Hope and Ruthie returned to Saint Louis in absolute glee. They were now wife and wife. The announcement was posted on the church's website as well as that of Hope's personal ministry. Patrick came home on a separate flight. Next to marrying Tamara, helping his sister get dressed into a wedding gown, then seeing her get married, it was one of the proudest days of his entire life. With the women getting married, his break from his parents was now final and complete.

By the next morning, after a wild night of the women consummating their marriage, both women's websites were bombarded with messages. Eight hundred members of the church resigned. About seven thousand of Hope's followers did as well. Almost to a person, the message was more or less the same: "God created Adam and Eve, not Amanda and Eve!"

But for every one dissenting voice, there were twenty in favor. In fact, there were nearly ten thousand inquiries about church membership, and Hope's ministry raised two million dollars in the first twenty-four hours. She immediately donated it to the church's home for unwed teen parents.

Breakfast was at Patrick and Tamara's home. In the time that intervened since they eloped, there was general agreement that a Full House was impractical. So instead Patrick moved into the Wilkinsons for good, and it was decided the guest homes would be brought together to create a third parsonage for Hope and Ruthie and any children Hope had.

As the home fries were passed around, Kaitlin asked a question.

"Aunt Hope," she said, "I want to ask you - we all do - why you decided to become a lesbian. But first I am wondering about your mother getting pregnant by Patrick and getting the abortions. I can't understand how the fetal homicide law would kick in. Abortion is legal, after all. As much as we all despite it, as much as we all think it's wrong, it's a woman's choice. That's the law. Even with all the mandatory counseling about abortion risks and alternatives, the parental and spousal notification laws - none of which can be enforced, anyway - it's not considered murder. In our eyes it is, but not in that of the law."

Patrick burst into tears yet again. Before Jack left, he had told the ministers the truth of the matter. And it outraged all of them. The siblings knew the children had the right to know the whole story.

"Any hint that Mom committed adultery or incest would have sunk the church - even though she had slept with tons of men and women, and that doesn't include the children she molested," replied Hope. "I had no idea she had gotten pregnant. She was way before any so-called 'baby bump'. So as soon as she found out she was, she induced a miscarriage. And she did that by having Dad kick her abdomen until she bled out the baby, on purpose. God told me last night that we, Patrick and I, would have had three sisters and a brother. So yes, the babies were murdered by a human hand, other than that of a doctor. The law kicks in. And since there are two or more - in fact there's five, including the poor construction worker that was killed and her baby - it carries the death penalty in California, or could. So Dad now faces four counts of murder one. Mom, five."

"Do you support the death penalty, either of you?"

"We don't," replied Patrick. "On the other hand ... if we were offered the job of executioners, we wouldn't necessarily say no."

"You wouldn't!?" said his sister-in-law. Ruthie was shocked.

"Ruthie ... they killed four members of our family, so we'd rather keep the spilling of blood within the family. We wouldn't want a third party to do the deed," replied Hope.

Tamara opened her mouth, then closed it. Like the other ministers, she and her family were life-long opponents of the death penalty, an unpopular position with the congregation. But she was in no position to say a word about what the siblings had just said.

"Well then, Aunt Hope," said Chester, "how long have you been a lesbian, and what made you decide on that?"

"I've been that way since I was ordained," replied Hope. "I lied to all of you last year when I said I was straight, because I thought you wouldn't want to hire me. I'm glad you've kept me on regardless.

"Actually ... it's goes way further back than my investiture. When I was four, five, six, all the girls I knew in school had posters of boy bands, actors, male models. I always had girl bands, female vocalists, female bodybuilders. And I looked inside Dad's girlie rags and liked the centerfolds. I just preferred looking at women, not men. I knew I liked it that way, and I liked pleasuring my crotch and my breasts from the time I had my first period; but I didn't know what it was called, until I caught Mom having sex with her executive assistant, a few months after the orgy. She told me she was a lesbian and that's when I knew what I was too, although I didn't tell her. When I found out Mom was buying lesbian porn on pay-per-view, I did too - along with the really explicit girl-boy-girl threesomes! They were paying the bill, and they were ordering so many movies, they'd never know I ordered some of them.

"And all the way through middle and high school I only had study dates and sex with women, and made sure my parents never knew. I thought it was just a phase which is why I tried sex with guys starting in college.

"And yes, besides Ed and Chandler, I have slept with a few guys every so often, just so I can feel a middle leg inside of me, and only guys I thought worthy enough to be the father of my children. The agreement beforehand was, if I did get pregnant - and I wasn't going to anyway because I was on The Pill - I would have sole custody of the baby. But I was being careful because I didn't want to drag down my parents' church either, not then anyway.

"But no guy could ever fully satisfy me. Even the nice gentleman who will the father of my children ... and I'm getting the first sperm donation just before Christmas. It was my last chance, what happened last week, but after that, I knew there was no turning back for me. As you know, I had a one night fling with Felicity too, the night before we joined your church family ... and yes, we liked it, really like it, but it was only one night. But it's Ruthie here that has completed who I am and want to be. We've been friends for a year, and lovers for six months. And God willing, we'll be married for another fifty years, or more!" Hope leaned over to Ruthie, and they shared yet another long kiss. "I love you, my wife!"

"And I will always love you, my wife!" said Ruthie.

"But you weren't born that way, Aunt Hope," said Emily. "You made the choice, as did Aunt Ruthie."

"No one is born gay," agreed Hope. "But I'm proud of who I am. I'm a minister who also happens to be a lesbian. Ruthie is too and she made the choice and is proud too. And she and I had to get married now. Because we love each other, and God told us now is the time. We knew we'd all lose some followers, but we've gained many more in return. At this rate, we may have to have a second service to deal with the crowds!"

"If there's an upshot to all of this," said Heather, "it's that my siblings and I - all six of us - now have three Moms. A mother and two stepmothers, each on one side."

"And we're so happy you are a mother to us now, Hope," added Jim. "Felicity hasn't let us down. Please don't yourself do that!"

"I never will, my darlings ... and I will always love and protect all of you!" said Hope happily. She walked over to the children and hugged them, then hugged Rhiannon and Maighread.

"So what about Friday?" asked Shelby, turning to business, after Hope sat down. She meant the nuptials of Lisa and Brigitte.

"You're all invited, of course. Jack has offered security arrangements."

"What kind?"

"Undercover bikers."

"Organized crime?" Shelby shook her head. "No way. We're not even going to think of risking a bloodbath!"

"As much as Harry and Prudence are hypocrites," said Peter, "they still appeal to their anti-gay base of followers. Many of which welcomes violence against LGBTs. We have it on good authority that the Andersons have hired guns from the Cosa Nostra who have flown in from Palermo, Sicily. You know how the Mafia feels about gay marriage, too. We can't take any chances, Shel. My suggestion, since you are still allowed to have standard issue guns even though you are now discharged, is you have them at the ready. We have our sidearms with us too."

"I don't like where this could be headed," said Rod.

"You think any of us do, Rod?" asked Felicity. "Ruthie is risking her life not just by getting married to a woman, but marrying two more. She's endangering Lucy's life too, even if unintended, which is why their parents want nothing to do with Ruthie for a while. Life is full of risks. Marriage is one of them, the biggest one of all. Remember, I'm a licensed hunter. I'm taking a .3006 hunting rifle with me. Far as I'm concerned, Harry and Prudence are no better than wild game. Now we know they're murderers as well as molesters, they're a fair target if they dare to show up and interrupt the proceedings. If you and Shelby were threatened nine years ago when you got married, wouldn't you have wanted protection? "

"Fellow Marines, or MPs from any of the services. Not organized crime elements."

"They're undercover. The bikes will be in storage inside the Chief's garage. If any of the thugs pulls out a gun, they won't know what hit them because they'll never have suspected we took precautions."

Rod and Shelby sighed.

"Fine," Shelby said reluctantly, "but only if we get to fire too. The greater and larger the deterrent, the better. Tell Jack we can't take a freebie. We'll pay the standard fee, whatever that is, plus a commission for him for offering. We'll also pay for a night's lodging for the strike team and their families. I presume the Greenwich Chicks are coming, too?"

"I already invited them, and they agreed," said Ruthie. "They're coming prepared, too."

"Okay, strength in numbers. Let's do this."

Two days later, everyone came to the Jefferson territory of the Cherokee tribe. This was a group forced from their traditional territory in the South. While many found their way to Oklahoma, a couple of bands settled in Missouri. The group were welcomed by the elected Chief, Jennifer Holmstead, herself a born-again Christian and a classmate of Ruthie's and Peter's from UCLA in the ministers' minor of social work.

"Chief, thank you for agreeing to host this wedding," said Ruthie, after giving her old friend a hug. "I wasn't even sure if your Council would agree when I asked."

"Ruthie, dear friend," said Jennifer, "it is my pleasure. We are a sovereign nation, remember. We yield to the United States for our common defense, but no white man's law that offends our law is a law here. So while your so-called representatives in the city next door may try to untie the binds of God, we shall not."

"That's wonderful to hear. My friend, this is my sister, the Reverend Lucy Camden Kinkirk. She will be co-officiating with me. And these are our siblings - Matt, Mary, Simon, Samuel and David, and their respective families. These ladies here are private detectives, and old friends of our family - well, Matt at least!" Everyone laughed, as the women offered their compliments to the Chief.

"Now, who are the lucky couple?" asked Jennifer.

The women stepped forward, in full bridal regalia, each with veils and a six foot long train. Lisa Lumby appeared with her children, Pierre and Jeanne. Standing next to her was a woman two years older than her, a blonde and nearly pale woman, Brigitte Dalrymple. With her were her children, Laurent and Bernadette. It was the first time Ruthie and Brigitte met face to face. They kissed each other on the cheeks, both sides, European style.

"Brides, it is my pleasure to welcome you here. Please, come inside to the council room."

The group came inside. The Council had gathered in the chamber, sitting on seats on opposite sides of the oak paneled room. A chill wind had blown in from the north, so the hearth was lit up and everyone felt the warmth of the fire. Meanwhile, the promised bikers were standing outside on guard.

"Lucy," said Ruthie, "these lovely brides have asked us to read the vows to them. You will read Lisa's to her in English. Brigitte has asked me to read hers in French."

"Why?" asked Lucy.

"Because Brigitte proposed to me in French," replied Lisa. "It was the most heartfelt proposal I could ever imagine. I was crying even before she said the magic words, which I had no idea was coming until she bended on her knee and showed me the engagement ring. I was so stunned, I didn't know what to say. But then I realized I had wanted to propose to her so I grabbed my purse, pulled out the ring I had gotten her, and I said, 'Oui, avec tout mon coeur!' Yes, with all my heart. And for the next hour, we started sharing our dreams for our lives together, all in French!"

"Do you remember what she told you?"

"Every word! But I'm not going to tell you!" laughed Lisa.

"Was there something she did say, you can tell us?" asked Rhiannon.

"I can say of one thing," said Brigitte. "I spoke to Lisa of how 'I long to touch your willow limbs to make them blossom'." Her English was perfect, but coming from a Scottish Highlands mother and a Burgundy French father, her accent was a delightful and pleasant blend of the two.

The children didn't have to be told that was a metaphor for Lisa's breasts, which normally hung like tear drops when unsupported, to fill with blood so they became melons, every time she and Brigitte made love.

"Well, I'm find with doing the vows that way, sis," said Lucy. "As long as you don't mess up your French!"

The wedding party stepped forward. The men in the couple's lives stood forward as the gentlemen of honor.

"At the outset," said Jennifer, "I wish to say this is the most sacred of all ceremonies among my people. For us, it is as close to a sacrament as you can get. So what we need to do first, is to purify this chamber of all ill-will; and these women, of any evil spirits that may possess them, so that only the Great Spirit of all that is good shall possess their souls and bodies and minds."

She went to the table and opened up a jar of incense. It slowly filled the room. Everyone inside took in the sweet smell of spices sacred to the tribe. The chief then took a feather, dusted it with some of the incense, and slowly tapped Lisa's and Brigitte's foreheads, eyes, noses, ears, mouths, breasts, hands, crotches and feet. Finally, she took a peace pipe, filled with aged tobacco, and offered it to the women.

"You don't inhale from the pipe," warned the chief. "You blow the smoke, then inhale it, so that the peace of God may be upon you."

The women did so. The chief then faced the ministers.

"Great Spirit," she prayed, "may the thoughts of these women's minds, the words of their lips, and the meditation of their hearts be acceptable to you in this most sacred place and time. Amen."

Jennifer then tapped the foreheads and hands of Ruthie and Lucy and offered them the peace pipe as well, which they accepted.

"The Council now bears witness to these proceedings, and grants their consent on behalf of the sovereign people of this place that these two women be bound in matrimony. You may begin when you are ready."

Ruthie and Lucy held each other's hands with excitement. They were going where they never thought they would have even a year ago.

"When I became reacquainted with Lisa a year ago," said Ruthie, "I didn't quite imagine the course where it would lead her and Brigitte. Where it led me. I didn't think a year ago I'd be married to a woman, but it's because of Lisa and Brigitte that I finally realized who I was and who I belonged to. God first, and Hope second. And I have both of you to thank for that."

"I've never been prouder to be a minister than tonight," said Lucy. "The footsteps of an angel are love, and it's love that has brought these angels together. Even a week ago, I didn't think I'd even want to be here, let alone officiating. But when you see love, it's there ... and I hope to do this a lot more often, no matter what Mom and Dad think!"

The group laughed.

"All right, on to business," said Lucy. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and all these witnesses, to join this woman Lisa and this woman Brigitte in the bonds of Holy Matrimony. Marriage was ordained in the Garden of Eden and consecrated by Jesus at Cana in Galilee, that two humans who truly love each other may be bound for eternity. It is something not to be taken lightly, but entered into with all reverence."

Ruthie then continued, in French, "Marriage is an honorable estate. It is the ties that bind all humanity, that two dedicate themselves to each other to the exclusion of all others, that there may be stability between those brought together and that it may be a sign that others who may wish to be bound to each other may be inspired by the example of those they wish to follow." Then, in English, "If anyone has any reason why these two should not be joined, let them speak now, or ever after this day hold their peace."

Silence.

"Lisa," said Lucy, "during your companionship and quiet contemplation with Brigitte, have you carefully and prayerfully considered the legal and spiritual obligations that marriage requires of you?"

"I have," replied Lisa.

"Do you come here with the intent of being bound for life to her and to the exclusion of all others?"

"Yes."

"And do you intend to take these vows freely, of your own will and consciousness, and without any prior reservations or obligations that may enjoin you from doing so?"

"I do."

Ruthie then repeated the inquiries to Brigitte in French. To each of the invocations, Brigitte replied, "Oui."

To avoid inconsistencies, the ministers agreed to read identical vows.

"Lisa Lumby, do you take this woman Brigitte Dalymple to be your lawfully wedded wife, and do you promise to remain faithful to her in happiness and in trials, in health and in sickness, to love her every day of your life?"

"I do ... so help me God," said Lisa.

Lucy was surprised at the last part, but quickly remembered Lisa was taking a vow to God as well as under the law.

"Brigitte Dalrymple," said Ruthie, "Voulez-vous prendre cette femme Lisa Lumby comme épouse sous la loi, et promettez-vous de lui rester fidèle, dans le bonheur et dans les épreuves, dans la santé et dans la maladie, pour l'aimer tous les jours de votre vie?"

"Oui, ainsi Dieu me soit en aide," said Brigitte.

The wedding bands were presented.

Brigitte went first, choosing to speak in English. "With this ring, Lisa, I thee wed in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."

Lisa then presented her ring to Brigitte, saying in French, "Avec cet anneau je te marier, Brigitte, au nom du Père et du Fils et du Saint Esprit. Amen."

"Insofar as these women have chosen to be bound in Holy Matrimony, we, Ruthie and Lucy ... Camden ... hereby declare that these women are wives for life, and what God has brought together, let no human rend asunder."

Then, speaking to neither bride in particular, Ruthie concluded, "Vous pouvez embrasser la mariée."

Lisa and Brigitte kissed. The group cheered.

As the women approached the tribe's register and enter their names to make their marriage official, there was a loud burst of gunfire outside.

"Oh God, no!" screamed the ministers.

They told everyone to stay inside while they checked the situation. On the ground was Edward Sanderson, who incredibly had bailed out again. He had been shot four times when he tried to burst into the council house and refused to be disarmed. He was alive, but howling in pain.

"You've got a hell of a lot of nerve coming here at a time like this, Ed!" shouted Ruthie. "You actually thought you could stop this? They're married, for life. So fuck off!"

"I didn't come to stop the wedding ... I came to talk deal."

"There's no deal. You're going to jail for life! Raping six women - including Deena - including three children, like little Annie here? And all the fraud you did? No DA wants to talk with you now."

"Please here me out. If you won't, let your sister hear me."

"So talk, Ed," said Lucy angrily. "You raped Lisa. It's too late for apologies to her or the other women."

"Harry and Prudence planted a dirty bomb. Several, actually, around the country, before she went on the bender. They're set to go off when the markets open up on Monday morning."

By this time, the group had stepped outside. They knew Ed wasn't making this up.

"Why are you telling us this?" asked Ruthie.

"Because I no longer approve of what they're doing," said Ed.

"Now? After all these years?"

"Yes. Using gunpowder to blow up a shrine is one thing. I'll do that any day. But using plutonium stolen from a nuclear power plant... uh-uh. I'll blow up a city block, but not an entire city. Or worse."

The brides were horrified to hear that the Andersons had procured a supply of one of most fearsome elements on the planet. Or what they were hearing.

"Is one of the bombs in Luxembourg City?" asked Brigitte.

"Yes, madame," said Ed. "Right in front of the finance department of your country, and one block from where you and Mrs Lumby teach!"

"Start talking, Ed," said Deena coldly. "Now! Where did they get it, and from whom? But first, I want an apology for what you did to my daughter and me - and to Lisa and Hope, and to Cathy and Rita!"

"May we step back inside please?" asked Ed. "This could take all night, and it gets cold out here in the desert at night. Really cold, even in the summer. I grew up not far from here so I know."

By time time, a team of paramedics had shown up to tend to his wounds. The tribal police had also made him stand up and bound him until he could be turned over to the white man's police. He was marched into the council house.

"Start talking, Ed," said Hope, when he was made to sit down, his arms firmly bound behind a chair and his legs strapped to it. "We'll start with the rapes, and in chronological order. That means I'm first. Why did you rape me, when I put so much trust in you? When I thought I loved you and was going to try to make you my husband?"

Ed shed a tear. He knew he would never be forgiven, but he wanted to clear his mind. It took a minute before he finally spoke.