Chapter 10 #2
After dinner was cleaned up, she and the kids watched a video that Cullen had picked up at a travel agency about cruise ships.
He’d already watched it, he said before leaving, and he thought they might get some information on it before they left.
So far, she was getting a great deal of information and was glad that he’d done that.
Making notes, she thought that she’d get more information from the library to see what else they would need to know before leaving.
It was getting late before Cullen showed up.
Apparently, the kid that he’d spoken to had wanted more information than Cullen had.
It was a game of translating from his brother to the young boy to see what he wanted.
While he didn’t have all the answers, he did have a few, and it made it easier for them to communicate.
“I’m betting by next week, Booth has the language down pat.
He might need a few words from me to get them right, but he only has to hear the language once before he knows it.
It was nice that he had to ask for help, but I know that he was embarrassed about having to interrupt our dinner.
” She told him that it turned out all right.
“It did. I got to be the superhero for my brother, and that made me feel good. I love Booth, but he can be a little strange when it comes to knowing how to say thanks and sorry.”
“I’ve noticed that about him. He’s a good person, but I have a feeling that he’s stuck in his head most of the time.
I know that I would be if I had that much information in my head all the time.
” He wondered how Dee put up with him. “Because like me, she loves her mate and doesn’t see any flaws at all.
You’re perfect as far as I’m concerned.”
“Sure, I am.” They talked while sitting on the couch for some time.
She was going to enjoy doing this more often when she retired.
That’s the way she was going to think of it, too.
As she didn’t abandon her post, but retired to greener pastures.
She’d been doing it for so long, she was betting that she was missing something.
Fresh eyes might get them in a better position than they were in now, and she was happy for them all.
That’s what she was going to keep telling herself too that they were going to be better off without her.
Going up to bed that night, she didn’t feel as tired as she had before.
She was exhausted, but not like she’d been even the night before.
She thought that talking to Cullen for as long as they did was what had helped, and she was going to try to do that more often.
They needed each other, and she had been missing him being there for her.
As she was ready to turn out the light, Cullen pulled her into his arms.
“I love you, Emmie. I’ll love you more tomorrow and even more the day after that. You’re my world.” She felt her eyes fill with tears of happiness. “Don’t cry, baby. Tell me what I did wrong and I’ll fix it.”
“Nothing. You were just being you for my heart, and that’s why I’m crying.
I love you, too, Cullen. You’re my everything and more.
” After he kissed her, she decided that even if people were going to be pissed off at her, she was glad that she’d done this.
It was going to be fun getting to know her family again.
She’d missed so much being away from them all the time, and she had a lot of making up to do.
~*~
Five years later and several trips around the world
Cullen was bouncing his first grandchild on his lap when Sharon asked him if he was all right with her. She was the apple of his eye, and he couldn’t get enough of holding her. She was Marshall’s and Sharon’s newborn, and he couldn’t have been happier than he was right now.
“I’m fine. I’ve changed her diaper for her, so I think she’ll get some sleep now.
I’m afraid she’s going to be sore tomorrow from being held so much.
” Sharon asked if she could talk to him.
“Anytime you wish. But you do understand that I can’t lie to you.
You’re family, and that’s a big no-no in that department. ”
“I expect no less from you.” She looked around the area where they were having a picnic to welcome the new baby into the family.
He looked as well and saw that Beth was rubbing her belly again.
She was due in about a month, and they’d do the same thing for her newborn.
Get together and celebrate the birth. “I’m thinking about going back to work after my maternity leave is over.
I’ve not told Marshall yet. I’m afraid that he won’t be as understanding as you and Emmie were when you two had kids. ”
“What does he need to understand?” She wanted him to be the stay-at-home dad. “If it’s babysitting, you know you have so many family members that would jump at the chance to watch little Emmilie. Even myself and Emmie.”
“I know that, but you staying home with the kids was so much better for Emmie when she wanted to work. You raised the kids to be the perfect people.” He said that Emmie was there for them as well.
“But you were there for them all the time. I want that for our kids. I don’t want to give up my career as a doctor just because I’ve had a baby. ”
“Then talk to Marshall. I’m sure he’ll understand.
Since he’s been talking to you about how I stayed at home, maybe he’ll be more receptive to the idea.
But I want you to know that it wasn’t all on me.
Emmie raised the kids as much as I did. Just because I was home most of the time doesn’t mean that she didn’t have a huge part in their upbringing.
No decision was ever made without her having a say in it, too. ”
“That’s what Marshall said, too. He said that he remembers you two talking long into the night when something came up.
And that, when it was necessary, the two of you sat down with them to explain how things were going to go.
His favorite memory of the two of you is when you sat him down to tell him that he could be a Dixon or a Humphrey.
Beth had already decided that she no longer wanted her parents’ name, but it was harder for him.
He said that you two told him his options and let him decide.
I’m guessing that becoming a Dixon was one of the hardest decisions he’d ever made. ”
“He thought that his parents were going to come back for him, and he’d not get to be a Dixon for very long.
He said that he wanted to be a Dixon more than anything in the world.
We both told him that his parents weren’t going to get out of jail.
They’re still in jail to this day. But it was his decision to make.
” Sharon said that’s the relationship that she wanted with her own kids.
One of mutual caring and love. “We’ve had plenty of that going around in our household.
And I’ve noticed that you have as well.”
Nodding, she sat there with him for another twenty minutes before she told him she’d be back.
When she went to Marshall, who was sitting with his brothers, Cullen knew that they’d be able to work things out.
As soon as they hugged, he knew that his son would be a stay-at-home dad just as he’d been, and he’d love it.
He’d not tell anyone, but he thought that Marshall hated his job now that the baby was there, and he’d just as soon be an at-home dad than anything. He looked down at the baby in his arms.
“You’re going to be the center of attention for a long time, my dear child.
Even after your aunt has her baby, you’re going to be the apple of everyone’s eyes.
The first grandchild and great-grandchild born to this family.
” She looked up at him as if she understood everything he was saying to her.
“You’re going to be the best thing that happens to this family.
Of that I’m sure. It’s been told that you are going to be the greatest gorilla born to the Dixon family forever. ”
Lorne, his best friend and greatest magic creature he knew, was still around, and if he looked hard enough, he could still see him sitting with Emmie.
He’d told him that his child would be a good role model and his firstborn grandchild would run the world if necessary.
He wondered what that meant, but wasn’t going to ask.
There were things that he didn’t want to know right now.
She’d be great, and that’s all he cared about.
When people started to leave, he handed over the baby to his grandma Dixon. She was getting up there in age, but he’d trust her with his life if it came to that. When she asked him if he was going to take the baby to the next meeting, he said that it wasn’t up to him but Sharon and Marshall.
“Good answer. It should be up to them. And the next time Dallas comes home, he’ll be happy to see that she’s a gorilla too.
His troop is growing daily, it seems like.
” He told her that he thought that Dallas could handle it.
“I’m sure that if anyone can, it will be him.
He’s a good man and a great president. Didn’t he win both elections by a landslide? ”
“That he did. Not only that, but he was winning all his states by a couple of hours into the races. People seem to like him a great deal.” She said he was good at what he was doing.
“I’ll say. I’m betting if he could run a third term, he’d be right up there with the same numbers.
People like what he’s doing for the country. ”