SEARCH AND DISCOVERY
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THE AMERICAN EMBASSY
Zoya returned to her office, kicked off her shoes and started pacing.
"Alex, is there any chance you can get me a list of people who have come to Moscow in the last 24 hours?" Zoya asked.
"I can try," Alex said. "May I use your phone?"
"Of course," Zoya replied.
Alex made a call to a friend and within thirty minutes the flight manifests were being downloaded onto Zoya's computer.
"Do you know what you're looking for?" Alex asked.
"I think so," Zoya said. "I could use some help."
"What can I do?" Alex asked.
"I am looking for these names, or variations of them." Zoya said writing a list.
"You know Harm once told me that this is how he met Clayton Webb." Alex stated. "The spies are always calling on the military for help."
"There's one difference here," Zoya said. "I'm not longer a spy and I'm prettier than Webb."
"I would have to agree," Alex laughed. "Who are Blane T. Cowbey, Lew B. Catonby and Lt. Abby Cowen?"
"It's one person," Zoya stated. "Just tell me if you find the name."
"Zoya, what's going on?" Alex asked.
"I was wondering the same thing," Webb asked standing in the door.
"Clay, what are you doing here?" Zoya asked trying to hide her stomach.
"Alex, it's good to see you." Webb said walking in but looking at Zoya.
"It's nice to see you my old friend," Alex smiled and said in Russian to Zoya, "I think I know what's going on."
"Do not leave me here alone with him," Zoya replied in Russian.
"I am going to get a cup of coffee, can I bring you something?" Alex said in English.
"No, I'm fine, thank you." Webb said never taking his eyes off Zoya's swollen belly.
"No thank you," Zoya replied. "Alex, why don't I just have something delivered?"
"It's okay, I want to stretch my legs," Alex said and walked over to Zoya.
"Please don't leave," Zoya said in Russian.
"I think I should," Alex smiled and said in Russian, "Here's your chance to tell him."
"Don't leave," Zoya replied in Russian.
"I will be back later," Alex said and left the office, closing the door with an emphatic thud.
"It's good to see you," Zoya said as she turned her back to him and fiddled with papers on her desk. Making idle chatter she rambled on, "You should have told me you were coming. I would have picked you up from the airport. What time did your flight get in? How were things in Haiti? This really is a surprise."
Webb walked to Zoya and stood directly behind her. He smiled as he put his arms around her and placed his hands on her stomach.
"Is there something you want to tell me?" Webb whispered in her ear.
"Uh huh," Zoya smiled.
"This will change everything," Webb said.
"Uh huh," Zoya said.
"This could get complicated." Webb said.
"Uh huh," Zoya said biting her lip.
"AJ's going to kill me isn't he?" Webb said.
"Uh huh," Zoya said.
"You don't care do you?" Webb asked as he turned her around.
"En ah," Zoya smiled and kissed him.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Webb asked.
"There wasn't a good time, I found out the day you got sent to Haiti." Zoya said. "How did you find out?"
"Have you looked in a mirror lately?" Webb laughed. "It was a surprise when I walked in."
"I'm not that big," Zoya said rubbing her stomach.
"I like where you've gained it," Webb said placing his hands on hers.
"Whoa, did you feel that?" Zoya asked.
"Was that the baby?" Webb asked.
"Yes, that was the first time." Zoya said.
"The baby knows daddy is here," Webb stated.
"Do you want to be a daddy?" Zoya asked.
"Only if you're the mommy," Webb replied. "Is this why you quit?"
"Yes," Zoya replied. "There would have been too many questions and I wanted you back in DC."
"Then why did you leave Washington?" Webb asked.
"I didn't want to discuss anything," Zoya said. "I stupidly told you I loved you and you wanted to discuss it."
"You are stupid," Webb sighed.
"Excuse you," Zoya said.
"I felt we should have discussed your quitting." Webb said. "Not that you loved me. If you hadn't hung up you would have heard my reply to that statement."
"What would that be?" Zoya asked.
"I don't want to talk right now," Webb smiled. "Let's get you home, you look exhausted."
"I don't want to sleep," Zoya replied. "Besides we can't leave, Alex is coming back."
"How did you meet?" Webb asked.
"We bumped into each other, literally." Zoya laughed. "We started talking and found that we knew the same people."
"Is it safe to come in?" Alex asked as he walked in.
"Come on in," Zoya laughed.
"Did you tell him?" Alex asked in Russian.
"He noticed," Zoya replied.
"Congratulations papa," Alex said and shook Webb's hand.
They sat for about an hour and chatted. Zoya and Alex explained how they met, and then about the work Alex and Webb did together. After another hour, the men noticed Zoya beginning to fall asleep.
"Come on mommy, you need to sleep." Webb said taking her hand. They walked out of Zoya's office and the Embassy.
"Good night Alex," Zoya said giving him a kiss.
"Good night," Alex smiled. "Clay, I'm glad you're here."
"So am I, Alex," Webb replied and they left for their respective residences.
AMERICAN EMBASSY QUARTERS
"Do you need to call the hotel and cancel your reservations?" Zoya asked.
"No, I never made any," Webb replied.
"What would you have done if you weren't able to find me?" Zoya asked.
"Like that was a possibility," Webb laughed. "Once Harriet said you had gone home, I knew where you were."
"She has a big mouth," Zoya smirked.
"She's a good friend," Webb said. "She was upset with me because of our conversation. I have never known Harriet Roberts to get upset with anyone."
Zoya giggled at the thought of Harriet being nasty. She couldn't be upset with Harriet for giving Webb a hint, seeing him here now, she was glad that Harriet did. Zoya yawned and walked towards the bedroom. The baby had been kicking non stop since Webb arrived. She took it as a sign. Between the kicking and the lack of real sleep, Zoya was wiped out and decided to take a nap. As she walked back to the bedroom she turned to Webb and smiled.
"Are you coming?" Zoya asked.
"In a minute," Webb replied.
"Not in a minute," Zoya said walking back to him, "Now."
"You've gotten rather bossy," Webb laughed and followed her to the bedroom.
They spent the next hours reacquainting themselves. It had been over a month since they had seen or held each other and that was more important than anything else in the world.
"I've missed you so much," Zoya said as she settled against him.
"So have I," Webb said stroking her hair.
"How are things back in DC?" Zoya asked.
"Fine I guess. I was only back twelve hours before I left for Moscow." Webb said.
"Oops," Zoya smiled.
"This is the second time you've saved me from exile." Webb said. "I owe you again."
"I think we're even," Zoya said and patted her belly.
"Everything is okay," Webb said. "There are no complications or problems."
"Everything is perfect," Zoya said. "The baby is right on target."
"What is the target date?" Webb asked.
"About two and a half more months," Zoya said.
"How were you able to keep the baby hidden?" Webb asked.
"I didn't start showing until about two weeks ago." Zoya stated.
"Tell me something, if I hadn't come here, what were you going to do?" Webb asked. "Show up with a baby in your arms?"
"I hadn't thought about it. I wasn't sure if you even wanted to be a father." Zoya said and quietly added. "I'm still not."
"How can you even think that?" Webb asked.
"It's not like this was on your to do list," Zoya replied.
"It is now," Webb replied.
"You know you don't have to do anything," Zoya stated. "I am perfectly capable of handling this by myself."
"And you would want to do that why?" Webb asked.
"I don't know," Zoya sighed. "A normal life would be nice, but it's not like that could really happen."
"This baby will have as normal a life as any child can." Webb said. "I have no intentions of shirking my responsibilities."
"Shirking your responsibilities huh?" Zoya asked. "You make it sound so romantic."
"You know what I mean," Webb said. "There will be two parents, preferably in the same house."
"Gee are you always this charming?" Zoya interrupted. "So we are going to get a house together?"
"You're twisting everything I say," Webb stated. "You know that I would never have you do this alone."
"I do?" Zoya asked.
"Just out of curiosity, are you trying to be impossible or is this just a treat?" Webb asked sarcastically.
"Clay, you are talking about making a life together." Zoya announced. "Don't you think it might be a good idea to ask me what I want?"
"I assumed we wanted the same thing," Webb stated.
"It would be nice if you asked." Zoya said.
"I don't believe this," Webb sighed. "Zoya, do you want to get married, have a home and babies with me?"
"Well of course I do, like you even need to ask," Zoya smiled.
"I give up," Webb said shaking his head. "Let's get some sleep."
