Author Note:

Thank you so much to those that still follow and review my story. I am really appreciative. To those of you in the US have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!

CH 101-Interlude & Investigation

The trip to visit her grandmother and brother was exactly what Emma needed. On their long drive home, Clay could tell from her voice and behavior that she was feeling more like herself again. She chattered on about Linda and Mike coming for Thanksgiving and if they should have the meal at their place, or over at Jason's.

They didn't arrive home until late that evening. Emma already called her dad and let him know that they would be over tomorrow to pick up Koda. Knowing she had class tomorrow morning, Emma went to the bedroom and started to unpack. Clay didn't have to report to base until Wednesday, but the drive had made him tired too. Laying down to sleep in their bed with Emma in his arms sounded wonderful. Once they were unpacked and everything was either back in its place, or in the clothes hamper to be dealt with tomorrow, the two started to ready themselves for bed.

Back in the bedroom, each stood on their side of the mattress, changing their clothes. Clay took his wallet and knife from his pocket to put on his nightstand. As he cleared out his pockets his fingers brushed at the soft, velvet pouch that held Linda's ring. He wanted to show Emma and tell her about his conversation with her grandmother before he locked the ring away in the safe. Emma changed into what used to be his favorite t-shirt, before she liberated it from his dresser, and slipped between the sheets. Clay stripped down to his underwear and slid in next to her. As was their habit, Emma nestled under his arm with her head on his chest and looped a leg over his. She expected him to turn out the light and offer her a good night kiss. Instead, he reached over to nightstand and grasped the tiny bag in his hand.

"Em, you remember when we were helping your grandma on Saturday, when she called me into her room for something?"

"Yea, why?"

"Well, she really didn't need any help. She just wanted to get me so that she could give me this."

Clay let the drawstrings dangle from between his thumb and first finger. Then he worked open the little pouch and pulled out the contents. Emma sucked in a breath.

"She said that this was her engagement ring. The one your grandfather gave her when he proposed. She remembered what you told her about your pendant and how it was from my grandmother's ring. Well…she wanted you to have this too. For us to use some of these stones in your ring, whenever we're ready."

Emma held out her hand and Clay placed the delicate circle in her palm. When she spoke, her voice was heavy with emotion.

"I…I don't ever remember her wearing this. She must have had it put up all this time."

"Yea. She said that she and your grandpa were together for over 40 years and wanted to pass that legacy of love on to us."

Her tears did fall then, and Clay wiped them from her cheeks.

"You know, I don't remember Grandpa Hayes. He died when I was really young. I can't believe that she was willing to part with this."

"For you Em. She wants you to have it."

"I love the idea of combining the stones into a setting. It's like," she sniffed. "It's like blending our two families together."

She looked up at him with shining eyes and he placed sweet kiss on her lips.

"Here," he held out his hand for the ring. "I'll put in the safe tomorrow morning, first thing."

"Thank you, Clay."

He placed the bag and its contents back on the tabletop and turned out the light. He did give her a good night kiss then and they shifted position so that he was spooning behind her. Clay took her left hand in his and toyed with her fingers.

"Em, I know that we're waiting for anything 'official', but you know you're it for me Baby, right? Ring or no ring, I'm yours."

She turned over then to face him. She could just make out his face in the dark. Placing a hand on either of his cheeks, she answered.

"I know that. And you're it for me too. I'm yours, Clay. I'm not looking for anyone else, ever. And I'm sorry to make you wait."

"Honey, it's okay, I under…."

Emma cut him off.

"I want to spend my life with you, and…I …I want to be your wife. I just, I want to graduate and have a job before we, make any plans. I want to be able to contribute, to be a real partner for you, in everything. My mom got pregnant with me so young and then she and Dad got married. They struggled, and she never got to go to college or anything. And…I do want to have your babies. I just want to make sure we're really ready."

She looked down for a brief moment and then returned to his gaze.

"Em, honey. I didn't say that to rush you. I just want you to know that whenever you're ready, so am I."

"I know. Thank you for being patient with me."

"There's nowhere I'd rather be, Em."

Clay hugged her close and then loosened his embrace. Emma turned over again and snuggled back against Clay's broad chest.

"You know babe," he spoke again. "It really meant a lot to me to have Linda give me that ring."

She reached for his hand and threaded her fingers through his as he continued.

"It was like she was giving me her blessing to be with you."

"That doesn't surprise me. Grandma loves you. She can see what a good man you are and how happy I am with you."

He squeezed her and pressed a kiss against her head. They were silent again. Clay closed his eyes and began to drift when Emma's soft voice drew him back to the present.

"I wish I could have met your Grandmother."

Clay sighed and placed a kiss on her shoulder.

"Me too. You two would have loved each other."

"You really think she would have liked me?"

"She would have loved you, Baby. You have such a warm, open heart. And you have the same passion for helping children that she did. She would see what good care you take of me. I know she would be almost as in love with you as I am."

Clay sounded so confidant, yet wistful at the same time. She knew how much his Grandparents meant to him. It hurt her to think that he had no reminders of them, only memories. At that moment, an idea took root in her mind. She didn't want to share with Clay yet, didn't want to get any hopes up. So, she just drew his hand up to her lips and kissed his palm. Then she held it against her heart as they drifted off to sleep.

The next day, between classes, Emma went to the library and jumped online and started her research. Clay had mentioned to her a while ago the name of the Mission organization his Grandparents served. She would start with that, typing "Peace for the Children," into her web browser. Only a few results returned. Emma clicked on the most promising and started to read. The mission was an independently run non-profit organization that didn't align itself with the UN initiatives. It appeared like they had once had operations in several countries. Now it looked like the charity had run dry of funding and was no longer functioning. Emma did locate the name of the person that appeared to be in charge when the mission folded. She jotted that name down and did yet another search. It was an older gentleman and there was a valid Facebook profile listed. Emma sent him a message and hoped that against all odds he would be able to help her.

**The name of the charity organization is purely fictional & isn't intended to represent any real organization**