Mari's ANs:

Always love a co write, Sammy, you're the bestest. Ilna and Sammy, you make every day more fun xoxo

REAL McRollers and Readers, we love you all!

Sammy's ANs:

Mari & Ilna-you're the best.

McRollers-thanks for reading.

Just Like You (1/1)

On their way to dinner while the kids were with Elizabeth and Joseph, Catherine chuckled as they ended a check-in call which echoed through the truck's speakers. The childrens' joyful voices called, "Mommy and Daddy, Grandpa made cheeseburgers with lots of pickles. We're having dinner, then going to BINGO with Grandma Ang!" from Angie and "Have fun at the restaurant, Mom and Dad!" from DJ. The latter had her turning to study Steve's profile.

"Still getting used to that," she said, her smile reaching her eyes.

Steve glanced at her, his own small smile playing on his lips. "He's totally comfortable with 'Mom and Dad,'" he replied, shaking his head. "You know, Lou said Samantha still calls him Daddy sometimes. Marcus switched to Dad and that was that."

Catherine nodded. "And Grace still says Daddy when she's being serious, but Danny told me earlier that her calling him Danno is so perfect, he's happy it stuck. I guess every kid is different."

Steve reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. "Not gonna lie, I'm happy Angie didn't switch when DJ did. It's incredible to see him growing up, but I don't know if I could handle it from both at once," he grinned, but Catherine understood he was mostly serious.

As they reached the restaurant, a small Mexican place on the beach, Catherine turned to Steve as they walked to the entrance. "You know, DJ calling us 'Mom and Dad' and the way it happened, reminds me of someone," she said, a soft smile spreading across her face.

Holding her chair as she took a seat, he arched an eyebrow. "Really? Who might that be?" he asked, knowingly.

Catherine's smile widened as she reached across the table and took his hand. "I can still see your face when you looked at me with that expression after saying it to Cammie and just said, 'I love you, Cath' with zero warning. It was the right time."

"The timing was perfect," he replied, his voice quiet. "So it just felt right."

"Like when you proposed." Her eyes lit with the memory.

"Like when I proposed." He squeezed her fingers and they shared a look.

"The exact right time for us. Just like DJ popping out with 'Dad' at the right time for him. Seems our son is a lot like you, Commander."

Just then, they looked up as their server reached the table. "Commander, Lieutenant, date night? Can I start you off with drinks?" She said, "I'm guessing the kids are with one of a hundred willing family members?"

"Hi Rebecca, and it's Steve and Catherine, remember? Tonight they're with my parents and Grandma, so we may have trouble getting them back," she said with a grin. "And I think we're ready to order."

When Rebecca left, Catherine turned to Steve, who was smiling an amused, proud little smile. "Didn't think of DJ being like me in that respect."

"I did. The second I heard him say, 'Dad' and saw both your faces. And right on our beach? Like father, like son - in his own time. It just felt right, like it was meant to be," she mused, her gaze holding his.

When Catherine excused herself to the restroom Steve's mind drifted back to his complicated relationship with his own father. Over the years he'd managed to make peace with it. Catherine had helped more than he could ever express, but he'd also had many long talks with Joseph, Elizabeth, and Danny.

Given a chance to do it again there were certainly things he would change. Some words he would have spoken sooner and some he never would have uttered.

He was endlessly grateful for the fact that in their final phone call he was able to express love and forgiveness. But that didn't remove the memories of the many times he had spat out the word 'Dad' like a curse. Where the very thought of the word had caused his jaw to clench and his anger to rise.

In retrospect he knew John had done the best he could in a difficult circumstance. That he only wanted what was best for his children. But still, his life was a cautionary tale about how much damage could occur even if someone had the best of intentions.

His father had had to navigate those difficult waters alone. Luckily that wouldn't be the case for him. He had Catherine and a large circle of loving friends and family.

He was determined to use all of his life experiences, along with the advice and support of those around him, to be the best father he could possibly be. There was no doubt in his mind that he and DJ would have differences in the coming years. It was part of every father/son dynamic. Part of growing up.

But in this moment, sitting in this restaurant, watching Catherine walk towards him with a soft smile on her face, he promised himself he would never give his son any reason to spit out the word 'Dad' with hatred or a fear of being unloved.

"Penny for your thoughts," Catherine said as he stood up to pull out her chair.

He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "Just thinking about how very lucky I am."

The scent of sizzling fajitas wafted through the air as Rebecca returned with their orders.

Taking a sip of his beer, Steve looked at Catherine, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You know, sometimes I look at DJ, and I see so much of you in him. His ability to strategize, his kindness … Like yesterday when he made that card for Grandma Ang just because. "

Catherine smiled at the compliment. "And there's the parts of him that are undeniably like you. The way he looks out for Angie and his friends, his resilience, how he always wants to do the right thing."

"And he's growing up to be awesome, Cath. He's overcome a lot and he never lets it hold him back."

Catherine nodded. "He's always going to be our sweet boy. And Angie is definitely a perfect storm of our traits."

Steve laughed. "A fact Danny never lets me forget."

Catherine chuckled, knowing how much Uncle Danno loved teasing Steve about Angie giving him a run for his money. "We won at family roulette." She held up her beer to toast. "To being Mommy and Daddy and Mom and Dad to the best kids ever, even if I'm a little biased." She smirked. "And hopefully Grandma and Grandpa someday."

Steve clinked his drink to hers and mock-scowled, "Are you trying to kill me, Rollins? No Grandma and Grandpa talk until they're forty, please."

She held up a hand, "Promise. Probably."

Their moment was interrupted as the server, Rebecca, approached with a smile. "Another round of drinks?"

By the time they arrived back at the Rollins condo, the kids and Grandma Ang had returned from BINGO full of stories about night.

"You should have seen it, Dad," DJ said. "Grandma Ang won three games in a row."

"Sounds like she was on a lucky streak," Steve said. "Even for her."

Across the room Catherine and Joseph stood watching.

"He seems to be taking the change ok," Joseph observed. "I remember exactly what it feels like to go from Daddy to Dad."

Catherine rubbed his arm. "It's a right of passage. He didn't do it because his friends were all doing it, or because anyone told him to, he just did it when the time was right for him."

"Sounds a lot like his father," Joseph mused.

Catherine kissed his cheek. "Exactly."

THE END

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