Parker laid back on the couch. She was getting worried she hasn't heard anything from Jarod. She knew he should have been on his way by now. The older woman entered the room.
"Martha?"
"No. I haven't heard anything."
"How did you know I was going to ask?"
"Because you have been asking since yesterday."
"Oh. I'm just worried. What if he didn't...?"
"Don't talk like that. He will be here when he knows it is safe."
******
Two weeks later
The door bell rang.
"I'll get it." Parker yelled. She hoped it was Jarod. She smiled as she opened the door but then frown when she saw a delivery guy standing there.
"I have a delivery for a Mrs. Russell."
"That's me." She took the package.
"Sign here." He handed her a pen and paper.
"Here you go." She handed it back to him. She quickly tore into the package while she shut the door. She opened it up.
"Was it Jarod?" Martha came into the room.
"No." She was crying.
"What's wrong?"
"This." She pulled out the one tiny baby sock. "He said when the sock find it's mate again we would be together."
The door bell rang again.
"I'll get it." Martha went this time. She opened the door and smiled at the man before her. "Melissa, it's for you."
"You can sign for it." She wiped her tears.
"He won't let me. He said it has to be you."
Parker turned around and head toward the door. "Jarod!" She yelled as she jumped into his arms. "What took you so long?" She pulled back and waited on an explanation.
"I had to make sure it was safe."
"You sure did take your sweet time." Her hands were on her hips.
Jarod could see her swollen belly. "Look at you." He reached for her stomach. "How is my baby?"
"Fine but worried about you too." She took his hand and went to the couch. "How did you get out?"
"The same way I did the first time." He held her into his arms. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." She kissed him. "I love you." She whispered in his ear.
"Not as much as I love you." He held her tighter.
******
Nineteen weeks later
Jarod looked out their bedroom window. He saw the car driving up the road. He found his wife. "Honey, we have visitors."
"Mmm."
"The door is for you."
"Can you get it? I'm getting ready to feed the baby." Parker stared down at her beautiful daughter who was two weeks old.
"No, it's really for you."
"Jarod?"
"Please. Get the door."
"Fine." She held her daughter into her arms as she went to the front door. She opened the door to see Sydney, Broots, Debbie, and Angelo standing there.
"Guys. How did you found us?"
"Jarod left us directions." Sydney entered as he got a hug.
"Angelo?" She hugged them all as they entered one by one.
"Wait. There is someone else." Jarod told her as she began to shut the door.
"Who? I don't see anyone." She looked out.
"Me."
She heard the familiar voice. "Sam?" She couldn't believe he was standing in front of her.
"Are you going to let me in?"
"Sure." She moved over. "Jarod?" She looked surprised.
"Honey, it's okay."
"You haven't told her." Sam replied.
"You know, I'm finding a lot that Jarod hasn't told me." She joined them in the livingroom.
"Let me see her." Debbie asked as she sat down next Parker.
"Here, you can hold her." She handed the baby to Debbie. Then turned back toward Jarod. "Tell me what?" She asked.
"See I helped Sam out a long time ago in one of my pretends and I asked him if would return the favor."
"Which is?" She kept her eyes fixed on Jarod's.
"Protect you."
"Protect me?" She looked surprised again.
"Yeah. If you will remember when we got married Sam showed up at the Centre and became your personal sweeper."
"Yeah. I never really thought about it back then."
"You weren't suppose to. He was there to protect you when I wasn't around."
"Then why didn't you tell me?"
"It was safer that way."
"Safer?"
"The more you knew the more you would have been in danger."
"Oh." She turned to everyone else. "How did you get out?"
"We are all dead." Broots answered.
"Uh?"
"Broots and Debbie had a car accident one night. Sydney took Angelo out in hopes of finding you when the his house blew up with them in it. Sam was killed while chasing me after I escaped again." Jarod answered.
She looked over at him and smiled. "I don't know how you do it but..."
"I'm good." He replied mischievously.
They all laughed. The baby began to cry. "It's dinner time." Parker took her daughter into her arms. "We will be back." She headed out. Jarod watched her leave the room.
"By the way Sydney, your family will be joining us tomorrow."
"Nicholas and Michelle?"
"Yes. I have faked their deaths too. Their plane should be landing in the morning."
"Thank you Jarod." The older man shook his hand.
"You're welcome. Now if only I could find my family."
"You will." Sydney replied.
"We will." Broots said as he pointed over toward his lap top.
"One day at a time." Jarod answered as he watched his friends talk.
******
Jarod knocked on the door.
"Yeah." Parker answered.
"Can I come in?"
"Of course."
Jarod entered the room and stared at his wife feeding their daughter. "You both are beautiful." He said as he walked closer to them.
"Thank you." She smiled up at him.
"I have one more surprise for you."
"Jarod...?"
"You will like this one."
"What is it?"
"I can't tell you." He kissed his baby girl on the head. "Tomorrow. I promise." He walked out.
"What are we going to do with your father?" Parker glanced down at the baby in her arms.
******
Parker woke up early the next morning. She rolled over.
"Jarod?"
"Mmm." He opened his eyes.
"Where is my surprise?"
"Later." He answered.
"No. You said I would get it this morning."
"Later this morning." He rolled over and faced the other direction.
She punched him in the shoulder.
"Ow!"
She got up from the bed and went to check on her daughter. She came back in.
"Where did you go?" Jarod sat up.
"To check on the baby. She is still asleep." She glanced out the window. She saw the car pull up into the yard. "Someone's here." She replied as she headed out.
Jarod smiled as he climbed out of bed and followed her to the door.
She opened the door and stared back at the older man. "Ben?" She questioned.
"Melissa." He hugged her.
"What are you doing here?"
"I couldn't miss this opportunity to stay with my family."
"Surprise!" Jarod came up behind her. "I told you, you would like it."
"Yeah....but..."
"Nothing. He wants to stay with his daughter."
"Ben." She hugged again. "I haven't seen you seen we got married."
"I know. I have got onto my son-in-law for taking you away."
"Follow me. I have something to show you." She took Ben into the baby's room. They walked over to the crib. She picked up her daughter who was now a wake. "Ben, I would like for you to meet your granddaughter." She handed him the baby.
"She is beautiful." He made cooing noises at her. "What is her name?"
"Catherine." She answered.
"I wish her grandma could be here."
"Me too." Parker said as she watched her father play with the baby. Jarod held his wife in his arms as they both enjoyed having their family almost reunited.
The End!