Disclaimer in chapter 1.

I just realized there was a mess up in the last chapter where 2 sentences combined accidentally don't know why the computer did that.

Thanks to all who reviewed!

Episode 2

As Time Goes By

Chapter 8

Mac jumped up from the chair as fast as a woman in her condition could move and made a dash for the guest bathroom. She raced into the bathroom closing the door in a hurry she didn't have time to lock and threw up in the toilet. Her body started shaking as she collapsed by the toilet clutching her swollen abdomen. Harriet cautiously pushed open the door, when she saw Mac she went over to the counter wetting a wash cloth with cold water she went and applied it to Mac's forehead. Coates eased her way in; the men were still in the room comforting the twins.

"I can't do it." Mac cried. "I can't…" She began to shake Harriet and Jennifer both sat on the bathroom floor next to her wrapping their arms around her.

"Shhh… it's ok." Harriet comforted. This was out of character for the colonel, but the hormones tended to do this.

"To see the pain in their eyes, and to not even be able to imagine what they have gone through…" She fell silent for a second. "Harm told me that when he came back over their first night at the admiral's that Lucy had a nightmare woke up screaming and fighting…now it makes sense." Mac wiggled out of the hold Harriet and Jennifer had on her and used the counter as support to pull herself up. "I can't help but feel guilty."

"It's not your fault ma'am!" Jennifer objected she and Harriet both stood not wanting to continue sitting next to the toilet.

"How can you say that? Who knows I may have pushed the girls into the service." Harriet looked at the major, it was a rare opportunity to see raw emotion etched on the colonel's face, and she knew that after this encounter the major would be plagued with guilt.

"Ma'am I do believe that the girls fate is predestined you can't change God's will." Harriet objected.

"Perhaps." Mac agreed leaning back against the counter. "But just the thought…"

"I know ma'am I worry … the twins have made no mention of my children … no and I worry…about all of them." Harriet paused making sure she had Mac's attention. "There is nothing much we can do ma'am except be there for them and give them love and support." Mac looked over apologetically.

"I'm sorry Harriet the thought of your children's fate has never crossed my mind." Harriet gave a reassuring smile.

"It's alright I understand your worry."

"I just wish there is something I could do." Mac added.

"We all do." Spoke up Jennifer. Mac turned to stare at her reflection in the mirror. Taking a few squares of toilet paper she dabbed under her eye to clean up the running mascara. She stepped out into the hall and Coates and Harriet followed she walked back into the room. Harm stood up from the bed and gave her a hug as well. Mac looked over at Bud and the admiral who gave a nod of an encouragement. She then looked back at the twins. Lucy stood up and walked over to her mom and wrapped her arms around her.

"You can't do anything to stop it, but its ok its God's will." She then kissed her mom on the cheek. It was exactly the reassurance Mac wanted to hear, but still the feeling existed in her as well as a mutual feeling shared by the other officers in the room… if there was a way to stop the war and return the twins to a stable future.

I know kind of a mushy and out of character chapter but its going to help move this story along please RR and tell me what you think!