It was four weeks before the due dates of Felicity, Ruthie and Shelby. While the women had long gotten over morning sickness, and all were reassured by their respective gynecologists that their babies were fine, Peter and Rod were still nervous. It helped that all the children, as well as siblings Hope and Patrick, were helping out, but it didn't change the fact the men knew their worlds were about to be turned inside out, not that they already had been.

Also of help were Morgan and Eric. The ministers were delighted to act in interim roles. Both were committed evangelicals and both were leading the congregation as best they could. Hope, too, found a fresh step and was delivering sermons that inspired the congregation that in some ways even Felicity could not. So far, the Big Secret had not leaked. Even Morgan and Eric had no clue - nor did their wives. It was strictly between the Seven and the children.

After a communion service led by Hope, Shelby and Ruthie were putting away the wares. Ruthie then asked her friend if she could get some advice.

"Sure, Ruthie, what's up?" said Shelby.

"Well, it's not so much advice, but rather something that's been bothering me," said Ruthie. "Peter's and my marriage - you and Rod saw how it self-combusted. But you guys are still together. We got married just about the same time. How do you guys manage to make it work - especially when we're all serving God?"

"Well, Ruthie, it comes down to one thing. Trust. From the day you and I testified before the grand jury - which just happened to be the same day I got my braces out, and Rod and I decided to celebrate that by making love for the first time - we have given each other our absolute trust. We've never questioned how much we love each other. Nor have we doubted our fidelity to each other. Even when we each slept with other spies, we trusted each other it was only to get intelligence and nothing more. No emotions, no kissing for that. We talk about world events and even though we may disagree on points, we don't take it behind closed doors. And when we make love, our focus is entirely on each other. We don't think about anyone or anything else - not even our children. It's our time and no one else's.

"The problem, Ruthie, is that the trust between you and Peter broke down at the shooting finals. You didn't wish each other good luck at the start, which is very unusual for a husband and wife competing in the same contest. From what I understand, Peter wasn't just gunning for the photographer when he lost, he nearly smacked you! Why?"

"I was in the way," replied Ruthie. "I should have grabbed him than tripping him. That would have given me a chance to just calm him down. But he was so upset at losing he was yelling at me, even after I stopped the attack."

"Did you two ever apologize to each other?" asked Shelby.

"No."

"Strike one. The hunting incident. Do you honestly think Peter misfired his rifle, or did he shoot you in revenge for you winning the contest?"

"I never thought of that. Well I did, actually. I didn't think he'd be a coward. But he didn't say he was sorry either. Neither did I if I had gotten in the way."

"Strike two. Then you were fighting over the financials of the churches you were charged with even if it wasn't your fault. That was strike three, and that's when you should have ended the marriage."

"James and Heather were three years old at the time, Shel!" said Ruthie. "We couldn't do that to them, even with joint custody."

"You told Annie a while ago that your and Peter's marriage was a sham. It was for a long time, sister," said Shelby. "Rod and I are only surprised it took you so long to figure it out. And at why you made your children suffer that long. They're way smarter than they should be at their age, as are my daughters. They're not blind!"

"If they had spoken sooner, as hard as it would have been for them," replied Ruthie, "then Peter and I would have gotten the point and put an end to it. We don't hate each other, Shelby! And that crazy night eight months ago - we saw it as our very last chance. The result was we cheated on each other at the same time I was pregnant and I didn't even know I was.

"And now, Peter's going to be a father of four - two with me, two with Felicity. And I don't hate her either, I love her, too, and so do James and Heather! They could have spurned The Other Woman, but they didn't!"

"Before that night, in fact before you began your long withdrawal from sex," asked Shelby, "how often did you guys make love?"

"I don't even think we made love. We had sex - maybe one every other week, if that, after the hunting thing. If it was more, it was a lot for us. And it was just mechanical, no attempt at pleasuring each other. We should have tried better than that, but we didn't. And our kids knew that, too. Why are you asking?"

For a moment, Shelby paused. She wasn't sure how to answer. Finally she figured the best approach was the truth.

"You'll remember Ruthie that after I was raped in Honolulu, I was in such a state of shock that I couldn't bear to be touched by Rod, even hugged or kissed - let along having sex. Once we knew our daughters were ours, we were able to hug but that was it. I was damaged enough inside though, although the girls were unharmed, thank God, that I had to wait six months after the girls were born before the doctors said it was okay to have sex. It took a few more days after that before I was finally ready. Rod and I thought we would just play catch-up for about six months to make up for what we lost. But a funny thing happened. We held hands for a minute. But them ... we couldn't keep our hands off of each other, just like when we were dating and then when we were engaged. From that first night, and except for the six month falling-out we had, we've made love three to five times a week, even during my periods. And that's not just sex - we really make love, and find something new about each other every time we're together!"

"Three to five times - a week?" Ruthie could feel her unborn children rumble inside of her. "I can't believe it! How can you do it that often, and why?"

"Because we can, and because Rod and I absolutely love each other!" said Shelby. "But it goes beyond that. Our ministry has convinced us that it was God's will that we be together, as a couple and as ministers. By loving each other, we love God - and that in turn is what drives our ministry. I'm sure we could be good ministers without each other - matter of fact, I heard His call when I was only fourteen. But first, our love for Jesus is what brings Rod and I together. From our faith, comes hope that we'll be together forever, here and in Heaven where sex will be way more better! From our hope, faith that we can run this church the very best we can. But our teamwork, driven by our love, is what makes us as successful as we are.

"So are our daughters, in what they do here at the church. And the reason they help run Sunday School is, they've heard The Call too."

"Maggie and Ree?" Ruthie was gasping. "They're seven, like my born kids!"

"They heard it when they were five, just days from each other!" said Shelby proudly. "And they told Her yes, right away! That's why they're so driven at school and why they get high marks. They want to get into Wheaton when they grow up."

"Where Billy Graham went. Wow! I've prayed for Jim and Heather to get called, too."

"God has told me, one of them will be. Not both. He has a special Work saved for the other, which that child will learn in due course. But one of your babies inside of you, will also be a minister!"

"You really talk to God a lot, Shelby," laughed Ruthie. "You almost sound like Hope's parents!"

"He's never spoken to Harry and Prudence, Hope told me that straight out. They just called themselves Pastors, they're not licensed as ministers and never have been," said Shelby. "Hope does hear from Him every once on a while, mostly in her dreams. Mostly encouragement, and the knowledge they will get their day in court when they go on trial later this year. Me ... I'd say a dozen times or so since He called me. Total. And it's also to comfort me. I don't know why He didn't talk to me after the rape but I figured He had a plan. And Rod, our daughters, and this church are it! God told me about your children to be because you've been too busy with the church, and all your children, to listen."

"I'm never busy for my Master - serving Him is what I do! And now, you've made me envious of you guys. Shelby, why didn't you intervene earlier, as soon as we got here?"

"You were way beyond reconciliation, Ruthie. It was either, you parted amicably, or you committed adultery. You did both, both of you, and that's your choice. Rod's and my prayer is that you and Peter find peace -"

"We have."

"- that you and Felicity also make peace - wait you did that too. Good for you, but the third is you find someone who is Christ centered. Hopefully another minister! We need another one, the rate things are going here. We might have to start televising on air, not just online!"

"Shelby, have I told you lately that I love you? Like a sister, I mean?" smiled Ruthie.

"I know, sister," said Shelby, with an even bigger grin on her face. "You have ever since I first showed up at your home nearly twenty years ago and your family welcomed me and shared supper with me when I was starving. But thanks for asking."

The women hugged.

In a federal court in Los Angeles, a preliminary hearing was being held to decide which charges from the Grand Jury should stand and which should be tossed out. Harrison was among the witnesses, called at the insistence of the District Attorney.

"While I hope to aid the trial court in finding out the truth about the charges in the proposed indictment," Harry said, "I must assert my rights under the Fifth Amendment since giving such testimony in this forum may be used against me at the trial that will occur between the state versus my wife and myself. I also assert that any such discussions that may have occurred between my spouse and me are privileged and cannot be entered into evidence." Prudence made exactly the same statement.

What a fucking surprise, muttered the judge under his breath.