20021 Gleedsville Rd, Leesburg, VA, July 4, 2020 1445hrs

"So, what are you planning on doing for retirement, other than shooting photography?" Harm asked Animal.

"Haven't figured that out yet." Was the response, "Just taking it day by day right now. And Meg's still got four or more years left to go, depending on where she gets assigned after JAG or whether or not she's going to go for four-stars." He shrugged. "If she opts to retire…well, I figure that we'll probably travel, see the world and do all the things that a couple does in retirement. After all, most of the time through my career, she's been chasing after me from duty station to duty station and it's high time for me to consider her career and what she wants." Meg snuggled into his embrace with that assertion from her husband. She loved Animal and knowing that he cared that much about her career made her love him all that much more.

"So who's going to be your DJAG when you take the reins? Meg?" Keeter thought to ask.

"I don't know just yet, but I'm going to be evaluating the AJAGs and see how their personnel jackets look in terms of achievements in their current post and well, I'll make my decision from there." Meg replied peering over at Bud who was playing Frisbee with the teens. "Right now, they all have an equal shot…at being selected; so how they perform between now and when change of command happens; that'll determine my choice of who my DJAG is and my selection of DJAG will have to be confirmed as well by SECNAV and by the JCS. And then of course…I have to make a decision of which AJAGs are subject to retention and which are to be let go and retired."

"Yeah…very little room at the top, is there?" Keeter commented. "Looks like we all have to make room for those who are coming up."

Animal replied, "Yeah…it's up or out…and unfortunately we lose a good lot to the defence industry. They get better pay and better perks. Stuff we can't match. Even the tech-reps end up making a six figure salary; so is it any wonder why our guys split the first chance they can get. But we somehow manage to shuffle along; just got to separate the cream from the curds."

"Hey, did you hear about ONI's CO?" Harm asked.

Animal raised his eyebrows, he remembered Vice-Admiral Katherine Ferris; he and the Vice-Admiral had butted heads on a few occasions when he was a two-star, regarding tactical information that she was slow to hand over causing him no end of problems when his battle-group had to go in and take care of a few up-start goat-herders who had come into some weapons and thought themselves jihadi. He finally figured that it was better to drop shit from above than to have to shovel shit uphill and brought Admiral James Pointer, then CNO, into the fight. He got his information ASAP then, but well, she'd caused him no end of headaches until he hit four-star himself and she was shuffled out in the next up or out having hit her ceiling at three stars. "No…what happened to her?" Animal asked, morbidly curious as to her fate.

"Well, she's now one of the board members on Lockheed Martin's Board of Directors. Evidently she's gotten seven figures annually and she's overseeing the development of tactical stand-off weapons; non-nuclear tactical cruise missiles…and the such; terrain following, nape of the earth…all the high-tech stuff and developing pinpoint accuracy guidance systems."

"Really…" Animal snorted, "Figures she was an opportunist…so…no plans on going to Lockheed Martin…to do some lawyering?"

"Hell no…After the headaches you had with her, Animal, you think I want to have anything more to do with her?" A chorus of laughter from everyone followed that pronouncement. "I'm settling down to have myself a nice, comfortable retirement traveling the continental US and Canada." Harm announced. "As soon as Mac finishes up her re-up hitch…we're gonna go travelling." Mac snuggled in to Harm's side and looked up at him with a satisfied smile on her face. "But to tell you the truth, I did get a missive from Lockheed Martin offering me a cushy position…signed formally by Ms. Katherine Ferris, Director of Weapons Research; Lockheed Martin, Tactical Weapons Division; Member of the Board of Directors, and former Vice-Admiral, United States Navy." he smirked, "Did some research; found out her salary, and what she was offering was commensurate with what high-level tech-reps are making – high six figures…" He grinned evilly, "After the headaches she gave you, I had no problems in formally turning her down. If I'm going to do any post-Navy lawyering, I'll wait for a letter from Boeing and even that's a big if…" That evoked another chorus of laughter. "The only person I might agreeably do some lawyering for is AJ…if he asks."

"Haven't received any letters myself, yet, but I'll keep an eye out on the mail…" Animal said, "I'd probably end up getting one for tech-rep. But like you, I think I'm going to spend my retirement travelling with Meg once she hangs it up." He paused looking over at Meg, "There's this vivid picture of me walking a deserted beach in the Bahamas at sundown with Meg by my side." Meg looked over at him with a feigned love-struck expression on her face, batting her eyelashes at him and oh, that sounds so wonderful comment left unspoken. Harm rolled his eyes as Animal opened his mouth in a feigned expression that said that he had more to say.

"Yeah, that's a little too much info there. Animal…" he said interrupting him before the retired admiral could go any further and Mac and Meg laughed at that. Keeter had himself another burger while the kids came back and started packing away hotdogs; it was amazing just how much of an appetite that the Roberts twins and Katie had.

"Hey…you guys wanna play some ball hockey?" Katie asked the Roberts twins who nodded.

So Katie and Keeter dragged out the hockey net…and well, Keeter decided that he would play goal "Well…let's see if you can score on me…you guys…" Keeter grinned rubbing his hands as he tossed the tennis ball out to Katie and the twins and hefting the goalie stick dropping into what he figured was a good approximation of a hockey goalie's crouch; it'd been a while since he'd done that. They were supposed to take shots on him and of course Keeter figured, awww…no sweat...this is gonna be easy. One teenage boy, two teenage girls…no problem Yeah…bad mistake…Keeter's eyes bugged out when he saw just how fast Katie puck handled the tennis ball between the twins' legs then ripped a blistering shot right past his left shoulder into the top left corner.

"How the…" Keeter muttered out loud.

Harm grinned at Keeter, "US Under 18…Hockey team…" he said indicating why Katie had so much prowess with the hockey stick and ball.

"Holy shit…" Keeter's jaw dropped open. "Say…Katie, do you have pads and a mask?" he asked to the everlasting amusement of Harm and the rest of the adults.

"Yup…downstairs, Uncle Jack…I'll go get 'em for ya…they might be a little small on you though…" Katie had a smile that looked like Animal's…chock full of mischief. Keeter had a bad feeling about this.

"I get the feeling I should have worn a cup…" Keeter sighed resigned to the fact that he was going to be in serious pain by the end of this. That did it for Harm…as he nearly fell out of the chair laughing. "Glad I could give you such an endless source of amusement, Harm." Keeter muttered sarcastically loud enough for everyone else to hear.

"I have a hockey puck that I can use on concrete, Uncle Keeter, but you'd really need full-size pads and a cage for that, because that thing has ball-bearings so that it can skim across the concrete. It really hurts if you get hit by it…I figure the tennis ball is a little easier on you…" Katie grinned at him as she offered him the pads. Keeter couldn't say anything to that other than offer up a silent prayer of thanks to the God above that Katie didn't demonstrate the use of that puck on him.

"She's quite the hockey player," Mac observed with a wistful smile on her face. She'd always had a special spot in her heart for Meg's and Animal's daughter since she couldn't bear children of her own and now that Mattie was an adult…she missed her teen and she found a surrogate in Meg's daughter and Auntie Mac doted on Katie. "I've never seen Jack get turned inside out like that…"

"She's got a lot of moves that can turn Jack inside out…" Meg grinned evilly at Mac as Jack took another spill as Katie spun avoiding one of the twins' check and ripped another shot past Jack, this time sending the tennis ball through Jack's five-hole. 2-0 Katie. 3-0 for Katie was a muffled bong as the puck (tennis ball) bounced off the underside of the crossbar and in as Jack wondered where that shot came from.

"Bar down…3-0 for me…" Katie crowed. She passed the tennis ball over to the twins. "Now you take shots on him…while I get myself a drink. It's hot out…"

Keeter sighed in relief as she let the other two take quite a few shots to give Uncle Jack a rest. After being ventilated by Katie three times in about twice as many seconds, Jack's head was spinning, so that's how good a semi-pro hockey player was. She was way better than the Navy Pacific Fleet's floor hockey team…probably even better than the Navy Rams Academy ice hockey team that he'd played on when he was a midshipman. Keeter thought to himself. He needed to bring his game up…and get some time on the ice. He'd been way out of the loop in not knowing anything about Meg and Animal and their life together. Well, maybe he'd get the chance to hang out with Animal and Harm now that he wasn't chucked away in Pacific Fleet. Maybe Katie might be able to teach this old dog some new tricks…with the hockey stick. Damn she's good. Keeter might have been from Texas, but he'd played some hockey and figured that he was good enough to get on the Academy hockey team. Down in Texas hockey wasn't that big a sport, but well, since teenage Keeter hadn't yet gained the size and heft of a line-backer, he opted to play hockey with the North Texas Minor Hockey League and he'd been good enough to get on their rep team and that skill that he'd learned there was good enough to get him in as goalie for the Navy Rams in the NCAA Ice Hockey Collegiate League. They'd had a respectable 20-11-9 record with him in goal. But since he'd gotten his commission, he hadn't had time to get back on the ice and he knew that his skills had diminished quite considerably. Especially since Animal's daughter had ventilated him that quickly.

Animal swigged his glass of Pepsi and grabbed another helping of steak. He nodded; not a bad job in cooking these up…they taste pretty good. Whatever was extra and wasn't eaten was immediately packed up and sent to the fridge because in this heat, one would find that the meat went bad quickly. Mac grabbed a barbecued chicken leg and grinned at Animal, "You did a great job at grilling these up."

Animal nodded in appreciation for the praise. "Well, Mac, I'm hoping that they were edible…"

"Oh…more than edible. I think I might be in a food coma all day Sunday…"

"Oh man!" Jack was heard to exclaim as Katie just ventilated him again with one under his right arm…which ruffled the twine. 6-0 Katie.

"Hey, Jack…need some help?" Harm called out. "You want me to play defence?"

Mac rolled her eyes. "Harm, honey. Do we have to stop by the Safeway pharmacy and pick up some muscle ointment? After Katie turns you inside out too?" She shook her head, "Boys will be boys…" she sighed resignedly to Meg as Harm being ever so masochistic, went out to help his Academy buddy.

Katie looked at Harm eagerly…an evil grin plastered on her face. Keeter's face fell, he'd seen that expression on Animal's face too many times to count, "Sure, Uncle Harm, I'll be happy to play one vs two against you and Uncle Jack…" Oh oh…

"I'm going to sit down here and eat my steak…I already know that I couldn't defend against her." Animal said decisively.

The next thing that they heard was "oh…shit…" from Harm and Keeter. Evidently Katie had turned her skill level up another notch.

"7-0…" Katie's voice was cheery. Evidently Harm had had the tennis ball snuck between his legs and then Katie blew past him and ripped one over Keeter's right shoulder.

Harm said "Hey…why don't you two help me…" to the Roberts twins. There were now three defenders against Katie. Warding off one of the twins with one arm, spinning to avoid the check of the other, tapping the ball over Harm's raised stick…and then putting one low in the left corner on a one-handed back hand tap in…after pulling Jack out of position because he thought that she was going right and when he committed, Katie masterfully pulled the ball towards her and tucked it around his left leg in the net.

"8-0…" Katie's tone was pretty self-satisfied. Harm looked kind of insulted when Mac stood up clapping her hands at Katie's masterful move…

…and called out, "Great move, Katie…"

Meg called out to Harm, "Told you she was good…"

Harriet, Kimber and Bud looked absolutely impressed with the hockey clinic that Katie was putting on. Five hole, right shoulder, left shoulder, under the right arm, under the left arm, bar down left side, bar down right side. Harm accidentally screened Keeter and Katie ripped a slap-shot from what would have been the point, which tucked neatly under Keeter's right arm. 16-0. It was at about 25-0 that Katie asked Harm and Keeter, "You think that's about enough for you two?" Keeter and Harm looked at each other with identical aghast looks and nodded.

"Yeah, I think so…Katie…I'm bushed…" Harm said, giving his god-daughter a big hug. "You really are good..."

"Yeah…thanks…Uncle Harm." Leaning into her godfather's big hug, "I'm gonna ventilate Canada's goalie; Jenny Hanson…I want revenge for that 8-0 drubbing we got last tournament…when I wasn't on the team yet…" She said; an evil grin and a look of determination on her face.

"If I was Jenny Hanson…" Keeter muttered loud enough for everyone to hear, "I'd be petrified…"

Meg grinned as she got up to clear off all the remainder of the barbecued meat. They'd made a big dent in the amount of meat that Animal had bought this morning, but there was still a sizeable amount left, so it would go in the fridge. "Anybody still have room for apple pie or apple crumble?" She asked.

The look on Harm's and Animal's faces made her laugh. "Oh…I know those two have enough room…to pack at least one apple pie away…by themselves" she said dryly.

Katie grinned at her mom, "I'm famished…I think I could eat some apple pie…growing child here…"

Harm and Animal looked at each other and said in unison, "Why does that sound familiar?"

Everyone had a slice of apple pie with vanilla ice cream. It was about 1730hrs and everybody was pretty much full up…Katie and the Roberts twins had decided to kick a soccer ball around and Harm and Keeter had joined in after eating the pie. Animal and Meg were seated on the outdoor couch, Meg had leaned into Animal's embrace, Bud and Harriet sat in picnic chairs to the side, Mac also sat to one side and Kimber was debating whether to go join Harm and Keeter in kicking the soccer ball around with the kids. She finally got up and headed over saying, "OK…I'm in…pass…" As one of the twins kicked the ball towards her, she deftly picked the ball up with her foot, lofted it in the air bouncing it on her knee and softly kicked it towards Katie who got the ball and bounced it twice on each knee then used her knee to bounce it over to the other Roberts twin who cradled the ball on his instep and volleyed the ball over to Harm who redirected it to Keeter and back to the original Roberts twin who then redirected the ball to Kimber and the whole passing sequence started all over again.

"I don't have as much energy as the kids do…" sighed Animal who was perfectly happy with Meg in his arms…and watching the kids and the three adults, who had decided to revisit their childhood, play with the soccer ball. "…so I'm going to sit here and spend some time snuggling with my wife…" he said leaning over and giving Meg a kiss which was returned. "We done good, right, hon…" he said looking over at Katie who had a wide smile on her face as she redirected the ball to the other Roberts twin.

"Yeah we did…" Meg agreed.

It was about 1945hrs and only when everyone was pretty tired did the barbecue wrap up. Keeter came up to Meg and Animal and said, "Hey…This was a great barbecue…thanks for having me."

"No problem. You're welcome to drop by with Harm and Mac any time…now that you're stationed in Norfolk." Animal grinned at him, "Meg and I would be happy to have you drop by."

"I'll keep that in mind." Jack replied. "And probably Katie can teach me a few hockey tricks."

Katie gave Keeter a hug, "Good to meet you finally, Uncle Jack…"

Jack ruffled Katie's hair, "You too, Katie…That was one heckuva demonstration of your skills today…Jenny Hanson'd better be very worried next tournament."

Harm hugged Katie, then Meg and grinned, "I gotta get Jack back to the house…he's probably sore and tired."

Meg handed him over a bag. "two of each…" she said simply.

Harm looked as though he was about to drool. Mac grinned at Meg and gave her a hug. "You know he's going to be in a food coma for the rest of the weekend. I may even have to take a cab to the airport on Monday afternoon." She joked, giving Harm a prod in the side.

Harm sounded insulted; "I can rouse myself long enough to get you to the airport…not that I'm in a rush or anything…" which evoked laughter from everybody in earshot. The Roberts family had made their good-byes and had left; Katie waving to the departing car. Eventually, Harm, Mac and Keeter had managed to get in their vehicle and head out of the driveway too.

Kimber said, "Meg, I'll stay long enough to help you clean up…and then I gotta be going too. Gonna have a long night…working up figures for the meeting next week." And Meg gave Kimber a look of gratitude. The cleanup was the toughest part of the day. There were disposable plates and utensils that needed to be picked up and the empty dishes that had the barbecue or other food on it needed to be rinsed of food particles and tossed in the dishwasher. And the remaining portions of the cooked food that was still left needed to be tucked away in the fridge as left-overs. Luckily for Meg and Kimber, the fruit tray had been picked clean by the kids and the vegetable tray was empty thanks to Harm who, as Meg thought earlier in the day, did graze through it like an herbivore. Animal and Katie pitched in and helped too.

When they were done, Kimber gave Katie a big hug and Meg an even bigger hug; the two of them were best friends. Kimber then gave Animal a hug as well, saying, "You have a great retirement…Animal; Norfolk's gonna be different without you there…"

"Well…Kimber…we'll always have holidays for you to come hang out with the family…" Animal grinned at her. "Hope the budget meetings go OK…for you and you get the funds you need."

"Oh yeah…there'll probably be a lot of screaming and yelling and pounding of the tables…from everybody who wants a piece of the pie, but well…if I beat enough of their heads against the wall, maybe I can free up enough money…so that the training gets done." Kimber smirked at him.

Meg grinned, "Harm and I will see you at the Pentagon on Monday since JAG has to be there too for their share of the funds. You have a wonderful way of persuading people, Kimber…"

"I know… and on that note, I gotta get outta here…"

"Drive safe, Kimber…"

"Always do…" Kimber waved as she got into her car and started the ignition. Rolling down the window she waved again…and then she was out of the driveway and headed down the road.

"Well…that was a great afternoon…" Animal grinned at his wife. Katie had gone upstairs to go read a book.

Meg purred at him…as she took him by the hand, "Well, the afternoon's not over yet…" she smirked at him, "If I recall correctly…I think I promised something earlier in the day…It was a hot afternoon…and I'm in the mood for a shower..." she informed him…then whispered in his ear… "Care to join me?"

Animal had a wide grin on his face, "Don't have to ask me twice…" He grinned…as he and his wife headed to their bedroom and the ensuite bathroom...

With the introduction of the new timeline for my Meg/Animal stories any current Meg/Animal stories will be terminated at this point and the new time-line will take precedence.