Kermit reached into his pocket and pulled out the picture one more time. Savannah had picked up the photos the day before he left to meet Paul Blaisdell. He was grateful that he'd had a piece of them handy for the past two weeks. Now the mission was over and he was coming home. Home to a family. No mission had ever ended that way. Now they all would.

Savannah had reacted in a completely opposite direction than what he expected when he told her about Paul's request. Blaisdell needed his help for a couple of weeks in Europe. Kermit knew he wouldn't call on him if there were anyone else for the job. He expected her to try to keep him from going. What he got was rock-solid support from someone with faith enough to know that he wouldn't go if it wasn't vital. "Go do what you have to do," she said. "We'll be here when you're done."

"From what Annie tells me," Paul spoke up from the seat beside him, "she thinks you've picked a winner...this time." He reached over and took the photograph from Kermit's hands.

Savannah and Baby Kat were both dressed in white. The young mother's long blonde hair was draped over her shoulder and the baby's hand was wrapped in a curl. They both shared the same sparkling green eyes and dimples. A tiny white bow rested lightly in Kat's curls. Savannah's expression was one of gentle pleasure. Kat, on the other hand, flashed an energy that leaped off the page to laugh in your face. Only six months old and already a heartbreaker.

"She seems surprised," answered Kermit, taking the picture back for himself. "So do you."

"Not at all. Annie knew you didn't stand a chance the minute she met your lovely bride." Paul had never known Kermit Griffin to be truly happy. Until now. When Annie had gotten word to him about the marriage and the baby, he couldn't believe it at first. Peter had filled him in a few months earlier about Kermit and this woman and the trouble with their old acquaintance, Ericson. Kermit had sent her away to protect her. Paul had watched him shove countless people out of his life for the same reason. Even his own sister for a time. Then, out of the blue, the news of this woman's reemergence reached him. Kermit was going to be a father.

Paul's reaction contained a myriad of emotions. Joy, hope, pride, and worry. The thought of Kermit Griffin having the chance for a child's love seemed to much to ask. A new challenge for a man who shot first and asked questions later. Subtle lessons to be learned. Perhaps this would bring grace to his troubled soul. It was the woman that worried him.

Was their commitment built on a rock or quicksand? The obvious reason for the marriage was the pregnancy. Archaic conventions of morality never seemed to confine Kermit Griffin but he wasn't one to run from responsibility. He'd married the mother of his child and was pumping all his energy into building a life for this baby. The ex-mercenary's choices in previous wives had been dismal failures. How could Paul be sure that this choice was any better? The odds were against it. Annie seemed to feel otherwise and he was trying to reserve judgment. Hoping that this wouldn't crumble like the others. Losing a wife who couldn't cut his lifestyle was one thing, but losing a wife who'd take his flesh and blood with her upon departure was infinitely more devastating. A loss Paul wasn't sure Kermit could stand.

Even after all these years, Paul still felt the need to protect him as if he were still that naive twenty year old from long ago. In his heart, Paul Blaisdell *felt* like Kermit's father. Or, the closest thing to it in this life.

Paul had been Mitchell Griffin's best friend. Maybe his only friend. If there had ever been a man consumed with his work, it was Kermit's father. Driven and dedicated. Traits he passed on to his son. He viewed his job in weapons development as his way of serving his country. During the initial build up in Vietnam in the early sixties, Paul and Mitchell had connected and hit it off right away. Although Mitchell was a civilian and Paul a government agent, they were made of the same stuff. Both passionate and stubborn in their pursuits.

Although Paul admired Mitchell and knew he was a good man, he had one shortcoming. In his relentless dedication to job and country, his family was left behind. Physically, he was there but once he poured out his energy on the mound of projects he committed himself to, there was little remaining for his children. Paul had only met Kermit, Marilyn, and their younger brother David a couple of times before Mitchell's death, but he picked up on their longing for any drop of their father's affection. Interest. Or time. Mitchell cheated them...and himself.

Mitchell was killed on his first trip to Vietnam. Supposedly a freak accident with a new type of anti-personnel mine, but Paul would always have his doubts about the so called "accident." He always insisted on testing the equipment personally and was blown to pieces in a split second. When Paul brought Mitchell's body home for burial, he immediately connected with Kermit. He had just turned eighteen and was itching to blame someone, anyone, for his loss. After months of physical and emotional sparing, Paul was finally able to break through Kermit's sullen, angry shield, and become his substitute father. Kermit needed a guide. Paul needed to hold onto the only piece of his friend within his grasp.

Paul tried to protect him by having Kermit serve under him in Vietnam. He had failed. The torture that the young man had endured still twisted Paul's heart. The mercenary path he'd chosen to follow afterwards had been difficult for Paul to accept even though Kermit was, in effect, following in his footsteps. That life was without mercy. Kermit didn't seem to want mercy. His personality cried out for struggle. With struggle there could be victory. He was starving for victory.

Kermit was every bit as much Paul's son as was Peter Caine. Sons of two different generations. One wanting independence as well as acceptance but with too much pain to let go and give in return. The other, desperate for affection to fill the emptiness left by the loss of his family. Fatherless sons who found the same surrogate. Two different sides of the same coin - one, detached, the other with his heart on his sleeve. Both good men. Good sons.

Kermit had come in from the cold to join the 101st precinct and be Paul's ally in a sea of civilians. Though he'd assumed the trappings of a normal life, the merc still ruled his insides. Detachment and smart remarks isolated him from intimacy. Don't get too close. Don't get burned.

After a while, Paul could see him start to slip. Kermit started to care about the people he worked with and even let them see glimpses of himself from time to time. Trust came later. Paul had tried to subtly pair Kermit and Peter together time after time. Each had qualities that, when combined, made them unstoppable. A sometimes volatile combination, but effective. He was pleased to see that the seeds he'd planted were flourishing.

In spite of his concerns, Paul had to admit that Savannah must be some woman to be able to break down that wall of stubbornness and pull him out into the light. Soon, he'd be able to see for himself.

For the first time in three months, Paul Blaisdell was going to have the chance to be with his family. He'd worn the corners of his own family photo trying to hold a piece of his girls near while he'd been away. Annie and Kelly were already at the cabin. Caroline and her family would join them tomorrow. Since the flight Paul and Kermit had taken would land at an airport only sixty miles away, the Blaisdells had invited Kermit and his new family to join them for a long weekend. Peter volunteered to drive Savannah and the baby up from Sloanville for the homecoming celebration.

The stewardess leaned over Kermit's shoulder to ooze over his photograph. "Oh. What a beautiful family. I guess you're glad to be going home."

"Oh yeah," he replied.

*********

"Well, Mrs. Griffin," announced Peter Caine, "I'm certain that the world is about to stop turning. You're actually on time." Peter took Savannah's bags and loaded them into the back of the Ford Explorer he'd borrowed for the long trip up to the cabin.

"Now, Peter," replied Savannah as she strapped Kat's infant seat into place, "it's not nice to poke fun at your navigator."

"So that's your title now, huh?"

"Oh, yeah," she drawled in true Griffin-esque fashion. "That's how Kermit finesses his way around letting me drive the Covair. According to him, it's his job to drive and my job to navigate." Savannah climbed up into the passenger seat as Peter buckled his seatbelt. "Of course, I generally navigate us where I want to go."

"Okay, are we ready to go?" Peter wanted to be sure because he had no intentions of being late. When Kermit had called the day before and asked him to drive his wife and daughter to the cabin for the weekend, the ex-mercenary had made it clear that he expected them on time and safe and sound. Not fulfilling his part of the bargain would probably result in a great deal of damage to Peter's person. Not worth the risk.

"Ready to go. Aren't we, Kat?" Savannah turned around in her seat to tickle the baby's leg. Kat let go a jubilant giggle in agreement.

Peter was happy about the reunion they were on their way to but the scene he'd had with his father earlier was eating away at him. The Caine legacy was difficult to live up to, to say the least. The years since his father's reappearance had be fraught with contradictions for the young man. Joy and resentment. Longing to cling to that father lost so long ago but wanting independence. Respect. And even space. Peter couldn't bear the thought of his father leaving him again but when he was there...sometimes he was too close.

Once he had completed his training, Peter assumed he would be past all these negative feelings. Even though he declined the brands, he HAD earned the right. Possessed the knowledge and skills the discipline required. He had earned his adulthood. STILL...every opportunity Caine had to intervene on his son's behalf, he took. The last straw had come a few days ago.

It was the same situation that had repeated itself over and over again. Peter had reached the resolution of a case. The suspects were confronted and it turned violent. Caine had appeared out of nowhere to join the fray. After the perps had been scrapped up from the pavement and he'd taken the last remark he could stand from Morgan about "having his Daddy for a partner," Peter had unloaded on his father. Told him that "he didn't need his freakin' help" and stormed off. When he'd gone to his father's apartment the next day to apologize, Caine had already left for California with Lo Si to retrieve several artifacts from the temple in Braniff.

Peter felt stupid. He'd assumed that completing his training would magically transform him into a man with no negativity. No resentment. Like he wouldn't still have to control his own emotions. *What an idiot!* he thought. *You got what you wanted. On your own...for the weekend, at least.*

As they pulled out of the driveway and started on the three and a half hour drive to the cabin, Savannah could feel her butterflies beating their way around her stomach. The last two weeks had been the longest of her life. She would never have asked Kermit to refuse to help Paul. From what Kermit had told her, Paul became his father. Trained him. Guided him. And depended on him. Helping Paul Blaisdell was part of who Kermit Griffin was - not just something he did. Changing or controlling him wasn't a goal of hers. Savannah had fallen in love with Kermit just they way he was and wanted him to stay that way. A passionate, loyal man. The violence he wrapped himself in would never stop troubling her but she understood that it was just that. Wrapping. What rested in the middle of that turmoil was a good man.

He'd come to her to tell her about Paul's request. The fact that he included her in his decision spoke volumes about the bond they'd forged together. He needed her support and he got it. Savannah and Kat had driven him to the airport and sent him away to an undisclosed destination with hugs and happy faces. Then she'd driven to Annie's house and cried for an hour. What if he didn't come home? How do you do this year after year? Should I have tried to stop him from going?

Annie Blaisdell had offered her what little comfort she'd come by over the years. It's a difficult lesson for the wives of soldiers and police officers. Their job is to wait. "This is the man you signed up for, dear. If he suddenly became some 'sofa jockey' you wouldn't recognize him. All we can do is keep the life they have here whole and safe for them when they finish their job. That's the part of the game you play." Annie reached out for her young friend's hand. "You've got a much more difficult mission than Kermit will ever find on some foreign soil or at the precinct. Taking care of Katherine and holding your family together. He can do anything as long as he knows that baby is in your capable hands."

Two days ago she'd received the package he'd sent from Italy. Inside was a pair of tiny hiking boots for Kat. In his note, Kermit had said that he wanted Kat to be "the only baby on the block with Italian shoes." He also said that he wanted to give Savannah her present "up close and personal." She'd had that note in her pocket ever since. Evidence that he was bullethole-free and on his way home.

When he had called yesterday morning, Savannah wanted to crawl through the phone line and wrap herself around him. That would have to wait until this afternoon.

**********

Kelly Blaisdell jumped into her father's arms in the middle of the crowded airport. If Paul hadn't braced himself, they would have probably hit the floor. "I can't believe you're here!" she cried and held on for dear life.

"Well, here I am, Squirt," Paul replied, squeezing out three months' worth of hugs from his youngest.

From a short distance away, the ex-mercenary watched the reunion with a quiet smile. Kermit could envision another little dark-haired girl greeting him this way, years from now. At the moment, he'd settle for tossing her up in the air and hearing that familiar squeal in his ear.

"Hey," Kermit complained as he arrived with their bags, "I'm feeling left out."

Kelly shared a quick hug with her father's partner. "Mom can't wait to get that little cutie of yours and Caroline's baby under the same roof. Looks like we're going to have a regular nursery school at the cabin this weekend."

"And plenty of babysitters, too, I hope," grinned Kermit. He hoisted his duffel over one shoulder and tossed the other to his partner.

"Where's Mom?" asked Paul.

"She's at the cabin, cooking enough for an army."

"Well, we'd better not keep her waiting. Don't want to start our homecoming with an angry hostess."

They all piled into Kelly's car and headed out. Once they were on the way, Kermit dialed Peter's cell phone. He couldn't wait a couple of hours to hear her voice again.

Paul was filled with amusement at Kermit's impatient dialing. *If that call doesn't connect, the poor guy will explode,* thought Paul, laughing silently.

**********

"Caine here," Peter said into the cellphone. "Yes, sir, boss. Got your wife and that little angel right here...."

Savannah snatched the phone away with an excited squeal. "Hi, Sugah. Where are you?"

Peter just grinned. He couldn't wait to call Kermit "sugar" to his face. *On second thought, maybe not,* he decided.

"Yes, she's perfect and the shoes are on Cinderella's feet. We should be there in a couple of hours after we stop once to let this little girl of yours unwind for a while."

Savannah leaned back in her seat and a wide smile spread across her face as she listened. "Me, too. Ba-bye." She shut off the phone and flashed those dimples at her chauffeur.

"Happy now?" Peter asked. He knew she was. Peter had seen that same look on Annie's face year after year when she knew that Paul was safe after one of his mysterious disappearances. He was happy, too. He hadn't spoken to Paul in months.

"Yes, I am!" she announced. "Even though it is pretty hard to squeeze sugar from the phone when you have an audience. Now where are we going to stop?" Savannah pulled out a map and assumed her duties as navigator. "How about....Peter, slow down. Look at that sign."

The sign read, "Crystal Springs - 12 miles". There was an arrow pointing down a dirt road. Right below that, there was a smaller advertisement for an antique store.

"Oh, no! There's no way I'm going 12 miles out of the way so that you can shop," Peter protested. "If we're late, I'm dead. Literally."

"Please?" Savannah turned on the Southern charm. Eyelashes batting and dimples at full throttle. "I want to pick up something for Annie and we can get a bite. Don't worry. I'll take the...heat. That's the right word, isn't it?"

Peter had to laugh. If Kermit didn't stand a chance with this woman, he sure as hell didn't. *Why waste the energy.* "Okay. But just thirty minutes. Call Kermit so he knows we'll be a little late."

Savannah, beaming with success, dialed his number. No connection. "Must be out of a cell. I'll just call after we leave."

Peter pulled into the small town and parked in front of a cafe on the main street. It was also the only street. "Welcome to Mayberry," Peter joked, checking his watch.

"Oh, don't be so stuck up, Peter," Savannah chided as she bounced out of the truck to retrieve Kat. "This is great! Better than some convenience store on the highway."

Peter stretched his legs and surveyed the little town. *Not bad, if you're into taking a nap everyday,* he thought. He joined his two charges at the front of the truck. Kat was babbling happily, propped on Savannah's hip. In her chubby little hand, she was squeezing her best pal. A stuffed frog that Kermit had kept on his desk since he'd taken up residence at the 101st. Kat had grabbed it on her first visit to the office and had been using it as a chew toy to help pop out her brand new teeth.

"Okay, Mr. Excitement. You go flirt with a waitress while Kitty Kat and I go fulfill our mission." She and the baby headed down the street.

Savannah had just stepped up onto the sidewalk when she was treated to an extremely loud, rude wolf whistle. She hesitated and turned back toward Peter. Peter was already heading toward her but his eyes were on the source. There were three men standing across the street in front of what appeared to be a combination pool hall and local bar. All of them holding beer bottles and leering at Savannah. They just stood there laughing as Peter took his place beside her.

"Just let it go, Peter," she said with a nervous smile. "It's not the first time I've been whistled at, Dearie." She was trying to keep him from crossing the street but still, she was uncomfortable. Kat was still laughing and waving Froggie but her mother had pulled her a little closer.

The men turned and went back into the building. "Ya' see?" Savannah reassured him, "No harm done." With that, she took off toward the antique shop. Peter stood outside the cafe watching the two of them until they were safely inside. He shook his head. "Just a bunch of jerks, Caine. Get over it." Though the window of the cafe, he spotted a cute waitress who looked to be in need of a conversation. He ran his hands through his hair and went in to occupy his time.

*******

"They're not late yet, Kermit." Annie walked up to the porch railing to stand beside Kermit.

"No. But knowing my wife, they probably will be." Kermit wrapped an arm around the hostess and gave her a little hug. "How did she do while I was gone? Really."

"She did what you'd expect her to do. Worried, waited, and took care of your daughter." Annie returned his embrace. "She's up to it, my friend. Steel Magnolia, that one."

Kermit had to laugh. Incredibly corny, but she was exactly that! People who didn't know them well, thought them to be an odd couple. Their age difference sometimes attracted attention. She teased him about being his "middle age trophy." He'd threatened her with a spanking after that remark. Their personalities were equally different. Savannah, soft and polite and friendly. Kermit, hard and cocky and cynical. In truth, they brought out the opposite traits in each other. Compliments. A perfect team, as the past months had shown. Both pulling together. Being part of a unit was new for Kermit. He'd always been a "free agent." It felt good to rely and be relied upon. He checked his watch one more time.

When she'd said good-bye at the airport two weeks ago, she had truly put on a brave face. Kermit had kissed the baby and put her down in her stroller. He was wearing the new black leather coat Savannah had bought him for his birthday. "I'd prefer to have this back with no nasty holes in it, okay?" she'd said, pulling his collar together.

"Got my word on it, Scarlett." Then he'd kissed her and gotten on the plane.

All the way to Europe to link up with Paul, Kermit had worried that he had gotten soft. Would he hesitate at the wrong moment for thinking of these two he left back home? Contrary to his fear, when things got hot, thinking of them made him sharper. He had more at stake and more to stay alive for now.

"Hello. Earth to Kermit," Annie laughed, tugging on his sleeve. "I want to hear about the big surprise!"

"I'll just bet you do," he replied. "It's all arranged for after Christmas."

He should probably wait until the holidays to let the cat out of the bag, but he couldn't wait to see the look on Savannah's face. *Hell, she'll need all the time in between to pack,* he laughed to himself. She'd just been too pregnant to go on a honeymoon when they were married months ago. All she wanted to do was stay at home and be together. Now that Kat was getting older and they weren't so paranoid about leaving her, he could give his wife the trip they had to miss.

"I think a week in Paris is what both of you deserve. I always knew you were a romantic."

"Well, don't spread it around," Kermit answered. "I do have a reputation to uphold."

*****

Savannah left the shop with Kat in one arm and her package in the other. She'd found a tapestry pillow for Annie, grabbed a bag of candy for Kermit, and was heading toward the cafe when someone blocked her path. "Hello there, honey."

He was one of the men from the bar. The other two had moved in on either side of her. They reeked of cigarettes and beer. She felt trapped and her grip on the baby tightened. "Excuse me," she said and tried to walk around them.

"Now not so fast, baby," the ring leader slurred down into her face, as he moved to block her again, "we're just trying to be friendly."

Savannah could feel the panic rising in her throat. She'd been trapped before. They were slowly backing her up against the wall. Kat had picked up on her mother's emotions and was beginning to whine. One of the men laughed and reached out to tug at her hair. She slapped his hand away, dropping her package. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" she yelled.

"For somebody who's new in town, she sure is unsociable, right, Deke?" The man put his hand on her shoulder and pushed her into the wall.

"Looks like you guys need a lesson in how to treat ladies." Peter Caine already had his hand on the shoulder of the man touching Savannah. With an effortless tug, Peter sent him tumbling into the street. Peter turned his back to Savannah and stood in front of her. The man on his left made a sloppy, drunken swing at Peter's head which he blocked without even looking. "Or maybe, I'll just kick your asses!" Peter, with a smile on his face, kicked the man into the street to join his buddy. The third, and biggest of the crew threw a couple of punches, which Peter blocked easily, then landed in the street along with the other two.

People gathered in little clusters on the tiny street were staring at the confrontation. The three drunks got up off the ground and retreated to a pickup truck then screeched off down the dusty street.

"Who said this place had no excitement?" teased Peter as he turned around to check on Savannah and the baby. When he saw the look on her face, he wiped the smile off his. She was white and shaking like a leaf. Holding onto Kat like her life depended on it. He could almost read the memory on her face. This must have taken her back all those months to that nightmare at Kermit's house before they were married.

Peter picked up the bag she'd dropped, took the baby from her and wrapped a protective arm around her. "Hey, it's all over now, Honey. Let's go sit down and get something to eat."

In a shaky voice, she answered, "Do we have enough time?"

"Sure. We'll call and let them know we'll be a few minutes late," Peter said as they began to walk toward the cafe.

When they reached the cafe, Chrissy, the waitress Peter had been charming, met them out front. "Are you okay?" she asked, patting Savannah on the arm. She nodded and the girl continued. "Those creeps come into town once a week, get drunk, and make trouble. Deke and his buddies aren't like the rest of us. This is actually a pretty nice town." She opened the door and they all went inside.

Kat was clapping her hands and giggling in Peter's ear. Looking at her with pride, he said, "You're Kermit's kid, all right. Just love a good fight, don't you, Tadpole?"

Chrissy led them to a booth and got a high chair for Kat. After she'd calmed down, Savannah said, "Peter. Thank you. I think we would have been in trouble if you hadn't come along when you did."

"I thought you might need some help carrying whatever you bought and this little girl, too." He gave Kat a little tickle on her cookie-smeared face. "Just doing my job, ma'am."

"Let's don't tell Kermit about this. You know how he is. He'd probably come all the way here just to crack their heads." She looked nervously down at her coffee.

Peter did know how he was. Since he'd already cracked their heads for his friend, he didn't see any reason to make an issue of it. He patted her hand and agreed, "Sure. No problem."

Savannah took a deep breath and visibly shook her head in an attempt to banish her rattled nerves. Unsuccessfully. "Now, I'm twice as nervous as before. As if this meeting wasn't hard enough already."

"Meeting? Hard enough already?" Peter was totally confused. Then it dawned on him. She meant meeting Paul! "Savannah, don't worry about Dad. He's a great guy."

Looking a bit startled, she jumped at an explanation. "Oh, Peter. I know he must be a wonderful man. Feel like I know him already from everything Kermit's told me. It's just that...well...Paul is like Kermit's father. They have a history.

"Peter, the thing that worries me is that Paul didn't approve of Kermit's choices in wives before. Told him so. Kermit dove in anyway and Paul's predictions were accurate. Crash and burn." She absently stirred her coffee and worried some more.

"Good thing his taste improved with age," Peter teased, trying to ease her discomfort. Paul was a good man, yes. But he pulled no punches. Could be damn intimidating at times.

"I have this nightmare about him taking one look at me and thinking, 'Oh great. Another one who can't cut it and I'll have to pick up the pieces when she splits.'" She shifted her attention toward the baby, and began wiping her chocolate-covered face.

Peter understood how she felt. He'd felt similar pangs in his lifetime. Wanting others to believe in his strength of purpose. "Look, as long as YOU know how you feel and that you're strong enough to be with that guy, Paul will know, too." Peter paid their check, along with a generous tip for his favorite waitress, and helped gather their things.

"Well," she answered as she pulled Kat from the high chair, "I hope you're right. I'd hate for him to sue for custody."

"Of KAT?!"

She flashed a back-to-normal grin, and replied, "No...of Kermit!"

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