A/N: Here is the conclusion to this story. Yes, it is extremely long, and yes the bulk of it has a lot of angst, but I promised an eventual happy ending, and I followed through, so as you read, bear with it. This isn't a traditional epilogue, as much as it finishes off the first year after the patriots have ended, with it all wrapped up prettily (I hope) at the end. More notes at end.
Charlie stepped out of the carpenter's shop well pleased with herself. The new furniture was coming along quite nicely and the cost would be lower than he'd initially told her. They still had three months to go, but it would take time to get everything done. At first Monroe had balked at the idea of changing Daniel's room so soon, but the fact was their family was getting bigger and they needed the space. They'd already decided that for the time being the twins would share Daniel's old room because it was bigger.
She joined Monroe by the wagon. He was leaning up against it, chatting idly with a few people from town when a familiar voice drew their attention to the sidewalk. "How you doing, Bass?" They both turned and looked at it source.
Monroe cocked an eyebrow at the man that stood there. "Well if it isn't General Baker. What are you doing this far west, Jeremy?" His old friend's presence in town made him a little uneasy. They'd parted on much better terms when he'd come home, but there was something in Jeremy's eyes that he didn't quite trust.
"Official business, as it happens," was Jeremy's reply. There were several men in U.S. uniforms behind him.
"What's going on, Jeremy?" Charlie asked, her heart was beginning to race. She sensed Monroe's unease which only increased her own.
The soldiers' presence in town was starting to draw attention and a crowd was gathering around them. "You armed, Bass?"
Monroe shook his head in disbelief. He shouldn't have been surprised. "You're seriously going to do this?" He reached in the back waistband of his jeans and pulled out the handgun he carried to town for protection on the road. He handed it over.
"I don't have a choice. Orders were to do it in public and by the book. He wanted everyone to know it was official," the general said evenly.
Charlie stepped in between them. Her protruding belly gave Jeremy just a little pause. "What are you doing? If it wasn't for Bass, Donovan would still be hiding from the Patriots instead of leading the country."
Monroe reached out and grabbed her upper arms gently. "Charlie, stop." She slowly turned and looked at him. "I'll go with you willingly," he said with a nod to the soldiers.
"You're just going to let them arrest you?" She felt herself getting hysterical. She whipped back around to face the general. "What are the charges, Jeremy?"
He gestured for her to move. "Step away, ma'am." His voice was now formal, as if she wasn't married to the man that had helped Miles pick him up off the ground and nurse him back to health after he'd been beaten half to death in the months after the blackout. "Sebastian Monroe, you are under arrest for treason against the United States. You have the right to remain silent. Any testimony or statements you give may be used against you in open court. You have the right to representation. If you do not have counsel, it may be provided to you. Do you understand your rights?"
Monroe nodded. "I understand," he said quietly. He held his hands out. Jeremy personally put the cuffs on him, making sure to secure them in front. He knew that Monroe wasn't going to make a break for it. "Can I just have a second?" he asked.
Jeremy looked around him. The people that watched seemed upset, not grateful by what was going on. These were his friends. Sensing that allowing him a few minutes would not cause problems, he nodded his assent. "Go ahead, Bass."
Monroe walked over to where Charlie was watching helplessly. "Hey, look at me." He waited for her to make eye contact. "It's gonna be okay."
"Why are you letting them take you? We could go somewhere…" She just didn't understand. In the past he'd have fought to get away. Jeremy or not, he'd have still done what it took. And with the entire town behind him, the handful of soldiers would have been nothing.
"It's Jeremy, Charlie. They sent him for a reason." He shook his head at her. He could practically feel her trying to come up with an escape plan. "And besides, it's time to stop running. The past was bound to catch up with me at some point."
"Did you know about this ahead of time?"
He stands in Donovan's tent. He will leave in just a few days. He's getting married tomorrow. This will be the last time he sees Donovan before they head out. He's demanded those two days to be free of all of this, to be with his family. He's about to leave when Donovan dismisses everyone else in the tent. The man is never completely alone. "Monroe, a word?" the would-be president asks as he goes to follow everyone out.
He turns back and takes a seat. "Okay."
Donovan hesitates for a second. "We need to talk about what happens afterwards. You need to understand that while I appreciate what you're doing, if we win this doesn't undo everything you did as President of the Monroe Republic."
"So after everything you're asking of me, you're still going to punish me for that?" Monroe cannot believe this.
Donovan sits at his desk and pours them both a drink. "I'm not saying that, but I'm not saying you're immune either. I'll only do it if I have to. If it comes down to it, I can only promise you one thing – you'll be treated fairly. I'll make sure you're given a fair trial."
"You do realize the only way that's possible is if you get a jury from Alaska, right?" He downs his drink and stands. He's been duly warned.
"I'm not trying to blindside you, but what would you do if you were in my position, Monroe?" the man looked weary, as if this has been bothering him for some time.
Monroe looks at him from the entrance of the tent. "If it our roles were reversed? I'd have you publicly tortured and killed and let the crowds burn your image in effigy. But then again, that's probably what got me into that mess in the first place, now isn't it?" He turns and leaves. Donovan's message has been effectively delivered. He won't go out of his way to prosecute him, but he'll do whatever it takes to keep the nation stable. If his freedom interferes with that then his freedom will be forfeit.
He sighed. "Not exactly. But I knew it wasn't off the table." Monroe reached towards her with his shackled hands and grabbed her wrists. "Go home and take care of our kids. I'll be given a fair trial, don't worry. Please don't let Miles do anything stupid." He kissed her lightly on the mouth.
Tears streaming, Charlie nodded. If they tried to break him out, it would only bring down the wrath of the army. "I love you," she said as she wrapped her arms around him.
Cuffed as he was, he could not hold her back. He settled for burying his face in her neck, head bent. "It's time," Jeremy said quietly from behind him.
As Monroe stepped back, Robert Beecher touched his arm. "Don't worry, I'll see her home. And I'll get my uncle Nick. You couldn't ask for a better lawyer."
"Thanks, Bob." He said. "Keep an eye on them, please." With that he was led away to the Army wagon that waited to take him to the train station to await his ride to Lexington.
XXXXX
Charlie burst into the front door. "He's been arrested!"
Miles had been sitting at the kitchen table, cleaning his gun. "What? By who?"
"The U.S. Who else?" Charlie explained Jeremy's presence as well. "He's to be charged with treason." Rachel came up behind her and placed an arm around her in support.
Miles stood up. "Well, time to go round up some troops of our own then. We've gotta get to him before he gets to Lexington. It'll be impossible once he's there. If we don't he's as good as dead." He turned to Aaron. "Go over to Avery's and get Connor. We're going to need him."
"You'll do no such thing," Beecher said as he came in the front door. He'd taken it upon himself to get her horses settled. "He's to be tried, a real trial with a jury." He stood in the doorway with all of the authority his title gave him. "If you try to rescue him, you won't be doing him any favors. What he needs is a lawyer. My uncle may be old, but he knows the law inside and out. If anyone can find a way to get him acquitted, it'll be Nick."
Mile whipped around to face the sheriff. "A lawyer? Are you kidding me? Johnny Cochran couldn't get him off on this."
Beecher stood firm. "He doesn't want you to go off half-cocked. He was very clear on that. You heard him, Charlie."
She sank to a chair, sadly. "He's right. Bass told me not to let you do something stupid. We have to take our chances."
Several hours later, a knock at the door broke the silence in the living room. The twins were in bed and they were all sitting in shock. Connor had come, despite the fact that no attempts at rescuing his father would be forthcoming. He rose and opened the front door. "What do you want?" he said from where he stood, out of sight from the others.
The visitor's voice was muffled. Connor returned with Jeremy Baker right behind him. "You son of a bitch!" Miles yelled as he jumped to his feet. "What the hell, Jeremy? He trusted you!"
"I bet you couldn't wait for this moment, huh? Getting your revenge for Philly?" Charlie added.
Jeremy wasn't going to take their resentment lying down. "Fuck you both. Why do you think I'm here? It cost me a lot to get Donovan to let me handle this personally. I'm the commanding general of the entire U.S. Army. Not to mention I'm exposing myself because of my history with him. Just because he's the local hero here doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of people wanting his head on a platter. I'm here to make sure he even makes it to Lexington in one piece." His words effectively shut Miles and Charlie down. "I've had to bring a small company just to make sure no one puts a bullet in him on the way. And they all had to be vetted, just in case."
"Well if you're here, who's protecting him now?" Charlie asked, more worried than ever.
Jeremy took a seat, is travel fatigues looking out of place. "Scott Walters is with him. He's been given an officer's commission and been promoted to Captain. He's quite the rising star. Bass will be safe with him."
Miles nodded. Walters was a good man and had been on friendly terms with Monroe. In fact, if it wasn't for him, he'd have died in Truman's care. "So what's going to happen?"
"He'll be taken to the capital in Lexington to stand trial. I'm not going to lie to you; they're going to tack on every charge they can think of. Donovan is not happy with your little stunt with the horses in Texas," the general explained.
Charlie narrowed her eyes. Miles had warned Monroe that it could bite them in the ass later. "We didn't break any laws. I thought that we had the freedom to sell our goods to anyone we want."
Jeremy set his glass down and stood. "And you do, horses included. But, it also got people that already were pushing for his arrest to push even harder. And on top of that, his being tried was a condition to getting the rebel factions in the northwest states to back down and stop the insurrection there."
Miles snorted in irritation. "He's Donovan's Hail Mary play."
Jeremy didn't deny it. "That's one way of putting it. Look, I've got to get back. I'll do what I can for him. I'll make sure he's treated fairly and that no one lays a hand on him – he's not going to be mistreated." He stops at the front door and comes back into the living room. "Charlie, I'll send a formal escort to bring you to him. Expect them by weeks end."
"Thank you," she said quietly as she watched him leave.
XXXX
Charlie waited with her mother and Miles in the courtroom. Priscilla and Gene had decided to stay at the inn with the twins, but Aaron would be arriving shortly with Connor. They were given seats right behind where he would sit with Nick Beecher. He was escorted into the room under armed guard. The guards placed themselves around the room. Captain Walters was in charge of the lot. He sat behind Monroe, next to Charlie. She knew she would not be allowed to talk to him, so she leaned in and whispered to Walker instead. "What's with all the guards, Captain?"
He regarded Monroe's young wife. He felt truly sorry for what she was going through. She was weeks away from having a baby and here she was. "They're for his protection, Mrs. Monroe – nothing more."
Charlie had caught the branch line train that ran from Franklin to Lexington when Jeremy's escort had arrived several days after Monroe's arrest. It was another week after that before Jeremy could get her permission to see him. She's led to the basement of the courthouse. The lower level has been divided up into cells for prisoners awaiting trial.
The cell is at least dry and somewhat clean, which is more that could be said for most prisons since the blackout. At some point he'd been given a change of clothes. The faded trousers and denim shirt look so foreign on him. She is so used to the dark jeans and leather jacket he normally favored. Boots have been replaced with old tennis shoes, laces removed of course.
Although he looks tired, he at least is showing no obvious signs of mistreatment. The guard that lets her into his cell will not leave. He stands stoically outside the cell, but at least has the courtesy of turning away to offer them some semblance of privacy.
He is sitting on his cot when she enters. Standing up, he waits for her to come to him and wraps his arms around her. For security, his leg is shackled to the wall. "They've got you chained?" the outrage in Charlie's voice attracts the attention of the guard.
He holds her tighter. "Not usually. It's just for this. When you leave it will come off. Apparently, Donovan's not taking any chances." He kisses her temple and silently wills his eyes to stay dry. Seeing her now is so hard. "God, I've missed you. How are the kids?"
Charlie's voice wavers as she speaks. "Good, healthy. They keep asking for you." She starts to sob against his chest. "It's so hard. I don't know if I can do this without you."
He backs up and looks into her eyes. "That's not the Charlie I know. You're stronger than that – you have to be." He places his hand on her belly. "Danny and Angie need you, and so will this little one." He feels the baby kick strong against his hand and smiles in spite of the shitty circumstances. "Besides, you'll have your family to help you.
He brushes away her tears with his thumbs as he cups her face. Charlie shakes her head sadly. "For how long? They've already taken you. You know it's only a matter of time before they come for Miles. After that, who knows?"
He clenches is jaw. He has to tell her, and knows she's not going to handle it well. "That's not going to happen."
"You don't know that," Charlie argues.
He takes a deep breath. It's now or never. "Trust me, I do."
Charlie backs away from him. "Bass, what did you do?"
He sits down on his cot again and waits for her to join him. "Charlie, I'm not fighting this. I've worked out a deal. If I plead guilty, it guarantees immunity for your entire family. They were going to eventually charge Miles for forming the Republic with me. After the entire truth about the blackout comes to light, your mom was at risk too. Plus, Gene was probably going down for helping the Patriots in Willoughby before he turned on them."
"And what about you? You'll – you'll die! How could you do that? You have to fight!" Her yelling sends the guard over to them. Monroe holds up a hand, indicating that they were fine.
"I was headed for the death penalty anyway. You know that. There's no getting out of this for me. Nick's looked at every loophole in the book. Double Jeopardy doesn't count because I wasn't charged with crimes against the U.S." He lifts her chin towards him to force her to look at him. "I can at least keep them safe. Let me do this, maybe it can even make up for some of the things I've done."
Charlie tearfully nods. She knows what he's doing now. He's still trying to redeem himself. He no longer needs to as far as she's concerned, but if he does this on his own terms, maybe he can finally give up the guilt he's harbored for so long. "I'm staying until this is all over. Everyone else is heading up in a few days. Grandpa is already here, just in case." She places her hand over the baby she carries, emphasizing her meaning.
Monroe rests his head on the wall and focuses his vision on the ceiling. "No, you've got to go back. Our baby should be born at home, not here while I'm rotting in a jail cell. Charlie -"
She holds up her hand to stop him. "No. You're not going to go through this alone. Not this time."
He loses it then. He pulls her into his lap and clings to her. "God, I love you so much."
They sit together for some time before the guard opens the cell. "Sorry, time's up." Reluctantly, Charlie leaves him. As soon as she is out of the cell a second guard appears and removes the chain around his ankle. The cell is locked once more. The guards walk out of earshot to allow him time to say goodbye and kiss her through the bars of his cell before they return to lead her away.
"All rise," the bailiff announced. The judge entered the room. He was elderly, older even than Nick Beecher. But that did not come as a surprise. The majority of people well versed in U.S. law would be older. This is the third judge assigned to Monroe's trial, the other two having chosen to recuse themselves because they'd lived under his rule at some point since the blackout. "On this day, the ninth of May, 2031 this court is now in session, the honorable Justice Travis Brooks presiding."
Justice Brooks sat down. "You may all be seated," he said. He picked up the file that was waiting for him at his bench and flipped through it for several minutes as silence permeated the courtroom. "Mr. Beecher, does your client the charges against him?" he asked when he finally looked up.
"Yes, your honor," he said. His voice was clear and steady, despite his age.
The judge picked up one of the pages in the file and scanned it. "And as I understand it, your client wishes to enter a plea for these charges?"
"Yes your honor," Nick Beecher began. "My client is pleading guilty to all charges, save one."
The judge looked up, surprised. He'd already been told of Monroe's intentions. This was just a formality as prescribed by law before Monroe could be sentenced. "Please proceed," the judge indicated.
Beecher cleared his throat. He had a file of his own opened before him. "My client enters a plea of guilty or the following charges under Federal Law: 500 counts of murder in the first degree, genocide, unlawful imprisonment, conspiracy to commit murder, drug trafficking, torture, extortion, impersonating a public official and theft."
Charlie closed her eyes. They'd piled on every charge they can think of, and with no adequate prisons to hold him, he'd have to be cleared of all of them to stay alive. They even sought to punish him for the legalization of drugs, which was ironic as it was the only altruistic law he'd ever passed. With the lack of medicines after the blackout and very few doctors to prescribe anything, drugs such as morphine, heroin and marijuana were often the only things that people had to ease their suffering. She also noticed the one charge that wasn't present.
"And for the charge of Treason against the United States?" The judge asked.
"My client pleads not-guilty your honor," the lawyer said. He has to repeat himself at Justice Brooks' request.
The words cause an uproar throughout the courtroom. Brooks banged on his gavel repeatedly. The sound slowly brought things into order. "Mr. Beecher, perhaps you should remind your client that this charge is more than likely the hardest to defend? He stands accused of plotting to form his own government. It will be very difficult to prove his innocence when he'd taken the liberty of naming after himself!"
Monroe leaned over and whispered to his lawyer for a moment. Nick nodded in understanding before turning back to the judge. "Your honor, my client would like to request permission to address the court freely."
Brooks looked like he was trying to decide if he was intrigued or merely annoyed. "Granted," he said wearily. "Please be advised to keep your statements appropriate to this setting, Mr. Monroe."
Monroe stood up. "Thank you your honor. I am exactly what I am pleading guilty to. I'm a murderer. I've killed more people than I can count and have ordered the deaths of many more than that. I tortured people just to keep the house of cards I'd built from falling in around me, and that was even before the power drove me quite literally insane. I am a lot of things, and very few if any of them are good. I'm a drunk, I can be manipulative as hell, and I'm generally a giant prick most of the time. But I'm no traitor.
The courtroom erupted again, causing the judge to bring the room back into order. When all was quiet once more, the Judge gestured for Monroe to continue. "I loved my country - so much that I dedicated the last ten years before the blackout to the serving in the Marines. I completed two tours in Iraq, and risked my life every day for my country. And after the lights went out, I stayed at my post for two months before word got out that the government was simply gone. In that time I watched my brothers in arms die of illness, commit suicide, go AWOL and go crazy, but I still stayed until we realized that orders would never come. It was over three years after that when I began to form the militia. There was no U.S. Government left to commit treason against."
Monroe knew he was pushing it, but he was determined. "So, no your honor. I will not plead guilty to treason. I will not put myself in the same category as Jack Davis or anyone else that orchestrated the blackout. My children deserve to grow up knowing that of all the rotten, horrible things I've done, being a traitor was not one of them. They don't deserve that mark against them."
The judge thought about what entering a not guilty plea could mean. "We'll take a short recess. Counselors, I want to see you both in my chambers. Now.
They waited for half an hour. In that time, Charlie was not allowed to speak to Monroe, but Walters did overlook her reaching across and placing his hand on his shoulder from her seat to show her support. The judge returned to the bench and announced that the recess was over as the lawyers returned to their seats.
Nick Beecher and Monroe whispered back and forth for several minutes, discussing what had gone on in the judge's chamber before the lawyer addressed the judge. "Your honor, my client would like to change one of his pleas."
The judge nodded. "Proceed."
Nick continued. "Mr. Monroe would like to withdraw the plea of not-guilty for the charge of treason." He looked at Monroe, who nodded his approval. "He would like to use the Alford plea in regards to this charge."
The judge now looked directly at Monroe. "Mr. Monroe, you understand that by entering an Alford plea you are maintaining your innocence, however you are acknowledging that the prosecution has enough evidence that a reasonable jury would likely convict you of the charge, is that correct?"
"Yes, your honor," Monroe said quietly.
"And you also understand that this court will sentence you as it would any other form of guilty plea?" Brooks continued.
"Yes, your honor."
The judge turned to the Prosecutor. "Mr. Matthews do you have a problem with the defendant's use of the Alford plea?"
The prosecutor looked up. "Your honor, the People will accept the defendant's decision to use the Alford plea on the charge of treason as long as the other pleas still stand as previously entered."
The judge addressed the court. "The change in plea is granted." He banged his gavel. "Will the defendant please rise."
Monroe and Nick stood. "Mr. Monroe, you have waived your right to a trial by jury. As such we will move onto sentencing. Due to the severity of your crimes, and as prescribed by federal law and the laws of the Commonwealth State of Kentucky you are hereby sentenced to death."
Monroe nodded his understanding. "As agreed upon by the prosecution, your sentence will be carried out thirty days from now. Until that time you will remain in custody. I have considered your petition in regards to the method of your execution, and I have decided to postpone my decision so that I may review it further. We will reconvene in two weeks, where I will give you my decision." The judge banged his gavel once more and left the bench. Charlie watch as Monroe was put back in shackles and led away.
He is allowed to see just Charlie and Miles after his sentencing. "What the hell was that all about?" Miles asks as he paces inside the cell. Charlie has already told him about the plea bargain, so he was expecting it.
"Would you want to die being labeled as a traitor when people in our own government were the reason we were in Philly in the first place? It was a risk, but it worked out in the end," Monroe argues.
"What do you mean, Bass?" Charlie asks.
Monroe sits down next to where she is perched on his cot. "They were initially going to kill me in the morning. Now I've got a month and the judge has ordered that I get to be there when the baby comes, if you're still in town for it. I'd have pled guilty to pretty much anything for that chance."
"The judge said you'd petitioned him about the method. What's with that?" Miles asks as he starts to think and plan.
Monroe shrugs. "They want to use lethal injection. Been there and done that."
Charlie looks at him. "What on earth did you request?"
"Firing squad." Miles and Charlie stare at him, slack jawed. He doesn't notice that the guard outside his cell is equally stunned. "What? The thought of a hanging is creepy. Miles, remember when we used to say we'd rather go down in a rain of bullets than die in our sleep, well maybe I'll get that chance."
Miles shakes his head in exasperation. "Your flair for the dramatic is sickening at times, man." Miles catches the look on the guard's face that indicates his agreement.
"Well, if I've got to go out, I'd rather go out in style."
Connor and Miles disappeared the day after Monroe's hearing and sentencing. He'd found out about it from Nick Beecher, who was the only person allowed to visit him daily. From his lawyer he found out that he'd be allowed a 24 hour furlough under the supervision of Captain Walters to watch his child enter the world. After that he'd be allowed to see his family in two weeks and again the entire day before the execution.
With Nick's help he filled out a will, leaving everything to Charlie. He also arranged for John Greene to stay on permanently as the overseer for the farm. The repairs to their buildings had been completed just as Daniel had promised over the winter and with the borrowed livestock from several of his neighbors, Brian Greene was already working to restore their property to what it was before the war. John was content to let him run it himself. Avery had sent him a message with Connor stating that he'd help Charlie in any way he could. The wedding between his daughter and Monroe's son would be postponed. They hadn't felt right to celebrate in light of recent events.
It was a little over a week later when he was summoned in the middle of the night. Scott Walters stood there holding the key to the cell. "Well are you coming or not? If she has the baby before dawn, I win the pot."
He pulled his clothes on as fast as he could. "The guards had a bet going on? Isn't that a bit morbid, all things considered?"
"Like you're one to talk. Matheson told me about the jar you buried with a rotting corpse." He unlocked the cell so Monroe could leave.
"That was entirely different. For one, I had to do something with the extra body. And for another thing it was funny."
Walter's just laughed as he pointed to where Monroe's shackles waited. "Sorry, but orders are orders. Gotta cuff you for the trip."
Monroe suffered the indignity. Walters and his men led him through the streets of Lexington until they came across the small house that Charlie had decided to rent. It was cheaper than staying at the inn for the next month. As soon as they entered the door, the cuffs were removed. After a simple reminder that any attempts on running would result in trouble for everyone, Monroe was allowed to climb the stairs and find Charlie. She was laying in the bed, panting through a contraction.
He went to her side and grabbed her hand. When the pain subsided he kissed her. "You're here," she said as she laid her head back on the pillow. Over the next several hours he stayed by her side. Gene checked her periodically, but it seemed that this baby was no more eager to begin its life than his brother and sister had been.
Walters made a decision and reinterpreted the judge's order. "As far as I know you are allowed to be here for the birth and then the first twenty-four hours," was all he said before going back to the game of poker he was playing with his men.
After that first day, Charlie had actually gotten fed up with Monroe's presence. The contractions were horrible, and she couldn't tell if she was trying to break his hand or he was trying to break hers. She knew he was a mess. "Captain!" She'd finally shouted. Walters ran in, halfway expecting for her to tell him Monroe had freaked out and climbed out the window. "Please take my husband downstairs and get him drunk before I kill him three weeks too early!"
"Yes, Ma'am," Walters said with a smile. "You heard the lady. Don't make me cuff you to the kitchen table."
With that, the guards went about the happy duty of getting their charge good and plowed while Charlie's mother took over at her bedside. Jeremy had been sneaky and assigned men that had been in Providence before the war to Monroe's guard/security detail, so at the very least he had people he liked to drink with.
Rachel came downstairs to tell him it was time. He'd dozed off at some point and had almost sobered up. He took the stairs two at a time while Rachel laughed with a bemused look on her face. She stopped him at the door. "Wash up first. There's no nano to fix things this time, Bass." She took him into the next room where she doused his hands with alcohol and made him put on the post-blackout equivalent of scrubs.
He made it to her side just in time to watch his daughter come into the world. Rachel cleaned up her youngest granddaughter while Gene delivered the afterbirth and checked Charlie over. Despite the length of her labor, everything had gone easy and he declared that she was fine. Monroe picked her up so Gene could change the sheets and then he got her cleaned up. Rachel handed him the baby while she got settled and left them alone.
The moment was bittersweet for him. He was just as awed by the baby he held as he was by her older siblings when they were born, but he knew that he'd only get to see her a handful of times, and then he'd be gone. Determined not to waste what time he had, he joined Charlie on the bed while she nursed the baby for the first time. "What should we name her?" she asked him.
He watched them together while he thought. "Hope," he finally said.
"Hope what?" Charlie asked. Since she'd taken him out of naming Angie and Danny, Charlie had already decided that given the circumstances she'd let him name their youngest child whatever he wanted.
"Just… Hope."
She smiled as she leaned over to kiss him. "Okay, Hope it is." He got up to get the baby settled before he joined Charlie back on the bed. He held her close, afraid to talk. Tomorrow they could worry about what was coming in the future. For now he just wanted to be near her. This would be the last time they'd share a bed together and he didn't want to waste a minute of it.
The next morning Priscilla, Aaron returned from a stay at the inn with the twins. It was everything Monroe could do to keep them from pouncing on their mother. Everyone kept their distance and let him have the time alone with Charlie and all three kids. Before long, it was time for him to go back. He held Hope one last time before giving her to Charlie. "I'll see you in a week or so, okay." He told her before kissing her gently.
Danny and Angie followed him all the way to the door. He bent down and gave them each a hug. "Daddy go home now?" Danny asked, already starting to pout.
He knelt down and pulled them both to him. "I have to go away for just a little bit. Be good for Mommy and Grammy, okay? I'll see you soon."
Rachel led them away and into the small back yard where Brodie had been cooling his heels, having decided that the guards were not welcome in the house. He was cuffed again and led outside. He could hear the twins squealing over some new discovery. Walters gave him a second to greet the dog at the gate. He gave him a pat over the fence. "Keep a good eye on them, boy." With a nod, he walked back to where the guards waited and allowed himself to be led back to the cell that awaited him beneath the courthouse.
The following Monday Monroe and Nick Beecher found himselfs back before Justice Brooks. "I have considered your petition, Mr. Monroe." The judge began. "Due to your previous botched execution and the torture you endured by the patriots involving various chemicals, I am inclined to agree that in your case lethal injection could be construed to be cruel and unusual punishment, and therefore a violation of your constitutional rights."
Monroe released the breath he'd been holding. He'd been convinced that his request would be denied. "Thank you, your honor."
"The only other method for execution on the books in Kentucky is the electric chair, which obviously isn't an option these days. As such, I have no other recourse but to allow your requested method of…" The judge looked back over the papers in front of him, "ah yes, firing squad."
The judge banged the gavel and ended the hearing. Monroe turned to face Walters and held his hands out. He was actually smiling over the decision. Miles and Connor had been the only ones present for this hearing. Charlie had been unable to make it because of the baby, but he would see her the following day. "You really are a sick fuck, Bass." Miles said quietly. Monroe wasn't allowed to respond, so he shrugged in response before he was led back downstairs.
Miles and Connor had returned the previous morning. The next day when they were allowed to see him, they refused to talk about where they'd been but they seemed especially low. The visit was brief and was limited to just Charlie, Miles and Connor. Charlie was allowed to bring baby Hope because she was nursing, so he did get to hold his daughter for just a few minutes.
XXXXX
Because of public safety, the execution was to be held outside. There was an empty building next door to the courthouse. The side of it would be used to block any bullet that happened to miss, however it was unlikely that would be the case. A special section was roped off Monroe's family. Charlie stood side by side with the rest of her family, Connor, Priscilla and Aaron. Gene was at the rental house with the twins and Hope. They did not need to see their father die.
The Army had cordoned off the street, allowing for only fifty witnesses. Many of the others consisted of the newly re-established press and several people that had lost loved ones during Monroe's reign over the Republic.
As a last sign of compassion, Justice Brooks had allowed him unfettered access to his family during his last day on earth. Aaron and Priscilla were not allowed to see him for more than a few minutes because they were not related by blood or marriage, but at least he'd been able to say goodbye.
He spends the entire day with the others, trying to pretend that it's just another day – that he will not be dead minutes after dawn. They were granted access just after breakfast and will be allowed to stay until midnight.
A meal is brought in at midday, but no one can really eat. Miles and Monroe spend a good deal of time talking about the good old days – growing up in Jasper and their exploits as Marines. They reminisce about all the good things in life from before the world went mad. He holds hope while he talks with Angie and Danny and Charlie glued to the cot he's sitting on.
Connor stands off to the side. For the most part he just listens to his father trade stories with Miles. He doesn't know what to say. He's finally learned to forgive his father for the death of his mother and for not giving him the republic (mostly thanks to Katie's influence). More than anything, Rachel and Gene are there to support Charlie and Miles.
The hours pass quickly and before long they are almost out of time. Dawn is approaching. The twins had fallen asleep on his cot and are woken up shortly after the guard tells Monroe that it's time to wrap things up. He stands near the entrance of his cell. Rachel and Gene go to say goodbye to him. "I'm so sorry, for everything," Monroe tells them. He said the same thing at his last execution, but he hopes that this time they will realize how much he means it.
Gene shakes his hand and leaves. He has had an interesting relationship with the former dictator over the past few years. Both men don't especially like each other, but they'd come to a comfortable understanding and have at least learned to respect one another.
Monroe goes to offer the same gesture to Rachel, but she ignores it. Instead she hugs him awkwardly, pausing to whisper into his ear. "I forgive you, Bass." She does not go up to join her father, but instead stands outside the cell to help Charlie with the kids.
Connor hugs his father one last time. Monroe squeezes his shoulder. "I'm proud of you. Please be better than me. Marry your girl and start a family - be happy. Watch out for Charlie and take care of your brother and sisters, okay? Please keep them safe for me."
"I will. I love you dad." Connor has never said those words to him before, and he barely chokes them out now. He leaves before he loses it.
Miles has never been good at expressing himself and today is no different. They lock eyes for several minutes. Charlie watches as they seem to have an entire conversation this way. They both nod at the same time and Miles shakes his hand before pulling him into a hug. "Semper fi," Miles says as he walks away.
"Semper fi, brother."
How does one say goodbye to their children for the last time. He holds Hope and rocks her back and forth for a few moments. He kisses her forehead, Rachel steps back into the cell for just a moment to take the baby. The twins are two and don't understand. They keep saying that it's time to go home. He crouches down and pulls them both into his arms. He gives them both a kiss as he fights back his tears and tells them he loves them.
Charlie points them in the direction of Miles and Rachel. "Go see Grammy and Miles," she tells them. She turns and they just stand there and stare; the moment seems surreal. She breaks the spell by flinging herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. They hold on for dear life. "Don't cry. It's okay," he tells her, repeating his words from the day he was first arrested.
Monroe's voice tells her that he's not going to be following his own advice much longer. She squeezes her eyes shut and concentrates on the way his arms feel around her. She doesn't want to forget what this feels like. His heart is pounding in his chest, and she can feel it against her own. "I'm so sorry I couldn't find a way to save you." she sobs.
"Hey. No, don't do that. You did save me. The second you fell in that damn empty pool you started to save me. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me." Monroe presses his lips to her temple and then to the top of her head. "You brought me back; made me whole again. Never forget that."
Charlie gets herself partially under control. "I love you, Sebastian Monroe."
"I love you, Charlotte Monroe." He squeezes her tight, unsure of how he's going to be able to let go. The guards do it for him. They pull he couple apart and lead her out of the cell. In the only moment of defiance towards the guards since his arrest, Monroe wrestles past the guards and runs to Charlie.
Cupping Charlie's face he crashes his mouth down on hers. The guards look at each other and shrug. They decide to allow him to kiss his wife one last time. Their lips move desperately together for several minutes before he breaks away. As he steps back towards his cell, Charlie and Miles watch him. After all the years Miles has known him, he's never seen Monroe look truly afraid before now. He will spend the next five hours waiting alone.
They all watched as Monroe was brought out. A long chain connected his feet and hands. Before Captain Walters walked away, he took a risk and dug a flask out of his pocket. In friendship, he offered Monroe one last drink. With a halfhearted smile, Monroe raised it to his lips and took the last sip of whiskey that would ever cross his lips. He handed it back and shook hands with the young captain before the guards under his command got Monroe in position. The shackles were removed long enough to chain him to a post that had been set up for the occasion.
He looked down and locks eyes with Charlie one last time. Justice Brooks read off the list of crimes that he will die for. He was offered a brief chance to speak, and he was then blindfolded. The squad consisted of six men. Time slowed for Monroe as he waited. He heard their squad leader start to count down from ten. The sound of gunfire rang out in the morning.
XXXXX
Five days later:
Several newspapers were scattered around the kitchen table. Two were held open by those sitting at the table. Aaron began to read.
"As the members of the press were led past the barriers that had been erected to block the general public from the execution, protests could be heard from either side. More than one observer expressed surprise that the number of those gathered to protest the sentence and demand clemency for the deposed general had actually outnumbered those that had gathered to celebrate the morbid gala.
Beyond the circus that only the public can provide, the air was more solemn. General Monroe's family stood quietly off to one side. The press was told to stand in the center, as to provide a buffer between his the family and those witnesses that had come on behalf of some of the victims of the Monroe Republic.
Sebastian Monroe himself was brought out several minutes later, after the judge and firing squad had already taken their places. Throughout Monroe's incarceration there have been guards assigned to keep him both alive and imprisoned. Several reports over the past couple of months have reached the press involving plots to both assassinate Monroe and aid in his escape.
The murmurs that were heard from the witnesses suggested that the majority of those present had never even seen the man before. After the events of the day, one Fred Smith of Waukesha, WI went on record to say, "I thought he'd be taller."
"Who did they expect, the Jolly Green Giant?" Priscilla interrupted. "Since when is six feet not considered tall?"
Aaron waited for her to quiet down before continuing.
Still, even with months of incarceration, this reporter cannot help but to admit that Monroe still appeared as a striking and imposing figure." Aaron stopped reading for a second to take a drink of his coffee. "Sounds like someone had a crush," he said as he looked for where he'd left off.
"The camaraderie he shared with the Captain of his guard detail was apparent when he was slipped a flask for one final drink before he was bound to the post. The judge read the charges for which Monroe had been found guilty and gave Monroe the opportunity to speak before he was blindfolded. His final words were recorded as follows:
I set out to make things better, and I'm sorry that I couldn't. I never wanted the stupid thing in the first place and I'm so sorry that I let it get to me and took things too far. I regret everything that I've done more than anyone can ever know.
At Exactly 5:41 a.m. the Sergeant in charge of the volunteer squad of six riflemen began to countdown. Prior to the execution, the press was informed that as is tradition, one of the rifles was loaded with a wax filled cartridge so that the riflemen would not know who fired the fatal shot and that the number in the count down that would start the shooting was chosen at random."
Aaron was interrupted again quite abruptly. "I really wish you'd stop reading those stupid things out loud." Monroe lowered the paper he'd been reading so he could grab his own coffee. "Some of us are trying to read real news," he said as he raised the cup to his lips.
Charlie rolled her eyes. "Keep reading, Aaron. Grumpy face can read – well whatever the hell he's found so interesting- later."
"I happen to be reading an article about wheat prices, which will affect your little world very much in the next few weeks when the harvest is in, I'll have you know." He snapped. He held his coffee cup up, hoping Priscilla would take the hint and refill it. When she didn't, set the paper down and went to the stove to do it himself.
Charlie laughed at him. "Wow, that's so… boring."
Monroe sat down once more. "I think I've had enough drama and excitement for one lifetime, thank you very much."
As he spoke two little sleepy faces peered around the corner. Angie ran over to him. "Daddy! Daddy! Potty!"
Grateful to have something to do other than listen to Aaron read the rest of the article (it being the third one that he'd had to suffer through this morning alone), he escorted the twins out to the outhouse. Potty training was so far going fairly well, except for the fact that Danny never seemed to be able to wait for his sister to finish when she went first. He tended to pee wherever he wanted when he got sick of waiting. "Come on Danny, you can't just whip it out wherever you want," he groaned.
"Pee!" the boy squealed in response.
Monroe did his best not to laugh, but it was really hard when the kid got so excited about it.
Back in the kitchen, Aaron continued to read:
"No one could have been more surprised than Monroe when the shot that was heard had not come from the firing squad but from the commanding general of our own army, General Jeremy Baker. Within moments the judge left and the prisoner was taken away with the witnesses left in confusion. General Baker escorted Mrs. Monroe and her Uncle, former General Miles Matheson off the premises while the rest of us were instructed to wait for an official statement.
At 7:15 a.m. Justice Trevor Brooks appeared before the remaining witnesses and issued the following statement:
The execution of Sebastian Monroe has been commuted. By executive order, President Donovan has signed a full pardon granting Mr. Monroe his life and liberty. Monroe and his family will be escorted to an undisclosed location for their own security for the duration of their stay in Lexington. President Donovan has made it clear that Sebastian Monroe is extended forgiveness by the United States of America for all the crimes for which he has been convicted, given the circumstances surrounding the blackout and his rise to power. The President would also like it known that his service in restoring the United States has not been forgotten.
Justice Brooks later went on record in an interview to say, "It is my personal opinion that this trial and execution were political in nature. Such political maneuvering is what resulted in the blackout in the first place – without such, the Monroe Republic never would have been. It is because of this that I believe a great miscarriage of justice has been prevented this day."
Aaron skipped the rest of the article as it only contained a brief biography of Monroe's life from before the blackout. When the subject of the article returned with the twins he was more than happy that he'd missed the rest of it. "I swear if you read another one, I'm going to smother you in your sleep with every damn newspaper in Providence." Charlie smacked him upside the head as he sat down to reclaim his coffee. "Ow! What the hell was that for?"
She smacked him again. "Language! Those two are going to start repeating you," she admonished as she pointed to the twins.
He looked over to where Danny and Angie were playing with Brodie on the floor while Priscilla filled their plates. "They aren't even paying attention."
"Damn newspaper!" Angie exclaimed then with a giggle.
Not to be outdone by his sister in getting their father in trouble Danny started to chanting. "Damn! Hell! Damn!"
Charlie smacked him a third time just for good measure. "Okay, maybe you have a point there," he admitted.
The sound of a gun going off nearby makes him tense up as he waits for the impact of the bullet, but to Monroe's surprise it never comes. The witnesses start to shout at the same time. He can't see what's going on around him, so all he can do is wait. The shackles are removed and before he can say or do anything else, he is quickly led away. As soon as the hands on him let go, he pulls the blindfold from his face.
He blinks a few times to adjust his eyes to the light. He is in the courthouse. He's led down a back hallway and told to wait in front of a closed door. An hour goes by when the door is opened by the judge's clerk. He enters, finding that Justice Brooks has already arrived and is sitting behind the desk, looking over something. Nick Beecher is already there waiting for him. "Have a seat," Brooks tells him.
"Your honor?" he asks in confusion as he sinks into one of the chairs.
"It seems you have nine lives, Mr. Monroe." The judge says, handing him a letter.
He scans the contents. "… by executive order, Sebastian Monroe, former President and General of the Monroe Republic is hereby offered clemency for services rendered during the Patriot war and for his assistance with the re-establishment of the one true United States Government, which has led to the arrest of former Secretary of Defense Davis. A full Presidential Pardon has been granted. Signed President Thomas Donovan." He reads the letter aloud to himself, still not believing. In a daze, he hands it back to Justice Brooks. "I… I don't understand."
The door opens behind him. Monroe rises and sees Charlie entering. Moments later she is in his embrace. "What is happening?" she asks. Jeremy has not told her or Miles anything, just that they are to come to the courthouse immediately.
"I've – I've been pardoned," he stammers. He holds her close. "They're letting me go." Miles enters the room a few minutes later, followed closely by Jeremy. "I don't get it. Why the hell did Donovan make me go through all of this if he was just going to pardon me anyway?"
"He wasn't," Jeremy explains as he comes forward. "But he was able to get what he wanted without killing you."
Miles feels his legs start to turn to jelly, so he sits down in the chair that Monroe has vacated. Relief washes over him. "He did it. The dirty old son of a bitch actually did it."
Monroe looks over Charlie's head at him. "Who? What are you talking about?"
"After the trial, Connor and I took a train to Austin. We tried to convince Carver to use the treaty Donovan wanted him to sign as leverage, but he wouldn't budge. So when we went to Blanchard he said he'd work on him, but the chances were pretty slim." Miles is now grinning from ear to ear. "He must have somehow figured out a way though."
The judge sits back and watches the exchange. He is as curious as the others. This whole thing has never sat right with him, and he'd like to know the reason for the change. Jeremy pulls a document out of the inner pocket of his uniform jacket. "The story won't break until tomorrow, but as it turned out a few days after you left Austin, Carver broke his neck when he fell from his horse during a photo op for the Austin Star Times. General Frank Blanchard is now the President of Texas. He hopped on a train to Washington after he was inaugurated and signed the treaty and pledged to help assist with the insurrection in the northwest states. They've completely backed down. If they try to separate again, Texas will likely back the U.S. and they'll be up shit's creek."
He hands the document he's been holding to Monroe. He reads it to himself. "Huh? I've been pardoned by Texas too. Well isn't that something?"
Jeremy gives him a stern look. "Yeah, here's the thing. There's a condition to the pardon Blanchard is offering you. It seems that someone has been harassing him with some adorable little political cartoons. If you don't want them to come looking for you and you want Blanchard to keep paying you to get dibs on your horses, it had better stop."
Miles lets out a laugh. "Please tell me you didn't?"
He does his best too look innocent. "I have no idea what he's talking about, Miles."
Jeremy clears his throat as he produces a folded up piece of paper. On it was a caricature of Blanchard and a femme fatale dressed as a dominatrix. Her head has been drawn in a weird shape.
Charlie looks over at it cocking her head to get a better view. "Is it just me, or does her head look like a walnut?"
Miles snatches the picture out of Jeremy's hand. "Yep, you did it." he says as he looks at it. "Hey this is actually kind of good. I forgot that you could draw. You are seriously messed up, you know that right?"
Busted, Monroe shrugs. "You try being locked up for a couple of months. It gets really boring. It was Walters' fault, really. He should know better than to trust me with a pencil."
"Jesus, Bass. How many did you send the poor guy?" Miles asks.
"I dunno, a couple."
Jeremy shakes his head at him. "Eleven. You sent him eleven in total, and bribed one of Walters' men to send him an entire box of walnuts too. What is wrong with you?"
Charlie rolls her eyes. She doesn't know exactly what the inside joke is, but she knows it's there somewhere. "You have the most messed up sense of humor out of anyone that I have ever known."
Another shrug is his initial response. "Well at least it worked. It must have amused Blanchard or he wouldn't have helped me."
"Yeah, not so much," Miles says. "It looks like I've got to go break the news to Rachel that we're Texas bound." He stands up and heads to the door.
Monroe stops him before he can escape. "What do you mean by that?"
"You can't get something for nothing, Bass." He sits back down. He knows that he's about to get in trouble for what he is about to say. At least the judge is there to make sure Charlie doesn't kick his ass. "Blanchard came to Kentucky last winter for a whole lot of reasons. One was to offer me a job. If he won the election he wanted me to come and work for them. He wants me to oversee the Ranger training program."
"And you told him you'd do it? Why the hell didn't you say anything?" Monroe is a little pissed that Miles had agreed to work for Blanchard and hasn't told him. It seems like that'd be something you'd tell your lifelong friend.
Miles sighs. He can see the daggers that Charlie is shooting at him with her eyes. Monroe just looks a little hurt. "Because I told him no. But, I told him that if he helped get your sentence commuted, I would do it. Your mom is going to kill me, Charlie. I didn't tell her either."
Jeremy laughs. "Yeah, have fun with that conversation. Rachel is a scary person as it is." He extends a hand to Monroe. "Well Bass, I've got work to do. I've spent enough time dicking off on your behalf. Walters will escort you guys to a safe house for the night once the crowd dies down a little. I have a feeling people are going to go a little crazy when they realize you're surviving a second execution."
The middle of July is hot as hell, but Connor and Katie's wedding had been postponed long enough. They stood gathered in Julie Carter's garden while Nick Beecher performed the ceremony under the canopy that Monroe had helped Avery set up the day before. Having decided that the farming life isn't for him, Connor had accepted a position to work with Nick's nephew, Bob. He'd never considered being a deputy before, but the population was rising in their community and Beecher could really use the extra help.
After Connor and Katie disappear from the reception, Monroe and Charlie make their way home with the twins and Hope. Monroe has nice buzz going and is in a good mood. After the twins are asleep and the baby fed and in her crib, they head to bed themselves. It's not particularly late but Aaron and Priscilla aren't home yet, and Monroe just happens to know that Gene had given Charlie the green light to resume normal levels of activity. It's been six weeks and all is well.
He shut the door and watched her. Charlie was wearing the sundress that Sarah made her for the occasion and was in the process of unpinning her hair. He came up behind her and took over the task, nibbling on the back of her neck as he worked.
Before she knew what was happening, he picked her up and dropped her unceremoniously on the bed. Kicking his shoes off, he joined her. They made up for lost time, making love slowly, savoring every sigh and every caress. Their lives had suffered from one interruption after another and he was determined to take advantage of every moment he had with her. If anyone thought it funny that their youngest child - a son named Chance was only eleven months younger than Hope, they at least had the courtesy not to say anything. Nor did they mention how unusual it was for his grandchildren to grow up alongside his children.
Four years later, Miles' enlistment with the Rangers had expired, so he and Rachel came back to Kentucky. Miles made sure to point out to Monroe as often as he could that he was a dick for aging so gracefully. Miles definitely looked every bit of his fifty-four years, whereas at almost a year younger than him, the only major difference that they could see is that Monroe had finally started to get a little gray in his beard.
Of course as soon as Miles picked up on that subtle change, all Monroe had to do was shave it off, problem solved. "I was always prettier than you," he ribbed Miles one evening over a glass of whiskey while they watched his four youngest children race around the yard trying to catch fireflies, while Brodie barked and ran around happily. Rachel and Priscilla were helping Katie with her new baby while Connor had gone with Aaron to deliver twelve newly halter broke horses to Texas.
Charlie joined them on the porch swing. When she refused the glass her husband offered her, he gave her a bewildered look. "Charlie?"
"You're fault entirely," she told him as she put her head on his shoulder, leaving him to figure out the rest.
He pulled her into his lap as he considered the fact that they were going to have to add on to the house eventually. "I don't care if this one's a boy or a girl; we're naming it Sebastian Jr." Monroe's words made miles groan. The last thing he wanted to hear was them talk about procreating.
Charlie only laughed at him. "Yeah, good luck with that."
The End.
A/N2.0 : First of all to anyone that's stayed with me this whole time, thank you very much for following along and reading. Anyone and everyone that has been kind enough to offer comments, thoughts, criticism and/or support, thank you very much. I really appreciate it.
Now for a few random things: Just so you know there really is an Alford Plea. It's both heavily praised and heavily criticized in the legal field. I don't know why the whole trial thing was so important, but when I first started this story, I knew I wanted to end it there. Throughout the story, Monroe has slowly gained forgiveness from those he's wronged little by little but the two people that still could not forgive him were Rachel and himself.
At the end of season 1, Rachel makes a big deal about him having made excuses and not accepting the blame for the things he's done. In accepting his execution willingly (rather than as an unhappy accident in Willoughby) he's finally doing that on the most basic of levels, I think. I guess it's kind of open to interpretation though, so please let me know what you thought (was it a bit much?)
The story started with three random scenes: the capture by Truman, The existence of Donovan and the Trial. The rest of it kind of sprang up around it, so I hope I made it work the way I'd intended. This is by far the longest story I've written – let me tell you it's hard to remember random facts and character names, so if at any point I've contradicted myself, my most humble apologies.
So thanks again!