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Time After Time

Steve smiled and glanced at Catherine as he drove towards home. Seated beside him, she was leaning back against the seat and texting Elizabeth to say they were on their way.

They'd had dinner with Carrie and John and there had been a local band playing oldies from the 80s. "I can't believe Carrie said every time that song plays, it reminds her of us," he said. "I never heard of it before tonight."

"Because, 80s notwithstanding, Cyndi Lauper wasn't in a hair band," she teased and he barked a laugh. "She told me Time After Time reminded her of us when we were midshipmen. I haven't thought about it in years." She smiled. "I think it's sweet."

"It's definitely very Carrie. Like when she told the server in the Middleton Tavern she was taking bets we'd still be together at eighty," Steve said, his tone shifting slightly, the levity in his voice easing into a more serious tone. He'd been on leave visiting Catherine during the girls' last year at the academy, and Carrie had been having way too much fun telling everyone within earshot they'd finally gotten together.

"We'd been together a whole five months that night," Catherine said softly, turning to face him fully. "She was right."

"True," he replied, his gaze fixed on the road, but his mind wandered back to that night when they'd laughed and changed the subject. He'd been terrified at the thought of a life without Catherine in it, and he was afraid that, like everything he'd loved before he met her, it might be torn away.

She reached out, placing her hand on his thigh after reading his thoughts. "And look at us, a lifetime later."

He exhaled slowly, her words settling over him like a cool breeze. "I had no idea how to let anyone in, and then there you were, drinking that milkshake." His smile crinkled the corners of his eyes as he pictured her.

"But you did," Catherine replied, her eyes bright in the soft glow of the truck's dashboard lights. "You let me in."

"Because you're … you." He shrugged. "I sensed I could trust you."

"Right back at you." She lifted her hand to squeeze his bicep. "Two kids, Cammie, two cats and a goat, and here we are." Her smile lit her face. "Carrie was right." The song echoed in her mind, and she repeated, "Time after time."

"My true north," he returned the smile and they rode in silence for several minutes.

As they pulled into their driveway, Steve parked the truck, the engine rumbling to a stop.

"Let's get the kids to bed before they turn into pumpkins," Catherine said, opening the door and stepping out.

Inside, the house was filled with the smell of freshly baked sugar cookies. A newly completed puzzle was on the coffee table, and the faint sound of The Princess and the Frog played in the background. Angie was curled up on the couch, dark curls spilling over her grandmother's lap as she slept under one of Nonna's afghans.

"Thanks, Mom," Catherine said as she bent to kiss Elizabeth's cheek without waking her daughter. "How long haven't you moved because she's fast asleep?"

"Look at her," Elizabeth whispered, smiling as she slid out from under the dozing little girl and tucked the blanket around Angie's shoulders. "She's so beautiful when she sleeps."

"Just like her mother," Steve said softly, brushing a hand over Angie's hair. "DJ in his room?"

When her mother nodded, Catherine grinned. "Beating Dad at poker?"

"He's getting close," Elizabeth chuckled. "Did you have a good time with Carrie and John?"

"It was fun, we tried a new place," she said as Steve lifted a still-sleeping Angie, afghan and all and started upstairs.

"Tell your father to cut his losses and call it a night," she teased and Catheirne chuckled as she followed Steve and made her way into DJ's room.

Joseph and a pajama clad DJ were utterly engrossed in a game. Not poker, but Trivial Pursuit.

"Hey, sweetheart," she said and bent to kiss his cheek, then stood to hug her father. "Just about bedtime."

DJ looked up. "I almost beat Grandpa at poker and now we're playing Trivial Pursuit. We came upstairs when Angie fell asleep. Can we finish this one question?" he asked, pointing to the card.

Catherine knelt beside him. "You can finish this round, and then it's bedtime. Deal?"

"Deal!"

DJ focused back on the game, and when Joseph asked, "What are animals that eat both meat and plants called?" he answered, "Omnivores!" with a confident smile.

"Looks like I'm beat," his grandfather said and stood, opening his arms for a hug. When the eleven year old stepped into them, he kissed the top of his head. "I need a rematch. Get some sleep and next time we'll play with Grandma and Angie."

"Okay, Grandpa." He smiled up at him. "Thanks for playing. See you Wednesday?"

Joseph beamed and nodded. "I can't wait." He looked between DJ and Catheirne. "Good night you two." He glanced down at the happily dozing dog. "You, too, Cammie. I'm going home to hone my trivia skills." With a kiss to his daughter's cheek and a pat on Steve's shoulder as he entered from putting Angie in bed, he stepped out to descend the stairs.

Steve nodded his thanks and exchanged a knowing glance with Catherine. They shared a grin, a silent understanding of the absolute joy her parents took in every minute they spent with the kids.

"How was dinner?" DJ asked, his eyes drooping a bit as he stretched, then hugged his father.

"Good," Catherine said. "And we're happy to be home." With another kiss to his forehead, she told him, "Good night, sweetheart."

Once they stepped into the hall and the door clicked shut, Steve turned to her. "Angie never even opened her eyes. Go kiss her good night. Meet you in the bedroom."

Just as she was exiting the master bathroom, Catherine's phone buzzed. When she opened a link from Carrie, the soft notes of Time After Time began to play and she chuckled.
Steve furrowed his brow, recognizing the tune. "Is that the song?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Carrie texted it," she said, grinning.

"Let's dance." He reached out a hand and pulled her close.

"Right now?" She laughed, and he thought, as usual, it was the most beautiful sound.

"Right now," he replied, swaying gently with her. "We're home. The kids are asleep. Just you and me."

As the song played, Catherine melted into him, their bodies moving in sync, and they swayed together in the quiet house as Cyndi Lauper crooned, "If you're lost, you can look and you will find me…time after time."

# End Thanks for Reading

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