Remember WENN and its characters are copyright AMC, Howard Meltzer Prods and Rupert Holmes. Bethie Singer, Arlette Singer, Spaulding and Beverly Booth, Mary Ellis and any other original characters are copyright Michele Savage. The story is also mine.

A Bittersweet Christmas: Baby Singer #6

By Michele Savage

December 1942

Betty sat in the green room stirring the cup of hot cocoa she'd just made for herself. She wondered where her husband was at that moment. He'd left two weeks ago with the Army unit he'd been stationed with for the duration of his enlistment. The last letter she'd received from him gave no indication of where he was going. It seemed he wasn't even sure at the time.

"An'Betty," a little voice called from behind her. "Cookie."

She turned and saw Elizabeth Singer trying her darndest to reach a cookie jar that they had started to keep on the counter for her.

"I don't know Elizabeth. Shouldn't you have your lunch first?" She spoke to the toddler who was looking at her with expectant eyes.

"P'ease" Bethie walked, still tentatively, to Betty's leg.

Betty smiled and gave in, "Okay, I'll tell you what. We'll split the cookie." She stood and retrieved a cookie from the jar, broke it in half and gave the smaller half to Bethie.

She took a bite and smiled widely. "T'ankoo" she mumbled around the mouthful.

Betty picked her up and sat her on her lap so the floor would be spared more crumbs than it needed.

Bethie reached for the cup sitting near her. "Dink."

Betty pushed the steaming mug away from the reaching fingers. "That's hot, sweetheart. Aunt Betty will get you a cold drink." She walked back to the refrigerator and pulled out a pitcher of juice. Needing both her hands free, she set Bethie down at her feet, "You stay there while I pour this.

"'Tay" Bethie grasped Betty's leg and looked upwards watching intently as her juice was poured.

"Jeffrey, why didn't you tell me your mother was coming in this afternoon?" Hilary snapped and walked into the green room, making sure the baby was clear of the doors before opening them.

"Darling, I did tell you! I told you this morning the train was coming in today." Jeff followed his wife into the room, defending himself.

She stopped and thought, "You did?" The she smiled, "must have been before you distracted me."

Bethie toddled slowly to her parents. She latched onto her father's leg and gestured by opening and closing her outstretched hand the she wanted 'up'. "Daddy'up"

Jeff bent to pick up his daughter, then straightened. "Are you hungry yet, little pumpkin?"

"I just gave her the smaller half of a cookie," Betty said. "She might be a bit hungry."

Bethie nodded vigorously that she wanted to eat.

"Elizabeth, where are your shoes?" Hilary asked having noticed the baby was sock footed. She glanced around the room and noticed the discarded shoes near the radio in the corner. She picked them up and pulled Bethie out of her father's arms to put her shoes back on.

"No!" The little one objected loudly when Hilary sat with her in her lap and started to put the shoes on her feet. She tried to brush her mother's hands away.

Hilary grabbed the baby's hands and tried to hold them out of the way. "Elizabeth, you need your shoes on to go to lunch."

Bethie pulled away with an angry squeal, and pouted while Hilary finished tying her shoelaces.

Jeff crouched in front of the two and put his hand on the baby's leg. "We are also going to go to the train station and pick up Grandma Singer. She's going to stay for Christmas."

"G'am'Mary?" Bethie questioned as she reached for Jeff.

Jeff took her, stood and extended a hand to Hilary for her to stand as well, "No Bethie, Grandma Singer is my mama. Grandma Mary might come to visit tomorrow."

"Okay," Hilary turned to Betty, "We are leaving. Are you sure there is no reason for us to come back tonight?"

"No, between Mackie, Gus, Maple, Eugenia, and myself, I think we can survive tonight." Betty explained, "Go, enjoy the rare evening off." She smiled.

"Do I look alright?" Hilary asked, straightening the collar of her steel gray suit. They were sitting in the terminal waiting for the train to arrive.

"Darling, you look just as beautiful as you did five minutes ago when you asked me the same question." Jeffrey answered with a touch of frustration in his voice.

"Pumpkin, this is the first time I have met your mother. " Hilary answered. "I'm a little nervous."

Bethie stood against her mother's knee and pulled at the ribbon holding the small dark red velvet hat on her head. "Off."

Hilary bent to loosen the bow under her daughter's chin and opened the first couple buttons on her overcoat as well.

Jeff chuckled, "You're a little nervous? Darling, it's just my mother; you've spoken to her on the phone many times."

She smiled and leaned back, "Well, I didn't say my nerves were justified. I just want her to like me."

The arrival of the train was announced just prior to the sound of the train itself. Hilary picked Bethie up and stood with Jeffrey to wait until the passengers disembarked.

Jeff saw his mother step off the train and smiled. Having grown up without a father figure in his life, his mother had been very important to him. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed seeing her until she came into view. Her black hair held more streaks of gray, but, she still looked no different to him now than she had on the day he left home.

He stepped forward into her view and was glad to see her face brighten as she saw him.

She stepped up her pace and reached him, "Jeffrey!"

He bent slightly lower to hug his mother tightly, "Mere. I'm so glad you could make it."

"I nearly didn't. What with all the boys marching themselves off to war, it's nearly impossible to get a train ticket these days. But I was bound and determined to see my granddaughter and you know how I can get when I want something." She explained in a lilting French accent.

Jeff laughed, "Yes mom, I do."

Hilary stepped forward and waited patiently for Jeff and his mother to break off their hug. She was surprised to see that Arlette Singer was a very small woman. She smiled at the thought that apparently the height had come from Jeffrey's father.

Mrs. Singer stepped away from her son to greet the rest of his family. Jeff turned and rested a hand on the small of his wife's back. "This is Hilary"

"Hello, dear." The older woman acknowledged nicely, but, as Hilary noticed a bit flatly. Inwardly she was disappointed. * Maybe I just read her wrong.*

Arlette turned her attention to the baby, "And who is this lovely young lady?" She reached to take her, "You must be Elizabeth."

Bethie leaned into her grandmother's arms and corrected, "Beffie"

"Bethie," Jeff clarified.

"So you like to be called Bethie then." Arlette said buttoning the top buttons on Bethie's coat that Hilary had just unbuttoned. "Well, you can call me grandma, okay sugar."

"G'ma" the baby repeated and tugged on her collar.

Hilary stepped up and undid the top button. "She doesn't like things too tight on her neck." She explained.

"Oh, but it's cold outside I am sure. Does she have a little scarf?" Mrs. Singer questioned.

Hilary smiled tightly, stepped behind her mother-in-law and gave Jeff a frustrated look. She silently mouthed, "she hates me," to Jeff who helplessly smiled in return.

"Mom, Bethie's hat covers her ears just fine and turning up the collar keeps the wind off her neck. For early December it isn't terribly cold outside." Jeff stepped in to mediate.

He took Bethie from his mother and handed her to her own mother, "Here, let Hilary take the baby and we'll walk over to get your luggage. Then we can be on our way."

Hilary walked behind the two and unfastened the second button. "There sweetie, but, we'll have to button it again before we leave."

"Tank'oo mama." Bethie said and gave her mother a hug.

Jeff thoroughly enjoyed seeing his mother after so many years. Being the baby of the family, he'd been spoiled and coddled as a child. His father had been killed soon after the United States had joined in World War One. He'd been nine years old at the time, and had received the brunt of his mother's bereavement in the form of smothering attention.

Now he watched his mother nit-picking at everything Hilary did whether it was in how she was raising Bethie or how she was treating him. He knew Hilary was trying as hard as she could to please her mother-in-law, but nothing she did seemed to work. He had a feeling it would soon rest on his shoulders to make some sort of peace between them.

A Week Later

Jeff walked back toward the green room after having seen Hilary and Bethie off for home. He looked at his watch and noted he had another few minutes before he had to be on the air. Maybe he'd take this time to approach Victor with his idea. He had wanted to make sure Hilary wasn't around before bringing it up, as he knew she'd be upset with him.

With Scott gone, Victor had assumed the full managerial position he'd been sharing with the other man since getting the clean bill of health from the hospital. Jeff knocked on the half opened door and entered when he was acknowledged. He shut the door behind him and walked further into the room.

"Hi Jeff, what's on your mind?" Victor said with a smile as the younger man took a seat in front of the desk.

"Victor, I had an idea that I'd like to run past you." Jeff spoke up leaning closer to the desk and speaking somewhat with his hands.

"What kind of idea?" Victor questioned.

"Well, I was thinking, do you remember the broadcast we did from London?"

"A little too well."

Jeff halfheartedly smiled at the shared memory, "No, I meant the concept behind the broadcasts. I've been listening to some of the other stations, and around here at least there is nothing like what I have in mind."

Victor sat straight, "And... that would be?" he asked, not sure where the conversation was going.

"Personal news reports from the front-lines."

Victor stood and walked around the desk. He sat on the edge forcing Jeff to sit back and look upwards at him. "That's a great idea," he stated, his eyes lighting up, "but who do you have in mind to go."

"Uh ... me." Jeff responded hesitantly.

Victor moved to sit in the chair next to Jeff so he could better speak to him on his own level, "Jeff, I can't in good conscious send a man who has a family into that hell hole just for a story. You realize you could be killed."

"Not just -a- story Victor," Jeff pressed on as if he hadn't heard his boss's statement. "But many stories. I've done some checking into it and though I'll have to go through some basic training myself, I can go along with a troop as a civilian reporter and tell their stories. As they happen. This is a golden opportunity Victor."

The station manager sat back and thought. The idea did intrigue him. Though he didn't want Jeff to be the one to go, he knew with the younger man's simple outlook on life, he'd be the perfect person for this type of job. "Have you spoken to Hilary about this?"

"No. I didn't want to bring it up to her until I knew for sure I was going. I didn't want to worry her needlessly." Jeff answered.

Victor took a deep breath, "Let me think this over Jeff. I'll let you know tomorrow."

"All right. Thank you Victor." Jeff stood and left the office to go on about the rest of his work day.

Hilary stood at the kitchen sink giving Bethie her evening bath. Because the kitchen was warmer in the winter than the upstairs bathroom, she'd taken to bathing Bethie there. The house was quiet for the moment, as Jeff was still at work and his mother had gone to a USO Volunteer meeting with Florence Grey. The radio was on and she could hear Maple reading the book for the Library Theatre. That meant Jeffrey was probably on his way home.

Now that Bethie was getting a little older, Hilary had started coming home earlier in the evening so the baby could be bathed and ready for bed before nine. She found that she enjoyed these quiet moments alone with her daughter. She was a little jealous of the fact that Bethie and her father were inseparable and times like these allowed her to develop her own relationship with the baby.

Bethie slapped her hand down into the water splashing herself in the face. She blinked, surprised, then laughed. Hilary smiled and with her finger wiped some of the droplets off the little face. "You silly girl."

The giggling child reached her dripping hand out and pointed to her mother's nose. Hilary leaned closer so the tiny hand could reach. "wat'r"

"Did you splash mama, too?" Hilary asked playfully. She let Bethie wipe away the water. "Is that Mama's nose?" She pointed to the tiny nose, "Who's nose is this?"

Bethie pointed her finger at her own nose then, "Beffie's"

Hilary smiled, "Yes! Bethie's. What's this?" She pointed to the side of the little head.

"Beffie ear." She answered with a giggle. "Wh'dat?" Bethie pointed to her eyes, enjoying the game of questions.

"You tell me." Hilary urged with a laugh.

Bethie threw her hands up and shouted gleefully, "Eyes!" She dropped both arms into the water, this time getting most of it down the front of her mother.

Hilary stepped back quickly, "Just who's bath is this Elizabeth Singer." She said with a chuckle.

"What I want to know is who's mopping this floor?" Jeff spoke up from the doorway he'd been silently watching from for the few minutes he'd been home.

"Daddy!" Bethie squealed and reached her arms out.

He walked to the sink and bent to her level. "What's this?" he asked pointing to her mouth.

"Mouf" She answered, smiling against her father's finger.

"Mou-TH" Jeff repeated enunciating the TH sound that she had trouble with.

"Mouff-th" she tried again.

Jeff smiled, "close enough," and gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

Bethie enthusiastically threw her arms around Jeff's neck and loudly kissed him.

Hilary leaned against the sink, propping her head with her arm, and draping the other hand in the still warm sink water. "You know, a girl could get jealous." She jokingly observed, flicking a finger of water at him.

He turned to her and smiled, then reached to grab her by the neck of her dress and pulled her into a slow kiss.

Bethie moved to the end of the sink and pushed at her mother, "My daddy!"

Hilary glanced at the wet toddler who was trying to insinuate herself between her parents. "I thought I was the jealous type." She observed with a light laugh.

"Bethie, you are going to fall." Jeff said as he sat her back into the sink. "Why don't you finish her bath before she turns into a pruned little pumpkin. I'll see if I can dig up something to eat." He then looked around, "Where's mom?"

"She went to that USO meeting with Mrs. Grey. She said she wanted to help out since she was going to be here the whole month." Hilary explained while taking Bethie out of the sink and cocooning her warmly into a towel.

"Oh, yes that's right."

"Here give daddy a night night kiss." Hilary leaned closer so Bethie could say goodnight to Jeff.

"Nigh daddy."

After Bethie said her goodnights, Hilary took her upstairs, dressed her and put her to bed.

When she returned to the kitchen fifteen minutes later, Jeff was finishing up a sandwich and had gotten the mop out to dry the floor.

"Oh, good," he said when she reentered the kitchen and walked to the sink, "here." He tossed the mop to her.

"What is this?" She asked having caught the wood handle.

"It's a mop, Hilary." Jeff explained with a with a bit of mischief in his voice. "You hold it with this end, and you dry the floor with this end." He dramatically explained walking up to her, "Amazing how they work, really."

She gave him a mildly amused glare, "Isn't it." She scooped a handful of now tepid water and splashed it in his face. Jeff responded by doing the same. Hilary laughed and splashed a bigger wave of water his way.

"You know darling, you are already soaked." He observed as he grabbed a glass off the counter, turned on the faucet and filled it.

"No!" Hilary protested trying to wrest out of the grip of the arm tightly wrapped around her waist. She laughed and defensively scraped more water over him. He dumped the full contents of the glass down the front of her dress. She took a deep breath, "Oh Jeff that's cold!"

"Oh, it was?" he gave her a wide eyed innocent look, "I'm sorry."

"You--" he stopped her flow of curses with an abrupt kiss. "Please Hilary." He remarked with a chuckle, "We have no idea when my mother will get home."

"About two minutes ago" a delicate French voice spoke up behind them, unamused.

Jeff moved away so quickly, Hilary nearly lost her balance. She grabbed the sink behind him for leverage and pulled the soaked front of her clothes away from her skin.

"Mere! Mom! We were just," he paused to think of an excuse, "cleaning up after Bethie's bath."

Arlette nodded no more believing his excuse than he did. "You'll get less water on the floor if you stop putting it there." She turned and walked into the living room.

"Well," Hilary said, "an astonishing piece of advice." She punctuated the sentence with another scrape of the sink water at Jeff. He gave her a bemused look and pulled the plug out of the sink. Together they settled into cleaning the mess they had made.

Arlette sat on the couch reading the newspaper. She'd just watched her son and his wife sheepishly take themselves up the stairs to presumably put on dry clothing. She smiled in spite of herself at the playful waterfight she'd walked in on. It was obvious the two doted upon each other, but, there was still some niggling dislike of her daughter-in-law that she couldn't shake.

Granted Hilary Booth was an excellent mother to her granddaughter and an attentive wife to her son. It was her way of over-dramatizing everything that grated on nerves. Then there is the point of her not changing her name.

Arlette's thoughts were interrupted when Jeff came bounding down the stairs two at a time. He kissed her on the cheek and sat down next to her.

"So, how was your meeting." He asked having settled into the couch.

"It went well. I will be going to some Christmas functions for the Soldiers that will be leaving soon after. Perhaps you could ask Hilary if she would help out, or would something like that be ... beneath her talents."

"Mom!" Jeff sternly reacted.

She put her hands up, "All right, I'm sorry I said that. I apologize."

"Mere, we have to talk about this. I'm tired of watching you thumb your nose up at Hilary, I'm tired of the short remarks. She is my wife, you are my mother. I would like the two most important women in my life to at least be civil toward each other."

"Jeffrey I have tried. Miss Hilary BOOTH is the one ..."

"Mother, I know for a fact that Hilary is bending over backwards to try to please you. She wants you to like her, but, you are just not trying." Jeff told her pointedly.

"I will not have you speak to me in that tone of voice Jeffrey Singer." Arlette scolded and started to stand.

He grabbed her arm and forced her back to the couch. "Let's take care of this now, so we can have a pleasant Christmas. I haven't seen you since I left home and I would like to spend a nice holiday with my family."

There was an urgency in his voice, Arlette noted, and she sat again to listen to him. "All right."

"Exactly what has Hilary done?" he asked trying to get to the root of the problem.

"More like what hasn't she done." She mumbled under her breath.

Jeff quirked his eyebrows questioningly, "I don't follow you."

"Jeffrey is your father's name not good enough for her?" Arlette blurted.

"What?" Jeff remarked surprised. "That's her stage name, mom. It is the

name she is most recognized for."

"I haven't seen her on a stage lately." Arlette criticized a bit sharply.

Jeff took a deep frustrated breath, "She's retired from stage work. That, by the way, was a big sacrifice that she made for both Bethie and myself."

"That's all well and lovely Jeffrey, but, I was proud to take James Singer's name when I married him. If your Hilary loves you half as much as she claims to, she'd be honored to take your name." The woman stood straightened her dress and walked up the steps into the guest bedroom. Jeff rolled his eyes and sat back hard against the couch. "She -has- taken it." He said quietly knowing no one could hear him. After a few moments, he gave a frustrated growl and pushed off the couch. He walked through the house making sure all the doors were locked and lights were out before heading up to bed himself.

Hilary stood next to Jeffrey sharing a microphone while doing the Hands Of Time. Today Brent and Elizabeth were coping with a cousin of hers that had appeared on their doorstep out of the blue. Mackie was reading the lines of her cousin with his usual aplomb.

She glanced up into the control room and saw Bethie sitting on her mother-in-law's lap. Hilary waved catching the little girls attention and smiled when Bethie laughed. She looked back at her script and read her lines with the feeling that she was being evaluated.

Hilary felt Jeff lay a hand gently on the small of her back. She turned to him and softly smiled; his touch never failed to make her feel better, no matter how subtle it was. The Hands of Time soon was over for the day, and Hilary walked into the green room.

She stretched and noting the time was nearly two in the afternoon, she walked back to the control room to gather her daughter for her afternoon nap.

Mrs. Singer followed her into the green room and seated herself in the chair while Hilary sat on the red velvet sofa and prepared to change Bethie's diaper.

Having finally decided to broach the subject with Hilary, "Miss Booth," Arlette started, noting the perplexed look on the younger woman's face, "Have you ever considered my son's feelings every time you are referred to as a single woman?"

"Everyone who knows me knows that I am married, Mrs. Singer." Hilary rebutted referring to the woman as formally as she'd just been referred. "I have never kept that a secret."

"Well if you have never kept it a secret then why are you clinging to your last name."

"Because I--," Hilary started to explain, but then stopped. She'd started to say because that was the name all her fans know her by, but had she taken Jeffrey's name when they married then that -would- be the name she'd been known for. Why -was- she clinging to Booth?

She let the sentence hang unfinished and instead refocused her attention fully on diapering the squirming Bethie she was holding. She noticed with a groan that the diaper had soaked clear through to her dress. Hilary stripped her of the wet clothes and diaper and turned to get a clean dry set of clothes out of her bag. She heard a rambunctious giggle and out of the corner of her eye saw Bethie tear through the green room doors.

She heard Arlette start to go after the speeding child, but Hilary told her to stay put and ran out of the room herself. She stopped and looked both ways down the hallway to see which way Bethie had run. She heard her laughing in the lobby and saw Gertie move to retrieve her.

"Elizabeth Booth Singer!" She scolded as she rounded the corner to collect her naked child. She stopped cold in her tracks realizing with embarrassment there were two people sitting in the lobby. She collected her highly amused daughter from Gertie and started to return quickly to the green room to dress Bethie. Other than an "excuse me" she hardly gave the couple in the lobby a second glance.

"Hello Hilary." A humored female voice said.

She hadn't heard the voice in years, but she recognized it instantly. She turned, "Mama?" She then noticed the man her mother was with. "Papa?" That was odd. Her parents had been divorced for many years. "What are you doing here?" She said, then realized that had sounded very rude, "I mean ... uh... come on back to the green room. I need to dress the naked jay bird here." She stammered.

As they passed her she gave Gertie a glaring look, "Why didn't you tell me they were here?" She whispered.

Gertie smiled sweetly and answered the phone that chose the opportune time to ring.

Hilary led her parents to the green room She noticed that Arlette was in deep conversation with Maple.

"Hiya Hilary. Did Bethie lose something here?" Maple held up the dress with a grin

Hilary forced a smiled and told her parents they could make themselves comfortable. "Maple have you seen Jeffrey lately?" She asked pulling the dress roughly out of Maple's hands and shooing her off the couch to dress the baby.

"I just saw him go into Victor's office."

"Oh." Hilary glanced up at the office window with a light look of confusion on her face. She couldn't see from her vantage point, but she was curious about what the two men were talking about.

Jeff sat and watched Victor pace. He could tell he was wrestling with the decision. "Well?" he asked again.

"Jeff, I think it's a very good idea." The pacing man answered.

"But?"

"But I don't know if you are the one we should be sending. If you go to

the front lines of this war and get yourself killed, you realize Hilary would kill me." Victor said with a slight laugh and sat in his desk chair.

"Victor there is no one else from here you can send, you know that as well as I do."

Victor leaned forward, "Do you really know what you are volunteering for here? That bomb in London was just a appetizer compared to heavy artillery fire. Can you handle that? Being shot at daily? Having grenades and small bombs thrown at you? It's hell Jeff."

Jeff sat back and silently considered everything he'd been thinking the past few weeks. "Victor. This is something I really want to do. Because of the injuries I got in London, I doubt I would pass a full physical to join the military. But this way, I can feel like I have served this country in the best capacity I know. I can tell them about it."

"How much are you going to tell Hilary?"

"I'd planned on telling her that I would go with the unit I'm sent with, but that I'm not going to be on any front lines." Jeff answered honestly.

"Don't you think she'll find out through your transcripts where you are?"

"Yes, but by then I will be gone and she can't talk me out of it."

Victor thought, then sat back and picked up his telephone, "Ok, I'll call my contacts in Washington and see what I can arrange."

Jeff stood and started for the door, "Thank you Victor."

"Don't thank me, Jeff. Just stand between Hilary and me when she finds out."

Jeff laughed and left Victor to his phone call, shutting the door behind him.

Jeff walked into the green room and found it full of laughing people, and a very frustrated looking Hilary. Bethie saw him first and ran toward him with her arms outstretched

Hilary caught the appreciative raised eyebrow her mother gave Jeffrey as Bethie ran toward him. Inwardly she groaned and hoped she misread the look. It was bad enough that Jeff's mother disliked her, she didn't need this on top of it.

She walked up to him and possessively grabbed his arm, "Jeffrey darling, These are -my- parents." The two stood to greet Jeff, "My father, Spaulding and my mother Beverly Booth."

Jeff outstretched the hand that wasn't holding Bethie, "Hello. It's nice to finally meet Hilary's parents. When did you come in?"

Hilary's father spoke up in a deep resonant tone, "We were able to swing tickets on the train by luck. We thought we'd surprise you and meet our granddaughter."

"Given that she wasn't going to come meet us herself." Hilary's mother quipped in a tightlipped tone.

Jeff laughed humoring her. His experience with Hilary had taught him to take the comments with a large grain of salt and reply accordingly. "Oh, it's not easy to get away with our schedule here at WENN. Being on the air so much it barely gives us time for ourselves."

"Yes, well, a woman Hilary's age shouldn't need to work so hard if she has a husband who can support her." Her mother retorted crossing her arms challengingly.

Jeff could feel Hilary's anger start to boil and bent his arm to grab her hand that still clutched his arm. "Darling! Looks like it's time for us to be on the air." He pulled her through the doors and down to the end of the hall.

"Did you hear what she just said! I'll kill her. And you wonder why I left home when I did!" Hilary ranted to Jeff while pacing the hallway outside the writer's room. "It was bad enough that she had to insult me. But she insulted you in front of your mother! And speaking of your mother... I just got read the riot act because I use my own last name on the air, never mind that I have been using Singer off the air for nearly a year now, does she think of that, no!" Hilary threw her hands up in frustration. "Jeffrey," she suddenly calmed and drew closer to him, "does it bother you that I don't use your last name in public? Tell me honestly."

Bethie whined frustratedly and tried to push Hilary away.

"Elizabeth, now is not the time to get possessive over your daddy." Hilary scolded a bit sharper than she'd meant. The baby let out another whine and lay her head on Jeff's shoulder with her arms tightly wrapped around his neck.

"Honestly Hilary, it did bother me. But that was at first and I have since come to realize that no matter what your last name is you are my wife, that won't change. My mother will come around. She's just a bit old fashioned when it comes to things like that."

She stepped back, feeling better, but still troubled about the issue of her own parents. "Where are we going to put my parents? I don't even know why they are together, they divorced when I was five."

"I could bring home two of the cots we have here. We could let them have our room and sleep in the den." Jeff suggested.

"I am not giving up my bed for my parents." Hilary objected, "they marched in unannounced, they can find a hotel room." She snapped, turned on her feet and strode back into the green room.

Jeff let out a long drawn out breath and lay his forehead against the wall. Bethie leaned up and was patting him comfortingly on the cheek.

Maple walked around the corner en route to Studio B when she noticed Jeff, "Hey, you okay?"

He looked at her and smiled, "I'm just trying to decide whether or not to move in here for the rest of the month."

Victor walked around the corner, "Jeff, there you are. Can I speak with you for a moment?"

He looked up, "Oh, yeah sure." Jeff set Bethie on the floor and gave her hand to Maple, "Would you take Bethie to Hilary, please."

"Sure thing." She looked down, "C'mon cutie, let's go find your mama." Maple walked off with the toddler in tow.

"Let's go on onto my office." Victor suggested and gestured for Jeff to lead the way.

Victor shut the door behind him. "Well Jeff," He walked behind his desk and sat, "I have spoken to my contacts, and they have agreed to pull some strings to get you assigned to an infantry division. This means that you will probably have to go through basic training. I'm not sending you out there with no ability to defend yourself should the need arise."

"Okay, I understand." Jeff answered.

"Now, because you are for all intents and purposes joining the military, you will have to pass a physical."

"Victor, I--" Jeff started.

"You can pass the physical portion of it, correct? You're injuries obviously weren't debilitating."

"Yes, that I could pass with flying colors."

Victor leaned closer, "Jeff, how are you doing, otherwise?"

"You mean with my flashbacks and nightmares?" Jeff questioned, then continued when Victor nodded, "I haven't had a nightmare in several months. The last flashback I had was last summer I think. But it was easily shaken off."

"Are you going to be able to handle a battlefield?" Victor asked.

"Have you taken a peek in the green room lately?" Jeff asked with a smile. "Honestly, I've given it a lot of thought. I think I can pass a physical enough to be able to at least be an observer."

Victor sat back, "Well, okay. You need to report to the Recruitment office as soon as you receive the papers that are being sent from Washington. Those will specify that you are classified as a civilian journalist. You realize you will be gone for the duration of the war?"

"Yes," Jeff replied, "I knew I'd be gone for some time."

"Well, until you get the papers, all we do now is wait." Victor told him, "You should tell Hilary."

Jeff agreed and stood, preparing to leave. He caught a glimpse of his wife and daughter through the small window. Bethie was running from grandparent to grandparent and Hilary was sitting at the table looking as though she'd rather be anywhere else but there. He smiled wistfully then turned, "Victor, do me a favor. Take care of my ... ladies ... while I am gone."

Victor returned his friend's smile, "They'll be fine Jeff."

"Yeah." Jeff whispered in an emotional voice, then turned, took a deep breath and opened the door.

Hilary left the green room to go into the studio with her next show. She ran into Jeff who was just leaving Victor's office. "You are certainly spending an awful lot of time in there. Anything wrong?"

He looked at her and smiled, "Oh, no darling. Nothing's wrong. Victor and I are just talking about a new show for me."

Hilary straightened, "Oh, really." She said, curiosity in her voice, "What about?"

He smiled and cupped her chin, rubbing her cheek with his thumb, "I'll explain all about it later." He nodded his head toward the studio. "Go on, or you're Supper will be late."

She squeezed his hand on her chin and walked into the studio. As the doors swung shut behind her she turned to watch her husband walk into the green room. She furrowed her brows in consternation, something about the look in Jeff's eyes when he touched her was troubling . She shook the feeling off for the moment and continued with her broadcast.

When Supper With Hilary Booth was over, Hilary returned to the green room and noticed everyone seemed to be laughing and getting along. Jeff glanced up from behind the tower of blocks on the table that he and Bethie were busily building.

"Darling, Victor told us we could have the rest of the evening off , so I made reservations for all of us at Bella's." he looked at his watch, "The reservations are for eight, so we might want to get ready to go now."

"Well," Hilary clapped her hands together and tried to look enthused, "This should be fun."

"I also invited Mary." Jeff added earning a look from Hilary that plainly asked what he was up to.

Hilary sat in the four passenger taxicab that she was sharing with both her parents and looked out the window. Since there had been so many of them it was decided that they take two taxi's. Jeff and Bethie rode with his mother in the other car. Hilary sat in the seat facing the back of the car, and her parents sat facing her in the opposite seat.

"So, this husband of yours, has he been around long?" Her mother broke the peaceful silence with the curt question.

Hilary slowly glanced her mother's way, "Pardon?"

"He's awfully young, Hilary. What is he? Twenty?" Beverly purposefully goaded

Hilary blinked, not quite believing what her mother had just said.

Beverly continued, "Really Hilary, you should be enjoying your later years being pampered by some very rich man, not working yourself to death in an insignificant little radio station in Pennsylvania helping to support a man half your age."

"Beverly Booth," The balding man sitting next to her sharply intoned.

"Oh, shut-up Spaulding. You couldn't support your own drinking problem half the time. Why do you think I divorced you thirty-six years ago."

"Beverly, you were the reason for my drinking problem." Spaulding admitted bitterly.

Hilary rubbed her now throbbing temple and finally threw her hands up, "all right, all right, all right, enough!" She angrily pointed to her mother, "For your information, Jeffrey is only eight years younger than I am, and I am NOT ready for a rest home. The insults will stop now, or I will kindly ask you to leave my family to a pleasant Christmas without you!"

Beverly harrumphed and turned to gaze out the window she was sitting next to. Hilary looked at her father with quizzical expression. He reached forward and patted her knee and mouthed, "we'll talk about it later, Dumplin' "

Jeffrey leaned against the side of the other taxi, watching his mother play patty cake with his daughter. Every so often he would lay his hand out for Bethie to pat and laugh at her. Now that he knew for sure that he was going to Europe he was observing the baby closely, wanting to memorize all her little features. He hoped the war would be over soon, because he didn't relish the idea of missing too much of her life. He'd felt the same way this afternoon when he spoke with Hilary in the hallway. He'd just wanted to hold her, to feel her in his arms. He wasn't gone yet, and already he missed them both.

"Jeffrey?"

His mother's voice pulled him out of the memories, "Oh what, I'm sorry, I was lost in thought."

" 'Tis alright, son." Arlette smiled softly, "Well, your Hilary's mother is a prize isn't she."

Jeff laughed, "She certainly is. I hope you weren't bothered by what she said this afternoon. I've learned to overlook most of the insults a Booth woman throws at me."

"I spoke to Hilary this afternoon." She said, changing the subject.

"Yes, I know. I wish you hadn't, mom. Hilary loves me, I don't need for her to change her name to prove it; she's proven it many times over."

"Well, I'm sorry. I will tell you she's starting to grow on me."

Jeff smiled as Bethie decided she'd rather sit on his lap and crawled over to him, "I'm glad to hear that, Mere, because Hilary is going to need all the support she can get," Jeff stopped mid-sentence realizing what he'd almost admitted, "uh ... I mean with her parents here." He stammered.

"What do you mean by that?" His mother asked.

"It's nothing you need to," he stopped knowing full well she'd drag it out of him, "you'll find out later." He didn't want to say anything about his upcoming foray into the war without Hilary being present.

The taxi stopped in front of the Italian restaurant and Jeff stepped out carrying Bethie and helping his mother. "Mama!" Bethie yelled having noticed her mother standing near the door waiting.

Hilary walked up to them and stretched her arms out to take the baby. Bethie leaned into her mother's arms and then shivered a bit, "Brrr'told!"

"Come on, lets go in before the little pumpkin freezes to death in the ten feet from here to the door." Jeff said, tapping her nose.

"Mary is already here, Pumpkin, she went ahead and got the table."

"Mary?" Arlette asked as they walked into the warm building.

"G'amma!" Bethie answered, as if she should have known.

"Who?"

"I'll explain it when we introduce you, Mom" Jeff told her as he took their coats and hung them on the provided rack.

The Booths were already sitting at the table with Mary when the rest of the family arrived. Bethie pitched herself abruptly toward Mary, nearly causing Hilary to spill her into the woman's lap. "G'amma!" she squealed in delight.

"Hello, darlin'," Mary said, giving the small girl a peck on the cheek, "Be careful, Miss Bethie, you don't want your Mama to drop you now, do you?"

Bethie responded by shaking her head "no" and leaning back into Hilary's arms.

Spaulding Booth stood and helped Mrs. Singer into her seat next to him and opposite Mary. Hilary sat Bethie in the high chair that had been requested and then Jeff helped her into her own seat at the head of the oval table. He walked to Mary and bent to kiss her cheek, "Hi Mary, busy day at the hospital?"

"Oh, it always is this time of year Jeffrey." She answered patting his hand that rested on her shoulder.

"Have you been introduced to the Booths yet, Mary?" Jeff asked, unsure of where to start the introductions.

"Not formally no, but we were making our acquaintances when you walked in." Mary answered in her heavy English accent.

"Ok," Jeff replied, "This is Beverly," he gestured to the woman seated next to Mary then across the table, "and Spaulding Booth, Hilary's parents." Then he gestured across the table opposite Mary, "and this is my mother, Arlette Singer." He then lay both hands on Mary's shoulder's. "This is Mary Ellis. She's as much a part of mine and Hilary's family as if she were related by blood. She ... if it wasn't for Mary, I'd have never gotten out of London alive, two years ago. She pulled me out of a bombed out building and saved my life."

"I owe you a thank you." Arlette told her.

Mary smiled and waved her hand, "No you don't. Just watching the little one over there grow up is thanks enough."

"Well, I'm hungry." Jeff said with a grin, "How 'bout we order dinner." He sat in his own seat at the opposite head of the table and gave Hilary a smile.

Dinner was soon ordered and everyone made small talk until the meals came. The closer it came for Jeff to make his announcement, the more butterflies he got in his stomach. He looked at Hilary, opposite him, and smiled softly. He should tell her first, he knew that. She was going to be upset enough as it is. Hearing the after dinner band start up in the lounging area, Jeff formed a plan. He'd take her into the other room the next slower song they played and tell her. Then he would tell everyone else.

He felt a pat on his hand and pulled himself out of the thoughts of telling Hilary. He turned to his mother who was looking at him with a questioning look. He could tell she knew something was up. He smiled hoping to assure her all was well, and took another bite of his lasagna.

The band soon played a gentle easy song, and Jeff excused himself, then walked up to his wife. He leaned over her, his hands lightly rubbing her upper arms, and asked her if she would like to dance. She agreed and he helped her to her feet and walked with her onto the dance floor. He held her closely and swayed with her to the beat of the music.

"Okay, out with it." She softly said against his ear.

He stammered a bit and hesitated his dance steps a couple beats, "Mittens, I ... I don't know how to tell you this."

She froze, feeling as though her heart stopped, "You've been drafted."

He took a breath, "No ... well, not exactly."

"What do you mean not exactly?" She asked moving to the side of the dance floor so they wouldn't be in the way of the other couples. "You volunteered. Jeffrey you promised."

"No, Hilary, I'm not in the military." He told her.

"Then what?" She harshly asked, fighting tears she didn't want to show.

Jeff pulled her into a somewhat deserted corner of the room where they could talk privately. "I'm ... going to be doing more broadcasts overseas."

"London again?" She asked dreading his answer.

He took a deep breath, "No. I'll be with an army unit, documenting their experiences."

Hilary closed her eyes to the tears that fell anyway, "You'll be on the front lines."

"No. I won't. I'm not going to go that far." He refuted, hoping he was convincing enough. It never had been easy to lie to her, he hated doing it.

She knew he was lying to her, but chose the time to call him on it as later. "When are you leaving? You'll at least be home for Christmas won't you, Pumpkin? This is really Elizabeth's first ... " she stopped as the realization hit her. "Bethie. She'll be lost without her--" Hilary moved into his arms having completely forgotten they were in public. "How long will you be gone, darling?"

He held her closely and whispered against her cheek, "The rest of the war." He felt her let out a sob against his shoulder blade. "Mittens, we're ... I need to tell the others."

She inhaled deeply and pulled away from him. She took the kerchief out of the pocket of his suit coat and wiped her eyes. She refolded the square and placed it back into his pocket.

"Are you all right?" he asked softly, his hand still resting on her shoulder.

"No." She replied honestly, "But I have to be don't I?"

He smiled, "That's my girl," he said as he rubbed his thumb softly across her chin.

She straightened and walked around him going back to the table. Putting on her best cheerful face, Hilary Booth, the actress, finished the last of her dinner.

Jeff returned to the table and was rewarded with an overly sweet smile

from Hilary. He knew then, he was in trouble.

"Jeffrey darling, don't you think you should tell everyone your news?" She asked too politely as she folded her napkin and lay it on the table next to her now empty plate.

He gave her a sarcastic grin from across the table and glared when she returned his look.

Jeff explained to the rest of the family his plans to go overseas. "I thought it would be a good idea if WENN had someone of their own doing some war correspondence."

Hilary dropped her hand on the table, hitting the fork as she stared incredulously at Jeff. "This was your idea?!"

He glanced quickly her way, "Well ... uh .... I thought ... er ... that is Victor and I ..." He dropped his shoulders in resignation, "Yes. It was my idea."

She picked up her napkin and pulled it between her fingers, to have something in her hand. "This is what all those meeting with Victor have been about, isn't it?"

Jeff glanced around the table, slightly embarrassed, "H--Hilary," he said trying to defuse her anger and remind her where she was.

She caught herself, and gently lay her napkin down. She smiled in the general direction of the occupants of their table, "If you'll excuse me, I think I will run along home now. I seem to have developed a headache." The last word was aimed directly at Jeffrey and said with no small amount of venom. She stood and walked to stand next to Jeff, "You'll see that our daughter eats the rest of her spaghetti?" Hilary squared her chin and walked to the coat rack.

"Excuse me." Jeff said and started to follow Hilary out of the room when his mother placed her hand over his. She told him with a look that she'd go and stood herself to follow Hilary.

Hilary was just buttoning her coat when her mother-in-law caught up with her. She wiped a straying tear away with her gloved hand and turned when she felt the gentle hand on her shoulder.

"I'll be fine." Hilary assured her, "It's just a headache."

"I know exactly what you are feeling right now." Arlette softly told her.

"Yes, I suppose you do." Hilary said giving the older woman an honest smile.

Mrs. Singer took a breath and patted Hilary on the arm, "Would you like for me to go home with you. We started on the wrong foot and I would like to get to know you better. "

Hilary's smile broadened, "I'd like that." She then turned toward the dining room, "But I wouldn't want to subject Jeffrey to my mother any more than necessary."

Arlette chuckled, "Oh, I wouldn't worry about him. He'll have her eating out of the palm of his hand in no time flat."

"Yes, that's what I'm worried about." She said offhandedly. "You know, Mrs. -- Arlette, I haven't seen my mother in ... well ... in a number of years and I look at her and think if it weren't for Jeffrey, I'd be as empty as she is."

"You wait right here." The small woman told Hilary and walked back into the dining room.

"Is she all right?" Jeff asked when his mother sat.

"She'll be fine." Arlette assured, "I'm going to go on with her. We have some things we could be talking about." She rose to leave.

"Hmm, trouble in paradise." Beverly Booth almost cheerfully chimed in barely audibly.

Arlette straightened, having heard her and glared momentarily before turning her attention again to her son

Jeff lay a hand on his mother's arm, "Are you sure."

"Yes. You and I will talk later." She intoned, letting him know she wasn't happy with him herself. "Would you like for us to take the little one or leave her with you." She asked looking at the baby who was now sitting next to her father and concentrating on her food.

"No, " Jeffrey replied rubbing the top of Bethie's head, " leave her with me. We'll be home shortly."

The two women sat silently as the taxicab moved down the road. Hilary stared out of the window she was leaning against. Arlette watched her daughter-in-law wrestle what she assumed was memories.

"A penny for your thoughts." She spoke, breaking the heavy silence.

Hilary laughed lightly, "There are a lot of them."

"I can afford it." Arlette replied. "What is the most prevalent one?"

"There are actually two." Hilary turned away from the window and faced her traveling companion, "You mentioned at the restaurant that you knew what I was feeling. I know that feeling more than you realize. More than Jeffrey knows."

Arlette creased her brows quizzically.

"When I was seventeen I was engaged to a boy named Edward Mullholland." Hilary explained, "He lived next door and we grew up together. He was the only respite I had from the happy household I lived in." she finished the sentence in a bitter tone, then inhaled softly and continued, "When the United States joined the war, he did too. He left with the promise that we'd be married as soon as he came home. I never saw him again." She took a breath, "Edward died three months after joining the service. I left home two weeks later and never looked back."

"I'm sorry to hear that, dear." She patted Hilary's hand.

The driver pulled up in front of the house and let his passengers out. Hilary unlocked her front door and stood aside to let Arlette enter the house first.

Hilary unbuttoned her coat and hung it on the coat rack next to the front door. "Would you like a glass of wine?" She asked as she walked into the kitchen.

"Sure." Arlette replied.

Hilary poured two glasses of red wine. She walked into the dining room and noticed Arlette looking at the photograph of she and Jeff that they kept on the mantel.

"How long ago was this taken?" Arlette asked as Hilary handed her one of the glasses.

"Four years ago, I think." She picked up the photo and smiled wanly, "Jeffrey took this picture with him to London. I should ... make sure he takes it with him when he goes this time. I'm sure he'll want it."

"That was the second thought you mentioned in the taxi wasn't it." Arlette realized.

Hilary smiled, and set the picture back in it's place, "Would you like to see some more pictures?"

"All right." The woman answered, perceiving that her daughter-in-law did not want to speak about it just then.

The two women walked into the den and Hilary retrieved the photo albums that she kept on the bookshelf. Before long they were laughing and enjoying the reminiscing.

"Thank you, Betty." Victor told the writer as she left his office. He started to shut the door when Hilary stepped through the still open crack.

"Hilary," he spoke as he walked behind his desk and sat, "To what do I owe this honor?"

"You know darn good and well, what." She snapped as she crossed her arms. "Victor how could you let him talk you into that hair brained stunt?"

Victor drew a breath, "First of all, from a business standpoint, it's a very good idea. What he is going to do will put WENN on the map."

"Well hooray for WENN! Is that what you are going to explain to Elizabeth when she asks why her daddy went away?" Hilary asked, incensed, "Bethie, your daddy went to war because it was good for business." She sat hard in the chair opposite the oak desk.

"I tried to talk him out of it." Victor noted, "but he's insistent."

"Victor, this is suicidal! He's an actor not a journalist. He doesn't know the first thing about news, other than reading it." She argued.

"Hilary," Victor calmly clasped his hands together, "Jeff did a very good job of talking to people in London, before we went on the air. He is good at drawing out the human element. That's why I'm sending him and not someone else from here."

She threw her arms up, "Well, that's all bloody well and good, Victor, but , you know as well as I do Jeffrey should not be going out there!"

"This is something he feels he needs to do. I'm not going to argue with that." He straightened and picked an envelope off his desk. "Here. I think you should be the one to give this to Jeff."

"What is it?" She asked with trepidation, noting the seal on the envelope.

"His orders. Where and when he needs to report for basic training." Victor explained.

She let out the breath she'd been holding. She stood and aimlessly walked out of the office.

She bumped into Mackie as he was hefting a large box down the hallway. "Sorry Mackie, I didn't see you."

He peeked around the side of the box and smiled, "Of course you didn't see me. This box is bigger than I am...you okay?"

She smiled, attempting to look happier than she felt, "Yes. I'm fine. Where's Jeffrey?"

"Last I saw, he was in the green room hanging bough's of holly for Betty. Hey, where's the munchkin?"

"Spending the day with her grandmother. Thanks Mackie." Hilary acknowledged then walked into the green room, leaving Mackie to re-balance the box of ornaments before he dropped it. "Hey, that's okay Hilary. I've got it." He jumped when he felt the tap on his shoulder. "Oh jeez, Mr. Foley you nearly gave me a heart attack. Here, grab an end."

The slight man nodded and together they carried the box to the end of the hall.

Hilary walked into the green room and noticed it was beginning to look very Christmas-like. Jeff was standing near the office window holding up an evergreen trim.

"Um ... Betty. I'm not standing here for the next two weeks to hold this up." Jeff reminded.

"Oh, sorry Jeff." She spoke absentmindedly, and handed him one of the nails she was holding.

While hammering the nail he asked, "Have you heard from Scott?"

"Yes. He's doing all right. I was just thinking about the letter I got from him the day before yesterday." She smiled, "Seems he's garnered quite a reputation as a poker player to be reckoned with."

Jeff laughed, "That doesn't surprise me."

"Betty," Hilary spoke up, "Would you mind if I spoke with Jeffrey alone for a moment."

Betty turned, "Oh! No." She handed Hilary the handful of nails she was holding. "Here, when he complains about holding the greenery, hand him one."

Jeff gave Betty a wry grin as she left the room, then turned to Hilary, "What is it you want to talk about, darling?"

Hilary walked back to the table and sat, "Could you come here for a moment, we need to talk."

"Sure darling," he let the remainder of the evergreen hang and walked to the table to sit. "What's on your mind."

"You. More specifically, your upcoming trip." She leaned against her elbows on the table, "Do you still intend to go through with this?"

Jeff lay a hand over hers, "Hilary, I--"

She raised her hands, "I know, I know. Have you thought about what would happen to Elizabeth and I if ... if--" she let the sentence hang, unable to put the possibility of his not returning into words.

He moved to a chair next to her and scooted as close as he could. " I have." He took her hands in his, "I've been talking to Doug since this came about and everything that needs to be in your name has been or will be put in your name. There will be some papers you'll have to sign soon. Doug is getting those together." He explained. "I'll be getting a small salary from the Army while I'm gone. I won't be paid as a full G.I. but I will be paid. That money I'll keep in case I have a need for it."

"Since I will technically be doing these reports for WENN, I'll still be getting my full salary from here. That will go to you. I've already had Victor arrange it so that your name will be on my check, so you can cash it."

"Well," Hilary pulled away and sat back, "I see you have thought of everything."

She lay the envelope on the table in front of Jeff. "Victor asked that I give this to you."

He saw that the seal was from the war department and knew exactly what was in the letter. "My orders." He stated simply. Hesitantly he picked up the envelope and opened it.

Hilary waited until she was sure he'd read everything, "When are you leaving?"

"January thirteenth." Jeff answered her as calmly as she'd asked.

She blinked away the tears that the realization that he was really leaving brought on. "That's only four weeks away."

He smiled, trying to reassure her, "I'll be here for Christmas and our first anniversary."

"Yes, well Elizabeth will be thrilled." Seeking an escape before she completely broke down in front of him, she glanced at the clock. "I have to be on the air." She abruptly stood. And started for the door.

"Hilary!" He walked to her when she stopped at her name. He lay his hands comfortingly on her shoulders, "Mittens, we'll all be fine."

She turned to face him, "Jeffrey, can you promise me you won't see any combat?"

He lowered his eyes slightly, "No."

"I didn't think so." She sharply responded and left him standing alone staring at an empty room half decorated for Christmas.

"Damn." He muttered. Jeff grabbed the letter off the table and stormed out of the green room down the hall and out of the station.

Two hours and three radio shows later, Hilary walked back into the green room and noticed that someone had finished putting up the Christmas decorations. "Merry bloody Christmas." She said aloud and poured herself a hot cup of tea.

She was flipping halfheartedly through a magazine when she heard the green room doors open. She looked up to see her father had entered the room.

"Papa." She said surprised, though frankly glad, to see that he was alone. "Please sit down. Is mother with you?"

"No," he answered, sitting next to her. "I snuck out before she noticed." He said with a wink.

Hilary smiled, "Why are you together in the first place?"

"I shouldn't have told her I was coming to visit you kids for Christmas." He explained apologetically. "She insisted upon coming along."

"When did she become interested in my life?" Hilary asked. "She never was before."

He shrugged, "She told me she was curious to see how you were doing."

Hilary rolled her eyes, "She was hoping to find me wallowing in misery you mean."

"Now Dumplin' don't say that. She's your mother." Spaulding patted his only daughter on the hand half scoldingly.

"She's my mother?!" Hilary laughed sarcastically. "Where was she when I fell and skinned a knee? Where was she when I got an A on my history test?" Hilary ranted, "You want to know where she was? I have no idea where she was!"

Hilary stood, letting out a lot of the anger she'd been feeling the past few days. "I spent my whole bloody childhood being raised by strangers that I was supposed to call 'Auntie'. Then there were the men that she traipsed me in front of, like I was some sort of trophy of hers. 'Look, I have a daughter, isn't she cute.'" Hilary mimicked her mother's voice, "Smile for Uncle 'name of the week', Hilary, he's going to be your new daddy."

She paced as she spoke, "And then there were the schools. When I was too old to be babied by nannies, I was sent off to boarding schools and finishing schools. She never wanted me then, why in the hell does she want me now?"

The man stood and put an arm around his daughter's shoulders, "Hilary, I never knew it was that bad."

She shrugged him away, "Of course you didn't. You were too drunk to care and too caught up in trying to live up to your family history to notice." She turned and laughed at the irony, "And you know, I did the same damned thing. I spent so much of my life trying to be a --star--, that I nearly missed the most important pieces of my life. My husband, my child and my friends. " She made a sweeping gesture, "This place. I never dreamed I'd be happy acting in a radio station that is only has a limited range of transmission." She smiled, "I never dreamed it -- until after Elizabeth was born. Why couldn't the same thought have occurred to you and mother?"

"You know something though," she said a realization hitting her, "I'm almost glad I had to suffer through the miserable childhood I had, because it taught me to appreciate Elizabeth's childhood. When she was born, I made a vow to her that no stranger would ever raise her. She will know without a doubt that she is loved by both of her parents."

"Even if one of them is going to be gone for a while?" Jeff spoke up from just inside the door where he'd been standing long enough to hear the end of the conversation between father and daughter.

Hilary turned to face him, "Especially then."

Spaulding took that moment as a cue to leave. He patted Hilary on the back as he walked past, "I'll see the two of you later." He let the door swing shut behind him.

"Are you alright?" Jeff asked concerned.

"It felt good, to say those things to him." Hilary moved to the couch. She sat and leaned forward, "I only wish you hadn't heard them."

Jeff walked to her and crouched in front of her, "Why darling? Afraid you'd destroy my illusion that you are perfect?" He sat and draped an arm around her shoulder, leaning her into his embrace. "Honey, I already know you're not."

She laughed and buried her face into the crook of his neck. He could feel the wetness from her tears and held her tighter.

"What am I going to do without you?" She whispered softly against his skin.

Jeff pulled her chin up to be able to look her in the eye. "You will survive. Because when everything boils down Hilary Booth is a survivor, and I won't be gone forever."

"But what if--" he stopped her sentence with a thumb across her lips.

"We won't consider that." He told her, "I won't think it. You won't think it. I will go and do what needs to be done and come home."

She looked down at her hands both clutching his hand in her lap. "Four weeks. It isn't long enough. Oh Jeffrey, I don't want to let you go." She pulled him into a tight emotional hug, "I just want to hold you until you have to leave."

Maple walked halfway into the green room to remind Jeff and Hilary that they needed to be on the air. She surmised the tender scene she'd walked in on and made an immediate about face. She shoved a script into Mackie's hand as he was leaving the studio. "Here, we're covering for Jeff and Hilary. I'll explain later, just go be Brent." She told him as she pushed the very confused man back through the studio doors.

Between saying Elizabeth's lines, Maple walked back to Mr. Foley's table and silently asked if he had a pencil. He nodded and handed it to her. She took the back of an already used script page, scribbled a note on it. "Cover for me, I'll be right back." She mouthed to Mackie who gave her a frustrated glare. She left the studio and crept silently into the green room, so as not to disturb the couple, still softly crying in each other's arms, and lay the note on the small coffee table in front of them.

Hilary heard the green room door slam shut and pulled away from Jeff, worried that someone had entered the room. She noticed the note on the table and picked it up. She read it and smiled, "You know darling, there are some days when I have to like Maple."

Jeff took the note and read, "You have a kid-less afternoon. Go spend it together. Mackie and I will cover for you. Maple."

"Well," Hilary said, thankful for the diversion, "Why don't we do the thing that most cheers me up." She chuckled at the raised eyebrow on Jeff, "Besides that." When she caught the almost disappointed look on Jeff face she amended, "Well, maybe later. It's two weeks before Christmas, Pumpkin. Lets go shopping."

December 20th, 1942 (Saturday)

Hilary sat on the couch in the living room next to her daughter, an open picture book shared between them.

"Wh'dat?" Bethie pointed to the picture closest to her.

"That is a cat." Hilary answered, pointing at the same picture. "What does a cat say?"

Bethie looked up at her mother, confusion on her face.

"What sound does a cat make?" Hilary repeated, "You know." She encouraged with a tickle to the little tummy.

Bethie grinned and squeaked loudly, "Arf, arf!"

"No," Hilary laughed, "That's what a puppy dog sounds like." She moved the book and tickled the giggling child.

Bethie fell flat against the couch cushions, amid chortles of glee. She kept squeaking like a dog between giggles, which made her mother tickle her more.

"A kitty cat doesn't bark." Hilary laughed, "He says, 'meow.' "

"Meow!" Bethie yelled between the hysterical laughter.

Hilary stopped the tickling and let the toddler catch her breath. Bethie sat and crawled over to her mother giving her a big hug. She mewled in imitation of a cat, and soon both mother and daughter were meowing at each other.

Hilary heard a knock on the front door and walked to answer it. Bethie scooted herself off the couch and crawled, now pretending to be a cat, behind her mother to the door.

"Hello." Hilary said flatly, having discovered her visitor was her own mother. "Is there something in particular you want or did you come here to insult my family more?"

"I came to talk." Beverly said as she breezed past Hilary into the house as if she owned it. She looked down as she heard a tiny voice meow at her feet.

"Teaching her a little early to be catty aren't you?"

Unamused, Hilary slammed the front door, "We were just reading a book about animals."

"How very domestic of you." Beverly took her gloves off and strolled farther into the living room, making a show of looking around, "You never struck me as the housewife sort, Hilary. You were always more like me."

"I saw your reflection looking back from a mirror one too many times." Hilary snapped, "It was starting to scare me."

As Hilary observed her mother's keen interest in the surroundings of the house she shot nastily, "Would you like a tour or would you rather just go room by room and catalog all my belongings on your own?"

Beverly blinked, unperturbed, and sat on the couch. "Hilary, darling you are being so awful to your mother," she pouted.

"You have done nothing but insult both Jeffrey and I since you arrived. How else am I supposed to act?"

Bethie, sensing the tension stood and toddled to her mother. She stretched her arms out indicating she wanted to be picked up.

"You are babying that child too much." Beverly snipped as she watched Hilary pick up her daughter.

"You don't know the first thing about raising children." Hilary retorted. "You did such a lovely job with me."

"That was your father's fault."

Hilary grabbed the book from the couch, "Oh, stop blaming everything on Papa!" She walked into the dining room and sat Bethie in the play pen. "You stay here and be a good girl for Mama." She handed her the book, "We'll finish looking at our book after Gram-- after the lady leaves."

"Mama 'tay?" Bethie asked with as much wide-eyed concern as a one year old can could manage.

"Of course." Hilary kissed the little girl on the top of her head, "practice your animal sounds. Daddy would love to hear them when he gets home."

Hilary walked back into the living room, "I thought you came here to talk and not insult?"

"I hear you spoke to your father." Beverly started.

"Yes, he apologized for bringing you." Hilary smugly replied.

"Was I really that horrid a mother?"

Hilary sat in a corner chair where she could still see Bethie. She rolled her eyes at her mother's question. "Yes! And you haven't changed a bit. What I want to know is why the sudden interest in me?"

Beverly sighed, "Hilary honey, I'm not getting any younger and I read that you had had a baby. I wanted to meet my grandchild and my son-in-law."

"Why don't I believe that?"

"Because your father put all that rubbish in your head that I just came along to see if you were unhappy."

Hilary frustratedly sat back in the chair. "No, I'm the one that surmised that. Because unfortunately mother, I know you all too well. I know, because I used to BE you. Fortunately in my case, having a husband that loves me and a child that needs me, proved that being a cold-hearted bitch wasn't getting me anywhere but lonely and miserable."

Beverly sniffed sharply at the comment so obviously directed at her.

"After the fifth husband I got tired of being used." Hilary continued, wanting her mother to know that she -had- been miserable at one time. "So I started using them. I used producers to get parts, I used leading men to get farther in my career. Once I was established as a -star- I would use myself to get better male co-stars to make me look good. Everything I did, I did for me. For my career. For Hilary Booth."

"What changed?" Beverly asked, not really caring to hear the answer.

"Spending ten years with Jeffrey and realizing that no matter how badly I treated him or used him-- and I did both, he honestly loved me. When he was nearly killed in London, I realized to my shock, that I didn't want to spend the rest of my life without him in it."

"I'm sorry Hilary, but my violin is badly out of tune." The older woman remarked cattily.

Incensed, Hilary stood quickly, "Out!"

Beverly stood surprised registering on her face, "Excuse me!"

"You will never understand what it's like to be truly cared for because you've been unfeeling for so long you're dead inside."

"Hilary Winslow Booth!" She remarked, shocked at the gall of actually being thrown out of a house by her own daughter.

"Singer! It's Hilary Singer! Your name is no more Booth that mine ... is." Hilary stopped momentarily, having just realized what she'd said.

Beverly caught her hesitation and started to comment, but Hilary interrupted, "I said Out! Out of my house and out of my life."

She ushered the woman out of the house and slammed the door behind her. She heard Bethie start a frightened cry for her. She walked to pick her up from the play pen, and hugged her tightly. "Everything is all right sweetie."

"Mama cry?" Bethie asked amid hiccups.

"No, little pumpkin. Mama hasn't felt this good in a long time." She bent to pick up the book, "now lets practice those animal sounds for daddy."

Hilary settled the two back on the couch and opened the book to a random page. Bethie spotted a picture of a cow and started mooing. Hilary smiled, then pointed to another picture. This time, another dog.

While Bethie alternately barked and mooed, Hilary thought back to what she'd said earlier. Was she no longer a Booth? She had to admit that the past few weeks had certainly proven to her that the only family she really had was Jeffrey and Elizabeth. She brushed some stray hairs out of the baby's face, and hugged her against her side. Bethie looked up at her, smiled and barked. Hilary laughed at her and tweaked the little nose.

A part of her protested; no the reason she kept her own last name wasn't familial. It was her identity. But, when was the last time anyone had honestly identified her as solely Hilary Booth? The Hilary Booth that belonged on a Broadway Stage. Not the Hilary Booth who worked at WENN and was married to Jeffrey Singer, or was Elizabeth Singer's mother. When had she stopped being a Booth and started being a Singer? When she tried to think back, the lines blurred and she really couldn't tell.

"Firsty." The small voice roused Hilary from her thoughts.

"What darling?"

"Dink'a wa'tr" Bethie repeated.

"Okay." Hilary stood and watched Bethie slide off the couch then crawl behind her as she walked into the kitchen. Bethie every so often barked, now apparently deciding she was a dog.

Hilary grabbed a bottle and filled it with water, then handed it to the begging 'puppy' at her feet. She crouched to Bethie's level, "You are a person, not a doggy." She told her with a smile.

She heard the front door open and leaned back enough to see that Jeff had walked into the house. She smiled in his direction and told the baby that her daddy was home. Bethie dropped her bottle and hurriedly crawled out of the kitchen to meet him, still barking in her high pitched squeak.

"When did we get a dog?" He asked as she reached his feet and knelt. She threw her hands up, and Jeff bent to pick her up. She kissed him on the cheek and continued barking in his ear. "Okay, okay. Do you know any other sounds?" Bethie promptly started mooing. "That's ... so much better."

Hilary walked to the kitchen doorway, "Did you enjoy shopping with your mother?" She looked around, just noticing he'd come in alone. "Where is your mother?"

"She went next door to Florence Gray's. She was very down today; must be the holiday." Jeff explained, trying to shush his mooing daughter. "Don't you know any Bethie sounds?" He asked, a smile in his voice.

"We've been trying new sounds all afternoon." Hilary explained.

The telephone rang and Hilary walked into the living room to pick it up. She wasn't surprised to find her father at the other end of the call.

"Dumplin' your mother was over here raising seven kinds of hell. She said you threw her--"

"I threw her out of my life, yes." Hilary interrupted.

Jeff gave her a quizzical look which she returned with an 'it's all right' look. He put on Bethie's coat, hat and gloves and then his own. Whispering to Hilary that they were going outside to play, he kissed her cheek and walked out of the front door leaving Hilary alone with her phone call.

There was a hesitation on the other end then her father said quietly, "Good for you, darling. I will see to it that she gets on the next train out of town." He told her. Then hesitated again, "I would like to stay though."

Hilary smiled, "I'd like that too, Papa."

"I'd better go, I can hear her key in the lock. I'll call you later to let you know that she's gone." Spaulding told her, and then hung up.

Hilary set the receiver back on the cradle, feeling as though a chapter of her life had just closed. She walked to the window and saw with a smile, Jeff and Bethie laughing and rolling in the snow that had fallen several inches overnight. There was her family. All she'd ever really needed.

Deciding to join them, she ran upstairs and changed into a warmer pant suit, then threw on her winter coat and gloves and went outside into the brisk sunny afternoon.

"Mama!" Bethie ran toward her.

"Careful little pumpkin, it's slick." Jeff called from behind her, but Hilary had reached her to stop her fast rush.

She grabbed her into a backwards bear hug, her legs dangling, "Watch where you're running." She laughed as Bethie giggled merrily. She set her down on the snowy ground, the tot sinking nearly to her knees. She high stepped back to her where her dad was gesturing to her.

When she approached him, he turned her around and whispered in her ear, pointing in her mother's direction with a sly grin.

"If you're thinking what I think you're thinking Jeffrey Singer, focus that thought on something else." Hilary warned jokingly.

"Who me?" He asked mustering as much feigned innocence as he could and then helped Bethie throw a loosely packed snowball at Hilary.

Only a small dusting actually reached her, but Hilary bent down and grabbed a handful of snow, packed it and threw it back, aiming mostly for Jeff, but intending to hit Bethie with a bit of the snow. Her plan worked as the snowball hit her husband squarely in the chest and the fallout from the break rained over Bethie's head.

Jeff retaliated by moving out from behind his daughter, grabbing a bigger handful of snow and pelting Hilary with it. She responded in kind and while he was distracted, moved in and tripped him so he landed flat on his back.

"Ha!" She laughed.

"Ha ha!" Jeff reacted by grabbing her leg and yanking her down with him. She cried out in surprise as she fell onto the snow and found herself laying on her back, with Jeff straddling her and holding a snowball menacingly over her face.

She held her arm up defensively trying to catch his arm, "Jeffrey, if you do you will sleep on the porch swing for the rest of your life!" She looked around for the baby, "Bethie! Help mama. Get daddy for me."

"So you have allies!" Jeff laughed. His laugh was cut short when a well thrown snowball, though loosely packed, hit him on the nose.

Hilary laughed and used his momentary surprise to throw him off guard, and soon Jeff found himself in the same precarious position he'd just had Hilary in.

She grinned evilly, "I have allies and I show no mercy."

Bethie laughed as she watched her parents wrestling in the snow. She'd decided to get in on the act and helped her mama by throwing the snow at her daddy. Now her mama was sitting on daddy's tummy and throwing snow at him. She rushed over and grabbed a handful of snow as best she could and dropped it on her daddy.

"Why do I feel like I'm on the losing end of this war?" Jeff asked, trying to avoid the snow filtering onto his face from Bethie and the snowballs from Hilary hitting him in the gut.

"Because you are, Pumpkin!" Hilary giggled and threw another ball of snow this time hitting him near the neck.

"Pum'kin!" Bethie laughed, dropping more snow.

"All right." Jeff said, reaching behind him and grabbing Bethie. He picked her up and lifted her over his head to his stomach, flipping her upside down in the process. She giggled and balanced herself on her hands. "Now I've got your partner!"

"I'll save you, Bethie!" Hilary said dramatically and went to grab her around the waist to right her.

"Is this a private snowball fight or can any one join it?"

Jeff looked to the sound of the voice and saw his mother standing on the sidewalk, hiding a grin.

He let Hilary take the baby and sat dislodging the woman from his stomach. She tried to gracefully sit with Bethie in her lap and look as non-guilty as possible.

"Uh, we were just--" Jeff's words were interrupted when his mother tossed a well aimed, well packed snowball and bounced it off his head. "Ow." Jeff deadpanned. "I can't win can I?"

"Why don't the three of you wet kids go on into the house and I'll make us all a pot of hot chocolate." Arlette said, grabbing the baby from Hilary as she walked past.

"So what was that phone call about?" Jeff asked Hilary from the bedroom as he stepped into a dry pair of pants.

"It was my father." She replied from the bathroom where she was combing through her hair. "He called to let me know that Beverly Booth would be on the next train out of town."

Surprised, Jeff walked to the doorway separating the two rooms. "Really? Did she give a reason?"

Hilary set the comb down and turned to her husband, "No. I gave her a reason." She turned back to the mirror and tucked the final stray hairs into place behind the French roll, "I told her in so many words that I never wanted to see her again. End of story." She walked past Jeff into the bedroom.

He grabbed her arm softly, stopping her. "Are you all right?"

"Couldn't be better." She smiled, sounding less sure than she'd meant.

"Hilary." Jeff responded in the tone that usually told her he knew darned well she wasn't being completely honest.

Her shoulders sagged slightly as she gave in, "All right." She walked to the bed and sat on the edge. "I envy you a little." She smiled and pointed, "And that is -not- quotable."

Jeff returned her smile and sat beside her, "What do you mean?"

"I sit in the evenings and listen to the stories you and your mother tell. The stories about you and your brother. I feel as though I know you so much better now, having met your mother." She shrugged, "The only things I remember from my childhood are strange women, strange men, and strange schools. And my mother often yelled a lot. Not always at me, but it seemed she was constantly complaining loudly about one thing or another."

Jeff rubbed her arm lightly as she spoke, listening to her. He couldn't imagine what it must have been like to grow up with a mother like that. His had always been there. When he fell, when he got stuck in that big tree in the back yard after the neighbor's German Shepherd had chased him into it, when the father he barely knew yet idolized had died in a war he didn't understand.

"I want Elizabeth to have stories she can tell her children someday about her own childhood." Hilary finished with a sigh.

"I'm sure she will have plenty." Jeff assured, "Then there's growing up at WENN. There is a wealth of good memories there alone."

An insistent knock sounded very low on the closed bedroom door. "Daddy! Mama!"

"Speak of the devil." Jeff walked to the door and opened it slowly in case she was leaning on the door itself. He crouched to her level, "What are you selling?"

"Hot'toklat!" She answered happily.

"MMmmm." Jeff answered and turned to Hilary, "Let's go get some." He picked up the baby and waited until Hilary left the room before following her down the stairs.

The three sat around the kitchen table sipping the hot cocoa and Bethie sat in her high chair sipping her own bottle filled with luke warm cocoa.

"So how do you celebrate Christmas around here?" Arlette asked.

"When the holiday falls on a weekday, like it is this year, we all celebrate at the station." Jeff explained.

"We usually have special programming on Christmas Eve for children. I invariably get stuck playing Mrs. Claus." Hilary added.

"But darling, you're so good at it." Jeff teased, patting her hand.

"Oh yes. It's a seasonal joy to try to dodge kicking feet as I attempt to coax the little hoodlums, I mean children, into sitting on Mackie's lap." She said in an overly sweet sarcastic tone.

Arlette laughed as she walked to the stove to pour herself another cup. "Sounds like fun."

Hilary took another sip, and set her cup down. She lay her and over Jeff's. "This year I'd like to have a big party on Christmas eve. Invite the Sutton's, Mary, my father," she gestured to her mother-in-law, "you. Plus everyone from work."

"But Hilary, we'll be working." Jeff reminded.

"I know." She answered, "We could have a buffet type meal in the green room, have a gift exchange, do all that in between doing shows."

Jeff leaned over and put his hand across her forehead, as if feeling for a temperature. "You're not the same Hilary Booth I woke up with this morning."

She brushed Jeff's hand away and gave him a humored grin, "I just want this Christmas to be special. One for Elizabeth to remember."

Jeff smiled, remembering their earlier conversation. "It sounds like a good idea to me. I'll run it by Victor to see if he has any objections, though I doubt he will."

Dec 24th, 1942

Betty sat at the table and picked at her plate. She just couldn't muster up an appetite. She looked around the room and saw it filled with laughing happy people. Jeff and Hilary, little Elizabeth, William and Susan Sutton and their two children, Mary Ellis, Hilary's father and Jeff's mother in addition to the usual 'round of WENN suspects. It was Christmas Eve, but it didn't feel anymore like Christmas to her than last year had. But last year, she'd had Scott.

She glanced at Hilary, who was laughing at something Jeff had said, and envied her. She at least had her husband through the holiday. Scott had left in October, only two months after they had gotten married. The ache in her heart that she'd become all too familiar with took hold. She felt tears threaten and shook off the feeling. She felt the need to be alone, and abruptly left the room.

Hilary saw Betty rush from the room and excused herself to follow. She caught up with her at the door to the writer's room.

"Betty. Is everything okay?"

The slighter woman turned, "Oh, yes. Just remembered I have to get a couple of script revisions done." She walked on into the room.

Hilary followed and shut the door behind her. "In the middle of dinner?"

"Radio waits for nothing." Betty said as upbeat as she could.

Hilary moved a chair around to sit next to Betty as she sat behind her typewriter and started typing. "Betty, I know how you feel."

Betty smiled frustratedly, "Hilary, do you remember the first Christmas you spent with Jeff? I mean, after you were married."

She laughed, "We were in San Francisco, still touring with Razzle Dazzle, and staying in a small apartment. We were divorced by then, but everyone thought we were still married, so we shared the apartment to keep up appearances."

"We had an argument that morning, I don't recall now what it was about, but, I stormed out and spent most of the day too stubborn to go back home."

Betty smiled as Hilary continued her story, "Finally I got tired of walking around and sitting in parks, so I went home. Jeff had a Christmas dinner for the both of us made including all the trimmings." She smiled in remembrance, "Of course I forgave him. For the moment."

"If it weren't for this war," Betty commented, "Scott and I would be spending our first Christmas together instead of an ocean apart."

Hilary lay a comforting hand over Betty's. "You will have many, many Christmas's together, Betty. Your first one will just be delayed."

"I just wish I knew where he was, and if he's all right."

"Of course he's all right. He's a Sherwood."

Betty smiled at her friend's comment. A sudden sense of Déjà vu crossed her mind and she asked, "Do you remember the day after the bombing in London?"

"Vividly. I still get chills when I hear radio static." Hilary answered.

"I have a confession to make. When I heard that Jeff was alive and Victor wasn't, my first thought was 'Why Jeff. Why did he have to survive.' And part of me wished that it had been Victor who'd survive."

"Then, when you came into work that day you came in here to talk to me. I felt like you were bragging and I hated you. I feel so badly about that." Betty explained.

Hilary smiled, "Those weeks were awkward for me too Betty. I didn't know how to talk to you, I tried to avoid you, I dutifully read those awful scripts you wrote."

Betty laughed as Hilary continued.

"I know how you felt, that's why I kept my distance. I felt quite guilty myself. But we know now that Victor did survive, so all is well." Hilary stood and walked behind Betty, "Though there is one lesson we all learned."

"What's that?" Betty asked.

Hilary grabbed Betty by that arms and pulled her out of her chair, "You must never be allowed to type when you are depressed."

Both women laughed at the joke and Betty turned, "Thanks Hilary. I feel better."

"Good, because Scotty wouldn't want you to be wallowing in misery on Christmas." Hilary maternally brushed a flyaway strand of hair out of the younger woman's face, "I know you miss your husband. I already miss mine, and he hasn't gone yet. Together, we will get through this, Betty. This time, no guilt, no avoidance's. We are in the same boat here, I'd rather float than sink."

Betty smiled and hugged Hilary. "I agree." She wiped a tear from her eye and brightly stated, "Well, let's go re-join the party," She added in an announcers voice, "already in progress."

They walked back to the green room as Mackie was leaving the studio after reading 'Twas The Night Before Christmas'. "Hello ladies." He stated and held the green room door open for them. "We are now playing an hour of Christmas music. Where's my dinner."

As the hour passed, Hilary and Mackie both walked into the studio for that day's edition of 'A Woman's View of the News'. Her topic was "The USO", but, as she walked into the studio, her conversation with Betty sprang to mind and she decided to change the topic.

Mackie walked up to a microphone and began his announcement, "You have been listening to Christmas with the Benny Goodman Orchestra, sponsored by Broome Brother's Department Stores who join us in wishing you a very merry Christmas. And now for a special installment of 'A Woman's View of the News.' I give you Hilary Booth."

"Singer." She whispered.

"What?" Mackie asked, surprised.

"Hilary Singer." She said again slightly louder, prompting Mackie to say it.

Hesitantly, fully expecting a script or something to be thrown at him, he said into the mic, "Hilary . . . Singer."

Jeff, having heard her correction, nearly choked on his vegetables. "What'd she say?"

"I-- think she just changed her name." Betty noted.

Jeff looked at his mother, "How much did you pay her?"

Arlette turned to Jeff and patted him on the knee with a smile. He could have sworn she had tears in her eyes. He brushed the thought away, figuring it was from the laughter of earlier.

"Thank you Mackie Bloom," She acknowledged into the microphone, and smiling at the bewildered man, "My topic for today was originally going to be about the USO, but instead I want to talk about something else. My husband."

In the green room, Jeff's ear's perked at her comment. "What did I do now?"

Most of the inhabitants of the room laughed softly as they listened to Hilary from the radio.

"In a little over two weeks, my husband, like so many of yours is going to war. Another of WENN's own, Scott Sherwood is already fighting."

"Because this war is not being fought on our own soil, it may seem as if it's a world away. Until someone you love, be it a husband, son, father or brother, is whisked away to foreign countries. Some you've hardly even heard of."

Betty spoke up, "Well I was going to be angry with her for not reading off my script, but, never mind. I couldn't have written this better."

Jeff sat with his daughter in his lap as he listened to Hilary speak about how the women who are staying behind should pull together to support not only each other, but the men fighting in the war. He marveled at how much she'd changed over the past year. Becoming a mother had certainly agreed with her. He hugged the child he held and gave her a small kiss on the forehead.

He was going to miss his little family, and he too hoped the fighting wouldn't last much longer. Though from reports he'd read and things he'd heard, it still seemed like it was going to be a long while. That made it harder for him to have to leave.

He brushed away his thoughts, and returned to listening to Hilary's program.

"I would like to take this time to remind all of my listeners, to remember those men fighting for our freedom to celebrate a holiday such as the one we are celebrating today and tomorrow. For now this is Hilary Boo-- Singer, wishing a safe and speedy return to, as the poem says, Peace on Earth."

Hilary left the studio and was met in the hallway by Jeff.

"Did you just do what I think you just did?" He asked.

"Jeffrey darling, what am I always telling you. The script is merely a suggestion." She joked, knowing full well what he meant.

He gave her a frustrated smile, "No. I mean, did you just . . . change your name?"

"Oh, that." She dismissed casually and started to step around him, but was blocked.

"Hilary."

She smiled, "I've been doing a lot of thinking lately since your mother somewhat forced the issue. I realized, with the dismissal of my mother from my life, that I haven't been a 'Booth' for years. I figured I may as well just accept that fact and move on." She smiled and patted Jeff on the cheek with good humor. "Besides, Hilary Singer, of course," she said in her trademark style, "has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"

Jeff laughed and pulled her into a warm kiss, "Of course," he said mimicking her.

Jeff vaguely heard the door open and felt a small tug on his pants, "Daddy! Pwesents!"

"I think," he said against Hilary's lips, "we are being paged."

He broke off the embrace and grabbed the tiny hand that Bethie offered and let her lead them into the green room.

The Singer family walked into the front door of their home, Hilary carrying a sleeping Bethie and Jeff carrying her boxes of presents.

"She made quite a haul." Jeff said as he carried the boxes upstairs. Hilary followed with the baby.

"Yes she did. That sweater that Eugenia knitted for her is lovely."

"Bethie sure liked it. But she loves yellow."

Hilary smiled, "Yes, well, even my child can't be perfect all the time."

They gently put her into her pajamas and lay the sleeping child down in her crib. Jeff set the new teddy bear Bethie received from Mr. Foley in the corner against the wall and then brushed a curl away from her cheek. He reached for Hilary and wrapped his arm around her back, pulling her against him.

She sighed and leaned against his shoulder. His leaving was going to be difficult on them all. She reached up with her hand and pulled his head down slightly so she could reach to kiss him on the cheek. "Come on," she whispered, "let's let her sleep."

As they walked downstairs Arlette peeked out of the kitchen, "I've got some good hot toddy ready. Would you each like a cup?"

"That sounds wonderful, Arlette, thank you." Hilary said.

She poured the hot drinks, put the three cups and the pot on a tray and followed them into the den. She set the tray down on the small coffee table and dropped into the rocker opposite Jeff and Hilary who were on the loveseat.

Arlette sighed and took a drink, "my what a long day."

Hilary stretched, "Mmm, yes. We were just going to set Elizabeth's presents from Santa Claus under the tree, and then head up to bed ourselves." She curled her legs under the full skirt of her dress and leaned against Jeff, who put an arm around her back.

"I've got a present for the little one that I've been keeping at Florence's. I will go and get her in the morning." Arlette remembered.

"Her?" Hilary asked, looking alternately at mother and son. Jeff's expression was one of careful neutrality.

"Hilary before you object . . ." he unwisely started.

"Object?" Hilary asked her curiosity now piqued, "You got her an . . . animal didn't you?"

"It's a puppy." Arlette replied, "a Maltese puppy."

"I can't have an animal in the house, I'm allergic." Hilary disapproved.

"Darling the only thing you're allergic to is housework." Jeff teased.

"And cooking." Arlette added under her breath.

Hilary glared at her husband and then reminded him, "Jeffrey we are gone all day, who is going to train this dog and then let it out?"

"I'm staying an extra month." The older woman chimed in.

"You are?" both Jeff and Hilary questioned in tandem.

"Yes. End of that discussion. As for the puppy, I have been and am more than willing to train the puppy for you." Arlette explained, having thought everything out. "And Susan Sutton has agreed to take care of the dog during the day when neither of you are home. All taken care of."

Hilary gave a frustrated groan, "But all that fur. Small animals are horrid for my complexion."

Arlette stood and held Hilary's chin, looking at her face. "You've been living with my son for eleven years and you're still beautiful. One little dog won't hurt you."

"Mother!"

Hilary laughed and let her mother-in-law kiss her atop the head. She had been truly glad when Jeff's mother's attitude toward her had turned around. She really liked the woman. Though there were moments, like this one, were the woman drove her crazy. A dog. What was she going to do with a dog while Jeff was gone.

Hilary turned to Jeff and watched as his mother hugged him as well. She closed her eyes at the sight. While Jeff was gone. The very thought scared her more than she cared to admit. What -was- she going to do? There were so many things that she'd have to do. Housework she could handle. If anything it did help her to relieve stress.

It was the cooking that worried her. The only meal she knew how to cook was breakfast and a quick pot of spaghetti. She decided to ask her mother-in-law the next time she caught her alone if she would teach her how to cook. It wouldn't be so bad if it had just been her, but she had Bethie to think about as well.

She snapped out of her thoughts, "well, I think I am going to turn in. Jeffrey, you'll set out Bethie's gifts won't you?"

"Sure darling." He leaned to kiss her goodnight before she left the loveseat. He watched her leave the room then turned to his mother. "I'm glad you are staying the extra month. She's going to need help with, with me gone."

"If you didn't spoil her so Jeff, you wouldn't have this worry." His mother answered straightforwardly.

"She's worth spoiling to me. They both are." He replied a bit wistfully, and stood. He went into the dining room closet and pulled out the gifts he and Hilary had gotten for Bethie. He set them evenly around the tree, that stood in the corner of the room near the phonograph, putting the unwrapped red wagon near the front so it would be the first thing she saw.

"I understand that. That is why I am staying the extra month." Arlette said, "If anything, spending this month in the same house with the two of you has shown me that you coddle that woman too much. She's going to need someone to help her make the transition to running a household herself a bit easier."

Jeff started to speak, but was cut off, "Come here Jeffrey," she grabbed his arm and pulled him to the dining room table. They sat. "I know how you feel. The good lord knows James Singer was the same way, rest his soul."

He was?" Jeff asked. She rarely spoke of his father, so any information was invaluable to him. He could never get anything out of Tony. But then being a pesky baby brother didn't help his cause.

"Yes, he was. He'd have done everything for me if I'd let him. I'm glad I didn't, because when he was killed I would have been lost. As it was, I had two boys and no job. If it weren't for the fact that Anthony was old enough to get work, I wouldn't have been able to feed my growing boys. It was almost a year before I found something even resembling a permanent job.

"I always wished I could have been old enough to help."

Arlette pointed, "And that is why you are too accommodating now. I do like Hilary, but, god forbid if something were to happen to you. She'd be helpless."

Jeff stood, "Mere, I'm not planning to go out there and get killed. I'm just--"

"Neither was your father. Neither is anyone going into this whole mess. Son, Hilary's whole world is wrapped around you. If something happened to you it would kill her. You've got to separate yourself. Let her know she can survive on her own if she ever had to."

Jeff sat down again not wanting to admit his mother was right. He looked to her as she sat opposite him and took his hands into hers, "I'm speaking from experience here, son. It took me the longest time to remember that Jimmy wasn't coming back. I used to lie awake at night and hope that telegram was wrong, that he'd come strolling through the door like he had so many times before. But he never did."

She caressed his cheek, "I never thought I'd be sending one of my babies off to war, let alone both of them."

"Both?" he wiped a tear from his mother's face, "Tony's going?"

"Anthony was killed nearly four weeks ago. His patrol ship was sunk by a Japanese submarine." Arlette answered sadly.

Hilary, who'd come down for a glass of water, had overheard much of last of the conversation. She brought her hand to her mouth to stifle the gasp at the last thing she'd heard. She'd never met Tony Singer, but from the things Jeff told her about him she wished she had.

"Mom!" Jeff pulled away surprised and a bit angry, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Darling, I just received the telegram a few days ago. I didn't want to ruin your Christmas. This holiday should be special for you kids."

Hilary walked the rest of the way down the stairs and into the dining room. She gave Jeff a comforting glance that told him she'd heard the news.

She lay her hand on his shoulder and addressed her mother-in-law, "Why don't you come along with us to the park tomorrow."

"No dear. Tomorrow is your day. You three spend it together. Florence and I were going down to the USO. They are having a Christmas dinner and dance for the soldiers." She thanked Hilary. "Maybe the two of you could come along for dinner."

Hilary looked at Jeff questioningly. He answered with a look of his own and then Hilary responded. "It sounds like fun. We'll see if Susan can keep Bethie for the evening."

"Why don't the two of you run along to bed. I'd like to stay down here alone for a bit longer if you don't mind."

"Sure, mom." Jeff said as he stood and hugged her tightly. "You'll be okay?"

Arlette swatted Jeff on the back as she broke the hug, "of course I'll be all right. You go on up to bed."

They said their good nights, Hilary got her glass of water, and the pair went upstairs.

Arlette walked back into the den and pulled a photo album from the shelf. She sat and began looking through it. There were photos of Jeff and Hilary on stage and off, in costume, at WENN, with Elizabeth when she'd first been born.

Anthony had only been married a short time, and that was before he'd joined the Navy two years ago. Now she was glad he was single. At least he didn't have a family of his own mourning him right now.

She found the picture she was looking for. It was a picture of Jeff, Hilary and Bethie. Taken, Hilary told her, on the baby's first birthday. Bethie was between her parents and an arm around each of their shoulders. The three, smiling very happily. It was her favorite picture of the ones she'd seen and she planned to ask her daughter-in-law if perhaps she could have it.

This war was separating too many families. She prayed it wouldn't separate this one permanently. She wiped a tear away for her lost husband and son, closed the book and put it back onto the shelf. She shut off all the lights and went upstairs to bed.

Jeff lay staring at the ceiling, unsure of what to think. He knew the possibility of getting killed was very real, but he had always kept it hidden in the back of his mind. Hearing about Tony's death brought it to the forefront, and he suddenly got scared. Maybe this had been a stupid idea. It was too late to back out of now, he knew, but the thought was tempting.

Hilary took off her robe and snapped out the light. She slid into bed and lay against Jeff. "Are you all right, Pumpkin?" she asked, rubbing his bare chest consolingly.

He brought his arm up behind her back, and pulled her toward him. He kissed her, desperately seeking his solace in her. Hilary read his actions and gave in to him, knowing he needed to share her strength. She helped him draw away the material that separated them and tightened her embrace, willingly giving the comfort he needed.

"Mama!"

Hilary was roused slowly from the pleasant dream she'd been having. "Not now Jeffrey, I have to be on the air." She groggily mumbled as she stirred.

"Mama!" came the insistent yell again.

Hilary opened her eyes and realized she was alone in the large bed and the shower was running. She heard Bethie yelling from her room. She sat up and searched for her gown and robe. She found them and pulled them on, "all right, all right. When you're old enough, remind me to wake you out of a dream like I was just having." She tied the belt tightly on her robe and left the bedroom.

"MAMA!!"

"What!" Hilary mock yelled as she appeared in the doorway of the baby's room.

"I'wake!" Bethie exclaimed gleefully as she reached for her mother.

"I know you're awake, Elizabeth. The whole neighborhood knows." Hilary good-naturedly said as she lifted her out of the crib. "You are too cheerful in the morning, do you know that?" She sat her down and started to change her diaper. "That's another of those hideous traits you inherited from you're father."

Bethie giggled and tried to wiggle away, but Hilary held her still. She pinned the clean diaper on and let the baby down while she got out her clothes for the day. Because they were going to the park, she chose a warm red cover-all outfit with a dark green shirt. It was Christmas after all, she may as well be dressed for it.

Soon the family was gathered around the tree watching Bethie tear into her presents. Laughing as she yelped with glee upon learning what was in each box. Arlette excused herself and walked through the kitchen to the back porch to retrieve the excited and wriggling puppy.

"Doggy!" Bethie yelled happily upon seeing it. She rushed to it and giggled as the little white ball of fur tried to jump into her arms.

Even Hilary had to grudgingly admit the puppy was cute. But she still disliked the thought of an animal running loose in her house. Unfortunately for her, the small powder-puff shaped dog took an immediate liking to her and promptly leapt into her lap. She nearly flew out of her chair, but remembered where she was and instead carefully put the offending yipping ball of fur back onto the floor. The puppy immediately jumped right back into her lap.

"Listen you--"

Jeff interrupted what was probably a string of curses and plucked the puppy out of her lap. "You are taking a big risk with your life if you keep doing that." He told the puppy who happily licked his face.

"I see it doesn't matter the species of female." Hilary teased with a sarcastic grin. Jeff gave her a humored look and set the puppy down near the gleefully squealing child.

Jeff looked at his watch, "We should probably get ready to go. I doubt the trolley's will run all day." He turned to his mother, "you are coming with us."

Arlette started to argue, but Jeff interrupted, "No arguments. Christmas is supposed to be a day for families. You are family. You're coming."

She resigned herself to going, and then asked, "Isn't it a little cold to be going to a park? This -is- December in Pennsylvania."

"They have a large cabin, which I reserved at the beginning of the month." Jeff explained away her objections. "Besides, Broadway Park is a special place for us. I wanted to spend some of our remaining time there."

Hilary took the puppy away from the reluctant Bethie and plopped the squirming animal into Jeff's hands. "Take this to Susan's. I'll get Elizabeth bundled up to go."

Jeff poked the fire in the cabin's fireplace and returned to his seat on the couch. He liked this place, it was just rustic enough to feel as though you were camping, but still had all the amenities of home. Bethie had curled into her mother's lap and fallen asleep.

He reached to pick her up and gently lay her in her grandmother's arms. "Could you hold her for a second, I want to take Hilary for a walk." He whispered to his mother who nodded.

Hilary put her coat on and let him lead her out of the cabin and down a snowy trail to the woods surrounding the park.

"I like blustery snowy days like today, you know that?" She told him as they walked one of the trails.

"They match your personality." He commented with a smile at her raised eyebrow.

She then laughed, "maybe they do, a little." She took a breath and looked around, "It's so beautiful out here. It's hard to believe that there is a war going on." She cast a sidelong glance at Jeff and then sighed. "I hate this war."

He reached for her arm and stopped her. She turned to face him and knew he was thinking the same thing. She pulled him into a tight embrace. "I know you have to go, but I don't want you to leave." She said softly against his shoulder. "I wish I could make today last forever."

"It would only be good for us. Think of all the other husbands and wives already separated. Think of Betty and Scott," he reminded.

"I know, but, no one ever accused me of not being selfish." She looked up at him with a smile.

He returned her smile, and lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her deeply. A few moments later, he pulled away and reached into his coat pocket. "I have a gift for you."

"Oh, Pumpkin, you didn't--" she stopped when he handed her the small rectangular shaped box. "You actually went shopping?" she said in a teasing tone.

"Sort of." He smiled, "Go ahead and open it."

She pulled off the ribbon and opened the box. Inside was an oval shaped gold locket dangling from a matching gold pin. "Jeffrey." She remarked in awed surprise.

"Open the locket." He urged.

She took her glove off so she could open the delicate clasp. Inside the locket was a different copy of the one they had taken for their Christmas cards. She was standing next to Jeff, who held the baby. It was the shot they didn't use because seconds before the photographer snapped this particular pose, Bethie pulled the hat she was wearing down over her eye, and they'd started laughing.

The inscription on the inside cover of the locket read, "The Singer Family, December 1942."

"I felt the picture was oddly appropriate." Jeff commented, when Hilary reacted.

She laughed remembering the day the photographs were taken. "Darling, I love this. I didn't know there were any copies of this particular instant."

"There is one other, but I am taking it with me." He told her with an amused grin, "You won't find it in the papers."

She laughed and hugged him again. "Thank you sweetheart. I'll wear this every day you are gone."

"I hope you won't wear it for long." He commented, tightening his hold on her.

They wandered through the woods for as long as they could stand the cold, and then finally walked back to the cabin.

"There you are." Arlette said, as Bethie ran towards them. "We were getting ready to send out a search party."

Jeff bent to pick up his daughter and hugged her. "What do you think about fixing dinner." He looked at his mother, "Or did you need to go to that USO dinner?"

"Tsk," Arlette waved her hand, "Right now my family is more important. What did you bring to cook?"

They all went into the kitchenette and Jeff pulled out the groceries he'd brought along with them, and together with a lot of laughter and some tears, they fixed a Christmas dinner neither of them would soon forget.

The End