Remember WENN and its characters are copyright AMC, Howard Meltzer prods and Rupert Holmes. No infringement is intended. Joseph O'Malley, and any other original characters are mine. The story is also mine.
This is the final installment in the inadvertent series that 'Unexpected' started. It takes the events that began in Unexpected, Headaches, and It's A Start, to their logical conclusion.
A Happy Homecoming
by Michele Savage
December 30, 1941
Hilary adjusted the navy blue hat rim as she walked down the hallway to the front door of WENN. She was in a good mood; no, make that a really good mood. Not even Gertie could spoil it right now. Jeffrey was still in Washington, but she'd spoken with him last night and he'd told her he would be home in the next couple days.
Since the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor, government officials had taken a renewed interest in nearly anything that pertained to the war. Jeff had been called back to the capital to go over again, the details of his mission the last time he was in London. He'd been gone since before Christmas, and she missed him terribly.
He didn't have time to come home for the holiday, so Hilary had gone to Washington to spend Christmas with him. In all the years of their marriage, real or not, they had never spent a Christmas apart And with everything that had happened the past year; his trip to London, their break-up and subsequent make-up, she wasn't about to have let this one be the first. She spent five days with Jeff, having returned to Pittsburgh two days ago.
Hilary glanced at the clock at the end of the hallway and stepped up her pace. She was cutting it close. She smiled at the thought that Betty was probably pacing at the front door, script in hand. Ah, well. Betty would survive, as she always has.
She pulled open the door and sure enough, the harried scriptwriter was the first person Hilary saw. "Good Morning, Betty. I'm sorry I'm late." She took the script and made her way into the studio, leaving confusion in her wake.
"Did Hilary Booth just apologize for being late?" Betty asked Gertie, who shrugged and replied, "Maybe she has a fever."
"Maybe I'd better listen to Bedside Manor." Betty retorted and walked into her office to listen to the morning show. Miss Hilary and her gardener Simmons were in yet another on air argument. Betty briefly wondered what Scott had said. Though she noticed that this argument seemed a bit more playful. Hilary must really be in a good mood or she'd be standing over the desk at this very moment complaining quite loudly about Scott's shenanigan of the day.
It would certainly be nice when Jeff gets back from Washington and things could get back to some semblance of normal. Betty smiled as the thought occurred to her that normal for WENN was just under total chaos. But she wouldn't trade this place or her friends for all the money in the world.
"So Hildy," Scott said, holding the green room door open for Hilary after they left the studio, and earning a glare. He smiled and corrected, "Hilary." This gained him a satisfied smile, and a cup of coffee from Hilary before she sat opposite him at the table.
"Thanks," he acknowledged the coffee, "I just wanted to say, it's good to see you happy again. Or at least tolerable to be around."
"Thank you Scotty. I think." She grinned, "It's good to -be- happy again. I'd almost forgotten what it was like."
"Do you know when Jeff's gonna be back?" He asked before taking a sip of the hot coffee.
Hilary set her cup down, "Well, when I talked to him last night, he thought a couple days. But I really hope he gets home tomorrow."
"Why? What's tomorrow besides New Years Eve?"
"It's our anniversary." Hilary supplied in a reminiscent tone.
"Oh," Scott said, drawing the word out, then smiled rakishly, "Which one?"
"The first one." She returned his smile albeit a bit more sarcastically, "I mean our first wedding."
"The two week one."
"Shh..." Hilary shushed him, fairly certain that he & Betty were the only other people that knew. Well, and Alan Ballinger only because he tricked it out of her. They had parted as friends, but it still hurt a bit to think that the only person besides Jeff that she'd ever trusted easily had tried to use her.
"You still celebrate it?" Scott asked surprised, as he'd never pegged Hilary as the sentimental type.
She shrugged, "Yes, why not? We are still together."
Scott chuckled and got up refill his coffee cup. He bent over the chair next to his companion and said quietly, "Hey Hil, did you keep the receipt for that divorce? Cause I think it was defective."
Hilary laughed finding the joke funnier than Scott had expected. "No kidding." She finally retorted once she could speak again.
"Hilary, here's a telegram for you." Gertie pushed through the doors, walked to the table and handed her the yellow envelope.
Hilary said, between lingering chuckles, "So what does it say?"
"It..." Gertie stopped herself, then had the grace to look slightly guilty. "I hear a phone ringing." She muttered and left the room.
Hilary smiled satisfactorily and opened the envelope.
"You enjoyed that." Scott observed.
"No more than she enjoys tormenting me." Hilary replied, reading the telegram. ~Meet me at O'Malley's STOP Tonight at nine STOP ~ it read.
She slammed the telegram down on the table. "He's coming in tonight." She rushed excitedly out of the room and down to Gertie's desk. "Gertie, get me the train . . ."
"He's coming in on the seven thirty." The older woman interrupted. "You're welcome."
"Thank you, Gertie." She rushed back down to the green room and hurried Scott back into the studio. "C'mon Scotty, lets get this day over with."
For Hilary it felt like the day was crawling. Finally at six, she hurried into the writer's room. "Betty, it's six o'clock. Jeff's train comes in at seven thirty. I'm going to go, so I can change clothes and meet him."
"You look fine, Hilary." Betty noted, "Wait a minute. Seven thirty? You're on the air at seven thirty."
"Maple." Hilary supplied.
"Maple's on the air at seven thirty? Does Maple know this?" Betty asked.
"Yes. We've already discussed it." Hilary turned on her heel and rushed out of the office.
"Hey, wait ..." Betty ran to the doorway and yelled down the hall after the fast retreating woman. "Are you going to be back tonight?" She was answered with laughter as the front door shut behind Hilary.
Betty leaned against her doorframe and smiled as Scott as he approached. "You know those two are going to put me in an early grave."
Scott laughed, "How 'bout an early dinner?"
Betty smiled, "That's a good idea... considering things are going to get hectic later on, now that we are minus an actress."
Hilary looked around as she waited at the train station. She almost felt guilty meeting someone when so many people were saying goodbye. She'd noticed an almost palpable sadness come over the country since they'd joined the war. She prayed that Jeff wouldn't get drafted. He was the right age, but Scott had reassured her that most likely he'd be 4F because of the mental trauma he'd suffered while in London; or at the very most he'd have a desk job. It had made her feel better, but still she worried.
The train pulled in on time, and the passengers began to file out. Hilary kept a close eye out for Jeff because he very likely wasn't expecting her to be there. She didn't want to miss him among the throngs of people. She wound her way through the crowd to get closer to the train.
She smiled when she saw Jeff get off the train carrying that old worn suitcase of his, that, try as she might, she couldn't get him to replace. He looked at his watch and stepped off the platform. She pushed through a group of friends all saying goodbye to one another. Finally when she had somewhat a clear path she called his name. He didn't hear her, but three other men apparently named Jeff did. She smiled and excused herself, then started after her Jeffrey a bit faster.
"Pumpkin!" she called, figuring his nickname was a bit less common than his name. He stopped and looked around, having heard her, but unsure of where she was in the crowd. "I'm behind you, you crazy fool," she muttered. With him stopped she was able to catch up. "Jeffrey," she said softly
He turned, "Hilary darling, what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to meet your train." She lay a hand on his arm. "Nine is so late." She smiled and lifted a suggestive eyebrow, "And when have you ever known me to be patient."
He laughed, set his suitcase down and pulled her close. "I've never known Hilary Booth to be patient." He kissed her gladly, enjoying the feel of her in his arms again. "And no, I'm not surprised you're here."
"Let's get out of this noise." She suggested. The loudness of the train station was beginning to give her a headache.
He agreed and they walked arm in arm through the rest of the crowd and out into the crisp air of the evening. "Do you need to go back to the station?"
"Perish the thought." She smiled, "Maple, out of the goodness of my bribe, is covering for me this evening."
Jeff walked to the street curb and hailed a cab. When it stopped, he opened the door for Hilary and slid into the seat next to her. He told the driver where to take them and sat back as the car began moving.
He looked at the watch he was wearing, "We have a little over an hour and fifteen minutes till I was supposed to have met you at O'Malley's. A date, by the way, I intend to keep."
Hilary draped an arm over his shoulder and grinned, "I guess we'll just have to find something to keep us occupied for an hour." She leaned and whispered in his ear, "or so."
O'Malley's was crowded by the time Jeff and Hilary arrived. They walked up to the bar. "Hey Joe, you still have that table reserved for me?" Jeff asked over the music.
"You're a half an hour late, Singer." The portly Joe O'Malley said with his ever present smile.
Jeff put his arm around Hilary's shoulders, "so, I had an early appointment."
Joe laughed and picked up a pair of menus. "Of course I have a table for my favorite customers." He moved around the bar and walked with the couple to their usual corner booth. He waited until they settled in their seats and gave them the menus.
"You know, it's good to see the two of you together again." Joe observed. They both smiled in acknowledgment.
"Ah, wait one moment." He rushed back to the bar and returned shortly with two glasses of champagne. He placed both glasses on the table, "For you, from me. Enjoy your dinner."
"Thank you, Mr. O'Malley." Hilary picked up her glass and raised it in a toast to him. He winked and walked off leaving them alone.
She turned to Jeff, "It's been a heck of a year." He nodded in agreement. She finished with a gleam in her eye, "and if you ever put me through another year like this one, Jeffrey Singer, you -will- find yourself in pieces in a field somewhere in Kansas feeding the vultures and fertilizing the wheat." She clinked her glass against his lightly and took a drink.
"Guess I have several months of making it up to you to do, don't I?" Jeff asked with a joking grimace.
"You certainly do." Hilary agreed grandly, and took another drink of the champagne. "And you can start with dinner."
Jeff laughed and opened his menu. He chose entrées for both of them and bottle of "Your best champagne". Their food arrived in short time.
"Mmn ... this lasagna smells good." Hilary told Mr. O'Malley as he set her plate in front of her. "You tell Mrs. O'Malley that Jeffrey would love to have the recipe."
"I would?" Jeff asked confused
"Yes dear, you would." Hilary answered giving him an overly sugary look that told him that this was part of his 'making it up to her.'
"I guess I would." Jeff told the older smiling man, who laughed and promised he'd have his wife jot her recipe down.
While they ate their dinner, Hilary filled Jeff in on the happenings at the station since he'd been in Washington. They'd had their usual run ins with the sponsors courtesy of Scott Sherwood, Maple had asked Mackie to a winter dance and he'd accepted, and Mr. Foley had a new girlfriend that he wouldn't stop talking about. Jeff laughed as she told the stories. He ate the last of the pasta from his plate and set his napkin down, waiting till she finished her meal.
"Excuse me for a moment, darling." Jeff edged out of his seat, having noticed she'd eaten her fill. Hilary watched as he walked over to the band that Joe usually had playing during the holidays. He spoke to the bandleader who nodded and turned to his musicians and began playing a nice breezy melody. She recognized it right away and smiled. ~You Make It Christmas.~
Jeff approached the table and held his hand to her, "Pardon me Miss Booth, but, may I have this dance? Or do you not dance with married men?"
Hilary smiled up to Jeff, "Oh, I've danced with plenty of married men."
"Would you dance with this one?"
She laughed slightly and took his hand, letting him pull her to a stand and out to the dance floor. Hilary put her arm around Jeff's shoulder and swayed with him to the rhythm of the music. She looked up at him, "I heard a rumor that you weren't married."
"Hmm... I heard that rumor, too."
"Well, as good looking and charming as you are," Hilary rubbed his shoulder as she talked, "Surely some foolish woman will trap you in a marriage that you can't get out of."
Jeff laughed softly, "Would you?"
"Would I what?" she asked.
"Would you be that foolish woman?" He clarified, holding her tighter.
She smiled and leaned closer to his shoulder, "Are you asking me what I think you are?"
He tilted her face to his, "Yes, I am."
She giggled, "Well, I've been that foolish woman twice already, maybe this time I should tie the knot around your neck." She pulled his tie for emphasis.
He laughed, pulled her close and dipped her with dramatic flourish. He kissed her passionately, then stood her back on her feet. "I take it that's a yes?" he asked her.
"Well, if it wasn't then," she breathlessly answered, "it is now."
Jeff looked at his watch and noticed it was after twelve-thirty. He pulled Hilary back to the booth they had been sitting in and settled into the seat next to her, rather than across from her. He draped his arm across her shoulder and poured them both another glass of champagne. He lifted his glass in a toast, with Hilary following his lead.
"To the twice and future Mrs. Singer," he smiled when Hilary did, "Mexico is out of the question this time."
She laughed, "Oh, I completely agree." She touched her glass to his and then drank, "You name the time and the place, I'll consider being there."
He made a show of looking at his watch again, "How about now."
"Now?!" She asked surprised, "Jeffrey ..."
"Why not now?"
"It's the middle of the night." She replied, "People are sleeping."
"That's stopped us before?"
Hilary considered that, "Well, no..."
"Great!" Jeff edged out of the booth and pulled her with him. He got halfway to the door with Hilary in tow, when he stopped suddenly and turned. She ran into him, not seeing that he'd stopped until it was too late.
"We'll need witnesses."
"Just for the marriage, dear." She smiled and patted his chest, earning a sarcastic chuckle from him. "What about Pittsburgh?" she asked with a wave of her hand.
"WENN is off the air." Then he smiled, his mind catching on to a thought, "Betty."
"Oh, Jeffrey, she's probably sleeping."
"It won't hurt her to miss a couple hours sleep." He rushed to the bar, "Hey Joe, could you hand me that phone?"
"Sure, Jeff." The phone was put in front of him.
"Thanks." Jeff started dialing, "Oh," He looked back at Mr. O'Malley, "Could you put the dinner on our bill?"
"Did that an hour ago, m'boy." O'Malley answered and walked off to tend other customers around the bar.
Jeff waited until a very sleepy sounding Betty came to the phone. "Betty, it's Jeff. Could you meet Hilary and I at Justice Walker's house? Say...now?"
He drifted a finger over Hilary's arm, just wanting to touch her, while Betty answered him. "Oh, don't worry about a cab, Betty, I'll pay your fare."
"Great, thanks Betty." He gave her the address and hung up. They rushed out of the pub into the brisk December night. A cab was flagged down and soon they were on their way.
"Wait!" Hilary suddenly thought, "We should have one more person there." She leaned forward and gave the driver additional instructions for a stop on the way to the justice's house.
"Where are we going?"
"Scott Sherwood's place."
"Sherwood?"
"Jeff, he's been a good friend to me through ... everything. I'd like for him to be there."
"Alright darling, if that's what you want."
The cab stopped in front of Scott's apartment building, and Hilary asked Jeff if he would wait, while she went to get him.
Scott answered the door on her third insistent knock. He was scratching his head and looked rather annoyed. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw who it was. He tightened the knot of the robe he'd thrown on. "You know Hildy, I've often had a dream of being woken up in the middle of the night by the incessant rapping of a beautiful woman on my front door. But no offense ... you weren't in it."
She gave him a thin smile and pushed through him into his apartment. "Get dressed, Scotty. I need a favor from you."
"And what might that be?" He asked, watching her zealous movements with amusement.
"Jeff and I are getting married."
"Aw, gee, I'm shocked," Scott deadpanned. "You know you two get married more than I get my paper."
"Very funny." Hilary retorted. "Betty's going to be there." Knowing that would get his attention.
"Really? She will?" He perked up.
"Yes, really. Now get dressed!" She motioned for him to go. She sat on his small couch and waited until he returned fully clothed.
He came flying back into the living room wearing dark blue pants and buttoning his shirt, "Wait a minute. Now ... you're getting married?"
She nodded, "Yes, hurry up."
He left the room again, and returned shortly with a dark suit on.
"Is this ok?"
She walked up to him, looking him over. "Yes ... wait, your tie is crooked." She straightened it and then patted the knot. "There." She started to walk to the door, then turned back. "Thank you Scott," she said seriously.
"For what?"
"You know." She answered.
He smiled, and lay his hands softly on her shoulders. "I'm just glad things worked out the way they should have."
Hilary moved into his arms and hugged him warmly. "I am too."
"So lets go," he pulled away, "before Jeff wonders why we've been up here so long."
The cab pulled in front of Justice Walker's residence, and Hilary was surprised to find the lights on.
"It looks almost as if he was expecting us." She observed, then turned to Jeff. "Jeffrey ... "
"Ok, so I made one little tiny phone call before I left Washington." He confessed.
Hilary smiled, "Jeffrey Singer ...
"Hilary Booth," he answered back, "let's go get married." He opened the door and they stepped out of the cab. They walked-- hand in hand, Scott noticed, into the well lit house.
Scott followed, shaking his head in amusement.
Justice Thomas Walker was indeed expecting the couple. He'd already had things prepared for when they arrived. He waited until the two witnesses had stepped into the office he used for weddings. During the war, hasty overnight weddings had almost become the norm. It was nice to marry a couple who had been committed to each other for as long as this one had. Mr. Singer had explained to him the reason he'd wanted to re-marry his wife, and the reason for the post midnight timing. December thirty-first was their ten year wedding anniversary, and he'd wanted to surprise his wife by planning the wedding on this side of the day.
"Are we ready to begin?" Walker asked. When everyone nodded, he began.
Hilary only half heard what the man was saying. She was too busy watching her groom. She thought back to the day he tore her heart to shreds. Now, watching his eyes so sincere and full of love, she wondered how on earth she could have believed that woman. It was clear when he left, he had no intention of betraying her as she thought he had. It was clear when he'd defended her in that silly lawsuit that he loved her. And it was clear when he came back to the station and tried to get her to listen, that he needed her as much as she needed him. She was just too hurt then to see what had been clearly in front of her the entire time.
"Do you, Jeffrey Singer, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, from this day forward. In sickness and in health, for richer for poorer; till death do you part?"
Jeff smiled and held Hilary's hand tighter, "I always have."
The justice turned to Hilary and repeated the same vow to her. "Do you, Hilary Winslow Booth, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, from this day forward. In sickness and in health, for richer for poorer; till death do you part?"
She returned Jeff's smile, "Of course, I do."
Justice Walker, then turned to Jeff, "do you have a ring?"
"Actually, yes, I do." Jeff answered, pulling a box out of his suit coat pocket. He took the ring out of it's box and slipped the box back into his pocket. He swallowed a lump in his throat when he noticed a surprised Hilary blinking back tears.
He listened as Walker instructed him on the words to say, and slipped the ring onto Hilary's slender left ring finger. He was thrilled to have found the ring in Washington; a gold band with three diamonds on it. It couldn't have been more perfect, one diamond for each marriage. This one, he was damned determined to make the final one.
"I now pronounce you, husband and wife." Walker said, as he closed his book and watched as the couple kissed and embraced happily. Once their celebrating was over, he had them sign the proper paperwork, and congratulated them again.
Scott and Betty both signed their names to the certificate as witnesses. Walker had noticed them during the wedding as well. Their eyes never left each other's. He leaned forward and half jokingly asked, "Say, I don't suppose the two of you would like to get married while you're here."
Betty reddened slightly, "Oh ... uh ... no ... no thank you." She moved away and started to follow Jeff & Hilary out of the front door of the house.
Scott turned to the amused Justice and patted him on the arm. He chuckled lightly, "We'll get back to you on that." He turned and left as well, leaving a laughing Walker behind.
Hilary sat in the cab she shared now with Jeff alone, as Scott had escorted Betty back home. She leaned against her husband's shoulder and admired the ring that now rested on her left hand. He'd explained to her the significance of the three diamonds. "It's beautiful, Pumpkin."
He smiled, "Not quite as beautiful as it's new owner."
The cab pulled into their driveway and let the two out. They walked up to the door and Hilary waited until it was unlocked and opened for her. She turned blocking the doorway, so Jeff couldn't enter.
"Speaking of anniversaries," Hilary said, tracing his collar with a finger. "I believe we have two to celebrate tonight." She grabbed Jeff by the tie and pulled him into the house, letting the front door slam shut behind him.
The End