Posted by Lieutenant Nathan Harland (Counselor) in Happy Thanksgiving and Welcome to the Family…Baby Harland

Posted by Ensign Chloe Harland (Nurse) in Happy Thanksgiving and Welcome to the Family…Baby Harland

SNIP

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Harland Quarters
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Chloe followed Nathan into their bedroom and slid the door shut leaning on it. The chaos in the living room as the grandparents fussed over the kids the others raided the kitchen for refreshments became a dull hum behind the metal.

“Nathan…what did we do,” she looked at him with a serious expression as she busted out laughing.

“We have wanted this… for a long time. Years really… and now…” Nathan said with a slight wide-eyed look as he began to contemplate the situation. “I wonder if I can get more sessions in emergency cases for the new few days…”

“You are not leaving me with this no matter who has a mental health break down. Change your message in the office to rub some dirt in it and take a lap,” Chloe raised an eyebrow at him. Too many times in the past work had come in the middle of things for the family. Nathan was in the business of crisis management which were not things one could schedule around. She knew he was joking about needing to run from the family but on second thought a scheduled crisis might not be such a bad idea to keep on the back burner. Her parents and his were around to take care of the kids. It could give them a few minutes alone over the next week which was priceless. Shaking her head Chloe pushed the thought from her mind.

“Don’t get me wrong I love everyone here but where are we putting them. My parents were taking Mara’s room and your dad was with Logan but I guess....Mollllly…can....share.” Chloe’s words dragged out as she circled around the. bed.

Looking at the right side she did a double-take with a surprised expression before shifting her gaze to Nathan.

“I can so explain,” Molly’s head popped up from the floor beside the bed. She took one look at her uncle before focusing all her attention on Chloe.

Nathan turned as he looked over at the voice of Molly, his eyes almost searching for answers as he knew no good came from a child ever starting anything with I can explain.

“Yep the bed looks super sturdy,” a voice pounded on the frame. “I don’t see why we can’t make create a loft out of it.”

“Oh… who the devil are you and why shouldn’t I kick you out of my home right this second?” Nathan said with a fiery rage in his eyes as he locked onto the boy. He wasn’t dumb, he had been whoever this kid was several times over. Time changed a man, and children, even ones that were not his, changed one’s point of view.

“This is so not what it looks like. I told him I wanted to fix my bed and we were looking at the support…beams,” Molly struggled to find something plausible her uncle would believe.

Chloe looked at Nate and bit her lip. From his point of view Chloe had just been staring at something on the floor. This would have been the first indication Molly was both in their room and not alone.

“Uncle Nate. Aunt Chloe. This is Dax Miller,” Molly gestured to her left. Her hand dropped when the person did not readily reveal himself. A small shuffling sound accompanied by a rustling then produced the head of a young man about Molly’s age.

“Dax Miller,” the boy held his hands up confidently like he had just scored a touchdown or some other play and was responding to the crowds cheering. Hastily Molly put her hands over Dax’s and brought them to rest at his side

“No…” Nathan said simply as he shook his head as he looked over at Chloe, expecting the same reaction.

“Hello ma’am,” Dax gave Chloe a dazzling smile. “It is so nice to meet you. You have a beautiful home here.” He turned a glance to Nathan but instantly regretted it. “Aunt Chloe,” Dax greeted her again.

“Dax is our dinner guest,” Molly hastily added.

“No!” Nathan said once more, emphasizing this time as he pointed at the kid. Nathan had been both doctor and soldier, and both needed a tactical precision to all situations.

“He has never experienced a fun old fashioned Thanksgiving dinner,” Molly added with a slight whine to her voice. When a no response came this fast, whining was often needed to alter its response to the desired one. It could not be outright whining. That just annoyed Uncle Nathan. It had to be whining with a purpose he could not refuse.

“Right now he saw a threat and his training told him to correct the situation with extreme prejudice. “No.” he added once more.

“Thank you but,” Chloe started as both Molly and Dax stood up completely revealing where they had been hanging out in the room.

“But you said I could bring him to Thanksgiving dinner. Remember I asked last week and you were like sure the more the merrier,” Molly shifted the conversation to where she needed it to go. “Is Nana and PaPa here?” If Molly played her cards right this whole situation would be forgotten. How had she not heard everyone come in?

“Who said this? Why am I just now hearing these things? ” Nathan asked as he now turned his attention to Chloe. “I will deal with you later…” he said as he pointed his finger at Chloe as he looked back to the two that were causing the biggest issue right now.

“Me…you tune her out as much as I do at times,” Chloe put her hands on her chest innocently. “When did you ask,” she looked at Molly. The past few weeks had been busy. It was entirely possible Molly mentioned it and either her or Nate back burnered the comment for a later moment. Unfortunately that later moment was now staring at them in a letterman jacket and a grin.

“Chloe. Chloe,” she heard her name being called in the next room. “I gotta go see what they want.” Throwing up her hands she palmed the door open and walked out followed by Molly and then Dax.

Chloe Harland

“You…” he said pointing now at Dax. “Blend in, don’t talk to anyone, and if I see you touch her in any way I don’t like I will surgically remove the appendage, do I make myself clear?” he said as he began to steer them out the door to the family awaiting.

Harland, CNS

“Yes. First base. Dax Miller,” the young boy hollered out triumphantly grinning at Molly.

“I’m starting pitcher for OP42 senior school,” he announced. “Always take first when you can even if you have to slide hard and fast into. That’s how I roll…hard and fast and always making the play,” he draped an arm over Molly’s shoulder with a grin trying to make conversation with Nathan.

Interlocking her fingers in Dax’s, Molly hastily pushed past her uncle calling out her grandparents name as if they had been calling for her. “What…you said he played ball like all his life. The man knows baseball analogies. Everyone knows you run hard and fast to get on first. It’s the hardest place to score without being tagged out. Since I am still here....Uncle Nate hasn’t tossed me from the game. It’s a win thing. You wouldn’t get it,” Dax rolled his eyes.

“Yeah I think he did not see it as you scoring a win to eat turkey Dax,” Molly cast a glance over her shoulder looking at her uncle.

“Molly,” Jen embraced her granddaughter in a hug. “You look so good and who is this fine young gentleman,” she gestured to the boy next to her.

“Dax Miller,” he belted out again complete with the touch-down hands and crowd-rousing tone.

Chloe moved up next to Nate and handed him a cup of coffee. Unfortunately, hers was black but his wasn’t. “At least if we lose him in the apartment again all we have to do is call out his name and we will be able to find him,” she joked taking a sip of the drink. Nate always took a bit of sugar and cream to lighten the drink however, this time it was flavored with Mr. Stack’s Holiday Nog. It made the cup look normal but the creme liquor gave it a soothing effect much like chamomile tea. “You did tell him to blend in,” Chloe pointed out as Dax with each introduction repeated what would go down in the Harland family history.