Stringfellow Hawke watched his opponent carefully. The blue eyes that stared back at him were filled with an odd mixture of innocence and cunning. A hand lifted away from the white queen. Hawke reviewed the chess board in front of him and moved one of the few remaining pieces he had.

'Check-mate.' He said.

Angelina Coldsmith-Briggs frowned at her Uncle String and glared at the board. Her eyes scanned back over the pieces as her quick mind worked out the pilot's strategy. 'I want a rematch.'

There was a hint of a laugh from the man sitting behind her and she whirled to glare at her father. 'Daddy…'

'Time for bed, angel.' Michael Coldsmith-Briggs III said firmly reaching out to tweak her nose.

'But Daddy, I'm eleven now.' She protested even though her father had already agreed to one extension of her bedtime which was why she was playing chess in her pyjamas.

'And I'm still much older.' Michael pointed out. 'Go on and get into bed. I'll come in to say goodnight in a minute.'

Angelina got to her feet reluctantly but she knew when her father used that tone that she wasn't going to win the argument. 'Night, Uncle String.' She hugged the pilot fondly and Hawke reached out to ruffle her golden hair.

'Night, sweet pea.'

'Night, Marella.' Angelina moved onto her father's senior aide and his girlfriend. She had decided she liked Marella a lot and as she quite liked the idea of being a bridesmaid, she had taken her Auntie Caitlin to one side earlier to ask how they could get her Daddy to marry the brunette. The bubbly redhead had promised she'd think of something and Angelina skipped over to give her a hug good-night too before she disappeared to what she considered to be her room in the cabin extension.

'I have to admit,' Marella said as she helped Hawke clear away the chess game, 'I didn't even work out your strategy until half-way through.'

'I barely worked it out until the end.' Michael admitted ruefully. 'I'm still surprised you won; I thought she had you.' He was barely able to win against his daughter anymore. She had a genius level IQ and was already way ahead of other girls her age academically.

'It's about knowing your opponent.' Hawke commented.

'She's eleven years old.' Marella said with a laugh.

'Yeah.' Hawke said. 'An eleven year old who already thinks like a spy.'

There was a faint edge of disgust to the statement and his wife laughed at the expressions of the two spies in the room.

'I'm going to take it as a compliment, Hawke.' Michael warned the other man.

Hawke shrugged and his blue eyes met Michael's good one with amusement as the spy rose to his feet and headed towards his daughter's room. Hawke settled back against the sofa and slid an arm around Caitlin who leaned him into him happily, a hand resting on the baby carrier by her side.

Marella smiled at the picture of happy contentment the couple made. She glanced around the festive cabin. It looked welcoming and homily. The fire blazed in the hearth. There was a tree festooned with baubles and lights, and a stack of presents under its branches in one corner of the room. Her dark eyes slid back to the baby and she felt again the sharp tug of jealousy that she would never have the chance to carry her own child. A bullet taken in the line of duty protecting Michael had put paid to her ability to have children. She took a sip of her wine to cover her melancholy and made a determined effort to move past it. She was actually very blessed, she thought. Angelina was growing to feel more and more like a surrogate daughter every day and she was godmother to the Hawke's new baby son, Nicky, a responsibility she took seriously. She got to her feet as the baby started to fuss and waved at Caitlin to sit still.

She picked up the crying child and her nose wrinkled. 'Looks like someone needs a diaper change.'

'Are you sure you want to do it?' Caitlin asked resettling against Hawke as Marella headed for the stairs and the nursery area on the top landing.

'Sure.' Marella called over her shoulder.

Hawke and Caitlin exchanged an amused look and cuddled into each other again.

'How long do you think until the novelty factor of the diaper changes wears off?' Hawke asked. He had lasted a couple of days and whilst he adored his son, he had already conceded that he could do without the whole diaper change experience.

'I hope it doesn't.' Caitlin said. 'Marella's a godsend.' Babies were tiring and she was grateful for the other woman's help.

'Yeah, a real angel.' Hawke quipped referring to the old nickname for Michael's female agents when he had run a division for the FIRM. The spy no longer had the division and was now the head of the new Airwolf project for the Company, the intelligence agency that had taken over the FIRM. Michael was building the next generation of the mach capable and technologically advanced helicopter whilst the Company operated the old Airwolf machine with a small team that included Hawke's own older brother, Saint John.

Caitlin gave Hawke a playful slap at the quip.

'Ow.' Hawke said rubbing his arm.

'Ow?' Caitlin smiled. 'I didn't hit you that hard.'

'Maybe you should give me a kiss to say sorry.'

'A kiss, huh?' Caitlin's eyes darkened. She reached up and snagged his lips with hers. 'That better?'

'I think we ought to try that again.' Hawke said and kissed her soundly.

'You two do remember you have visitors?'

Hawke raised his head and sighed as he caught the amusement on Michael's face as the other man rejoined them.

Caitlin patted her husband's hand sympathetically as she got to her feet. 'I'll make some coffee.'

The drink was brewed whilst the baby's needs were addressed and the four friends were soon sat back around the fire with Nicky asleep in the upstairs cot. Hawke and Caitlin shared the sofa whilst Marella perched on the arm of Michael's chair.

'I seriously don't know how you manage to get anything done with the baby around.' Michael commented taking a sip of the coffee.

'It's an art.' Caitlin replied. 'Everything takes three times as long and…'

'We're learning to do everything one handed.' Hawke explained.

'You love it.' Michael said wrapping his fingers around Marella's as he smiled at the couple's evident enjoyment of their new parental status.

The Hawkes shrugged in unison but didn't deny the charge.

'So you're still heading to your folks for the holidays?' Hawke asked Michael.

The spy nodded. 'We'll spend a couple of days with my folks and then we're flying down to Maui to see Marella's.' The couple looked at Caitlin expectantly.

'I'm not going to say a word.' She said with a laugh.

Michael and Marella smiled at each other.

'No, meeting the parents comments of any kind?' Michael teased.

Caitlin shrugged. 'I'm too tired.' Her blue-eyes gleamed. 'Besides I think you'll probably have your hands full enough trying to keep Angelina's Christmas wish to be a bridesmaid under control. She's in full recruitment mode for co-conspirators.'

'Ah that.' Michael smiled. 'Her friend Chrissy just got to be a bridesmaid.'

'So now she wants to be one too.' Marella added.

'We're just the handiest couple.' Michael added. 'We already have it under control.'

Hawke raised an eyebrow. 'Sure. I mean, I'm certain your and Marella's Mom will be unwilling to join Angelina's scheme completely.'

Both spies blanched.

Hawke's lips twitched.

'Today's been great.' Caitlin said taking pity on their friends and changing the subject. 'It's been a while since we all got together.'

'Not since you first came back from Switzerland.' Michael noted. The couple had spent months there whilst Hawke recuperated from the injuries he'd sustained in a helicopter explosion that had killed the pilot's surrogate father, Dominic Santini. His absence in the group still felt like a gaping hole to Michael, and he briefly wondered how it must feel for Hawke. He glanced across at the other man in time to see him exchange a look with his wife.

'What?' Michael questioned.

'Well, I did have a slightly ulterior motive in inviting you.' Hawke admitted.

Michael's lips twitched. 'I can't give you anymore time off. I need you on the project first thing after the New Year.'

Hawke's lips curved a little. 'That actually wasn't it.'

'Oh?'

Hawke looked at Caitlin who smiled at him encouragingly. 'You remember I told you about the incident with Yahara and my brother?' A former Japanese pilot had kidnapped his brother a few days previously. The man had been determined to lift what he considered a stain of honour for being captured in the war by killing the son of the man who had captured him and destroying a nuclear power plant. Luckily, Saint John had escaped and Hawke had shot down Yahara in Airwolf.

'Yes.' Michael nodded and he felt Marella shift beside him.

'Well, Yahara made a couple of comments to my brother about my father that kinda got him,' Hawke gestured, 'well both of us wondering.'

'Wondering what?' Michael asked carefully. He had a horrible feeling he already knew what the Hawkes were thinking.

'Whether our parents might still be alive.'

Hawke's quiet words confirmed the spy's fears and he rubbed his moustache whilst he considered what to say.

'But your parents died in a boating accident when you were twelve.' Marella's confusion rang through her statement.

'Well, we know from what happened earlier this year that the whole Hawke family was to go into witness protection after Hawke's dad, Alan and Dom helped the Feds bring down Angelo Cordelli and Sallis for the death of Hawke's grandfather, Elijah.' Caitlin chimed in. 'We think maybe things went wrong when the storm hit early and Hawke and Saint John went overboard but that it's still possible their parents went ahead with the original plan and the FBI simply scuppered the boat to make it appear like they had been capsized during the storm.'

'But I can't believe they would leave their sons behind.' Marella said folding her arms.

'Neither can we but,' Caitlin said, 'maybe it's just possible the FBI lied to them and told them the boys were lost at sea.'

'That's a stretch.' Marella frowned. 'Exactly what did this Yahara character say anyway?'

'Yahara's information seemed to indicate that Alan Hawke died five years ago of a heart attack.' Caitlin continued.

'The information could have been wrong.' Marella pointed out.

'He was very thorough and very organised.' Caitlin said. 'He had to have gotten the information from somewhere.'

'And you want us to help you track down where he got it.' Marella surmised.

'If there is a possibility that the Hawkes are still alive or maybe even just Hawke's mother, Jane, we should try and find them.' Caitlin said.

Hawke looked at Michael. 'You're awful quiet, Michael.'

The spy sighed and met Hawke's blue gaze resolutely. 'The FBI has an open file on your parents.'

There were equal looks of astonishment across all three of his companions although Hawke's face quickly smoothed into an impassivity that worried Michael; it usually indicated that the pilot was furiously angry.

'How do you know that?' Hawke demanded.

Michael got to his feet and paced a little until he displaced Hawke's dog, Tet, directly in front of the hearth, the heat of the fire warm against the back of his white trousers. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at his friend regretfully. 'Dominic asked me to investigate whether there was the possibility your parents were still alive.' He saw the shock slam past the impassivity.

'Dom came to you?' Hawke scowled. 'I don't believe it.'

Michael held up a hand. 'Let me explain.'

'You'd better.' Hawke growled.

'About a month after Dominic was kidnapped and tortured by Sallis he came to my office. He didn't really want to be there and it was only after some coaxing that he finally admitted why he'd come to see me.' Michael sighed. 'He told me that he had re-evaluated his own belief in whether your parents were dead because Sallis had been so certain your father was alive and the FBI agent, Dawson, had been less than forthcoming when Dominic challenged him on it.'

'And that's when he asked you to help?' Caitlin deduced.

'Sallis was searching for Alan Hawke, presumably the Cordelli's would like to know where he is too; Dominic knew if he began to search there was a good possibility that he would tip them all off and potentially lead them right to them if they were still alive.' Michael said. 'He also knew that getting information about anyone in witness protection is difficult enough when you're in the loop never mind if you're an outsider.'

'He figured you could use your connections with the FBI and find out whether they were in protection or not.' Hawke concluded.

Michael nodded.

'So what did the FBI file say?' Caitlin asked impatiently.

'I don't know.'

'You don't know?' Her voice rose in disbelief.

'Dominic asked me to drop the investigation before I could do more than verify there was an open file.' Michael said.

Hawke stood up. He stared at the other man for a tense heartbeat. He didn't know what was worse; knowing Michael had known it was a possibility and kept it a secret or knowing Dom had known it was a possibility and not only had kept it a secret from him but had involved Michael. He turned and stalked out of the cabin.

Marella put a hand on Michael's arm as he made to follow. 'Do you think that's wise?' She had half a fear that Hawke would punch him.

'Let him go.' Caitlin said.

Marella looked over at her friend. 'Are you sure?'

Caitlin nodded. 'They need to work it out.'

Marella let go of Michael with a sigh.

'Thank you.' Michael said to Caitlin quietly.

'Don't make me regret it.' She warned him folding her arms across her chest.

Michael gave a small nod and headed out of the cabin. Hawke hadn't gone far. He was resting against the porch railing staring out into the darkness at the glassy waters of the lake. Michael closed the cabin door and went to stand beside him. 'I'm sorry, Hawke.'

'Dom made you promise not to tell me didn't he?' Hawke said idly, pushing a hand through his short crop of brown hair. He'd taken two steps out of the cabin and had rapidly deduced what had happened.

Michael nodded.

'Why didn't he tell me?' Hawke asked plaintively finally looking at Michael.

Michael sighed and leaned against the railing. 'He was…shaken by it all himself, Hawke, and there was nothing conclusive. All he had was a theory that the FBI lied about the whole thing at the time of the boating accident. He didn't want to upset you with half-baked theories. That's why he came to me.' He pushed his glasses up his nose. 'I didn't find out very much either from the initial enquiries I made. There was nothing but an active file and a lot of unanswered questions. Then Caitlin found out she was pregnant and digging deeper would have meant taking the risk of alerting the Cordelli's and Sallis…Dom decided he just wanted you all safe.'

Sounded like Dom, Hawke thought. 'You still should have told me.' He muttered.

'Hawke, I can count on exactly one finger the number of times Dominic Santini asked me for something.' Michael said quietly. 'He made his decision and I respected that.'

'And you think he made the right one.' He noted crossing his arms.

'Yes, I do.' Michael said. 'If you dig into this you could lead the Cordelli's and Sallis straight to your parents. You could put Caitlin and Nicky at risk. Have you or your brother thought about that?'

Hawke shifted his weight a little uneasily. 'We haven't got much further than thinking it might be possible that our parents are alive, Michael.'

'Well maybe you ought to think about it.' Michael said firmly. 'The Cordelli family are still considered to be a powerful force in organised crime. Your father accepted the witness protection scheme to keep his family safe from their retribution.' He pointed a finger at Hawke. 'If you alert the Cordelli's and lead them to him and your mother, incur their wrath yourself, his whole sacrifice will have been for nothing.'

Hawke turned back to the lake and Michael could see his words had hit home in the tense lines that creased the pilot's face. It was a few minutes before he spoke again.

'Michael,' Hawke stared out at a distant point, 'even if I agree with you, and even if I was inclined to drop it, I can't.' He turned to look at his friend. 'I have to know the truth and I know Saint John feels the same way.'

'No matter what the cost?' Michael asked softly.

'If you help me,' Hawke said, 'I don't think it'll come to that and besides, I think I know how to stop the Cordelli's.'

Michael raised a questioning eyebrow.

Hawke thumped the porch railing gently. 'We bring their operation down; once and for all. Take them out of the picture. If the threat is gone then if my parents are in hiding they can come out.'

Michael blinked at him and then shook his head in reluctant admiration. 'You don't think small, do you?'

'The best defence, Michael.' Hawke murmured.

'And if your parents aren't in hiding, if they did die like you've always believed?'

Hawke gestured. 'I'll accept that but I'm sure Uncle Sam won't mind having one less mob family to worry about and given the history between our two families…' he shrugged, 'maybe it would be some justice for my father and grandfather.'

The spy sighed. 'If we're going to do this, we're going to have to plan the operation carefully. We can't just go rushing in. It's going to take time and patience.'

Hawke nodded.

'Will your brother understand that?' Michael asked.

'Michael, he'll probably have more patience for it than I will.' Hawke said wryly.

Michael nodded. 'And are we OK?' He checked.

'We're OK.' Hawke said. 'I might not like it, Michael, but I know you were trying to do the right thing by Dom.' He sighed. 'And I know Dom was trying to do the right thing too. It's just…' His voice trailed away.

Michael clasped his shoulder. 'For what it's worth I miss him too.'

'Yeah.' Hawke jerked his head at the cabin. 'We'd better get back inside before Cait and Marella think we've killed each other.'

'Not to mention they'll want in on this.' Michael said.

'Not to mention.' Hawke murmured.

'How do we stop that?' Michael mused.

'Let me know when you figure it out.' Hawke said ruefully as they headed indoors.