A/N: Thank you all for coming with me on this fun journey and for all the lovely reviews! I had fun and hope you all did too :)

Chapter 27

Four weeks later,

Cynthia sat in the back as Daniela gave a lecture on 'The Art of Business Negotiation' to a full hall. It was an open lecture so anyone could come and listen. She had spent four weeks pestering and hovering over her son and due to state of the international flights, hers had been overbooked and she'd been bounced to a flight later in the week.

"I'm sorry." a guy called out as he raised his hand, Daniela paused in her talk and looked to him.

"If you were, you wouldn't say as much. What is your question?" Daniela asked from the stage. laughter teetered through the crowd. Cynthia smiled at the woman had real stage presence and connected well with the students as she took their questions and criticism in her stride. She also wasn't afraid to put someone in their place with a slick burn.

"That's time, thank you all for coming." Daniela told them all 20 minutes later, closing up the impromptu Q&A of the lecture. The crowd applauded her and the lights turned up as the students and visitors left the hall. Cynthia pushed out of her chair and made her way down to the stage.

"Great lecture, the students really ate it up. I think we should do it again, maybe a write up a short 3 week course for students to opt into." An older man in a dapper suit told Daniela as she picked up a folder into her arms.

"Thank you, I'll consider it and get back to you." Daniela said blooming under the compliment. Cythnia waited until her daughter was free before she stepped in her way.

"That was a very thought provoking lecture." Cynthia told her.

"Thank you." Daniela told her in a slightly cold but polite manner. It pained Cynthia that things were so strained between them but it had been her fault. Which was why she had come to the lecture, she knew it would take more than a letter to fix things between them but it was a start.

"I just wanted to drop by and see you." Cynthia said as she had four weeks to try and think of what to say to fix things.

"I wish I could chat but I have a class to get to." Daniela told her, it was the truth.

"I assumed as much, so I wrote a letter. I was hoping when you get a free moment you could read it. My address is on the envelope and my email inside. I was thinking maybe we could try for a clean slate. But take our time getting to know one another before we meet again." Cynthia said as she held out the envelope to her.

"Ok." Daniela said as she reluctantly took the envelope and tucked it into her folder.

"I'm sorry for how everything happened." Cynthia said sincerely.

"I appreciate it. I do but I really have to go." Daniela told her.

"Ok, I'll let you go." Cynthia said as she was clearly stressing Daniela out and didn't want to upset her any further.

"Take care, Mrs Taylor." Daniela said sincerely, Cynthia nodded and watched Daniela walk away.

"No Bruno, that is not a toy." Sasha said as she pried the cord of her hair straightener from his mouth. She gave a sigh of frustration as the cord was mangled to death by the dog's teeth. She needed it as she wanted to look sleek tonight for University fundraiser dinner tonight. Tom and all the teaching staff had to show up and show off to donors to keep the University funded.

"He chewed my hair straightener to death too?" Ashley asked her as she came to the bedroom door and looked on in amusement.

"He's evil. That's a $300 straightener." Sasha bemoaned, the straightener had survived a pandemic and multiple mission to be killed by an enthusiastic dog. "It can be fixed." She said, she hoped as much anyway.

"Really?" Ashley asked her.

"Yeah, I'll just replace the cord. It's not a big deal." Sasha said, but it was a big deal as she couldn't fix it in time for tonight. She still had to get changed as her dressing robe was not going to cut muster.

"You can borrow my straightener, if you want. But your hair looks pretty with the curls." Ashley told her. Sasha touched her hair a little self conscious as she was told by her mother on multiple occasions that curly hair was unruly and wild. Sleek and flat was always best in her mother's mind and it had stuck in Sasha's mind and how she presented herself all her life.

"Thank you, it's my natural hair. I usually have it chemically straightened but got lazy." Sasha told her, she normally blow dried her hair straight after a shower, so it was rare for anyone to see her with curly hair. But she had been so wrapped up in getting ready with shaving her legs, her make up; she had let it dry naturally.

'My hair just frizzes." Ashley said in a defeated manner.

"All hair frizzes, it's one of our many curses as a women." Sasha told her, she picked up a spare bottle of her favourite hair serum. "But this is my secret weapon and a really good straightener and hair dryer." she told Ashley, tossing it to her.

"Cool." Ashley said as she caught the product and inspected it. The two had formed a friendship over the past month. It had started out rather strained but once they learnt one another's boundaries it had smoothed out. The real test had come when Sasha moved in a couple weeks ago, but they all weathered it well.

Ashley understood that Sasha was the adult in their relationship and Sasha would always be on Tom's side when it came to decisions or rules being laid down. She also learnt Sasha wouldn't be guilt tripped or swayed to go against Tom unless it was a matter Sasha deemed worthy of backing. Sasha knew she could never be a mother figure to Ashley, the girl has made that clear she didn't want that kind of relationship with Sasha and Sasha respected her decision.

"So, you excited to get back to St Louis to see Andrea?" Sasha asked her, she knew it wasn't easy for the kids as they were torn between Norfolk and St Louis. But they were working out and Tom was doing very well considering he was still in recovery.

Sasha knew it helped he had Debbie as a sponsor given the woman knew their world. She had to admit sometimes that it made her a little jealous she couldn't help Tom like Debbie was. But she also inwardly acknowledged that she was too close to Tom to give him the support an outsider like Debbie could.

"Yeah, she's got like the cutest dog called 'Ladybug'. She's so calm compared to Bruno." Ashley said as she crouched down to pet Bruno who was at her feet demanding love.

"Yes, I heard about that and she seems to be hitting it off with Gabe." Sasha said casually, she had spoken to Andrea but trying to get information out of that woman was harder than pulling teeth.

"About time, she needed a boyfriend." Ashley told her. Sasha chuckled.

"Really?" Sasha asked in an amused manner as she doubled checked her make up in the mirror and tried to decide what to do with her hair.

"Yeah, Andrea was heaps sad when we moved in with her but she smiled a lot more when Gabe started hanging out with us; fixing stuff and whatever. I like it when people are happy." Ashley said, the young girl mature beyond her years yet still innocent enough to think everyone got a happy ending.

"Me too." Sasha said in agreement, she moved to the wardrobe and pulled out two dress. "Ok, so dinner for your father's work fundraiser dinner. Which dress? White with cream panels and a V-neck or burgundy, jewel neckline, sleeveless wiggle dress? Daniela told me I couldn't wear black otherwise it will look like we're all at a funeral." Sasha said to her, Ashley smiled as she had met Daniela and knew exactly how Daniela would have worded her orders to Sasha about wardrobe choices. But also smiling because Sasha asking her for help, made her feel like she wasn't a little girl but as close as she could get to being Sasha's equal.

"Mmm burgundy dress. Mom said it was always better to dress down a little so all the other women don't get bitchy." Ashley told her.

"Good point, but if your father asks- I never agreed with you. You should always be your own person and not afraid to wear what makes you feel good." Sasha said, Ashley smiled as she appreciated Sasha's honesty.

"I saw your bag is packed for San Diego." Meylan said as he came up behind Daniela and slid his arms around her waist pulling her back against him. She was dressed in sleeveless, white wiggle dress a deep v-neckline dress that ended just below her knees.

Her hair was in a tumbled up do, with delicate tendrils framing her face. Her makeup was immaculate as if she were going to her lecture. She always wore the same make up for work. Cat eye make up with a red lipstick, but tonight it was a deep burgundy colour on her lips. She looked gorgeous as always but right now she was redefining 'knockout' in Meylan's books.

"Yep, I'm really looking forward to seeing you dressed in a tutu and crown for the entire visit." Daniela told him as she did the finishing touches on her lips. She smiled in the mirror and checked her teeth.

"You'll be the one in the Tutu and crown, as I'll get to be the prince for once." Meylan told her as he lightly nuzzled her neck. Tomorrow, they'd be in San Diego visiting his parents and niece. He couldn't wait as he knew his parents would love her as much as he did.

"Hmm, well, I look forward to it. Now how do I look?" She asked as she turned around his arms to face him.

"Way too good to leave the house." He told her, she smiled brilliantly and leaned in close just about to kiss him.

"We still have to go." She whispered against his lips.

"Fine." he replied begrudgingly as he really wanted to peel her out of her dress and make love to her right that second. "But I want it noted that I wanted stay home and be naked with you." he told her.

"Noted and I will make it up to you later tonight. Promise." she said before pressing a quick kiss against his lips.

"Azima, you know that Daniela lives with Meylan right?" Wolf asked as he opened the door to find Azima on the other side dressed in a crop top and a waist height skirt and a lightweight kimono jacket. She looked ready to hit the town for the night.

"Yes, but I'm here for you." Azima informed him.

"Me?" Wolf asked confused by her as she was forward but never this forward with him.

"You texted me." Azima told him.

"I-" he started and then closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "My mum texted you." he corrected as he hadn't texted anyone today and now he thought about it. He couldn't remember where he'd last seen his phone.

"Oh, so you don't want me to be your Nubian queen?" Azima asked teasingly as she pulled out her mobile phone to casually check her messages.

"She did not text you that." Wolf told her, even though his Mum wasn't above such tactics.

"Yes, it sounded like something you would say. Daniela assured me that you were trying to flirt with me in your Australian way. So, here I am, and I'm hungry, so get changed as you're buying dinner." Azima told him. Wolf frowned as he didn't remember agreeing to such an arrangement.

"I-" He started but Azima levelled him with a look that said not to mess with her.

"Clothing now. Remember; collared shirt and closed shoes." Azima ordered, Wolf knew he should put his foot down about being ordered around like he was a slowpoke. But decided it was better to just follow orders and remember his wallet.

"How much more of this do I have to endure?" Sasha murmured to Tom before she took a sip of her champagne. They stood to the side of the room watching everyone mingle with one another as dinner had finished and it was all about schmoozing the donors for money. Something Tom wasn't comfortable with, but apparently his presence was all that was important.

"Just another 20 minutes." He told her.

"And why do they talk to me like I have the IQ of cornflakes box?" Sasha asked him, she leaned in closer so no one could overhear them, "Do they not realise that I'm just as educated as they are, perhaps even more so than that sociology professor. I swear he has PhD in being a pervert." she told him, Tom snorted a laugh as she wasn't far off on that assumption.

"It's people watching. He's an observer of human behavior and I have no clue what he teaches." Tom told her.

"The only things he is watching is tits and asses of every woman in this room." Sasha informed him.

"Hey, how's it going over here." Meylan asked as he joined them.

"Great, just great." Tom lied as he like Sasha wanted to escape the party. It was why they were hanging against the wall instead of in the crowds. They had done their tour, and Tom had to admit he only had enough charm for Sasha and not the donors who liked to feel him up.

"More painful than a root canal." Meylan offered with an amused expression. He could commiserate with them as the night was a bore, the only upside was that he was in a suit without a tie and with Daniela. The woman who promised him a night of sinful pleasure, so he was definitely motivated to act like the perfect boyfriend. Not that he needed to be motivated given schmoozing this crowd was like keeping in practice for military soirees.

"Yes." Sasha replied, "Though I think Daniela is having the only one having fun out of the four of us." She remarked, they all looked to Daniela who was laughing loudly at one of the donor's jokes before giving her witty additive to the conversation.

"She's stirring trouble." Meylan leaned in close and spoke at a lower tone. "She's been selling the need for donations to go directly to the science, economics and language departments. Sent the philosophy department into a real snit as they're trying to sell the importance of 'well rounded' educated people. She's telling the suits who own large corporations that they'd be smarted to invest their money into selective degree programs to create more scientists, engineers, IT nuts and accountants. Make education free for students as long as they keep a high GPA score and sign the dotted line for 5 years of contracted work with whoever sponsors them." Meylan said with a wry smile.

"Looks like she's winning them over." Tom remarked as Daniela seemed to hold the attention of the five donors of the university.

"Yeah, that's my woman." Meylan said with a proud smile. "I'm going to get back in there before one of thinks they have a chance." he told them before going back to join Daniela.

"Awwh, they are cute." Sasha said with a smile as Meylan draped an arm around Daniela's waist in a possessive manner.

"I bet you they are engaged in 12 months' time." Tom told her.

"Less than 3 months engaged, married in 6 months. Daniela is still riding off her freedom high and the Nathan James is being deployed soon. Meylan is going to want to lock it down." Sasha said smugly.

"Meylan doesn't act impulsively." Tom told her.

"You want to take the bet or not?" Sasha asked him teasingly.

"Ok, if I win. You have to take three cooking classes of my choice and ace them." Tom told her, Sasha looked at him with a shocked expression as it sounded like the seventh ring of hell to her. She wondered how he wasn't even angling for sexual favours but if he wanted to go there. Then so was she.

"Fine, if I win; then I get full veto power over you in regards to Chandler family vacation destination for the coming summer. I am not camping and having my ass gnawed on by mosquitoes and ticks." she told him flat out. She roughed it enough the past few years that she was ready for a beautiful, relaxing vacation.

"You're on." Tom said, they smiled and clinked glasses; sealing the bet.

The following afternoon,

"Don't be nervous." Meylan told Daniela as they stood at the front door of his childhood home. Their bags were still in the rental car, as he didn't see the point in pulling them out yet.

"I am completely nervous." Daniela told him, she adjusted her kimono jacket and tugged on her loose white t-shirt she was wearing over a pair of skinny jeans. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun and her made up to have a natural no make up -make up look. She bit on her bottom lip looking at the door nervously.

"They will love you." Meylan assured her as he pressed the buzzer for the door.

"Both my parents hate me, they created me." Daniela reminded him. It wasn't entirely true. The letter from Cynthia said she didn't hate Daniela but she wasn't entirely in love with her either. But the letter had eased a lot of

"We already discussed how flawed your parents are. My parents however are perfect." he said with teasing lilt that made the corner of her lips rise, just a little. "You'll be fine, Dad only cares if you're open to kids and my Mom wants you to get me to take a desk job when the kids arrive. My Niece will be the tough, but you can win her over." Meylan said, Daniela couldn't help but chuckle at his confidence before she could reply; the front door opened and his mother came out.

"Joseph!" His mother said, she kissed Meylan and pulled him into for a hug.

"Hi Mom, Dad." Meylan said as he embraced his mother and shared a brief hug with his Dad. They both looked well and fit as always for two people in their mid 60s, they aged well thanks to healthy diet and exercise. "This is Daniela Soto, my girlfriend. My Dad; Brian and my Mum Charlene." he said making the introductions and gesturing to Daniela.

"Nice to meet you." Daniela said to them with a smile. She could see immediately where Meylan's good looks and affable charm came from as his parents were warm and welcoming.

"So nice to meet you too, Joseph told us all about you." Charlene told Daniela with a warm smile.

"How do you feel about kids?" Brian asked.

"I love kids." Daniela said without hesitation. She didn't think she was good with them but she had fun around them. The idea of being a family with Meylan and having kids with him was definitely something she looked forward to.

"Dad, give her about ten minutes before throwing her in the deep end." Meylan told his father, a smile on his face as he shook his head at him. He had told them about Daniela on the phone, so this wasn't a surprise meet and greet. They knew he was bringing her to meet them and Lucy.

"Good, here comes one." Brian said as he stepped to the side. The sounds of tiny feet running came their way as a little girl wearing a crown with the cutest curly pigtails dressed in purple tulle skirt and t-shirt ran at them.

"Uncle Joey!" She yelled with delight.

"Hey Lucy!" Meylan said, he picked Lucy up into his arms and hugged her tightly for a moment before loosening his hold to get a better look of her. "How's my favourite niece?" he asked her.

"Good, I missed you heaps. Did you bring me anything?" Lucy asked.

"Maybe," He said in a non committal manner but he had. It was just in the car. "I also brought a girl home with me. Lucy, this is Daniela." he said turning to Daniela so Lucy could see her.

"You're very pretty." Lucy said shyly, even though she openly gawked at Daniela.

"Thank you, you're very pretty yourself. I love your dress." Daniela told her, she watched as Lucy whispered something in Meylan's ear. Meylan looked thoughtful as if pondering the little girl's words.

"Thinking about it." Meylan told his niece. For acting so shy; she sure was precocious in asking him if he was going to marry Daniela and if he had a pretty ring. Lucy gave him a hard look as she was not accepting his first answer. "Ok, yes." he told her, Lucy smiled as it was obviously the answer she wanted.

"Good. Now." She ordered, Meylan chuckled.

"Later. So you got time to play and eat your greens." he told her, firmly. Lucy frowned at him.

"You can put me down now." She told him in an unimpressed manner, he just chuckled as he placed Lucy back on her feet and the little girl ran back into the house in somewhat of a huff.

"Should I be worried?" Daniela asked him with a curious frown as she didn't know whether to worry or be amused.

"No, it's all good." He said with a grin.

"Well, let's not stand around. Come on in." Charlene told them.

Half an hour later,

"Awh, look at those curls." Daniela gushed as Charlene was showing her baby pictures and regaling her with all of Meylan's cutest moments. "You were such a beautiful baby." Daniela said to Meylan.

They had shared afternoon tea, Daniela had played some my little pony with Lucy before having a grand tour of the Meylan home. Now they were just relaxing before dinner would be tackled. Daniela had to admit, she loved their home, she loved his parents. They were warm and welcoming people, Lucy was adorable beyond perfection. Even when she threw a tantrum she was cute. It was good to relax and know she wasn't messing things up as there seemed to be no tension in the room at her presence.

"Then he got big and ugly." Brian joked, Daniela laughed as Charlene wore an unimpressed expression as she threw a pillow at her husband hitting him in the head.

"Thanks Dad." Meylan replied mockingly.

"Anytime, Son. So, how long you in town?" Brian asked.

"About a week, it was all the time we could swing. I'll be deploying soon." Meylan told them.

"Hopefully not for too long." Charlene said.

"3 months, just putting the James through it's paces before a longer deployment." he told them, it wasn't new information as the press had been following the James and news regarding it for months. The President thought it was good for the country's morale to know the Navy still had a heartbeat.

"You'll be at your teaching job?" Charlene asked Daniela.

"Yes, we'll be in session for majority of his deployment. It's not an easy job but it will be good to stay busy while Joseph is away." Daniela answered, she was grateful for the distraction of work as she was going to learn what it meant to be a navy spouse and cope with long separations. Something she was sure would be difficult but she could handle it as Meylan was well worth waiting for.

"What do you teach?" Brian asked.

"Languages, mostly Mandarin and Spanish, I also assist with Korean and Russian, Arabic." Daniela said.

"She also gives lectures on Business and the Art of Negotiation. She's really good, I went to one of them last week; it was entertaining and educational. She got a standing ovation." Meylan said proud of her as she really was coming into her own.

"I used to own a fairly well known corporation in Europe before the pandemic. So I have a lot of stories and the university pays me to share them." Daniela said in a self deprecating manner.

"It's a good gig when you can get it." Brian said looking impressed nonetheless by her. Charlene too looked pleased.

"It is." Daniela agreed.

"So how did you two meet?" Charlene asked looking to Meylan and Daniela.

"We met through my work, I was on duty- so we never spoke much until when I got back to Norfolk. I was at a bar when I saw her." Meylan started and then Daniela continued.

"Where I was drowning myself in mojitos and self pity. I was stood up by a man who decided at the last moment that he didn't want to date me. It was all mixed messages, no bad blood." Daniela said waving her hand dismissively as it didn't matter all that much.

"Joseph, I taught you better than to prey on emotional women." Charlene told her son.

"I didn't." Meylan said defensively.

"He was a gentleman. He bought me dinner as a friend and we went dancing. Gosh, it was so much fun. I hadn't had so much fun in years. He walked me home, and I asked him if he'd like to hang out as friends given he did not give me the time of day on his ship."

"I was working. The Navy does not pay me to flirt." Meylan clarified.

"He said 'Yes' and then gave me his phone number and he said he'd call me." Daniela said, a light blushing gracing her cheeks as she still remember that first night they had spent together hanging out.

"I called the next afternoon and smoothly said we should date. The rest was history." Meylan said, he and Daniela shared a smile. Her heart bloomed with warmth and happiness as it truly was the best history of Daniela's life. Meylan was the best thing to ever come into her life. She was going to spend the rest of her life making him so happy that he took a chance on her that night all those months ago.

The End