Author's Note: The story continues with Suzanne's crafting night with Abby, Breena and Ellie. Suzanne needs to make a decision: is she quitting the White House? This is inspired by the Bob Dylan song, "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35." Why Bob Dylan and the line, everybody must get stoned? Please, read and enjoy!

They'll stone ya when you're at the breakfast table
They'll stone ya when you are young and able
They'll stone ya when you're tryin' to make a buck
They'll stone ya and then they'll say, "good luck"
Tell ya what, I would not feel so all alone
Everybody must get stoned

Suzanne listened to the song, concluded that Dylan was explaining verbatim 'the story of my life!'

"If I decide to return to the workplace, I'm abandoning my children, being selfish, fulfilling my own needs instead of the basic needs of my children. If I stay home, then I am not utilizing my God-given talent, serving mankind in the workforce. I am able-minded, more than able-minded and have a full agenda to attend in a short time span. If I go on hiatus, even for five years, then the window of opportunity to make an impact will close. Another will open and the gust of wind will either blow too strong or not enough. Women are the recycle bins of the world. We are useful, renewable resources. From anything, we can renew and recreate and purpose society. Unfortunately, we are used to the limit and often a second-thought. Damned if we do; damned if we don't. Either way, our punishment as the most powerful resource on Earth is death by stone.:" She sang aloud the last line for emphasis-Everybody must get stoned!

While Jethro embraced his second chance of fatherhood, he was unaware of Suzanne's varying emotions about the surprise pregnancies-plural. She confided in Abby, Breena and Ellie during their scheduled crafting night—Friday evenings, given no emergencies at the White House or MTAC. It was hosted by Suzanne at the Gibbs home. She finally had an opportunity to transform their home with a few creative touches.

"Hi, Freddie!" Breena loved Fred. The feeling was mutual, as Fred jumped to Breena's face, furiously licking and panting. "Oh, Fred!"

"Bree watches Fred whenever I'm out of the country and Jethro's in the field."

Abby and Ellie laughed. When Suzanne ordered him down, he obeyed, asking him to greet the ladies nicely. He obeyed.

"He is so protective of Victoria." She stroked Fred's head. "Jimmy and I have talked about getting a dog."

Her bump was becoming more pronounced in passing weeks. Even with larger, more flowing apparel, her face was fuller and hands slightly swollen. Despite camouflage, her pregnancy was now evident. She began wearing dresses. They were easier to slip on and off. The obstetrician guesstimated, by size, by symptoms that Suzanne Gibbs was 22, 23 weeks pregnant.

"Wow!" Abby gasped at the subtle changes in the home. He allowed the hanging plants, a few more photos on the mantle and the coffee table. Intimate snapshots of young Jethro as a new Marine recruit and a younger Suzanne as a toothless First Grader in Hawaii decorated the long mantle. Also added was the recent simplistic beach portraits from Hawaii. Jethro's favorite, the one with Suzanne in the bikini, happily basking in the sun with sunglasses and a large-rimmed hat was in a small frame. The larger was of the couple, wrapped in each other's arms.

"I haven't seen that picture." Breena picked up the smaller framed photo.

"That's Jethro's favorite picture." Suzanne laughed. "B.B.: Before baby...We'll see if I can get back to that luscious frame."

The others were of family-keeping in stride of Suzanne's deeply rooted belief of faith, family, and love. She restored a picture of Jethro with Shannon and Kelly, her father and his between freshly cut flowers on the mantle. Pictures of baby Victoria, Amirah, Jared, Kayla, Emily were on display. A dash of color of the interior walls maintained Jethro's simplistic taste for decor; she combined both couches to make one large, warm entry way and entertainment area.

Suzanne respected the boundary. The only major difference: Suzanne lovingly convinced Jethro to upgrade his smaller television to a smaller flat screen.

"How did you get Gibbs to agree with technology in this house?!"

"Basic package with the wireless connection and only in my office, not downstairs. I agreed to unplug, stop at 8 o'clock, not unless we're together. Absolutely no TV upstairs. It's called Rule 68b: No distractions when it comes to loving." Suzanne grinned. She explained the solution to so many changes and adjustments.

"We cuddle on the couch, watch his classic westerns on the streaming channel." She smiled. "Even Fred has his own couch."

The kitchen table had a modest handwoven cloth, place setting. Jethro renovated the kitchen to his wife's specifications, as reward for "her understanding."

"This is a nice home." Ellie complimented. She glanced in Suzanne's office-still under some renovation, as she searched for the music station.

"I haven't been home long enough to set up my office..." Suzanne glanced around. Boxes remained unpacked, stacked in the corner. The desk held her computer. It was once a door. Added some color, created some legs...the intricacies were enough to store Suzanne's items safely. The shelving, of course, Jethro made by hand. During spare time, Jethro made a considerable effort to help her organize her office.

"Jethro doesn't mind the music..." Suzanne turned on the music station, the sound system piped throughout the home. "Oh..." Suzanne flashed a huge smile when she heard the cued song.

Well, I know it's kinda late.
I hope I didn't wake you.
But what I gotta say can't wait,
I know you'd understand.

Every time I tried to tell you,
The words just came out wrong,
So I'll have to say I love you in a song.

"Jethro..." Suzanne whispered. "One of the songs I leave to play whenever I have to go out of town..." She sighed. "He must have played it when upstairs."

Beside the office was the nursery, formerly Suzanne's crafting room. For the time, the crating items remained in the room. The ladies worked in the newly designed nursery, thanks to the men. Jimmy, Tim and Tony painted, while Leon and Jethro constructed furniture downstairs. The color inspiration came from Abby's knitted green and yellow baby blanket. She rocked in the fresh white rocking chair.

"Have one baby is an adjustment, imagine expecting two! It's great, but…" Suzanne chuckled. "We're going to need room!"

Suzanne knew that within days, she needed to make a decision regarding her employment. She shared the news with her closest confidants. Already in the room was a changing table, a chest of drawer and a crib. "I always thought I'd be a good Dog Mom, a good Aunt to my nephews."

"Have you ever talked about children?" Breena asked.

"I really thought I couldn't have children." Suzanne revealed to the women she had irregular menstrual cycles since the initial onset. For years, gynecologists could not pinpoint a diagnosis. They commented on excessive weight gain or loss, chalked it to just an active body adjusting to change.

"You're just beginning a career." Ellie finished the thought, concentrating on the knitting. She glanced up, only to see Suzanne nodding in agreement, teary-eyed about the situation. "You could still be a working mother, Suzanne."

"Yeah? Tell that to my husband…" Suzanne continued with the crocheting. "He really wants me to stay home, raise our children…" The room was silent.

"Don't get me wrong, it is a blessing. I love seeing Jethro so happy…" She whispered. "God knows he's been through enough pain."

"And everyone at MTAC thanks you, by the way." Abby interrupted. "Tony says he's in your debt."

The ladies chuckled.

"Well, Uncle Tony and Tim can babysit..."

"Suzanne, you are avoiding the question." Abby said. "Are you returning back to the White House after maternity leave?"

"I don't know." She sighed. "I love working for the President. I love the spontaneity of my job and how I can leave for 3 days or 3 weeks. You really cannot do that to kids." Suzanne said.

"It's about choices." Breena added. "It's hard to be a mother and maintain a career."

"I don't want to become my mother." Suzanne reflected on the past. "My mom gave up the height her career for me...kind of resented me in a way. Didn't love me any less. In my heart, they need a fulltime Mom."

"You just graduated from law school." Abby said.

"What are you saying, Suzanne?" Eleanor asked. "You're ready to become a fulltime Mom? Drive carpool and recitals?"

The dog barked with anticipation, hearing the car and then an unlocked deadbolt, a signal that Jethro was home.

"Suzanne?"

"If it means I stay married to Jethro, I'm submitting my resignation Monday morning." She whispered.