A little after eight p.m. that night, Martin walked into the church's lunchroom. Jane was sitting with Trent and his "family" and waved him over. He smiled and headed in their direction.

Before he could get to the table, Martha Peters stepped in front of her son and stopped him. "I have a question for you, Martin," she said. "What were you and Daria doing when you were alone earlier?"

Martin anticipated this question, especially when he saw her stare at them after their return to the church. "If it's any of your business, we were talking," he said. "Plus I let her borrow a few of my books."

"It is my business," she said and moved up to him, her expression angry. "You expect me to believe that you two spent an hour alone and all you did was talk and loan out some books? How stupid do you think I am?"

He said nothing, but returned her glare.

Jane and the others found their attention drawn to the mother-son conflict.

"For your information, Martin, I didn't even approve of that hunting lesson you gave those girls. You and the two new girls go out alone in the woods for several hours? Do you know how that looked?"

"I'm a serious and safe hunter and you know it! I'm obligated to teach a friend or friends safe hunting, if he or she needs to know. Besides, I don't really care how it looked! Do you actually think my self-esteem is based on what some gossipy old biddies think? Earth calling Mom, it isn't!"

She crossed her arms over her chest and snorted. "Ha. The men of the church dismissed my concerns because of your so-called seriousness. How do you expect to be a preacher if you go traipsing off in the woods with two girls like that?"

Martin laughed, put his hands on his hips and said, "I told you before that I'm not going to be a preacher. That's your calling, not mine. I get what you're driving at. You think that I did something immoral with Daria, maybe even Jane, too."

Martha backed up slightly. "I...I just don't want you and Daria to make the same mistake that we..." Her words trailed off and her face went red.

A surprised look crossed Martin's face and he asked, "The mistake that you and Dad what?" She closed her mouth and said nothing as he continued, "What are you trying to say, Mom? Am I a...mistake?"

She turned to walk off and he said to her back, "That explains why I can't find out exactly when you two got married. You two couldn't wait and boom! Here I am? How stupid do you think I am?"

Martha Peters turned back, rushed up to Martin and quickly slapped his face. The background sounds of lunchroom talking ceased and the attention of everyone in the room was now focused on the two.

"Oh, crap," Jane muttered.

"Ditto," Pam whispered.

"You listen to me, young man! I am your mother and I demand respect from you! What did you and Daria do when you two were alone?"

The youth's face and ears were beet red in color. "That is none of your business!"

"I want an answer!"

He crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at her. "The question has been answered, Martha-5."

The second slap was harder than the first. Jane winced, Pam said, "Ow!" and Trent whispered, "Whoa."

"That's another thing," Martha said. "I certainly do not approve of the fact that you watched that Logan's Run movie when it had partial nudity in it."

Martin's smirk was still on his face, but there was a tear visible in his right eye. "There was nothing partial about Jenny Agutter's nudity, Mom. She was totally naked in it."

She closed her eyes and took a couple of deep breaths. "Martin, I want an answer to my question and you are pushing me."

"The. Question. Has. Been. Answered." With that said, he turned his back on her, looked straight ahead and walked off. After a few feet, he turned around and said, loud enough for everyone to hear, "Don't ever ask me that question again! It is NOBODY'S business!" Then he left the room. Martha stood there for several seconds, then left the room the way she had come in.

"What was that about, Janey?" Trent asked.

Jane and Pam turned and looked at each other with their eyebrows raised, then at Trent. He noted their reactions and asked, "What?"

"Martin and Daria were alone for more than hour this afternoon," Jane said. "Then they come back all smiles and walking side by side."

"Sounds like they made a 'connection' and his mother didn't like it," Pam said.

Jane shook her head and said, "Knowing Daria and her shyness, it's hard to say whether they did or didn't." She smiled. "I'll certainly ask her about it again, though. Now, I'm going to check something out. Later."

"Later," they said and watched as Jane left.

oooooooooo

Outside the church, Jane found Martin in the cemetery on the hill where they had comforted Daria earlier that day. He leaned against a maple tree as he saw her approach. "Sorry you had to see that," he said and gave her a rueful smile.

"I didn't hear all of it," she said. "But I take it that your mother did not like the fact that you two were alone that long."

"She didn't like the three of us being alone on a hunt, either. The 'potential for immorality' was great, or some crap like that."

Jane leaned against the tree on its other side. "Martin, what did you two do when you were alone?" she asked.

He laughed and said, "I never realized that my private life would be so interesting. I'm not telling you. You'll have to ask Daria."

"You can tell me. I'm her best friend."

"No, I can't. I cannot confirm or deny anything."

"Why not? What are you afraid of?"

Martin moved in front of her, a smile on his face and said, "One, I'm not one of those guys who brags about a conquest--or lies about it, either. I haven't known you two that long, but I believe that if I did that, I'd lose Daria's friendship. That isn't worth it. Two, I value my health and body parts and I want to keep everything intact and in good working order. I'd really hate to piss Daria off. It would probably be...painful."

"I'm her best friend!"

"That brings me to number three. Since you are her best friend, it is up to her to tell you what she wants you to know." He laughed. "Nice try on questioning me, however. I take it that Daria didn't tell you anything earlier?"

Jane crossed her arms over her chest and sighed. "No. I'll wait until she's off watch and try again. Unless you told her not to tell me."

He shrugged. "That's up to her. I'll trust her judgment on that. Now I have a question for you. When your brother and his woman showed up, Daria turned moody and cold. Would you know why she did that? She wouldn't tell me."

"I didn't notice that," Jane said. "Oh, boy. Do you remember asking me about Daria's big crush?"

"Yeah."

"Trent was her big crush."

"Oh."

"Then he suddenly shows up with a ready-made family. I never thought about her reaction to that. I was so happy about finding him alive that I forgot about her feelings for him." She blinked and looked at Martin. "That sounds pretty bad, doesn't it?"

"It sounds normal to me."

oooooooooo

An hour later, Martin was cleaning his shotgun in a Sunday school classroom as Trent walked in. "Hi," the teen said as he looked up briefly.

"Hey, dude," Trent said and sat down on a chair nearby. "Bad scene earlier."

"I'm sorry that you had to see it," Martin said. "My mother forgets that I'm not eight years old anymore."

"I have a question and since you're Daria's friend, I thought that I might be able to ask you."

"Sure. What do you need?"

Trent looked outside the room briefly, leaned towards Martin and asked quietly, "Where can Pam and I go for a little...privacy? Trying to find a room here in a church just doesn't seem right."

Martin blushed slightly, but stroked his chin and got some gun oil on it. "Most of the married couples here have homes nearby and go to them for a while. Others use their cars or SUVs with some shielding. If you're into nature, though, there's always the back of the graveyard. A lot of teen couples go there, but you can be caught by others, unless you have guards."

Trent laughed briefly. "I can't ask Jane about this, or Daria either."

Martin put the shotgun down. "Can I ask you a question? If you don't mind me asking, that is."

"Go for it."

"How come you and Daria...never got together?"

Trent seemed surprised by the question and stared at him briefly. Then he smiled and shook his head. "Well, she's still a kid, really, no offense, man."

"That's O.K."

"I like Daria and if we were closer in age, I would have asked her out. But then Black Saturday happened and..." He shook his head briefly and said, "You two seem to get along real good."

Martin smiled. "I like to think so."

"Daria's the coolest teenager I've ever met. If she considers you a friend, then you must be pretty cool, too." He held out his hand.

Martin took it and they shook. "You know, I keep thinking I've seen you before. Are you in a rock band?"

"Yeah, man. Mystik Spiral. Have you heard of us?"

Martin's expression lit up. "Have I? My cousin saw you at a place called 'Skunk's'. He got your 45 record of Icebox Woman. I had a turntable and we played it in my room one time."

"Whoa. Neat." Trent smiled. "What did you think of it?"

"It was great! We both got grounded."

"Your mother seems...intense."

"You could say that. I'd say obsessed myself. Oh, well. Would you want me to stand...guard for you and your friend? I won't watch and I can use the shotgun to warn you if someone tries to come up on you."

"Hey, could you, man? It's kind of hard to find time, with little girls around, and all."

Martin finished putting together the shotgun, stood up and said, "Sure."

"We're not married. Is that a problem?"

The teen shrugged. "That's your business. If you two decide to get married, however, Rev. Harris will gladly do it. I can tell you that."

"Maybe later, man."

They left the room together.

oooooooooo

Daria had stood watch with Deacon Jones in Glen's spring house and was thankful that it was over. He was a nice enough man, but the witnessing was getting on her nerves. I like how Martin explained it better, she thought and smiled. Your actions are a better witness than your words.

She left alone to walk back towards the church, while the deacon spoke with Jimmy and Cody, their relief watches.

Suddenly, she heard Martha Peters nearby. "Can we talk a minute, Daria?" she asked.

Daria calmed down, relaxed her hold on her pistol stock and said, "O.K."

They walked a few feet and Martha asked, "What are you trying to do with my son?"

"Excuse me?"

"I want to know your intentions, Daria. Are you looking for a husband or are you just...having a fling with him?"

"We are just friends, Mrs. Peters. Nothing more."

"Just friends? You two were alone for more than an hour. If you're 'just friends', then you can be 'just friends' inside the church. Martin is going to be a preacher, Daria. It's his calling. Being alone with you...jeopardizes that."

Oh, really? Daria held in her anger and said, "Martin's goals sound different than yours."

"You are a guest, Daria. I'm asking you to respect my wishes for my son. After all, can you see yourself as a preacher's wife?"

O.K., bitch, let's see you figure this one out. "No, I can't," she said, a smile on her face. "I promise you this, Mrs. Peters. I will never put a preacher or even a seminary student in a compromising position or an awkward situation."

The woman looked relieved. "Thank you, Daria. I knew that you'd understand my position."

But do you understand it?

"God bless you, Daria."

"May your life be...interesting, Mrs. Peters."

Martha looked confused for several seconds, shrugged, then walked off towards the church ahead of the girl.

Daria looked up at the full moon and sighed. "Where's the werewolves when you really need one?" she asked.

A few seconds later, she stepped inside the church and yawned. Then she jumped when she saw Jane standing in the shadows, a smile on her face. "O.K., Lane, you're up to something," she said and took her rifle off her right shoulder. "Besides scaring the crap out of me. Whatever it is, it's no good."

"You missed the show while you were on watch."

"No, I didn't. I just got talked to by Martin's mother. She doesn't want me to 'damage' her son's reputation."

Jane laughed. "Really? Now, that's interesting. Because Martin and his mother got into it in the lunchroom earlier tonight. She slapped him in front of everyone. Twice."

Daria looked down and shook her head. "Oh, crap," she muttered. "Did you hear what it was about? As if I didn't know."

"It was about you and Martin and your 'private' time this afternoon. She demanded to know what happened."

"Oh, that's just great. What did he tell her?"

"Nothing. I think that's why she slapped him." She looked around briefly and added in a quieter voice, "She also...let it slip that Martin was a...mistake."

"What? Explain what you just said."

"I heard her tell him that she didn't want you two to make the same mistake she and his dad did. He didn't know about that, from his reaction."

"Did you talk to him about it?"

"About that? No way, but I did ask him about what you two did when you were alone."

Daria lifted the rifle and held in both hands as she looked at Jane. "Do I have to shoot you now, Lane, or is the damage already done? Do I have to shoot him, too?"

Jane laughed and held up her hands. "Relax, chica, relax. He said that if I wanted to know I had to ask you."

A smile crossed Daria's face and she said, "I like that. What is so important about you knowing anyway?"

Jane moved back slightly and her smile widened. She said, "Maybe you'd relax some if you did it."

"I'll help you relax some, Jane." She held up the rifle. "Don't make me stick this down your throat."

Jane whispered, "Is that what Martin told you earlier?"

Daria blushed deeply, said, "That does it!" and chased Jane outside the church and into the parking lot, the rifle in her hands like a club. Deacon Jones stopped them, his hands in the air.

"Girls, what you two are doing is unsafe and immature. Leave the horseplay to the children."

"We're sorry," Jane said and looked down in a show of contrition. "We're just having a little fun."

"Yeah," Daria added. "Jane just wanted me to make an impression on her."

The deacon sighed. "I understand the need to let off steam, girls. But find a constructive and safe way to do it, please. Now, it's time for you two to settle in for the night.

oooooooooo

Inside the church, Daria glanced towards Trent and Pam, who slept with the two little girls nearby. She sighed and thought, I hope she makes you happy, Trent. I really do.

Then she looked over at the space where the Peters family slept and noted that Martin wasn't with his parents. She moved over to Jane and whispered, "Jane! Where's Martin?"

"He hasn't been around his parents all night," Jane whispered back. "Go to the pre-K classroom. Knock three times gently, walk in and shut the door. He's waiting for you."

Daria blushed slightly, but smiled. "Thank you, Jane."

"De nada, mi amiga. De nada."