Frank knocked on the door to the Hanson house and waited for a few minutes before someone answered the door, "Good afternoon, um Joyce correct?"
She nodded, "Yes, you must be Colonel Sherwood."
He nodded in affirmation, "Is everyone upstairs?"
Joyce nodded, "Yes in the bedroom. I think the baby's nursing though so I'll let Tonya know you're here."
Frank nodded and followed Joyce upstairs, "So how's the concept of being a Grandma treating you?"
Joyce sighed a little, "Well I've got two more still but the fact that Tonya's old enough to have children of her own has made me realize how old I am." The two arrived outside the bedroom and Joyce knocked on the door, "Honey it's Colonel Sherwood and I. Are we allowed in?"
"Yeah she's done for right now," said Tonya. Joyce and Frank entered the room and Frank observed the baby in Tonya's arms. She looked like a little mini-me of Tonya, though she clearly had Blake's nose, "Julia, say hello to your Uncle Frank," she said.
"Hey there little one," said Frank, "Let me tell you, you're one lucky gal with some great parents and grandparents."
"And two very excited Aunts," Joyce chimed in with the phone on speaker, "Say hello to you sister and niece girls."
Hi Tonya! Hi Julia!" two voices said excitedly.
"Hi girls," said Tonya.
"So how is she?" asked Lizzie.
"She's doing great. 7 lbs., 4 oz. and 21 inches long," said Blake
"Wow did that hurt?" asked Brooke.
"Brooke, you don't go asking questions like that!" scolded Lizzie.
"Brooke Taylor Gabriel," said Joyce in a warning tone that told her daughter to apologize.
"Sorry Tonya," said Brooke.
"That's okay Brooke," said Tonya, "Though I will answer the question, yes it hurt like Hell."
Blake kissed Tonya on the temple and said, "But your sister did great. She was really calm." Tonya smiled and kissed her husband.
"Do you want to hold her?" Tonya asked Frank.
"Are you sure? Doesn't anybody else?" he asked.
"We all have already," said Emmalin.
Frank nodded and took the baby from Tonya. He cradled Julia in his arms, memories flooding him from when Jeremy and Molly were newborns, though he was at neither birth. He handed Julia to Blake who kissed his daughter on the head for the hundredth time that day. Frank had had his doubts about the relationship, the marriage, and the prospect of parenthood for the couple, but he could tell that Julia Hanson was going to get all the love in the world.
Roland shut the trunk after packing the last bag into the car. He turned around where Joan, David, and Sara Elizabeth were standing for the go. Charlie, Nicole, and Nicholas were there for their final goodbyes as well, "Well everything's all set," said Roland.
"We both wish you the best of luck in Baltimore mam," said Nicole.
"All of you," emphasized Charlie.
"Thank you Captain," said Joan, "It was a privilege to be able to serve with you."
"Can you say goodbye to Aunt Charlie, Aunt Niki, and Nicholas?" asked Roland to Sara Elizabeth. Sara Elizabeth waved before getting into the car.
"See you Charlie," said David embracing her.
"It was great to have you at the Y.A.C.," said Charlie, "But you'll be fine."
"It was nice to be able to know you Ms. Nicole," he said.
"You too," said Nicole. The other three Burtons got into their car and drove off with Charlie and Nicole waving their farewells. They stood there for a few moments before Nicole spoke, "So I've been thinking about something."
"Yeah about what?" asked Charlie.
"About the comment you made a while ago, when you were trying to get pregnant," explained Nicole.
"So?" asked Charlie confusingly.
"I'll do it," said Nicole.
"Do what?" asked Charlie raising her eyebrows.
"If we want more kids in the future, or well biological kids, I'll carry them. Or at least attempt to get pregnant," said Nicole.
Charlie smiled slightly, though Nicole could tell she was going to protest, "Niki you don't have to do that."
"Why not?" she asked.
"You've said multiple times you didn't want to carry the babies," said Charlie.
"Yeah well, I've had time to think about things. If Colonel Burton could be in the Army while pregnant, why can't I?" said Nicole, "Besides there's been a certain curiosity to it. What it feels like to feel a baby kick, to bring new life into the world."
Charlie smiled, "Well I guess when we both get baby fever again, we'll have you go through the ropes." Nicholas started to cry breaking the silence.
Nicole took him out of his stroller and started bouncing him a little, "But let's wait a few more years until he's older," she chuckled.
"Agreed Captain," said Charlie.
"So what's your next step with Hector?" asked Holly to Gloria.
"I don't know," Gloria said honestly, "I guess we'll have to withdraw the divorce papers. I guess I'll be moving back in with him soon too."
"This is so exciting," said Holly happily, "It's like it was meant to be!"
The Holdens and the Richardsons took their seats at the table in the restaurant for Kat's shower. Okay, Kat really didn't want an elaborate baby shower and only wanted a few friends to go to dinner with them. They would be joined by the Clarkes as well. Claudia Joy handed a bag to Kat and said, "For the baby. Sorry there are two of them but since I didn't know gender, I had to buy two of them."
Kat pulled out two bears, one blue and one pink, out of the bag, "Thank you Mrs. Holden."
"I figured whichever gender you have the opposite bear could go to someone else. Or he or she could just have two bears," she chuckled.
"Well maybe Major Hanson and Tonya or Captain Galassini and Charlie would like whichever one we don't need," said Chris.
"Claudia Joy, Michael, Chris, Kat," said Jackie happily approaching the two couples.
"Mrs. Clarke, General Clarke," said Chris saluting them.
"So I don't believe I've gotten the chance to ask, do you know whether the baby's a boy or a girl yet?" asked Kevin.
"No sir," said Kat, "We're waiting until the baby is born to find out."
"Yeah it's just not the same if we don't get to say 'It's a boy' or "It's a girl'," said Chris.
The four other attendees chuckled though Michael and Kevin knew it would've driven Claudia Joy and Jackie insane not to know Amanda, Emmalin, Patrick, or Sophie's gender before the birth.
Latasha knocked on Maggie's' door. Maggie answered the door and Latasha said, "He's' still in the Army." Maggie smiled and embraced Latasha, "That's great Latasha."