The Greens of Jericho

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the television show Jericho or any part of it. The characters are not mine in any way. I am just borrowing them for a bit. I am not affiliated with CBS, the television show Jericho or the writers of Jericho.    I do not own the character Harry Potter or Mad Eye Moody.   I do not own anything whatsoever to do with the Harry Potter series.   I am not affiliated in any way with J.K.Rowling....I am just a HUGE fan.    I am borrowing them for a while and I promise to give them back.

Special thanks to Marzee, Nightsky and JT.    They are great to work with.   I don't think I could have gotten this one done without them!!!   

AUTHOR'S NOTE:   THERE MIGHT BE A FEW PARTS THAT ARE A PG-13 OR BETTER RATING.   FOR THE YOUNGER MEMBERS OF OUR BOARD (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) YOU HAVE BEEN DUELY WARNED.

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HONEYMOON AT BASS LAKE
 
Light was just starting to filter thru the window when Heather opened her eyes.    She was alone in bed.    She frowned, wondering where Jake was.    She got out of bed and looked out the window.    Jake was standing on the dock, wearing only a pair of faded jeans.   'Jake does amazing things for those jeans,' she thought, smiling.  He was drinking a cup of coffee and watching the sun come up.     Heather looked around and saw Jake's long sleeve white dress shirt draped across the bedside lamp, where it had been carelessly thrown the night before.    She slipped it on and walked outside.
 
Jake heard Heather padding barefoot down the dock towards him.   He turned around, smiled, "That shirt looks much better on you than it did on me," he said, opening his arms for her.   
 
Heather looked down at the shirt that fell halfway to her knees and chuckled.
 
"It's early.   You should be sleeping," Jake said, tucking her head under his chin and hugging her tightly.
 
"I got lonely.   What're you doing out here so early?"
 
"Nothin' really.    This is my favorite time of the day.   Back in San Diego, I got up most mornings and watched the sun wake up.    It's always so quiet and peaceful.    It was the only time of the day that I could sneak a cigarette and no one would know.  One positive thing about the bombs.   It got me to do what I had been trying to do for years.    Stop smoking," Jake chuckled.   "Listening to the waves at dawn, it was the only time of the day that wasn't insane.   Here at the lake, the sound of the water and birds are a lot like listening to the waves.   Very relaxing."
 
Heather reached up and tangled her hand in his hair, "I didn't know I married a poet.    Tell me about our house.    I've never been anywhere but the Midwest.   I don't know how the ocean looks or what it feels like."
 
Jake leaned his head back into her hand, closed his eyes and smiled.    He pulled away, took her hand and led her towards the cabin, "Come on.   Lets get back inside.   It's still cool out."
 
Jake refilled his coffee cup, sat down on the couch and pulled Heather into his lap, "So, you've officially been Mrs. Green for almost a day now.   Are you ready to run for the hills?"
 
She pulled Jake's head down and pressed a kiss on his lips, "Mr. Green, you couldn't get rid of me if you tried.   I'm afraid you're stuck with me."
 
He hugged her tightly to him.   Jake still couldn't believe Heather was his wife.   After the things Sara had said when she told him she was leaving, he was surprised anyone would want to be with him at all.
 
"You asked about San Diego?  What do you want to know about it?"
 
"Jake, I want to know everything.    What was it like?   What's the ocean like?   Is it warm there?   What did you do there besides fly planes?"
 
"Slow down," Jake laughed.   "Wanna eat something first?"
 
"No, I'm fine.   I'm dying to hear this story.   You wouldn't believe the things I've thought up ever since you showed me and Mom those passports.    I have a confession.   After I found out that's where you lived I looked up everything I could about San Diego.   I could probably work for San Diego Tourism," she laughed.   "Where did you live??  La Jolla, Beach-Barber, Black's Beach??""
 
"You went to the Jericho library?  Heather, that place was condemned after the fire.   Why in the world would you go there to find out stuff about San Diego.   All you had to do was ask," he hugged her to him again.  "That was so dangerous.   You can't do stuff like that.   It would kill me if something happened to you."
 
"No, Jake, not the Jericho Community Library.   They got all the books out of there that they could and they're all up at the High School now.   I spent some time there with Darcy Hawkins.   She was looking for stuff for Sam for school.   I looked at California stuff in between helping her.   You'll never lose me, Jake.   Ever," Heather said, cupping his cheek in her hand and kissing the side of his mouth.   She snuggled against him, her finger drawing designs on his bare chest, "Now, tell me about our house and our neighborhood."
 
He chuckled and kissed the top of her head, "If you keep doing that we'll never make it to the San Diego story."
 
"Okay, I'll stop.   Now talk, Mr. Green."
 
"I'll talk after we eat.   I can't have you heaving on me," he said laughing.   He carried her across the living room, shouldered the door to the bedroom open and put her on the bed, "How does breakfast in bed sound?"
 
"Well, it would sound good except for one thing.   Jake, you can't cook.   How are we going to eat if I'm in bed."
 
"Mrs. Green, if I am remembering correctly, you can't cook either.   Besides, it's just breakfast,"  Jake said, laughing, "Get comfortable.   I'll be right back."
 
Jake came back into the bedroom carrying two paper plates, his coffee cup and a large glass filled with orange liquid.
 
"Since you're pregnant, I'll let you choose," Jake said putting the plates down, "strawberry or blueberry?"
 
Heather laughed when she saw what was on the plates, "Jake, I haven't had Poptarts since September!   Where did you find Poptarts?  How bout we split them and have one of each.   What's that?" she asked, pointing at the glass of orange liquid.
 
"They came from supplies we got Friday.  The orange stuff is Tang.  I think that's from Stanley.   He used to drink that stuff like there was no tomorrow.   There's a whole jar of it.  I can't stomach it but it's full of vitamins and nutrients and stuff that's good for you, so drink it," he said, pointing and winking at her.
 
After they finished their breakfast feast Jake sat back against the headboard, "Alright, Mrs. Green.     I didn't live in La Jolla.   It's nice but very very expensive.   The house was in Coronado."

"Coronado?!  Jake, wow.  That is a nice area.   It can't be any less expensive than
La Jolla though."
 
"Okay, Babe, here's more of the story.   This is something that stays between us.   No one else can know about this.    I'm a Navy SEAL.   A pool guy.   I haven't worked as a SEAL in a lot of years but I've had all the training.   I told you back in February that I worked for the government.   One of the perks of my job was my house and Nana Kate.   There was a group of us.   We all worked for the Company.   We lived in a secluded gated neighborhood that was for Company people on the Naval base."
 
"A SEAL?  You mean a SEAL SEAL? Like a real SEAL?!  Like G. I. Jane?   You know, that movie...it had Demi Moore and Viggo Mortensen?" Heather exclaimed, mouth open. "I married a SEAL," she whispered.
 
"Yeah, you did but I've got more hair and less boobs," Jake laughed.   "You know, that was a really bad movie.   Demi looked good but that ain't the way it is."
 
"I don't care how inaccurate it was.....there's nothing wrong with Viggo Mortensen!"
 
Jake slid down in bed, leaned over Heather and thoroughly kissed her.   He was relieved to get the whole SEAL thing out in the open.   "Is that right?" he laughed, slowing trailing his fingers across her stomach.    He slid his hand down and slowly started to unbutton her shirt and smiled rakishly at her.   
 
She reached up and tangled her fingers in his hair and pulled his face down to hers and gave him a lingering kiss.  "No, not really.   Your eyes are prettier and your lips are much more kissable."
 
"Umm..," Jake said, nuzzling her neck, "that's nice."   He slowly slid his hand to the top of the shirt and nibbled her ear lobe, "What did you want to know about the house?   Did you want to know about the upstairs?" he said, whispering and slowly unbuttoning the top button of the shirt.   Jake slid his hand back down to the last button he had unbuttoned, "Or did you want to start at the bottom and work our way up?"
 
"How about we talk about the house later?" Heather said, in a quiet throaty voice.
 
**********     **********     **********
 
The breeze off the lake held the promise of rain that night.   Jake and Heather could see lightning in the distance and hear the occasional rumble of thunder.
 
Jake walked up on the porch carrying two plates.
 
"Get ready for a taste sensation," he said, smiling at Heather.   "Tonight, we have fresh grilled Spam and scrambled eggs.   And you said I couldn't cook."
 
"Yum," Heather laughed.
 
Jake bent down and kissed Heather's temple, "You feelin' better now?"
 
Heather had spent the afternoon nauseated, "Yes, thank you.   I've got to remember to eat a little bit every so often.   Whether I'm hungry or not," she said, smiling.
 
"I'm sorry you're sick," he said, squeezing her hand and then grinning broadly, "but I'm happy for the reason."
 
"Are you really?   I mean this has all come on so fast.   I mean boom, we're a couple and then we coast along for a couple of months," she smiled at him, "a nice coast, and then boom boom, we're pregnant and married.   Are you sure you're happy?   I don't want you to feel trapped, Jake."
 
Jake knelt down in front of her, put his arms around her waist and laid his head in her lap, "Heather, trapped is the very last thing I feel.   I feel lucky.    I still can't believe you're taking on me.   Let's face it, I have a less than stellar reputation around Jericho.    I have a very dark past.     I come with some pretty big baggage.    You're suddenly an instant mother to an eight year old boy who's behavior can be less than pleasant.    Babe,  I love you.    I think I loved you from the first minute I saw you on that school bus.     I would have married you regardless.    I can't stop grinning when I think about our baby.   I can't wait.  I feel so lucky to have you," he said, kissing her stomach.
 
She hugged him back, bent down and kissed the top of his head, "I love you too," she said in a thick voice.
 
Jake reached up and wiped her tears away with his thumb and smiled at her.
 
"Don't pay any attention to me," she chuckled thru her tears, "I'm a hormonal basket case."
 
"I love every bit of it," Jake said, his eyes curiously bright.    He stood up and kissed her cheek. 
 
"Now, on to dinner," he said, clearing his throat, "we can have designer spring water (holding up a bottle of Sam's Water), fresh, boiled, sparkling well water straight from the Jericho hand pump (holding up a jug) or Tang with your choice of water?"
 
Heather laughed. "I think I'll take the designer spring water," she said, reaching for the bottled water.   "We were talking about the house in San Diego this morning," Heather said, "I would still love to know about it.   That and what the ocean's like and what living on the beach is like?   What's California like?   I want to know everything."
 
"Everything's a pretty tall order!    Living on the beach is great.   You'd love it.   There's a smell in the morning, when the sun is just coming up and the wind is blowing in off the water.   I can't even describe it.   The water is nice....but cold.    You have to go in in a wet suit a lot of the time.    Surfing is fun.    I love to surf," he said, laughing, "I had taught Jake the basics before we left.   He was getting pretty good."
 
"I'm dying to know.   Is Black's Beach really a nude beach?   I mean are there really boobs and whohas just hanging out there for everyone to see?  I just know I would be pointing and laughing," Heather said with big eyes.
 
Jake burst out laughing, "Whohas?  I don't think I've ever heard that word.    Yes, it is a nude beach.   Where the nudey part actually is, isn't on Black's Beach anymore because it's San Diego City and it's illegal  They occasionally have a round up.   The nudey part is Torrey Pines State Beach.   You have to be careful and watch the boundaries.    And, no, I never tried it but I had a couple of friends who went frequently.   I had to listen to them complain every time the rangers reduced the "legal" part."
 
"What was the house like?" Heather asked, loving the enthusiasm she heard in Jake's voice when he talked about living on the beach.
 
"The house was white and had lots of windows.   It had three floors, four bedrooms and four baths."
 
"Jake, that's pitiful," Heather laughed.   "Tell me about the house.   Where was your bedroom?   Where did Jacob sleep?  I want details, Jake.  Details!"
 
Jake groaned, "Yes, Ma'am."
 
There was a loud crack of thunder and the sky lit up.   
 
"How bout we take it inside?" Jake asked, holding out his hand.  "Just let me clean up here and I'll be in."    The screen door slammed behind Jake just as the rain started to fall.
 
Heather had lit candles and was sitting on the couch, waiting for Jake.    He sat down and propped his feet up on the coffee table.   
 
He patted his lap, "Why don't you lay down?   Get some rest."    Heather lay down with her head in his lap and Jake pulled a blanket over her.
 
"Living in California," Jake said, smiling, "it was great.   We loved it.   Everything's there.   San Diego is usually warm but if you want cold and snow head North.    There's every kind of person there---good, bad, beautiful, not so beautiful, weird and normal.    I even got used to the earthquakes.   The only thing I never got used to was the way people in California order a pizza.    I'm sorry but pesto, sun dried tomato slices and sushi do not belong on a pizza," he laughed.  "There is the best burger place out there too.   In 'N Out Burgers.   They put every other burger place to shame."
 
"I think I'd like California and I would definitely like a good burger.   Now tell me about the house!" Heather said impatiently.
 
"The house,"  Jake sighed.  "There were lots of windows and the floors were hardwood so it was bright and loud.   You know, I'm really not good at this, I'm sorry.    Um... Jacob's and Kate's rooms was on the top floor.    Jacob's room was all airplanes."
 
Heather turned her head and looked up at Jake, "Gee, I wonder where he got that idea from?"
 
"Jacob loves to fly," Jake said, smiling.   "One time I was able to sneak him into the cockpit of a F-14.   You'd have thought he'd died and gone to heaven.    That was when I was Lt. Jake Green.   Luckily, I didn't have to go to Navy functions much.   I hated the whites."
 
"I'd love to see you in a white uniform," Heather said, laughing.
 
Jake, playing with her hair, laughed, "That thing was so uncomfortable and hot as Hell.   I hated wearing it.   I avoided it whenever I could.   I only went to required functions and those I tried to get out of every time I could."
 
"So where was your bedroom," Heather asked, trying to get back to the subject at hand.
 
"I was downstairs.    I didn't exactly have regular hours, and that way I didn't disturb Jake and Kate if I came in late.   Kate's wonderful but if she don't get her full eight hours, she's a bear.   A mean bear," Jake chuckled.   "Then there was the ground floor where the computer and TV were.   That's about it.   Great location but not too grand."
 
Jake leaned his head against the wall and closed his eyes, trying to forget that last weekend with Sara.    How two sisters could be so different he didn't know.   Heather was all love and sweetness.    That last weekend, Sara had been pure venom and hate.   He still cringed inside when he thought that Jacob had heard the beginnings of the argument before being rushed out of the house by the nanny with firm instructions to not return until she was called.   Even if San Diego had survived, which he doubted, there was no way he could ever live in that house again.   The things that had been said in the living room and bedroom had left too many bad memories.   Things he would never tell Heather.  He suddenly realized he didn't care if he ever saw California again....that was his old life.    Kansas was pretty good this time around.   There was love here, with Heather.   They were a family.
 
Jake felt Heather caress his cheek.   He smiled.
 
"Don't go to sleep on me," Heather said, teasingly.
 
"I'm not sleeping.   Just resting my eyes."
 
"I didn't believe it when my kids told me that at school," Heather laughed, sitting up cupping his cheek, "and I don't believe you, either!"
 
"Ok, caught," Jake said, kissing her palm.   
 
"Jake," Heather said, moving to sit in Jake's lap and wrapping her arms around his neck , "I love the ranch house.   Do you think we could fix it up this summer and have it ready for winter?"
 
Jake pressed his lips together, he had known this was coming.    He hated himself for what he was getting ready to say because he knew it would break her heart.
 
"Heather," Jake said quietly, "I know you love that house.    It's a great house.   I have so many happy memories there.    But, Babe, I don't think we can do that.   I know it's awkward living with Mom and Dad but we can't be that far out of town, especially with a baby coming.    It's just not safe.    What if something happened to you and I had to get you to the hospital?   April died and she was at the hospital.    Jacob was born early.   Heather, we just can't risk it.    There's also the issue of gas for the cars.   And food, what if Gray decides the families outside the town limits don't get rations.   We just can't right now.   I'm sorry."
 
Heather's face fell and her eyes filled with tears.   She bowed her head and tried to blink the tears away.   When she looked back up she was smiling, but the smile wasn't reaching her eyes.   "If that's what you think is best and safest, I guess we stay put."
 
Jake could see disappointment written all over Heather.   He felt awful and wanted to kick himself.
 
"I'm sorry, Heather," Jake said, kissing her forehead, "I know it's what you want.   It's what I want too.   I would love for it to be just you, me, Jacob and the baby.   I promise, it'll happen.    When the world isn't quite so crazy, we'll move out there."
 
Heather nodded in understanding.   Jake hugged her, feeling like a jerk.    He had been married one day and he had already made her cry and not for hormonal reasons.   'Way to go, Jake,' he thought. 'What a guy, disappointing your pregnant wife.'

Jake placed his hand on her stomach, "When are you supposed to start feeling him move?"
 
"Him?" Heather laughed.  "It might be a her.   I don't really know for sure but not for a long time.    Do you want a boy or a girl?"
 
"I don't care," Jake said, "I want a baby born when it's supposed to be.    That's all I ask."    He hugged her tightly, "Did you know that there hasn't been a girl born in the Green family in like a hundred years?   All the babies have been boys.    I remember my mother talking about that when I was little.   She always wanted a baby girl.    She came close...she got Eric!"  Jake laughed.
 
Heather laughed and smacked his chest, "Jake, that's not nice!"
 
"You've never seen the Eric I grew up with!     You should've heard his early morning shower concerts," Jake laughed.   "He can't drink either.    Has Dad ever told you the story of the one and only time Eric ever got drunk?"
 
Heather chuckled, "No.  I've not heard that one."
 
"He woke Mom and Dad up one night.   It was the middle of the night.   He was shining this flashlight in their face.   Dad thought they were being robbed or something.  Nope.   It was Eric.   He had drunk a beer.   One beer.   And he felt the need to confess that he was drunk.   Dad was so mad.   I laughed my ass off," Jake said, chuckling.
 
"And what about you, Mr. Jake Green?"
 
"Oh, I'm quite capable of holding down more than one beer without a hangover and puking!  And I never got caught."
 
"All I'm saying is, you'd better be careful, Jake," Heather said, smiling up at him, "someone might make you pay for those words.    We're gonna have a teenager in a few years ourselves."
 
"Naa.  We don't have to worry about Jacob," Jake said, smiling and bowing his head to kiss the back of Heather's neck.   "I'll threaten him.    I'll tell him I'll lock him in his room til he's 32 if he tries to pull the things I did as a teenager.    Thirty-two seems to be a good age for Green men.    Besides, he thinks girls are yucky.   He told me that."
 
"That'll wear off one day, Jake, " Heather said, massaging Jake's neck.
 
"I hope so!   We'll just scare him with something else," he laughed, pulling Heather's shirt off her shoulder and kissing it.    With agonizing slowness he ran his hand up Heather's thigh.
 
"That'll work," Heather chuckled.     She got up, took Jake's hand and pulled him towards the bedroom.   "I think we'll be more comfortable discussing discipline for a teenager in here."
 
"You're probably right," he said, picking her up, kissing her neck and nibbling her ear.
 
**********     **********     ***********
 
The next afternoon found Jake and Heather enjoying the sun and breeze off the lake.
 
Jake had found his father's fishing stuff in a closet in the cabinet and decided to give it a try.   It had been years since he had fished.   Heather, not interested in drowning worms, had spread a blanket on the dock and was reading.
 
Jake looked back at her and smiled, "Whatcha reading?"
 
"Harry Potter....again.   You know that last book would probably have been out this summer.   Now we'll never know what happens to Harry and Voldemort.    I'm rereading them so I can try to figure out what the horcruxes are."
 
"Heather, I love you.   I read the last book on a flight to London.    I can't sleep on planes.  I don't trust other pilots.    I gotta make sure they're doin' it the right way," Jake said, looking at her sheepishly and chuckling.    "Everyone else always slept the whole way and I read and listened to an iPod.    I bought the whole set at Harrod's while we were in London.   I re-read them while we were on vacation.    I never could figure out what the horcruxes were.   When it got past the obvious ones, I was done.     If Europe still exists, we may get to read the 7th book.    It'll just be delayed a few more years.   I like the British versions better anyway."
 
"Maybe we'll have them all figured out by then!" Heather said, smiling.
 
"The J man loves Harry Potter.   He was reading the fourth one for school.   That AR reading thing."
 
"What do you think he's doing right now?   Do you think he is having fun at Stanley's house?" Heather asked.
 
"I think he's having a blast.   I talked to Stanley before we left.   He told me that he had pulled out Bonnie's dirt bike and got it in running condition.    He also said something about a super soaker.    I don't think he's had anybody to play with since Bonnie grew up.   She was an unbelievable tomboy when she was younger and I think Stanley misses it.    By the time Jacob leaves, Mimi is going to be searching high and low for some sort of birth control," Jake said, laughing.
 
"You know you've said a few times that Jacob was born early," Heather said, "Why?  What happened?"
 
"His mother developed a condition that made her blood pressure go really high.   The doctor was afraid she'd have a seizure and die.   The only way to get the blood pressure down is to get the baby out."
 
"Will you tell me about her?" Heather asked.   She had always wondered about Jacob's mother, but hadn't been able to work up the courage to ask Jake about her.
 
"Heather, I know you want to know about her, and you have every right.  But, there's really not much to tell.     This is gonna sound bad but take it for it was....a cocky kid on the rebound who did a stupid thing.    I had broken up with Emily...again... and I blew out of town to Rogue River.    I went to a club there, The Storm Cellar.   It's kinda funny," Jake said, smiling, "it was underground.    Anyway, I met a girl there.    Rebecca.    We got together a few times.   She got pregnant.   I found out about Jacob about three hours before he was born.    She abandoned him when he was 18 months.   She actually threatened to sell him to the highest bidder first.    I took him and I was forced to grow up...fast.   Only one can be the baby and it wasn't me anymore."
 
Jake looked at her and smiled embarrassedly, "Heather, I'm not that guy anymore.   I promise.    That's something you'll never ever need to worry about.     If I learned anything being a single father, I learned responsibility.   I'm about as far away from that Jake as it's possible to be."
 
Heather scooted over and got in his lap, "Jake, I know you're not that way.   That was a long time ago."   She threw her arms around his neck, laughed and kissed his neck, "You know, you must be pretty potent.   I'm pretty sure we got pregnant one of the first times we were together."
 
Jake groaned and blushed at that statement, "Oh, man, now that's a scary thought!!"
 
She laughed again and kissed him passionately, "Think of it this way, for the next seven months, I can't get pregnant again."
 
Jake leered at her, "You know, you're right."   
 
Heather rubbed his back and her hand brushed the pistol he had tucked into the back of his jeans.    She shuddered, involuntarily.   Guns were not her thing.
 
"I'm sorry, Heather.   This is a nice place and it seems like an oasis but remember, we may not be alone.   I have to protect us."
 
"Be careful with that thing," Heather said and giggled.   "Remember Mad Eye Moody's orders, "Constant Vigilance".    He says you can lose a buttock that way.   You have the perfect butt.   I would hate for you lose half of it."
 
Jake hugged her and laughed, "I'll keep that in mind."
 
**********     **********     **********
 
On the third day of their honeymoon they woke up late to a dreary drizzle.     They ate lunch and then busied themselves with cards and puzzles. 
 
Heather was dozing over her puzzle book when she heard Jake muttering curses under his breath.    She looked over at the counter and saw that Jake was playing what must have been the 100th game of solitaire.     She saw him pick up the stack of cards on the end and pull the Ace out.   
 
"Jake Green!   That's called cheating!"
 
"Yeah, yeah," he said, smiling sheepishly at her.
 
She smiled and went back to her puzzle.    The next time she glanced up she saw him pulling a card out of the middle of the discard pile and put it on top of the second row of cards.
 
"Jake! I can't believe you're cheating.   What kind of example is that to set,"  Heather asked with her hands on her hips.
 
"Babies nap in the afternoon," Jake said, smiling, "he don't know what I'm doing."
 
Heather walked over and stood behind him, looking over his shoulder.
 
She pointed at a stack of cards, "That red seven can go there.  Oh, and the next card is a black five it can go over there."
 
Jake sighed, put the cards down and turned around on the stool, trapping her between his legs.   He crossed his arms and tried to look mad, failing miserably, "Alright, exactly who's game is this?  I don't like to lose, Mrs. Green."
 
Heather laughed a clear, happy sound that lit up the room, "No, Jake, that's called cheating and we don't do that."
 
Jake grinned and pulled her into a hug, "We don't huh? What do we do?" he asked bending down to kiss her neck.
 
She twisted away and giggled again, picking up the cards, "We finish this game without cheating."
 
Jake shook his head and laughed quietly to himself.   He walked over to the counter and grabbed a bottle of water.     
 
Ten minutes later, Heather looked up and laughed, "I won!"
 
"Uh huh," Jake said, smiling.    He picked the bottle of water up and took another drink.   He looked up at Heather, "Heather, we need to talk about how we're going to get ready for this winter and for the baby."
 
"Alright," Heather said, sitting down on the couch beside him.
 
"I know you won't like it but I'm going to have to go out on some scavenger missions.   We've got to have food.    We can't count on China or whoever doing another aid drop.    We've got to help ourselves this summer."
 
"I know.   I've been thinking the same thing," Heather said, taking his hand and squeezing it.    "The garden your mom and I planted shows every sign of doing well.    We'll have beans, peas, peppers, tomatoes and squash.   Stanley will give us corn.     Oh, Stanley is also going to give us a rooster and a couple of hens.      It looks like the strawberries are going to do nicely too.   So if we can find some way to can them, we won't have a wide variety but we'll have food."
 
He bent down and kissed her temple, "You'll find a way," he said, smiling.  "I'll look around the barn and in the attic of the ranch house and see if Grandma's jars are still there.    I remember her making all kinds of jams and jelly.   Maybe they're not broken."
 
"While you're out try to find a fabric store.    Your mother is trying to teach me to knit.   If you could find a bunch of yarn I could make the baby warm clothes.  Maybe you could even find some fleece or something."
 
Jake smiled, "That's my practical Heather.    I love that about you.    I'll look for a fabric store for you."
 
"Oh, if you're anywhere near a bookstore it would be great if you could pick up some school type books for Jacob.    I still have a few things but he is getting beyond the materials I have."
 
"You know," Jake laughed, "this isn't really going to be a trip to the mall but I promise, if I see anything I'll bring it home.   Make me a list."
 
Heather's stomach gave a loud growl.   
 
Jake laughed, "We need to feed that baby."    He got up and held out his hand, "Let's find something for dinner."
 
**********     **********     **********
 
A gentle morning breeze was blowing in through the open bedroom window. It held the promise of a beautiful day.
Heather was sitting up in bed with a pad of paper, chewing on the end of a pencil, when Jake woke up shivering. He pushed the covers back and quickly padded barefoot across the cold floorboards to the window.

"Please don't close it," Heather said, never looking up from her paper.

"Hon, it's freezing in here," Jake said, walking quickly back to the bed.

"Put some clothes on," she said, smiling sweetly. "It's just now gotten comfortable. I'm burning up."

Jake kissed her bare shoulder, wrapped himself up in a quilt and smiled indulgently at Heather. "Alright, for you, I'll freeze. What're you doing?" he asked, looking at her very studious face.

"I'm making a baby 'to do' list," she said, blushing. "I thought you would sleep a while longer."

"What kind of baby list?" Jake asked, sitting up.

"Um...." Heather said, biting the pencil eraser and writing something else, "stuff like  bottles, diapers and clothes. We're going to need those things. We're also going to need to decide whether to have the baby at home or at the clinic."

"I think you pick what's most comfortable for you," Jake said, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Comfortable?" Heather chuckled, "Jake there're no epidurals. Comfortable doesn't describe completely natural childbirth, but thank you. I'll think about it and decide."

"My mother used to work in Labor and Delivery. She'd be the one to talk to about that.  I'm sure people will let us borrow baby stuff.   It might take me a few times to perfect it, but I think I can remember how to change a diaper. I used to be able to  do all that baby stuff but I'm really rusty."

"Your mom helped deliver babies?!" Heather asked excitedly. "That's great!!! That makes me feel better."

She made another mark on her paper.

"Jake, what about names?"

"We have a while to figure those out," Jake chuckled, tucking her hair behind her ear again. "My only requirement is that it not be a soap opera name. No Jaggers, Ridges or Slades please. I want our child to have a real name."

"My father's full given name was Jonathan James. What do you think about that for a boy? I love the name Abigail for a girl. That's really the only girl's name that sounds right to me."

Jake smiled, loving the excitement he saw on Heather's face. "Those sound fine. We have time though. You might fall in love with something else by the time the baby gets here. Um, by the way, when exactly is that?"

Heather giggled, "I guess we haven't talked about that have we? Early to middle November is Dr. Dhuwalia's best guess."

Jake smiled, "A holiday baby! That's a nice gift."

Jake sat up suddenly and looked at the window. Heather, not noticing, started to speak.

Jake held up his hand, "Sshhh," he said, quietly.

He got up and looked around for his jeans. He found them balled up, inside out, beside the bedroom door and put them on. Heather finally heard the sound of the engine getting closer to the cabin. Her eyes got big and she started to reach for her robe and get out of bed.

"No!" Jake said, holding up his hand. "Stay here." He reached under the mattress, pulled out a loaded pistol and stuck it in the back of his jeans. He stood beside the window in the living room and peeked out thru a crack in the curtains.

"Jake," Heather whispered, walking up behind him tying the belt of her robe, "who is it?"

"Heather," Jake whispered, harshly, "go back to the bedroom. There's a shotgun under the bed. Protect yourself and the baby."

"JAKE!" came a voice from outside.

Jake and Heather looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief. It was Stanley. Then it hit them...Stanley coming all the way out here probably meant something was wrong.

Jake jerked the door open just as Stanley was raising his hand to knock.

Stanley grinned, "Well, well, if it isn't Mr. and Mrs. Green," he said, looking at his watch, "do you know it's almost 11 o'clock. You two aren't even dressed. Have you been about the devil's business again?"

Jake laughed, "You're crazy. You know that, right? What're you doing out here? Is something wrong?"

"Nope, nothing's wrong. Your boy's got Poison Ivy but that's nothing too bad. Your mom was concerned that you two were living on Ramen Noodles and wanted me to come out here and bring you some food."

"How in the world did Jacob get Poison Ivy?" Jake said, sitting down on the porch steps to put his shoes on.

"Seems as if Jacob and Mimi got a hankering for blackberries after seeing that big thicket out by the old house. They decided to go alone, even though I told them wait for me. They just couldn't wait. It turns out that neither of them knows what Poison  Ivy looks like."

"Oh no," Heather said. "Is it bad?"

"They're not too bad off. They're both painted with Calamine," Stanley said, looking at Jake and laughing.   "It's nothing like that time..."

"I don't wanna talk about it," Jake said with a shudder and started laughing.   "I ain't never itched so much in my life."

"I did have to resort to drastic measures for a while but they're behaving, for now,"  Stanley said.

"Jake," Heather said, smacking his chest, "stop laughing. It's not funny. What kind of drastic measures, Stanley?"

"They wouldn't stop scratching so I put oven mitts on Mimi and taped them so she couldn't get them loose. Since Jacob's is on his arms I couldn't do oven mitts so I had to use mittens. That was a couple of days ago. They're behaving now. So," Stanley said, grinning, "are you two having fun?"

"We're having a blast," Jake said, smiling and pulling Heather into a hug.

"Eww....please, not in front of the delivery man. Do you want to help me with this stuff so I can get back to my patients before they started scratching again? I don't really trust them."

Jake walked out to Stanley's truck with him and helped him bring food into the cabin.

"What has Jacob been doing this week?" Heather asked. "I really miss him."

"You mean besides scratching?" Stanley laughed. "We've been dirt bike riding. He really liked that. I'm teaching him the secrets of how to be the perfect quarterback. Your dad came out and we taught him how to shoot a gun. Now, Jake, don't look at me that way. It was your dad's idea. He wants Jacob to be ready for this fall. He's bound and determined to take Jacob hunting. We haven't really done anything productive but we've had a good time. The horses have gotten a workout. Jacob can ride like he was born on a horse. Alright, I'm gonna go. Now you two behave."

**********     **********     **********

Heather woke up just as dusk was falling.      She lay in bed without opening her eyes, waiting for the wave of nausea to pass.    She would be very glad when this part of the pregnancy was past.    She reached blindly to the bedside table and found a tube of crackers.   Without opening her eyes she ate 2.   Finally, she started feeling better.     She felt the left side of the bed, reaching for Jake but he wasn't there.    She opened her eyes and looked around the room.    'I wonder where he is?' she thought.
 
She got up and pulled on Jake's denim work shirt and her favorite pair of pajama bottoms and walked out of the bedroom.    Jake wasn't in the living room either.      Heather slid her feet into her sneakers and walked on the back porch and saw him.     He had built a large fire and rolled out 2 sleeping bags.    He was smiling at her and patting the spot beside him.    She smiled and walked towards him.    Jake pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately.
 
"Did you get a good nap?"
 
"Very good, thanks.   Why'd you get up?   I missed you," she said, smiling at him.
 
"I thought I would try to make our last night out here special.   The clouds finally cleared.   It looks like it's going to be a gorgeous night," Jake said, rubbing her back and stealing another kiss.   "After tonight it's back to the real world."    Jake grinned at her, grabbed a stick and started poking in the coals of the fire, "I remembered a couple of things from my Boy Scout days.   Don't look so surprised.   Yes, I was Scout when I was a little boy."    He uncovered two aluminum foil pouches.
 
"What's that?" Heather asked.
 
"It's dinner," Jake said proudly.    He reached for one, jerked his hand back and stuck his fingers in his mouth, "and it's still hot.   That was stupid."
 
Heather looked at his fingers.   They were red but not blistered.   "Yes, it was.  I think you'll live.   What's for dinner?"
 
"I dug through the box that Stanley brought yesterday.   At the bottom there were some potatoes and some corn.   For your dining pleasure tonight we have the last can of Spam, thank God, and grilled potatoes and corn."
 
"Jake, that sounds really good.   Maybe it's being pregnant but I am really liking the Spam."
 
"It has to be the pregnancy because that stuff is awful," Jake said, laughing.   He put his hand over her eyes, "Okay, I have a surprise.   Close you eyes."
 
"What surprise?   What did you find?"
 
"You'll never know if you don't close your eyes."
 
Heather closed them, smiling.
 
"Okay, open them."
 
Jake was holding a bottle of champagne.   She smiled at him, looking very confused.    "Jake, you know I can't drink that, right?   I hate to ruin your surprise but pregnant women can't drink alcohol."
 
"I know. I found this in the cabin next door, along with a few other useful things.   We're going to save this until after you have the baby.    We'll toast him or her in style.   This is a very expensive bottle of champagne, by the way.     This was worth at least a couple hundred before the bombs, now it's priceless.    Look what else I found.  This you can drink," he said, pulling the edge of the sleeping bag back to reveal a six pack of Coke Classic.   "I've had these in the lake getting cold.   Enjoy," he said, handing her one.    Heather opened it and savored the first drink of Coke she'd had in months.   
 
After dinner, Jake cleared away the trash and laid back on the sleeping bag, pulling Heather down beside him.    "So, Mrs. Green, have you enjoyed your honeymoon?" Jake asked, slowly tracing the curve of her jaw with his finger and sucking her earlobe into his mouth.
 
"It's been wonderful," Heather said, giggling and turning so she could kiss Jake.    Her fingers played along his chest traveling up to comb through his hair.   Jake leaned his head back into her hand and sighed with contentment.     Heather pulled his head back to her and kissed him, opening her mouth to him.    She felt the buttons of her shirt coming undone.   The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end when his fingers trailed across her bare stomach.    His fingers traveled around to her back and he pulled her against him.    Heather felt light and dizzy.   This night was magical.    She barely breathed.    Heather tugged Jake's shirt out of his waistband and smiled up at him, "One of us is a bit overdressed."
 
Jake chuckled and smiled at her.   He pushed himself up, took his shirt off and pulled the other sleeping bag over them,  "We don't want to get attacked by mosquitos."
 
Sometime, a lot later, Jake heard the insistent cry of a baby.    He pulled the sleeping bag over his head but it didn't completely block it out.    He reached over and gently shook Heather.     
 
"Heather?   Babe?" Jake said, trying not to completely wake up, "Wake up.    I'm really tired.   Can you get the baby?    He's crying.   I don't think he's going to go back to sleep."
 
"Sure," Heather said, yawning, barely awake, she sat up, pushed the sleeping bag back and reached for the denim shirt that had been discarded earlier in the evening.   It hit her what Jake said and she gasped, waking up fully.   She shook Jake, trying to wake him up, "Baby?   What baby?   Jake, wake up!"
 
Jake jerked awake and sat up, "What's wrong?   Are you alright??"
 
"You told me to get the baby.   What baby?"
 
"What are you talking about?" Jake asked, confused.  "Are you dreaming?   What baby?"
 
Suddenly, they both heard it, the sound of a baby crying in either fear or pain.    It was the loneliest, saddest cry Heather had ever heard and it broke her heart.

To be continued.....

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Thank you for reading this chapter in the Going Home series.    Feedback is always appreciated.