Following the christening, It was time for Ross to rejoin his unit. He mounted his horse after receiving word that he was to advance North. This fact scared Rachel and excited Monica, she would possibly get some word that her beloved Chandler was alright.

"Darling,I have to warn you, that this may be the last time I see you." Ross said tenderly. "You are sending a soldier into battle now." Rachel handed Ben to Monica and ran over to the horse. Ross leaned down and passionately kissed the woman he loved. Tears came down Rachel's eyes as she stepped back.

Monica handed the note to him. He opened it up and put it in his pocket, "I'll see what I can do." That was all he could do.

He used his boot to start the might steed as the horse galloped from sight. Monica and Rachel watched as the gray figure rode away.

Jack came down from the house. "Girls, Judy just fell down and was holding her head. She is wide awake, yet she can't move or talk." he exclaimed.

"My daddy had talked of this, I think they call it a cerebral hemorrage. It is what my uncle died from." Rachel said as she shook her head.

Within hours, Judy just closed her eyes and never woke up. Her heart stopped beating and her chest stopped moving. Mammy Lee gave her comfort in her last hours. Jack stood by her side as he mourned for his loss.

Laying in the parlor, Sandra took Jack's hand, "I know you loved her so, he missed her by only hours, that is what is so sad." she said as Jack stood by Judy laid out in her finest green gown.

Now wearing a black gown and a hat , Monica watched as the people passed by. It was a tribute to how loving a woman she was. It was no secret though, Monica was not the favored child. Judy's love was showered on her firstborn. Ross had always been the apple of Judy's eye. This would destroy him that he would be forced to miss his own mother's funeral. But the business of war had to go on.

Ross continued to ride as the rain started . He took the sealed orders from his coat and opened them. They were speaking of a new plan of attack in a city in Pennsylvania. The war had raged on for about two years now.

"Gettysburg, what an odd name for a town." he wondered.

Gettysburg was a small town in Southeastern Pennsylvania, almost near Philadelphia. Ross knew this was deep in the heart of enemy territory. They would take the enemy by surprise and use this to their advantage. He had seen many men die and many of those men were his cousins, his friends and just men whose stories just touched his heart. Gathering around a campfire, he had shared the details of his own life. He missed the wonderful camaderie of his friend Chandler , and prayed that he would not be face to face with him on the field of battle. As a Confederate soldier and an officer, it would be his duty to kill the first Yankee he would see.

The summer sun beat down in the July midday sun. Joey and Chandler sat in wait of the battle to come. The heat was getting to them in their blue wool uniforms. Sitting on a barrel, Joey drank some whiskey from a flask. Chandler 's mind was far away.

God help him he was still in love with her. He had heard of her marriage from a well informed friend of the family from Boston. Upon hearing of it, he got drunk for about a week. His heart was hurt as he realized that he was now the sworn enemy of the family he had embraced and the friend he thought of like a brother.

Ross trudged his horse along the Maryland line. He had done it now, he was right in the middle of the enemy territory. He had to ride off the main road so his bright gray uniform could not be spotted. As he turned his horse, he saw a blonde hair lady riding along. When she saw the soldier, she gasped and was going to scream.

"Ma'am please don't worry, I may be a confederate soldier, but above all I am a gentleman. It's late and you should not be out with all of this going on. May I escort you to your home and then perhaps you could let me rest a while before joining my troops." Ross kindly requested.

Something about the gentleman didn't scare the woman. He seemed very tired and it was obvious he was far from home. She noticed a gold band on his left hand. She hoped that she would not regret this decision.

"It is rather humid and muggy. I am sure that you haven't eaten for a while as well. I am Phoebe Buffay- Hannigan. My husband was sadly killed in Richmond. "

Ross dismounted his horse, "I am sorry ma'am. Ross Geller of the Charleston Gellers, at your service." he bowed

Phoebe swooned at this display of old Southern gentility . That was one thing you could say for those Confederate boys. They knew what it was like to treat a lady as a lady. She knew what the ring meant though, he was no doubt taken.

After he had cleaned up and Phoebe took his uniform to be washed. He wrapped himself in one of Mike's old robes. She noticed his bulging muscles and his tanned body. No doubt he was probably the heir to some large plantation.

"I made you some vegetable soup. Sorry it doesn't have meat in it , but I don't eat meat." she smiled as she served him.

"Thank you, it smells wonderful." Ross said as he ate it.

"So tell me about your wife." Phoebe said matter of factly.

"Well she is so beautiful and a true flower of the South, spoiled and vain. But I love her so , she is the woman I have been in love with since I was fifteen and saw her at a barbecue. As a child I played with her, she was my sister's best friend…" he smiled as he envisioned her.."Rachel Karen..my dear Rach..we have a son named Benjamin.

He was born before I left."

"Well Ross you may stay here for a few days, if you wish. I will certainly enjoy the company" Phoebe said.

"I should only stay the night, I have to get to Gettsburg to rejoin my troops I just want this damn war to be over, oh pardon me for saying that." Ross apologized

"That is alright, I have cursed it enough myself." Phoebe said. "I'll prepare your bed" then she left the room.

The sun came up and after Phoebe made Ross a good breakfast. He put on his uniform and tied on his sash with his sword and walked out the door.

He once again mounted his horse and took off for the woods in the clearing. Galloping his steed, he made up for lost time. Finally he got to the point where he saw a Confederate encampment. The unit was getting ready to move out.

"Captain sir, I was to give you this upon arrival." the young boy said as he handed Ross the paper.

Ross took it and dropped it. "Oh dear God , no." he said as his face filled with tears. Word had finally reached him. Judy was dead..