Oh hi there wonderful people. I am sooooooooooooo sorry that I have been awol. I really have no excuse seeing as I wasn't doing anything else. So I'm giving you a longer update today. Hooray! Now, I had this great idea to do Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years chapters on the actual holidays but I wrote half a Thanksgiving one in November and then disappeared so I decided to still post them but not in real time and pretty late. My bad. Also, sorry that this chapter is so JuddxVicki heavy. I promise to go further into the other relationships soon, including Conrad and Shelly's wedding, Ryan and Darrion's blossoming friendship and even Mark who I think might be developing feelings for someone who isn't married (Go Mark!)

Enjoy!

Vicki found she didn't mind being pregnant for the most part. She didn't get sick, but did get tired easier and sometimes had bouts of grouchiness. Judd was as happy as a cat who got the cream and did everything he could to keep his wife happy and content as their child grew inside her. It was difficult keeping the news from Nada and sometimes Vicki's pregnancy hormones got the better of her and the two girls had their tiffs, but for the most part, they got along well. Two weeks after Vicki had found out she was pregnant, Nada decided to find her own place and moved out of the Thompson home, which had relieved Vicki.

She was about seven weeks along when Thanksgiving rolled around. Members of the Tribulation and Young Trib Force had organised to hire out a community hall and have a reunion for Thanksgiving. All members of the groups and their families would join together, giving thanks to God for all they had been through and for the peace in which they now lived. The only people that knew about their pregnancy were their parents and Buck and Chloe, who they had confided in as a fellow young family. Judd and Vicki decided that the reunion would be a perfect opportunity to make the announcement and organised to do so with Buck and Chloe who had planned the whole affair.

"Are you ready for this?" Vicki smiled adjusting Judd's tie.

"I'm so ready." He beamed, "I can't wait to see everybody."

"Did you hear it's not just the American Trib Force that are coming?" Vicki said, "Rayford Steele organised to have all the overseas members fly in for it as well!"

"No way!" Judd exclaimed, "So Chang and his family, Sam, Naomi, Hannah?"

"Yep," Vicki said, "And Nina, and Dan and Mrs Ben-Judah."

"Wow."

"And there are a few more."

Judd looked surprised like he'd just had a revelation, "Nada's family."

Vicki nodded, "I wonder how they're going to react when they see her."

Judd laughed, "Nothing ever stopped Nada from doing what she was determined to do. Not even the wrath of her father."

Vicki couldn't wait to see everyone again. Since the Millennium began, the core groups that lived in Mount Prospect saw each other a lot, but there were a lot of other former Young Trib Force members that had ventured out and moved around to be with families. It had been a long time since Vicki had seen Pete, or Carl, or Tanya and Ty, or Natalie, or Charlie, Tom and Luke, or Mr. and Mrs Stahley and Mr. and Mrs Stein, or Colin and Becky. The list of people she'd grown to know and so many she'd lost overwhelmed her heart and she couldn't wait to see them all again.

As they pulled up to the hall that was all decorated with sparkling lights, Vicki took a deep breath. She was a hormonal bundle of excitement and nervousness and for the first time in her pregnancy, she felt slightly queasy.

"Are you ok honey?" Judd asked.

"Yeah." She replied, putting a hand over her stomach that was only a little tiny bump so far and hidden strategically by her flowy royal blue dress. "Just got a little case of butterflies."

"Me too." Judd smiled, "I think everyone will be really happy to see us though. And they'll be happy about the news."

Vicki believed him, but she was still on edge as they walked arm in arm through the front door and into the main hall. The hall was decorated lavishly with red drapes, lights and candles on tables that surrounded a dancefloor that was situated in front of a stage. Over the stage was a banner that read "Happy Thanksgiving: Welcome Tribulation Forces and Families".

Judd and Vicki were greeted with a sea of familiar faces all beaming at them and cheering greetings at them. Vicki was completely overwhelmed, but completely thrilled.

"Judd! Vicki!" a voice called over the crowd, and Chang Wong pushed through the crowd dragging Naomi Tiberius along behind him. They all shook hands and embraced.

"Man it's been too long!" Judd said, overjoyed to see his old friend again.

"I know! Which means you wouldn't have heard our latest news." Chang replied, a smile a mile wide across his face. Naomi flashed her left hand.

"We're getting married!" she beamed.

Vicki hugged her and they congratulated the couple.

"Vicki! Hey Vicki!"

Vicki spun around and saw Charlie waving and pushing through the crowd. A smile crossed her face and she dragged him into a huge hug. There was something different about Charlie now. He wasn't slow at all anymore. It was strange, but Vicki was happy for him, knowing how insecure he had been and was thrilled to see him.

As they walked through the crowd to find their seats they saw everyone they'd ever known during the tribulation and couldn't be happier to see them.

Dinner was a lavish feast of three courses and Rayford made a brilliant speech honouring several members of both the Tribulation Force and Young Tribulation Force who had done exceptional things during the Tribulation. Bruce was honoured for his leading the first few members onto the right path, Chloe was honoured for the work she did with the co-op , the members who had been martyred were all honoured by name and Judd and Vicki got special mentions for their heading up the Young Trib Force in the States and Israel as well as Vicki's work on the whole now famous, "Vicki B" scenario. Vicki couldn't help but smile at the memory of that day they cut into the Global Community's satellite and broadcast a message of hope to millions around the world. Vicki couldn't help but think how reckless and dangerous it was, but she had no idea how many she had helped come to Christ through it. Even now, people would come up to her in the streets and tell her they saw her and congratulated her on her work. In this new world she was practically a celebrity because of that whole show. Sometimes she'd get annoyed when people called her Vicki B.

"I'm Vicki T now." She'd correct with a smile.

Judd and Vicki's honourable mention was saved for last and after Rayford had toasted them he added, "In fact, this young couple have a few words that they would like to share with you all tonight."

Vicki's heart beat loudly in her ears and her trembling hand was only stilled by Judd clasping it in his own as they stood and made their way to the stage. They had a brief idea of what to say but all of a sudden Vicki was overcome with nerves. She inwardly chuckled at the fact that she felt more nervous about this moment than she did when she was speaking to the millions over the satellite. She remembered how she had been told when she and Judd first started dating (if you could call it that) that some people weren't for it, and thought it was a bad idea. Maybe they'll think having a baby this young isn't a good idea. She pushed the thought from her mind as she and Judd reached the podium on the stage and Judd addressed the group.

"Good evening everyone." Judd said, a smile spread across his face and an arm around his wife's waist. "It's so great to see you all again and we can't help but remember how so many of you impacted our lives over the past seven years so we felt it was only appropriate to share this with you on this evening of celebration and thankfulness."

Judd squeezed Vicki to his side in an unspoken way of asking if she was ready. She nodded and they both took a deep breath before proclaiming to their friends and families, "We're pregnant!"

They were nearly knocked over by the overwhelming wave of cheers and applause that was the response.

Vicki let herself laugh as all her nervousness was washed away with the clearly happy response from everyone. She looked in the crowd to see Shelly, Darrion and the other girls all clapping wildly. Lionel gave them a thumbs up and a wink. Ryan was pumping his fist into the air and hollering in celebration. There wasn't anywhere else that Vicki wanted to be in that moment, and no other people she would rather celebrate with.

After the excitement, music began to play and couples in the group took to the dance floor. Vicki was sitting at her table having a drink while Judd was still talking to a couple of the guys. She surveyed the dance floor. Buck and Chloe swayed in each others arms. Vicki smiled to herself. She couldn't have imagined how Buck must have felt after losing his wife, or how he must have felt being reunited with her. They looked happier than ever as they grinned at each other and stole kisses. She saw Conrad and Shelly dancing next. It was crazy circumstances that had brought them together. If Conrad had never been one of the GC's Morale Monitors he would never have met Shelly. Next she saw Ryan and Darrion and she giggled. She knew they had been a lot closer recently and she suspected something was blooming between them. It was a hostage situation that brought them together. It was strange. Seeing these blissfully happy couples, and even being one, she couldn't help but think about how none of these people would be together if the Rapture hadn't happened. The Rapture and the Tribulation. The two most chaotic and devastating things that even hit earth and it drove people into each others arms. Buck, a super-successful journalist never would have normally met a 20 year old college student like Chloe under any other circumstances. Someone as wealthy and privileged as Darrion never would have crossed paths with a normal suburban kid like Ryan. A wealthy, handsome guy like Judd would never have given a trailer trash girl a second glance at any other time. Vicki smiled. God knew what He was doing. He knew they all belonged together and made sure they ended up that way.

She was shaken from her trance by the hands on her shoulders.

"May I have this dance, oh love of my life, mother of my child?" Judd said in the corniest voice he could muster.

Vicki blurted out a laugh, "Really? That's your line?"

Judd shrugged, "Not really, I just wanted to say that once."

Vicki stood and followed him to the dance floor. He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her in close. She draped her arms around his neck and gazes happily into his eyes.

"That went well I think." She said.

"It sure did. I think our baby is going to have something like 10 sets of godparents and like 30 uncles and aunties." Judd replied.

Vicki laughed.

"I'm so glad I met you." She said.

Judd chuckled, "I'm glad I met you too."

"But seriously," she said, staring at him sternly, "I don't regret anything. I don't regret the fact that I was left behind. Because if I hadn't been, I wouldn't be here with you right now, with this little one inside me."

Judd didn't reply with words. He simply leaned down and covered her trembling lips with his own and let her know all of his feelings through the kiss he gave her. A even though no words were uttered, she knew he felt the exact same way.

So there you have it! I promise not to leave such a huge gap next time. Also, another apology, sorry if any random "u"'s end up in words like colour or favourite or anything. I am Australian and that's how we spell them, I try to write as American as possible but you never know when one might slip through.

Review if you like! And happy 2013!

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