'Caitlin!' Hawke yelled up the stairs. 'They're here.'

'Coming.'

Hawke patted the banisters and glanced back over the downstairs of the cabin. Caitlin had excelled herself, he thought. The lamps gave a cosy atmosphere with the fire burning in the hearth and candles strategically lit around the room. There was a stew simmering on the top of the stove and the table was set with good china and glassware. He turned as Caitlin came to stand beside him.

'You think it's too much?' She asked.

Hawke shrugged. 'It looks good to me.' He slipped an arm around her waist and hugged her. 'I'm sure Michael and Marella will appreciate it.'

'I hope so.' Caitlin gave everything a quick once-over. 'I want to make sure it's perfect them.'

'It will be.' Hawke said. 'They'll be together.'

Caitlin kissed his cheek and slipped out of his hold. 'I just want to make it special for them. I'd better check on the food. Did you chill the wine?'

'I chilled the wine.' Hawke confirmed.

The door opened and their friends stepped into the cabin. They both froze and looked around the room.

'Can I take your coats?' Hawke asked gently.

Marella passed Hawke her coat. 'This looks lovely.'

'Caitlin.' Hawke said by way of explanation. 'You look great, Marella.' The agent was dressed in a deep burgundy dress in a soft material that skimmed her curves.

'I agree.' Michael handed Hawke his coat; he was wearing his usual white although he was wearing a sweater and pants rather than a suit. 'She looks beautiful.'

Caitlin came out to greet them and gestured at the stew. 'The stew is ready whenever you are. Wine is chilling in the refrigerator. We'll be at Dom's if you need us for anything.'

'Thanks for this.' Michael said leaning on his cane.

Hawke nodded and handed Caitlin her jacket. He shoved his arms into his own leather jacket. 'We'll leave you to it.' He hustled Caitlin out of the cabin and they quickly headed to their chopper.

'I hope it goes well.' Caitlin said reaching for the headset as Hawke switched the engines and rotors on.

'Well, we've done as much as we can.' Hawke said as he took the chopper into the night sky. 'It's up to them now.'

Caitlin nodded although her fingers twisted together nervously.

'You feeling OK?' Hawke asked.

'Fine.' Caitlin smiled ruefully. 'You know I think I might have the sickness under control now. I only threw up twice today.'

'You haven't eaten Dom's cooking yet.' Hawke quipped.

The journey to Van Nuys airfield was uneventful and they took Caitlin's car to Dom's apartment.

Caitlin frowned as she parked next to the Santini Air jeep and looked at the police car parked in the visitor's section.

'That looks like Marin's car.' Hawke commented as they exited their vehicle.

'You don't think Dom's invited him to dinner?' Caitlin asked as she took her husband's outstretched hand.

'He's probably here picking Jo up for a date.' Hawke said as he knocked on the door before he opened it.

They walked straight into Dom's small sitting room. Hawke could swear that the décor hadn't changed in twenty years. The wallpaper was still the same green and yellow lurid print with matching green carpet. The same pale beige leatherette sofa and chair took up the centre of the room along with a battered coffee table whilst an old Formica table and chairs took up the back wall. An old sideboard crowded one wall, its surface covered with pictures of family and friends.

Detective Marin got to his feet as they entered and shuffled nervously. Caitlin took in the smart suit and polished shoes before her wary eyes met his.

'Detective Marin.' She graciously held out her hand.

Marin shook it. 'Mrs Hawke.' He gestured. 'I'd like to apologise for…'

'Trying to arrest me for murder?' Caitlin suggested when he struggled for words. 'Why don't we forget about it?'

Marin nodded and sank back onto the sofa.

Caitlin shrugged off her jacket and handed it to Hawke who hung it up on the hooks by the front door as Dom bustled in from the kitchen. He was wearing an oversized apron and there was a tea towel slung over his shoulder.

'Ah great. You kids are here already.' He greeted them cheerfully and ushered them into seats, playing the jovial host to cover the tension in the room. He finally left them alone again once he'd provided drinks just as Jo came through from the bedroom.

'Hi guys.' Jo Santini smiled a welcome at the couple although her blue eyes immediately darted to her date and gleamed with approval. She smoothed a hand over the pale blue dress she wore.

'You look stunning.' Marin said.

'That was the right answer, Rick.' Jo said with a laugh. She handed him her coat.

'So where are you guys going?' Caitlin asked nosily.

'I have dinner reservations at a small Mexican restaurant near Santa Monica.' Marin said helping Jo into the coat.

'It's a great place.' Jo commented. 'We should all go sometime.'

Caitlin and Hawke exchanged an amused glance.

Marin's dark eyes alighted on the orange juice Caitlin was drinking before drifting back up to the couple. 'I forgot, I meant to say congratulations on your news.'

Both Hawke and Caitlin stiffened; they had confided the news in close friends and family and had thought it understood that they hadn't wanted to publicise it further.

'Thank you.' Caitlin managed as she saw Hawke's blue eyes cool imperceptibly at his old childhood friend.

Jo looked at them uncertainly, hesitating as Marin opened the door.

'We should leave, Jo, if we're to make the reservations.' The detective prompted.

'Sure. I'll see you guys later?' Jo asked taking a step towards the door.

'Have fun.' Caitlin murmured.

'We will.' Jo said.

The door closed behind them.

Hawke pushed a hand through his short brown hair. 'I can't believe she told him.'

Caitlin shrugged. She wasn't happy herself but she tried to give the other woman the benefit of the doubt. 'It's only natural. They are dating.'

'What's natural?' Dom said hurrying back into the room with a plate of garlic bread.

'Jo told Marin about the baby.' Hawke stated trying hard not to sound like a teenager telling tales. He snagged a slice of garlic bread.

'Ah String.' Dom sat down heavily on the chair. 'She didn't mean anything by it. She's just so happy, she probably didn't think.'

'That's what worries me.' Hawke muttered.

'You're making too much of it.' Dom said.

'If she's telling him about this, how long before she starts to tell him about the Lady?' Hawke pointed out.

'She wouldn't tell anyone about Airwolf, String.' Dom defended his niece.

'Maybe she wouldn't,' Caitlin interjected, 'but I think it would be worth one of us just reminding Jo that just because she's dating Marin doesn't mean that our lives are an open book to him.' She gestured at him. 'What if she starts telling him about your private business, Dom?'

'You have a point.' Dom conceded. 'I'll have a word.'

'Thanks.' Caitlin flashed him a grateful smile.

Hawke squeezed her hand. 'So what's on the menu?' He asked changing the subject.

Dom's face lit up and he rubbed his hands together gleefully. 'I tell ya, we're having an Italian feast.'

The dinner of freshly made lasagne with a dessert of a tiramisu was delicious and all three of them retired back to the sitting area with their coffee feeling mellow and relaxed.

'I wonder how Michael and Marella are getting on?' Caitlin speculated as she cuddled into her husband.

'Well, we'll find out when we head back.' Hawke commented glancing at the clock. They'd agreed not to return before ten and it was almost half-past nine.

Dom gave a chuckle. 'I have to admit I kinda feel…' The phone rang interrupting him. He struggled to his feet and staggered the couple of steps across the room to answer it.

'Hello.' His dark eyes sobered abruptly. 'Yes, of course I remember you.' His lips pursed together as he listened and he looked over at Hawke and Caitlin anxiously. 'Don't worry. We'll collect them and be with you before you know it.' He put the phone down.

'What's the matter?' Caitlin asked immediately.

'It's Angelina.' Dom said quickly untying the apron he still wore as the couple got to their feet. 'That was Michael's mother. She went to check on her ten minutes ago and she's missing.'

'Oh God.' Caitlin said reaching for the jacket Hawke handed her. 'Does Michael know?'

Dom nodded. 'He's waiting for us to pick him up.'

Hawke's blue eyes were expressionless as he gestured at the older man; a sign of how worried he was. 'We'll get the Lady. She'll get us to the cabin and back to Michael's house faster.'

'Why don't I take the car to Michael's and start helping with the search?' Caitlin suggested as they walked out of the apartment. 'It'll be a squash in the Lady if we're all on board.'

'You sure?' Hawke checked.

'Yeah.' She kissed him. 'Take care.'

'You too.'

Caitlin watched as the guys got in the Santini Air jeep and peeled away from the car park. She sighed and got in her own car. The drive to Michael's beach house took the better part of half an hour and she was tired by the time she parked up in front of the white building.

Michael's mother, Elizabeth Coldsmith-Briggs, hurried out of the large wooden front door to meet her. 'Caitlin.' She enveloped the younger woman into a hug. 'It's good to see you.'

Caitlin hugged Elizabeth. She could sense the other woman's anxiety as though it were a physical living thing. 'Hawke's gone to get Michael.' She explained as Elizabeth released her and they walked into the house. 'They should be here any minute.'

'Thank God.' Elizabeth led her through to the kitchen. 'Mike and I have been wondering whether to call the police but Michael told me to wait until he got here.'

'Caitlin.' Michael Coldsmith-Briggs Junior stood up to greet her and Caitlin absently kissed his cheek before slinging her jacket onto a stool and picking up the kettle. She figured they could all do with a cup of tea.

'Why don't you tell me what happened exactly?' She asked.

Elizabeth smoothed her blouse and settled onto a stool. Her fingers twisted the strand of pearls she wore as her anxious blue eyes met Caitlin's. 'Michael left and we all had dinner together. Angelina had her bath.' A lump in her throat halted her explanation abruptly.

'And Angelina and I played chess,' Mike continued, 'before she went to bed.'

'What time was this?' Caitlin checked as she set out the teapot.

'Around half-past eight.' Elizabeth gestured. 'Just after nine, I was tired and decided to go to bed myself and I stopped in her room.' Her eyes filled with tears. 'She wasn't there. I can't believe someone was able to sneak in and take her.'

'Is there a ransom note?' Caitlin asked.

Mike laid a comforting arm around his wife. 'No. The room barely looked disturbed. We've left everything as it was.'

'Maybe I should take a look.' Caitlin said.

'Of course.' Elizabeth immediately headed out the kitchen and Caitlin followed her through the house to Angelina's bedroom. It was on the corner and was a large sized room. It was decorated in pale pink with a bed on one side of the room, cupboards on the far wall and a desk and more bookshelves on another. The bed had a matching pink bedspread to the walls and Caitlin noted the way the blankets were thrown back and the pillow lying in the centre of the bed. An empty dog bed lay beside it. The room had two wide windows that flooded the room with sunlight during the day; both were closed. Caitlin crossed over to one and opened it testing the lock. She looked out at the shadowy ocean vista, the smell of seawater wrinkling her nose. She closed it and turned back to the room. She wandered over to the desk and her fingers tapped on a stack of school books.

'Doesn't Angelina normally keep these in her rucksack?' Caitlin asked.

'Yes.' Elizabeth rubbed her arms. 'She only usually takes them out for homework.'

'Where is her rucksack?' Caitlin's eyes searched around the room.

'Well, it's…' Elizabeth frowned. Her eyes widened with sudden realisation. 'You don't think she's been kidnapped do you?'

'No. I think she's run away. ' Caitlin gestured at the bed. 'I used to do the same to my bed when I sneaked out. Brownie is missing and a kidnapper wouldn't have wasted time on taking a dog. Her rucksack is gone and I'm pretty sure if we checked her clothes she would be missing some.' She sighed. 'There's probably food missing from the kitchen.'

'But why?' Elizabeth asked. 'Why would she run away? She's so happy here with Michael.'

Caitlin bit her lip. 'Kids can sometimes be very good at hiding what they're really feeling.'

'Or maybe she overheard us talking.' Mike said slowly. He leaned against the bedroom doorway.

'What about?' Caitlin asked bluntly.

Elizabeth closed her eyes briefly. 'When Angelina went to bed we were talking about Michael's date with Marella.'

Caitlin sighed. 'That would probably do it.'

Elizabeth's downcast face had her crossing to the older woman and slipping an arm around her shoulders. 'This isn't your fault, Elizabeth.' Caitlin said. 'It was an accident.'

'We should have been more careful.' Elizabeth sighed and gestured at her equally dejected husband. 'We were operatives for more than twenty years. You would think we would know to be more careful about the possibility of little ears listening to adult conversations.'

Caitlin was about to reply when the eerie howl of the Airwolf engines echoed overhead.

'What was that?' Mike said alarmed.

'A helicopter.' Caitlin said hurrying past him and back through the house. She snapped on the outside lights and opened the veranda windows that led to the back garden in time to see Airwolf landing.

'That's some helicopter.' Mike muttered as they watched everybody disembark.

Michael was almost running across the lawn, hampered by his bad leg. Hawke kept pace with him as Dom and Marella brought up the rear.

'It's not a kidnapping.' Caitlin said before any of them could say anything.

Michael's good eye fastened onto her. 'How do you know that?'

'Her rucksack is gone, Michael.' Caitlin explained. 'Her bed is made up to make it appear like she was still in it and Brownie's gone too.'

'We think she's run away.' Mike said gruffly.

'Run away.' Michael slumped against the patio table and held onto it for support.

'Why?' asked Dom gesticulating. 'Why would she do that?'

'We think she overheard Mike and I talking about the date tonight.' Elizabeth's blue eyes beseeched her son. 'I'm so sorry, Michael.'

Michael waved away her apology. 'We should just focus on finding her.'

'She can't have gone far, Michael.' Hawke patted the spy's shoulder. 'Dom and I will take Airwolf do a sweep of the area.'

'I'm coming with you.' Michael said. He gestured at the women and his parents. 'You all stay here in case she comes back.'

The three men turned and headed back to Airwolf before anyone could comment. Caitlin folded her arms across her chest and tried hard to ensure her resentment at being arbitrarily left out of the search didn't show.

'There must be something we can do.' Marella commented. There was a hint of the frustration Caitlin was feeling in the spy's voice.

'We could search the grounds of the house just in case she's hiding somewhere.' Caitlin suggested.

'Are you sure it isn't a waste of time?' Mike asked. 'After all, it looks like the guys have it under control.'

Elizabeth put a hand on Mike's arm. 'I think it's an excellent suggestion.'

'We'd better grab some torches.' Caitlin said watching as Airwolf ascended back into the sky.

They headed indoors and Caitlin retrieved her jacket as Marella got the torches. They headed back out into the garden. They searched the grounds thoroughly calling Angelina's name but there was no sign of the little girl.

Caitlin and Marella reconvened on the balcony.

'This is hopeless.' Marella said. 'She could be anywhere.'

'You know the area around here.' Caitlin said breathlessly. 'If you were a little girl running away, where would you go?'

Marella thought for a moment and her eyes caught on the steps down to the beach. 'The beach. There are some caves not far from here that would make great hiding places.'

'Let's go.' Caitlin said.

They were careful on the steep steps and both women gave a sigh of relief at reaching the sand. Marella stepped out of her high heels and winced at the sight of the sand clinging to the expensive satin. She left them at the bottom of the steps.

'How far are the caves?' Caitlin asked.

'Just round this corner.' Marella's torch light beamed the way ahead.

Caitlin looked at the steep cliff beside them and shivered.

'Are you OK?' Marella asked.

'I'm fine.' Caitlin said. 'I'm sorry about your date.'

'It was going really well too.' Marella sighed, her mind flashing back to the romantic evening; they had been dancing to an old jazz record when the phone had cut short the night. 'I guess we're going to have to wait for a while longer.'

'Not necessarily.' Caitlin tried to comfort her.

'Michael won't want to upset Angelina.' Marella said firmly. 'He's made that clear. If she has run away because she overheard Elizabeth and Mike just discussing our date…'

'She's probably just confused about what it means to her.' Caitlin argued.

'Maybe.' Marella shone the torch at an outcropping of rocks. 'Here. This is the start of the caves.'

'Angelina!' Caitlin yelled. 'Angelina!'

There was a faint cry and a dog's bark.

Marella grabbed Caitlin's arm. 'Did you hear that?'

'Yeah.' Caitlin took another deep breath and shouted; 'Angelina?'

'I'm here!' The voice sounded very young and very scared.

'Keep yelling, honey! We're coming!' Caitlin said as they hurried up the beach. They followed Angelina's voice until they came to the edge of the cliff. Caitlin shone her torch mid-way up and swallowed.

Angelina was lying on a ledge, her pale, dirty face was terrified and smudged with tears; her blonde hair was in tangles around her head. She was wearing a blue anorak and her arm was around her dog who was barking excitedly. 'I fell!' She cried plaintively.

'Don't worry, sweetie!' Caitlin yelled. 'We're on our way.'

Marella grabbed hold of Caitlin before she could move toward the cliff. 'You can't go up there.'

Caitlin opened her mouth to argue.

'You have the baby to think about.' Marella said firmly. 'What if you fell?'

Caitlin snapped her mouth shut again. 'Will you be OK?'

Marella nodded and handed Caitlin her torch. 'Hold this.' She removed her pantyhose; her bare feet would have a better grip on the cliff. She began to climb steadily. She was grateful that Caitlin kept the torch fixed on her, helping her find footholds and handholds until she reached the ledge.

She clambered onto the small area and took a couple of deep breaths as she got her footing. She patted Brownie who scampered over to greet her and firmly pushed him to lie down quietly.

Her dark eyes met Angelina's tear-filled blue ones. The little girl was right on the edge of the ledge lying on her side and cradling her arm. Marella slowly lowered herself to the ledge and crawled over. She eased Angelina back from the ledge and huddled with her, wrapping her in her own coat, by the cliff wall.

'Is everything OK?' Caitlin yelled.

'We're fine.' Marella yelled back. 'You'd better go for help. We're not going to be able to come down without some.'

'OK.' Caitlin shouted.

Marella's attention turned back to Angelina. 'Let's have a look at your arm.'

Angelina winced as Marella examined her sore arm.

'The good news is that you haven't broken it. The bad news is that you've sprained your wrist.' Marella diagnosed. She removed the silk scarf from around her neck and began to wrap the wrist in a makeshift bandage.

'I landed on it.' Angelina said. She pointed upwards. 'I lost my balance on the cliff path.'

Marella looked up and shuddered at the drop. Angelina had been incredibly lucky.

'Are you going to marry my dad?'

The blunt question had Marella's eyes flying back to the little girl.

'Your grandparents thought you might have heard them talking this evening about your dad and I.' Marella began nervously. 'Is that why you ran away?'

Angelina sniffled and nodded.

Marella finished tying the bandage as she considered her response. She sat back and looked at Angelina. 'Can I speak to you woman to woman?'

Angelina nodded a little suspiciously.

'How much do you know about dating?' Marella asked.

'It's what adults do before they get married.' Angelina said simply.

'That's true,' Marella said, 'but it's a little more complicated than that. You see sometimes adults date to see if they like each other enough to get married. Sometimes it leads to marriage and sometimes they just agree that they're better off as friends.'

'So you and my dad might not get married?' Angelina asked.

'We might not. Tonight was our first date so we don't really know how it will turn out.' Marella agreed. 'We thought we'd wait to see if we were maybe heading in the direction of marriage before we told you about it because we didn't want to worry you.'

Angelina's quick mind absorbed the information. 'You should have told me.' She said stubbornly.

'We see that now.' Marella said and couldn't resist stroking a lock of the little girl's hair away from her face. 'Is that why you ran away? Because you were angry we might be getting married and hadn't told you?'

Angelina's eyes darted away from her. 'I thought if I wasn't supposed to know you were getting married that you mustn't want me, that when you and my dad married, you'd send me away.'

Marella's heart seized at the conclusion Angelina had jumped to. 'No,' she denied quickly, 'that just wouldn't happen and you know why?' She nudged Angelina's chin up so she could meet the little girl's eyes. 'Your dad loves you very much. He would never send you away. Never.' She framed Angelina's face. 'And your father would never marry someone who didn't see how special you are and how lucky they were to have you as a daughter.'

Tears spilled over onto Angelina's dirt-smeared cheeks and the little girl dived into Marella's arms, hugging her tightly as she sobbed. 'I'm sorry, Marella.'

'That's OK, Angelina.' Marella clutched her closer and stroked a hand over the little girl's hair. 'You're safe. That's what's important.'

Angelina eased away from her and swiped at her tears. 'You must really like my dad to go on a date with him?'

'Well, just between us girls?' Marella whispered secretively.

Angelina nodded.

'I like him very much.' Marella confided. 'But we both want you to be happy so if you're not comfortable with my dating your dad, I won't.'

Before Angelina could speak, a shriek of engines above them had them staring upwards and Marella breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of Airwolf as the helicopter came to hover in front of them. One of the cockpit doors opened and Hawke jumped out onto the ledge.

'Uncle String!' Angelina launched herself at Hawke who caught her firmly and held his balance to ensure they remained on the ledge as Brownie got to his feet excited at the new arrival.

Hawke's blue eyes sought Marella's over Angelina's head. 'You OK?'

'I'm fine.' The agent answered calmly.

Hawke looked back at the helicopter and waved at Dom to bring her closer. 'OK. I'm going to hand you to your dad.'

'Brownie first.' Angelina said.

'No, you first.' Hawke stated firmly.

Angelina didn't argue; there was something about her Uncle String's tone that warned her she wouldn't win. She let Hawke pass her up to her father.

Michael's arms tightened fast around his daughter and he buried his face in her tangled blond hair. 'Thank God!' He muttered as she cried in his arms. 'You're safe now.'

'I'm sorry, Daddy.' Angelina sobbed.

'That's OK.' Michael rocked her gently. 'Let's go home.'

'Brownie…' Angelina said.

Michael looked back to the ledge where Hawke was stood with the dog in his arms. 'OK. You get in the back.'

Angelina scrambled into the back of the cockpit whilst Michael took hold of the wriggling mass of puppy. He handed the dog to his daughter.

'Head to the house.' Hawke yelled. 'We'll meet you there.' He closed the cockpit door before Michael could argue.

Airwolf veered away and Hawke held out a hand to Marella. 'Ready?'

'As I'll ever be.' Marella said.

They made their way down. Caitlin stood at the bottom keeping their way lit with the torches.

Hawke hugged his wife as soon as his feet were back on solid ground. 'You OK?'

Caitlin nodded and glanced at Marella. 'Are you?'

Marella nodded. 'We'd better get back to the house.'

They made their way quickly and they gathered in the kitchen where Michael was making hot chocolate for his daughter.

'Where's Angelina?' Hawke asked.

'Elizabeth's helping her bathe and get into some fresh pyjamas.' Mike explained.

Michael turned from the stove. 'I just want,' he said roughly, 'to thank you all.'

'That's not necessary.' Caitlin said. She smiled gently as she took a seat. 'We love her too, Michael.'

Michael's breath caught in the back of his throat and he swiftly turned back to the boiling milk so the others wouldn't see his tears.

The Airwolf team exchanged a look.

Hawke cleared his throat. 'We should get the Lady back to the Lair.'

Michael turned back. 'Thanks again.'

'Any time, Michael.' Hawke nudged Caitlin and she got to her feet tiredly.

Marella stood up. 'Could you drop me at Red Star?'

'Actually,' Michael interrupted, 'I was hoping you could stay for a while longer. We should probably talk.'

Caitlin saw the indecision on Marella's face and bit her lip. 'You could take my car.' She offered.

'Are you sure?' Marella asked.

Caitlin nodded and handed her the keys. 'I'm too tired to drive anyway.'

There was a flurry of goodbyes and a few moments later the echo of Airwolf's engines as she shrieked away punctuated their departure.

Michael made up the hot chocolate and raised the full mug. 'I'll just take this to Angelina.'

Marella nodded in acquiescence, subsiding onto one of the stools.

Michael hobbled through the house to his daughter's bedroom. He paused in the doorway. The little girl was bathed and redressed into pyjamas. A fresh bandage was wrapped around her wrist and his mother was just finished drying Angelina's hair. It gleamed under the low lighting.

'Come on.' Elizabeth said firmly. 'Into bed.'

Angelina climbed under the covers and her grandmother kissed her goodnight. Elizabeth smoothed a hand over her granddaughter's hair and walked out, pausing briefly to give her son a reassuring pat on the arm as she passed him.

Michael limped into the room. He sat on Angelina's bed and passed her the mug. She sat up against the pillows and took a sip.

'So we should talk about what happened tonight.' Michael began.

'I'm sorry, Daddy.' Angelina's bottom lip trembled.

'Why did you think you needed to run away?' Michael blurted out. He mentally kicked himself; he'd meant to approach the subject gently.

Angelina's blue eyes met his. 'I thought you and Marella were going to get married and you didn't want me anymore.'

Michael flinched.

'But Marella told me that I was wrong,' Angelina continued, 'that dating didn't mean you were going to get married and that even if you did, you would never send me away.'

Michael stroked a finger down her soft cheek. 'She's right. You and me, kiddo; we're a package deal.'

Angelina nodded. 'Why didn't you tell me you were going on a date with Marella?'

'I guess I wasn't sure how to tell you.' Michael said.

Angelina bit her lip. 'You really like her, huh?'

Michael nodded slowly. 'I do.'

Angelina sighed. 'She really likes you too.' She confided in a hushed whisper.

Michael smiled. 'She does, huh?'

Angelina nodded. 'Marella's pretty cool.'

'She is.' Michael agreed.

'I mean she climbed all the way up the cliff,' Angelina said, 'and she wasn't even mad at me.'

'She was worried about you.' Michael said.

'I guess if you guys wanted to go on a date, I would be OK with that.' Angelina said.

'Well, maybe,' Michael said, 'we should go on a date altogether. What do you think?'

Angelina nodded.

Michael smiled and removed the mug from her hands to set it on the bedside table. 'Time to go to sleep.' He tucked the blankets around her as she settled down and kissed the top of her head.

He ruffled Brownie's head as he got to his feet. He closed the bedroom door with a soft click and for a moment, rested his forehead against the cool wood. The two hours Angelina had been missing had been the most terrifying of his life; he'd thought he'd lost his daughter and the remembered fear crawled up his gut and strangled his breath again.

Michael stepped away from the door and limped back to the kitchen. He took a step inside the kitchen and froze. Marella was stood at the counter making tea. He tried to ignore how right she looked standing in his kitchen, in his home.

Marella glanced over her shoulder and smiled at him. 'I thought you might want some jasmine tea.'

'That sounds great.' Michael said. He took a seat at the breakfast island.

She joined him and set out the teapot and the tiny ceramic cups. She poured them both a drink and they toasted each other silently before taking a sip of the fragrant brew.

'Your parents went to bed.' Marella said. 'I think your mother feels bad that Angelina overheard their conversation.'

'It wasn't her fault.' Michael said tiredly. He rubbed the back of his neck trying to ease the ache there. 'I should have told Angelina about our date.'

'How is she?' Marella asked.

'Fine.' Michael smiled. 'She has some bumps and bruises but she'll be fine.'

'You know,' Marella began, 'if you want us to stop dating for a while…'

'Do you want to stop dating?' Michael asked bluntly.

Marella's dark eyes blinked at him. 'Well, no, but I just thought with Angelina…'

'Angelina has given us her permission.' Michael said a twinkle of amusement appearing in his good eye.

'She has?' Marella checked she'd heard him right.

'She has.' Michael said. 'I thought maybe our next date should be child friendly. If we include her…'

'I'd like that.' Marella said.

Michael slid his hand over the granite worktop; Marella took it.

'I thought I'd lost her.' Michael admitted. 'With everything going on, I thought someone had taken her and that was it.'

'I know.' Marella squeezed his hand. 'Me too.'

Michael raised her hand to his lips and kissed the palm of her hand gently. 'You're incredible. How you climbed up that cliff…'

Marella smiled. 'Better me than Caitlin although I think she would have attempted it if I hadn't reminded her of the baby.'

Michael caught the faint edge of jealousy. 'You haven't talked about Caitlin's news much.'

Marella looked away from Michael's knowing gaze. 'It's hard.' She admitted. She'd known the couple were trying for a baby but the reality of Caitlin's pregnancy had brought home to her how she would never be able to rejoice in such an announcement herself.

His thumb rubbed her hand. 'You don't have to pretend with me.' He said gently. 'You know that.'

Her dark eyes met his. 'I know.'

He slid off the stool and pulled her to her feet, hugged her to him and she wrapped her arms around him, grateful for the comfort and the understanding.

'Well, it's definitely been a memorable first date.' Michael commented wryly.

'Definitely memorable.' Marella said.

'Are you sure you want to risk another one?' Michael asked half-seriously.

Marella's hand caressed his cheek. 'I wouldn't miss it.'

He kissed her gently, passionately; they were both breathing heavily when they pulled apart.

Her eyes caught on the kitchen clock. 'I'd better go.'

Michael was momentarily torn; he wanted to ask her to stay but the thought of his daughter had him nodding his agreement. He walked Marella out to the car and they shared another kiss before she drove away. Michael watched until the lights of the car disappeared before he went back inside. He locked up the downstairs and headed up the stairs. His feet avoided the route to his own room and turned him in the direction of Angelina's. He sneaked inside and sat on the floor. He was happy just to watch his daughter sleep; safe and well.