Just a one-shot in honor of Mother's Day, and of course, Mike-centric.
Mother's Day
"Thank you so much for watching him, Sir. With Danny out of town, and Mom working I didn't have anyone else to call." Kara explained as she made sure everything was ready in Frankie's backpack.
"Its alright. I've been looking forward to it. Did you remember his swim trunks?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, they are in there. Frankie, you behave for Mr. Mike. I'll be back by six." Kara said as she gave Frankie's cheek a kiss. Mike could tell it bothered the six-year-old.
"We will have lots of fun, won't we Frankie?" Mike asked and the little boy nodded solemnly. Mike watched him for Kara or Danny every couple weeks, more to give him something he enjoyed. It always made him miss his kids, but it was a breath of fresh air.
"Have a good time and remember Frankie, behave." Kara said before leaving.
"What do you want to do first? Did Mom give you breakfast?" Mike asked.
"Yeah." Frankie said.
"So, what next?" Mike asked.
"'morrow is Mother's Day and I don't have nothing for her." Frankie told Mike.
"Ah. So, a trip to the store. C'mon." Mike said as he grabbed his keys, wallet and cellphone. He helped Frankie up into the truck and drove to the nearby store. Remembering how Christine had always loved the handmade cards and crafts the kids had made her, he found construction paper, markers, glue and glitter. They also got yarn and a bag of noodles to make Kara a necklace.
After getting Frankie the items and a bouquet of fresh flowers, Mike drove them back to his house. He had to help Frankie construct the card and they were quickly a sticky mess. Mike was certain his fingers got glued together. He fixed Frankie a lunch of mac and cheese and chicken nuggets and discussed swimming lessons and soccer.
"Do I give my presents to Mom tonight?" Frankie asked.
"How about this, I bring them to your house in the morning?" Mike suggested as he put sunscreen on Frankie so they could swim.
"That will be nice." Frankie said happily. Mike took him out and they worked on Frankie's swimming techniques. By mid-afternoon, Frankie was getting fussy, so after a fast bath, Mike settled him on the couch for a nap. It gave him time to clean the mess of a kitchen up, stow the gifts away and fix supper.
Having Frankie always kept him busy. It was only afterwards that he had time to miss his own kids. They would be nineteen, fifteen and thirteen now, and would probably want nothing to do with their parents. Kaitlyn would be going to college, Hannah would be learning to drive and Lucas would be tormenting his sisters. There were so many unknowns.
Mike had never gotten confirmation of Christine, Kaitlyn and Hannah's deaths. He had simply accepted that he was going to die a lonely old man. After the Nathan James sunk, Mike stayed on for awhile to see that the Navy was being rebuilt, bought a house and retired. He volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, redoing abandoned houses for homeless families, remodeled his own house, watched Frankie and kept in touch with other Nathan James crew. He and Tom went on a fishing trip every six months and he frequently met Russ for lunch.
Frankie slept until almost five, and ate all of the dinner Mike made. Kara had texted Mike that she was running a bit late but would be there soon, so Mike put a movie in and watched it with Frankie. He was exhausted and wondering why he hadn't taken a nap when Frankie took his.
Finally, Kara pulled in at a little after seven. Mike had gotten busy getting Frankie's clothes and toys collected and didn't notice she wasn't alone. It wasn't until he opened the door for her and Christine was standing on the other side.
"Perhaps I should do some explaining." Kara said as she ushered Christine, Hannah and Kaitlyn inside.
"She found us. We had holed up, thinking you had died. When I did finally realize you were alive, there was no way of finding you or reaching you. I was able to get in touch with Captain Greene and she helped. She arranged everything." Christine explained.
"Sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I wanted to but we also wanted it be a surprise." Kara commented. Mike was too stunned for words. He had opened and closed his mouth several times. Finally, Hannah jumped into his arms. Mike couldn't describe the feeling he had holding her and then Kaitlyn and finally Christine.
"Thank you so much." Mike told Kara as he cried into Christine's hair. The girls were looking around the house.
"There's something else, Mike…I was pregnant. I didn't want you to worry about us and I knew you would. I gave birth to Sophie and MJ with only Kaitlyn and Hannah to help me." Christine explained. She had pulled back so Mike could see them as soon as Kara led the two kids in. They had been waiting outside with Debbie.
"Momma, he's got a pool!" MJ said, seeing the pool through the windows.
"I'll leave you all. Frankie?" Kara said. Frankie gave Mike a look and pulled on his hand. Mike bent down so Frankie could whisper in his ear.
"How are we going to get the presents to Mom?" Frankie asked.
"I'll bring them over in the morning. Don't worry." Mike promised and Frankie nodded.
"Our bags are on the porch." Kaitlyn said.
"I'll grab them." Mike said. He held the door open for Kara and grabbed the three suitcases. He was going to be spoiling his kids and wife.
"Kara told us you had a pool and the kids love to swim. We've got swim gear." Christine told him.
"Good. Kids? Kaitlyn will you help them?" Mike asked. He walked her towards one of the bedrooms and bathrooms. Hannah had also followed and he put the girls to helping their younger siblings before rejoining Christine.
"I hope this isn't too disappointing?" Christine asked.
"I'm thrilled. Just overwhelmed. There's so much to think about. Sleeping arrangements, you guys need things and…" Mike started, until Christine put a finger on his lips.
"We will manage. Don't spoil something so good. Trust me, we've lived in worse. If the kids have to share a bed or something, its not the end of the world. As for me, I hope you and I can have some privacy." Christine said.
"Yeah. I have a bedroom with two twin beds, one with a double and then another two I haven't decorated and then my own, of course. The bedrooms were going to my next project. I had gotten the kitchen, dining room, living room and bathrooms put right, but not the bedrooms. Of course, it may not be how you like." Mike remarked, remembering how particular Christine was.
"It looks good to me." Christine remarked. She pulled him in for another hug and gave him a long kiss.
"Some Mother's Day for you." Mike joked.
"Best present ever. Everything will be alright, Mike. Stop worrying so much. Sophie and MJ have been looking forward to meeting you, and the girls have been dreaming of this for years. Everything else will work out." Christine said before giving him another kiss. Just then the kids all came out, wanting to swim. Mike and Christine went in and changed into their own swim gear and rejoined the kids outside.
Sophie and MJ were absolute joys and Mike loved to hear them giggling. MJ reminded him a bit of Lucas, but had darker coloring, and Sophie was all him, with reddish-brown curls that never stayed in her pigtails, big blue eyes and dimples. They had Mike under their spell in no time.
It would take a bit more to get to know Kaitlyn and Hannah again, but they were thrilled to be reunited again. Kaitlyn was a bit more solemn, and Hannah had always been very outgoing.
For all of the troubles with Christine before, things seemed really good with her. They talked,laughed, and kissed. She was thrilled that he was retired and was excited to finish the house with him. It wasn't Father's Day, but for Mike it might as well have been, as happy as he was.