"You know this is ridiculous, don't you?"

"Yes, I do."

"We are two fully grown, adult men, by God!"

"Yes, we are."

A peal of feminine laughter rang from the open kitchen door and both men visibly flinched.

"Why are we just sitting out here, cringing each time we hear them laughing?"

"Because we are the husband and the fiancée of the two women doing all that laughing and we know that they are laughing about us."

"That's just it… "

"What makes it worse is that our father is telling them whatever it is they are finding so amusing."

"Why don't we just go in there and find out what's going on?"

"Because, little brother, we were specifically requested to come out here and start the fire, like the good cave men we are.  And when dad and the women we love have had enough amusement at our expense, they will come out here and expect us to cook dead animal flesh for them, which we will do because we seek to earn their favor."

"Well, old son, you can be amused by all this if you want, but you don't have to live with Corrie.  I'll never hear the end of it from her as it is on how we met that first time. Can you imagine the hell I'll pay if dad is in there telling her about some of our more noble exploits as children?"

"You mean like that summer between grammar school and high school?"

"Oh dear God, yes!  You don't think dad will tell them about that, do you?"

"I don't know.  I hope not.  I wouldn't be pleased if Anne heard about those days, either," replied the older sibling by fourteen minutes.  "Annie can hold her own when it comes to torment and torture, believe me."

"You know, big brother, I'm getting a very uneasy feeling that we may just have upset the cosmic balance of the universe by bringing those two together."

Another burst of laughter is heard from inside the kitchen.  Both men took a long, slow drink from his individual beer cans.

"I understand exactly what you're saying," replied the other man.  "I had my first feeling of dread about their meeting back in Paris when we finished our little business with John Dewey.  I had it again in Berlin the time Annie and I bumped into Corrie while she was working undercover.  Annie's reaction to hearing my description of Corrie dressed as a bag lady left me uneasy for several days afterwards.  Annie actually thought it sounded like…fun." he finished quietly.

"Fun?"

"Fun!" 

"We are in deep trouble, big brother."

And as if on cue, the kitchen door opened and the visage of their father appeared on the deck.  He was an older mirror image of his sons, tall, still handsome and straight, gray haired.  He had a twinkle in his eye that made his sons very uneasy.

"Well, father, just what have you been telling the ladies that would amuse them so much?" asked the oldest of the two.

"The truth.  Does that disturb you?"

"Yes!" they replied in unison.

"I think you will both have much to discuss this evening with your individual lady fair," replied the older man with a chuckle. 

As he was enjoying his joke, the kitchen door opened again and the two women in question came outside with the trays of food to be prepared on the barbecue.  Each placed her offerings on the deck table and then moved to their respective mate, entwining their arms around them affectionately.

"All right, Corrine, out with it.  Just what has dad been telling you about us to give you that big, sadistic, Cheshire cat smile?" asked the younger man.

"You are so busted," she replied, laughing.

"Both of you are," echoed Annie.  "It's a good thing the children weren't there to hear some of the things he told us about your youth.  You'd never be able to discipline them again, especially Peter.  As it is, I'll have to leave the room every time you start lecturing them for fear I'll break out laughing," she finished.

"Oh?" asked both men.

"Oh, yes," laughed Corrie as she hugged the love of her life.  "I can't tell you just how enlightening this afternoon's conversation with your father has been.  I, for one, will never be able again to look you straight in the face when you start one of your 'holier than thou' speeches," she said burying her laughter in his chest.

"Again? Since when have you ever listened to anything I've said without laughing?  What has he told you that could possibly make my life any more miserable?"

"Nice try, big guy, but the truth will not set you free," she smiled into his eyes.  "You gave me no end of grief when you heard about the trouble my brothers and I got into when we built our own tank and took it for a ride through the countryside."

"Blowing up haystacks and frightening farmers in all directions is not what I would call going for a ride in the county," he admonished.

"Oh, but crusading through the farmlands of Iowa as modern day Robin Hood's was different?  Please explain why your exploits were meritorious and mine were just plain bad behavior.  And we at least built our own transportation.  We didn't borrow our wheels from one of our relatives without their permission," she sneered.

"We were attempting to help our neighbors during difficult times.  We had no agenda to take over the world, only to be helpful in any way we could.  There was a war going on," he finished lamely.

"Yes, we heard all about it," replied Annie.  "I'm curious to know which one of you played Robin Hood and what character did the other assume?" she asked.

"Neither of us were Robin Hood," answered her husband indignantly.  "It wasn't like that at all.  We didn't rob the rich to give to the poor.  We didn't steal anything.  We were just trying to help out some of the harder hit farmers during wartime.  We explained our intentions to the farmers involved."

"Oh, so you were just redistributing people's property to make everything equal for everyone.  I get it now, you were teenage communists" said Corrie, shaking visibly with laughter.

"Woman, that wasn't the way it was, and that isn't funny," retorted her lover.  "If I were to put each of our little childhood exploits on a scale to be judged, I'd say your side would be a tad top heavy.   Between the tank incident, and that little 'radio broadcast' you and the boys set up announcing that Martians had taken over France, you were no angels either," he finished.

"I never pretended to be an angel," she answered.  "My brothers and I got into more trouble than any other eight individuals on the planet," she admitted.  "But we never, ever, denied what we did, nor did we try to white wash it to look altruistic.  We were just plain fiends.  What's your excuse, big boy?"

"I decline to answer on the grounds that it might tend to incriminate me," he replied with a straight face.

"Pleading the Fifth will not make any of this go away, friend.  You two were not hauled in to the county jail to receive good scout awards.  That wonderful aura of innocent perfection you display to the troops is just smoke and mirrors!  Why won't you admit it?" Corrie asked both men.

"I think the fire is ready now.  Do you want us to cook the burgers first or the steaks?" Paul asked his wife innocently.

"You can try to change the subject for now, Paul, but it isn't the end of this conversation," replied Annie with a smile.  "It's getting late.  Cook the burgers first and we can feed the children while the steaks are cooking.  Then, later, after they go to bed, we can have a nice quiet talk.  Right, Corrie?"

"Very right, Annie," replied her new sister in spirit.

Much later that night, the two brothers lingered over their cigars before retiring.  Neither man was looking forward to answering the anticipated questions from the ladies in their lives. They sat quietly out on the deck listening to the bed routines of the children as they settled in for the night.  Peter was sharing his room with his grandfather and Kelly had agreed to double up with Carolyn to give their uncle and future aunt a room.  When they could delay no longer, the brothers wished each other good luck and retired to their separate rooms. 

"Finally finished your male bonding?" asked Corrie as he entered.  "I'm done in the bathroom if you want to shower.  Or are you going to wait until morning?"

"I think I'll wait until morning.  I've only had a few hours of sleep in the last two days trying to clear off my desk to get away."

"And it only took eight days, not bad for the three days of work you originally estimated," Corrie felt compelled to put in.

"Thanks for pointing that out.  I am beat," he answered as he sat down on the edge of the bed. 

"You do look exhausted, sweetheart.  Turn a little and I'll try to make my honey feel better.  You need a good night's sleep and a few days in a hammock, or in a boat, fishing," said Corrie sympathetically.

He grunted in agreement.

Her small hands proceeded to work magic on his tired and tight neck and shoulder muscles. He sat and sighed contentedly as she untied the knots in his back with her kneading fingers.   After quite a few minutes of her ministrations, he leaned back against her body and tilted his head back to look into her eyes.

"I'll give you a lifetime to stop that," he whispered to her. 

"Is that all, just a lifetime?" she answered, nuzzling her nose to his.  "I was hoping for an eternal contract with a no buy out option."

"Hmmm, an eternal contract is so binding.  What if you change your mind, or find someone else, then what?" he whispered.

"I'll never change my mind about you, big boy.  And there is no one else like you, except Paul, and he's taken.  Annie would snatch out my hair if I even blinked wrong at Paul," she chuckled.

He sighed contentedly and answered,  "Luckily, they broke the mold when you were made so my hair is safe, unless, of course, you drive me to pull it out myself.  Darling, I don't know what I've done to deserve your love, but I will be eternally grateful for it," he finished honestly.

"It's no mystery.  You're just reaping your reward for all those good and noble deeds you performed as a child, Little John, or was it Will Scarlet?" Corrie snickered with an evil smile.

It took him a couple of heartbeats for her words to sink in.  As he pulled himself to a sitting position, Corrie jumped back out of his reach and made a mad dash for the bathroom.  As he bounded after her, she just succeeded in closing and locking the door before he crashed into it. She stood giggling uncontrollably inside the bathroom listening to his mumbled curses.

"Corrie, unlock the door and come out so we can talk about this," he finally said diplomatically.

"Not by the hair of my chinny-chin-chin," she laughed.

"Corrie, it's too late at night for this nonsense.  Come out and let's go to bed.  I'm tired," he tried again appealing to her common sense. 

"Yes, darling, you are tired.  Why don't you change into your pajamas and go to bed?  I'm fine right here and I can make myself very comfortable in the bathtub for the night.  That way I won't disturb your sleep with my fidgeting," she said with all sincerity. 

"Corrine, you can not sleep in the bathtub.  Don't be silly, unlock the door and come out," he replied.  "I'll tell you all you'll want to know if you just come out of there now."

"No, dear, it's all right.  I think I'll just stay where I am for the night.  Why don't…. "

Before she finished her thought, she heard the lock on the door click and the door swung slowly open. He stood there, with his arms crossed, leaning on the doorframe, blocking any possible chance of escape.

"Eeeppppp!" was all she managed to say.

"Busted!" came his one word reply.

* * * * *

Across the hallway, Paul and Annie Blaisdell lay cuddled together in bed, listening to the muffled bumps, thumps and squeals coming from his brother's room. 

"Sounds like Jim has his hands full," commented Paul laughing.

"Uhmm, I'd say Corrie is an even match for him, myself," replied his wife sincerely.

"Yes, they do make a great couple, don't they?  I'm really happy he's finally found a good woman, someone who loves him as much as he deserves to be loved, and can understand and tolerate what he does for a living."

"Yes, and despite his protestations about her driving him crazy, I don't remember ever seeing him so happy and content."

"Like you make me," replied Paul, pulling Annie even closer to him and making his meaning understood.

"Even if my name isn't Maid Marion?" came Annie's laughing reply.

* * * * *

Down the hall, the patriarch of the family lay in bed listening to the muted night sounds of his family.  As was his practice each night before going to sleep, he thought lovingly of his departed wife, still near in his heart, and reviewed the events of the day with her.

"You can rest easy, Sarah.  Everything is fine down here.  Our sons have chosen well," he whispered into the night with a wicked smile on his lips.

* * * * *

The following day, peace and tranquility once again reigned at the Blaisdell household.  As the children played in the backyard with their neighborhood friends, the adults looked on lazily from the deck.  Sitting side by side in Adirondack chairs, Paul, Annie and his father talked quietly together. Close by, the younger Blaisdell twin and the love of his life shared a chaise and a nap in each other's arms.

"I have never seen your brother so contented," the patriarch of the family mused.  "Why don't those two get married already?"

"Dad, you heard their explanation.  They both have work they love doing and right now is not the time.  When they are ready, they'll know it," replied his son.  

"Yes, yes, I know what they said.  And I know that brother of yours.  I don't want him to wake up one day and find out that he's taken so long that Corrie has gotten tired of waiting. She's good for him and I like her, and I don't want him to lose her," the concerned father answered.

"Don't worry, Corrie's not going anywhere without him, dad," reasoned Annie.  "She loves him more than words can say and she's smart enough to also know just how important his work is to him.  She told me that the one thing he doesn't need right now is a wife at home to worry about while he's off plotting how to save the world.  She's content to keep doing her job while he's doing his and making the best for now of the time they can get together."

"Harrumph!" said the older man.  "I know, I know, I taught you both how important dedication to duty is, but he's putting it before this fine woman and the chance of having a family, again.  That's why Barbara left him after only six months and she took the children with her.  He's a stranger to his own son and daughter, by God!  Now he has a chance to start over and have a new family, and it's the same thing over again.  Work!  Duty!  Have I raised an idiot?" complained the older man.

"Yep," mumbled a sleepy Corrie, "that's him."

"Dad, if you were trying to whisper so we couldn't hear you, it didn't work," replied his equally sleepy youngest son.  "Corrie and I have talked this all through together and we thought we had explained it to you.  We don't want to start a new family.  We want to get to know and be a family with the children I already have.  It wouldn't be right to bring additional children into this world if we, I, am a stranger to my grown son and daughter.  And Barbara had to take them with her, dad, they hadn't been born yet," he reasoned.

"Details and technicalities," muttered the old man.  "Barbara, rest her soul, wasn't strong willed enough to put up with you and your job.  Corrie has gumption, guts, and brains…"

"Thanks dad," mumbled Corrie.

"You're welcome, missy, but let me finish," the father replied.  "And she could raise to distinction any children you both sired and win the hearts of Robert and Kathryn with just her smile and sense of humor. When are you two going to go see them anyway?" he asked.

"We'll most likely leave here Thursday morning and drive straight through to Denver," answered his son.  "I called Bob this morning and he has invited us to dinner on Friday evening.  He also invited us to stay with him, but with his Pam being 6 months pregnant, we didn't want to impose on her.  He said that Kate would be back from her business trip late Friday and was planning on coming up from Golden on Saturday morning.  After that, we have no set plans.  Corrie thinks we should all go fishing while we're there, or at least see Estes Park or Pike's Peak, but it just depends on how things go with the kids."

"Sounds like the start of a good plan, son, but don't be too thick headed or stubborn to listen to Corrie and what her take is on how the reunion is going.  She knows about families, coming from that tribe of hers, and if she thinks going fishing is a smart thing then go get some worms!  She's got a good head on her pretty shoulders, she does, just like Annie," grinned the family patriarch.

"Thank you, dad," said Annie.

"Thanks, dad," mumbled Corrie.

"Yeah, thanks Father," mumbled his two sons.  "Just what those two need, encouragement!"

* * * * *

Time flies when you're having fun, and a few days later we join our travelers on US Interstate 80 somewhere in Nebraska.

"Corrie, you're not on the Autobahn…"

"Oh, so that's why the signs are all in English… "

"Watch your speed, woman!  I have no intention of bailing you out of some rural jail on the way to Denver," replied her short-tempered companion.

"Considering how much company you've been since we left Chicago, a rural jail sounds quite friendly right now.  What's biting you, big boy?"

"Nothing!"

"Yeah, right.  For every wrong answer you give me, Son, I'm going to go 5 miles an hour faster, how does that sound?" came her serious reply.

"You're already going 90, for heaven's sake… "

"Yes, and I meant what I said.  Now I'm going 95.  Want to see this car break 100?"

"No, now will you please slow down to the speed limit.  You're making me nervous."

Corrie Murchison glanced at the man sitting next to her in the front seat and sighed.  Sometimes she just wanted to haul off and bitch slap him when he got into one of his moods and this was one of those times.

"I'll slow down if you'll open up," she tried once more.  "Deal?"

After thinking about it for a few seconds, during which time Corrie flew by a semi as if it were standing still in the middle of the road, he finally, grudgingly replied, "Deal."

Backing off the gas, Corrie slowed the car to what seemed like a crawl now, and waited patiently for her companion and lover to sort out his thoughts and begin telling her what was on his mind.  After a few minutes, she cleared her throat loudly and looked over at him.  He was staring out the window at the all too familiar scenery of cows and farms as if in a trance. 

"I've already offered the penny for your thoughts, dear.  When do I get my money's worth?" she asked quietly, aware now that whatever it was that was bothering him was personal in nature.   This was not one of his work-related black moods. 

Finally, he sighed and turned to her and said, "I don't know what I'm going to say to them."

Blinking a few times, Corrie shifted the gears of her mind to place his comment in its proper context. She took one hand off the steering wheel and placed it on his thigh compassionately.

"Well, from my personal experience, I would start by saying hello… "

"Very funny… "

"I'm not trying to be funny, dear.  I understand your anxiety about seeing your children after all this time.  Just be honest and tell them what you have told me.  You missed growing up with them and you can't bring that back.  But you're older and wiser now and you want to become a part of their lives.  Simple and to the point," she finished.

"Yes, simple and to the point.  But will that be good enough?  And how will they take it that I'm making this overture now, after their mother is dead and in the grave, and not before?  How do I justify that?" his self-doubt asked.

"Well, for one thing, you hadn't been converted by me yet/ while Barbara was still alive.  Explain to them that finding yourself engulfed by a family that could fully populate the State of Texas has changed you and made you want more than anything to reach out and heal the wounds of the past.  Be honest with them and they will be honest with you, dear," she finished.

"You make it sound so simple," he sighed.  "I've been nothing more than a shadow in their lives for all these years, a picture their mother showed them, a check that came every month.  My mother and father were there for the important times in their lives, but not me, their father.  What does that say to them?  How do I make up for that?" came his anguished reply.

"Sweetheart, if I have to, I will let go of this wheel and slap some sense into you.  You may not have been physically present in their lives, but you made sure they, and Barbara, always had what they needed, from a nice, warm home, to braces, medical coverage, college tuition, and even a modest down payment on their present homes.  Tell them what you've just told me.  From what your dad says about them, Bob and Kate sound like great kids, well, great people.  They're adults now.  And they've had the benefit of having your mom and dad's influence in their lives, so, in one way, they know where you come from.  They know the values that your parents raised you by and what makes you who you are.  You're not a total stranger, in that sense.  They're smart, intelligent, and they've known a great deal of love from your family.  Don't bury yourself in guilt.  That's my job, and besides, it won't help.  Be honest, be truthful, and be sincere.  That's how I fell in love with you," she finished, looking into his eyes.

"Thank you and that is one reason I love you the way I do," he replied, his voice cracking.

After a few, quiet seconds, he said, "Ah, if you don't keep your eyes on the road and avoid that camper, all this talk will be a moot point. Honey, why don't you let me drive for a while?" he asked anxiously.

"I wasn't even close to that camper.  Stop being a Nervous Nelly.  You had your turn to drive, through Iowa.  Now it's my turn.   And if you don't stop back seat driving, remember, I have ways of REALLY frightening you.  Now why don't you just turn up the cassette player, close your eyes and take a nap.  I promise to let you know when the state troopers are coming to haul me away," she answered, giggling delightedly.

"Woman, I know the way you drive.  Do you seriously expect me to be able to close my eyes and sleep when you're afoot?" he said.

"Now that's the cranky baby I've come to know and love," she laughed.  "Keep yourself in your Control mode and pretend you're on an airplane.  You'll be asleep in seconds and the next thing you know, we'll be in Colorado," she smiled at him. 

"That's what I'm afraid of," he answered, laughing.  "I close my eyes and you're going to pretend you're an airplane flying too low through the countryside.  The next thing I know, the FAA and every state trooper from here to Denver will be waiting for us.  All right, all right sweetheart.  I'll close my eyes and take a nap if you promise me, and really mean it, that you won't go over 100.  Is it a deal?" he asked sincerely.

"Deal, big boy.  I promise, cross my heart, that I won't go over 100, not even to pass.  And, since I'm in a good mood now that your mood has improved, I also promise not to flip anyone off, especially truckers. I won't play chicken with anyone.  And, best of all, I'll keep the volume down on the music so only you and I can hear it and not the cows and other motorists.  How's that, old son?" she smiled.

He returned his lover's smile and replied, "I am a fortunate man.  And I also know that I will pay for these concessions sometime in our future together," he laughed.

"No dear, consider it a gift from me to you.  No payback necessary," she laughed back at him.

"Hmmm, why is it I don't believe you," he wondered out loud.  "It's so unlike you to be so kind.  What are you cooking up in the mind of yours now?"

"Me? Cooking something up?  Just because I was trying to be nice for a change, you don't have to get insulting!  Fine, be like that!" she finished, protesting her innocence with a wide smile.

"Corrie," he said.

"Yes dear."

"I love you."

"I love you too." 

She smiled at him tenderly, then reached out one hand and patted him on the arm.  "Now, take a nice nap while I outrun these County Mounties."

* * * * *

Despite her lover's concern, Corrie did manage to reach their destination without the benefit of any speeding tickets from the local constabulary.  It still amazed him, even after all the years he had known her, just how many people there were in the world who were related to the Murchison family.  Awaking briefly from his nap at one point, he had discovered their car pulled over to the side of the road and Corrie laughing and hugging a very tall and beefy looking state trooper by the name of Joshua.  And, some 300 miles later, he was still trying to work out the family relationship in his head of whose cousin married whose in-law to earn inclusion in the family that could take over the world if it chose.  Finally, taking some non-aspirin pain relievers for his headache, he decided it really didn't matter.  From that point on, he would just take for granted that anyone they met, anywhere in the world, was somehow a distant relative of this strange and wonderful woman and let it be at that.  In life, you have to make some concessions to get by.

* * * * *

Friday evening finally came and our man Control found himself sitting in a comfortable living room, opposite the son he had fathered nearly thirty years before.  Bob's wife, Pam, and Corrie were in the kitchen talking and laughing like old friends and getting the dinner preparations finished.  Part of him wanted Corrie there beside him, to help ease the strain he felt as he sat with the son he knew so little about.  And yet, looking into his eyes, he felt he was looking at a younger version of himself.  Robert was as tall as he and had the same odd color blue eyes that he and Paul shared.  He also carried himself in much the same way as he and Paul did.  That might have been their father's influence on his grandson, but there was no questioning the fact that this young man was his true son.

After bringing his father a beer, Bob started the conversation saying, "So, what would you like me to call you?  Dad?  Father?  James?  Jim?  Control?"

Smiling at his son, he replied, "Corrie generally calls me idiot, so anything you feel comfortable using is okay by me.  Truthfully and honestly, I know I haven't really earned the title of father or dad just because I provided the sperm that created you.  I haven't been around to earn that respect.  But, Bob, I want you to know how truly sorry I am for not being there to see your first steps, your first home run, your grammar school, high school, or college graduations.  I… I regret many things I've done in this life, but the one thing I realize I can never make up for,  that I would give my life to correct, is my absence from yours and Kate's growing up years," he said, stopping before his voice gave out on him.

His son sat quietly facing him for some time, slowly turning the beer he held unseeing in his hands.  Finally, in a quiet voice he said, "You know, I hated you for a long time.  I hated the fact that you never came to see either Kate or me or even mom!  Especially mom!  Grandma and Grandpa would come and see us, but never you.  I felt… I felt unwanted and unloved by my own father, and Kate basically felt the same," he finished quietly.

"I assure you, I did then and do now, love both you and your sister.  You were conceived in love, the love I felt for your mother.  And despite the fact that she and I discovered that we could not live together, that she could not abide the work and the life that I chose, it did not mean I didn't love either of you.  That's why I made sure that no matter what happened to me, you, your sister, and especially your mother, would be well taken care of.  And, right or wrong, I decided that it might be best for you if I stayed away.  I wasn't a good husband because of my job, and the last thing I wanted was to be a bad father.  I'm…I'm truly sorry, son, that I hurt you both and I would understand if you still hated me," he ended, his throat so tight he could barely finish.

"Sir, I apologize if I didn't make myself clear when I first spoke.  Yes, I did hate you, for a long, long time.  I don't hate you now," came the unexpected reply.

"One day when we were about fourteen, mom heard me say something to a friend of mine, about how much I hated my never seen father.  She called Kate and me into her studio for a talk.  She told us in no uncertain words that she would not tolerate her children hating their own father. That if we hated you for whatever reasons we had, then we would have to hate her too, for being weak and afraid, a coward."

"Son, your mother…"

"No, let me finish, please.  Mom was a wonderful person, a caring and loving mother, a great friend and listener, and a gifted artist.   She had an artist's soul but could never understand the darker side of life.  She explained to us that she had fallen in love with the man she had met at the Sorbonne, a gentle, artistic man, yet who possessed strengths she did not fathom.  When you asked her to marry you, you had been open with her, telling her what you could about your work with…the company. She told us straight out that the failure of your marriage was her fault because she could not be the person you needed.  She did not possess the inner strength needed for the long periods when you were away.  She had been wrong to think she could.  And when she found out she was pregnant, with twins, well, it was too much."

"I know, son, we had been married six months and I was gone almost four of those months.  I wasn't much of a husband… "

"Sir, you were doing your job, that's what mom told us.  If she had listened to everything you had said to her before you proposed, she would have understood, but she didn't.  And then she realized she couldn't, it wasn't in her and she was overwhelmed.  She came back here to Denver because this is where her family lived and she knew she would be safe and taken care of.  They would guard her, protect her, and help her with raising the children she was carrying."

Looking straight into his father's eyes, he continued, "You cannot fault yourself for her weakness.  You may not have been here physically, as you said, but you supported us in every other way.  You provided a wonderful home for us, complete with a studio for mom, and you made sure we didn't lack for the necessities in life.  Your love for us kept you away, but by staying away, it also gave mom the illusion she needed to feel she could manage alone."

"Mom always believed that a time would come when you would want to make contact with Kate and me.  She told us that no matter what was going on in our lives at the time, that we should remember how much you loved her, and wanted the best for her and your children.  She made us promise to forget our hateful feelings and to love you as she loved you, and to be ready with open arms when you called.  Dad, I've been waiting to say this to you for a long time.  Thanks for every thing you've done for us all these years.  I love you too," he finished quietly.

The two men stood and embraced each other.  Real men may not eat quiche, but they do cry.  Father and son stood in the living room unashamedly holding each other and crying for some minutes.  When they finally did let go of each other, they found a tearful Pam and Corrie watching silently from the kitchen door.  Both men smiled shyly and held out their arms for their life mates to join them in a group hug.

* * * * *

Their flight had just reached its cruising altitude for the return trip to New York.  They were both exhausted but it was a happy exhaustion this time. 

"Well, my tall, dark, handsome idiot, are you chomping at the bit to get back in harness at work?"

"Yes, and no," came his reply.  "I don't want to have to say goodbye to you at the airport when we get in.  I know, I know, you have to get back before Warren has apoplexy.  And if you have to go, then, yes, I'll be glad to get back to the pile that's waiting on my desk, if only to forget how much I'm going to miss your not being around every day," he answered honestly. 

Sitting close together, his arm around her shoulder, they sat silently for a long time.  Then he laughed and said,  "You know, my dear, this has been some trip.  Your Godmother single handedly energized the economy of New York.  You and Annie put a dent in the surplus of merchandise in Chicago, and the city of Denver has just enjoyed a boom they haven't seen since the gold rush. I think you and Pam bought everything any newborn child could ever need.  Bob may have to find a bigger house before my grandchild comes, because of you two," he laughed.

"Hey, I've never been a grandmother in waiting before.  It was the least I could do," Corrie laughed her fiendish laugh.

"And what about Kate?  What was that all about, tell me?" he inquired.

"Well, you are the father of the bride to be.  There are certain responsibilities that need be taken care of."

"Yes, those usually include paying for the wedding, you know, the hall, the church, flowers, the gown, that sort of stuff.  Are you going to tell me that that U-haul you came back with from your wanderings contained all of those things?" he asked in mock seriousness.

"Men, you just have no idea of what is involved.  I am the almost step mother of the bride to be.  Not being of the evil type… Don't you dare say it… I have responsibilities too. I am responsible for helping the bride with anything she asks me to help her with."

"Oh?"

"That's my alibi and I'm sticking to it," came Corrie's reply.

"All right, I won't say anymore.  Not even the line about how well you did for a woman who hates to shop!" he said, poking her in the side.  "First thing back in the office, I have to make sure Michael understands that come hell or high water, I will be in Denver in October, even if World War III breaks out," said the proud father of the bride to be.

"Yes, and I'm sure Warren is going to be just tickled pink when I tell him I have to attend another family gathering come October."

"Yes, even if you don't mention that it's not your family."

"Ah, big boy, weren't you paying attention?  It seems that John, your soon to be son in law, is second cousin to..."