I
Another night in any town
You can hear the thunder of their cry
Ahead of their time
They wonder why
In the shadows of a golden age
A generation waits for dawn
Brave carry on
Bold and the strong
Only the young can say
They're free to fly away
Sharing the same desires
Burnin' like wildfire
They're seein' through the promises
And all the lies they dare to tell
Is it heaven or hell?
They know very well
Only the young can say
They're free to fly away
Sharing the same desires
Burnin' like wildfire
Only The Young, Journey
Three Months Later, December 2005
Even though Jo Polniaczek was taller than her partner Blair Warner, Jo had a sneaking suspicion that when she got pregnant that she wouldn't look like she was carrying a basketball like Blair had. Jo had found that very sexy, but they were different body types. At least so far, three months in, she was correct-she only had a very tiny baby bump that was visible only when she was naked.
But she definitely was pregnant. The daily routine of kneeling in front of the porcelain god reminded her of that. She had always felt bad for Blair when she went through morning sickness a few years back, but sometimes, she'd have trouble keeping a small smirk away, hearing her lover curse, which was very uncharacteristic of Blair Warner.
Now the shoe was on the other foot, so to speak, and she was certain Blair was doing some smirking occasionally.
It was about 6pm on a Wednesday, Blair had been holding meetings and interviews as she worked on getting The Warner-Polniaczek Foundation up and running. She would start small, but wanted to put together a first-rate team of lawyers and veteran corporate officers who knew how to run a business, even one that wasn't for-profit. The Warner name still had a long reach, and Blair was receiving interest from former politicians, lawyers, retired judges, and others, who would be an invaluable resource as they moved forward.
Blair was also laying the groundwork for working with other organizations not just in New York, but nationwide. The Warner-Polniaczek Foundation would concentrate first in New York State, to cut its teeth, but Blair wanted to rapidly to put her resources nationwide. She had already talked to people in the American Civil Liberties Union, the Equality Federation, The Trevor Foundation, and other groups that helped at-risk teenagers, gays and lesbians, and other groups that were demanding equal rights under the law. Like with her prospective cabal of employees, the name Blair Warner immediately got the attention of these groups.
Jo was cooking dinner when Blair arrived-even the smell of food sometimes made her have to bolt to the bathroom, but at the moment, she was fine, with David watching one of the Disney Sing-Along Songs CD's in the living room.
"Hey Mama Jo", Blair said, coming up behind her lover, who quickly turned and they kissed sweetly. "How's DC doing today?"
"He's been great. He helped me clean his room, believe it or not." Blair snorted in laughter. "He keeps himself busy any time I have to lose my lunch."
Blair kissed Jo's cheek in sympathy. "Whoever invented morning sickness should be locked up in H-E-double-toothpicks forever, if you ask me."
That made Jo startle a laugh. "Well, I don't think the Good Lord wants to head south like that, Princess, but maybe we can talk to him about it. How'd your meetings go today?"
"I think I've found the person who can run the whole show. I'll tell you about her over dinner. I also got some good information from the ACLU today on ways to work with them and other groups. They're excited to have another group backing these initiatives."
"My Princess, mover and shaker in the business world", Jo said with a smile, Blair lightly smacking her on the butt.
"When's your next visit with Dr. Washington?"
Jo was still visiting once a week. Dr. Washington felt Jo might be slightly higher risk for a difficult pregnancy because of her past drug use. Part of Jo was angry about that diagnosis, as she had never voluntarily fallen off the wagon. The only time she had heroin in her system since she returned was when Jesse and her gang had kidnapped and drugged her. But on reflection, if it helped ensure a healthy baby, she wasn't going to complain too much.
"Friday morning, around 9", Jo informed her. "You gonna try to be there?"
"No 'try', Polniaczek, I will be there. You were at every one of mine. We can find out what gender the baby is. Do we wait again, or do we find out ahead of time?"
"I'm still debatin' that, Babe", Jo admitted. "I don't know if I feel superstitious about that or what, but I wanna think about it a little longer."
"That's fine, honey", Blair said. "It won't change the sex of the baby, so we have some time."
"Why dontcha change out of your fancy digs, get comfy, and this chicken and rice teriyaki will be ready when you come out?"
"Mmm", Blair said with wide eyes, "I love that stuff."
"I noticed", Jo said with a sly grin. "DC can't get enough of it either. Go on, blondie, I can hold down the fort for a few minutes."
Blair stepped up to Jo, smiling lovingly at her. "I love you, my barbarian." She planted another firm, deep kiss on Jo's lips.
"To the moon and back, my Princess", Jo replied, grabbing Blair into a short embrace while they kissed. Jo smiled happily as Blair turned and walked into the bedroom to change.
A Week Later
Blair had been holding meetings and interviews, and had even hired a company to target and find the best of the best to help her get the foundation off the ground. Some days she would be out of the house from 7 am until 10 pm, getting home thoroughly exhausted. She was committed to doing this, but she also felt bad that some days she saw little or nothing of Jo and David.
She also began noticing that she was getting constant headaches and that her eyes tired much easier than they used to. In fact, she was getting more tired than she used to. At first she chalked all that up to long hours, spending time in front of computers, talking to people, and the fact that she was on the wrong side of thirty.
But something told her to check with Dr. Washington, just in case.
Without telling Jo, which was unusual for either of them to hide anything from the other, she went to see the doctor and told her about her symptoms. Dr. Washington was direct with Blair.
"These are possible effects of your brain contusion from the accident, Blair", the doctor informed her. "You sound like you have some classic migraines, and the vision problems are not uncommon. It isn't unusual for headaches to last for five years, sometimes more, after a traumatic brain injury like yours. It's amazing how well, actually, you came through it."
"For which I'm thankful ever day, Doctor", Blair nodded.
Dr. Washington advised Blair to get another set of MRI's and CT Scans, then she would go over them with a neurosurgeon to see if any effects can be detected. She also advised Blair that she would need to see an Eye Doctor, and be fitted for glasses.
"I'll be honest, Blair, your vision is probably not going back to what it was, and there's a chance you could have headaches for years. Plus there's no guarantee that other symptoms won't crop up as you get older, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there."
Blair had the scans of her brain and eyes done. They were inconclusive, which wasn't unusual, but it was time that Blair come clean with Jo about her ailments.
Monica Warner informed both of her daughters that she was going back to France for a short time-but only to put her house in order on that side of the Atlantic. She had decided to move back to the United States, but not to Manhattan or on Long Island. She had informed them she was going to buy a modest home in White Planes in Westchester County.
It was almost halfway between Peekskill, where Bailey was, and where Blair and Jo lived in Rockville Center.
She had brought Bailey down from Peekskill on a Saturday to visit Blair and Jo, and inform them of the news. Blair was surprised that her mother was going to put down nowhere near her usual stomping grounds.
"I certainly can't tell you where to live, Mother", Blair said cautiously, "but why not downtown or in The Hampton's?"
"I'm going to sell the Manhattan apartment, but I will keep the bungalow on Long Island. However for daily living, I wanted to be between the two of you", she said, nodding at both her daughters.
"Why are you moving back her for good, Mother?" Bailey didn't let on, but she was excited that her mother was moving back to New York. She didn't like the fact that it had taken Blair almost dying in that accident to wake her mother up to how precious and how precarious life could be, but it was better late than never.
"Bailey, my dear", Monica said with a tender smile-one that she had rarely used in her life up until recently, "I almost lost your sister, and I saw what it did to Jo, having to wait until I came all the way from Europe so she could get information. That is unacceptable, as is being so far away from my daughters. Unfortunately your mother is a slow learner, but this is where I belong."
"Are you gonna need any help moving anything when you settle on a house, Monica?"
Monica looked over at Blair's partner. "I will, but you are not going to lift a finger, not being three months pregnant with my second grandchild." Monica stuttered and blushed, realizing what she had said. "I mean, that is if, well, I know..."
"It's okay, Monica", Jo said with a smile. "You know Ma and Pa see DC as their grandson. You're gonna be a big part of this baby's life."
"Thank you Jo", Monica said with some lingering embarrassment. "Are you two going to find out this time, or make us wait like last time?"
As if on cue, David ran over to his Grandma Warner and pounced on her laugh, a large "oof!" coming the older woman. "Always the ham, aren't you, David?"
"Gramma Warner, I like ham." That got a raucous round of laughter from the others.
"You are a ham, you little nut", Monica said with a laugh.
"Okay, Monica", Jo said, bringing the conversation back around to Monica moving back to New York State, "I promise I won't lift even a glass of water when you move, but I know Pa, Richard, and Dwight would love to help when you're ready."
"I can't hire three better people than those gentlemen, so if they're willing, I'm all for it."
Late That Night
Monica had offered to take DC for the night, having Bailey and her grandson spend the evening with her in Peekskill, giving Blair and Jo a chance to have a night off from motherhood. With as hard as Blair had been working, and with the headaches that she had told no one but Jo about, it was a welcome relief.
Jo knew exactly what her Princess needed for the evening, and it started with a hot bath in their over-sized tub, with a lavender/vanilla bubble bath that was made to further relax and calm. As was usually the case, Blair was leaning back, her eyes closed in the tub with Jo holding her from behind, Jo's growing breasts from the pregnancy providing Blair's back with a wonderful cushion.
Jo was softly rubbing Blair's neck and the base of her skull, gently kneading the tense areas of her lover's body.
"When do you get your glasses, Blair?" Jo lightly massaged Blair's shoulders.
"In about a week", Blair informed her, her eyes still closed blissfully. "I have to get bifocals, which will help keep the strain off my eyes. I think they'll help a lot."
"I didn't think we'd have to get specs like that til we were a lot older", Jo added with a small grin. "But hey, if it helps takes the stress off your eyes, and can cut down on the headaches, I'm all for it Princess."
Blair reached both her arms over her shoulders, grabbing each of Jo's hands, stilling them for a moment. "What would I do without you, Joey?" Blair leaned back a little more. "Just your touch makes me feel better."
"I'm here to be at your beck and call, blondie", Jo said seriously. "I'd do anything f0r you, you know that."
"And I'm the luckiest woman on the planet for it, my love." A relaxed sigh left her lips. "Here, move your hands around..."
As with many things between them, Blair didn't even have to finish the thought as Jo's arms moved under Blair's arms, her hands gently squeezing and massaging Blair's ample breasts.
"Ooh, that's it Joey", Blair moaned. "That's perfect."
"I didn't know that your boobs needed a massage to help your eyes and your headache, Blair", Jo said with a snicker. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Turn blue, barbarian", Blair laughed, "but...keep massaging my tits..."