Chapter 51

So sorry for the delay. Sometimes life just gets in the way lol. Anyways, SEAL Team is back on set filming for season 5! Waiting on any behind the scenes hints to come out! Last season we literally paid attention to whether they had beards or not lol. Keeping my fingers crossed still that we see Mandy and Blackburn back. It's interesting that the first general promo they put out was based on Jason and it featured Mandy and her voiceover. Dare, I hope? Anyways, continuing on with this story, I think it's time for the party to start on the second half of this Jandy vacation, don't you? Enjoy!

It was Friday evening, Emma and Mandy were in the living room going through numerous shopping bags. They'd gone to the spa that afternoon and had a relaxing girl's day before Mandy took Emma to shop til they dropped.

"Seriously Mandy, this is too much," Emma argued.

"Don't worry about it," Mandy said exasperated. "I was thinking we should talk to your Dad about you staying here if you want. We don't use this place all the time. Plus, maybe it'd give your Dad and I some piece of mind that you're safe here."

"Are you serious right now?" Emma asked shocked.

"Yeah, why not? Like I said, we should talk to your Dad though. There would be some ground rules too like no house parties."

"I don't know what to say. It's still too much."

Mandy got up to stand in front of Emma, "Deep breath. I want to do this okay. All of this is nothing and my parents would agree with me. Plus, I had to take you shopping to get ready for Nashville. A girl can never have enough boots."

Emma laughed with Mandy as well and they continued on going through their stuff. Mandy had picked out some things for Jason and Mikey as well. They were due back soon as well. Mandy figured they'd have dinner at home and relax before going off to bed. They needed to get to the airport in the morning to head to Nashville. Just as Mandy thought about Jason and Mikey, the door opened, and the dogs were rushing to great their return.

"How was the game?" Mandy smiled as she sat in the middle of shopping bags across the floor.

"Awesome! Phillies won too!" Mikey exclaimed.

"Yeah," Jason smiled then looked around the living room. "Wow, what is all this?"

"Shopping of course," Mandy replied as Jason leaned down to kiss her.

"Did you buy out the whole store?" Jason asked wide eyed.

"No, just wanted to get a few things for all of us," Mandy shrugged.

"All of us?"

"Well, I had to get you some cowboy stuff for Nashville," Mandy smirked.

"Thought I was already a cowboy," Jason flirted as he sat down next to her and leaned in close.

"I have no doubt you'll pull off the cowboy look if your dress blues are anything. Though the regular camo you wear while on base is pretty good too. I gotta fight all the ladies off you," Mandy flirted back.

"Well, I've only got eyes for one lady in this world," Jason replied back leaning in for another kiss.

"You guys are nauseating," Emma groaned from across the room. Though she was happy to see her Dad happy with Mandy this way.

"You just wait until you meet a guy," Mandy said with a look.

"What guy? There will be no guys," Jason jumped in protectively.

"Dad!" Emma exclaimed as Mandy chuckled.

"No dating until you thirty. Maybe," Jason added on as Mandy slapped his arm. "What? I'm serious."

"Don't worry Emma, I'm on your side. I'm a SEAL's daughter. I'm sure you've gotten the 'I'll send the team for you' as well," Mandy said.

"Oh yes, I've definitely gotten that one," Emma rolled her eyes and Jason shook his head at being ganged up on again.

"I swear you're turning my kids against me," Jason joked.

"Well, I do get paid to interrogate people and make them talk. I'm very persuasive," Mandy said with pointed stare at Jason.

"Oh, I know," Jason replied with a stare of his own.

"What's for dinner? I'm starving," Mikey interrupted.

"What are you guys in the mood for?" Mandy asked as she put stuff back into bags so she could pack it for the trip. "Mexican?"

"Bet it isn't as good as our taco truck," Jason said.

"Pretty close though. Tell me what you want, and I'll order. Make sure you're packed and ready for tomorrow," Mandy replied.

Mikey wrote down what he wanted then rushed up to his room to pack. Sarge followed him while Gunner stayed back and laid down by Emma who was petting him.

"I was thinking maybe this coming fall to get my own place out here," Emma stated. "I was wondering though if maybe during the summer I could come back to you guys and hang out some."

"If that's what you want, you can stay with us," Jason replied immediately.

"My offer to stay here in the future still stands as well," Mandy added in. "Speaking of Virginia Beach, I gotta find a new place."

"What do you mean you have to find a new place?" Emma asked confused.

"My lease was up while we were deployed so I just moved out and put stuff at my parents or in storage," Mandy responded.

"I said you could stay with me," Jason said.

"I was just gonna move into the beach house in the meantime," Mandy replied. "No offense, but your place is kind of small. You guys are always welcome to come over."

"Or I could just move in with you," Jason suggested. "Look, we've practically lived together while deployed and since we got back home. The house has room for the kids too. What do you say?"

"If, you're sure. I guess I can put up with your snoring," Mandy smiled.

"I'm not the one that hogs the blankets, and I don't snore," Jason smiled back.

"I do not hog the blankets. I'm going to order dinner," Mandy said getting up from the floor and heading towards the kitchen.

After watching her Dad watch Mandy, Emma spoke, "I like her. She's good for you."

"Yeah?" Jason said getting up to sit with her on the couch. "I like her a lot too."

"Do you love her?" Emma asked putting her head on his shoulder.

"Yeah, I guess I do," Jason answered. "Are you sure you're okay with all this? I know it's all so fast and a lot."

"You deserve to be happy Dad. That's all I want and by the looks of it you both are. She understands you in a way no one else does."

"I've done a lot of things on this job," Jason began. "Given up a lot to do the job as well and so has she. I loved your Mom and still do. I probably always will."

"But things changed," Emma said.

"Yeah, they did," Jason sighed putting his head on top of hers as they looked out the window into the city. "Maybe I did it all wrong but I'm getting a second chance here and I don't want to mess it up. You and Mikey are always going to come first though."

"Well, we like her. She's fun and grounds you. We won't let you mess this up."

"Some tough times are probably coming ahead," Jason warned.

"And we'll get through it as a family just like we always do," Emma replied as Jason squeezed her tight.

It was Saturday morning and Mandy was the first one up. Her alarm had gone off and she reached over to the nightstand to shut off her phone. As she tried to get out of bed, Jason's arms tightened around her, and he grumbled something. She chuckled and pried his arms from her to get out.

"Since when are you a morning person," Jason groaned. "Come back to bed."

"You can stay in bed but I'm getting up to make sure we're ready," Mandy replied.

Mandy felt giddy at the prospect of going to Nashville. It was a place she called home and it had been a while since she had visited. Her parents would be there as well as her best friend with her god daughter. A part of Mandy was excited to show Jason and the kids what she called home. It was a place she never had to pretend to be anything or anyone. She wanted to enjoy their last week of freedom from the job before things got intense.

Mandy showered and got ready for the day. She found her one of her favorite pair of dark blue skinny jeans and a black and red colored plaid shirt. She also found a pair of brown cowgirl boots in the closet and set them aside to put on later.

Once she was ready, she looked towards the bed at Jason. He was shirtless and laying on his back with a hand stretched out towards her side of the bed. Mandy walked over towards his side and sat down on the edge. She ran a hand through his hair causing him to lean into her hand and let out groan. He opened his eyes and soft brown eyes connected with her green eyes. Mandy leaned in to kiss him. It was these moments both of cherished because nothing else existed but them. These moments were unguarded, and everything stood still in peace.

"You should get up," Mandy said against Jason's lips.

"Just a few more minutes," Jason sighed bringing Mandy close.

They laid there for a few minutes, and everything was quiet. The two just simply enjoying one another's company. Mandy's excitement started coming back and she got up pulling Jason with her.

Jason pulled her in for another kiss as he sat up, "Never seen you this excited."

"Sorry, it's been a while since I've been home. On top of everyone being around to enjoy it together. I hope you and the kids will have fun," Mandy replied.

"I'm sure we'll have a blast. One week of no work left," Jason said putting a hand on her cheek.

"Yeah," Mandy sighed. "You sure about this whole moving in together thing?"

"Yes," Jason said confidently. "We're literally living together already, and I don't want to miss out on anything anymore. I told you once that my place wasn't home and that it was just a place, I rested my head. You're home now."

"So, you're just going to rest your head on me," Mandy joked.

"Yes," Jason answered. "And you can rest yours on me."

"No one told me Jason Hayes was such a romantic," Mandy smiled as Jason leaned in for another sweet kiss.

"Just for you, but don't tell anyone. Got a reputation to keep," Jason chuckled.

"Your secret is safe with me," Mandy replied.

"I know," Jason answered looking into her eyes with an intense trust.

Getting the kids going had been a little slow at first but they were on their way to the airport a couple hours later. Mandy told Jason where to go since they were flying private. They dropped off the rental car and headed for where the jet was. Both kids had one of the dogs on a leash as Mandy and Jason organized the luggage.

They walked up to the check in counter and Mandy gave her name. They went through with the process of all the boarding passes and were then led to where their plane was waiting. As they got closer, the plane came into view and the Hayes family was in awe.

"Woah," Mikey said seeing the plane.

"Just how loaded are you?" Emma asked as Jason turned to give her a look.

Mandy laughed, "Enough I probably don't have to worry about anything for a while."

"Ms. Ellis," a man coming down the stairs of the plane.

"Frank," Mandy greeted with a hug and smile. "Didn't realize we were flying with you."

"Heard you were finally on a vacation," Frank smiled. "And who do we have here?"

"This is Master Chief Jason Hayes and his kids Emma and Mikey," Mandy introduced. "Guys, this is Frank Johnson, former Air Force and our pilot today."

"Nice to meet you all. We're ready whenever you are," Frank said.

"Sounds good," Mandy replied.

"Nice to meet you too, Sir," Jason said shaking Frank's hand before boarding.

"Nice to see a gentleman. Mandy chose well," Frank said following behind.

"She chose me," Jason smiled as Frank laughed.

The kids were taking in the plane and luxury of it all. The dogs had a couple cages for them to sit in for takeoff. Mandy helped the kids get the dogs settled before moving over to where Jason was.

"Different from a C-17 cargo plane," Mandy commented as she sat down next to Jason.

"Yeah," Jason chuckled. "You work with us instead of living it up like this?"

"You guys keep it exciting," Mandy shrugged. "The luxury is nice once in a while. My parents and best friend always tell me to treat myself once in a while. Then again, in this line of work luxury is different for all of us."

"Very true," Jason agreed.

"And stop thinking I don't deserve to be with a guy like you," Mandy said seriously. "You should know me well enough to know I do what I want."

"Yes, you do," Jason smiled at her and leaned in to kiss her. "You know me too well."

"Yeah, I do," Mandy replied softly.

Just over a couple hours later they were getting ready to land in Nashville. During the flight the kids played around with different features of the plane. Mandy watched on in amusement. She remembered what it was like being introduced to a whole new lifestyle. The jet had been a good idea since they had the dogs with them as well.

"You look pretty cute in your country girl get up," Jason said leaning in towards Mandy as the plane descended.

"Just cute," Mandy flirted back.

"If the kids weren't here," Jason replied putting a hand on her thigh and looking at her with dark eyes.

"Easy there cowboy," Mandy replied. "I'm sure we'll have plenty of opportunities to join the mile high club in the future."

"I like your forward-thinking attitude," Jason smirked.

"Moving forward, it's what we're doing," Mandy said honestly.

"Moving forward," Jason said with another quick kiss.

The plane had landed and the door to the plane opened. Mandy and Jason helped with getting the dogs situated and grabbing their bags. Jason and the kids walked out first while Mandy hung back to thank the flight crew for the flight. Frank reminding her to not be a stranger.

Mandy stepped up to the top of the plane and paused looking out. She took a deep breath and felt at home. She started making her way down the stairs where Jason, Emma, and Mikey were waiting for her. Mandy led them to the vehicle waiting for them.

"Nice truck," Jason said admiring the red full cab Chevy Silverado waiting for them.

"Thank you," Mandy laughed. "And you do not get to drive."

"You sure you can handle it," Jason joked.

"I can handle you, can't I," Mandy smirked as Jason looked at her heatedly.

They settled in and Mandy started driving out of the airport. She fiddled with the radio to a country station. Jason Aldean's song Crazy Town had just started playing.

"Alright, we're gonna grab a bite for lunch and then we have somewhere to be," Mandy said driving.

"Sounds good. Where do we have to be?" Jason asked.

"You'll see," Mandy laughed looking at Jason. "Welcome to Nashville, y'all."

"Yee-haw," Emma and Mikey exclaimed in the backseat making everyone laugh.