CHAPTER THRITY-THREE

Sometime around four in the morning Mike finally fell asleep. It was restless and fitful as he dreamed about his kids. He woke late morning to an empty bed and stared at the ceiling for a while.

"You getting up today?" Andrea asked, and he slowly turned his head to look at her. She was stretched out on the couch. He breathed out harshly through his nose and then sat up slowly.

"I suppose I should," he said as the phone rang. Mike picked up the receiver and put it to his ear. "Captain Slattery."

"Mike, it's Tom," Chandler replied, and Mike knew this was a personal call and not an official one.

"Hey, how are things? We haven't talked in a few. Kids get settled?"

"Yeah, well it's been a rough go, but I think the kids will come around."

"Big changes, big emotions," Mike replied.

"You have no idea, Mike," Chandler replied, and Mike could hear the strain in his friend's voice. He also noticed that the words carried some weight, like there was more to the story now.

"Um, something going on you haven't told me about yet?"

"Actually, there is and that's why I called you. Rachel and I have some big news," Tom continued.

"Oh yeah?" Mike asked while raising an eyebrow at Andrea. She got up and walked towards him before laying down on the bed next to him.

"Yes, well a couple of things actually. First off, Rachel's pregnant," Tom said, and Mike could hear the pride in his friend's voice. The news shocked Mike for a second, his eyes going wide as he looked at Andrea. Andrea gave him a curious look back.

"Congrats, Man, that's amazing news," Mike finally responded.

"Thanks, Mike. It was a bit of a shock but we're both really happy about it."

"And the other news?" Mike asked but he was already guessing there was a wedding coming if he knew his friend Tom Chandler.

"You can probably guess with the baby news, but she and I are getting married."

"I figured," Mike replied with a smile.

"Well, I wanted to know if you'd be my best man?"

"Of course!" Mike said excitedly. "We'll have to work around my deployment schedule."

"Yeah, that's the biggest thing."

"Are you thinking a big wedding or something small and intimate?" Mike asked and he watched Andrea's eyes go wide with the news. A smile spread across her face.

"I'm not sure. I wanted to just go to the courthouse and do with my family, but I think Rachel is going to want a real wedding. Which I understand. But I think it's going to be small. Maybe just a few friends, or maybe just the crew."

"Where do you want to have the wedding?"

"She hasn't said anything yet and I don't really know."

"Have you thought about the deck of the Nathan James? Seems fitting for you two."

"That's an idea, again will depend on deployment schedules."

"I've been told that the James will be seaworthy by the end of this week. Then they're taking her out for a series of test for at least a week. Then deploy shortly after that."

"So, I have less than three weeks to pull this off," Tom said with a chuckle.

"Unless you want to wait six months."

"I don't want to wait," Tom said softly. Mike understood where his friend was coming from. "And I don't think she does either, with the baby coming."

"Right. That's great, another Chandler rug rat running around. I'm happy for you, Tom," Mike said with a grin. Andrea's eyes went wide with shock. Mike grinned at her and winked.

"Thanks, Mike. We'll talk later this week and start planning more after I talk with Rachel and see what she's wanting."

"Look forward to it. Have a good one," Mike said.

"You too, be safe," Tom said and then the line was dead. Mike put the receiver down and turned back to look at Andrea.

"You've got to be shitting me," she whispered.

"Nope. Baby Chandler and Tom and the good Doc are getting hitched," Mike said as he rolled onto his back. Andrea moved closer and laid her chin on his chest, looking up at him.

"Two Nathan James babies."

"Yeah," Mike laughed as he thought about what it was going to be like when they got to announce.

"What are you thinking about?"

"When it'll be our turn," Mike said softly and then smiled. Andrea pushed up a little and kissed him.

"Soon," she sighed happily.

"Yes, soon. But today we need to shop for a house," Mike said as he stretched. They got up and dressed. Mike looked around at the little that they had at the hotel and thought about the little bit more they had stowed on the ship yet. He figured they should grab some boxes while they were out too.

They went to a couple stores, and Mike purchased a lot of things. They ended up at a bed store and Andrea picked out a king-sized bed and Mike smiled. He made arrangements for the bigger items to be delivered. He phoned Tex up and learned the man had a truck, so Mike convinced him to help move the smaller stuff.

Once they had things bought, boxed, and ready to move, they loaded Tex's truck up and took it all out to the new house.

Tex and Kat helped them unload and when the delivery trucks arrived, he helped Mike get things put where they needed to go and assembled correctly. They were up in the master bedroom putting together the big bed after they had wrangled the king-sized mattresses up the two flights of stairs. Mike was just relieved that the mattress fit...barely. They had just finished the frame of the bed and Tex was staring at Mike.

"What?" Mike asked as he adjusted the double box spring under into place. Tex stepped over and helped him.

"You propose yet?" Tex said. Mike smiled.

"Yep." Mike chuckled.

"I'm assuming she said yes."

"Yes, yesterday, right before we bought this house" Mike smiled as they worked the king-sized mattress onto the box springs.

"Seems to be going well," Tex smiled.

"It is," Mike replied.

"I assume you know about Chandler and Scott?"

"Yes," Mike answered quickly. Tex raised an eyebrow.

"I guess I'm actually happy for them," Tex said thoughtfully. "That was a hard one to swallow."

"Yeah, I can imagine," Mike replied. Tex nodded.

"Good thing I didn't follow through on trying to snag Garnett," Tex chuckled. "But what about love is hard to find on a Navy ship. Rules and shit."

"I think this fell under the and shit part," Mike said straight faced. Tex burst out laughing.

"Man, I just got on that ship a little too late I think, all the good ones got snatched up quick," Tex said with a grin. Mike simply shook his head.

"I think grief did a funny thing," Mike breathed out. Tex studied his face.

"That how you two started?"

"Yes. We both lost our families to the red flu. We both lost a spouse and a child."

"Common ground."

"Made us understand each other because we knew what the other was going through. It made sense to comfort each other."

"And got a bonus out of the deal."

"A big bonus," Mike grinned. Tex grinned right back at him.

They finished organizing the few things into the house. It was later in the afternoon when they were finished, and Tex and Kat said their goodbyes. Mike sat on their new couch that had been delivered earlier and looked around. Andrea came over and sunk down next to him.

"Will you stay here with me tonight?" Mike asked quietly. Andrea looked at him and nodded slowly.

"Yes. And every night I'm in St. Louis," she whispered as she leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips.

To Be Continued…