My life got busy so I am drawing this to a close…slowly. Just be patient! End is in sight. Please enjoy and review. The reviews are appreciated.

Christmas Surprise

Chapter 5

Christine woke up and realized Mike's arms were around her and she had her head on his chest. He was snoring softly, a noise she had actually missed. It was about six and she needed to get up to start cooking but she was savoring the moment. Before Mike left for the Arctic, she had all but filed for divorce, even speaking to an attorney. She just couldn't pull the trigger. She had been angry at him for not taking the position in Florida and for being gone so much but once the flu hit and Lucas died; all she could think of was how badly she missed him. She had been horrible to him and he deserved better. Mike woke up and kissed the top of her head, not realizing she was awake.

"Morning."

"Oh, I didn't realize you were awake. You should have woke me up."

"I was enjoying this."

"Me too. I did break a promise to you."

"Hmm?"

Mike bent down and started kissing her passionately. Christine straddled him and started returning the kisses. His hand was under her shirt and she was kissing along his jawline and untying the drawstring on his pajama pants.

"Mom!" Christine groaned and Mike laughed. She barely had time to sit on the bed properly and adjust her shirt before Hannah came in and jumped on the bed with them. She cuddled up close to Mike and smiled at both of them, completely oblivious as to what she had interrupted.

"What'd you need, sweetie?"

"I just wanted in here with you guys. I missed you."

"How about you and I go make your pancakes so Mom can get a break from the cooking before she starts dinner and she can take a shower?"

"Okay!" Just as quick as she had come in their bedroom and jumped on the bed, she was out the door again. They both started laughing and Christine got off the bed.

"You think Tom and Sasha would care to watch the girls one night just so we could have some time?"

"I'll ask. I've watched Sam and Ashley overnight for them. Maybe New Year's Eve? A nice hotel with room service?"

"Expensive? Sounds nice but we've cost a lot of money this week."

"It's not a problem. I'll call around. I can get some good prices."

"Sounds nice. You'd better get in the kitchen and make those pancakes."

Mike got up and headed for the kitchen. Caroline was also awake but was reading something. She only gave him a slight smile and then went back to reading. She had always been serious but Mike wished he could draw her out of her shell. Hannah went back in her room to change into her clothes but Caroline stayed sitting at the kitchen island.

"So, I'm off work this next week. I thought you and I could do something fun. Just you and me."

"Okay."

"Any idea what you want to do?"

"No. When do you deploy again? I don't want to get to use to doing stuff with you and you being here if you're leaving again."

"I am going to put in for shore duty when I go back to work after the New Year so I won't be deploying."

"It's not a guarantee you'll get it. You shouldn't promise things that you're not sure of." Caroline picked her book up and walked back to her bedroom without saying another word. Mike was speechless, but she had a point. He couldn't go after her because of the pancakes cooking. Christine and Hannah both came back in and he sit Hannah's plate in front of her. Christine was fixing her coffee and Mike was struggling with what to do.

"Christine, can you watch these pancakes? I need to go talk to Caroline."

"Sure, everything okay?"

"It will be. Just need a moment with her."

"Okay."

Mike was thankful that Caroline's door was partially open. She was in her chair reading with her legs tucked up under her. He had no clue what to say to her but he knew he had to address it. He knelt down in front of her and took the book out of her hands to keep her attention.

"Caroline, look at me." She frowned at him and reached for her book but he sit it on her bed and grabbed both her hands in his. "You have a point. I shouldn't promise these things but I also know that the training facility needs instructors and with what happened on the Nathan James, the President will let me transfer there. I'm here for good."

"You've said that before. And you and Mom? You guys didn't get along before."

"We are working on that. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. I didn't realize what I had with your mom or you kids and I regret that. I had a beautiful family and still do. I took you all for granted. And for that I am sorry. You have a right to be angry with me. I know things have not been easy for you girls and I want to make sure you have nothing to worry about that again."

"And what happens when you realize that you want to be out at sea more then you want to be here. It's happened before."

"Caroline, I am not going to argue with you. Especially not over Christmas. I will prove to you what I am saying. Now, your pancakes are probably ready and I would appreciate you coming out and spending the day with us. Without a book. Come on." He pulled her up onto her feet and wrapped an arm around her. She was tense and he thought about just dropping his arm and letting her be. It wouldn't solve anything though and he wanted to mend the fences between his daughter and himself. If losing Lucas had taught him anything, it was that he needed to be a better father to the children he had left.

Caroline sat down with a huff and Christine put her plate of pancakes in front of her. She gave Mike a suspicious look but went back to her cookbook. Mike went into their bedroom to change clothes and Christine followed him in.

"What's going on?"

"Caroline doesn't think that I am staying here. She doesn't trust me."

"Did she say that?"

"In not so many words. And the thing is, I've given her every reason to believe that."

"You have. But you are just going to have to prove to her that you're here for good."

"That's what I told her. That I would just prove it. I also told her I didn't want to argue with her over Christmas and I wanted her out there spending time with us, without a book."

"How about I occupy Hannah and you spend some one on one time with her?"

"The idea is good but she is pretty resistant. I am going to see if I can borrow a couple board games from Tom. She always enjoyed that."

"Yes, she did. But Mike, remember, she is still very introverted. It's just her nature. You can't force her to socialize. It will only cause hurt feelings. Hannah is so much more outgoing then Caroline."

"I know but I don't want her to be like that when she's dealing with me. I'm her own father. I love her."

"I know you do. Might try telling her that. Have you said that to her the last couple days? I've heard you tell Hannah."

"Actually, no. And it wasn't intentional."

"Well, try that. While you're at Tom's, can you ask him about keeping the girls? Even if it's not New Year's Eve."

"I will. When's the last time you and I had a night away from the kids? Before the pandemic?"

"Our sixth anniversary. We only had Caroline then, but Hannah was our souvenir."

"That long ago?"

"Yeah. Kids, bills, deployments all got in the way."

"Well, we need it."

"I agree. Even just one night will be perfect. I won't want to leave the girls any longer than that."

"Sounds good. Let's get back out there."

They walked back into the kitchen and Caroline was washing dishes up. Hannah was watching something on TV and so Mike grabbed his jacket and headed out the door. Fortunately Tom was out shoveling the walkway.

"Hey. Christine is starting to cook."
"And she's not letting you in the kitchen?"

"Nope. Can I borrow a couple of your board games?"

"Yeah, of course."

"Thanks, do you and Sasha have any plans New Year's Eve?"

"Just hanging out with the kids. Why?"

"Christine and I need a night away. I was wondering if you'd keep the girls?"

"Sure. You do realize that your bedroom doorknob locks? My house and yours is identical. You just have to lock the door if you want a kid free bedroom."

"Voice of experience?"

"No. The door just automatically gets locked if Sasha stays over."

"Which is every night. Why does she still pay rent at her apartment?"

"Her lease is up next month. But yes, I can watch the girls. What are the plans?"

"I need to find a hotel with room service."

"Do I need to keep them more than one night?"

"No. We don't want to be away from them that long."

"When was the last time you and Christine took a night away?"

"Well, Hannah is ten. When she was conceived."

"Okay, first of all too much information and secondly, no wonder you guys were having issues before you left for the Arctic. When was the last time you two slept together?"

"I had been sleeping on the couch for about three months before but as far as the other, probably a year before the Arctic. Things were ragged. She had spoken with an attorney about divorce. The plan was that when I got back, we would file. I had asked her not to before I got back. I wanted it be amicable."

"And now?"

"We're working on it. I am putting in for shore duty first thing. Training facility. Just hope I get it. Partly why we need the night away. "

"You happen to have an in."

"Who?"

"The CNO."

"We don't have one right now."

"We do now. The President is making the announcement after the New Year's. I have been appointed. I've been meaning to ask you about the training facility. I need someone I trust to run it. Someone who can figure out the cream of the crop and cull out the ones that won't work. It won't be a pleasant job but you'll be home every night. If you want it, it's yours but please keep it quiet. Put in for the training facility just so things are on the up and up. Can't look like favoritism."

"Thanks."

"Sure it's what you want? You've always wanted to be Captain and you would eventually be promoted to Admiral."

"If I want to stay married and have a decent relationship with my oldest daughter, than I do. She is convinced I'll leave."

"Ashley still does that too. You just have to prove it."

"That's what I figured. I'll get those board games."

"Door is open. Go on in." Mike patted Tom's shoulder and walked in to the house. It was still quiet and he picked out three different games that would hopefully occupy Caroline.

While Mike was gone, Christine decided to talk to Caroline. Hannah was occupied and Caroline was eating her breakfast and was being very glib. Their situation was a lot better and Caroline knew it but she was having trouble adjusting.

"

"So, Hannah is going to help me today and you and Dad are going to spend some time together. He went to go get some board games. He told me you and him had a bit of a spat this morning."

"Yeah."

"Caroline, he is trying really hard to be a better husband and dad. I know we've given him chances before but I am giving him another chance and you are coming along for the ride. But more than that, I want you to give him another chance. Not for his sake but your own. He is your father and he loves you. You need him in your life."

"And when he leaves again?"

"Things have changed, Caroline. I don't think he will."

"I'm not making any bets."

"He'll prove it. He's pretty determined."

"Yeah, right."

Mike walked in just then and sit the games down. Hannah gave him a huge hug but seemed to know the games were for Caroline and that she would be spending the day with her mom. He wasn't even sure how to interact with Caroline who was picking at her breakfast. He exchanged a look with Christine and grabbed a cup of coffee. Caroline finally finished her breakfast and looked at the stack of games with some interest. She selected Monopoly and walked towards the living room without saying a word. Hannah came into the kitchen ready to help her mom and gave Mike another hug. He was glad things were easy with her. He filled his coffee back up and headed down the steps to the living room. Caroline was sitting the game up on the ottoman and had turned Christmas music on.

It was the quietest game of Monopoly Mike had ever played. Caroline wasn't interested in talking at all. She did seem to enjoy the game and he had even gotten a smile out of her when he let her win. Once they put the game back in the box, she stood up to take it back to the kitchen and he was going to grab a cup of coffee. It shocked him when she pulled him into a hug and clung to him. Instead of pulling away, he kissed the top of her head and tightened his hold on her.

"I love you, Caroline. And I will not be leaving again. It won't happen and I will prove it to you." He felt her nod into his chest and she finally let loose of him. He noticed the tears on her face and brushed them away, kissing her forehead again. He wasn't sure what had changed but something had and he was just going to go with it.

They spent the rest of the day playing games. Hannah and Christine would bring in samples at different times but for the most part it was just Mike and Caroline. She was still quiet but was at least not sullen. Dinner was at five and Christine had outdone herself. There was a ham, mashed potatoes, cream corn, green beans, rolls, homemade macaroni and cheese, chicken and dumplings, cranberries, a potato casserole and several pies. Their guests got off easy, just bringing a salad, wine and drinks. Mike's mouth was watering with all the various scents coming from the kitchen.

People started trailing in at four. They had opened the invitation to several of the crew that didn't have family close in addition to the Chandlers, Sasha and the Green's. Wolf came in with a prime rib that he had cooked because he didn't want to come in empty handed and Andrea had brought in her deviled eggs that were pretty famous. A couple of the single guys that couldn't cook brought in plastic ware and alcohol.

By the time everyone packed in, Mike realized that the house that he thought was too big a couple days prior was tiny with everyone there but they made it work. Tom and Danny went to their houses to bring chairs over and the kids ate, sitting on the floor. There was an old football game on the TV that got a lot of commentary and there was a lot of laughter. Caroline occupied Frankie and seemed happier than she had all day.

Sasha, Kara and Andrea insisted that they would clean up and for Christine to relax. She ended up sitting on Mike's knee due to a lack of seating and enjoying a glass of wine. The conversation was light and the kitchen was cleaned up quickly. The crowd finally all left after everything was cleaned up and there was Christmas well wishes.

Getting the girls settled down, especially Hannah, was a feat and Mike and Christine both knew that they would be up early opening presents. Christine fell into the bed, absolutely exhausted and was asleep as soon as Mike laid down next to her and she settled on his chest. They left the door open because they both figured Hannah would just come in when she woke up. He had told her before she went to sleep what Tom had said about the training facility but that it was being kept quiet and that he would look at hotels the next day since Tom and Sasha were going to keep the girls. She was genuinely excited.