Jarrod sighed as he looked at the headstone. It had been well over five years since he had been here. He gently fingered the words on the headstone and hung his head.

"I'm sorry I haven't been to see you Father." He sat down next to the headstone and pulled his knees to his chest and took a deep breath.

"I know mother comes to see you quite often and I'm sure she has filled you in on your three granddaughters. They are cute as they can be and each one of them has their own little personality, even Nick's little girl who is only a month old." Jarrod laughed as he continued, "Nick has a little girl and it is so funny watching him with her and touching at the same time."

Jarrod put his head on his knees for a moment before continuing, "I wish you could have met my wife Jessica. I never thought I would be lucky enough to find love again but I did and Jessica is everything I could ask for." Jarrod looked around and whispered, "And we're having a baby! We haven't told the family yet but we plan on it later today. I wanted you to be the first one to know." Jarrod beamed with pride as Jessica had told him last night she was expecting and he could not have been happier.

"I'm sure you know I was elected a Senator a while back although the circumstances surrounding it were rather ominous." Jarrod paused and took a deep breath, "before we arrived the Governor asked me to be his Lt. Governor and after talking to Jessica I have decided to accept his offer. I haven't told the family yet but we will." Jarrod laughed as he continued, "I guess I have two big announcements to make don't I?"

Jarrod fingered the headstone once again and sighed. "It took a lot longer than I thought it would but I finally got the son of a bitch." Jarrod paused to reel in his emotions. "I'm sorry it took so long but I promised you I would get him." The tears fell down Jarrod's face as he continued, "he won't pay for his part in your killing but with all the other charges he's facing he will spend the rest of his life in prison. I know it won't bring you back but it's the best I could do." Jarrod sobbed quietly for a few minutes.

He wiped his face with his jacket sleeve and whispered, "I love you father and I miss you every day." Jarrod stood up and kissed the top of the headstone. He stood for a moment and finally walked to Jingo and mounted. He called, "I will try to do better and come see you more often."

He nudged Jingo into a slow pace to head back to the ranch.

Jessica watched as Jarrod rode back to the ranch and smiled. She walked out to the barn to greet him as Jarrod handed Jingo to Ciego. She hugged him and they walked arm in arm together.

Jessica asked, "Well?"

Jarrod smiled as he kissed the top of her forehead, "It was something I had to do my love."

"I know. Do you feel any better?"

Jarrod smiled, "As a matter of fact I do." They continued to walk to the house.

Jessica stopped and turned to Jarrod, "Are you ready to tell your family everything?" She rubbed her belly.

Jarrod smiled as he placed his hand on her belly, "Yes my loves." He pulled her to him and kissed her passionately.

They were interrupted when Leah came running out of the house screaming, "Yuck Unk Jay is kissing Aunt Jess again."

Jarrod and Jessica laughed as they each got one of Leah's hands and took her back into the house. Victoria was in the library when Jarrod and Jessica entered with Leah.

Leah ran to her grandmother and proudly told Victoria, "Unk Jay was kissing Aunt Jess again," and she made an ugly face which caused Victoria to laugh.

Victoria asked her, "Well what should we do about that dear?"

Leah thought a moment and said, "Stand in corner."

Jarrod laughed as he said, "Very well but first we need to make a few announcements."

Victoria asked, "Can it wait for the rest of the family to get here Jarrod?"

Jarrod shrugged his shoulders and said, "I can wait but I'm not sure you can." He walked to the drink cart and fixed a drink as Jessica sat on the settee next to Victoria.

Victoria looked at the couple as Jarrod joined Jessica on the settee. Then she replayed Jarrod's statement in her mind, "Announcements Jarrod?"

Jarrod smiled and simply answered, "Yes."

Victoria frowned but decided it would be best to wait for the rest of the family. She sighed as it would be dinner time before everyone got to the house and that was four hours from now. How could her eldest son expect her to wait that long? Well she would show him.

Five minutes later Victoria could not take it any longer and asked, "What are the announcements Jarrod?"

Jarrod chuckled as he held Jessica's hand and looked at Jessica who nodded her head yes. "What would you like to hear first mother? The good news or the very good news?"

Victoria frowned at her eldest and said, "Just tell me."

Jarrod and Jessica laughed at Victoria's impatience. Jarrod sipped his scotch and cleared his throat as he drug this out so to irritate his mother. He looked at his mother and smirked knowing she was aggravated.

He stood up and began, "I have been nominated to take Stevens place as Lt. Governor and after talking to my beautiful wife you are looking at the next Lt. Governor for the state of California."

Victoria stood up and hugged Jarrod's neck, "I am so proud of you son." She kissed his cheek, "Was that the good news or the very good news?"

"That depends on your point of view."

Jessica giggled as Jarrod teased his mother and said, "Jarrod!"

Jarrod shrugged his shoulders as he joined his wife once again on the settee. He kissed her cheek and held her hand as he spoke, "The very good news is that my beautiful wife is having my baby!"

Victoria clapped her hands and rushed the couple hugging them both, "Oh that's wonderful!"