Part Two

20 October 2065
Loxley, Alabama
Powell Hospital

Delia stood next to the head of Karen's bed and urged her on. "Come on Karen, push...push."

Karen was tired--14 hours of labor and she was ready to give it all up. "I am pushing, damnit!! Just because you were in labor for two hours doesn't mean you know what I'm feeling. Leave me the hell alone!" She bore down with another push. "If I ever get my hands on Ty again, I'm going to tie a knot in it..."

Delia stroked Karen's head. "I was in labor for 20 hours with Jackson, so yes, I do know how you feel."

Karen held on to Delia's hand and pressed it to her cheek. "I'm sorry, I just never realized it was going to be this hard."

Delia smiled. "It'll be worth it though."

Jake spoke calmly, hoping to ease the tension. "Just a few more, Karen. Then it'll be over."

Delia looked into the mirror down at Karen's feet. "Come on...push, Karen, I can see the head!"

Karen groaned as she bore down. "The head? That's it! I'm outta here."

Jake caught Joshua as he slid out and carefully placed him on Karen's belly. Looking at Delia, he asked, "Do you want to cut the cord?" Delia looked into the video camera, then carefully cut the cord. The nurse picked the baby up and took him over for his tests and to get cleaned up. Delia came back up to the head of the bed and kissed Karen on the forehead.

"I'm proud of you."

Karen leaned back against the bed, so tired she could barely move. Looking into the camera, she had a beautiful smile on her face.

Then the nurse handed the baby to Delia, who smiled down at him as she handed him to Karen. Karen leaned the baby against her chest and looked toward the camera. "Ty, I'd like to introduce you to Joshua, your son."

Carefully, Delia and Karen sealed the video tapes into a secure envelope and handed them to the young lieutenant who was being sent to the Saratoga.

Delia smiled at him. "Thanks, Mike. I really appreciate this."

Lt. Michael Crenshaw blushed when she smiled at him, taking the envelope and carefully tucking into his duffel. "No problem, ma'am. You've done so much for me and my family, it's the least I can do."

When the new recruit showed up at his door, McQueen wondered what was going on. Almost stuttering, Lt. Crenshaw handed him the envelope and practically ran down the hall. Opening it, he emptied the videotapes into his hand. Each one had a name and a date, and he noticed the dates were the same as the days his sons were born.

He would never forget the day he found out about Glen. He'd been staring at star maps, noting the latest positions of Chig squadrons when Ross' hand appeared beside him bearing the yellow telex paper. McQueen looked at him questioningly, then unfolded the paper.

Congratulations, Dad...stop...Boy, 8 pounds, 2 ounces...stop...20 inches...stop...Glen James...stop...all well...stop...love, Delia


He'd carefully folded the paper back and tucked it into his pocket. McQueen went back to noting enemy positions, but Ross noticed that his hand trembled and his eyes were bright.

One week later, McQueen was sitting at the bar in Tun Tavern when Cooper walked through the double doors and headed straight for him. He stood next to McQueen's stool and slid the yellow paper over to him. McQueen opened it and grinned.

Finally...stop...Joshua Caleb...stop...7 pounds, 9 ounces...stop...19 inches...stop...everyone's fine...stop...Karen

Cooper stood there. "Well?!?!?!?"

"Joshua." was the only word McQueen spoke before he got off the stool and headed for his quarters.

Lying on his bunk, he popped the CD into the player and listened his son's heartbeats.

He headed for Ross' quarters. Knocking, he told Ross who he was before Ross asked him to come in.

"Sir, I was wondering if I could ask a personal favor."

Ross was a little stunned. "Sure, Ty, ask away."

"I was wondering if I could use your vidplayer. I got some tapes from Delia and Karen and I would rather not play them in the rec room."

"Sure, Ty. I'll leave you with it."

"Thank you, sir."

Leaving McQueen at his desk, Ross walked out, having an inkling of just what was on those tapes.

When he returned two hours later, he found McQueen sitting there, carefully stroking the tapes and staring out the porthole at the stars that surrounded them.

Walking over, he put his hand on McQueen's shoulder and saw the amazement in his eyes when McQueen gazed up at him. "You saw them born, huh?"

McQueen nodded, unable to speak.

"I understand, Ty. Nothing tugs at your heart more than seeing your child born. Just wait until you hold them...everything that ever mattered before in your life will change when they look up at you with unconditional love."

"Thank you, sir, for the use of your vidplayer."

"Anytime, Ty, anytime."

McQueen stared out at the stars, trying to imagine what kind of lives both his boys would have with a "tank" father. He worried about the prejudice they would face, whether they would all be strong enough to survive. Then he remembered what Delia had told him when they started seeing each other--that 100 years ago they would've faced the prejudice both Delia's and Karen's ancestors faced. Their ancestors survived...so would *his* sons.

He also wondered if they'd be teased when they get older, that they had the same father, but two different mothers. Shaking his head, he reminded himself that he never thought he would be given the chance to be a father and should be thankful. McQueen was not ashamed of fathering two children by two different women--maybe that had something to do with being an in-vitro, never having a family, no one to teach him social morals. McQueen didn't know nor did he really care...he loved both Delia and Karen and couldn't be happier that they were both part of his life.

12 January 2066
Loxley, Alabama

It had been a long time since they'd set foot on Earth. When McQueen had returned to the Saratoga, the winds of war were beginning to turn, and the Earth forces were striking back with a vengeance. The discovery of more Sewell fuel had created new weapons that were used to rain deadly strikes on Chig bases. Asking for peace talks had set everyone on edge, but they quickly realized that the Chigs were dying off quickly and that they didn't have a choice or many bargaining chips.

The Earth forces were wary, but lenient--too lenient for some. A peace accord was finally signed and the remaining troops prepared to return home to a world they didn't think would ever see again.

McQueen sat on the ISSCV and waited as the doors opened, letting some of the troops get off before he made his way to the door. He hadn't told Delia and Karen exactly when he'd be coming in, he wasn't sure if he wanted a public welcome from the two women in his life. Standing on the tarmac, he saw Kylen rush into Nathan's arms and the rest of Nathan's family surround them...watched as Paul and Vanessa turned to each other and collapsed into the other's arms before being swallowed by the combined crowd of their families...smiled as Shane's family surrounded her with hugs and laughter. Seeing Cooper standing aside, watching the family reunions, he motioned to him.

"I'm heading to Delia's. Do you want to come along?" McQueen could see the relief in Cooper's eyes as he nodded.

Seeing them walk off, Shane called to them. "When will we see you guys?"

"How about 1900 hours at the O Club?" McQueen hailed a taxi and he made the suggestion.

They all agreed and headed off in separate directions.

The street was quiet as the taxi dropped them off in front of the house. Cooper looked around. "Is this what it's supposed to look like?" McQueen looked at him with questioning eyes. Cooper looked back at him, "You know...home."

"I guess so."

As they walked towards the steps, they heard the screen door slam. McQueen looked up to see Delia standing on the porch. Before he could say a word, she was flying down the steps and leaping into his arms. "I can't believe it, I can't believe you're here." She was laughing and crying as she hugged him tight and pressed kisses all over his face. McQueen just held her, burying his face in her neck. Letting her go, she stepped back and looked at Cooper. Impulsively, she wrapped him in a hug. "Welcome home, Cooper." He hugged her back, enjoying the warmth. Grabbing their hands, she pulled them into the house.

"Go into the living room, I'll be right back."

Cooper stopped in the hallway, drawn to the pictures on the wall. He saw Delia, a man he didn't know, Jackson, McQueen, all of the 58th, Karen, and babies. Reaching out, he touched one of the pictures. Hearing footsteps, he turned to find Delia in the living room, standing in front of McQueen with Glen in her arms. Cooper saw McQueen reach out a finger to Glen, then watched as Glen took it in his tiny hand and a big grin light up his face. When Cooper looked at McQueen, he knew that he would never be the same again. Delia handed Glen to McQueen, then walked toward the kitchen, giving the two of them a chance to really say hello.

Seeing Cooper, she motioned for him to join her as she went to get some drinks for them. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Digging out sandwich stuff, she made him a sandwich and watched while he devoured it. "Do you know when Jackson will be home?"

"No, ma'am. The Colonel would, though. They didn't want to just send everyone home at once."

In the living room, McQueen carried Glen closer to the window to get a better look at him. Reaching up, he ran his hand over the soft curls on Glen's head, then stroked the baby's soft cheeks that were the same color as his mother. One tiny hand stretched up, placing it against McQueen's mouth. Without hesitation, McQueen kissed the tiny palm that firmly held his heart.

As the four of them sat down to dinner, McQueen noticed the empty high chair and larger chair. "Where's Karen?" he asked.

"She went out with her sisters, she'll be back later, I hope she's in a good mood though," Delia turned to Cooper. "She hates her sisters. They're triplets...but I see why Karen doesn't want anything to do with them."

"Her own sisters?" Cooper said.

"You haven't met them." Delia said, "Thank God they're not mine."

Glen fell asleep soon after dinner and Cooper left to go meet up with the rest of the Wildcards after thanking Delia for the wonderful meal.

"You're welcome in this house any time," she said.

"Thanks, ma'am."

Delia smiled sadly. She knew the young In-vitro was a "lifer" as was McQueen. Both of them, waiting for the next war. Delia yawned and said she was going to bed--she wasn't sure where Ty was going to spend the night, and, because she was afraid of the answer, she didn't ask.

"I think I'll stay here...wait for Karen and Joshua."

Delia kissed him lightly on the lips, patted him on the shoulder, and went upstairs, while Ty sat on the porch, heated now because of the winter. He looked up at the stars in the sky and remembered what a long war this had been, wondering if his sons would some day have to give their lives for their country.

At 9:30, a silver Mercedes pulled up to the house. McQueen stopped and stared at it. Three women exited the car, and though they were triplets, he could tell instantly which one was Karen. The other two women seemed to be making a fuss over the baby, then one of them opened the trunk and pulled out nine shopping bags with the names of very expensive stores on them. Karen shook her head, but one of the women kissed her. Then another one caught sight of McQueen on the porch, and she nudged the other one, who nudged Karen.

"Is that him," Kirsten whispered, "the...tank?"

"Don't use words like that Kirsten, that's prejudice."

"Well, that's what he is Karen," Kira chimed in.

"Whatever. Look, thank you for the shopping spree, but I'm tired now and so is Joshua."

"Oh...the little angel is sleepy..." Kira mooned. "We'll help you take the stuff in, I want to meet the tank."

"No thanks, Kira, we can manage the bags ourselves. Okay?"

"Come on, Kira, Karen wants to get some of that good stuff, and you know it's good if he got two women knocked up."

Karen sighed and fought the urge to punch both her sisters in the mouth. "Goodnight, Kira, goodnight, Kirsten."

Kirsten sucked her teeth, picked up about five of the bags, and carried them to the front steps. She looked up and waved at McQueen, then looked back at her sisters. "The least I could do," she said in a voice that had smoked too many cigarettes and drank too much whiskey.

Kira got in the driver's seat, Kirsten in the other, they blew the horn and drove off. As soon as they were gone, McQueen left the safety of the porch and walked over to Karen. "Need help with those, ma'am?" he smiled.

She looked up at him and couldn't say a word, she touched his face gently, then she started to cry. "Oh, Ty..." was all that came out. He leaned over and kissed her, then looked at Joshua.

"Hello, Joshua."

As soon as he said that, the baby opened his eyes and stared up at this strange man. He squirmed in Karen's arms. "Hold him," Karen said. McQueen took the baby, as Karen moved the shopping bags onto the porch. She came back over to him and watched his face as he watched the baby. In the darkness he could see Joshua had eyes like his, blue/grey, and sandy colored hair. His skin color looked to be tea rose, slightly lighter than Glen's. Joshua reached out to touch the medals on McQueen's chest.

"Oh God, that's a sign of things to come. He's a tough one. Glen's a lot more mellow. This kid's going to drive me nuts, I can tell, and it's no help that he's got two aunts who just can't wait to spoil him," Karen gestured to the shopping bags.

They walked back to the porch and sat down, McQueen still stared at his son, who looked so very much like him.

"Where's Delia and Glen?"

"Upstairs. Glen fell asleep after dinner, Delia's tired too."

"Yeah, I figured you'd want to see her first...and Glen."

McQueen kept staring at Joshua like a man in love. "Why would you think that?"

"You've known Delia for years. I mean, you're in love with her."

Now McQueen looked up at Karen. "But if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have anything, I would've slowly wasted away and died..."

"Yeah, I know."

"No small feat, Karen."

She nodded and smiled watching McQueen hold his son. "A long time ago, I told Delia I didn't want to ever get married again. I still feel that way, so does Delia. I love Delia, but I also know that I love you too."

Karen grinned. "Sure know how to make a girl feel squishy inside."

McQueen smiled and rocked Joshua in his arms as the baby tried to fight sleep, wanting to look in this man's face a little longer. "Should've introduced me to your sisters...the other two triplets." He gave Karen a half smile.

"Oh no...talk about a little prejudice...oh, is that the tank, Karen?" she imitated Kirsten's smokey voice. McQueen laughed. "Oh, yes and my other sister, Kira, she's got a 'tank' gardener and a 'tank' maid, and she just loves them to death." She imitated her other sister's proper New England accent.

"And what's this about tying a knot in some part of my anatomy..."

"Well..if you'd like me to show you..." Karen grinned.

McQueen laughed. He'd forgotten about Karen's wry sense of humor, made funnier by her deadpan expression.

"I'm tired." He noticed Joshua was asleep. "I'll take his lead."

They both rose. "See you in the morning," Karen said.

McQueen handed Joshua to Karen, and then suddenly, kissed her on the mouth. Karen winked at him and licked her lips. "Goodnight, Colonel." Karen started toward the front door.

"I'll be in Jackson's room," McQueen said to Karen as they entered the house.

Karen wondered if that was supposed to ease her mind, that he wasn't going to spend tonight with Delia.

"Probably should think about getting my own place, too."

Karen walked toward her room, she turned, smiled at McQueen and shrugged. "Just love Joshua, okay?"

"Most definitely."

McQueen walked into the kitchen as he heard sounds of women's voices and the coos of both babies. Delia, Karen, Glen, and Joshua were all there, the boys on their respective mother's laps. Glen calmly held a stuffed toy, while Joshua proceeded to beat his toy against his head. As soon as Joshua saw his father, he reached out his hands and made loud noises.

"Did you sleep well, Ty?" Delia asked quietly, looking at Karen for a reaction, but receiving none.

McQueen nodded, he kissed both Karen and Delia on the lips, patted Glen on the head and Joshua on the nose, then sat down. He looked around him, at the women, the babies, then he cleared his throat.

"Okay, listen up, I've got something to say."

Everyone got quiet, except for Joshua--Karen bounced him on her knee, to no avail.

"I've been thinking about this all night," McQueen continued, "and it's for the best. I am not going to live this house...I'm getting my own place."

Karen and Delia stared at each other, dumbfounded.

McQueen didn't look at either of them, his eyes rested directly on the kitchen wall in front of him. "In about two weeks, maybe less, you both will be arguing about who I spend more time with, which baby I love more. It makes sense for you the two to live here together with the boys, but I will not be fought over. I will still be...available to both of you. I love both of you, and I love both of my sons. I'm not abandoning my responsibilities, but I can see this turning ugly, damn fast, and I won't be a part of it."

He sighed, drew in a breath and continued. "When the next war breaks out, I'll be there. You both know that I'm a lifer, you both know that death goes with the territory. If something happens to me, you two will need each other even more." Feeling satisfied with himself, he allowed himself to look at both Delia and Karen.

Delia and Karen looked at each other, even Joshua had stopped vocalizing. For awhile, no one said anything. Then Delia cleared her throat.

"Thank you, Ty," she said.

"Yeah," Karen grinned, looked at Delia and laughed. "Can you see the two of us fighting over him?" She pointed to McQueen.

"God forbid," Delia said.

McQueen looked from one woman to the other, smiled, and shook his head, but both women secretly knew he was right.

Finding an apartment had been easier than he thought. Due to all the publicity over his heroic actions and his involvement in the catastrophic peace talks, McQueen didn't have a problem finding a place that would take a "tank."

On an unusually warm winter Saturday, he and Delia unloaded the last of the boxes. Delia stretched and rubbed her back. "Isn't it just Karen's luck that she got called into the hospital and had to miss all this fun?"

McQueen smiled. "At least we got a sitter."

"Yeah, watching those two imps would have cut into any serious moving time."

McQueen moved to stand behind Delia, his hands rubbing the small of her back. She leaned her head forward as he eased the knots from her muscles. "That feels wonderful." Then she felt his breath on her neck an instant before she felt his lips. He hadn't touched her since he'd returned, and Delia was desperate to feel him inside her. Turning, she pushed him down onto the sofa. She pulled off his t-shirt, rubbing her hands over his chest, his shoulders, his neck. Unbuckling the belt on his jeans and unzipping them, she reached in and caressed him, before pulling the jeans and his skivvies off, freeing the hardened length of his penis. Delia pressed her mouth against McQueen's, whispering his name. She stroked his tongue with hers, loving the velvet roughness. McQueen pulled off her t-shirt, sliding his thumbs across her lace-covered nipples before he removed her bra. Then, with agonizing slowness, he unzipped her jeans and pushed them, along with underwear, past her knees and onto the floor. Delia almost didn't get them completely off before McQueen pulled her astride him and thrust into her, causing Delia to gasp sharply. She watched his face as she rode him, watched the desire cross his face. She could feel her whole body fill with electricity as pleasure swept over her. McQueen buried his face in her neck and groaned as he spilled into her, crushing her to him.

They sat there, draped about each other. Delia smiled, and McQueen stroked her cheek to ask her what she was thinking.

"It's a very good thing we got the sitter."

Sitting there, they snuggled on the couch until dusk began falling.

McQueen walked into the house as he did nearly every day after work. After the war, he was working his way toward full Colonel and now had a high-ranking desk job...some people were even talking about a political career. Most people knew he had two children by two different women, but no one thought that strange, after all, McQueen was an in-vitro, and they *did* do things differently. Most of all, everyone had seen stuff like that before on the daily talk shows, which were still quite popular nearly 100 years after their conception.

Karen sat on the sofa in the living room breastfeeding Joshua and looked up as he walked in. "Hey, Ty." she smiled.

"Hello, Karen." He kissed her lightly on the lips, sat down, and watched what she was doing. Karen wore an off-the-shoulder peasant dress, and Joshua nursed at her right breast. "Delia took Glen to the doctor, nothing serious, don't worry. Maybe he can tell her why that boy is so damn serene, not like Joshua."

McQueen nodded and continued to stare at Karen.

Karen looked up and smiled at him. "What's the matter? You've never seen a woman breast feed before?"

McQueen nearly blushed. "Yeah, I've seen Delia." He was curious though. "Does it hurt?"

"Not yet, he doesn't have teeth. He's just sucking. He sucks hard though, this boy does everything hard. Mother's milk is the most natural thing in the world. I wasn't breast fed though, too hard for my mother with triplets."

McQueen nodded. "Yeah, I guess so."

Karen looked at him there was a look of wonder and sadness in his eyes. Karen then realized *he'd* never been a baby, so this had to seem completely foreign to him. "Nothing beats mother's milk, that's what they say."

McQueen nodded again. His eyes concentrated on Joshua, sucking Karen's breast. Karen pulled down the left side of her dress, exposing her left breast. "Would you like to try it?"

McQueen's blue eyes widened, and he blushed.

"You won't be depriving Josh, he's content. Come over here."

Uneasily, McQueen got up, at first he looked around, to make sure no one was there. Once he was convinced they were alone, he sat close to Karen on the sofa and slowly took her breast into her mouth.

"Just suck on it, Ty, like you're sucking a popsicle."

He took a deep breath and started sucking, very slowly. Soon, he tasted the milk, and it was like nothing he'd ever tasted before.

He put his arms around Karen and pulled her to him. The feeling wasn't so much erotic as it was comforting...safe...McQueen felt warm and loved.

Karen ran her hand through McQueen's silver hair. "My big baby," she murmured. She burped Joshua and managed to put him down in the makeshift bed near the sofa. McQueen still continued to suck her left breast and then suddenly, his hands went slowly underneath her dress and probed between her legs. Karen gasped at this strange combination of maternal feelings and erotica.

McQueen stopped sucking on Karen's breast and kissed her mouth. Karen sucked McQueen's tongue and tasted her own milk. He pulled her onto his lap and continued kissing her.

What clothes they couldn't remove, they loosened. Wrapped in an embrace, they tumbled onto the carpet. Karen looked up at Joshua, and saw that he was asleep. "It's okay, he's asleep..." she whispered breathlessly.

"Good," McQueen said just as breathlessly.

McQueen entered her, and Karen quickly wrapped her legs around his waist as he drove vigorously into her. Their bodies pressed against each other, muscles straining, trying to get as much of each other as they could, their mouths locked, trying to prevent cries that might wake Joshua. McQueen increased in intensity and speed as he thrust deeper into Karen, she pulled her mouth off his and gasped for air as she climaxed, McQueen dug his nails into Karen's shoulder and groaned low in her ear as he came as well.

Karen held McQueen tightly to her as his body shuddered. "Stay in me," she said in a low voice.

McQueen cupped her face in his hands. "Oh...God..." Then both of them looked up, Joshua was still asleep. They looked at each other and smiled.

McQueen and Karen dressed, straightening themselves out. When Karen looked into his face, she thought she saw a hint of embarrassment, but he quickly pulled himself together.

"What we just did was...different," he said.

"It wasn't wrong if that's what you're worried about."

They sat back on the sofa, just as Joshua started to stir and cry--both of them knew just what he wanted now. Karen picked up the baby and handed him to McQueen. As soon as he was in his father's arms, he stopped crying and simply looked into McQueen's eyes.

Karen let out a satisfied sigh.

As winter made way to spring, Delia and Karen decided that a party would be an excellent way to celebrate McQueen's official promotion to Colonel. They didn't plan a big party, just them, the boys, Jackson, and the rest of the 58th. All of the WildCards had accepted, anxious to see the baby.

Cooper had been a regular at the house, McQueen taking him under his wing to guide him since he'd decided to re-up. He was already there when the rest of the 'Cards arrived en-masse, handing McQueen their gifts as they walked through the front door. Delia and Karen were in the kitchen and could hear the arrival of their guests. When they got to the living room, they saw Shane and Vanessa cooing over Joshua.

"Delia, he's gorgeous." Shane stroked his cheek.

"Thanks, Shane, but that's Joshua, Dr. Evans'...Karen's son." Delia smiled as Jackson walked in from the back porch carrying his little brother. With a gurgle, he reached out to Delia. "This...is Glen."

Each woman looked the babies, at Delia and Karen, then at McQueen as he stepped into the doorway of the living room. Understanding dawned, and McQueen laughed as he saw his tough-as-nails Captain blush three shades of red.

Nathan and Paul crowded around, wondering why Shane was blushing furiously and Vanessa had a dumbfounded expression on her face.

"Hey, guys, what's going on?" Paul put his arm around Vanessa's shoulder.

McQueen picked up Joshua, then Glen. "They just figured out that Glen and Joshua are my sons."

Paul looked over at Delia. "Twins? Cool."

Vanessa elbowed him and whispered "Delia is Glen's mom, Karen is Joshua's".

There were times when Paul failed to grasp the situation...this was not one of them. His mouth formed an "O", and he tried to look anywhere but at McQueen.

Nathan jiggled Joshua's toes. "Congratulations, sir."--as diplomatic as ever.

Laughter filled the house that afternoon.

10 May 2066
Loxley, Alabama
Delia and Karen's house

Taking a well-deserved break from motherhood, the two women left McQueen to his own devices with two rambunctious little boys. Taking them outside, he'd spread a blanket under a tree, covered the boys with sunscreen, and let them loose. He had learned enough to know that everything they got in their hands automatically went to their mouths, and he was constantly taking grass, leaves, and flowers from them. It didn't bother them, both Glen and Joshua knew there'd be other things to play with.

Corralling both of them, McQueen put them in walkers and carefully lined up Cheerios on their trays. Glen proceeded to pick up each one, wobbling as he brought it to his mouth. Joshua, his true nature coming through, scattered them about, smushing them into the tray with his hand before trying to lick them off. Those who knew McQueen as a Marine, were constantly amazed to see him smile when he was with "the boys". The neighbors on the street no longer looked stunned to see this stern man pushing the double stroller down the street. Now, they even stopped to say a quick hello and "ooh" and "aah" over Glen and Joshua. It was also becoming a standard sight to see him in the commissary, carefully scrutinizing jars of baby food before placing them in the cart.

He didn't pay attention to the luxury sedan that pulled up in front of the house, nor did he notice the woman who strolled up the front walk until she had almost reached him. For a moment, his heart stopped.

On an impulse, Anne Carruthers McQueen Matthews decided to look Delia up since she was near Loxley on business. They hadn't seen each other in years, since before her divorce from Ty, and she thought Delia might have some news of him. Pulling up in front of the house, she noticed the children on the lawn and the man who lay on the blanket, picking each baby up and flying him in the air.

Something about him seemed vaguely familiar, although she couldn't quite place him.

When she got out of the car and moved toward them, she stopped in her tracks when she recognized him.

"Ty?!?!?"

"Anne." His manner was brusque, more formal than cold.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. And you?"

"Fine." There was a long silence. "I got married again. He's a good man." Almost as an afterthought, she spoke. "We have a daughter."

"I'm glad. I know you wanted children." They were both quiet for a moment, then McQueen spoke again. "What are you doing here?"

"I knew Delia was still here, and I thought I would stop in." Moving closer, she stopped on the edge of the blanket and laughed nervously. "Actually, I thought she might have some news about you. I had heard about the Angels, then you serving aboard the Saratoga, then that whole tragic affair with the bomb and your leg."

Both boys had looked up at this woman they'd never seen. "They're beautiful children. Are they Delia's?"

McQueen reached out to stroke Glen's head. Anne remembered how he used to do that to her and was envious.

"This is Glen, he belongs to Delia." Tickling Joshua under the chin, McQueen laughed along with the baby. "This is Joshua, he belongs to the doctor who helped get me back to active duty." Pausing for a moment, he turned the full force of his blue eyes on her, just as the boys did. Even before he spoke, she knew. "They're my sons."

Shock did not even come close to describing how she felt. "How..."

"I guess miracles happen."

"Yeah, I guess so." Anne sank to the blanket.

A car turned into the drive, and Karen and Delia stared at the woman sitting next to McQueen. Delia grabbed the steering wheel. "Oh, shit."

Karen looked as if she could chew the blonde woman up and spit her out. "Who is she and what's she doing here?"

"That's Anne, McQueen's ex..." They got out of the car, removing their packages before heading over to join the garden party.

"Anne, it's been a long time." Delia put her packages down and held out her hand. Anne got up and shook it, staring at Delia with just a hint of jealousy. "This is Karen...Dr. Karen Evans." Karen held out her hand, grasping Anne's quickly before dropping it.

Anne dusted the grass off her skirt. "I must be going. I just wanted to stop by and say hello. It was good to meet you, Karen, as well as the boys. Goodbye."

Karen waited until Anne had almost gotten to the car. "Come back and see us, sometime," waving as Anne got into the car and drove off.

"Ouch...what was that for?" Karen rubbed her arm where Delia had slapped her.

"Shame on your for teasing that poor woman with something she ain't ever going to have again." Delia started to laugh, falling on the blanket. Picking Joshua up out of his walker, she leaned him against her knees and began to play patty-cake with his feet. Karen picked up Glen and began to dance around the blanket, giving him Eskimo kisses. McQueen leaned back, watched the clouds drift through the pure blue sky, and fell asleep.

The End



Previous : Oreo


Gabrielle Bessey & Karen Evans
© 7/3/96