Monday, May 18th, 1970

Mike pulled up to the curb in front of the General's house. He had promised Jill he would help with a couple of things before Maggie got home the next day with Amanda, Paul and Tori. Maggie had decided to help Amanda with Tori for the last week since the General was away on business. Jill had promised Maggie that she and Mike would set up the crib that the borrowed in the guest room. As he got out of the car he noticed the dark sedan pull up behind him. He immediately recognized the Colonel's car and saw the chaplain with him.

Saluting he greeted the Colonel "Can I help you, Sir."

"Yes Major, do you know if Maggie is home? We need to speak with her."

"Mike, I'm so glad you're here." Jill spoke while leaving the house and approaching the group of men standing at the end of the walkway.

"Colonel O'Leary, how nice to see you." Jill smiled until she realized the chaplain was with them. "What happened? It's my father isn't it. Oh Mike, please tell me everything is okay." She turned to Mike pleading with him to make it alright.

"Lizzie, is Maggie home? I need to speak with her." The Colonel asked while looking at Mike as he wrapped his arm around Jill pulling her close.

"No Colonel, Maggie is visiting her daughter, Amanda, until tomorrow. Jill is here alone. Can we help you with anything?" Mike asked but knew that whatever the news the Colonel had to report should go to Maggie first.

"Maybe we should go inside and talk." Chaplain Lane decided as he approached Jill to lead her into the house.

"Mike?" Jill looked at Mike as tears started to flow from her sad eyes.

"It will be okay. Come on, let's go inside." Mike held onto Jill while he lead her into the house and then the parlor.

"Colonel, would you like me to get Maggie on the phone?" Mike asked after he put Jill on the couch.

"No, I think under the circumstances we should talk to you and Lizzie." Chaplain Lane decided as he sat next to Jill on the couch.

"Lizzie, I'm sorry to have to tell you this but the General's helicopter was shot down in Viet Nam. There were no survivors."

Jill collapsed into the couch with a wailing no. Mike quickly gathered her into his arms trying to comfort her as much as possible.

"Major, we really do need to call Maggie and let her know. Do you have a contact number?" Colonel Lonergan asked.

"Colonel, there should be an address book by the phone in the General's study. You should find the number under Amanda. I would look for you but I can't leave her now."

"Major, I understand. Did you want to come with me?" The Colonel turned to the Chaplain.

"Major, am I needed here." The chaplain asked Mike who shook his head no so they left for the General's study.

"Oh God, Baby, I'm so sorry." Mike hugged Jill as tight as he could rubbing her back. "It's going to be okay, everything will be okay. We'll get through this."

Jill pushed away from Mike's embrace and wailed at him. "It won't be okay. How do you know if I'll get through this? Mike, my father is dead, my mother is dead. You don't know what that is like. You still have both of your parents no matter how awful they are." Jill stood up and started to pace the room while tears streamed down her face. "I've waited my whole life for my father to walk me down the aisle and he...he DIES days before my wedding. I knew he shouldn't have gone it was too close to the wedding."

Jill suddenly stopped turned to Mike and collapsed in his arms. "What am I saying, why am I worrying about our wedding? Daddy is dead. He won't be coming back. What am I going to do?"

"Baby, we'll get through this I promise. It won't be easy but we'll get through it together."

"Major, we've spoken with Maggie. She asked that you call her as soon as you can. She and Amanda are arranging to come home today." The Colonel said as he and the chaplain left the study.

"Yes, Sir, I'll call in a few minutes. I need to make sure Jill's okay first."

The Colonel then approached Jill and laid a hand on her back. "Lizzie, I'm so sorry for your loss. The General was a good man and a great friend. He'll be missed. Mike, can you please keep me updated on Maggie's plans. I would like to stop by later today or tomorrow morning and speak with her."

"That goes for me too, Major." The chaplain added.

"Yes, I'll call your offices once I talk to Maggie. Jill, I'm going to see the Colonel to the door. I'll be right back." Mike let go of his tight hold and walked to the door. "Sir, do you have any idea when...well, when the body will be back." Mike asked finding it hard to refer to the General in those terms. He had grown very fond of the man and couldn't believe he was gone.

"He should be on a military plane heading this way by tomorrow. The services will be the end of this week."

"Thank you Colonel. I'll be in touch." Mike let them out and noticed a crowd on- lookers who all took notice of the black sedan.

Closing the door he went back to Jill who was pacing back and forth not knowing what to do.

"Babe, what can I do to help." Mike once again enveloped Jill in his arms.

"This, Mike, just this."

Friday evening, May 22nd, Mike's quarters

"Here," Mike handed Jill a glass of wine as he sat on the couch next to her draping an arm across her shoulders.

"Thank you, Mike." Jill looked at the glass in her hand and sighed.

"Hey, Jill, talk to me, no matter what you want to say, just talk to me. You'll feel better once you let it go."

"No, Mike, I don't think I'll feel better. I can't do this."

"Do what? Sit with me? Be in my quarters? I know your father didn't approve of you being alone here with me but I think under the circumstances, even he would understand."

"No, Mike, I don't think I can marry you." Jill stated her voice low and full of sorrow.

"Jill, we've postponed it. Father O'Leary agreed to perform the ceremony next Saturday in the chapel with just our immediate families there. I leave in two weeks. This will be the only chance we get before I leave. We wanted to be married before then." Mike looked at Jill, confusion written all over his face but she still refused to look at him. She couldn't bear to see Mike heartbroken.

"No, Mike, I mean I cannot marry you, not now, not ever." Jill put down her glass of wine and took off her treasured ring and turned to Mike then.

"Jill, this makes no sense. Of course you can marry me. If you feel we should wait, then we'll get married once I get back from Nam. Baby, I love you and you love me. You cannot deny that."

"No, Mike, I can't deny it. I love you. I have since the day I met you but I can't take another loss like my father's. I cannot wait for a black sedan to pull up in front of your quarters to tell me that I've lost you."

"So instead of believing that I'll come back to you, you'll let me go? Won't plan for our future?"

"How can I plan for a future that I don't believe will happen? You've made it through two tours already. What are the chances you'll make it through this one? I can't Mike I'm sorry. It's over." Jill got up from her seat and headed to the door.

Mike caught her before opened in and spun her around. "No, it's not Jill? We are not over." Grabbing her, he claimed her lips in a strong, hard, possessive kiss.

Jill let herself get lost in the kiss. She felt loved and safe but then pulled back. "Mike, I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry. I can't. Please just let me go. Find someone else who can accept your job choice, who can love you for everything you are. You are a good man Mike and you deserved someone who can love you more than I can. Please don't contact me. I need to do this." With these last words spoken Jill turned, opened the door and walked out of Mike's life.