Two weeks had passed since Caylee's funeral service, Hanson was still miserable but knew he couldn't keep hiding away in his the house to mourn his late fiance. It was October 2018 now, there was no school today so Hazel and Caleb were home with him while Steven was working since the trials were still going on for the robber who lived and Hanson just couldn't bring himself to go because his temper would get the better of him and he'd likely be thrown in lock up for the night. The time now was 4:00 am, his children were still asleep and Hanson needed to figure out what to do with his day. The children missed their mother, yes, but didn't want to just sit around like Hanson did. Slowly, Hanson had been putting Caylee's things away in boxes then storing them in the basement. Hanson also changed out the sheets, comforter, and pillow cases on his bed. Everything reminded him of Caylee and he felt maybe putting her things away might help him get past her death.

Hanson knew it wouldn't be an immediate thing; to just accept it and move on in life. Caylee and the kids were his life, and with Caylee gone, he didn't feel complete anymore and that there was an emptiness within him. Hanson knew time would make things easier to go on without her but right now, it hurt a lot and he didn't like the way it felt. Hanson didn't have much of an appetite, and he couldn't sleep more than four hours a night. Maybe he could go back to work, maybe it would keep his mind off things. That wasn't to say work could make him forget about Caylee or the fact she was killed, but at least he wouldn't be sitting at home sulking in sorrow knowing full well that it wasn't going to bring her back from the dead. Hanson looked at the clock; 4:11 A.

'I can't just mope around forever, Cay wouldn't want that, I know she wouldn't. Well, Hanson, it's time to be a man and continue living life. You have to learn to live without her and know she's guiding you,' Hanson thought as he pulled the covers off himself and got out of bed. Yes. Today he would go back the base with the kids and start getting himself back into the swing of how things were when Caylee was alive. Getting up, taking a run in the morning, doing a few situps and pushups, taking a shower, eating breakfast, going to work, and much more to follow that routine. Hanson just had to get used to the fact he wouldn't come home to Caylee making dinner, or greeting him with a hug and kiss. It wouldn't be easy, but he knew it had to be done.

Hanson went his his top drawer and pulled out his jogging gear, then slipped on his sneakers after changing. Hanson got his cell phone, wallet, and keys stuffed into his pockets as he left the house after leaving a note saying he would be back by 4:45 am. Hanson starter in a slow jog down the road, hoping the cold October morning air would relax him a little and help clear his mind.

(5 am)

Hanson ended up stopping at the gas station for a bottle of water on his way back home because he felt winded and truth be told, he was a little out of shape since the last month since Caylee's death, he hadn't done any exercising. Getting in the door he saw his father sitting sitting in his chair with a mug of coffee and the paper, an empty plate that held some leftover eggs and toast on it.

"Morning, son," Steven greeted him.

"Hi, Dad," Hanson replied as he placed his keys and wallet down on the table by the door.

"Decided to go running?" Steven inquired as he folded up his paper and placed it down to sip from his mug.

"Yeah, about to go shower. Caleb and Hazel still sleeping?" Hanson asked.

"They usually get up around 6:30 am as I'm leaving for work. What will be your plans for the day?" Steven looked at him now knowing that Hanson had barely left the house at all in two weeks since the funeral.

"I thought I might drop by the base today, start getting back to work and take the kids with me since they don't have school today," Hanson answered as Steven held a look of surprise on his face to his son's response. "I know I can't just keep sitting around the house; Cay wouldn't want me to stop living my life because she's gone. She would probably kick my ass, so I'm going get back to living days as I did when she was alive," he added.

"I'm very proud of you for saying that, Hanson. I know it's hard to get up each day knowing she's gone, but she's always with you in here," Steven said motioning to Hanson's heart, "Just as your mother is always with me," he smiled with a hand on his heart now.

"I'll remember that, Dad. I'm going to go catch a shower and make breakfast," Hanson smiled a little as Steven nodded and then Hanson went to his room, to get a change of clothes before stepping into the master bathroom in his bedroom to shower.

(5:30 am)

Hanson took a twenty minute shower, then shaved his face before getting dressed in his operational ACU. After he looked at himself in the mirror, he took a deep breath to exit his room and walk down the hall to the kitchen to make himself something for breakfast. Hanson knew Caleb and Hazel would just have a glass or orange juice and bowl of cereal as they always did. Hanson made himself some eggs, two sausage links, and an English muffin with butter. When the food was done, he sat down at the table and began to eat while thinking about how today was going to go. Hanson knew without a doubt, he would shock his friends to see him again after two weeks of basically disappearing even though they knew where he was and he'd just asked to be alone when the after party had ended.

What Hanson also knew today was Friday, drill weekend. It would be a good time for him to return and start catching up on work and he knew the kids would love to go, they always did. Hanson had a place in his office for them to play for the times he had to take them with him to work. Hazel and Caleb were always safe there so what harm would it do to bring them alone with him. The school was closed anyway, and he didn't have a baby sitter. As the time passed, it was soon 6:15 am, and the children made their way into the kitchen.

"Morning kids," Hanson said to them as he got up from his seat to get two bowls, their favorite cereal, the milk, and two spoons.

"Hi, Daddy," Hazel replied as Hanson hugged them both and kissed their foreheads then began preparing their breakfast.

"Are we staying home today?" Caleb inquired.

"No, we aren't. I thought today we might go to the base and see Uncle Thatch, Vin, Rick, and Auntie El." Hanson replied gently.

"Can we really?!" both children asked quickly, Hanson laughed a little and nodded to them. "YAY!" they cheered excitedly.

"Eat first, then showers, change clothes, and we can go." Hanson informed as the kids nodded to him in reply as he finished getting their breakfast set up. Hanson smiled, well, so far everything was working out in his favor with being okay.

(Fort Riddari; 12 pm)

Hanson got slightly behind with leaving when he wanted to because Steven needed help getting his car to work and that was something Hanson was good at fixing. Hanson had his father supervise Hazel's and Caleb's showers and getting dressed while he worked on the car which took almost three hours to fix between getting parts and actual fixing. After this father left for work at 11:45 am, Hanson got the kids loaded up and they headed to Fort Riddari with the dragons flying over the truck. Showing his badge to the guard, Hanson was let in right away as he went to his spot and the dragons went to their stables to eat as Hanson parked the truck and shut it off. Here came a long day of questions if he was okay and how he was holding up. If nothing else, he knew his friends cared about him.

"Where is everyone, Daddy?" Hazel asked.

"It's 12:30 pm now, they must be in the chow hall," Hanson replied looking towards it, he held his children's hands and led them over with himself to the building where everyone was eating. Reaching the door, he took a deep breath and pulled it open, then walked in with the kids as the room fell almost silent with all eyes on him. 'And so it begins,' he sighed heavily.

"Ha-Hanson?" Aubree asked.

"I do hope a month has not caused you to forget how to address me, Corporal Hofferson," Hanson remarked as she bit her bottom lip. "Relax, you're not in trouble," he added.

"Not that we're not thrilled to see you but what are you doing here?" Thatcher asked first as he got up and offered a salute.

"I told you I needed time to sit with things. I'm still not great but, I know Cay wouldn't want me just to stop living my life," Hanson admitted softly. "So here I am," he shrugged.

"Caylee would be proud of you, Hanson. Is there anything we can do for you to help at all?" Ella inquired.

"No, still just going to take time. One long day at a time," Hanson told them. "It's only been a month after all," he added.

"Of course, it will take more than thirty days to heal from such a loss." Vincent smiled some, "And we're all here for you," he added.

"I appreciate that. Well kids, let's get some lunch and start the day. Or at least the second half of it," Hanson smiled to the children as they cheered while heading to get some food for themselves, after that they sat down at the table to eat and enjoy time with friends. This day was turning out alright for him, maybe healing would be a little easier now that he was staying focused and went about his life.

(4:45 pm)

Hanson just finished the last of papers and folders to go through for the day; he was catching up slowly. Thankfully, Aiden and Gregory kept it all organized for him and did what they could, but something required Hanson's approval and signature.

"Hazel, Caleb. Time to get to the chow hall for dinner and then we can go home and meet Papa there," Hanson told them.

"Yes, Daddy," the two children replied as they put away their toys quickly and stood with him and then walked outside only for Hanson to come face to face with his father, and standing with his Dad was a woman wearing a navy blue suit.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Hanson asked. Before Steven could say anything, the woman stepped ahead of him and reached for Caleb's hand. "Hey, hey. Hands off my son," he said protectively while moving his kids behind him. "What is going on?"

"Hanson. This woman is from Archi Child Services, and she is here to take Caleb," Steven said slowly.

Hanson's eyes widened. "What?! No! Hell no! Caleb is my son; she isn't taking him!" Hanson yelled. It was now that the training groups were returning but seeing the scene before them, they knew something bad was about to happen.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Haddock. Unfortunately, Caleb Bog is not your biological son and your father already informed me that the adoption you were going to do after your marriage to Caleb's mother was not completed because she tragically passed away last month. The laws say that you cannot keep him, he has to go to the next family member." the woman from child services said now.

"There is no other family to take him. Caylee's parents and grandparents are dead, and there were no siblings or aunts and uncles. That's why she moved in with my Dad and me at sixteen years old," Hanson argued. No, he couldn't lose Caleb.

"Caleb's biological father is still alive, and I'm aware he was imprisoned, but he is now out and wants his son. Now, due to the circumstances of his arrest and prison time, he might not be awarded custody, but he is fighting for his rights in court. I don't want to take the boy from you, Mr. Haddock. But I have orders to follow too, for the time being...Caleb will be placed in a foster home until the hearings are over, then he will be either living with his father or remaining in foster care and if he can't be placed there...the orphanage," the woman told him.

"No. Please no, I just lost my fiance...don't take my son too. I've been in his life since he was three months old, I'm the only father he knows. And he has a little sister; you can't take him from his family!" Hanson pleaded. This couldn't be happening to him; he didn't know what he would do if he lost Caleb.

"The girl with you, Caleb and her are siblings?" the woman inquired.

"Yes. This is mine and Caylee Bog's daughter, Hazel, born February 2012. Hazel and Caleb are half siblings; you can't just separate them. Please, there has to be another way. The biological father can't have Caleb; I'll do anything to keep my son." Hanson said with worried eyes.

"I was unaware of this. Hanson was your name?" the woman asked, Hanson, nodded to her. "There may be a chance you can be awarded custody by a judge. Just like the biological father, you will have to fight for him and prove you have a stable, safe life to care for the boy. The first court hearing is being held on Tuesday at 10 am, if you want a chance to win custody, be there. I would get a lawyer too. Unfortunately, the minor child Caleb Bog will have to come with me today and remain in foster care until custody is awarded to someone," she said reaching for Caleb again.

"Daddy! Don't let her take me, please!" Caleb pleaded clutching Hanson's arm. It broke the hearts of anyone watching.

"I'm sorry sweetie, you have to come with me now," the woman took his arm and tried to pull Caleb again.

"And you, back off. At least let me say goodbye to him," he said sadly. The woman sighed as she released Caleb and stepped back a few times.

"Daddy, you're...not going to let her take me away, a-are you?" Caleb asked with tears in his eyes as he hugged Hanson tightly, refusing to let go.

Hanson pulled back, tears in his own eyes as he crouched down and wiped Caleb's eyes, trying to smile. "Caleb, listen to me very carefully okay?" Caleb nodded to him sadly, "I wish I didn't have to let her take you, but I don't have a choice if I want to get you back,"

"Do you promised I'll get to come back home to Papa, Sissy, and you?" Caleb sobbed.

"I swear it on my life son. I promise that I will get you back and you'll be home soon. You have to trust me, do you believe Daddy?" Hanson asked.

"Come on now, give me a big hug," he opened his arms to his son as Caleb hugged him tightly.

"I love you, Daddy," Caleb cried.

"I love you too, son," Hanson replied trying to fight back the tears.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Haddock. Time is up, I have to take him," the woman said as she took Caleb's arms and pulled him from Hanson's hug and Caleb began struggling.

"Daddy! Please, I don't want to leave! I want to go home with you and sissy! Don't let her take me!" Caleb begged as he was pulled away farther and farther. Hanson went to go after him, but Steven held him back.

"Let me go, Dad! Caleb needs me!" Hanson pleaded trying to get to his son.

"Daddy! Help me!" Caleb screamed.

"Hanson, don't! You'll only make it worse; we'll get him back. I swear we will!" Steven continued to restrain him.

"DADDY!" Caleb yelled as loud as he could as the car door was shut and the worker drove off and out of sight. Hanson couldn't believe this! First, he loses his fiance and now his son!? Hanson broke out of his father's grip panting heavily. Finally, he just couldn't take it anymore. Hanson fell to his knees and slammed his fists into the ground, crying hard. It hurt the others to watch, Hanson couldn't catch a break. All they knew now was that Hanson had to fight in court to get his son back and they were going to be there with him. Unfortunately, no amount of anything right now would erase the pain that he just had to watch his son be taken right from his arms.