The Trainer

Chapter 37-2 years later

Willow smiled down at the baby boy that was sleeping on her chest. Wolf had the baby's twin sister in his arms. He was totally enthralled with her, not that he wasn't with the baby boy. Willow could tell he would have a very special and loving relationship with both of them, not different then what Willow had finally developed with her own father.

"We have to come up with names." Willow remarked.

"Did you have any idea?" Wolf asked.

"Nope. Not a clue. Did you text my dad? You know he's worried." Willow asked. Mike and Andrea had agreed to babysit the two kids that Willow and Wolf had adopted; Carly and Nick. Carly was a very inquisitive five-year-old orphan and Nick was eighteen months old. They would have their hands full and Willow had quit working to become a stay at home mom. Carly and Nick were the only two kids that they had fostered and had immediately agreed to adopt them. And Mike and Andrea were doting grandparents.

"Do you want me to wake him up? Its three am." Wolf asked.

"Knowing my dad, he's pacing the floors. He's turned into such a nervous Nelly." Willow remarked. Hannah had had another severe stroke about a year before and lost the ability to talk. She eventually regained it through speech therapy, but Mike had become even more guarded about her health. It didn't help that the same week, MJ had fallen in the pool, hit his head and almost drowned. Had Wolf not seen him fall, they would have lost MJ. Mike had been at the hospital with Hannah and had met them in the emergency room, in near hysterics. Thankfully, MJ had come through it with nothing more than a scar, but it had a lasting effect on Mike. He became almost obsessive about his kid's health and safety.

"Alright. Want me to tell him to come in the morning after visiting hours?" Wolf asked as he pulled his phone out.

"Yeah, that'll give me a chance to take a nap before my very large and very loud family shows up and hopefully have names picked out." Willow said as she kissed the baby boy's head. He had dark brown hair and big brown eyes and Willow was completely in love.

"They are absolutely perfect. I love you." Wolf said as he handed her their daughter and pulled his phone out.

"I love you too and I had a good partner to have babies with. What about Kristin for her?" Willow asked.

"For your mom?" Wolf asked.

"Yeah, I don't want exact but close. And Hannah suggested another name that I really like. Hope. Kristin Hope." Willow suggested.

"I really like that, and it fits her. What about him? The one we talked about?" Wolf asked.

"Daniel Michael? I love it." Willow stated.

"Perfect. So, Daniel and Kristin; I had better text your grandpa before he has a heart attack." Wolf remarked.

"Willow, Daniel Michael and Kristin Hope are all doing very well. Willow is wanting to get some rest and she says to come after visiting hours start. Are Carly and Nick behaving themselves? Willow figured you would want the text to know they were okay. She knew you would be worried. Hope we didn't wake you?" Wolf texted. Within just a minute; Mike texted back.

"I was awake. The kids are sound asleep. No problem at all. The babies are beautiful, but my baby is okay? I was really worried about her. And I am honored, and I know Christine would be too." Mike texted. Wolf wondered how the man had known about the names. Daniel's middle name was obvious, but Kristin's was a guess.

"We wanted to, and she is fine. Handled everything like a champ. Just tired now." Wolf answered.

"Okay. Tell her that I love her. We will be there about nine or so but let me know if she's still resting and we will hold off." Mike texted.

"Will do. Get some rest." Wolf ordered and then pocketed his cellphone so he could concentrate on Willow and their babies.

"Want me to take them to the nursery to get some proper rest?" Wolf asked.

"Not really but you had better. I am tired." Willow stated.

"Your dad said to tell you that he loves you and will be here later this morning." Wolf said as he put each baby in the bassinets. Both Daniel and Kristin were perfectly happy babies. Willow had given them both kisses and Wolf walked them to the nursery. By the time he got back to Willow's room, she was all but asleep. Wolf crawled in next to her and she snuggled up. Within just a few moments, she was sound asleep.

Wolf couldn't be happier with how his life had changed since he had met Willow. Four kids in two years had been crazy but Wolf couldn't be happier. Willow also helped Jim and Maryann with the triplets frequently and Hannah always needed a helping hand.

Wolf fell asleep soon after Willow and stayed asleep until the nurse came in to check on Willow. It was almost eight thirty and Mike and the rest of the family would be due soon. The nurse helped Willow get ready while Wolf got himself ready and got the babies from the nursery and received a report on how they did. Daniel was going to be a heartbreaker, according to the nurse and Hope was a sweetheart.

When Wolf returned; Willow's entire family was there in addition to Carly and Nick. Both kids were on the bed next to Willow and were anxious to see the babies. Mike was concentrating on Willow, more than the babies. After a few moments with Carly and Nick; Wolf helped Hannah hold Kristin. Mike was watching her closely but had leaned over and was talking to Willow.

As many issues and problems that Mike and Willow had had; they had developed a close relationship. It was something Wolf respected and wanted to have with his own children. Mike was both tender and tough when he needed to be. There were times he struggled balancing being Hannah's caretaker and her father, but somehow, they found a happy median. Mike had also developed an adorable relationship with MJ, despite not knowing him the first six years of his life. Wolf looked over and saw Mike bent down and showing Daniel to MJ and how they smiled at each other.

The family spent their day cuddling the twins and loving on Willow. Andrea had left midway through and came back with flowers, a "mommy basket" for Willow and stuffed animals for Daniel and Kristin. Willow would be going home with the babies the next morning. It was time for the family to leave, but Mike was struggling with leaving Willow.

About two, it become obvious that the younger kids needed naps. They were all becoming fussy and Hannah was becoming increasingly tired. She normally rested from two to four every day.

"Daddy, I know you want to stay here with Willow, but can we please go home? Please? I am really getting tired. Sorry, Willow." Hannah finally asked from her wheelchair.

"It's okay, Hannah. I understand." Willow told her. Mike nodded, knowing that a nap was in order for other members of his large family.

"Yes, it's time. We'll have your house ready when you get home and can keep Carly and Nick an extra night if need be. Just, let me know." Mike said as he bent over and kissed Willow's forehead.

"We will. Love you, old man." Willow said, obviously teasing her father.

"Ha-ha, funny. I love you too. Call us if you need anything. Hannah, you ready?" Mike asked as Andrea helped get the other kids collected.

"Can you help me stand up so I can give Willow a hug?" Hannah asked. The two sisters were extremely close, and it was generally Willow that Hannah went to when she needed a break from Mike or felt Mike needed to spend time with one of the other kids. She was also particularly close to Katherine because Katherine allowed her to be a normal twenty-year-old. Mike immediately helped her to her feet and then held her so she could hug and kiss her big sister. "Thank you for naming Kristin after Mom. She would be so happy." Hannah whispered in her ear.

"She would be happy with you too. You are our light." Willow told her. Of all her kids, Christine would be particularly happy with Hannah and the way she persevered and never lost her happy-go-lucky spirit.

"She'd be proud of both her girls. Hannah, you ready to sit back down?" Mike asked, obviously having overheard the conversation.

"Yes." Hannah answered and Mike helped her back into the wheelchair. The kids were completely ready, and Mike would be pushing Hannah's wheelchair.

"See you all tomorrow. Love you all." Willow told her entire family as she cuddled Kristin close. Wolf was changing Daniel and they would settle in for a nap soon.

"Love you too." Several family members replied. Nick had ended up on Hannah's lap and Carly was 'helping' Mike push the wheelchair. As soon as they left, Willow let out a sigh of relief.

"I love my family, but I was ready for them to go home. Spend some one-on-one time with these guys." Willow said as she kissed Kristin's head.

"I could have scooted them out sooner?" Wolf asked as he sat down next to her with Daniel in his arms.

"Nah. It's okay. Tomorrow, we'll have Cassie, Jim, Maryann, Katherine and the triplets visiting. They all mean well. Just wanted some time with just us and the twins. And Carly and Nick needed a chance to see them." Willow remarked.

"Well, your dad and Andrea will spoil Carly and Nick rotten. Your dad loves being a dad, but I think he loves being a papa just a bit more." Wolf mentioned.

"It's a close race." Willow agreed.

"Let's just relax and enjoy these guys. The circus of having four kids starts tomorrow. Your dad and Andrea make it look easy." Wolf remarked.

"She told me organization is the key. You've seen her schedule book. Color coded for each person. Buying in bulk and keeping Dad on that frame of mind? That's a battle. She said he was her biggest obstacle at times because he likes random date days and days out with the kids." Willow explained.

"Their one and only argument. Otherwise, they are a super couple." Wolf told her.

"They are perfect. Andrea's organization and Dad's crazy. It works for them." Willow agreed.

"It does and if we can be even close to like them; we'll be doing good." Wolf remarked.

"Your organization and my crazy?" Willow teased.

"Something like that." Wolf said as he gave her a long kiss.

Mike's House

Trying to get six kids under the age of ten to bed before midnight was harder then Mike imagined. Not to mention, Hannah requesting a shower. Something Andrea had to help her with. Carly and Nick were both well-loved and Mike adored them, but they were not always perfectly behaved; not that Mike's own kids were.

"Alright, boys! Five minutes and its lights out." Mike said as he walked into the boy's room. Tommy and MJ roomed together, and Nick was on a trundle. They had plenty of rooms, but the kids preferred to be together.

"When is Mommy and Daddy gonna be home, Papa?" Nick asked. The little boy had been abandoned at the hospital when he was a few hours old and Willow and Wolf had had him from his release. Mike's family was the only family he would ever know.

"Probably tomorrow. The doctors need to make sure your mommy and the babies are okay." Mike answered as he tucked the little boy in.

"Oh, I miss Mommy and Daddy." Nick said with tears in his eyes.

"I know you do, Buddy. If you get lonely in here, you can come in with Nana and me. Just knock on the door first." Mike instructed.

"Alright, Papa. I love you!" Nick answered.

"I love you too, buddy. Alright, Tommy and MJ. Beds, boys." Mike said. Tommy complied but MJ blatantly ignored him. MJ was not any less strong-willed then Willow and Mike frequently had to discipline him for not behaving. Mike counted to ten while tucking Tommy in and giving him a goodnight kiss. He was still in therapy with Dr. Grover and she had given him some tools to use instead of letting his temper flare; something that frequently happened with MJ. Once he stood back up from situating Tommy, it was time to deal with MJ. "Alright, MJ, bed." Mike ordered.

"But, Dad; I want to play some more." MJ argued. Mike gently took the toy out of his hand and guided him to bed.

"Its past your bedtime." Mike answered. MJ was at least headed to his bed.

"Dad, remember the day after tomorrow? You were gonna take me to watch the high school football game. Did I lose that?" MJ asked. One of the things that Mike struggled with was using outings to punish MJ. The little boy looked forward to one-on-one outings with Mike and Mike enjoyed them. Mike hated taking those away from him.

"You haven't lost it yet, but you really need to go to bed and behave tomorrow. You have been tap-dancing on my last nerve." Mike answered.

"Yes, sir. I really do want to go." MJ responded as he crawled into his bed. Mike covered him with the blanket and tucked it around his body.

"I do too. Alright, you good?" Mike asked.

"Yes, sir. Good night, Dad." MJ answered after a yawn.

"Good night, son. I love you." Mike said. It was another thing he had learned, telling his kids that he loved them even when he was arguing with them or disagreed. It tended to slow his temper down too. He leaned down and kissed MJ's forehead and laughed at his groan.

"Dad, I'm almost all grown up. Why do you still kiss me goodnight?" MJ asked.

"Because you are only eight and I love you. I will kiss you goodnight as long as I still can." Mike answered.

"Okay. I am sleepy." MJ admitted.

"Then go to sleep. If you need anything, wake Mom and I up, okay?" Mike asked as he stood up.

"Yeah." MJ said, clearly almost asleep. Mike smiled down at him and then shut the light off. All three boys were almost asleep and as Mike looked into the girl's room; Annika, Lauren, and Carly were also asleep. Andrea was helping Hannah settle down for the night and Mike stuck his head in to tell her goodnight before going to his own bedroom. Andrea would join him soon, but it gave Mike a bit of a reprieve. He looked at his dresser and smiled at the picture of his family.

When Willow had quit working, she had been worried that he would be disappointed, but the reality was, he couldn't be prouder. Hannah was taking online courses for design school and once she graduated, she would be joining Katherine at her architecture firm. She refused to allow her disability to stop her and had been doing better since her last stroke the year before. There had been no more seizures and only one migraine. It took a brain surgery to make it happen and Hannah did exhaust easy, but she was gaining ground every day.

The same week that Hannah had had her last stroke and her brain surgery; MJ had fallen in the pool and hit his head. Mike had argued with MJ just before Hannah had her stroke and then left before he could assure MJ that everything was alright. He had panicked when he got Andrea's call that MJ had been hurt. Despite not being able to talk, Hannah let him know to go to MJ and Mike met them in the ER. By that point, MJ was awake, and Mike held him while he received fifteen stitches to the back of the head, coughed up a copious amount of water and cried in Mike's arms.

Mike had always been protective of his kids and between Lucas' death, Willow being shot in the line of duty, Hannah's illness and MJ's injury; he become hyper-aware. It drove Andrea a little crazy, but she understood.

Retirement agreed with Mike. It allowed him time to spend with all his kids and Andrea. He was by no means, perfect but he was able to be a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He had started finding himself slipping into the same complacency that he had had with Christine, with Andrea. Despite her differences, Andrea did have some basic similarities to Christine. She didn't require much and complained even less. Being retired afforded Mike plenty of chances for date nights and even romantic time at home. Andrea just soaked it up and it was a second chance for Mike to do things right.

Despite the stress and arguments, Mike couldn't be happier. It had been a fluke that he had even assigned Wolf to be Willow's trainer. Had he not, he might not have ever found his family. His nightmare would have continued until it drove him insane. Now, he had more then he ever bargained for.

Sorry it took so long to update. I wrote and rewrote this chapter three times; even having a version that Hannah died in. I just couldn't leave this story like that though! So, it is finally complete! Thanks to all that have read it and reviewed.