{Author's Note: Well, Dear Readers, The End is Near! But it's not here quite yet! So, on with the story...}

... ... ... ... ...

After a smooth landing at the Portland airport the rented jet deposited Jessica and Seth at the small terminal for private aircraft. Once inside they were walking over to the end of the large, but mostly empty, room to await their luggage when Seth stopped suddenly and turned to Jessica with a huge grin on his face.

Looking back at him with a raised eyebrow Jessica asked, "I know that expression! You're up to something. Pray tell, just what are you up to, Seth Hazlitt?"

"With as many times as I've said, 'Hello' or 'Good-bye' to you after either picking you up or dropping you off at this airport there's been something I've been wanting to do for years," he declared with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes as he stepped closer to her.

"Oh, and what's that?" inquired Jessica with a merrily suspicious air.

"This!" Seth exclaimed as he gathered her into his arms and pressed a full, deep kiss to her lips.

The kiss caught Jessica so unawares that she took a few seconds to respond; dropping her small carry-on bag to wrap her arms around Seth and return the kiss. They remained that way a while, oblivious to everything and not at all hearing the soft chuckles from the other passengers and staff in the terminal.

The couple finally realized they were still in public when two businessmen from Newark walked by and quietly smirked about how "Some people were really happy to be in Maine."

"Goodness," breathed Jessica as she pulled back, slightly mortified, and stared into her husband's still twinkling hazel eyes while trying hard to control her breathing. "We seem to have lost all sense of propriety!"

"A-yuh, you're right. But I don't care. I've waited long enough to do that. Besides, we're still on our honeymoon!" excused Seth as he too, drew in a couple of deep breaths and relaxed in their embrace. "Anyway, here're our bags coming in now. Shall we?"

They leisurely collected their luggage and stowed it in Seth's station wagon, parked conveniently nearby, for the brief trip home to Cabot Cove.

"You know Seth, there still isn't anything thawed out at the house to eat," noted Jessica as they neared the outskirts of Portland. "It'll be a bit late by the time we get to the house and the stores will be closed. Shall we stop for dinner?"

Looking over at her Seth teased, "And here I thought you'd be eager to get home, now that we're so close."

"I am. I'm just not sure I want to be alone in the house with a hungry Seth nearby and nothing to eat!"

Seth barked a laugh, "A-yuh, I can see that. Well, if memory serves me, there's a grocery coming up around the curve. Let's go make the store and get some fresh provisions. Then we can whip up a quick something to eat at home."

Jessica readily agreed and after a short shop they were cheerfully on the road home again with only light traffic joining them while the paper grocery bags rustled against each other in the backseat.

Rolling down the window, Jessica took in the large pine and spruce trees thick on both sides of the road and drew in a deep breath before sighing, "Mmmm, the scent of the evergreens always lets me know that I'm home." Movement of a large figure up ahead at the edge of the trees caught her eye. "Careful! There's something up ahead on the right side."

Seth immediately braked and pulled off to the right shoulder, being cautious not to slip into the ditch. As the car slowed to a crawl, a large moose made its appearance on the pavement in front of them.

Seth stopped the car and put it in park as the moose took two steps toward them and snorted loudly.

"Well! I don't speak Moose, but I'm quite sure that means 'Halt!" quipped Jessica.

"And that's exactly what we're going to do," agreed Seth, "until that cow make up her mind where she wants to go. Would you look at the size of her - she's the biggest one I've ever seen."

As if insulted, the moose snorted at them again and then turned and lowered her head to sample the grasses growing in the ditch along the shoulder. After munching for a couple of minutes the cow picked up her massive head and looked back at the car for a moment before easily stepping over the ditch with her long, skinny legs. She walked to the line of trees and stretched her head into the woods, giving a soft, grunting squeak.

Jessica and Seth sat quietly as they watched the movements of the creature. They were rewarded for their patience when the cow turned back to the ditch, shepherding a calf that had come from the woods at its mother's call. The young one followed the lead of the elder and both began to feed on the grasses growing in the ditch.

"Ahh, mother and yearling have come to take advantage of the salt that's accumulated in that slough," provided Jessica.

"And enjoy those tender young shoots, too," added Seth as he put the car in gear and ever so slowly drove back onto the road.

When the car pulled across from them both moose looked up, as if on cue, and stared at the humans with curious glances.

"Well, they're having their dinners, let's go have ours," suggested Jessica as she looked over at her husband with an expression of pure delight on her face.

"Great idea. I think I'd like some salad tonight," grinned Seth back at her as he steered the station wagon along the road to Cabot Cove.

... ... ... ... ...

As they drove down Candlewood Lane Seth remarked, "I'll just pull the car along side the house and up close to the back dooryard so we don't have far to haul the luggage."

Jessica grinned up at him. "Good idea."

Uh, oh, she's up to something, thought Seth. "What're you smiling at?"

"Can't I smile at the man I love?" retorted Jessica, not even trying to hide the mischievous grin on her face as she searched and found the house key in her purse.

"Uh, huh," Seth said as he came around to open her door and hand her out. "Well, let me get the bags."

Laden with both suitcases while Jessica toted the carry-on he followed her through the back door and into the kitchen.

"Ohhh, it's always so good to come home," she beamed as she cast a glance about the place.

"A-yuh, it is good to be home. And we get to sleep in our own bed tonight. That's always great." Seth dropped the bags behind the door and went back to the station wagon for the groceries.

He really thinks of this as his 'home,' too, Jessica reflected as she smiled to herself. I'm so glad! When Seth returned to the kitchen and put the sacks on the kitchen table she asked him, "What would you like for dinner? I'll get it started while you take the luggage upstairs."

"I really would like a little salad. But I'm feeling breakfasty, too. How about a couple of eggs side by side, and a pair of toast to go with them?"

"Breakfast for dinner it is," declared Jessica, unable to hide the impish grin on her lips.

"All right Woman, give!" demanded Seth. "You've had a sly smile on your lovely face all afternoon. If we were playing poker I'd make you roll up your sleeves. What are you up to?"

In reply Jessica slipped her arms around his neck and gazed warmly into the blended green and gold of his eyes. "It tickles me to hear you use local terms like 'dooryard' and it makes my heart just sing to hear you talk about this place as 'home' and speak of sleeping 'in our own bed.' My dear, I love you so," she breathed as she leaned in for a sweet kiss.

"Like I told you before, home is where the heart is - and my heart is always with you," Seth quietly replied after they pulled back. Now let me run up our bags, to our bedroom, while you start on our dinner."

Their meal was a light, but satisfying affair. As they sat around the kitchen table with their after dinner coffee Jessica brought up a point. "Since we're not leaving for Bar Harbor until Tuesday we should pack up some of your necessities tomorrow and make room for them upstairs. Monday morning I'd like to go to the library and confirm a few facts for my final draft."

"So, you've completely finished the last book in your trilogy, then?"

"Almost. I'm at the stage where I format it properly and do some general accuracy checks along the way before I send the draft to the publisher. I like to polish it up before it goes off."

"Perfectionist that you are, I'm not surprised. And if I'm not mistaken, you'll be happy to see this one off, too. Do I want to know how it ends now, or would later be better?"

"Later would be better and you're right, I'll be very happy to send this one off to the publisher. I didn't plan to write a trilogy in the first place - it just sort of developed that way. I'm glad it's close to fruition."

"Well," Seth mused, "my office is closed for the rest of the week so I guess I'll keep busy by just tidying up whatever odds and ends I come across while you're at the library on Monday."

"That sounds like a good plan. But right now bed sounds even better. I know it's early but let's clean up and then hit the hay."

Working together they had the kitchen spotless in no time and then went upstairs. Following their nightly ablutions they snuggled together in bed for a deep, restorative sleep as the stars continued their journey through the night sky.

... ... ... ... ...

Jessica woke Sunday morning to find Seth's chin nestled in the crook of her shoulder and neck, with his arms protectively encircling her waist and him cozied up against her back.

Mmm, she thought, how wonderful of a way to wake up; safely wrapped in the arms of the one you love… Resting quietly for a few moments she let the feeling of serenity permeate her soul as she considered the intimate position in which they had spent the last part of the night. Noticing the faint smell of his mint toothpaste she reflected, Why, we're even sharing the same breath. Seth's love has roused so many deep emotions in me that I had forgotten about. I hope that I've made him just as happy…

Just then Seth shifted in his sleep and murmured unintelligibly - all except for her name. Then he inhaled and exhaled deeply and rolled back a little but kept his arms around his wife. Smiling to herself Jessica meditated, Yes, I guess I have…

Once Seth settled down Jessica noticed from his regular and resonant breathing that he was still deeply asleep. I suppose I may as well get up and make breakfast - I'll let him sleep a little longer, she planned, gently disentangling her husband's arms and rising from the bed. Then she covered up with her silk wrapper and headed downstairs.

... ... ... ... ...

Sheriff Mort Metzger yawned mightily as he neared the completion of his rounds and the shift. Man, I don't know how the night deputy does this every morning, he pondered as he drove the big brown Cadillac convertible slowly up and down the streets of Cabot Cove in the twilight of the early dayspring.

Still, switching this once will be worth it so Adele and I can get on the road early and beat the traffic to her great aunt's 85th birthday party. That's something to celebrate! And the old girl's still going strong. I just hope she doesn't want to race me again with that '63 Thunderbird of hers. Too bad she never drove at Indy. She'd have shown those boys a thing or two, he chuckled to himself.

Yawning again and nearly veering into a tree as he turned onto Candlewood Lane he decided, Coffee. I need coffee. And how! But nobody's open yet. Hey, is that Doc's car in the back of Mrs. F's house? Their house, he mentally corrected himself with a smile. Yeah, it is and they're both early risers and Mrs. F makes a decent cup of java. Let me go around and see if the kitchen light's on. Maybe I'll get lucky, he hoped as he pulled the caddy over and began walking around back in the dim morning light.

As the Sheriff rounded the side of the house a strong breeze hit him and nearly lifted the Stetson off of his head. Instinctively, he ducked his head a little and put his hand on top to prevent if from blowing off as he came up to the back door of the mud room. Heartened that the kitchen light was on, two long strides brought him up to the kitchen door. Oh yeah, I can smell the coffee from here, he smiled, and, sniff, is that bacon?

... ... ... ... ...

The wonderful smells of bacon and coffee had earlier wafted their ways into Seth's dreams, rousing him from his slumber. Good Lord, not only do I get to sleep with the most beautiful woman on earth, she cooks breakfast, too! I am the luckiest guy around, that's for sure, he thought as he threw his robe over his pajamas and slippered his way downstairs.

Jessica was busy at the stove turning rashers over as Seth's nose led him into the kitchen. He sidled up to her on the left and gave her cheek a quick peck. "Good morning, my dear."

Putting down the tongs she had been using, Jessica turned to Seth and wished him the same as she planted a smooch on his mouth. "Please pour the coffee and have a seat, breakfast is just about ready."

"And what do we have in here?" Seth asked as he poured two cups of coffee, curious about the covered ceramic pot on the back burner.

"It's a surprise - just for you!" Jessica replied with a sparkle in her eyes as she plated up the strips. "Oh, the toast popped up, please get it, dear."

"My mouth is watering from the smell of that bacon," drooled Seth. "I can't wait to dig in!" he admitted as he gathered up the toast and went to the refrigerator for the butter. He was surprised when he returned to the table with the crisp bread and golden spread.

"Hey! What's this?!" he exclaimed as he saw a bowl with a rather large mass of grey in it next to his coffee cup.

Jessica couldn't hide her reaction at the look of surprise and outright dismay on Seth's face when he spied the large saucer of oatmeal she had put out for him, and heartily laughed out loud.

"Now Seth," she tried to explain between giggles, "you know the way we've been eating isn't right. We need to eat at least a little of something that's healthy before we have any more goodies."

"I'd believe that more if you weren't laughing so hard," argued Seth.

"I'm sorry," giggle. "It's just that the look on your face…" snicker. Jessica left off as she fell into full blown chortles.

Seth stood there shaking his head as his own mouth started twitching at the sight of his wife lost in laughter with tears starting to leak from the corners of her eyes. He joined in the merriment and his loud guffaws soon overshadowed Jessica's lessening laughter.

"Oh Seth, I'm sorry," said Jessica as she dabbed at her eyes. "Let's have our oatmeal and then enjoy a little bacon and toast."

"That, hic, sounds like a fair, hic, bargain. Hic! Uh, oh."

"Oh, dear. You've got the hiccups, haven't you? I'll get the sugar. A teaspoon of that will cure you," assured Jessica as she went for the sugar bowl and a spoon.

"Hic! Thank, hic, you. I don't, hic, get these oft-hic-en, but when I do, hic! I get them, HIC, bad. Hic!" Seth groaned.

Unfortunately, the spoonful of sugar didn't work. Neither did the peanut butter, honey, chocolate powder, dill, or brown paper bag.

"HIC!" Seth moaned as he held his side. "I'd give, hic, myself an injection but I, hic, couldn't draw it, hic, up. Ohhh…"

"I'm all out of remedies," admitted a worried Jessica as she rubbed his back in an attempt to soothe his discomfort. She searched her memory for any other cures. There's only one thing I haven't tried - a good scare. Hmm, what could I do… Oh, THAT would work, but dare I do it?

"HIC! Ooooh," a suffering Seth trailed off, slightly bent over in pain with the continuing spasms.

That decides it! determined Jessica as she then moved over to face Seth and help him straighten up a little.

"Seth, I have something I have to tell you."

"HIC! Can't it, hic, wait, hic?"

"No, it can't. Please look at me," Jessica insisted as she gently put her hands on his shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes.

"Wh-hic-at is it?" a baleful Seth asked.

"Seth. I'm pregnant."

A stunned Seth stared into the serious poker face of his wife and he froze. As did Jessica. There was no sound in the kitchen for nearly a minute and then Seth remembered to breathe.

Drawing in half a gasp he then sputtered out, "You're what?"

Still holding onto his shoulders, Jessica's face broke out into a radiant smile as she realized her tactic had worked.

"Ahh," Seth reflected, "you said that to startle me. Hey, it worked!"

"Thank goodness! I'm sorry I had to say such an obviously untrue thing to you, but I had run out of ideas and had to give you a strong jolt."

Seth stepped closer and put his hands on her waist as a lopsided grin formed on his face. "And a jolt it was, to be told such a thing at our age. Still, it was wonderful to hear those words from the woman I love - even if it was just to shock me."

Seth moved his left hand up to her cheek and said gently, "I know that was probably a painful thing for you to say… Thank you for sacrificing your comfort for me."

Jessica unconsciously tightened her arms around Seth's neck and said in a earnest tone, "I'd do anything for you - and since I'm the one who inadvertently caused your hiccups I had to fix it."

She looked down for a moment and when her gaze met Seth's again her eyes were a bright luminous blue as she continued with a shy smile, "Besides, it's something I had always wanted to say to my husband. And you know what? It didn't hurt like I thought it would."

Seth's heart strings gave a tug as he gazed into her eyes. Jessica blinked and said softly, "Seth, I love you. I'm glad I got to say this, even though it's not true, to you."

Unable to utter a word, Seth just pulled her closer before pressing his mouth to hers. Jessica wrapped herself tighter around him and they melted into the emotional moment.

The kiss grew deeper, full of joy and promise, and neither of them heard the two brief raps on the back door before it opened to allow Mort entrance. Taking his hand off of the top of the Stetson he looked up to see Jessica and Seth in the romantic entanglement.

There wasn't much that could stop the veteran law enforcer in his tracks but that did it.

Mort's jaw dropped to his knees and his face was turning a deep crimson before he was able to croak out, "Aww, geeze! Excuse me!"

Jessica and Seth pulled back from their kiss but remained with their arms around each other, both staring with surprise at the large, red-faced sheriff and friend who had suddenly appeared in the kitchen.

Jessica recovered herself first. "Why hello, Mort! We didn't hear you come in."

"I, uh, coffee... am sorry… Whoo, boy," he stumbled over his words, shaking his head. "I should go."

"Don't be silly, Mort. Sit down and have a cup of coffee, it's fresh," encouraged Jessica.

When he still hesitated Seth piped up, "For Heaven's sake, relax and have a seat. You've seen us kiss before. It's nothing new."

"Ah, that's not true, Doc," Mort replied as he took a seat at the table where Jessica had placed a fresh cup of coffee for him. "I've never seen the two of you mashing faces in such a clinch, in your jammies, in this kitchen, before!"

"Well, now you have," said Seth as he took his seat. "So get over it and stop looking so shocked. We're married now. To each other."

"Seth! That's no way to talk to our friend and guest."

"You're right, Jess. Besides, the man looks famished. Here Mort, have some oatmeal," offered Seth as he pushed his untouched bowl towards Mort.

"Seth!" chastised Jessica, rolling her eyes.

Looking up at Jessica, Seth sighed. "Or maybe you'd like some bacon and toast," he reluctantly added as he pushed the platter just a little closer to Mort.

"Yeah! Thanks, it smells great," the sheriff said as he pulled the platter over and lifted the cover. He took a deep, satisfying sniff before he began piling bacon on a slice of toast and then covering it with another slice, slathered in butter.

"Boy, this is wonderful," he said between chomps. "Adele never lets me eat like this at home. I'm really glad I stopped over. By the way, what're you two doing here? I though you were in South Carolina. Is everything okay?"

"We're fine. Some bad weather started to move in so we decided to come home for a few days and then go up to Bar Harbor to finish our honeymoon," Jessica explained as she lightly touched Seth's wedding band with her fingertips. Seth smiled slightly and lifted his thick fingers up, enmeshing them with hers.

Mort noticed the movement and smiled. I guess I do have to get used to them as a married couple, he reflected as he finished his bacon sandwich. "I heard about that storm, they think it might head up the coast and give New York some grief before it goes out to sea. We're supposed to be fine though."

"Bar Harbor sound real nice," he continued. "I've been meaning to take Adele up there sometime. You'll have to give me some hints on places to go."

"Speaking of going, it's too early for the day shift to start. Have you taken to just roaming around town searching for coffee and bacon all night?" quipped Seth.

"Har, har, har, Doc," sardonically laughed Mort. "Actually, Adele's great aunt is having a birthday party later today and I switched shifts with my night deputy, Pete, so we can get to it. She's got a sweet place on a large lake and has invited her favorite grandniece and grandnephew to stay with her for a few days. As soon as I give report to Andy, who'll be covering for me, we'll be off."

"How is Pete?" asked Jessica. "I haven't seen him in ages."

"Unlike his predecessor, Jonathan," said Seth over the rim of his coffee cup. "A lot of women managed to see him on a regular basis."

"Yeah, I've heard stories about him being quite the Romeo," noted Mort with a raised eyebrow as he picked up the edge of the platter cover slightly to snag another rasher of bacon to munch on. "Wasn't your office nurse, Beverly, on his schedule?"

"Where did you hear that?!" demanded Seth defensively.

"Hey, I'm a cop. I have my sources and I never reveal them," he glibly replied with a twinkle in his eye as he wiped his hands and then rose and tapped his hat into place before moving for the door. "Well, thanks for the coffee and breakfast, Mrs. F. I hope you and Doc have a grand time in Bar Harbor. See ya next week when we all get home!"

"Oh dear, the oatmeal's gotten cold," observed Jessica after Mort left. "I'm going to warm mine up. Let me get yours too," she offered as she picked up the bowls and turned to the counter.

"Thank you, dearest." And while she does that I'll just have a little taste of that wonderful smelling bacon, planned Seth as he surreptitiously lifted the cover.

"Hey! It's all gone!" he griped with a bedeviled look on his face as he glared at the empty platter.

Jessica turned back to the table to see Seth's mournful expression and had to bite her lip hard to keep from bursting out in laughter. Oh, no, she thought, we're not starting this again…

She kept it together just long enough to say, "We won't starve - I made a whole potful of oatmeal."

It became a matter of neighborhood legend, remembered at many a dinner table, as to which sounds heard emanating from the kitchen at that point were louder; the laughter or the groans...

... ... ... ... ...

{A/N: The reference to the previous night deputy, Jonathan Martin, is from "If It's Thursday, It Must Be Beverly"; Season 4, Episode 7. This show has some of the funniest lines of the whole series in it and the expressions on the faces of everyone in the scene in Seth's office are absolutely priceless!}