen minutes they were done.

"Would you like to go out for lunch or something? Twins don't get home until two thirty, correct?" Mike asked.

"You have the morning off?" Christine asked.

"Yep, rest of the day." Mike answered.

"Good, I have some other plans. Since we don't have kids at home, follow me." Christine said as she pulled Mike through the house, up the stairs and to their master bedroom. She had locked the front door on her way through and as soon as they got to the bedroom, she took his BDU jacket off.

"I like how you think. So much better than a lunch out." Mike said as he returned Christine's kisses and began pulling her clothes off.

Eight Months Later

Mike's deployment had been extended by two months and while he was gone, Christine's mom had died. Her dad had a massive heart attack three days after the funeral and had died. Mike hadn't been able to get home and Christine had been tasked with going through their house since the kids were out of school and she didn't work at a traditional job. Mike's parents had helped some but Christine was overwhelmed. All Mike really wanted was to go home to their little Colonial in Rhode Island, but instead as soon as his feet hit dry land, he caught a flight to Chicago and arrived at his parent's home where Christine and the kids were staying.

The one good thing about the deployment was that Mike's CO had told him that he had probably one more deployment before he was promoted to Commander. It would mean another move, probably to Norfolk but Mike was ready.

As soon as he walked in the door at his childhood home, he was assailed by his own kids and two or three of his nieces and nephews. Christine gave him a hug and kiss and his mom began fussing over him. His dad had opened a cold beer for him and a plate of hot food was put in front of him. Lucas was sitting on his lap and Hannah was at his elbow. He would help Christine finish her parent's house, drive his family back to Rhode Island and then pack his own house up to go to Norfolk. Christine knew about the move and was actually welcoming it because they had more friends in Norfolk. Tom, Darien, Andrea and Bill. Tom was helping Mike find a house while Mike attended to his family.

Things were a bit tight in Mike's parents' home and Mike and Christine had shared the bed that night with Hannah and Lucas. Kaitlyn had come in about two am and the queen-sized bed seemed tiny. It was nice to cuddle with the kids but Mike would have preferred to spend the night with his wife.

Mike's mom and dad were happy to watch their grandchildren so Mike could help Christine get through her parent's home that much faster. Christine was meeting with a realtor later that day and thankfully the house was in good repair and was updated. One of Christine's brothers would do upkeep on the yard and hopefully the house would sell quickly. Until it did, for whatever reason, Christine was tasked with talking with realtors and attorneys. Some of her other siblings lived closer, but Christine had always been the responsible sort. All Mike could do was help his wife go through things, separate them for her feuding siblings, and hold her when she cried.

"If things go as I plan, we can leave Friday night for Newport. I figured we would hit the road about ten. The kids could sleep and by the time they wake up, we will be through the rougher part of the drive. It will take about sixteen hours, provided we don't have any bouts of car sickness and the twins don't have to go to the bathroom every fifteen minutes." Christine said as she went through her mom's china.

"How good of time did you make when you drove here?" Mike asked.

"Well, it was longer than sixteen hours. I figured you and I could trade off and maybe drive harder than what I could by myself. I ended up stopping about twelve hours in, east of Toledo because I couldn't handle driving anymore. Kids arguing, and I was tired. It was ridiculous to stop but I needed to get here." Christine admitted.

"Stay in a hotel?" Mike asked.

"Yeah. Dad gave me the money to pay for it once I got here. He knew we really didn't have the extra." Christine said quietly. Mike could hear the tears in her voice. She had been prepared for her mom's death, but her dads was a shock and Christine had been a daddy's girl. She and Frank just got each other. Mike walked up behind Christine and wrapped his arms around her.

"Your dad adored you. He was proud of you. He and your mom had such a love story." Mike told her. Christine had turned around and was sobbing into his chest.

"He wanted me to go to culinary school so badly. He made me promise that once you made commander and we could afford it; I would figure out a way to go. He even left me some money for it. God, I miss him." Christine finally said.

"Then as soon as we get settled, we will find you a culinary school and we'll make it happen. We won't even wait for me to become a commander. You've been putting off your dreams for long enough. The kids are in school now. Only thing I ask is that you make me a meal every now and then. All that cooking will wear you out." Mike said.

"Absolutely. You're the one who can't bake a frozen pizza." Christine teased.

"All because I thought grilling it would make it taste better." Mike said.

"You left the cardboard on. Maybe the grill wouldn't have been a bad idea but the cardboard did nothing for the taste." Christine teased. Mike still had his arms around her and brushed a kiss on her cheek.

Two Years Later

Mike hated promotion ceremonies but he was glad to have finally made Commander. He and Christine had bought a house in Norfolk because it seemed he would be settled there for a while. It was a fixer upper and he was slowly getting his projects done. Christine was still in culinary school and loved it. It required Mike to do a little more laundry and cleaning when he was home but it was worth it. She had lit up and Mike got to eat all the leftovers.

His next deployment would be as an XO, something he wasn't quite ready for. It was also Tom's first run as a Captain. They were given the keys to the Nathan James. It would be a whole new experience for both of them and they were nervous. Andrea would be their CHENG and the Master Chief; Russ Jeter was experienced. That would be their saving grace.

The kids were growing up on Mike and if it wasn't for Christine being in school, he would have suggested having another baby. Kaitlyn was now ten, almost eleven and the twins were seven. Mike was not a fan of them getting older. They weren't so interested in cuddling with him anymore, although Hannah could be convinced occasionally.

His parents were getting older and Mike didn't get to see them as often as he would like. They had come to Norfolk a couple times and Mike could see a steady decline. He could only hope that he wasn't deployed when something happened to them. He had a strong suspicion that they would go like Sarah and Frank had.