Author's Note: So sorry about the huge hiatus! Good news, we are all healthy again! Last week my poor son picked up Influenza A. He was so sick and miserable (though he never complained because he's a champ) and then he gave it to me. I complained lol We had a very rough couple of days and then aftermath (the dizziness from simply just being upright was insane!) but he's better and I'm ninety percent better now so I figured I could get this moving again! I'm also going to try and work on Humpty Dumpty. But no promises on speed of updates as Christmas time approaches (the kids are off school starting mid next week so we will see on free time 😊 ) But for now here is another chapter of this one! Happy reading, dark rolling sea.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

The next morning, Sasha said her goodbyes. Tom had begged her to stay but she had told him it wasn't time yet. She promised to keep in touch as long as he continued to get help. By lunch time Tom was moping and Mike was worried about him. Ginny was home for the day and Mike had told her he wanted to hang with Tom for a while. She understood what he needed to do.

As he sat in his old apartment on the couch, he studied his friend. Tom had a session with the therapist tomorrow. Mike wondered if Tom had given up. Tom finally looked up at him.

"What?" he asked defensively.

"Nothing, just…thinking."

"Yeah. Makes two of us."

"She says you're quick to anger, and it's…scary."

"I…I guess she's right. I get angry. I don't mean too."

"Talk to the therapist about this."

"I do. She's going to leave me. She's going to take the baby and raise it without me. Because I'm so damn broken."

"Fix. It." Mike ground out. Tom looked over at him.

"Maybe it's not fixable, Mike."

"That way of thinking…makes it unfixable. You have to believe that you can fix it. And only you. Understand that. The therapist? They help you find the path but only you can follow that path and actually fix it. Get it?"

"Yeah," Tom nodded.

"Are you still up to watch the boys tonight?" Mike asked. Tom looked at him.

"Tonight, the night?" Tom asked quietly.

"I think so. I have a ring. I just need to ask."

"I'll watch the boys tonight."

"Thanks."

Later that night Mike sat in the restaurant with Ginny. They had finished their meal and were sitting talking. Mike probed the subject gently about permanently becoming the boys' father. Ginny was open and seemed excited about the idea. It took some of the nerves off for Mike. His fingers fiddled with the ring box.

They went for a walk once they left the restaurant. Ginny seemed a little suspicious but didn't say anything. Mike was a little lost in his own head, trying to work his nerves down. He didn't want to screw this up. Finally they came to a bench in a park and sat down.

"What's on your mind tonight, Mike?" Ginny asked quietly. Her hand settled on his shoulder. Mike stared at the starry night for a long moment then his fingers gripped the ring box in his pocket. He pulled it out. Turning towards her, he slipped down to one knee. He watched her eyes go wide. He held the box, open, to her.

"I've been thinking about this for a bit. And I see a bright future for us…all of us. I know you feel it too. Virginia Rose, will you marry me?"

"Mike," she said in a watery voice as her eyes grew shiny. Mike held the ring. She slowly started to nod. "Yes." He smiled and slid the ring onto her finger, but he didn't get up. She looked at him, he licked his lips.

"Would you allow me the honor of adopting your boys to be my own?" Mike continued, his voice quivering a little. He took a deep breath. He watched her smile widely and her head nod slowly, as tears slipped from her eyes.

"Yes, Mike, yes," she said as she leaned down and wrapped her arms around his neck. He reached out and wrapped his arms around her as she collapsed into him. They held each other for a long moment then Ginny pulled back and captured his lips with her own. The kiss was sweet and loving and Mike felt his world was coming together.

"I love you," he whispered as the kiss broke and Ginny's face split into a broad smile.

"I love you, too."

"I'm not sure what we have to do about adopting the boys."

"We'll have to check into that tomorrow I suppose."

"We can check with the courts."

Mike leaned down and kissed her slow, sensual, and lazily. Ginny reciprocated. They finally broke for air and Mike leaned his forehead against hers. He stared into her eyes and smiled. He was going to be a husband and father again.

The next day while Mike waited for Tom to get done at his therapy session he made his way to the court house that served their area. He approached the front desk, with Wyatt on his hip. His nerves were a little bundled and he sucked in a deep breath.

"Good afternoon. My name is Erica, how may I help you today?" the woman sitting behind the desk asked. Mike returned her smile.

"I'm here gathering information."

"Okay, on what can I help with?"

"I just got engaged and I want to be able to adopt her boys. Neither one's father is in the picture. What exactly would we have to do to be able for me to adopt them legally?"

"Well, first we'd have to make sure that neither father was in the picture. So either proof of that, or you'd have to run an advertisement in the local paper for one month. If no one steps up to claim the boys, then it's a matter of filing paperwork with this office."

"So, what would be proof that they aren't around?"

"I mean what are we talking? Are they dead? Or just not around?"

"The older boy's father is dead. He died during the pandemic."

"Did the mother ever receive a death confirmation?"

"Possibly. He was army. I'll have to check with her."

"Okay, if she has that then we can easily make that transition. What about the younger one?"

"Different dad, different story. I'm afraid there's no proof of anything, even who he is."

"Then that's where the advertisement and waiting game comes in. Here are some forms to fill out, and one of them is the ad placement for the newspaper. Fill all the forms out, you said two boys?"

"Correct."

"Okay, fill out a set for each boy, bring in the death confirmation if you have it, if she has the birth certificates that will make things a lot smoother as well. Are you currently married?"

"No, but soon," Mike said.

"Okay. It'll be easier if you get married before you start the paperwork. So here," she said as she handed Mike a packet of papers, "get started on this, and once you're married, bring in that paperwork and this and we'll get things going."

"Okay, do you have the marriage paperwork?"

"Yes," she replied as she shifted to another folder and pulled out a sheet. This needs to be filled out then both of you need to come in and apply for the license together."

"Thank you," Mike said as he glanced through all the paperwork.

"You're welcome. Have a great day," she replied with a smile. Mike smiled back and took Wyatt back out to the truck. He was reading over the paperwork in the truck while Wyatt played on the seat next to him, when his phone started to buzz. He checked the screen and answered it.

"Hey, Ash, how are things?" Mike said.

"Going good," Ashley replied back to him. "Hey, Sammy and I were thinking we wanted to visit Dad. Do you think it's a good idea?"

"Absolutely!" Mike replied quickly. "He's in a place right now but seeing you guys would definitely brighten his spirit."

"A place? I thought he was doing good?" Ashley asked and Mike could hear the concern in her voice. Mike paused. How much should he reveal? It wasn't really his place.

"Uh, there was a…setback. But seeing you and Sammy could help him. When were you thinking?"

"This weekend," Ashley said, and Mike could still here that underlying concern in her voice. "What happened, Uncle Mike?"

"Look, it's something your dad needs to talk to you about," Mike replied quietly. He closed his eyes.

"Something happened," Ashley said in a rush. "Tell me. Is it Sasha?"

"Ash, I can't tell you the details. Look, it's not that I don't want to…it's just…I feel it's something your dad needs to say, and I think…"

"Okay, Uncle Mike. I can tell this is making you uncomfortable. Can you at least tell me everyone is, okay?"

"I mean yeah, everyone is…okay. Do you want to surprise your dad, or can I tell him? Because I don't know if I can keep a secret from him that long," Mike changed topics and then laughed.

"You can tell him. Does he have room for us, or do I need to get a hotel?"

"No hotel, kiddo. There's room. We'll make room."

"Okay, Uncle Mike. I'm excited. Dad said you have news too…said you were getting married?"

"Uh…yeah," Mike replied. "I actually proposed last night."

"That's amazing. Will we get to meet her this weekend?"

"Of course, and her boys too. I can't wait to see you guys this weekend."

"I'll text dad about it later today. I just wanted to make sure it was okay."

"Okay, see you in a few days," Mike replied with a smile. He tossed his phone down and smiled as he looked at the paperwork again. It wasn't long before Tom came out to the truck. His mood was somber and quiet, and Mike wasn't sure which kind of quiet it was going to be. With Wyatt secured in his seat again, Mike drove towards home.

"Things go, okay?" Mike asked.

"It's complicated," Tom mumbled. Mike's brow furrowed. He glanced quickly at Tom before returning his eyes to the road.

"Don't want to talk about it?"

"No," Tom sighed. Mike nodded. Tom's phone buzzed and he pulled it from his pocket. He worked it and then a small smile spread over his features. Mike licked at his lips.

"Good news?"

"Ashley," Tom replied as he started to type a response to the text. "Texted me her and Sammy want to visit this weekend."

"That's great," Mike said with a smile. Tom stopped typing and glanced at him, studying the side of his face. Mike didn't look at him.

"How long have you known?" Tom asked and Mike sighed.

"How the fuck did you know I knew?"

"Just a hunch," Tom said with a shrug. Then he laughed. Mike smiled.

"She just called me, right before you came out to the truck."

"Making sure I'm mentally sound enough to handle seeing my own kids?"

"Tom, it's not like…she just wanted to make sure it was okay."

"I know," Tom breathed out. He went back to typing his message and then hit send. "Friday," he said them beamed a smile as he leaned back into the seat of the truck. Mike smiled too.

To Be Continued…