Church On The Hill
a UFO story by Amelia L. Rodgers © 2000 (sequel to COLD ) Adult language and situations.
All rights reserved. Not meant to infringe on copyright of UFO or the words and music of Sade or Simon and Garfunkle.
For Ann

With thanks to Commander Edward Straker, who always gives of himself generously, if a bit reluctantly, so that I can provide you with these stories.

A quick check on his watch told him the time was 5:03 am. He was vaguely conscious of being tired, hungry. But what kept repeating over and over in his head were Gino Gennaro's last words.

"Get the bastards, Commander."

He had. It had been particularly satisfying to get into Mobile 4, zero in on the departing UFO himself and blow it out of the Irish sky. A fleeting success.

It hadn't comforted Gerraro's wife Maria, who had screamed over and over when Ed had told her her husband was dead. But at least she had known first hand just what was on the table, she worked for Shado's unit in Ireland just like Gerraro did.

A professional.

A professional who had squeezed Ed's shoulders, clinging to him, sobbing. A twenty-two year old widow with a four-year-old son.

Get the bastards, Commander. A goal he had devoted a large part of his life to accomplishing.

Someday, the war would be over, and the skies would be clear.

But for now, Operative Gino Gerraro's grieving wife would soon be standing in a small Irish graveyard, placing a wreath on the grave of the husband she loved. And little Mario would be playing nearby, maybe with the little toy fire engine Ed had seen him playing with when he'd entered the Gerraro home. Blissfully unaware he'd lost a father he'd hardly known.

Get the bastards, Commander.

Ed sighed. He got out of his sleek Shado car and approached his flat. And froze. Voices. He could hear voices within the house. He drew his Glock, opened the door, body in firing position.

And grinned.

"Ed! Yikes! Don't shoot! Don't shoot!"

"What are you doing up?" Ed glanced at the television screen, a little startled at even seeing it on, and holstered his Glock. Humphrey Bogart was talking to Sydney Greenstreet on the screen. Ed removed his coat and laid it on the sofa.

"Watching Casablanca, and waiting for you. I didn't sleep well anyway. I missed you, bunyip. Want some coffee? Did you eat? You look tired." Margaret Fielding got up from where she'd been sprawled on the floor, and snaked her arms around Ed and kissed him tenderly. He kissed her back warmly, a little embarrassed at not remembering he now shared his flat with the beautiful psychiatrist. But something was missing, and he wasn't sure what.

" I missed lunch. I missed dinner. I missed breakfast, too. How come you just didn't go to bed?@

"And miss seeing Casablanca and sobbing when Rick lets Ilsa go? Are you nuts? Do you want to go straight to bed, or do you want some breakfast?"

"Food sounds good."

"Go get out of that suit, take a nice shower and get into your pajamas and I'll make us two fat omelets."

"What's that unidentifiable stuff you've been eating?" Ed bent and poked at a dish. Mags chuckled.

"Chips and salsa. Want some?"

"No, I value my tastebuds, and knowing you, that salsa would cremate my tongue." Ed chuckled and went into the bedroom, started to undress.

And then Ed realized what was missing.

No yelling. No accusations of infidelity.

No where the hell have you been?

No scolding.

Even though he had momentarily forgotten he was no longer alone, a part of him had expected to be yelled at for coming home so late. In the desperation of the UFO attack on the Irish coastline, he had not called Maggie. And yet she had greeted him like he'd been gone for one hour, instead of an entire day that had blended into the next. All this peace and happiness was going to take some getting used to. He grinned and got into the shower.

"Hey, Maggie?" Ed said. He'd come into the living room, freshly showered, barefoot and in his pajamas and robe. She was humming and pulling back the chairs for them to sit and eat. The smell of the omelets and toast made him realise he was starving.

"Lose your slippers again?"

"Oh. No. Just wanted to tell you I love you."

"Prove it. Eat."

"Aren't you going to tell me you love me too?" Ed said mournfully, sitting down. He began to chew appreciatively.

"Not until you're fed. I have this weird trait, I get all hot and bothered over men who actually have regular meals like most people. As opposed to men who survive solely on coffee. Men who eat are a lot sexier."

"Oh I see. We're not even married yet and you already want to change me?" Ed's eyes were twinkling.

"If you don't eat, you won't survive long enough for me to marry you. And you'll give your tailor a massive stroke if you lose more weight." Mags grinned.

Ed laughed.

"Okay, you've convinced me. But I'm going to test that theory of yours that men who eat have more sex appeal. In the interest of science, of course."

"Of course. I know I don't cook like your Frances, but how's the food?"

"Delicious. Maggie?"

"Yeah, Ed?"

"I love you."

"Because I fed you?"

"Yeah, I have this strange quirk, being fed by a beautiful psychiatrist makes me a hundred more--"

The door bell rang.

Maggie's expression was sour.

"What's that phrase of yours? Horse piss? Well, horse piss."

Ed drew his robe closer around him, and went to the door, peered through the spyhole, wondering if he should get his Glock. He blinked. A taxi was pulling away, and a strange woman was standing on the porch.

Ed looked at his Certina wristwatch.

"At 6:54 am someone's selling vacuum cleaners?"

"Huh?" Mags said, coming up behind him.

"You know this woman?"

Mags peered through.

"Yolanda!" Mags shouted, in great excitement.

Ed groaned.

"You know this woman." Ed opened the door. He studied the woman that looked at him momentarily, and then saw Maggie and bounced in. She was slightly shorter than Maggie, clad in tight jeans, workboots, oversized tweed coat, thick suede belt, wearing a brown turtleneck underneath a flowered vest. Her hair was brown, to her waist, her eyes were brown, and she wore gold squares in her pierced ears and several rings on her delicate hands. She held a large denim knapsack by one of its straps. Ed looked dubiously at the gold ring that dissected one of her thick eyebrows, then closed the door.

"Yolanda!"

"Mags! Oh Mags!"

"How did you get here? What are you doing here? Oh my God, it's so cool to see you!" The two women embraced. Then the woman looked at Ed. No, it wasn't a look. It more closely resembled a stare.

"You're Straker."

"You're Yolanda. Want some coffee?"

"Thanks. I just landed here, checked into my hotel, then took a taxi out here."

"Yolanda Belser and I were roommates in college, even lived together a while, she's probably my best friend in the whole world!"

"Let me take your coat, then I'll get you some coffee. So you flew all the way out here from San Francisco? I've been on that milk run. Long time to be in the air. How was your flight?"

"I'm a Lesbian, have you got a problem with that?" Yolanda stated to Ed.

Mags' mouth dropped open. Ed's eyebrow lifted a little, but he smiled slightly.

"I'm a heterosexual, have you got a problem with that?" he replied mildly.

Yolanda showed surprise, while Mags chuckled and Yolanda slowly grinned at him.

"I think I'm going to like you, Straker. I was prepared not to. Mags called me and told me she was getting married, and I wanted to make sure you were going to treat her right."

"Could have warned us you were going to make a surprise visit." Mags scolded.

"And pass up an opportunity to size up your new fella? No way. You were right, Mags. He's pretty good looking. For a guy."

"No one ever gave me a better compliment." Ed grinned. "Come on, I'll get us some coffee."

She followed him into the kitchen, and sat down.

"You really a big movie guy?"

"I own Harlington-Straker Studios, if that's what you mean. Yes."

"I expected a bigger place than this." Yolanda said, accepting a mug of coffee from him, and pouring cream into it. "With you being so rich and all."

"No real reason to have one. And Maggie and I decided against getting a house, so all we're doing is adding some extra room and redoing the basement. Might have noticed all the construction in the front yard. The rain has slowed down the progress on it. Have you ever been to England before?"

"I've never even been on a airplane before. It scared the shit out of me," Yolanda confessed. Mags giggled.

"Yolanda thinks going to the corner grocers is a big trip. She couldn't understand me coming over here to work."

"We'll have to show you around." Ed smiled. "Can you stay for the wedding?"

"Try and stop me." Yolanda said.

"The wedding list is starting to make it look like we're a royal couple or something." Ed groaned.

"Ed and I are thinking of eloping to Las Vegas and not telling anyone, but all his friends would kill us." giggled Mags.

"Yeah. Especially my tailor." agreed Ed.

"Your tailor?"

"You explain, Maggie, I'm going to go get dressed and make some phone calls, see if Alec can cover for me for the weekend." Ed got up.

"Oh no you're not." Mags said firmly.

"I'm not? And why is that?"

"You haven't finished your meal."

"Was she always a heartless dictator, or is that a trait she recently acquired, Yolanda?"

Yolanda laughed.

"Always."

"I should have known." Ed slipped obediently back into his chair, picked up his fork.

"Does he always give in that quickly, or is he just doing it in front of me?" Yolanda wondered.

"She spent a year in a dojo, she could hurt me if I didn't comply," Ed said between bites.

"You're damn right. But he has a black belt, seventh dan, in judo and a black belt, sixth dan in karate, and could hurt me if he really didn't want to do it." Mags said, grinning at Ed.

"That's right, she said you used to be in the Air Force. Hard to imagine Mags being infatuated with a military type. She's real liberal."

"I happen to be pretty liberal myself. Not everyone who has ever worn a uniform is a hawk politically, you know. More coffee?"

"Thanks." Yolanda held out her mug again and Ed poured for her. Mags watched the way she studied Ed's face. Boy, are you in for a surprise as you get to know Ed, she thought with a grin. Mags shoved her finger in the other woman's face with her engagement ring adorning it for Yolanda to admire and Yolanda ooohed and aaahed at it, amusing Ed. Ed ate quietly, enjoying their conversation, finally finished his meal, looked at Mags.

"May I leave the table now, Mother?" he said meekly.

Mags and Yolanda laughed.

"Yes, you were a good boy, you can go."

Ed rose, bent and kissed Mags.

"Back in a bit. Keep an eye on her for me, Yolanda."

"So what do you think?" Mags squealed.

"He isn't anything like I pictured at all. He's really attractive, great eyes. He's, well, he's nice."

"Oh Yolanda, girlfriend. He's more than nice! He's incredible. I don't know what I did to deserve running into him, but thank the stars I did. I can't ever remember being this happy. I worry like hell when he goes off to work, he's a little more dedicated than I'd like, he tends to forget to take care of himself. I'm still learning stuff about him, you know? But he's super intelligent, and gorgeous, and kind and wonderful and --"

"Is he good in bed?" Yolanda interjected.

"Yolanda! Bite your tongue!" Mags giggled.

"So? Is he? For a guy, that is." Yolanda laughed.

Mags looked around. She leaned over closer to Yolanda in a conspiratorial fashion.

"He's a master."

"Is there anything bad about him? The guy sounds too good to be true."

"I know! I know! And to think the women he's been serious about dumped him."

"You're shitting me, Mags. Maybe they know something about him you haven't discovered yet?"

"Horse piss! They were just morons. When I met him he was awfully sick, and his fiancée just up and left him cause she didn't want to commit. It just about broke his heart. Stupid bitch lost his baby, too. Didn't even go to the funeral. He told me a little about it. His friend Alec told me the rest."

"Does he know?"

"Know what?"

"That you can't have kids?"

Mags sighed. She nodded.

"He was sad for a long time, he loves kids. His only son died. He still mourns him. I saw his pictures, he was darling."

"Who was darling? I'll kill them. You better not have another man in your life, Maggie," Ed teased, coming in at the end of Mags' words. Ed was dressed in his blue Nehru suit, and perfectly groomed, looking stunning, a fact that didn't escape even Yolanda. Mags gasped.

"Damn! You heard I'm cheating on you? Yeah, sorry, Ed, it's true. He actually eats three times a day, too."

Yolanda giggled. Ed dramatically clapped a hand over his forehead and looked shocked.

"Mere days before the wedding and she cheats on me! You heartbreaker, you heartless scoundrel. Woe is me."

"Relax, Straker, she was telling me about you losing your son. I'm very sorry."

Ed lowered his hand slowly, and pain clouded his eyes. The effort he made to change the subject was obvious.

"Thank you. Well, I'm cleared for the weekend. Alec even joked he's finally getting used to me asking him to fill in for me. So we can show Yolanda around. I spoke to Angel and Frances, they want to meet her, and Frances said she's finished with your gown, and wanted you to come over to try it on. I tried to find out what it looked like, but to no avail. All she would admit is that she's using fabric and lace from her own wedding gown." Ed smiled a little.

Mags sighed.

"She's just incredible, going and doing that, but she said she'd never have a daughter to pass the gown on to, and I couldn't say no. She's got such wonderful taste, I know it's going to be a gorgeous dress."

"Who are Angel and Frances?" Yolanda asked.

"Angel is what Ed calls The Right Reverend Stanley Brisby, they served in Vietnam together and Frances is his wife, and they sort of adopted me. Frances and I spent a whole week going to all the bridal shops, and she decided nothing was good enough, so she started making me a wedding gown herself. Oh, and I know Ed is secretly in love with her." Mags winked.

"Anyone who bakes like she does, you can hardly blame me." Ed chuckled.

"Ed shouldn't you get some sleep before we go off?" Mags said.

"I'll grab some sleep later this afternoon, I promise. "

"Ed, it hasn't been that long since you got out of the hospital, and you need some decent sleep."

"I give you my word, I'll snooze in Angel's guest room later this afternoon."

"You better." Mags sighed.

The doorbell rang again.

"Don't tell me, another long lost college friend of yours?" Ed joked.

Mags giggled. Ed excused himself , and after clearing the table and sticking the dishes in the sink, Mags came back into the living room. Ed was signing something for a delivery man, tipped him and allowed him out.

"What was he doing here?" Mags asked.

"Look and see." Ed handed her a burgundy box.

"Edddddddd, if you've bought me something else at that ridiculously priced jeweler's of yours.." Mags said, starting to become excited.

"Is she actually complaining because you bought her something?" Yolanda asked Ed with a grin.

"I know. Little mixed up in the head, isn't she?" Ed chuckled.

Mags opened the box and began to giggle uncontrollably. She took a gold link bracelet out of it which had one dangling gold disc on it and showed it to Yolanda.

The disc was engraved with two words. HORSE PISS.

***

Ed stretched his legs out comfortably and accepted the coffee and corned beef sandwich Angel handed him, but his eyes followed the antics of' three little boys who were roughhousing in the garden. Not surprisingly, the Brisbies had driven out and picked Ed, Mags and Yolanda up. Frances had explained that she'd agreed to look after the children for parishioners of theirs, a young couple with yet another baby on the way. The mother had unexpectedly gone into labor that very morning, two weeks early. Ed grinned at Angel, who was having a ale and watching the kids the way you'd watch an atomic bomb that was ticking.

"I don't see what you see in kids, Q-tip. Lord forgive me, but they seem like they are lesser demons sent from the devil him-Kenny! Joseph! Mark! Leave those daffodils alone!"

"Bringing up children makes the camp in Nam seem more acceptable?" Ed grinned. "Anyway, they're just going to be here for the day right? If you really try, Reverend, you can make it through one day. But then, women are known to have really long labors. They might wind up here for the whole week."

Angel groaned loudly, causing Ed to laugh sharply.

" Damn it, those women have been upstairs forever. Just what are they doing?" Angel complained.

Ed grinned, removed his jacket, draped it over the couch, gave the stairs a wistful look, and went past Angel into the garden, patting him briefly on the shoulder.

"Leave this to me, Reverend." Ed joked. He approached the boys, noting with concealed amusement that several daffodils had been stomped upon, all beyond hope of recovery.

"What are you guys up to?" Ed demanded in his best SHADO Commander tone.

The boys, aged six, five and three, looked at the American innocently.

"Just playing."

"Must be something you can play that is quieter, and doesn't ruin Mrs. Brisby's flowers. Let's play a listening game."

"What's that?" the middle one wanted to know.

"Well, come inside with me and find out. No, first clean off those shoes on the mat, yes, that's it and all of those hands of yours are screaming to be washed." Ed led the small parade into the bathroom, handed them soap and towels and supervised the hygiene wistfully. The smallest one looked disturbingly like Johnny when he'd been that age.

In the meantime, Mags looked at herself in the mirror.' She was wearing the wedding dress that Frances had carefully sewn for her, using crystals and lace from her own preserved gown. The ankle length gown was created in ivory duchess satin with a sweetheart neckline, and was trimmed in Battenburg lace with tiny, sparkling crystals on the bodice and at the hem. A pearl coronet held a short illusion veil in place on Mags' short hair.

"You look so beautiful. Just wait until Edward sees you when you walk down that aisle, dear."

"You look super, Mags." Yolanda agreed. She too was excited because Mags had asked her to be her bridesmaid. Frances had assured Yolanda that she could find a suitable dress for her in time.

"Frances, its just gorgeous, the satin is to die for. And the crystals.." Mags sighed, overcome. "I just wish.."

"Wish what, dear?"

"Never mind."

"Her mom and dad." Yolanda said. "They won't see her marry Straker." Yolanda hugged Mags gently.

Mags broke down and cried.

***

"An airplane!" All three boys declared triumphantly.

Ed nodded. He scrawled figures into his memo book, picked up his second cup of sweet and light coffee. The corned beef sandwich had gone untasted.

"Right, that's 15 points, what else? Listen very carefully."

"I know! I know! Cars!"

"We already have cars down, stupid!"

"Hey, stupid, stop calling me stupid."

"Kenny. Joseph. Mark. That's enough."

All three boys looked at Ed. They were playing a sound game which Ed could remember playing with Johnny. You accumulated the most number of points by listening for and identifying sounds. It had gone along splendidly for a while, but the boys were getting tired and anxious, and missed their parents.

"Right then. I think a nap is in store for all of you." Angel said. "You too Ed, son."

"Awww, naps are for, huh? Ed is going to nap too?" the oldest one giggled.

Ed looked up at Angel, a bit startled. He recalled promising Maggie he'd catch some sleep. Then to amuse the boys, he put real rebellion into his voice. Fifty-something had suddenly become five.

"Am not!"

The boys fell about giggling, and Angel pointed relentlessly at the bedroom.

"Not until they get prizes for their points. Mark takes 47, Kenny 32 and Joseph 26. First, second and third." Ed folded his arms.

"I'm a bit low on loving cups, but I do think Frances has some of that divinity left. Which, after an afternoon with you three, is more than I can say for myself." Angel declared. Ed chuckled, and herded all three into the kitchen.

"There you are. One for you, one for you and one for you." The reverend distributed the gooey candy.

"And where's mine, then?" Ed said, continuing his portrayal of a complaining tot.

"You, Edward son, did not eat your lunch. So forget it."

Ed mumbled underneath his breath, making the boys giggle, but they all went into the guest bedroom and settled down.

About a half hour later, Mags, Frances and Yolanda finally came downstairs.

"How are you holding up, sweetheart?" Frances said to Angel, kissing him.

"The Colby children are a cross I must frequently bear." Angel grinned.

"Stanley!" Frances chuckled. "Now, that's not very Christian."

"Where's the groom to be?" Mags asked. She had changed back into a sweater and jeans.

"Look in there. But be quiet about it." Angel warned.

The women peeked into the guest bedroom. Ed Straker was curled up on the bed fast asleep, and the three boys were curled up asleep in various positions against him. Some silver strands of Ed's hair had fallen forward in a soft wave, and Mags had to resist going over and smoothing it back into place.

"I haven't decided yet who is snoring the loudest. Joseph, or Ed." Angel grinned.

"No contest!" chuckled Yolanda. "It's Straker, all right. I knew he had to have one flaw at least."

"God. That's what I have to look forward to? Do you think I could cancel the wedding and leave the country without him knowing?" giggled Mags.

"Somehow, dear, I think Edward would find you." Frances tittered, and closed the door gently.

"I'm glad he's sleeping. He's been working a lot of overtime at that studio of his. Thank God we're going to get through this wedding and be able to relax in San Francisco." Mags said with a sigh.

"Where are you going to be staying?"

"We haven't decided yet. Oh, I suppose Ed didn't eat lunch?" Mags frowned.

"He's nervous about the wedding, dear." Frances said, gathering up the lunch plates. "He wants it to be perfect."

"I hope at his advanced age, he doesn't snore through your honeymoon." Yolanda elbowed Mags teasingly. Mags gave Yolanda a sharp look.

"Oh he won't, you better believe it. I can think of things to keep him busy." Mags winked.

"I hear the San Francisco scenery is quite grand." Angel said knowing fully well Mags didn't mean anything to do with the tourist industry.

"Ed Straker makes the scenery look dreary. Who wants to ride on a cable car or eat fresh crab on the Wharf when you've got that man in your clutches?" Mags said, kicking off her clogs contentedly.

"Maybe oysters would be better," Yolanda cracked, and got hit by Mags for her trouble. Angel grinned at Yolanda. He and Frances had taken to Yolanda, which wasn't surprising, considering they'd pretty much adopted any friends of Ed or Mags as their own.

"Edward is quite handsome. So debonair too." Frances agreed with a long, drawn out sigh, then she shot a look at her husband to catch his reaction.

"What did you say, sweetheart?" Angel looked at Frances with a grin.

"Why, nothing at all, dear." Frances grinned back.

"Now that wasn't very Christian." Mags giggled. They all started to laugh. The telephone rang, and Frances picked it up. She smiled, and after a while came into the living room with the others.

"Marion had a little girl at home, eight pounds, three ounces." Frances said. "That was Kenneth on the line, he's coming to pick the boys up."

"How is Marion?" Ed said from behind Frances. The telephone had clearly roused him, and he'd come out of the bathroom after splashing some water on his face and combing his hair neatly.

"Edward, you're supposed to be sleeping." Frances scolded. "She's fine, wasn't in labor so long with this fourth child. She's doing well indeed. Matter of fact she is already up and about. Must be her British stamina." Frances chuckled.

"Good. Glad to hear it. Hi beautiful bride to be." Ed said to Mags, and sat next to her.

"Hi sexy groom to be. Did you know Frances thinks you're handsome and debonair?" Mags stuffed her feet in her clogs again.

"Maggie!" complained Frances, with a slight blush.

"Does she indeed? Maybe I'm marrying the wrong woman." Ed said, picking up Frances' hand and kissing it. Frances grinned down at him, knowing he was teasing. She batted her eyelashes at Ed, who started laughing. Stanley, playing along, looked shocked on cue.

"I'm having to look after three Colby brats and watch my wife flirt with a man I care for like a son." Angel declared. "It's a test from the devil himself. " Yolanda and Mags giggled.

"Four Colby brats. I hear a car pulling up." Ed chuckled. Angel folded his hands in prayer.

"Thank you, gracious God, for having mercy on your servant Stanley. Now, if you have any ideas about how I can win my lost wife back, I'd be forever in your debt."

"Oh don't be silly, darling. You're stuck with me. Although I must say it was thrilling to pretend I was twenty and single again." Frances winked at Ed.

"Aren't you supposed to be breaking Ed's kneecaps?" Mags asked Angel. Ed gave her a look.

"Whose side are you on, anyway?"

"Mine. You're marrying me, remember?" Mags kissed Ed. Ed looked puzzled.

"Oh, right, right. And your name was?"

Mags rapped Ed sharply on his thigh and he laughed.

"I'll go rouse the guys." he smiled. Mags watched him walk away.

"How come I take a nap and wake up looking like a earthquake victim, and that immaculate guy sleeps and wakes up looking like he should be on the cover of Gentleman's Quarterly?" Mags said, as Frances and Stanley went out to greet the Colbys and their new baby.

"You're marrying that immaculate guy in less than a week, Mags." Yolanda said, with a grin.

"Horse piss! I can't believe it! I keep thinking that annoying Marsh woman is going to march in and drag Ed away from me. So much has happened so fast!"

"Mags, I didn't feel so comfortable coming here to meet your friends, shit, a Reverend and his wife who have a little church on a hill, well, back in Frisco, I don't particularly run in circles like this. But I feel like Frances is my aunt now or something."

"Angel and Frances are like that, just great people, and Angel knew Ed back in the war. He and I talked about Ed on the telephone. They tortured Ed and Angel in those camps, Yo. It makes me sick just to think about it. Angel says Ed is a hero. And Alec tells me stories about Ed too.."

"Who is Alec? I'm beginning to think I need a piechart or something for all these people." chuckled Yolanda.

"Alec is.." but Mags' words were drowned in the whoops and yells and happy giggling of the three boys as they raced to the door as their parents came in, Ed trailing behind them.

"Mom! Wow! A baby sister! Can I hold her? Huh? Please?"

"Come on, I'll tell you later." Mags laughed.

***

A few days later

Ed Straker calmly unwrapped the package, and stared at the book he held in his hand while Angel and Alec looked on, barely able to contain their laughter. A scantily clad woman had her arm laced around his waist. Ed pegged her as being barely out of puberty.

"Sex For Dummies. Gosh, how thoughtful of you two."

"We tried to get it in big print, mind you." Angel grinned.

"Right, we knew you have problems seeing with those bifocals of yours, Ed. And we wanted to make sure you did right by Fielding on your wedding night."

"Tell me again who this Fielding is?" Ed said mildly, sipping some mineral water.

"Crikey, Angel, do you think we ought to go along with him as guides?"

"Alec, it's hopeless, I think the poor girl is in for a huge disappointment on her wedding night."

"Angel, I've seen Ed in the shower. She's in for a small disappointment, not a huge one." Both men began to whoop hysterically and pour each other more whiskey.

Ed shook his head slowly at their antics. The two soused Australians had decided to give him a stag party, while Yolanda and Frances were supposedly doing the same thing for Maggie, only it was a hen party over at his flat. I wonder if Maggie's faring better than I am? Ed wondered in amusement. Stag parties were more for the benefit of the groom's friends than for the groom, who just sat there and got racked over the coals, decided Ed.

"This conversation isn't very Christian." Ed said, fighting a grin. "Well, thank you for the gift, I certainly appreciate it." Ed stood up, drank the rest of his water, handed the glass to his lady companion, tucked the book under his arm, smoothed down his white Nehru jacket.

"Hey, where are you going? You can't leave now!" complained Alec.

"Yes I can. I'm a big boy, I even cross streets now without help. I'm going to go collect my poor fiancée and rescue her from whatever fate you two have resigned her to."

"What about me, luv, I was just getting to know you." the woman purred.

"My good friends Stanley and Alec will keep you company. Oh. And Alec?"

"Yes, Ed?" Alec welcomed the obviously fickle woman onto his lap.

"I've seen you in the shower. And you know what some of your discarded girlfriends say about the disappointments of the Australian countryside. There really isn't all that much to see down under."

Ed walked in a dignified manner out of the room, enjoying the sound of Angel's riotous laughter resounding behind him. His mobile phone beeped. He answered it.

"Straker. Ah. Ah, great, great! Miss Ealand, I'm on my way. Thanks for arranging this meeting. I will see you at the wedding, right?"

"I wouldn't miss it, Sir."

"Miss Ealand?"

"Sir?"

"Do you think I finally have a chance at pulling off this marriage business the right way?"

Miss Ealand chuckled softly over the line.

"To be frank, I was a bit surprised about this Dr. Fielding. But word has it she actually kept you in Mayland for the full time the doctor recommended. And she actually proposed to you. Anyone capable of that determination and nerve can't be all bad."

"And Maggie tossing my ex-fiancée on her arse didn't hurt, right?" Ed grinned.

"Sir, you know you have my loyalty. I don't question orders. I do my duty."

"But you couldn't stand Lily Marsh." Ed finished for her.

"I'm afraid so, Sir."

"I'll see you at the wedding, Miss Ealand."

"Yes, sir."

***

The first thing that greeted Ed as he got out of his Shado car was the unmistakable smell of horse. It was not unpleasant, and it put Ed in mind of the spectacle of magnificent, thundering animals as they raced for the finish line. He stopped a stranger, smiled and asked for directions. The short, leathery faced man in the vibrant blue and orange silks he'd stopped stared at Ed in a peculiar fashion.

"Can I ask you what your business is here?" It really wasn't a question, Ed noted.

"I have an appointment with Adam Fielding. Why?" Ed replied.

"The people who come to this property are directed to do so and they know where they're going, or else they don't belong here. The old man hates strangers. Keep to that path and then go into the brick building. His offices are on the fourth floor."

"Thank--"

The jockey hurried away, as if he hadn't wanted to be even seen talking to Straker. Ed's eyes were drawn up to a remote camera which gave off a shrill whine as it directed its unforgiving lens at him. Ed stared at it with equal coolness.

Not exactly subtle security, Ed thought. He followed the directions the man had given him. Eventually he entered a reception area. The man at the desk observed him without a company smile. And people think I'm a hard person to see, Ed thought with ironic amusement.

"Good afternoon, I'm--"

"Yes, Mr. Straker. Mr. Fielding is expecting you. You have ten minutes. Go in."

"How generous of him." Ed said, and fully enjoyed the sour look the receptionist gave him.

Ed opened the door. The first thing he noticed was the enormous window behind the huge cherrywood desk, framing the view of the stableyard four floors below. Ed watched as magnificent horses snorted their impatience to be led to the track, or so he imagined. The second thing was the expensively dressed back of Adam Fielding. Ed closed the door behind him.

"Don't take a seat, Straker, you won't be here long. What is it you want? If you were hoping to be one of the sponsors for the event that's coming up, you can forget it. I don't deal with companies as small and insignificant as yours. Hurry up, state your business. I'm a busy man." Fielding did not even turn around. Ed hated him instantly.

"A busy man, yes. Busy for the last forty-two years of your daughter's life. You do remember you have a daughter, right?" Ed said as icily as he could manage.

Fielding spun around. Ed saw for the first time in person the scar that ran from the bottom of his right eye across his cheek and down his neck. He leaned on a cane. The bright gold buttons on his blazer had more life than there was in his brown eyes.

"Who do you think you are, speaking in that manner to me? Get out."

"Who do I think I am? I'm Edward Straker, Sir. The man who is going to marry your daughter at eleven am tomorrow. I'm also a fool. Why? Because I came down here in the hope of bringing you together with your daughter, something she's always wanted. Maybe even giving you the opportunity to march her down the aisle and give her away. I see now that I don't even want you anywhere near her." Ed pivoted and started to open the door.

"Straker wait!"

Ed did not turn around this time, kept his hand on the doorknob, waited, aware the adrenaline of anger was flushing through his body. For once he wished he had the characteristics of Alec, who would probably have lifted Fielding and thrown him out his own impressive window. It was nearly impossible to believe that this heartless man was related to his Maggie. It practically made him sick to even be in Fielding's presence.

"Hurry up. State your business. I'm a busy man." Ed snapped back.

"You're marrying Margaret?"

"Yes."

"Straker. Sit down, please?"

Ed moved to the chair and sat down silently.

"You love my daughter?"

"Apparently more than you do, Sir." Ed replied.

Fielding sat wearily in his chair.

"She isn't even my daughter, Mr. Straker."

Ed blinked rapidly.

"I secretly got the test results when Margaret was born. I was not the father. I never thought I was. How much do you think you know about my dead wife? Whatever you know, you know nothing. She was a prostitute. She was in ill health. I married her to spare her shame, to try and stop her from the reckless path she was taking. Sex, gambling, drugs. Why she didn't have Margaret aborted I'll never know. But I will tell you this. I loved her, Mr. Straker. And you're wrong about me. I do love Margaret, as though she were my own flesh and blood. I never contested the divorce, I tried to protect Miyako as much as I could. Margaret doesn't know what her mother was really like, Straker. She doesn't know any of this."

"She still loves you, Sir. Do you want to be part of her life?"

"See this?" Fielding tapped his face. "The accident ruined my life, took away from me what I really loved, racing. Feeling the horse beneath me, becoming one with it, the thrill of beating my competitors, the pride of knowing I was the best. Miyako left me when I no longer was attractive, when the accident ruined my looks, Straker. And she took Margaret with her. You see all this? My race track, my horses? The people that work for me? My money, my corporation? I would give it all away if I could go back in time and change things."

"You're overlooking something, Sir. Your daughter is a wonderful woman. She brought me back from hell, and cared for me, helped me put back together the pieces of my life. It isn't too late to be with her, to share her life with her, to be what you are. Her father."

"It's too late for me, Straker. I can see you really love her. I'm glad."

Ed stood up, and took out a small gold card and a envelope from the inside of his jacket. He put it on Fielding's desk.

"We're getting married in St. Benedict's, it's a small church on a hill, the information is all there. Formal dress. Someone has to give away Maggie. I expect you to be there."

"Straker, it's better that-"

"Good afternoon, Sir. Eleven o clock. Don't be late."

Ed shut the door behind him.

A little later

"Hey good looking, come here! Frances wants to put a pound note in your briefs!" Mags said. She was bouncing to the music and completely enjoying herself.

"Oh dear me. I can't believe I'm actually doing this. This is disgraceful."

"No, you have to get into the spirit of things, Frances! Yell at him take it off! Take it all off!" Yolanda laughed.

"Honestly, this kind of thing is not for me!"

"I was paid a lot of money by Mr. Freeman and Mr. Brisby to come and entertain you ladies, and that means all of you lovely ladies. Don't forget tomorrow Mags, you're going to be hitched, so you all better drink and be merry while you can!"

"He's right, Frances. Get a look at those muscles! Ooooeeeee! Okay if she isn't going to put a pound note in your briefs, then I am. Ooooo, that's it, strut your stuff, come here, you sexy thing!" Mags said.

"Excuse me, mister, but I don't recall inviting you to my flat." a familiar voice said in a rough, sour tone from behind them.

"ED!" Mags, Frances and Yolanda said simultaneously.

"Who exactly is your friend? Never mind, it doesn't matter, because he's going. Out." Ed said curtly.

"Hey, wait I was paid for a whole-"

"Out. Before I throw you out." Ed added. He did his best to overlook that the exotic male dancer was three times his weight and size, and he'd be risking a hernia even trying to get him to bulge. That seemed a appropriate simile. The bluff is everything in situations like these, Ed told himself firmly. The man picked up what was left of his discarded costume, and went out, and actually seemed to be scared of him, Ed noticed. It was all in the imposing posture as well, Ed thought. He looked down at Frances.

"These two, I can understand. But you, Frances, tsk, tsk, tsk. I am disappointed in you." Ed scolded, in a way that suggested quite the opposite.

"Edward, can you ever forgive me?" Frances said mournfully. Both of them were fully aware of the twinkle in each other's eyes.

"It all depends. Every man has his price. Mine is lemon muffins."

"I'm marrying a man who would sell out his soul for food?" Mags complained.

Yolanda and Frances giggled.

"Not just any food, Mags, these shrimp canapés she made are far out." Yolanda said.

Mags stared at her.

"See, even Yolanda agrees with me." Ed said.

"Never mind that. What went on at the stag party?"

"Oh, you know. The usual.' Naked women in cakes. Free drink, free sex." Ed said.

"Horse piss. You don't drink, and the only sex you have is with me, you're ethically straighter than a ruler." Mags announced, kissing him.

"That's what you think." Ed said, bending and picking up a canapé, and popping it into his mouth.

"Was my Stanley semi-conscious when you left?" Frances asked.

"I think Stanley and Alec were having a lets-see-who-can-out-drink-the-other contest. Alec was winning when I left." Ed grinned.

"Oh mercy. I better get over there and rescue him from Satan's clutches." Frances laughed.

"Satan was about 5'5, underage, Cockney,' redheaded, and wore too much makeup and perfume, if memory serves me." Ed said in a studious tone.

"Yolanda, will you help me save his soul?" Frances said.

"Sure. That's why I became a lesbian. Men! You never can trust them." Yolanda grinned. Ed shot her a pretend stern look. "Present company the exception, of course," she added, fighting a giggle.

"See you two tomorrow!" The women waved and went out. Ed smiled at Mags.

"Tomorrow you're going to be Maggie Straker. I like it. I like it. Has a appealing ring to it."

"Ed! Rings!"

"Hmm?"

"In all the excitement, we forgot! Our wedding rings!"

"Not we. You. I didn't forget. I stopped by Garrard and Asprey's after my appointment. Look." Ed pulled out a box. He opened it and inside were two matching wedding rings, simple gold and platinum bands. "I'll give them to Alec tomorrow, he'll be my best man. And don't worry. He has the constitution of a bull. He'll be as sober as a priest tomorrow. Wait a minute, I better amend that not to include Angel. Angel was pretty sauced when I last saw him. I hope it's a common Australian trait to drink enough booze to bring down a herd of elephants one night, and be perfectly sober the next day. Otherwise we won't be getting married, considering we won't have anyone to perform the ceremony and nobody to be my best man." Ed grinned.

"Ed, is all this really going to happen?"

"What do you mean?"

"You. Me. The wedding."

Ed got a little pale, and sat down.

"Maggie, are you having second thoughts?"

"Oh horse piss, Edward, no, no, I'm just having a case of cold feet. I mean, aren't you nervous? You hardly know me. Oh wait a minute, that's right you know all about me from that report Alec did on me. I swear sometimes I think you're secretly an FBI agent." Mags chuckled.

"Now that you know, I'll have to kill you."

"Oh yeah? And who will marry you tomorrow?"

"Maybe I can talk Frances into marrying me. She does think I'm handsome and debonair."

"You go near her, Edward Straker, and I'll break more than your kneecaps." Mags looked meaningfully at Ed's crotch.

"Ouch." Ed said with a grin. "Guess what, Maggie Fielding."

"What?"

"I love you."

"Oh yeah? How much?"

Ed flinched.

"What's wrong?" Mags said, suddenly concerned.

"Nothing, nothing, just a memory."

"Ed, tell me."

"I said it was nothing."

Mags grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him down on the couch beside her, and looked him in the eyes.

"Listen up, Straker. Rule number one is you don't keep anything from your wife."

"Maggie, that's a rule I must break." Ed replied softly.

"I don't mean your job. Ed, I know you don' just spend your time making movies. I know you do some sort of hazardous work. And don't waste time lying to me. You don't have to tell me and after this we'll never talk about it. That won't stop me from worrying about you everytime you leave my sight." Mags bit her lip. "Wondering if I'll ever see you again."

"Go on." Ed said softly.

"Just don't keep anything from me. Marriage means a partnership, it means trust. It means leaning on the other person, sharing your happiness, but sharing your sadness too. You know, even when you laugh I see the pain inside you, Ed. But I see everything else, too."

Ed smiled at her.

"Why? Did you have Alec do a background check on me, too?"

"Changing the subject isn't going to work, Straker."

"I keep forgetting you're a psychiatrist and can see through my standard means of escaping things I don't want to go into." Ed chuckled. "That's rule number two. You aren't to play the psychiatrist with me. Ever. I'm not marrying a therapist. I'm not your client. I'm going to be your husband."

"A husband with a lot of pain he keeps hidden away in a dark place. Like his son for instance."

"Maggie, please, let's not talk about Johnny." Ed stared into space.

"The pain only escalates when you don't deal with it, Ed."

"Like the pain you have about your mother and father?" Ed snapped. Then he sighed.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

Mags hesitated only a split second. She looked at the floor.

"Yeah. Like that. It eats you up, Ed. I still see what was left of my mother's body. I still hate her for doing that, without the least bit of concern for what it would do to me. And my father, who really didn't give a damn for-"

"I went to see him today, Maggie."

"What?"

"I asked him to come to the wedding."

"Oh my God. Horse piss! Damn you Ed! You're so convinced I came back to England to try and find him! Why can't you stay out of my affairs?"

Ed looked at her.

"I'm marrying you in a matter of hours. I can't see how much more I already could be involved in your affairs."

"Damn you! I hate you sometimes!"

Ed chuckled nervously.

"Why?" he asked uneasily.

"Because you always are so, well, right! So sure of yourself! Always have an answer for everything."

Ed looked away.

"What you asked me earlier. What you said. About how much did I love you. Mary said that to me once. Years ago. Centuries ago. Ages ago. Before she left me. It just makes me wonder, am I doing the wrong thing, by marrying you? Are you going to-" Ed jumped up, turned his back on her. Mags stood, went in front of him.

"Say it, Edward." she said gently.

"Are you going to hate me, are you going to wind up hating me for something I didn't do, are you going to hate me more than I hate -"

"Hate myself." Mags finished for him tenderly. "I know you think you killed Johnny by not getting the drug to him in time."

Ed looked at her in shock. Then he nodded slightly. Tears ran freely down his face.

"My loud mouthed Australian friend, no doubt."

"How long are you going to punish yourself for something you couldn't prevent? Alec couldn't tell me everything, the why's and the wherefore's, but I know you, Edward. You loved your son. You would have moved heaven and earth to save him. The fact that you didn't means something important stopped you. How long are you going to torment yourself? Don't you see? Your Johnny loved you, and you know it."

"Please, please stop. Stop. Stop."

"Do you think he'd want you to hate yourself like this? Stop and think, darling. You know the answer is no. Alec told me what you went through. He also told me he hoped maybe someday, you'd heal. Heal from being accused of adultery, of being dirty, when you were innocent and you truly loved your wife. Heal from turning over custody of your son to a man that was a stranger, and would never love him the way you did. Heal from finding out that they had not only taken him from you, but they'd taken away even your name."

"Stop it! Stop it"

"Heal from thinking you killed your son. Heal from hating yourself. Heal from thinking that everybody and everything has to be your responsibility. Edward, I love you, I can't let you do this to yourself. Ed, wait!"

Ed stormed out the door.

Mags ran after him, and found him sitting on the curb, sobbing. She sat quietly next to him, her hand gently on his shoulder, remembering her professor's advice.

You're not God, Margaret, you can't be with them 24/7. In the end they are masters of their own fate, even though they may not know it. Some will slip through your fingers, Margaret. The way your mother did.

Not this time, Professor. It's different when you love them. You can't just stand by and watch them suffer, and excuse it because you have to remain emotionally detached. The rules don't work when you fall in love with a man who has the sweetest soul you've ever known, Mags thought. I can't stand by and watch him grieve. I never wanted to love, not like this. But now I can't possibly even comprehend a life without you by my side, for as long as we've got.

"Oh Edward. How could you possibly think I would ever want to leave you? How could anyone not want to be with you always? To ease your burden a little? To make you laugh? To give you pleasure? Hate you? Me? Horse piss!"

He looked at her.

"Things won't always be like this. There are things you don't know about me."

"I know I love you for who you are. For the person you show the world. But most of all for the person you are inside."

Ed forced a smile.

"You're pretty good. Did they teach you all those pretty words in psychiatrist school?"

"You're a hard nut to crack, Straker. I figure if I can cure you, I can retire." Mags smiled.

"Know what?"

"Yeah. You love me."

"That wasn't what I was going to say."

"So what were you going to say, my sweetheart Edward?"

"That I'm starting to get cold feet." Ed chuckled.

"Too bad. You're stuck with me. Even if I have to perform the marriage myself. Have I reminded you that I got my ass kicked a lot in a dojo for a year?"

"Yes, yes, plenty of times."

"I lied. I was only in the dojo three months. I washed out."

Ed grinned at her.

"I know. You managed to flip Lily pretty well anyway, or so Angel told me."

"Fluke." Mags chuckled.

"It's starting to rain. I'm freezing out here." Ed shivered. She snuggled up against him.

"I think this place is romantic. We kissed for the first time here, remember?"

"Like I could forget that morning? I have nightmares about firing that shot into the air, that bullet I'd intended to put in my brain."

"Leave it to you to remember that part. I remember the good stuff, like your hand on my breast, the way you--"

Ed silenced her with a kiss. Their mouths explored each other urgently.

Ed suddenly sneezed. She pulled back.

"Edward Straker, if you even as much think about getting sick on me, come on, get up, we're going inside."

"Are you always going to give me orders?" Ed asked, rising with her.

"Always. Part of my heartless dictator nature." Mags told him, as they went in and locked the door behind them.

"We should go to bed, we have a long day ahead of us." Ed said.

"Can we practice for the wedding? Like, the wedding night is something I'm still not clear on. I think we should go over it again."

"Nah, don't worry, I brought a manual, a gift from Alec and Angel."

"Sex for Dummies? What cheapskates, at least they could have given us the hardbound copies of the Joy Of Sex or the Kama Sutra." Mags giggled, helping Ed to remove his clothes.

"You can forget the Kama Sutra. I don't plan to spend the day after my wedding night in traction in some lousy hospital because I tried some awkward impossible position." Ed replied, grinning.

"You have no adventure in your soul, Ed."

"That's right. You live longer that way."

"Yeah, right, that's how you got those scars. Avoiding adventure."

"Stop touching me there, we aren't marr-oh my Go-go-god, where did you learn that?"

"College." Mags told him, her hands sliding up from his genitals and through the light patch of hairs on his chest.

"I never learned how to do that at MIT. I obviously attended the wrong universities."

"Obviously. Ummmm. Soft." Mags' fingertips brushed over Ed's right nipple. Ed shivered.

"Come on. Let's go to bed. We can't let the dummies have all the fun.." Ed determined, and picked Mags up in his arms, carried her to bed and began to remove her clothes.

***

Mags yawned. Something was missing. Last night had been incredible. They'd made love until they'd both fallen asleep in each other's arms, bodies and souls exhausted. Mags noticed that the copy of Sex For Dummies, which she and Ed had jokingly thumbed through, had fallen on the floor. Horse piss, she thought. Ed could publish his own sexual guide. Ed! That was what was missing. She jumped out of bed, still nude. The alarm clock showed five o seven am. Ed was dressed in a sweater and casual denims, drinking coffee at the table. His black morning suit was in its plastic cover, draped over a chair, the top hat next to it.

"Good morning, bride-to-be. It's raining. Superstition has it that rain is good luck on a wedding day. Love your outfit." Ed added playfully.

"Am I really getting married today?" She padded over to him and sat in his lap.

"Yes, and considering the way we were going at it last night, just in time." Ed grinned. "Now go and change into some casual clothes, we're due at 7 am at the Brisbies. I called Alec, he's - ummm-ummmmmm-Maggie, quit--quit--stop kissing--listen to what I'm trying to tell you. I called Alec, he sounded fine, he's on his way over here to pick us up."

"Did you have anything to eat?"

"I'm too wound up to eat much. Had a piece of toast with marmalade on it. Shall I fix you something while you get dressed?"

"Do I have to get dressed? Can't I marry you like this?"

"Well, let's see, we had, at last count, about sixty guests, ten security people, three photographers, the catering staff, and many others which would all see you completely naked. But if you're into public exhibition, who am I to stop you?"

Mags laughed. The telephone rang, and Ed got up to get it, planting a light pat on Mags' rump as he did so. Mags went into the bedroom to go get showered.

"Straker. Yes. Good morning, Angel. Hmmm? Oh? Well can't we get someone else? Oh. Good. Yes, that's fine. Yes. Heh, heh, did you? Well, just as long as you're on your feet long enough for the ceremony to take place, Angel. Oh I feel wonderful. Yes. God bless you too, Angel. Heh, is she? Tell her she'll be fine. Yes, Alec's coming. Okay. Okay. Goodbye."

Ed hung up and just as he did so, the doorbell rang. Then a key turned in the lock. The door opened.

"Morning, Alec. Couldn't wait, huh? You look very impressive in your morning suit."

"I hate these things, you can hardly move in them. And the tails on this thing makes me wonder if I should just sew on some sequins and pretend to be Liberace."

Ed laughed.

"I'd certainly pay to see you play the piano again, Alec."

"So today's the big day, huh?" Alec smiled at him. "Where's the bride? She get cold feet and run out on you?"

"Getting dressed. I just got a call from Angel. The organist he'd lined up injured his hand playing tennis, but he's got some other person coming from some agency that can handle the music for the ceremony. Yolanda has a case of the nerves being Maggie's bridesmaid, but is coping. Angel said he spent this morning throwing up from a hangover, and Frances wasn't at all compassionate about it, but he figures he'll be fine." Ed laughed. "Apparently you have maintained your world's title in drinking too much and being perfectly all right the next day. Congratulations."

"You doubted me?"

"Yeah, for a minute there I thought I'd have to go do all this alone."

"You look happy, Ed. How are you feeling? Heart pounding?"

"I'm holding together. You know me, I'll collapse when everything's over."

"Any luck with Fielding?"

Ed frowned. He lowered his voice.

"I'll tell you about it later. I gave him the security pass and the invitation, we'll just have to see what happens. He wasn't half as bad as I first believed he'd be."

"You'll tell me about it now, Edward." Mags said, coming around the corner. She was dressed in jeans and a sweater, but her hair was still damp and wrapped in a towel.

"Maggie.." Ed said in a cautionary fashion.

"Now isn't the time, Mags, today's the day for celebration. You're marrying my broken-down friend here. About time someone took pity on him." Alec chuckled.

"Edward. You will tell me what my father said. I'm not so fragile that I can't take it."

"I'll tell you. I give you my word. However, not now. We've got to go over to the Brisbies, now. Finish getting ready."

"You win for now, Straker. " Mags said, and went into the bathroom. Ed grabbed Alec and led him over to the door, where any conversation would go unheard.

"Alec. I need you to do another complete check on Miyako Usami and Adam Fielding as soon as you can. At least a E-1 check. I want to know absolutely everything about them. "

"Christ, Ed. Bad, is it?"

Ed sighed.

"Bad doesn't quite cut it. He told me Usami was a prostitute, heavy into drugs and gambling and that he wasn't Margaret's father."

"Jesus Christ. Ed, none of that was in the first G-6 we did. He could be telling you a fish story to protect his own arse."

"Yes, yes, he could have, but Alec, I have a feeling he was telling me the truth. I have a feeling he used his authority to keep everything out of the press and in particular, from Margaret. Because he didn't want her hurt. I think I saw real emotion in him today. Yet, something doesn't quite add up, I agree."

"What are you going to tell Mags?"

"Not a thing. I didn't get a clear idea of whether he'll show up today. Maybe it's not a good idea after all."

"Ed. I have to ask you, does anything of this have to do with Johnny?"

Ed gave Alec a hard look.

"What does that mean?"

"Fielding wasn't there for his daughter. You couldn't always be there for Johnny. Are you so determined to make things right for Mags and her Dad because you couldn't do it for Johnny and you?"

"Damn you, Alec. Next time keep your theories about my motivations to yourself!" snapped Ed.

"Uh did I come in at the wrong time?" Mags said in bewilderment.

"No." Alec and Ed lied at the same time.

"Come on, let's go." Ed said, avoiding Mags' eyes. Alec mouthed the word 'later' at Mags when Ed wasn't looking. She sighed, nodded. They put on coats, grabbed brolleys, Ed's suit and accessories, and went out.

A little while later

Maria Gennaro smiled down at her little boy Gino Jr. quietly sleeping, as she drove. A still light, but chilly rain was coming down. Hanging from her instrument panel was a black rosary. It had belonged to her late husband, and it gave her comfort as a devout Roman Catholic. People had been so good to her since his death. Even the new waitress Rosemary in the Harlington-Straker Film studio cafeteria whom she'd befriended had brought her dinner one night, and they had talked of how generous Gino was. Knowing how many people had liked Gino made it a little easier to bear his loss.

She looked at her purse. At first, she had turned down Commander Straker's invitation to come to his wedding, hearing him saying little Gino was welcome, and that it would be wonderful to see her at the reception. She did not want to be a bother. But Gino had admired the Commander so much, she knew Gino looked at him as a hero, and would have considered it a privilege. So she had decided to come. She was curious about this doctor the Commander was marrying. So the security pass and invitation were tucked away in her purse. It was only a matter of hours before the wedding would start, and she wondered what the service, in a Anglican church, would be like. She smiled, remembering the wonderful wedding she and her Gino had in the cathedral. That was the advantage of coming from two big Italian families. Between her family, and Gino's, they had been able to...wait a minute, what was that? Maria brought the car to a stop, rolled down the window. Her little boy awakened and began to cry a little.

"Rosemary! Oh dear, what's happened?"

"My car broke down, a couple of miles from here. I was on my way to go to Straker's wedding."

"I don't remember you saying you had an invitation, Rosemary. I'm glad, I confess I am a little ner-"

"Look, damn it, it's raining out here, can you give me a ride or not?"

"Oh, how silly of me, of course, get in. The door's unlocked."

There was a terrible burning, and then Maria's body jerked violently from the shock of the taser. The woman pushed her out the door, she rolled over into a muddy ditch at the side of the road, still jerking. The woman was yelling something at her. Gino was screaming now. The doors slammed closed.

Oh mother of God, oh don't let her hurt my child. Oh mother of God. Oh mother of God. Oh Gino, help me. Help me.

The rain kept beating down on the helpless body of Maria Gennaro as the car sped away.

***

"Q-tip, no groom ever looked better." Angel said with a proud smile. He and Ed and Alec were in the Brisby cottage, in the master bedroom upstairs.

Ed looked down at the morning suit and tailcoat he was wearing almost shyly. The traditional outfit fit him perfectly, accentuating his lean body. Alec was helping him adjust the silk gray and blue ascot he wore.

"Don't tell him that, it'll go to his head. Stay still for God's sake."

"Can't help it, nervous. How long do we have? Did that alternate organist show yet? If she doesn't, I may have to hum. Or God forbid, sing the damn wedding march. In any minute, I'm going to start throwing up as bad as Yolanda. Is Maggie at least fairly calm? Hey! Someone's coming up the stairs! Maggie can't see me before the wedding! Bad luck! Quick, hide me!" Alec grinned as Ed jumped behind him.

"Calm down, Edward, it's only me. I'm distributing the posies for your lapels. My oh my, I might just divorce Stanley on the spot. May the good Lord forgive me for being jealous of Margaret, but you are a vision in that suit. Alec, Alec, you'll draw Ed's blood stabbing him with that pearl stick-pin, let me. One second, there!" Frances said. "And Edward, your hair needs to be recombed." Frances looked beautiful in a blue sheath and matching jacket. The usual choker of pearls adorned her neck. Ed blushed. Alec handed the pearl to Frances, enjoying the scene immensely.

"Angel, the way your wife is looking at Ed isn't Christian." Alec joked.

"The way my wife denied me the percodan for my hangover this morning wasn't Christian either." Angel cackled. Frances grinned at him and handed Alec a carnation.

"Shut up, Alec, and stick your damn carnation on." Ed replied. "Why do I have to have a bad hair day now? No doubt Lily's giving me bad karma."

"Is Marsh coming? Ed, Ed, Ed, tell me Marsh isn't coming." Alec said, moaning.

"She isn't coming. She said she's sending us a wedding present."

"What? A bomb? No, don't tell me, she put a potion in the wedding cake so Ed won't be able to perform on the-"

"ALEC!" All three chided. Alec guffawed.

"Can I come up?" Yolanda said. Her hair was in a French roll, and she was attired in a pale yellow lace dress and matching heels. Ed noted she'd taken out the ring in her eyebrow for the occasion, and just was wearing diamond and pearl drop earrings he recognized as belonging to Frances.

" Sure Yolanda, you look great, just great. Aren't you supposed to be assisti-YEOW!!! Frances! Why did you just pull one of my hairs out?" Ed said, rubbing the spot.

"Maybe for a locket she's going to wear at her bosom," Angel joked.

"Hush. It wouldn't stay down and I want Edward to look perfect." Frances said, pushing Ed's hand away and continuing to comb his hair. Yolanda began to giggle.

"You keep that up and I'll be bald." Ed complained.

"Is that all your hair?" Yolanda asked, chuckling as Frances brushed away.

"YES, it's all my hair, Yolanda. God. What's going to happen next?"

"Stop whining and put your carnation on, Edward. Yolanda, get me the hair spray." Frances pointed to her dresser. Ed began backing up slowly.

"Hair spray? Oh no. No hair spray. I am not going to be wearing any.." Ed began coughing heavily after Frances took the can from Yolanda and spritzed his hair. Alec and Yolanda and Angel were cracking up laughing, near hysterics.

"Good sweet Christ. Get an hazardous chemical team in here right away. Ugh," Ed groaned, and coughed some more even though now it was more to amuse the others.

"That's why I became a lesbian. I never have to screw around with that awful, air polluting stuff." Yolanda folded her arms, still laughing.

"Oh be quiet both of you, I don't use that bad kind." Frances said, having a hard time not laughing herself.

"Yolanda?"

"Yes, Straker?"

"Where do I sign up for this lesbian thing?"

That did it. All of them started laughing hysterically. Even Ed. Mags called from downstairs.

"That isn't fair! You're having more fun up there than I am!" she yelled.

"Mags! Your husband is becoming a lesbian!" Yolanda yelled back. Alec dropped onto the bed, laughing like he was going to burst.

"He's WHAT?" Mags yelled back.

Ed was laughing so hard at this point that he sagged against the wall holding his stomach. The doorbell rang.

"I'll get it!" Mags yelled. "And Ed! You better have a good explanation of why you're going lesbian!"

Ed managed to compose himself.

"Yes, darling!" he yelled back.

"You just managed to get rid of my nerves, Straker." Yolanda went up to him tentatively and kissed him on the cheek. Ed smiled at her.

"I'm glad. And call me Ed, won't you?"

"Could you guys leave, there's something I want to talk about, a private matter with the groom." Yolanda asked.

"Of course. Make sure he wipes that lipstick of yours off his face, or else the guests will wonder about him." grinned Alec. Yolanda rubbed the lipstick off Ed's cheek with a finger.

"Shut up, Alec. Oh wait! Here." Ed passed the ring box to Alec. Alec hugged Ed briefly, making Ed stare after his departing figure, as he left with the others.

"What's on your mind, Yolanda?"

"There's something I wanted to tell you. I felt I owed it to you. Mags is really happy, Straker. I mean Ed. She told me so. She kind of had it rough growing up, you know? So I'm glad she's got you."

"I know." Ed said softly. "I also know you love her."

"Of course I do, she's my best pal. Like you and your burly Australian."

Ed took Yolanda's hand and looked into her eyes solemnly.

"I mean I know you love her."

"Shit. You knew?"

"I know. I don't believe Maggie does. But, yes, yes. I know."

"I didn't want to scare her, you know? Make her run off."

"Margaret Fielding isn't that kind of person. I think she'd be touched by your love, not repulsed, or shamed, or sickened. I know I'm not. I also know you were testing me that first day, asking me if I had a problem with your sexuality. I don't. Quite frankly, I never have had any problem with someone who chose a different road to go down. And I want you to go on being Maggie's friend, all right?" Ed patted Yolanda's hand and let it go.

"Shit. I'm going to ruin my makeup now from crying."

"I'd offer you my silk handkerchief but Frances would kill me. I see tissues over there on Frances' dresser."

"Oh Ed. Will you be my friend, too?"

"You've got it. Provided you assure Maggie I really am not going to be a Lesbian."

Yolanda giggled.

"It's a deal, but the gay and lesbian population could use someone like you."

"I'll take that into consideration," grinned Ed.

"DUCKIE! Eddie Straker, my dearest luv! It's Sally! Remember me?"

Yolanda turned around to see a huge woman in a bright orange and white dress and a gold scarf who had just come in, looking at Ed enthusiastically. She turned around in puzzlement to ask Ed who it was, for the woman seemed to know Ed. She heard a resounding thump.

Ed had dropped to the floor. Unconscious.

"Damn it, Frances! My husband passed out up there, and I should be with him! He might be sick! He needs me!" Mags was yelling, and Yolanda was trying to hold her down in the chair.

"Now calm down, Margaret, Alec's with him, Alec explained to me that the woman was Sally Cooper, the last person Ed expected to be replacing the organist. He's taking care of it. It's bad luck to let Edward see you in your gown before the ceremony, and it's only an hour away."

"Horse piss! I'm going to see my husband! NOW!"

"Stop being such an idiot, Mags and sit! It isn't going to do Ed any good to see you worked up like this!"

"But Yo!" Mags yelled.

"Shut up! It's okay, Frances, go see how Ed is, I'll get her in the car and to the church."

"Thank you, dear. Oh my word, and I wanted everything to go so well for Edward."

"NO."

"Ed Straker. Shut up and drink it. You fainted. Now, having met Sally Cooper briefly while you were in hospital after Rutland shot you," Alec started to chuckle, "I can't say I blame you."

"Alec, I don't want that woman around. I don't want her in the same house or the same church, damn it, I don't want her in the same country as me! And NO. I am not having a brandy. What time is it?" Ed pushed away the brandy Alec was offering.

"Ten thirty seven. Come on, I have to get you inside the church."

"That woman is NOT playing any music at any wedding of mine." Ed jumped up from where he'd been resting in bed , removed the damp cloth from his forehead and smoothed down his clothing.

"Oh? And who is?"

Ed looked meaningfully at Alec.

"OH NOOOOOOO. Not me, Ed. It's been years since I was at a piano, and I've never ever played the organ. "

"Fine, Freeman. Ruin my wedding," Ed said in a wounded fashion, and Frances came in. "Frances, did you know Alec is a pianist?"

"No, I didn't. Edward, are you sure you're all right. Here, drink some water. I didn't figure you'd agree to the brandy," Frances sighed. "And don't worry, I made up some excuse to that awful woman."

"I'm not all right. I won't be all right until the right person plays the organ for me. And I thought we were best friends. I certainly would help you out if it were an emergency, but obviously you never felt the same way." Ed accepted the water, sipped it gratefully.

"Do you read music, Alec?" Frances asked.

"Ed, for Christ's sake I'm supposed to keep an eye on security and be your..well, yeah, I used to be able to, but it's been.."

"Then you will do this for Edward. No complaints. Hurry now."

"Who's going to be his best man?" Alec whined, being pushed down the stairs.

"Don't need one," Ed said, setting the water aside. "Alec! Wait! The ring box!"

"I'm going to kill you for this, Ed Straker!" Alec yelled and threw the box at him. Ed chuckled and caught it easily. Then he took a deep breath.

All right, Straker, he told himself. Let's go get you married.

Ed smiled tenderly at Mags as she marched down the aisle to join him. Alec was playing the organ like a professional and Ed wondered briefly what had happened to Sally Cooper. Not that he cared--

"You look so beautiful," Ed whispered to Mags as she stepped in place next to him.

"So do you. I mean.." Mags whispered back through her veil.

Angel cleared his throat meaningfully.

Dearly beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.

Mags bit her lip at the carnal lusts and appetites part, peeking at Ed but Ed had turned away and was reverently listening to Stanley. I'm marrying him. I'm getting married to the most wonderful man in the world. It's actually happening. My God, it's actually happening. Oh Edward, how I love you. Do you have any idea of how much I love you? Do you? I'm the luckiest woman in the whole wide world. She turned her attention back to what Angel was saying.

Thirdly, It was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity. Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined. Therefore if any man can shew any just cause, why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.

"I have a reason why he should not marry her." A voice thundered in the little church. He made his way toward the couple, while the guests to whispered to one another in shock. Alec Freeman blocked his way, drawing his automatic slightly out of its holster until he saw the gold card on his lapel, and the scar. Then he nodded but spoke in a low threatening voice to him.

"If you ruin my friend's wedding, I'll kill you."

Alec moved out of the way, and the man, not at all doubting Freeman, but determined anyway, moved up to the couple.

Ed turned quite white, and Mags gasped.

"Daddy," she said, trembling.

"Sir. Please." Ed said with as much dignity as he could muster.

"He can't marry her, because I am her father, and I am giving her away. Then he can marry her."

"Daddy, daddy," Mags wept, going into her father's arms. Ed smiled. He let out a breath he didn't even realize he was holding in.

"Well, Sir. Do you give your consent for me to marry your daughter?" Ed asked formally.

"I do indeed, Mr. Straker. I can think of no finer man than you to marry my daughter. And Straker?"

"Call me Ed, after all you're going to be my father-in-law. Yes?"

"Thank you. What you did-- Thank you so much." Fielding stammered, holding Mags close.

"Oh Daddy. I love you." Mags said tearfully.

"In that case, can I go on with this wedding?" Angel asked, frustrated.

"By all means, Reverend Brisby." Ed chuckled. "Oh, and before I forget, do thank Dr. Carey, the Archbishop of Canterbury for allowing this wedding to happen."

Angel stepped closer to Ed and whispered to him.

"He could hardly refuse, Q-tip, considering what you donated to the church to make sure it did."

Ed smiled.

Angel stepped back as Fielding reluctantly took a seat next to a sobbing Frances and Yolanda, both overcome with emotion.

"Edward Straker, wilt thou have this woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?" Angel asked.

Ed spoke in a tone that clearly came from his heart and soul.

"I will."

"Margaret Fielding, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God's ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honour, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto him, so long as ye both shall live?"

"You bet I will!" Mags said. Several guests laughed, but Ed could in particular make out Alec's characteristic guffaw.

Ed chucked. Angel rolled his eyes.

"Who giveth this woman to be married to this man?"

Fielding stood up.

"I do."

"Then, in God's mercy, get up here again!" Angel said. Fielding hurried up again. He put Mags hand in Ed's then returned to his seat.

"That wasn't in the Book of Common Prayer, I bet." Yolanda elbowed Frances, who giggled uncharacteristically and buried her face in her prayerbook.

Ed shook his head slightly, disbelieving. Mags grinned at him.

Angel had Ed repeat words after him, and Ed turned to Mags and smiled.

"I, Edward Straker, take thee Margaret Fielding to my wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I plight thee my troth."

Then it was Mags' turn.

"I , Maggie, uh I mean Margaret Fielding, take thee Edward Straker to my wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, cherish, and to obey, till death us do part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I give thee my troth."

Angel whispered something to Ed, and Ed nodded, and brought out the matching wedding rings from a pocket.

He slipped one onto Mags' finger, his hand shaking a little.

"With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." Ed said reverently, crossing himself.

Mags slipped his on him, looking into his eyes.

"With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." Mags said to him. How handsome he is, how wonderful. Oh my God. I am Margaret Straker--

Angel was saying a prayer, but her whole being was focused on the man beside her, the man she had just married.

"Those whom God hath joined together let no man put asunder." Angel finally said, and she reluctantly brought her attention back to him.

Toward the back of the church, Alec was frowning. It was bad enough that all through the ceremony, the Colby youngsters had been playing in their seats. Ed and his generous nature, Alec thought. Inviting them when he hardly knows them. But then, having kids around probably reminds him of his boy. But did he have to invite the Gennaro widow here? Her kid hasn't shut up throughout the whole ceremony. Wait a minute. Blonde hair under that wide straw hat? Since when did Maria have blonde hair? But that's the Gennaro kid up front, I know it is. What is that stranger doing here with him? Something's wrong--

Alec began to get up. He took out his transmitter.

"Baker. Did Maria Gennaro show up? Over."

"I've been trying to get to you for a while, Sir. That Parkins woman came in with her kid. Claimed she was taking care of it and had Gennaro's security pass and invite, so I cleared her through."

"Parkins?" Alec asked in bewilderment.

"Works at the cafeteria at the studio." Baker said over the link.

Ed lifted Mags'veil, his eyes shining...

"Sure is funny. I can't see Maria turning over her baby to- "

"STRAKER! DARK PRINCE! NOW IS THE HOLY TIME!" Rosemary's pistol glinted even in the candlelight, as she dropped the Gennaro child, which she had been using to hide the weapon from sight.

Yolanda turned, saw what was happening and was the first person to try and reach Mags, but Ed had already pushed Mags down roughly to protect her, and she went down screaming. Three shots rang out and he grunted. There were screams all through the congregation. Alec Freeman pulled out his gun, and made a bloody mess of Parkins. The Gennaro boy seemed unhurt, just terrified and screaming. Then he looked up. Ed was half bent holding his chest, trying to rise.

Oh my God. Oh my God. She hit him. She hit him. Alec started running up the aisle toward Ed, who'd gone completely white, face contorted in pain.

Mags looked up, shaking. Yolanda was holding her down, as people rushed out of the church. She saw Alec come up. Then she saw Ed. She began shaking her head in sheer horror. She couldn't get any words out.

"Oh merciful God. Oh merciful God. Call an ambulance! Somebody call an ambulance!" Angel screamed as he looked at Ed's fingers. Blood was seeping through them. Ed stumbled and fell to his knees. There was a shocked, puzzled expression on his face.

"EDWARD! EDWARD!" screamed Mags finally, hysterical, trying to free herself from Yolanda, who was covering her protectively.

"Maggie--" Ed said. Then everything went dark.

Angel and Alec rushed and caught him before he fell, and lowered him gently to the floor. Frances was beside them, one of many urgently calling for an ambulance on a mobile cellular phone from her purse.

Mags' gown ripped as she pushed Yolanda off her and ran toward Ed, but her father stopped her.

"Margaret. There's nothing you can do. He's dead." her father announced. She pushed him away from her, and went toward Ed, looking at Alec in dread.

"He's still breathing, Mags." Alec said. "He's strong. He's still breathing. A medical chopper is on its way. "

Mags knelt beside Ed, sobbing.

***

Alec Freeman spoke briefly to some stranger Mags didn't know. She was sitting in a waiting room at Mayland Hospital, waiting for some news of Ed. Yolanda and Frances were on both sides of her. Angel was over in a corner, talking to Adam Fielding. Alec nodded again. Then he came over. He looked haggard.

"Her name was Rosemary Parkins. By all accounts, Ed had engaged her in some small talk at the cafeteria, and she'd become fixated on him, stalking him, turning it into something it wasn't. She apparently believed Ed was working with the devil. We found several of his photos at her flat, and Satanic tapes, videos and books. The police are going over her flat and the church now. The video tape from the party we threw last month for you and Ed shows that she was present. She wasn't invited. We think she may have stole a pass from someone, we're still trying to find out who. I spoke to her only living relative, a cousin in Wales. He said he wasn't surprised, and that he'd tried to get her to seek mental health counseling for years, he suspected she'd been abusing drugs for a while now. And we found Maria Gennaro, she managed to flag down a driver, get to hospital and call me on a private line. Parkins had used a taser on her, God knows where she got that, and the pistol she used to shoot Ed. We're trying to trace where she got the weapons. Maria was relieved to hear that her little boy was okay, and upset about Ed, she said she'd pray for him. Miss Ealand is going to look after the little boy until Maria is well enough to take him home. The doctors examined him earlier, he was just bruised."

"How long has it been?" Frances said, wringing her hands.

"Nearly three hours now. Ed's still in surgery. We just have to wait."

Adam Fielding came over.

"Quite frankly I don't know why you had Straker admitted to this hospital. One of the better hospitals in London would have been better equipped and have better people working on him. And what kind of security measures did he take to-"

"Now you listen to me, Fielding. The American president has less reliable security working for him than Ed Straker does. My man Baker spotted the Parkins woman with the Gennaro boy. It was a perfectly reasonable mistake on his part for him to believe what the Parkins woman said, that Gennaro was ill and she was coming in her place. He didn't know Maria Gennaro as well as I do, that she wouldn't let anyone near her son for any reason. So he let her in the church without even using the metal detector on her, or else he would have detected the taser and pistol. After all, she was wearing the same electronic badge you were, and the computer chip in the invitation she carried registered as genuine and let her through."

"Second rate personnel." sneered Fielding.

"Now you see here, Fielding. You're lucky Q-tip, Ed, even let you come. So sit down and shut up." Angel snapped at him.

"What kind of--"

"Dad, shut up! I know Alec and everyone else were doing their best to protect us." Mags yelled.

"Margaret-"

"Oh just shut up! Can't you see everyone is worried about Mr. Straker?" Frances said angrily. She sighed. Angel smiled encouragingly at her.

"You and your technical gadgets. I'm glad now I let you talk me into getting a cellular phone for you, dear."

"Oh Stanley. I'm so worried about him," Frances wept. Angel sat on the couch and took his wife into his arms.

"He's in the hands of the Lord now, the Lord and His infinite wisdom."

"He pushed me out of the way." Mags said in a dead tone. "Stupid idiot thought I'd be hurt. If he hadn't done that, maybe he would have been able to get out of the line of fire. He only got out of hospital, what? Two months ago? Now they're tearing him open again. Alec, oh God, Alec. If he dies, I don't know what I'll do."

Alec laid his hand on her shoulder.

"He's far too bloody-minded to die, you know that. He'll be fine. You know Ed."

"Oh stop it, Alec! Don't you understand? You all talk about him like he's some machine, some legend. He's human! I saw him, Alec. I saw all the terror and pain in his face. The way he said my name, like he was saying goodbye. Oh horse piss, I can't stand it anymore, where's the damn doctor?"

"Mags, it's okay, the helicopter got him-" Yolanda began.

"Shut up! I should have been with him from the second he got shot, damn it! He needed me, he depends on me! I'm his wife! But you wouldn't let me go! You acted like an idiot!"

"I was afraid for you, Mags! I love you!" Yolanda said, in tears. Then she went white.

"What on earth are you on about? Oh now I remember you. You're that filthy homosexual that Margaret was-"

Yolanda got up and slapped him across the face. She stormed out of the room.

Fielding stared after her, touching his stinging face.

"How dare that little-"

"Shut up, or I'll be the next one to slap you clear across the Thames, Fielding!" Alec threatened. Fielding actually backed away from him and stood in a corner, fuming.

"Oh horse piss! How stupid can I get? Why else would she get up enough nerve to come halfway across the world? Planes scare her to death. I was doing phobia work with her, I have to find her-"

The doctors had come in. Mags jumped up, hurried over with Alec.

"How is Ed, doctor, is he alive?" Alec said.

"Is Ed alive?" Mags gasped.

Shroeder looked a little puzzled at Mags' wedding dress, which was torn from her effort to get away from Yolanda. Then he remembered.

"This is Dr. Hsu, Dr. Hsu, this is Mrs. Straker. For a moment, I'd forgotten the circumstances under which Mr. Straker was shot. I'll let Dr. Hsu give you- "

"SOMEONE tell me! Is Ed alive? Is my husband alive?" Mags screamed.

"Yes. He's in guarded condition in the ICU unit, but yes, he is alive. We removed bullets from his chest. One nicked his aorta, one lodged in his lung, causing it to collapse and one lodged in his hip. He was bleeding internally, his chest was filling with blood, but we were able to operate, repair the damage and stop the bleeding. I am sure you know Mr. Straker has a very strong will. That is important in cases like this. Unfortunately his lungs collapsed as a result of the injury so we have him on a respirator for now."

"Thank you, good and merciful God. Your servant Edward's friends are grateful for Your Grace in preserving his life." Angel said reverently. Alec sagged with relief. Fielding listened quietly, without reaction. Frances leaned against Angel.

"Amen." Frances said softly, eyes full of tears.

Mags covered her mouth with her hand, feeling the cold metal of her wedding ring against her lips. With this ring I thee wed, with my body I thee worship--she could hear the echo of the solemn words he had said. And now he was in a place she knew he hated, dependent on a machine to breathe, helpless. Damn you, Mags girl, you have to stay strong for Ed. You're not a Fielding anymore. You're a Straker. Act like it.

"Can I see him?"

"I don't think that's wise right now."

"Doctor, I saw him shot only seconds after I became his wife this morning. I've seen him in the ICU before. I studied medicine before I went into psychiatry. You're not talking to any raw amateur. I'm familiar with his medical and psychological history. He'd want me and Alec there.' Besides, to keep me away from him, you'll have to tie me to the damn chair." Mags added defiantly, shaking slightly.

"Yes. I recall we had a problem with you last time." Shroeder chuckled. "All right, but only for a little while."

"Frances, would you please go try and find Yolanda for me? Tell her I need her?"

"You aren't alone, Margaret, I'm here." Fielding said.

"Thank you, Dad, but no thank you."

"Of course I will dear. Oh my God!"

"What, cupcake?" Angel said, alarmed.

"That Sally Cooper, that woman who I got from the temporary agency!"

"What about her?" Alec said.

"Well, I gave her an excuse, but she kept insisting she was a close friend of Edward's and I knew from what you told me she was making that all up.' And she kept pestering me. And time was running out. So I sort of, well--" Frances hesitated.

"Well what?" Angel demanded.

"I locked her in our attic."

"YOU WHAT?" Angel, Alec and Mags said in disbelief.

"I told her I needed help getting an item from the attic, and she went in, and , oh dear, it was terribly wrong of me, but--"

"Ed's going to be your friend for life." Alec laughed. Mags chuckled in spite of herself.

"That was not very Christian of you." Angel said, making no attempt to hide his amusement. "Thank His Merciful Lord that it is well ventilated. It wouldn't look too good for me to have a dead woman in my attic. I doubt the archbishop of Canterbury would understand the circumstances, no matter what amount Q-tip donated to the church."

"If he met Sally Cooper, he'd kill her outright, he wouldn't waste time locking her in an attic." Alec grinned. "Come on, Mags, let's go visit Ed."

A week later---

Alec sighed. How many times had he seen Ed like this, full of tubes and drains, pale, hooked up to plastic bags of medication and fluids, a tube taped in place and down his throat, a feeding tube in his stomach, his wrists tied down to the bed, invaded in every way possible. Even the utmost of violation, the catheter in his penis, that Alec knew full well was under the pathetic sheet and blanket that covered him. How many times? Ten? Twenty? Sooner or later, Ed's luck was going to run out. What had Mags said? That he wasn't a machine or a legend or anything else but a human being. A extraordinary man, yes. But a man. And a man could die.

He looked over at Mags, who was holding Ed's limp hand gently, so that the IV would not be disturbed. She was rubbing his fingers.

"Want to take a break? I'll stay with him."

"No Alec, I'm fine, he needs me to stay here."

"If he actually survives this time, his tailor, and not me, is going to kill him for losing weight again."

Mags smiled.

"That guy will have to go through me. I'm not letting anybody hurt Ed. He's gone through enough. Besides, I want him to take a cable car ride down Powell Street, and buy souvenirs in Chinatown, and see the crookedest street in the world, and eat fresh crab on the wharf. I'm going to make sure he has fun. How long has it been since he's relaxed and had fun?"

"Relaxation and fun isn't in his vocabulary, Mags." Alec said.

"Maybe that was true before he met me. But now I'm his wife, and I'm going to look after him."

"You know what's funny? I've tried for years to get Ed interested in women. I've tried to get him to go out on dates. Then I made the biggest mistake of my life and set him up with Lily Marsh, only I misjudged her. And what does Ed do all by himself? He finds you. I'm beginning to feel unwanted and unneeded."

Mags chuckled.

"Don't be silly. He needs both of us. Besides, Ed didn't find me. I found him. And in a bed like this. I hope it wasn't a omen of what was to come. Horse piss, Alec, is there any injury he hasn't had? "

"I've seen him like this hundreds of times. And yet I never get used to it. Before you showed up, he didn't have anybody else but me to worry over him, now he's got Angel and Frances, and you. I wish you'd met him a long time ago, Mags. Before he made the mistake of falling in love with Mary. "

"Don't even mention that woman's name in my presence." Mags seethed. Then she blinked.

"What?" Alec inquired.

"I thought I felt his hand move." Mags bent over Ed. "Sweetheart, its Maggie, wake up, Edward. I know you can hear me. You're safe, darling, I'm here and Alec's here. Wake up, darling."

"Ed, it's me, Alec. Everything's okay. Open your eyes. "

Ed's lashes fluttered, and then his eyes opened abnormally wide, looking terrified. The cardiac telemetry monitor began to beep erratically.

"Ed, Ed, it's all right. Alec, get the nurse in here quick. Never mind, I see her coming. Ed, it's all right, there's a tube in your throat. Don't try and speak." Mags said as comfortingly as she could.

Ed turned his head a fraction, looking up at Mags. His eyes filled with tears. Mags bit the inside of her lip. I can't show him any fear, I've got to reassure him.

"What happened?" the nurse demanded. "Take it easy, Mr. Straker, you're still intubated. I'll give you something to relax you and make sure you aren't in any pain."

Ed began to blink rapidly.

"Sweetheart, it's okay, I'm right here." Mags said lovingly.

"Morse code." Alec said.

"What?" Mags said.

" Morse code, he's blinking in code. Wait a minute. N-o-d-r-u-g-s. No drugs."

"He's agitated, Mr. Freeman, I won't sedate him, just give him something to relax him and make sure he doesn't start fighting the vent." the nurse said. She began to inject something into one of his IV lines.

"Ed, did you hear her? Y-e-s. Ed, do you know who I am? A-l-e-c. Good, good. Mags is here. Do you remember Mags. Y-e-s. D-o-n-t-l-e-a-v-e-m-e-p-l-e-a-s-e-m-a-g-g-i-e. Don't leave me please Maggie. Don't worry, Ed she won't. Try and rest, try and rest now." Alec said, losing the battle to hide his pain at seeing the desperation and fear in Ed's icy blue eyes.

"Oh darling, I won't leave you! Oh darling, I love you. I'm right here." Mags said. "Alec, what's he saying?" she asked urgently.

"F-l-i-g-h-t-m-i-s-s-e-d-f-l-i-g-h-t. Heh heh. I don't think you'll have to worry about that, Ed. Plenty of flights to the States, and you'll be in San Francisco before you know it. Just get well, okay?"

"Oh Ed, you idiot. Are you actually upset that we missed the flight to go on our honeymoon? You silly, wonderful man you." Mags broke into tears. "Oh Ed I love you."

"S-c-a-r-e-d-A-l-e-c-s-t-a-y-w-i-t-h-m-e. Scared Alec stay with me. Ed, it's okay, I will. We're here." Alec said. He roughly brushed away the tears that fell down his craggy cheek.

"G-o-o-d. Good." Alec watched intently, but Ed closed his eyes, and relaxed into sleep.

"Good. Cardiac rhythm has returned to normal, and he's sleeping soundly now, judging from the electroencephalogram. I'll check his vitals in another five minutes." The nurse said, jotting something on his chart.

Mags' soft sobbing added to the steady cadence of the ventilator and other machines Ed was hooked up to, and Alec quietly took her into his arms.

Days later..

"Ed, are you sure you're up to all this? They only removed those major tubes this morning, and if you were wired up any more than you are now, you'd be a stereo system." Alec complained, trying to get Ed to smile.

"I want to know what happened. I'm still your superior, Alec. So report." Ed's raspy voice betrayed the aftermath of having the endotracheal tube in his throat, and his pallour reflected how much pain he was in.

Alec sighed and related to Ed what had happened.

"I was the one who gave Parkins the pass for the party. I'll have to learn not to trust so readily next time. Tell Lieutenant Baker I want to see him right away. And I want those E-1's on Fielding and Usami. Clear?"

"Clear. Anything else?" Alec said.

"How are Maria Gennaro and her son?" Ed's head dropped back on his pillow, as if exhausted by the mere act of speaking, which didn't go unnoticed by Alec.

"Both are fine. The weapons Parkins had were traced back to our old friend Daniel Aster, your friendly neighbourhood gun smuggler. And you don't have to worry about the shooting being leaked to the press, our connections in the prime minister's office handled everything. You've got a lot of unopened presents and a wedding cake going stale at St. Benedict's meeting hall you know. And Sally Cooper is making noise about pressing charges against Frances, but it's just noise motivated by not being able to see you. You're simply irresistible to women, Ed."

"Did you locate Miss Belsing?"

Alec frowned. Ed was clearly in a no nonsense, business mode, and hadn't even mentioned Mags. In fact he had not wanted to see her at all. Mags was having a well deserved rest at the Brisby cottage, and there would be hell to pay when she found out Ed was off the respirator, and the procedure had been done without her presence, supporting Ed. Even stranger, Ed had not asked about her absence.

"She checked out of her hotel and flew back to San Francisco. We've been trying to reach her, but no joy yet. Ed?"

"What?"

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

"I don't believe so, why?"

"Your wife, for instance?"

"I expect she is with the Brisbies and her father." Ed replied. He twisted the wedding band on his finger unconsciously.

"Did the bullet wounds somehow reactivate your inaccurate concept that you can do everything by yourself, and you don't need anyone, not even your own wife?" Alec said.

"Alec, don't start. Get Baker. Now."

"I cleared Baker. That is, after kicking his arse raw, don't worry about it."

"I may be stuck in this bed, but I'm still Commander of Shado. I want to see him."

"Ed, Paul and I are handling everything, all you have to-oh no you don't, you lie back down, you win, you win, I'll get him." Alec sighed, and went out.

Ed rolled over on his side, grimacing in pain, exhausted. He permitted himself the luxury of closing his eyes for a moment. Without intending to, he drifted into a light sleep. Someone was calling his name, and he blinked, shivered, momentarily terrified. He opened his eyes and saw Baker, and relaxed somewhat.

"Commander?"

"Lieutenant Baker. I want to know why you neglected your duties in the Parkins matter. Didn't it occur to you to go directly to Colonel Freeman if you had misgivings about a stranger with the Gennaro child?"

"Sir, I tried to reach him several times, obviously I know now that he was involved with the music for the ceremony, and didn't hear his pager. I'm sorry if-"

"You're sorry? Sorry doesn't count in this job, Baker. It never occurred to you that Maria Gennaro was a Shado operative, and would have reported to Colonel Freeman or I straightaway if she were actually allowing Parkins to attend in her place? She would have followed standard procedure. Don't you know the meaning of security? You don't second guess. You don't say you're sorry. You do your job, no matter what the situation is, no matter what it costs you. Do I make myself clear? You didn't bother to check Parkins for weapons or question the story she gave you. You put not only me, but every single person in that church in jeopardy by not performing that simple task. Understand?"

"Yes, Commander."

"This will go on your record. Dismissed."

"Yes, Sir." Baker left, obviously relieved.

Ed watched him go, moved a little and gritted his teeth against the discomfort. He pressed the call button and soon a nurse arrived.

"I need some more pain medication. What you gave me isn't working."

"I was about to do the ten minute check on your vitals, I'll be right back with some morphine, and then I'll check you."

"All right. Does it have to be so blasted cold in here?"

"I'll bring you another blanket."

Ed nodded.

Maggie? Everything hurts, it hurts to move, it hurts to think, it hurts to speak. Why weren't you with me? What is it in me that wouldn't allow myself to have you here this morning, when they pulled that damn thing out of me, and I felt like I would choke to death? I need you, Maggie. But what have I contributed to your life? What can I give you but misery?

You almost got killed. You don't belong in my world, you're young and vibrant, and you don't know what is in the skies. You don't know that monsters aren't only real in fairy tales. What have I done to you? Oh God, what have I done? The more I reach out, the worse it gets. I take time to have a few friendly words with a stranger, forget about my responsibilities for a while and she turns on me. I can still feel the bullets, Maggie. I felt them hit me, plunge, rip into me and then the agony, the burning. Oh Maggie. I need to hear your voice. And Alec, I see the pity in his eyes, the worry, I've become an invalid, I'm a burden to you both. Nothing more, nothing less. This is the price I am paying for the decisions I've made. The doctors said I was lucky. Lucky, what a joke. I should have died, death would be better than these feelings that are tearing me apart. I love you, I let myself love, but it's wrong.

"Here you are, Commander, this will offer you some relief. There. Now let's see how you're-"

"Nurse. I need-"

"Yes?" She threw the empty needle and syringe into the medical waste container, and began to note then jot down his readings in his chart, ironically not paying attention even as she was being efficient.

"Never mind." Ed closed his eyes.

The sheer misery and desolation in his voice went unregistered by the various machines.

***

"Dear, you shouldn't worry like this." Frances said.

"Frances, what am I supposed to think? Yolanda is somewhere in San Francisco, run off by that father of mine who all of a sudden thinks forty years of neglect is going to be erased by showing up and trying to run my life for me. She isn't answering my calls. And now they're telling me Ed isn't even asking to see me, that it's better if I don't see him for a while until they wean him off those fucking tubes. And Alec's been acting like I've done something wrong. I miss Ed so much! A wife should be with her husband. I made the vow of in sickness and in health, didn't I? I know damn well Ed's scared and he just won't admit it."

"He doesn't want you to worry, dear." Frances said, knowing how lame it sounded.

"Q-tip can handle himself, you've got to trust him." Angel said, looking up from the material he was reading on Frances' computer.

"Oh I trust him all right. I trust him to behave like the narrow minded idiot he is. I trust him to not do a damn thing for himself, God forbid the world should find out he's only a normal man with limitations. Horse piss! That's it. I'm taking a taxi out to that hospital. I'll kill anyone who tries to prevent me from seeing Ed, including Ed."

Angel chuckled.

"All right, all right, you aren't doing anything of the sort. We'll drive you there and look in on Edward as well. Any excuse will do to get me away from this new Common Worship liturgy. Just when I think I have everything memorised to a T, they come and make my life miserable by telling me I have to introduce my parishioners to something entirely new. Won't be long before they replace all clerics with computers, and program them to give sermons and sing psalms. Frances and I will retire to some tropical island when that happens and nobody will even know I'm gone." Angel winked.

"Don't pay him any mind, Margaret, he's as worried about Ed as we are. Come on, if anyone stops you from seeing Ed, I'll lock them in the attic too."

"One day I'm going to get Alec to tell me what that Cooper woman did to Ed. I don't even want to try and imagine what would be so bad about her that he'd faint just at seeing her in the same room with him. " Mags chuckled, trying to be cheerful.

Frances shuddered.

"Dreadful woman. Come on, I'll drive."

"YOU WHAT?" Mags yelled at the ICU nurse on duty.

"Miss Fielding, do I have to remind you that this is a hospital?"

"Yeah yeah yeah, and it's Mrs. Margaret Straker to you, lady. Why didn't anyone call me and tell me that Ed was going to be taken off his respirator? I should have been there! I asked to be informed if there was any change in my husband's condition, so why wasn't I told?"

"I believe that Mr. Freeman was summoned not long after the procedures were done on Mr. Straker. However, I'm not all that acquainted with Mr. Straker and what happened this morning, I am relief for the evening staff. The last notation I read on Mr. Straker's chart showed that he was given extra pain killer all day when he became uncomfortable, slept a few hours, but refused food."

"Angel. Frances. Wait here. I'm going to go see him. "

"Mr. Straker asked not to be disturbed."

Mags did not even look back, but walked across the hall and entered the room. To her horror, Ed was thrashing around, moaning in his sleep, and the wires that had been connected to his cardiac monitors had been pulled loose and disconnected.

"Ed, Ed wake up! It's me, Mags, wake up it's all right."

"Burying me! Burying me! I can't breathe!"

"Ed, no, wake up. Wake up."

Ed shot up, and drew away from Mags in fear.

"Ed, it's me, it's Maggie. You're safe now."

"Am I dreaming?"

"No darling, let me hold you, I'm here with you."

"I should have died. I wish I were dead."

"Edward Straker, what in the hell are you talking about? I'm going to kill that nurse with my bare hands, I swear it. Where's your chart? They're giving you way too much morphine, you don't know what you're saying."

"Don't go, don't go. I don't want to wake up. I don't want to sleep. NO! Don't go! Don't go!"

"Nurse!" Mags yelled. It brought the nurse running in and Frances and Angel behind her. Ed clung to Mags without seeing her, wild eyed.

"Margaret, what's happened?" Frances said in shock.

"Why are the cardiac leads off his chest? Mr. Straker, settle down now, settle down, we don't want you to disturb your sutures, and I'm sure you don't want to be put in restraints again." the nurse cooed.

"If you'd been in here instead of sitting your fat ass at the desk, you'd know why the leads were off, you moron. My husband is having a drug induced nightmare and pulled away from them. Now get me a doctor, and page Alec. Or is that too difficult for you?" Mags snarled, hiding the fact that she was terrified for Ed.

The nurse gave her a look and wedged past Frances and Angel to pick up the phone.

"Edward, Edward, dear, it's all right now, try and relax, we won't let anyone hurt you." Frances said, taking his hand while Mags reconnected what cardiac leads she could. Ed pulled away from her, clearly confused.

"Where's Maggie? I dreamed it all, didn't I? Why isn't she with me? Is she dead? Did she die like my Johnny? Where's Alec? Why isn't Alec here? There's too much blood, oh my God, they're cutting me open! Help me! HELP ME! "

"He's hallucinating." Angel said quietly. "I've seen it and heard it often enough in men like Ed."

At that moment, one of the female doctors on duty came in, and examined Ed's pupils carefully, flipped through his chart, gave an order to the nurse. The nurse went out for a moment, then came back with a needle and syringe. The dusky-skinned doctor looked at Mags, who was trying to comfort Ed.

" I am Dr. Folsade. You're his wife? I'm afraid there are too many people in here, and I need to examine Mr. Straker and get him settled. I'll allow you to stay, but you must not interfere." the doctor said in a accent Mags didn't recognise. Without waiting for an answer, she checked the chart, took the needle and injected the fluid contents into Ed's wrist IV. Ed opened his eyes wide, and then slumped against Mags, and was still. "Yes, I'm afraid it is a combination of trauma and more medication than is proper. But you understand, we doctors had to open his chest to repair the damage, and the bullet in his hip, not good, bones were fractured. Much pain. You are a psychiatrist, yes? Then you know the best thing is support, closeness. TLC."

"We'll be outside if you need us, dear." Frances said, and Angel led her out.

"You're the first quack I've talked to who actually makes sense," Mags said, stroking Ed's hair as he slept. The doctor chuckled.

"I do not see why we cannot move him into his regular room, we can transfer the equipment in there, and it will be easier for you to stay with him. He will feel more secure there, like home. We can arrange for you to sleep on a cot next to him. Nurse. Page Mr. Freeman, and ask him to come in. And then we will put Mr. Straker in his usual bed. I will leave his psychological welfare up to you. I am like Mr. Freeman, I am afraid. I do not like Dr. Jackson so much."

"Who?" Mags asked.

"One of the psychiatrists we have on staff. Do not concern yourself about it." she smiled. She bent and used her stethoscope to listen to Ed's heart for a while, and frowned. "A little erratic. I will keep an eye on him all during the night. Not an unpleasant task." she smiled again.

"Doctor, can I ask you a question?"

"Anything."

"Is Edward going to be all right?" Mags said tearfully.

"I think time will tell us that for sure. There are no easy answers, I am afraid."

"Can I ask something else?"

"Please do."

"Is there any female in England who is not attracted to my husband?"

The doctor laughed.

"Well, I have a little sister in London, she is just four, I think she would like her furry toy dog better, but one never knows."

A week later--

"I'm not hungry."

"Fine, Ed. I'll stick the feeding tube in you personally. Would you like it before or after I shove the Foley catheter back in?"

"Remind me again why I married you? Oh right, right, your compassionate and sweet disposition." Ed complained. "Is it too late to have an annulment?"

"If you're a good boy and eat lunch, you can have some wedding cake."

"Considering it's been about two weeks since we were supposed to have our reception, and the cake probably is now greener than algae on the sea bottom, that isn't much of a enticement."

"Why are you being difficult?" she said softly, massaging his neck gently.

"Gosh, I don't know, Maggie, maybe because I'm in pain, and I want to go home, and that damn lady doctor keeps ordering tests for me, and every few minutes someone comes and jabs me in the arm and takes my blood. Or maybe it's because Alec keeps sending these damn floral arrangements which make me think I've died. Or maybe it's because I'm in hospital so blasted often I have my own room. Or maybe it's because they told me I'll be walking with a damn cane as long as I have this lousy hip brace on."

"Ed?"

"What?" Ed adjusted his position, which was resting against Mags while she sat next to him on the bed in his private room.

"I love you."

"Then you need your head examined."

"Remind me again why I married you, Ed. Oh I know, it was your romantic nature."

Ed looked up at Mags and smiled slightly. He took her hand, kissed it and held it against his cheek.

"Oh oh. Here comes that amazon doctor pal of yours again." Mags said as the door opened and Dr. Folsade came in with Ed's chart. Ed shook his head at her.

"No more tests. No more blood. Come anywhere near me and I'll tie some sheets together and lower myself down and get the hell-what?"

"I am afraid we have a problem." the doctor said.

"Why do doctors always say we? It isn't them that have the problem. All right, what now?" Ed said lightly, but Mags felt his grip tighten.

"Edward's medical insurance finally ran out?" Mags said, in a vain attempt to be lighthearted along with him.

"The last electrocardiogram showed a definite arrhythmia."

"Say that in English, doctor." Ed suggested. His voice had an subtle unsteadiness to it.

"You have a heart problem. I am going to do additional tests on you, to pin down the diagnosis, a formality. Stress tests, echocardiogram, holter monitor, most likely a catheter abulation. Then we will go from there. I will schedule everything for sometime this evening, so that you and your wife have some uninterrupted time now. Don't worry, Mr. Straker. You are in good hands. I will answer any questions you and Mrs. Straker may have later. I will be back. Oh and that fruit salad they brought you actually looks good. You might try actually eating it instead of just pushing it around the plate." Folsade smiled. Ed and Mags watched her leave.

It was Ed that finally broke the silence, still holding on to Mags' hand.

"I don't know about you, but that catheter one she mentioned sounds like it's going to hurt. What do you say about our chances for escaping out the window, with sheets tied together?"

"Oh Edward," Mags sobbed.

"Oh Maggie, don't go and do that. You've been my pillar of strength, I don't want to find out the pillar is made of spun sugar, and not the marble I was counting on. Listen, one way or another, I'm taking my heart, plus the rest of me, to San Francisco with you for a week. This is only another lousy delay. I'll be fine. Wait and see." Ed said brightly.

"You don't believe any of what you're saying, damn you."

Ed looked at her for a moment, sighed, squeezed his eyes shut and clung to her, burying his face in her chest. When he looked at her again, his eyes were brimming with unshed tears.

"If you tell anyone I am this scared, Mrs. Straker, I'll deny it."

"Same here, Mr. Straker. Ed, I love you. One way or another we'll get through this, I promise you."

"You lie better than I do. It's probably why I married you. If you can't beat em, join em. Why didn't I just have Angel change the vows to suit us better? To have and to hold from this day forward, for worse, in sickness? If I was one of your father's racehorses, they'd shoot me now and get it over with."

"Oh just shut up, Straker."

"Only if you hold me, Straker."

'Why?' Mags thought. 'Why does he have to go through this? Hasn't he suffered enough? Oh Ed, I wish it were me instead of you. I'm going to stay with you, I won't let you fight this alone. I'll stay by your side. I can't lose you. I can't. You aren't alone now, neither of us will ever be alone now.'

'Why?' Ed thought. 'Is it because I toyed with suicide? Is this punishment for what I let happen to my son? Is this the result of all the blood that is on my hands? Is this because Gino Gennaro and others like him are dead? My God. I'm going to die. Alec is always beating me about the head that someday my luck will run out. It sounds like he was right. How do I say goodbye to Maggie, and to Alec, and to Frances and to Angel? How do I face death? How does that Dylan Thomas poem go?'

"Do not go gentle into that good night, old age should burn and rave at close of day; rage, rage against the dying of the light." Ed intoned softly, the tears finally streaking his cheek. "Amazing the stuff you can remember all the way back to high school, Maggie."

"Leave it to you to actually like all that poetry stuff. I was too busy memorizing Simon and Garfunkel lyrics back then." Mags said. Don't die, Ed. Don't die, she urged silently.

"Oh yeah? Well, I actually studied important stuff in high school." Ed chuckled softly, leaning against her, holding her hand firmly. She brushed away his tears gently.

"Figures. Bet you don't even know who Simon and Garfunkel are."

Ed turned and looked at her, amused. He cleared his throat, and he began to sing, off key, but from the heart. After her surprise and the first couple of words, she joined him in a surprisingly sweet soprano.

When you're weary, feeling small, when tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all; I'm on your side. When times get rough ,and friends just can't be found, like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down. Like a bridge over troubled water, I will lay me down.

The End

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