May 20, 2030

Pickles. I want pickles. It isn't just that I want them. I crave them.

Breakfast? Pickles.

Lunch? Pickles and bread.

Dinner? Pickles dipped in John Frye's barbeque sauce.

You get the idea. Bass has been bugging me to eat other (healthier) food, and I have been, but what I want most? Pickles

May 22, 2030

Today, Bass surprised me by saying we needed to talk to the preacher.

"But why?" I'd asked him.

"So we can discuss having the babies baptized."

I just stared at him blankly, "What are you talking about? What does baptized mean?"

He explained it to me then – how the preacher would say a blessing and a prayer and put a tiny bit of water on their little foreheads and it would be part of a ceremony where all of our friends would come to watch.

"I never heard of that before." I told him.

He'd looked shell-shocked, "You guys went to church, right? Miles and Ben definitely went. We all attended the same Sunday School back in Jasper."

"Yeah, but then Dad married my Mom and she thought religion was a waste of time so we never went to church."

Bass shook his head sadly, "Well, I want our babies to be baptized."

I thought about arguing, but decided against it. Best case scenario, our babies get a blessing from God. Worst case, we still get to have a party. "We do get to have a party right?"

He grinned at me then, knowing he'd won. "Yeah, Charlie. We'll have a kickass party, right after our babies get God's blessing."

I hugged him then because he was wearing that adorable little boy grin he has that melts my heart. "I love you Bass."

"Love you too, Charlie."

May 25, 2030

Aaron came by the diner and asked if he could take me for a walk.

"As long as you don't mind going very slowly," I said, waddling behind him.

We'd walked about a block when he started to talk. He wouldn't look at me, and his voice was soft. "She died in my arms, Charlie. Priscilla – she wasn't herself. The Nano had taken her over again and in some ways that's a consolation. I think she was happy. She was with her girls. She couldn't feel…" he choked up a bit, then. His steps faltered. "She couldn't feel the pain from her injuries. She died in my arms and I should have been thinking about her and this loss."

"But?" I prodded softly. This was the first time Aaron had ever talked about Priscilla since she'd died. I knew this was a big step for him.

"Well, I was upset. I hated that she was dying, but I was also feeling sorry for myself. Every woman I love dies. Why? What did I ever do to deserve that?"

"Oh Aaron, you don't deserve that at all – "

He shakes his head, "I know. I know. I don't think that now. Not really, but it is what I was thinking then. My wife was dying in my arms and all I could think was woe is me. I'm awful."

I stopped and stared, "Aaron Pittman, shame on you. You are not awful. You are an amazing person. You stuck with me and Maggie when we went after Danny. You have always been there for me…when Danny died and Maggie. You were there for me when Nora died and when the bombs fell and everyone was going crazy. You were there for me when we lost my Mom and you let me tag along when you tried to move away, and –" I was crying, big sloppy tears.

Aaron walked over and pulled me into a hug, "Don't cry. I didn't say that to make you cry. What I was trying to say is that's how I felt then. Now, things are looking up."

I sniffed, "Looking up how?"

He didn't answer right away but he started smiling and it was one of those from the heart smiles and I knew. "Betty?"

"Betty. I know she's older than so the grim reaper is probably just waiting on the sidelines, but –"

"Damn, Aaron. Betty is not THAT old." I was laughing though. This was good.

"I do really like her, Charlie. She's sweet and funny and smart."

"I'm glad you found her, Aaron. You deserve another chance at love."

"Well, I owe it all to you. That's why I asked you out here today. I wanted to say thank you. You told me to take a chance, and I did. Thanks for not giving up on me even when I'd given up on myself."

May 26, 2030

Bass has been really secretive these last few days. He's been spending a lot of time with Miles. Something is up. The good news is that he seems really excited about whatever is going on. That's a good sign, right?

May 27, 2030

I guess I should have seen it coming, but the thing is I didn't know what to expect. The whole idea of a baby shower was so alien to me that I wasn't at all prepared.

The day was pretty much like all the other days. I helped a little in the dining room while Dylan and Brandon bussed tables and John ran the kitchen. Bass was taking orders and chatting with the customers. Edna brought in pie.

It was just an ordinary day, until I got to Grandpa's house. Bass has been giving me a guilt trip for not visiting Grandpa Gene more, and since Bass was busy tonight with Miles; it seemed like a good night to go.

So I got there and I knew Grandpa was expecting me but the house was quiet and dark. I walked through the kitchen and into the living room. I knew where the lantern was so I went over and lit it. When I turned around, I screamed in terror. Everyone I know was suddenly standing right there in the room that was empty just a second ago.

"Surprise?" Connor said sheepishly from a corner.

My heart was hammering as I scanned the room. When my eyes landed on Bass, they narrowed into angry little slits, "This was YOUR idea."

"Charlie? We just wanted to surprise you with a little baby shower. I'm so sorry that we scared you." He was walking slowly in my direction, each move deliberate. I've seen him like this before when he was trying to calm a spooked horse.

I smiled sweetly at him, "You are lucky that I peed before I walked over here or you'd have a mess to clean up. You are also lucky that I'm not armed. If I had my gun, I would have shot you."

"I told you so!" Miles yells from somewhere in the back of the room.

When Bass reaches me, he tentatively holds out his arms. "Don't be mad. This is a party."

"A party?" Now he had my attention.

"Yeah, a baby shower is a party for you and the babies. Everyone brought presents and there will be cake."

"Cake?" I frowned.

"And also pickles," he said with a knowing grin.

I let out a sigh, "Well, let's get started then, shall we?"

The party really was lovely. Grandpa Gene had decorated with brightly colored ribbons, the cake was really good and I had a big jar of pickles all to myself. Oh, and there were presents.

Betty brought little handmade teddy bears.

Aaron's present was a little toy microscope that he'd found in an attic and repaired. "They'll have to share it, but chances are at least one of them will like science."

Miles was next. "I don't know what kids like, Charlie. So I just thought about stuff I like and made small ones," he said with a shrug as he brought me his present. I opened it carefully and groaned. Nestled in the brown paper were two hand carved toy guns.

"Nice!" Bass said with a grin.

Connor had found a bunch of children's' books somewhere. Some were a little worse for wear, but all were still good enough to read to sleepy babies at bedtime.

Edna brought two beautiful baby afghans and baby bonnets, all of which she had crocheted herself using yarn produced at a nearby sheep farm.

Stephanie brought a huge box of tiny shirts and pants in varying sizes and colors, as well as a big box of cloth diapers. She'd made them all on an old treadle sewing machine.

Grandpa Gene also gave us clothes. They were in an old trunk. Half were pink. Half were blue.

"You have something you want to tell us?" Bass asked.

Grandpa shook his head with a little smile, "No, I don't know the gender of either of your babies. These belonged to Charlie and Danny. My Charlotte was always buying them new outfits even though they only visited once in a while. She never would part with any of it even after the kids were grown and then…well, I think we forgot about it. Anyway, this trunk has been in my attic for twenty years. Hopefully you can use some of these things."

When I picked up a tiny one piece blue outfit, I got all teary-eyed and emotional. Sometimes I miss Danny so much that I want to scream. Bass knew just what to do, coming up behind me and just wrapping his arms around me. He didn't say anything. He didn't have to. Just being there for me was enough.

John Frye was next, and he handed me an envelope. I started to open it, but he stopped me. "Nah, this is for the babies. You keep it in a safe place till I'm dead or they're all grown up – whichever comes first."

"What is in that envelope?" Bass asked.

"Well, it's the recipe for my barbeque sauce," he said sheepishly. "I don't know how to make baby clothes and I didn't know tiny weapons were an option…" Miles laughed from across the room and John continued, "So I thought about what I do have to give that's worth anything, and this sauce recipe is pretty much it. Someone should carry it on to the next generation." He shrugged. "Might as well be those babies of yours. I hope they like it."

"They will," I said, still more than a little emotional. "Especially on pickles."

Everyone laughed and then it was Bass's turn. He left for a bit but came back pushing a crib. "I've been working on it for weeks. I was going to make two, but your Grandpa said twins like to sleep all cuddled up, because that's what they are used to."

I looked at that crib and I could see just how much love Bass had put into making it. Hand carved from oak, it was beautiful. I could just picture our tiny babies wearing their soft little clothes and lying all cuddled together in the bed their daddy made for them. My heart was suddenly so full of love and happiness, I thought it might burst.

"I love it so much," I told him.

"And I love you, he said, pulling me close. He wrapped his hands around my belly, "And these little guys too."

"Or girls." I reminded him with a laugh.

"Yeah, or girls."

Sometimes I can't imagine life could ever be any better. This was one of those times.

A/N Comment if you have a moment.