CH 48
Later that afternoon Pete drove back to port with nick up top with him while they talk. When they dock Pete took care of the kids life jackets and put them all away then carry every thing back up to the car since Nikki sorted out the car seats before she and Heidi left to do some shopping.
Tom and kids walk up and got into the the car and waited for Pete to return since he got to move the boat back to where it was before and handed the keys back over to the owner who was waiting on the dock for him. Then the owner would check out the boat for any damages before he gives Pete the all clear then Pete could return back to the car. When he return he sorted kids seat belts out first before he got into the drivers side and he got his phone out.
"I'll make that order" Pete said
"Pete you better order for two more" Pete turn to tom who was reading a text message from Nikki
"Why"
"visitors"
"any idea who?"
"Heidi didn't say"
"Ok"
Pete look through his phone list till he found the number he looking for then he press dial number and put the phone to his ear. He made a large order for every one. When finish he hung up and put the phone in his pocket
"It will be almost ready by the time we get there"
"Good, cause I'm hungry" Tom said
"Me two" nick said
"Me to daddy" TJ and Jon said
Tom and Pete grin just as Pete put his seat belt on before starting the wagon up and drove to the fish and chip shop.
When they arrived and car park Pete got out and walk into the fish and chip shop then out again he show Tom both hands and fingers so Tom knows it would another ten minutes then Pete point down the street, Tom gave a nod knowing that is where sub way is. Pete walk down to sub way and brought five salads then return back with them he walk over to Tom .
"Gee you got enough here for an army" Pete laugh as he pass the bags
"We know what Nikki is like"
"True"
"Be right back" then Pete walk into the fish and chip shop.
Couple minutes later Pete walk out carrying a box in his hands. He walk around to the back of the wagon and open it with one hand. Then he put the box in the back. Then he walk to the passenger side where tom pass him the two sub way bags.
Then he walk to the back where he put them next to the box then close the boot door. He walk around and got into the wagon and put his seat belt on then started up the car then he drove them back to Nikki place.
"Any idea who might be at the house?" Pete asked
"no, Heidi said it a surprise and if she tell me I'll tell you who it is"
"what is think I might do?"
"don't know, it would depend on who it is"
"Ok"
they talk about who might be at the house till they pulled up in the garage since the door is up and there only one other car that they could see. When they got out Pete got the kids out then he walk around the back of the car to get the cruches while Tom got out and close the door before Pete pass him the cruches the he walk out of the garage and towards the house.
While Pete got dinner out of the boot then he close the boot then walk out closing the garage door before walking towards the back door. When he walk in side
"Honey I'm home" when he heard voices then a man appeared around the corner which cause Pete to stop in his tracks
"Hello" Pete said
"Why did you call out honey I'm home" the man said in angry tone
"Dad stop that" Nikki said when she appeared next to him
"sorry about that Pete, dad getting all defensive again" Pete look at Nikki and smile
"Ok, well we didn't catch any fish" he show her box, she fold her arms
"fish and Chips Pete" she gave him the look
"Yes and salad, I remember from last time"
"what salad" Pete move to box to one hand and lifted the other to show her the salads.
Nikki laugh "Five salads"
"Yes" She took them out of his hand and lean ford and kiss him.
Then she turn to her father who still doesn't look happy "Dad, we will talk about it after kids are in bed"
"Nikki" he said looking at her
"Dad, I mean it" she gave him a look Pete knows to well she she arguing with the XO on Hammersley.
"alright" he turn to Pete
"Pete Tomaszewski sir" Pete said holding his hand out. Nikki father look at him and his hand.
Nikki slap her father arm "Manners dad"
"Andrew Caetano...commodore Caetano"
"Petty officer Tomaszewski, crew call me buffer sir" they shook hands.
"so you the one who save Nikki life couple months ago from some drug dealer who was about to shoot her"
"Yes sir, it my job sir"
"Dad we can talk about it later, kids are hungry and I know you and Pete are to"
They walk into the kitchen and into the dinning area where knife forks plates, sauces and drinks were already on the table "Pete I see your still alive" Tom said smiling. Heidi slap his arm
"Yes Tom I'm still in one piece, who hungry"
"ME" kids said
"Pete this is my mother Nicole Caetano, mum this is Pete"
"nice to meet you ma'am"
"Pete it good to finally meet you at last" they shook hands
"You to ma'am"
"Let's eat shall we" Nikki said.
They walk around the dinning room table and sat down. Pete and Nikki sorted out dinner then Heidi and Nikki got kids there dinner first then the adults help them selves. Nikki was sitting next to Pete during dinner. They all talk and laugh over the next hour.
"So no fish tonight" Nikki asked Pete
"none, not even one bite"
"did you use the fish finder"
"Yes, when we arrive there was a school of them, but they can't of been hungry" Nikki giggle
"Nikki I spoke to Dave when we return, he said others who hired his boats in the past three days return with no fish, that including in the best areas. It like they all disappeared"
"That is strange, the only way for that to happen is if a trawler been through those areas"
"I was thinking the same thing"
"I'll call NAVCOM after dinner about this and see if they can share what going on"
"Wait until tomorrow"
After dinner Nikki and Heidi took there kids up stairs to have there baths before bed since they were tired after a long day while Pete took care of the rubbish and help with the dishes since Nicole was helping out. When the dishes are in the dishwasher Pete got coffee mugs out of the cupboard
"Brew ma'am" Nicole smile
"Yes thanks, white with one sugar, Andrew like is strong"
"One and half teaspoons of coffee, white, three sugars" Pete said
"Yes how did you know" Pete turn and smile at her
"Nikki like it like that as well" Nicole laugh
"Like father like daughter"
"Yes ma'am, Nikki calls it navigation brew"
"she right, I don't know how Andrew and Nikki could drink it like that"
"I don't know either"
Pete made them all a drink then he put them on a tray and took it into the living room where Tom and Andrew is. Pete pass the drinks around before picking his one up and sit down on the couch.
"Tell me about your self petty officer" Andrew asked
"I'm twenty eight years old, eldest of three children, two sisters. Father past away with I was fifteen...Finish high school and join the navy so I could help my mother and sisters out. My mum had a part time job for fifteen years till she was and others were made redundant ten years ago. But she manage to get a full time job till last year where she had to give it up" Pete took a sip of his drink then look down at his mug
"What happen" Nicole asked softly Pete look up at Nicole
"Mum found a lump, she went to the doctors to have it check out. After having tests done it came back positive for cancer, it was stage two. They did further tests... the cancer spread to her lymphoid. Three months ago she learn she got stage three cancer, the doctors given her two and half to three years"
"I'm sorry to hear that Pete" Nichole said
"thank you ma'am... both of my sisters been tested... they both got it but they are lucky the doctors caught it in time, it stage one"
"I didn't know that Pete" tom said in shock
"I found out about it last night"
"Was there any family history" Andrew asked "Mum grand mother sister died from it, that all I know"
"what happens if you have any kids, daughter?"
"Changes of if I have a daughter well there a ten percent change that she might get it, but if my sisters got daughters, there would be a ninety percent change that they would get it. But the the advance technology today they can find out when they reach teenage years to find out if they will get it or not"
"that true" Tom said
"Are you still supporting your family" Andrew asked
"My mother, yes sir, I send money to here each pay day. The money she getting from the befit isn't enough, so I'm sending her some of mine to help her out and it also paying for her medical insurance. If she didn't have that, she would be waiting longer to have the test done and the insurance is paying for her medical treatments"
"That good of you helping you mother out Pete" Nicole said
"what about your sisters are they helping out?" Tom asked
"some time if they got extra money to give. They love to party and they earn twice as what I'm getting"
"do you see you mum much?" Andrew asked
"I saw her on my last shore leave. I fix thing around the house, saving her paying for a guy to do the job"
"what dose you mum think of you being in the navy?" Andrew asked. They saw Pete start to smile
"she told me she prod of me and every time I got promoted I went to see her in my uniform, same with metals I received over the years. She so happy with what I've done for my self and told me that my dad would also be prod of me also"
Andrew ask Pete number of questions which Pete answer them till Nikki and Heidi walk into the living room with coffee in hand. Heidi sat next to Tom while Nikki sat next to Pete.
"Is every thing ok here" Nikki asked
"Yes sis every thing fine" tom said. Nikki look at her brother then turn to Pete
"your parents ask me questions which I answer them"
"questions, what questions" Nikki asked
"My family, being in the navy, how and where we met" She turn to her father
"Dad"
"I just wanted to know what sort of guy he is. We both know what navy guys are like Nikki"
"Yes I do and Pete isn't like that"
"He told us and he told me you both are on the same ship. Nikki you know the rules" Andrew said
"Yes I do dad and we haven't broken any of them"
"But you both spending a lot of time together while on shore leave"
"Yes we are, this way we can get to know each other again and see where it leads us, when we on Hammersley it Nav and Buffer"
"Have you two sleep together"
"Dad" Nikki said in shock
"Yes sir we have" Nikki turn to Pete
"Pete" He look at Nikki then to her shock father
"Sir before you say the wrong thing. Last time we sleep together was when we both were station in Perth and we didn't brake any rules"
"You and Nikki were on different ships?" Nicole asked
"Yes ma'am. When both had shore leave at the same time we spent it together. The last time we sleep together was the night before I left for Iran. That was the last time I saw and heard from Nikki till the day she showed up on the docks in front of Hammersley"
"We know about the letters, she told us" Nicole said
"What are your attentions towards Nikki" Andrew asked. Pete put his hand into Nikki's while looking at her then he turn to her parents.
"Get to know Nikki all over again and for her family to get to know me. I love Nikki from the first time we meet at the guard gate and getting to know her not at Nav but as Nikki right up till the last time we saw each other before my tour over seas... I've love her then and I still do the day she came back into my life and now my love to her is stronger than before. Not because we serve on the same boat but cause we older, wiser" then he turn to Nikki and look at her since she looking at him
"I love you still Nikki, you know that I'll always love you. You know that there been no other women besides my mum and sisters in my life" then he raise there joining hands towards his chest
"My heart." He said looking into her eyes.
Nikki let go of Pete hand then she quickly move till she on his lap hugging and kissing him "i love you to Pete. You know there been no other guy in my life since that day you left for your tour"
"i know you told me every thing like I told you." Nikki nodded then they kiss once more.
"What about Nick" Andrew asked
"dose he know" Pete asked quietly He saw the look on her face and knew that she hasn't told her father who nick father is. She turn to her parents while Pete got his arms around her waist.
"Pete knows about nick, you seen the way they act together"
"but that still doesn't answer my question Nikki" Nikki took a deep breath
"Pete is Nick father"
"what" Andrew said in shock
"I knew it" Nicole said. Andrew turn to his wife who was smiling
"You knew it"
"Andrew Nikki and Pete been together for three years before his tour, As Nikki said there been no other guy. Plus Nick dose look like Pete except for the hair and dimples he gets that from Nikki and she did name him Nickolas Peter"
Andrew thought about it and turn to Nikki and Pete who looking at him. "Nikki you better let your captain know about this, if you wont tell him, I will"
"no dad your not, if you do, they would either transferred me or Pete to some place else like Perth or Darwin. What do you think might happen to us, to Nick. We lost contact once thanks to the navy, I don't want that happen again I don't want to wait another six years for us to find each other"
"Nikki can you stand up please" Pete asked.
Nikki stood up then Pete Did. He walk out of the living room.
"thanks a lot dad, You gone to far. I love Pete and you... you don't want to get to know him, you think he not good enough for me... well he is look what we got, we got a son together your grand son. If you want nothing to do with Pete, then you might as well go and pack your bags and leave and don't bother to come back here till you except Pete" Nikki said yelling at her father
then she walk quickly out of the living room going to look for Pete hoping that he hasn't left and she hasn't heard his bike start up and wondering where he is. Tom turn to his parents
"Nikki right dad. Heidi and I got to know Pete when he comes around here. He dose love Nikki and there son."
"He just a petty officer"
"Who loves Nikki, not the uniform Just Nikki as her self. Plus she trust him with her life. Remember dad he saved her life couple months back. Not because it his job it cause he loves her and doesn't want any thing happen to her" Tom said.
"Dad... there some thing you should know... before Pete left for his tour over in Iran he brought an engagement ring. While he was doing his tour he was paying it off. He was planing on purposing to Nikki when he return back from his tour... he said he still got the ring hopping that one day he would meet up with her again. And he did six years later"
Andrew look at Tom and Heidi in shock "He was going to purpose to her"
"Yes dad, if the navy didn't screw up the mail they would have been married with another one or two children by now" Tom said.
Nikki went looking for Pete out side when she saw the garage door open and noises coming from in there. She walk over and saw Pete putting the gear away that was in the back of the wagon. He turn to see Nikki standing there so he carried on till every thing was put away and the boot of the wagon clean up. He turn to Nikki just as he close the boot of the car.
"Pete sorry about dad"
"It ok" he step ford and pull her into his arms for a hug.
"it not ok, Pete he shouldn't talking like that, he use to do that to my other boy friends when I was at high school. They dump me cause of what dad telling them that they not good enough for me"
"To him no one is good enough for you"
"I know, he still sees me as he little girl, not a grown women"
"i know, come on let's go back in side"
"Are you sure Pete"
"Yes I am"
he bend over and kiss her then he turn around and pick up his bag that he took with him while fishing then they walk out of the garage with Pete closing the garage door. Then he and Nikki walk back and into the house. They walk back into the living room after Pete put his bag on top of the washing machine.