As promised, here's the next edition. There's a couple of surprises that I hope will not be offensive or off-putting to the few readers that I still have following this saga. I'm feeling as if I'm writing this for myself, now, but that's okay. It keeps me and my beta busy for a few hours a week.
Thanks to girlwithoutfear for her corrections and Mandy58 for her suggestions for plot points.
The usual disclaimer: I don't own.
Annie slid off the examination table and began to redress while she waited for the Company doctor to return. After she'd discarded the light blue paper gown, and put her bra and panties back on, Annie pulled her slacks back on and maneuvered her blue silk T-shirt over her head. A few minutes after she'd ripped the bandage holding the gauze pad off the crook of her left arm, the doctor returned.
"Well, Ms. Walker, it appears as if you've passed another physical. It will be a few days before we get all the lab results back, but we do have the results of your pregnancy test. Since you've expressed some concern, I had the lab run it now."
"And what's the verdict?" Annie closed her eyes and steeled her nerves for the answer.
"I don't know if this is the results that you want, but you are not pregnant," the lady doctor replied evenly.
"You're sure?" Annie questioned.
"The test is very reliable and there are no signs of pregnancy."
"Thank you." Annie sighed with relief. "Any indication as to why I didn't have a period?"
"None," the doctor stated. "It sometimes happens. I'm not worried and neither should you."
"Okay. I'm good to stay on the birth control I've been using?"
"Yes. Unless you are looking to become pregnant then don't take them. It sometimes takes a couple of months before you get pregnant, although some women do become pregnant right away."
"Doc, I'm not looking to become pregnant. I'll keep taking my pills."
An hour later she was back in the DPD heading towards Tech Ops. One look and she could tell that Auggie was in the middle of handling an officer in the field. Now was not the time to interrupt him, even with the news that she had to give. She went to her desk and began to translate the document in the folder that was waiting for her there. She hoped that Auggie would be as relieved as she was once she was able to tell him the news.
It was after five when Annie finally finished translating the last page. She glanced over to find Auggie hunched over his keyboard. He keyed furiously for a few moments then paused to read his refreshable Braille display. Stu and Eric appeared to have left for the day. Annie straightened the document scattered across her desk and placed it back in its blue folder. She put the file in a desk drawer and locked it before rising and walking slowly toward Tech Ops.
As soon as she stepped inside the room Auggie raised his head and looked toward the doorway. "Annie?'
"Yeah. It's me." Annie replied softly.
"Where've you been hiding all day?" His tone was almost accusatory.
"When I got back from the doctor's office you were very busy so I went to my desk and began to work. I got so involved in translating a document that the time just slipped away from me," Annie replied defensively.
"Time out," Auggie said putting his hands together like a 'T' the quarterback would make to signal to the referee. "Long day. Let's start over. I've missed you. How's your day been?"
"Busy. And yours?"
"The same. How did the visit with the Company doctor go?"
"I'm still fit for duty," Annie announced proudly.
"That means you're not – "
"Yeah. I'm not pregnant," Annie proclaimed quietly.
"How do you feel about that?" Auggie asked with concern.
"Relieved," Annie said softly. "I'm relieved that I'm not with child. Does that make me a bad person?"
"If it does, I'm a bad person, too," Auggie replied with a weak grin. "Would it make us even worse people if we went somewhere nice to celebrate the fact that we're not going to be premature parents?"
"What did you have in mind, Mr. Anderson?"
"Any place you want to go future Mrs. Anderson."
An hour later Auggie and Annie were waiting for a table at the TGI Fridays in Tyson's Corner Center, in McLean, Virginia. It wasn't necessarily the fanciest place that they could have gone, but it was where Annie wanted to go, so that's where they went. It was a couple of steps up from their usual diner near Auggie's apartment.
As they sat in the foyer of the busy restaurant, Auggie began to nuzzle Annie's neck. His soft kisses followed up her neck and to her mouth.
"Auggie, people are beginning to stare," Annie whispered with concern. As much as she enjoyed his attention, Annie was uncomfortable with this public display of affection.
"Let them," he replied quietly between kisses.
"Auggie there is a time and a place for your Anderson libido to run amok. This is neither. Please stop." Annie whispered firmly.
Auggie huffed. "And what if I choose not to?"
"Then you would find yourself sitting here all alone and I'd be on my way home." There was a no nonsense tone to her firm whisper as she gently pushed Auggie's head away.
"You wouldn't …" Concern quickly registered on his features and he sat up straight. He clutched for Annie's hand.
"Whether or not I would is for me to know and you to never find out." There was an amused grin on Annie's features. It was hard for her to conceive of anything that would make her want to leave Auggie stranded. He trusted her with his well-being; and it was a responsibility that she did not take lightly.
Just then the pager in Auggie's hand began to blink and vibrate. He raised it above his head as he rose so that he could follow Annie to their table. To his side Annie rose also and brushed against him so that he could take her arm. Annie followed the host through the crowded restaurant to a quiet booth. She slid onto the seat of the high backed booth and was surprised when Auggie slid in beside her instead of across from her as he usually did. The host dropped two menus on the table and removed the extra place settings and plates.
Auggie investigated the table in front of him. As his fingers brushed against one of the menus, a quizzical looked came to him and he scooted the pages closer to him; he brushed his fingertips over it and a pleased look came over him.
"Did you silently ask for a Braille menu for me?" he asked Annie.
"No, I did not. But the host seemed to be very perceptive and has been here before when we've asked for one," Annie replied. "May I ask why you're sitting beside me instead of across from me as you usually do?"
"I just … I just wanted to be close to you this evening." He reached for her hand. "I want you to know that I'm here for you. I heard the disappointment when you announced to me that you're not pregnant. I know that pregnancy, planned or not, can be emotionally charged for a woman."
"I'm not at all disappointed, Auggie. Are you sure you weren't projecting your own disappointment? I know how macho a man can get when he knows that he's made a baby."
"Andersons are not that way. Yes, we are proud of the children that we father, but we do not take that ability for granted. Nor do we take our woman's ability to conceive or carry a child to term for granted either. Every one of my sisters-in-law has either had trouble conceiving or has lost a wanted pregnancy."
There server stopped by and took drink orders – a draft beer for both of them.
Auggie turned his attention to the menu; as did Annie. When the server came back with their drinks both were ready to order their meals – a medium rare Jack Daniels Flatiron steak with the garlic mashed potatoes and broccoli for Auggie and the Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad for Annie.
Once the server had left the table Auggie continued his earlier train of thought. "When the ladies lost their pregnancy, everyone was affected. Yes, I even hurt for the lady in question. Before they had Summer; Austin called to tell me that Jenna lost the baby. He felt the loss, believe me, he felt the loss, but he hurt even more for Jenna. She really took it hard and they were beginning to wonder if they'd ever be parents. I know neither of us wanted a pregnancy right now, but I also don't want you to think that I'm insensitive to any pain you might be feeling."
Annie leaned over and gave Auggie a quick peck on the cheek. "Thank you, Auggie. Insensitive is the last thing that you are. I'm fine. Really. Although I'm not overjoyed at the moment, neither am I deeply saddened. I'm so not ready to be a mother. We've had a slight scare, but we'll both be okay."
Auggie leaned over and whispered in Annie's ear, "I'll go back to using protection if you want me to. I don't have a problem with that."
Annie smiled slightly at Auggie's earnestness. "I'll leave that decision up to you. But I don't consider it a necessity," she whispered back. She smiled even more at the sigh of relief that escaped Auggie.
Auggie finally turned to a different topic of conversation by asking, "Have you given any thought to when and where you want to become Mrs. Anderson?"
"I have given thought to where. When would depend on the availability of the where. I want for us to be married in Glencoe."
"Why Glencoe?" Auggie was genuinely surprised.
"You have more family than I do, and the logistics of getting them all to somewhere else is just too mind-boggling to consider. And I don't think your family would want to miss you finally getting married."
"You're right about that, but don't let my family be the deciding factor. Wherever you want and they'll just have to deal if they want to see me get married. Any of the chapels at Georgetown would be nice. I think that the Basilica of the National Shrine would be a bit ostentatious."
"You're Catholic?" Annie said in surprise.
"Yeah. Contrary to the Scandinavian roots of my surname, I was raised Catholic – kindergarten through eighth grade in the parish school. Like many of our generation I'm no longer actively practicing my religion. I think that Mom would appreciate me getting married by a priest, but I'm not going to insist. I just want to be married to you; for all I care it can be by a judge or a justice of the peace."
"Auggie, I'm also a non-practicing Catholic," Annie said slowly. Now it was Auggie's turn to be surprised.
"Get outta here." He paused for a moment then continued, "I guess one thing is settled – there's got to be a priest involved in there somewhere." He was almost laughing now.
"Yeah, but I was willing to go Protestant for you." Annie looked at Auggie and his face looked as if it would split wide open with the effort of stifling a belly laugh.
Finally he shook his head, and took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled through his nose. "And I for you, my dear. At least if I get married by a priest I don't have to run the risk of Mom disowning me," Auggie added.
"They'd do that? I thought it would only be my family that would be upset if I didn't marry in the Church."
"No, I don't think that they'd go that far, but I know Mom wouldn't be happy if my marriage wasn't consecrated. She takes her faith quite seriously, even if her children don't follow suit."
"So, your parish church sometime in the spring," Annie declared. "Do you think your Mom would mind doing some leg work for us and securing the church as soon as possible?"
"I'm sure she would be overjoyed to help with that. And I know that Jenna would love to help us find a caterer, if we don't have the reception at the country club."
"Auggie," Annie began nervously, "I can't afford a huge wedding like your brothers probably had. Just close family and maybe a few very close friends."
"I understand, Annie. I was getting a bit ahead of myself there. But, Annie, if you want a fairy tale princess wedding, that's what we're going to have. We can afford that. Trust me. And after we're married we can probably move into a condo in Georgetown, too. You were going to find out soon anyway, so I might as well tell you now, I have a trust fund that will allow me to buy the condo for cash and not wipe me out."
"Then why in the hell are you doing what you're doing and living where you're living?" Annie was absolutely incredulous.
"Because, up until now, I didn't want the money; it could sit there and rot for all I cared." Auggie closed his eyes and calmed himself. "When I went to Iraq the last time, Dad took out an insurance policy on me. If I came home in a box it would have paid a couple of grand, enough to bury me. If I came home injured to the point that I might not be able to make a living for myself, it would pay out big time – coming home blind was one of the payouts. The fact that I had skills that people still wanted and an employer who wanted me back didn't prevent the payout. I told Dad to put it somewhere in case I ever needed it and he invested it well for me. I certainly don't NEED it now, but if you want a big wedding and a condo in Georgetown, it would be my pleasure to tap into it for us. But," he continued in a super serious tone, "don't think that we're going to live like my parents, or brothers. If I'd wanted that life I wouldn't have joined the military or gone to work were we do. I'm a simple man with simple needs."
"Auggie, I totally understand." Annie grasped his hand in hers. "I'm a simple woman with simple needs myself. As long as I have some sort of roof over my head, and you, I have all I need."
Well? What did you think? Not too offensive I hope. The muse would enjoy a comment or two.
(Religious references will be held to a minimum until closer to the end and the actual ceremony. And even then I'm not sure how detailed those references will be.)