The grill in Steve's backyard smoldered after serving up five burgers and six dogs to the four of them plus Danny and Gracie.

Anna sat cross-legged on a blanket with Danny in one of the Adirondack chairs next to her, both nursing a cold beer.

Steve played out in the water with Jenny as Gracie and Eric sat on the edge of the grass talking music and school.

Anna sat back on her hands and shook her head as Steve threw Jenny up in the air watching her land in the water. "She loves being thrown, spun or just tossed around like a ball."

Danny watched with amusement as Jenny swam towards Steve and he scooped her up in the waist high water, brought her up to his face and said something to make her laugh and then tossed her in the air again while she was still laughing. The sounds of her screams from the thrill reminded him of Gracie when she was little and when they would play the same game.

"It looks so rough," Anna chuckled, "but she loves it."

"She's fine," Danny assured her. "Steve and I used to hold Gracie by the hands and feet and toss her in."

She looked up at him, "Well if this is all it takes to have Jenny grow up to be as great of a kid as Gracie is, then I say toss away."

Danny looked down at her with a grin, holding his beer bottle out to her as she tapped hers against it. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." She looked back out at the two of them as they swam out and then back again. "Steve really admires you as a father, you know that don't you?"

Danny shrugged. "Honestly, I think he's taught me quite a bit. He reels me in sometimes when I go over the top about something that ends up being…" he chuckled to himself, "not that big of a deal at all, but you worry anyway, you know?"

Anna rolled her eyes as if agreeing with him wholeheartedly. "Yes! That is the understatement of the year. And I have a feeling it will never end."

"It won't."

"But it's totally worth it in the long run."

They tapped beers again. "Absolutely," he replied with a grin. "I have to say that Steve also admires you a great deal over what you've accomplished with Jenny and Eric. I do too." His couldn't help but tease her some." You've come a long way since that day we moved your couch inside your house."

Anna cringed. "Oh god, please don't remind me of that day. It was awful. I still feel guilty over the way I treated you and Steve."

Danny laughed, "Looking back now I can clearly see your frustrations, not with the kids so much as with your life in general at the time." He whispered under his breath. "Geez, your sister. I'm sorry but that girl has got some serious issues."

Anna nodded, "I know. I take it Steve told you everything."

"Yes, but not as gossip or a gripe. He told me more because of the threats she made. He had me document them just in case she got a hair up her ass again and decided to try and do some damage."

Anna smiled, "That was smart of him."

"He was more or less protecting you and the kids."

She smiled even brighter. "He does that a lot."

They both looked back out at him as he tossed Jenny again into the water. "I think he's found a good life here with you and the kids." He put his hand up and laughed. "I have swear on my life though that I'm shocked over it everyday." He elaborated on that statement. "I don't think he knew how bad he wanted to be a father until Jenny and Eric came along, or if it even would have happened for him." He looked down at her. "You should really know how happy is right now. I've known Steve for a long time and I've never seen him like this. I used to joke around with him and tell him he was like a machine, but now it's almost as if he's been reprogrammed. He doesn't just love you, he admires the hell out of you, and that my dear goes hand in hand with him."

Anna sat staring up at him completely surprised by the heartfelt confession he had just laid out to her. "Thank you Danny. You should also know that I love him very much and that I would do anything in the world for him."

"See," Danny said as if solidifying his earlier comments. "You two were made for each other." He motioned toward the water, "Speak of the devil."

Steve came up next to Danny's chair and collapsed in the grass on his back as Jenny ran up and stood next to him, reaching down and pulling on his hand.

"One more time!" she squealed. "Please, one more time!"

He sat up as she walked backward, pulling on his hand.

"Just once more, Steve," she pleaded, "and then no more. I promise!" She jumped up and down excitedly.

"Just one more?" he questioned her promise.

"Yes!" She let go of him, but continued to jump and down. "Once more is all."

Ok," he said getting up. "Then we better make it worth while."

Jenny screamed with delight as he scooped her up under the arms and laid her over his shoulder as he ran towards the water.

"Oh my god Steve, be careful," Anna laughed.

He ignored her plea and went out to the waist deep water and held Jenny by the waist, tossing her as high as he could in the air as she screamed out, her limbs flailing about as she flew through the air, landing in the water butt first.

She popped up right away laughing and swimming toward him as he made his way out to her. She took his hand as he pulled her into shore.

Eric set his plate of food down after taking a bite of his burger. "She went so high!" he laughed. "Good thing she's little, there's no way you could throw me that high."

Steve came out of the water holding Jenny's hand. "What? You don't think I'm able to get you airborne?"

"No way. You might be able to pick me up but that's all."

"Danny, a little help please," Steve motioned with his hand. "I've been challenged, but I think the little smart-aleck deserves the gauntlet."

Gracie started to laugh and moved away from Eric. "Now you did it," she warned him.

"Did what?"

Danny set his beer down and got up, approaching Eric from behind as Steve came at him from the front. Eric jumped to his feet trying to get away but it was impossible. Danny got a hold of him first, taking both his hands while Steve ran up and bent over grabbing both his ankles. They lifted him up and walked to the water with him suspended off the ground as he laughed and yelled, trying to squirm away but knew it was impossible.

"So what do you think," Danny asked, looking across at his partner in crime, "should we do the belly flop or the Hail Mary?"

"The Hail Mary for sure," Steve replied.

"Ok sounds good." He looked down at Eric, "A piece of advise. Don't tell Steve he can't do something. You just make him more determined."

"Enough talk," Steve responded, "let's get this missal launched."

They both stood out in the knee-deep water and lifted Eric so his back just skimmed the top of it, swinging him back and forth.

"One…two…" they both counted simultaneously, "three!" They launched him up in the air as he flew in no particular fashion out over the horizon, his body doing a somersault at no effort from him. He landed in the water feet first as Danny and Steve did a high five laughing over the way in which he flew.

They all sat around enjoying the late afternoon sun as it began to make it's decent for the day.

Danny sat in the same chair as before. Jenny was wrapped up in two towels in the one next to him, while Anna, Steve, Eric and Gracie all sat on the ground next to each other in a line, looking out over the water.

Steve sat forward resting his arms on his knees, looking down the line at everyone, including Danny and Jenny in the chairs. "Since I have everyone together," he said sighing, knowing he had to get the news out sooner rather than later, "I have some news." He looked directly at Anna as he continued. "I've been called to reserve duty. I leave next Friday. I'll be gone for three weeks."

She felt her heart sink to her stomach, even Eric and Jenny both sat up, stunned over the news.

"You're leaving?" Jenny asked, only hearing that part and not understanding the other as her face showed the grief and fright over it.

"You're going to war?" Eric blurted out with the same horrified expression, feeling the burger in his stomach begin to churn.

"No!" Steve replied quickly, pushing himself up off the ground and going to Jenny who had already started to show the signs of tears. "I'm not going to war," he said, making eye contact with Eric as he scooped Jenny up off the chair, holding her with one arm on his hip. "I'm going to be only about a hundred and fifty miles off the coast of Hawaii on an aircraft carrier." He looked at Jenny. "A big, giant boat."

"When are you coming back?" she cried.

"Three weeks. I'll only be gone for three weeks." He looked back over at Eric not seeing the relief on him that he was expecting as the boy pushed himself up off the ground and went to him. Steve put an arm over his shoulder as he surprised him even more by putting both arms around his waist, hugging him.

"Hey, you two," he said feeling himself getting choked up, surprised their reaction would be this heartfelt, but deep down inside he couldn't have been more pleased. "Its ok," he consoled them, looking down at Anna for help as she got up coming to his aid.

"It's going to be ok," she said trying to be strong for him but the second she reached him she felt the same sadness that they did. "Three weeks isn't…" she started when she couldn't hold back. She leaned into him putting her arms around his chest.

Gracie wiped her fingers under her eyes over the spectacle, knowing that feeling of separation when she would have to leave her dad to go home. She'd learned to deal with it over the years but could she still remember the loneliness of it.

"Hey, come on you guys," he began when he looked over at Danny expecting his partner to be displaying a smug grin over their behavior, but on the contrary his expression was nothing of the sort. Steve could hear the words coming out of Danny's mouth even though he never spoke. He was telling him to embrace this moment…so he did, pulling Eric in closer and leaning in toward Anna as Jenny squeezed his neck tighter. He was going to be missed. It was sad for them, but to Steve it was the greatest feeling he'd ever experienced.

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The night before his departure, Steve sat on the couch with Jenny tucked in closely next to him. He flipped the pages of the large kids book showing her what an aircraft carrier looked like.

She pointed at the page. "Do you live there or do you go to a hotel at nighttime?"

Steve smiled, "No, I'll stay on the boat the whole time. It's like a little city on the inside. They have a big area where everyone goes and eats that's called a mess hall…"

Jenny looked up at him confused. "Who wants to eat someplace messy? Do they ever clean it up?"

Steve laughed. "It's just a name, but it's very clean. They also have a barber shop and a computer lab so I'll be able to email you."

"Where do you sleep?"

"I have a room, but it's really small. About the size of the bathroom."

Jenny stared up at him, trying to picture all of her stuff crammed into the bathroom. "Where do you put your clothes and bed?"

"They have a small locker for my clothes and the bed folds up against the wall. I'm actually pretty lucky. I'm an officer so I get my own quarters, but the lower ranked service men and women have to share quarters with three other people."

Her expression became confused once again. "How do you share a quarter, do they each get to spend it on what they want?"

Steve tried not laugh, not wanting to make her feel foolish for asking the obvious question. "No honey," he explained. "The word quarters isn't money, it's what we call the room we live in."

"Like the messy hall?" she asked.

He smiled, "Yes."

"Oh,"

Anna came in and sat down on the other side of him. "The most important thing is that he'll be safe and sound."

"Can we come and visit you there?" Jenny asked.

"No, unfortunately you can't." He squeezed her. "I wish you could because I'm going to miss you."

"I'm going to miss you too."

"Me too," Anna agreed, wrapping her hand around his arm.

Steve looked up seeing Eric standing by the TV. "Aren't you going to miss me too Eric?" he asked in a girly voice.

"Yea," Eric rolled his eyes playfully, trying to sound tough, "Like I miss school in the summer."

Steve laughed as the girls scolded him. Steve reached behind his head for the small sofa pillow and hurled it across the room, hitting him in the back of the head. "Bulls eye!" he congratulated himself as Eric laughed, picking it up and getting ready to throw it back when Anna held her hand up.

"Stop! No throwing stuff in the house. Something is going to get broken."

They two boys rolled their eyes over the reprimanding.

"You know," Steve began, "I need you to take care of things around here while I'm gone."

Eric ignored the TV remote and faced him. "Like what?"

"Well, the lawn can't go three weeks without being mowed and if something breaks down you need to look at it. And At night you need to make sure you lock up before bed so the girls are safe. Can you make sure all that gets done?"

Eric nodded, "Yes. I can do all that."

"Good. That's one thing I won't have to worry about then."

Anna squeezed Steve's arm because she could see on Eric's face the importance of the small tasks that were actually huge in his eyes.

"What about me?" Jenny asked. "What do I have to do?"

"You," he said, pulling her up on his lap. "Your job is to write me letters and to send me pictures for my room to brighten it up."

"I can do that," she replied excitedly.

"Good, because they bring mail out to the ship about every five or six days and I'll be expecting something every time."

"What about me?" Anna asked, grinning at him. "What do you want me to do?"

He leaned over and kissed her, "Miss me."

"Done. But that's too easy." She leaned over whispering in his ear, "We'll save mine for when you come home."

He liked the sound of that, looking forward to that day, but pleased he still had tonight, knowing it had to hold him over for the next three weeks. Downtime on the ship was going to be the worst part. He hoped they kept him busy as hell so when he did finally make it back to his quarters he'd collapse into a deep sleep, otherwise he wasn't sure he'd sleep at all, or very well without her.

They'd become accustom to sleeping close, one of the many routines in his life that he needed, he craved it. Often waking up in the middle of night just to feel her. He was addicted to the rush she passed onto him, even as she slept. That gap between his single life and being with her was closing, wondering lately what he would ever do without her. Afraid to let himself even briefly penetrate that world, fearful the nightmare might actually come true.

She got up with Jenny, saying something about ice cream as he watched her walk across the room. She was perfect in his eyes. This world that she had invited him into was perfect. Life was good. The time away would only solidify what he already knew, he was lucky as hell to be sitting amongst these three people that he would do whatever necessary to protect and care for.

"Steve," Anna smiled as he stared at her but seemed lost in his thoughts, ignoring her first request.

"What," he finally answered.

"Ice cream?"

"Sure." He pushed himself off the couch and caught up with her from behind, wrapping both arms around her waist, stopping her in the hallway. "I won't leave you again after this," he said over her shoulder.

She shifted so she could see his face, "You don't have to worry about that. You do what you have to do, we'll always be here when you get home." She sealed it with a kiss and then took his hand, leading him into the kitchen where Eric and Jenny had already begun to get ice cream out of the freezer.

'Yup,' he thought, 'perfect.'

Anna laid in bed with him snuggled up close behind her. His arm placed securely around her waist as he slept. She stared at the dark green duffel bag lying on the floor just a few feet away. It was packed full of all the things he would need over the next three weeks. She hated to see him go, but also knew how important it was to him. She would never ask him to quit, never. It was a part of who he was and why she fell in love with him.

She felt tears sting her eyes, dreading the next morning, knowing how much she was going to miss him. It was a small sacrifice on her part and she scolded herself once again for not seeing the positive. He could be leaving for months and going someplace that would leave her sick to her stomach every second of the day. She should count her blessings and she did, slipping her hand inside of his.

She felt him squeeze it, knowing he was awake too. She rolled over as he sat up on his elbow looking down at her in the darkness.

Neither said a word as they soaked each other in, using this moment as a reminder while they were separated of what was waiting for them.

He leaned down unable to control the urge any longer as she reached up with the same impulse, greeting his kiss with equal momentum. He lifted her up pulling her closer and then laid her back down again, shifting his body on top of her, never once breaking stride from the kiss.

Their bodies connected without any need for guidance as if they were made for each other.

She couldn't imagine being in this place with another man, ever. Her heart pounded over not only the loving motion of his body that filled her up in more ways than one, but because she knew she was loved just as much by him. She felt it in his kiss and in the way he touched her, but more so in the way his eyes continuously followed her when she entered the room. She was admired. She held the same fascination with him. If she was in a room with him she had to be next to him, if she were next to him she had to be touching him, and what she loved the most was that he welcomed it, often pulling her in closer. His only request from her was to miss him…she already was.

Her hands roamed over him setting off small tremors that lasted only seconds but were like the calm before the storm, knowing what her body was capable of doing to him in the end. The build up was just as good as the finale. He raised above her just high enough to see her face. It was a part of the hype that could often put him over the edge. Her beauty was unsurpassed and left him speechless at times, barely able to keep a straight thought in his head while admiring it. This wasn't one of those times though, his thoughts were clear and on track with what he was feeling. He was completely conscious and eager to take that next step with her. All she had to do was accept.

Anna lay sedated as he moved most of his weight off of her, but still kept a firm hold as they lay facing each other.

"Hmmm," she purred, "thank you Commander." She felt his body quake as he chuckled over her remark.

"My pleasure ma'am," he replied in the same calm tone, "and believe me, it was my pleasure."

She ran her hand over his hair and down the back, scooting even closer to him. "I love you."

Her kissed her for that before replying, "I love you too." It was the understatement of the year in his opinion in comparison to what he was feeling at that second. "While I'm gone," he began, needing to get the fear of leaving her taken care of, "if anything happens and you need anything, anything at all," he said adamantly, "you call Danny, ok?"

She smiled, knowing it was more for his peace of mind, "ok."

"I mean it," he repeated. "Anything, he'll come day or night without hesitation."

"I know," she assured him. "I will. I promise."

"If you need me I left numbers on the fridge downstairs. I'd have to call you back but I'll get the message."

"What if I call just to talk dirty to you?" she teased.

"Then call often," he smiled, kissing her.

Her smile slowly faded as the reality of him leaving crept back into her thoughts. "I'm going to miss you so much."

"Three weeks is all," he said as if it were nothing. "It'll go by fast." He tried to convince himself of the same nonsense but they both knew it would drag on as if time were standing still.

"No it won't."

He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "No," he agreed, "it won't."

"It's ok you know," Anna said, "I understand why you have to go. It's a small sacrifice on my side compared to what you have to do and what others like you have to do. I'm not complaining about you having to go. I'll just miss you is all."

He needed to hear that, pleased that he did. "Its different for me now. I used to really like going. It gave me a chance to get away from the normal routine of life, but now," he ran his hand through her hair, "now I love my routine."

Anna smiled, "So am I safe to say that if you ever get excited about going then I should feel nervous?"

"The only time you should feel nervous about me going is if there's a war going on."

"God Steve," she cringed, rolling away, "Don't say stuff like that."

"I'm sorry," he quickly backtracked, leaning over her. "Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to sound like that. I just meant that I'm not in any danger where I'm going now. Its routine stuff."

She looked up at him knowing he meant every word he said but it didn't change the fact that no matter how many times he said it she'd still worry. "I love you so much. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you."

"You won't. I promise." He leaned over and kissed her. "I'll be back in three weeks and then…" he playfully growled as he tore into her neck. "then you better worry."

She giggled and squirmed as his kisses tickled her.

The sound of her laugh was like music to his ears.

They made love again before finally falling asleep, holding each other closely.

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Steve dropped his duffel bag on the ground and turned, facing the three of them as they stood there looking at him sadly in his brown fatigues and combat boots. This was the cut-off point between his Navy life and his civilian life. He looked over toward the gate into Hickman air base where he'd be catching his ride out to the ship. 'It's only for three weeks,' he told himself, 'get a grip.'

He turned back to them and smiled. "I got some stuff for you," he said, trying to make the moment less dreary for all of them. He reached in his pocket and pulled out the keys to his house, taking the house key off the ring.

"Here Eric," he handed it out to him. "I want you to keep an eye on my house when I'm gone. Also, if you just feel like getting away for a couple of hours you can hang out over there and watch TV. I stocked the fridge with pop."

Eric took the key equally shocked and elated over the offer. "Ok, thanks!"

"When I get back we'll start planning our strategy for that camping trip." He motioned toward Anna and Jenny. "It's your job to keep an eye on my girls too. You have Danny's number right?"

He nodded, his expression becoming serious over the most important job he had to do. "Yes. It's on the fridge."

He put a hand on his shoulder, "Ok good."

Jenny looked up at him. "Did you bring me anything?"

"Of course." He bent down and unzipped his bag, pulling out a small plastic bag. "Here, in there are some new crayons, colored pencils and a book of stamps. On your desk at home I put some paper and big envelopes." He bent over bracing his hands on his knees. "I want pictures."

Jenny smiled brightly looking in the bag and then back at him, "I'll make one every day."

"Good. I'll look forward to mail call."

He stood back up looking at Anna.

"Be careful," she said to him as he stared at her.

"Did you think I forgot about you?"

She smiled, rolling her eyes. "Just come back safe, that's all you have to give me."

"No, I don't think that's it." He kept his eyes on her as he reached in his pants pocket and pulled it out. It teetered on his pinky finger as he held it up to her.

She stared at the diamond solitaire ring completely dumbfounded.

"I want to get married when I get home, if you'll still have me."

She slowly looked up at him with her mouth open as if she were going to speak but nothing was coming out.

Steve laughed, reaching down and taking her left hand, slipping the ring on, "I hope that's a look of good shock."

Jenny and Eric looked at each other in the same way, realizing what was happening.

"Are you going to get married?" Jenny blurted out.

Steve raised an eyebrow at Anna as her expression softened and her eyes filled with tears. "I don't know," he questioned her. "Are we?"

She bit her bottom lip and nodded, "Yes," she whimpered, putting her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. "Yes, yes!"

He held her just as tightly, looking over her shoulder as Jenny did a leap in the air and Eric put his hand into a tight fist and did a fist-pump. "Yes!" he exclaimed over the news.

"I'm glad everyone's on board," Steve said, pulling back so he could see Anna's face which glowed, an expression that he locked away in his memory. He cupped her face with his hands. "I love you. I'm here for you, even if I'm two hundred miles off shore. I'll take care you, all of you."

She nodded, knowing his word was written in stone. "I love you too. We all do. We'll take care of you too." She stood up on her toes and kissed him.

He looked down as Jenny wrapped her arms around his thigh and hugged him, "I love you too," she squeezed. She couldn't have been happier over this moment that she had wanted desperately.

He looked over at Eric, "What?" he teased him. "No tears and I love you Steve." He held out his fist to him as Eric bumped it with his.

"No," he said trying to act tough, assuming that's what Steve wanted. He didn't feel the tears right then, and even though he didn't say it, he did love him. He wasn't sure if it was the same love he had for his father but the admiration was the same.

Steve scooped up Jenny, giving her a bear hug and making the noise along with it. "Be good," he said kissing her cheek. "I'll see you soon."

"I love you," she repeated kissing his cheek.

"I love you too sweetie." He set her down and reached over playfully smacking Eric in the head. "I love you too Buddy. Don't eat all my food and drink my beer while I'm gone."

Eric laughed at first and then suddenly without warning he felt the separation of him leaving. It scared him more than anything else as he tried to hide it.

Steve sensed the anxiety and put an arm around his shoulder. "You make a list of what we need for that camping trip, ok?"

Eric nodded refusing to look up at him. "Ok." He felt his throat close up as he leaned into him. "I…" he paused, as he swallowed, "love you too."

Steve pulled him in a little closer, feeling himself getting choked up. "You be good, and take care of things."

Eric nodded again and stepped back, wiping his eyes and grinning. "Pay attention and don't walk off the end of the ship." He finally looked up at him with a teasing grin.

"Smart aleck," Steve mumbled, winking at him.

He took Anna's hand and led her a few steps away, "Remember what I said last night. Call Danny."

"I will," she smiled and then shook her head. "God, you're only going for three weeks but I feel like it's an eternity."

"I know, me too." He moved closer to her, resting his forehead against hers. "I love you. Start making plans. The sooner the better."

She put her arms around his chest, "I love you too. Don't be surprised if you step off the boat and there's minister waiting there." She looked up at him smiling. "I don't want you to change your mind."

He stared down at her, getting his fill before he had to go. "Not going to happen. You're stuck with me."

She reached up and kissed him as he pulled her in closer, getting his fill of this as well.

He gave her one more quick one and then bent over picking up his duffle bag. He started walking backward away from them, raising one hand as they did the same.

"Be safe," Anna said.

"I'll call you when I can."

She nodded and felt her heart sink to her stomach as he turned and walked through the gate and disappeared around the corner.