Chapter 14: The Reunion
Michelle picked up Sophie and turned to walk toward the tunnel connecting the plane and the terminal. Her legs were shaking; she couldn't believe this was finally happening. She caught sight of Tony as he stepped from the tunnel. She drew in a quick breath and could feel her lower lip quivering. She wanted to break into a run but feared her legs wouldn't hold her.
Tony saw Michelle at just the same moment. Their eyes met and they both began to smile. He let go of the carry-on bags he had in each hand as he rushed forward to meet her. As they neared he gently offered the teddy bear to Sophie whose eyes lit up as she dropped her caterpillar to reach for the bear. Tony took his daughter in his arms and began to cry as he smothered her face with kisses.
"Oh, Sophie," he whispered. "My angel! You are so big, Honey and Daddy has missed all of it. Nothing will ever keep me away from you again."
He shifted Sophie's weight to his left arm and reached for Michelle with his right. Her hands were already resting on his waist. He cupped her chin in his hand and wiped tears off of her cheeks with his thumb.
"Hey Gorgeous," he teased her. "Do you hang around airports looking for lonely men often?"
She let out a soft laugh as he moved his hand to the small of her back, pulled her to him and began kissing her. At some point in the long slow kiss he realized that someone had taken Sophie from his left arm. That freed him to put both arms around Michelle and lift her feet of the ground as they kissed. Feeling the gentle lift, Michelle put her arms around his neck to pull herself up closer to him. She bent her knees up and crossed her feet at the ankles. Even the stoic officials from the AG's office had to smile as they watched the reunion.
Tony finally eased her to the ground and their lips separated. Their arms were still around each other and their foreheads and noses touched lightly.
"I love you so much," Tony whispered.
"I love you, too," Michelle responded looking deeply into his eyes. After another moment or so she smiled and said, "Hey, I think there might be some other people here who want to see you."
Tony looked up and loosened his grip on Michelle. He saw his mother who was waiting patiently. He reached out to her as Michelle took a step back. She took Sophie from Tony's father who gave mother and son a few seconds before stepping in closer and joining the hug. As the hug ended, the flight attendant came over carrying the bouquets of flowers. Tony took them from her and presented the yellow roses to his mother. Then he turned to Michelle and as he handed her the white roses and lilies he said softly, "Always and forever, sweetheart."
She took the roses and tilted her head back to give him a soft kiss. "Always and forever," she agreed.
The newly reunited family beamed as they walked along the concourse toward the airport exit. Tony carried Sophie in one arm and held Michelle's hand with the other. He was keeping them as close as possible; he wasn't going to lose them again. As they reached the main concourse they were met by a throng of reports.
"Mr. Almeida, Mr. Almeida," they called.
Tony smiled and tried to keep walking despite the microphones that were right in front of his face.
"Mr. Almeida, how does it feel to be home? Mrs. Almeida, how does it feel to have your husband back?"
Michelle smiled at the camera and joked, "You guys have talked to me for the last 20 months. Aren't you sick of hearing from me by now? Let him do the talking for a change."
Tony finally stopped walking and addressed the reporters. "There aren't enough words in the language to describe how I feel right now," he said with a smile. He looked at Michelle and then at Sophie who was playing with the ears on her new teddy bear. "Just holding my daughter…," he started, but the sentence trailed off as his voice cracked with emotion. He paused and blinked back tears. "She's beautiful, isn't she?" He let go of Michelle's hand and reached up to tuck some of Sophie's unruly curls behind her ears. She immediately pushed them back out and everyone laughed. He put his arm around Michelle's waist and pulled her close to his side. "And seeing my wife again…," he shook his head as if it was all a dream. "By the way, she's beautiful, too." Michelle reddened with the compliment.
"Mr. Almeida, some people are calling your actions during the bioterrorist attack heroic. Are you a hero?"
"No," Tony shook his head. "Listen, I did my job, nothing more. You want to know who the hero in the family is?" He looked at Michelle. "Michelle's the hero. She has been such a source of strength and inspiration for me these last 20 months. My life was easy. She's the one who had the tough job. She never stopped fighting for me. While she was fighting for me, she became a single mother. I don't know that I would have had the strength to do everything that she did. She's my hero and I will never forget it. Thank you, Sweetheart," he added these last three words softly as he looked into her eyes. Then he pressed a soft kiss into her hair
"While I'm busy thanking people, there are some others who have my deep gratitude. My parents and my brothers and sisters who also stood by me, but more importantly were there for Michelle and our daughter." He turned and looked at his parents. "Thank you both," he said softly. "I also want to thank all of the Americans who took the time to write and to email and to call the President on my behalf. Without your support I'm convinced that I wouldn't be standing here with my family. Finally, I want to thank former President David Palmer. His compassion and courage to do what was right is truly the only reason I am standing here with my family today. Hundreds of thousands of Americans supported me, but only President Palmer could sign the papers and make me a free man. I owe him my undying gratitude." Tony paused and looked at Sophie who was rubbing her big brown eyes and resting her head on Tony's shoulder. "I think somebody here needs a nap. So if you will excuse us, it's time for us to go be a family. Thank you, everyone." Tony stepped forward with the reporters still in tow, but they gave up after a few more steps when it was clear that neither Tony nor Michelle was going to say anything more.
As they approached the airport exit, Hendricks said, "Mr. Almeida, we would like to take you in this car," he indicated a dark sedan in front of Tony, "to the AG's office to sign all of the official paperwork. We will take your family and your luggage in the limo back to the hotel. We'll get you to the hotel as soon as the paperwork is complete."
"That's fine," Tony said as he began to hand a very sleepy Sophie to his father who was standing next to him.
"No, Tony," Michelle said shaking her head. She looked at Hendricks. "Mr. Hendricks, can I go with my husband?" She looked back at Tony "Your parents said they would take Sophie back to the hotel for her nap."
"Michelle, this is routine. You know that," Tony said gently.
"I… I know… I just… it's just that I don't want to be away from you right now." She knew she wasn't making a lot of sense. "You've been away so long…" Tony watched as her lower lip stared to quiver and she lowered her head.
He closed his eyes and took her in his arms, "Oh, Baby, what have I put you through? I am so sorry, Honey. You have to know that I will never leave you again. Not for anything, Michelle. I love you so much." He looked at Hendricks, "Can she go with me?"
Hendricks seemed to be a nice man. He had been particularly kind to Tony on the plane when the waiting seemed to be endless. He also had given the family all the time they wanted for their private reunion without ever making them feel rushed.
He smiled softly. "That should be fine. We'll make this as quick as possible."
Tony and Michelle kissed Sophie goodbye. Tony promised her he would be there when she woke up from her nap. Michelle smiled wondering who he was trying to reassure, Sophie or himself.
The trip to the AG's office was, as expected, routine. Michelle sat by while Tony filled out forms. Hendricks offered them both coffee which they gratefully accepted. As he brought in two mugs of coffee he mentioned that their presence was causing quite a stir in the office. Most people believed that Tony should have received a pardon, in fact, most believed that he never should have been charged in the first place. Hendricks' sources seemed to think that Prescott was behind the treason charges. Prescott had always been against giving Tony a pardon and made it clear to the media (for whom Tony had become a pet cause similar to saving the rainforests) that he objected strongly to David Palmer granting this pardon. He only regretted that there was nothing he could do about it.
"I think I would stay clear of Prescott if I were you," Hendricks advised them. "I don't know that there is anything he can do to hurt you, but he can make your lives miserable if he feels like it."
Tony and Michelle thanked him for the advice and assured him that they had no intention of crossing the new President. Hendricks said goodbye to them and left them with a staffer who would drive them to their hotel.
When they reached the hotel, they found Sophie still sleeping peacefully. Tony's parents had moved her crib into their suite so she could nap while they rested and got ready for dinner with former President Palmer.
Michelle told Tony she was going to start getting ready for dinner as well. Tony stayed in his parents' suite and pulled a chair up next to Sophie's crib and watched her sleep.
"Antonio," his mother said quietly so as not to disturb Sophie. "She's not going anywhere. If you want to go and get ready, I'll let you know when she wakes up."
"I told her I'd be here when she woke up and I will be. I want to make sure she understands that she can trust me."
"She'll learn. Give her time. She's just a baby, she'll adjust quickly. She can already tell you love her. Look how she came right to you at the airport." She put her hand on his arm, enjoying this time alone with her oldest child.
Tony wasn't listening. He was trying to take in everything about his beautiful daughter. "She's so pretty. Look how perfect she is. Her eyelashes are so long; look how they rest on her cheeks when her eyes are closed," Tony marveled. "I can't take my eyes off of her."
"You and Michelle certainly made a beautiful baby," his father said softly as he walked in the room. He put his arm around his wife and looked at Tony. "We owe you an apology, Antonio."
"An apology? For what?" Tony queried.
"For the way we treated Michelle, the way we treated both of you before all of this happened. I don't know why we couldn't see how much you loved her and what a wonderful woman she is. All we could see was that she wasn't who we imagined you marrying. I don't know why that mattered. We were so wrong."
"It's over," Tony said as he reached out to hug both of his parents. "Michelle told me that she never would have made it without you two. I'm just thankful that you were there for her. I can never thank you enough for that."
They enjoyed the private moment. Parents and son so long apart, the gap in time that was missing from all of their lives seemed to vanish, as if he had never been gone.
The limousine arrived at 5 o'clock to take them to David Palmer's suburban Maryland home. Despite the rush hour traffic in DC, the ride of a little over an hour was pleasant. Just being together was wonderful. Tony talked and played with Sophie who, although stuck in a car seat, enjoyed all of his attention. Michelle loved watching them interact. She reached up to her neck and played absently with the diamond necklace Tony put around her neck while she was dressing. He had come up playfully behind her and caressed her shoulders and kissed her neck. She closed her eyes enjoying the feeling. She didn't even realize he had put the necklace on until she opened her eyes and it sparkled in the mirror.
When they reached his home, the former President, never a pretentious man, answered the door himself. He shook hands with everyone and introductions were made. He insisted that everyone dispense with the formalities and call him "David". He looked well despite his recent illness. His face was not nearly as full as it had been and his hair seemed grayer than it was even a few months ago. Clearly the illness had had an effect on him but he was handling it well.
"Tony, we met the first time several years ago at CTU. Do you remember?"
"Of course, sir," Tony said. "You were running for your first term. You wanted to meet with Jack and Ryan Chappelle was trying to prevent it." Both men smiled and looked at the floor. "Ryan was a good man, just a little too rigid at times."
"Tony, I will always regret…"
"No, sir, let's not do this. You did what you had to do. Just like I did what I had to do. We can't go back now."
David escorted them into a handsome study. It was sunken two steps below the rest of the main floor and walked out onto a flagstone patio. The room was paneled in mahogany and the furnishings were large and dark. It was a stunning contrast to the bright sun coming in the French doors. David walked to a wet bar in the corner and started taking drink orders. Just about then Lynne Kresge could be heard making her way across the tile floor leading to the study. David moved over to the steps to help her down.
Palmer and Kresge had been married in a private ceremony in the Oval Office just hours before he left office. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court performed the civil ceremony before swearing in James Prescott as the new Commander in Chief. He introduced her to everyone. When he got to Michelle he said, "But I guess you two already know each other." They both quickly averted their gaze, neither able to make eye contact.
Dinner was lovely and after dessert the group retired to the patio to enjoy after dinner drinks and the cool evening temperatures. David carried a humidor from the study and offered Tony and his father fine cigars. The both accepted and the three stepped toward the edge of the patio to smoke them. Sophie was getting sleepy and just a little fussy, so Michelle took her inside to change her into pajamas and give her a bottle. She had stopped nursing about a month earlier and Michelle missed the closeness of those moments. She decided to sit inside in the quiet study and snuggle with Sophie as she gave her the bottle.
Seeing that Michelle was sitting in the study alone, Lynne excused herself from the patio and slowly moved through the French doors with the help of a walker. She sat down in an overstuffed chair not far from Michelle.
"I probably should have chosen a different chair," she said as if thinking out loud. "I can never get out of this one without help."
Michelle smiled, but could think of nothing appropriate to say. Again, the silence between them was awkward. Finally Michelle spoke. "Lynne, I'm sorry about what I said back in LA. I had no right to say those things…"
Lynne interrupted, "You shouldn't be sorry and you had every right, you had a duty as a friend to the people who died at CTU that day to say what you said to me. What took you so long?" She smiled and Michelle smiled back. Lynne continued, "You're right. I often don't sleep very well at night. I thought it over on the flight back to Washington and I knew you were right. I went straight to David and asked him to consider a pardon for Tony. I was planning to lobby pretty hard, but I didn't need to, he decided on his own."
"I will always be grateful to you, Lynne," Michelle said graciously.
"Don't be. It was you who ultimately won the pardon for your husband; your perseverance was the key. You should be proud of yourself."
Michelle was embarrassed and looked away focusing on Sophie whose eyes were just about closed.
The Almeidas said their goodbyes and thank yous and they returned to their hotel. As Michelle opened the door to the suite, Tony started to put the sleeping baby in her arms.
"Hold her while I move the crib back to our room."
His parents protested. "Let her sleep in our room tonight. You two need some time alone."
Tony hesitated at first but finally relented. It was his first night back and he wanted his daughter near by. Michelle went into their suite to get ready for bed while Tony tucked Sophie in the crib. He was again taken aback by her beauty. Her fingers and toes were so tiny and the way she puckered her lips and suckled even when there was nothing in her mouth was just adorable. He knelt next to the crib watching her and got lost in his own thoughts.
"Antonio," his father's voice brought him back to the present. "If I had a beautiful wife who I hadn't seen in almost two years waiting for me in the next room, I think I would go and join her."
Tony smiled and looked at the floor embarrassed by his father's comment. He hugged his father again and said good night.
As he walked into his own suite he could hear the bubbling of the Jacuzzi in the bathroom. He knocked lightly and peeked in. Michelle was sitting in almost neck deep, bubbling water with her head back and her eyes closed. Her hair was piled on top of her head to keep it dry and the diamond necklace sparkled at the base of her throat. She opened her eyes and smiled at him.
"Would you like some company?" he asked.
"I'd love it," was all she had to say.
Tony reached behind the door to retrieve a thick, white terry bathrobe that was hanging on a hook. He walked into the bedroom to undress and found a bottle of champagne and two tall, thin crystal flutes on a tray. A card sitting next to them said "Welcome Home! Love, Jack and Kate".
Tony donned the robe and walked into the bathroom carrying the bottle and the glasses.
"Champagne?" he asked. Michelle smiled and nodded. He poured two glasses and handed one to her. They clinked the glasses together as Tony said quietly, "To us, to a long and happy life, always and forever."
Each took a deep drink from the glass and Tony refilled them. Neither of them spoke. Tony reached out and touched Michelle's face, caressing it with his fingers. As his fingers passed her lips she gently kissed each one and licked them seductively. She reached over and untied the belt on his robe. He took the hint. He stood and let the robe drop to the floor and stepped into the bubbling water. Michelle knelt to raise herself up a bit as Tony lowered himself into the water. They reached for each other, arms circling wet bodies and they kissed. They kissed slowly. Michelle could taste the sweet flavor of fine tobacco on Tony's lips. It mingled with the champagne and tasted so good. They moved in slow motion. This wasn't urgent like it had been the very first time or when Tony came home for that brief time after Sophie was born. They had all the time in the world; nothing would ever separate them again.
They spent a long time kissing and touching before they got out of the water and wrapped each other in huge terry towels. Tony carried Michelle to bed enjoying the feel of her damp skin against his. They made love until dawn, slowly, tenderly, moaning softly, wanting it never to end. They finally drifted off into a peaceful sleep with arms and legs tangled happily together for about an hour before the alarm clock signaled that it was time to get up.
They had a plane to catch at 10:45. They were finally going home: to family and friends, to a series of parties that had been hastily planned over the last few days, to a new job and a new life together
3 months later
The sun had barely risen when Michelle walked out of the bathroom. She stood in the doorway absently fingering her diamond necklace. She looked across the room at Tony who was asleep on his back, his bare chest rhythmically rising and falling. He is so handsome, she thought as she smiled.
Tony had been home for three months now and they had been deliriously happy. Juan and Pedro had come to LA to help Tony open their first branch office and the business was doing well. They celebrated Sophie's first birthday together at the beach house up the coast where almost a year prior they had hidden in fear of Tony being caught. This trip was so much happier as they knew that at the end of the week they would all go home together. (Last year's week at the beach house remained their secret. They took seriously the warning by James Hendricks about not crossing President Prescott. Even though Tony had received a pardon, they feared that if Prescott ever got evidence that Tony had been in the country with Michelle's knowledge that he would find a way to press charges against her for aiding and abetting a wanted criminal.)
Michelle walked back to bed and slipped in beside Tony. She began placing soft kisses on his face. "Hey, Sweetie, time to wake up."
"Honey," he said barely opening his eyes "the sun isn't even up yet, what are you doing?"
"I'm waking you up; we have a busy day, Tony. It's your dad's birthday, remember. The party is here and you're cooking."
"Is it too late to have it catered?" he asked only half joking.
"Tony!" Michelle laughed. "This isn't working. Let me try something else." She climbed on top of him and kissed his lips.
"That might wake me up," he agreed. "It might even make me want to 'cook'!" he joked, his eyes still not fully open. He slipped his hands under the tight, rib-knit tank top she was wearing and stroked her back.
"Well, get used to being up before dawn, because babies like to get up early."
"Sophie never gets up before seven, Michelle."
"I'm not talking about Sophie, Honey," she said as she kissed him again.
Her words began to sink in and Tony opened his eyes. "Are you trying to tell me something?"
Michelle nodded, her smile was dazzling.
"You're pregnant?"
She nodded again.
Tony wrapped his arms tightly around her and in one smooth motion rolled them both over so he was now on top.
"You're serious, right?"
She nodded.
"You're not joking?"
She shook her head.
"When did you find out?" he asked.
"Just now, I started suspecting it a couple of days ago but I finally did the test this morning. You're happy, right?" "
Happy? I'm ecstatic, I'm thrilled, I'm over the top, I'm so in love with you I can hardly stand it," he laughed and began kissing her.
They made love as the sun rose on a beautiful new day. They hosted a lovely party and told no one about the newly discovered pregnancy. It was their secret at least for a while, to cherish and enjoy and talk about privately. The whole world shared in the news of their first pregnancy and the circumstances kept either of them from really being happy about it. This time was different; they had the luxury of reveling in the news.
As Tony cooked kabobs on the grill he looked out at Sophie toddling in the grass as fast as her unsteady legs could carry her. She had several older cousins acting as body guards to keep her out of trouble. Tony winked at Michelle who was serving drinks and she smiled radiantly. His youngest brother walked over and handed him a fresh beer.
"That's quite a smile your wife is wearing, big brother. You must have been good last night!"
"You don't know the half of it," Tony teased him back.
"Aren't you getting too old for that? I would think it would be a strain on your aging heart."
"Keep it up, kid and next time I'll skewer you and put you on the grill!" Tony smiled as he tended to the kabobs. He smiled knowing that this was all he ever wanted: his home, his family, the love of his precious wife. The months it had been denied him had put it all in perspective and now he was happy, so very happy.