Blackheath

Chapter Nine

Dinah waved good bye to the Jo's and zapped herself directly to Marc's office, startling the crap out of Reno as she emerged in front him.  She laughed, "Guilty conscience there, Reno?  Maybe something Melly should know?"

"Uhm, not last I checked. You're looking like you're keeping secrets though. Give!" he said with a laugh.

"Not I," Dinah told him.  "The only thing I'm keeping to myself at the moment is twins.  Is he free?"

"Unless he zapped someone in there, or someone zapped in there and he didn't tell me, he is. Oh, and I wanna register a complaint about Anja."

"Oh?" she asked.

"Yeah, she doesn't play by Minion Rules. She doesn't gossip!"

"Tough tiddly winks there, bucko.  Get over it," she advised over her shoulder as she moved into the inner office.  "Well, and how are you doing?" she asked, moving around the desk to kiss Marc.  "Got a few moments for the mother of your children?"

He had been frowning at the paperwork on his desk when she entered. Now he smiled at her and pulled her down into his lap as they kissed. "I've always got time for you," he replied as the kiss ended. "What's up?  Wanna take me away from all of this?  In fact, let's run away permanently."

"I'm so there, let's go for it," she said.  "I just came by to say hello, see how you were doing, tell you I bought you some new underwear...promise you a private fashion show of the latest in maternity wear if you want...maybe cop a quickie...you know, like that.  The Jo's say hello by the way."

"Hmmm. Now how do you expect me to concentrate on tactics and stuff when you come in and distract me.  So, you went shopping with the Jos?  That must have been something. Is the city still standing?"

"Of course it is," she said indignantly.  "But you'll never guess what I found out over lunch."  She bounced a little with excitement.  "We went to the cutest little place in Adams Morgan, I'll have to take you there sometime."

"And you found out that Senator I-Don't-Take-Bribes is dating the head of Haliburton?"

"Oh, no," she said, "better than that.  Betty Jo and Ian are an item, a hot and rather steamy item too, from what I gathered.  Betty Jo isn't saying much but that says even more if you get my drift."

"Ian?" Marc asked, eyes going wide. "Ian?  And one of the Jos?"

Dinah nodded happily.  "That's what I'm telling you.  Hard to imagine, ain't it.  But she was looking for a dress for the party, said Ian was her date."

"Oh just wait until I see that guy."

"Why?  Jealous?"

"No, but I wanna know why this is such a secret. And, I gotta tell you, picturing those two as a couple is a bit mind-blowing.  So, uhm, are they, like, doing it?"

"We didn't get into explicit detail, but uhm, my intuition and her blushes lead me to conclude that they are indeed as you say 'doing it'.  I gather Ian is a rather private person and the Jos, contrary to their public image are as well in some respects.  But why is the idea so mind blowing?" she asked, fiddling with his shirt buttons.

"He's just ... so bloody Victorian, and she's so... uninhibited.  Stop that," he added, taking her hand away from his buttons and kissing her fingers.

"Why?" she demanded, trying to wriggle her hand free.  "Reno knows we uhm, do it.  You got a meeting or something?"

"Here, you wanna do it here? In close proximity to Trevor's CCTV?"

"It's not like we never have before," she said.  "You suddenly shy or something?  Where's the CCTV?  Right here in the office?" she demanded.  "I'll toss your shirt over it."

"You know, I had no idea pregnant women are so horny. No wonder we're overpopulating the world.  I might wanna keep you barefoot and pregnant," he said as he zapped the door to the outer office closed and zapped the blind closed part way.

"You've no idea, lover," she said making fast work of his shirt and moving on to his belt.  "Just wait until I'm further along."  She focused for a moment, then met his eyes.  "You know I bet Reno's got a pool going on this, too."

"On what?" he asked as he swept everything off the desk and fought with her blouse.

"How often we do it here, whether we will or not if I come by, all that sort of thing," she said, helping him with her bra.  "God, I love that you love sex!"

"I should strangle his scrawny neck, you know?" Marc said as he hit paydirt.

"Gee, and I thought you'd be all guy-like," she said breathlessly, wriggling a little to give him better access.  "Oh, god!...do that again would you please?"

"That's what I'm planning on," he promised and did.

She lost track of the conversation then for a while and made sure he did too.  When her breathing returned to normal she was snuggled on his lap, content in his arms.  She sighed happily.  "Maybe we should get a bet down, you know."

I don't think he'll let us bet on ourselves," he replied, toying with her hair.

"I dunno, depend on the bet maybe.  Like if we set a goal and bet on whether we'd meet it or something.  Set ourselves a challenge,"  she said, nuzzling his neck.

"What like sex four times a day instead of three?  And you a hundred orgasms rather than just 20 or so?"

"Oh yeah!  Sounds like a plan to me.  How many orgasms you wanna go for?"

"If I can keep up with four I'll consider myself lucky," he replied laughing.

"Well you could go into training, work up to more.  I'd be happy to help, you know," she assured him.  "We could start now."

He was laughing so hard he had tears in his eyes, "God you are so bad for me."

She pouted.  "And here I thought I was helping."

He wrapped her up tightly and kissed her forehead. "You are. That's the trouble. Stephen might fire me when I show up for a meeting unprepared."

"I doubt it.  When I looked, Doni was on her way into his office, closing the door behind her.  You could start an expectant fathers club."

"We'd never have time to meet, too busy attending to your needs. And ours."

Dinah nodded.  "That's right.  It's your job to keep us happy.  Happy mommy, happy babies, and that means a happy Christopher."

He groaned. "What can we do about that child. I mean, yeah, I rescued him but why me?  Stephen ought to be at least as interesting."

"His preference makes perfect sense to me.  I find you endlessly fascinating.  Nothing else in the universe is as enthralling as far as I'm concerned, so you're asking the wrong person."

He shook his head bemused. "We're never gonna get to move out of the commune, are we?  Do you mind it there terribly?"

She threaded her fingers through him chest hair.  "No, I don't actually, but I was used to the hotel.  Do you?"

"I hated it at first. I'm not used to that many people around all the time. But it's grown on me. We get along better than I thought we would."

She kissed him, warm and slow, her hand cupping his cheek.  "I love you, you know that.  And I love all the things you do that you hate doing, to make it as good as it is for us."

"I'm a martyr to the cause," he said lightly. "And I'm sorry you've had to give up so much."

"Like what?  Sleeping alone?  I've given up nothing I miss."

He studied her eyes for a moment, obviously hesitant to believe she was being honest about it rather than kind.

"It's true.  I know you don't believe me," she said, shrugging.  "But the truth is I've never been happier or more content and I don't feel like I gave up a thing, only gained more than I ever imagined."

"I know that feeling," he agreed, and kissed her.

Tsura was staring into the mirror again. She seemed to spend a lot of time doing it.  Not because she thought herself so beautiful, there were others in the house far more beautiful, but because she sometimes had to remind herself that this really was her, and it really was happening to her. Sometimes she thought it was a nightmare. That she'd wake-up and find out it was all some fantasy that was made up to tease her and remind her that her life could never include a loving husband, dragons and alien worlds.

Tonight there was a party. And it was for them.  For her, she repeated to herself mentally, trying to get her mind around that. Well, for her and Baz. For their engagement. It really was going to happen?

Doni poked her head in, saying, "You ready?"

Tsura smiled at her. "Yes, I think so. It is just... It seems so impossible sometimes."

She came all the way into the room and sat down on the edge of the bed.  "What does?"

"Everything really," Tsura answered sitting on the bed next to Doni. "Dragons, alien worlds, this place, Baz. Especially Baz. I wouldn't have thought I could fall in love with someone so fast. Or.. or feel so much happiness."

"Sometimes it happens that way," she said.  "Sometimes I think the falling is like that," she said snapping her fingers.   "Just some folks take forever to figure it out."  She studied Tsura's face.  "You thinking maybe somebody's going to pinch you and you'll realize it's all an illusion or something?"

Tsura, wide eyed, nodded. "It seems like a dream, and something that is happening to someone who is not really me."

"Well, here you go then," Doni said, pinching her lightly.

Tsura laughed then hugged Doni. "I'm going to miss all of you so much. You've all been so kind to put up with me, and help me and treat me like family."

"Well it was touch and go there for a while, but we kindda like you so..."  Doni laughed.  "You can come back and visit when ever you want you know.  We aren't going to change the locks or anything."

Tsura smiled. "No, I don't suppose you will. And you might be very sorry you offered that. I might be here asking for advice all the time."

"Advice we got lots of, free.  You ever wonder," Doni asked, as they stood up, "If Tabitha had all this planned from the beginning?"

Tsura gaped at her. "You don't think..."

"I gave up being surprised by her a long time ago, I can tell you that.  I got stories that'd curl your hair.  But they aren't for gently reared virgins so come see me after the honeymoon," Doni said, rolling her eyes.

Tsura forgot all about being nervous as Doni led her downstairs to where quite a few of the guests had already arrived.

Baz was already there in a huddle with Stephen, Marc, Laz, and Cassidy over by the where they'd set up the bar that Eli was tending.  "So," Stephen said, "the bachelor party...I'm thinking the night before the rehearsal...say Singapore?"

Marc frowned. "Singapore? Who's driving home?"

"Trevor," Laz said.  "He won't want to piss Maggie off."

"I won't want to piss off Maggie?" Trevor asked, coming into the conversation a bit late.  Ian walked over to join them.

"You're the designated driver for the bachelor party," Cassidy told him.  "Figured you wouldn't want Maggie giving you a black eye that close to being a groomsman, so you'll be better behaved than those of us who haven't got your worries."

"I'd be willing to bet Irisa's got a mean left hook," Trevor replied.

"We may find out, old man." Cassidy said.

"Wait," Marc said. "Singapore?"

"Ah there's Julian. How many of us are there anyway?" Marc asked, counting on fingers.

Jules sauntered over. "So, grapevine says Singapore."

"Yeah, that's what I heard too," Spence said, as he and Reno strolled up.

"That's what I'm thinking," Stephen said seriously.  "Somewhere off the beaten track, but still lively.  Hong Kong's just not the same anymore, and Maxim's in Paris is so passe.  The other possibility is Kinshasa or even Nairobi, but the political situation is dicey.  Unless you wanna go off world?"  Stephen thought for minute, then said "I think, counting us here there'll be...Jules is Lis coming?  Mikey and Az, Paul and Chance, Carmine...anyone else?  Sixteen?"

"Tommy and Jordon," Marc supplied as the two walked over.

"So, Ian, you've been holding out on us," Marc said, eyeing the lord in question.

"He has?" Baz asked.

"Oh yeah, that's what I heard too," Stephen said.  "He's gone where few men wouldn't care to dare."

"I've no idea what you're on about," Ian replied, doing his best not to look smug.

"Sure you don't," Stephen said, looking over at Betty Jo.  He nudged Julian.  "How's that for a glow, there Jules.  Rival's Dinah's I'd say."

"Ian, you dog," Baz said, grinning.

"Always knew he had it in him," Julian said doing the smug for Ian.

Trevor eyed Betty Jo and her sisters. "You're a brave man Ian," he thunked Ian on the back.  "But then so is Baz," Trevor added, watching Tsura.

"I am?" Baz asked.  "Why ever is that Trevor?"

"She's a redhead at heart. Don't get fooled by the hair," Trevor said mysteriously.  Julian was laughing and nodding, "Oh, yeah."  Marc was entirely in sympathy.

Tsura's arrival started a bit of a stir as many came forward to greet her, wishing her every possible form of happiness. She looked down at her feet but gladly returned kisses and hugs.

The Jos hugged her, one after another and then Billie Jo said, "We've got the shower all planned, honey.  Next Saturday at our place."

"Oh,"  Tsura said.  "Shower..." looking a bit at a loss.

Dinah laughed, and gave her a friendly pat.  "Of course.  And then there's the bachelorette party, the night before the rehearsal.  Don't worry.  We have it all under control.  Bobbie Jo's got the Chippendales all lined up."

"OOOOO!" Doni squealed.  "I've always wanted to see them.  Will they lap dance with a pregnant woman?"

"They better," Dinah said darkly.

"Lap dance?" Tsura asked blankly.

"You'll love it sugah, trust me," Billie Jo assured her.  "It's all just good clean fun."

Tsura didn't have a chance to worry about it as she was being hugged again, by more arrivals.

Doni and Dinah eyed the huddle by the bar.  "Bachelor party," Doni said wisely.  "Stephen's been muttering about it all day.  It's his job as best man."

"Right. Like he wouldn't be in the thick of it otherwise," Irisa said, eyeing the men.  "So, Betty Jo, give!"

"Give what?  United way?  I do that at the office."

Jolie grinned.  "Nice try, girlfriend.  Give it up!"

She blushed and bit her lip.  "We've been out a few times, that's all."

"That's all?" her sisters chorused.  "And you coming in at dawn looking like the cat that swallowed the cream."

"And I've got the proof," Irisa said, showing them a copy of The Mirror. There, for posterity, was a picture of Betty Jo smiling up at Ian.

"Oh God! No! They didn't!" Betty Jo said, aghast.

Her sisters shrugged.  "It's a good picture."

"Yeah it is," Jolie agreed.  "So was the one in that French paper, what's the name of it?  Paris Match, that's it.  I'll send it to you Betty Jo, for your scrap book."

"Don't you pay any mind to them," Tabitha said to them as she walked over to join them.

Tsura, taking it all in, asked Betty Jo,  "So is he as proper and quiet in private as he is in public?"

Betty Jo blinked at her.  "Well, uhm, no actually he's not.  He's a very surprising man, all in all."  She looked over at the guys, and then back at Tsura.  "It's the quiet, reserved ones honey...you gotta watch out for them.  They're full of surprises."

At Tsura's look the ladies broke up into fits of laughter.

"What are they plotting over there," Marc asked.

"Your downfall, Marc.  Don't worry about it, it's a foregone conclusion," Julian said grinning.

"So, Ian, wanna place a bet?" Reno asked.

"What's the pot this time?" Cassidy asked.

"How long Ian and Betty Jo last. Smart money's on less than 6 months."

Stephen choked on his drink and turned away.  Cassidy just shook his head.  'You're a brave man, son."

Ian just chugged his scotch.

Reno, chortling, went to join the enemy.

Daisy and Anja arrived together and joined the distaff side too.

Tommy, who'd been silent, got even more so.

Natha, Tobie, Chance, and Paul arrived together followed closely by Carmine and Nicco, bringing Mikey and Azael.

Mikey looked at the room and then nudged Az, "What's with this place, we back in junior high?  Girls here, boys there and the cool kids necking and getting high in the bushes.  We gotta do something about this."

"No kidding," Az agreed. He went into a huddle with Eli and the two of them produced a piano and Reno went flying through the air until he was sitting at it.

"Play!" Az directed.

Reno played.  He went into some reggae and added a few jazzy fillips while Eli zapped a dance floor and Carmine took Tsura's hand and whirled her into a fast Charleston.  Bobbie Jo gave Paul a look and they were on the floor, followed closely by Billie Jo and Chance.  Jordon didn't ask, just grabbed Natha and followed Tommy, being towed by Daisy out onto the floor.

Anja looked at the dancing somewhat askance. "Come on," Marc said to her and towed her out there. Cassidy invited Dinah. Doni and Stephen weren't far behind.

Tsura was laughing as Carmine was showing her some complicated steps, and doing a good job of mimicking him.

Betty Jo wandered over to where Ian, Julian and Baz, along with the rest of the guys were watching the dancers.  "Do I get to choose or is one of you going to ask?"

Laz glanced at Ian and grinned.  "I'm your man, baby," he said and whirled her off.

Ian crossed his arms on his chest and leaned back to watch. "You've come a long way, baby," Trevor said as he captured Tabitha as she passed and whirled her out onto the floor.

The angels were high-fiving each other.

The Murgatroyds saw them and they were dancing too.  "Wow," Mikey said to Murgie.  "Nice foot work!"

"You ever wonder," Baz asked Ian, "If maybe we're missing something?"

"No," Ian said with a grin. "Us quiet types end up with the babes in the end."

"There is that," Baz agreed, refilling their glasses.  He held the bottle up to Julian.  "Want some or you got other plans?"

Julian stuck his glass out. "Mamma and Puff are bonding.  I'm staying the hell outta Dodge."

As the music turned slower, or at least as Reno began a slow rendition of something romantic, couples began to change.  Cassidy found Irisa, surprisingly enough, and Daisy drug Tommy out on to the dance floor.

Dinah went looking for Marc, "Feeling brave?" she asked, leading him onto the floor.

"Don't laugh at me," Marc ordered her.

"I'm not!" she protested.  "I wouldn't do that!"

Ian walked across the room to Betty Jo.  "May I have this dance."

"Absolutely," she said, taking his hand.

Carmine, taking the initiative, swung Tsura straight into Baz's arms.

Baz accepted the hand off with finesse and drew her close.  "Hi," he said, smiling at her.  "How are you holding up?"

"What is a... lap dance?" she asked.

He was grateful for years of practice controlling his expression.  "It's when a dancer dances for you personally, sometimes including er...while sitting in your lap.  The bachelorette party?" he asked.  "Take some cash with you then, to tip him with."

"Tip him?" she asked. Then promptly dismissed the whole thing as they danced.

Az danced by with Melly. She was regaling him with tales of cyphers past. Jordon was planning his approach to Natha, who was utterly ignoring him, instead talking to Anja.  Lis was dancing with Bobbie Jo. Carmine and Julian were standing over to the side watching it all.

"I'm very happy for you and Nimue," Carmine said after a few minutes.

"Thanks," Julian replied. "You'll get an invitation. I hope you actually show up."

Carmine raised an eyebrow. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Ah... you know, no reason at all." The two went back to watching the dancers.

Laz approached Anja.  "Dance with me?" he asked.

She eyed the dancers and eyed Laz. "I'm not very good," she warned.  But she took his hand and walked out to the dance floor with him.

"I'm not Fred Astaire so it's fine," he said, pulling her a little closer as he began to waltz her around the floor.

"Now there's an interesting couple," Reno said to Spence and Jolie who'd walked over to keep him company, nodding at Laz and Anja. "Although I'm still near to fainting over those two," he added watching Ian and Betty Jo laughing together as they danced.

"Why's that, Reno?" Jolie asked.  "Makes perfect sense to me, now that I think about it.  You starting a book on Laz and Anja or you gonna wait?"

"I'm waiting on that one. He's still got a broken heart," Reno replied turning to watch Marc and Dinah. "Although she sure doesn't."

"She never did," Jolie told him.  "He'd never have been able to handle her like Marc does.  She'd of walked all over him and he'd of let her."

"Well, in that case," Spence replied, "he's definitely dancing with the wrong girl. Anja doesn't strike me as the wilting violet type either."

"You're smarter than that, Spencer Smythe and I know it," Jolie said, poking him in the ribs.  "The trouble with Laz about Dinah was he would have been so damn grateful for a crumb, he'd have been witless.  Doesn't have anything to do with spineless, more like that whole courtly love and chivalry stuff they were spouting in the middle ages.  That one there, if he had to, he'd be happy to square off with her."

"Hah, she'd like that," Reno chortled.

"I'm getting nervous," Tsura confided to Baz.  "All those people watching us.  It isn't so bad here, as these all are friends."

"They'll all be friends then, too," he assured her, his hand rubbing her back.

She smiled and rested her head against his chest.  "Thank you," she said. "I'm very happy."

Anja eyed Laszlo thoughtfully. "What is your full name?"

"Laszlo," he said.  "And yours?"

"Why is it such a deep secret?" she asked.

"It's not.  That's my name.  Laszlo.  Wanna see my drivers license?"

She shrugged. "Names do not define the man, blond grasshopper. Keep your secrets if they are important to you."

He bowed a bit.  "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me, little white locust.  You're only as sick as your secrets."

She laughed, her eyes wrinkling up with her enjoyment. "I thank you for the name. I will cherish it."

"As I will mine," he said, his eyes teasing her.  "Are we working out in the morning, by the way?"

"I did not know we had planned to," she said.

"Of course we did," he said.  "It's on my calendar in black and white, a color combination I like, by the way.  Wanna see?"

She studied him for a moment. "I would be honoured to show you how to fight properly."

He snorted and led her off the dance floor.  "I can't wait, darlin'."

"I know," she replied serenely.

"I'll just bet you do," he laughed.  "But there's knowing and then there's knowing, if you know what I mean?"

"When you cease to strive to understand, then you will know without understanding," she replied with a bow as he brought her to the edge of the dance floor.

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding."  He bowed as he spoke.

"A wise man, he  who said that first," she agreed.

"Solomon," Laz said, walking with her towards the bar.  "Drink?"

"Thank you, yes."

"What will you have?" he asked, as Eli poured him a scotch.

"Vodka. Neat," she replied.

"Vodka, neat," he repeated to Eli and then passed her the glass.  "Skol."

"Salut," she replied holding up her glass.  "Your friend Baz looks very happy."

"He is, I think.  He's been alone a long time."  Laz sipped his scotch.  "She's an interesting choice for him, though.  More there than meets the eye, I'd say."

"To be alone, without one to love, is a waste of the body. To be not alone, without one to love, is a waste of the soul," she quoted.  "I am most pleased for them both. Tsura is more complex than she seems at first glance.  She is a good soul."

"Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone," Laz said cheerfully.

"Very true, most sad for you."  she chugged her vodka.

"I don't snore," Laz said.  "Want another?"

"Please. They are not very strong."

He eyed her and then asked Eli if he could see the bottle.  "Stoly, that's what I thought you were pouring.  Man!  Another one, neat and a scotch."  He  ambled back over to where she was, watching the dancers.  "Here ya go, babe.  Bottoms up as they say."

She did and opined as she finished it, "Akvavit is spicier. Stronger. This is not bad but not as good."

"I'll remember that.  Should I maybe get the bottle?"

"Perhaps later," she replied.

Reno was madly writing notes in his betting book.

While he was taking a short break Dinah went looking for Carmine.   She found him with Mikey, Az and Julian.  "What kind of trouble are you guys fomenting?"

Mikey looked innocent, his hands in his pockets.  "Discussing the wedding presents."

"We figure dancing girls are out," Az agreed. "Carmine is making a strong case for .. what was it?"

"I only suggested..."

"Olive oil!" Julian chortled.

Carmine looked at him blandly.

"Carmine, let me take you away from these children and off to more adult pastimes," Dinah suggested, linking arms with him.

"Signorina, I should be delighted if you would. They are very silly creatures."

"Yes, they are," she agreed, blowing kisses at the children as they moved off.  "Reno's getting ready to play again.  Might I beg the favor of a dance?"

"I would be honored if you would allow me to dance with you. May I say you are looking most beautiful. You are happy?"

"Yes," she said as they moved towards the dance floor.  "I am in fact.  It surprises me, if you want to know, sometimes...how happy I am these days."

Reno saw them and grinned.  He thought for a minute and then began playing a toe tapping, Cajun favorite, Jambalaya.

"Ah, Reno tests us. Shall we?" Carmine asked her.

She raised an eyebrow and put her hand in his while the people around them moved back to give them room.  "This may be my last chance for months, so let's test him."

Carmine struck a pose and whirled her into his arms as the dance began.

She followed him, her feet flying and her skirts swirling through the spins and turns, her face alight with laughter, her eyes on Carmine, letting him lead them into an intricate pattern of moves.

The room was spell-bound giving them room to fully carry through each and every move. Marc, leaning against a handy wall, stood with a slight smile touching his lips.

Carmine was spinning her, in an over hand turn when she suddenly thought she saw the room shift.  She closed her eyes for a moment, willing the vertigo away, breathing deeply through her nose, only the feeling got worse and suddenly she was spinning and couldn't stop.  She made a sound and reached for Carmine, missing him and then feeling herself falling into an endless pool of nothing as everything went black.

No one saw Carmine move. He could move faster than human eyesight could see. He was, perhaps, the only one who could have caught her before she hit the ground. Even so, Marc was at her side in an instant.

Carmine looked up, a stricken look on his face.  "Caro... I did not.."

Marc scooped her up out of Carmine's arms, saying, "Of course you didn't mean it to happen."  With a nod at Doni he zapped Dinah and himself off to the Infirmary, Doni arriving only a split second later.

Doni waited until he'd set her on the bed, then merged with her, examining her her carefully, starting with the twin, identifiable consciousnesses who were fine, but distressed and then moved outward, finding nothing more than a slight elevation in blood pressure that was reasonable, given the circumstances and rapidly righting itself.  She checked again, puzzled but relieved.  She withdrew then as gently as she had entered, noting that Dinah was slowly returning to consciousness. "There's nothing wrong, Marc.  It's probably just a fainting spell, from the dancing, that's my guess anyway.  But I can't find anything wrong."

He let out the breath he was holding in. "Poor Carmine is probably blaming himself," he was saying as Dinah's eyes fluttered open.

"I think you're done with dancing for at least a few months, my darling," he said to her as he brushed her hair back from her face.

She stared at him.  "What happened?"

"You fainted. Luckily Carmine being a vampire, he caught you before you hit the floor."

"I was dizzy all of a sudden, as we were doing that turn...God, Carmine, is he alright?"

"He's probably worried sick about you," Marc replied. "I'll reassure him you are fine. Before I challenge him to a duel to the death."

She frowned and then winced.  "Can we go home?" she asked.

"And straight to bed, right Doni?"

"That would be my vote." she looked at Dinah for a moment.  "Headache?"

"Yeah," Dinah said.  "all of a sudden."

"Not surprising,"  Doni said.  "But let me know if you still have it in the morning."  She looked at Marc.  "Sleep, nothing else."

He saluted her then picked up Dinah and zapped them both to the bedroom.  "Want me to stay with you?" he asked.

They could hear the music and a rumble of voices from the party downstairs.

Dinah shook her head and winced again.  "Not unless you want to, I'm probably going to be asleep in about two minutes.  But you could wake me up when you come back."

"Oh no, I'm not going to get Doni mad at me. But I'll be back in a bit. I'll just go reassure everyone you're fine."  He kissed her forehead tenderly. "Rest," he said.  He stayed until she was asleep then slipped out of the room closing the door softly behind himself.

When he came down the stairs, most eyes turned his way, even though Doni had already reassured everyone she'd be fine.  "She's sleeping. Please go on with the party. No reason to cut it short."  He was turning to go back upstairs when he noticed Jolie was signaling she wanted a word with him. He walked across the room to the piano where she, Spence, Reno and Melly were hanging out.  "She's fine, Jolie.  Honestly. Would you like to see her?"

"No, I just wondered..." She hesitated.  "I'm not an obstetrician, but she's a prime candidate...you might want to have her checked out, Marc, nothing against Doni and healers in general, but diagnostics is an art and there's things that they might not pick up right away."

He thought about it for less than an instant and asked, "Who should we see?"

'There's a woman in DC, she's tops in her field with high risk pregnancies.  Her name's Joyce Christianson.  When you call for an appointment tell her I referred you, and said she should see Dinah right away.  I'm not trying to scare you, but Joyce is busy and the sooner she says everything's fine the better I'll feel."

"Thanks Jolie, I will call her in the morning. And not give Dinah a choice."

"Yeah, probably shouldn't even tell her, but that's up to you.  I'll be watching in the west for the explosion, though."  Jolie laughed and patted his arm.  "Let me know if you need anything.  Like someone to sit on her.  I've got experience there."

He laughed. "You'll hear me holler in France if I need you, I promise. Thanks, Jolie. I'll make sure she knows how worried you are. And I'll drop her off there soon for a girls day out with you."

"Yeah, we're going shopping for the wedding night attire," she said, laughing.  "Poor Tsura.  Wonder if she'll wear it."

"Oh, I think Tsura's got some real passion hidden away there. I'm thinking Baz has a clue the rest of us didn't see."

"Could be," she said.  "But I'm keeping you.  Go on up.  And don't worry.  I'm sure she's fine if Doni says she is."

"Thanks so much, Jolie." He kissed her on the cheek and headed on upstairs.

Jolie watched him go, the worry she'd been repressing showing as she did.  Then she turned to Spence and put her arm around his waist, pulling him next to her.  "I need a drink, how about you?" she asked.

"Yeah, me too. She'll be fine, try not to worry.  I wanna go see if Anja is still sober. If she is I'm putting my money on her."

She laughed.  "Lead on, honey.  I got a few bucks to wager on that one myself."

Anja was not only sober in a few moments she was dancing with Carmine and showing just how well trained her body was.

"Wow," Spence commented. "How many vodkas later?" he asked Laz.

"Don't ask," Laz said.  "Let's just say I'm impressed."

Spence slapped Laz on the back. "Watch your step there," as he and Jolie walked over to the bar.

Baz and Tsura were standing together watching the party progress, Tsura all right now having heard from Doni that Dinah was fine.  "So, three weeks, four days, fifteen hours and thirty-nine minutes to go," Baz said.  "It's not to late to elope."

"Be careful," Tsura laughed. "I just might take you up on that."

"Don't tempt me, my love.  You've no idea..." he said, barely controlled passion in his eyes.

"Actually," she replied. "I think I do. And it makes me appreciate you all the more."

"Well, appreciation is a fine thing, and I appreciate it, but it isn't the same at all," he said, drawing her close.  "We could slip off into the kitchen and I could show you what I mean."

"Could you now," she said as he steered her that way. "I have very fond memories of that kitchen."

"Do you now?" he said, as he backed her against the counter.   "Want a few more?" he asked, and then prevented her from answering by covering her mouth with his own.

Laz watched them go and sauntered over to Reno.  "Sure you won't take odds on them waiting til the wedding?" he asked.

"Believe me, I'm tempted," Reno replied laughing. "But from what I hear of her Daddy..."

"Coward," Laz said as he moved on.

Ian moved to claim Betty Jo back from her sisters for one more dance. It was slow and sensual. "Ready to go?" he asked as the song was ending.

"I am," she said, lifting her head from his shoulder.

"Your place or mine?" he asked.

"Mine, it's earlier there," she said with a slow smile filled with promise.

"I like the way you think," he said and after the least amount of good byes they could manage, especially since Baz and Tsura were busy, they zapped back to Betty Jo's place. He flipped on her stereo and turned on some music.  "Shall we dance?"

She moved into his arms willingly, smiling up at him.  "You fooled me, I thought you danced for duty and politeness."

"In public I do," he agreed, as they moved to the music. He ran his hands through her hair and turned her head up so he could put his lips to hers.

She sighed into the kiss, melting against him.  When he lifted his head she snuggled against him, her content plain.  "Tell me something," she said finally.  "Do you mind about Reno and his bets?"

"No, not particularly. He never makes things up and is open about it. Given tabloid journalists and others who spread false rumors, I think he's rather charming."

"Good.  I was concerned you might feel, I don't know, exposed perhaps, in a way that made you feel uncomfortable."

"No. If it upset you I might try to stop it."

"No, it doesn't," she said and then grinned.  "If Reno knew you found it charming, he'd hate it."

"Perhaps I should say that in his hearing then," he said with a chuckle as he ran his hands down her back and then cupped her buttocks with his hands. "Hmmm," he muttered.

"Hmmm?" she repeated, her hands sliding under his shirt and her nails lightly grazing his back.

"I was just thinking now nice that butt looks naked," he replied.

"Were you now?" she said.  "Want to see it?  It could be arranged if you do."

"I would dearly love not only to see it but to kiss it," he replied, smiling.

"That can be arranged too, with pleasure" she said smiling back at him, and pulling him down to kiss him.

They made it to the bedroom leaving clothes strewn along their path. Ian got his wish and kissed a lot of other places too.

Later, while she was luxuriating in the afterglow she remembered something that made her giggle.  "Tsura wanted so know if you were as proper and quiet in private as you are in public.  Sounds like she's wondering about Baz."

He grinned. "Somehow I think he's like me in that. We can put on that public face but want nothing to do with it in private. I hope you aren't disappointed that I turned out not to be quite the proper lover. You weren't hoping for missionary position and you with your eyes closed and not getting your hair mussed, were you?"

"Well it was something of a shock for a nice southern girl like me, but I'm coming to see the benefits of it.  Still, I wonder if perhaps I might need more exposure before I've completely grasped the nuances of it all.  I mean, it's quite a change and all, as I'm sure you agree."

"Yes, I can well imagine. I'm so sorry for altering you perceptions so badly. I hope you'll forgive me."

"I do," she said.  "And I'm sure, gentleman that you are, you'll find a way to make it up to me.  Given your, uhm, inventiveness."

"I'm at your disposal. You've but to ask."

She rolled on top of him, so she was all but nose to nose with him, her eyes alight with mirth, giving him a considering look.  Then she grinned.  "All you have to do is hold perfectly still, until I give you the word and I'll do the rest," she said.

He groaned. "Testing my training are you?  All right.  Have your way with me."

And she did and it did.  And when she finally said he could move, he took her at her word.

Marc was sitting up going over some paperwork when Dinah woke. She opened her eyes and as she did so he looked down at her.  "Feeling okay?"

"Yeah," she said stretching and cuddling closer.  "I could be feeling better, though, unless of course that's more alluring than tending to your responsibilities toward the mother of your children...which of course I'd perfectly understand."

He looked at the clock. "Not enough time, I'm afraid. We've got an appointment. I hate hurry-up sex."

"We do?" she asked, puzzled.

"Yeah, why don't you get a shower and get dressed."

"What appointment?" she asked, sitting up.  "I don't recall anything for this morning," she added suspiciously.

"Well, it's with Dr Joyce Christianson, in DC.  Just to check you out a bit better than Doni could do last night."

"Wait a sec, you're telling me you made a doctor's appointment for me without talking to me about it first?" she asked, stunned.

"Well, I was going to talk to you first, but she's kind of hard to get an appointment with, so when I called her and she said she had an opening at the last minute this morning, I went ahead and said we'd be there."

She just stared at him.  "And uhm, you decided, for me, that I needed to see a doctor because you think it's a good idea.  And uhm, how did you happen to pick the doctor, if I might ask?"

"Well, I was happy with Doni's assessment but Jolie stopped me after we put you to bed and suggested this doc and that it might be a good idea, just to make sure everything was all alright.  I didn't really think you'd mind, since we ...  Don't you think it only makes sense just to be sure you and the hell spawn are fine?" he asked, looking at her more seriously.

She studied his expression carefully.  "Just exactly what did Jolie say she was worried about?"

"She didn't but she looked like she really really wanted me to do this, so I did."

"Well that's just fine," she snapped.  "You and Jolie can go visit the doctor, then and take a break from managing me."

He narrowed his eyes, grabbed her up into his arms and zapped them straight to Vaurien, where it was a sunny, slightly breezy afternoon. "Jolie!" he yelled.

Jolie came out to the patio and started giggling while Dinah struggled in Marc's arms.  "Nice view, there Marc."

Marc plopped Dinah down on a chair by the pool.  "You can talk to her," he said, tapping his bare foot, then finally realizing the both of them were naked, he conjured up a robe for him and one for Dinah.

"Ah, I see," Jolie said.  "Julian and Spence are in the library, why don't you go say hello and ask Charles to bring us some breakfast," Jolie suggested.

"Because I won't be staying long enough," Dinah said, seething. "I am NOT some bloody object you two can manipulate!" she said, close to yelling.  "How god damn DARE you?" she demanded, glaring at Marc.

"I got this, just go, Marc," Jolie told him.

He went, looking at Jolie slightly pleadingly.   He stopped Charles, and relayed the message, but as with most good valets, Charles had already assessed the situation and was preparing  a tray with fresh fruit, croissants and herbal tea. He handed Marc a coffee laced with brandy and gave him a commiserating look.

When Marc left Charles picked up the tray, and snagged Jolie's medical bag as he passed it, delivering both to the table between the still seething Dinah and the calmer Jolie.

"Will there be anything else?" Charles asked, not looking at Dinah.

"No Charles, thank you," Jolie said, smiling at him.  Then she turned to Dinah as Charles bowed and left.  "I'm invoking the rules."

Dinah jerked in her chair.  "I'm not ten years old anymore and neither are you."

Jolie shrugged and opened her bag.  "Could have fooled me.  Lemme see your feet," she demanded pulling out a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope.  Dinah lifted her leg automatically, her eyes narrowed.  Jolie cupped her foot in one hand and then pressed the skin around the ankles.  "Give me the other one," she said.  "You just woke up I gather?" she asked, doing the same to the other foot as Dinah offered it.

"Yeah, to the news that you two..."

Jolie ignored it and moved closer, baring Dinah's arm and sliding on the cuff.  "Shut up, I need to listen."  She placed the stethoscope in her ears and started pumping the bulb.  Then she listened for a while.  As she slid the cuff back off she asked, "Peeing a lot?"

"No," Dinah told her, starting to realize Jolie wasn't fooling.

"Drinking a lot of water?"

"About the required amount."

"Headaches?"

"A few."

"How far along?"

"Four and half months, thereabouts."

Jolie nodded and reached for a croissant.  "Your pressure's high, you've got signs of edema around your ankles...any vision troubles lately?"  When Dinah didn't answer Jolie said, "Go see the doctor Dinah.  Unless you wanna pee in a cup for me?" she offered conversationally.  "Though you'd still have to see the doctor anyway.  Joyce's a great lady, you'll like her.

"Damn you!" Dinah said.

"Very likely but you're stuck.  It's the rules.  I had a reason, I have evidence to support my reason and now you gotta do what I'm saying," Jolie told her.  "Toxemia isn't something to screw around with, even behind a fit of pique."

"Pique?" Dinah gasped.  "He bloody well didn't even ask me!"

"I guessed.  Would you have gone if he had, without six fits and temper tantrum?"

Dinah grabbed a croissant and ripped it apart like it was Marc she had in her hands.

"Wanna watch the fat there, girlfriend.  Have some fruit." Jolie offered her the plate.

Dinah groaned and rested her head on the table.  "Just go ahead and kill me now."

"More fun torturing you if you're alive." Jolie said cheerfully.

Marc stuck his head out the door to check on the temperature around the pool.  "Hi there," he said, tentatively.

Dinah just groaned again.  "She'll go quietly, now," Jolie said.  "When's the appointment?"  Dinah kicked her without lifting her head.

"In about half an hour now.  Come on, Dinah, let's get you home, showered and dressed."  He reached down to lay a hand on Dinah's head. "Thanks Jolie.  You've no idea how much I appreciate it."

Dinah didn't move.

"I had an in, you might say," Jolie told him.  "Let me know how it goes.  And if you need anymore help with the patient."

Marc blew a kiss at her as he and Dinah zapped out, straight to their rooms. "Shower," he said. "Please."

Dinah went into the bathroom and the sound of the shower could be heard.  She emerged finally and started pulling on her clothes.  When she had her shoes on she looked at Marc.  "Ready," was all she said.  He'd dressed while waiting for her.

He took her hand, "Thank you," he said, and zapped them to a place he knew in DC and piled her into a cab for the rest of the short trip.  They made it to the office with a minute to spare.  The receptionist looked up smiling. "Traffic?" she asked.

Marc replied, "You could say that."

The receptionist handed Dinah a pile of forms and a pen.  Just bring them back where you're done.  May I borrow your insurance cord for a moment, so I can make a copy and your ID."  Dinah sighed and pulled out her driver's license and blue cross card and handed them over.  Then she picked up the forms and found a seat where she could write.  When she'd finished she traded the receptionist, paper for cards and sat back down to wait, wondering if there was any way on earth he'd let her see the doctor alone.  She doubted it.

"I'm sorry," Marc said, looking like he sincerely meant it.

"I know," she said.  "The trouble is it won't matter the next time you decide something's for my own good."

"Sweetheart, I don't mind arguing with you about almost anything. But this is your health we're talking about.  I admit I get a bit cavemanish at times.  I wish I'd have had enough time to argue with you for a week or more. But it didn't work out that way, and no matter how much you pout I'm not sorry about it."

She sighed.  "I understand that too."

He gave it up and retreated into a magazine he didn't have a bit of interest in.  Dinah stared at the walls until the nurse called them back.  Then she stood and looked at him.  "Coming?"

"Do most men?" he asked curiously as he got up.

"When they're the father, they do," Dinah said, her lips twitching.

"Ah, then since it is obvious I'm guilty I'm coming."

The nurse showed them to a room, took Dinah's vitals, confirmed the medical history and then handed Dinah a gown and cup that she told her to leave in the bathroom, and promised the doctor would be right in.  Dinah sighed again and started to strip. Gowned, she took a seat at the end of the exam table.  "You'll probably get to see pictures," she said finally, looking at the ultra sound machine.

"A first look at the hell spawn," he said speculatively. "Will they have little horns do you think? Obviously from my side of the DNA equation."

"Obviously, though let's hope not.  I'm not up to the questions that would arise," Dinah said as the doctor came in.

"Joyce Christianson," she said, introducing herself.   "You're Jolie's friend Dinah?  She and I were residents together at Boston General.  She used to tell stories..."

"All true, I'm sure," Dinah said.

"So she sent you to see me?" Joyce asked.

Dinah nodded and took her through the events of last night, then submitted to exam.  When they got to the ultrasound, Joyce moved so Marc could see the monitor, the sounds of the two heartbeats a pulsing background.

"You're sure they're human?" he asked squinting at the creatures floating in Dinah's womb.

Dinah shook her head.  "No, which is how I know you're the father." she said.

Poor Joyce just looked from one to the other.  "If you want to get dressed," she said finally, switching off the machine, "we can talk in my office.  I'll see you there in a few minutes."

Dinah nodded and sat up, reaching for her clothes.  When the door closed again she started dressing eyeing Marc as she pulled on her socks.  "Well?" she finally asked.

"They're gonna look just like you."

"Thanks," she said laughing.  Then she led the way to Joyce's office where she was waiting, making notes on the chart.  Dinah sat, Marc next to her and just waited.

"Well," Joyce said, "you've got pre-eclampsia, which is, I imagine, what Jolie was worried about."

Dinah nodded.  "Toxemia, which means confined to bed, right?"  

"Not necessarily," Joyce said.  "Though you'll need to stop working and pretty much take it easy, but with diet and exercise, horizontal isn't required twenty four - seven.  Though lots of time on your left side.  Monitoring your blood pressure will gage that."

"Is it, uhm, dangerous?" Marc asked, looking a bit pale.

"Well, I won't lie to you.  It could, untreated, progress to eclampsia and kill all three of them.  But with the right care, it's not likely.  I'll want to see her once a week, to monitor things, that is if you want me to take the case, and as she gets further along we might want to admit her.  We may also want to deliver early, depending on how things go."

Marc sat down rather abruptly. "I... up to Dinah," he finally managed.

Joyce nodded and looked at Dinah who nodded back.  "Uhm so...what?"

Joyce picked up her cue and got specific.  "Low salt diet, lots of water.  I'm going to give you a prescription for hydrazine to help with your blood pressure...it's a diuretic so you'll really need to drink a lot of water.  Also magnesium sulfate as a preventive for seizures and prenatal vitamins.  If you start getting headaches, having vision problems, if you have a seizure, go straight to the ER, don't wait, don't think it's no big deal.  If you any abdominal tenderness, same thing or your urine output drops off.  Okay?" she asked, looking at both of them.

Dinah nodded.  "I have just, uhm, one question.  Is sex contra-indicated?" she asked bluntly.

Joyce grinned.  "No.  In fact, the happier and more relaxed you are the better."

"Thank god for that," Marc commented with feeling. "Do you provide chains to tie her down with?"

Joyce's lips twitched.  "I won't have to," she said, looking at Dinah's face.  "If her pressure doesn't come down and stay down she's in the hospital and they'll restrain her.  She'll be checking it several times a day for me."

Dinah groaned.

"And then there won't be any sex," Marc added.

"This," Dinah hissed at him, "is all your fault!"

"I accept the guilt. Hell, I accept it for everything else. It is all my fault."

"Well, it's not like I didn't help," she said, after a pause.  Then she looked Joyce.  "Anything else we need to know, before I go home and contemplate suicide?"

Joyce laughed.  "No.  And you'll be surprised.  It won't be nearly as bad as you think."

"No, it won't. You can settle in by the fire and keep Christopher busy for the few hours I'll be gone."

Joyce grinned and handed Dinah, who clearly wasn't happy with the plan, a sheaf of papers and some prescriptions.  "I'll see you in a week," she said.  "And when you aren't lying down, keep your feet elevated as much as possible.  Let somebody else wait on you if possible.  And relax and enjoy the rest.  You'll miss it after they're born."

"Thanks," Dinah said.

As they left he asked, "Would you like to go to lunch, or just go home? I'm sure an hour more won't be too terrible."

"Home," she said quietly.  "But thanks.  For everything."

He zapped them to their room. "You want me to tell everyone, while you rest, or do we want to go downstairs together? No rush.  We can stay here for awhile if you'd rather."  He'd walked up to her and wrapped her in his arms, kissing the top of her head. "It'll be fine."

"I don't know what I want," she said, moving as close to him as she could get.  "How are you doing?"

"Scared to death for you. And determined never ever to get you pregnant again."

"Yeah," she said, her voice muffled against his chest.  "That about sums it up."

"Come here," he said pulling her down onto the bed and lying down beside her, keeping her close. "I can't even begin to imagine what a shock this must be to you."

"Yeah, nor I you," she said after a while.  "Or how we're going to handle everything since I'm guessing even working from the sofa or bed would light your fuse, for the most part."

"Well, I don't see why we can't have Anja and Reno handle it. Most of the grunt work is done. I mean the setting up of everything, the most onerous of the paperwork. Any social needs I'll handle.  Can't you see me at a woman's tea on St Michael?  Seriously, it'll be fine. What we can we'll just push back. The rest will sort itself out. So don't worry. The damn Houses got along fine before we got there, and they'll get along fine without you for a couple of months."

"I know," she said.  "How are you going to handle four and half months of worrying about me like you already are?"

"Well, I'll be fine now we know what we need to do, and we'll be getting feedback every week, so if anything gets worse we'll deal with it if it happens and not borrow trouble. I'll stay close to home too, as much as I can. Seeing you often will help a lot."

He looked at her and asked, "What can I do to help you as much as possible?  Wanna sock the chin? Feel free. Regularly and often works for me."

She smiled.  "No, though if I can't find a way to keep from from going batty with boredom it might come to that."  She thought about it for a while.  "Lots of sex, I guess.  And lots of books.  So my advice is dust off the credit card and take your vitamins."

"Hmmm I'm up for the sex and lots of it. What'll we tell Christopher that's what I wanna know", he said with a laugh. "Mind your own business might work, so long as he saw the hellspawn are fine."

"Might work," she said.  "'Specially if you're around more, too, for him."  And I can always go sit by the pool with Jolie," she said, "for a change of scenery or at the hotel."

"Yeah. Mabel would be happy to see you more and I know Jolie misses you. I don't want to stick you here indoors when you can go get some sun."

"You owe Jolie big time, now, you know.  She had to roll out the artillery back there, and that costs."  Dinah laughed then.  "She hasn't invoked the rules since we were sixteen, I think it was."

"The rules?" he asked, smiling, as he stroked her hair.

"Yeah, we had rules when we were kids, an agreement between us because we're both the way we are and we got tired of fighting all the time," she explained  "And she's even stubborner than me when she wants to be.   So when you invoke the rules it means the other has to listen...but you gotta have a serious reason, it can't just be anything and then if it's something you want the other to do you have to provide reasons, like evidence.  And if you do then the other has to give in.  There's other stuff too, like if one of us says 'what do you really want to do, right now, then the other has to just stop and think and answer the truth, not just some off the cuff thing."

He laughed. "Maybe we should adopt our own set of Rules. On the other hand, I'd hate to stop all arguments, make-up sex being as much fun as it is."

"Yeah, I know," she said, turning in his arms to face him.  "I'm sorry about this morning."

"I could have handled it better. Springing it on you wasn't all that great an idea. But I was terrified you'd refuse to go, and I... well, I could see how worried Jolie was. You didn't see her face."

"She was right and so were you.  And it was important," Dinah said.  "The rules say that means you get whatever you want."

"Make-up sex?" he asked.

She grinned.   "I'm willing to pay the price under the rules, as hard as it may be."

"Oh, it'll be hard all right, see there?" he laughed and reached for her clothes.

"Thank god for that."