With her usual unexplained, but expected skill, Cor wove through the white uniforms and the covers scattered across the field and lead them quickly to the tall, blond, newly graduated Ensign. "Slow down a bit Cor, will you? I don't want Mother any more stressed than she is already."
"No worries, we're here," Cor announced brightly, pointing toward a group under the scoreboard.
Carolyn stopped and patted Gene on his arm, signaling him to stop a second. Looking down, he raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes. "Don't say it, I know. You want me to convince your daughter that you aren't old, aren't dying tomorrow and that you'll be a LOT happier if she just can accept your heart situation without getting carried away, right?'
"And you got all that from a pat on your arm?" Carolyn asked with a fair amount of confusion in her voice. "I can't take credit," Gene grinned, stepping forward toward the scoreboard. "Cor gave it to me word for word a couple of days ago. Said to memorize it because I'd need it to keep peace in the family. Truth be told I HAVE already told Candi she's over-reacting, but Cor tells me if I repeat it to her, and to you, eventually we'll all believe it. You think that might be so?"
Smiling, Carolyn nodded, "It's never a good idea, I've found, to distrust our Cordelia. Even Daniel has given up trying to doubt her."
"Well, if it's good enough for our Captain," Gene grinned, "should work for us too."
He was going to help Carolyn up the steps when she suddenly sprinted up the stairs and threw herself into Jonathan's arms. "Mom!" Candi warned loudly. She was surprised to feel both Cor and Gene grasping her arms, stopping her from following her mother. Cor released Candi's arm, looked up at Gene and gave him a knowing nod. He returned it with a wink took a firmer hold on his fiancee's arm and began, "Candi, no matter how it seems, your mother is not old, she isn't dying tomorrow and . . ."
'And that's another problem handled,' Cor thought as she left the two behind and walked up to the young Ensign. Looking thoughtfully at the young woman staring admiringly up at him, she paused for a moment. 'And she looks just like I thought, here's hoping the rest of them can figure out who she is, or rather who she's going to be.'
"Mom, geez Mom, the Navy is going to be really upset if they wasted all this training just to have you strangle me on graduation day. I haven't even gotten my first salute from anyone yet. Let me breathe, ok?"
Stepping back, Carolyn looked up at the wide blue eyes of her youngest. No matter how she tried, despite seeing him looming over her, the beard showing through his clean shaved cheek or the beaming self-confidence radiating from him, she still saw the tiny blond haired boy who owned her heart from the moment he was born.
"So, no longer my little boy, eh?" she said, gently wiping aside a tear. "Naw," Jonathan smiled, giving her his own bear hug, "Always YOUR little boy, just don't tell the other officers ok?" "Promise." Carolyn said softly.
A touch on his shoulder reminded him that they weren't alone. "Oh wow, I'm sorry hon," he turned and swept a lovely young woman into his arm. With hand gently resting on her shoulder, he turned her to face the family. "Guys, meet Josephine Leslie."
"Please, it's Jo actually," she said gently, holding out her hand to Carolyn. "No that won't do at all," Carolyn said looking down for a moment before stepping forward to bring the young woman into a gentle hug. "Jonathan isn't the sort of person to introduce people unless they are very important to him. So good to meet someone who clearly has made my son very happy," she offered with a knowing smile to Cor.
"Should have known," Jonathan said with a rueful look toward Cor, "You already told them, right?" "And you expected something else," Cor smiled. "Jo Leslie, I'm the famous Cordelia that I know Jonathan has talked about endlessly. Nice to see you in person at last!"
Jo just looked wide eyed over at Jonathan, "Amazing, she's exactly like you described. Nice to meet you too Cor."
"I can save you all a lot of time here," Cor continued, "her Dad is the head of transportation here at Annapolis, a total wiz at anything mechanical and Jo here has all of his talents. And yes, Jonathan thought she was a JOE rather than a Josephine the day they met in the repair center. She was in coveralls working underneath an engine. But being a smart lad," she stopped to pat him on his cheek, "he soon figured out he was mistaken." Stepping back and looking thoughtfully at the two of them, "And in fairness, now that I see them together, it's clear they both know they are fated for one another. Any questions?"
"Just one," Candi offered, stepping up to give Jo her own hug. Looking over at the overwhelmed young woman she stopped, "This family can be tricky to get used to. . ." "I can vouch for that," Gene offered holding out his hand. "Anyway," Candi went on, "Did we actually give Jonathan a chance to propose to you at least? Or in normal Cordelia fashion are we just skipping that part?"
"For once I beat her to her announcement," Jonathan said proudly, "and yes, Jo said yes. Mind you it was just a few seconds ago, so I haven't even had a chance to show her the ring." "No worries, we're happy to wait," Cor said, stepping back. "Go ahead."
