When You Come Back to Me Again
By: tayryn and Mônica
Rating: NC17
Disclaimer: I don’t own them. I just play with them and make them happy.
Notes: This story is based on my sister, Mônica’s story, “Until I reach our Promised Land” Again, if by some chance you have yet to read this wonderful story, I highly urge you to do so, before reading mine. If you have read it, then by all means, continue.
It is with the utmost love and affection that this story is undoubtedly dedicated to my sister, Mônica.
eu te adoro, minha irmã!
mais do que palavras possam dizer!!
sempre!!!
abraços e beijos de sua pequenina
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Now… onto the story!! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
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Helena Russell looked up from the report she held in her hands, a shocked, disbelieving expression on her face.
“There has to be some kind of mistake, Bob.” She said, shaking her head. “A mix up in the lab…”
“Those are the correct results.” Bob Mathias told her. “I had the lab run them through twice and performed a third run myself just to be certain.”
“Oh… my…”
“Are you worried about what the Commander will say?” Bob asked, slightly confused at her reaction.
“Then what?” He asked. “I thought with all the work you’ve done on the Life Support Systems…” It suddenly dawned on him. “You weren’t expecting this, were you?”
“No.”
Her voice trailed off as she looked back at the papers, taking another deep breath.
“Hey, Chief.” Mathias said softly. “Why don’t you take the rest of the afternoon off?”
“I can’t, Bob.” She said, shaking her head. “I’ve got too much work…”
“Which you won’t be able to concentrate on.” Bob interrupted her, watching as she rose and walked slowly over to her desk. “It’s not busy right now, so it’s the perfect time for you to take some time for yourself to fully process the news.”
Mathias regarded his boss and friend and shook his head, knowing he’d lost yet another ‘fight’ to get her to relax a little. “You’d think after all these years, I’d know better then to even suggest you taking some time off.”
Bob moved towards the door. “But if you change your mind…”
“I won’t.” She said, glancing down at her calendar. “But thank you.”
Mathias nodded once and just as he was about to leave her office, she called to him, stopping him. He turned to see her switching her computer back off.
“I think…” she said as she stood, a small smile on her face. “I think maybe you’re right. I am going to take the rest of my shift off.”
Bob just stared at her as she came out from behind her desk and moved towards him. She pointed at her desk.
“Would you see that those results are put into my file?”
Mathias simply nodded as she left the office, humming quietly to herself. He shook his head disbelievingly.
“I actually won a round.”
He said as he stepped over to her desk and picked up
“Today’s date.” He said, noticing also what was written on it. He shook his head again, this time chuckling to himself as he left her office.
“Won a round indeed.” He thought.
** ** **
Still humming,
She really had intended on staying in her office and working on those reports, despite the surprising news of her test results, but when she’d seen her calendar and the date on it, she changed her mind.
“I can’t believe I almost forgot.” She thought to herself as she mentally went over the events of the morning, realizing that the thought of her physical that day had pushed all other thoughts out of her head. “And John didn’t mention anything either. I wonder if he’s remembered what today is?”
A huge smile grew on her face. “And boy do I have a surprise for him.”
“…Doc!”
“Doc.” He said again,
laughing and smiling as he pulled his hand out of his mother’s grip and ambled
towards
“Will.” She laughed as she scooped the youngster up in her arms as soon as he was within reach. She hugged the little boy and then smiled at his mother. “Hello, Annie.”
“Doctor Russell. How are you?” Annette asked.
“Doc!” William Fraser
said again, placing his pudgy hands on
“Doc!” He squealed
with laughter as
“I see you were listening to your Uncle John after
all.”
“I was wondering where he picked that up.” Annette said with a smile. “He’s been saying it for the last two days.”
“John worked on him all night…”
Annette smiled, laughing lightly and held her hands out to her son, who happily transferred over to his mother. “Well, we should get going. It’s almost time for someone’s dinner.”
“Say good bye to Doctor Russell, Will.” Annette said to her son.
“Bye… Doc!” He said, waving his hand.
The women laughed and then
Ten minutes later, Helena keyed in the code to the quarters she shared with John Koenig, her mind on the ideas she’d come up with while riding the travel tube, on how to surprise John and make this evening a special one.
The door slid open and she stepped through it. John looked up from what he was doing with
surprise to see
“John!?”
“
“What are you…?”
They stopped and smiled at each other as they spoke at the same time.
“I see we had the same idea.” She said after the kiss, looking around the room to where he’d placed various candles.
John’s arms tightened around her waist. “You didn’t think I’d forget our anniversary
did you?”
“Let’s just say the thought crossed my mind.” She admitted, omitting the fact that it’d slipped her mind. She squeezed him gently. “Are you finished… setting the mood? Or do you still need a little time?”
John returned the squeeze. “I could use a few more minutes.”
John watched her with a smile as she moved to the closet, then turned back to begin lighting the various candles.
“I’ll be out in fifteen minutes, John.” She called over to him.
“Take your time… I’m still waiting for dinner to be delivered.”
She flashed him a smile then allowed the bathroom door to close.
John watched the door cut her off from view, and continued his preparations. About ten minutes later he turned as the door buzzer sounded. He walked over, opened the door, bent down to pick up the tray of food, and then retreated back into the room, once again locking the door.
He heard the shower stop as he carried the tray over to the
table and couldn’t help but smile as an image of
After placing the brush back on the counter,
Shaking herself out of her inner musings,
“Come on,
John looked up when he heard the bathroom door open and inhaled sharply when he saw her. It didn’t matter how many years he and Helena had been together, the sight of her always took his breath away and now she stood, barefoot, wearing his favourite black negligee, in the bathroom doorway; the light behind her illuminating her curvaceous figure, causing John to consider forgetting about dinner and move straight on to dessert.
“You look stunning,
John ran his fingers up along her arms and over her throat, slipping them into her still damp hair, his smile growing as she shivered slightly in response to his faint touch. He simply nodded, pulling her closer.
John ended the kiss and smiled down at his lady. He caressed her cheek with his fingers and
when he spoke, it was in a soft voice.
“Happy Anniversary,
“Happy Anniversary, John.” She replied softly, returning his smile.
John moved his hands down her arms and encircled her waist, pulling her back against him as he began to move them to the soft strains of music floating around them. She slipped her arms under his and wrapped them around his back as she laid her head on his shoulder, allowing her body to relax against John’s as they swayed slowly.
Neither one said a word as they simply enjoyed this all too rare moment alone; wrapped tightly in each other’s arms, losing themselves in their love for each other, the world outside the closed door of their quarters disappearing.
John’s arms tightened around her as he turned his head
slightly, brushing a soft kiss against her forehead before resting his cheek
against her hair.
Resting her head back on John’s shoulder,
A small while later, after having danced through three or four songs and sharing long, tender kisses, Helena lifted her head from his shoulder and smiled lovingly at him. John returned her smile as he leaned in to kiss her yet again.
“Mmm. This is wonderful, John.” She told him and then her lips curved into a bemused smile as she tilted her head slightly to one side. “You did say something about dinner earlier though, didn’t you?”
John chuckled and nodded as he began to leisurely dance them over to the table. “Good idea, Doc. The sooner we eat…” he paused and ran his hands up her sides, his thumbs brushing the sides of her breasts. “The sooner we get to… dessert.”
John could see what she was thinking; reading the growing desire in her eyes and smiled. He brushed another kiss across her lips and then pulled himself from her arms. “Let’s eat. We have all night for dessert.”
John held up his glass, tilting his head to the side for a moment as he gazed at her. A tender smile came his lips as he began to speak. “To you, Helena. You who are more than my friend, more than my lover... you’re my partner, my soul mate… my life. You’re my reason for waking in the morning, my reason for making it through each day, the reason I’m able to endure all that this life throws at me. Without your presence in my life… I would have no life.” He paused and reached across the table to clasp her hand. “I love you, Helena. With all my heart and all that I am… I love you.” He brought his glass to hers. “Happy Anniversary, my love.”
They brought their glasses together again. After taking a sip each, they simply sat and gazed at each other. John smiled then as he stood slightly and leaned towards her, bringing her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles.
As he sat back down, he gave her a lopsided grin. “Shall we eat now?”
“
She blinked and looked up at him. “Hmm? What? Oh, John I’m sorry. I got lost in my own thoughts.”
“I can see that.” He
said with a slight smile that was touched with concern. He’d noticed that
“Hey…
When she didn’t look at him right away, John reached up with his free hand and turned her face so he could look in her eyes. He grew even more concerned when he saw a single tear slip down her cheek.
“
“You remember that I had my physical this morning?” She asked.
John nodded, smiling ruefully. He remembered. She wouldn’t let him make love to her last night because of it. She’d also complained bitterly about it all night and this morning, sounding as bad he got when it was time for his physical.
“I… the results were… not what I expected.” She told him shakily.
John felt a momentary sense of panic seize his heart;
fearing the results indicated something wrong, something that would take
“What was so unexpected?” He asked quietly.
“I love you so much.” She said quietly, a loving smile gracing her lips. “You’ve given me so much over the years. Your friendship, your patience… your love. I don’t know how I would have made it all these years out here in space without you.”
John felt the panic slowly beginning to return. She was beginning to scare him. “
She shook her head slightly, her smile growing. “And now… now you’ve given me the most wonderful gift you could have ever given me…” she faltered; choking on the tears she refused to let fall.
John looked at her, still concerned but also confused. He couldn’t figure out what it was that was
making her so nervous that she was having a hard time telling him. If there was one thing he knew, it was that
“
“It’s a gift I’ve wanted so long to give you… one I hope you’ll be happy about…” she took a deep breath, her hand moving on his cheek again in a soft caress. When she finally spoke again it was in a whisper. “…I’m pregnant, John.”
John’s eyes grew wide and his mouth fell open as he fell back on his heels, stunned. This was not the news he was expecting.
Pregnant.
The word echoed in John’s ears. His eyes fell immediately to rest on her abdomen as he tried to absorb what she’d just told him. Pregnant. A torrent of emotions rushed through him. Shock, disbelief, pride, shock again.
John moved back onto his knees and took her face in his hands, bringing his lips to hers for a passionate kiss, which left her breathless when it finally ended. He rested his forehead against hers, the tears coursing down his cheeks.
“Pregnant?” He
whispered, pulling his head back to look at her. “Helena…
a baby?”
All
“A baby.” He
repeated, a huge grin spreading across his face and making his sapphire eyes
light up. He quickly got to his feet,
pulled
Even before he finished twirling her around, their lips met in a loving kiss, which lingered long after he stopped spinning. The kiss slowly ended and they smiled at each other.
“And here I thought I was the one with a big surprise for tonight.” He said, still grinning.
She looked at him curiously as he stepped away from her, his hand reaching into the pocket on his pants. Before she realized what was happening, John knelt before her and reached for her left hand.
“I had the whole night planned… a romantic dinner for two, soft music, making love to you by candlelight… and at the right moment, I was planning on asking you to marry me.” He paused as she gasped and smiled as he held up the ring for her to see. “I even had a special poem memorized… but your news has me so completely floored, all I know… is that… is if you’ll marry me… I’ll be the happiest man on Alpha.”
“Oh… John…” she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks again. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
John smiled and slipped the ring onto her finger, pressing a kiss against it before standing and taking her into his arms again for a long, tender kiss. As they kissed, John stooped slightly, lifting her effortlessly into his strong arms and carried her across the room to their bed.
Still kissing, John knelt on the bed and slowly lowered them down, covering her body with his. He broke off the kiss and raised himself slightly to gaze down at her, smiling as he reached up to gently wipe away the lingering tears in her eyes. He traced his fingers lightly over her lips, along her jaw and down her throat, resting his hand just above the swell of her breasts. He leaned in and kissed her again, murmuring his love for her against her lips as his hand slipped under the bodice of her negligee to cup her breast.
Helena moaned softly into his mouth as his fingers moved slowly over her breast in ever-smaller growing circles until they brushed over her taut nipple then moved to do the same to her other breast. She arched into his hand, her hands sliding down his back and over his sides.
John broke off the kiss and, giving
“…John…”
As he suckled at her breasts, John little by little, managed to peel away more of her negligee, pushing it down until it bunched at her hips. His mouth left her breasts and he kissed and licked a trail down her body, pausing to dart his tongue in her navel.
John inched lower on the bed, and
He moved back onto the bed, leaning over to capture her lips in an ardent kiss and then once again kissed his way down her body, stopping only when he came to the blonde curls between her thighs. John shifted on the bed and then pressed his mouth against her.
“John!”
John continued loving her with his mouth until her writhing body, coupled with her moans and gasps of pleasure were too much for him to handle and he knew he had to be inside her. With one last loving kiss to her sensitive flesh, John slowly moved up and covered her body with his, capturing her mouth in a searing kiss.
“
With a deliberate slowness that belied the urgency he was feeling, John pressed his length inside her. He heard her gasp and looked down in time to see her eyes close and her head fall back as he completely filled her. He held still, waiting for her to open her eyes and look at him before beginning to move.
The feel of John as he first joined their bodies, was a feeling Helena always loved; always longed for; feeling him stretching and filling her so completely always took her breath away; the sensations it caused, streaming through her, creating an intense and burning fire throughout her body. A fire John started. A fire only John could extinguish.
She moaned softly, her eyes closing, savouring the joining of their bodies. When she slowly opened her eyes moments later, she found John gazing down at her, a knowing and loving smile on his face. She returned his smile and lifted her head to brush a soft kiss against his lips.
Slowly, with measured, controlled movements, John began to
move inside her; withdrawing almost completely before pressing his entire
length back inside her, moving deeper inside her with each thrust.
John bent slightly; kissing her fervently as his thrusts became less controlled and more erratic with his approaching release. He broke off the kiss and looked into her shimmering, green eyes as he felt her body begin to tremble beneath his; her release approaching fast as well and he began to thrust into her quicker.
“JOHN!” She cried out as her body tightened and then thrashed wildly beneath him.
Her passionate cry of his name was John’s undoing and with a final, deep thrust, John gave himself over to his release; calling out her name as he exploded inside her, his body quaking with the force of his orgasm.
His energy sapped, John collapsed on top of her; Helena’s arms tightened around him as their bodies continued to shudder against each other, the waves of pleasure still washing over them, carrying them farther and farther; their hearts and souls joining once again in blissful oblivion.
** ** **
“Mmm… this is heavenly.”
“Anytime I can hold you in my arms is heavenly.” John said against her hair, running his hands down along her arms.
They’d soaked and talked on and off in the bubble-filled tub for over an hour when John brushed his lips against her temple and sat them up to reach out and grab the soap.
He washed her arms and back and then lathering his hands
again, he reached them around her and began to soap her chest.
John smiled when he felt her respond to his touch, her nipples hardening under his palms; he bent his head and placed a kiss on her shoulder, moving his lips up her throat to whisper words of love in her ear as his hands slid down to caress her belly.
“Have I told you yet tonight, just how very much I love you, Helena?” He asked quietly.
“Mmhmm.” She murmured, becoming lost in his caress, which was slowly beginning to move lower. “But… mmm… you can tell me again.”
John smiled. “I love you, Helena.” He breathed against her ear, catching her earlobe between his teeth as his one hand moved to stroke her inner thigh. “Let me show you how much…”
She replied with a soft moan, her legs opening a little
wider as his hand covered her; stroking her lightly.
John felt her body quiver slightly as he slipped first one finger inside her, then another, moving them slowly in and out of her, his thumb continuing to stroke her tender flesh. His other hand moved up her body and cupped her breast, holding her tight against him as the hand between her thighs continued its exquisite torture.
“Mmm… John…”
Still whispering in her ear, all the things he wanted to do
to her and for her, John felt the tension in
“Mmm… I do so love you, John Koenig.” She told him when the kiss ended. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” He smiled.
John’s smile turned into a grin as he nodded.
They quickly climbed out of the tub and toweled each other
off.
** ** **
When his eyes came to her belly, his smile grew. Pregnant.
After years of talking about children, they were going to have a
baby. John felt a sense of pride shoot
through him even as the love he felt for
John shifted lower in the bed, careful not to wake
“Hello, little one.” He spoke in a quiet voice. “Do you know how long your mommy and I have been waiting for you?”
His hand caressed her smooth skin again as he continued to speak to the life growing inside the woman he loved.
“You have no idea how lucky you are, little one. How lucky we both are… to have your
mommy.” He paused and
“And I have just one little favour to ask of you…” John continued and chuckled softly. “As you grow inside your mother… try not to kick her too much at night. She works too hard and will no doubt insist on working right up until she’s ready to deliver you… so no kicking at night. Let Mommy get her sleep.”
He pressed another kiss against her abdomen and then slowly,
with feather-light kisses, John worked his way up her body, his fingers
caressing soft lines up along her sides.
When his lips finally met hers,
“Good morning, Beautiful.” He smiled at her after finishing the kiss.
“Mmm… good morning.” She ran her hands up along his sides and over his shoulders, pulling him back for another kiss. “How long have you been awake?”
“Oh… about an hour.” John replied, settling back against the pillows. “I was watching you sleep and having a conversation with our child.”
“So I heard.” She said as she cuddled up against him, slipping her arms around him and resting her head on his shoulder as her legs moved against and entwined with his.
“And just how much did you hear?” He asked, rubbing her back.
“Enough.” She replied, pressing a kiss to his chest. “I just hope he or she listens to their daddy and doesn’t kick too much at night.”
John chuckled and pressed a kiss to her forehead before
pulling back slightly to gaze at her. He
brushed a stray lock of hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. A small smile lit his eyes as he noticed the
happy glow that shone from
“I still can’t believe we’re going to be parents.”
“I know.”
“I hope you’re right.” He said. “I’m sure as hell going to try.”
“So… how far along are we?”
“Well… we... are only seven weeks along.” She answered with a smile and soft chuckle, shifting so that she could look into his face.
“How long before you begin to show?” He asked, rubbing his hand over her, trying to imagine how it would feel when the baby started to show.
“Well, generally not until the second trimester.”
“You won’t be fat. You’ll be pregnant.” He said, his hand moving from her belly to stroke her hip, his voice growing husky. “And you’ll still be the sexiest woman I know.”
“I’m going to hold you to that, John Koenig.” She laughed.
“I’m just planning on holding you… soon to be Helena Koenig.” He said with a grin, drawing her closer. “And speaking of… when would you like to do that?”
John chuckled. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
She chuckled softly herself and snuggled closer to him, closing her eyes as she stifled a yawn.
“Well… how about next week then?” He asked. “It’s not like there’s all that much to plan.”
“Mmm… that sounds good.” She replied in a sleepy voice.
“Then next week it is.” John confirmed. “Now… what about the honeymoon?”
Her only response was an un-intelligible mumble, followed by a quick yawn. John glanced down and saw that she’d fallen back asleep. He shook his head softly, smiling as he remembered that she hadn’t eaten much last night and that they had been quite active during the night. He reached over her, grabbed the blanket, and drew it over them.
John reached out to his nightstand and grabbed his commlock. After
placing a few quick calls, he placed the commlock back
on the table and settled back against the pillows, drawing
** ** **
Pulling her robe on, she quietly slipped into the
bathroom. She reached for her toothbrush
and paused momentarily as she heard a sound coming from the shower. She tilted her head to listen closely and her
lips curved into an amused smile. John
was humming to himself. She chuckled and
began to brush her teeth as she suddenly recognized the tune, an oldie from the
seventies. By the time she finished
brushing her teeth,
She heard the shower stop and her gaze caught John’s in the mirror when he opened the door to reach for a towel.
“Good morning.” She smiled at him.
John quickly dried himself off and secured the towel around his waist then stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Good morning.” He replied, bending his head to nuzzle her neck. “How long you been up?”
John laughed and tightened his arms around her. “Well… it just sort of popped in there, seemed appropriate somehow. And I thought I heard some humming other than my own.”
“Having my baby, what a lovely way of saying how much you
love me.”
He sang a couple more lines of the song, grinned at her, and
then pressed a kiss into her hair, as
“I’m so happy you’re happy about the baby… even if you are singing cheesy old songs...” She chuckled, her smile telling him that she loved his little serenade. He chuckled and nodded.
“The shower’s all yours.” He spoke against her ear, his hands slipping into her robe, moving slowly up her stomach to cup her breasts, smiling at her in the mirror when he heard her soft moan. “And… I’ll be more than happy to… wash your back for you.”
John smiled and his eyes sparkled mischievously.
“For food, John.” She laughed, seeing the look in his eyes.
John chuckled and placed a soft kiss against her lips. “Take your shower, I’ll go order breakfast.”
John smiled, returned her embrace, and then left the
bathroom.
Twenty minutes later, John looked up from the table to see
“Feel better?”
“Much.” She said, walking towards him. “And I’ll feel even better once I get something in…” she paused mid-sentence as she glanced at the clock. Her eyes grew wide. “Oh God, John… the time! We’re going to be late!”
“No we’re…” John began as she turned sharply to head for her
closet. John watched as she stopped and
swayed. He jumped up and out of his
chair and was by her side in an instant, catching her in his arms. “
She placed her hand on his chest and shook her head gently. “Just a little dizzy… I turned too quickly.” She told him and then smiled when she felt her equilibrium return. She moved to leave his arms, but he wouldn’t let her go, instead he scooped her up into his arms and began to carry her to the bed. She looked at him. “John, we don’t have time…”
Her protest was cut off as his mouth covered hers.
John silenced her protest with another kiss, laying her on
the bed as he did. This time, he broke
off the kiss and looked at her. “
John grinned and leaned in to kiss her. “I plan on pampering my bride-to-be, the mother of my child, all day long.”
“Mmm. That sounds nice.”
“And to start…” he said, standing up. “I think a little breakfast in bed is in order.”
“Breakfast is served, milady.”
** ** **
“I’m glad you’re back.” He said sleepily against her ear. “Everything okay?”
“Mmhmm.” She replied, snuggling back against him. “Sandra is in the first stages of labour, but since she still has a ways to go yet, Bob kicked me out of Medical.”
John chuckled softly against her shoulder. “How’s Alan?”
“Typical first-time father.”
“I can sympathize.” John said, placing his hand over her protruding belly. He smiled into his wife’s hair as he felt movement under his hand. “I’m nervous about it myself and we still have a couple months to go yet.”
Helena laced her fingers with John’s as they rested on her belly and turned her head slightly to look at him a soft smile on her face. “You’ll do fine, John. I have every confidence in you.”
John returned her soft smile and leaned in to brush a gentle kiss on her lips. He settled back on the pillow, burying his face in her hair. “Remind me…” he yawned and pulled her closer. “To put a note of commendation in Bob’s file in the morning for sending you home. Now I can go back to sleep.”
She lifted her left hand and smiled at the sight of the plain gold band; identical to the one John wore, resting there.
They’d married a week after John had asked her to become his wife, in a simple ceremony attended by anyone on Alpha who wished to attend. Victor had proudly walked her down the aisle to John as Alan and Sandra stood up for them as their best man and matron of honour respectively. Tony had officiated and a small reception had followed.
A month later, they discovered to their utter surprise, that
not only were they pregnant, but that they were pregnant with twins.
** ** **
John looked up from the computer again when he heard another
soft moan come from the bed. He watched,
his eyes furrowing with concern as
“Oh… this is pointless!!”
John looked up to see
“I give up!” She said, throwing her arms up in despair as she walked into the living area of their quarters, her nightgown billowing about her legs and began to pace. “I can’t get comfortable to save my life.”
“Anything I can do to help?” He asked after watching her pace for a few moments.
“I think you’ve done quite enough already, thank you very
much.”
“Don’t give me that look.” John replied evenly, hitting the button that would save his work, knowing he wouldn’t be getting anymore of it finished tonight. “You’re as responsible for your condition as I am. It takes two to tango.”
“I know…” she whispered through her hands. “I’m sorry, John… I… I don’t know what’s the matter with me.”
John allowed the corners of his mouth to turn up slightly in a bemused smile as he stood and made his way over to her. He reached out and pulled her hands away from her face; seeing the tears he knew would be in her eyes and on her cheeks.
“You’re being emotional… and that’s allowed, Honey.” John told her, gathering
John felt her hands clutch the front of his shirt and her shoulders begin to shake as she started to cry harder. He tightened his hold on her.
“There’s something else bothering you too, what is it,
“I’m tired of being pregnant… my hands are swollen… my ankles are swollen and I can’t see my feet anymore… my back hurts… I’m scared I won’t be a good mother… and… and you haven’t made love to me in weeks…”
It came pouring out of her as she sobbed into his shoulder and all John could do was smile tenderly into her hair before slowly leading her over to the couch. He pulled her into his lap as he sat down and slipped his fingers under her chin, preventing her from burying her face back into his shoulder and made her look at him.
“First, I know you’re tired of being pregnant and tired of the swollen hands, ankles and sore back and if I could switch places with you, I would. But the twins will be here soon and that will all be over with. You’ve said so yourself. Second, you’re going to be a wonderful mother.” He paused, placing his fingers over her mouth to silence her protest. “Seeing you with the all the children that have been born here is testament to that… and I know you. I know with all my heart that you’re going to be an exceptional mother.”
John moved his hand up her cheek and brushed away her tears.
“As for not making love to you… it’s not cause I haven’t wanted to or from lack of trying.” He smiled affectionately at her. “But you won’t let me because you have this idea in your mind that you’re unattractive and undesirable right now.”
“That’s because I am.” She said softly, looking down. “I’m bloated and fat.”
“
“You’re just saying…”
“I love you, Helena.” John whispered as he placed little kisses around her mouth, trailing his lips down her neck. “And I want to make love to you… in the worst way… if you’ll let me…”
All
“And now, Mrs. Koenig…” he said in a throaty voice as he carried her to their bed. “I’m going to show you just how desirable you still are…”
** ** **
John sat back in his chair in
“Rough night?”
John looked up into the grinning but tired face of Alan Carter and nodded.
“You could say that.”
John replied. “
“Say no more.” Alan chuckled, holding up his hand. “I read you loud and clear. Sandra was like that too just before Bobbie was born. Couldn’t get comfortable for anything… and when the wife can’t sleep…”
John chuckled as Alan’s voice trailed off and nodded his
head with the pilot’s assessment. He
stifled a yawn and glanced back at the report still on the monitor, one he’d
been staring at all morning but hadn’t gotten very far on. His mind was in a fog from lack of sleep;
having gotten up with
“Ah, just think, John.
When the kids are born… you won’t have to worry about
John chuckled and watched his friend leave. He swallowed back another yawn and determined to get through at least this one report before the end of his shift. Two hours later, he turned off the monitor, the report finally finished. He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes, releasing a deep breath.
“I thought you were going to try and take a nap?” He asked quietly, without opening his eyes as he felt a familiar hand on his shoulder.
“I was but your children had other plans.” John opened his eyes and looked up into his wife’s tired face. “So, we decided to come and see if their father was up for a late lunch.”
John smiled as he reached up to grab
The younger man turned around to look at John.
“I’m going to the cafeteria for lunch. I’ll be back in an hour.”
“Okay, John.”
John nodded then turned to
“I forgot something at my desk.” He told her. “Wait here, I’ll be right back.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“
“Bob.”
“You’re in labour?”
“Early stages.”
“We’ll have everything ready for when you get here.”
“And that won’t be right now. At this moment, I’m going to lunch with John.” She noticed that he was about to protest and continued before he could interject. “It’s nothing to be concerned about yet. I’m not in any pain… just a little discomfort.”
“And we both know how quickly that can change…”
“And when it does, you’ll be the first person we
contact.”
“Whom you obviously haven’t told yet.” Bob said, knowing that if Koenig knew Helena was in the early stages of labour, he’d not only be insisting that she be in Medical Center; he’d be carrying her there himself.
“No, I haven’t told John.”
She admitted. “And I won’t until
it’s necessary.”
“Bob, you and I both know it could be hours before I go into actual labour and John is nervous and worried enough as it is.” She said. “There’s no point in making him even more anxious.”
On the tiny screen,
“Fine… no point in arguing with you.” He said. “Just do me one favour?”
“Don’t wait until the last minute to get down here when it’s time.”
“I won’t.” She chuckled. “Thanks, Bob.”
“Hmmm.” Bob muttered under his breath as he closed the link.
“All set?” She asked as he came to a stop in front of her.
“Yeah.” John nodded, placing his arm about her shoulders. “Now… I believe that I have a lunch date with my beautiful wife.”
As the car started to move, John looked at her. “You should be sitting down,
John regarded her for a
moment then smiled softly at her as he leaned back against the wall, pulling
her back against him; wrapping his arms around her waist. He heard
“Can’t. Too much work.”
“I could make it a medical order.” She threatened with a small smile.
He opened one eye and gave her a slight grin as he shook his head. “You can’t. You’re on maternity leave.”
“And your point is? I’m still the C.M.O around here.”
“My point is…” John began, tightening his arms around her a little more.
His sentence remained unfinished as the Travel Tube suddenly lurched, causing them both to stumble. John held tightly to Helena as the car shook again, this time with more force, the jolt sending them both tumbling to the floor; John doing his best to hang onto Helena and keep her from impacting with the hard surface. The lights flickered as the car came to a sudden halt.
“
“Yes, I’m fine. Just a little shaken up.” She answered, reaching out to take his hand; returning his firm squeeze. “You?”
“I’m okay.” He answered, sitting up. He helped her to slowly sit as well, his eyes moving over her. “You’re sure you’re alright? The twins?”
“We’re all okay. John, if you hadn’t…” She swallowed hard and gave him a grateful look before glancing around. “What happened?”
“Let’s find out.” He said reaching for his commlock and punched in the code. “Tony?”
“What happened?”
“Moonquake.” Tony
replied. “Are you and Helena
okay?”
“As okay as we can be, stuck in the Travel Tube.” John answered as he got to his feet; helping
“Reports are coming in now. For the most part though, it looks like only minor damage.” Tony answered. “And I’ve already sent a team out to get you and Helena out of there, however the tube has stopped in between sections… it could be a while.”
“Understood.” John said, glancing at Helena who was leaning back in the seat with her eyes closed. He looked back at Tony’s image and continued with a small grin. “Tell them to do their best. I guess this just means I get to spend some quality time alone with my wife.” He closed the channel, sank down in the seat beside her, and smiled at her. “Looks like it’s just you and me, Honey. Got any ideas on what we can do to pass the time?”
John’s eyes grew wide. “You don’t mean…?”
“Mmhmm.” She nodded. “I’m going into labour.”
“But you were fine just a moment ago…” John stood suddenly
and began to pace. “It was the fall,
wasn’t it? That’s what brought it on,
isn’t it?”
“Calm down, John.”
“All morning!? Why didn’t you say anything?” John asked incredulously.
“Because I knew it could be a while before actual labour set it in.” She told him and inhaled sharply. “And I wasn’t expecting to be trapped in a Travel Tube.”
John knelt down before her, concern etched in his features as he reached for his commlock. “How long?”
John nodded his understanding and activated his commlock. “Tony!”
“Slight change in plans.
Tell the repair team to get a move on!
And have Bob standing by with a med-team.
“Right away, John.”
John turned back to
Her voice trailed off, both of them sharing a look, knowing exactly what she wasn’t saying.
“Well, holding you I can and will do with pleasure.” John said moving back up onto the seat and slipping his arm about her shoulders. “Come here, Mrs. Koenig.”
“Hold on, babies.
Please hold on.”
** ** **
In
“Tony.” Victor said, walking over to the younger man and putting his hand on his shoulder. “We have to tell them.”
“Yeah, Victor I know.” He said, hearing the concern in Victor’s voice and knowing that he thought of both John and Helena as his children. “I’m worried about them too.”
Victor patted Tony’s shoulder and
gave him a small smile. “I know you
are.”
Tony returned Victor’s worried smile then turned back to his desk. He moved his hand over his console, pausing with his finger over the button. This was not something he was looking forward to doing. He took a deep breath and pressed the button, aware of Victor pacing nervously behind him.
** ** **
Curled into a tight ball, half-sitting in John’s lap;
Continuing to rub her back, John reached beside him for his commlock just as it beeped.
“Tony. Tell me you have good news.”
“I’m afraid not, John.”
“Tony, we’ve been in here for an hour already and
“I just spoke with them… it appears that most of the circuits for the Travel Tube blew out when the quake hit.”
“What about the backups?” John asked and watched as Tony just shook his head. “How much longer are they expecting it to take?”
“They’re not sure, John. All I know, is that they’re attempting to bypass as much as they can, enough to get the tube moving.”
John cursed under his breath and glanced at
He didn’t wait for Tony’s response
as he tossed his commlock back onto the seat beside
him, not realizing that he hadn’t closed the channel. He turned to
“Oh… God… John!” She moaned. “They’re getting closer together.”
“I know,
“No…”
“
“No!” She repeated and then exhaled deeply as the contraction finally ended. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes and when she spoke, it was in a quiet voice. “John… I don’t want our babies born here.”
“I know, Sweetheart.” He said softly, pulling her further into his embrace and pressing a kiss into her hair. “I know.” Not knowing what else to say, John simply held her, smoothing her hair as he continued to rub her back.
“This isn’t how it’s supposed to happen.”
They both looked down at the same time to see that both
John’s pants and
“Don’t worry about it.” John said as he reached for her commlock. “But I think it’s time we call Bob. I’m going to need some help, cause it looks like I’m going to be delivering our children.”
“No.”
“
“How far apart are the contractions?” Bob replied over the screen, not needing John to explain further, he’d been waiting for the call. That and Tony had patched John’s still active commlock, through to his. So he’d been well aware of the situation.
“About ten minutes.” John answered and then felt
“Mmm!”
“Commander,” Bob continued, even though he couldn’t
see John through the commlock. “As soon as this contraction passes, I want
you to grab the emergency medical kit, remove both your jackets and then help
“That’s it,
“UUHHN… oh, John! They’re getting worse!” She panted, gritting her teeth. “I can feel… oh God… I can feel the baby! I want… to push!”
John winced slightly as her grip on his hand tightened
fiercely. He reached out with his free
hand and grabbed her commlock, placing it on the seat
beside him so he could see Bob’s image from the corner of his eye; all the
while, talking
“Bob?! She’s lying
down and you heard the rest.” John said,
glancing at the commlock as he removed his jacket,
placing it on top of
“Okay, Commander, this means the baby is no doubt in the birth-canal. I want you to look… tell me if you can see the baby’s head.”
John nodded and turned back to his wife. “It’s going to be okay,
“Very good, Commander.
Now on the next contraction,
As John listened to Bob explaining what it was he had to do,
he reached out, pulled the med-kit to the floor beside him, and opened it. He turned back to
“Okay, Honey this is it.” John said, pushing up his sleeves. He gave her an encouraging smile. “I’m going to be here with you every step of the way.”
“No! John… not here! I don’t want my babies born here!” She managed to repeat her earlier sentiments between gasps.
“I know, I know. But I’m afraid we have little choice in the matter.” John told her. “Our children appear to have decided that now is the right time to make their entrance.”
“And their mother’s too.” John thought wryly, but knew better than to voice that sentiment at this time. He felt her reach out and grab his hands as she cried out his name; followed by a scream unlike any John had ever heard from his wife’s lips as she began to push.
“That’s it,
“That’s it,
“All right, Commander, now you have to cut the umbilical cord and then clean out the baby’s nose and mouth.” Bob told him and then continued, explaining to John exactly what to do and how to get the baby to take his first breath.
Moments later, the car was filled with the strong cries of a
new-born baby as the new parents looked at each other, both half-laughing,
half-crying.
“Good work, Commander.”
Bob said. “Now wrap him in
one of your jackets.” John reached
over, pulled his jacket off the seat, and began to wrap his son up in the black
garment. “You should have a couple of
minutes before the next one, so I’d take this moment to let
“Way ahead of you, Bob.”
John called over his shoulder as he moved up beside
“He’s perfect.”
“I am.” John said, the pride evident in his voice as he rested his free hand on his son’s chest.
“He has your hair.” She told him softly, fingering her son’s dark locks and smiling up at John again. She placed her hand over John’s and rested her head against his shoulder as the fell into a happy silence.
John glanced down at
“
“Take the baby…” she murmured to him, shifting slightly. “…John…”
“
“I… I… something’s not… oooh.” She gasped softly.
John quickly reached around her to grab the commlock. “Bob! Something’s wrong!”
“I don’t know. One
moment she was fine and now…” he pointed the commlock
at
“When the tube stopped, did she fall?” Bob asked.
“Yeah… we both did. But I managed to fall between her and the floor.” John answered.
“That was smart… but even so… she could have hurt herself
and not know it.” Bob said. “And is now feeling it.”
“Bob…” John began, glancing down at his son, whom he was
still holding. “What about the other
baby? Is it in any danger? And,
“There is always some danger when giving birth, Commander.” Bob answered. “I know that’s little comfort right now, but at the moment and not being there, that’s all I can tell you.”
John nodded, understanding though not liking it as he placed
the commlock back on the seat. He looked at
“
“John?” She called quietly, reaching her hand out for
him and he could see that she was trying to focus on him. She moaned again and when she spoke, her
voice held a touch of fear. “Something’s
wrong… the baby…”
She didn’t finish her statement; her body doubling up as a contraction suddenly ripped through her body. She bit her lower lip and groaned loudly. She felt John slip his free arm about her shoulders, holding her tightly, offering what little comfort he could at that point and tried to give him a small smile but the pain was too great.
“Commander,” Bob’s voice came over the commlock. “I know
you want to remain at
John nodded. Bob was
right, he didn’t want to leave
She smiled weakly at him as the contraction passed.
“I love you.” He whispered to her, giving her hand and knee another gentle squeeze. “We’re going to be fine… all four of us!”
“I know…” She gasped, reaching out for his other hand as another contraction started. “I love you too.”
John held tightly to her hands, glancing quickly at their
son then back at her. He gave her an
encouraging smile. “Okay, Helena...”
“JO… OHN!”
“I’m here, Honey.” He told her as her grip on his hands lessened and she fell back slightly. He glanced down then looked back at her. “I can see the head…” He paused as he felt her grip tighten again and knew she was getting ready to bear down. “You can do this… you gotta push! I’m right here with you…”
“OOH… GOO… OOD!!”
John’s words of encouragement were drowned out by
“That’s it! Keep
pushing,
“I AM PUSHING DAMMIT!!”
John shook his head, smiling lovingly at her, dismissing her
apology before it started. He glanced
down and
“John?!” She asked, a slight tremor of fear edging her voice. “John, what is it?”
“Bob… I’ve got a problem here!” He said.
“John?!”
“The cord is around the baby’s neck.” John told him, trying to keep the panic he was feeling from surfacing any more than it already was; knowing it would only upset Helena more; as it was, he saw her face blanche. “What do I do?”
“Relax, Commander. This isn’t all that uncommon.” Bob told him. “This is what I want you to do.”
John took a deep breath and followed Mathias’ instructions
to remove the umbilical cord from around his baby’s neck. Only when the cord was removed did he release
the breath, looking up at
“Okay, Bob. I’ve got it. Now what?”
“Good job, Commander.” Mathias told him, the relief evident in his
voice as well. “Now… you both…” His
explanation was interrupted by a loud groan from
John glanced down and then back up at
“I love you… TOOO!”
John let go of her hands as she screamed the last word and reached down to guide their second child out of his wife’s body. He held the slippery bundle in his hands and lifted his wide blue eyes to meet hers.
“It’s a girl.” He told her quietly, his tears sliding down his cheeks.
“A girl?” Helena repeated, her eyes welling with tears as well when she heard her baby’s strong new cries and John held her up to see. “We have a daughter too?”
“Yes.” John smiled and nodded. “A beautiful baby girl.”
“Good work,
John nodded, handing their daughter to
When he was finished doing as instructed, John helped Helena arrange herself, pulling her skirt back down; knowing she’d want to appear in a somewhat dignified position for when they were finally joined by the med-team. John slid up to rest beside her, slipping his arm about her and placing a gentle kiss against her lips when she turned to look at him. “Good work, Mom.”
“You too, Dad.” She whispered back. She rested her forehead against his. “Thank you, John.”
John’s response was to press a kiss to her temple and move a little closer, gazing down at his children, nestled happily in their mother’s arms.
“I was hoping one of them would at least have your hair.” He said quietly, fingering his daughter’s dark hair.
“Well, maybe she’ll have my eyes.”
John returned her smile as he gazed into her eyes. He leaned closer, brushing his lips against hers. “How you feeling?”
“Sore. Tired. Glad it’s over.” She answered and then nodded softly at the look of concern in his eyes. “I’m okay, John. I must have pulled a muscle in the fall, that’s all.”
John was about to comment when they felt the Travel Tube lurch and then begin to move. They smiled at each other, John hugging her closer; feeling a small wave of relief pass over him, knowing that very shortly, Helena and his children would be in Medical Center, under medical supervision.
** ** **
“Okay, easy now,
“There’s no need to fuss, Bob.”
“Would you stop arguing and let us help you.” John said, squeezing her arm affectionately.
“I’m not arguing…”
“No… you’re just being stubborn.” John told her, smiling down at her.
“Any word on the twins yet?” She asked, glancing at Bob.
As soon as the travel tube had arrived, Bob had his staff take the twins from their parents and bring them immediately to Medical so that they could be properly checked out and cleaned up. Naturally, both parents were a little anxious.
“Ben is looking at them over now,
As they were moving down the corridor, John felt her grip on his hand loosen and glanced down at her, noting then, just how pale she was.
“Bob…?”
“She’s just sleeping, Commander.” Mathias told him, hearing the worry in Koenig’s voice and knowing exactly what he was thinking. “After all, she’s just given birth to twins, in less than normal circumstances.”
John nodded, the panic he felt starting in his chest, easing somewhat. He glanced back down at her and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
** ** **
“What did he say when you told him?”
“He was extremely relieved to hear that other than a pulled muscle and some bruising around the ribs, that you’re really okay.”
“It wasn’t easy, as he didn’t want to leave your side at all. Even Victor had a hard time getting him to co-operate.” Bob told her. “Finally I had to threaten him.”
“How?” She asked, having a pretty good idea of what the threat was.
“Either he took a shower or he wouldn’t be seeing you or the twins until tomorrow morning.” He answered and shook his head at the memory. “He grumbled a little more and then finally agreed but only to use the showers here.”
She chuckled, knowing that not being able to see her was enough of an incentive for her husband. “And the sedative? How’d you get him to take that?”
“I didn’t give him one.” Bob told her and couldn’t help the smile at the surprised look on her face. “The moment he heard you were, indeed okay and so were the twins, he passed out.”
“Well, he hasn’t had much sleep lately… and then having to deliver the twins…” she glanced once more at John, an affectionate smile gracing her lips. “It’s a wonder he held up as long as he did.”
“I think you should follow his example and get some rest yourself. Your body’s been through a lot.” Mathias said. “If you’re up to it later, I’ll see about bringing you something to eat. You’re going to need that too.”
“Bob… the twins?”
“They’re fine. You know as well as I do, that keeping them in the ICU is just a pre-cautionary measure because they were born early. Both of them are strong, healthy and doing great.” Bob answered and then proceeded to answer her next question before she asked it. “And your daughter is none the worse for her experience, thanks to her father.”
Bob shook his head. “In the morning. Right now, you need to sleep. I promise you, they’re being looked after.” He told her, holding his hand up to stop her protest. “Don’t make me sedate you.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
Mathias simply gave her a small smile as he turned and began
to head back to the main area of
“You know what I think?” She called out, catching him just as he was about to pass through the partition. He turned to look back at her with one eyebrow raised. “I think you’re having too much fun being the temporary C.M.O. Being the one to give all the orders.”
“Sweet dreams,
“I think you’re right.”
She turned to see that John was sitting up in his bed, the blanket tossed aside. She smiled at him.
“He is enjoying himself.” He said, standing and making his way over to her. He sat down on the edge of the bed, leaning over to give her a gentle kiss.
“I thought you were sleeping.” She said, cupping his cheek in her hand.
“You know I can’t really sleep, unless I’m holding you.” He smiled, turning to kiss her palm. “Besides, I was waiting for Bob to leave so that I could be alone with my wife.”
The sound of someone clearing their throat interrupted them. John turned and smiled.
“Victor.”
“I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” He asked, moving towards them.
“Not at all.” John said, standing to shake the offered hand of his mentor and friend.
“Of course not.”
“Congratulations, my boy.” Victor said with a smile, patting John on the shoulder as he released him. “Not only on becoming a father, but on doing such a good job delivering those two bundles of joy.”
“Thanks, Victor.”
John said as Victor moved over to
“Congratulations,
“Thank you, Victor.”
“Just came from there.” Victor nodded and smiled. “They’re beautiful.”
John and Helena beamed.
“You know…” Victor said, folding his arms in front of
him. “I have to admit… you two gave all
of us in
John glanced at
“…What with the cord around the baby’s neck and you nearly
passing out.” Victor continued, his gaze
on
Her voice trailed off and both she and John shivered at the thought. John pulled her slightly closer as she squeezed his hand.
“So, what are the two newest Alphans going to be named? Or have you decided yet?” Victor asked, sensing that neither of them wanted to dwell on what could have happened. “I know you didn’t want to find out the sex of the babies before hand…”
“Well, we tossed a few names back and forth these last few
months. And had narrowed it down to
four; two of each.” John answered. “But haven’t had much time these last few
hours to really decide on which ones.”
He paused as he felt
“John.”
Victor chuckled softly, enjoying watching them banter lovingly. “Well, don’t keep an old man in suspense. What’s your son’s name?”
“Jonathan Martin Koenig.”
John answered with a smile and glanced at
“Aah… Jonathan for his
father.” Victor smiled and then chuckled
again, nodding his head. “And Martin for
“We were hoping to name her after her god-father…”
“Vic…
John and Helena exchanged a quick smile and nodded.
“Of course you.” John said. “Who else?”
“I… I’d be honoured.” Victor said softly, his eyes misting with tears. He nodded his head and smiled. “Yes. I’d be honoured to be your daughter’s god-father and have her named after me.”
“Thank you, Victor.”
“Yes thank you, Victor.”
Victor simply smiled and then glanced down at his commlock. “Well, I should be going. I promised Dr. Mathias that I wouldn’t stay long.”
John nodded and patted Victor on the shoulder. “Thanks, Victor. For stopping by and also for agreeing to be
Victor returned the gesture and then stepped over to
“Get some rest you two.” He said as he moved towards the partition. “I’ll come back in the morning to be properly introduced to my namesake and her brother.”
With that, he turned and left.
John looked back at
“I think you’re right.” She agreed as he moved back to her, sitting beside her on the bed. She yawned suddenly. “Oh my…”
“I think we should take everyone’s advice and get some sleep.” John said.
“I think you’re right.”
“
“I’m sure.” She told him, lifting the blanket so he could crawl in next to her. She sighed happily as his arms went about her and snuggled close to his chest. “Being in your arms is the best bed I could ever ask for.”
“For me too.” John said, kissing the top of her head. She raised her head and gave him a loving smile as he leaned in to give her a gentle kiss. “I love you, Helena.”
“I love you too, John.”
Moments later, having decided to check on his patients, Bob smiled as he leaned against the partition; both John and Helena were sound asleep. Knowing they’d rest better the way they were, he dimmed the lights and left them, locked tightly in each other’s embrace.
** ** **
John looked up suddenly, aware of her gaze on him and smiled at her. “Good morning.” He said quietly.
“Good morning.” She replied, sitting up more fully on the bed, her smile growing. “I see we have a couple of visitors.”
John nodded. “Mmhmm.”
“How long have they been here?”
“Not long.” He answered. “I woke up early and when I saw Bob, he said that they were ready to leave the ICU. So after I checked in with, Tony, I went and got them, knowing you’d want to see them as soon as you woke up.”
“You could have woken me.” She smiled.
“You needed your rest.” John said as he slowly stood. “Besides, it gave me and the twins a chance to talk.”
“About what?”
“Oh… different things.” John answered as he carefully placed the twins in her outstretched arms and then leaned over to give her a gentle kiss. “Mostly though, I was telling them, how happy we are that they’re here and how very much their parents love them.”
“I know I said this yesterday,” he said quietly, bringing his fingers up to gently stroke her cheek. “But good work, Mom.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She replied, leaning into him and brushing her lips against his before turning her gaze once more onto the twins. “I know all new parents say this… but they really are beautiful.”
John chuckled and nodded his head in agreement, reaching
down to take
On the other side of the partition, Alan was walking towards the new parents, about to join them when the gentle touch of his wife’s hand on his arm stopped him. He turned to look at her, a question in his eyes.
Sandra shook her head as she gestured back to John and
Helena. Alan turned back to see
“We should come back later.” Sandra said quietly. “Give them some time alone with the babies.”
“Yeah.” Alan agreed, slipping his arm about Sandra’s shoulders. “Guess you’re right.”
He glanced back through the partition in time to see John
give
** ** **
Hearing a sound, John slowly opened his eyes. He glanced next to him to see
He smiled and then leaned over to pick up his month old daughter, shaking his head in quiet bemusement.
“You, young lady…” he said quietly, smoothing a finger over her cheek as he moved to sit in the nearby rocking chair. “…Are supposed to be sleeping.”
“Getting hungry are we?” John asked softly, glancing over at the clock. He nodded softly as he looked back down at her. “Well, it is almost that time. But what do you say, we give mommy a little bit more time to sleep, hmmm?”
As if in agreement,
“That’s my girl.” John smiled affectionately. He began to softly hum the first song that came into his mind while gently rocking in the chair, the soft humming turning into gentle singing.
A few minutes later, he heard movement from his son’s crib. He slowly stood and took the couple steps over to stand by the crib. He looked down; blue eyes meeting blue eyes and smiled.
“So, you wanna join the party too,
huh?” John said softly, shifting
John settled back in the rocking chair, where he once again began to softly sing to them while rocking slowly. He gazed down at them both, a warm smile in his eyes. If anyone had told him when the moon was blasted out of Earth’s orbit, that he could be happy and content with his life on this runaway rock, he would have laughed. But sitting here; in the rocking chair, singing lullabies while holding both his children; children he’d created with the most beautiful woman he’d ever known, the woman he loved more than life itself; John realized that he wouldn’t easily give this up. He was happy, happier than he’d ever been before.
“Next to having you beside me in bed…” John looked up as his wife’s soft voice broke into his thoughts. “…This is the sight I like most seeing first thing in the morning.”
John smiled, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her.
“Were they fussing?”
“No.” John replied. “Not really. But I do know that, Miss Koenig here is hungry.”
“Do you want to sit in the rocker?” John asked as he watched her slip open the top of her robe so that she could nurse the baby. She shook her head. “You sure?”
“Mmhmm. I’ll go sit on the bed.” She said as she turned slowly and made her way across the room, glancing back at him with a smile. “But you can come and join us if you like.”
John looked down at his son. “What do you say, Sport? Shall we go join the women?” John chuckled as his son hiccupped slightly in response. “I’ll take that to mean yes.”
“Good morning.” He whispered against her lips.
“Good morning.” She replied with a smile. “Glad you decided to join us.”
“I wouldn’t miss this for anything.” John said as he moved closer, slipping his
arm about her shoulders, resting his head against hers. “You know I love watching you nurse the
children.”
“I want their mother too.” He said in a low voice.
“It won’t be too much longer, John.”
Her voice trailed off as John nodded and she released a soft sigh, almost a whimper as John pulled his hand out from under her robe and once again put his arm around her shoulders.
“I know, Honey.” He said, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “The next two weeks had better fly by.”
“This one’s finished.” She said and gestured to Jonathan. “Your son’s turn for breakfast.”
They switched babies and John gently patted
“You’re getting to be quite good at that, Dad.” She chuckled as he walked past the bed, heading for the bathroom.
“Thanks. I learned from the best.” John flashed her a grin as he ducked into the bathroom. Seconds later, his head popped back out with an even bigger grin on his face. “…Mom.”
** ** **
“This is it, John.” She heard Victor saying excitedly. “According to Computer, this is the planet we’ve been looking for.”
“The planet you were telling me about last night?”
John nodded.
“It’s more than that.” Victor said, placing the papers on the desk in front of John. He jabbed a finger to a particular spot. “Computer is also saying there is a ninety-eight percent chance that we’ll go into orbit of this planet. A far orbit by the looks of it, but an orbit nonetheless.”
“Orbit? Really?”
“Yes, it would.” John
agreed and then looked up slowly. “I
think it’s time we take a closer look at this planet, a Phase Two probe.” He paused and turned to
“I think some fresh air is just what the Doctor ordered.” She told him.
“Alan.” John said. “What is the travel time between us and the planet?”
“At our present position, ten hours.” Carter answered.
John looked up at
“Okay then.” John said, standing. “Have Eagle one nine ready and on the launch pad in thirty minutes.”
“Right, John.” Alan acknowledged as he stood.
“And, Alan,” Carter turned back and John continued with a smile. “You better let your wife know you won’t be home tonight.”
Alan smiled and gave John a thumb’s up as he strode out of
“Victor, I want you with us, so grab whatever equipment you may need and meet us at the Eagle.” Victor nodded at him and left, whistling quietly to himself as John then turned to face Tony who’d come over. “You’re in charge, Tony.”
“Okay, John.” Tony said. “Let’s hope this is the one we’ve been waiting for.”
“You can say that again.” John said and then turned to his wife, his arm reaching out to wrap around her waist. “C’mon, let’s go say good-bye to our kids.”
** ** **
“Thank you, Sandra.” John said to the petite brunette twenty minutes later, glancing over at Helena who was hugging both babies tightly to her. “We appreciate this.”
“No problem at all, Commander.” Sandra replied. “I am happy to do it.”
John smiled at her then moved over to Helena and their kids. He reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder and she turned to look at him. John chuckled softly as he gathered all three of them into his arms, placing a kiss on each of his children’s cheeks.
“It’s time to go,
“Anytime,
“We know you will.”
John said, stepping over to them, once again taking
“They’ll be fine,
“I know… it’s just…” she began. “John, this is the first time…”
He gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze. “I know, Honey. I know.”
** ** **
“It looks good, John. This planet could support us.”
“Yeah, it’s sure looking that way, Victor.” John nodded, glancing up into the slowly darkening sky as the four of them sat around the small campfire.
“And if the moon does go into orbit, it’ll make evacuating the base all that much easier.” Alan said, poking a stick into the flames. “Especially for those of us with kids.”
John glanced down at the time on his commlock. “Well, Computer will have had enough time to analyze the data by now.” He activated the device. “Tony.”
“What does Computer have to say?”
“Exactly what we were hoping, John.” Replied Tony. “This planet is perfect. Just what we’ve been looking for.”
“Anything else on whether or not we’re going to achieve orbit?” John asked, glancing up again into the sky, looking at the now visible moon in the distance.
“The computer has confirmed that we are indeed going into
orbit.” Tony confirmed. “In fact, we’ve already begun to slow down.”
John turned to look at his companions, his smile matching theirs. He met each of their eyes, silently asking them their opinions but knowing the ultimate decision was his. He nodded slowly as glanced around at the unfamiliar landscape. He brought the commlock back up.
“Tony… begin Phase Three of Operation Exodus.” John told him. “We’ve finally come to the end of our journey.”
“With pleasure, John.” Tony’s smile filled the small screen.
“Uhm… John.” Victor said, stepping over to him.
“Hold on a moment, Tony.” John said and lowered the commlock to look at his old friend. “Yes, Victor?”
“I don’t think we should completely evacuate the base.” Victor said. “Why not leave it, at least, partially operational.”
“For what reason?”
“As an outpost.” Victor began. “And also, Alpha has always been a valuable asset in the development of scientific and technological research… it would be a waste to lose that.”
John considered this. “Well…you have a point, Victor. But I think, for the next while, all our efforts are going to focused on building and developing our homes here.”
“Of course, John.” Victor nodded. “But it makes sense to keep the base somewhat operational, would it not?”
“Yes it does.” John agreed. “And I think, in order for this to work out properly and fairly, we’ll all take turns serving on Alpha to make the necessary changes to ensure it’s continued operation.” Victor nodded his agreement and approval of John’s plan as John raised the commlock back up. “Tony, I want you to have Computer select a forth of Alpha’s population to remain on Moonbase… as we’re not going to completely evacuate her just yet. Then, I want you to have a rotation schedule drawn up utilizing all personnel. More details will follow when we return.”
“Understood, John.”
Tony acknowledged, having heard the conversation. “We’ll begin right away.”
“Good, Tony.” John said and then smiled. “And I guess we’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Pleasant dreams.” Tony said and closed the channel.
John hooked his commlock back to his belt, glancing at the others. “Speaking of dreams, I think we should call it a night.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“I’ll help you.” Victor said, moving to follow her.
As Helena and Victor disappeared inside the Eagle, John and Alan gathered a little more wood for the fire.
“I can’t believe after all these years, we’ve finally found a planet to call our own.” Alan was saying as he placed the wood on the fire. He glanced around and smiled.
John simply nodded, his mind already hard at work planning and figuring out what needed to be done to establish the colony and keep Alpha partially operational. He was so into his thoughts, he didn’t notice Helena and Victor emerge from the Eagle.
“John?” He turned to look at his wife, a smile coming to his face as he watched her approach; a sleeping bag under each arm and a lantern in one hand. “Can you give me a hand with this?” He walked over to her and was about to relinquish her of her burden when she shook her head. “Grab the bag from Victor and then follow me.” She said with a smile as she brushed past him, rubbing up against him only slightly.
“
“She’s your wife, John.” Victor answered, holding up his hands to ward off any further questions. John frowned slightly, slung the bag over his shoulder, and began to follow after his wife, calling her name again; not hearing Victor’s soft chuckle.
Alan turned as Victor joined him, the two of them sharing knowing smiles as they watched John close the distance between him and Helena. Alan laughed softly. “He really has no idea what’s in store for him, does he?”
“Not a clue.” Victor answered with a chuckle.
“
“Do you trust me, John?”
“You know I do. With my life.” John answered, reaching out to take one of the sleeping bags from her as he walked beside her. “But you know we shouldn’t be leaving the camp.”
“Mmhmm. I do know that.” She answered, slipping her now free arm through his. “But I have a surprise for you… and we need a little privacy.”
A soft smile came to John’s face as he nodded slowly. “It has been some time since it’s been just the two of us, hasn’t it?”
“Mmhmm.”
“Not that I don’t love our twins…”
“I know, John.”
John pulled his arm away from hers and slipped it around her shoulders, drawing her closer against him. “So, where are you taking me, Mrs. Koenig?”
“A little spot I found earlier today when Alan and I were exploring.” She answered. “You’re going to love it, John. It’s beautiful.”
They walked along in silence for another ten minutes and
then John stopped suddenly as he saw where
“You’re right, it is beautiful.” He said, his gaze once more taking in the
scene before him of a small lake, half surrounded by tall, reaching trees.
“Help me spread out the sleeping bags… and then I’ll show you.” She gave him a sly smile, placing the lantern on the ground at her feet.
John removed the duffle bag from his shoulder, placing it
next to the lantern and then moved to help
“Not yet.” She smiled. “Turn on the light first, before it gets much darker.”
As he turned on the light,
“I do believe that today’s date has totally slipped your mind.” She said softly, stopping within arms reach of him, reaching out to undo and remove his belt, and tossing it over to join hers.
John gave her a quizzical look. “It’s not our anniversary. I do know that much.”
“You’re right, it’s not our anniversary. You remembered that.” She smiled, moving closer to him as she ran her hands up his chest to circle her arms about his neck. She stretched up on her toes and whispered softly against his lips. “Happy Birthday, John.”
He returned her soft kiss and then pulled back slightly. “It’s not…” A small grin grew on his lips. “I guess today is my birthday.”
John slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her tight against him. “I take it then…” his grin grew. “…That you’re my birthday present.”
“Mmhmm.” She smiled and slipped her fingers into his hair. “And I’m ready to be unwrapped.”
John ran his hands down her back as he leaned down and covered her mouth with his, kissing her deeply; hearing her moan low in her throat as his tongue fully explored her mouth. He moved one hand up her back to the zipper at her collar and began to slowly move it down her back.
He broke off the kiss as his hands reached down for the hem of her shirt and Helena raised her arms as John began to raise the material little by little, pulling it up gently over her head and away from her arms and tossing it aside. John smiled as he reached out a finger to trace the lacey pattern on her bra; his smile growing as he watched her nipples harden beneath the lace. His fingers moved to the front-closure and with a snap of his fingers, it opened. He peeled the flimsy material away from her breasts, pulling the straps off her shoulders and down her arms.
John straightened up and quickly pulled off his top, tossing
it over onto hers and then reached out and pulled
As they continued to kiss, John’s hands leisurely moved down
her sides to the waistband of her pants; his hands slipping inside to rest on
her backside between her panties and her pants, caressing her gently.
“A little anxious are we?” John chuckled, placing a kiss on the tip of her nose.
“I thought I was the one unwrapping you?” He commented, sliding his hands up and down her bare back.
“I’m just saving us a little time.” She smiled as his hands moved back down to
her waist and began to push at her pants, sliding them down her hips.
They moved back into each other’s arms, kissing hungrily as
they slowly lowered themselves down onto the sleeping bags, John’s body
covering hers as he pressed her into the soft material.
“John!” She gasped
his name as she arched slightly into him.
John smiled against her breast and kissed his way back to her lips,
smothering a second gasp as he continued to move his fingers over and inside
her.
John raised his head and smiled down at her as he pulled his
hand from between her thighs and propped himself up on his elbows above her,
moving his body once again completely over hers and settling himself between
her legs.
As they kissed, John began to move inside her, building a
slow and steady rhythm, groaning low in his throat as he felt
“Helena…” he moaned against her lips as he felt her slide her legs up along his, cradling his hips with her knees; arching against him as she clutched at his backside, pulling him closer. John ground his lips against hers, kissing her ravenously before rising on his arms above her, still moving slowly inside her.
John felt his release nearing and knew
John slowly lowered his body down to hers, meeting her lips
for a long, loving kiss as the residual tremors passed through their
bodies. When he felt he could finally
move, John slipped from her and rolled over onto his side, pulling
“Now that, is what I call a birthday present.” He murmured against her hair. “Better than a tie any day.”
“They’re fine,
“Sandra would call us. I know.” She finished with another sigh and then glanced up at him. “I’m being silly, I know.”
“No, you’re not.” John said, his hand coming up to stroke her cheek. “You’re being a mother. A mother, who for the first time in nine months, is spending a night away from her kids.” He paused and glanced up at their moon then looked back down at her. “Would it make you feel better to give Sandra a call and check on them?”
“We’ll call her first thing in the morning.” John said, pulling her closer. “How’s that?”
“That works.”
“It’s still my birthday.” John grinned.
“It’s still your birthday.”
** ** **
She watched his head tilt slightly to one side and his arm
come back as if winding up to pitch a ball.
His arm shot forward and
John sauntered over to her, dropping to his knees beside her and leaned over her with his arms on either side of her body. His lips covered hers for a warm, tender kiss.
“Good morning, Beautiful.” He said softly as the kiss ended.
“Good morning.”
“Not long.” He answered, reaching out to brush a lock of hair out of her eyes. “Did you sleep well?”
“Mmhmm.” She replied as she stretched. “I always do with you. We could sleep on a bed of nails and as long as I was in your arms… I’d sleep like a baby.”
John chuckled, brushed a quick kiss against her lips, and then sat up, bringing her with him. He looked around at their surroundings and spoke quietly. “I can’t believe we’ve finally found a planet.”
“Well, not all of them.” John laughed. “But yeah, I have been thinking about it.” He paused, turning to look at her, running his fingers down her bare arm. “We’ve still got a lot of work ahead of us, Helena.”
“Yes we do.” She agreed. “But everything will be fine, John. You know as well as I do, that everyone on Alpha will give one hundred percent in making this work. After all, we’ve finally found our promised land, all that’s left, is to make it our home.”
John gave her another quick kiss then reached over and grabbed her uniform, handing it to her. “Come on, get dressed. I don’t know about you but not only am I anxious to begin colonizing this planet, I’m anxious to get back to Alpha and see our kids.”
** ** **
Things moved slowly but little by little, they managed to settle in on the planet they’d named Nova Canaan. A sense of permanence settled on the small community as houses were slowly built and moved into and the larger structures for housing Medical, Command, and other technical facilities were erected.
They’d been on the planet for two months when John arranged to have some time off for both him and Helena to spend with their family.
John and Helena sat at the head of the table, a twin on each of their laps; surrounded by their closest friends, they smiled as they watched Alan and Sandra slowly approach, each carrying a small cake with one burning candle in the middle.
As they got closer, everyone gathered began to sing, ‘Happy Birthday’, while the twins watched wide-eyed as the little cakes were set down before them. With their parents’ help, they blew out the candles and clapped and giggled happily with everyone else.
John glanced over and smiled at
“Mama… some.”
Everyone, including
John reached out and drew a finger down her cheek, slipping the finger in his mouth and licking the cake off. “Mmm. Good cake.” He said and then leaned towards her, kissing the cake off her lips. “Very good cake.” He murmured against her lips and grinned at her as he kissed the tip of her nose, his tongue darting out to lick the icing off.
“I don’t think so, young man.” He chuckled.
“What’s the matter, John?” Alan laughed. “Don’t think you’ll look good with chocolate cake smeared all over your face?”
John laughed. “Not as good as my wife does.”
“Dada… cake.” Jonathan said, trying to pull his hand from his father’s. “Some, Dada, some.”
“Alright, Daddy'll have some.” John said with a smile as he looked down, bringing his son’s hand closer and taking a bite of the now very squished cake. “Mmm, thank you, Jonnie. Your turn, you eat the cake now. You too, Vicky.” He looked over at his daughter. “Eat your cake.”
Both twins grinned and turned to their cakes, each of them taking handfuls and shoving them in their mouths, while their parents and everyone else looked on and laughed.
Before too long, both the twins and their parents were covered in chocolate icing.
Later, after almost everyone had left, John walked over to Helena, who was talking to Sandra and slipped his arm about her shoulders. She smiled up at him and brought her hand up to cover his.
“Look over there.” He indicated with his head, a soft smile on his lips.
“That is so sweet.” Sandra said with a smile as she too looked on.
“What’s sweet?” Alan asked as he joined them, his arm sliding about Sandra’s shoulders.
“That…” Sandra pointed across the room to where Victor was dozing in a chair; Jonathan and Victoria cradled in his arms and Bobbie nestled on his chest between the twins, all three of them sound asleep. “…Is sweet.”
The four parents smiled.
“Now that is definitely a picture worth taking.” John said with a grin.
“Right you are, John.” Alan agreed and whipped a camera out of his pocket. He grinned at them then silently made his way across the room to snap the picture. He made his way back to them. “I’ll have to make sure to make lots of copies of that one.”
“We should probably put them to bed.”
As if sensing he was being watched, Victor slowly opened his eyes and looked over at his friends. He glanced down at the three sleeping children in his arms and then smiled back up at their parents.
The four of them moved over to him.
“Looks like I’ve been designated the bed.” Victor commented softly, still smiling.
“You do look comfortable.” John said.
“Well, with three little angels in my arms, why wouldn’t I be?”
They all chuckled while Alan reached out and lifted his son from Victor’s lap.
“Thanks for watching over the little tyke.” Alan said.
“Ah, my pleasure.” Victor said as both John and Helena lifted their sleeping children into their arms as well. He stood and glanced around. “I see the party’s broken up.”
“Yeah, just a little while ago.” John said.
“Well then, I suppose I should be getting along as well.” Victor commented.
“We’ll walk with you, Professor.” Sandra said, then turned to
“Thank you, Sandra.”
“My pleasure.”
“Goodnight, you two.” Alan said as they moved out the door.
John followed and locked the door behind them. He turned to
“Let’s get these two to bed and then head there ourselves.” He said.
“Are you telling me, you’re tired?”
“Did I say anything about being tired?” He grinned. “I said we should go to bed.”
Thirty minutes later, bathed in the moonlight streaming in through the window, Helena sighed as rested her head on John’s shoulder and felt him draw her closer as they swayed to the soft music floating around their bedroom.
“Mmm. This is nice.” She said softly, kissing his neck.
“Yes it is.” John said, his hands caressing her back through his shirt; one she’d slipped on after their mutual shower.
“A perfect way to end a lovely day.”
“Oh, our day ain’t over yet, Sweetheart.”
“It is.” John grinned as he pulled her closer, his hands slipping under the hem of the shirt and caressing her bare flesh. “It’s far from over.”
“I thought you had to be up early tomorrow?”
“Not that early.” John said as he lowered his lips to hers, silencing her laughter with an ardent kiss and danced them over to the bed.
** ** **
“Okay,” she thought to herself, her smile growing. “So that’s not the only reason I’m going up there today.”
John had been up on Alpha for the last week and a half, overseeing the modifications being made to the Moonbase. And even though they’d hoped he would be back on the planet early this morning, when he’d called her last night to say goodnight to her and the twins, he’d informed her that he’d most likely be there for another couple of days.
“What do you mean another couple days?”
“I know, Helena and I’m sorry.” John told her. “You know I’d rather be down there with you
and the kids. Especially tomorrow.”
“I promised you we’d do something special for your
birthday.” John said. “Believe me, Honey, I’d like nothing more…”
“But you’re still the Commander and you’ve got a job to
do.”
“I’ve got a better idea.”
“And what’s that?”
“Come up here tomorrow.”
He told her.
“John…”
“
“You’re not making this easy, you know.”
“I know.” He
grinned at her and she couldn’t help but laugh and nod.
“All right, I’ll come up tomorrow. But just for the day.” She told him.
“I can’t ask Sandra and Alan to take the twins overnight on such short
notice. It’s not fair.” She watched John nod and thought she saw
something flash in his eyes, but dismissed it as something in the
transmission. “How early do you want me
there?”
John grinned. “I
want you here now. But as that’s not
possible, how about calling Fraser, I know he’s scheduled to fly up here
tomorrow morning with some parts that should have remained on Moonbase. Arrange to
come up with him.”
“I should let you go to bed.” He sighed and
“I wish you were coming to bed with me too.” She smiled and reached out to touch the
screen, running her fingers over John’s image.
“Have a good sleep, John.”
“You too.” He
said, reaching out as well, his fingers connecting with hers through the
screen. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“Thank you for flying Fraser Eagle Airlines, non-stop flight to Moonbase Alpha. We hope you enjoyed your flight and hope to see you again soon.”
“You’re right. He
likes us to say, ‘Carter Eagle Airlines’.”
Bill grinned and then headed for the hatch as it opened. “Catch you later,
“You bet, Bill.” She said, turning back to finish gathering her things. She slowly stood, turning to grab her jacket.
“Hello, Gorgeous.”
“You know, we shouldn’t be meeting here like this.”
“And why’s that?” He asked, nibbling on her neck.
“It’s too dangerous. My husband is the Commander here, if he were to catch us…”
“I like the danger.” He said, moving his lips up her throat to her ear. “Besides, you’re worth it.”
“Mmm… hi.” She murmured against his lips as the kiss ended.
“I’m glad you made it.” John said, not releasing her. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
John chuckled and pulled her closer. “Well, I guess I can let you out of my sight for a couple hours.”
“Only a couple?”
“Mmhmm.” John
murmured. “I have plans for us to
celebrate your birthday. Speaking of
which,” he moved his mouth to hers.
“Happy Birthday,
“Thank you.” She cupped his cheek as the kiss ended, smiling adoringly at him.
“C’mon, I’ll walk you to Medical.” John said, reaching to grab her things off the seat and slipping his arm around her waist. “The sooner you start, the sooner we start.”
** ** **
Several hours later,
“You almost done, birthday girl?”
She smiled. “Just a couple more minutes, John.”
“You mean you’re not finished yet?”
John grinned as he pushed himself off the door and moved towards her. “Okay, so what is it you’d like me to do?”
An hour and a half later, after a quiet dinner in the cafeteria, they walked arm in arm down the corridor, enjoying a comfortable silence, which was suddenly broken by the sound of John’s commlock going off.
He reached for it, activating it as he brought it up to face level. “Koenig.”
“John,” Tony’s image
appeared on the small screen. “Fraser’s
in Eagle two one, ready to depart. Is
there anything else going down to the planet other than
“No, that’s it, Tony.”
John said, holding his hand up to stop
“Very good, John.” Tony said. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
“Thanks, Tony.” John said, terminating the connection and slipping his commlock back on his belt.
“John… I needed to be on that Eagle.”
“Going to watch the kids overnight as planned.” John finished for her, placing his hands on her shoulders and smiling at her. “I asked them the day before yesterday if they’d watch them for us.”
“You… planned all this?”
“Well, I didn’t plan on being up here this long but, yes. I already had this evening planned when I called you last night.” He said as his smile grew into a small grin. “You didn’t really think I was going to let you leave here tonight, did you?”
“Thank you.” She said
softly. “Can’t think of a better way to
spend my birthday, then in your arms.”
John smiled, his hands sliding down to rest against the small of her
back, as he pulled her closer. When he
bent to place a loving kiss on her mouth,
“Excellent suggestion, Mrs. Koenig.”
“I thought so.”
John chuckled, giving her another quick kiss before clasping her hand in his and leading her down the corridor.
Less than ten minutes later, they entered their
quarters. As the door slid shut,
She moaned into his mouth as he guided her backwards a couple of steps and pinned her against the wall, pressing his body against hers. His hands came up and clasped her face, his fingers threading into her hair just below her ears, his thumbs caressing her cheeks as he continued to kiss her so that all she could do was clasp his elbows in her hands and hold him to her as she returned his hungry kiss.
John pulled her with him as he took a step away from the
wall, one hand removing her belt, the other pulling the zipper of her shirt
down her back. He quickly removed both
and let them fall to the floor as he moved her back up against the wall. He reached out and unclasped her bra, his
hands immediately moving to cup her breasts, kneading them gently in his hands;
smiling as her nipples reacted to his touch and grew taught.
“…John…” she gasped as his hands caressed a soft trail up her legs, his lips following the same path; reaching out and entangling her fingers in his hair as he nibbled on her inner thighs; his fingers moving to and stroking the sensitive flesh hidden in the nest of blonde curls. He pressed a kiss against her as he continued his upward journey, pausing to once again tease her breasts with his tongue.
John clasped Helena’s hips as he straightened up fully and lifted her into the air, his hands gliding down to her thighs and pulling her legs around him as he took a step forward and pinned her, once again, against the wall. His mouth met hers as he shifted slightly and pressed himself inside her.
Their eyes met as
John moved his hands around to cup her backside and hold her
to him, as he took a small step backwards, then turned and began to walk
towards their bed.
When he reached the bed, John kneeled on the edge and slowly lowered them down onto the mattress. He smiled down at her, seeing the passion still burning bright in her green eyes and went willingly as she reached up and pulled him down for a long, soul-searing kiss.
A small whimper of protest left her lips as he broke off the kiss and she felt him withdraw from her. Her small whimper soon turned to low moans as John licked, kissed, fondled and caressed every inch of her body; from the top of her head to the tips of her toes. He leisurely worked his way back up her legs, in the same manner, pausing when he came to the juncture at her thighs.
“John!” She moaned his name loudly as he slid two fingers inside her and began moving them in and out of her, his other hand rubbing and stroking her already stimulated flesh. She arched against his hands, her own hands clutching at the blankets as she moaned his name again. “God… John…”
John felt her body tremble and her inner muscles tighten around his fingers and glanced up at her, smiling as he saw her eyes close and then resumed his previous journey; kissing his way up her body. When his lips met hers, he pulled his hands away and settled his body over hers, sliding into her slowly, moaning as he felt her muscles contract around him.
John’s lips left hers as he raised himself up on his arms and began to thrust into her with more urgency, feeling his own release to be close; knowing she was close as well and wanting to take her over the edge with him. He moaned softly as her hands trailed down his chest, over his sides and up along his back, where she clutched at his shoulders, arching her body into his.
They cried out each other’s names simultaneously as John
drove himself into her one last time and
“Do that…”
John chuckled as he rolled off her and gathered her into his arms. “Tell you what. I’ll do my best to do both, for all your birthdays from this day forward.”
“Mmm… I was hoping you’d say that.”
They lay together in a comfortable silence, using only their
hands to communicate with each other in gentle caresses for a time until
“What?”
“I was just remembering the first time we made love.”
“And it’s making you laugh?”
John chuckled.
“I should have said, I was remembering all the times we tried to make love for the first time.” She laughed lightly. “All those romantic dinners and being so close…”
“Only to be interrupted by some emergency or other.” John smiled at the memories and shook his head. “I remember being very frustrated and wanting nothing more than to grab you and take off in an Eagle… or even hide away in one of the outer structures. Anything to be alone with you… and finally be able to make love to you.”
“I felt the same way.”
“Were incredible?” He asked with a smile. “You mean I’ve slipped over the years?”
“Oh… no! You haven’t
slipped in the least.”
John reached out and took her hand in his, lacing their fingers together as he nodded, the memory of that night still fresh in his mind. It had been during a couple of weeks when the moon had been traveling through an unremarkable region of space and both had been hoping to take some time to spend alone together and uninterrupted; but events had conspired against them and all the minor, little problems that there had never been time for had come to a head and they found themselves swamped with work.
“It’s getting late.
I should be going.” John said
softly against her hair as they sat cuddled together on her couch, enjoying a
rare moment of peace and quiet.
With their arms around each other’s waists, they made
their way towards the door. Once they
were standing before it,
“I’m glad we were able to spend this time together. Even if was for just an hour.” She said against his shoulder. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
He said, pulling her closer and resting his cheek against her hair. “So much for that uninterrupted time alone
together.”
“We’ll get that time soon, John.” Helena chuckled softly and lifted her head to
smile at him, bringing her hand up to cup his cheek as she saw his controlled
desire for her in his deep blue eyes.
She released a soft sigh. “I’m
anxious to be with you too.”
John smiled as he lowered his lips to hers for a tender
kiss. “I love you.” He whispered against her lips as he kissed
her again.
“I love you too.” She
whispered back and moved herself further into his embrace, pressing her body
against his, as the tender kiss slowly grew more passionate. Helena moaned softly and broke off the kiss
to look into his face, seeing the control he had over his desire, slipping. She smiled and pulled his mouth back to hers
for a hungry kiss.
John moaned deep in his throat and lifted her into his
arms; his hands reaching down to pull her legs around him as he stepped closer
to the wall, pinning her between him and it as they pulled at each other’s
clothes.
“How long was it before we finally made it to the bed?” She asked, moving her foot against his leg, smiling softly.
“Much, much later in the evening.” John grinned up at her. “Or rather, the morning.”
“We were all over the place, weren’t we?”
“Mmhmm.” John chuckled, pulling her closer. “I don’t think there’s one spot in your old quarters that we hadn’t christened, either that night or any night thereafter. As I recall, you were quite insatiable. Still are for that matter.”
“Before you do that.” John said, feeling what she was about to do and rolled away from her, towards his nightstand. “I have something for you.”
“John?” She watched him reach into the drawer and rummage around.
“There it is.” He said as he closed the drawer and rolled back to her. He held out a small, unwrapped box. “This is for you.”
“You… I wasn’t expecting a gift.” She told him, eyeing the box he held in his hand.
“I know.” John
smiled, gesturing for her to take it and then shifted slightly so that he was
propped up on the pillows to watch her.
“Open it.” She took the box and
gave him a look, which told him he shouldn’t have. “Just open it,
He watched her intently as she slowly opened the box.
“Oh… John! It’s
beautiful.”
John smiled and reached out to take the box from her hands, removing its contents and tossing the box over onto his nightstand. “It’s a family heirloom.” He told her, holding up the chain and letting the heart-shaped locket dangle back and forth. “My great, great grandfather on my father’s side had it made for my grandmother.”
“My grandfather had it made when my grandmother gave birth
to their first child, my great grandfather, and had both his picture and their
wedding picture placed inside.” John
explained softly as he watched
“I love it, John.” She told him as she leaned towards him and gave him a gentle kiss. She straightened up and held it gently in her hand for a moment before closing it and holding it out to him. “Would you?”
John took the locket from her hand, opening the clasp and when she turned, he slipped it around her neck and secured it. She turned back to him, glancing down to where the locket rested just above the swell of her breasts, watching as he reached a hand out and touched the locket.
“I knew it would look right on you.” John said with appreciation. “I’ve been waiting for the right moment since the twins were born, to give it to you.”
“You’re welcome.” He replied and pulled her closer. “I would have given it to you anyway.” John said quietly some minutes later, sensing her slight change in mood.
“Hmm?” She raised her head slightly to look at him.
“I said, I would have given it to you anyway.” John repeated, his hand gently rubbing her
back. “You were thinking about what I
would have done with it if we hadn’t have had the twins.” He paused and smiled, the look on her face
indicating she was thinking just that.
“I still would have given you the locket,
“Would you have told me about the tradition surrounding it, as well?”
“Yes.” He said. “I would have but only as the story is part of the tradition. No other reason. Whether or not if we’d had children… the locket is also a symbol of love.” He raised his hand and caressed her cheek with his fingers. “And Lord knows, I love you. With every fibre of my being, I love you.”
“I love you too.”
John smiled and pulled her tighter into the lock of his embrace as they talked quietly before falling into a peaceful sleep, holding each other tight.
** ** **
She sighed happily when she felt him shift slightly and press closer to her, burying his face in her hair and inhaling deeply.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.” He murmured into her hair before raising his head a little to place a gentle kiss on her shoulder.
“I wish I didn’t have to leave today.” She said a few minutes later, burrowing her head into his shoulder, under his chin. “I really hate waking up alone.”
John chuckled softly. “So do I.” He slipped his hand between them and under her chin, raising her face so he could look in her eyes. “I’ll only be up here for a couple more days and then I’ll be home.”
“I know.” She sighed with a sad smile and then rolled away from him to lie on her back. “I know I’m being selfish but we’ve both given so much to Alpha and everyone here over the years, that I just…”
“Just what?” He asked as he propped up beside her and looked down at her; already knowing what she was going to say.
“I just want some time for us, John.” She finished finally. “Us and our kids.”
“And we’ll have it,
“But you’ll still be Commander.” She pointed out. “And everyone will still look to you for guidance.”
“I know. Which is why, when the base is fully automated and everyone is down on Nova, I’m going to suggest that we elect a council… of about a dozen people from all the various departments, where we can vote on what we want to see happen on our new home.” He told her.
“And if they want you to serve on the council?”
“Then I will.” He answered. “But my point is, it won’t simply be my decision on what happens on this planet. It’ll be everyone’s. And that will free up a lot of my time… time I can spend with my family.”
“You and the twins mean more to me than anything,
“I know, John.” She said, rolling back onto her side so that they were lying face to face. She reached out and stroked his chest. “You and the twins are my life too. I don’t know what I would do if I ever lost you or…”
“Sssh…” John whispered, pulling
her closer and brushing a kiss against her forehead. “Don’t say it. In fact, don’t even think it. I’ll never leave you,
“I love you too.” He whispered back.
They held each other close for a little while longer until John glanced up at the time. He looked back down at Helena who nodded reluctantly.
“I know.” She sighed dramatically, a small smile tugging at her lips. She raised her eyebrows slightly. “Do we have time for a shower?”
John laughed as he rolled away from her and out of the bed. He kneeled back down and reached out to pull her into his arms, lifting her into the air.
“What do you think?” He asked over her amused laughter as he walked towards the bathroom.
** ** **
“Now remember you promised me. Only a couple more days.”
“I know.”
“I wish you were coming with me now.” She said. “I know the kids miss having their daddy at home as much as I do.”
“And I miss them too.”
John said. “I’ll be home in two
days,
“Commander, we’re ready to lift off on your signal.”
John reached out and pressed the button on the wall of the
Eagle, never taking his eyes from
“Just give me one more minute, Bill.”
“Yes, sir.”
John closed the channel and then pulled her closer, covering her mouth with his, kissing her passionately.
“Give the kids a hug and a kiss each for me when you get home.” He said softly against her lips. “And tell them their daddy loves them.”
“I will.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They kissed again and then slowly, with reluctance, they broke apart. John reached out and caressed her cheek.
“Two more days, Honey and then I’ll be home.” He told her. “I’ll call you every night.”
“I’ll be waiting.” She smiled.
John leaned forward and brushed another quick kiss against her lips, again whispering his love to her and then turned and left, closing the Eagle door behind him.
“Come off it,
She glanced up at the receding picture of Alpha on the view screen and took in a deep, ragged breath while trying to still her pounding heart.
“So why am I feeling so ambivalent about John remaining on Alpha?” She asked herself. “It’s not like the moon is going to breakaway again or anything.”
The thought actually made her chuckle and she shook her head. Knowing that most of what she was feeling was because they had finally found a planet and she wanted John there with her to make that planet a home. She smiled slowly and felt herself relax a little more.
John would be home in two days. Of that she was certain.
She glanced up once again at the image of the moon now on the screen and smiled, her thoughts turning to seeing her children.
Two days.
** ** **
Walking side by side on their way to pick up their children
from the nursery, Sandra couldn’t help but smile as she noticed the spring in
“Would you like me to take the twins for you tonight,
Sandra chuckled as well. “What time will the Commander be arriving?”
“Well, we spoke just before I left the clinic and John said
that he should be leaving Alpha in about two hours.”
The two friends laughed and continued on their way, Sandra
continuing to chuckle as
“Watching the moon is not going to bring him home any faster.”
“I know.”
Her voice trailed off as the sky suddenly lit up. Seconds later, both women were thrown off their feet as the ground shifted below them.
“
Getting to her feet, Sandra ran over to
“
“
“Sandra, are you all right?”
She turned to see Alan at her side and nodded as he pulled her to her
feet, the both of them turning back in time to see
“Oh… God… no… JOOOHN!”
The scream tore out of
Alan and Sandra followed
“Oh my God!” Sandra gasped.
“John! Oh, please…
John!”
John strolled into
“Someone’s happy.” Tony commented with a chuckle.
John grinned and nodded. “How are things going?”
“Everything is running smoothly.” Tony answered. “So smooth in fact, that if you wanted to leave now and surprise your wife, you could.”
“Exactly what I was thinking.” John’s grin grew and he quickly glanced around. “Keep me posted.”
“Sure thing, John.” Tony said. “And give the kids a hug from their Uncle Tony for me.”
“As soon as I give them mine.” John said and with a final nod, he turned to leave.
“Commander!” Maya suddenly called him, alarm in her voice, stopping him in his tracks.
“What is…”
John’s question remained unfinished as he and everyone else
in
“Oh, God… we’re going out of orbit!” John thought as he landed hard on the floor
between the open door behind his desk. “
“John! John, can
you hear me!?” He lowered his eyes
as he heard
After what felt like an eternity, John’s hand closed around the commlock and slowly he managed to pull it from his belt, activating it as he fought to bring the device up to his chest.
“
“I love you, Helena.” John called to her, feeling tears form in his eyes. “I love you!”
“I’ll find my way back to you, Honey! I swear it!” John told her, the tears now streaming down the sides of his face. “Someway, somehow… I love you, Helena! I’ve always loved you… always will.”
“John… I’ll always love you too… Oh please, God no… don’t leave me!!” He could hear the tears in her voice and it broke his heart. “John!”
Suddenly the commlock went silent.
John closed his eyes against his tears, the ache in his heart already too much for him to bear; hoping like hell he would soon wake up and find that this was all a horrible nightmare… that he wasn’t being separated from his family… from Helena.
Alan took a step forward as they heard John’s voice, barely
audible, come over
“But…”
“I know but not yet. Let her…” Sandra’s voice shook. “It is the last time they’ll…”
Alan wrapped his arms around his wife and pulled her tightly into his embrace as her voice trailed off, understanding what she was trying to say. Alan raised his eyes to the disappearing moon, shaking his head sorrowfully.
“John…”
“I love you too…John!” She stopped dead in her tracks, the moon barely visible through her tears.
“I’ll find my way back to you, Honey! I swear it!” John vowed over the channel and she could
hear the tears in his voice as well. “Someway,
somehow… I love you, Helena! I’ve always
loved you… always will.”
“John… I’ll always love you too… Oh please, God no… don’t
leave me!!”
Suddenly the commlock went silent.
“John…”
** ** **
Ed Spencer walked out of his office to see
“
He moved his hands to her shoulders and turned her around to look at him. Seeing a void, haunted expression on her face, Ed could tell that even though she was looking at him, she wasn’t really seeing him.
“C’mon, let’s get you back to bed.” He said gently, steering her back into the clinic, genuinely surprised and worried when she didn’t resist or put up a fight.
Alan, Sandra, and Victor had entered the room just as Ed had
walked over to
“I’ll stay with her.” Victor said softly as his eyes followed them. “She shouldn’t be alone when she finally comes out of her shock.”
“We’ll go get the twins and take’em home with us.” Alan said, glancing down at Sandra who nodded.
“Do you think she’ll…” Sandra began to ask and then stopped, not wanting to finish her question.
Victor reached out, placed his hand on Sandra’s arm, and
slowly nodded. “It will be extremely
hard on her at first… but she’ll be fine.
His voice trailed off as all three of them looked in the
direction Spencer had taken
** ** **
Bob Mathias walked into the office he had, for the last few months and until just several hours ago, shared with the wife of the weary looking man who was sitting on the couch, his eyes distant; his gaze directed at the ceiling.
“Commander.” Bob called to him. “Commander.”
John slowly brought his gaze down from the ceiling as a voice broke through the constant ringing of Helena’s voice in his ears; begging him not to leave her, to come back to her. He blinked once and then focused on Mathias, standing in the doorway. He shook his head and slowly got to his feet.
“Well?”
“We were lucky.” Mathias answered, stepping further into the office. “Mostly minor injuries, except…”
Koenig nodded sadly. “There was nothing you could do?”
“Nothing.” Bob replied sadly. “Her neck was broken. She died almost instantly.”
“How’s he?” John asked, gesturing with his head through the glass to the prone figure on the bed.
“He took it hard, as expected… I had to sedate him.” Bob said. “As for the restraints well, that’s just a precaution for when he wakes up, for us and him. He got violent when he learned… well… he’s in shock.”
“We’re all in shock, Bob.” John said flatly, glancing down at his left hand and seeing his wedding band.
Bob noticed this. “Commander, I know this is useless to even suggest but why don’t you try and get some rest.” To Bob’s surprise, John simply nodded his agreement.
“Keep me posted on his condition.”
“I will, Commander.”
Mathias said and watched as John slowly walked out of the
** ** **
Standing just inside the door of his darkened quarters, John closed his eyes and took a deep, ragged breath. He slowly opened his eyes and sighed, fighting against the tears he could feel threatening to spill down his cheeks.
He glanced around, even in the dark seeing everything in the
room, the twins’ cribs, an unfinished sculpture
He shook his ruefully as he leaned up against the wall; a small smile pulling at the corners of his mouth as he remembered making love to Helena, just the other day, against this particular wall. Closing his eyes again, John pictured her face as he moved within her… could hear her crying out his name in pleasure.
With a despairing groan, he pushed himself away from the wall and stumbled his way to the bed; collapsing face first onto the mattress, burying his face in the pillows as his tears finally began to fall.
“Oh, please, God no… don’t leave me!! John!!” He heard her voice cry in his mind in a never-ending loop.
John rolled over onto his back and reached over to grab the
copy of their wedding picture he kept on his nightstand. He ran his fingers over
“I will find my way back to you, Helena. I swear it.” He said aloud. “Someway, somehow, I will return to you and the kids… or die trying.”
He clutched the picture to his chest and closed his eyes. He was soon fast asleep as exhaustion, both physical and emotional, claimed him.
** ** **
As she slowly moved towards consciousness,
“It wasn’t just a bad dream, was it?” She asked quietly, not opening her eyes. “The nightmare is real?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“Was anyone hurt?”
Victor shook his head and
“Alan and Sandra have the twins.” Victor told her, watching as she played with her wedding band, knowing that would be her next question.
She nodded. “How long have I been here?”
“Almost twenty-four hours.”
“Has there been…”
“Sadly, no.” Victor answered and watched her close her eyes. “The last that was heard from them was…”
His voice trailed off and Helena looked up at him, her eyes bright with unshed tears as she nodded, knowing that she’d been the last one to communicate with them… with John. She took a deep breath, swung her legs over the edge of the bed, and stood.
“And where do you think you’re going?”
“
“What I need…”
Ed and Ben glanced at each other and then at Victor who
shrugged at them, indicating that they were on their own. He knew better than to tangle with
“Now please, move aside.”
They met Victor’s gaze again as he stood and joined them at
the door, the three of them watching
As soon as she stepped outside of the clinic,
“John.” She whispered sadly, a single tear escaping her eye and slipping down her cheek. She swiped at it and then began to make her way to the Carter’s house to pick up her children.
Less than ten minutes later,
“Hey,
“I’m fine, Alan.”
“Sure, come on in.” Alan said, stepping aside and gesturing for her to come inside. “The kids just got finished eating supper and are in the living room playing with Sandra and Bobbie.”
“You know it’s not a problem,
At the sound of their mother’s voice, the twins turned from the
blocks they were playing with and smiled as they clamoured to their feet and
ambled towards her.
“Mama! Mama!” They shouted in unison, throwing themselves in her arms as she knelt down before them, hugging and kissing her.
Standing off to the side, Alan and Sandra exchanged glances
as they saw the pained look flash across
“Daddy’s not here, Sweetie.”
“Bye.” The twins said simultaneously and waved.
“You sure you wouldn’t like to stay for dinner,
“Thanks, Sandra,”
“Are you sure,
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“You know if you need anything…” Sandra began.
“You’re welcome,
Alan slipped his arm around Sandra’s waist and pulled her
closer, reaching out to ruffle his son’s hair as they watched
An hour later, having changed the twins into their pajamas and put them in their cribs, Helena stayed and watched them until they fell asleep and then slowly made her way towards her bedroom.
She hesitated at the doorway, swallowing hard before finally entering the room.
Making her way to the window, her gaze was drawn to the moonless sky. She released a small sob as her eyes once again welled with tears. She whispered his name as she leaned her forehead against the glass.
“I’ll find my way back to you, Honey! I swear it!” She heard John’s voice in her head as she turned and moved to the bed. She crawled on top of the covers, grabbed John’s pillow and hugged it tightly to her chest as she curled up into a tight ball, her tears beginning to spill down her cheeks. “Someway, somehow… I love you, Helena! I’ve always loved you… always will.”
“I love you, John.” She cried into the pillow, holding it tighter to her. “Please… please find your way home. I need you. I need you so much.”
She continued to cry until she cried herself to sleep, clutching John’s pillow.
** ** **
“I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
John smiled as he gazed into Helena’s delighted face, her
emerald eyes sparkling with happiness as he leaned towards her for a slow,
loving kiss; the first one as his wife.
He’d always thought
As her warm lips moved gently under his, John felt
completely at peace for the first time in his life.
“I love you, Helena Koenig.” He whispered against her lips.
“I love you, John Koenig.”
Something was suddenly very wrong… her reply was too
faint… and he could no longer feel her lips under his. John opened his eyes to see her being pulled back
down the aisle, further and further away from him, as if by some invisible
force. He could see her arms reaching
out for him… hear her voice calling to him…
“John! John!”
He reached out for her.
“
Jolted awake by the echoes of Helena’s voice calling out for him, John bolted up in his bed, struggling in anguish for breath, her name on his lips, his heart pounding in his chest.
He slowly climbed out of bed and went into the bathroom to splash some cold water on his face. As he did, he caught his reflection in the mirror and closed his eyes against the image. He didn’t need a mirror to tell him how he looked. He knew.
He opened his eyes, the image of a weary man with sad blue eyes looked back at him, reminding him of his reality for the last couple of years. He was still the leader of a group of Alphans, albeit a smaller group, who had unbelievably, been cast away, once again.
John sighed, whispering
Knowing he wouldn’t be able to get back to sleep, he decided
he might as well get dressed and head over to
** ** **
“I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.”
Helena smiled as she gazed into John’s smiling face, his
blue eyes dancing happily as he leaned towards her for a slow, loving kiss; the
first one as her husband. She’d always
thought John to be a handsome man, but today he was more than that. When she’d first seen him as she approached
him on Victor’s arm, her only thought was that he was drop-dead gorgeous and
that she loved him more than life itself.
As his warm lips moved gently over hers,
“I love you, Helena Koenig.” She heard him whisper against her lips.
“I love you, John Koenig.”
“JOHN!”
“Mama?” Came a soft voice at the door. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, Sweetie.”
“You sure, Mommy?”
“I’m sure.”
“When we have bad dreams, you stay with us till we go back to sleep.” Jonathan told her as he yawned. “Would you like us to stay with you too?”
“Sure. I’d like that a lot.” She nodded as she stepped aside to let them into her room. “Come on.”
They followed her back to the bed, Jonathan crawling in
first, curling up on his father’s pillow.
“You’ll sleep better now, Mommy.” Jonathan said tiredly. “Cause me and Vicky are here to protect you from the monsters now, right?”
“Yes, Sport.”
“Night, Mommy.” They yawned together.
First the argument with Victor, Alan and Sandra in the lab, where she knew she’d lost her temper, but she’d been concerned with her children and their memories of their father and had lashed out at her three closet friends. Not only about what they had said to the twins, but also because of what they and the other Alphans were planning.
And then, still concerned about the twin’s memories or lack thereof about their father, Helena had determined that they should and would know all about John and how much he loved them both. It had been difficult for her to sit there, hearing John’s voice and seeing John’s face and not having him there to touch and had to excuse herself at one point, while the kids sat mesmerized; their faces alive with delight and wonder.
The nightmares invoked by this would be a small price to pay if it helped to keep John’s memory alive in their children. As long as she was alive, her children would not forget their father.
“John.” She whispered sadly, turning her head to stare out the window, knowing sleep would not come back easily. Her tears slipped down her cheeks. “Oh, John.”
** ** **
Sandra looked up as
“Good morning, Sandra.”
“Good morning,
“Sandra, I may not agree or even support what you guys are
doing,”
Sandra smiled.
“I know I lost my temper and for that, I do apologize.”
“I know. And we’ll respect your wishes.”
“Thank you.”
“That sounds wonderful.” Sandra nodded. “What time?”
“Right after our shifts.”
Sandra nodded. “Why don’t we get a small head start and meet for lunch too. We could meet up with Tanya and Carolyn.”
“Deal. I’ll see you
then.”
Sandra sat back in her chair thoughtfully as she watched
Sandra knew she was very lucky to still have Alan with her;
both him and their children and wished it could be the same for
It was a strange feeling but over the years, Sandra had the
distinct impression that
“Or maybe,” Sandra thought to herself. “It’s just wishful thinking on my part
that the two of them should be together or that we’re wrong and
Sandra sighed again as she straightened up in her chair and
got back to work. Either way, she felt
sorry for the pain her friend was in and wished there was someway for it to
end. But Sandra knew, the only way for
that to happen, would be for the moon to find it’s way back to Nova Canaan and
for
** ** **
Tony quietly entered the Observation Room, stopping just inside the door to let his eyes adjust to the darkness of the room. Walking further into the room, he wasn’t surprised to see John sitting in the far corner, staring out the window at the ever-changing, always unfamiliar stars.
He slowly made his way across the room, stopping beside the low couch to look down at his Commander and friend.
“Mind if I join you?”
John looked up at Tony. “Only if you brought some beer with you.”
John chuckled and shook his head as Tony pulled two large thermoses out from behind his back, handing one to John as he lowered himself to the couch, following John’s gaze out the domed glass. The two of them sat quietly as they sipped their beers.
“Either my taste-buds are dead… or your beer is finally tasting like beer.” John said, with just the barest trace of humour in his voice.
“Your taste-buds are dead.” Tony replied dryly.
They glanced at each other, sharing weary smiles, before turning to look back out at the stars.
“Couldn’t sleep, huh?” John took another swallow of the bitter liquid.
“Nope.” Tony replied. “You too?”
“Mmhmm.”
“I saw her tonight…” Tony began in a low voice a few moments later, pausing to take a sip of his drink. “When I closed my eyes to sleep… I saw her. I haven’t done that for a few years now.” He paused again and smiled softly. “She looked so beautiful… her hair loose and flowing about her shoulders, wearing that one dress of hers. You remember that dress don’t you? The one with the feathers?”
John nodded.
“I tried to touch her but every time I’d reach for her hand… she’d get farther and farther away.” He paused again, swallowing another swig of beer. “And then she spoke to me… told me it wasn’t quite time yet. That she was waiting for me, and that we’d be together again one day, but not yet. Then I woke up and realized that soon… it’ll be five years since she…”
His voice trailed off as he blinked back his tears.
“And obviously, I couldn’t get back to sleep.” He shook his head. “I thought I’d gotten past the hurt but obviously, I was wrong. I suppose it never really goes away, does it?”
“Nope.”
Silence once again descended on the two friends as they continued to drink their beers and watch the stars slowly drift by; both of them lost in their own thoughts, each fighting their own demons.
“
Tony could hear the emotion in John’s voice but didn’t say a word.
“I’ve not only missed her birthdays… but the twins’ birthdays as well.” He paused and sipped his beer, fingering his wedding band. “Not to mention our… anniversaries.” He shook his head, slapping the arm of the couch with his hand, laughing bitterly. “We were so close. So close to having everything we’d dreamed of… a life together off this rock. Me, her, and the twins.”
He took a long drink of beer before continuing, still speaking softly.
“I sometimes think… what’s the use in waking up in the mornings? What reason is there for me to open my eyes? My reason for living was left behind on that planet. So why not simply end the suffering now? And then I hear her voice… roll over and see her picture on my nightstand… and I know the reason I continue to endure… to wake up.”
Tony looked over at John upon hearing his admission. He knew those feelings. Not only knew them but shared them as well. There’d been many mornings when he’d wondered just why it was he bothered to wake up at all.
“I swore to her, Tony. As we were breaking out of orbit and all I could hear was her voice over the commlock… hear her frantic cries begging me not to leave her, I swore to Helena that I’d find a way back to her. Someway, somehow, I’d find my way back to her.”
John turned and met Tony’s eyes.
“And I swore to myself that I’d find my back to Nova… or die trying.”
Both men fell silent again; turning back to the view of the stars and drinking their beers as neither one knew what else to say or what else could be said. Both had suffered very large, very personal losses, more so than anyone else that had been unfortunate enough to be trapped on Alpha at the time of the second breakaway.
Finishing the last of his beer, John put the lid back on the thermos and handed it Tony as he slowly stood.
“You’re right, my taste-buds are dead.” He commented.
Tony was about to comment, when the base and the moon it clung to suddenly began to shake, and a red alert sounded.
“What the hell?” John
swore as he was thrown back over the couch.
He gripped the back of the couch and pulled himself up onto his
knees. His eyes growing wide as he saw a
vortex of swirling lights outside the windows of the Observation room. He quickly got to his feet, patting Tony’s shoulder.
“C’mon, let’s get to
Both men ran out of the room, working on keeping their balance as the base continued to shake.
“Report!” John yelled
over the alarms as he ran into
“Computer indicates that we’ve entered some kind of time
warp.”
John nodded at
** ** **
In a week it would be her birthday. She had tried to forget about it and hadn’t said anything to anyone, hoping her friends and family would all forget about it as well. But they hadn’t and as they had every year, they were planning a small party.
She sighed again.
She knew they meant well and were simply trying to help her forget, at least for one day, that the one person she wanted most with her, to help her celebrate, was forever lost to her. Taken away from her by some weird, sadistic twist of fate, just when it’d seemed that they’d had everything they’d ever wanted.
She reached into the opening of her robe and pulled out the locket John had given to her on the last birthday they’d celebrated together. Before he was taken from her. She ran her finger over the engraved ‘K’, until the tears welling in her eyes caused the image to be nothing more than a golden blur.
“Oh, John…” she whispered, turning her gaze once more to the window and the stars beyond it. “John… I miss you so much.”
Her tears began to roll silently down her cheeks, clutching the locket tightly in her hands as she heard his promise ring in her ears again.
“I love you, John.” She said quietly but passionately. “Wherever you are, know that I still love you. I always will.”
** ** **
From his station in
After that last time warp, three days ago, they’d found themselves entering a new planetary system and just yesterday, the long-range scanners had detected signs of what could be some form of civilization on the fourth planet.
With John holed up in his quarters, sporting some very bruised ribs from his fall over the couch, Tony had been left in charge to find out all he could about the planet and if they should even bother sending an Eagle down to look.
Turning his attention back to the present, Tony looked over to see the three of them approaching him, astonished looks on their faces.
“Must be something big.” Tony thought. He looked up as they stood in front of his desk. “What have you found out?”
The three of them glanced at each other and then Alibe stepped closer and spoke.
“We’ve been monitoring some radio transmissions from that planet… land to land transmissions… that we picked up about two hours ago.” She paused. “At first I thought I was hearing things as I listened to bits and pieces of conversations but as we’ve been moving closer… well, the similarities are too great for this to simply be a coincidence, Tony.”
“What similarities, Alibe?”
“The number and position of the planets; and the scans of
the fourth planet.” She handed him a
report. “And the voices I heard in those
conversations… they were Dr. Koenig’s and Sandra's voices. I had both Yasko
and David check it out. They’re our
people, Tony.” She glanced back at
“
All four heads turned at the whispered name to see John standing in the Command Center doorway, his eyes wide, and his face hopeful as he stared at the image of the planet on the big screen. A planet he thought he’d never really see again.
“Tony, let’s see that report.” John said, holding out his hand, not taking his eyes away from the screen until he felt the file in his hand. Only then did he glance down, quickly reading the findings. He looked up at the screen again and then turned his eyes onto his people. “According to Computer, not only is that planet, Nova Canaan but we appear to be once again, going into orbit.”
“Can we really trust the Computer on this one again, John?” Tony asked. “It said that five years ago too and we all know what happened.”
“You’re right, Tony.” John nodded understandingly and tapped the report with his finger as he considered all his options. “Alibe, I want you to see if you can establish a communications link with the planet. Tony, I want you and Fraser to take Eagle One and head down there. If for some reason, it’s just Computer playing tricks on us due to that last warp… we’ll recall you.”
“John…” Tony began.
“Why don’t you go? If it really
is Nova
“Tony, that’s generous… but I have a responsibility to this base.”
“Yeah… and you’ve carried it out fully for the past five years.” Tony countered, seeing in John’s eyes that he really did want to go down there; only his dedication to duty was preventing him from voicing that desire.
“Tony is right, John.”
Mathias said from behind Koenig, having entered
John looked around the room at the other Alphans who had slowly stood from their stations and moved closer, meeting their eyes and seeing that they all agreed with Tony and the doctor. He had to be certain.
“Are you sure?”
Everyone nodded and smiled.
“Get going, John.” Tony said with a smile. “Get down there and see your family.”
John swallowed back the lump that had formed in his throat, as he looked at his friends in grateful defeat, nodding wordlessly as he turned towards the door.
“Oh and, John…”
John stopped and turned back.
“Yeah, Tony?”
“Don’t forget to give the twins that hug from their Uncle Tony.”
John grinned and gave Tony a thumbs-up.
** ** **
Sandra sat at her console, working hard on figuring out why the communications network they’d established hadn’t been working properly for the last few days. There was some kind of interference but she had no idea where it was coming from.
“Any luck?”
Sandra turned at the sound of Victor’s voice and shook her head.
“None. We’ve traced all the links, checked out every station in the colony and they are all in working order… but we still cannot locate the source of the interference.” She told him. “It does not make sense. But perhaps with some dinner and a good night’s…” the sudden blinking and beeping of her console interrupted her. She turned back to her station. “Professor! Someone… someone is trying to contact us. It’s an audio signal only.”
Victor stepped closer to her as she reached out and hit a button to allow the message to be heard, not realizing she’d just opened the community wide channel. His eyes grew wide at the message that came over the speakers.
“This is Moonbase Alpha calling
Nova
“Professor? Can it really be them?”
Victor looked down at her and ran his hand over his baldhead, nodding slowly. “It is possible. Let’s find out for sure…”
Sandra nodded, reaching out once again, only this time to press the button that would allow her to talk back.
“Alpha? This is
Nova
Already in her nightgown and relaxing on her couch, after
enjoying a rare day off,
On Alpha, Alibe’s smile grew as Sandra's voice came over the speakers and she didn’t have to turn around to know that everyone else was smiling as well.
“Sandra!? Yes, it’s Alibe!” She laughed. “It’s good to hear your voice.”
Sandra looked up at Victor and the two shared a smile.
“Alibe, is John there?” Victor asked, leaning closer.
“Professor Bergman? No… the Commander’s not here…” Alibe answered. “He’s in Eagle One on his way down there. Hold on, I’ll patch you through.”
Victor grinned and glanced over at Sandra.
“Sandra, I think… I think you should let
Sandra nodded and moved to open a link to
Victor looked at the console and nodded.
“John! It’s good to hear your voice.”
“Yours too, Victor.” John replied and even over the link, Victor could hear the smile in John’s voice. “Yours too.”
In a daze,
“John, what’s your E.T.A?” She heard Victor ask.
“Well, I’m pushing this bird as hard as I can… so I estimate that we should be touching down in about two hours.”
<<Two hours!>>
She laughed with joy and headed for the door, her commlock clutched tightly to her chest.
“I’m quite anxious to see my wife and kids, Victor.” She heard John say and grinned.
“Oh… I’m anxious to see you too, John.”
“It’s been a long five years.”
“It’s been a long five years.”
Victor glanced down at Sandra and frowned slightly. “Uhm… John… I think there’s something you should know.”
“Victor… has something happened to Helena and the twins?” John asked anxiously, his hands gripping the Eagle’s controls tighter at the sudden change in Victor’s voice.
“No… no, they’re fine.
In fact, they’re all perfectly healthy and doing very well.” Victor replied and John breathed a sigh of
relief. “But there is something very
important you should know before you get here.”
“Well, I’m listening, Victor. What is it?”
Back in the
** ** **
“I’m surprised
“So am I.” Victor
murmured. “So am I.” He reached for his commlock,
keyed in
“Perhaps she is in the shower?”
“No… she would have put her commlock on stand-by, if that were the case.” Victor shook his head as he began to pace a little. “She had today off, did she not?”
“Yes she did.” Sandra answered. “I do know that she was hoping to spend some time with Callie. Perhaps that is where she is.”
“Perhaps.” He said, keying in another code on his commlock. “Perhaps.”
** ** **
“MOM!”
The door flew open and
“Mom! Have you heard
the news? They’re back, Mom! They’re back!”
A sound near her feet caused her to look down. She bent down and picked her mother’s commlock up off the floor. She pressed the button to answer the page.
“Finally, we’ve been trying to reach you for an hour, Hele…
“I don’t know, Uncle Victor.”
“We’re thinking she might be with Callie.”
“I find it hard to believe that your mother would not want to be here when your father’s Eagle lands. Not after all these years.”
“You and me both.”
On the tiny screen, Victor nodded before closing the
channel. Clutching her mother’s commlock tightly in her hand,
“MOM! They’re back, Mom! Daddy’s back!” She said as she moved to enter her mother’s room, a shocked expression crossing her face when she discovered the door was locked. She knocked. “Mom? Mom, are you okay?”
“I’m fine,
“Mom… The moon’s back.” She said, the excitement still in her voice. “Mom, did you hear me? The moon… it’s back. Daddy’s come home!”
“I heard you, Vicky.”
“Well come on then, Mom! What are you waiting for!?”
“You go ahead, Vicky.”
“Mom?”
“Vicky…” she heard her mother sigh from the other side of the door. “Please… don’t ask questions. Just… just go. Go see your father. I’m sure he’s anxious to see both you and your brother.”
“He’s anxious to see you too, Mom.”
“
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Okay…” she said, moving away from the door. “See you… there.”
On the other side of the door,
** ** **
Victor’s words echoed in the cockpit of the Eagle as the two men turned to look at each other, their eyes wide with shock.
“It’s been… oh my God!
My babies aren’t babies anymore, Bill.
And
Bill smiled at the boyish grin that was now plastered on his Commander’s face, noting that John would, despite the fact that his wife was now a number of years older, still be as madly in love with her as he was when they were last together.
“I’m never letting her go of her again.” John repeated, still grinning. “And I’m never letting her out of my sight from now on.”
“I’m sure
John laughed and nodded.
“What do you say we push this bird a little harder and see if we can’t shave a few more minutes off our arrival time?” Fraser suggested. “Get you back in her arms a little sooner.”
“Sounds great to me.” John agreed with a grin.
** ** **
“Where’s Mom?”
“She said she’d be along shortly.”
Jonathan regarded his twin, understanding the look she was giving him immediately. There was something else.
“What is it, sis?”
“I… I don’t know.” She answered quietly so that she wouldn’t be overheard. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d almost say that Mom wasn’t happy that Dad’s come back.”
“That doesn’t make any sense.” Jonathan said. “You and I both know Mom’s always believed that Dad would find his way back here somehow.”
“I know that.”
“Well… maybe she’s just nervous. It has been a while.” He said. “Or maybe… maybe she just wants their reunion to be in private.”
** ** **
“Nice landing.” Fraser said with a smile as the Eagle touched down.
“Thanks.” John chuckled as he released his harness and pushed his seat back. He climbed out of his seat and headed towards the passenger compartment, Bill following. When he got to the outer door he paused.
“What is it, John?” Bill asked, noticing his Commander’s hesitation.
“I’m… nervous.” John admitted with a small laugh, shaking his head. “I’ve dreamed of this moment for five years… and I’m having a hard time believing it’s really here.”
Bill just nodded, saying nothing and then placed his hand on John’s shoulder. John looked at him. “They’re waiting for you. So get out there and go be with your family.”
John nodded and took a deep breath as he pressed the button that would open the door and reunite him with his wife and children.
As the door on the Eagle slowly slid open, Victor saw the twins reach for and grasp each other’s hands tightly as John stepped up into the open hatch and glance around at the gathered crowd. Victor smiled slightly and took a step forward, placing a hand on each of their shoulders.
They turned to look at him.
“Uncle Victor?”
“Yes,
All three of them turned their attention back to the Eagle.
John stood in the open door, his eyes scanning the crowd,
looking for
Growing more anxious, he finally stepped out of the Eagle, followed quietly by Fraser, and began to make his way towards Victor and his kids; his eyes continuously scanning the crowd for the one person he wanted more than anything to see.
Victor patted the twins’ shoulders and moved past them as he saw John and Bill begin to make their way towards them. When he reached John, the two friends embraced.
“It’s good to have you back, m’boy.” Victor said softly.
“It’s good to be back, Victor.” John replied. He smiled at his old friend and as they pulled apart.
“Welcome home, Bill.” Victor said, turning and extending his hand to the pilot.
“Thanks, Professor.” Fraser smiled, returning the handshake.
Victor saw John glance over at his kids and then search the crowd once again. He clapped John on the shoulder. “Come on, I’ll re-introduce you to your kids.” John nodded, feeling suddenly nervous. Victor chuckled. “Ah, you’ve nothing to worry about, John. Your kids are as nervous and anxious to see you as you are to see them.”
“That’s good to hear, Victor.” John said as he followed his old friend to be
reunited with his children, his eyes still combing the crowd. “Victor, where’s
“Jonathan.
“Hi.” John said with a nervous smile, the pride he’d felt when first setting eyes on them from the Eagle returning. He wanted to reach out and pull them both into his arms but wasn’t sure how they’d react after so many years of not seeing him.
“Welcome home.” They replied together.
Standing just off to the side, Victor glanced at Bill and both men smiled; watching as both twins moved together and embraced their father. Victor saw the tears in John’s eyes as he returned his children’s embrace and nodded silently in approval.
The crowd surrounding them broke into quiet applause as they watched their former Commander reunite with his children, yet all of them very aware of the one person who was missing.
“Where’s your mother?”
John asked quietly as they parted, his eyes once again moving through
the throng of people. He saw Victor step
closer and gave him a look. “Victor, you
said
“She’s fine, John. Nothing has happened to her.”
“Then why isn’t she here?”
John asked, a feeling of despair beginning to wash over him, despite
Victor’s reassurances. He saw both
Victor and Jonathan glance over at his daughter. “
“She said she was coming.”
“And what?”
“That she wants your reunion to be in private.” Jonathan finished for his sister. “That’s the only reason we can think of for her not being here.”
John nodded slowly.
John smiled and then turned to Victor. Despite his anxiousness to see his wife, he still had a duty to the men and women up on Alpha. “Victor…”
“We can meet with the council tomorrow, John.” Victor told him, already knowing what John was thinking. “We’ll work everything out and get everyone down here as soon as possible. For now, go see your wife.”
John smiled. “Bill…”
“Don’t worry about me, John.” Fraser said. “When I return to Alpha, I’ll let Tony know what’s happening.”
“Thanks, Bill.” John said and then turned to smile at his daughter. “Well, let’s go.”
** ** **
John knocked on the bedroom door again.
“
“John… go away.” Came her reply through the door.
John placed his hand on the door, trying to curb the frustration
he was feeling. “Open the door,
“No.” She called out. “I don’t want to see you.” There was a pause and John could swear he heard a sob come from behind the door. “Please, John just go away. Leave me alone.”
Resting his forehead against the door, John took a deep breath and fought back the tears he could feel forming in his eyes.
“All right,
He stepped away from the door, pausing to stare at the closed door that was separating him from his wife and bowed his head. Heaving a deep sigh, John slowly made his way down the stairs.
On the other side of the door,
“I love you too… John.” She whispered.
<<Then why wouldn’t you let him in?!>> her heart screamed at her. <<You’ve waited years for this moment… for him… and yet you wouldn’t open the door! Why?!>>
“John!” She whispered, her tears flowing again. “Please forgive me… I’m doing this for you.”
Victoria continued to pace back and forth; a habit, she’d recently discovered that she inherited from her father, as she waited to see her parents emerge from the house; finally reunited after all these years. She heard the front door open and looked up expectantly.
“Where’s Mom?” She asked, the surprise evident in her voice. It was then that she noticed her father’s sullen look and walked over to him. “What happened? Why isn’t Mom with you?”
“She wouldn’t let me see her. Wouldn’t even open the door.” John answered softly. He looked at his daughter. “I don’t understand… I… I thought she’d be as anxious to see me as I am to see her.”
“I don’t understand it either, Daddy.”
John smiled softly as did
“Wait here. I’ll go talk to her.”
“No.” He said, shaking his head.
“But why not? You want to see her, don’t you?”
“More than anything else.” John answered, nodding his head.
“But, Dad…”
“No, Vick.” John said, shaking his head again. “Leave her be.”
“I don’t get this.”
“It’s because I love your mother that I won’t force her to do anything she’s not ready for. And that includes… seeing me.” John explained, glancing up into the darkening sky at the moon that was once again in orbit, this time, hopefully for good. He looked back down at his daughter; still not quite over the shock that she was a young woman and not a rambunctious six year old. “It’s been a lot of years for her, Vick… she’s in shock.”
“I understand that… but I also know how much Mom still loves you.”
John smiled wistfully. “We have to give her time. When she’s ready to see me… I’ll still be here.”
John reached out, squeezed his daughter’s arm, and began to step away.
“Where are you going?” She asked.
“For a walk.” He answered. “And then I’ll probably end up at Victor’s.”
John smiled and pulled her into a light embrace. “So am I, kiddo.”
He let her go and began to walk off.
With a sad shake of his head, she watched as John turned and continued to walk away, his head bowed.
“John.” She whispered, her hand coming up to rest on the window.
<<Go to him! Ease his pain! Ease yours!>> her heart screamed at her again.
“I can’t.” She whispered sadly. “I’m doing this for him… in time he’ll see that.”
She jumped slightly when she heard the front door fly open and bang on the front of the house, followed by her daughter’s angry voice.
“MOTHER!”
With an air of calm she was far from feeling,
<<John!>>
“What in the hell is the matter with you?!” She heard her daughter ask angrily as she burst into the room.
“Watch your tone young lady. I am still your mother.”
“How could you do that to him?” The anger was still in
“I did what I had to do,
“What do you mean, what you had to do?”
“You wouldn’t understand.” She said. “But I did what was best… for both of us.”
“How can not seeing Dad be the best thing for him… for
you?”
“What else am I supposed to think?”
“It’s because I love your father…”
In that moment,
“Five years… it’s only been five years.”
Suddenly it dawned on
“I understand now, Mom.”
“I’ve aged and he hasn’t.”
“Oh, Mom…”
“When Dad stepped off the Eagle, it was obvious to everyone
that he wanted to see you. That nothing
else mattered to him but that.”
She saw her mother’s eyes widen a little and continued.
“After Uncle Victor… re-introduced Jonathan and I to Dad, I
brought him home to see you. By the time
we got to the house… it was obvious just how nervous and anxious he was to see
you.”
“He what?”
“He saw the picture of you and Callie.”
John stopped pacing and turned to finally head upstairs,
but not before a framed photo resting on the mantle caught his attention. He moved, as if in slow motion, over to the
fireplace and reached up with a shaking hand to grab the picture.
“
“Just a few days ago.”
John nodded, his eyes barely noticing the small blonde
child in
“Are you all right?”
John nodded again and when he finally lifted his gaze
from the photo to look at his daughter,
“She’s still the most beautiful woman in the
universe.” He said softly, his voice
choking with emotion as his gaze drifted back to the picture in his hands. “Oh… my beautiful
“So you see, Mom… he knows.
He knows… and he doesn’t care that you’ve aged some.”
“Where are you going?”
“To see your father.”
“But how will you find him? He could be anywhere?”
“I know exactly where he is.”
Jonathan watched his mother brush past him. “Mom?”
Jonathan looked up at his twin as she joined him on the porch, both of them watching their mother’s retreating form.
“Where’s she going in such a hurry?” Jonathan asked.
“But I thought… didn’t you bring him here to see her?”
** ** **
As she neared the lake, where she knew with absolute
certainty that John would be,
She saw him; illuminated by the moonlight, his hands crammed into the pockets of his jacket, his head hung low, and his back to her. She felt her heart constrict momentarily, knowing he was hurting and that she was the cause of that hurt.
She approached quietly, feeling her heart begin to pound in her chest. As she drew closer, she saw him raise his head and tilt it to the side; he knew she was there.
When she was within arms reach of him, she stopped.
“When the moon was ripped out of orbit of Nova
He turned his head slightly so that he could just make out her shape behind him.
“Even finding out that twenty years had passed here… and finding out that the twins were no longer babies, that they were adults… still… all I wanted… was to see you. To hold you in my arms; to look into your beautiful eyes and see that you still loved me.” He paused a moment, swallowing back the tears that threatened to spill over into his voice. “And when you wouldn’t open the door… wouldn’t see me… oh God… it killed me. I knew it was because you were scared… scared because so much time had passed for you and not for me. Afraid that I couldn’t… or wouldn’t still love you.”
“John.” It came out as a whisper as she reached out her hand, placing it on his shoulder.
Suddenly, John turned and pulled
John buried his face in her hair, his tears streaming down
his cheeks into her white-blonde tresses.
“
“I’ve missed you too, John.” She cried, her arms tightening around him; feeling more alive in this moment; in his embrace with his scent drifting over her then she had in years. “So much.”
John pressed a kiss to her hair and then moved his hands up
along her back, over her shoulders to cup her face in his hands, lifting it
from his shoulder. As he brushed her
hair away from her face,
“
When she finally lifted her eyes to meet his, she began to cry softly, seeing nothing but utter love and devotion in his cerulean depths. John moved his thumbs over her cheeks, wiping away her tears, smiling softly at her.
“You are so beautiful.” He told her quietly, lovingly. “I’ve dreamed of this moment, over and over for the last five years. Of seeing you again; of looking into your eyes and seeing your love for me shining in their green depths.” He paused and threaded his fingers into her hair. He gazed into her face and when he spoke, it was with an intense passion. “It makes no difference to me about the time difference… whether it be five years, twenty years or fifty years. I love you, Helena. I’ve always loved you. Nothing can or will ever change that.”
“Don’t you know… don’t you realize, it doesn’t matter to me that you’ve aged a little.” John paused and he brought one hand from her hair to caress her cheek. “You could never be anything but beautiful to me, Helena.”
“Oh… John.” Her lower lip trembled as she stared into his eyes, seeing the truth of his words in the blue depths before her and feeling the truth in her heart and in his touch. “I love you too. I’ve never stopped loving you… could never stop loving you.”
John’s eyes filled with tears at her words and he pulled her
back into a fierce hug. He sighed, a
wave of relief washing over him. “I was
so afraid…” he whispered into her hair.
“As mine does to you.”
They stared at each other, still not quite believing that they
were together, and then slowly, John pulled
“John…” she whispered softly, her breath caressing his lips, which were so close to hers and moving closer.
John brushed his lips lightly against Helena’s; pulling away slightly to rain gentle kisses over her face; kissing away her tears, only to return each time to her lips; each kiss, just as soft as the one before it yet barely concealing the passion that was simmering below the surface, waiting to be released. He paused before kissing her again and gazed into her face.
John’s mouth covered hers and his tongue moved into her
mouth, both of them moaning softly as their tongues met.
They clung to each other; neither one wanting to be the one to end the long-desired, passionate embrace they were now sharing. Finally, in need of air, they broke apart at the same time and smiled breathlessly at each other.
“
John reached between them and untied her robe, slipping it
from her shoulders, but not letting it fall from his hands. He stepped away from her and
As they held each other, locked in a heated embrace, neither Helena nor John noticed their children standing at the edge of the trees, watching them.
Victoria and Jonathan looked at each other and smiled.
“Come on.” Jonathan said softly, grabbing his sister’s arm. “Let’s leave them alone.”
Continuing to kiss
“John?”
He leaned back over her and gave her a tender kiss. “Oh… I’m not going anywhere, Sweetheart.” He murmured, his eyes smiling at her as he kissed her again and sat up.
Bending her arm under her head,
John knelt beside her and then leaning over her, he captured her lips with his and gave her a long, amorous kiss. Slowly he ended the kiss, leaving her breathless as he gazed down at her; his blue eyes bright with desire and longing; mirroring the desire and longing in her luminous green ones.
His gaze left her face and John turned his attentions to reacquainting himself with his wife’s body. In a feather-light caress that caused her to gasp softly, John traced his fingers over the swell of her breasts, following the line of her nightgown, and then repeated the gesture with his lips. His fingers hooked the thin straps at her shoulders and eased them down her arms, gently tugging the gown down off her breasts.
A small smile came to his lips as he reached out to finger the gold heart nestled between her breasts. She smiled in return and nodded slightly to his unvoiced question.
Helena then watched through lidded eyes as John, cupped each breast in his hands and then bent over to take first one nipple in his mouth, then the other; licking, sucking and nipping them gently, until they grew tight and hard, then moving to kiss her entire breast. She moaned softly.
John released her breasts and continued his exploration of
“You’re still as beautiful as I remember.” He told her softly in a throaty voice, choked with emotion. He let his eyes travel completely over her body, reaching out to run a line from between her breasts, to the thatch of curls between her thighs, threading his fingers in the soft hair. He murmured again in a lower voice. “So beautiful.”
“John!”
John continued to stroke and stimulate his wife, a small smile forming on his lips as he watched her control begin to slip away. Seeing her body begin to quiver as the beginnings of her orgasm took hold of her sent a jolt of pleasure through John’s body; he felt himself throb in response and ached to be inside her, to join their bodies again after so many years apart.
It came out as a whispered moan as she reached her hand out to clasp his hand on her breast. John looked into her eyes, smiled, and nodded slowly, knowing what she was asking him.
Without removing his hand from her, John shifted his position and eased his body over hers, supporting his weight on one elbow. He lowered his mouth to hers for an ardent kiss. As they kissed, he pulled his finger from inside her, grasped his hard member and he slowly, and gently eased into her.
Helena’s cry of pleasure was lost in his mouth; her body trembling under his as the feel of him filling her so completely, after so long, triggered her release; sending a stream of tingling sensations shooting through her body.
John broke off the kiss and held still, watching as Helena
lost control in his arms, the sight of her, giving herself over to her release,
almost his undoing. As her body stilled,
They moved together; two bodies; one heart and one soul, in a passionate dance that both had hoped and prayed they would share again with each other, and yet had secretly feared would never happen.
John moaned as Helena moved her hands lightly along his sides and over his back, spreading her thighs a little wider as she grasped his backside, urging him to thrust deeper inside her. He gave her a searing kiss and then raised himself onto his arms as he moved inside her with long, sure strokes.
“John.” She moaned his name as wave after pleasurable wave of fire-hot sensations coursed through her body. Feeling him move in and out of her, she moaned his name again and moved her legs up around his waist; her hands moving up to grasp his shoulders as she arched into him. “Oh… John…”
“…
She felt the change in his body; the tightening of his muscles, his loss of control as his thrusts grew faster, more erratic, and knew he was on the edge. She also knew that John would hold back as much as he could, wanting her to have her pleasure before him. Tightening her legs around him, she thrust her hips up against him, squeezing her inner muscles tighter, urging him to let go.
“…
John and Helena clung to each other, their bodies still trembling as they soared higher and higher through the moonlit sky on the wings of blissful satisfaction; both feeling the years they were apart, falling away to nothingness.
Slowly, John lifted his head from where it was pillowed on
her breasts and gazed down at
“I love you, Helena Koenig.” He whispered softly, his voiced choked with emotion.
“I love you, John Koenig.” She whispered back, tears of happiness welling in her eyes.
John lowered his lips to hers for a long, tender kiss, before rolling off her. He reached out for her nightgown and covered her with it as he gathered her into his arms.
“Oh… my love… how I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too, Honey.” He replied, pulling her even closer.
They held each other, arms wrapped tightly around each other, afraid to let go for fear they would be torn away from each other again as they talked softly, telling each other about their lives during their forced separation.
A while later,
“What do you say we get dressed and head home?” He suggested, pressing a kiss against her hair.
John returned
Just as they were about to set off for the house, John
happened to glance down and noticed that
“Do you always run out in the middle of the night in your bare feet?” He asked her, the amusement in his voice as he watched her look at her feet. She looked up at him.
“My mind wasn’t exactly on my feet when I left the house.” She said, smiling sheepishly.
John laughed and scooped her up into his arms, placing a
firm kiss on her lips.
“Are you planning on carrying me all the way back?” She asked, still smiling; already knowing he would do just that.
“Absolutely.” He said with a grin as he began to walk, pulling her tighter against him. “So, relax and enjoy the ride.”
“Besides, I’ve finally got you back in my arms…” he turned his head slightly and brushed a kiss against her forehead. “And I don’t intend to ever let you go again.”
“Mmm.” She tightened her arms around him. “I like the sound of that.”
“Me too, Sweetheart. Me too.”
They fell into a comfortable silence as John pulled her
tighter against him, walking as quickly as he could back to the house.
“In a hurry?” She asked, laughing quietly, moving her lips to nibble on his earlobe.
John growled softly and then stopped suddenly.
John gave her another quick kiss and then smiled at her as
he resumed his hurried pace to the house.
As they neared the house,
“Tell me something…” he began quietly and she raised her head to look at him. “Are the twins… still living at home?”
“Well then, we’ve got a reception committee.” He commented with a small smile.
“It’s about time you two got home.”
“I wasn’t aware we had a curfew.” John said with a grin as he glanced at
Victoria and Jonathan smiled at each other, both of them noticing the happy, contented glow emanating from their parents; the fact that their father continued to cradle their mother in his arms and that she didn’t seem at all eager to leave his embrace.
John leaned back against the railing of the porch for a
moment to look at his children. He felt
a sense of pride wash over him as he looked from one to the other. They’d grown into fine young adults, as he’d
always hoped they would and it was clear to him, just how much they loved and
respected their mother. John smiled and
couldn’t help but remember them as he’d last seen them… rambunctious one year
olds… getting into everything where their little legs would take them. He blinked back the tears that came to his
eyes as it suddenly dawned on him, just how much he’d missed out on, both in
his children’s lives and
He turned back to his children as he straightened up and
stepped towards the front door. “Well,
if you two will excuse us. It’s been an…
eventful day.” He said. “I think we could all use some sleep.” He glanced at
“Of course, Dad.”
The twins nodded their agreement as Jonathan stood and walked over to them, stepping behind them to the door to hold it open for them.
He clasped his hand on John’s shoulder. John turned to look at his son who smiled at him. “Welcome home, Dad.”
John returned Jonathan’s smile. “Thanks, son. It’s good to be home.”
Jonathan and Victoria watched, standing in the doorway as their father moved towards the stairs. They smiled at each other as they turned to leave. They heard their father’s voice call out to them from the stairs and they stopped and turned back.
“Hey kids… make it brunch tomorrow instead of breakfast!” John called over his shoulder. “Better yet, lunch!”
They heard their mother’s amused, delighted laughter and
called out their
“You’re terrible.”
“Yes I am.” John said as he stopped before the door of her bedroom and looked at her. He smiled tenderly at her and leaned in to give her a quick kiss. “I am also in love.”
“And…” his smile slowly grew into a grin. “I plan on keeping you up quite late tonight.”
Their lips came together again as John slowly passed through
the doorway, kicking the door closed with his foot.
John knelt on the bed and gently laid her on top of the covers. He straightened up and gazed down at her; reaching out to caress her cheek. “…Helena… my beautiful Helena, I…” he paused, suddenly too overcome with emotion and at a loss for words.
John raised his head and his tear-filled eyes locked with hers. “It’s so good to be home.”
They shared a soft smile and then slowly, their lips came together.
** ** **
“John?” She called out, glancing around the room. Not seeing his uniform anywhere, or even a sign that he’d been in the room, her eyes began to well with tears and she felt a tightening in her chest. “Oh, God no… please…” she gasped. “Not another dream.”
At that moment, the bedroom door opened.
John’s arms immediately went around her, holding her naked
body tight as he felt her trembling.
“Hey…
“I thought… last night… I thought I was dreaming.” She sobbed, her tears soaking his robe. “I woke up… you were gone…”
“Oh, Honey, I’m sorry.”
He said, his arms tightening around her as he slowly maneuvered them
over to the bed and sat down, pulling
John smiled and nodded as he turned his face into her hand,
pressing a kiss into her palm. “I’m
home. I promised you last night,
She nodded against his shoulder, her arms tightening around him as well. “Neither do I.”
John settled back on the bed, resting against the pillows as
they quietly held each other, gathering strength and reassurance from their
nearness. He pressed a kiss into her
hair and pulled her closer still.
John’s hands slid up into her hair, as the kiss grew longer and deeper. Finally, in need of air, John broke off the kiss, his fingers remaining threaded in her hair. He smiled adoringly at her, part of him still not believing that he was holding her again. He brought her lips back to his for another long kiss, this one more passionate then the last.
John smiled; his eyes moving appreciatively over her naked
body and nodded as he allowed
** ** **
The front door opened and Jonathan stepped into the house, followed by his twin.
“Mom? Dad?”
Jonathan nodded, a strange look on his face as he answered quietly. “I know.”
“How do you…” she began to ask and then stopped as Jonathan
put his finger to his lips and motioned for her to listen.
They looked at each other and in silent agreement, quickly moved out onto the porch, where as soon as the door was closed, Victoria and Jonathan dissolved into a fit of laughter. They laughed until they each had tears streaming down their cheeks and both were clutching their sides as they gasped for breath. They glanced up at each other as their laughter died down and began laughing again.
“That was…”
“Now I know how Bobbie and the others felt.” Jonathan said and chuckled at the memory of their friends’ reactions to unwittingly hearing or walking in on their parents having sex when they were younger. He glanced at this twin. “Just be glad we only heard them.”
“Despite how… strange that just was…” he paused and glanced at her with a small smile. “I’m happy for them. They’ve been reunited. Against incredible odds… Mom and Dad are together again.”
“Mom always said Dad was still alive… and that somehow, he’d find a way to come back to us… to her.”
Jonathan nodded and looked at his sister. She smiled and nodded before both lifted their gazes up to the moon, visible in the blue sky; the moon that had taken their father away but had also brought him back home to them and more importantly, home to their mother.
Figuring they’d given their parents enough time, the twins re-entered the house twenty minutes later to see their parents descending the staircase, arm in arm.
“Good afternoon, you two.”
“With her other grandparents.”
“I can’t wait to meet her.”
John said with a smile. “But,
right now, let’s go eat. I don’t know
about the rest of you, but I’m ravenous.”
He shook his head, smiling to himself at the amused look that passed
between the twins and began to lead
“So, Dad. What are your plans for today?” Jonathan asked as they sat around the table thirty minutes later eating their food.
“Well, I’m supposed to meet with Victor and the other
council members to talk about bringing everyone down from Alpha and what we can
do to re-integrate everyone.” John
answered, munching on a piece of toast.
“And then, I’ll be heading up to Alpha to get things under way
there.” Next to him, John felt
Seeing the look in
“…John…”
“
“I know… but… John. It’s been so long since…”
“You’ve been on either an Eagle or Alpha.” He finished and she nodded. John smiled at her. “I understand… but I’d really like it if you came with me. I do have to go up there… but I also don’t want to leave you.”
John laughed as she finished quoting him, leaned forward, and placed a loving kiss on her mouth.
“I love you.” He whispered against her lips.
“I love you too.” She whispered back.
Across the table from their parents, Jonathan and Victoria simply smiled.
** ** **
Walking arm in arm, John and Helena slowly made their way to
the center of town, when
“John?” She began to ask then stopped when she saw what he was looking at. She sighed softly.
“What is that?” He
asked, pointing to what looked like a fairly large replica of the moon and
Alpha. He led them over to it, his eyes
growing wider as he saw that it was indeed the moon. He read the inscription on the plaque
attached to the base of the monument and then turned to look at
John looked back at it and re-read the inscription. “Everyone who was on Alpha for the second Breakaway is listed here, except…”
“Except you.”
He gave her a questioning look and she sighed.
“It’s a long story.”
John glanced around and then led
“Do you think Mommy will like it?” Helena heard Victoria ask, as she stood
outside the door to Victor’s lab, about to enter.
“Will I like what?”
She asked, walking into the room, a smile coming to her face as her
children turned and seeing her, rushed over to hug her. She knelt down and hugged them both to her,
wishing, not for the first time, that John were still here to see how much
they’d grown. She kissed each one on the
cheek and then asked again. “What is it
that you think I’ll like?”
“A… mem… mem…
ori…” Jonathan began, stumbling on the word. “A memory.”
“A memorial, Jonnie.”
“You’re right, that’s what it’s for, Vicky.” Helena told her daughter, not bothering to
correct her grammar as her gaze shifted to Victor, Alan, and Sandra, all of who
had the good sense to look uneasy and look away.
“Daddy is dead.”
Jonathan said all of a sudden.
“That’s why Uncle Alan and Aunt Sandra and Uncle Victor said that we can
put Daddy’s name on the…” he paused and glanced at his twin. “...Mem-or-ial.” He sounded it out and smiled as he realized
he got it right.
“But…”
“No buts,
“Yes, Mommy.” They
answered together and stepped outside.
“I won’t be long.”
“…
“I don’t ever, EVER, want to hear of anyone telling my
children that their father is dead!” She
said in a tight voice, her green eyes flashing angrily. “Is that clear?! Never again!”
“
“John is still alive.”
She said, her voice still tight, but filled with conviction.
“…
“
“Sandra is right, Helena.” Alan said, placing a hand on his wife’s
shoulder. “That’s why we’ve designed
this monument. To pay respect to those
lost on Alpha and honour their memories.”
Helena shook her head, her hands balling into tight
fists, as she fought to control her anger.
“No. John is still alive and I
will not let you erect some… monument… a tribute to their deaths… they are not
dead! John would not let them die!”
“
“Love… Victor. I
LOVE John… present tense.” She said, her
voice beginning to grow louder.
“
“NO! I will not
allow you to do this!”
“It is too late,
“Construction on the monument has already begun.” Alan told her.
“
“You heard me, Alan.”
She said, her voice growing hard.
“I don’t want to see John’s name on that thing. Not even a reference to him in any way!”
“Helena, John was Commander of Alpha… people are going to
wonder why…”
“Let them!” She
said in a loud voice, turning to face Victor.
“John is MY husband! And I will not
allow you to place his name on some monument meant to honour his memory… his
death… when John is NOT dead!” She
stopped and glared at each of them in turn before turning and walking to the
door.
“
“Try me!”
With that,
“Mommy! Mommy,
slow down.” She heard Jonathan call up
to her. “Please, Mommy. We’re sorry.”
“Yeah… we’re sorry.”
Helena knelt down and gathered Victoria and Jonathan into
her arms, hugging them tightly against her as her eyes welled with tears. “Oh, babies, mommy’s the one who’s
sorry.” She pulled back and looked into
their concerned, confused faces. “I’m not
mad at you guys.”
“You’re not?”
Jonathan asked.
“No, Sweetie. I’m
not.” She chuckled softly, smiling at them
now.
“Then why are you mad, Mommy?”
“Is it because of the memorial, Mommy?” She asked, both she and her brother having
heard their mother yelling something about the memorial back at the lab.
“A little, Honey.”
“Mommy?” Jonathan
ventured quietly.
Helena turned to look at her son, noting the serious look
on his face. “Yes, Jonathan?”
“Why don’t Vicky and me have a daddy?”
“We don’t have one here like Bobbie does.” Jonathan pointed out.
“That’s cause our daddy is on the moon, Jonnie. On Alpha.”
“Right, Vicky.”
“Why did Daddy leave us then?” Jonathan asked. “Didn’t he love us?”
“Oh, Jonathan…” Helena began, placing her hand on his
cheek. “Your daddy loves us very
much.” She paused, thinking back to that
horrible day five years ago when the moon was suddenly ripped out of orbit,
tearing her world apart. “Your daddy
didn’t want to leave us.”
“Mommy…?”
“Yes, Vicky?”
“Is Daddy dead?
Like Uncle Victor and everyone says?”
“No, Honey. Daddy
isn’t dead.”
“How do you know?”
Jonathan asked.
She reached out and grabbed each of their hands, placing
them over their hearts.
“If you ever start to forget that… just listen to your
hearts and you will feel him and how much he loves you. Okay?”
Jonathan and Victoria both smiled and nodded, replying
together. “Yes, Mommy.”
Helena smiled and slowly stood up, reaching for their
hands again to resume their walk home.
“Mommy… what’s Daddy like?” Jonathan asked suddenly.
“He’s a good singer, Jonnie!” Victoria answered with a smile and Helena
chuckled at her answer, surprised Vicky remembered John singing them to sleep
each night. “Don’t you ‘member him
singing us songs?”
Jonathan’s brow furrowed in concentration. He shook his head and looked up at
“But I wants to ‘member, Mommy.” Jonathan sniffled.
Helena looked down at her son then glanced at her
daughter as well, coming to a decision.
And even though she knew it would be difficult, she decided that they
were old enough to see what their father was like.
“Come on.” She
said gently, tugging on their hands.
“Let’s go home, I’ve got a surprise for you. Something that will show you what your Daddy
is like.”
The twins smiled and went eagerly with her.
“We went home and I showed them the video we took of their
first birthday.”
John smiled and then chuckled.
“What?” She asked, giving him a quizzical look.
“I was just picturing you, laying into Victor, Alan and Sandra.” He answered.
John lifted his hand to her cheek and caressed it. He smiled tenderly at her. “And you were right…” He paused and glanced up at the moon. “…For the most part anyway.”
“Not all of us survived the Breakaway that second time.” He answered quietly, meeting her eyes.
“Who?” She asked softly, almost afraid to hear the number of casualties Alpha had sustained.
“Maya.”
“When the moon was ripped out of orbit, she was thrown onto her console. It exploded and that, combined with the G-forces, threw her back against my desk… she hit it with her head…” he paused. “She… her neck was broken and there was nothing Bob could do.”
“As you’d expect. He was inconsolable for months.” John said, returning the pressure of her hands. “I understood the pain he was feeling… somewhat… for although we’d been separated… I at least knew you were still alive.” He paused, held her gaze, and shook his head at the question in her eyes. “There were no others. Just Maya.”
A few minutes later,
He raised her face, gazing into her eyes as he ran his thumb lightly over her lips, his other hand caressing up and down her arm and then slowly moving up over her shoulder to tangle in her hair. John smiled warmly at her as he leaned closer and brushed his lips against hers.
Despite the sad news of Maya’s death, Helena still felt too
much joy and relief at not having lost John in that way... to have him home
with her. Knowing that there would be
time later to sit and remember her old friend,
“Come on. Victor and the others are waiting.” She said and then smiled, slipping her arm around his waist. “And, I believe I have a date with my husband up on Alpha.”
John smiled and draped his arm around her shoulders. “I hope this meeting doesn’t take long.”
John gave her a quick kiss and then they resumed their walk
to the
** ** **
“I’d forgotten how beautiful it is up here.” She told him, turning her gaze back to the window.
“It is beautiful.” He agreed. “And for the first time, in a long time… I am able to see that beauty again.”
“How long before we get to Alpha?” She asked.
“Five hours.”
“Five hours?”
John nodded and then looked at her, flashing her a big grin and winking at her. “If you like, I could always throw this thing on auto pilot… I’m sure we could find some way to pass the time.”
John joined in her laughter as he went back to his
flying. A few moments later, out of the
corner of his eye, he caught
Helena continued to simply smile at him, not saying a word; her smile growing as she watched John flip on the auto pilot and jump up out of his seat. She reached out, grabbed his hands, and led him into the passenger section of the Eagle.
Five hours later, the Eagle safely docked on Alpha, John,
and
“
“Tony!” She smiled and stepped away from John to embrace the younger man. “Oh… it’s good to see you again too.” She pulled back and looked at him, noting that he’d gotten a little grey. “How are you?”
Tony looked into her eyes and could see that John had told
her about Maya. He smiled softly and
shrugged his shoulders. “I’m doing okay,
“All grown up and doing very well.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Tony said and then turned to John.
“I know you’re probably tired from the flight back here…” he paused
momentarily, not missing the glance John and
John nodded. “I’m
sure they are.” He looked down at
“Tony…” John said. “Lead the way.”
“With pleasure.” Tony replied.
** ** **
Several hours later,
“John… ” She said softly, her eyes continuing to move about the rooms she’d shared with him so long ago. Clothes she hadn’t had a chance to pack and bring down to Nova Canaan still hung in the closet. Her sculpting tools still occupied the far corner, along with an unfinished sculpture. The twins’ toys were still strewn around the room, their clothes and their cribs still set up across the room from the bed… their bed… everything was as it was the last time she’d been here. She felt her eyes well with tears as she tilted her head back to look at him. “You didn’t…”
“I couldn’t…” John interrupted as he rested his cheek against her hair, pulling her even closer. “…I couldn’t bring myself to pack any of it up. It would have been like giving up on you; admitting that I’d lost you. You and the twins.” He paused and brushed his lips against her temple. “And it also gave me a reason to wake up each morning and work on ways to get back to you and our family.”
“Like you, I knew you were still alive... could feel it in my heart. Despite what everyone here thought… that the moon’s sudden departure from Nova had, like on Earth, disrupted the planet and…” he swallowed and shook his head as he slowly smiled. “But none of that matters now.”
“No. None of that matters now.” She echoed, rising up to brush a soft kiss against his lips.
John returned her light kiss and then pulled her close. He began to sway gently as he maneuvered them
further into the room. He paused
momentarily and reached out to flip on the CD player.
The first song ended and as the second song began,
John’s hands caressed up and down her back as the kiss ended and her dancing green eyes met his smiling blue ones. He brushed another soft kiss against her lips and drew her back against him.
John slid one hand up to rest on her shoulder, holding her tighter as he nodded gently. “Your birthday.”
Her arms tightened around his neck and she raised her head again to meet his eyes. The soft smile on her lips turned into a playful one as she caught the look in his eyes, both of them remembering that night very well.
“What are the chances of a repeat performance?” She asked in a husky voice, drawing her finger down along his jaw.
“Oh…” John replied in a low voice as his hands moved down her back to cup her rear, pulling her closer. “…I’d say the chances are pretty good.”
As they reached the foot of the bed, John’s commlock sounded. They both groaned and pulled apart. John gave her an apologetic look and reached for the device.
“Koenig.”
“Sorry to disturb you, John.” Came Tony’s voice
as his image filled the tiny screen. “But
you’re needed in
“Can’t it wait till morning, Tony?” John asked, looking at
“I’m afraid not, John.”
“All right, Tony.” John nodded. “I’ll be right there.”
John closed the channel and looked back at
“Go.” She said, putting her hands on his shoulders. “The sooner you go, the sooner you get back.”
John nodded and leaned down to give her a quick kiss. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Returning to his quarters much later than he anticipated,
John paused for a moment outside his door and released a frustrated
breath. The whole time he’d been in
Keying in his code, John opened the door and stepped in the room, allowing the door to shut behind him as he came to a stop. The lights in the room had been dimmed; the soft music they’d been dancing to earlier still playing, and a few small candles burned, creating a romantic atmosphere.
John looked around for
He soon lost track of time as he continued to feast on the vision before him, greedily taking in every nuance, almost as if he was afraid he was going to suddenly awaken and find this was all a dream. She sighed softly and rolled over towards him, her white-blonde hair falling in her face as she continued to sleep.
Not wanting to wake her, John reached out and gently brushed the hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. And then, unable to stop himself, he moved a little closer and with a feather-light touch, drew the back of his fingers along her cheek. He closed his eyes as he felt the tears begin to well up.
“John?”
He opened his eyes at the whisper of his name to see
“What’s wrong?” She asked quietly, seeing the tears in his eyes.
He shook his head.
“Nothing’s wrong.” He answered softly, reaching out again to caress her cheek. He smiled tenderly at her. “Nothing at all. In fact, everything is wonderful.”
“Then why the tears, John?”
“It just really hit me that I’ve woken up from a very long, very horrible nightmare.” He answered. “Walking into our quarters and finding you asleep in our bed…” he smiled at her. “…Wearing that negligee…” he paused. “…I can’t tell you how many times I’ve dreamt of this… only to awaken to find myself alone in bed.” John paused again and drew in a deep breath before continuing. “The nightmare is over… this is a dream come true. You’re really here… and in our bed.”
“It was a nightmare, for both of us, John.” She told him, reaching out to cup his cheek, her own eyes filling with tears. “I’ve dreamed of this too… so many times and every time I’ve woken up to my own sobs calling your name.” She paused, running her fingers over his lips. “And now… if I’m dreaming again… I hope I never wake up.”
“I love you, Helena.”
“I love you too, John.”
She smiled, leaning towards him as she slid her hand behind his head
into his hair, pulling him closer. John
went willingly as
The kiss slowly ended and John placed his hand on her
shoulder, gently pushing her down, so that she was once again lying on her
back. He sat back for a moment and
She smiled invitingly at him as he reached out with his hands and with just his fingers, began to trace the features of her face. She sighed softly at his light touch, his fingers following the lines of her eyebrows and moving down the shape of her nose. He brushed his fingers over her lips, trailing them back up along her jaw and down again over her high cheekbones to once again trace the shape of her lips, before leaning over and repeating all his movements with his lips.
Placing a second gentle kiss on her lips, John straightened up, his hands moving delicately over her throat, along her right shoulder and down her arm. When his fingers came to her hand, he lifted her hand in his and traced each of her fingers with his, using the same soft touch to trail back up along the inside of her arm; again, leaning over to follow the same path with his lips.
Helena watched him as he kissed each of her fingers then press a loving kiss to her palm; moving them slowly up her arm to capture her lips again, before reaching over to do the same thing to her other arm. She moaned softly, her skin tingling everywhere he touched. She reached out to pull him to her as he kissed her yet again, but he shook his head, grabbing her hands and placing them at her side.
She smiled softly and nodded, watching through lidded eyes as he reached out and cupped one of her breasts. She lifted her gaze to his face and saw the intense look on his face as he began to caress her breast through the lace of her negligee with his other hand.
John was aware of her gaze on him as he circled her breast lightly with his fingers, running his palm over her hardening nipple, but didn’t turn to meet her gaze. Instead he leaned over and pressed a kiss against her lace covered breast, then moved his hands to her other breast, caressing it as he had the first. This time when he leaned over her, he drew the taut nipple into his mouth, suckling her through the lace.
“…John…” she gasped, arching slightly at the sensations shooting through her body as his tongue moved against her through the lace.
John released her breast and raised his face to smile at her before moving up to capture her lips for a long, deep kiss. Leaving her breathless as he ended the kiss, John’s hands and lips continued their journey down her body.
She opened her eyes when she no longer felt John’s hands on her and saw him stand and quickly remove his pants. She couldn’t help the appreciative smile that graced her lips at the sight of him, naked and fully aroused.
John glanced down at her, smiling at the smile on her face and then walked to the end of the bed, kneeling on the mattress between her legs. He ran his hands up her legs, pushing her negligee up as he went. When the skirt was bunched at her waist, John placed one hand on her stomach, the other on her thigh and leaned over, pressing his mouth against her.
“John!”
John smiled inwardly, continuing to love her with his mouth
as
When her body quieted again, John withdrew his fingers and with a last loving kiss against her, reached out for her hands and gently pulled her up so that they were now face to face. He reached for the bunched up negligee and pulled it up and off her, throwing it to the floor. He leaned forward, giving her a passionate kiss as his hands closed around her waist. He drew her closer, lifting her slightly and entering her slowly as he settled her across his thighs.
They moaned into each other’s mouths before breaking off the
kiss to gaze into each other’s eyes.
Neither one moved, both too overwhelmed by the emotions they felt and
saw in the other’s eyes. Their lips came
together again in a loving kiss as
John’s mouth left hers, trailing down to nip lightly at her throat before continuing down to take one of her nipples in his mouth.
“…John…”
John smiled against her breast then raised his head, the smile still on his lips as he slowly ran his hands up and down her back, causing her to shiver against him. He caught her lips in another ardent kiss as his hands moved down her back one last time to cup her bottom; guiding her movements as he lifted his hips to meet hers.
Their bodies moved together, matching in a gentle, perfect
rhythm; both content to love each other slowly.
John’s hands slid up to her hips, tightening his grip as he complied with her silent request. He thrust deeper inside her; smiling at the low moan that sounded in her throat. John pulled her closer, wanting and needing to have his lips on her body; needing to taste her.
“John…”
John felt her quiver and pressed another kiss to her breasts before lifting his head to smile at her; the throaty way she moaned his name sending warm shivers through him. He moved his hands up her body, pulling and holding her tight against him, his lips seeking hers for a fervent kiss as he slowly lowered her down to the mattress; covering her body with his.
John inhaled sharply, his eyes locked on
“…Helena…” he groaned her name; the sight and feeling of her moving on his body almost his undoing; sending a wave of absolute pleasure through him.
Helena felt John’s body tremble slightly under hers and laid her hands on his chest and began to move faster on him; knowing they were both close to their release. John held tight to her waist, matching her faster rhythm, watching as her head fell back and she gasped for air.
“Mmm… John!” She panted and John could feel her inner muscles beginning to clench tightly around him. She repeated his name over and over in a breathy pant; her movements growing more erratic as the feelings that were building quickly began to explode throughout her body. Suddenly she stopped moving, crying out his name as the sensations overwhelmed her.
At her cry of his name, John thrust into her one last time, crying out her name as his world burst into a kaleidoscope of sensations. He reached up and pulled her down to him, joining his mouth to hers as their bodies trembled together.
Still kissing,
“Ooh… my…” she kissed his neck, still trying to get her breathing under control; smiling as she felt his embrace of her tighten. She sighed happily as she lifted her head to look into his face. “That was… mmm… wonderful, John. YOU are wonderful.”
John chuckled. “You’re pretty wonderful yourself.”
John wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer; his one hand stroking her hair, the other hand caressing her exposed arm, from her shoulder to her elbow and back. He too released a happy sigh.
“I’ve been thinking.” He murmured against her hair some minutes later.
“About?”
“What do you think about having the kids come up here? To see Alpha… their birthplace?”
“You going to show them the Travel Tube as well?” She asked with a touch of humour in her voice.
“Well, of course.” He chuckled. “That is after all, where they entered this world.”
“How well I remember.”
“Good. Then I’ll call them in the morning to make the necessary arrangements… the Eagle… quarters.”
“Sounds good.”
“Do you think Vick will want to bring, Callie?” He asked and she could hear in his voice how anxious he was to meet his first grandchild.
“More than likely.”
“Really?” John chuckled, becoming distracted by the direction her hand was beginning to move in.
“Mmhmm.” She murmured, her hand trailing down over his abdomen. “Dada. Mama. Alpha. Gramma. Grampa. Papa. Nana. And in that order.” She finished, circling her finger around his belly button.
“Our granddaughter sounds like a smart kid.” He said and then took in a deep breath as her hand moved lower still.
“John…” she purred, lifting her head from his chest to smile seductively at him. “Do you want to keep talking about our children and grandchild? Or…”
She was cut off as John pulled her mouth down to his, at the same time, rolling them over so that she was pinned beneath him. He kissed her until she was breathless and raised his head mere inches from hers.
“Does that answer your question?”
** ** **
“Good morning.” She felt his breath caress her hair as he spoke softly.
“Mmm… good morning.” Helena replied, a slow smile coming to her lips as she snuggled further into his embrace; feeling his caress moving from her arm to run up and down her back. “Now this… this is what I’ve really missed. Waking up in your arms.”
She felt John smile, pull her closer, and nuzzle her neck; his lips slowly working up to her ear, where he whispered softly. “And I’ve missed waking up holding you in my arms.”
They parted breathlessly some moments later and John rolled
onto his back and settled against the pillows, pulling her with him.
“So…”
“About a week, maybe less.” John answered, his hand stroking her hair. “And then, I’m taking a vacation.”
“Mmhmm.” John murmured, drawing her closer. “I plan to spend each and every minute of it with my wife. Making love with her, talking with her, catching up with her.” He paused and ran his hand along her arm. “Making love with her.”
“You said that already.”
“What can I say? I’m can’t get enough of her.” His smiled as his hands moved under the covers to stroke down her back. “You see... I’m addicted to her.”
“Mmm… good.”
“Is that so?” John asked, his eyes sparkling as he grasped her hips, shifting her so that his growing erection pressed against her soft curls.
“It is.”
Suddenly, John rolled them over and smoothly entered her, both of them moaning at the union.
“I’m so glad you share my addiction, wife.” John smiled, dipping his head to catch her lips in a searing kiss.
“So am I, husband.”
** ** **
“John… relax.”
“Nervous? Who’s nervous?” He said, continuing to pace.
“You are.” She chuckled; finally reaching out to grab his hand when he passed close to her, stopping his pacing. “John.”
He looked at her and released a deep breath as he reached out to grab her other hand. “Okay, so I’m a little nervous.” He admitted and she smiled. “It’s just… the kids haven’t been up here in so long… and then there’s Callie… and…” he stopped and released another deep breath. “I’m being silly, aren’t I?”
John chuckled, slipped his arms around her waist, and drew her closer. He lowered his head and just as his lips met hers, he heard the door slide open. He quickly brushed his lips against hers and straightened up, keeping his arm about her waist as he looked up to see his children walking towards them, followed by…
“Alan! Sandra!” John smiled and moved forward to greet his old friends with a hug. “I’m so glad you two came up.”
“It’s good to be here again, John.” Alan said, returning the friendly embrace.
“Sandra, you look wonderful.” John said, bending low to place a kiss on her cheek.
“Thank you, Commander.”
Sandra replied as John stepped back to
“Sandra, what have I always told you about that?” John smiled. “Call me John. Besides, we’re family now.”
Sandra smiled and nodded.
“Speaking of family.
John, you remember Robert don’t you?”
Alan said, moving over and placing his hand on the shoulder of a tall,
young man who was standing just behind
John nodded, stepping over to the young man and held out his hand. “Good to see you again, Robert.”
“Good to meet you again too, Commander.” Robert said, taking John’s hand and shaking it. “I wish I could say I remembered you from when I was little, but…”
John shook his head. “Say no more. I understand completely.”
“And this…” John’s attention was drawn to his daughter as she spoke and the small child she held in her arms. “This is your granddaughter, Callie.”
“Hello, Callie.” John said with a gentle smile, holding out his hand to her.
“Grampa!” Callie said excitedly and launched herself
into John’s arms. “Grampa!
Grampa! Grampa!”
“Now, this is definitely a picture worth taking.” Alan said with a smile, not quite hiding the emotion in his own voice as he reached into his pocket and snapped a picture just as Callie placed her hands on either side of John’s face and flashed him a big smile.
“Welcome home, Grampa.” Callie said, still smiling.
“Thank you, Callie. Your grandmother was right, you certainly are beautiful young lady.” John smiled at her, tickling her ribs, delighting in her laughter as she tried to tickle him back. “As beautiful as your mother and grandmother.”
At the mention of her grandmother, Callie turned suddenly in
John’s arms to look over at
“See, Gramma… I was right! I was right!”
Callie smiled as
“Yes, Honey. You were
right.”
John smiled at her as he noticed out of the corner of his
eye as Robert slipped his arm about
“That’s great, John.” Alan said. “In fact, we were kind of hoping that’s where you’d put us.” He grinned down at his wife and pulled her closer. “Give me a chance to, uh… relive, some fun memories with the wife here.”
Everyone laughed as Sandra blushed and poked him in the ribs. “Alan!”
“Tell you what, John. Why don’t you show the rest of these guys to their quarters, Sandra and I can find our way to our quarters on our own.” Alan suggested. “There’s one or two places I’d like to check out first.”
“You sure?” John asked and caught the look in Alan’s eyes. He nodded and chuckled softly. He turned to his family as he lifted Callie up onto his shoulders, causing her to giggle with delight and smiled. “Okay, then. Follow me and we’ll get you settled.”
Alan and Sandra watched their family walk away, both of them smiling as they saw John and Helena slip their arms around each other’s waists, pulling each other close as they walked.
“Honestly never thought I’d see the day the two of them would be together again.” Alan said quietly.
“Me either.” Sandra replied, watching until the small group disappeared around a corner. “She was right all along.”
“Mmhmm.” Alan agreed. “She was.”
“What are you thinking?” Sandra asked him, reaching up to stroke his cheek as he fell silent.
“Of a way to make up to
“Care to tell me about it?”
“Later. I’m still thinking on it.” Alan said as he pulled her closer, slipping both his arms about her waist. “Right now though, I think I’d like to… re-explore some of those old memories of ours.”
“And where would you like to begin?” Sandra asked with a smile, her eyes twinkling.
“Right here.” Alan said with a grin as he led her back inside the Eagle.
The hatch closed on Sandra’s delighted laughter.
** ** **
“Hope you don’t mind,” John asked, glancing at his son. “Staying in your Uncle Victor’s old quarters?”
“No… this is great, Dad.” Jonathan said, looking around the room at some of the equipment Victor had left behind.
“Good. I think Victor would approve.” John smiled. “I wish he could have come up too.”
“Well you know Uncle Victor.” Jonathan chuckled.
“Yeah… always some experiment or other going on.” They laughed and John grinned. “Some things never change.”
There was a moment of silence as Jonathan placed his bag on the bed.
“Well, why don’t I go and let you rest.” John said, heading for the door.
“Dad?” John turned back to see Jonathan take a step towards him. “Would you mind staying? There is so much… I’ve waited a long time for the chance for the two of us to sit and have…” he paused and grinned. “…A man to man talk.”
John returned his son’s grin and nodded as he walked over to him and placed his hand on Jonathan’s shoulder. “I’ve been waiting for that too, son.”
** ** **
“She’s so excited,”
“He was indeed.”
“Really?”
“Mmhmm.” Helena
murmured as she looked around, a soft smile coming to her face as numerous
memories of times spent with John in these rooms, came to mind. She turned back to
“What?”
“I was just thinking…”
“And, Dad…”
“So am I, Honey.”
“I was also amazed that the two of you came up for air long enough to meet us when we got here.”
“
“It’s true and you know it.”
“Well… we do have…”
“Were you two like this before Breakaway? Or is this a recent development?”
“As a matter of fact, we were. Your father and I have always enjoyed a
rather…”
Mother and daughter smiled at each other and suddenly broke out laughing.
“So,”
“Oh… I don’t know…”
“He’s returned to a lot of unexpected changes.” She pointed out. “In your father’s eyes, you and Jonathan should only be six years old. So, he’s come back to not only find that his children are all grown up but that he’s a grandfather as well. Not to mention that his wife is also twenty years older then when he last saw her.”
“But we both know that he doesn’t care about that.”
“True.”
** ** **
“And then Mom took Vicky and I home and showed us the video taken of our first birthday.”
John leaned back on the couch and regarded his son as Jonathan continued to talk. Part of him still couldn’t believe this was the same little boy who only five years ago, tried to put a handful of chocolate cake in his father’s face. John smiled and chuckled at the memory.
“That was a good day.” His grin grew, as did his laughter.
“What?” Jonathan asked, wanting to know what was so funny.
“I was remembering your mother’s face when Vick smeared the cake all over her.” John answered, still laughing.
Jonathan smiled and laughed as well. “We loved those videos, Vicky and I.”
“So, your mother has said.” John nodded. “She told me the three of you would sit and watch them together.”
“Well, it would start off that way.” Jonathan began and then his voice trailed off as he looked away from his father.
“What is it, son?”
Jonathan took a deep breath and turned to meet his father’s eyes. He sighed as he tried to find the words. “Every time we’d watch the videos, halfway through them, Mom would get up and go into the kitchen. She’d come back with snacks, so we never thought anything of it, until one time… she seemed to be taking too long. So Vicky and I decided to go see if she needed any help. When we got to the door…” his voice trailed off and he glanced down at his hands, then continued; his voice low. “She was crying, Dad.”
John reached out and put his hand on his son’s shoulder, giving him a slight squeeze as Jonathan continued.
“We’d never seen her cry before or at least, not like that and we didn’t know what we should do. Obviously, she didn’t want us to know that watching these videos was painful for her, so Vicky and I went back and sat down and never ever told Mom that we’d seen her.” Jonathan looked at his father and saw the pain in John’s eyes. “She didn’t tell you about that, did she?”
John shook his head. “But I had a feeling. I could see it in her eyes when she told me about showing you and your sister the videos.”
“And I’m guessing she didn’t mention what happened last month either.” Again John shook his head and Jonathan took a deep breath. “Well, to make a long story a little shorter; one day last month Vicky and I were in the attic looking for something when I came across a home video that we hadn’t seen. Naturally, we were curious. So we went downstairs and put it on.”
“Hey, Vicky check this out.” Jonathan called over to his sister. She moved over to him and looked at what he
was holding. “A home movie we haven’t
seen?”
Victoria took it from his hand and turned it over,
searching for some clue as to what was on it.
“There’s no label.”
“Yeah, I noticed.”
Jonathan said and then met her eyes.
“You thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Mmhmm.”
Jonathan nodded and watched his sister leave. Ten minutes later, he joined her on the couch
in their mother’s living room.
“Well, let’s see it.”
“It was yours and Mom’s wedding.” Jonathan told him.
John smiled softly. He remembered that day very well. He met Jonathan’s eyes. “What happened?”
Jonathan took a deep breath. “You and mom had just been pronounced husband and wife…”
** I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride. **
Jonathan and Victoria glanced at each other, smiled and
turned back to video in time to see their parents share their first kiss as
husband and wife; neither of them aware of the figure standing in the doorway.
“Oh…”
Victoria and Jonathan whipped around on the couch as they
heard the anguished sob, to see their mother standing behind them; her eyes
wide, with tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Mom!?” Both twins
shot up and were over to
“Where… where did you find this?” Helena asked softly, choking on her tears.
“Upstairs.”
Jonathan answered. “It was mixed
in with all our baby-stuff.”
Helena simply nodded, her eyes on the screen, watching as
John hugged her tightly, his lips moving against her ear and even though the
video hadn’t picked up the words, Helena could still hear them ringing in her
ears.
Jonathan reached out and shut the movie off, turning to
his mother. “We’re sorry, Mom. We didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t really.”
“Makes you miss Dad even more.”
“I know what you’re thinking, Mom. So stop it now.”
“If you ever start to forget… just listen to your heart
and you will feel him and how much he loves you.” Jonathan said softly with a gentle
smile. “And if anyone can feel his love,
despite the distance, it’s you.”
Helena looked at her son; her gaze resting the features
that looked so much like his father’s it was sometimes unbearable and nodded as
a small smile slowly formed on her lips.
She reached out for his hand, looking over at her daughter and grabbing
her hand as well. “How did you two get
so smart?”
“Good genes.” They
said together and grinned.
Helena laughed and then slipped her arms around her
children, hugging them to her. “Well,
why don’t we watch the rest of the video?”
“Mom, are you sure?
If it’s too painful…”
“I’m sure.”
Jonathan looked over at his father to see tears in his blue eyes. “So, we watched the rest of the movie, Mom doing her best not to cry but not succeeding.”
John sat back on the couch and released a deep breath, blinking back his tears.
“I’m sorry, Dad. It wasn’t my intention to upset you by telling you this.”
“I know, son. I know.” John said. “And you didn’t. I know it was difficult for all of you. Especially your mother.”
“And for you.” Jonathan said. “I mean… the three of us at least had each other. You… you were all alone up here. And then to finally return and find out that twenty years had passed here.”
“It was a shock to say the least.” John admitted. “But it didn’t… and still doesn’t matter. I’m home. Home with my family and that, is all that really matters.”
Jonathan smiled at his father. “I know I said this the other day, but I really am glad you found your way back here, Dad.”
John reached across the couch and pulled his son into a strong hug. “So am I, Sport. So am I.”
** ** **
“Looks like someone has finally conked out.”
John glanced down, an affectionate smile forming on his lips at the sight of his granddaughter, curled up and sound asleep in his lap. He reached out and gently stroked the fine, blonde hair that was so much like his wife’s. He lifted his head and met his wife’s smiling gaze.
“You can say that again.” John chuckled softly.
“She’s had an exciting day.
As have we all.”
John nodded, leaning over to brush a soft kiss against the top of Callie’s head before lifting and handing her to her mother.
“Good night, Vick.” John said.
“Night, Daddy. Night,
Mom.”
“Night, folks.” He
said, glancing at both his and
Alan glanced at his wife then back to John and Helena. “Yeah, we should be going too.” Alan said, standing and extending a hand to his wife.
“Tired are you?” Sandra asked with a soft smile as she took Alan’s hand and allowed him to help her up.
“Not really.” Alan said with a grin, causing everyone to laugh. Alan slipped his arm around Sandra’s waist as they headed for the door. “Good night all.”
“Good night you two.”
“Just be sure to follow your own advice.” Sandra called back with a laugh as they left the Koenig’s quarters, following behind Robert and Victoria.
John laughed and stood as he watched his son stand and walk over to them. He smiled as he watched Jonathan lean over and give his mother a kiss.
“Sleep well, Mom.” He said softly.
“You too, Jonathan.”
“I will.” He said and straightened up. He walked with his father to the door. “Dad?”
“Yes, Jonathan?”
“Would it be okay if I took a stroll around the base?” He asked, meeting his father’s eyes. “I’m not very tired.”
“Sure, go for it.” John said, placing his hand on Jonathan’s shoulder, giving him a slight squeeze, and nodding slightly.
“Thanks, Dad.” Jonathan said and then stepped closer and gave his father a hug. “See you tomorrow.”
“Good night, son.” John replied, returning his son’s embrace and then stepped back. “Enjoy your walk.”
Jonathan smiled, nodded, and left, John locking the door behind him.
“Those are amazing kids we have.” John said as he slowly made his way over to her, smiling as he watched her put her feet up on the coffee table, crossing them at her ankles. “And as much as I enjoyed having everyone over…” his voice trailed off as he sank down onto the couch, placed his commlock on the table, turned and laid back; resting his head in her lap. “I’m glad we’re alone.”
“So am I.”
John chuckled and reached up to stroke her cheek, his fingers brushing against her hair. He smiled.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Our granddaughter.” He continued to smile. “What a bundle of energy that one is.”
“I’m happy to see someone has inherited your beautiful blonde hair.” John said, his fingers gently pulling a lock between his fingers. “I’ve always loved your hair.”
“I know.” She said with an affectionate smile, her hand on his chest beginning to move around absently.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you something all day.” John said a moment later, his eyes meeting hers. She gave him a look that told him to continue. “That comment Callie made when they first got here. Something about her being right and that I brought the moon back?”
Trying to hide away from the world for a few hours by
losing herself in her work,
Opening the laboratory door,
“It’s a good thing I was prepared for you, young lady or
we’d both be both crumpled on the floor.
You’re getting to be too big for me!”
“I’ll never get to big for hugs and kisses, Gramma. Will
I?” Callie asked as
Helena smiled fondly, smoothing Callie’s blonde hair and
then leaned over and spoke quietly as if telling Callie a big secret. “Nobody ever really gets too big for hugs and
kisses, Sweetie.”
Callie beamed at her as
<<John would simply be crazy about her!>> the
thought caused
She shook her head and looked back at Callie. “So, what brings you here, Honey?”
“I made you a new picture, Gramma.” Callie told her, indicating the rolled up
piece of paper clutched in her small hand.
“You did? That’s
wonderful.”
“It’s a picture of the moon.” Callie said, beginning to unroll the paper
and continuing excitedly. “With Grampa piloting Alpha in the sky.”
“Gramma, we gotta
have a big birthday party.”
“Why’s that, Honey?”
“Cause, Grampa’s bringing the
moon home.” Callie said
matter-of-factly.
“I… I bet he would if he could, Callie.”
“He’s gonna, Gramma.” Callie insisted.
“And what makes you say that?”
“Cause he told me.”
She said simply.
“He told you?”
“Yeah. I dreamed
him last night.” Callie told her. “Grampa told me
that he was bringing the moon back to you.
That I should tell you.” She
smiled. “And that’s why we need a big
party.”
“Callie Rose Carter!
I thought I told you not to run off.”
Helena turned around to see her daughter standing in the
open door, her hands on her hips, giving her own daughter a stern look.
“But, Mommy…”
“Don’t, but Mommy me, young lady.”
Callie hung her head and spoke in a small voice, peaking
through the hair that had fallen in her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Mommy.”
“I know you are, Sweetie.
Just don’t do it again.”
“Okay, Mommy.”
Callie said, smiling at her mother.
Victoria chuckled and stood up, meeting her mother’s
eyes.
“She’s your daughter.”
“Yep.” Callie said
proudly. “And you like it, right, Gramma?”
“I love it, Honey.”
“Well, we should be getting home.”
“Mmhmm.”
“Okay.”
Callie leaned towards
“Bye, Honey.”
“See you later, Mom.”
Helena walked them to the door of the lab and watched them
walk away for a moment, then shut the door.
She walked over to the picture Callie had drawn and looked down at it,
remembering her granddaughter’s words from just moments ago.
“Oh, Callie… I wish your grandfather could be here for
all our birthdays too.” She said softly,
tracing the picture with her finger. “I
wish it so much.”
She smiled sadly, feeling the tears well in her eyes as
she continued to stare at her granddaughter’s drawing of her grandfather. In the child’s drawing, John was as young as
when he’d been taken from her; ripped from her life and the lives of their
children by the moon’s sudden departure from Nova Canaan.
Callie’s image of her grandfather, Helena knew, was from
the home movies… from when her own mother was even younger than Callie was
now. The home movies that showed a
young, strong, happy John; the happiest man in the universe, as evidenced by
the gleam in his eyes. She was too, the
happiest woman in the universe.
Back then.
Back when those videos were taken.
Back when John was still a very real, very active part of
their lives.
Now… now she was just…
<<Old.>> she thought. <<I’m no longer that young mother and
woman who thrilled John’s heart; who made his eyes light up and his passion
rise. Now… I’m just old.>>
Helena took a deep breath as she picked up and folded the picture, putting it in her pocket. She would, as she had with all of Callie’s drawings of the moon and her grandfather, put it up in a spot that would be seen by Callie and show her that her grandmother did indeed love her drawings, but also a spot where Helena would not have to see them everyday. A spot that would not be a painful reminder of what she’d lost.
“Over the years, I grew to dread those parties.” She told him, her hand still absently stroking his hair. “They were just a cruel reminder of another year spent without you. And then with Callie being born on my birthday… needless to say, the parties were now for both of us.”
John reached up and brushed the tears off
“That’s right, she was born on your birthday, wasn’t she?”
John smiled. “You delivered Callie?”
“Mmhmm.”
They fell into a comfortable silence, relishing simply being together.
“Did you and Jonathan have a nice talk?” She asked a few minutes later, once again running her fingers through his hair, her other hand still absently moving under his top.
“Mmhmm.” John murmured and shifted his head over slightly in her lap as he reached up and fingered the top button on her blouse.
“What did you talk about?”
“Well, to be honest, Jonathan did most of the talking. I sat and listened as he told me about learning to play baseball, his dream of becoming a doctor like his mother, his interest in girls.” John told her, smiling as he watched her nipples grow hard through the thin material. “Turns out he’s a breast man like his father.”
“It is.” John said, pulling his hand out of her top to undo a couple more buttons, pulling her blouse open and then undoing her bra.
“…John…” It came out in a soft moan as John moved closer, lifting his head to place tiny kisses on the smooth skin between her breasts.
“Yes, my love?” He murmured as his lips began to move across her left breast.
“Aren’t you going to tell me what else you and our son talked about?” She asked him softly as his lips closed around her nipple. She moaned, her hand in his hair tightening slightly. “John…”
John released her breast and raised his eyes to meet hers. “I thought my intentions were obvious.” He leaned closer and placed light, little kisses over her breasts again. “I’m planning on doing some serious making out with my wife.”
“Is that so?”
“It is.” John grinned and moved closer. Just as his lips grazed her breast, his commlock sounded. John groaned and his head fell back into her lap as he reached out to grab the offending device. “Who could that be?” He pressed the appropriate stud. “Yes?”
“Sorry to bother you, Dad…” came
John glanced up at
“Her bear.”
“Oh.” He sighed as he watched her do up the last button and then sat up as he pressed the button that would open the door.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Yes. As a matter of fact you did.”
John grinned and glanced at his wife as she responded, seeing the amusement in her eyes. He chuckled and reached out to grasp her hand, pulling it to his lips.
“Have a good night, Mom.”
“Oh, I plan on it.”
The two women parted and smiled at each other as
“Try not to wear him out, Mom.”
The door slid shut as John laughed at the look on
John didn’t answer as he moved one of his hands from behind his
head, reached out, grabbed her hand, and pulled her down on top of him.
“Now I’m comfy.” He told her softly, bringing his other hand out from behind his head to rest about her shoulder, his fingers brushing against her hair.
They relaxed in each other’s arms, talking quietly; doing some more catching up and making some plans for when they were back on Nova Canaan, together. After a time, they fell silent and simply cuddled, savouring the feel and the comfort that they were again in each other’s arms, the reality of the situation still not completely having sunk in.
“
“Mmm?” She snuggled closer to him, her hand sliding up his chest to rest on his other shoulder.
John moved his head and glanced down at her, smiling as he saw that she had fallen asleep. He’d wanted to talk with her about something, but as he gazed at her relaxed, peaceful face, he decided that it could wait.
Slowly John sat them up and cradling her in his arms, he
gently stood and carried her to their bed and laid her on it. Carefully, so as not to wake her, John
removed her clothes, his own quickly following.
He crawled in beside her and drew the blankets over them, reaching out
to dim the lights. As he settled back
against his pillow,
“Good night, Love.” He whispered against her hair as his arms tightened around her.
“…Love you, John.”
John smiled as he closed his eyes.
** ** **
The following morning, sitting next to Helena with his arm draped over her shoulder, John was only half paying attention to the conversation that was drifting around the table; his attention was more focused on the woman beside him as she added her comments to the story Alan was telling about something the kids had done when they were little. And although he heard the words, they didn’t really register, and he knew it was because he was paying may more attention to the sound of her voice. Being able to hear it again and having it sound so close to his ears was making him deliriously happy.
“And the next thing you know, Alan is stomping over to pull
the kids out of the mud, slips and falls face first into it.”
John chuckled. “I bet it was.”
“Not half as priceless as when
John laughed and pulled
Everyone at the table laughed as
The conversation drifted onto other topics and at one point, John looked down to see that his cup was empty.
He leaned towards his wife. “I’m going to get another coffee. Would you like another?”
“Mmm… yes please.” She smiled at him and handed him her cup.
He gave her a quick kiss and then stood with cups in hand and made his way across the room to the coffee urn.
“I think I’ll help myself to another cup as well. You?” Alan said, looking at his wife.
Sandra shook her head. “No thanks, I’m fine.”
Alan nodded, pushed his chair back, stood, and followed
after John. As he approached, he noticed
that John had placed his and
He was not surprised to see that his friend’s gaze was locked on Helena, who was sitting across the room, still talking away with Sandra. He glanced back up at John and smiled at the look in his eyes.
“Wake up, Skipper!” Alan clapped John on the shoulder. “The way you’re mooning over her, you’d think you hadn’t seen her in years.”
“Am I that obvious?” John laughed as he tore his gaze away from his wife and looked at his friend.
“Yeah, but it’s understandable.” Alan said still smiling. “This is real, John. The two of you are really together.”
“I know.” John smiled and then leaned back against the wall, his eyes once again falling on his wife. He continued. “I can’t tell you how much I missed this, Alan. This…” he gestured to himself and Helena and looked back at Alan. “Simply being able to watch her from across the room. Just being able to do it is such a wonderful feeling.”
Alan watched as
“I was dying without her, Alan.” John said in a quiet voice a few moments
later, his eyes still on
Alan nodded silently as he met John’s gaze, knowing he would have felt the same way if he’d been ripped away from Sandra and Bobbie like that.
“It was like that for
John looked at Alan as his voice trailed off. “The memorial?”
“The memorial.” Alan
nodded. “We knew it would hurt her but
in the long run, we figured it would be better for her. Help her to come to terms with… with losing
you. To move on.” He shook his head sadly. “I’m sorry now we didn’t have her faith. Despite what everyone else thought and said,
“You did what you felt was right.” John said. “I don’t know if I would have done it any different had I been in your place.”
“Well, I’m glad she was right and we were wrong.” Alan said as both of them turned to look at
their wives again. He smiled. “I haven’t seen
Both men suddenly chuckled as they watched Callie scramble
out of her mother’s lap to slip under the table and hop up into
“Alan, I’ve been thinking about something.” John said with a smile as he watched his
granddaughter steal a piece of fruit off
“Lay it on me.”
“
Alan smiled. “Say no more. Just tell me what you would like me to do and consider it done.”
“Thanks, Alan.” John said. “I already have Jonathan working on few things, but he’s going to need some help.”
“No need to thank me, John. I’m happy to do it.” Alan said and thought to himself. “And this will also give me a chance to take care of that other little detail.”
John smiled and as they turned to the now finished pot of coffee, John told Alan what it was he wanted him to do and then both men returned to their family.
** ** **
“Mmm… it’s nice to be home.”
“Yes it is.” John agreed as he dipped his head and brushed his lips along her neck to her ear where he whispered softly. “But home for me, is wherever you are.”
“So tell me, Mrs. Koenig. What would you like to do, now that we’re home?” John asked her as he continued to nibble on her neck.
“Is that so?”
“Mmhmm.”
“You have a one track mind.” John laughed, kissing the tip of her nose.
“Is that what it is?”
John asked with a grin as
“That too.”
“I’d like nothing more right now, then to take you upstairs and help you release some of that sexual energy.” John told her as he slowly moved out of her arms. “But I’m afraid it will have to wait for a little while longer.”
“Because of this.” John said as he swung open the door and gestured for her to enter before him.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!”
She reached her hand up behind her to cup his cheek as she turned her head to smile at him. She placed a loving kiss on his lips and whispered back. “Thank you.”
John smiled at her and gave her another quick kiss. “Happy Birthday, my love.”
“Happy Birthday, Gramma!” Callie said as she pulled her hand out of her mother’s and ran over to her grandmother.
“Happy Birthday to you too, Callie.”
“See, Gramma, I told you we’d have a big party and that Grampa would be here.” Callie said with a smile.
John smiled and slipped his arm about
Some time later, the party having dwindled down to just
their closest friends and family,
“Have a good time?” He asked her softly, reaching up with his other hand to brush his fingers against her cheek.
“Mmhmm.” She murmured, placing her hand on his chest and leaning closer to kiss him. When the kiss ended, she settled back against the couch and glanced at Alan, Sandra, and her kids. “Now I know why you guys left Alpha so soon.”
She shook her head as they simply grinned.
“Well, the party’s not quite over yet. There’s one more gift you haven’t opened yet.” Alan said reaching behind him on the chair he was sitting in. He brought out a large, flat, wrapped item and held it out to her. “It’s a gift from the whole community.”
“Alan.”
“Well… it’s more than just a birthday gift.” He told her.
John leaned closer and a smile came to his face as he saw
what she held in her hands. He met
“This monument, once a reminder of those we thought lost to us in the moon’s second Breakaway, now stands as a tribute to them and their strength of will. Men and women who despite all odds, not only survived but found their way home again.”
John’s voice trailed off as he finished reading the inscription
and his eyes moved over the list of names, beginning with his own. He saw
“Does it meet your approval?”
“We were also hoping you’d be the one to take down the old plaque and put this one in it’s place.”
“I’d love to.”
Everyone in the room smiled.
“Comfy?” She asked him with a smile.
He shifted so that he could lay his head on her shoulder and replied as he reached out and clasped her hand in his, resting them in her lap. “Now I am.”
A short time later she felt John’s head slide a little off her shoulder and glanced down to see that he’d fallen asleep. She felt him shift against her and before she knew it, he’d pulled his legs up onto the couch and his head was resting in her lap. She glanced up to see everyone had a bemused smile on his or her face.
“Do you remember,”
“Radiation-hungry creatures?” Jonathan asked as he saw everyone else nodding their heads.
Alan and Tony quickly explained the ‘adventure’ to the kids.
“And your father, after having ordered everyone on Alpha to
be knocked out and complaining about having to wait for them to wake up,”
Everyone laughed.
“Dad really fell asleep in his chair?”
“Oh yeah.” Tony told her, still chuckling. “He was out cold.”
“Much like now.” Alan
said with a laugh, looking over at his sleeping friend. He met
Sandra swatted her husband’s arm as
Around her, everyone exchanged smiles, enjoying seeing
“
The conversation was interrupted as John suddenly sat up, calling her name in an anguished whisper.
“What, Honey? I’m
here…”
John looked at her and grasped her outstretched hand, holding it tightly, willing his pounding heart to calm down. He took a deep breath and returned the gentle pressure of her hand, nodding his head slightly to let her know he was okay.
“You all right, John?”
At the sound of Victor’s voice, John turned with a slightly embarrassed smile to see that everyone was still around. He nodded.
“Yeah, Victor. I’m
fine.” John said then admitted
sheepishly as he shifted on the couch and drew
“Are you sure?”
Again he nodded and brought her fingers to his lips. “So, what did I miss?”
With a small chuckle, Alan filled him in and the conversation once again turned to the moon’s adventures of the last five years.
John slipped his arms around
“What’s that old saying,” John said softly against her ear. “Alone at last?”
“And high time too.”
“So, Mrs. Koenig… now that we’re finally alone, what would
you like to do?”
Grinning to herself,
A delighted laugh escaped her lips as John suddenly swept her up into his arms, his mouth seeking hers for a long, ardent kiss. He broke off the kiss and smiled at her as he carried her into the house.
** ** **
“Mmm…”
John glanced over his shoulder as he made his way to the
window, to see
“Now this is the birthday present I’ve been waiting all day
for.”
“Is that so?” John asked with a grin as he opened the window to allow the warm breeze into the room and then slowly made his way back to the bed.
“Mmhmm.” She murmured
as John crawled back into the bed and settled himself between her legs, leaning
back against her with his head resting back against her shoulder.
John laughed as he ran his hands over her legs, caressing from her thighs to her calves and back again. “What do you think?”
“I think… I think that I am going to die, one very satisfied
woman.”
“What is it?” She asked again a few moments later when he still hadn’t spoken.
John closed his eyes, images from his dream earlier, playing across his eyelids; he shivered and squeezed her hands tighter as he slowly shook his head, willing the images away.
“John? Does this have anything to do with that dream?” He nodded slowly.
“Tell me…”
John shook his head. “I’d rather forget it.”
“That bad?”
“More disturbing than anything else.”
“Maybe if you talk about it… it’ll help.”
John took a deep breath and pulled her arms tighter around him. “We were sitting in our chair.” He began, gesturing with his head at the large, overstuffed chair under the window. “You were curled up in my lap and we were star gazing. We weren’t talking… simply enjoying holding each other.”
He paused and
“It was nice. Just
the two of us and then… and then it changed.
You were still with me. Still in my
lap… but you…” his voice trailed off and
Pressing her body tightly against his, she pressed her lips against his shoulder. “Oh, John! Oh, Honey… no! Don’t even think that! I’m fine.”
John tilted his head sideways to rest against hers as he took in a deep breath, nodding slightly, still clutching her hands tightly, and continuing to press them to his lips.
“I know… I know you wouldn’t keep something like that from me.”
“That’s right. I wouldn’t keep something like that from you.” She stroked his cheek. “And I have no plans on leaving you any time in the near future.”
John moved his hands up along her back, pulling her closer so that their foreheads rested together and when he spoke, it was in a quiet voice. “It’s just… I’ve just gotten you back and part of me is still having a hard time believing that I’m home and that I’ve actually got you in my arms.”
“I know, John. I
know. I feel the same way.”
“What?”
“The age difference that’s between us now.” She told him. “Because no matter which way you look at it… I’m now older than you.”
“And I’ve already told you, it doesn’t matter.”
“Maybe not now. But, John what about in another fifteen, twenty years?”
“What about it?”
“You’ll be my age now and I’ll still be a number of years
older than you.”
“Yes I can.” John
pulled back and met her eyes as he nodded.
“
“I love you too.” She said softly, still stroking his hair.
They gazed into each other’s eyes and then moved even closer together, their lips meeting in a ravenous kiss; needing to show each other with actions what they’d just shared with words.
As they continued to kiss each other feverishly, John’s
hands slowly moved down along
John moaned softly as Helena drew her nails down his chest as she slowly straightened up on him and straddled his hips; lifting herself slightly so that his fingers could continue stroking her. He smiled as her hand moved to his wrist, but didn’t stop him and then groaned as he felt her other hand reach down, encircle his hard member and begin stroking him.
They continued to stimulate each other with their hands
until John felt
“…John…” his name was a low moan on her lips as their bodies joined completely, causing a small tremor to pass up and through her body. She stretched herself out over him and gave him a long, deep kiss before straightening back up and lacing her fingers with his where they still rested on her hips.
Their eyes locked and
At the feel of her hands on his chest, John suddenly felt the need to feel more of her skin against his and sat up, wrapping his arms around her; pulling her close and covering her mouth with his for a passionate, hungry kiss. He trailed his lips down her throat, whispering his love for her as he kissed and nipped the soft skin.
Helena slid her hands up his chest, over his shoulders and into his dark hair, moaning as his lips moved down to her breast and captured her nipple in his mouth, swirling his tongue over the sensitive peak before moving to do the same to her other breast. He slowly kissed his way back up to her lips.
“I love you.” He whispered against her lips, kissing her again as he began to thrust gently into her.
John held still, watching as her release surged through her. Moments later, she looked down at him, a look of delicious rapture on her face.
“Do you have any idea how beautiful you are when you’re lost in the throes of your orgasm?” He asked her in a husky voice, smiling at her.
John held onto the headboard with her, lifting his hips in time with her thrusts, feeling his own release to be very near. He moaned her name and pulled his hands away from the headboard, one hand grasping her hip the other moving between their bodies to stroke her, wanting her to reach her release with him. He moved his hand from between them to her hip and held her to him as he thrust into her one last time.
“John!”
“
They cried out each other’s names as they reached their releases together, their bodies shuddering against each other as the sensations overwhelmed them both and left them breathless.
“Oh… God…”
“Don’t.” John rasped,
holding her tight against him. “Don’t
move … I wanna feel you close to me.” He felt
They lay together, bathed in the moonlight, simply holding
each other and not talking; enjoying the silence and the comfort of each
other’s presence. Before long, they fell
into a deep, satisfied sleep;
** ** **
With a satisfied sigh,
Her head was pillowed on his left arm as she and John lay on their sides facing each other, their legs entwined; his right arm draped over her waist protectively. Her arms were curled up between them and her hands rested against his chest. She could feel his breath on her face and could hear his gentle snoring, which was music to her ears after so many years.
She smiled again, loving the sensation of waking up and being held in John’s embrace. This, she realized with a contented sigh, she would never get tired of.
She luxuriated in his arms for a few more minutes, simply enjoying being held by him and then, with a glance over his shoulder at the clock, she decided to get up and see about starting breakfast.
Gently, so as not to wake him, she brushed a kiss against his lips and then reached out to grasp the wrist of the arm he had around her waist. She’d just begun to lift it and also untangle her legs from his, when John’s hold of her suddenly tightened and he woke up, a half-startled expression on his face.
“Wha...?” He groaned, more asleep then awake. “
“I’m just going to make breakfast.” She told him softly, continuing her effort to move out of his arms. “Go back to sleep.”
“Mmm… no… not hungry.” He murmured, closing his eyes again, his arms tightening even more, pulling her closer as he buried his face in her neck. “Stay.”
“Breakfast can wait.” She thought with a happy sigh and closed her eyes.
Within moments she’d fallen back asleep, still locked in her lover’s arms.
** ** **
John awoke early and glanced over at his wife who lay curled up on her side facing him, her one arm stretched out so that her hand lay on his chest. He smiled as he watched her and then his smile grew even more as he remembered what day it was.
And more importantly, what he had planned for today.
He gently lifted her hand from his chest and brought it to his lips, kissing her palm tenderly, then placed it on the mattress and then gently climbed out of bed. He grabbed his robe and pulled it on.
With a final glance at his sleeping beauty, he quietly left their bedroom, leaving the door slightly ajar. As John moved silently down the stairs, his thoughts turned back to the last few months.
Although he and Helena had pretty much fallen back into their lives together, it hadn’t been all sunshine and roses. They’d had to learn to live, actually live, together again and deal with the few habits each had developed during their separation. And when things would look like they were going to get out of hand, they would both suddenly remember, at the same time, the time they’d spent apart, the hell they’d had to endure apart and would pull each other into a fierce embrace; after which they would calmly discuss the matter at hand and reach an understanding.
John grinned as he set about making the coffee, admitting to
himself as he gathered up some various fruit for breakfast, that even though he
hated fighting with
He chuckled as he arranged the fruit on the tray and as the coffee finished brewing, he stepped out through the kitchen door and moved over the rose bush they’d planted together just after they’d built their house. He looked over all the blooms and selected the fullest one. He carried it back inside, carefully removed all the thorns and extra leaves, and then placed it in the vase on the tray.
John poured the coffee into the two waiting mugs and placed them on the tray. Satisfied that he had everything, he picked up the tray and headed back upstairs.
Entering their bedroom, John smiled again as he saw that she was still sleeping. She’d turned over and was now facing the door, but was still curled up in a loose ball. He placed the tray on the dresser and reached for the rose, pulling it out of the vase.
Quietly, he made his way over to her and sat gently on the edge of the bed beside her. He drew the rose softly down her bare arm, smiling softly as she shifted slightly. He did it again and watched as she rolled onto her back, the sheet that was covering her, falling so that it just covered her breasts.
With the faintest of touches, John drew the rose along the swell of her breasts, moving it slowly up her neck and over her face. He traced her cheekbones with the soft petals, noticing the soft smile tugging on the corners of her lips, but able to tell by her breathing that she was still sleeping. He moved the velvety petals over the lids of her eyes and down the bridge of her nose to softly caress her lips before resting the deep, red bloom against her lips, under her nose.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.” He
replied just as quiet against her lips.
He smiled lovingly at her and brought his hand up to caress her
cheek. “…Happy Anniversary,
Her eyes went wide for a moment and then a big smile came to her lips and lit her eyes. “Happy Anniversary.”
Their lips came together again in another long kiss. They parted breathlessly some moments later and smiled lovingly at each other.
“I smell coffee.” She said and then gave him a coy smile. “Does this mean I’m getting breakfast in bed?”
John grinned, nodded and gave her another quick kiss and
then stood and walked over to get the tray.
When he turned back to her, tray in hands, he found
“This is wonderful, John.”
John simply smiled at her as he reached for his coffee and a piece of fruit. “So,” he asked a couple minutes later. “What anniversary is this for us?”
“I thought so.” He said with a small chuckle, reaching for another piece of fruit.
“I don’t know.”
Their conversation turned to other things as they continued
to eat. Twenty minutes later, John
placed his empty cup back on the tray and reached for the last piece of fruit
at the same time as
“Enjoy it.” John told her and lifted the tray away as she took the piece of fruit and popped it into her mouth. He slipped out of the bed and carried the tray over to the dresser. He walked back over and sat on the edge of the bed beside her, taking her left hand in his, glancing down as he fingered her wedding band.
“What are you thinking?” She asked, reaching to touch his cheek, seeing the thoughtful look on his face.
“I’m thinking…” he began and lifted his gaze to hers and smiled. “That I am married to the most beautiful woman in the universe.”
“You always were a sweet-talker.”
“I was also thinking of a way to solve our anniversary dilemma.”
“And… did you come up with a solution?”
“As a matter of fact, I did.” John smiled at her and slid off the edge of
the bed to kneel on one knee before her.
Still holding her left hand in his, he raised her knuckles to his lips
and pressed a kiss against her ring. “
“Of course, I’ll remarry you.”
“Today.” John said, covering her mouth with his, pressing her back against the pillows.
“Today?” She asked breathlessly.
“Today.” He said, kissing her again. “So, what do you say…”
His lips moved down her throat.
“You hop into the shower.”
He brushed his lips over the swell of her breasts.
“Make yourself look even more gorgeous than usual.”
He kissed her shoulders.
“If that’s even remotely possible.”
“And meet me downstairs in thirty minutes.”
“Thirty minutes?”
John raised his head and chuckled at the look on her face. “Forty-five?”
She smiled and nodded. “Forty-five.”
John smiled and kissed her again as he sat them up. He broke off the kiss, stood and then reached for her hands and pulled her out of the bed and into his arms.
“Just what do you have planned, John Koenig?” She searched his eyes.
John simply smiled and steered her towards the bathroom. “C’mon, get going. Your time is running out.”
John chuckled and grinned to himself as he gathered the tray and left the bedroom.
Forty-five minutes later, John was standing by the
fireplace, dressed in the same dark suit he’d worn the first time he exchanged
vows with
“…John…”
John turned, his eyes growing wide, his breath catching in his throat as he let his eyes drift over her. She stood on the bottom step, a soft smile on her face; dressed in the white slip dress.
“Oh… God…
“
“I wasn’t sure this dress would still fit.”
“Oh...” John said, letting his eyes move appreciatively down
her body. “It fits. It fits beautifully.” He brought his eyes back to hers. “
“Thank you.”
John smiled at her and drew her close for a gentle, loving kiss.
“So… now what?” She asked softly.
“Now…” John said, taking her hands in his and leading towards the door. “We’re going for a little walk.”
“And where are we going?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.” John said, pulling her through the door with him. When they were on the porch, he stopped them. “But first thing’s first. Do you trust me?”
“With my life.” She gave him a look as he moved to step behind her. “Why? Just what do you have planned, John?”
“To insure that you can’t peek or otherwise guess at where I’m taking you. I’m going to blindfold you.” He slipped a soft, white scarf over her eyes and secured it gently behind her head. “That’s not too tight is it?”
“Yes it is. I know you. And I know you can’t resist peeking.”
“Well… that’s the added bonus to this little plan of
mine.”
“Like you need an excuse.” She smiled and slipped her arms about his neck as he began to walk towards their destination.
Twenty minutes later, John stopped and gently lowered her to her feet and placed his hands on her shoulders, turning her gently.
“Okay… let’s get this off you.” He said as he reached behind her and carefully removed the scarf.
“You ready for your surprise?” John asked her with a soft smile on his face. She nodded and with his hands on her shoulders, he slowly turned her around.
“Oh… John…”
Gathered before them, all with smiles on their faces were, not only their closest friends and family but also the entire Alphan community. Off to the side, a large canopy had been raised and there were tables and chairs set up underneath it. And just at the lake’s edge, at the end of the makeshift aisle, there was a beautiful, wooden arbor with intricately carved climbing roses on each of the four posts.
“…John…”
“My secret.” He whispered against her ear as he leaned closer. He kissed her cheek and then moved to stand beside her. He offered her his arm. “Shall we go get married again, Mrs. Koenig?”
“With pleasure.” He grinned at her.
Soft music began to play and everyone stood as they slowly made their way down the aisle between the rows of their friends.
“Doesn’t Gramma look pretty, Daddy?”
“You’re right, Pumpkin. Your Gramma does look real pretty today.” John said with a wink at his granddaughter. “In fact, she looks much better than pretty, don’t you think?”
Callie nodded her head enthusiastically as John chuckled and
straightened up. He smiled at his wife
and the two of them continued their journey down the aisle. He felt
“The twins…” she whispered. “You asked them to stand up with us?”
John smiled and nodded. “And I asked Victor to officiate.”
“You look fabulous, Mom.”
Jonathan shared a smile with his twin as the two of them stepped up behind their parents and moved to stand beside them.
Victor smiled, cleared his throat, and began the ceremony.
John and Helena turned to face each other, reaching for and holding each other’s hands tightly as Victor’s words faded into background noise. They lost themselves in the brightness of each other’s eyes; everything and everyone around them disappearing, leaving just the two of them alone in their own little universe as they re-affirmed their love and commitment to each other.
“Happy, Mrs. Koenig?” John whispered against her ear as they held each other close and swayed slowly to a softly playing love song.
John smiled and leaned down to give her a gentle kiss.
“So, how do you like my solution to our little dilemma?”
“I love it. It’s perfect, John.” She glanced around at all their friends, some of them dancing, others sitting at the tables and talking. She looked back up at him, reaching up to cup his cheek. “Everything is perfect.”
John smiled and pulled her close again as another slow song began.
There’s ship out
On the ocean
At the mercy of the sea
It’s been tossed about
Lost and broken
Wand’ring aimlessly
And God somehow you know
Cause there’s a lighthouse
In a harbour
Shining faithfully
Pouring it’s light out
Across the water
For this sinking soul it sees
That someone out there
On a prayer
In a song
I hear your voice
And it keeps me hanging on, on
Raining down
Against the wind
I’m reaching out
Till we reach the circle’s end
“Our song?”
“I’d say so.”
Their lips came together for a soft kiss.
There’s a moment
That we all come to
In our own time
And our own space
Where all that we’ve done
We can undo
If our heart’s in the right place
On a prayer
In a song
I hear your voice
And it keeps me hanging on, on
Raining down
Against the wind
I’m reaching out
Till we reach the circle’s end
And you come back to me again
And again I see
My yesterdays in front of me
Unfolding like a mystery
You’re changing all that is
And used to be
On a prayer
In a song
I hear your voice
And it keeps me hanging on, on
Raining down
Against the wind
I’m reaching out
Till we reach the circle’s end
When you come back to me again
The song ended and Helena raised her head off his shoulder and sighed happily as John’s mouth covered hers in a passionate kiss, which caused everyone around them to smile and applaud. They broke apart, smiling sheepishly.
“Come on, Mrs. Koenig. Let’s go get something to drink.” John said, slipping his arm about her waist and leading her off the makeshift dance floor as a faster song began.
They sat out the next few songs, neither one really interested in the fast ones. Just as the next slow song began, they saw Jonathan walking towards them.
“May I have this dance?” Jonathan asked his mother.
John smiled as he watched his son lead his mother out on to the dance floor. He glanced around and then stood.
“You look happy, Mom.” Jonathan told her as they glided across the floor.
“That’s because I am happy, Sweetie.”
Jonathan smiled at the happy look on his mother’s face. “Well, you always said he’d come back to you, despite the odds. And he did.”
“Yes, he did.”
“And it’s so obvious how much Dad loves you.” Jonathan said. “You can see it on his face when he looks at you.”
“What?”
“You should have seen him working on that arbor. Making sure that every detail was precise and accurate.”
“You mean… your father made that?”
“Well… you know all those little emergencies we had in the
“No… you mean to tell me…”
“Yep.” Jonathan nodded. “Dad asked us to keep you occupied while he was working on it to keep you from getting suspicious.”
“Oh… my…”
“We didn’t do much. Dad did everything.” Jonathan told her. “It was his idea. He made all the plans, got everything organized. All we had to do was keep you busy and show up.” He paused and smiled.
Jonathan chuckled. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I have never seen Mom look so happy.”
John smiled at his daughter as they danced and glanced over at his wife and son. “She is glowing, isn’t she?”
“Yes she is. And it’s
all because you’ve come back.”
“Your mother is an amazing woman.” John told her. “The most amazing woman I have ever known. And being back with her… is the fulfillment of all my dreams.”
“Hers too, Dad. Hers too.”
John looked back at
Jonathan saw the smile on his mother’s face grow and light up her eyes and nodded to himself when he followed her gaze to see his father dancing with his sister but gazing at his mother.
As the two couples danced closer together, Jonathan suddenly stopped dancing, turned to his father, and smiled.
“Wanna switch partners?”
“Not that I don’t like dancing with your sister,” John answered with a smile. “But I thought you’d never ask.”
All four chuckled as they switched partners.
“Come here, Mrs. Koenig.”
John pulled
Oblivious to the cheers from their friends and family, John and Helena continued to kiss as they began to slowly dance to the soft music; their bodies pressed tightly together.
“You are an incredible man, John Koenig.”
“Why’s that?”
“I just found out from our son, that you made that beautiful arbor.” She said, slipping her hands into his hair. “And that you’re responsible for all of this.”
John simply smiled and pulled her closer. “I wanted today to be special for you… for us.”
“Just being back in your arms makes it special.”
John moved his hands slowly up and down her back as they continued to sway to the music, resting his forehead against hers as he whispered. “Likewise.”
“I love you so much, John.”
“And I you, my love.”
Just as their lips met in another kiss,
“And what can we do for you, young lady?”
“Want to dance with yous.” Callie told them.
Helena and John smiled.
“What a wonderful idea, Pumpkin.” John said as he stepped back from
“Me and Gramma, right, Grampa?” Callie
asked with a smile as she wrapped one arm around his neck, the other moving
around
“Right, Pumpkin. You and Gramma.” John smiled as he once again began to move to the music; feeling happier and more content then he had in years.
“What do you say we get out of here?” John whispered into his wife’s ear much later in the evening. “I have a few other plans for this evening, that I’d like to put in motion.”
“Well,” John began; sliding his hands down sides to her hips and pulled her closer. “I’d like to take my wife home, bring her upstairs and make mad, passionate love to her for the rest of the night. That is, if she’s agreeable.”
“I’m so glad.” John grinned, gave her a long, deep kiss, and then slipped her arm around her shoulders as he led her across the dance floor. “Come on, Mrs. Koenig. Let’s blow this pop-stand.”
“Right beside you, Mr. Koenig.”
** ** **
Tending to her garden,
“Well, what do you think?”
Sitting on the bench he’d added to the arbor since their
anniversary three months earlier, John looked up from the toy he was carving
for Callie at
“Looks good.” He said.
“You really think so?”
“Mmhmm.” John said. “I especially like how you’ve got the white marigolds surrounding the rose bush.”
John watched her for a moment longer, an affectionate smile forming on his lips and then went back to his woodcarving.
A short while later, they both heard approaching footsteps and looked up.
“If it isn’t my favourite physician coming to pay a
visit.”
“Hiya, Sport.” John waved at his son with a big grin.
Jonathan gave his father a small smile as he waved back and then continued over to his mother. He gave her a kiss on the cheek and then took her gloves from her hands, dropping them to the ground as he reached for and took her hands.
Jonathan pulled his mother into a protective hug, one hand going to the back of her head as he bent low to lay his head on her shoulder and met his father’s eyes; the look in his, causing his father to freeze. When he spoke, his voice was quiet and trembling but still loud enough for John to hear.
“Uncle Victor… he died last night in his sleep.”
Jonathan felt his mother suddenly begin to sob and saw his father’s eyes grow wide and then mist with tears before he hung his head, whispering his friend’s name.
Jonathan simply nodded and then watched as his mother moved over to join his father on the bench.
Their eyes locked and then suddenly they were in each other’s arms, holding each other in a fierce embrace; both of them sobbing openly.
Jonathan remained where he was, watching with some small relief; once again thankful that his father was here, that they would be able to face this together and be there for each other. He hung his head, feeling his own grief at the loss of his uncle and unofficial grandfather.
“…Jonnie…”
He looked up suddenly when he heard his mother call his name and then slowly walked over to them as she waved him over. He knelt down before them and began to cry in earnest as his father pulled him to them in a protective hug.
The three held each other and cried at their shared loss.
** ** **
Knowing Victor would not have wanted a long, drawn-out affair surrounding his death, his funeral was held the next day. A simple ceremony and then a gathering afterwards for everyone to share their memories of the brilliant man who’d touched all their lives.
From across the room,
She turned suddenly when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“You okay?”
“Mostly.”
“I think given the circumstances, we’re all feeling a little
like that today.” Bob said and looked at
her a little more closely. “There’s
something else bothering you. What is
it,
“But what?” Bob asked
as her voice trailed off. “
“I know.” She said and then turned back to him, her eyes filled with tears. “But I’m also so much older than him now, Bob.”
“
“He is perfectly healthy. As are you.” Bob said, reaching out to take her hand and giving it a friendly squeeze. “My advice to you is to not dwell on it. You two have been given a second chance at a life together. Enjoy it. Not many people are given the gift you and John have been given. And odds are, the both of you will live a long and happy life… together.” He paused and smiled at her. “In fact, I’d bet money on it.”
“What are friends for?” Bob replied, returning her hug. As they parted, Bob placed his hand back on her shoulder. “C’mon, what do you say about getting a cup of tea and share some memories?”
“That sounds nice.” She glanced over once again at John and Victoria and smiled at the small smile that was now on her daughter’s face as she rested her head on her father’s shoulder, his arm still hung protectively over her shoulders. She looked back at Bob and then slipped her arm through his and let him lead her to another corner of the room.
Walking through the crowded room, looking for her husband,
“How you doing, Sport?” She asked her son as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
“I’m doing okay I guess, Mom.” Jonathan answered, untangling himself from the woman with him to embrace his mother. “As okay as anyone can be at a time like this.”
“I’ll be okay, Mom.” Susan said quietly.
“I know you will.”
“How are your parents doing?”
“They’re doing okay.” Susan said. “I think Dad’s still in shock, but Mom’s with him.”
“Speaking of your folks,” Jonathan said. “I think they’re getting ready to leave. You said you wanted to talk to them.”
“That’s right, I did.”
She stepped over and embraced
“Lord, am I beat.” John said as he crawled into bed, pulling the sheet up and reaching for his wife.
“So am I.”
They lay together, the sound of their breathing mixing with the various sounds of the night that drifted through their open window.
“I still can’t believe he’s gone.”
“I know.”
“I guess I thought… he’d live forever. He was always so full of life. So full of energy.” He felt
“Me too.”
“And the kids… it’s like they’ve lost their
grandfather.” John continued; growing
slightly distracted as
“John…”
John looked into
“Let’s make love, John.” She murmured against his ear, running her hands down his chest, raining tender kisses over his face as she rolled onto his chest.
Feeling her warm body pressing against his and also feeling
the sudden need to embrace life, John slid his hands into his wife’s hair and
pulled her mouth to his for a passionate yet gentle kiss; their tears
intermingling as John rolled them over, pinning
He broke off the kiss to move his lips over her face, tasting her tears as he kissed them away. He heard her moan softly as his lips soon followed his hands down her body; touching and kissing her everywhere, worshipping every inch of her.
“John…”
John slowly kissed his way back up her body to her
lips.
Slowly, after giving her a long, lingering kiss, John rolled over onto his back, pulling her with him and then sat up. Her legs moved to either side of him as she straddled him. She wound her arms about his shoulders and her hands moved into his hair as he dipped his head to place little kisses all along her chest and again on her neck and shoulders.
John moved his lips back to hers and gave her a passionate kiss and then locked his eyes with hers as his hands moved to clasp her hips gently in his hands, lifting her and then slowly lowering her onto his rigid member; pressing into her deeply but gently.
Neither one moved. John laid his cheek against her chest, listening to the pounding of her heart as her hands leisurely caressed his back. He pressed a tender kiss against her breast and then lifted his head to once again meet her eyes. She smiled lovingly at him as she leaned towards him and placed soft kisses on his eyelids.
“I love you.” It was whispered together as they began to move in an age-old rhythm of love, their bodies rocking together gently.
John reached up to capture her lips as he continued to slowly move inside her; keeping a slow and steady rhythm; his hands moving once again up and down her back, enjoying the feel of her warm, damp skin beneath his fingers.
John’s lips left hers to trail down her throat to her breasts, licking and kissing her already stiff nipples; smiling as they grew even harder beneath his tongue. He continued to suckle at her breasts, feeling her body begin to quiver as the beginnings of her orgasm began to take hold.
Her hands dropped to his shoulders and she leaned back, biting her lower lip as she arched her lower body against him, increasing the connection of their bodies and allowing the sensations that were growing and beginning to course throughout her body, to intensify.
“John!”
John held
As her body continued to quiver, John slid his hands up her back, over her shoulders and into her hair; bringing her lips back to his for an ardent kiss as he lay back on the bed. He pulled her with him and rolled them over, covering her body with his own.
John could feel his release nearing and began to move faster
inside her, his thrusts becoming shorter and faster. Suddenly
He stopped moving; burying himself inside her and holding himself up on his arms above her, watching her body tremble beneath his; her eyes closing as she rode out the wave of pleasure that washed over her. She opened her eyes to see John looking down at her with a tender smile on his face and gave him a breathless smile as she slid a hand from his shoulder to cup his cheek; her eyes sparkling at him.
John leaned down and gave her a hungry kiss as he began
thrusting into her again. They moaned into
each other’s mouths before John raised himself back up onto his arms to thrust
into her with more urgency. Suddenly he
cried out her name as his release exploded from deep inside him with such force
that he collapsed on top of her, his body trembling violently; his face buried
in her neck as he struggled to catch his breath. His release triggered another smaller orgasm
in her and
Some time later, pressing a kiss to her shoulder, John raised his head and they smiled at each other. He placed a long, loving kiss against her mouth and then rolled off her onto his side and gathered her into his arms.
“How you feeling?” He asked softly, his lips moving against her forehead, his hands caressing her back.
“Very… alive.”
“Would you believe… happy?” John murmured, pulling her closer, entangling his legs with hers. “Happy… and very alive.”
** ** **
John slowly crossed his arms over his chest and met his
wife’s cool gaze. He spoke in a low,
warning voice. “
“Oh… no… don’t even think of using that tone with me, John
Koenig.”
“
“Well, you sure as hell implied it.” She said in a low voice. “So much for the age difference not really mattering.”
“You know it doesn’t make a difference.” John told her emphatically. “I’ve told you that over and over.” He reached out to place his hands on her
shoulders, trying to lower and soften his voice, not wanting to fight with her
but still feeling some tension. “…
He was surprised when she placed her hands on his chest and shoved him away, giving him a dark look.
“Don’t…”
“What the hell’s gotten into you?” John demanded, his voice rising again, the anger returning.
“Me?!”
And then to John’s surprise,
“Where the hell did that come from?” He said out loud to himself, his thoughts racing as he replayed the last thirty minutes in his mind. He’d come in from his run, hoping to talk her into spending a quiet afternoon by the lake and found her heading out to help out at the clinic.
“Where you going?”
John asked as he stepped up behind her and slipped his arms about her
waist. He nuzzled her neck. “I was hoping to talk you into spending some quiet
time with your husband down by the lake.”
“Oh, John… I would love that.” Helena sighed, leaning back against him,
turning her head to accept his kiss.
“But, with this cold virus still going around… I can’t afford to take
any time off.”
“
“John…”
He’d not been able to finish his sentence as
“And all hell broke loose.” John said aloud, moving out onto the porch as their fight once again flashed through his mind. He shook his head again. He still had no real idea what the hell they’d been fighting about.
He sighed and then frowned as that restless, unbalanced feeling he always got when he and Helena fought, began to creep up on him. He nodded to no one as he reached out and shut the front door. He knew what he had to do and set out after his wife.
By the time she reached the clinic,
Slowly she moved to her desk and sank down into her chair, her mind on her fight with John, trying to figure out exactly what it was they’d been arguing about and why. The more she thought about it, the more she realized that John hadn’t really said or done anything wrong and that she’d flown off the handle for no reason.
That in itself wasn’t anything unusual. Since being back on Nova, John had periodically gotten up early to go for a run around the lake and she didn’t mind, as on those mornings, she would wake up a little after he left and head down for the lake for a morning swim, where, after his run, John would usually join her for the refreshing dip.
“Face it,
In fact, she realized, she’d woken up feeling like that for the last couple days. She sighed again and opened her eyes, the doctor in her being pushed aside as she leaned forward and buried her face in her arms on her desk and gave into her urge to cry.
John stopped and watched
He sighed and glanced around.
Deciding that he’d be better off to wait till later to work things out with her, he reached for his commlock and keyed it in for emergencies only and then turned and headed for the lake. He’d do some thinking there, the serenity of the area always helping to calm him down and clear his head.
She hated fighting with John. It always left her feeling exhausted and so…
“Lonely.” She whispered to herself as she started to cry again.
A few minutes later, she dried her tears again.
“You know what you have to do,
She keyed in John’s code and waited anxiously for his face to appear in the tiny viewer. Seconds later, instead of John’s face, she saw the words, ‘Emergencies Only’ flash across the tiny screen.
She sighed and debated on whether or not to punch in his emergency code. She shook her head; she’d just have to wait and apologize to him later. No doubt he was still upset and she wanted to give him a little more time to cool off.
She sighed again and heard a knock on her office door. She stood; then walked over to unlock and open her door to find Bob standing there.
“Yes, Bob?”
Bob regarded her for a moment. “You okay, Helena?”
“I’m fine, Bob.”
“You sure? You’re not catching this cold are you?” He said, moving to stand before her desk, noting that her eyes were a little puffy.
“I’m not catching the cold, Bob.” She managed to smile at him. “So…”
Bob nodded, knowing she wouldn’t divulge any more information. “It’s Susan Spencer. She’s come down with the cold and it’s hit her pretty hard. Jonathan’s with her but…”
“He’s not thinking like a doctor at the moment.”
** ** **
“Daddy!”
“Hi, Vick.” John said, hoping the smile on his face didn’t appear as fake as it felt. “Okay if I come in and visit with my daughter and granddaughter?”
“Of course it is.”
“Yeah, I’m okay.” John said, pulling her into a gentle hug. “So, where is that little bundle of energy?”
“She’s in the living room but, not quite as rambunctious as
usual.”
“Hey, Pumpkin.” John said, an easy smile coming to his face as he saw the tiny blonde laying on the floor, colouring on a piece of paper.
“Grampa!” Callie dropped her crayon, quickly got to her feet, and ran into John’s waiting arms.
“How’s my girl?” John asked, hugging her to his chest.
“I gots a cold, Grampa.” She told him matter-of-factly as she pulled back and looked at him with her grandmother’s green eyes. “I don’t feel so good.”
Vicky stood in the doorway with a bemused smile on her face as she watched her father slip down onto the floor to colour with Callie. She shook her head and left them alone to have their time together.
“Grampa…” Callie said softly, looking up from her picture. “Did you and Gramma have a fight?”
John looked at her with wide eyes. “Why do you ask that, Pumpkin?”
“Cause your eyes aren’t smiling, Grampa.” Callie said softly. “And you always have sad eyes whenever you and Gramma fight.”
John couldn’t help but be amazed at how insightful his four-year-old granddaughter was. “Is that so?”
“Yep.” Callie said and turned back to her colouring. “You should tell Gramma you’re sorry, Grampa. Then you won’t have sad eyes no more.”
“You’re absolutely right, Pumpkin.” John agreed, reaching out to stroke Callie’s silky blonde hair. “I should, but Gramma’s at work right now. But I tell you what… I promise to apologize to her as soon as she gets home. Okay?”
“Okay, Grampa.” She turned to look at him with a smile and then handed him a crayon. “Colour with me, Grampa. We’ll colour a picture to give to Gramma to say you’re sorry. Gramma always likes pictures.”
John chuckled and took the crayon and scooted closer to
Callie and began to colour with her; his fight with
** ** **
She was so lost in her thought of what she could do to make it up to him that she didn’t hear the door open and her daughter step out onto the porch with her.
“Mom?”
“Oh… hi, Sweetie.”
“I’m fine, Vicky.”
“You sure?”
“Mmhmm. Just tired,
that’s all. It was a long day and I… I’m
a little anxious to get home to your father.”
Still looking at her mother and not completely believing
that it was simply being tired that was bothering her,
“She’s in the living room.”
“Just in time for what?”
“You’ll see.”
Moments later, a soft smile graced
Reclining in the chair, John was sound asleep with Callie curled up on his lap, her head on his chest as she too slept peacefully.
“How long has he been here?”
“All afternoon.”
John’s eyes fluttered and slowly opened as he sensed that
his wife was nearby. He turned his head
slowly and saw her standing in the doorway talking to their daughter. He slipped his arms under Callie and slowly
stood, cradling her against him and then just as he was about to lay her down
in the chair,
“I’ll take her, Daddy.” She said softly, taking her sleeping child from John’s arms.
John remained standing where he was as he watched
“I’m sorry, Helena.” He said quietly, meeting her eyes.
“I’m the one who should apologize.”
They gazed at each other for a long moment and then John’s hands moved to her waist, drawing her closer.
“Apology accepted.”
He whispered against her lips as he leaned down to give her a kiss. He felt the tension leave both their bodies
as
“What do you say,”
John smiled and brushed a kiss against her hair. “Sounds good to me.”
John nodded and gave her another kiss before letting her go to check on their granddaughter.
** ** **
“Bless you.”
“Thanks.” He said, reaching for a tissue and blowing his nose. He sneezed again.
“I’m fine,
“You’ve got a fever, John.” She told him. “And judging by all the sneezing, I’d say you’ve caught the cold that’s going around.”
“Helena… I’m fine.” John said, dismissing her fussing. “And if I am catching that cold and I stress if, I don’t want you getting too close and catching it too.”
“Relax, Honey.
Doctor’s don’t catch their patients’ colds.”
“Oh no, of course not, Doctor. They just catch Viral Pneumonia and almost die.” John teased her, finally surrendering to her ministrations.
“I don’t spend all my free time with Callie. Just the time I can’t spend with you.”
“You really can’t stand not seeing her every day, can you?”
“Nope. She is after all,” John grinned at her and reached out for her hand, bringing it to his lips. “My baby version of you.”
“Oh boy!”
John laughed with her.
“Come on, Sweet talker, let’s get you upstairs and into bed.”
“Mmm. I like the sound of that.” John said as he stood, pulling her into his arms and nuzzling her neck. “Tell me, Doctor. Are you going to join me… you know… for some… hands on medical treatment?”
“Upstairs to rest, John.
Sleep is the best thing to help fight this cold.”
“What?”
“If you’ll be a good boy and come upstairs willingly…” she cut her eyes at him as she reached for his hands and began to lead him out of the kitchen. “I’ll consider slipping under the covers with you.”
“Best offer I’ve had all day.” John smiled and allowed her to lead him upstairs.
** ** **
John sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to brush an errant lock of blonde hair out of her face. He couldn’t help but smile as he watched her sleeping; her face peaceful and relaxed, making her look even more beautiful. He ran his fingers softly down her cheek and spoke in a soft voice.
“
“Mmm… no… five more minutes.”
“Guess I should call Bob then, huh? You’re obviously not feeling well.”
John grinned as she suddenly sat up. She gave him a look as she realized what’d he’d done.
“That wasn’t very nice.” She said as she moved into his open arms and gave him a gentle kiss.
“It worked didn’t it?” He chuckled, pulling her into his lap and giving her a longer kiss. “Besides, we’re going to be late for the picnic.”
“We are?”
John simply shook his head and chuckled as he watched her head for the bathroom and then headed downstairs to finish gathering their picnic supplies.
** ** **
Callie looked up from her spot on the edge of the lake, a huge smile coming to her face as she saw her grandparents approaching. She dropped the tiny rocks she held and broke into a run.
“Gramma! Grampa!” She cried out happily as she threw herself into John’s arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. “You made it.”
“Hiya, Pumpkin.” John grinned, hugging her tightly and then
passed her over into
Callie scrambled down out of her grandmother’s arms and
scampered off as John and
A short time later, reclining back against John’s chest as
they sat on the blanket watching their granddaughter playing with her parents
and cousins in the lake,
“Something wrong?” John asked her softly, his hand absently caressing her thigh.
“I’m hot.” She answered, shifting against him again.
“I’ll say you are.” John grinned as he moved his other arm around her waist and pulled her back tighter against him.
“Don’t you two ever stop?”
They both turned to look at the amused face of their son, who was sitting with his arm draped around Susan’s shoulders.
“Not if we can help it.”
John answered and then he placed a kiss on the curve of
She turned her head slightly to grace him with a sly smile, pressing back against him, her smile growing when she heard him moan softly.
“Sounds like a wonderful idea.”
John chuckled as she stood and removed the wrap she was wearing to reveal a dark green, one-piece bathing suit. His eyes traveled over her body appreciatively, enjoying the view. He stood quickly and much to the amusement of everyone, scooped her up in his arms and headed for the water.
“You are one sexy lady, Helena Koenig.” He told her as he slowly entered the cool water.
John waded a little further in, until the water was about waist high and then looked at her with a grin. “Are you ready?”
“Ready for what?” Her eyes widened as she read his intention in his eyes. “Don’t you dare, John…”
Her threat remained unfinished as John suddenly dunked them both under the cool water. They surfaced several seconds later, their arms around each other, both of them laughing.
“I can’t get over how affectionate your folks are.” Susan commented to Jonathan as they watched
“Me either.” Jonathan laughed as he watched his father surface and take off after his mother. “Seeing it on the home movies was one thing… but to actually see it happening before my very eyes.” He paused and smiled at her. “It’s… great.”
“Yes it is.” Susan smiled, laying her head on his shoulder. “And I’m very happy for your mother. You can see how much your father adores her and she him.”
Jonathan simply nodded and smiled, settling back to watch his parents enjoy themselves.
John and Helena stayed in the water for a couple hours, playing with Callie and the other children for a time before swimming off to the far side of the lake to enjoy some time to themselves. They remained apart from the others until it was time to eat. They moved out of the water and walked hand in hand over to the blanket to grab their towels.
“Ooh… that was refreshing.”
“Yes it was.” He said as he quickly toweled himself off. He stepped up to her and wrapped his towel around her head, drying her hair for her as she continued to dry off her body. “And the best part… I was the only one with his own personal water-nymph.”
“I’m a water-nymph am I?”
“You are indeed.” He said, seeing her shiver. He pulled her into his arms and rubbed his hands slowly up and down her back to warm her.
“Come on.” She said, moving out of his arms and reaching for her wrap. She pulled it on and then reached for his hand. “We should at least be a little sociable.”
“Well, if we must.” John chuckled as she rolled her eyes and allowed her to pull him over to the group.
“Didn’t you work up an appetite with all that swimming,
“You’re not dieting are you?” Sandra asked, joining in on the conversation. “Because you most certainly don’t need to be doing that.”
“No. I’m not
dieting.”
“You okay?” John whispered against her ear as he leaned towards her, hearing the conversation.
“I’m fine.” She answered back, laying her hand on his thigh under the table. She smiled at him. “Really.”
John nodded and then turned back to his plate.
“Well, John’s eating enough for both of you.” Tanya commented with a laugh.
All the adults turned to look at John who had a mountain of food piled on his plate.
“What can I say? I
have an insatiable wife so I have to keep my energy up.” John grinned and then laughed as
“Mommy?” Callie turned to her mother as she shoved a forkful of potato salad into her mouth. “What’s it mean that Gramma’s in… insa... insatiabable?”
John choked as he laughed and swallowed at the same time,
seeing the look on
“It means that Gramma never gets
tired, Sweetie.”
“Oh. Okay.” Callie said and went back to eating, satisfied with the answer.
The adults simply laughed and shook their heads.
“You okay?”
He glanced at her and could see the concern in her eyes. He smiled and nodded. “I’m fine. Just went down the wrong hole.”
“Serves you right.” She said with a smile and then kissed his cheek.
John chuckled, kissed her back. “I love you too.”
Having said goodbye to their kids, John slipped his arm
around
“This has been a wonderful day.” John commented softly.
“Mmhmm. It has.”
“I like the way you think, Mrs. Koenig.”
They chuckled and continued walking. As they neared the shore, John felt
“
“Whoa.” She moaned softly, clutching at his shirt as another wave of dizziness passed over her and she swayed in his arms.
“Honey? You okay?” He asked her as she leaned against him, nodding her head.
“Just a little dizzy, that’s all. Must have been all the sun today.”
“You sure? You’re not catching that cold are you?”
“No, I’m not catching that cold.”
“Okay.”
John then led her over to the bonfire, where for the rest of the evening, under the light of the full moon; they held each other tightly.
** ** **
“Hello, Gorgeous!”
“What are the odds of my being able to steal my wife away from here a little early; whisk her home and make mad, passionate love to her for the rest of the evening?”
“As wonderful as that sounds.” She slid her hands up his chest and around his neck. “I’m afraid the odds are a little slim.”
“And why’s that?” John asked, brushing a soft kiss against her lips.
“Because I have one of the tech guys coming over to look at a malfunctioning monitor.”
“Will it take long?”
“Your guess is as good as mine, John.” She told him. “Depends on what’s wrong with it.” She paused. “But I tell you what.”
“What?”
“If you promise to wait patiently…”
“Is that a promise?” John asked with a grin, sliding his hands down to rest on the small of her back and pulling her closer.
“It’s a promise.” She said, reaching up to give him a long, loving kiss. She broke off the kiss just as a knock sounded at her office door. “That would be the technician.”
“Good. Maybe this won’t take long after all.”
“Only where you’re concerned, my love.”
“Stay here. I hopefully shouldn’t be too long.”
John nodded and then moved to lean up against the doorframe;
watching and listening as
“Good afternoon, John.”
John glanced to his left, just as the technician opened the monitor’s panel, to see Mathias standing beside him. He smiled in greeting.
“Hi, Bob.” He said
absently, his attention focusing back on
“While you’re waiting, John.” Bob began, hoping to use John’s distraction to his advantage and get him in for his physical. “What’s say we take care of your physical? Get it over and done with.”
John chuckled and turned to Mathias with a bemused expression on his face.
“I know…” Bob sighed. “Good try.”
John simply nodded and opened his mouth to say something when both he and Bob heard the anxious voice of the technician.
“Doctor Koenig, please be careful. Don’t lean too close… that’s a live wi… DOCTOR!”
John heard his wife’s yelp of pain, mixed in with the technician’s cry and turned back in time to see her face contort with pain as the wire touched her arm, sending an electrical current through her body and slamming her back against the wall.
“
“She’s breathing, John. She most likely just knocked the breath out of herself when she hit the wall.” Bob told him, seeing the faint rising of her chest as he checked for her pulse. “And her pulse is nice and strong.”
“Bob… will she?”
“She’ll be fine, John.” Bob told him, seeing the fear in his friend’s eyes. “It was a powerful current… but luckily she wasn’t exposed to it long enough for it to have done any permanent damage.” He watched John breath a sigh of relief and then continued. “Come on, help me move her to one of the beds. We’ll run some scans just to be sure that there’s no damage.”
John simply nodded, clinging to the words that she’d be all
right, as he gathered
** ** **
John held tightly to her hand, gazing into her pale, sleeping face. He glanced towards the door as it opened.
“Ed’s taking care of the scans now.” Bob told him softly. “But everything looks good, John.”
“How long until she wakes up?” John asked, reaching out to smooth his fingers over her forehead.
“The sedative we gave her should be wearing off in another hour or so.” John simply nodded at the news, his attention focused entirely on his wife. “I think I’ll go see if I can give Ed a hand and speed things up.”
“Bob.” John called to him as he reached the door. He met the doctor’s eyes. “Thanks.”
Bob smiled, nodded, and then left.
John turned back to his wife, bringing the hand he held up to his lips as he continued to stroke the smooth skin of her face.
** ** **
“Ed?” Bob stuck his head in the room and looked for his colleague. Spotting him standing in front of a set of scans, he moved further into the room. “Ed, come on, what’s taking you so long? You know what John’s like?”
Ed didn’t answer, but simply pointed at the scans he was staring at.
Bob glanced at the scans, noting with a small smile that whoever’s they were, they were soon going to be having an addition to the Alphan community. But at this moment, his mind was on Helena and her very worried husband.
“Ed, where are
“
Bob looked at Ed, clearly flabbergasted. “What?”
“These are
“They can’t be.”
“I said the same thing, Bob. But I developed them myself.” Ed told him as he looked back at the scans that showed a three-month-old fetus. He shook his head slowly. “Can you even begin to imagine how shocked they’re gonna be? I mean… if John was nervous about the twins… and we both know how nervous he was about the twins… can you imagine…” his voice trailed off at the glare Bob was shooting at him.
“For crying out loud, Ed. She’s sixty-five years old! And judging from the age of the fetus in the scan… she’ll be sixty-six when the kid’s born. That is if this pregnancy doesn’t kill her first.”
Ed took Bob by the shoulders.
“Calm down, Bob.” Ed said. “Look, I know it’s very rare for a woman her age…”
“Very rare? Very rare?! How about EXTREMELY RARE, Ed.” Bob practically shouted and under the pressure of his friend’s hands on his shoulders, he calmed down a bit. “Okay… you’ve been her doctor for the last two decades, Ed. You tell me. Can she… will her body be able to handle this? And should we even let her?”
“She’s in great shape, Bob and very healthy. I believe she could carry this child to term with little or no problems.” Ed answered and looked back at the scans. “Besides… it’s not for us to decide. It’s up to John and Helena.”
“You’re right about that. It’s up to them.” Bob said and then grinned at Ed. “And with that said, you get to tell John. I think I’d rather be behind you when you hit him with this piece of news.”
“Thanks a lot.” Ed
shook his head, a wry grin on his face.
“And who’s gonna tell
“
Both Bob and Ed whirled around to see John standing behind them with wide, shocked eyes.
“Would you care to repeat that last statement?” John said, looking at Ed. “My wife is pregnant?”
“Your wife is pregnant, John.” Ed confirmed. “Three months, to be exact.”
“But… I thought… she said she’s…” John exhaled a deep breath
as he looked from doctor to doctor.
“Bob… Ed… this can’t be.
“Going through menopause and having gone through menopause
are two different things, John.” Ed
explained. “
“Pregnant.” John
murmured as he reached for and sat in a chair.
He shook his head; still trying to process the news that he and Helena
were going to be parents, again… the thought brought a smile to his face. Parents at their age! His smile faded slightly as he glanced up the
two doctors. “How will this affect her
health? Can she… can
“We can’t be certain, John.”
Ed told him. “But
“And the baby? He’ll be okay won’t he?”
“Well, we haven’t done any tests on the baby yet… but I
don’t foresee any major problems. With
“Bob?” John looked up at him, wanting his opinion as well.
“Ed’s pretty much covered everything, John. And he’s been
“You don’t mean…?”
“Just as an option, John.”
Bob said. “Nothing more. It’s something you and Helena need to
discuss. We can only offer our opinions
but in the end, it’s yours and
John nodded understandingly, already knowing exactly what his wife would say and then he slowly stood. “I should be getting back. I want to be there when she wakes up.”
Bob and Ed nodded and watched him leave.
“I’d say he took the news rather well.”
“Let’s hope his wife does too.”
** ** **
John slipped quietly back into the room, pleased to see that
“Oh, Honey… wait till you hear what I have to tell
you.” He shook his head, still not quite
believing what Bob and Ed had told him; although, it sure explained a lot of
“You wanted to feel alive… to re-affirm that life goes on.” John yawned as it suddenly occurred to him when this baby had been conceived. “We’ve certainly done that.”
She mumbled softly in her sleep and then rolled over onto her side away from him. John yawned again and then smiled as he got an idea. He stood and kicked off his shoes. He slipped into the bed behind her, spooning up against her and curling his arm about her waist; resting his hand on her abdomen. He laid his head on the pillow and buried his face in her hair, inhaling deeply as he waited for her to wake up, wondering how he was going to tell her the news.
“…Mmm…”
His eyes flew open as he heard her moan and realized that he’d fallen asleep. He glanced at the clock and noted that he’d been asleep for almost an hour.
“…John…?” she moaned softly.
“I’m here, Honey.” He whispered softly against her ear.
“My head hurts.” She told him as she reached down to pull his arm tighter around her and move back against him, seeking the comfort she knew she would find in his embrace. As she did, she moaned again and mumbled in a groggy voice. “Ooh… I hurt all over too… wha… what happened, John?”
John brushed a kiss into her hair and was about to answer when she spoke again.
“The wire…” she said quietly. “The last thing I remember is the wire touching my arm… and the wall…”
“You received a pretty good jolt from that wire.” John explained softly. “It threw you back against the wall and knocked you out.”
“Am I…” She began as she slowly rolled over in his arms to face him, seeing the relief in his eyes as their eyes met.
“You’re going to be fine.” John told her as he leaned towards her and gave her a soft kiss, his hands caressing her back lightly. “Ed and Bob have checked you over, done a bunch of scans and other than some bruising and a minor burn on your arm from the wire, you’re perfectly okay.”
“There’s something else you’re not telling me.” She said softly a few moments later as he fell silent, his hands continuing to move over her back in a soothing motion
“What makes you say that?”
“Because I can read you like an open book, John Koenig and I
know when you’re keeping something from me.”
John simply nodded.
“Well? What is it? Nothing bad I hope.”
“No… it’s not bad.” John said slowly. “Just shocking and very unexpected.”
“Shocking and unexpected how?”
Deciding the easiest way was to simply come out and say it, that’s exactly what John did; after taking a deep breath.
“You’re pregnant,
“John, be serious.”
“I am being serious.” John said, his eyes locking with hers. “You’re pregnant, Honey.”
“…John… women my age don’t get pregnant.”
“Tell that to the child you’re carrying.”
They turned to see Ed and Bob standing in the doorway and both of them sat up on the bed.
“Are you two in on this too?”
“It’s not a joke,
“I’m pregnant. I’m really pregnant.” She said softly and then turned to meet John’s eyes as she felt him place his hand on her abdomen. “We’re really having a baby.”
“I know.” John said with a small smile, reaching out with his other hand to caress her cheek, seeing in her eyes that she too realized when the baby had been conceived.
“Ed… how did this happen?”
The others chuckled with her.
“But… I’m sixty-five years old and going through
menopause. I mean yes, I was still
getting a period every so often… but… this isn’t supposed to happen.”
“Rare, yes. Impossible… no.” Ed told her. “I checked through some medical records and back on Earth in nineteen-ninety-seven, a sixty-three years old woman not only got pregnant but gave birth to a very healthy baby.” He paused and glanced at Bob. “Now see, if we were back on Earth… we’d really have a case for the medical journals and a record for Guinness.”
“Thanks a lot.”
Bob and Ed glanced at each other. Ed nodded.
“From what we can tell so far, yes, the baby is fine.” Bob said. “We haven’t run any tests on the fetus as of yet because… well… we didn’t know until about an hour or so ago that you were pregnant.” He paused. “We’ve scheduled an ultrasound and a few other tests for the morning. Tonight I’d like you to get some rest and then tomorrow, after the tests, we can discuss all the options available and go from there.”
“Available options… Oh, Bob, please tell me you’re not suggesting…”
“No. I’m not suggesting anything.” Bob told her. “But as I told John earlier, it’s an option we might have to consider and should keep open, that’s all.”
“Oh… you’re not going anywhere.” Bob said, giving her a look that said he wasn’t even going to argue with her about it. “You’re spending the night here. I’ll make sure some dinner is brought over for you both and I won’t bother to even suggest a cot for your husband here.” He glanced at John and cracked a small smile. “I know better.”
“I’ll have one of the nurses pop in later to check on you.” Ed said as he and Bob moved towards the door. “Get some rest you two.”
“Are we predictable or do they just know us too well?”
“A little of both.” John answered with a chuckle as he turned to look at his wife. His face grew serious as he gazed at her. “How are you feeling?”
“For the most part… okay.”
“I don’t know, Honey.” John sighed as he slipped his arm about her shoulders and kissed the side of her head. “All I know is that I love you and I want whatever is going to be less harmful for you.”
“Are you suggesting…” her voice trembled. “…That we…”
John shifted and reached out with his free hand to cup her chin and tilt her head so that he could look into her eyes.
“I’m not going to lie to you and say the possibility of
terminating this pregnancy hasn’t crossed my mind; because it has.” He told her, seeing her eyes widen a
little. “
His voice trailed off and
“Ed says he can’t see any reason why you shouldn’t be able to carry this baby to term. That you’re in excellent health and in great shape.” A slow, almost mischievous smile formed on his lips. “Then again, I could have told him that, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to knock you up in the first place.”
“But back to being serious.” John said softly. “We can discuss this until we’re blue in the face but in the end, what it all boils down to is… do you think and feel you’re able to carry this child?” He moved his lips against her hair. “Do you honestly feel, without one single doubt that you can carry this child? Because despite whatever Bob, Ed or even I say… the final decision is yours.” He paused and pulled her a little closer. “And whatever your decision, I will stand behind you and support you one hundred percent.”
“And if I should decide to terminate the pregnancy?”
“If that is the decision you make… then I will support it.” John answered without hesitation. “It’s your body, Helena.”
“But it’s our child, John. Ours. Not just mine.”
“That’s true.” John agreed. “It is our child. But as I said, it’s your body and I can’t, in all good conscience, force you to have or not have this baby.”
“Do you want this baby, John?”
“Of course I want this baby.” He reached down and laid his hand on her abdomen. “I know it must sound like I don’t… but I told you, I fell in love with him the moment I overheard Ed and Bob say that you were pregnant; just as I know you’ve fallen in love with him too.”
“Yes… I have fallen in love with him already too.”
John leaned forward and gave her a gentle kiss.
“John… there’s something else we need to discuss, something
we need to be aware of should we decide to have this baby.”
“What is it,
“Because of my age…” she began. “The risks of having, for lack of a better word, an unhealthy child are very high.”
“Unhealthy how?” John asked in a quiet voice.
“Well… genetic deformities, kidney troubles and… there is a
very real possibility he could have Down syndrome.”
John sat up and then stood, moving over to look at out the window. “Down syndrome? Kidney problems?” He said quietly, shaking his head. “The thought of the baby being anything but healthy hadn’t crossed my mind.”
“…John…”
“I know… even with
“I will support you wholeheartedly,
She shifted closer to him, gazing into his eyes; seeing that he meant what he said and then reached up to give him a loving kiss.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For everything. For… trusting me to make the right decision for us and this baby... for saying what you said about loving him… for being here… for loving me.”
Her voice trailed off.
“I trust you with my life,
They cuddled together in a comfortable silence for a while
until
“…John…”
“Yes, Dear?”
“What do you think of the name Joshua?”
“I love it.” John said as he pulled her closer and pressed a kiss to her temple. “Just promise me one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“No Travel Tubes.”
** ** **
“Bob?”
Matthias met
“So far, all the tests indicate that the fetus is in excellent health, as are you.” Bob told her, watching as both parents breathed a sigh of relief. “I take it then… you’ve decided to have this child?”
“I told you…” John said. “…It’s your call. And whatever you decide, I’ll support you.”
“We both figured that would be what you’d decide.” Ed said, with a small smile. “So, we’ve come up with a strict diet and routine
we expect you to follow. Especially if
you want this pregnancy to work out.”
“Just name it, Ed.” John said, squeezing his wife’s hand. “She’ll follow it to the letter, I guarantee it.”
The two doctors nodded as they looked at each other and smiled. Both of them knew that John would make sure
“And now, we’ve saved the best for last.” Ed said as he pulled a cart over to the bed
“Ed…?”
“We’ve told you, all the tests indicate that everything is
fine,
“That sounds good.
Both the amnio and seeing the baby.”
“There he is. Our little miracle.” John whispered against her ear. “Look at him, Honey.”
“Would you like to see if we can find out the sex of the baby?” Ed asked them, not hearing John’s whispered comments to his wife.
“Thanks, Ed. But we
already know.”
John’s eyes widened slightly as the image of his son on the
monitor, moved. He squeezed
“Our son just waved at us.”
John saw the looks, misinterpreting them as he straightened up and turned to them. “What? What’s with the looks?”
“Is something wrong with the baby?”
“John… no! It’s
nothing like that. In fact, just the
opposite.”
“That’s a relief.”
John breathed as he regarded his wife for a moment then turned to look
at the image of his son. He leaned
closer to
“Everything looks good.” He told her and then chuckled softly.
“What?”
“You were right about him being a boy.” Ed said with a smile as he indicated a
certain area on the screen. He saw John
and Helena beam at each other as he moved the probe again, nodding to
himself. “It looks good,
“What about his kidneys?”
“His kidneys look good, no sign of dilation.” He paused and then moved the probe until a really good image of the baby appeared on the screen and then reached out to hit a button before removing the probe from her stomach and shut the machine off. “And I’ve just printed your son’s first picture.”
“Thanks, Ed.”
“You’re welcome.”
Spencer said, handing her a towel as he stood. “Now… I want you to go home and get some more
rest. And I mean rest,
“Complications?” John asked, the worry evident in his voice. “I thought you said both Helena and the baby are okay.”
“They are, John. Both
of them are fine. And I want to make
sure they stay that way.” Ed said. “My biggest concern is miscarriage.” He paused a moment when he saw the colour
leave John’s face and his grip on
Understanding that Ed was simply covering all bases and keeping the welfare of his wife and child at the forefront, John nodded. “You can bet we’ll let you know, Ed.”
Ed nodded and glanced at Bob, then turned back to John and Helena. “Well, I’ll let you head back to your room to change and while you do that, I’ll go get your son’s picture and schedule the amnio.”
“Sounds good.”
“Our son’s okay, John.” She whispered against his chest as she tightened her arms around his back.
“And, thank God, so is his mother.” John thought as he nodded, resting his cheek against her hair, his arms tightening about her as well.
** ** **
Jonathan saw his twin rush through the
“I just found out myself.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m privy to everything.” Jonathan said. “I’m not the CMO. I’m just her son.”
“Sorry.”
“That’s how I found out.”
“What happened?”
“She was mildly electrocuted.”
“What? How?”
“Mildly electrocuted.” Jonathan repeated. “Seems she was showing one of the tech guys a faulty monitor and when he opened it to look inside, she hit a live wire with her arm.”
“If it was only mild, why’d they keep her overnight?”
“I don’t know, sis.” Jonathan said and then looked up as movement beyond her shoulder caught his attention. He gestured behind her with a nod of his head. “Why don’t we ask them?”
Victoria turned around to see her parents walking out of the private rooms, their arms wrapped around each other with big smiles on their faces as they looked down at a piece of paper held in her mother’s hands.
“Well, for two people who’ve spent the night here,”
John and Helena looked up at the sound of their daughter’s
voice and
“Hi, kids.”
“Yeah, hi.”
“It seems I’m not exciting enough for your mother anymore,
so she had to go and get friendly with a live wire.” John said, glancing at
“Dad.”
“We’re sorry, Sweetie.”
“There has to be more to it than that if you were kept here over night, Mom.”
“She was also thrown back against the wall and knocked unconscious.” John told them. “So, Ed wanted to keep her here overnight for observation.”
“Are you okay?” Jonathan stepped forward and reached a hand out to her arm.
“I’m fine, Sport.”
“What is it?”
“Not here.”
“Sure. I wasn’t scheduled to work today anyway.” Jonathan admitted. “I… ah…”
“Lead the way.”
As they neared the doors, John stopped them.
“Wait here.” He told
“John… that’s not necessary.”
“Yes it is.” He said, bringing his finger up to her lips to stop her from talking. “Don’t argue.”
Jonathan and Victoria exchanged worried glances.
“Mom…?”
“Your father is just being over-protective, that’s all.” She told them and then smiled. “I’ve learned that once in a while it’s best to just humour him.”
“So, you’re humouring me now, is that it?”
John nuzzled her neck for a moment and then released her and offered her his arm. “C’mon, let’s get you home.”
The twins watched their parents move through the door; exchanged confused glances and then followed them.
** ** **
Their eyes grew wide as their mouths fell open as they looked from their parents to each other and back again.
“You’re what!?”
“You heard me right.”
“I don’t believe this!” Jonathan said in a loud voice as he shook his head and then met his mother’s eyes. “You’re sixty-five years old for heaven’s sake! And you’re having a baby?! Please tell me this is all just a bad joke.”
“It’s not a joke, Jonathan.”
“This is crazy! How can you…? Why would you…?” Jonathan stuttered on the words. “At your age…”
“Are you guys nuts?”
John glanced down at
“Jonathan?” John called to him as he watched him pace back and forth in front of the porch. “I’m terrified too, son.”
Jonathan stopped pacing, sighed, and ran his hand through his hair to rub the back of his neck, a gesture that was entirely his father’s. He looked up and met John’s eyes; seeing his father’s fear of losing his mother clearly in the bright blue eyes.
“Then why are you letting her go through with this?” Jonathan asked quietly.
John released a deep sigh as he stepped down off the porch and walked over to his son. “If you had seen your mother’s eyes when I mentioned that I’d considered the possibility of her terminating the pregnancy… the sadness that filled her eyes. The fear.” John paused and met his son’s eyes. “I can’t do that to her.”
“But you can let her die?”
“She won’t die! I won’t let that happen!” John said with quiet determination. “Your mother is my world, Jonathan. And both she and your brother are going to be fine.”
“Brother?” Jonathan looked at his father, his eyes wide. “She’s having a boy? I’m going to have a brother?”
“Mmhmm.” John nodded. “…She’s afraid too, son. And she needs all the love and support we can give her. And your support, Jonathan, means the world to her. If you could have seen the look in her eyes when you walked out…”
Jonathan hung his head. “I’m sorry. I don’t want to hurt or upset her. But, Dad… having a baby at her age…” he shook his head. “I just can’t… There are so many things that could go wrong…” Jonathan paused again and met his father’s gaze; giving him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, Dad. I can’t support this decision.”
“Jonathan…”
“I promise I won’t do or say anything to upset her.” He told John. “But I can’t support either of you in this. I’m sorry… but I just can’t do it.”
John nodded his head. “I understand, son. You are your own person and you have to do what you feel is right.” He paused and glanced up at the house.
“Do you think Mom will understand?” Jonathan asked quietly, following his father’s gaze.
“Yes, your mother will understand.” John told him. “She’ll be saddened about it but yes, she’ll understand.”
Jonathan sighed.
“I’m sorry I went off like that, Mom.”
“I know.”
“And you’re serious about having this baby?” She asked and saw her mother nod. “What are the risks?”
“The same as with any pregnancy…”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Thrilled beyond words.”
“Joshua?”
“Mom… now I know that you and Dad are thrilled about
this. And I can’t say that I blame you…
but let me play devil’s advocate here for a minute.”
“Yes, we talked about it.”
“And you decided to keep the baby.”
“Well, technically…”
“Of course I’ll support you in this, Mom.”
“What about you, Jonathan?”
Jonathan didn’t answer as he moved to stand behind his mother. He knelt down behind her and put his arms around her as he laid his head on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry, Mom… it’s not my intention to upset you… but I can’t support you in this.” Jonathan said in a quiet voice. “Having this baby could kill you. And I know it’s selfish, but I don’t want to lose you.”
“You won’t lose me, Sweetheart!”
“Oh, Mom… I wish I had the faith you do. But I can’t overlook all the facts. Your age…”
“My age is only one aspect, Jonnie and I am in excellent health.”
“Nevertheless, there is so much that could go wrong.”
“I had to give to birth to the medical version of John
Koenig, didn’t I?”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Jonathan said as he stood and moved around the room. He turned to look at his mother with tears brimming in his blue eyes. “I don’t want to hurt you, Mom… I really don’t. But I just can’t…” he swallowed back his tears as he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see his twin standing beside him. He looked back at his mother. “I… hope you can understand, Mom.”
“I do, Jonathan.”
“Come on, Jonnie.”
Jonathan nodded and followed her quietly into the kitchen as
John and
** ** **
“Well… that was interesting to say the least.”
“It was that.” John agreed, resting his cheek against the top of her head as he gazed out their bedroom window.
They sat quietly together in their favourite chair; their
hands laced together on her abdomen.
“Jonathan?” John asked quietly as he felt her warm breath on his skin, knowing their son’s reaction to the news was upsetting her.
“Mmhmm.” She murmured. “Truth be told, I was expecting this reaction from Vicky not Jonnie.”
“Really?” John asked, the surprise evident in his voice. “I would have thought it was the opposite.”
“Our son may look like a young clone of his father…” she reached up and caressed his cheek. “…But it’s our daughter who has his temper.”
John smiled and chuckled. “Is that so?”
“Do you think Jonathan will come around? That he’ll accept this?”
“Yes. I think he’ll come around.” John answered her, remembering his son’s reaction to learning he was going to be having a brother. “You should have seen his eyes when I told him you were having a boy.”
“He always wanted a baby brother...”
Her voice trailed off and John didn’t need to see her face to see the pain in her eyes. John leaned his cheek against her hair and tightened his arms slightly.
“And now he’s getting one.” He said softly.
“…John?” She asked a few moments later, running her fingers over his hand as it lay on her stomach. “Do you…”
“Do I what?” He prodded her.
“Do you think I made the right decision… deciding to have
this baby?”
“Yes, I am scared.” John admitted, nodding against her head. “I lost you once…” his voice cracked and he swallowed hard before continuing. “But I just got you back and I don’t believe the universe is that cruel to take you away from me again this soon.” He peered over her shoulder as his hand caressed her belly lovingly. “So yes. I think you made the right decision.”
John felt her relax in his arms and then shift so that she could once again gaze out at the stars and the glowing orb that had brought them together. He smiled into her hair as he brushed a kiss into the blonde strands.
“I love you, Helena.” He breathed softly.
“I love you too.”
** ** **
“Do you understand what we’ve told you, Pumpkin?”
Callie looked back and forth between her grandparents and then slowly nodded.
“I’m going to have a baby uncle.”
John and Helena chuckled.
“That’s right, Sweetie.”
Callie tilted her head slightly to one side as she regarded her grandmother. “Gramma?”
“Yes, Callie?”
“Will your belly get big like Auntie Ryanne’s?”
“Yes it will.”
“Will you let me feel the baby kick?” Callie asked with wide, hopeful eyes.
“Anytime you want.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“When will the baby get here, Gramma?”
“Oh, not until after our birthday.”
“That long?!” Callie
sighed deeply as she crawled up onto the couch and sat between her
grandparents. She turned to
“I’m afraid that’s not possible, Sweetie.”
“Why not, Gramma?”
“Because the baby isn’t big enough yet.”
“Just like Joey did?” Callie asked, referring to her newest cousin.
“Yes, just like Joey.”
“Okay.” Callie nodded, seemingly satisfied. She then hopped off the couch and turned to look at her grandparents. “Is it okay if I go outside and play now?”
“Sure, Pumpkin.” John smiled. “Go on.”
“Thanks, Grampa.” Callie yelled as she scampered off.
John met
“Well, Mrs. Koenig,” John began, reaching for her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. “What do you say to spending the rest of the afternoon lying in a hammock with your husband?”
John nodded and watched her head for the kitchen with a smile on his face and then turned and headed outside.
** ** **
“Happy Birthday, Mom.”
“Thank you, Jonathan.”
Jonathan nodded and lowered himself down beside her.
“How’s married life so far?”
“Pretty good.” Jonathan answered, twisting his wedding ring. “How are things with you?”
“Everything’s fine.”
They fell silent and
“Dad looks like he’s having fun.”
“Yes he does.”
“Mom… is that…” Jonathan began and then stopped.
“Is that why I’m having this baby?”
“Yeah.” Jonathan nodded. “Are you having it as a way of trying to make up to Dad for missing me and Vicky growing up?”
“Then why, Mom? Why are you risking your health to do this?”
“Oh, Jonathan… how can I explain this to you?”
Jonathan watched as she paused and ran her hand over her swollen stomach, a smile coming to her lips; realizing that the baby obviously kicked her. He reached out a tentative hand and then stopped, letting it fall back to his lap, hoping she hadn’t noticed.
“And yes, I know… I’m not a young woman anymore. But I’m healthy and so is this baby.” She told him. “There is no reason why I shouldn’t have him.”
“Okay… so you and the baby are healthy… there are still so many risks…”
“There were risks when I was pregnant with you and your sister too, but the moment I found out I was pregnant…” her voice trailed off into a sigh. “I was instantly in love with the life growing inside me. As was your father when I told him. And then when we discovered we were having twins… I can’t tell you how excited we were… how in love we were with the two of you.”
The intense and utter love he heard in his mother’s voice and saw in his mother’s eyes as he raised his meet hers, hit Jonathan in an odd and unexpected way… almost like an old memory and a feeling of being so completely and unreservedly loved.
“And it’s like that for your brother.”
Jonathan blinked back the tears that suddenly came unbidden to his eyes and then leaned over and embraced his mother. He straightened up and with a nod from his mother at his questioning look he laid his hand on her belly. Slowly, he slipped to his knees and placed his hands on either side of her as he laid his cheek against her stomach.
“Hiya, Pal… this is your big brother...” he grinned when he felt a firm kick against his face. “Glad to see I’ve got your attention, old chap.”
“Okay, Josh… this is our first brother to brother talk, so listen up. I want to let you know that your big brother has been a stubborn ass… and maybe he’s been just a little jealous because when you join us… I won’t be Mom’s little prince anymore.” He felt his mother begin to stroke his hair as he continued speaking. “Mom’s crazy about you, little brother. You’re not even here yet and you’re already making her so happy; even just the mention of your name makes her glow and the beautiful, brilliant smile that lights up her face…” He paused and chuckled. “And I should warn you now, kiddo… we Koenig men are suckers for women with gorgeous smiles.”
“I know I’ve been upsetting her for the last three months, so it’s high-time I stop being a jerk, grow up and quit giving her a hard time.” Jonathan said seriously. “So what do you say, little brother… how ‘bout we do our best to make sure that Mom enjoys, really enjoys these last few months of her pregnancy and has an easy ‘Josh arrival’ when it’s time, okay?”
As if in agreement, Jonathan felt a thump against his cheek and chuckled. He slowly lifted his head off his mother’s stomach and smiled as he met her eyes, seeing the tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Why are pregnant women so emotional?”
Jonathan stood and then sat back down beside her. He hugged her and rocked her gently as he smiled. “I don’t know, Mom… you tell me.”
“Mom?”
“Mom, are you all right?” Jonathan asked her, reaching for her hand.
“Yes, I’m fine.
Just…”
“I said that despite the health of you and the baby, there are still risks involved and then you started to say something about there being risks when you were pregnant with me and Vicky…” Jonathan told her. “Then you zoned out on me.”
“I’ve been worried for the last three months, Mom.” Jonathan said flatly. “And will no doubt be worried for the next three as well.”
“I’m sorry, Mom.” Jonathan said after a minute or two of silence; seeing the tears in her eyes that she refused to let fall. “I promised Dad, that although I can’t support you guys in this, that I wouldn’t do anything to upset you. And here it is your birthday, and what do I do?”
“Jonathan, you didn’t…”
“Yes I did. I can see it in your eyes.” He said. “I’m sorry, Mom. Sorry I upset you today of all days and sorry that I can’t…” his voice trailed off and he gave her a sad look before leaning over to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I do love you, Mom, despite how I feel about all this. You do know that, right?”
“I know that, Jonnie.”
“I think… I think I’m going to go find my wife.” He said softly and then slowly stood.
“Oh, Jonathan.”
She shook her head, pushing those unhappy memories away, not wanting to think about them, especially today and slowly stood to search out her husband.
** ** **
“Like some company?”
“I’d love some.” She smiled in return as she slowly began to sit up.
“Don’t move.” John told her, laying his hand on her shoulder. “I’ve got another idea.”
“Did you enjoy your birthday?” John asked her, reaching down to clasp her right foot in his hands.
“Mmhmm.”
John smiled. “It’s just the beginning.”
“Really?” She arched a brow at him.
“Yep.” John nodded as he continued to knead her foot.
“And just what do you have planned, John?”
“How does, a full-body massage, followed by passionate love-making and cuddling until the wee hours of the morning, ending with watching the sun rise in each other’s arms as we curl up in our favourite chair, sound to you?”
“Mmm… like just what the doctor ordered.”
They smiled at each other and then
“So, did you get a chance to talk with our son?” John asked her a couple minutes later as he lowered her right foot to rest on his thigh and reached for her left foot. “I know he mentioned something about wanting to talk with you?”
“Yes, we talked.”
“So I’m guessing he still hasn’t come around?”
“No. He’s still
holding fast to the idea that we’re making a huge mistake. That we shouldn’t have this baby.”
“…
“I almost told him.” She said softly, meeting his gaze with teary eyes. “I almost told him… thinking that maybe if he knew… he’d understand why having Joshua means so much to me… to us.”
“Or he’d use it as yet another argument to point out why we shouldn’t be having this baby.” John told her as he finished massaging her calf and lowered her foot to his thigh. He sat back and regarded his wife for a moment, remembering all she’d told him about that night; the pain and anguish she’d gone through… and all of it, without him. It still caused a dull throb in his heart when he thought about it.
He and Helena had been cuddling in front of a small fire one night, a little over two months after he’d returned and had been catching each other up on their day when John noticed that she’d suddenly grown very quiet.
“Why so quiet all of a sudden?” John asked, shifting so that he could look
into her face, surprised when she sat up suddenly and stared at the flames, her
back to him. “
“No… no you didn’t, John.”
John leaned back and thought for a moment, trying to
figure out what it was about this particular date that had his wife looking so
sad and depressed. Nothing came to mind
so he deduced that it must have happened in his absence. He sat up a little, reaching out to rub her
back.
“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked her gently as his hand slowly made
it’s way up to her shoulder, where he reached under her hair and brushed the
side of her face with the back of his fingers.
“I know I haven’t been… but I am here now. Talk to me, Honey. What is it that’s gotten you so sad?”
“Then take all the time you need, I’m not going
anywhere.” John told her. “And when you’re ready, I’ll be still be
here. It doesn’t have to be tonight.”
“Who does?” He
asked as he sat up completely, the name not ringing a bell with him. “Who’re you talking about,
“Jason.” It came
out barely a whisper as she turned to look at him with tears slipping down her
cheeks. “Jason Robert Koenig… our son.”
He could still see the tears on her face and the sadness in her eyes when she’d said the name… his son’s name, that night; could hear the anguish in her voice. And before he’d been able to say anything to her, she’d moved back into his arms, burrowed tight against him, and buried her face against his chest as she began to sob softly. He’d held her close and let her cry, knowing she’d tell him in her own time, which she’d done some time later, when her tears had subsided somewhat.
John looked across the water at Helena, meeting her eyes and gave her a small smile as he reached out and clasped her hand in his, squeezing it gently; knowing they were both thinking about the same thing.
“Hey, isn’t it time you should be getting home?”
“I’ve still got some work that needs to be
finished.” She told him, turning back to
the report she was working on.
“
“I’m fine, Ed.
There’s no need to be concerned.”
Ed regarded his friend and superior for a moment. While it’d only been a couple months since
the moon had been ripped away; most of the Alphans
had come to accept that there was nothing they could do and had begun to move
on. All of them that is, except
“No need to be concerned, my a… foot.” Ed said as he moved deeper into her
office. “You look like hell,
“Ed…” her voice was hard, warning him not to continue as
she slowly stood.
“It’s been almost three months,
“Time to what!?
Accept it? Move on?” her voice
rose in sudden anger as made her way around her desk towards him. “Forget that my children no longer have their
father here; that my husband has been ripped away…”
“
“Ooh… Oh, God!”
She moaned, gripping tightly to her desk.
“
“I don’t… Ooh…”
Holding her firmly, Ed was about to lead her towards the
door when he felt
“Oh my God! Ed!”
He met and followed her gaze to see a trail of blood
trickling down her legs, forming a puddle on the floor at her feet.
“Ben!” Ed shouted
into his commlock, not even bothering to remove the
device from his belt. “I need a
stretcher in
“Oh… God… what’s happening?”
“I don’t know,
“Ed… my babies… what about…?”
“I’ll get Tanya to look after the twins.” Ed assured her as he, Ben and the nurse
lifted her onto the stretcher. “They’ll
be fine, I promise.”
“…John…”
Victor looked up from the book he was reading.
“John… please…”
Victor closed his book; stood and moved to the door,
opening it slightly and sticking his head out.
“Ed.” He called
out, spotting the younger man, standing in the hall talking to one of the
nurses. “She’s coming to.”
“Thanks, Victor.
I’ll be right there.”
Victor nodded and moved back inside the room, sitting on
the edge of the bed and grasping her hand as she slowly moved towards
consciousness.
“Victor?” She
asked softly as her eyes fluttered open.
“Yes, it’s me.” He
answered quietly, patting her hand. He
smiled softly at her. “This is getting
to be habit.”
A small smile touched the corners of her mouth and she
was about to respond when the door opened and Ed walked in, her file in his
hands.
“Victor, could you give me couple of minutes?”
“Sure thing. I
could use a coffee anyway.” Victor
answered. He turned back to
“How you feeling?”
He asked.
“Tired and sore.”
She answered. “What happened,
Ed?” She saw him hesitate and glance
down at the file in his hands. “Tell
me.”
“
“Pregnant?” She
repeated. “ No, I didn’t… I…” she paused
suddenly and then looked over at him, meeting his eyes. “You said, ‘were pregnant’.” Her eyes grew wide and her mouth fell
open. “Oh, Ed… please don’t tell me…”
Her voice trailed off and her eyes welled with tears as
Ed slowly nodded.
“I’m afraid so, Helena.
You’ve suffered a miscarriage.”
He told her softly.
“A boy.” Ed answered. “You were just about twelve weeks along.”
Helena nodded numbly, knowing before he told her when the
baby had been conceived.
“…
She opened her eyes and looked at him.
“I take you know when you…”
“Yes, Ed. I know
when the baby was conceived.” She told
him, remembering that particular night quite vividly. Her birthday… the last night she’d spent in
her husband’s arms and had felt him close to her. The last night she’d heard his voice
whispering her name in her ear as he made love to her. She shook her head and brushed the tears away
with the back of her hand. “Who else,
other than yourself, knows about this?”
“Ben, Tanya, Paula, myself and Victor.” Ed rattled off the names. “Why?”
“I don’t want anyone else knowing.”
“Not a problem,
“Thanks, Ed.”
“Is there anything
you need or want? Do you want to see the
twins? ”
He asked her as he stood. She
shook her head. “You sure?” She nodded.
“Would you like me to send Victor back in?”
“Not right now.”
“Okay. I’ll be here
all night if you need anything or if you experience anymore pain.” He said, laying a hand on her shoulder. He met her eyes and spoke softly. “I’m sorry, Helena.”
Clutching her stomach,
“Oh, John… Our baby… I’ve lost our baby.” She sobbed, her tears streaming down her face and onto her pillow as she thought about the life that had ended before it’d had a chance to really begin. It didn’t matter that she hadn’t known about the life that had been growing inside her… she felt the loss of it as keenly as if it’d been a child she’d been able to hold in her arms. “Oh… little one, I’m sorry. So… very sorry.”
John continued to look at his wife, seeing the sadness creep into her eyes as she thought about the child they’d lost. He hated seeing her unhappy, it tore at his heart. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze and when she looked up to meet his gaze, he pulled her closer.
“I know what you’re thinking.” He said softly against her wet hair.
“Do you?”
“Yes.” He answered and brought his other hand up to caress her cheek. “And, I don’t think we should tell them.”
“…John…”
“I mean it,
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” He replied, running his fingers from her cheek, down her arm. “But you’re not getting me to change my mind on this.”
“Good.” He said as she settled back against him. He clasped her hand against his chest as he rubbed her back.
“However…” she began a few moments later, angling her head just in time to see John roll his eyes and shake his head slightly. He gave her a look that said to continue, but that it wouldn’t do any good. “It might help if we did tell them.”
John sighed.
“I’m serious, John.” She said. “Maybe they’ll… maybe Jonathan will surprise us and come around…” she lifted her head to look at him. “What?”
“I said, no.” John repeated. “Maybe after Joshua’s born we can tell them, but not before.”
“But, John…”
“No buts,
“I know how much you want Jonathan to accept this… to support us… you.” John said, reaching out to once again caress her belly. “And you know what I think…” her eyes prompted him to continue. “Once Joshua is born and Jonathan sees that everything is okay… that you’re okay, he’ll apologize and not only that… he’ll be the proudest older brother in the world.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes I do.”
John simply gave her a soft smile and pulled her closer. “All I want… is for you to be happy and safe.”
“As long as you’re holding me in your arms… how can I be anything but?”
Their lips for a loving kiss and then
“You know what?”
“What?”
“It’s still my birthday…”
“Is that so?”
“It is. And I do believe my husband promised me a full-body massage.”
“Did he now?”
“Mmhmm.” She smiled softly, walking her fingers down his chest. “A full-body massage, passionate love-making and some cuddling while watching the sun rise, I believe were the things he promised me.”
John gave her a bemused smile as he caught her hand just before it disappeared beneath the water. “Well… let’s get out of this water… and I’ll see what I can do about making good on those promises.”
“You didn’t mention towel service.”
John looked up from where he was kneeling before her and met her amused gaze. “All part of the birthday package.”
“Mmm… I like this.”
She murmured as he stood before her.
She slipped her arms around his neck.
“Tell me…”
John simply nodded as he lowered his lips to hers for a long, deep kiss, leaving her breathless when it ended. He slid his hands down her arms to grasp her hands and led her out of the bathroom and into their bedroom where they finished their evening as planned.
** ** **
“John!”
John opened his eyes at the breathless gasp of his name and looked over at his wife to see her still asleep but struggling to breathe.
“…Help… John…”
He took a deep calming breath as he sat up and reached over and slipped his hands under her shoulders to gently raise her; feeling the wave of panic he always felt accompanying these episodes ease, as she slowly began to breathe easier. John continued to support her in this position as she, little by little, began to wake up and moved his hand down to cover her very swollen stomach.
“Same nightmare?” He asked her softly as she opened her eyes and looked at him sleepily.
Two weeks earlier, upon entering her ninth month,
“Everything is going to be fine,
“Yes… I know.” She nodded again, her voice soft and still a little breathless. “The last set of tests show that everything is perfectly fine with both of us. There shouldn’t be any problems with the delivery.” She lifted her head from his shoulder and met his eyes. “Then why am I having this nightmare?”
“I don’t know, Honey.” John said, reaching up to brush her hair out of her face. “Jonathan hasn’t been saying anything to upset you, has he?”
“No… not really.”
John shook his head a frown forming on his lips. Over the last couple months, John had found
it increasingly harder to be so accepting of Jonathan’s attitude in regards to
“John… what was it you told me… he’ll come around.”
John watched as
“…Mmhmm…” she sighed as she continued to massage her aching temples. “It’s just a tension headache, that’s all, John.”
“That’s not all and we both know it.” He said. “I know your blood pressure goes up with these nightmares.”
“I thought I was the doctor.”
“You are.” John chuckled, grasping her hand and pressing a kiss against her palm, before shifting on the bed so that he was kneeling behind her with his knees on either side of her. “But even doctors need doctoring from time to time.”
“C’mon…” John said softly against her ear a short time later, noticing that she was beginning to nod off. “…Lie down.”
“But you’re not done.”
“Faking were you?” John said as he shook his head, helping her lie back on the bed.
“I was hoping, seeing how comfortable I was,” she explained as she rolled onto her side away from him but turning her head back to look at him. “…That you wouldn’t want to disturb me by stopping.”
John shook his head, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he settled in behind her, spooning up against her and draped his arm around her, resting his hand protectively over her stomach. He smiled against her shoulder as he felt his son move inside his wife, the feeling never ceasing to amaze him.
Neither one spoke as they laid together, enjoying the moonlight that streamed through their bedroom window and bathed them in its soft glow.
“John...”
“I know you are.” John nodded against her shoulder at her quiet admission. He lifted his head to peer down at her, seeing in her eyes that she was still disturbed by her nightmare. “I’m scared too…”
“And then there’s you and Jonnie…” she interrupted. “The two of you…”
“Will be fine.” John
finished for her. “I know it’s useless
to even suggest it but don’t worry about us.”
John smiled as she nodded. “We
may not be seeing eye to eye right now, but we both want the same thing; you
safe and happy. Everything will work
out,
“I’ll believe anything… as long as you’re holding me in your
arms.”
“In that case, I’ll never let you go.”
“Mmm… good.”
“It’s a promise.” John told her, leaning down to give her a soft kiss; the two of them sharing a tender look as the kiss came to an end. She yawned and John chuckled softly. “Go back to sleep, Honey.”
John continued to caress her stomach for a long while after
he’d felt her body relax and her breathing indicate that she was once again
sleeping deeply. He moved his gaze over
to the window, catching a glimpse of the moon and pressed closer to
“I love you, Helena.” He whispered, burying his face in her hair. “I love you so much and I promise you… everything will be okay.”
** ** **
“The baby hasn’t what?”
“Your son hasn’t turned, John.” Ed said, turning to look at John. “He’s breech.”
John looked down at his wife with a wry grin. “Leave it to our son to want to enter the world ass backwards.”
“External version?”
John asked before Ed could answer
“External cephalic version. It’s a procedure where we try and turn the baby.” Ed explained. “Although he can be born in the breech position, it would be better and easier if he were to be turned and delivered in the normal, head first position.”
“And how would you do this?” John asked.
“Well, we’d monitor the baby carefully and then apply
pressure on
“And the risks?” John asked, the concern for his wife and child evident in his voice.
“Josh could be stubborn, refuse to turn. In which case, a C-section will be
needed.”
“And if he does, you can have a normal delivery, right?”
“Yes.” She smiled at him and then looked over at Ed. “We’ll give it till next week?”
“Actually, that’s something I wanted to discuss with you. I think we should simply schedule a C-section.” Ed told her, continuing to explain before she could interrupt. “I know you are perfectly healthy and so is this baby, but at your age, it just might be easier to have a cesarean and get it over with.”
“You already know what I’m going to say.” He told her.
“Good.” Ed said. “We’ll schedule it for next week then, if that’s good with you?”
“That’s fine.”
Ed nodded and handed her a towel. “Everything looks good.”
John and Helena smiled.
“I’m going to go schedule your C-section. We’ll make for the same time as your next appointment.”
“Sounds good, Ed.” John said.
Ed smiled. “Well, I’ve a few other patients to check on, so I’ll see you both later.”
“Take care, Ed.”
John smiled and helped her down off the exam-table. “Do you feel up to a small stroll by the lake?”
“That sounds wonderful.”
John leaned towards her, kissed her on the cheek, and then escorted her out of the examination room. He glanced at her as they moved down the hall. “And after our walk, how would you like to… encourage… our son to turn around?”
At the sound of his mother’s laughter echoing down the hall, Jonathan looked up from the file he was reading as he slowly walked down the corridor and couldn’t help the small smile that came to his face.
“She’s positively glowing.”
The thought crossed his mind as he watched his mother playfully swat at his father’s arm; the two of them laughing at some comment his father had made. He stopped and leaned up against the wall, taking this opportunity, before either of them noticed him, to observe them without being caught.
“In fact, she’s happier than I’ve ever seen her.” He thought to himself.
Her pregnancy had progressed smoothly; without any of the complications or risks to hers or the baby’s health that he’d feared would happen.
“Well, except for the slight increase in her blood pressure, which I haven’t exactly helped to keep down.” Jonathan thought with a frown, remembering the argument he’d had with his father just a few months ago.
The first time they’d fought since his father’s return to Nova a year and a half ago.
Jonathan shook his head. He’d never seen his father that upset and, he admitted to himself, he never wanted to see it again or more specifically; he never wanted to be the object of his father’s anger ever again.
It’d been just after his mother’s birthday; his father had stopped by and Jonathan could tell by the look on his face, that his father was not a happy man. They’d gone for a short walk, wherein, John had gone up one side of his son and down the other for upsetting his mother; telling him that he’d broken the promise he’d made to not upset her, even though he couldn’t and wouldn’t support them during this pregnancy and that he’d better be on his best behaviour for the remainder of his mother’s pregnancy or there’d be hell to pay.
Jonathan sighed as he focused again on his parents, seeing that they were getting closer. He saw his mother look up at him, the soft smile on her lips growing as he met her eyes. He smiled back and then turned his head to see his father looking at him too. He nodded a hello and began to make his way towards them.
He faltered, falling against the wall, as the floor beneath his feet suddenly began to roll and the entire building began to shake violently.
“Earthquake!” Jonathan thought to himself as he tried to stay on his feet and make it over to his parents.
“Jonathan!”
He looked up as he heard his mother’s worried cry, to see his father reaching out to take his mother protectively in his arms and lead her towards one of the doorways, even as she tried to get to him. He watched his mother’s eyes widen with fear and then his father’s.
“Jonathan!”
His parents’ chorused shout of his name was the last thing
he heard. He crumpled to the floor as
part of the
“Oh my God, John!”
“I know.” John
nodded, tightening his hold on his wife.
“
He yelled at her until she met his gaze, her eyes still wide with fright and filled with tears.
“John… our son… Jonnie’s…” she glanced over at the pile of ceiling on the floor and began to gasp for breath.
“Helena… calm down.” John grasped her shoulders, forcing her to look at him again, fighting to stay calm himself. “I want you to stay here…”
“…But, John…”
“I mean it,
“
Suddenly the building shook again as the aftershock hit, causing more debris to fall from the ceiling.
“John!”
“
Knowing she couldn’t leave, despite knowing she should,
“Dammit,
“You can’t do this by yourself!” She told him, nonplussed at his outburst as she began to lift and toss away the lighter articles.
John sighed, knowing he would be wasting his breath and valuable minutes that could mean his son’s life, if he argued with her any further. He glanced up at the ceiling, praying that nothing else would fall on them, especially now. “Just be careful, please!”
After what seemed liked hours, but in reality was only a few
minutes,
“Jonathan!”
They dug some more.
“Oh God, John… we’ve got to find him.”
“We’ll find him,
“I’ll…”
“Don’t even think it!” John told her forcibly, holding up his hand and shaking his head at her.
“But…”
“No buts,
Just as he’d managed to lift it slightly there was another tremor.
“
John cried out her name, dropping the girder and diving toward his wife as he saw her stumble backwards into the wall.
“Ooh!”
John held her tightly until the shaking stopped. “You okay?”
“You sure?”
“John!
“Bob! Bob, we need
some help!”
“What happened?” Bob asked as he and Ed joined them, Bob moving immediately to help John lift and move the girder.
“The ceiling… it collapsed.”
Ed glanced at her once more then moved over to help John and Bob.
“Jonathan!”
“…John?!”
“He’s alive!” John called back to her, having heard his son groan softly. With a renewed sense of purpose, he began to work at moving away more of the rubble. “Hang on, son. We’re getting you out of here.”
The three men moved quickly and in less than ten minutes, they were dragging Jonathan out of the pile.
“Jonathan!”
“Mom?” He moaned softly.
“I’m here, Baby.”
His eyes fluttered again and he slowly opened his eyes, looking up into his mother’s face.
“That’s my boy.”
“Sorry.” Jonathan said softly, a small smile touching the corners of his mouth. “Always told you that one day I’d bring down the house.”
“He is indeed.” John grinned at her then looked down at Jonathan. He reached out and placed his hand on Jonathan’s chest. “Your mother’s right, you scared the hell out of us, Sport!”
“How bad am I hurt?” Jonathan asked.
“Considering what fell on you, you’ve only got a lot of minor lacerations and a bunch of bruises.” He heard his father-in-law answer from somewhere behind his father and nodded.
“We’re just glad you’re okay, son.” John said as he gently patted his son’s chest. He gave him a small smile and then turned to look at Ed. “Can we move him?”
“Yes.” Ed said. “We should get him out of here.”
With his father and father-in-law’s help, Jonathan slowly got to his feet and then leaned against Ed while his father helped his mother up.
“What about Mom?” Jonathan asked weakly. “And, Josh? How’s my baby brother?”
“We’re both fine.”
“C’mon, let’s get out of here.” John said, flashing his son a smile and giving his wife a gentle squeeze.
They’d taken, not even, half dozen steps when
“Ooh!” She moaned softly, her grip on John’s hand tightening.
“
“I don’t… oh… God!” She gasped and then moaned as she doubled over in pain, clutching her stomach, her face contorting in pain.
“
“Oh, God… no!”
He followed her anxious gaze.
“Oh God!” John called out in an anxious voice, paling at the trail of blood on the floor behind them. “Ed! Bob!”
“John… the bab… the baby…”
“…Again?” Jonathan looked confused as he turned to his father-in-law. “What’s she…?”
“Can you make it outside on your own?” Ed asked him anxiously, glancing over at the others.
“Yeah… but…”
“Good.”
Ed didn’t let him finish as he took off, leaving Jonathan leaning against the wall, looking confused as he watched his father scoop his mother up into his arms and rush past him with Ed and Bob leading the way. His eyes grew wide, seeing that his mother had lost consciousness.
“Mom…”
He moved to follow them when his commlock suddenly sounded. He reached quickly for it, bringing it up to his face as he rushed down the corridor, his worry for his mother overpowering any pain he felt from his injuries.
“Sues…” Jonathan breathed his wife’s name, giving her a soft smile, relief flooding through him at her face on the viewer. “You’re okay?”
“I’m fine. What happened to you?” She asked anxiously. “You’re cut up.”
“The ceiling fell, but I’m fine. Just some bumps and bruises.” Jonathan answered distractedly. “Sues… call Vicky, tell her to get over here right away.”
“Something’s wrong with Mom and the baby.” Jonathan told her. “Get Vicky and get over here. I’ll tell you more when I know it.”
“I’m on it right now.” Susan told her husband. “Go help them, Honey!”
“I love you.” Jonathan told her as he closed the link and then hurried down the hall after his family.
“Ed? What’s wrong with my wife?”
Jonathan heard his father’s panicked voice as he entered the room to see his mother lying on the operating table, still unconscious and hooked up to the various monitors and IVs.
“Did
“No… she didn’t fall. I had my arms around her and was trying to get her out of the building… or at least into a doorway as soon as it hit.” John answered and then his eyes grew wide. “Wait a sec… that second aftershock! She hit the wall! I was trying to lift that girder and couldn’t get to her in time.”
Ed nodded and moved back to the end of the table.
“ED?!”
“The impact with the wall… it caused what is known as placenta abruption. ” Ed told him and then paused before meeting his eyes. “Your wife is hemorrhaging, John.”
The look on John’s face told him to continue.
“What it means… is that the placenta has separated from the uterus and we’re going to have to do an emergency C-section.” Ed told him and then hesitated.
“But what is it you’re not telling me?”
“Her blood pressure… with all the worry about Jonathan, it was extremely high.” Ed explained. “But now… it’s dropping.”
“We’re going to have to monitor it carefully, during the operation.” Bob chimed in.
“Or what?” John asked. “And don’t sugar-coat it.”
Bob hesitated, glancing up to see Jonathan moving deeper into the room, a knowing look on his face as moved to stand beside his father; placing his hand on his shoulder.
“Come on, Bob. Tell me.” John urged the doctor, glancing up at his son.
“There’s a chance we could lose Mom and the baby.” Jonathan told his father in a tremulous voice.
“…No…”
John looked down as he heard his wife moan softly and saw that she was coming around.
“…My baby…”
“I’m here,
“John… oh, John… Josh… we can’t lose...”
“We’re not going to lose him,
“No…”
“It won’t happen,
“…Just like I lost Jason…”
Jonathan and Bob exchanged confused looks.
“Jason?” Jonathan repeated quietly.
“We’re not going to lose Josh,
“…John…”
“Honey… you gotta relax. Everything’s going to be fine.” John told her, seeing that Ed and Bob were preparing for the cesarean.
“John?”
“
“Okay,
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” John whispered back, leaning closer and brushing a light kiss against her lips. “Everything’ll work out! Just… don’t you leave us.”
“I won’t…” She gave him a weak smile and then grimaced in pain. “I promise.”
As Ed began to prep
“Right on time, Paula.” Ed called over to her. “Would you help Bob please?”
“Of course.” Paula answered and moved over to Mathias.
“Susan, would you be so kind as to take your husband to one of the other rooms and clean him up.” Ed asked her.
“But I want…” Jonathan began.
“I appreciate you wanting to help, Jonathan. Really.” Ed told him. “But after what you’ve just been through, you’d help us more by letting your wife treat your injuries.”
Jonathan hesitated, glancing down at his parents.
“Go on, son.” John told him. “Everything’s going to be fine. I promise.”
“Please, Jonathan…”
Jonathan stooped down in front of his mother and leaned towards her, reaching for and covering her hand where it was still clasped in his father’s.
“Now I know you promised Dad that you wouldn’t leave us and I’m holding you to it too.” He said softly. “I know I’ve been a pain in the butt and for that I’m sorry…”
“You don’t…”
“Yes I do.” Jonathan told her and then flashed her the smile that was so much like his father’s as he leaned closer and brushed a kiss against her forehead before standing and allowing his wife to lead him towards the door. He paused momentarily and looked back. “Mom.”
“I really am quite anxious to meet my little brother, so don’t be too long. Okay?”
“See,” John said, tears in his eyes as well as he flashed his wife a smile. “Told you he’d come around.”
** ** **
“Vicky.”
“How is she? How’s the baby?”
“Let’s walk and talk.” Susan suggested, wanting to get her husband taken care of.
** ** **
“Okay,
“John?”
“I’m still here, Honey.” He told her as he slid his arm about her shoulders and gave her a gentle squeeze. “I wouldn’t miss this for anything.”
“Just think,” John spoke softly against her ear. “Soon you’ll be holding our baby boy.”
** ** **
“Sues… stop fussing. I’m fine.” Jonathan grabbed her hands and held them to his chest.
“You should be resting.” Susan told him. “Not off gallivanting around the clinic.”
“There’s something I have to take care of. You worry too much.” He told her, giving her a kiss on the cheek. “I won’t be long.”
With that, he turned and left, leaving his sister and his wife staring after him.
“Is it me, or is your husband acting strangely?”
“I was just about to ask you that about your brother.” Susan told her.
Both women looked at each other and then shook their heads.
** ** **
“Ed?”
“We’re making the incision in the uterine lining now,
** ** **
Koenig, Helena S.
Seeing the stenciled name he was looking for, he reached in and grabbed the file, resting it on top of the open drawer as he opened and began to flip through the folder.
His eyes grew wide when he came across a certain entry and then filled with tears.
“Oh, Mom… why didn’t you…?”
Jonathan shook his head as he replaced his mother’s file.
** ** **
“Oh, John…”
“I am, Honey! I am!” John told her, tears streaming down his cheeks. “He’s beautiful.”
“Care to cut the cord, John?” Ed asked, smiling behind his mask at the look of joy on the new parents’ faces.
“I’d love to.” John said, brushing a quick kiss against his wife’s lips before standing and making his way over to Ed.
“Glad you made it, Slugger.”
John whispered and then moved back over to his wife’s side as Ed placed
the baby on
“Hello, Joshua.”
“He has your hair.”
John told her breathlessly against her lips, his tears slipping down his
cheeks to mix with hers. “Oh…
They kissed again and then broke apart, laughing through their tears as together; they watched their son nurse.
“I hate to interrupt.”
John and Helena looked up to see Ed standing over them.
“I know you don’t want to, but I’m going to ask you to leave
now, John.” Ed held up his hand to stop
John from interrupting, but seeing the anxious look on his face. “
John met his wife’s gaze, not wanting to leave her.
“It’s okay, John.”
“You sure?”
He leaned closer; brushing his lips against his son’s cheek and then gave her another kiss, whispering his love against her lips.
“Ed?”
Ed shook his head.
“He’s fine,
“Of course, Ed. Thank you.”
Ed smiled, nodded, and then moved back to help Bob finish closing her incision.
“Hello, my precious little one.”
** ** **
Jonathan and Victoria looked up at the same time as they heard the door open, to see their father walk out.
“Your mother and brother are fine.” John told them before they could ask, a big smile coming to his face. “And he has your mother’s hair…”
The twins smiled and grinned at each other as John continued.
“He’s perfect.” John finished with a rush, still grinning at his kids.
“That’s wonderful, Dad.”
“Yeah. It’s great.” Jonathan said warmly. “Congratulations, Dad.”
“Thanks, Sport.” John said into his son’s shoulder as Jonathan embraced him.
“How long before we can see Mom and Josh?”
“I dunno.” John answered. “When I left, they were beginning to stitch her up. As for your brother…”
He stopped mid-sentence as he heard the door behind him open. He turned to see Paula standing there with a smile on her face and a squirming bundle in her arms.
“Hey, Slugger.” John
stepped over to Paula and took his son from her. “Thanks, Paula. How’s
“Doing fine, Commander.” Paula told him. “They’re cleaning her up and will be moving her to a room shortly.”
“Thanks again, Paula.” John said then looked down at his son. “C’mon, Slugger. Let’s introduce you to your big brother and sister.”
John slowly turned and smiled at his older children.
“Josh, this is your older sister, Victoria.” John stepped closer to his daughter so that she could peer down at him. “And this…” John glanced up at his oldest child and grinned. “…This is your big brother, Jonathan.”
“Kids…” he continued. “I’d like to introduce you to your baby brother, Joshua Kyle Koenig.”
** ** **
Gently, John laid his son down in the bassinet and stood, pausing for a moment to simply watch him sleep.
“My son.”
The thought sent a wave of pride washing over him as he reached into the bassinet to stroke his son’s cheek with the back of this finger.
“You were certainly one hell of a surprise, Joshua.” John spoke quietly to the sleeping
newborn. “Your mother and I thought we
were way beyond the point of being able to have anymore children.” He paused and smiled; remembering his
reaction to finding out
He glanced over at his wife and then turned back to his son.
“Now, for the first year of your life, I can honestly say that I have a pretty good idea of what to do. But after that…” John exhaled a deep breath. “All I can promise you, Slugger, is that I’ll do my best.” John leaned over and brushed a gentle kiss against his son’s cheek before straightening up. “Sweet dreams, Joshua.”
He was just about to sit down in the chair beside his wife’s bed when he heard the door to the room slowly open. He turned to see Ed entering the room.
“Still sleeping I see.”
Ed said, gesturing to
John nodded and stepped over to Ed. He reached out and clasped the other man’s hand and shaking it.
“Thank you, Ed.”
“Nothing to thank me for, John.” Ed said. “Simply doing my job.”
“Nothing simple about it. You and I both know that.” John told him. “And I really mean it, Ed. Thank you. Right from the beginning, you were convinced she could do this. Your support has meant a lot to both of us.” John paused and glanced between his wife and son. “And I don’t know what we would have done if you and Bob hadn’t showed up when you did.”
“I’m just glad everything worked out. For all of you.” Ed replied as he stepped over to the bassinet and peered down at the newest and youngest member of the Koenig family, laying his hand gently on the baby’s back. “This right here. This is by far the best part of my job.”
John smiled.
“Well,” Ed said, moving past John and making his way to the door. “I just wanted to stop in and see how they were doing before heading home.”
“Thanks again, Ed.” John said and then grinned. “And thanks for the cot.”
“You’re welcome.” Ed said, a grin on his face to and opened the door. “Get some sleep while you can, John.”
John nodded.
Ed took a step out and then stopped, turning back to look at John, an amused twinkle in his eyes. “Just one question?”
John nodded for him to continue.
“What is it about your children and earthquakes?”
John stood there, laughing silently to himself for a few moments after Ed had left. He shook his head. The same thing occurred to him while Joshua was being born.
Thinking about his son, John stepped over to the bassinet and looked in on his son, checking to be sure he was okay before finally lowering himself into the chair beside his wife’s bed with a tired sigh and closed his eyes.
Some moments later he slowly opened them. Deciding that Ed was right and that he should get some sleep, he headed for the small bathroom to clean up. He emerged fifteen minutes later with only a towel wrapped around his waist. As he neared the cot, he smiled; dropped the towel and pulled on the pants to the pajamas he found waiting for him.
Sitting carefully on the edge of Helena’s bed, after having once again checked on his son, John reached out and gently brushed an errant lock of white-blonde hair out of his wife’s face, stroking his fingers softly down her cheek, a tender smile forming on his face. He loved watching her sleep.
“Good work, Mom.” John whispered softly as he leaned over her and brushed a soft kiss against her forehead.
** ** **
“Sssh… easy, Josh.”
“Hold on, Slugger.” John continued as he reached into the bassinet to scoop Joshua into his arms. He turned, a smile coming to his face as he met her eyes. “We’ll get Mom to fix you up.”
Satisfied that his son was nursing properly, John moved around the bed and slipped in beside her. He leaned close and placed a warm kiss on her cheek before sliding his arm about her shoulders to watch his son nurse.
“I’m so glad he’s got your hair.” John told her softly over her shoulder as he reached around to gently finger Joshua’s blonde locks. “And I hope he gets your eyes as well.”
John smiled and continued to peer at his son, stroking his
fine blonde hair until he finished nursing.
He took Joshua into his arms and began to pat his back gently, coaxing
him to burp while
John watched her as she slowly made her way to the bathroom, not taking his eyes off her until the door shut and then went back to patting Joshua’s back, grinning to himself as Joshua finally burped.
“That’s a good boy.”
He murmured, turning to lay on his side, Joshua cradled partly in his
arms on the bed beside him and closed his eyes.
He opened his eyes some minutes later, when he felt a touch to his cheek,
to meet
John shifted over in the bed, allowing
John leaned closer to his wife, giving her a soft kiss before settling his head back on the pillow to watch her, a soft smile on his face.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
They brought their gazes back down to their sleeping son and soon, both joined Joshua in a contented slumber.
** ** **
“He’s beautiful, Mom.”
“Lemme see, Mommy!” Callie tugged on
“Hold on, Callie.”
“He’s tiny.” Callie answered and then looked up at her mother. “Can I hold him?”
“Uhm…”
“Sure you can, Pumpkin.”
John answered as he moved from his spot beside his wife and walked over
and lifted Joshua from
Callie hopped over to the bed and with her father’s help sat beside her grandmother, holding her arms out anxiously.
“Now, watch his head.”
Callie gave a little nervous yet excited laugh as Joshua
squirmed a little in her arms. She
turned her head slightly to look at
“Look, Mommy. I’m holding him.”
“I see that.”
“Yes, Mommy.”
John watched
“I’ll see what I can find out.” John whispered in her ear as he leaned over.
“Thank you.” She whispered back, turning her head to brush her lips against his cheek.
John smiled and quietly left the room. He was reaching for his commlock when he saw his daughter-in-law coming down the hall towards him.
Susan smiled as she drew closer to John and then embraced him.
“Congratulations, Dad.”
“Thanks, Susie.” John replied. He glanced around. “Where’s Jonathan?”
“Well… uhm…” Susan hesitated. “He’s… ah… at the house.”
John regarded his daughter-in-law carefully, quite certain that there was more that she wasn’t telling him.
“Well… I’m going to go meet my new brother-in-law.” Susan said with a smile, nodding her head in the
direction of
John shook his head and then smiled. “I’ll be along in a moment. You go on.
Susan hesitated for a moment and then nodded and walked away from him.
** ** **
Jonathan slowly stood and took a step backwards, smiling to himself.
“Your mother will love it.”
Jonathan turned at the sound of his father’s voice, his smile turning into a sheepish grin.
“You really think so?”
John nodded as he stepped closer and placed one hand on his son’s shoulder the other reaching out to touch the smooth wood.
“I can remember the first night you slept in this cradle.” He sighed softly at the memory and a small smile came to his lips. “Your mother and I must have stood over you and your sister for… oh… a few hours at least.” He chuckled. “Just standing there. Watching you sleep.”
Jonathan looked up at his father as he suddenly fell quiet. After a few minutes, he reached up and touched his father’s shoulder.
“Dad?”
John shook his head slightly and looked at his son with a small smile. “Sorry… just remembering.”
Jonathan simply smiled.
“What do you say we head over to Medical? Your mother is anxious to see you.”
“Sure. Just let me…” Jonathan answered as he walked over to the rocking chair and lifted a wrapped package into his hands. He headed for the door. “Let’s not keep Mom and Josh waiting.”
John smiled and joined his son at the door and then together they left the house.
** ** **
“How you doing, Mom?” Jonathan asked her softly as he leaned over and kissed his mother’s cheek.
“Fine.”
“A little sore, but okay.” Jonathan answered, placing the package in his hands on the end of the bed.
“Look, Uncle Jonnie, I’m holding the baby.” Callie interrupted the conversation.
“I see that.” Jonathan told her with a smile. “And are you taking real good care of my little brother?”
“Yep.” Callie answered. “And Gramma said I could hold him for as long as I want.”
“Why don’t you let Uncle Jonathan hold the baby,
Callie?"
“But, Mom…” Callie began. “Gramma said I…”
“Don’t argue with your mother, Pumpkin.” John told Callie from his spot behind
“Okay, Grampa.” Callie sighed as she grudgingly let Jonathan take Joshua from her arms.
“Hiya, Josh.” Jonathan said with a smile as he looked down at the sleeping child in his arms.
“What’s this?” She asked a few moments later, reaching for the wrapped gift at the end of the bed.
Jonathan looked up from his baby brother and smiled. “A gift for you.”
“You didn’t have to…”
“I wanted to.” Jonathan said, watching as she fingered the paper. He glanced quickly around the room. “But… ah…”
“C’mon, Squirt.”
Robert said suddenly as he stepped forward and scooped Callie off
“Aw… but, Daddy…”
“Don’t, but Daddy, me.”
“Your father’s right.”
“I can take care of it. You stay here and visit with your family.” Robert told her, meeting her eyes.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” Robert said and leaned close to whisper in her ear. “I think Jonnie wants it to be just the five of you.”
Robert smiled and shifted his daughter in his arms and
leaned over to give
“I’ll see you later.”
With a pointed glance at his parents, Robert carried his daughter to the door and then left.
Alan glanced at his wife and she nodded slightly, having caught the look on Robert’s face.
“We’re going to head out too.” Alan said.
“Already?”
“Yes, we’ve things to do and you need some rest.” Sandra answered and stepped over to her friend and embraced her, smiling warmly as she let her go. “You’ve been through a lot.”
“Besides,” Alan stepped forward, kissed
“Alan!”
“What? I’m talking about taking a nap.” Alan said with a grin. “What are you thinking?”
Sandra swatted his arm and shook her head. She looked back at
“Congratulations, John.” Alan said, stepping over to John and pulling him into a friendly hug.
“Thanks, Alan.”
John stepped back and sat beside
“And I have to get to work.”
All eyes turned to Susan as she stood and stepped over to her husband, leaning over and smiling down at her brother-in-law.
“Don’t let him boss you around, Josh.” She said softly and then gave Jonathan a quick kiss. “I’ll see you later.”
She said good-bye to the others and then quietly left.
“I take it I can open the gift now?”
Jonathan nodded and looked back down at his brother as
“Oh, Mom… just tear it.”
“Your mother never tears the wrapping paper.” John said with a smile, squeezing his wife gently as he leaned close and brushed a kiss against her temple.
Just after they’d settled on Nova Canaan, John had surprised
She’d hung it in the front entrance, so that it was the first thing anyone saw upon entering the house.
“You added your brother’s name to the family…” Helena said, reaching into the box to run her fingers over the letters engraved so long ago by John’s hands and then lifting it from the box, slowly reading the names as each piece came into view.
“
She looked up and met John’s eyes, seeing that he was just as surprised as she was. She turned to look at Jonathan.
“What is it, Mom?”
“…How… how did you know…?” Jonathan met his mother’s eyes.
“Know what?”
“Our brother.”
“Our brother?”
“Sit down,
John met
“Jason is the name of the child I lost… a few months after your father was taken away from us.”
“How? What
happened?”
“Oh, Mom…” Jonathan sighed when his mother finished speaking. “I wish you’d said something earlier. I… I might not’ve been so…”
“Pigheaded?”
Jonathan smiled and nodded at his father. “Yeah, pigheaded.”
“I thought of it.”
“I wouldn’t have…” his voice trailed off and he looked down at his baby brother, sleeping contentedly in his arms. He swallowed hard and then looked up at his parents as he realized. “I guess I would have.”
“But you knew. Somehow, you both knew that everything would work out.” Jonathan continued. “And looking at him; holding him now, I… I don’t know what to say. Sorry just doesn’t seem to cut it.”
John and Helena exchanged quick glances, John nodding slightly.
“How about saying that you’ll be Josh’s god-father.” John suggested.
“What?”
“Your mother and I discussed it this morning. We’d like you to be Josh’s god-father.”
“And we’d like you to be his god-mother.”
John and Helena smiled and then looked expectantly at their oldest son.
“Well, Jonathan?”
“Are you really sure you want me too? I mean…I wasn’t exactly supportive during your pregnancy.”
“We’re sure.” John said. “Will you do it, son?”
Jonathan looked down at his brother and then slowly nodded. “Yeah. Yeah… I’ll do it. I’d be honoured to be Joshua’s god-father.”
“I think someone’s getting hungry.”
Jonathan stood and carried Joshua over to
“I think I’m going to head out now.” Jonathan told them as he moved over to stand by his father. “I do have some work to get done but I’ll stop back later.”
“Please do.”
“I will.” Jonathan said and then with a quick goodbye to his twin, he turned and left.
She stood slowly and walked over to them.
“I’m going to go now too.”
Helena and John looked up from their nursing son to see
“Robert has no doubt fallen asleep with Callie…”
“Doesn’t he always?”
“Have a good rest, Sweetie.”
“You too, Mom.” She reached down and caressed Joshua’s cheek, whispering softly. “Welcome to the family, little brother.”
“Amazing kids we have.” John asked as he settled back in beside her, lifting the family name plaque up so that it dangled before him. He smiled as he reached out and touched the two newest pieces. “Wouldn’t you agree, Mrs. Koenig?”
“I would indeed, Mr. Koenig.”
John put the plaque back in the box and then placed the box
on the table beside the bed. He turned
back to
“How you feeling?”
“A little sore still. A little tired, but for the most part… I feel wonderful.” She turned to smile at him. “You were right.”
“About what?”
“Jonathan. You said he would come around and he did.”
“Am I allowed to say I told you so?”
“No.”
John chuckled as he leaned close and brushed a quick kiss against her lips.
“What do you say, when this little guy is finished lunch, that we follow our grand-daughter’s lead and take a nap?”
“Sounds like a good idea to me.”
John shifted slightly and
** ** **
John yawned as he pulled the shower door closed behind him and stepped under the spray of the water. He closed his eyes and leaned up against the far wall, still half asleep and simply let the water beat down on him.
He jumped slightly as her arms snaked around him from
behind and he felt her naked body press up tight against his.
“I thought you were on duty tonight?”
“Surprise.” She
whispered huskily as she kissed her way along his shoulder to his neck,
stepping up on her toes to nibble on his earlobe. “I’m making a house-call.”
He smiled at the seductive tone in her voice and turned
his head back to look at her amidst the steam.
His smile grew at the glimmer he saw in her eyes; moaning softly as her
hands began to wander all over his chest.
“Tell me, ‘Doctor’…” he grinned as he reached back with
one hand to clasp her waist and pull her tighter against him. “Do you often make house-calls in the shower?”
“This would be my first time.”
They shared amused smiles, chuckling softly together.
“Well, I’m glad you stopped by.” He said, covering her left hand with his as
it continued to roam his chest.
“Really?”
“Mmhmm.”
“And why is that?”
“Because something has come up that requires your
immediate attention.”
“Is that so?” She
asked, trailing her right hand down over his abdomen and between his legs. She smiled against his shoulder as she
wrapped her hand around his erection, stroking him softly. “You’re right, something has definitely come
up.”
“Can you prescribe me something to take for it?”
“As a matter of fact, I know just the thing.” She told him and chuckled softly, hearing him
groan as she ceased stroking him and moved her hand away. She moved around in the shower to stand in
front of him, smiling as she watched his eyes wander down her body.
“I was hoping you would.”
He said distractedly, enjoying the sight of the water coursing down over
her naked form. He slowly brought his
eyes back up to meet hers. “So, tell me…
what is it I have to take for this…” his lips curved up into a small grin. “…Condition of mine? And how often do I take it?”
“Take one C.M.O….” she prescribed as she walked her
fingers up his chest, then snaking her hands behind his neck and drawing his
head down to hers as she pressed her body tight against his. She smiled fully at him, seeing his eyes
darken with desire. “…As often as you’d
like.”
“This is one prescription… I don’t think I’m going to
mind taking.”
Her laugh was muffled as his mouth covered hers in a
passionate kiss. She moaned low in her
throat as she felt his arms slide around her waist and draw her closer to
him. The kiss seemed to last an eternity
as they fully explored each other’s mouths.
“I’d say you were off to a great start.” She told him breathlessly as they broke off
the kiss.
He simply smiled and pushed her back gently so that she
was leaning up against the shower wall. He
raked his eyes down her body and then followed the same path, first with his
fingers and then with his mouth. He
smiled inwardly when he heard her moan his name as he reached her breasts,
pulling first one nipple between his lips, teasing the rosy peak with his
tongue and then the other.
She entangled her fingers in his dark hair as she felt
his hands slowly continue their journey down her body; sighing as his hand
moved between her thighs, his fingers slipping between her folds to begin
lightly stroking her. She moaned as he
slipped first one and then another finger inside her and began moving them
slowly inside her.
He smiled against her breast as she arched against his
hand, wanting and urging him to increase both the speed and pressure of his
hand. He glanced up and met her eyes;
almost drowning in the passion he saw pooling in the bright, green depths
before him. He gave her a heated smile
and as he began to follow the rivulets of water streaming down her body with
his lips and tongue.
“Mmm… oh God…” she moaned as his mouth replaced his hand
between her thighs. She lowered her
eyes, watching him, on his knees before her; making love to her with his
mouth. She moaned again and clenched her
fingers in his hair as he slid his fingers back inside her, moving them in time
with his mouth.
Slowly, his fingers still working between her thighs, he
began to lick and kiss his way back up her body, pausing again to play his
tongue over her breasts, before raising his head to meet her eyes.
She smiled sensuously at him as her hand fell away from
his hair, to trail down his chest and between his legs; wrapping her fingers
around him to once again begin stroking his length, her smile growing as he
groaned her name and she felt him throb in her hand.
Their mouths came together again in a fiery kiss as they
continued to stroke each other and bring each other closer to the edge. Several minutes later, they breathlessly
broke off the kiss and their eyes met, their mutual need and desire shining
bright.
He moved his hand from between her thighs, moving both
hands to her waist; grasping her firmly and lifting her into the air as she
brought her legs up to wrap loosely around his hips. He stepped closer as he slowly brought her
down; her hand still wrapped around him, guiding his hard length into her.
They moaned each other’s names as their bodies joined
together fully.
Slowly, after a few moments, he began to roll his hips
against her, smiling softly as she moaned his name again; her hands dropping
from his hair to his shoulders; her legs locking around him as she matched his
movements.
He leaned close and kissed her hungrily; his hands
sliding over her hips to grasp her thighs as he began to increase the speed of
his thrusts causing her to moan his name again and tighten her legs around him.
Their bodies moved together in a perfect rhythm; the
steam, rising up from the hot water spraying down on and around them, serving
only to heighten their arousal.
Suddenly he felt her body arch against his, her legs
tightening even more around him; her hands clutching at his shoulders, her
nails biting into his skin, as she cried out his name; her orgasm washing over
her.
He thrust into her one last time, pressing her back
against the shower wall as his orgasm surged through him; groaning her name
loudly as he buried his face in her neck.
Neither one moved as they tried to catch their breaths in
the steamy shower. Moments later he
lifted his head and met her smiling face with a smile of his own.
“Happy Birthday, John.”
“…John…”
John’s eyes opened and a smile came to his face as he turned around and pulled his wife into his arms; covering her mouth with his for a long, deep kiss under the gentle spray of the water.
“Happy Birthday, John.” She said quietly against his lips as the kiss ended.
“Thank you.”
“What were you thinking about just now?”
A huge smile lit John’s face.
“John?”
He smiled again and reached out a hand to trail his finger down the curve of her neck.
“I was remembering the first time you surprised me in the shower on Alpha.”
“Your birthday.” She smiled at him.
“And the beginning of one hell of an active evening.”
“It certainly was that.”
“Josh sleeping?” John asked as he reached behind her for the soap and motioned for her to turn around and began to soap up her back.
“Mmhmm.”
“So, why’d you get up? You could’ve slept in and gotten a bit more sleep.”
“I wanted to wish you a happy birthday.”
John’s hands slid down her back and around her waist, pulling her against him. He leaned close and nuzzled her ear. “I miss you too. It won’t be too much longer.”
“I know.” She gave him a quizzical look as he began to chuckle. “What?”
“I was just remembering this same conversation after the twins were born. Only it was reversed. You were the one telling me it wouldn’t be too much longer.”
“I told you months ago…” she began, a slow smile forming on her lips as she walked her fingers up his chest. “…I have a lot of pent up sexual energy to use up.”
“So you did.” John replied, tracing his fingers down her sides, smiling as she shivered, despite the warm water enveloping them. “And I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to helping you release all that pent up energy.”
She smiled at the look in his eyes and nodded slowly, speaking together.
“Soon.”
They chuckled as their lips came together in a loving kiss.
** ** **
John cast his eyes about the room as he quietly entered the house and carefully closed the door behind him before slowly moving further into the room.
“DADDY!”
John spun around, a big grin on his face as a small, blonde blur suddenly catapulted into his arms; nearly knocking him over.
“Hiya, Slugger.” John laughed, happily returning the hugs and kisses Joshua was smothering him in and tickling him at the same time; delighting in his son’s laughter.
“Please say yes, Daddy.” Joshua asked his father as the tickling and hugs slowed and stopped. “Please.”
“Say yes to what?” John asked.
“He wants to go to the lake.”
John turned at the sound of his wife’s voice, his eyes lighting up as he saw her standing in the doorway; her arms crossed over her chest as she leaned up against the doorframe; an amused smile on her face and knew that she’d been watching them.
“Jonathan stopped by about an hour ago and mentioned that he
and Susie were going to be taking the kids to the lake for a little bit.”
“Can we go, Daddy? Can we? Can we? Pretty please?” Joshua interrupted to ask.
“Let your mother finish talking.” John said, giving Joshua a stern look.
“And I told this one…”
“You’re not tired are you, Daddy?” Joshua asked him, placing his hands on John’s shoulders and leaning back in his arms to stare seriously into his father’s face. Green eyes staring into blue eyes. “You’re not tired.”
John glanced at
“No, I’m not tired, Slugger.”
“That means we can go, right?”
“You bet we can.”
“Yippee!” Joshua cried and hugged John again. “Thanks, Daddy.”
“Go get your suit on.” John told Joshua as he put him down and watched him scamper across the room and up the stairs. “Don’t be long.”
“I won’t!” Joshua’s voice echoed down the stairs.
John chuckled and turned to
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
“Long.” He answered.
“Maybe it’s time you consider…”
“Not just yet.” John
interrupted, knowing exactly what she going to say.
“We’d better go get our suits on and head out. We don’t want to keep young master Koenig waiting any longer than necessary.”
John laughed and followed her up the stairs.
** ** **
“C’mon, Mommy. Hurry up!”
“Slow down, Josh.”
“But, Mommy…”
“Don’t give your mother a hard time, Slugger.”
“Yes, Daddy.” Joshua sighed.
As they drew even closer to the lake and people could be seen playing in and amongst the water, Joshua resumed his struggle to free himself from his mother’s grip to run and join the other children.
“Okay, Josh, you can go now but…”
“Yay!” Joshua screamed and yanked his hand out of his mother’s, tearing off towards the water, shedding his shoes and shirt as he went.
“She was.” John said. “The only advantage was, with Callie, we could send her home.”
** ** **
“It’s ironic…”
“What is?”
“He’s the young, energetic one; the one who runs around all day like a chicken with its head cut off and yet, I’m the one carrying him.”
“And you wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world and you know it.
John simply grinned at her.
** ** **
“Well, he’s all tucked in, safe and secure.” John said as he crawled into bed. “And still sound asleep.”
“Good.”
“You know I don’t mind.” John said, reaching for and entwining his hand with hers. “I like to watch him sleep.”
“There are times, when I’m watching him, whether he’s playing or sleeping,” John began softly, absently stroking her hand with this thumb as he held it against his chest. “That I find myself in awe that he’s ours.”
“I know what you mean.”
“And a sexy one at that.” John interjected with a grin she couldn’t see but nevertheless heard.
“And it’s on one of those days, that Josh’ll climb into my lap, kiss me on the cheek and look at me with those big green eyes of his and say, ‘I love you, Mommy’; then curl up in my arms and simply cuddle with me.” She raised her head and smiled down at John. “And that makes it all worth it.”
John nodded. “It does indeed.”
“Speaking of our little monster…” John began.
“His birthday is coming up, yes, I know.”
“Should we throw him a party?”
“Why not? After all, it’s not every day you turn five years old.”
“Do we tell him or surprise him?”
“Let’s surprise him.”
John nodded and then reached over to his nightstand to turn
off the light. He settled back against
his pillows and gathered
** ** **
“Happy Birthday, Josh!”
Joshua grinned as his family and friends surrounded him, hugging, kissing, and patting him on the back. He looked up at his parents as he was finally released.
“I thought I wasn’t getting a party this year.”
His parents simply grinned at him, pulling him between them as they hugged and kissed him.
“Aw, Mom.” Joshua pulled himself away from his mother and wiped at cheek as he sheepishly glanced around to check that his friends hadn’t seen his mother kissing him.
“Sorry, Sweetie.”
“Mom.” Joshua rolled his eyes and gestured to his friends. “Not in front of the guys.”
“Sorry.”
“C’mon, Josh. Last one in the water is a rotten egg!”
Helena and John watched as Joshua took off after Victor, passing him and reaching the water just seconds before Victor.
“I’m glad the two of them are so close.” John said watching the two boys as they engaged in a splashing contest.
“So am I.”
Victor Robert Carter, John and
Having decided to retire with the birth of her son, Helena happily agreed to baby-sit Victor while Victoria and Robert were at work. In doing so, Joshua and Victor became the best of friends, doing everything together as if they were brothers and not uncle and nephew. Even with the addition of three more grandchildren to the Koenig clan, Joshua and Victor remained inseparable.
John slipped his arm about his wife’s waist and pulled her close, brushing a kiss against her temple as they slowly made their way over to join the rest of their family who moved over the picnic area.
“Ten years old.”
“How well I remember.” John said and then chuckled. “What was it with our kids making dramatic entrances?”
“I was going to ask you that.”
A few moments later, John stopped and moved to stand behind
“So…” he began, speaking softly against her ear. “When are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”
“There’s nothing…”
“
“He’s growing up so fast.”
“Yes he is.” John agreed. “And…?”
“And, nothing.”
“
“Oh… John… You and I aren’t getting any younger, me especially and I guess…” she sighed again and leaned back against him, pulling his arms tighter around her. “I guess I’m just feeling my age, that’s all.”
“You’re right, we’re not getting any younger.” John nodded against her hair in agreement. “But that’s not all… what else is bothering you, Honey?”
John smiled softly and leaned closer, brushing his lips against hers.
“I’m worried about him, John. Worried about what’s going to happen to him if something…”
“He’ll be fine. Both Vick and Jonnie will look after him.” John told her. “You know that as well as I do.”
“Hey.” John turned her around in his arms, resting his hands on her shoulders as he gazed down at her. “There is nothing we can do to change the future and what may or may not happen. Life will go on as it’s meant to, whether we like it or not.”
“You’re right.”
“So, no more negative thoughts.” John told her. “It’s our son’s birthday.”
John’s hands slid up along her neck and into her hair as he moved his mouth closer to hers. “Of course I am.” He murmured against her lips as he joined his mouth to hers.
“Aw, Mom… Dad! Do you guys have to do that here?”
John and Helena broke apart with a laugh. They grinned at each other and then smiled at their son.
“What’s wrong with me kissing your mother, Slugger.” John asked, leaning in and giving
“Well, nothing I guess. But, Dad…” Joshua began, making a face. “That kissing stuff is just…”
“Yes…” John coaxed his son, a grin threatening to spread across his face.
“It’s just so gross!”
Joshua finally said, making
John laughed out loud, the grin spilling forth, spreading across his face. “Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret, Slugger. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself wanting to kiss a girl in the next couple of years.”
“Ugh! Yuck! Gross, Dad.” Joshua’s face screwed up even more at the thought of it. He turned back to his friends. “Come on guys, let’s go back in the water.”
With a final disgusting look at this father for even daring to mention kissing girls, Joshua and his friends raced off towards the lake.
John hugged
“C’mon, Beautiful, let’s go join the others.”
** ** **
John sat on the edge of the bed and leaned over, brushing his lips against his wife’s forehead.
“Mmm.”
“Sssh… go back to sleep.” He told her, his voice soft, brushing his fingers over her cheek as he watched her eyes flutter under her lids.
“…John?”
“Sssh, it’s okay, I’m just leaving for work.”
“Wha…” she reached out blindly to grab his hand, trying to pull him to her.
“I have to go,
“Don’t go then. Stay home with me.”
“You know I’d love nothing more. But duty calls.”
John didn’t say a word, simply shook his head.
“John…”
“Let’s not do this now. It’s too early.”
They held each other’s gazes for a moment, and then
“You’d better get going.” She said in a quiet voice. “You’ll be late.”
“
“You’ll be late.”
Giving her hip a gentle squeeze, John sighed as he then
stood and left the room without another word.
She sighed as she watched John move slowly away from the house.
** ** **
“You’re awfully quiet today, Mom. Everything okay?”
“I just asked if you were okay. You’re so quiet.”
Joshua regarded his mother, noticing how she continued to fidget with her wedding band. “You and Dad didn’t have a fight this morning, did you?”
“Of course we didn’t. What makes you ask that?”
“Because you’ve been so quiet and you’re playing with your wedding ring.” Joshua paused a moment. “You also took longer than normal to come downstairs for breakfast this morning.”
“I wasn’t aware that you time me.” She quipped, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.
“You and Dad still arguing about him retiring?”
“We… what do you mean still arguing? Your father and I haven’t been…”
“Mom, for as long as I can remember, you’ve been after Dad to retire. It’s pretty much the only thing you two ever argue about.”
“You can’t help but hear it when you and Dad fight. Even if you guys are in a different room.” Joshua chuckled. “I’m sure half the town can hear it when you and Dad fight.”
“I’m serious, Mom. Yours and Dad’s fights are legendary.” Joshua grinned at her, seeing that she was trying to fight not to smile and continued. “I mean, just the other day, Uncle Alan was telling me about the fights you guys had when you were on Alpha.”
“And just what did he tell you?”
“Just that when the two of you fought, look out!”
“He also said that everyone on the base would hold their breath and avoid both you and Dad till you’d worked out whatever was bothering you and had made up.” Joshua laughed. “Even the aliens knew better then to come around.”
“Don’t believe everything your uncle tells you. Alan is fond of spinning stories.”
“I’ve heard it from some of the other elder Alphans too, Mom.” Joshua told her and then his grin grew. “Even Dad has told me some stories.”
Joshua watched her smile fade and heard her sigh. He got up and moved around the kitchen table to kneel before her, covering her hands with his and squeezing gently as he smiled softly up at her.
“Aw, Mom, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. But don’t worry, you know you and Dad will work this all out.” Joshua told her, squeezing her hands again. “You always do.”
“You’re right, Josh. Your father and I will work this out.” She was about to say more when the kitchen door flew open and her fourteen-year-old grandson breezed into the house, followed moments later by his older sister.
“Hiya, Gramma!” Victor called out as he quickly made his way over and gave her a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. He turned to face Joshua, who’d risen to his feet the moment Victor had entered the room. “You ready, Josh?”
“Sure thing, Vic.”
“Where are you guys off to?”
“For our first Eagle flying lesson.” Victor answered. “Dad’s teaching us.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Both boys chorused as they ran out of the house.
“Hello, Gram.” Callie
smiled at
Callie nodded and watched her grandmother sigh sadly. Taking a sip of her coffee, Callie watched her grandmother carefully before asking quietly. “Do you wanna talk about it?”
“You sure, Gram?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
Callie observed her grandmother for another moment, nodding slightly to herself; remembering her talk with her grandfather earlier this morning. “I’ve got my work cut out for me.”
“Callie.”
“Sorry, Gram.” Callie
shook her head and smiled at
“Thinking about, William?”
Callie smiled at the mention of her fiancée but shook her head. “No, something I have to take care of in town.” Callie replied. “Wanna come with me?”
Callie smiled as she stood and immediately launched into a long talk about her medical studies as the two women left the house.
** ** **
“Everything’s all set, John.”
John looked up to see Alan standing in the doorway of his office.
“Good.” John said, gesturing for Alan to come in and sit.
“And while it hasn’t been easy, no one’s said anything to
“You’re right, that isn’t easy.” John chuckled softly.
“What’s the matter, John?” Alan asked a moment later, noting that his friend was not as happy he should be and seemed upset about something. “Couldn’t be that you’re dreading the thought of retiring now, are ya?”
“No, I’m not dreading it.
In fact, I’m quite looking forward to it and all the free time it will
give me to spend with
“If it’s not that, then what? Something’s got you down, John?” Alan asked. “You and Helena have a fight?”
“No, just a continuation of an old one.” John sighed, reaching up to rub the bridge of his nose. He opened his eyes and gave Alan a wry smile. “This morning, before I left, she made some comment about me retiring and well, I didn’t say anything because of the party later and wanting to surprise her. And I knew that if I did say anything, we’d just end up arguing about it.” He sighed. “But she got upset anyway, and I had to leave before we could resolve the issue.”
Alan nodded understandingly. “That’s not all that’s bugging you though.”
John shook his head as he stood and moved to stand by the window. “I…” he stopped and placed his hand on the glass. He took a deep breath and turned back to look at Alan. “Have you ever had a feeling that something was going to happen?”
“Once in a while? Why? You think something is gonna happen?”
John nodded.
“Like what?”
“I don’t know.” John shrugged and then sat back in his chair. “It’s just a feeling I’ve got.”
Alan opened his mouth to reply when he was interrupted by a beep from John’s desk.
“Koenig.” John said, tabbing the control on his desk.
“Hey, Dad.”
John smiled at Joshua’s image on the screen. “What’s up, Slugger?”
“Not much. Vic and I just got back from our flying lesson and we wanna know if we have time for a swim in the lake before the party later this afternoon?”
“Yeah, sure.” John answered. “Your mom and Callie gone?”
“Yep.”
“Do you know how long ago they left?”
“Nope. Sorry, Dad.”
John nodded. “That’s okay. Go enjoy your swim. Just don’t be late.”
“Yes, sir.” Joshua gave his father a mock salute over the screen and then closed the channel.
John couldn’t help but chuckle. He turned to look out his window, smiled, and then suddenly stood up.
“Where you going?”
“I’ve decided to unofficially retire as of this very moment.” John said. “And I am going to go steal my wife away from our granddaughter, take her out for lunch and hopefully make up with her before the party.”
Alan laughed. “Good luck, John.”
“Thanks.” John said as he left his office, with Alan still chuckling inside.
** ** **
“Oh, and can I use some of your roses in my bouquet?” Callie asked
“Of course you…”
Callie looked up at her grandmother, about to ask her what
was wrong, when she followed
“Can you excuse me for a moment, Gram? I just remembered something I need to take care of.”
Without waiting for a response, Callie quickly walked away. A moment or two later she glanced over her shoulder; stopped and turned fully, a smile on her face as she watched her grandfather enfold her grandmother in his arms and kiss her passionately.
** ** **
“I’m sorry.” John
whispered against
“I’m…”
He kissed her again, cutting of her words, letting the kiss linger a little longer.
“…John…” she breathed his name.
“Forgive me?” He ran his hands down her back, pulling her closer as he moved his lips away from hers.
“John…”
Letting the kiss linger a little longer, John slowly raised his head and met her eyes, giving her a small, crooked grin. “So, am I forgiven?”
John placed his finger against her lips to quiet her. “Sssh. Let’s just call a truce, okay?”
“Good.” John said and hugged her to him. “So, you up to having lunch with your husband?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” She asked, a hint of sarcastic amusement in her voice as she raised her head and met his eyes.
“I’ve decided to take the afternoon off.” John told her.
“So, where are you planning on taking me, Mr. Koenig?”
“Well, I left Alan in my office so that’s no good, and right here is too public, so how about I take you home and ravish your beautiful body…”
“John!”
John laughed and hugged her to him again, pressing a kiss into her hair. “Come on, let’s go find some food.”
** ** **
“Mmm… that was wonderful.”
“Glad you enjoyed it.”
“I did. But the best part was spending the time with you.”
John smiled and slipped his arm about her shoulders, feeling her tense slightly as he did. “You okay?”
“Yeah, just…”
John grinned and slid his hand down to her waist. “Speaking of exercise, I’d suggest we head back to the house to work off your lunch, but you didn’t eat very much of it. You sure you had enough?”
“Mmhmm, more than enough. In fact, I feel quite full.”
“You sure?”
Callie walked a step behind her grandparents and couldn’t but smile as she watched her grandmother’s hand slip down and caress her grandfather’s backside. She chuckled.
“Something funny back there?” John looked back over his shoulder at her.
“No. Something sweet.” Callie answered as she closed the few steps between them and took John’s other hand. “I hope, when Will and I have been married as long as you two have been, that we are still as much in love and aren’t afraid to show it.”
As the three of them continued to walk,
“Hey, you’re awfully quiet.” John leaned down and spoke quietly in her ear. “You sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine, Hon.”
Callie regarded her grandmother carefully, sensing that something wasn’t quite right; that she was hiding something. Knowing better then to say anything just now, Callie decided to keep a sharp eye on her grandmother as they continued to walk.
“So, Pumpkin, you and Will are planning on living close to your dear old grandfather, right?” John asked as he grinned at her.
“Oh, of course, Grampa!” Callie laughed, watching her grandmother from the corner of her eye. “Like you’d be able to make it without me that close by.”
“It would be torture.” John laughed.
Callie laughed with him, glancing once more at her
grandmother, noticing that
“You two worry too much. Except for my arm,” she pulled her arm from around John’s waist and flexed her fingers, rubbing the rest of her arm with her other hand. “Which has fallen asleep. I am fine.”
Callie watched her grandmother for a few moments more. Something wasn’t quite right but she couldn’t put her finger on it; something about the way her grandmother was rubbing her arm. She looked up at John, telling him with her eyes that she didn’t believe her grandmother and was concerned.
John nodded slightly, understanding what Callie wasn’t
saying. He too could sense that
something was off with
Twenty minutes later,
“What are we doing here?” She asked, leaning against him a little more as she suddenly felt a little dizzy.
“It’s a surprise.” John smiled. “One you’re… Honey, what’s wrong?”
John’s smile quickly gave way to a look of concern as
“
“Are you sure?” Callie asked; that gnawing feeling, that there was more to it, sounding off all kinds of alarms in Callie’s head. She watched her grandmother wipe at the sheen of sweat that had formed on her forehead. “You don’t look so hot.”
“I’m sure.”
Her sentence remained unfinished as she clutched at his chest, gulping for air as she staggered and fell forward against John’s chest.
“
“If I’m correct,” Callie said, reaching for her commlock and at the same time directing her grandfather to carry her over to the bench nearby. “I think Gram’s having a heart attack.”
“What?!” John paled
at the news and lifted
“Sit her up.” Callie instructed him. “And loosen her clothes.”
John did as Callie told him. “Is this it, there’s nothing else I should do? CPR?”
“She’s still breathing.”
Callie observed and reached out to check
“…John?”
“I’m here,
“I… oh… it hurts, John.”
“I know, Honey.” John told her, trying to keep his voice calm. “The med-team is on its way. You just have to stay calm and take deep even breaths.”
“Gram? Gram, I gotta ask you a couple questions and you have to answer
them honestly. Okay?”
“Yes.”
“Any abdominal pain? Feeling of indigestion?”
“Mmhmm, bad indigestion.” She looked up to meet John’s eyes, tears filling her own as she grimaced. “I’m… I’m having… a heart attack…”
“Yes, you’re having a heart attack.” Callie told her as John blinked back his tears, too choked up to speak. “But you’re going to be okay, Gram. I promise you.”
“Here comes the med-team.” Callie said, placing her hand on John’s shoulder.
John stood and moved out of the way as the med-team arrived, with Jonathan in the lead.
“What happened?” Jonathan asked; his attention focused solely on his mother.
“She became breathless, pain in her shoulders and arm… she fainted slightly.” Callie described the symptoms to her uncle, seeing that John was too distracted to do so.
John watched as the team moved
Jonathan stood and looked at his father, placing his hand on his arm. “I’ll take care of her, Dad. Don’t worry.”
John nodded numbly and watched his son hurry off after the med-team.
** ** **
“She’s been sedated and is resting comfortably.”
“Is she… Is she going to be okay?”
Jonathan saw the fear in his father’s eyes and reached out and laid a comforting hand on his father’s shoulder, nodding as he did.
“She’s going to be fine, Dad.” Jonathan told him. “Thanks to you and Callie, Mom’s going to be fine.”
“Why’d this happen, Jonnie?” John asked quietly. “Your mother takes good care of herself. I don’t understand why this happened.”
“Who can say, Dad?” Jonathan replied. “Mom’s always been prone to high blood pressure, which as we both know is not healthy.”
“Can I see her?”
Jonathan nodded and led his father down the hall to the room where his mother was resting and remained outside as John entered the room.
“Is Gramma really going to be okay, Uncle Jonathan?” Callie asked, moving to stand beside him.
Jonathan nodded and slipped his arms about her shoulders and together, they watched through the window as John leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on his wife’s lips before sitting beside her; reaching out to grip her hand tightly in both of his.
John’s gaze rested on his wife’s sleeping face as he reached out to caress her cheek and smooth back her hair.
“
He buried his face against her shoulder and continued to cry, releasing the fear that had gripped his heart, in sobs that shook his entire body until eventually, John fell asleep, still clutching her hand.
** ** **
“You going to stand there all night?”
“You scared the hell out of me, John.”
“I’m sorry, Hon.” John chuckled, slipping his arms about her from behind as she turned back to face the window; kissing her softly on the cheek before resting his chin on her shoulder.
“What are you trying to do, give me a heart attack?”
“Don’t even joke about that.” John closed his eyes, burying his face in
“I’m sorry.” She apologized, covering his arms with hers as she continued to stare out their bedroom window, meeting his gaze in their reflection and seeing the same look in his eyes that she saw when she’d woken up the morning after her heart attack.
He sat on the edge of her bed, watching her eyes flutter
softly beneath her lids as she slowly began to waken.
“Good morning, Beautiful.” John said softly as her eyes finally opened
and focused on him.
John held her gaze, trying to return her smile and
finding he couldn’t.
“So, how bad was it?”
“Jonathan said it was minor.” John answered, his gaze dropping to their
entwined hands. “Most likely caused by
your blood pressure being too high.”
“It’s not your fault, John.”
John looked up and met her eyes.
“If I’d just…” John shook his head, choking on the tears that had suddenly formed in his eyes and throat. Without warning, he leaned over her and buried his face in her neck as he began to sob. “Oh God, Honey… I’m so sorry…”
“I was so afraid…” his tears fell against her skin. “…Thought I was going to lose you.”
She held him tightly and stroked his hair.
“…And it would have been all my fault.”
“It wasn’t your fault, John. You didn’t cause it.” She told him, her voice growing stronger,
even as she spoke softly against his ear.
He shook his head against her and then slowly sat up and
met her eyes, opening his mouth to speak.
“
She shook her head, leaving her fingers against his
lips. “Now, you listen to me, John
Koenig. This heart attack was not your
fault. You are in no way responsible for
this happening. Do you understand me?”
John reached up and clasped her wrist, drawing her hand
away from his mouth, lacing his fingers with hers, and laying them in his
lap. “I know what you’re saying,
“But you didn’t.”
She told him, squeezing his hand and giving him a small smile when he
finally looked back up at her. “And I’m
not planning on leaving you anytime soon.”
A small twinkle formed in her eyes.
“I’m still not quite over that twenty year sabbatical you unwillingly
took.”
A smile tugged at the corner of John’s mouth and he
brought her hand up to his lips, turning her hand over and kissing her palm. “Me either.”
“Everything will be fine, John. I will be fine.”
John nodded and turned his face into her caress, praying with all his heart that she was right.
“I’m sorry.”
John smiled softly and turned his head to brush another kiss
against her cheek. His prayer had been
answered.
They stood together in silence for a few moments, gazing out at the moon until John felt and heard her sigh.
“He’s going to be fine,
“I know.”
“And it’s not like he’s on the other side of the planet or on the moon for that matter.”
“I know.” She half-heartedly chuckled.
“We both knew this would happen one day.”
“I know. I just didn’t think it would be happening this soon.”
John felt her sigh again and slowly maneuvered them towards their chair, sitting down and pulling her into his lap, slipping his arms around her.
“
“I know. But this is
different.”
“How so?”
“Josh is…” she turned back to look at him, a small pouty smile on her face. “He’s our little boy, John. Our baby.”
John smiled understandingly, reaching up to brush a lock of white hair out of her eyes.
“The house is going to be so empty without him living here now.”
“
“Of course I am.”
“I miss him already too.”
** ** **
“She’s beautiful, Callie.”
Callie smiled at her grandmother’s praise and glanced up at her husband of one year when she felt him lay his hand on her shoulder.
“What are you going to name her?” John asked, peering down at his great-granddaughter, cradled securely in his wife’s arms.
“Well, we were hoping… if it’s okay with you, Gram? We’d like to name her after you, Helena
Susan.” Callie replied, reaching up to
grip her husband’s hand as they waited for
“Hmm, Helena Susan Fraser.” She said softly and then glanced at John. “What do you think?”
“Well, she does have your hair.” He said, fingering the shock of blonde hair on the baby’s head. He smiled fondly at his wife. “And I’ve got a real soft spot for the name.” He paused and then grinned over at Callie. “You couldn’t have waited until tomorrow to have her, eh? Would have been a perfect anniversary gift for me and your Gramma.”
“No!” Callie gave her grandfather a mock expression of horror as she replied. “Bad enough I was in labour for twenty hours.” She shook her head. “All I kept hearing throughout my pregnancy was how both Gram and Mom had relatively short deliveries and here I get twenty hours.”
Everyone chuckled.
“So, Gram? What do you think? Can we name her after you?”
“Thanks, Gram.” Callie smiled at her and then looked up to meet William’s eyes.
Helena smiled and then handed her namesake over to John; watching his eyes sparkle as the baby gripped tightly to his finger, knowing that like her mother before her, young Helena had just wrapped her great-grandfather around her baby finger. Her smile grew as she walked over to Callie and William and embraced them both.
“I think it’s time for someone’s dinner.” John said a short while later as the baby began to fuss in his arms. He stood and slowly made his way over to Callie, murmuring softly to the fussing infant before placing her in her mother’s arms. “Here you go, Pumpkin.”
“Thank you, Grampa.” Callie said, shifting in the bed in order to feed her daughter.
“I think it’s time we head home, give the new family some
privacy.”
John nodded and walked over to William, extending his hand. “Congratulations, William.”
“Thank you, Uncle John.” William replied, shaking the older man’s hand.
Callie chuckled. She still wasn’t used to her husband calling her grandfather, Uncle John. Even though she knew he’d grown up calling him that, it still sounded strange to her.
“Now, you take good care of these two.” John told his grandson-in-law.
“I will.” William replied, smiling with pride at his wife and daughter.
“Good.” John smiled and patted the younger man on the back before moving to give his granddaughter a quick kiss on the cheek. “Good work, Pumpkin.”
“Thanks, Grampa.” Callie smiled up at him.
“Get some rest.”
“I will.” Callie nodded and watched her grandparents leave the room holding hands. She smiled over at William. “They are so sweet together and I hope we grow up to be just like them.”
“I could handle that.” William nodded, moving to sit beside Callie on the bed; slipping his arm about her shoulders as she nursed the baby. “Because, if your grandmother is any indication, you are always going to be one beautiful woman.”
“Flatterer.” Callie smiled up at him.
** ** **
“I still can’t believe it.
My pumpkin is a mother.” John
said as he and
“Hey, you okay?” John asked a moment later when he heard her cough again. “You’re not catching a cold are you?”
“No.”
John stopped, noticing immediately how breathless she sounded. He turned to face her, his brow furrowing with worry, as she began to cough again, this time harder. He stepped closer and reached out to his finger to touch the corner of her mouth where he noticed what looked like a pinkish froth. Alarms going off all in his head, John spoke in what he hoped was a calm voice. “What’s wrong?”
She shook her head and then began to cough again, suddenly reaching out with one hand to clutch at his arm, her other hand coming up to press on her chest as she seemed to suddenly be gasping for air; her eyes wide.
“Call… call a doct…”
“Way ahead of you.”
John told her, his commlock already in hand,
but before he could press the button,
Cradling
“Hang on, Honey. Help is coming.” He told her softly, stroking her hair, not knowing what else to do; hoping the med-team would get to them in time.
“So, when are you going to retire so that I can finally become the CMO around here?” Jonathan asked his companion as they walked down the hall on their way to see Callie and the new baby.
“Never.” Bob answered with a chuckle, glancing up at Jonathan as they rounded the corner. He suddenly stopped at the scene before him. “Oh my God!”
The two men sprinted the short distance down the corridor,
dropping to their knees before John who was still cradling
“Bob… Bob… something’s wrong with her…” John managed to
choke out, his eyes never leaving
Bob glanced over at Jonathan; neither men wanted to tell John what they knew was happening, knowing it would only shatter him but also knowing they had to tell him. Bob nodded slightly, indicating that he would be the one to tell John and was about to answer when the med-team arrived.
Pushed up against the wall, John could only watch helplessly
as the med-team worked over
“Dad.”
John looked up distractedly as he felt someone grab his arm. “Susie?”
“Come on, Dad.” Susan said softly, leading her father-in-law down the hall after the med-team, knowing he was hurting and in shock. “Come with me.”
John simply nodded and allowed her to pull him with her as
his thoughts were solely on
** ** **
John watched Mathias leave the room and swallowed the dry lump that had formed in his throat and blinked back the tears that had welled in his eyes at what Mathias had just told him.
He closed his eyes and shook his head, his grip on her hand tightening as he rested his head on their entwined fingers.
“Oh, God…” he sobbed quietly as fragments of the prognosis repeated over and over in his head.
Congestive heart failure.
Nothing more we can do for her.
Fluid in her lungs.
Nothing more we can do for her.
Nothing more we can do for her.
Nothing more…
“…John…”
He raised his head at the breathless call of his name to look into her green eyes. He moved closer, brushing his fingers against her cheek; forcing a smile. “Hey, Beautiful.”
“John… take me home.”
“
“Please.”
“Honey, you should stay in the
“
“John… please.” She squeezed his hand again. “All they can do… is pump me full of morphine… I don’t want to go that way. Drugged… out of my mind.”
“
“Please…” she implored him, staring right into his tear-filled blue eyes. “I want… I want to be in your arms… in our chair… watching our moon. Not here.” She paused to take a ragged breath. “Please, John… take me home.”
John gazed into her eyes for a long moment. “But what about the pain?”
“I don’t care… I…” she shook her head. “…John…”
John slowly stood and even though he knew better; began removing all the monitoring devices and the breathing apparatus from his wife’s body. He met her grateful smile with a small one of his own, shrugging slightly. “I never could say no to you.”
“Thank you.” She whispered.
John simply nodded, his arms tightening slightly around her as he carried her out of the room.
Glancing up from the conversation he was having with one of his nurses, Bob saw John enter the main section of Med Center, Helena held securely in his arms. He watched John glance quickly around the room, shift his wife gently in his arms, and then head for the main doors. Realizing that he should stop John, but also knowing that he wouldn’t, Bob simply sighed before turning back to his nurse.
“What the…” the nurse looked up to see John moving across the room. “What on earth does he think he’s doing?”
She took a step towards John but was stopped by Mathias’ hand on her shoulder. He shook his head as she looked up at him.
“Don’t. Leave him be.”
“But, Bob…” the nurse protested. “Doctor Koenig is…”
“He knows, Esther.”
Bob said quietly, meeting John’s eyes from across the room. He returned John’s nod of thanks and then
watched him pass through the
** ** **
“Thank you, John.”
“You know there is nothing I wouldn’t do for you, Helena.”
“I know.”
John closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he settled
back in the large, comfy chair they both loved so much, readjusting the
position he’d been in for the last few hours.
He felt
“It’s beautiful.”
“I am,
“Not with your eyes closed, you’re not.” She said with a breathless chuckle.
John couldn’t help the small smile that tugged on his lips, knowing she hadn’t even turned to look at him and opened his eyes to gaze at the large celestial orb shining high above them. “How do you do that?”
“I know you.” She replied, squeezing his hand.
A very soft chuckle escaped from John as he rested his cheek against her the top of her head, murmuring softly. “Better than anyone.”
They fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts, and as they continued to gaze at the moon, John’s mind went back over the last few hours since he’d brought her to the house and they’d curled up in their chair.
They’d talked about meeting on Alpha and the instant attraction they both had felt upon setting eyes on each other; both agreeing that it had been fate that had brought them together.
The conversation had then drifted to different topics and events that had happened in their lives together; reliving the joy of the birth of their children and grandchildren; remembering and cherishing the memories of those they’d lost. And throughout the hours, they would fall into a comfortable silence and simply hold each other close and gaze at the moon that had brought them together.
“Look after Josh.”
“I won’t.” He replied
in a quiet voice as
“I know this isn’t going to be easy on you either and I know I’m asking a lot for you to be strong for our kids and grandkids, but I am asking it of you.” Her voice was shallow and breathless as she spoke. “Don’t shut yourself off from them. Promise me you won’t do that.”
“I promise.” John told her quietly.
“Time for this…” She brought their joined hands down to rest gently on her chest against the locket that lay just above the swell of her breasts and then continued in a weak voice. “To go to Susie.”
John simply pressed his lips against her temple and nodded, blinking back his tears.
“I love you, John.”
“I love you too,
“I have always loved you.” She told him, blinking back the tears that had formed in her own eyes. “These last twenty years and our years together on Alpha have been the happiest years of my life.”
“Mine too.” John told
her as he turned his head slightly to kiss her palm. “
“Sssh.” She shook her head. “Let me…”
John simply nodded, his hand coming up to cover hers and
hold her palm against his cheek.
“Oh, my love. Don’t
be sad.”
“I won’t truly be leaving you.” She continued, smiling lovingly at him, her hands still cupping his face. “Oh, John… we are so much a part of each other; our hearts and our souls are so strongly joined, that nothing can ever truly separate us. Even the moon breaking away from Nova could not keep us apart.”
Her breathing had become even more laboured, causing
“And I promise you, we will be together again. Just as you promised me all those years ago, that you would find your way back to me, I promise you that I will come back to you and that we will be together again.”
She slid her hands up into his silver hair and despite the difficulty she was having breathing, Helena leaned closer while drawing John’s face nearer to her own; their mouths joining together for a long, passionate kiss as his warm tears came again unbidden to his eyes, wetting both their cheeks.
“I love you.” John breathed against her lips, resting his forehead against hers. “I have never loved anyone as much as I love you, Helena.”
“I love you too, John.”
Some moments later,
John rested his cheek against her hair as she reached for and pulled his hand into her lap, once again entwining their fingers.
John nodded slowly and closed his eyes against his tears. “I know.”
He listened to her breathing grow slower and softer and buried his face in her white hair, no longer able to stop his tears from falling into the soft strands.
“I love you, Helena.”
John whispered as he felt her leave him; knowing that even as he held
her body, he no longer held
** ** **
“He looks so lost.”
“I’ve never seen him look so lost.” Joshua continued, turning to look at his older siblings. “Dad’s going to be okay, right?”
Jonathan and Victoria glanced at each other before turning back to Joshua. Jonathan shrugged. “Who can say for sure, Josh?”
They watched in silence as John placed a rose on their mother’s grave and then slowly stand, his head still bowed; the tears on his cheeks visible even from where they stood.
Joshua glanced at his brother and sister and then shaking
off
“Dad?” John glanced quickly at his son.
“It was a pretty ceremony.” John said softly. “Your mother would have liked it, don’t you think?”
“Yeah, Mom would have liked it.” Joshua answered, feeling tears begin to well in his eyes again. “I miss her so much already, Dad.”
John reached out, placing his hand on his son’s shoulder. “I miss her too, Josh.”
“Will it… does it get easier? Does the pain ever go away?”
“Eventually.” John answered, knowing that his pain would never leave, not until he and Helena were reunited. Only then would he be whole again and stop hurting. He turned to meet his son’s green eyes and gave him a sad smile. “Eventually the pain and hurt will lessen. I know it doesn’t feel that way right now. But eventually, it will get better.”
“And for the really tough days,” They turned as Jonathan and
John nodded his agreement and the four of them fell silent.
“What’s so funny?”
“I was remembering…” John couldn’t help the small grin that
formed on his lips as he turned to look at
“One day, I decided to surprise your mother and come home for lunch.” His smile grew at the memory. “I slipped into the house and made my way to the kitchen, expecting to see her feeding the boys.” He chuckled again and shook his head. “I walked in to find your mother covered in spaghetti. I mean she was covered. From head to toe.”
The kids began to chuckle at the image of their mother covered in the red sauce.
John’s eyes sparkled at the memory. “There was spaghetti in her hair, on her clothes; sauce running down her face…” he began to laugh outright as he continued with the story. “And she was standing in front of the boys, who were also covered, hands on her hips, trying hard not to laugh and then she saw me and pinned me with that look of hers.”
The kids nodded, knowing exactly what look their father was talking about. The famous CMO-don’t-even-think-of-laughing-or-you’re-dead look. That look alone could stop anyone, related or not, dead in their tracks and have them running for cover.
“She raised one finger, pointed it at me and in a quiet voice she said, ‘Not one word or you’ll be needing a doctor.’”
“Then what happened?” Joshua asked, smiling at the image of the memory he couldn’t remember. “What did you do?”
“I kept a straight face, walked over to your mother, ran my finger down her cheek, licked it off and made a smartass comment, something along the lines of that she looked delicious and that made your mother laugh.” John smiled, still chuckling. “Then, still laughing, we cleaned you boys up, put you down for your nap and then…” John’s voice grew soft as his gaze moved towards the sky. “Then we cleaned up the mess.”
“I remember that day.”
“Not one word or you’ll be needing a doctor.”
John chewed the inside of his lip to keep a straight face
as he walked towards her. Stopping just
in front of her, he reached out, ran his finger down her cheek and then brought
the sauce-covered digit to his mouth and licked it clean. He smiled at her and leaned closer.
“You have a some sauce,” he murmured as
John straightened up, smiling at the look on her face. He reached out again and lifted a strand of spaghetti from her tomato stained hair. “You look delicious enough to eat.”
John’s eyes widened and his smile grew. He leaned back to her and brushed his lips
quickly against hers. “You’re on, Doc.”
Closing the door quietly behind her,
“Our turn?”
“Most definitely.”
John agreed, stepping before her and reaching for her hands. He began to walk backwards slowly.
“Oh, I am.” He
grinned at her as he moved through the bedroom door. “Very hungry.”
“Decided to skip lunch and go straight for dessert, huh?”
“Mmhmm.” John
murmured as he pulled her into his arms; sliding his hands around her waist and
down to cup her backside. “Any
complaints?”
“None.” She smiled
as she wound her arms about his neck and drew his mouth down to hers for a
long, loving kiss.
John shook his head and turned to
“I said I remember that day too.”
John simply smiled. He hadn’t made it back to work that day either.
“And I ended up taking my little brother home with me too.”
John’s smile grew as he watched his sons exchange amused, knowing smiles. He simply shrugged.
“I think it’s time we should be getting back.” Jonathan began slowly. “Everyone is waiting.”
John nodded, then turned to once again look at his wife’s grave. “Give me a moment and I’ll be right with you.”
The kids nodded and moved off, giving John the time he asked for.
John closed his eyes as he listened to his children leave him; opening them several moments later to look up into the sky as he felt his eyes once again fill with tears. “Don’t keep me waiting too long, Doc. I don’t know how long I can do this without you.” He glanced back at his kids then down at the dirt. “I love you, Honey. And I miss you terribly.”
With a deep sigh, heard by his children, John turned away from the grave and walked towards his children.
“Let’s go back to the house.” He said quietly as he moved between Victoria and Joshua, hooking his arms in theirs as they left the lake together.
** ** **
John turned off the light and wearily made his way across the room and climbed into his bed. He lay back against his pillow and sighed. It’d taken all he had to convince his over-protective children and grandchildren; one in particular, that he was fine and would be okay alone.
But that had been an hour ago.
Now he wasn’t so certain.
The house was quiet. Eerily quiet.
“
It came out as a whisper, but even still, it seemed to echo off the walls.
John closed his eyes and he curled up on his side, reaching out to grab her pillow and hold it tight against him as he buried his face into it, whispering her name over and over.
“Mmm… I was right, you are delicious.” John smiled against her lips and then
straightened up to look at her. “But
you’re awfully messy.” For emphasis, he
pulled another strand of spaghetti out of her hair. “I think we need to get you cleaned up.”
“Are you planning on doing the honours,
Mr. Koenig?” She asked with a coy smile
as he pushed her blouse from her shoulders, letting it fall to the floor.
“It’s a dirty job,” he grinned, sliding his hands into
the waistband of her pants and pushed them down over her hips to join her
blouse on the floor. “But somebody’s got
to do it.”
Leaving her standing clad only in her bra and panties,
John turned back to the tub and shut off the water. He removed his shirt and turned back to face
her.
“Now, we should get this pasta out of your hair.” He said, carefully removing the sticky
strands and tossing them into the garbage.
He smiled as he tossed the last one into the pail. “There.
Now, Mrs. Koenig,” he said, taking her arm. “Your bath awaits.”
Helena smiled and with his assistance, she slipped into
the tub and sank down into the warm water with a sigh. She watched him reach across the tub and grab
the lavender-scented body wash and poof.
“Relax.” John told
her as he squeezed a generous amount of body wash onto the poof and worked it
into a lather.
“Mmm.” Helena
sighed as John slowly moved the poof from her shoulders, in a gentle circle
down her back and back up her arms.
“That feels wonderful.”
John simply smiled and continued to move the poof all
over her body, finally ending at her toes.
He slowly lowered her foot back into the water and then stood, noting
that she was watching him through lidded eyes.
“Don’t tell me you’re stopping already?” She asked in a soft voice; a small amused
smile on her lips.
“Far from it.”
“Mmm, good.”
She closed her eyes as she heard him move around behind
her to sit on the small stool at the end of the tub. She felt his hands gently comb through her
hair before reaching down into the tub to scoop out some water and begin
wetting her blonde tresses.
John poured a small amount of shampoo into the palm of
his hand and began to slowly work it through her hair, working up a
lather. He heard
“Ooh, that’s nice.”
Helena said with a smile, her eyes still closed. “You have such wonderful hands, John.”
“You think so?” He
asked quietly with a small smile on his face as he began to rinse out the
shampoo.
“Mmhmm.” She
murmured. “I love your hands. But most importantly, I love the feel of your
hands on my body.”
“Like this?”
John’s hands glided slowly down her arms.
“Mmm”
“Like this?” He
whispered in her ear as he leaned closer and slid his hands from her arms to
smooth out over her stomach. His hands
then floated up to cup her breasts. “Or
this?”
“That one’s nice.”
“And this?” He
asked, nuzzling her neck as he leaned closer.
“Mmm, I like.” She
answered, turning to face him with an inviting smile as she covered his hands
with hers.
They held each other’s gaze for a moment or two before
John closed the distance between them, his lips covering hers in a long, deep
kiss that seemed to stretch into forever.
John slowly ended the kiss and stood.
As the kiss grew in intensity, John’s hands began to once
again wander over her body, causing Helena to moan low in her throat; neither
one heard the doorbell until about the fifth ring.
“Damn.” John murmured
as he scrambled out of the tub, grabbing his robe off the back of the bathroom
door. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” John told her as he ran out the door and down
the stairs, swearing again; his wife’s amused laughter following him.
Twenty minutes later, John walked into his bedroom and
frowned slightly when he saw
“You weren’t supposed to get out of the tub.”
“The water was getting cold.” She answered; walking over to him and chuckling
at the feigned pouty look on his face.
“What took you so long? Who was
at the door?”
“Vick.” John
answered as he sat on the edge of their bed; smiling as he reached and pulled
“John…”
“Oh, did I forget to mention that Josh is going to be
spending the rest of the afternoon and all night at his sister’s?”
“Is that so?”
Helena asked, her hands moving to rest on his shoulders, a knowing look
on her face. “That was very sweet of
“Yes it was.
Wasn’t it?” John replied as he
tugged on the sash. He looked up at
her. “You don’t mind that I asked Vicky
to watch Josh, do you?”
“I think I made the right decision.” John said as he leaned forward, his hands
resting against the small of her back and drawing her even closer. “Don’t you?”
“I think…” she gasped softly as he pressed a kiss in the
valley between her breasts. “I think you
talk too much.”
John pulled back
to look at her and grinned before leaning back down and taking one of her
nipples in his mouth, his tongue swirling around the sensitive peak. He felt her hands grip his shoulders as he
moved his mouth to her other breast.
As he continued his sweet torture on her breasts,
John trailed hot kisses up her chest, along her throat to
her lips until their mouths joined in a passionate kiss; their arms wrapped
tightly around each other, pulling each other closer. John pulled his hands out of her robe,
trailing his hands up along her back, over shoulders, into her hair as they
fell back on the bed, kissing each other hungrily.
After what seemed like an eternity,
“You are so… beautiful.”
John smiled, reaching up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, his
fingers lingering to caress her cheek.
“So beautiful.”
Their simultaneous moans were lost in each other’s mouths
as
John moved his gaze over her, noticing that she was still
wearing her robe and found that not being able to see her body and how she was
moving on him to be extremely erotic. He
slipped his hands inside her robe to grasp her hips, guiding her movements as
she began to move quicker on him.
“…John…” she moaned his name as her body began to quiver
with her oncoming orgasm. “Oh, God…
John!”
John held her hips and continued to thrust into her;
stopping when she cried out his name again; her inner muscles tightening around
him and her body convulsing above him as her release surged through her
body. He wrapped his arms around her
trembling body and held her tightly as she collapsed onto his chest.
“Mmm… oh God…” she panted softly, trying to catch her
breath. “That was…”
“Only the beginning.”
John finished as he swiftly rolled over so that she was now beneath
him. “We do…” he grinned down at
her. “Have all afternoon.”
“Mmm… we do indeed.”
John smiled down at her, covering her mouth with his for
an ardent kiss, as he slowly inched them further up the bed. When he felt her legs wrap around him; John
began to move inside her, thrusting with long, deep strokes.
They moaned together as their bodies moved in harmony,
Helena’s legs tightening around John’s hips, pulling him closer as her hands
slipped down his arms to grip his wrists; arching under him and crying out his
name as the feelings swelled and then coursed through her body.
“God…
“…
Still caught up in his dream, John rolled over and reached out for her, wanting to feel her close. Feeling only empty bed beside him, John’s eyes opened and filled with tears as reality came crashing back down around him. He pulled her pillow back tight against his chest and buried his face in it; letting his tears fall. As he drew in a shuddering breath, her scent, the scent of lavender she loved so much, attacked his senses.
“
Knowing he couldn’t remain in bed all day, despite wanting
to do nothing more than pull the covers over his head and stay there, John
uncurled himself from
“Honey?”
John made a face and then shook his head as he slowly stood. “You’re losing it, Koenig.” He said to himself. “Two days without her and you’re losing it.” He headed for the bathroom, still shaking his head. “Better not let your kids hear you talking like this, they’re liable to think you’re nuts.”
He stopped suddenly as the soft sound of laughter echoed in his ears. He turned back towards his bedroom, glancing around again as the lavender scent seemed to envelope him. A small smile came to his face and he nodded slowly before turning and stepping into the bathroom.
** ** **
“And this beautiful lady,” John held the picture up in front of his great-granddaughter’s face as she sat in his lap. “This is your great-gramma. You’re named after her.”
Little
“Oh no you don’t.” John chuckled at the eight month old as she reached out again to try and grab the photo. “This is my favourite picture of your great-gramma.”
John glanced at the picture again and smiled. It was one that had been taken back when they
were still on Alpha, during a rare moment when they were off duty. At a party, the reason for which he could no
longer remember,
Little Helena reached out again for the picture, making a gurgling sound in her throat; that sounded a lot like she was trying to say ‘great-gramma’.
“Okay, okay, you can hold it.” He said to her, placing the plastic frame in her hands and holding it with her. “Be gentle, Squirt. You don’t want to drop great-gramma on her head.”
Little
John smiled and ran his fingers through her soft blonde curls. “Oh, Squirt, I so wish your great-gramma was here. She would adore you and would be spoiling you something fierce.”
The baby looked up at him, her green eyes sparkling bright.
“I’m going to tell you a little secret,
He took a deep breath.
“I can still feel her, Squirt. Everywhere I go, I can feel her with me. When I go to sleep at night, it still feels like I’m holding her in my arms and I can feel her heart beating against mine.” He let his gaze drift across the room and inhaled deeply. “And her perfume… I can still smell her perfume. It comes out of nowhere, filling up my senses so that I can’t think of anything else.”
John glanced back down at the picture still held tight in
little
“I can be in a room full of people, suddenly I’ll hear her laughter ring out, or hear her call my name, and yet no one else hears it.” He shook his head sadly as he looked back down at the child in his arms. He ran his finger gently down her cheek, smiling softly. “I can even see her in your smile and in your eyes.” John circled his finger around the baby’s eyes. “Especially your eyes. You have your great-grandmother’s beautiful, ocean-green eyes.”
Little
“I don’t know, Squirt. Maybe I’m just losing it.” He slipped the picture away from her as she began to fall asleep. He gazed at it, the back of his finger moving once again over the image. “All I know is that I miss her. I miss her so much.”
John swallowed back the tears he felt forming as he
stretched out and placed the frame back on the table next to him. He glanced down at little
“That sounds like a wonderful idea, Squirt. I think I’ll join you.” He said softly, as he lifted his feet onto the ottoman and then settled back into the chair and closed his eyes.
Callie brushed the tears from her eyes as she stepped away from the door; turned and quietly made her way down the stairs.
** ** **
“G-gam.”
John chuckled.
“She’s something else, isn’t she?”
John glanced up and smiled at his daughter and then turned
back to continue watching his great-granddaughter ambling through the
grass. “She sure is.” He glanced over at
“I understand now why you and mom had so much fun doting on
Callie, Victor and the twins.”
“G-gam.”
“I think she’s calling you, Dad.”
“Not me.” John shook his head. “She’s talking about your mom. She’s saying great-gramma.”
“How’d…”
John simply smiled and then turned in time to scoop up the rambunctious nine month old in his arms as she threw herself at him, wrapping her pudgy arms around his neck and hugging him as tight as she would allow.
“Hey, Squirt.” John chuckled, hugging her to his chest, before smiling down at her as she pulled back to stare up at him. “I think it’s time for someone’s nap.”
Little
“Oh no, you don’t.” John
chuckled, keeping a hold of her as she began to struggle harder to get
away. He stood, shifting her in his
arms. “C’mon,
“Ba…”
“Yeah, great-Grampa get you a nice, warm bottle and then we’ll both take a nap.” John smiled softly down at her. “How’s that sound to you?”
Little
“I think that’s a yes.”
Twenty minutes later, John sat little Helena, who looked far from tired, in the chair in his room.
“You sure about this, Grampa?”
John glanced over at his granddaughter and daughter and nodded. “Don’t you move, Squirt.” John told the squirming child before turning back to look at Victoria and Callie. “Of course I am.”
“She doesn’t look like she’s going to settle down any time soon.” Callie said, glancing at her daughter as John joined them on the other side of the room.
“You two go on.” John said. “I’m quite capable of getting her to quiet down and get some sleep.”
“G-gam.”
The three adults turned to see little
“G… gam…”
“It’s as if…” Callie sighed and shook her head.
“As if what?” Victoria asked softly, already having an idea of what her daughter was going to say.
“It’s as if she’s talking to Gram.” Callie answered, meeting her mother’s eyes as she shrugged. “I know it doesn’t make any sense, but…”
“Callie.” Victoria reached out and rested her hand on Callie’s arm. “It’s okay, I understand.”
As the two women continued to talk, John walked back towards little Helena, and looked down in the chair to see little Helena fighting to keep her eyes open and smiled softly.
“Gramp?” Callie called over softly as she watched him inhale deeply and smile a bit more. She turned to her mother when John didn’t answer. “Mom? Is he…”
“I’m fine.” John said, glancing over at them. “And I heard you. I’m old, not deaf.”
“Sorry, Grampa.”
John flashed her a quick smile and then glanced back down to see that little Helena was still fighting against sleeping. He spoke over his shoulder. “You can’t smell it, can you? Either of you?”
Victoria and Callie exchanged concerned glances; they knew exactly what John was talking about.
“Dad…”
“Vick, I’m not crazy.” John turned to look at her. “I can smell lavender.”
“I didn’t say you were crazy, Dad.” Victoria said. “But you have to admit it is a little…”
“Crazy?” John offered, with an amused smile.
“Strange.” Victoria corrected. “Mom’s dead, Dad. She’s been gone for nine months.”
“I know that.” He said quietly. “Believe me, I know that.”
Victoria frowned slightly at the sad look came to her father’s face. “I’m sorry, Dad.”
“We miss her too, Gramps.” Callie told him, stepping over to him and wrapping her arms around him in a gentle hug. “We’re just a little worried about you that’s all.”
“There’s nothing to be worried about.”
“Grampa, I know you think you’ve been hearing Gram’s voice and that you’ve felt her touch.” Callie said quietly. “And now you say you can smell Gram’s perfume. No one else can, but you can.” She paused. “You have to admit, it’s a little…”
“Crazy.”
“I was going to say far-fetched.” Callie nodded. “But yes.”
“Wait a minute.” John said suddenly, straightening up. “I never… the only person I told was Lena, and I know she didn’t say anything. How did…” John pinned his gaze on Callie as he watched her look down at her hands. “You were eavesdropping that day, weren’t you?”
“Not on purpose, Grampa.” Callie said, finally lifting her eyes to meet his. She nodded. “But yes, I heard you.”
“And you told your mother.” John shook his head and then turned away from them to stare at the sleeping baby.
“Dad?” Victoria took a step towards him, stopping when he shook his head.
“I can’t explain it.” He began softly, shrugging his shoulders.
“Explain what?” John shook his head. “Dad, we’re worried about you.”
“There’s nothing to worry about. I’m fine.”
“No you’re not.” Victoria said and then took a deep breath. “I know Mom’s death was hard on you. It was hard on all of us.”
“No. You don’t know. How can you?” John spoke in a quiet voice, moving to stand before the window; his gaze drifting to the full moon hanging low in the sky. “Yes, you lost your mother, but I…” he swallowed, his voice dropping to just above a whisper. “I lost the other half of my soul.”
Callie and Victoria glanced at each other.
“Dad?”
“I’m sorry, Vick.” He said quietly. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
“But…”
“No. Just… just please, forget about it.” John said, turning to face the two women. “Look, I’m tired and I’d like to take a nap if you don’t mind.”
Victoria took a step towards him. “Dad.”
John held up his hand to stop her and shook his head. “No, Vick, really. I’m tired.”
Victoria sighed and nodded. “Okay, Dad.” She gestured to her granddaughter, curled up in the chair, fast asleep. “Do you want us to take her?”
“No, it’s okay.”
Victoria nodded and with a look at Callie, they turned to leave the room.
“Vick.” John called to her softly.
“Yes, Dad?”
“Thank you.” He said softly, reaching up to run the back of his fingers against her cheek. “Thank you for not pushing.”
Victoria gave him a small smile as she stepped closer and hugged him. “I love you, Daddy.” She said against his ear. “And I know, that as hard as this has been on all of us, that it’s been much harder on you. I don’t mean to belittle your grief and if I’m doing that I apologize.” She felt John nod against her shoulder. “I’m just worried about you, that’s all.”
“I know, Baby.” John returned her embrace, glancing over and smiling softly at Callie. “I know you both are.”
Victoria pressed a kiss to her father’s cheek before stepping out of his embrace. “Have a good nap, Dad.”
“Thanks.”
Victoria turned to Callie and the two quietly left the room.
** ** **
John slipped out, unnoticed, onto the porch.
“How come you’re not in enjoying your party?”
Callie looked up at her grandfather, shrugged her shoulders, and then looked back down at her hands.
“She wouldn’t want you doing this.”
“What?” Callie gave John a questioning look as he sat down on the step beside her. “Who wouldn’t want me doing what?”
“Your grandmother. She wouldn’t want you sitting out here moping.”
“I’m not moping. I…” Callie paused and then gave him a sad smile. “It’s just hard, you know?”
John nodded.
“For as long as I can remember, it’s always been our birthday.” Callie told him, her eyes filling with tears. “But now…”
John reached out and placed his hands on hers to stop her from wringing them as she continued.
“Now she’s gone and… and it’s no longer our birthday.”
“It’ll always be both your birthdays.”
Callie shook her head. “Without Gram here, it’s just another day and I don’t see the point of celebrating it.”
“It’s not just another day, Pumpkin. It’s your birthday.” John said. “And it should be celebrated.”
“But it’s so hard. I turn around, expecting to see her…” Callie’s voice trailed off as she met his eyes. “I miss her, Grampa.”
“I miss her too, Pumpkin.” John said as he slipped his arm about her shoulders. “And as much as we miss her, your grandmother wouldn’t want you to stop celebrating your birthday.”
“You really think so?”
John nodded. “I know so. In fact, it was one of the last things we talked about.”
They both fell silent.
“So, what are we doing out here,” Callie looked up at him a few moments later, a small smile on her face. “When we could be inside enjoying ourselves?”
John chuckled softly and gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze.
“After all, it’s my birthday.”
They stood, John offering Callie his arm, which she happily slipped hers through. He smiled and leaned towards her, brushing a soft kiss against her forehead. “Happy Birthday, Pumpkin.”
“Thank you, Grampa.” She replied softly as he led her back into the house.
** ** **
“Hey, sis! What are you doing here?”
Victoria glanced up as her younger brother strolled into the house.
“Where’s Dad?” Joshua continued before Victoria could answer his first question.
“Dad’s upstairs.” Victoria answered and watched with a bemused smile as Joshua paced around for a moment before finally stopping to stand before her.
“Upstairs? What’s he doing upstairs?”
“My guess would be that he’s sleeping. Or at least trying to.”
“It’s the middle of the afternoon. He’s…” Joshua frowned. “He’s not still sick is he?”
“No, he’s not sick.”
“Then why?” Joshua lowered himself down onto the couch. “If he’s not sick, then what’s wrong with him?”
“You do know what day it is, right?” Victoria asked as she sat on the arm of the couch and looked down at him as he answered.
“Yeah, the eighteenth of November, Lena’s birthday. Why… oh…” he stopped, looking down at his hands as he swallowed the sudden lump that had formed in his throat. “Okay, I get it now.” He looked back up at his sister as he felt her lay a hand on his shoulder. “That would also explain why I’m feeling the way I’m feeling.”
“We’re all feeling it, kiddo.” Victoria said gently. “Especially Dad.”
“I can’t believe tomorrow will be a year already.”
Victoria squeezed his shoulder.
“You know, there are still nights when I’m coming home from work and it’s one of those nights when the moon looks like it’s going come crashing to the ground cause it’s so big and full.” He glanced up at her. “You know the ones I’m talking about?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ll reach for my commlock, thinking that I gotta call Mom and tell her to take a look outside.” Josh shrugged. “And that’s when I’ll remember that she’s not here anymore.”
“I know what you mean.” Victoria said, squeezing his shoulder again. “I do the same thing whenever Helena does something new.”
Joshua’s gaze wandered across the room to the pictures on the fireplace mantel. “But more and more recently, there are times, days even,” he began in a softer voice. “When I don’t think of Mom at all.”
He glanced up at Victoria to see her nodding and smiling softly. “That’s perfectly all right, Josh.”
“Is it really?” He asked.
“Yes, really.” Victoria said. “Death is a part of life. And just because you don’t think about Mom every day, doesn’t mean you’ve forgotten her or that you love her any less.”
“I bet Dad thinks about her every day.”
“I’m sure he does. But that’s different.” Victoria told him as he continued to look at her. “They shared a life together; Mom was the love of Dad’s life.” Victoria smiled softly, her gaze turning to the pictures on the mantel. “Do you know, during that time when Mom and Dad were separated, she never once doubted that Dad would come home to her? Not once. Even though twenty years passed on this planet, Mom never gave up thinking that Dad would find his way back to her.”
Joshua smiled. He’d grown up listening the story of his parents’ separation and reunion. And it was a story; he wasn’t ashamed to say that he loved to hear. He’d always loved the fact that his parents were so crazy about each other.
“I only hope that I am able to find someone to love and who’ll love me with the same depth and passion as our parents loved each other.” He turned to meet her eyes. “Do you think it’s possible?”
“Of course it is.” Victoria smiled. “It happened for them, didn’t it?”
Joshua smiled. “Yeah, but what Mom and Dad shared was special.”
“Mmm… yes it was.” Victoria said and then sighed. “Well, I guess I should be going. I only stopped by to check on Dad.”
“I thought you said he wasn’t sick.” Joshua said.
“He’s not. When I talked to him this morning, he sounded a little off. And when I asked him about it, he said he was just tired and hadn’t slept well last night.” She answered. “After we hung up it hit me, so I decided to stop by and see how he was doing and if he wanted to come over for dinner and to watch Lena open her gifts.”
“And…”
“And,” Victoria shrugged. “He said he was simply tired, was going to take a nap and if he feels better he’ll stop by later.”
Joshua stood and gave her a hug. “I’ll stop by later too, if that’s okay? I got Lena a little something.”
“Of course it’s okay.” Victoria said with a smile as she moved towards the door. She paused and looked back at him. “Are you not leaving?”
“Nah, not yet. There’s something I gotta take care of.”
“Well, if he’s sleeping, don’t wake him.” Victoria said with a knowing smile and then left.
Joshua shook his head and then tilted it as the sound of movement above, caught his attention. He grinned and headed up the stairs, speaking aloud to himself. “I don’t think I have to worry about that, sis.”
** ** **
“I told you I’m fine, Vick.” John said, not turning in his chair as he heard soft knocking on his door just before it opened.
“It’s just me, Dad.” Joshua said, sticking his head in the door. “S’okay if I come in for a minute?”
John nodded and continued to stare out the window, listening as Joshua came further into the room and walked over and crouched by the chair.
Several minutes passed before either one spoke.
“I still miss her.”
“I do too.”
“There’s supposed to be a full moon tonight.” Joshua said a moment later. “Mom always loved it when we had a full moon.”
“Mmhmm.”
Another stretch of silence passed between the two men and during this respite, Joshua took the opportunity to watch his father. The last year had definitely taken its toll on John.
He sighed inaudibly and regarded his father with a critical eye.
John’s hair, now all white, looked uncombed and it was plain to see that he hadn’t shaved in several days. And even though he couldn’t see them, Joshua knew that his father’s eyes, which used to be a bright and vibrant shade of blue, seemed flat and lifeless; the sparkle that had always been there, missing.
“Dad…”
“I’m okay, Josh.”
“No you’re not.” Joshua countered. “You look like hell, Dad.”
“Thanks.” John replied dryly as he self-consciously reached up to run his fingers through his hair, becoming aware, as he slid his hands down over his face, of the fact that he hadn’t shaved. He glanced over at Joshua and shrugged. “I guess I am looking a little scruffy.”
“Just a little.”
John gave his son a half-hearted smile and turned back towards the window. “It hit me this morning that tomorrow,” John shook his head as he felt the tears begin to well. “Will be a year since…”
“I know.”
“Oh God I miss her! Not a day goes by that I don’t think about her; that I don’t want to wrap my arms around her and hold her tight against me. And every morning I wake up, praying it’s all a dream and that when I roll over, she’ll be there beside me.” His hand came up and he swiped away the tears that had escaped his control as he continued in a strangled voice. “But of course, she’s not there.”
“We all miss her.” Joshua said quietly, then reached out, and placed his hand on John’s arm. “It’s harder on you, I know that. She was your wife.”
“She was my wife.” John repeated quietly, continuing to stare out the window. “She was also my best friend, my confidante, my lover…” he paused and turned to Joshua, giving him a sad smile. “She was my life, Josh.”
John glanced down at his hands and began to finger his wedding band before continuing.
“When your mom died, the better part of myself died with her.” John looked back out the window and sighed. “And even though I promised your mother that I would be here for all of you, I know I haven’t done as good a job as I should have.”
“Under the circumstances, I think you’ve done a pretty good job.” Joshua told him and gave his father’s arm a squeeze. “Dad… we, Vick, Jon and I, weren’t expecting you to be a rock. You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t react to Mom’s death in some way.”
Joshua followed his father’s gaze out the window.
“I think Mom would be proud of how you’ve taken care of us.” He paused and smiled slightly. “Not to mention how you are with Lena.” He looked at his father. “She adores you and it’s easy to see that you feel the same way about her.”
John smiled. It was true. He adored his great-granddaughter.
“Speaking of that little munchkin,” Joshua grinned. “You are coming to her party tonight aren’t you?”
John sighed.
“Come on, Dad. You know how upset everyone will be if you don’t show up.”
John sighed again and nodded. “Yes I know.”
“And it’ll do you some good to get out and be around your family.”
“I know, you’re right.”
“So, does this mean?”
“Yes.”
Joshua smiled and stood. “Good. Don’t be late.”
John watched his son leave his room and sighed.
** ** **
“Gan! Gan!”
Victoria and Callie watched with smiles on their faces as Helena, laughing with delight, was tossed high in the air and caught again in the strong arms that had thrown her up in the first place.
“Again?”
“Gan! Up!”
“Okay, here we go.”
“For a guy who was miserable when he got here,” Jonathan commented, coming to stand beside his sister and niece as they watched John again toss his great granddaughter into the air. “I’d say he’s cheered right up.”
“She has that effect on him.” Callie said softly. “She has since the day she was born.”
“Just like someone else I know.” Victoria said, slipping her arm about her daughter’s shoulders and squeezing slightly.
“Mom.” Callie rolled her eyes.
“She’s right, kiddo.” Jonathan said to his niece. “You had him wrapped around your little finger from the first moment you threw yourself in his arms up on Alpha.”
“Who had who wrapped up on Alpha?”
The three of them turned to see John standing before them, little Helena perched up on his shoulder.
“Callie had you,” Jonathan answered. “Wrapped around her little finger.”
“Sure did.” John said with a grin as stepped over to Callie and stooped down to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Much like her mother and grandmother before her.”
“Gamma!” Helena wriggled around on John’s shoulder in an attempt to get down. “Gamma!”
“Hold on, Squirt.” John said, keeping a tight grip on her as he lowered her down and placed her in Victoria’s arms. “Here’s Gramma.”
“Gamma!” John smiled as Helena wrapped her arms about Victoria’s neck and hugged her.
“How you doing, Grampa?” Callie asked him quietly, slipping an arm about his waist and hugging him gently.
John looked down at his granddaughter. “I’m doing okay.” He smiled at the concern that swam in her blue eyes and returned her hug. “Really. I’m fine.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure, Pumpkin.”
Callie smiled at him, looking, except for her blue eyes, just like her grandmother. The resemblance was so close it caused a pang of sadness to wash over John and his smile faltered.
“Gramp?” Callie touched his arm, her smile replaced by a look of apprehension as she watched the sadness sweep over her grandfather’s face. “What is it? Was it something I said?”
John shook away the feeling and covered her hand with his, giving her another small smile as he shook his head. “No. You didn’t say anything.”
“Then what was it that made you look so sad all of a sudden?”
“For a minute there, when you smiled at me.” John reached up to brush a lock of her blonde hair out of her eyes. “You looked just like your grandmother.”
Callie blinked back the sudden sting of tears she felt well in her eyes. “I…”
John placed his finger against her lips and shook his head. “It’s okay. You’ve always looked like your grandmother.” He leaned over and placed a quick kiss to her temple. As he straightened up, he continued, a soft smile on his face. “And I suspect that Squirt here,” he reached out and tickled little Helena’s belly, his smile growing as she laughed and squirmed in Victoria’s arms. “Is going to grow into the spitting image of her.”
“I think you’re right.” Victoria said, shifting the baby in her arms. “She already has mom’s stubborn streak.”
“You sure it’s not Dad’s?”
“Oh no, your mother’s much more stubborn than I am.” John said with a grin in his son’s direction.
Everyone chuckled and then laughed as they watched little Helena slide out of Victoria’s arms and scramble across the room.
John watched her for a few minutes then excused himself and walked out onto the porch.
“You weren’t thinking of leaving already, were you?” Jonathan said in a quiet voice as he walked up behind his father.
John turned, smiled, and shook his head before turning his gaze back to the glowing orb that was just becoming visible in the early evening sky. “No. I was just gazing at the moon and thinking.”
“About Mom?”
“Mmhmm. But then, I’m always thinking about your mom.”
“True.” Jonathan nodded as he moved to stand beside his father, resting his hands against the porch railing. He followed John’s gaze towards the moon. “Hard to believe it’s been over twenty years since anyone’s been up there.”
John nodded his agreement, remembering his last day on Alpha after the moon’s return to Nova, a week after Helena’s birthday.
“I remember taking that final stroll through Alpha; thinking to myself that I’ve never heard her halls sound so quiet.” John said quietly, his thoughts drifting back to that day. He smiled. “Your mother asked me if I would miss it. Miss Alpha. I said yes, that I would miss it. And I have. I’d always wanted to be in space. And Alpha… Alpha was special.” He paused and shook his head, his smile becoming wistful as he turned to meet his son’s eyes. “It’s where I met your mother.”
Jonathan smiled.
“But I didn’t miss it as much as I thought I would.” John admitted as he continued. “Mainly because, my home… my life, was wherever your mother was.”
A silence fell between the two men as their gazes were drawn back to the moon.
“I got something for you.” John said some time later as he reached into his pocket. “Actually, it’s more for Susie…”
“Dad?! This is Mom’s necklace.” Jonathan’s eyes were wide as John dangled the gold locket before him. He gave his father a confused look. “I don’t understand. I thought she was…”
“Buried with it? No.” John shook his head. “This locket has been in our family for years.”
“I didn’t know that.” Jonathan said, watching as his father grasped the locket, ran his finger over the engraved ‘K’, and then listened as John told him the story behind the locket. “So, you gave it to Mom…”
“Just before the moon broke away from Nova, yes.” John nodded and opened the locket, running his finger over one of the pictures. He closed the locket after a moment and then handed it to his son. “And now, it’s your turn to give it to your wife.”
Jonathan looked down at the gold charm resting in his hand and slowly opened it, smiling at the pictures inside. He looked back up at his father after he closed the locket. “Thank you. I hope I can tell the story behind it as well as you.”
“I’m sure you will.” John said, placing his hand on Jonathan’s shoulder. “Now, how about we head back in so that I can say good night to everyone. It’s getting late and I’m tired.”
“Sure.”
Victoria looked up as the two men returned inside from the porch. “Was wondering where you two had gotten off to.”
“Oh, we just stepped out for some air and some father/son time.” John told his daughter. “That’s all. But it’s getting late, so I’ve come in to say good-night before heading home.”
“It’s not that late.” Joshua said as he and Victor walked towards them after having seen his father and brother enter.
“Not for you maybe, but you’re young.” John said with a smile. “I’m not.”
“Ah, Dad, you’ll never really be old.” Joshua said with a smile.
John merely chuckled and shook his head as Victoria stood to embrace him.
“I’m glad you came tonight, Dad.” She said softly against his ear. “And that you’re feeling better.” She pulled back to meet his eyes. “I was beginning to get worried.”
“I know. I’m sorry.” John apologized.
Victoria smiled at him and then leaned close and kissed his cheek. “Just don’t let it happen again.”
“Yes, Ma’am.” John smiled and hugged her tightly, whispering against her ear how much he loved her.
Father and daughter shared a tender smile before he turned to his younger son and grandson.
“Well, don’t just stand there.” He said with a grin and held out his arms. “Give the old man a hug.”
The two boys grinned and quickly stepped forward, both of them embracing John at the same time.
“You two are crazy.” John laughed as he hugged the two boys back.
They both grinned as they let him go.
“Runs in the family.” Joshua said with a smile.
John shook his head and moved over to hug his eighteen-year-old grandchildren, Jonathan and Susie’s twins, Jared and Alexandra, squeezing them tight and telling them both that he loved them before Callie slipped her arm about his waist and led him away.
“I’m so glad you made it, Grampa.” Callie told him, squeezing him affectionately and leaning against him slightly as they headed to the door. “I really am.”
John smiled at her and slipped his arm about her shoulders, returning her embrace by pulling her closer against him. “I wouldn’t have missed this for anything.” He told her, giving her a little grin. “I love the little squirt, you know that.”
“Yes, I know that.” Callie nodded. “But I also know that you didn’t sleep all that well last night and that you weren’t exactly feeling one hundred percent today.” She paused as he stopped to let her pass through the door before him, onto the porch. She walked over to and leaned on the railing, lifting her gaze to the moon before continuing. “I can’t believe Gram’s been gone for a year already.”
John didn’t say a word as stood beside her, his gaze on the moon as well.
“I miss her, Gramp.” Callie said. “And I’m so afraid that that little girl in there is going to grow up not knowing how wonderful her great-grandmother was. How is she supposed to know how strong a woman Gram was?”
“She’ll know.” John said quietly. “She’ll know because you’ll tell her and show her the videos. And through you, she’ll see how special your grandmother was.”
Callie turned to look at him with tear-filled eyes and nodded her head slowly. She smiled and moved into his arms when he held them out to her.
“I love you, Grampa.” She said softly as she wrapped her arms about him.
“I love you too, Pumpkin.” John said, pressing a kiss against her blonde hair. “I love you too.”
The two held each other a little longer and then John stepped back and brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers, coaxing a smile out of her.
“You have your grandmother’s smile.” John smiled at her. “And it’s as beautiful on you as it is on your grandmother.”
Callie’s smile grew and she blushed slightly. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
John said as he dropped his hand and walked away. He paused on the bottom step of the porch and
turned back to look at her. “Give
“I will.” Callie nodded. “Good night, Grampa.”
“Night, Pumpkin.”
Callie watched him as he stepped off the porch and watched him, walking slowly away, his eyes skyward, until he disappeared from view. She wrapped her arms around herself as she turned and headed into the house. She paused just inside the door to turn and look out in the direction of her grandfather’s house and shivered slightly.
“You okay?”
Callie started at the voice and turned to look into her husband’s eyes.
“
“I’m fine.” She smiled. “Just a weird feeling, that’s all.”
“Weird how?”
“Nothing. Don’t worry about it.” Callie shook her head, slipped her arms about William’s waist, and smiled up at him. “C’mon, let’s go tuck our little girl into bed.”
“Okay.” William said, leaning down to brush a kiss against her lips and then led her further into the house.
** ** **
Several hours later than he’d planned on, John crawled into bed. Sliding under the covers and settling back against his pillows, he reached out without turning his head and grabbed the framed picture off his nightstand.
“Hello, Beautiful.” He said softly, his fingers tracing her image as he began to talk. “And, Lena turned one today,” he finished up, glancing at the clock on his nightstand and amended. “Or rather, yesterday.”
He sighed and glanced out the window at the moon.
“A year. Is that all it’s been?” He asked the empty room and glanced back at the picture resting against his chest. “It feels like forever.”
His eyes once again turned to the window, the image of the moon blurring as his eyes began to fill with tears.
“I miss you, Helena. Oh God, I miss you.”
All was quiet in the room, except for the sound of shallow, tear-filled breathing, mingled with soft sobs.
“Not a day’s gone by that I haven’t thought about you.” He continued in a strangled, yet quiet voice, the tears trailing down the sides of his face. “That I wished you were still here with me or that I had died with you.”
He lifted the picture from its resting place on his chest and stared at the image.
“I love you, Helena. I love you so much.” John said tenderly, tracing the lines of Helena’s face again through the plastic before bringing his finger to his lips and then pressing that finger against Helena’s image. He smiled sadly. “Happy Anniversary, Baby.”
He continued staring at the picture until her image blurred and grew dark as he slowly drifted to sleep, clutching her picture tightly to his chest.
** ** **
“Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars. Let me see what spring is like on Jupiter and Mars.”
The old Frank Sinatra hit drifted into his head, causing him to frown in his sleep as he slowly realized, even in unconsciousness, that it wasn’t Old Blue Eyes’ voice he was hearing.
“…Hold my hand. In other words, baby, kiss me. Fill my heart with song…”
John’s eyes fluttered beneath his lids as he slowly worked his way towards consciousness.
“You are all I long for…” the singing stopped. “Oh, good! You’re awake. I was beginning to think you were going to sleep the day away.”
John turned towards the sound of the voice.
“Good morning, my love.” Helena smiled at him as she leaned over him from her position, sitting cross-legged beside him on the bed and brushed his hair out of his eyes. “It’s a beautiful, sunshiny day, John. Hurry up and let’s go enjoy it.”
“Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, Doc.” John mumbled as he rolled over and sat up. He shook his head. “Great, not only am I hearing things, I’m seeing things too.”
He chuckled as he stood and made his way towards the bathroom, knowing that when he came back out, his hallucination would be long gone. Despite himself, John paused in the doorway and glanced back at the bed, half-hoping that she’d still be there.
He smiled softly. She looked gorgeous. As young and beautiful as she’d been the day they were married. Her hair was blonde; soft and flowing about her face as she shifted on the bed and her skin was firm and had a healthy glow to it.
Helena lay stretched out on her stomach on the bed; her chin resting in her hands as she propped herself up on her elbows. “Don’t be too long, John.” She called to him, her legs swaying in the air. “We don’t want to waste this magnificent day.”
John sighed and with a shake of his head, turned and entered the bathroom to take his shower before getting ready to face the day.
Some time later, John turned off the water and opened the door, reaching out for a towel. Drying himself off, he stepped out of the shower and wrapped the damp towel around his waist as he moved to stand in front of the mirror to brush his teeth.
“Today must be my day for hallucinating.” He said with a wry grin as he gazed at himself in the mirror and reached for his toothbrush.
The reflection in the glass was one that would match perfectly with the young, singing image he’d conjured up earlier of his wife. He shook his head and then ran his fingers through his thick, dark hair, glancing down as he did to see, that not only did his chest seem to be firmer and more muscular, but also the hair covering it was no longer gray.
“Yep, I’m really losing it.” He said, shaking his head again as he ran his hands over his face and then quickly brushed his teeth.
When he finished with his teeth, John toweled himself off completely and slipped into his robe. He moved back to the mirror to comb his hair and shrugged his shoulders at the still young image of himself staring back at him.
“Okay, hallucinating about Helena, even a young one, is understandable.” He said to his reflection. “Especially today. But this…” John gestured between himself and the mirror. “This is just ridiculous.” He stopped suddenly and grinned at himself as he realized he was having a conversation with his reflection. “Glad no one’s around to hear this.”
Chuckling, he quickly combed his hair and then headed back into his bedroom.
“Took you long enough in there.”
Despite knowing he was only seeing and hearing things, John glanced over towards the sound of the voice to see her lounging in their chair; her legs hanging over the arm, swinging in time to a melody only she could hear.
“How are we supposed to enjoy this beautiful day, if you take forever in the shower, John?” She asked, gesturing out the window.
John watched as the figment of his imagination gracefully swung her legs from the arm of the chair and stood, raising her arms high above her head and stretched her lithe body before gliding over to him.
In a cat-like move, Helena slid her body up against his, merging and snuggling against him and wrapping her arms around his neck so that she was clinging to him. Unable to stop, John found himself sliding his hands up over her back and through her silken hair until he was cupping her face.
“I miss you so much.” He whispered, a sad, resigned, half-smile on his face as he caressed her cheeks with his thumbs before leaning in to place feather-like kisses to her closed eyes. He shook his head as his lips moved to her forehead. “Oh God, I wish you were real.”
“Don’t sound so dramatic, Darling.” Helena said in a teasing voice. And with sparkling eyes and unrestrained amusement evident in her voice, she continued. “I’ve come bearing some…” she smiled. “Not-so-sad news. Although, it still may come as a shock.”
John regarded the illusion he held in his arms with curiosity, knowing she wasn’t really in his arms and knew that he should move, get dressed and get on with his day, but he found he couldn’t move. She felt too warm, too inviting, and just too real.
“You’ve always relied on my professional assessment before.” Helena continued, her hands sliding up his neck into his hair. “And I hope you’ll take my word on this now… because…” her hands slid from his hair to cup his face and continued with an impish glint of humour that had always made John grin in delight. “You’re dead, John.”
John sighed, shook his head, and moved out of her arms, walking over to stand in front of the window in time to see Callie walking up to the house.
“I’m not kidding, John.” Helena said, coming up behind him, wrapping her arms around him from behind, and laying her head against his back.
“I wish you weren’t.” He said softly. “Lord knows I’m tired of living without you...”
“Look at the bed, John.” Helena interrupted, speaking into his back.
John turned his head and his eyes grew wide.
Across the room, amazed that he hadn’t noticed before, John saw himself lying in the bed, a soft smile on his aged face.
He turned in Helena’s arms and looked down at her. “I’m really…” a slow smile began to form on his lips as she smiled up at him and nodded. He opened his mouth to continue just as his bedroom door opened and Callie stepped cautiously into the room.
“Grampa?” She called out quietly. “Grampa, are you awake?”
John and Helena glanced at each other as Callie moved deeper into the room, oblivious to the couple standing next to the window.
“It just had to be Callie who finds me, huh?” He asked sadly, watching, as Callie got closer to the bed.
Helena gave him a gentle squeeze. “She’s more prepared than you think.”
Callie sat on the edge of the bed beside her grandfather and placed her hand on his shoulder, shaking him gently. “Gramp?”
John and Helena watched as Callie suddenly pulled in a deep breath and moved her hand from his shoulder to his neck, laying her fingers just under his ear against his cool skin. She closed her eyes as her hand slid away to lie on his chest, on top of the picture still clutched in his hands.
When Callie opened her eyes again, they were filled with tears.
“Good bye, Grampa.” Callie whispered, reaching up to caress his cheek before standing and drawing the sheet up over his face. She pulled her commlock from her belt and placed a call to MedCentre as she slowly moved to leave the room. She stopped at the door and turned towards the window, where the moon could still be seen in the mid-morning sky. A small smile suddenly formed on her lips. “Say hi to Gramma for me.”
“I will, Pumpkin.” John replied as Callie left the room and looked down at his wife. He smiled. “Your granddaughter says hi and so do I.”
Helena smiled and tightened her arms around him.
** ** **
John tightened his arms about Helena’s waist and drew her back against his chest as he leaned up against the tree.
“That was a lovely ceremony.” She said softly, covering his hands with hers.
“Yeah, it wasn’t half bad.” John agreed as they watched their friends and family leave the lake.
After several moments of silence, John trailed his hands up
“So this is it then…” he said softly. “You’ve come back to me. We’re together again.”
“Yes, my love. This
is it.”
John smiled and pulled her into a fierce embrace, enveloping her in his strong arms as he lowered his lips to hers in a tender kiss. He pulled back a little, drowning in the ocean of love he saw in her sparkling emerald eyes as she stared up at him with that full and loving smile he so cherished.
He suddenly grinned, a huge, boyish smile that lit up his face and with a joyous laugh, he lifted her high off the ground, hugging her tightly and twirled them around, causing her to laugh with delight.
“I love you, John. I
have always loved you.”
“I love you too,
Their lips met again in a passionate kiss.
This did not feel like death at all, John thought as he felt her arms snake around his neck; their already impassioned kiss growing deeper.
He felt alive.
So very much alive.
~fin