It was a dark and stormy night...
August 2002
Elizabeth was cozily resting against Henry's chest on the couch in front of the large window overlooking their porch and the pasture. His hands were making slow circular movements on her hips; once in a while hovering towards her belly to feel the presence of their fullgrown third child.
Both of them were watching the porch swing move back and forth tirelessly because of the wind that had been howling for days now, or longer, so it seemed. There was an unrest, a darkness, looming since September 11th, 2001 and it could still be felt almost a year later. Elizabeth had been working non-stop for months prior to and even more months post 9/11. How they had managed to conceive a third McCord in their busy mashed up schedules with two toddlers around was beyond them. Turned out Elizabeth had missed to take her birth control once in a while. Who could blame her? She'd been going non-stop. As as an analyst, a patriot, a mom and a wife. And, here they were now. Stevie and Noodle in Pittsburg exhausting their grandparents without a doubt, the bags all packed and by the garage door to head for the hospital as soon as Elizabeth deemed it necessary. She had gone in with Braxton Hicks three times this past week but was told every single time it could be 'any day now'.
"Was it wise to go for three?" she asked out loud.
Henry wasn't sure if she'd meant it to. "Maybe not, we'll have to wait and see what kind of tiny monster we've created this time," he replied softly in her ear.
It made Elizabeth smile.
"Whatever it is, we'll love and cherish him."
He rested his head against hers.
"Or her," Elizabeth was quick in her response, making it Henry's turn to smile now.
"Don't you think you've outnumbered the male force enough already?" He placed a kiss to her sleep.
They fell silent for a while.
"What I meant was...," she hesitated, "what kind of world are we dropping this innocent creature into?"
Henry sighed. He knew what she'd meant. The thought had been obvious in her head from the moment they found out she was pregnant. Since the attacks, it had gone dark in her head too. Her brain worked like the storm outside. What was more, she couldn't seem to find much enjoyment either. Henry had done everything to make her as happy and comfortable and relaxed as possible whenever he could.
"Babe...," she whispered.
"We can offer him the best home possible. You know we can. We're great at this, babe."
"Or her...," was all she managed.
In the middle of the night, August fifth, the wind still howling, Elizabeth got out of bed for the nth pee of the night when she realized her water had broken. She woke up Henry. They knew the drill. They got dressed, he took the bag, and put it in the backseat of their jeep. He made sure she was comfortable and drove the three of them to the hospital.
Four hours later, when the wind had finally silenced and the first rays of sunshine were starting to break through, Jason McCord loudly screamed his way into the world. And he immediately made it a much brighter place.
"Hey you, little monster," Elizabeth kissed his sticky cheek as Henry kissed her sweaty one.
