The Greens of Jericho

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

Auld Lang Syne: A Plan

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
9 PM, December 31, 2008f

The inside of Bailey's tavern was beginning to get more crowded as the night grew darker. The room was now occupied by men and women just starting the night off; nurses and volunteers from the med centre, a few new border patrol recruits, barely out of their teens, half of Jericho's population of former ASA soldiers, and even more sickeningly affectionate couples.

The seven people seated at the round booth in the corner didn't seem to take notice of the rest of the room, with the exception of the bartender herself, who glanced around at her customers every so often. The others were leaned in closely, staring with deep concentration at their table.

Aside from their empty glasses and beer bottles, and a long forgotten bowl of spinach dip missing only a mouthful from the top, the only objects gracing the table were a set of glass salt and pepper shakers. There was nothing extraordinary about them - they were standard issue at any establishment serving food - but all eyes in the group were trained on them.

"So our goal is to make him," said Bill, grasping the pepper shaker in his hand, "think she's deep, and her," he held the salt shaker, "think he's sane."

"In a nutshell," said Eric.

"And this is all because they're both terrorizing the entire bar?" asked Gray Anderson from his spot at the end of the bench. Though it pained him, Eric turned and gave the mayor a nod. When Stanley had finally suggested inviting Gray to join them a few minutes earlier, reasoning that they could really use the town's elected leader on their team in this plan, Eric's protests had been quashed by his co-conspirators. Eric had squeezed around Bill to sit on his mother's other side, and Gray had been oblivious to Eric's scowl as he'd enthusiastically slid onto the bench beside him. Gray had been at first a little wary of the events his deputy mayor and loyal citizens were attempting to put into motion, but he seemed to be warming to the idea.

"And crying that their dreams are all gone," said Mimi.

"Reacting violently to everyone who's happier than them," added Mary.

"Putting their hands on my wife!" said Stanley indignantly.

"Really, in the interest of public safety..." Eric trailed off, looking at Gray with just the slightest apprehension. After all, he was still his boss, and the chief lawmaker in town.

"So this is a public service?" asked Gray. His question was met with six somewhat surprised expressions. The conspirators nodded at him.

"Well, I hope I can offer you my humble assistance, then," he said, flashing a grin in Gail's direction.

Eric noisily cleared his throat and leaned forward. "So the ladies are going to take Emily -"

"I'm not sure I'm exactly the person she's going to want to dish about men with," said Mary, throwing an apprehensive glance over her shoulder. "She doesn't even want me pouring her drinks anymore. I had to get Darryl to take over as soon as he showed up." She motioned vaguely to where her employee stood at the bar, holding up a bottle and looking bemusedly down at - who else - Emily, who was holding up her glass.

"Hey, you're not sending me alone. I barely know her," said Mimi.

"Besides, none of this would have happened if you hadn't thrown your bouquet at Heather," chided Bill.

Mary rolled her eyes. "I didn't, and I had nothing to do with that one."

"I'm just saying, Jake did propose to her a week after your wedding..." Bill's voice trailed off as Mary leveled a look in his direction.

"Jake and Heather's wedding was not anyone's fault," said Gail firmly. "It's not something anyone is going to be blamed for. You don't blame people for something good! So let's just focus on our task at hand. The girls are going to talk to Emily. I know you can do it," she sent her daughter-in-law an encouraging smile. "And the boys are going to talk to him." She nodded her head in Beck's direction, wincing slightly as the army officer let out a long-drawn out sniffle.

"I'd say we have the harder job. It'll take a lot of work just to get him to stop crying," said Bill with a smirk.

Gail raised her eyebrows. "Just be the kindhearted men I know you to be. Be nice, show him you understand."

"If only we had a tissue to offer him," said Eric, squinting his eyes as Beck sniffled loudly again. "Or a hankie at least. Anyone got one of those?"

"What's wrong with his sleeve?" asked Stanley. "He doesn't seem to mind it."

Eric shook his head and Mimi gave her husband a withering look.

"Here, give him this," said Mary, pushing the bowl of spinach dip towards them.

Stanley looked down suspiciously. "Hi, sorry Heather married Jake, how about some spinach dip my wife wouldn't eat?"

"When in doubt, lead with comfort food," nodded Gail approvingly.

"Don't know if this qualifies," said Eric. "If we want the plan to work, shouldn't we try to avoid food poisoning?" Stanley nodded.

"Hands. Here," said Mimi through gritted teeth, patting her stomach.

"Right, thanks," said Stanley, scooping up the bowl. Eric grabbed the plate of crackers, taking a deep breath. "So does everyone know what they're doing?"

Mimi nodded resolutely as Mary blinked, bracing herself. Bill turned the salt and pepper shakers eagerly in his hands and Stanley moved to stand up. "Wait -" said Eric. "What about a signal?"

"What?" asked Bill.

"You know, something we can use if we need to meet back here?" explained Eric.

"We're gonna be at opposite ends of the bar. How can we get each other to look without having the whole bar notice?" asked Mimi.

"We do something that doesn't look weird, but we all know it's only to be used as the signal, so we don't do it by accident," said Eric, looking around to see if anyone understood.

"Wave your arms like this," said Stanley, flapping his arms over his head.

"Too obvious," said Mimi with a grin.

"Tap your ear," said Bill.

"Not obvious enough."

Stanley lifted a finger towards his nose. "Too gross!" exclaimed Mimi.

"I wasn't going to -" he gasped, trying to show his shock and indignation, but Mary interrupted, "Just say 'Coming through!' loud enough for us to hear. Happens in a bar all the time."

The members of the group were silent for a moment. "That'll work!" said Stanley.

Simultaneously the friends stood - or tried to stand in Mimi's case. As Eric spoke again, she slid back down in her seat. "And if that signal doesn't work? The backup signal? If we need to interrupt each other?"

Mary thought for a second. "Ask me to dance. It's New Years." She stepped away from the table, holding out an arm for Mimi to brace with as she struggled out next.

"Okay," said Eric, brusquely standing to his full height beside Gray.

"Wait," said Gail. Mimi wore a pained expression as she stepped back, grasping Stanley's shoulder and the corner of the bench. Gail smiled apologetically. "Hands in the centre, all of you."

Mimi raised her eyebrows, Bill opened his mouth to say something, and Stanley made an exaggerated expression that reminded Gail of the time his mother sent him to the Greens' Christmas reception at Town Hall in a vest adorned with dancing gingerbread men.

"Come on, we're going to need all the team spirit we can get. Commit!" Gail glanced pointedly around at them all. After a moment, six hands flew into the space in the centre of the booth, piled on top of each other. Eric quickly slipped his hand from under the pile to cover Gray's before his mother put hers on the top. There was a pregnant pause (that had nothing to do with Mimi) as the conspirators looked at each other.

"What do we call ourselves?" asked Bill. "The A-team? Team Awesome? The Avengers?" He grew more animated with each suggestion.

Eric shook his head, asking, "Team Yente?" Mary hid a smile.

"The Red Storm of Doom?" asked Stanley to a chorus of chuckles.

"How about we say 'New Years'?" suggested Gail. "That's what we're saving after all."

"Yes," Mary nodded. "To saving New Years!"

Gail turned to the centre of the group again. "One, two, three..."

"New Years!" They lifted their hands triumphantly.

"Now go get 'em!" said Gail, giving her son's shoulder an affectionate squeeze.

She grinned with motherly pride as the brave schemers set forth on their mission. Stanley, Eric, and Bill filed out of the booth and began walking in Beck's direction, as strange a procession as she'd ever seen, Stanley holding the spinach dip, Eric the plate of crackers, all three with looks of dogged determination. Equally intent, Mary and Mimi linked arms and began the slow march through the crowd and towards their mark, whispering amongst themselves despite the relative noisiness now masking conversations in the bar.

Gail reached her hands back to grasp the edge of the table, letting out a sigh. She was suddenly aware of Gray, now leaning against the table beside her.

"Alone at last," he said softly, inching closer.

For the third time in her life, Gail experienced the odd phenomenon of imagining herself floating outside her body, observing a bizarre scene unfolding from above. For a moment, she'd let her excitement in the group problem solving overcome her own solution to her other recent problem. That solution being, of course, avoiding Gray Anderson completely. She had considered many times over the course of the week what it was that she had felt in that moment at Jake and Heather's wedding: awe at the beautiful scene unfolding, nostalgia as she recalled her own wedding, camaraderie with a fellow survivor. She certainly hadn't felt an awakening of those feelings that seemed to have possessed her husband's former rival. After attempting to get over her initial shock at his sudden determination to win her heart, she had worried all week, only coming up with the temporary fix of running in the opposite direction each time he approached. Now, in her third moment of absolute clarity, watching Gray gazing dreamily at her amidst a roomful of their fellow townspeople, she could see a way to deal with two problems at once.

She looked at the mayor out of the corner of her eye. He was smiling serenely. She considered the counsel she'd given her son, daughter-in-law, and friends. To commit. "At last," she agreed. "But you know, before I can enjoy the evening, I'm going to need your help." She leaned back against the table, noticing how close Gray's hand was to hers. "I've got a job for you."

Gray leaned closer, an eager expression gracing his features.

As Stanley approached the slumped figure of the former commander, he tried to think calming thoughts. He wouldn't focus on the fact that the man before him had molested Mimi a few hours earlier, nor the fact he'd once left a crazed contractor to kill her while he babysat New Bern. He wouldn't consider the way he'd had to go into hiding while his baby sister's body lay stuffed in a metal drawer, nor the way all of his friends had suffered under the ensuing crackdown that forced them from their homes. Stanley usually preferred simple solutions, but this particular instance required finesse. He felt his hands clench on the spinach bowl as he walked. Calm thoughts.

Eric couldn't help but sneak a glance back over his shoulder as he followed Stanley. He frowned. Just as he'd suspected, Gray Anderson was already making his move. He nearly growled in frustration. Bill nearly bumped into him and he was forced to keep walking. Eric scowled down at his plate of crackers. Mary - and half the town - might find Gray's infatuation with his mother humorous, but he couldn't help but wonder if everyone else had lost it. Was he the only one who understood how completely bizarre the idea of Gray and his mother as a couple would be? There couldn't be a stranger pair...except perhaps the match they were attempting to engineer.

Bill hid a smile as the trio approached the major. He had longed for an opportunity to avenge the injustices and indignities they'd all suffered under Major Beck's rule, but thanks to the major's act of contrition, he'd had to give up on the revenge fantasies he'd dreamed up those nights they'd hid out in the garage. While Beck's presence in town was not celebrated, he was tolerated and by unspoken agreement, the people refrained from any kind of uncivilized retaliation. This plan was perfect in its seeming civility. Bill didn't particularly dislike Emily Sullivan, but he'd known her since high school and he couldn't imagine a better revenge than the one they were about to put into place.

The major barely looked up as the trio stood in a circle around his bar stool. The three men looked at each other. Finally, Stanley tapped Beck on the shoulder. "Hey, buddy."

Beck looked up at them, his eyes puffy. He looked as though he was trying to say something but didn't trust himself with words. He let out another sob, wiping his face on his sleeve.

Bill looked at Stanley. Stanley looked at Eric. Eric hesitantly pushed Stanley's arm. "Spinach dip?"

As they were jostled by the revelers on either side of them, Mary felt herself stepping closer to Mimi, attempting to shield her friend the best she could as Mimi took each thundering step.

As they approached Emily Sullivan, Mimi felt herself drawing Mary's arm closer and stepping in front of her. She didn't mind shielding her friend from a public menace; at least that instant caution that came over everyone as soon as they saw her imposing belly would be useful for once.

"Been a long time since I've scoped out a guy at the bar with my girlfriends," joked Mimi.

She could hear Mary's laugh above the roar of the party-goers. "Well, I do it for a living. Never had to scope one quite like this before though," came her reply.

"Think we drew the short straw?" asked Mimi.

"Well, they have to talk him into approaching the dart-thrower," said Mary. "But then, we have to approach her."

Mimi forced out one sarcastic chuckle. "Yeah, least you can drink."

"I can't drink on the job - Emily!" exclaimed Mary as the women suddenly found themselves outside the tangle of people and standing two feet from the dart-thrower herself.

Emily narrowed her eyes and pointed her empty glass. "You! You know, Green, your bartender's a real ass."

Wary of the glass Emily swung in her direction and the glint in her eyes, Mary stepped out from behind her shield. "Is he?" she asked carefully.

"I wanted another drink. This is a bar, and I wanted a drink! Is that so much to ask?!" Emily spat.

Exchanging a quick wide eyed grimace with Mimi, Mary continued. "He didn't give you another?"

"No! What is it with men anyway? You ask them for one little thing, they act like you've put them out, God forbid you ever do the asking, then they just say no because they didn't get to ask themself!" Emily clunked her glass back down on the bar.

Seeing Mary exhale in relief, Mimi took a chance and stepped in. "You know, Emily, I couldn't help overhearing on my earlier trip to the bathroom. Gray Anderson. That was pretty harsh of him."

Emily's eyes flashed. "Where does he get off? I should have known, though, they're all just the same!"

Mimi took a cautious step closer. "We've all been there. Men can be jerks."

"Assholes," agreed Mary.

"Cretins," added Mimi.

"Animals," continued Mary.

"They say they'll call and they don't, they say they'll feed your fish while you're in Mexico with your mom and you find them dead when you get back," proclaimed Mimi.

"They forget your birthday or they say you're the best and then they write it on the locker room wall," sighed Mary.

"They shut your dress in the car door or they dump you for your best friend," added Emily.

Mary and Mimi fell silent for a moment, finally glancing at each other, a small smile passing between them, which each quickly masked as an approving grimace.

"Right," continued Mimi. "They can be scum. And when they act like it, it's hard to remember that there are still some good ones out there."

Emily scoffed.

"Seriously," Mary said. "May not seem that way right now, but there is a whole world just waiting for you out there, and half the people in it are men."

"Forty-eight percent, actually," Mimi whispered.

Sending Mimi a look, Mary continued. "So I'm sure a certain percentage of those guys aren't so bad. Some of them are even good."

"Yeah, some guys wandering out there might not be total asses. Got it. Doesn't do me much good from here, does it?" asked Emily, getting louder.  "Stuck in Jericho!" she declared, slapping the bar and drawing the attention of the nearer of her fellow patrons.

"Well, statistically..." began Mimi, not certain where she was going but wanting to keep the conversation moving.

"Look, I know you're new to this," began Emily, clumsily putting a hand on Mimi's arm as she leaned forward conspiratorially. "But this is a small town. Not a lot to choose from." She withdrew her hand and leaned back, staring down at her empty glass again. "What am I saying? You know what I'm talking about. Who do you settle for in a place like this? You pick a farmer, or you pick Eric Green." She raised her glass, chuckled sardonically, and nearly slipped off her stool.

As Emily regained her balance, Mimi leaned in to whisper, "You know, I'd resent that but I agree with part of her assessment. She really has plowed through the available choices in this town."

Mary bit her lip. To avoid reacting to Emily or laughing at Mimi's comments, it was hard to say. Whatever the case, she stepped closer to the bar with a newfound determination. "I don't know Emily...maybe not all the good ones are gone." She leaned an arm on the bar with an expert air of nonchalance. "What about -" she gave a nod across the bar, where Beck could be seen seated on his stool in the midst of his trio of consolers, "him?"

Eric looked down at his empty hands, wishing once again he had a tissue to offer the man. After some coaxing, Beck had finally accepted the food they'd thrust at him, eating spinach dip on crackers for a few seconds of glorious silence. Eric had worried that his earlier predictions had been about to be realized when the major had made a choking noise, but as he'd seen the tears begin to roll down the major's face, he'd realized in horror that it was worse than food poisoning. He stood helplessly as the major cried into his spinach dip.

Bill stood nearby, equally helpless when faced with the emotional display. Stanley hesitantly patted the man's shoulder, trying to offer words of comfort.

"Look, it'll...be okay," said Stanley. "It's just...been a hard couple of months?" he glanced at his friends.

Eric grimaced and put the spinach dip on the bar. "He's right. Things have been bad, for everyone. But what do you do when life knocks you down?" He did his best to affect a serious posture, thinking back to his father's frequent father-to-son speeches. "You get back up again, make the most of what you've got."

Beck didn't seem to think highly of whatever it was that he had to make the most of, shaking his head back and forth. Eric gritted his teeth and looked to the others. Bill attempted next, pasting a cheerful look on his face. "Hey, you know what day it is today. New Year's. Time for new beginnings and everything. You know, out with the old, in with the new, all that crap."

"Time to forget about whatever's bummed you out over the past year," threw in Stanley.

"Time to take chances and take charge of your life," nodded Eric.

"I don't - I don't know if I can," said Beck finally.

The three men pretended to scoff in disbelief. "You can. You once commanded a whole company! You were a leader. You can take charge again," said Eric, clarifying quickly, "Of your own life, I mean."

"Yeah, you've just gotta go out there and go for it. You can be happy. You might even find that special someone to be happy with," said Bill rapidly, as if he didn't trust himself to complete the sentence if he let himself think as he spoke.

"And you've still got a lot to offer a woman," continued Stanley, looking the major up and down and thinking fast. "You've got the...looks, and the...battle scars. Chicks dig that."

"My wife used to...You know, she looked so much like my wife!" said Beck, suddenly and spectacularly descending back into his weepy lament. "Reminded me so much..." He sniffled loudly.

Eric, Bill, and Stanley exchanged panicked glances. Stanley knew, of course, just the 'she' Beck was referring to. He glanced over quickly at the women across the bar. It was getting crowded, but he could make out Emily's hair, contrasting with Mimi's and Mary's darker tresses. They were still standing close enough to talk to the blond, so it seemed things were going as well as could have been hoped. Suddenly, he turned back to Beck. "You know, maybe what you need is someone different. Someone totally opposite."

Eric caught on. "Yeah, sometimes you think you're looking for something and all along, it's something else altogether that you really want. So you have to take a chance, try a different approach."

Bill nodded too. "Best way to forget. Move on with someone who doesn't seem familiar."

Wiping his eyes again, Beck asked, "What do you mean? How do I do that?"

Stanley grinned, motioning subtly across the room. "How do you feel about blonds?"

"Him? Beck?" asked Emily incredulously. "Beck is the great guy you're giving me?"

Mary smiled quickly, throwing a glance at Mimi who followed suit. "What? You don't think he's a catch?"

Emily seemed torn between amusement and suspicion. "Beck? The army man? The one you held secret meetings to talk about behind his back?"

"He was doing his job, I was doing mine," shrugged Mary, quickly searching for a way to further commit to her role. She hopped onto the stool beside Emily, swiveling to look at the Major. "He's  a man in uniform. That's something."

Mimi had stepped towards the bar between them, leaning her elbow against it, one hand on her stomach. "He's strong. He's seen the world."

"Maybe," said Emily, her tone still indicating disbelief.

"Oh, come on, look at him!" said Mary, hoping Emily would follow her instructions and not see the expression on her own face as she forced out her next words. "He's got that - that smoldering thing going on!"

Beck did indeed look like he was feeling something intense as he clutched at his chest and squinted his eyes.

"Told you that spinach dip was iffy," Mimi whispered into her friend's ear. Mary widened her eyes at Mimi, who quickly said out loud, "Yeah, what a hunk!"

Mary had to cough at her friend's high pitched words but Emily was now considering the two of them seriously. "You guys - you really think he's - you think he's good looking?"

Exchanging a quick and painful expression, both women plastered appropriate looks of admiration on their faces. "Oh, yeah! For sure," said Mimi, letting a giggle escape. Hoping she could play it for effect, she continued, "I mean, if I didn't have my farmer..."

"If I didn't have my...Eric," added Mary, struggling to keep her composure.

"Really?" asked Emily, glancing over at the major again and then back at the married women. It was clear she was evaluating this new information. She tilted her head appraisingly as she took in the view across the bar. "Don't you think he's kind of sad?"

"Well, it's true he's lost a bit of his former glory. But think of what you can do - you can bring him back!" enthused Mimi.

"What?" asked Emily.

"You know what they say, behind every great man...well, you could be the great woman who helps him find his feet again," explained Mimi.

"He really needs someone now. Think of how it'll feel, being needed. And then, when he lets you in, you can change him. You can help him be even better than he was before," Mary added.

"You think I could do that?" asked Emily, narrowing her eyes at Mary.

"Hey," Mimi rapped on the bar between them. "You know, I haven't even lived here very long and I've heard about Emily Sullivan's effect on men. Of course you can do it!"

Though Mary slipped off her stool in her attempts to avoid laughing out loud, Emily smiled at Mimi. "Thanks, I guess." She frowned again, leaning her chin in her hands, her elbows propped on the bar. "I don't know, he might not be so hot for me. He made me a fugitive once."

Mary, who had grabbed the edge of the bar for support, stepped over beside Emily. "Oh, he doesn't hold onto that stuff."

Mimi, who had stepped back as her friend stood on the floor beside her, answered, "Yeah, trust me. We had a chat earlier. He was very friendly."

"And look, he's hanging out with Stanley and Eric right now," added Mary.

All three women gazed over to where the men were clustered. Eric smiled faintly as he caught his wife's eye. He poked Beck's shoulder. Beck looked up, a dazed sort of look on his face.

Mary quickly poked Mimi's shoulder. Mimi reluctantly gave a little wave with her left hand, hidden from Emily by the swell of her pregnancy.

Beck's eyes lit up and he waved back.

Turning from that sight quickly, Mimi looked up at Emily. The blond now wore a small smile.

Eric was slightly surprised and very relieved that Beck continued to smile instead of bursting into fresh tears at the reminder of the Richmond child on the way. He was slightly nervous, however, of the way Stanley's hand, resting on the bar, had tightened into a fist. As much to diffuse any irritation rising in Stanley as to further their collective plot, he very awkwardly patted Beck's shoulder.

"Kids," said Beck, in a voice that was not quite as anguished as before. "They get to me. You'll know, when you're a father."

"I know," said Eric reluctantly. "I know how it is. Losing your baby. It's the toughest."

Beck nodded, a subdued look on his features. Stanley gruffly folded his arms and Bill kept his eyes trained on the wall opposite them. Eric sighed and continued. "It seems hard, at first, to imagine moving on. But it gets better."

As Eric's hand rested briefly on the major's shoulder, Beck reached up to squeeze his wrist. "Thanks, man," he wheezed.

Eric briefly winced, but continued in an uneven voice. "You just have to imagine yourself moving on. See yourself in a better place. Imagery is key." He was aware now that he was babbling away, saying unfamiliar words that reminded him just a little of that book on CD April had once insisted on listening to as they drove to Topeka. As neither of his friends volunteered a comment, he forced himself to keep filling the silence. "When you look at her," he glanced in Mimi's direction, aware of Stanley glaring at him, "don't see it as a reminder of what you've lost. See it as a sign. There is still hope, even in times like these."

"Hope," repeated Beck, seeming to consider it.

Sending Stanley a faltering grin, Eric continued, "Yeah. Even with the war going on, even with everything happening around us, people are still finding love, settling down, raising families. Kind of makes all our little worries seem insignificant, doesn't it?"

"People - people still want that?" asked Beck after a moment of consideration.

"Sure they do," Stanley finally chimed in. "Lots of people."

"Lots of women," added Bill, finally back to a topic he felt comfortable discussing.

"The women in this town..." grumbled Beck.

"Hey, they're not all resistance leaders," said Eric.

"Yeah, some of them just show up to meetings and stand there looking pretty," muttered Stanley. Eric nudged him.

"The point is, some of them might be looking for the same things you are. They might surprise you," he finished.

Beck looked over again at the women on the other side of the bar, who were discussing something with fervor. Stanley, Eric, and Bill stood around him, looking over too. Eric leaned down to say, "You never know who could be out there, dreaming about the same things you want. So maybe you should start taking chances."

Over on the other side of the bar, Mimi and Mary were indeed discussing something with fervor. Emily had smiled for a few seconds when Beck had waved in her direction, but she had turned promptly back to her empty glass, moaning in despair that the universe had taken away every other man she'd ever fallen for and wasn't likely to give her any more chances.

Mary had feebly attempted to console her, but as Emily shot down every word of comfort sent in her direction, Mimi could see Mary eyeing the empty glass herself. Deciding it was time to take a different approach, Mimi cleared her throat. "Okay, enough of this. Pull yourself together Emily Sullivan."

For a moment, Emily sat still in shock. She turned to look at Mimi, her mouth wide open.

"How long ago did you break up with your last boyfriend? Over a year, right?" asked Mimi in an even tone.

Emily was struggling to find a retort and Mimi could see Mary watching with wide eyes but she continued with her line of questioning. "Your high school love left you, right? So what?"

Mimi's bold move had certainly provoked a reaction in the blond, whose face seemed to betray a tumultuous mixture of emotions. Mary glanced quickly at her friend and stepped in herself. "Mimi's right. So what? You don't need him. You can go out and do what you want now."

"I don't care about him," Emily countered in as convincing a tone as she could muster.

"Good!" said Mimi. "Good for you!"

Despite the fact they both smiled encouragingly, Emily didn't seem quite sure as she looked from Mimi to Mary.

"You know what they say," Mary quickly picked up. "What you do when you get thrown off a horse."

"Sue the stables?" Mimi couldn't help whispering, adding "Yeah, you pick yourself up and get back on again!"

"But that's just it!" said Emily, seemingly pleased to finally discuss this with someone. "I can't get on again. She's taken my -"

"Not the same horse!" exclaimed Mary.

Mimi nodded. "You get thrown off, you sell that pony to a carnival."

"Bottom line is, you don't let it stop you from getting on again, moving on," said Mary. "So what if you didn't end up with the person you thought you would when you were sixteen? How many of us do?"

"Yeah," agreed Mimi. "That's the whole beauty of surviving bombs, war, and disease. Live through it, you might find yourself someone you never even thought to look for before."

Mary nodded, and Emily glanced back and forth between the two friends in front of her and the men across the bar. "I don't know," she said unenthusiastically. "From everything I've seen, the bombs have pretty much killed romance."

"That's so not true!" said Mimi in mock astonishment. Patting a hand on her stomach, she continued, "The bombs have just made romance more creative. Check out the necklace Stanley gave me for our anniversary." She reached under her shirt collar and pulled a chain towards the light. Emily leaned in to examine it, and Mimi squinted as her heightened sense of smell was hit in full force. "The chain used to be his mother's. He carved the heart out of wood," she choked out.

"Well, it helps if you have a dead mother's jewelry box to -" began Emily.

"I'm sure there are men who can get jewelry for someone special," cut in Mary, noticing that Mimi's concentration was breaking slightly as she hastily pulled her necklace away from Emily's view. "Men with the right connections."

"The point is, romance did not go up in smoke with the bombs," added Mimi. "Tell her about that romantic getaway Eric took you on," she continued, nudging Mary and grinning mischievously.

Mary sent her friend the briefest look of annoyance as she struggled to describe a romantic getaway she had just heard of for the first time. "Oh, it was really...nice. We went to this, uh, cabin by a lake. Very...low levels of radiation," she finished, biting her lip to keep from laughing as she caught the look on Mimi's face.

"You know," said Mimi leaning against the bar again. "I bet there are men out there who would like nothing better than to go on a romantic getaway. Away from all the stress, a nice bottle of contraband champagne, low levels of radiation."

"Major Beck knows where the radiation is," came a voice.

Mary's and Mimi's eyes flew to the man seated one stool to their right, his arms placed neatly on the bar in front of him, with no drink in sight.

"Mr. Hawkins!" stammered Mary. "I didn't know you were -"

"I couldn't help but overhear," he said with a smirk, leaning towards them covertly. "And, I just thought I might add, Beck knows where the radiation is, and where it isn't. He could find you a good vacation spot."

Mary and Mimi were looking on in confusion but Emily seemed intrigued. "How does he know?"

Hawkins glanced furtively over his shoulder. Mary followed his gaze and noticed that there was a clear view to the pool table from Hawkins' stool. He seemed to be calculating something in his mind as he looked back at Emily, and over to the other women. "Would you ladies mind excusing us for a moment? I want a word with Miss Sullivan."

After a moment of staring at him in surprise and another whispering amongst themselves, the women consented, promising they'd be back in a minute and throwing glances over their shoulders as they retreated through the crowd.

Emily watched them go, also not certain of what was happening. She looked back to the man seated beside her. "Uh, Mr. Hawkins -"

"Look, Emily, I wouldn't normally interfere but I heard you talking and I wanted to point out some things that might not be apparent to a native townsperson such as yourself."

Emily might have been slightly miffed at the insinuation that something wasn't apparent to her, but remembering the few things she knew about the mysterious Hawkins, and the many things she did not know, she only listened in silence.

He leaned in so only she could hear his carefully moderated tone. "You've got to understand that there's a hierarchy in play here. You've got your ground level, your salt-of-the-earths who keep the town running and follow orders."

She nodded.

"Then you go up a level and you've got the leaders who give them orders."

"Yes," she sighed. "The Greens. And Gray."

He smiled. "Now who's above them?"

Within seconds, her eyes lit with understanding.

"What's he doing?" whispered Stanley.

"I think it's some kind of mantra," Eric whispered back.

They had each taken a step back and were looking down at their friend. Bill had crouched beside the woeful army officer, had grasped each of his wrists, was looking into his eyes, and repeating the same sentence over and over.

"Come on man, say it with me. I am a strong, confident man. I am a strong, confident man," Bill repeated.

"I am s-strong," stammered Beck in an unconvincing tone.

"Oh, this'll never work," moaned Eric in despair.

"I think maybe we need some help," said Stanley. "You want to go check on how the girls are doing? Go ask 'em to dance?"

Eric nodded, quickly stepping around Bill, still attempting to put the major's thoughts in harmony, and making his way over to the other side of the bar. Trying to figure out how he would face the looks they would give him when he explained how they were floundering in their task on the men's side, he was watching his feet. As he stepped up to the bar, saying "Hey, do you want to dance -" he looked up. Emily Sullivan, perched on her barstool, wore an expression of amusement and Robert Hawkins gave a sarcastic chuckle. There was no one else beside them.

"I - uh - I thought Mary was..." Eric glanced wildly around them.

"You mean you weren't asking me to dance, Green?" drawled Emily with a look of mock disappointment.

Eric backed up, looking around desperately. There was no sign of the women anywhere. He glanced over at Stanley, who just motioned vaguely in his direction.

"I - sorry," he said, spinning around before they could see his face turning red. He stepped away from the bar, looking around again. The second signal. He found himself standing in an open space, and still couldn't see Mary or Mimi anywhere. He looked helplessly at Stanley, who gave him no reassurance as he looked helplessly back.

"Come - Coming through!" called Eric in a shaky voice. The few people who were standing nearby turned to stare at him. He stood on the spot, the circle of onlookers backing away, and repeated, "Coming through!" He looked down at his empty hands, wondering why he had agreed to this signal at all.

Then a hand was grabbing his, pulling him away from the middle of the sparse group of people. "Dance with me," she whispered in a teasing voice.

"You said people always say that in bars!" he said in an irritated tone.

"Usually when they're actually trying to get through a group of people," laughed Mary, turning apologetic eyes on him as he frowned. "At least pick up a tray next time."

"Next time," he muttered darkly.

She squeezed his hand as she continued to lead him over to their booth. "Never mind that, come see what your mother's been drumming up!"

"She's been what?" he asked, just as they reached the table and she stopped pulling him by the arm. He stumbled a little, catching her shoulder for support. She looked at the people seated at the booth, and he turned to look too. His mother sat in the middle of the bench, beaming as she motioned to the people sitting on either side of her. "Backup!" grinned Gail.

"So what's the big news over here? Why'd Mary ask me to dance?" asked Bill, coming to stand at the booth in the corner as Mary let go of his arm. Just as Eric had a few minutes earlier, he surveyed the table, now more crowded than it had been before.

"Because I didn't want to go near the hot zone again," said Mimi, who was leaning against the bench. "How come you didn't get Stanley too?"

"It's okay, I left him meditating," said Bill dismissively. "So what's going on?"

"Mom called in the reinforcements," said Eric, smiling from the other side of the table and motioning to the young man sitting beside Mimi and the older woman between his mother and Gray, who looked slightly disconcerted.

"And Gray helped," added Gail kindly. Eric scowled.

"So Timmy, you're going with Mimi here, and just tell her what we practiced," said Gray in a businesslike tone. "And Mrs. McVeigh -"

"Mrs. McVeigh is coming with me," cut in Eric.

Allison Hawkins had come up behind Bill, Scott Nystrom trailing closely behind. They looked slightly out of breath. "Got the paper and some pens," she said, holding up the articles she had mentioned.

"Thank you sweetheart," said Gail, squishing over on the bench and motioning for the others to do the same. Eric got up and the young couple carefully squeezed onto the end of the bench.

"So you want me to give one of the - testimonials too?" asked Allison. "About Miss Sullivan?"

"No, we've got another job for you to do," said Gray, tapping one of the pens on the table.

"You want me to write it? I don't know..." she started to say.

"Hey, you'll be good at it. And maybe we can get your dad to help too," said Gray.

"He's still here?" she asked in annoyance. The entire party followed her glance over to where Emily sat.

"Don't worry," said Mimi with a sympathetic look. "We'll let him know you can see him. Someone gonna help me up?"

Bill and Mary each stepped towards her, but another gallant hero stepped in from behind them.

"Happy New Year Mimi! And baby New Year! Rock on!" said Sean Henthorn as he enthusiastically pulled her to her feet.

"Hey, don't jinx it," warned Mary, but Mimi was laughing.

"A 2008 baby - get that tax deduction a year early," she smirked.

At her friend's horrified look, she rolled her eyes. "Fine, I can wait another three weeks."

"I don't think our, uh, unhappy campers will wait that long," said Eric, looking warily at the bar.

"Right, everybody up!" said Gail.

People clambered out of the booth on either side. "What's going on? You guys playing some kind of game?" asked Sean.

"No, we're working on something," said Bill. "Not sure what, but we're busy."

"I'll explain it to you, William," said Mrs. McVeigh, yanking him to the side. Bill listened, too subdued by his former teacher's use of his given name to protest. Meanwhile, Timmy, the former ASA soldier, had stepped away from the table too.

"I'm all ready to help you, ma'am," he said, smiling dreamily at Mary.

"Hey, if he's in on it, I should get to be!" protested Sean, stepping between both groups. They all turned to look at him. "I worked hard all day on border patrol, I thought I'd get to have some fun at the party tonight, and all my buddies are doing something secret without me."

"We're your buddies?" asked Bill, as Mary said "I guess he could help."

Eric looked like he might protest. "Come on," said Mimi. "He went to Jericho High. He can help you guys on your side."

"Yeah, go Marauders!" said Sean, waving a fist in the air. Mimi couldn't help but grin as she pushed him in their direction.

"Alright, you all go carry out your duties, and we'll be sending more help your way when we can," said Gail. Gray smiled as he sat down beside her again.

"Mom -" Eric began.

"Relax, Eric," said Gray, leaning back. "Why don't you go get another beer?"

Eric made a face as both parties began to shuffle off in opposite directions. Mary tapped her hand on his arm. "Near beer, hon."

As he followed Bill, Mrs. McVeigh, and an enthusiastic Sean, he clenched his fists together. Stanley was doing the same thing as they approached the bar, standing behind the major, who was deep in meditation it seemed, his eyes shut, chanting something. Stanley was not so peaceful, shifting restlessly from one foot to another.

"What took you so long?" he whispered through clenched teeth when Eric finally came to stand beside him. "I had to describe a meadow, a sunny beach, and a rainforest for this guy."

"Oh, Mom and Gray have been coming up with all kinds of ideas," muttered Eric, looking darkly back at his mother and the mayor, who were sitting facing Allison and Scott, pouring over the papers on the table. "He better watch himself, that's all I can say. Even though he's my boss. He doesn't back off, I'll - I'll -"

"You'll what?" asked Stanley, trying not to betray amusement at his friend's disconcerted expression.

"I'll go get Jake," finished Eric, a dangerous glint in his eye. "He'll get it, even if no one else does."

"Get Jake? From the love cabin? Your funeral, buddy," grinned Stanley. Bill nudged both of them. They turned. Beck had opened his eyes and was looking serenely at the larger group of people gathered around him.

"Oh, you're back," he said to Eric. "I wanted to tell you, I was imagining myself on a beach with white sand and blue waters. What you said, about imagery, it's -"

"Right, that's great," cut in Eric. "We have something else we want to tell you about too. Someone else, actually."

Beck, miraculously, looked intrigued.

"Remember how we've been talking about taking chances? On someone new? We have someone in mind, who's here tonight, who we think might be a really good match for you." With a flourish of his hand, Eric said, "Emily Sullivan!"

Beck appeared to be thinking about this for a moment. "Sullivan? Who's that?"

"See the blond over there?" All pairs of eyes glanced. Emily was giving a laugh as she threw back her head.

Beck mused. "She looks familiar."

"Maybe because she's a contributing citizen often seen around town?" suggested Eric.

"She has a memorable mugshot?" came from Stanley.

"It's a small place and you both end up here a lot?" countered Bill.

"No...didn't I search her house? She has pictures of Heather. On her dresser top, in a frame." Beck seemed lost in reverie. Eric and Stanley exchanged nervous glances, unable to say anything.

After an extremely uncomfortable couple of seconds, Bill stammered "Why would you know that?"

"Because she's a ranger," muttered Stanley, stepping on Bill's foot.

"Ranger?" asked Beck, whipping his head to look around the room.

"Oh, she's more than just a ranger," said Eric. "She's a dedicated...history teacher."

"A, uh, good friend," ventured Stanley.

"Not bad to look at," added Bill.

"Sullivan..." repeated Beck.

"Emily," emphasized Eric.

"I don't know, she seems kind of..." Beck trailed off.

"Hey, you don't have to take our word for it!" exclaimed Bill. "We brought along some people we think you'll be interested in talking to."

He stepped aside and nodded politely at Mrs. McVeigh, who had been waiting behind them.

Smiling assertively, Mrs. McVeigh planted her feet on the ground and spoke. "I taught Emily Sullivan when she was only in grade school. I've got to say, she hasn't changed much since then."

"Young at heart!" declared Eric.

"And, she was one for following the rules if I ever did meet one. I can honestly say I never caught her in the hallway without a hall pass, not even once." Mrs. McVeigh nodded emphatically.

Stanley grinned as he whispered to Eric, "That's because she'd learned to forge every teacher's name by fourth grade!"

Eric stifled a chuckle as they watched Beck take in this information.

"Not only did she follow the rules, she was popular. You should have seen her at junior prom. Everyone turned to look at her when she came through the doors," said Stanley with a wicked grin.

Quickly, Eric continued. "Seriously, everyone knew Emily Sullivan. In senior year, she was voted friendliest!"

"Make that most likely to commit a felony," snickered Stanley, just out of Beck's earshot. Bill collapsed in a fit of laugher, but stopped quickly when Mrs. McVeigh caught his eye.

"Well, I guess friendly is good. And orderly," said Beck with just a hint of a smile.

"Good," nodded Mrs. McVeigh, whispering "Good luck," to the conspirators as she made her exit.

"Well, what else can you tell me?" asked Beck.

Bill pushed Sean forward. Sean had been grinning throughout the entire conversation so far but in this moment he suddenly resembled a deer in the headlights. "Uh...Miss Sullivan's a great teacher. You can sleep in her class and she hardly ever notices! Ouch!"

Bill had stomped on his foot a little forcefully. "How about talking about Emily's dad, Sean? Always a good thing for the prospective suitor to know about a great dad like hers."

"Oh!" said Sean. "Emily's dad. He's a fun guy. He has the coolest stuff out at his place!"

"I bet he treats the guys she brings home pretty well, huh?" suggested Eric in as convincing a tone as he could.

"Yeah," said Sean, about equally as convincing. "He doesn't care how late you stay out, he'll introduce you to his drinking buddies, and maybe he'll even get you a job if he likes you enough."

Eric nearly winced, but to his astonishment, the former chief town administrator seemed to be considering the prospect of employment.

"And just wait'll you talk to her. You can have some interesting conversations with Emily Sullivan. She's got interesting ideas about the world," said Stanley.

Eric nodded. "One time, she and I had an intriguing talk about the Dutch Prime Minister's position on the world politics stage. She was worried how the Dutch would be treated by the United States government."

Beck turned to stare over at the blond, a new expression beginning to take shape on his face.

Stanley folded his arms approvingly and leaned towards Eric. "Worried about the Dutch?"

"Yeah," whispered Eric. "The Pennsylvania Dutch."

On the other side of the bar, Mary and Mimi were presenting their evidence too. Emily leaned forward on her stool, sipping the wine cooler they had graciously offered her. Mimi held another glass of cider in her hands, despite having predicted her fifth and sixth trips to the bathroom as Darryl had poured it. Mary set a beer bottle on the bar nearby with a furtive look over her shoulder. She'd reluctantly opened it, at Mimi's insistence that at least one of them should be allowed something to take the edge off.

"Go on, Timmy," urged Mary, pushing the awkward soldier forward.

"I - I wanted to let you know that this week, I spoke my mind about something and Major Beck listened to my opinion," he stammered.

"Oh?" asked Emily, clearly not yet impressed.

"And he didn't get stripped of his rank, or confined to quarters, or even put on bread and water, did you?" asked Mimi, patting him on the back.

He jumped slightly, but answered "No Ma'am. The Major's really loosened up." He bobbed his head affably.

"Good job," Mary mouthed at him, and Mimi smiled. Timmy positively beamed. Emily cocked her head to the side.

"I'd take it as a good sign," Hawkins smirked. "Shows personal growth."

The two conspirators and their witness jumped, having forgotten again that he was there.

"Mr. Hawkins!" said Mimi. "Hey, I saw Allison and she said she wants you to help -"

Mary cleared her throat. "Ah, I mean, Allison...knows you're here," finished Mimi lamely. "Maybe you should -"

"Thanks," said Hawkins. "I think I'm going to enjoy my drink from here."

Mimi flashed her friend a hopeless look. Hawkins still had no drink in front of him and Emily was leaning far too close to his elbow.

"Mr. Hawkins, do you want to...dance?" asked Mary finally.

An amused look flashed over Hawkins' features as he took in her expression, and his eyes flitted over to the table that Mimi was subtly indicating.

"Don't you know he's married?" asked Emily, peering over her wine cooler to look at Mary. After a moment, she let out a laugh, throwing her head back. "Right, never mind."

Mary rolled her eyes and Mimi whispered, "I guess the dart-thrower is back. And you didn't even want to give her the wine cooler. I say lead with whiskey next time."

"You know, maybe I will go over and check on Allie," said Hawkins, giving Mimi and Mary a knowing smile. "Excuse me."

As they watched him go, Mary felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned back. Timmy was smiling. "I'll dance with you, ma'am."

Ignoring Emily's laughter, Mary politely declined, suggesting maybe he'd find another dance partner over by the pool table instead. He nodded, muttered his thanks, and ambled away. They stared after him a moment as he made his way across the bar, before swiftly turning back to Emily and their current task.

"So Beck. Have you been thinking it over?" asked Mimi.

Emily leaned back in her stool, one arm on the bar to steady herself. "Thinking. But I don't know...the major may have loosened up, but I keep remembering him as a dictator that turned the power off."

"Hey, even for a dictator, he was really...reasonable," said Mary. "When you guys were all in hiding, he stormed through the bar. He wanted to see inside the pantry, and I said no. But he gave me a choice. He said he could arrest me and break down the door, or I could step aside and let him break down the door, and he'd just arrest whoever was hiding inside." She pasted a grin onto her face.

Mimi nodded along with this story. "He's so fair and just."

"I guess," said Emily, her face the picture of doubt.

"And that's only one side to him," Mimi continued. "He's got a sensitive side too. I remember back from that time...This one day, I was sitting outside the med centre, crying and wondering what was going on and where everyone was, and the major came over to me. I was expecting another reasonable offer," she grinned at Mary, "But, he offered me a stick of Juicy Fruit. He can really be very thoughtful."

"Really," said Emily, in an almost sarcastic tone, but her eyes softened as she let them rest on the seated figure of the major and she let out a sigh.

Mary sighed too, and reached for her beer. She nearly choked on the first sip, and Mimi sloshed cider down her sleeve as Emily said, "I wonder if he ever worries about the Pennsylvania Dutch."

Gasping for air and elbowing Mimi, who was having a hard time containing her laughter, Mary said "A sensitive guy like that? I'm sure he does."

Steadying herself, Mimi smiled and nodded. All three turned to stare in his direction once again.

"I don't really know what more you could look for in a -" Mary started to say, but Emily said something that silenced her. "Kenchy's here!"

Both women snapped their heads in the direction Emily was looking. Kenchy had indeed come through the door, and was ushering inside a strawberry blond in scrubs that matched his own.

"Looks like he brought that nurse. Pity," said Emily, looking glum. Mary and Mimi exchanged panicked looks.

"We need the special one. Aren't they ready yet?" whispered Mimi. Mary looked to their booth and shook her head. "Well, we need something more, or we're going to lose her again," Mimi said through gritted teeth. "Maybe you should go ask some more people to dance."

"Me again?" asked Mary warily, knowing full well it would be her again.

"Sounds like a job for you," spoke up Emily, draining the last of her cooler. Both friends turned in surprise. Emily slammed the empty bottle down on the bar. "Oh, sorry, your job is selling wine coolers." She giggled to herself.

Grabbing her own beer in her hand again, Mary said "I'll be back. And I'll bring the whiskey."

"Go get 'em, Green!" said Emily, raising her fist in an apparent gesture of encouragement.

As her friend departed, holding the beer bottle over her head and expertly shouting "Coming through!" as she passed between two people, Mimi turned back to Emily. The blond was still watching the doctor and his date making their way across the room. She searched frantically for a way to regain her target's attention from the unforeseen distraction. The baby seemed to respond to her chagrin, kicking especially enthusiastically. An unpleasant solution came instantly to mind. Mimi put a hand to her belly and took a deep breath.

"Emily," she said. Emily turned to look at her again. "I couldn't help earlier, overhearing. What you said about children. I think it's great you're thinking about them."

Emily looked at her silently, expectantly. Mimi reminded herself again that it was for everyone's benefit. "Baby's kicking. Want to feel?"

Eric and Stanley were out of breath as they dashed over to the round booth. "What's the emergency now?" asked Stanley.

"No emergency," said Mary. "We're just in need of a little more backup. And you have to do something with Kenchy. He's stealing focus."

"How's the special testimonial going?" asked Eric, glancing over at the table.

"It's almost ready," said Allison, who sat uncomfortably wedged between her father and Scott.

"I think we need it as soon as possible," said Mary. "How are things on your end?"

"I think we're seeing some progress. He actually thanked Mom for telling him about what a great baker Emily is," said Eric.

"She said she's a great baker?" asked Mary.

"I said she's a considerate baker," said Gail, appearing behind her.

"And I helped," said Gray, trailing her closely. "I said she's a concerned citizen."

"Make that a citizen we're concerned about," joked Stanley.

"It would be more helpful to warn him to keep a high quality fire extinguisher beside the stove," muttered Eric.

"Who's with him now?" asked Stanley.

"Oh, we ran into Kenchy on our way back. I convinced him to go say a piece. Something about Emily's can-do attitude," chuckled Gail.

"Wait, who's with Emily?" asked Stanley.

"Mimi! You guys have to come with me!" said Mary, grabbing Stanley and Eric by the hand and yanking them back in the direction of her own mark. Before they could protest, they were standing a few feet from Emily. Mary's eyes widened. A change seemed to have come over Emily in the short time she'd been gone. Emily held her hand on Mimi's stomach, carefully standing completely still, and the expression on her face had softened considerably. When Mimi saw them, she stepped back, dropping Emily's hand. For a moment no one said anything. Then, Emily turned suspiciously shiny eyes to them. "Green, other Green, Stanley," she said, clearing her throat. "What do you want now?"

"They just had something to share about Beck themselves," said Mary, pushing each one forward.

"Right," said Stanley, looking to Mimi once more, who motioned him to continue.

"We were saying earlier how reasonable and thoughtful he was, back when we were under siege," Mary helpfully prompted.

"Right," he repeated. "Well, I did hear he tore up that arrest warrant he issued for me." Gaining confidence as his friends smiled encouragingly, he added, "Sure, it's still in the system, but I hardly ever get stopped, so it's all good."

Emily was watching the major now, her eyes still gleaming. Eric coughed and stepped forward. "And about those new text books..." Emily turned to look at him, and he took a step back, cautiously standing between Mary and Stanley. They both poked him. "It's really how you look at them. Sure, its a problem if you think they're for history class, but think literature! It's a rollicking good story!"

Mary leaned in and laughed into his shoulder while Stanley clapped him on the back. He breathed a sigh of relief. Emily was looking from one friend to another, seemingly lost in thought. "So you guys all like Beck now?"

All four nodded, though Mimi was biting her lip and Eric was looking down.

"You all think he's a great guy?" she asked.

"Oh, the greatest," enthused Mary, glad she had opened that beer earlier. The others nodded and murmured their appreciation.

Emily's forehead was furrowed as she considered, glancing from one to the other and back again. Just then, a voice came from behind them. "Excuse me."

Eric and Mary turned, and Allison Hawkins appeared between them. She held a folded piece of paper in her hands. "This is for you," she said, quickly handing it to Emily. She made a hasty retreat, having left her father and boyfriend alone at the booth.

"Oh, what is it?" asked Mimi in a falsely cheery voice.

Emily was turning over the paper in her hands. "It's from Heather," she said, bemused.

"Huh, well, what do you know, a special delivery," said Stanley.

"Who cares how it got here?" said Mary quickly, sliding another wine cooler across the bar. "Aren't you going to read it?"

Emily slowly unfolded the message and four pairs of eyes stared in anticipation. "It's about Beck," she said in surprise.

"And?" asked Stanley, as though he could barely contain himself. "Come on, read it out loud!"

Emily nodded. "She says 'Beck's a really great guy. In the end, we went our separate ways because we wanted different things. He wanted a replacement wife, and I wanted an alternative to incarceration.'"

"That's so sweet!" said Stanley, pretending to be overcome with emotion.

"Yeah," said Emily quietly.

"He really is a great guy," said Mimi, sipping her cider again. "And Heather let him get away."

"Crazy, isn't she?" chimed in Eric.

"But she had her chance," said Mary, wondering to herself just how the handwriting she could see on the paper matched Heather's so perfectly.

"And you know, he really is a big teddy bear," broke in Stanley. "I heard from Jimmy, one time the major stopped the guys from driving their tank over a caterpillar -"

"Where is he?" asked Emily suddenly.

The four conspirators' heads whipped towards the other side of the bar. For the first time in the evening, the major's seat was unoccupied. They turned back to each other, frantically whispering amongst themselves as Mimi loudly re-read Heather's testimony to Emily.

"Just go find him!" said Mary. "Please!"

"Why us?" asked Stanley. "We don't know where he is either."

"You can check the men's room, and do you really want her to have to run into him?" she asked, motioning to Mimi.

"Right," said Stanley. "We're going."

Mary grabbed Eric's arm as he was about to leave. "Tell the Hawkins team they did a great job!" she grinned.

He nodded briskly, and took off after Stanley.

A quick search of the bar led to the men's room. Bill stood outside, his arms folded, an exasperated look on his face. "Took you guys long enough."

"Sorry, we were helping the girls testify," puffed Stanley.

"Well, while you were having all the fun, Mr. Life-of-the-party got weepy again."

"Oh no! The plan was just starting to work on their side!" said Eric.

"It's working on our side. A little too well. Beck was touched when he heard how much Emily's guidance meant to Sean during the time after the bombs." Bill scowled. "So I got him to wash his face off at least."

"Almost there then?" asked Eric.

"If we could only convince him to throw that picture away. He brought it in there with him," said Bill.

Eric and Stanley winced. "Okay, time to move things along," said Stanley. He stepped up and pounded on the door. "Major Beck?"

"Yeah?" came a somber, if muffled, voice.

"Open up!"

The door slowly creaked open. Stanley, Eric, and Bill pushed into the tiny bathroom. Once inside, they gathered around Beck, looking up to the mirror.

"Look at yourself. You have to pull yourself together man!" said Stanley, pounding the major on the back for good measure.

"What...why?" asked Beck.

"Because that girl -" Stanley pointed at the wrinkled copy of the Report, laid out on the edge of the sink, " - is gone, history, last week's news. But there is a great woman in there just waiting for you to sweep her off her feet. It isn't going to happen if you keep hiding out in here!"

Beck leaned his hands on the sides of the sink, glancing up at himself in the mirror. The three faces around his nodded encouragingly.

"Let it go. Move on," said Bill.

"Seize the day!" said Eric.

"It's time," said Stanley, slowly picking up the piece of paper, now damp from the water droplets spilled on the sink, and handing it to Beck.

Beck looked down at the Report, solemnly considering it. The three men continued to silently egg him on. Very slowly, he stood to his full height, raising the paper into the air. The tension in the room could have been cut with a pocket knife.

"Move on," whispered Eric.

A cautious look on his face, Beck opened his hand and let the paper fall to the floor, fluttering as it descended in a spiral. It was soaked as it touched the bathroom floor, sticking to it instantly.

The three others cheered, clapping him on the back and shouting their congratulations.

"I knew you could do it!" exclaimed Bill.

"That's it!" said Stanley. "That's the way!"

"Great! Now all you have to do is go out and get her!" enthused Eric.

Beck had been beaming, but as all three turned to look at him expectantly, his grin faltered. "I don't...I don't know..."

Stanley tossed his hands, Bill grit his teeth, and Eric let out a tiny groan.

Emily opened her third wine cooler and clinked bottles with Mary. "To new beginnings!" said Emily. "To New Years! To new feelings!"

"Uh huh," said Mary, putting her half finished beer back down.

"You know, Green, I made fun of your taste earlier, but now I'm starting to think you and Eric are a good match." Emily nodded her approval.

"Uh, thanks," said Mary.

"Yeah, you really deserve each other," said Emily, with a laugh that turned into a snort.

Mary raised her eyebrows and sipped her beer.

"Ah, and to new babies!" said Emily as Mimi waddled back over to them. "Lots and lots of babies!"

Mimi did not look very enthused at the prospect, but looked away from Emily. "I picked the song," she said.

"You picked a song?" asked Emily.

"Yeah, just for you," said Mimi.

"And for new beginnings," said Mary with a calculating smile.

"For me?" asked Emily.

"Who else?" said Mimi. "It'll come on any moment now, and then you'll have your chance."

"A chance?" asked Emily.

"To make something happen, of course!" said Mary. "It's a new year, the night is young, time to make your move!"

"You think I should ask him?" asked Emily. "I should make the first move?"

"Yeah, why not?" asked Mimi.

"Doesn't always work for me. Not sure men like it," said Emily.

"Of course they do!" declared Mary.

"Hey, I asked Stanley to marry me!" said Mimi.

"I ask Eric for stuff all the time," added Mary.

"Well, you'd have to," began Emily, just as the opening chords of a familiar song began to fill the room.

"Honey I'm still free. Take a chance on me!" sang Mary and Mimi in unison.

Emily rolled her eyes, but she looked amused.

"Come on, let's get out there," said Mary, grabbing Emily's arm before she could protest.

"Take a chance!" agreed Mimi, following closely behind.

As Mary enthusiastically threw herself into the song and Mimi did her best to keep up, Emily surveyed the dance floor. "No reason you should get to do all the dancing, I guess."

There were other people dancing now, and Mary and Mimi waved as Gail and Gray swung by. Allison and Scott had taken to the floor and were laughing, though glancing over their shoulders now and then. Sean Henthorn made his way over to the trio, bopping his head along. Mary laughed as she turned to see who had tapped her shoulder.

"Why is Mom dancing with Gray?" asked Eric, putting his hands to her hips and swaying in time with her.

Mary shrugged. "Where's you-know-who?"

Eric was still staring over her shoulder, an irritated look on his face. "He's cleaning up."

"Well, he'd better hurry -"

"I'm going to cut in, that's what I'll do!" he muttered, stepping aside.

Mary tried not to laugh as Eric strode over to his mother and Gray, and Gray soon wandered away dejectedly. Mimi laughed out loud. Sean appeared between them then. "Can I have this dance?" he asked.

Mary and Mimi glanced at each other. "It'll help our cause," whispered Mimi. "And sounds like a job for you."

Mary rolled her eyes. "Okay," she said, stepping towards him.

Mimi rocked gently to the music herself, stepping back to survey the scene. Emily was still trying to cut a rug on the dance floor, but she was already glancing around in dismay at all the couples encircling her. Though it didn't look to Mimi like they were all having a great time, she was certain Emily thought so as the blond narrowed her eyes. Allison and Scott were dancing much farther apart then she imagined they would on a night Hawkins wasn't there, Eric was stealing suspicious looks over his mother's shoulder, oblivious to her attempts to get him to slow down as he careened around the room. She could hear Mary say loudly "Hands on my waist, Sean," as they passed by.

The baby seemed to be an Abba fan, and Mimi placed her hands on her stomach as she sashayed backwards, keeping her eyes peeled. Kenchy was in the far corner, occupied with his nurse friend and ignoring the free near beer someone had sent him anonymously. Gray Anderson was leaning against the wall, his arms folded, a small pout on his face. She turned, as if instinctively, to see Stanley and Bill standing in the doorway of the small hallway leading out to the bathrooms. Stanley nodded and Bill grinned excitedly.

She dashed over to Mary. "He's coming!"

Mary pulled herself away from Sean's grasp and the two of them found Emily in the middle of the floor.

"How come you get to dance with all the available men?" Emily moaned.

"Not all of them. Look!" said Mimi, pointing to where Stanley and Bill stood.

Emily's eyes went wide as they stepped aside and the figure of the major appeared in the doorway. He still looked clearly drunk to Mimi, and Mary could see the piece of toilet paper stuck to his shoe, but he was looking ahead with a determined gaze.

Emily said nothing. "Well, go get him!" said Mary.

"Take a chance!" said Mimi.

They shoved her forwards and watched her stumble across the floor in the major's direction.

"She's doing it! She's going to make her move!" exclaimed Mimi. She felt herself nearly bursting with laughter.

"Come on!" said Mary, grabbing her friend's arm and pulling her along as she retreated. Both women hid behind the bar, their hands on the surface as they leaned forward to watch.

Emily did a curious dip as she stepped towards the major, raising her arms over her head and shaking her hips before fixing him with an intense stare that she held for several seconds.

Mimi and Mary both collapsed behind the bar, laughing out loud as they were hidden by their refuge.

"Going to need help - to get up!" panted Mimi as she continued to laugh.

Mary had tears rolling down her face but she struggled to her feet. "Stanley!" she whispered, yanking his arm and pulling him behind the bar as he passed by.

"What?" he asked as he pulled his arm back and rubbed it with his other hand.

"Help!" giggled Mimi.

Stanley pulled Mimi to her feet and the three friends peered over the edge of the bar to watch the events unfolding on the dance floor.

"She's saying something!"

"He's looking kind of mad."

"No, that's his intensely interested look," interjected Stanley.

"She's doing that helpless laugh thing!"

"He's...smiling."

"She's...leaning closer...yes!"

The three friends high-fived, and collapsed again behind the bar where no one could see them laughing.

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

To continue in Auld Lang Syne: A Pursuit

"Take a Chance on Me" was written and recorded in 1977 by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and was sung by Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, all of the Swedish pop group ABBA.