A week later, the Mess Hall buzzed with the betting pools. When will Colleen kill Judi and bury her under the obstacle course? Or when will Duke send two pranksters off to Siberia and let them get frost bite. When will Dr. Caveman take a mental dive and which would be the brave little Joe that sends the doctor over the edge? When will Lady Jaye chase a Joe with her javelin after finding them with the infamous bear, who once again had vanished under mysterious circumstances, and which had not allowed her little girl to sleep again! When will Scarlett throw stars at the brave little Joe who tried once again to "kidnap" the little prince? And when will Sky Dancer emerge from her suite? As the young mother had not been seen anywhere on base, or even the kennel area since the new arrival. Rumors were being spread, and hush tones followed, especially when an infuriating first in command entered the whisper filled room.

"Duke! Over here!"

Duke turned to the voice and spotted his wife with the rest of the "clan" as the Joes had currently dubbed them and walked toward their way. Striding toward the group, he noticed his youngest daughter sitting at the other end of the table, away from her best friend. He spotted Flint trying to nudge Lady Jaye and point at her food, insinuating that once again the covert operative declined another meal. He then spotted his son munching slowly his breakfast, and noted the absence of his daughter-in-law. His lips turned to a tight thin line as he watched his wife trying to capture Rowan's attention, whom had buried her face in yet another book! Lastly, his attention went to the twins in the double stroller, next to their mother as she fed them small pieces of pancake.

"NANA!", cried out Devon from her side of the stroller.

"Bebet!", cried out her twin.

"What is the latest intel?", he asked, bending over and kissing his wife, then took the empty seat next to hers.

Scarlett glanced at her husband and slowly shook her head. "Nothing!"

His arched his eyebrows.

His wife began to explain. "We still can't find Brutus. Eryn won't get unglued from Dash…" He turned his head and spotted the little girl sitting on her father's lap, before returning his attention to his wife as she continued, "Rowan refuses to acknowledge Eryn. She won't even speak to her! Allie won't eat. Something is bothering Colleen and she won't even tell me! Jeffrey is on overdrive and Reena continues to remain in their quarters!"

Duke frowned. "We need to do something! Those two need to patch things up!" He glanced toward his youngest daughter and then to his best friend's daughter.

"I agree," came Flint's voice from the other side of the table while Jaye slowly nodded, her eyes downcast. "Allie, eat!"

Duke softly chuckled. "Yes, Allie eat! Be a good girl for Dashie!"

Lady Jaye looked up with a glare. "Bite me!"

Flint gasped. "Hey, if there is anyone here who is going to bite you, it's me!" He leaned toward her, aiming for her neck.

Jaye twisted around in her chair and smacked the second in command on the arm. "I am not hungry right now!", she grunted, then whispered to her husband, "Maybe later you can bite me when we are all alone…"

At this, Flint grinned while Duke rolled his eyes.

The warrant officer then glanced down to his daughter who had her finger once again in her mouth and refused to even budge. "I not hungry," Eryn mumbled, mimicking her mother.

Jaye sent a concerning look toward her husband, they both had become increasing worried for their little daughter. Her emotional state was on edge and no matter what they tried, nothing seemed to work!

Rowan glanced up from her novel, looked toward her friend, then returned to the pages of the book.

Scarlett leaned over and whispered to her husband's ear, "Her attitude is concerning me!" She quickly glanced to her adoptive daughter and then back to Duke. "I'm worried about her and Eryn!"

Duke slightly chuckled. "Hey, like mother! Like daughter!"

"Conrad!" Scarlett scolded, smacking him on the arm, hard.

"Now don't deny it, Red!" Duke continued, "Rowan is exactly like you!"

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "Lady Jaye?"

A bagel flew across the table and hit the first in command right in the nose.

"Bullseye!" Jaye smirked.

"Allie!" Duke shook his head. "Women.." he muttered." He then glanced from one to the other. "Let me rephrase that… Joe women!"

"Want some jam for your bagel, Conrad?," Scarlett hissed, her hand reaching over for the small jar of jam, next to the bowl of butter in the center of the table.

Before the redhead had a chance, Duke reached over and grabbed hold of his wife's hand which was an inch away before the second missile would follow toward him. "No thanks!" He pulled her hand on her lap and patted it. "That remains right there! That's a direct order!"

Flint started to laugh while watching Scarlett stick out her tongue at her husband. He rubbed his daughter's back, knowing how much it made her relaxed. "Eryn, eat a little and I promise you anything you want!"

"DASH!"

"And don't pay attention to the irate person next to me right now," he said, sending a wink to his wife.

Now it was Lady Jaye's turn to reach toward the center of the table, this time the aim was the bowl of butter but her hand was also stopped in mid-air by the warrant officer's which placed it on her lap and held it down. She sent him another glare.

Duke cleared his throat. He turned to his son, and his expression once again tuned to concern, watching the younger version of himself play with his food, which was very unlike him. "What's wrong, Buzz?"

Kastor merely answered with a small, "Nothing."

Duke slightly frowned and made a mental note to talk to his son alone as soon as possible. He then looked toward his daughter, who continued feeding both twins. "Need some help there, Colly?"

"They are almost done with their breakfast, but thanks for the offer, Daddy," Colleen answered. She glanced up, sent him a soft smile before she continued to feed her daughters.

Devon let out a huge burp and Caitlin let out a giggle before she too burped. "ACHOO!"

The first in command drummed his fingers on the table's surface, glancing about the group. Something indeed had to be done to lighten up this cloudy atmosphere that had fallen upon his family! But what?

"Rowan, how about placing down that book and let's go to the movies with Eryn?" Scarlett suggest toward her daughter.

Both Rowan and Eryn glanced up at the suggestion but Rowan shrugged and said, "No thank you, Mum."

Scarlett sighed. "She doesn't want to do anything! Just read."

Flint looked around the table. These kids needed a distraction or something to get them to mend their friendship! He then got a brilliant idea! He remembered when they had gone to the horse ranch and how both Rowan and Eryn enjoyed it; he also recalled the free passes that the owner had gifted them previously due to the unfortunate incident of the hay bale avalanche. He cleared his throat. "Hey Eryn, how about we take this clan of ours to the horseys?!", he suggested.

"Dash! That is a wonderful idea!" Scarlett agreed, turning toward her youngest daughter. "Want to go to Double C Ranch for some riding?"

Rowan just shrugged again, her eyes barely glancing up from the pages of her novel.

Eryn however went, "No!"

Flint looked down at his little girl. "Why not, munchkin?"

"CAUSE YOU GONNA DIE!", she wailed and tears flowed down her little face.

Jaye sent another worried look toward her husband. Her heart ached to see her child like this.

"I'm not going to die, Eryn!" Flint rubbed his daughter back once more. "I pinkie swear and spit on Shipwreck's hair!"

A snob came his answer, then two tear filled eyes looked up to his handsome features. "You pwomise?"

"I promise!" he decreed, giving his daughter a reassuring hug. "Now, how about me, you and that Febejeba pony?"

"Falabella, Uncle Dash!" Rowan corrected from the other side of the table, her nose still in the book, not even to bother to glance at them.

Colleen looked up from her daughters, wiping their mouths clean with a napkin. "It's late January! Isn't too cold out for horseback riding?" She turned and glanced out the window, spotting the frost covered ground.

"I think there is an indoor riding arena, Colleen," Flint explained. "I know the ranch has some professional equestrians boarding their horses there. They need to exercise their horses somehow!"

"I am all for it," Scarlett added, squeezing her husband's hand with hers.

Kastor looked up from his barely touched food. "Count me and Reena out."

Scarlett turned toward him. "No, you both are going!"

"But …" Kastor tried to protest.

Flint looked over toward the pilot. "There is a seating viewing room with heating. Baby Hauser will be warm and toasty!"

"Maybe it's too cold for the twins too," Colleen muttered. "I am afraid I won't go either. Plus Cayden has a full schedule at the Infirmary." Her tone stale.

"That's it! You are all going!" Flint commanded. "Cayden too!"

"Reena won't go!" Kastor insisted. "She won't even leave the suite! She hasn't even gone to check on her dogs!" He raked his hair with his hand and gave out an aggravated breath.

Scarlett leaned over and patted her son's arm. "I'll try to convince her. Now, why don't go grab Cayden and Colleen and I will go on Operation: Overprotected Mama."

Kastor looked straight in his mother's gentle eyes and tilted his head. "So, what do you want your's and Colleen's tombstones to read?", he requested deadpanned.

The rest of the table burst out laughing.

"I got a crossbow!" Scarlett reminded him, not amused. "And Colleen has a second degree black belt." She turned to her daughter, who kept glancing out the window toward the Infirmary building. "Come on, Colly. Get those twins! We are going on a mission!"

"A suicide mission…" Colleen muttered, but grabbed hold of the stroller and heaved a sigh.

Scarlett stood up and looked around the group. "You all have twenty minutes to get ready for some horse riding fun! Meet you all at the parking area!" Taking hold of Colleen's arm, and ignoring the protests from the table, she started to head toward the exit of the room. "And that's a direct order!" she called out behind her shoulder.

"You heard the lady!" Flint added. "Everyone up, up, UP!" Then a shocked gasp became apparent, followed with an, "ALLIE!"

The redhead counterintelligence officer did not even dare turn and see what had occurred. She was on a mission! She had to patch up the family. No matter what! She led her daughter toward the barracks and straight to her son's quarters.

"Hell," Devon mumbled from the stroller.

Scarlett shook her head and knocked on the suite's door before entering. "Reena?"

A yawn came from her right with a half audible, "Here."

Both Colleen and Scarlett caught sight of the pilot, sitting on the sofa, her long chestnut hair loose, flowing around her shoulders, covered with a blanket and stationed next to the bassinet, like a guard dog. Entering the suite, they noticed that the baby was in dreamland.

"Did we wake you?", Scarlett sent an apologetic soft smile toward the pilot, watching her place down the book on her blanket and giving them her full attention.

"No," Sky Dancer answered, stiffing a second upcoming yawn. "The prince had me awake most of the night."

"Then up and at 'em!" Scarlett walked over to the pilot and sat down next to her. "We are going on a trip!"

Sky Dancer blinked. "Trip? Where? I can't go!" she sputtered all at once, looking from one woman to the other.

Colleen parked the stroller near the chair, opposite of the bassinet and sat down, while her hand reached over and gently stroked her nephew's brown tuff of hair. He gurgled in this sleep and a smile curved on her face. "Flint and Scarlett are giving us orders."

"What orders?" Sky Dancer asked, her brown eyes turning wide to their fullest.

"Horseback riding," Colleen muttered.

"In this weather?!" Sky Dancer's mouth dropped. "It's freezing outside!"

Scarlett sent the women an even look. "Get ready and we are all going!"

At this, Sky Dancer turned to her mother-in-law and gently said, "I am sorry, Mom." She glanced down at her sleeping child before she continued, "But I really can't leave!"

"Why not?" Scarlett asked gently, taking the young pilot's hand and squeezing it. "Reena, I will be blunt! You have not left this suite since Baby Hauser arrived! You have not been seen anywhere on base and not even checked on your dogs!" She reached over and pushed back the other woman's lock of fallen hair from her face. "You don't need to worry. Nothing is going to happen to the baby!" she assured her, thinking that fear could be the reason.

"I know nothing is going to happen to him," Sky Dancer murmured, and once again looked down to her son who was breathing softly, his little hand next to his face before she turned to Scarlett, while touching her silver locket. "That's not the reason."

"Then what is?" Colleen bravely asked. She too had become worried for her best friend.

Sky Dancer let out a breath. "I would love to go with everyone! Honest! But I can't!"

Scarlett and Colleen exchanged the same confused expression before they both pushed for the reason behind the isolation. "Why not?", they challenged simultaneously.

A second exhaled breath and the pilot answered, "It's a Greek tradition! It's called the Sarantismos, the forty day blessing! The baby can't leave the house for forty days after birth!" She then added, "And that also goes the same with the name. The baby's given name must not be mentioned for forty days."

"Is that why you haven't spoken his name?" Colleen asked. She blinked in surprise.

Sky Dancer slowly nodded. "I'm sorry, I thought I had mentioned it before." She lowered her gaze to her book. "It's superstitious if a newborn is out of the house or their name is said out loud." Another long exhale before softly adding, "I remember my mother telling me this tradition. She did it with me and I only wanted to continue the tradition for my son."

Scarlett sent her a reassuring smile and squeezed the pilot's hand once more, in understanding. Each culture had traditions and each tradition should be honored. "I understand, Reena." Her eyes turned soft, motherly. "You and Baby Hauser can come next time!"

"Well, if Reena is not going, I am not going!" Colleen claimed with triumph in her voice.

Her mother turned toward her. "Oh, you young lady are going! And so is your husband! You both need some time together and that is an order!"

The younger version of Scarlett sighed in defeat. "But mom, I really am worried if the twins get sick! They get sick very easily and I don't want them getting infections again!" she protested.

Sky Dancer cleared her throat. "I'll happily babysit!" She sent her best friend a genuine smile. "I can take care of the twins!"

"Are you sure you can handle them, Reena?" Colleen did not seem convinced. "They are a handful now that they can walk! No to mention can grab anything in sight!"

"Don't worry yourself!" Sky Dancer insisted. "We can set up that huge play yard pen here in the living room and they can have plenty of space to be entertained." She then added, "Plus, I can give them their mid morning snack and there are plenty of toys in the nursery for them!"

Scarlett glanced down to her watch. "Then, it's all settled. Reena will babysit the twins and if she loses them, then I give you permission Colleen to run her over with the Wolverine!"

Sky Dancer let out a gasp of horror while Colleen rolled her head backwards and let out a loud laugh.

"By now I think Jeffrey has sent your husband to your suite to change, so you best also get going and get ready!" Scarlett said to her daughter. She stood up and then look downwards to her daughter-in-law. "Are you sure you can manage?"

"We will all be fine!" Sky Dancer reassured. "Besides, if anything happens, I can always call!"

"See you under the Wolverine!" Colleen joked toward her sister-in-law. She stood up to follow her mother.

A voice came from the entrance of the suite. "Why are you going to run my wife with the Wolverine?!" Jeffrey Hauser entered and closed the door behind him, sending them all a stern glare.

"Hi, Agape!" Sky Dancer rose from the sofa, strode to him and kissed him on the cheek. "They are simply joking about me losing a few children."

"What!"

"Come on, Colleen." Scarlett grabbed hold of her daughter's arm, leading her toward the suite's front door. "You need to get going and get ready!"

"Wait," Jeffrey said, causing both the redheads to stop and turn toward him. "If Reena doesn't go, I won't go!"

Scarlett let out another long aggravated breath. Why are these people all stubborn! But before she had a chance to respond, someone else did it for her!

"Oh, you are going!," Sky Dancer informed her husband. "You need a nice day out with your family!"

Jeffrey took hold of his wife's shoulders and looked down at her beautiful features. "I can't leave you alone! You need my help with the kids!"

Sky Dancer placed a supportive hand on his chest. "Please go and have some fun!" She sent him another reassuring smile. "You, Hauser, are going to go horseback riding, and that is a direct order!" She sent the others in the room a quick wink.

"But Reena, you been cooped up for a month!" Jeffrey stated, glued to her eyes. He searched them, knowing she was hiding another of her secrets.

She slowly pulled down his chin and gently kissed him on the lips. "You know I can't due to the Greek tradition! But I would had loved to have gone with you all!"

He searched those eyes he knew so well once more. "What Greek tradition?"

At this, Sky Dancer's gaze went to the floor. "I thought I had explained it to you. The greek people have a tradition or superstition that a new baby can't leave the house or their name is being used until they turn forty days old."

Jeffrey tilted her chin to meet his gaze. "Imzadi, " he murmured gently, "I don't remember you saying anything about this greek tradition."

Sky Dancer sighed. "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't." she second guessed herself. Maybe she had told him about the traditions but he had fallen asleep at the time. Guilt entered her heart. "I'm sorry, Jeff."

He bent down and kissed her once again. "We will talk later."

"I think I am going to throw up!", came from the suite's entrance.

They both turned to see a green faced Colleen, holding her stomach, and realization set in if it was morning sickness.

"Colly, are you feeling sick?" Scarlett placed an arm over her daughter's shoulders, worried.

Colleen slowly nodded. "Yeah, from them!" She pointed to the couple! Then feigned a gagging sound.

"Okay, that's enough! Jeffrey, please help Reena set up the play pen for the twins! Then get dressed and ready for some horseback riding fun!" Scarlett pulled her daughter once again toward the opened door to escape.

"Wait!" Sky Dancer cried out suddenly and ran toward the kitchen and in seconds returned with a bag of marshmallows. "Here, Colly, for the car ride!"

"Thanks, Re—" Colleen went to grab hold of the offered treat when a blur of yellow and green passed them and grabbed the bag. "JEFFREY!", she bellowed, turned and raced out of the suite, chasing after her twin brother.

Scarlett just shook her head. "And he still wearing his uniform!"

Sky Dancer laughed. "Don't worry. I'll get that dirty uniform off of him after his riding."

"Reena!" Scarlett gasped in surprise, with a twinkle in both of the women's eyes. She cleared her throat. "Do you need help setting the pen up?"

Sky Dancer looked to the twins who had become fidgety in their stroller. "Go, Mom. I can set up the pen and have fun with these three."

"All right." Scarlett nodded, still a little uncertain if the younger woman could handle three children at once on her own. "If there is anything—" Her phone rang at that second and she answered the call.

"Shana! Get down here on the double before I come up there and pull you by your ponytail!" Jaye's unamused voice echoed in the suite.

"I am on the way, Allie!"

Scarlett wrapped her arms around her daughter-in-law and gave her a reassuring hug. "I will wait for your call." She kissed her forehead and headed out of the suite and to a very unhappy bunch of clan members.

Sky Dancer watched her mother-in-law walk down the hallway and disappear down the stairs.

"Reena!" She turned toward her name being cried out and spotted Sammy racing toward her way, holding little Michael Wayne in her arms. "I am so glad I found you! Here, please take him!" She handed over the toddler to the surprise faced pilot. "My parents are off base, visiting my In-laws and Spades has physical therapy for another hour! I have a training session with Squadron D!"

Before Sky Dancer could respond, the blonde woman had already turned and ran down the hallway, following Scarlett's route. She heaved a sigh, turned and entered her suite. As she closed the door, the toddler in arms burst into crocodile tears, which cause all three other children to start crying!

"This is going to be a long day," Sky Dancer mused, heading for the wails and cries that had dominated her domain.