Special Thanks: To Mary for her editing, help and advice. To Mary and Laura for sharing their wonderful experience for this story. Thanks to Monica for her love, understanding and support.

Comments are happily accepted at Cruise1313@aol.com.

Part XVI

Lark smiled and loved the feeling of Rayne holding her tightly in her arms, nibbling ever so softly on her neck. It always left her breathless and in a daze, temporarily suspended in ecstasy. That is until Rayne relinquishes her hold. "Don't go!" Lark replied desperate and grabbed Rayne's hand.

Rayne slightly smiled and turned back to her. "I'm sorry babe. We need to get moving." She softly replied and moved closer to Lark, resting her hands on Lark's hips.

"I know…" Lark pouted disappointed and placed her hands on Rayne's arm looking up at her. "I just wanted you all to myself for a little while longer." She softly admitted and leaned her head against Rayne's chest that drew her in for a warm embrace.

"Aaahhh…baby. You just had me all to yourself…a few times over as a matter of fact." Rayne snickered and felt Lark clutch her tighter and giggle. "I promise, you'll have me all to yourself once again in a few hours." Rayne guaranteed with a warm smile and lightly kissed the top of Lark's head. She moved and looked into the emerald green's that peered up at her.

"Promise?" Lark asked, smiling hopeful.

"Absolutely." Rayne smiled and kissed Lark. "Get moving little lady." Rayne winked and patted Lark on the butt as she headed for the door.

Lark giggled giddily and watched as her tall lover disappeared behind the closed door. She sighed disappointed and inhaled deeply. "Aah…the things your mother does to me." She adoringly replied, expelling her air as she looked down at her slightly expanded stomach, lovingly rubbing it. She smiled and finished dressing before meeting Rayne in the living room to greet their guests who had already begun to arrive.

After everyone cheerily greeted each other, they sat down for dinner. Rayne and Lark smiled, chuckling as they watched their families animatedly talking amongst themselves. They could no longer hide their secret as their excitement consumed them. Rayne grinned at Lark and stood up with her glass of Jack Daniel's and coke. "Excuse me." She smiled and watched as everyone focused their attention on her. Rayne winked at Lark and reached for her hand. Lark grasped Rayne's hand and rose as Rayne guided her to a standing position, her heart aflutter at the impending announcement. "We have an announcement to make, but first we would like to wish you a very Happy Birthday dad." She smiled and held up her glass as a toast with everyone joining in on the cheer. The group quieted down and Rayne began, "We have wonderful news to announce." Rayne smiled and put her arm around Lark who did the same to her. "We're pregnant." Rayne announced and saw the stunned looks on everyone's faces. "Oh, wait! Lark's pregnant, not me," Rayne blushed and laughed as did Lark. It definitely would have been shocking news if Rayne were pregnant!

"That's fabulous news!" Rayne's father excitedly replied and stood up eager to hug the women.

"It's about time you got her pregnant." Maria, Rayne's mother sarcastically replied making her way around the table for her hug.

"I'm finally going to be a grandpa!" Congressman Morgan excitedly exclaimed and jumped out of his chair.

"My little girl is going to have a baby!" Lark's mother, Julia smiled and began to cry as she joined the group, hugging Lark. "It's a good thing you married her and made an honest woman of her Rayne." Julia teasingly poked Rayne in the stomach before hugging her.

"Lark, an honest woman?" Rayne sarcastically teased and felt Lark pinch her arm. "But of course she is!" She chuckled and rephrased her answer as she broke the hug with Julia. She knew better than to have that statement hanging out there without any rebuff on her part. Ooh, the ramifications of doing that were not good!

"I thought that's what you were going to say my love!" Lark laughed, looking at Rayne who winked at her.

Everyone including Holly, Shayan, their boys and Jayce finally hugged the happy couple. There wasn't a dry eye in the place as everyone took his or her seats. "Tell us, how far along are you?" Maria tearfully asked and wiped her eyes eagerly waiting for the answer.

"I'm at eighteen weeks now and my due date is November 6th. We had an ultrasound earlier today and the doctor told us our baby is perfect." Lark proudly announced and clutched Rayne's larger hand within hers.

"Well, how could it not be? It's a Donovan-Morgan baby!" Rayne gloatingly smiled and pulled out the ultrasound pictures to pass around.

"It's a Donovan?" Maria asked, confused.

"Yes." Rayne smiled.

"Did you neglect to tell me something?" Holly teasingly asked Shayan leaning next to him.

Shayan laughed and looked at his wife, "I'm not the only Donovan man in this family." He smiled and looked up at Jayce who sat grinning proudly.

"You knew?" She asked surprised, "And didn't tell me?"

"I knew what their plans were as I handled all the legal matters, but I didn't know they were pregnant." He explained, looking at the happy parents to be who proudly passed along the pictures of the baby, then looked back to his wife.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She asked, hurt by being left out of the loop.

"I was sworn to secrecy and you know how persuasive my sister can be." Shayan snickered in a whisper and looked at Rayne who proudly smiled and began to explain, but was interrupted by Lark.

"I wanted our child to possess both of the best worlds and the only way for that to happen is for a Donovan to help us out. Besides, I wanted our child to have those beautiful blue eyes I love to lose myself in every time I see them." Lark lovingly smiled and stared at Rayne who smiled, blushing, "And for our baby to have those dark, distinct Donovan features." She explained, pushing Rayne's raven hair off her shoulders, whose face was more of a crimson red now from blushing so much. "So, we asked Jayce to be the donor and he happily accepted." Lark appreciatively smiled and looked at him.

"Oh, sweetheart that's so wonderful!" Maria happily smiled and moved towards him, engulfing him in a hug.

"That's wonderful son." His dad proudly smiled, looking at him.

"Yeah, well I couldn't resist passing along my fabulous genes." He cockily smiled as everyone laughed and Maria lovingly pinched his cheek.

"You're incorrigible." She chuckled and returned to her seat.

"All of us are. It's a wonderful family trait." Rayne jokingly laughed, joined by the group.

"That's from your mother's side, not mine!" Ray, replied and received a playful pinch from his wife and laughed.

"Oh, Raynard Donovan! You are worse than your children and you know you contributed to their smart ass attitude just as much as me!" Maria chuckled, joined by the rest of the group.

"Now, Jayce. You're sure you can accept the fact of assuming the role of being the uncle rather than the father?" Congressman Morgan asked turning to him.

Lark was embarrassed and kicked her father under the table who looked at her, seeing her consternated look. He winked and waved his hand to her that it would be all right and looked back to Jayce. Lark leaned closer to Rayne who put her arm around Lark leaning closer to her to hear what she was saying. "I'm so sorry and embarrassed. He's entirely too bold, I hope he doesn't make Jayce feel bad."

"Don't worry babe. Jayce can handle himself." Rayne reassured her, lightly rubbing her shoulder with her hand. "You don't need to apologize either. If your dad had not asked, mine would have. Besides, we are all family anyway." She smiled and winked as they both looked at Jayce.

"Yes, I love my sister and Lark very much. I would do anything to help them and I will do it again if they ask me. I have no problem seeing the child as my niece or nephew I would have been very disappointed if they would have gone outside of the family for a donor. I'm very proud that they asked me." He confidently answered with a reassuring smile.

"I'm glad to hear that son. You're a good man." The Congressman appreciatively smiled and patted his hand.

"So, honey. Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Julia asked with a smile, looking at her daughter and Rayne.

"Well, we wanted to wait until we made it through the first trimester without any problems and once we did that it was difficult to get everyone's schedules to coincide." She explained, smiling.

"You look fabulous Lark. I never would have guessed you are pregnant, you're hardly showing." Holly observed, surprised at how great Lark looked for being four months pregnant. Then again, it helps to be a Hollywood starlet!

"Thanks." Lark blushed and smiled appreciatively. "I've tried to keep it hidden as I didn't want the tabloids to report it before we had a chance to tell all of you."

"We are so happy for you both honey." Julia smiled proudly and leaned her head on her husband's shoulder, grinning happily.

"Can I feel the baby Auntie?" Cole asked, standing next to Lark.

"You can try sweetheart, but sometimes the baby only moves for Auntie Rayne." Lark smiled, looking at Rayne then back to the precocious little boy and lovingly stroked his hair.

"Let me give it a whirl." He cockily grinned and gently put his small hand on her stomach.

Lark chuckled and looked at Rayne. "Are you sure he's not your son?" Referring to his confidence and sarcasm.

"What can I say…I've taught him well." Rayne grinned cockily.

"Yeah, seeing as how you have taught him so well, maybe he can come stay with you for a little while and you can teach him and his brother some manners. They've become very incorrigible." Shayan replied with a smile.

Rayne snickered and glanced over her shoulder at Brandon who stood next to her with his arm resting on her shoulder. "Have you…my sweet nephew been incorrigible?" She sarcastically asked.

"Who, me? Nah…you must be referring to my brother. Not me…I'm an angel." He cockily grinned and patted her shoulder. Rayne narrowed her eyes and teasingly growled. "Okay…yeah. I might have been a little bad, but Cole was definitely worse than me!" He confessed and accused, knowing that he couldn't pull the wool over Rayne's eyes.

"Hey, no way butthead! You get me in trouble all the time!" Cole adamantly interjected.

"Who you calling a butthead?" Brandon asked taking offense to the comment and moved closer to his brother.

Rayne chuckled and stood up grabbing both boys who wiggled and giggled. "I'm calling you both buttheads and I think it's time for you two to chill out and confess your sins to me!" She teasingly laughed as everyone did too.

"No, please don't handcuff us and tickle us again!" Brandon pleaded desperately.

"Hey!" Lark objected and pulled Rayne down who struggled to hold the wiggle worms. "Those handcuffs are only for me." She adamantly reminded Rayne, whispering in her ear.

Rayne chuckled and grinned, "The one's I use on you are the special one's that I save only for you." Rayne answered smiling and wiggled her eyebrows seductively as she headed down the hall with the boys. "This time I'm hooking you up to my lie detector machine and see what other dastardly deeds you've both not yet confessed to." She replied and laughed disappearing down the hall with the boys laughing and protesting vehemently.

"Go easy on them Rayne!" Shayan laughed.

"She really doesn't have a lie detector machine here does she?" Holly worriedly asked.

Lark laughed and waved her off, "NO!" Then wondered if Rayne just might have one. She made a mental note to check out some of her handy hidden gadgets she had in her office later…just in case. 'Hmmm…that could be a very interesting sexual game if she did have one.' Lark chuckled, intrigued by the prospects of the game. That is, as long as she was the one administering the test? Her sexual escapade revelry of Rayne was interrupted when her father spoke.

"Have you found out what the sex of the baby is yet?" Her father asked, smiling then looked back down at the picture he had of the baby that was being passed around.

"We decided to keep it a secret." Lark answered smiling.

"Lark…these pictures are so clear of the baby. Oh, look Ray. I think the baby has Lark's nose." She observed and showed her husband who looked at the picture, than looked at Lark.

"Honey, turn to the side, let me see." He asked motioning to see Lark's profile. "Yep…the baby has your nose." He smiled, confirming it when Lark turned to the side, embarrassed.

"Let me see." Julia asked, reaching for the picture. She looked at it along with her husband and smiled. "We agree, it's your nose." She proudly smiled.

"Yeah, we thought the same thing when we checked them out earlier. I think the baby is going to be tall like Rayne and look at the baby's hands. They are so big and the fingers are very long, just like Rayne's." She adoringly smiled.

The grandparents all huddled together and looked at the picture. "I think you're right." They all agreed smiling proudly. Everyone quickly looked up when they heard singing down the hall. "Happy Birthday to you." Brandon, Cole and Rayne sang as they entered the dining room with the boys struggling to carry the cake as Rayne helped to steady it. Everyone joined in on the singing as they put the cake before her blushing father. They finished the song and watched as he figured out his strategy of blowing out the candles. "Don't forget to make a wish grandpa." Brandon reminded him smiling as he stood next to him.

"Damn dad…is there any cake under that wall of fire from the candles?" Jayce jokingly asked as everyone snickered.

"Watch it boy or I'll cut you out of the cake loop." He teasingly warned and glanced to Lark, then back to the cake.

"Don't spit on it either dad." Rayne teased with a laugh.

"Alright, that's two of you out of the cake loop." He smiled giving his daughter a sideways glance.

"Come on the house is going to burn down!" Shayan sarcastically added.

"That's three out of the loop. Are you sure you want a sarcastic, incorrigible Donovan baby Lark?" He asked smiling.

She giggled, "I wouldn't want any other child dad."

He winked, smiled at Lark again and blew out the candles as everyone clapped. "Thank you for giving me such a wonderful birthday and present!" He smiled proudly looking at Lark and Rayne.

"We've definitely got a wonderful present dad." Rayne smiled and patted him on the back as she headed over to join Lark.

After a few hours of the family giving suggestions for the nursery, baby presents and names, they all headed off. Rayne and Lark breathed a sigh of relief once everyone had left. They were tired! Lark slipped her arm around Rayne's waist and Rayne put her arm around Lark's shoulder, looking down at her. "You like tired babe." She replied concerned.

"I'm exhausted and I can't wait to climb into bed with you." Lark smiled and leaned her head against Rayne's chest as they walked down the hall towards their bedroom.

"Well, let's get you to bed then." Rayne smiled and opened the door to their bedroom. She led Lark into the room and they began to undress for bed.

"I'll be right back." Lark replied and headed towards the bathroom.

Rayne kicked her shoes off and shorts before climbing in bed. She propped the pillows up and leaned back against them. She opened the nightstand drawer and pulled out a small box, placing it in her lap. She smiled knowingly from what the box contained within it. She knew Lark would love it. She clicked on the TV and settled herself in bed, waiting for her lover to join her. "Ooh, cool. Charlie's Angels." Rayne replied excitedly and began to watch the old show.

Lark eventually climbed in to bed next to her quiet lover. She noted the look on Rayne's face and wondered what was wrong with her. "Are you okay?" She asked, cuddling closer to her.

Rayne looked at Lark in disbelief. "Yes, but I'm totally bummed out by this show. It used to be my favorite show as a kid and as I watch it now, I realized that it sucks! I'm so upset." She replied and looked at Lark who chuckled.

"It's because you grew up honey. The show is way outdated now and besides, the Angels just aren't quite the super agents like you." Lark smiled, leaning against her and settling her head on Rayne's chest, resting her hand on her stomach.

"I guess so, but I loved that show. I can't believe it was that cheesy and I didn't pick up on it." Rayne replied disappointedly and kissed the top of Lark's head. "Are you okay baby?" She asked concerned, realizing Lark had been in the bathroom for a long time.

"Aah…yeah, let's just say the baby doesn't like spicy food." Lark chuckled and cuddled closer to Rayne who laughed.

"Lark, I aah…have something for you." Rayne excitedly stammered as Lark sat up next to her. "I wanted to give this to you before, but decided to wait until this last ultrasound. I aah…got this for you." She smiled and held out the small box.

Lark smiled and giggled surprised by Rayne's gift. "That's so sweet honey, thank you. You didn't have to get me anything." She smiled and lightly rubbed Rayne's hand.

"I know, but I wanted to give you that sweets." Rayne smiled, pointing to the small box and watched as Lark opened it.

Lark's face lit up and tears welled in her eyes when she saw the small charm. It was a bear with a diamond heart on it. "It's beautiful honey. I absolutely adore it." Lark gushed happily looking at the charm.

"Here, take it out. There's more to it babe." Rayne informed her and helped her remove the charm from the box.

Lark turned it over and read the inscription… 'Our first child…2/14…I love you always, Rayne.' "Oh, honey. This is so beautiful. I love it so much and I loved Valentine's Day as well." Lark smiled excitedly and hugged Rayne.

"Yeah, me too. What a wonderfully romantic day and night we had. We couldn't have planned a more perfect day for us to conceive our first child my love." Rayne happily smiled, breaking the hug and looking at Lark.

"I know…I was disappointed that we didn't conceive on Christmas Eve, but this was even more perfect honey. I love it and you!" Lark giggled and kissed Rayne. "Here, put it on my necklace for me." Lark requested and turned around for Rayne to remove her necklace. Rayne opened the clasp and helped her put the charm on her necklace. Lark turned around and touched the charm with her finger adjusting it on her neck. "How does it look?" She asked smiling.

"Absolutely beautiful, just like you." Rayne lovingly smiled and leaned closer to Lark for a kiss. "Ready to pick up where we left off?" She seductively whispered through her kiss.

"You read my mind." Lark answered, deepening the kiss as Rayne gathered her into her arms and they slowly lay back on the bed. "Oh, wait! You got me all flustered and I forgot that I have something for you as well. I guess we both know each other very well and had the same thoughts." Lark grinned and leaned over, reaching in the nightstand drawer on her side of the bed. She pulled out a long slender box and handed it to Rayne.

Rayne lay on her side, propped up on her elbow grinning as she opened the box. Rayne pulled the silver bracelet out and read the inscription on the front. 'February 14 th,' and turned it over to read the back, 'Our child insures that our love will shine on earth for all of time. I love you, Lark.' Rayne adoringly smiled and looked at Lark, "It's gorgeous babe, I love it. Thank you very much," as she watched Lark put it on her right wrist.

"I'm glad you like it honey. It looks great on you." Lark lovingly smiled and kissed the bracelet she just put on her lover and looked up at her. "You are my life and everything to me. Do you really know just how much I love and adore you?" She asked, gently placing her palm on Rayne's cheek as she smiled.

Rayne felt a catch in her heart and smiled, "Yes, I do. I know and can feel how much by the way you look at me Lark. I hope you know the same about the way I feel for you honey." Rayne closed her eyes and gently kissed her.

"I do honey, I do." Lark whispered and deepened the kiss as Rayne wrapped her within the loving confines of her strong, warm arms and began to make love to her.

Lark's pregnancy had progressed more smoothly than the first trimester and they both eagerly awaited the arrival of their first child who would grace them with their presence in five weeks. Rayne was weary from the traveling she still had to do for work and it had come full circle. She was adamant about the traveling; she just wasn't going to do it anymore. She was pissed that she had to miss so many of their birthing classes, the changes to Lark's body during her pregnancy and that she was away from Lark so much. She had missed too many things that she wanted to experience and it hurt her…deeply. Her desire to be a Secret Service Agent and what drove her to succeed so much before was no longer. Since their reunion she had a change of heart and what was important to her about her job previously was no longer important to her. She nearly lost Lark because of her job and didn't want it to become her top priority again. She lost her edge and her passion for the job. All she wanted to do now was to share everything about their pregnancy with Lark. She felt like she was missing so much by not being there. She didn't care that her and Tom couldn't track down the computer geek they had been tracking for months now. Lark had agreed that it was important considering the details of the case for her to nail this sick bastard and it would be the first time that she ever left a case unsolved, but she no longer cared. Someone else would have to take care of it. Now all she had to do was tell her director that she was quitting. Rayne had requested a meeting with the director and he agreed to one. She stood anxiously waiting for her appointment and began to pace, as he was late for their meeting.

"Sorry Rayne, come on in." He cordially replied and held the door open for her to enter. "Sorry, Kathleen is out sick today and I'm lost without my secretary. What can I do for you?" He asked, sitting down in his chair behind his large cluttered desk.

"This." Rayne replied handing him a piece of paper as she sat in the chair on the opposite side of him.

He looked up at her confused and began to read what was written. He leaned back in his chair and placed the paper on his desk before looking back up at her. "Sorry Rayne, I can't accept your resignation."

"You have to. I'm resigning from the Service and that's final. I've lost my desire, my passion and most importantly, my edge. That's not safe for me or for any other agents working along with me. Tom is fully qualified to bring another agent up to speed on the computer geek case we've been working on for months now. You don't need me to finish the case." Rayne answered, growing angry by his refusal to accept her resignation.

"Rayne, I know Tom can handle the case, but it's become personal and that's why I can't accept your resignation." He informed her, confusing her even more.

"What do you mean it's become personal?" She asked, shifting uncomfortably in her seat.

"Well, as you know, we don't make a habit of allowing agents to work on a case that turns to one of a personal nature. But considering the levity of the case, your knowledge of this criminal and the fact that you are my top agent, I'm going to allow you to handle this one."

"Sir, just what are you getting at? Is this some kind of a ploy to keep me on staff here when I don't want to be?" She asked, growing angrier by the minute.

He leaned forward in his chair and rested his arms on the desk looking at her in all seriousness. "Rayne, he's put a hit out on you."

Rayne chuckled in disbelief and replied, "That little weasel that I could squash with my pinky finger put out a hit on me? That's hysterical, but it doesn't faze me in the least bit. He'll remove the hit once I'm off the case." Rayne shrugged off the threat.

"It's more serious than that Rayne. He's also done the same for Lark and from the tone of the note; I don't believe he'll back off until the threat is carried out. I don't think it will matter if you're off the case or not, it seems like this person is harboring some sort of a personal vendetta against you and they want to make you pay in whatever way possible." He answered in a low regretful tone.

Fear, denial and anger coursed through her. It didn't mean anything to her if her life was threatened, but you didn't do that to Lark or her child. Her heart raced and she tried to calm herself as she leaned forward in her chair. "Aah…what evidence do you have about this threat? Do you think he's serious?" She asked, blinking rapidly as thoughts of anything happening to Lark or the baby crossed her mind.

"We think he is very serious Rayne. He sent a threatening letter that if you didn't back off he'd kill you and Lark," he replied handing her the letter to look over. She read over the note and looked back up at him as he reached in his desk drawer, pulling out a folder. He opened it and handed a picture to Rayne. "He sent us these pictures and he's gotten close enough for us to consider this a high level threat Rayne." He softly answered, his seriousness evident in his tone as Rayne looked at the pictures.

She sat back in her chair and couldn't breathe as she saw the picture. It was of Lark, sleeping in her trailer on the set. She was scared and livid all at the same time. She looked at the other pictures he had which varied from some of Lark at their home, to the both of them out at various locations. They rocked her to the core as the majority of them were of Lark and in very private situations. "When did you receive these?" She angrily asked, staring at one of the pictures.

"We received them this morning." He answered looking at his upset agent.

"Okay…aah…I need some agents posted on Lark right away." She nervously replied as she stood up and began to pace the floor, trying to devise her game plan.

"Rayne, it's been done already. I have a team ready to head over to your house to sweep it in case he's made access to it. We'll have teams posted to your house at all times as well as for you and Lark." He instructed her.

"Use the man power for Lark, not me. Aah…I don't want her to know anything about this, it will only upset her and she doesn't need that at this point in the pregnancy."

"If that's what you think is best. It will be done." He guaranteed and heard a knock at his door. "Sorry, just a minute." He apologized and headed to the door opening it. "Oh, Tom…come on in." He replied holding the door open for his agent to enter.

"Hey, Rayne. I just got a lead on our boy for us to check out." He urgently informed her.

"You heard about him making a threat on Lark and I?" She asked turning to her partner.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. The director told me earlier and I wanted to check on a hunch that I had about this scumbag to see if we could nail him before he can carry out his threats." He informed her and put his hand on her shoulder, comfortingly.

"Thanks. I appreciate it." She replied with a small appreciative smile looking at him. "Let's go nail this bastard." She angrily replied heading for the door.

"Rayne!" The director stopped her and approached. "I guarantee we will do whatever it takes and use as many resources as possible to insure yours and Lark's safety."

"I appreciate that sir." She cordially smiled and headed out the door followed by Tom. They quickly walked down the hall heading towards the parking garage. Rayne unlocked the doors and hopped into her car, revving the engine as she turned back to pull out of the parking place.

"Rayne, I promise to help out in anyway I can to insure both you and Lark's safety as well." He comfortingly smiled when Rayne looked at him.

"I know and I really appreciate it Tom. I knew I could count on you to help, but the best thing you can do for me is to help me nail this bastard before he gets a chance to even get close. Who the hell does he think he is threatening my wife, my child and my life?" She angrily asked, screeching the tires of her car as she headed out of the parking garage.

"Obviously, he has no idea how he's endangered his own life by doing so." Tom grinned; knowing his partner's desire and passion to nail his ass was back. He pitied the poor fool for what he's about to have happen to him when Rayne gets a hold of him. He was certainly going to enjoy it, as the asshole deserved what he was coming from him that's for sure!

"Excuse me, Lark. Where would you like me to have Jimmy put the packages that just arrived by UPS?" Marcia softly asked, not to startle Lark who was perusing her script in the chair.

Lark looked up surprised. "What packages? I wasn't expecting any deliveries." She replied and struggled to rise from the chair. She had a difficult time now that her expanded abdomen threw her center of gravity off. Once up she followed Marcia into the front room to check out the packages. She moaned and groaned as her sore back muscles slowly loosened up as she walked down the hall.

"Here are the packing slips." Marica replied handing her the said slips.

Lark looked them over rubbing her stomach to calm the baby who was very active. "I'm going to kill her!" She replied when she saw what the packages contained. "I don't know where in the hell she expects us to put all of these things. She's out of control and has to be stopped!" Lark adamantly professed as Marcia snickered in response. "Oh, you think this is funny huh? The baby won't have any room to sleep in the nursery because of all the presents in there. Not to mention, no one will be able to stay in the guesthouse, as that is full of presents too! I knew I should have taken her credit card away from her."

"I'm sorry Lark. I just happen to think it's adorable how she's buying all of these presents for the baby. She's excited and wants to show it." Marcia answered smiling.

Lark smiled, "I know and I think it's wonderful too, but she has gone overboard. The baby won't be able to drive this motorized car for a few years Marcia!" Lark informed her and showed her the packing slip.

Marcia looked over her shoulder and patted Lark on the shoulder. "I see your point, go ahead and kill her." She chuckled along with Lark.

"Have Jimmy put them in the garage. Her domain. She hates it if someone puts something in there. Maybe if it's crowded in there she'll realize she needs to stop purchasing these gifts so early for the baby." Lark mischievously smiled looking at Marcia.

"Yes, that might work. I'll have him take them out right away." She grinned and headed out of the room.

Lark giggled as she walked down the hall looking at the packing slip. She shook her head in disbelief reading the item within the box. 'Hmmm…a mini dune buggy huh? I wonder if I could fit into that and drive it around the house?' Lark laughed and headed back to her work.

Tom tried to keep Rayne from going ballistic, as their lead didn't produce and end result like they had hoped. He held Rayne back from the one suspect they did manage to catch. "I don't get it. How in the hell is it that this little weasel keeps getting away from us Tom?" She angrily asked, pacing back and forth. She ran an absent hand through her hair wondering just how in the hell this guy could avoid them so many times. She was frustrated and embarrassed that they have been trying to nail this guy for so long, but have been unsuccessful to this point. She hoped by nailing one of his guys they might get a break in the case. They had to, considering the ramifications if this guy was allowed to roam free.

"I know Rayne, but kicking this guys ass isn't going to give us any answers. It will set him free that much quicker." Tom calmly reasoned and saw her demeanor change.

They transported the suspect back to their headquarters and Rayne plopped him down in the chair. "The only thing for you to do my friend is to start singing like a bird. So, go ahead." Rayne angrily demanded as she sat down in the chair on the opposite side of her.

"I want to speak to my lawyer." He refused with a smirk on his face.

"No, you see this is how it works. I sit here and you sit there." She explained motioning to both of their seats. "You tell me everything about your boss and I try to work some kind of a deal for you. Like this deal…tell me what I want to hear and I don't kill you!" Rayne sarcastically replied with a smirk.

"You don't intimidate me." He cockily and defiantly replied.

"Really?" Rayne laughed leaning back in her chair. She removed her jacket revealing her gun held in its holster and noticed the suspect nervously shift in his seat when he saw her gun. She inwardly chuckled, knowing she had an advantage on him. "Listen, what's your name?" She asked, smiling and looked at her paperwork. "Aah…yeah, Norman. You look like a smart kid with a life full of endless possibilities ahead of him. You don't want to take the fall for this one guy do you? Do you make that much money from working for this guy, that you'll throw away any hope of a future for him?"

"Oh, you have no idea as to how much money we make lady and how much more we could have made had it no been for you." He bitterly informed her. "Why do you think my boss put a hit out on you and your lesbian lover? Well, for that reason and…" He stopped and decided not to say anything else.

Rayne's temper soared and her anger coursed throughout her at the audacity of him to mention Lark and to answer is such a condescending way. She wanted to strangle the little fucker, but Tom interjected and stood next to her, thwarting her attempt. "Why don't you tell us about the hit buddy?"

"Why should I. What's in it for me?" He arrogantly asked, with a smile looking between the two them.

'What's in it for you? My gun stuck up your ass you little prick.' Rayne angrily thought. She wanted to wipe the smart-ass look off of his face and knew she couldn't if they wanted to get any more information out of him. It frustrated her to no end that she wasn't getting the information she wanted from him.

"Well, I'm sure we can work some sort of a deal out with you Norman. That is if you cooperate with us to the fullest degree." Tom snidely replied with a sarcastic grin.

"Well, my cooperation depends on what kind of a deal you give me."

"Look, Norman. You're not the one we want. It's your boss that we want and you know it. Give us some information on how to find him and we'll come up with a deal for you then." Rayne calmly reasoned.

"A deal after I give you information? Are you crazy?" He laughed in disbelief.

"Norman, you have to give us some information on good faith to make us feel like we can trust you. Kind of like you scratch our back and we scratch yours. Capice?" Tom sarcastically informed him, placing his hands on Rayne's shoulders as he stood behind her. He knew she was about ready to lunge across the table at the little weasel and he was trying to hold her down. It took every ounce of patience she had to control herself and not just beat the living hell out of him. She wanted someone to pay for the hit placed on Lark and this guy would do for the time being. The only problem was, he was her link to some substantial information to nail the person they really wanted and he was calling the shots right now. It pissed her off and she hates it when that happens!

"Okay…here's some info for you that I think you'll like." He arrogantly smiled, narrowing his eyes at Rayne who sat across from him. "My boss will not rest until you pay for what you've done and that means it will cost your lover as well." He sarcastically grinned and quickly changed his demeanor when Rayne grabbed his shirt, pulling him closer to her…eye to eye.

"Look you little arrogant fuck! I promise you this, if anything happens to my wife I'll personally hold you responsible for it and will secretively have you eliminated. You think you're funny by being so damn evasive with the information you have. I think this is funny. I'm going to pin all of the charges we have on our mutual friend on you, including the sexual exploitation of children charges. Let's see how funny you think it is rotting in prison for the rest of your miserable life with a bunch of horny, large men calling you their bitch!" She angrily spat, the nervousness and darkness evident in her eyes. It was all Tom could do to bite his lip and not burst out laughing from Rayne's comment.

"You can't do that." He nervously protested.

"Watch me!" She shouted and shoved him back in the chair before leaving the room.

"Is she serious?" He nervously asked Tom after watching Rayne storm out of the room.

"Dead." He coldly answered and left the room. "Nice touch Rayne." He sarcastically replied approaching her.

"Did you like that one?" She asked with a smirk as she paced back and forth. Her heart was racing out of her chest, as she just wanted to pummel the little punk for not giving up some information that they could use. She knew she was about to lose it with him and had to step out before she blew the entire case. She wondered if maybe her director made a mistake by keeping her on the case. Nah, that wouldn't work either seeing as how she was right where she wanted to be when it came to protecting Lark…in charge. She desperately wanted to see Lark. No, she had to see her and right away. "Look, see what kind of information you can get out of him. I've got to check on Lark." She worriedly replied and began to walk away.

Tom approached and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Look, I'm in this with you pal. Whatever you need from me, you've got it whether it follows the rules or not." He seriously informed her.

"Tom, you know I can't ask you to do that for me. After this case, I'm out of the Service one way or the other and I'm not about to ruin your career." She defiantly informed him.

"When you leave, I leave my friend. If we have to pin some shit on this guy to nail Charles Phillips, then we will."

"Thanks, I appreciate your support and help. Let's hope we don't have to do that and we can both go out of here on a good note. Okay?" She smiled and patted him on the shoulder appreciatively.

"Listen, I'm going to stop by later and drop off Max. I'll let you know what I find out from this guy too."

"Thanks, but we don't need Max. I can handle it." Rayne confidently informed him.

"Look, he's a highly trained former police dog. He can help you out in case anything might happen during the night." He offered.

"Okay…thanks. I could use all the help I can get. I don't want Lark to know anything about what's been going on. I want her life to continue on as usual without her suspecting anything is up. She won't be able to handle the stress of it and I don't want either the baby or her to have to go through that."

"Why don't you two just go stay somewhere else until this blows over?"

"She won't go. She's been adamant about the baby being born at home and if I suggest we go somewhere else she'll be suspicious. It's better if we stay in our home and hope that the teams we have planted about will thwart any threat that might happen." She explained, hoping what she was saying would be true.

"Let's just nail this asshole before any of that happens. I'll see you later on tonight. Just tell Lark that they want you to work with the dog for some additional training and hope she'll believe you." He offered an alibi for the dog.

"Yeah, she'll probably spoil the dog and he'll be useless for protection. She's been bugging me to get her a dog for a long time now." She chuckled and smiled when she thought back to Lark begging her for a dog.

"Well, there you go. An excuse for the dog being there." He chuckled and patted her on the shoulder. "See you later."

"Yep. I'm outta here." She smiled and headed down the hall out of sight.

He smiled and watched her disappear. "Now, let's see what information I can get out of this little guy." Tom mischievously smiled, entering the interrogation room.

Rayne hurried home anxious to see Lark. She hoped the teams that were assigned to protect them were top-notch agents. She knew that everyone with the Service was top notched, but no one other than herself was good enough to protect Lark. She didn't want it any other way. She parked the car and hurried into the house looking for Lark. "Lark! Where are you?" She anxiously shouted as she looked in the kitchen and dining room.

"She's out on the back deck Rayne." Marcia informed her when she stepped out of the laundry room.

"What?" She worriedly replied knowing that would be a prime area for an attempt on her life. She hurried through the kitchen and out of the sliding glass doors. "Lark!" She replied and rushed over to her.

Lark turned around from the railing to face her. "It's about time you came home. I've got a bone to pick with you." She adamantly replied pointing her finger to emphasize her point as Rayne engulfed her in a hug.

Rayne turned her around so her back was to the house instead of the ocean that was the backdrop to their home. If someone was going to make an attempt on a life, it would be against her and not Lark. "I've missed you so much honey." She whispered in her ear, happy to have Lark safe in her arms. Her heart raced within in her chest as she kissed Lark's cheek.

"Oh, don't you try to butter me up miss thing." Lark teased and pulled back from Rayne who smiled down at her trying to hide her worry. "We have to talk my love about all of these purchases you've made!" Lark emphasized her point by poking her in the chest.

"Yes, dear anything you want, but let's go inside it's a little chilly out here. I don't want you to catch a cold." Rayne replied smiling and guiding Lark towards the house.

"Rayne, I'm pregnant, not an elderly woman! It's not cold out here. It's eighty degrees and beautiful." Lark protested, wondering why Rayne was acting so strangely.

"Well, I worry about you honey and you know how easy it is to catch a cold especially when you barely have any clothes on. So, humor me and go inside." She smiled and tried to coax her defiant wife into the house.

Lark looked down at her usual attire for lounging around the house. A pair of shorts and one of Rayne's long t-shirts and wondered just what was up with her lover. "That's another thing we have to talk about. You being overprotective of me too!" Lark adamantly replied and turned toward the doors.

"Yes, dear. Anything you want to talk about…I'm here." She replied, looking back behind her, noticing a man standing down on their private section of the beach. Their eyes met and he ducked out of sight by their private walkway. "Honey, I aah…forgot something in the car. I'll be right back okay?" She hurriedly replied and watched as Lark shook her head in disbelief.

"Well, hurry up!" Lark replied exasperated by Rayne. "She thinks she's going to get out of this one, but she's wrong. Tell her I'll be waiting for her in our bedroom okay?" She informed Marcia who nodded.

"Go easy on her. She loves you very much." Marcia snickered with a laugh.

"Oh, I will. I just want to see her squirm a little bit." Lark laughed with a wink oblivious to what was happening with her lover and disappeared down the hall.

Rayne jumped the back deck railing after insuring that Lark was out of sight and sprinted across the lawn to the beach walkway. She stopped and drew her gun, stealthy sneaking around to find the person she saw on the beach. She saw movement through the cracks of the walkway and quietly moved to the side of the railing. She scanned the area in case there were multiple people and didn't see anyone. She peered over the railing once more and jumped down to the beach. The man was startled and turned to her. Before he knew it his legs were swept out from beneath him and he was face down in the sand with a gun pointed to his head. "Just who the hell are you? And what are you doing on my property?" Rayne angrily asked, pushing the gun closer to his head and cocking her gun.

To Be Continued…

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