Part 8

“Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul

-and sings the tune without words, and never stops – at all.”

            -Emily Dickensen

Part 8

The new day dawned and the Christensen’s hit the ground running – literally.  For the second day in a row, Hayden joined Melissa and Kona on their morning run, determined to spend as much time with them both as possible before they were separated by active schedules.

"Ok, tell me again about the next few days," he panted, struggling to keep up.

"Cecila sent the final schedule a couple of days ago so I put everything into your Blackberry.  This afternoon is press at the Ranch, then the special screening George is doing for the team.  Tonight we leave for LA, tomorrow we drop off Kona with Kate and catch our flight to Canne which, I’m completely giddy over."

"You?  Giddy?  You’re aware its total chaos right?" he huffed.

"Some chaos can be fun," she joked, picking up the pace and grinning as she heard him groan.  "Catch up so you can hear me," she teased.  "After that we’re in New York, then Toronto, and then LA for the Charity premieres…"

"…and then it gets bad."

"That’s when I come back home."

"Exactly."

Melissa enjoyed that as crazy as the schedule seemed to her, he thought the intensity of it was acceptable while she was with him.

"Where do I head after that?"

"Do you remember that show ‘Where in the World is Carmen San Diego’?"

"Vaguely."

"Let’s just say I’m going to be calling you Carmen."

"Great.  Hey, wait a minute.  Wasn’t Carmen a woman?"

"Details, details," she laughed as they made the last power push up the driveway.

With a couple of hours before they had to meet George, Hayden was returning some phone calls before joining Melissa to work in the yard.  They had a service that mowed the grass, but Melissa had roses that she liked to tend to herself.  They were her favorite and she had them lining the arch of the driveway between the pavement and the grass, a kind of permanent rainbow.

The last call done, Hayden turned on his favorite radio station to the outside speakers, grabbed two bottles of cold water from the fridge, and headed outside to help Melissa prune.  As he walked outside he saw her sitting on the grass, her arms wrapped her knees, holding them close to her chest.  Tossing the water into a patio chair, he went straight for her, catching the song lyrics that were playing as he went.

And that was when he began to run. He knew the song; it was one of his favorites.  He saw himself in its words and fresh from his confessions the night before, Melissa seemed to see it as well.

Sometimes the best words are none at all.  He sat on the grass behind her, wrapping his arms around her she leaned back almost instantly.  Resting his head on her shoulder, she leaned her cheek to his and they listened together. 

He had heard this song countless times, each time wondering who had gotten into his head during that flight back from Australia to mend things with her.  It said everything he felt but here, on the grass, holding her, all that pain came back.

As the chorus repeated he held onto her, convinced he could hold her forever right there in their yard and be perfectly happy.  "Lissa…"

"I’m ok, it’s just…wow.  The timing of that was profound and just a little bit creepy."  Knowing she was ok put him at ease and he let go of the breath he was holding in.  "I will never be able to hear that song again and not think of how perfect this moment was.  Thank you," she said as she twisted to look at him, surprised to see a single wet trail down his cheek where a tear had slipped.  She wiped it away with her thumb, winked at him, and got them back on track.  "So, which thorny mess would you like to start chopping back?"

His lips worked their way to a smile as he thought of how good she was at keeping him from dwelling on the past and focusing on the present.  "Are you sure it’s not time for me to go meet George?"

"Nice try Carmen, make with the pruning."

"Aye, Aye Captain," he mocked, smiling as he made his way to the nearest rose bush.

****

The heat of the noon sun was enough to remind Melissa that it was time to head to the Ranch and meet up with the team.  George had offered to let them and their families see Episode 3 and not a single person had turned the offer down. 

With Cecilia busy handling the latest round of press, Melissa offered to be her stand in greeter and temporary tour guide.  At 12:30 on the dot the gate house called to let Melissa know her guests where on the way.  It would take them several minutes to wind through the canyon to the main house, so she took a moment to check in with Cecilia before walking out to the massive white Victorians very welcoming front porch to wait.

The team had managed to condense themselves into just three cars: two large Suburban’s and a small beat up 4Runner that belonged to the team’s youngest member, Danny.  She had taken him as her apprentice when he was barely nineteen.  Young, enthusiastic, and paired with a golden retriever who was born to search, he was supposed to be a breeze.

Danny was anything but.

Fiercely independent, and rather hard headed, he fought more parts of the training than he didn’t and he argued with the more senior members on a regular basis.  As they would walk away, they’d pat Melissa on the back and say "Good luck with that one."  Still, he was dedicated to the work, naturally talented, and had Buster, so she still had hope for a successful outcome.  Of course, as of two months ago he also had Bailey and Bronson – his twins with now fiancée, Alisha.

Melissa loved watching people get out of their cars on their first trip to the Ranch – the awe was amusing.  The team was no different.  Mouths hanging open they stood just looking, taking it all in.

"Hey guys!  Welcome to Skywalker Ranch.  I’m Melissa and I’ll be your perky tour guide today," she mocked.  "Now, if you’ll close your mouths I’ll let you know what you’re gawking at."  She pointed out the outside landmarks before going through parts of the main house and meeting up with some familiar faces at the end.

"Welcome!" Hayden beamed at the starry eyed group – less focused on the star they already knew but the icon next to him.  "George, this is the team.  Team, this is George Lucas."  Hayden introduced each member and Cecilia took a group picture before they made their way to the theater.

"This is where we step out," Melissa offered as she held out her arms toward Alisha.  "Hayden and I can manage these two beauties.  Go enjoy the movie."

Danny quickly handed Bronson to Hayden while Melissa took Bailey.  "Thank you so much," Alisha gushed.  "Bottles and diapers are in their bags.  If you need us…"

"We know where you are.  Go!  Have fun," Hayden chuckled.

The team loaded into two of what Melissa always joked were Golf Cart Limos since they each seated 8.  George and Cecilia drove so she was sure they would take the round about way to the theater to complete the tour.  "It’s just the four of us for the next three hours.  What should we do?"

"Hmmm…strip poker?" Hayden winked.  "Nah, the little ones are at the disadvantage on that one."

"What about lunch?  We forgot to eat." 

Hayden shook his head back and forth, rubbing his nose against Bronson’s which made the baby giggle. "Sound good Bronson ol’ buddy?"

"Does a picnic sound ok?"

Hayden nodded, again rubbing his nose against Bronson’s, making him giggle harder.  "My main man here says that’s a plan."

They stopped into the kitchen to make some sandwiches before heading out to a grassy area by the lake.  Kona had emerged from napping in the library to join them, lying down between the babies in their carriers.  While Hayden told Melissa about answering the latest round of all the same questions, Kona stayed put even when the babies grabby little fingers started playing with her ears.

"Maybe you should change your answers every time and see if anyone notices," she joked.

"Can you imagine how confused that would make the people who actually pay attention?"

Bailey and Bronson eventually got tired of sitting in their carriers and then grew weary of laying on the blanket so the quartet headed back inside the house to settle the little ones in for naps

By the time Melissa had returned with the warmed up bottles, Hayden had his hands full of fussy infants.  Holding them both against his chest, he bounced and swayed around the room talking softly to calm them but nothing seemed to work.

"Oh look," he cooed.  "Auntie Lissa has come to rescue Uncle Den.  She brings bottles of juicy nectar that will calm the ravaged tummies and let those little lungs rest until your Mommy and Daddy are back."

He looked adorable.  Yes, the babies were screaming, but he was calm and collected and as sexy as she could ever remember.  His love for kids showed and she imagined him holding the child they would have someday.

"Hey, I know we’re overachievers, but when we do this, can we start off with a single?"  He swayed her direction, talking over the screams.

Melissa exchanged a baby for a bottle and they sat together on the couch as Bailey and Bronson happily drank before dozing off to sleep.  More than once she caught Hayden marveling at Baileys tiny fingers or smoothing her wispy hair.

"Little Miracles," he whispered as they laid them into their carriers, sound asleep.  He took Melissa’s hand as they watched them breathe.  "When the dust settles from this launch, what do you say to a break?"

"A break?"

"Yeah.  No new movies, just us…time together without scheduling it into my Blackberry.  I know you’re struggling a little right now with Danny and the team.  I still don’t believe you should quit but maybe a rest is what we both need."

This was unexpected from him.  One movie always led to the next and it felt like so much had happened since the night she returned from a bad search, ready to quit.  It hadn’t crossed her mind since.  "I took on Danny.  His training is my responsibility.  I wouldn’t feel right handing him off.  I’m not sure anyone else would have him."

"I’m not talking about today," he continued softly, taking her other hand.  "Give yourself and your talent the benefit of the doubt.  Danny will come around and when he does, that’s when we’ll have that break."

"You’re willing to trust our potential time together on Danny?"

"No, but I am on you.  I know you will get through to him, make him see all the important parts he’s missing."

How could he have so much faith in her and not have it rub off?  "Time together huh?  Well, that is a pretty powerful motivator."

"…And if we end up with our own Bailey or Bronson…that’s a whole new adventure, right?"

The idea of kids wasn’t a new one, but it had always been a quiet thought they knew they shared but never spoke of.  She squeezed his hand and sighed.  "I like that plan.  I like it a lot."

"It will all work out," he encouraged, pulling her close.  "Now, come here and dance with me."

"Would music wake them up you think?"

"We don’t need the radio for music."  Holding her tightly to him, he swayed slowly and hummed a quiet tune in her ear – a song just for her.  She recognized the tune but couldn’t immediately place the lyrics.  Words didn’t matter, her mind and body were consumed with holding him and thinking of the future they were building together.  It’s what they had always wanted and what a beautiful picture it was turning out to be.