7:59am
Washington DC was like a ghost town. Everyone was in their houses and not a lot of businesses were open. April just hoped her favorite café would be open. When she walked to the door, she noticed most of the lights were off and the "closed" sign was up. She sighed, pulling out her cell phone, about to call Mike for a change of plans when the door opened up.
April was still way on edge from everything that happened, jumping and stepping back before anyone could hurt her. When she looked up, though, she noticed it was Mike. "What the hell?" April gasped, pushing him just a little bit as he laughed. A smile came on April's face at his laugh. She loved hearing it especially after all they just went through. "You scared the hell out of me!"
"Sorry." He apologized with a quick shrug.
April looked into the building, noticing no one was in there. "This place is closed today. What are you doing?"
"Well," Mike spoke, pulling the keys out of his front pocket. "I worked my magic."
April's eyes grew wide, hardly able to believe that Mike actually had the keys to the place. "What?" April asked as she walked in, trying to hide her shock while Mike closed the door after her. "Did you kill someone for it?"
He gave her an irritated stare that she had to laugh to. April didn't understand how they were so calm after everything they went through. It made no sense to her, but she wasn't going to argue with it. She loved the relaxation she felt after the night of stress she just experienced. "I called the owner, asked him if he was going to be open and when he said he wasn't, I asked for the keys."
April furrowed her eyebrows together as she sat down at a booth where Mike had already set a pot of coffee down, pouring herself a mug. "What did you say to him to get him to give you the keys?"
Mike got a smile on his face, not being able to wait to tell her what he said. "President's orders."
April let out a loud laugh as she shook her head at him. "You are so going to hell."
Mike shrugged, knowing that was fair. "Could be."
April rolled her eyes at him as he moved to sit down next to her, April not being able to fight her smile once he put his arm around her. "This is a breakfast date," April commented, making it obvious she was looking around for the food. "And I'm starving."
Mike looked over to the back, picking up his head slightly so his voice would be able to carry that far. "Hey, Mon, how much longer on those pancakes?"
April's eyes widened once she heard that, looking over to Monica coming out the back of the kitchen, her black hair tied up in a high ponytail and flour on her apron. "Give it like five minutes."
"Perfect."
She disappeared back into the kitchen, April turning to Mike with an amused face while shaking her head. "You, Mike Banning, never cease to amaze me."
She leaned even further into his embrace, taking a deep relaxing breath before taking another sip of coffee. Mike placed a kiss to her temple, April just had to close her eyes to. Mike made her feel so safe and relaxed. She would never be able to get this anywhere else. "How's your dad?"
She looked up at Mike, taking in all of his beauty as he did the same. "Fine. They want to keep him for the day, but they're probably going to release him at night. He just needed a few stitches."
"Good." His voice was so gruff from how tired and sleepy he was. April just snuggled further into him, hoping her presence alone would be able to make him stay awake. "I was worried." He placed his chin on top of her head when she looked away from him, knowing they both had to stay awake. At least for breakfast.
"Here we are." They both jumped at Monica's voice, straightening up, but Mike not taking his arm off of April's shoulders. "Blueberry pancakes for April and strawberry for Mike with a side of bacon and eggs for both."
April smiled at how gourmet Monica made it all look. She never did anything half assed. No matter if the country fell apart today. "Thank you, Mon." She spoke as she shook her head. "You didn't have to."
"Oh, yes I did." She corrected. "You two get back together after all the crap you both made me go through, I deserve making your first official date food."
April rolled her eyes at the woman as Mike shook his head. "You can leave now if you want. Spend the day with your family."
"I am." She spoke as she took off her gloves. "You two gonna be fine by yourselves?"
Mike and April both glanced to each other with a playful smile on both of their faces as April already had a piece of bacon in her mouth. Monica rolled her eyes, knowing that was a dumb question. They had both just survived a night in the White House with terrorists at every turn. They were more than fine by themselves. "Never mind. You two enjoy your date."
"Bye." They both spoke in unison as Monica walked out the front door, leaving just the two in the café. "You're welcome." Mike spoke with a nod as April began to scoff which turned into a laugh.
"And what am I welcome for?"
"I set all this up." Mike spoke, looking around at everything.
April began to laugh again. "You got the keys to a café."
"And I called the best chef I know." He spoke, talking through a mouthful of eggs.
"I could have done the same thing." She spoke unimpressed as Mike just gave her a fake irritated stare. He couldn't help but smile at her laugh, though. That was the one thing breaking him from keeping a stone cold face.
He shook his head at her, giving her a wider smile. "I love you, you know that?"
April leaned into him again, taking a big gulp of coffee before speaking again. "Know that I love you?"
"No way." Mike spoke sarcastically while shaking his head. "I didn't know this was a two-way street."
"You're such an ass." April whispered while taking a huge bite of her pancakes.
"Yeah, I know." April turned to look at him, furrowing her brows, knowing he was going somewhere else with this. He didn't just openly admit to being an ass like that. "Too bad you're stuck with me."
April shrugged. "It's got benefits."
"Like what?" Mike asked through a mouthful of pancake.
April looked up, pretending to think, but in all honesty, she could go on all day about why Mike was her favorite person in the whole world. "You have an amazing body." He nodded like it was obvious. "Your face isn't too bad on the eyes." She moved to his hair, ruffling it a little bit. "I actually like it this length."
"Better than Troy's shaggy hair, huh?"
"Oh," April laughed out. "A million times better." April continued to look at him, reasons on why she loved him just dying to pour out of her mouth. "You're a complete badass. Your heart is tainted, but it's still good. You would do anything for me." Mike looked down at her, knowing what she said was true. His heart was tainted, but she made him forget it wasn't. "And you have the biggest penis I have ever seen."
"You're damn right I do." April laughed into his shoulder, the two snuggling into each other again, enjoying the rest of their date.
When they got to Mike's apartment, their first thought wasn't to have sex until tomorrow, it was their aching bodies and how much they needed rest. Mike started up the shower, the two getting in, helping each other lather their hair and bodies, just enjoying the relaxing heat of the shower and each other's company.
When they got out, April stole one of Mike's T-shirts, jumping into bed the second it was on, Mike doing the same as her. April didn't realize she was going to feel so at home here. It was like the apartment was calling for her. Like this was her home too, she just didn't realize it yet.
The two took their time just lying there, staring into each other's eyes as they grew heavy. "What about tomorrow?" April asked. "It's going to be so crazy tomorrow. We're going to have renovate the entire White House and we have to go to the Treasury and let them know that you're quitting." April then shook her head, thinking about everything she had witnessed in these last few hours. "How could I ever go back in there?"
"Hey," Mike whispered, his voice even more gruff than it was in the café, feeling himself almost off to sleep. "Don't worry about all of that stuff right now. You need rest."
April shook her head as she looked at him. "The second I walk in there, I'm going to think about everything I did, the people I killed, and I don't think I can handle that."
Mike moved his hand forward, grabbing hers, looking dead into her eyes. "You'll have me. You'll always have me." Mike let out a sigh of tiredness as his eyes shut. "And I'll be there with you every step of the way."
April's eyes closed too, finding it impossible to stay awake anymore as she closed the space between the two. "You promise?"
Mike wrapped his arm around her waist as their chests pressed together, her head just under his. "I promise." Then in a quick moment, the two fell asleep like that.
Ben had been given a hotel suite along with Conner, April deciding to stay with Mike as they worked on renovating the White House. They had no idea how long they were going to be there, but they were all happy for a break. Currently, both Mike and April had been called into Ben's makeshift office in one of the rooms of the suite. They both had no idea what it was for and they were both trying to look everywhere, but in Ben's eyes.
"Will you two relax?" Ben complained at the look of them. "April, you look like you're gonna pop a blood vessel."
"I might." She spoke with a shrug, knowing that was a plausible reaction of this situation.
"April," Ben spoke while rubbing the bridge of his nose, finding her unnecessary fear exhausting. "What am I gonna do, ground you?"
April thought about it for a moment before shrugging. There really wasn't much Ben could do to her. Anything drastic was far from Ben's style of parenting. "I just wanted to talk to you two about what's going to be happening in the next few days."
Both Mike and April shared an uneasy glance before looking back to Ben. "What's going to be happening in the next few days?" Mike asked.
"Well," Ben spoke, standing up and leaning on the desk that stood in front of them. "Mike, you're coming back to work for me." April gave him a bit of a smile before looking back to her father. "And April," She was confused at the mention of her. "When you graduate college, look out for Lynne. She's already talking about making you Secret Service. Very enthusiastically I might add."
April nodded, suddenly seeing herself in that position. She never did before. She just couldn't see herself in that job field. But it was hard to see yourself out of it once you've done it. "And officials have decided that you two need to be awarded something for your work in the White House."
April and Mike looked to each other again in confusion, not expecting that at all. "What kind of award?" Mike finally asked.
Ben got a smile on his face as he looked back and forth at the two. If anyone deserved this award, it was them.
"Oh my gosh." April complained while shaking her hands. "I'm nervous. Are you nervous?"
Mike looked her up and down as she bounced. "Apparently not as nervous as you."
"This is a huge deal, how are you not freaking out?!"
Mike shrugged, knowing she was right. He should have been insanely nervous. He should be bouncing around like April or maybe be even worse. For some odd reason, he wasn't. With April, he just wasn't. "I don't know." He spoke honestly while turning to look at her. "I have you I guess."
April gave him a tight smile as the blood rushed to her cheeks. She was just happy that everything was just falling into place so simply. April leaned in as Mike stepped closer to her, the two about to share a kiss when the stage manager popped her head in. "Two minutes, guys."
Mike and April both took a sigh, not realizing that the two of them finally getting together was going to lead to so many interrupted kisses. "Thank you, Jan." April spoke quickly leaving her to hurry back to the stage.
April turned to look at Mike, taking a deep sigh before leaning forward and whispering, "Do you think two minutes is long enough for us to steal a kiss?"
"It better be." Mike whispered before leaning in and kissing her quick before anyone else could interrupt. When they pulled away, Mike had his hands around her waist as April involuntarily put hers around his neck. That's when Mike decided to ask something that had been spinning through his mind for a while. "Hey, what about when the White House is done with its renovations, you get all your stuff and you move in with me permanently?"
April laughed a little, shaking her head at that. "Or I finish getting all of my stuff out and move in with you now?"
Mike pushed his face to hers with a deep smile settling in as April shut her eyes, thinking about how amazing it was that after all this time, they could do this. They could be out in the open in the middle of the day. They could go on real dates. Not just private rooms or hanging out at his house. Finally, they didn't have to hide and that was the best thing April Asher could ask for.
"I like your idea better." He spoke with a nod before leaning in to give her a kiss.
In the middle of the kiss, the stage manager came out, practically pulling them apart. "Come on you two, it's time."
April shrugged at Mike before walking up the steps of the stage, waiting for her father to say both their names, April reaching out her hand for Mike to grab as he stood behind her. She looked back at him, giving him a cheesy smile he just had to smile back at. He really was lucky to have her.
"So," Ben spoke, causing Mike and April to turn back to the stage. "It is my duty and my honor to present April Asher and Mike Banning."
Applause started as the two walked up the steps and onto the stage. The applause died down, both April and Mike giving each other a nervous look. Okay, now Mike felt it. He was now extremely nervous. Ben gave a quick smile to the two before looking back to the audience. "These two are being honored today for their extraordinary sacrifice, not just to keep me safe, but all of America." Ben looked down to his note cards quickly, but most of the reason for him looking down was because he was thinking about it all again.
"On July 5th, 2013, the unthinkable happened. Our house was taken. A few other officials and myself were taken hostage and these two went above and beyond the call of duty to take back our house." April looked down at that. She really felt like she didn't deserve this. If anyone did, it was Mike. She didn't do much. "Mike single handedly took on every terrorist that stepped foot in that house where he saved both Conner and April Asher along with Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan and myself."
Ben then turned to April, noticing her standing the way she was, and in that moment he knew what she was feeling. "And the next awardee is one very special to me." April looked up at him, noticing he wasn't even addressing the audience. He gave her one wink before turning back to the crowd, April getting a large smile on her face. "Without her, none of us would be standing here today." He got a serious look on his face, thinking about what would have happened if April wasn't able to do what she did when she did it. "The terrorists had gained access to our nuclear codes and they were going to blow them in their silos, leaving our country in ruins." Ben turned back to look at his daughter, finding himself extremely proud. "April was able to break the code, saving every single one of us. And I can tell you all now, I have never been more proud to be her father."
April bit her lip, trying to keep herself from getting emotional as Mike stared at her in the same wonderment her father did. Ben turned back to the audience with a small smile on his face. "These two are the reasons this award was created. For people that are willing to exhibit extraordinary bravery, selflessness and courage in the name of our country. So, this is our chance to pay our gratitude to these two heroes." Ben turned to look at the man holding the medals next to him before nodding. "General Clegg."
Ben grabbed one medal and went to put it on Mike first while General Clegg announced. "The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor to Michael Banning and April Asher." The second the medal was clipped onto Mike's suit jacket, he felt this kind of heavy responsibility while thinking of all the other secret service agents who truly deserved this.
Ben then moved to the second medal, moving towards April. "Michael Banning and April Asher distinguished themselves by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risks of their lives above and beyond the call of duty." As her father walked toward her, she caught sight of Conner watching her in awe. And for a split second where Ben had covered her face from the cameras, she stuck her tongue out at him while crossing her eyes, making Conner laugh.
Ben smiled at her while General Clegg continued on their story of bravery and Ben pinned the medal onto April's blazer. April felt the heaviness of the medal just as Mike did, her mind wandering back to the fact that she didn't really deserve this. That's when Ben leaned into her ear, whispering. "You saved all of America back there and I mean it when I say I have never been more proud of you." April gave him a bright smile, feeling herself becoming emotional again. "Your mother would have been so proud of you." That time, April had to take a deep breath as her first tear fell, Mike simply putting a hand on her back as her father turned away, Mike rubbing her back in small circles, calming her almost instantly.
"Michael Banning," General Clegg continued, not having that nasty tone he did in the Pentagon, but more of a grateful one. "Is the first Secret Service agent to receive the Medal of Honor while April Asher is the second and youngest female to do so." They both looked to each other, giving each other an impressed stare. "Extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon themselves and the United States."
They were then both escorted off the stage by General Clegg and to the side with Lynne and Conner, knowing Ben still had to give his speech about the state their country was in after the attack. "In regard to the attack on the White House," he took a pause, looking around at all the people in there and noticing some of his best Secret Service agents were gone. "We lost good friends. Family. All good people."
Mike and April turned to look at each other, Mike making sure to hold April's hand as they thought about Roma, O'Neil and even Forbes. "Heroes, every one of them. Our hearts and prayers go out to their families and they will be remembered nor will we forget those who serve out of the spotlight." April looked into the audience to see Megan watching with captivation, wishing Megan could have been up there for all the work she had done. "To whom we owe our highest gratitude."
April then turned back to look at her brother, placing her arm around him, sandwiched in-between two of her favorite boys. "Our foe did not come only to destroy our things or our people." Ben turned to look over at the three, intently watching his speech, getting a little smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "They came to desecrate our way of life, to foul our beliefs, trample our freedom, and in this, not only did they fail,"
"They got their asses handed to them." April whispered in Mike's ear which he had to break his stone cold stare to turn and smile at her.
"They granted us the greatest gift." April turned back to her father, becoming serious again. She would hide it, but what had happened to her in the White House really affected her and she was finding one of the ways to get around it was joking about it. In all honesty though, she had never been filled with more pride for her country in her life. "A chance at our rebirth. We will rise renewed, stronger and united."
"This is our time, our chance to get back to the best of who we are." April turned to look at Mike, him looking to her out of the corner of his eye with a smile before looking back to Ben. It really was their time. "To lead by example with the dignity, integrity and honor that built this country and which we'll build it once again." He gave the crowd a quick once over before uttering the last part of his speech which he felt obliged to say in this time of crisis. "May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America."
Ben began to step down from the stage, going to the door which Mike opened for him. Ben then stopped in front of Mike, looking to his daughter first and then back to Mike. And in that moment, he had no idea why he thought she was unsafe with Mike to begin with. It was the exact opposite. He offered Mike a small smile before putting his hand out and shaking it. April and Mike both smiled, knowing what this was. This was the handshake a father gives to his daughter's boyfriend as a sign of respect. Acceptance.
Then Ben turned around to Conner, put his hand on his shoulders and guided him through the door. April stopped at the door to look at Mike with a big smile on her face before leaning in to whisper, "Don't sleep with the President's daughter on the first day."
"No promises." He whispered out the corner of his mouth. April squeezed his arm before following her father and brother, Mike sticking back for a little bit, just remembering how all of this felt. He was back. Back with April. Back in the White House. Back to the old Mike. And it felt damn good to be back.
fearthereaper15: I am! Not sure when it's going to be up, though.
Mrs. HappyAnarchy: I'm gonna tell you I thought about making a twist, but I was like you know what I'm not that mean lol
Igor Blonsky: All of those things in that order! Thanks so much for all of your reviews!
stormrunner74: Thank you, love!
CoolCat720: Oh my gosh same! I was like I need this chapter to be as lovey dovey as possible because it was so stressful just writing that stuff.
MisfitCarter: Okay, so I read this review on my first day back at college and it made my day. This has to be the nicest review I've ever gotten. You don't know how much that meant to me that you love the story that much. Thank you a million times over. I hope I can do the sequel justice in the next one!
NGArmyWife: Haha I know I'm a bit sneaky and I honestly thought about something happening to April, but I was like this girl has been through so much, I'm not gonna do that to her. And yes, I hate Clegg and that has to be one of the best parts in the movie. Thank you so much for your kind words and I hope you like the last chapter, sweetheart!
Guest: Thanks so much! Can't wait for you to read more!
So this is it! This is the last chapter and it was so fun to write this story for all of you guys! I really hope you've all enjoyed it and I can't wait for you guys to enjoy Mike and April back in action in the London Has Fallen sequel whenever it comes up. I'm really gonna miss this story while I'm on break from it since it was so fun to write, but can't wait to come back! Love, JanaeSpecter14 XOXO