A/N: I added in another OC, because I like everyone being happy and I'm just imagining him looking like Jeffrey Dean Morgan in my head. Sigh, he's so fine...

Chapter 23

"Are you staying for dinner?" Ashley asked, it was a few hours until then but it was clear the kids wanted to keep him for a while. A feeling that warmed him inside out, he knew he shouldn't have to feel like he wasn't wanted. But he liked it being reaffirmed that he was wanted after months of being told otherwise.

"I'd love to, would be ok if I invited a friend?" he asked them.

"Who?" Ashley asked making a face.

"Sasha, she came down with me as she had business at the old court house. I had said I'd have dinner with her." Tom said , he saw his children looked reluctant as they assumed he had planned to leave. "I hadn't expected to stay for dinner, I'm sure she wouldn't mind." Tom said, he wanted to introduce her in a better way but he really couldn't leave her on the outside waiting for the 'right' moment.

"I think it would be great to see Sasha. Give her a call." Andrea said making the decision for them all.

"Yeah, it would be good to see her." Ashley said thoughtfully.

"She did keep her promise." Sammy added the two exchanged nods, Tom felt lost as he was missing something here. Sasha hadn't said anything to him.

"Promise?" Tom asked them.

"She promised that she'd bring you home. You're here." Ashley told him with a small smile, tears filled her eyes. Tom opened his arms and she rushed around the table into his arms. He pressed a kiss to the top of head as he held her.

"Hey." a voice called out, Tom looked up to the open back door to see a man standing there. He was tall and in his late forties with wavy short dark brown hair and 5 day old salt and pepper beard on his face. He looked at the scene before him and realised he was interrupting. "Sorry, I can come back." he said more to Andrea than the others.

"No, it's fine." Andrea said as she rose from her chair and went to the door. "How are my pipes?" she asked him, a light blush gracing her cheeks as the stranger smiled at her. There was a casual charm and warmth the man exuded and Tom could've sworn his friend looked flustered yet lulled by the man's presence. The kids seemed to know him as they weren't freaking out.

"They are all looking good. I turned the water back and the hole is covered, so you can let Bruno out." He told her as he leaned through the doorway, unconcerned about the dirty condition of his clothes and boots. Yet considerate enough to not step inside. He waited for Andrea's response as she just looked a little dazed, but it didn't last as she snapped out of it.

"Ah sorry, yes, thank you." Andrea said as she was back with them. She looked to Tom and then to Gabe, "My neighbour. Gabriel Jones. This is Tom Chandler, Ashley and Sammy's father." She said making the introductions somewhat awkwardly.

"Nice to meet you." Tom said with a nod.

"You too, I'd shake your hand but my hands are a little on the nose. So I'll head off." Gabe said before giving Andrea a lingering look. It didn't take a moron to know the man like Andrea. She was clearly interested yet not doing a thing about it.

"Or you could clean up and come back for dinner." Ashley suggested, Andrea shot her an unimpressed look before she smiled at Gabe. He just grinned as he hadn't missed any of it or the not so subtle interference.

"The more the merrier." Tom said, he would prefer it to be a small party but figured with Gabe at the table it would take some of the pressure off Sasha.

"Ok, I never turn down a free meal." Gabe said disappearing again, as soon as he was gone; Andrea gave Tom and Ashley a dark look.

"It's not happening." Andrea told her.

"Why not? He likes you and he fixed our toilet for free which is something you could've fixed yourself." Ashley told her, the mood lightening up in the room.

"She has a point." Tom said before Andrea could defend herself against Ashley's logic.

"Wipe that smile off your face and call Sasha." Andrea told him curtly. Tom pursed his lips and nodded mockingly.

"Ooo, may I have a unicorn sticker?" Daniela asked Hannah. Courtney, Meylan and Mike sat on the opposite side of the table watching in amusement as Hannah decorated Daniela's cast. All were stuffed with good food and taking a brief rest before dessert.

"Sure, I think right here." Hannah said as she placed the sticker on Daniela's cast. It was coloured in rainbow swirls with many star stickers, heart stickers and now one unicorn sticker.

"Mmm you are so right. It's perfect. Thank you. " Daniela told her as if she were inspecting sophisticated designer not that of a child.

"Glitter tape?" Hannah asked her, she was glowing from the attention and compliments from Daniela on her work.

"Do you have glue to go over the top? I don't want cover Joseph in Glitter." Daniela told her. Hannah looked to Meylan and then back to Daniela.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Hannah asked in a low voice. Her eyes wide in surprise.

"Yes." Daniela said with a wink at Meylan, he smiled. She loved that smile. She was enjoying herself being in the Slattery home but she also couldn't wait to get home with Meylan. Have him all to herself like she had the past few days.

"Are you going to get married?" Hannah asked her. Mike turned his chair and looked to Meylan with a grin as it was always fun to have the kids put his friends in the hot seat.

"I don't know, Joseph? Are we going to get married?" Daniela asked Meylan.

"Maybe, depends on the weather." Meylan replied with amusement before he took a sip of his coffee. She liked his answer as it wasn't a 'no' and he didn't look off put by the question.

"You should do it quickly cause it gets really cold in the winter." Hannah told them in a sage manner.

"We'll keep that in mind." Meylan said amused by Hannah who nodded while her father chuckled.

"You should have babies." Hannah added, Meylan choked on his coffee and Daniela huffed a laugh as this little girl had a lot of questions. Made her wonder where they were coming from.

"Hannah, it's not nice to tell people what to do." Mike advised his youngest daughter.

"But I could babysit for money. I'll be old enough then to look after babies." Hannah told Daniela in a matter of fact manner.

"Well, I'll keep you in mind but Joseph and I have only been dating a few weeks now. It's a bit early for us to have babies." Daniela told Hannah in a kind manner, a light blush graced her cheeks as she hadn't put her mind to it. But now the question it was out there she wondered what it would be like to have kids. Kids with Meylan, the mental image forming in her mind. A dream of normalcy she had never allowed herself to have before.

"How long would it take you?" Hannah asked her.

"I don't know, ask your father." Daniela said throwing the responsibility of that answer to Mike.

"Daddy?" Hannah asked.

"Until Daniela is 45 years old." Mike said without hesitation, Hannah's eyes went wide at the number as to her it sounded like forever.

"We got a while to wait." Daniela told Meylan, he just grinned.

Sasha smoothed a hand down the front of her loose singlet in black. She was hoping for femininity with a dash of 'I'm a cool' with her skinny jeans and lightweight cream long cardigan over the top. It hadn't mattered the first time they met but it did now. This time was different.

She wasn't a stranger making promises, she wasn't even their friend or a real family member but she had the potential. She really wanted them to like her as she knew it would cause problems if the kids didn't like her.

Sasha blew out a breath and decided it was time to woman up and get inside the house. She walked up the steps and knocked on the door. Barking sounded from the other side of the door. Sasha smiled wryly as there was one occupant ready to meet her. If the scratching and sniffing at the door was anything to go by.

"Coming!" Andrea's voice called through the door. Sasha stepped back as she knew the dog was going to have a field day with her. She was right as soon as Andrea opened the door the dog snuck through and was all over Sasha; happily greeting her as he sniffed at her. She tried to pet him but only ended up with him licking her hands.

"Sasha, so good to see you." Andrea said, she pulled Sasha in for a quick hug in greeting. Months of communicating developed a friendship between them.

"You too, how are you?" Sasha asked her, Andrea smiled warmly.

"All good, everyone's in the kitchen." Andrea said waving her in. "Gabe only got here about a minute ago." she added looking a little nervous.

"Gabe the Babe?" Sasha asked in a low voice, the unoriginal nickname she had given Andrea's neighbour. Her eyes lit up with excitement as Andrea blushed deeply and shook her head at Sasha.

"Please do not call him that to his face." Andrea told her in a low voice.

"What? you barely talk about him which tells me he has to be ridiculously handsome." Sasha said, not that Andrea gushed about the man. But she could read between the lines and the fact that Andrea was wearing a very nice outfit.

"You're a taken woman." Andrea told her.

"Just because I ordered, doesn't mean I can't admire the menu from a distance." Sasha said with a chuckle. Andrea wore an amused expression but still rolled her eyes. "How's it going?" Sasha asked in a low voice as she followed her inside.

"Good, I think the growing pains will come later." Andrea told her.

"Your home is beautiful." Sasha said as she took in the warmth of the house and it's interior. Andrea laughed and shook her head as the dog followed her.

"Thanks but it's kind of mess especially the kitchen." Andrea told her.

"Dad, you're doing it wrong." Ashley said, Sasha smiled as she came in just as the Chandler family were having a moment. Andrea was right. The kitchen was a mess as the three were covered in flour as they looked to be working on making Gnocchi. Sammy was pressing the tiny balls with a fork while Ashley was showing Tom how to make the potato dumplings.

"I'm doing it how you told me too." Tom said laughing, Sasha couldn't help but feel tears come to her eyes at the beautiful sight. All those sleepless months had paid off for this moment. He was home and with his kids, just as he should be. She blinked them back as Tom looked to her and smiled.

"Hey everyone," Sasha said with a smile.

"You all remember Sasha, Sasha you remember Sammy and Ashley." Andrea said, she then gestured to 'Gabe the Babe', this is Gabriel Jones." she said to the handsome man sitting at the dinner table watching the mayhem in the kitchen from a distance.

"Gabe." He corrected in good humour, he rose from his chair and even Sasha couldn't help but feel a little dazzled by his good looks. He was tall, strong and had a smile that said he had a really juicy secret to share followed by a joke that would make her laugh and forget her troubles. She could see why Andrea was spellbound by him. He only bestowed her a casual dose of attention while the rest of his charm was clearly all for Andrea.

"Nice to meet you, Gabe." she said shaking his hand.

"You too, if you want to save your outfit. I'd stay out of the kitchen." he advised her in what felt like a brotherly fashion, before he returned to his chair and sat back down.

"I'm not afraid of a little mess." she said, she deposited her handbag to the side of the room and moved up to the bench to look at their progress. Andrea retook her seat at the table near Gabe as the two were clearly wanting to give Tom and his kids time together. The two seemed to drift into their own world, so Sasha focussed on Tom and the kids, "So what is going on here?" Sasha asked.

"We're making Gnocchi, Daddy is hopeless." Ashley informed her in a matter of fact tone.

"I am not." Tom said defensively. Sasha smiled at how adorable the two were.

"You're rolling out the dough too thin." Sasha pointed out.

"See, told you so." Ashley told Tom in a smug manner.

Meylan held Daniela in his arms as they rested on the couch. The TV was playing some nonsense show that neither was paying attention to. They were lethargic from all the good food and company at Mike's place to do much of anything else. Well, that was a lie as Meylan was pretty sure he could get up and do a few things but lazing with Daniela was more appealing.

"I really want to make love to you but I'm so sleepy, I may snore." Daniela mumbled tiredly, Meylan couldn't help but laugh as he smoothed his hands over her body in a soothing manner. It was lulling her to sleep.

"We got plenty of time to catch up." Meylan assured her.

"Hmm, but no babies until I'm 45. Abstinence is key." she reminded him, they both chuckled. "You're very good at the girls asking all those questions." she added as she snuggled into him. Drawing warmth and comfort from him but also sneaking her good hand under his shirt.

"I've been around kids my whole life. My niece has no concept of privacy. She asks a lot questions." Meylan said.

"Really? like the ones we got today?" she asked him.

"And more personal ones, like where do I keep my penis? Do I keep it in a drawer like Mommy does? Can she eat her own shit cause it looks like chocolate." Meyla said with a grin as those were just the few coming to mind.

"I feel like I got lucky today." Daniela said as she laughed.

"There are worse, babysitting her; is educational." Meylan said in good humour.

"Sounds like good value to me." Daniela said with a smile as she liked the sound of his niece. She loved the idea of having a family and the life the Slatterys had. It wasn't perfect but there was warmth, respect and love. Something she had never had. She really wanted it with Meylan.

"Thank you for bringing him back." Ashley said as she hugged Sasha goodnight. Sammy had already done the rounds at the table saying goodnight.

"Always, and I'll always be here." Sasha promised her, before Ashley pulled away.

"Will you be back tomorrow?" Ashley asked Tom.

"I'm here until Monday and then I'm going back to Norfolk." Tom told her.

"You're not coming home?" Ashley asked with a frown.

"Home is Norfolk for me." Tom told her, he swallowed hard as it was tough to say it as he knew he was tearing Sammy and Ashley away from the only home they'd known for a while. Ashley looked torn between Tom and Andrea. Ashley obviously hadn't taken into to consideration that she and Sammy would have to leave Andrea.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow." Andrea told her, Ashley gave a nod and left the room leaving the adults to finish up for the evening.

"Night Gabe." Ashley said as Gabe came out of the bathroom just as she was heading to her room.

"Night, Miss Ashley." Gabe said as he passed her to sit back down at the table next to Andrea. It had not been Andrea's choice but she seemed to relax into it through the evening. Sasha liked the look of them as a couple. But it hadn't stopped her from subtly interrogating him and taking a sneaky photo to run through facial recognition program and a background check when she returned to Norfolk. Not that she was worried, she just wanted to make sure Gabe didn't have any surprises lurking in the background.

"Andrea, I can never repay you." Tom said to her sincerely. It felt weird having Gabe there but he let it go as he wanted Andrea to know he deeply appreciated their friendship and what she had down for him. She had truly gone above and beyond the call of a friend.

"You can, just make sure your shit is dealt with and stowed before you take them on." Andrea said somewhat bluntly but he appreciated her for it.

"I'm getting there. I'd like to maybe have the kids alternate weekends or some kind of arrangement to make the transition easier." Tom said, trying to be diplomatic about it as he didn't want to tear the kids away from her.

"Tom, they are your kids. You don't have to ask me for permission." Andrea said with wry smile.

"I do, you're part of the family as much as I am." Tom told her.

"We'll work it out with the kids. I think it's easier for them to be involved in the discussion." Andrea said continuing with the conversation.

"Ok." Tom said agreeing with her as he felt at this point she understood his kids better than he did.

"So how are you? Really?" Andrea asked, now the kids were in their rooms. The adults could discuss topics without sugar coating it.

"I'm good, it's been tough but I'm going to look into a job this week." Tom told her, it was the plan.

"Can't stay idle for long?" Andrea asked with amusement.

"No." Tom replied with his own smile as he sat back in his chair.

"You know the President probably would employ you..." Andrea drawled, Tom knew about the offer and in a way it would be easier on the kids but in his bones... it wasn't the right call for him.

"No, Norfolk is better for me. Too many ghosts here." Tom said, Norfolk felt like home to him.

"I understand." Andrea said, as she could say the exact same thing for Norfolk. It was why she had stayed in St Louis.

"How are you? How's the new posting?" Tom asked her.

"I'd rather be deployed than dealing with Politics everyday but we all have to make sacrifices." Andrea replied wryly.

"They'll find a way of getting more ships out." Tom assured her.

"It's in the works." Andrea said in agreement, "Though, I'm thinking of putting up with my post and maybe adopting a couple of kids or becoming a foster home. I've loved having your kids here." Andrea told Tom.

"Sounds like a great idea," Sasha said in supportive manner as she could see it made Andrea glow with happiness at the idea of having kids in her life.

"That's what I told Andrea the other day." Gabe said with smile.

"I agree, but that could be a lot of exceptional CHENGs in the making." Tom quipped.

"Yes, I'll foster the future of the Navy." Andrea remarked dryly. "Do you guys want more coffee?" she asked, Tom and Sasha gave a nod as they wouldn't one more before heading back to their hotel.

"One more wouldn't go astray. Let me do it." he said rising from his chair before Andrea could. As he walked away, Sasha gave Andrea an excited yet pointed look. Andrea made a face at her that said 'shut up'. "You all drink coffee black, right?" Gabe asked from the kitchen.

"Sure do." Sasha replied with a grin.