Chapter Two

"It's cold out there" Hannah said as she came into house. She closed the door and shucked off her winter coat revealing her 37 week old baby bump which made her job as a Doctor a real bitch to do. She was not the glowing perfect baby mumma, no she was the acne ridden, back hair growing, swollen feet, sciatica twinging, flatulent, run down hag mother to be. The only thing pregnancy seemed to make better for her was her hair that was just luscious and perfect while the rest was a hot mess.

But in all that, she did have a pretty good life. She lived in the Granny flat out the back of Tex's property, she had friends who were more like family to her than her own who were still MIA. But if she was honest, she was happy with who she had in her life. Except for one person, Wolf Taylor the one night of crazy, amazing, toe curling pleasurable sex and here she was pregnant. It served her right for believing that she couldn't possibly fall in that 0.1% of condom failures. But she had a baby inside her that proved that wrong. A baby, that she wanted and was keeping. Frankly, she was already in love with little kid even if he or she liked kicking her ribs and pushing against her bladder.

Either way she had embraced her life as she had embraced her name. People still called her 'Doc' but outside of work it was Hannah and she liked it. She just wished that Wolf had replied to one of her half a dozen phone calls but he'd gone radio silent which sent a message to her loud and clear. He wasn't interested, she even heard that he'd hooked up with Val which was a surprise as Hannah had thought the woman was a lesbian. Turned out she was wrong, and that Wolf had made a choice. The only consolation she felt was that she wasn't the only one left in the cold as he'd stopped communicating with Larrin. Something they'd both learned when he hadn't returned any of her calls either. Something they' boned over much like the fact that Hannah was pregnant with her nephew or niece. Yet what stung the most for both of them in that scenario was that Wolf flew to Hong Kong on one phone call from Captain Chandler.

"Whoa," Hannah said as she noticed the kitchen. It was a mess, four month old Frankie was sleeping in the Bouncer chair in the middle of the dining table surrounded by plates of gingerbread biscuits and some other kind of biscuits Hannah didn't recognise as well as salads for the dinner tonight.

"Hey!" Larrin said as she pulled out a fresh tray of more biscuits. She smiled brightly as she set the tray down letting the biscuits. She was covered in flour and a light sheen of sweat, her cheeks rosy from her exertion of baking like a mad woman. Even her messy bun was looking lopsided and worse for wear.

"Hey, where are the others?" Hannah asked as she took a seat at the table giving a sigh as she was exhausted and achy from just a 5 hour shift on her feet. Her back especially was killing her and been ever since she'd woken up the day before yesterday. She just chalked it up to pregnancy weird side effect and kept plugging along with her day. She might not be a graceful pregnant woman but she was a hardworking one.

"Tex is picking up Kat, so they'll be back soon and Frankie is in our care as Debbie caught that cold going around." Larrin said making a face as she had endured it last week and knew it wasn't any fun.

"Fair enough, so are we opening a bakery?" Hannah asked, not complaining as it all smelt delicious and her stomach rumbled wanting all of it.

"It's for the party and some for Eric. He really likes Gingerbread but I think the Anzac biscuits will win him over too. I made them because I wanted a taste of home." Larrin said with a satisfied smile as it all looked good.

"Ah, why would you need to win Eric over?" Hannah asked as she picked up an Anzac biscuit from one of the plates on the table. It was still warm and when she took a bite, she gave a moan as it was delicious and hit all the right notes in her brain and on her taste buds.

"I don't, I just want him to be happy and enjoy given the rough time he went through. I remember the best part of coming to st Louis was putting everything behind me and returning to the illusion of society and good food." Larrin said with a shrug.

"When will he be home?" Hannah asked as she rubbed her back to smooth out the kinks but failing. She wished she could take some codeine and just zone out in the relief of no pain but her baby wouldn't like it.

"Tonight, with my brother." Larrin informed her, she looked at Hannah with a cautious gaze not sure how Hannah would react. "He hadn't turned on his phone, but he'll be home for Christmas." Larrin added.

"Is Val coming with him?" Hannah asked carefully as her stomach did a flip flop and she knew it wasn't the baby as it was prodding it's feet at the exterior of her belly. She unconsciously smoothed a hand over her bump in a soothing manner. She had admit she was over the being pregnant stage and ready to get into the dirty diapers, sleep deprivation and cuddles with her baby.

"She died." Larrin said, Hannah's shoulder sagged as she hadn't known and she never wanted the woman to die even if she did hate her just a little for being with Wolf.

"Did he say anything else?" Hannah asked, the unspoken part was she was inferring about herself.

"Sorry, it was a quick call. Part of me is relieved he's ok but another part of me is just pissed that he's walking right back in expecting everything to be normal." Larrin said with a frustrated huff, she looked to Hannah. "I'm sorry my brother is such a dick." she added.

"Is that why you cooked so many of these things?" Hannah asked as she picked up another weird looking oat biscuit and took a bite enjoying the sugar rush and richness of flavour.

"No, but try not to eat too many of the Anzac biscuits as you'll give yourself a stomach ache." Larrin cautioned her.

Tex waited in the airport, the snow was starting to come down thick. He was starting to think the weatherman had it wrong. He was more worried about the low temps than snow as St Louis wasn't known for being buried in snow but colder temps meant ice. Ice on the roads was not conditions he was used to driving in even if he had the SUV decked out with tire chains.

So the sooner the others came out of the Hercules that had landed the sooner he'd be safely home. He looked around at those in the hangar waiting for their loved ones. He didn't recognise many of them, he knew Chandler's family were at home as he'd spoken with Jed about driving in snowy conditions last week. The older man remarked that Tom was a grown man, he didn't need his father picking up. But he had a feeling that the old man and Rachel had a surprise up their sleeves.

He spotted Ms Miller and had waved as she was at the other end. She waved back but made no move to come over for a chat. So he let it be. He knew when six of the Nathan James crew had been taken hostage, Ms Miller had lashed out at the Navy and Michener. She'd made it clear that she despised them for their slow efforts as she was irrational with fear for her son but some things couldn't be unsaid. Just as he couldn't explain what was happening to her satisfaction. To assure her that these situations did take time to resolve.

Either way, he didn't mind the distance and he was glad she had moved out as her negative energy had brought down the house's mood. It also meant he had his house back as she had taken over somewhat. But it was all in the past. Right now, the doors opened and a blast of cold air rushed into the area.

He smiled as the first of people started coming through the door. He saw Andrea, his heart filled with joy and concern as she looked exhausted but she was alive and well. He remembered watching the news seeing her as a hostage. It had been difficult to not be able to run to help but he had no way of getting to her and he had his daughter to think of. He knew Andrea and the others would understand.

She saw him, their eyes connected and he swore he saw tears in her eyes as she walked up to him. She stopped just in front of him and cleared her throat. "Tex." she said, so formal but her eyes were warm.

"Andrea, it's good to see you." he said drinking in the sight of her. Andrea blinked back tears and gave a nod unable to speak. She dropped her bag and stepped towards him. Her fingers sank into his hair as she covered her lips with his in a surprisingly soft but passionate kiss.

It took Tex by surprise, as she was making a bold move but before he could even properly respond she pulled back, her hands moved to cup his face. She looked at his face drinking in his features. "I'm ready." she told him.

Tex reached up and placed his hand on her wrist and used his thumb to stroke the back of her hand. A smile playing across his lips as he'd been waiting awhile to hear those words.

"Ok, you want to come over for dinner?" he asked her, but there was an undercurrent of understanding between them that this was the beginning of something good. "Larrin has cooked enough gingerbread men to feed a battalion but I've been promised there will be other food." he told her.

"That would be great." Andrea replied with a nod, she took a fortifying breath as she dropped her hands down to his chest. She enjoyed the tactile feel of his sturdy body. After the past deployment, she craved the steady strength that Tex carried himself with. She also just craved his company, to laugh, to feel loved, to be reminded that there was a good side of humanity.

"I don't see Larrin anywhere." Wolf said as he and Miller walked into the airport area where the families could greet their returning family members.

"She's got tied up with baking." Miller said as he was looking at his phone, Wolf ha to admit he was a little envious of how communicative Larrin was with Miller but then he did deserve the radio silence.

He'd learnt the world he loved in Australia was gone, that all of his and Larrin's family was dead. It made him feel like a failure, that guilt and the guilt ate him up. So it was easier to cut ties at the time and then he got swept into special ops division with Val for Captain Chandler as he had international ties and she was tech savvy. It was a good mix of skills among other things.

He hadn't meant to hook up with Val but she was just so casual and easy to be with. It was empty and meaningless sexual relationship with a great friendship. Then he was called to Hong Kong where he'd lost Val, which just piled on the pain and guilt that was seared in him. Either way it was all a mess and he couldn't seem to stop making them. At least his professional life was going swimmingly. He just needed to repair the damage to his sibling relationship with Larrin. All they had were each other.

"I'm sorry about earlier." Wolf said to Miller, he knew it was belated but he knew he hadn't been the friend Miller had needed on this deployment.

"I appreciate that but Burk is right. You know I want the best for her and I would never her intentionally but my relationship with Larrin is none of your business." Miller said, Wolf nodded impressed with the backbone Miller was showing him.

"Copy that." Wolf assured him.

"I see my mother." Miller said with a sigh that wasn't of joy. Wolf clapped him on the shoulder an gave him a squeeze as he wished he had Miller's problem. He'd love to see his mother and be hugged and fussed over by her.

"I'm going in." Miller said as he left him and went over to his Mom. It wasn't like he didn't want to see her but she wished she wouldn't look at him like he was a wounded puppy. His ankle was nearly healed, he had some nightmares and had a few demons but he'd work through them. His mom rushed to him and wrapped him up in her arms. He smiled as he appreciated the hug, he did miss her and being hugged.

"My poor boy. Let me look at you." she said as she pulled back and inspected him.

"I'm ok." he assured her, he could see she didn't believe him. She looked at him in a way that made him feel like he was 5 yrs old. Not exactly what he wanted to feel like right at the moment or anytime soon.

"I'm so sorry for what happened. I'm so angry it took you so long to come home." she said darkly.

"Mom, sometimes I'm going to get hurt. It's life and we did good work." Miller told her but he could see she didn't understand as she looked hurt.

"You're staying in the Navy aren't you?" she asked him, it sounded more like an accusation than a question.

"Of course, I am and I don't want to talk about this." he said as he could see she had a whole argument ready in her head to tell him why he should leave the Navy when his enlistment was up. But she'd fail to convince him as the Navy was his life, it was in his blood. He was meant to be on the Nathan James working with the people he did, it all felt right and he couldn't leave that.

"Ok." His Mom said with a nod but she looked hurt. "I have a wonderful place, come home and I'll look after you. We can celebrate Christmas in the morning." She added with a smile.

"Mom, I'm fine really. I promised Lt Green I'd do a team Christmas thing with him and the guys tonight. It's team building thing. But Larrin and I will come over for Breakfast." Miller offered, he felt like an ass but when it was suggested they all meet up for Dinner at Tex's. Well, it sounded great, though what would've been better was a whole night with Larrin but he knew how important it was to just blow off steam and socialise with friends.

"I'd prefer we spend time just the two of us." His Mom said, Miller frowned as he thought that maybe his crisis had pulled Larrin and his Mom closer but apparently not.

"Why? Don't you like Larrin?" he asked her, he really wished his Mom would tell him what the deal was with his Mom not liking Larrin other than her not wanting him to 'grow up'.

"She's lovely but Honey, I want it to be us." She said it was clear she was adamant about them having family time together so he conceded to her.

"Ok, we'll have breakfast and lunch but I've committed to dinner with Larrin tonight and tomorrow." he told her, hating that he had to choose between them but then his Mom didn't give him a choice. As he knew Larrin was too much a people person to not at least try to bridge the gap between his Mom and her.

"Ok." His mother said looking disappointed but not saying anything.

"I just need to talk to Tex for a second. So stay here and I'll be back." Miller told her, he gave her a quick hug and walked over to where Wolf, Commander Garnett and Tex were standing.

"Hey, how's it going?" Tex asked as he saw Miller and held out a hand. Miller gave it a firm shake before Tex pulled him in for a quick manly hug. With one pat on the back, Miller and Tex stepped back.

"Good." Miller replied.

"How's your Mom?" Andrea asked, Miller gave a half shrug as he didn't want to tell the truth.

"She's ok, I just wanted to double check dinner is at 7pm?" Miller asked them, he knew it was bad but he really wanted to be around others who pretended everything was fine. That the trauma they suffered was bad but not something to dwell on. He was still a little embarrassed that he'd cried in front of Andrea. She was his commanding officer and it seemed she was stronger than he was as nothing seemed to touch her. He knew she had her demons but she had bolstered him and the others without showing any wear and tear from it.

"Yeah and Larrin said she'd meet you at your apartment. I saw the surprise. It's something. Prepare yourself." Tex warned him, Miller frowned as he wasn't sure if he should be envious or scared.

"It'll be fine." Andrea assured him, her words laden with extra meaning that the phrase encompassed his whole world not just this moment or whatever Larrin had done to his apartment.

"Well, I should go. I'll see you later." he told them.