Author note:

A little filler fluff chapter to set us up for holiday. (There is a method to my madness.) Thanks for the reviews. I really appreciate them!

CH 25-Family Ties

Clay woke up to the sound of Emma's alarm. He reached over top of her to grab her phone from the nightstand and hit snooze. She was slowly waking up.

"You are home" she said groggily. "I thought I might have been dreaming." She turned to face him.

"Nope. I'm home."

"Everyone okay?"

"Yep. No injuries at all on this one."

"Good!" She slid her hands up his back and pressed her body to his. He tipped his head down and their mouths met. Just as she slipped her leg between his and felt his hands on her ass, her alarm went off again.

"Ugh! Damn it! I have classes today. It's my last exam before the break."

"Then you better get going and hop in the shower."

Emma climbed out of bed reluctantly and pulled some clean clothes from the drawer and went into the bathroom.

Even working on only four hours of sleep, Clay got up and slipped on some pants and a shirt. He went to the kitchen to get some coffee going. While he was in there, he looked through the fridge hoping there was something edible for her. He saw that she had some yogurt and grabbed her a banana that didn't look too far past its prime. He heard the shower turn off and the bathroom door open. He fixed a couple mugs of coffee and took one to her in the bedroom.

"Clay, why aren't you still sleeping? You must be exhausted."

He took a drink of coffee. "Cause I'm gonna drive you to school."

"You need to rest."

"I will when I get home." Emma stepped over and leaned into him.

"How will I get home?" He kissed her head and wrapped and arm around her.

"I'll pick you up sweetheart. I don't have to report back to base until tomorrow."

"I'd love that." She stretched on her tip toes and kissed him on the cheek.

"Go on, get something to eat. I'll clean up a little and then we can go."

Emma walked out to the table and saw the food he set out for her. She sat down and pulled out her Anatomy book to study a bit more as she ate. After about fifteen minutes, Clay joined her. He had put on some shoes and a hat. He still looked a little fuzzy for want of sleep.

"You ready, Em?"

She threw away her trash and shoved her book back into her bag. "Ready."

He grabbed her coat off the hook and helped her into it and then put on his own jacket.

It didn't take long to arrive at her school. Before she hopped out, she leaned over and gave him a kiss.

"Thanks for the ride honey. Now go home and get some sleep."

"I will. See you about 2:30." After she got out and started walking toward the entrance, she heard him call her name. "Emmie…Em, kick some ass on that exam today babe." She hurried back over to his truck and stepped up on the running board by his window. He leaned out and gave her a smacking kiss.

"For luck."

"Thanks," she said as she stepped down. "Love you."

"Love you honey." He pulled away and she walked into the school with a big smile on her face.

Clay did as he said and went back home to get some rest. He woke a little before lunch. He decided to shower first and then figure out what to do about food. After he showered, he managed to pull together something to eat. As he sat on the couch eating, his phone pinged with a text.

-Hey, you up yet? -

-Yea babe. What's up? How was your exam? -

-Good. Just bored now. What r u doing? -

-Lunch-

-Sorry not much food there. I didn't know you'd be home-

-No worries-

-Gotta go. Lunch over. Ugh! 2 more classes-

-Hang in there honey. See you soon-

The couple hours dragged for both of them. Finally, he pulled into the parking lot and waited for Emma to appear. He didn't have to wait long. About five minutes after classes were over, he saw her walking toward him, talking to Hannah. She opened the door and climbed in.

They went by his apartment first for her to get her stuff. Then they drove to her house. As soon as they got out of the car, they could smell the scent of cookies that had drifted out into the yard.

"Mmmm. Grandma is baking."

The two walked in the Emma headed straight to the kitchen.

"Hi Grandma."

"Hi sweetie. You all done with school for Christmas now?"

"Yep." She looked around for Clay. He was till standing in the living room. She motioned for him to join her.

"Grandma, this is Clay."

"Clay, my Grandma, Linda Hayes."

Clay held out his hand politely. "Nice to meet you Mrs. Hayes."

Linda bypassed his hand and reached to hug him. "It's Linda, or Grandma."

Clay returned her hug and smiled. "Ok, Linda, it's good to meet you. Those cookies sure smell delicious. Now I know where Emma got her skills in the kitchen."

"Hey," interrupted Jason. "No one is ruining their appetite with cookies when I have these steaks to grill. Grab me a beer, will ya?" Clay got a couple beers out of the fridge. "You staying for dinner?"

"Uh, yea. If it's okay."

"Sure. Actually, you can lend me a hand. Mom said the dryer is on the fritz. Let's see if we can figure it out." The two men disappeared into the mud room.

Emma helped her grandmother with the rest of the cookies until it was time to prep for dinner. She got the salad ready while her grandma put the finishing touches on her mac-n-cheese. Linda spoke as they worked.

"He's even cuter in person Emmie." Emma grinned.

Jason finished up grilling the steaks and they all gathered at the table. Talk turned to plans for Christmas. There was some discussion about the sleeping arrangements with Linda there. Before, Emma had always moved in with Mikey and slept in his bottom bunk. Neither one of them had that inclination now. Jason offered to sleep on the couch, but Linda wouldn't hear of it.

"How about I stay with Clay? Then no one has to move."

Clay was all in favor, but he said nothing. He didn't want to get in the middle of things. Jason thought about it for a minute. He knew that Emma would most likely be spending most of her time there anyway.

"Yea, I guess. It makes sense. Mom, you can just keep your stuff in Emma's room."

Emma reached under the table and squeezed Clay's hand. He tried not to smile too much. Clay usually got bored when Bravo was on the ground. But now he had never hoped so much that they wouldn't get spun up.

After dinner the cookies were brought out as they all settled in front of the TV for a Christmas movie.

When Jason got up to get another beer, Linda followed him into the kitchen.

"So…Clay and Emma…it seems serious."

"It is. I have no doubts that if Em was older, there'd already be a ring on her finger."

"And you're okay with that?"

"It took me a while, and…" he laughed, "and getting read the riot act by Emma. But yea. Clay's a good man. He loves her Mom."

"That I can see."

Clay and Emma heard whispering coming from the kitchen.

"Do you think your Grandma is okay with us?" It was important to him not to come between her and her family.

"She'll be fine. If dads accepted us, she will too."

Soon the movie was over, and Clay and Emma decided to call it a night. She went up to her room to gather some things. She had clothes at Clay's, but not two weeks worth. She came back down and he took her bag to carry it out for her.

Emma hugged her dad and then her grandma. Jason nodded at Clay. "See you tomorrow, oh eight hundred."

Linda then stepped over to give Clay a hug. As he bent to return her embrace, she whispered in his ear.

"Thank you for making my granddaughter so happy. You keep taking care of her."

Clay smiled. "I'm gonna do my best." He kissed her on her cheek and turned to follow Emma.

"What was that all about" she asked as they got to the truck.

He winked at her and replied, "That's between your grandma and me."