Remember WENN and its characters are copyright Rupert Holmes, Howard Meltzer and AMC (Grr) No infringement is intended. Bethie, and any other original characters in this series are copyright Michele Savage. The story is mine. :-)

Thanks as usual to my Beta-readers. The boot camp that Jeff is stationed at is a ficticious name of a camp that was in Virgina. Enjoy and stay tuned for Story #8 coming soon.

Daddy's Going Away: Baby Singer #7

By Michele Savage

December 29, 1942

Hilary stood at a microphone in the studio, ~The Hands Of Time~ script in her hands. She glared at Jeffrey, who stood next to her and warily watched her expression turn from annoyance to anger the more she read.

She read on, each sequential line making Elizabeth Marlowe look less and less like the character she'd become accustomed to playing. Finally on one bad line she'd had enough. She shoved past Jeff and stormed out of the studio, slamming the door hard into Mackie who had been on his way into the room.

"Betty Sherwood! I refuse to read anymore of this thing you call a script."

Mackie stood behind the door rubbing his nose and forehead, duly noting that Hilary hadn't even bothered to notice she'd just floored him with the door.

"Hilary," Betty asked merely humoring the angry woman, "what's wrong now?"

"You have Elizabeth written as a totally different character. She sounds more like Daphne!" Hilary stated grandly waving the offending script at Betty.

"It's the same character I write every day for Valiant Journey."

"Valian-- Betty! This is The Hands Of Time!" Hilary sharply reminded.

Betty gave a surprised look and glanced at her watch. "Oh, Hilary! I'm sorry. I must have put the wrong characters in the wrong script and then the wrong cover on that!"

Hilary silently raised her eyebrow. She must be worrying about Scott. "Well, that's quite all right Betty." She amended nicely and turned back into the studio, never once acknowledging Mackie.

Betty turned to Mackie who was rubbing his head and moaning in pain.

"I see the name is the only thing that's changed." He stated, then showed the growing knot on his forehead, "Is this gonna bruise?"

Betty smiled and gave his head a once over. "It might a little."

"Oh, great. And I have a date tonight." He mumbled as he went into the studio.

The dark haired woman shook her head and walked down the hall, taking the well read Christmas letter of Scott's from her pocket. She re-read it again and smiled.

December 30, 1942

Hilary looked up from the kitchen table when she heard the knock on her back door. Seeing it was Susan Sutton she smiled and waved for her to come on in, shushing the yapping puppy. "Hush up, you little white rat."

"Hi Hil," The young dark-haired woman said as she settled into the chair opposite her friend. "Bethie about ready?"

"Oh, sure. Jeff's upstairs gathering the rest of her things together." Hilary answered. "I want to thank you for keeping her for the next few days. We wanted to spend some time alone together before . . . he leaves."

Susan waved off the thanks, "Oh, don't mention it Hilary. I'd keep that little devil of yours anytime. I thought Jeff's mother was here?"

"She'll be back. The Navy flew her to San Diego to give her Anthony's Purple Heart and another medal he'd earned before he was killed, as if a few pieces of metal could replace the loss of her son." Hilary stopped for a moment trying to keep the fear that Jeff would be killed at bay. Lately every time she looked at him, she was afraid it would be the last time.

She picked up the paper in front of her and abruptly changed the subject. "You know, Bethie insists on naming this puppy of hers after Mickey Mouse. I keep telling her the pup is a girl and Mickey is a boy's name."

Susan, knowing her friend well enough to know that she'd changed to a different subject to avoid thinking about the one she was on, knew she needed a smile. She pointed to the paper, "And Hilary isn't?"

Hilary gave Susan a sarcastic glance and smiled, "Okay, let's try this." She made some marks on the paper she'd had the name written on. "Let's get rid of the c and the e. M-i-k-y," she spelled. Wrinkling her nose at it, "I still don't like that. Let's change that y to an i. M-i-k-i." She smiled, "There, now it's a girl's name." She stuck her tongue out at Susan who rolled her eyes and laughed. The puppy jumped into Hilary's lap and stood against the edge of the table, peering over at Susan. Hilary fluffed the fur on top of the animal's head. "We girls with boy's names have to stick together you know."

"I thought you hated that puppy." Susan asked surprised.

"Oh, she's growing on me." Hilary picked the newly christened Miki up and hugged her against her shoulder, "Just don't tell Jeffrey."

Susan laughed, then noticed Jeff walking through the dining room carrying a small suitcase, and Bethie running behind him. "Speak of the devil. Both of them."

"Hi Susan." Jeff said, walking into the room.

"Hi handsome." She stood and took the suitcase from Jeff, "Sure you don't wanna run away with me and leave Hilary here with the kid and the dog?" She batted her eyes and grinned sweetly.

Jeff took Miki from Hilary and plopped her into Susan's free arm. "Maybe next week."

Susan shrugged, "Sorry, next week I'm running away with my own husband." She winked, set the puppy in the crook of the arm that held the suitcase and extended a hand for Bethie to take, "C'mon Bethie Bee, let's go see what kind of trouble Johnny's getting into as I speak."

Bethie turned and reached for Jeff, who picked her up. "Mama and Daddy will be back Sunday night, Little Pumpkin." Jeff told her in a soft voice. He gave her a small kiss on the lips and let her kiss her mother goodbye as well. He set her down and let her take Susan's hand.

She smiled and let Susan lead her out of the house.

December 31, 1942

The small cabin at Broadway Park was cozily lit by candlelight and the fire in the fireplace. Hilary sat on the floor propped up by one arm, and took a sip of champagne. Jeff lay with his head in her lap and rubbed the arm Hilary was leaning against. He watched the fire dancing in the fireplace and sighed.

Hilary set the glass down and scooted down to lay on her side, propping her head on her arm. She pillowed Jeff's head against her stomach and drifted her fingers through his hair. "You all right?"

"Just thinking." He turned and leaned over her, "about how much I'm going to miss my two ladies."

She gave him a melancholy smile, "We're going to miss you too, my love." She caressed his cheek tenderly, "There won't be a day that goes by that we won't think of you. And there won't be a day that goes by that I won't pray that you're safe and sound."

"Hilary--"

She pressed a finger to his lips, "Shhh . . . stop lying to me for my own protection. I know where you are going, I know what you're going to be doing."

"How did you know?" He asked.

"I had my suspicions so I went to Victor. He told me everything."

Jeff sat, angry with Victor. "I told him I didn't want you to know."

Hilary moved to sit next to her husband, and leaned across his lap. She cupped his cheek, rubbing her thumb across his lips, "Darling I have every right and need to know. I love that you are trying to protect me, but I am a big girl." She explained softly, "If you are going to be in danger, I need to know."

Silently he nodded. He squeezed his eyes shut, not wanting her to see the fear she already knew was there. Hilary leaned in and kissed him softly at first then more demanding as desire overtook the sadness. She let him lay her back onto the rug and helped to let him forget the fears for the remainder of the evening.

She woke in the middle of the night noticing first that they were in bed. He must have carried her into the bedroom after she'd fallen asleep. He lay sleeping peacefully next to her, his arm thrown across her side. She snuggled closer to him, letting the warmth of his body and the feel of his heartbeat against her cheek lull her back to sleep.

January 10, 1943

Hilary was in a good mood. She enjoyed it, as lately they had become few and far between. Especially the closer it got to the thirteenth, and Jeff's leaving. She was consoled by the fact that he'd have to spend at least three months in the states at boot camp. They weren't sure yet where he'd be stationed, but she hoped it would be close enough that they could maybe see each other on occasion.

She turned the volume up on the phonograph and was dancing around the dining room floor, the puppy bounding around at her feet. Jeff and Bethie had gone to spend the day together and pick his mother up at the airport. So she was alone and actually enjoying herself.

She jumped when she heard the back door screen slam shut. Susan walked into the doorway and Hilary relaxed, "Susan you just scared the heck out of me."

"Oh, sorry." She apologized as she walked into the dining room, "So is this a private party?"

"I -- am in a good mood." Hilary explained.

Susan laughed, "Oh, so this is what they look like."

"Ha ha," Hilary mock laughed. "So what brings you over?"

"Boredom." Susan said as she sat on one of the dining room chairs. "Will took the kids to his mother's for a Sunday visit and I really wasn't in the mood to spend the afternoon with Carlotta Sutton." She said her mother-in-law's name with a faked heavy English accent.

Hilary giggled, "Do you want some tea, mum?" she asked doing her own best English accent.

"Sure" Susan answered, "You do that so well."

"That my dear Susan is why I'm an actress and you're not." Hilary retorted grandly.

"Yeah, well ... I run a good medical office so there." Susan shot back at Hilary who was in the kitchen making glasses of iced tea.

Hilary handed Susan a glass of tea and suggested they move into the den where it would be more comfortable. She turned off the phonograph, and followed her friend into other room.

She flipped on the radio and turned the dial to a station that was playing music. Whistling along with the tune, she flopped down onto the love seat next to the other woman.

Susan eyed her comically, "Have you been drinking?"

Giving Susan a humored glance, Hilary responded, "no." She sat straight, "I don't know why I'm in such a good mood. The past two weeks have been awful; With Arlette going to San Diego, and the dread I've been feeling about Jeff leaving." She set her tea on the lace material that covered the coffee table. "It's just that I woke up this morning, the sun was shining, I was laying in my husband's arms and --"

"That's okay, you don't have to elaborate any further." Susan interrupted, holding her hand up.

"And Bethie slept late." Hilary finished with a suggestive lift of her brow.

Susan rolled her eyes and threw one of the small pillows at Hilary. She laughed, "I hate you."

Hilary returned the laugh along with the pillow, "What do you mean you hate me, what's wrong with Will?"

"Nothing." Susan stated quickly, "Believe me, nothing. But I envy you. In between the kids and Will's house calls at all hours of the night, we hardly have time for each other."

"Suzy, you have to make time for each other. Jeff and I work thirteen hours a day at the station." Hilary leaned close to her friend and whispered conspiratorially, "the storage room door has a lock on it." She lay back against arm of the love seat, "and studio B has great acoustics."

"Hilary!" Susan responded with a surprised chuckle.

"All right, I was kidding about studio B." With a mischievously wicked glance she added, "sort of."

"What I'm getting at," Hilary continued when Susan stopped laughing, "is don't worry about the time or the place." She suggested, "I'm sure there are moments during the day when the kids are napping, and Will is between patients. Lock the door; enjoy each other." Hilary sat up and took a drink from her glass, "Besides a doctor's office has infinitely more places to explore than a radio station."

Susan smiled wryly, "Yeah, but at least we wouldn't run the risk of accidentally being broadcast all over the city."

"There is that." Hilary giggled. She reached over and picked up a gossip magazine that she'd bought the other day out of curiosity. A photo of Betty Grable graced the cover, "You know, I'd make a much better pin-up than Betty Grable. Don't you think?" She stood, lifted her skirt enough to expose some leg and posed.

"Well gee Hilary, you're not my type, so I can't really say." Susan grinned, then added seriously, "I do think you're a lot prettier than she is, and a hell of a lot better actress. Ugh, did you see her last movie?"

"Do you really think so?" Hilary sat again, Susan's response having surprised her.

"Yes." She reiterated, "and I'm not just saying so because you know where I live. " Susan joked with a wink.

"Thank you." Hilary said sincerely, then looked at the cover again. She glanced at the picture of she and Jeff that graced the wall of the den, "Susan, I have an idea."

"What?"

"Do you still take and develop those pictures of Will's younger patients?"

"Yes," Susan answered, unsure of where Hilary was going. "We hang them on the wall in the waiting area when they have birthdays. Why?"

"I think Jeffrey would rather have his own pin-up girl to take with him."

"Aww gee, I don't know if Will would want Jeff to have a picture of me." Susan retorted.

Hilary smacked her on the leg with the magazine she still held. "Run home and get your camera, I think ours is out of film."

"Okay. Be thinking about how you want the pictures to look." Susan told her as she left to get the camera.

Hilary waited for Susan and paced through the house trying to decide where she wanted the pictures taken. Ultimately she thought their bedroom would be a good place.

She heard the back door slam and Miki start barking. Susan walked through the kitchen and found Hilary sitting back in the den. "All right, I have a full roll of film and we can develop these tonight." Susan explained. "I only have one request. Take some of me for Will."

"You got a deal." Hilary answered. "I think the best place would be the bedroom upstairs."

"Okay, lead the way."

The two women walked upstairs, joking about different poses, and what to wear. "Or not to wear as the case may be," Susan giggled.

"You are a little smaller than I am," Hilary observed, "I'm not sure one of my negligees would fit you."

"Oh, that's okay." Susan said, unbuttoning just enough of her dress to reveal, "I brought one of my own."

Hilary went through her lingerie drawer and found the lavender teddy with matching negligee that Jeff favored. She changed in the bathroom, and then walked back into the bedroom where Susan sat cross-legged on the bed, waiting.

"Hilary that's beautiful." Susan commented when she saw the strapless lavender satin and lace teddy with matching sheer negligee that Hilary wore, "Where'd you get it?"

"At Carol's Boutique, downtown." Hilary answered as she walked to an area of the wall that held no pictures. "What do you think? Wrap on," Hilary shrugged off the wrap and held it in her hands before it hit the floor, "or off like this?"

"Off like that is good," Susan told her. "And turn slightly, half facing the wall, but glance back over your shoulder at me."

"How's this?" Hilary asked in a sultry voice, getting into the pose.

"That's great." Susan snapped the photo.

They spent the rest of the afternoon taking snapshots. Susan joked that she'd get a fortune if she sold copies of the pictures to "certain magazines". Hilary told her she'd only get even by selling Susan's pictures for Will to the same magazine.

Once the roll of film had been used, they went next door to Susan's basement and developed the pictures. Hilary had several taken that if he wanted to, Jeff could set on a nightstand or something. She had also had a few taken that would be for his eyes alone. The longer they took the photos the more daring they'd gotten.

"Well, if Jeff doesn't enjoy these pictures, there is certainly something wrong with him." Susan pulled a rather risqué picture out of the solution and set it aside to dry.

Hilary laughed and then looked at her watch. "Speaking of Jeff, they should be home by now. I can drop by this evening and pick these up."

"No problem, Hilary. See you later." Susan bade Hilary goodbye and turned back to finish the last of the photos.

January 12th, 1943

Hilary sat on the couch in the green room listening to Jeff and Mackie finish Amazon Andy for the day. Bethie was standing at the small coffee table in front of her concentrating on a picture in the coloring book Jeff had gotten her that morning. Hilary picked the girl up and settled her across her lap.

"Let's listen to daddy talk, shall we Little Pumpkin?" Hilary said softly. "Just memorize your daddy's voice."

"Daddy." Bethie said pointing to the radio.

"Yes it is, sweetie." She leaned back, resting the baby against her chest. She gently stroked the soft curly hair. "Your daddy loves you very much, Bethie. He's going to help make the world a good place for you to grow up in." They sat in silence and listened to the rest of the show. Hilary herself committing every nuance of Jeff's voice to memory.

The show ended and Mackie continued with the news while Jeff entered the green room. "Hello you two," he said as he sat on the couch next to them. "Victor told me that we could leave after Supper With Hilary Booth, if you wanted. I thought maybe we could go home and spend the evening together."

"That sounds good." She said softly. "I'm glad Victor understands. Though with you gone, we will sure be overworked for a while." She laughed trying inject humor into the conversation.

"Betty told me she was going to hold auditions in the next couple days just to get some male voices back in here. Between Scott & myself, there are a large chunk of the characters." Jeff said, "I doubt poor Mackie could do everything."

"That's good." To Hilary the conversation felt false, as if they were avoiding the underlying issue. She took Jeff's hand in hers and silently lay her head on his shoulder, waiting for Mackie to finish the news so she could do her last show of the night and they could leave.

Bethie was more wound up that usual, sensing something was amiss. She could tell that whatever it was, it had something to do with her daddy. So she clung especially close to him, not letting him get too far away from her.

When they got home that night, she didn't even want to play with Miki, unless her dad was there too.

"Daddy p'ay?" she asked, "P'ease"

"Okay," he agreed and sat on the floor next to her, "But only if mama plays too." He glanced at Hilary who smiled and joined the two on the floor. The dog bounded into her lap and jovially licked her cheek.

"Miki stop it!" Hilary said shooing the zealous pup off her.

Arlette, rather than interrupt the family's play-time, set dinner aside and walked up the stairs giving them time to themselves.

Bethie walked to her toy box in the dining room and pulled the bucket of blocks over to her parents. She turned the container upside down and gestured that she wanted to build.

"What are we building here?" Hilary asked. "I know," she stated grandly, "how about a big castle, like Snow White's." She glanced at Jeff with a humored grin, "That way the prince can let Snow White live in the lap of luxury and wait on her every whim."

Jeff laughed, "That would only mean the princess has a really huge house to clean!" he gestured with his hands.

Hilary gave him a sarcastic grin and tossed a block his way.

"Bl'd home." Bethie said. She started arranging the blocks in a small square and set three blocks aside. One red one, she identified as, "daddy" a purple one, "mama" and a yellow one, "Beffie." She set them together near the square. "All home!" She threw her hands up and smiled brightly at her parents.

Hilary looked at Jeff with sadness crossing her features. Jeff gave her an encouraging smile as they went on to enthusiastically play with their daughter.

That night, Hilary sat propped against the headboard and watched Jeff as he readied himself for bed. "Are you all packed." She said breaking the uncomfortable silence that had settled over the room.

"Yes," he answered simply. The silence reasserted itself. He moved his suitcase to the floor and gathered together some last minute items; his picture from the mantle that Hilary had made sure he took. As it had saved his life once, she felt it was a good luck charm.

Hilary took a deep breath, "Bethie went right to sleep tonight, didn't she."

"She was tired." Jeff replied. "I think she knows something is up."

"I do too." The conversation again dwindled to the silence.

Hilary watched as Jeff walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. She heard the shower go on and sighed deeply. Why was this so hard. The pall of him leaving was so palpable that they didn't even know what to say to one another. She lay back against her pillow and looked at the ceiling.

Deciding to do away with the conversation all together, Hilary crept into the bathroom and joined her husband in the shower. "Care if I wash your back?" she asked taking the cloth from him.

He turned to her, took her face into his hands and kissed her reveling in the taste of her. They sank together in the tub. The warm water turned cold, but the couple never noticed the difference.

Several hours later and back dry and warm in her own bed, Hilary woke. She could see the darkness outside, morning still a long time away. She lay awake and watched the even rise and fall of Jeff's chest as he slept soundly. Easing herself out of the bed, she crept to her dresser and carefully opened the top drawer, so as not to wake him. She took out the pictures she had taken a few days ago with Susan and set them on top of the ivory white surface.

She took out a sheet of paper and by the light of the street lamp shining between the curtain, wrote a letter that Jeff would find in his suitcase when he arrived at his destination.

"My darling,

Hilary and Bethie"

When she was satisfied the letter was to her liking, Hilary wrapped the paper around the pictures, also including a few pictures of Bethie that Susan had taken the day before. She slipped the small package inside his suitcase, making sure it would be the first thing he saw when he began to unpack.

With that finished, she slipped back into bed and snuggled closely against the warmth of Jeff's body.

The morning dawned as gray and dismal as Hilary felt. She stretched and smiled at Jeff who still slept. She glanced at the clock and saw that it was still early yet. She leaned closer and nuzzled against his neck, rousing him from sleep. "Morning." He mumbled.

"MMhmm.." She murmured against his collar bone.

"I take it we don't have to be anywhere for a good long while." Jeff whispered. He rolled slightly and let his hand drift over her arm.

"No," she replied, "Not for a while yet," and pulled his mouth toward hers.

The train station was bustling with activity, but Hilary barely noticed any of it. She was a bit numbed to the fact that soon her Jeffrey would be one of the many men leaving that day to possibly give their lives to stop Adolf Hitler's regime of terror. Morbidly she glanced around at several different men, and wondered, would they be back? She turned to Jeff and immediately shook off that train of thought.

Arlette had said her goodbye to Jeff that morning before they left the house, and they'd stopped by WENN on the way to the terminal. Everyone said their good-byes, and Gertie had given Jeff a bag of her home made peanut brittle for the train ride. Betty had offered to keep Bethie for them, but Jeff had insisted she come along.

She clung tightly to her father's neck, as they made their way through the crowd. Jeff checked the departure time for his train and seeing that he had an hour, decided to look for a place for them to sit. Finding none, he moved them to an out of the way place and set his suitcase down.

"Sorry I couldn't find a place for you to sit, darling." He said to Hilary who leaned against the wall she was standing in front of.

"That's all right, dear. It doesn't matter." She answered. She slipped the bonnet off Bethie's head and took her coat off and draped them over her arm. The heat from the crowded terminal was stifling.

Jeff held Bethie against his front and explained to her softly, "Little Pumpkin, daddy has to go away for probably a long time."

Hilary bowed her head, so Jeff wouldn't see the tears she was trying to blink away. She took a breath and wrapped her hand around Bethie's tiny fingers, "But that doesn't mean that daddy doesn't want to be with us. He just has to go and . . . " she trailed off, wondering how to explain to a one year old the complexities of a war.

"--and help to tell people about how lots of brave men are trying to beat a very bad man." Jeff finished for her.

Bethie shook her heard, "no" and hugged him tightly. "Daddy stay."

"I can't sweetheart." He told her softly. "But I will write to you and to mama every single day."

"Daddy back?" she asked

"Of course, Little Pumpkin," Jeff kissed the top of her head, "I'll come home as soon as I can." He pulled her back slightly so he could see her face, "In fact, I'll run home!" He told her in a comical voice that he knew would make her laugh.

He turned to Hilary, "Would you like something to drink, Mittens. There is still some time."

She smiled, "No thank you. I'd rather you stay here with us for as long as you can."

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and drew her close. He dropped a kiss on her forehead and agreed. "I told you where all the paperwork is, didn't I? In case you need it for something."

"Yes, darling." She looked up at him, "You explained everything in great detail. Please don't worry about us."

"All right," he smiled, "I'll try."

A train whistled it's arrival and Jeff looked at his watch. "That's my

train."

"I never thought I'd hate seeing a train so much." Hilary mumbled as they started walking closer to the platform.

Soon the passengers had departed and the conductor was calling his "All Aboard".

Jeff leaned forward and kissed Hilary deeply, cherishing every moment, not knowing when he'd get the chance again. "I love you, Mittens" he whispered against her lips.

"I love you too, Pumpkin." She answered, emotion heavy in her voice.

"As soon as I get settled, I'll write and let you know my address, and with me being in the states for a while, I'll hopefully be able to call."

He hugged Bethie and kissed her, "You be extra good for mama, okay Bethie?"

"T'ay." She said, beginning to whimper.

Jeff started to hand her to Hilary when she gripped his neck tightly and began to scream loudly.

"Elizabeth, sweetie don't do this." Hilary said softly, trying to take her from Jeff.

"Nooooo! Daddy stay!" She cried, digging her fingers into his neck.

"Little Pumpkin, daddy has to go." He told her reaching to pry her fingers away from his neck. "I promise you Bethie, I'll be back."

"T'morrow?" She whimpered, easing slightly on her hold. Jeff handed her to her mother and kissed and hugged them both again.

"Not tomorrow Bethie, but as soon as I can." He cupped Hilary's cheek once more and turned to board the train.

As noisy as the terminal was, the only sound he could hear was his daughter's voice crying desperately for him. He turned and waved once more before disappearing into the passenger car.

"Shhh.." Hilary tried soothing Bethie's tears, while keeping check on her own. The last thing the upset child needed was to see her crying. She walked to a water cooler and filled a paper cup with water. "Here sweetie, take a drink."

"No!" She turned her head and brushed the cup away. "Want daddy!"

Hilary heard the train begin to pull out and turned to search the windows for Jeff. She knew she probably wouldn't be able to spot him, but she waved weakly at the leaving train anyway. She closed her eyes and prayed softly, "Please keep him safe."

Bethie's sobs had grown quieter and she lay her head on her mother's shoulder. Hilary put the winter coat and hat back onto the little girl before walking out into the brisk January late-morning.

She hailed a taxi. When it stopped the driver stepped out and held the door open for her. She started to give him her home address and then decided that the best place for her to be right then was at work. She settled in for the ride to WENN.

Bethie had cried herself to sleep, so Hilary closed her eyes and finally let herself relax into the reality that Jeff was now on his way to boot camp, and then probably to Europe. As the taxi traveled through the downtown streets, Hilary watched Bethie sleep, her tears just beginning to dry.

Hilary walked into the station to a questioning look from Gertie. "What are you doing here?"

"Keeping my mind off things." Hilary answered quietly, carefully removing Bethie's coat so as not to wake her. She gently handed the baby to Gertie so she could remove her own coat.

Betty walked around the corner, "Hilary!" She said surprised.

Hilary tried to hush Betty as fast as she could, "Please don't wake her

up. She just cried herself to sleep."

"Sorry." Betty whispered, "What are you doing here? I told you to take today off."

"I couldn't go home Betty." Hilary replied, "I'd rather be here right now."

"Well, all right." Betty guided Hilary down the hall and handed her a script. "Here. Maple has the flu anyway."

"Thanks." Hilary looked back towards Gertie and made sure Bethie was still sleeping comfortably in the woman's arms, then walked into the studio to take over for the sniffling Maple.

Near the end of the program, Hilary heard Bethie's panicked cries. She could hear that the confused toddler was alternately crying for both her parents. She glanced at Mackie who smiled and gestured for her to go. She mouthed, "sorry" and quietly left the studio.

As soon as she saw Hilary, Bethie began crying harder and reaching for her. Gertie handed the upset baby to her mother and shrugged, "I tried everything."

"She just wants her daddy." Hilary said quietly. She hugged the baby closer, hoping to make the frightened child feel that she hadn't been abandoned. "Mama's here sweetie." She assured.

"Mommy no go!" Bethie clung tightly to her and repeated, "Mommy no go," amid sobs and hiccups.

"Mama's not going anywhere, Little Pumpkin." She assured as she walked her down the hall and into the green room, "We are going to get through this together, Bethie, and daddy will come home to us as soon as he can."

February 14th, 1943 (Camp Orin, Va)

Jeff lay on his bunk and yawned tiredly. His feet hung off the end and the mattress was so thin he could feel every bar beneath it. It was times like these that he really, simply missed the comfort of his own bed.

At least with it being Sunday, he had the day to himself. The weeks since he'd arrived had been grueling. Between the training exercises and the time he spent on the air at the small studio-like facility they'd set up for him, Jeff was exhausted.

His arrival hadn't been well approved of by the captain of the unit he'd been stationed with so the fight to both broadcast, and write about the men's days had been harsh. "The last thing I need is to baby-sit some damn radio ham calling himself a soldier." Captain Everson had said of his being assigned to that particular unit. As a result, on top the other things he was dealing with, the Captain had been extra hard on Jeff's training.

Jeff yawned again and looked at his watch, ten-thirty. He really should get out of bed. There were a few things he could be going into town for.

"Hey Shorty, you going to the movies with us this afternoon?" Jeremy Marcus asked as he kicked at one of Jeff's feet. The nickname 'Shorty' had been quickly affixed to Jeff as soon as the other fellas discovered that he was too tall for the bed.

Jeff looked up at him, "What's playing?" Jeremy was a good kid from Indiana and Jeff had liked him from the start. He'd used him as a subject many times in broadcasts and writings he was doing.

"Does it matter?" Jeremy grinned, "It's a movie."

Jeff returned the freckle faced red headed Jeremy's smile, "I might see you there. I have a couple things to do and I want to try to call my wife today."

"Suit yourself." The young man said as he walked away.

Jeff sat up, knowing he really needed to get off his back and onto getting something accomplished. He glanced at the photograph of Hilary that was setting on the small dresser next to his bunk. He smiled, remembering when he'd found the pictures as he unpacked. There were times when she still surprised him, and that had definitely been one of them.

The picture was black and white, but he could tell by the design she was wearing the lavender teddy that he liked. He also glanced at the small picture of Bethie, tucked into the corner of the frame that he bought in town especially for the pictures that now graced it. Who the heck needed Rita Hayworth anyway.

He opened the drawer and pulled out the other pictures, the ones he kept hidden. He kept his favorite on top and smiled as he gazed at it. She was sitting on the bed, wearing only a fully unbuttoned white shirt of his. The ends were held together at the bottom by her hands, tastefully covering her, yet leaving enough in view. It was this picture he always looked at when the feeling of missing her was overwhelming. "Happy Valentine's Day, Mittens," he whispered softly.

He jumped when a hand reached in front of him to pick up the picture off the top of his dresser. He looked up to see a rather nice looking gentleman with an unruly shock of black hair.

"Hilary Booth! I'll be damned. "I haven't seen a picture of her in years," the man said as he sat on the bunk in front of Jeff, "she's still as pretty as ever."

Jeff put the pictures he was holding back into the opened drawer and closed it. "You know Hilary?"

"Know her?" He laughed, "I was married to her."

"Married to her?" Jeff sputtered, surprised, "When?"

"Back in '21. I was her first husband. You see, we met in New York while she was doin' a lot of auditioning for them stage plays she liked so much." The man explained, "We were married for three years before that John Barrymore cast her in his Hamlet. She started spending more time with him than with me. Finally I laid down the law and told her it was either going to be him or me. She chose him. End of marriage." He set the picture back down, "last I heard she'd married some kid in Mexico and started working for a radio station in Pennsylvania. Wonder what she's doing now?"

"I AM that kid she married in Mexico eleven years ago." Jeff laughed, "We both work at that radio station. It's in Pittsburgh, WENN, and we're still married." He pointed to the picture, "That's our daughter, Elizabeth."

"Cute kid. But then, look at her mother." His smile widened, "Talk about a small world!" He laughed and extended his hand, "I'm Tom Parsons, well actually, 'round here it's First Sergeant Parsons. I was just transferred to this unit."

Jeff shook the man's hand, "Jeff Singer. Semi-Private Singer actually," he joked, "I'm semi-in the army. I'm doing some civilian correspondent work for WENN, reporting on the day to day lives of the men here."

"Good for you. Glad someone cares enough to tell the folks back home what kind of jobs these boys are doing." Tom remarked.

"Well, I don't know. There are those around here who don't think I belong," Jeff said.

"Eh," Tom waved it off non-chalantly, "They'll be glad you're here soon enough." He picked the photograph of Hilary back up. "She still looks good when she's barely dressed."

Jeff cleared his throat, "You are talking about my wife." He took the picture and looked at it himself, "Though I am inclined to agree with you."

Both men laughed and Jeff stood, "If you wouldn't feel bad about associating with a lower life form, Sergeant, you want to go into town to see the movie?"

"I didn't know civilians were lower life forms." Tom replied back.

"How long have you been in the service?" Jeff retorted.

Tom leaned in to whisper, "Long enough to know that idiot captains have a tendency to forget it's the civilians we are fighting FOR." He clapped Jeff on the back, "What movie is playing anyway?"

Jeff just shrugged and started walking.

As they left the room, Tom asked, "So are you going to tell Hilary you are stationed with her first husband?"

Jeff thought about it, "Are you kidding? This would be her worst nightmare." Then a slow grin crept across his face, "I'll tell her in the next letter."

Some time later, the two men returned to the barracks laughing over a shared joke. In talking to Tom about his time with Hilary, Jeff had learned that through all her years of hard knocks, she still was at heart the same woman that Tom had married those years ago.

Tom had told him that he'd enlisted in '40 having barely made the cut-off age. He hadn't been sent to Europe yet because he'd been in Officer Training School. His class had been re-deployed as replacement troops and he'd been sent to Camp Orin to be re-trained.

Jeff was actually glad he was there. Not only did he find he liked the man, but it was nice to have someone farther up the 'food chain' that respected his work.

Jeff started to flop down onto his bed when he saw a couple of letters laying on the bed spread. Smiling, he picked them up and saw that they were both from Hilary. Just what he needed. And he was a bit curious.

He'd called her while they were in town to wish her a Happy Valentines Day and to see if she'd gotten the roses he'd sent the day before. She had asked of he'd received a particular letter yet and was a bit disappointed when he said no.

He looked at the small numbers on the envelopes that they'd decided to use to keep their letters in order and smiled when he noticed that one of them was the letter that Hilary had been talking about.

He set it aside and read the other letter first as it was numerically the first one he should read.

"I'll leave you to your love letters." Tom said with a wink and headed off to his own little corner of the room, accidentally stepping into a heavy card game some of the guys were playing on the floor. Jeff smiled as the fellas protested loudly, but briefly, as one man had just won the round.

He read through the letter, concerned about Bethie. Hilary wrote that she still was afraid to let her get within arm's length. He wished there was something he could do other than what he was already doing, which was sending gifts and writing letters to assure her he hadn't gone away for good.

Hilary had included a picture that Bethie had drawn for him. On the back of, he noticed with a twinge of homesickness, a page of a ~Hands Of Time~ script

He picked up the other letter and opened it. It included two letters, one from Hilary and one from Bethie. Hilary had written on the envelope to read Bethie's letter first. So he unfolded it, and read through her large and obviously assisted by her mother, printing.

Daddy,

Bethie Booth Singer

Jeff's heart skipped a beat when he read the roughly printed note. Had he read that right? He flipped to Hilary's letter.

Pumpkin,

Hilary and Bethie

Jeff smiled broadly. Another baby. He laughed, stood and announced proudly, "Hey guys, my wife is having a baby!"

Several of the men cheered a few congratulated Jeff and as usual there was one who had to ask, "Is it yours?" Which of course cracked up the room.

"Of course it is." Jeff answered noting that the person who asked was Tom. "John Barrymore died last year."

Tom laughed and walked over to shake Jeff's hand. "Congratulations kid, I'm happy for you both."

February 16, 1943

Hilary sat at the table in the green room eyeing the donuts with annoyance. She'd barely gotten any sleep because she was sick the entire night. Her morning sickness with Bethie had been a breeze compared to this. Someone apparently forgot to tell this baby that the morning only lasted a few hours, not twenty-four.

Her doctor had told her that it was quite normal to be sick all day. It was just that each woman is different and each pregnancy was different. He did assure her that it would probably fade away the farther into the pregnancy she got.

She glanced at Bethie who was sitting on the floor playing with a set of blocks that Jeff had sent to her last week. Her stomach rumbled nauseously and Hilary decided to get the donuts completely out of her view.

Betty walked into the green room with a man whom she'd never seen before. He looked nice Hilary thought. Well dressed and probably well read. His blond hair gently tousled by the hat he'd obviously just removed.

"Hilary, this is Nicholas Willoughby. We hired him yesterday to cover for Jeff while he's gone."

"Oh, well it's so very nice to meet you. I'm--" Hilary stood and extended a hand to shake, but her stomach had other plans. "going to be sick." She mumbled as she rushed out of the room.

As soon as she noticed her mother leave the room, Bethie began to cry nervously. Betty went to pick up the crying baby and try to comfort her.

"Was it something I said?" Nick observed almost jokingly.

Betty smiled, "Oh, no." she assured him and briefly explained the situation.

Hilary returned to the room slightly embarrassed. "I want to apologize." She took the still softly crying baby from Betty and gently reminded her that she wasn't going anywhere.

"Oh, that's quite all right. Betty here explained that it wasn't me." Nick said with a smile.

Hilary laughed, "I believe I was about to introduce myself. Hilary Singer, formerly Hilary Booth, of course. And this is my daughter Elizabeth."

"Beffie!" The little one injected angrily.

Hilary explained, "Her father calls her Bethie, that's what she prefers."

"Who am I to argue with that." Nick bowed slightly and took the little hand in his and dropped a light kiss on the top, "I'm very pleased to meet you, Miss Bethie."

Bethie smiled and shyly lay her head on Hilary's shoulder, pulling her hand back.

He turned his attention to the woman holding the baby, "It's a pleasure to meet you too, Mrs. Singer."

"Hilary, please." She corrected, "If we're going to be working together--" She abruptly handed the baby to him, "Excuse me." And rushed again out of the room.

Bethie started whimpering for her mother, but Nick bounced her lightly in his arms, unsure of what else to do. Betty rescued him by taking her and walking her to the counter for a cookie.

She handed Bethie half of a cookie and took a bite out of the other half. Nick walked to the cookie jar and took one for himself.

Maple rushed into the green room with annoyance. "Betty, is Hilary going to be in the studio anytime in the near future?"

"I could always have a microphone set up in the ladies room." Betty remarked only half joking.

"Uhhh, that's okay Betty." Maple gave in, "I'll read her lines in a different voice. She can always kill me later." Maple left the room and went back into the studio.

Nick leaned against the counter, playing cookie keep away with the little girl in Betty's arms. "I think I'm going to like it here."

Betty laughed, "That's a dangerous thought to have, Mr. Willoughby."

Hilary walked into the green room reading a letter from Jeff that Gertie had handed to her as she flew past the desk.

"Hilary, you think you feel up to being on the air where you are supposed to be?"

"What?" She looked at the clock and saw that she was five minutes late for Valiant Journey. "Oh Jeez, sorry Betty!" she turned around and went into the studio.

"Me down." Bethie ordered and leaned toward the floor. "Go Mama."

"Bethie honey, your mama is on the air." Betty said, but put her down anyway knowing that she'd start crying loudly if she didn't.

"Shhh . . ." Bethie put her finger against her mouth and toddled out the green room doors and into the studio doors. She held onto her mother's leg as Hilary read both the script and the letter.

Hilary looked down to her daughter when she felt the girl latch onto her leg. She smiled when Bethie looked up and her with a little finger against her lips. She went back to reading the script, but something in the letter caught her eye. "My first husband?!" she said aloud without meaning too.

Mackie looked up quickly, "What did you say, Daphne?"

Hilary stammered trying to think of something, "My, uh, my first husband will be whichever of you two lucky men that I choose." She spat out quickly and smiled at Mackie who rolled his eyes.

She folded the letter deciding she'd better read it after she was off the air. She bent down to pick Bethie up and read the rest of the script with no further interruption.

Later, while the dinner music show was playing, Mackie, Maple, Hilary and Nick sat around the table in the green room eating their own dinners. Mackie had gotten plenty of enjoyment at having heard that Jeff was stationed with Hilary's first husband.

"Hilary Parsons, huh?" He teased, knowing she was getting more annoyed by the joke.

"Mackie," Maple nudged him, "You might want to stop any time now."

"Yes, Mackie. Stopping is good for your health." Hilary replied evenly.

"Gee, I wonder how many other husbands Jeff's going to run into."

Hilary set her fork down calmly. "Mackie. If that isn't the last one, I'll decide that the men's room is much closer than the ladies room next time I see you go in there."

"You wouldn't."

She said nothing, but raised an eyebrow threateningly.

"Yeah, you would." He noted. "Okay, I'm shutting up now."

"Thank you." She replied and finished her dinner without another word.

March 31, 1943

Hilary rushed happily into the green room, holding a letter in her hands. She noticed that Bethie was still asleep on the green room couch so she quietly told the room's occupants of Maple and Betty the news.

"Jeff is coming home for a ten day leave!"

"Hey that's great Hilary." Maple said, "Bethie will sure be glad to see her daddy."

"No." Hilary said, "We, we're not going to tell her he's here. I don't want to put her through saying goodbye all over again. It's taken her three months to sleep through the night without waking and crying for him."

"How are you going to hide him for ten days, Hilary?" Betty asked.

"Well, let me ask you Betty." Hilary hedged, "Can I have a week and a half off?"

"Hilary, I don't know if we can spare another voice." Betty objected.

"I'll double up for you Hilary." Maple volunteered, "You'll just have to pay me back eventually."

Both women looked expectantly at the dark haired writer. "I don't know."

"Betty, didn't you take time off when Scotty took his leave just before going overseas?" Hilary reminded.

"All right. Let me tell Victor." She gave in, "I guess I can cover anything that Maple can't."

"Thank you Betty," Hilary acknowledged.

"So, when is he coming in?" Maple asked.

"This Saturday." Hilary answered with a smile.

April 4th, 1943

Hilary waited at the terminal for the train to come in. Had it really only been three months since they'd seen each other? It seemed like so much longer. Part of her felt guilty for hiding the fact that he was home from Elizabeth.

She'd had a long talk with Susan the night before, when she dropped Bethie and Miki off at their place. Susan had agreed that it was probably for the best, that the separation was hard enough on the baby without adding the extra stress of a temporary visit.

Hilary heard the train whistle and stood straight, waiting for it to arrive fully into the terminal. She rubbed her palms together and laughed slightly. She was actually nervous. Finally the train had come to a complete stop and the passengers started to file out. There were several service men on the train and Hilary had to edge in closer to be able to tell one uniformed man from the other.

Finally she saw him step off the train and onto the platform. She smiled and thought he looked very handsome in his uniform. She tried to wipe away the tears that sprang unbidden, she was just so happy to see him.

He saw her and stepped up his pace, finally reaching her and enveloping her into a tight embrace, "Hilary darling, I miss you!"

"I miss you too, Pumpkin." She held him tightly, "And so does our baby."

"Is she okay?" He pulled away slightly to ask.

"She's fine." Hilary studied his face then smiled, "You look very good in

a uniform."

He laughed and started to lead them out of the terminal. "Let's get out of this crowd. I just want to be alone with you."

Hilary had checked into the hotel earlier in the day, so that would already be out of the way. She didn't want to squander any of the limited time they had.

Jeff took the brown jacket off and threw it on the chair. He walked to their fifth floor balcony doors and looked out over the city. "It feels good to be home, even if it is for a little while."

Hilary stepped up beside him, wrapped her arms around his side and they stood silently together looking at the Pittsburgh skyline.

Finally Jeff turned, leaned against the wall and pulled her closer, "So tell me all the latest news." He moved a hand over her stomach, "How is the new little bundle of joy doing?"

"She, or he, is doing fine." Hilary answered, "So far everything is normal."

"What do you mean, so far?" Jeff asked concerned.

"Oh it's probably nothing, but the doctor is a little worried about my age."

"Darling," Jeff straightened, "what exactly is he worried about?"

"It's probably nothing, Jeffrey." She reiterated, "he does say that I'm a very strong woman and I should likely have no trouble. He was just honest with me and I'm being honest with you."

"So be honest with me."

"The chances of not surviving the childbirth go up with the age of the mother." She explained, but quickly added, "But Doctor Armstrong says that it's very rare and I should have no problem.

Jeff walked to the bed and sat, "Mittens darling, how can I leave you alone?"

"I'm fine." She said frustratedly, "I shouldn't have brought it up."

"Hilary, I had the right to know."

"Like I had the right to know you were going into combat zones." She retorted.

He sighed and stood, "Touché," he surrendered and pulled her into his arms.

Too quickly the ten days were nearly gone. Most of the days were spent checking on Bethie at the Sutton's, making sure she knew her mother hadn't left her too. Jeff stayed out of sight inside their house, but Hilary made sure to bring her outside each day so that he could see her at least. Not talking to his daughter or holding her was one of the hardest things Jeff had done, but they had agreed it was for her own good.

They stopped by WENN occasionally to say hello. Hilary made sure to introduce Jeff to Nick. Jeff had pulled the man aside to give him some 'pointers' on working with Hilary. "Just don't stand in her lime-light and you'll be fine." Jeff explained with a smile.

The evening of the ninth day found the two lying in bed and listening to the radio. Dreamland Dance Floor was on, and they had already requested two songs. Hilary laughed as she could hear the annoyance in Mackie's voice as Mr. Eldridge brought in yet another request from them.

"Oh look, another request from two people who *should* be sleepy." Mackie remarked cattily as he put on the requested song.

"I don't know who's enjoying this more, me, you or Mackie." Jeff said with a grin.

Hilary rolled to face Jeff and pulled him into her arms, "Oh, I guarantee you we are enjoying this much more."

The following morning found them back at the train terminal saying goodbye again. This one more bittersweet as they had no idea when he'd be home again.

"Our orders will probably come quickly. I may not have time, or be able to

tell you when we are shipping out." Jeff explained, "I had an idea last night."

"What darling?" She asked, leaning into his embrace.

"I'll send you a dozen roses. Red ones if we are sent to the Pacific. White, if we are sent to Europe." He said.

"Wait, there's a chance you'll be sent to fight the Japanese?" She questioned. This was the first she'd heard of that possibility.

"It's a small chance, and one I just found out about. Tom sent a letter to WENN and I picked it up yesterday when we stopped by there to say hello." He told her, "With the way this thing is escalating on all sides, who knows where I'll be."

She hugged him tighter, "Just be careful, my love. You have a little girl who wants her daddy and a baby on the way who would like to meet his or her father." She kissed him having heard the train's approach, "and a wife who needs her husband."

"I'll come back to you, Mittens. No matter which ocean I have to swim across to do it, I'll come back to you." He kissed her deeply, "I love you Hilary Singer.

She couldn't stop the tears, "I love you too Jeffrey."

He hugged her tightly once more before boarding the train. She stood with her arms wrapped around herself and waited until the train left the station. Once the train was out of sight, she went home, crawled into bed and cried herself to sleep.

Epilogue

April 19, 1943

Hilary walked from the studio into the green room carrying Bethie and stopped in her tracks when she saw the roses on the table. They were white.

"Pretty f'owers Mama." Bethie said.

"Yes they are, sweetie." She continued to the table and looked at the card, a part of herself hoping they weren't for her. But of course they were. The card read simply, "I love you."

She took a rose from the vase and brought the fragrant flower closer to her nose. Bethie leaned in as she caught the scent, "Smell good."

"Yes it does." She softly told the child, "These are for us from Daddy."

"Miss daddy." Bethie stated, gently touching the flower.

"I do too, darling." She hugged the girl and the rose closer, "I do too."