The characters of Tracy Fairgate, Melissa Peterson and Claudia Collins belong to Karen Evans This story is a sequal of sorts to "Ice Queens" You may want to check that out first. Special thanks to Gabrielle Bessey and Marcia Richards "The Lord said to Abraham, Why did Sarah laugh and say, Shall I indeed bear a child now that I am old? Is anything too wonderful for the Lord?" Genesis 18. 13-14

Part Three For a month, Tracy didn't watch the news on TV or read any newspapers. When the telephone rang, Melissa answered, telling whoever was on the other end that Tracy had no comment about Claudia's assassination, and that she wasn't thinking of taking her seat back. Tracy's entire attention was on her daughter. She'd watch her for hours as she slept in her crib, a white, 21st century one; she breast fed her, she looked every day for small changes in her face. Tiffany's eyes were still blue, and Stephanie said they probably would stay blue, that caused Tracy to smile and say, "Just like her daddy's." Tracy took photographs of herself and the baby, and sent them to McQueen, she wrote letter to go along with the photographs. "Tiffany is a sweet baby, who does get up in the middle of the night and demand attention...kind of like a colonel I know?" One sunny day, Tracy was breast feeding Tiffany while Melissa sat in the window seat, reading a book, when a black stretch limousine, bearing the flag of the secretary general, and a white van with WRUS written on the side, stopped in front of her house. "What the hell is that?" said Melissa. "That looks like Diane Hayden's car." "What?" Tracy got up and looked out the window. "That's a fucking TV van!" The van opened up first, and three people exited. A tall man with long dark hair, carrying a digital camera, another man who carried a small computer, and a blonde woman wearing a peach suit. The driver of the limousine got out and held the door open for the passenger. Diane Hayden slowly exited the car, dressed in a blue suit the color of a robin's egg, in her hands was a large gift wrapped box. "What the fuck is she doing here," Tracy said, "with a goddamn camera crew...I don't want her here...fucking bitch..." she gave Tiffany to Melissa and stormed out the front door. As soon as she was outside, the blonde woman in the peach suit smiled. "Congresswoman," she said. Tracy held up her hand and walked over to Diane Hayden, who smiled at her. "Tracy," she held out her hand. Tracy sighed and shook it. "What's this about Madame Secretary?" "Tracy, I'm so sorry about this. I came here to see the baby and my secretary forgot to inform me that I was scheduled for this damn news show. One of those day in the life things...I just couldn't get out of it, and if I didn't get over to see the baby today...she'd be finishing college before I could meet her." "What a shame," Tracy said. "Look, I don't want her face on TV, please, I'm sure you can understand my feelings. You know how people feel about InVitros." Diane nodded. "We won't show her face, alright?" Tracy knew her only other option was to turn her back on this woman and slam the door, but she knew she might need Diane Hayden for something someday. "Okay, Diane, you win, I'll wash your hand, you wash mine." Diane patted Tracy's hand. "It'll be fine." Tracy shot Diane a disbelieving look, but nodded anyway. Diane Hayden was respectful of Tracy's wishes, the camera crew focused completely on her, and only showed Tracy from the side when she held the baby. Tracy looked at the camera crew and for a moment, remembered when she was the center of attention. "Let me hold her," Diane said. Tracy gave the Secretary General the baby, as Melissa stood in a corner, seething. "Oh, she's such an angel. How in the world could anyone be prejudiced against such an angel." 'Thanks for the speech, Diane,' Tracy thought. "And I have a gift for the little angel," she said, patting the box. "Why don't you open it, Tracy?" "Sure." Tracy opened the box and was astonished to see a collection of books on CD. The entire works of Shakespeare, Dickens, the Bronte sisters, James Baldwin and Anne Rice were some of the names. "Oh, my. Thank you Madame Secretary," Tracy was truly taken aback. "I've always enjoyed a good book. Reading really refreshes the soul," she said in her crisp, political voice. Hearing that tone made Tracy raise her head. She looked at the CD's, she looked at Diane and remembered Claudia. Tracy turned to the camera crew. "Do you mind, If I stole Madame Secretary away for a moment?" Diane turned to the crew and smiled. "It'll only take a second. We have a lot to talk about." Tracy gave the baby to Melissa who held her protectively. "Make sure they don't film her." She and Diane walked into Tracy's study, the room that served as her office when she was in congress. Once the door was closed, Diane turned to Tracy, the phony television smile was gone. "I guess this is about Claudia Collins." Tracy thought about offering the woman a seat, but decided against it, let her be uncomfortable. "You guess right." "When you align yourself with people who don't believe in freedom for all, things happen," Diane stated flatly. "Diane, you know damn well that Claudia didn't align herself with anyone. She didn't know anything about chemical weapons." "Is that what she told you?" Diane's face fiegned surprise. "Yes, that's what she told me." Tracy responded evenly. "And you believed her? Tracy I'm surprised at you. You're usually more savvy than that. She betrayed you, betrayed us. She was aligning herself with people who would make Colonel McQueen a slave, and you a criminal for having a child with him." "Claudia wasn't like that, she wasn't a bigot. I knew her. I wouldn't have picked her if I didn't trust her." "Well, maybe power got the best of her." "Yes, and I'm sure you know a lot about that, Madame Secretary." Tracy folded her arms across her chest. "Tracy, I am not your enemy. Why don't you see that?" Diane's campaign voice had turned on. "You could have told Claudia." "She knew exactly what she was doing, Tracy. Make no mistake, Claudia Collins was more of a political animal than you can imagine." Tracy just looked away. Diane smiled. "Which reminds me, Tracy, your seat is empty again. Would you like it back?" Tracy looked up, stunned. "What did you say?" "You heard me. Your seat is vacant, I asked if you'd like it back. Frankly, I can't imagine you playing mommy for the rest of your life, in about six months you'll be bored to tears. You don't have to make a decision now, there's time. But I would like it soon. You know, Tracy, if you're in congress again, you could make duty trips for the military, trips that would include the Saratoga." Tracy sighed, she knew Diane was right. In a few weeks, she'd be completely bored and insane. "I'll think about your offer, in fact I'll seriously consider it." Diane smiled nodded. "Now, let's get back out there, not good to keep a film crew waiting." "I'll really enjoy keeping an eye on you Madame," Tracy smiled as she opened the door for the Secretary General, who was not smiling. The 58th stood at attention as Colonel McQueen and Commodore Ross entered their quarters. "As you were," Ross said. McQueen looked around, wondering why the hell they wanted to see him now, when his eyes fell on the gift wrapped boxes in a corner of the room. "What's this for?" McQueen said. Shane Vansen stepped forward, she cleared her throat. "They're gifts for the baby, sir." McQueen looked at Ross, stunned. Ross smiled. "Colonel McQueen, after you take care of the military business, at Loxley, there will be plenty of time to make a trip to Alexandria...two days in fact." McQueen then realized that the entire trip to Loxley, on "military business" that Ross insisted he go on, was probably a ruse, for him to go to Alexandria and see his...family. "I see," he said. Just then, Cooper Hawkes, who had been standing in the background, shook his head. "Don't know why we're all looking so happy, he ain't coming back." With that, he stormed out of the room. Shane started to go after him, but McQueen grabbed her arm and shook his head. He left the room and took off after Cooper. "Hawkes!" McQueen shouted, when he caught sight of him. The younger man continued walking. McQueen had to run to catch up with him. When he did, she pushed him into a less traveled corridor and held him against the wall. "What the hell is wrong with you?" McQueen demanded, his face inches from Hawkes's "Why should you care, you're not coming back! "What?" "I said you're not coming back." McQueen released the young InVitro, stood back and stared at him. "What do you mean I'm not coming back?" Cooper looked down, at his feet, like a child being punished. "You're gonna go see them..and you're not gonna want to come back to us." McQueen stared at Cooper and wasn't quite sure what to say, since he wasn't sure what he felt at the moment. "I'm going to see my daughter for the first time, and then I'm getting on an ISSCV and I'm coming back here, to the Saratoga, and the 58th. I'm you're CO." "But they're your family." McQueen swallowed hard thinking about that. "And so are you and the rest of the 58th." Cooper shook his head, the explanation not being good enough for him. "It's not gonna be like it was before...Sometimes, I see you sitting in the tavern...and you're...just sitting there...thinking...I used to wonder what you thought about...now I know you'll be thinking about...them...they're your family now, Sir." McQueen moved closer to Hawkes. "You all are *still* my family. I had all of you before I ever met Tracy, or fathered a child. True, sometimes I will think of them, often...but that doesn't change anything. I can care for them and the 58th." Cooper nodded, but McQueen felt the young man was still concerned. "You know, Hawkes, the next time we get liberty on Earth, I'd like for you to come hom...with me to see Tiffany." "Me?" "Yeah, you'd be like a Godfather...an uncle..." "Godfather...you mean like in that movie?" McQueen smiled. "Something like that. Just in case something happens....to me...I'd like to know you'd be there for her." "You mean...like if you get killed or something...like I'd be her dad?" McQueen nodded. "Yeah...how do you feel about that?" "Well, if Tiffany doesn't mind..." "I don't think she'd mind at all." Cooper nodded, thoughtful. "Yeah...I've never been a godfather before...do I have to give her money or something?" McQueen put his hand on Cooper's shoulder, as they headed back to the 58th's quarters. "No, maybe when she's sixteen, but that's a long ways away." Cooper nodded. "Sixteen. I'll remember." Cooper stored that away deep in his memory. When they entered, the 58th's quarters, Cooper walked sheepishly back to stand next to Shane. McQueen looked at his marines, at Commodore Ross and at the gifts in the corner. "Thank you for those. I'm sure Tiffany will enjoy them," McQueen cleared his throat. "And for those of you who have concerns. I will be back, so don't slack up while I'm gone." The 58th looked at each other, then looked at McQueen. "Yes sir!" they said in unison. Ross took McQueen aside and spoke to him in a voice too low for the rest to hear. "You know Ty, I hope Tiffany likes her gift. I was going to buy a k-bar." "A k-bar, for Tiffany?" "No Ty, for you, when she starts dating." McQueen looked at Ross stunned. Dating? Jesus, the girl couldn't even walk yet. "Sir, Tiffany isn't going to start dating until she's twenty-one." McQueen had the same impassive expression he always held. Ross could barely contain his laughter, as he put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "Good idea, Ty." "Thank you Sir," McQueen responded. The taxi stopped in front of Tracy Fairgate's house. McQueen looked out the window at the house, the trees and flowers that surrounded it, and the quiet that filled the air. He sighed. "This is it," the driver, a bearded young man with a ponytail said. "Thank you." McQueen gave him more than enough money. "Keep the change." "Thanks Sir," he looked in the mirror, then his eyes widened. "Aren't you...McQueen...TC McQueen?" McQueen sighed, waiting for the questions, when will the war end, how did it feel sitting face to face with a Chig, or maybe even a patronizing lecture on InVitros. He slowly nodded. The driver got out, and before McQueen could open the door for himself, the driver held it open for him. McQueen got out and immediately felt the humid, Virginia air. Then the driver opened the trunk and took out McQueen's duffel and three, large shopping bags. "I'll take them to the door for you," he said. When he met McQueen's astonished gaze, he smiled, turned the back of his head to McQueen and lifted his ponytail, revealing his navel. "Us tanks got to stick together, sir." McQueen just nodded as the man carried the bags to Tracy's front door. "She's a nice lady, sir, some people in the newspapers call her tank lover, but I don't think it bothers her." "It doesn't," McQueen said. The young man shook McQueen's hand. "Damn, I might be shaking the hand of the first tank secretary general." McQueen smiled and almost blushed. "I doubt that." He shrugged. "Don't see why not." He saluted McQueen, walked down the front steps and got back into his cab. McQueen waved to him as he drove off. He sighed, turned to the front door and was about to ring the bell, when the door opened and McQueen found himself looking at Tracy. He was astonished at how beautiful she was, he'd almost forgotten. She wore a jacquard dress, with buttons down the front, it was tea rose and had an empire waist. "I thought you were going to talk to that cab driver all day," Tracy said. "Just a fellow InVitro," McQueen couldn't take his eyes off her. He put his hat on the table in the vestibule and put down his duffel and shopping bags, Tracy slammed the door and pulled him into passionate kiss that seemed to go on forever. Then McQueen slowly disengaged himself from her. "Where's Melissa?" McQueen said, eyeing the room with concern. Tracy smiled. "She's gone, just for a few days, staying with the family of a friend from the rehab. She said she'd feel uncomfortable with you here, considering she once tried to kill you. Mel's a lot better, she's very vocal about expressing her feelings. She has a feeling, she lets you know." McQueen smiled and pulled Tracy to him again, but she pulled herself out of his arms. "Someone wants to meet you. Wait right there." Tracy walked into the living room. McQueen took off his jacket, loosened his tie and looked around the house. One thing he liked about Tracy's house was that she didn't have much furniture, so the house was airy, comfortable. "Can you believe," Tracy said when she was out of sight, "that Diane Hayden offered Melissa a job, working for the American ambassador?" McQueen frowned and sat down in the living room. "Did she take it?" "Not yet...maybe the ambassador will end up dead too..." McQueen was about to ask Tracy what she meant by that when she came into the room, holding Tiffany in her arms. McQueen rose as she approached. He looked at the baby, healthy and round at three months old. Tiffany was awake, her blue eyes looked into McQueen's. "My God," McQueen said silently. "Why don't you hold her?" Tracy said. McQueen stared at her, and Tracy realized he didn't know how, so she showed him, Tiffany's head rested on McQueen's right arm and he felt a rush so strong, it nearly knocked him off his feet. "Tiffany, this is your daddy." Tiffany tried to hold her head up to look at this strange man who cradled her gently. "See, you're doing it right. Let me get you a bottle so you can feed her." Tracy walked into the kitchen while McQueen sat down with his daughter. "Hello Tiffany," he said tenderly stroking her soft cheek with his fingers, it was hard to believe that this tiny girl was his daughter, and that someday she'd be an adult. To McQueen, she looked like a little doll. When Tracy walked back into the room, she stopped, seeing him hold the baby so gently. McQueen looked at her, then cleared his throat. "I thought you were breast feeding." "I am. There's this wonderful invention, Ty, it's called a breast pump. I pump my milk into the bottles. That's what Tiffany's going to have when I'm back in session." She put the bottle in McQueen's left hand, then helped him put it in Tiffany's mouth, she immediately began to suck. "So, you're going back." "Yes, I am. Are you surprised?" "No, not after I saw that little piece on the news, with you, the Secretary General and Tiffany..." His voice showed only a hint of anger. "Ty, what was I supposed to do, slam the door in her face? I know you don't trust her, and neither do I, but let's face it Ty, she's the leader of the world and it's nice to stay on her good side...at least until someone else takes her place." "I would have paid money to see you slam the door in her face. I wonder what she knows about Claudia's murder." Tracy smiled. "At least this time, it wasn't an InVitro." McQueen fed Tiffany until the milk started coming out her mouth. Tracy showed him how to put her on his shoulder, and burp her. When Tiffany burped, quite loud, Tracy smiled. "You're quite good at that, Ty." "Well, I am a Marine," he smiled. Tiffany fell asleep in her father's arms. Tracy put her in the mobile crib and wheeled her into the study, where the presents were. "I don't want to let her out of my sight for a second," Tracy said, "well...she does sleep in her room at night." McQueen looked at the baby as she slept. "If I was here, I wouldn't let her out of my sight either." They opened the gifts. Nathan and Shane gave books and records on CD, Vanessa and Paul gave little dresses and ribbons for Tiffany's hair, Commodore Ross gave a large teddy bear and Cooper gave a toy laser gun. "A laser gun? Well, at least he doesn't believe in gender appropriate toys." Then, Tracy's eyes fell on another large teddy bear, this one was white and wore a Marine pilot's flight suit, the name "McQueen" was sewn onto the suit, and Tracy laughed. "And I bet this is from you, Ty." McQueen nodded. "I thought it was appropriate," his face was serious. Tracy laughed, then jumped into his lap and filled his face with kisses. McQueen put his arms around her waist and drew her close into a kiss, then he looked and her and shook his head. "Not in front of the baby," he winked. Tracy looked over at Tiffany and nodded. "You're right. She wakes up she'll need therapy for years." Tracy created a meal of fried chicken, fried chicken, collard greens, biscuits, corn on the cob and candied yams. She confessed that the maid of one of her neighbors helped her with the food. "How much?" McQueen asked. "Enough not to burn the house down." They sat in the dining room, Tiffany close by, and ate dinner. Tracy said how excited she was to be going back to work, McQueen talked about the war, they were making advances against the Chigs. "Maybe we can end this thing," he said, face a blank. "I'd sure like to," he looked over at Tiffany. McQueen talked about the 58th, how each of them reacted to the baby. "Cooper was the most worried. He was afraid I wouldn't come back. I told him the next time we get liberty, he could come here to meet Tiffany himself." "Cooper's sweet, kind of like a big kid himself. So, he's afraid you won't come back, huh?" McQueen nodded as he chomped on a chicken leg. He met Tracy's eyes and knew what she was thinking. Did he want to come back? McQueen quickly changed the subject to politicians. "Sometimes I feel that the military's doing their dirty work for them, and when this war is over, they'll take credit." "Well, I won't take credit," Tracy said. McQueen looked up at her, his face serious. "You're just one person." "Well, one person can make a difference, Ty. In congress I can be effective, but not as effective as I could be if I was ambassador." McQueen smiled. "Maybe Melissa can offer you some pointers." Tracy put her elbows on the table and looked at McQueen. "I think the Secretary General would like to keep tabs on me, I'm her pet, I'm a government official who's had a baby with an InVitro, and she would love to get her hands on the InVitro population, their loyalty would give her power for a long time." He smiled. "You've really thought about that. That's why you're a politican and I'm just a soldier." "Not just, Ty. You're a warrior, sometimes, you underestimate yourself. People could really respond to you." Tracy reached across the table the took his hand. McQueen shook his head, it was the same old argument. "You're not going to make a politican out of me." "Can't kill me for trying." After dinner, they cleared the table and put the dishes in the washer. Tiffany started to stir, a sign that she wanted to be in her own bed. McQueen and Tracy took her upstairs, and he looked at the white crib with the mobile of planets over her head. "The secretary general's present?" Tracy shook her head. "It's in the basement. After Claudia was killed, I thought it clashed with the room." After they went downstairs to the living room, where Tracy produced a chilled bottle of champange. They turned off the lights, except for a low night light and sat on the sofa. They kissed passionately on the sofa, making love to each other's mouths with lips, tongues, teeth. McQueen felt Tracy's breasts underneath her dress and she put her hands between his legs and felt his growing arousal, she took her other hand and rubbed his navel. McQueen pulled Tracy close to him and kissed her neck. Then their eyes met. "Why the hell did we come down here?" he said. "So you could carry me up the stairs." McQueen smiled, almost laughed, and stood up quickly. "Remember the leg," he said. Tracy stood up and expected him to pick her up in his arms, instead, he grabbed her up and threw her over his shoulder. "Ty! Ty...this isn't romantic..." "You said you wanted me to carry you," he said, leaving the room and heading for the stairs. "you didn't say how." McQueen feigned hardship as he carried Tracy up the steps. "Come on, I didn't gain *that* much weight," she protested. He kicked the door open to Tracy's bedroom, and put her down on her feet. Tracy turned the lights down and faced McQueen, looking him up and down. "You're beautiful," she said. "You are too. I don't care how much weight you've gained." She smiled sheepishly as she started to undress, he did the same and moved closer to her, kissing every inch of exposed flesh she revealed; Tracy did the same for him. When she felt his penis, she saw he was more aroused than he'd been downstairs. He pulled her hips closer to him and rubbed his hardness against her. "This is what you do to me," he said in a soft voice. Naked, they stood before each other. Tracy had been concerned, since she'd gained twenty-five pounds, but McQueen only saw how beautiful she was, and that she was the mother of his child. He took her hand and they lay beside each other in bed. Tracy pulled the sheer curtains down around the bed so they were in their own little world, where there were no Chigs, no war, no racism. Tracy pushed McQueen on his back and straddled him. She kissed his lips and then started her tongue's journey, caressing his bare skin, as she stroked his familiar scars with her fingertips. McQueen gasped, at the softness of her skin. She played with his chest hairs, he caressed her breasts, then licked the nipples with his tongue. "I want some of that mother's milk," he said. Tracy smiled and continued her journey, down to his flat, smooth stomach, licking, caressing his testicles, he groaned and squeezed Tracy's nipples, until they were rock hard. She took one hand and caressed his scrotum, causing him to groan loudly and arch off the bed, and her tongue moved to the slit of his penis. Suddenly, McQueen remembered something, he raised his head up suddenly. "Tracy...Tracy...no...wait..." She looked up, confused. "What? What's wrong Ty...you usually like this..." "Um..." he propped himself up on his elbows. "Tracy...I...you don't have to...." "Ty, I want to...what's wrong..." she'd heard that some men didn't want to make love to their women once they had their children. Damn, she hoped this wasn't what was happening to McQueen, they didn't have time for therapy. "When you were in labor...um...you said...something...about...um...biting something off..." "I said what?" "You wanted to bite off a part of my body..." he gestured to his penis. "Ty, I don't even remember what I said. You think I'd do that?" "You looked pretty serious." "Ty, it's like....um...when...you...you know...come...you're like...insane for that moment...well, that's how labor is...I'd never do anything like that to you...unless that's what you wanted..." "No...no thank you." Tracy winked at him and got back to what she was doing. She took his penis and ran it along her front teeth. "Tracy..." McQueen said... "It's okay baby...okay..." Tracy again caressed McQueen's scrotum, and caressed and licked his testicles. She kissed his penis before she took him into her mouth and sucked hard. "Oh....God...." McQueen said. Tracy started to suck rhythmically, one hand moved up and down his shaft, the other caressed his testicles, first one, then the other, then moved to caress his scrotum. McQueen arched his back and began to thrust in and out of Tracy's mouth. "Oh...Tracy...oh...God...Tracy..." he groaned, then moved his head to the side in an attempt to muffle a louder cry. Tracy started to suck deeper, taking most of his penis into her mouth as she could. McQueen grabbed Tracy by the shoulder and thrust harder and much faster into her mouth. His eyes squeezed shut, his nails dug into Tracy's shoulder. Ahhhh...Tracy..." McQueen arched his back, his hips thrust wildly, desperately and then he shuddered as his semen poured into Tracy's mouth. Tracy managed to swallow every last bit of him, without choking or gagging. When he raised her head to look at him, he smiled and shook his head. "I didn't mean to..so fast..." He was panting, fighting for breath. Tracy wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. "It's okay Ty...it's just been too damn long." "Yeah..it has. Come here." Tracy lay next to him, he put his arms around her and pulled her close. "You and Tiffany are beautiful. Thank you, thank you so much for her." Tracy raised herself on one elbow. "Thank you? What are you thanking me for? I didn't have Tiffany for just you, you know. I like the idea of being a mother. I like being in congress too, I'll just have to do both." "If anyone can, you can." "I can do anything, huh?" "Almost." "Except end this goddamn war." Tracy smiled. For awhile they lay, side by side, looking at each other. Then she started to caress his nipples with her fingers, then she used her tongue, sucking them like a baby. She reached back and to caressed his navel. McQueen groaned and shuddered. "Don't you get enough?" he said in mock seriousness. "No." "Me neither." He pulled her close, this time moving to her neck and earlobes, where he sucked and licked them fiercely. This time it was Tracy who groaned in pleasure. She reached down and felt that McQueen was once again aroused. Tracy smiled and straddled McQueen, stroking his shaft with her hand. He watched her as she guided him into her. They continued to watch each other eyes on eyes as their slow, steady rhythm began. McQueen caressed Tracy's breasts as she caressed his naval, causing the rhythm to increase. There were no more words, only gasps, moans, grunts of delight and pleasure. Twice McQueen tried to slow down the pace, but could only do so for a few seconds, before it accelerated again. McQueen pumped wildly and gripped Tracy's buttocks firmly as she rode him, their movements intense, furious. Finally McQueen grabbed Tracy viciously and slammed her down on him and he came violently, his release exploding into her. The shudders that came from McQueen and the semen spurting into her body caused Tracy to climax as well, and she fell against his chest. When they recovered themselves, they pulled the sheet over their damp bodies and held each other in the darkness. "I could stay here forever," he whispered. "Say the word, it can be arranged." McQueen closed his eyes and imagined, for a moment, taking a Washington position, and living there, with Tracy and Tiffany. The thought warmed him as he fell into a peaceful sleep. Next : Part Four Previous : Part Two Karen Evans © 9/9/96