Dan, The Early Years.

Dan, The Early Years. 2047

Year 2047 [I told you I would skip several years]

Major Dan Haeckel

Age: 27

Location: DewTree Apartments, 1109, Dublin

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"Liam! Slow down, quit tearing up the floorboards!" Sondra's voice echoed from the kitchen. She was obviously ignored as Liam dashed into our room, nearly tripping over his big feet. He slowed to a stop when he saw our guests and stared in awe at Jasmine's pregnant belly.

"You're fat," he said bluntly, that familiar wicked gleam in his eyes. The kid had managed to get his mother's mischievous genes and I just knew that I wouldn't appreciate them until he was a lot older.

Jasmine sniffed in mock hurt as Hunt swooped down and latched his long fingers around Liam's ankles, pulling him up upside down.

"What did you just say to my wife?" Hunt roared, pulling Liam up so that their faces were near level.

Liam stuck his tongue out and wriggled half-heartedly. "She's fat. F-A-T."

"Liam," I scolded, "remember the saying. 'If you haven't got anything nice to say...'"

Hunt grinned and let go of one of Liam's legs, making him squeal. "At least she's not short and scrawny like you."

"I am not short." Liam tried to swing himself upright. "I grew two centa- centimetres since last time I was measured."

"Two centimetres? So that makes you... hmm... three centimetres tall?"

Liam stopped swinging and folded his arms. "I'm almost taller than you!"

Hunt grinned. "Is that so?"

He put my son back down onto his feet and then stood straight. Liam only reached just above his knee. I chuckled and grabbed Liam around the waist, pulling him up so that he sat on my shoulders.

"And now he's taller!"

Liam laughed and patted my head. "Mummy! Mum! Come and see! I'm taller than Uncle Hunt!"

I could hear the sound of Sondra's beautiful laugh reach us. "That's not hard. Hunt is a short-ass."

"Hey!" Hunt pretended to be affronted and Jasmine giggled. She had collapsed onto the sofa but she looked anything but exhausted. Her cheeks were flushed and her blue eyes twinkled. She was over half way through her term and looked fit and healthy. But Hunt had said she'd been getting restless, wanting to be out there on the job and being forced to stay at home and rest more than she'd like.

I couldn't wait to see the child that she and Hunt raised and what genes were in the mix. The kid would have to be short, there was no way out of it with parents that height, but I wondered if he or she would get the red hair from Jaz or Hunt's dark brown. And would the kid get Jasmine's vivacity and cheer or Hunt's sloppiness and sarcasm?

"We've got some news," said Hunt, grinning up at Liam who was patting my head, most likely making faces. But I still noticed the concern in his eyes. I had a feeling it wasn't the best of news.

"We'll wait til after dinner. You guys are staying for dinner, right?"

"Like we'd pass up on homemade dinner," Jaz said, poking her tongue out.

I was barely listening. Sondra was making her way to the room and I watched the door. She came in, her eyes on mine knowingly, before she looked up at Liam. "Wow, you have grown. You're not allowed to be taller than me, punk."

She reached up, standing on her tiptoes, and pressed a quick kiss to Liam's cheek. I wrapped an arm around her waist before she could lower down to flat feet and puckered my lips. "Me too."