It was the January of 1864 and everyone in Pleasant Valley was excited that Harper had started showing a little and had become so cute because of his condition. Him and Buckman were sleeping when Rufus called out for them. They both woke up and went outside wrapping a blanket each around their bodies to protect themselves from the cold. Buckman wrapped Harper's own blanket around him and rubbed his belly softly.

"Wha' is it that you want, Rufus?" Buckman asked sleepily.

"You're still sleepin'? It's mornin'..."

"Is that what you woke us up for?" Harper complained sleepily.

"Nah... I got news... Gotta talk to both of you, especially you, daddy." Rufus said.

After a few minutes they were all dressed up and inside Harper's tent to listen to what Rufus had to say.

"So. What's that you wanna talk to us 'bout, son?" Buckman asked seriously. "I only hope it's not 'bout Lester and Jezebel, like the other time!"

"No, it's... It's actually 'bout the war..." Rufus said and both Buckman and Harper looked at each other.

"The war, son? These damn yankees won't come 'ere! We're a small village, they can't..."

Harper sushed him, still looking at Rufus worried. "Shh, Bucky. He's serious... Wha' d'you mean exactly?" He asked.

"They say they're gonna come 'ere and fight us until we're all as good as dead. We're among other states of the Confederacy and we must fight back. The question is, are we ready?"

"If they come, which I don't believe, we will face 'em!" Buckman said.

Rufus gave a grin of satisfaction, Buckman's eyes glowed from rage for the Northerns and Harper grabbed his belly protectively and stroked it. Buckman then got up.

"We're not let those yankees destroy us; any of us!" He said loudly.

Rufus got up. "We all gotta have a plan for 'em though. If they come, we have to kill them before they kill us..." He said and left.

Harper got up and walked up and down, anxiety rising in him. Buckman grabbed him by his shoulders and sat him down again.

"We'll be all right, Harper. Look at me, look at me."

Buckman raised his head to look at him and saw that Harper had started crying. He wiped his eyes but that caused Harper to cry even more.

"Oh no, baby, come 'ere..." Buckman said and took him into his arms.

"I can't... How are we going to face them and win if they come? I have a baby..." He said between sobs.

"Sh sh, hush, darling... No one's ever gonna come 'ere, you hear me? They'll go to the main land, they'll go elsewhere..."

"Please... I don't wanna fight them... I can't do it... Look at me!" Harper sobbed looking down at his belly and rubbing it. "How am I able to go and kill them with this inside me?"

"You won't have to go and kill nobody 'cause they ain't comin'!" Buckman said to calm him down and hugged him as Harper kept sobbing. "Don't cry my treasure or you'll hurt the baby..." Buckman whispered lovingly in the other's ear and Harper calmed down a bit when he heard this.

"You... you think the baby can feel the tension yet?" Harper asked.

Buckman nodded. "Yes, darling, it can... Calm down, these yankees bastards won't harm us... We're going to live and see the months passing, we will hold this little angel in our arms and see it growing up!" He said and Harper chuckled. "And maybe..." Buckman continued. "Maybe some day, who knows... maybe we will give it a little brother or sister!"

Harper's eyes widen and he giggled. "Are you serious?"

"Of course I am, my love! I love you and nobody, nobody's ever gonna take you two from me!"

A tear of joy rolled down Harper's cheek and he leaned forward kissing Buckman on his lips. Buckman kissed the other man back passionately. He pushed the younger man down on the bed and stroked his face and raven black hair. Harper then, pulled the mayor down and licked his neck and collar bone. He nibbled at his earlobes and his lips.

"Hey, you're wild today!" Buckman teased the other man.

"It's not my fault..." Harper said and looked down. "This baby makes me rather sexually frustrated lately." He giggled and hugged Buckman tightly. The other hugged him back and kissed him until they were both nibbling at each other hungrily.

"Oh..." Harper whimpered.

"It's the baby, isn't it?" Buckman asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yeah... It seems it doesn't want us to come closer until it's born!"

"Hey, babe, don't complain. We'll have all the time of the world when it pops out!" He smiled.

Harper smiled and hugged him. "Will we...?"