I hope you enjoy this update and I hope I've managed to combine this to the start of Season 3. If you feel there's something lacking, my apologies.

Chapter 9

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It was a month after the Nathan James had left on its journey down the Mississippi, on their way to spread the cure. Solace was all manned and distributing the cure across Europe, USS Shackleton was currently in Asia along with Hayward.

Andrea woke up in the guest bedroom of Kara and Danny, a smile creeping on her face as she was stretching, before she leaned over the edge of the bed and lifted the laptop from the floor. The first thing she did every morning was to check her email. Hoping that there was a email from Mike. Even if it was just a simple 'Good day, how's your day going?', it was still something she was waiting for each morning now, the lack of one made her feel slightly disappointed that he hadn't gotten around to responding her, but could she blame him? He was after all in charge of a entire ship, so perhaps she should give him some slack.

But the baby monitor on the nightstand made a stop in her plans, as she heard a baby cry. She put the laptop aside and left the small guest room. Two weeks after the Nathan James' departure little Franklin "Frankie" Green had decided to come to the world, taking Kara by surprise as she hadn't expected the baby to be born early. She had taken a leave for exactly 10 days, and had already returned to work for half the day. The lack of qualified people was one of the reasons, although Andrea knew that Kara was being far too picky in choosing someone to do her job as she expected them to have control just about everything, the other reason which Andrea only suspected was the fact that Danny was gone. He was miles away from her and she felt a slight connection to him through her job, knowing where he was. Being at the top of the situation. After all this was a new role for her, being the wife who was left behind with a baby.

It was a strange feeling for Andrea as well. She had always been the one to leave and now she was here and her ship had left without her. It felt like a part of her was missing, this was a new way of living, so she understood Kara. And it wasn't the only thing missing, this thing she had barely started with Mike before he left was already causing her to miss him.

Despite of Frankie coming about three weeks earlier than planned, the little baby was doing fine. Sad thing was that Danny had missed the birth of his firstborn. Nathan James had been called to back up the situation in Asia, to help distribute the cure across that part of the world, since the efforts done by the Chinese President weren't enough.

Andrea went inside the nursery and lifted little Frankie to her arms. Looking at the little one with a smile. She couldn't wait to hold her own in a short while. Her due date was on the 27th of June, so she hoped Mike would be home by then. She got to the kitchen and held Frankie as she got the breastmilk from the fridge and began warming the bottle under running warm water. After Frankie had been fed, gotten a dry diaper, she laid the sleeping baby on a bassinet on the living room as she made herself a cup of coffee and something to eat. She finally had a chance to check her email.

She couldn't help but smile when she noticed that she had gotten a mail from Mike.

Dear Andrea,

I was debating a long time whether I should write 'dear' instead of the usual hi/hello, but thought it was fitting. We're approaching Vietnam, hopefully we'll be done here as quickly as we can. Can't wait to get back.

Green has another thing coming since he already can't control his little rascal as he decided to come earlier than usual. The CNO has made arrangements for him to come home earlier since our mission got extended. Going to surprise him later with the news. I'm hoping our little girl will wait for his daddy, but it's a good thing you taped the birth though, not sure Green's interested in seeing that. I missed Sophie's birth and viewed the tape at a later point, and let's just say, I know why I ain't a OB-GYN.

Hope you're holding up okay. I know it must be hard for you being almost alone in a strange town. Moving back to Norfolk sounds like a good plan, it's home. We'll have to discuss the logistics later.

- Mike

Andrea chuckled at Mike's line about the birthing video and felt the compelling need to ask him if he needed a new video, in case he missed Lucy's birth. But his line about discussing the move to Norfolk made her think. She had suggested to leave St. Louis since the Nathan James wasn't here and it wasn't practical to change the homeport from Norfolk to St. Louis even if the President had chosen this to be the new capital of the United States. No, home was in Norfolk, but right now she was helping Kara and maintaining her role as a advisor in case there should be any problems in maintaining the power and such in the city.

She didn't know what he was expecting, they weren't together, at least not officially. They had agreed to give this a try, although it sounded a bit ridiculous that they would be dating, she felt like she was too old to date and they were having a baby together so what kind of dating would it be? But the thought behind his line suggested that he was thinking that they would move to Norfolk together. It might be too much too soon, she didn't want to mess this up before it had a chance to start.

Dear Mike,

You know I'm addicted to reading your emails? 'Dear' sounds strange, but I liked it. It made me smile that you would worry about a thing like that. So I gather you're not interested in watching another birthing tape in case Miss Lucy decides to go against your orders and come earlier? *laughs*

I'm at Kara's place right now and helping with Frankie. Debbie had to return to Norfolk to organize some loose ends before she would come back to St. Louis and help with the baby.

I hope you're coming back soon. It is a strange place for me to be, alone here, and not being on the ship. It has always been me, who has left and now the situation is completely opposite. We'll talk about Norfolk later.

- Andrea

Kara had gotten home around 13:00 and Andrea returned to the hotel to gather a few things before going back to Kara's again. She just hoped she wouldn't run into Christine. It wasn't like she was deliberately avoiding her, but she felt things were awkward between them. Last time they had seen each other, was on the docks when the Nathan James was sailing off.

Andrea had noticed Christine and Mike's farewell and it had made her feel a slight tinge of jealousy as they still seemed to be one big happy family. If she hadn't known better, she would have suspected them to still be together. But she knew Mike was a good guy, he didn't want to be in quarrel with Christine, at least not in front of their children. But the hug Christine gave Mike was something that got her doubting whether he really had left her behind, but the strange look from Mike to her direction made her feel more secure as it was telling her, he wasn't entirely at ease about the fondness he was getting from Christine. Or was it the fact that she was there? To witness it? Like she had been there this morning when he supposedly had his daughter by his door? She had smelled the perfume hanging in the air, recognizing it to be Christine's. But she didn't want to confront Mike about it, she didn't want to leave things between them angry or upset. And since Laura was here now, he must also have figured it out that she knew.

And the look from Christine to their way had been weird since Mike had left them and come to say one last thing to Andrea. Choosing to say goodbyes with her as last, and not the other way around. She wondered if that had been a thought through plan or just how the situation floated on.

"Sorry about that." She heard Mike's voice and smiled uncomfortably. They were at uncharted waters right now. No one knew how to tangle this thing forward.

"It's okay, Mike. Don't worry about that." Andrea said and held her arms across over her chest. All she wanted was to join her hand with his, but in front of Christine it wouldn't be appropriate. Not yet at least.

"You take care, okay. And we'll keep in touch." Mike looked at her with a longing in his eyes and the tension in the air was palpable as she met up with his gaze, understanding that his leaving, meant that things were not quite settled just yet, after their night together they had proven that they were more than compatible in physical contact. Very much so. But would this, still fragile thing between them last? Would the feelings still be there when he got back?

"We'll be alright." Andrea nodded and to her surprise Mike took her in for a hug. Carefully holding her and she felt happy in his embrace. Sighing as she broke off from him, wanting so badly to just be held by him. A memory of her saying goodbye to Bill coming into her mind as she now knew how he must have felt every time she left on a deployment.