It had been almost a year since Sarah had last seen her family from JAG and it felt good to be returning home after such a long absence. Clay placed his hand in the small of her back when he noticed that she was trembling. "Are you cold, sweetheart?"
Sarah wasn't cold, she was scared that they would not accept her back, or that they would be angry with her for running from them, when she had truly needed them the most. "Will you ring the doorbell, Clay? I don't want to drop Matthew."
Clay knew that there was absolutely no way she would ever drop the baby, but did what she asked anyway. After a few moments the front door opened and Lieutenant Coates began to greet them. Tonight she was the designated coat "person", but when she saw who it was, she was speechless.
Clay pushed his family inside of the door and turned to greet Jennifer. "Good evening, Lieutenant Coates. How have you been?"
"Fine, Sir, Ma'am," Jennifer accepted their coats and stopped dead when she saw the baby in the Colonel's arms. She glanced from the baby, to Sarah, and then to Clay, her mouth opening and closing like that of a fish. Clay laughed and patted her on the shoulder moving past her into the living room.
"Good evening everyone. Mind if we join the party?" Clay gently reached around and pulled Sarah to his side. He could feel her body shaking and realized that she was terrified. Everyone in the room turned to greet the new guests and all conversations stopped dead. Many shook their heads because they couldn't believe who they were seeing standing before them.
AJ and Porter stepped forward and AJ shook Clay's hand, while Porter hugged Sarah. "How are you three doing? Glad to be home? May I hold him, Sarah?" AJ asked. Clay took the baby from her cold fingers and handed him to AJ.
"Of course, AJ," replied Clay, in a rather stunned voice. He was shocked to see his mother at the party and could not quite figure out how she came to be there.
He had not seen his mother since his and Sarah's wedding, so had no idea that she and AJ had been seeing each other. He made a mental note to talk to her later and find out what was going on, but right then his main concern was about how everyone was reacting to Sarah. The situation was not going well. No one else in the room had moved, and Sarah was shaking uncontrollably at this point. Clay looked at AJ silently asking for his help. He'd hoped that they would all simply open their arms to Sarah and let the past lie, but it didn't appear that was going to be the case.
Suddenly, in from the kitchen came Harriet, and when she saw Sarah she came barreling across the room taking her into her arms. "Ma'am! Are you really here?" At this, the floodgates opened in the room and Sarah was hugged and kissed by all. Tears were flowing down the cheeks of almost everyone in the room. Their family was once again complete.
Harriet turned around to ask the Admiral something when she noticed, for the first time, that he was holding a baby in his arms. "Oh Sir, what a cute baby! Whose is it?" Everyone in the room started laughing and pointed toward Sarah and Clay. This time it was Harriet's turn to open and close her mouth like a fish.
Once she had composed herself, Harriet walked over to the Admiral and took the child from him. She turned and walked over to Sarah, her eyes never once leaving the precious bundle in her arms. Noticing the blue blanket, Harriet surmised that the baby was indeed a boy and proceeded to ask his name.
Sarah glanced up at Clay who still had his arm firmly locked around her waist. "His name is Matthew Clayton Webb," replied Clay as Sarah had yet to find her voice.
Clay took Sarah's left had and presented to all in the room, "And this, is Sarah Mackenzie Webb, my wife." Chaos broke out in the room as its occupants began to assimilate this new piece of information. Not only had Sarah given birth to a baby, but also she was now Mrs. Clayton Webb. Congratulations could be heard from all around the room as Clay hugged Sarah even tighter.
To be continued…