Hi All, thank you for reading, following, favoring, reviewing, and taking interest in my story.

I am in school for my Doctorate degree and writing another story at the same time, so please bare with me on the updates. I am going as fast as I can.

Please continue to review and let me know what you are thinking!

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Chapter 10- Happy New Year

Mia unwrapped the gift and saw that it was a black velvet box. Looking up at him surprised, she opened the gift, Ally still in her arms.

Tears started rolling down her cheeks. She looked up at him smiling. "Thank you, Clay," she said, reaching up, kissing his cheek.

She pulled out the infinity necklace and put it on. It was beautiful. Similar to the locket one she got him, it was an infinity with each of their names engraved on it, intertwined with each other.

The symbolism meant something to Mia.

She hugged him, Ally, in the middle of them. Clay sighed and wrapped his arms around Mia's waist, pulling her tight against him.

"Thank you so much Clay" she whispered again against his ear.

He nodded in the crook of her neck, "you're more than welcome" he replied pulling away.

"Good Christmas Mia?" Jason asked.

She smiled and wiped her tears, "the best Christmas" she stated.

Since everyone gathered at Jason's house for Christmas, the guys had a couple spin-ups that took them out of the country.

The girls had to change and alter their schedules to make sure the kids were okay.

Mikey and Emma stayed with Mia and Ally at their house.

It was cute because the kids were so helpful with Ally. They took her on as their own, it was cute how attentive they were.

Mikey took her to the park with him and Emma took her to the mall with her.

Luckily, there were no injuries or accidents within Bravo and so the guys were able to come back all in one piece.

The same couldn't be said for Charlie team though.

Mia got word that Charlie Adams was killed in the line of duty and that the boys would be deploying with Alpha Team after the new year.

She felt bad for Jason and Clay, losing one of their brothers, and for Kara, Charlie's wife, but she was also relieved that her family was okay.

She didn't know what she would have done if Clay or Jason were injured.

Looking at the clock, Mia was expecting the boys any time.

Emma and Mikey took Ally to the park to meet up with Cole and Natalie, giving the adults time to process.

Clay and Jason made their way into Mia's house with somber faces.

Mia already knew what happened. She was informed as part of the medical staff.

She waited for them at the door, greeting both of them with a hug.

"I am so sorry" she hugged each of them.

"He stepped on a goddam mine" Jason vented, his head in his hands, his arms resting on his elbows.

"I know it's rough. I was with them when the command went to inform Charlie's family. The look on Kara's face, it just brought everything to the surface" she replied.

Clay sat on the other side of Mia and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into him for a hug.

"Command is going to have the funeral service tomorrow" Jason informed her.

Mia nodded. "I'll be there" she replied.

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The next day, in the afternoon, Mia put on her black dress, pumps, and a simple cross necklace.

Emma had helped get Ally dressed in a cute little black dress with tights.

Mia tied her hair up in a little fountain ponytail.

Emma and Mikey went with their aunt to the church, since the guys were coming in as Teams.

Mia walked with the kids towards the second row of the church. Cole joined them, sitting next to Emma.

Lisa and Blackburn were sitting with them, Stella on the other side of the church, watching them.

Everyone stood when the piano started, and Charlie team walked in carrying the coffin, Alpha and Bravo team following behind them.

Mia was carrying Ally as each team sat in a designated row.

Bravo took their seats in the same row as Mia and the kids at the end.

Clay turned to Mia and pulled Ally into his arms. He needed comfort.

Mia glanced at Stella, noticing the fire in her eyes as she watched Clay interact with Ally.

Towards the end of the memorial service, it was time for the guys to give their tridents, and Blackburn to make a speech.

As Bravo filed out of the pew, Mia stood at the end, reaching to take Ally from Clay, only for the little girl to cling to her dad tighter.

Mia bent to her daughter's ear, "come on baby, daddy has to say goodbye to his friend" she whispered softly.

Clay kissed the top of her head and handed her over to Mia before joining the guys around the coffin.

"I have had the honor and pleasure of commanding numerous men throughout my career. Charlie was the ultimate Navy Seal, dedicated to his country, his mission, and to his teammates. Even in the face of death, Charlie tried to assist his team in ensuring their safety and relaying important information significant to their mission. He gave all he had and made the ultimate sacrifice. Charlie left behind a wife, a daughter, and a team that will miss him dearly, but look forward to reuniting in death. I would like us all to remember Charlie and honor his sacrifice to this country" Blackburn said.

Mikey took Ally from his aunt so she could wipe her tears, trying to pull herself together.

As they all filed out, Kara stood at the back of the church with Lainey, accepting well wishes and sympathy.

Mia walked over with the kids and gave Kara a hug.

The grieving widow squeezing Mia tight, softly crying in her arms.

"I am so sorry Kara. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask" she said, pulling away, wiping her tears.

Kara nodded, "thank you Mia. I appreciate everything you have done for us, and taking Lainey the last couple days, she had the best time with Ally. I am glad that Clay and Jason made it back okay" she replied.

Mia waved her off. "Of course, if you ever need me to take her, I am just a phone call away, we all are" she stated.

As part of the trauma team at the hospital, Grace and Connor were also in attendance.

Once Mia finished with Kara, she made her way over to them so Bravo could give their condolences.

"Hey guys" she greeted, giving each of them a side hug.

"Hey Mia" Connor wrapped his arm around her shoulder, "how you doing?" he knew this was hard for her.

He was with her when she got the call that someone was injured on the spin-up. She was terrified it was Clay or Jason.

She nodded, "I am okay. Relieved that Clay and Jase are okay but sorry we lost Charlie" she replied.

"I get that. I am going to miss his jokes when he comes in for physicals" Grace added.

Mia smiled, "thanks for coming Connor. I know you didn't know him well" she appreciated the support.

"No, I didn't, but I know you, Grace, and your brother. That's enough for me to be there for my friends" he replied.

Before anyone could say anything else, the guys made their way over.

"Thanks for coming Doc, we appreciate the support" Rob said to Connor.

He nodded, "of course, I may not have known Charlie well, but I know these two" he indicated to Mia and Grace, "and I wanted to be there for them and show my support" he replied.

"We appreciate it" Rob stated as the rest of the guys joined them outside.

"We are going back to Kara's parents place for a little reception, are you coming?" Jeremy asked as he walked up with Natalie.

"No, thank you for the invite. I have to head back to the hospital. I just wanted to stop by and be there for Mia and Gracie" he replied, kissing the girls on their temples before leaving.

Mia walked over to the kids and took Ally from Mikey. "Do you guys want to head home or head to Kara's for a little while?" she asked.

She knew Jason and Clay had to be there, but she didn't want to force the kids to go if they were uncomfortable.

"We can just take Ally home Aunt Mia, so you can go" Mikey stated.

She nodded and shifted Ally into his arms, "okay, just say goodbye to your dad" she walked over with them to Jason and Clay.

Emma and Mikey walked over and wrapped their arms around their dad's waist. "You okay guys?" he asked.

Emma nodded, "dad, we are going to take Ally home. Aunt Mia is going with you guys to Kara's" she informed him.

Jason nodded, kissing the top of her head, "okay honey, we won't be long" he replied.

Mikey grabbed Ally's bag and walked with them to the car.

He got her settled in the jeep while Emma, Cole and Natalie got in behind him.

"Be careful guys, we won't be long. I have left overs in the fridge, help yourselves okay" she told them.

"We'll be okay Aunt Mia" Emma said.

Mia nodded and stepped back, standing on the sidewalk with Jason as the kids drove off.

Jason wrapped an arm around her shoulders and walked her back to their group.

Clay noticed that Mia was walking over with Jason, without Ally.

"Where's the munchkin?" Derek asked.

"Mikey and Emma took her home. I didn't want to force them to come to Kara's. I don't want them to be uncomfortable. I am not going to stay long" she informed them.

"Alright, let's get this shit over with. We get this out of the way and then get ready to celebrate Charlie on New years before hunting down the son of a bitch who ambushed Charlie Team" Jeremy argued.

"I just want you guys to be careful over there and look out for each other" Nikki stated.

Mia nodded in agreement from under Jason's arms. "I second that" she added.

"Okay, let's go" Jason ordered, leading Mia to the car.

Once they were alone in the car, Mia let out a breath of relief, "did you see the way Stella was watching you guys at the church?" Jason asked.

Mia looked over at her brother and nodded. "Yeah, but this isn't about her and her little attitude. This is about Charlie" she argued.

He nodded, "I get that" he replied.

The church wasn't far from the McIntyre's, so Jason pulled in behind Clay's jeep.

It was a sad feeling as they walked in, Mia going to give Kara a hug, all eyes on them.

Stella stood with Clay and the rest of Bravo when Mia and Jason came in.

She watched with narrowed eyes as Mia walked right over to Kara and gave her a hug.

"Thanks for coming Mia. I appreciate the support" she said to her.

"Anytime Kara. You know we are always there for you, whatever you need" she said.

Going back to stand with Jason and the rest of Bravo, as everyone gave their condolences.

"We are going to get the asshole that did this" Brian asked.

"We have to get the package first. I talked to Mandy. We are having the briefing after New Years before we deploy" Jason explained.

"It's going to be weird deploying with Charlie Team without Charlie" Rob stated.

"We are deploying first with Alpha Team. When we leave, then you guys come so at least one of us is in the area at the same time" Jason stated.

"Well, while you guys are gone, we'll take care of Mia and Ally" Rob teased.

Stella sneered, and looked down her nose at Mia when Rob teased the girls and she felt Clay tense.

"Mia can take of herself" Mia interjected, only to be ignored by the boys.

Derek scoffed, "you don't have the right ammo we do" he replied completely seriously.

"Are we really arguing about this?" Jason asked.

Mia and Nikki started laughing, the guys shaking their heads. "I guess they are" Nikki replied.

"You guys are ridiculous. I'll see you all at New Years, I am going to head out" Mia said giving each of them a hug.

"We'll see you for New Years" Derek said.

"New Years is at your house?" Stella asked, surprised.

Mia turned and nodded. "Yes, it is" she replied.

Stella turned to Clay, "we are spending it together at my house" she stated, speaking for both of them.

"Actually, I was hoping to spend it with my daughter. I want to be there for my baby girls first New Years" Clay informed her.

Speaking up for the first time since they got to Kara's house.

"Babe, this is our first New Years together, we need to celebrate it together" she complained.

Mia sighed, "you can come with Clay if you like Stella" she invited the other woman.

Jason and Nikki looked at her confused. They were wondering what the hell she was thinking.

Stella nodded, "thanks" she replied.

Mia nodded and turned to walk out.

She did not want to stay to deal with the hell that was going to rain down on her from everyone for inviting Stella.

It was going to be awkward as hell.

With everything they have gone through recently with Charlie's death and the upcoming deployment, New Years needed to be perfect.

That is why Mia wanted to make New Years special. She wanted to make sure that everything was perfect.

Mia spent all day cooking and decorating the house for New Years.

She had a table with noise makers, New Years hats, glasses and special silverware for everyone.

It was really cute. She spent a lot of time at Party City.

Mia had a table set up with sparkling grape juice for the kids, wine for the adults and of course champagne for when the time came.

All day her, Emma, and Natalie cleaned the house from top and bottom.

The house was packed, people everywhere, just the way Mia liked it.

Clay was on the outskirts with Stella.

The girls and guys were shocked that Mia let Stella in her house, but she was trying to be the bigger person.

She wanted Clay to spend New Years with his daughter, and figured that he would want to be with his girlfriend, so she invited Stella.

Stella had to put her on the spot at Kara's house. Did she really want to invite her, hell no, but she knew she had to.

Ally was sitting in the middle of the floor, playing with some of her letter blocks and babbling to Emma and Cole as holiday songs played from the TV.

Mia smiled at the scene in front of her.

Her daughter was surrounded by the people she loved the most.

"Emma, when the rest of the people come, take her to the playroom. Lainey will be here in a little while" she informed her.

"Sure, thing Aunt Mia" Emma replied.

Cole grabbed Ally while Emma grabbed the dolls and letter blocks and followed them to the playroom.

Cole put her down so she was holding onto the table in the playroom, bouncing on her legs.

"Aunt Mia! Uncle Clay!" Emma called out from the playroom.

Hearing Emma's screams, Mia and Clay ran through the living room and to the doorway of the playroom, both looking concerned.

"What's going on?" Mia asked with her hands on her hips.

Emma pointed to Ally in the center of the room, holding onto the table.

Clay turned and watched as his daughter looked up at him and waved her hand at her dad, "da da, mama" she squealed at them.

"She's standing on her own" Clay exclaimed beyond excited.

Mia went over the babygate and into the playroom. She bent over and picked up her daughter, squealing in excitement.

"Good job Princess!" she kissed her cheeks.

Placing her down on the ground, Mia watched Clay walk over the baby gate and crouch down in front of her.

"Come on babe, can you walk to daddy?" he stretched his arms out in front of him.

Ally ignored her dad and just looked at her cousins while playing with the blocks.

"Please baby" he begged.

She shook her head, laughing at her dad. "No dada" she smiled at him and continued playing with her blocks and reaching for Cole.

Mia couldn't but laugh, "look at the big bad Bravo Six begging with a noncompliant baby" she teased.

Jason and the rest of the guys walked over and laughed at the scene before them.

"What the hell are you doing Clay?" Ray asked.

"She is standing, I am trying to get her to walk to me" he replied, not taking his eyes off Ally.

"She doesn't seem to be moving" Jason teased.

"Go Princess! Look at you standing" Nikki squealed, clapping from the living room.

Cole turned and put his arms out, "come on babe, come walk to your favorite person" he teased, knowing he was throwing a dig at Clay.

The elder Seal scoffing, the others trying to hide their laughter.

"I already tried that asshole" Clay argued.

"Well, you aren't me, are you?" he retorted, "Come on Dollface, walk to me" he encouraged her.

With a letter block in each hand, she turned to look at Cole, sucking on her lower lip, as she thought about it.

A look of determination on her face, she grabbed her blocks and stayed close to the table as she slowly took a few sideways steps.

When she reached the edge, she took one small step towards Cole.

Realizing that she could do it, with Mikey trailing behind her on his knees in case she fell backwards.

She slowly made her way down the table and into Coles' arms.

He stood up, swinging her up in the air, resting her in his arms, kissing her cheeks.

The guys couldn't help but bust out laughing at the look on Clay's face.

He was devastated that Ally walked to Cole instead of him.

Mia stood up and looked back at Clay with an amused look on her face.

She walked over to him and patted his back, "you okay there dad?" she asked, trying to hold in her laughter.

He glared at her, "this is not funny" he groaned.

She couldn't help but laugh, "it kind of is though" she laughed.

Clay just scowled more, crossing his arms across his chest, "that little punk" he mumbled under his breath, shaking his head at Cole, who was dancing with Ally across the playroom.

"Wipe that scowl off your face and be happy you are here to spend New Years with your daughter" Mia stated, giving Clay a pointed look.

"But she walked to him Mia. What the fuck? I am her dad; she should have walked to me" he complained like a three-year-old.

Mia laughed and walked over to him, wrapping his arms around her waist as she looked down at him.

"You are being ridiculous you know that. Cole may be her friend, but you are her dad. You are the one she is going to look up to when she needs help" she reassured him.

He sighed, resting his forehead against her stomach.

"This sucks. Having a girl is going to be the death of me" he replied, pulling away as Mia started laughing.

"It's not that bad, it is going to be fine. At least our daughter is amazingly wonderful" she teased.

Clay scoffed, "yeah, wonderfully wrapped around my fucking finger" he mumbled.

"Come on Clay, be happy she has you wrapped around your finger. Enjoy her while she is young and still listens to you" Jason stated helping himself to a beer from Mia's fridge.

"Yeah, before you know it she is going to be going to school, then soon after, she is going to be going on dates and stuff. You know that right?" Ray added to the torture.

They all turned to watch Ally start wobbling her way around the playroom, trying to run away from Mikey and Cole.

Mia couldn't help but burst out laughing at the look on Clay's face.

"Come on guys, don't give him a heart attack just yet. We still have a long way to go before she starts dating" she warned them.

"Yeah, she is not dating ever. I better be six feet under before she even thinks about bringing a boy around here" Jason growled.

"I am going to kill him and put her in a nunnery" Clay added.

Clay picked up his daughter and cuddled her into his chest. "You're not going to go on dates with guys, are you? No, you are going to stay with daddy and mommy forever, right?" he stated.

Ally smiled and lunged forward to hug her dad tighter, squeezing her arms around his neck.

The guys just laughed at the scene before them. That little girl had no idea what they were talking about but picked her dad and her mom anyway.

Stella watched the scene from the living room doorway with narrowed eyes.

She was tired of watching Clay hanging out with Mia and the guys. She always felt like an outsider, and she wanted that to stop.

Stella walked right over to them and wrapped her arm around Clay's arm.

"Come on honey, let's get a good spot to watch the ball drop" she said, trying to pull him away.

Clay reluctantly nodded and handed Ally over to Mia.

She took her daughter and cuddled her into his chest.

The guys crowded her. "That asshole" Derek mumbled.

Mia laughed, "it's okay guys" she said, nuzzling her daughter's temple.

"No, it's not. He just isn't going to get it, is he?" Jeremy replied.

"Guys, it's okay. Really, I am fine. I wanted him here for New Years and he is here, spending New Years with his daughter. That's all I wanted of him" she stated.

"It's still bullshit" Derek added.

Mia nodded and walked over to the tables and started passing out the drinks, noise makers, and party hats.

She gave the kids the sparkling juice.

They all gathered in the living room around the TV.

Jason wrapped his arms his kids, Mia standing next to them with Ally in her arms.

"Alright, here we go…10…" Mia started the countdown.

"9"

"8"

"7"

"6"

"5"

"4"

"3"

"2"

"1"

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" they all shouted in the house.

There were claps, noise makers going off, and cheers all around.

Jason pulled his kids in his arms, kissing their heads, giving them each a hug before moving to Mia and Ally.

"Happy New Year guys" he said, pulling his sister into a hug with Ally still in her arms, "Happy New Year Sis" he kissed her cheek.

Mia couldn't help but smile and tear up as she hugged her brother and niece and nephew.

"I love you guys so much. I am so thankful for you and your help this year" she said to them.

Everyone came over and took their turns wishing each other Happy New Year.

Mia stopped short in front of Clay and Stella.

The other woman had her arms wrapped around Clay like a snake holding its prey in its vice.

Clay stepped up and took Ally into his arms and kissed her cheeks. "Happy New Year Angel" he nuzzled her neck, pressing her into him.

Mia smiled, "Happy New Year Clay" she said nodding to Stella.

"Happy New Year to you too Mia" Stella added.

Mia nodded as Clay pulled her into a hug. "Happy New Year Mia. Thank you for bringing my Angel into my life and supporting me throughout this year" he whispered against her ear.

She put on a fake smile and wiped her tears as she pulled away. "You're welcome. I am glad we got to spend New Years together" she replied.