Author's note: Clay owns himself and his own name. I only wrote the words to the story.

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Day Ten - Sunday, January 1, 2006

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That morning

Kate rose to consciousness slowly, the confusion of waking from a deep sleep fading like so much fog as she gradually became aware of her surroundings - namely the hotel room, the oversized bed, and the tender embrace of her loving husband. Warmth radiated from Clay's skin to hers, and she basked in the feeling of security at being held tightly in his arms. She opened her eyes to find Clay's face inches from hers, his eyes still closed as he continued to sleep peacefully. Remembering the love and tenderness they had exchanged for a good portion of the night, Kate smiled. Slowly she reached up and caressed his face - his jaw, his lips, his cheeks, his eyebrows - before moving up to run her fingers through his hair. How is it that God has blessed me with such an amazing and beautiful man?

At the last of her gentle touches, Clay stirred. "Keep that up," he mumbled sleepily, "and I'm going to need to grab one of Payton's little gifts from the top of the nightstand."

What a way to start a morning... Her smile growing slightly, she continued to run her fingers through his hair, careful to keep her touch light and gentle. Deciding to raise Clay's interest level a little more, Kate placed a slow, sweet kiss on his jaw... and another, and another.

Clay moaned, clearly waking up as she continued to drop tender kisses on his face. "Darlin'... unless you tell me otherwise," he told her as he opened one eye and stared suggestively at his wife, "I'm going to assume that means you want to 'do the nasty' again. Am I right?" In answer to his question, Kate placed one more kiss on him - this one directly on his lips.

Much later, after Kate happily delivered on her innuendo, the couple laid for several minutes in contented silence in each other's arms. Finally Clay smiled gently. "You know, honey... both of us used the term 'doing the nasty' for years - but I don't think we should use it any more."

Kate gave him a puzzled blink. "Why's that, sweetheart?"

His smile warmed ever more gradually, he started slowly caressing her cheek. "Because there was nothing nasty about that."

"Very true..." Kate agreed as Clay dropped a gentle kiss on her lips. "Usually the only time I call it that is whenever I refer to it outside of marriage - you know, when it's done out of context."

"I think I can handle that."

Finished with that conversation, the newlyweds discussed the idea of attending church that morning. "I mean, no one will fault us if we don't show up," Clay mused, "but it's the first time we'll get to attend as a married couple... and it will be a while until we can attend church together again."

Immediately Kate broke in. "Then we should take the opportunity we've been given. It's a very simple thing, yes... but it's important. I'd really like to go to church with you... especially since the next time will be who-knows-when."

Clay agreed. "Then we need to shower and dress if we are going to make it on time. Especially if we still want to have our devotion on Ruth this morning."

"Right. Dumb question time. Why is it that you are afraid of standing water, like pools and bathtubs, but you're not afraid of the water in a shower?"

Clay snorted. "What kind of question is that?"

Kate shrugged. "I warned you it was a dumb one."

"It's not a dumb one," Clay acknowledged and told her the tale. As he finished, the two untangled themselves from each other so that they could slip out of the bed and into the bathroom. Clay held out his hand to Kate, smiling as she climbed out. "I like this view."

Kate raised an impish eyebrow. "I can tell."

"Oh, hush," Clay told her, trying to hold back his giggles but not quite succeeding.

"In the interest of time," Kate began, "we should probably do this together."

"Ooo," Clay purred as she started to lead him into the bathroom. Kate waggled her eyebrows before turning towards the bathroom door. When she did, something on Kate's back caught Clay's attention, and he blinked with surprise at what he saw. Without his contacts it was kind of blurry, but... He suddenly burst into laughter. "Oh my gosh..."

Kate glanced back at him. "What?" When she saw that Clay was laughing so hard that tears were starting to roll out of his eyes, Kate knew that something was up. "What's so funny?"

"Kim and Sarah's prank," he giggled helplessly. "I know now why they said I'd find it before you would. It's on your back."

"What'd they do?" Kate asked, suddenly paranoid.

No longer able to form a coherent sentence, Clay led her into the bathroom. After Kate pulled a mirror from her overnight bag, he had her line up with her back facing the large mirror over the sink while she looked into her handheld mirror at her reflection. As soon as she saw what Clay had noticed, her jaw dropped wide open, and Clay laughed harder. Sometime while Kate had slept Friday night, someone (Clay suspected Sarah) had taken a black marker and wrote "Clay's love slave" on her back... along with a small picture of a rabbit. "I'm sorry..." Clay gasped, trying desperately to breathe. "I shouldn't..."

"Oh, they are going to get it for this." Kate chewed on her lip thoughtfully. "I don't know how just yet, but they are going to get it..." She gave Clay an annoyed look. "Who knows how long this is going to take to come off my back!"

"And you already had one shower yesterday morning," Clay reminded her. "We're going to have to work at this to see if we can't get it off."

"We??" Kate asked. "There's no way I can reach that! You're going to be the one scrubbing at it!"

Clay wiped the tears from his eyes. "True..." Not that I mind the idea. He grinned at her. "Somehow I think that getting us into the shower together was part of their plan."

Kate smirked slightly. "It wouldn't surprise me in the least." She slowly shook her head. "Come on, this is going to take a while..."

The shower took a lot longer than either of them had anticipated - and not just because of the writing on Kate's back. They emerged from the bathroom scrubbed clean and vibrantly happy. Quickly the two of them dressed in their church clothes so that when they were done with their devotion and prayers they would already be prepared for church. As a precaution Kate set the bedside alarm clock to go off when their time was up, eliciting warm giggles from Clay.

Pulling out their bibles, Clay and Kate read through the second chapter of Ruth - the meeting of Ruth and Boaz. They discussed at length the idea of caring and providing for the people around them, especially people in need. When the alarm went off in the middle of their discussion, Clay and Kate both shot dirty glares at the clock. They knew that they needed to wrap it up if they wanted to make it to church on time... but neither one of them had to be happy about breaking off such a deep discussion.

"I'm looking forward to the day," Clay grumbled, "when we can talk about anything and everything to our hearts' content."

Kate snorted as she put her bible off to the side. "Who knows when that will ever happen. Maybe after we retire..."

The two of them clasped hands for their morning prayer. A friend had once suggested to them that if they wanted a strong, healthy marriage, then a good habit for them to get into was praying together twice a day. Knowing that their relationship was going to be full of challenges, they agreed that they needed to do exactly that... and they had started yesterday morning in the den of the Kirche farmhouse.

Once their prayer was finished Clay gave Will a phone call. He knew that the two of them should not be wandering around Kearney without an escort. Or a ride, for that matter...

"He said he'll be here in about fifteen minutes," Clay informed Kate as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Until then," Kate replied, "we can chat a bit."

"Sure! What do you want to talk about?"

Help me come up with some way to get out of the rest of my teaching contract so that I can come with you to California. Now that we're on intimate terms with each other, I don't know if I can handle being without you. Kate carefully ignored that thought, feeling trapped into a situation she no longer had any control over. For now - it was only six months or less, right? Kate could only pray that they would go quickly so that her reunion with Clay would be a lasting one.

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Kate's church

Patricia scanned the faces of the people at this morning's service. Only a handful of members had been at last night's New Year's Eve service, and all of them had been quite shocked when Pastor Sullivan had prayed for Clay and Kate's marriage. Most of them had approached the family afterward, with mixed reactions. There had been lots of congratulations and many who understood why the wedding had been shrouded in secret... but there were still the nay-sayers who were upset that no one from the church (especially not they themselves - forbid that idea) had been invited - or worse, had mumbled their doubts about the marriage lasting. Patricia shook most of these off with the practiced confidence she always had. The success or failure of their marriage was yet to be determined, and it would be dependent upon their faith, their willingness to pray and study scripture together, and their efforts to communicate with each other. Oh, and it would also depend upon the willingness of the people around them to support them and pray for them as well.

This morning, with more people here, Patricia suspected things wouldn't be much different from last night. Clay and Kate's life together was not going to be easy by a long stretch, but she was sure that the two of them could handle it. Smiling warmly, she shook the hand of one of her fellow members. "Good morning, Nicole!"

"Good morning, Patricia!" the brunette woman returned. "Where's your daughter? I thought she and her fiancé were here for Christmas."

"Husband," Patricia answered gently. "He's her husband, and since the marriage was yesterday - well, it wouldn't surprise me if they took a Sunday off."

Nicole stared. "Husband? That's kind of quick. Why so fast? Is she pregnant or something?"

Immediately Patricia shook her head. "No, they were both virgins until last night, but I have a funny feeling that didn't last long when they reached the hotel..."

"Then why so sudden?"

"It's not as sudden as you think. The wedding's been in the planning six months," Patricia acknowledged. "Maybe it is a bit quick, but that's because we knew that we'd have to keep it simple and secret to give the two of them any privacy."

"Privacy?" Nicole returned. "But this is Kate. Our Kate. Everyone in the church loves her, Trish, and you know it. People are going to be hurt and offended to find out that she got married and didn't invite anyone at all. Do you follow what I'm saying?"

Patricia nodded, holding in a sigh at finding yet another person who didn't understand or appreciate the circumstances. "Yes, Nicole, I do. But her husband is a very well-known young man. The moment I'd drop his name, you'd recognize it. I didn't dare tell much less invite anyone outside of immediate family, no matter how close or well-intended they would be. You understand, of course."

"No, Patricia, I don't." Wanting to end the conversation, Nicole turned away.

Well, Lord, I tried, Patricia thought, releasing that sigh she had held in a moment earlier.

Abruptly Nicole stared at something over Patricia's shoulder. "Oh. Well... I think I understand now, seeing who Kate's husband is."

"They're here?" Patricia immediately whirled around to see her daughter and new son-in-law walk in the door with Will close behind. "You actually came to church this morning?"

"Of course we did, Mom," Kate yawned as Faye came over to join them. "It's not only a new day but a new year and a new life for both of us. Too important to let slide."

Clay nodded. "No matter how much we would have liked to have just rolled over and gone back to sleep." Wrapping his arms around Kate's waist, he laid his forehead on her shoulder and closed his eyes. Kate reached up and gently threaded her fingers into his hair, lightly massaging his scalp. Clay moaned slightly. "You keep that up, honey, and I will fall asleep, right here."

"Why not? You've fallen asleep about everywhere else," Kate teased.

"Har har, honey."

Miraculously both newlyweds stayed awake for the entire service, remaining alert enough to catch Pastor Sullivan's thanksgiving prayer for their marriage. Having already joined hands for the prayer, they squeezed each other's hand gently as their marriage was mentioned.

After the service ended, the couple and their families were inundated with well-wishers. Patricia noted with irony that Clay and Kate's presence this morning did a lot to give hope to some of last night's skeptics, who this time came to give their blessings and best wishes to them directly.

When the people had cleared away, both Clay and Kate heaved matching sighs of relief. "I tried to warn you what you were getting yourself into..." Clay suggested.

"Too late to turn back now," Kate shrugged. "Couldn't undo it, and don't want to."

"I don't either," Clay told her, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Mmmm..." Kate smiled, leaning back in Clay's warm embrace. She could enjoy every minute of getting used to her new life with Clay...

"Ssshhh..." Sarah hushed from behind them. "Be vewy, vewy quiet. I'm hunting wabbits."

Kate scowled mildly as Patricia snickered under her breath. "Sarah, don't forget what comes around, goes around."

"Isn't that what your mother said to you about a week ago?"

Oh. I had forgotten about that. "Uh... yeah."

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Out at the Kirche farm

The combined family (minus Clay and Kate, who had returned to their hotel for a day of alone time) returned from church to the farm, where Patricia had once more been "cooking for a branding crew." Having recruited the help of Holly, Sally, and other volunteers, she had prepared a festive brunch of scrambled eggs, egg casseroles, bacon, and various coffeecakes and pastries.

"One of these days we're going to have to get you out to Raleigh," Faye told Patricia, "so that I can return your generous hospitality. This is amazing, Trish!"

"It's nothing I haven't done before," Patricia chuckled. "I've cooked for crews this large dozens of times before."

Faye nodded. "I remember hearing that you 'cook for a branding crew'. Would you explain that reference for me?"

Patricia laughed warmly - that phrase probably came to Faye's ears care of her daughter Kate. "Sure. That comes back from the days when Art and I owned a lot more land than we do now, and different land than this... before Kate was a schoolgirl. Art comes from a family of cattle ranchers, and they were forever helping each other and their neighbors in doing various tasks that needed done on their ranches. One of those things that they helped each other out on was branding cattle. It never failed, there was always a large crew of ranchers and ranch hands for branding day. A large, hungry crew... and feeding them always fell to their wives and mothers and sisters."

"So," Faye said as she nodded understanding, "when Kate says that you cook enough to feed a branding crew, it would be similar to feeding the multitudes?"

"Exactly."

Faye glanced up into the living room, noting Will and Sarah sharing an oversized chair to make more room in the rest of the seating arrangement. "Those two seem to be getting along a lot better than they were on Friday. What happened?"

"Friday morning they got into a fight. After they spent most of the day not speaking to each other, Kate put her foot down and ordered them to make up." Patricia cast a glance of her own at the recent couple. "Apparently it worked."

"I'm glad - they both seem like really nice young people who deserve a lot of happiness."

"Maybe," Patricia mused, "it's a good thing that Clay and Kate are on their own today. It will give those two a chance to bond a bit before everyone flies back to L.A."

Faye studied the affections the couple was exchanging. "I only hope that Clay and Kate take every opportunity today to bond while they have it."

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A little earlier at the motel room

"Guess what today is?" Clay asked his bride as he bolted the door behind them.

"Um... Sunday?" When Clay raised an eyebrow at her, Kate continued. "New Year's Day? Our first full day of married life?"

"It is that," Clay admitted. "But that's not it."

Kate scratched her head. For once she was stumped over what was on Clay's mind. "I give up. What is today?"

Clay took Kate in his arms. "It's Get-To-Know-Kate day."

With a delicate snort Kate shook her head. "Hon... if you don't know me, you probably shouldn't have married me yet..."

"That's not what I meant, honey." Clay gave her a patient smile and explained. "I know we've spent the last two and a half years getting to know each other over letters and phone calls and so on, but it's not the same as getting to know each other in person. I want to get to know you a lot better - childhood memories, school experiences, memories from family trips you've taken... I want to hear anything and everything that helps me get to know you better."

"I like that," Kate told him. "But we really need to split the day in half so that I can have the same sort of experience with you."

Clay giggled. "Not today, hon. This is Get-To-Know-Kate day. We can have Get-To-Know-Clay day another time."

"And how is that fair?" Kate asked with annoyance. "Tomorrow you're flying back to L.A. for - what is it you're doing again?"

"Finalizing details on a duet I'm recording with Barry Manilow. Unfortunately he's been really hard to pin down. We either get together on Tuesday or several weeks later - and that is really when we need to be in the studio."

"Got it," Kate sighed.

"I didn't have much choice, honey," Clay complained, "if I wanted to make the duet with him." Pulling Kate closer, he brushed his lips over her forehead. "I'd rather spend the next few days getting to know each other better. Talking about our past lives and planning our future together. Sharing our most intimate thoughts with each other."

"Our most intimate thoughts," Kate mused thoughtfully as she reached up to caress his cheek, "and our most intimate moments."

Instantly Clay knew what Kate meant, a sentiment echoed by the hungry ache of longing in her eye. With their limited time together, every moment was a golden opportunity that should not be passed up. Keeping her firmly in his arms, Clay left a trail of gentle kisses from the far edge of one eyebrow to the other. Their loving affections deepened little by little until they once more voiced their total commitment to each other in the bond that is shared best between man and wife.

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Very late that night at the Kirche farmhouse

Sarah looked up as Will descended the stairs to join her in the living room. "Hey there, ya oaf."

"Hey there, Princess." He yawned. "Man, you're a real slave driver."

"I try." Sarah grinned wickedly. "Thanks for helping us out."

"You know those goofy newlyweds are gonna love us for it."

Sarah raised an eager eyebrow. "I'm looking forward to springing Operation: Newlyweds on them tomorrow. It's going to be good..."

"No kidding." Will carefully led Sarah into the kitchen, and the two of them put on their coats. He gave her his arm, and escorted her out to the barn where they could spend a little private time conversing - and doing whatever else came naturally to them to do. Once out in the barn, they found a seat on some hay bales on the ground floor of the barn. Feeling the cold of a typical New Year's Day, Will took Sarah into his arms and started nuzzling her. "What you want to talk about on our last evening together?"

"Us," Sarah told him frankly as she leaned into his attentions.

Will knew that she had picked the right thing to talk about - if they were going to build any kind of long-term relationship, they had to figure a few things out. "All right. What kind of future do you see us having?" he asked her.

"Um..." she began.

I don't like the sound of that. "Do you even see us having a future together?" Will pressed.

"I want us to..." Sarah murmured quietly.

"I want us to have a future together too, Princess. I see us having something special... something that will last." Will studied her eyes. "Is that what you see? I know you said you dream stuff and it happens."

Sarah blushed deeply and looked away from him. "I did say that."

Will watched her reaction for a minute, debating what she was feeling. "Tell me what's on your mind, Princess, because I can't read it."

Ignoring his request, Sarah turned back and placed a slow, steamy kiss on his lips. When she deepened it, Will eagerly brought her down on the hay to experience her passion more fully.

Deep in the middle of their growing affections, Sarah felt a soft, warm, wet sensation moving around on her forehead... and considering that Will was nuzzling her neck again, she knew it wasn't him. Sarah opened her eyes sharply and looked straight up into the muzzle of Strawberry, one of the Kirche's horses, who was licking her forehead. "Augh!" Sarah cried out in surprise, jolting enough to startle Will. Will's head jerked up to come face to nose with Strawberry, and the two of them jumped backward. Strawberry whinnied and sauntered over to rejoin Ginger as Will stared after him. Suddenly Sarah burst out laughing. "Way to kill the mood, you dumb horse..."

"No kidding," Will guffawed, helping Sarah sit back up on the hay. Placing his arm around her shoulders, he held her as the two of them continued to laugh warm and long.

"Oooohhhh, that laugh was not good for my bladder..." Sarah sighed.

Will snickered. "You need a break?"

"I'll deal with it."

He squeezed her gently. "You never answered my question. Do you see us havin' a future?"

"I do."

Will glanced at her. Her words came too quickly, sounded too certain for her to be merely speculation. Considering both she and Kate had spoken of Sarah's dreams that often came true, Will somehow suspected that there was something to her words - but he wasn't sure he wanted to hear. Since it involved their future, he figured he had better. "What kind of future do you see?" When Sarah hesitated, he nudged her. "Come on, Princess, tell me. I need to know."

"Will..." she began, heaving a deep, shaky sigh. "Since I was very young I've been dreaming about my wedding. I always heard voices and saw silhouettes through a veil. But I never saw any faces until last summer. Last summer I saw Kate's dad giving me away, I saw Kate as my honor attendant."

"Cool," Will told her, not surprised by either of those details.

"And the best man was Clay."

Clay was the best man??? Then who was the groom??? Blinking with surprise, Will turned back to her. "Are you pullin' my leg? Who was the guy? Have you seen the guy you married in the dream yet?"

"Yeah. I saw him for the first time Thursday night." Sarah took in an agonizingly slow breath.

"Who was it?" Will asked, not sure whether he wanted to hear the answer or not.

"You." Sarah blinked back the tears. "The man I married in my dreams was you."

"Oh." Will digested the news of Sarah's dream for a minute or two. He knew that Sarah was the kind of woman he wanted to end up with, but to hear that she had dreamed about the two of them getting married was a little bit of a shock.

"And that," Sarah whispered, "is why I didn't want to tell you yet. We should have had time to adjust to a relationship before I popped a revelation like that on you." She sighed. "I'm not surprised you don't understand - you don't have dreams or hunches like Kate and I do. But we get them, so we understand what it's like to get them and to hear them knowing that they're going to come true. It's hard to hear them... and it's hard to have them. Most people don't want to have to deal with it - it frightens them."

"I'll say..." Will agreed, remembering the first time he had been exposed to Kate's gift. "Princess... I think we'd better call it a night. I gotta think some about what you just shared. Don't go getting' all hurt or nothing, 'cuz all I have to do is think about a few things. It's just hard to get used to hearing future events coming out of your mouth."

"I know," Sarah sighed, "and I do understand." Carefully she stood up, waiting for Will to stand beside her. "We should probably be getting back anyway, as late as it is. We can always find some more time to talk in the morning."

"Right."

Will and Sarah walked back to the house, hanging up their coats on the coat rack in the kitchen. Very gently Will escorted Sarah back to her room before returning to his own. This gift was indeed going to take some getting used to...

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Day Eleven - Monday, January 2

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Early morning at Clay and Kate's motel room

Clay woke to an empty bed and odd noises emanating from a closed bathroom. It feels early - what time is it, anyway? He strained to focus his eyes at the digital alarm on the night stand as the clock shouted 5:15 a.m. at him. You're kidding me. Once he was conscious of the time, it took him only seconds before he recognized the sounds as Kate crying as if her heart was breaking in two - a mournful, inconsolable sound. Coming out of his sleep-induced fog, Clay became fully aware that today was the day he was to return to Los Angeles. A mix of emotions flooded his system at the realization - sadness, regret, dread, desire... and surprisingly, anger.

Leaving Kate behind in Kearney was something Clay had never imagined he would end up doing, and the more he thought about it the more it fueled the fire of his anger. Continuing to hear her non-stop crying from the bathroom, he was getting more and more annoyed with the fact that his new wife seemed willing to accept their current situation when it was obviously tearing her apart. He was also quite hurt that she had kept her feelings to herself and not shared them with him. Knowing her like he did, he realized that she was trying to be stoic, something he himself would probably do if he were in her situation. Briefly he wondered if she had shared her frustrations with anyone, but knowing her as he did, she had probably kept her fears and her feelings to herself. All of this sharply twisted his emotions, which were slowly starting to get the best of him, and he felt two tears escape his dark green eyes and slide down his flushed, freckled cheeks.

Annoyed beyond words, Clay scowled - he had to do something about the situation. He had to bring the subject out in a way that Kate could no longer dodge it. He loved Kate far too much to just let it go. Hastily climbing out of the bed, Clay threw a bathrobe on over his pajama bottoms and made his way over to the bathroom. He raised his closed hand to knock boldly on the door. Hold it right there, Clayton - you need to sort out your own emotions before you can even hope to help Kate sort out hers. Clay lowered his hand, biting his lip sheepishly. There's only one way you're going to do that, only one person who can help you deal with this. Go ask Him for His help. Clay turned away from the bathroom and fell to his knees at the foot of the bed, bowing his head in prayer to ask God for help on how to deal with all of the emotions involved... both his and his wife's.

At last he stood up, feeling much more in control than he did a few moments ago. Returning to the door, he reached up and knocked - gently, but loud enough that Kate would hear him. Hearing her attempts to muffle her tears, Clay called to her firmly through the door. "Kate honey, we need to talk, and we need to talk now. Will you let me in?" A moment later Kate opened the bathroom door and all but flung herself into his arms. Clay embraced her tightly as she clung to him weeping bitterly. Kate honey... He held her close, not saying another word until she started peppering him with kisses anywhere and everywhere. While he was not about to question her wish to be intimate with him, he understood enough of the situation to see that this was not the time. Very tenderly he tipped her chin up so that he could look her in the eye. "We need to talk."

"I want you," Kate breathed in between sobs.

"I noticed, and I'll be happy to oblige you," Clay replied, "but after we talk." Slowly Clay led Kate over to sit on the edge of the bed. "I want you to tell me why you were crying in there alone instead talking to me," he began gently but with determined resolve.

Kate sniffled, running her hand over her face. "I figured since I can't change things anyway I didn't want to be a bother to you with my silly feelings."

Clay stared at her in disbelief. "Kathryn Aiken, your feelings are not silly, and you are not a bother - you're my wife. You're my joy and my responsibility, and it is part of my duty to look out for you and your well-being. Or have you already forgotten the song that we danced to at our reception?" Seeing the guilty expression in her eyes, Clay knew he had caught her out. He went on to make his point. "If something's bothering you, I need to know about it if I'm going to help you!"

"I'll... try," Kate mumbled. Taking a deep breath, she confessed what had been on her mind for the past week or so. "I don't want to be apart from you." Noting Clay's eyes focused sharply on her face as he listened intently to her, she continued. "I know that military couples and couples where one travels a lot and that sort of thing do it all the time. And I thought that since it was only six months, not longer or a permanent thing, and with our plans to sneak weekends and whenever we can together, I thought we could handle it. I thought I could handle it. But now... now..."

As Kate broke down again, Clay pulled her close to rest her head on his shoulder. Tenderly he stroked her hair as she wept in his arms. Unfortunately he understood her feelings to a certain extent. By Thursday or so he had started to accept the fact that they were going to be apart for a while even though he still didn't like the idea. And then came their wedding, and the wedding night. Now that they were on intimate terms with each other, Clay didn't want to be away from her. At all.

Clay remembered hearing once during a bible study that newlyweds in middle eastern cultures were supposed to spend the first one or two years of marriage bonding as a couple, doing little else. Some of the reasons for that tradition were much more clear to him now that he was a married man. 'In my Father's house are many rooms,' Clay thought to himself, 'and I go now to prepare a place for you, so that where I am you may be also.' Well, Clay had already prepared a place for the two of them to live - all Kate had to do was give the word, and he was ready to take her with him. "Honey... you tell me what I can do to convince you to come with me to L.A., even today, and I will do it. Just name it."

"There's no convincing to be done," Kate moaned. "I already want to go with you. I just don't have a choice. I don't have a choice..."

"Of course you do, honey. Give me a chance, and I'll make sure you have one." Clay searched her eyes. "Why don't you think you have a choice?"

"My contract," Kate whispered. "I can't just up and leave my kids without a capable teacher. I would need to give at least two weeks of notice so that they could find a long-term substitute that knew both Spanish and German well enough to teach them. Even if I had every single lesson plan in place, they have to be knowledgeable in the languages. Enough to hold a conversation with them, since that's my ultimate goal for my kids, fluency." Kate ran her hand over her cheeks, smearing a new batch of tears that had run down them. "Some people would have no problem giving less than two weeks notice that they were going to be quitting. But not me." Sniffling once, she continued. "My parents taught me better than that. They taught me integrity and honor and commitment. Every year I sign a contract for the new year with the school system. I owe them my services, or enough notice that they can find comparable services and not be left without. My kids deserve only the best - I can't give them any less." Kate hung her head. "My place is by your side, Clay, because I made a promise... but I also made a promise to the school, too. Unless you can come up with an honorable way that I can get out of that contract, then I have to stay the rest of the school year out of principle."

Clay understood very well what Kate was saying. One of the things he loved most about Kate was her set of values... the fact that she was a Christian woman of integrity and honor. Their shared Christian values contributed to their strength as a couple - even Clay couldn't deny that Kate had a valid point. He heaved a weary sigh and touched his forehead to hers. "I can't right here and now, honey. But give me a chance, and I promise you I will figure it out or find someone else who can. If it's a job you want, we can find you one. Substituting, translating... I bet I could even get you on my tour as a backup singer. Your voice is good enough, and I'd love to have you come with me on the tour."

Kate made a face. "Me, as a backup singer? I'm not that good..."

"You are too."

"No..."

Clay frowned gently at her. "Let me be the judge of that. You never did have enough faith in yourself, honey."

"Neither do you," Kate retorted.

Choosing to ignore that, Clay returned to the earlier subject. "But we can find you a job if you want one. Or you wouldn't have to work if you don't want to."

"I'd go crazy if I didn't do something useful with myself," Kate muttered. "Work, volunteer..."

Clay smiled warmly at his wife's desire to make a difference that mirrored his own. "You won't be hurting for options, I'll tell you that. But consider it, honey. Please..."

Kate acquiesced. "I'll consider it - provided you or someone in your association can help me find an angle to honorably get out of my contract and make sure they have an adequate replacement. I don't want to leave my kids with someone who doesn't know the difference between guacamole and sauerkraut."

"Honey," Clay giggled, "there's a big difference between the two."

"That's my point." Kate snuggled closer into the crook of Clay's neck. "I belong with you, Clay, and I want very much to be by your side... but if we can't make this cutting of the academic strings happen, then I have to finish out the rest of the year. And I'd rather be with you." Kate pinched her eyes shut as she twisted her arm behind her to scratch a spot on her back that had started to itch. "Why don't we agree to be prepared for the worst... but continue looking for the best."

Clay smiled down at her and stroked her cheek. "Always an optimist, even in a situation like this."

"You bring the best out in me," Kate whispered, reaching up to touch his face. "Faith and love and hope and every little good thing, you and God are the ones who bring it out of me."

"And you," Clay told her as he kissed her eyelid, "bring the best out in me." Kate squirmed a little, trying not to pull out of his grasp as she reached behind her back again. "What's the matter?"

"Oh, nothing really - just an itch." Kate made a face as she attempted one more time to scratch the offending spot. "Except I can't reach it, and it's about to drive me crazy..."

Clay chuckled warmly and placed his long fingers on her robed back. "Tell me where."

"Right there between the shoulder blades, at the base. A little lower... there. Ohhhhhhh..." Kate moaned with the relief she felt. "You're hired. Mmmmmmmm..."

"Is that better?" Clay asked, his voice sounding low and husky.

"Almost..." Kate smiled, her eyes glazing with contentment.

When his fingers ceased their rubbing and began a gentle caressing, the itch was quickly forgotten... but so was their serious conversation of just moments earlier. Knowing that it would be their last opportunity for a while, the couple slowly and lovingly exchanged tender affections, letting them build and crescendo to their natural fulfillment before holding onto each other a while in companionable silence.

At last Clay and Kate reluctantly got up to start preparing for the day ahead. Sharing showers, devotional time, and breakfast in the room, they savored every moment of their time together before calling Will to come pick them up for checking out of the hotel.

The ride to the Kearney Regional Airport was solemn, the unbroken silence so thick that it was almost visible. Will and Sarah sat together in the front, sneaking glances at each other as they traveled from the strip near the hotel on to Highway 30 and towards the airport. Clay and Kate snuggled in the back seat, keeping each other close in a loving embrace as they held on to every moment as a gift far more precious than all the gold in the world.

Between the airport's small size and the fact that the Kirche name was well-known in town, Kate's family had little or no trouble joining them on the tarmac where the chartered plane was waiting to take Clay, Kim, Ruben, and the bodyguards back to Los Angeles. The luggage was quickly placed on the plane, and the group was left to share their good-byes with the family. Clay gave the others a chance to thank their hosts before giving his own love to his new in-laws. He shared warm hugs with both his new mother and father, and his new brother and sister, and shared a moment with the kids as well. Contentedly bouncing Alyssa on his hip, Clay took turns swapping kisses on the cheek with the little girl.

Finally the time had come and they could delay it no longer. Sarah watched Clay and Kate turn reluctantly towards the plane, holding onto each other's hand as if they could somehow remain together if they only held on. The newlyweds walked a few yards in silence before stopping to draw each other close in a deeply passionate embrace and an even more passionate kiss. Sarah blushed and turned away, making an embarrassed face. "I should have known they'd get all emotional about it," she mumbled to Will.

"What do you expect," he told her. "They're married." He shrugged. "They were this way that first week they met, but not quite this bad..."

"Gak. I'm sorry you had to put up with that."

Will shrugged again. "It's not a big deal now that I have someone special to love myself."

"Love?" Sarah whispered, not yet ready to believe her ears.

For a moment Will paused thoughtfully, unsure whether he wanted to say the words on his heart and his mind. "Yeah," Will said at last. "I'm falling in love with you, Sarah." Their eyes met, and they too pulled each other into a warm embrace.

"Oh, please," Kim drawled. "This is like a bad soap opera, only without the commercials."

Will ignored her, placing a tender kiss on Sarah's lips. "I'll call you, okay Princess?"

"Sure." Sarah released him, watching in shocked silence as he turned towards the plane. "Will?" At his name, Will turned back to Sarah. "I... I love you too."

She loves me? Wow... she loves me. Cupping her face in his hand, Will placed one last kiss on Sarah's lips. Reluctantly he pulled away from her and started making his way towards the plane. Will walked towards the stairway going up to the passenger coach, giving Clay and Kate a sideways glance but otherwise ignoring their teary display of affection. "Come on, Aiken. We need to be heading out." Turning back to them when the couple didn't so much as bat an eyelid at his words, Will scowled. "Clay - I hate long good-byes. Break it off, suck it up, and tell her you'll see her later."

At that the two finally broke the kiss but otherwise didn't go anywhere. Clay reached up to wipe the moisture from Kate's cheeks, knowing that his own were equally tear-stained. "Is there anything I can do or say to make you change your mind? Any way at all? I'll do anything, honey, anything to have you with me." Taking Kate's hands in his, he got down on his knees. "I need you, Kathryn, more than the very air that I breathe. Please come with me. Please..."

Kate shook her head, completely disconsolate at Clay's desperate words. "I want to, Clay, I want to more than I can say," she sobbed. "But my contract. How do I get out of my contract and give the school enough notice to find a teacher good enough and knowledgeable enough to pick up where I left off? How do I tell Principal Elliott that my place is with you and that I really need to go with you?"

"That's easy, dearie." Sally's voice carried through the crisp January air. "Tell him from the heart, like just you did with Clay."

"But there's no way I can give him enough notice. He's not going to understand," Kate moaned, too distraught to notice Clay's eyes widen with surprise.

"Try me," Principal Elliott told her as he came up behind her. Kate whirled around to face her boss face to face, the shock apparent in her eyes to see him here at this farewell. "Miss Ki - " Principal Elliott glanced briefly at Clay, who had stood back up, before turning back to Kate. "Did you really marry him Saturday?" When Kate held up her dual-ringed hand, Principal Elliott nodded. "Mrs. Aiken," he amended, "for all the stickler that I am for discipline and going by-the-book, I am not without heart. Answer me honestly: would you rather be with him?"

Sally muttered under her breath, "Is the pope Catholic?"

"Yes," Kate told him without hesitation. She started to speak again but her voice cracked so badly that she couldn't continue.

"Very well," Principal Elliott sighed. "I will consider that answer as your notice of resignation, effective immediately." As Kate hung her head, he studied her for a few minutes with guarded eyes. At last he spoke again. "Miss Daniels told me that your husband is going on tour this spring. How likely is it that you would be able to go with him?"

Clay was instantly ready with his answer. "I'd have to talk to my manager, but I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem at all. I'll make sure it's not a problem."

"Clay," Sarah said gently, "we've already talked to your manager. Your manager is ready to work out the details if Kate is able to get out of the rest of her teaching contract."

Principal Elliott smiled thoughtfully. "And considering how long we've been discussing this, Miss Daniels, I think we can finally let her know that I've already arranged a long-term substitute that is quite capable in both German and Spanish... and that I'm prepared to allow her the two weeks she wanted to give the school to plan out the rest of the year for the substitute."

"Hunh?" Kate asked, confused.

"Your best friend anticipated a potential conflict between your work ethic and the amount of time allowed for adequate notice given such a short engagement. She has been in communication with me for several months so that we would be well-covered if that happened."

As Kate's jaw dropped in shock, Sarah raised her eyebrow. "There was a reason I tried to get you to talk about it, Katydid... if you would have quit being so stubborn about it, I would have told you everything instead of having to spring it upon you at the last moment."

"Oh." Kate blinked at her principal. "You... you said something about two weeks...?"

Principal Elliott gave Kate a stern look. "I am willing to give you two weeks to prepare for the substitute we've arranged to take over your classroom. During those two weeks you are to plan the curriculum and lessons for the rest of the year. You will not be allowed back into your classroom until your last day - you need all that time to plan and organize things. Only on your last day will I give you the opportunity to give your students a proper good-bye."

Kate blinked with surprise. "My two weeks' notice... you've built in my two weeks notice. But... what about the lesson plans during those two weeks?"

Principal Elliott smiled. "Have you forgotten that I'm always asking for your lesson plans a month in advance? You've already planned them - they are ready and waiting for the substitute to teach them when school starts this week."

"Oh yeah..."

"There was a reason I was asking you about the tour, Mrs. Aiken. If you're going to be going with him on the tour, there will be a lot of interesting places that you will visit and a lot of things for you to do." Pausing for a moment, Principal Elliott clarified. "I've seen your lessons on travel," he reminded her. "You can write to your students in the language they're learning, and they're going to have to push themselves if they want to keep up with you and your adventures on his tour."

"Postcards," Kate mumbled. "Like postcards from various tour stops..."

"Exactly," Principal Elliott nodded. "I knew you'd find an angle to encourage the learning experience." He smiled at her. "Think you can handle your new assignment?"

Not about to pass up a miracle in the making, Kate nodded. "Yes, sir!"

Principal Elliott smiled. "Now try that good-bye with your husband again."

Kate immediately turned back to Clay. "Two weeks I think I can handle. It was six months that was absolutely going to kill me..."

Clay took her in his arms. "It won't even be two weeks if I have my say. Give me a couple of days to handle my appointment with Barry, and I'll be back to help you get ready. Maybe they'll let me have a couple of days in your classroom."

With a delicate snicker, Kate grinned wickedly. "This ought to be good... Think you can handle my little con artists?"

"Watch me." Clay stroked her cheek, a slight smile turning the corner of his mouth. "A couple of days is sure a lot better than a couple of weeks."

"It gets better than that, Clay," Kim told him. Leaning on Ruben's shoulder, she smiled at the couple. "Sarah talked Kate's principal into letting her out of her teaching contract... Sally cornered your manager for input at the reception... and we all packed some of Kate's things so she can go with you now."

Clay's eyes widened as Kate turned back to the group. "What?"

"You heard correctly, Mrs. Aiken," Sally told her, "we took care of everything. Sarah and Will and I packed some of your teaching supplies so that you could plan the rest of the semester out there in California. Your brother and Kim and Ruben packed some things from your apartment."

Ruben nodded as Kate gaped at them. "That's right, we got you all ready to go with Clay."

"Sis, you love him. You committed your life to him. You have to be with him," Andrew insisted. "We packed about a month's worth of clothes and personal things for you to take out there. You and Clay can always come back for the rest later." He jerked his thumb towards his minivan. "It's here - you can go with him right now if you want."

"You're serious..." Kate breathed. "All of you have... have..." Once more Kate broke down into tears, deeply moved at the show of love that their friends and family showed by doing this.

Clay stepped forward to take Kate into his arms, looking up at all of them with gratitude shining in his eyes. "How can we ever thank you enough for what you've done?"

"Just take her home with you," Sally said with a wry smile. "Build the kind of marriage that the two of you have always dreamed of having... starting right now."

Patricia looked Clay in the eye. "The strength of your marriage is going to be vital to you in your career. You two need to love and treasure each other... and pray for and with each other daily. He will draw you ever closer to Himself and each other."

"We will!" Buoyed up by the gift of new hope, Clay leaned forward until he was nose-to-nose with his wife. "I love you, Kathryn."

"I love you, Clayton," Kate replied, running her fingers through his hair just above his ear to bring him down for a tender kiss.

"Gak," Sarah muttered. "Get going already so that you two can start your future together. Save the mushy stuff for the plane ride where I don't have to watch."

"Don't encourage them," Will retorted, "because I still have to put up with that."

After casting a dirty look at Sarah and Will, Clay planted one last kiss on Kate's lips before following Andrew and a few of the other guys over to the minivan to grab Kate's things. Settling her important luggage in the cargo hold, they took her more personal belongings into the plane itself in order to give Kate time to say goodbye.

"Mom," Kate sniffled as she hugged her misty-eyed mother. "I love you so much. You are such a blessing to both of us."

"And you, honey," Patricia told her, "are the greatest gift I could ever ask for as a daughter."

"I will remember everything you've taught me, okay?" Kate moved on to share a hug with her father as well. "Love you, Poppa."

"Love you too, sweetie," Arthur croaked stoically. "Proud of you and your young man both."

Kate exchanged goodbyes with Andrew, Holly and the kids before moving on to Sally. "See you in Omaha, cous'," she told her.

"Wouldn't miss it, now that I'll have front row seats," Sally responded. "And I'm looking forward to going to Haiti with you guys."

Finally Kate stopped in front of Sarah. "Sarah... you'll always be my best friend. You're the sister I never had and always wanted."

Sarah smiled and shrugged casually. "Don't get too maudlin, Katydid - I have a conference out in L.A. later this month. I plan to spend some time with you two and Will while I'm out there."

"Give us the details later this week, and we'll be ready for you. We have a spare room you can stay in," Clay offered.

"Thanks, but no thanks, Clayton," Sarah shook her head. "I am not staying under the same roof as a pair of newlyweds... especially a pair as into each other as you two are. I'll grab a hotel."

"Sarah - " Kate protested.

"Gak, no. You couldn't pay me enough."

Kate snickered under her breath - that was Sarah for you. "Then I guess we'll be seeing you in a matter of weeks," she grinned at Sarah, hugging her warmly. "Thank you for everything."

"Anytime and always," Sarah returned. "And thanks for introducing me to Will. He's a dream come true, you know." As Kate started to follow Clay towards the plane, Sarah called back out to her. "Oh, and how often do you want a report of how your little con artists are coping in your absence? Daily, weekly..."

"What, do you have spies in the school that you plan on pumping for information?" Kate drawled.

"No, I'll get to hear them whine every day about what a mean teacher I am..."

Kate stared slack-jawed. Sarah's going to be my long-term sub??? Suddenly Kate knew why Sarah had insisted on working over the holiday - she was preparing her files to be transferred to another case worker. She glanced from Sarah to Principal Elliott and back again. These guys have thought of everything. Realizing the careful thought, planning and work that must have gone into this Herculean effort, Kate knew she didn't need to have a single worry about her classes. "Sarah, if it's you taking over in my classroom, I'm not worried about how well they'll get along. I'll see how quickly I can get you my curriculum outline and my plans, and let you work wonders from there."

"And we'll talk later to see how to work your new life into that curriculum," Sarah told her. "Meanwhile... get your rear end onto that plane and get out of here."

"Aye, Captain," Kate teased, following the others up the stairs and into the cabin of the plane.

No sooner were they on the plane and the door shut behind them when Clay gathered Kate into his arms for another passionate kiss. Kim groaned at the sight of their exchange of affection. "Are we going to have to lock you two in the bathroom?"

Clay broke the kiss with a contented sigh. "Not when we'll have the whole rest of the evening to ourselves in our new home."

Our new home, Kate sighed. She liked the sound of that. Buckling herself into a seat beside her husband, Kate snuggled into his arms as they waited for the others to move to a safe distance before taking off. She was looking forward to the rest of her future already...

Go to the sequel, I Would Go With You to the Ends of the Earth

Go to yesterday, Day 9 (December 31)

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