Hello! It's been a busy few weeks here, working overtime. Dealing with sick manchild's, now I am sick but me being sick means i can just relax and actually finish things off when I call in sick at work.

Thank you for all the lovely reviews and follow's. Everyone is amazing and lovely.


Blythe Apartment, early January.

"Lily! Lily!" Shirley raced up into the apartment. He grabbed her swiftly twirling her into the air as she shrieked from the suddenness.

"Shirley, Que diable?" She questioned him when he set her down.

"What if I told you that we have been given a chance of a lifetime?" He spoke rapidly in English.

Lillian titled her head unsure of what husband was going on about. "Shouldn't you be in class?"

"It was cancelled, but I was talking to the director in his office. He said they are looking for engineers to help rebuild Paris. He knows that I can speak French when needed. He said he can arrange for me to sit my exam early maybe at midterms? We can start fresh Lily. Paris Lily! Paris, think of it! All the wonder and sights. No one knowing our history, we can just be to husband and wife. Happily in love, and no one will question or care!"

"Paris?" Lillian looked at him mouth agape, pronouncing it the French way. "But your family?"

"My family will understand," Shirley reassured her. "I have to pass the exam first through."

"You will pass with colours flying," Lillian told him wrapping her arms around him.


"I am so sorry, time ran away with me this morning," Rilla exclaimed as she flung off her coat and found her seat at the table. It was a rather cool Wednesday afternoon in mid-February that day. Rilla peeled off her leather gloves and adjusted her stocking for a moment before straightening herself in her seat.

"Don't fret dear," one of the older women smiled at her and passed her a cup of tea. "You are barely late."

"Did I miss anything?" Rilla asked.

"Nothing at all we were merely going about our mornings," Caroline told her. "So why did yours run away with you?"

"Well, I tried to make breakfast, and I burned the oatmeal and almost set the toast on fire. I was working on a paper about Feminine Psychology and my typewriter ribbon went dull." Rilla sighed.

"You are not much of a cook are you?" Adele chuckled. "Reminds me of my newlywed days."

"I can make simple things, I'm fairly better at baking for some reason. I tend to lose focus which tends to make things go awry." Rilla told him truthfully. "Ken helps out frequently, but probably because he wants to eat something editable." Rilla finished off with a laugh. "but anyway what is on the agenda today?"

"Well, we have the bake sale and craft show coming up," Adele asked. "I spoke to the parks department about your idea about the fair Rilla as well. They are on board with it, we can reach out to various farmers to see if they can help create a petting zoo as well."

"Of course, are we all set for the Cabaret Saturday ?" Rilla asked, talking about the latest weekend event. A night of various artists reciting, playing, singing for charity. It reminded Rilla of her Junior Red concerts the most.

"We are," Laura spoke up. "We just have to decorate the hall in the afternoon. While the bakery and cafe will be along with the light fare for the night that they gave us at cost."

"So we will meet at 1 pm to decorate and refrigerate the food, break at 3:30 so we can all be ready," Caroline stated to the ladies. "Back here for 7 pm, to open doors and mingle until the show starts?"

"Sounds like a plan, now let's have some of this cake," Mabel plunked down a cake on the table and everyone laughed.


"So how is married life?" Rilla smirked as she sipped her tea. "Everything you imagined? Not that I want to know because he's my brother of course." She added to ensure she didn't hear anything she didn't want to know.

Lillian laughed as she leaned back into her chair that was in the Ford's living room. "Marriage is nice, it's nice to not have to worry but also nicer to not to have to worry about boundaries."

"I am glad," Rilla smiled. "You both deserve it, truly you do."

"How are you and Ken without us invading your privacy?" Lillian asked with a knowing smile.

"He works a fair bit, but we are good," Rilla replied before continuing after a moment. "It was strange the first days back and it just is the two of us once again, but time cures that easily. I have a large paper to write over the next few weeks, and some events to help plan. Though I am sure it must be nice to have your own space once more."

"It is lovely, but I do understand how you feel Rilla. It's an adjustment when things change." Lillian responded. "Living with someone new is always strange in the beginning, even when you are in love."

"Those first few weeks are always the strangest. How you go from technically not allowed to be alone with a man, to just living with one. Not that Ken and I followed suit in that." Rilla blushed.

"Whatever do you mean?" Lillian looked up rather shocked.

"Oh I am sure you have heard my brothers mention it a time or two," Rilla brow furrowed and when Lillian shook her head. Rilla shrugged and nodded her head.

"All right, well after the war, before we were married. It was a rough year, I was in my first year of school and Ken was on the island. We were unsure of what we were doing or what we wanted really. He was both having a hard time and one day he showed up at school after catching the early train and ferry over. I just remember not wanting him to leave, I was lonely in the apartment and lonely in general. I needed him as much as he needed me. Much like Shirley and you, Ken and I still had our boundaries. We possibly tested our resolves may be a bit too much. We spent a fair amount of time sneaking around. Finally, there was a catalyst and we had to decide what we wanted for our relationship. What we wanted for ourselves," Rilla rattled off quietly while blushing.

"Well, now I understand why you never questioned Shirley or me," Lillian smiled over her teacup.

"Did you know that Ken never actually proposed to me?" Rilla told her with a coy smile. "He left to go protect our country, leaving me with the request to not kiss anyone else. Then when he came home we were just together and then we just decided to get married."

"Are you serious? Even Shirley proposed. Granted he knew the answer but he still wanted to have that moment to tell our children one day." Lillian's mouth gaped for a moment before she closed it.

Rilla smiled and shrugged. "I'm not angry over it, it worked for us. He still bought me a ring and everything. So children?" Rilla raised her eyebrows with a knowing look. "Babies on the horizon?"

"We shall see," Lillian gave her a knowing look. "No news just yet, but we are happy as we are at the moment. We are in no rush and just wish to enjoy this time together."

"Sometimes I find myself worrying, I laughed and cried over the past week. I spent so two years afraid of getting pregnant, and now that I am in a place where I am all right with the idea. It's not as easy as I thought it would be." Rilla admitted. "The irony of being so paranoid when I probably could have relaxed. Especially I had realized that it wouldn't that be simple of a task?"

"At least you can see the humour in the situation," Lillian pointed out. "But even so, you never know it can only be once, or a multiple tries." Lillian pointed out. Like she knew for her own experiences.

"It must be something strange for you this time around?" Rilla asked without thinking.

"A little, but Shirley is a fine and caring man," Lillian blushed. "But it is nice to not have to worry. In the beginning, I thought being pregnant would mean he might be well for lack of a better word. Nicer to me and he was at times until he wasn't. At least this time it can be a happy occasion and most importantly wanted."

"I marvel at your ability to just move forward." Rilla murmured.

"It hasn't always been this way, and I suppose telling it over and over to lawyers and then to the judge. It's less personal than what it was before." Lillian said after a moment. "Or maybe I try not to let it define who I am because I am not her anymore."

"That is truly one way to look at it, sometimes I feel like such a hypocrite. Studying what I study yet, I struggle with my anxieties." Rilla told her honestly wrapping her hands around her teacup.

"Everyone struggles, you told me that yourself," Lillian reminded her.

"I know, Ken tells me the same thing it's just hard at times. Though since you are here, I still don't completely understand how you got Mr. Meredith to read from your bible. Not his bible, your own catholic bible."

"We had some interesting conversations," Lillian shrugged brushing it off. "There are differences, but at the end of the day, we both look to something larger than us. But how about we look at your dress that needs work and sees what can be done."

"Maybe at some point, we will be letting out our clothing and making little bonnets for each other?" Rilla nodded as she pushed away from her teacup.

"Perhaps, but all in good times and most likely His time," Lillian reminded her with a smile and knowing look.


"Why don't you fill in?" Ken asked her from his spot on the chesterfield as Rilla hung up the telephone. He had caught on to the snippets of the conversation that she was having. Someone had called to say they couldn't make it and now they were trying to find someone to fill in for the event.

"Pardon?" Rilla looked up at him confused.

"Sing a song?" Ken said to clear up the confusion. "You have a lovely voice."

"I am sure there are plenty better singers than myself," Rilla flushed and waved him off. Though it was worrying that one of their acts had called in sick last moment.

"I'm serious Rill, I remember you writing about the concerts you put on for the Reds." Ken reminded her.

"That was a different time, and just because I can carry a tune. Doesn't mean I should sing in front of a crowd." Rilla argued back as she sank down next to him. Her hair still wrapped up in a scarf that kept her pin curls hidden. "Either way, I am dreadfully out of practice and have had no time to even rehearse."

"It was just a suggestion," Ken stated as he wrapped his arm around her. "When do we have to be ready?"

"7 o'clock," Rilla reminded him, "but I can't have you messing up my hair."

"Here I thought you wanted children," Ken said lowly against her neck.

"You are enjoying that excuse aren't you?" Rilla poked him the chest as he grinned sheepishly at her.

"Hmm, it's the best advice I have come across. The more love making you do, the greater your chances." Ken returned to kissing down her neck as his hands pulled the hem of her sweater. "and I promise to not mess up your hair," he added as a murmur.

"You are horribly incorrigible," Rilla poked him once more.

"Incorrigible would be suggesting to use the chaise lounge in the way you once promised me when I bought it for you." Ken smirked at nipped at her neck making her squeak something about love bites showing. "But you are right, we shouldn't." He told her pulling away, which only made her growl and pull at his tie.

"And they say women are teases." Was her response.


They made it to the event on time and much to Rilla's relief hair perfectly set. She was dressed in a green and bronze lace gown with green stockings that have trailing patterns of vines and flowers. Green her colour of choice for any party dress she had bought or made. While Ken looked smart in a black suit and green tie. His hair slicked back and his cufflinks twinkled in the electric lights of the hall.

"We still don't have a set for Miss Bridges," Adele hustled over to Rilla. "Mr. Ford it is good to see you," she added. "I tried phoning to see if you found anyone after I called but they said the phone was off the hook."

Rilla blushed, "Sorry our cat knocked it over and we didn't realize," she told a white lie. "So no one can fill in?"

"Unfortunately not," Adele sighed, "I suppose it will be a shorter night than expected."

Rilla glanced at Ken in the corner of her eye. "Do you any sheet music here?"

"Yes, of course! Why?" Adele looked at her puzzled.

"I will cover for the set," Rilla told her after a deep breath. "I am just hoping they have what I know?" Rilla explained as they made their way over to the stage where there was a piano bench full of sheet music.

Rilla sifted through it carefully until she found what she was looking for.

"Till we meet again, and let me call you sweetheart," Adele read the title. "Oh wonderful, why did you never mention you sing?"

"I rarely do. I am far from a professional, but Ken seems to think that I should at least save us from the embarrassment of not having a full show. Though I'm sure my embarrassment will be much more," Rilla told her with a dry laugh.

"Well, there is a backroom you can quickly practice in," Adele patted her own.

Rilla nodded, wondering what in the world did she just volunteer herself for as led Ken to the back room.

"You will be fine," Ken whispered and quickly kissed her temple as she sat down at the piano. Testing out a few keys, as she read through the music before stumbling through it. Her soprano voice floated through the air. Clear and bright and much more confidant than her playing

"Well, it safe to say it's good that I don't have to play," she joked as she let the piano fade away.

"But your voice is beautiful, and as you said you don't have to play." Ken teased her lovingly as he hummed the top line of the song.

The rest of the evening went off seamlessly before Rilla calmly took the stage. Sitting on the edge of a stool as the band played the familiar intro. Her performance was far from perfect, but it added to the atmosphere. How her gaze was on one man who leaned against a pillar with a soft smile on his face.

"You have a lovely wife Captain Ford," one of the many patrons told Ken.

"It's just Ford now," Ken said through gritted teeth. 'Thank you though, she is lovely that is for sure." He added reminding himself that he was doing this for Rilla.

"Of course, my apologies," the gentleman apologized. "I'm Denis Stanley, Laura's husband."

"Of course, it's nice to see you again," Ken nodded. "Do you often come to these things?"

"I live by the mode of happy wife, happy life," Denis chuckled.

"Always a good plan," Ken agreed. "You look vaguely familiar," he said after a moment.

"We spent some time in London and training together at some point I believe," Denis told him.

"Of course," Ken nodded. Thankfully he knew most men didn't take offence when they weren't recognized. It was hard to recall everyone, and if they weren't in your unit and knee-deep in the mud beside you. "What do you do for a living?"

"Oh, I own Stanley's hardware since my father passed away," Denis said quickly as he saw the ladies approach him all giggly. "If this wasn't a dry event I would say you ladies had far too much punch."

Ken merely nodded and held out his hand to his wife. "You were brilliant," he whispered into her ear.


"I was thinking," Ken spoke up from his chair one Sunday afternoon in early March

"Well, that is never a good thing," Rilla stated as she looked up for her journal.

"Very funny," Ken chuckled. "I was thinking, that we should look into hiring someone. Someone to come in and either clean, cook occasionally."

"Is my cooking that bad," Rilla asked him dryly.

"No, I just think for the future, when we have children. It might be good to have someone we trust around to help out?" Ken explained.

"So you want Susan?" Rilla raised an eyebrow.

"Not necessarily, we don't need anyone to live in with us, but just someone in general," Ken explained. "I am sure that we can find someone to come in a few days a week at this point."

"Are you trying to buy me, friends?" Rilla teased him. "Because I do have friends."

"Of course not, but one day we may need extra help and it is nice to have someone we know and trust," Ken reassured her. "I am just thinking out loud about the future."

"It makes sense," Rilla said after a moment. "While I am sure my mother would come to Kingsport to be with me during labour. But even she will go back home eventually," Rilla told him. "So just an occasional helper might be good to have."

"I will place an advertisement then," Ken smiled at her. "It will be your choice, of course, you would be the one interacting with her most of the time."

Rilla nodded, still puzzled what a woman would help with.

"Can we afford it?" She asked out of nowhere, which made Ken look up puzzled. "I know the magazine is only just breaking even, if at all some months."

"We will be fine," Ken smiled to reassure her. "We aren't losing money, and each month is a little better than before. It will take time before we make an actual profit, but all in good time."

Rilla nodded, Ken knew their finances more than she did at this point. While she still kept up the household budget and made sure things were paid on time. Ken was the one who signed the bank drafts or made sure she had enough for the week. Children cost a lot, she knew that from caring for Jimmy. While their groceries dropped now that Shirley and Lillian were married. Children would add a lot to their budget.

"Well, I am going to go set the table," Rilla stated as she looked at the clock. "The newlyweds should be here soon enough." Ken stood catching her before she could leave the room. Pulling her into his arms and holding her there.

"I have a wonderful feeling about this." He murmured and they stood like that for a moment before the doorbell rang. "I'll get it," he told her. Rilla only nodded watching him for a moment before walking to the kitchen.

"So what news do you have?" Rilla asked as she sat down at the table where Shirley and Lillian were seated. A roast chicken sat in the middle, along with potatoes and steamed winter vegetables. She was almost afraid to ask the newlyweds who were all smiles.

"Well, my new professor at school brought something up to me." Shirley began as he absentmindedly caressed Lillian's hand. "He was impressed with my work so far this year, and well. I was given a chance to take my exams early. With the knowledge that if I passed I would be recruited for a company that is looking for engineers."

"Thats wonderful!" Rilla exclaimed. "I can only assume that you passed if you are telling us?"

"I did, but the real kicker of the whole thing," Shirley said smiling as he squeezed Lillian's hand and grinned at her. "The job is in Paris, we're moving to Paris or will be at some point. Everything is still being worked out and we won't leave until after Easter most likely."

"Congratulation," Ken stood up and clapped Shirley on the back as he went over to the icebox. "Don't have much in ways of celebration, but I do have some Canada Dry ginger ale."

"Sounds good to me," Shirley assured him.

"Paris," Rilla spoke out loud. "I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised, you lived in Montreal. Do mom and dad know yet?"

"We called them this afternoon. I think mom is rather jealous she loved Paris when they went years ago." Shirley laughed.

"I'm rather jealous," Rilla corrected him. "Sometimes it feels like we will never get to Europe," she sighed. "That trip would have been much more fun than being sick."

"Yes, but be thankful you weren't on the boat then," Shirley pointed out. It was something Rilla already knew and was thankful for but still rolled her eyes at his reminder.

"I promise we will get there eventually. Even if we have to bring children," Ken squeezed her shoulder, from where is one arm rested behind her chair.

"Or we can leave them with my parents," Rilla pointed out.

"Yes, but where is the fun in that? Some of my favourite memories are travelling with my parents." Ken grinned before turning his attention back to the other couple. "This is amazing though for both of you. I was young when I saw Paris, but I remember mom taking us to Notre Dame and it was a sight to see."

"That is one plan," Shirley agreed looking at Lillian who nodded and smiled. "It will be bittersweet to leave, but I think it will be good for us."

"Oui, it will a new adventure for us," Lillian agreed. "New adventures are happening all around us it seems."


Well there you go, I hope everyone enjoys this one. I may have been slightly tipsy while writing parts of this haha!

I look forwards to your comments as usual.

Tina.