Stacey's pov

It's been about two months now since Mike found out I was on birth control and Sean and I were having sex. He grounded me for four weeks and gave me five strokes of his belt every night as a bedtime spanking. He took my phone, drove me to and from school and basically never let me out of his sight. It was really hard at first being cut off from Sean but we still managed to speak to each other when I could get ahold of someone else's phone and five minutes of privacy. It wasn't much and it wasn't often, which definitely put a strain on our relationship.

Thanks to Shane's persuasion, once my grounding was lifted, Mike allowed Sean to come to the NJC to see me. Once he arrived, Dr. Curtis took him into his office with Mike so the three of them could have a private chat. Neither Sean nor Mike would tell me what was said in there and I didn't dare ask Dr. Curtis. All I know is Sean and I were no longer hot and heavy after that. In fact, Sean seemed afraid to touch me.

We slowly started to drift apart after that day. We didn't officially break-up until three weeks later but things were never the same. I guess I started to realize that Sean and I really didn't have that much in common, aside from our physical attraction to each other, and besides we were at totally different points in our lives. Those two things, in combination with Sean's newfound lackluster sex drive, eventually put the proverbial nail in the coffin. Well that and the fact that I didn't want to go away to college tied down to a boyfriend back home.

Sean and I weren't the only ones suffering from a strained relationship during these past two months. I don't know exactly what happened between my cousin and Mike 'cause neither one was very forthcoming but I do know that at first Julie did everything in her power to avoid being anywhere near him. Not a great game plan considering that was virtually impossible.

Julie did manage though to take full advantage of Mike's guilty conscience for supposedly punishing her unfairly and failing to comfort her afterwards. Even though Mike apologized to her multiple times, she continued to give him a hard time by withholding her forgiveness and flouting his authority.

Shane finally got tired of running interference between them and that's all it took for things to go back to normal. One night, Shane refused to mediate when Julie ignored Mike's edict to finish her homework before she would be allowed to do anything else. Instead of listening to Mike and following his directions, she chose to watch a couple episodes of Supernatural before straightening up her portion of our room.

Julie argued she was cleaning our room so Mike shouldn't punish her and Mike argued she watched tv first and disobeyed him by not doing her homework. Anyway, tired of the two of them bickering and sniping at each other for the past month, Shane essentially locked the two of them in his room until they came to an understanding. Before slamming his door, I heard him yell, "You spank her (presumably directed at Mike), you apologize (presumably directed at Julie), then the two of you hug and make up or I'm going to drag you both down to Neil's office and let him sort the two of you out!"

Needless to say, they worked things out. Once Shane threatened to get Dr. Curtis involved, Mike and Julie shaped up right quick. That was a few weeks ago, so since my drama with Sean is in the past and Julie's drama with Mike is over, things have been pretty calm and peaceful here as my sisters and I, along with Mike and Shane, start looking forward to our highschool graduation.

Mike's pov

"Can you believe our girls are graduating highschool this year, Shane?"

"It seems like just yesterday we were buying their first grade school supplies," Shane says reminiscently.

"The years have gone by quickly, haven't they? We've been through a lot from kindergarten through highschool. You did a great job raising them, Admiral."

"Don't you mean WE did a great job, doctor?"

"I see so much of your influence in each of them, like Julie's ability to get the other three to bend to her will without them having a clue."

"I don't do that," Shane says somewhat defensively.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I must have been confusing you with the other non-existent man who became the youngest ever at twenty-three to earn the rank of Admiral in the British Navy. Yeah, she doesn't get her commanding leadership skills from you," I say laughing, as I pat Shane on the back.

"Okay," Shane relents, "but you have to admit Julie's stubbornness and dry biting sense of humour is all you."

"Maybe, but how about Lisa's obsessive compulsive need to arrange her books alphabetically and her clothes by color."

"Well, that's just good life organizational skills." Shane tries to justify the nitpicky tendencies he and Lisa share. "The people pleaser, diplomat, and pacifist is your side."

"Okay, what about Carrie's glass is half full outlook on life?" Mike questions.

"Alright, I'll grant you that one. We know she didn't get that from your sarcastic, cynical ass," Shane says, with a wink and a smile. "She does have your love of tranquil solitude and the outdoors though."

"You definitely have to admit, Stacey gets her tenacity and refusal to ever admit she's wrong from you though, Shane," Mike states adamantly.

"I can admit when I'm wrong, the occasion just hasn't occurred yet," Shane refutes rather unconvincingly, as he avoids eye contact, looking at the floor. "Her competitive spirit and athletic ability is definitely from you."

"They're all really amazing young women thanks to you, Shane. I honestly couldn't have done it without you." Feeling very emotional, I pull Shane into a tight bro hug.

"You've taught me so much about what it means to be a father, Mike. The sacrifice, the love, the devotion, the dedication, the discipline, and the blood, sweat, and tears. Mike, you've done it all. Those four girls are truly blessed to have you in their lives."

"No, I'm the lucky one, Shane. I thank God everyday for granting me the privilege of knowing and loving them and for that reason, I want to do something really special for their graduation."

"What did you have in mind?"

"How about a Caribbean cruise?"

"Well, I'm sure we'd have a great time, Mike, but don't you think the girls would miss us?"

"Very funny, I meant the six of us would go on a trip together to celebrate this milestone in the girls' lives."

"I think it's a great idea, Mike. I can be packed in ten minutes."

"Well, I'll need a little more time than that to make all the arrangements but I'm glad you're on board."

"Good, that'll give me enough time to stock up on Hawaiian shirts and work on my tan," Shane says laughing.

"Okay, you do that and I'll start the process of applying for their passports."

"Sounds like a plan. The girls will be so excited. Oh, can we please keep it a surprise until graduation day, Mike?" Shane's as excited as a little kid on Christmas morning.

"Absolutely."

"Great, Mike, let me know what I can do to help, but right now I have to run. I have a three o'clock meeting so I'll see you later."

After saying goodbye to Shane, I start making preparations for the cruise. First, I need to get ahold of the girls' files. I head over to the Foundation to see if Neil's assistant Liz can help me locate them.

At the Foundation

Mike's pov

"Good afternoon, Liz."

"Hello, Dr. Horton."

"Please, call me Mike." For the past eleven years, we've gone through this exchange every time I see her.

"If you insist. What can I do for you, Mike?"

"Well, I was hoping you could get the girls' files for me, including the court papers legalizing our guardianship, their parents death certificates, and any other paperwork I'll need to apply for the girls' passports."

Liz turns white as a ghost upon hearing my request.

"Um, I don't know Dr. Horton, I mean, Mike, if we have complete files for all the girls. They would be in the records storage facility on the other side of town. Um, that would require a written request and several days' notice to access those files."

Why is Liz so flustered by my request? She's usually so poised and professional.

"Okaaaay. Can we at least please start the process?"

"First, we need Dr. Curtis's permission and a signed order to access the facility, but he's not here right now. "

"Liz darling, did you remember to reschedule my two o'clock with Mr. Simms tomorrow?" Dr. Curtis's voice comes over the intercom loud and clear.

Liz looks extremely panicked right now, having been caught in a lie.

"Uhh, yes, sweetheart, I rescheduled him for 11am Friday."

"I thought you said he wasn't here, Liz. What's going on? Why are you being so evasive?" I'm getting annoyed at this point. "What aren't you telling me? Is Neil upset with me? Is that why you don't want me to see him?"

"Yes, Michael, he's very upset with you right now so please go and I'll ask him later about your request. Okay?"

She quickly ushers me away from his office. I know she's lying, but the question is why.

Dr. Neil Curtis's pov

My beautiful wife and assistant Liz rushes into my office, completely out of sorts.

"Neil, he wants the records. What are we going to do?"

She's talking a mile a minute.

"Sweetheart, take a breath and relax," I say in a reassuring voice, while holding her at arm's length.

She takes a couple calming breaths. "That's better. Now, what are you talking about? Who wants what records?"

"Dr. Horton. He wants the girls' files so he can apply for their passports." She's panicking.

"Honey, calm down." I rub her arm and shoulder, trying to soothe her. "Liz, it's going to be okay. We knew this day would come eventually. Just stall him for a few days then give him what he wants."

"Don't you think he's going to be upset? Why aren't you more concerned?"

"I'll handle Mike, just leave him to me."

Twelve days later

Mike's pov

After eight phone calls and four more visits to Liz, I finally have the green light to get the girls' files out of the storage facility. I spend the forty-five minute drive there trying to figure out why Liz was making it so difficult for me, but I still have no idea what possibly motivated her bizarre behavior.

Fortunately, everything proceeds smoothly once I get to the storage facility. I retrieve each of their files and drive back to the Center, excited to complete the next step in making this trip a reality. After arriving at the Center, I open the files and lay everything out on my desk so I can start organizing the paperwork I'll need for their passport applications.

I have each of their parents' death certificates and the court papers finalizing my guardianship and Shane's. Neil even has each of their birth certificates in their files. As I'm reading through everything, I see something that stops my heart.