* correction! I need to make a correction: Ottawa, not Toronto. Margret's family is in Ottawa.


*Remote Canadian RCMP Outpost:*

Seated behind the desk bearing the only phone in acres, Benton just stares at it. Taking a deep breath, he finally lifts the handset and dials.

*Chicago Police Precinct:*

"Vecio!" is bellowed across the squad room. "Long distance, line 2!"

From the break room, Ray bellows back, "Take a message!"

"From Canada!" is sniggered back.

Donuts and coffee be damned, Ray shoves people out of the way and dashes for the nearest phone. "This is Detective Raymond Vecio!"

"Ray, it's me… Fraser," his voice is calmer than normal.

Ray has known his friend long enough to know something is up with that ultra quiet tone, "Benny? Is everything alright?" All he gets as a response is deep sigh. "Ben?" The American is more than worried for his strong Canadian friend.

Ben rubs his forehead not sure where to start or even how. "Ray… I, um… uh…"

Ray sinks to the chair, pressing the receiver to his ear harder as if he could sense anything more from the silence. If Benton was sitting in front of him, he would be searching his face for signs of what is troubling his friend, but since that isn't an option, he is trying like mad to hear anything that will give him a clue. "Benton, are you in trouble?"

Ben scratches into his other ear, "Not, um, exactly. Margret and I, well…we…um…"

Ray sucks in his breath and gets ready to fire, "That prissy Dragon lady better not have left you or me and this whole precinct will cross the border, hunter her down and-"

That makes the Mounty laugh. Laugh? Ray was not expecting that!

It takes a moment and then Benton smiles warmly, "Ray, it's not that at all." With a deep sigh he spills, "I'm going to be a father."

Silence.

"Ray? Did you hear me?"

A great whoosh of pent up air expels from Ray and then he jumps up on top of the desk catching everyone's attention with a sharp whistle. "Hey! Everyone listen up! Benny the, Mounty!- I mean the Frasers- They're going to have a baby!" And he holds the phone out so Ben and half of the Territory can hear the cheer go out from the Chicago precinct.

Margret is leaning in the doorframe of the office and sees Ben yank the phone away from the subsequent cheering. She hears it too and smiles blushing. Ben's cheeks are flaming red but also beaming brightly as he holds a hand out to her.

Meg takes his hand and curls into his lap as he brings the phone back where they both can hear Ray.

"Well other than that, how are you doing?" The relaxed officer sniggers hopping back down to his chair.

Ben tells his trusted friend, "A little bit scared."

Ray laughs boldly punching back the truth, "You're terrified, aren't you?"

Ben holds Meg closer to him and nods, "You have no idea."

Warm silence surrounds them and Ray lowers his voice so the others don't hear him, "Keep your eyes on the mail. I'm sending something special for you. Benton, you are a very lucky man. She's strong and it's going to be alright." Ben gives him a soft huff so Ray continues with his support, "You aren't your father and Margret isn't your mother."

Running his hand roughly against Meg's spine he takes in the same encouragement from his best friend that his wife had given him. The two most trusted people in his life said the same thing, how can he not accept that advice? "I know…"

The conversation is lingering and both know they have to get back to work. "Benny, thanks for letting me know right away. I'll talk to you soon. Kiss them both for me, will you?"

Ben's chin slumps to the warmth again. If Ray was right here, he would be giving the mother of his child a sweet kiss on the cheek and he would be kneeling before the unborn and talking to it already. Ray is just that sweet. "Alright, Ray, I think I can do that."

"Okay, Ben. I'll catch you soon. Bye."

They didn't want to hang up seeing how it's been nearly a year since they last talked to each other, but still it must be done. Both of the law enforcement officers have duties to attend to. The handsets softy return to their cradles. Ben presses his nose into his wife's hair and breathes in the essence of their future.

Ray brings a hand to his mouth saying a silent prayer for his best friend and his family. Of all people, Benton Fraser deserves to be a father. He will be loving, knowledgeable, and honorable. Margret will be firm but guiding and just as honorable. That kid is going to be more than smart and loved immensely. That kid couldn't ask for better parents.

Benton lifts his head and looks to his Mounty Mate, "The horses are waiting and we still have a patrol to attend to."

Margret slides of his lap and tugs her tunic into proper position. Likewise, he does the same. With a final check to each other, the professionals head out of the post and mount their horses heading off to their assigned patrol.

~~0~~

Both are a bit silent taking in the beautiful view and feel of a living creature beneath them. Dief is having a grand time dashing in and out of the bushes sniffing and exploring everything. Both husband and wife know that time will be all too short before they will be leaving this beautiful scenery for the world of concrete and mass society rules. Without saying it to each other, they know this could be the last time they are here together alone like this. In a matter of a few months, there will be three of them. Their whole world will change forever. Not in a bad way, just a massive shift in their lives.

A shot is fired making both of the horses jerk out of their sleepy walks. Dief freezes perking his ears to the direction of the sound.

Another!

Benton motions for her to hide left and he dashes forward to the right. At first all she can do is watch him ride hard. He is incredible the way he rises on the balls of his feet in the stirrups, with his shoulders hunched just a bit over the neck of his speeding steed. To her surprise, he pulls a knife and flings it ahead of him. From out of nowhere, a man falls from a tree impaled by the knife. Benton reins hard and curls back her direction.

Just as sharp as the turn was, he pulls back stalling the steed in mid-canter. Benton can see a sniper hidden in a tree honed in on Margret. His heart is racing but he must remain cool. One false move and his future will be over.

Margret senses the danger too even if she can't see him. She slyly reaches for her own knife but a, "Don't do it," from the tree to her left has her releasing the knife to fall to the ground. Padding silently under her horse, Dief picks up the knife and wanders through the bush hiding at Benton's side.

"Why?" She keeps her hands in the open and doesn't move other than the horse adjusting his weight.

"You both ruined my life, why should I let you live happily ever after?"

Still she doesn't move. The man in the tree doesn't know Ben is back as he drops to the ground keeping his rifle trained on her. Margret access the situation careful not making any sudden moves. Dief comes back to her but a rifle shot to his paws makes him yelp and leap back. Margret cringes for the canine.

"Oh, did I hurt your feelings?" The assassin mocks his sympathies. Margret remains silent and he steps even closer jabbing her with the rifle muzzle, "I'm not alone, but you soon will be."

Another shot is heard, a body falls to the ground, and Ben's horse comes racing by riderless. Margret might intake a sharp breath, but she also knows this is Ben's home turf and these guys have NO IDEA who they are messing with.

The sniper laughs thinking his partner killed the Mounty. Now she moves! Grabbing the rifle's muzzle, jerks it forward while her horse backs up. He falls to the ground tangled in the rifle's strap. Margret is careful to shove the barrel tip out of her harms way, but not letting go as he is dragged. When she is sure he is thrown off enough, swings her right leg over the saddle and dismounts landing on the downed-man's back. Using the butt of the rifle, cracks him on the neck and swiftly uses the strap to secure his hands behind his back.

Rising up, she takes the rifle and calls to Dief, " Lead me!" She rushes over to where the riderless horse has stopped and she grabs his reins while Dief heads on. His white plume of a tail makes it easy to follow his path.

When the plume stops and the muzzle whines over the edge of a ravine. There she finds Ben has already secured another assailant. He sighs happily when he sees her and opens his mouth to speak.

She knows that look and already knows he is going to ask, 'Are you alright?' With one raised finger and a scowl, she makes it clear not to speak.

Instead he laughs lightly and raises his hands in defense. "Okay, I won't." She laughs right back at him. She does not want to be treated as a damsel, and yet he feels the need to protect her. Part of her loves that about him, but part of her is annoyed. It's a fine line to walk. As her husband and father to her child, he has a right to be concerned, she will not deny him that right, just as he will not treat her as a weak woman.

With the help of the horses, Ben and the prisoner are hoisted up and head back to pick up the other two prisoners. One unconscious, two dead, and one walking they make quite the sight returning to the post.

With a chuckle, the lead officer once more shakes his head, "We really are going to miss you two." Diefenbaker whines and is greeted by a ruffling of his ears, "Yes Dief, we will miss you two."

Margret smiles ruffling the fur as well, "Well, if I remember my paperwork days, it will take a while to get that transfer process. So you will still have us around for quite a bit."

He chuckles again to the old phrase of, 'can't get rid of us THAT quick.'

Margret smirks, "Yeah, thought you would enjoy that news."

"Go fill out your paper work, Inspector," he mock-scoffs to her.

Margret makes her way over to the desk Ben is seated at and begins filling out one of the forms. "I still need to come back here to 'recharge my batteries', so to speak," he half-pleas.

With a beaming smile, she rubs her taught belly, "Let me recover from this event of you 'recharging your batteries.' "

Benton blushes hard and another officer laughs heartily.

A few more lines into the forms, Ben glances to her, "Does your family know about us?" Softly she shakes her head. "Why not?"

She can't look at him and instead looks down to her hands toying with her pen. "I was on this great career path. My father is a powerful man in Ottawa. My sister lives in Windsor and always has everyone over to her house for a grand Thanksgiving dinner." She sighs still not looking up to him, "I wasn't ready to tell them I was somewhat settled down."

Now she does look up to him to see if he is hurt by her confession. What she sees is him very curious. Not upset that she didn't tell her family about him (per say), but that she didn't tell her family that she married at all.

Her hand takes his and lays it on their future, "I'm not that career driven girl they knew anymore. I don't know if my dad will understand that I've let my heart lead me this time instead of my power hungry desires."

Benton has never met her father and thus has nothing to contribute to that part of her statement. What he can contribute to it the part where he has made an impact in her change of goals for her life.

"You are going to be a wonderful mother and I am privileged to stand by your side as you do so." She leans in and presses her forehead to his.

~~8~~ Months Pass ~~8~~

*Windsor, Ottawa*

Here they stand hand in hand on the curb of the flagstone walkway leading up to a very large house. Margret doesn't move just staring at the house.

"Meg?" Ben squeezes her hand trying to find the right words to support her with.

Her grip is crushing on his hand, "I would rather go back to that courtroom only me wearing the bomb this time." She looks up to him and gives a weak smile, "Or even a run away train carrying and nuclear bomb."

His shoulders slump a little. As much as that is a compliment, it also shows just how tense she is to face her family. She turns back to face the double oak doors with etched beveled glass doors. "They are good people, really they are. They will good for a child to grow up around."

"But…?" Ben can hear underlying in her tone.

"I don't want to hear, 'see I told you so'. I don't want to hear I made a mistake chosing family over career." Her head drops down to look at her feet enclosed in simple pumps, "I don't want to disappoint them."

"Do you want to go back home and come to them on another day?"

Instead of answering she looks turns to face him with her own question. Her seven month rounded belly nearly touches him as he soothes her arms, "Do you? Are you ready for this?"

He tries to give her a confident smile but it's weak. "I'm really scared."

She giggles not only for her own nervousness but the fact he does look scared. "YOU?! Constable Benton Fraser of the Great North? With all the criminals you have taken down single handedly, roughing and slogging it through the wilds of forest and concrete Chicago, all those wounds you have received in the line of duty and now one family dinner has you scared?"

Instead of teasing her back about her own fears to this 'family dinner', he joins her fear. A banded hand lays softly on their child, "I didn't care what criminals thought of me. I don't care what my superiors in the RCMP think of me now. Let them all catch me, try to kill me or my career I will see justice done. But this is completely different. This is forever. They are my family now." Margret watches him look into the future she currently carries as his voice goes very soft, "They are the only family our child will ever have." Sheepishly he looks up to her, "I can't afford to screw this up. I do care what they think of me."

"Oh Ben…"

She reaches out stroking his proud cheek. Of all the games she had to play to get where she did in her career and the love and care she had for her family… now he needs support. Slipping her hand further back, she threads her fingers into his dark hair to cup the back of his head and pull him down for a kiss of encouragement.

His hands slide around her waist to pull them closer together as a thank you and lending his own support right back at her. Slow yet deep the kiss steals away both of their fears to be replaced by forever's love.

When the front door opens, the married couple are oblivious. Even when the patriarch of the Thatcher family comes down the steps, they still are lost in their own little warm supportive world.

"Ah-HEM!"

That stills the kiss with two sets of flaming cheeks. They roll to press their foreheads together and look deep into each other's amused eyes. "Time to face the music?"