Together is my favourite place to be❤️

Chapter 29

*In the locker room*

"So how are we playing this today guys? Continuing to act like we hate Robert, right? Like nothing's changed?" Jack asked his room of colleagues.

"No Jack, because we aren't 12 years old and we aren't having a scrap like we're in the school playground." Ben replied.

"Dad is right!" Travis said, causing Ben to look up at him and smirk.

"Dad..." Ben began, giving everyone a dirty look, "thinks that we really ought to grow up and have a mature conversation about why Andy, one of our best friends felt the need to lie to us about her personal life. We need to be thinking about how to make this easier on her, not harder, don't you agree?" The latter part aimed at Jack.

"Fine, I honestly thought her mystery husband didn't exist. When in actual fact it's the guy we all hated from the moment he got here." Jack said, receiving a few eye rolls.

"Look, we don't hate Sullivan now, he's a great Battalion Chief... and given the information we now have, there is extra reasoning for us to include him as part of our family.... Now, I for one understand the difficulties of being a parent in this job, Ben I know you do too... We get treated differently, everyone knows we've got children waiting for us at home and whether or not you mean it, when out in the field.." he paused, trying not to hurt their feelings, "you just, it's just different. I'm going to offer support and love to her before anything else. Besides, my baby just got 3 new cousins.. and also I've just gained two babysitters.. soo" he chuckled "it's all a win win for me! Anyone else care to join me?"

"I'm so in, I can't wait to be Uncle Trav to more babies, and as we all know...they always love me.. sooo" he shrugged as to him it made little sense to act any differently.

"Great! Maya?" Ben asked, noticing she was just continuing to get changed without offering up her thoughts.

"I'm hurt that she didn't tell us and honestly I'd like to know why, but I'm not mad, and it certainly explains a few things.. like why we never hung out at her house and why she never told us about her husband... It... It's because it would have changed our friendship dynamic, she knew that and I guess that's what we need to think about. I mean she sat there for weeks in the beginning, listening to us all hate on her husband. That can't have been easy.. I know we're more fond of him now but, you know how we all were.."

"Shall we all just go and see her and let her explain the reasoning, instead of jumping to our own conclusions? Besides, it might have been because she secretly doesn't love him and wanted to pretend he doesn't exist? That's my guess anyway, right? I mean he can't really be her type.. him and Ryan are like chalk and cheese!" Jack offered, a hopeful tone.

Dean slammed his locker shut. "I swear, Jack, you better keep your mouth shut the whole time she's explaining. This is NOT about you or your feelings, it's not about any of our feelings. It's about being a family, are you joining us or staying here like a child?" he half yelled.

Jack rolled his eyes muttering "I'm coming" as they all made their way to the beanery, walking in on Robert hugging Andy with her head leaning in to his chest. Vic gave a fake cough to alert them to their audience and went and sat at the table.

Robert turned and loudly greeted them. "Morning 19!"

"Morning Chief, Cap" could be heard reverberating through the team.

"Hi guys, grab a coffee and some food, take a seat"

The team began to make cups of coffee and plates of food in silence before each taking a seat at their long table.

"So..." Trav elongated "I'm just gonna break this lovely awkward silence and say that Ands, we aren't mad at you. We want to understand and support you, both of you" gesturing at Robert, "so please don't think we're going to kick off. We're here to help you, as your family."