Wolves of the Pacific

by greenpeach20

In 1902, Renesmee Cullen grew tired of the tedious life of moving around with her family and decided to make the journey west as a mail order bride. Yet a chance encounter with a reddish brown wolf would change her life forever.

122. Chapter 122

Chapter 122

In Washington, life was going on as usual. Birdie had shot up like it was nothing. He was already about the height of a four year old and about that far in development. Nathan and the others made their yearly trip to Salvador albeit much later than usual which meant Ivory couldn't go. However, they made sure they stayed in Las Vegas much longer than they normally would to make up for it. They didn't make the trip back to the US until late September and when they'd arrived in Las Vegas, it was the middle of the day so they had to let themselves in. Ada María and Scarlet did some cleaning while Nathan stayed outside with Jaedynn while she played in Ivory's Dragon Den with Cindy in guard mode.

"This heat I like," Gabriel said while he was outside with Nathan. "Salvador's a little too muggy for my liking."

"I prefer the drier heat myself," Nathan agreed. "If your mother had her way, we'd be in Salvador permanently."

"A trip back once a year seems a generous compromise I think," Gabriel smiled. "It's a shame Ivory couldn't come."

"She will next year," Nathan said. After a few hours of watching Jaedynn play, Nathan heard Tamara and Ivory approach. Cindy stayed in guard mode but her tail started wagging eagerly. "Cindy, release," Nathan said and Cindy got up from her position and went right over to Ivory. Ivory hugged the Pit tightly and started scratching her ears while Cindy's tail continued to wag.

"I swear that dog got bigger," Tamara said and then approached Nathan to hug him.

"Daddy!" Ivory yelled and went to Nathan for her hug.

Eventually they all went back inside and were relieved to finally be out of the hot sun. They all stayed in Las Vegas for a week before they had to return but Nathan made sure in that week to spend near every waking moment with Ivory, even taking an overnight camping trip into the desert just the two of them to look at the stars. By the time they got back, Natalie had gotten into a habit of making sure JJ's and Eun Mi's house was clean eagerly anticipating their return. JJ had warned they wouldn't be there for Christmas but would be back in January for sure and for good.

"This is exciting," Nathan said to Natalie. The two of them were sitting on her porch together drinking some coffee. Birdie was playing on the beach with Suerro, Salem and Nesia. "Is Salem still intent on joining the Navy?"

"He is," Natalie said. "The only unfortunate part of JJ coming home is it means Salem's leaving. I have until January at least. All three of them grew up so fast. Now Blu Jae's growing even faster."

"That's what you get for imprinting on a vampire I guess," Nathan teased. "I know how you feel, though. I wish the boys could have slowed down a little for me, but they're both already full grown. The two of them are even talking about getting their own places to live up in Forks."

"They're certainly old enough," Natalie said. "I'm relieved no one questions how quickly they grew."

"Believe me, so am I. I think everyone assumed Ariel and Gabriel are Ada's nephews and she never bothered to correct them. They probably wonder whatever happened to that kid Ada nearly had in the middle of town."

"If they aren't asking, don't look a gift horse in the mouth," Natalie said. "Are you and Ada planning for another any time soon?"

"Not for a while," Nathan said. "She wants a girl of her own, but I think we're better off waiting until Jaedynn's older."

"Then you can experience having a child and being a grandpa," Natalie teased.

"For people like us, does it even matter?"

"No, but it's still nice to joke," Natalie said. "Oh, and apparently Eun Mi is trying to convince JJ to let her bring a cat home."

Nathan laughed out loud and caused everyone at the beach to look at him. Eventually he had enough control to say, "Good fucking luck with that."

"I don't know. She might just manage it. JJ's apparently already started letting the cat in the house when he's around and Eun Mi's been saving money for a vet visit by selling homemade rice wine and candies on base."

"And JJ's letting her?"

"According to Eun Mi's letter, JJ told her that if she really wants to take that cat home, that's on her shoulders. I think JJ was hoping she wouldn't call his bluff."

"Isn't JJ allergic to cats?"

"No, I'm allergic to cats. JJ just hates cats. But Eun Mi swears that one time JJ was having some homemade rice wine out on their patio and he fell asleep. The cat slept on his chest and when JJ realized it, he muttered 'stupid cat' but let him stay there. Jae Sun named the cat Popo."

"That's the funniest thing I've ever heard," Nathan smiled. "Suerro! Are you getting this?!"

"Serves him right!" Suerro yelled back and Nathan laughed.

"When Nesia finds out-"

"You have got to be fucking kidding me!" Nesia screamed suddenly and was approaching the house while Salem had fallen back in the water laughing.

"Nesia, watch your language! Especially in front of your little brother."

"Seriously? JJ hates cats! I ask for a cat and I get the run around but Eun Mi asks for a cat and he just agrees?"

"Nesia, when you're on your own, you can have a cat," Natalie said. "I can't have a cat in the house."

"You have a valid excuse, mom. JJ's just mean! I swear, when I'm on my own and I can get a cat, I'm going to rub that cat in JJ's dumb face."

"Fine, Nesia. If you want," Natalie sighed heavily.

"This is ridiculous," Nesia muttered and continued mumbling irritably to herself as she went back to the beach. Salem continued to laugh at her expense but the humor was slightly wasted on Blu Jae.

"Looks like you'll have another kid moving out pretty soon," Nathan chuckled.

"Shut up," Natalie muttered as she rubbed her face.

Of course, everyone found a good bit of humor that Eun Mi had effectively whipped JJ into letting her have a cat even though he was still fighting the whole prospect still. Rosalie continued acting as Heather's nanny, taking her to the park on overcast days, watching from the porch door while she played on her playground in the backyard when it was too sunny outside and acting as nanny for Evalynn for days on end when the girls decided they wanted a sleepover which became quite often. Rosalie learned from Evalina how to make the lemon cookies that Evalynn developed quite a liking for and she made them every Friday whenever Evalynn was over. Since Kyle was consistently busy with the hospital and Evalina was focusing on Caleb, Evalynn spending all that time with Heather was a welcome relief but they always missed her when she was away. Though it seemed she did not have the same sentiment as she was always sad whenever she had to return home.

"I'm beginning to think she doesn't like us," Kyle joked after they'd put a very reluctant Evalynn to bed for the night.

"She's just lonely," Evalina said. "One of these days we'll have Heather come here instead. She can spend a few days with us and I'm sure Rosalie would be happy to help."

"I'm sure she would," Kyle said as he got into bed with Evalina. Caleb was asleep between them snuggled against Evalina with his little head on her arm. "Is he sleeping with us tonight?"

"Just for a little bit," Evalina said. "He's so precious when he's sleeping."

"He's quiet when he's sleeping," Kyle joked and Evalina poked him while he smiled.

"He's not that vocal unless he needs something," Evalina said. "Since he's our last, how about we all go to Rome once Caleb's a little older? We still haven't gone back to Italy."

"I'd have to make arrangements well in advance," Kyle said. "When were you hoping to go?"

"Maybe when Caleb's four? Or three?"

"Four's a better idea," Kyle said. "Not that either he or Evalynn will remember hardly any of the trip."

"Maybe if Kevin and Amber are alright with it, we can take Heather and Levi with us too."

"I'm sure they wouldn't mind, but I'll check. Hell, maybe they'll come with us."

"That would be fun," Evalina said. "It would be nice if we could go at Christmas. I haven't gone to the Vatican for Christmas in far too long."

"I would like that," Kyle said with a smile and leaned over to kiss her. The movement from the mattress made Caleb start to squirm and whimper so Evalina turned her attention to Caleb. "You're being a buzz kill, Caleb Dante," Kyle said firmly as though scolding him but Evalina giggled knowing he was joking.

"I'll get him to bed so we won't disturb him," Evalina said and then planted another kiss to Kyle's lips.

The remainder of the year seemed to fly by. As promised, the house JJ bought from Yon and Tae Woon would be paid for by November but she wasn't looking forward to it. They'd promised to return to Korea as soon as possible, but there really was no way of knowing for sure when that would be. Eun Mi promised that after she and JJ had a second child, she would happily return for a while. Given they were planning to start trying as soon as they got back, that was a little too soon for JJ's liking but he assured if she really wanted to go that soon, he would join her even if only for a short time. Once they all returned, JJ fully intended to go back to working for Hailey which meant he wouldn't be able to be in Korea for as long as Eun Mi intended to visit.

Eun Mi had indeed started selling Makgeolli and beet candies on base after JJ had expressed his terms. He'd found out about the quote from the vet and, not surprisingly, was not willing to 'waste that much money on the God damn cat'. So Eun Mi suggested that she would raise the money herself and JJ agreed figuring she wouldn't want to go through all that trouble anyway, but she called his bluff. She set up a cycle for making Makgeolli and once a batch was ready, she would make loads and loads of beet candy from the recipe she'd gotten from the army wife and would sell it either on base or in downtown Seoul. She charged higher rates in the city but tried to keep the price reasonable so she could sell enough to turn a profit. It took a few weeks, but she finally raised the $45 she'd been quoted before and once she had it, she presented it to JJ with a big smile.

"I've already scheduled an appointment with the vet for tomorrow," Eun Mi said. JJ stared at the money a moment and then stared at Eun Mi.

"You realize you'll need to convert that from Won to Dollars right?" he finally said.

"I'm to understand the conversation rate is a few cents for American troops and their families?" she smiled confidently. "I have about four dollars equivalent to spare to that. I am, after all, family. Yes?"

JJ was silent a moment longer until he said, "Aren't we just fucking proud of ourselves?"

"JJ, don't swear in front of the baby," Eun Mi scolded while maintaining her proud smile. "By the time you return from your final tour of the parallel, Popo will have gotten his shots and I'll start looking into how we move him with us."

"Eun Mi-"

"I did my part, JJ," Eun Mi interrupted. "And admit it: you like Popo."

"What gave you that crazy idea?"

"You let him nap on your chest when you're outside for one," Eun Mi pointed out.

"It's either that or he scratches me," JJ said.

"And I've caught you giving him some of your fried tofu."

"I'm hoping it'll poison him."

"And I've seen you pet him."

"That's a lie."

"Oh, no it's not. I've seen you," Eun Mi said.

"The sun must have been in your eyes," JJ argued.

"And I'll have you know I've caught you playing with Popo on that very porch with Jae Sun," Eun Mi pointed out.

"I'm trying to make sure the damn cat doesn't hurt the baby."

"Jae Sun had fallen asleep in your lap by the time I caught you. You were playing with Popo of your own accord. I saw you hovering that twine around for him to play with. Admit it: you like Popo. He's grown on you."

JJ didn't say anything. Instead, he left their living room to go outside and Eun Mi just kept her hands on her hips smiling victoriously. Popo tried to follow JJ outside but he shoved the cat away with his shoe and went outside alone, closing the door behind him. Popo stayed at the door for a moment but soon averted his attention and found a place to take a nap. It was getting cold outside, so Eun Mi made JJ some tea and brought that out to him. He accepted it without a word but then Popo, having come outside, hopped into JJ's lap, got situated and then curled up on JJ's lap. He looked at the cat, then at Eun Mi.

"This means nothing," he muttered and sipped his tea.

"If you say so, JJ," Eun Mi leaned down and kissed his cheek before going back inside.

The following day, Eun Mi asked Yon to watch Jae Sun for the day so she could take Popo with her to the base for his vet appointment. JJ dropped her off and she took Popo in for his visit. She wasn't the only person waiting. In the waiting room were three other women with their family pets all of which were dogs and medium to large size. Thankfully none of the dogs approached as they were all very well trained. When it was finally her turn, Eun Mi went to the exam room with Popo and waited another five minutes for the doctor.

"Mrs. Eun Mi Dauer?" he asked when he entered the room.

"Yes, sir," Eun Mi bowed. "I've been told you're most familiar with dogs, but I hope you can help Popo. I've been told we need to ensure he has his shots and medicine in order to bring him home with us when we return to Washington."

"Yes, I heard," he said. "I know how to treat cats. Dogs are just my usual customers. Do you know how old the cat is?"

"He can't be more than nine to ten months I think," Eun Mi said. "He was still pretty small when I rescued him and he hasn't gotten very much bigger. Chubbier maybe, but that's because we're feeding him."

"Put him on the exam table and I'll take a look," the doctor said and Eun Mi did as instructed.

The doctor checked Popo's teeth, took his temperature, gave him a few shots, took his weight and determined the cat was in good health save for needed to take some heartworm medicine. Thankfully the quote she'd received from the receptionist accounted for requiring a year's supply so the doctor made sure she got the medicine and with that, Popo was in good health and could go with them to Washington. Eun Mi was very pleased with that and even asked around until she located the building where JJ would be. She was stopped at the door of course, but the man there was immediately surprised that she was holding a cat.

"Can I help you, ma'am?" he asked.

"Yes, I was hoping I could speak with my husband? Sergeant Jay Jacob Dauer?"

"Uh," he started and looked at the cat, "sure. Give me a second." The man had someone stay at the front while he went to get JJ and at the time, he was in the wreck room with a few others, Jun included. "Sergeant Dauer."

"Yes, sir?"

"Your wife's at the front door asking for you. She's holding a cat."

"Yeah, yeah," JJ groaned.

"Wait; is this the cat she's been trying to convince you to let her keep?" Jun asked. "Do you mind if I join you? I'm curious."

"No, you can't 'join me'," JJ said irritably and left the wreck room to go to the entrance where Eun Mi was. He saw the big smirk on her face and braced himself for what she'd say. "Everything alright?" he asked once he was at the entrance.

"Everything's great," Eun Mi said. "Popo's in good health according to the doctor and he just needs to take these heartworm pills to get rid of the parasites."

"God damn it, this cat has parasites? Fucking figures," JJ rubbed his face.

"I thought perhaps you might help me look into our options for bringing Popo home with us?"

"Oh no," JJ said, "No, no, no, no. You want that cat; that's your responsibility. If you want to bring him to America so damn badly, fine. But that's your job."

"It would make me very happy if you helped me look into it just a little," Eun Mi said and looked at him with pleading eyes that usually worked on him.

"I'd like a summer home in the middle of nowhere some place in Germany, but we can't always have the things we want now can we?"

"Why Germany?"

"I know the language and, truthfully, the country is very scenic from what I hear. The absence of Nazis makes the prospect a little more appealing to say the least. But what do I get? What will amount to a cheap summer home in bumblefuck nowhere South Korea and a cat."

"I like our little house in bumblefuck nowhere," Eun Mi protested and petted Popo to make him purr. "I also like our cat."

"He's not our cat, Eun Mi. He's a stray you saved from a weasel. It was a weasel right?"

"Don't be so mean," Eun Mi said with a smile. "Fine. If I must look into the matter on my own then I will."

"Fine. You do that," JJ said irritably and Eun Mi walked a little closer.

"You like Popo. Admit it."

"Can't admit to something that's not true, Eun Mi. Are you suggesting I lie?"

"You're lying right now," Eun Mi said.

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not."

"Yes you are," Eun Mi said and, without really thinking, got on her tip toes but made sure not to use her extensions to go higher. He noticed the moment it occurred to her to be discreet and JJ chuckled.

"You're really upset you can't come up to my level aren't you?"

"I don't need to."

"I don't know, Eun Mi. It's a whole lot more intimidating than you getting on those little toes like a kid. Like David against Goliath."

"As I remember it, David won that fight."

"Because Goliath underestimated David. I'm not so foolish."

"I suppose that's true. But then, David did not have the same tricks at his disposal against Goliath as I do against my giant."

"Are you trying to imply something? Because if you are, you can mark my words I'll shut that shit down in an instant."

"Oh, will you?" Eun Mi challenged with a big smirk. "The giant is so sure of himself? How does he plan to do such a thing?"

"I have my ways," JJ said.

"I bet you do," Eun Mi said.

"Can the two of you please save it for the privacy of your own home?" Jun said, taking both of them out of the trance rather suddenly. He came closer until he could see the cat. "So this is the little guy. He's cute."

"It's a cat," JJ said impertinently.

"He's come a long way since I first found him," Eun Mi said, completely ignoring JJ's remark.

"So you'll be bringing him back to America with you?"

Eun Mi nodded while JJ just pouted, "I just need to make the travel arrangements. Sourpuss over here has decided he won't help me look into it so I'm on my own."

"I can always ask around for you too," Jun offered.

"Shut up, Jun," JJ said irritably.

"That would be very helpful of you Jun; thank you," Eun Mi answered and bowed. "I'm of the assumption there will be a fee involved, so I'll continue selling Makgeolli and candy."

"Please do. I'll buy a whole Ongi of that stuff from you happily," Jun smiled.

"Shut up, Jun," JJ said again a little more firmly.

"I'm sorry, JJ, but your wife is offering me booze. I can't be rude and refuse."

"Yes you can. You're just not trying hard enough," JJ muttered.

"Just ignore him. He's just upset that I didn't back down and I called his bluff."

"I can see that," Jun chuckled.

"We'll talk about this later, Eun Mi," JJ said. "We'd better get back to work, Jun."

"What work? We were on our lunch break."

"Now!" JJ yelled and Jun immediately ran off.

"Don't be so sour, JJ," Eun Mi said.

"We'll talk about this later," JJ repeated. "I'll meet you outside when it's time to go home."

"Does the giant plan to teach poor old me a lesson?" Eun Mi taunted and JJ turned to face her.

"Don't tempt me," he said with a little smirk and walked away. Eun Mi's cheeks burned a little from their exchange as she stepped back outside into the chilled air. She knew JJ wasn't as mad as he was painting himself to be. She wasn't scared to tempt the beast.

Since she was on base, she went to admin to find out what she could about pet transport and was able to verify what services were available and what they would cost. As she feared, it wasn't cheap. She'd have to sell a hell of a lot more alcohol and candy if she was going to make that. She wondered if perhaps she could offer street food too. But then, she wasn't confident that would be really cost effective. Beets were one thing: they were really cheap and easy to grow herself. Sugar wasn't too hard to get a hold of either. Making Makgeolli wasn't very expensive either. Making proper street food on the other hand would be a lot more expensive to execute.

She went to the park on base with Popo and when she arrived, all the younger children there swarmed her wanting to play with the cat. He was a good sport about it, but if the children became too much and he started growling, Eun Mi would stand up so he was out of the kids' reach so he could calm down. She finally left the park when it was nearing time for her and JJ to leave and, thankfully, when she reached the right building, she didn't have to wait too long for JJ to come outside.

"Have you really been holding that stupid cat all day?"

"I let him wander around a bit," Eun Mi said. "Just never past where my hands could reach." JJ made a face and walked through the lot to the car and Eun Mi followed behind him and got in once they'd located the car. "Are you still planning to teach me a lesson?"

"That depends," JJ said as he drove away from base, "Did you find out anything about bringing the hairball to America?"

"There's a transport service and there's a fee for the transport. It's a little expensive, but I think I can collect the money to do it. Unless, of course, you would be willing to help a little."

"I don't think so," JJ said stubbornly.

"I'll do it myself, then," Eun Mi sighed teasingly. "There's no shortage of people willing to buy Makgeolli and candy."

"Fine, then."

"Fine," Eun Mi said back. This time, JJ glanced at her with a mean look but a smile was creeping onto his face the whole time.

"I don't know why you're arguing with me over a cat."

"I don't know why you're being so stubborn," Eun Mi retorted.

"You're testing my patience, Eun Mi. I warned you not to tempt me."

"Or what?" Eun Mi said, her head held high with a smirk at one corner of her mouth.

"Yon and Tae Woon have Jae Sun?"

"Yes," Eun Mi said.

"Then you'll see when we get home," JJ said in a tone he'd meant to make threatening but she could hear through it and knew what he actually meant.

She blushed a little but looked away so he wouldn't see. For the remainder of the drive, they were silent. It was too quiet. It started to make Eun Mi wonder if perhaps JJ was actually really angry with her. Soon they made it back to their little house and JJ got out of the car. Eun Mi let herself out as JJ walked around and was immediately in front of her. His height was intimidating to most. For her, it was just irritating not being able to use her extensions so she could look him in the eye. He looked so firm and even a little mean, making Eun Mi wonder again if he really was mad.

"Put the cat down, Eun Mi," JJ said in a commanding tone. This time, Eun Mi did as JJ said without argument and even felt a little nervous. Then, out of nowhere, JJ kneeled down and swooped her over his shoulder like a bag of rice making her squeal. She saw Popo run off towards the house while JJ carried her.

"JJ!" Eun Mi yelled.

"You didn't think I was kidding earlier did you?" JJ said and even spanked her. She finally heard the playfulness in his tone and the spank he gave her was only hard enough to sting a brief moment and instantly ease into something else.

"JJ!" Eun Mi said in protest but was beginning to laugh a little.

"I warned you about testing my patience, Eun Mi, but you just kept poking the giant until you made him mad," JJ said and spanked her again just a little harder this time. Eun Mi gasped from it but just like before, the sting was gone almost as quickly as it came and it devolved into something pleasurable.

"JJ, please, I'm sorry," Eun Mi played along and giggled while she started clawing at his uniform but not enough to cause damage.

"It's too late for that," JJ said and shoved their door open with his boot and kicked it closed. "Untie my shoes," he ordered. Using a pair of phantom hands, Eun Mi reached down and untied JJ's shoes and kept pressure on them so he could pull out his feet and step over the threshold. He turned to face the door so Eun Mi's feet hovered over the other shoes. "Now yours," he said and, for emphasis, spanked her again.

JJ smirked to himself when Eun Mi moaned just a little after the latest spank. Using those same ghostly hands, she removed her shoes and put them on the floor with the others. With that matter taken care of, JJ picked up his pace again and carried Eun Mi to their bedroom and made a show of dropping her onto the soft blankets of their futon, but Eun Mi slowed the tumble by holding onto JJ's shoulders with her extensions and keeping another set behind her to soften her landing. She closed the door behind them while she laid in their bed and JJ approached her until he was on his knees above her, straddling her hips. Eun Mi trembled from the look in his eye; the look of ardent desire always left her breathless and his smile always did the same.

JJ moved down so he was no longer straddling her hips. Rather he went down towards her feet before starting to unbutton the blouse of her dress. Once unbuttoned, JJ pulled the dress off her in one swift motion and tossed it to the side. Then his hands took a hold of her panties from both sides before tugging them down and off her with the same movement and tossing it aside. His hands started touching her body tenderly, working their way around her thighs, hips, waist and then finally her breasts. She'd forgotten all about their previous game by now just enjoying his touch. She sighed his name as his hands massaged her breasts for a moment as she felt herself becoming light headed.

"Oh, no, Eun Mi. You're not getting off that easily," he said. JJ's hands went to her hips and he flipped her over so she was on her stomach. She gasped in surprise and then moaned when she felt JJ's fingers go between her legs to touch her core. JJ hovered above her while his fingers rubbed sensually against her folds that had already grown extremely wet.

"JJ," she moaned his name just before JJ slipped two fingers inside her causing her to moan again. She reached one hand behind her so she could touch JJ, but he caught her hand, kissed her palm and then nipped her wrist, and then gently tossed her hand away.

"Hands forward, Eun Mi. Hands against to wall where I can see them," JJ ordered.

She did as he told and brought both her hands forward pressing them against the wall. When his free hand came to her ass and he started to trail that hand up her waist, Eun Mi retracted her extensions so they wouldn't hinder his touch. While his fingers thrust in and out in a fluid motion, fingers curled to find and molest the slight elevation on her walls to give her the most pleasure, his free hand continued upwards reveling in her body trembling with excitement. He got to her neck where he started to gently rub his thumb against her spine. But then he noticed something in need of fixing.

"Take your hair out of its bun," JJ said. Eun Mi took her hands away from the wall to do so, but then he shoved his fingers into her more forcefully, eliciting a high pitched moan. "Not with those hands."

She hesitated only briefly, still reeling from JJ's fingers inside her. Eventually, she allowed two ghostly hands to emerge and she used them to take down her bun. Once undone, JJ's hand went into her hair and started brushing it sensually with his fingers while his other hand returned to the previous erotic rhythm. Eun Mi sighed and started moving her hips to match JJ's hand but it earned her another strike to her skin as JJ spanked her.

"JJ, please," Eun Mi moaned her plea and tried to look at him when she turned her head. JJ slowed his fingers' rhythm maddeningly so as he leaned down. His free hand went back up her body until he was holding her chin in his hand. His grip was gentle but secure and his lips were at her ear. "JJ," she whimpered again when his warm breath brushed her skin making her shiver.

"'Please' what?" JJ whispered in her ear.

"Please stop tormenting me," Eun Mi said.

"But you need to be taught a lesson," JJ said and nipped the lobe of her ear causing her to whimper again.

"I've learned," Eun Mi protested.

"Have you? I don't think you have," JJ said. He swirled the tip of his tongue along her ear for another pleasured response from Eun Mi. "I think you're just telling me what I want to hear."

She didn't answer this time as JJ increased the pace of his fingers again, but not nearly to the level she was desperately craving. He released her chin and instead took a hold of her breast while he continued to tease her ear. It was all driving her mad. He was doing just enough to tease her and make her shiver, but he wasn't doing what she wanted. He'd rendered her needy and desperate but would do nothing to satisfy her need: only intensify it. Hoping she might be able to make JJ finally move forward, Eun Mi crept two of her extensions down close to her body so JJ wouldn't notice them and once she was able, she tugged at the hem of JJ's shirt and started undoing his pants. She was relieved that he let her do so once he noticed what she was doing. When that ghostly hand grabbed slipped into his unzipped pants to touch him, JJ thrust his fingers forcefully inside her again while he sucked on her skin, making Eun Mi cry out.

"You're just making this harder on yourself," JJ warned and bit her ear. It only encouraged her and she continued touching him intimately. She heard JJ groan against her shoulder and his fingers came to a complete stop which only served to irritate Eun Mi further. She started stroking his erection and lifted her hips just a little trying to encourage JJ to continue. "This is my fault," JJ groaned.

"What?" Eun Mi asked, confused.

"You keep getting yourself into more and more trouble, but it's not your fault. I didn't make the rules clear."

"Rules?"

"Yes, Eun Mi: rules. The more you fight me, the worse this is going to get. So here's what I'm going to do." JJ started moving his fingers inside her again at a steady and gentle pace. She wanted more. So much more. "I'm going to finger you until you've achieved orgasm. Then and only then will you have been disciplined sufficiently and can leave from time out. If you try to hurry me along or do anything to disrupt me, I will stop until you calm down. The more you cooperate, the sooner I release you. Do you understand?"

"JJ, please," Eun Mi moaned and then whimpered when his fingers stopped again.

"What did I say?" he asked and spanked her again for good measure.

"Don't try to rush you."

"Very good," JJ said and kissed her neck making her tremble. Then he started moving his fingers again giving her pleasure. "Now you behave yourself and maybe I'll make sure this doesn't take so long."

Eun Mi moaned in answer and for a moment she feared that alone would make him stop, but he didn't. She retracted her extended hands so she wasn't touching him anymore and stayed still beneath him as he'd instructed of her. His free hand returned to her breast to massage it tenderly while he continued kissing along her shoulder and neck using his teeth and tongue against her skin. After a minute or so of Eun Mi cooperating and staying still as he'd ordered, his fingers finally started to pick up their pace and he even dipped one finger lower so he could massage the sensitive bundle of nerves he'd previously been ignoring. She cried out a little when he finally touched her there and she felt JJ grin against her skin. He kissed his way up to her ear again and licked her.

"See how much nicer this is than you trying to rush me?"

"Yes, JJ," Eun Mi moaned.

"I didn't hear you," JJ lied and bit her ear gently. "Isn't this much nicer?"

"Yes, JJ," Eun Mi said a little louder.

"That's what I wanted to hear," JJ whispered before licking right behind her ear.

She felt her whole body contract with passion when he licked her. JJ continued rubbing her clitoris while thrusting his fingers in and out bringing her closer and closer to a much needed release. Eun Mi could tell he wanted to be inside her. It was torturing him a lot more than her and he was tempted to throw the whole game out the window and just slip inside her. But he wanted to see this through if only for the sake of proving a point. Whatever that point was. He wasn't even sure anymore and he didn't care. JJ could feel her getting closer and, as much as she was trying to keep her voice down perhaps out of fear it would be taken as defiance and he'd stop, her voice grew higher in pitch the closer she came. Unconsciously, Eun Mi lifted her hips a little higher so he had easier access. For just a moment, he considered stopping since she was, technically, doing what he'd told her not to, but he didn't have the heart to. She was too close and he wasn't that cruel. He didn't even stop when her hands couldn't bear to be pressed against the wall anymore and she brought them to the pillow so she could clutch on. He couldn't resist, however, taunting her just a little. So he brought his lips from her shoulder to her ear again.

"You know," he whispered, "you lifted your hips and took your hands away from the wall. I didn't give you permission to do that. I should stop."

"JJ, please no," she whimpered, barely registering what he was even saying.

"Don't worry. I won't. I think you've learned your lesson and you've been very good up to now."

"Please, JJ," she moaned again.

"Don't push it, Eun Mi. My mercy will only go so far."

She didn't answer and instead just moaned, biting onto the pillow so she wasn't too loud. Remembering how much of a reaction it had gotten out of her before, JJ licked the back of her ear and she shivered almost violently and he felt her walls contract around his fingers, but she wasn't there just yet. He moved his fingers faster and faster while rubbing her clitoris with about the same speed. It took all his dexterity to do it well, but seconds later Eun Mi cried out with the pillow muffling her and he felt her walls contract around his fingers in a consistent and indicated she gotten her release. As she came down from her high, JJ kept kissing her shoulder and made her shudder. She felt like jelly and the world around her just melted away.

She wasn't paying attention to the sound of clothes being removed and could have just fallen asleep right there, but she was turned over again so she was on her back but her teeth still had a grip on the pillow. So that pillow turned with her and was tossed aside when she released her bite. Now JJ was hovering above her as naked as her bringing her hips closer to his but not entering her just yet. He chuckled from her tossing the pillow to one side on accident with her teeth before he leaned down to kiss her. She sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck. Then finally, when they were kissing one another, JJ moved his hips forward and slipped inside her. His hands gripped her hips like a vice and he groaned into her mouth while Eun Mi was given a renewed hunger for release. Knowing he wouldn't last very long, JJ brought a hand between them and rubbed her clitoris to ease her along so she would come with him. Then he took his lips from hers and started kissing her neck again. The marks he'd already left before were starting to fade already, but he added more to spots he had missed. He kept all this up while thrusting faster and faster until Eun Mi twitched and convulsed under him, bringing him to his own release.

JJ and Eun Mi held onto one another for a few minutes as though they were afraid to move, but they did eventually. JJ rolled to his side and pulled Eun Mi with him so she was on top of him. She started kissing his neck and chest while her hand brushed along the same trail as her lips. JJ kissed the top of her head and held her close but eventually Eun Mi broke the intimate silence.

"I should go get Jae Sun. Poor thing probably thinks we abandoned him."

"If he does, I'm sure Yon and Tae Woon made up for it by now."

Eun Mi giggled, "All the same, I should bring him home. My guess is he already ate, so I'll make you dinner once I get back."

"Okay," JJ said and kissed her head again. While JJ stayed in bed, Eun Mi got dressed and made the walk to Yon and Tae Woon's home to pick up Jae Sun. She waited a moment after knocking on their door before Yon answered.

"Sorry I'm so late," Eun Mi said, prepared to make an excuse that they got held up in the city.

"It's alright, Eun Mi. I saw you two get home but you can imagine my alarm when I saw JJ toss you over his shoulder like that. I thought I'd stop by to make sure there was nothing wrong but I overheard you and JJ 'arguing'. I thought it best to not interrupt you." Eun Mi's face went beet red and Yon winked at her with a small giggle. "Jae Sun," Yon said and the little boy came to the door. "Get your shoes on. Mommy's here to take you home."

"Did he already eat?" Eun Mi asked, trying to push away her embarrassment.

"Yes, he's already had dinner. Didn't you?" Yon asked Jae Sun who shook his head with a giggle of his own. "Don't let this little trickster lie to you. I saw him eat every morsel on his plate."

"Are you lying to me, Jae Sun?" Jae Sun started to shake his head, but he noticed Eun Mi blushing.

"Mommy, your face red," Jae Sun pointed out and her cheeks burned even more.

"It's alright, little man," Yon smiled, "Your mother and father were just having an important discussion before she came over. Such matters tend to make a lady blush."

"What's a discussion?"

"It's when you talk to people, Jae Sun," Yon said.

"Oh!" Jae Sun grinned widely, thinking he figured out what they were talking about. "We keep Popo?"

"If your mother's discussion with your father was successful then I think so," Yon teased.

"Stop it, Yon," Eun Mi muttered while Jae Sun tried his best to put on his shoes on his own. He got them on but couldn't get them tied, so Eun Mi did it for him, thanked Yon for looking after Jae Sun for her and walked them back home. Once home, JJ was dressed and sitting outside with the porch door open and Popo was sitting on his lap. Not want to push it, Eun Mi said nothing but couldn't fight a smile.

The following week JJ was dispatched to the parallel for one last guard duty before retirement. After that, he would retire in December and they could go home. They weren't going straight home, though. Eun Mi had promised Yoshiko that she and JJ would stop in Japan to visit them and then JJ had decided he wanted to go to Utah to visit Hadley so they would be doing that. They weren't likely to get back to Washington until January and, this time, they were taking a boat back home and then they would take the train the remainder of the way. While JJ was at the parallel, it made getting into Seoul a lot more challenging. She developed a relationship with a man in town that would drive into Seoul every other day to sell his own wares. In exchange for the car ride, she would give him free Makgeolli and candy and sometimes dinner when they got back. He was a widowed man and was happy for the company and dinner. Sometimes he'd go back home right away so his daughter could make dinner, but he'd not minded the change of pace. He got some humor out of Eun Mi's situation and desire to raise the money for transport and was happy to help.

Sadly, at the end of the month JJ was at the parallel, she didn't raise as much as she'd hoped. She'd gotten quotes for the transport and they were easily double what she'd managed to raise. She started selling Jae Sun's old clothes that didn't fit him anymore for some extra money and a few dresses she didn't like anymore or that were a little too small on her now and that helped, but she still didn't have enough money. By the looks of it, she'd be raising money up to the day they needed to leave. She reserved some Makgeolli to serve to JJ once he returned home and the day he was due back, Eun Mi stayed home and prepped a big dinner. She knew exactly what to make to celebrate his last tour of the parallel and his impending retirement.

She burrowed Yon's gujoelpan pan and the two of them prepped all the elements of the dish according to JJ's taste omitting the beef and shrimp and instead using shitake mushrooms, eggplant and tofu. She made fresh kimchi just the way JJ liked it and used the fermented kimchi to make kimchi stew that would be served with purple rice and peas. Yon had introduced her to black rice and JJ liked it a lot. The fact that it turned the white rice purple was just fun. Into that rice she mixed in peas, she and Yon made several vegetable side dishes like bean sprouts and some fresh cucumber. To top it all off, Eun Mi made Chapssal-tteok filled with red bean and candied sesame seeds. She even made a few special ones that she'd filled with the beet candy. Putting that together had been a nightmare and a half, but she made it happen. She'd even made sure the rice cake was pink by using beet juice as a dye.

"This is quite the spread, Eun Mi," Yon praised once they were putting the finishing touches on some dishes. "If you did everything right, the man won't be able to move for several hours."

"Jae Sun!" Eun Mi scolded when Jae Sun reached up and tried to steal a Chapssal-tteok. She took the treat back and scolded him for stealing before telling him to back to Tae Woon.

"He's just eager," Yon defended. "He's been watching you cook all day. He's bound to be hungry."

"He needs to wait patiently just like the rest of us," Eun Mi said mostly at Jae Sun who was pouting and had gone to Tae Woon hoping for some sympathy but the pout on his face only got him scolded more until he took the look off his face. "He looks more and more like his father every day. He has your eyes, though."

"You mean Korean?" Eun Mi said and Yon laughed.

"I believe Americans call them 'squinty'? Am I right?"

"I've been told that's the stereotype. It's horrible in those propaganda pictures I've seen. I think they suit Jae Sun, though."

"He's a very handsome little boy," Yon agreed. "You and JJ did very well."

"We did, didn't we?" Eun Mi smiled, no longer mad at Jae Sun. He wasn't upset anymore either. Tae Woon had distracted the boy with Popo. They had a string that had become Popo's favorite toy and were moving it around on the floor like a snake and Popo was pawing at it. They managed to get the string far away and Popo didn't approach right away. Instead he got into a pouncing stance, lifted and then wiggled his butt and only then did he pounce on the string. Jae Sun laughed and clapped cheering Popo on and Eun Mi smiled.

"I know that smile," Yon teased. "That's the smile of a woman that wants another baby."

"Soon," Eun Mi said. "Soon." Once it was nearing time for JJ to come home, Eun Mi poured everyone a glass of Makgeolli and they sat at the table waiting for JJ. Jae Sun was anxious partially because he wanted to eat but also because he was excited for JJ to get home. When that door finally opened, Jae Sun stood from the table and went right to the door.

"아빠의 집!" (appaui jib/Daddy's home!) Jae Sun said as he approached. JJ smiled and picked Jae Sun up into his arms while untying and getting out of his shoes.

"Now in English," JJ said.

"Daddy's home," Jae Sun answered.

"Good boy," JJ said and kissed his cheek. "At this rate, you probably speak Korean better than English."

"He's speaks English fine, JJ," Eun Mi said with a smile as she approached and hugged JJ at the door. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," he whispered in her ear. Suddenly he felt something rubbing against his legs and he looked down to see the cat. "Stupid cat."

"I'm sure you're hungry," Eun Mi said. "I made a big dinner for everyone."

"I can see that," JJ chuckled and followed her to the table. "You made stew and that nine delicacies thing?"

"Gujoelpan, and yes, I did," Eun Mi smiled. They sat down at the table together and Jae Sun looked at Eun Mi with pleading eyes.

"이제 먹을 수 있을까요?" (ije meog-eul su iss-eulkkayo?/Can we eat now?) he asked.

"네, 재순, 우리는 먹을 수 있어요," (Ne, Jae Sun, ulineun meog-eul su iss-eoyo/Yes, Jae Sun, we can eat.) Now that he'd gotten permission, everyone started platting up. Jae Sun stayed in JJ's lap through dinner and seemed to be a bottomless pit.

"You starve this kid all day or something?" JJ joked.

"He's been watching Eun Mi cook all day, so he's just eager for dinner," Yon said.

"He tried to steal a Chapssal-tteok before dinner," Eun Mi said.

"You can have some after dinner," JJ said and patted Jae Sun's head.

Ultimately, JJ and Jae Sun wound up eating so much dinner that they couldn't even think about eating the desserts. JJ promised he'd eat them later and he and Jae Sun just went to sleep in the living room on some pillows they had. Deciding not to bother them, Eun Mi kept Yon and Tae Woon entertained until they left for the evening. She collected all the food and made sure it would be ready to eat in the morning for breakfast. Once she was done, she just laid in bed next to JJ and Jae Sun and fell asleep beside them. When she finally woke up that morning, Jae Sun and JJ were already awake and eating last night's leftovers; specifically the Chapssal-tteok they didn't have enough room for the night before.

"Mama's awake!" Jae Sun announced and went to Eun Mi to hug her.

"좋은 아침 재순," (joh-eun achim Jae Sun/Good morning Jae Sun) Eun Mi said and yawned a little. "Why didn't you wake me?" she asked JJ.

"You had a long day yesterday and I didn't want to wake you," JJ smiled. Eun Mi sat up from the pillows and went to the table sitting beside JJ. "So guess what Jae Sun's telling me."

"What?"

"He told me about how you started selling some old clothes," JJ said. "I thought we'd save Jae Sun's clothes for the next baby."

"It's just to raise a little more money. I didn't get together as much as I would have liked by this time. I'll keep selling candy and Makgeolli to make up the rest, but it looks like I'll be doing it until it's time to leave."

"How much does it cost to send the fleabag to America?"

"The lowest quote I got was $120," Eun Mi said, finally giving JJ a number after not telling him for so long. "I have about $72 now, so I've still got a ways to go."

"So $48 more?" JJ asked. Eun Mi nodded and JJ groaned and rubbed his face. He looked at Popo meanly. "You're more money than you're worth, fleabag." Popo was licking himself when JJ said that and, almost as if a sarcastic answer, Popo lifted his leg and started cleaning between his legs. "Smart ass," JJ muttered.

"I might be able to raise the price of the Makgeolli a bit, but I can't raise it too high or no one will buy it," Eun Mi said.

"Especially if they can just get it from a store," JJ said.

"They actually don't sell it in stores. It's something you either make yourself or you get from someone who makes it."

"Well, shit, then charge as much as you want," JJ grumbled. He rubbed his face again and looked at Eun Mi again. "You said $48?"

"Yeah," Eun Mi nodded. JJ sighed heavily and stood to go to their room. A moment later, JJ came out with a small wad of cash and extended it to her which took Eun Mi by surprise.

"Dumb cat's more trouble than he's worth," he said. "Honestly. For how hard you're working, people must think I'm a bad husband that doesn't take care of you."

"That's not true, JJ," Eun Mi protested but accepted the money with a light smile. "I have a little poster I use that tells all about Popo. People know they're donating to my cat fund. Most think it's funny."

"Sure they do," JJ grumbled and kept eating his breakfast. Eun Mi laid her head against her shoulder.

"Thank you, JJ," she said.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," JJ mumbled. "Don't ever let it be said I don't love you."

"We keep Popo?" Jae Sun asked eagerly.

"Yes, Jae Sun, we keep the fleabag," JJ said and Jae Sun cheered and hugged JJ. "This is emotional blackmail I tell you."

"If you say so, JJ," Eun Mi giggled and kissed his cheek.

Since she now had the money to do so, Eun Mi made the arrangements to have Popo transported to Washington. She made a call to Natalie asking her if Nesia would be so kind as to look after Popo until they all got back home. An offer Nesia graciously accepted. So Eun Mi used the money she'd earned from selling the last of the Makgeolli and beet candy to buy a cat carrier that the vet was kind enough to give her for a reduced price since it was used and sent Popo on his way as soon as she'd paid the fee, relayed any additional instructions and sent Popo to Washington. Once Popo was gone, the house immediately seemed too quiet. She'd gotten used to his loud meowing and purring so not having it around was strange.

"It's so quiet without Popo," Eun Mi said when she and JJ had gone to bed the night after she'd gotten him on the boat.

"Yes, it is," JJ smiled. Eun Mi slapped his chest but ultimately snuggled up to him.

"Admit it: you miss him too. You've gotten used to him sitting on your lap when you're outside enjoying a drink."

"'Used to it' does not imply 'liking it'. I 'got used to' sleeping on the floor but I can assure you that I do not like it."

"We'll get a mattress and bed frame then," Eun Mi said. "We've still got time before we leave."

"How much is that going to cost me?"

"Seeing as you're the one complaining about it, I'd say you're in no position to complain about the cost," Eun Mi teased.

"Is that an attitude I'm sensing, Eun Mi? Because if it is, I can always demand you pay me back the $48 I forwarded to send that fleabag to America."

"You know I'm teasing," Eun Mi said.

"I know," JJ smiled back and kissed her. "I have Saturday off, so we'll go into Seoul together and see what we can find. We may want to go ahead and get a bed for Jae Sun too. By the time we come back he'll need it."

"I agree," Eun Mi said. "We'll keep the crib, though. The new baby will need it next we're here."

"I know," JJ said with a small grin and then pressed his lips to hers again.

Their last few weeks in Korea were a little sad for Eun Mi. She really did love their little house and she loved being so close to Yon. She took comfort, at least, in the fact that they would come back soon. She'd promised Yon it would be after she and JJ had their second child, she would be in Korea the following summer. JJ agreed he'd spend two weeks in Korea but since he'd be returning to working at the General Store that would be all the time he could spare. Eun Mi intended to spend at least three months in Korea however. JJ promised he'd be alright with that so long as she did eventually come home and also so long as she promised to miss him while they were apart.

JJ would receive his retirement plaque signed by President Eisenhower once they'd returned to Washington. He had his date and time that he would need to report to the base in Washington where it would be presented to him and he'd officially be a retired. Thankfully, he got the date to be in February so they could do everything they'd wanted before returning home. Their last day in their little house was a much larger affair than JJ had anticipated. She'd become very good friends with a number of the villagers and they wanted to have a going away party for her and JJ. So they cleared a spot outside, made sure there were controlled fires around so they could all keep warm and put together a giant feast. Despite not being able to really speak to anyone seeing as everyone was speaking Korean, JJ really enjoyed the festivities and even felt at home. Once they'd returned home that evening, Yon helped Eun Mi finish with any last minute packing and then the next morning, Yon and Tae Woon saw them off.

"Promise to write as soon as you've returned home. And let me know as soon as you find out you're pregnant. It'll tell me when to expect you," Yon told Eun Mi while they hugged.

"I will," Eun Mi promised. "I'll send you pictures from JJ's retirement ceremony once I'm able."

"I look forward to it," Yon said. Eun Mi went to Tae Woon and hugged him as well while JJ hugged Yon.

"Thanks for everything, Yon. You made this a lot easier."

"I'm happy to have helped," Yon smiled. "You take good care of Eun Mi as you've been doing. And seeing as Jae Sun has determined my husband and I to be his grandparents, I shall take my liberties to demand more grandchildren."

JJ laughed, "Don't worry. There will be more to come." JJ went to Tae Woon next and shook his hand. "It was a pleasure, Tae Woon. Until we see you again."

"Until then," Tae Woon bowed a little and JJ did the same thing. Jae Sun hugged Yon and Tae Woon for a moment saying goodbye to them and asking why they weren't coming with. Yon promised Jae Sun that maybe one day she and Tae Woon would come to America to visit but, until then, Jae Sun would see them next they came to Korea.

Once they were all in the car, they drove away while Eun Mi waved goodbye to Yon and Tae Woon until they were no longer in sight. They went to Seoul to return the car, got on the next train to Port Pusan and got on the boat to Japan. They then had to get onto another train that would take them back to Camp Zama. They'd be staying in a hotel near the base unless Yoshiko offered to let them stay with her and her husband. Eun Mi suspected she would insist on the later and told JJ not to worry about a hotel just yet. Altogether, they were either on a train or a boat for the next three days so when they finally arrived in Sagamihara, they were nearly too relieved for words. They hailed a taxi that took them to the base. JJ carried most of the luggage and Jae Sun insisted he wanted to carry his own suitcase even though it was nearly twice his size. Eun Mi still helped him but it was with one of her extensions so Jae Sun wouldn't see it. They went to the unit where Yoshiko lived and waited a moment after knocking on the door, but the woman that answered was not Yoshiko. She was a blonde women a little taller than Eun Mi.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

"I'm sorry, we must have the wrong unit. Can you remind me which unit is Yoshiko Holloway's?"

"Yoshiko? Oh, yes, I know who you mean. She isn't living on base. If I remember correctly, her husband is deployed right now. I think he's doing a tour of Vietnam or something. He was deployed in April if I remember correctly. Mrs. Holloway's living with her brother and mother up in Tokyo."

"You wouldn't happen to have the address would you? We're friends of hers and we're visiting before we return to the states."

"It's alright, JJ. I know where it is," Eun Mi said.

"You do?" JJ asked.

"I've been there once, so I know where to go. Thank you for your time," Eun Mi bowed to the woman at the door.

"Glad to be of assistance. And tell Mrs. Holloway Jane Myers said hello."

"We will," Eun Mi said and they left the complex with their things.

"Well, shit. Now we have to get another taxi to the train station."

They eventually managed to get another taxi and took the train up to Tokyo. From there, JJ just followed Eun Mi's lead. They got off the train just outside of Tokyo proper where some more traditional homes still stood and they took a very, very long walk from the station down several mostly dirt streets until they happened upon a little house that Eun Mi recognized. Eun Mi stepped forward and gently knocked on the door and an older woman, Yoshiko's mother, answered the door. Eun Mi bowed to the woman respectfully.

"こんにちは。 私たちは美子のためにここにいます,"(Kon'nichiwa. Watashitachiha Yoshiko no tame ni koko ni imasu / Good afternoon. We're here for Yoshiko) Eun Mi said.

"ああ、はい、来てください,"(Ā, hai, kite kudasai/Oh, yes, please come in) the woman said and stepped aside so Eun Mi and JJ could enter. They removed their shoes while the woman called for Yoshiko who appeared at the door just as they stepped over the threshold.

"Eun Mi!" Yoshiko smiled and hugged Eun Mi. "How are you? It's been so long."

"It has," Eun Mi agreed. "It's a good thing you showed me how to get here otherwise we'd never be able to find you. Jane Myers says hello by the way."

"She's a very nice woman," Yoshiko said.

"She said that the Lieutenant is stationed in Vietnam?" JJ asked.

"Yes, he's going to be there until February," Yoshiko lamented. "I wanted to go with him, but he was rather adamant against it. His exact wording isn't appropriate for little Jae Sun's ears, but he was opinionated to say the least."

"Sounds like your husband," JJ joked. "I hope we aren't intruding."

"No, no, not at all," Yoshiko reassured. "Do you have a place to stay? How long will you be here?"

"We were planning to stay at least a week," Eun Mi said. "We haven't found a hotel to stay at yet."

"No, of course not. No hotel," Yoshiko said just as Eun Mi suspected she would. "You can stay here with us."

"That's so sweet of you, Yoshiko. Your mother won't mind will she?"

"No, of course not," Yoshiko insisted. "Come, I'll take you to where you can sleep and you can put your things away." Yoshiko led them through the single floor until they reached a room with one futon. "This is where Helen and I sleep. There's plenty of room for you as well. I just need to grab the spare futon."

"Thank you for letting us stay here, Yoshiko. If we're intruding, you really don't have to," Eun Mi continued.

"Of course you're not intruding. It's my pleasure," Yoshiko insisted. She went to one of the closets and slid that open to get the spare futons. While she did, Helen finally made an appearance and she had grown a few inches since last Eun Mi saw her. Her hair was the same jet black she remembered but the little girl still favored her father. "Helen, there you are. Don't be rude. Welcome our guests." As she would be expected, Helen came closer and then bowed her head.

"ようこそ我が家へ,"(Yōkoso wagaya e/Welcome to our home) Helen said in her tiny voice.

"ご親切にありがとうございました,"(Go shinsetsu ni arigatōgozaimashita/Thank you for your kindness) Eun Mi answered and bowed back, instructing JJ and Jae Sun to do the same.

"Helen, Corporal Dauer does not speak Japanese, so make sure you're speaking English when you address him."

"That's Sergeant Dauer now. Not that it matters all the much since I'm retiring, but it's still a nice boost," JJ smiled.

"Oh, forgive me," Yoshiko said. "Helen, make sure you address the Sergeant appropriately when you speak to him as well. Understood?"

"Yes, mama," Helen nodded. Yoshiko finished retrieving the futon and set them up in the bedroom while JJ got all their suitcases put away.

Yoshiko showed them around the little house and dinner was ready in time for them to have seen the whole house. Jae Sun was extremely shy since he was around so many new people and cuddled up to Eun Mi the entire time. Akihiko ended up coming home about that time that dinner was served and he was surprised to see JJ and Eun Mi. Their mother told Akihiko to sit down for dinner and welcome their guests. He was still extremely uncomfortable around Eun Mi even now, but he managed.

"I didn't realize you were in town," Akihiko said to JJ.

"We just arrived," JJ said. "We'll only be here the week. Yoshiko was kind enough to let us stay."

"Jae Sun," Eun Mi said to the boy, "This is the man that made those comics for you that you like so much."

"You made those?" Jae Sun asked Akihiko, suddenly feeling less shy.

"Yes," Akihiko said a little bashfully. "It's just something I do to keep myself busy."

"Can you show me?" Jae Sun said all while scooting over to Akihiko with eager eyes.

"I…I suppose I could," Akihiko said. "I mean, it's not really something I can 'show'. Either you can do it or you can't."

"Akihiko," Yoshiko said, "臆病にならないでください。 少年に描くように教えてください." (Okubyō ni naranaide kudasai. Shōnen ni kaku yō ni oshietekudasai/Don't be shy. Teach the boy to draw). "Oh," Yoshiko continued. "Teach him to draw Koro-Koro."

"Yes!" Jae Sun agreed and cheered.

"Sure," Akihiko mumbled a little and went to grab a pencil and some paper. Jae Sun hovered over Akihiko watching him work. He was extremely uncomfortable with how close the boy was, but Akihiko kept it to himself. "Now you try," he said after he finished, handing the pencil to Jae Sun.

"Does he even have the motor skills to replicate that?" JJ teased.

"He can at least try," Eun Mi said and petted Jae Sun's head encouragingly. She kept her hands, extensions or otherwise, to herself from there allowing Jae Sun to work on his own. The bird he drew was a far cry from the quality of Akihiko's however and Jae Sun was disappointed.

"Mine isn't as good," Jae Sun simpered.

"It only takes practice," Akihiko reassured.

"Can you draw Popo?"

"I beg pardon?" Akihiko asked.

"He's talking about the fleabag," JJ groaned.

"The what?" Akihiko asked.

"He's asking you to teach him how to draw a cat," Eun Mi said. "Popo's the name of the cat we adopted."

"I thought you hated cats," Akihiko said to JJ.

"I was overruled," JJ said and irritably took a big bite of his rice.

"Well," Akihiko said, "describe Popo and I'll draw him."

Jae Sun walked Akihiko as best he could through Popo's appearance but Eun Mi had to frequently step in to help. Eventually he got the cat drawn and Jae Sun loved it, proclaiming it looked just like Popo. He proceeded to try copying it. His drawing still wasn't as good, but unlike with Koro-Koro, he didn't let it discourage him and he kept trying. This time, Akihiko taught him little tricks for keeping the picture center and he wound up staying up with the boy well past his bedtime showing him how to draw different animals and other little ticks for improving his technique. Jae Sun ended up falling asleep practicing, so Akihiko brought Jae Sun to Yoshiko's room where they all were getting ready for bed.

"I hope it's alright that he was awake so late," Akihiko said.

"It's alright," Eun Mi said and accepted Jae Sun from him. He flinched a little out of pure reflex, but he calmed himself down.

"He needs practice, but he's talented."

"Thank you for keeping him entertained," Eun Mi said and then bowed. Akihiko eventually bowed nervously before going down the hall to his own room.

"Please forgive him," Yoshiko said. "He's still a little nervous around you."

"It's fine," Eun Mi said. "We can always find a hotel if it would be more comfortable."

"No, don't be silly," Yoshiko insisted. "Don't worry about Akihiko. He was just surprised to see you. He'll adjust in no time."

"Alright," Eun Mi said.

They all finally went to bed for the night and woke the next morning to the smell of breakfast. As a means of saying thank you, Jae Sun insisted he make Suran for Akihiko and, having been explained what that was, accepted the gesture. He even allowed Jae Sun to taste some of his despite Eun Mi's scolding. While they were eating, Jae Sun was staring at Akihiko, specifically his scar that caused him to be blind in his left eye.

"What's that?" Jae Sun asked innocently, pointing at Akihiko's scar.

"Jae Sun!" Eun Mi said, "너 무례한거야." (neo mulyehangeoya/You are being rude). "I'm very sorry about that," Eun Mi said to Akihiko.

"It's alright," Akihiko answered and then looked at Jae Sun. "This was from my time in the army back when Japan had an army. I was hit with shrapnel and it caused this scar. I can't see in this eye."

"Does it hurt?"

"Not anymore," Akihiko managed to laugh just a little. "It did at the time, but it doesn't hurt anymore."

"Why doesn't Japan have an army anymore?" Jae Sun asked.

"그 주제는 아침 식탁에서 용납되지 않습니다," (geu jujeneun achim sigtag-eseo yongnabdoeji anhseubnida/That topic is not acceptable at the breakfast table) Eun Mi scolded Jae Sun.

"What?" Akihiko asked.

"I'm telling Jae Sun that is not an acceptable topic of conversation," Eun Mi repeated in English.

"All you need to know is Japan and America were at war with one another and at the end of the war, one of the conditions for peace was disbanding the Japanese army," JJ said to Jae Sun.

"Did grandpa fight Japan?" Jae Sun asked.

"No," JJ said. "Your grandpa fought in Europe. Specifically he fought in France. Your grandpa helped liberate Paris."

"Where is France and Paris?" Jae Sun asked.

"Paris is the capitol of a country called France in Europe," JJ said.

"I'll show you," Akihiko said and drew a little map for Jae Sun. It was a little off since it was from memory, but he did get the placement of the countries right more or less and pointed out France. "This is France."

"Did you fight there, daddy?" Jae Sun asked and JJ smiled a little.

"No, I didn't," JJ said. "I was too young at the time. The Allies fought in Europe and Japan during the Second World War. I fought in the Korean War. That's how your mother and I met."

"Did America win?"

"Not…exactly," JJ started and ended, unsure how to explain the subject. "To be honest, no one won. It's not even over technically. North and South Korea are still at war. It's just a bit of a…" he trailed off, again at a loss for words. While WW2 had become the beckon of Good Guy vs. Bad Guy and having a very clear, very unquestioning victor, the war in Korea was considerably more muddled. "That's not a subject for breakfast either."

"Jae Sun," Akihiko said and got Jae Sun's attention. "How about you help me make another comic? It can be about Popo."

"Okay!" Jae Sun said and everyone was relieved for Akihiko's distraction.

Eun Mi told Akihiko how Popo came to be in their care and the process of convincing JJ to allow them to keep the cat and, with that story, Akihiko knew exactly what he wanted to do and walked Jae Sun through it, having Jae Sun help with the dialogue portion. Popo was depicted as speaking Korean so Eun Mi used the opportunity to introduce Jae Sun to Hangul. As he'd been with the previous story that involved the crow, JJ was depicted as a giant pair of boots which he was not the least bit fond of, but he said nothing since Jae Sun found it funny. Eun Mi joined Yoshiko, Helen and Yoshiko's mother into town for some grocery shopping later that day while JJ and Jae Sun stayed with Akihiko so Jae Sun could practice drawing more. Midday after a little lunch, JJ brought Jae Sun to the room they were using and put him down for a nap.

"Daddy," Jae Sun said, "How did you and mommy meet?"

"Oh boy," JJ said with a small laugh. "You want a story before your nap?" Jae Sun nodded eagerly, so JJ laid down next to him. "Okay. Your mother and I met in a North Korean POW camp."

"What's a POW camp?"

"POW stands for Prisoners of War," JJ said. "I'd been shot while we were fleeing from the enemy after North Korea had gotten reinforcements from China. Got shot right here," JJ pointed at his neck.

"Did it hurt?"

"Oh fuck me, yes it did," JJ said and then stopped a moment. "Don't tell your mother I said that in front of you. But yes, it did hurt. In fact, I was paralyzed. At least I'm assuming I was. I couldn't feel anything and I couldn't breathe."

"You're all better now," Jae Sun patted JJ and he chuckled.

"Yes, I'm all better now," JJ said. "You see, before I left, a blue bird brought this to my window." JJ pulled out Taha Aki's tooth and showed it to Jae Sun. "This is the wolf tooth of your ancestor Taha Aki. When I was shot and near death, the tooth started beating and became very warm. Then I saw a white wolf appear. When I finally woke up, I wasn't hurt anymore but I was being taken in by the North Koreans."

"Was it scary?"

"Very scary," JJ said. "It was me and five of my comrades that were taken to that camp. One of them was Korean so he wasn't imprisoned but the rest of us were kept in a big tiger cage. And the man that was brought in to question us was Officer Lee Dae Hyun. Never will I forget that assh-, I mean, that man's name."

"Was he mean?"

"He was very mean," JJ said "But he did do something worthwhile. You see, your mother was in his company when he came to that camp. That's how your mother and I met. I saw her at the other end of camp holding pots with those invisible hands she has and then our eyes met."

"Did you and mommy get married right away?"

"Not exactly," JJ smiled. "It was a little over a year before we got married. Your mother and I met December of 1950 and we were married March 26th, 1952. When I met your mother, she was still very loyal to North Korea."

"Mommy was bad?"

"No," JJ smiled gently and patted Jae Sun's head. "If you want the honest truth, her superiors found out your grandma Chin Sun was very sick. They also found out about your mother's power. They promised they'd cure your grandma if she served them, but they didn't. She was too sick and the doctor couldn't help her, so your mother insisted she be with her mother until she passed away. Only then would she be completely loyal to them. You never got to meet your Grandma Chin Sun but your mother speaks very lovingly of her. It really hurt your mother when she died. That took a toll on her. Her commanding officers took advantage of your mother and it took time for your mother to be comfortable with me.

"I'm not sure how I did it, but Jun – you remember Jun right?" Jae Sun nodded. "Okay, good. He'd been captured with us and since he was Korean, he wasn't seen as a prisoner so much as a 'rescued' brother. Anyway, Jun helped a lot. He realized your mother had felt something for me even if she didn't really understand it at the time, so he kept talking to her and helping us convince her to help us escape. When we finally escaped, she was caught helping us so I took her with us. I'd intended to anyway, but after your mother was shot, I couldn't leave her that way. I wouldn't have left your mother there."

"Was mommy mad when you took her?"

"She was at first," JJ said. "It was a culture shock for her. Your mother went from a damn sweat shop and then being forced to fight for the Republic to South Korea under heavy political reform and working at a M.A.S.H as a cook."

"What's North Korea like?"

"A shit-hole," JJ said. He stayed stone faced as he looked at Jae Sun who started giggling.

"You said a bad word," Jae Sun said.

"I won't apologize," JJ smiled again. "But anyway, once your mother had adjusted, she got comfortable with being in South Korea. I'm pretty confident she prefers it."

"Mommy's happy now?"

"Yes," JJ said confidently. "She's very happy. Now get to sleep. If you don't take a nap, you'll have to go to bed early tonight and I know you don't like doing that."

Rather dramatically, Jae Sun closed his eyes and pulled the covers over his head. He opened one eye to see if JJ was still looking and made JJ laugh. He told Jae Sun again to go to sleep and left the room so Jae Sun could take his nap in peace. The following day, Helen insisted she wanted to go to the park, so everyone made the walk to the park that was a few blocks away from the house. When they arrived, there were a few children there in their heavier coats while most of the mothers, including Yoshiko's mother, were in their winter kimonos with a heavy wrap of some nature on their shoulders. Eun Mi joked that she and Yoshiko, being in western dresses with their own heavy coats, were a little underdressed for the park. They stayed on the outskirts of the park while Jae Sun ran around playing with the other children. However, he quickly discovered all the other children seemed to only know Japanese and Helen was only speaking Japanese. So Jae Sun went off by himself to play without the other kids. Eun Mi kept a distance but followed him to make sure he was safe. Yoshiko was prepared to scold Helen for leaving Jae Sun out, but he seemed to be having fun making a snowman on his own so she didn't say anything.

While Jae Sun was building his snow man, JJ was taken by surprise when an overwhelmingly sweet smell started to fill the air. He looked in the direction the smell was coming from and saw a woman with hair done up with an immaculate bun, jet black hair and a traditional umbrella. She wore a winter kimono and a fur shawl and by her side was a little girl. Unlike the woman, the little girl clearly had a hue of color to her cheeks. The little girl was also in a winter kimono but she wore a heavy coat over it. The little girl left the woman's side to go play and the woman stayed back preferring the shade even though she had an umbrella to keep her covered. JJ noticed her red eyes in an instant, but she seemed to make a point to look down as if to avoid anyone seeing her eyes. JJ made a point to keep tabs on the woman just in case, but she seemed to stay in one spot not bothering anyone, so JJ left her alone. He got apprehensive again when the little girl that came with that woman seemed to approach Jae Sun after she'd apparently grown bored with the other kids and their play. She seemed to be about five or six years old, but she was barely taller than Jae Sun regardless.

"こんにちは," (Kon'nichiwa) the little girl said to Jae Sun. He looked up at her a little surprised. "あなた自身で雪だるまを造っていますか？" (Anata jishin de yukidaruma o tsukutte imasu ka?)

"한국어?" (hangug-eo/Korean?) Jae Sun finally asked nervously. Now the little girl was staring at him strangely. "English?" Jae Sun said next.

"いいえ,' (Īe/No) she said. That part Jae Sun had learned, but the rest went over his head. "私の父は、アメリカ人は悪い人だと言います," (Watashinochichi wa, amerikahito wa warui hitoda to iimasu).

"I don't speak Japanese," Jae Sun finally admitted. The little girl looked at him a moment and then finally smiled.

"あなたは面白いです," (Anata wa omoshiroidesu) she giggled and patted Jae Sun's head like he was a puppy. Just as Jae Sun was about to swat at her, the little girl pulled out a few coins from her tiny purse. She put three on the top ball of snow to make a face and then she put one coin on each lower ball for coins. "良い,"( Yoi) she smiled.

That the snowman had a face now made Jae Sun smile and he looked right at Eun Mi. "엄마!" (eomma/mommy!) Jae Sun said and pointed at the snowman. "보기! 그는 얼굴이있다!" (bogi! geuneun eolgul-iissda!/ Look! He has a face!)

Eun Mi smiled, "예 그는 않습니다." (ye geuneun anhseubnida/Yes he does.)

Jae Sun, though having to do so through pantomime, convinced the girl to help him build another snow creature but this time they made a cat. He tried to tell her about Popo, but she didn't understand him most times. JJ noticed in the corner of his eye the woman from earlier started to move along the outskirts of the playground coming closer and closer. JJ slowly got closer to Jae Sun until he noticed JJ approach and stood to tug on JJ's coat.

"Look! She and I made Popo!"

"I thought Popo was white and black," JJ teased, but his eyes kept going between Jae Sun and the woman who seemed to be approaching just a little quicker now, but still at a human's pace.

"You can't make black snow," Jae Sun pointed out with laughter.

"I'll bet you can," JJ said.

"Nah uh," Jae Sun said confidently but then that confidence wavered a little and he looked at the girl. "Can snow be black?"

"ごめんなさい？" (Gomen'nasai?) the little girl said.

"I don't think she speaks English, kid," JJ said and patted Jae Sun's head.

"She doesn't speak Korean either," Jae Sun pouted.

"For shame," JJ joked but looked up at the woman again. She was much closer than before and those red eyes were striking. She seemed to notice something like an unfavorable smell but didn't make much reaction to it.

"Keiko-Chan," the woman said and the little girl turned to look at here. She continued to speak while the little girl gave an answer that the woman seemed to rebuttal.

"Is everything alright, Ma'am?" JJ asked the woman, instinctively holding Jae Sun a little closer. The woman was a little surprised he addressed her, but she kept her head down to avert her eyes despite JJ already noticing them.

"No," then she stumbled, mumbling in Japanese and shook her head, "Yes. I'm sorry. English not good." It was then that Eun Mi finally approached. The moment she noticed the woman's eyes, she also became instantly defensive and she had just about all her extensions surrounding Jae Sun without the boy even noticing.

"こんにちは,"(Kon'nichiwa/Hello) she said politely and even bowed. The woman bowed her head as well.

"こんにちは," (Kon'nichiwa) she answered back. The little girl started speaking to the woman but she seemed to stay firm on her previous point. Once that point had been made, she looked at Eun Mi, bowed gently once again and she walked away with the little girl.

"Why's she going away?" Jae Sun asked.

"They needed to go home was all," Eun Mi said. "It seems they have other plans for the day. That little girl said you were very nice. Keiko I think that woman said the girl's name was."

"I wish she spoke Korean," Jae Sun lamented.

"I know," Eun Mi patted Jae Sun's head.

They stayed at the park for another hour afterwards. Helen played with her friends while Jae Sun found amusement with solitary activities with Eun Mi and JJ close behind him. For the rest of their time in Japan, Jae Sun exhausted Akihiko with teaching him to draw and writing little comics together mostly depicting JJ as giant boots in some manner of disagreement either with Popo the cat or Koro-Koro. On their last day in Japan before they had to make the trip to the coast to make their boat, they all went to the park together again. Helen played with her friends as usual while Jae Sun played by himself. Then the woman from the other day appeared again in a different winter kimono with a different fur shawl but the same umbrella to keep herself out of the sun. The little girl wore her own kimono and heavy coat and started to wander around the playground until she happened upon Jae Sun again. When JJ saw her, he noticed she'd grown since last he'd seen her. Not enough to be noticeable to anyone not paying attention but definitely more than should have been possible in three days. So that's what it was, JJ thought to himself.

"こんにちは,"(Kon'nichiwa/Hello) the little girl said to Jae Sun with a sweet smile. "別の雪だるまを造っていますか？" (Betsu no yukidaruma o tsukutte imasu ka?) Jae Sun stared at her a moment and instantly the little girl was surprised and apologetic for her error. "ごめんなさい。 私はあなたが日本語を話さないことを忘れていました," (Gomen'nasai. Watashi wa anata ga nihongo o hanasanai koto o wasurete imashita.)

"Keiko? Mommy said you are Keiko?"

"Keiko?" She nodded and patted her chest gently. "Keiko."

"Jae Sun," he answered and patted his chest just as she'd done. She giggled and patted his head again.

"可愛い," (Kawaii) she said. She then pantomimed making a snowman and once Jae Sun understood, he agreed and they proceeded to do just that.

JJ continued to keep a close eye on the woman, but she seemed less ill at ease while the little girl, he assumed her daughter, played with Jae Sun. Once they'd built a snowman, Keiko showed Jae Sun how she spelled her name: 恵子. Jae Sun, unsure how to spell his name now that he thought of it, looked in his mother's direction who smiled gently and used a ghostly hand to guide Jae Sun's: 재순. She giggled just a bit when Jae Sun looked so proud of himself. Eun Mi and JJ left them both alone until the woman from before started to get closer and speak to Keiko. The two spoke a moment and Eun Mi overheard the little girl trying to convince the woman to allow them to invite Jae Sun over to play more but the woman told her no but went into no further detail than to say her father would not approve of them doing so. That seemed to make the little girl relent so she said goodbye to Jae Sun as best she could before she walked away with the woman.

"Did you have fun, Jae Sun?" JJ asked once they'd left.

"Keiko was a lot of fun!" Jae Sun cheered.

"That's good to hear," Eun Mi asked and then looked at Yoshiko. "Do you happen to know that woman? The one that stays under the umbrella?"

"Not very well," Yoshiko said. "I tried to be nice but she's a little rude. She will not make eye contact with anyone and she barely speaks if you try to make conversation. Sometimes she keeps her eyes closed altogether. And she is always in the shade or under that umbrella. I've wondered if she's ill but she seems in very fine health from what I can see. I know her name is Hanako Iwamoto. I never did get her husband's name."

"Have they been in the area long?"

"About a year as far as I know," Yoshiko said. "I heard neighbors tried to invite them to the neighborhood but they were always very standoffish and weren't particularly social. I hear Hanako is much more sociable than her husband but she's still not one for idle chatter."

"So you wouldn't know where they moved here from?" JJ asked curiously.

"Someone told me they moved here from Kyoto," Yoshiko said. "I've even heard tale that Hanako's family belonged to a clan of Samurai, but I wouldn't figure that to be true. I highly doubt she told anyone that. It's not unlikely if they're from Kyoto, but I don't know for sure. Keiko seems like a very sweet little girl though. From what I saw on that playground, it looks like Jae Sun already has a lady friend," Yoshiko teased and patted Jae Sun's back.

"It's too early for lady friends," Eun Mi muttered a little but with good humor.

That night they got all their things together and Akihiko was able to get them to the train station after they'd all had breakfast together. Yoshiko said her sorrowful goodbye to Eun Mi and asked that they keep in touch and to call her if they were ever in Japan again. Jae Sun was particularly sad to say goodbye to Akihiko. He'd drawn Jae Sun one last picture depicting Koro-Koro flying away from the island of Japan carrying Popo by the scruff with the cat curled up like a kitten appearing excited for the journey. Eun Mi made sure to give Yoshiko the forwarding address where she could send any letters and they even waved goodbye as Eun Mi and the others got onto the train. By the afternoon they had made it to port where they'd board a ship to Hawaii where they'd end up spending Christmas. It was certainly the warmest Christmas either of them had ever experienced.

On Christmas day, or Jae Sun's birthday, they all went to the beach together and watched as Jae Sun made a big sand castle. He collected sand dollars and shells desiring to keep them as souvenirs and Eun Mi helped him craft all the shells and sand dollars onto a strong string so they could hang it from the ceiling in Jae Sun's room once they returned home. Once he'd finally fallen asleep for the night, Eun Mi and JJ stared out the window of the hotel room at the ocean.

"This is romantic, isn't it?" JJ whispered in Eun Mi's ear while he touched her gently.

"Indeed it is," she answered with a sigh as she tilted her head to one side. They had to be extremely quiet so they didn't wake Jae Sun, but the waves splashing outside the window made the moment more romantic.

After a few days in Hawaii, they got on another boat to California where they got on a train to Utah. Even if it took much, much longer, it was worth it not to have Jae Sun on a plane crying from his ears popping. Thankfully, Jared and his wife knew to expect them, so once they'd arrived in Salt Lake City, they were able to find a bus that went to Ogden where Jared and his wife were living. Once they arrived, JJ called the number Jared had given him when he'd written to him back in December.

"Hadley residence," a woman's voice answered.

"Is this Lisa?"

"Yes, this is Lisa Hadley. JJ, is that you?"

"Yeah, it's me. Eun Mi and I just arrived in Ogden."

"Oh, one second," she said and then called Jared over. He took over the phone call and confirmed where they were. Once he knew the location, Jared was at the station in twenty minutes.

"Hadley!" JJ said.

"Dauer!" Jared and JJ shared a hug and then Jared went on to hug Eun Mi and saw hello to Jae Sun. "You certainly got big. He's two isn't he?"

"Just turned two on Christmas," Eun Mi said.

"The next baby won't be born on a National holiday I hope," Hadley chuckled. "If I didn't know better, I'd think he's taller than John."

"That might not be beyond the realm of possibility," JJ chuckled. "Everyone thinks he's older than he is."

"Can't say I blame them," Hadley chuckled. "Come on; let's get to the house. You three must be exhausted."

"You don't know the half of it," JJ said as they got their luggage in the trunk and then got in the car.

"So how was Korea?" Jared asked once they were in the car.

"The Parallel was a nightmare as it always is, but I got us a little house out in the countryside and it's considerably better."

"You got a house as is you now have a house there permanently?"

"Yeah, I did," JJ said. "You remember Yon, right?" Hadley nodded. "Well, turns out her husband owns a chunk of a rice paddy in that area and when I got in contact with her about me being stationed there for the year, she offered to let us rent a house on their property. Eun Mi loved it and Yon was willing to sell it to me for a pretty fair price. I know Eun Mi will want to go back whenever she can and this will be a lot easier than trying to get a hotel in the city or staying with Yon and her husband."

"Aren't we a generous husband?" Hadley teased.

"Tell him about Popo," Eun Mi smiled.

"Popo? What's a Popo?"

"It's a fleabag Eun Mi saved from a weasel and she's decided we needed to keep this thing in our house as a pet," JJ said.

"I'm not sure I follow," Hadley chuckled a little.

"Popo's a cat," Eun Mi said.

"A cat?!" Hadley started laughing. "Oh God, I might need to pull over. I'm bound to get us in an accident from laughing so hard."

"Popo's a lot of fun!" Jae Sun announced eagerly from the back seat. "He likes to play with string and, sometimes, Popo naps on daddy's chest."

"Aw, that's precious," Hadley kept laughing. "I told you, JJ: if you give a cat a chance, you might like them."

"I never said I liked this cat," JJ said. "I was coerced into letting Eun Mi keep that cat."

"But daddy, you like Popo too," Jae Sun said.

"It's not good to lie, Jae Sun," JJ said.

"But it's true!" Jae Sun protested.

"This is beautiful," Hadley said. "So what's this cat like, Jae Sun?"

"It's black and white and he has half a tail and he meows really, really loud!" Jae Sun then proceeded to meow at the exact pitch and frequency as Popo.

"He's really that loud?"

"He is, I'm afraid," Eun Mi giggled.

"And you saved him from a weasel?"

"I did," Eun Mi nodded. "He couldn't have been more than a few months old or so. A weasel was attacking him so I hit it with a broom until it went away. Popo was in horrible shape so I brought him to a man in the village that treated all the livestock and I thought Popo would stay with him and that would be the end of it. But Popo kept coming back."

"And you started feeding him and petting him and giving him attention and then letting him in the house," JJ said.

"Yeah, that'll keep a cat coming back," Hadley laughed. "So you got suckered into being a cat person, eh JJ?"

"I'm not a cat person," JJ practically growled.

"Alright, you're not a cat person," Hadley chuckled again.

During their time in Utah, Hadley and JJ spent a good chunk of it hiking with John and Jae Sun. The trails were spectacular and perfect for site seeing and Jae Sun loved every minute of it. It was on those trails that JJ and Hadley would really talk and reminisce and even tell John and Jae Sun more about their shared time in Korea. They were always exhausted when they returned but they always did it all over again the next day. Hadley picked a good time to take a few days off work. At the end of their week in Ogden, they got on a train after saying goodbye, JJ and Hadley promised to continue to keep in touch, and JJ and the others took the train to Washington. It was well into January by the time they finally returned home. This time, the entire family was at the train station to welcome them home. When JJ saw Birdie, the kid had shot up to the about the size of a seven year old and a tall one at that.

"Well, look at you, Birdie," JJ said when the boy hugged him.

"Welcome home," Birdie said.

"I swear you were taller the last time I saw you," JJ said and Birdie punched JJ's hip playfully. "You keep that up, you won't get the present I got for you."

"JJ," Natalie said, "I swear if you got him another I'm going to scream."

"I'll save it for home, then," JJ chuckled.

"What is it?!" Birdie asked eagerly, already extremely excited.

"You heard what mom said. I can't in good conscience give you your present now and disrupt the entire train station."

"Damn it, JJ," Natalie sighed and rubbed her face while Suerro smiled a little.

"Come on, mom, can JJ please give me my present?" Birdie asked.

"Go ahead," Natalie groaned. With her approval, JJ located the right suitcase and went to a specific pocket pulling two frames and a box. He handed them to Birdie so he could tear away the paper to reveal them one by one. The first was a Papilio Macilentus or Long Tailed Butterfly with a 12 cm wingspan and deep black wings with red circles at the tips of the wing. The next was a Praying Mantis that was brown all over save for its green wings. The last one was a frame of a General Beetle that had a long strangely shaped horn on its face and was black all over.

"Wow," Birdie said as he gawked at all the bugs.

"I thought you might appreciate those," JJ said and ruffled Birdie's hair.

"So how was the trip this time along?" Suerro asked.

"Much better. Longer, but much better," JJ said. He saw Hailey in the group of people and went over to the man to hug him. "Hey, Uncle Hailey."

"It's good to finally have you home. For good this time," Hailey said. "I expect you back on Monday."

"Tomorrow's Monday," JJ said.

"You should have gotten back sooner," Hailey said and JJ laughed.

"You're right, Uncle Hailey. I'm sorry," JJ joked. "Was Salem that bad at my job?"

"I did your job just fine, thank you," Salem said with a smile. "But you can have your job back. You won't hear a peep of complaint from me."

"Good, get used to that," JJ said. "I can't speak for the Navy, but I would assume just like the Army they don't take complaints openly."

"I wouldn't think so," Salem chuckled and hugged his brother.

"I get my retirement plaque in February. Wait to sign up until then?" JJ said.

"Sure, I'll wait until then," Salem agreed.

When they finally returned home to their house, they all just went to bed. That was, of course, after Popo welcomed them home in his own way. He'd been somewhere in the house and when they opened the door, they heard this very long and loud meow coming downstairs. As Popo got closer to the door, his meow kept getting jumbled from him bouncing down the stairs. Popo went straight to Eun Mi who welcomed the cat with open arms and gave his head little kisses. She got down to Jae Sun's level so he could pet the cat and be welcomed home, but JJ opted to go straight upstairs and plopped onto the bed. It was the first time JJ had been in his bed since the previous year and it felt really good. He didn't even care that Popo had determined in acceptable to sleep at the end of the bed with him and Eun Mi. He'd voice his complaints about that later.

As promised, he was back at the General Store the next day and everyone welcomed him back with open arms. When February came and it was time to get his plaque, the family made the trip to the base in Seattle where JJ was handed his retirement discharge certificate signed by Ike himself. It was after he'd received his plaque and was officially retired that Eun Mi told JJ she was pregnant, having found out just the other day. She consulted Kyle about it to be sure, but the moment she noticed a tiny bump forming and she realized that she was starting to like food again, she knew. And that same day, Salem got himself signed up for the Navy and he would have a few days before he'd be sent to basic training. He'd be sent to the Naval base just north of Chicago at the base on the Great Lakes.

"I can't believe how long it's been since I've lived in Chicago," Renesmee said to Salem. "You'll have to tell me how much it's changed since then. In fact, we'll have to come visit you so we can see for ourselves."

"I would just assume you'd do that," Salem said. "Do you miss Chicago?"

"Not really," Renesmee said, "At least not the Chicago I remember. I'm sure it's leagues better than it was, but back when I lived in Chicago, it had just gotten over a fire and a serial killer and the meat packing industry made the whole city stink. The snow would hide dead bodies all winter and then in the summer they'd get warm again and just pop."

"Sounds inviting," Salem joked.

"Like I said: I'm sure it's far better than it was," Renesmee reassured again.

"I would certainly hope so," JJ said. "So what exactly will basic training entail? Teaching you how to swim?"

"I assume they expect me to know how to do that already," Salem said. "Luckily for them, I do already know how to swim."

"Okay, great, so you don't need to undergo any basic training," JJ said.

"Shut up, JJ, yes I do," Salem laughed. "I'll tell you all about it when it's done. Maybe if I'm lucky I can be stationed here in Washington once I've completed basic training. I'd be in the city granted, but at least I'd be home."

"Wishful thinking, but I wouldn't count on it," JJ said. "They'll likely ship you off somewhere before you get to pick where you're stationed. I'd figure they'll ship you off to Japan, Korea or Vietnam. On the bright side, nothing's really going on that would cause concern, so you should be fine. Maybe you'll get lucky and be in the states, but I wouldn't figure you'd be in Washington."

"We'll just have to wait and see," Salem said. "From what you remember of Japan, I wouldn't mind going there."

"You probably won't see a damn bit of it if you have to be on the submarine," JJ said. "It just depends how long you're there. At least you'll still be in the states for basic training."

"And taking tests apparently," Salem said.

"Wait, what?" JJ, Kevin, Embry, Peta and Travis all said practically in unison.

"Yup," Salem said, "the recruiter warned me that the Navy is a lot more classroom intensive than any of the other branches of the military so the more studying I can do beforehand the better. He gave me the titles of a few books I could check out before I arrive and he even gave me a card I could use to get these books for a cheaper price."

"We never had to take any God damn tests," Embry said. "All they told us was if it's German, shoot it."

"Sure, but think about what was required in the Army compared to the Navy," Kyle said. "Our equipment was usually guns and tanks. Salem's going to need to learn how to operate a submarine. I'd wager that's a big jump in cost to maintain the equipment not to mention how to actually operate the damn thing. That's a multi-man job to say the least and each man is responsible for a different part of its operation. We're talking about each tank having a mini-military in each sub."

"Also," Salem said with a light chuckle, "the recruiter asked everyone if they can swim. First thing he asked. I overheard one guy say he didn't know how to swim and the man said 'learn or you will have to get the "kiddy pool" and trust me you don't want that'." The table had a small laugh. "I may be doing a lot of swimming the next few days just to be sure."

"I'd suggest it," Kyle chuckled.

"I feel a little bad. I can't give you any worthwhile advise," Embry said. "I'm positive you'll learn position of attention first thing. That's the first thing they taught us. And of course to shut up and not speak unless asked a question. And for your reference, it's never a rhetorical question. Even if he's being condescending, you answer your commanding officer."

"And don't eat my sweet potato past breakfast time, right?" Salem asked and the whole group laughed.

"You'll never live that down, Embry," Kevin laughed.

"Fine," Embry glowered, "that's the last advice you'll get from me."

"It's okay, Embry," Heather said reassuringly while patting his shoulder. "I like sweet potatoes too."

"You weren't forced to run five miles for eating one," Embry said.

"I can run five miles!" Heather said and got off her chair. "Daddy," she looked at Kevin, "how many times around grandma and grandpa's house makes five miles?"

"Well, Heather," Kevin said, trying not to laugh, "it's roughly 700 feet to go around the house and there are 5280 feet in one mile. So to make one mile you'd have to run around the house 7 and a half times. In order to run five miles, you'd have to run around the house 37.5 times. Think you're up for it?" In truth, Kevin didn't know the exact size of the house so his measurements were likely completely off, but Heather still seemed confident.

"Okay!" she said. "Evalynn," Heather said and started tugging on her arm to join her. The two of them went outside and Heather counted up to three really loud. When she got to three, she and Evalynn started running.

"Will she be able to keep count?" Embry asked Kevin.

"Eh," Kevin shrugged, "it'll keep them busy for a while. Also, Salem. Another word of advice," Kevin said and got Salem's attention. "Try to be considerate of your Drill sergeant or whatever they're called in the Navy. The poor bastard's probably hard of hearing, so you'll need to yell in order for him to hear you."

Salem laughed, "I'll keep that in mind."