Author's notes: I realize I'm not writing serious fiction here...this story has a certain amount of fluff in it, so hang with me. On a positive note, one of the spoiler sites has given me hope for Colby's future. Celebrate!!!! Thanks to my faithful reviewer! I appreciate you!

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After talking with Colby, Rachel found that she could not get back to sleep. It wasn't that the baby was restless instead it was her own thoughts that were swirling about. Getting out of bed she went over to the desk and pulled out some paper and began to write. She told herself that she was being overly pessimistic, but the threat of Arner Stone inserting himself back into her life was enough to make Rachel realize that she needed to have some plans for the future.

She was up for over two hours and when she was done she had several thick envelopes. Setting them on top of the dresser, she climbed back into bed. This time sleep claimed her although her dreams were intermixed with images of her captivity with Stone.

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Rachel was talking to him, but he couldn't hear what she was saying. She kept shaking her head and motioning him away from her. He looked down and realized that he was wearing his Army fatigues and had a gun in his hand. Rachel was pointing and when he turned to look at where she was pointing he noticed that several humvees were opening fire on the buildings. He watched as if paralyzed as the gunfire riddled the walls and made its way towards where she was standing. Suddenly finding his voice, he screamed at her to get out. It was with horror that he saw that the person manning the gun was the Prophet Stone. The bullets were making their way towards her when a shrill noise caused him to pause.

The noise persisted and when he realized it was his alarm, Colby awoke with a start. He had fallen asleep with the tv on, but during the night he had roused enough to switch it off. As he rolled over to slap at the clock he felt the sting of his injuries from last night. Sitting up he stretched out his neck and back, hearing a satisfying pop. He flipped the tv back on to catch some of the news.

After watching the main headlines, he got up and stepped into the bathroom to rinse off and shave. He appraised his appearance in the mirror. Other than a bruise on his face, most of his injuries would not be visible. Checking his watch he hurried to get dressed.

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Arner Stone had risen early and prayed. He fervently implored God to help lead him to the answers and to show him the way to go. Most would agree that God had nothing to do with the plan that Stone hatched. Fortunately his followers were so enamored by the dream of ascending at the right hand of the prophet and they were more than willing to agree to the plan.

Sending two men out to shadow the Willons house, Stone remained sequestered. He would wait for the men to contact him and let him know that Rachel had separated herself from her family. Once that happened, their orders were to apprehend her.

Once she was back in his possession, it would be easy for him to convince her to remain by his side. That had been his vision and his prayers would surely be answered; he was the Prophet.

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It was just a few minutes after eight when Colby pulled into the farmyard. Exiting the car, he walked up to the backdoor and knocked. Rachel greeted him and instead of asking him in, she slipped out of the door and yelled a hurried goodbye.

Smiling at him, she explained herself. "If you go in Mom will want to feed you and we will never get out of here."

"No problem. So are you ready to tell me what's the plan for today yet?"

"You drive and I'll navigate." She walked to the car, a definite sway to her hips.

"You're the boss." Colby quipped and walked around and opened her car door. Once she was in, he shut it and rounded the vehicle. He noticed that Renee had come out onto the front porch and was watching their exit. "Bye Mrs. Willons."

"It's Renee. Take care of them and have a good time." She called out.

"I will. I'll have her home before midnight."

"I think it's safe to say she has a later curfew than that. Just be careful." Renee waved and walked back inside.

Climbing into the car, Colby pulled out of the drive and followed the directions that Rachel gave him. A pick-up pulled out of a farm drive further down the road and paced the car into town. Within minutes, the busier traffic of the town obscured the vehicle from Colby's sight; had the agent paid any attention to it.

The next hour was filled with spirited conversation between Colby and Rachel. Being in the car gave them the privacy to talk about any topic that they chose. They alternated between serious conversations and trivial matters.

Several times Rachel had to plead with Colby to stop making her laugh so much. Many of the stories he told about growing up and the trouble he had found himself in had brought tears to her eyes. The image of a five-year old Colby accidentally breaking a shelf full of hand-blown glass vases in a small Mexican shop was too much for her to take. Especially when the proprietor of the shop wanted to keep Colby in lieu of the money. It was only after much haggling that his parents were able to convince the shop owner to accept a fair price for the damage instead of their son.

It was just shy of eleven o'clock when they pulled into the small town of Galena. Rachel had explained about the history of the town and that President Grant had lived in the town for a number of years. The town had reinvented its image and now was full of artisans and antiques.

They parked the car and began walking along the main street; window shopping and entering the occasional shop. A small store caught Colby's eye and he suggested they stop in. Rachel was soon flipping through racks of baby clothes. Colby roamed around the store and stopped short in front of a shelf filled with stuffed animals.

Colby picked up a small blue bear, and while marveling at the softness he found himself lost in a daydream. He saw himself holding a small bundle in blue, a little blonde boy with deep blue eyes.

"Can I help you sir?"

The voice of a salesclerk broke him out of his dream and brought him back to reality. "Um, yes. I'll take this."

"Anything else for you?" The older woman smiled at him. "Is this your first?"

"You can tell?" Colby wondered if he was that transparent.

"When you've worked in a baby store as long as I have you learn to spot them. You've got that dreamy look that tells me you're thinking about that new baby."

"Guilty as charged. Let me check with Rachel." Colby nodded towards the blonde. "She looks like she might have found something. Do card for the clerk. "Did you find everything?" He intoned seriously.

"It's a start." Rachel responded to his teasing.

"Do me a favor and bag this separately please."

The clerk smiled knowingly and took the bear to the counter before approaching Rachel. It was ten minutes later that Rachel finally approached the counter, her arm full of tiny outfits.

Colby smiled at her as he pulled out his credit card for the clerk. "Did you find everything?" He intoned seriously.

"It's a start." Rachel responded to his teasing. "It's so hard to find neutral colors, so when I do I tend to stock up."

Collecting their packages, they made their way back out onto the street. Checking his watch Colby glanced around. "It's about 1:00, what do you say about grabbing some lunch?"

"I could eat a little something. Let's check out Boone's Place down on South Main. They have a great lunch menu."

Taking the sacks from her, Colby followed her down the sidewalk. Passing the lot where they had parked Colby paused to stash the bags in the trunk of the car. Coming across the small bag containing the stuffed teddy bear, Colby decided against putting it into the trunk. Closing the lid he headed back to where Rachel stood.

"What's in the sack?" She inquired as Colby approached her.

"A little something, I'll let you open it when we have lunch."

"Do I get a hint?" Seeing Colby shake his head she continued. "Just a little one? Come on."

"No. I suppose you were the kid that snooped for Christmas presents too?" Colby asked.

"A snooper and a shaker. How about you?"

"Only once. My aunt in California sent me a gift one year and I couldn't wait to open it so when no one was around I opened it and then rewrapped it."

"And?"

"I was so disappointed. I wanted a He-Man watch, but it turned out to be the book of lifesavers. Remember those?" The disappointment was still evident in his voice as he reminisced.

"I do! That was the kind of gift you got in the classroom gift exchange. I loved the butter rum flavored ones." She smiled.

"I was more of a wild cherry kind of guy. I hated the pineapple and lime ones." Colby opened the door to the restaurant.

After being seated and ordering, Colby put the sack in front of Rachel. "I saw it and I couldn't help myself."

She opened the sack and pulled out the plush teddy. "It's adorable." Rachel placed it back into the bag and smiled at the man across from her. "Thank you. For everything."

"I want you to realize I'll do as much as you will let me do Rachel."

Not trusting her voice, Rachel nodded and took a sip of her ice water. They made small talk until the food came. The food was delicious and Colby cleaned his plate and finished the portion that Rachel had left.

Back outside, the couple continued shopping. Reaching the end of the main street they passed by a tattoo parlor. "Did you want to stop and get a tattoo?" Rachel teased.

"I managed to make it through college and the Army without getting inked." Colby confessed.

"I'm surprised. I thought all of you macho types had a hula girl or Mom somewhere on your body." Rachel stopped and rubbed her back.

Noticing her discomfort Colby looked at her with concern. "Are you all right?"

"It's nothing. I didn't sleep well last night and my back is aching a little. I'm sure you're a little sore today as well." She turned the conversation from herself.

"Not too bad. This walking definitely helped limber me up."

"Speaking of walking, my feet are beginning to swell a little. What do you say we start back to the car?"

"Your wish is my command." Colby made a sweeping bow.

Rachel laughed at the gesture. Suddenly her laugh turned to a cry of pain. Her hands went to her back as her knees buckled.

Colby responded immediately by dropping the bags and reaching for her. Helping support her, his tone was worried. "Rachel, tell me what's wrong!"

"I don't know, but," her words cut off as she bent with the pain. "No! It's the baby." She wailed. "I think I'm in labor!"