After making an appointment for later in the week, Wheeler and Linka return to his grandparents' house, but they are not home.
"So we should probably tell Gaia to let Katie and 'the other Jason' know that they've been promoted to full time Planeteers," Wheeler says.
"Why Jason too? You will not have to miss any time long term."
"I'm not gonna leave you behind. Someone has gotta stay with you and make sure you're not overdoing it, and they've already been settled in on Hope Island for six months now…I think Gaia already knew this was coming."
"Oh?" She asks.
"Yeah, why else would she have kept them around even after we came back, letting them train with our equipment? Hell, she even built cabins for them."
"True, but there is no guarantee that this is going to work, and even if it does, I still do not think you need to give up your spot on the team."
"I told you before all this started…if you quit, I quit. I won't want to be on the team if you're not there too. Just let me do this. Let me take care of you," he pleads.
"Jason, I will be careful. I promise. I know I will have to take it easy."
"Yeah, but if no one is around to help you when you need something, you'll just go on and do it…or even if we are around, you'll be too proud and stubborn to ask. I know you, Linka."
"So, you are going to follow me around 24/7, being my own personal errand boy?" She asks.
"Well, if you need to label it…yeah," he says stubbornly.
"That could be interesting, actually…you may regret this," she says, giving him a devilish grin.
"I hope so," he smiles back, already imagining the role he will be playing as the doting father.
"Wheeler, wake up," Linka whispers, shaking him slightly.
"Hmmm…" he grumbles, rolling over and pulling the covers up over his head.
"Doctor Slater called."
Hearing this causes him to roll back to face her, but forgetting that he was on a couch, he falls off of it and tumbles onto Linka, who had been kneeling next to him.
She laughs as he scrambles to untangle himself from the blanket that has been wrapped around him as he also tries to keep from crushing her.
"Sorry," he says as he finally gets back to his feet and sits on the couch. "What did he say? Is everything ok?"
"Da…he called to say it worked. Both eggs have been fertilized," she informs him, beaming with happiness.
"That's awesome!" He leans forward to hug her and pulls her up to sit on the couch with him. "So we still have to wait until Thursday to go in?"
"Da."
"It's gonna feel like forever!"
"I know."
"I have an idea…my uncle has a cabin on the lake about a half hour north of here. I'll ask him if we can stay there a few days. It's still close enough to the clinic that we can get there for your appointment, but it will give us something to take our minds off the wait. Plus, Gram and Pap won't notice anything weird. Then after the procedure, you can just relax. If you were here, they might start to wonder why you're in bed so much."
"I will not have to be on bed rest for that long! Just a few hours after the procedure…and maybe just to be safe, I will spend the rest of the day in bed. But the cabin does sound nice."
"Yeah, it does…plus, as much as I love spending time with my grandparents, I kinda miss it being just the two of us."
"Da, me too," she blushes at the admission. "You had mentioned before when we were on our trip that your ideal vacation was a cabin on the lake. Was your uncle's cabin what you had in mind?"
"Not his specifically, but yeah, I guess. When I was a kid, before my Aunt Sharon and Uncle Bill had Joey, they'd take me to the lake with them…more family members who were trying to save me from my own crappy family. I have a lot of great memories from those weekends on the lake…maybe that's why I thought that a lake would be somewhere I'd like to go on our little tour."
"I am sorry we did not get around to it…You must think I am so selfish," she says.
"Hey, no! I never thought that," he says, putting his arm around her. "It's a big world. We got a lot to see. There's no way we could have done it all in one trip…Just means we gotta do it again sometime."
"That will be pretty hard to do with a baby."
"Nah. Bringing a baby along will just add to the adventure," he says brushing his fingers down her cheek.
"You kids are too young to be talking babies already!" Betty says as she enters the living room on her way to the kitchen. "Enjoy your time together first…and besides, if you want children, Jason, that's not going to happen with you sleeping on the couch!"
Linka can't hold back her shocked laugh while Wheeler gasps.
"Gram!"
"Don't 'Gram' me!" She chuckles. "But I wouldn't be surprised if this is all an act. You probably just sneak out here early in the morning so that your grandfather and I think you are behaving."
"It's not! I sleep here. Linka sleeps in the guest room. And nothing is going on between us. Not here, not back home."
"Uh huh…whatever you say dear," she says with a smile, not believing him at all after having walked in on them and seeing the way he was tenderly brushing her cheek and talking about babies.
"Ok, you're gonna believe whatever you want…so I guess I'll just go ahead and fuel the fire even more. I was going to give my dad's brother Bill a call to see if he would mind if we used his cabin for a few days."
"That sounds nice. I'll make breakfast before you head out," Gram says.
"Good news. Uncle Bill doesn't mind at all. Says we'd actually be doing him a favor. With Joey's baseball season starting up, they won't get to go as often as they used to. He's happy that someone will be going out there to check on things."
"Then it is settled. When do you want to go?"
"He said we can stop by his office and pick up the keys on our way there."
Linka insists on cleaning up the plates from breakfast while Wheeler takes his pillow and blanket from the couch back to the bedroom, and then starts gathering his belongings to take to the lake.
"Hey Jase, got a minute?" Don says as he knocks.
"Yeah Pap, what's up?"
"I wanted to talk to you about something before you and Linka leave for the lake," he says.
"Umm, is this gonna be a 'birds and the bees' conversation because I think I'm a little too old for that one."
Don chuckles at his grandson's joke.
"No, I would hope by now you'd be pretty proficient in that subject."
"Pssht…I wouldn't go that far."
"Yeah, right. Like I'm gonna believe that your little trip to the lake isn't so you can get away for some alone time with your girl. Things seem different between you two. Something has changed between now and when you were here at Christmas."
"While it's true that we both said that ever since we returned to Hope Island from our trip, we missed it being just the two of us like it had been…we're NOT going there for the reason you're thinking, you dirty old man!" Wheeler teases. "I had mentioned during our trip that my ideal vacation would be a lake. I guess it was because of all the good memories I had at my Uncle Bill's cabin."
"Well maybe you can make some more good memories when you take Linka."
Wheeler chuckles and shakes his head, no longer bothering to try and convince his grandfather that he and Linka were just friends. He'd actually hoped that his grandfather was right.
"Yeah, maybe."
"I want to give you something to make that happen."
"Oh geez Pap, if you're about to give me condoms, just kill me now. I can't handle the embarrassment!"
"No! You're on your own when it comes to those. I want you to take this with you."
He holds out a box for Wheeler to take.
"What's this?"
"Open it."
Wheeler does as he's told and his jaw drops.
"A ring? Is it an engagement ring?"
Don nods.
"It was your grandmother's. My mother gave it to me to give to her. I want you to have it now."
"What's Gram have to say about that?"
"It was her idea."
"What's she wearing then?"
"She doesn't wear her rings anymore. Her fingers got skinnier as she aged and she was afraid she'd lose it, so it's been in that box for about 10 years now."
"So why are you giving it to me?"
"Because we think it will really bring out your eyes," he says sarcastically. "Are you seriously that oblivious?! Give it to Linka at the cabin. It'll be romantic."
"Pap, we're not a couple. We're JUST friends."
"Well then do something about it! You're pushing 30, and not getting any younger. You like her, right?"
"Yeah. A lot."
"Then tell her that! Stop wasting time…I'd like to be a Great Grandpa someday…someday soon, while your Grandmother is still able to enjoy the little one as well."
Wheeler considers telling his grandfather that may be happening sooner than he was expecting and confess what he and Linka were really doing all these months that they've been coming to New York, but before he could say anything, Linka enters the room. He quickly closes the ring box and slips it into his pocket before she can notice it.
"Kitchen is all cleaned up. I just need to get my things, and I will be ready to go."
"Ok, I'm ready when you are. You sure you're ok with us taking Gram's car, Pap? We can rent one."
"No, don't be silly. She doesn't have a license anymore, so it just sits in the garage. I take it out every once in a while to run it, but I'm considering selling it. You kids use it."
"Thanks," Wheeler says.
"Have a safe trip. Keep him out of trouble, will ya Linka?"
"I will try!"
As Don leaves them to their packing, he looks at Wheeler and mouths, "Tell her."
Wheeler just smiles and nods in acknowledgement.
"Shall we go?" Linka asks as she zips up her bag.
"After you, Beautiful," he replies as he waits for her to go out the door.
"This is beautiful Wheeler! I never thought New York would have so much scenery and rural areas," Linka exclaims as they travel the long driveway leading up to the cabin.
"Yeah, other than the major cities, it's mostly like this. Suburbs and country homes."
"I feel so much more relaxed already."
"Yeah. Late April…spring is in the air. I can't wait to get out on the boat and just float on the lake. You interested in joining me?"
"Da. We can make some sandwiches and have a floating picnic."
"Food and spending time with you…two of my favorite things!"
"I noticed that you put food first," she teases.
"I was just going alphabetically," he responds with a wink.
"Riiiiiight."
After an afternoon on the lake and a quiet dinner inside, they move to the living room to relax on the couch.
"Umm…there is no TV?" She notices.
"Yeah. Never had one here. Most of our time was spent outside fishing, swimming, or going for a walk in the woods and then in the evenings, we'd play games or listen to music. There's a stereo and some CDs. I can put something on, but it's probably all pretty old."
"That is fine. What kind of games did you play?"
"Board games. I can see if they're still in the closet. There are usually a few decks of cards. Games for two players like checkers or chess. Battleship."
"Oh! Yes, Battleship!"
"Really?"
"Da, I like the strategy involved," she says. "And chess would just not be a fair game for you to play against me."
She gives him a wry smile.
"You're gonna turn this into a U.S. versus Russia battle, aren't you."
"I think you beat me to it!"
"It's on, Babe! Just count that as the first of many times that I beat you tonight!" He says as he hands her game board to her. "You can have the red one because…ya know; communism!"
"Ha. Ha. So funny," she replies, rolling her eyes.
After a few hours of playing and an even score of two wins each, they decide to just call it a tie instead of playing a tie breaker.
She stifles a yawn, and he asks if she's ready for bed.
"Da, I did not sleep very well last night. My mind was going nonstop, and I could not shut it down."
"Hopefully you won't have that problem tonight."
"I do not think I will. I feel so much more at ease now," she says.
"Good. Well, we've got two beds, but only one bathroom. Ladies first."
"Thank you. I will not be long."
"Take your time. I picked up some pamphlets at the clinic that I wanna look over and educate myself about what's coming up."
"Ok. Although I think I have memorized them, so if you have any questions…" she laughs nervously.
"It's gonna be alright. Don't worry."
"Keep telling me that?" She asks.
"I will. Whatever you need."
She had no doubt that he would make her feel at ease whenever she started to get nervous.
The cabin had one bedroom with two beds. After she finished showering, she thought that Wheeler had fallen asleep until he rolled over to face her.
"All yours," she says.
He sits up and swings his feet over the edge and onto the floor but hesitates before getting up.
"Linka, I've been thinking…I want you to know…I want to be part of your kid's life."
"You will be. You are a part of my life, therefore if the procedure does work and I am able to get pregnant, nothing will change even if I leave the Planeteers. You all will always be my friends."
"I know…but what I mean is…I just don't want to be 'Uncle Wheeler.' I mean, if it's ok with you…if that's what you choose, I'll accept it, but…I want the kid to know WHO his or her father is. I just…it's your decision of course, but…at some point, they're going to ask about their father, and I think that it would be better if they knew the truth all along. It could really mess them up if they grew up just thinking I was their mom's friend…their 'Uncle Wheeler'…no different than Kwame or Ma-Ti. I want to be part of their life…a bigger part than just someone they get a present from on Christmas and their birthday…because I think that it's important to grow up with the influence of a father…I know you lost your dad when you were young and you turned out ok…and I know I don't really have much of a role model to live up to, but I swear, I'm not like my dad. I would want to be a father."
"You might still have that. There still might be someone out there for you…and I admire your willingness to want to be involved, but as I said before, I do not want you to feel tied down. Your future wife may not like the idea of you having a child with another woman."
He sighs.
"Don't you get it? I don't want kids with anyone else BUT you. If it works and we have one, great. If it works and we're able to have more later, fantastic…"
She interrupts him before he goes any further.
"But what if it does not work at all? If you are with me, then you will never get to be a father."
"Then I don't care. Then so be it. It wasn't meant to be…and all those other clichés. But I know one thing that IS meant to be…you and me. There is no one else in this world for me."
"You do not know that. Look at how much of your life has been spent as a Planeteer, isolated from everyone but the rest of the team…maybe you just have not met her yet."
"But I have. Tell me Linka…do you absolutely NOT have any feelings for me whatsoever? Because if you don't…if you think that there is still someone out there for you and that someone is not me, then just say so. Then, and only then will I give up on you…but as long as you're single and I'm single, I'm going to hold out hope that there's a chance for us."
She didn't think that there was anyone else out there for her. She didn't think there was ANYONE for her, not even Wheeler, even after what he just told her. However, she can't lie to him. But did she really need to answer him? Couldn't he already tell? She can't tell him that she doesn't have feelings for him because not only would she be lying to him, but she'd also be lying to herself, so she says the first thing that comes to her mind.
"Thank you."
As soon as she says it, she feels like it was silly to say…she just didn't know how else to respond. There have been a few times on their world tour that they have had to pretend to be a couple and it always felt so natural…so easy to fall into that 'act.' Her heart wanted her to tell him that he is the only one she wants, and that she's felt that way for a long time. She wants to fall into his arms and kiss him until she can no longer stand and then move to somewhere horizontal so that the ability to stand is irrelevant. His admission that he was going to wait for her was too much for her to comprehend.
He sighs, noting that she has chosen not to answer his question.
"You're welcome."
He grabs his things and heads for the bathroom. She gets into her bed and pretends to be asleep so that when Wheeler comes back out, their conversation won't continue. Continuing it would just end up hurting both of them.
The next morning, they both acted as if the conversation they had last night did not happen, as is generally the case when things get tense between them. She woke up first, as is usual, and made them breakfast. It was the smell of bacon that brought him out of the bedroom.
"Mmm, smells great."
"Perfect timing Yankee…although I am not surprised. Your stomach is the most reliable alarm clock ever!" She says as she puts a plate full of pancakes and bacon in front of him and then joins him at the table.
They continued with their friendly banter as he compliments her on the meal. There was no awkwardness between the two of them, which Linka had feared would be the case after Wheeler's admission and her lack thereof when he asked her to be honest about her feelings.
"I was thinking about what you said about telling Gaia," she says as she sips her coffee.
"Oh yeah? What did you decide?"
"I think you are right."
"Whoa! Stop the presses!"
She was expecting that from him, so she just rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Do not get used to it. It is like leap year…only happens every four years!"
"I'm good with leap year. At least you didn't use Halley's Comet as your analogy! Once every 75 years!"
"That probably would have been more accurate," she teases.
He sticks his tongue out at her.
"So you want to talk to her today?"
"Da. I was going to wait until we knew if it worked, but the more I thought about it, I do not want to give her such short notice."
"Well, she's already got replacements lined up for us, so it's not like it will be a total surprise to her…plus she already knows the future. She knew this was coming before either one of us did."
"So now are you saying I should not even bother her with it?"
"Not at all. Sure, she probably already knows, but I think it would still be good to talk to her about it…for other reasons."
"What other reasons?" She asks.
"Maybe talking to her about it will make you feel better. I'm sure she'll have some words of encouragement…some motherly advice."
"Da…I would like to talk to her…if she can see the future, she can just tell me whether or not I should even pursue this. It could save me some unnecessary stress."
"I don't think she'll go for that, Babe. We're not supposed to know our futures…not definitively anyway," he says.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"We can have an idea of what our future will be like…work to make it close to what we'd like…but knowing for sure could be bad. If you know what's coming, you won't appreciate the surprises…or if you know that bad stuff is coming, you just spend the time leading up to that moment being miserable."
"Good point."
"See! I am right more often than you think!"
"Shocking!"
He makes a face at her and takes his plate to the sink to wash.
"I'll go get dressed, then we can talk to Gaia, ok?"
"Ok," she says nervously.
"Hello Gaia, thank you for coming," Linka says.
"Of course. I'll always be here for you when you summon me."
"We weren't sure how well it would work since we don't have our rings," Wheeler explains.
"Rings or no rings, you will always be my Planeteers. I have a special connection to you…with all of you."
"So you know what has been going on with me? The reason we left on that trip a few months ago and why we took time off now?"
"Yes, I've always known about your condition. I'm actually really impressed with the way you handled it…both of you. That trip you took was a much-needed break for both of you. You came back different."
"Is that good or bad?" Wheeler asks.
"Good. Very good. There was so much growth and change in just those few weeks. It brought you to this. You're truly adults now."
"So you know that I have been seeking medical advice on whether or not I will ever be able to have children?"
"Yes, I am aware. You've had many ups and downs along the way."
"Da…and I have managed to drag Wheeler into this mess with me."
"Pretty sure I volunteered to go through this with you," he corrects her.
She gives him a subtle, but grateful smile. Mother Earth does not miss the exchange.
"But he is not just offering moral support, Gaia. Jason has offered to be the father and I am so grateful that I did not have to look over binders full of genetics and family history of strangers to try to pick one that is perfect."
"She settled on imperfect," Wheeler says, never able to pass up a chance at self deprecation.
"Nyet, I lucked out to have such a wonderful friend. I did not have to search for the perfect specimen. He has always been here."
Gaia quirks an eyebrow, wondering if her Wind Planeteer was finally ready to admit to her Fire Planeteer that she wants him in her life as more than just a teammate and friend, but as a partner for life. She knew they would get there eventually but did not know when. Perhaps sooner than later.
Wheeler, on the other hand, could only focus on one aspect of what Linka was saying. Friend.
"That was very noble of him," Gaia says, smiling at Wheeler and feeling his mood change.
"Da. The doctor I have been seeing was able to find two eggs that are viable. They have been fertilized and tomorrow, the doctor will implant the embryos in me, and hopefully one of them will attach to the uterine wall and a positive pregnancy will result. It is possible that both could attach."
"From no kids to two…are you prepared for that Linka?" Gaia asks.
"Nyet, but I will be. At least I know I will not be alone. But right now, I am not getting my hopes up. I know that there is a very good possibility that this will not work…but if it does, that is what I wanted to talk to you about. Will Katie be able to stick around a little longer?"
"A little?" Gaia chuckles.
"At least nine months," Linka says with a tinge of guilt for having to ask. She lowers her head to avoid eye contact.
"Linka…you know that being a mother doesn't end with the birth. You will be responsible for taking care of that child until they are a legal adult. If you are able to become a mother, and I hope you are, THAT becomes your new role in life. The Planeteers will be your past life. You need to make sure you are no longer putting yourself in danger because your child will be depending on you to always be there. You cannot be a mother AND a working Planeteer…and that's ok."
Linka raises her gaze to meet Gaia's. She smiles when she sees the spirit smiling at her.
"Katie is ready to be the next Wind Planeteer…and she's doing very well, so if you are concerned that you will be putting the team at a disadvantage, don't be. Everything is as it should be."
"But if it does not work…what then? Am I done? Have I been replaced?"
"The job is yours for as long as you are able or willing to do it," Gaia reassures her.
"Thank you."
"What about the other Jason," Wheeler asks. "Is he ready?"
"Why?"
"Because if Linka gets pregnant, she shouldn't be left alone when we get called out on missions. I want to be around to keep an eye on her. God forbid if something goes wrong, and we are out on a mission and can't get her medical attention…"
"Ok, I see your point. And to answer your question, yes. The other Jason is ready too."
Wheeler continues,
"Permanently?"
"Wheeler, I told you…you do not have to give everything up. I appreciate you wanting to take care of me and if you want to take time off during the pregnancy, that is up to you and Gaia."
"But like I said before Babe, you're gonna need help with feedings and diaper changes and all kinds of other stuff."
"I cannot expect my friends to take on MY responsibilities. I am CHOOSING to be a single parent."
"But you don't HAVE to be."
"Wheeler is right. You will always have the Planeteers. If you choose to live on Hope Island after you give birth, you know you will have plenty of people who will be willing to help out. Wheeler, what I told Linka earlier also applies to you. You can have as much time off as you'd like. You have both exceeded my expectations and I am so proud of your time as Planeteers, and you should be too."
"Thank you, Gaia. That means so much," Linka says, her eyes starting to water as the realization that her time as the Wind Planeteer may be over.
"You're welcome. Now, if there's nothing else you need from me, I'll let you two get back to enjoying the rest of your day. And Linka, I hope you get what you want…you too Wheeler. I can tell this is important to you as well."
"I just want her to be happy."
"I know you do," Gaia says as she fades away.
Wheeler notices the tears are starting to fall from Linka's eyes and knows exactly why. He pulls her into his arms and wraps her in a hug.
"It's ok Babe. You'll always be a Planeteer. This isn't the end. It's just a different role on the team. They're still gonna want and need your input during briefings. You're just out of the action part of it, that's all."
She nods, appreciative of his words and his comfort. She hadn't thought of it that way but knowing that she will still be able to contribute helps to make it easier to accept.
To Be Continued…