Fiona stood at the window of their kitchen. It was gently snowing and a chill fell over her. It was late morning and Charlie was at the nursery school. She had gone to bed early with a bad case of the stomach flu which seemed to go on for days. At least that's what she told herself.

Michael had let her sleep in and he had taken Charlie. When she finally had gotten up and arrived at the kitchen, she found a pot of tea waiting with fresh brown bread. Michael had headed out to the barn to work on the old ford that he had bought from the elderly gentleman on the neighboring farm. Before she had bathe, Fi had dug out the small package she had gotten at the pharmacy the day before. As she sat on the edge of the tub, she didn't want to believe she was about to do this. How did this happen? Stupid, girl. You know, it's simple biology and a lot wishful thinking. Since they had left Miami, they had been fucking like rabbits, as her mother might have said. It had been completely freeing. Making up for lost time she had told herself. And protection, well she hadn't gotten in trouble before. The reality was that it was all of those things and so much more. There was a silent commitment between them. It was deeper than either of them could fathom.

As each day past and they became entrenched in their new lives, the simple act of being together, sleeping together, moving in the same space seemed as natural as breathing. Their days had become filled with simple acts of being parents. She had found joy in her home. Housework and cooking had replaced bomb making and bank robbery and she didn't miss it in the least. It had hit her a few days before when she and Charlie came home from school. He had begun to develop a lithe in his sentences and bounded out of the car to the barn. Michael had hidden behind the door and grabbed Charlie threw him in the air and they began a game of chase. Soon the three of them were rolling around, laughing. They had come in, changed and Charlie had fallen asleep on Michael. It was not the life she dreamed of. It was so much more.

Now, she stood staring out the kitchen window with a stick in her back pocket that could be answer to every prayer or the beginning of a nightmare.

Michael looked at the old Ford like a metaphor. It always seemed that cars represented what every setting he was placed in. Military vehicles and expensive cars were his spy life. Efficiency or falseness. The Charger was Miami. Cool, sleek, classic. It was Miami. And he loved it. Fixing it up after jobs was in a way what he had been doing to himself. He had told himself that the Ford was to keep himself busy. He needed it for farm work. He knew the reality. So did Fi. This was Ireland. It was about steadiness and reliability and commitment. Fi had come into the garage at one point and sat and watched him work. Then she got a wretch and went to work. It reminded him of the time in Miami when he had first gotten the Charger. A feeling of complete love and admiration washed over him. And she was a better mechanic then he was truth be told.

He had gotten up, got Charlie breakfast and let her sleep. She seemed worn out. And he knew. She might not admit to herself, but he knew and he wanted it. They had gotten on that Lear jet knowing they would never go back. That they were now bound together. She made that choice seven years ago. He had made it two days before. And he was the happiest he had ever been. Scared and terrified and completely devoted and in love with her. She and Charlie were his family. His mother had given him this. Her choices had always defined his. Now, he was the product of this and the mistakes that followed. And he was loved by these two women and this boy.

He had planned for this day since he left Ireland. He had bought the cottage and farm before leaving Ireland the first time. Fi had used it as a safe house and they lived there. It was the place he would go when he needed peace. They were dead and more alive than they ever were. When they finally arrived at the house, Fiona cried. See I never forget his eyes said and they never looked back.

Each night, they put Charlie to bed. Each night, they made love. Violent foreplay had turned into something he could never even imagine. And he wanted this. And it terrified him, but he wanted this. He wanted this family.

He walked past the kitchen window and saw Fi gazing out, tears in her eyes. Oh shit, I knew it could last was his first thought before opening the backdoor.

"Hey, Fi. You ok?" He leaned against the cabinet next to the sink. It always amazed him how they could show affection without touching.

Fiona drew a sip of the tea. "Michael, I've not been myself lately. I thought it was a flu. But, I began to think it might be something else. I got a pregnancy test yesterday." And then she waited to see his reaction.

"Did you take it?"

"Yes and no I don't know the results. I stuck it in my back pocket."

Michael folded his arms. "Why? I think you would feel better if you looked."

"Not quite the answer I was looking for, Michael."

Michael smiled and turned into her and grabbed the stick out of her pocket. "Tell you what, we will look together."

Fi closed her eyes. Then Michael said something she never thought she would hear. "I love you, Fi. Whatever the test says, I love you. I will grow old with you and fix cars with you. We will raise Charlie and live the life we were meant to. And if you want to be pragmatic then you and I both know that the chances are good that you are. Now, do you want know or wait seven months?"

She opened her eyes. He whispered in her ear, "Congratulations, we are going to be parents."