Flash smiled in contentment as she awoke in the arms of her husband. They had been married for 6 months now, and life could not be more perfect. . . .
Jasper stirred, interrupting her thoughts. He looked over at his wife and smiled. "Hmm . . . good morning, honey."
She leaned over and kissed him. "You're going to be late for work."
He looked over at his pocket watch that was laying on the table by his bed. It read 7:50 a.m. "Yikes!" He jumped out of bed and ran to get dressed.
Flash smiled and got out of bed herself. She pulled out a roll that was a couple days old and handed it to him as he passed by to the door. She stood their pretending to be angry until he stopped, turned around and quickly kissed her. He then disappeared out the door. She smiled, and went to get dressed.
Life was perfect . . .
*****
"So Dan, why haven't you left yet?" Emil asked tauntingly.
Dan looked up from his fishing spot next to Nat. "Be quiet Emil. You know why I haven't left yet."
Emil snickered, and walked on down the hill.
"She probably hasn't even gotten your letter yet." Nat said quietly.
"I know. He just really gets on my nerves." Dan said irritated. "Do you think that when Flash gets my letter, she'll let me come stay with them for a while, like I asked?"
"I'm sure she will."
"I hope so. I really want to go to California, and it would be the perfect way to go."
Nat just smiled.
*****
Flash walked into the store to get some stuff. "Hi Mrs. Calahan. Are you running the store today?"
"Yes. My husband, he not feel so good, so I watch place while he rest."
"Oh, send him my best wishes. I need some flour, and some brown sugar."
"Okay. I get, for you." Mrs. Calahan walked around the store until she found what Flash wanted, then handed them to Flash.
"Thank-you." Flash smiled.
"You welcome." Mrs. Calahan replied. "That will be fifty cents."
"Um," Flash looked down and the things she held in her hands. "Actually it would be a dollar fifty."
"Oh, you right. My English is, not so good, and my math . . bad."
Flash laughed and handed her the money. "That's okay. Thank-you again."
"Stop!" She yelled.
"What is it?"" Flash turned around.
"Mail for you." She said handing her a stack of envelopes.
"Thank-you."
*****
Arriving home, Flash put away the flour and sugar, and sat down to look through the mail. There was a couple of bills from the person they had boughten the house from, and from the bank. Flash barely looked at those, but there was one that caught her eye. It was really sloppily written, and it was for Jasper. She shrugged, and set it with the bills. The last letter was from Plumfield. "Finally." She said to herself.
Opening the letter, she quickly scanned the contents. She smiled at the mention of Nan playing yet another prank, and then her smile grew even wider when Dan mentioned that he would like to come to visit, and possibly live with them, while he explored California. She finished the letter, then started to read it again, starting at the beginning and not stopping for anything.
*****
"Honey, I'm home." Jasper called out in the darkness. He stepped into the house, and discovered that there was only one light on, and that was in the parlor. "Christa?"
Flash looked up guiltily. "You're home! I haven't even started dinner."
Jasper smiled. "It's okay. I can wait."
She practically ran to the kitchen. "The mail is by the lamp. Dan sent a letter!"
"So that's why dinner isn't ready." He grinned. "You know, it's a good thing he doesn't write every day, or else I would never get dinner on time."
She threw a towel at him from the kitchen. "Very funny."
He read Dan's letter quickly. "So are you going to invite him to come?"
"I was going to talk to you about that. What do you think?"
"I think it would be great!"
"Good, I'll write to him tomorrow."
He picked up the rest of the mail to inspect it. "Bill, bill, and . . ." He hesitated, then ripped open the scribbled letter.
"Who's the letter from?" Flash called.
He read it, then didn't reply, he just sat there staring at nothing, with tight pursed lips.
"Honey?"
He looked up at her.
"Who's the letter from?"
"Nobody." He muttered. "Don't worry about it."
She looked confused, but didn't comment further.
*****
The next morning, Flash woke to find that Jasper had all ready left for work. She was slightly hurt by that. ‘He always wakes me up before going to work. That letter must have had something to do with his strange mood. I wonder what it said.'
She tried to find the letter, but found that he had taken it with him. ‘Hmm. . . I'll have to ask him about it later.'
She started to clean the house, but her thoughts stayed with her husband and the mysterious letter.
*****
Later while in the middle of attempting to make rolls, someone knocked at the door. Grabbing a cloth to wipe her hands, she hurried to answer it. Opening the door, she was surprised to find a gruff looking man standing there.
"Does Jasper live here?" He asked, almost angrily.
"Y . . Yes. But he's at work right now. Can I help you?"
"Where does he work?" He asked.
"I . . can't tell you that." She decided that she didn't want to tell this angry man where her husband worked.
He stepped forward so that one boot was inside the house. She stepped back warily. "What do you want?"
He pulled back his coat revealing a gun. "Where does he work?" He insisted.
She gasped, staring at the gun. "I, I don't really know. He . . He delivers stuff for the store, so he could be anywhere. What do you want?" She asked again, worried that he might actually shoot her.
"I'll ask at the store then." The man turned, and abruptly left without so much as a clue as to why he had come.
After he had left, she shut the door and looked it, then sank to the floor beginning to cry. ‘What had her husband done now?'
Part 2 by Sara -
When Jasper returned from work that evening, he found that the door was locked. Curious as to why Christa would have locked it, she never had before, he dug out his spare key from his pocket, jingled the key until if found its hole, and with a click the door popped open.
Jasper stepped cautiously inside, looking around the once again dark house, except for the light coming from the kitchen. When he stepped in through the door, he found Flash, her back facing him, stirring away at a pot of stew cooking on the oven. Wanting to surprise her, he crept up silently behind her, and when he got near enough, he whispered into her ear, "Boo!"
Flash's heart leaped into her throat, and she screamed loudly as she turned around quickly, quick enough to knock the pot off the stove and clatter onto the floor, hot stew splattering everywhere.
Jasper was shocked. "Christa, are you all right?"
Flash kept her head down as she began cleaning up the mess. "You scared me," was her answer, in a shaky voice.
The letter that Jasper had received the previous night came back to him, and he wondered if it had bothered her. He bent down and brushed a few strands of loose hair on Flash's head behind her ear lovingly. "Did something happen to you today, Christa?"
Flash had planned what to say to Jasper---nothing. She didn't want him to know quite yet of the incident with the man because that way there might be a chance of her getting her hands on that letter. Something was up, and she wanted to find out.
Jasper noticed Flash was silent, and he asked her again. Flash looked at him with unsure eyes, and even though she didn't trust her voice, she spoke. "N . . nothing, Jasper. It's just that you left this morning without waking me, and I just wasn't used to it, so today's been pretty on edge for me, I guess. That's all," she said.
"You sure?" Jasper asked again.
Flash looked at him and forced a smile. "Yes, I'm sure." Looking back to the ground covered with stew and an overturned pot she muttered, "Now what to do about dinner---"
Jasper furrowed his brow in confusion, but stood up to get some towels and began to help Christa clean up. But instead, Flash took the towels from his hand and patted Jasper's knee kindly. "That's okay, I'll do it. You go and rest, you've had a long day." So with an unsure sigh, Jasper placed his jacket on the coat rack and headed off to their bedroom.
* * *
After Flash had cleaned up the mess, she smiled in spite of herself. "Perfect opportunity to find out what Jasper's up to," she mumbled quietly, sneaking over to his jacket, and reaching into its pockets to find the letter folded neatly inside of one.
Flash cautiously pulled it out of the pocket and brought it back to the table where the light was. Opening the letter silently, Flash began to read the messy handwriting. The text read: "Jasper---don't think I forgot the deal we made four years ago while we were both in prison. In case you happened to forget, we made a deal with each other that as soon as we both got out, we'd become the baddest robbery gang anyone ever saw, and now I'm out. So don't think you can hide from me, Jasper, ‘cause we made a deal, and it's a deal I plan to keep with you. So wherever you are, I'll find you Jasper, and when I do, be prepared to join me, or else I'm gonna go down, and I'll take you with me. ..Hyde"
After Flash read the letter, she was utterly amazed, and gasped. She decided that after something like this, she better confront her husband after all, and she walked to their bedroom where Jasper was staring out the window nervously.
"Jasper," she said, and he turned around quickly, apparently surprised. "What is this?" she asked, showing him the folded letter she held in her palm.
Jasper looked disappointed, and rushed over to grab it from Flash's hand. "You read that, Christa?" he asked angrily, throwing the letter into a drawer. "You shouldn't have done that, that was private business."
Flash's eyes narrowed. It wasn't that she was really mad, it's just that she was shocked Jasper didn't tell her about this. "BUSINESS? You consider this BUSINESS?" she emphasized.
Jasper looked confused. "Well---no, I---well---" he stuttered.
Flash walked over to Jasper and put her hands on his shoulders. "Jasper, I'm not upset with you."
Jasper put his hands on hers and stared into Flash's eyes. "Then what are you?" he asked shakily.
Flash thought for a moment, then spoke. "I'm just scared is all, I don't want you to get hurt."
Jasper laughed cruelly then sat down on the bed. "Is that all you ever are? Scared?"
This time Flash grew angry, as much as she didn't want to. "While you were at work today a man came to our house, looking for you," she began, and Jasper looked up quickly, curious. "He had a gun, Jasper, and I thought he was going to shoot me, but---"
Jasper stood up fast and grabbed Flash's wrists. "Why didn't you tell me before, Christa?" he asked angrily.
The girl stood speechless for a moment, then wriggled out of his grasp. "It doesn't matter, Jasper. I'm telling you now! The real question is why didn't you tell ME about that man the night you got it, then I wouldn't have been so scared in the first place!"
So the first newlywed fight of theirs had begun.
Jasper stepped toward Flash again, and, frightened, she turned to leave the room, but Jasper closed the door with his hand before she stepped out. "You had no right to look through my mail, Christa, I thought we had more respect than that!"
Flash was amazed. "Well apparently we don't, Jasper. Which makes me think of the lack of honesty we have in this relationship. You should be comfortable enough to tell me anything, no matter how bad it is!"
"So should you!" Jasper snapped back.
Flash raised her chin. "Well look who's Mr. Hypocritical today," she scolded.
Jasper turned away, growing angry with her. Why, he hadn't become this angry with her for at least five years, and it brought back bad memories of his rage towards Flash. "Don't push me, Christa," he muttered between his teeth.
Flash smiled sarcastically. "Why, what are you gonna do, huh?"
"Don't push me, Christa," Jasper repeated, much more agitated this time.
"Well finally you're being honest," Flash stated with phony enthusiasm, which raised Jasper's temper even more. "Congratulations, Jasper, you've actually told me how you feel."
Jasper wasn't even aware of what he was doing, but by the time he realized he had actually slapped his wife that he loved more than the very air around him, she had already left the room.
* * *
"Do you really think she got it, Bess?" Dan asked worriedly.
Bess shook her head and put her arm around Dan's shoulders. "Don't worry, I'm sure she's just been kept busy, that's all. There's nothing to worry about. She'll write back soon, I know it."
Dan looked hopefully at the beautiful blonde girl sitting next to her. They had grown very close in the past few years, and Dan was relieved that their attitude towards each other had finally changed since they first met.
"Well, even if she did get it, do you think she'd let me stay?" he asked worriedly again.
Bess laughed and punched him gently on the shoulder. "Why wouldn't she, Dan? You're one of her best friends. Of course she'll let you stay."
Dan smiled, and the two friends stood up. "Thanks, Bess," Dan said.
Bess smiled, too. "Of course," and even though she was glad that Dan had been blessed with such a good friend as Flash, deep down she was sad that he would be leaving her.
But Bess shook the feeling off for right then, because she figured that she enjoy all the time she had with Dan before he left for California.
* * *
Jasper awoke to an empty bed, just as he had gone to sleep in one. He was upset with no one but himself and he could've kicked himself for actually hitting Christa. She was everything to him, and he wanted to reassure Christa of that by taking her out to a nice picnic that very day since it was a Saturday.
He got up out of bed and went to the kitchen where he figured Flash would be, but she wasn't there. He searched the rest of the house, calling her name, but he couldn't find her anywhere. Finally he reached the parlor, but when he got there all he found was a note on the table from Christa. Reluctantly, he read:
"Jasper---I could never be so angry at you that I'd never want to see you again, but I need some time to myself. You hurt me last night, physically and emotionally, and I feel terrible about leaving you alone here with all that stuff about the man trying to hook up with you. But I know you can take care of yourself, and I know you'll do the right thing when your smarts are put to the test. "I promise I'll be back sometime, but I just need to be away from you right now to sort out my feelings. I can't tell you where I'm going, but I can tell you that wherever I'll be, I will always be able to return to you. I don't know how long I'll be, but don't wait up for me. Just know that sometime I'll come home. . Christa"
Part 3 by Rachel -
Jasper slumped into a chair in shock. She had left him . . . He couldn't believe it, even now. Last night he had been stupid, he had been so upset that she hadn't trusted him, so upset that she had read his mail, that he had hit her. Hard! And now, she was gone. What would he do without his wife?
*****
During the train ride to Concord, Christa had lots of time to think. (Where else do you think she would go???) Too much time, in fact. She loved her husband, she knew that, but the way he had acted . . . she couldn't live like that. Always wondering, but never knowing the answers. With all the time she had, she even started to wonder if Jasper had even changed at all, or if he had lied about that too!
When the train finally stopped she grabbed the one bag that she had brought with her, and stepped off to the platform. She pulled a small mirror out of the bag, and groaned slightly when she saw that her eye was still dark from where she had been hit. Then, squaring her shoulders, she began her walk to Plumfield.
*****
"Dan! Could you come down and help me lift this stack of wood and take it to the barn?"
"Yeah Nick, I'll be right down." Dan called from his room. He shut the book that he had been reading, and stuffed it under his pillow so that nobody would find it. He then ran out the room and down to help Nick.
After two trips, they had finished the job. As they were walking back to the house, they saw someone standing on the porch about ready to knock. The door opened, and the person was quickly pulled into a hug from Jo. Dan looked at Nick in question, then hurried to see who it was.
As Dan ran up the steps to the house, the person suddenly pulled away from Jo, and Dan stopped in surprise.
"Flash!"
*****
Everybody had quickly gathered in the parlor when they had heard about Flash's arrival, and now they were all talking excitedly.
"Everybody, please be quiet!" Jo finally said loudly.
When they had all stopped talking, Jo gave a small sigh of relief. "Thank you. It's great to have you back Christa."
"Thank you, Mrs. Bhaer."
"How long are you staying?"
"Did Jasper come?"
"Did you hear about the prank I pulled?"
They all started talking at once, and Christa laughed. "I don't know how long I'm staying, no, Jasper didn't come, and what prank would that be, Nan?"
Dan held back for a minute, then stepped forward. "Did you get my letter?"
She looked at him, and after a slight moment of hesitation, answered, "no. Did you send me one?"
"Umm, yeah. But we can talk about it later."
She attempted a smiled.
"Why didn't Jasper come?" Nick asked.
"Well," She decided to be as truthful as possible. "He busy working, and I needed a vacation, so I decided it would be best to come and visit my friends."
They all nodded, and Jo noticed how tired Christa looked. "I think we should all let Christa rest."
They groaned a little, but started to head out the door. Jo motioned for Christa to follow her, and took her to the guest bedroom. "You can stay in here."
"Thanks Mrs. Bhaer."
Jo smiled, "you're welcome."
*****
Flash woke from her nap with a scream, and sat up quickly in her bed. The nightmare had been so real! She was standing at the door, with the big, scary, man, . . Hyde, who had his gun pulled out ready to shoot her, when all of a sudden it was Jasper standing there with the gun. She started to cry when the bedroom door was suddenly opened and in walked Nan.
"Flash . ." She saw the tears and stopped. Not knowing exactly what to say, she sat down on the bed next to Christa and pulled her into a hug. "Are you okay?"
Christa nodded against her shoulder. "It was just a nightmare. I'm okay." Suddenly she pulled away. "Really, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" Nan asked, not convinced.
"I'm sure." She gave a slight smile, then turned to her mirror as she attempted to brush out her hair, and then put it back up. "Did you need something, Nan?"
"It's time for dinner." She replied.
"Oh, I'll be right down."
*****
Dinner passed uneventful except for the strange looks that Nan kept giving her, but afterwards she claimed she was still a little tired and that she was going to go unpack and go to bed. She hurried from the room, and without her knowledge, Dan followed.
She unpacked all the stuff onto the bed, and then began to put the stuff in the drawers. Dan stood in the doorway, watching her, when something on the bed caught his eye. He walked over and picked up an envelope. Seeing what it was, it made him confused.
"Christa?"
She turned in surprise, then gave a smile. "Dan! What are you doing in here?"
He ignored the question, and instead said, "I thought you didn't get my letter." He then handed her the envelope that his letter to her.
She stood there for a minute, not really knowing how to explain. She really didn't want to tell Dan what was going on between her and Jasper, but how was she going to explain the letter???
Part 4 by Sara -
Jasper packed away the last of his clothes into his suitcase and shut his dresser drawer. Although Flash may have tried to seem subtle, Jasper read Flash like a book, so he knew very well where she had gone---Plumfield.
At first Jasper considered to just stay in California and let Flash deal on her own, just like she requested, but he quickly thought after realizing that he wouldn't have wanted Christa to return home when danger was afoot for both himself and his wife. So instead, he decided to take the first train to Concord that he could and try his best to ask for his wife's apology.
Jasper looked out the window of the bumpy train and sighed. How he longed to hold Christa in his arms again; to press his lips gently against her own. He remembered those nights where the two of them became one in a surreal envision of love, joined together souly by the affection they had for one another. Jasper could only dream of nights like those again.
The train ride was long and hard, but the thoughts of his wife kept Jasper persistent. He wouldn't give up, ever. Nothing was going to get in his way.
But if only he knew that Hyde had followed him the entire train ride to Concord, hopping trains and staying completely out of sight, but always keeping Jasper in his . .
* * *
"I thought you said you didn't get my letter?" Dan asked again, almost angrily. Why would Flash simply downright lie to him through her teeth? The only reason he could think of was that she was in a lot of trouble . . he should have seen it coming sooner.
Flash looked to the floor embarrassed, her face red. "I, well . . .I didn't want to . . ." She stuttered. Flash sighed before continuing. "It's . .it's just hard to explain."
Dan's shoulders slumped, and he half rolled his eyes in disappointment. "Well I'd like to think so. Why did you lie to me, Flash?" he asked her, trying to be as patient as he could. His anger wasn't completely over the fact that his best friend of his entire life had lied to him, but she unknowingly caused him endless nights where he lay awake in bed, wondering when she would reply to his request.
By this time, Flash had conveniently came up with a plan that would hopefully last until she got over her pain. She struggled a smile, and began her fib. "I'm sorry that I kept you waiting so long, Dan, but I couldn't write back because everything was just so busy. My life was just a blur."
Dan still didn't look convinced. "Then why'd you say you didn't get my letter when you clearly did?" he asked, gesturing towards the envelope on the bed.
Flash was relieved that her plan was working. "I didn't want to give you my answer in front of everyone because I wasn't sure if that would've made you uncomfortable, so I said I didn't get it so we could talk later in private without fear of anyone asking questions."
Dan was relieved now. "So, we're in private, aren't we?" he asked, hoping that now would be the time that he could talk about it with her.
Flash smiled . . everything so far had worked out. "When I got your letter I was absolutely thrilled. I'd consider it an honor to have you be able to stay at my house. In fact, Jasper . . " she suddenly choked on his name, remembering all of the sudden why she had actually come to Plumfield in the first place.
Dan noticed this and placed a cautious hand on her shoulder. For a while he never thought that Jasper could ever do anything to pain Flash again, and even though he wasn't sure at that moment, he didn't want to think that he might have done anything to hurt Flash. "Flash, if anything is going on right now between you and Jasper, I want you to know that I'll be here for you, okay? We all will." Dan paused before he spoke again, trying to look into Flash's eyes. "Do you need to talk about anything?"
Flash realized then that there was a thin line between her and breaking down . . which was the very LAST thing she wanted to do right then. But she felt she had no control of the tears flowing down her cheeks, and no control of adoring the embrace of one of her closest friends.
* * *
Nat shuddered, and Nan placed her hand warily on his. The two were standing together on the bridge, trying to console one another from the true reason why Flash had returned to Plumfield. "I just can't believe it . ." Nat's voice trailed off, and a tear dripped off his cheek into the river below them.
"Don't worry, Flash is safe now. She's with us," Nan said, assuring not only Nat but also herself. Over the years, Christa had become like a sister to the girl, and she would hate to have her be hurt. "Jasper doesn't even know where she is."
But by the last word that Nan had spoken, Nat had already stomped off the bridge towards someone walking up the path. Nan gasped . . it was Jasper.
"Go away Jasper," Nat muttered, stopping inches away from Jasper, staring at him with a look that could kill.
Jasper looked dreadfully tired and weary of his trip, for he had a lot more on his mind than just making sure he got the right train. "Nat, please, if you would just let me talk to her than . ."
Nat shoved him back, but not hard enough to push him to the ground. Jasper regained his balance, more agitated now. "Then just let me SEE her, Nat. I just want to know she's okay!"
Nat advanced slowly on Jasper, and both of them could barely believe that Jasper was the one afraid at that moment, unlike so many other times in the past. "She's not okay, Jasper. Not after what you did to her," Nat growled. "She just wants some time to herself."
Jasper looked desperate . . he wanted to see his wife. "Please---" he began.
"I said NO!" Nat screamed, and began to pound Jasper with all the strength he had in him.
By this time Nan had run back to the house screaming for help, and when everyone came back out again, they saw that Nat and Jasper had gotten themselves into a rather painful brawl. Dan tried to hold Flash back from running off the porch, but only because he wasn't sure who she'd run to . . .
But Flash was still ever too strong for him, and she wriggled out of his grasp, jumped off the porch, and tore Jasper away from Nat. "Stop fighting!" she screamed angrily. "I can't take all this! Just please stop fighting!" She wasn't too mad at them, though, or anyone. Just mad at herself. She didn't know why, but she was. She was only mad at herself.
Jasper and Nat stood staring at each other angrily for a few seconds, but then Jasper looked at Flash cautiously, trying to look into her eyes without crying. "Christa," he began, the other Plumfield residents readying themselves to pounce on Jasper the second that he did something to the girl. "Christa, I know saying I'm sorry would never be enough, but if there is ever anything I can do to make you realize that I am so, deeply regretful that I did this to you then . ."
Flash suddenly placed her hand over Jasper's mouth to tell him not to speak. Jasper was relieved, had she forgiven him?
But the look on her face told Jasper that something was very wrong. "Christa?" he cracked, placing an arm around her waist. "Christa are you okay?"
But Flash just muttered a faint gasp and fainted lifelessly into his arms. The rest of the school ran over to see what had happened. Jasper was uncontrollably crying, stroking the girl's head in his lap. "Christa! Christa please!" he begged her, as Nick removed his arm from Flash's neck, checking to see if she had a pulse . . to everyone's sorrowful relief, she did.
"Nan, get the doctor!" Jo called, wringing her hands together in worry.
"C'mon, now," Nick said to Jasper, trying not to sound mean. It appeared that Flash had begun to forgive him, and so he was trying hard as he could to be courteous. "Let's get her inside."
But Jasper only held her closer. "Don't touch her!" he screamed, his tears flowing uncontrollably. Nick drew his hand away quickly from Jasper's arm. The rest of Plumfield understood that what he was going through was simply a complete denial of what was happening. Jasper didn't want to believe. "C'mon, Christa! Please wake up! I promise I'll never hurt you again. Just please don't leave me! Not like this!"
Dan was shocked at what he was seeing, and cautiously placed an arm on Jasper's shoulder. "C'mon, Jasper," he said, as Jasper's grip on Christa loosened and Nick carried her inside, followed by the rest of the people at Plumfield. But Jasper just stayed where he was, crying helplessly on the ground, overwhelmed by everything that had happened in the past week.
Dan patted Jasper on the shoulder. "It's all right, Jasper. She's going to be fine, don't worry." And until Nan had returned with the doctor from town, Dan stayed outside with Jasper, letting the "tough boy's" tears fall endlessly to the ground.
* * *
The parlor was silent. Even though everyone was in the same room---Mrs. Jo, Nick, Asia, Dan, Nat, Jasper, Nan, Bess, Emil, Tommy and everyone else---nobody spoke a word. It had seemed an eternity since the doctor had entered the room to see Christa, and nobody knew when he would come out.
Jasper was still in shock, and still crying. He couldn't believe anything. He didn't even know what was real . . well, except for one thing. He knew that his love for Christa was the truest thing he had ever known, and it would destroy him if anything ever happened to her.
Dr. Pierce suddenly appeared at the doorway, but no one was brave enough to ask how she was . . they were too afraid to hear the words "we've lost her."
Jasper looked up warily, afraid of what he would hear next. But the doctor simply smiled, surprising everyone. It seemed as if another eternity had passed before Dr. Pierce spoke again. "Jasper . . you're wife is pregnant."
Part 5 by Rachel -
Jasper stared at Dr. Pierce in shock. "Did you just say -"
"Yes, your wife is pregnant."
He stood there for another second, then sank back in his seat overwhelmed. Suddenly he jumped up. "Can I see her?"
Dr. Pierce smiled at his enthusiasm. "Of course, she resting in the bedroom."
Jasper gave a small smile, then ran for the door. "Thank you doctor."
Everyone sat there in shock before the smiles slowly started to form.
"She's pregnant-"
"I don't believe it-"
"Flash? I wouldn't have imagined-"
"Did he really just say-"
"Did you all see Jasper's reaction?"
They all laughed, and thanked the doctor. He smiled, gave them some instructions, then headed back for town.
*****
Jasper hesitated a second outside the bedroom before slowly knocking.
"Come in." Flash called wearily. She knew exactly who it was.
He opened the door, and walked over to the bed. He looked deep into her eyes, and found all the answers to his questions.
"So you're going to have a baby." He said biting the bottom of his lip.
She shook her head. "We're going to have a baby, Jasper. You're going to be a father."
"I can't believe it."
She laughed, "I know. It seems so unrealistic. And don't even think that I'm going to put this baby up for adoption-"
He looked at her in shock. "I wouldn't dream of it-"
"Because I am not going to put my baby through the kind of misery that we had to live with. I want my baby to have a home, with friends, and parents who love her."
"Him."
She looked confused, "what?"
He looked at her and grinned. "It's going to be a boy."
She laughed, "I don't care what it is."
He smiled at her, then leaned over and kissed her gently. She put her arms up around his neck intensifying the kiss. When they parted, she gave a small moan.
"What is it? Are you okay?" He became concerned.
She nodded, "you don't know, how much I've missed you."
He gave another smiled, then leaned in for another kiss. "Likewise."
*****
"Are you excited?" Nan asked.
"Well, yes." Flash answered.
"Nervous?" Bess broke in.
"Who wouldn't be?" She asked back.
"What are you going to name her?" Nan asked again.
"Well that depends on who you talk to. Jasper is sure that it's going to be a boy, but he can't figure out a name that he likes." Flash smiled at her husband who was across the room. It had been four months since she had found out that she was pregnant, and so she was 6 months along now. She felt huge, and the baby was kicking up a storm.
Jasper looked over at his wife, and they shared an affectionate glance. It had been 6 months since they had come to Plumfield, but they still didn't know what to do about Hyde. The only reason he had made the stupid deal with the man was to keep him from hurting him in jail. He had talked it over with Crista, and then together they talked with Nick, and Jo, and the rest of Plumfield, as well as the Sheriff in town. They didn't want any unexpected surprises.
*****
They were all sitting around the dinner table talking when a loud knock echoed through the house. For some reason Jasper began to feel uneasy, and he looked at Flash, only to discover that she looked the same way.
"I'll get it." Asia said, rising from her chair.
Everyone else continued talking, when loud voices came from the hallway. "I'm sorry sir, but you'll have to come back another time."
"I want to see him NOW !!!"
Just then a gruff looking man came running into the room waving a gun. "You can run, but you can't hide Jasper!"
Flash gasped, and Jasper rose shakily to his feet. He confirmed everybody's worst nightmare, when he said, "Hyde-"