Survive

Chapter 32

I walked back into the apartment and Luke was waiting for me with a glass of wine. My husband people, the most romantic man in sweats ever. He handed me the glass but pulled me in for a sumptuous kiss before I was able to take a sip.

"Mmm, tastes sinful." he muttered, after a sip of his own wine.

"Me or the red?" I smiled.

"Both."

"Babe, mi amor, we're going home." I sighed.

"I know, it's time for us to live our life together."

"Luke, are you sure you want to stay home? I really don't mind it at all."

"I'm gonna take a break for a few months and ease back into it when Lani starts daycare, that's my plan."

"That's our hero." I smiled up at him.

"Hero? Woman, you're my hero."

"Where are the girls?" I asked.

"I asked Sam to watch Lani so we could have a moment."

"They waiting for us in bed?"

"You know it, Lani missed her momma. So did I." he said, dipping his head to kiss my neck.

"I'm so sorry for all of this." I sighed, moaning softly.

"Don't be, I . . . understand. My wife, the other half of my soul, I don't know what I would do if I ever lost you. This is the second time, let's not go for a third." he said, cupping my cheeks in his big hands.

"Luke, I was ready to die. I didn't want to but when that sub exploded, knowing that it was going to explode I was ready to die. My plan to protect my babies and get Brian safely off of that plane came to fruition. If that was the last thing I did, I was okay with that." I told him, seeing the tears pooling in his eyes.

"Let's not talk about this anymore. That's twice that you almost die on me, Penny, don't do it again." he sighed, pressing his forehead to mine.

"I won't, I promise." I replied, wrapping my arms around his waist. "Let's finish this and go get some rest. I want to go home."

"Home sounds amazing right now." he smiled, leaning his forehead against mine.

We said goodbye to everyone in the morning and left as soon as we could. New York is fun and all but I want my home. I want to spend time with my girls and my husband. I want to work on baby number 3 and live a boring soccer mom life. I doubt I'll get boring because our lives are never boring, but I'll settle for calm.

As much as I want this boring, calm, settled life I cannot forget that Cipher is still out there and she's gonna want payback. This has been three jobs that we've screwed her over on and she's not going to forget that. She'll come back for us and we will be ready.

"Hey, where's that head of yours gone to?" Luke asked me while we were on the plane.

"I . . . just thinking."

"Penny, don't start keeping things from me again."

"I'm not."

"You're my wife, I know you." he argued.

"It's nothing."

"It's not nothing, but I won't insist. Baby, you don't have to hide anything from me anymore. Hell, don't hide anything from me ever again. Nothing like this anyway."

"I promise. Luke, what do we do now?" I asked, leaning my head on his shoulder.

We got the extra leg space seats because my husband is huge. Sam and Lani are in the two seats in front of us together because they are watching a movie on Luke's laptop. Originally Lani was sitting next to her dad and Sam and I were in front. Our girls are so close, it makes me so happy and so excited to bring another one into our family. The last one.

Both girls went straight to their rooms when we got home. Normally, I wouldn't let Lani take a nap so late in the day but we had a long trip. Luke and I actually went to our room and laid down but I didn't fall asleep, my husband dozed off a few times. One of those times I decided to go make dinner.

Being home, in my kitchen, knowing that for the time being we're safe and can be at peace means the world to me. My girls, my sisters and their kids, my brother and his son, we're all safe for now. That for now is something that I intend to take full advantage of.

Steak and potatoes sounds good in general, parmesan roasted potatoes for Luke and I, the girls will eat mashed potatoes. The sounds and scents in the kitchen feed my soul. The sounds of the fridge opening, pots and pans, drawers opening and closing. The soundtrack of my life. Which was put into full on effect when I heard feet running down the stairs.

"Momma!" Keilani shouted.

"My baby girl." I smiled, picking her up and cuddling her close.

"I hungry." she said.

"Me too, what's for dinner?" Sam asked.

"Hey sweetie, if you wanna get started there's fruit salad in the fridge. A little bit, Sam, for both of you while I finish making the potatoes. Your dad will be down as soon as he . . ."

"Smells great in here, what's for dinner?" My husband asked.

"Smells it." Sam and I chuckled.

"Steak, broccoli, and potatoes with fruit salad to snack on until I'm done." I told him, looking up for a kiss.

"Mmm . . . I can get used to this." he sighed after kissing me.

"Get used to what?" I asked.

"Waking up late and having everyone under one roof."

"Having me in the kitchen?"

"That too."

"Momma, we make cookies?" Lani asked.

"We can, later on." I conceded.

"Sugar?" Sam asked.

"Chocolate chip?" Luke asked.

"Monster cookie!" Lani shouted.

"Monster?" Luke and Sam asked.

"We found a recipe for monster cookies on an episode of Sesame Street. Oatmeal, m&m, coconut, chocolate chip cookies."

"That sounds amazing." my husband said.

"Right daddy? Monster cookies!" Lani smiled, laughing when her father picked her up.

"Monster cookies it is." I smiled.

A/N: And with this Survive is officially over! Thank you to everyone who's read my stories. Be on the lookout because Hobbs and Penny's story isn't over yet.