Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV program "SPACE: Above and Beyond" are the creations of Glen Morgan and James Wong, Fox Broadcasting and Hard Eight Productions, and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended. Dylan Mackenzie belongs to me. Rating: NC-17

Chapter 9. For the last few days of their cruise McQueen refused to let Dill out of his sight, and Dill outright refused to have any meals in the dining room, so they stayed in their cabin. The only time they left it was for his daily lesson in the art of fishing. During these sessions Valentine joined them while Isabella topped up her tan. Dill was forced to stay and give encouragement. She didn't mind though - she loved watching Ty so obviously enjoying himself, and it gave her the opportunity to catch up with her reading. "Remind me to book you some fly fishing lessons when we get home," she smiled as he stood studiously watching his fishing rod. "Fly fishing?" Valentine asked. "Best way to catch salmon," Dill told him. "There are salmon in the loch?" McQueen asked over his shoulder. "Oh, yes. Wild brown trout too. I'll ask our Ghillie, and he'll take you to the best places and make sure you really enjoy yourself," she smiled as his face lit up. "What's a Ghillie?" Valentine asked. "He's like a gamekeeper. He looks after the wildlife and organises the fishing on the estate. He takes the tourists out during the season, but he'd be delighted to take you out, Ty. He loves the boys, though Hamish always gives him grief by leaping into the loch whenever he takes them out with him. He's trying to persuade him that it frightens the fish, but you know Hamish - it's water. It's for swimming in," Dill laughed. "He takes the boys out?" Ty asked, turning to look at her. "Why haven't I heard about him before?" "I'm sure you have, Ty. Malcolm. You've must have heard me and mother discussing him?" she said, watching his face carefully. He'd gone very still and very quiet. "You're not jealous, are you?" "No," he said too quickly. "Yes, you are!" she cried. "You're jealous because Malcolm spends time with the boys when you're not there." "No, I'm not!" Ty told her, turning back to his fishing rod. "It sounds like it to me!" Valentine tittered. "I take it Hamish is one of your sons?" "I am not jealous!" McQueen scowled. "You are such a fibber!" Dill laughed, coming up behind him and hugging him, and slipping her hands under his tank top. "But you needn't be. The boys love you, not Malcolm. They know who their daddy is." "Yes, Hamish is one of the little guys," McQueen told Valentine, whilst fending off Dill's wandering hands. "Dill, will you stop it? I'm trying to catch us lunch here!" "You have three children, I believe you said," Valentine grinned, watching McQueen desperately fighting off Dill as her hands roamed over his body playfully. " You know, TC, you'd be better off ignoring her. You're only making it worse!" "I daren't ignore her," McQueen laughed. "God knows where her hands would roam!" "Oh, I know where they'd roam," Dill giggled, her hands slipping to his shorts as she winked playfully to Valentine. "Dylan McQueen, I'm warning you!" he gasped, as her fingers brushed lightly over his cock. "Stop that. Stop it right now!" Valentine sat laughing as he watched McQueen fighting to keep Dill's hands out of his shorts. Every time he got one hand secure the other would snake its way down his side to try again, and he would be struggling to grab at that hand too. The trouble was that both he and Dill were laughing so much that neither was really concentrating, and consequently neither was gaining control. Eventually McQueen had hold of both her hands. "Control yourself woman!" he chuckled. "People are watching!" "People? " Valentine asked, looking around. "There's only me, and I'm having a whale of a time." "Yeah, you would be," Ty chuckled. "Why don't you clear off and annoy that wife of yours?" "Well, excuse me!" Valentine snorted. "Now I'm mortally offended. I shall take myself away and lick my wounds!" He got up from his seat and flounced off. "Ty!" Dill cried. "That was uncalled for!" "I was joking, and he knows it," he told her. "Now come and give me a hug." Ty pulled her to him and kissed her. "I've been watching you two," Dill smiled. "You really like him, don't you?" McQueen nodded. "I don't know why, but yes, I do. He makes me laugh." "Something you definitely need to do more of," Dill sighed contentedly as he kissed her again. "Perhaps we should invite them to come and stay with us sometime." Ty held her out at arm's length. "Do you know how much I love you?" he asked her. "Yes, but tell me anyway," Dill giggled. "I loves you this much," Ty said in a perfect imitation of Hamish, whilst holding his arms as wide as he could. "And I loves you the whole wide world." Dill snuggled against his chest. "Then I loves you the whole universe!" he chuckled. "I loves you the…the…the whole huge everything including any other universes out there!" she giggled. "Beat that!" "Damn you woman, you always have to have the last word!" Ty smiled, wrapping his arms around her. "Are you two finished yet?" Valentine asked, reappearing around the corner. "I'm afraid my darling wife told me to clear off and leave her in peace. How romantic is that, I ask you?" "She spoke?" Dill asked. "Blimey, she's not said a word the whole time we've been on this floating prison ship!" "She signs," Valentine told her. "Her speech is a bit hard to understand until you get used to it, and she's not comfortable talking with people she doesn't know." "Prison ship? You'd better not let your mother hear you call it that," Ty smiled, releasing Dill as she sat herself back down in her chair. "Well, it is. Here we are supposedly having a second honeymoon, and it's been a disaster. Hell, our first non existent one was better!"" Dill griped. "And we're trapped with awful people, and no means of escape." "And now your good lady wife mortally wounds me, too!" Valentine cried, clutching his chest. "Cast aside as if I don't count!" "You've been the only bright spark of the whole trip," Dill smiled at him. "Now I'm mortally wounded!" McQueen chuckled. "I can think of some times this week that have been damn fine!" "Oh ho! You wouldn't be thinking of the show you put on for Thelma now, would you?" Valentine laughed. "From what she said it sounded like you enjoyed it, Dylan." He ducked to avoid the book she threw at him. "Ooh, careful, TC - you've got a tiger there! And from what I heard, Joseph found that out to his cost." "How do you know about that?" Dill asked. "It's a small yacht. The crew chatter, I listen," he told her. "They were well impressed that TC flung him overboard. Apparently he'd made a few moves on a couple of the female crew." "The man is a slimy scumbag. And what does his wife do about it? Nothing!" McQueen growled. "Dill wouldn't put up with that from me, would you, Dill?" "No, I damn well wouldn't," she said forcefully. "But then you wouldn't do it in the first place. You're not that sort of a man." "Isabella would eat me alive if I did that," Valentine chuckled. "She's already warned me that I'm getting too familiar with Dylan here, and that it might be misconstrued. I think she's afraid I'll be the next one hurtling into the ocean." "Oh, Ty saves that for the really creepy guys, don't you, Ty?" Dill smiled. "I don't think you're creepy at all. Just remember, though, don't try it on with me should you ever intend having kids one day. I've a vicious right knee!" "Oh, I have no intention, I assure you," Valentine smiled, holding his hands up as if to protect himself. "Not that you're not quite delightful, but I have my hands full with Izzy." "You call her Izzy?" McQueen grinned. "I've a dumpling at home called Izzy." "I wish you wouldn't call her that Ty - she'll get a complex." Dill frowned at him. "But she is. She's my chubby little dumpling," Ty grinned. "She's eight months old, Dill. How will she get a complex?" "What if the boys start calling her it? Then it'll stick and she'll be Dumpling even if she grows up a skinny ribs like you!" she told him. "Is she an Isabella too?" Valentine asked. "Isobel," McQueen told him, laughing at the expression on Dill's face. "Isobel Laura McQueen. Eight months old and the producer of more spooge than you ever saw in your life, eater of bugs, and mini whirlwind." "Ty, how can you say that about your own daughter!" Dill cried. "Because it's true," he told her. "I swear the boys never produced so much spooge!" "You weren't there for most of it," she smiled. "Hey, I do my bit when I'm home!" Ty said indignantly. "I can see it now," Valentine snorted. "The famous Colonel McQueen, the man who took on Chiggy Von Richthofen, defeated by a dirty diaper!" "I was not defeated! I put her in the bath," McQueen told them haughtily. "And she ended up with a bump the size of Everest!" Dill chuckled. "I'm never going to live that down, am I?" he smiled. "Nope, not never," she giggled. "Will Isabella and I be like this after we've been married a long time?" Valentine asked them. They both stood and stared at him. McQueen started to laugh and Dill shook her head. "We've only been married two years last May," she said. "Oh yes, so you said," Valentine grinned. "I forgot. Watching the two of you, it's like watching those two old guys in those old movies - you know, the fat one and the thin one." Dill prodded McQueen. "Come on - you're the expert on those old black and white films. You just better hope I'm not the fat one!" she aimed at Valentine. "Hey, I never claimed to be an expert!" McQueen told her. "But two guys… one fat, one thin… let me think." He sat down and pulled Dill onto his lap, while he thought about it. "There's two sets of guys like that I can think of," he finally announced. "Laurel and Hardy, in which case you're the bossy fat guy, Dill, and I'm the poor innocent stooge who does as he's told, or Abbott and Costello, in which case I'm the poor fat stooge who does as he's told, and you're the skinny miserable one." Both men burst out laughing at the expression on her face. "So I get to choose between bossy and fat or skinny and miserable!" Valentine buried his face in his hands. "I am so sorry I mentioned it!" he laughed. "But come on - you have three kids, you said. So far we've got Isobel and Hamish. Who's the third?" "That'd be Cameron, the worrier. Hamish is a good head taller and a lot more co-ordinated - a real tough little boy," McQueen told him proudly. "Whereas Cameron is the brains of the pair. His speech is much more advanced and he's the most like Ty emotionally. Hamish looks like him more than Cameron does, but really they both do - white blonde hair, big blue eyes and the patented McQueen glare!" Dill said, stroking Ty's hair. "I'll bet you were surprised to find you were having twins," Valentine said. "I was surprised to find I was pregnant!" Dill exclaimed. "Someone who shall remain nameless told me…" She trailed off, realising that Ty really wouldn't want his personal life revealed to all and sundry. "It's okay," he smiled at her, before turning to Valentine. "What my charmingly tactless wife was about to say was that I thought I couldn't have children. I was injured during the AI wars and told I'd never be a father, so it came as a shock to both of us to find that Dill was pregnant." "But a nice shock surely?" Valentine smiled. "Eventually," they said together, before bursting into laughter. "You have no idea," McQueen chuckled. "Let's just say that there was some friction." "I can imagine why, especially if you thought you couldn't have children," Valentine frowned. "That must have been pretty rough." Before either of them could speak, they were interrupted by a crewmember, "Mr. and Mrs. McQueen, Mr. Bertorelli, lunch will be served in approximately half an hour. Mr. McQueen, do you want it in your cabin again, or shall I fix you a table up here on the deck somewhere?" "Oh, up here would be lovely. Perhaps you could set it for four!" Dill cried. "And then you could join us, Valentine. You and Isabella." "Of course, ma'am," the crewman smiled, heading off to procure a table. The four of them - Dill, Ty, Valentine and Isabella - enjoyed a delicious lunch with much hilarity, making their final day a good one. After lunch Dill extended an invitation to the Bertorelli's to visit them in Scotland during Ty's next leave. "Of course we don't actually know when his next leave will be. I'm trying to get him to put in for leave now for Christmas, but as he won't get back to the 'Toga until… when?" she asked him. "November, if I'm lucky," he sighed heavily. "Well, you won't get leave at Christmas then," Dill groaned. "Never mind, one day. So probably next spring then. Perhaps you can try for the boys' birthday in May." "I'll try," Ty smiled. "I want my day out with the Ghillie. If you two manage to come visit, we can go together, Valentine." "And return victorious, laden with salmon and trout!" Valentine laughed. "What a way to spend a day - defeating our watery enemies and bringing them home for the womenfolk to cook!" "Sorry," Dill grinned at Isabella. "They seem to have become addicted to fishing." Isabella smiled back, nodding. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As Ty and Dill left the boat they were surprised to see Moira and the children waiting for them. Hamish and Cameron ran to McQueen, wrapping themselves around his legs and clammering to be picked up. Isobel sat placidly in her buggy until Dill unstrapped her and picked her up. Turning with Isobel in her arms, she saw that Ty'd picked up both boys and they were covering his face with wet, sloppy kisses. "Ty, you shouldn't pick them both up. You still need your cane," she told him. "How can I not pick up my boys?" he asked her, returning their kisses. "Especially when I've missed them both so much." "Missed us, daddy?" Hamish asked, another wet kiss finding its mark. "Oh, yes. So much, I had to cuddle mommy all the time," Ty told both boys seriously. "But mommy doesn't give lovely cuddles like you two do." "Did you miss Izzy, daddy?" Cameron asked. "And Cashus?" "Yes, I missed them too. I missed all you guys," he winked at Dill. "Even Gamma!" "Well, TC, I must say Dylan was right - they are both the living image of you. What a pair of cuties!" Valentine smiled, coming up to them. "And so cuddly too!" He looked around, seeing Isobel in Dill's arms. "And here's your Dumpling. You know, TC, you are a very lucky man - luckier than you realise." Val turned as Isabella pulled on his arm; their car was waiting for them. "Have to go now - Izzy's waiting." He turned and kissed Dill on the cheek. "Take care now, and I promise we'll be in touch. I'm damned if I'm going to miss out on fishing with a Ghillie!" With a wave, he climbed into the waiting car and was driven away. "Who's that Daddy?" Hamish asked, looking sternly in the direction of the vanishing car. "Kissed mummy!" "That's okay, little guy. That's daddy's friend Valentine," McQueen told him. "Daddy's friend?" "Yes, my man, daddy's friend," McQueen told him firmly. Dill smiled at the exchange. She knew that Ty didn't have that many people he called friends, but she suspected this friendship would last if she nurtured it properly. She turned to her mother. "Mother, why are you and the children here? You should have been home for days." "I found the house," Moira smiled. "We're taking you to view it, and if you like it, the paperwork is ready to sign. The house will be yours. We had to stay on so that I could push the agents as hard and fast as possible. It's perfect, Dylan, it really is. It has a pool as TC requested, a lovely garden with access to the riverfront, a huge family kitchen, an office for TC, and best of all, a wrap around porch." "It does sound perfect," Dill admitted. "But you really should have got Hamish away from Aerotech, mother." "Don't be so ungrateful, Dill," McQueen chided her gently. "Thank you, Moira. I'm sure it'll be just fine. Let's go see it, shall we?" He put the boys down and headed towards the car. The rest of the family followed, Dill and Moira carrying the luggage. ~~~~~~~~~~ Pulling up in front of the house, both Dill and McQueen were impressed. "Can we afford this, Mother?" Dill asked hopefully. "Yes," Moira told her in a 'don't argue about it' voice. Getting out, they were met by a young man. "Hello," he smiled. "I'm here as Ms. Wilkinson's replacement, as you asked." He held out his hand. McQueen's eyebrows raised, but he said nothing. After all, Amy lived in Pennsylvania now. He knew that. They followed the man around the house, Moira having stayed with the children in the garden. Dill clung to McQueen's hand, fairly bouncing with excitement as she looked around. "This is perfect, Ty," she whispered. "Just perfect. I really love this house." He squeezed her hand. "It's a lovely house, and I like the way the pool house roof rolls back to let in the natural sunlight." By the time they'd finished seeing the house it was a done deal. Both of them liked it, and they were ready to sign the paperwork. Moira and the children joined them as they sat at a table in the garden discussing the various papers that need signing. McQueen looked up from one sheet. "This says the agent is Amy Wilkinson?" he asked. "That's right. She did the original deal, but your mother in law requested that she not be in on the final sale," he was told. "It can't be the same one, Ty, surely?" Dill asked tentatively. "Well, she was around here when we came to visit Rhonda," he told her, remembering the disagreement that had occurred. "You said she lived in Pennsylvania," Dill reminded him. "That's right," the young man piped up. "The company transferred her back here when they needed someone who knew the area." McQueen paled. "We can't live in this house," he whispered. "That bad lady hurt my daddy," Cameron told the man conversationally. "Cashus knew." "What do you mean we can't buy this house?" Dill asked, though she already knew the answer. "She said we were brats, and mummy was a tiny mouse, and that Cashus was dirty and smelly," Cameron spoke into a stunned silence. "And she said Hamish told lies!" he added indignantly. "I'm sorry, Dill, but we're definitely not buying this house," McQueen growled. "She insults my children and my wife, and there's no way in hell I'm living anywhere near where she might be living." He got up, ready to leave. "McQueens don't tell lies!" Hamish announced. Moira was about to speak but Dill shushed her. "No, mother. If Ty says no, then that's it. It's a shame, but we'll work something out." She looked at her husband as he stood there, pale and trembling slightly. "Come on then - let's go pack the rest of our stuff and take our babies home." She got up, and taking his hand, led him from the house. Moira looked at the agent. "Well, it looks like your Ms. Wilkinson just lost herself a sale." She turned to the boys. "Come on boys, let's go home," and with Isobel in her arms, followed after Dill and Ty. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When they got home there was a message on the machine waiting for them, from the real estate agents. McQueen refused even to acknowledge it, taking himself off to their bedroom and slamming the door behind him. Moira checked it, frowning as she realised that they were desperately trying to persuade them to buy the house. "I think they really want to sell you that place, Dylan. Just think what a coup it would be for their company - the famous Colonel McQueen, buying a house from them!" She shook her head. "Go talk to him, see what he says." Dill looked at Moira and heaved a great sigh. Turning to the boys, she crouched down to speak to them. "I know you guys have missed daddy so much, but right now he needs for you to let him be for a while. Don't go up and disturb him, okay? When he's feeling better he'll come down and see you. Is that okay?" "Daddy sad?" Hamish asked, staring wistfully up the stairs. "Yes, darling, daddy's sad." Dill hugged him. "Are you going to make him happy mummy?" Cameron asked. "I'll try," she smiled at him. "Will you suck his penis? That makes him happy. You said it does." Dill hung her head, trying not to laugh. "Maybe, Cameron," she smiled. "Maybe. Now you boys go and play and I'll take daddy a nice cup of tea." "Okay mummy!" both boys said, heading out to the garden. Moira grinned at her. "You are never going to be allowed to forget that. Anytime TC says he feels sad, Cameron is going to say it!" "Maybe it's not such a bad idea," Dill smiled. "At least he'd relax, and maybe even talk to me." Moira shook her head, laughing. "Dylan McQueen, you take the cake. You really do!" "Mother, I learned how to be manipulative from the best!" Dill grinned back and made for the stairs. ~~~~~~~~~ Opening the door, she saw him curled up on the bed. "Ty?" she whispered. "Go away," he said quietly. "No, baby, I won't," she told him, going to sit on the bed, her hand reaching to stroke his back. "We're not buying that house," Ty said. "Do you hear me arguing about it?" Dill said softly, leaning to kiss his cheek. "But I'd appreciate it if you'd tell me why. I think I deserve to know that." "If we buy that house, she'll know where we live… where I live. I thought I was free of her, but I won't be. I'll be trapped again," he whispered. "Trapped?" "She'll know where I am. What if she turns up when you and the kids aren't here? When I'm alone?" he rolled onto his back and clutched at her hand, "I love you Dill. I can't deal with Amy too." "Oh sweetie," she stroked his forehead. "You loved Amy once. Are you frightened that she might want you to love her again?" He nodded, and she could see the fear in his eyes. "She hurt you badly, didn't she?" Again he nodded. "And now you think that because she knows you can have kids, she'll want to try again. Is that a close enough guess?" "Yes," Ty whispered. "And you're afraid, why? That you'll fall for her and leave me and the children? That you'll be tempted? That you'll sleep with her thinking I won't find out? That she'll persuade you to cheat on me?" He just lay and looked at her, tears glistening in his eyes. "Ty, you are stronger than that. You're not the doormat she married anymore. I trust you. You've told me that you want only me, and I believe you. You told me that you'd never do anything to hurt me or the children. I know you wouldn't. You asked if you could keep me forever, and I said yes. You married me. I know you'd never get into bed with Amy, but you obviously don't." "I wouldn't," he whispered. "Then why are we having this conversation?" Dill asked him, stroking his face. "It doesn't really matter, does it, whether Amy knows where we live. You're scared of the effect she has on you. Does she turn you on, Ty? Last time you saw her did you want her?" "No," Ty cried, turning his head away. "I don't want her! I want her to leave me alone! I jumped through enough hoops for her, and all it got me was a divorce! She'll do it again, only this time it'll be you divorcing me, taking my kids away, and I'm scared. I don't want to lose you." He turned back to face her, his hand scrubbing at his eyes. "I don't want to lose you, Dill." Dill hugged him, stroking his hair, soothing him. "You won't lose me baby, I promise. Amy won't break this family up. We love you too much to let you go. We need you, me and the children. And even mother, in her own way. We're a family, and Amy can't spoil that." "What if she tries?" he whispered. "Then you tell her no, just like you told that woman on the boat. You tell her to leave you alone, that you're not interested. If she persists, you come on home to Scotland, to where I'll be waiting with open arms and a warm bed. Or you go to the 'Toga, where Glen will be pleased to see you, even if he doesn't offer you a warm bed!" she smiled. "But this isn't now, Ty. This house is for after the war, and then I'll bring the kids and we'll live here, if you want. You'll come home everyday to your family. You'll sleep every night in the same bed as me, and every morning you'll see those three smiling faces at the breakfast table - those faces full of love for their daddy." "I will?" Ty whispered. "Yes, you will. And who knows, by then there might be four faces at the table. Or five!" she teased. "Good job it's a big house then," he smiled tentatively. "When is your next appointment with Hilary?" "Why?" "I think you two need to talk about Amy, to work out how you really feel about her," Dill told him. "You need to exorcise her." "The day after tomorrow. It's supposed to be on the net, but I'll phone and let her know I'm still here," Ty said. "Good boy. Now go wash your face and come see the children. Be warned - Cameron is convinced I've come up here to suck you off and make you happy, so he may well ask you if you're happy now." "And have you?" he asked, wiping his face on his sleeve. "Have I what? Come to give you a seeing to?" Dill grinned. "Do you want me to?" Ty shook his head. "No, not really. I think I'm still too shook up from finding out that it was Amy. Later." "Come on then - let's get you all washed up and we'll go see our babies." Dill stood up, and pulling him up from the bed, watched as Ty washed his face, before took him back downstairs to where the children were waiting for him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Previous : Part Eight Next : Part Ten Geek © 2005