Jeremy put a record on the victrola and pulled Annie into his arms. "Dance with me."
"I... I can't."
"Oh come now, this isn't that hard, it's just moving your feet a bit."
"Jeremy..."
"Please Annie..."
She looked up at him and then sighed. "Oh... all right."
He held her close as they slowly danced in the middle of the room. Ann rested her head on his shoulder and gave a little sigh. "This isn't so bad is it?" he asked.
"No... I suppose not."
He smiled and kissed the top of her head.
She closed her eyes and leaned against him. "Why can't all dancing be this easy?"
"I don't know, honey."
She was quite for a long time after that. He gently rubbed his fingers along her back where he knew the scars were. "I miss it..."
"It was your life..."
"It was so much more than just my life..."
"It's who you were, Annie...Everything you did revolved around dancing."
A tear trickled down her cheek.
He gently wiped it away.
"I'm sorry..."
"Shh..." he said, placing his finger on her lips. "I'm here to listen whenever you want to talk..."
She sniffled. "Thank you...
He kissed her forehead and held her close again.
-----
Spot sank onto the couch in the study and buried his face in his hands. "Rae..." he groaned, tears falling freely. "I need you..." The door behind him opened. He sighed and lifted his head, looking over his shoulder. He quickly stood and made his way to the door. "Lizzy..."
"Are you okay, Daddy?"
He slipped his arm around her. "Not really...how are you, princess?"
"I miss Momma..."
"So do I, Liz...so do I..."
"I'm sorry Daddy..."
He led her over to the couch and sat down, holding her close. "It's not your fault, honey."
"I know... but I feel so sad for you too..."
He kissed the top of her head. "She's not sick anymore," he said.
"I know... But it is still sad..."
"I know..." he said, rocking her gently.
She held onto him for a long time.
Marty knocked softly on the door, Ashleigh bundled into her arms. "Someone wants to see you."
He looked up. "Bring her here..."
Marty walked over. He took the baby and held her close, kissing her tiny forehead. Marty smiled faintly.
"Can I hold her?" Lizzy asked softly.
"Of course," Spot said, carefully placing Ashleigh in her arms.
"She's tiny."
"Yes she is."
"Were we this tiny?"
Spot smiled. "Even smaller."
"I can't believe it."
"She looks just like you..."
She laughed a bit. "That's not saying much- I don't even know what I look like."
"You're beautiful...that's all that matters."
She smiled.
-----
Annie sat on the couch reading a book. Jeremy sat on the floor at her feet watching her. Every once in a while he would reach up and tickle her feet. "Jerry...stop that!"
"Why?" A playful grin crossed his lips.
"Because I'm trying to read."
"Is it really that distracting?"
"Yes..."
"Are you always so serious? I don't remember you being that way."
Growling, she tossed her book aside and walked into the kitchen.
He sighed. "Ann... what's the problem?"
"I don't want to talk about it," she said, opening cabinets and slamming them closed.
"I was just trying to lighten things up! We're going to be here for who knows how long... We'll go mad if we don't have a little fun every now and then."
She kept opening and slamming doors. After a few minutes she turned and sank to the floor in tears.
"Ann?" He squatted next to her and gently stroked her back.
"I want to go home..." she sobbed.
"I know, I know. So do I."
She turned and buried her face in his shirt. He stroked her hair and held her close. "Something is wrong at home...and I'm stuck here..."
"I'm sorry..."
She sniffled.
"I wish I could make it better," he told her truthfully. "You don't want to be sad your entire stay here, do you? I mean, we're stuck her, so we might as well make the best of it, huh?"
She stood and walked to the window. "You don't understand, Jerry."
"Well then, explain it to me. I'll never understand, otherwise."
She sniffled. "The scars..."
"What about them?"
"The company house...burned..."
He sat down, nodding.
She sniffled again. "Everyone got out without getting hurt...except for me...and my partner..."
He nodded.
"I had sprained my ankle the week before...and could barely walk...he came back in to get me..."
Again, he nodded.
"He didn't make it..." She leaned her head against the window. "We were to be married."
Jeremy held out his hand to her. Now he understood why she had been so unenthusiastic to marry him. She slowly moved toward him, crying. He pulled her down next to him and held her close, gently stroking her hair. "I'm sorry, Ann..."
"The pain was so bad...that I wished I had died in the fire too..."
"Well... I'm glad you didn't die," he said softly, kissing the side of her head.
She clung to him crying.
He hugged her close. "I know it hurts. But it helps to talk about it. It bleeds away the poison of the memory. I'm glad you felt you could share this with me."
"I can't have children because of the fire..." she whispered.
"I'm sorry to hear that..." he said softly.
She stood and walked into the living room, curling up on the couch. He followed her and sat on the floor next to the couch and reached over, stroking her hair gently. "I've had nightmares about that fire every night since we got here," she whispered.
"Maybe now that you've talked about it, your nightmares will be less?"
She closed her eyes and shivered.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm so cold..."
He sat on the couch and opened his arms for her. She slowly moved into his arms, still shivering. He held her close and wrapped a throw around their shoulders.
She looked up at him. "Is that offer to chase away the bad dreams still good?"
He smiled. "It's good whenever you need it."
"Can I take you up on it tonight?"
"Sure."
She rested her head on his chest again.
"I'll make those bad dreams go away."
She smiled slightly.
"You promise?" she asked.
"I promise," he whispered, kissing her brow. She hugged him tightly. He tilted her face up gently. Ann gave him a questioning look. He gently caressed her cheek.
She smiled a bit. "You're so kind. It's hard to imagine that you're the boy I knew back home."
"I enjoy teasing you...You're so cute when you're mad..."
She wrinkled her nose at him. "Well, that part hasn't changed."
He kissed her nose.
She smiled again.
He pulled her into his lap.
"This is some predicament we're in."
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean here." Ann gestured around. "That you're a spy, that we have to hide out here. It feels like something you'd see in a Broadway play."
He stood and twirled her around. "Want me to try to dance like good old George Cohen?"
She laughed. "Yes... I'd like to see you try."
"I'd fall flat on my face."
She grinned. "I'd believe that!"
He stole a kiss.
She flushed. "You rogue."
He laughed.
"So show me your fancy footwork, Mr. Cohen."
He continued to twirl around with her in his arms. She laughed softly. After a few minutes he set her down on the couch and dropped down beside her. "I'm tired..."
She smiled. "You wouldn't have lasted in a ballet like The Sleeping Beauty then. Three hours of dancing."
He groaned and dropped his head in her lap, hanging his legs over the side of the couch. Absently, she ran her fingers through his hair. He closed his eyes. "Annie..."
"Hmm??"
"Have you ever considered adopting children?"
"I... You know, I haven't really thought about it."
"We both know the good things that come from adoption...maybe we should give some other children the chance to experience that, too."
She nodded.
He sat up. "It's just something to think about," he said, stealing a kiss and leaving the room before she had a chance to respond.
She touched her lips lightly, glancing in the direction he'd left.
-----
Spot walked out onto the porch where Ginny sat on the swing staring off into the distance. "Mind if I join you?" he asked.
Ginny glanced at him and then shook her head. "No, I don't mind."
"I want to thank you for taking such good care of Rae..."
"Me?"
"Yes...you were the main one taking care of her those last few weeks."
She nodded. "You're welcome. I wish I could've done more..."
"There was nothing more you could have done. We both knew that she might die."
"I know... but you can't help feeling like there was something that you must have done wrong and if you had done it right, she would still be alive."
He nodded. "I do feel that way sometimes..." He looked at her. "How are you doing, Ginny? I mean with Andy being gone and all..."
"I'm surviving, most of the time," she said softly resting her hand on her swollen stomach.
"It's hard to lose the one you love."
She nodded.
"I'm here if you want to talk..."
"Thank you..."
He smiled slightly. "I just realized something..."
"Hmm?"
"I'm about to be a grandfather..."
She smiled. "How does that make you feel, Grandpa?"
"Old..." he said with a slight laugh.
She smiled.
-----
Annie was in the bedroom packing the few dresses that she owned. She was finally going home!
Jeremy walked into the room. "Stop packing Annie," he said with a frown.
"What? Why?"
"We can't leave yet...my boss says it's still too dangerous..."
"But I thought...!"
He sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. "So did I..."
She groaned and plopped onto her bed. "You know... there comes a time when a girl gets really tired of seeing the same house for months..."
"I know how you feel."
She flopped back onto the bed and flung her arms over her face. "Did he say when it would be safe to leave?"
He stretched out next to her. "No...he said he would send word when it was safe...and be prepared to leave with only a couple hours notice..."
"That shouldn't be too hard."
"Come here," he said softly.
She sat up. "Hmm?"
"Just come here," he said, holding his hand out to her.
She moved closer to him uncertainly.
He pulled her down beside him. "I'm really sorry, Annie," he whispered, holding her close.
She sighed. "It's okay. I was looking forward to going home... but I'd rather that we both be alive and safe right now."
He kissed the side of her head. "I'll make it up to you some how."
She smiled. "It's okay. I'll get over it."
He pulled her close and gently kissed her. She rested her head on his shoulder. "It's dark out...I think it would be safe to take a walk down to the river if you want."
She smiled. "That would be nice."
He stood and helped her to her feet.
"Thank you."
And hand in hand they headed outside. Once at the river, he leaned against a tree watching her. She went over to the river, sat on the bank, and, pulling off her shoes, dipped her feet into the running water. Jeremy smiled as he watched her. He loved her, the crazy girl.
"It's so cold!" she squeaked, but stuck her feet in again. It was cold, but nice at the same time.
He wasn't sure when he had fallen in love with her, but he knew that he was most definitely in love.
She turned and motioned for him to come over. "Join me, Jeremy. It's , and my toes are numb, but nice."
Smiling he walked toward her, taking his shoes and socks off.
He sat down and, like her, stuck his feet in the water. "Cripes, it's freezing!" She giggled. He took her hand and held it in his lap as they sat by the river and looked up at the sky. He gently tugged her close.
She rested her head on his shoulder. "It's a nice night." He kissed the top of her head. "I've been to England once, when we were touring a performance. It wasn't as nice though- it was pouring the entire time we were here," she said.
"Annie..."
"Don't call me Annie." But she glanced over at him. "What??"
"Have you given anymore thought to what I said the other night about adoption..."
"A little...how come?"
"Just wondering," he said, caressing her cheek.
She smiled. "What about you? Are you wanting to adopt?"
"I want to raise a family with you, Annie Saint..."
She blinked. "You do?"
"Well yes, why did you think I married you?"
"To get me out of Russia?"
"I love you, Annie," he whispered, kissing her gently.
"You do?"
He rested his forehead on hers. "I didn't realize it until tonight...but yes, I love you, Ann..."
She blushed. "I love you too..."
He pulled her close and kissed her again.
She hugged him tightly. "Perhaps we should go back inside. We don't want to get caught out here unawares..."
He kissed her forehead and stood, helping her to her feet. They headed back to the little house hand in hand. Jeremy stopped and slid his arm around her. "Stay here..." he told her, "...something's on the doorstep..."
She tensed up but nodded. "Be careful..."
He gave her a quick kiss and crept toward the door.
But whoever was on the doorstep wasn't being quiet about their intrusion. In fact, one of the noises sounded an awful lot like... "Crying?" He crept closer. He stopped. here!"
"What is it?" She peered out from behind the tree.
"It's a couple of...babies..."
"Babies? What are babies doing all the way up here?" she wondered aloud as she approached him.
"Help me get them inside," he said, picking up a small child, about two or three years old.
Ann nodded and scooped up a baby bundled up tightly in smooth blankets.
The child in Jeremy's arm started murmuring something.
"She's not speaking English," Annie said, startled.
"It's French," Jeremy replied.
He crouched and replied in very basic French.
"Pepere," she said, snuggling into his arms.
"It seems she thinks I am her father," Jeremy said.
"Oh dear..."
"I wonder who's they are... Did either of them have a note?"
"I didn't see one..."
"I wonder what sort of parent could just leave their child..."
"Some don't leave them by choice," Ann said, sitting on the couch, cradling the baby in her arms.
"Well... I hope not."
"What are we gonna do?" she asked, looking up at him.
He shrugged. "I'm not sure. They look like normal kids... But... they could be bugged," he said in a low voice. "I mean... how many people know there is a house out here?"
"Now that may be carrying this whole spy thing a little too far, Jerry."
"I've seen enough to not put it past the spies you know."
She sighed. "They're just little babies."
"I'm not saying the babies are spies. But they could've been left behind by them."
"We can worry about that later. They both look tired and hungry and this little one has a wet diaper..."
He nodded. "All right. But check their clothing when you can, okay?"
She rolled her eyes and nodded. Standing, she carried the baby into the bathroom to find a towel to use as another diaper. "Let's get you changed," she murmured.
Jeremy looked down at the little girl still cuddled in his arms. "What is your name?" he asked her in French.
"'Lette!"
"Colette?"
"Oui!" she said with a nod. "affam"
"You want something to eat?"
She nodded.
He carried her into the kitchen and placed her in one of the chairs.
"Le fromage?"
He smiled and pulled some cheese from the fridge. He knelt in front of her. "Cheese," he said, holding it out to her.
"Chee."
"Close enough," he said, placing the piece of cheese in her hand.
"Merci!" And she bit into the cheese.
"How in the world are we supposed to feed this one?" Ann said, walking into the kitchen with the baby in her arms.
He shook his head. "I don't know..."
"She can't be more than three months old...I wonder..."
"You wonder what??"
"One of the girls in the company found some kittens one day...she fed the by soaking the corner of a cloth in milk and letting them suck on it..."
"You think that might work?"
"It's worth a shot..."
He nodded. "Then we should try it."
"Can you get me some milk?"
He nodded and headed into the kitchen. Colette clung to his pant leg.
Ann smiled. "I think you found a friend..."
He laughed. "I think so too."
Ann grabbed a clean cloth from the cabinet. Moments later, Jeremy returned with a cup of milk. She sat in the chair and carefully dipped one corner of the cloth in the milk.
"Do you need any help?" he asked her.
"We'll see," she said, placing the cloth against the baby's lips.
She smiled when the infant began to suck on the rag. "Well, this seems to work for now."
Jeremy looked down at Colette, who was still clinging to his leg. "Quel est le nom du bébé?" he asked.
"Bebe Aimee," the little girl said.
Ann smiled as she dipped the rag in the milk again. "It's pretty."
Colette padded over to Ann and peered at her little sister.
-----
Jeremy placed the sleeping Colette on the couch and tucked a quilt around her. He turned to watch Ann as she gently rocked Aimee. He smiled and went over to her.
"What's going to happen to them, Jerry?" she asked, looking up at him.
"I don't know..."
She sighed and looked down at the baby in her arms.
"You want to keep them?"
"Could we, Jerry?"
"Well... we have to see what we can find out about their parents... If we can't find anything, or if we know they've been given to us on purpose, then we can keep them."
She nodded.
"Come on Annie...put her down and let's go to bed."
She frowned a bit but finally nodded. She placed Aimee back in her basket with a sigh. She didn't want to put her down.
Jeremy took her hand and smiled. "You'll see them in the morning.
"But what if they wake up..."
"We'll hear them, Annie..."
"You think...?"
"I know."
She sighed and looked back at Aimee.
He gently tugged her hand. "Come on, sweetheart." Casting one last glance at the two children, she followed him. "Annie?" he asked a few minutes later as they lay in the bed.
"Hmm?"
"Did you really mean it earlier when you said you loved me?"
She rolled onto her side and looked at him. "Yes... why?"
He reached over and brushed the hair from her face. "Just making sure you didn't say it, just because I said it..."
"Of course not. I'm not that shallow."
He leaned over and stole a kiss. She smiled at him. He rested his forehead against hers.
"Who would've guessed, eh?"
"I always knew you were the girl for me, Annie."
She smiled. "This is news to me."
"You wouldn't give me the time of day before..."
"Because you always picked on me."
"Because you are so cute when you're mad." She blushed. He chuckled and stole another kiss.
"You're awful." But she smiled when she said it.
He pouted playfully.
She laughed a little.
He flipped her on her back and pinned her down. "You're gonna pay for that woman..."
She squeaked and laughed a bit. "Is that so?"
He started poking her in the ribs. "Ticklish?"
"No." But she giggled and squirmed a bit.
"Oh?" he smirked, continuing to poke her ribs.
"Of course not!"
He leaned down close to her. "I love you, Annie Saint," he said, kissing her.
She smiled. "I love you more."
"I don't believe it..."
"Well you better."
"Make me believe it, Annie..."
"Hmm?"
"Kiss me," he told her.
"Kiss you?"
"Kiss me."
"But Jerry..."
"Just kiss me, Annie..."
She stared at him a moment before giving him a quick kiss.
"Was that so hard?"
She sighed and shook her head slightly.
"What's wrong?"
She rolled out of the bed. "I'm going to check on the girls."
"Ann..."
She ignored him and rushed into the living room. He climbed out of bed and followed her. She was kneeling over Aimee's basket, her hair covering her face.
"Ann... tell me what's wrong."
"I'm not sure I'm ready..."
He grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently.
"I know you want a real marriage...one that's not in name only..." she whispered.
"Ann..." he sighed. She looked up at him. "I'm sorry."
Tears filled her eyes and she looked down. "I'm the one who's sorry, Jerry..."
"Why are you sorry?"
"Because I'm not ready. I do love you...I just can't...not tonight..."
"Ann, I'm not asking you for anything. Well, I asked for a kiss, but that was it. But..." He nodded. "I'll sleep out here if you'd rather."
"You promised to chase away the bad dreams," she whispered so softly he almost didn't hear her.
He took her hands. "Yes, I did. But I get the feeling you think I'll just create more bad dreams..."
She sighed and shook her head.
"Then what do you want from me?"
She closed her eyes. "I don't know..."
He sat down and watched her for a while.
After several moments she looked up at him. "Will you chase away the dreams like you have for the past two weeks?"
"I'll do anything that you want me to."
She bit her lip and stared at him for a moment, before leaning over and giving him a quick kiss. "Thank you, Jerry, for being so wonderful."
He shook his head. "I'm not wonderful. Just trying to help."
She smiled at him slightly and stood, heading back into the bedroom.
Jeremy kissed the two little girls goodnight and followed Ann with a sleepy yawn.