Chapter 16 Guns and Buns

Note: Been trying to upload this all week but I've been having troubles with the website. Let's try this again…

Barney's

After Thorn had installed the new security system, he had to show all the Expendables how to work it and assign each person their own code. He showed Ava how to use the emergency code for help and then left to catch some sleep before they left for their mission in the morning.

Barney knocked off to bed earlier than usual after securing a couple crates on the plane.

It left Ava and Lee alone.

They laid next to each other on the couch. He had an arm wrapped around her holding her to his chest. She rested her head on his shoulder. The tv was off and they just laid there enjoying the feel of each other.

The next morning, Barney smirked as he poked Lee in the side to wake him. Ava was still cuddled into his arms so he didn't have a free hand to smack Barney away as he jolted. He groaned and opened an eye to see Barney stand up and roll his eyes.

"Gotta get rollin," Barney mumbled out as he drained the last of his coffee cup.

Lee kissed Ava's forehead and ran a hand through her messy hair. He tightened his hold on her and sighed heavily. For the first time in a long time, he didn't want to leave. At least he had someone to come home to who cared.

Ava shifted as his arms tightened around her. She buried her face in his neck and took a deep breath. She had woken with his jolt, but was reluctant to get up. Barney smirked and poked her too.

She jolted and groaned loudly before opening her eyes to glare up at her father who had a huge grin on his face.

"Morning Sweetheart," he said deeply.

"Morning my sparkly butt," she muttered before burying her face into Lee's chest.

"I really don't want to know why you're ass is sparkly," Barney said seriously before heading to the kitchen.

Ava snorted a laugh and looked up at Lee who was smirking at her.

"I'm going to miss you," she said quietly.

"Me too Darlin," he loudly whispered back before tilting up her chin so he could capture her mouth with a kiss.

She sighed contentedly as their lips parted. She sat and stretched while he watched her tank top ride up baring silky, smooth skin beneath. His fingers twitched as he held himself back. He slowly sat up as well and wrapped an arm around her to pull her back to him. She smiled sweetly before he captured her lips again. He rested his forehead against hers and sighed.

"Hopefully this goes quickly," he said lowly.

"Hopefully," she said before nibbling at her lip, "When you guys are at safe spots feel free to check in. I don't want to worry the whole time you're gone, but I don't want to pull a Lacy either."

"You are nothing like Lacy."

She chuckled and stood up, "Well you guys pack up. I'm going to make a big going away breakfast before you sneak off. Also have a new gadget to send with you."

She winked and walked off to the kitchen with a bounce in her step. Just as she pulled out a few pans and started off a monstrous amount of bacon, sausage, and eggs she heard motorcycles, trucks, and other vehicles pull up. One of the team used their code to get in and the rest followed. They walked by the kitchen to get to the hangar and each waved at Ava as they passed. Ava smiled and waved back to each one of them before she started pancakes on the griddle on a back burner. She made huge platters of each and set them on the table since everyone would need to dish up and eat in the main room. She started putting bread in the 4 slice toaster and hummed as she worked.

Thorn stood in the doorway to ask her a question and smirked at her bebopping around the kitchen. He snuck in and grabbed a plate to help himself before sitting at the table to wait for her to notice him. He'd almost finished a second plateful when she turned to grab one of the platters to add more to it. She spotted Thorn and smirked as she plated up more bacon.

"All prepped?" she asked curiously.

"Actually, I was wondering what gadget you were sending with us this time," Thorn asked grinning widely.

She chuckled and waved him away, "In the crate on my main table, feel free to bring it in here."

Thorn jumped up and jogged out of the room leaving Ava laughing hard as she stirred some more eggs. She had fried and scrambled. Thorn came back in with a small crate that he set on one of the chairs and unlatched it carefully.

"Dad brought me somewhere safe to test the Drummond EMP. I tweaked it a bit to give it a better range. It cones out to the front tho so anyone standing behind the 'shooter' will have undamaged equipment."

"Sweeeet I've been waiting to use this baby!" Thorn said as he took it out of the crate and stroked the barrel reverently.

Ava snorted a laugh, "You need to find a woman."

"Hey!" he said, "I prefer to play the field."

She shook her head and plated more sausages and pancakes, "Can you call them in for food? I know not everyone will come right away, but we can get some bellies filled."

Thorn nodded before safely storing the Drummond in it's crate before heading towards the hangar to stow it on the plane. He called out to the team saying there was food. Toll, Doc, Gunnar, and Yang came in first and dished up. The platter of bacon was almost empty after that causing Ava to just shake her head. They guys went into the main room to eat as a few others made their way slowly into the kitchen. Luna dished up some food and moved out of the way to stand near Ava as she continued to fill platters. The second run of guys made their way to the main room as well leaving Luna smirking at Ava. Ava looked over at her and smirked in return.

"What?" she asked as she rolled some sausages over to cook more evenly.

"Making sure to show off your homemaker skills to your new hot blooded man," she teased.

"Lee already knows I can cook breakfast," Ava said tilting her head, "And how did you know we are almost a thing?"

"Almost?" Luna asked around a mouthful of scrambled eggs.

"He's going to end things with Lacy when you guys get back and take me out on a date to make it official."

"Awwwwwe," Luna said wiping a fake tear from her eye, "You kids are so great together."

Ava huffed out a laugh as she flipped more pancakes, "It's just nice to have some things go right for a change. First I meet my dad, then I make new friends, and I get Lee."

Ava paused in her cooking to stare dreamily at the stove with a silly smile on her face, "I get Lee."

"Just wait, I'm sure the Brit will give you mindblowing sex and all the little ones you could ask for."

"Hmm," Ava said smirking as she turned to Luna, "I have no complaints there."

Luna snorted and almost choked on a piece of bacon before she got her chuckling calmed down.

"Must of missed somethin," Lee said turning on his full British accent as he came in with Barney to load up a plate.

"Not much you'll be missing once you've claimed your woman," Luna said.

Ava blushed as she started turning off burners and adding the last of the food to the platters. She grabbed her own plate and Lee reached around her to grab some silverware. He took advantage of her position and kissed her neck quickly before grabbing a chair and pushing it closer to the wall to sit.

"We're all loaded up," Barney said as he cut up some sausages, "Thanks for breakfast. We're usually throwing energy bars at each other once we start flying."

"No problem, everyone around here needs a steady flow of protein," Ava said jokingly flexing her almost impressive muscles.

Everyone in the kitchen chuckled before finishing off their plates.

"Don't worry about the dishes it'll give me something to pass the time," Ava said.

Another vehicle roared up and parked outside. Barney turned to Ava and smirked a bit.

"Tool?" she asked.

"Tool."

"Well at least he can get in on the food before we go grocery shopping," she said smiling evilly.

Barney just shook his head and left the kitchen to greet Tool. Tool soon popped into the kitchen to hug Ava before dishing up his own plate. They all headed out to the main room.

"All of you are gonna be missing some fine mornings the next few weeks," Tool said as he practically inhaled his bacon.

"Rub it in," Lee said shaking his head with a small smile.

"Nah," Tool said pointing his fork at Ava, "I'll leave that to her."

"Ooooooh!" Doc said loudly with a grin so wide his white teeth flashed.

They discussed a few last minute things before dropping off their plates in the kitchen and heading towards the plane. Tool and Ava followed. Almost all the guys gave Ava a hug goodbye.

Doc hung onto her a bit longer and loudly said so Lee could hear, "You ever decide you don't want the Brit you let me know and I'll marry you in a heartbeat."
Lee gave Doc a playful glare before prying Ava out of his arms. He wrapped both arms around her from behind and leaned his cheek against hers.

"I don't see that happening," Lee said smirking in triumph.

"Besides," Ava said getting in on the fun, "You are WAY too old for me."

"Ouch!" Smiley exclaimed, "I felt that burn all the way over here!"

Luna shoved him a bit and rolled her eyes.

"We gotta head out," Barney said as they quieted.

Most of them headed to the plane to board. Barney gave Ava a hug when Lee let go and ruffled her hair making her bed head worse.

She hugged him again and tightened her hold, "Be safe and get everyone home in one piece."

"Will do Sweetheart."

"Dad?" she asked looking up at him.

"Yeah?" he asked softly.

"I love you."

He smiled down at her and hugged her just as tight before whispering in her ear, "I love you too kiddo."

She smiled tearfully as she tried to put on a brave face. They slowly let go and Barney headed to the plane, Tool following for a bit to give Lee and Ava some privacy.

Before Lee could say anything she pulled him down into a kiss so hot and heavy he'd find himself having trouble sleeping for the next couple weeks. He squeezed her tightly and slowly let her go.

"See you before you know it," he whispered.

"Be safe, kill the bad guys, rescue the good peeps, and be home soon," she joked sternly.

"Yes mam," he said before kissing her forehead and reluctantly letting go to follow the others.

She heard the jeers and lewd comments coming from the team as Lee boarded the plane, but nothing could remove the smile from his face. Luna smirked from her seat where she could see Ava and she wiggled her fingers at her as the doors closed. Tool made his way back to her and threw an arm around her shoulder. He gave it a reassuring squeeze as Barney fired up the plane and headed down the runway.

Tool's Place One Week Later

Ava rolled over on Tool's couch to reach for her screaming phone. She opened her eyes blearily to see it was Dixie. She slid the icon to accept the call and held it to her ear.

"Dixie? What's wrong?" Ava asked as the fog of sleep cleared instantly.

Dixie breathed hard into the phone, "Of course the baby would wait until I was ALONE to come!"

Ava sat up quickly, "Is Connie on her way?"

"Yeah," she huffed, "I wanted to make sure you and Tool knew. Connie is going to film it for Gunnar so I need a breathing partner."

"We'll meet you at the hospital," Ava said before hanging up and yelling for Tool.

Tool appeared in unbuttoned black jeans with a gun in his hand, looking around for danger. He stopped and frowned when he only saw Ava quickly pulling on extra clothes.

"Dixie's in labor," she said in explanation and that's all Tool needed to turn around and run back to his room to dress.

They made good time to the hospital. They arrived right before Dixie and Connie. Connie and Ava were asked to dress in scrubs if they were going to be watching the birth. Tool nodded and took a comfy seat in the waiting room bringing his phone out to play games and text to the team.

After Connie and Ava joined Dixie the waiting began. Dixie was having regular contractions, but she couldn't help complaining it was taking so long. They had her walk around a bit to remove some of her stir craziness as the hours ticked by. Finally around dinner time it was time for Connie to get the camera ready. She had been filming small bits as the hours had worn on, but now it was time for the baby. Dixie took her place on the birthing bed and Ava was asked to sit behind her and help prop her up while holding her hands when needed.

Ava wiped Dixie's brow of sweat as the doctor said it was time. Dixie started pushing with her contractions. She held onto Ava's hands so tightly that Ava was afraid she was going to snap one of her fingers. Ava and Connie spoke encouraging words and helped her remember her breathing as the crown of the baby soon became a small, wriggling bundle of joy complete with birthing goop.

"Looks like we have a big baby boy," the doctor said as she showed them the baby before handing him off to a nurse to get cleaned up.

The doctor looked down and her eyes widened, "Well there's a surprise! You're going to need to push again honey."

"What?!" Dixie screeched.

"You have another one coming sweetheart," the doctor said gently.

"I'm not letting Gunnie touch me for a good long while after this! Who knew the man was a human fertilizer!" Dixie yelled as she started pushing again.

The unexpected baby turned out to be a boy as well. After they were both fed, Dixie fell asleep for a hard earned rest. Connie and Ava took pictures of the babies and sent them off in a group text that the team could receive when they were in a safe spot.

Somewhere Out There (Admit it, you just sang that right?)

When the team had finally found a decent place to stay for the night, they found the messages and had plenty to talk about. Barney and Lee remained quiet as they sat at a table in the bar underneath the small inn they were staying at. They had their phones open to the same picture as their minds were on separate thoughts. Connie had added a picture of Ava smiling widely while holding a baby in each arm.