(A/N: I want to thank those who went back ad reviewed for chapter three. Sorry I was such a spaz about reviews. And an interesting point was brought up by jnp, about the ranks being the same, even though this fic is set in the future. Sorry about that oversight. I just wasn't thinking ranks when I wrote the outline for this fic. And in this fic, Singer is still alive. Okay so I'm going to stop going on and on about this and get to the fic. Oh and hey, thanks to all the non shipper folks for sticking with the story.)


Standard disclaimers apply, (Like they did in the last chap, I just forgot to put that in)


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(Sturgis's POV)


It's been nearly five weeks since Harm and Mac have been missing, and I know the kids are starting to think that something isn't right. And I know I can't hold off telling for much longer. And as the twins birthday party draws closer and closer I know I'm going to have to tell them something.


As I was picking up the boys from daycare, I knew tonight had to be the night. As we got settled in for the night, I decided to tell them as I tucked them in.


I went into Troy's room first.


"Night uncle Sturgis," he said sleepily.


"I have to talk to you for a second Buddy," I said while tucking him in.


"Okay," he said as I gave him his stuffed Elmo.


"Troy you know that your mommy and daddy went far away, to help a marine that was in trouble."


"Uh huh, mommy said that they were going to try there very hardest to help him."


"That's right. But when your mom and dad went to go see that marine . . . they got lost, and the other marines can't find them."


"They're lost? Like when you get lost in the dark?"


"Well you see-"


But before I could finish he was already reaching under his bed. He pulled out a flashlight and turned it on.


"Can you give them my flashlight? Daddy said that whenever I have to go potty in the dark, to take my flashlight, that way I wouldn't get lost. If mommy and daddy had my flashlight, then they wouldn't be lost anymore," he said giving me the flashlight.


"I can't do that buddy, because we don't know where they are."


"They didn't bring a flash light?"


"Not this time buddy, but I promise you, that the marines will find them."


"Okay."


"Goodnight pal," I said kissing his forehead.


"Night uncle Sturgis," he said to close his eyes.


As soon as I closed his door, I headed to the twins room, trying not to think about what Troy said. If I dwelled on it for even a minute, I knew I would lose all confidence to tell the other boys.


"You guy's ready for bed?" I said sticking my head into their room.


"Yep!" they said in unison. Bobby was already starting to climb the ladder of the bunk bed, but I picked him up and set him on the floor.


"Okay, well I have to talk to you two before I tuck you in," I said sitting on the edge of the lower bunk.


"About what," Shawn asked climbing into my lap.


"I want to talk to you about your mom and dad. Do you remember when your mom and dad said that they had to go help a marine that was very far away?"


"Yeah, in Liberia," Bobby said pointing to a pin on a world map hanging in the boys room. I guessed that they put a pin on all of the places that Harm and Mac have been.


"Well when they were on their way to see that marine, they got lost, and the other marines couldn't find them."


"Why?" Shawn asked looking up at me with Mac's big brown eyes.


"I don't know buddy. But those marines, aren't going to give up. They are looking for your mom and dad right now."


"What about our birthday" Bobby asked pointing to a calender with the date of their birthday circled.


"Yeah, our birthday," Shawn added.


"I don't know guys. Hey why don't I help you say your prayers, and we can ask God to help those marines help find your mom and dad?"


The twins nodded soberly, and kneeled down in front of the bottom bunk. As we said our prayers, I made sure to ask for strength to get through the next few days. I knew they were going to be rough.


As I walked into Matt's room, I knew as the oldest, he was going to take it the hardest.


"Hey Champ," I said sitting on the edge of his bed. "What are you doing?"


"Playing with the planes that daddy gave me, I'm gonna be a pilot just like him when I get older."


I could only wonder if Harm said the exact same thing when he was Matt's age.


"Matt I have to talk to you for a minute," I said putting the planes back on his night stand. "You know that your mom and dad went far away to try and help a marine, well on the way to see that marine, they got lost, and the other marines can't find them."


I could see Matt's face, Harm's face really, turn to shock as the words sunk in.


"Does that mean they are MIA?"


How in the hell did he know about that? I sighed. Harm must have told him about his father. Damn you Harm.


"Yeah they are," I said putting my hand on his shoulder.


"Are they going to be lost forever like Grandpa was?"


I opened my mouth, but closed it again. What am I supposed to say to that?


"I don't know pal. But I can tell you this. That no one is going to stop looking for your mom and dad until they found them. Okay?"


"Okay. Uncle Sturgis, can you stay with me until I fall asleep?"


"Sure buddy," I said taking his small hand into mine.


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The next morning started off, surprisingly with no problems. I answered all of the boys questions as best I could as I drove them to school and daycare, and they seemed pretty satisfied with that. As soon as I got into work, I headed straight for the Admiral's office. We were going to need a new game plan. But when I got to Tiner's desk, he informed me that the Admiral was already in a meeting with the SECNAV. It looked like my plan would have to wait.


TBC...


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