Metamorphoses - V in Phoenix Rising Series	    Metamorphoses - V in
Phoenix Rising Series

 by Lys

  

 

 Disclaimer: 

 Author's Notes: 

 Story Notes: Fraser finds his place in the Vecchio family and faces his
past.

 This story is a sequel to: Chrysalis - IV Phoenix Rising Series 

 

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and copyright holder(s). Please do not archive or link to this without
contacting me. Please do not use any character I have created herein
without my permission. 

 Title: Metamorphoses, Part V - Phoenix Rising Series Author: Lys at
tyklys@hotmail.com
 Pairings: BF/FV, RV/BM
 Rated: NC-17 for occasional descriptive sex between heterosexual couples,
without these scenes would probably rate this as R or slightly less.
Spoilers: Victoria's Secret, Phoenix Rising Series: Purgatory, Limbo,
Phoenix, And Chrysalis. 

 This is the continuing story of Ben Fraser as he continues to recover
from kidnapping and rape and finds a family. 

 If you have read the other stories, thank you for taking the time follow
the series. 

 Teaser from Chrysalis... 

 Two hours later Francesca put down her coffee and noticed some of the
girls from the front desk area peaking in at her from the squad room
doors. She shook her head and dismissed the feeling she had of being on
show. Ray noticed the eyes at the doorway watching his sister and laughed.
He was aware that most people in the squad room knew Fraser and his sister
were married. He also knew that those that knew had been agreeable to
keeping it quiet for a bit. It was obvious to Ray that the moratorium on
quiet was about to be broken. He rose from his desk and wandered out the
door. He smiled at the girls as they moved out of his way. 

 "Yes, she and Fraser are married. Yes, they are happy. Yes, she is
wearing her rings. Yes, she is still working here. Did I leave anything
out?" He gave each girl a bright, cheerful smile. He stood back to watch
the thundering herd enter the 2-7 squad room. 

 Every female that was currently on a 15-minute break quickly surrounded
Franny's desk. Franny's first thought was harsh. These girls had always
treated her as the squad tart, yet here they were all gushing at once over
her marriage. A young blonde from the motor vehicle division looked
quietly at the pictures of Ben and Chase. The young woman's eyes went from
the picture of Ben to Franny. She was the only one in the group
surrounding the desk to really take a look at Franny Fraser. She heard the
popping of Franny's gum and smiled at the package of Big Red gum lying on
the desk. The girl turned away with a smile and wandered out of the squad
room leaving the others gabbing and making veiled remarks of envy. 

 When her desk was her own again Franny gave a satisfied smile towards the
squad room doors. She was lost in thought when she heard Ray walking up to
her desk. Looking up at Ray the smile faded from her face as she looked at
the suddenly gray look of his skin. 

 Ray leaned over and whispered. "Jean-Andre just got back from his
arraignment. The creep is going for an insanity plea. He's being
transferred to a booby hatch in a few hours for observation. I don't like
this Sis. I don't like it one bit." 

 "Have you told Ben yet?" 

 Ray was about to answer when they both heard the sound of Ben's crutches
sounding across the 2-7 squad room. They looked up to see Chase walking
beside him. They could tell Ben had heard them. 

 "What is it you haven't told me yet Ray?" Ben shifted his weight on his
crutches as he looked from Franny to Ray. 

 The beginning of Metamorphoses.... 

 Ben stood tall as he held his crutches to his side. The little boy who
had been standing quietly at his father's side ran up to Franny and flung
his arms around her. 

 "Hi Mom. I missed you. Papa said we could see if you wanted to go to
lunch with us. Do you Mom? Do you?" The little boy put his curly head on
Franny's shoulder and hugged her neck tightly. 

 Francesca smiled up at Ben as she placed her own arms around Chase and
hugged him back. She rose from her chair holding the boy. "Listen, you two
talk. I'll just take Chase into the break room for a few minutes. OK." She
walked away with Chase in her arms, their two lovely curly heads bobbing
along together. 

 Ben didn't watch as Francesca walked away and Ray noticed that fact.
Since they had been married, Ben's eyes always followed Francesca when
they were in the same room when they were at home. Ray watched his sister
walking through the 2-7 and noticed how many of the guys were watching her
walk into the break room area. Turning back to Ben, he was surprised to
see Ben surveying Ray's own desk and seeming to ignore Francesca in her
short leather skirt. Ray gave Ben an inquiring look but got no answer. He
offered Ben the chair next to his desk and watched his partner slip into
it gratefully and sit down while keeping a tight hold on to his crutches. 

 "OK, here's the scoop. Rochard is going to try pleading out on an
insanity plea. He gets bumped today from the holding cells downstairs to a
mental institution for a 30-day observation period. The DA tried to quash
the plea, but the judge mentioned a little thing called due process and
fair trial." Ray picked up one of his little nerf toys and began tossing
it in the air. He waited for a response from Ben. 

 "So we wait." 

 "That's about the size of it." Ray held his toy in his hand. "I hate
waiting." 

 "We have done rather a lot of that lately, haven't we?" Ben looked down
at his feet and was quiet. 

 Welsh looked out across his squad room and spotted Ben sitting next to
Ray's desk. "Now this, I like," he said to himself. He meandered towards
Ray's desk stopping here and there to make comments to various members of
the 2-7 so that it wouldn't look like he was making a direct beeline
towards Benton Fraser. It only took several minutes for him to be standing
near Ray's desk. 

 "How many cases you got now Ray?" Welsh said with a wry laugh. He was
well aware that with Ray's return from vacation, his slate was pretty much
open. 

 "One sir. Just one." 

 "And that case would be?" 

 "That would be the case involving the missing tree sir. Guy put in a new
tree in his front lawn yesterday. He went to bed, woke up and the tree is
gone." Ray smiled thinly. "And I always thought I only got the weird cases
when you were on duty Fraser." 

 Welsh merely shook his head at Ray's description of his first case back
on duty. "Well, Fraser. When do we see you back in uniform?" 

 Ray's stomach dropped sourly. He watched Ben raise a smiling face up to
the Lieutenant. 

 "January the 5th. I return to duty then. I know that seems a long time,
but given the unknowns in my case, they want to be absolutely sure that
there are no relapses." Ben said the last part quietly. "That gives me a
little more than two months to get myself back to RCMP standards." 

 "We'll be glad to see you back Fraser." Welsh put a hand on Ben's
shoulder and clenched his fingers slightly realizing that his question
perhaps would have been better unasked. 

 The squad room was filled with squeals of delight as Chase ran back with
a candy bar in his hand. "Papa, Mom says she'll ask if she can go to lunch
with us." The small boy halted near his father's chair. He looked from
Welsh's feet up to the top of his head, and then smiled. "I know you. You
took me to see my Papa in the hospital." His candy bar forgotten, Chase
leaned in put his arms around Welsh's legs and hugged the man tightly. 

 Welsh cleared his throat and saw Ben's face turning slightly pink in
exasperation. The Lieutenant laughed and ran his hand over the boy's
curls. Chase looked up at him with those Fraser eyes of his and smiled.
Welsh knelt down and picked the boy up. "So, what are you going to be for
Halloween?" 

 Franny walked up to the group in time to hear Chase say, "One of my
hero's." 

 Welsh looked seriously at the small child in his arms. "Superman or
Batman?" 

 Chase pulled back a little in the large arms holding him and giggled.
"Nope, I have to choose soon. Papa, Uncle Ray, Franny, Dief and Wallace
are my heroes. But I can only choose one." 

 The three adults contained startled expressions behind nervous laughter
as they looked from one to another. 

 "If he chooses Franny, I don't want to know about it." Ray said with a
laugh. "Course you could give him pointers." Ray nudged Ben's shoulder and
then sat down with a huge grin on his face. 

 Chase looked from one adult to another, his head cocked at the same angle
his father cocked his when he was curious. "What's wrong with Mom being a
hero?" 

 Ben sighed and gave Ray a stern look. "Nothing Chase, nothing at all.
Uncle Ray is just teasing you." 

 "Oh." The boy looked back to the man holding him. The little boy grinned
at his uncle and asked, "What are you going to be for Halloween?" 

 The Lieutenant leaned over to Chase and whispered into his ear so that
the adults standing near them couldn't hear. Chase gave a giggle and
looked up at his father. His mouth formed wide smile. "Halloween secrets
are the best." 

 "Just see that you do keep that a secret young man. Secrets are only
secrets when no one knows what they're about." Welsh nodded to Fraser.
"Take your family and get out of here for lunch." 

 Ben stood tall and smiled, "Why thank you kindly, Lieutenant." 

 Ray cast a gloomy look at the work on his desk, "Can I come too?" 

 Welsh laughed and put a hand on Ray's shoulder. "You have to find a
missing tree." 

 Before Ray made comment in reply, they heard a loud noise in the hallway.
Most of the heads in the 2-7 squad room turned at the noise, each person
seemed poised and ready to move quickly. Welsh reached out to Fraser and
then whispered, "Too late. Get the boy." 

 Ray and Ben stood shoulder to shoulder, Ben quickly grabbing on to his
crutches as he straightened his posture. They could all hear the sounds of
scuffling feet and cursing. Francesca moved to pick Chase up and move out
of the area, but she was too late. She froze as she leaned down to Chase.
Soon the whole squad room saw the figure of Jean-Andre being marched
through to the exit doors of the squad room. The man had heavily bandaged
arms and his hair was a mess. He turned at the doorway and glared directly
at Franny, Ben and Ray. He slowly looked down at Chase who had decided it
was perhaps better to be behind his mother's legs than in direct sight.
Franny had her hand on Chase's shoulder and held him close. 

 The snarling look Jean-Andre sent the family was worthy of a rabid wolf.
He let his eyes stay on Chase who matched him stare for stare. The boy's
blue eyes didn't waver from the man's face. 

 "You and that `no-name' boy of yours haven't seen the end of this yet."
Rochard was hardly finished when he was forcibly grabbed by the shoulders
and pushed through the squad room doors by his attending guards. 

 Ben's eyes were like gray ice as his fingers held onto his crutches tight
enough to snap them. Ray looked at the pale coloring of his
brother-in-law's face and then at his sister's wide-eyed stare. 

 Welsh turned to Ray with a quick hand to his throat sign. "Be right back
Benny," Ray said and stepped aside with Welsh. 

 "That person is not getting his hands on that kid. You read me here
Detective?" Welsh's face was molded and taut. 

 "Sir, he's my nephew. The drawbridge, so to speak, has been up for
sometime." 

 "All right. See that it's kept that way." Welsh looked back over his
shoulder to see Ben still frozen in place as he looked at the squad room
doors and Franny on her knees cuddling Chase, whose big, baby blues were
riveted on Welsh. 

 Ray and Welsh walked back over to Ben. Ben looked down at his son then
raised his eyes inquiringly at the Lieutenant. As Franny stood up holding
Chase, Ray and Ben exchanged glances. "You ready to fill out that permit
paperwork yet, Ben?" 

 Ben cocked his head slightly and noticed Ray pulling his gun out of his
holster a tad and then pushing it back into place. "Ray, I hope it doesn't
come to that." 

 "Yea, well I think we just may have passed that little borderline of
yours." Ray turned his glance to Francesca and Chase. 

 Welsh gave Ray a shove on the back and gruffly ordered, "Vecchio, you
accompany your family to lunch. Stay on your toes OK." 

 Robert Fraser stood off in a dark shadowy corner of the squad room. His
face was hidden in the shadows. "Do your job yank; don't want my grandson
growing up without like my boy did." He followed Ben and Franny as they
moved slowly along towards the squad room door. Ray closed the gap behind
the departing group quickly and joined Fraser as he and Franny exited the
squad room. 

 Ray held the squad door open as Ben moved through it behind Franny. "We
are talking about this later. You understand that? Don't you?" 

 Ben threw a "Yes, Ray." over his shoulder as he walked slowly towards the
exit. 

 Chase sat watching the three adults eat their lunch. He fiddled with the
pasta on his plate and watched his Mom and Papa closely. He turned to look
at his Uncle Ray and found those big green eyes looking directly at him. 

 "Kid here is smart, ya know." Ray said waiving a fork of elegant shrimp
pasta at Ben. Chase dropped his eyes quickly to his plate as his Uncle Ray
talked. 

 Ben gave his son a searching glance and noticed that the nearly 4 year
old boy was sitting almost motionlessly as he chewed his pasta. Ben
remembered eating many meals that way when he was little. He smiled.
"Chase, it's OK to listen." 

 Chase looked up with his eyes large in his face. He nodded his curly head
and smiled. 

 Francesca picked up her napkin and leaned over to wipe Chase's mouth off
gently. "But sometimes, we might ask you to leave the room, OK. Uncle Ray
and Papa are discussing something they should discuss at home." She turned
her head back to her husband's face. "Do you think you could continue this
discussion tonight?" 

 Ray had the good grace to blush a little as Ben nodded yes to Franny.
"You're right, Sis. But the discussion is not over and I'm bringing the
paperwork home with me. OK." 

 Ben sighed and bowed his head a moment. When he raised his head again, it
was to watch Franny talking animatedly to Chase about Halloween. He looked
at Ray and mouthed, "Bring the papers." 

 Sitting back Ray relaxed. Finally. Ray knew it wasn't his argument, but
the safety of Chase and Francesca that was changing Ben's mind. He knew
his five-year old argument had been won, not by words, but by the smile of
a boy not quite 4 years old. 

 The family finished their meal amid laughter as Chase asked questions
about Halloween. Ben was noticeably word silent, but laughed as he watched
his son listen to Ray and Francesca's childhood Halloween exploits. Chased
noticed his father's intent interest in the stories Ray and Francesca
told. He leaned over and whispered into Francesca's ear. She laughed and
nodded. The two of them exchanged amused smiles while Ray paid for the
meal. 

 Several hours later, Ben sat in his bedroom with his weights in his hands
and working on a set of exercises for his arms. As he put the weights down
on the bed, he gave a nervous look at his feet and checked the fit of his
ankle weights. He extended his right leg out in front of him and raised
his foot a few inches off the floor. He held it there a moment, then
continued to do a set of 5 reps of the same movement per leg. He was
sweating by the time he finished his exercises a half-hour later when
Chase ran into his room. 

 The little boy hugged his father and helped him put away the weights.
Chase climbed up on the bed and bounced as he watched his father do some
stretching exercises to cool down. Ben smiled when the little boy climbed
down off the bed and begin imitating the stretching exercises. 

 "Grandma Rose said she would have a snack ready for you when you were
done, but that I wasn't supposed to talk to you until you finished." 

 "So that's why you were being so quiet." 

 "Yep. She said it was a special snack today. Can we go get some now?" 

 "Everything Grandma Rose makes is special." 

 "I know, but she said today was extra special." The little boy smiled and
handed his father his crutches. "She wouldn't let me watch. Please, let's
go." 

 With a smile Ben waved a hand towards the bedroom door and motioned for
Chase to precede him. When they entered the kitchen, Rosa Vecchio smiled
warmly at the two of them. On the table was a beautiful cake, frosted with
intricate roses and leaves on white icing. She beckoned them to be seated
and placed plates before them. 

 "This is the first of the cakes we will test for your wedding, Benton. I
have requested small sample cakes from the best bakers. You and Chase will
help pick out the cake. Today we have a chocolate cake. I will cut you
each a piece and you will tell me if you like it. If you don't like this
one say so, another one will be here tomorrow." 

 The loving hands of Rosa Vecchio handed each of the males in her kitchen
a plate heaped with cake. She kissed each on of them on the side of their
face and stood back to watch them eat. 

 "Aren't you going to test them too," Ben said in a small voice. 

 "If I ate so much as a small piece, I would not be able to wear the
outfit I have for your wedding. No, it is for you and Chase to decide."
She pinched Ben's cheek and sat down in a kitchen chair. "Eat, eat. Let me
know if you like it?" 

 Chase grabbed his fork and dug into the cake. He bit into it quickly and
his eyes closed as he chewed. His mouth made little smacking sounds as he
ate. 

 Ben manfully put his fork to his piece of cake and sighed as he put the
first bite into his mouth. 

 Francesca walked in the front door and stood listening. The house was
quiet and for a moment she wondered if anyone was home. Ray stepped in the
door behind her and smiled as he listened to the silence. "I'll bet
they're in the kitchen." The siblings walked down the hallway after taking
off their light fall coats and listened as they walked. 

 Grandmere, Rosa and Chase sat around the kitchen table. Rosa was busily
working on preparing dinner and Chase and Grandmere were looking at a
book. Franny glanced around the room and frowned. Rosa looked up and held
her finger to her lips. "Ben is sleeping. I sent him to bed about an hour
ago. He looked so worn out." 

 Francesca turned around to face the hallway and found Ray looming in
front of her. "He's OK." He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Ma
would know, OK." 

 Francesca relaxed and turned back to face Chase. "Hey, how's my boy." She
walked over to the table and felt her heart leap as the little boy jumped
up in his chair and held out his arms to her with a soft yell on his lips,
"Mom!" 

 Putting her arms around Chase Franny whispered in his ear, "Let's go up
to your room and talk Halloween. Shall we?" 

 Nodding to both of his grandmother's, Chase climbed into Franny's arms
and hugged her. "Maria took her kids out shopping for Halloween things.
Grandma Rosa said you would take me." 

 "We have to go make some plans first and then tomorrow right after work
we'll go out, just you and me. OK?" 

 The curly head bobbed up and down in affirmation. Francesca smiled and
carried him up to his room where the two spent a pleasurable hour plotting
Halloween costumes. 

 Ray watched the two women sitting in at the table as he got out some
juice and poured himself a glass. 

 "OK. What's the scoop? He doesn't take naps unless you hog-tie him." 

 The women looked at each other and Marie shrugged her shoulders as if to
say, `go ahead'. 

 "It was a bad day for him." 

 "Bad day?" 

 "He was so happy taking Chase to meet Francesca for lunch, but when he
came back he was pale and drawn. I saw him flinch when I touched him."
Tears held in check brightened her eyes. "What happened, do you know?" 

 "Yea, I know." Ray sipped his juice. "Rochard was brought out of holding
while Ben and Chase were there. They were transferring him to the mental
hospital today. He saw us and threatened Ben again. The words were
somewhat vague, but he threatened Ben and Chase." He took another sip of
his juice. "Ben seemed to take it well." 

 Grandmere's eyes took on a steady stare as she listened. Her hand
clenched on the arm of her wheelchair. "Will you excuse me, I'm rather
tired myself." She looked directly at Rosa as she talked and rolled her
chair out of the room. 

 "This is taking a lot out of everyone. You OK with this Ma?" 

 Ray's eyes widened as his mother took off in a spate of voluble Italian.
She ranted for several minutes before calming down. "No, I am not alright
with this. You tell me when is this gonna stop. When?" She turned back to
her dinner preparations muttering about her bambinos and familia. One
strong, sharp stroke of the cleaver nearly lodged itself in her cutting
board as worked on cutting up the main entre. 

 Ben moved fitfully around under the covers that Rosa had drawn over him
earlier when she checked on him. His hands kept opening and closing as he
grabbed his pillow and held it tightly. "No." he muttered. "No." His feet
kicked out at the comforter and he rolled to his side held deep in the
grip of his dreams. His hair was matted from sleep and his face wore the
drawn look it had worn several weeks before. 

 Francesca slowly opened the bedroom door and slid inside. The room was
darkened but for a little light coming into the room from the curtains
edges. She heard Ben moving about on the bed and walked forward quietly
until she stood next to him. His hands were gripping the covers tightly,
his face drenched in sweat. "No, get away. No, please." He rolled a little
and stopped. Tears ran down his face as he relived in dreams what he
wanted so desperately to forget had ever happened. Francesca watched as he
stayed in one small area of the bed, his fingers opening and closing and
griping the sheets as the tears ran down his face. 

 She placed her hand gently on the pillow beside his head and shook it
just the tiniest bit. She waited while he began to calm down. She crooned
to him and gently knelt by the bed without touching it until she could
move her hand down towards his damp hair. His began to take in air in a
more regulated manner and he seemed to be slipping out of his dream. She
moved the pillow a little bit again, then rose to her feet and quietly
walked over to the window. She knelt there and said a prayer for Ben and
all like him who had suffered too much. 

 Ben began to wake up and knew he had been having a nightmare. His stomach
muscles were tight and his fingers felt awful. Slowly he pried his eyes
open and saw Francesca kneeling at the window in prayer. He listened to
her as she prayed softly though he couldn't hear the words. Her tone was
soothing and beseeching. Her words never wavered and her voice went on
steadily for several minutes. Though he couldn't quite make out the words,
he knew she was praying for him. A smile of gratitude and love changed his
expression. His `lioness', his butterfly, and his hero: there she was on
her knees for him just barely visible in the dying shadows of later
afternoon light as it filtered in around the edges of their curtains. 

 Finishing her prayer, Francesca rose to her knees and looked over at the
bed to see Ben awake and watching her with pride in his eyes. Crossing to
the bed, she knelt on her side and gently touched his face. He drew her
down to him with a contented sigh and held on tight. 

 The week following Rochard's transport to a hospital for observation of
his mental health started off with the installation of the new chair lift
on the stairs for Ben and Grandmere. The purchase had been Ray's idea and
had been a way to let Ben formally invite his grandmother to become more
than a visiting member of the family. As planned, Ray took the day for the
installation off and joined Ben in watching and supervising the workman as
they installed the unit, which would run up the stairway along the wall. 

 The two men had chosen a lovely unit done in a wood similar to the
beautiful golden color of the stairs railing and newel posts. Rosa and
Grandmere had wisely chosen to be out of the house while the work was
done. Maria and Tony took off to visit some of his relatives for the day.
So just the three of them: Ray, Ben and Chase that watched with mounting
excitement as the lift took shape in the stairwell. Franny had warned the
two men to leave the installers alone on her way out the door for work
though she hoped her admonishment didn't fall on deaf ears. 

 Ray whined as every piece was brought in and set with a loud clunking
sound on the hall floor. Ben and Chase had positioned kitchen chairs in
the living room doorway so they could watch and be out of the way. Chase
sat swinging his feet and listening to Ray talk to the workmen. Once in
awhile Chase would look up at his father and grin. Ben would grin back and
then the two Fraser's would continue to watch Ray as he got in the way,
stepped over pieces and generally made a nuisance of himself. 

 As the noon hour approached, the installation crew had made it half way
up the staircase. Dief and Wallace trotted in and lay at their master's
feet and they too seemed to enjoy watching Ray prance about waving his
hands and complaining and getting his feet caught in wires and pieces of
equipment. Ben grabbed his crutches and stood up motioning Chase to follow
him. They went into the kitchen and took out the lunch that Rosa had left
for them. Ben put it in the oven to heat and got out enough plates for
themselves and the installation crew. Rosa's last comment as she had left
that morning to Ben was that, perhaps, if they fed the installers the job
would get done right. She had smiled at Ben and left with his grandmother
for a day of shopping. What made Ben the happiest while he worked was that
no cakes or other items to taste for the upcoming wedding were to be in
evidence that day. Lunch this day would be just plain, excellent Rosa
Vecchio cooking. 

 Ray stopped in the hallway and smelled the wonderful smell coming from
the kitchen. His mood lightened immediately. He gave a last look to an
electrical piece that was being installed, and decided to leave it in
favor of a trip to the kitchen. As he stepped off the last step, Ben and
Chase met him in the hallway. Ray looked from one Fraser to the other with
a suspicious glint in his eye. Both Fraser's were smiling Cheshire cat
style grins. 

 Ben called up to the installation supervisor. "Sir, if you would like,
you and your crew may join us for lunch in the kitchen." Silence fell over
the workers on the staircase as all eyes looked from Ray to the
supervisor. Ray nodded with a genuine welcoming smile to the supervisor
whose whole demeanor suddenly changed to calm happiness. 

 "Thank you, we would appreciate that. The supervisor led his men down the
stairs and waited politely in the main hall for Ray and Ben to lead them
to the kitchen. 

 Each worker washed up at the kitchen sink and gratefully sat in one of
the kitchen chairs. Ben, Chase and Ray placed the food and refreshments on
the table and joined the workers for lunch. 

 Lunch was first a silent and almost morose meal, until Dief and Wallace
made their presence known to Ben and Chase. Chase got down from his chair
and filled the food and water dishes for Dief and Wallace. Several of the
younger workers made admiring comments about the animals. 

 Chase climbed back up into his chair and said, "They're wolves. They are
both heroes." 

 Ben watched as he could see nervousness settle over the group of workers.
But before he said anything, Ray laughed and said, "Yep, they're wolves.
But they're jelly donut eating wolves, right Chase." 

 The little boy giggled and smiled as he lifted a forkful of food into his
mouth. The installation supervisor looked at each of his crewmembers and
smiled, "Hey, you just saw the little guy there feed those wolves. They
don't look dangerous to me." 

 Chase was feeling exceptionally chipper and piped up to add, "Wallace
almost bit a man's arm off last week." Then dropped his eyes down to his
plate to listen to what would happen next. 

 Ben dropped a warning hand down on Chase's leg under the table and
squeezed. Chase had the good grace to turn a little red in the face. "But
the man was breaking into our house. He was a bad man and Wallace knew it.
If you aren't a bad man Wallace won't hurt you." Chase glanced quickly
around the table before being quiet. 

 The installation crew chuckled as they watched the little boy dart a
glance up at his father and look back at his plate. The installation chief
smiled at Chase and said, "Then he's a good wolf. You're lucky to have him
son." 

 Chase sat straight up in his chair and nodded a yes; for he could still
feel the bite of his father's fingers on his leg. 

 Ben smiled as he laid his fork down. "Both animals are mixed breeds
gentlemen. But they are basically wolf in nature. They are arctic wolf
descendents and.-" 

 Ray cut Ben off with a snickering laugh, "Oh no you don't, no rambling
lectures, OK?" He looked at the installation crew, "We're cops and they're
sort of police dogs." 

 Ben opened his mouth to begin a protest but was warned off by a glare
from Ray. 

 The meal was finished quietly and the men returned to their work. Ben and
Chase cleared the table and headed back for the front hall. 

 Ben sat watching as the crew rounded the curve of stair towards the
nursery floor and noticed Chase was beginning to fall asleep in his chair.
He wanted nothing more than to pick his son up and carry him into the
living room to the sofa or down to his room. But he was forbidden from
carrying anything heavier than his crutches as yet. Wallace and Dief
trotted up and looked at the almost sleeping child. Dief took off up the
steps and got Ray's attention. 

 "What?" 

 Dief barked and turned towards the main floor. Ray looked over the
railing and saw Ben sitting with a hand on Chase's shoulder preventing the
boy from falling out of his chair. Ray sighed and ran down the stairs. He
smiled at Chase and picking the boy up took him in laid him on the sofa.
When he returned to Ben, he said, "You'll be doing that soon, don't
worry." 

 Ben nodded sadly and then turned his attention to the noise on the
stairs. He watched fascinated as one of the older workers began running an
electrical line along the chair lift framework as it ran up the wall. Ben
cocked his head and picked up his crutches. He walked over to the
stairwell and placed his head near the newel posts where he could see
every move the man was making. Ray watched the action and smiled because
Ben looked like a little boy who was fascinated with the project. Ben
watched the worker carefully conceal the electrical line behind the
beautiful wood trim. He didn't notice Ray come up to stand beside him and
watch. 

 The work was actually completed on time, as promised before 4 p.m. Most
of the crew was doing the finishing touches and the cleanup work right on
schedule. The installation supervisor was filling out the guarantee and
giving Ben and Ray instructions for the care of the lift. 

 "Just remember, don't let the kids play with it like a toy. And don't put
more than a 350-pound load on it. Call this number if you have any
problems." He smiled at Ben. "I don't think you'll have any trouble with
this lift, it's our best model." He turned to leave and turned back to Ray
and Ben. "Would you pass our thanks on to whoever cooked that lunch? It
was much appreciated. Not many people do that kind of thing any more. It
was nice." The man watched the last of his crew go out the door, "Thanks
again. Good luck with your lift." He exited the house closing the door
behind him. 

 Ray gazed over at the lift, which was waiting on the ground level. He
eyed it in a kind of envious way. "So Benny, you gonna try it out?" Ben
shrugged his shoulders not quite sure how he felt about it now that it was
installed. Ray smiled and touched his friend's shoulder. "Hang on a
moment." 

 Ray disappeared into the living room and returned carrying a sleeping
Chase. "Go sit down, Benny. Go on." 

 Ben went over and sat in the lift chair and pulled the safety strap
across his legs. Ray walked over and put Chase in Ben's arms and hit the
power switch. Ray watched Ben's smile as he held his son and carried him
up the stairway in his lap. Ray waited for Ben to get to the top and then
ran up the stairs to take the boy and carry him to his bedroom. Together
they put the boy to sleep. Ben looked around his son's room and walked
over to the window where he sat down in the lovely rocking chair Franny
had put there. Ray nodded and left the room, closing the door quietly
behind him. Ben tilted his head back into the rocker and closed his eyes.
This to him was heaven. 

 Two hours later Francesca walked in the front door and hung up her fall
coat. She could smell dinner cooking and headed towards the kitchen. She
was surprised to see her mother and Grandmere sitting at the table and Ray
busy cooking. 

 "Ray's cooking. I'm dreaming right." Francesca smiled and sat down. "The
house is quiet. Where are Chase and Ben?" She was a little disappointed
not to have had Chase fly into her arms as she came in the front door. 

 "They're sleeping upstairs." Rosa said with a smile. "Why don't you go
see?" 

 "Don't be long, dinner is almost ready." 

 Franny threw her brother a disgusted look and went down the hall. She
climbed the stairs and went to the door of her old bedroom. Stealthily she
opened the door and peaked inside. Chase was sleeping on his bed and Ben
was fast asleep in the rocking chair by the window, his crutches leaning
against the wall behind him. She smiled and tiptoed inside. She leaned
over and kissed Ben's cheek and laid a gentle hand on his hair. 

 "Time for dinner sleepy head," She whispered as she watched his eyes
slowly open. 

 Ben smiled at her and gratefully held her hand to his face. "Time to wake
Chase up then too." He whispered. 

 They heard a giggle from the bed and Chase bounced up to laugh at them.
"Mom!" he yelled and hit the floor with flying feet and jumped into her
waiting arms. Francesca hugged him tightly to her and put him on the
floor. 

 "Well, men. Time to eat." 

 Ben rose and picked up his crutches and followed Chase and Francesca out
the door. When they got to the stairs, Ben set himself into the lift chair
and strapped himself into it. "Chase, would you like a ride down with me?"


 "Could I?" 

 "Oh yea." Francesca picked Chase up and placed him on Ben's lap. She
pushed the on button Ben pointed to and the Fraser family went downstairs
together for diner. 

 The day after the installation of the new chair lift dawned with the
rising of a bright fall sun. Ray and Franny were off to work on time; Rosa
and Grandmere closeted themselves in the living room amidst plans for
Francesca and Benton's wedding and Tony and Maria's children had all made
their way to school teasing each other as they went out the door about
their Halloween costumes. 

 The house was quiet when Maria returned to the main floor in search of a
cup of coffee. She heard Chase in the bathroom talking to his father as he
brushed his teeth as she passed. With a smile she hurried on into the
kitchen and poured a nice hot cup of coffee. She was startled when she
turned away from the kitchen counter to find Ben standing on his crutches
behind her near the kitchen door. 

 "Morning Ben." 

 "Morning Maria." 

 She watched him turning several shades of pink as he stood there and
realized that he had something on his mind. Maria cocked her head and took
a sip of coffee wondering if he was going to make the first step or she
should just jump in and ask. 

 Ben watched her drinking her coffee and ran his fingers nervously over
his crutches. "Why am I so nervous", he thought. He took a deep breath and
began, "Maria, I was wondering. The wedding is coming up quickly and your
mother has all the details under way. And Francesca and Ray assure me that
there will be lots of frantic activity between now and the wedding. And I
know some details will be left entirely in your mother's and my
grandmother's hands." He paused, well aware that he was starting a
rambling trail of words. "Do you dance?" 

 Maria let out a gasping laugh. She had heard both Franny and Ray describe
some of Ben's rambles; this was, however, the first time she had ever
actually been on the receiving end of one. She gave him a friendly smile.
"Yes, I can dance." 

 "Oh good." Ben's face now turned an even darker pink. "Would you, I mean
you don't have to, but it would be helpful. Could you, that is, if Tony
wouldn't mind. I would appreciate, I mean I need..." His shoulders slumped
and he took in a deep breath. "Could you help me practice?" He watched her
face closely to see if he had offended her in some way. 

 "And this would be OK with your doctor?" 

 "Well, not in the strictest sense. But it does come under the heading of
exercise doesn't it. I am supposed to begin doing more exercises." 

 "What kind of dancing do you want to practice?' Maria hoped her face
wasn't becoming as emotionally tinged as her brother-in-laws. Good grief
he was nervous. Did he think Franny would be upset? 

 "I know the waltz and a few more modern steps. But I need to practice
them. I don't want Francesca to be a flower on the wall as it were at her
own wedding." 

 "You mean a wall flower; you don't want her to be a wall flower." 

 "Uh, yes, I guess that would be correct Maria. Can you help me with this
endeavor?" 

 "When do you want to practice?" Maria smiled as he began to return to his
normal pale coloring. 

 "My schedule is rather open. When would it be best for you?" 

 "How about now?" She answered with a grin and a shake of her curly hair. 

 "Excellent, but we don't have any music." 

 "Oh yes we do. Come on you can ride that new lift of yours to the top of
the house." Maria moved out of the kitchen as she talked and flung the
words over her shoulder. "Everything we need is in the nursery." 

 Ben followed her down the hall and called to Chase who was still playing
around with the water in the bathroom sink. He held Chase's hand and the
two of them went to settle on the chair lift. Maria was already near the
top floor and called to them to hurry on up. 

 When they arrived on the top floor, Chase pulled Ben's hand and led him
to the door of the Nursery. Inside Maria was already starting to sift
through music she kept up here for the kids to learn dancing. She found
what she was looking for and said, "This is one of Francesca's favorite
songs. I think you would really surprise her by having this played." 

 Ben stopped and listened as he began to hear the words that accompanied
the music that he knew from his own firsthand experience that Francesca
loved. "May I have this dance, for the rest of my life, will you be my
partner every night, when we're together it feels so right, May I have
this dance, for the rest of my life." 

 Chase looked up at his father's face to see his papa's eyes misting with
unshed tears. "Does that song make you sad, Papa?" 

 Ben smiled down at the little boy who stood with an arm wrapped around
one of Ben's legs. "No, that song makes me happy." 

 Chase looked up at Maria with a puzzled expression. "Chase believe me,
you'll understand when you get older. OK" 

 "Sure have a lot of stuff to learn when I get older." The little boy said
in a complaining voice. "Will you teach me to dance too?" 

 Maria laughed, "Of course, I will. There might be some young ladies at
the wedding you might want to ask to dance." 

 Chase shook his head seriously, "Nope, just want to dance with my Mom." 

 Ben smiled and leaned over, "Please refrain from using the word `nope',
Chase. And I think it is an excellent idea for you to learn to dance." 

 The song had ended so Maria took Ben's crutches and handed them to Chase.
She restarted the music. They began awkwardly at first, neither wanting to
overstep their personal space boundaries. Ben did have to concentrate at
first, but soon he was beginning to move easier with each new refrain.
Maria was very careful to watch Ben for signs of exhaustion or of slowed
movement. After a mere five minutes of practice she made him sit down.
Then she approached Chase and gave him a delightful curtsey. "La, Sir.
Will you dance with me as you promised?" 

 Chase laughed as he laid his father's crutches on the floor where he
could reach them. He held out his hands and reached up to her. He was
still painfully short. Maria leaned over, picked him up and walked over to
a large table the children used for projects. She set him down and took
off his shoes, and then she restarted the music. Then she set him back on
the floor and whispered in his ear. He looked puzzled but gamely put his
left foot on her right foot and his right foot on her left foot. She held
his hands in hers and they began to move. It was a merry sight for Ben to
watch Chase smile and giggle as Maria moved slowly at first so the boy
could feel the steps. But soon the two were whirling away around the room
almost oblivious of Ben watching them. Maria stopped a moment and picked
Chase up into her arms and took off whirling him around the room in waltz
steps. When the music was over the two were giggling unmercifully. They
stopped as they heard Ben clapping for them. 

 Maria demonstrated the way a bow was done for Chase and then together
they did a formal bow and curtsey to Ben. 

 "Chase, there's a song to help you remember the steps. Would you like to
hear the words? 

 "Yes, please." 

 "All right. It goes something like this. `1--2--3, Come dancing with me.
Your right foot is handy, your left foot is lazy, so won't you come
waltzing my darling with me." 

 Ben's eyes lit up and he began to sing the words with Maria. She was
surprised and turned to finish the song with him. "I thought only little
girls watched Shirley Temple movies?" 

 "I saw `Susannah of the Mounties' 10 times as a child. We saw movies when
they were available and not many were appropriate for children. So when
there was what Grandmother called a decent movie nearby, we went." He
smiled at the fond memory. "I went back for that one on my own. Mounties,
ponies, and Indians were in that film. Grandmother liked it because the
little girl did more than look pretty." 

 Maria was definitely seeing a side to Ben that she thought only Franny
saw. She smiled at the Fraser men, "Well, dance practice is over for
today. But we can practice again another time." 

 Chase ran to hand his father the crutches and then ran to the door. He
held it open for his Aunt Maria and smiled at her as she sailed through
it. When his father stood near him by the door, the boy whispered, "I like
Aunt Maria. She's as much fun as Mom." 

 "I know she is Chase. All the Vecchio's are excellent people." 

 "Even Uncle Geseppe with the halitos--halittoshi?" 

 "Chase, the word is halitosis and please don't describe people that way."


 "But Uncle Ray says his uncle shouldn't eat so much gar...garl..." 

 "You mean garlic," Ben looked down at the boy. "What if someone said that
you had too many curls on your head, would you like that?" 

 "But I do have too many curls Papa." 

 "What if you had two noses, would you like someone pointing that fact out
for all and sundry to hear?" 

 Chase looked thoughtful. "Do you know someone with two noses Papa? I
don't." 

 Ben closed the nursery door behind him and began walking down the hallway
using his crutches heavily. "Come along Chase. I can see this is going to
be a long discussion." 

 As they neared the bottom of the ride on the chairlift the front door
swung open and Francesca breezed in the door. She ran over to give Chase a
big hug and kissed Ben on the check as the lift came to a halt. "The
Lieutenant gave me the afternoon off. Grandmere and Ma say they found some
wedding dresses I might like, but we have to go see them this afternoon.
Guess you boys will be on your own." 

 "We're never alone as long as we know you're coming back to us." Ben
whispered in her ear as he leaned towards her on his crutches. 

 Francesca smiled at him and put her hand on the back of his neck to draw
him in for a kiss. She stopped just short of his lips. "And just what have
you been doing? You're all sweaty." She took in Ben's healthy flushed skin
tone and looked down at Chase to notice that his face was also rosy and
healthy looking. "Come on, what's up?" 

 Ben and Chase looked at each other and looked back at her, "We've been
exercising." 

 "Exercising? Just exercising? Umm, now why don't I believe you?" She
noted the guilty look in Ben's eyes and decided not to push the subject.
But she would find out, she would definitely find out. 

 Francesca accompanied her mother and Grandmere out to the RIV, which Ray
had let her borrow, under pain of death should injury come to his car.
Grandmere transferred into the front seat easily and Francesca took her
wheel chair to the trunk where she stowed it away while her mother climbed
into the back seat. As Franny climbed into the front seat and closed the
door she thought she saw a bright spot of red flash against the RIV's
green seat next to her mother's shoulder. She shook her head to clear it
as she realized that she must be imagining things. The ladies drove
without incident to the boutique that Rosa had visited earlier that day. 

 Once ensconced in lovely, comfortable chairs in the small boutique's
private viewing area, the three ladies looked over the dresses that Rosa
had looked at that morning. Grandmere smiled at the choices Rosa had made,
all five dresses would suit Francesca, and she noticed that none of them
was a brilliant white, which would detract sadly from Francesca's Italian
coloring. 

 The first dress was full from the tight bodice, swinging freely with
layer upon layer of the sheerest material. Pearls adorned the bodice of
the dress and tight sleeves that would end at the bride's wrist were also
adorned with pearls. A matching headdress of multiple layers of beautiful
shear lace hung with the floor length dress. 

 The second dress was street length and had a small jacket that went with
it for a more tailored look. There was a small hat to accompany that
dress. 

 As she looked at the third and fourth dresses, Francesca couldn't keep
her eyes off of the fifth dress. It was made of heavy silk and yet looked
light to the touch. Exceedingly tiny pearls were sewn to the bodice in the
form of the tiniest roses, complete with miniscule leaves and stems. The
front of the dress was modestly low cut, its edges scalloped with delicate
lace. The dresses sleeves were just short of elbow length and the dress
was made to fit tightly all the way to the ankle. It would be a very
form-fitting gown when worn. Francesca gave up and walked over to the
dress and looked at it closer. She examined the back of the dress and
noted it was low cut to just below the shoulder blade area and very tiny
buttons ran from the top closure hook all the way to the small kick pleat
at the bottom of the dresses hem. Hanging with the dress was a long
detachable train with tiny pearl roses on it near the waist. Francesca
fingered the head piece which was a crown like affair that would hold the
wearers hair up and allow it to either fall freely from the it's crown or
allow hair tendrils to escape tightly bound hair. The veil attached to
each side of the headpiece and hung to about elbow length, the edges
trimmed in lace. 

 Francesca looked at all five again, noting the two that looked like fairy
tale princess dresses, the one even reminding her of Glenda the good witch
of the east in the Wizard of Oz. But her hand kept straying to the
severely cut long, sheath-style dress. It was that one she picked to try
on first. Rosa and Grandmere traded knowing looks as Franny asked their
attendant for help. 

 Fifteen minutes later, Francesca walked into the formal fitting area to
stand in front of the huge mirrors on the wall across from her mother and
Grandmere. Rosa raised a hand to her mouth as tears gently coursed down
her face. Francesca stared at herself in the mirror. She knew she was a
tiny girl, everyone said so. But no one had ever accused her of looking
elegant, regal and beautiful. The open neck of the dress let her long
slender neck show off to its best advantage. The tightness of the dress
made her look more petite than ever. And as for the headdress, she was in
awe at how deftly the girl in the fitting room had helped her twist and
form her hair inside the crown of the veil and then pull odd strands out
to fall in lazy curls about Francesca's head. The veil fell perfectly from
her hair to her elbows and the train on the dress helped give her a regal
bearing. Francesca turned to stare at Rosa and Grandmere and smiled. "This
is the one." She said with a look over her shoulder to the mirror behind
her to see the way her shoulder blades were slightly exposed before the
buttons, what surely seemed like a hundred of them ran down the back of
the dress. As she looked over her shoulder, Francesca suddenly placed a
hand over her abdomen and the color drained from her face. She reached for
a chair to sit in as Rosa rushed to her side. 

 "My, my. My." Robert Fraser said from her viewpoint behind Grandmere's
wheelchair. "Benton's married a beauty." 

 Grandmere turned to look over her shoulder and whispered, "Just what are
you doing here?" 

 "Came to see my daughter-in-law, do you mind, you old hag." Robert said
with a gleeful smile on his face and a touch of affection in his voice. 

 As Rosa helped Francesca into the chair, Francesca's head whipped up when
she heard a male voice. She looked across the room towards Grandmere and
saw a man in a red Mountie uniform standing slightly behind the
wheelchair. Francesca shook her head and looked again. The man was still
there. Francesca placed a hand over her stomach and felt sweat breaking
out on her brow. 

 Rosa knelt by her daughter as Grandmere approached them. The two older
women exchanged knowing glances and smiled. "Francesca, little one, you
are not feeling well?" 

 Franny looked up at her mother and shook her head slightly as she held a
hand to her mouth. Grandmere opened her purse and handed Francesca a small
package of crackers. "Here my dear, try this." 

 The fitting room attendant came over to them just as Robert joined the
group. He smiled and patted Francesca on the back. "Buck up girl. You
shouldn't be nervous; you and Benton are already married." 

 Francesca's head shot up and she looked at the man next to her mother.
She felt like she could just faint, for she recognized the man, she had
seen pictures of him. But he was dead, wasn't he? The fitting room
attendant smiled as she brought Francesca a small glass of water. This was
nothing unusual as far as she was concerned. 

 "Francesca, darling, is everything well with you?" Her mother asked in a
quiet voice. "It is a little early, but you are so little, perhaps you
will be affected earlier than most." 

 Grandmere put her hand on Francesca's shoulder. "Perhaps, my dear, you
should order the dress one size larger than you need." 

 Francesca looked at the two women and finally seemed to be registering
what they were saying. "You mean you both think, you a...want to know. You
think....emm." Francesca's eyes remained on the figure behind Grandmere.
She was too embarrassed to comment on his presence or to say the actual
word; `pregnant' in front of what she devoutly hoped was a figment of her
imagination. 

 By this time even Robert Fraser, as dense in the ways of women as he
could be, was becoming aware of the turn of events the dear ladies were
suggesting to Francesca. "Well, what do you know? A bun in the oven
already. You really should relax my dear. Won't do to get nervous over
this." He rocked on the heels of his boots and smiled down at Francesca. 

 Grandmere quickly looked over her shoulder and scowled, but Francesca had
seen the look and now knew she wasn't seeing things. So Ray was wrong, Ben
wasn't having imaginary conversations with his dead father after all, he
did talk to the man. Francesca began giggling and looked Robert Fraser
right in the face then glanced at her mother. "Well, we haven't exactly
avoided the prospect Ma. We both want more family and we both don't want
to wait. Please don't tell Ben until I am sure." She looked from one face
to another and looked directly at Robert Fraser's broadly grinning face. 

 "Yes sir. Told the boy she was sturdy." Robert stepped back and put his
hat on then saluted Francesca. "I won't tell." He turned his back on the
women and walked away humming a lullaby. 

 As she stood ordering the dress to be ready in two weeks, Francesca made
plans to stop by the pharmacy on the way home. She would just have to
purchase one of those kits. She was sure the pharmacist would be able to
direct her to a reliable kit. As she filled out her order card, she tried
desperately to remember if there was a pharmacy on the way home, which Ray
wouldn't know about. 

 Grandmere smiled as she watched the young girl nervously writing at the
counter. She wheeled herself over to the attendant who had been helping
Francesca and asked for a phone. Before Francesca had finished filling out
her order card, and giving out her personal information for payment of the
dress Grandmere hung up the phone. 

 Rosa smiled with delight as she listened to Grandmere talking on the
phone. Better for them all to know soon. Much better. 

 Walking up to her family, Francesca nervously began to mention that she
would like to make a stop on the way home. She was forestalled by
Grandmere's hand being placed on hers, "My dear, please do not be angry. I
called my personal physician and asked if she could see you this
afternoon. If you wish, we can stop there before we go home." 

 Kneeling down to Grandmere's level, Francesca hugged the frail looking
woman and kissed her on the cheek. "I'm so glad your Benton's
Grandmother." The whispered words warmed the old woman's heart. 

 It was a merry trio of women who returned to the Vecchio home later that
afternoon. The three of them entered the home loudly and happily, their
merriment carrying throughout the three-story structure. 

 Chase ran down the stairs and flew towards his mother only to be stopped
by a loving hand on his should by his Grandma Rosa. The little boy stopped
and looked up at Franny who knelt beside him and gave him the biggest hug
and a really smacking big kiss before she rose without a word and went
down the hall in search of Ben. 

 Grandmere patted her lap offering to take Chase into the living room to
watch television. Chase was surprised when Grandma Rosa petted his hair,
kissed his ear and motioned him to go with Grandmere. 

 The door to their bedroom was closed. Francesca took a deep breath, and
turned the knob gently hoping Ben wasn't sleeping. Her eyes sought him out
until she saw him sitting on the arm of the overstuffed chair looking out
their lovely window at the gathering evening twilight. With a quick look
around the room to confirm their privacy, she walked quietly up to him and
put her hand on his shoulder, turned his head to her with her other hand
and began to kiss him with deep, warm abandon. She broke off the kiss and
loved it when buried his head against her breast with a sigh of
contentment as he wrapped his arms about her slender waist. 

 She leaned down so her mouth was close to his ear. "Better do lots of
that now, pretty soon you won't be able to do that." The words slipped
from her lips with warmth and love. 

 Ben's hold on her tightened then he leaned back and looked up into her
face. He sucked in his breath and fell backwards into the seat are of the
chair taking Franny with him to be held and cradled in his lap. "How?" 

 "You know very well how." 

 "Yes, I do," his face became beet red, "I mean. When?" he began
stuttering as his kissed her face all over and tried to talk at the same
time. 

 Francesca laughed and pulled her face back from his a moment. "I
suspected...hoped, but ya know I really didn't think it would be this
soon." With shy, hesitating breaths she whispered, "You are OK with this,
aren't you?" 

 It was then that Francesca heard a sound out of Ben that she had never
heard before. He opened his mouth as wide as it would go and yelled out,
"YAHOOOOOO!" followed by a wolf howl. Both sounds were heard throughout
the house. 

 In the kitchen, Rosa had just taken out a meal from her freezer stash.
She almost dropped it when she heard the male voice ringing through the
house. In the living room Grandmere began to laugh as she held Chase who
suddenly sat bolt upright in her lap. Was that his Papa making the sound? 

 Ray opened the door and let Bree walk in quietly inside before him. The
two of them were slightly nervous on their won behalf as they were still
just getting used to being considered a dating couple. The sound of Ben
yelling hit his ears full force as Bree walked inside. Ray paled and ran
down pulling his gun as he ran. Bree followed him. Without hesitation Ray
burst into the Fraser bedroom with his gun drawn, yelling, "Ben, Ben.
What's wrong?" 

 Bree and Ray pulled up short in the doorway as they saw Ben sitting in
the room's big, overstuffed chair with Francesca on his lap with her
freely swinging feet dangling off the side as the couple shared a deeply
intimate kiss. 

 Ray began holstering his gun with a sigh, but Francesca and Ben had
already seen the gun. "Someone want to tell me what's going on here?" 

 Two pale faces looked at him with almost the same smile on each face.
"We're pregnant!" 

 "Yes, indeed. We're pregnant." Robert Fraser said as he walked into the
room with a smug, satisfied look on his face. 

 Francesca looked at Ben, leaned back and whispered, "You'll have to
introduce me to your father, he seems nice." 

 Ben's eyes grew huge as he looked at Francesca and gathered her in closer
to his chest. "Thank God. Then I'm not crazy." He laughed as he held her
tightly and reverently. 

 Franny gave him a puzzled look then laughed. Robert Fraser patted Ray on
the back and said, "Yes, sir. There's going to be another baby in the
family. Told you she was sturdy." 

 Chase slipped off of his great grandmother's lap and ran down the hall,
his little body sliding almost into Bree's as she stood just inside his
parent's bedroom door. Bree felt the little boy behind her and turned to
smile down at him, hoping he had not seen the drawn gun in Ray's hand. 

 The little boy listened a moment and saw his grandfather patting Ray on
the back. He cocked his head and ran into the room to stand next to his
parents as they sat still in the big chair. The chair Ben sat in with
Chase to read him stories. 

 Bree grabbed Ray by the collar and pulled him out of the room closing the
door behind them. 

 "What's `pregnant'?" Chase asked with an extremely serious and worried
look on his round little face. 

 Francesca put her hand out and pulled the little guy over to her. She
leaned over and kissed his check and said simply, "What would you like? A
little brother or a little sister?" 

 Chase contemplated the idea for a moment, not realizing that his parents
were tensed waiting for his reaction. "Can I have both?" he finally asked.


 Ray stood poised next to the bedroom door and heard joyous laughter
filling the room behind it. He smiled. "Guess I almost ruined that sound
didn't I?" 

 "Why, because you were worried about your sister and your best friend?"
She leaned over letting her long, beautifully straight blonde hair sweep
her shoulders and kissed Ray with a really deep and intense lingering
kiss. 

 Rosa Vecchio watched from the kitchen doorway and smiled again. "Ave
Maria! Perhaps, perhaps." She stepped back towards her stove with a huge
grin one her face. 

 Ray swung an arm around the girl who was nearly as tall as he was and
sighed as he kissed her back. "Boy, am I glad you're not Ben's doctor
anymore. Would be a shame to waste those kisses." 

 The couple turned and went into the kitchen where Ray gave his mother a
hug. "You know about this Ma? Franny and Benny going to be parents. Who
would figure?" 

 Rosa tapped his hand with her cooking spoon. "Are you eating with the
family tonight or disappearing with the lovely lady?" Rosa smiled at Bree
with affection. 

 Bree and Ray looked quickly at each other and Ray replied, "We'll eat
here. Wouldn't miss this meal for anything. What's for dinner Ma?" 

 Pushing Ray's shoulder with her hand, Bree gave an exasperated sigh. She
turned to Rosa Vecchio and said, "May I help you with anything Mrs.
Vecchio." 

 "Ma, you should call me Ma." 

 Bree laughed as Rosa handed her an apron and a spoon then pushed a
blushing Ray out the kitchen door. She made a mental note to ask Ray later
why he had blushed, though she had a pretty good idea what had turned that
lovely Italian complexion red. 

 The women heard the bedroom door in the hall open and Chase run out to
greet Ray with a loud yell as they started setting the table. "Uncle Ray,
Uncle Ray. I'm gonna be a big brother. But we have to wait 8 more months."


 Ray looked down at the little boy who looked so happy. He leaned down and
picked him up and took him down the hall to the living room. He sat down
on the sofa with the child and saw Grandmere's approving look as he
settled in with the boy. 

 "Are you pleased?" She asked Ray as she laid down her magazine. 

 "Who wouldn't be pleased that the world's nicest man and my sister are
about to add to their family?" 

 "There are some who wouldn't be pleased." She commented. 

 "Yea, well I'm not one of them. I get to be an Uncle." Ray said as he
poked a tickling finger at Chase who responded with lively laughter and
much wiggling. 

 With a warm smile Grandmere picked up the phone near her and dialed to
make a call. "This is Mrs. DuRoche calling. Please call me first thing in
the morning. Thank you." She replaced the receiver with a satisfied snap.
"Everyone has those infernal answering machines or beepers now." 

 Ray raised his eyebrows as she set the phone back on the hook. Ray nodded
knowing he was guilty of using every modern convenience he could. He was
about to make a comment when the phone rang. He put Chase aside and
answered it. 

 "Its for you, your attorney." He handed her the receiver and then turned
and grabbed Chase. "Come on Cowboy, let's go see how dinner is going." 

 Grandmere waited for them to leave the room then she addressed her
attorney waiting on the phone. "Thank you for calling back so soon. I do
appreciate it. Would it be possible for me to dictate what I want done to
you over the phone so that you could bring the papers out tomorrow
morning?" She listened patiently then smiled, "Good. This is what I want."
She began detailing a list of minor changes to her estate that Francesca's
pregnancy required and made a request for an open-ended trust for any
future Fraser siblings. She smiled as her attorney and friend of many
years anticipated some of her requests and made some suggestions that she
felt were exactly what she wanted. "Have you been able to accomplish the
stock purchase I asked you to make? Good. Good. Then I now own the
controlling shares in that wretched company that almost ruined my
Grandson. I want steps made to ensure that major changes are made there so
this can not happen again." She listened quietly. "Thank you. Have you
removed Jean-Andre's name from all the documents except the one I
requested. Thank you again. I want his assets frozen. You understand the
poor boy is in a mental hospital being observed? Good. He's in no frame of
mind to be handling his estate, meager though it is. Will you file the
necessary papers in Ottawa for me?" She listened again. "Again, I thank
you. I have one last request, in the event that something happens to me, I
should like all the files I have on Jean-Andre given to my grandson,
Benton Fraser or to his brother-in-law, Raymond Vecchio. The complete
files, not the courtroom copies." She smiled. "I look forward to seeing
you tomorrow. Goodnight my friend." 

 She opened her eyes in the dark room and smiled to herself. She felt the
warm loving embrace of her husband's arms as he held her protectively to
his body. The warmth of love flooded her heart as she lay there
contemplating the changes that would now begin in their lives. With a
slight movement of her feet she turned a bit so she could watch him
sleeping, his hair tousled and curling delightfully. She realized she
wanted a baby girl that he could walk down the isle when she married.
Images of a protective Ben filled her mind as she imagined a little girl
of theirs growing tall and having his wonderful eyes. A girl would be so
much fun. Her thoughts changed track. But a baby boy would mean a playmate
for Chase and a chance for Ben to teach both boys the things he knew. A
boy, another boy, just like Chase to fill her heart and claim her love.
The smile on her lips widened at the thought of Fraser and Vecchio
children running down the halls of the house. 

 He felt her small body moving next to his and almost purred. He could
feel the warmth of her slight form as he held her tightly to him. They had
purposely planned to have a child as soon as they could, but he was more
than pleasantly surprised that it was going to happen so soon. He had
missed Chase's first steps, first words, and first smiles. This time he
vowed, he would be there, girl or boy he would be there. He settled
against his pillow a bit more and moved fractionally towards the woman who
held his heart and soul, his Chesca. 

 Each felt the other wakening and turned their eyes towards the other.
Huge smiles crossed their faces and Ben lean up on his elbow to lean in
and kiss Francesca. He kissed her long and lingeringly, surprising himself
with the delicacy of his kiss. Morning kisses were usually devouring
kisses that sought to bring their souls completely together. This kiss was
gentle and filled with promises of the future, filled with expectations.
He lifted his arm from her body and gently ran a finger along her jaw line
as he watched her eyes trace back and forth along his face. He was always
gentle with her, his fingers always shaking as he touched her like this
when they were alone. This morning his whole body shook with tremors as he
held back and watched her settle deeper into his arms. Warmth such as he
had never felt in his entire life ran from the top of his head to his toes
when he touched her stomach and tried to imagine the microscopic being
that was forming inside her. Sitting up he leaned over her and began
kissing her where the babe might be. His kisses lacked sexual intent, but
were filled with love and warmth. "I love you." He whispered to the child
he knew would not have ears formed yet. "We love you." He laid the side of
his face against Francesca's abdomen and sighed. 

 Francesca held her breath as she watched Ben caressing her abdomen before
kissing her there and whispering to their child. Tears of joy ran down her
face as she realized how much this meant to the both of them. When he laid
his head down gently on her, she placed her hand over his hair and ran
gentle fingers through his hair until they fell asleep again in that
drowsy twilight time before the sun rises. 

 An hour later they woke and laughed together. The sound of their laughter
filled the room with the tinkling laughter of children at play as they
gave each other to the other. Their lovemaking was always gentle but
demanding. This morning the love they shared was gentle and sure and calm
leaving them sated and full. They rose together, gathered their robes.
They made their way to the hall bath silently arms about each other as
they supported each other. 

 Rosa Vecchio woke to the smell of bacon and coffee filling the air. She
rose and put on her robe before going to the top of the stairs to listen.
She heard Francesca and Ben moving about the kitchen. She moved down the
stairs and went down hall to watch them. Francesca flitted about the
kitchen like a little bee while Ben sat buttering toast at the table. The
coffee was done and Francesca already had a pile of French toast on the
counter. 

 Francesca hugged her mother as she danced by her. "I don't have morning
sickness yet, so we're enjoying breakfast while we can." Franny chirped.
"We couldn't sleep." 

 Walking past her daughter, Rosa leaned over and hugged Ben. "Today begins
with new life, today we will celebrate." She turned and grasped
Francesca's hand as she flitted past her. "And you will relax." She pushed
Francesca down into a chair next to Ben and took over her normal daily
routine of preparing breakfast for her family. 

 When Maria entered the kitchen she was surprised to see Francesca and Ben
already seated and eating. She and Tony had been out late the day before
and she yawned openly as she moved towards the coffeepot. "What gets you
two up so early?" she mumbled as she poured her coffee. 

 Francesca bounced out of her chair and kissed Maria and whispered in her
ear. Francesca jumped back when she finished and looked Maria directly in
the eye. "Say you're happy for us Maria. Please?" 

 Putting her coffee cup down on the counter, Maria turned towards her
mother and then Ben. As she saw the looks of happiness in their faces she
grabbed Francesca and hugged her tightly. 

 "Guess you're happy for us, uh." Francesca finally managed to get out. 

 "Oh yea!" Maria said pulling Francesca with her as she sat down at the
table. "This is planned right? You both look so happy." 

 "It was planned." Francesca smiled shyly. "We didn't think we would be
lucky this soon though." 

 "Well, I owe you both hours and hours of babysitting time. Remember
that." Maria smiled at her mother as she grasped Ben's hand. "This is
great you know, really great." 

 It wasn't long before most of the family had risen and eaten their
breakfasts. Ray came down later than usual and ate quickly. He sat quietly
eating his breakfast as he waited for Franny to get ready for work. When
she came into the kitchen, he was surprised to see her wearing her normal
short leather skirt in combination with a long sleeved regulation shirt. 

 "Isn't that a little offbeat for a mom to be?" he said in softly chiding
tone. 

 "Nope, Lets get going Bro." She smiled happily at her husband and kissed
him before gaily walking down the hallway to the front door. 

 "Oh I can see this is gonna be a wonderful 8 months." Ray said under his
breath. 

 Ben gave him a searching look but said nothing. Chase was sitting next to
him eating his breakfast. The little boy had almost as a goofy a look on
his face as Francesca had and Ray just shook his head as he left the
house. 

 The day passed quickly for Francesca as she filed and did her normal
computer work. No one seemed to notice that she made sure she sat more
than an arm's length away from her monitor or that she avoided carrying
heavy items. And no one noticed her visit into the Lieutenant's office. 

 She returned home and watched her family gaily playing or working around
the house. She managed to sneak into her bedroom when no one was looking
to write in her journal on her pink IMAC. She was about to close her
Journal down when she heard a noise in the room. She turned to face the
direction of the noise and glimpsed a bit of red in the corner. 

 "I know you're there. Why don't you come out?" She held herself still,
half afraid she would scare Benton's father away. "That's ridiculous." she
thought, "He's a ghost." 

 Robert Fraser stepped out into the light for Francesca holding his
beloved Stetson in his hand. He bowed graciously to her and showed her his
famous brilliant Fraser smiles. "Not scared, are you?" 

 "No, should I be?" 

 "No, no reason for you to be scared. Some people aren't comfortable with
ghosts you know. I thought you weren't one of them." 

 "Not much scares me." Francesca smiled at the man with graying hair
before her. She saw quite a bit of Chase and Benton in his features. 

 "Good. That's good." He wandered about the room a bit. "Lovely what
you've done with this room. You take care of it well." 

 "Yes, I do. I love it." But Francesca knew they weren't talking about the
room. 

 "Well, I just wanted to see you. I've stopped by often you know since
Benton moved here." 

 "I think I knew that. He talks to you a lot, doesn't he?" 

 "Doesn't listen much, but yes we talk." He gave her a wry grin. 

 "I'm glad. He loves you, ya know." Francesca watched as he closed his
eyes and turned a bit from her to face out the window. 

 "Yep, I told Benton you were sturdy. Welcome to the family, my dear." 

 "Thank you. Welcome to ours." She gave him a giggle. 

 The door to the bedroom opened and Ben walked in using his crutches
heavily. He stopped in his tracks as he noticed his `dead' father talking
to Francesca. "Uh Dad. I see you've met Francesca." 

 "Yes. Told you she was a sturdy little thing," Robert said with a bright
grin. 

 "Do you ever listen to what you say?" Ben said with a half smile. "Do you
mean to sound that way?" Ben watched his father's face turn slightly pink.


 Francesca watched their byplay with some amusement. She realized Ben was
embarrassed that his father sounded slightly chauvinistic. The two men
stood face-to-face sort of glaring at each other and it struck Francesca's
funny bone to see them standing there so alike. She leaned towards the bed
and sat down as she began laughing as if she wouldn't stop. 

 Both men turned confused looks at her and said at the same time, "Oh
Dear!" which only sent Francesca off into more gales of laughter. 

 Ben approached her and sat next to her with a fierce glare at his father.
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Chesca, what's wrong?" 

 She turned to look directly into his eyes and stopped laughing. "I'm
sorry. You're both so much alike." She turned to Ben's father and gave him
a rueful smile by way of apology. 

 "Just like your mother. She always saw the humorous side of things. Could
be a raging storm outside and if she thought something was funny, she'd
just burst out laughing." Robert crossed the room and placed a ghostly
hand on Francesca's hair. "You both did good." With a smile he turned and
entered their closet, leaving them alone in the room. 

 "He always leave a room like that?" 

 "Well, if by that do you does he ever finish a conversation, then answer
would be no. Do you mean does he always leave when he wants? Then yes, he
does." He watched her closely. "Talking to a ghost doesn't frighten you?" 

 "No, why should it? He's your father and he loves you. I can see that." 

 Ben put his arms around her and held on tight. "You know, he's right. You
are sturdy." 

 The rest of the evening passed normally. However, the following morning
Francesca woke up feeling wonderful until the minute she started to raise
her head off her pillow. She fell back with a moan and woke Ben with a
push of her hands on his shoulder. He took one look at her face and knew
what he had to do. He rose carefully and retrieved the package of crackers
that Rosa had insisted be on the bedside table. Then he poured a small
glass of ginger ale from the small bottle Rosa had also suggested they
keep in their room and handed it to Francesca. She took a small sip of the
soft drink and gave him a wane smile. Taking a tiny bit out of a cracker
she chewed it and lay back against her pillows. Francesca gave him a
rather brighter smile and began to get up again. Quite suddenly she
bounded out of bed and flew out of the room barely making it down to their
bathroom. 

 All Ben could do was stand and stare after his fleeing wife and murmur,
"Oh Dear." 

 Francesca stood on the front porch waiting for Ray, her uneasy stomach
suddenly feeling much better as she let the cool, fall air envelope her.
Ben opened the door and joined her on the porch with a small brown bag in
his hand. He gave her a hug and a smile as he handed her the bag and
settled in a tall stance beside her despite his crutches. 

 "You know, if you use the contents of the bag judiciously, you should be
able to handle the smells at the precinct." He eyed her set jaw and leaned
over to try and see her eyes. 

 Slowly she opened the bag and noted the contents: three cans of ginger
ale, a whole box of crackers and a zip lock back with some odd looking
brown stuff in it. "What's the brown stuff?" 

 "The `brown stuff' as you call it is an herbal blending of things known
to be soothing to women who are with child." His face was slightly pink as
he began running a finger around his suddenly tightening collar. 

 "Is this some caribou mixture or some other odd combination of things?
Cause you know Ray told me about some of the things you've tried to get
him to use. He said most of the things you've tried to get him to use were
as he put it `noxious' and should be outlawed." She closed the bag with a
snap. 

 "Chesca, please try the tea. It contains no caffeine or other things
deleterious to you at this time. I'm sure if you will just try it, you
will find it provides a great deal of comfort to your digestive system." 

 "Oh no." Franny smiled and kissed him. 

 "Excuse me?" He pulled back puzzled. 

 "You are dictionary talking again." She moved her fingers gently along
his jaw line. "But I love ya anyway." 

 Before Ben could reply the front door swung open and Ray joined them.
"You gonna use that brown junk Fraser made for you. He used Ma's best
stockpot to mix it. Ma's not even mad, she watched everything he did and
smiled." Ray pulled on his coat and turned to Ben, "Man you got her
wrapped around your little finger. How'd you do that?" 

 Francesca hit her brother on the arm playfully and smiled at her husband.
"HE has manners, unlike some people I could mention." 

 "Why thank you Chesca." Benton leaned over and kissed her. 

 "Geesh, Louise. Can we stop this already? We're on the front porch." 

 Both Francesca and Benton continued their kiss then turned startled eyes
towards Ray. Ben adjusted his wife's coat around her shoulders and kissed
her again. "Take it easy, OK?" 

 Ray sucked his chin back and whined, "Necking on the porch. Geesh. Come
on, come on we'll be late for work." 

 Not one of them saw Mrs. Calamari and Mrs. Nematode drive by in Mrs.
Calamari's car. Not one of them saw Mrs. Calamari's head swivel like an
owl's as she drove past the Vecchio home nor did they see Mrs. Nematode
lean over and whisper to Mrs. Calamari. 

 Later that morning Francesca was becoming desperate. Everywhere she
turned she found another odor that gagged her. Her ginger ale was gone and
her crackers were becoming crumb memories on her desk. She was desperate
enough to try anything. With some trepidation she finally opened the bag
Benton had included for her. Inside the bag was a small note. "Chesca,"
she read with a smile, "Use the tea mixture in the silver steeping ball.
Fill it half way, then pour boiling water over it and let it steep for
approximately 10 minutes before drinking. I think you will find this an
efficacious remedy for your current nausea. Love, Benton." She smiled as
she opened the little silver steeping ball and filled it with the
surprisingly nice smelling tea mixture. "Hey, at this point I'm willing to
try anything." She rose from her desk and went to the break room. Fifteen
male heads swiveled and watched her move through the room. Fifteen sets of
eyes watched her skirt and fifteen sets of eyes felt Ray Vecchio's eyes on
them. Every one of them turned red-faced back to their desks. 

 Lieutenant Welsh stood in the door of his office with a cup of lovely
station house coffee in his hand. He was not oblivious to the goings on
his squad room. He watched Francesca Vecchio, no make that Fraser with the
eyes of a proud father. The kid has guts he thought as he turned back to
his stack of paperwork. 

 Franny returned to her desk to find a big brown box sitting in the middle
of her workstation. She really felt much better and hoped Ben had made a
lot of that tea. She noted her name on the box and smiled for the name on
the box was Chesca Fraser not Francesca. This was from Ben; he was the
only one who called her that. She used her letter opener and cut the seal
on the box. Under a couple of layers of tissue was a note, "If the tea
doesn't work, maybe this will help. I love you, Benton." She dug around
inside the box and found a hepa-style air cleaner small enough to fit on
her desk. Pulling it out of the box she knocked the box off of her desk
and positioned the air cleaner just out of her reach. She plugged it in
and turned it on. Sighing with relief she sat in her chair and welcomed
the difference the little machine made right away. Just as she was really
enjoying it, her phone rang. She answered with her usual spiel and found
Ben on the other end of the line. 

 "Did you get it?" 

 "Yes." 

 "Is it helping?" 

 "Oh yes." 

 "I'm glad." 

 She listened to him breath and smiled. "It's almost as wonderful as your
notes." She knew by his silence that he was blushing. 

 "I love you Benton Fraser." 

 "And I you, Mrs. Fraser." 

 Francesca looked quickly around the room making sure no one was in
hearing distance. "Get the bubble bath ready for tonight OK? The lemon
kind." She giggled as she heard his indrawn breath. "See you later." 

 As she put the phone back in it's cradle, she saw a shadow falling across
her desk. She looked up and saw Ray giving her a snickering smile. "Ohhh,
Benny likes lemon does he?" 

 She hit her brother on the arm and almost yelled at him, "Get out of
here. It's none of your business what Benton likes." 

 Dewy grinned as he walked by, "Didn't know Canadian's knew what lemons
were." 

 Franny glared at Ray as if to say, "Now see what you've done." Ray took
off after Dewy. "And what do you know about Canadians?" Ray threw at his
fellow detectives back as they disappeared into the break room. 

 Darkness filled the house as the bedroom door on the first floor opened
and two heads peaked out. The forms emerged into the hallway dressed in
identical robes. The smaller figure merged so closely to the taller one
that there seemed to be just one person moving through the hall. They
stood next to the bathroom door and listened to the house as it resounded
with silence. Opening the door the slid inside. At the sound of door
clicking closed, the elderly lady in the room down the hall closed her
book with a smile. "Thank God for her new granddaughter." 

 Inside the bath the two figures clung to each other, smiles lighting up
their faces. Benton sank to sit on the narrow edge of the claw foot tub
and set the pull up tub stopper to the closed position before pouring what
he knew to be a small amount of safe lemon bubble bath into the tub. He
turned on the water and adjusted it to a pleasantly warm not hot
temperature. 

 Francesca pulled Ben's robe back from his shoulder as he sat over the tub
and kissed his shoulder and neck with the little butterfly kisses that she
knew drove him nuts. As the water began pouring into the tub and filling
the room with the light, citrus scent of lemon, Ben turned to her and
pulled her to him kissing her thoroughly. He pushed her away and stood
next to her loosening her robe and finally removing it. He sank back down
on the edge of the tube pulling her with him and levered her onto his lap.
With a gentle but strong hold on her he settled her into the warm foaming
water. 

 Chesca settled back into the fluffy bubbles growing around her and sighed
in peace and contentment. She watched Ben watching her then closed her
eyes in happiness. Standing and using the wall for support, Ben removed
his robe and stood with one leg over the edge of the tub, his toe almost
touching the lemon bubbles. Francesca opened her eyes and ran her gaze
from his head to his toe sending his face into his classic embarrassed and
hot pink look as her eyes lingered over every beautiful view of him. She
extended her hand and gently rubbed her fingernails against his toenail, a
small smile playing on her face. Ben froze in place as her touch on his
toenail ran through his body. With a half lidded look on his face; he
continued his slide into the tub to sit opposite her amidst the bubbles.
He picked up her tiny foot and began to massage it sending ripples of
pleasure through Chesca. She leaned back into the bubbles and let her hair
soak the lemony froth up. He ran his hand slowly up her ankle to her the
back of her knee then back to her tiny foot. 

 "You're going to have to take care of this tiny foot, you know." he
whispered in a raspy voice. 

 "You aren't innocent at all are you?" She said with a smile. 

 "Well, I believe I told you that I always liked those little skirts?" 

 'And the tight sweaters?" 

 He closed his eyes in remembrance and sighed. "And the tight sweaters."
He ran his hand up to the back of her thigh. She laughed and rose in the
bubbles to slide up his body and lay beside him the water. They hugged
each other and reveled in the feel of the slippery, lemon smelling water
along their bodies. 

 Pulling her closer to him he, nibbled at her hair with his lips and teeth
knowing it drove her crazy. She ran her hand over his shoulder and up into
his hair as she felt his pressing closer to her. She nipped his shoulder
and sighed, "You smell citrisssy, and I love citrus." 

 With a sigh, he managed to say, "Then I'll have to get more recipes for
bubble bath; lime, and orange next." He nuzzled her neck as she let him
pull her closer until she almost couldn't breath. 

 "God, you're so sweet Ben. So sweet." She kissed and bit his should in
tiny little nips that would leave no mark. 

 She felt his arms loosen about her and kissed him again. "My Sweet Ben."
She raised her eyes just in time to see his eyes roll back and his lids
close. 

 She couldn't hold his weight and he sank down in the water. Frantically
she tried to pull him up and managed to keep his mouth and nose above the
water level. Knowing she wouldn't be heard if she screamed and that only
Grandmere would hear her she quickly pulled the plug on the tub and held
on to him barely keeping his mouth and nose out of the water while the
water slowly drained from the tub. When she knew she could safely leave
him, she checked his breathing and his pulse. His head lay limply back
against the tub as she hurriedly climbed out of the tub grabbed her robe
and threw it on as she ran from the room intent on finding Ray. 

 She had just made it to the staircase and had her hand on the rail when
she heard the front door opening. She whipped around to see Bree and Ray
coming in the door. 

 Ray saw his sister's look of panic and ran to her. She stood still in his
arms; water still running down her body as she gasped out, "Please. Ben
fainted in the tub. Please Ray, hurray." 

 Ray took off running down the hall and flung open the door, Ben was
moving sluggishly in the tub in an effort to sit under the towel that
Franny had gently thrown over him as she ran the room. Ray knelt by the
tub and put a hand softly on Ben's shoulder. 

 "Ben, are you OK?" 

 "What happened?" Ben turned heavily lidded eyes towards Ray even as he
clung to the towel covering him. 

 "Franny says you fainted." 

 "Oh my God." Ben almost fell back against the tub wall. "I thought those
were over." 

 "Yea, I thought so too Benny. Come on; let me help you out of the tub."
Ray rose with Ben's robe in his hands and leaned over to drape it over
Ben's shoulders as he tried to raise himself to the edge of the tub. 

 Franny and Bree stood just inside the bathroom door, Franny's face white
and pinched. Bree took one look at the petite woman next to her and draped
an arm around Franny's shaking shoulders. "Come on, let's get you warm."
Bree guided Franny out of the door and began leading her down the hall.
Francesca glanced back over her shoulder towards the bathroom as Bree
guided her inside. 

 Ray helped Ben out of the tub and handed him a towel as he made him sit
down. "You sure you're OK?" 

 Ben looked up at him with glazed eyes and nodded. "Yea, I'm fine. Where's
Francesca?" 

 "Bree took her to your room, come on. You belong under those covers too."
Ray reached over and gently guided Ben to his feet. "You're not dizzy or
anything are you?" 

 "No, Ray." 

 "You sure, cause you don't look so clear headed." 

 "I'm alright Ray." 

 "Yea, we'll ask the Dr. about that?" 

 "No hospital Ray." 

 "Who said anything about a hospital, my girl's a doctor, or did you
forget." 

 Ben grinned at Ray. "Your girl?" 

 "Yep, mine." 

 Ben gave Ray a big smile and slung an arm slowly over Ray's shoulder.
"She is a most excellent lady Ray." 

 "That I know." 

 By the time Bree had Franny tucked into her bed and was sitting next to
her listening to what had happened, Ray brought Ben into the room. With
hospital efficiency, Bree moved to stand next to Ben and help him settle
on his side of the bed. 

 "OK", she smiled. "Let me look at you." She made a quick check of his
pulse and heart rate and noted that his coloring was returning. 

 Ben sighed and relaxed back against his pillows. "I'm OK you know." He
glanced quickly at Francesca and felt his heart jump at the sight of her
obviously distressed expression. 

 Bree put a hand on Ray's shoulder and motioned him from the room. She
looked back at Ben and gave him one of her professional looks that he had
seen many times. "You need to talk to your therapist about this." 

 Ben nodded and watched Ray and Bree leave the room. He turned to
Francesca. She smiled up at him and hugged him. "I know Ben. I know. Just
hold me. OK. Just hold me." 

 Ray and Bree settled on the sofa and listened to the darkened house. Bree
leaned into Ray and ran her hand along the back of his neck. He sighed and
gave in to his relaxing muscles. His entire body seemed to puff out a sigh
and he closed his eyes. 

 He felt her lips against his check and smiled. "You are very good for me,
ya know." 

 "We're good for each other." 

 "Here I thought Benny and Franny were getting past all that stuff." He
grasped her hand and held it light to his lips. "It ain't over yet, is
it?" 

 "I'm afraid I have to say, "Not by a long shot." She let herself be
pulled into a tight hug. "He has to deal with a lot of issues, and not all
of them involve Michelle." 

 "This new doc is good right?" 

 "The best. He helped me a lot." 

 Ray opened his eyes wide and gave her face an intense search. "You?" 

 "Me." She pulled back and gave him a very shy smile. "I told you once
that we were both neither round or square pegs Ray. We're very alike." 

 "Naw, you mean what I think you mean?" Ray held her hand and ran his
fingers along the back of it, almost afraid to look her in the eye. 

 "Yes, I do. Only my other 'love' is dead." She held back tears and laid
her head on his shoulder. "Daniella was always a frail person. She was
beautiful, fun, charming and very sexy. But she had health problems. She
needed a new heart and we had no donor. I lost her two years ago. At
first, I thought I would die. I thought I wouldn't connect with someone
again. Then you came along riding on your white charger to help Ben. I
admired you for that and for how you handled your feelings for him." 

 "Some white charger, I made a mess of things. A real mess." 

 "Ben doesn't think so." 

 "Ben's the 'world's nicest person'. I don't think he'd have the heart to
hurt anyone's feelings." 

 "Ben's just begun to touch the surface of his issues Ray. Remembering is
always going to be hard for Ben. And Franny understands more than you
think she does, Ray. But I think they'll work it out." She grabbed his
shirt collar and held on, "But what about us Ray. I thought you had
realized a long time ago how alike we are? Did what I tell you bother
you?" 

 "Hey, a year ago I would probably have gone screaming out the front door.
Today all I can say is gosh, I'm glad you're here." He kissed her and
sighed, "I told Benny you were my girl." 

 Bree pulled back and looked Ray in the eyes. "Am I still your girl?" 

 He kissed her lightly then turned the kiss into a soul searching, taking,
and sharing sensory experience. "What do you think?" 

 "I think you just stole my soul, Mr. Vecchio." She kissed him swiftly and
tenderly. "I'm your girl, forever and a day." 

 Ben stood looking out the large office window at all the buildings
towering over the building he was standing inside. His shoulders pushed
heavily down on his crutches. He dropped his head as the tears fell from
his face and landed on his boots. Today's session with his new doctor had
been more than rough. He had actually begun to talk about things he didn't
even know bothered him. Today, for the first time in his life he hated
someone with a Passion. If Michelle were alive, he would go find her and
gladly take her to jail in the heaviest handcuffs he could find. The
intensity of his anger frightened him, he'd been taught that giving in to
hate ate at your very own soul. He was finding big holes in his soul he
didn't even know he had and it scared him. 

 The door opened and Francesca walked in quietly. She walked straight over
to his back and enveloped him in a hug and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Pretty rough, hmm." 

 All he could do was nod; his vocal chords were bound way too tight for
speech. 

 "We'll get through this you know. You'll get through this. Don't let her
haunt you. She's gone. She can't hurt you or Chase, ever again." She felt
his shoulders shaking, but smiled and whispered, "Come on, let's go home.
We have a nursery to plan." 

 Sometime during the night Ben had thrown the covers off and flung them
all onto Francesca. Francesca woke with the urgency created by the early
stages of pregnancy and tried to move cautiously to the edge of her side
of the bed so she could make trip 101 to the bathroom before the sun rose.
Padding around the bed on bare feet she picked up her robe and then gently
pulled the sheet over and covered Ben with it. Quietly she left the room
and made her way down the hallway. 

 Robert Fraser moved out of the shadows to watch his son sleep. He wore a
deep scowl and glanced up through the ceiling as if looking directly at
someone. He muttered and walked back and forth at the end of the bed
before taking a stance at the end of the bed and grabbing on to the bed's
decorative foot rail. 

 "I'm still here boy. I'm still here. Never forget it, I'm here. That
plucky little wife of yours means to keep you safe. Bet she'd bring down a
saber-toothed tiger with her bare hands if it would help you." Robert
stopped talking and stared at his sleeping son for a moment. "You've got
family here boy. They love you, let them help," Robert walked around to
the head of the bed and laid a ghostly hand on his son's pillow. "I love
you son." He smiled, "Wish I could be with you to dangle a grandchild or
two on my knee, but I can't. But I'll always be here. Take care of that
'Chesca' of yours; she's got a mighty big load ahead of her." Robert
leaned over and planted nonexistent lips on Ben's forehead. 

 "I thought you loved him," whispered a feminine voice behind him that
made Robert jump a foot. He jumped and turned around in mid air to see
Francesca staring at him from the semi-open bedroom door. She crooked a
finder at him before turning around and leaving the room. 

 Robert joined Francesca in the hallway with a grin of sheepish
proportions on his face. "You heard everything?" 

 "Why didn't you ever tell him how much you loved him? Why?" 

 Robert placed a ghostly arm around his daughter-in-law's shoulder and
gestured down the hall. Together the ghost and the living female made
their way to the living room. Francesca sat down on the sofa and pulled
one of her mother's afghan's down over her legs. With a great show of
discomfort Robert perched on the spindliest chair in the room. 

 The two stared at each other for a few minutes, each trying to decide how
much to say to the other one. "Well, why didn't you tell him?" Francesca
gave him a direct stare, the likes of which usually drove her boss, Lt.
Welsh nuts. 

 Francesca could have sworn she smelled Bob Fraser's Sam Browne leather as
he began to speak. "I meant to you know. I really did. There just never
seemed to be enough time. I thought, quite foolishly I might add, that
there'd always be a tomorrow. Thought the boy knew I loved him. I wrote it
all down you know, for him; for my grandchildren to read." He paused and
rose to look out the picture window to avoid any direct contact with the
girl's eyes. It's not just Victoria and that Michelle woman he's fighting
to forget you know. He's fighting a memory he doesn't want to remember.
And I hope to God he never remembers." 

 "Grandmere has hinted at the same thing. What is it that you are both
talking about?" Francesca kept her eyes directed into her father-in-law's
blank stare. 

 Robert's finally began to show some movement, "He was so little, so
determined." The old eyes wandered about the room. "When I got him to his
grandparent's house, he hadn't talked or moved on his own in over 24
hours. Course I hadn't done much talking or moving myself. Buck Frobisher
drove us to my parent's cabin. Good man Buck. Best friend I ever had. Took
our Ben over three weeks to start coming back to us. Mother had a lot to
do with that. I certainly get no credit. The pair of us were a sad sight.
The boy would just sit or stick like glue to his grandmother. As for me, I
spent the time wallowing in my grief in a chair." The old man put his
hands on his knees and looked around the room. "Nice home you have here my
dear. Good family." 

 Francesca gave a little snort. "If you like being dissected, it's a nice
family." 

 Robert laughed his eyes lighting up merrily. "You stand for each other in
times of trouble and you don't actually draw any blood when you fight.
You're family. Good family sticks together. Ben's in the right family." 

 Francesca smiled but clearly had moist eyes. "I think he is." 

 "Damn right he is. My parent's loved him, would have died for him. But
they didn't exactly live in civilization most of the time." He looked down
at his hands again. "My Caroline loved Ben fiercely, with joy, love,
tenderness, humor and just plain steadiness. Like she loved me. But
Caroline was taken away from us when Ben was 6." 

 Francesca pulled forward where she sat and tried to place a comforting
and on Robert's shoulder. Her hand passed right threw him, so she tried
again and made her hand stop on top of his shoulder. He looked at her
gratefully. 

 "Yep, told Ben you were pluck to the backbone. Why don't I startle you?
I'm dead for heaven sakes!" 

 "I don't know why you don't startle me." She thought a moment. "Ray
mentioned a few times that he had heard Ben talk to someone who wasn't
there. I knew Ben wasn't crazy. So you must be real." 

 "Think your logic is at fault somewhere there my dear, but I think I get
your point. Ben's been near crazy Francesca. He was lost inside himself
for days, weeks. I've never known exactly what he saw. But he saw too
much, too much." He paused. "Ben ever tell you about his Mum?" 

 She stared into those eyes and answered steadily, "I know her name and
that she died when he was six. Grandmere told me about her life before she
married you. But that's all I know." 

 "She was full of laughter and love and beautiful beyond words.
Stubbornness woman I ever met and logic, I don't think she had any at all.
But those she loved knew it and never doubted it. Ben was her whole world
with me away so much. She accepted my job and me. She hated the Rat
though. That time we had in the igloo was golden for sure. We were a
family apart, but a family; real and true. Then Ben turned 6 and we were
about to move again. Caroline was home alone with Ben." He raked in a
breath of air. "The suspect in a case I was working on turned out to be
someone we knew, someone I had counted a friend. I couldn't warn Caroline.
The man decided he would get me off the case." 

 Francesca interrupted quietly, softly, "Ben was there, wasn't he?" 

 All Robert Fraser could do was drop his gaze to the floor and let the
tears roll down his face. "He was there." 

 Thoughts of Chase being in the same situation coursed quickly through
Francesca and she could visualize the change that must have taken place in
Ben; one minute happy small boy, perhaps playing with his mother - the
next the witness to a murder, the viscous killing of his mother. Francesca
began to shed her own tears. 

 "I found them. He was so tiny sitting there, Caroline had warned him not
to move you see. So he wasn't going to move. I had to pull him away. He
shrieked and screamed for what seemed like hours. We buried Caroline with
a silent Ben beside me. The grandparents came and offered to take Ben with
them, but I was too stubborn. He was all I had left." He looked upwards
towards the ceiling. "Buck found us; the two of us were zombies in that
cabin. He rushed us to my parents. Without them, I think we'd both be dead
now." 

 "But you never told him you loved him." 

 "Meant to, I almost did that last time I talked to him before ...well,
before." 

 Francesca yawned despite her best intentions of staying awake. She
settled back in snuggled deeper into the afghan. 

 "You should have told him." 

 "I know" 

 "So sleepy. Sorry." 

 "No need to be sorry my dear. You have reason to be sleepy. Proud of you
both, and not just for babe either." He leaned over and saw her eyes
closing. He smiled and rose to leave the room on tiptoe. 

 "You better tell him, you know. He needs to hear it." She mumbled as she
drifted off to sleep. 

 Robert Fraser watched her fall into slumber and smiled. "Yep, pluck to
the back bone." 

 Ben rolled over and felt for Francesca with his right hand. The cool
sheets and blankets were tossed aside when his hand found nothing. He sat
bolt upright and glanced around the room. Grabbing his crutches he moved
quickly off the bed, forced himself into his robe and left the room. He
went to the bathroom first, expecting to find Francesca there. The room
was empty and so was the kitchen. Ben felt his heart beginning to race and
almost ran down the hallway to the living room where he stopped dead in
his tracks as he made out the sleeping form on the sofa. He moved quietly
into the room and stood looking down at her. 

 He listened to her breathing and settled himself into a chair by the
large window that faced the street. He smiled when she sighed and turned
over on the saggy sofa surface 

 Ben saw his father settle in the chair across from him. "Son, we have to
talk." 

 Facing the large window Ben merely cocked his head sideways at his father
and wrapped his arms about him. "Talk Dad. You mean actually say something
significant to each other. Is that what you mean?" He looked away to study
the slowly creeping rose and blue colors of the early morning sun. 

 "Don't get smart with me young man. I may be dead, but I'm still your
father." Robert joined his son in contemplation of the light barely
filtering into the city street. "Mornings are beautiful, aren't they son?
Always liked standing out in the morning light. You stand there and the
earth is enveloped in silence and the things you see around you barely
show you their true colors." He glanced at his son and quickly turned back
to his contemplation of the street. 

 "I don't remember you ever taking the time to really talk to me Dad. Did
you ever try it? Wasn't I good enough company for you?" 

 Robert looked heavenward and spoke with a quiet timber to his voice. "I
talked to you for three days and three nights straight once when you were
little. But it was obvious you weren't listening to me." 

 Ben glanced at his father and knew he should be remembering something but
it seemed too distant and cloudy a memory to be real. "I loved you Dad." 

 "I know you did son, it's the way of things. I tried you know. But I was
gone too much and your grandparents didn't exactly live near an RCMP post
ya know." He paused and kept his eyes away from Ben's face. "I kept
everything you ever made for me. Your grandmother sent me things all the
time. Those things you made were the greatest treasure I ever had." 

 "I found the box you kept hidden at the cabin Dad." 

 "What you did was important to me." 

 "My things were with your medals Dad. Was I prize or son?" 

 Robert glared at Ben hard enough to make the younger man feel the glare
and turn to face it head on. "You're my son! Not a prize won in a game." 

 "Really Dad. I always felt on display when you were around. Benton be
good, your father's coming for a visit. Benton show your father your
latest essay, drawing or whatever. Benton stand up straight, poor posture
is unbecoming in the son of a Mountie. I was always on display for you
Dad. On display for Gods sake." 

 "We were proud of you." 

 "Proud of me. So proud that you didn't hug me! So proud of me that you
only visited once or twice a year." 

 "My job kept me away Benton." 

 "Oh, here we go. Do you know that I thought I wasn't good enough for you?
I thought you didn't come see me because I wasn't good enough or that I'd
done something wrong. Did I do something wrong Dad. Did I? I tried to be
the best at everything Dad." Tears filled Ben's eyes but were held sternly
in check. 

 "Spoken words are hard for me, always have been." 

 "You know Dad, I look at Chase and I think of the pictures Grandmere
showed me of myself at that age. I looked like Chase Dad. So now I look at
Chase and see his heart in his eyes every time he looks at me and I pull
him to me and hug the life out of him. I must have looked at you like that
Dad. How could you have not returned my love? How?" He paused to catch his
breath. "What did I do?" 

 Robert drew in a ragged breath, "You didn't do anything Son. I didn't do
enough." He turned away again and continued, "You're my son, I should have
done more." 

 "Yes, Dad. You should have." Ben looked towards his father's shoulders
with a quivering lower chin. "I loved you then and I do now. I just don't
understand you." 

 "Mother told me that this day would come. She was right, Son, I don't
have the words. I waited too long. I'm proud of you Son, proud of you and
that little wife of yours. You know she's not afraid of me? Can't
understand it, usually live people run the other way." 

 Looking over at his sleeping wife Ben smiled. "Well, you said it. She's
pluck to the backbone. Ray says they only attack the ones they love. Must
be their family motto." 

 "All my hope is in God." Robert smiled. 

 "Dad?" 

 "Our Clan Fraser motto." 

 "Ah." 

 "Yes." 

 "I see." 

 "Thought you might, Son." 

 Francesca rolled the tiniest bit on the sofa to glance at her Fraser men
and smiled. From the little she'd heard, she thought just maybe they were
beginning to hash things out between them. It didn't please her that they
were both looking out the front window in opposite directions. "Oh well,"
she thought, "at least they were talking. Well sort of talking." She
closed her eyelids and went back to sleep. 

 Chase tiptoed down the stairs, Wallace and Dief trailing behind him. The
three of them moved quietly with Chase stopping once in awhile to put a
finger for silence across his lips. As they reached the bottom, Ben moved
out of the living room to stand in the front hallway. He smiled as the
bright morning sun raked over Chase's hair. The two Fraser's smiled at
each other and Ben moved closer and dropping his crutches held his little
boy tightly. "Morning." 

 "Morning Papa." 

 "Shall we go make breakfast and surprise everyone? 

 "What are we gonna make?" 

 "How about strawberries and waffles." 

 Chase's eyes lit up and he danced around in a circle. "OH yea, waffles." 

 Ben smiled and slowly got to his feet with his crutches in hand. He put
out his hand and took Chase's little one in his, "Have I ever told you
what our name means?" 

 "No Papa." 

 "Well, a long time ago in a place called Normandy in a place called Anjou
we were called by the name Friesal." 

 "Freeseal?" 

 "Friesal is the French word for strawberries." Ben continued with the
short family history lesson as they walked slowly down the hallway. 

 Francesca stood in the living room doorway with a smile on her face.
Chase would never doubt that Ben loved him. She placed a hand on her soon
to be burgeoning stomach and looking down at herself smiled. "He'll tell
you the same story someday." 

 Saturday morning in the Vecchio/Fraser home found everyone running
around. Despite the fact that Halloween actually fell on Sunday, the city
was celebrating the occasion on Saturday. The goings and comings were
heralded by loud bangs of both the front and rear doors. Excited children
ran around making sure all the family Halloween decorations were still in
place. Ray was fiddling with the stereo system placed near the front door
and experimenting with the sound. Ben stood on the front porch listening
as Ray adjusted the volume on best haunting Halloween sound effects CD he
owned. 

 Dief and Wallace lay on the front porch next to the row of Halloween
pumpkins on the porch. Each of the children had decorated their own
pumpkin with the exception of Maria and Tony's youngest child and Chase.
Their pumpkin faces were decorated with paper cutouts, crayon and crazy
wigs. Skeleton cutouts hung from the porch ceiling and there was a
cauldron pot by the front door that Ray would put dry ice in when darkness
came. 

 Francesca walked up to Ray with a snicker, "Still a kid. Ray did you get
the handouts yet?" 

 "Ma took care of that yesterday. She got some bags of candy that Maria's
kids assured her will make our house famous." 

 Franny laughed. "Well, you're losing your sound helper on the porch. It's
time for his appointment with the doctor." 

 "Yea. Well, keep your fingers crossed. If Benny doesn't get the go ahead
to lose those crutches soon, we're going to have a pouting Mountie on our
hands." 

 Ben stuck his head in the door and glared at Ray, "I heard that Ray. I
don't pout." 

 "Oh yes you do." Ray laughed. "Ask Chase." 

 "Ray, I have never pouted." 

 "God, you're in such denial." 

 "Well, I haven't." 

 Franny grabbed Ben's jacket collar and pulled him in for a quick kiss.
"You do pout. It's one of your few failings dear." 

 Ben looked skeptical. "I don't pout Chesca." 

 "Yes, you do. Come on we don't want to be late for that appointment, now
do we?" 

 The couple turned to leave and Ray heard them quibbling all the way to
Franny's car. Ray smiled, "Some things never change." 

 Three hours later Francesca and Ben returned home with Ben wearing a huge
smile and minus his crutches that were hidden in the back of the car. Ben
got out of the car and stood tall using only a cane to aid him as he
walked towards the house. Ray was still fiddling with the sound system but
was now aided by Chase and two of Maria's children. "So how did the
appointment go?" Ray said with a pointed look at the cane in Ben's hand. 

 Ben beamed, "Splendidly, as you can see Ray." 

 Francesca shut the door behind her and dragged her coat off. "No crutches
unless he gets tired. And while he's not fit for marathon running yet,
he's supposed to start short daily walks around our block." 

 "Does this doc know he's just created a monster?" 

 "Ray, I'm not a monster." 

 "No, just a freak." Ray said with a laugh. 

 "I explained to him that he better give Ben a strict guideline to follow.
He gave me this." Franny held up a piece of paper. 

 Ray took it and read, "Mr. Fraser is to start short walks beginning this
date. Said SHORT walks are to be monitored by another adult. He is not
to-----" Ray raised his eyes. "I think this guy has your measure Fraser." 

 Ben lifted his chin, "I'm not a child Ray. I can follow instructions." 

 "Yea sure Benny. Telling you not to do something is like waving a red
flag in front of a bull." 

 "I am quite capable of--" 

 "How many suits have I ruined while you were following `instructions'?
How many Benny?" 

 "Well, Ray. Do you mean when we were in pursuit of a felon or during an
investigation?" 

 "See Franny. He compartmentalizes things...He can't simply give me an
all-inclusive answer. That would be too easy." 

 Ben shut his mouth with a decided snap. 

 Franny turned with a snickering laugh and headed down the hall to the
kitchen leaving Ray and Ben to stare after her as she swung down the hall.


 "Why did she laugh Ray?" 

 "Hey, she's your wife." 

 Ben stared down the hall with a decidedly confused look on his face. Dief
came up to Ben and gave him a questioning look before racing past him with
a little wolf bounce and headed after Francesca. 

 "What was that? I was not nitpicking." Ben yelled after his fleeing wolf.
He turned to Ray, "Ray, do I nitpick?" 

 "No bones about it, Benny, you nitpick." 

 "I do?" 

 "Yes, you do." 

 "Oh." 

 "Hey, we all have foibles. No big deal." Ray went back to fiddling with
his sound system. 

 "Foibles, now I have foibles." Ben's usually low-pitched voice rose to a
high note as he spoke. 

 "Benny, you're taking this way too seriously." 

 Benny turned away and headed down the hall towards the kitchen in search
of Francesca. Ray smiled. "Welcome back buddy." He watched Ben walk away
with a smile on his face and then grabbed another CD to test on his sound
system. 

 Chase stood proudly in front of the bathroom mirror with Francesca behind
him. His dark curly hair was hidden under a child sized Stetson that
Turnbull had found a way to smuggle into the house for Francesca. He also
wore a small red, serge jacket and jodhpurs with official regulation boots
and matching Sam Browne. His little eyes danced and he laughed, "I look
like Papa in those pictures you showed me Mom." 

 Francesca turned her son around and smiled at him. "I think you look like
the best Mountie I've ever seen with the exception of your father." 

 "I gotta go show Papa." He turned and ran and opened the bathroom door,
then ran back and hugged her. "You're the best Mom." He ran out into the
hall yelling for his father. 

 Running up to his parent's bedroom door, he knocked, straightened his
shoulders and entered the room. Francesca leaned back on the bathroom
doorframe and smiled. 

 Chase entered the bedroom door and stood stock still as he gazed at his
father. Ben stood smiling at Chase in full dress uniform. The two Fraser's
were mirror images of each other with the exception of the cane Ben leaned
on heavily. Chase walked up to his father and stood looking up at his
father with wonder and pride in his eyes. Ben knelt down and straightened
Chase's hat and tugged the red serge jacket down a tad. 

 Ben stood up and offered his hand to his son who took it quickly and
firmly. "Shall we go get your treat bag?" 

 Together they marched out into the hallway where Francesca waited with a
camera. She took their picture and waved them on into the front hall where
Tony and Maria's brood were gathered in their garish and somewhat scary
costumes. Dief and Wallace stood in line with dog saddlebags over their
shoulders both wore a sign on their collar that said simply, `Wolf'. 

 Francesca herded her two Mounties into the group and took a group
picture. The doorbell rang and the revel began. The children of the house
ran out the door with their bags and Maria and Tony followed with the
youngest children. Ray started the music system and stood back satisfied
that he had the eeriest music on the block coming out of his speakers.
Franny and Ben walked hand in hand out the front door with Chase marching
in front of them as new trick or treaters marched up the porch steps.
Franny turned around to close the door behind her and mouthed to Ray.
"Follow with the RIV will ya. We're going clockwise around the block." 

 Ray nodded and watched his mother and Grandmere entering the living room.
"Go ahead; I'll hand out the treats." Ma said with a smile. 

 Ray ran over and kissed her forehead. "You're the best Ma." 

 "Remember that." She said with a pat on his shoulder. 

 Chase marched up the steps to his first trick or treat house. He rang the
doorbell and waited patiently. The door opened and a smiling face greeted
him as he stood on the porch flanked on each side by Dief and Wallace. 

 "Where's your bag little one." The lady said as Chase stood at attention.


 "I don't have a bag, I have two wolves. The big one is carrying my bag;
the little one is carrying a bag for our baby that's not born yet." 

 "My, such lovely wolves." Dief whined happily and stepped forward for the
lady to reach his saddlebag. Then it was Wallace's turn. He comported
himself well in imitation of Dief. 

 "Thank you kindly Mam." Chase said taking off his hat and smiling. 

 "Who taught you such nice manners?" 

 "My Papa, he's my hero." Chase turned around to point to Ben and Franny.
"My Mom's my hero too." He put his hat back on and turned around to leave.


 The lady looked out at Francesca. "Francesca Vecchio I never thought I'd
see the day you'd be a hero. But it looks good on you dear." 

 "Thank you Mrs. Tortellini." 

 "You bring that husband of yours over sometime soon for coffee. I want to
meet him." Mrs. Tortellini was a close friend of Rosa Vecchio's and had
been for years. It didn't surprise Francesca at all to hear that the lady
was in on their family news. 

 "Yes Mam, I will." Franny put her hand on Fraser's arm proudly and
whispered in his ear, "You're my hero." 

 Ben blushed and watched Chase, Dief and Wallace head out to the next
house. 

 Ray followed the little group with a sharp eye on Ben. He was well aware
of the fact that the stubborn Mountie should not walk the entire trick or
treat route. After Chase went to his 5th house for trick or treating he
was surprised to see Ben turn and wave him over to park at the curb. Ben
climbed in grateful for the RIV's presence. "Thank you Ray." 

 "OK. What'd you do with him?" 

 "Pardon me Ray." 

 "Where'd you put the real Benton Fraser?" 

 "Ray?" 

 "Franny hit you over the head or something." 

 "I don't believe so Ray." 

 "Well, you've never given in this easily before." 

 "Oh. I see." Ben rubbed his eyebrow absently. "The doctor made it plain
to Francesca that if I walked to more than 5 houses tonight that she was
to call him so he could yell at me." 

 "I like this doc. He's got your number." 

 "As I said before, Ray, I can follow instructions." 

 "Sure Benny. I know you can." Ray drove along slowly to follow Chase and
Francesca. The grin on his face was a classic Ray Vecchio smile. 

 Later that evening the Vecchio adults sat in the living room watching the
children exchange stories as they waited for their parents to safety check
their candy. Chase was sleepily holding his head up his Stetson on a chair
beside Ben. Soon every last piece of candy had been checked and each child
picked out 3 items for consumption. Then the bags were tagged and put in
Ray's custody. Ray smiled as each child put his or her bag in his
Halloween treat box. Chase dragged his bags over to Ray and put them in
the box. 

 "Two bags Chase?" 

 "Yep, I got some for the new baby too." 

 "Gonna be awhile champ. Babies don't have teeth when they're born." 

 Chase immediately headed for Francesca. "Mom, when will the baby get to
eat treats?" 

 Ben smiled as Francesca explained how long it would be before the new
baby would be able to eat Halloween candy. Chase looked very disappointed
then grinned, "Then you and Papa can have it. I'll get more next year for
the baby." 

 Ray scooped the little boy up and called to all the kids. "Last one up in
the nursery is a rotten egg and won't hear my first ghost story before
bedtime." Ray grinned at Ben and Franny. "And get the costumes off and get
in your jammys." 

 There was a major exodus of small children up the steps. 

 Sunday morning found everyone ready for church on time despite the fact
that all the children were sleepy and drooping. Today was to be the second
reading of the banns for Francesca and Ben so even Grandmere was a little
more excited than was usual. 

 Father Behan looked out over his congregation and smiled warmly. Another
great Sunday gathering of parishioners and a chance to again announce the
intent of one of his favorite parish couples. He frowned a little though
as Mrs. Calamari and Mrs. Nematode sat whispering among their friends.
Lord save us from the gossipmongers he said in private prayer and began
his service. 

 As the church emptied Franny and Ben were among the last to leave a pew
and head out the door with Chase walking between them. It was unfortunate
that Mrs. Calamari was in line ahead of them whispering to another of her
cohorts. It was more unfortunate that Ben and Francesca could hear her
every word. 

 "I'll grant you the child is cute enough, but his parents weren't
married. And now there's another one on the way from what I hear.
Hopefully, they'll be married in time for this one to be legitimate." And
then Mrs. Calamari made a fateful mistake; she turned around to meet the
ice-cold glare of Benton Fraser as he stood leaning on his cane with his
child's hand in his. Francesca stood next to him with bright red patches
of anger coloring her cheeks. 

 "I can assure you Mrs. Calamari that Francesca and I are legally married
both in the eyes of the law and God." Ben turned slightly and smiled a
warm welcoming smile. "Ah, Father Behan would you be so kind --" he walked
off to the side with the priest and his son, leaving Francesca a little
behind him. 

 A very livid Francesca looked Mrs. Calamari directly in the eye. "You're
so lucky Ray or my mother didn't hear that." Francesca looked at Mrs.
Calamari and saw Father Behan standing a short distance away with a
disturbed expression on his face. "But I think Father Behan heard you."
And with a curt smile she joined her husband leaving the Calamari woman to
stand as if frozen to the ground. 

 The ladies that were standing around Mrs. Calamari, including Mrs.
Nematode, discreetly turned and made their way out the church door. 

 Late Sunday afternoon the house was quiet, Maria and Tony were off
visiting his parents with all their children. Ma and Grandmere had gone
shopping taking Chase with them. Ray and Bree were sitting in the living
room watching TV. Franny was busy at her journal on the computer and Ben
was lying on the bed lovingly watching Franny at the computer when he
realized he was very thirsty. He asked Franny if she wanted anything and
left the room to go to the kitchen for a cold drink. 

 He pulled out a nearly empty juice bottle and poured himself a glass of
juice. He drank heavily from it and poured an additional amount in the
glass. Smashing the container he placed the shriveled in the recycling bin
under the sink. He drained his juice glass and placed it in the sink. 

 It was then that he noticed the terry cloth dishtowel one of the children
had used in removing the remnants of their Halloween makeup. He found
himself staring at it unable to remove his gaze from it. With a shaking
hand he picked it up out of the sink and watched the red congealed mess
transfer itself to his fingers. Fascinated he ran his fingers over and
over the messiest of the gel like substance. He felt his legs begin to
shake and a cold sweat broke out on his face. His stomach churned and he
felt like throwing up. But his gaze never wavered from the dishtowel. He
felt the tears gathering in his eyes even as his throat began to tighten
and he was sure he wouldn't be able to talk even if he wanted to do so. He
ran a gel-covered hand over his face leaving a trail of red down his face.
By the time the cold sweat was running down his face in rivulets the back
of his shirt was stuck to the dampness of his skin. Slowly he sank down to
his knees then found himself huddling on the floor. Images began to roil
around in his head as he pulled his knees up to his chest and held them
tightly to him with clasped hands. He found himself murmuring over and
over again, "I won't move Mother. I promise. I won't move. Dad, where are
you? Dad, Mum needs you." 

 Francesca finished the section of journal she had been working on and
noticed that Ben had not returned to the room. She stretched as she went
out of the room and down the hall to kitchen. As she rounded the kitchen
doorway she heard crying. Quickening her pace she walked around the
kitchen table to see Ben huddled on the kitchen floor. Frightened she ran
to him and knelt beside him calling his name softly. She listened as he
continued whispered what sound like a yoga mantra in a small childlike
voice. "I won't move, won't move. I won't move. Promise Mum. I won't
move." 

 Realizing that he really wasn't going to move, Francesca rose and ran as
fast as she could to the living room where she knew Bree and Ray were
sitting. 

 One look at Francesca's ashen countenance and Bree knew that Ben was in
trouble again. She grabbed Ray by the arm and ordered him out to the car
to get her medical kit. Ray ran out the door as Bree ran ahead of
Francesca to the kitchen. 

 Ben hadn't moved and he held himself in a tighter ball if that was
possible. His lips moved but hardly any sound came out. Bree quickly asked
Francesca if she knew what he was saying and Franny responded quickly and
efficiently. 

 "Damn it." Bree whispered. She leaned in closer to hear the words for
herself. "He's having a flashback. Any idea what would have been traumatic
to him as a child?" She tried coaxing Ben to relax but he didn't hear or
see her. 

 Ray ran in with the medical bag and nearly collapsed on the floor beside
Ben. "Oh my God. Oh my God." He turned trusting eyes to Bree. "You can
help him, right?" 

 Francesca rose and got a clean towel and put warm water on it and knelt
beside Ben. She looked inquiringly at Bree and saw Robert Fraser standing
in the corner of the room with a look of severe pain on his face. "I'm not
sure. Ray, do you have any idea?" But Franny's eyes never left Robert
Fraser's face. 

 Robert leaned back and sighed, "He's remembering his mother." 

 "His mother." Franny said with a nod. 

 "Yea, Benny said she died when he was very young." Ray offered. 

 "She was murdered." Robert added. 

 "Murdered?" Franny gasped. 

 "I didn't say murdered." Ray whispered. 

 "No Yank. I did", Robert said with sadness. "I pulled up to the house too
late. Muldoon had been there before me. I saw the tracks in the snow and
the tracks leading away from the cabin that meant someone had left in a
hurry. I went up the porch steps slowly fearing what I would find inside."


 Franny nodded to Robert and listened intently while Bree began cleaning
Ben up as she whispered reassuringly to him. "I don't want to use drugs.
But if he doesn't snap out of it soon, I'll have to get him to relax
somehow." 

 "Pushing that door open was the hardest thing I've ever done." Tears ran
down his face. "My beautiful Caroline was on the floor covered in her own
blood where Muldoon had shot her. At first I didn't see little Benton. My
God he was covered in it. Covered in Caroline's blood and sitting in a
huddle next to her." He gulped as if dragging in oxygen then continued.
"Caroline's hand was holding Benton's tightly. I could see that even from
where I stood. Her beautiful eyes were closed forever. I stepped closer
and my shadow fell over Benton." 

 Franny let the tears run down her face. "He saw his mother murdered. He
saw it." 

 Bree didn't challenge Francesca's knowledge but listened again to the
faint murmurings out of Ben's mouth. She heard, "Mother, please Mother. I
won't move, I promise." Bree turned her head to Ray. "I think Francesca is
right Ray." She felt Ben's cold hands. "Get me a blanket will you and a
pillow. I don't want him going shocky on me." 

 Robert tilted his head down and then looked Francesca directly in the
face. "When my shadow fell on Ben. He became a statue. He even stopped
breathing. It was more than I could handle. I ran forward and grabbed my
son and tried to lift him away from his mother's dead body. But her hand,
-- it was frozen in a hold on Ben's wrist. I had to put my boy down. He
had started shrieking. I've never heard anything to sharp and sad. Never."


 Bree tried talking to Ben but with no result. She felt his face and hands
and made a decision. "This is probably the wrong thing to do, but if I
don't get him to relax." The possibilities hung heavy on the air as she
quickly prepared an injection and sunk it into Ben's arm. In seconds he
began to melt sideways down to the floor. Ray put the pillow under his
head and spread the blanket out over him. Francesca lifted Ben's feet into
her lap and sat enthralled as Robert Fraser continued his story in the
background. 

 "It took me several minutes to get Ben's hand released. When I did I ran
with him outside and laid him in my sled. I covered the boy up with the
thickest of my furs and then went back inside." He paused. "I pieced the
whole thing together later. As quickly as I could I wrapped my wife's body
in a thick blanket and cleaned up the floor. All of the blood wouldn't
come out so I covered it with a rug. It took me only about 5 minutes to do
that. Seemed like hours. I ran back out and brought my boy back inside. I
thought I was going to lose him too. He was covered with so much of
Caroline's blood, I was afraid he was wounded too. I cleaned him up
carefully. He was OK thank God. At first he wouldn't talk, and he couldn't
seem to form a word. But then he made soft whispering sounds as he got
tired. But when he woke up, he just looked at me with those big eyes of
his like he wasn't seeing me and made not a sound." 

 Bree turned to Ray and Franny. "Get his bed covers turned down. I want
him warm and comfortable as soon as possible." 

 Robert rocked back on his feet and continued. "Muldoon had snuck up on
the house only knocking when he was sure I wasn't home. Caroline let him
in; she had no reason to refuse him. I hadn't told her he was a suspect.
He went in and talked to her for a while trying to see if I had told her
anything. Ben was sleeping on the sofa. I gather it was a punishment nap.
That boy could do some of the darndest things. Ben heard it all. It took
the boy days to talk again. He refused to talk after I put him in my sled.
He'd seen the man raise the gun and taunt Caroline before firing. He'd
turned without a bit of remorse and went to the door. Ben said the man
looked back and saw him crawling to his mother. He said the man laughed
then closed the door. Well, he never did actually come right out and say
it; he talked about the whole thing in his sleep later. Still does I
think. Heard and pieced the complete tale while I sat by his bed at my
parents cabin." 

 Between the three adults they managed to get Ben into his room and onto
the bed. Franny and Bree pulled his clothing off down to his boxers and
got a flannel shirt on his torso for warmth. Bree lowered his head and
raised his feet onto several pillows and watched while Francesca pulled
the covers up over his body. 

 Robert Fraser joined them and stood near Ben. "When Ben finally slept, he
slept around the clock. Buck had come by then and I had told him much of
what I had pieced together from Ben's ramblings, though I didn't have the
whole story yet. When Ben woke up he just sat there. He didn't say a word.
We tried, but he wouldn't move. Little guy would sit wherever you put him
and not move or say a word." Robert wiped his eyes and returned to the
story. "We put a warrant out on Muldoon and buried Caroline. I'd come home
on a 48-hour leave. By the time my leave was almost over it was obvious
that Ben needed more help than I could give him. My parents had returned
to their cabin right after the funeral. So Buck got his car and we drove
him to my parents. Mother had a doctor waiting. Sneak convinced Mother to
put sleeping powder in our drinks. Slept for 12 hours and Ben still didn't
talk when he woke up." 

 Francesca sat down on the bed and watched Bree checking Ben over. She
turned her head again towards her father-in-law. 

 "Ben and I stayed there almost three weeks before Ben started coming back
to us. Mother did that. Smart woman. But she hated it when I went back to
work. I had to; I had to go after Muldoon. Buck understood, so did my
Father. Mother never understood it." He walked over a placed a hand on
Ben's hair. "Benton never understood it either. How do you tell your son,
that justice, or revenge or whatever you want to call it is more important
than anything else? I couldn't explain it, so I stayed away. I couldn't
stand the look in my boy's eyes. Funny thing. When he came out of it, it
was obvious he didn't remember a thing. Kept asking for his Mum." He
turned and walked over to the window. "We Fraser's are good at locking
things away inside us." With a quick turn he faced Francesca. "Don't let
him do that anymore. Drag it out of him even if it hurts him." 

 Ben moved slightly on the bed and seemed to be settling into a deep
sleep. Bree sighed a sigh of relief. She went over to the table and picked
up the phone. 

 Ray walked over to her, "Who you calling?" he asked softly. 

 "His doctor." 

 "He doesn't want to go back to the hospital Bree." 

 "I know that, but his doctor needs to know about this." 

 "We won't release him to the hospital Bree." 

 "Ray, don't you think I know that." She smiled and caressed the side of
his face. "Don't worry. I'm staying." 

 Ray grinned. "I knew you were our kind of people." 

 "Heavens knows how I'll work it out. But I'm staying." 

 Robert looked around the room at the people surrounding his sleeping son.
"Yep, told Ben this was a good family." He smiled broadly at Francesca.
"Take care of Chase and my grandchildren, get some sleep yourself." Then
he just walked into the closet and disappeared. 

 Francesca's mouth dropped open, "Grandchildren? What did the old man mean
by that?" 

 Bree talked into the phone for several minutes before hanging it up.
"Ben's doctor wants to see him when he's stable and awake. He'll come
here." 

 "You can stay in the den. The sofa makes into a bed." Francesca said
before Ray could offer the spare room on his floor. 

 Ray frowned as he heard the front door open and close. "I'll go run
interference and get Chase upstairs." 

 "Thanks Ray." Franny hugged her brother as he moved towards the door. 

 "Yea, guess brothers are good for some things, huh sis." He turned at the
door to see Franny sinking gratefully into the overstuffed chair that was
Ben's favorite chair in the house. 

 Breathing was the first sound he became aware of as he began to wake from
his drugged sleep. Ben listened quietly from his safe cocoon. Little
spikes of headache pain began to take over his slow return to
consciousness. He realized that it hurt to be waking up. His head began to
pound in earnest and his body felt that soreness of muscle and bone that
is earned from sleeping in one position entirely too long. His bare legs
felt the smoothness of the bed covers and he realized that he didn't
remember getting into the bed. He started to open his eyes and was
besieged by the sudden realization that memories he had suppressed most of
his life were beginning to thrust themselves into his conscious thoughts. 

 He lay there still, not moving, as the image of his mother making him
breakfast that last day of her life filled his senses. Her bright smile
had been only for him. He remembered sitting at their table, his feet
swinging freely because he was far too little to touch the floor with his
feet. He could swear he heard her singing as she went about her way to put
his food on the table in front of him. He was darn near positive he could
smell the scent of her perfume, perfume his father always gave her on her
birthdays. He remembered her walking up behind him and giving him a quick
hug as she urged him to finish his breakfast. The feel of her soft, gentle
and loving hands seemed to grip the skin of his arms with the mere memory
of her touch. 

 Pulling in a soft breath, he even remembered the sunlight as it streamed
in their cabin windows on a day that was much too cold for him to go out
and play in the snow. He remembered arguing with his mother that he was
not so little anymore and he could wear his new parka and heavy gloves.
The grown man that he had become even remembered that he had staunchly
argued as only little children did that he had to go out and feed the
dogs. He remembered how she had tried not to laugh when he stood in front
of her with his feet planted in his new heavy boots and demanded his right
to do his duty as expected of him by his father. Remembering the harsh
words he had finally uttered in six-year-old fashion constricted his heart
now as he remembered them. He had bewailed the fact that he was only six
and had stamped his booted foot while trying to sound mean and mad. He had
succeeded in making his mother mad and he distinctly remembered the quick
way in which she grabbed him up and set him on the sofa. Her eyes had
snapped lovingly at him as she had divested him of his new outdoor things
and made him lie down and covered him up with a soft blanket. The words
she spoke then haunted him now. "Benton Fraser, I will not allow you to
speak to me or anyone else in that tone of defiance. It is very unbecoming
in little boys to speak in that way to their elders." He distinctly
remembered saying, "I'm not so little anymore.", and then letting his eyes
glare at his beautiful mother. 

 It saddened his heart that he had spoken those words in a defiant tone.
"Maybe you are not so little anymore, but that's all the more reason for
you to listen to what I say young man.", she had whispered into his ear as
she kissed his dark curls. "You will stay here, until I think you've
thought this over." He remembered spending the next half hour watching her
bustle about the kitchen and cleaning up the table. He'd been about to
fall asleep when there had been a knock at the door. She had gone to
answer it. 

 Ben tried slipping back into the dark world of sleep he had just left. He
wanted anything at all that would help him not remember what happened
next. He knew was grabbing onto the bed covers and shaking, but he
couldn't help it. He heard what must be Francesca making a stifled gasp
and the sounds of her rising out of a chair. He turned his head away from
her approach to hide the tears coursing down his face. He felt loving
hands caress the back of his head as she leaned over and whispered into
his ear, "It's all right. I know. I know." 

 Bree pushed the bedroom door open slowly hoping to see Ben still sleeping
soundly in the darkened room. She heard Francesca whispering encouragingly
to Ben. Bree walked into the room with the long practiced quiet steps of
her profession and stood next to Francesca quietly. She reached out a
reassuring hand and gently touched the smaller woman's shoulder. Francesca
turned her face up to look at Bree and Bree read the pain in the face of
the wife of the haunted man on the bed. Her heart ached for them both, but
she also knew that this point had been long in coming; all her sessions
with Ben when he was her patient had indicated that there was something
way below the surface waiting to come out. She leaned in closer to Ben and
listened to his uneven breathing as he lay there quietly trying to calm
himself down. 

 "How long has he been awake?" she whispered in her softest professional
but caring voice. 

 Francesca leaned back towards Bree and whispered back, "Just a few
minutes I think." 

 Bree gently leaned over and touched the bed then laid a gentle hand on
Ben's shoulder. His face was turned away from the two women. "Ben," she
said in a voice so low Francesca wasn't sure she had really heard it. "I
know it's bad Ben. But it will get better. Can you remember what happened
yesterday?" 

 Ben pulled his myriad thoughts back to the present and tried vainly to
settle on Bree's voice. He realized the memories were jamming his thoughts
and threatening to overrun his senses again. He fought valiantly to stay
focused on Bree's voice. Then he heard Francesca's voice and he opened his
eyes searching for her. 

 "I remember so much. How could I have forgotten? Why didn't my father
tell me?" 

 Francesca slipped a hand along his shoulder and sat next to him on the
bed where she could see his face as he tried to keep his features in the
shadows. "You were very little Ben, just a couple of years older than
Chase. Your father was afraid of losing you. He fought for you the only
way he knew how." 

 "You were so fragile looking." Robert Fraser said stepping out of the
shadows to stand behind his daughter-in-law. "So very fragile. And when it
seemed you had forgotten, we decided to let it go. Your mother was already
taken from us and we were afraid of losing you too. You told me what you
saw son; you told me when you talked in your sleep." He tilted his head
down and turned away from his son. He walked to the window and stood
looking out. "We waited almost three weeks for you to start talking
normally again. Of course, I wasn't much help to you. Mother pointed that
out." 

 Bree nodded softly to Francesca. "I'm going to let Ben's doctor know Ben
is awake. Let him talk if he feels up to it." She left the room quietly
and stood outside the door feeling oddly that there had been another
person in that room. She shook her shoulders and headed for a phone. 

 Ben pulled himself up a bit and took Franny's small hand in his. "I'm
sorry, so sorry." 

 "Benton Fraser, you don't have a thing to be sorry for. You were a little
boy, a very little boy. You've nothing to be sorry for. How do you feel
this morning?" 

 "As Ray would say, `like I was hit by a fast moving train'." 

 "You spent all those years not remembering. It has to hurt." Francesca
whispered. 

 "There was so much blood, my mother's blood and it was all over and all
over me. I crawled to her. I remember doing that. I heard her. She urged
me not to move, to stay still. For once, I did as I was told. The man was
a big, dark shadow in the doorway. I couldn't see his face. But now I
remember his laugh. I knew him Francesca. I knew him. I know I did." 

 "Course you did son. He was a family friend. And he was a thief and a
liar. I never did find out if he had killed anyone besides Caroline. But I
followed him. Yes, sir. I followed him. Took me a just over a year, but I
found him." 

 "Dad, is that why you left me with Grandmother and Granpere?" Ben snapped
with anger. 

 "Yes. It was. 

 Robert Fraser stood with his shoulders taut. "I was determined he
wouldn't come after you. I wasn't about to lose you too." 

 Ben searched his father's face. "I don't remember reading anything in
your journals about any of this Dad. I don't remember you mentioning this
man." 

 "Course you didn't. Did you think I wanted it in writing that I was going
after the man?" 

 "No, I guess you wouldn't, but didn't you tell me. Why did you never tell
me about my mother?" 

 "Because I loved you. You didn't seem to remember. God, Benton. I wanted
you to forget. I wanted to forget. When we realized you didn't remember we
were worried, we were scared about what might happen to you if you
remembered. There's a lot of ways to lose a person. Mother was determined
that we weren't losing you too." 

 "But why did you leave me there with them? I was your son." 

 "I went after the man who killed your mother. And then, after a while I
had a hard time looking in your eyes. Before your mother died you were a
mischievous little boy filled with laughter and sparkling eyes. That
little boy didn't start coming back to us until weeks after. Well, you
know. I couldn't tell you and watch the light in your eyes die a second
time. I couldn't. So I stayed away, first in search of Muldoon and then
because I couldn't." 

 "All I ever wanted was you." 

 "I should have been there, boy. I wasn't. I've blamed myself all these
years for what happened. A big part of me died the day your Mother died,
Ben. A big part." Robert tried to look his son in the eye and failed. "I
was a coward." 

 "I just needed you Dad." 

 "I'm sorry son." Robert faced Benton and didn't break their eye contact. 

 Francesca looked at Robert from her vantage point next to Ben on the bed.
She sighed and put her head on Ben's shoulder. "You're going to have to
forgive him." She whispered in a very soft tone. 

 "I can't." Ben gasped. 

 "Maybe later." She replied with a soft smile to her father-in-law. 

 Robert's chin shook and he nodded at the couple on the bed. "I'll be
back. This time I'll be back." And he wandered shakily off to the closet
and disappeared. 

 Bree came back into the room as Robert left and crossed quickly over to
the bed. "I got a message in to Ben's doctor." She noticed that Ben seemed
lost to present thought and watched Francesca holding her husband. "Ben's
to stay in bed or at least stay quiet for today. Dr. Ohi will stop by this
later this morning, as a favor to me." 

 Francesca acknowledged Bree's words and settled in closer to Ben. "It'll
be OK. I know it will." Ben leaned into his wife's hold and drifted off to
sleep. 

 Ray hung around the living room fidgeting and moving little things.
Nothing seemed to hold his interest for very long. Bree sat on the sofa
watching the man she knew she had come to love worry about his best friend
and brother-in-law. The next circuit Ray made near the sofa, she reached
out and grabbed his hand and pulled him down on the sofa next to her.
"It'll be OK." She said and planted a kiss on his ear. 

 "I know. It's just that Benny's always seemed to be the one of us that
was the most pulled together, you know. I always knew where I stood with
my Pop. But Benny's been waiting all his life for his parents, all his
life. And now he remembers his mother was murdered. It doesn't seem fair
somehow." Ray swung his right leg up over his lift and shook his foot. 

 "Children are the ones that usually get hurt the most when something like
that happens. Ben's family did the best that they could for him. He's
strong. He'll be OK." 

 "Ya, well Chase knew something was wrong last night and he didn't ask
anything. Not one peep out of the kid." 

 "Franny's up there now talking to him while Ben is seeing Dr. Ohi. She's
a smart girl Ray. She won't let Chase down." 

 "Two weeks till the wedding. This is really rotten timing you know." 

 "Maybe it's the best timing." 

 "Huh" Ray turned startled eyes towards Bree. "You can seriously mean
that." 

 "Yes, I can. Ben needs to deal with this, once and for all. He's moving
forward in his life. He has Franny, Chase and a new child on the way.
Perhaps this is what he needs to clear the playing field about all that's
happened to him." 

 Ray pulled her into a hug and listened intently for the opening of Ben's
bedroom door. 

 Franny sat in the rocking chair near the window in Chase's room holding
the little boy comfortably on her lap. She had just explained to Chase
that his Papa needed a day of piece and quiet. 

 "Why?" the sharp witted little guy asked, his eye so like his father's
searching her heart through her eyes. 

 "When your Papa was a little older than you his Mother died." Sometimes
people carry that hurt with them all their lives. Right now your Papa is
sad about his Mother. Does that make sense?" 

 "Does his Mum visit him? Mine does." Chase surveyed the toy car in his
hand. "She don't talk though. She just comes in and sits with me at night
so I'm not lonely." 

 Francesca tried not to pull back from Chase. But she knew that she was
holding him a little differently, a little tighter. "I don't know if your
Papa sees his Mum, Chase. But I know he misses her very much." 

 Chase leaned his curly head back into Franny. "I know my Mum likes you.
She smiled at you when she left the room this morning." 

 Franny found she had no voice and held the boy tightly to her as her eyes
filled with tears. "Thank you for telling me that Chase." 

 "You're welcome." The little boy gave her a sunny smile. "May I color
some happy pictures for Papa?" 

 "Yes, I think he would like that very much." 

 The boy climbed off her lap, gave her a hug and ran to his little
worktable. In short order he had a drawing in progress and was busily
coloring it with his little tongue wiping his lower lip at intervals. 

 Francesca laughed. She wondered if her child would inherit that habit
from Ben; and then she smiled for she didn't doubt it for a moment. 

 Ben sat in his overstuffed chair and talked quietly to Dr. Ohi. He
described some of the things he had felt. But the words came in difficult
spurts. The man kept writing notes and listening, letting Ben talk at his
own pace. Once in awhile he would ask Ben a question but for the most part
he let Ben talk or not talk as he chose. 

 Robert Fraser stood behind Ben's chair with his hands on the back of it.
He hadn't moved since Ben began talking. He listened to Ben harder than he
had listened to anyone in his life. 

 "What worries you the most Ben?" Dr. Ohi asked as he began putting up his
notes and getting ready to close his briefcase. 

 Ben drew in a ragged breath and said, "I'm afraid that now that I've
remembered that I'll find more chinks in my memory. I'm afraid that I
don't know myself." 

 Dr. Ohi smiled. "That's a common feeling for someone remembering
something as traumatic as you have Ben. Call Dr. McBride or me if you need
us. But keep things out in the open if you can. Get some rest and let that
little wife of yours help. Families can be your best support group. If you
feel sad, go ahead and be sad. Don't fight your feelings for a while.
Keeping your feelings bottled up got you here; now let's get them out in
the daylight. But don't rush it " 

 Dr. Ohi rose and made his way to the bedroom door. "Come see me next
week. If you feel you need to come in sooner, do it. OK." 

 Ben nodded and was left to his thoughts as the door closed. 

 Monday came and went and Tuesday passed equally slowly. By Wednesday
morning the whole house was hoping to see a smile on Ben's face. Francesca
had glimpsed a few of his shy smiles, but no one in the house had seen one
of Ben's brilliant and all encompassing broken face smiles. 

 Chase drew pictures for his father and sent them in to his father on
Monday via Francesca. Tuesday Chase climbed up on his Papa's bed and the
two of them lay side by side all afternoon dressed in their jeans and
flannel shirts. Grandmere snuck inside the room in the late afternoon and
realized that her two boys were sleeping; little Chase enfolded in Ben's
arms. The old woman got a thoughtful look on her face and left the room as
quietly as she had entered. 

 By Wednesday morning Ben was back at the breakfast table sitting next to
Franny and Chase. At first the room was awkwardly quiet unlike a normal
Vecchio brood meeting at the meal table. 

 A determined Rosa Vecchio broke the room's silence. "Francesca your dress
will be ready by next Tuesday. Benton, Ray. You have yet to get the tuxes
ordered." 

 "Ben's wearing his red serge Ma." Ray smiled. "So is Chase." 

 Grandmere merely smiled and kept her eyes on her grandson. 

 Ben looked up with the first glimmer of a real smile they had seen since
Sunday night. "The red serge is my formal uniform and it will do quite
nicely. Chase and I have been given permission to wear it for the wedding
by Inspector Thatcher." 

 Grandmere noticed the quick look of frustration that crossed Francesca's
face at the mention of Ben's superior officer. The old lady was quite sure
how the wind lay in that direction and she was amused that Francesca held
her feelings in check about the woman. 

 Ray smiled at his mother and agreed that it was about time he and Ben
went out in search of the tuxes needed for the wedding. Though he pointed
out to his mother that he had already talked to his own haberdasher about
the subject. His mother merely smiled and noted that perhaps it was about
time they visited the supplier in person. 

 "That OK with you Benny." Ray asked solemnly. 

 "When can we go?" Ben asked quietly. 

 "Can I go too?" Chase piped up. 

 "I've got the late shift today. We can go after breakfast. Ya, squirt you
can go too." 

 Franny smiled at Chase and nodded. 

 While they were preparing to clean up the table, the doorbell rang. Ray
traveled the hallway muttering. "Doorbell this early ain't good." He
strode with long steps to the door and opened it tensely. 

 Standing on the porch was one of the chauffeur's that worked for
Grandmere. There was a huge box at the man's feet and a long narrow one in
his hand. 

 "Mrs. DuRoche asked that these be delivered here when they arrived. The
packages are for Mr. Fraser." 

 "Thanks, bring them on in." Ray held the door for the man and turned to
yell down the hall. "Benny, some packages here for you." 

 In the kitchen Ben raised startled eyes towards the hallway and began to
get up slowly using only the cane he now used. Grandmere sat tall in her
chair and followed Ben down the hall. Slowly, first Francesca then Chase
followed and soon an ant trail of people formed from the kitchen to the
front hall. Grandmere wheeled right up to the driver and thanked him for
being so prompt with the packages. The man gave her a smile, tipped his
hand to his hat, handed Ray the long narrow package and left with a jaunty
walk down the porch steps. 

 Grandmere watched Ben with a grin as he looked at her and began to open
the long narrow package. Ben moved over and sat down on the stair treads
as he split the tape sealing the package. When the package opened a long
Styrofoam packing case could be seen sealed with a piece of wax with a
stamp design in the wax. Ray glanced at Grandmere and saw her complete
enjoyment in watching Ben open the box, so he leaned back against the wall
and began enjoying himself as Ben worked on his package. 

 Ben cracked open the wax and carefully lifted the lid. The Styrofoam box
was the covering for a long dark wooden box. Ben's fingers felt of the
wood and his eyes began to light at the sight of the well-worked and
etched case in the Clan Fraser Strawberry motif. He carefully lifted the
lid and a sigh of surprise escaped his lips while his fingers were running
up and down what was inside with caressing movements. 

 Everyone clamored to see what it was, one of Maria and Tony's children
called out, "Please Uncle Ben. What is it?" as the child jumped up and
down trying vainly to see. 

 Ben's voice was choked with pride as he held up a dark cane with a white,
doorknob style head. The stick itself was not thick and was thicker at the
top than at the bottom where the wood disappeared into a gold protective
tip. The head of the cane was covered in scrimshaw carving reflecting the
strawberries for which the Fraser Clan was named. Just below the cane's
head was a small gold ring around the top of the cane. Ben stared to see
his name etched into the ring below the last owner's name. He looked up
speechless to meet his grandmother's smile. 

 "I know as much about the Fraser side of your family as I know about the
Pinsent side. That cane belonged to your great, great, great grandfather,
Robert Fraser. He was the younger son of the family and came here to find
his fortune. He never made a fortune, but he did find some wealth. He was
never sorry he went to Canada." She settled in her chair and let Chase
climb up into her lap. "I've collected a few things along the way, that
cane is yours now boy." 

 Ben lifted the cane out of the box and admired the strength of it. He
fingered the length of it and felt how the head of the cane fit his hand
like it had been made just for him. "Thank you Grandmere." He said simply
and rose slowly to give her a kiss on the cheek whereupon she blushed. 

 "Well, boy! Open your other box." Grandmere said and motioned Chase to
join his father, "What's in there is for you too, my dear." 

 Soon two curly Fraser heads were bent over the box and ripping the tape
off. Ben pulled the lid open and blushed rosily. Chase got a puzzled look
on his face. Ben lifted out two kilt belts, one large-one very small; two
kilt pins, two sets of knee stockings and various other accoutrements
needed by the wearer of a kilt. Then Ben pulled out two lengths of Clan
Fraser kilt. The one kilt was obviously for Chase and the other looked to
be made to order for Ben. 

 "When a Fraser marries," Grandmere said with pride, "He marries in the
Clan Kilt*. Your Red Serge will look nicely with that." She smiled at the
red wool with black stripes forming the tartan pattern. "I have no doubt
that your superior officer will have no objections to this somewhat slight
change in uniform." 

 Ray crossed his arms and leaned more heavily into the wall and whispered.
"You don't know the Dragon Lady." Then he smiled and raised his voice.
"Hey Benny, I've always wondered, what do they wear under those things
anyway." 

 Chase sat on the top stop of the Vecchio front porch, his little hands
supporting his head on knees. Wallace and Dief lay beside him looking as
dejected as their little friend. Ray walked out the door on his way to
work and noted the totally dejected set of Chase's shoulders. He sat down
next to the boy and put his hand on the little shoulder. 

 "What's up? Life getting you down?" Ray asked gently but with a wry
smile. Eyes of the most changeable gray-blue looked up into Ray's own
emerald green eyes and Ray drowned right there and then in worship of
another Fraser. "Don't give me those eyes. Those eyes are lethal." Ray
laughed and hugged the boy. "What can I do for you before I go to work?" 

 "Tonio, the boy down the block told me Mum's not my Mum cause I didn't
come from her stomach. But Mum says she's my Mum now. She is, isn't she
Uncle Ray? I wasn't borned from Papa's stomach and he's my Papa." 

 "Tonio doesn't know what he's talking about squirt. Your Mum loves you.
She's your Mum all right. Let's see, who fixed your knee when you fell
last week? Who tucks you in at night? Who reads you stories? Who plays
with you even when she's tired from work? Your Mum does all that and more,
doesn't she? 

 "Mum's the best, Uncle Ray." Chase smiled brightly. "She never forgets
about me like Tante Michelle did. And she takes care of Papa too." 

 "You are the child of her Heart," Ray gave the boy a hug. "Ignore Tonio.
He doesn't know anything about how big your Mum's heart is, understand?" 

 "Papa said Mum's heart is as fierce as a lioness and as soft as a
butterfly and Papa doesn't lie." 

 "No your Papa sure doesn't." Ray put the boy away from him. He rose and
walked down the steps. "Don't ever let anyone tell you that you don't
belong to your Mom and Pop. Family is one thing you always got, not matter
what." He backed away. "You just remember that." 

 "I will Uncle Ray." Chase waved and jumped to his feet and ran into the
house with Dief and Wallace right behind him. 

 Ben stood in the front hall putting on one of his light leather jackets
and preparing to go for a walk. Tony was waiting to accompany Ben as Chase
bounded in the front door. 

 "Want to come along Chase." Ben held out his hand to his little boy. 

 Chase's face brightened and he turned around and held the door open. "How
many houses do you walk by today, Papa?" 

 "I am to go only as far as we went on Halloween. Tomorrow I can add two
more houses." Ben pulled his cane in close to his right leg so he could
lean on it. "By Friday, I shall be walking to the end of the block and
back." 

 "Good, then that Tonio will see." Chase whispered to Wallace. 

 "What will Tonio see Chase?" Ben said as he moved out onto the porch. 

 "I talked to Uncle Ray and he said Tonio was wrong. He is Papa. Tonio
says Mum isn't my Mum cause she didn't born me like she's going to my baby
sister and brother. But he's wrong." Chase pranced to the top of the porch
steps and hopped down the steps oblivious of the fact that his father was
staring at him. 

 "Chase, I do believe you are exaggerating. Of course, your Mum is your
Mum. She legally adopted you and married me. You are the child of her
heart if not of her flesh." Ben walked closer to Chase with a puzzled Tony
following him. "Chase, what did you mean your baby brother and sister? We
won't know for some time yet which it will be, a boy or a girl." 

 Chase stood still and looked very seriously up at his father, "Don't you
now Papa?" He hopped on one foot and held on to Wallace. "Grandpa says
we're getting both." The boy twirled on his heel and jumped for glee. "I'm
gonna have a brother and a sister." 

 Tony leaned over and placed a hand on Ben's shoulder, "Don't worry about
it. All kids his age get fantasies. He' just saying what he'd like." 

 Ben turned an ashen face towards Tony and said, "I don't know about that.
You don't know my family history that well." 

 Chase hopped and skipped ahead of the two men with Dief and Wallace
frolicking around him. "Two not one, two not one. Yippee." 

 Ben called ahead to Chase as they walked. "Don't say anything to your
Mother right now, OK." 

 "Mum knows. Grandpa said he told her." 

 Ben stopped dead still in his tracks, slack jawed and vexed. He mumbled
something under his breath, counted the number of houses he had yet to go
and kept walking. Tony decided he had better stay closer to Ben so he
narrowed the space between them and thus he heard Ben calling to his dead
father to appear right this instant. 

 Dief bounded up the porch steps followed by a totally bouncy Wallace.
Chase scrambled up the steps after them and turned to watch his father
approaching the steps slowly. The clip of the cane on the sidewalk
reverberated through the cool fall air. Tony walked just a little behind
Ben but close enough to make a grab for a falling Mountie if he had to do
so. Ben handled the stairs tiredly. He threw the wheelchair ramp a
disdainful look and sat down on one of the porch chairs. Tony gave him a
nod and went on into the house. 

 Chase watched his father's face closely and walked over to lean on the
chair. The little boy noticed his father's far away look and laid his head
against Ben's arm. "Are you sad, Papa?" 

 Startled out of his closed down mode, Ben looked fondly at the little
boy's curly head leaning against him arm. "No, I'm not sad right now
Chase." 

 "Good, I don't want you to be sad." The small boy's voice tugged deeply
at his father's heart. 

 "Sometimes we can't help being sad. Sometimes memories can make us sad."
Ben watched the little boy's head dig deeper into the arm of his jacket.
He reached over and lifted Chase's head. "Climb up here." Ben smiled and
patted his lap and grinned as Chase tried to clamber up onto his lap
quickly. When the boy was settled firmly on his lap, Ben hugged him and
held the curly head to his chest. "I want you to know that nothing you do
makes me sad. Your bright little face always warms my heart and makes me
happy. Even if I was a million miles away and I was sad, thoughts of you
would make me happy. Do you understand Chase?" 

 "You mean like on the moon Papa?" 

 With a smile Ben answered. "Even on the moon." 

 Chase turned his face up and kissed his father's cheek. "Don't go to the
moon, Papa. It's too far away." 

 Francesca pulled into the drive. She turned her car off and pulled the
key out and threw it into her purse before sliding out of the car. A big
grin lit her face as she saw her two Fraser men sitting on the porch
waiting for her. "God, am I lucky." She thought before running up the
grass to the sidewalk. 

 "Hey you two, glad to see me?" 

 Chase jumped down and almost threw himself into Francesca's arms. "Hi
Mom." 

 Ben tried to rise quickly and found he still wasn't moving fast enough.
He picked up his cane for support and grinned at Franny. He leaned over
and kissed her check as Chase clung around her legs and whispered into her
ear, "Bubble bath tonight?" 

 Francesca pulled back and looked Ben's face over. "You sure?" 

 "Quite sure." Ben said with tug on her ear lobe with his teeth. 

 Chase looked up at his parents and grinned. "Mom always makes me smile
too." 

 Neither adult saw Mrs. Calamari's car drive past as they clung to each
other on the porch. The woman nearly drove her car into a parked vehicle
so intent was she on the spectacle the Fraser family was making of
themselves in public. 

 Ben watched Francesca change out of the short skirt she wore to work and
start hauling on a pair of her jeans. She slipped out of her long sleeve
work shirt and drew on a flannel shirt in soft blues and reds. Ben held
out a hand to her and pulled her over to the over stuffed chair. He sat
down and pulled her down into his lap. She laid her head back on his
shoulder and curled into his hold. "I should be holding you." She sighed. 

 "We're holding each other, that's what we do best." He kissed her hair
and let his head rest against the back of the chair. They were quiet for a
moment, before Ben asked her softly, "Has my father been bothering you?" 

 Chesca wound her fingers through his and held their hands laced together
against her lips. "How do you mean?" 

 "Has he been hanging around, cropping up in odd places, talking to you
when you can't answer because someone else is around, and making you look
like an idiot. -. Any one of the above." 

 "Ben, don't worry. The few times I think I've seen him; he's actually
been helpful. Without him I don't know if I would have gotten through to
you the other night." She pulled herself in closer to Ben's neck. "Without
him, you might not be sitting here right now. Ya know." 

 Ben closed his eyes and gave out a huge blasting sigh. "Chase told me
he's seen my Dad." 

 "I know Chase told me." She griped his hand tighter. "Don't worry Chase
is a bright kid. He's not in any trouble." 

 "You mean he's not about to lose his mind like his father is at the
moment." 

 "You're not about to lose you mind, Ben. You're just remembering some
really horrible things that happened to you when you were little. And now
that we both know about those things, I'm not about to let you slip away
from me. Just remember, you hurt, I hurt. We both hurt. You can't let this
thing tear you apart." 

 "I did what she asked Chesca. I didn't move. I sat so still. But she
still went away. It wasn't fair. I was so mean to her Chesca. Maybe that's
why she's never been to see me." 

 Francesca pulled herself up straight in Ben's lap and gave him a direct
stare. "She loved you. She probably asked you not to move to keep you in
the warm cabin. She was probably afraid you'd go after the man that killed
her. You were a very small boy and she loved you with all her heart. You
weren't to blame and there was nothing you could do to save her. You were
barely 6 years old. Tell me, what could you have done?" 

 Ben was painfully silent and tears threatened to spill from his eyes. He
grabbed onto Francesca to keep his hold on reality. "I'm just so scared. I
keep thinking I should have done something." The words came out in ragged
breaths. 

 Francesca maneuvered herself in his tight grasp and put her hand firmly
along Ben's cheek. "You weren't much bigger than Chase. I've seen pictures
of you at six that Grandmere has. You imagine Chase in that situation and
then you tell me if there was something you could have done. Tell me Ben?"
He was silent. "Tell me? If you can come up with one thing a child that
small could do in that situation, I'd like to know so I can teach it to
Chase and Maria's little ones. Now Ben. Tell me?" 

 Ben's body began to shake and he held Francesca in a vice grip as the
tears poured down his face. He dropped his face into her hair and held on
while he cried himself out. Francesca's tears poured down her face
silently. 

 Behind them Robert Fraser stood in the shadows. "That's right son. Cry.
You never gave in to your grief boy; you just shut yourself off from it.
Let it go. Wish to God, I could. Let it go boy." 

 Francesca stood looking down at Ben lying so exhaustedly in their bed, a
warm comforter drawn over him. She turned off the bedside light and walked
out the bedroom door. Robert Fraser smiled after her. "That's right, I'll
watch over our boy. You get something to eat for those babes." He smiled
and cupped his hands behind him. "Yes, sir. You got a fine gal there son.
Fine gal." He settled back into the room's shadows where he felt the most
comfortable. 

 Maria was setting the last of her small brood down to eat as Francesca
walked into the kitchen. Nine sets of eyes watched Francesca take her
place near Chase at the table. Ray exchanged glances with Bree who was off
duty that night and sharing an evening with Ray. Bree shook her head
negatively and continued to thank Mrs. Vecchio for having her once more at
their table. 

 "We are delighted to have you with us once more Cara. Here, please pass
the salad bowl." Rosa Vecchio took the pressure off of Franny with a quick
lets getting dinner started look around the table. 

 Sitting with his elbow on the table, and picking at his food Chase kept
looking up Franny and then to the empty chair where his father normally
sat. Franny noticed her son's puzzlement and leaned over to whisper in his
ear. "Your Papa fell asleep and I didn't want to wake him up." She watched
Chase brighten up then added, "No elbows on the table, OK?" 

 "K Mom." Chase said with renewed interest in his salad. He gave her a
great big grin. "Will you read to me after dinner?" 

 "Sure, I know just the story." 

 Chase settled in determinedly to finishing his meal. He loved story time,
specially his Mum's story times. The stories she picked were always full
of fantasy. 

 After dinner Ray and Tony herded the children quietly down the hall and
sent them up to play in the playroom. Each man picked a comfortable chair
and settled in for a nice bit of channel surfing. Tony finally gave in to
his curiosity by asking Ray, "Ben always talk to himself? I mean I know
I've heard you telling stories about him talking to shadows. But were they
stories or were you telling the truth. Cause I gotta tell you I think I
heard him talking to his dead father today and it was a little creepy, ya
know." 

 Ray's green eyes closed a moment then he replied, "Yea, Benny talks to
shadows. He talks to his Dad ya know and sometimes I'd swear he even gets
answers. Bree says not to worry about it" 

 "Then I shouldn't call out the men in little white suits if I hear him
again?" 

 "Naw. Bree says Benny'll probably stop doing that when he deals with his
mother's death." Ray selected a particularly gory looking movie and
settled in to watch it. 

 Tony gave Ray one questioning look and then sat back to enjoy the movie. 

 Rosa handed Maria a dish to dry and picked another up from the soapy
water. "Francesca, Ben is OK, isn't he?" 

 "He's sleeping Ma. 

 "And this `sleeping'; to avoid or exhausted?" Rosa gave her daughter a
quick sideways look then continued with what she was doing. 

 "Exhausted. He finally cried, just let go and cried. God, I feel worn out
just from watching him." Franny laid a plate in the cupboard. "I don't
think he ever cried before, not for this anyway." She picked up another
plate. "He's been locked up inside ya know, Ma. Since he was 6, he's felt
guilty. Ma, he thought he should have saved his mother. That's like having
the whole world on your shoulders." 

 Rosa stopped doing dishes and gave her daughter a long and quiet look.
"Tears are God's release Cara. Always remember, there is no shame in
tears." 

 "I know that Ma. You taught me that when I ruined Maria's favorite doll."
Francesca leaned into the cupboard as she put another plate away. "I just
can't believe that no one saw how guilty he felt?" 

 "Sometimes, when you love someone very much, you don't see clearly. Marie
has talked to me about this. She feels her own guilt very keenly. She said
one of the reasons that she didn't march in and demand Ben was that she
knew; deep inside that he was with people who loved him. She knew how
desperate Ben's family was just to hear him talking again." 

 Francesca cocked her head and started to open her mouth. 

 "Marie said our Ben didn't talk for days after his mother was buried. He
didn't utter a word. His poor father was lost in his grief too, but not so
lost that he didn't take his boy to his parents for help. They all did the
best they could. That's what parents do, the best they can." 

 Francesca placed a hand across her stomach and thought of Chase and her
unborn baby. "Ma, I'm scared." 

 Rosa moved closer to her daughter and wiped her hands on her apron.
"Cara, do not worry. I have seen you with Chase. You will be a good Mama."


 "Ya think so?" 

 "Yes, I know so. Get me the pans from the stove. Do you think I should
make polenta for tomorrow?" 

 Little feet positioned themselves on Chase's bed and the entire brood of
Maria and Tony's sat around with blankets and pillows tucked around them.
Francesca smiled and sat in her rocker that she had pulled towards the
bed. Tonight was camp out night in Chase's room; the first of many to come
since his arrival in his new solitary room. Young eyes stared at Franny
from all directions as she opened her book and began to read. 

 "Yea, Peter Pan," yelled one of the smaller children and was shut up by a
pillow flying thrown the air. 

 Francesca read through the entire book quietly in a charming voice and
with hand movements to match the scenes. She was reading the sword fight
scene when she just knew Ben was on the other side of the bedroom door.
She raised her voice and brandished her imaginary sword higher. The
children sat still in awe of the story. Chase hadn't heard this story
before and was totally enthralled with the character Peter Pan. He was so
intent on the story that he never heard his bedroom door close softly. 

 Ben turned away from his son's bedroom door with a smile. He returned
down the hall to the top of the stairs and gave the electric chair lift a
disdainful look. Ray came bouncing up the stairs, took one look at Ben and
ground out, "Don't you dare. I'm not explaining to your wife that I stood
by and let you fall down these stairs. You'll be using your own two feet
on them soon enough. OK." 

 With a shy look at the chair then to Ray, Ben gave up and prepared to
ride the lift down at least one more time. He placed his cane on his lap
and secured the seat belt in place. 

 Ray took a step back and said, "Whoa, this is Benton Fraser here,
listening to me." He turned away with a smile. "Going to go write this
down on my calendar." He turned back. "I'm gonna run Bree home. Anything
you want?" 

 "No Ray." Ben gave Ray a shy smile as the chair carried him down. Ray
watched his friend's back as it descended the steps, then he grinned and
headed for his room. 

 Francesca descended the stairs with a thoughtful smile on her face. She
knew the children wouldn't be asleep yet with the exception of Chase and
Maria's youngest who had been yawning towards the end of the book. She
glanced at her watch and headed for the hall bathroom that she and Ben
claimed as their own after 10 p.m. With a twist of the door handle she
slipped inside and stopped in her tracks. Ben had already filled the tub
with relaxing warm water and laced the water with cool lime smelling bath
salts. Her robe and towel were laid out for her on the rack and her
slippers on the floor. A single candle set on the side of the tub. There
was a note stuck to the mirror on the medicine cabinet. She pulled the
note down with a shaking hand and read it. "Sometimes even Lionesses need
time in the shade alone." She sniffed and smiled then finished the note.
"Come to bed when you're ready." 

 Absently she placed the note in her robe pocket and let her fingers undo
the fastenings or her slacks. In seconds she was relaxing in the
wonderfully lime scented room. 

 Ben pulled the comforter back on Fanny's side of the bed before climbing
in on his side. He turned the light down to its lowest position and waited
for Francesca to enter their room. Almost half an hour later their door
opened and she slipped inside looking tiny and frail in her warm robe. She
walked up to Ben's side of the bed and released the belt on her robe and
let the robe slide to the floor before turning out the nightstand light
and enveloping the room on total darkness. Ben's eyes never left hers as
the light went out. 

 Saturday morning found people of all sizes and ages scurrying around the
Vecchio/Fraser home. Loud laughter spilled out of the living room as the
younger children sat watching their favorite Saturday morning cartoons.
Rosa and Marie were in the kitchen planning more wedding details and
counting up the RSVP's that had arrived. "How many people did you say
would fit in the church?" Marie asked with a last total of confirming the
number of guests on her notepad. 

 Rosa smiled her fingers busy opening even more replies. "The church will
seat just over 500." 

 "Then we're fine." Marie closed her note pad. "The cake and caterer are
confirmed, Francesca's flowers will be here on time. The Vintner has
assured me he can handle our requests and the bridal table champagne will
arrive from my estate in Canada in plenty of time to be chilled properly."
She smiled. "I'm so glad you like the wedding theme. I just hope Benton
and Francesca will like it." 

 Rosa looked over at Marie with sadness in her eyes. "Francesca's first
wedding was everything a young girl could dream of or ever want. Her
marriage to that man was not. She thought she was in love then. She knows
she is now. She and Benton are going to have a day they will enjoy and
remember. This I know." 

 Marie nodded and smiled. "Do pipers bother you?" 

 Rosa turned a startled face towards Marie, "Pipers?" 

 Ben's bedroom door opened and two heads peaked out. Ben and Chase looked
from end of the hallway to the other. Ben looked down at Chase as the
small curly headed boy looked up. They nodded to each other and made their
way quickly to the hall bathroom where there was a full-length mirror on
the door. 

 Ben helped Chase stand on the closed toilet set lid and surveyed his son
critically. He took the expensive and old lace cravat and began twisting
it several times around the tiny neck. He tied the cravat in what the
instruction book had called "The Waterfall'. When he was done he stepped
back a step and admired the way the traditional highland outfit looked on
Chase. Chase turned to look over his shoulder at himself in the mirror and
scrunched up his nose. The returning vision he saw was not himself at all.
White knee socks with Fraser plaid at the top adorned his feet below his
Fraser red and black kilt. His red serge jacket with it's matching white
Sam Browne lay brightly under a swath of kilt material that carried over
his shoulder and was held in place with a pin that matched his fathers.
The cravat looked fluffy and nice and his hair was brushed till it shown.
But Chase was moving back n forth on his feet and scrunching his nose. The
boy tried using his hands on his cravat and found his hand swatted gently
away. "My kilt itches Papa." Chase whined. "It really does Papa." 

 "Sometimes one has to put up with inconvenience to look good Chase. At
least that's what Ray says. I'll tie my cravat then we'll look in the long
mirror together OK" 

 With quick and deft movements Ben swung the cravat material around his
neck and tied his in the same fashion as he had tied his sons. 

 Ray was walking to the kitchen when he heard noises in the hall bathroom.
He stopped and listened and placed a hand on the doorknob. The door swung
open easily at his touch because Ben had forgotten to lock it. The sight
that met Ray's eyes threw him into laughter. He leaned into the doorframe
holding one hand to his stomach. One of Maria's little boys ran to see
what his Uncle was laughing about. The child took one look at Chase
standing up on the toilet stool and took off running down the hall yelling
at the top of his lungs, "Ma, Why do I have to wear underwear if Chase
doesn't?" 

 Ben and Chase exchanged red faced looks and Ben leaned over and grabbed
the door shutting it in the face of Ray's still convulsing laughter. 

 Ray slid to the floor in the hallway holding his sides and laughing. He
didn't hear the wheelchair roll up but he did see the stern look on
Marie's DuRoche's face as she waited for him to stop laughing. 

 Ben sat on the edge of the tub, completely miserable. He'd been so proud
of their outfits and had explained in detail to Chase why they were worn
that way. He struggled manfully to maintain his composure and looked at
Chase who had settled his little person onto the seat of the toilet. As
Ben was about to speak, he heard a knock on the door and his grandmother's
voice. And he also heard someone calling for a camera. "Oh Dear." Ben
whispered the words and let his head droop on his shoulders. 

 "Benton Fraser, open this door." 

 Ben sighed and did as he was bid. He'd spent too many years listening to
his elders to stop now. He barely had the door open more than the fraction
of an inch when a package was shoved into his hand. Surprised he pulled
his hand back and brought the package inside. The door was pulled shut
from the other side. Ben looked at the door nonplussed and then looked
down at the package. There was a short note on top. "I meant to give you
this when the box arrived. I am so sorry. G." 

 Ben opened the package and smiled in relief. Inside were two matching
sets of boxer shorts in the Fraser colors made of the finest materials. He
handed Chase his pair and said with a smile. "Here I think this might stop
the itching." 

 Sunday morning Father Behan read the last announcement of the wedding
banns for Francesca Vecchio and Benton Fraser. The couple blushed as their
names were read and sat quietly hand in hand with Chase sitting next them.
Mrs. Calamari was not in evidence, which thrilled Maria as she sat behind
her sister and brother-in-law. At least with the `squid woman' out of
sight Francesca and Ben had a chance at a lovely day. 

 Sunday passed quietly and Ben was able to get in several walks and
increase his distance. Ray and Chase went with him and Dief and Wallace
accompanied the trio. Several of the more elderly neighbors who spent even
the coldest of Sunday afternoons on their front porches smiled every time
they saw Ben and his entourage. 

 On Monday morning another package arrived for Ben. Grandmere had ordered
dress shoes for both Benton and Chase from the best supplier of gillie
brogue shoes in Scotland and they arrived in pristine shape and fit both
father and son correctly. Accompanying the footwear were several
additional pairs of the required dark evening style knee socks along with
several different buckles and pins to wear with their belts and tartan
sashes. There was even a small package inside with Francesca's name on it.


 Tuesday found Ray and Franny busy at work, while Ben and Chase helped
Rosa and Grandmere with last minute details. 

 Wednesday found everyone still calm and relaxed and looking forward to
Saturday's wedding. Ray came home for lunch and found a legal eagle type
about to ring the doorbell. Ray's suspicious nature took control and he
gave the small man his best-aggravated cop glare before asking what the
poor man's business was at his home. The little law clerk inquired if this
was the home of one, Benton Fraser, grandson of Marie DuRoche. 

 "Ya, this is the place. Come on in." He walked in front of the little
clerk. "Hey, Benny, you got company!" Ray yelled. Ben stuck his head out
of the living room door with a smile. 

 The little law clerk smiled timidly and waited for Ben to join them in
the front hall. Ben stepped out into the hallway leaning heavily on the
beautiful cane his grandmother had given him. 

 The little clerk stood staring down at the cane in Ben's hand. His were
eyes fairly bugging out of his head. "Mr. Fraser, I brought over the
insurance papers for you to sign as requested by Mrs. DuRoche. If you'll
just sign them, I'll be on my way." 

 Ray looked down at the little man standing near him in the front hall and
watched with amusement as the man struggled to open his leather attach
case. 

 Ben traded amused glances with Ray and walked slowly over to stand next
to the two men by the door. He cocked his head a little as he watched the
little lawyer pull his papers out and pull a pen from his inside suit coat
pocket then handed the papers to Ben who glanced at them quickly and
raised his eyebrows. 

 "Sign here, here and a here." The little man waited patiently and then
handed a set of the papers to Ben. "Thank you. I'll a just process those
today and everything will be all set for you." He nodded a goodbye and
actually made his way out the door without a goodbye. 

 Ben began reading the insurance papers a second time then looked down at
his cane. He sighed but smiled softly. 

 Ray leaned over with a questioning silent look asked to see the papers.
Ben's thumb pointed out the item, whereupon Ray read: One Scottish Walking
Cane, estimated worth $20,000 described as follows. 

 Ray's head whipped up and he glanced first at Ben and then at the cane.
"You OK with this!" he said with a rising whine in his voice. 

 "It's a cane Ray. A gift from my Grandmother." 

 "That should be in museum somewhere, shouldn't it?" 

 "I doubt it's that rare Ray. Though the workmanship is quite exquisite."
Ben smiled at the carving work on the cane's head. 

 "Yea, well don't let the kids near that thing. Geesh. Ma'll have a
stroke." 

 Thursday brought a happy Maria running through the downstairs hallway to
the kitchen waving a package high in the air. "My pictures came back! You
have to see these." She laughed and handed the packet to her mother who
dried her hands off on her kitchen towel and sat in a chair. In minutes
Maria was smiling as her mother looked at the 36 prints spread out in
front of her on the kitchen table. 

 "I've been using this camera for months now." Maria smiled as she picked
up the first picture she had taken of Chase when he came to live with
them. "Wow, Wallace has sure grown in three months and look at how much
baby fat Chase has lost." 

 "He's still just a bit more than a toddler." Rosa smiled holding a
picture of the boy and his dog racing down the yard on their short legs. 

 "His birthday's coming up. He won't be a toddler then." 

 "They grow up too soon." Rosa nodded and picked up a picture of Ben that
Maria had managed to get soon after he moved in to the house. "He was so
sad." Rosa wiped a tear from her eye. "You hide this one or destroy it.
Better no one should see such pain in our Benton." 

 Maria picked up the photo and quickly tucked it in her shirt pocket and
picked up the duplicate pile of pictures to remove the picture from that
group too. 

 Rosa picked up three photos and smiled. "These are pictures to treasure."


 One picture was Chase watching TV as he sat on the floor with Wallace
near him; both of them leaning on a sleeping Ben who was lying stretched
out on the floor. The second was a picture of Franny and Chase that Maria
had snuck while Franny was reading to all the children in the living room.
The third was the family picture Maria had taken the day Ben and Chase
tried on their kilts. Francesca stood with them in the front hall. Ben
leaned a bit on the stairs newel post, and Chase stood on the first step
with Francesca standing on the next stair tread a little behind Chase and
leaning a bit towards Ben. "Maria, I want this one made bigger as a
present for Benton. Can you do this quickly?" 

 Maria's smile grew when she saw which photo her mother was holding out to
her. "I'll check. I can't guarantee that I'll be able to get it down
though." 

 "Please try Cara. This picture is delightful." 

 Ben chose that moment to walk into the kitchen and was preceded by the
light sound of his cane tapping on the floor as he walked. He made his way
to the table where he sat down carefully without taking his eyes off of
Maria's spread of pictures. 

 His fingers shook a little as they traced over pictures of Chase and he
grinned broadly at pictures of Francesca. He picked up the photo of Chase
and Wallace sitting near his sleeping form and ran finger lovingly over
his son's form. 

 Maria smiled, "Take that one Ben. I have duplicates." She watched his
hesitant expression. "Please?" 

 "Thank you." Ben carefully put the photo in his shirt pocket and then
turned back to survey more pictures. When he got to the one in the front
hall, he stared open mouthed at the picture. "They are so beautiful." His
fingers traced over Francesca and Chase. 

 "Oh take that one too." Maria laughed. 

 "Thank You Kindly Maria." Ben said slipping the photo in the same pocket
he had stashed the other one into. 

 Maria winked at her mother and sat down opposite Ben. "You and Chase look
so alike with your curly hair." 

 Embarrassed Ben put a hand up to his hair that he still had not cut back
to it's military precision. Francesca said she loved it curling near his
neck and ears. But it was not regulation cut. "Maria would you possibly be
able to take Chase and I out this afternoon?" 

 "Sure." 

 "Thank you." He smiled. "Bring your camera." 

 Francesca turned her key in the front door and flung her coat over the
staircase railing. "Ben, Ma. I'm home." She listened and made her way to
the kitchen. 

 Rosa looked up from her preparations for the evening meal and smiled. 

 "Lt. Welsh gave me the rest of the week off. Said he couldn't stand
dreamy eyes any longer." Francesca looked at the clock thoughtfully. "I
didn't see Ben on one of his walks and it's quiet. What's up?" 

 "Your sister took Ben and Chase out on an errand. They should be back
anytime now." Rosa's busy hands stilled for a second then continued
grating cheese. "Marie had your dress delivered. We put it in my room." 

 "Thanks Ma. I'll put all my accessories up there later." 

 They both heard the door open and Maria entering the house. Dief and
Wallace bounded through the hallway straight through the kitchen and out
through their pet door. The hinged door was still swinging when Ben and
Chase followed Maria into the kitchen. 

 Rosa sat back and put her hands to her mouth; surprise making her eyes
into large circles. Francesca turned in her chair took one glance at Ben
and Chase and ran crying from the room. 

 Chase looked up at his father and tugged on his pants. "I don't think
Mum's happy Papa." 

 Ben smiled down at Chase and removed the boy's hand gently. "You stay
here with Maria and Grandma Rosa. I'll go check on Mom." 

 Ben slowly opened their bedroom door and noticed that Francesca had not
turned on the light in her flight to reach their bed. He closed it quietly
behind him and cleared his throat. "Chesca?" He moved quietly and sat on
the edge of their bed letting his cane support his weight as he sat down. 

 The curly hair of his wife's head blocked his view of her face. Ben
started to touch her and realized her shoulders were shaking. She was
still crying. "I should have warned you about the haircuts." 

 Franny stretched out a hand and grabbed onto Ben without turning her head
to face him. "That's," she sniffed. "Not the," she drew in a ragged
breath. "Problem." She wailed into her other arm. 

 "Chesca, then what is the problem?" 

 Francesca sat bolt upright and took in the change in Ben's hair. She
gulped and wiped a hand across her swollen eyes. "You'll be going back to
work soon. Chase will be four soon." She wailed again and leaned into his
shoulder. 

 "I had to cut my hair sometime, and it's still not precisely military
precision. I may hear a few words from Inspector Thatcher on that very
subject." 

 She raised bleary eyes to his hairline and realized it wasn't as short as
she had first imagined. Yes shorter around the ears and trimmed back, but
his curly hair was still running riot over most of his head with the
exception that his hair near his collar was markedly shorter. 

 "She says one word to you about your hair and I swear I'll make sure
Cousin Eduardo is introduced to her." 

 "Cousin Eduardo?" Ben said with a mystified smile. He couldn't see how an
introduction could be threatening. 

 "He likes women, any woman and he smells of fish and cheese all the time.
He looks really handsome and he has a beautiful smile, though nowhere near
as nice as yours. But he smells of fish and smelly cheese. He reeks of
it." 

 "Oh Dear." Ben said and looked down into his wife's eyes. "That would be
awful. Fish and smelly cheese, hmm." 

 "Ask Ray, he'll tell you." 

 "So I take it that this would be an acquaintance to be avoided." 

 "Yes. And he likes women." 

 "Yes. I think I get the picture." He kissed her hair and pulled her
close. "Nerves Chesca?" 

 She looked up at him and timidly shook her head. 

 "We will survive Chesca. We will." 

 "Did you at least have Maria take pictures of Chase getting his hair
cut?" 

 Ben pulled back and smiled, "Oh yes. And we left them at the drugstore on
the corner already. Maria says they do one-hour processing there." 

 Francesca sat straight up and looked at her watch, "How long do we have
to wait?" 

 Friday' sunrise brought the Vecchio/Fraser home into a riot of activity.
Tony and Maria's school age children were rushed out the door. Ray left
for work with a relieved smile on his face because he wouldn't have to
deal with the jitters he knee was felling person after person that house.
Ma and Grandmere moved quietly and serenely through their checklist.
Francesca disappeared upstairs to check out her wedding dress and
accessories with Maria. Ben was given the task of keeping Chase, Maria's
youngest and the canine contingent out of the way. 

 "Papa, are Wallace and Dief coming to the wedding?" Chase asked with the
direct glare of an almost 4 year old. 

 "No. They will stay at home." 

 "Is Dief going on the honeymoon with you and Mom?" 

 "No. Dief understands that he and Wallace are to take care of you while
we're away." Ben looked down with a smile. "You'll be in charge of both of
them." 

 Chase smiled to himself as he leaned into his father's arm. "We'll be
good." 

 "I know you will." 

 Rosa smiled as she entered the living room. Ben and the children were all
sitting on the floor building a house of cards. Ben was clearly having as
much fun as the children were. 

 She sat down and waited for Ben to look up. "What a lovely house. How
many times has it been set up?" 

 Ben's smile light up his face as he answered her. "Five, but then there
was a minor first attempt that didn't quite have a good foundation." 

 "Foundations are important." Rosa said holding her breath as one of the
small children set a card in place. "I think this one is good." 

 Realizing that she wasn't talking about the card house, Ben blushed then
smiled. "Thank you." 

 "You are already my son and son-in-law. I just wanted to thank you for
taking this large step you are taking tomorrow. It means a lot to me." 

 "It means a lot to us as well." Ben put his hand on Chase's head. 

 "Be happy Caro. That's all an old woman can ask." 

 The softness of her words cut to Ben's heart and he gave her a tremulous
smile. 

 She rose slowly and moved away towards the door. "Tomorrow will be a
grand day. This I know." Ben watched her move out into the hall then
turned his attention to the children. 

 Franny stood looking in the mirror and held her breath. Maria finished
arranging the white covered wire cage like snood on Francesca's hair and
stood back to look into the mirror. Both women stared in fascination at
the dress and veil. Francesca looked like a tiny porcelain doll. The
delicate beadwork on the heavy fabric was exquisite and the dress fit
Francesca like a glove with its row of tiny buttons down from the low
waisted back. Maria walked over to her mother's bed and lifted up the
gown's train and buttoned it into place. The wide and puffy train fell to
the floor in soft folds diminished Franny's already small, svelte form. 

 "You look like a Vogue model." Maria breathed. "Can you walk in that
tight dress?" 

 With a smile of pure joy Francesca turned on her stocking feet and did a
royal curtsey. "That's the beauty of this dress. Those tiny buttons don't
need to be buttoned all the way to the bottom. The material is heavy so
the dress lays right all by itself." 

 There was a knock at the door and Grandmere and Rosa entered the room.
They closed the door tightly after themselves. Neither woman spoke a word.
Rosa walked up to Francesca with tears in her eyes. "Bellisima." 

 Grandmere lifted a small box out of her hands and rolled her chair over
to Francesca. "Tomorrow there will be no time for saying what must be
said. So today, I will say to you "Welcome" to the family. You are dear to
me." She handed the box to Francesca. "Inside that box is something old
for you to wear." 

 Franny opened the box slowly and found a beautiful broach set in the
tiniest pearls set over a rosette of Fraser plaid with three trailing
ribbons. The broach was delicate and old. 

 "That broach was worn by Benton's great, great grandmother when she
married. Her initials are engraved on the back. I have had your initials
and Benton's engraved there also. I thought the plaid would be a nice
touch to match Benton and Chase. If you don't like it, then just wear the
broach." 

 Franny's heart lurched in her chest and she leaned down to the old woman.
"I wouldn't change a thing. Will you show me where to pin it to my dress?"


 Later that afternoon, Maria drove her mother and Grandmere to the house
to the hairdressers. They returned refreshed and exhilarated. Rosa had
enjoyed the chance at the beautician's to set some gossip that had been
circulation the neighborhood straight. 

 Ben and Francesca had already met with Father Behan earlier in the week
and they felt no rehearsal for the wedding was needed, though both of them
had been a little nonplussed by a couple of Father Behan's comments about
the size of the church. But neither Ben nor Francesca had inquired about
the comments. 

 Ray hurried home with a grin on his face. He pulled in the drive with the
RIV and parked his baby close to the house. He picked up his cell phone
and made a call while he walked to the porch. "Ya, everything's going as
planned. You order the pizzas yet? Good. We're almost on our way." 

 Scooting in the door quickly, and picked up Ben's Stetson and jacket. Ray
listened and determined that Ben was in the kitchen with most of the
family. He grinned and sallied forth. 

 "Hey Ma. I'm stealing Benny. Franny don't say a thing. This is not like
last time. And Benny is not like the pig." 

 All the eyes in the kitchen turned to Ray with mouths hanging open with
the exception of Grandmere, who merely hid her smile behind a polite hand.
Rosa gave her best mother's warning smile to Ray and then returned to what
she was doing at the counter. 

 "No drinking Ray. Promise." Francesca said with smirky smile. 

 Ray grabbed Franny and gave her a hug, "You're the best sis." Ray then
plunked Ben's Stetson down on his head as he thrust Ben's jacket into
Ben's hands. "Ben doesn't drink. I know that. One of the guy's cousins
drives a cab. He's picking us up. Home again by ten." 

 "Ray, what's going on?" Ben held his coat tightly in his hands. 

 "You're going to a party." 

 "A party Ray?" Ray nodded in response. 

 "Yes, a party cause you're getting married tomorrow." 

 "Uncle Ray. Can I come too?" Chase jumped to his feet. 

 "It's not a party for little guys, Chase." 

 The little boy's chin fell and he sat down. He was the picture of a
polite mannered but dejected young Fraser. 

 Rosa turned towards Ray. "Is there anything about this party that Chase
shouldn't see?" 

 Ray felt his collar begin to tighten but was cut off from answering by
Ben. "I'm sure Ray has nothing untoward planned. Do you, Ray?" 

 "No, it's just a meeting of the Lollipop Guild." Ray stated with rolling
eyes. 

 "Chase is part of the wedding party, Ray." Francesca said with a gleam in
her eyes. 

 "Oie vey!" Ray slumped his shoulders. "Get your coat young Fraser. Hop to
it, the cab won't wait forever." 

 "Thanks Ray." Ben said with a soft smile. 

 "Yea, yea. Heard that one before." He pulled out his cell phone. "Meet me
out front in five minutes or less. OK." 

 "Certainly Ray." Ben turned to watch Chase scrambling from the room. 

 Franny hugged her brother and whispered, "He probably won't stay awake
anyway Ray. Thanks." 

 "Famous last words." Ray walked out the back door and began talking.
"Slight change in plans. The youngest Fraser's coming too." He was silent
while someone ranted at him from the other end of the line. "Yea, well the
little guy will be asleep before 9." He was silent again. "Hey, you turn
down a pair of pleading Fraser eyes. I'm not up to it." 

 Ray snapped his phone shut and headed for the front yard. 

 The cab pulled up in front of the house and Ray climbed out carrying a
sleeping small form in his arms. Ben climbed out and said his thank you to
the driver. The cab pulled away and the two men turned to survey the
darkened house that awaited them. Ben glanced at his watch and smiled.
"9:59 P.M. on the dot." 

 Ray walked forward with a tired smile on his face. For a `G' rated
bachelor party it had been fun. Pizza and beer had been followed by pool,
poker toasts to the groom who had opened one ginger ale after another in
complete enjoyment of being with his friends. Ray had arranged for some of
his old neighbors to attend as well as most of their friends from the 2-7.
Strange as it seemed the party had been fun and Ben would have a clear
head for the wedding tomorrow. 

 Unlocking the door, Ben opened it wide and entered to hold the door for
Ray. The house was silent and in darkness. Ray turned to carry Chase
upstairs and saw a note taped to the stair railing. Ben saw it at the same
time and picked it up to read in the pale night-light drifting in through
the windows from the front porch. 

 "Ben, please put Chase to bed in our bed with you, just for tonight. Ma
and Grandmere want us to hold by the tradition of the ancients. `Bad luck
to see the Bride before the wedding...yada yada." Ben paused to smile.
"Hope you had a good time. See you at the alter...." Ben then read
silently to himself and blushed. 

 Ray swung around and carried Chase down the hall where he deposited the
sleeping boy on Franny's side of the bed. He turned around when Ben joined
him in the room. "Something to be said for tradition, ya know." 

 "I know Ray." Ben sat down gave Ray the first really relaxed smile Ray
had seen in ages. "Thank you." 

 "It was nothing." 

 "Yes, it was. You accepted my young son into a group of your friends when
it would have been better not to do so." 

 `Hey, I can't turn down a pair of Fraser eyes. So sue me." 

 "Thanks again, Ray." Ben leaned down to remove first one then the other
shoe. 

 `OK. See you in the morning. We have to be outta here by 11 a.m." 

 "I know." 

 "Ok" Ray said as he closed the door behind him. He whistled softly to
himself all the up the stairs and down the hall to his room. He wanted to
make sure Franny knew they were home safe. 

 Chaos reined in the house the next morning: Showers ran, towels were
thrown down and people yelled to one another in search of suddenly missing
items. But precisely at 10:30 A.M. Benton and Chase waited for Ray at the
bottom of the stairs. Both were well fed and dressed splendidly in their
colorful kilts and jackets. Ben had a small carry case at the bottom of
the stairs holding some small odds and ends that would be needed later in
the day. Both Fraser's wore their hair brushed severely into place. Both
ran a finger around their collar and smiled at each other. 

 Ray bounced down the steps followed by Tony in their dark tuxes. Each man
looked relaxed and happy. They greeted Ben with a smile and gave Chase the
once over. 

 "You two are dashing." Ray smiled. "I always wanted to be dashing." He
looked at his watch. "Bree's gonna be here any moment." 

 "Ray. I'm just going to step upstairs a movement." Ben said and sat down
on the chairlift that he was relegated to until his next doctor's visit. 

 "Oh...no you don't!" Ray said and made a valiant but unsuccessful attempt
at grabbing onto Ben. 

 "I won't go in the room Ray. I promise." Ben said as the chair rose up
the stairs. 

 Ray gave up and turned back to Chase and Tony. The doorbell rang and Ray
ran to let Bree inside. She came in dressed in a formal long coat in her
favorite hunter's green color. She kissed Ray and removed her coat to
reveal a long formal dress that matched Maria's matron of honor dress. Ray
couldn't take his eyes off of her in her form-fitting gown. Then the
doorbell rang. Ray answered it to find Inspector Thatcher and Turnbull at
the door in full dress red serge. He ushered them in and looked outside to
see the Canadian Consulate limo parked up front with full flag display on
its hood. 

 "Groom's party almost ready leave?" Thatcher enquired. 

 At the top of the steps Ben dismounted from the chairlift and using his
cane made his way down to Rosa Vecchio's room. He taped on the door.
"Francesca!" he whispered and waited for an answer. 

 Franny was in her slip and already had her shoes on when she heard Ben at
the door. She laughed and ran to the door but didn't open it. "Yes. Ben,
I'm here." 

 "I love you Franny." 

 "I Know Ben. I love you too." 

 "Listen carefully Chesca." Ben cleared his throat and began to sing in a
sweet tenor voice. "Because they told me, I can't behold ye, till wedding
music starts playing. To ease my longing, there's nothing wrong in, me
standing out here and saying." He paused then began again, "Come to me,
bend to me, kiss me good day. Darling, my darling, tis al I can say. Just
come to me, bend to me, kiss me good day, give me your lips and I'll take
them aaaway." He took a deep breath and began again, "come dearly near me,
so ye can hear me. I've got to whisper this softly. For tho I'm burning to
shout my yearning, the words come tip toeing softly. Come to me, Bend to
me. Kiss me good day. Darling, my darling, that's all I can say...." Ben
leaned into the door. "It's like Brigadoon, Chesca; a miracle and meant to
be. I'll be waiting for you at the church." 

 Franny dried the tears off her cheeks and whispered back, "I'll be there,
I love you Ben." 

 Ben walked back to the chairlift unaware that everyone in the house had
heard him sing to Francesca. When he saw Bree's face at the bottom of the
stairs, he turned beet red and smiled. He turned redder when he saw the
Inspector standing behind Bree. 

 "Sir. I hope you haven't been waiting long?" Ben said as he stood at
attention. 

 "At ease Constable. You're not on duty." Thatcher smiled tho anyone
looking at her could see the tears held in check in her eyes. "Shall we
leave?" 

 "Yes, Sir." Ben picked up his little bag and took Chase's hand. "Shall
we?" 

 "Yes Papa. Let's go." 

 Francesca was still leaning against the bedroom door when the Consulate
limo pulled away. 

 Turnbull drove the limo with his sentry duty expression on his face. The
Inspector sat in the front passenger seat, her white-gloved hands resting
on her lap with just the slightest twitch of the fingers every so often.
She sat stiffly at attention and tried not to pay attention to the
conversation in the back seating area of the limo. 

 Ben sat in the forward riding seat, a yawning Chase cuddled next to him
with little legs straight out on the seat. Tony and Ray rode in the
rear-facing seat. Ray's expression was ridiculously joyful as he watched
Ben try to sit calmly; his kilt laying flat, knees together and shoes flat
on the floor. 

 "Do all Scots wear one of those men's skirts when they get married?" Tony
asked with a straight face, though his eyes twinkled merrily. 

 "Not everyone who is of Scottish descent wears a kilt or their clan
tartan colors when they marry Tony. I'm wearing this as a concession to my
Grandmother." 

 "Sure Benny. Tell the truth?" Ray snickered. "You like wearing odd
clothes that make you stand out in a crowd, just like I like my Armani." 

 "Ray, this is the traditional tartan of my father's people. Fraser men
have worn variations of this dress for centuries. And although this is not
the `Great Kilt', it is still a form of the regulation kilt worn for
ceremonies in my clan." Ben smiled, "Heavens, if Chase and I were wearing
the `Great Kilt' we might still be back at the house dressing." 

 "You're kidding right?" 

 "No, Ray. When one is going to wear the `Great Kilt' it must be very
carefully laid out on the floor and folded and pleated accurately. The
belt must be laid out just so. Why it might take trying it on three times
to get the kilt just so and at the right knee height. My father said his
own grandfather was late for his wedding because he just couldn't seem to
get..." 

 "Enough already, I believe you." 

 "Well, you did ask Ray." 

 "Are the a," Ray blushed. "Are the unmentionables traditional?" 

 In the front seat Meg sat very still. "Unmentionables?" She thought and
strained to hear more. 

 "No, Ray. Not traditional." 

 "And were you going to wear the outfit traditionally" 

 Ben looked down at Chase's curly head as the boy looked up at him waiting
for an answer. "Ray, could we change the subject." 

 "Sure, but I still would like an answer." 

 "Thank you, Ray." 

 "No problem, Benny." Ray looked out the window at the passing buildings
and turned back to grin at Ben. "You still owe me for keeping your first
marriage a secret ya know." 

 "Yes, Ray. I have apologized for that." 

 "Yea, well today is definitely gonna make up for it. Between my Ma and
your Grandmother the food at the reception is gonna be to die for." 

 Ben got a pained expression on his face. "I know...they made me taste
test everything." 

 "Everything?" 

 "Right down to the butter pats. It was awful Ray. I've never eaten so
much food in one week before." 

 "The `butter pats'?" 

 "Yes, there was some question as to the supplier and to the cut of the
precise little forms." 

 "You're kidding, right?" 

 "No, Ray." Ben sighed. "I had to taste test all the cakes too." 

 "You're not kidding. Are you?" 

 "No Ray. Your mother put three samples in front of me before she
ordered." 

 "Oh, that's not so bad." 

 "Ray, those were the finalists. They had 15 samples brought to the
house." 

 "Fifteen?" 

 "Yes, Ray. Fifteen samples in five days." 

 "But the food is gonna be good, right? What's a wedding without a pig out
on good food?" 

 "Be glad I put my foot down on the haggis Ray." 

 "Haggis?" 

 "You don't want to know Ray." 

 "Ahhh" Ray said. "Tell me later, much later." 

 Meg Thatcher sat in the front seat and stared straight ahead her lips
twitching as she wonder just what strange items might be on the wedding
dinner menu. Before she got very far in her thoughts, they arrived at the
church. 

 Francesca stood in front of her mother's cheval mirror and waited while
Maria set the white-wire snood on her head. She twitched every time Maria
pulled a strand of hair out through one of the heart shaped openings.
While Maria worked she kept glancing at her sister's form in the mirror.
Francesca's beautiful slip lay smooth up and down her body and Maria
wondered how soon Francesca's pregnancy would begin showing. She'd already
heard Franny complaining that her pantyhose were iron tight at the waist.
She had laughed outright when Franny produced a pair of thigh-high nylons
to wear for the wedding. Franny's words ran in her mind, "Having to `P'
every five minutes and pinching pantyhose squishing my waist ain't my idea
of a fun wedding day." She remembered the bright smile Franny had as she
pulled two pair of the thigh-high nylons out of their container and her
words of, "these are gonna make life a lot easier today." 

 When Francesca stepped into her dress and looked in the mirror she
smiled. Her hands lightly touched the broach on her left shoulder. She
tried to stand still while Maria buttoned all the buttons down the back of
the dress, stopping several inches below Franny's knees. Both women turned
around when they heard the door open. Rosa Vecchio stood at the door of
her bedroom dressed in a lovely champagne colored gown. Gone was the
everyday Italian housewife. She looked elegant and happy as she crossed
the room to stand before Francesca. 

 "We have been here before, but this time I rejoice with you." She smiled
and held out her hand. "For something new I give you this string of pearls
to wear around your neck. For something blue I give you this rosary to
carry with your flowers. Be happy, that's all a mother can ask." She
kissed Franny and stood back to take another look at her. 

 "Do you have your shoes? You look so tiny and short." 

 Maria laughed and backed out of the bedroom door. She ran down the hall
to her room and quickly pulled down her gown and dressed. Her own feet
felt comfortable in her shoes as she thought how tired everyone would be
when the day was over. She returned to her mother's room and gave
Francesca a hug. "Time to go Franny." Maria whirled around and picked up
the bag with the wedding dress train and followed her sister out the door.


 Rosa descended the stairs and noted the nice young man waiting at the
door in a formal livery suit talking to Marie and Bree. Maria's children
stood around waiting as patiently for the grown up's to get going. The
siblings were trying to ignore each other. Maria's youngest sat in
Grandmere's lap and smiled smugly at the older children. Grandmere's gown
was deep, Prussian blue in color and made her eyes the most prominent
feature of her face. She held the child gently in her lap and turned
slightly in her chair when she heard Bree's intake of breath as Francesca
descended the stairs with her sister behind her. Grandmere nodded her
approval at Francesca and smiled at Rosa. She looked at her watch and
nodded to the driver. 

 The driver held the door calmly while the children scampered into his
freshly detailed limo. Grandmere smiled as she watched Franny's eyes
goggle at the second and identical limo waiting behind the first one.
Franny leaned down and gave the old woman a hug and kiss on the check.
"Benton's lucky you know." 

 Grandmere laid a hand on Francesca's check and smiled. "Yes, he is." 

 Rosa rode in the second limo with Francesca and Maria and Bree. They
giggled and laughed when they spotted a chilled bottle of sparking apple
cider waiting for them along with a note. "For Francesca, from Ben." 

 "Is he gonna drink champagne today Franny?" Maria asked as she sipped the
cool refreshment. 

 "He said he would drink at least one glass." Franny giggled as the
carbonated drink rolled into her mouth. 

 Bree and Maria sat back and relaxed in their nearly identical dresses
with dark maroon bodices similar to the top of Francesca's wedding gown
with long, elegantly flowing dark-maroon skirts. Each had a small swath of
Fraser tartan plaid ribbon in their hair. Both dresses were gifts from
Grandmere. Maria and Bree had both breathed a sigh of relief when they had
seen the dresses. Visions of Fraser plaid dresses had haunted their
dreams. 

 The drive to the church was over quickly. They filed out of the limos
like a little ant parade. Franny and Maria hurried along the side of the
church and entered the side door. Maria looked at her watch as they
entered the bride's waiting room. "The guests should start arriving in
half an hour." 

 "Oh God. I'm nervous." Francesca said with a tiny catch in her breath. 

 Maria looked at her sister and laughed. "Hey, you've done this already.
He's not leaving you at the alter." 

 "I know. I know. But this one is in God's house, ya know." 

 "Relax. You love each other. You look beautiful and Benton looks
gorgeous. God's not going to frown on you." 

 Bree entered the door to hear Maria's remark. "Gorgeous doesn't begin to
cover it." She laughed and stood next to Franny. "Every woman in that
church is going to envy you, but you're the one going home with him." 

 Rosa and Grandmere entered the side door followed by Maria's little
girls. "Mommy, who is that funny looking man standing on the church steps
dressed like Uncle Benton?" 

 Grandmere was about to explain when the bagpipe music began to drift into
their room. 

 Robert Fraser stood resplendid in full Fraser kilt regalia just inside
the door of the room where Ben waited with Ray, Tony and Chase and Tony's
son. "Lovely day for a wedding. Lovely. Simply lovely." The smile on
Robert's face was broad and proud. "Yes, sir." He smiled down at Chase and
put a finger to his mouth as he winked. "You look dashing my boy." 

 Chase grabbed his father's hand and yanked on it. Ben looked down and
noticed Chase's smile. 

 "How long Papa. How long before we marry Mom?" 

 Ray laughed. "Your Dad's marrying your Mom squirt." 

 Chase looked directly up into his Uncles eyes and stated his clearest
voice. "Mom said she's marrying me too. We Fraser's are a package deal she
said." 

 "Package deal? Ya, I guess you could say that." Ray grinned and continued
to watch Ben fidget. "Hey, Benny. Didn't you tell me once the white belt
was for formal occasions?" Ray started at the brown leather Sam Brown Ben
was wearing. 

 "Oh Dear." Ben reached down for the little bag he had brought along. "I'm
surprised the Inspector did not severely reprimand me." He kept mumbling
while he dug around in the small bag. 

 "Hey, I don't think she'll say anything Ben. I really don't." 

 "You may think that Ray, but I know she won't let it go, I'll hear about
it later." Ben held the bag with one hand and yanked on some items to get
them out of the small container. "Ah, here we are." He quickly unbelted
the brown Sam Brown and encircled his waist with the white belt. He
frowned when he had to adjust the belt buckle to make the belt smaller. He
looked up at Ray as his fingers fumbled with it. 

 "Give it time. You'll get there." Ray said it simply and in a soft
whisper. 

 Ben nodded and lifted up a very tiny white belt. He knelt next to Chase
and removed Chase's little brown Sam Browne and replaced it with the tiny
white one. 

 "Now that's the ticket." Robert Fraser smiled as he watched Ben hand a
small pair of white gloves to Chase. When both Fraser's were done,
Robert's grin broadened. "Chips off the old block." He twitched his head
to the right and nodded with satisfaction. "When does this show get on the
road? I ask you son, when?" 

 There was a knock on the door and Maria announced herself before
entering. "Here's the ring pillow." She held out a beautiful white lace
pillow with a bit of Fraser plaid in the middle to tie the rings too.
"Francesca's ring is on it. Add yours to it Ben." 

 Ben glanced down at the ring on his left hand that he'd worn for almost
two months. He rolled it around his finger one last time with his right
hand before removing it and gravely placing it next to Francesca's. 

 Maria watched Ben slowly perform the task. "The guests are starting to
arrive. Just one more hour Ben, one more hour." 

 Ben's mind filled with visual pictures and auditory memories of Francesca
saying just one more hour to him when he had been in the hospital. His
eyes watered and he turned away from his relatives to compose himself.
When he turned back, his eyes were clear. 

 Maria tilted her head as if she were listening for something. "You can't
hear it in here. Wow, I'll bet the whole neighborhood can it, but you
can't hear it in here." She looked awestruck. 

 "What are you talking about Sis?" 

 "Bagpipes. The sound of bagpipes." 

 "Bagpipes!" Ray snorted. "You're kidding right?" 

 "No, Grandmere said as Benton's closest living elder it was her
responsibility to provide a piper." 

 "Old Nosey Parker. Putting her foot in again I see." Robert Fraser
complained with a pained expression. 

 "Oh Dear." Ben looked around at his relatives. "I think this means we
will be piped into the church and the reception." He paused as if for
effect. "I rather thought she might be doing this when I heard your
mother, Ray. She was muttering about strange Scottish customs." 

 "And of course, you just let it go." 

 "Well, both Grandmere and your mother had made us promise not to worry
about the preparations." 

 "And you did this?" 

 "Well, yes, Ray. They only want to make this day special for us." 

 "You're way beyond respectful here ya know." 

 Ben just nodded and watched Tony and his son follow Maria out the door to
begin ushering duties. He glanced down at his father's watch and noted
that the second hand seemed to be barely moving. He looked up to see Ray
smiling wickedly at him. 

 "This is my payback." Ray leaned against the wall and grinned. "Oh yea,
it's sweet." Ray looked at his own watch. "Ah, the 45 minute countdown."
He laughed outright. 

 While Ray teased Ben, Chase practiced walking up a pretend isle holding
the ring pillow. 

 Ben nervously adjusted his cravat beneath his red serge for the 10th
time. Ray leaned back and grinned broadly at his friend. Chase sat quietly
on a chair holding the pillow with the rings and staring at them. The two
rings on the pillow seemed to fascinate the boy. 

 Tony knocked on the door and yelled in, "Five minutes. OK." 

 Ben groaned and turned around. 

 "Hey, I bet Franny is as nervous as you are?" 

 "You think so Ray?" 

 "I know so." 

 Francesca stood in the hall outside the bride's waiting room. She stood
sill and confidant. He beautiful rose bouquet had Fraser plaid streaming
from it. Grandmere smiled with delight at the dignified attitude Francesca
was presenting. The old woman was sure that inside the girl was a bundle
of nervous. 

 Maria was lining the girls up and suddenly realized that Chase wasn't
there. She put her flowers down and ran down the hall to the groom's hall.
She opened the door without announcing herself, grabbed Chase by the hand
and flew of out of the room with the little boy and the pillow held
tightly to his little chest. 

 Ray's grin broadened. "Yea, your getting married. The frenzy begins in
just a few minutes. You ready?" 

 Ben remained silent but nodded. 

 "Then I think it's time we head to the door to the sanctuary." 

 Precisely on time and as dignified as she always was, Grandmere was
escorted to her seat at the front of the groom's side of the church. She
was pleased to note that everyone who had responded seemed to be filling
the pews on both sides of the isle. Father Behan entered the alter area
from the left side of the church and watched as on cue Tony, Ray and Ben
entered the sanctuary from the opposite side door. When they reached the
front of the isle, the church murmured at the sight they made. Mrs.
Calamari's jaw dropped at the sight of Ben in a kilt. She quickly shut it.


 The door at the back of the church opened and bagpipe music filled the
room. Strains of `Amazing Grace' lilted through the air and reverberated
in the confines of the church. The piper approached Ben and his groomsmen,
stopped, finished playing and then with a snap of his feet and with a
wheeling right turn he marched past Tony, Ray and Ben to stand at
attention in front of the door. 

 The organist began playing and a high contralto voice began to sing as
Maria's little girl carrying the flower basket in tandem with Chase
carrying the ring pillow started down the isle. The murmurs of the
congregation filled the children's ears as they walked. Chase stared at
the rings fearing they would fall off. He walked with his chin up, his
shoulders back and eyes forward but looking down at the rings. Maria's
elder daughter moved along behind her sister, both girls wearing princess
style maroon dresses. Bree stared straight ahead as she marched down the
isle towards Ray and Ben. Her heart was in her throat as she stared at
Ray. Maria started forward with a smile and a sedate step. When Maria
cleared the front isle and turned, the organist began playing the
traditional "Here Comes the Bride" music. 

 Francesca stepped into the doorway with her mother's hand tucked in hers.
The entire church sighed at the sight of her in her beautiful dress and
veil. They walked slowly down the isle, Francesca's eyes riveted on Ben.
Her mother held on to her arm and walked as gracefully as Francesca
towards the alter. 

 "You're lovely and I'm proud of you, tho I don't think you're hearing a
word I say." Rosa smiled at her diminutive daughter walking next to her. 

 Ben felt his heart leaping into his throat at the sight of his Francesca.
He'd not seen her dress before and marveled that she could walk in it as
tight and form fitting, as it appeared to be. Robert Fraser sat in the
front pew beaming at Ben and in turn Francesca. "Can't even tell she's
carrying my grandchildren. Sturdy girl. Sturdy." 

 Francesca finally stopped next to Ben. For them, there was no one else in
the room. Their eyes met and stayed focused on each other. They barely
heard Father Behan ask the traditional `Who gives this bride away?'
question. They repeated their vows clearly and at the right moments. But
neither of them registered the actual ceremony. 

 When it was time to exchange their rings, Chase walked up o his uncle Ray
and presented the pillow as he had been told to do before entering the
church. He watched with huge eyes as Ray solemnly untied and handed the
rings to Father Behan. His eyes widened even more when Ben dug into his
sporran and presented a third ring dangling from a chain to the priest to
bless. Father Behan led them through the exchanging of the rings and
paused. He nodded at Ben who leaned over and brought Chase over to stand
between himself and Francesca. 

 "Ben and Francesca have asked that we bless another union today." Father
Behan began. "They wish to share their vows with their young son, Chase."
He picked up the ring for Chase and smiled at Francesca and Ben. "Chase,
your mother and Father have asked me to bless this ring for you as a
partner in their lives and family. I believe they have something to say to
you." 

 Ben and Francesca knelt next to Chase. Francesca took the ring from
Father Behan and placed the ring on the chain around Chase's neck. "You
are your father's son. You are mine now too. When you wear this ring think
of us and always remember that we love you." She hugged Chase then stood
up. Ben smiled and rose, leaving Chase standing between himself and
Francesca. 

 Finally Father Behan asked if they had any words to say to each other.
Ben nodded and began to sing softly to Francesca accompanied by the
organist. 

 "This is hard for me to say,
 But, as I wandered through the lea,
 I felt, for just a fleeting moment that Suddenly I was free of being
lonely.
 And then I closed my eyes, 
 And saw the very reason why. 

 I saw a man with his head bowed low,
 His heart had no place to go.
 I looked and I thought to myself with a sigh, There, but for you, go I. 

 I saw a man walking by the sea,
 Alone with the tide was he.
 I looked and I thought as I watched him go by, There, but for you, go I. 

 Lonely men surround me,
 Trying not to cry
 Til the day you found me,
 Where among them was I? 

 I saw a man who had never known.
 A love, that was all his own.
 I thought as I thanked all the stars in the sky, There, but for you, go
I" 

 Francesca's tears ran down her face, as she remembered all the events of
the last four months. She knew Ben was thanking her for the entire world
to see. When Ben finished his soft song to her, her hand was griping his
as tightly as he had griped hers while he was hospitalized and she knew he
didn't feel a thing. 

 Her words to him were said softly, meant for just the two of them. "I can
not sing to you, but I can love you. I can say that like Fiona in
Brigadoon, I will always wait for you and love you. I will always hold you
dear in my heart. When you stepped into my life, I loved you. I will trust
you, protect you and our children and help you in any way I can, now and
forever." 

 Father Behan then pronounced that their marriage was now official in the
eyes of the state and the church. 

 Chase looked at Father Behan and asked in a loud, almost 4 year old
voice, "Are we married now?" 

 Father Behan held back a chuckle as the voice of the little boy before
him rang through the church demanding to know if the marriage was complete
yet. His smile was not lot upon the congregation as they laughed. 

 At the sound of laughter filling the church, Francesca and Ben turned
their heads to face the church. Francesca quickly looked up at Ben and
grabbed his hand. Ben's face was a picture of red embarrassment. Francesca
watched his eyes as he surveyed the completely packed church. Francesca
was inwardly berating herself for not paying more attention to her mother
and Grandmere when they had discussed the wedding. She should have known
that there was no such thing a small Italian wedding. As she gazed at the
pew where her mother sat, thoughts of what the reception might be like
clattered through her brain. 

 Ben held onto Francesca's hand as if it were a lifesaver pulling him
ashore. He took a deep breath and looked down at Chase as he felt his son
tugging on his sporran. 

 Father Behan cleared his voice and stated in a soft whisper, "Shall we
finish." 

 Ben and Francesca laughed as their tension eased as they turned back to
the priest. Each put out a hand for Chase to take. He grabbed onto their
hands and looked up first at Ben and then Francesca. 

 "May the love you share now grow and keep you together. Please turn
around." 

 The trio turned around to face the church, linked by their clasped hands.


 "May I present to you, Mr. And Mrs. Benton Fraser and son." 

 Ray actually yipped as the announcement was made drawing attention to
himself from Mrs. Calamari and her bosom buddy, Mrs. Nematode. The two
women sent disapproving looks to Ray as he stood by Ben at the alter. Ray
blatantly ignored them smiling broader than ever and exchanging an amused
glance with Bree on the other side of Franny. 

 The recessional music began and Franny, Chase and Ben started back down
the isle. Ben walked steadily; holding the hands of his two loves with
pride. When they exited the sanctuary followed by their attendants
Francesca turned directly to him and stopped. "I love you Mr. Fraser and
where's your cane?" She reached up and kissed him on the cheek. 

 Ben pulled her to him and kissed her softly on the lips. "I love you,
too, Mrs. Fraser. I'll use it if I'm tired at the reception." 

 "Promise?" 

 "Promise." 

 Chase looked up and tugged on their hands. "I want a kiss too." 

 Ray leaned down and picked up his nephew. He held the boy up where Franny
and Ben could each kiss a chubby cheek. "I think we better form the
reception line, don't you?" Ray held Chase in his arms with a huge smile
on his face and walked over to the official receiving line area as
designated by many years of tradition in the church. They formed the
receiving line quickly and began greeting their guests. 

 The last wedding guest walked by and Ray watched as Ben lapsed into
military rest position next to Francesca. Ray noticed the photographer he
had hired waiting by the sanctuary door. Ray leaned over and said with a
little bit of a snicker to his voice, "Pictures next." Ben turned startled
eyes towards Ray. 

 "Pictures?" 

 "Yep the official seal on the event, almost as important as you two going
in to the church office and signing that document for the church records."


 Francesca squealed with delight. "Let's get the pictures over with, I
want our portrait with you and Chase in those kilts." She pulled and
tugged Ben and Chase's hands. For the next 20 minutes Ben stood in guard
duty form but with a smile on his face as Chase gleefully stood next to
Maria's children. 

 "Almost done. Where are the mother of the bride and the groom's
grandmother?" The photographer set his camera for the last of the family
shots. 

 The last portrait taken at the church was of Chase seated on Grandmere's
lap with the rest of the family flanking Ben and Francesca as they stood
next to Grandmere's wheelchair. 

 The bridal party entered the limos quickly, tho Chase wanted to ride with
his parents in the lead limo. Ray scooped the boy up and said, "Nope. For
this trip you ride with us." 

 "Why?" Chase gave Ray his best big-eyed look. 

 "No, you don't. You are not putting the moves on me with that look. You
got it kid." 

 "What look Uncle Ray?" 

 "You're your father's son all right. Get in the car little Fraser." Ray
deposited Chase in the door of the limo and grinned as the boy immediately
turned around on his seat to watch his parents getting in the lead limo.
Ray held the door for Bree and the rest of the family noting that the limo
had more than enough space for them all. As soon as the driver had
deposited Grandmere's wheelchair in the back of the limo the procession
pulled away from the church. 

 Inside the bridal limo, Franny ran her eyes up and down Benton's kilted
figure until her eyes returned back up his figure to find that he had been
surveying her form as well. 

 "You have great legs." Francesca said slipping her foot out of her shoe
and sliding her stockinged foot along his leg. She turned slightly in her
seat and ran her hand lovingly down the side of his face. 

 Ben leaned his face into her hand then with a groan of pure joy pulled
her to his chest. "Can you actually breath in that dress?" Ben said
running his hand along her side as he lowered his lips and captured her
mouth with his. 

 Due to Grandmere's request that the privacy glass be locked into place
between the driver compartment and the passenger compartment, the limo
driver drove on oblivious of the passion igniting in the rear seat. 

 Francesca's shoe slipped off her foot and joined the other shoe already
lying on the limousine floor. She ran her hand over Ben's face reveling in
the closeness of his face to her own. Her veil clung to her neck and lay
in a pile on the upper portion of the seat behind them. Ben's eyes closed
as he felt her fingers running over his eyelashes. Francesca sighed and
laid her head on his shoulder. 

 "Just being here is enough, ya know, Mr. Fraser." 

 "That I do, Mrs. Fraser." Ben bent his head and let his lips linger over
her small mouth tracing their form with his own lips that were now tender
from being intensely captured by her. He felt the roaring of blood in his
ears as she traced the inside whorls of his left ear. He leaned his head
into her touch and knew he was being reduced to mere putty in her hands. 

 She murmured to him between kisses. "You always love me so gently. This
time is for you." He started to protest in a muffled sound against her
lips but she kissed him fiercely and laid her fingers along the edges of
what she called his beautiful, rose-tipped lips. "Besides, if we arrive
with my dress announcing what we've been doing, the gossips" - Ben cut her
words off with another attempt to control the movement of their lips. 

 Francesca pulled her head back and pushed gently on Ben's shoulders.
"Relax. Close your eyes if you like, but let me love you." Her lips
trailed over his face to his ear. Soft butterfly movements of her lips on
his ear began to drive him to the brink. He raised a hand to caress her
face; she took his hand before it reached her and gently began kissing
each finger. She looked up to see him watching her in mesmerized delight.
Placing his hand on the bench seat of the limo, she began running her hand
over the Fraser plaid kilt. She felt his quick intake of air and smiled
devilishly as she moved closer to him. She batted his hand away again as
he attempted to touch her hair. "No, you now." Her fingers played along
the sporran edges and ran down to the hem of the kilt. She found his knee
and began messaging it gently. 

 Ben felt totally boneless as Chesca ran her hands over his knee seeking
his thighs. His body slipped back along the limo bench; his head thrown
back lazily into the leather. Her fingers crept towards his upper thighs
and his boxer shorts and he tried valiantly not to move. He heard her
gleeful giggle as she reached her goal and pulled his shorts down. Running
her hand around the inside the freed edge of the shorts she circled and
circled her fingers along his skin creeping ever lower towards her goal.
Ben felt his body sliding down the bench into a boneless pile of human
flesh. With nothing to hang on to he was soon spread eagle on the seat
totally lost to anything but the sensory feel of her hands on him. When he
was about sure he was going to wind up on the floor of the limo at any
moment, Francesca let her body rest against his so that she could hear his
heart beating wildly. Removing her hand, she pulled herself up to the
level of his lips and took them to her again. She kissed him deeply with a
searching tongue that knew every way imaginable to drive him toward a
frenzied release. He tried pulling away from her to reach her shoulder and
found his hand in her mouth. Each digit was duly loved in its turn before
she turned her attention back to his knee and kilt. He couldn't even voice
his pleasure so well did her tiny hands know their quarry. 

 Francesca delighted in the feel of his hot skin in her hand. She pulled
the kilt up to expose him fully to her. Running her hand over him, around
him and up and down him she avoided driving him over the final edge. His
legs shook under her, his hands vainly sought to remain still. 

 "Chesca, please." Ben whispered in the softest whisper she had yet to
hear from him. 

 She shook her head and continued loving every exposed inch of him finally
using the butterfly kisses he so loved to bring him near the edge of no
return. The size of him amazed her every time she loved him in this way.
She always had trouble reconciling the look of him sexually aroused with
his relaxed flaccid form. This was `her' Ben and he deserved every sensory
feeling she was giving him. He rarely asked her for more than she could
give. This was one time that she was going to make sure the world revolved
around him and his needs. She blew her own hot breathe at him and marveled
again that he hadn't yet slid off the bench beneath her. 

 He was way beyond reality when she finally took him into her mouth and
played her tongue along him. It seemed the only thing he could do was
breath and that was an involuntary motion over which he no longer had any
control. His body soared towards her warmth and became rigid for the long
moment of his release. She didn't pull away, she ran her fingers over him
and calmed him and loved him and held him bringing his mind back to
concentrate on what had just happened in their wedding finery. He raised a
shaking hand to her head and let his fingers trace over her face as she
laid her cheek along his bare thigh with quick little brakes of air
escaping his lips. 

 She sat up long enough to rearrange the material of his boxers and lay
his kilt flat upon his lap; then she lay down there and looked up at his
face with sated eyes and grinned at him. With a great groan escaping his
lips, he raised her to his chest and savagely kissed her lips. "Tonight,"
he whispered. "You are mine tonight." 

 Shaking fingers held her, traced her face and warm, loving gray-blue eyes
sought every inch of her as they rode silently in the limo. Franny watched
the glistening sheen on his face and sat back up in her seat. She looked
across the limo's darkness and noted the champagne bucket resting and
waiting there for them to use. She grabbed the cloth meant to wipe their
hands and placed a small amount of ice chips into the diveted portion she
formed in her hand. Slowly she turned the cloth over closing the cloth
around the ice and then she used it to gently wipe his face down and cool
him. 

 The privacy window dropped an inch or two and the driver cleared his
throat. "We'll be pulling into the hotel in a few moments." He quickly
raised the panel again and drove, certain that the silence that had met
his ears was filled with the wedding couple's intimacy. 

 When the driver opened the limo door, the fall evening light was just
beginning to fade into severe darkness. Ben helped Francesca out and they
stood under one of the trees light with fairy lights. The entire parking
lot near the hotel entrance was filled with small, barren trees covered
with fairy lights. 

 Francesca turned an excited expression towards Ben. "It's a fairy tale.
Just look Ben." He held her hand and began to guide her into the hotel. 

 Maria and Tony were waiting just inside the hotel door with Ray and Bree.
Maria grabbed Francesca and squealed in delight. "Wait till you see our
rooms? And the reception room and I can't wait for you to see the cocktail
area." Maria kept gushing until Ray gently removed her from Franny's view
and gave the newly married couple a hug. 

 Rosa Vecchio and Grandmere waited near the lobby solarium and watched the
couple being feted by their attendants. They looked at each other and
laughed for both of them noted that Ben's sporran was twisted to the side
and not front and center as decreed by tradition. 

 Maria, grabbed Ben and Francesca's hands and drew them towards the side
hall. The entire area there was darker and an elevator door beckoned them.
She pushed them inside, thrust a key at Ben and closed the door. Ben
looked at the key and punched in the floor indicated on the key tag. The
elevator began rising and Francesca squealed. "OH my God. Ben look!" 

 Ben eyes followed Francesca's and noted that three sides of the elevator
were glass. They were rising very slowly over a large room with a ceiling
as high as the outside of the hotel. Below them the area was filled with
trees and bushes covered with fairy lights and waiters wondering between
tables. Below them, all of their family and friends watched them as the
elevator began to ascend to the top floor. Below them Lt. Welsh, Inspector
Thatcher and the Vecchio family stood out from the milling crowd. Ray made
a gesture Ben understood driving Ben's skin pure scarlet. He grabbed
Francesca, pulled her to his chest and kissed the air right out of her as
they disappeared from the view. 

 "I don't know what caused that. But, more please?" Francesca smiled and
collapsed against his red serge jacket. 

 They leaned on each other as the elevator door opened and stepped out of
it as one form, one shape with four legs. Ben looked at the door card Ray
had thrust into his hands and they walked forward down the hall. All the
doors were on their left side as they traversed the hall, which was really
a balcony. Sounds of their wedding reception traveled up to them over the
balcony railing as Ben located their suite's door. He used the card and
they entered and shut out the soft noise behind them. Ben clutched
Francesca to him and lifted her off of her feet. 

 "Papa, you're here, you're here." Chase dove at them from across the main
room of the suite. "Grandmere made me take a nap while we waited for you."
The boy frowned, "I'm too big for naps, aren't I Papa?" The little boy
stood looking up with a defiant look on his face. 

 Francesca looked down at the small face looking up at them and smiled,
"You do want to stay up for the whole reception don't you?" Ben held her
tightly in his arms, her feet way off the ground. 

 "If you've been talking like that young man, I am not surprised your
grandmother made you lie down for awhile." Ben tried to give his son a
serious look. 

 "Grandmere and Grandma Rose left me here with Constable Turnbull but I
couldn't sleep." 

 Turnbull chose that moment to exit the suites luxurious bathroom and
stood startled at the sight of the newlyweds. His skin tone quickly
matched his tunic as he raced over to stand next to Chase. "Oh Sir. I am
so sorry. I--" 

 "Turnbull." 

 "Yes Sir." 

 "Are you on duty?" 

 "No Sir." 

 Are you a guest here?" 

 "Yes Sir." 

 "Then stop worrying. Thank you for taking care of our son. I do hope he
didn't cause you any trouble." 

 Turnbull grinned, "No Sir. Master Chase is a complete hand, Sir." 

 Francesca grinned back at Turnbull and held on to Ben's neck for support.
"Would you escort the little man downstairs Constable. We'll follow you in
a few moments." 

 Chase turned to Turnbull with a grin and extended his little hand up to
the tall Mountie. "I think that means they want to kiss. They're always
doing that." 

 Turnbull allowed himself to be dragged out the door by the nearly
4-year-old boy still dress in his kilt finery. As soon as the door shut
behind them, Ben leaned his head down to Francesca and kissed her
thoroughly. 

 "You shouldn't be holding me like this you know." Francesca said with her
head reeling from his kiss. "Shall we freshen up and join our friends?" 

 Ben smiled mischievously at her, "Just remember that tonight is mine." He
set her on her own feet with heavy lidded eyes looking down at her. 

 Chase and Turnbull entered the elevator and Chase plastered himself up
against the glass so he could watch everything as the elevator descended
to the main floor. He spotted both of his Grandmothers seated at a table
with his Aunt Maria and Uncle Tony. When the elevator door opened the boy
took off across the fairy lit area and slid to a halt near his Grandmere
who gave him a slight frown even though her eyes were laughing. 

 "I couldn't sleep. We're married now and I want to be at the party."
Chase curly head bobbed as he talked and his kilt swayed against his
knees. "Mom and Papa will be down in a few minutes, they said so. But I
think they're going to kiss first." He leaned his arms on the tabletop and
stuck his little rear out as he crossed one brogue-clad foot over the
other. The kilt swayed as the little boy kept talking. "Papa picked Mom
right up and held her in the air. Her feet couldn't even touch the floor."


 Maria hid her smile behind her hand as she watched Grandmere prepare to
silence the boy with a look. Ray returned to their table in time to hear
the little boy describing Franny's swinging feet. 

 "Hey, little Fraser." Ray scooped the boy up into his arms and looked him
square in the eye. "Some things are best left unsaid." He held his mouth
next to Chase's ear as he whispered, "Kissing is private. So let's have a
little decorum here OK. You wouldn't want everyone to know you wanted to
kiss your cousin now would you?" 

 "What's decorum?" Chase looked Ray straight in the eye. "And Papa told me
all about kissing. Some kisses are just kisses and some mean more." 

 "He did, did he?" 

 "Yes, he did. Did Papa tell you too Uncle Ray?" 

 Maria laughed, "Yes, Ray, did Ben tell you all about kisses too? Or maybe
I should ask Bree?" 

 Bree smiled at her end of the table where she sat next to Ray's empty
chair. "Oh I think Ray knows about kisses." 

 Ray's reply was cut off by a stir in the room as everyone looked up to
see the elevator bringing Francesca and Ben down the cocktail area. They
stood side-by-side, Ben's arm protectively around Francesca, his cane in
his free hand. 

 Maria sighed, "They look just like a picture out of a fairy tale book." 

 As the elevator descended to the main floor, Francesca nestled herself
into Benton's comforting arm around her shoulders. She grinned as she
watched the fairy lights grown closer and she hissed in an excited breath,
"It's a fairy tale. Our fairy tale." 

 Ben smiled as he recognized Ray seated below. "Fairy tales are make
believe, Chesca. This is very real. I think my grandmother and your mother
have paid attention to every thing we've ever said around them." He looked
around at the darkness that filled the large room that was broken only by
the light of the fairy lights and strategically located small floodlights.
The skylights overhead was gradually dimming as the sunset's rays slowly
disappeared. 

 The room below them was filled to capacity with their friends and family.
Waiters scurried between tables carrying trays of varying tasty items for
the enjoyment of their guests: everything from tiny egg rolls and tiny
individual quiches to Mexican cinnamon chips and tiny tacos were being
served by cheerful waiters. People crowded around the bar that was flanked
by New Orleans style streetlights. Here and there the colors of the RCMP
uniforms that formed the small honor guard Meg Thatcher had arranged lined
the outside perimeter of the room. The tables were filled and people
milled about the closely packed room. Laughter filled the air as the newly
arrived couple exited the elevator. Smiles accompanied the soft whispers
of their first names as Ben and Francesca threaded their way to the
`family' table. Words of congratulation filled the air. 

 Francesca's wedding dress train trailed over her arm as she walked next
to Benton, her small form as upright and proud as the stance on his larger
figure. They stopped several feet short of their family and stood with
mirthful faces at the site of little Chase's swinging kilt hanging from
his swaying form as he talked. Little Chase had his back to them and had
not heard them approach. 

 "Uncle Ray, why should I ask Bree if you know about kissing? Do you kiss
her like my Papa kisses my Mom?" The little guy hardly gave Ray a chance
to respond before he continued his little verbal attack. "Do you, do you
Uncle Ray? Are you going to marry Bree?" 

 Ben glanced at Franny and noticed the laughter ready to escape her lips.
He gently disengaged his arm from Francesca's hand and with one step
placed himself at Chase's back. When Chase didn't notice him, Ben leaned
over and put a firm hand on his son's shoulder. Every one at the table
watched as Ben leaned over and whispered into his son's ears. The boy
froze and seemed paralyzed, his little face turning red with
embarrassment. He put his little mouth next to his father's ear and
whispered back. Ben shook his head and again whispered to Chase. 

 Chase stood back from the table and looked up into his father's eyes.
Straightening his little kilted form into a military stance, Chase looked
from Bree to Ray. "Uncle Ray, Bree. I apologize. Papa says I shouldn't ask
those kinds of questions, even if I would like the answers. He says it's
not polite." The boy looked down at his feet then back up at his father's
face. "Papa, when can I ask those kinds of questions?" 

 Ben gasped out a sigh and his shoulders sagged, but his eyes retained a
merry twinkle. "Some questions are always in bad form, no matter what your
age." He watched the little boy forming another question in his little
brain. "We'll talk about this later. For now just accept that there are
some things we don't ask our elders or our friends." 

 "Is Uncle Ray your elder Papa?" 

 Ray laughed so hard he almost dropped the small quiche he had just picked
up from the serving platter in the center of the table. "Chase, my man.
We're going to have some long talks while your Papa and Mom are away." 

 "Ray, I hardly--" 

 "Let it go Benny. He's a little guy trying to figure out the world. So
he's gotta ask questions." 

 Francesca leaned down to Chase and whispered into his ear. The boy smiled
and took off as fast as his little feet could carry him. She stood up and
watched Ben smile at her quizzically. She smiled. "I told him all his
cousins were at the kids bar at the end of the room." Ben watched Chase
scurrying between the legs of waiters and sighed. 

 "Looks like our little angel is going to start getting a little dust on
his wings." Ray said with a grin. Ben's mouth opened and shut a couple of
times then he shook his head. Francesca pushed him down to the empty chair
near Grandmere and handed him a glass of wine. 

 Three tables over from the main table a little four-year-old girl sat
with her parents. The little girl was sitting quite happily ignoring the
conversation around her. Her complete attention was on Chase and it had
been on his since she entered the room. She had dark auburn hair. The
freckles all over a heart shaped face framed her beautifully dark lashed
eyes. She was missing a front tooth and dressed in the lightest color of
mint green. The dress she wore was high waisted and long to the floor. She
had little dancing slipper style shoes on her feet and little anklet
stockings. She was four and she had lost her heart to Chase the minute she
saw him. She watched in awe as the man who must be his father talked to
him. She'd never seen a father and son so alike. With a great deal of
stealthy care she slipped off her chair and quietly followed Chase. Her
mother saw her go and smiled having noticed her daughter's infatuation
with the groom's son. The girl's mother put a hand on her husband's arm
and motioned for him to see their daughter stalking after the little boy
in the kilt who careened between the waiter's legs. 

 Chase pulled up short in his flight when he reached the small area the
grandmother's had requested be set aside for children. All of his cousin's
stood there along with a number of children he didn't know. Chase sidled
in between the Vecchio siblings and stood quietly waiting for a drink of
soda from their server. Bowls of popcorn and chips and pretzels set on the
counter for the children before the server. Greedy little hands dug into
the various snacks as the little girl approached the group quietly. She
stood and stared at Chase until he looked around at her. 

 The little girl of the mint green dress stood and stared. Her little
hands held softly by her side. Chase felt his heart in his throat for he
had never seen a little girl so pretty. He tried clearing his throat and
turning his head. But her quiet charm drew his eyes back to her. He felt
the palms of his hands go sweaty and wanted nothing more than to approach
the girl and ask her name. He was about to do so when one of Maria's
little girls put her arm around Chase and pulled him physically into the
midst of the Vecchio siblings. The quiet little girl sighed then turned
around and returned to her chair at her mother's side. But her eyes
remained focused on Chase as he stood amidst 20 or so other children. 

 Francesca pulled Ben to his feet and urged him to join her in circulating
around the room. In her haste to get the formalities of greeting guests
over, Francesca forgot to remind Ben to pick up his cane that he had
leaned against the short brick wall that encircled the table area. 

 The Vecchio family table was bubbling with laughter as they ate the
offerings set before them on huge serving trays. Ray had arranged for
several carafes of a light red wine to be set at their table. He smiled at
Tony and Maria's children as they formed a protective circle around Chase
at the kids' bar. Ray also noted the little girl sitting with her parents
who couldn't keep her eyes off of Chase. In fact, Ray glanced around the
room and noted several little girls that watched Chase when they thought
their parents weren't watching. Bree soon noticed Ray's amusement. With a
few short nods of his head Ray soon had Bree watching the antics of the
children at the reception. Bree's eyes lit up with enjoyment as she
watched Ray settling in for an evening of Fraser watching. 

 It wasn't long before the headwaiter began approaching tables and
informing the guests that the dinning area was opening. People began
slowly moving towards the dining hall, which in stark contrast to the
dimly lit patio style bar area was extremely well lit. Grandmere and Rosa
Vecchio watched in delight as the children of the family crowded around
them and in anticipation of diner. Chase picked up his father's cane and
looked around for his parent's. He shrugged his little shoulders when he
didn't see his parents and marched beside his grandmothers, cane in hand
towards the dining room. 

 The people in the dining room filled the room with lively whisperings as
they took their places at the tables where their name appeared on lovely
stationary. When everyone was seated a timbering voice rang over the
speaker system. "Ladies and Gentlemen. Please join us in presenting to you
the newly married couple." 

 Every eye in the room followed a bright spotlight to the main door of the
dinning room. A waiter in full dress hotel pulled the door open uniform.
He pulled the door open and stepped back. The sound of bagpipes preceded
their owner as he marched into the room in full regalia. He marched to the
side of the room and then marched around the room until he stood in back
of the chairs clearly set aside for the newly wed couple. He stopped
playing once he stood at attention. 

 The speaker over the loudspeaker system introduced each member of the
wedding party as they entered the room until finally Francesca and Ben
stood in the doorway with Chase in front of them. The room filled with
hoots and hollers and demands that Ben kiss Francesca. Ben stood frozen
and turning beet red as he held Francesca's hand in his own. Francesca
turned on tiptoe and reached his check with her lips. She smiled when he
looked at her. Pulling his hand to her side, she used their handhold to
urge him forward. Chase marched gaily in front of them his kilt swinging
merrily. When the wedding party was seated, the room sounded with the
clanging of spoons on glass. 

 Ben leaned over to Francesca with a quick whisper. "What does that mean
Francesca?" 

 Francesca leaned over and planted her lips against his. "Every time they
make that noise we're supposed to kiss." She pulled back and laughed at
his expression. 

 "Every time?" 

 "Every time?" 

 Ray, who was seated next to Ben, put a hand on his brother-in-law's
shoulder. "It's one of the benefits of being married." He let his eyes
twinkle at Bree as she watched him from her seat. 

 Chase sat next to Francesca. With a quick and precise move the little boy
picked up his spoon and clanged it against his water glass. The whole room
erupted into laughter as Ben gave his son a startled look and Francesca
took the opportunity to capture her husband's lips one more time in front
of a room full of witnesses. This time her kiss was full and deep and Ben
almost forgot where they were. 

 "Whoa, Fraser. You really locking lips there, aren't you?" 

 Ben's smile turned shy as he looked down at his lap. When he looked up at
Ray another clamoring of glass was sent their way. "I suppose it is
tradition." He said with a sly smile and put an arm around the back of
Francesca's chair and proceeded to indulge himself in a kiss meant to curl
Franny's toes. 

 Francesca laughed as she tried to catch her breath. "You're getting even,
aren't you?" 

 "I don't indulge in childish games Francesca." He whispered just for her
ears. 

 "No, but you're sure good at adult games." She whispered equally softly
back to him. 

 Their waiter interrupted them by serving their salad. Francesca's eyes
spoke volumes of what she planned for the rest of the evening. The waiter
noticed the look between the couple and blushed. When he leaned over to
serve Chase, the little boy was engrossed in playing with his silver ware.
When the salad was set before him Chase screwed up his eyes and shook his
head. The salad was lovely set in garnishes that included mushrooms,
tomatoes and sliced black olives. Chase used his fork and pushed all the
black olives on his plate off to the side. Then he attacked the red
looking lettuce and pushed it in another direction on his plate. Satisfied
that only the ingredients he liked were in the middle of his plate the boy
began eating, swinging his little feet as he sat in his chair oblivious of
the amused look his parents were throwing his way. 

 Ray stood up and raised his champagne glass and the room became silent.
Every eye in the room was glued to Ray and every ear waited for him to
speak. 

 "First, on behalf of my brother-in-law and sister, I want to thank all of
you for coming here this evening to help us celebrate their marriage." Ray
tilted his glass towards the couple. "Many of you are close friends,
family and co-workers. Many of you know how hard these last four months
have been for our family. Four months ago, I never envisioned that my best
friend and my little sister would ever be a couple. They seemed like two
people from entirely different universes. They hardly seemed to speak the
same language. But I found out when things seemed the darkest for our
family that they spoke the language of love. Love is the language of the
heart. Their two hearts hold more love than I ever imagined possible and
their two hearts beat as one. They nurture each other in times of need.
They make those around them feel needed. Ben is my partner and I couldn't
ask for a better one. Francesca is my little sister and I am intensely
proud of her. Join me in drinking a toast to the most deserving couple I
know, Mr. and Mrs. Benton Fraser." 

 The room erupted in loud applause as everyone stood up with champagne
glass in hand and toasted the seated newlywed couple. 

 Inspector Meg Thatcher put her champagne glass down with a definite sigh.
She had changed into a red evening gown for the reception and looked far
less officious than she had earlier in her red serge. Her long sleeved
dress was simple and body hugging without being too gauche and set off her
hair and complexion wonderfully. She was unaware that three tables over
from her seated position was a very interested spectator. A very tall
Italian cousin of the Vecchio family watched her with a gentle smile and
bright gleaming eyes. He was attending the wedding with an Aunt who could
not drive. He had noticed Meg at the church and now was determined to at
least dance with her. 

 Francesca's eyes roved the room in happy appreciation. She noted the look
on Aunt Seraphina's nephew and followed his gaze to Margaret Thatcher.
Francesca raised her wine glass to her lips and whispered to Maria. "Aunt
Seraphina's nephew is ogling Meg. This could be interesting." Maria
followed the gaze of her cousin to Thatcher and smiled back at Francesca. 

 "Perhaps, I should introduce them later?" Maria asked softly. Francesca
nodded her head and turned back to talk to Ben. 

 "Remember, bouquet and garter, cake, dance. Then we mingle." Franny
placed her hand on his left hand that lay on the table. "You can do this,
you know. You are a Mountie." She teased him with her voice and smile. 

 Ben's cheeks reddened but he gamely smiled back at her. "Just where did
you locate that garter?" This was the one thing Ben was indeed embarrassed
about doing. Ray had kindly informed him of most of the formalities
required at the reception and Ben couldn't get the picture he had in his
mind of every male eye in the room gawking at Francesca's legs. He was in
dread of retrieving her garter while she wore that tight dress. He loved
the way the low-cut bodice hugged her small frame and slid down over her
still slim stomach and down tightly over her hips and thighs. He hadn't as
yet noticed that the buttons were undone from the knee down providing her
ample leg movement. He ran a finger around his collar and cravat and
almost wished to take off his serge. He ate a bite of his meal and felt
the sweat beginning to run down his back at the thought of that garter. 

 Chase ate his meal in silence, letting his ears enjoy the adult
conversation around him. Many of the wedding party forgot all about the
little boy who sat using his best manners and listening intently. Someone
said something that made his mother blush and rush to cover his ears with
her hands. He looked up at her quizzically and watched her verbally lash
the offender. Just what did they mean by horizontal mambo? The boy tried
to see his father's face and found his cheek being kissed by his mother.
He smiled and tried to see his father's face again. Wow, his dad's face
was red, the reddest ever. 

 Chase went back to finishing his meal and felt eyes looking at him. He
searched the room and found several little girls watching him intently. He
blushed and looked away until his eyes met those of the little girl in
green. He stopped eating and held his fork in midair part way to his
mouth. Now that he could see her in brighter light, she looked like a
small angel. Her parents' table was to the right about half way between
Chase and the door. He smiled at her and looked down quickly hoping no one
had seen him single her out. But Francesca had noted his look and poked
Ben in the arm. They both watched the exchanged expressions of interest
with amusement. Chase looked up to see his mother and father watching him.
He boldly picked up his spoon and clanged on his water glass, diverting
attention from himself to them. Ray watched the whole exchange and tagged
the information in his brain for later use. 

 The meal was completed amidst laughter and gaiety. The time for the
herding of the single and unmated unto the dance floor for the usual
wedding rituals was soon at hand. Single people were urged onto the floor
near the door. No one was allowed to hold out. Ben led Francesca to the
chair placed in the middle of the dance floor with precise and steady
steps. She sat down before him and smiled her most mischievous smile,
daring him to kneel before her. The lights dimmed in the room and a light
floodlight enveloped just the bridal couple. Ben knelt with great care
being sure to keep his eyes on her face as he gently lifted the hem of her
gown. The hoots and hollers of the men in the room went unheard by Ben,
for once his hand touched her calf there was only his Chesca in the room
before him. He cautiously crept his hand up to her knee and let the gown
cover his arm. He made quick work of running his hand up her thigh a
little bit and latching on to the garter. He slid it slowly and sensuously
down her leg and smiled when her breathing picked up its pace. When the
garter was free of her foot, he leaned forward and kissed her lightly on
the lips. Chesca blushed as she heard the calls and hoots surrounding
them. "You are getting even." She whispered and watched him smile lazily
back at her. "I told you, I don't play games Chesca." She hissed back,
"Oh, yes you do." 

 Together they rose and watched the chair pulled away. Maria brought
Francesca the bouquet. When all the single females were herded into a pack
on the middle of the dance floor, the pipe player struck up a few notes.
Francesca turned her back on the eager bunch and tossed the bouquet of
roses and baby's breath high overhead and behind her. She half turned as
it rose in the air and was startled to see the bouquet heading for Bree
and Margaret. Margaret leaned forward but Bree was taller and merely put
out her hand where the bouquet seemed to just settle into her grip.
Francesca searched Ray out in the group of waiting bachelors and noted his
happy smile. The ladies cleared the floor quickly with most of the single
women congratulating Bree. Ben took a stance facing away from the single
men with his feet a little apart and raised the garter over his head. He
waited until the piper played a few notes and sent the garter high into
the air over his head in a classic rubber band shot towards the waiting
hands. A loud roar went through the room and Ben turned around to see Ray
covetously brandishing the garter and looking significantly at Bree.
Grandmere and Rosa Vecchio nodded their heads at each other, their minds
already planning a spring wedding. 

 Hotel employee's entered the room pushing a huge cart with the wedding
cake ensconced on it. The little figurines on top were of a groom with
dark hair in a kilt and a bride in a slender dress. It wasn't hard to see
the exact resemblance to the bridal pair. The cake was a huge oblong with
two layers on pinions on one end and three layers on pinions on the other.
Each layer was decorated in the tiniest red roses with small green leaves
and vines wandering the sides of each layer. The pinions were glass and
cut to reflect light in rainbow arcs. Half of the cake was chocolate and
half white cake. The smaller layers on pinions were placed so that each
bottom layer was larger the layer above it and they were placed almost
like the start of a spiral staircase on either end of the large bottom
layer. Francesca pulled Chase along with Ben and stood like a delighted
child before the cake. The cake knife was placed in her hand and Chase and
Ben both put a hand atop hers. The first slices of cake were cut amidst
lots of picture taking. Francesca would always treasure the picture of Ben
to one side of her and Chase to the other side of her as they all tried to
take a bit out of the same piece of wedding cake. The hotel employees
rolled the cake away and would spend the next hour cutting and wrapping or
placing it on plates for the wedding guests. There was more than enough
cake for everyone to have a piece and take some home for luck. 

 Just as Ben and Francesca finished wiping their hands the lights in the
room dimmed again and a very small orb descended from the ceiling filling
the room with sparkling refracted light. The small combined band and
string ensemble that Ben and Ray had hired took their seats at the end of
the room. Most of the guests rose and began to stand on the periphery of
the dance floor. 

 Violins struck up the first chords of a waltz and Francesca looked at Ben
with puzzlement in her eyes. Then she recognized the music and tears
filled her eyes as Ben raised a hand and formally guided her to the dance
floor. He swept her into his arms amidst sighs from the guests and began
waltzing with his little wife to the music she loved. A lone, female voice
rang clearly though the room singing out the words to the song: "May I
have this dance, for the rest of my life, will you be my partner every
night, when we're together it feels so right, May I have this dance, for
the rest of my life." The singer continued singing as the wedding guests
watched Benton Fraser whirl his diminutive wife around the room, her dress
parting to let tantalizing glimpses of her calves be seen and his kilt
swaying dangerously about his knees as they danced. The waltz floated
sweetly through the air for several minutes before Ray and Bree joined
them on the floor followed by the entire wedding party. 

 Chase watched his parents waltzing in light of a spotlight that followed
them around the dance floor and stood tall with pride. He felt the timid
touch of a small hand touch his left hand hanging at his side. He
cautiously glanced sideways and saw the girl he called `Angel Eyes'
standing next to him. Her parents stood next to her. Chase cleared his
throat and smiled at her. He motioned to the dance floor with his eyes and
saw her nod shyly. With a quick thrust of his shoulders and an upright
tilt to his head the boy stepped forward to stand in front of the girl's
father. He cleared his throat and waited to be seen. 

 The little girl took her father's hand and gave it a small jerk. When he
looked down at her with an indulgent smile, she cocked her head towards
Chase. Her father was very tall and seemed like a giant to Chase, who
stood fast and smiled at him. 

 "Sir. My name is Chase Fraser. May I dance with your daughter?" The voice
of the almost 4-year-old boy was very formal and correct, sounding just as
his grandmother had made him practice for days before the wedding. 

 Crinkly but smiling eyelids opened wider at the sound of the boy's voice
and the man leaned down to take the boy's hand. "How do you do, Mister
Fraser? My name is David Glendenning and I am well acquainted with your
grandmother." He stood up formally and then knelt at the children's level.
"Mr. Fraser, let me introduce my daughter to you, Miss Daniella
Glendenning. Daniella, this is Mr. Fraser who would like to dance with
you. What do you say minx?" 

 "Yes Papa. I would like to dance with Mr. Fraser." Her curly head bobbed
happily. 

 Mr. Glendenning smiled, "Then off you go poppet and have a good time."
Mr. Glendenning watched the children rush off to the dance floor with
delighted merriment dancing in his eyes. He turned to his wife and
whispered in her ear. "I do believe your daughter has met the love of her
young life." He watched indulgently as Chase most properly bowed to
Daniella before taking her into his short little arms and waltzing
proficiently away with her. His wife followed the little couple for a
moment with laughter playing at her lips. She leaned up and kissed her
husband on the cheek and whispered. "I believe she may have found the love
of her life, as I have." It was then that it was announced that guests
could now join the wedding party on the dance floor. Mr. Glendenning
swooped his wife into his arms gracing the dance floor with their own
beautiful, glide, sweep and swirl to the strains of the waltz. 

 "Daniella. You're very pretty." Chase said as he followed the taller
couples swirling around the dance floor. 

 "My friends call me Dani. You could call me that." 

 "Dani is a boy's name." Chase swirled her again and felt his kilt
swinging gaily at his knees. "I like both your names. I only have one
name." 

 "It's a nice name, Chase." Her little hands held on to him as they moved
quickly to avoid running into any adult couples. 

 Chase, true to his father's genetic code blushed fiercely and almost lost
their way in the crowd. He recovered his steps and smiled back at
Daniella. Both children were unaware of the beautiful sight they made
amidst all the adult dancers. 

 Francesca saw Chase take to the floor with his partner and whispered to
Ben to glance at his son's progress on the dance floor. Ben smiled with
pride and whispered that he would have to thank Maria before the evening
was over. Francesca gave him a quizzical look and dug slender fingers into
her husband's hand. He placed his head next to hers and whispered, "Maria
helped me get my dance steps back and she taught Chase to dance." Ben
swirled Chesca in a breathtaking whirl and she could only gasp a slightly
whispered return. "Maria has my gratitude." Ben stopped dancing in the
middle of the dance floor and kissed Francesca soundly on the lips and
then lifted her and put her down again to swirl off into the crowd with
her. 

 Little girls lined the side of the dance floor where Chase and Daniella
moved gracefully to the waltz music as it wound to a halt. Chase noted the
crowd watching and as any boy of his age would do, he grabbed Daniella's
hand and made off in the opposite direction. He circumvented most of the
crowd and made his way to the table where his Grandmothers watched the
dancers. Chase held Daniella's hand tightly in his left hand and
introduced her to the ladies immense enjoyment of his grownup attitude. As
his grandmother had taught him, Chase pulled back a chair and held it for
Daniella. 

 Chase put his own hands on the table and let his little kilted rear sway
to the music as he watched his grandmother make polite `small talk' with
his new friend. 

 Mrs. Calamari's table was quite in the middle of all the tables to the
left side of the dance floor. She and Mrs. Nematode found they could quite
easily take in all the happenings around the room from their position.
Waiters brought them water and wine and their every need was well taken
care of by the staff that wandered the room. Mrs. Calamari had brindled
when a heathenish bagpipe player had led the wedding party into the room.
She had cringed when Chase clanged on his glass of water as a signal for
his parents to kiss. Her blood pressure had risen when Ben had skillfully
but sensuously removed the bridal garter from that Francesca Vecchio's
thigh. Her ire was further spurred on by the `oh and ah's of the crowd
when the bouquet and garter were thrown. To say she was livid when Ben and
Francesca took to the dance floor would be to state the matter mildly. So
when little Chase Fraser appeared on the dance floor with quite the
prettiest little girl that Mrs. Calamari had ever seen she saw red. The
woman seethed quietly at first and then soon began making comments to her
bosom friend Mrs. Nematode. It wasn't long before she downed her third
glass of champagne. At this stage she spied Chase swinging his kilt about
his knees as he stood leaning on his grandmother's table. Danger loomed
ahead. 

 Soft music filled the room as the next dance set began. Ray claimed a
dance with his sister and Ben swung Maria into his arms. Ben and Maria
danced well together from their hours of practice. They were well suited
to each other's steps. Ray and Francesca whirled past Ben their faces
filled with laughter. After several circuits of the room, the couples
switched partners again, this time Ben wound up with Bree and Ray danced
with Maria. 

 "You make a lovely couple, you know." Bree remarked casually to Ben who
smiled back at her then retorted. "So do you and Ray." Bree blushed,
"We're working through a lot." Ben laughed outright in an uncharacteristic
change of character at her answer. "Francesca's the one who has taken on
the heavy load." Ben glided then whirled his partner. "Francesca's an open
book compared to my clam personality." Bree smiled as her dress billowed
out around her feet. "There was a time you wouldn't have admitted that.
You've come a long way Benton Fraser." The music stopped and they watched
Ray and Francesca wander their way. "I guess we Scot's like dark-haired
Italian's." Bree said with a laugh. 

 Francesca pulled Ben towards their table and made him sit out a song. She
picked up a glass of wine on the table and put it to Ben's lips. "Drink, I
don't want you dehydrated." Ben sipped from the glass oblivious of its
taste but decided against informing Francesca that wine wouldn't prevent
dehydration. His eyes wandered over her flushed and beautiful face as he
drank deeply. A glass clanged somewhere in the room and Ben gratefully
took the opportunity to kiss the lips he loved. He pulled Chesca onto his
lap and held her softly to him. Francesca returned his kiss but then rose
to her feet. Taking his hand she pulled his large form up and began to
drag him away. "Time to mingle." Soon they were making their way from
table to table. Rosa Vecchio smiled approvingly as they wandered away from
her table. 

 Chase and Daniella met up with the Tony and Maria's children and began
dancing as a group on the dance floor. The music had changed to more
modern rhythms and the small group was swinging around in wild abandon.
Mrs. Calamari's eyes narrowed as she watched the young revelers having
fun. She was totally scandalized when Chase led the small group in a silly
follow the leader game. The children were laughing so hard as they moved
about their small area of the dance floor that other small children
wandered their way and soon joined in the fun. The old woman drank deeply
from her glass not caring what liquid the glass contained. 

 Francesca whirled as a waiter passed her and requested two glasses. The
waiter smiled at the beautiful couple and lowered his tray to her.
Francesca impishly smiled in thank you and handed a glass of champagne to
Ben. "You don't have to drink the whole thing you know." She teased Ben
with her eyes as she drank slowly. They stood sipping from their glasses
and watching the dancers move about the floor. "Look, isn't that Meg with
my cousin Seraphina's nephew?" Ben craned his neck in the direction
Francesca pointed and smiled. 

 Margaret Thatcher was enthralled. Her dance partner was intelligent, well
mannered and entertaining. She was even more pleased that he seemed to
really see her. He wasn't bad to look at either. He was tall, dark and had
the most melting hazel eyes. And the man was a divine dancer. His only
drawback was his familial connection to the Vecchio family. Of course,
even that could be overcome given time. And she had a feeling she'd have
that time with this man. Even his name was interesting, `Cheserae
Vecchio'. 

 Mrs. Calamari watched with narrowed eyes as Chase pulled Daniella from
the crowd and headed toward the room's exit. Mrs. Nematode watched the
eyes of her friend and whispered, `'Oh dear." 

 With gleeful venom in her whispered words Mrs. Calamari leaned towards
Mrs. Nematode and began a diatribe of stinging comments about her hosts.
It wasn't long before many of the guests at the table drifted; away glad
to get away from the woman's invective comments. 

 Benton Fraser was on his way back to the bridal table after a visit to
the establishment's facilities. His spirits were high and he had not yet
begun to tire. He passed closely to Mrs. Calamari's table and heard just a
hint of her pithy comments. He would have passed right on by if she had
not made a comment about his son. Benton Fraser stopped dead in his tracks
and shook his head. He couldn't believe any sane person would make such an
attack on a child that was little more than a toddler, even though that
child would soon be four. Mrs. Calamari's back was to Benton and she
didn't see him start to pass their table then stop. But Mrs. Nematode did
and she tried vainly to stem the other woman's flow of castigating words.
Benton Fraser turned quickly and approached Mrs. Calamari. 

 "Mam, please forgive me. But did I just hear you call my son a brat and a
heathenish son of a heathen? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the words I
heard seemed a little strong in connection with my son, a small child not
yet 4." His eyes darkened as he spoke and his lips tightened with each
word he spoke. 

 Mrs. Calamari turned in her chair and blanched but did not give way to
superior forces. She nodded her head, "Yes, I did say those words and a
few more. How dare you teach your son to wear that heathenish garb among
civilized people? And the things he has done this evening are a disgrace.
Did you know he's dragged a little girl out of this room? Did you? Just
what are you going to do about it young man?" Her gloating look demanded a
retort. 

 At first it appeared that Ben would take her to task with words. Then a
broad smile crossed his lips and he saluted the lady, and placing his
hands rigidly at his sides he turned on his heels in military fashion
letting his kilt sail high in the air almost directly in the lady's face.
The kilt fell back down over Fraser plaid boxer shorts as Ben walked away
without a look back, high color stinging his face. He marched straight
across the room to the table where Grandmere sat where he plopped himself
down in a chair. He picked up a wine glass and drained it, then whispered,
"Oh Dear." 

 Ray had watched the entire encounter across the room. He had been about
to go and rescue Ben when Ben did his military maneuver. Even as far away
as Ray was from the target area, he was well aware of what had happened by
the look on the Calamari's face. Ray broke up into laughter and wound up
hanging on Bree's shoulder shaking as laughter controlled him. Between
gasps of laughter he described the scene to Bree who whispered, "Our Ben?"


 "Oh yea, our Ben." 

 Father Behan sank into the first available chair and wiped his sweaty
brow. His stomach clenched and unclenched as his thoughts roiled in his
head. The poor, dear man was almost speechless at what he had just
witnessed. But he was well acquainted with Benton Fraser; he guessed the
man was very sorely provoked to get such an action out of him. What was
worse was the fact that both people attended services in his parish. He
glanced over to the bridal table where his eyes met those of Benton's
grandmother; a formidable but loveable dame if ever there was one. The
laughter he saw in those eyes reached his heart and his sole. He
straightened his collar and rose, ready to do battle. 

 Mrs. Calamari sat with a very rigid expression of horror on her face. The
woman's eyes were large and bulging in their orbits. She spluttered and
reached out vainly for Mrs. Nematode's arm. While she was realizing that
the comforting arm of her bosom friend was not in reach she was failing to
notice Father Behan bearing down on her from two tables away. 

 The good father coughed and leaned over to address Mrs. Calamari. His
lips formed the words he was barely whispering. "I shall expect to see you
in confession." He leaned back from the woman and crossed his arms across
his frocked chest. 

 "I would think you would be addressing that heathenish Canadian. You did
see what he did, didn't you Father?" 

 "Meena, he is not a heathen. You would do well to be quiet. I am well
acquainted with the young man and I have nothing but admiration for him." 

 Mrs. Calamari leaned forward with narrowed eyes. "Surely Father you can
see that his dress or lack of it sets a bad example for our young men.
Especially in view of what happened." She lowered her eyes and blushed.
"How Rosa Vecchio could let him marry her daughter is beyond me." 

 Father Behan felt himself beyond words. The vulgar woman was sitting at a
table surrounded by well wishers for the young couple and all she could
spout was vitriol towards one of the best young men he had ever met. He
leaned over and put a hand on her arm while whispering dangerously softly,
"I think you had better leave. I see young Ray Vecchio watching you and he
may not be as polite as I am." 

 Mrs. Calamari let the priest help her to her feet. She grabbed her purse
off of the table and turned her back on him as she marched in solitude out
the exit. Her exit was privately cheered by most of the listeners in
Father Behan's physical proximity. 

 Ray watched the scene between the Calamari and Father Behan with a sense
of sadness mixed with mirth. Ben's handling of the woman had been classic
and totally uncharacteristic of the man Ray knew as his brother-in-law. A
glance in Ben's direction told him just how embarrassed Ben was at his own
actions. A glance at the women seated around Benton Fraser told the story
of women who were proud of those same actions that embarrassed Ben. Ray
smiled; his little sister was good for Ben. Ray was very sure it was the
encouragement that Francesca gave Ben that allowed him to be more open in
his dealings with people. He was very sure that without the support
Francesca provided Ben would never have meted out that kind of treatment
to Mrs. Calamari. 

 Bree watched Ben rise from his chair and quietly leave the room with
Francesca walking quietly by his side. She noted the proud look on
Francesca's face as she walked along next to her husband. Ben's face was
flushed but she could see no sign of the closed off look he had worn when
she first met him. She also noted their tightly clasped hands that bound
them to each other. She smiled broadly as the exit door closed quietly
behind the couple. 

 Chase and Daniella were sitting in a little cubby they had found that was
formed the by leaves of a large plant. Adults couldn't see them and would
never have looked to the rear area of the potted plant nor would an adult
have seen the natural seating formed by the brick wall and the potted
plants support stand that was just right for small children. Somewhere the
two had obtained napkins and cake and glasses of milk. They were enjoying
their own private dining area. Chase ate and listened to Dani giggling as
they indulged themselves on wedding cake. Leaning against the wall next to
Chase was his father's cane. He glanced at the cane and smiled as he drank
his milk. When his cake was gone, Chase carefully wiped his hands on a
napkin and then picked up the beautiful walking stick. Careful not to get
any stickiness that might remain on his fingers on the stick; he handled
the stick carefully and ran his little fingers over the gold bands at the
top. Proudly he showed his father's initials to Dani. Dani was suitably
admiring of her new beau's toy and her hazel eyes light up with pure
enjoyment as she watched Chase handle the gold bands. 

 A shadowed form watched the two small children as they enjoyed themselves
behind the plant as it leaned into the shadows of an unlit doorway. The
shadow watched and waited, biding his time. When it appeared that no one
was going to venture down this quiet hallway the children had found, the
shadow began moving forward. 

 Chase froze in position and held a small finger to his lips. Daniella
quickly followed his suit and sat statue like in the shadows of their
potted plant. A sickly smell wafted through the leaves of the potted plant
and Chase was certain he head footsteps that seemed out of place. He
deftly pushed two buttons at once on the side of a gold band on the
walking stick and slowly began to slide the handle away from the wood part
of the walking cane. He stood up and turned to place his back in front of
Daniella and lifted the metal form he had removed from the cane. He waited
in silence. 

 The shadow tiptoed cautiously until it was quite near the potted plant
hideout. One shadowed foot slowly moved and stopped. Bright light flooded
the end of the hallway nearest the children. The shadow leapt back to its
original hiding place. The shadowed form watched as older children came
racing down the hall. He took the opportunity of their noise cover to
retreat down the hall and out of the building. 

 Chase's hand shook a bit, but he held his ground. Daniella placed her
small hands on his shoulders and stood quietly behind him. They waited.
The noisy older children ran around the potted plant and stopped. One of
the boys in the group walked carefully forward and laughed. "Hey, it's
Peter Pan and Wendy guys. Look!" 

 Five pairs of adolescent eyes surveyed the tiny children behind the pot.
Two of the bigger children advanced on Chase who kept his piece of metal
raised and directed at the group. He didn't dare close his eyes, though he
wanted to badly. 

 The largest of the boys in the group knelt down and looked carefully at
the metal in Chase's hand. "Hey, you know we could get some money for
that. I saw something like that in a picture once." He smiled winningly at
Chase, "Give it too me kid. It's way too big for you." 

 "No. I can't give it to you. It's my father's and he wouldn't like it."
Chase found his little hands getting tired as he held his stance and kept
Daniella behind him. 

 "You're Dad won't mind. Give it to me. Little kids like you shouldn't be
playing with things like that, you know." 

 "But, I'm not playing with it." Chase stepped forward one step. 

 "Does your Dad know you have that?" 

 Chase looked very guilty and almost gave in, then turned bright red as he
saw the form of his father looming up behind the crowd of children that
surrounded him. "My Dad's right behind you." 

 The boy standing in front of Chase shook his head. "That's an old one
kid." Silence greeted the offender's ears and he stood stalwart in his
spot certain that the small boy would give in quickly. After all, the
little boy was little more than a baby, and one did have to give the
little guy credit for his bluff. It was then that he felt a hand on his
shoulder. The teen froze and then turned his head. At eye level all he
could see was red, bright, bright red. He raised his eyes and met the eyes
of what he knew must be the tikes parent. He looked back at the tike and
shrugged his shoulders. "Guess your Dad doesn't want to part with that.
That's cool." He looked back to the adult eyes and shrugged. "Can't blame
a guy for trying can ya?" 

 "You and your friends leave before you get into any real trouble." Ben
held the boy's shoulder tightly before letting him go. "No doubt your
parents are wondering where you are." He let the boy go and waited until
the teens exited the hallway. Then he knelt down in front of Chase and
cast widened eyes at the sword in his son's hands. 

 Chase looked into his father's eyes and felt his little body beginning to
shake; the sword dipped its point towards the floor. The little boy sighed
in relief then noticed his mother standing behind his beloved Papa. He
smiled a bit when he noticed his mother's eyes twinkling above her grimly
set lips. A look to his father's face made him want to cry. His father's
face wore a stricken look. Chase's very insides seemed to grab at him as
he saw his father's eyes fill with tightly held back tears. Chase hung his
head and for the first time in his little life he felt shame and the
feeling made him gulp and hold his mouth tightly closed. 

 Watching all the emotions flying quickly by on his son's face, Ben put
out a hand and gently lifted the sword from the small boy's hands. In
total wonder, Ben looked at the handle of what he knew was his walking
stick and turned it several times in his hands. He felt Francesca's
supporting hand on his shoulder as he knelt before his little boy and his
shoulders tightened before they sagged in remorse. 

 "Chase. Where is the rest of my walking stick?" 

 The small boy turned to find Daniella handing him the empty black sheath.
Turning slowly and carefully he faced his father and handed him the
sheath. His tiny throat was far too tight to say anything. 

 "Come here Chase." 

 The little boy hesitated just a fraction then advanced to stand until his
little body was touching his father's kilt as it rested on Ben's bent
knees. Large hands set the sheath and the sword down. Large hands pulled
the little boy to him and hugged him tightly, almost squeezing all the air
out of the small, boyish frame. "Show me how it works, son. Then I want
you and your little friend to go in to the reception hall and stay close
to Grandmere. Understood?" 

 A nod of his head was all Chase could manage. He scrambled out of Ben's
hold and picked up the two pieces of antique security and deftly
demonstrated how neatly the two pieces fit together. 

 "You knew about this before tonight, didn't you?" 

 Chase's cheeks flamed in a red color that would rival any of his father's
embarrassed hues. "Yes, sir." 

 "We'll discuss this later. Come on, we'll escort you back to the door of
the reception room. Stay together until your little friend's parents come
for her. Pardon me young lady. What is your name?" 

 Daniella stepped forward and used her beautiful eyes to full advantage.
"Daniella Glendenning is my name. I'm Dani for short." 

 Ben sighed as he stood up. "Then Dani it is. Shall we go children?" 

 Francesca patted her hand on Chase's head and he looked up to see her
smiling broadly at him. Hey, he thought, "Maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
Papa always gave in to Mum's smiles." 

 The little party of four returned to the reception room's door and the
adults watched their repentant child lead his little friend inside. 

 Francesca collapsed into gales of laughter against Ben's shoulder. "He's
just like you. A stalwart Knight in Shinning Armor." She turned serious
and rested her head against him. "Did you know about the sword?" 

 Ben held her to his side and looked down into the depths of her eyes.
"No. I wonder if Grandmere knows?" 

 "I'll bet she does." Chesca smiled. "She's very cunning, your
grandmother. But why didn't she tell you?" 

 "Believe me, I shall be asking her that very question, before I punish
Chase." 

 "He's not quite four, Ben. Do you think he understood what he was doing?"


 "Yes. I do. You read Peter Pan to him. He knows swords are dangerous. I
just don't know why he didn't come and tell either of us?" 

 Francesca thought of the past two weeks and guiltily raised her head
high, "I don't think we gave him a chance to tell us. We've been too
busy." She left the matter of his mother's murder silent between them. 

 "I've failed him Chesca." 

 "You've failed no one Ben, least of all Chase." Darkness filled her
bright eyes and she held on tightly to his sleeve. "Things sometimes just
happen. Bright little kids like Chase are curious and they find all kinds
of things their parents hide from them. You read the papers. You know what
I am saying is true. This doesn't make you a bad parent, Ben. And it
doesn't make Chase a bad child. It doesn't." 

 "But," 

 "No, buts. You're a great Dad and good husband. Just take this as a
warning. Things will get a lot more interesting as he grows up. And just
think he'll have a sibling or two very soon to follow in his footsteps."
She smiled her most winsome smile as she thought of the little one she
already carried inside her. Or was that little ones like Robert Fraser
kept saying. She giggled. 

 "Oh Dear." Ben said with thoughts of a teenage Chase driving a car and
dating running through his mind. 

 Rosa Vecchio watched Chase admiring his new little friend. He stood next
to the table again with his little hands set on it and wiggling his little
kilted bottom. She noted how he stood first with one foot draped over the
left and then changing so that the left draped over the right. She
remembered well that small boys always seemed to have so much unused
energy. But she was at a loss as to why the little boy wouldn't sit on a
chair. She leaned over and whispered in his ear. "Chase, why don't you sit
down in a chair next to your new little friend?" 

 The boy vehemently shook his head and flushed beet red. He tugged at his
cravat and looked up at her. "The chairs are scratchy. I don't like
sitting." He absently rubbed his backside, as he made sure to keep his
voice soft enough that no one else could hear. 

 A merry twinkle lit Rosa's eyes and she pulled the small boy in to a hug.
"Perhaps, we can do something about that." She drew the shawl she had
brought along off of her shoulders and settled it in the seat of the
nearest chair. "Sit there, I think you'll find it much better." 

 Chase sat obediently in the chair and listened to Grandmere talking to
Dani. He put his elbow on the table and just stared at the little girl who
was his newest friend. His grandmother's watched him with pride and
amusement. Suddenly the little boy sat straight up in his chair and
cleared his throat. "Dani, are you staying the night here. I am." 

 Dani shook her head. "No, my Dad has to go to Canada tomorrow." 

 "Oh." Chase looked gloomy, then brightened. "I was born here but my Papa
was born in Canada." 

 "He was?" 

 "Yep, my Papa and Grandmere." Chase sat straighter and straighter now
that he had a common element he could discuss with Dani. "Uncle Ray says I
have double, er duel citzchip. I guess that's good, cause he laughs when
he says it." 

 "The word is `citizenship' Chase." Grandmere smiled with twinkling eyes
roving the little form sitting in the shawl-covered chair. 

 Across the room, Francesca and Ben reentered the room and began dancing
again. Ray watched the couple dance near him and pulled Bree closer, "He's
one tired Mountie." He noted an almost tawny brown coloring look about
Ben's eyes that indicated he was under strain. Most people wouldn't notice
the look. Ray, however, was very familiar with the look. "One determined
Mountie, I might add." 

 Bree waited for Ray to turn her in a direction in which she could see the
dancing bridal couple. "I agree he's starting to slow down a bit." She
narrowed her physician-trained eyes and noted that Francesca was looking
at Ben with concern. She smiled when she saw Francesca whisper up at Ben
and seem to indicate the empty chairs near Chase. 

 Ray and Bree watched with humorous delight as Francesca pulled Ben
towards the empty chairs. Bree noticed Francesca seemed happy to sit down,
and she laughed when she noticed that Francesca quickly slipped off her
shoes as Ben sat down next to her. "The Brides feet hurt. I do believe
that's a common complaint." Bree felt herself pulled closer to Ray in a
tight hug. Ray whispered into her ear. "Perhaps we'll find out about that
some day." All thoughts of the Fraser's quickly flew sky-high as Bree's
thoughts were taken over with the implication of Ray's comment. 

 Bree placed her mouth near Ray's ear and whispered in a serious tone, "I
do hope so." Ray smiled victoriously and whirled Bree away till she was
short of breath and laughing. 

 Ben's face was slightly flushed and he knew his fingers were distinctly
shaky. He tried to settle comfortably on the chair and realized that a
kilt while comfortable when one was dancing or walking did not provide the
same comfort level when one was required to place one's kilted person on a
scratchy chair. He could feel every scratchy fiber of the chair on his
thighs as he sat watching Francesca talking to her mother. He looked over
at Chase and smiled, but noted the little boy seemed quite happy sitting
and talking to his new little friend. Ben noted the shawl under his son's
legs and did a mental, "ah". He looked up to find Grandmere smiling in
amusement at him. He blushed as he realized that his grandmother was
probably divining his thoughts about scratchy chairs. 

 Francesca leaned over and kissed her mother, "Thank you. Everything is
perfect. I love you Ma." Before Rosa could wipe the tears of happiness
from her eyes, Francesca took her mother's hand and squeezed it. She
turned her face towards Grandmere and said, "You are both the greatest. " 

 Grandmere sat up straighter in her chair, "We are family." 

 Ben noted the pride in his grandmother's voice and felt his heart beating
rapidly as he noted his father standing behind Grandmere's chair. "Oh
Dear." The words slipped from his mouth in a slight whisper. Both
Francesca and Grandmere glanced his way and noted that Ben's eyes seemed
trained on a spot behind his grandmother. Francesca smiled as she noted
her deceased father-in-law's attire. Robert Fraser stood his ground,
dressed full regimental red, which included his own Fraser Kilt, rather
than dress uniform pants. She leaned over to Ben and put her hand on his
arm. "I think your father would be proud of you Ben." She winked at Robert
Fraser. Grandmere heard the words and knew who stood behind her. Chase was
too involved with his little girlfriend to notice his grandfather's
presence. Ben smiled in a strained and tired way, and then put his hand
over Francesca's. 

 Robert Fraser surveyed the room with pleasure. His chest swelled with
pride; these people cared for his son, these people were family. His smile
broadened as he noted Chase talking merrily to Dani. No sad childhoods for
that boy, thanks to Francesca. He surveyed the beautiful, tight wedding
dress Francesca wore and then muttered. "Gad woman, how do you breath in
that dress? Beautiful, no doubt about that; simply beautiful. What about
the babes? Bout time for you and the boy to disappear, wouldn't you say?"
He watched both Francesca and Ben blush. "Take your wife and get her
comfortable boy. Don't want to see my grandchildren deprived. Well, go
on." He talked in a louder tone of voice. "Perfect time to disappear, most
of this crowd is dancing, eating or drinking. They won't notice that the
main attraction has skiddadeld." 

 Grandmere raised her napkin delicately to her mouth. "Robert Fraser,
you're still a scamp. Leave the boy alone." She gently wiped the napkin
across her lips and continued, "It's about time you showed up for your
son's wedding?" 

 Robert leaned over and grinned, "I've been here, and you just haven't
seen me." 

 Ben dropped his head in defeat. He was tired, he was sore, he was happy.
He couldn't process all the emotions running through his brain save for
the need to take Francesca away from the noise and the crowd, for them to
be on their own. Months of being surrounded at every turn by family, while
wonderful, now made him want to haul Francesca to her feet, throw her over
his shoulder and make away with her. The realization that he was still not
quite well enough to accomplish that hurt, but he pulled on Francesca's
hand and tried to stand up quickly. He faltered just enough for Francesca
to frown. Chase saw his father standing a little shakily at the side of
the table and jumped down to grab Ben's cane by Rosa's chair. He hurried
over to his father, his cheeks reddened. "Here Papa. I'm sorry for
before." 

 Ben leaned over and gratefully took the cane in his hand. He brushed his
lips against the boy's hair. "I know." 

 Robert smiled broadly as he watched Francesca rise and put her arm
possessively under Ben's arm. Yep, she was sturdy all right. Best little
thing to join the Fraser clan since Caroline. His eyes watched the couple
with pride as they skirted the crowd, submitted to comments from some well
wishers and disappeared from the reception hall. 

 They walked slowly, hand in hand towards the glass-enclosed elevator each
savoring the blessed piece of being away from the reception. Ben used the
cane in his hand, but didn't lean on it heavily. Francesca let him guide
her as she laid her head against his arm and the two of them entered the
elevator. 

 The fairy lights below danced among the bushes and trees planted in the
darkened reception area. Ben put his arm around Francesca and pulled her
tightly to his side. He put his nose next to her hair and breathed in the
lovely soft scent of her. He listened to her quiet breathing and delighted
in the fact that now the whole world knew they belonged together. He
thought of all the time she had spent in his pursuit and how much he had
enjoyed every minute of her antics. He felt blissfully released now that
he no longer had to hide his feelings from Ray or anyone else. She was
loving, and strong. She was his strength and his helper. He remembered
every moment he had seen her with his, no `their' son and smiled thinking
of the new addition that would be with them in the following months. He
remembered every moment that she had nursed him physically and emotionally
through the last horrible months. The elevator stopped and he held her
tightly to him. She looked up and read the love in his eyes, felt the heat
of his arm around her. She sighed and raised her face to his. Their lips
met in a deeply searching kiss. 

 Finally, a noise reached their ears and they broke apart to see an
elderly couple smiling at them. Ben blushed crimson and murmured, "Oh
dear!" They began to move out of the elevator with Francesca holding her
head high and meeting the gentle gaze of the old couple. They set off
towards their room; both of them aware of the elderly couple watching them
every step of the way. Both of them heard the words the wife said to her
husband as they entered the elevator. "Now, that's a young couple in
love." As they reached their suite door, they heard the elevator door
close. 

 Ben put the keycard in the key lock and pushed the door open. He turned
to Francesca and handed her his cane. "Put your arms around my neck." She
looked sternly up at him. "I will be careful, Francesca, but this is
something I have to do." 

 "You hurt yourself Benton Fraser and I'll make you pay." Francesca gently
put her arms up around the neck she loved dearly. 

 "Just two steps Francesca. Just two." 

 He put his arms around her waist and lifted her gently off her feet. He
held her there in his arms a moment then carefully and precisely took two
steps over the threshold and into the Bridal Suite. He kicked the door
shut and placed her back on her feet. "Remember, tonight is your turn." He
put his right hand to her face and placed his left hand along her
collarbone. "How do you breath in that dress?" He chuckled. 

 They turned together towards the suite's living room area and walked
through it as quickly as Ben could aided by his cane. Ben guided them
inside the bedroom and kicked the door shut. "Stand still my love." He
moved behind Francesca and began undoing the tiny buttons on the bodice of
her gown as he leaned forward and ran his lips across the back of her
shoulder blades. With each button he undid, he gave her another kiss and
trailed his lips lower across his back. She could feel his fingers gently
undoing each button with painstaking slowness and she began to shiver in
delight. She tilted her head back towards him and let her entire body
relax. She heard him give a soft chuckle and felt the air from his lips
softly caressing her back. Each button's undoing brought a kiss and a
trail of hot breath down her back. Each button's opening revealed the fact
that she wore no bra beneath the tightly formfitting dress. Each button's
undoing revealed more and more of her slim form to Ben. He neared the
buttons over her hips and put an arm around her waist as he pressed his
lips to the small of her back. She couldn't pull away or turn in his
embrace and she desperately wanted to turn into the heat of his kisses and
the feel of his hands on her skin. 

 With a gentle sigh and one last kiss, Ben began loosening the dress
further by unbuttoning every button in his path down the dress. When the
last button was undone, he stood and gently turned her in his arms. She
all but collapsed against him. With a smile, he leaned in and began
kissing the hollow of her neck as he let his hands begin removing the
dress down her shoulders and arms. He turned his head and began guiding
them towards the bed. 

 Francesca felt the heat rising from his hands lingering on her shoulders
as the dress kept coming off of her in little stages. She hardly felt the
edge of the bed as Ben brought her up against it. He gently removed the
gown down over her hands as he kissed her mouth possessively. The gown was
thrown vaguely towards a chair where it would be found on the floor in the
morning. Francesca's hands began wandering over Ben's red serge in search
of his buttons. Ben pushed her hands away and gently guided her down onto
the bed. His eyes roved her semi-naked form as he unbuttoned his tunic
with the same slow ease that he had undone the buttons of her gown. His
eyes watched her eyes grow round as she perceived her punishment for her
taking of him early in the evening in the limo. The red serge found it's
way to the floor near the wedding gown and Ben began undoing his cravat
that encircled his throat. The cravat removed, he began untying the
classic full-sleeved kilt shirt he wore over his kilt. Then he removed his
sporran and he began slowly undoing his kilt. As the kilt dropped from his
body, he placed a knee on the bed next to Francesca and slowly lowered
himself over her. 

 His hands wandered over the form beneath him that he knew so well. He
found the tops of her thigh-high nylons and gently removed each one,
lowering each one, inch by inch kissing the revealing skin as he moved
down each leg. Francesca watched his curly hair escaping from its severely
combed style he had worn all evening. She put out a hand to almost touch
those lovely curls. She shivered and smiled when he pulled the beds
virginal looking bridal cover over them. As the cover descended to rest
atop them, Ben settled onto the mattress next to her and knew that each
tiny touch of him on her skin, whether from his lips or fingers was
driving her to the point of frustration. He kept his hands above her waist
and continued to kiss and touch her in little breathless kisses and heated
touches. 

 With a soft movement, Ben put the fingers of his right hand in her hair
and let his fingers lazily twine themselves in the soft curls. He moved
his lips along her forehead and found each eyebrow in turn before running
his lips along her eyelids. With a gentleness born of his love for her,
his lioness-butterfly, he began to kiss her face over every inch of it's
beautiful surface stopping only when he knew the shivering form beneath
him was about move demandingly under him. 

 He rolled them on to their sides and gently removed her delicate bridal
undergarments before slowly and tantalizingly removing his own Fraser
plaid boxers. He tossed each item individually out from under the covers.
His own fingers were now trembling, his lips quivering as he continued to
let Francesca know that he loved every inch of her tiny body. In an effort
to make Francesca understand just how much he loved, needed and trusted
her, he rolled them over so that Francesca lay atop him. His fingers ran
over her back and his lips demanded she kiss him. Having driven her to the
point where she could no longer bear to wait, he now presented himself,
fully exposed physically and emotionally to her, gifting her with her
choice of release. His physically fevered body was now hers for the
taking. He opened his lips and whispered to her, "All yours, all yours." 

 Francesca pulled back a bit and stared down into the room's darkness
towards her husband's softly whispered words. She blushed at the thought
of how she had used him earlier in the limo and at the thought of the wait
he had put her through the entire evening as they danced and laughed. She
had envisioned something different from Ben. Never had she imagined this
sweet, inch-by-inch arousal by him only to have him offer himself to her
in the end to use as she pleased. She smiled as she whispered back to him
in the dark, "Ours...ours." She felt his body suddenly shiver below her
and knew that this time he was comfortable and willing and waiting for her
to tell him what she needed from him as he lay beneath her. She lowered
her head and kissed his mouth fully, sliding her tongue into his mouth.
Her own quivering fingers ran over his shoulders, down his torso and slid
gracefully all over him. "Together, Ben. Together." She whispered to him
as she felt his body beginning to wiggle and slide beneath her as he
raised his hips slightly at her touch. 

 They became two bodies seeking the same heat, quivering to the same tune,
riding out the storm of emotion their love brought them; together, as one,
they soon feel asleep entwined in each other's arms. 

 One very small red serge coat hung with precision neatness on a hanger on
the back of the room's only chair. One very small Fraser Kilt resided
gently on the seat of the chair with a small sporran and tiny white shirt
folded neatly on top of it. Bare feet sounded as their owner rushed from
the bathroom and ran across the carpet to kneel at the bed with clasped
hands resting on the pulled back comforter. The child's head of dark curls
bowed over his hands as he began his prayers while two of the most
important women in his little life looked on in amusement. 

 "Dear God. This is Chase Fraser. I'm not in my bedroom. I'm in a big
hotel. My Papa and Mom got married today. Thank you for finding my Papa
for me. Thank you for my new Mom. I got two Moms but only one can hug me.
Papa says hugs are probably one of the most important things in the world.
He's right, isn't he? Papa needs hugs too, lots of them. Uncle Ray says
Papa is happy now. I love my whole new family. Now I have cousins and
everything. Please take care of my Papa and Mom; they are going away for a
trip. I don't know what a honeymoon is, but Uncle Ray says everybody that
gets married should have one. Uncle Ray said it means more kissing and
hugging. Papa turned red when Uncle Ray said that. I got to say my `God
Blesses now. God Bless Grandmere cause she loves me. God Bless Grandma
Rose cause I love her. God Bless Uncle Ray and all my new cousins. Amen."
The little boy started to rise to his feet but quickly knelt back on the
ground. "I almost forgot God, please take care of Dief and Wallace; they
couldn't come to the wedding. They are at our house. And please, God. Keep
that bad man away. He has bad eyes. Thank you God. Amen, Chase Fraser." 

 The small boy stood up in his and ran first to his Grandmere who had
tears running down her face as she sat in her wheelchair and then to his
Grandma Rose. He gave them each a big hug and kiss and then ran to the bed
where he scrambled up into it and drew his covers up to his little chin.
The little boy smiled into the shadows and then closed his little sleepy
eyes. 

 Robert Fraser watched the scene from his vantage point in the shadows and
put a hand quickly to one eye. "Night boy. Sweet dreams." He said as he
pulled his hand away from the corner of his eye. He turned to the shadowy
figure next to him. "Remember what I said. You only go where the boy
sleeps and you leave my son alone." 

 The soft tones of the woman in the shadows whispered back, "You don't
give up do you?" 

 "No, and where you're concerned I never will." Robert gave her his best
glaring look. "He's over you Victoria, and don't you forget it." 

 She turned her head towards her son and the two women watching him sleep.
"I'm only here to protect. Nothing more, nothing less." 

 "Well, see that that's all you do." 

 Robert watched her lean over and kiss her son before disappearing from
the room. He gave a grin. "Love you boy." He turned around and left the
room, his kilt swaying as he went. 

 They slept entwined in each other's arms; the hair on their curly heads
flattened where their heads met. Forehead to forehead, nose to nose; they
slept covered haphazardly by the beautifully bridal bed's comforter. Ben's
pale arm held his tiny wife's body to him, needing her even in deep sleep.
Francesca's hand was clasped around his neck as she slept with her fingers
entwined in his dark curls. Ben sighed and pulled her even closer into his
arms. He kissed her hair and settled back to sleep. 

 The night's darkness crawled by and the early morning stars could be seen
from the suites bedroom window. Francesca stirred and felt herself held
tightly in loving arms. She opened her heavy sleep-weighted lids and tried
to focus on his beautiful sleeping eyes. His thick, dark lashes stood out
starkly from his pale skin. She listened for his breathing and smiled at
the evenness of it. She wondered if the children they had would look like
him or her. She wondered if their children would look like Chase. She said
a quick prayer for healthy children. She snuggled in closer to Ben.
Closing her eyes she waited for him to begin waking. She wanted nothing
more than to show him again just how much she needed him. 

 Ben felt Chesca move against him and felt the movement down the full
length of his body. He tried to lift his eyelids, to lift them fully open.
He felt her settle even closer to him. He moved his hand and ran his
fingers lightly down the skin of her back and felt her shiver against him.
With a loud sigh she lifted her left leg and draped it over his thighs, as
they lay there on their sides, face to face. He let out a loud groan and
pulled her over with him until he was lying beneath her again. Joy gripped
his heart and happiness shown from his eyes as he held her tightly and ran
both of his hand over her, seeking every inch of skin exposed to his
searching hands. 

 Francesca pulled her head back and looked down at Ben's face in the dim
light of the room's window. She gave a great whoop and leaned in to kiss
him, taking her time about it as she devoured his lips and the inside of
his mouth. She let her elbows settle into his pillow on either side of his
head and whispered into his ear. "You make me happy." 

 He blushed and raising his head used his teeth to capture her ear. She
nuzzled her ear into his teeth and sighed. Ben pulled her down to his
chest and rolled them over again until he lay over her, chest to chest. He
gave a quick kiss and rolled off of her and rose from the bed. Francesca's
eyes watched him hungrily as he moved in the soft starlight shining in
from their suite windows. His pale skin looked faintly luminescent in the
starlight. He picked up his sporran and gently withdrew a small packaged
from it. He turned back to walk to the bed and saw Francesca bathed in the
same soft starlight that surrounded him. His heart caught in his chest and
his hand trembled as it held the small package. He walked back towards the
bed without the embarrassment he would have felt months ago; his walk
steady and sure. Francesca watched him move slowly towards her and rose on
an elbow to watch his movement towards her. 

 Ben first knelt on one knee on the side of the bed and then slowly melted
down next to Francesca. He took her free hand and held it open as he
placed the small box on her open palm. Francesca clasped the box into her
hand and felt tears rushing down her cheeks. She leaned over and kissed
him, throwing her free hand around his neck. 

 "Aren't you going to open it?" Ben watched her face closely as the tears
ran freely down her face. 

 "Whatever it is, you didn't have to give me anything. You've given me so
much already." 

 "Open it. Please." Ben ran a finger over one tear streaked path on her
face. 

 With fumbling fingers and a soft intake of breath, Francesca slowly
opened the box. Nestled in the box was a beautiful necklace. The necklace
was fine and delicate, its pendant small. The center stone was a diamond
sitting in a star-shaped setting. The diamond was surrounded by very tiny
black opal stones. Francesca turned the box in the room's starlight and
noticed how the small pendant sparkled like the stars in the sky. She
looked up at Ben mutely, at a loss for words. 

 Ben picked up the box and removed the necklace and gently placed it
around her neck. "The diamond represents the North Star; the smaller
stones the Aurora Borealis. The North Star has always guided me, took me
home when I was lost. Do you understand what I'm trying to say Chesca?
Sometimes, sometimes I--" He began stuttering and his blushing skin seemed
to flame in the starlight. "I find I can not find the words." He hung his
head a little. 

 "You don't need words Benton." She put one hand on the star at her throat
before leaning over and kissing him softly. "You show me without words." 

 He grabbed her in a fierce hug and they fell back into the pillows. The
starlight hit the stones on Chesca's necklace and sent it's star lighted
refractions all over the ceiling. They held each other tightly and lay
there letting sleep claim them again. 

 The white clad man lay staring at the ceiling of his room. The narrow
room had only one small window covered with mess and bars. Starlight
filtered unevenly through the windows opening casting weird dancing specs
of light on the drab white walls. Rough hash marks that scored the
utilitarian institutional color could be seen on the wall near the pillow
by the man's head. The man wore plain and starkly white clothing. Several
days beard growth covered Jean-Andre's features as he lay there unmoving. 

 The lady in the shadows smiled as she watched the man sleep. She moved
with ethereal grace across the room until she could see the sleeper's face
quite clearly. Her smile was dangerous as she leaned towards the bed.
"Don't open your eyes, sleep," she crooned. "You never did learn how to
love cousin. But I did. Stay away from my son. Do you hear? Stay away. I
know you're faking." She leaned in until her mouth was very close to his
ear. "I protect those I love Jean. I'm not proud of the things I did. But
believe me, hurt one hair on my son's head and I'll follow you straight to
Hell." She lowered her whispering voice and continued. "I know you Jean. I
know you well. Forget any plans of revenge. Forget them or I'll make sure
you never leave this place sane. It's a lovely room Jean. Enjoy it." She
laughed and threw her hair back from her head as she moved up and away
from the sleeping figure. She lingered just long enough to hear his lips
begin to mumble indistinguishable words. 

 Victoria waited exited the room and listened as the night guard began
checking the rooms. She smiled gleefully when she saw the guard listen at
Jean-Andre's door and make notations on his clipboard. The man whispered
to himself as he wrote down what he could understand of Rochard's
meandering words: "Leave. No. Promise. No. Have to stop-too late now to
stop Dunston...Noooo!" The guard shrugged his shoulders and continued his
rounds. 

 Daylight streamed across the room to the bed where the small boy lay
slowly waking up. He stretched and reached his small arms way up over his
head. A smile formed on his lips and he gave a great sounding hoot and
leapt out of his bed. His hand clasped gently over the ring hanging on his
necklace and his smile grew wider. Running quickly to the suitcase valet
stand he wrenched open his suitcase and grabbed the clothing his parents
had packed for him. In mere seconds, he was hauling off his night garb and
scrambling haphazardly into jeans and a nice pullover sweater. His stomach
growled, but he ignored it. Socks found their way on to his feet in quick
movements followed by his small athletic sneakers. He ran his fingers
threw his new shorter haircut just like his Papa's keeping his eyes firmly
planted on the envelope he had in his suitcase. With a big grin he picked
it up and snuck to the door leading to the suite's central room. He opened
the door and peaked out; sighing with relief when he saw the room was
uninhabited by either of his Grandmothers. He picked up the keycard to the
suite off the coffee table and pocketed it. Walking calmly and quietly to
the suite door he moved with the same steady purpose that children
sometimes employ to sneak past ogres and watching family members on their
way to some marvelous exploit. Closing the door behind him, he gave the
door a great big smile and headed down the hall. 

 Turnbull exited his room and turned intent on holding his overnight bag
in his hand while closing his door quietly. He glanced at his watch and
gave a small gasp. He was required to be on duty soon. He turned quickly
and began rushing down the hallway, his Stetson in his free hand and his
bag swinging in a jaunting way against his leg. He heard tiny feet running
down the hall behind him and turned to look. Of course, Turnbull being
Turnbull, he looked down the hall at his own eye level and only realized
he should look to a lower level of hallway when he kept hearing the
running feet. With a smile he watched young Master Fraser heading towards
him. 

 Turnbull dropped his bag and dropped to one knee as Chase approached him.
He put out a hand and encircled the little running figure as it passed him
and pulled the boy to a halt. With a smile of genuine pleasure, he held
the small child in place. 

 "My goodness Master Chase. Do your grandmothers know you are out here?" 

 Chase raised his eyes to Turnbull's and sighed. "I have a card for my
Papa and Mom. I forgot to give it to them." 

 "I take it that means no one knows you are out here?" Turnbull let the
boy go. "Come on young Sir. I will escort you to the Bridal Suite. But
then you must return to your own room." 

 Chase threw Turnbull a grateful look and stood waiting for the large man
to stand up. In moments the two were down the hall and outside the Bridal
Suite door. Chase put a hand up to open the door, but Turnbull knelt
beside him and shook his head. "No, I think your parents might be
sleeping. If we slide your card under the door, they'll see it when they
get up. Would that be all right?" 

 Chase contemplated the card in his hand and then Turnbull's outstretched
hand. Small hands placed the card in Turnbull's huge palm and waited will
Turnbull carefully knelt down and shoved the envelope under the door. 

 "Now young Master Fraser, I believe you should return to bed." 

 One very large Mountie dressed in red serge carrying an overnight bag
held out his hand and received the small boyish hand into his grasp.
Together they traveled the length of the hallway to Chase's suite door.
Turnbull leaned down and put his hand on the doorknob. Chase handed
Turnbull the room keycard he had grabbed on his way out of the suite and
watched while Turnbull opened his door very quietly and held it open for
the small boy. Chase stepped close to Turnbull and threw his arms around
the big man's neck in a hug then quickly released him and dashed into the
suite. Turnbull pulled the door closed and rose with a spaced out grin on
his face. He picked up his overnight bag and walked down the hallway to
the elevator softly whistling to himself. 

 Ben woke up to find the space next to him on the bed empty and heard
Francesca's relaxed breathing coming from the window near the bed. He
stretched and pushed his head back into his pillow as he rolled over like
a sated feline. He blinked in response to the early morning sun streaming
into the room. When he was able to focus his eyes, he took in a deep
breath and smiled. 

 Francesca stood in silhouette near the window, her entire form shadowed
and framed by the sun's rays. He small-silhouetted form unchanged to the
untrained eye. She had risen some time earlier and dressed quietly. Her
soft brown hair seemed golden in the bright light. Ben ran his eyes over
her possessively as he rose to support his head on an upraised hand. He
marveled at the smallness of her. Her size made her seem so fragile yet
memories of their wedding night made him blush at her strength and
fierceness. Their lovemaking had been gentle and yet totally intense. He
remembered how they had opened themselves to each other, taking, holding,
keeping and giving. Nothing he had ever experienced would have told him
that someone like Francesca would totally change his life. 

 She shifted her position by the window and turned to smile at her
husband. The necklace he had given her the night before sent myriad colors
of dancing light around the room. She heard his sharply held breath and
smiled. He looked so much healthier now and lay like a great black manned
lion watching her. She blushed as she thought of the ways they had
completed each other during the dark hours of the night and began walking
towards him. 

 He watched her walk out of the sunlight and felt his heart constrict with
pride. She was so small and lithe, her very soul resonating with her
feelings for him. His eyes widened when he saw what she wore. A great big
grin broke the sensuous lines of his face as he watched her red clad legs
move across the floor. He raised his eyes to see the soft, body hugging,
red Henley she wore covered by a red cardigan sweater of the same red hue.
He laughed and held his arm out to her as she neared the bed. 

 "I know all about you and red," Francesca said with a smile as she sat on
the bed and leaned her forehead to his. 

 He looked down, letting his thick, dark lashes veil his laughing eyes.
"You do, do you?" 

 "Oh yes. I've had plenty of time to study your `Red' mode." She ran her
fingers into his hair and kissed him. "Red lets you hide. The `Red' you
wear and love is so bright that others don't really see you, you know. You
wear it like one of those things knights used to hold in front of them.
You know when they did those fights before state heads." 

 "Ah, I think you mean like the shields knights used in jousting matches
before kings." He kissed her check. 

 "Yea, that's it. Ray says without your Stetson you get hurt. He doesn't
understand about the red thingy." She smiled. "When you wear `Red' people
don't see you. Which is funny, cause it's such a bright color. They see
this Mountie guy and ya know, they don't see you. They don't look in your
eyes to see how shy you are or that you can be hurt. They don't notice
when you look down to avoid their stares. You hide behind that scratchy
red wool." She tugged his hair with her fingers and lowered her face to
see up into his shaded eyes. "I've watched you, Benton Fraser, since that
first night Ray brought you home." She laughed. "We're a pair you and I.
When you get nervous you get quiet or stutter. When I get nervous, I talk
too fast and sound like an idiot." 

 Ben raised his eyes quickly and brought his free hand to rest in her
hair. "You're not an idiot Francesca." 

 "Yea, well you're the first guy that really looked into me. That freaked
me out, ya know. You made me so nervous I couldn't keep still. So I
started watching you." 

 "I rather noticed that Francesca." Ben kissed her eyelashes. 

 "Oh I know you noticed. Ray was so freaked out by the things he thought I
was doing to get your attention. I had your attention, didn't I?" 

 "Always. Right from the start." He pulled at her earlobe with his teeth.
"You have no idea how many times I turned away from you to find myself
tripping over my feet with my mouth hanging open." 

 "Ray never figured it out. The shorter and tighter my clothes got the
more you turned `Red'. And you weren't dying of embarrassment, were you?
Admit it? You liked it." 

 He tilted his head back and laughed with a glint in his eyes. "Yes, I did
like it. You know I did." He looked over her sweater and Henley. "So why
the `Red' outfit Chesca?" 

 She touched his lips with hers and smiled. "Well, you can't very well
wear your uniform today, so I thought that if I wore `Red' people would
have their eyes on me and not on you. You get it? I'll be like one of
those wooden things duck hunters use." She twisted her fingers in his hair
again. 

 He blushed and closed his eyes. "Yes, Chesca. I get it. You'll be my
decoy." 

 She sat back and pulled on his hands. "Well, let's get going. Before Ray
decides to check on us." 

 "He wouldn't do that Chesca." 

 "Oh yea. I heard him making plans with Welsh last night to bug us, early.
They want to see us off, `in style'. Ray wouldn't know style if a brick
wall walked and smacked him right in the face." 

 "I believe you mean if he walked into a brick wall." Benton smiled and
pulled her close. 

 She kissed him on the nose and pushed out of his arms and rose to stand
on her feet with her hands on her hips. "Up now Mister. We have a son to
give a hug goodbye." 

 "Married twice and already nagging." Ben threw back the covers and
advanced towards her. 

 "Benton Fraser, we promised Chase." 

 "Yes, Mrs. Fraser. We did promise to give him a goodbye hug, but Father's
first." 

 She rushed into his open arms and hugged him and with a quick twist
pulled back to place her hands on the small round shape that was just
beginning to let the world know she was pregnant. Ben watched her hands
settle protectively over her stomach and reached out gently to put his
hands over hers. "Have told you how happy I am Chesca?" 

 She flashed him her brightest smile and said, "Every day, in every way
Constable." 

 Francesca watched Ben pull his clothing together into a bundle and head
in for a shower. She listened nervously as he closed the bathroom door
behind him then turned and tiptoed to the door of their suite. She was
right she had heard it. Quietly she opened the door and peaked out to see
Janice and Natalie standing in the hall with Natalie's friend, Ray,
standing slightly behind them. 

 The two women smiled as Natalie whispered, "It's all taken care of for
you. It's parked out back and it's been checked over with a fine
toothcomb. Ray just got word from that friend of his and everything is
set." Ray grinned and leaned against the wall as he watched the three
women gabbing. 

 "You guys are great. Ben's in the shower come on in and get the suitcases
will you." Francesca stepped back and watched Ray enter the suite. She put
her finger to her lips and indicated three suitcases near the bed. "Take
those. I'll have the bellboy get the others." 

 Ray grabbed the two largest cases and took them out into the hall and
then returned for the smaller case. Once he stood in the hallway, he gave
Francesca an admiring grin. "You're really gonna pull this off. You got
spunk little lady. Kidnapping your own groom like this." 

 Francesca leaned up on tiptoe and gave Ray a quick smack on the cheek.
"You bet. Only I wouldn't exactly call it kidnapping." 

 Natalie and Janice smirked and gave Francesca quick hugs before helping
Ray off down the hall with the Fraser luggage. Francesca could hear their
mirthful laughter as they stepped into the elevator. She smiled and
stepped back into the suite just as Ben came out of the bathroom. 

 Francesca stepped closer to Ben and took in his damp hair and entirely
blue outfit. New jeans and a new flannel shirt that fit better than the
too large clothing he'd been wearing for some time. Before she could
comment there was a knock on their door and she gave Ben a huge approving
grin before she went to answer the door. She opened the door and motioned
the waiting bellboy in and watched as he picked up the rest of the
luggage. It was only then that Ben noticed that she had already packed his
kilt and serge and he noticed with satisfaction nothing was going to be
left behind. 

 Ben grabbed his coat off the chair and picked up Francesca's coat
offering it out to her. She stepped into her new red coat and waited while
he stepped into his favorite leather jacket. As the bellboy stepped out
the door, Ben pulled her in close and hugged her fiercely. He pulled away
from her when he heard Chase coming into the room pulling on Ray's hand. 

 "See, I told you they would be awake." The little boy raced up jumped
into Francesca's arms. "I'm going to miss you." 

 "I know that Darling. But we won't be gone long and you can call us every
day. We'll have our phones and the laptop. And we'll be back in time for a
certain little boy's birthday." 

 Ray's head perked up but he said nothing. "Come on you two, the whole
families down in the lobby waiting for you." 

 Ben sighed and tried to lift Chase out of Francesca's arms. Francesca
pulled back with a laugh and said in a throaty whisper, "Oh no you don't
mister." 

 "Feisty little thing isn't she." Ray laughed and took Chase out of her
arms and set the boy down on the floor. 

 "You could say that, yes." Benton smiled 

 Kneeling down by his son, Benton looked the boy directly in the eye
before pulling him into a tight hug. "Be good for Uncle Ray and both of
your Grandmothers. We'll be home again soon." The boy leaned into his
father's tight hold and laid his head on the shoulder he loved to rest
against. Ben looked up to see Francesca holding an envelope high in the
air and pointing down to Chase. He grinned and whispered to the boy. "Your
Mom found the card. Thank you." 

 Chase squeezed his father's neck really tightly before letting go and
standing to look directly into his father's eyes. "I wanted to be sure you
got it. Turnbull helped me slip it under your door when I woke up." 

 "I shall have to thank the Constable." Benton said rising and taking his
son's hand. "Walk with me." Ben picked up his cane and looked
apologetically at Francesca but grinned when he saw her smile at the two
of them. 

 Ray moved to the door and held it open. "Well, lets' get this show on the
road." Francesca went through the door first and walked next to Ben and
Chase with a backward look at Ray as he closed the door. She mouthed the
words, "Thank you" to him. Ray grinned back and snapped the suite's door
shut. 

 The lobby was filled with Franny and Ben's relatives. Grandmere watched
her family crossing the lobby with pride in her old eyes. Rosa immediately
brought her handkerchief to her eyes to wipe away her tears of happiness.
Tony and Maria stood in the background of the group indulgently watching
their children behave with grownup dignity for once in their good Sunday
best clothing. 

 Francesca let Maria pull her into a warm hug and watched, as Ben was able
to stay out of the limelight and stand right in the middle of the crowd
holding Chase's hand. The easy clamoring of Vecchio enthusiasm filled the
lobby cheerfully causing several of the hotel clerks to smile. Francesca
waited until the clamor was at Vecchio high pitch and quietly moved next
to Ben. She grabbed his hand and leaned down to Chase. With a quick
whisper into the boy's ear, she nudged him towards his cousins and pulled
Ben back towards the elevator and rear hall. 

 "Francesca, everyone is waiting." Ben laughed as she pulled him along
towards a darkly lit part of the lobby hall. 

 She reached up quickly and kissed him quickly. "Trust me?" 

 "You know I do." 

 "Then come on." She tugged and pulled until he was trailing along behind
her. 

 She led him as quickly as she could pull him down the hall and out to a
side entrance. Ben gave her an odd look when he saw her old beater of a
small Volkswagen rabbit standing at the door. 

 "Come on, get in." She opened the passenger door and nearly shoved him
inside before running around to the driver's door and climbing in as
quickly as she could. 

 "Chesca?" Ben carefully held his cane between his feet and noticed some
of their luggage resting in the back seat. 

 She turned to him with a huge grin. "You, sir are mine for the next week.
I know your grandmother had plans for us, but I wanted to give something
special to you from myself." 

 "They're going to be disappointed Chesca." 

 "No, I told Grandmere and she approved. But Ray doesn't know and neither
does my Mother. This is our honeymoon and I'll be darned if it's a family
affair." 

 Ben gave her a grin. "So you planned this out did you?" 

 "Oh yea, right down to having the car checked out for weird things." She
grinned, "Sit back and relax. We' have a six hour drive ahead of us." 

 He watched her start the car up and fairly speed from the parking lot.
"I'm not taking any chances on Ray seeing us leave. Hang on." She executed
a perfect left hand turn and headed for the entrance ramp onto 294 north.
The little car sped up the ramp and disappeared into traffic. Ben sat back
and enjoyed the sight of Francesca darting through traffic with proficient
ease. 

 Ray surveyed the lobby, spewing little aggravated sounds as his eyes
roved every nook that was within 20 feet. He felt Bree's hand on his
shoulder and gave in to his anger. "Damn, they've taken a powder. Turn
your back on those two for two minutes and there's trouble." His voice
whispered the words as softly as he could then turned to Bree with his
saddest, droopy-eye look. Bree gave him a soft smile as she leaned in
towards him and rested her forehead against his. 

 Laughter from the Vecchio children filled the area around Grandmere. She
held herself regally in her wheelchair and watched Chase blending in with
his cousins. She sighed and thought to herself, "This is the life my
Benton should have had. I was too much the coward. But no more, no more."
She rounded her gaze to include the adults and found Ray watching her, his
beautiful green eyes filled with unspoken questions. The old lady smiled
warmly at Ray and beckoned him to her side. 

 "You know, don't you?" Ray accused, well aware that his mother was giving
him the `parental eye'. 

 "Yes, I know." She reached out a hand to grab one of his and pulled him
down to his knees so that they were on the same eye level. "Francesca had
a dream; I consider it a good one. This is not a whim Raymond. She told me
with quite admirable courage that she just couldn't accept the plans for
the honeymoon. She thanked me quite prettily and asked me to keep her
plans a secret. I will keep that secret." 

 "Franny always does the fools rush in thing, Grandmere. She needs a
keeper sometimes, ya know." 

 "You underestimate your sister. She has thought this out carefully and
has taken all the precautions you would wish. She and Benton will be
safe." 

 "Yea, well I'm going to stop them." Ray reached for his cell phone. 

 Grandmere had no doubt in her mind that he intended to have his sister
and Benton brought back to the hotel like small, runaway children. "You
stop them and you will be sorry. They are not children." 

 "Well, they're acting irresponsibly." 

 "Are they?" Rosa Vecchio watched the tension building in her son's
shoulders. "You would make your sister feel guilty about her choice of
honeymoon? This, Raymondo, is not your decision." 

 Ray had the good grace to blush at his mother's remarks. He totally
capitulated when he saw `the look' in his mother's eyes. He was no fool.
He smiled as he began thinking of all the ways he could track the errant
honeymooners without either his mother or Grandmere being aware of his
tactics. 

 Rosa drew her brood in with a few well-chosen words and soon the lobby
was empty of Vecchio's. She sighed to herself then watched her children
going out the door: Church, Sunday lunch back at the hotel and swimming
for the children under her watchful eye, those plans would not change.
She, Rosa Vecchio would see to that. 

 Driving as deftly as any racecar driver, Francesca tooled her little red
vehicle through the northbound traffic. Her smile grew as her hands nimbly
handled the wheel and her foot controlled the gas pedal. She sucked in a
huge, exhilarating bolt of air and revved the little car to its full
potential. 

 Ben sat quietly appreciating his little wife's flair for handling busy
traffic and ran his hands lovingly over the knobby portion of his cane. He
was totally aware of Ray's opinion of Francesca's driving the RIV. He was
sure Ray had never allowed himself to actually think of Francesca as other
than the little sister that needed protecting. Watching Chesca maneuver
her tiny car like a professional car driver brought a smile of pure joy to
Ben's face. She was efficient and capable and the smile of enjoyment on
her face as she drove in silence captured his attention. 

 She felt Ben's eyes on her and flashed him a huge, toothy smile. "Who
knew huh?" She watched his eyes flash a smile her way. "I mean, ya know.
Ray treats the RIV like it's the only car in the world. Well, he's wrong.
This is the only car I've ever owned. It may not look like much, but it's
mine. And I know how to take care of it." 

 "I can see that you do." Ben turned a little in his seat. "It runs very
quietly." 

 "Yea, she does, doesn't she? Anyway, you don't have to worry that we
won't get where we're going, cause we will. The Rabbit's old, but she's
reliable." She paused and scooted into an opening in the middle lane. 

 "Where are we going?" 

 She heard his softly asked question and grinned. "Well, you did say you
trusted me, right?" 

 "Yes. I did." Ben watched the exit to O'Hare Airport whiz past his window
and cocked his head. 

 "No planes, no trains. Next stop, peace and quiet." With a quick glance
at her rearview mirror, Franny whispered, "And not a Vecchio sibling in
sight." 

 He grinned at her and relaxed back into his seat with a warm sigh. He put
his head back on the seat and let his eyes close.  

 Ben woke to find snow falling softly outside the Rabbit as it moved
quickly along the toll way. A quick glance at his watch told him they had
been on the road for over two hours. Another quick glance at Francesca
told him that she was still enjoying the drive. 

 "Awake, hmmm." She said and drove the car off and up an off ramp. "Let's
get something to eat." 

 They found a small `Mom and Pop' restaurant and ate a quick lunch gazing
into each other's eyes from the minute they sat down to the minute they
paid and left. The cashier laughed as they exited and shouted to the cook,
"Honeymooner's." 

 Four hours later the little car was on a country road in Minnesota. Ben
had watched the road signs and kept track of the route as Francesca had
doggedly kept the wheel to herself. Francesca drove through a large town
where she stopped at one of the local grocery stores and dragged Ben in to
help her pick out groceries. 

 The snow was still falling and the road became barely passable. But
Francesca just turned a happy grin towards Ben and kept driving. About 6
miles outside of the town, she pulled off onto a private road. Ben noticed
that the drive was freshly plowed and cocked an interested gaze at his
wife. 

 She pulled the car to a stop and turned to Ben with excitement lighting
her dark eyes. "Cover your eyes. OK." 

 When she was sure that Ben was going to keep his eyes covered, she drove
around a small bend in the road and pulled the car into a freshly cleared
parking space. She grabbed her coat and jumped out of the car and ran
around to pull the passenger door open. She put her hand out and guided
Ben carefully out of the car. 

 "OK, Look!" She put her hands together and waited for Ben's response. 

 He opened his eyes slowly not knowing quite what to expect. Before him in
the thickly falling snow was a cabin. It wasn't a new cabin, or even a
cabin like his father's cabin. But it was a rustic, split-log style cabin.
It had a porch, and perhaps contained 5 rooms, which was larger than most
cabins Ben knew. The light on the porch was lit and from the smoke rising
from the chimney, it was apparent that a fire was probably roaring inside.
Ben gazed at each window and each corner of the cabin with satisfaction.
The windows could be shuttered and it didn't appear that the cabin needed
any repair. He swept his eyes around the cabin clearing and felt the
weight of emotion hitting him squarely in the chest. It was very plain to
him that Chesca had picked someplace that might be like his homeland. He
turned to her and pulled her into the shelter of his arms, his face broken
by a wide and grateful smile. 

 "Are you sure about this?" 

 "Very sure, Benton Fraser." 

 "But we're all alone here, Chesca?" 

 "Oh yea. That's the idea." 

 Francesca grinned up at Ben and her grin widened as she watched his smile
expand and his lips pull back to expose every tooth he had in his mouth.
She felt tears in her eyes as she watched the emotion of total
exhilaration flood the very pores of his skin. His arms wrapped
protectively about her and she felt safer than she had ever felt in a
man's embrace. He was her anchor and her life partner and she knew it. She
felt the breath knocked out of her a little bit as he gently lifted her up
and kissed her. 

 The snow fell around them as he held her lightly in the air and began
twirling her around and around, waltzing with her in the snow. Great
whooping sounds of laughter filled the air as Ben let go and twirled and
twirled with Francesca held tightly to him until they finally collapsed in
the snow. Ben landed on the bottom with Francesca cradled carefully
against his chest. He brushed his strong hands through her hair and felt
himself drowning in her dark Italian eyes. 

 Francesca licked the snowflakes from her lips as she stared down into
Ben's bright eyes. Laughter erupted from her as she watched the snow
falling into Ben's dark curls. She marveled at how much better he finally
looked. She looked away from him as she remembered that he would be back
to work with the beginning of the year. Ben caught the darkening look in
her eyes and used his hands to gently turn her face back to him. She
smiled brightly though her face wore a sad/happy expression with tiny
tears trailing down her face. 

 "Chesca?" 

 "The new year is far too close. Ya know." 

 He sat up and set her upright and pulled her close. "Spoiled, aren't we?"


 "I can't help it. January will be here before we know it. By then I'll be
a blimp." 

 Ben tilted his head back and laughed. "You could never be a blimp." 

 "Wanna bet?" Francesca teased. "I'll have to start wearing maternity
clothes by Christmas. I just know it." She ran her hand lightly over her
stomach. "I'm hungry." 

 They helped each other up out of the snow and gingerly brushed snow off
their backsides. Ben turned to the car intending to open the door and get
the suitcases out. He heard Francesca running in the snow behind him and
turned to see her lifting a small sled off the porch and using the pull
rope to drag it to the car. 

 "Don't you dare try to carry those cases." She smiled as she moved easily
through the falling snow. "We get them out of the car and use the sled." 

 He grinned and pulled first one then two then three suitcases out of the
car. Once everything they needed was out of the car and on the sled they
pulled it towards the cabin. 

 Francesca threw open the cabin door after she unlocked it and stood just
inside the door. Ben began retrieving their luggage from the sled quietly
and efficiently. When he was done he was finally able to turn and take a
good look at his surroundings and Francesca. She watched him and sat down
in a proprietary manner on the main room's sofa. It was then that Ben
noticed that the entire room was done in colors that suited Francesca.
Soft blues and apricots and muted greens were everywhere. The sofa rested
on a nice, thick area rug with a border of tiny garden flowers with green
leaves. The sofa had thick cushions and little, bright colored pillows on
it. There was a bookshelf filled with books and another cabinet filled
with small mementos. The mantle over the large fireplace was plain and
held a few small pictures. Ben wandered over to the fireplace. He stamped
his feet a bit and looked the photographs over. Most were of a small group
of young children surrounding an old man. In all most all of the pictures
one little girl stood out from the rest. That little girl was very tiny, a
thin rail of a girl with long dark curly hair and a toothy grin. He looked
back at Chesca quizzically. 

 Francesca bit her lip then patted the sofa next to her. "I guess it's
about time you heard about the family secret." 

 Ben tilted his head and rested his hand on the fireplace mantle
lingeringly before moving over to sit gently on the sofa next to
Francesca. He watched Francesca bite her lips and sit as compactly as she
could on her portion of the sofa. He put his hand out and covered her
nervously moving fingers that rested on her knees. 

 She bit her lip until the skin almost broke. Her hand convulsed in Ben`s
hand then she began gushing out an explanation. 

 "This isn't a short story. Well, it's not that long a story, but it's not
short ok?" 

 He smiled and held her hand softly. "You're the little girl in the
pictures, aren't you?" 

 "The toothy, thin, scrawny, littlest Vecchio. That's me. When I was
really little, everyone picked on me, ya know. Ray hated that. He got in
more fights because of me. Ma was about to give up. Then our Uncle
Vincelli got involved. He was my father's great uncle on his mother's
side. He was old when I was born. He listened to Ma and watched all us
kids. Every summer he would invite all the little ones up here. Ray only
came once or twice and he hated it. He hates this place; he hates what it
represents. Uncle V found out that I loved the winter best. He watched and
listened and kept quiet." 

 "He sounds like an admirable Uncle Francesca." 

 "Admirable he wasn't. Haven't you ever wondered why Ray hated Frankie
Zuko so much?" She stopped talking long enough for Ben to think a moment
and then continued. "Uncle V was related to the Zuko family. He was
related to them through his father's family. So, in a roundabout way the
Vecchio's and Zuko's are cousins." She bit her lip and seemed to be
breathing in deep breaths as she gathered the courage to continue. "Ray
couldn't stand it, any of it. Then he found out that Uncle V was in the
`family'. He hit the roof. He begged Ma not to let me or Maria go to the
cabin and he refused to go. Ray was a chunky kid when he was little, too
and outdoor pursuits irritated him. Well, anyway. Uncle V found out that I
loved the snow. In the summer I was always the left out one, but in the
winter I ruled. I couldn't win at hide n seek n stuff in the summer, but
in the winter I was always the winner. Ray never figured it out. Little
snow bunny Franny could track in the snow. I mean I can really find my way
around out there. Uncle V got a kick out of it and invited me n Maria up
here every winter until he died. Maria didn't like it, but she always got
to bring a friend along so Maria came along willingly and I got to spend
as much time outdoors as I wanted. But it really irritated Ray that our
Uncle was `family' ya know." 

 "This does explain some of Ray's antipathy towards your cousin." 

 "Antipathy. That's a twenty-dollar word for Ray's anger. Anyway when
Uncle V's will was read even my Pop blew a cork. Uncle V left this cabin
to me. He left enough money in an account to pay the taxes for my lifetime
and for repairs. He promised in his will that this money was `clean'. But
that didn't matter to either side of the family because he didn't leave
anything to anyone else. All his money went to charity. And he had the
bucks. I guess he felt he could expiate his sins that way. Pop wanted to
sell the cabin and use the money for the family. He was really torked when
he found out even I can't sell it. This place is in a trust for me and my
children and their children. Uncle V knew about Pop's drinking and
gambling and he wanted this for me. He said I was the only one of his
relatives that liked him for himself and not for what he could give. Ray
won't let me tell anyone about this place. He's ashamed of it. Ma comes
here with me sometimes in the summer. And Maria and Tony use the place
too. But it's mine. I didn't tell you because I wasn't sure how you would
feel about it. If you want to leave, I'll understand." 

 Ben lifted her tiny hand to his mouth and kissed each finger softly. "The
story you've told me doesn't upset me Francesca. It just shows that you
were as generous and loving as a little girl as you are now." He smiled at
her. "But why didn't you tell me you liked snow and winter?" 

 "I was already chasing the life out of you Benton Fraser. If I had told
you I loved winter, would you have believed me or would you have thought I
was making it up. Ray still doubts me. He doesn't like winter so why
should I." 

 "Can you skate?" 

 Francesca's voice peeled off into laughter as she watched Ben's eyes
laugh back at her. "You know I do."  

 Ray stood brooding near the window of the swimming pool area. The room
was filled with the shouts and squeals of his nieces and nephews. The
noise of the children's voices didn't reach him. He kept running over his
hurt feelings about Francesca's getaway. It hurt that Benny hadn't even
put up a fuss. He held his arms crossed in front of him over his loudest
shirt that he wore over trim swimming trunks. The set of his shoulders
closed him in his own little world of hurt. His body seemed cast in stone
and he hadn't moved from that position for over 10 minutes. 

 Pulling herself out of the pool amidst the cries of the children, Bree
rose and grabbed her towel. She dried her hair and caught the worried look
in Rosa Vecchio's eyes. Bree followed that gaze to Ray and then sighed.
All during church and lunch Ray had seemed happy. Bree castigated herself
for not seeing how hurt Ray was by his sister's rush of independence. But
now Bree could see by the set of his stiff back that he was not dealing at
all well with the fact that Francesca and Ben could run their own lives.
She knew that Ray had been running in `big brother' mode for so long that
it was an actual shock to his system to find that he hadn't been
consulted. She grabbed her toweling robe and flashed a grin at Rosa
Vecchio as she began to make her way over to Ray. 

 He smelled the scent of her as she approached. She hadn't gotten her hair
wet and the lemon smell of her shampoo drifted gently to him. `God, "he
thought. "I'm beginning to react to my olfactory senses, just like Benny."
Despite himself he laughed and put out a hand for Bree to take. 

 Bree reached out and took the offered hand gratefully. "Feel better now?"


 "Yea. Thanks, ya know." 

 "Using `Ray speak' again, are we?" 

 "You know me too well." 

 "I know if you get the time to think things out, you usually make the
right choices." 

 "So how come I feel so bad right now, how come?" 

 Bree walked up behind him and put her arms around him and balanced her
chin on his shoulder. "You've been suffering from the `Big Brother
Protects Franny Syndrome". That's all." She tightened her hold on him for
a second and continued, "And you included Ben in that. He's your best
friend and your new brother-in-law. You threw your Big Brother Mantle over
Ben when he came here and now your little goslings have flown the nest and
you're having a hard time dealing with it." 

 "But why didn't she tell me. She could have told me. And what was so bad
about the honeymoon plans anyway. Grandmere went to a lot of trouble over
those plans." 

 "Ray, Francesca went to Grandmere. If Grandmere isn't upset, you
shouldn't be." 

 "What was I gonna do, tell her no." 

 Bree pulled back and walked around to face Ray. "Oh Ray. You would have,
you know you would if you didn't like the plans." She looked Ray directly
in the eye. "Am I right?" 

 With a sheepish grin Ray pulled Bree into the shelter of his arms. "You
know me too well, pretty lady." 

 "Don't forget that. OK?" 

 Francesca laughed and jumped to her feet dragging one of Ben's hands to
pull him along. "Come on; let me give you the fifty cent tour." 

 Ben rose and tried to pull Francesca into a tight embrace. Francesca
laughed and pulled back from him. "No, I don't want you bumping into
anything in the dark. Besides, you should know where everything is
located." 

 She dragged him into the foyer and opened the closet door. Inside were
identical parkas, which were obviously meant for them. Good stout boots
rested on the closet floor. Fishing gear was stowed neatly on wall of the
closet with poles stored neatly in a pole rack. At the back of the closet
lay an ice auger and some ice fishing gear. As Francesca closed the closet
she watched Ben almost get his head caught in the door his eyes glinted at
all the ice fishing equipment. She grabbed his hand and led him into the
kitchen. 

 Ben was surprised. The kitchen was of a medium size but kitted out with
everything a kitchen should have and more. Ben took note of the fish
scaling board stored neatly in plain site along with an impressive wooden
holder filled with kitchen knives and cleavers. He looked quickly from the
tools to Francesca. He took quick note of her totally elated expression
before doing a pivot on one foot and taking in most of the rest of the
kitchen's accoutrements. 

 Francesca literally dragged Ben out of the kitchen and down the hall
where she quickly showed him the bathroom with it's more than serviceable
settings before dragging him to the spare room and flinging the door open.
The room was obviously the guest room and fitted out with two sets of bunk
beds with warm and inviting comforters on them. There was a desk and a
dresser in the room. Ben smiled to see a forgotten toy waiting on the
dresser top for its owners return. 

 Francesca suddenly turned shy and put her hand in Benton's and beckoned
him back into the hall. She opened the master bedroom door and stood back
for Benton to precede her into the room. She hit the light switch and held
her breath. The room's walls were the lightest blue imaginable. The room
was decorated in light grays and deep blues with a little bit of red
thrown in occasionally. The bed was huge and inviting. There were small
pictures of flowers on the walls and on the dresser was a collection of
family photos. The floor was covered in a rug that matched Ben's eyes when
they were at their bluest. The comforter was the light gray his eyes could
be when he wore light colored clothing. The pillows rested in ivory
pillowcases embroidered with northern wildflowers on the edges and little
red ribbons tied in bows were stitched in place on the cases between the
flowers. The room was warm, inviting, elegant and yet livable. 

 Ben walked around the room touching the desk and the dresser that were
made out of sturdy hardwoods. He looked at the pictures on the dresser and
smiled. Then his hand reached out and touched a picture of Francesca at
about the age of 6 with gangly legs and tons of curly hair. The picture
brought a smile to his face. Then he saw a copy of the picture the
tourists had taken of Ray standing next to him outside the Consulate and
he ran one finger over the form of Ray and smiled. He heard the bedroom
door close and felt Francesca standing next to him. 

 She reached up and brushed the side of his face with her hand and reached
up on tiptoe to kiss him. She new she had his full attention when he
didn't even move when she began unbuttoning his shirt and pushing it off
his shoulders. 

 "I thought you said you were hungry." He whispered it into her ear and
grasped her neck as he kissed her quite thoroughly. 

 "Food, who needs food?" Francesca replied as she began to push him gently
backwards towards the bed. "Dessert comes first."  

 Francesca smooshed her head deeper into her pillow and reached out in
search of Ben. She whispered in a deep throaty, half-awake whisper, "Umm,
Ben." Her hand fluttered and flopped around the spot where he had gone to
sleep next to her. The blankets and pillow weren't even warm anymore and
Francesca's head snapped up with her curly hair drooping in her eyes. She
sat up and felt the blood rushing through her as she quickly sat up and
grabbed the sheet around her. She managed to fit it toga fashion around
her and waddled to the door. She opened the door to the hall and listened.
The cabin was silent but for her own breathing. She began swearing in
Italian and ran out to the living room where their suitcases waited. 

 She threw open her suitcase hastily and grabbed a pair of thick, heavy
jogging pants out and dragged them on. She grabbed the matching sweatshirt
and a pair of socks. Her hair bobbed all around her face and she had to
keep spitting it out of her mouth as she huffed cool air in and out of her
mouth. Grabbing socks she forced them onto her feet and turned quickly to
the closet. She flung the door open and gave a quick smile to the empty
hanger next to her parka. Grabbing her own boots, she shoved her feet into
them and pulled her parka down so quickly that the hanger fell to the
closet floor. 

 Without bothering to zip her parka Francesca opened the door to the cabin
and peaked out. An indulgent smile flitted across her face as she saw Ben
just where she hoped he would be. Ben was staring at the night sky as he
sat comfortably tilted back in one of the porches chairs. His feet were
encased his new boots and his legs were stretched out and resting on the
porch railing. The beautiful, soft-white fur on his parka hood framed his
face. Francesca walked up quietly to stand beside him and put her hand
into the hand Ben held out to her. 

 "Can't trust you for one minute, can I?" She laughed as he pulled her
down into his lap. 

 "Yes, you can." The smile he gave her in response to her laughing comment
took her breath away. 

 Francesca cupped her hand around his chin and dropped on quick kiss on
his nose. "You shouldn't be out here. But I understand." 

 "I, I think I've needed this for a long time, Chesca. I don't think I
knew just how much I had missed the night sky." 

 "I knew." 

 He gave her a hug and pulled her to his chest, dangerously overbalancing
his chair. "How did you know, when I didn't?" 

 "I watched you stare out our bedroom window. I watched your shoulders sag
when you looked to the north and I could feel your sadness. It isn't so
hard to read big, silent types like you, ya know. People say I don't
notice things but I do." 

 "Your observations are usually most astute Francesca." 

 She smiled, "Thank you." She turned her head so that she could see the
stars shining above them. "It's easy to recognize in someone else what you
feel yourself. I've never been able to get enough of this view. It's a
joke huh, little city girl pines for Northwood's. Meets Mountie from
Canada: end of story. Except I wind up chasing said Mountie for over 2
years." 

 "I wasn't running that fast, was I?" 

 "The only thing I want to know is, when were you planning on slowing down
enough for me to catch you?" 

 He grinned. "But, I was slowing down. It was rather difficult with Ray
pulling me along." 

 "Well, I always knew Dief cared, but I wasn't quite sure about you." 

 "Dief told me I wasn't moving fast enough." He tilted his head towards
her. "He said quite a few things that hurt my feelings." 

 "No way." 

 "He even threatened to take up residence with you, with or without me." 

 "You're a packaged set. We'll have to make that clear to him." 

 "I doubt he'll listen." 

 "We'll have to bring him and Wallace and Chase up here. Maybe during
Christmas week." 

 He sighed contentedly and rubbed his head against her parka. "You still
hungry?" 

 "Oh yea." 

 Ben settled his chair firmly on the porch and the two of them rose
without letting an inch of space get between them. 

 "So what's in the larder?" 

 "Just about anything you want." 

 They entered the cabin and began removing their outer clothing and boots.
Franny grabbed Ben's hand and pulled him along behind her to the kitchen.
"Scrambled or omelets?" 

 "Why not pancakes?" 

 "Why not all of it?" Francesca giggled and broke away from Ben to open
the refrigerator. 

 Ben stopped in his tracks and felt his heart stop beating. He looked
startled for a moment remembering someone else say those very words.
Francesca dove face first into the open space of the refrigerator giving
Ben an exquisite view of her rear encased in jogging pants. His heart
started beating again. When she looked back at him over her shoulder, she
flashed him a toothy grin. 

 "You sit down, I'll cook." 

 "I'm not an invalid any more Chesca." 

 "I know that. I just enjoy watching you watch me." 

 "I should help." 

 "You can do the dishes when I'm done." 

 Ben grinned and started searching the cabinets for dishes. The steady
beat of his heart was constant, just like Francesca.  

 The cabin door shut with a defined snap that broke the silence in the
cool winter air. Ben and Francesca smiled at each other and took the steps
leading off the porch in quick, matching steps. The sun was barely rising
overhead and a soft winter's mist rose from the trees around them making a
fairyland effect. 

 "There's a large body of water near?" Ben tilted his head to feel the
cool, almost moist air on his face. 

 "There's a small lake right behind the cabin." She grabbed his arm and
began dragging him along. "You've just got to see it." 

 With a soft laugh and a slight show of reluctance Ben let her pull him
along until they stood near the bank of a body of water that certainly
looked like rather more than the pond Ben expected to see. 

 "You like it?" 

 Ben surveyed the area slowly and his smile widened more with each sweep
of his eyes around the edge of the lake. "How much is yours?" 

 "Ours. All of it." 

 His hold tightened momentarily on Francesca's gloved hand before he
opened his mouth to whisper in a slightly choked off tone. "Francesca,
just how big is this property you own?" 

 "Do you mean the whole thing or just the lake?" 

 "The whole thing." 

 "500 acres. Uncle V never did anything small, ya know." 

 "I'm beginning to get that picture." He pulled her closer. "Is this where
you learned to skate?" 

 "Yep. I almost died before I got good at it though." She felt his hand in
hers constrict at her words. "The first winter Uncle V had all the cousins
up here he gave us all new skates. Mine were white with huge,
multicolored-tassels on them. We were all beginning to get the hang of it
when I fell through the ice. There I was dressed in my new pink snowsuit
with my arms spread out like chicken wings holding my head up out of the
ice and my skates making clinking noises under the ice behind me." She
shook her head at the vivid memory she was dragging out for Ben. "One of
the cousins ran to get Uncle V and by the time he got me out my arms were
sore from hanging on the ice." She remembered very vividly Uncle V
carrying her to the cabin and making sure she was all right before giving
her the required hot cocoa to warm her up. 

 Ben looked out at the small lake over Francesca's head. His silence spoke
clearly to Francesca more than any words could have said. 

 "Don't worry. Uncle V called in some contractors that very winter. He had
them break the ice and start dumping gravel and sand over most of the
beach area down into the lake. You can go out 40 feet from the lakes edge
now and if you fell through, the water would be less than knee deep. That
summer he had the work redone so that you can walk out 50 feet on sand
before you hit deeper water. I know where every drop off is, Uncle V made
sure we all knew." 

 "He does sound like an excellent Uncle to have." 

 "He was." She pulled away and turned towards the far side of the lake.
"See the smoke rising over there? That's the caretaker's cabin. Jimmie
makes sure the cabin is kept up and maintains the property. He's getting
old no and wants to retire soon. One of his nephews will be taking on the
job when he retires. The trustees will take care of it." 

 "Ah. Did Jimmie stock the cabin for you?" 

 "No. I didn't want him out in the cold. Some friends of a friend did it."
She felt her face coloring and looked at the ground. "I had Natalie and
Janice run a check on the Rabbit, and Natalie's boyfriend got a check run
on the cabin. His friends brought in the food. Well, they're not friends
exactly." 

 "This boyfriend of Natalie's, what is his profession?" 

 "You might know him, kinda. He's a police officer." 

 "Ah." 

 "What do you mean, Ah?" 

 Ben dropped his hold on Francesca's hand and stepped back a step. "Ah, as
in I can always trust you to think before you leap." 

 "Yea, well Big Brother Ray thinks I'm a dunderhead." 

 Ben leaned over and grabbed up a bit of snow quickly forming it into a
snowball. "Good packing snow." 

 "You want to avoid the 'Ray' conversation hmm?" 

 "Yes, I think that would be wise." Ben let the snowball fly and watched
with twinkling eyes as it splattered all over Francesca's parka. 

 Francesca ran off a few steps and lobed one at Ben surprising him when it
hit dead center on his chest. "So you want to play do you?" Francesca
laughed and grabbed up some more snow. 

 High on the hill in a newly set tent, a figure lay in the opening in a
down sleeping bag watching the Fraser's play though his telescope. 

 Ray sat with a mutinous stare while his family sat in their elegant
chairs eating a very elegant Sunday diner. Even Bree ate oblivious of his
attitude. Ray's green eyes swept between quick glances at his own Mother,
Grandmere and Bree. Finally, he could take it no longer and leaned over to
whisper in Bree's ear. "You know where they went, don't you?" 

 Bree's fork stopped midway to her mouth; bright spots of red rose on her
cheeks, clear signals of her guilt and she gave him a quick nod and
continued eating. 

 "OK, I'll bite. Why didn't someone tell me?"  

 Two sets of canine eyes watched the young boy waking up. He squirmed
under the covers and began to stretch, then dragged the comforter back
over his head. Wallace trotted quietly over to his rope chew toy and
pranced back to stand beside Diefenbaker. With careless grace the young
dog plopped his prized possession onto the bed and waited. Nothing
happened. Wallace picked the braided, multi-color toy up and with a more
aggressive movement dropped it right where he figured his master's head
was under the comforter. 

 The comforter flew back and the small boy grinned at his companions. He
picked up the rope toy and handed it to Dief. "Here you play with him
while I get dressed." Dief responded with a wide lupine smile and tried
enticing Wallace to follow him across the room. 

 Young Chase Fraser sat up in bed and grinned a very toothy grin. He had
set his clothing out the night before on the chair next to his bed near
enough at hand to make dressing a quick process. He pulled his t-shirt on,
grabbed his heavy flannel shirt and grabbed his toddler size 5 jeans. With
a jump and a wiggle of his bottom and twist of his body he soon settled
into the jeans and zipped and belted them with quick if fumbling young
fingers. Pushing his feet into his socks, he grabbed one size 4 1/2
(toddler size), extra wide shoe onto his right foot and reached for his
left shoe. Small hands searched quickly under the chair before the boy
turned on his companions. "OK, which of you moved it?" He glared with
young boyish tenacity at the two playing with the braided toy. "Wallace!
Where is my shoe?" 

 Wallace, who though only about 10 months old was equal in size to
Diefenbaker, dropped the toy with a sharp bark. He tilted his head and
trotted quickly to the missing shoe. He looked back at the boy as if to
say, "Shall I bring it to you?" 

 Chase did a quick run and slid to the floor beside his shoe. "Thank you."
He quickly thrust his foot into the shoe and rose to stretch up on his
tiptoes and grab for his hairbrush. He ran the brush through his thick
curls several times before setting the brush back down way out of
Wallace's reach. He looked disdainfully at Wallace. "Grandmere says if you
chew up one more brush, she's gonna do something terribly drastic. I don't
know what drastic means, but I wouldn't go for my hairbrushes anymore if I
were you." 

 Dief trotted over the door and slipped through the canine louvered door
without a backwards look to see if Wallace was following him. Dief smelled
breakfast and he wasn't going to be left out. 

 "Come on Wallace. I want to talk to Uncle Ray before he leaves for work."
He grabbed the doorknob and pulled hard. Without looking, he ran into the
hall heading directly for the stairway. Just as he was about to step down
on the first step, he was caught and swooped up into his uncle's arms. 

 "Hey there young Fraser. Where you going in such a hurry?" The tall,
green-eyed man pulled the boy close for a hug. 

 "I was looking for you Uncle Ray." 

 "You were. Well, you found me. What can I do for you?" He smiled and
started down the steps holding Chase close to his heart. 

 "I want to email Mom. She said I could, but I don't know how. Will you
help me?" 

 "Sure. But it'll have to wait until after work, OK?" 

 "I guess I can wait." Chase giggled as his Uncle Ray bounced down the
last two steps. 

 "Want to ask for birthday presents hmm?" 

 Chase's eyes grew round and he shook his head so hard his flopped all
over the place. "No, I just want to see if they've built a snowman yet." 

 Ray put the boy down on the hall floor and knelt next to him. "Do you
know where your Mom and Dad went?" 

 "No, but Mom said she would take the computer and her phone so that I can
talk to them. She was afraid I might miss them. But I'm a big kid now. I
can handle it." He drew himself up to his full almost 4 yr old height that
meant that his curly head just barely reached the top of Ray's knees. 

 Ray smiled and stood up and offered the boy his hand. "Let's go eat.
Smells good in there." 

 They walked into the kitchen where Ray picked Chase up and plopped the
boy into his chair. Ray walked around his mother who was busy making
oatmeal with raisins for the little ones. "Oatmeal or eggs?" Rosa asked
with a smile when she noted that Ray's sour look of the evening before
seemed to have disappeared. 

 "Oatmeal Ma. And I still don't like it." He watched his mother's face
cloud over in consternation. "But, I guess I'll have to live with it. But
that doesn't mean this is over. Not by a long shot." He took the cup of
coffee that he had poured and sat down next to Chase. "Snowman huh. Why
don't we build one tonight, take a picture of it and send it your folks?" 

 Rosa placed a bowl of oatmeal before Chase and ran her fingers through
his hair. "Snow doesn't tell you something?" She raised her eyes to the
ceiling and walked back to the stove with a long-suffering look that
mother's everywhere seem to be able to use to chide their children. 

 Ray's head snapped up and he groaned. "OK. Now I get it. That place. No
wonder you didn't tell me." He spooned up a great gob of oatmeal and
shoved it in his mouth. "I hate that place, Ma. You know that." He looked
at Chase who sat eating quietly next to him and then sent a glare towards
his mother. "I should go up there and drag them back." 

 "Raymondo!" 

 "OK. I won't, I won't. But I don't have to like it."  

 A huge snowman stood sentinel outside the cabin. He had sticks for arms,
two charred pieces of wood for eyes and stones for his nose and mouth. The
shape of the snowman was carved with great care. His creators had even
taken the time to design soft sculpted feet for him. All in all, he was a
very happy looking snowman, though he was missing the usual accoutrements
of a hat and scarf. 

 The cracking sounds of their feet stomping off the snow on their boots
overpowered their laughter as they stood side by side near the cabins
door. Francesca pulled the door open and shrieked with laughter as Ben
dribbled the last of the snow from the outside of his gloves down the neck
of her parka. He followed her inside and shut the door. His eyes danced
over her as she shed her parka and hung it on the hook near the door to
dry. With a jerking motion, he pulled his parka off and hung it next to
Francesca's. He barely had the thick parka on its hook when he felt
Francesca's cool fingers reaching for and settling on his exposed wrist.
He grinned, grabbed her and slowly, carefully pulled her into the shelter
of his arms. The muscles of his legs shivered sending ripples of muscle
movements like crashing dominoes up his back. He lowered his face to hers
and gently possessed her lips. 

 Francesca threw her arms around Ben's neck and held on, grasping and
pulling his shaking body to her. When he took a firmer hold on her, she
raised her right hand and threaded her fingers into his hair. They began
to move away from the door. Each kiss followed a slow movement of their
feet as they touched. The living room was traversed in almost agonizingly
slow movements as they parted their lips and returned kiss for kiss,
breath for breath. Francesca guided and maneuvered and slid her feet along
the hall floor. Ben angled their movements towards their bedroom;
Francesca threaded her sensitive fingers through his hair and tugged
softly towards the bathroom. Ben's arm tightened around her intending to
lift her from her feet. Francesca broke off their kissing and whispered
into his ear. His arms relaxed and he let her guide him into the bathroom.


 Her fingers shook as her hand ran over the wall next to the bathroom door
looking for the light switch. His mouth wandered over her neck and jaw
line his brain having long sense shut down and melted into sensual fever.
Her fingers found the switch and clicked it on. She laughed when he didn't
break away from her when the light glared over their heads. Two sets of
hands began roving their bodies in search of the quickest way to divest
themselves of their clothing. One large male foot pushed the door shut. A
small, very tiny female hand worked at a buckle with trembling fingers.
One head disappeared beneath clothing being pulled over shoulders. Hands
freed of holding, seeking, feeling searched for the tub's faucet. Water
gushed from the small orifice to be tamed into a stream of warm water. Two
naked bodies collided when the last of the clothing hit the floor. Two
sets of stocking feet kicked clothing out of the way. A large, very male
hand grabbed the box of lemon bubble bath that Francesca adored and poured
grains of the stuff into the tub as lips met lips again. His ears perked
at the sound of the grains hitting the water, he stopped pouring and let
the box fall to the floor. 

 The sound of the box hitting the floor made them break apart for a
second. Francesca moved one of her feet over Ben's and she giggled when
she realized that both of them were still wearing their socks as their
only article of clothing. She opened her lips and ran them over his eyes
as she lifted first one leg, and then the other to pull of her socks. His
mind barely registered the sound of the water reaching a suitable height
and he instinctively leaned over and turned the water off. Francesca
pulled away from him and climbed into the tub. His eyes followed her; his
hands never let her go. Francesca smiled and slipped down beneath the
billowing soap bubbles. He followed like a mesmerized sleepwalker and
stepped complete with socks into the tub. He settled over her laugh
quaking body and possessed her mouth again hungrily. 

 Damp, water soaked curls pressed against his forehead as he lay in the
warm water absorbing the feel of her body next to his. Rational thought
had returned minutes ago and he luxuriated in the mutual feeling of
exhaustion he knew they were experiencing together. Her tiny hand lay upon
his chest and her head nestled close to his against the back of what he
realized was an oversized, claw foot tub. Fleetingly he wondered if the
tub was original cabin equipment. He lifted his left hand and clasped his
fingers over her small hand, a whirlwind of thoughts racing through his
mind. Every time he was with Francesca was like the first time. The
feeling of overwhelming happiness was there in his heart tempered with
love. He'd felt the exaltation of overwhelming sexual relief before, but
the returned love aspect was new and belonged only to his love for
Francesca. 

 He'd loved before, given love. He entwined the fingers of his left hand
into the hair at the back of Francesca's sleeping head and thought of the
things Francesca made him feel. Memories of Victoria raced through his
brain. That hadn't been a healthy time for him. He realized that now. What
he had shared with Victoria; rather, what he had felt for her had been
love tortured by guilt and her possessive dominance of him sexually. She
had used the addictiveness of sexual tension to control him, to bend him,
to seek revenge from him, to physically hurt him. He knew there were one
or two very small scars on his person that no one had seen. She had always
apologized for hurting him. Sometimes he had been convinced he had
deserved the pain in payment for the years she had spent in prison. She
had always distracted him after hurting him, possessing him. It was only
now that time had passed that he was able to see it. 

 It had been so easy for her. He'd been easy prey. He could see that now.
Remembering how he had been at 23 years of age hardly eased his mind. He
had been a young, overly dedicated officer raised with a longing to be
loved again. The beauty he had thought he had seen in her had been only
skin deep and he had hardly been prepared for that. Victoria's pleading
eyes as she stood watching him put the cuffs on her wrists still haunted
him. Was that what had made her dark side emerge or had it been there
already? Had he been too young and naive to see her as she really had
been? Had she given herself to him then in the hope of buying her freedom?
He knew he might be haunted for the rest of his life by the look she had
given him when they led her way to begin her prison term. He began to
wonder if she had loved anyone more than herself. Had she loved their
beautiful little son, Chase? 

 Francesca sighed and rolled in the cooling water to lay her whole arm
across her husband's body. She felt the tension in his stomach muscles and
raised her eyes to this face. She watched a single tear course down his
face from under his closed eyelashes. Lifting a gentle finger to his
check, she wiped the tear away feeling her own stomach muscles clench in a
tight hold of emotion. He turned his cheek towards her hair without
opening his eyes and held his arm tightly around her. She wondered which
of his demons he was fighting this time. 

 "Hungry?" She whispered to him. 

 "I'm not particularly hungry." His voice rasped out in an almost
inaudible whisper 

 "Well, I'm starved. Come on, let's get dressed." 

 Francesca rose up out of the water and pulled the plug up with a quick
jerk. She turned and looked at him with an impish grin as the cooling
water began receding out of the tub. She made a grab for the side of the
tub and nimbly vaulted over the edge of the tub. Her hands picked up two
towels and she threw one in on top of Ben who was obviously enjoying the
view as she began wiping her body down. She was well aware that he was
watching her and made each movement slow and sure as she finished.
Grabbing a big fluffy robe off the door hook she drew it around her and
belted it tightly. She threw him a huge smile and exited the door with her
damp hair swinging on her shoulders. 

 Ben snapped out of his reverie and climbed quickly out of the tub. He
made short work of drying himself off and grabbed the robe she had put on
the door hook for him the night before. "Francesca!" he called down the
hall. The sound of the refrigerator door resounded throughout the cabin. 

 High on the small wooded hill behind the cabin, the man in the tent
waited. He rubbed his right hand against the palm of his other hand and
picked up his binoculars. Steaming coffee sat on an upended coffee can
beside him. A small camping stove set just outside his tent. Remnants of
the man's dinner sat on the plate by his feet. The sun was beginning to
descend out of its high afternoon arc overhead. He watched the lights in
the cabin below and noted how long the bathroom light stayed on, he
grumbled low in throat like feral animal. He watched as smoke began to
drift upwards from the cabin's chimney. He would wait. He'd been hired to
do a job and he'd do it. He contemplated the money he'd been paid to
create `an accident' by his old friend Jean Andre. He'd be out of here in
a couple of days and on his way back to Canada. The man named Dunston drew
back into the shadows of the tents door and settled in for a long night. 

 As the fire roared and took hold, Ben and Francesca sat cuddled next to
each other on the sofa. They each held a cup of hot chocolate. Ben let his
headrest softly on the sofa's high back. The quiet of the cabin rested his
soul. He let his eyelids droop but held on firmly to his chocolate cup.
Francesca felt him relaxing next to her keeping her eyes fixed on the
fireplace. Ben's soul was like that roaring fire to her. He was all
movement inside a firmly contained body. The quirks and quick turns of his
emotions would surprise most people; for the outside of him was like the
brick fireplace; firm, stalwart unmoving at the best of times. But the
inside; the inside of Ben moved with quick fire movements. He hid a lively
sense of humor from the world. He watched people, studied people and
trusted implicitly those souls that trusted him back. Francesca breathed
deeply and thanked God that Ben had remained a loving man despite his
losses at love's doorstep. 

 She leaned up and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and pulled their
chocolate cups into her hands. "Better go put these in the sink." 

 "Ummm.", he replied. 

 "Oh you are comfy." She grinned and walked from the room. 

 Ben opened his eyes and surveyed his surroundings. He looked from corner
to corner and back again. Then he sat straight up and stared hard at the
bookcase wall near the hall to the bath and bedrooms. Rising slowly to his
feet, he clenched the belt of his robe tighter around his person and
walked step by slow step towards that wall. 

 The bookcase held more books than Ben had seen in the whole Vecchio
family home. His curiosity was peaked. The shelves contained books for
very young children, young adults and more. He spotted poetry, classical
fiction, non-fiction and even a set of encyclopedias. Lovingly he pulled
out a book and ran his hands over the cover. Opening the book, he turned
quickly to the first chapter. He heard Francesca coming back into the room
and turned to smile at her. 

 She grinned, "I see you've found some of my other deadly secrets." 

 "These are yours then?" 

 "Every one of them is mine. And yes, I have read them all." Her dark eyes
sought the cover of the book he held in his hands. "That's one of my newer
additions to my small library." 

 "When did you get a copy of Robert Service?" 

 "About two weeks after I met you." She took the book and opened it in her
hands. "That was how Ray knew I was lost. He raised his eyebrows at me and
asked what the book was about. I told him. That was the first time he told
me I was out of my league." Francesca drew herself up proudly. "He was
wrong. Ray judges everyone by his own standards." 

 "He loves you." 

 "Yes, he does. But that kind of love could keep in me in Rapunzel's
castle all of my life." 

 "Rapunzel?" 

 She grinned and picked up a book on one of the lower shelves. "Here,
you're going to have to know about these things." 

 He turned the book over in his hands and smiled as he looked down at a
book cover designed to make small hands slide over it. His own large hand
lovingly traced the pictures and words on the cover. 

 Ben turned his eyes towards the bookcase itself. Francesca watched him
studying it and the wall it stood against. She waited for him to begin
asking questions. 

 "Francesca, about this bookcase." 

 Francesca watched her husband kneel slowly down on the carpet and run his
hand over the carpet nap in a slow sweeping circle in front of the
bookcase edge. He leaned down until his eyes were mere millimeters away
from the carpet surface. She visibly shuddered as she watched him turn his
head towards the base of the bookcase nearly laying his right ear on the
floor. Francesca placed her arms protectively around her torso. She drew
her arms in tightly around herself. She fervently hoped that Ben wasn't
paying attention to her. Small shudders racked her slight frame as she
maintained an intent gaze towards the bookcase. 

 Ben watched as he lifted his head and rose as Francesca pulled the belt
of her robe tighter with a tug on the belted ends cinching it so tightly
against her body that he thought the material might snap. She used her
teeth to pull on her lower lip and then stood defiantly in front of the
bookcase. Each small movement of her muscles seemed to diminish
Francesca's already diminutive form. Ben pushed himself up to his knees
and rose to his feet. It concerned him that Francesca didn't seem to
notice that he had risen to his feet so he approached her carefully and
then pulled her gently into his arms. "Whatever it is, you can tell me?"
The twisted knot of Francesca's robe dug into him as he held her and he
was surprised when she finally released her arms to reach them around him
and hold on tightly to him. 

 Sucking in a deep breath and letting it out in a shuddering breath,
Francesca turned a watery-eyed face up to Benton's gaze. "Sp Spi...
Spid...Spiders!" Francesca's voice shook even as her eyes slid sideways to
allow her to stare at the bookcase. 

 Ben followed her glazed-eyed stare and whispered, "Spiders?" 

 "Oh yea." The dark curls on her head shook vibrantly with the movement of
her head. "Millions of them." 

 "Francesca, I hardly think there are a million spiders under this cabin."


 "There are, I kn...KNOW there are." 

 Ben pulled her closer and led her over to the sofa. He carefully helped
her sit down and turned back to the bookcase. "How does it open?" 

 "You can't." 

 Ben knelt down beside her and put his hand gently on her shoulder. "You
had it permanently shut?" 

 "Not exactly." She gave him a wicked little grin. "Ray did." She giggled.
"Ray hates spiders even more than I do." 

 He stood up and walked over to the bookcase where he began running his
hands over the framework. He stopped momentarily when Francesca's frantic
"Ben!" reached his ears. He grinned, "They're only spiders, Francesca." He
turned back to roaming the wood with his hands and missed his wife's
astonished look directed straight at his back. 

 It took him no more than a few minutes to free the bookcase from the
wall. A soft creaking sound accompanied the movement of the solidly built
bookcase as Ben was finally able to release it from the wall. He glanced
quickly over his shoulder at Francesca and then slid the bookcase door
wide open. The entire bookcase structure rested on tiny, smooth rolling
wheels that moved freely making it easy for Ben to move the structure. A
soft clicking sound similar to the latch release sound on refrigerator
doors cracked through the silence when the doorway was almost open and a
light set high in the passage opening flared on flooding a deep staircase
that led down to a space below the cabin. Ben leaned towards the lighted
area and took a small step forward towards the enticing stairway in front
of him. 

 "Oh no, you don't!" Francesca yelped as she bounded off the sofa and ran
to grab Ben by the arm. "I'm not staying up here alone while you go down
into that spider pit. No way." She held on to Ben's with a shaking hand
and peered with widened eyes towards the entrance to the stairway. "There
are huge cobwebs down there." 

 Ben grinned gently before laying his right hand on her hair and
whispering, "I hardly think I'll be trapped in a spider's web." 

 Holding back the tears that threatened to course down her face, Francesca
kept her grip on Ben's arm hard and twisted the material of his robe in
her fingers. "I'm going down with you." 

 "You don't need to, you know." 

 "Yea, but you won't be satisfied until you know what's down there. It
would be a fish bobber for you. I know you; you wouldn't be able to ignore
it." 

 "Fish bobber?" 

 "Yea, you know. One of those things you put with a hook to catch fish." 

 "I rather think you must mean `lure'." He let his lips settle into a
nicely formed slight smile. 

 "Yea, that's what I mean, one of those things." Her eyes remained fixed
on the stairway opening. 

 "Is there a flashlight somewhere in the cabin Francesca?" 

 Francesca released her tight grip on his robe. She pulled herself away
and then went to rummage in the front closet. She returned with a battery
operated camping lantern. She gave Ben an extremely tremulous grin as she
handed it to him. "You go first." 

 Ben put out his hand and took the lantern handle securely into his grasp.
He gently grabbed Francesca's hand with his free hand and pulled her along
behind him as he stepped down onto the first step. 

 Francesca's tiny fingers dug into the fabric of the thick, terrycloth
robe covering Ben's arm as they stepped down the first step. The light
that had come on as the bookcase slid open suddenly popped off when their
combined weight settled on the first tread of the stairwell. She pressed
her face tightly against his arm and nearly hid her face in the cloth.
Holding tightly to his arm, she opened her mouth and hauled in a huge
amount of fresh air from the cabin's living room before clamping her lips
tautly across her teeth. She felt Ben's comforting hand close over her
fingers as he began the first step towards the second step on the stairway
leading down into the spider covered stairway area. She squinted her eyes
and moved her foot a scant inch forward. 

 Ben looked from right to left just inside the entryway and noted a cavity
high in the sidewall where a shadowed form set in the yellow incandescent
lighting. He reached up and pulled down a very heavy-duty flashlight that
he noted was not in the least bit dusty. He glanced down at the head of
curls pressed tightly against his arm and grinned. He began to take a step
forward knowing that she would move with him even though she was
dreadfully afraid of what lay below them. 

 "We're going down there. Hold on to my arm and remember to breathe." 

 "Yea. OK." Francesca whispered and tried to literally pull herself even
closer to her husband. She shuffled her feet a bit and tried not to look
around her. 

 Ben grinned and tilted his head towards the small person tightly clamped
to his side. "It might help, Chesca, if you remembered to lift your feet
as these stairs seem quite steep." The only answer he received was another
soft scuttling sound from her feet as she grabbed onto his arm so tightly
that he knew he soon would be losing feeling in the fingers of his arm.
"OK. Here we go, step 2." 

 The steps were set in a very normal declining angle so Ben concluded
quickly as their feet hit the second step that this wasn't a makeshift
sort of addition to the cabin. He swung the flashlight from side to side
and noted that though spider webs seemed to hang everywhere that the
stairway walls were free of the lacy spider web. Swinging the flashlight's
arc of light from side to side and up and down Ben noted that there seemed
to be small wooden dowels inserted at varying stages along the ceiling of
the descending stairway. He also noted that the steps they on which their
feet tread were shiny and clean. He tried to move down to the third step
and felt Chesca suddenly burying her face against his arm again. He looked
down towards her curly head and leaned over to whisper in her ear. "I see
14 more steps with no obstacles to impede us. Think you can go on? Should
I take you back upstairs?" 

 Her dark lashed eyes darted up to the shadowy face leaning towards her.
Chesca noted the eerie look the yellow flashlight cast over Ben's
features. Seeing the tilt of his head in the dim light made her draw her
head back from his arm in an effort to really see his face. She couldn't
quite make out those eyes of his but she could hear the intent sound of
his breathing. It was clear to her that he was enjoying this little
adventure immensely. She knew that she couldn't take that away from him so
she pulled slightly away from him and lowered her fingers from his arm
down to his hand. Enfolding his warm hand in both of her hands she laced
the fingers of her right hand through the fingers of his left hand and
moved a mere inch away from him. "No. We go down there together." His
fingers gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. 

 "Watch your step." He gave her a wide grin and turned the flashlight back
towards the stairwell. He used the flashlight to push a huge, lacelike
cobweb out of their way and heard Francesca's hissed out breath beside
him. 

 They descended the stairway tread by tread with Ben pushing aside cobwebs
as they moved. Ben continued to swing the light back and forth noting the
sturdiness of the structure alternating with quick movements to push
cobwebs out of their way. He cocked his head listening intently as they
stepped on each wood step. 

 "How many more steps?" Chesca's teeth hurt in her mouth as she spoke the
words and she realized that she had been clenching them tightly as they
made their descent. 

 "Four, then we'll be at the very bottom of the stairwell." 

 "Good!" 

 Ben took another step down and turned to assist Francesca through a newly
cleared space. They repeated the procedure three more times: swing light,
move cobweb and then step. Once they were on the bottom rung of the stair
Ben noted a light switch on the wall at shoulder height. He flicked it
with his finger and the bookcase above them slid closed at the top of the
stairs. Francesca jumped and frantically flung her arms around Ben. Ben
placed an arm protectively around Francesca and began surveying the room
before them with the aid of the yellow beam of the flashlight. 

 They were in a huge room strewn with boxes and what remained of the odds
and ends of someone's life. Most of the larger items were stacked
methodically against the walls. Several large crates that had once held
bulky items but that were not empty dominated one area of the room. A pile
of children's toys including the odd bicycle wheel and sled filled one
corner of the room. The floor near the children's toys was littered with
small items. A boy's prized kite lay on the top of the stack and a young
girl's doll sat regally in a beautifully made small wicker chair against
the wall. Again Ben noted the odd way that spider webs seemed to hang
around the room. He flashed the beam of light towards the ceiling and
again noted several wooden dowels about inch in diameter hanging from the
ceiling. 

 "The floor is spotless." Ben stated the fact quietly and let the
flashlight's beam encircle their feet. "In fact, I think it's been washed
recently." 

 That remark got Francesca's attention. Her eyes opened widely and she let
go of Ben's hand and stooped down to the floor. "It's as clean as Ma's
kitchen floor." She grinned and looked up at Ben. She stood up, gripped
the belt on her robe, and pulled it tightly around her again. 

 They stood together at the bottom of the stairwell surveying the oddly
dusty yet clean room before them. Francesca shivered a bit and turned back
to look back up the stairwell. "Oh my God!" the whispery sound of her
voice ripped through the room. "We're stuck down here." 

 With a grin Ben stepped back to the switch on the wall at the bottom of
the staircase and flicked it back to its resting position. No physical
sound emanated from the bookcase area above them yet the bookcase began
moving at the top of the stairs until it stood wide open again allowing
access or exit to the basement. Ben cocked his head towards Francesca and
gave her a toothy smile. "Neat, hmm?" 

 "Yea, if you like Nancy Drew books." Francesca suddenly grinned back,
"And I did when I was a kid, like Nancy Drew books I mean." 

 "Ah." 

 "What do you mean, `Ah'?" She placed her hands on her hips and gave him
her most demanding stare. 

 "Well, I'm not sure I meant anything by it." Ben turned slightly away
from her. 

 "You meant something by it; I know you and you meant it. Now give, what
were you thinking when you said it?" 

 "Thinking, I don't know that I was really thinking as such. You might
refer to it more as a flash of thought, a fleeting glimpse...a..." 

 "Ben, just tell me. OK." She watched his face become a slight shade of
red discernible even in the yellow glow of the flashlight. "Wait a minute.
Don't tell me...you read them too?" 

 He shrugged his shoulders and nearly whispered, "Well, not precisely, no.
I can't say that I ever read Nancy Drew, though I am aware of the lure
that type of fiction can hold for young females." 

 She narrowed her eyes at him once more, and then she grinned and laughed,
"Closet Hardy Boy's reader were you?" Her grin took on an even wider show
of her teeth as she watched him crack his neck a bit, close his eyes
quickly and look at her with wide eyes. "You did. Didn't you." The
whispering sound of her voice took on a decidedly soft laughing sound.
"How did you get that past your grandmother's nose?" 

 "I didn't hide things from my grandmother, Chesca. Well, that is, not
precisely. Well, there was that one time. Though to be more precise I was
fifteen at the time and..." 

 "Got caught reading something you shouldn't have Ben?" Francesca talked
and kept her eyes roving the room around them while darting her glances
back and forth to Ben as she talked. "Enjoyed it did you?" 

 "Francesca!" Ben's shoulders dropped and his head tilted again, "I got
quite the lecture from my father not to mention the reprimand I received
from my grandfather." 

 Her feminine peel of laughter filled the room around them and echoed back
around them as sounds in storage basements often do. "Scandalized them did
you?" 

 Ben turned towards the back section of the basement and moved away from
Francesca cocking and tilting his head as he moved. His voice drifted
softly back to her as he walked. "I wouldn't exactly say `scandalized'
would be the term." He put out a hand to touch part of the wall in front
of him as he talked. "Actually, there were other much more revealing
pieces of literature in my grandparent's library. There were several
rather nicely lithographed books." He bent down towards the wall. 

 Francesca walked over to him quickly searching out the walls surrounding
them with her eyes. She stopped just behind him and laid her hand on his
shoulder. She watched his fingers tracing the odd bulge on the wall. She
leaned in closer and said, "So, which one did you like best; the Hardy
Boys book or the magazine?" 

 Ben jerked his shoulders a bit and turned his head back towards her
slightly. "The Secret of the Old Mill and page 31." Ben seemed to freeze
in place, as he seemed to suddenly realize what he had said. "Oh dear." 

 Francesca grinned as she put her hand out to touch the wall in front of
them. "Page 31 hmmm." She grinned again. "Don't worry, I won't tell Ray."
Her fingers softly traced the wall some more. She leaned over a bit more
and pressed harder. "I think if we push right here..." 

 The wall suddenly opened up in front them and Ben actually fell forward
into the opening with Francesca falling down on top of him. A bright,
startlingly bright light flooded the opening and they lay there with their
mouths open, too startled to move. 

 "Oh dear." Ben said as he lay on the floor starring into the exposed room
before them. He looked down towards his side quickly and noticed that
Francesca was lying totally speechless next to him. The two of them lay in
a sprawled heap with Ben's arm protectively holding Francesca to his side.
They lay on their stomachs with their heads tilted up and their mouths
literally hanging open. 

 Across the spans of the beautiful carpeting that began exactly at the
open door sill stood a man with a dusting cloth in his hand and spray can
of furniture polish in the other. Incongruously, he had slung around his
chest a leather strap running from his shoulder across his stomach and
then disappeared behind his back. It was obvious that the strap held a
rifle in place as the butt end and barrel end could be seen sticking out
behind his body. The man wore a pair of black jeans and a blue sweater
with a snowflake pattern on it. He stood there in his stockinged feet with
a knitted cap on his head holding the cleaning utensils still in mid-air. 

 From their position of the floor, the man was silhouetted against the
light hung high on the ceiling behind the man, as he stood poised over a
huge, wooden desk. There was little to see of the man's features with the
light blinding them from their awkward position on the floor. Francesca
recovered her composure first and with a quick reassuring hand to her
husband's shoulder she rolled away from him. They rose to their feet
together and stood shoulder to shoulder in the doorway. It was the
plunking sounds of the metal furniture polish container hitting the
surface of the beautifully made desk that finally broke the stillness of
the room. 

 Ben put his arm around Francesca and tried to push her behind him.
Francesca stubbornly stepped out of the circle of Ben's protective hold
and advanced on the man in the room. It was the sound of Francesca's voice
that stopped Ben from any more attempts at protecting her. He crossed his
arms and remained by the door and listened to Francesca's tirade with a
grin. 

 "Jimmie! Just what do you think you're doing? How did you get in here?
Why haven't you ever told me about this room? You could have killed a
person from fright you know." She advanced across the room rapidly until
she stood right in front of the man with the rifle and waved her finger
under his nose. "How dare you? Is this or isn't this my property?" She
looked down at his feet and grimaced. "Where are your boots? You do have
boots, don't you?" She looked quickly around the room then pushed up on
her toes and looked the man directly in the eyes. "How did you get in
here?" She put her hands on her small hips and began tapping a small foot
on the carpeted floor. 

 The man backed up a step or two and glanced over at Ben before answering
here. "This your husband, Snowflake?" The man grinned and pulled Francesca
into a hug. Francesca giggled but smacked the man named Jimmie smartly on
the face with a playful slap. 

 "Yes, Benton Fraser meet Jimmie McCardle. Don't change the subject. What
is all this? Is this a secret lard?" Francesca's eyes grew wide and
excited. She looked around the room and swung her arm wide as she took in
all the settings of very rich crime lord. "Tell me, did my Uncle V do
awful things here?" She grinned and turned to Ben and motioned him over.
"Jimmie's uncle was the caretaker for years. It's going to be Jimmie's job
soon. And he better spill his guts right now. I don't care if he did put
goldfish down horrid cousin Ricardo's pants." 

 Ben shook his head and grinned at Jimmie and offered to shake his hand
recognizing a companion in well versed in Francesca talk. Ben gently
pulled Francesca away from Jimmie and whispered in her ear, "Snowflake?" 

 Francesca reached up and grabbed Jimmie by the ear, "I thought I told you
not to use that name, didn't I?" She let go of the offending ear and
stepped back right into her husband's arms. 

 Jimmie grinned over her head and nodded at Ben. The two men then glanced
down at Francesca and shared a moment of complete accord as they watched
her grinning at Jimmie. "Well, I never did actually promise Snowflake." 

 Ben grinned. "However did you avoid that?" 

 Jimmie chuckled. "I just didn't answer her. Really drove her nuts." 

 Pulling herself out of Ben's arms, Francesca stood a step or two away
from her companions and stared at them. "Jimmie, I want answers and now!"
Ben was surprised when he saw her actually stamp her little foot on the
floor though it lost some authoritative motion on the soundless carpeting.


 Ben took the time to take in the entire room. He was impressed. The walls
were covered in richly embossed wallpaper of the kind he had seen in some
of the oldest buildings in Toronto on one of the few visits he had made
there. The rug was deep green and thick and plush. Along one wall was a
row of dark oak filing cabinets. The major portion of the room was filled
with several high-back, deep red, leather wingback chairs. The desk Jimmie
had been cleaning was of the finest dark-oak wood and the room smelled
clean and fresh. But Ben was intrigued by the fact that he saw now
entrance other than the door that he and Francesca had entered through;
well, actually fallen through to be precise. 

 Jimmie stood quietly watching Francesca's new husband and admired the way
the man seemed to take in every inch of the room. He casually walked over
to one of the wingback chairs took off his rifle and sat down on the soft,
well-kept leather. He put his hand on the barrel of his rifle as it stood
against the arm of his chair and then he grinned again as Francesca took
the opportunity to walk over and stand over him glaring, though the site
of her standing before him in her tightly belted robe took the sting out
of the image. "Pull up a chair Snowflake. It's a long story." 

 "It better be good." Francesca said as she grabbed the back of the
nearest chair, set it in front of Jimmie and sat down tucking her legs
underneath her. 

 There was nothing left for Ben to do but pull up a chair and settle there
waiting. He felt rather ridiculous sitting there in his robe waiting for
the other man to speak, but he had an idea it was going to a tale he
wanted to hear. 

 "I'm waiting." Francesca said and settled back in her chair. 

 Jimmie McCardle was no fool where Francesca Vecchio was concerned. He'd
been well aware since childhood that she kept certain parts of her
personality completely hidden from people, had known it since they were
kids roaming the grounds together. His fingers played up and down the
barrel of his rifle. He crossed his legs and made himself comfortable in
the high-backed leather chair as he eyed his `Snowflake'. He grinned as he
thought of the first time he had called her that and she'd punched him
right in the eye. 

 He turned his attention towards the new husband and began assessing the
man. He grinned. Most men he knew would be uncomfortable in the extreme to
be sitting in a chair across the room from a wife's childhood friend
wearing only a white, terrycloth robe. Certainly, the man's face was
flushed with rather a high-color of embarrassment, but there were no other
signs of discomfiture in the posture of the man. He held his shoulders in
a staunchly military set and though he had crossed his legs, his hands
didn't tug at the robe to command it to cover him. The robe just naturally
seemed to follow the flesh it covered as if ordered to do so. Jimmie also
liked the frank and assessing looks he was receiving from the man. `No,
shirker of duty here,' Jimmie thought and smiled again as he noted the
fierce protective glint in the man's eyes as he took a quick glance at his
wife. `So, it looked like the information he had received from his friends
had been right. Little Francesca Vecchio had finally found `her' man.' 

 "It's a long story." Jimmie said with a grin at the man he hoped to call
Ben soon. 

 "We appear to have the time." Benton made the comment quietly and laid
his left hand on the arm of his chair easily in reach of the arm of
Francesca's chair; possessiveness implied but not physically taken in
hand. 

 With a quick glance to Francesca, Jimmie began recounting the story of
her `Uncle V' and his own Uncle J'. "I nearly grew up around here I was
here so often. I spent every spare minute I could beg from my parents to
be up here. So I've known Snowflake here since she about 4 or 5 years old.
My Uncle J was her Uncle V's driver for nearly 25 years before the two men
moved up here. Uncle James has stayed on as caretaker ever since
Snowflake's uncle died. When he got to old to actually come over here to
the cabin, I took over. He always called it the `Family Responsibility'
and that I've never figured out. I do know that they two men had other
friends who visited them from time to time and I'd be told to stay away
when those men were around. There used to be another cabin up on the hill
where Francesca's uncle had his guests stay but that's long since been
torn down on the instructions he left in the will. I always knew that
other people came here too, but I didn't find out about this room until
your brother, Ray was about 9." 

 "And boy was he fat at 9, you should have seen him." Francesca giggled.
She turned in her chair and grinned. "He used to eat everything in sight."
She smirked. "He really thinned down at 10, but by then everyone teased
him." 

 "My Uncle didn't tell me about this room until I was 16, but by then I
already had an idea that it was here. Your uncle, Francesca, never had his
`friends' here when you were here. Everyone knew there would be
`consequences' if you know what I mean, if his friends approached any of
the kids. And don't worry, Ben. May I call you that?" 

 Ben just nodded his head back at Jimmie and remained unmoving as he
waited for Jimmie to continue. 

 "Eventually a pattern developed... you kids would be here for a few weeks
in the winter and a month in summer. During those periods of time, no one
came here uninvited or unescorted. That is until the summer Ray turned 11.
That's the summer Ray nearly found out about the whole thing." Jimmie
paused and crossed his own legs and leaned back into the chair. "Your
Uncle V always knew what we were all up to...watched us like a hawk
through the eyes of my Uncle and the gardeners he retained. The old man
never seemed to be following us yet he always knew what pranks we were up
to around here. Anyway, there was some kind of emergency and Snowflake's
Uncle knew Ray had been sneaking downstairs to wander around. He couldn't
afford to have one of us get `involved' as my uncle would say. So he and
my uncle got together and put up the webs. Everyone knew that Ray wasn't
found of crawly things. So the two old men had electrically controlled
rods hung in various places on the steps and on the ceiling of the
storeroom area down here. With a click of the button at any of three
locations the webs can be dropped, rolled up and pulled up and out of the
way. Not too effective on adults, but works like a charm on kids,
specially in the dark. " 

 "I don't remember this basement Jimmie." Francesca eyed him accusingly. 

 "Ray found out about the outer room by accident. It was this room your
Uncle V wanted to keep from you. When Ray wandered down here one night
that summer he was 11, those two old men set the webs in place. I didn't
see it, but I heard all about Ray running screaming back up into the
house." 

 "And after all this time, you're here because?" Francesca's eyes narrowed
and glinted at Jimmie. 

 "My Uncle asked me to do this. It's that simple. It was the least I could
promise him for all he's done for me." 

 Francesca slid forward in her chair and both men knew she was about to do
battle. Ben moved sideways in his own chair and leaned over to lay a hand
gently on her shoulder. "Leave it." 

 Dark curly hair bounced and swayed as she turned her huge eyes to her
husband's face. She acquiesced far too easily, which made Jimmie extremely
uneasy. 

 "Anyway," Jimmie continued with a lopsided grin. "There's nothing down
here but the furniture. The file cabinets are empty and so is the desk." 

 Benton Fraser was no one's fool. He looked slowly around the room and
noted a softly cooling breeze coming into the room from somewhere near the
file cabinets. He stared pointedly at the area for a moment. "Seal it." 

 Francesca swung her head quickly from one man to the other and stilled
her tongue though she desperately wanted to voice her frustration. She
trusted both of these men. They knew it and so did she, so why question
them? 

 Jimmie rose from his chair and walked over to the wall near the
cabinets... "I'd almost forgotten about that entrance. It's under bushes
outside and covered with a deep pocket of snow right now." He turned back
to Ben. "There's another exit out in the storeroom area...but you can't
get to that easily either. That exit leads to a tunnel that opens up about
100 feet from here. That's the way I come in to clean here." 

 The two men quietly looked at each other and nodded again. Francesca felt
totally frustrated and said in a gritted whisper, "What is this? You both
have artesian minds?" She looked angrily at both men and then smiled. 

 Jimmie laughed. "Still using the wrong words Snowflake." 

 Francesca walked over and thwacked him on the arm. "You two talk over
what you want, I'm going up stairs... All of this has made me hungry. You
want to eat, you come upstairs." 

 She turned with an authority she didn't really feel and bounced on bare
feet out the door and sailed happily up the basement stairs. 

 Jimmie grinned at Ben. "She's something, isn't she?" 

 Ben just grinned right back.  

 He wiped his snow-laden shoes off on the welcome mat by the doorsill. He
shook his shoulders and made a deep "burring" sound before opening the
front door and slamming it shut behind him. Ray lifted his head and
grinned, as he smelled the obvious cooking odors coming down the hall from
the kitchen. He began unbutton his winter overcoat. It was as he was
hanging his coat up on the hall coat rack that he saw the little size 4
shoes, extra wide, tucked up against the bottom step of the staircase. He
finished draping his coat on the rack and turned around and knelt in front
of those shoes. 

 "Hey there guy. What's up?" Ray's beautiful green eyes matched direct
look for look with the little boy sitting on the stairs. 

 Chase Fraser's curly head barely moved as the boy's face began to shape
into a happy grin look. "Uncle Ray. I've been waiting." 

 "Waiting huh...sounds tiring." 

 "It is, but Dad says if something is important enough one has to learn
how to wait pa...patien... quietly." 

 "And you were waiting because?" 

 "You promised you would help me email my Mom. Remember?" 

 Ray leaned over and grabbed the little boy up into his arms and tickled
him. "Yes, I did promise. We'll do that right after diner." Chase threw
his arms around his uncle's neck and hugged him as Ray strode with long
strides down the hall towards the kitchen. 

 Rosa turned away from the sink when she heard Ray coming down the hall
and wiped her hands on her dishtowel. She was delighted to see Chase
smiling and doing something other than sit at the bottom of the steps in
the front hall. The smile on the little boy's face as he looked adoringly
up at her Raymondo warmed her heart. She wondered what Ray and Bree's
children would look like if they married; she prayed every night to the
good God in heaven for that to happen. 

 She had spent most of the day either physically removing the little boy
from that position or using bold distractions to get the boy away from the
front door. She had asked him once why he was sitting there and had just
looked up at her with the same look she had seen hundreds of times in his
father's eyes and remained quiet. Rosa had even conspired with Chase's
other grandmother, Marie, to no avail. Oh, the boy would move... would get
away from the steps and do whatever minor chore or errand one of his
grandmothers would send him to do, but right after completing each thing
he had returned resolutely to his station at the bottom of the steps.
Well, it seemed Chase had found what he was waiting for and for that Rosa
was thankful. She stepped over to the refrigerator and opened the door. 

 Ray grinned at his mother and set the little boy down feet first onto a
kitchen chair and let the little boy lean against him. "Smells good, Ma.
When do we eat?" 

 "We eat when the chicken is done. Maria and Tony will be home soon. They
took the children shopping." She rolled her eyes upwards and down towards
the top of Chase's little curly head. 

 "I get it... more secrets." 

 Chase pulled away from Ray and looked up directly at his face. "I'm not
little anymore Uncle Ray." 

 "Well, last time I checked you hadn't made the big old 4 yet. How many
days do you have to wait?" 

 Chase stopped a moment, a mutinous look in his eye. He raised a hand and
seemed to be inspecting his fingers. "Seven. Mom and Dad will be home
before that, Mom told me so." 

 "She did." 

 "Yep." The boy flashed a toothy grin at his uncle. 

 "Language little Fraser... you're Dad is going to think we're corrupting
you." 

 "Corrupting?" The little boy's gray eyes flashed and turned darker. 

 Ray looked down into those eyes and was sure he could see the wheels
turning in that little head. `Oh no... another dictionary exploration on
the way... kid's Fraser's all right.' He leaned closer to the little boy's
head and whispered, "We'll email your Ma right after diner." 

 "Just like you promised!" Chase gave Ray a quick hug and then jumped down
of the chair and went charging out of the room with feet impacting loudly
on the hall floor. 

 "Where's he going?" Ray leaned back and watched the little boy's frame
disappear into the doorway of his parent's room. 

 "He's probably going to tell Dief and Wallace that they can relax now." 

 "They're in Ben's room?" 

 "Those two have been sitting guard in front of the computer." 

 Ray sank down onto the chair Chase had just jumped from and grinned.
"I'll bet Dief can read." 

 Rosa gave an impolite snort and returned to her cooking. Ray leaned back
in his chair and let the aroma of his mother's Italian cooking waft
dizzily around him. 

 A couple of hours later, Ray showed Chase which button hit on his parents
computer keyboard and sat back while the little guy sent off his email.
The boy turned and gave him a satisfied smile and then he jumped down and
ran whooping from the room... "Grandma. Uncle Ray showed me how to email
my MOM!" 

 Ray turned to the keyboard and started an email of his own. 

 Francesca sat back in her chair and watched Ben and Jimmie dig into their
meals. She had snitched bits and pieces of her own cooking as she had made
the meal fulfilling her food craving. She had gone into their bedroom and
pulled on a green sweat suit so she wouldn't be sitting around in her
belted robe. When the two men had come upstairs, Ben had hurried off and
returned a few minutes later wearing a sweat suit of his own. Now she was
sitting in her own kitchen and was happy to be watching the two men eat. 

 "So, what is it you want sealed Ben?" She grinned as she pictured Ben
ordering Jimmie to seal the entries into the basement. 

 Two sets of male eyes exchanged glances then looked back at Francesca
while they desperately tried to finish chewing. 

 She grinned... "Gotcha. Don't talk over my head again guys. Sometimes
revenge is sweet." She picked up her plate and waltzed with a small sash
shay in her gait to the sink. 

 Jimmie finished his mouthful and quickly drank a gulp of liquid out of
his cup. He picked up his napkin and then pushed back his chair and rose.
"Thanks Snowflake. I'll be leaving now... er a... I'll leave the same
way... that I uh... that I came in if that's OK..." 

 Francesca never turned around but the sound of her giggling filled the
room. Ben grinned. "She does do that to one, doesn't she?" Jimmie looked
quizzically down at Ben who replied. "She quite catches one off guard,
causing the swollen tongue effect in one's mouth. Or as I have heard her
put it... `One's foot in one's mouth' as I believe she is constantly
telling Ray." 

 Jimmie gracefully nodded and quietly left the dining area. When he
reached the open bookcase he turned with a grin and winked at Ben. He
walked around the bookcase door and into the opening to the basement and
began pulling it shut behind him. The words, "Bye, Snowflake" drifted out
of the opening as he pulled the bookcase door shut. 

 Francesca spluttered and whirled around thinking she would see Jimmie
standing in the living room set off from the kitchen. "Well, that
little... He always did have to get the last word." She returned to the
table and stood next to Ben. 

 He reached out and grabbed her and pulled her into his lap making sure
her mouth was on a level he could reach with his own. He kissed her once.
He kissed her twice and then mumbled, "You didn't really want him to stay,
did you?" He pushed the fingers of his right hand up into the hair at the
back of her head and pulled her face tightly into proximity with his own.
"Did you?" He kissed her knowing full well that he was making her feel as
breathless as he was feeling himself. He kissed her again and let his lips
wander from her lips to her eyes and over the bridge of her cute nose and
back to her lips again. "Can't answer, can you?" The sound of Francesca's
laughter filled the cabin.  

 Rosa Vecchio sat with her needlework in hand and watched Ray as he sat in
the most comfortable chair near the television. She turned back to watch
the television screen. Casually and with the deft verbal tone of a long
time manipulator she merely made the comment, "So, did you notice anything
different about Chase today?" She continued to stitch making a repair on a
pair of small leggings that belonged to one of Maria's children. 

 Ray turned his head towards her and sat still in his chair with a
stillness that would nearly match that of a Brittany spaniel on point
while hunting. He licked his lips and wondered if he had missed something
monumental. He thoughts ran feverishly over the events of the evening
since he had returned home. Nothing glaringly different seemed to strike
clearly in his thoughts and he worried. "Ma, are you saying there's
something I missed. Fraser and Franny left that boy here in my care..." 

 "Our care dear..." 

 "OK, I'll give you that point. Our care... What'd I miss?" 

 "He's been paying attention to Maria's kids again. He's not calling
Benton his papa." 

 "Oh that..." Ray relaxed visibly and turned back to his show. "That's
just a phase. All kids do things like that." 

 She sighed. "Just wait. When you have little ones of your own, an event
like this will stab through your heart." 

 Ray slid down in his chair... now he knew where she was going. This was
the first of the `not so subtle' hints about Bree. The image of Bree's
quick smile and beautiful long, blonde hair coupled with a memory of her
soft laughter went straight from Ray's brain to his heart. He sat up a
little straighter in his chair and grinned. He found himself suddenly
wondering how many of their kids might have blonde hair. He grinned again.
"Don't worry Ma, Chase won't say the word `Dad' to Fraser's face. The
minute the Mountie walks back in that door the kid will be all over him
yelling, Papa." 

 Rosa, who had her eyes trained on her needlework didn't look at Ray, but
she did grin. 

 Francesca opened the laptop computer she had set up on the dresser and
connected to the room's phone line and booted it up. She felt Ben's arms
wrap around her and stepped sideways to turn in his embrace. She felt the
coolness of his skin under her fingers as she kicked away her sweatpants
that had somehow landed right in front of the dresser as they had made
their impassioned slow dancing waltz from the kitchen to the bedroom after
Ben had kissed her nearly senseless when they had been left alone. She was
very glad Jimmie had retreated back down through the basement entrance so
quickly, very glad indeed. 

 Ben's eyes watched the computer boot up and snuggled closer to his wife.
He reached around her and opened their Internet connection. He kissed
Francesca holding her close to him and then turned her back towards the
computer. He opened their email program and laughed when he saw an email
from Chase and one from Ray. He felt her move quickly as she watched the
screen and then quickly turn her face towards his. "He's ours now," she
whispered. 

 He ran his hand over her slightly rounded abdomen and returned his own
whisper rather hoarsely, "No, they are ours... " 

 Together they read Chase's email. They read about his day and about his
dog. They read about Grandma Vecchio and Grandmere. He wrote about how
much he missed them and about how much he couldn't wait to give his mother
a hug. But, most of all they read between the lines about the little boy's
devotion to his uncle Ray. Chase wrote them all about the serious
discussion he had had with uncle Ray about the `sword' incident at the
wedding reception. Chase truly apologized to Ben and told Ben in no
uncertain terms that he was ready for Ben's punishment when he got home,
even if it might interfere with his upcoming birthday. They both chuckled
over that last line and then read the little boy's goodbye. 

 Ben stepped back and laid a gentle hand on Francesca's shoulder. "You
send the reply." He was rewarded with a bright smile from Francesca and a
nod of the head as she began typing. Ben turned back towards the very
rumpled bed. He walked over and began straightening the sheets and
plumping the pillows. He held her pillow up to his face and inhaled the
sweet and tangy lemon scent of her shampoo deeply into his lungs. The
scent filled his nostrils and brought images of her sweet face staring up
at him as he lay over her minutes ago to his brain which he realized was
quickly being taken over by hundreds of images of her smiling at him
during other intimate encounters with her. 

 He gently laid the pillow back on the bed and turned to stare at the back
of his naked wife while she typed away on the computer. She took one hand
and flipped it through the hair at the base of her neck before completing
her email to Chase. She lifted her left shoulder and rolled her neck as
she opened the email from Ray. 

 Ben watched her shoulder's first tense and then relax as she read. He
watched both of her shoulders shake a bit as she read what must be a funny
note in the email. The muscles rippled up and down her back and she swayed
ever so slightly onto the balls of her feet; which in turn bunched the
muscles of her small, well-rounded gluteus maximus. Ben tilted his head to
the right and let his eyes wander up and down her form, stopping at all
the precise points of form where he spent time adoring her in as many ways
as he could imagine any time they were laid upon those very sheets he had
just straightened out. Quickly, he turned and looked over the bed from top
to bottom and back to Francesca. He took a few, very quiet steps towards
her and leaned over to breathe in her ear. 

 At the first stirring of Ben's breath on her ear, Francesca pulled her
head away. Ben followed her and sent another soft, warm draft of air along
her neck through his mouth and nose. She leaned back towards him and
sighed contently. She reached out with nearly shaking fingers and closed
their Internet connection. Ben's arms snaked around her and drew her
backwards towards the bed. They each walked backwards with his face
pressed against the side of her neck as he kissed her and entreated her
without words to be with him. When the hard form of the bed finally met
the backs of his legs he let himself fall with Francesca held securely in
his arms. When they bounced on the bed Ben uttered a soft `ufft' and
Francesca giggled and rolled over in his temporarily relaxed arms to face
him. 

 "Did I hurt you?" She ran her hands all over his pectoral muscles and
grinned down at him. 

 "You could never do that..." He grinned and pulled her hands off his
chest. He wrapped his arms securely around her and rolled sideways with
her until he was lying over her naked form pressed tightly to him. 

 She turned her head to the side and ran small, delicate kisses over his
shoulder and up the side of his neck. "Don't ever let me go? OK?" She said
before thrusting her body even closer to him. "Never. Promise?" 

 Ben looked down in wonderment his eyes turning darker by the second. He
was loved and he knew it. It still amazed him that someone inside a body
so small could be so fierce and loving. She knew all about Victoria; every
last sordid detail and yet, here she was lying in his arms and begging him
to stay there forever. He used his right knee and nudged her legs apart.
She wrapped her limbs around him and waited with her mouth grinning at
him. As he sank down onto and into her he voiced his answer, "Never. I
promise."  

 The room was filled with the sound of quick, short intakes of breath and
the rustling of sheets as their two bodies rolled to the right then the
left and back again. The beautiful pale blue sheet was wrapped tightly
around his ankles as he kept his hips well and truly joined to her. Her
arms slid up and down his back and neck... never staying in one place long
enough to gather any residual heat from his body but leaving him burning
with the feeling of the heat pouring forth from every cell of her exposed
skin. She ran her left foot up and down his calf before raising it and
planting it firmly across his buttocks where she let the heel of her foot
rock back and forth. He rose up slightly on his left arm and just stared
down at her with his lips open and swollen and reddened from their
kissing. He felt the sweat coursing down his face and grinned down at her
closed eyes with their eyelashes fluttering over her lower lids before
dropping his mouth back to hers. He'd promised her `he would never leave
her' and he was going to prove it; again and again for the rest of their
lives. 

 The last burst of energy flew through them both quickly like a lightening
bolt and they collapsed into each other. He rolled quickly off to the side
of her and lay there with one arm draped possessively over her abdomen and
it's early pregnancy swelling. He watched the slight rise and fall of her
body as she began to regain control of her breathing. He watched his hand
rise and fall with each of her breaths and began to feel mesmerized by the
movement. 

 Her hand reached up and gently coaxed his face towards her. "Pretty
incredible, hmm...and I don't mean the sex, which on a scale of 1 to ...
was definitely a..." She didn't get to voice her answer as he used his
lips to silence her. 

 "Very..." kiss. "Incredible..." kiss. He licked away at her lower lip
before kissing her again never removing his hand from her abdomen. 

 "Ben..." she gasped for breath and he kissed her again. "Ben... really I"
He kissed her again. She raised a hand and gently put her fingers over his
lips. "About the baby..." Her eyes sparkled and she kept her fingers in
place over his mouth. "There's a little video you need to see." 

 He pulled back abruptly... "I was too rough, wasn't I? I knew it...but I
wanted to show you - forever." He removed his hand from her abdomen like
it had been hit with a hot poker. 

 She grabbed his hand and placed it firmly back over her. "Listen...slow
that brain of yours down. Nothing's wrong. Everything's fine." She watched
his eyes look doubtfully at her. "OK. That's it." She pushed away and sat
up and firmly grabbed his hand and began to pull him off the bed towards a
cozy chair under the window. 

 She forced him into and turned around to run to one of her dresser
drawers. She pulled out a videotape and a piece of paper. She walked
calmly over to the cabinet hiding her private little TV/VCR combo and
inserted the tape. Ben's chair was positioned very closed to the unit so
he had quite an excellent view as the video began to play when Francesca
knelt on the floor beside him and hit the play button on her controller. 

 Ben watched the screen closely and blinked. Then he blinked again. He
turned his head towards Francesca with his mouth slightly agape. 

 She grinned before saying, "Yea. That is what it looks like. Two not one,
Mr. Fraser." 

 The room was suddenly filled with the sounds similar to the same war
whoop that Ben had let out at the Vecchio home when he'd found out he was
to be a father. 

 In the shadows across the room, with his back to them and his Stetson
cocked down over his eyes, Robert Fraser grinned. 

 Francesca leaned into Ben's chair a little bit and gently laid the piece
of paper she had removed from her dresser drawer on top of Ben's hand.
"Look." 

 Ben dropped his eyes and stared. The little piece of paper had a date on
it and then statistics. He read data on the size of both miniscule twins.
His jaw shook and he turned to look at his petite little wife. "They're so
small." 

 Francesca let out a deep-throated grunt and touched his shoulder. "They
aren't gong to be that small for long. I'm going to have to give up my
regular clothes when we get home. But I'm not buying maternity...just
larger sizes...for now..." 

 Ben looked over her shoulder at the rumpled bed. Francesca watched the
direction of his eyes and stood. She removed the little piece of paper
from his hands and set it and the TV controller down on the TV cabinet.
She then stood directly in front of Ben and climbed right into his lap
where she curled up and ran a finger down his neck. "Don't even go there.
That was the first thing I asked the doctor. For now, it's not a
problem... OK." She used her thumb and traced his jaw line. "I'm healthy.
The twins are healthy. Let's not ask for more trouble OK?" 

 Ben's brain finally stepped out of slow hyper drive and encircled her
within his arms. Then he rested his head against the top of hers and
pulled her even closer against him. He relaxed his hold on her when he
felt her turn just so slightly to snuggle against him as if she wanted to
crawl right inside his skin. He leaned back into the chair with a very
contented sigh. 

 The burgeoning winter wind played over the small hills outside the cabin.
Snowflakes were beginning to cover the area in a new layer of snow. The
man who waited in the tent above the cabin pulled his sleeping bag closer
around him. He was glad he'd taken the time to put evergreen boughs around
and nearly over his tent. They not only helped him keep out of view but
now they were providing a windbreak from the biting wind. He'd been
watching the cabin for hours again. He had sighed when the lights in the
cabin went out and settled down to wait an hour to be sure they were
asleep and finally do some investigating around the area. The new falling
snow was just what he needed to keep his presence hidden for the moment.
He prided himself on his work; indeed, took great pains to do the best job
he could. Once he could get a closer look around the cabin area, he'd have
a better idea of just what needed to be done to complete his mission. 

 An hour later, the man slowly rolled out of his sleeping bag, shook
himself and grabbed his flashlight and the strap of his rifle that had
been gone over and over as he sat waiting and watching the cabin during
the long daylight hours. He rose and pulled back the tent door to reveal a
beautiful world of snow at his door with snowflakes still falling thickly
under a nearly moonless night sky. He grinned; this was just what he
needed to scout out the area. He glanced down at his white parka and
matching pants and grinned. 

 He moved out slowly, picking his way with care down the hill staying out
the open areas. It took him half an hour to work his way down so that he
was standing within 20 yards of the cabins front porch. He took his time
and walked around the cabin looking over its vulnerabilities. When he came
around to the front of the cabin, he stood and looked down at Francesca's
little car. He walked over to the car and took his gloves off. He knelt by
each of the tires in turn and let the air out of two of them. He stood up
and listened to the wind a moment then he headed straight for the left
front corner of the cabin. He reached up and instead of cutting the phone
line he grabbed it with one gloved hand and pulled as hard as he could
until he was sure he had dislodged it from its connections. Then he turned
around and looked the area over. He grinned when he saw a fairly large
tree branch lying in the snow not far away. He retrieved the branch and
placed it strategically on the ground near the phone wire. He had no doubt
that anyone investigating later would assume the branch had disconnected
the line. The next thing he did was check out the electric supply to the
cabin. He wasn't about to try cutting or pulling on that... but, he hoped
to find some way of disturbing that connection as well. He couldn't find
one vulnerable point there. He grunted in vexation. 

 When he was done, he slipped his gloves on and set off back up the hill
towards his tent. He pulled another evergreen bow to the front of his tent
and settled it on the ground in front of his tent door before closing
himself in for the night. He settled in to a good sleep when he heard the
beginnings of sleet hitting the outer shell of his tent. 

 Morning came slowly over the cabin and the hill. Snow covered the area in
a thick new blanket making everything look pristine and new. Ice tendrils
made a thin layer of crystalline over the new fallen snow and dripped in
long tentacles of ice from branches. The watcher in the tent rose and
rolled over. He felt the cold through his blanket and knew he'd have to
light a small fire soon to warm a hot meal. The first thing he did though
was open his tent's door flap and use his binoculars to check out the
cabin. He ran the lenses over the cabin and surrounding area and then
grinned. The weight of the new fallen snow and ice had pulled down the
electric line to the cabin at the pole. He put away the binoculars and
grinned. He'd get out of this frozen place soon, very soon.  

 Francesca rolled over and stuck her head up out of the comforter that
covered them both. Soft light filtered into the room from the edges of the
bedroom curtains and crisp chilled air in the room struck her nose and
sent chills rolling down her body. She turned her head on her pillow and
noted Ben lying in peaceful bliss with his head turned towards her. She
felt the cold invading the inside of her nose and mouth and slid softly
away from her husband until she was able to get up gently from the bed.
She hugged her arms about her before grabbing at her jogging suit pants on
the chair near the bed. She quickly pulled them along with her sweatshirt
and slipped her feet into her slippers. 

 She tiptoed out of the bedroom and down the hall towards the kitchen. She
picked up the cabin's phone that she had had installed long before she
owned a cell phone. The phone was dead so she couldn't call Jimmie to
report the power outage. When Ben woke up, she would show him where the
generator was housed at the back of the cabin. She knew from long and
bitter experience that there wouldn't be any heat other than the fireplace
until the generator was started because the indicator on the thermostat
ran on a small electric charge and there would be no heat until the sensor
found it cold enough to turn on the furnace. She also knew that the blower
on the furnace wouldn't work until the electric was back. She shivered and
walked over to the fireplace and began to lay a new fire. Minutes later
she was sitting wrapped in her favorite sofa throw watching the flames
begin to grow inside the hearth. She drew her knees up on the sofa and hid
her toes inside the edges of the sofa throw and watched the light of the
early morning sun begin to creep in through the windows. Francesca had
spent many a winter weekend in the cabin during the years and knew that
winter storms often interrupted the cabin's electric. She was far from
worried about the phone and the electric outages. 

 Ben woke slowly and reached for Francesca. When he realized that she
wasn't lying beside him, he pictured her sitting in the kitchen snacking
on leftovers. He drew the covers back and felt the room's chill air rush
over his skin. Reaching over as he sat up, he grabbed his discarded sweat
suit and pulled it on quickly. When he stood up, he stretched and noted
the height of the sun coming in through the curtained window. He made his
way out of the bedroom and down the hall. When he entered the living room
area, he felt the heat of the fireplace beginning to warm the cabin up. 

 He spotted Francesca curled up and nearly asleep on the sofa under the
soft looking blanket she'd pulled over her. Her resourcefulness was
admirable and he wondered, yet again, just why Ray always wanted to
protect her to the point of being annoying about it. Ben was fully aware
of his own need to protect Francesca, but he was also fully aware of just
how determined the person inside that tiny body could be and how well she
could and did protect herself and those she loved. 

 He walked over and made sure the cloth over Francesca wasn't sliding down
off of her shoulders and then walked into the kitchen where he began
making breakfast. He rinsed a pan out in the sink and looked out at the
newly fallen snow outside the window. He stared at the new fallen snow for
several seconds then continued to clean the pan. 

 When he had completed cooking breakfast, Ben filled their plates and set
his on the table. He put a napkin and over his arm picked Francesca's up
and walked over to the sofa where he ran the plate lightly back and forth
under her nose with one hand and wafting the steam towards her with his
other hand. He was soon rewarded with a soft groan and stretch from
Francesca. She opened her eyes slowly. 

 "This is why I married you know..." She grinned. "I wanted someone else
to cook when I came to the cabin." 

 He leaned forward with a wide smile on his face. "Is there anything else
Madam wishes this morning?" 

 She flashed her teeth at him and grabbed at her plate, which he drew out
of her reach. He walked to the table holding out the plate and watched her
climb off the sofa to follow him. He set the plate down and held out her
chair for her. She sat down quickly and picked up her fork. He leaned over
to kiss her cheek and she drew away and grinned up at him. "Not till after
I eat." The words were hardly intelligible through her busily chewing
jaws. 

 Ben sat down next to her and watched in fascination as she quickly
gobbled up her plate and then began eyeing his plate. He pushed his plate
towards her and said, "Oh, by all means..." He rose and went to the stove.
"I'll just make myself another plate." 

 The food on Ben's plate disappeared long before he sat down with his own
freshly made meal. "I guess if you are eating for three, I better start
cooking for four." He grinned at her and tucked right into his own meal. 

 Dunston kept watch on the cabin was heartily dismayed to see smoke rising
from the cabin's chimney. "Oh well, they'd have to come out and get a
fresh supply of wood sometime soon." He watched the frosty air trail from
his lips as he talked to himself. He picked up the cup of coffee he had
poured and drank a sip.  

 Francesca threw her scarf around her neck covering the top of her
zippered parka and stepped out the cabin door pulling it shut behind her.
"I couldn't get Jimmie or his Uncle on the phone, I left them a message on
their machine. My Cell phone's battery is dying out though." 

 Ben stood out in the snow surveying their snowman from different angles
as he walked around it. Once or twice he glanced over towards the phone
line and towards the fallen branch lying underneath it. He looked up
towards Francesca as she stepped down off the porch and admired her in her
blue parka with its huge white fur around the hood. When she looked up at
him as she reached the bottom porch step, his heart lurched in his chest
for he thought she was the most beautiful person in his world. 

 Francesca let out one of her bubbly laughs and twirled about on her toes.
She sucked in a huge breath of cold air and laughed out loud. She grinned
when she noticed the ice auger lying at Ben's feet. "Thinking of trying
that out were you?" 

 "Maybe," Ben picked up the auger and laid it near the porch steps.
"Later..." he reached for her and enfolded her inside his arms. "You're so
beautiful." He kissed her cheek and then swung her around. "So, are you
going to show me around this winter wonderland of yours." 

 "Ours and yes, but today we stay near the cabin, I promised your
grandmother not to let you race all over the place the first day." 

 "And you keep your promises." 

 Francesca pulled back in the circle of his arms and thrust a small hand
towards him. "You know I do." She broke away from him and ran a few steps
away where she stooped over and grabbed some snow down under the thin
crust of snow. She balled it quickly and threw it directly at him and
bounced away towards the frozen lake with a lilting laugh escaping her
lips as she ran. 

 Ben stood still and watched the small patch of snow crumble down the
front of his parka. He watched her run ahead of him and followed her
slowly and steadily. 

 Francesca reached the first line of small trees and leaned on one and
looked out around it at Ben who was advancing slowly but surely towards
her. She moved away from the tree and stood out in the open, daring him to
throw snow at her. Ben just kept walking, slowly but surely towards her
with a lopsided grin on his face. Her heart began to race with the
anticipation of seeing him stop and gather up snow to throw at her. By the
time he was nearly standing next to her she was giggling unmercifully.
"You didn't throw a snowball!" 

 "No. Revenge will be mine." Ben grinned walked right past her leaving
Francesca with her hands suddenly on her hips and her mouth hanging open.
He didn't look back and kept walking towards the edge of the lake. 

 Ray groaned and opened one eye as the sun's winter rays began to filter
into his room. He turned his head and checked the alarm clock. `Dang, it
hasn't gone off yet.' He listened to the near silence of his home during
the wee morning hours and grinned. He could just faintly make out the
sounds of his mother down in the kitchen and the sound of the chair lift
being run on the stairs. He gave up and climbed slowly out of bed. If the
two matriarchs of the family were already moving, then he decided he
better join them even though he dearly wanted to fall back into his pillow
and sleep. He'd promised Franny to keep an eye on Fraser's Grandmother and
he hadn't exactly been doing that. "Time to pay the piper." He groaned out
loud and stood stretching by the bed. In a few minutes he had gathered his
clothing out of the closet and thrown his robe on and stumbled to his
bedroom door. He opened it and nearly stumbled over Dief asleep curled up
into a ball outside his door. He tiptoed around the sleeping animal and
walked on to the bathroom. 

 Rosa and Marie moved about the kitchen with broad smiles on their faces,
each taking on a task to make the breakfast preparation move smoothly
ahead. 

 "You said that to him?" Marie said as she moved her wheelchair around the
table placing out table settings, her frail old hands doing the job
slowly. 

 "I did. He understood me. It's about time that young man started
thinking." 

 Marie grinned. "She's such a nice young girl." 

 Rosa turned away from the stove and nodded. "Bree is a darling girl.
She's so patient too." She turned the flame up under the huge pot that
held the beginnings of the soup she planned to serve for lunch. "Bree..." 

 Ray entered the kitchen as his mother cut off her words abruptly. He
looked from one old woman to the other and lowered his eyelids and raised
his hands to the heavens, but he wisely kept silent as the two women
exchanged smiles.  

 The thin layer of ice covering the newest layer of fallen snow crunched
beneath Ben's feet as he continued to make his way slowly out towards the
edge of what Francesca had pointed to earlier as the lake. Despite the
fact that it was only mid-November, Ben could see that there was no open
water visible along the lakes edge. And, although Jimmie McCardle had
warned him that the area had been hard hit by an early cold snap, he had
further commented that the lake had only its first thin layers of ice
visible and was, therefore, treacherous. Ben, used as he was to the harsh
winters of his northern home had taken close note of Jimmie's comments
though he was barely aware of adding the details to what he was learning
about the cabin, it had been an instinctual survival response to his
surroundings. 

 Ben listened to Francesca's boots working through the snow as she
approached him. Her steps were suddenly silent and Ben turned around to
see her small form standing a short distance away from him. Her beautiful
blue parka with its white fur trimmed hood set off the dark curls escaping
the hoods confines. Her shadow trailed as a long and thin thing behind her
as the sun began its upward arc towards its midmorning position. He
watched her dark brown eyes squinting in the bright light. Every tree and
evergreen near them had tiny icicles hanging from their branches; some
made bright clinking noises in the slight winter breeze. Ben grinned as he
formed an image of her to keep in his memories before imagining her
standing on the porch of his father's cabin. He walked slowly forward and
extended his hand to her. "Walk with me." 

 As she took his outstretched hand, Francesca grinned up at him. "It is
beautiful out here, isn't it? Peaceful." 

 He stepped closer to her and put an arm around her shoulders. "Yes, it's
beautiful out here." His words were soft in her ears as his eyes swept her
face and fur hood. 

 Francesca felt herself blushing, felt the heat rising in her cheeks, as
he looked her face over intently. She leaned into him as they began
walking back towards the cabin. Francesca's thoughts were totally centered
on her husband as they walked. She grinned at the sight of their two
shadows forming a single two-headed form on the snow in front of them as
they walked. The path leading back to the cabin wound through the trees in
a careless `s' shape that was formed by a small grouping of hills that
nestled around the cabin and the lake. Francesca tightened her fingers
possessively inside the grip Benton had on her hand and pulled his hand up
to her face. Ben stopped walking and turned to pull her into his arms. 

 At that moment, high on a small hill overlooking the cabin on the
opposite side from his camp, Dunston lay in the snow. The sun glinted off
the side of his rifle as he used its telescoping sight to follow the
couple walking arm in arm in the snow. He grinned and sighted on a branch
heavily laden with long icicles that hung over the spot the couple would
be walking under. He sighted carefully and squeezed the trigger and waited
to see if the branch he knew he had hit dead center would fall on the
couple below. 

 The loud rifle report sounded through the crisp air followed by the sharp
cracking sound of the tree branch breaking followed by the sharp sounds of
ice breaking and falling to the ground. Ben grabbed Francesca by the
shoulder and flung them both down and out of the way of the falling ice
and branch. They rolled in the snow, narrowly avoiding being hit directly
by the branch or ice. 

 Dunston waited patiently from his supine position and watched to see if
the couple would move or get up. 

 Francesca heard the sharp snap and report of the branch, as it broke
nearly straight above their heads. She hardly had time to do more than let
out a short, sharp, high-pitched screech as Ben pulled her tightly to him
and dropped and rolled with her into the snowy path. Small chards of ice
and crystalline snow fell over them as Ben rolled them out of the way of
the falling branch. His strong arm held her pinned to his side as they lay
gasping for breath in the cold morning air. Frantically Chesca tried to
get her hands free and pull out her cell phone from the depths of her side
pocket. She wriggled and moved within the confines of Ben's arm. 

 "Shhh." Ben laid his head close to her and whispered into her ear.
"Shhh." 

 But Francesca was frightened and tried pulling away mumbling over and
over, "That was a gunshot, that was a gunshot..." It wasn't until Ben
increased pressure of his hold on her and kissed her cheek that she began
to calm down. 

 "Stay still Chesca." 

 She looked over into his darkened eyes and nodded, "Yea, sure...I can do
that...." And even though the sun was beginning to reach high overhead and
the temperature was beginning to rise around them Francesca's teeth began
chattering. "Tell me that wasn't a gunshot...it wasn't, was it?" 

 "Unfortunately, I can't tell you that." 

 "Just let me get my phone out..." 

 Ben nodded and loosened his hold on her just enough to let her pull the
phone out of her pocket. He watched and waited while she dialed Jimmie
McCardle's number. Seconds went by before he saw the recognition in her
eyes that meant the phone call was going through. He watched her listen
intently before she began talking into the phone. "Jimmie, its Snowflake.
Ben and I need your help. There's someone with a gun up here and we've
been shot at..." She closed her phone with a decided snap and looked
directly into Ben's eyes. "I got the damned answering machine..." She took
in a great gulp of air and continued, "And I think my cell phone battery
just died. So I don't know if his machine got my message." She pocketed
the useless phone and questioned him with her eyes. 

 Ben shook his head. "No, my phone's in the cabin." 

 "Then we have to get to the cabin." She pulled at his arm and tried to
roll away so she could get up. 

 "Shhh." Ben listened and held her tightly within his arms. 

 Once the rifle report had snapped through the air, Dunston sat up and sat
back against the tree behind him. He pulled out his binoculars and
searched the path for the two figures he had seen whip to the ground as
the branch fell. From his vantage point, he could see most of the path
below him, but he couldn't see the exact spot where he was sure the couple
lay. He took out a cigarette and placed it between his teeth. He lit it
and sat back to wait. After all, he'd been paid to make their deaths look
like an unfortunate accident. He'd eliminated their car as a means of
escape and cut off their power and phone lines. Now all he had to do was
keep them out in the open and out of the cabin. He looked at the sun
overhead. He figured he'd be out of this place before sunrise tomorrow. He
put the binoculars back up to his face and watched. 

 Ben pulled Francesca down towards his chest and cautiously turned his
head towards the hill to the right and closest to them. He raked it slowly
with his eyes; there was nothing there. He decided that the snow-covered
bushes at his feet would provide good cover and began pulling Francesca
along with him until they were nearly underneath the overhanging icicles
on its branches. "He's not moving. I can't hear him." He whispered the
words into Francesca's ear and held her shivering form close to him. 

 "Then we can make a run for it, right?" 

 "No. He's sitting up there, just waiting for us to make a move." 

 Francesca noted the dark glint in her husband's eyes and grinned. "You've
got a plan, don't you? Tell me you have a plan." 

 For perhaps the first time in his life, Benton Fraser felt the cold of
the snow underneath his backside seeping into his bones. He shook his head
and berated himself silently without withdrawing his arms from his wife's
form that he held plastered to his side. He looked down into those big,
fawnlike eyes of hers and gritted his teeth. She'd asked him if he had a
plan. The whites of her eyes nearly eclipsed the dark set of her pupils as
she stared at him. He raised one hand to her chin and set his mouth in a
tight grin. He turned her head and whispered into her ear, "We're going to
stay here until dark. Or, ..." 

 Francesca pulled her head back and let the hood of her parka lay in the
snow. "You want to wait him out, don't you?" 

 "Yes, if we move now..." 

 "I get it...sitting drakes..." 

 Ben grinned, "I told Ray he underestimated you." 

 She pulled herself tightly into the hard circle of his arms and grinned,
"You think Ray will miss our evening call?" 

 "That is one option, yes." 

 Ray Vecchio shirked his shoulders tensing under a sudden chill he felt.
He was standing outside his favorite deli waiting in what he thought was
perhaps the longest line he'd ever been in just to indulge his stomachs
craving for an authentic Italian meatball sandwich. He stepped back and
shifted from foot to foot and looked down at his watch. He wasn't due back
to the 2-7 for another hour. He plunked his hands in his pockets and kept
his place in line. He was one unhappy camper and would remain so until his
stomach was filled. 

 Diefenbaker lay curled at his feet. The animal had insisted on
accompanying him out of the house. From Ray's point of view the wolf was
telepathic where food was concerned. From Diefenbaker point of view,
escape from a house filled with children was his only concern for the day
and if that meant accompanying the man who could be counted on to eat
excellent food he'd do it. 

 Man and wolf remained in the line long enough to get Ray's order and then
piled into Ray's car. Foremost on both their minds was lunch. Ray,
however, did consult his watch and note that in about three hours he would
be pestered by his nephew, Chase to call his parents. Ray grinned and kept
driving.  

 The sun was casting shadows over the bushes where Ben and Francesca
huddled together. Ben had opened his parka and drawn his tiny little
wife's form in close to him and closed the sides of it around her back.
Francesca's arms were pinned in front of her so she could huddle into the
warmth of Ben's torso. The hoods on their parkas formed a cave of sorts
for their faces. At intervals, Ben would pull one of his hands inside the
small warm pocket of air between them. Their legs, however, were cold and
Ben could feel the dampness setting in from the wet snow around his
calves. Ben knew they wouldn't be able to wait out the setting sun. They'd
have to move and soon to prevent damage to their feet and legs. He moved
his head and peered out through the fur of their combined parka hoods and
gauged the height of the sun. 

 Francesca felt Ben's slight movement of head and turned her own eyes up
towards the bushes overhead to see sparkling bits of ice clinging to the
branches above them forming a beautiful aurora of light between them and
the sun. She shifted slightly in her husband's arms and felt the pins and
needles feeling of impending frostbite all over her legs and feet. Her
toes felt numb and she knew that the time had come for them to either just
sit it out or wait for the shooter to come get them or make a move of
their own. She wasn't surprised at all when Ben began whispering in her
ear. 

 "You want me to what!" Francesca grinned and moved slightly into the
warmth of Ben's form beside her. 

 "Yes, I do believe you heard me correctly." 

 Francesca pushed back from the man next to her and stared up into his
eyes. Then she nodded her head and began pulling at the heavy sweater she
wore under her parka. 

 Ray parked the RIV in what he privately thought of as his own private
parking spot next to the garbage dumpster on the side of the building that
housed the precinct. Of course, he never parked there on garbage pickup
day for that would be asking the fates to have his beloved RIV crinkled by
the huge garbage truck that emptied out the dumpster. He picked up the
empty bag from the seat next to him and got out of the car. He waited
while Dief jumped out and closed the door. As he passed the garbage
dumpster, he tossed in his empty bag. Dief gave an indelicate woof and
whined. "What do you mean, you wanted the bag? You're just a glutton you
know that. You do know that, don't you?" 

 Dief raised his tail and waved it in the air before striding away from
Ray towards the front of the building. 

 "OK, be that way. See if I offer you part of my lunch next time." 

 The two of them entered the building and headed through the labyrinth of
hallway and desk isles towards Ray's desk. Ray took off his long winter
coat, hung it up and sat down at his desk where he surveyed the piles of
folders that were waiting for him. Dief lay on the floor and curled into a
ball and settled in for a snooze, after all he hadn't smelled any
tantalizing smells anywhere in the room. 

 Several hours later, Ray pushed away from his desk and leaned back in his
chair. He glanced down at the wolf still slumbering near his feet and
grinned. He leaned over and whispered towards the wolf. "Donuts." The ears
on the wolf's head swiveled and the large head rose quickly off crossed
paws. "Yea, I thought you'd hear that. Come on; time to get out of this
place for the day." 

 The two friends, man and wolf, left the office and headed home. They
arrived home in companionable silence, exited the car and entered the
Vecchio home together. 

 Ray hardly had time to begin unbuttoning his coat when his littlest
nephew ran up and began demanding his attention. Ray managed to get his
coat off despite the attempts of the little boy at his side to claim a hug
of his legs. The coat finally made its way to a hook on the hall tree and
Ray leaned down to pick up the curly-headed boy. "Missed me?" The little
boy nodded. Ray hugged the small boy and began walking down the hallway
towards the kitchen. He raised his nose and took in a deep breath. "MMMMMM
smells good in here." 

 Chase clasped his arms around his uncle's neck and held on tightly. The
curls on his head bounced with each step Ray took towards the kitchen. Ray
deposited the boy on a chair and walked over to give his mother a hug.
"Hi, Ma smells good in here." 

 Ma Vecchio grinned and kissed her son's offered cheek and nodded towards
the little boy waiting patiently on the chair. "That little one has been
so restless today. He's actually gone in and just stood starring at that
pink thing of Francesca's in his parent's room. You'd think it could talk
or something." 

 Ray grinned and leaned over conspiratorially towards his mother. "It
can." Then he turned around and walked over and scooped the boy back up
into his arms. "OK. I guess we better go see if there's any email from
your folks." 

 The boy grinned over his uncle's shoulder as the two of them left the
kitchen. Mrs. Vecchio could hear Ray admonishing Chase as they walked.
"You wouldn't perhaps wait a bit would you?" Silence. "You're a Fraser
alright." 

 Ray sat at Francesca's desk chair with Chase on his lap. The two heads
were close together as Ray read off the email that Chase was about to
click and send to his parents. The little boy was excited and quite
delighted that he had been able to actually type out a couple of words by
himself. With a quick click of the mouse, Ray and Chase sent the email off
and the boy climbed down off of Ray's lap, but not before he gave his
uncle a hug and a kiss on the cheek. 

 Chase flew out of the room and down the hall into the kitchen. Ray could
hear the boy demanding to know the time as he slid into the kitchen
doorway. Ray turned back to the computer and opened the list of current
email waiting to be read. He frowned when he noted that there was no email
from either Francesca or Ben. He glanced down at his wristwatch and rose
from the chair. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickling at his
collar but he shrugged his shoulders and pushed the chair back into its
resting position in front of the desk. He mentally calculated that he
should check back on the email program after dinner and wandered off to
the living room where some of the family was watching the evening news.  

 Ben scooped some snow into a pile near his shoulders and then spent some
time making snowballs while Francesca tugged and pulled and grinned as she
worked. He made about ten snowballs as he watched Francesca slowly
removing the thick, red sweater. Removing her sweater while wearing her
parka was driving up her body's temperature, as she had to first pull her
arms out of the parka sleeves and then out of the sweater's sleeves. She
sucked in her breath and held it while she pulled the sweater hem up and
over her torso. Just before she pulled the sweater up and over her head
she cast a suggestive look at Ben who sucked in his own breath and watched
his wife's face disappear inch by slow inch inside the sweater. Her head
reappeared in seconds with her hair all messed up and her face glowed. She
pulled the sweater down between them and grinned. By the time she was done
tugging, pulling and sliding her body around in her husband's arms within
the confines of her parka she was slightly sweaty and there was a
glistening of moisture around the edges of her mouth all of which Ben took
in slowly with an answering grin. 

 Ben took the sweater in one of his hands and brought it up to his mouth.
He set his lips against it gently and closed his eyes as he absorbed the
scent of his wife from the sweater's fibers. When he opened his eyes, he
grinned at Francesca and pulled her parka around her. "Slip your arms into
your parka and zip it up." He watched her as she pulled on the thick
material and slid her arms back into its armholes before zipping the parka
closed over her bra. With fumbling fingers, Ben pulled his own parka
closed and fastened the zipper opening. "Move your legs and feet to get
the blood moving in them." The two of them moved around on the snow
beneath the bush they had been hiding under all afternoon. Ben could feel
the blood beginning to pump into his own feet and sincerely hoped that
Francesca was getting circulation back into her limbs as well. Ben shoved
some of the snowballs he had made into his parka pocket and grabbed the
sweater tightly in one his hands while he looked deeply into her eyes.
"Ready?" Francesca nodded and pulled her legs up so that she could move to
her knees. 

 When the two of them were kneeling in the snow Ben gathered the rest of
the snowballs into his left arm. The he moved his right arm quickly and
threw the sweater up onto the top of the bush about three feet away from
where they hid. The two of them rose into a crouched position and scurried
into the shadows of the next set of bushes. 

 Ben rose on his knees and took aim at the tree that stood over the bushes
where they had lain in the snow all afternoon. He aimed directly for a low
set of branches that held new fallen snow. He three several more snowballs
at the same tree and was rewarded by snow falling in great sheets of white
on the ground below. Ben took aim at two more trees near them and brought
down more snow that fell over the marks they had left in the snow as they
had moved from one bush to another. Ben stopped and listened. He took aim
at a tree further away from them and let the snowball fly at a small
branch with a broken section and smiled with grim satisfaction when the
branch broke, the loudness of the cracking limb echoing through the area.
Ben grabbed Francesca by the shoulder and the two of them took off moving
as quickly and silently as they could keeping their torsos low to the
ground under the shelter of the thick, snow covered vegetation that
separated the path from the hillside. With any luck Ben thought, they
would be away from immediate danger in a few minutes. 

 Up on the hill the watcher with the gun lifted his head at the sound of
the cracking branch. "Dam!" He set down the last of his thermos of coffee
and raised the scope of his rifle to his eyes. In the failing darkness of
the afternoon sun, the man made out the bright red sweater lying on the
bushes below. He tilted his head and rose to his knees swinging the rifle
from bush to bush. He waited and listened. He ground his booted feet into
the snow and stood up, making sure he remained in the shadow of the tree
nearest him. There was nothing for it, he would have to go down and see
what his quarry was up to. He hated it when plans didn't work as they were
ought. He lowered his rifle, pulled the collar of his white parka around
his neck and began moving down the hillside. 

 The two of them ran, hand in hand, beneath the low outcropping of
overhanging bushes that ran along the 500-yard stretch of lane down to the
lake. Ben's kept his grip on Francesca's hand firm and tight. He was
barely aware that his fingers were gripping his wife's wrist so tightly
that the blood circulation to her fingers was being cut off. He'd been
careful to keep their path directly under the huge bushes that lined the
snowy path that led from the cabin to the shore of the lake. Ben was well
aware of the fact that soon, very soon, they would have to get out from
under the sheltering branches and then they'd have no choice but to move
through the snow leaving a clear trail for their pursuer to follow. Ben
cursed the burning muscles in his legs as he tried to maintain his rapid
pace over the dead leaves beneath their feet. He drew in a sharp breath as
he realized that his lungs were also beginning to burn with a need for
oxygen that his cramping chest muscles were denying him. The sharp pain he
felt in his side made him look down at the diminutive figure racing along
beside him. 

 Francesca chose that very moment to look sideways and up at Ben with
wide, brown eyes burning brightly against her unusually pale skin that had
two bright red spots high on her check bones. She pulled her lips back to
bare her teeth and grinned at him. She shook her head so that her hair
bounced and strands of it clung to her wet and sweaty forehead. Francesca
was aware of the burning in her throat as she sucked in cold air over her
tongue as she moved quickly beside Ben. She could feel the blood pounding
inside her body; feel the throbbing of it as the sound of that pounding
seemed to fill her ears along with the sounds of their combined rasping
breathing as they moved. Her own legs were beginning to feel rubbery and
unstable and that realization made her take a closer look at Ben. She
flung herself against him using the weight of her small body to bring him
to a full stop. Throwing her free arm around his waist she looked up into
his sweaty and flushed face and held him tightly against her. It crossed
her mind quickly that he had been far too easy to stop. She put her own
pounding head against his chest and felt the shaking of his body against
her. She tilted her head away from him and noted somewhere in the recesses
of her brain that they were very near a break in the path where one path
lead around the lake and to its very shore and one path led back up to the
cabin. 

 The moment Francesca's small body slammed up against Ben's chest he
realized how winded and out of shape he was. He released the small wrist
that he had been holding in his hand and pulled her against him as he
tried to clear his brain and listen to the sounds of the winter landscape
that surrounded them. He leaned his face down into the circle of curls
that escaped from her hood and kissed the top of her head before pushing
her away from the shelter of his arms. With a shaking hand, he gently
brushed his fingers across her lips and then quickly brushed her lips with
his in a quick kiss. "We've got to make our way back to the cabin." The
words left his mouth hoarsely and barely audible above the thundering
sound of their rasping breaths. 

 "Do you think he's following us?" Francesca looked back down the path
that led to the cabin and squinted. 

 Ben raised his head and listened. "I don't think he was fooled for long
by the disturbed snow I left behind us." He leaned over and rubbed at his
calves and then stood up again. He looked at the bushes surrounding them
and said, "This way." 

 He pushed into the denuded branches of the bushes and pulled Francesca
along behind him. They ploughed through years of accumulated humus and
dead leaves and branches within the tightly woven bushes under skirting.
They emerged through a section of branches that Ben broke off with his
hands. Beyond them lay a span of trees and small bushes and underbrush.
Ben turned around and pushed the branches back into place covering up the
break in the bushes where they had slipped through them. 

 Francesca pulled her hand out of Ben's grip and stepped gingerly in front
of him to stand with her back to him. Without giving him a chance to
respond to her movement, she turned her head back over her shoulder and
gave him a grin. "Follow me and mirror my steps." She moved out over the
snow covered ground planting each foot solidly on the ground in precisely
spaced steps that exceeded her normal stepping pattern. She stopped about
five steps out and looked back over her shoulder to see Ben watching her.
She motioned him to follow her and mouthed, "Come on.". She continued
moving out over the snow heading towards the path that lead back to the
cabin leaving Ben to follow her. Taking a quickly inhaled deep breath, Ben
put his right foot over and into the footprint Francesca's right boot had
made in the snow. He moved quickly along behind Francesca covering each of
her footprints with one of his own. 

 Dunston approached the tree line just above the bushes where Francesca's
bright red sweater lay exposed over the tiny, ice-covered branches with
slow footsteps in an effort to approach his quarry quietly. He raised his
rifle and prepared to raise it quickly to his shoulder. His eyes raked the
area in search any sign of his intended victims. He cocked his head and
listened intently, keeping his rifle raised. He stood with his shoulder
leaning against a tree for several minutes before deciding that he'd been
too late. He advanced on the red sweater lying in the glint of the late
afternoon sun and grabbed it angrily off the bushes. He crushed the
sweater in his hands and let it drop at his feet before stalking out into
the middle of the path and looking around him in an effort to determine
which direction. He began walking up and down the path. He stopped at one
of the areas where snow had fallen as a result of Ben's snowballs. Dunston
looked up the path towards the cabin and then down the path towards the
lake. He lowered his rifle and began moving down the path towards the
lake. 

 Ray bounded down the staircase and grinned at his mother who was coming
out of the living room. She put her finger to her lips and pointed into
the room behind her. Ray walked over and put his hands on her shoulders
and looked over her head into the shadowy room behind her. Several of
Maria and Tony's children were sprawled over various pieces of furniture
in the living room watching television. Ray grinned at the sight of little
Chase Fraser collapsed against the arm of the side chair where Ray usually
sat to watch television or read the paper. It was obvious that the little
guy had made a valiant attempt at staying awake. "Let him sleep Ma." Ray
and his mother turned towards the hall leading to the kitchen and began
walking arm in arm down the hall. When they came to the door opposite the
half bath that led to Francesca and Benton's bedroom, Ray let his arm drop
from his mother's shoulder. "I'll just see if there are any messages for
the little guy." Rosa nodded and watched her son go in and sit in front of
that 'pink contraption' that Ben had given Francesca. She waved her hand
up in the air as if to get Ray's attention, then changed her mind and
walked on past the door. 

 Ray seated himself at his sister's brightly colored IMAC. Ray watched the
email program load up and waited. Moments later he rose from the computer
desk and pulled his cell phone out of his pants pocket. He dialed
Francesca's cell phone number and waited. When he didn't get an answer
from that number, he inputted the number of the cell phone he had given
Ben Fraser. Ray felt the small hairs on the back of his neck rising as he
began walking out of the bedroom with Ben's cell phone ringing and ringing
in his ear. Finally, the cell phone entered voice mail mode. "Fraser.
Answer dam it." Ray listened to the stilted, very formal message Ben had
on his voice mail and then spoke into the phone at the sound of the
annoying beep, "Listen, I need you two to call me. I'll call again in a
little bit." 

 He closed down his cell phone and made his way into the kitchen. He
poured himself a cup of coffee and tried to ignore the worried look on his
mother's face as she watched him pull out a chair and sit down. He looked
up at her and sighed. "No email. Could be a million reasons, could be the
line to the cabin is down. I left a message on Fraser's cell phone." He
took a cautious sip of the hot coffee and looked up at the kitchen clock.
"If they don't call back in an hour, I'm leaving - snow or no snow." Rosa
put a gentle hand on her son's shoulder and went back to cleaning up her
kitchen.  

 Ben and Francesca reached the trees near the untrodden path that led back
up to the cabin in a more circuitous route than the main path to and from
the lake. Ben looked back along the path they'd left in the snow and
smiled satisfactorily as he noted the single set of tracks they had made
in the newly fallen snow. Ben turned back to Francesca and put his arms
around her over her slightly protruding abdomen. She put her own hands
over his and whispered back to him, "We're OK." 

 "I need to lay some false trails." Ben looked around the area for a place
he could hide Francesca. 

 She grinned at him and pointed to a branch over head. "Hold out your
hands." Ben hesitated but put his hands out. "Cup them so I can step into
them." Francesca looked up at the branch that formed a 'Y' fork into the
main trunk of the tree. Ben followed her eyes and dropped his hands. He
was about to object when Francesca pulled his head down towards hers.
"I've hidden in this very tree before Ben. We'll be just fine up there
while you plant a false trail." He cut her off with a quick kiss and then
put his hands out with his fingers locked together. 

 In seconds, Francesca Vecchio Fraser was sitting up in the branches of
the tree nearly hidden by the wide branch where she scooted along the
branch until she sat huddled next to the tree trunk. Ben looked up then
took off away from the tree towards the lake. 

 Ben planted a false trail as quickly as he could traipsed back and forth
in the snow crossing and re-crossing the path as if he was searching for
something. He moved quickly and even criss-crossed paths under the tree
where Francesca sat watching him from her perch in the branches. When Ben
was finally satisfied that he had compromised their trail enough that it
would take whoever was following them a little time to figure out which
direction to follow, he returned to the tree and waited while Francesca
worked her way to a point on the branches above where she dropped slowly
into Ben's arms. 

 Together, with Francesca in the lead, they trudged off through the snow
towards the hill just behind the cabin. By this time, the sun was
beginning to sink lower in the sky. Ben was thankful that soon whoever it
was following them would not be able to see them. He was even more
thankful when small snowflakes began to drift down on them. It looked like
they just might get some help from Mother Nature. 

 Dunston walked slowly down the path seeking some indication among the
underbrush and snow for signs that his targets were hiding nearby. Hunting
quarry in these conditions usually didn't bother the man. But, it was
becoming increasingly clear that it was not going to be easy to fulfill
his contract. He continued down the path and finally raised his rifle and
used its scope to try and see into the woods. When the first snowflakes
started hitting his rifle bore, Dunston cursed. He turned and moved closer
to the line of bushes on the right side of the path and began moving back
up towards the cabin. 

 The couple moved quickly up through the wooded hillside towards the back
of the cabin. They'd been moving quickly amidst the newly falling snow
that was filling up the steps they were leaving in the snow. Darkness was
about to close in around them as Francesca stopped and pulled in a deep
breath and turned to put her hands on Benton's parka. "You've got to stop
for a few minutes. Please Ben." Francesca was tired and nearly worn out
and knew without a doubt that Ben must be just as tired. Images of Ben
lying in bed all those days and weeks while he waited for the doctor's to
let him begin physical therapy coursed through her brain. She was well
aware of the fact that his therapy had consisted of building up his upper
body muscles when they hadn't been sure if he would ever walk again. She
knew he'd only just started endurance training shortly before their
marriage. So, now she worried that this flight of theirs would undo weeks
of hard work and hinder Ben's return to complete health. 

 Ben nodded and leaned over placing his hands on his quivering knees and
wanted dearly to sink into the snow and relax for a bit, but knew that in
that way lay their downfall. He took in deep, gulping breaths and listened
to Francesca trying to breathe in normally though he knew that by now his
sturdy little wife must be getting tired and frightened. He pulled her
bodily to him and placed what he hoped was a calming arm around her
shoulders. "We'll make it. We just have to keep going. Are you sure you're
all right?" She touched his face with a gloved hand and nodded. "Then
let's go." Together they moved through the darkness towards the cabin on
the hill.  

 Ray pulled on his coat over his thick slacks and warm sweater and wrapped
his muffler about his neck. "Ma, I'll call you as soon as I know anything.
I promise." 

 Rosa pulled on the ends of the muffler and put her hand along his face.
"I'll take care of the bambino. Don't worry." 

 Ray leaned down and kissed her and pulled his hat over his baldhead.
"It'll be all right. I promise Ma." 

 Rosa stood in the door and watched Ray get in his beloved Riviera and
pull out of the drive. When she closed the door, she headed up the stairs
to her bedroom. She paused at Benton's grandmother's door but after
raising her hand to knock decided against it. It was enough that one of
them would be awake all night waiting to hear from Ray. 

 Ben looked around the area and stood still. The darkness around them
changed the look of things but he was sure that he and Francesca were in
the right area. They must be almost right on top of the entrance Jimmie
had shown him. Francesca seemed asleep on her feet and stood nearby
waiting for some direction from Ben. When she heard Ben whispering to
himself, she took stock of their surroundings and realized what it was
that he was looking for. Francesca turned on her heels and noted where
they were and grinned. She moved over to stand by Ben and pulled his hands
towards what looked like an old pile of wood much like so many piles of
underbrush in the woods around the cabin. However, this wood brush pile
was a landmark and was far more solid in form than could be seen at first
glance. They moved around the wood pile together to the north side of it
and it was there that they found the nearly hidden hatch covered by snow
that led into the long tunnel that Uncle 'V' had had made for his more
secretive guests. Ben was heartily thankful that Jimmie had not yet had
the time to seal off the tunnel from intruders. 

 Together, they pulled back the snow-covered hatch and climbed down inside
the opening to the steps of stone laid in the ground. Ben turned around
and pulled the hatch shut behind them. They collapsed onto the first step
and sat there a moment catching their breath. Ben was the first one to
speak. "The snow should wipe out our tracks. We're safe for the moment." 

 "You know there are spider webs n things down here, don't you?" Francesca
remarked. "Ray would never make it down here. Not in a million years." 

 Ben felt along the edge of the top step for the little alcove where
Jimmie had shown him a small lantern and matches when the two men had
visited the tunnel earlier. He found the lantern and then the matches. In
moments, they had enough light to begin the journey down the tunnel. "I
think you underestimate your brother Chesca." 

 "Naw, I know him. He can't abide spiders." She stood up and dusted off
her leggings. "Come on. It's got to be warmer down there." 

 It took them over twenty minutes to get through the long and narrow
passage. But, finally they were cautiously opening the entry door into a
closed off area of the cabin basement. Ben turned and closed the entry
door and threw the latch and dead bolt home. He pulled Chesca over to a
small alcove with a very narrow window above it. He grabbed a box from a
group of storage boxes in the alcove and put it on the floor below the
window. He climbed up and opened the latch on the window and looked at the
old woodpile stacked against the cabin. Satisfied that the window was too
small for anyone but someone of Francesca's size to use he shut the window
and latched it. He turned around and climbed down off the box. Putting his
arm around his shivering wife, the two of them walked over and entered
Uncle 'V's secret meeting room. 

 Ben walked over and checked out the latch on the inside of the door that
opened into the outer area of the basement and then led Francesca over to
one of the huge leather wingback chairs that sat opposite the huge old
desk. "We will be safe here. Francesca." He gathered her into his arms and
settled into the leather chair with her in his lap. She shivered again and
her teeth began to chatter. He gathered her closely to him and put his
face against the hood of her parka. "Shhh." 

 Dunston made his way back up to his camp high above the cabin and settled
in to watch. He was well aware of the fact that it would be useless to try
tracking his quarry under the cover of darkness. He also knew just how far
from the nearest neighbor the cabin was. He was willing to bet that his
quarry would try to make it back to the cabin. He'd wait them out. He
filled his coffee pot and started his little camp stove and settled down
to wait with his rifle scope trained on the cabin.  

 The sleeping couple lay close together on the carpeted floor. They'd sat
for several hours on one of the leather wingback chairs near the desk
before succumbing to the weariness of their bodies and settling down onto
the soft-carpeted floor. Ben had pulled all the seat cushions off of the
wingback chairs in the room and made a bed of sorts out of them on the
soft carpet. Together they had pushed the desk against the hidden entry
door to the outer room of the basement and Ben had placed one of the
wingback chairs up against the door that that led to the other secret room
and the escape tunnel. He'd made a pillow out of Francesca's parka and had
covered their torsos with his own parka as he held her body tightly within
his arms. They were exhausted and barely moved in their sleep. 

 Ray drove north out of Chicago and while he drove he cursed the snow, the
traffic, his Uncle for giving the cabin to his little sister and the fates
in general. By 11 p.m. he was barely near the Illinois border. The snow
continued to fall and soon made the roads leading toward the cabin were
nearly impassable. When the blowing wind made the roads impassable he
finally pulled the Riviera into a rest area and settled in his set for a
nap grateful for the basket of food and thermos of coffee his mother had
made him bring along. He was even more thankful for the thick blanket he
kept in the car during the winter months. 

 By the time he'd sleep for several hours, he was again cursing everything
in sight. He woke at three a.m. in the morning and cursed the fact that
the cabin was nearly a six-hour drive from Chicago in good weather. He'd
been on the road an hour when he began trying to figure out how long it
was going to take him to get to the cabin in nearly impassable roads. 

 At five in the morning, he pulled out his cell phone and called his
mother just to let her know he'd run into bad roads and had been delayed.
It didn't surprise him at all to find her waiting by the phone for his
call. He urged her to go back to sleep if she could, he'd call when he had
something to tell her. 

 Francesca woke and stretched carefully within her husband's arms. She was
thirsty and sore. But the sleep had helped and she no longer felt that she
couldn't cope with the situation. She moved as slowly as she could and
gently raised his arm and rolled out from his protective embrace and onto
the carpeted floor. She needed something to drink and she needed to empty
her bladder. And emptying her bladder was tops on her list. She remembered
seeing a large old bowl in the room just inside the tunnel door. She rose
with as much stealth as a full bladder would allow and gently pulled Ben's
protective arm away from her body and rolled away from his warm torso. The
she quietly crossed over to the door blocked by the wingback chair. She
pushed it gently out of the way and opened the closures on the door and
pulled it open just enough to slide out into the cold little storeroom
leading to the tunnel. She searched out the bowl she had remembered seeing
and gratefully set about finding a secluded place behind the stack of
storage boxes where she might make use of it. She made quick use of the
bowl and with a great deal of distaste for functions of the human body,
and a pregnant human body at that, set the bowl back into the corner of
the little area where she had used it and pulled her garments about her
again. She grinned when she felt the stirrings of the twins within her and
made her way back to the door to her Uncle's office. 

 Ben's body reacted violently when he began to rollover and the form and
weight of his wife's small body was not nestled within his sheltering
arms. He threw off the parka that covered him and bolted upright and raked
a shaky hand through his dark hair and quickly looked around the room. It
was plainly obvious that she wasn't in sight and that the heavy desk was
still in place against the door that led to the cabin's interior. He moved
as quickly as he could on sleep paralyzed limbs and made his way to his
feet and then over to the door leading to the little storeroom and the
tunnel beyond. 

 Just as he was about to pull the door open, the fingers of Francesca's
small hand curved around the edge of the door and she bean to push the
door open just enough so that she could slide inside. Ben reached out and
grasped her hand and pulled her roughly into the room and into his arms
and kicked the door shut. Francesca found herself pulled so tightly
against his chest that she was finding it hard to breathe. She was just
barely able to raise her face to look into his eyes. 

 Benton tilted his head and stared down at the small bundle in his arms
and felt as fiercely protective of her as he knew she felt about him. He
put a shaking hand against her lips and whispered into her ear. "Don't
scare me like that." 

 She felt tears brushing at her eyelashes and lipped his fingers with her
mouth before replying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." 

 He pulled her with him away from the door so that he could lock it and
used his body to push the chair back into place in front of the door so
that he didn't have to release her from his sheltering arms. He held her
tightly against his body and pulled her along to the cushions that lay on
the floor. He knelt down on them and looked up at her holding out his
hand. She took his fingers into her hand and slid down onto her knees in
front of him. He pulled her against his chest and slowly lowered their
bodies towards the cushions beneath their knees. He reached out and pulled
his parka over their bodies and lay holding her tightly against his heart.
Slow kiss by slow kiss he covered the skin of her face and neck. He ran a
hand freely over her torso until his fingers lay splayed over the small
mound of her pregnant stomach. "I can't lose you." 

 Francesca placed one of her hands over the large, callused hand that
covered the protective swelling of her body that held their twins. "You
won't lose us. I promise. You won't lose us." As she whispered the last
word, Ben's lips found hers and he kissed her as fiercely as he had been
holding her. "Ray will find us." Ben cut the words off with another fierce
kiss and began toying with the opening of the top she had worn under her
long lost red sweater. 

 Ben teased and pulled the clothing Francesca had worn under her sweater
until finally he gave up on the collar of the thing and teased the bottom
of it out of her slacks and worked his hand up inside over her warm skin. 

 From the first time she'd ever seen Benton Fraser, she'd dreamed and even
schemed to draw his attention. Her heart had endured setbacks and
disappointments during the first year of their acquaintance. She'd been
aware of his commanding officer's attentions towards him when she took
command after the Victoria Metcalf fiasco that had left Ben physically
depleted and emotionally shut down. She'd stood by then and watched
silently as her brother helped Ben get his life back into some kind of
normal form. 

 Francesca had known from the start that Benton Fraser was totally aware
of her existence but that he had been reluctant to pursue his best
friend's sister. She'd waited a long time for her chance at letting him
know she loved him. And waiting hadn't been something that Francesca was
used to in her life, but she did wait. Oh, maybe she had not been patient
at all in some people's eyes. But she had waited. In the end, when she'd
finally found him watching her intently, she'd been surprised to find out
how protective she felt towards him. The reality of loving him had turned
into something far different than she had ever experienced with her
ex-husband or with the few men she'd tried to convince herself loved her
enough to make her forget Benton Fraser. 

 Francesca had always known that if she was ever on the receiving end of
the solid kind of love that Ben could offer her that she would be fiercely
protected, that it would be an enduring kind of love. But, she had been
unprepared for the first feelings of that same fierce protectiveness that
she felt towards him. So, now when she lay beneath him and felt his arm
under her neck as his other hand roamed the skin over her tiny ribcage,
she looked up into his eyes and knew just what he'd meant when he'd said
so forcefully that he couldn't lose her. She knew now that if she were
ever to lose him, if he were to lose his life, then she would wait for her
death patiently so that she could be reunited with him. 

 She reached up and pulled his head down towards her and hungrily kissed
him, letting her lips nibble at the surprising softness of his lips. She
arched her body up, off of the pillows that cushioned her, into his body
that he held so tightly away from her least he crush her small frame. 

 When he took a deep breath in surprise at her attack on his lips, she
took the opportunity to invade his mouth with her tongue and let her
fingers grip his hair tightly. He pulled his head back and the surprise in
his eyes made her laugh. She pushed her head up and captured his bottom
lip and bit it gently. "I couldn't lose you either," she whispered before
attacking his mouth again. 

 Ben relaxed his body and lay down beside her on the cushions and used his
hand to softly pinch and squeeze her soft skin with his broad fingers. He
pulled his head away from her's and leaned over and gently exposed her
torso to the dimly lit room. His lips were swollen and wet and looked
totally debauched and his eyes were large and dilated with need. He
lowered his head and gently laved the dark skin around her taught nipples
with his tongue. She sighed and thrust her body upwards again. She gasped
as he threaded the fingers of his hand under her neck into the material at
her back and pulled and twisted it in his grip letting his thumb rub the
base of her skull. 

 He used his left foot to ease up and down her legs before separating them
by inserting his own leg in between them. His own breathing began to sound
harsh and insistent in his own ears. He began making butterfly kisses all
over her torso and in the hollow of her throat driving her to try and get
her own free hand up under his clothing. She made a frustrated sound in
the back of her throat when he pushed her hand away. 

 She lay back and watched as he hurriedly pulled away from her and drew
off the clothing he'd worn under his parka. He returned to her and let her
feel her way up and down his torso with gentle fingers before laying back
over her and pulling her against his bare skin. He ran his left hand down
over her belly button and down inside the band of her slacks. His body
shook a little as his senses became totally filled with his need of her.
He pulled his hand away and fought frantically with the fastenings of her
slacks. He rolled sideways and when her waist band suddenly opened to him,
he gently pushed her slacks down and pushed them off of her with his hand
and foot. He quickly freed the fastening at his own slacks before laying
back towards her. 

 Grinning up at him, Francesca used her free hand to tease the skin around
the top of his boxers within the zippered opening he presented to her. 

 He was kissing the tiny hollow at the base of her throat when he heard
her whispering, "Ben. Ben. Please." Pulling back again, he rose and slid
and pushed and twisted until his own body was totally free of confining
material. Before he could lie back down, Francesca rose up on her right
elbow and nudged him down beside her. Her hair was wild and uncombed and
disheveled as he had never seen it before. She flipped the hair back out
of her eyes and leaned towards him. With just a push of her finger on his
chest, she had him laid out on the cushions before her. 

 In their room upstairs or in their room at home, Francesca would have
waited and taken her fill of the look of him before setting her mouth on
him. But her senses were heightened from the strain of their escape the
day before and she felt the need to possess him. So she pulled back a bit
so that he could see down the length of her body before she put her hands
on his shoulders and let her mouth take possession of his lips again. She
kissed his mouth tenderly as well as the tip of his nose and his eyelids.
She gripped his hair with her hands and held him still while she kissed
his eyelashes and eyebrows. When she could feel him trying to restrain
himself for pushing her back onto her back again, she laughed and relented
and began to pull backwards drawing him with her until they were nearly
sitting upright. She climbed into his lap put his arms around her waist
and twined her arms around his neck. "Want to be my rocking chair?" she
whispered into his ear. 

 He groaned and pulled her against his chest so tightly that she felt she
would disappear inside his chest cavity. He raised her up with his large
hands and set her back down gently over his groin. In moments they were
rocking and kissing and hugging and nearly tearing at each other's hair. 

 The sound proofed room made the soft whisperings of their voices sound
loud in their ears. Sweat rose in tiny drops on their skin and they
continued to take and give to each other, their own equality of love
driving them together and apart and together again. Finally, Francesca
arched backwards and pulled her mouth free of Ben's. "Oh God!" 

 Her hair hung limp and damp against her back and Ben arched away from her
then moved fiercely towards her one last time before letting his own head
fall so that his own damp hair rested on her shoulder. Slowly, they melted
back into one shape and clung tightly to each other before collapsing onto
the pillows Ben had spread onto the floor. Ben's hand connected with his
parka on their way down to the cushions and he pulled it back over them
before they succumbed once more to sleep. 

 Ray was still a little more than two hours from the cabin. He'd been
forced to the side of the road as a fresh gust of winter wind coated the
windshield with heavy wet snow. He'd had to wait out the heaviest of the
snow fall and then get out and clear the windshield wipers. He was
frustrated and muttering to himself by the time he was back in the RIV
with a flashlight held in his hand so that he could check his map. He
grinned when he realized he hadn't strayed off of his course after all. He
put the car into gear and pulled back out onto the narrow road. 

 She needed to empty her bladder again and that need woke her. Francesca
nearly groaned out load when Ben's arm moved against her abdomen putting
pressure on an already distended bladder. She used her hands and pushed on
his shoulders to move him away from her and then slid out from under the
warmth of the protective parka and rummaged around for her clothing. 

 "Ben," she said leaning over and whispering softly into his ear. "Please
get up. I need to get upstairs. Come on Ben, please." She swept some of
the hair off of his forehead and kissed the bridge of his nose. 

 He woke slowly and stretched. "Chesca, it's dangerous to go up there." He
placed a reassuring hand on her arm. 

 "Tell that to the twins. They're hungry and I'm starved and I really need
to use the facilities up there." 

 He pulled himself away from the heady scent of her and tried to clear his
foggy sleepy brain. He was never at his best after a night of loving
Francesca. Ray had once teased him that he knew exactly what went on in
the Fraser bedroom. Ray had never told him that all he had to do was look
for the brown shadows under Ben's eyes. He'd teased Ben unmercifully and
Ben was nearly sure that it was just his own fogginess on those mornings
that tipped Ray off. Of course, Francesca did have a tendency to leave
their room humming when she felt satisfied with life. He shook his head
and let the parka fall off of his shoulders. One look at her pleading face
and he acquiesced. 

 He dressed hurriedly and put his parka on. "Put your parka on. We'll go
up and see if we can forage some supplies. No lights. And we hurry. I'll
get the food and yes, I'll get you some cheese. You use the...the..." He
shook his head embarrassedly and continued, "Get my cell phone from the
bedroom. There should be just enough light coming in the windows to make
our way around. OK?" 

 She nodded and grabbed her parka and put it on when she stood up. She
hurried over to the door that he blocked with the piece of furniture and
waited moving from foot to foot in response to her bladder as well in
response to the coolness of the room. 

 Ben removed the obstacle from the door and moved in front of Francesca
and opened the door just a slight crack. He tilted his head and listened
carefully. He put a finger to his lips and motioned her to follow him. 

 They traced their steps out through all the old storage items that
camouflaged the entry to the hidden office and held hands as they crept up
the stairway. When they arrived at the top, Benton leaned in with his ear
against the wood and listened again. Then he leaned in and pushed hard
against the back of the bookcase and was surprised when it rolled open
effortlessly on the expensive roller casters that had been built into the
bottom of it. 

 Francesca listened intently as she watched her husband rotating his head
to look around the very dimly lit room. He nodded her forward and she
bolted down the hall to the bathroom. 

 He grinned as he watched her run off and headed quickly into the kitchen.
He knew where she kept her plastic garbage bags and grabbing one began
filling it with some fruit from the counter, the promised cheese and some
bread. When he was done he turned around and peaked out the kitchen window
making sure that he kept his head in the shadows. Newly fallen snow
covered the area. `Good,' he thought, `I'm sure our tracks will be
covered.' 

 Francesca made quick use of the facilities and washed her face off
quickly. She ran into their bedroom and yanking open a dresser drawer
pulled out a fresh, thick sweater before getting into Benton's drawer and
getting him a fresh sweater as well. She drew her parka off and threw it
onto the bed and hurriedly pulled on her sweater and pulled the parka back
on. She grabbed Benton's sweater and turned around and removed his cell
phone from its charger base. She grinned when it did a little beeping nose
when it disconnected, now they had `Communication at last.' 

 She ran down the hallway to find Ben waiting for her by the bookcase
door. They entered the stairway and Ben closed it behind them. Ben had
found a flashlight in the kitchen and now they could clearly see the floor
as the moved downstairs and across the storage area into the secret room
again. 

 Up on the hill overlooking the cabin, Dunston crawled out of his tent
where he'd gone to quickly add another pair of gloves to his pocket and
take out a piece of beef jerky. He stood up and listened to the woods
around him as the sun began turning the early morning sky purplish as it
began rising in the distance. He ripped open the package of jerky and
broke off a bit. He ground it between his teeth and began walking down
towards the front of the cabin with his gun held tightly in both hands. 

 Ben held the door to the secret room open for Francesca. He handed her
the garbage bag with the food in it and turned around to use his
flashlight to check the floor behind them. Satisfied that they hadn't left
any telltale signs of their passage on the floor behind them, he stepped
inside the room and pulled the door shut sealing them safely inside. He
pushed the large piece of furniture across the door and turned to see
Francesca stuffing her face with cheese. He laughed and reached into his
pocket and pulled out a small bottled water that he had taken out of the
refrigerator. He handed her the bottle of water. 

 She grinned up at him and handed him the bag of food. They walked
together over to the desk and began making bread and cheese sandwiches.
Ben set his sandwich down and moved over to straighten up the cushions on
the floor. He set up two chairs near the desk and they settled down to
much on their food. 

 Dunston approached the house cautiously. His eyes swept the area for any
sign of footprints in the snow. He moved from the cover of one tree to
another as he got closer to the house. He debated the fact that he was
leaving footprints of his own in the snow but a glance up at the sky told
him that any prints he left in the snow would soon be covered by another
new layer of white flakes. 

 Cautiously Dunston mounted the steps leading to the porch and inched his
way up to the front door. He cradled his weapon in one had and put his
free hand against the door knob when he felt certain that he hadn't heard
any noise coming from inside the cabin. To his surprise the door opened
freely. He grinned and mentally noted that they must feel pretty safe here
to leave the door unguarded by the lock like that. He eased the door open
and raised his weapon to firing level again. 

 In seconds, the man stood just inside the cabin door with the winter wind
beginning to howl around him. He didn't bother closing the door, but he
did stamp his feet gently on the mat by the door. Not that he was worried
about dirtying the carpet in the normal way of things. He didn't want to
leave tracks across the carpet that might be linked to his boots;
therefore, he wanted them dry as he wandered the house. He moved easily
into the living room area and noted that the furniture wasn't large enough
for someone to be hiding behind any piece of it. He moved carefully around
the room and made his way into the kitchen. With one gloved hand, he
reached for a piece of fruit on the counter and pocketed it to eat later. 

 He lifted his gun again and worked his way step by step down the hallway.
All the rooms were empty. He cursed under his breath and went back to the
living room to look around. He wanted them to know he'd been in their safe
haven. So, he tumbled some books off the bookcase and flung the coffee
table over on its side. He picked up a small framed picture and threw it
through the window. Wind began blowing the curtains back and forth. He
left the house and found a cozy spot to wait behind a small clump of
bushes near Francesca's car. He'd give them a couple of hours before
giving up. He couldn't see the man keeping that tiny little woman out
doors, not when there was such a cozy cabin nearby. 

 Ben's head jerked around and Francesca could tell that he was listening
intently to something he'd heard. She didn't like the sudden interest in
his eyes as he seemed to be cocking his head towards the secret door. 

 Ben leaned over and took her by the arm and pulled her parka over her
again. "I want you to go to the tunnel and wait just outside the entry to
the house. I'm going up to check the house." 

 "Oh, no you aren't!" She put her small hands on his arm and tried to
stare him down. 

 "I'll be careful. Trust me. But, I want you and the twins safe. And that
means you get out of this house for the moment. OK." He looked at her
doubtful expression and continued, "I doubt that the man chasing us will
have followed our footsteps to the tunnel entry. It's snowed again; our
tracks are probably not visible." 

 "Promise you won't do anything stupid." She squinted her eyes and dared
him to lie to her. 

 He gave up and nodded his head and began pushing her towards the hidden
entrance to the tunnel. He handed her his cell phone that he'd picked up
off the desk where she'd set it down and removed the chair they had set in
front of the entrance. He promised her that he would be back soon. He
kissed her on the forehead before pushing her out the door and closing it
again. 

 He walked over to the desk and packed away the food into the garbage bag
and tucked it down under the desk. Then he quietly pushed the desk back
from the main door again and stepped out into the basement storage area. 

 Francesca opened the cell phone and began dialing Ray's phone number.
Francesca dialed her brother's cell number and put the phone to her ear.
She waited. "Damn," she muttered, "no dial tone." She closed the little
phone down and moved towards the tunnel opening to the outside world. She
stopped every few feet and tried to make the call again. Each time she
tried the power bar and signal indicator lit up correctly but she didn't
get the welcoming sound of Ray's phone ringing. Biting her lip she moved
closer to the tunnels opening. She leaned against the tunnel wall and
tried one more time. She grinned when she finally heard the ringing of
Ray's phone in her ear followed by a voluble spat of Italian sounding on
the other end as her brother picked up the phone. 

 Ray's fingers, encased in fine Italian leather gloves, gripped the
steering wheel tightly and he drove with squinted eyes staring out the
windshield. His muffler wound tightly around his neck and his usually well
combed hair, sparse as it was, was a bit ruffled around his ears. He was
talking to himself as he drove. Every comment he made was derogatory in
nature as he cursed the cabin, its surroundings and the ill made map he
was using to navigate his way north. He was startled when he heard the
phone ring and took a quick glance at his watch to verify the time. As he
picked up his phone, he flipped it open and promptly dropped it out of his
gloved hand. He ground out his complaints about inanimate objects that
failed to behave in Italian. Somewhere in the recess of his brain, he knew
his mother would be beating him on the head for his language and with the
sudden thought that maybe the caller was either his mother or Francesca;
he closed his mouth and picked the phone up again. 

 "Ray, is that you Ray?" He heard silence then the voice on the other end
of the phone raised a level and repeated the same words. 

 With a relieved grin, Ray first laughed and then ground out through his
teeth, "Where are you? Don't tell me some stupid thing happened? Why
haven't you answered the damn phone?" 

 Francesca threw her head back into her hood and grinned as she listened
to her brother's tirade. She gave him only a few seconds to get the anger
out of his system and then she said, "Ray, someone's trying to kill us."
Silence. "Ray, did you hear me?" She stamped her foot and nearly yelled
the words, "Ray Vecchio, you answer me right now. Did you hear me?" She
put her mouth closer to the receiver on the phone and raised her voice,
"There's some whacko out there with a rifle, and he shot at us while we
were out walking. He shot at us several times Ray. Did you hear me Ray?" 

 The grip Ray had on his cell phone nearly broke its case as he whispered
in more Italian then answered his sister in a normal voice. "I heard.
Where are you? Is Benny OK?" He took in a deep breath. "How do you know
someone's trying to kill you, there could be hunters up there?" 

 "I know what bullets whizzing by my head sound like Ray." She paused
before continuing. "Ben's OK. He went up to check the cabin out." 

 Ray put his phone away from his mouth and whispered, "Spiders. Oh God."
Then replacing the phone next to his mouth his said, "You are in that
basement, aren't' you?" 

 "Ray, forget about the spiders. When can you leave to get up here?" 

 "I'm about an hour from the cabin now. You didn't call the bambino last
night. I got worried." 

 "Hurry Ray," she took in a deep breath and added, "I love you." 

 "Ya, I know. I love you too. Take care of the Mountie." It made Ray grin
to hear his sister laugh at the last comment. 

 "I don't want to use this battery up. I'll call you again soon. Bye Ray."


 Ray dropped the phone down on the seat next to him and concentrated on
keeping the RIV on the snow covered road. 

 Ben cautiously put his shoulder to the back of the bookcase door and
pushed on it just enough to let some air in the framing of the doorway. He
listened for several minutes. He heard the wind blowing in the living room
window. The corners of his mouth tightened, "He'd been right," he thought.
He had heard the sound of breaking glass. 

 He waited and then pushed the bookcase door open just enough to squeeze
his body through. When he was stood outside the opening, he closed it and
leaned against it to stay in the shadows of the room. The wind blowing in
the front door combined with the wind coming in the window stirred the
curtains from the window and made little items on the shelving around the
room rattle. 

 A small pile of wind blown snow lay inside the front door. Ben knew they
hadn't brought any weapons with them. He knew that the fishing line he
might normally be able to use to make a foot trap was inside the closet by
the front door. To get to that he would have to kneel in plain view of the
outside of the cabin, so that idea was out. There were knives in the
kitchen, he'd have to make his way over there and pocket some of the
paring knives he'd seen. He kept his eyes trained on the open front door
and keeping to the shadows headed towards the kitchen. 

 Dunston had become bored waiting near the bushes. He'd found a nice niche
near the porch where he could just see inside the cabin's door. He grinned
when he saw something in the shadows move. He raised his rifle and sited
through the door. He fired one warning shot and then raced up the steps to
stand in the doorway. 

 Ben hadn't made it to the kitchen. He'd been taking a step at a time and
listening as he moved. The bullet Dunston fired went into the wall just in
front of him as he stood against the wall between. Ben pressed back into
the shadows to make himself a smaller, harder to hit target. 

 The rifle Dunston used had an infrared site on it. He trained the site
along the wall next the spot where Ben was standing. A sudden shaft of
sunlight entered the room from the living room window exposing Ben's
position. Dunston trained his rifle on Ben's chest and called to his
target to come on out of the cabin. 

 "Where's the little lady?" 

 "Sain et saut de tu." Ben replied in French for he heard the unmistakable
accenting of a French accent on the words Dunston had spoken. 

 "The two of you are a package deal. So, I'll put you on ice and wait." He
pulled a loop of plastic out of his pocket that Ben recognized right away
as a flex cuff. "Turn around and put your hands behind your back. Hesitate
and I shoot you right here and go after the little lady." 

 Without hesitation, Ben turned around and put his hands behind his back.
If he went along with the man and played for time, there was a good chance
Francesca would have time to get through to Ray. If she could do that,
help would be on the way. 

 The flex cuff bit into his wrist as his captor pulled it taught. When he
had Ben's wrists securely cuffed, he ran his free hand along Ben's pockets
as he kept his rifle barrel firmly planted against Ben's back. Dunston
grabbed the back of Ben's parka, turned him around and shoved him out the
door. Ben's legs nearly gave out on his has him almost lost his balance.
He righted himself and took a tentative step forward. He felt the rifle
barrel pushing into his back and moved forward another step. 

 Ben was marched out onto the porch and down the steps. The wind tore at
his open parka and unprotected head. He yelled over his shoulder, "You
will not get away with this you know. I am a Mountie." 

 At the word Mountie, Dunston pulled the rifle barrel back a bit then
pushed it savagely back into Ben's back. "Blast that Andre," he said the
words in a whisper. 

 Somehow, hearing the way his captor said those words Ben fervently hoped
that for once, she'd stay put. She'd be safe there in the tunnel until Ray
either came himself or sent help. 

 Dunston prodded Ben down the path towards the lake. It was harsh going
for Ben whose legs were beginning to tire on him from the stress of the
last 24 hours. It took the two men more than 30 minutes to make their way
to the shore of the lake with Dunston moving along in the steps Ben's feet
made in the fresh snow. 

 Dunston halted about 30 feet from the lake and grabbed the back of Ben's
parka again, halting their forward motion towards the lake. He hauled the
cuffed man over to a large tree and keeping his rifle pressed up against
Ben's back he pulled out a length of short rope with a wire interior he
carried in another pocket of his own thick parka. He looped the wiry rope
through Ben's cuffed wrists and pushed and shoved Ben back against the
large tree trunk. He backed away from Ben and stepped just far enough away
that he could begin winding the rope around Ben once and then around the
tree trunk several times. When he was done, Ben was lashed with his back
against the tree with his face exposed to the brutal wind off the small
lake and his parka held open by the rope. 

 Dunston pulled on the rope a couple of times to make sure it was tight
and secure. Then he stepped back about four feet and set his gun down. He
pulled out a cigarette. He cupped his hand over it to hold the wind at bay
and lit it. "Nice lake." 

 The remark left no doubt in Ben's mind that the man intended to kill them
and leave the evidence at the bottom of the lake. He pulled against the
rope and tried to free his hands. 

 Dunston puffed on his cigarette and then flung it out way from him. "Stay
here." He laughed. "I'll bring your little wife to you." He turned around
and left Ben to struggle uselessly against his bonds. 

 As Dunston walked away Ben was furiously trying to rub the rope against
the bark of the tree. 

 She hugged her arms to her torso and stamped her feet against the cold of
the tunnel as she waited near the outside entrance to the tunnel. Sunlight
made its way through the tiny little cracks in the entrance and made the
area she was waiting in seem a little less frightening. Lifting her wrist,
Francesca checked her wrist watch. Ben had been gone for more than 45
minutes. Something had gone wrong, she was sure of it. She pulled the
little cell phone out and dialed her brother's number. 

 Ray estimated that due to the way the snow had fallen in the area near
the cabin that he was probably about another half hour away. That was
longer than the time he had estimated when he'd talked to Francesca on the
phone. As the minutes ticked by and she didn't call him, he began to worry
that a second Fraser had done something stupid. When his cell phone rang
15 minutes later he noted the number in the caller ID designated area with
relief. He relaxed. He answered the phone. 

 "Ray, where are you?" 

 "I'm still about a half hour away." He held the phone against his mouth
and swore at himself mentally for not buying one of those little headsets
thingy's. "Listen, I'm going to call that place that passes for a police
department up there and get some help. You stay put. I don't need two
Fraser's going off on their own up there. You hear me, Franny. STAY PUT." 

 Francesca's head whipped away from the phone as she heard a shot ring out
through the tiny cracks above her head. She snapped the phone shut and
thrust it into her pocket and pushed up on the opening to the tunnel. 

 She raised it barely a quarter of an inch and listened and looked around
cautiously. In the shadows of the early daylight outside, she could place
the location of the entrance in her mind. When they had entered it the
night before, she'd been aware of the fact that she was familiar with the
area but she hadn't been able to precisely place the opening location. 

 It took her a few minutes to raise the cover a little more and turn and
be able to look down on the cabin below her. It was far enough away that a
shout from her probably wouldn't be heard, but she was close enough to see
Ben walking with his arms behind him. The man walking nearly against Ben's
back held a rifle in his hands. They were heading towards the path to the
lake. Francesca scrambled out of the tunnel opening and began following
the two men at a discreet distance. 

 Ray pulled off his gloves with his teeth and opened his cell phone again.
He dialed star 911 and hoped this berg had an emergency link up. He
grinned when he heard the soft tones of a male voice answer. 

 "My name is Detective Raymond Vecchio, Badge Number......, out of the
2-7th Precinct, Chicago PD." He listened and was rewarded with a calm
reply instead of questioning tone of voice from the operator. "I have two
family members in trouble at the family cabin and I need you to do two
things. Call the police department that handles calls for..." Ray rattled
off the location of the cabin to the officer and the nature of the
problem. "I also need you to call Lieutenant Welsh; he's my commanding
officer at the 2-7. I need him to put a squad at my house in Chicago." Ray
listened to the guy take down the directions and heard him hand them off
to a dispatcher before asking Ray some more questions. 

 When the operator asked Ray for more specifics, Ray answered: "Do you
have two hours, because that's how long it takes to tell this story." He
heard the man on the other end make a bit of a snide comment. "Listen,
when I get my sister and her husband safe, I'll be glad to fill you in all
the details. You can reach me at this number." Ray rattled off his cell
phone number and dropped the phone into his coat pocket. 

 Ray drove down a curve in the road and began to recognize the area. He
gunned the RIV a bit and sped down the unplowed road. He was well aware
that he'd been lucky so far and hadn't to deal with any spin outs or
fishtailing. He loved his car but winters and the RIV were not always
simpatico. And for once, he was happy that Ben had suggested putting
winter tires on the RIV earlier than usual and that he'd listened. He
rounded a curve and began sliding in the snow, he compensated and
straightened the car out and continued down the road. 

 She moved up and away from the cabin and then moved along quickly and
nearly raced over the snow trying to keep from breathing like a truck as
she picked a spot here and there to catch her breath. Circling up and
beyond the campsite of the intruder she plowed through the snow for about
a hundred yards before turning down towards the path she had seen Ben
being forced to walk. 

 She knew from experiences up here as a small child just how far sound
traveled in the snow covered wooded area around the cabin and the lake.
Once she had an idea where the man was taking Ben she worked her way up
from the path that led to the lake and moved slowly along behind the
bushes on the ridge. She was confident that the man who had Ben wouldn't
count on her watching them. She watched and waited and kept well clear of
the two men. 

 When the two men stopped near the lake, Francesca was out of hiding spots
and had to remain too far away to hear what was being said. She hugged the
side of a tree with her mittened hands and kept silent. When the man moved
away and left Ben tied to the tree, she watched the man walk down the path
and waited for another few minutes. Counting quietly in her head, she
figured the man had been gone about 4 minutes when she slipped from behind
the tree and headed towards Ben. 

 Ben spotted her coming towards her and sighed. She'd been unable to stay
put. He should have guessed it. He dropped his head in resignation and
then waited until she was standing in front of him to comment on that
fact. 

 "Shh." She held her finger to her mouth and walked around the tree trying
to figure out if she could loosen the rope that held Ben. She spotted the
knot and walked up and drew her gloves off and began working on the knot.
"I talked to Ray. He figured out something was wrong when we didn't call
Chase last night." She gritted her teeth as she tried to loosen the knot.
A piece of wire broke out of the rope wrapping and snagged some of the
skin on her fingers. "Ouch!" 

 Ben had his head turned down so that he could watch the top of his wife's
head as her fingers worked on the rope. "Hurry, I don't think we're going
to have much time." His head jerked up as he heard Dunston's footsteps
coming back their way. "Get out of sight. He's coming back." 

 Francesca took a quick look down the path and saw the man plowing through
the snow with his heavy boots. She glanced down at the rope around Ben and
whispered in his ear, "Trust me." She dropped back into the shadows of the
trees behind Ben and made her way to shore of the lack letting the thick
trees cover her as she moved. 

 Dunston walked up to Ben and struck him across the face. He was too
furious to notice Francesca's foot prints in the snow. "Where'd you leave
her?" 

 Ben knew his lip was bleeding and the back of his head hurt where it had
connected with the tree. "Why don't you give up? People know we're here." 

 "I get paid for doing the two of you, specially the lady. The man wants
the lady gone." He circled Ben and laid his rifle across his arm. He
stepped away and finally noticed the tiny booted prints in the snow. He
backhanded Ben across the face and hissed, "Call her." 

 Ben stubbornly shook his head and received a hit to his stomach for his
silence. Dunston moved away and began following the tracks in the snow. 

 Ben scraped his bound arms furiously against the bark of the tree and was
rewarded with the sound of the exposed wire Francesca had been trying to
break. He kept at it until his hands were numbed with the pressure of the
tree trunk. When the weak part of the rope finally released him, Ben fell
to his knees and had to stop for a moment and gather his strength. He used
his shoulder against the tree and pushed himself up. He had an idea what
Francesca was up to. He began plowing his tired legs through the snow
towards the lakes edge. He was rewarded by the site of her racing out onto
the ice covered lake as he put a foot tentatively on the ice. 

 Ray's eyes noted Francesca's little car as he swung his huge boat of a
vehicle into the driveway. He slowed down and parked next to the entry so
that he didn't block the drive from what he hoped would be incoming
emergency vehicles. 

 He tightened his muffler around his neck, pocketed his phone and drew his
gun out. He checked it and took the safety off. He climbed out of the car
and called out, "Ben! Franny!" He knew it might be better to be quiet and
use surprise as a weapon, but he just had to know that they were safe. 

 His Italian leather shoes prevented him from making sure steps in the
snow and he cursed them. He moved stealthily towards the cabin door and
when he saw it standing wide open he cursed Franny's idea of a honeymoon
cottage. He listened. It was way too quiet. He moved towards the cottage
steps and stopped dead in his tracks as he heard a shot ring out in the
direction of the lake. 

 "Oh God. Oh God!" He took off running heedless of the slipping and
sliding he was doing on the snow. 

 Halfway down the path he caught sight of something red in the bushes. He
stopped and reaching over picked it up. "Shit. Franny's sweater." He
crumbled the snow covered piece of clothing into his wool coat pocket and
hurried on towards the lake. 

 Dunston saw Franny walking out onto the lake and grinned. She was just
where he wanted her. He wasn't happy to see the man standing on the edge
of the lake. He wouldn't buy that brand of rope again. He raised the rifle
and fired towards Ben who had dropped to the ground in an effort to make
himself a smaller target when he'd noted Dunston aiming at him. 

 When the gun went off, Francesca moved rapidly over the ice towards Ben.
She skittered and slid and stopped about 40 feet from him. Her eyes
widened when she saw Ben grinning at her. "OK. He's OK." She whispered to
herself and turned back to face Dunston. 

 The man raised his rifle and took aim, the infrared mark showing brightly
on Franny's parka. He squeezed the trigger and felt the trigger refusing
to budge. It was jammed. He thrust the rifle out from his body and tried
to eject his ammunition. After all he had the weapon, they had nothing. He
tried again and again to get the trigger to release. Finally, in
frustration he held the gun out like a baseball bat and began walking
towards Francesca. He'd been about 20 yards farther south than Francesca
when he exited the tree line so his path out across the lake was 20 yards
farther out on the lake surface as he advanced on her. 

 Ben tried pushing himself up off the ice to give Dunston another target
to go after, but it was hard going with his hands still bound. Francesca
put her hand out to him and motioned him down. She watched the man
advancing on her and turned a full smile at him. 

 "You really shouldn't be that far out on the ice." She yelled to him and
she began walking calmly towards Ben. 

 Dunston had to turn a bit and change direction as he advanced on them.
"This will be better. I'll just knock you out, cut your husband's hand
lose and drop you both down in the lake. Sad, really. Honeymoon couple
dies in freak accident." He shook his head. 

 Francesca swung her head to the north and then to the south and put her
hand out. "Really, if you don't stop where you are you'll be the one
suffering a freak accident. The ice isn't thick enough yet. It's too early
in the season for it to be thick out there. And it certainly hasn't been
cold enough yet. Especially where you are." 

 At this point, Dunston was mad enough to disregard his own ears so he
missed the first soft cracking sound that came from behind him. He'd had a
limited experience with women and he'd never met one who could best him in
the outdoors so he discounted Franny's words as the ravings of a desperate
woman. He raised the rifle higher over his shoulder and continued to
advance towards Franny. 

 A loud cracking sound reverberated behind Dunston's back. He turned
quickly and his eyes widened as he saw the ice behind him cracking and
breaking up. He turned and tried to outpace the fissure opening in the ice
surface. He wasn't fast enough. Suddenly he was falling into the freezing
lake water. He bobbed up still holding the rifle in his hands and gamely
tried to use it to pull his way out of the hole. The best he could
accomplish was using the gun as a brace in the opening to hold his head
out of the water. He hung there gasping for breath. 

 "Please, help me!" the frightened man yelled. 

 Franny gave him one fleeting look and ran to her husband. She threw her
arms around him and began kissing his face all over. She pulled her head
back and saw his split lip. She cradled his mouth in her hand and hugged
him again. 

 Ray ran down the path breathing heavily. When he finally made it to the
opening in the trees near the lake, he saw Ben and Franny collapsed in a
heap together in the snow. He heard someone yelling for help and looked
out across the lake. He grinned. "What is it with you two, am I your clean
up guy or what?" He marched over to them and knelt down to make sure they
were OK. 

 He drew out his cell phone and dialed star 911. About the time, the call
was being answered he heard sirens blaring from near the cabin. He hung up
the phone and pulled the red sweater out of his pocket. 

 "And what's with the sweater?" 

 Francesca rose up on her knees and flung her arms around her brother's
shoulders. "I love you." She hugged him tighter and said, "Can you cut Ben
loose? 

 "You're not going to answer me are you?" 

 She grinned. Ray looked down at Ben and raised his eyebrows. "What about
you?" 

 "It wouldn't be chivalrous Ray." 

 "Don't be pulling that on me Benton Fraser." Ray said as he moved behind
Ben and pulled out his pocket knife. The very pocket knife he'd carried
since he'd seen Ben use his boot knife a couple of times. He sawed at the
flex cuffs around Ben's wrists until his hands were freed. 

 Ben sat on the ground rubbing his raw wrists and watched as Francesca
reached out to him. He pulled her against his chest and together they
worked their way up to a standing position. Ray rose to his feet and
looked out to where Dunston was still bobbing in the water. 

 "Do we have to get him out?" 

 "Ray!" 

 "OK, OK." Ray grinned. "But I think we'll let the local authorities do
the work." He saw Ben frowning at him and said, "OK, OK. You gonna give me
a hand or what?" 

 By the time Ben and Ray worked their way out to the hole in the ice with
a long branch carried between them, Dunston's face was beginning to sink
below the water level of the open hole. Ben swung his end of the thick
branch out to the North side of the hole where he knew the ice was over
shallow water. He motioned Ray to stay even with him and form a line
parallel to the shore. Dunston seemed to have just enough energy left to
keep trying to pull himself up and keep his nose and mouth out of the
freezing water. 

 Ben lay down on the ice and indicated that Ray should do the same. Ben
had described his plan on shore before the two of them headed out to the
ice. Hopefully, they could disperse their combined weight out over the ice
and use the branch to stabilize them. Ben planned on crawling out along
the branch to the hole and trying to pull the man out. Ray was against the
idea, but he admitted that if they didn't get the man out soon, he'd slide
down into the water for sure. And they all knew it was only a matter of
time before the cold produced an irreversible hypothermia. As it was, it
was going to be a very near thing. 

 Francesca watched the two men moving out over the ice towards the fallen
man and turned to watch the path that led to the cabin, hoping against
impossible hope to see someone coming to their aid. She wanted Dunston
alive; alive so they could find out who'd sent him. 

 Deputy Morgan pulled his cruiser into the driveway and turned off the
sound on his flashing light bar. Two other deputy vehicles pulled up
behind his own squad. When they were all parked the driveway, entry to the
cabin property was effectively blocked off. Morgan was out of his car and
moving quickly towards the first advantageous spot he could see outside
the cabin. He was familiar with the property and after a cursory look
around the drive towards the cabin he moved more cautiously and approached
the cabin's open door with gun drawn. 

 The deputies accompanying Morgan spread out and covered the cabin door
from opposite sides of the porch area. Deputy Morgan's fingers tightened
on his pistol grip as he moved up the porch steps. He hated calls of this
kind, calls where people he knew were involved, where he might find
someone he knew dead. The fact that he knew the owner of this cabin well
weighed heavily in his heart. But, he was at all times a very observant
person as well as well trained in his job and so he was the one to note
the sliding prints of dress shoes running in the snow from the front porch
area towards the path that Morgan knew very well led down to the lake that
was on the property. He motioned two of his deputies to remain near the
cabin and motioned for the rest to follow him. 

 The group moved quickly down the path being careful not to walk in the
steps they were following. When they were about to enter the small
clearing that was near the lake, Morgan motioned for the group to spread
out yet again so that they would be in line with all the trees and without
open space at their backs to make them excellent targets. 

 Ben and Ray nearly had Dunston out of the hole in the ice when Morgan and
his deputies were nearing the clearing. Both men were beginning to feel
the effects of the cold and freezing water themselves as they pulled and
tugged at the nearly lifeless form of the man they were hauling out of the
water. When they finally had the man out of the water and up on the ice,
the two men were beginning to feel the biting cold of the open air on
their own wet hands. Ben and Ray grabbed the back of the man's parka and
pulled him free of the dangerous open area in the ice. Ray gathered up the
man's weapon by the middle of the barrel hoping that they would be able to
get a good set of prints off of it in case the man died before they could
illicit his name. 

 Ben put out a cold hand and felt along the man's jaw. He glanced at Ray
as he felt for the man's pulse. He could just barely feel it, but he
wasn't at all sure they would get help in time to actually save the man's
life. He had the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach that if the man
died, they might not ever be sure who had hired him. Ben tried to lever
himself up off the ice and found that he was nearly too exhausted to move.
But, he knew if he didn't get up off the ice himself, he'd soon be in
trouble himself. 

 Francesca ran out onto the ice to stare down at the man who'd threatened
their lives for the better part of two days. She felt a shiver run up and
down her body and it wasn't from the cold. She leaned down and helped Ben
to his feet and stood holding onto him tightly as Ray leaned down and
grabbed the back of the fallen man's parka once more. 

 Pulling and groaning with the effort, Ray began to move the man slowly
across the ice. Francesca and Ben walked carefully beside him. The three
of them were nearly at the edge of the shallow area of the lake when
Morgan and his deputies suddenly appeared at the opening to the clearing
near the lake. 

 A loud sigh rent the air around them, and Ben and Ray quickly looked at
Francesca fearing that she was going to give out on them. What they saw in
her face astonished them. Her face held a huge welcoming smile for the
group of police officers that was now rapidly approaching them. They were
so absorbed in her reaction that they didn't notice the look on Morgan's
face as he ran up and stood looking at the little female figure in front
of him that was nearly supporting the man at her side. 

 Morgan hadn't heard from Francesca Vecchio in a long time. He remembered
so clearly their last confrontation when she'd pleaded with him to give
her time. He knew it had been far too soon after her divorce, but he'd
pursued her anyway. She left his life for good when he wouldn't give in to
her plea. He'd been a young, stupid fool. Of course, that didn't mean he'd
forgotten about her. He looked from her to the man at her side and
realized that what he'd always known would happen had come to pass. She'd
more than moved on with her life, she found what she'd been looking for in
life. And there, in front of him, stood the man who'd clearly won her
heart in a way that he'd never been able to do. He pushed his feelings for
her back inside his own unattached heart and ordered his men to get a move
on as he raised his walkie talkie to his mouth and ordered the deputies up
at the cabin to get on the radio and get an ambulance on the way. 

 Ray leaned against the door frame that led into the kitchen and watched
the EMT's going over Ben with a fine tooth comb with Franny at his side.
She'd put up with the same amount of expertise just moments before. Ray
endured the scowl aimed in his direction by his brother-in-law with the
thought that Franny had been as adamant about Ben being thoroughly checked
as Ray himself had been. Ray crossed his arms and stuffed his hands into
the arm pits of his long overcoat and felt his own body heat warming his
cold fingers. He just wondered if his feet would ever be warm again. He
wasn't really all that worried that Ben was heading for a relapse; he just
knew he'd feel better if Ben and Franny went through the motions and let
themselves be checked out so that he could feel better. He didn't even
want to think of what his mother would say if he didn't make Franny and
Ben at least go through the motions. And, after all, he had promised one
little boy to bring his parents home safe. 

 The ambulance carrying Dunston had left the scene as soon as the man had
been given a cursory going over. Ray knew that at this point no one had
any idea if the man was going to make it. Sometimes these things were best
left in the hands of God. It really spooked Ray to think of his little
sister being chased through the winter woods like that. He'd been
listening to the tale Ben and Francesca had spun as they had submitted to
being checked over by the medical professionals and questioned by this guy
Morgan at the same time. 

 And thinking of Morgan, Ray squinted his eyes and gave the guy the once
over. He'd noticed several times that the man seemed to sneak admiring and
almost love lorn looks at his sister when he thought no one was looking.
He'd also noticed the frankly speculative looks the man kept giving
Fraser. Ray shivered as a cool breeze wound its way through the living
room area of the cabin and wondered how he was going to get Francesca to
leave her cabin home with the glass out of the window. 

 He hadn't heard Morgan give the order, but obviously the man had at some
point requested some of his co-workers to find material to close the
window off because he noted that one of the men was quickly pulling glass
out of the window frame while another was on a cell phone relaying the
windows dimensions to someone who was apparently going to repair the
window as quickly as possible. It would have surprised Ray to know that
Jimmie McCardle was the man on the other end of the phone and that it
wasn't due to his uncle's reputation that special effort was being made.
Ray hadn't experienced the warm sense of community that existed up here
the way Francesca had as she had spent some of her growing years at her
uncle's home. But, when the deputy snapped his cell phone shut, Ray knew
without a doubt that Francesca's window would be closed off before
darkness fell on the cabin. It irritated Ray that his little sister seemed
to have a life up here with friends that he didn't seem to know about. 

 One of the deputies returned to the cabin and called Morgan out on to the
porch while Ben and Franny were down the hall showering and changing into
fresh, warm clothing. Ray walked over to the doorway and listened to the
other deputy describing the tent encampment up on the hill and the
provisions that the man had had up there. The details were rather sparse
so far, but there was little doubt that the man had been up there for
several days waiting for a chance at Francesca and Ben. Ray shook his
shoulders to ward off the feeling that he might know just who had set this
up. It just wasn't logical to think that this entire thing had been set up
by someone either Ben or Ray had sent to prison. This had been aimed at
Francesca as well, and Ray was fairly certain that her involvement had to
do with her marriage and her pregnancy. 

 Ray's own cell phone rang and he stepped back into the cabin to answer
it. 

 Ben stood next to the bed towel drying his hair and watching Francesca
pulling on the thickest sweater she'd brought with her. Her hair hung
limply about her head and he noted with relief that at least she had
stopped shivering. She'd acted so strongly the last two days that it was
inevitable that reaction might set in and it had. The minute their
attacker was in the care of the local authorities Francesca had begun to
shiver. 

 He dropped the towel onto the bed and began pulling on the jeans and
heavy sweater she'd pulled out for him while he was in the shower. His own
muscles were vibrating and quivering with his own need to relax and sit
down so that he could take stock of all that had happened. He needed to
find a way not to dwell on the fact that he might have lost Francesca.
When he finished buttoning his shirt he looked up to see his little wife
had moved to stand next to him and that her face wore a tired and
exhausted look. But her eyes, her eyes were riveted on him with the same
concern he knew she was seeing on his face for her. He held his arms open
and gathered her small form close to him. Francesca finally let go of the
tension that had been building within her over the last two days. Ben
turned a bit and sat on their bed bringing his wife down onto his lap as
he sat down. He held her tightly and kissed the hair on the top of her
head. 

 Ray moved down the corridor with his cell phone still set closely to his
ear. He approached what he thought to be Francesca's bedroom door. He
knocked on the door frame and waited a second before looking into the
room. 

 "Hey, anyone in here want to talk to an adorable little boy who just
happens to be my nephew." He held out his cell phone towards the silent
couple sitting on the bed. 

 Ray's first thought as he watched his little sister being held in the
tight embrace of her husband's arms was to think just how right it seemed
that the two of them were together. That thought brought a fresh onrush of
his own feelings for the two of them through him like a quaking movement
of the earth beneath his feet. Ray felt goose bumps break out all over his
own body and walked over to the bed and sat down next to Ben feeling the
muscles in his own legs feel shaky. 

 The sudden feeling of extra weight on the bed made Ben raise his head
from where he'd been resting his cheek against Francesca's hair. He turned
his head and looked into the eyes of the man he called not just his
brother-in-law, but brother as well. Those huge green eyes were an open
well of feeling that Ben felt himself drawn within. He put a gentle hand
on the back of Francesca's head as she still rested her head against his
head and cried softly. He looked quickly down at the top of that dark
curly head and looked back at Ray. Ben knew that when it came to
relationships he wasn't well versed in the language of words that could
make someone else understand how he felt. And now, just as it had always
been for him, his throat constricted against the swelling feeling
threatening to burst from his own throat. But he knew that Ray understood
him and would always be there for him and for Francesca. And so, he tried
to tell Ray by letting the tears he'd been holding back well into his eyes
and used his lips to form the words, `thank you'. 

 Ray grinned with a lopsided smile and shrugged his shoulders. He raised
his cell phone again and took it off mute. "Either one of you want to talk
to one really small boy?" 

 Francesca sat up so quickly that her head hit Ben's chin throwing his
head back with the force of her movement. She wiped away her tears and
grabbed the phone out of her brother's hand. She took a really deep breath
and then put the phone to her ear. "Hey, how's my little guy?" 

 Putting a hand to his throbbing jaw, Ben smiled at Francesca as she began
a dialog with his son; no make that their son. It was apparent as he
listened that Chase just how closely the bond between the two had grown.
He began to smile as he listened to the side of the conversation that he
could hear as Francesca answered the little boy's questions and assured
the child that, yes Uncle Ray was here and quite safe. 

 "Love you." Francesca handed the phone to Ben and climbed off his lap to
stand with her arms wrapped around her torso in front of her brother. "Ma
was in the background. She wants details. I could almost see her waiting
to grab the phone from Chase as he talked and she made comments in the
background." She leaned forward suddenly and grabbed her brother's face
between her hands and gave him a big kiss. "Love you too, you know." She
made the words sound like the renewing of a contract between them for she
said them with a fierceness Ray hadn't heard from her before. 

 Ben laughed at something Chase said and then handed the small cell phone
back to Ray. "Your mother is on the phone Ray." 

 Ray let his shoulders droop and held out his hand and took the phone.
"This call is really gonna cost me," he whispered before putting the phone
to his ear before saying, "Ya, Ma. What you want?" 

 Deputy Morgan waited in the living room of the Vecchio cabin. He wandered
around the room and noticed how much Francesca had changed it since she'd
inherited it from her uncle. He noted all the little touches in the room
that he was certain pertained to the new husband. But, it was rather
curious seeing all the little books and pictures of what he was certain
was Canada on the bookshelf. He shook himself. Well, it wasn't his
business and the man had identified himself as Constable Benton Fraser of
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. `Actually', he thought, `perhaps that's
what made it hurt the most. It wasn't the fact that she'd moved on, but
that she had fallen for another officer of the law. That had been one of
the things he'd told her over and over to be sure about. She'd always told
him it didn't matter as her brother was a police officer and she was well
aware of what that meant. He hadn't believed her. Hadn't believed she'd
had it in her to deal with what that meant. He'd wanted to be very sure
she'd known what she was getting into if she had a relationship with him.
He'd been wrong. He knew it.' 

 He reached out and touched a tiny picture of Francesca as a child. `You
sure grew up fine Snowflake.' He turned around and watched as the last of
his fellow officers walked out the door to stand on the porch. He heard
the sounds of voices coming down the hallway and turned to see Ray and
Francesca coming down the hall followed by a very slow moving Benton
Fraser. He'd heard one of the officers saying something about a cane being
found on the property and it was with some surprise he noted that the
Mountie was using it heavily as he walked slowly down the hallway.
`Funny,' he thought. `He hadn't noticed any infirmity in the man before.' 

 Morgan watched with great interest as Francesca and Ray both stared the
Mountie down until he sat down on the sofa. It was very clear to him just
how much the man meant to the Vecchio siblings. "You folks will have new
glass in that window by sundown. Old Josh down at the hardware opened his
store when Jimmie McCardle called him. Ted Simmons is going to put the
window in for you; he's the best carpenter in the area now that Tom Shaw
is gone." He stopped and noted that Francesca was smiling at him. "I'll be
leaving. You're power will be back on by evening. Chris Thomas is coming
over to do that." He grinned back at Francesca but made his last comment
to Ray. "I'll have the file record done by evening and faxed out to your
office." 

 Francesca moved towards Morgan and reached up on tiptoe and kissed his
check. "Thank you." 

 Ben and Ray's mouths dropped and they exchanged a look that spoke volumes
of their surprise at Francesca's actions. 

 Ben felt his face flushing and knew it was not embarrassment but jealousy
that had put the telltale red coloring there this time. He ducked his head
down quickly and hoped no one would notice the absence of his
attentiveness. When he finally looked up, he found himself watching
Francesca escort Morgan to the door. She hung back from the man and
watched him walk out the door. She closed the door and turned back to Ben
with a huge smile on her face that was meant just for him. All the
feelings of jealousy flew from him as he watched her walk over and simply
plopped down on the sofa beside him. He was amazed at the electricity he
felt over his entire body when she picked up his right hand and gripped it
in hers. 

 The cell phone Ray had pocketed after talking to his mother in the
bedroom rang and Ray answered it. He grinned as he listened. He mouthed
the word, `Bree' to the couple seated on the sofa. He pointed to Francesca
and made a face that she was more than familiar with having seen it her
entire life when he wanted to pick at her about something she'd done. Ray
walked down the hallway to achieve some privacy for his phone call.
Francesca muttered to herself about nosy Italian brothers and then turned
to look at Ben and noted the high color in his face. 

 "It was never what he thought it was you know." She blushed and
continued. "He was a good friend when I would come up here by myself." She
paused before adding, "After my divorce. He..." 

 Ben raised his left hand and halted her words with a touch of his
fingers. "I'm glad you had a friend like that Chesca." He whispered the
words and then leaned over and sealed them with a kiss. "And I'm glad you
had someone like that around when you needed them." 

 "You were jealous though...I see it in your eyes." 

 "Not jealous, exactly." He brushed his lips against her cheek. "Well,
yes...jealous...but not of the fact that he loved you, and maybe still
does. I was jealous of the way he looked at you. Of the way he was
drowning in his thoughts of what might have been between you. And then I
was thankful that you had waited to find me. Thankful I had found you." He
put his hand on the back of her neck and drew her body closer to his. 

 Ray snapped his cell phone shut and wandered back down the hall to the
living room where he was very visibly reminded that this was in fact his
sister's honeymoon cabin. He watched the way Ben held his sister close to
him and kissed her and not for the first time wondered if he and Bree were
becoming that close. Then he thought of how he'd felt while he was talking
to her on the phone and grinned. He just might have to visit a jeweler
soon. The thought that he was thinking marriage hit him like a brick wall.
He stopped so suddenly that he actually made audible noise in the opening
to the hallway. 

 The happy expression on Ray's face widened when he realized that though
he had startled the couple on the sofa, they hadn't broken apart to turn
and look at him. 

 "OK...We leave in the morning, right?" Two faces stared mutinously back
at him. "Don't you dare tell me I'm leaving without you? Ma already gave
me orders. I don't come back without you two." He enjoyed the blush that
remark brought to both of their faces. "Tomorrow, right?" 

 Francesca retorted loudly, "No." 

 `The day after then." 

 "No." 

 "I am not staying here with you two kissy facing for a week. I'm not." 

 "I didn't ask you to." 

 "Well, I am not going home without you." Ray plopped into the easy chair
over by the window and drew his coat tightly around him. 

 "Ray, Francesca..." Ben began only to be loudly shushed by both of his
relatives. 

 "We stay." 

 "One more day." Ben tried in a soothing voice. 

 "We stay three more days." Francesca's voice was solid and strong. 

 "One day." Benton countered softly. 

 "Two." Francesca countered and gave a smug look at Ray for she knew she
was about to win her point. 

 Ray grinned and watched the bargaining continue. 

 Deputy Morgan stood outside on the porch a moment and drew in a deep
breath and listened to the silence of the cabin behind him. He drew on his
gloves and motioned his fellow officers to their squads. He followed in
silence and opened his squad door and seated himself. He pulled turned the
car on and waited while the other squad cars backed out of the drive. He
gave a last look at the cabin in front of him before following suit and
leaving. 

 Rosa Vecchio walked out into the hallway one more time, making it about
the 15th such trip she'd out into the hallway in the last hour or so. She
stood with her dishcloth in her hands and watched the tiny child seated in
the hallway near the front door on the little stool he had dragged down
from the top floor playroom. Next to the little boy's feet in two tightly
curled balls were his protectors, the family's four-footed contingent. He
hadn't moved from that little stool since the last phone call Ray had made
two hours ago saying that he was right behind Francesca's car and that the
three of them would be home before dinner. She smiled and returned to the
kitchen were Marie and Maria were busy helping her prepare a huge feast of
a meal for dinner. 

 Chase sat with his small chin propped up with his hands and his elbows on
his knees. His thick, curly hair had been brushed and brushed and seemed
for once to be nearly flattened to his head. He was wearing a pair of what
he referred to as big boy jeans and a deep blue t-shirt that brought out
the blue of his eyes. He was excited at the prospect of his parents return
home. He didn't quite understand why Uncle Ray had gone after them. His
eyes were beginning to close as he sat there for he had refused an
afternoon nap this day. He was after all nearly 4 now. 

 Dief was the first to be aware that the homecoming was imminent. He heard
the muffler on the RIV coming down the street. He cocked an ear and
waited. Wallace heard the same sound and stood up in preparation to attack
the homecomers. He gave a short howl and bounced to his feet. Dief closed
his eyes again and remained curled up on the floor. It would be time
enough to use some energy when the two legged ones came in the door. 

 The puppy jumped up on his master, placing two huge growing paws on the
boy's legs. Chase looked and shrieked for joy for by this time he could
hear the cars pulling into the driveway. He jumped up off of his stool and
tried yanking on the doorknob that he was still too little to turn right. 

 Rosa heard the commotion at the front door and headed out to see if her
son was bringing her other children home safely. She had to smile when she
saw the little boy tussling with the doorknob. 

 He pulled the RIV into the driveway behind Franny's car and turned off
the ignition. He couldn't wait to get inside. He grinned at the thought
that Ben was going to find out just how well his mother treated children
who had been absent from the fold for however short a time they had been
gone. The idea delighted him for he was well aware that Ben still had a
lot to learn about life inside a large family, specially a large Italian
family. He watched Francesca pop her car door open and Ben push his open.
He climbed out of the RIV and offered to help carry in their luggage. 

 The trio gained the steps to the porch in companionable silence. But they
stopped when they heard the sounds of Chase laughing and the woofing of
his canine companions. Just as Francesca put her hand on the screen door,
her mother opened the heavier wooden door to reveal Chase bouncing around
on his tiny stocking feet. Rosa had demanded the boy not put his shoes on
earlier knowing that even the absence of shoes might not stop the child
from rushing out the door when his parents returned home. 

 Maria and Marie hurried down the hall when they heard the front door
opening and stopped in the front hall to watch Chase joyously reunite with
his parents. Suitcases were set down and the small child was raised high
in his father's arms until he was held close to his father's chest. The
boy reached out and offered an arm to Francesca and pulled her close. Ray
followed them into the front hall and immediately began removing his coat.
He raised his head and flared his nostrils and grinned for the inviting
smell of his mother's baking filled the house. 

 By the time the end of the week rolled around in the Vecchio/Fraser home,
everyone was once more settled into more regular routines. Ray and Bree
were seeing more of each other than ever before. And Ray returned to work
to find out that Deputy Morgan had been true to his word, a full report on
the man they now knew as Dunston. And, thanks to the fingerprints on his
rifle they had a more detailed picture of just how dangerous the man was.
The report detailed his activities around the cabin and said report had
been faxed to Ray's precinct where Lieutenant Welsh had made it a priority
to find out who had hired the man. Detective Huey had made a break in the
case and had followed a paper trail that led straight to Jean Andre's
mental asylum door. 

 Jean Andre had ceased to pretend madness, for after the visit during the
night by Victoria he'd truly gone made. The poor man remained in total
confinement and sat muttering during his waking hours about ghosts and
their threats. And, once in awhile, he would sit and bemoan ever having a
thought about killing a certain Royal Canadian Mountie. And, if he
sometimes seemed to be frightened by some unseen figure in the corner of
his room no one was to know it was Victoria making regular visits to the
man. 

 Chase's fourth birthday was celebrated in the gayest manner his parents
could offer. And the Vecchio home rang with the sound of the children's
laughter for days afterwards. Chase was enthralled by the gift his father
had arranged for him. So enthralled, that his mother had to forbid him
cleaning and waxing a small child's dog sled at all hours of the day.
Chase couldn't wait for the first new snow to fall so he could try it out.
And though Wallace was as yet too young to pull the sled, Ben was showing
Chase how to train the young puppy how to pull. It was deemed that Dief
would provide Chase with an animal to pull the sled until Wallace was old
enough and trained for the job. 

 Benton found every day getting easier for him. His legs were healing and
growing stronger every day and he continued working with the weights he
that had spent so much time with in his wheelchair. He delighted in
watching his son and nieces and nephews running around the house while Ray
and Francesca worked at the precinct. He welcomed his wife home every day
with a warm hug and a kiss and they spent their nights wrapped lovingly
around each other in their huge bed. Ben passed each new physical easily
and soon was walking the neighborhood without his cane or assistance of
any kind and soon his cane filled only a ceremonial spot in the corner of
the bedroom. Though he was often followed by a retinue of Vecchio
children. And as Thanksgiving and then Christmas approached he could be
seen walking the neighborhood followed by his nieces and nephews with his
son riding high on his shoulders. And often, the entire group would be
accompanied by two four-footed friends. 

 Francesca continued to enjoy a healthy pregnancy and was looking forward
to each doctor's visit. She began to grow large and didn't mind wearing
the large clothing that maternity required. Indeed, she planned to
continue working until Ben returned to duty in January. That way one of
Chase's parents would always be around him. When she began to grow huge,
she simply smiled when teased by Maria or Ray that she was eating too much
for Ben himself often filled her meal plates for her and served her
quietly in their own bedroom seated at the table by their window. 

 Christmas morning found the entire Vecchio family spread out around the
living room and enjoying snacks and opening presents after an early church
service. Ben looked around the room filled with children and laughing
adults and held his wife's hand tightly as he watched his small son
opening the first Christmas presents he'd received from his father. He
watched his own grandmother enjoying the merriment and felt that at last
he had found contentment in his life. 

 The family enjoyed a huge breakfast and then dispersed to spend the
morning with their new toys and gifts. Ben waited until he thought
everyone was employed elsewhere and snuck into his bedroom where he opened
his closet and took out a zippered clothing bag. He laid it carefully on
his bed and undid the zipper and took the freshly dry-cleaned red serge
uniform out of the bag and off its hanger. He fingered the buttons
lovingly before unbuttoning each one gently and reverently. 

 Francesca noticed that Ben wasn't in the living room or in the kitchen.
She went down the hallway and cautiously opened their bedroom door. She
entered the room and closed the door behind her and stood watching Ben's
back with admiration. 

 Ben's back was to her as she stood there. He stood before her once more
dressed in his scarlet red serge uniform. He was buckling on his brown
leather Sam Browne and he looked so tall and strong again. She watched the
movement of his arms and just knew he was patting the buckle lovingly into
place. 

 "Afraid it wouldn't fit?" 

 He whipped around and for the first time ever Francesca saw the face of
her beloved wearing a smile wide enough to crack his face open. She had
always considered him the handsomest man she had ever met. But the look on
his face totally floored her emotionally and she exhaled a breath so long
and deep that she nearly felt herself become faint. 

 Ben watched the look on Francesca's face and rushed to her side when he
thought she wasn't breathing quite right. He took her face in his hands
and frowned a bit. 

 "Are you worried?" He watched her closely knowing he would give up his
life in the RCMP if she demanded it of him. 

 "Never." She gave him back a smile as wide as the one he had on his face
just moments before. "You just looked so...so right." She took a small
breath... "Does that make sense to you?" 

 He kissed her and lifted her up into his arms. And turned towards their
bed. 

 "Twelve more days." She sighed. "Think you'll live through it?" 

 "Will you?" he said and laid her gently on the bed and began removing the
Sam Browne. 

 Epilogue 

 January the 5th dawned crisp and clear and cold and Benton Fraser,
Constable in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police dressed with infinite care
and preciseness. He had risen well before he had to and traversed the
hallway to the main floor bath and spent a lot of time completing a very
meticulous grooming. He had had his hair cut several days before and now
his image in the bathroom mirror reflected that which he was used to and
he grinned back at his own face in the mirror. He'd taken great care not
to waken his very pregnant sleeping wife. He'd brought his uniform into
the bathroom with him and when he was done severely grooming his short
hair and brushing his teeth, he donned his uniform with as much care as he
had on the first day he had ever worn it. 

 He arrived at the Canadian Consulate via a ride from his brother-in-law
and straightened his scarlet red serge tunic hem after he removed his
coat. He took a deep breath and strode as calmly as he could, though his
palms were sweating profusely, toward Inspector Thatcher's office. He was
greeted with smiles along the way from various workers in the building and
that only served to make him tip his head in acknowledgement and stiffen
his back with pride. 

 The Inspector looked up at her office door when she heard the knock on
it. She glanced at the clock on her desk and smiled thoughtfully. He was
back and early, too. She pulled her glasses off of her face and cleared
her throat then called out, "Enter." 

 The man that stood before her moments later was hardly the man she had
known for so long. He was tempered now by a hand of fate and weathered a
bit with new lines about his eyes that she knew had come from long days of
worry and pain. But somehow as he stood there before her she had to
acknowledge that he seemed straighter and taller and better looking than
she had remembered him. She gripped her pen tightly before placing it down
on the desk in front of her. She had rehearsed for hours in her mind just
how she would greet him when he returned. But those words all seemed trite
and useless when confronted with the actual form of the man. So she simply
rose and extended her hand. 

 "Glad to have you back Fraser. Turnbull turned out your office the other
day and I think you'll find it just as it should be. He placed all the
files you've been working on at the Vecchio's in their proper places on
your desk. I know you're up to speed on the current workload...." 

 Benton stood and listened to his commanding officer rattle on about
workloads and distribution of their workforce and Ottawa's current need
for an idiotic report. He knew he wouldn't get any soft words of welcome
from her for that would open up wounds he knew she hadn't healed yet
within herself. He wasn't quite as dense as she had always believed him he
thought. And he knew how painful it had been for her to stand by and be a
witness at his wedding to Francesca Vecchio. But, he was encouraged by her
warm smile and quick way of getting back to work as normal. He fervently
hoped they could find a way to continue working together that wouldn't
hurt her. 

 Hours later after spending a confining morning doing paperwork and
answering phones Ben felt a bit cramped by his confinement to his office.
His official paper work done, he rose and made his way to the Inspector's
office. 

 He was happy several minutes later when he stood out in the blustery
January sun doing a bit of guard duty. He'd never imagined actually
requesting that kind of duty, but since he wasn't allowed to take up his
liaison duties with Ray for another couple of weeks, this was the best
that he could do to avoid sitting at a desk all day. 

 The sun came out and the day became one of those January days where it
seemed almost ridiculous that there was snow on the ground. Ben enjoyed it
and stared straight ahead. Cars passed to and fro in front of him and he
didn't bat an eye. Then about an hour after he'd taken up his stance he
saw Francesca's small car pull up out front and his very pregnant wife
haul herself out of the car. Somewhere deep inside himself, Benton Fraser
became afraid. 

 Francesca made her way past the gate and up to the spot where Ben stood
totally immobile. She grinned at him and reached up on tiptoe to kiss the
lower edge of his jaw. Then she patted the shoulder of his uniform in a
most maternal but wifely way and continued up the steps. Moments later she
returned and walked down the street accompanied by Inspector Thatcher. 

 Benton Fraser began to sweat. 

 The two women walked down to a coffee shop not far away and took a
private booth in the back. Francesca slowly lowered herself down into one
of the benches of the booth they had chosen and sighed with relief to be
off her feet. 

 A waitress approached the two women with dark hair and noticed an air of
formality coming from the two women though the smaller, pregnant woman
smiled at her warmly while they placed an order for one cup of very hot
tea and one large glass of juice. The waitress hurried away and hoped that
at some point while they were customers that she could be close enough to
hear what was going on for she recognized the larger of the two ladies as
the lady from that Consulate building down the street. 

 The two women looked at each other and both opened their mouths to speak
at the same time. They laughed a bit nervously and each of them waited for
the other one to begin. 

 Meg Thatcher finally took control of the conversation and began, "You
look very good." 

 Francesca laughed, "You mean even though I'm beginning to look like a
beached whale?" 

 It was Meg's turn to laugh though her cheeks had taken on a decidedly
crimson look. "You haven't gained those proportions, I doubt you will." 

 "You don't know about the meals Ben puts in front of me, do you?"
Francesca watched the buss boy place two glasses of water on the table
between herself and the Inspector. 

 "Oh dear. Mother henning you is he?" She twisted of the paper covering on
the straw the buss boy had placed on the table. 

 "Actually, he doesn't do that though Maria is envious of the way Ben
takes care of me. She says if Tony had just once treated her like that she
wouldn't be so frustrated with him." She took a sip of her water. "Tony's
a bit of an unthinking pig, ya know." 

 Their tea and juice arrived at the table and the two women busied
themselves with taking a first sip of their ordered beverages. 

 "Fraser...I mean Benton looks quite well." 

 "He's not what you think he is you know?" 

 "Pardon me?" 

 Francesca took a long sip of her juice and then countered, "He's got such
deep feelings inside that he doesn't let out often. But I'm working on
that." She ran her hand up and down her juice glass and the look on her
face gave Meg an exact idea of just how the Francesca was doing that. 

 "Yes, I know he does. Have deep feelings I mean." 

 "Yes, he does. He's more wonderful inside than on the outside. Its not
often both packages match, you know what I mean?" She sipped her juice
again. "Anyway, that's not what I wanted to talk to you about." 

 "It's not?" 

 "No, its not." Francesca wet her lips with her tongue. "Ben wants to get
back to liaisonning with my brother, over at the 2-7. The doctors say he's
back to normal, and I do too. But to do that, he's got to stay healthy and
standing guard duty in all this winter weather ain't...er isn't going to
make that happen." 

 "Ah, I see." 

 "Yes. Well, I'll bet he asked you to put him out there, didn't he? He's
the most vexatious man when it comes to his own health." 

 "You're right, he did ask me to stand guard duty, something about
cramping muscles." 

 Francesca let out a low hooting sound. "That man walks all over the
neighborhood hauling Chase along on his shoulders. He's fit enough; oh he
is fit. He just can't stand being still for very long." She grinned. 

 It was Meg's turn to give rather dubious look towards Francesca.
"Actually, that's one of the things I've most admired about Fraser. He has
this ability to seem to turn into a statue at the best and worst of times.
Rather aggravating actually." She sipped her tea. "So, what actually is it
that you wanted to see me about Mrs. Fraser?" 

 Francesca leaned forward and put both of her hands around her glass of
juice. "Well, I'd like to know that you'll do everything that you can to
make sure that he doesn't do anything while he's on duty at the Consulate
to prevent him working with my brother. He feels he's 100 percent now, but
he doesn't realize he needs time to climate himself to work again." She
hesitated, "And I know you wanted him. Any woman with any blood in her
veins would. But, he's not free anymore and you can't keep punishing him
for the way he behaves around you. Most people think I'm a bit dense when
it comes to Ben, but I'm not...I know him better than anyone else. I want
what's good for him not because its what I think he needs but because its
what I know he needs. And he needs to feel useful, you know...not treated
like he's some door stop you can pick up and put down whenever you feel
like it. Not that I'm saying you did that." Francesca watched the way the
Inspector's eyes turn a bit steely then perceptively back at her. 

 Meg filed the picture of anyone daring to try and pick Fraser up like a
door stop away in her brain and bit her lip to keep from laughing, but
part of her was astonished at the depth of thought that Francesca had
given to these ideas. 

 "I can't guarantee you anything. He's Fraser after all." 

 "I know. That's why I asked for your help." 

 "I presume what you want me to do is keep him indoors so he can't go off
on one of those altruistic chases of his. At least, that is until he's
been given the go ahead for street duty again. Is that what you mean?" 

 "That's it." 

 "I'll hold off until I'm given the word from medical then. Will that suit
you?" 

 "Yes. It will." 

 "All right." 

 "Thank you." 

 "You're welcome Mrs. Fraser. The welfare of my officers has always been
one of my top priorities." 

 When a half hour had passed and the two women hadn't returned Benton
Fraser began to worry, but at just about the time he was actually
considering leaving his post he smelled Francesca's lemony perfume. He
relaxed. 

 The women approached him and he hoped Francesca wouldn't give him another
kiss. Relief filled him when she just smiled and sort of waddled to her
car. He waited to hear the engine roar to life and felt the sweat popping
out on his head again as Inspector Thatcher stood surveying him. Perhaps
his lanyard wasn't quite straight. But he didn't dare betray with his eyes
that that thought had crossed his mind. 

 He was relieved when she began mounting the steps to the Consulate door.
She stopped when she was clearly close enough to lean over and whisper in
his ear. "Your little wife puts up a good battle Fraser. But you work for
me and I've won the war." She straightened up and marched stiff shouldered
into the building. 

 When the door closed behind her, Benton Fraser whispered through tightly
clenched teeth, "Oh dear." 

 *The French word for strawberry plants is fraisiers. The Fraser arms are
silver strawberry flowers on a field of blue. Only the Chief is entitled
to use these arms plain and undifferenced. 

End Metamorphoses - V in Phoenix Rising Series by Lys: lystykds@aol.com

Author and story notes above.