December 15th, 1996

Arriving at home on his own doorstep was always a great feeling, and Ian was glad to finally be home, because it meant they had wrapped filming on location for the project at last. Now he could relax a little, at least in the knowledge that he would once more be home with his wife, his children, and able to help out around the house.

A house he had not set food in for almost two months. Talking on the phone regularly with Bonnie was not all the same as being there. She said everything was under control, but he knew she was working incredibly hard for it to be that way, and she was more than ready to finally go back to work at the studio.

He had taken a taxi from the train station, because expecting to be picked up at this hour was ridiculous. It was late afternoon, almost dinner time. The very last thing he wanted to do was interrupt the evening routine. At least he had been able to call from the station so Bonnie knew he was almost home, and she could prepare the kids.

Ian was himself prepared for the rush of Joanna and Zachary as he came through the door, dropping his bags immediately so he could take them into his arms, and enjoy the crushing hugs of his older two children who kept shrieking daddy with delight and asking a million questions a minute. It was so crazy to think that Joanna would be six in just a couple of months, and Zachary four. Even in just the couple of months he had been gone, they had noticeably grown. Of course, they had gone from four months to six. That was a lot of development in infants.

He was not at all prepared for the second wave. "They're crawling?" He looked up from the trio scrambling toward him across the floor to Bonnie, who was watching from down the hall, smiling.

"They all started just in the last two weeks," Bonnie nodded. "Samantha was first, then the boys."

"Look at you." Ian cooed at Samantha as she reached him first. He picked her up, holding her so he could see her face. The baby giggled delightedly. As young as they were, Ian had no idea how much they recognized him, but they seemed happy enough to see him. "You've all grown so much." Leith and Donovan reached his feet, and he had to sit down cross-legged on the floor to let all of them at him at once, his lap full of children, and Joanna and Zachary piled up on his shoulders. It felt amazing.

A camera click made him look up, to see that Bonnie was capturing the moment. He grinned, and went back to focusing on the littlest loves of his life. It took several minutes before he finally had to beg off, promising presents from his travels only after dinner. That was enough to get the older two off him. "I might need rescuing," he admitted to Bonnie.

"I think I can manage that." She smiled as she set the camera on the entry table and reached down, scooping up Samantha and Leith. Ian had no trouble getting up with just Donovan. He'd gotten good at maneuvering while holding a small child over the years. It was only three at a time he was still working on. The fact that they kept getting bigger did not help.

"I'm impressed you can keep them corralled," Ian admitted as they headed into the living room. Though he immediately saw how when he saw the large free-standing child fencing between the couch and the full-wall windows behind them. He was fairly certain he had seen similar fences for small dogs, but the label was a brand of children's furniture. He decided not to mention dogs. "I hope it works when they start climbing."

"We have a little while before that." Bonnie did not take the two in her arms there, but to the line of highchairs by the dining table. "Are you up for helping with dinner?"

"Of course, I am. No asking needed." Ian set Donovan in the third chair, then took a moment to steal a kiss on his wife's cheek. After months away, even the light scent of soap and her skin was a turn on. "What's the routine?"

"Same as before you left, really. Plates for Joanna and Zach filled first, spoon-feeding second, then we can eat." Bonnie strapped in the others. "I just pulled dinner out of the oven a few minutes ago."

"I'll get the plates." Ian headed for the kitchen, and served up some of the baked chicken and vegetables onto two small plastic plates, cutting Zachary's meat up into smaller chunks. Joanna could use a table knife on her own well now, and his son was getting there. Once he had them settled, he mashed some of the food up with a grinder so it could be spoon-fed to the babies, and brought it into the dining area. "Here we go. Who's hungry?"

"The better question would be who isn't." Bonnie took two bowls and left him the third, and picked up two of the little baby spoons. Ian sat down beside her facing Donovan, and started feeding his son who, thankfully, clearly already understood what was expected. He ate willingly, and most of it actually stayed in the baby. When he was done, Ian turned to see if Bonnie needed help, only to find that she had fed the other two at the same time.

"You're amazing."

Bonnie smiled. "Lots of practice. If you'll do clean-up, I'll get us something to eat."

"I'm on it." Ian collected the dishes, rinsed them in the sink, and then got fresh wet washcloths for wiping little hands and faces, as well as the trays of the chairs. Wiggly as they were, they didn't seem to mind being wiped down. Joanna had finished eating, and helped too, wiping Samantha's face, while Ian made amusing faces at the boys and got them wiped clean. Then they moved the babies into their pen long enough for him to sit down with Bonnie and eat their own meal.

"Someday we're all going to be able to just sit down at this table and eat together," Ian mused, though he couldn't help grinning. "Won't that be something?"

"It can't come too soon," Bonnie agreed. "We'll look back at this chaos and wonder how we ever managed."

"With a lot of love, laughter, and patience."

When they finished eating, Ian brought out the presents he had promised. Little things for each of the kids, and nicer gifts for his wife, all from Aerugo. Then it was bedtime, and another flurry of activity because it was bath night. Though with the babies, Ian knew it was almost always bath night.

Once everyone was bathed, and the older two had brushed their teeth, they all gathered in the babies' room for a bedtime story. Then Ian tucked in the older two before helping Bonnie with before-bed bottles, and walking the triplets until they were ready to sleep. By then, it was past eight-thirty. "I'm amazed that you've been doing this every night without me," he admitted quietly as they closed the door and slipped quietly down the hall to their own bedroom.

"You've been missed," Bonnie assured him. As soon as he closed the door behind them, Ian did what he'd been wanting to do all evening and pulled Bonnie in close, wrapping his arms around her body and kissing her warmly.

Bonnie returned the kiss with equal enthusiasm, and for a minute Ian lost himself in her comforting, familiar presence.

"I've missed you, too," he gasped when their lips finally parted. He brought one hand up, gently touching her face, her hair. Even standing there in sweats, her hair in its usual ponytail, tired at the end of a long day she looked amazing to him. Six months after having triplets, he wondered if other women looked this good? "All of you."

Bonnie smiled. "You really missed all the chaos? The diapers? You didn't enjoy your working vacation in the slightest?"

She was teasing him, he knew, but Ian shook his head. In that moment, he thought of the distance he had put between himself and the rest of the crew after Denissa's come-on that night, and the sense of unease that had given him. He had not attended a single cast gathering after that point, not the informal ones, and not alone. He had focused on his work, and tried to forget it. No one had said anything, so he was fairly certain none of the other cast or crew members had seen anything, because there hadn't been even a whisper. "I did," he replied sincerely. "Miss it, I mean. Work was… work. It was fine, but it wasn't as good as being home with you. My more mature costars bring their spouses on the road." It had been easier to work when they were both assigned to the same projects. "Whereas I spent a lot of lonely nights with my script."

"Well, I can't say I was lonely," Bonnie admitted with a gentle chuckle. "But it was definitely not as enjoyable as having you at home. The evening certainly goes easier, for one thing. As good as our children are, they're a lot to handle."

"And I'm here now to take back my half of the pleasure of parenthood." Ian kissed her again and wondered, briefly, if she might be in the mood. He certainly was, but they had not resumed intimate relations after the birth before he had left on the trip. For one thing, they had both been too tired. The other, main reason, was it always took Bonnie time to have the energy or drive for it afterwards. Ian never pressed, because he certainly couldn't imagine it felt all that good after pushing out babies, and Bonnie had managed vaginal birth with triplets. "And all the joys of being a faithful and hard-working husband. All the things I enjoy that the news reporters find utterly un-newsworthy."

"They ought to. Not enough people are as devoted as you are." Bonnie hugged him tightly. "I'm just glad you're back in time for me to finally go back to work. I've missed adult conversation, and working."

Of course, she had. Bonnie had always thrived in the studio environment. While she had been doing work from home on her designs for Silverman's, Ian knew that wasn't the same. "Then we should make sure we're well rested for tomorrow then. It'll be the babies first day at daycare, and the start of getting into a new regular routine." He decided maybe tonight was not the best night to push for intimacy. Bonnie was right, they needed rest, and it was clear she was tired. He was too, after months of shooting schedules and travel. He had no idea how quickly they could get ready in the morning either, not with seven of them. Joanna would get dropped at school on their way in, and Zachary was still young enough for the studio childcare center, so he would be there with his younger siblings, at least until he started pre-school next year.

Ian loosened his hold on her. "I should bring my things up and unpack and shower before bed. Up for a little snuggling later?"

"Oh, sure." Bonnie looked a little startled and, was she disappointed? If so, it only lasted a moment. Ian couldn't be sure. Maybe all of her was still sensitive. She was still pumping milk for bottles after all. While she looked much more like herself, that didn't mean her body wasn't still shifting back. "I'd like that."

"Great." Ian leaned over, kissed her cheek, and then headed down to get his clothes. He should certainly throw his laundry in first. He had plenty of it from the last leg of the trip, and he would need clothes before the week was out.

It was nice to be home, where he could handle his own laundry.

Bonnie stared after Ian for several seconds after he left the room. His first night home, and Ian just wanted to do laundry and snuggle? She had been certain, after months apart, that the first thing he would want to do without the kids in the way would be to tumble into bed and have sex. After all, they hadn't since they had found out she was pregnant with triplets, and that they needed to be particularly careful due to the higher risks associated with that. It had been over a year, and she'd given him the opening.

And he had either completely missed it, which seemed very un-Ian, or he had very gently turned her down. Bonnie could not remember in all of their marriage Ian ever turning her down. He had behaved otherwise normally all evening, and so happy to see the kids. He must be tired from work and travel, but he hadn't uttered a single word of complaint.

Bonnie sighed and went to get ready for bed. Maybe she hadn't been obvious enough, and he was just being considerate. Not that she had anything seductive to wear to entice him, unless she wanted to be completely blatant and just lay out naked on the bed. Six months past delivery, and she still wasn't back into her pre-pregnancy clothes, just her smallest maternity wear—the ones she'd worn for almost all of both of her first two pregnancies.

Not that she had never needed sexy lingerie to entice Ian. Her usual attire of jeans or casual slacks and simple shirts or blouses had never kept him from hitting on her, before or after their marriage. He had even talked Tanner into using her as a stand in for an extra that one time where she'd had to wear that ridiculous set of strings that they wanted to call a bathing suit. She'd been furious at the time, but he hadn't been trying to embarrass her. Of course, that was several years and now five babies ago, but that had never dissuaded Ian before.

She was definitely over-thinking this. Ian was just tired. She was tired too, though she had been willing and ready to do whatever he might be in the mood for this evening. Snuggling was just fine by her. She'd just have to make sure to talk to him soon and let him know that she was definitely okay with resuming their normal bedroom activities.

December 16th, 1996

Ian had not expected everyone to fall smoothly into a new routine on the first day, and that was good, because the day turned out to be more than a little chaotic. They did get all five children ready to go and out the door on time, but it meant getting up early, and Samantha and Donovan were both fussier than usual, and fought getting dressed in the extra layers needed to take the babies out in the winter weather. Joanna had misplaced a mitten, and there was a frantic search for it before it was discovered on the floor with the shoes.

The car ride itself went smoothly, at least through getting Joanna to school. When they stopped to drop the rest of the children off at the childcare for the first time, Samantha decided she did not want to be left with a stranger and started crying which set off both of the boys, and they'd had to leave all of them screaming in other people's hands. Rina Martin, the supervisor, assured them that everything would be fine. She had been prepared for this. Still, Ian felt guilty leaving her with so many unhappy infants. At least Zachary was excited to be back with his friends.

Ian hoped Bonnie had a good first day back. He left her at wardrobe with a kiss on the cheek, then went to the main building, expecting a pile of things to take care of on his desk. He was not disappointed. There was a pile of scripts to look over and make notes and edits before filming for his latest directing project series resumed after the winter holidays. The writers had been prolific and productive while he was gone. It all turned out to be excellent, too. He had time to read through all of them and start making notes before he had a post-production meeting with the director of the film they had just finished, followed by a meeting with Tanner to discuss upcoming projects. All in all, it was a productive if exhausting day, fueled with several cups of coffee and an excellent lunch from craft services. By the end of the day, he was excited about several prospects, and relived that nothing had fallen apart in his absence. He even got off on time.

The evening schedule in reverse was almost the same. He met Bonnie, and they picked up the first four kids, and Ian was relieved to know that they had settled down for part of the day, slept, and eaten their bottles and baby food fairly well, because they were fussy again when they arrived and he would never have known without the report. They picked up Joanna at her friend Patricia's house, where she always went after school until her parents got off, which was only a couple of blocks from home. Then it was the same routine as the night before, only with leftovers instead of a new meal, and it took longer since the triplets had been thrown by the change to their lives, and they fussed through dinner, and bedtime. By the time they were finally down, it was nearly ten.

"I hope that goes more smoothly tomorrow," Ian groaned as he collapsed onto the couch downstairs, where they could talk without worrying about waking sleeping children.

"They'll adjust," Bonnie assured him, standing beside the couch. She looked as tired and wistful as he felt. "It took Joanna and Zach time to get used to going to daycare."

Ian nodded. "It was just less dramatic one at a time." He looked at the folder of scripts he had dropped on the table on his return home. There were still a couple he should do edits and notations on before tomorrow. He picked them up and flipped through them a little absently to see how much work was left. After a minute, he noticed that Bonnie hadn't moved.

Bonnie was staring out the window with an irritated expression.

"Are you alright?"

"Angie Simpson is a self-absorbed, rude, insulting, asshole."

Ian put down the script in his hands. That was very specific. "Well, that's hardly news. Do I want to know what she did today to warrant this particularly immediate ire?"

Bonnie grimaced. "She spent her entire fitting recommending diets she used after she had her kids, and going on about how difficult it is to have to keep in screen form and how lucky those of us backstage are that we have it so easy. I almost stabbed her with a pin… on purpose."

Ian's eyes widened. Angie had always been a snob, and a conniving climber—that was why he'd refused to work with her on the movie where they'd recast the role of the female co-star to get him to do it. But this was way out of line. "How dare she!"

There was a hint of satisfaction in Bonnie's eyes at his outrage. "It was all phrased very generally, even if it was pointed. It's not worth reporting, she just… oh I hate her."

No wonder Bonnie had been out of sorts all evening. Ian tried to think if she'd eaten much at dinner. The idea that Angie would even make insinuations about his wife's weight made him want to spit nails. "She should have kept her mouth shut." There was a stifled fury in his tone that matched the burning he felt inside. "Don't pay her any mind, okay?"

Bonnie shrugged. "It's not like I care what Angie thinks, it was just insulting. She did it right there in the middle of wardrobe too, for a full half an hour. No one took her seriously."

No one in wardrobe would, thankfully, but the only person Ian cared about was the one standing in front of him. "Good, because you're beautiful and she's a bitch. Now, let's stop wasting our precious private time on Angie, and enjoy ourselves for the few minutes we have before one of us passes out form exhaustion." He smiled, patting the cushions next to him. Scripts could wait. "Care to join me?"

To his surprise, Bonnie didn't move. "Actually, I wanted to ask you something."

"Sure. Did something else happen at work?" Maybe her first day had been even worse than anticipated. Not that he could think of anything that would top Angie fat-shaming his hot wife.

"You could call it that. Denissa… apologized to me."

Ian froze like a rabbit. Why would she… what had she said? "That's weird. What did she say?" It might be nothing. It had to be nothing. Something innocuous…. It might not even have to do with him.

Bonnie's frown deepened. "She seemed to think she needed to apologize for 'what I did to Ian in Aerugo' was her exact phrasing. She went on to say it was unprofessional, and she shouldn't have done it. Then she hurried off before we could be overheard."

I'm dead…. Worse than dead. "Oh."

"Is that all you can say to me?" Her hazel eyes flashed, and he recognized the danger signs. "Explain this."

"We didn't do anything," Ian assured her vehemently, getting to his feet quickly, but hoping it didn't look like he had jumped up. "We were just talking during one of the cast hang-outs. She was a little high, and she made a move on me. I turned her down and left immediately."

He couldn't tell if Bonnie believed him or not. It had been a long time since he had seen her so angry. Given her abusive, cheating exes, he tried never to even seem to be in any kind of compromising position that might cause her heartache.

"How much of a move?"

Damn it, don't make me say it. But if he didn't, she was going to assume he was hiding things. Of course, she was already assuming he was hiding things. "She dropped herself in my lap and groped me, okay?" He held out his arms. "I told her no, pushed her off, and left. Honest, that's it. The whole thing only lasted a few seconds. I stopped hanging out at any of the cast and crew stuff after that."

"But you didn't think to mention to me that one of my coworkers hit on you?"

"Given she didn't try again after that… no, I didn't. I told her no, and she didn't try again. I have never been interested in her. Don't tell me you really think I'd cheat on you now?" Not after everything he had done to win her heart, to be a great husband and father… he had never loved anyone else the way he loved her.

Bonnie shook her head, and some of the tension in her shoulders eased. "No, I don't. It just came out of nowhere and I had no idea what to say. She seemed to assume I knew exactly what she was talking about, seeing as she kept it really vague. She certainly assumed you told me."

"I'm sorry I didn't." An apology was the only thing that was going to salvage this evening, and he really should have told her, but he had thought the matter resolved. Why the hell would Denissa bring it up? "There just never seemed to be a good time when we talked on the phone, and I didn't want to make things harder for you. I couldn't just blurt it out with me weeks from coming home. And then I just… well I put it out of my head. You're the only woman who occupies my thoughts."

Any other night, a sentiment like that would have gotten him at least a hug. "If any woman ever throws herself at you again, I expect you to tell me. Does anyone else know about this?"

"I understand, and no, at least not that I know of," Ian admitted honestly. "If someone had, I would have expected it to show up in the gossip rags, especially by now. It was weeks ago."

"Another reason you should have told me. What if it had Ian? And someone had asked me about it? How does it look if I have to say I'm sorry, I have no idea what's going on with this? Do you understand what kind of a risk to our reputations that is? Our careers?" Her volume was rising, though not as much as he had expected, if only because he was sure she was still trying not to wake the kids.

"Bonnie…please. Like I said, I'm sorry. Nothing happened, and nothing is going to happen. I get why you're upset, really, and you have every right to be, but can we not blow this out of proportion?"

For a moment, he thought she was going to explode. Instead, she took a step back, and her arms dropped to her sides. She took a deep, slow breath. "No, you're right. I just… it was a lot to take in, and right on my first day back in months, and after… earlier. Just… tell me no one else at work has been dumb enough to do something like this?"

"No one at work, or anywhere else," he promised. While an obsessed fan might make a pass at him every now and then, they had dropped dramatically after it was very clear that he was happily devoted to his wife.

"Good." She stood there, staring at him for several more seconds, before she seemed to make up her mind about something. "I'm tired, and tomorrow's another long day so… I'm going to turn in early. Good night." With that, she headed upstairs.

Leaving him standing there, unsure of what he should do next. Bonnie hadn't looked like she wanted or expected him to follow her. Though she hadn't really said or implied otherwise either. Should he go to bed too? It wasn't too late yet, and he did have the things to go over for tomorrow's shooting schedule, as well as the casting notes for two incoming short-term supporting characters for the next plot arc.

Fighting with Bonnie always left him feeling wrung out and heartsick, but it had been so long he wasn't even sure if this counted as a fight, rather than a disagreement or just… a discussion with a rough tone. He wanted to hold her, to prove his love… except if he went upstairs, he was absolutely certain there was none of that coming tonight. Not even cuddling. If she wanted physical reassurance, she would have hugged him instead of disappearing up to the bedroom.

The way his heart was pounding, Ian didn't think he was going to get to sleep now anyway. Reluctantly, he sat back down and picked up his work. Upstairs, he heard the shower running as Bonnie got ready for bed. In his mind, he could see her beautiful, and naked….in the running water.

Ian wasn't sure he'd have felt much worse if he had gotten stupid at that party and done something. Though a moment's common sense told him that wasn't true. Bonnie had every right to feel the way she did right now. He should have told her everything. Maybe they could have laughed about it.

Another concern niggled at him. Given nothing had happened, he wasn't sure why Denissa had felt the need to say anything to Bonnie. And, as Bonnie had said, what if someone did hear, or see, or even hear after the fact? Denissa hadn't been in full control of her own faculties. She might not remember the incident the same way he did.

Ian stared at the page in front of him, seeing nothing, and wishing he had some idea of the best way to deal with the situation before it could throw something else in his face. Or the best way to smooth this over with Bonnie. Barely twenty-four hours home, and he was already in the doghouse. It did not bode well for the rest of the week. If he wanted to make things better, he would need to do something.

December 17th, 1996

"So, that's what happened," Ian said as he sat in Bartholomew Tanner's office. "Nothing came of it, and she didn't try and press after, so I didn't think much of it. You know how people get at some of those parties. I just thought I should bring it up in case it tries to come back to bite us later. I have no idea how Denissa remembers events, and she felt the need to apologize to Bonnie."

Tanner was frowning, though he didn't look mad. "Well, I'm glad you brought this to me before it showed up in the news anywhere. I haven't actually heard anything in the rumor mill, so that's good. However, given the circumstances, it seems necessary to at least confirm that she has the same memory of events. It didn't happen on the lot, so I'm not obligated to report it, but in this case, it might be for the best. A quiet investigation."

"I don't want Denissa in trouble either," Ian objected. "She hasn't said a word to anyone else as far as we know, and she stopped when I asked her to. I just want to make sure this doesn't blow up in anyone's face. That includes hers."

Tanner nodded. "Very well. But I want a written statement from you on it, signed, by the end the day. If someone ever does try and throw you under a bus, I want to be prepared."

"Understood. I appreciate it, Sir."

When Ian left the office a few minutes later, he hoped that this would be the end of it. Or at least, it would be dealt with quietly. Denissa should cooperate with any questions. After all, she couldn't possibly want this impacting her career either.

He hadn't mentioned Angie's little snipes, but only because Bonnie had specifically said it wasn't worth reporting. If she was determined to ignore Angie, then he would do his best to do so as usual. It seemed awfully petty as an attack. Though, Ian wondered, if perhaps it wasn't really aimed at him because he'd essentially gotten her kicked off a major project when they chose casting him over her.

Ian wasn't entirely sure if this would smooth things over with Bonnie, but a couple of quiet days and just being present and helping around the house should calm her down. She was a reasonable woman, and things usually didn't bother her for long. That was just another thing he loved about her.

It had been quite a while since the last "guys night." Tore was just grateful to have time to squeeze out of his schedule to hang out with friends instead of worrying about the state of the country. He knew his father-in-law had managed, as had Mustang, and surely so had the other Presidents of the Military that preceded him. There were moments he wondered if he somehow was more invested in the job, or if he was just stressing too much over details he didn't need to be. Of course, given all that had just happened, he didn't think so.

Tonight, they were meeting at his house, instead of Stevens, and the group consisted of himself, Jean Stevens, Felix Tringham, and Cal. James had family obligations, and Tore had preferred not to invite anyone else in. Keep it small. It also kept it to where he didn't have to watch too closely what he said in company, which was always a relief.

With the holiday season looming, their wives were out… somewhere. Tore was pretty sure he'd heard Charisa on the phone with Alyse yesterday evening, planning dinner out, a movie, and shopping. Tore didn't much care what they were shopping for. This close to the holidays, he had some pretty good guesses. Thankfully, he wasn't expected to host any social events over the holiday season. Though there would be the annual New Years' affair to attend. That, at least, was generally a good time. People were there to enjoy themselves and mingle.

Yet this, tonight, was really more Tore's speed. No one was in uniform. There was nothing fancy about the store-bought snacks on the table. The glasses out of which they drank were just good, solid, glass. No fluted crystal; no fancy cuts. Though, like last time, there was nothing particularly hard in evidence. If, forbid, something went to hell again, three of the four of them needed to have their heads on straight. That said—at Cal's insistence—there was at least beer for anyone who felt like drinking a little. Cal had been very firm with Tore that he was fine, and he didn't want to spoil the party, even if he was drinking only the soft drinks and iced tea.

Tore decided to take that as a positive sign. It had been almost seven months since Cal quit, and lately he seemed to have adjusted and was just more himself. A little more relaxed, a little less wired. It probably had a lot to do with the Arsenic situation finally under control and not having to worry about imminent attacks on family members. Every single member of Cal's immediate family, plus his son-in-law and newest granddaughter, had been directly attacked by Arsenic. Vera's very personal vendettas had just blended nicely into the plans for long enough that it had been difficult to know who was in the most danger.

But tonight, wasn't about that. It was just about relaxing, catching up on news, and enjoying a few games of cards with his friends.

News like the fact that Jay had been promoted, and he and his wife were expecting their second child, and what Jean's daughters that weren't married to Tore's son were up to. Tore heard about Julia all the time, mostly because Brandon talked about her pretty much any time he spoke with his son. It was good to know the newlyweds were still enjoying their life together. Especially since Brandon practically lived at the restaurant.

Everyone's families were doing well, and there was no major trauma to talk about. As always, work specifically, was forbidden.

"Now that everything's not trying to blow up in your face, you should take a vacation," Cal suggested over a hand in the middle of the evening.

Tore snorted, eyeing his cards. Not a bad hand, if he played it right. "I'm pretty sure Presidents of the Military don't really get vacation."

"Arrange an international political visit somewhere friendly, take Charisa, and get wined and dined for a few days." Cal pointed out as he discarded one. "Make a few appearances, then disappear someplace private and romantic for a bit before you come back. You've got every country we have an alliance with to pick from. Though, given the season, I recommend someplace warm."

After everything they'd been through lately, a getaway disguised as a state visit wasn't the worst idea in the world. Tore nodded thoughtfully as he discarded one himself, and pulled a new one off the top of the pile. "I'll take it under advisement."

Cal laughed. "From anyone else I'd call that a brush off."

"It is one, until I figure out how to make it work and convince Charisa it's a good idea."

"You don't think she'd like it?" Felix asked. "My wife would be ecstatic if I could take off long enough for us to go on a real vacation. I haven't been on one in three years… boss."

That, somehow did not surprise Tore. He and Charisa hadn't been on anything really resembling a vacation since he'd taken over when Cal retired. He looked over at Stevens. "What about you and Noelle?"

"Not since they put me on the Senior Staff," Jean acknowledged. "Though before that we used to do one every summer, especially when the kids were all still living at home."

"Sounds like you all need more free time." Cal grinned smugly.

"What about you?" Tore asked. "You have any romantic trip plans that don't involve visiting family in the works?" Their last trip had been to see Gloria and Alexei when baby Viola was born, and that had been interrupted by the traumatic events of the attack on Resembool. Before that, they'd been to Resembool a couple of times, but there hadn't been much travel all that far. A few weekends, that kind of thing.

"Thinking about it," Cal admitted. "Just need to figure out where we want to go. Ideally, I'd like it to be somewhere I don't have memories of being shot, but that's turned out to be a very short list. At least if we go by countries, so I've been looking into more specific regions, both in and out of Amestris."

Places he hadn't been shot, or blown up… that was a pretty narrow list. Tore had been fortunate enough to have better luck in that department. Mostly. "Well, let me know when you pick a spot. Maybe I can get you a flight to shorten the trip."

Cal shuddered. "I appreciate the offer, but I think I'd rather stay on the ground."

"Still not a fan of flight?" Jean grinned over his cards.

"I can think of other things I'd rather do." Cal nodded.

"I think it's kind of enjoyable." Felix pulled a card from the deck. "It's fascinating to look out at the tops of the clouds, and the ground below. It's like someone made a model of the world."

"I still haven't been up," Jean admitted. "Not that I'd be at all opposed to the opportunity, if one arose."

"Yeah, yeah, I hear you." Tore sipped his drink and decided to keep the hand he had. There was a chance no one had something higher. "I'll keep that in mind." Then he looked around at the table.

"I fold." Jean placed his cards on the table.

The other three laid out their hands. Tore's full house wasn't the highest thing he'd seen tonight, but it had a good shot. Felix put out two pair. Tore turned and looked at his friend. Cal's smug expression was explained by a straight flush.

"Damn it. How do you do that?" Tore shook his head as Cal collected his 'winnings.' They were playing for cookies tonight. Mostly because the wives had determined that too much money was changing hands at the card table, especially if Cal was playing, because he did win an inordinate amount of the time. Tore would have accused his friend of cheating, except he'd been watching Cal play for literally decades, and the man was just really that good at keeping track of the cards, and deciding when to bet and when not to risk it. He was much better at cards than keeping himself intact on the battlefield.

Cal shrugged and raked up the pile of small butter cookies. "Practice and luck, like anyone else. Still haven't convinced Alyse to let me try the high stakes games though. Somehow, she's convinced if I tried real gambling, my luck would desert me. The one place she absolutely refuses to go with me on vacation is the casinos in Havah."

Tore gathered the cards to deal again. "Is that because of the gambling, or that half the floor shows involve mostly naked women?"

Cal almost managed a straight face as he replied, "Do they? Funny. I never noticed."