The rumbling in her stomach awoke her in the middle of the night, rolling her to the side, and she gently touched her stomach, feeling the hunger that the little bundle of joy demanded. Her eyes slowly opened to greet the darkness and a small moan escaped her throat, feeling the soreness in her back. She slowly rose to a sitting position and looked to the side, expecting to find her sleeping husband and wake him for food and medication, but her eyes widened when she found his side of the bed empty.
"Cayden?" Colleen whispered in the darkness, getting nervous if he could not sleep because of his parent's dilemma. She knew that it had affected him more than he was letting on, for he could not hide the fact of not eating his dinner from her, especially when she caught him from the corner of her eye, giving most of his dinner to his little sister.
She rose from the bed, letting the four blankets that had kept her warm, fall to the side. Slipping in her bunny slippers, she heard a soft snore coming from the room and she glanced around to try to locate from where. Taking a few steps, she flipped on the night lamp on her night table and walked toward the other side of the bed, finding him sleeping on the floor. A sigh escaped her throat, knowing that she was the reason he had fallen asleep down there. She grabbed two of the blankets from the bed and covered him with them.
Colleen gathered her robe and slipped it on, before leaving the bedroom. Memories surfaced in her head from the many summers spent there with her family, and the many times she spent in that same room, which long before belonged to her father. Stepping out in the darkened hallway, she noticed that her brother's door, across the hall had been closed, and judging from his loud snoring, he was in dreamland. Her eyes traveled down the hall, knowing that her parents were sleeping in their room, and her mother-in-law slept in her Aunt Gracie's old bedroom, with Eryn. Her best friend and sister had been placed in Fallon's old bedroom, which held only two twin beds, idle for guests.
Heading quietly down the stairs, her eyes caught sight of the lights glowing from the decorated Christmas tree in the living room. She paused for a moment to take everything in, her eyes roaming about the room, remembering Christmases of the past, and for a split moment, she wished to return to the past during her happy childhood. She strode toward the fireplace, trailing a finger down her stocking, which had been cross-stitched, from her grandmother from her first birthday. Next to her stocking hung a matching one, only in different colors—her twin brother's. But a new stocking had been placed from the other side of hers, one belonging to her husband. She glanced at the other stockings, all ready to be filled with surprises for Christmas morning.
A smile spread across her face, knowing that this was a special Christmas, one that her family would treasure forever. Her first Christmas with her husband, the first Christmas they were all back together as one family, the first Christmas they were sharing it with Rowan and the first Christmas that everyone close to her heart was under one roof— almost everyone. She wished with all her heart for her father-in-law would come and celebrate this special occasion and more than anything she wished that her in-laws would work everything out and forgive the other. But wasn't this time a year for miracles? Maybe one would cross her path.
She turned and headed for the kitchen, knowing that her father had stashed Gummy Bears in one of the cabinets. Her stomach lurched once again, feeling lightheaded, and she touched the wall for support. Taking a small moment to shake off the dizziness that surrounded around her, she walked into the kitchen, heading straight toward the cabinet.
The kitchen nook's light caught her attention and she turned to find her best friend, in her blue robe, with her long brown hair loosely around her shoulders, sitting at the table, a cup of warm hot chocolate in front of her.
"Reena?" Colleen strode closer to her friend, concerned, realizing that she had rested her head with one hand and was glancing downwards into the chocolate liquid, barely touching the cup.
Sky Dancer glanced up from the table and spotted her best friend, worried. "Hi, Colly," she said softly.
"What are you doing up?" Colleen asked warmly, taking a seat across from her friend.
"Would couldn't sleep work for you?" Sky Dancer half joked, placing her hand on her mug.
Colleen touched gently her best friend's other hand and gave it a squeeze. "Cayden can prescribe some medicine to help you sleep."
Sky Dancer gave a grateful smile to her friend. "It's alright, I'll be fine."
"You need to sleep," Colleen pointed out. "You are running yourself to the ground."
"Colly, don't worry. I can handle everything," Sky Dancer insisted, glancing down at her beeper. Duke had informed her about being on standby and she would be ready if that beeper alerted her to return back to base.
Colleen nodded, defeated, knowing that her best friend kept hiding something inside, bottled up and not allowing it to escape. "Alright, I won't pressure it further."
"Are you feeling all right?" Sky Dancer now asked, turning the tables.
"I'm fine, just someone hungry." Colleen smiled, pointing at her stomach. She went to stand up but winced from the back pain.
"Stay right there," Sky Dancer ordered, standing up. She hurriedly walked over to the cupboard, grabbing a bag of Gummy Bears, then took out a second mug, and filled it with hot chocolate. She returned back to the table, placing the items in front of her friend. "I'm going to make you a sandwich too."
"Thanks, Reena."
Sky Dancer smiled. "What would you like in it?" she gently inquired.
"How about turkey salami, lettuce, tomato, chocolate chips, pickles and banana," Colleen answered, giggling from her friend's green features.
"Alright, coming right up," Sky Dancer said, heading for the fridge when a sound caught her attention from outside the hallway. She looked to Colleen who also had heard the noise and signaled her to be quiet. Taking a few steps forward, she grabbed a heavy-duty frying pan and silently walked toward the kitchen door. With one swift move, she swung open the door to face the other person from the other side, who had wide green eyes and a agape mouth, ready to scream.
"Reena! What are you doing?" Jaye asked in shock, looking at the pilot bewildered.
Sky Dancer lowered the frying pan, then feigned a chuckle. "Omelet?"
Colleen snickered at her best friend's face. "Maybe you should make one! The one with the Greek feta cheese is real good!"
"What are you two doing up?" Jaye asked as she walked into the kitchen.
"Well, she can't sleep, baby Faireborn demands food and your reason?" Colleen countered, never leaving her eyes from the older woman.
"Getting something hot to drink," Jaye answered while walking over to the coffeepot intent on making some coffee.
Sky Dancer and Colleen shared a similar look, nodding in agreement.
"Can't sleep either?" Colleen inquired gently, worried about her mother-in-law.
"No, I can't," Jaye said with a sigh. "You girls want some coffee?" she offered as she started to prepare a pot.
"We already have some hot chocolate, but I don't mind a cup of the famous Jaye's coffee of doom." Sky Dancer smiled at the covert operative agent as she heading for the refrigerator. "I'm making a sandwich for Colly, would you like one too?"
At the nook's table, Colleen ripped opened the bag of gummies and started to devour them, five at a time.
"No, thank you," Jaye declined softly, though she hadn't been eating well of late.
"I'll make some extras just in case you change your mind, Lady Jaye. But I'm not going to force you to eat unlike Scarlett." Sky Dancer touched her stomach. "I feel like a stuffed turkey on thanksgiving!"
Colleen giggled. "That's Mom for you," she stated.
Jaye smiled at the two younger women and sat down to wait for her coffee to be done.
Sky Dancer took out the ingredients for the sandwich and started putting it together. "Colly, I don't know how you can eat this combination." She shook her head, placing the chocolate chips over the pickles.
"Just you wait your turn!" Colleen grinned at her best friend. "Then I'll tell you!"
Sky Dancer looked up in horror. "I think I'll pass."
Colleen giggled, then turned to her mother-in-law. "Mom and Dad told me some of your special combinations when you were pregnant with Cayden."
"My strangest was cream corn, beets, ketchup, strawberries and chocolate syrup," Jaye said and shivered at the memory.
"I'll pass on that too." Sky Dancer pointed out, placing the sandwiches on plates and headed over to the table, sitting next to Jaye, placing a normal looking sandwich in front of the other woman. "Eat or I'll call Scarlett."
Colleen choked on one of her candies. "Don't! She'll scold us all for being up."
"Yeah, she's a regular mother hen," Jaye said and pushed the plate away a little.
Colleen sent her a worried look. "You didn't eat much at dinner either," she pointed out.
Sky Dancer took a sip of her hot chocolate.
"I'm just not very hungry," Jaye said and patted her daughter-in-laws swollen tummy.
Colleen sighed. "I know. But you need to eat at least something." She sent her another worried look. "Please."
Jaye sighed. "Fine." She snatched a handful of gummy bears and started eating them.
With a smile to her mother-in-law, Colleen took a bite of her sandwich. "This is good,"
Sky Dancer turned green again. "Just don't ask me to eat it," she joked. "But I think your brother probably would."
"Jeff would eat anything," Colleen pointed out while munching.
"Yeah, even worms," Jaye said remembering the time when he was six and her son dared him to eat a worm.
"He didn't!" Sky Dancer gapped in shock, picturing the scene in her head.
"Oh, he did!" Colleen stated, taking another bite of her sandwich.
At this, Sky Dancer turned greener. "I will be surprised if there is anything he wouldn't eat."
"Gummy Bears," Colleen answered, swallowing.
"Why?"
"You have to ask him," Colleen grinned.
Shaking her head, Sky Dancer finished her hot chocolate and stood up, taking the mug to the sink.
Jaye got up and poured her some coffee and then sat back down. "He won't eat liver either. He lost a bet with that one."
"He won't eat liver?" Sky Dancer asked intrigued. "Can you tell me why?" Her face hid a secret, itching to be released.
"Nope, he wouldn't tell me," Jaye said with a shrug.
"Well, he may tell me when I ask him," Colleen giggled. "He did win the pancake contest a few years back."
"Yes and this year, he has competition. A certain six year old," Sky Dancer pointed out, walking over to the kitchen door and staring out to the snow covered ground.
"Reena, what's bothering you?" Jaye asked the young pilot.
Sky Dancer glanced back at the covert operative agent, surprised from the question. Her heart skipped a beat. "Nothing. I'm fine," she assured. "I... I need to check on the dogs." She quickly left from the back door, heading out into the snow.
Colleen glanced at her friend from out the window, watching her head toward the barns. "She won't tell me what's wrong and she's not sleeping!"
"We need to tell Cayden so he can give her something," Jaye said then took a sip of her coffee.
"He already knows, he's the one who told me," Colleen explained. "I'm worried about her."
"We need to get her to open up. It will be left to you after Christmas when I return to Scotland," Jaye said softly.
"Do you have to go?" Colleen murmured, pushing Jaye's plate toward the older woman. "Can't you come back to base with us?"
"No honey, I'm sorry," Jaye said softly looking out the window at the snow.
"But the base is your home," Colleen pointed out, putting a handful of gummy bears on Jaye's plate. "It's not the same without you or Eryn."
"The base is no longer our home, Colleen," Jaye returned, pushing the plate away again.
"Isn't home where your family is?" Colleen pointed out gently, her eyes becoming sadder, almost her mother's identical features showing within. "And your family is on the base." She pushed the plate back. "All of them."
"I have no reason to be there. Dash does because he helps run the base." Jaye sounded a little flat.
"Do you still want to be a Joe?" Colleen asked curiously.
"I can't, Dash will not allow it and neither will your husband," Jaye said, getting up and walking over to the window.
"They won't allow it because they are worried about you," Colleen kindly reminded her, thinking they almost lost her last spring. "Time heals slowly."
"Yeah, it does." Jaye took another sip of her coffee finishing the cup and walked over to get more.
Colleen glanced down at her cup of hot chocolate, "Will you at least come to visit?" she asked, her voice slightly breaking.
"Eryn will. I won't keep her from him," Jaye answered, filling up her second cup. "But I won't be."
"Not even to see your grandchild?" Colleen requested, a tear sliding down her cheek, hiding the real reason for wanting her there too.
Jaye rushed over to her and hugged her. "Oh, baby. I'll be there when your child is born. I promise."
Colleen wrapped her arms around her and held her tight. "I wish you were back on the base. We all do." Another tear slid down her cheek, following the first. "I want you there, especially when my hormones go out of control and I run over your son with the Wolverine."
Stroking Colleen's hair, Jaye tried her best to calm down the pregnant woman. "Honey, I can't be there. But your Mom will be."
"I want both of my Moms there," Colleen murmured softly in a whisper.
"I know you do, Honey. I wish I could," Jaye said, trying hard not to cry.
Colleen leaned away, her hands lowering down to her stomach. "Then don't give up. You did not give up on my parents, and because of you, they got together, both the first time and the second."
"There's nothing left to fight for," Jaye said sadly. "I need to get back to bed."
Colleen glanced up and looked into the green eyes, filled with sorrow. "There is something to—" She stopped talking, her eyes slowly widened to their fullest, her mouth opened wide, and her hands never stopped touching her stomach.
"Colleen! Colleen baby, what's wrong?" Jaye asked worriedly.
"The .. baby..." Colleen answered slowly.
"OH NO! NOW YOU JUST SIT DOWN! I'LL GO GET CAYDEN!" Jaye exclaimed, rushing out the door, up the steps and down the hall to the bedroom he shared with Colleen. He wasn't on the bed. "CAYDEN!" she called out frantically.
Cayden shot bolt upright from his spot on the floor. "What?!"
"It's Colleen...something's wrong." Jaye explained, rushing back out.
"Where is she?" He jumped to his feet.
"Down in the kitchen," Jaye was on the verge of crying.
He didn't wait for an explanation, he charged down the stairs, almost losing his balance, then raced into the kitchen. "Colleen! What is it?"
Colleen looked at him, her eyes still wide and a new tear had traveled down the same path as the others. "The...baby..." she said once again. Her hands remaining on her stomach.
Trying to conceal his rising panic, Cayden was over to her in a second. "What about the baby? What's wrong? Please tell me?"
She grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach, waiting, staying quiet "There!" she finally cried out, when she felt her entire stomach lurched around.
His face showed his shock for a few seconds then a Cheshire Cat grin spread across it.
"You felt it, didn't you?" Colleen smiled down at his face. Her hand covering his.
The kitchen door burst opened and a panicking looking Scarlett, Duke, Jeffrey and Jaye rushed in.
"What's wrong?" Scarlett asked, in her snowman flannel nightgown, rushing over to her daughter.
Cayden was down on his knees and now had his cheek on Colleen's belly.
"Colleen?" Duke and Jeff asked together, in their matching red flannel pajamas
Jaye stood there silently watching.
"The...baby..." Colleen tried once again to explain, her eyes wide and illusive.
Scarlett turned pale and sent a worried glance over to her husband.
Then looked back at her daughter. "Colleen, tell us, please," she plead.
"The baby moved!" Colleen announced excitedly, holding now to her husband's head, trailing her fingers through his thick brown hair.
Duke grinned happily.
Jeffrey started laughing and Duke slapped him upside his head. "What's that for?"
"Because you're being a smart ass," Duke said.
"Conrad! Stop hitting your son!" Scarlett scolded, watching the smirk on her son's face toward his father, who glared back. She rolled her eyes at them.
"I think I made Momma scared," Colleen pointed out to Jaye, who was now crying.
Cayden stood up slowly and looked at his mother. "Mom, are you all right?"
"Yeah, Danny, I'm fine." Jaye said softly. "I'm just a little tired. I'm going to head to bed. Love you guys." She turned and left.
Duke watched her worriedly.
"Man, I wish there was something I could do for her," Jeffrey whispered.
Scarlett looked at her husband. "Should we spill the beans?" she asked him.
Colleen reached her hand and took hold of her husband's, looking up at his worried expression.
"What beans? You know Dad can't eat beans, Momma. They don't agree with him," Jeffrey said and made a fanning motion in front of his nose.
This time Scarlett slapped him behind his head. "What did your father tell you to do?" she scolded.
Colleen giggled at her brother's expense.
Jeffrey rubbed the back of his head. "Ow! Now I think I've got Dain Bramage!!"
Cayden shook his head. "Now what are you two hiding?"
"Alright, since your father-in-law is too chicken to tell you," Scarlett sent the general a 'scaredy cat' scowl. "Then I'll tell you. We invited Dash over for the holidays, he's coming in tomorrow."
Dead silence enveloped the kitchen.
"You two are so dead," Cayden said seriously.
Jeffrey took out the measuring tape and started to measure the two of them.
"What the bloody blue blazes are you doing that for?" Duke asked his only son.
"Measuring you for your coffins," Jeffrey said seriously.
"Jeffrey!" Scarlett scolded at her son, while he measured her length.
Colleen burst into laughter. "You know, we can lock them in a room!"
Scarlett smiled. "That's the plan." She then glared at her son. "I love you, but if you start picking my tombstone, I'm going to run you over with the Wolverine!"
"Sorry Mom, I already picked it out. It'll read, 'Here lies Red, messed with Flint and Lady Jaye and now she's dead.' " Jeffrey smirked at his mother.
Duke shook his head while Cayden started laughing.
"Want me to cook you liver tomorrow?" Scarlett smirked at her son.
Colleen burst out laughing, holding her stomach. "Baby moved again!"
All attention moved back to Colleen and Duke walked over. "Can I feel?"
"Of course, Daddy," Colleen smiled at him, watching his crystal blue eyes shine from the light.
"Hungry?" Scarlett asked, glancing at the table, which was still filled with sandwiches and the mugs.
Colleen nodded. "Reena made me something to eat," she explained. "I came down for some Gummy Bears, but my back hurt, so..."
With a smile, Cayden got some more Tylenol for Colleen. "Here, take this."
Duke's eyes glistened with happy tears as he felt his first grandchild kicking.
"Thanks," Colleen replied, taking the pills from her husband. "Dad, I think we have another martial arts champion in there."
"Maybe he or she will be a doctor too," Cayden said proudly.
Duke smiled. "You better be getting back to bed."
"Yes, Dad," Colleen smiled at her father standing up slowly, taking the bag of Gummy Bears with her.
"I'll put these extra sandwiches in the fridge," Scarlett said, picking up the plate.
At the mentioning of the food, Colleen's eyes widened at the sandwiches. "Reena! She's still out there!"
"I'll go get her," Jeffrey said going towards the door where his boots and coat were.
Colleen's gaze followed her brother heading for the coat closet, before walking over to him. "She went to check on the dogs," she informed him, touching his arm gently.
"Thanks, Cole," Jeffrey said, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "You better go get some sleep. You're going to need it for the war that's going to happen tomorrow."
"I think I'm going to take the girls and Cayden and retreat," Colleen replied, with a smile.
"Will you two stop it!" Scarlett scolded, coming out of the kitchen. "There will be no war tomorrow."
"Alright Mom. Just stay in your nice little world called Scarlett-land, if it makes you feel safer," Jeffrey called out.
Colleen turned to her mother with a cunning smile. "There is a war coming, are you sure you're on the right side?"
"At least I chose a side!" Scarlett called out behind her, walking up the stairs.
"I think I'm going to go grab my husband and stuff a sandwich down his throat," Colleen stated to her brother, kissing him on the cheek and walked back into the kitchen. Her voice floated from the other room, "Dad! If Mom catches you eating that, you will be six feet under!"
Jeffrey rolled his eyes, shaking his head, and walked out in the blistering snow covered world. He trended the foot high white cold mass toward the barn, wondering why Sky Dancer had gone to see the dogs this late in the night, or was it morning? He glanced upwards to the starless sky, only seeing the white puffs made by his breath rising toward it. Nearing the barn, he listened to the soft whimpering that came from Wolfie's run, and he patted the dog before passing him. Another sound caught his attention, of a soft voice speaking in Greek and he followed the sweet sound toward the end of the barn, and where he spotted Sky Dancer sitting on one of the hay stacks, both her dogs right by her side, and her words calming them down.
"You should really come inside," Jeffrey said softly so as not to scare her.
Sky Dancer glanced up at the sound of his voice, not expecting him there. "What are you doing up?" she asked concerned.
"Aunt Allie thought something was wrong with Colly, so she woke everyone up. Turns out she was just feeling the baby kick," Kastor said and sat down beside her.
"Seems I missed the fun," Sky Dancer replied, glancing toward his face while her hand continued to stroke the Doberman on the head.
"What's troubling you?" Kastor asked as he gently rubbed her back.
Sky Dancer leaned against him, her hand leaving the dog's back and took hold of her locket, playing with it. "Nothing is bothering me," she murmured softly.
"Ree, I know something is bothering you. You know you can talk to me," Kastor said gently as he leaned his head against hers.
Her hand left her locket and covered his, giving it a soft squeeze. "I know," she replied softly, her gaze on the dogs. "They've been restless tonight. That's why I came to check on them," She paused for a moment, before she added, "And also to do some training."
"Not tonight," Kastor said. "Come on, let's get back in the house. We are going to have an interesting day tomorrow."
"All right, I'm not going to argue," Sky Dancer replied, standing up and signaling a silent command to the dogs to follow her toward the kennel. She placed them inside, giving each a pat before closing the door. She then turned to him. "What's happening tomorrow?"
"Oh, just Mom and Dad, and one of their bright ideas," Kastor said shaking his head and laughing. "They invited Flint here and he arrives in the morning."
"Umm, is the house insured?" Sky Dancer asked seriously. "I don't think it's going to be left standing."
"I hope so. I already measured my parents for their coffins." Kastor laughed. "Come on."
"Well, I'll tell you one thing. Stories of their famous arguments have been legendary on the base, I never thought of actually living through one of them." Sky Dancer shook her head, taking his hand and they headed together back the farmhouse.