A/N Thanks for reviewing…you'll have to wait and see but here's a hint…all my stories are usually pretty happily ever after ;)

Also, I have no idea what Denise's maiden name is, so for this story I made one up, and since they haven't mentioned her father other than he was in the army, I made a name and rank for him as well. I have made stuff up about her past…simply cause I don't know anything but what's been said on the show.

Also there's some cussing in this chapter…nothing major though

Denise and Roxy spent the next few days checking on Pamela and shopping for baby supplies, Roxy liked getting out…that way she did not feel so lonely, she felt lonelier now than she did when she was single. There was no news about Pamela's husband; she spent most of her time alone or with the kids. She had taken pictures of her and Chase and put them up all over her room. Betty had finally woken up, Roxy went and visited with her every day.

"How are you today Betty?" She asked sitting down next to her, she just had dropped her and Pamela's kids off at school for the day.

Betty tried to smile but it was painful, "Been better, feel like I was run over by a damn Mack truck. What's my place look like?"

"I won't lie to you, it looks pretty bad." Roxy poured some water into a cup for her to drink. "But I will help you fix it up if you like."

"I can't afford to fix it, damn…I should've died with it!" She said vehemently, turning away from Roxy, "I'll just have to pack up and leave I reckon."

"Now I'm not going to let you talk that way! We will find a way to fix this! Roxy told her smartly, "First we need to raise the money…I have some money that I can let you have and we can ask more people…you of course have the money from Claudia Joy, but that is for your surgery…which when you're well enough you're going to have."

Betty started to argue with her, but Roxy gave her a look that made her laugh, "Alright, but I'm telling you you aint gonna find no body that cares enough about me or that place to donate any of their time and money to fixing it up."

"You just leave that to me, now go and get some rest." Roxy told her with a smile, before hurrying out the door to find Denise. "Hey Denise, Betty's awake."

"That's great." Denise had already told the people she worked with about the pregnancy and that she wanted to continue working as long as possible.

Roxy nodded, "I told her that we would help her fix up the bar…but honestly I don't have any clue as to how I'm going to do that."

"Well I've got the money that I make…Frank makes more than enough to take care of us, so I can give you that." Denise did not have to work, but she enjoyed it, she hoped after the baby came she would still be able to work at least a little bit. "We'll talk to more people…maybe have fundraisers…those usually bring in some money."

"That sounds great…we would have to talk Claudia Joy about the fundraiser…she is really not doing very well since Amanda's death." Roxy said sadly, they all missed their friend.

Denise shook her head, "She is really taking this hard…I cannot imagine what it must feel like to lose your child." When Jeremy had hit and hurt her, she felt like she had lost him, but she had gotten him back, Claudia Joy would never get her daughter back.

Dinner at the Holden household was quiet, "So did yall hear about Mrs. Sherwood?"

"No, what about Denise?" Usually he knew what was going on through Claudia Joy, but she had not seen her friends since Amanda's funeral.

"She's pregnant…I saw her at the PX today with Mrs. LeBlanc." Emmalynn said eating her green beans.

Michael was surprised, "Wow, I wonder how Frank is taking the news, I did not think they could have anymore children, do you know if she's talked to him?"

"Yes she has, she said that she and the Major are very excited…nervous but excited." Emmalynn glanced at her mom, Claudia Joy and Denise were best friends.

Claudia Joy was stunned, she could not believe that Denise had not told her, than she remembered last week Denise had asked her to come over because she had had some news to share. "Well lucky for them." She said bitterly, she dropped the fork onto her plate and went outside.

"Dad…I'm sorry, I really did not mean to upset mom." Emmalynn said sadly.

Michael stood up and kissed his daughter's cheek, "It was not you sweetie, eat up and I will go and talk to your mom." It was time he got to the bottom of this, he missed his daughter too, but they still each other and Emmalynn.

"Claudia…we really need to talk, this has been put off too many times." She turned away from him and crossed her arms, "I miss her too, but she is gone, Amanda is gone and no amount of crying for her or shutting yourself away is going to bring her back to us."

"You don't understand how guilty I feel! It is my fault! I should have just taken her straight to the station, but no I took her to the bar because I wanted to give Betty a check! I could have given it to her later, but no I had to do it right then!" She had whirled around to face him, "Damn it, she was my daughter!"

Michael was trying to keep his temper and emotions in check, "She was my daughter too! Do you think I don't miss her everyday? I feel guilty too damn it, if I had just made her stay that night and driven her in the morning, or gone with yall maybe I could have saved her…but I couldn't Claudia Joy! Our daughter is dead and there's not a damn thing I can do about it!"

"Oh Michael…I am so sorry." Tears filled her eyes as she hugged her husband, her mind felt clearer, like she had been living in a fog for a long time.

They cried as they held each other, "We are going to get through this sweetheart."

"I know…tell Emmalynn I'll see her when I get home…I want to go and see Denise." Michael nodded.

She pulled up in front of the Sherwood home and sighed, and got out. She hoped that Denise was home, she was not sure that she would have the courage to come here again if she wasn't.

"Claudia Joy…well this is a surprise…come in. How are you?" Denise had been surprised to see her friend pull up.

"I know that I have been out of touch the last couple weeks, I heard about the baby." Claudia Joy sat down across from her friend.

Denise smiled, "I am so sorry that I did not tell you."

"No it's my fault, losing Amanda…it was like losing a part of myself." Claudia Joy took a deep breath, "I realized tonight that I could not just stop living, my family needs me and I need them and my friends."

"We need you, and we are going to be here for you, no matter what." Denise told her smiling, "Besides here I am having a baby, I still cannot believe it. I told Frank…oh Claudia Joy…you should have seen his face on that web cam…he was so happy."

Claudia Joy smiled, "I am so glad…you let me know if you need anything. How is Pamela? I heard about her husband on the news, that he has been taken as a prisoner of war."

"She is holding up for her kids…but she is taking it rough, Roxy has been to see her a great deal." Denise told her, "Betty woke up…Roxy is having us organize a fundraiser to help her rebuild the bar, which we are going to need your help with if you feel up to it."

They were still talking when the phone rang, "Just a second, that might be Jeremy." Denise hurried and grabbed the phone, "Sherwood Residence."

"Hey mom, sorry it's taken so long to call you back, I've been busy." Jeremy was bone tired, "So how are you?"

"I'm good, that's what I wanted to talk to you about." Denise told him happily, "I know that this is going to come as a shock, but I am going to have a baby."

Jeremy didn't know what to say, "Wow…mom, I don't know what to say, how does Dad feel about it?"

"He was pretty surprised too, but he's excited, we both are…I hope that you will be too." Denise wandered, if he was unhappy about it.

"Mom I am happy…it just comes as such a shock, I mean you guys…are well…old." Jeremy said with a laugh.

Denise laughed, "Well apparently we're not that old."

"Seriously mom, I think it is great…it'll just take some getting used to."

"Thanks Jeremy, how are you?" Denise listened as he told her about things at the base, she was glad that though he still loved and missed Amanda, he was not letting her death take over his life.

After Claudia Joy left and her phone call with Jeremy Denise felt wonderful, until the phone rang again, "Sherwood's residence" she said tiredly, she was tired, it had been a long day and she just wanted to take a bubble bath, and go to bed as she had to get up early in the morning for work.

"Is that how you answer the phone?" Oh no, she thought…it was her father, General Andrew Prescott made her husband look like a soft cuddly teddy bear.

"Father…it is nice to hear from you, how are things in Washington?" Her father was living in Washington now, after retiring from the Army he had gotten a job with the Pentagon, now he was retired from that but still kept himself abreast of all things related to the Army.

Andrew grunted, "I am moving to Arizona…I will be coming your way in a few days and will be staying with you, I trust that will not be a problem."

Denise gave a mental sigh, so much for rest and relaxation, "Of course not sir, Frank is in Iraq right now so it will just be us, Jeremy is at Fort Dix."

"Good for them, well let the Post know I will be no later than Friday afternoon, I expect you to meet me at the gate."

"Father, I would meet you of course if I could…but I have to work all day Friday." She winced thankful he could not see her, he had let her work when she was still living with him, but once she had met and married Frank he was relieved she was following the woman's role, and taking care of her husband.

"Where are you working? You should be home taking care of your husband!" His voice boomed and Denise felt a headache coming on, she knew it would be useless to point out that her husband was in Iraq, "Does Frank know his wife is working?"

Denise flopped down in front of the computer, she was hoping Frank would show up on the web cam and rescue her, Frank could handle her father.

"Yes father he knows, he said that he was proud of me." She said with a wistful smile.

Her father merely grunted, "Well I expect you to meet me Denise."

"I'll do what I can father." When they hung up she felt more tired than ever, she knew that people thought her husband was a stern man…but they had not met her father. She rubbed her still flat stomach, "Oh baby…how are we going to tell your grandfather?"

She wondered why her father was moving to Arizona, she and her father had never been close. When the phone rang again she was in tears, "Hello." She said mournfully.

"Sweetheart what's wrong? Is the baby alright? Are you alright? Jeremy?" Frank wanted to come through the phone and hold her.

Denise wiped at tears, "Oh Frank…I'm sorry to worry you…we're fine, Jeremy's fine."

"Baby you scared 10 years off my life answering the phone like that…you were crying honey." Frank could picture her wiping at tears, trying to keep a brave face with him.

"I'm sorry…the General just called…he is coming here for a visit…apparently he is moving to Arizona." Denise told him sadly.

Frank mentally swore, he had always admired General Prescott, but the man had as much sensitivity as a rattlesnake. It had been months since he had even bothered to call his daughter, and now he was apparently moving to Arizona and he was going to visit. He was oblivious to how much his daughter worried about him.

"Oh baby, I wish I could be there to help you with him. It'll be alright, does he know you have gone back to work?" Frank knew the General would expect Denise to wait on him hand and foot.

Denise had calmed down more, "Yes…he was not happy about it, I told him I have to work Friday afternoon…but he still wants me to be there to meet him."

"Denise do not let that man run you ragged, you have the baby and your health to think about." He made a mental note to try and get a hold of Michael before the General arrived and see if he could try and keep an eye on things.

"I won't…but he is my father…I guess I can try and get Friday off and at least get off until Monday…I'm not sure how long he is staying." Denise told him, "I didn't tell him about the baby, but I did tell Jeremy…he was surprised but seems happy about it."

Frank smiled, "Wait with the General but not too long, I'm glad about Jeremy…I'm sorry baby but I need to go and it's late there, you're probably tired."

"I am, I love you Frank, I'm sorry you called when I was so upset." Denise hated worrying him, that was one of her biggest fears, him going into war distracted because he was worried about her. "I am used to dealing with the General…I'll be fine."

"I know you will baby…I love you." He hung up still thinking about her, knowing he still a little time he sent off an e-mail to Michael,

Mike,

The General's coming to town Friday…keep an eye on things for me please if you can. Thanks.

Frank

When Michael got to the office he felt better than he had since before the bombing, he had his wife back. He saw the message from Frank and groaned…The General, General Andrew Prescott, he was a hard hearted son of a bitch and one of the best General's the U.S Army had ever had. He would talk to Claudia Joy about inviting the General and Denise over for dinner or lunch, that way Denise would not get stuck with him the whole time he was here by herself.

Friday arrived much too soon, Denise had only gotten Friday and Saturday off, she had wanted to spend time with Pamela, but knew with her father in town it was not a good idea. The General would probably congratulate Pamela on having a husband who was either very brave or had a husband stupid enough to get himself captured.

She saw him and forced a smile, she did love him, growing up she had wanted to be daddy's little girl, but unfortunately she had been born a girl and that alone seemed to disappoint her father. Her mother adored her though, then she had died shortly after Denise's 18th birthday.

"Hello father, you are looking well." He was a tall man, sturdily built, his hair was white now and he was still very handsome.

"Thank you child, I see you found time to get off work." Denise nodded, "Well come along, I have had a long trip."

The ride to her house was quiet, Denise never knew what to talk to him about, usually he made his visits when Frank was home and being an Army man himself, he and the General just seemed to get along.

The guest room was small and would eventually be the baby's room, she had moved all the baby stuff out and put them in Jeremy's room for the time being.

"I know it is small, but I am sure you will be comfortable here." Denise said as the set his things down on the bed.

"It'll do, I will take a nap…when's dinner?" He said as he began to unpack his suitcase.

"1800 hours if that's alright with you." Denise wasn't sure what she would do with herself, it was only noon, it had been a long time since she had just stayed home. "Also I was only able to today and tomorrow off sir, I must go back to work at the hospital on Sunday."

Her father gave a grunt, that told her she was dismissed. She went into her own bedroom and laid down, she remembered waiting for his bus to arrive after his long deployments, and when he would come she always wanted to run into his arms, but he would just shake her hand.

After a quick 30 minute power nap Denise got up and decided to do some house work, she was dusting when the phone rang, "Hello Sherwood Residence."

"Denise, it's Claudia Joy, how are you? Michael told me that the General is here." Denise smiled, Frank had told Michael about the General coming.

"Yes, he is just taking a nap, I'm ok…it is like we are two strangers here, but it always feels like that with me and the General." Denise was feeling sad again and was determined not to cry. "Well what can I do for you Claudia Joy?"

Claudia Joy knew it was time to intervene, "Well Michael is coming by there tomorrow, he is going to ask you and the General to come to dinner and you are going to accept."

"Claudia Joy…I don't know, I don't want to burden you, you have been through so much." Denise told her.

"I know…I'm better now and I want to help my friend…now let me. I will see you tomorrow." With that she hung up the phone with a smile.

The situation in Iraq was as difficult as over, Frank was grateful that his wife would never know how bad it really was. In his tent he wondered how she was doing, he booted up the computer and saw an e-mail from Michael Holden.

Frank,

Will invite Denise and the General to dinner with the family, and on Sunday I will show the General around Post.

Mike

He smiled, he was glad the Holdens were good friends of theirs, General Michael Holden was a military man through and through he would get along famously with the General.

"Excuse me Major? Permission to enter." Trevor LeBlanc stood outside the tent, he was feeling nervous, the Major had sent for him, he hoped that he had not done anything wrong.

Frank looked up, "Permission granted, come in Private. At ease."

"You asked to see me sir." Trevor sat down when Major Sherwood gestured him to.

"Yes I did…I understand your wife was involved in that bombing at a bar a couple weeks ago, I wanted to make sure she is alright and you have your head clear. It doesn't bode well when we're worried about loved ones back home." Frank told him.

Trevor nodded, "Yes she was and she is fine…I admit I have been a little worried as this is Roxy's first deployment as well as mine."

"As a married man I understand, I set aside about 10 minutes to worry over my wife, then I push it from my mind. Try that, just 10 minutes when you are not doing anything else." Trevor nodded and told him that he would.

Pamela was not sure how she was going to keep up the brave face for her kids, tears filled her eyes. She wondered where her husband was, if he was being beaten, she wondered if he came home would he be the same man.

Joan and Roland has still not decided what to do about the baby, she wanted this baby, but she knew that she could not be a woman and see be the X.0.

Roxy picked up the four kids from school, Lucas and Katie were spending the night at her place so that Pamela could have some alone time. Her friend was not holding up well, she hoped that Chase would be rescued and that he would come home.

A/N 2: Thanks for the great reviews…I'm in college but I will try and update at least once or twice a day.