The next three months were busy for the partners. Though she never referred to Jack or the children, Hawk knew they were never far from her mind. Sometimes he would hear her crying quietly in the night.

Every week they made a trip up the mountain with supplies. Calli would stay in Entrance Cave to visit with Harkness and the guards and attend to the work there while Hawk took supplies into Arhome. He would bring back word of the family and kids. Calli never asked about them but he told her anyway.

It was after a savage battle with one of the few remaining bands of super mutants that they brought in their next resident, a young Brotherhood paladin. He had lost a leg in the battle and was no longer useful as a soldier. Calli offered him a position helping out on the farm. His usefulness to the Brotherhood at an end, he was happy to accept even though it meant leaving the wasteland behind.

The small building the guards had erected in the cave now held rooms with real beds and bathrooms and a working kitchen. Harkness adored the little babies and made sure they were well protected.

It was late summer when Calli got the word. They were at Arefu, making arrangements to purchase some beef, when the news came over the radio. The announcer was saying the Tradewind was back on the Potomac.

"Yes, sir", he said. "It seems our Captain Jack Lelland is back, folks! It looks like he's got himself a new ship, and it's a beauty. Well, Captain, the wasteland welcomes you back. And now for some music…"

Calli froze, her eyes going dark, her face expressionless for just a moment. Then she stirred, and continued her bargaining as if she hadn't just heard her husband had returned from the dead. Their business completed they headed for the Super Duper Mart to wait for Jack. Calli wished they had brought their motorbikes.

Jack stood at the rail of the sailing vessel, quivering with impatience. He could see Calli standing at the dock, straining toward him. As soon as the gangplank was lowered they flew into each other's arms, meeting in the middle of the gangplank.

"You're alive!", Calli whispered, holding him tight. "Oh, god, Jack, I was so afraid! They found Fred's body, and no one heard anything from any of you. I thought you were dead, I thought all of you were dead."

"I'm so sorry, Calli. I would have gotten word to you if I could. We were stranded.", he said earnestly.

"I know, I know", she said. "I'm not blaming you for anything. Are any others lost?"

"The rest of the crew all made it. But I have to tell you, love, your friend Sarah, she didn't make it. She was lost with Fred."

Calli pulled back to look at him. "Sarah? What was she doing on the Tradewind? What about her kids? Are the kids hurt?"

"The kids weren't with us.",, Jack said. "Sarah got word her Dad was very sick, probably dying. She was coming to see him, but she left the kids in Baton Rouge with Aaron's sister. I'm sorry, darling, I know you were good friends."

Calli took a deep breath. "Yes, Elder Lyons died a few days after we got word you were lost. At least he didn't know Sarah was on the ship. Let's go say Hey to the crew, Jack.", she said in a small voice.

"Listen, Calli, Aaron's not on board. He stayed in Baton Rouge with his kids. It was devastating for them. For most of a year they thought their Mom and Dad were both dead. Then their father shows up, but not their Mom. Aaron's sister couldn't handle them anymore, they're having some issues. I think they hope their Mom will come back again, too. Aaron's at his wit's end, I think."

"Oh, Jack," Calli said. "Poor Aaron."

Aileen watched quietly from the bridge of the Tradewind ll. She held Brent's hand as he pulled at her.

"I want to see mama Calli", he said impatiently.

"Hush, babe. Let them be. We'll see her soon. She's with Jack right now." Calli looked up and caught her eye, smiling timorously at her. Aileen couldn't see the small woman's face through her helmet but knew she was looking at her. She smiled encouragingly. They had a lot to talk about later.

Hawk, Calli and Jack were sitting on the deck surrounded by the crew. Aileen had put Brent to bed after dinner and had joined them for a drink. Trading was done for the day and they were ready to relax and tell their tales. Calli had traded her armor and helmet for the sea garb and hood that allowed her to sit in public. Jack had helped her accomplish that task in the privacy of their room so it had taken longer than usual.

The warm summer evening spread over them like a soft blanket. The reds and oranges of the setting sun reflected off the water as dusk fell. The sounds of insects filled the evening, the sky sprinkled with the gentle light of the glow bugs. Calli wondered at them. The glow bugs seemed to have hitched a ride on a trading vessel from the south sometime in the last few years, and now filled most late summer evenings along the river with their soft glow.

"So the Tradewind did break up in the hurricane last year.", Calli said. "What ship is this, then?"

"Zach found this ship inland. It wasn't in great shape, but he had already had a lot of work done on it by the time we got back to Baton Rouge. We named her the Tradewind ll.", Jack explained.

"She's a little bigger, isn't she?", Calli asked. " It looks like you've added a couple of extra cabins too. But you can show me the ship later. I want to hear what happened to you all."

"We were just off the Carolina coast when the hurricane caught up with us.", Jack said. "We were trying to make it to a port, but the winds were too high, and the sea was getting rough. I would've taken down the sails and gone in on engines but they quit working the day before, about a half day after we left the last port. Bill didn't know what was wrong with them, and we never had the time to find out. So we were trying to come in under sail. It was chaos, Calli. Aaron was trying to get to Sarah when we got hit broadside with a monster wave. Sarah and Fred got washed overboard. Then the Tradewind healed over and started breaking up. The first wall of the hurricane had passed and we got the dinghy loose and everyone got aboard. There we were, adrift in the sea, and it was calm as could be. And we could see the shore! So we rowed like our lives depended on it, because they did. I knew we were in the eye, and if we got hit by the second wall we'd never make it. We did though, we made it to shore and sheltered in a small cove when the second wall hit."

"Yeah", Bill added. "Jack didn't tell you he kept Aaron from trying to go overboard after Sarah. There wasn't anything he could do, they were gone. He got Aaron to concentrate on getting the dinghy loose and save his men."

"It's a good thing their kids weren't with them." ,Calli said, with an odd inflection in her voice. Hawk glanced at her but didn't say anything. "What happened then?", she asked.

Jack took up the tale again. The cove they had washed up in was surrounded by high cliffs. The only way out was to the west. They had struggled through the mountains far to the west before they could swing south and head for Baton Rouge. They had nothing. A band of rugged, rough looking, dirty men travelling the mountains didn't inspire folk to help them out any.

"Good thing I learned a thing or two from you about scavenging", he grinned at Calli, who smiled back at him. "We did find some places to scavenge out and managed to find food and some clothing in abandoned buildings. After we found some weapons and ammo we didn't have much trouble hunting for food .We even found a vault. I remembered the signs you told me to look for. It was pretty much destroyed but there were a few good items left. We even managed to find a couple of places to do some trading. It was a battle though, and we ran in to some pretty dangerous wildlife and a couple of gangs of raiders. We took serious injuries a few times. It took us 9 months to make our way back to Baton Rouge. You know, I'm not sure all of us would have made it back if we hadn't been GECK born."

Dawson grinned. "We heal up real well now, and fast too. It sure did help. We were looking pretty good by the time we came in town. We had plenty of salvage we had picked up and even quite a few caps. Most of us were just glad to be home to our families. There was quite a party. Jack here, though, all he wanted to do was get back to DC. The Tradewind ll was almost ready. He didn't rest until she was in the water and loaded and ready to do her rounds. "

They talked a while longer as the night closed around them and the sky filled with brilliant stars. Eventually the men drifted off, some to their bunks, a couple to their guard duty. Aileen made her excuses and went to her room. She knew Calli would want to be alone with Jack.

Only Jack, Calli and Hawk remained on deck.

"I think it's time we went to bed, don't you, Calli?", Jack asked. Calli smiled and started to get up.

"Why don't you go on in, Jack? I want to talk to Calli.", Hawk said. Calli's smile froze. Jack looked at Hawk uncertainly, then at Calli.

"I won't be long.", Calli said. He nodded and went off.

Hawk turned to her. "Listen, Calli, you have to tell him.", he said.

"No, I don't. You heard what happened. What if the kids had been on the ship? I can't tell him, Hawk.". she said emphatically.

"If you don't, I will", he said grimly.

Calli's voice rose. "No you won't! You don't have any right!"

"I'm not going to let you do this. Either you tell him, or I will.", Hawk growled quietly. He turned and stalked off to his room.

Jack looked up when Calli entered their room. "What was that all about?" he asked.

"Hawk and I are having a disagreement. I don't want to talk about it.", she said vaguely. Jack didn't ask any more questions. He never came between Calli and Hawk, and he had other things on his mind tonight.

The next day they got down to business. Calli went over the books with Jack while they sailed to the next port. She was impressed with the coffee from the southern countries, the cotton cloth and herbs from the Baton Rouge and other Louisiana Territory ports, and fruits from the Florida Isles. Preserved fish and other ocean products were picked up and distributed from all the sea side ports. These would be traded for the many products now being produced in the DC Wasteland in large part due to Calli's sponsorship.

Even though this was the Tradewind ll's maiden voyage she was already showing a tidy profit. The Lelland Trading Company had come into being and was becoming a force in shaping the new lands. The loss of the Tradewind had been a bad blow to the new company, but the Lelland Shipyards had already begun work on a new ship they expected to have in the water by the next year. They were lucky the crew had made their way back. The loss of Jack and his experienced crew would have been a bigger blow to the Lelland family enterprise than the loss of an old sailing vessel.

The next five days were peaceful aboard the Tradewind ll. Trading was good and the weather pleasant. To no one's surprise Jack and Calli acted like newlyweds. Everyone knew how devoted they were. Hawk went about his business, but Calli knew he hadn't relented on his position. She stubbornly refused to tell Jack. They would leave for the wasteland the next day, and she hoped he would just let it go.

She should have known better.

Calli was in their room preparing to depart when Jack came in.

"You weren't going to tell me, were you?", he accused. Calli looked up, the color draining from her face.

"Jack..", she started. His face was red from his contained fury.

"You weren't going to tell me you were PREGNANT? You had twin babies while I was fighting to get back to you, and you WEREN'T GOING TO TELL ME? You GAVE THEM AWAY? Why would you do that? I want my babies, Calli!"

"Jack, listen, they have to be kept safe. They can't be out here. They're safe where they are.", she pleaded.

"You're crazy, Calli!", he shouted. "Give me my babies! Maybe you don't want them but I do! I want my kids!"

Calli's face tightened with fury as his words cut through her like a knife.

"No!", she snarled. "I won't bring them out. It's not safe!"

"They're my children too. You can't keep them from me, Calli.", he declared angrily.

She turned on him. "Can't I? You weren't here when I carried them! You weren't here when I had them! I made the decision to keep them safe. I did, alone! How many times have you nearly died out there? I'm not bringing them out!", she snapped angrily.

"I have a right to them too!", he delcared stubbornly. "I want my kids, Calli."

She grabbed her pack and helmet from the locker and headed for the door, slamming the helmet on.

"Where are you going?", he demanded, reaching for her. She slapped his hand away.

"You'll never find them!", she snarled, jerking open the door. He followed her out of the room.

"Calli!", he yelled. "Come back here. We have to talk about this."

She ran down the gangplank and into the wasteland. "Calli!", he yelled after her. Aileen stared at her from the deck of the ship. She turned to look at Jack. He looked lost, bewildered. She started to reach out to him, but he turned and stalked into his room. He didn't even look at her.