Pickles, Anchovies, and Dreams - Part 2

Author: Ava E-mail: mmmThatAJ@yahoo.com Rating:  PG-13 Classification: AJ/Mac Romance Disclaimer: JAG and all its characters belong to Belisarius Productions, Paramount, CBS, Viacom, and probably endless others. Summary:  Harriett's having some very strange dreams during this pregnancy; will any of them come true? Author's comments:  Characters' speaking parts are in double quotes ("text"); characters' thoughts are in single quotes ('text'). Historical notes:  The Eilean Donan is a real castle in Scotland.  It was built in the 13th Century.  Eilean Donan was Clan MacKenzie's most important stronghold from the 13th Century until it was destroyed in 1719.  In 1719, the castle was held by 46 Spanish Jacobites. On May 10th, three English frigates - the Flamborough, the Worcester and the Enterprise - sailed into Loch Duich and attacked the castle, causing extensive damage. When the bombardment was over, Captain Herdman of the Enterprise went ashore and blew up the garrison's powder magazine of 343 barrels of gunpowder.  The castle was reconstructed in the early 1900s, completed in 1932.

The Eilean Donan in ruins.   The Eilean Donan as it stands today.

10 May 1719
Eilean Donan Castle
Scotland

"What!?!" Sarah exploded.

Chegwidden's boat was almost to his ship now, but he still heard Sarah's exclamation.  "Well, that didn't go well," he muttered to himself.  "Was there ever a question that it would, you old fool?" 

"Harmon!  Are you out of your mind?  Is he!?  I cannot go with him!"

"It is done, Sarah.  You were my responsibility.  I gave you to him," Rabb told her.  When she looked about ready to light into him, he quickly said, "Would you rather Brumby?" 

That stopped her.  She turned tear-filled eyes to her cousin.  "Is there a difference, Harmon?  I know not.  Brumby won me in a bet with my father.  The Admiral bought me from you.  Isn't that about it?"

"No, Sarah.  He didn't buy you."

"He didn't give you any money?" she pressed.

"Only enough to get home," Rabb replied, to which Sarah crossed her arms smugly.  "Sarah, he would have given me more had I refused his offer, because I would have needed more with three people traveling rather than only one."  The look on her face said she didn't believe him.  "He said as much, Sarah."

"Then why did you not refuse?" she demanded, her tears slipping down her cheeks.  "Why did you give me to a man neither of us know?  A man who was responsible for killing the man I was to marry today?!"

"Sarah, you said you didn't love the Spaniard.  And you said that you always wanted to live on the sea.  Here is your chance!  The Admiral finds you beautiful... desirable.  He wants you as his..."

"...As his harlot!?" Sarah spat.

Harmon's eyes grew wide and he stared at his cousin in shock. "Do you actually believe I would give you to a man who would only use you in that way?  I?  A vicar of the Church?  Your own cousin?"  He shook his head.  "I thought you knew, Sarah... understood how much you mean to me.  How very important you are and have always been to me."

"Then, what?" she hiccupped.

"Admiral Chegwidden wants you as his wife, Sarah.  He went on the first boat so that he could make ready his own cabin... for you."

Sarah swiped her hand across her face, impatient with her tears.  "And if I refuse to share it with him?"

"That is your choice, Cousin.  And I do not believe the Admiral is a man who would force himself on a woman.  If you refuse him, I'm sure he will send you back to me in Stirlingshire.  He knows where to find me."

Thirty minutes later, Sarah and Harriett were on the small dinghy headed for the Flamborough.  Another boat was right behind them.  Sarah watched as they moved father away from land... and her cousin.  "Oh, Harriett," she sighed.  "What am I to do?"

"The Admiral seems like a nice man, Miss," she said softly.

"But I know nothing, Harriett.  Nothing.  He is an older man; surely he has had many women.  Why would he want me?" she whispered urgently.  She looked up then and saw the other sailors grinning widely... all except the one called Roberts.  She didn't speak another word until they reached the Flamborough.

As Roberts helped her to her feet, he whispered, "The Admiral is a good man, Miss.  The best they come.  You need not be afraid of him.  He would never hurt you."

She turned to face him and saw the concern in his eyes.  She smiled, "Thank you, Mr. Roberts."

"What's taking so long?  Hurry up, there!" shouted the Admiral from above.  The sling was lowered to the dinghy and Roberts helped Sarah sit carefully.  "Gently, now!" the Admiral barked at his men who were easing the sling back up to the ship's deck.  "Easy!!" he yelled as the sling bumped the side of the ship.  "Get the doctor up here!" he yelled. 

Finally Sarah was on board and a sailor helped her out of the sling.  Chegwidden took her hands in his and said, "Are you hurt, Miss MacKenzie?  You hit the side of the ship.  I called for the ship's doctor; he will be here directly."  Then he turned to his men, "Where the devil is that doctor?!"

"He's coming, Admiral!" one of his men called to him.

Chegwidden paled as he realized he had sworn in the presence of a lady.  He turned hooded eyes to her.  "My apologies for my language, Miss MacKenzie."

Sarah couldn't help but smile at his concern and discomfiture.  "I'm quite fine, Admiral.  Thank you.  And I have certainly heard worse language from my own father."  She watched as the sling went back over the side to collect Harriett this time.  Harriett was backing away from it, and Roberts was trying to coerce her to sit in the sling.  Sarah called down to her maid, "It's fun, Harriett!  Think of it as a swing in the tree.  Hold on tightly!"  Harriett cautiously stepped forward and allowed Roberts to help her sit in the sling.  As the men above began to haul her up, she closed her eyes.  Somehow Sarah knew they were closed, and she called, "Open your eyes, Harriett!  Look up!  Look at me!"

Harriett did as she was told.  She would never think of not obeying her mistress.  "Oh!" she cried out, clutching the ropes around her.

"Isn't it fun, Harriett?" called Sarah.

"No, Miss.  No fun at all," Harriett exclaimed.  When she was finally on board, Roberts was there to help her out of the sling.  "Oh, my!  How did you get up here so quickly?" she asked him.

"I climbed the ladder, Miss... on the side of the ship," Roberts explained as he took her hands and almost lifted her out of the sling.

"Oh, I see," she flushed as he held her hands a little longer than necessary.  "Thank you, Mr. Roberts."

"Roberts, see the ladies to my cabin," barked the Admiral.  "Boatswain, see that the trunk is taken there directly it comes aboard.  Didn't you also have a travel bag?" he asked the women, looking around.

"I have that, Sir," offered Roberts. 

Chegwidden almost smiled at his young Ensign.  He watched as the two women followed Roberts off the deck.  As soon as they were out of earshot, he barked at the doctor, who only just appeared on deck.  "What the devil took you so long to get up here, Farrow?"

"My apologies, Admiral.  I was in the middle of a delicate procedure; I couldn't leave sooner," the doctor excused himself.  "Is there a problem?"

"We have two ladies aboard the ship now.  And these buffoons knocked one of them into the side of the ship while she was in the sling.  I want you to check her over and be sure she was not injured," Chegwidden explained.

"Ladies, Sir?" Farrow grinned.

"Watch yourself, Doctor, or you'll find yourself in need of your own services!" the Admiral bellowed.

Farrow snapped to attention immediately.  "Of course, Admiral."

"Now go see to Miss MacKenzie."

"And she would be... where, Sir?" Farrow asked.

"Where the devil do you think she'd be?  In my cabin, of course! Only fit cabin for a woman on this ship."  Farrow's grin began to appear on his face again until the Admiral continued, seeing his yeoman appear on deck, "Tiner, have you moved my things to the officers' cabin?"

"Aye, Sir!  I have you all moved in, Admiral.  And I put fresh water and towels in your cabin for the ladies.  And I changed the bed linen as you requested, Sir, and laid a palette by the door for the maid."

"Good," said Chegwidden.  He turned to his first mate.  "Captain Sebring, let's get this ship out to sea.  I don't want the ladies to have to see the explosion when Herdman blows up the magazine."

Almost as if on cue, Sarah and Harriett stepped back on the deck of the ship and moved to the railing.  Sarah said, "I just want to take one last look at Eilean Donan before..."  And just then, the first explosion ripped through the air; the women screamed in fear.  Chegwidden was instantly behind Sarah, his arms around her as she grasped the railing.  Her tears fell as she watched explosion after explosion tear through her beloved home. 

Roberts was in an identical position behind Harriett, but when she felt his arms around her, she turned and buried her face in his chest to smother her screams.  "I can't," she cried, "I can't watch!"

"Take her below, Roberts," Chegwidden said quietly.  He tightened his grip around Sarah's waist and pulled her back against him.  "Shall I take you below?"  She shook her head as another powder keg exploded.  "You needn't watch this, Miss MacKenzie.  Please..."

"It is my home, Sir.  I will watch," she choked out.

Chegwidden felt her tears as they began to fall on his hands.  "Please, Miss MacKenzie.  Let me take you to your cabin."  She shook her head fiercely.  Chegwidden turned his head and bellowed, "I said get us out of here, Sebring!!"

"Working on it, Sir!" Sebring replied.  "You heard the Admiral!  Full sail!!  Get us out of here, YESTERDAY!!"

Fifteen minutes later, Chegwidden felt Sarah's weight against him.  She was leaning into him now.  He was no longer holding her to him, she was leaning back against him of her own accord.  She moved her hands from the railing and placed them over his that were around her waist.  He smiled inwardly; this was a good sign, he thought.  Another five explosions rent the air.  "You needn't stay here, Sarah," he whispered in her hair.

"I must stay," she answered softly.  And stay she did.  They stood thus until the last of the 343 barrels was exploded.  As they had sailed, the explosions were not as loud to her ears, but she heard them.  It was dark now, the only light in the sky being the quarter moon and the stars... and the fire from Eilean Donan.  When there was no more sound but the slapping of water against the ship's hull, Sarah lowered her head, and said, "My home is destroyed.  The Eilean Donan is no more."

"Perhaps one day your Clan will rebuild it," Chegwidden offered lamely.

"It is not for me to care now.  I have no home." 

Chegwidden turned Sarah in his arms and looked deeply into her sad eyes.  "Let me take you below now.  You need to rest."

Four weeks passed, and it was obvious to everyone that Roberts was head over heels in love with Harriett... and she with him.  It was also obvious to everyone that the Admiral and Sarah were completely in love with each other.  The only difference being that Roberts and Harriett knew they loved each other.  Sarah believed that Chegwidden was in love with her.  But sadly, the Admiral did not see Sarah's love for him. 

Finally one afternoon when the ladies were strolling on deck, Roberts approached them.  "Excuse me, Miss MacKenzie.  May I speak with you, please?" 

Sarah looked at Roberts and said, "Of course, Mr. Roberts."  He looked uncomfortable with Harriett standing there, so Sarah took the hint.  "Harriett, I have a slight chill.  Would you get my shawl for me, please?"

Harriett looked slightly hurt at being so dismissed.  "Of course, Miss."  She walked away, her shoulders drooping slightly.

"Hurry, Mr. Roberts.  Harriett never takes long when she runs an errand," Sarah informed him.

"I wondered, Miss, if I might... I mean... Harriett... I..." he stammered.

"What about Harriett, Mr. Roberts?" Sarah smiled brightly, feeling sure she knew what he wanted to ask.

He took a deep breath and burst out, "I know that we are docking in Perth in two weeks' time to take you to your cousin in Stirlingshire, Miss MacKenzie.  The Admiral told me so because he knows of my attachment to your maid.  And I was hoping, Miss, that you would... allow me... I mean... I want..." Roberts began to stammer again when he saw Sarah's smile fade and her eyes fill with tears at his words.  She turned away from him and stared out to sea.  "Miss MacKenzie?" he croaked.

"You have my blessing, Mr. Roberts," she said, trying to sound normal.  "That is what you were trying to ask, is it not?"

"Yes, Miss..." 

She nodded.  "Good.  You will make Harriett happy, I am certain of it.  Will you marry then, before I am sent away?"

"Sent away, Miss Sarah?  Who will send you away?" asked Harriett, coming up behind her and placing Sarah's shawl over her shoulders.

Sarah turned around.  "Harriett!" she tried to smile again.  "We will talk later.  Now, I believe Mr. Roberts has something to say to you."  She took Harriett's hands in hers and held them.  "I do love you, Harriett.  You have been so good to me these few years.  Be happy always."  A tear slipped from the corner of Sarah's eye, and she fled to their cabin.

Harriett turned to go after her, but Roberts held her back.  "Miss Harriett, let her go.  I fear I may have bungled it just now."

"Why?  What did you say, Mr. Roberts?" she asked in concern.

"I asked... well, I tried to ask for your mistress' blessing so that I might ask you to be my wife.  But in so doing, I fear I told her the Admiral is sending her back to her cousin in Stirlingshire... and it didn't look like she knew it or wanted it..."

"You want me to be your wife?" Harriett giggled as he was talking.  But when she heard the last of his statement, her eyes opened wide and her mouth dropped open.  "Dear God in Heaven, no!  He is sending her away?"

Roberts nodded.  "It is my understanding that he is, yes.  But I thought... I mean, we all assumed... when he told us... that she must want to go..."

Harriett turned and ran to the cabin.  The door was locked.  "Miss Sarah?  Miss Sarah, it is I... Harriett.  Please open the door.  Please, Miss?"

"I need to be alone, Harriett."

"No, Miss.  You don't.  Please, let me in."

"You should be with the man who loves you, Harriett.  Go now.  Mr. Roberts does not have much time to himself.  Go, spend his off-duty time with him.  Be happy together, Little One."  She choked out Victor's pet name for Harriett, opening the floodgates for her tears.

Harriett turned to find Roberts standing behind her.  "Is she well, Miss Harriett?" he asked quietly.

Harriett motioned for them to go back up on deck.  "Why, Mr. Roberts?  Why is the Admiral sending her back to her cousin?  Does he not want her, now that he knows her better?  Has he decided she is too old?  What?  Tell me!"

"I know not.  The Admiral does not confide such things to me."  Neither of them knew the Admiral was directly above them on the bridge deck, hearing all they said.

"Then how do you know he is taking her back?"

Roberts lowered his head.  "He knew that I was in love with you.  He didn't want me to lose you.  So he told me last night that we would dock in Perth in two weeks' time... and that I had until then to make my love known to you or you would be lost to me... because you and Miss MacKenzie would be returning to her cousin in Stirlingshire."

Harriett turned and looked out to sea, shaking her head.  "Oh, why?  Why does he not want her?" Harriett's sobs began.

"Perhaps he does not love her as we thought," Roberts offered.  He put his arms around her waist and she leaned back against him.  "Miss Harriett, you have not answered me."

She shook her head, "I cannot marry you, Mr. Roberts.  I cannot leave my mistress.  Not now.  Not like this."

Roberts turned her around in his arms.  "Miss Harriett, she told you that we have her blessing.  She told you to be happy."

"How could I be happy knowing her heart is broken?" Harriett cried.  "Miss Sarah is the best, the kindest lady I've ever known.  And all she has had in her life is heartbreak.  First her mother died in the Loch.  Then her father denied her permission to marry her cousin.  Then no one would have her because of his drunkenness.  Then he lost her in a bet to a bigamist..."

"Actually, he's a polygamist," Roberts interrupted.

But Harriett ignored him.  "Then her father killed himself... the very night that the Spaniards came and took the castle.  She finally was to have some kindness from Mr. Galindez, and then you all descended upon us and killed him!  The Admiral swept her away from all she's ever known, made her fall in love with him... and now... and now..." she sobbed.  "He casts her aside!"

"Miss Harriett..." Roberts tried to calm her.

"No, Mr. Roberts.  I cannot marry you.  I must go with my mistress.  I cannot leave her.  Not now.  Not ever."  Harriett wiggled free from his grasp and ran back to the cabin. 

Roberts was about to follow Harriett when he heard the Admiral call to him.  "Mr. Roberts!"

Harriett reached the cabin and knocked urgently.  "Mistress?  Please, let me in."

Sarah could hear Harriett's crying, so she opened the door and pulled Harriett inside, quickly closing and locking the door behind her.  "Harriett?  What is it?" Sarah asked, pulling the wailing girl into her arms and rocking her like a child.  "What's happened?"

"I told him no, Miss Sarah," Harriett cried.

"You what?" Sarah breathed.  "Oh, Harriett... why?  Dear, dear girl..."

"I will not leave you, Miss Sarah.  I will never leave you." The two women held each other and cried out their broken hearts.

For the next week, the women seldom left their cabin.  When they did, they always stayed together and refused to speak to anyone else.  

Finally on the ninth evening of their seclusion, the Admiral was on the bridge deck when the women appeared below.  He heard their hushed voices talking together.  He listened carefully, moving closer to the edge so he could hear what they were saying.  It was already dark, so even if they looked up, they probably would not see him.  Probably.

"Harriett, you must listen to reason.  I am nine and twenty... and will be thirty in two months' time.  No one will want me then.  No one wants me now," she sighed.  "But never at thirty.  You are still young.  And Mr. Roberts loves you very much.  It would make me happy if I knew you were happy in marriage."

"But, Miss Sarah..." Harriett started to argue.

"Harriett, I am an old maid.  I am not a woman to be desired... that much is obvious.  The only reason Mr. Galindez would have married me was to save me from Brumby.  And the only reason Brumby wanted me was to beat Father at his own game."

"I was so certain that the Admiral loved you," Harriett whimpered.

Sarah turned and looked out to the blackness of the night.  "As was I, Harriett," she breathed.  "But it was only my own wishful thinking that he loved me as I love him.  We were wrong, you and I.  But we were not wrong about Mr. Roberts.  He does love you... does want you as his wife.  And it will make me most happy to see you married before I am sent away."

"He has probably changed his mind by now, Miss," Harriett said sadly.

Both women were startled at the Admiral's sudden appearance next to them.  He spoke as he stepped down from the ladder.  "I'm sure not, Harriett.  When a man loves as Roberts loves you, he wants only what is best for the woman he loves.  He wants for her what he believes to be what she wants."  His eyes were focused on Sarah as he spoke.  "Boatswain!  Call Mr. Roberts to the deck!" he ordered.

"Aye, aye, Sir!" the boatswain replied instantly.

Within 30 seconds, Ensign Roberts appeared on deck.  "Miss Harriett?" he whispered.  She turned a shy smile to him, and his face lit up like the sun.  "Dare I ask you again?"  She nodded slightly.  "Will you marry me, Miss Harriett?"

"Yes, Mr. Roberts.  I will marry you."

Roberts led Harriett away to the aft of the ship where they could have a few moments privately.

"Miss MacKenzie, may I join you for a moment?" the Admiral asked carefully.

Sarah turned back to face the sea.  "It is your ship, Admiral.  You may do as you please."

"But you would prefer that I not stay?" he almost whispered.

"It matters not to me, Sir.  Do what you will."

Chegwidden turned to leave.  He was wrong.  She didn't love him.  She only said what she did to convince Harriett to marry his Ensign.  "We will dock at Perth in three days' time.  I will see to your transportation to your cousin's in Stirlingshire."

"And what am I to tell my cousin, Sir?" Sarah spat as she spun around.  "That you changed your mind?  That you decided I wasn't as beautiful as you first thought?  That I'm not desirable after all?  Or was it simply that you decided you didn't want..."

Sarah was silenced as Chegwidden suddenly pulled her into his arms and took possession of her mouth.  He kissed her thoroughly and passionately, as she had never before been kissed.  She thought the kiss she shared with Victor to be amorous.  But this!  This was more than that.  This was like an aphrodisiac.  She wanted more:  she wanted his hands on her body, his mouth on her mouth...  She pulled away in shock and fear as she felt him hard against her.  "Dear God!" she gasped and turned to the railing, holding on for support.

Chegwidden put his arms around her and pulled her back to his chest.  "I love you, Sarah MacKenzie.  With all that's in my being, I love you.  Please don't leave.  Stay.  Be my wife.  Let me love you.  Let me show you what love is..."

She turned in his arms.  "You love me?" she asked in amazement.  He nodded and kissed her lips in response.  "Then why?  Why would you send me away?" she gulped.

"Because I thought you wanted to go.  I thought you were unhappy here.  Whenever we talked those first weeks, you always spoke of your home, your Clan, your cousin... even the Spaniard, Galindez.  You spoke of him with such tenderness; I felt you must have loved him more than you knew.  And I was so... torn..."

"You were jealous of Victor?" she whispered.  He nodded.  "But Admiral, Victor is dead."

"But you spoke of him... and everything else that I had taken you away from..."

"Only because that is all I have ever known," she replied.

"Miss MacKenzie, I have confessed my feelings to you.  I need to know now what your feelings are toward me.  Is there even the slightest chance that I might succeed with you?  That I might win your love?"

She shook her head, and he closed his eyes in pain.  Sarah reached her hands to his face and cupped his cheeks in her palms.  "Win my love?  No," she said.  He started to pull away, but she held him tightly, so he looked back at her.  "Because you already have my love, Admiral."

He blinked hard.  "I... I already have... your love?  Did I hear you correctly, Miss?"

She smiled and nodded this time.  "You did, Admiral.  I love you, and if your proposal of marriage was in earnest...?" she looked at him questioningly.

He nodded, "It was."

"Then I accept."

Chegwidden's jaw fell open in astonishment.  "You accept?  You want me?  You love... me?"

Sarah smiled.  "Is that so difficult to believe?"

"That a young, vibrant beauty would want an old, bald sailor?  Yes, that is difficult to believe."

"I would ask only one thing, Admiral," Sarah said.

Chegwidden drew himself up.  'Here it comes.  The stipulation.  Of course there would be one.'

"You must promise me that, whenever possible, you will always allow me to sail with you on your ships?" she begged.

He blinked hard again.  "You want..."  He blinked again.  "That is all you want?"

She smiled shyly and lowered her head.  "Well... I would like a baby at some point, if that isn't too much to ask."

Chegwidden grinned. "Oh, I think I can handle that without too much difficulty or inconvenience," he teased, pulling her back into his arms and lowering his mouth to hers again. "One more kiss... and then we must wait for any more until we are married."

Sarah thrilled at his words. "How soon will that be?" she asked breathlessly when he released her.

"I thought that since we are already so close to Perth, we would go ahead and go in. Perhaps your cousin can meet us half way, and perform the ceremony?"

Sarah thought for a moment. "But then if Harmon cannot come, we would have to travel all the way to Stirlingshire and then all the way back to Perth. Can you spare so much time from your ship, Admiral?"

"I will send word to the Admiralty. With Captain Sebring aboard, there will not be a problem, I am certain," he assured her. Sarah sighed as she turned to face out into the sea. "That did not sound like a contented sigh, my dear."

"What about Harriett and Mr. Roberts?" Sarah changed the subject, or so Chegwidden thought.

"They can be married whenever they choose. I can perform the ceremony at any time."

"Because you're an Admiral?" Sarah probed.

"Because I am in command of this vessel," he corrected.

"So when we are ashore and Sebring is in command, he could perform a marriage?"

Chegwidden smiled. Now he knew what she was driving at. "That's correct. Of course, if I relinquished command to him while still on board, he could, in truth, perform our marriage."

Sarah smiled brightly. "What a wonderful idea, Admiral!"

Chegwidden laughed heartily and pulled Sarah back in his arms. "I said this would have to wait, but I cannot!" And he lowered his mouth to hers again. When he released her lips, she giggled. "So you do not wish your cousin to perform the ceremony?" he clarified.

Sarah shook her head. "He gave us his blessing before we sailed from Eilean Donan."

"And you would prefer to be married onboard the ship?"

She nodded. "If that is acceptable to you, of course."

"Oh, Sarah. I would marry you anywhere." He kissed her again. "And to think, I almost sent you away."

"What a dunderhead you've been!" Sarah teased.

"Dunderhead?"

"Yes!" she giggled.

"Sarah, no one calls the Admiral names on board his own ship."

"No one but his wife, you mean," she corrected.

"Only for as long as you love me," he whispered.

"That will be forever, Admiral."

"Albert." She looked at him questioningly. "My given name is Albert."

"Albert and Sarah Chegwidden," she smiled. "I like it."

"I love you."

The next afternoon, Chegwidden performed the wedding ceremony for Ensign Bud Roberts and Harriett Sims. About a third of the crew looked on as their Admiral joined the happy couple.

"Bud?" Harriett questioned as he said his name. He nodded. "What a nice name," she smiled.

Once their ceremony was over, Chegwidden temporarily relinquished command of the Flamborough to Captain Sebring. Sarah excused herself quickly. "What? Is something wrong, Sarah?" Chegwidden caught her by the arm just before she left the deck.

She smiled. "No, Albert. Not wrong. I just want to change into my wedding gown. Is that alright?"

Chegwidden smiled. "Of course, my dear."

Harriett bustled off behind her mistress, leaving her new husband standing alone by the railing. Chegwidden walked over to him and shook his hand. "Congratulations, Ensign."

When Sebring saw Harriett return to the deck, he nodded to the boatswain, who in turn, rang the ship's bell. Chegwidden turned surprised eyes to Sebring, who merely smiled in response. Chegwidden looked around and saw that the remaining crew members, who weren't critical at their posts just then, were gathering on deck to witness the next wedding. He was moved. He had no idea that his men thought so well of him.

When Chegwidden heard a collective gasp, he turned and saw his bride standing in the doorway. She was an absolute vision. Chegwidden's jaw fell open and he was completely immobilized as he watched her make her way across the deck to his side. She smiled as she lifted her hand to his face and pushed his jaw up to close his mouth. "Either I am terribly wrong in my choice of gown, or you find me pleasing," she whispered.

"You are stunning, Sarah. No, more than that. Magnificent. Brighter than the sun itself."

Sarah beamed her joy at her husband-to-be's praise. "I am glad you approve."

Chegwidden took her arm and they turned to face Captain Sebring. Both of them floated through their ceremony, neither really hearing much of what Sebring said. In fact, each had to be asked twice to say, "I do." But Chegwidden did not have to be told twice to kiss his bride. He lifted her veil and laid it over on her back before he reached his hands to her cheeks and laid his mouth gently over hers. When he lifted his mouth, Sarah leaned forward, not wanting the kiss to end. So Chegwidden kissed her again... deeper this time... and longer. When the cheers began, they finally stepped apart, and Sarah blushed becomingly.

The ceremonies over, the happy couples retreated below to their cabins. The other officers had graciously given up their joint cabin for the Ensign and his wife's wedding night. The Admiral and his wife were, of course, in his cabin. Just as Chegwidden was about to lock the door, he heard a timid knock. He yanked the door open and almost bellowed at the intrusion. But seeing Harriett, he smiled. "Yes, Mrs. Roberts? Did you forget something?"

She smiled at her new name. "I came to help Miss Sarah... Mrs. Chegwidden... out of her dress, Sir."

"You needn't bother, Mrs. Roberts. I will help Mrs. Chegwidden out of her dress," he said huskily.

Harriett blushed profusely, smiled at her mistress, and backed out of the room. "Yes, Sir. Good night, Sir. Ma'am."

When Chegwidden closed the door, Sarah scolded him, "You embarrassed her, Albert!"

"She won't be embarrassed after tonight, Sarah. It is her wedding night, as well, remember?"

Sarah giggled as Chegwidden approached her. He pulled her roughly into his arms and buried his tongue in her mouth. Sarah gasped for air when he released her. "Was I too rough?" he asked.

She shook her head. "But I would like to protect the dress," she replied quietly. "It was my mother's and all I have left from her."

Chegwidden smiled. "Would it not be a wonderful thing if our own daughter chose to wear it on her wedding day?"

Sarah's face lit into a smile brighter than Chegwidden had ever seen before. "That is my hope, as well... Husband." Chegwidden made quick work of the buttons on her gown, surprising Sarah. "You do that like you have experience with ladies' buttons, Sir," she said softly.

He chuckled. "I grew up in a house full of women, my dear. I have undone more than my share of my sisters' buttons. And, if you notice, my dress uniform also has a number of tiny buttons. Usually my yeoman does them for me..."

"But tonight, it is my privilege," Sarah said as she allowed him to lift her gown over her head.

Chegwidden nodded. "Indeed. If you so wish."

Sarah was not used to buttons. She had always had a maid to button them and unbutton them, so her fingers weren't nearly as nimble as her new husband's. She was finally giggling so hard, she could not undo another one. "Let me finish," he told her. He finished unbuttoning his uniform and quickly stripped it off of his frame. They stood, facing each other, in their undergarments.

Sarah's face began to turn pink as her new husband ogled her. And Chegwidden's mouth quirked into a crooked grin as his bride gazed at him. "Shall I put out the light, Sarah?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I would very much like to see you." She was surprised at her boldness, and he was even more surprised. She saw his face register that and she wasn't sure if he was happy in her decision. "Is that alright, Albert? Or is that wanton of me?"

"Wanton?" Chegwidden reached forward and pulled his wife into his arms. "No, my love. It is not wanton of you." He kissed her mouth and then moved his lips down her neck and shoulder. "And I am delighted to leave the room lit, for I desire to see you, as well," he growled in her ear. He eased the strap of her camisole off her shoulder as he kissed her. Then he reached up and slowly undid each tiny button on the muslin garment. He untied the ribbon in the back and pulled it loose from her waist. As he pushed it down her arms, Sarah shivered in anticipation. "Are you cold?" he asked, concerned.

She shook her head. "No," she breathed.

"Afraid?" he asked, tossing the camisole aside.

"A little, I think."

"Sarah, you do know that it will hurt?" She nodded. "I will make it as easy on you as I can, but to join with me does mean that I will hurt you."

"Will it always hurt?" she whispered, the fear showing in her eyes.

"No, my love. Not always. But until you are used to it, it will hurt."

"Then we must do it frequently so that I get used to it," she replied in a firm voice.

Chegwidden chuckled. "As you wish, my precious wife." He began unlacing her corset next. When he released the laces, she sighed in relief. "I have never understood why women insist on binding themselves so tightly with these things," he said, tossing it on top of the camisole already on the floor.

"To make our figures more perfect so that men will appreciate us," Sarah informed him.

Chegwidden laughed. "I couldn't appreciate you any more than I already do, my dearest love." He knelt in front of her and pulled her bloomers down from her waist and off of her legs. "Now these, I understand," he teased, moving his hands up her now bare legs.

Sarah shivered again at his touching her bare skin. All that was left now was her chemise. Sarah smiled at her husband. "It is my turn now, to undress you." Sarah stood in front of Chegwidden and tried to lift his undershirt over his head. "You are so tall," she giggled. Chegwidden squatted down so she could reach, and soon his chest was bare. She reached her right hand to his chest and touched the hair. She smiled when it sprung back at her. "Oh!"

He chuckled. "I may not have hair on my head, but I have plenty elsewhere," he told her as she giggled her delight. As they finished disrobing each other, they laid down on the bed and he began teaching her the wonders of making love.

Later that night, Sarah smiled. "May I name him?" she asked. He nodded his approval. "AJ. Your initials. I shall call him AJ. Whenever I say that, you will know I am speaking to him."

Chegwidden grinned. "AJ. I like that."

She smiled as he kissed her. "Are you happy, Husband? Did I please you?"

"Oh, Sarah..." he sighed. "I was wrong.  I do appreciate you more now than I did three hours ago. My God, Sarah, you are incredible." He kissed her again. "Happy? I am delirious with happiness. Please me? Any more pleasure and I would have a stroke!"

"Honey, you stroke him much more and he's gonna mess the bed."

Harriett jerked away hearing her husband's voice. "Bud?" she croaked.

"Of course it's Bud, Harriett. Who'd you think I was?"

"Albert..." she shook her head, trying to clear it.

"Albert? Who's Albert?"

"The Admiral," Harriett replied, slightly confused and out of breath.

"You were dreaming that you were making love to the Admiral?" Bud asked in shock.

"Not me... Sarah... Mac... I mean..." Harriett shook her head. "I don't know what I mean..."

"Sweetie, are you alright?"

"Uh huh," Harriett panted. She opened her eyes again and saw her husband. "Oh, Bud! That was the strangest dream!"

"Sounds like it," he quipped. "You dreamed that the Admiral and the Colonel were together in bed?"

Harriett blushed. "It was so odd, Bud.  I think it was... Scotland... yes, it was.  We were in Scotland, and it was a long time ago... 1719...  And they got married, Bud.  The Admiral and Sarah got married..." Then she remembered a little more. "So did we," she said happily. Then she looked around the room, confused. "This is the guest room... I moved in here after you fell asleep. When did you...?"

"I woke up as soon as you rolled out of bed, Sweetie. I followed you in here and climbed in beside you. I don't like it when we're both home and sleep apart. Had enough of that after I lost my leg last year."

She snuggled closer to her husband. "So did I, Honey."

Sunday, 20 April 2003
1045 EDT
McLean Presbyterian Church
McLean, Virginia

Bud pulled their van into the Church parking lot just as Commander Harmon Rabb pulled in from the other direction. 

They looked toward the front of the Church and saw Colonel Sarah MacKenzie standing at the foot of the stairs talking to a man in uniform.  His back was to them, so they couldn't tell whether they knew him.  Then they saw Admiral AJ Chegwidden walk up behind him and put his hand on the man's shoulder.  The man in uniform turned around and came to attention, and Bud said, "Honey, it's the Gunny!"

They finished getting little AJ out of the car seat, and the young family joined the others at the front steps.  "Happy Easter, everyone!" chirped Bud as they reached the group.  

"Happy Easter, to you, too!" the others chimed back.  

"Bud, what happened to you?" asked Mac, seeing his black eye.

Harriett flushed slightly as Bud replied, "Ran into a fist, Ma'am.  It was an accident."  He put his arm around Harriett's waist and kissed her lightly on the cheek.  

"Harriett did that to you?" asked the Admiral incredulously.

"I didn't mean to, Sir.  I was dreaming... and I... punched him," Harriett replied lamely.

"It doesn't hurt, Sweetie.  I'm fine, don't think another thing about it."

"So, Gunny, when did you get back?" asked Harm, changing the subject.

"Just last night, Sir.  I'm on my way to Quantico as soon as Church is over, but I really wanted to come and see everyone... and hear Chaplain Turner again," Gunny replied.

Commander Sturgis Turner walked down the steps just then.  "Gunny!  Glad you could join us this morning."

"Thank you for letting me know about the service, Commander."

"Dad is inside getting ready, but he'll want to talk to you before you leave if you have time, Gunny."

"I'll make a point of it, Sir.  I always appreciate your father's sermons, even if he isn't Catholic," Gunny ribbed, causing everyone to laugh... everyone, that is, except Harriett.

Mac noticed Harriett's quiet demeanor this morning... most unusual for her, especially when they were all in a social setting.  "Harriett?" Mac said quietly, standing next to her friend.  "Are you feeling okay?  Is something wrong?"

Harriett looked up, startled, "I'm just fine, Miss Sarah."

That caught everyone's attention.  "Miss Sarah?" laughed Harm.  "What's that about, Harriett?"

Harriett blushed profusely.  "I'm sorry... Colonel..."  She looked at her friend and corrected herself again, "Mac."

"Harriett, are you sure you're awake?" whispered Bud.  "Should I take you home?"

Harriett shook her head.  "No, Bud, I'm fine.  Really."

They heard the Church bell begin to ring and knew it was time to go inside.  They found seats together and enjoyed hearing Sturgis' father preach.  He always delivered such a poignant message, one that could be applied in every life.  

When the service concluded, the JAG group met outside again and made plans to meet for lunch at a local restaurant.  "Gunny, are you sure you can't join us for lunch before heading to the base?" asked Bud.  

"I do wish you could, Gunny," Mac said, laying her hand on Gunny's arm.

Watching the interchange between Gunny and Mac, Harriett said, "Yes, please, Mr. Galindez.  Won't you stay and eat with us?"

Gunny raised an eyebrow at Harriett's address, but the others didn't say anything to her this time.  Gunny answered, "Thank you, but I'm afraid I have to be on my way.  I'll try to get back to visit a little longer before I ship out again."

Mac gave him a brief hug and said goodbye.  Harriett stepped forward then and hugged him, too.  As he released her, Harriett looked into his grinning face and blushed furiously, remembering her dream.  She backed away and tried to hide her embarrassment by picking up her young son.

"Harriett?" whispered Bud.  "Sweetie, are you sure you're okay?  You're as red as a tomato!"

Harriett whispered back, "I'm fine, Bud.  I just... remembered part of my dream, that's all."

"Gunny was in your dream, too?"

"What dream is that, Harriett?" asked Sturgis, hearing their conversation and not having been privy to the earlier happenings.  

"Nothing.  It's nothing.  I just had a dream last night, that's all.  No big deal.  It was just a dream," she stammered.  "Actually, two of them..."

Admiral Chegwidden chuckled, "And I take it you called Mac 'Miss Sarah' and Gunny 'Mr. Galindez'?"  Harriett nodded slightly.  "What'd you call your husband, Harriett?  After you punched him, that is," he teased lightly.  It wasn't often he felt at ease enough with his junior officers that he could joke around, but today's setting just felt... right.

"Actually, Sir, I punched him in the first dream.  In the second dream, I called him 'Mr. Roberts'," Harriett giggled, setting her son back on the ground.  She was beginning to feel a little more comfortable now; if the Admiral thought this was funny, maybe she could get through the embarrassment after all.  "And you were Albert, of course," she added lightly.  But just then, her son ran straight to his "Auntie Mac" and reached his arms up to be held.

Mac laughed as she reached down to him.  "Oh, AJ, you are just getting SO big!"  Harriett blanched at her words.  But when Mac picked the little boy up and said, "Oh, my!  AJ you're so heavy, too!" Harriett couldn't help it.  She burst into giggles and her entire face, neck, and shoulders turned bright red.

Everyone turned surprised eyes to Harriett.  She managed to say, "Let's get going or all the large tables will be taken!"  She turned and almost ran to the parking lot.

"What was that all about, Bud?" asked Sturgis.

He shook his head.  "I don't know, Sir.  I know that Harriett had an... interesting... dream last night.  She's been having some pretty strange ones with this pregnancy.  She keeps punching me in her sleep.  But the second one last night, that one was different.  That one was... nice, if you know what I mean, Sir," Bud grinned and winked at his friend.

The Admiral thought back to what Mac had just said that caused Harriett to lose her composure.  'She was talking to little AJ... and she commented that he was getting bigger and heavier... hmm...'  The Admiral looked up at Mac just as she looked at him.  Both of them realized in an instant what caused Harriett's fit of giggles, and they both blushed... and then laughed.  "Mac, why don't you have Harriett ride with you to the restaurant," he suggested.  "Maybe you can get some details!" he chuckled.

Mac laughed with him and replied, "I think I'd like to hear those, Sir!"  She set the child on the ground and held his hand so he couldn't run off.

AJ mumbled to himself, "So would I!"

"Sir, where is Meredith today?" Mac finally asked the question that was on everyone's mind this morning.

He looked down at the ground and then back up at Mac.  "She decided we weren't right for each other, Mac."

"Oh, Sir," sighed Mac.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Admiral," offered Sturgis.

"I can't really say that I blame her.  I didn't exactly do right by her when I announced to all of you that I was going to retire and get married... when I hadn't even discussed it with her yet," AJ said.  "She wasn't pleased."

"No, Sir, she wasn't," agreed Mac.  "But I didn't think she was that upset."

He smirked.  "I didn't either.  I guess what clinched it was when she asked if there was something I wanted to ask her... and I blurted out, 'Interested?'"  He shook his head sorrowfully.  "That wasn't the best thing to say at the time."

Harm chuckled and Sturgis elbowed him in the ribs.  Mac looked at the Admiral sadly.  "A woman as romantic as Meredith and you proposed by saying, 'Interested?'"  He nodded.  Mac shook her head.  "I'm surprised it's not you with the black eye, Sir.  If anyone asked me that way, he'd have a lot worse than a black eye.  He'd be holding himself for days."  Mac handed little AJ off to his father, turned and followed Harriett to the parking lot, leaving the men gaping after her.

"Harriett!" Mac called.  "Let's you and I ride together, shall we?  Let Bud get a ride with one of the boys."

Harriett looked up, surprised.  "Boys?" she repeated.  "Oh my.  This sounds good..." she grinned.

"Tell you what," Mac said.  "You tell me about your dream, and I'll tell you about the boys."  Mac winked.

"Okay!" Harriett nodded, giggling.  "But we have to take your car or take little AJ with us in the van... car seat, you know..."

Mac nodded toward her 'Vette.  "Come on!"  They took off at a run toward Mac's car, laughing the whole way.  The men watched, not believing their eyes.

"She ditched me!" whined Bud.  "She slapped me, punched me in the eye and the gut, and now she ditched me!"

"Come on, Roberts," the Admiral said, putting his hand on Bud's shoulder.  "They'll be at the restaurant.  Let's go."

In the car, Harriett opened up and shared her dream with Mac.  "You have to be kidding!" Mac squealed when she got to the part about her father losing her in a bet to Brumby.  

"Oh, it gets better, Mac!" Harriett giggled.  "Oh, we're almost there.  I don't have time..."

"The heck you don't," Mac said as she made a left turn instead of a right.  "Talk on, Harriett!"

They laughed, and Harriett continued.  "You were going to marry Gunny... well, Victor in my dream... to keep from having to marry Brumby.  And Harm was a vicar!"

Mac almost choked.  "A vicar?  Harm!?  Oh, that's rich!"

"Yeah, I know.  And then just as your wedding day arrived, so did the English Navy!"  Harriett told her how the castle was bombarded and all that happened, including her meeting Bud.  Then she told her how the two of them were taken aboard the Admiral's ship.

"Admiral Chegwidden's ship?" Mac clarified.

"Uh huh.  He was in love with you and convinced Harm... your cousin... that you would be better off with him on his ship than anywhere else.  So Harm gave you to him."

Mac groaned, "Oh God, here we go again!"

"No, this time was good," Harriett laughed.  "You fell in love with him... and Bud and I fell in love with each other... and we all four got married on the same day!"

"Was it a double ceremony?" Mac giggled.

"No," Harriett sighed.  "The Admiral performed ours.  Captain Sebring performed yours!"

"Sebring!?" Mac laughed.  "You really had quite a cast, didn't you?"

"Oh yeah."

"So, me and the Admiral, hmm?" Mac giggled.  "What did I call him?" Mac asked.

"After you admitted your love for each other, you mean?"  Mac nodded.  "Albert."

"Okay, Harriett.  Now... what made you burst into giggles and run for the parking lot?" Mac pressed.

Harriett blushed profusely again.  "I can't.  I just can't!"

"Well, I sorta think that the Admiral and I figured it out, anyway," Mac said.

"Huh?  You both figured it out?" Harriett gulped.

Mac grinned evilly.  "Well, we both looked at each other at the same time and blushed.  And I know what I was thinking... so I'm guessing that he was focused on something similar."  Harriett started the giggles again.  "Your son had just reached up to me, and I said something like, 'Oh AJ, you're getting so big!'  And then when I picked him up, I said, 'Oh AJ, you're so heavy, too!'"  Mac turned and saw Harriett's face almost blue.  "Breathe, Harriett!  You have to breathe!!"

Harriett gasped for breath as her laughter bubbled forth.  "I dreamed about your wedding night, not mine!" she finally confessed.  "And you decided to name him... AJ."

"Name him?  You mean...?" Mac turned surprised eyes to her friend.  Harriett was biting her lips together, she was so embarrassed.  "Oh my God!  Harriett!!  You mean I named it 'AJ'?"  Harriett nodded.  Mac's laughter turned to giggles to match Harriett's, just as they pulled into the restaurant's parking lot.  They got out of the car, still giggling, as the men approached them.  

"Took you long enough to get here, Mac!" griped Harm.

"We took the long way around," Harriett said.

"A really, really long way around!" Mac giggled, causing Harriett's to bubble forth again, too.

The Admiral walked up behind Mac and leaned forward, whispering, "Just how long was it, Mac?"  Mac's eyes almost bulged out of her sockets at his words, but before she could respond, he was picking up his name sake and heading for the door of the restaurant.  "Come on, you.  Let's go inside now. AJ, AJ," he turned back and glanced at Mac, "...and AJ."

Harriett turned to look at Mac... who was staring after the Admiral.  "Oh my God!  He knows!" whispered Harriett. 

Continue to Part 3.