Renee woke up to the sight of Michelle peacefully asleep next to her. She took a moment to appreciate just how lucky she was to have her in her life. It had been almost a year since she’d woken up in Witness Protection and thought her life was over for good. But now…things couldn’t be better. They were living together, taking every opportunity to make memories because they knew that the fact that they were both here, both alive, that despite the odds, they’d found each other, was a gift. Renee couldn’t imagine living life without her now. However, she also acknowledged that being alone had been Michelle's reality for a long time. She had spent several years on her own, had had to heal from much more severe injuries, and had been at real risk of the wrong people hunting her down. So Renee was determined to appreciate every moment and bring as much joy into Michelle’s life as she had to her because she deserved nothing more than to be happy.
And what better time to do that than the holidays?
She quickly shut the door behind her and exhaled sharply at the cold wind.
“God, it’s freezing.” Renee said, taking off her coat. “I swear it was just the other day we had that nice time at the beach, and now I’m debating buying a coat to put on top of this one. Before we know it, it’ll be Christmas.”
Michelle stopped for a moment before letting out a breath. Renee tentatively put a hand on her shoulder.
“Sorry…you don’t celebrate?”
To her surprise, she sniffled but didn’t appear too upset when she turned around to face her. “I do. It’s just…I haven’t had anybody to celebrate with, besides the dog, for…” She furrowed her brow. “God, for eight years.”
Renee felt her heartstrings pull. She could picture it so easily. Michelle trying her hardest to keep a cheery face at work. Michelle trying to decorate the house a little to lift her spirits. Michelle trying to watch a festive movie before realising that each and every one of them revolves around celebrating with loved ones and having to stop. But this year…this year, she wouldn’t have to do any of that. This year Michelle would have her, and Renee vowed to herself at that moment that she would make it so special, it would compensate for all those lonely years.
She brushed Michelle’s wrists with her thumbs. “Well…this year you won’t be alone. Which means I’m going to do everything I can to make this your best Christmas yet.”
“What did I do to deserve you?” Michelle said warmly.
“Well…let me get you out of all those layers and you can show me.” Renee quipped, leaning in to nuzzle her nose.
Shuffling over, she kissed Michelle’s temple softly before quietly stepping out of bed and heading to the shower.
Renee couldn’t recall the last time Christmas had been this cheerful and carefree. Certainly not in her adult life. Working at the FBI had meant no rest days or off-peak periods. In fact, the holidays were usually much busier than usual and much more likely to lead to danger, making it a tense time of the year for her. But the office work she and Michelle did now was simple, easy, and not life-threatening or crucial to the safety of society. So why not surrender to the infectiousness of the season?
They’d decorated every room of the house, spent all day yesterday baking, and watched possibly every Christmas movie in existence. Renee lived for the smile on Michelle’s face she'd seen when they'd shopped together. They’d bought a tree, a big one, a real one, not the small, plastic one Michelle had had for herself all these years. They’d bought tiny trinkets and tacky sweaters and all the other things that seemed ridiculous at any other time of year except this one. What she was most excited about, however, was to give Michelle the presents she’d bought. But she’d let her sleep in a little first. Besides, it gave her the chance to cook breakfast for the two of them.
When Michelle quietly padded into the kitchen a little while later, Renee was distractedly humming something to herself. She jumped when Michelle tapped her shoulders. But as soon as she turned around, she felt all her excitement rise to the surface.
“Merry Christmas, sweetheart.” She said, grinning from ear to ear, resting her hands on her waist.
“Merry Christmas to you too.” Michelle said, beaming back at her.
Renee quickly turned around to flip the omelette and let it finish cooking before taking their breakfast and sitting down. Michelle slowly took a sip of her coffee, wrapping her fingers around the mug to warm herself up. She looked around at all the decorations, at all the little touches that they had carefully thought out. But then she furrowed her brow upon seeing two small Santa hats on the floor.
“Where are the dogs?”
She shook her head in disbelief. “I tried all morning to get them to wear the hats. And after about half a bag of treats later, I gave up, and then they bolted outside to play in the snow. But I did manage to get one picture. Of each.”
Michelle giggled as Renee got out her phone and showed her the rather blurry photos in question.
They finished eating and cleaned their breakfast dishes before sitting next to the tree. Renee already had a feeling about what Michelle’s present for her was, judging by the large, canvas-shaped, wrapped object she’d leant against the wall. But nevertheless, she was excited. Michelle’s paintings were something so mesmerising and beautiful to her. She couldn’t wait to see what she’d done this time. Renee had to shuffle back a little so the present could fit between them, and she watched Michelle bite her lip nervously. Tearing the paper, she found herself looking at a portrait of her and Stitch together. It was a photo she loved, one they’d taken a while ago, but seeing it in this way, with Michelle’s interpretations added, was so special.
“Do you like it?”
“Of course, honey. I always do.”
Awkwardly leaning over the width of the canvas, their lips managed to meet halfway. Renee felt Michelle run a hand through her hair and cover it with her own. Pulling back, she carefully lifted the painting and rested it on the table so the dogs wouldn’t be able to reach it. That being said, they were generally well-behaved, so they weren’t too worried. But they could decide on a place to hang it later.
“Now you.” She said, sitting back down and passing Michelle the boxes, one smaller than the other.
Michelle opted for the larger one first and couldn’t contain her smile when she saw the set of new paintbrushes. They were from an expensive brand she’d pined over but had never thought to spend that money on herself. She went to open her mouth in protest, but Renee spoke first.
“Don’t say a word about how much they are. We didn’t work overtime these last few months for nothing. You deserve them.”
She smiled shyly, opening the other box and finding a delicate garnet necklace.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Renee said, moving towards her. She pushed Michelle’s hair to the side so she could put it on her, not without kissing her neck gently in the process.
The rest of the day went off without a hitch. Renee’s attempt at cooking the smallest turkey she could find went well. They had fun icing and eating the cookies they’d baked. And now they were cuddled under a blanket together, watching TV, with the dogs at their feet. Michelle had her head on Renee’s shoulder, her arm wrapped around her waist.
“You know…if somebody had told me a year ago that there’d come a day where I’d be able to spend Christmas with someone I love again, I would have thought they were crazy.” She said, voice heavy with emotion.
Renee tilted her head to look down at her, thumbing at her cheek and kissing her forehead. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
The episode finished, and neither of them felt like moving. But Renee still had one more surprise left.
“Come to bed.” She murmured under the lobe of her ear.
Michelle gave her a knowing look as she slowly got off the couch and moved to their ensuite to change into the Santa-themed lingerie she’d bought. The hat felt like a slightly ridiculous addition, but she was sure Michelle wasn’t going to be looking at her head anyway. Shutting the lights off, she walked out to find Michelle sitting against the headboard of their bed. When she got a good look at her, she couldn’t help but stifle a laugh, clasping a hand over her mouth.
“Well…red is certainly your colour.”
She grinned, moving forward to kneel on the bed and feeling Michelle’s hands run up her sides as she sat closer, toying with the fur trim and taking the hat off her head to put it on her own.
Michelle smirked. “So have I been naughty or nice this year?”
Renee straddled her, taking her wrists and pinning them above her head as she pushed her down.
“You’re about to find out.” She whispered huskily.
He’d told himself that once was enough, that he’d leave them alone after that day. But Tony had lied to himself. Lucy’s mere existence was so special, so symbolic of Renee and Michelle’s freedom, of their happiness. And Tony had decided almost immediately after he’d left the hospital the day she was born that he would do everything in his power to preserve that. No matter how much Janis and Chloe had affirmed that everything was okay.
Okay enough to even have another child. Michelle had given birth to their second daughter, Hope, a few years later. And when he had set off to make a brief visit, just as he’d done with Lucy, when he’d looked in the crib the second time and seen a tiny girl that was just too close to the images of his and Michelle’s hypothetical daughter he’d pictured all these years, Tony had realised he had to stop. Michelle was worried and protective of Lucy as it was, so he knew having one more child in the picture would only make her more fretful. So Tony couldn’t continue -- or at least had to reduce the frequency of -- his visits. Because the last thing he wanted to do was be a burden. And for his own sake too. Because this was too much for him. Just too close to what he should have had. And the need within him to comfort her and hold her and be her partner wasn’t something he could do here. So he’d left another Cubs bear and some money then fled far, far away.
Of course, Tony was still on the run, still technically a wanted fugitive, so for his sake, and theirs -- he would never want to risk their safety -- he made sure to never stay in one place for too long. If he had an inkling he was being followed, he would disappear without a trace. Several years later, when Tony had known with absolute certainty that things weren’t risky, he’d deliberately settled somewhere close, but not too close, to where Michelle and Renee were, slowly building up the pattern he’d once had with Lucy. He still needed to keep the distance for emotional reasons too. It was just far too painful to see all the stages of their children’s growth, knowing he would only ever be able to look on from afar. As the girls had grown, the resemblance between them and their mothers had only increased. And so too, had the risk. He had a suspicion that Renee and Michelle knew what he was doing -- after all, the bears had been a pretty surefire sign that he was watching. But they likely didn’t want to interfere, lest they risk being seen with him. They probably had Chloe and Janis keep up on his whereabouts, and he couldn’t blame them. In fact, Chloe had contacted him a few times to tell him to move from wherever he was. Whether it was more for his benefit or Renee and Michelle’s, he didn’t know.
However, right now was one of those times when he’d opted to keep an eye on them. Lucy had recently gotten her learner’s permit, and tonight was the first time she’d been allowed out late by herself. He was currently standing in the side alley of the gas station, not too far from where she was filling her car up. The pump she was using was on the end, partly shadowed by the side of the building. He felt creepy, he always did, but in his defence, it wasn’t the safest of situations. If he’d seen any other kid her age out there by themself, he probably would have stayed a little longer to make sure they drove out safe too. He’d gotten into the habit of doing things like that for a while now. It felt a little ridiculous. That somehow little deeds like this would undo years of bloodshed and betrayal. But, he figured that maybe trying to be a better person would heal his soul, piece by piece. Because the truth was, he didn’t really know what to do with his life anymore. So checking in on people from his past probably wasn’t the worst place to start.
Tony watched her dig through her bag for her wallet. She seemed to be in a hurry. It was late, and he imagined she hadn’t had much experience with this. Michelle and Renee had, understandably, been protective parents. Lucy always looked a little more like Renee, which made sense, but still, through her character and mannerisms, he could see so much of Michelle. And likewise with their other daughter. Hope looked much more like Michelle, her hair darker, more curled and frenzied but still with that auburn tinge and smattering of freckles across her cheeks that made her look like Renee. She was also a little more energetic, a little more forthright. Somehow, they’d managed to end up with two daughters who were the perfect hybrids of them. Now there was a slightly inquisitive look in Lucy’s eyes as she furrowed her brow that was just so Michelle, it made him smile.
The smile faded quickly when he noticed two shadows approach her from behind.
One pushed her against the car, and he was tall enough to tower over her. The other took the opportunity to snatch her bag, her keys and whatever else had been inside falling to the asphalt. She struggled against their grip, trying to push back. Instead, she was met with a hand wrapped around her throat while another slid up her thigh.
“Hey!” Tony roared, charging towards them. “Get away from her!”
His voice was so harsh against the eerie late-night silence it managed to distract the two men long enough to allow Lucy to break free. She elbowed one in the ribs and pushed back against the car, gaining momentum to kick the other in the groin.
“Bitch…” One of them uttered, groaning a little. When he attempted to grab her again, she blocked him, her fist connecting solidly with his solar plexus.
Tony watched the other attempt similarly and pre-empted it by shoving him against one of the pillars where the gas pumps were, holding him by the fabric of his shirt. Just as he went to open his mouth, Tony punched him straight in the face. He watched with a hint of satisfaction as the boy’s smug expression faded to that of fear. They couldn't be too much older than her, but the details didn’t matter.
The point was, they’d tried to hurt her, and that wasn’t okay.
“There’s a special place in Hell for people like you. If I ever see you or your friend do that again, I’m going to cut your balls off and shove them down your throat, alright?” He said through gritted teeth. “Understand?”
“Dude…let’s just get out of here.” The other one said worriedly, deliberately standing far from Lucy so as not to make her or Tony think he had any intention of finishing what he’d started.
The boy in his grip nodded fervidly, and Tony released him. The pair ran off quickly. He whipped his head around to where Lucy stood. There was a vacant look in her eyes, she didn’t look visibly upset, she wasn’t crying, just in plain shock.
“Are you okay?” Tony asked, intentionally making his voice soft.
Lucy paused, then nodded, as though unsure herself, meeting Tony’s gaze to find it concerned. He looked back, realising he hadn’t seen her this close in a long time, possibly not since she was born. Son of a bitch, she really did have Michelle’s eyes.
“T-Thank you.”
“Let me help you get your stuff, alright?”
“N-No, it’s fine. I’ve got it.”
She went to bend down but immediately winced, her hand falling to the side of the car to stabilise herself. Trying again, she found herself in a similar predicament. “I-I think I might have done something to my ankle.” Gingerly, she tried to move it, finding herself able to, but barely. “I must have landed funny when I kicked him.”
“It’s probably just a sprain. There’s a hospital nearby if you want to get it checked out.” He realised it was her right foot as she continued to test her range of motion. “You won’t be able to drive.”
“It’s fine. I’ll just call my parents to get me.”
He didn’t like the idea of her waiting in the dark alone, especially now that she was incapacitated. “Then I’ll wait with you until they get here.”
Lucy chewed her lip nervously. Tony realised that she probably still didn’t trust him. After all, he was a stranger to her. He took a few steps away to give her privacy as she pulled out her phone. His eyes flickered over to her intermittently as he kept an eye out for anybody else who might be lurking at this hour. In the moonlight, Tony could see a red mark on Lucy's neck from where they’d grabbed her, and he felt so relieved knowing he’d been there to stop it from going further. She held the phone to her ear, and he faintly heard Michelle answer on the other side.
“Hey, honey, are you okay? Your mom and I have been getting worried.”
Lucy sighed. “D-Don’t freak out, I’m fine, but I need you to pick me up from the gas station and take me to a hospital.”
“What?” She had to pull the phone away from her ear. So much for not freaking out.
“It’s nothing! Some guys tried to mug me at the gas station, but another man saw and helped me out. They didn’t hurt me, but I twisted my ankle trying to fight them off, so I can't drive myself.”
“So who’s with you?” She heard Michelle mutter something to Renee, something about waking Hope up.
“The guy who saved me. He didn’t want me waiting in the dark.”
Michelle didn’t know what to make of that. All she knew was that her daughter was hurt and currently alone with a stranger, so she and Renee had better get themselves to the gas station as fast as they could. They couldn’t be sure if it was some indirect attack on them, if it was a trap. They would take Hope to Chloe and Janis’ who were on their way, just in case. Yes, she was old enough to stay home alone, but right now, they couldn’t risk it.
“We’re coming. Stay where it’s well-lit. Don’t go anywhere with him, just because he-”
“Mom, I know, it’s fine, really.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to calm herself. Lucy didn’t sound upset or like she was being coerced, but they couldn’t be sure. “Okay….” She exhaled. “Okay. I know you know better, I trust you. Be there soon, love you.”
“Love you too.”
Lucy took a good look at Tony now. She noticed a large scar on his neck. Another one on the web between his thumb and forefinger. No wedding ring on his finger. That didn't necessarily mean he didn't have a family, though. What he’d done had been so instinctive, it would make sense if he had kids of his own. He looked to be a bit older than her mothers. But there was something about him that seemed familiar to her. She just couldn’t figure out why. As she pondered this, she started to squint.
“Something on your mind?” He asked, noticing this.
“Nothing, sorry, I didn’t mean to stare. I just feel like I’ve seen you before.”
He gulped, trying to think back to every visit, wondering if he’d perhaps gotten too close or accidentally said something that revealed he knew more about her than he was letting on.
“I don’t think I caught your name. I’m Lucy.”
“Tony. Can’t say I’ve, uh, seen you before.” That was the idea he had to plant in her head. He had to play along and keep his cool. He was just a concerned stranger, reacting as he would have for anybody in that situation.
“You…you really put them in their place back there.”
She was starting to process what had happened now. Tony wondered if he’d perhaps scared her a little. He cleared his throat before speaking calmly. “They needed to be held accountable for their actions.”
“I-I get it. And I’m incredibly grateful, believe me. But you went so far out of your way for a stranger. I can’t even imagine how you would have reacted if I’d been your daughter or your niece or something.” She muttered. “Do you have kids?”
He gave a crooked smile, but there was a sad look in his eyes. “No, uh.” His voice took a sombre tone. “Wanted them, but my wife passed away before we had the chance.”
Lucy’s eyes widened. “Oh. I’m…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
He shook his head, breathing a sigh of relief as he saw what he guessed was Michelle and Renee’s car pulling up to the gas station. “It’s fine. It was a long time ago.”
“Well, for the record…you seem like you would have been a really good dad.”
Tony laughed through his nose. “Thanks.”
After parking the car, Michelle practically ran over, Renee not far behind. As she locked eyes with Lucy, Michelle was quick to embrace her, not caring how hard she might be squeezing her. She was so focused on Lucy, she didn’t even realise he was there. Tony noticed the height difference, with Lucy almost a head taller than Michelle. She ran a hand through her daughter’s hair, Renee’s hand on her shoulder. Michelle tutted at the red mark on her neck. “Bastards…You’re sure you’re okay? Because if they did anything, I swear-”
“Yes, I promise, Mom. I’m fine. They didn’t get a chance to really hurt me before Tony and I stopped them.”
“Tony?” Somehow, she knew the name leaving her daughter’s lips was no coincidence, and she suddenly felt sick.
Lucy’s brow creased. “The guy who waited with me?”
Almost sheepishly, he met Michelle’s eyes, and although she wasn’t viscerally reacting, he knew if it wasn’t for the fact that they were in public and her daughter was right beside them, she’d have a few words to say. Renee already had the same look in her eyes but seemed to want to break the awkward silence. Gently, she placed a hand on Michelle’s back.
“Honey, why don’t you take Lucy to the hospital.” She said, sweetly. “I’ll see this nice man off, then drive Lucy’s car there, okay?”
Michelle pressed her lips into a thin line, meeting Renee’s gaze, letting her silently communicate reassurance. She let Lucy lean on her shoulder as she limped towards the car. As they left, Renee folded her arms. He expected anger. After all, he was supposed to have left them alone, permanently. And he certainly hadn’t done that. Tony bit his lip. But he wasn’t going to apologise for what he did. If he hadn’t been there, who knows what could have happened? He wasn’t going to apologise for keeping her safe.
“You need to stop doing this,” Renee said simply. “This whole…'guardian angel' thing. Michelle and I are her parents, it’s our-”
“Look, Renee. I know it’s not my place, I know Lucy and Hope aren’t my daughters, and they’re never going to be my daughters, but I’m not doing this for the reason you think.”
She went to speak, but he cut her off again.
“I’m not trying to live out some fantasy of what me and Michelle could have had. I’m not trying to have some kind of place in your lives.” He huffed, but his voice was emotional. “It’s the fact that with everything we’ve all been through, it is a miracle those girls even exist, and no matter how much I trust that Janis and Chloe are looking out for you both and that you're being careful, they still need all the protection they can get. And tonight proved that.”
Renee looked into his eyes again, finding nothing but concern, nothing but an affirmation that he would keep having this passive role in their lives because her family’s safety and well-being mattered to him. She couldn’t fault him for it. But still, he brought risk to them as well. He was worried about someone coming after her or Michelle, and his efforts were appreciated. But the whole problem, the whole issue Michelle and Renee had, was that he was being pursued too.
“Did the people that attacked her look familiar to you? Anyone that might have been looking for you or us?”
“No. A couple of asshole kids, both a few years older than her. Believe me, that was the first thing I checked. When I saw them go after her, I…” He hissed. “I wouldn’t have walked away from that if it were a stranger, let alone her. And when I called out, she managed to start fighting them off. Probably could’ve taken them, but I wasn’t going to wait around to see. Whatever you trained her in, she’s good.”
“She’s been in karate since she was four.” There was a hint of pride in her voice. “Surprised you didn’t know that.”
He rolled his eyes before letting out a relieved breath. “They won’t be hurting her again, that’s for sure.”
“Well, considering we can’t exactly report it to the police in case they identify you, I guess that’ll have to do.”
“I…I didn’t even think about it, I just knew I had to do everything I could to stop them.” His voice fell solemn. “Maybe this kind of thing really gets to me because what happened to Kim Bauer when she was about that age will always haunt me. I…I just couldn’t stand by and let something like that happen.”
She closed her eyes, sighing. “I understand why. And believe me, I’m grateful, but be careful. She knows you now. And Michelle and I have vowed that we will never explain the previous part of our lives to her or Hope, so if she does figure out who you are, and that you’re not a stranger, that you know everything about her and about us, so help me God, Tony.” Her voice hardened. “Don’t make me lie to my daughters. I might not have told them everything, but I’ve never lied to them.”
Tony made a noise of assent as they sat there silently.
“I should be getting back to my car.” He turned to walk away.
Renee called out his name once more, stopping him in his tracks. “Look…I don’t want to think about the kind of call I would have gotten tonight if you weren’t there, so thank you.” She said earnestly. “And I’m sure Michelle feels the same.”
He gave her a small smile before nodding and walking out of the gas station car park. She realised it had been quite some time since Michelle had taken Lucy to the hospital and wanted to make sure they were okay. The prolonged period of time would also be suspicious to Lucy. After all, Tony was supposed to be nothing more than a stranger to her.
Meanwhile, the doctor was confirming, to Michelle’s immense relief, that Lucy was fine. Her ankle was only sprained, so with a few weeks of ice and rest, she’d be on her feet again. So much for celebrating her newfound driving freedom. As they opened the door, Michelle was pleased to find Renee there holding something behind her back. Lucy was on crutches and judging by the redness of her eyes, it seemed she’d finally processed what had happened, probably kept the shock in until she was alone with Michelle.
“Hey, Mom, what took you so long?” Lucy asked.
Renee smiled, moving her hands in front of her. “Had to search the whole hospital for a decent vending machine. Vanilla Coke, your favourite.” She passed the bottle to Lucy. “And a Snickers for your sister since we had to wake her up.”
Together, they walked out of the hospital. Michelle would pick up Hope, while Renee drove Lucy’s car home. When Renee sat in the driver’s seat, she saw that Lucy was already outstretching her arms to hug her tightly. She leaned forward, rubbing small circles on her back. “He told me you were very brave, I’m proud of you.” She whispered, kissing her daughter’s temple. “Let’s go home and get some sleep, okay?”
Lucy nodded against her.
When both of their daughters were finally in bed, Michelle took a moment to breathe, finally letting her anxiety fade. It had been a long night. But the two of them and the girls were safe, so that was all that mattered. Renee’s hand fell to her shoulder, and wordlessly she turned to bury her face against her chest.
“I took care of it. Everything’s okay.” She said quietly.
Michelle sighed. “I just…I can’t believe-”
Renee hushed her. “I know…I know. Things could have been worse. But they weren’t. Our daughter kicked some ass tonight. She gets that from you, you know?”
She snickered. “I love you.”
“Love you too.”
“Okay… you have the same look as when you told me you were pregnant. What is it?” Michelle asked warily, curious why Renee was smiling from ear to ear and had what looked like dried paint and dust all over her.
“I have a surprise for you.”
Michelle gave her a coy look. She’d been out all day buying herself maternity clothes with Chloe on Renee’s insistence that she stay out of the house. She still couldn’t quite believe they were doing it all over again. That, in a few months, they would have not one, but two kids they could call their own. It especially made her feel grateful that she was carrying the baby despite her fears that she was past her prime. The doctor had told her she would be fine so long as she gave birth via C-section and got a few extra checks. Renee had been so overjoyed when she found out and intended to make sure she took care of her in every way, just as she had done when she’d been pregnant with Lucy.
“Where’s Lucy?”
“Asleep.” Renee held up the baby monitor before putting it back in her pocket. “Now, come on.”
She snickered as Renee’s hands covered her eyes, letting her voice be the only guide. Following her instructions, Michelle felt the cool breeze on her skin as Renee led her out the back door.
“Almost there,” Renee said sweetly.
The cool breeze disappeared, and Michelle knew the only room they could possibly be in was the small shed in their backyard. She blinked a few times to adjust to the light when Renee removed her hands. Renee really did love to spoil her.
“Oh, honey, it’s beautiful.”
“The kids deserve separate rooms, so the baby’s room can go where my studio was.”
“But then where will we put your stuff?” Renee asked. “I don’t want to just throw them in the attic.”
Michelle shrugged, and while her voice sounded indifferent, Renee could see she was a little disappointed. “It’s fine. It’s not like I have time for it now, and I’m certainly not going to have time with two kids. Don’t worry about it, sweetheart.”
There were soft, warm lights hanging overhead. Her easel was placed near the centre of the room. All of her existing pieces were hanging on the walls, while her works in progress were stacked neatly against a wooden table and chair. A comfortable-looking couch was against the wall. It was more than just the contents of the room; it seemed that Renee had thought of everything she could do to make the place comfortable. It was inviting, something that Michelle could call her own. She turned around, and Renee was blushing a little.
“I felt bad. You don’t deserve to give up something so important to you, even if it’s to make room for something incredible. You deserve to have your own space.”
“Thank you, this is very sweet. I love you,” Michelle said, stepping forward and wrapping her hands around the nape of Renee’s neck, leaning on the balls of her feet to kiss her.
Renee smiled against her. “You're most welcome. And I love you too.”
Michelle turned her neck to keep looking around, noticing more and more subtle details that Renee had taken the time to put in.
“What’s the couch for? You’re going to make it very hard for me to leave this room.”
“Well…” She moved to sit on the couch in question, gently tugging Michelle down to her lap. “I know you can’t stand for too long because of your hips and back, so this will remind you to take a break.”
“I do need to get better at that,” Michelle admitted.
She hummed in assent. “And… I can’t ask you to paint me like one of your French girls without it, can I?”
Michelle grinned. “I really need to finish that painting off someday, don’t I? But if I recall correctly, you were the one distracting me.”
Her hands were on Michelle’s waist as she laughed, but one slowly moved to gently touch the protruding curve of her belly. She splayed her fingers out, and a smile crept across her face.
“What?” Michelle said, looking down.
Renee took one of Michelle’s hands and placed it over her own. “You’re showing.”
She snickered. “Barely.”
“Still.” Her eyes crinkled. “There was a reason I sent you shopping today.”
Michelle grabbed Renee’s hand, kissing her knuckles. Moisture fell onto her skin, and Renee used her thumb to wipe away her tears.
“Hey… everything okay?”
“It’s nothing.” She said, sniffling before shaking her head. “I’m just… thinking about how you’re the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Renee pulled Michelle’s lips to hers and kissed her. It was gentle at first, then grew hungry, her fingers slowly creeping under the hem of Michelle’s top. Michelle leaned back a little.
“Wait… let’s go back inside. I want to show you something I bought today. Did you have any idea that maternity lingerie was a thing?”
“No.” She gave her a curious look before deepening her voice. “But I have a feeling I’m about to find out.”
Renee smiled, looking at how happy Lucy was sitting in her lap. They were at a birthday party for one of her friends from preschool. All the little things like cake, balloons and toys had painted the biggest smile on their daughter’s face. It was easy to forget how simple everything was in the eyes of a child. Michelle was beside her, equally as smiley as she looked at Lucy. She watched as one of the parents brought out a large cake adorned with sparklers and candles. They lit up brightly, and the smell of smoke immediately started to fill the small living room where the kids and parents were.
At some point, as they were singing Happy Birthday, Renee felt Michelle tug at her wrist a little. Looking beside her and seeing the discomfort on her face, Renee understood.
“Outside?” She whispered.
Michelle nodded.
She told Lucy they would be back and left her near one of her friends, who was also with a parent they knew and trusted. Their trust was not just a gut feeling but verified by Janis and Chloe’s intensive background check system. They used it for practically everybody who came into their lives. As paranoid as it seemed at times, they knew they could never risk getting too comfortable and becoming complacent. Being careful and wary of new people will always be a part of their existence.
As they discreetly walked out to the backyard fresh air, she saw Michelle close her eyes and take deep breaths. Renee gave her a little space to keep her from feeling claustrophobic.
“It’s okay. This is real.” Renee said quietly. “You’re here. I’m here. Lucy’s here. Nothing’s going to disappear.”
It took a little while, but eventually, Michelle calmed herself and moved forward to let Renee take her in her arms.
“Thank you.” She murmured. “I… I’m normally not that bad with smoke. I think it’s just… being pregnant and smelling it brought back too many memories.”
“I understand, it’s okay,” Renee said, one of her hands trailing to the curve of Michelle’s stomach. “But seriously, who puts that many sparklers for a three-year-old? Ridiculous.” Michelle snickered a little, and Renee stroked her cheek.
Within a few minutes, everybody else came outside, too, to enjoy the sunny weather. When it was time to go, Michelle watched Renee walk over and pick up Lucy, laughing to herself as she protested that she wanted to stay longer. Renee then whispered something in Lucy’s ear, making her practically sprint to where Michelle stood, wrapping her arms around her legs.
“Hey…” Michelle chuckled, bending down to pick her up. “I didn’t think you were that eager to go home, sweetheart.”
“I do want to stay.” Lucy pleaded. “But Mommy told me it was really important to give you a big hug first.”
She couldn’t help but smile, kissing Lucy on the forehead before glancing at Renee.
“Love you.” Michelle mouthed.
“Love you too.”
—
Michelle's hair was still dripping as she came into the house and took off her shoes. Somehow, despite the short distance from the grocery store to her car, she’d gotten drenched. To her concern, both dogs were barking and whimpering incessantly at the sound of the thunder. The sky outside was almost pitch-black, despite it only being early evening, making the flashes of lightning bright enough to illuminate their living room. She switched the lights on, trying to reassure both of them. The rain was so loud she felt like she was practically yelling over it.
She called out for Renee but furrowed her brow when she didn’t hear a response. She started to worry, walking through the house until she reached their bedroom. At this point, Michelle realised the rain wasn’t the only sound of rushing water she could hear. Renee was in the shower. Knocking on the ensuite door, Michelle called out again, needing to know she was okay. After all, she knew the dogs weren’t the only ones who didn’t like storms.
Silence was the only reply.
She announced she was coming in and opened the door, looking at the shower. Steam had fogged up the glass, but she could tell that Renee wasn’t standing, and her heart started to race.
“Honey? I’m here, it’s okay.”
Michelle slid the door open to see Renee sitting with her knees to her chest. Her eyes were vacant and wet with tears. She was trembling, and there were goosebumps all over her skin. Michelle turned off the water and grabbed the towel hanging over the side. She bent down in front of Renee, calmly saying her name. It had been a while since this had happened. But she understood that some memories were simply too painful to forget. The fact that there had been a thunderstorm the night Vladimir Laitanin had assaulted her was something Michelle knew Renee would always associate. Michelle touched her forearm very gently, and Renee reacted with a jolt. She gasped a few times, looking around her, before finding Michelle.
Wrapping the towel around her back, Michelle pulled Renee into her arms, hushing her as she started to cry.
“I know… I know…” Michelle said. “He can’t hurt you. It’s okay. You’re safe. You’re with me.”
Once Renee’s breathing had slowed, Michelle helped her to stand so she could dry off properly and get dressed. Michelle followed suit, stopping only to dry her hair off a little with a towel. She could take a shower later; she didn’t want to leave Renee alone right now. Thankfully, they had leftovers to reheat for dinner, which made things a little easier so Renee could sit down. She was still shaking a little, making Michelle bite her lip. The dogs had calmed down slightly, too, now that she and Renee were both there. They’d tried desensitising the dogs to storms over the years. But this one was particularly bad, so Michelle could understand if it was still distressing for them. Luckily, after a few treats, both dogs ended up in their beds, still a little on edge but less noisy.
Michelle sat at the table to join Renee as they started eating, mostly in silence. She didn’t take her eyes off her, still very concerned by her demeanour.
“I don’t know what happened,” Renee said after a while, her voice thin. “I... I thought I had gotten over this.”
“It’s the worst storm we’ve had in a long time.” Michelle reminded her. “It’s okay.” Renee still looked very distant and tense, like she was bracing herself for another round of thunder, and Michelle sighed, frowning slightly. “God, I hate that bastard for what he did to you.”
Renee laughed through her nose. "Me, too." She agreed sadly.
After they finished eating and cleaned up, Michelle took a quick shower and got into her pyjamas, too. They ended up in bed watching TV, Renee lying so her back was against Michelle’s chest. Renee didn’t say much while Michelle stroked her hair placidly. She could tell Renee just needed the peace to calm down.
“Thank you.” Renee eventually whispered.
“For what?” Michelle looked down, meeting her eyes.
“For being here for me.”
Michelle kissed the top of her head. “Of course, honey.”
Renee looked into her lap. “It’s a long story.”
“They told me Christopher Henderson killed him. Start with that.” Michelle suggested shortly.
Michelle had told Renee to sit on the couch and start talking. While the number of questions she had about Jack was growing by the second, Michelle's penetrating gaze made Renee understand that she was still very concerned about the sanctity of her identity. So, she was happy to tell her story first. Michelle stood across from her, her arms folded. The dog was still somewhat interested in Renee but didn't seem to view her as a threat. That helped a little, she supposed.
“Technically, that part is true. But, Tony was revived with, I'm guessing, epinephrine by a man named David Emerson.”
Michelle furrowed her brow. “Why would he do that? What did this ‘David Emerson’ want with Tony?”
“Emerson was a mercenary. Apparently, he’d eyed out Tony as a potential recruit since his release from prison.”
“‘Recruit’?”
Renee shrugged. “Emerson's MO was to seek out people with grievances against the government so he could convince them to turn."
On the surface, Michelle appeared very sceptical. But Renee could tell there was more to it. She was genuinely contemplating whether her husband could fall for Emerson's spiel.
“H-He wouldn’t,” Michelle said unconvincingly. “He would never work for someone like that.”
“I’m sorry to break it to you, but he did. For several years.”
Her lip curled slightly.
“I don’t exactly have the files on me, but I’m telling the truth. I promise.”
She nodded glumly. “I know.”
Renee was both surprised and somewhat flattered by this.
“How did the FBI find out?”
“Emerson’s group tried to breach the CIP firewall. They hadn’t really been high on our radar until then, so we were a little surprised. We found CCTV footage that proved Tony’s involvement. Before jumping to any conclusions, we had his grave exhumed to verify the identity of the body, and confirmed he was never buried there.”
Michelle's shoulders slumped in defeat. Whatever hope she had about proving this was a mistake had disappeared.
“Which is when we brought Jack in. Who, after some initial... trouble,” Renee's hand unconsciously moved to the scar on her neck, “helped us learn Tony had been working with Chloe O’Brian and Bill Buchanan to double-cross Emerson.”
Michelle's eyes widened as Renee mentioned those two names. “T-Then it was fine, right? Why- If he was working with Chloe and Bill to do the right thing, why did he get a life sentence? He- I know he’s not perfect, but if he tried to redeem himself… didn’t that mean anything?”
Innocence and faith returned to her expression, and it made Renee’s heart break just a little, knowing how much more there was to explain. Renee had to keep reminding herself that while Tony had been just another criminal in an investigation to her, one she held a particular animosity towards, to Michelle, Tony had been such a significant part of her life, someone she’d loved and cared for deeply. Even divorce hadn’t stopped them from being together. Renee was almost impressed by how much she could still recall about Michelle all these years after reading her file. Then again, she had read it many, many times, both for the sake of the investigation and also to understand why her death had impacted Tony so much.
She decided to ease into it. She informed her that Tony helped by providing intel about Juma’s siege of the White House and the prion variant. She wanted Michelle to understand that Tony had still done some good things that day.
“He went with Lar-“ Renee shook her head. She didn’t want to get too emotional about this. She didn’t want Michelle to think she was only upset because of her own loss that day. “Agent Moss, to find the remaining canister.”
“And?”
“Tony killed him and took the canister for himself.”
Renee expected Michelle to try to counter that, but she didn't. She looked disgusted like she was beyond the point of defending his honour. As Renee started explaining what he’d planned to do with the canister, trying to choose her words carefully, she was taken aback by Michelle pressing her for details. She did so in a way that was very agent-like. She wanted the details so she could understand, not so she could redeem him. For a moment, Renee wondered whether, in another life, they might have worked together. She would like to think they would have gotten along at CTU or the FBI. But Renee stopped her musing almost immediately because she recognised that every additional detail Michelle asked about was like a shot through the heart. She had to give her closure. She was the only one who could.
“He- I know it sounds awful, but Tony's motivations weren’t what you think." Renee tried to reason, but Michelle didn't seem to appreciate the sugarcoating. "He wasn't really working for those military contractors. He didn't believe in their cause. He didn't want to hurt innocent people because he enjoyed it. He didn't even do it for money.”
Michelle's voice started to waver. “Then tell me what his motivations were.”
Renee sighed. “The contractors were connected to a man named Alan Wilson. Tony wanted to kill him, and the only way he could get close to him was by making an impression. He did whatever he had to do because..." The words died in her throat.
She couldn’t.
She had come into this woman’s house, scared her, and bombarded her with life-changing information. She couldn’t tell her that all of these horrible things were connected to her apparent death. She didn’t deserve that. Not now, and not then. Renee had always avoided referring to the case as a revenge quest for Tony because it was wrong to link Michelle to it. Tony had decided to grieve by making the world hurt along with him. That hadn't been Michelle’s fault. Even though she'd been alive, there was nothing she could have done.
Renee just prayed Michelle would see it that way, too.
“Because what?” Michelle raised her voice, but it broke. “What was so important about Alan Wilson that he did horrible things and was willing to do more just to get to him?”
Taking in a breath, Renee dared to look up at her, seeing her struggle with every passing second to contain her tears.
“You,” Renee said softly, with a small, sympathetic smile. “Because Alan Wilson was the man who controlled Charles Logan. He was the one who put the order out to have you killed.”
Michelle wobbled a little on her feet as though the revelation had hit her square in the chest. Her breathing became unsteady, and she paced back into the kitchen, her body trembling. Renee got up and followed her cautiously, unsure what she was about to do.
“I… I’m so sorry you had to find out like this.”
Michelle said nothing, instead taking the wine Renee had brought over, unscrewing the cap, and drinking from the bottle. She took a considerable swig before planting it on the kitchen counter, shuddering and wiping under her eyes. Tentatively, Renee placed a hand between her shoulder blades, making small circles on her back. To her relief, she didn’t draw away. Michelle's fingertips gripped the edge of the bench so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. Eventually, her sharp exhales slowed down. Still, she stared off into the distance.
“T-Thank you,” Michelle said. “I… I don’t know if I would have found out about this otherwise, and as hard as it was to hear... I needed to know. You didn’t have to tell me. For all I know, you could have held a grudge against me because, in a way, this is my fault-”
“It’s not.” Renee was quick to say. “I’ve never thought any of what Tony did as something you did or could have prevented. In fact, I… I felt sorry for you. He destroyed himself and dragged your memory down with him.”
Her head tipped forward in acknowledgement. Renee knew she likely wouldn’t accept it completely — certainly not now. But the least she could do was tell her she was not to blame. Renee knew she needed to hear it.
“I’m sure I'll ask you more questions," Michelle said after a beat. "I’m sure more will come up that you’ve surely tried to forget. But, for now, a deal’s a deal.” She met Renee’s eyes. “Let me tell you about what happened to Jack.”
"Where the hell are you taking me?" Jack asked.
Tony sighed. He did not blame him for being agitated.
A lot had happened over the past couple of weeks.
Jack had received the shocking news that he would be freed from the Russian prison. Initially, he had thought it was because some politician had been kind enough to vouch for his release. Unfortunately, it had simply been because Russia had someone they wanted more, knocking him to second place on their wanted list. No pardon was waiting for him; he would be transferred from one prison to another, but at least he would be back in his own country. They had also shortened his sentence considerably, given his existing time served and, dare he say, some sympathy. He would only be incarcerated for seven more years. It was a long time, especially since he wasn't getting any younger, but better than the alternative. Jack had been hesitant to accept the terms — not that he had much of a choice — because his first thought had, understandably, been the safety of Kim, her family, and Chloe. But Yuri Suvarov and others who supported him were no longer in a position of political power. Jack was understandably sceptical about the promise of safety from the US government. But they seemed to go all out with providing stringent security and ensuring the media heard nothing of the exchange. The other thing Jack had been granted was a compassionate period to visit his family.
Tony had kept his eye on government notices and been more than shocked to see, deep within the logs, that Jack was being escorted to California. At first, he had wanted nothing to do with it. Tony did not have much to say to Jack and believed it was the same in reverse. Then he remembered that the very reason Jack had been imprisoned in the first place was the death of Renee Walker, who was very much alive. Finding out Michelle was alive, and not just alive but in a long-term relationship with somebody else — somebody who despised him but tolerated for Michelle's sake — had in some ways been more shocking and heartbreaking than finding out she had died. However, it had also brought him a sense of ease. Even if he couldn't visit — or at least, wasn't supposed to, but did anyway in secret — knowing she was happy and safe meant a lot to him. Jack hadn't been married to Renee, but Tony still believed he deserved to know the truth. He also deserved to know about Michelle.
After discovering this information, Tony contacted Chloe, who talked to Michelle and Renee about it. It was their call since it was risky not just for them but for their children, too. Ultimately, they agreed Jack should know. So, a few days after Jack had spent time with Kim and her family, Chloe had called him with vague directions to a secluded area. She had reprogrammed his ankle bracelet to sync up with the location of Kim's phone, so it looked like he was with them until he was expected to meet the Secret Service at the end of the week. Tony had watched Jack get out of the car and meet his eye with a mirthless grin. Obviously, Chloe had warned him lest Jack try to shoot him before he could speak. Tony told Jack he was taking him somewhere and that it would all make sense eventually. He had just scoffed but gotten into the passenger seat regardless.
Tony felt oddly nervous as they pulled up to his apartment, not knowing how Jack would react. He doubted he would be furious, but it wasn't easy news to take. After turning the engine off, Tony led him inside and did his routine check for bugs. He took out the manila file Chloe had given him, flicking through its contents one last time, knowing he would have to destroy them as soon as they were done. Tony then slid the closed file over to Jack, who was looking around him, trying to gauge his surroundings. The drive had been a few hours, and both of them were quite tired, which would probably make the reveal even more emotional. But it was important. Jack deserved some good — or, at the very least, bittersweet — news for a change.
"Just open the file," Tony said softly.
Tentatively, Jack took the first photo out. Tony watched him furrow his brow before his hands started to tremble. He shook his head with disbelief and confusion, looking through them over and over again with scrutiny.
"I promise you, they're real. I wouldn't do that to you."
"I… I don't understand," Jack said, his voice shaking a little. When he looked up at him, Tony could see his eyes were wet with tears.
"Well, to put it simply, the woman you went to prison for and the woman I went to prison for are married with two daughters." He cleared his throat. "They were both put in Witness Protection."
Jack looked up at him with confusion. "Both of them? Then why weren't you with Michelle?"
"There was a mix-up; the CIA came for her, but CTU took me at the same time. Miscommunication."
That hurt most of all. Knowing that Michelle had been on her own, afraid and thinking he was dead. If things had happened slightly differently, they could have been happy together.
"But what happened in New York was years after the day I came out of hiding."
"I don't quite know how, but by some miracle, they ended up a few doors down from each other. Renee recognised Michelle from when she had investigated me, and... the rest is history."
Jack looked down at the photos again, his thumb over Renee.
"I-I held Renee as she died."
"Yeah. Believe me, I still have nightmares about holding Michelle, too, but they're alive. They were both in hospital for a long time, from my understanding. Michelle especially."
"Do they know about you?"
He nodded, feeling a pang of shame. "Yeah. Renee told her everything. I… I found them unintentionally, and let's just say Michelle wasn't happy to see me."
"So… so all this time they've been alive." Jack coughed to harden his voice. "And I- we both went to the ends of the earth to avenge them. We're both fugitives over revenge that wasn't even necessary?"
"I was pretty shocked at first, too. I felt cheated. I felt betrayed. I felt like someone should have told me before I took it too far. But…" He let out a breath. "At the end of the day, the two of them being so well hidden has kept them safe all this time. I try to focus on the fact that they got a second chance at life, even if it kills me sometimes to think about it."
Tony watched Jack's expression soften. From his position at the table, he could see he had stopped to look at a photo of the four of them together. His lip wobbled a little.
"How old are the kids?" he asked.
"The photo is a couple of years old, I think, but…" Tony shifted, moving his finger to point at each person. "Lucy's six and Hope's four. Renee and Michelle had one each." He couldn't help but smile. "And, you'll be glad to know that Chloe and Janis Gold, from the FBI, if you remember her, keep watch over them. They're in good hands."
Jack's shoulders relaxed, and he figured that put him at ease.
"It's funny. I remember when I met Renee for the first time, that she reminded me a little of Michelle. I remember thinking about how they probably would have worked well together."
He hummed in assent. "So do I."
"Of course… being married is a different story."
They each laughed a little before their eyes returned to the photos. Jack seemed to look through them with a newfound sense of joy.
"This is a lot to take in, but…" he started after a while, "the fact that they're both alive and okay is just… incredible."
"It is," he agreed.
When Jack looked up, he gave Tony a look of compassion, one he had not seen from him in many years.
"Look, we've both done things to hurt each other, but at the end of the day… you went to all this trouble just to tell me this, and I'm grateful for that."
Tony smiled a little. "You deserved to know, Jack."
—
Michelle watched Renee nervously bite her thumb. They had both been understandably riddled with anxiety all morning.
"Honey, are you sure? Janis and Chloe said we can back out at any time. Jack won't be offended, you know that."
She shook her head. "I-I want to see him."
The girls were playing in the backyard with the dogs while Janis and Chloe kept an eye out. They had collectively called in favours with every person they knew and trusted, including a retired Aaron Pierce. Still, she and Renee were worried about their daughters. They always were. But Michelle realised as she looked at Renee there was more to it.
"What if he hates me? What if he blames me for everything?"
Michelle placed her hands on her shoulders. "He couldn't hate you for that, sweetheart. Tony's already told him that you're alive. He would have gotten over the shock by now. Trust me, he's going to be very happy to see you."
Renee sighed. "I hope so."
When they heard the knock at the door, Michelle found Renee's hand as they walked towards it. As Michelle opened it, she saw Jack standing in front of Tony. The first thing she noticed was how tired he looked. His head had been shaved, he was thinner, and there were scars over the parts of his skin that she could see, new and old. A part of her wasn't even surprised to see him. After all, she had known him for so many years, and while she certainly thought she would never see him again, she had never considered him dead. Michelle bit her lip as she watched how his face changed when he looked at her and then at Renee. She squeezed Renee's hand.
"Come in, Jack," Michelle said warmly, seeing as nobody else could find their words.
As Jack obliged, eyes flitting between her and Renee but understandably focusing on Renee, she gave Tony a courteous nod before shutting the door. Renee stared at Jack, opening her mouth but unable to speak. Michelle moved behind her, placing a hand between her shoulders.
"Renee, it's okay…" she whispered.
Renee took a shuddering breath before throwing her arms around Jack and bursting into tears. He sniffled, squeezing her back tightly and hushing her.
"I know… I know…" Jack said quietly.
"I'm so sorry." Renee hiccuped. "Everything that happened to you is my fault."
"No, it's not," he was quick to say. "What I did was my decision, and I have to live with it. You're happy, and you're safe. That means the world to me."
Michelle decided to give them a moment, and Jack continued holding Renee, taking in that she was here with him. When he pulled back a little, he wiped a tear under her eye. Jack couldn't help but think of their last moments together. But he tried dearly to focus on the more pleasant part of that memory when they had been in bed, and it had seemed that time had stilled and they could make that second last forever.
"What?" she whispered, tilting her head.
He shook his head. "I'm just so glad you're both okay."
To his joy, she smiled, even through her teary eyes. Jack glanced at the wall behind her, and she turned a little to see what he was looking at. It was their wedding photo, which never failed to make her light up from the inside out.
"If it were anybody else, I'd ask if they were good to you and if you were happy, but because it's Michelle, I know I don't have to," he mused.
"She's everything to me," Renee said wistfully, and when Jack saw the way her expression changed, he felt a clutch in his chest.
They parted after a beat, and she went into the kitchen to help Michelle before promptly returning and asking him to sit at the table.
"How… how's Kim, Jack?" Michelle asked.
His eyes crinkled a little. "She's alright. It's... it's hard to say hello and goodbye again, but she's strong. And at least she can visit me now."
"And her kids and husband?"
Jack nodded. "They're good, too."
"I'm sorry. I can't even imagine how hard this is for you," Michelle said.
"It's alright. Really, it is. All that matters is that you're safe."
He watched Michelle cover Renee's hand with her own on the table.
"Look, I… I need to tell you that I'm so sorry for my part in what you both-"
"Jack, don't go there," Michelle cut him off with conviction. "Neither of us has ever blamed you for what happened. It was out of your control. It was out of everyone's control. Nobody could have known."
Renee watched how taken aback he seemed by that. It made her woeful to think of how long he had blamed himself.
"And, at the end of the day, Renee and I have each other. We've managed to find a way out of this mess."
Jack smiled a little. "You… you have no idea how much that means to me. The fact that you're both here and have a family together, it's amazing."
Michelle looked over at Renee, and she gave her a small nod before returning her gaze to him.
"Did you want to meet the girls?"
His eyebrows rose. "Y-You don't have to-"
"Jack, please," Renee insisted. "We've got enough people guarding the house to rival Secret Service detail. It…. it would really mean a lot to us. You deserve it."
Hearing the earnestness in her voice warmed his heart, and he agreed, letting them lead him outside. His head hurt a little. He was still getting used to being out in the sun, especially since it was warmer here compared to Russia. The two of them each went over to one of their daughters, and Jack realised he hadn't seen such a happy sight in a very long time. He said hello to Chloe and hugged her, thanking her for bringing him here. She went to apologise for keeping all of this from him, but he stopped her, insisting that it was for the best. Keeping Michelle, Renee, and their family safe was far more important. Jack also thanked Janis, knowing she was just as involved as Chloe.
When Jack looked down, a dog was nipping at his feet, and there was another not far behind, holding a tennis ball in its mouth.
"I think they like you," Renee said, laughing a little as she came back over. She had tears in her eyes again.
Hope squirmed slightly in her arms, saying she wanted to keep playing with the dogs. Jack noticed the striking blue of her eyes that reminded him so dearly of Renee, as well as the brown, curly hair that no doubt came from Michelle. Lucy, who had auburn waves like Renee, shyly stood next to Michelle's hip. Tony had said while they were looking through photos that Lucy had Michelle's eyes, and he couldn't be more right.
"Girls, this is your Uncle Jack," Renee's voice was thin.
Jack worried that his toughened demeanour might scare them a little, but to his relief, they didn't seem afraid of him. The more he looked at them, the more he could observe Michelle and Renee in them, right down to the mannerisms, the way they seemed to be peering at him with just as much curiosity as he had.
"Mommy, why are you crying?" Lucy asked, furrowing her brow.
Michelle sniffled, wiping them away and bending down to her level. "I'm just happy, sweetheart. We haven't seen him in a long time, and we've missed him very much. And we don't know how long it'll be before we see him again, so we thought it was really important that you got the chance to meet him."
"Hey, I've got an idea…" Renee said, looking at Hope and then down at Lucy. "Why don't you show Uncle Jack your treehouse?"
They seemed to like that suggestion very much, and Jack quickly felt himself tugged by the hand. He tried his best to keep up as they ran across the backyard. He thought about how, maybe in another life, they could have played with Kim's kids and grown up alongside them. But he didn't dwell on hypotheticals because he had reality in front of him, more joyful than he could have asked for. He strived to stay in the moment and appreciate everything he was experiencing right now because it was going to be a new memory to cling to when he was incarcerated again. Little things like this kept his heart beating more than stubbornness and bitterness ever would.
When Michelle went inside to get a glass of water, she was startled slightly by Tony waiting inside.
"Jesus." She placed a hand over her chest. "You scared me."
"Sorry." He bit his lip sheepishly. "Just keeping an eye on things here while you guys are outside."
"No, no, it's okay. The more protection, the merrier, really..."
Her voice trailed off, and they were left in silence. She was met with the familiar whirlwind of conflicting emotions that arose every time Tony was near her. He had always had a way of doing that, even long before that day of chaos had happened.
"Look, I just want to say…" he started. "I'm happy for you. I really am, Michelle."
The corners of her mouth upturned. "Thanks. I know this must be hard for you, but…"
He shook his head. "It's no trouble. After everything we've been through, this is the least I could do. For everybody."
Michelle heard the apology in his voice and realised that today was a big step in atonement for him. She was proud of him. It didn't undo his actions or change the fact that he still needed to keep his distance, but the fact that he was trying made all the difference.
"Hope has your laugh, you know?"
Her brow creased.
"Don't worry, they didn't see me. I just caught a glimpse of them when I was talking to Pierce outside before. I hadn't heard it before today; the last time I saw her, she was still a baby, but…" Tony lifted his shoulder. "I don't know, it stuck out to me."
"Yeah, I think you're right," She mused.
"I wonder which one will inherit your cooking skills."
Michelle snickered. "Shut up."
Again, silence fell between them, but it was content, more than she thought she would ever be able to be with him again.
"I better get back to doing what I was meant to do here," he said after a beat.
As he turned around, she stopped him, pulling him for a hug. He seemed surprised but not displeased by it. "Thank you so much for doing this today. For telling Jack about us and bringing him here."
"You're welcome."
Michelle joined Renee outside again, resting her head on her shoulder as they sat on the porch, taking in every little wonderful thing around them. As the sky started to turn orange, Pierce came by, reminding them of the timeframe they had planned for Jack and Tony to leave without attracting too much attention or making surveillance difficult.
As Jack said goodbye, he felt some of the weight on his chest had been lifted, knowing that despite his actions, two people he cared about very much were safe and had finally managed to achieve the peace and happiness he knew they had yearned for.
He stood at the door now, taking a breath and looking at them one last time.
"Take care of each other," Jack said, his voice full of emotion. "And spend every second you can with your daughters because they'll grow up before you know it."
"We will," Michelle affirmed.
"You take of yourself too, Jack," Renee added. "We'll see you back here before you know it. And we send Kim our love."
Jack nodded and followed Tony back to the car. The two of them looked on, and Michelle was reminded sombrely of the day she said goodbye to him at the train tracks all those years ago. When she looked at Renee, she was trying not to cry.
"Hey," she whispered, her eyes just as misty as Renee's as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "He'll be okay."
Renee nodded. "Yeah. He will." Her arm wrapped around Michelle's waist, pulling her close. "I love you so much."
Michelle leaned into her. "I love you, too."