CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Mike woke in the early morning, after only a few hours of sleep. Andrea was already up and out of the bed. Mike dragged a hand over his face, rubbing at his tired eyes. Moments from last night fluttered through his brain, and he sighed. It had been an emotional depth charge. He looked around the room but didn't see Andrea. Glancing at the bathroom door he noticed it was closed and he could hear the shower running.

He sat up on the side of the bed, hunched over, elbows on his knees, staring at his feet. A baby. She wanted a baby…and with him. That meant a long-term commitment and Mike was feeling a bit overwhelmed. It wasn't the commitment part, that part had his heart hammering away. He'd already been toying with the idea of marriage but thought it was way too soon. But maybe…it just wasn't. Maybe it was just…right for them.

And if they really did want a baby…neither one was getting any younger. He heard the bathroom door open, but he didn't move. He sat, hunched, lost in his thoughts. The bed dipped behind him, yet he still didn't move. He felt her come up behind him, her hands gently landing on his shoulders, and still, he didn't move.

"Mike," she said softly, and he felt the love in her word. He smiled and sat up straighter. "I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have said that last night. Not while you were…it wasn't the right time."

"Shh," Mike hushed her as he turned and laid back down on the bed, placing one arm behind his head. His other hand skimmed down her side. He noticed she was naked, and his lips twitched. "It's really okay. I…it got me thinking about some things and what it meant for you to ask me that."

"And?" she asked hesitantly. Her eyes were nervous, darting about his face. He flashed a calming smile at her.

"It made me realize that you wanted a commitment too. This is new and fast. I think we both feel it though. There's something between us that just...clicked and now it feels like...forever."

"So, what are you saying?" Andrea asked.

"I think…maybe…if you want…I guess…"

"Spit out, Michael," Andrea said laughing at him. Mike took a deep breath. He didn't know why this was so hard to say out loud, maybe just that he was nervous he was reading the situation wrong again. He closed his eyes and gave his head a slight shake. "Mike?"

"Is it too soon to be thinking about marriage?" Mike asked in a rush. He dared open his eyes to peek at her reaction, and the smile told him everything he needed to know.

"Is that what you want?"

"I mean it's kind of a logical step if you're already asking me for a baby," Mike said softly. Andrea laughed. She laid down next to him, propping her head in her hand, elbow bent against a pillow.

"So, we get married and have a baby?"

"I guess that's what we are talking about," Mike replied with a shrug.

"Before or after we deploy on the Nathan James?"

"Well, if we get married before we deploy as CO and XO, we have to keep it a secret. Tom's going to look the other way, knowing were together, but if we're married more people will know about it and stop us being able to lead the James."

"So, we wait until we get back?"

"Yeah, if you'll marry me, Shortie," Mike said with a smile.

"That a proposal, Tower?" Andrea said with a wide grin.

"I think it is," he whispered as he leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose. "I love you, Andrea, and I think we're both thinking about a future together. When we get done with this next deployment then I say we get married and then see about the baby."

"Sounds like a plan. And yes, I'll marry you, ya big goof. And it's not like we've been actively trying not to have a baby," she said, and Mike's face faltered. Andrea shrugged at him. "I'm pretty sure you haven't once used a condom."

"Uh…nope," Mike said with a sheepish look. He flopped onto his back and covered his face with an arm. "I didn't even think…"

"I know. But neither did I so. So far, we're lucky. I'm not."

"Do you have to be on the ship today?" Mike asked, changing the subject. He pealed his arm down, laying it across his chest. Andrea leaned in closer.

"I do. Something about engine trouble. I swear. Maybe we should just walk away from that bag of bolts and let her sink," Andrea grumbled. Mike laughed.

"You don't really mean that," Mike whispered as he kissed her ear.

"Well, that ship has really pushed my buttons lately. It needs a nice long dry dock. But…being the only operational ship in the fleet that's fully crewed? That ain't going to happen."

"Yes, but by later today…you'll be XO and then it will be Lynn and Chung's problem," Mike whispered, as he kissed her ear lobe again.

"I can't abandon them just like that," Andrea sighed.

"See, you do love that ship," Mike said as he kissed her neck. Andrea sighed and then pushed away from him.

"Okay, maybe I do. And I need to get going or I'm going to hear some shit from Chung and Lynn."

"Okay. I'll see you later," Mike said. She leaned down and kissed him quickly before jumping from the bed and dressing in her uniform. "What's your ring size?" Mike asked suddenly and she paused and looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"You don't need to do that," she said softly.

"Maybe I want to," Mike said with a shrug. She smiled at him and nodded.

"I'm a six," she whispered, then she was out the door.

Later that day Tom Chandler had accepted the position of CNO, leaving the captaincy of the Nathan James vacant. Mike got the call in the early afternoon. Andrea was still on the ship working with Chung and Lynn.

"Take care of my ship," Tom said as he shook Mike's hand. Mike laughed.

"She's mine now, Admiral," Mike replied with a beaming smile.

"I still expect her to stay in one piece."

"Absolutely."

"But seriously, congratulations, Mike. It's well deserved."

"Congrats to you too, Tom, CNO is a pretty big deal too," Mike said with a smile.

"That it is."

Once the paperwork was done Mike left the hotel and headed towards the dock. He stood on the dock looking up at his ship and smiled. Captain Slattery. It had a nice ring to it he thought. His first order of business was to find Andrea. He had requested that he be the one to tell her of her promotion.

There was a lot of chatter and bustle in the engine room when Mike walked in. No one seemed to notice him, and he just stood back and watched as they were working on fixing a fuse. Once Andrea had it popped into place she looked back at Chung and nodded. The young man did something, and Mike heard a generator fire up.

"Yes!" Chung yelled and pumped his fist. Andrea smiled at him. "Good catch, Commander Garnett."

"Thanks, Chung. Now on to the next problem."

"Oh, sorry, Sir, we didn't see you come in," Chung said snapping to attention. Andrea followed suit and Mike smiled.

"As you were. It's okay. I'm just here to deliver some news."

"It's official?" Andrea asked with a smile. Chung looked confused.

"Yes, Ma'am," Mike said grinning. "I'm the new Captain of the Nathan James, and you are the new Executive Officer. Chandler is now the CNO of the Navy."

"Wow, congratulations, Ma'am," Chung said with a beaming smile. "You deserve it."

"Thank you, Chung," Andrea said her eyes still on Mike's. They smiled at each other, and Chung seemed to slowly inch away, making himself scarce. Mike remembered that Chung knew about them.

"You ask to be the one to tell me," she whispered to him. Mike nodded slowly; his head cocked just slightly.

"Yeah, I wanted to tell you first," Mike said in a low voice. "How are things going?"

"Better than I expected. Seems the ship is cooperating since we not on a crunch time schedule in the middle of the ocean."

"Glad to hear it. Don't work all night," Mike whispered and then left. He walked towards his new stateroom and stepped inside. He looked around and sighed. It felt good to be the captain he thought.

To Be Continued…