Savannah just squeezed his arm as she exited the car. Inwardly, she was determined to maintain a brave front for Kermit but outwardly was another matter. She had wanted her husband to be cool and professional but, thanks to Vanessa, he was nervous and stressed. *Oh, well,* Savannah sighed, taking Kermit's arm as they entered the restaurant, *it's not Kermit's fault.* She gave his arm another comforting squeeze as they were led to a table on the patio out in the bright sunshine.

Kat bounced happily in Kermit's other arm, occupying herself by digging in her father's always-stocked candy store. Once she spotted her granddaddy, the squeals tumbled out at maximum volume.

Holding out his arms, Donald March gushed, "Come on to Granddaddy, Little Drop o' Sugar!" Both seemed to be in Heaven. Leaving Kermit to wonder how this man could love THIS child so much in only a day and turn a cold shoulder to his own daughter.

While the love affair continued and they waited for a high chair, Savannah sat down in the chair Kermit offered and began the strained small talk. "So, how do you like the restaurant, Mama? It's always been our favorite."

"Well, it's very nice, dear." Betsy noticed her daughter's haggard emotional state. She wished it were different. Her own daughter was nervous in her company. "We were beginning to get worried. You were so late."

"Mama," chimed Billy March as he returned to the table, "I hardly think ten minutes qualifies as 'so late.'" He pecked his sister on the cheek and plopped down beside her.

"Where have you been?" Savannah was grateful to have Billy sit between them.

"Sightseein'." He wasn't ABOUT to tell her the truth. Not yet.

Donald March decided to make contact with the adults. Not voluntarily, of course. Kat was so easy to deal with. No *issues* to avoid. He'd denied her for too long but now he had a little girl once more. One who would hang on his every word. Let him spoil her and love her. Shifting back to elder-mode, he began to grill his son-in-law once more. "So, are things busy at the precinct? From the looks of this city, you must be busy."

"We have a case or two," Kermit answered, accepting his menu from the waiter.

"What exactly do you do there?" What he REALLY wanted to ask was how long, how much, and how secure.

A decidedly continental voice answered from above the table, "Whatever he pleases, I'm sure." Rykker stood above the odd gathering. He knew of Griffin's marriage and new addition. Still, he seemed a dark contrast to the normal family group surrounding the table.

"Rykker." Kermit swallowed the 'oh, shit' echoing through his head.

Focusing on Savannah, Rykker bowed slightly. "I assume that you are the lovely Mrs. Griffin." Politely kissing her hand, delighting in the tense reaction from his mercenary friend, he offered, "Your husband has the manners of a goat for not introducing us sooner."

"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Rykker. Finally." Kermit had told her a few tales about the mysterious Rykker. He seemed to be one of the few associates from his days in the business that Kermit didn't totally despise. Though, from Kermit's demeanor, no one would ever guess. "These are my parents, Donald and Betsy March, and my brother, Billy."

Rykker turned his attention to the child, whose sticky little hand patted the side of his coat. He hoisted Kat in his arms, appraising her thoughtfully. "This must be Mademoiselle Griffin." A stroke to her pudgy cheek garnered Rykker a reward of dimples. "Charmed to make your acquaintance."

Kermit had risen from his seat and, through sheer will and body language, guided the other man to the bar, out of earshot to the others. "Just paying social calls or do you have business?" Kermit was always on edge when one of 'them' showed up. Trouble was usually a shadow. Unconsciously, he freed his hands to take Kat from the man's arms.

"How suspicious you are, my friend! And how protective...." He relinquished Kat to Kermit's arms. "It's an...interesting side to you."

"Yeah, well...." Kermit was at a loss. He knew he was walking on the border of rude but he didn't want anything to go wrong with Savannah finally making peace with her family. "So...?"

Rykker looked at the family at the table. "Ah, yes. Dinner with the in-laws. An event that I try to avoid at all costs - and has been mercifully erased from my memory."

"Especially when it's your first."

Rykker snapped a look at him. "First time you've met them?" Kermit nodded uncomfortably, causing Rykker to grin. "You poor man...I feel for you! It hurts meeting the in-laws - the trick is not minding." At Kermit's doubtful look, he continued. "Remember, this, too, shall pass."

"It better," mumbled Kermit.

Rykker brought up Kat's little hand to his lips. "Adieu, little one. I look forward to seeing this one grow up. She should be...remarkable." While Kermit was trying to figure out whether or not to be worried by that statement, Rykker nodded a good-bye to Savannah and strolled away.

Kermit rejoined his table, trying not to look as uncomfortable as he felt. "Business associate," he explained to the Marches as he gave Kat over to his wife.

"Just what do you mean by 'business associate'?" Donald demanded, firing up the grill once more.

Kermit was nearly fed up to his collar with the man's pointed questions. He counted to one hundred in seconds, then answered, "Excuse me. FORMER business associate."

"That guy's a mercenary?!!" Billy gasped, turning in his seat to try to see him.

"Billy!" his mother chided.

Donald March was now thoroughly convinced that the circles his daughter now traveled in were unacceptable. "Anyone can tell that he's a dangerous man. Just like-"

"Just like me?"

"Kermit...Daddy," Savannah warned. Her mind fought for a neutral topic to which she could change the subject. "Daddy, Mama, Kermit has family here. He has a sister, Marilyn, and she has two adorable children, Jason and Mitch." She nudged Kermit, who reached into his back pocket for his wallet to get a picture and handed it to them.

"Mitch?" Betsy March asked, looking at the little girl. Oh, well, in an age where girls were occasionally named Taylor and other masculine-sounding names, what did she expect? "They're...adorable."

Donald didn't really want to but sneaked a quick look. "They look so normal," he commented before he could stop himself.

"They ARE normal," Kermit said, fighting to keep his tone even. He decided not to mention the 'haunted house' event - although he was sorely tempted at this point. *Send the old man through the roof and to the hospital. Get him off my back,* thought the detective, reveling in the vision.

"So if that strange-looking old man isn't your father, then where does your family live?" Donald asked gruffly.

"My parents died long ago," Kermit told them matter-of-factly.

"But he's very close to Marilyn," Savannah contributed quickly.

"By the way, that 'strange-looking old man' happens to be a highly respected apothecary and priest from Chinatown," Kermit told them, a hint of steel in his voice. No matter who this was, Kermit Griffin would defend his friends. To the death. "He's saved the town countless times, not to mention our lives on occasion."

"How could a priest-" Donald began to scoff but Betsy March nudged him under the table and he remained silent.

"OH! He's that guy that-" Billy's statement was cut off as Savannah nudged him under the table.

"Don't worry, Daddy," Savannah assured. "I still go to a Baptist church every Sunday. The pastor thinks Kat is the cutest baby there! Of course, I have the suspicion that he says that to all the mothers but I don't care!"

"Well, that's good," Savannah's mother said delightedly. "How do you like it...Kermit?"

"I don't go."

"...oh...."

Once again, conversation ground to a halt.

"Well, Father," Betsy tried once more, beaming at Kermit, "you can't claim irresponsibility since he did the right thing...."

She was treated by twin glares by both Kermit and Savannah. "Mama...." Savannah gasped, "Kat was...she was a blessing to our lives, not some...some *accident* to live up to!"

"Well, of course, she's a blessing, dear," Betsy March stammered. "I was just complimenting...Kermit on standing by you and staying with you, that's all. Even if it did take a...rather obvious length of time."

Kermit and Savannah looked at each other, both at a loss to express the fury they felt at her 'compliment'. Kermit's frustrated look melted into one of absolute relief when his beeper went off. His look at Savannah spoke volumes. So did hers.

*I wish I could join you,* Savannah thought as she kissed him good-bye. Kermit's kiss was with a decidedly arrogant air, as though throwing their relationship in the parents' faces defiantly, and Billy had to grin as Kermit rushed away. Donald scowled and Betsy shook her head disapprovingly.

"I just don't know, Savannah...." her mother began.

"Mother! I would appreciate it if you both would give Kermit half a chance! This is very difficult for him, too-!"

"Don't you raise your voice at us, young lady!" Donald snapped.

Savannah slumped in her chair. "I'm going to powder my nose," she said through gritted teeth. "Excuse me...." She grabbed her purse and made a beeline for the restroom before she got herself into more trouble.

Billy propelled himself behind her but didn't call out her name until they were out of sight of their parents. "Van! Wait!" he hissed before she could enter the ladies' room.

Savannah turned, sighing. "Billy-boy, I just need a breather for a second-"

"Well, this is guaranteed to make you lose some more breaths. Take a gander...."

She accepted the folded-up yellowed piece of paper...and gasped.

*****

Kermit walked into the precinct, ready for anything. "All right," he stated, "whoever paged me, speak up - because I intend to make the I.R.S. forget their existence for ten years in repayment!"

Skalany grinned. "Thought you wouldn't mind it all that much. How's it going?"

"On the whole, I'd rather be on another planet...but I wouldn't abandon Savannah to that by herself," Kermit told her. "Was there anything in particular you needed?"

"Well, your cousin's been waiting for you," Skalany explained, grinning. At Kermit's raised eyebrow, she continued. "She asked to just wait in your office and not bother you but-"

Skalany cut off her sentence as Kermit widened his eyes in alarm and dashed for his office. She shrugged and went back to her work.

Meanwhile, Kermit confronted his 'relative', sitting at his desk, interfacing on his computer. He quickly shut the door behind him. "Cousin?" he asked acidly.

"Well...kissin' cousins?" Vanessa asked with a smile. Kermit reached over and turned off the terminal. "Oh, come on!" Vanessa protested. "I was just finding the most interesting parts-!"

"Touching my terminal is cause for death by any way I can think of," Kermit told her.

She rose to her feet, her high heels helping her almost match his height. "What if I touch something else?" she purred.

"In your dreams."

"Well, you're right about that." Hopping on the next shard in her bag, she said, "The little woman is simply adorable. Make you feel younger, Honey Buns?"

"Don't call me that. And yes, as a matter of fact, she does. Jealous?"

"Sympathetic...to HER. What's a nice girl like that doing with...."

"I have no idea." Trading barbs with Vanessa was brewing his headache into a slow boil.

"The baby is precious." A slight twinge crept into her voice. Envy, maybe, or something else. Vanessa wasn't sure. "Hope she grows up just like you and gives you even more grey hair!"

"I won't kill you this time because you dragged me away from my in-laws." Kermit took her arm and led her to the other side of the desk while reclaiming his seat.

"Does that mean...you owe me one?" Vanessa grinned.

"No." Kermit turned on the computer to make sure she hadn't messed with any files. She was not the expert he was in computers but she certainly knew enough to cause havoc when she wanted to.

"I can't believe you spend your life locked in this little room-"

"What did you want?"

"Jim is in town. Where do you want to meet him? And when?"

Kermit stopped typing and wrote an address down on a piece of paper and a time. He gave it to Vanessa, who lost no time in looking as she made ready to leave. "Tomorrow. Trying to get it over with? Too bad, so sad! He'll be in town all week."

"You don't have to look so happy about it."

"Oh, yes, I do!" Vanessa smiled tenderly as she stroked his chin with a finger. "It's a rare treat to see you so panicked. Ciao!"

Kermit glared at her as she walked out.

*****

"That's some *cousin*, ole boy." Peter Caine dropped down into Kermit Griffin's guest chair, uninvited and unwelcome. Grinning in spite of his peril.

"Caine, you pride yourself in your instincts, right? Use them and get out." Kermit sat at his terminal, killing time.

"Come on, who is she?" Peter then had an idea. "I know. I'll ask your wife!" He got up to leave to be stopped by a foot barring his way.

"She's my ex. Vanessa. Here on business. Now, leave before I get tense. You know what happens when I get tense."

"Peter, do you mind?" came the weary comment from Savannah, just arriving on the scene. "This is the worst week of our lives. Don't make it worse."

"In-laws and out-laws. What a combination!" Peter knew when to drop the joke but couldn't resist. "Will the ex-Mrs. Griffin be at the party tomorrow night?"

"NO!!!" came the unified Griffin reply, which was enough to eject Detective Caine from the office.

After his departure, Savannah patted her husband on the shoulder and sat down. "Be glad you left. It wasn't pleasant."

"How surprising." Noticing the look on her face, he quickly covered. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it any harder."

"I know. But my brother dear did provide me with a new piece of ammo. Take a look." Savannah handed the piece of paper to her husband.

"Your parents' marriage license? I don't get it." Kermit perused the document. Standard government wording in flowery script.

Frustrated beyond belief after the last couple of hours, she snapped. "Kermit! You can add. Look at the date. Married October 12, 1968. My birthday is May 6, 1969." Giving him a minute to do the calculations, she added, "I weighed nine pounds and five ounces, Kermit. Definitely NOT a premie."

*Well, what do you know? Saint Donald has a skeleton.* Then, he remembered that said skeleton was his wife. "Is this legitimate?"

"Perfect choice of words, detective," she answered sarcastically. "Billy checked it at the courthouse." She jumped up and began to pace. "They are such HYPOCRITES. Do you know that they have always celebrated their anniversary in August?! What liars! And to think, I've been feeling guilty because they think I'M not respectable!"

"What do you plan to do with this information?"

She sucked in a deep breath. What did she want to do with it? At the restaurant, she finished the dinner, endured more scrutiny, and sat silently twisting the paper in her hand. "I don't know." Before he could offer any advice, which she definitely didn't want at the moment, Savannah gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "I have to go. They took Kat to the zoo and I promised to meet them and show them around town."

"Sorry, I can't join you."

"Liar." She tossed as she left.

Savannah was cursing softly to herself. She was late! She hated being late. But she had definitely taken too much on her shoulders today. She had found that she was missing one necessary ingredient for dinner tonight and had to make an unscheduled trip to the store. Once there, she realized a lot of other things she needed to get....By the time she got home, she realized she'd just shot her schedule all to hell. She had to put away the refrigerated items and change Kat. She had planned to bathe the little girl but there was no time for that now. She ran a brush through her hair as she raced, with Kat in her arms, to the luncheon with Vanessa. This meeting would be verrry interesting...if she got there in time.

A panting Savannah charged up the restaurant stairs and breathlessly gave her name to the amused maitre'd. He showed her to a table in the garden while Savannah tried not to be aware of how many eyes were on her as she moved awkwardly through the restaurant. *Is she kidding???* Savannah thought. *I don't think I could afford a club soda in this place!"

She wasn't kidding - the maitre'd pulled the chair out of her where Vanessa was waiting. Not one hair out of place. Perfect, unwrinkled dress. It had been a long time since Savannah felt unattractive. She thanked the maitre'd as she struggled with the baby bag, repositioning her daughter.

Vanessa watched the motherly scene with combined amusement and concern. "You don't have to be so nervous," she said, getting up to take the baby bag from her. "This is lunch, not a job interview."

Savannah laughed as she got Kat settled in her lap. "Thanks," she said, "Feel like a chicken with its head cut off! You see, my parents are in town-"

"Ohhh! That's what he meant!" Vanessa saw her confused look and explained. "Kermit said this wasn't a good week for him. "I suppose that's why. Him and his secrets."

"You don't like the secrets, either?"

"DESPISE them!"

"Wasn't that an occupational hazard?"

"Yes, but I secretly doubted that Kermit didn't have to carry it to the lengths that he did." Vanessa sipped her wine as the waiter approached.

"Oh...um...some water, please."

Vanessa glanced at her. "On a diet?" At Savannah's embarrassed blush, she smiled understandingly. "Please go ahead and get *something* - if not for yourself, then for this little one. My treat. *I* won't be able to enjoy my lunch if you don't. It's not THAT expensive here."

Savannah changed her order to iced tea, milk for Kat, and a club sandwich to the waiter and Vanessa nodded.

"Well, Vanessa," Savannah said, "I am curious, naturally...about you."

"About me and Kermit?"

"Well, yes, of course. But also about you. I'd like to know a little bit about you. I don't know much. Kermit said you were a diplomat's daughter and that you were a linguist but that's about it. Why did you get into the business?"

"Excitement, I suppose," she said. "All other careers looked too dreadfully dull, or they didn't seem a challenge. This way, I could put my experience to good use. I met Kermit in Paris - I was the interpreter for the party there. We didn't exactly hit it off right away. Say, is Paul Blaisdell still around?"

"Oh, yes. He and his family lives here. In fact, his son is Kermit's best friend."

Vanessa nodded as their food was placed before them and they dug in. "Blaisdell is an amazing man. The only person that Kermit listened to, myself included. Anyway, after a few fights on methods, Kermit and I began to see each other differently. We married about four months later. The honeymoon was over almost before we knew it."

Savannah looked at her in sympathy. "It sounds like it was a rough time for you."

"Weeellll, I did have a few illusions about marriage that shattered rather spectacularly so it wasn't just Kermit," she confessed. "I thought we'd settle down, make some babies and have a quiet life. After all, I can get a job as an interpreter anywhere in the world. But Kermit wasn't ready to settle down and he *definitely* didn't want kids. He even stated so emphatically. I thought I could change his mind but I couldn't. I thought I could change the things I disliked about him but I couldn't. When we worked together, everything was fine, just perfect. Or during sex; that was perfect, too. Anything else, though, was a bust. When we split up - as Blaisdell predicted - I found out I was pregnant."

Savannah stammered, "Paul predicted it?"

"Yes, Paul liked me but told Kermit I had a 'transient personality'. I suppose he's right, I do. Never content with one thing, always moving on to something else, something more exciting. I suppose that if I had gotten the life I thought I wanted, I would have been bored out of my mind."

"Did Kermit tell you Paul had said that about you?"

"No, I found out months later after we separated. A mutual friend told me Paul had warned Kermit at that party where we met but, for once, Kermit didn't listen to him. And got burned."

"He did say you and he had interesting time together."

"Oh, it was that," Vanessa said. "Always interesting and never boring. But it was a relief to both of us when we split up." Now, it was her turn. "Now, enough about me. How did you two meet?" What Vanessa really wanted to know was how in the world did such opposites as Kermit and Savannah fall in love with each other. What could they possibly have in common? How did she get what Vanessa wanted all those years ago?

Savannah reached over to wipe Kat's face and answered with a smile. "It started off as corny as can be. We met when I was an accountant at the precinct. Spontaneous combustion, you might call it. He was so sweet and attentive. Different than with the other people at the precinct. I don't think either of us had much choice in what happened."

Vanessa felt the younger woman's warmth. Saw that look in her eyes and remembered those same feelings. Kat tossed her stuffed frog onto the floor and Vanessa retreived it. "How did you convince him to try fatherhood?"

Knowing that Vanessa had all the public record at her fingertips, there was no point in evading the truth. "Parenthood sort of found us."

Vanessa tried to not gasp out loud. Perhaps if she had told Kermit about her pregnancy, they might still be together....

Savannah lovingly stroked Kat's soft cheek and added, "But it was the best thing that ever happened to both of us. Kermit is a wonderful father to her."

"I can see that. Who wouldn't want a precious baby like this one? I'm glad that he has her. He seems...more at ease with himself now. That must be because of you two." Vanessa couldn't help but be surprised at her ex-husband's good fortune. After all the horror they had both seen, now he had a piece of a normal life.

"Oh, he's still mostly the Kermit Griffin you know. Rude and nasty as can be to most of the outside world." With a sparkle in her eyes, she said, "But he saves the good stuff for us."

"Still as charming as ever, I see."

"He is that." The two women smiled at each other, both reminiscing on the husband they knew and loved.

"And Jim? If it's not too personal...." Savannah added hastily.

"Kermit's meeting Jim right now," Vanessa said with a slight smile. "It should be as...interesting for him as it was for me."

Savannah looked at her watch and gasped at the time. "Ohmigod! I'm meeting my parents at the house soon-!"

"Go!" Vanessa said cheerfully. "We'll continue this another time."

Savannah smiled gratefully as she carried Kat away, baby bag over her shoulder.

Part 1   Part 2   Part 3   Part 4   Part 5   Part 6   Part 7   Part 8   Part 9   Part 10   Part 11

Back to serie's index      Back to Story index