 
                --===Warmth of a Touch, Chapter 15===--
 
Chapter 15
 
 
 
    "You ready for this?" Martin asked Pete, as they stood
outside the conference room.
 
    "I guess," he said.  They were there for the semester
review, before finals, to evaluate Peter's performance while under
probationary status.  Cat was with them, just because she had insisted
on coming to give Martin moral support.  Soon enough, the door opened,
and they were escorted in.  Right behind them came Lianna.  Martin was
surprised to see her, but she just nodded to him politely and then took
a seat off to the side.  Martin didn't have time to consider why she
was there.
 
    "Next up is Peter Rawlins.  Mr. Rawlins, and Mr.," the man
looked back down at the form, "Gallagher as spokesman.  To review, we
gave Mr. Gallagher the responsibility of monitoring Mr. Rawlins'
progress throughout the semester.  Good afternoon, gentlemen."
 
    "Good afternoon, Dean," they said in unison.
 
    "Well.  Looking at the reports from Mr. Rawlins' teachers,
it would appear that his grades have, in fact, been much improved over
last semester.  Assuming likewise work on your finals, you will have a
B average, which is perfectly acceptable.  Is there anything you'd like
to add to the record, Mr. Gallagher?"
 
    "No, sir.  Mr. Rawlins has focused on his schoolwork, and
he is doing quite well.  No personal relationships have interfered with
that work, though he has dated from time to time throughout the
semester."
 
    "I see.  That's good.  It indicates that your instincts
about the previous young lady may have been correct.  Is there anything
else in his life that might interfere with his continued success?"
 
    "Not to my knowledge, Dean."
 
    "Very well.  Mr. Rawlins, do you have anything to add?"
 
    "Only my thanks to you, and to Mr. Gallagher, for giving me
a second chance, sir."
 
    The dean nodded.  "You're quite welcome.  We like to give
our students every opportunity to do their best here.  It would seem
that you have learned a valuable lesson from this.  Please don't repeat
it."
 
    "No, sir, I won't."
 
    "Good."  The dean pulled open another file.  "It would
appear, however, that you, Mr. Gallagher, have been having a very hard
semester.  Course load too hard for you?" he asked.  There was an odd
smirk on the dean's face, which Martin didn't quite understand.
 
    "No, sir, not really.  My girlfriend was involved in a
major accident in the chemistry lab, and was in the hospital for a
month.  By choice, I decided that I would spend my time with her during
that month rather than doing schoolwork.  I realize this has had a very
detrimental effect on my grades, and was aware that it would at the
time.  I decided that she was more important to me."
 
    "I see," said the dean, looking at the two others on the
council.  He got nods from them, but no words.  Apparently, something
had already been discussed ahead of time.
 
    "Dr. Preston, you brought this issue to our attention a
couple of weeks ago.  Is there anything you'd like to add?"
 
    "Dean," Lianna said, rising, "I've known Mr. Gallagher
since he came to NMSS.  He was in my class last year, and I have
tutored him personally.  Miss Walker, the young girl in question, is
also in my class this semester, and I have given her some personal
tutoring, as well.  I know these two young people as well as I've ever
known any students.  The accident that put Miss Walker in the hospital
happened in our chemistry lab, and caused the death of another
student.  Mr. Gallagher is a very honorable and loyal person, and the
consequences of his action to stay by her side, while well known to Mr.
Gallagher, didn't weigh very heavily in his decision.  To his way of
thinking, there simply wasn't really a choice to be made."
 
    "And that time was spent at the hospital, with her?"
 
    "Dean, Mr. Gallagher suffered from exhaustion and was put
on medication for a brief period because he was pushing himself too
hard.  He remained at the hospital twenty-four hours a day for the
first two weeks.  After his breakdown, he restricted himself to
fourteen hours a day at the hospital.  That is, he was there every
waking moment until she woke up, with very few exceptions."
 
    "I see.  Mr. Gallagher, do you regret your decision?"
 
    "No, sir, I don't," Martin said honestly.  The dean sat up
a little straighter.
 
    "Not even a little?"
 
    "No, sir.  If I had to relive the accident all over again,
I would do exactly the same thing I did before.  I understand that
academics are important, and that what I'm doing here affects the rest
of my life.  Sir, I simply felt, and feel, that Caitlyn Walker is more
important to me."  He used her full name only because it was formal. 
It didn't even feel right to call her Caitlyn anymore.
 
    "I see.  Is that the young lady in question behind you?"
 
    "Yes, sir," Cat answered, rising from her seat.  She walked
to where Martin was standing before the council, and took his hand. 
They didn't even try to hide that from the council.  A few more nods
and looks were shared among the members of the council, before the dean
returned his attention to the couple.
 
    "You have a very loyal boyfriend, Miss Walker.  Anyone
willing to possibly destroy his academic record for you... that is a
special thing."
 
    "Yes, sir, I know.  I love him, too."
 
    The dean smiled at her.  "The Academic Council has
discussed your case, Miss Walker, and we have decided to waive your
grades this period.  You will be given an 'incomplete' for all classes,
except your two 'S/U' classes, which the teachers are both giving you a
satisfactory grade in, anyway.  This semester will not count against
you in any way.  The accident which caused your absence was in no way
your fault, and we certainly cannot allow your academic record to be
damaged by it.  You need not take your finals this week; surely you
haven't had the chance to catch up with the class, after a month away
from it."
 
    "Thank you, Dean," she said.  Her eyes turned to Martin,
with fear for what they would now say to him.
 
    "Mr. Gallagher... your situation was a bit trickier for
us.  Although school records reflected the reason for Miss Walker's
absence and lack of progress, it required Dr. Preston's initiative for
us to learn the reason behind your apparent lack of effort.  You owe
her a thank you for presenting this case to us.
 
    "Though, as you say, these years are some of the most
important in your life, and what you do at this school will reflect on
you for the rest of that life, we must also take into consideration the
message we send to other students.  Though we dare not allow any
student with bad grades to use some tragedy in their life as an excuse,
or worse yet, fabricate a tragedy to use as such an excuse, your case
is somewhat different.
 
    "We, the Academic Council, have decided that your actions,
while detrimental to your academic career, were the ethical and moral
choice to make.  In short, you chose self-sacrifice over self-interest,
and that is a position the school would like to encourage its students
to consider.
 
    "As such, we are also granting you an 'incomplete' for this
semester.  You have two classes, also, with grades that are
satisfactory enough that we will keep them on the record.  You, also,
need not attend finals this week.  Your record clearly shows that you
are an outstanding student, and your actions this semester show you to
be an outstanding citizen, and someone we would like to hold out as an
example of the kind of behavior our student body should strive for.  I
know that this semester has been a terrible experience for you, but I
think you may find that the insights you gained from it will help you
later in life.  We cannot fault your decisions, and we won't penalize
you for them.  You have done well, Mr. Gallagher."
 
    "Thank you, Dean," Martin said, his head a little swimmy. 
Cat squeezed his hand and smiled at him.  He looked over at her, and
smiled back.
 
    "Miss Walker, take him and get him some lunch.  You've both
earned a little rest.  We'll see you both back here next semester. 
This meeting is adjourned."
 
    As they walked out of the conference room, Martin looked
around, to see no one in the hallway.  He turned to Lianna, and gave
her a mighty hug, followed by a very un-platonic kiss.
 
    "Thank you, Lianna."
 
    Peter was shocked to see his friend do this, but then
realized that something special must be going on between them, given
the way Lianna acted toward everyone else, and the way she acted toward
Martin.
 
    "My pleasure... Marty.  I've got to get going, I have class
in ten minutes.  See you later.  See you next semester, Cat?"
 
    "Yes, I'll be here.  Thank you so much for helping Marty."
 
    "It was nothing.  See you!" she strolled off toward the
math building.
 
    "Must be nice to have a teacher in your pocket," Pete said
with a chuckle.  Martin blushed; he'd really forgotten that Peter
wasn't 'in on' everything that was going on in Martin's life.
 
    "Don't ask, and I won't have to lie to you," Martin said
with a laugh.  The trio chuckled about it as they headed out for lunch.
 
 
 
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    "Marty, dear, I know you need to go home for Christmas,"
Katie started to say, but Martin stopped her.
 
    "I'm not going home for Christmas," Martin corrected her. 
When he saw the confused look on her face, he said, "I'm going *away*
for Christmas.  I'll be *coming* home after that."
 
    Katie gave him a beautiful smile that acknowledged the
message he was delivering; he now considered her house to be "home".
 
    "Anyway, I know you have to go there... but I don't have to
like it."
 
    Martin walked over to her, and gave her a hug.  She hugged
him back, and enjoyed the feel of him against her.  They'd been
together several times, but it was never enough for Katie.  She
couldn't, of course, bring herself to demand more of his attention. 
She settled for what little she could get.
 
    When Martin finally broke their embrace, he gave her a warm
kiss.  She sighed when he finally backed away.  She wasn't the only one
in the room, she was just the one who had been chosen to speak.  Cat
and Sarah were there, too, but they kept their peace; they, after all,
were going with him.
 
    "It just won't be Christmas without you," Monica groused. 
The others murmured agreement.
 
    Martin looked at Sarah, who shrugged.  "Don't ask me.  This
is beyond my training."  Martin looked at Cat, but could tell she
didn't have an answer, either.
 
    Martin sighed, and sat down into a chair.  They were
supposed to be packing up the car to leave.  In fact, almost everything
was already in the car.  It was just a matter now of going.  He hadn't
really expected the others to be happy about his departure, but he'd
not expected this.
 
    "What do you want me to do?" Martin asked Katie.
 
    "It's not my place to tell you what to do," she said.
 
    Martin grumbled under his breath.  "Pretend it is, for a
moment.  What would you do if you were me?"
 
    "I... don't know.  I'm sorry, Marty.  I don't have an
answer, I only have a complaint."  She frowned at that; it wasn't her
job to make her master's life harder, but that was what they were doing.
 
    Martin sighed again, and then got a thought, but didn't
know if the others, especially Monica, would go along with it. 
"Look... do you *have* to have Christmas on December 25th?"
 
    "What do you mean, Marty?" Jen asked.
 
    "Could you maybe put Christmas off to... oh, say, January
3rd?"
 
    The others looked at him in surprise.  It had simply never
occurred to them.
 
    "There's no reason we can't," Katie said.  "I mean... it's
not like it's a *religious* holiday for us, is it?"  She looked around,
and got agreement.  "When would you like us to have Christmas, Marty?"
 
    Marty looked at the calendar.  It didn't matter, really, so
long as he had time to get back.  "I think January 3rd is a good
choice.  We can be back by then, no problem."
 
    "Okay, great!  So... we get to sing Christmas carols a
little longer than everyone else!"
 
    Martin chuckled as he stood back up.  The girls all closed
in on him.  Lianna was there, as well, though she still lived on her
own.  Georgia did, too, but she spent a lot of time at the Sarento
house.  Martin made the rounds, hugging each of them, and giving them
kisses, and caressing their hair... he had to stop himself, or he'd
never get out of the house.
 
    "I love all of you, you know that, right?"  Martin got lots
of happy nods.  He was trying to avoid any resemblance to his last
Christmas vacation.  "We'll be back around New Year's sometime.  Don't
do anything naughty while I'm gone," he said with a smirk.  Some of the
girls blushed.
 
    Rachel stepped forward and gave Martin another hug and a
kiss.  "We love you, too, Marty.  Please drive careful.  Come back to
us as fast as you can."
 
    He kissed Rachel very warmly, and ran his hand over her
bottom.  She shivered at his touch.  "Thanks, Rach.  I'll have to get
you something special for Christmas."  He winked at her, and she
blushed crimson.  Then it was time for them to get going.  Final
good-byes were said, and the trio headed out the door for the car.
 
    "How long do you figure to get to Florida?" Cat asked.
 
    "That depends on how much you two distract me from
driving," he said with a wink.  They both giggled.
 
    "About next month sometime, then," Sarah said with a wicked
grin to Cat.  Martin started the car and shook his head.
 
    *It's going to be a long trip.*
 
 
 
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    The trip to Florida took four days, which was one more day
than Martin had planned for it, but then he really should have known
better.  They arrived at his former home happy, relaxed, and excited to
be there.  Cat was the only one not relaxed; she was nervous about
meeting Martin's parents.
 
    "Relax, Sweetheart," he said.  "They're going to love you
as much as I do.  I'd worry more about Becca, if I were you.  She
doesn't like surprises these days."  Sarah and Martin chuckled
together.  Cat didn't get it, but she was too anxious to laugh, anyway.
 
    "C'mon, let's go," Sarah said, pulling Cat out of the back
seat.  She nearly dragged her to the front door, with Martin carrying
their bags.  He thought once again that it was good that he worked out;
lugging around women's luggage was hard work.
 
    When they opened the door to the house, they found three
people lined up, ready to meet the new guest.  Martin looked them over
briefly.  His parents seemed happy to have him home, and didn't seem to
evaluate his guest very strictly.  Becca was a surprise.  Though he
knew she was pregnant, and would be showing quite clearly by now, he
just hadn't been prepared for the image of his little baby sister with
a swollen belly.  He thought she looked beautiful.
 
    Before he introduced anyone, he went over and gave Becca a
hug and a kiss.  He whispered into her ear, "I love you, Small Fry." 
She hugged him tightly, and there were tears of joy leaking from her
eyes.
 
    Finally, Martin turned and gestured to Cat, who came to him
readily.  He took her hand as they turned to face the family.
 
    "Guys, this is Cat Walker.  Cat, this is my dad, Trent, and
my mom, Joan."  Cat said hello to them, and shook hands.  He moved her
over a little, and he said, "And this is my cute baby sister, Becca," 
Becca swatted him, but smiled lovingly at him.  Cat recognized the
look; it was in her eyes most of the time, including now.
 
    "Hi, Becca.  How far along are you?"
 
    "Six months.  It happened over summer break."
 
    Cat dropped her voice to a bare whisper, and even Martin
barely heard her.  She said, "You must be very proud."  Becca blushed
and nodded, not able to look her in the eyes.  Cat smiled and stepped
back.  "It's wonderful to meet all of you.  I hope we'll get along
better than Marty does with *my* family!"  Her voice was light and
teasing, and the group laughed.  Martin looked up to the sky and shook
his head.
 
    "Well, we waited for you all to decide what to do for
dinner," Joan said.
 
    "Whatever you guys want to do is fine with me, Mrs.
Gallagher," Cat said immediately.
 
    "Pizza!" Becca said.  Martin laughed at his sister.  Joan
looked to Marty for his opinion.
 
    Martin shrugged.  "Why don't we go out, or order in?  No
point in making you go to all that work this late in the day."  It was
nearly seven o'clock.  They were, in fact, hungry, since they'd pushed
to make it.
 
    "I guess that means Becca gets her pizza, eh?" his father
asked.  The group chuckled as Martin shrugged again.  He was just happy
to be there.
 
 
 
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    "So, Marty.  I guess you've had a pretty busy semester,"
Uncle Josh asked.  It was the next day, and the girls were inside,
talking with Becca.  Martin and Josh were sitting on the porch.
 
    "You could say that.  Uncle Josh, I was so scared for
her..."
 
    "That's the way love goes, kiddo.  I'm proud of you,
staying by her like that.  It was a very mature thing to do.  How bad
is it going to hurt your grades?"
 
    "Well, Lianna... that's the teacher I... uh, date... talked
to the council about what had happened.  They decided to give me an
incomplete for the semester, so it won't hurt me at all.  That was
really cool of them; they could have been jerks about it... I mean,
they had every right to be... but they decided to give me a break."
 
    "Well, that's great.  She seems to be fully recovered..."
 
    "Yeah.  She only had problems walking for a little while,
because of being in bed so long.  Once she got past that, she was back
to normal.  You know, when I had to tell her parents off... and I said
some things, I almost thought I'd blown it... you know, that maybe I'd
gone too far.  She didn't think so, though, so that worked out."
 
    "She loves you."
 
    "Yeah."  Martin sat for a long moment, thinking about
something.  Josh could see the thought process, and so he sat, waiting
for Martin to finish.  "Uncle Josh, I have a problem."
 
    "What's that?"
 
    "There's something I need to buy, but... I can't really
afford it."
 
    "What is it?"  Martin told him.  "Hmm.  Well, you can use
part of your trust fund..."
 
    "That's supposed to be for college."
 
    "Marty, even with an extra semester, you've got plenty left
over.  We planned for you to go to any college you wanted... there are
schools a lot more expensive than the one you chose.  Even if you go to
get your doctorate there, you'll have plenty left over."
 
    "I wanna go to New Mexico Tech to get my doctorate."
 
    "Okay... I won't ask why, since I probably wouldn't
understand the answer, anyway.  But my point is, you've got enough in
your trust fund to take care of it."
 
    "Dad won't get mad?"
 
    "I highly doubt it.  Not for this."
 
    "Okay.  Thanks."
 
    "Are you sure about this, Marty?  It's important..."
 
    "I know, Uncle Josh.  It's probably the only thing I've
been sure about in months."
 
    "Well, then just go do it.  Don't worry about the money."
 
    "Thanks, I will.  I think I'll do it now, before I chicken
out."
 
    Uncle Josh laughed as Marty got up to tell the girls he had
to run an errand.
 
 
 
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    A few days later, Martin was lounging about.  Sarah and Cat
had gone off Christmas shopping.  Martin wondered why Becca hadn't gone
with them, but it wasn't something he could ask about.  He was,
however, a bit bored.
 
    "Hey, Marty," Becca said, coming into the room.  "Whatcha
doin'?"
 
    He stifled a yawn and said, "I was just thinking about
going to see Cathy.  Why, you have something better in mind?" he asked
with a smile.
 
    "Oh, I've been meaning to tell you.  She's not coming back
in the spring semester... she told us all good-bye when we left for
Christmas break... I don't know, but she might be moving or something. 
She didn't say.  She didn't tell me to say anything to you, so..."
 
    "Hmm," he mused.  "Maybe I'd better go see if she's home."
 
    "Okay.  What'd you get me for Christmas?" she said with a
smile.
 
    "You'll find out in a day and a half, Small Fry.  And don't
bother searching my room, 'cause it isn't in there."  He laughed at the
cute pout that crossed her face, then he said, "I'll be back in a
little while."
 
    "'kay."
 
    Martin drove across town to where Cathy's house was.  His
first worrying sign was, in fact, a sign.  There was a realtor's sign
in the front yard.  One of the neighbors was out tending to his lawn
when Martin pulled up.  Martin knocked on the door, but got no answer.
 
    "She's not there," the elderly man called out.  Martin
turned and walked over to him, so they wouldn't have to shout to be
heard.
 
    "How long ago did she leave?" Martin asked.
 
    "Day or two, I think... yeah, day before yesterday, early
in the afternoon, I believe it was.  She'd packed everything up in a
big Ryder truck and away she went."
 
    "Do you know where she was going?" Martin asked.
 
    "Nope.  She just said she needed a change of scenery.  Said
she was heading somewhere different, but didn't say beyond that.  She a
friend of yours?"
 
    "Yeah, something like that.  I live out of town, we usually
get together when I come here."
 
    "Ah," the old man said.  "Well, sorry, son.  Maybe she'll
send you a letter when she gets where she's going."
 
    "Maybe.  Thanks."
 
    "You have a good one.  And Merry Christmas."
 
    "Merry Christmas to you, too," Martin said.  It was a
purely pro forma response, as his mind was already churning over where
Cathy could have gone, why she didn't tell him, and how he might go
about finding her.
 
    *Do I want to find her?  She's just another woman to
complicate my life with... she doesn't know about all the others,
either... Perhaps it's best that she's gone.*
 
    Martin drove home, trying to convince himself of that all
the way there.
 
 
 
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    Becca managed to drive Martin nearly crazy for those
thirty-six hours.  He hadn't been able to stay concerned over where
Cathy Farmer had gone, because his sister was incessantly pestering
him.  She was wonderful, and cute, and very special to him.  He'd
gotten her a very nice gift, but this year, she did have to take second
place.
 
    When Becca opened her gift, after having gone through the
obligatory baby clothes and such, her eyes teared up instantly.  Martin
knew his sister too well, and finding gifts for her came as second
nature to him.  This year, it was another crystal unicorn, only this
was an entire family of unicorns, with the father standing over the
mother unicorn, who was kneeling beside the very tiny baby unicorn. 
The horns were done in sterling silver, and the hooves were done in
gold.  The sunlight refracted through the piece, sending shards of
brilliant light throughout the room.  Martin was sitting right next to
her when she opened it, and he hugged her as he saw her begin to cry.
 
    "That's us, Small Fry," he said to her very quietly. 
"Always."
 
    "Oh, Marty," she said, unable to find any words.  He
continued to hug her as she steadied herself.  It was always a good
year if he could make his little sis feel special on Christmas.
 
    Martin's gifts to Sarah had been very unusual for a brother
to give his sister, and she blushed at some of them.  He commented that
he expected to see them on her as soon as they got home.  She smiled a
coy little smile at him that announced she was definitely going to do
just that.  He'd also gotten her a small locket, into which he'd put
their pictures.  She had immediately put it on, and announced that she
was never taking it off again.  Martin kissed her warmly, and she wept,
too.  It was her first real family Christmas ever, and it felt so
wonderful to her to be there.
 
    The final gift went to Cat, who had been sitting quietly,
watching.  She had actually gotten a few gifts from Martin's parents,
which had surprised her, but shouldn't have, given how nice she knew
this family to be.  She thought that Martin's gift might be similar to
the one he'd given Sarah.  She was wrong.
 
    When Cat opened the box and found the jewelry case, she
stopped, and looked at Marty, who was sitting on the coffee table,
watching her open it.  He nodded encouragingly, and she lifted the lid
on the case.  Becca had moved over next to her, so she could peek in.
 
    "Wow," Becca said with quiet awe in her voice.  Inside the
case was a necklace of white gold.  It bore a series of sapphires, with
a large one in the center.  There were accents of baguette-cut diamonds
between the sapphires.  In the corner of the case were matching
earrings.
 
    Martin held his breath.  Trying to get out of Cat what her
favorite gems were was a very tricky piece of detective work.  If he
got it wrong, not only would *this* gift not go down as well as he'd
hoped, but something else would be badly wrong, as well.
 
    Cat reached out and touched the necklace, her breath
catching in her throat.  She looked up at Martin, tears in her eyes. 
She smiled at him in a way that only he ever saw her smile, and it was
at that moment that he knew he'd gotten it right.
 
    "You said you liked sapphires... right?" he said,
hesitantly.
 
    "My god, Marty..." she whispered.  She looked up at him
again, and finally answered his question.  "So that's what that
conversation was all about."
 
    Martin smiled, but kept his mouth shut.  This really wasn't
what that conversation had been about.  "Go ahead and put it on... I
want to see how it looks against your skin."
 
    Cat's hand wasn't very steady as she pulled the necklace
out of the case.  Becca held onto the case while Cat slipped the
necklace on, feeling its weight settle against her neck.  She fingered
it against her skin.  Becca pulled the earrings out, and set the case
on the couch.
 
    "Here," she said, handing them to Cat one at a time.  Cat
slipped them on, and sat back.
 
    Martin admired the jewelry on her.  It went well with her
light brown hair and fair skin.  She looked marvelous.  Of course, he
thought she looked marvelous before she'd put on anything that morning,
and he'd clearly seen her, too.
 
    "Well, how do I look?" she asked, waiting for a response
from her lover.  She wondered at the odd expression on Martin's face. 
It was fear, masquerading as something else.
 
    *What is he afraid of?* she wondered.
 
    Martin cocked his head to the side and feigned a look of
puzzlement.  "There seems to be something missing," he said in
confusion.
 
    Becca, who was still in the dark, picked up the case and
looked inside.  "Nothing in here," she said.  Cat, who was also
unaware, looked at him, wondering what this was about.
 
    "No, I know," he said to Becca.  "But there still is
something... oh, wait," he said.  He reached behind him.  "I know where
I put it."
 
    Martin's parents were grinning to each other and holding
hands.  They knew exactly what was going on.  Martin had spent four
hours in the jewelry store trying to find what he wanted, and it had
finally required a call to his mother to come help him.
 
    Before Martin brought his hand around from behind his back,
he slipped off the coffee table.  It escaped no one's attention that he
landed on one knee.
 
    Becca, as quick as ever to pick up on things, swiftly moved
to the side.  She turned to watch an important event in her brother's
life, therefore her own life, as well.
 
    Martin finally brought his hand to the front, but kept it
closed around something.  Everyone knew what it was at this point, but
there was a ritual to be performed here.
 
    "Cat," Martin said, his voice a little shaky, "A year ago,
I learned how different I was from everyone else.  I never thought I'd
fit in anywhere.  Six months ago, I met a girl who understood why I
felt like I didn't fit in.  She made it okay not to fit in, and then
she showed me *where* I fit in.  Cat, you're the only girl in my life
who has ever made any of this really be 'okay.'  You've given me a
place to fit in, and I was hoping..." At this point, Martin hesitated,
having come to that Big Question.  "I was hoping that you would help me
fit in forever.  Cat, will you marry me?"  Martin opened the small box
he'd been holding, and presented it to her.
 
    Cat looked down at the ring, which she was touched to see
matched the jewelry she'd just been given.  The white gold ring bore a
one carat diamond in the center, with an accenting sapphire on either
side, and small accent diamonds between.  It was a beautiful ring, and
had to cost Martin a fortune.  She didn't care about the cost of the
ring, but for him to have worked so hard to find just the right ring...
she didn't know how long he'd looked, but she could guess.  Her love
for him was swelling as she stared down at the ring, and then up, into
his eyes.  Those eyes, waiting in terror for an answer, her answer, to
the most important question he'd ever asked anyone.
 
    With tears running down her cheeks, Cat nodded.  "Yes," was
all she managed to get out.  The two swiftly embraced, lost in the
moment.  The rest of the family sat back, relieved that the tense
moment had passed, and that the joyous moments could now begin.
 
    Cat and Martin kissed warmly, right there in front of
everyone.  They didn't care, and neither did anyone else.  It was a
"right" moment; everything about the moment was perfect.
 
    Martin's mother stood up and quietly said, "I have a few
phone calls to make."  She walked into the kitchen with a smile.
 
    Cat looked at Martin, a little puzzled.  He explained,
"There are three ways to instantly spread information.  Telephone,
Television, and Tell a woman."  He chuckled as Cat caught on and
giggled.
 
    The rest of the day was spent with relatives dropping by to
congratulate the couple.  Uncle Josh finally saw the ring that Martin
had worried so much about using his trust fund for.  He looked at the
boy and said, "You have good taste.  And I'm not talking about the
ring, either."
 
    Cat blushed, and Martin choked on his drink.  Uncle Josh
laughed, and then he hugged Cat.  "Welcome to the family.  I haven't
seen Martin this happy since... well... okay, I haven't seen Martin
this happy."  Cat smiled at her uncle-in-law-to-be.
 
    "Thank you," she said.  "I can't believe how wonderful this
family is."
 
    "Shhh," Uncle Josh said.  "Don't tell *them* that, or
they'll get swelled heads!"  She giggled with him again.
 
    It was a good day.
 
 
 
...---=== http://ericstorm.wolfpub.org ===---...
 
 
 
    The day after Christmas, Marty's parents called them all
together.  Cat thought to let them talk in private, but Martin wouldn't
let go of her hand.  He kept her beside him, and waited for whatever
was coming.  It was obviously important, because everyone was involved.
 
    "Marty," his father began, "I know your schooling is going
okay.  Beyond that, how is life?"
 
    "Well, it has its problems from time to time, but for the
most part, it's going great.  There was a horrible month while Cat was
in the hospital..."
 
    Trent nodded.  "Sarah told us all about that.  I'm proud of
you.  I hope you know that."  Martin nodded, and Cat squeezed his
hand.  "I hate to add any trouble to your life, but we do need to talk
about Becca."
 
    Martin looked over to his little sister.  She seemed as
surprised as he was by this turn in the conversation.  He wondered what
this was about, but anything that was going on with Becca was very
important to him.
 
    "What's the matter?" he asked seriously.
 
    "Well, as you can imagine, the last couple of months, as
her pregnancy has really begun to show, have been pretty nasty.  It's
getting to the point where she can't go a day without being tormented
by uncaring classmates."
 
    Martin's eyes narrowed, as he contemplated what he could do
to that many people.  Trent saw the look in his eyes, and raised his
hand to calm the boy down.  

    "I know what you want to do.  Believe me, I sympathize. 
But that won't help anything.  We need to find a way to get Becca out
of that atmosphere, though, so that she can be at peace.  Also, and I
hate to bring this up, because it's not really your fault, but she does
get awfully depressed about not having you around."
 
    "She takes after her older sister," Martin murmured.  Sarah
blushed.  To his father, he asked, "So, what do you want to do?"
 
    "Marty," his mother said softly.  "It pains me to ask you
to do this.  She's my daughter, and I love her, and I don't want her to
leave, but... Becca needs to go home with you."  His mother had
surprised him in two ways: he had not expected them to ask him to take
Becca, and she had called it "going home".  Did they really understand
that he didn't think of Florida as his home anymore?
 
    "Mom, I..."
 
    "I know, Sweetheart.  We're piling a lot of responsibility
on you, and you haven't had very long to adjust to the idea at all. 
Will you at least think about it?"
 
    "Of course, but... is this the best thing?"
 
    "You and Becca should talk that over privately, Martin,"
his father said.  "This is really between you two now.  We just wanted
you to know what our opinion was.  We've thought for a long time, and
we couldn't really find any other option that would solve her
problems.  As much as we love her, we know she loves you more than
us."  Seeing the look on Becca's face, he hastened to calm her down. 
"It's okay, Sweetheart.  That's how it's supposed to be.  But now you
guys need to decide what to do.
 
    "Well, we've had our say.  The final decision is up to
you."  His parents got up and walked out to the porch, leaving all the
teens to themselves.
 
    "Guys..." Martin said, looking to Sarah.
 
    "C'mon, Cat.  Let's go shopping to find a new dress to go
with that necklace.  We'll be back in a few hours."
 
    Without saying anything, Martin communicated his thanks to
his older sister.  Becca came and sat beside him as soon as the others
had left.  She laid her head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm
around her.
 
    "What do you think, Becca?" he said, intentionally avoiding
her nickname.
 
    "Of course I want to be with you, Marty.  I can't believe
Mom and Dad want me to go, though."
 
    "They just want what's best for you.  Has it really been
that bad at school?"
 
    "Oh, Marty, it's been awful!" she said, crying into his
shoulder.  He held her as she cried for a couple minutes, blurting out
all the crap she'd had to go through.
 
    "I'm sorry, Becca.  I didn't know it was that bad."
 
    "I don't see how it's going to be any better in New Mexico,
though... except that I'll be with you."
 
    "We could home-school you," Martin mused.  Becca looked up
at him, and he explained.  "Both Lianna and Katie have teaching
credentials.  With their help, we could home-school you, and you
wouldn't have to put up with other kids making fun of you.  You'll just
have to put up with the other girls looking at you... possibly with
envy, I don't know."
 
    "You haven't given anyone else a baby yet?" she asked, a
sweet smile on her face.
 
    "Not that I know of," he said.  "Of course, I could come
home to some kind of surprise, but..."  He shrugged in a noncommittal
way.  There was nothing he could do about it.
 
    "Do you have room for me?" she asked, her voice small and
somewhat scared.
 
    "Becca, for you, I'd *make* room.  You can stay in my *dorm
room* if we have to."
 
    She wrapped her arms around him, and sighed.  "Then... take
me with you, Big Brother.  I love you so much..."
 
    Martin lifted her chin, and he kissed her gently on the
lips.
 
    When Cat and Sarah returned, they found the bedroom door
closed.  They smiled to each other, but did not intrude.
 
 
 
...---=== http://ericstorm.wolfpub.org ===---...
 
 
 
    Martin sat quietly, amused at the activity around him. 
They were in the midst of their "January Christmas", and everyone was
there.  Martin was relieved that Lianna had not suffered any problems
over the Christmas break, and neither had anyone else.  He had been the
first to open his gifts - the girls had insisted - and now he watched
as they opened the gifts from him and each other.  Most of his gifts
involved clothing that didn't cover very much, though there were a few
practical gifts, as well.
 
    Martin noticed that Rachel seemed to be a little listless,
sitting in a chair in the corner, and so he got up and walked over to
her.  He squished into the over-large chair beside her, forcing her to
cuddle with him.  He got the expected smile, and a kiss, and she put
her arms around him and swung her legs over his lap.  Still, she looked
unhappy.
 
    "What's the matter?" he asked very quietly.  The last thing
he wanted to do was bring attention to her mood.
 
    "Master... I didn't get you anything for Christmas.  I
didn't have any money to get you anything with."
 
*    Oh.  I hadn't thought of that.  And it would bother her,
too.*  He hugged her more tightly, and thought for a second.
 
    "Rachel, what did you do before you worked the streets?"
 
    She shrugged.  "I worked at a restaurant, waiting tables. 
Before that, I worked at a convenience store.  When I was in high
school, I used to babysit and housesit for people."
 
    *Ahhh.  A way to solve two problems in one.*
 
*    *"So you're good with kids, then?" he asked, leading her
with his question.
 
    "Pretty good, yeah.  I always liked doing that.  I wanted
to work in a daycare, but none of them would hire a high-school
dropout."  She frowned at that thought, but only briefly.  It didn't
matter to her master that she didn't have an education; he'd said so.
 
    "Then there is a Christmas present you can give me,
Sweetie."
 
    "What?" she asked, very interested.
 
    "In a few months, Becca's going to have a baby.  But she's
also going to have to continue doing school work.  There's also the
chance, though I'm not really *trying*, mind you, that someone else
around here could get pregnant as well.  Could you be my nanny?"
 
    "Oh... Master... I... I don't know what to say."  She
wrapped her arms around him tightly and wept tears of joy.  "Of course
I'd do that for you!"
 
    "Well, then," he said with a smile, "that's settled.  And
you took a load off my mind, so you gave me a great present.  Thank
you."  He kissed her, and she kissed him back passionately, while the
commotion went on around them.  He was surprised that no one commented
on them, but he guessed that they were more used to things than he
was.  After a while, he got up and returned to his own chair, but only
to retrieve something he'd kept there.
 
    On the way back to Rio Lobos, he'd had a long talk with Cat
about something that was bothering him.  She had suggested doing what
he was about to do.  It surprised him that she would suggest it, but
again, it was another case of the girls being more accepting of the
situation than he was.  He'd explained a lot of things to Cat, and she
knew that fate had played an important part in their relationship. 
Acknowledging that was part of what he was about to do.
 
    "Georgia?" he said, touching her gently on the shoulder. 
She looked up from the nice blouse that he'd gotten her, and smiled. 
"Can I talk to you for a minute... in private?"
 
    She nodded immediately, and got up to follow him.  He
walked her down the hall to his bedroom.  He sat her down on the bed,
and sat next to her, holding the small box hidden in his hand.
 
    "You do understand that I love you, right?" he asked,
uncertain on this point.
 
    "Of course I know that," she said sweetly.  "There was
never any doubt in my mind."
 
    "You know, when I decided to propose to Cat... it bothered
me.  I mean, I can't marry my sisters, and there's no point in marrying
any of my slaves... they wouldn't feel right about it anyway.  But
there was you."
 
    "Marty..." he hushed her with a raised hand.
 
    "Georgia, if Cat wasn't here, I want you to understand that
you would have been proposed to on Christmas."
 
    Georgia sat, stunned at this revelation.  Her eyes misted
slightly, and Martin took her hand, squeezing it.
 
    "I still can't imagine how you can accept what I am.  The
kind of love you've shown me... Georgia, you are as special to me as
anyone.  Even Cat.  But..." he said, pausing, and it was clear that
this was the part that was bothering him, "Cat got to me first.  Hell
of a thing to say, isn't it?"
 
    "So I don't get your last name.  Does this change anything
between us?" she was more worried that there was a nasty side to this
conversation.
 
    "Not really... but it bothered me to propose to only *one*
of the women who actively chose to stay with me.  See, that's just it:
you and Cat, you both had a *choice*, and you *chose* to stay.  The
others didn't get any say in the matter."
 
    "They wouldn't leave if they did," she told him.
 
    "I know, I know, they're all happy as larks."  His voice
indicated his irritation at having this repeated to him over and over
again.  "But they don't have the option.  You do, and you always will. 
But... well, I thought it was only right that there be something
between you and me, too, like there is between me and Cat."
 
    "Marty..." she said, about to object.  Marty hushed her
again.  He pulled out the small box, and opened it, turning it toward
her.  It held a ring with a small diamond surrounded by emeralds, which
he knew to be her favorite non-diamond stone.
 
    "Technically, it's just a promise ring," he said to her,
taking it out of the box.  "But it means the same thing to me as the
one I gave Cat, that I will always love you, and I will always be here
for you, no matter what."
 
    Martin hesitated.  He wasn't sure which finger to slip it
on.  There was the obvious, but he didn't know how she'd react to
that.  Seeing his hesitation, Georgia solved the problem by presenting
her left ring finger to him.  He slipped it on, and he said, "Georgia,
will you be my girl, forever?"
 
    "I will," she said huskily.  She wrapped her arms around
him, and they kissed feverishly on the bed.  It wasn't a moment for
passion, but they did kiss lovingly for a very long time, before they
finally got up and rejoined the party in the living room.
 
    Cat saw them holding hands, and she caught a very slight
nod from Marty.  She smiled at them both.  It had been necessary, not
just for Martin, but for herself, that Georgia was not left out of this
relationship.  She was proud of her fiance that he had the integrity to
talk to her about it.  He had been a little surprised that she had
insisted that he give Georgia a ring as well, but he had seen the logic
of it.  His thanks for her help had taken hours to pay back.  She
smiled remembering it.
 
    Her remembrance stirred feelings in her, but she couldn't
do anything about them, could she?
 
    Her answer came from across the room.  Becca had been
thinking about something that had been bothering *her* for a few days. 
During their trip over, Cat had gotten Becca alone and expressed to her
some concerns about feeling like she was taking Martin away from Becca,
who had been much closer to him for all her life.  Becca hadn't really
had a good answer for her, which she knew only made Cat feel worse
about it.
 
    In truth, Becca was happy for both of them.  She wondered
how she might signify that, and the look she saw flitting across Cat's
face gave her an idea.  She rose, a little awkwardly with her belly
full of growing child, and made her way across the room.
 
    Leaning down, she whispered something into Cat's ear.  Cat
blushed, and her eyes widened.  Then, she nodded eagerly.  The two
headed back into the hallway.  Martin watched them go, but it wasn't
unusual for the girls to go off together to talk, so he paid very
little attention.
 
    A few minutes later, Cat's voice called down the hallway. 
"Marty?  Could you come back here a minute?"
 
    Martin got up, surveying the room as he did.  It had been a
great day so far.  He didn't know that it was about to get a whole lot
better.  He walked back, and saw that Cat was peeking out of the master
bedroom.  This was his first clue that something was up.  He smiled at
her as he entered the room.  Only then did he realize she wasn't
wearing any clothes.
 
    Martin's smile grew wider as he took in her naked body. 
Her light brown hair had grown, and now the tips of it caressed her
nipples as it cascaded over the front of her shoulders.  Her green eyes
welcomed him as she pulled him into the bedroom.  He had paid no
attention to the rest of the room, his eyes fully focused on his
fiancee.  He didn't hear the door pushed shut, either.
 
    "You have way too many clothes on," Cat said.  "Don't you
think so?"
 
    At first, he found it odd that she would ask him this
question.  Then, suddenly hands encircled him from behind.  He felt
tits press into his back, and also a big belly.  He only had time to
register that before he heard Becca say, "Yes, definitely too many
clothes.  We need to fix that."
 
    Martin's smile went from ear to ear as Cat began to pull
his T-shirt off him.  Becca's hands dropped to his belt, and she
expertly unbuckled him from behind.  By the time that Cat had his shirt
off, Becca had his pants fully unfastened, and was pushing them down
off his hips.  Cat leaned in to kiss him, and his hands came up to
caress her sides as their tongues engaged in a sensual dance of lust.
 
    Becca knelt to remove her brother's shoes, pants, and
socks, and then she very carefully worked on his briefs.  This took
some doing, with Cat in front of him, but she finally got them past his
rock-hard shaft and down his legs.  Now all three of them were nude,
and things could really get started.
 
    Becca maneuvered around so that she was in front of
Martin.  Cat got the idea and moved to the side to give her room. 
Martin was nearly oblivious, until he felt his sister's tongue swipe
across the head of his dick.  He moaned into Cat's mouth, as she was
still kissing him passionately.  He moved his hand to tweak her nipple,
and she squealed into his mouth.  He took that as a good sign, and
continued to caress her breasts with his hands.
 
    Meanwhile, Becca slipped her lips around the helmet of his
prick, and began to suck.  Slowly, she slid her mouth down onto her
brother's rigid shaft.  She took half of him in before she had to back
off, and then she began to bob her head on him, setting up a fast
rhythm.
 
    Martin was in ecstasy, with two beautiful ladies attending
to him.  He let one hand stray down to play through Becca's hair, and
she murmured on his cock, sending shivers up his spine.  Cat tickled
the few hairs on his chest, and let her fingers run along his nipples,
causing more shivers.  It didn't take long with this kind of attention
before Martin couldn't hold himself back.
 
    With a grunt of warning, Martin let loose with a torrent of
cum into his sister's mouth.  She sucked him until he stopped, and then
she swallowed, enjoying every last drop of his seed.
 
    Finally, Cat let his tongue go, and stepped back.  He was a
little out of breath, and definitely in a good mood.  He looked over
his two partners, and smiled at each of them in turn.  They were so
very different, but they were both his.
 
    "I didn't get you guys a present anything like this!" he
said with a chuckle.  They giggled at him.
 
    "We wanted to show each other that we really could share
you," Cat said with a mischievous look in her eyes.  Becca strode up to
him and stroked his chest.
 
    "You *can* handle both of us, can't you?"
 
    "We'll see about that," he said, a feigned look of worry
crossing his face.  They giggled again, and led him over to the bed,
laying him down.  Cat bent down to take his semi-stiff shaft into her
mouth, and Becca began kissing her brother.  She let her hand play
across his chest, as she knew he liked that.  Martin caressed her
swollen tit very gently, to avoid causing any pain.  She mewled into
his mouth; her brother knew exactly how to touch her.
 
    Cat worked for only a couple of minutes before Martin was
back to full staff.  When he was, she touched Becca's leg.  When Becca
looked up from her kissing, Cat motioned her to mount her brother.  She
looked at Cat in surprise, but there was a message being sent here, and
it was communicated in Cat's eyes.
 
    Becca moved clumsily, due to her pregnancy, to straddle her
brother.  She let Cat position his cock, and she sank slowly down onto
him.  Martin sighed at the feel of his sister's tight cunt surrounding
his prick.  The added pressure of the child in her womb was an
interesting sensation that sent thrills through him.
 
    Martin didn't have long to marvel at the feel of his
sister.  She soon began to move on him, and Cat crawled up his body and
positioned her pussy over his mouth.  He got the idea instantly, and
his tongue reached out to lick at her clit, which was already fully
exposed.  Cat started to moan above him as her body went into
overload.  It didn't take long before she was coming, her juices
gushing across his chin.  When she came down, she moved to the side,
collapsing on the bed in happy exhaustion.  She watched as Becca
continued to ride him for all she was worth.
 
    Able to now focus his attention, Martin reached up and
gingerly caressed Becca's breasts.  He found it too difficult to do
that carefully with her bouncing, so he decided to caress her full
abdomen.  She mewled as his hands moved across her silky skin.  Her
pussy rippled and squeezed his dick as she cried out in passion, her
body moving as fast as it could.  The additional downward push of the
baby with each stroke was a unique sensation, and Martin was thrusting
his hips back up into his sister to push her higher.
 
    In just a few more minutes, Becca reached her climax,
twisting her head to one side and letting out a long, low growl of
ecstasy as her cunt poured its juices over his dick.  After a long
moment, she was able to come down from her high.  She rested with
Martin's still-erect shaft buried in her cunt, her pussy muscles
rippling over it to keep him aroused.  When she was able, she lifted
herself off him.  She looked over to Cat, who had watched the whole
thing, and was now smiling at her.
 
    "Your turn," she said with a tired smile.  She collapsed
onto the bed, pulling herself up so that she could kiss her brother. 
Cat immediately straddled Martin, and her pussy soon engulfed his cock
to the hilt.  Martin groaned at the feel of her; she was so very good
at this.  He reached over and took his sister into his arms, kissing
her passionately as Cat rode him.  She swiveled her hips and rolled her
pelvis, using every trick she knew to push him toward the edge.
 
    Martin, knowing that he was close to his own climax, had a
wicked notion.  He pulled Becca's ear to his lips, and whispered
something.  Becca grinned, and said, "Never?"
 
    Martin nodded at her.  She smiled wickedly.  "We can't let
that happen!"
 
    Cat was too far gone to even notice this conversation; she
was awash in Martin's essence, and she could hardly have told if Becca
was even still in the room.
 
    This changed, however, when Becca leaned down and sucked
one of Cat's nipples into her mouth.  Cat screamed in surprise and
pleasure, as it felt really, really good.
 
    Cat had never had any experiences with other women, though
there were enough bisexual girls in Martin's house to have given her
plenty of opportunities to experiment.  Her first encounter with a
woman was starting out wonderful, and her hands came out to hold
Becca's head against her tit.
 
    As Martin continued to thrust up into Cat, Becca moved her
mouth over to Cat's other breast, taking in that nipple and lavishing
it with laps of her tongue.  Her hands caressed Cat's free tit and
Cat's abdomen, arousing her even more than she already was.
 
    As Cat rose closer and closer to her peak, Becca could
sense her readiness.  When the moment was right, Becca pulled her mouth
free of Cat's hands, and she rose.  Before Cat knew what was happening,
Becca pressed her lips firmly to Cat's, and their tongues were soon
dancing.  Cat kissed back wantonly, her body still bouncing on Martin's
cock.  It was soon too much for her, and she screamed into Becca's
mouth, erupting in her orgasm.
 
    The sensual pulses of Cat's pussy on his cock sent Martin
over the edge, and he spewed his load up into her grasping cunt.  This
sent Cat even higher, and she began to arch her back, pressing herself
against Becca, who continued to kiss her throughout her orgasm.
 
    Slowly, Cat began to come down from her high.  Becca
finally let her loose, though she did embrace her lightly, supporting
her more than anything.  Cat leaned against Becca, trying to catch her
breath.  After a moment, the two girls looked into each other's eyes,
and they smiled warmly at each other.
 
    Tentatively, Cat leaned forward, and the girls shared
another, more tender, kiss.  This one lasted for quite a while, and
when they parted, they were both smiling.  Becca helped Cat move off
Martin, and the girls lay down on the bed.  Cat moved to the other side
of the bed, so that there was one girl on either side of Martin.
 
    Martin reached his arms out, and the girls came to him. 
They all snuggled tightly together, and each one kissed him on a cheek
before laying their heads on his shoulder.  There, they shared another
look.
 
    "Welcome to the family," Becca said softly.  Cat just
beamed.
 
 
 
...---=== http://ericstorm.wolfpub.org ===---...
 
 
 
    Things went smoothly for the rest of break, and Martin
settled into his new arrangements.  Accommodations had to be made;
there were now a lot of people living in a four-bedroom house.  To make
things more convenient for everyone, Rachel moved in with Lianna, and
Jen moved in with Georgia.  That left Katie, Monica, and Becca living
in the main home, with Sarah and Cat in their dorm rooms.  Of course,
Martin had two homes, since no one would let him give up his space in
the house to anyone else.  Jen and Georgia were both working at
waitressing jobs.  Rachel would not work; her job had been clearly
defined by Martin, it was just that she wasn't needed at it yet.
 
    Everything seemed to be settling in nicely.  However, there
was always something to upset the apple cart.  Martin's surprise came
the first day of his biology class.
 
    "Good morning, class," the teacher said, her back to them
as she wrote on the white board.  Martin thought he recognized the
voice, but didn't have time to consider it before she turned around.
 
    "I'm Dr. Farmer.  Dr. Alessandro has retired, and I am
taking over his class load.  You are here for Biology 203.  If this is
not the class you mean to be taking, then you're in the wrong room."
 
    Cathy Farmer looked over at Martin, and she smiled very,
very slightly.  Martin paled a little, thinking all sorts of things
about what she was doing here, but she couldn't answer any of his
concerns at the moment.  She carried on with class as if nothing was
wrong or unusual, and Martin was glad she wasn't giving them important
information, because he couldn't concentrate.
 
    Once she had finished up with the first-day introduction
material, she told the class that they were dismissed, and that she
would begin their course material at the next class, before which they
should have read chapter one of the book.  Martin sat perfectly still
as the rest of the group filed out.  Once the hall was empty, he felt
the need to be by her side... only he was finding it hard to stand up.
 
    "Ca... um, Dr. Farm... um..."
 
    Cathy looked up at him and smiled warmly.  She looked back
and forth.  "I don't see anyone here to hear you, so you can call me
Cathy.  Come on back to my office.  Obviously, we need to talk."
 
    Martin nodded, and held his tongue until they were in her
office, and the door was closed and locked.  He didn't feel like
sitting; there was simply too much running through his mind.
 
    Cathy didn't help by walking over and plastering her lips
tightly to his, kissing him hotly.  He felt as if his shoes might come
out his mouth if she kissed him any harder, and he was sure his hair
had curled.  Finally, she let go of him, and stepped back.
 
    "Damn, I missed that," she said with a smile.  "You want to
know why I'm here, right?"
 
    "For starters..." he said, trying to regain his train of
thought, but finding that the locomotive seemed to have wandered off
for repairs.
 
    "I've been working on my doctorate for a couple of years,
at night school.  Takes a while to do that way.  When I finally knew I
was getting my degree, I had to make some choices.
 
    "I didn't want to keep teaching junior high school.  I was
kind of fed up with people who didn't give a damn about what I was
saying.  I wanted to be somewhere that I could make a difference, where
I could actually teach people about science.  That meant teaching at
the university level.
 
    "Well, when I started thinking about which universities I
might like to teach at, I remembered this really cute and special guy I
knew that was going to a college that specialized in science.  So, I
applied, and they accepted me.  It worked out nice that Dr. Alessandro
decided to retire.  They'd have had an opening for me, anyway, but this
way, I get to really dig in and get into teaching, which frees up some
of the other faculty to do more research, which is their thing."
 
    "Cathy..."
 
    "Hey, I know you have a life.  I didn't come here to spoil
that for you," she said, sounding a little hurt.
 
    "That's not it, not at all.  I just can't believe you moved
all the way across the country just because I was here."
 
    "Do you remember," she asked him, wrapping her arms around
his neck, "when I told you about how special you were as a lover?  You
understand me automatically, you know exactly what I want.  What I
never told you was how much I enjoyed the time we spent together when
we weren't making love."
 
    "All ten minutes of it?" he quipped.  She laughed.
 
    "There was more than *that*," she said.  "But yes, we've
always been lovers first, and friends second.  I'd kind of like to
change that.  I don't want to be 'your girl', or anything, but I'd like
us to be friends.  Can we do that?"
 
    Martin sat down heavily into a chair.  Here was chance
number three to mess things up royally with a woman in his life.  He
came to a decision, and asked, "Mind if I use your phone real quick?"
 
    Cathy was startled at the request, but agreed.  He called
Cat, talked to her for a few moments, and then hung up.
 
    "You have any more classes today?"
 
    "No.  Tomorrow's my heavy day."
 
    "C'mon.  There are some people you should probably meet, if
you're going to be spending time with me."
 
    Cathy followed him out the door, a smile on her face at his
acceptance of her arrival.
 
 
 
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    Martin knocked on the door, and got a quick response. 
Karen opened the door wide, to let him in.
 
    "Hey, Marty," she said kindly.
 
    "Hey, Karen."  He was about to walk past her to where Cat
was sitting, but he stopped.  Turning to her as she finished closing
the door, he said, "Karen, I've been meaning to thank you for all your
help last semester.  It was nice of you to put up with Rachel while we
were protecting Cat's stuff from her family."
 
    "It was no big deal, Marty.  I was glad to help."
 
    "No, I mean it.  You didn't have to do that... I know it
was a major imposition... Plus with all the help you gave Cat when she
got back from the hospital... I owe you a lot of thanks."
 
    Karen was nonplussed, and had no idea what to say to all
this.  Cat, who was watching from her chair, finally giggled at Karen's
discomfiture.
 
    "Oh, just kiss her and get it over with, would you?" she
told Martin.
 
    Martin, acquiescing to his girlfriend, took Karen into his
arms.  He let the warmth flow just slightly through her, and he kissed
her strongly on the lips.  Karen melted against him as he pushed her
back against the wall.  Their tongues slipped out together, pushing
against each other in a sexual draw.  Martin's hands slid down and
groped her butt, and Karen moaned into his mouth.
 
    Finally, he had to let her go before he couldn't resist the
urge to tear her clothes off.  He leaned forward and whispered in her
ear, "Thank you.  And, if you want sometime, there is more where that
came from."
 
    Karen was already flushed, but her blush came through that
just fine.
 
    "What ab-bout Cat?" she stuttered.
 
    "She's the one that told me to kiss you, remember?  She
knew what she was saying," he assured her.  Karen brought her arms up
and embraced Martin strongly, but then she let go and gently pushed him
away.
 
    "I'll let you two alone... before I... embarrass myself in
front of your girlfriend."  She winked at him, and mouthed the word,
"Later."  He smiled, and let her leave.
 
    After he walked over and kissed Cat, he said to her,
"You're evil.  You naughty, naughty girl."
 
    "Shit, Marty, you've been wanting in her pants for a
semester now."
 
    "Well..." he said, not giving in that easily.
 
    "Was she that good?" Cat persisted.
 
    "She knows a thing or two," he allowed.
 
    Cat pursed her lips and thought.  "Maybe I should watch,"
she said to herself, a wicked grin spreading across her face.  "As an
educational experience."
 
    Martin grabbed her, tossed her on the bed, and tickled her
until she could barely breathe.  "I just *knew* you were evil!" he
said, then nibbled on her ear.  "You are a twisted little minx, and I
love you very much."  He kissed her warmly, and they finally settled
down, cuddling on the bed.
 
    After a long time, Martin finally said, "So, why did you
call me over here?  Or was it to thank Karen?" he asked with a
mischievous smile.
 
    "No, but that was fun to watch.  *We* got a package from my
parents."
 
    "We?"
 
    "It's addressed to you first, even."
 
    "Wow.  What's in it?"
 
    "I dunno.  I didn't open it yet."
 
    "Ah.  Well, I suppose *we* ought to, then."
 
    "Yeah."
 
    The two got up from the bed, and settled into the chairs. 
Cat pulled the box over.  It wasn't very big, but it appeared to be
heavy.  She used a letter opener to slice through the tape, and then
began to pull out wads of tissue paper.  Martin couldn't see into the
box, but when Cat suddenly gasped, he stood up to look in.
 
    What he saw was a golden statue, decorated with inlaid
silver, and with strategically placed jewels.  It looked like it cost a
small fortune.  As he lifted it out, it did, in fact, seem to indicate
that it was heavily plated in gold.  Once he'd gotten the statue out,
Cat saw a note lying in the bottom of the box.  She reached in and
pulled it out, unfolding it so that they both could read it.
 
 
 
Dearest Caitlyn Cat,
 
     We're sorry for the way we behaved when we were there.  Though we
can't agree with your decision, we should have respected it, and given
you the courtesy that you deserve, as our daughter, and as a wonderful
young woman.  We hope that Martin understands how special a lady you
are.
 
     We know that, with the depth of love you must feel for Martin,
that you will probably be getting married soon.  We also fear that we
will not be invited, and that would certainly be understandable, given
the hostility between us and your beloved.  Although we would have
preferred a different outcome, it wasn't our place to belittle your
decision.  As a token of our love for you, and our best wishes for the
both of you, please accept this wedding gift.
 
     The statue is a fertility idol.  It is over five hundred years
old, and has been in our family for quite some time.  It is our hope
that this idol might be able to overcome the... resistance that Walker
women have toward bearing children, and that the two of you may be able
to raise a happy family together.
 
     If this is the last time we communicate with you, we want you to
know that we do love you, and always will.  We wish for you all the
best.
 
 
 
Love,
 
Mom
 
    Cat read the note twice more, and Martin wasn't sure
exactly what was going through her head.  Finally, she set the note
aside, and looked into his eyes.
 
    "They still hate you."
 
    "I don't care," he said truthfully.  Cat smiled, and put
her arms around him.  She kissed him deeply, and then let him go.
 
    "I'm glad.  Still, it's nice that they're trying..."
 
    "Yeah.  What did she mean about 'resistance to bearing
children?'"
 
    "Well, when the boys and girls get together, they don't
ever have kids, unlike you and Becca."
 
    "Oh.  Well, um... that was... odd... for my family, too."
 
    "Really?"
 
    "Yeah."
 
    Cat picked up the statue, and stroked it, feeling the
quality of the engraving.  She set it down on the nightstand of the
bed, and looked at him with a demure look in her eyes.
 
    "Honey," she said, her voice soft as her fingers rose to
the buttons on her blouse, "could we see if the statue thingy works?"
 
 
 
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Epilogue
 
 
 
    Martin stared across at the vast expanse.  He was holding
Cat's hand, and he could tell she felt a little nervous about being
here.  Even after a full year, the fear had not faded entirely.  Right
now, however, they were waiting.
 
    Finally, they heard a car pull up behind them.  They
turned, together, to watch it park.  The driver's door opened, and Mrs.
Walker climbed out, and waved to them.  She grabbed a bag from the back
seat, and then walked over to them.
 
    "Your father wanted to come, but..." she started.
 
    "No, he didn't, Mom," Cat said.  "I know he still doesn't
approve."
 
    "Oh, Baby... it's so hard for him..."  Mrs. Walker put her
hand along her daughter's cheek, and smiled softly.  Finally, she
regained her voice.  "So, what's with the head gear?" she asked
Martin.  He was wearing the headdress that the Havasupai had given him
the previous year.
 
    "I'm told it would be an insult not to wear this where
we're going.  Since I have a favor to ask of them, I'd rather not start
off by insulting them."
 
    Mrs. Walker smiled at him.  "That makes sense, I suppose. 
I see the idol worked," she said, gesturing to her daughter.
 
    Cat's pregnancy was only barely noticeable, as she was only
four months pregnant, and she was carrying it very well.  Cat blushed
slightly, and Martin took her hand.  Mrs. Walker watched, and she
smiled.
 
    "I'm glad for you both.  So, how do we get where we're
going?"
 
    Martin motioned to a guide, and he brought over the two
horses.
 
    "Only two?" Mrs. Walker asked.
 
    "You ain't getting me on that path without Marty holding
onto me," Cat told her.  Her mother looked at her strangely, and then
remembered.
 
    "Oh, right.  You don't like cliffs anymore.  Well, didn't
the rest of your family come, Marty?"
 
    "They're waiting for us at the lake.  They wanted to play a
bit."
 
    "Oh.  I'm sorry I'm late.  I got lost."
 
    "It's not a problem.  Shall we go?"
 
    As Martin got up behind Cat, he found it odd that her
mother had changed her attitude so fully toward him.  He talked to Cat
about it on the way down, but she didn't really know anything more than
he did.
 
    Finally, after a long and, for Cat, stressful, ride, they
made it to Havasu Falls.  Introductions were carried out.  Martin's
parents had made the trip for this event, as had his uncle, and
Tiffany.  That had been a little awkward at first, but he had adjusted.
 
    "Should we go?  Are they expecting us?" Mrs. Walker asked.
 
    "They know we're coming, yes... but not exactly when. 
Should we eat first?"
 
    "No," Cat and Martin said in unison.  The rest of the
family laughed.
 
    "Okay, you two.  You know where we're going, so you lead
off."
 
    Martin took Cat's hand, and they started down the path to
the Havasupai village.  Though they had decided to wait until after
they had graduated to get legally married, they had both decided that
they would like to be joined spiritually by the Havasu tribe, which had
been part of their experience when they had fallen in love.
 
    They walked slowly in the heat, and it took nearly an hour
to make the two-mile trek to the village.  When they entered the
village, they were surprised to see that many of the villagers were
milling about, waiting for their arrival.  The woman who had given them
their adornments greeted them, coming out from her home quickly to meet
them at the edge of town.
 
    "Welcome back," she said with a nod of her head and an
outstretched hand, turned palm out in greeting.
 
    Martin returned the gesture, and smiled.  "Thank you.  We
would like to speak with the head of the tribe, if he can find time for
us."
 
    The woman smiled broadly.  "My father will be out in just a
minute.  You caught him playing with his grandchild."
 
    Neither of them had known that she was the chief's
daughter.  They waited peacefully as she went to fetch him.  When the
chief arrived, Martin recognized him as the old man he had spoken to
that day a year ago.  He was suddenly surprised that the other man he
had run into that day had spoken so crossly to the chief of the tribe.
 
    "Welcome," the chief said, interrupting Martin's thoughts. 
"So, you have returned.  The unbelievers can be silenced now."
 
    "I don't understand," Martin said.
 
    "The Spirits told us to expect you," the chief explained. 
"You are one of great wisdom.  It is our honor to greet you and your
mate.  How may we be of service to you?"
 
    Martin looked at Cat, who shrugged.  She didn't understand
their mysticism any more than he did, but since neither of them could
explain how Martin had gotten the warmth, they weren't about to argue
with it, either.  Martin turned back to the chief.
 
    "We were wondering, sir, if you would be willing to unite
us in marriage."
 
    The chief looked at him very curiously for a long moment. 
Then he pointed, first to Martin's headband, and then to Cat's Havasu
necklace, which for once she was wearing in place of the one he'd given
her for Christmas.
 
    "I cannot do again that which has already been done.  You
have been married to this woman since your last visit here."  Martin
and Cat stared at each other in shock.  How could they have known, even
before Martin and Cat had ever expressed any feelings?
 
    The chief saw the look on their faces.  "The Spirits know
much, and they know it long before we do.  They knew you would unite. 
It was our honor to join you at that time."
 
    "But... there was no ceremony..."
 
    "Ah, but there was.  You merely missed most of it.  And,"
the chief said, with a growing smile on his face, "I seem to recall
that you departed before we could have a wedding celebration...  We
have prepared a small feast, in honor of your union, if you wish to
join us..."
 
    The 'small feast' lasted for three straight days.
 
 
 
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