Chapter 26 Lobster

Note: Short chapter this time, but at least it's an update right?

Next Day Barney's

Ava continued to work away in her workspace as the guys developed plans before reworking them and coming up with new ones. A few more people showed up to inform them of what little intel they could add. Some came just to liason between the agencies and the Expendables team. Only those who could be trusted were allowed in. Well… they made an exception for Church. They didn't trust him at all, but his enthusiasm in this op had them relaxing quite a bit.

Ava had called her female SEAL friend. Once she'd learned that children were being sold she was in. There was no reason a child should be put through these traumatic experiences.

Lee checked on her frequently, kissing her neck to get her attention when she was focused. They had no troubles being affectionate. A touch here, a kiss there. Tho they weren't the only ones. Sarah and Galgo stayed by each other's side and a protective gleam hadn't left his eyes after the chat about Sarah being a possible target. Connie and Dixie were both brought along with the babies just in case. Yang kept texting his lover to make sure he was being safe as well.

Lunch time they ordered in and cleaned up. Babies were passed around and fussed over. Even the proud 'uncles' took turns. After all, some of them had blood nephews and nieces so were experienced at handling young ones.

"Did you decided on names?" Ava asked as she carefully held the eldest boy in her arms while sitting on the couch.

Dixie smirked when she noticed all the soft looks Lee was sending his future baby mama. Ava hadn't taken her eyes off the baby in her arms. She rocked him gently back and forth.

"The oldest we decided on Gunther and the younger we decided on Liam," Dixie said softly.

"They are so adorable," Ava cooed making the whole crew smirk at her and Lee.

You can be sure that bets were already being made as to when Lee knocked her up, proposed, and actually married her. Luna was pretty sure she'd win most of the pot.

A knock at the door to the tune "Two Bits" rung out through the room. Everyone looked at each other and shrugged. Ava's eyes lit up and she carefully handed baby Gunther to his mama. She ran to the door, pressed a button to temporarily deactivate the security, ripped open the door, and literally pounced on the woman behind it.

An excited squeal came from Ava. The woman she pounced on fell partially into the doorframe with a snorting laugh. They got a glimpse of platinum blonde hair up in a high ponytail and a duffle that'd been knocked to the ground.

"Blake!" Ava squealed again in her excitement.

"Never change shortstop. Never change," Blake said affectionately with a roll of her eyes.

Ava finally let her go and dropped her feet to the floor. Blake followed her inside and shut the door. She picked up her duffle and tossed it out of the way before hugging Ava again.

"When you fell off grid I was worried the asshat made you disappear," she growled.

"Nope, just went into hiding," she smiled brightly before waving her hand around the room, "Turns out my dad is an Expendable. Here's the gang. That over there is my dad and standing next to him is my lobster Lee."

"Your lobster is an Expendable too?" she asked impressed.

"Yep," she said popping the 'p'.

"Lobster?" Doc asked thinking she was insane.

Blake and Ava nodded and Blake answered, "Ever watch the show 'Friends'? Lobsters mate for life."

Lee's grin widened into a mischievous smirk, "Do they?"

Ava blushed and nodded again, "Anyhow Blake this is everyone, everyone this is Blake. Female SEAL."

Caesar was quick to grab her and pull her into the planning.

Ava ended up gravitating towards Lee again. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her tightly against him.

"So I'm your lobster?" he asked amused.

"Well, you DID propose and I've never been this happy before so yeah. But it's okay cuz I'm your lobster too."

He kissed her forehead and noticed Barney head into the kitchen for more coffee, "Be right back."

He followed Barney and refilled his own cup before leaning against the counter facing him. Barney looked up at him and rolled his eyes.

"What?"

Lee scratched his jaw and cleared his throat, "Look, I come from a traditional British family. I know you already kind of gave us your approval, but I wanted to ask for your blessing. I know it seems we're moving fast, but she's the One, Boss. I want to marry her and give you grey hairs with little baby expendables running around. I mean someone's gotta have kids to help keep Gunnar's in line anyhow."

They both chuckled deeply.

"I love her," he paused, "I want to make her happy. She makes it hard to leave her behind for a job. I can honestly say I've never had such a trying time even thinking about having to leave her for the next mission. Bloody hell, I can't even think about leaving her alone for 24 hours much less a week or a couple months."

"You thinking of retiring on me?" he asked sternly.

"You actually think your daughter would let me?" Lee asked rhetorically.

"She understands in a way not many would," Barney agreed.

"Well," Lee said, "Do we have your blessing, officially?"

Barney smirked, "You always did my friend. Just be careful of Sarah if you ever hurt her."

Barney thumped him on the shoulder and motioned his head towards the main room. Lee pulled his cell out of his pocket and made a motion towards it. Barney nodded in understanding before heading back to the main room. Lee punched in a number from his speed dial. Number 1 in fact. It rang for a very short period before a posh British accent came over the line.

"Lee! You haven't called in ages!" she admonished her son.

"Hello mum," he said smirking, "I do apologize, Something extremely important came up and I've been more than a bit distracted."

"Oh pray tell what kind of distraction would be more important than your own dear mother?" she teased warmly.

"I was wondering if the offer of using your wedding ring still held?" he asked softly.

There was a long pause on the phone as his words sunk in, "You want to propose? You finally found some lucky woman to have and to hold?"

It sounded like she was trying hard not to cry. She loved her baby boy. She wanted what was best for him. The fact that he finally found someone after all these years made her heart leap in a way she didn't know it could. Then she thought of the grandbabies and grinned widely.

"Of course the offer of my ring still stands," she said sniffling a bit, "You know it was your great grandmother's ring first."

"I know mum," he said smirking, "And both of you had long, happy marriages."

She made an agreeing hmm into the phone, "I'm not sending it in the mail. Either you bring your darling here to visit or I can come to you. Which would you prefer?"

"We can't exactly get away at the moment," he paused and sighed, "We're in the middle of a situation."

She straightened in her seat and furrowed her brows, "What kind of situation?"

"We're working with a few agencies to bring down a big drug ring. Turns out that's not all they're into. Human trafficking of women, young boys, and young girls. You know who they usually go to."

"Sex traffickers," his mother snapped, "Do you need any additional help?"

"I think we'll have the mission covered, but I'd feel better having more people to guard those left behind. Gunnar just had twins with his fiancee, Toll's Connie won't leave her, and my Ava has someone after her. This mission is to put a stop to a guy that hurt her."

"Hurt her?" she asked worried.

"He cheated on her, beat her, and ended up making her miscarry a baby they didn't know she was carrying," he said more sternly than he normally would to his mother.

"Ex?"

"Yeah," he said sliding a hand over his face.

He sighed heavily, "I think having an ex spy guarding her would make me feel loads better."

She beamed from her side of the phone and he could practically feel it, "Well, did you ever finish that house of yours?"

He groaned, "Not all of it."

"You probably don't want me in the house while you dirty the sheets anyhow," she mused cheekily.

He groaned again, "Mum!"

She laughed and shook her head at how easy it was to rile up her boy, "I have no problems sleeping on a couch, just find me a place to stay and I will text you my flight information. I'll take the next available one if possible."

"Thanks mum."

"Anything for my boy, Love you."

"I love you too mum."

He hung up and stared at the kitchen wall. He shook his head and chuckled. At least his mother had forewarning of his engagement now. He was tempted not to tell Barney she was coming before deciding that was just too mean. He shot a text to Barney so he didn't have to stop what he was in the middle of.

He found himself sitting next to Ava again, this time with a folder in his lap. He heard Barney cuss and chuckled as he realized he was looking at his phone. Everyone looked at Barney curious, but he only glared at Lee who chuckled louder. Ava tilted her head in confusion before shaking it off. If it was important, Lee would tell her.