CLASSIFICATION/RATING: AJ/Mac, Albert/Sarah, Andrew/Suzanne, Alvin/Shannon, Adam/Shelia

Friday, 5 December 2003

0745 EST

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

Colonel Mackenzie and Admiral Chegwidden were alone in the break room early that morning as usual. They were always the fist two in and normally shared a pot of very strong coffee before anyone else got to the office.

Mac did not know why she had the overwhelming need to tell the Admiral about the desk that Harriett had given her for her birthday, but she did. “Admiral, you like old things, right?” She wondered at the startled look on his face until he answered her.

“Mac that might not be the best opening line, if you are trying to fix me up with another of your friends,” he said, with a sardonic look.

“Oh, no! Sir, I did not mean that at all! I would never fix you up with someone old anyway. You are way too vir….Um, I was talking about this antique Captain’s Desk Harriett gave me last night for my birthday. I just thought that since you had some great pieces at your home you might like to see this one. It is in incredible shape.”

“Oh, Mac! I’m sorry that I missed your birthday! But, I would love to see the desk. When would be a good time for me to stop by?”

“Why don’t you come by after work, and I could throw together something for dinner, too?”

“Mac, I have tasted your cooking, remember? I will come to dinner if you let me do the cooking!”

“I am hurt! Crushed! Devastated! …… Willing to let you cook!” she laughed. “Would you want to go home and change out of your uniform before coming over?” Mac asked, hoping he would say ‘yes’ so she would have time to stop at the grocery store on her way home.

“The hour and a half turn around trip seems a bit much, as long as you don’t mind casual attire. I have clothes in my emergency bag in the Escalade.”

“Oh, casual is fine, Sir!” she said, but was thinking ‘drat!’.

Noticing the look on her face and interpreting it correctly, AJ asked, “Should I stop at the store on the way over?”

“No, Sir, but I’d appreciate it if you gave me enough time to do so!” she grinned sheepishly.

He laughed, drawing attention from some of the staff in the bullpen who were just arriving that morning. The Admiral laughing was not a sound they often heard. They were wondering just what Colonel Mackenzie had said to him to get him to laugh in such a carefree manner.

“How about if we meet at the store and we can choose what we want then?”

Mac sighed, happy at the resolution, but also a bit unsettled that he found her unprepared for any eventuality. ‘A Marine should always be ready for anything!’ she told herself. “That sounds fine. Linlainu’s at 1800?” she asked.

“Sounds like a plan,” he said and left the break room smiling.

She spent the rest of the day wondering what had possessed her to invite the Admiral over for dinner?! What in the world had she been thinking? How would she find something to talk with him about for that long? You could only talk about a wooden desk for so long! And just when she thought she was totally going to freak out, Harm dropped by her office to ask if she wanted to go and get a pizza that night. He looked at her oddly when she stumbled and stammered over her excuses for not going. Mac did NOT want him to know that she was having dinner with the Admiral in her home. Even though the evening was totally innocent, she knew that Harm would find some way to twist it, or at the very least tease her about in endlessly.

Packing up her briefcase so she could leave herself exactly fourteen minutes to get to Linlainu’s market right on time. Mac again wondered what had possessed her to issue the invitation for tonight to AJ. But no matter how she tried to tell herself that it was wrong, she just had this overwhelming feeling of rightness.

Chapter 2

Friday, 5 December 2003

1800 EST

Linlainu’s Market

Falls Church, Virginia

Mac pulled her ‘Vette up next to the Admiral’s Escalade in the grocery store parking lot. She got out and went in, to find him waiting just inside. “Sorry, Sir, have you been waiting long?”

“No, I just got here, Mac, and you are right on time. Now, do you want to drive or hunt and gather?” he asked, pulling a cart out of the row in front of them.

Placing a finger on her cheek, and striking a thinking pose, she said, “Well, now, let me think, traditionally the men are the hunter gatherer’s, but we know that I am not a traditional woman, so clearly I cannot let you hunt and gather. However, men also traditionally prefer to do the driving, so clearly I cannot let you do that.”

Grinning because he recognized the reasoning lines from the movie Princess Bride, he responded in kind, “So you have decided?”

“No, because clearly I cannot allow you to think that I am choosing one over the other because I am a woman…….”

“Could I please get a cart?” snapped a middle-aged woman standing behind them.

“I am very sorry, Ma’am!” AJ said. “Here, please take this one,” he turned his killer smile on and she visibly melted.

Mac found herself thinking, ‘Harm’s smile has nothing on AJ’s……..Good Lord! Where did that thought come from?’ she quizzed herself.

AJ turned back to Mac after the woman wandered off with her cart, “Maybe we should get to shopping?” he grinned as he pulled out another cart from the row.

“All right, I’ll drive, you hunt and gather.”

“As you wish,” he replied.

She was stunned at her reactions to those words from him. Mac was feeling weak in the knees at the thought of what he could mean. ‘Did he remember that in the movie when the farm boy said those words to Buttercup that he was really saying “I love you”? He couldn’t mean that! Could he?’ She missed what ever he said next because she was having this conversation with herself.

Realizing that Mac had not heard his question, AJ wondered what had put that look on her face. She looked confused, pleased, scared, and bemused all at the same time. He chided himself for letting slip those words that he had wanted to say to her for years, even if he covered them with a line from a movie. He had been attracted to Sarah the moment he met her and that feeling had only gotten stronger over time. There were even a few near slips on his part, like that almost-kiss in his bedroom. God, how he wished he had just done it! Then he would know! But no, duty and regulations were what he lived by and he could not so easily put them aside. How he wished he could openly say, ‘I love you, Sarah,’ and damn the consequences, but he could not. Sometimes life was hell.

Both of them forced their errant thoughts back to the job at hand even though neither one knew how hard it was for the other to do so. Soon they had the grocery basket nearly half full, AJ looked down at it, “It looks like we haven’t eaten in a month by the evidence of this cart!”

“Hey! I am NOT the one that had to add five bottles of seasoning for just two steaks!” Mac retorted.

“But those five tiny bottles do not take up the room in the cart that the stuff you have thrown in there does!”

“Believe me, you will be very glad that I bought toilet paper when we get back to my place, A….Sir.”

“AJ is fine, Mac. Even though we aren’t out of uniform, we are off duty.”

“All right, AJ, but do you think we have enough here now that we will not starve?” she asked with a grin.

“I think we can manage to get by with the meager pickings in this cart,” he teased.

They moved towards the checkout lane, when AJ said he remembered one more thing that they just had to have and hurried off. Mac took that opportunity to scoot down the cookie isle. She had a raving sweet tooth at times and knew that her supply was pitifully low right now. She quickly scooped several boxes and bags of her favorites into the cart and moved along to check out.

She had almost everything out of the cart and on to the conveyer belt when AJ finally rejoined her. He had a closed bag in his hand that he carefully sat down in the cart, telling the clerk that he had paid for it in the back

There was a minor argument over who would pay for the groceries when the total was announced. “I would like to pay for our dinner, Mac. Please let me.”

“Dinner is one thing, AJ, but there are things in there that have nothing to do with dinner.”

“But they are things that I will be glad of when I do get to your place to cook, right?” he smirked.

“Oh, yes, I can just imagine you will be thrilled to find out I have douche……Oh god……did I just say what I think I said?”

Trying very hard to keep a straight face, as he saw her attempting to cover her blush with her hands, he offered, “Well……what was it you think you said, Sarah?”

“Did I just tell you that you would be glad that I bought douche?”

“No….”

She sighed in relief, not realizing that even if she had not said out loud the first time she had just said it again.

“I think your word was thrilled, not glad……..”

Chapter 3

They arrived at Mac’s apartment at the same time even though they had separated to drive their own vehicles. Grabbing up the bags from the back of AJ’s Escalade, they headed for her door. Once inside, Mac said, “Just put them on the counter, I can put things away while you change. Grab a shower if you want, there are clean towels on the rack.”

“I won’t be long,” he said, as he took his bag and walked into her bedroom. He paused a moment to look around. This was the side of Mac that few saw. Her room was not frilly or dainty, but it was a lush and elegant retreat from the world. Rich colors and fabrics made for a welcoming room, almost as beautiful as it’s owner. ‘Wow! Chegwidden, you do have it bad! Get a grip on yourself. Get changed and go cook dinner for the woman. Admire her desk then get the hell home without making a fool of yourself!’

Changing quickly into a pair of stone washed jeans, sneakers, and an old Navy sweatshirt, he rejoined Mac in the kitchen where she had just finished putting the groceries away. “Why don’t you go and get changed now, while I get dinner started, Mac?”

“Are you suggesting that I slip into something more comfortable?” she asked him with a wicked grin.

“Yes, and make it snappy so you can set the table,” he replied returning her grin.

“Aye, aye, Sir!” she snapped a smart-ass salute, and headed to her bedroom.

AJ was glad that she had left quickly. His jeans were becoming uncomfortably tight in the front from imagining Mac changing into something more comfortable, like a negligee or sexy lingerie. ‘Get your mind on dinner, old man!’ he told himself.

In her room, Mac stood there looking at his uniform on a hanger on the back of her closet door. She sighed, wishing for just a moment that his clothes shared space in her closet and dresser, but then again, if that were the case, they would most likely be sharing space in his home in McLean. ‘But that is not going to happen, Marine! Get a grip on yourself! What would he want with a broken down, used ex-drunk like you? Boy, do I have it bad!’ she thought.

Quickly stripping off her uniform, she looked into her dresser trying to decide what to wear. Finally choosing to match him, she slid into jeans and a USMC sweatshirt. She decided the apartment was warm enough not to need shoes, so re-entered the living room barefoot.

As she entered the kitchen, he was just putting the pan of lasagna into the oven. “That will take an hour to bake,” he said when he saw her. “Why don’t you show me the desk while we wait?”

She led him over to a shadowy corner of the living room. Turning on a floor lamp, she said, “Here it is. The wood is so beautiful and dark. I think it might be mahogany.”

“No, it’s cherry,” he said, running his fingers over the surface. His comment was almost too soft for her to hear.

“Oh,” Mac responded, as she watched him open up the top of the desk. He reached in and slid his fingers along the back edge. Mac heard a soft click and saw something inside the desk slide open. “What is that?” she questioned.

“I always have to show you the secret, don’t I?” he smiled at her gently.

Mac had never seen that look on his face before…..it was a look of such pure love and devotion…….and it was directed at her! “AJ?”

“Yes, Sarah?” he whispered.

‘He doesn’t sound like himself,’ she thought. Tearing her eyes from his before she forgot herself and kissed him, she looked into the secret compartment he had just opened. “Look! There is something in here!” Mac exclaimed as she opened the panel farther so she could pull out whatever was inside.

“Do you see the engraving, Darlin’?”

Mac felt he knees go weak. ‘Did he just call me ‘Darlin’’?’ she wondered as she fell to her knees in front of the desk so she could see it better. She could not believe what she saw!

Chapter 4

Engraved on the back board of the desk in the hidden compartment was:

“Oh my God! How did you know?”

“I carved it, Sarah…….What am I saying?” AJ shook his head as if to clear it.

Pulling out a stack of letters tied with a faded gray silk ribbon, Mac watched AJ. She was worried about his strange reactions and comments about the desk. “Are you feeling all right, AJ?” she asked, as she gently untied the ribbon from around the old letters.

“Yes, I think so,” he answered. Sitting down on the floor next to her, he watched her hands as they caressed the yellowed envelopes. “I seem to have a familiarity with this desk.”

”You said that you had carved the names and wedding date.”

“I did?”

“Yes. Isn’t it odd about the names?”

“I think somehow we were meant to see this together, Sarah.”

Mac scanned through the envelopes before looking up at AJ. “These letters are from them, Albert and Sarah Talas…..do you think we should read them?”

“I do….why don’t you grab us something to drink, and then we can move to the couch.”

Smiling, Mac got up, and after taking out two sodas from the fridge, she joined him on the couch. “The first one is from him,” AJ said.

“Please read it,” Mac said. AJ opened the envelope carefully and pulled out the folded pages, he cleared his throat and took a sip from his soda before beginning.

AJ raised his eyes to Mac. She quickly dropped hers, unable to read what was in his. “This must be her reply,” she said opening the next envelope.

Mac looked up with a grin, “Wifely duties?”

“There is a lot to be said for the sexual revolution!” AJ replied, and returned her smile. “His next letter is dated several months later, shall I read it?”

“Please do,” she encouraged, and he began to read:

Without a word, Mac opened the next letter and read:

Their eyes met, but before either could say a word the oven timer went off.

Chapter 5

Breaking their gazes, AJ got up to check on the lasagna. He pulled it out of the oven and popped in the loaf of garlic bread they had purchased. Mac joined him in the kitchen as he was taking out things to make a salad.

As they worked together to get dinner on the table, Mac said, “From the sound of the second letters, it seems that even though it was an arranged marriage, things were going well.”

“They sound like they loved each other very much.” He wondered how these letters were affecting her, with all of the name coincidences. Not only the two couples, but also that Albert’s daughter was Frances and his own was Francesca. It was very difficult to read Albert’s words to Mac. AJ felt as if they were from his own heart. He had loved Mac for eight years now, and it had been increasingly hard to hide it from her and the people around them. Now reading words of love to her even thought they were written by another man to another woman, he was uncomfortably aware of how much he was missing by not having Mac in his personal life. In his heart, AJ had always dreamed of his Sarah. It was easier that way to continue to work with ‘Mac’. Mac was the sassy Marine Colonel, a friend and colleague. Sarah was the woman he loved.

Mac was lost in her own thoughts, although she briefly did wonder what he was thinking about. The letters from Albert and Sarah were hard to read out loud to AJ. She loved him so much! And it was so hard to keep that out of her voice as she read Sarah’s words of love to her Albert.

The bread came out of the oven and they sat down to eat. Mac finally spoke, “AJ, how do you think it is that you knew where the secret panel in the desk was?”

“I don’t know. It just seemed so familiar when I walked up to it, and just suddenly knew it was there.”

She hesitated, not sure if she should voice her next question. Worried that he would think that she had jumped off the metaphysical deep end, as it were. Mac knew he had thought her a bit odd during the search for Chloe and Harm, when her physic abilities had ‘seen’ where they were and directed the search parties to them. She didn’t want him to think her even stranger yet.

“Out with it, Mac. There is a question just burning in your eyes. Ask it, we are friends… right?”

“I would like to think we are, AJ. But with regulations and all limiting the contact we are allowed to have, can we really be friends?”

“Mac I value you as a colleague and am honored to have you working under me,” ‘Not the greatest choice of words there Chegwidden!’ he told himself, as a mental image of her under him, flashed through his mind, “However, I consider the entire group of us a family. So, yes, regulations be damned, I do think of us as friends, Mac.”

She smiled her joy at his words, “Thank you, AJ. I consider you a friend also.”

“You think you have avoided the question, don’t you, Mac?”

“Question?” she tried an innocent look.

“Yes. Whatever you wanted to ask when I commented about how familiar I felt about the desk, but for some reason you were afraid to ask. What was it? You don’t have to be afraid to ask me anything,” he encouraged.

‘Will you take me in your arms and love me through the night?’ she thought, “Oh, that… it was nothing,” she tried to laugh it off.

“Mac…….” He admonished.

“Okay! This will make me look foolish but I was going to ask if you believed in reincarnation?”

“Not until now,” he muttered.

“What?!”

“I never did before, but there is something about this couple….. I feel I know them….. much more than from just these letters.”

“I feel it, too,” she told him.

Chapter 6

As they ate, they chatted about work and the office staff. When they had talked about everyone but themselves, AJ casually asked, “So are you seeing anyone these days, Mac?”

“No! I have given up on dating. What about you? Has your break up with Meredith put you off dating?”

“I should have never become involved with her in the first place. She was simply a substitute for someone else, and it was wrong of me to do that to her. She deserves someone who will love her wholeheartedly, and I could not do that.”

“I’m sorry, AJ, I didn’t know,” Mac put her hand on his arm in sympathy. She knew just how he felt, but felt awful for her earlier thought.

“Shall we go back to the letters?” he asked, getting up from the table and beginning to clear away their meal. Mac nodded and stood to help him.

When they were once again settled on the couch, Mac picked up the next letter from the stack and handed it to AJ.

AJ looked up as he read the last line, and he found tears quietly sliding down Mac’s cheeks. “Don’t cry, Sarah! I’m sure he made it home. Look at the stack of letters that are left.”

Trying to smile through her tears, Mac said, “It’s just that his words were so moving. That his love for her is what would bring him home.”

“Let’s see what she has to say to him.”

Mac opened the next letter:

Mac smiled, and shooting a quick glance at AJ, she said, “Go, Sarah!”

AJ laughed out loud at that, “Go, Sarah, indeed!” he replied.

Mac turned back to the letter:

Mac didn’t look up as she finished the letter, and AJ was concerned, “Sarah?” he whispered.

She slowly lifted her eyes to his with all the love that she felt for him there to be seen. “Sarah?” he whispered again, and tentatively reached out a hand to caress her cheek. Mesmerized, she didn’t move until his fingers touched her, when they did she leaped to her feet clutching the letters to her chest as if for protection.

“I’m sorry,” he said, “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“No! I mean it’s okay….you just startled me. Um….I’m a bit thirsty, what about some hot chocolate?”

“That sounds fine, let me help you make it,” he said getting up.

“No! Um…. I mean…I can get it. Why don’t you just relax? I’ll be right back,” she gasped and hurried to the kitchen.

Chapter 7

Left alone with his thoughts, AJ wondered how he would be able to keep reading love letters to her. Each one was as if he were speaking himself, instead of reading someone else’s words. Mac had made it pretty clear how that would make her feel. ‘My god, I barely touched her and she ran off like a terrified cat! But her skin had been so soft…. Stop it, Chegwidden! She doesn’t want an old man like you! How much clearer does she need to be!’

In the kitchen, Mac was having a similar conversation with herself. She simply could not believe that she had run from his touch! ‘Get a grip, Marine! He was reacting to the letters, not to you! There is no way he could really want you. But…. what about that time in his bedroom?’ her little inner voice argued. ‘That was a fluke!…. Oh? Then what about in the break room the very next day?….. Shut up!’ she told herself. ‘This is crazy! Here I am arguing with myself!….. And losing!’ the little voice snickered. Finally finishing the cocoa, she reentered the living room. Handing him a cup she sat down next to him once again.

“Hope you don’t mind instant,” she said as he took a sip.

“It’s fine, Mac,” he told her with a small smile. “Shall we go back to the letters?”

“Of course,” she answered, handing him the next one from Albert.

AJ stopped reading. Mac noticed a strange look on his face. For AJ, the room seemed to fade away, he felt strange, he…..felt himself being pulled…..suddenly he was sitting in a tent wearing clothes strange to him. In his hand was a quill and on the tiny table in front of him, a letter….. the letter that he had just been reading to his Sarah.

“Captain!” a young private called as he entered Albert’s tent, “Word has just come through that the War is over! The British are retreating and General Washington has said we will be going home soon!”

“Thank you, Private, dismissed,” as soon as he was alone, Albert Talas turned back to his letter:

Mac gently took the letter from AJ’s hands when he stopped reading. As she finished reading Albert’s message of love, she felt strange….. the room seemed to fade away….Mac looked down at herself and found she was wearing a brocade and satin day dress, in her hand was the letter that AJ had been reading, but it was not faded with age, now….

Frances came running up to her, “Sarah, is that a letter from my father? Does he mention me?”

Sarah turned to her stepdaughter and replied, “He writes to say the war is over and he will be coming home to us as soon as he can. He sends his love.”

“As soon as he gets home he can arrange my marriage!” Frances said, and quickly left the room.

The next week was the longest of the war for Albert, knowing that the war was over and still not able to go home. But that was one of the responsibilities of being an officer. He needed to be sure the men under his command were properly mustered out, and that the camp was dismantled. But finally on the seventh day after the news had come through, Albert was at last on his way home to his beloved wife and daughter.

Sarah could hardly sleep after getting Albert’s letter. She no longer worried about his safety, but was so very excited about his return. Frances was also eager for her father to be home, but more for her own purpose then the fact of missing him for his own sake.

Wanting to make sure everything was perfect for his return, Sarah had the servants running around like crazy. Everything had to be cleaned. She even talked about a new coat of whitewash for the house, but was convinced by one of the servants that there was not time. Calling her dressmaker, she had a new dress made for his return.

Chapter 8

The day finally arrived! Albert rode his horse up the drive to the house. Word came that he was near, and Sarah quickly glanced in the mirror to make sure her hair was neat, and then raced out onto the porch. Albert saw her and kicked his horse to a gallop. He dismounted before the horse stopped moving.

Sweeping Sarah up into his arms, he swung her in a circle as they kissed. Even though public displays of affection were frowned on, Albert did not care. His Sarah was finally in his arms and he knew that it would be quite some time before he would be able to stop touching his wife.

Frances’ voice was what caused him to break the kiss, “Father!” Allowing Sarah to once again stand on her own two feet, he still kept his arm around her waist and very close to his side. Opening his other arm to his daughter, he marveled at how she had changed. When he left she was still his little girl, but before him stood a lovely young woman.

She gave her father a quick hug and then stepped back to say, “Father, now that you are home, you can speak to Darrel Dalton’s father, so we can be married this summer!”

“This summer, daughter? You will barely be sixteen by then!”

“I love him, Father! We want to be married before we are old like you and Sarah!”

“You will show respect, daughter! I will talk to young Dalton’s father and we will see. That is all I will promise for now.”

Frances said, “Fine!” and stomped off in a huff.

Albert turned to his wife and asked, “Has she been a problem for you while I have been away?”

Sarah was not used to telling untruths, so her answer showed on her face before she could verbally respond. She had found it difficult to word her letters to him in such a way that he would not know of the problems she had been having with Frances.

“I will talk to her about this,” Albert declared, and started after his daughter.

She placed her hand on his arm to stop him, “Albert, please, no! Frances and I have had our differences, but we need to be allowed to work them out. If you ‘talk’ to her on my behalf, it will seem like you are favoring me. That would not be good for her. She needs to know she is first in your heart,” Sarah pleaded with him to understand.

“My darling, I loved Frances first, but I love the two of you equally, just in different ways.”

“I know, my love, but your daughter misses her mother still, and she needs your love even more because of that.”

“You have the kindest and most generous heart of anyone I have ever known,” he told her as he leaned down to kiss her cheek.

Sarah blushed. She loved him so much that even that brief touch sent a tingle through her. “You should go and change for dinner, my love. I have the cook preparing all of your favorite foods tonight. I hope you are hungry,” she said as they walked into the house.

Bending down, Albert whispered in her ear, “More for you, than for food, my love.”

Her cheeks flamed, and he chuckled at her reaction. Dinner could not be over fast enough, and bedtime would be early that night! Even though he had dreamed of the wonderful meals made by Cook while he was away, there was no greater need than the one to have his wife in his arms and to at last be able to make love to her again.

Chapter 9

Albert called for a bath and told his valet to take his uniform away and to bring him his favorite civilian suit. Putting it on, after his bath he was pleased to find that it still fit. He might be forty-eight now, but he was still in good physical shape. Going down to his study before dinner, he poured himself a glass of port and settled down to wait for his wife and daughter.

Sarah came down first in her new purple gown. “You look lovely, my dear,” he told her as he stood to offer a glass of sherry.

“Thank you, Albert. I know this is your favorite color.”

Cook had made enough food to have fed his whole platoon, and everything was as wonderful as he remembered. Sarah smiled as she caught him licking honey from his fingers like a little boy. He grinned at her and said, "I have not had cornbread and honey in over a year, my love! Indulge me."

"I enjoy doing that," she said, and passed him more honey.

"May I be excused?" Frances asked when she saw they loving glances being exchanged between her father and stepmother.

Albert turned his attention to his daughter, "Frances, I was hoping that you would play for me after dinner. It has been ever so long since I heard you on the piano."

Once again to Frances noticed the looks between them. Sarah's pleased smile and her father's acknowledging nod caused her to ask," Did she tell you to ask me, Father? She knows I have not been playing lately!"

"No daughter, Sarah, did not say anything about your lack of practicing to me. I merely wanted to hear you play. You remind of your mother more every day. I remember how the two of you would sit and play for hours on end. I miss that."

"I miss her too, Father. Why did you have to go and replace her if you still love her?" Frances demanded with tears on her cheeks.

"My darling! I loved your mother very much, and I always will. But when you are older, you will learn that the heart has infinite capacity for love, and that the more you love, the more you can love." Albert went around the table to sit in the empty chair next to Frances. He took her in his arms before he continued, "Your mother is gone, and nothing can bring her back, but her greatest gift to me is right here in my arms," he paused to kiss her forehead, "but just because I still love your mother, that does not mean I cannot love another. My love for Sarah is just a strong as my love for your mother. You need to understand and accept that. I have two very beautiful women in my life. You, daughter, and Sarah."

"I will play for both of you, if you like, Father," Frances said. Both Albert and Sarah knew that this was as close as she could come to an apology for her behavior.

Sarah and Albert sat together on the couch for over two hours, listening to Frances play. At last she admitted that she was tired and was going to bed. Albert and Sarah said goodnight. As soon as he felt she was safely upstairs in her room, Albert swept Sarah up into his arms and quickly carried her up the stairs and into their room.

This chapter is rated PG 13 for sexual content.

Chapter 10

Because her two younger married sisters still lived in the area, Sarah was able to see them quite often. They made sure to give her much advice when they found out she was finally going to be married. Both told her that her wifely duties in the bedroom would just have to be endured. They said that there were many other pleasant things about married life, like shopping and ordering servants around. Thus, once a week she could put up with her husband’s animal needs.

Sarah had taken this advice at face value before her marriage. She had no reason to think her sisters would lie to her about this. But once she and Albert were married, and Sarah had to question why her sisters had steered her so wrong. Albert, however, believed in making love to his wife, not having her fulfill some kind of obligation. He wanted to make sure that Sarah received pleasure from their coming together, just as he did.

Although it was common practice among their set that you only bed your wife once a week, and then only for procreation, not pleasure. Albert did not feel this way. If the husband had a need to fulfill more often than that, he would seek out a courtesan or set up a small private house for a mistress. Albert, however, believed that sexual exploits should be confined to the marriage, and so he came to Sarah several times a week.

For both Sarah and Albert, their marriage bed was a place of pleasure, not of duty. When they reached their room, Albert put Sarah back on her feet near the bed. She smiled at him and started towards the changing screen in the corner of the room. "I will ring for my maid," she told him.

"My love, please allow me to be your maid tonight. It has been so long since we have been together...."

“Oh, Albert, that would not be proper!” she blushed.

“My love, anything between us is proper.”

“But the candles are still lit!”

“All the better to see you, my darling,” he said, walking over to her. “Sarah, I love you more than words can tell you, and I have been away so long. I want to hold you in my arms and love you all night through. Let me undress you, my love, please!”

Blushing even more, she shyly nodded her head to the man she also loved more than words could tell. He slowly reached out to take the pins from her hair first. He loved to watch it spill down her back. Running his hands through it when it was free, he felt the silkiness and brought it to his face to inhale the intoxicating scent that was all her.

Turning her slowly so he could reach the back of her gown to unlace it, Albert bent his head and kissed his way down her neck and to the shoulders that he bared. As her gown pooled around her feet, she shivered, not from cold, but from the desire that was building within her.

Albert gently turned her to face him after unlacing her corset. She stood before him in just her chemise. He had dreamed of this moment since the day he went off to fight.

Sarah shyly looked up into her husband’s eyes and saw the passion there. The passion that was echoed in her own heart, “Albert, is it wicked that I want to see you undressed also? Am I bad?”

“Nothing could make you ‘bad’ in my eyes, and it pleases me that you want to see me as much as I need to see you.” He swept her up in his arms and placed her on the bed, then stood back and began to undress for her.

She knew that a proper lady would turn her head as he removed his clothing, but she wanted to see him so much. Albert was very handsome and she loved him deeply.

Sarah watched as he removed his jacket, then his boots, she almost hid her eyes when he took off his shirt, but resisted. Oh, how she wanted to run her hands through the mat of hair on his muscled chest! When he undid his trousers and began to slide them off, she could no longer watch. She hid her eyes in her hands and missed seeing Albert’s indulgent smile.

This chapter is rated NC 17 for sexual content.

Chapter 11

The bed shifted under his weight as he sat down next to her. He leaned over and gently pulled her hands from her face. Chuckling at how tightly her eyes were shut, he placed a tender kiss on each one. When her eyes fluttered open to meet his, he gentle kissed her lips as he reached to untie the satin ribbon holding the front of her chemise closed.

Her chemise seemed to magically disappear during their kiss, and before she knew it, they were flesh to flesh. Without conscious thought, Sarah brought her hands up to touch his chest. Albert shuddered in desire from this simple touch.

Feeling his trembling, Sarah questioned, “Was that wrong, my love?”

“Oh, no, Sarah, it is wonderful! I love the feel of your hands on me, my darling. Feel free to touch me anytime!”

Her eyes widened in surprise at his words and she replied, “I couldn’t do that!”

“Yes, you could, my darling. I am your husband, and I am telling you that it would make me very happy to know that you feel free to touch me anytime in any way that you would like to!” He could tell from the look in her eyes that she was about to protest again, so he silenced her lovely lips with a passionate kiss. Leaving her gasping for air, Albert trailed kisses down her throat, and when he finally reached her breast, he paused.

Sarah looked down to see why her beloved husband had stopped kissing her skin. When she did, he deliberately made eye contact with her, as he took the nipple of one breast into his mouth. She nearly flew off of the bed at the sensation that this caused in her! And Sarah could tell from the look in his eyes that he was enjoying her reactions. After lavishing the proper amount of attention on the first breast, Albert trailed kisses over to the other so he could repeat the process.

Albert parted her thighs and could tell that she was ready for him by the heady aroma of her juices. Rising up, he entered her in one smooth motion. Sarah gasped at the suddenness of his movement, but she had been wet and ready for him. He filled her so completely!

He smiled at her as their eyes met and said, “It is good to be home, my love!”

“It is good to welcome you home, husband!” she replied, and gasped again when he started to move inside her. Stroking in and out until both were at their peak, Albert gave one last thrust as they came together.

Moving to lay next to her so his weight would not crush Sarah, he held her tenderly in his arms and said, “I love you, Sarah. Maybe we created a son tonight.”

“I hope so, my love,” she replied, and they both fell asleep in each other’s arms.

Summer 1776

Luck had not been with them that night. Sarah had not gotten pregnant, nor did she in the following few months as spring passed into summer. The day came for Frances’ wedding, and still there was no baby in the future for Albert and Sarah.

Albert walked his daughter down the aisle with pride, thinking of how proud her mother would have been. Sarah had been so busy lately with all the wedding plans that they had not been spending many of their days together. Their nights though were spent in each other’s arms. Each one hoped they created a baby every time they made love.

Frances made a lovely bride, although Sarah was concerned about her stepdaughter’s wedding night. She would not listen when Sarah tried to talk to her about what would happen in her marriage bed. Frances claimed that she would learn all about that from her husband, and that she did not want to even think of Sarah and her father doing that kind of thing! Sarah hoped that her new husband would be gentle with Frances.

Thanksgiving 1776

That fall, there was much to be thankful for. The war was over, and both Frances and Sarah were expecting babies that would be born in the spring!

Chapter 12

It was only two days until Christmas and only one until their fourth wedding anniversary! Sarah was rushing around the house like a madwoman trying to make sure everything was done just right. They were having Frances and her husband and his family all over for the holiday. She wanted everything ready for their arrival so that she and Albert could celebrate their anniversary in private tomorrow.

The tree was almost finished, and it was a huge one! Albert had picked it out yesterday, and he and several of the servants had cut it down and dragged it into the house just that morning. Now, hours later, there was only one box of decorations left to add to the massive tree. Sarah had known that there were ornaments missing and had gone upstairs to the large attic to search for the missing box while the servants continued to decorate the tree and the rest of the house.

She was carrying the box down the long flight of stairs when the front door blew open and Albert came in with his arms filled with evergreen boughs and mistletoe. He looked up and saw Sarah with the box in her arms. He was about to take her to task for carrying it in her condition. Before he could, she lost her footing and the box went flying out of her arms. She grasped nothing but air to try and keep herself from falling, and came tumbling down the stairs. Albert dropped the greens in his arms and flew to her side.

Gently pulling her into his arms, Albert realized that she was unconscious. Calling for the servants he yelled for one of them to fetch the doctor from town. As he lifted her into his arms to carry her to their room, he noticed the blood…..

Even before the doctor arrived, Albert knew that they had lost their baby. Sarah had still not regained consciousness, so he suffered the loss alone.

When the doctor arrived, he confirmed that Sarah had lost the baby. He was also very concerned about the amount of blood that she had lost and the fact that she was still unconscious.

All work in the house stopped, every servant moved slowly and as quietly as possible, as if the quiet would help Lady Sarah. She was loved among the servants. She always had a pleasant word and a smile for every one of them. Each knew how anticipated the baby she carried was, and each mourned with their master.

For a time, the doctor feared that they might also lose Sarah as well as the baby. Albert would not leave her bedside. All through the night he prayed. Just before dawn, his prayer was answered. Sarah’s eyes fluttered open, and her first sight was Albert’s grief-stricken face. Tears silently slid down her cheeks as she realized what had happened. “I am so sorry, my love….. I have lost out baby, have I not?”

“Beloved! It was not your fault! I came in and startled you. I am to blame!”

“Oh, no, Albert! Oh god …… our baby…” sobs wracked her body, which sent stabbing pain through her.

“Sarah, there will be other babies! I am just glad that you are still with me.”

“But we have waited so long!”

“As long as we have each other, my darling, nothing else matters. Now you need to rest and get better.” He moved closer to the bed so he could put his arms around her.

It was mid-morning before the doctor returned, and after checking Sarah over, he asked to see Albert in the hall. Albert was about to protest that they had no secrets from each other until he saw the look on the doctor’s face. Once out in the hall, the doctor delivered the bad news. After what she had been through, it was unlikely that Sarah would ever be able to get pregnant again.

Albert was devastated by the news. Not so much for the loss of the son they both wanted, but for what this would mean to Sarah. He knew that she felt her only purpose in the marriage was to give him a son. Even though he had tried to convince her that was only secondary to how much he loved her, Albert was sure that she did not completely believe him.

Through his pain, Albert did some quick thinking, swearing the doctor to secrecy. Albert vowed that she would never know.

Even though Sarah was not allowed out of bed until New Year’s, Albert gave her the locket that he had had made for her. It was a beautifully carved circle of gold and opened to display a tiny painted portrait of each of them. Sarah cried tears of joy and vowed to wear it forever. She would never take it off, she told him.

Sarah insisted that Albert go on with their holiday plans for Frances and the Daltons even though she could not be there to act as hostess. Albert wanted to cancel the plans but Sarah begged him to continue on for his daughter and her family.

Chapter 13

Spring 1777

That spring was bittersweet for Albert and Sarah. Frances delivered a healthy baby boy in April and almost immediately turned him over to a wet nurse and nanny. The next fall, she delivered another son and did the same thing. All the while, Sarah was still hoping to become pregnant.

By the time her thirtieth birthday came around in 1780, Sarah had given up hope that she would ever give Albert a child. It was the same summer that Frances had her third and final child. This time, though, it was a daughter that would be raised by a nanny.

Sarah spent as much time with Frances’ children as she would let her, as did Albert. They lavished love and devotion on their grandchildren, as if they were their own children.

Time passed, as it was known to do, and even though they never had the children that they both had wanted so much, Sarah and Albert had a love-filled life.

September 1827

Sarah lay in her bed dying. She was seventy-seven years of age. Next to her was her beloved husband, Albert, who was ninety-nine. Over the past two days she had had many visitors. Frances and her husband had been there. Their three grown children had also come with their families. Albert and Sarah were the proud great grandparents of fifteen and the great great grandparents of twenty-nine.

After all the visitors had left, Albert was alone with his Sarah, and she was leaving him! “Sarah, please do not leave me! Please! Do not leave me!”

“Albert, my love, our love is so strong. It will not die with me. Our love will go on and on,” she said in a weak whisper. “Our life together has been nearly perfect. The only regret I have in fifty-six years of marriage is that I was not able to give you any more children.”

“Darling, I have been blissfully happy with you. A son would have been wonderful, but I have been so blessed just to have you in my life. I just can’t bear the thought of going on without you.”

As he felt her slipping away, she whispered, “Our hearts will find each other again, my love, and I will be eternally yours.”

“I will find you, my love. I will find you!” Albert laid his head down on the bed and wept as she stopped breathing.

Mac gasped! Suddenly she was back in her own living room, on the couch next to AJ, and holding her still warm cocoa. Checking her internal clock, she realized she had just lived out over fifty years in five minutes and twenty-one seconds. Glancing over at AJ to see if he had realized that she had been “out of it” for that time, she found him sitting there very still.

AJ blinked a few times and shook his head slightly. He looked towards Mac and their eyes locked. Both instantly knew that the other had also lived through the lives of Albert and Sarah.

“That was the strangest, most moving thing I have ever experienced,” Mac told him.

“When you….. um, when Sarah died…. I felt like I would too!” AJ responded hoarsely.

“AJ, what happened after I ….. she died?”

He paused a moment before answering, re-living the last few months of Albert’s life in his mind. “He died within three months, on what would have been their fifty fourth anniversary, of a broken heart. I….he couldn’t go on any longer without yo…..her.”

“They loved each other so much,” she sighed.

“Yes. It was so real.”

“I wonder if they left anything else in the desk?” Mac asked, as she got up and went over to it. She sat down in front of the desk and placed her hand inside the hidden compartment. Mac felt something metal in the far corner of the area she had discovered the letters. Pulling it out she realized that it was a locket. She jumped a bit when she realized that AJ had come up behind her. He watched as she opened it, sure that he knew what she would see. Inside the tiny gold circle there were two painted portraits of Albert and Sarah.

Mac gasped, when she was reliving Sarah’s life she had known that Albert looked like AJ but she had thought that it was just her projecting her desires into the situation. But here in front of her was proof positive that Albert and Sarah looked just like AJ and Mac, the only differences were the hairstyles and clothing.

Continue to Eternally Yours, Part 2