Patrick quickly rushed into the commentary to grab the few groceries that Jackie had requested he pick up after work. He swore his mother was always running some bake sale for the FRG but he was more than happy to eat any leftovers that didn't sell. He turned and went into the baking aisle to find sugar when he spotted a familiar person. He would know that red hair and 5'7" stance that he used to see at West Point anywhere, "Melanie? Melanie Fitzpatrick?"
The girl turned around and smiled when she saw him, "Patrick?" she smiled happily giving him a quick embrace, "How are you? How's your family?"
"Pretty good," he smiled happily, "So may I ask what are you doing here at Marshall Brigg?"
"I got assigned here," she replied, "Just moved onto post last week."
"Really, what part?" asked Patrick.
"Not far from the hospital," said Melanie, "You stationed here?"
"Well still living with Mom and Dad for now. Attended Ranger training for the past six weeks, haven't been stationed anywhere yet," he admitted, "We're by, you know, where the Post Commander and Corp Commander's houses are."
"Yes, I read that General Clarke became Post Commander," said Melanie and then looked down, "And unfortunately got passed up for a third star."
"Well, General Holden is an outstanding solider. I'm sure you'll get to meet him soon enough. Maybe you could come by for dinner tonight? I'm sure Mom, Dad, and Sophie would be thrilled to see you again."
Melanie smiled as she went back to her shopping, "Okay. It'll be nice to catch up."
"David, Sara Elizabeth, would you both come downstairs please?" shouted Joan hoping her children were going to be cooperative at the moment.
Sara Elizabeth came down the stairs and asked, "Mommy, are we in trouble?"
"No of course not, why would you think that?" asked Joan.
"Just wondering if it was because of what I asked last night," said Sara Elizabeth.
"Oh honey, there wasn't any harm in asking," said Joan leading her daughter over to the couch and sitting her in her lap.
"Come on dude, Mom and I want to talk," shouted Roland upstairs.
David finally appeared on the stairway and asked, "Mom, Dad, am I in trouble?"
Joan chuckled lightly, "Now you sound like your sister. No, neither one of you is in trouble. This is a good thing we're discussing," she replied motioning for David to sit down next to her.
"You're not, you know, are you?" asked David looking between his parents with a semi disgusted look on his face, as if the thought of his parents still having sex was the worst thought in the world.
"David," said Joan sternly, knowing that Sara Elizabeth didn't know about that stuff yet, "The answer to that is no, but, your father and I were discussing something last night."
"And?" David questioned curiously.
"Well this one's birthday is coming up," said Roland playfully grabbing Sara Elizabeth's hand causing the five year old to look up, "And we were wondering how you would both feel if we got a dog?"
"We're getting a puppy?!" asked Sara Elizabeth excitedly as she jumped off of Joan's lap and started jumping up and down happily.
"Not right yet," said Joan, trying to hide her excitement on how happy the news made her kids, "But we were thinking we could start meeting with some people and doing some research that way you and David can have a puppy by your birthday."
"Awesome," said David excitedly.
The tribe was gathered at the Hump Bar for their usual weekly lunch though several individuals hadn't arrived yet. So far, Claudia Joy, Denise, and Maggie were the only three women to have arrived. The three of them assumed that Gloria and Holly were in the back or at the bar preparing drinks. Latasha and Jackie entered a few moments later both sitting down with the rest of the group. Holly was the first one to join them, bringing the majority of their drinks, "So how's everyone doing?" asked Holly.
"Well, Kat said that she was bringing a surprise. Evidently, only the Generals' wives here know what the surprise is," said Denise jokingly.
"Who us?" asked Jackie innocently sipping her margarita while Claudia Joy smirked as she put her glucose meter away in her purse.
Just then, Kat walked into the Hump Bar with Connor in her arms and Chris was behind her, "Hey guys, look who's home?"
"Colonel Richardson," said Denise excitedly, "Welcome home."
"Thank you Mrs. Sherwood," he said gratefully.
"I'm so glad you're back," said Jackie embracing him, being careful not to further injure his arm.
"It feels good to be back," said Chris, "Now I haven't had a nice cold beer in about three months, so I would love to have one," he said.
"One beer, coming right up. Draft or bottle?" asked Holly.
"Heineken on draft if you have it," answered Chris sitting down next to Kat.
Holly nodded and went to get the beer. She quickly handed it to Chris before realizing Gloria wasn't at the bar where she had been beforehand. Holly went back into the office only to find that Gloria wasn't there either. She finally found Gloria in the bathroom leaning against one of the sinks, breathing deeply, "Gloria?"
Gloria turned to Holly startled before frowning slightly, "Hey, sorry I took off on you, you know morning sickness."
"Right," Holly nodded, "If you don't feel good why don't you just go home?"
"Because people will get suspicious then," said Gloria wiping her face with a wet paper towel.
"Gloria, seriously, why are you so afraid to tell people you're pregnant?" asked Holly curiously, "If it's about Hector, then maybe you should reconsider getting back together with him."
"No, it's not that," said Gloria, "I guess, Hector mentioned once about him not being ready to be a father. Well, now I think he's ready to be a father, but I don't know if I'll even be a good mother," she admitted with tears in her eyes.
Holly laid her hands on Gloria's shoulders and looked into Gloria's eyes, "Gloria, listen to me. I think one of the reasons you're feeling so scared is because you don't have anyone to talk to besides me and Hector. And I think you'd feel a lot better if you told other people how you feel."
Gloria sighed and nodded, "Yeah you're right."
Holly rubbed Gloria's shoulder and the two mothers-to-be went to join the rest of the group, "Hi everyone," said Gloria, "Good to see you home Colonel Richardson."
"It's good to be back," Chris said.
Holly smiled at Gloria encouragingly before Gloria said, "Hey everyone, I have something to tell all of you." Everyone turned to Gloria, giving her their full attention. Gloria smiled suddenly off the wall to tell everyone, "I'm going to be a Mommy."
"You're pregnant?" asked Jackie, a smile forming on her face.
Gloria nodded, "Yeah," she said reaching into her back pocket, pulling out the sonogram, "I'm eight weeks along, which means it's definitely Hector's," she said nodding at Jackie.
"Oh of course," said Jackie.
"Wait what's going on here?" asked Chris confused.
"I sort of, kind of, went out with Pat for a few months," admitted Gloria sheepishly.
Kat nearly choked on her drink with surprise, "As in Lieutenant Clarke? As in her son?" asked Kat pointing to Jackie.
"Yes, but at first I didn't know he was her son," defended Gloria, "And honestly he was a little bit of a rebound.
Jackie sighed. She really didn't like her son being called or used as a rebound, but hey, what could she do? Maybe now that Patrick and Melanie had reconnected, something would come out of their friendship.
"Well congratulations," said Denise.
"How's Hector taking it?" asked Maggie.
"A lot better than I expected. And a lot better than me," said Gloria honestly, "The prospect of becoming a mother is exciting and terrifying at the same time. At least Holly and I will be going through the journey to motherhood together."
"Ah you guys," said Latasha, "It'll be a tough and scary road, but you have all of us to help you through it."
"And it'll be the most rewarding job you ever have," smiled Kat looking at a sleeping Connor in her arms. Both Gloria and Holly suddenly felt more supported than ever before in their lives.