Savannah was in the process of wringing her pillow into threads when Kermit came in. She ignored his presence as she buried herself face down. She could not maintain her position, though, when a gentle hand touched her shoulder. She jerked away from it, despite her every feeling urging her to catapult herself into his arms. "Go away," she mumbled.

Kermit sat down next to her, his hand now on the small of her back.

"I SAID go away!" she yelled into the pillow.

"Forget it, Scarlett," he said softly. "You can't scare me off, can't shake me off, can't pry me off with a crowbar...."

By the time Kermit was finished with his remark, she had buried herself into his arms where she sobbed full-force. His arms went around her and held onto her like she was drowning. He rocked her and whispered sweet nothings. He kissed her gently on the forehead and stroked her hair. When her tears finally seemed to taper down, he stroked her cheek. "I'll fix things, Scarlett. I'll make everything better....It'll be all right.....I'll fix it."

Savannah was too emotionally exhausted to argue.

*****

Billy, digging into Savannah's Sunday casserole, looked up as the door opened and Kermit came out. He looked...driven. But then, Kermit ALWAYS looked driven to him.

"Wass up?" he mumbled, his mouth full.

Kermit strode to him with such intensity that, for a second, Billy wondered if Kermit was going to hit him. But he just stopped short of the counter.

"Savannah's asleep. I'm *trusting* you to watch over her and Kat." Kermit pointed to a three by five card taped underneath the telephone. "There's my cell phone number if there's an emergency." He grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. "Oh," he called back, "your band friends don't step one foot inside, understand me?"

With a firm slam of the door, he was gone.

*****

Donald and Betsy March were packing to leave and were never so glad of it. "I KNEW this was a mistake all along," Donald asserted.

Betsy glared at him. He had said no such thing. HE was the one who insisted that they might have misjudged Savannah and to come and see for themselves. Well, they saw, all right, and found the situation far, far worse than they had envisioned. She sniffled a bit. Now, both children were lost to her.....

All of a sudden, Kermit barged in, uninvited, unannounced.

"How dare-" Donald began to bluster.

"Savannah's crying her heart out right now," Kermit began. "If you EVER felt any maternal or paternal responsibilities, you'll just listen."

"Well, you don't have to worry about a thing," Betsy said. "We're leaving. That's what you want, isn't it?"

"You're damn right that's what I want!" Kermit shot back. Donald charged up, fists clenched, until he remembered how easily Kermit had evaded his blows the last time. "But we're not talking about me. We're talking about Savannah. Savannah, God knows WHY, wants you here. Savannah wants to make up with you. Because I want her to get what SHE wants, I'm here...." He swallowed. Damn, this was harder than he thought. "I'm here to give it another try." He had almost said "last try" but changed it at the last second, knowing full well that, if Savannah had asked him to, he would try again and again and again, well into infinity.

"We've got nothing to say to you-"

"Dammit, didn't you hear what I just said? Savannah is CRYING for you!" Kermit looked at them in amazement. "If somebody told me that about Kat, I'd be running through a hail of bullets to get to her!"

"She hasn't betrayed you the way that Savannah-" Betsy began.

"Betrayed?" Kermit asked. "How exactly has she betrayed you? Never mind..." he said blithely. "I'm not going to get into medieval morality right now." He sat down, looking at them studiously. "Maybe it will help to tell you how we met."

"We don't want to hear anything from you!" Donald stated.

"Well, that's just too damn bad! You're going to hear it even if I have to scream! You're going to hear it even if I have to arrest you and drag you down to the county jail!" Ignoring their shocked expressions, Kermit nodded satisfactorily and began. Described his foul mood that day. Described how he had visited Blaisdell's family and figuring that he'd never have that. Described his ultimate loneliness, how he set himself apart, never got close. Then a certain ray of sunshine walked in...."When I saw her, I suddenly remembered it was springtime," he said softly. "She was a breath of fresh air. I could tell just looking at her. She was young, beautiful, innocent...."

"And you wanted to foul that innocence...."

"Just the opposite. I wanted to guard her against anything foul and evil. Protect her. Mostly just be with her. She was so...full of LIFE. Especially after I've seen so much death. I tried to stay away from her! God knows I tried! I didn't want her poisoned by the slime that followed me around all over the place. But don't forget, I wasn't the only player in this. God knows what Savannah saw in me but she wanted me the second she saw me, too. Have you EVER seen Savannah back away from something she wanted? Once we figured our attraction was mutual, we dated but I still kept my distance. When things got too heavy, I backed off and went home. That's when she'd decided she'd had enough." Kermit took a deep breath. He was getting into confidential territory but also felt that they'd never understand if he didn't tell them. "One night, when things got intense, she told me she wanted to cross that line with me because she loved me but warned me that...that I would be the first."

"So you just took her?" Donald snapped, shaking his head.

Kermit looked at him. "Listen, you," he said quietly, "you can't just hear what I'm saying, you have to feel it! For Savannah's sake, if nothing else." Getting their silence, he continued. "Afterwards, she was crying. I held her close, praying I hadn't hurt her and told her so. She said...she said...." The Marches saw Kermit so emotional by this, he took off his ever-present glasses to rub his eyes. "She said it was just that she loved me so much, she couldn't think. With that, it was too late for me. I was hooked. Permanently. I realized I loved HER so much, I couldn't think. She was just smarter than I was for figuring it out first."

"I let myself drown in our dream world. I loved her so much, I didn't think about reality. My age, my past, her youth - it just all faded away. It was just Kermit and Savannah - nothing else was important. All I wanted was to be together for eternity. That's when I bought the engagement ring. That's when...that's...." He stood up and paced in front of them. Suddenly, he turned on them, fire in his eyes. "You know, THAT is what I can NEVER forgive you two for! How could you turn your back on her after what she'd been through!" Kermit, in his heat, didn't notice the puzzled glances Donald and Betsy exchanged as he continued.

"When I ended our relationship, it nearly killed me. I sent her away, hoping that she'd go home, marry a nice, safe C.P.A. or doctor and have a nice, safe life. The ONLY reason I managed to sever myself from her was to protect her, KNOWING that she had you to fall back on! KNOWING that you would be there for her. But you weren't. You didn't give a SHIT about anyone but yourselves, thinking only of your precious reputation! How COULD you just abandon her after she'd nearly been raped and murdered!?"

Betsy gasped while Donald's face went white. "What...what are you...?" he stammered.

Kermit studied their faces. "Oh, God...." His legs gave way as he sank down on the chair. "Oh, God, she didn't tell you...." He began to hyperventilate. *No wonder....Oh, shit....what have I done???* He managed to push himself up and to the door but Donald was in his way.

"You can't just drop a bomb like that and...."

In one smooth move, Kermit looped his arm around the man and easily leveled him out of the way. He had the door open and somehow disappeared in two seconds.

Betsy sat on the bed, crying. Donald moved to grab his jacket and, with a brief consoling hand on his wife's shoulder, left to find Kermit.

*****

Kermit hadn't gone far. Downstairs, in the hotel bar, he had plunged in, told the bartender he wanted a Scotch and to keep them coming. He knew he couldn't get drunk anymore. Paul had trained him too well. But he could get one hell of a hangover for betraying Savannah. Maybe if he offered to let her slug him, as hard as she wanted....Damn! And he thought he was reaching them.

It never, EVER occurred to him that Savannah wouldn't tell all to her folks. He knew Savannah wouldn't divulge any of his personal secrets but to hide her pain when she needed her parents....Kermit downed another Scotch. The lady was tougher than he thought. She had also been more alone during that time than he had originally thought. He waved impatiently at the barkeep for another.

Donald slid into the booth with two drinks in his hand. Kermit plucked the Scotch out of the man's hand without a word and downed half of it. "What did you mean by that?" Donald asked quietly.

*In for a penny, Kermit, in for a pound,* the ex-mercenary thought. After getting another Scotch, he told Savannah's father all. How Ericson came looking for him on the day he was going to propose. How Ericson tortured him by torturing Savannah. How it sounded when Savannah's head hit the floor. How his friend pulled his fat out of the fire at the last second. How he had held Savannah's hand every second that she was in the hospital despite his own injuries.

Donald surprised him by asking how Kermit was hurt.

"Oh, just a knife in the thigh and shoulder," Kermit said as if it didn't matter.

Donald was shocked to realize that it truly DIDN'T matter. All Kermit felt was his daughter's pain. Nothing else.

"It NEVER occurred to me that she would keep that quiet....She didn't even tell you about her skull fracture?"

This time it was Donald who downed half his drink. "No."

There was a moment of silence as the two drowned their sorrows together. Finally Donald broke the silence. "Were you really a mercenary?"

"Yes."

"How many people have you killed?"

"Too many to count." They drank again. "You know, I could revert to type and fix this problem so easily. Coerce you into a drive, fix some wiring, car goes over a cliff...." At Donald's look, he assured, "Don't worry, I couldn't do that. It would kill Savannah...and Kat. And THAT would kill me...."

Donald realized that there were some facts that needed to be reassessed. "Did you know she was pregnant when she left?"

"No. I wouldn't have been able to send her away if I had." He explained the understanding he and Savannah had come to when she returned. She had a free will which he had ignored. SHE decided to be here. No matter the cost. They had a daughter to raise and it was a battle worth fighting.

The two fathers began to get to know each other. Donald had been in Korea. He'd seen the ways of death and violence in the infantry. Common ground. Order was very important to him after the chaos he'd seen as a young man caught in a war. Everything he'd built for his family had been done with the intension of building a safe, secure life for them.

"I suppose I tend to rule with an iron hand. Only...."

"Only your daughter was never intimidated by that."

"Right," Donald agreed with a smile. "Everyone in the family tiptoes around me, but not her. Savannah was always the one to speak up and say, 'Daddy, that's not right. Daddy, stop smoking. Daddy, watch your blood pressure.' No matter how much I growled, she spoke up. Trying to take care of me...but when she needed me-"

"You screwed up. But you've got a chance now to fix it."

Shaking his head, Donald replied, "You don't know how many times I picked up the phone to call...then let pride get in the way."

"Savannah, too. Wonder where she gets that from?" Kermit could see Donald changing. Letting go.

"You LOVE my daughter, don't you? She...*I* can count on you to be there for her and my granddaughter?" It was a question of great import to Donald.

In a flash, Kermit realized why traditional weddings were such a big deal. It was an event that, once and for all, answered that question to both families. Since Donald March had missed their wedding, Kermit repeated the words he uttered with such feeling almost a year ago. "Yes, I do. And I will."

Donald downed the last gulp of his Scotch. "I think it's time to go have a talk with my little girl."

They left the bar together and gathered Mrs. March for the ride back home. On the way over, Kermit told Savannah's mother everything. If he was about to be busted by his wife, it might as well be for the WHOLE truth. Kermit told them about Savannah's difficult pregnancy, her delivery without anesthesia, and every trial since then. How she wouldn't let him call her parents after the accident in October. After she'd almost lost her life, then almost lost her leg.

Betsy was shamed into silence. All the anger and resentment began to fade in the face of this history.

*****

"Now, little Kat, Uncle Billy's gonna introduce you to his old friend, Muddy Waters...."

Savannah, Kat, and Billy were sitting in the living room floor with Billy's guitar in his lap. The baby was standing beside him, holding on to his shoulder. Billy started to sing, "Little schoolgirl....We got somethin' ta do....Tell yo mama and yo papa I'm a littl' schoolboy, too!"

Savannah's mood had lightened while watching Kat bounce up and down to the music. It was nice to have Billy here. Memphis wasn't exactly another country but it WAS a different lifestyle. The only person in the world who knew her like Kermit was her brother. Knew her likes and dislikes. Her moods. Knew when to speak up or shut up.

The back door opened to reveal the strange grouping of the Marches and Kermit. Their expressions had changed. Where there had been anger, there was now concern and something else that Savannah couldn't quite put her finger on. She got up, ready to defend herself once again.

Before she could speak, Donald walked quickly over to his daughter and, much to her surprise, grabbed her in a warm hug. After a second of shock, she relaxed. It had been such a long time. He closed his eyes to bat back the tears of pain he felt thinking of her hurt. And alone.

Betsy joined them and kissed her daughter's cheek. "Honey, we're so sorry. Can you forgive us?"

Billy was looking back and forth between the scene of the reunion and Kermit. *What the hell did he do?*

"Oh, Daddy...Mama...." For a moment, things were warm and happy. Then...Savannah began to think. She pulled back. "Wait a minute....How...how did you do this? What did you tell them?!" She was looking at her husband, who was steeling himself for the storm to come.

Betsy looked at her son-in-law as if she was seeing him for the first time. He knew! He had known how angry Savannah would be but had told them anyway. He truly did love her daughter. So much so, he was willing to risk his happiness to see them together again. She had to try to cover for him. "Dear," she said, turning to Savannah, "he just told us how he felt. We figured out the rest on our own."

Savannah knew a line when she heard it. Especially from her teacher. Stepping back to face Kermit, she exclaimed, "You TOLD them, didn't you?! DIDN'T YOU?!!"

*Thanks for trying, Betsy,* Kermit thought, appreciating the sentiment involved. But honesty between him and Savannah was a mainstay of their relationship. "Yes, I did," he confessed, wincing inwardly. That honesty had never included anyone else. She'd held all his secrets and only divulged one when his very life was in danger. This was different.

Fury took over. She walked over and yelled directly at him. "HOW could you do that?!! If I'd wanted them to know, I would have told them MYSELF!"

Kermit tried to explain. Keeping his tone level, he answered, "I'm sorry, Scarlett. But I thought that they should know. It made a difference, having all the relevant information."

"I DON'T GIVE A DAMN!!!" Turning to her shocked parents, she continued, "I don't need your pity! Or his! Didn't need it then and don't need it now so just save it!"

She spun around and headed for the sanctuary of the bedroom. Slamming the door hard enough to knock three different picture frames to the floor.

*****

Kermit stood in the bathroom doorway, watching his wife ignore him. *And doing a damn good job, Scarlett,* he thought, not knowing what to do. He'd hurt her. Unintentionally, but badly. Apologies hadn't been successful. Now, they were trapped in silence. He decided to make the first move.

"Your parents and Billy took Kat to the park to spend the afternoon together."

No response.

"Do you have any plans for today?" They had crammed in an entire day's worth of trouble by noon. What havoc could they wreak in the remaining hours of the day?

Savannah didn't answer for a moment. Just stood there, viciously brushing her hair. "Yes," she finally snapped. "Lunch." Grabbing her perfume bottle, she sprayed her wrists and slammed the bottle back to the counter.

"Mary Margaret?"

"No. Vanessa." From the look on his face in the mirror, that got his attention but good.

"I don't think that's such a good idea, Scarlett." Two women who obviously didn't hold him in high regard at the moment comparing notes didn't sound like a good idea at all.

Facing him with an unsettling smile, she replied, "Well, then, it's just convenient for me that I don't give a DAMN what you think. Isn't it. Now, please move."

He stepped out of her way to let her pass by. She slammed the door and left him standing there.

*****

Savannah sat at a table in the front of the restaurant, absently tapping her water glass with her nail. She was mad at ALL of them. But...it didn't feel good. Guilt was mingled in with her anger. *Screw them, right.*

"Well, now. ONLY Kermit Griffin could put a look like that on a woman's face." Vanessa sat down and grinned sympathetically at her lunch companion.

*Why does she have to look SO perfect?* thought Savannah as she appraised the woman across from her. Answering the opening comment, she asked, "I suppose you've worn this expression?"

"To quote our annoying common denominator: 'oh, yeah'!"

"What did you do about it?"

Taking a menu from the hovering hostess, she replied, "The last time, I pushed him off a bridge." In response to Savannah's shocked expression, she added, "He WAS wearing a rope. Long story....Now, let me guess. He charged in, took over something without asking, probably trying to help you or protect you or fix something and TOTALLY pissed you off because-"

"I gather you've been there?"

"Frequently."

The two studied their menus but, after a moment, Vanessa couldn't help but notice that Savannah wasn't really focusing on choosing a lunch item. She shook her head slightly, smiling at the sudden memories, and touched the top of Savannah's menu. "Allow me...." She gestured for the waiter and ordered for both of them in French. Savannah was so distracted, she didn't even know what Vanessa had ordered, although she did hope that it wasn't escargot.

"Now..." Vanessa said, "please tell me about it. I know it's probably very personal but I'm probably the safest one you could confide in. I don't live here, I keep secrets very well, and I also happen to know the subject matter."

Savannah smiled at her warmth, seeing for the first time what Kermit saw in her. She seemed genuinely concerned. Savannah traced the decorative tablecloth with a fingernail as she softly related what Kermit had done.

Vanessa listened in wide-eyed disbelief. She'd heard rumors about Ericson's final havoc. Kermit had kept it quiet in 'the business' circles. Now, she understood why. She felt for Kermit's suffering. Dread of a similar torture being rained down on her head had plagued him throughout their entire relationship. But Vanessa wouldn't quit and stay home without someone to stay home with. Kermit wouldn't budge on that point. The wedge finally drove them apart.

Then, she turned her sympathy toward the victim. *Hell of a way to be initiated into Kermit's way of life.* She could understand Savannah's desire to forget. Not wanting to air her private nightmare. But it seemed that her husband was still up to his old annoying habits....

"That son-of-a....He's STILL doing it!" Vanessa fumed in Savannah's defense.

"Doing what?" Savannah asked, confused.

"For a man who keeps such a tight rein on his own secrets, he's pretty free with others' secrets, isn't he? You poor dear...." Vanessa patted her hand sympathetically. "This isn't the first time he's done this and it probably won't be the last. The man has a *strange* concept of family...."

"Ummm...." Savannah put up a hand. "I'm afraid you just lost me."

"Kermit thinks that family should know all," Vanessa explained. "At least, everyone ELSE's family. One time I wanted to go on a mission but he spilled the fact - on purpose! - that I was recovering from an injury right in front of my father! I could have killed Kermit! My father was a compulsive worrier and the fact that he knew that I had been injured...well, let's just say he *still* brings it up on national holidays. To make matters worse, Kermit wasn't apologetic at all. Said that my father, being family, had a right to know! I couldn't *believe* the man! Just because he told his sister and Blaisdell censored versions about his life didn't mean I wanted MY dirty laundry spread out for my father to see...."

Vanessa continued to rant as Savannah sat there, thoughts whirling. *Family,* she thought. Kermit told Paul and Marilyn everything - well, more than he used to - all that he was able to tell them - and naturally expected her to do the same thing with her family. HE was struggling to learn to open up and SHE was shutting down!

"Kermit kept telling me, 'that's what a family is FOR!'" Vanessa continued. "I kept telling him that he and I was our family, not Paul, not Marilyn, and not my father, but he just wouldn't understand."

*That's what family is for,* Savannah repeated silently to herself. She remembered all the times she treasured her family more than life itself. She thought back, searching her memory. It was true; they had disagreements but every time she was in pain, they were there for her. She remembered her first operation, a tonsillectomy, and her mother had held her hand until she left the hospital. She remembered her father's sturdy, solid presence every time she felt scared or lonely. He was always there for her. But she had to ASK first. *I never ASKED for help,* she thought in amazement, *Why am I surprised that I didn't get any help???* True, she hadn't wanted pity but who said that they would have pitied her? Maybe they would have just held her close...been with her....How could she have expected them to understand when she never told them anything???

"Savannah?" Vanessa's voice broke through her reverie. "Are you all right?" The older woman sounded concerned.

Savannah sniffed a little, wiping a small tear away. "I'm fine....I just realized....um....."

"Did I say the wrong thing?" Vanessa asked, a little confused.

"No...you said exactly the right thing," Savannah said, getting up from the table. "I'm sorry for lunch but I have to go."

"Ummm...it's none of my business, I know," Vanessa began, "but are you still mad at Kermit?"

"A little," Savannah admitted. "He shouldn't have told my parents but I can appreciate the feeling behind what he tried to do for me. Besides, *I* should have told my parents in the first place."

She quickly left the restaurant, leaving a very confused Vanessa behind to enjoy the lunch.

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