I own no rights to the Ghost and Mrs. Muir
Chapter 1
After the escapades with ice cream earlier in the evening, Daniel and Carolyn were cuddled together in bed.
The next morning she pleasantly awoke to having her husband's arm draped around her waist. But there was also something else. She listened.
'Is..is Daniel snoring?' She wondered and continued to listen. A small snoring noise was emitting from a sleeping Daniel next to her.
'I thought that ghosts didn't sleep, did they?' She laid her arm on his and moved her fingers through the soft curls on his forearm. He stirred and drew her closer to himself. It felt nice to Carolyn and she wondered if it would be best to let him alone for a few minutes. While still asleep, Daniel nuzzled her neck. The sensation gave her tingles and she released a sigh.
'This isn't fair. He's asleep!' Carolyn drew a deep breath and attempted to roll over and face him. He wouldn't release his lover's hold on her midsection.
"Daniel. Daniel. Wake up." She stroked his arm. "Wake up, Daniel." Her voice was melodic. Under his breath, he murmured unintelligible words and continued to sleep.
Time was now getting away from Carolyn and she really needed to get up. Last resort. She knew where he was ticklish and proceeded to exercise that knowledge. He began to laugh and woke up with a start, pulling his arm back.
"Woman! What do you…" Daniel sat up, looked around, and seemed confused. Uncertainty registered on his expression.
"Good morning, sleepyhead." She peered up at him with a smug smile.
"You know that I don't sleep." He yawned and stretched surprising himself. "What the…" He yawned, again.
"I know that you don't sleep, but maybe last night you actually needed it." Carolyn suggested.
"I don't understand. I have never slept in my afterlife. I do not recall going out on watch, either, last night." He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stretched his long arms.
"We should talk about that, Daniel, but not at the moment. We need to get up. I need to take a shower. I'm sticky from ice cream." She grinned at him and blew a kiss in his direction.
"Ah, yes. The ice cream." Now he was smiling in recollection of the previous night's fun."An evening like that is worth repeating." Daniel stroked his beard, which was also sticky.
"Maybe later tonight, dear." Carolyn had pulled a robe on and was headed to the bathroom.
Daniel willed himself to be clean and clothed. It was done. He walked downstairs to get a cup of English tea for his wife. He had thought about 'popping' into the kitchen, but didn't want to startle Martha,…again.
After her shower, Carolyn went back into the master cabin to get dressed for the day. She glanced over to the messy, unmade bed, and decided to go ahead and wash the sheets herself. This would avoid having to tell Martha how so much of the sticky product ended up on the bed cloths.
Carolyn smirked as she stripped the bed, remembering the previous evening and how a pregnancy craving turned into something so much more…sensual.
Captain Gregg returned with her tea. She was deep in recollection and didn't hear him enter the room. He could sense her strong emotions and it invoked a desire for her within him. Putting the tea down, he approached her and slipped his arms around the waist of his wife. He discovered that she wasn't wearing much under the robe. Carolyn jumped, but then settled in.
"Do we really need to wait until later for those activities?" He was kissing the back of her neck, which did not make the idea of 'waiting' any easier.
"I should get these into the washer," Carolyn stated while she turned around to face him.
"Very well, my love." He released her reluctantly and watched as she dressed.
"Not fair, Daniel Gregg! All that you have to do is will for your clothes to be on!" She was finishing up and grabbed the bed sheets.
He smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
Bringing the tea, he followed her back downstairs and into the kitchen area. The children were already in school, so Martha was there by herself seeing to her morning agenda. After starting the bed clothes in the washer, Carolyn eagerly embraced her tea. The English tea was becoming her favorite since she had discontinued the coffee for her pregnancy.
The doorbell to the cottage rang.
"I'll get it." Martha hurried her way to the front door.
When she returned to the kitchen, her eyebrows were raised.
"We have company, for the both of you. They're in the parlor. I'll make more tea and some coffee."
Carolyn and Daniel gave each other a puzzled look. They were not expecting anyone.
Upon entering the parlor, Daniel suddenly stopped and Carolyn brought a hand up to her mouth. Elroy Applegate stood there with a grin and a salute.
"Seaman Applegate! What the devil are you doing in my home!?" Captain Gregg was terse.
"Oh, dear! He doesn't know, does he?" Elroy became jittery.
"Daniel, stop! There are some things that you don't understand. I haven't had a chance to fill you in." Carolyn was trying to prevent her husband from becoming irate.
Lilly peeked around the corner from the alcove.
Captain Gregg's face softened.
"The girl from the hospital? No, I don't understand any of this." He turned to his wife. Carolyn had hands on her hips, mimicking her husband's common stance.
"Okay. Long story short, Daniel," Carolyn started. "I needed another ghost to try and find you. With Claymore's help, we located Elroy. By that time, the Tanakas entered into the picture and we found out where you were. They suggested the Samurai army portion and Elroy located Lilly, the girl from the hospital. Together they went to Japan and spoke to the Samurai about coming here to free you. As you know, they did and here we are. Oh! I don't want to forget about Mr. Peavy. He really went out of his way to watch over us in your absence, Daniel."
If that was the short version, Captain Gregg wasn't at all sure that he wanted to hear the long one. His mind was trying to wrap itself around the whole thing.
Carolyn placed her hand on Daniel's arm. "Your rescue was a team effort of the Tanakas, Claymore, Lilly, Elroy, and, of course, the Samurai ghost army. We all worked together to free you."
She might as well just served him the whole humble pie on one big plate.
It was one of those rare times that Daniel Gregg was at a loss for words. He sat down in a chair, trying to take it all in.
Lilly approached him.
"Elroy and I went together. He was brave and didn't tremble much at all!" The ghost girl was proud of her jittery friend.
Daniel snickered a little at the thought of Applegate standing before the mighty Samurai ghost army. 'If he didn't run away, that would have been a brave thing to do, indeed,' he thought.
He looked over at Applegate, who was still at 'attention' posture.
"At ease, Seaman Applegate." His voice held a normal tone.
Elroy relaxed as much as was possible standing before his Captain.
"My apologies, Miss Lilly, is it? The last time we met, I had not properly asked for your name." The Captain was embarrassed to realize he had forgone his manners at the time.
"That's okay, Captain Gregg. I didn't know your name, either."
He smiled and stood up. Giving her a proper bow he spoke.
"I thank you for all of the help that you have given my family and myself."
She curtsied in return. "You and your family are most welcome, Captain Gregg."
He then turned to Elroy and approached him. The Captain had to clear his throat and tug on his ear.
"I also feel the need to offer you my thanks, Seaman Applegate, as difficult as this may be." He offered Elroy his hand to shake. Elroy shook it with great satisfaction.
"I-I even remembered something that you told us, Captain." Elroy smiled.
"What might that be, Seaman?" Daniel was not through eating humble pie.
"I remembered what you told us about standing between danger and a lady being present."
"And did you do it, Seaman?" Captain Gregg asked.
"He sure did!" Lilly jumped in. "He was standing between me and the whole Samurai army!"
Daniel was genuinely impressed. "Very good, Seaman Applegate. You did the right thing."
Carolyn decided to rescue her husband before he choked on any more humble pie.
"Why don't we go into the kitchen and see if Martha has tea ready? Maybe she has a few cookies, too."
"Oh! I almost forgot a message for you, Captain." Elroy had spoken with the Tanakas.
"Well. Spit it out, man!"
"Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka told me to ask you to call them. It was important."
"Very well. Now go!" Captain Gregg would need to see if Carolyn had a way to contact them.
Elroy joined the others in the kitchen.
After tea, cookies and pleasantries were exchanged, the odd pair of ghosts decided to be on their way. Lilly had talked Elroy into coming to Bellevue and try to help out in the children's ward with the handicapped young ones. Some of them could see spirits and Elroy might be amusing, if nothing else. Their lives would be less lonely.
—-
Captain Gregg had been keeping an eye on his wife and didn't participate in the kitchen conversation earlier.
"My dear, you have not eaten much at all, yet. Please eat something substantial. I am concerned for you and the child."
Martha joined in. "I have to agree with the Captain, Mrs. Muir. I am going to make you a sandwich and some soup."
"Very good, Martha! I highly agree." Daniel would feed Carolyn by hand if he needed to.
"Sandwich and soup? Both?" Carolyn was never used to eating very much.
"Yes!" Captain Gregg and Martha said in unison.
Carolyn conceded defeat.
"One more thing. I need the Tanakas' phone number. They want me to call them."
"It's on the list of numbers by the phone in the foyer, Daniel. By the way. I did see an Obstetrician while you were…away. He said that everything seemed fine and I'm taking prenatal vitamins. I have another appointment coming up, soon."
"That is good news, indeed." Daniel needed something else to feed on besides multiple servings of humble pie.
Martha placed a bowl of soup and a sandwich in front of Mrs. Muir at the table. It was accompanied by a look that said 'eat!' Carolyn knew better than to argue with the housekeeper over this. Between Daniel and Martha, there would be no light meals in her foreseeable future.
—
Captain Gregg went to the phone and called the Tanaka home. Only Mrs. Tanaka was home at the time.
"Captain Gregg-San. We spoke with General Milner from yesterday. Do you remember him?"
"Yes. He wanted to talk with me about what had happened." Captain Gregg started a mental 'to do' list.
"My husband and I spoke with General Milner last night in a debriefing. You will need to do the same. But there is more."
"More? What do you mean?" The Captain inquired. His voice exhibited apprehension.
"I think that the General should explain. It is something that you and your wife should know." Mrs. Tanaka couldn't hide the concern that she was feeling.
Now the Captain was starting to worry. "When can we meet with him?"
"The sooner, the better, Captain-San. Today or tomorrow? May we come to your home?"
"Yes. Let's try for today. Come when it is convenient."
"I will call my husband and he will make arrangements with the General."
"Good."
Carolyn had just come into the room when her husband was ending the call.
"Daniel? What's wrong? You're worried about something. What is it?"
Carolyn's face now shown with her own concern.
"I don't know, yet, love. General Milner and the Tanakas would like to speak with us. I was told that it is important. Something that we needed to know. Thunder rolled above Gull Cottage.
—-