Making Our Way Home 10
{No I haven't forgotten about this story, just got my muse waylaid by work and motherhood. And yes there is still more to come.}
Margret Fraser blushes and stands up looking into her husband's sheepish face. He feels it too. "I feel like I just got caught coming home late from a date."
Her husband gives her a light laugh dropping a supportive hand to her lower back as she turns.
"Marg….," her father stops in his tracks as he sees his daughter's full figure face him. "Mar-Margret?"
Softly she nods stepping towards him, "Yes Daddy, it's me."
A bright smile breaks out from him and he closes the distance wrapping his arms securely around her. "Oh Meg!"
Benton stands to the side allowing the father and daughter have their reuniting moment. Looking up to the house, he sees the front windows and doorway filled with faces of many ages watching the reunion on the front walk in the frosty air.
Some how in the mist of holding his daughter close, the father remembers another body near him. He stands up straight but keeps his arm securely around his daughter, "My apologies. Walter -Walt- Thatcher."
Ben takes the hand of his father-in-law warmly, "Benton Fraser."
With a laugh, Walt releases the Mounty's hand and rolls it towards the house, "Come in. We should get you both out of the cold."
Between the father and daughter a beaming smile is shared which warms Ben's heart immensely. The first step to this reunion is just what Meg needs. Walt shoos some of the family members back to give Meg, Ben and Dief room to enter and remove their jackets. Gwen takes them stowing them in the closet with her own warm smile for her sister and her expected husband.
Margret looks stunning in a designer pink maternity dress. Benton looks smashing in his thick snow white cotton sweater and dark slacks.
With a clap of his hands, Walt announces, "The prodigal daughter has returned!"
A warm cheer goes out and Margret blushes badly reaching for Ben's hand for a bit of strength. Both are nervous for what they know is coming next.
The cheer dies down putting Meg on the spot to introduce the man at her side. Gwen gives a bit of a nudge to start. "Meg, you brought a friend?"
Meg looks to Ben to prepare him what is coming next, he gives her a smile and a squeeze of reassurance. With a deep breath, Meg raises her left hand, "I've brought my husband."
A gasp goes through the room. Margret Thatcher actually tied herself to one man and is now going to be a family woman! With a sharp intake, she warns him quietly, "Just a name, not a rank right now, alright? That can come later."
He gives a soft nod to accepting that. One social hurdle at a time. He lays a hand to his chest, "Benton Fraser," then lays it towards their fluffy companion, "Diefenbaker." Several sniggers go out knowing the 'dog' was named for the highest ranking officer of the RCMP; Margret's occupation.
While the adults pull and tug Meg and Ben into hugs and kisses, Dief marches himself into the nest of kids and lets them snuggle and crawl into his warm fur. When Ben is let go and Meg dragged off, he makes his way over to another room where the kids have coaxed Dief away. She can't help but smile seeing him pulled away by the more innocent members of the family. A couple of the adults glance over as he wanders away, but the sisters are just too interested in catching up with Meg to ponder more.
About an hour later Margret makes her way down to the children's bedroom where she finds Ben retelling a tall tale of the Inuit. A three year old girl is snuggled into the wolf both of them sound asleep. Ben's wife just leans on the door frame watching him. The four boys and one other girl are completely entranced by his story.
One of Margret's other sisters, Mary, softly comes up behind her watching the scene and whispers, "Wow, not exactly the type I pegged you for."
Meg sighs warmly, "Me neither, but when you lose your heart, what do you do?"
Ben notices them and looks up, "Dinner time?"
Mary nods and tells the kids, "Yep. Time to wash up."
Dief is still dead to the world and the little one is holding tightly to his fur in her sleep. Mary grabs a blanket from the bed and covers both canine and kid. Ben shakes his head, "Spoiled wolf."
Mary cocks a brow in confusion, "Wolf?"
Ben grimaces that maybe the mother will be worried about his half-wild pet alone with her child. "Half. He's also a bit deaf, too."
Tina snuffles in her sleep, but the wolf gives a soft noise and she gives a sigh settling back in. Mary gives Ben a satisfied expression, "Well no wonder he fits in." She pats his shoulder just to make it settled she isn't worried about Diefenbaker.
Meg sags a bit into Ben's arm of comfort and tells her sister, "We'll be there in a moment."
Mary closes the bedroom door halfway and heads to join the others. Resting her rounding frame into his comfort, Ben gets kicked by his unborn child. He smiles and rubs a thumb over that spot, "Hey, hey there. Be nice to your mother."
She helps him soothe that spot, "Are you having a good time?"
He hums, "They are great kids."
Meg giggles, "They are going to be mad when you go to sit at the grownup's table. They really want to talk to you."
He nods understanding it's time for him to face the adult inquisition as to who this man is that could make Margret Thatcher derail her carefully laid career plans. "Meg, the truth is going to come out, you know."
She nods. "I know."
He takes a deep sigh, "Besides, I have to report to my new post at 18:00. You know how those supervisors can be about new reassignments being late."
Mary has come back down the hall to tell them everyone is waiting, when she hears this last bit.
Meg laughs and gives him a light slap to the bold chest. "Come on, Ben."
Just as they are heading down the hall, the doorbell rings. "Ben?" Walt calls up the staircase. Meg and Ben move a bit swifter and then stall when they see the new arrival to the house.
"Ray?" Ben gasps.
Ray throws his arms open wide, "BENNY!"
With a check to Meg, he sees this was her doing. With an openly bold kiss to his wife, pulls back smiling, "I love you so much!"
She laughs and he dashes down the stairs to embrace his friend extra tight. Everyone stares between Ray, Ben, and Meg. All three of them are brimming with tears.
Walt asks again, "Benton?"
Quickly pulling his respectful poise together, Ben introduces the new guest, "My apologies. Ray Vecchio is a close friend of mine that I haven't seen in over a year. We used to work together."
Ray shoots his friend a confused look so Ben leans in and whispers, "They don't know I'm RCMP yet."
Meg makes her way down the stairs and Ray steps towards her, "Inspector- I mean Margret. You always do look good." He gives her a careful but warm hug. Pulling back, he swipes a tear away, "But you look absolutely stunning carrying my best friend's love."
She reaches for another hug from him knowing that really did come from deep within his heart. Stepping back, Ray reaches into his pocket and hands over a package to Ben.
"I changed my mind on mailing it to you. I wasn't sure how reliable the dogsled service was out there."
Tearing into it, Ben's shoulders sag. It's a leather bound journal with huge BF embossed into it. Ray lays a hand on the journal making Ben look directly at his friend, "You have to promise me you won't wait until you are dead for your son -or daughter- to know you. Promise me?"
Laying his own hand over Ray's after all the long deep conversations they have had about their fathers, "I promise, Ray, I promise."
Ray turns back to Meg and gives her a small box beaming. "You were missing a piece to your set." He motions to her hand and then her pendant. Confused, Meg opens it and sees the tiniest real gold dipped maple leaves on earring posts. Her whole face daws at Ray knowing right where to touch her.
Some of the family is taking this in getting a better picture of this character named Benton Fraser and who Margret has been while away from them.
Ray roots around in his pocket and hands out two more gifts. The Beanie Baby white wolf he gives to Meg, "This is for the baby," to Ben he hands a huge box of Milk Duds, "And this is for Dief. Where is he?"
Ben can't help but shake his head at the candy, "That's not funny, Ray." Meg gives them a confused but Ben just shakes his head, "I'll explain later." With that, they are ushered to the main table and an extra place is set for Ray beside Ben.
~~0~~
Dinner goes along smoothly with Ben occasionally checking his watch. Finally he leans towards his wife, "It's time."
She nods and he turns to Ray quietly, "Could you give me a lift?" The Chicago Police Officer nods knowing it will be their chance to talk alone as well. Together the three begin to push back from the table.
Ben turns to the host, "I'm sorry, but I must be going off to work now. I've had a delightful day and will see you again soon."
Ray dips his head as well and tells them with all sincerity, "Thank you as well for allowing me into your home. It has been a real pleasure to meet Ben's new family."
Margret walks him to the door and gives them both a last hug and kiss. Ray traipses down the steps giving the married couple a moment alone. Ben squeezes her hands. "Are you going to be alright?" He knows how nervous she was about showing up to a family even surprising them all by being pregnant and married.
Meg nods squeezing back, "Yes. This went better than I expected. I know I haven't cross the major hurdle yet." She gives him a rueful smile, he squeezes. "I'll see you in the morning."
He nods and leans in for a tender kiss. While he faces his first new post assignment, she will hopefully getting some rest. "Don't over do it, alright? We're here for a long time and so there's always tomorrow."
She nods and flicks a hand towards Ray, "Don't be late." He takes a deep breath and reluctantly leaves his wife on the doorstep of her family's home alone getting into Ray's rental car.
Beth wraps an arm around daughter's shoulder as she steps back into the warm main room and guides her to a couch before the roaring fireplace. The others are all still in the dinning room as Dief lightly tips himself into the room and up to Meg's side on the couch. Beth smiles giving the wolf a ruffle to his head and drops a magazine into Meg's lap, "So Margret, truth time…"
Once more, Meg feels like she's been caught red handed, only this time she literally has. There staring back at her is Constable Benton Fraser on the front cover of a law enforcement publication honoring him for the train incident.
Beth gives a soft poke to her growing grandchild, "So how far along are you and how long have you actually been married?"
Meg slumps still looking at the magazine. She remembers that photo shoot and how tense Ben was. So prim and taught making him look so elegant and yet unnaturally poised. She knew he was most uncomfortable and all she wanted to do was kiss him until he loosened up again under her touch. She wanted to feel his tense hot passion for her. A passion that she was able to fully release later as a married pair. Completely unstrung, he loses all poise and abandons reservations to release all his passionate love on her. Enough love to create their child.
"Meg?" Her mother prods hesitantly.
"It's not like that, Mom." She turns the magazine over. "Ben and I were married over a year ago. Ray was the best man. I really am only seven months along."
Beth is not mad, but she is pressing for more details, "You were his superior, weren't you?"
"Yes," is the soft sighed answer. "There's so many ways he superior to me. I found that in the last couple years."
"Apparently," Mary flops into one chair and Gwen another leaving Meg to blush and her mother to snicker.
Gwen ignores Mary pushing her own question out, "So where have you been for the last couple years? Dad has been anxious when you don't call."
Meg looks down to the magazine until she hears the intake of someone's breath preparing to lay into her again. "Ben asked me to go home with him. So after I was removed from my post at the Chicago Consulate, we went to the Northwest Territory." With a blushing smile she looks to each of the married women, "It's very beautiful out there, but also very remote. The time has given me a much better understanding of him. I have always respected him, but now I understood him. We would have stayed longer, but I missed you. He…transferred for me." She looks down to her rounding belly, "Us. Family."
"So you resigned," the deep voice states the fact making all turn to look at the patriarch of the family. The one who had the most influence in Margret Thatcher's career plans.
Her head droops, "Yes."
The sisters leave but the mother stays as the father comes before his daughter. Dief looks up to him and lays the ears back in warning. Lowering to a crouch, he acknowledges the guard first, "I will not harm her, Diefenbaker." Dief watches closely as the large hand lays over the maple leaf banded one laying on a captured image of a decorated RCMP member. "Margret, did you think I would be upset?"
Meg takes a slow breath and looks into his eyes, "Yes."
With this, Dief gets down giving his spot to the father who does not let go of his daughter's hand. If anything, he puts his other arm around her shoulder so that she leans against him. "Honey, from what I read, he is a good man. He wears the uniform with pride and honor. If he treats my daughter and grandchild with as much love and respect as he does for the RCMP, then you have my blessing." Meg now sags against him. With a kiss to her temple he hums, "I'm proud of you for making a good choice."
Its her mother to ask the important question. "So when did you know you were in love?"
Meg pulls away and rolls up the magazine with a grumble, "The moment he told me he wouldn't wear the new brown uniform and I fired him for it." Walt roars with laughter and Beth gapes her daughter's name.
~~0~~
Ray follows Ben's directions to his new post. "Nice family, Benny. They sound like solid and good people."
Ben nods but is a bit quiet, "Meg is a bit afraid of how they will take the news she resigned to marry….me."
Ray laughs, "Ben, you are an idiot. They know exactly who you are!"
The brows worry staring at Ray for further explanation. For that the American flicks his hand, "The train thing that made the cover of the magazine? They had all the publications around the house, probably because of Margret's piece of the article, but I saw the mother point to the magazine and then to you. Oh they know exactly who you are, Constable Benton Fraser hero of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police!"
Ben closes his eyes and rubs his burning face while his friend laughs on. "Ray thanks for coming. I really needed to see you again."
Ray's laugh slows to a smirk, "Looks like you'll be here for awhile and Chicago's not that far away so, who knows when I might show back up again."
Ben tips his head to his best friend and returns the smirk, "You do that. You know you are always welcome at my place." As the car pulls up to the station, Ben gives a last smirk, "With Meg in charge of the accommodations it is more up to your style."
Ray laughs heartily and knocks a fist into his friend's shoulder, "Count on it for sure then." Ben reaches over for a tight embrace and then heads off to his post.
Ray calls out the door, "Hey, Benny, try not to get fired on the first day." Ben only scowls good naturedly to that before disappearing inside the main entry. Hopefully his time in Chicago has helped with this new city posting.
~~0~~
In the morning, Margret arrives to pick up Ben (seeing how they only have one vehicle at the moment). She makes her way down the familiar halls of her first post. A former college sees her just as Ben does too. "Inspector Thatcher!" the college grips her hand, "It's been a long time!"
She smiles and shakes the hand back, "Yes, it sure has."
"I know your family is here in Windsor, are you planning to transfer back?"
Its there that she sees her dark headed husband come into view and she steps up to him while continuing the conversation with the other, "Um, no. I have a new title now."
"Really?!" The college is excited to hear of her promotion.
Meg slips her hand into Ben's and with a deep breath, makes it proudly public. With her father and family's support, she will not be ashamed that she gave up her career climb for family. "I'm now Mrs. Benton Fraser, I'm no longer an Inspector."
That really surprises the other. Margret Thatcher pregnant, not too surprising but for her to give up her career to be a wife and mother, that is a shock.
The silence is broken by Ben acknowledging his superior, "Is there anything else you need sir, or should I just report tomorrow afternoon?"
Still the officer gapes a little, "No, no, tomorrow is fine, Constable."
Gripping each other's hands tightly, Ben casts a glance to her beaming smile, "I take it the cat's out of the bag?"
She laughs lightly, "Apparently they all knew as soon as you introduced yourself."
"And..?" Ben is waiting for the assessment.
Meg leans in to kiss his cheek, "They adore you. More than that, they are fine with the choice I have made."
A huge sigh of relief washes over his face and an audible sigh comes out. He's more relieved of her self assessment than that of the others. He wants her to be happy with her choice, but seeing how her family has embraced and supported it, is a huge wave of relief. He leans in and gives her his own supportive kiss.