Well, here it is, the end of my saga. I've left it where many others have, and, since the votes cast were for a fairy tale ending, I've written that. I must admit, I enjoy it that way, too, having seen far more than my fair share of tv shows where the lovers are forever star-crossed, parted by death, or kept in a permanent limbo of "will they or won't they" to keep the Nielsen ratings as high as possible for as long as possible, in pursuit of the almighty dollar. I hope you all enjoy it, here it is!

Episode 9.12

"The Dreams That You Dream Do Come True"

by Camille Partridge


Back at Avril's stable, out in the yard in the spring sunshine, two horses stand side by side, hip-shot, ears hanging sideways, looking disgusted and dejected. Beside each of them a woman stands, bucket full of suds and sponge in hand, soaping and scrubbing to clean salt, dust, and generic gunk off their horses.

"So, do you want to rinse them off, or shall I?" Maggie MacAllister asks Avril Burke as she finishes her black horse's face, having held off putting soap near his sensitive eyes until the last moment.

"You go ahead, Maggie, and I'll clean out the box. By the time you've got them rinsed and sheeted, I'll be ready for the hose to finish the horsebox." Avril steps back from her tall grey mare, and picks up the bucket Maggie has finished using. She carries both out to the edge of the yard, dumps the suds, squeezes out the sponges, then takes them with her to the horsebox, setting them down near the rear tires. Then it's off to the stable to pick up a barrow and fork, but before she can get her tools assembled, the phone in the aisle rings. Avril runs to pick it up.

"Hello? Yes, she is still here, Jimmy, hold on and I'll get her." Avril puts her hand over the mouthpiece, and shouts for Maggie.

"Just a minute, Avril." Maggie has finished rinsing the faces on both horses, and grabs a towel so she can dry the dripping water off and alleviate some of their melodramatically expressed misery. Draping the towel over a stall door, she shuts off the water hose, and dashes for the phone. Taking the receiver from Avril, she places her hand over the mouthpiece. "Can you finish rinsing them? I got their heads rinsed and toweled, but the rest of them is still covered in suds. I'll get back to them as quick as I can, I don't know if Iblis will let you clean him out, especially since the water's so cold."

"Can't blame him!" Avril laughs, and goes out to finish rinsing The Cat and Iblis, knowing that the stallion, at least, is almost certainly plotting some revenge for his humiliation.

Maggie puts the phone to her face. "Hi, Jimmy, what's up? WHAT? Oh, no, oh Jimmy, hang up with me and call the airline and book a flight, right away! You need to get home, your sister needs you! Yes, you can tell me the details when I get back to the pub, just book yourself a flight and pack your bag, and I'll drive you up to Dublin right away! Yes, love, I'll get home as quick as I can, 'bye 'bye." Maggie's face has gone ashen.

"What's the matter, Maggie?" Avril asks, as the older woman comes back into the yard.

"Jimmy's sister has been rushed to the hospital, she had a heart attack at home. They don't know if she's going to live or not." Maggie picks up a scraper blade, and begins to scrape water off Iblis, the actions so routine she doesn't need to even think a moment to complete them.

"Maggie, go home, I'll finish them both. You need to be there with Jimmy, he must be a wreck." Avril puts one hand on Maggie's shoulder.

"No, I have to finish Iblis off, and get him stabled, then I'll go. I'm sorry to leave you with the van to do all by yourself, Avril." Maggie finishes scraping Iblis' upper body, and picks up the hose. "Sorry, old man, I'll make it quick, now drop it."

"Poor Iblis, I promise I'll install a little hot water heater in the stable, just for you!" Avril coos as she strokes the horse's chiseled face. Maggie finishes the last task incumbent upon owners of male horses getting bathed, and takes up the scraping blade again, running it over Iblis' ribs and belly, and down the muscular portions of his legs, then finishing with a dry towel on the fine-skinned lower legs. She goes into the tack room and returns with two sheets, handing one to Avril, who has finished scraping The Cat down. She unfolds a sheet across Iblis' back, tying the ribbons to the sides of his halter, down his chest, then stepping back and tying them across his rump. Avril similarly covers up The Cat, saying nothing, understanding Maggie will speak if she wants to.

Maggie unties the stallion, and leads him to his stall. He starts in on the fresh hay in his manger, then pauses as Maggie leans on his shoulder, putting her head against his withers. "Old man, I know you remember Annie, from back home. She's pretty sick, Iblis, her heart stopped, and the doctors may not be able to save her. Say a little prayer for her, will ya'?" Iblis turns from the manger, and wraps his neck around Maggie's back, pressing her against his side. Unable to stop herself, she breaks into tears.

Avril quietly stables her mare, and gives her fresh hay and grain as well, and brings grain to Iblis's stall. The stallion ignores the grain, continuing to hug his beloved friend as best he can. Avril's eyes well with tears, she has never seen a horse so tuned to his rider. She leaves the pair alone, and goes to work on the horsebox.

In just a few minutes, she sees Maggie leave the stable and get in her car. She starts the blue van's engine, and pulls it up beside the van. "I'll call tonight to make sure all's well, Avril, and be out tomorrow, okay?"

"Of course, Maggie. I'll keep an eye on the pair of them, they both ran hard today, but they were well cooled, I'm sure they'll be fine." Avril sets the pitchfork down, leaning it against the inside of the box.

"Thanks, Avril, for everything! I wish we didn't have to wait a whole year to see their foal, I think she's going to be gorgeous." Maggie, despite the red eyes, has a smile on her face.

"I know she will, Maggie! Drive carefully now, will you?" Avril answers.

"Of course, dear, thanks again. I'll see you tomorrow!" Maggie waves, and backs the van up, turning it and crossing the yard, pulling out into the road and heading back into town.




Back in the pub, four people sit around the kitchen table, Orla, Connor, Aidan, and James O'Connor. There has been no new news since the trio returned from Dublin. The message was on the answering machine, and Orla and Connor listened to it first, calling O'Connor on his mobile phone immediately afterwards. He and Vincent returned from the city as quickly as they could, Vincent staying for a few minutes to hear the news in full before driving back to Cilldargan. As James packed his bags, Orla called Aidan, and he came down to the pub to sit with his friend.

"So, you've called and left your mobile number on the answering machine and with the hospital, so your brother in law can call you with any news, you've got a seat on the first flight out from Dublin tomorrow morning, and your bags are packed. Now is the hardest part, you have to sit and wait until it's time to drive back to Dublin." Aidan is stating the obvious just to break the silence. He has dealt with illness and death amongst his parishioners before, and indeed in his own family, but this situation is uniquely uncomfortable for him.

 Just at that moment, Maggie's van is heard pulling up at the pub, and O'Connor stands, relieved he need not answer. He meets Maggie at the door, and the pair say nothing, just hug.

"Have you heard anything more, Jimmy? Is your sister conscious yet?" Maggie's voice is a mirror of her worried face.

"No, nothing new yet. I got a flight out first thing tomorrow morning. Should we drive up now and stay in a hotel near the airport tonight, or stay here tonight and get up early tomorrow?" James retains a hold on one of Maggie's hand.

"Jimmy, right now I'm running on adrenaline, but if I go to sleep here there's no way I'll get up in time to drive you north tomorrow. We'd better go tonight." Maggie takes a step towards the table, and her knees buckle, only O'Connor's grip preventing her hitting the floor face down.

"Mags!" O'Connor staggers, as Connor Devlin leaps to his feet and immediately grabs the older woman, sliding one hand under her knees and the other behind her back to lift her up. Her eyes are closed, she is not awake. Orla stands, and runs to the door, opening it so Connor can carry Maggie upstairs. She dashes up first to open the bedroom door, James follows Connor, and Aidan heads for the telephone.

"I'm calling Doc Ryan, right now!" Hearing no dispute, he dials. "Michael, yes, this is Aidan O'Connell, I'm at Fitzgerald's. Can you get over here, quickly? Maggie MacAllister just got back from Dublin, and then collapsed as she came in the door. I suspect she's just fainted, but just in case, you'd better see her if you can. Yes, thanks, Michael, I'll see you soon." Aidan hangs up the phone, and walks to the foot of the stairs, and calls up "Michael's on his way, is Maggie awake yet?"

"Not yet," Orla calls back "but her pulse is strong, she's probably just fainted, she hasn't eaten a bite since last night."

"That'll be it, then. I'll tell Michael she's not had a heart attack, so he won't call for an ambulance." Aidan breathes a little easier, not wanting to think what James would do if both his sister and his fiancee were fighting for their lives on either side of the Atlantic ocean.

Just then, the phone rings. Aidan answers it, assuming no one upstairs is going to. "Fitzgerald's, Father Aidan O'Connell speaking. Mrs. MacAllister is unable to get to the phone, may I give her a message?"

"Aidan, this is Avril Burke, has Maggie made it home yet? Iblis is fussing and stomping about his stall, I don't think he's colicked, but I couldn't get her to pick up her mobile, and I'd like to speak to her before calling Siobhan."

"Avril, Maggie got in the door, took three steps, and fainted. Connor's carried her upstairs, and Michael Ryan's on his way." Aidan keeps an eye on the front door as he speaks.

"Is she all right? No wonder Iblis is fussing about! I took a scope and listened to his gut, and he sounds fine, but I was sure he must be colicking, until I spoke with you. The pair of them are like twins, they're so close, it's no wonder he's upset. I'll take my mobile out to the barn and stay with him, and as soon as Maggie comes round and can do it, have her call me." Avril leaves her mobile number with Aidan, and hangs up, just as Michael Ryan comes to the front door. Aidan dashes across the pub to open the door for him.

"Michael, Orla says Maggie's pulse is strong, and she hasn't eaten all day. Could she have just fainted?" Aidan accompanies Dr. Ryan as he starts up the stairs.

"Yes, I just fainted!" Maggie's voice calls from down the hall. "Doctor, you can go home, I'm sorry they bothered you!" James O'Connor steps out of the bedroom and meets Aidan and the doctor part way up the hall. He leans close to the doctor and whispers, "Dr. Ryan, please don't leave, she's never fainted before in her life. I know she's been under some stress, but, well, I want to know if there's something more going on." Doctor Ryan simply lays a hand on O'Connor's shoulder a moment before going on to enter the bedroom. A few moments later Connor Devlin steps out and closes the door behind himself. The three of them stand for a moment, then, in silent consensus, Aidan and Connor go back to the stairwell and go down to the main room of the pub again. A few short minutes later Michael Ryan opens the door, and Maggie calls O'Connor's name, and he enters the room. He sits on the edge of the bed and takes Maggie's hand. Dr. Ryan holds up a small tube full of red liquid.

"I'll just pop this in the cooler and send it off to the lab tomorrow morning, but I expect we'll only see moderately low blood sugar, Maggie. Of course, there was no way to know you were going to get an emotional shock after all the physical exertion this morning, but don't go so long between meals again, your pancreas isn't what it used to be." Michael puts the tube into a pocket in his bag, and shuts the valise, lifting it in one hand and turning to leave.

"Neither is the rest of me, Doctor!" Maggie swings her legs off the bed, and tries to stand, only to be pushed back by Orla and James at the same time. Doctor Ryan turns back to his patient.

"Oh, no, you don't, madam, I want you in bed for the rest of the evening, and eating a full meal before you start back on your breakneck schedule tomorrow morning! You *probably* just fainted, due to low blood sugar, but until you've eaten something and had a night's rest, you are not to go dashing about! Do you understand me, Doctor MacAllister?" Michael Ryan has put on a forceful and professional tone, not his usual soft, affable voice.

Maggie subsides back on the bed. "Yes, Doctor Ryan, I understand. May I at least use the telephone?" A rare tone of defeat tinges Maggie's voice.

"Have someone bring you a portable or a mobile. I'll call tomorrow with the labs, and until then, please get some rest." The doctor nods and leaves the room.

"Jimmy, would you dig my cell phone out of my purse, please? I need to call Avril and make sure Iblis is all right, I might have collapsed if he's colicked!" Maggie swings her feet back over the edge of the bed. "Yuck, why didn't anyone take off my boots, there's mud everywhere. For that matter, why didn't *I* take them off outside, eedjit that I am? Sheesh!" Maggie pulls off the pair of leather boots, then stands to take off her breeches and jacket. Orla and James are staring at her. "I'm not an invalid YET!" Maggie exclaims.

Orla and James both laugh, and James goes downstairs to get Maggie's purse, while Orla takes Maggie's dirty clothes to the laundry. Maggie heads for the bathroom, muttering about wishing she could shower, but settling for washing hands and face. She turns as James re-enters the bedroom, the bag in hand.

"Great, I need to call..." James interrupts her, "Avril's already called, Aidan talked to her a few minutes ago. She thought Iblis was okay, but he was fussing, she thinks he's worried about you."

Maggie digs in the bag, pulls out her mobile, and pops it open. "Yes, I'd be shocked if he'd colicked, he was in great shape, well cooled, he should be just fine." She dials Avril's number, and holds the phone to her ear. "Yes, Avril, it's Maggie. Is Iblis settling down now?" A moment of silence in the bedroom, and then Maggie laughs out loud. "Yes, I can hear him, he's chowing down quite happily, isn't he? Yes, I did faint, Doctor Ryan thinks I just plain ran out of gas, since I hadn't eaten in so long. He took a blood sample, just to be sure. No, we haven't heard anything more about Jimmy's sister, but I am thinking no news is good news. Yeah, hold the phone out by his face, will you?" Maggie takes a deep breath. "I'M FINE, YOU EEDJIT, DON'T SCARE AVRIL LIKE THAT AGAIN, OKAY?" Jimmy can clearly hear the squeal from the other end of the phone call, followed closely by a loud thump. Maggie puts the phone back up to her face. "He WHAT? Oh, good grief! Yes, get Donal out to fix it, of course I'll pay for it. I suppose that's what I get for yelling at him, especially after giving him a cold bath and clean out this afternoon. Say, have Donal put in a hot water heater out there, I'll pay for that, too. We'll need it when we start covering The Cat, anyway. Yeah, Avril, I'll be out tomorrow, if Orla will let me out of her sight. You know how careful everyone needs to be about feeble old ladies like me!" Maggie hears Avril laughing from the other end of the phone, and, after the two bid each other good night, closes the phone.

"What did he do?" James sits in the rocker as Maggie climbs back into bed.

"Kicked out two boards in the back wall of his stall. I guess I deserve it....... Jimmy, I can't drive you to Dublin tonight, if I passed out again behind the wheel, I could kill us both. Would you mind it if Connor drove you up in the van?" Maggie leans back against the pillows. James comes to sit beside her.

"I'll miss the chance to kiss you goodbye at the airport, Mags, but of course you can't drive tonight. If Connor can take me, or Orla, that's fine. When I get back, I promise I'll get a license to drive in Ireland." He leans over and kisses her on the cheek, then puts his arm around her. Orla knocks briefly, then pushes the door open, a dinner tray in her hands. James gets up to let Maggie eat, but before he can sit back down in the rocker, he hears the phone downstairs ringing. In just a couple of moments, Connor's voice calls upstairs "James, it's for you!" O'Connor looks at Maggie, who shoos him out of the room "Go on, it might be Fritz!" As he leaves the room, Maggie turns to Orla, sighing "I am just going to have to plug that bedside phone back in, dangit. I guess the honeymoon is finally over."

"Eat, Maggie, and I'll go downstairs and bring up some coffee. I know it won't keep you awake, but you could use the sugar." Orla leaves the room, and Maggie sets the supper tray aside, getting up to search briefly in her wardrobe, pulling out another desktop phone and plugging it into the wall beside the bed. She then crawls back under the covers, and starts eating her dinner. Less than five minutes later, James comes back into the room, two coffee cups in hand. He sets one on Maggie's tray, and sips from the other before sitting down in the rocker.

"Well, it was Fritz, and Annie's alive, and conscious, but there's been significant heart damage. She'll be in the hospital for some time. They want to do some testing and find out if her arteries are blocked, if she'll need a bypass, a pacemaker, or what, if anything, they can do. She might even need a transplant." O'Connor takes another swallow of coffee.

"Jimmy, I wish I could come with you, but I can't. If we had to wait until I was sure I was fit to travel, you could miss what might be your last chance to talk to Annie. I'm not a cardiologist, but it sounds like Annie is in very bad shape, and she still might die. I hope she won't, I am praying she won't, but if the doctors are talking transplant, that's very bad heart damage." Maggie sets the tray off her lap, and carefully climbs out of bed. She walks around behind the rocking chair, reaches over, and hugs O'Connor from behind. "I'll miss you, Jimmy, I'm sorry I can't come!"

O'Connor puts one hand over Maggie's arms, crossed over his chest. "I'll miss you, too, Mags. I'll come home as soon as Annie's out of the woods."

"Jimmy, take as much time as you need, if you have to stay with Annie and Fritz to help her get back on her feet, that's fine. Annie was already fighting arthritis, she'll need all the help she can get to deal with this heart problem, too!" Maggie stands up again, and picks up her half-finished supper tray, heading for the door to go downstairs.

"Oh, no you don't!" O'Connor stands, moving to block Maggie from the doorway. "I'll take that downstairs, but not until you finish it. Now go get back in bed, and eat your dinner!" James takes the tray out of Maggie's hands.

"Oh, man! All right, I'll finish it, but you finish packing while I eat. You can't go home for what may be weeks with just an overnight bag, Jimmy. You need to take most of what you brought over here with you, so you don't have to go buy a bunch of underwear three days after you get there. You can't visit Annie in the hospital if your underwear is ten days old, honey!" Maggie takes a bite of her supper.

Unable to prevent himself, O'Connor guffaws at the image Maggie posits. "No, they won't let me into ICU if I reek, I know. I'll pack another bag, so I don't have to monopolize the washing machine." He pulls another of his suitcases out of the closet, and begins filling it with more of his clothes. "Packing was easier when I wore uniforms."

"Yes, I'm sure it was, plus you could spill lots of marinara sauce on your shirt and it never showed, either!" Maggie comments acerbically, between bites of her supper. O'Connor chuckles again. "I also never needed to worry about whether I could tie a tie or not!" He folds a dress shirt carefully, praying silently there is no funeral to wear it to.

"You mean you don't have your fourth-grade clip-on bow tie any more?" Maggie asks. For a moment O'Connor thinks she is serious, then he laughs again. "Mags, you are a true blessing. Only you could make me laugh a little bit and keep me from worrying myself into an ulcer right now." O'Connor moves to a different drawer to get more clothes out. "I hate checking bags, but I'll just have to do it, and hope they don't lose it somehow."

"They won't lose it, they'll just send it to Antarctica first, then to where you are, so you can spend hours at the airport all over again to pick it up." Maggie finishes her supper, and starts to stand up again, to subside as O'Connor waves a finger at her. "I will take that downstairs in a minute, young lady." Maggie smirks, and retorts "Okay, *old man*!" She gets a pair of socks thrown at her for her trouble, and promptly pitches them back again, to land in the open suitcase sitting on the
floor.

In another five minutes, O'Connor finishes packing the large suitcase full, and closes it. He picks up Maggie's tray and empty coffee mug, as well as his own. "I'll be right back, Mags." he says, and goes downstairs. Maggie gets up and goes into the bathroom to brush her teeth. O'Connor comes back into the room as she finishes.

"Aidan's going to drive me, Mags. I'll stay in a hotel room for a few hours, and they'll wake me in time to get to the terminal in time to board. I'll call as soon as I land in the States, honey, and again after I've gone to the hospital and seen Annie." The pair hug, and then James kisses Maggie gently, but very thoroughly. "I love you, Mags, take care, and call me when Doctor Ryan gets the results of that blood test, okay? I'm going to worry until I'm sure you're not sick, too!"

"I'll call, Jimmy, as soon as I know anything. I'm sure it's just all the excitement and exercise." Maggie yawns widely, and looks at her watch. "You'd better go, dear, if you're going to get any sleep tonight before your flight. I'm very glad it's Aidan driving, Orla and Connor are as tired as we are." Maggie kisses James again, and hugs him hard. "'Bye, honey, take care of yourself, too!" She lets go, and steps back a bit, and O'Connor picks up his large suitcase, goes to the door, and turns back for a moment.

"'Bye, Mags, I'll see you as soon as I can, I love you!" He blows her a kiss with his free hand.

"Goodbye, Jimmy, I love you, too!" Maggie catches his kiss in one hand. O'Connor turns again, and goes down the hall, then downstairs. Maggie crawls back into bed, and listens as James bids Connor Devlin and Orla O'Connell goodbye, and follows Father Aidan O'Connell out the front door. Tears slip down her cheeks, but she weeps silently. Orla and Connor soon come up the stairs, and into her room. Maggie wipes her tears from her face, and throws the tissue into the waste can.

"Well, he's gone, then." Orla sits in the rocking chair.

"Yes, gone for good, I'm betting." Maggie replies, and climbs out of bed. "Connor, can you get that last suitcase out of the closet for me? I'm going to pack the rest of his things, and ship it to his sister's place. We can use a shipping service that won't show the originating address, and he'll think he just left it behind and arranged the shipping himself, so he didn't have to carry it all to the airport at the same time." Maggie begins going through dresser drawers and closet, removing James O'Connor's clothes and few possessions still remaining in her room, and carefully fitting them into the suitcase. It is stuffed, when she finishes, but she does get it closed.

"Are you sure about this, Maggie? What if he comes back?" Connor hefts the suitcase, setting it on the bed temporarily.

"I don't think he will, but just in case, I'll wait a couple of days, and see if he calls like he thinks he's going to. If he calls a couple of times, then I'll hold on to this stuff, but I don't think he'll call. He'll think he's going to when he gets on that plane, but by the time he lands, he'll have forgotten most of what happened here, and after a couple of days, he'll remember nothing but a pleasant, extended vacation of sightseeing, time spent in various monasteries in contemplation and prayer, and a little family history research. Whatever happens with his sister, when it's over, he'll go back to his monastery, and they'll welcome him back, and he'll settle into his old routines, and I won't even exist in his memory except as a vague recollection of someone he knew a long time ago, the town veterinarian he saw at his sister's stables once in a while." Maggie puts a robe on over her pajamas, and goes out into the hall, and heads downstairs.

 Orla and Connor look at each other, then Connor picks up the suitcase and they follow Maggie down the hall and then the stairs, into the kitchen. Looking at her watch again, Maggie decides against calling Avril to check on her stallion, knowing there'd have been a call if anything went wrong. She puts the few dishes of the day into the washer, and busies herself tidying the kitchen, getting ready to open the next morning. Connor sets the bag beside the back door.

"Well, we'll go home, Maggie, if you're going to be all right?" Orla asks.

"Yeah, I'll be fine, Orla. Thanks very much for fixing me supper, and I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Maggie hugs the younger woman briefly, then the couple goes out the back door, closing it behind themselves. Maggie pours another cup of coffee, dosing it with cream and sugar, and sitting at the table to drink it slowly.




The next morning, Maggie gets up and showers, dresses, and goes downstairs. She calls Avril, and hears that Iblis and The Cat are both just fine, and then dials Assumpta's private number, hoping her friend is up and feeling well.

"Assumpta? Hi, it's Maggie, can you talk for a couple of minutes?" Maggie sits behind the bar, not yet ready to open. "Good, well, I wanted to let you know what happened yesterday after we got to BallyK. There was a call from Jimmy's brother-in-law, his sister had had a heart attack. She's alive, but it was bad. So, right now, Jimmy's on a plane flying back to the States. I can't be sure, but I am planning for him to stay there. I'll know in the next few days, if he calls or not, that will tell me if he remembers and is coming back, or if he's forgotten, and will stay there."

"But Maggie, why in the world would he not come back?" Assumpta is sitting in her own armchair, her feet up, soft grey kitty curled up in her lap and purring.

"No gain without a loss, sis. I had to choose, did I want to stay here, with Iblis, and keep the life I've made here, or would I give it all up to be with him? I chose my life and my family, Assumpta. I left him behind once before, I did it again yesterday." Maggie looks around at the sunny, cozy pub, her home, and smiles.

"Oh, Maggie, I'm so sorry, you love him! It's not fair!" Assumpta imagines trying to choose between Peter and Thea, and shudders.

"Actually, there's rarely anything in the world that's fair, dear. We all have to choose, every day, between one thing and another. Simple as coffee or tea, or as complex as this life course or that one. I wanted Iblis to pass that time test yesterday, I wanted to stay here in Ireland, I wanted to be here for you when you have your baby. I couldn't have that and the perfect mate, too, it was an embarrassment of riches. No 'happily ever after', no handsome prince *and* fairy-tale castle, both. I figured, last winter, this was too good to be true, and I was right. Now, I just go forward with my life. It feels like, somehow, that tie that was there, between us, all those years, that it's gone. Like a circle's been completed, closed, and so I can move on, no longer in the same old rut." Maggie sips from her coffee cup.

"But Maggie, what about Peter and I, will I have to choose to lose him, some day?" Assumpta's panic comes through in her voice.

"Probably not, dear. You are young, you see, and starting a family, you ought to be together for many years, perhaps your whole lives. You and Peter both made your choices, to be together, no matter what, so, barring a real shake-up, you will be. Jimmy made a choice to not be with me, a long time ago, and I chose to have a life without him, not to pine for him forever. When Bobby died, I chose again, and came to Ireland, found family, sent for Iblis, and made a life. And I have more family than I did, now, and more friends, too. If I am meant to have another husband, then he'll come back to me, and if not, well, then I've finished a task to completion, and now I move on to the next." Maggie's empty coffee cup sits on the bar, and she looks at her watch. "Well, dear, I'd better get busy, almost time to open. How's Peter's job search going?"

"He's got some interviews this week, so we're hopeful. And we'll be down to visit next Sunday, again, to talk to Aidan and Vincent about the wedding. They're all trying their best to convince me to confess and receive communion, as well as baptize Thea, but they'll be disappointed. I'm trying to explain to Peter why I don't want Thea baptized, without attacking his faith. If I can get Peter to come around, he'll let Aidan and Vincent know the decision's been made. I just hope Aidan will still marry us in the Church, it means so much to Peter!" Assumpta is torn between pleasing Peter and standing on her own principles.

"I'll see if Orla can twist Aidan's arm." Maggie smiles, anticipating the reaction.

"Maggie! No, don't let Orla pick on Aidan! I am sure we can work out a compromise. It's just like any other 'mixed' marriage, really, I'm sure he and Vincent can see that!" Assumpta jumps to the shy young priest's defense.

Maggie laughs heartily. "Don't worry, she won't break it, just twist it a little. He can get a little stiff at times, it's good for him to remember he's a human being, too, and nobody reminds you of that as much as someone who's changed your nappy." Assumpta has to laugh at that, and the pair say goodbye and hang up the phone. Maggie unlocks her front doors, and heads to the kitchen to start a kettle of soup simmering, and toss vegetables for a salad.




Six months later, Maggie is sitting in her rocking chair, upstairs at Fitzgerald's. In her arms, sleeping peacefully, is a baby girl, wrapped up in blankets against the autumnal chill. As she rocks, Maggie sings along to a CD playing softly in the background, Peter, Paul and Mary's "Puff the Magic Dragon". Footsteps are heard on the stairs, and Assumpta, her figure almost back to it's normal slim proportions, comes into the bedroom.

"How's she doing?" Assumpta whispers, holding out her arms for her daughter.

"Quiet as a mouse, slept the whole time you were downstairs. Is Orla all right?" Maggie hands little Thea to her mother to feed her, and stands up from the rocker to head down to the pub.

"She's fine, the lunch rush is over, it'll be quiet until after work, when the drinkers come in." Assumpta seats herself in the rocker, and unzips her jumper in order to feed the baby.

"Good, we'll have extra hands by then. How is Peter holding up, between teaching and helping you with the baby in the evenings?" Maggie sits on her bed for a moment's conversation.

"He's doing great, actually. Everyone always said he was a natural with children, and he is. I think he gets as much energy from the kids at school as he gives them, and Thea's *such* a good baby! My Mum said I was a little hellion, screamed and fussed for months, but Thea's not like that at all, she only wants one feeding at night, and only fusses a little when she needs a change." Assumpta has woken the baby, who is now nursing happily.

"It's because you're breastfeeding, and I imagine your mother bottle fed you. Thea's getting exactly what she needs, nutritionally, and she's digesting it normally, so she feels good, and is growing well, too. What did Michael say at her last check-up?" Maggie stands.

"She is growing well, everything quite normal. Michael says he thinks the fairies gave me a changeling, only, since I was such a little devil, I got an angel baby in exchange for the baby I had, who would have been just like me. He's teasing me, of course, he can't help himself, knowing all the troubles my Mum had with me. I'm just happy she's so healthy!" Assumpta rocks gently as the baby nurses, smiling.

"And so will your next one be! Hopefully a good two years from now, or more! I think even Mr. *Very* Happily Married Peter Clifford will agree to that!" Maggie laughs, then steps over to the rocking chair long enough to give her cousin a quick squeeze of the shoulder before turning to leave the room again.

That evening, Peter was sitting in the kitchen, holding his sleeping daughter. Assumpta, Orla and Maggie ran the bar and taps, the three of them spreading the load enough so that no one was stressed out. It was the tag end of the tourist season, though traffic had certainly slowed since July. How he and Assumpta had managed to move back to the pub, get married, and have a baby over the summer, he honestly did not know, but it had all gone off smoothly. Maggie had hired three employees and let Orla run the pub, while she gave Siobhan a hand with her practice. Brendan and Siobhan's son had been born five days before Thea, and they'd named him Padraig. Aisling was turning into a rather amazing big sister, able to change nappies, warm bottles of milk and feed him, and most importantly, amuse him to a level of tiredness to get him to sleep! He was a very busy little boy, crawling everywhere and getting into everything. He was already grabbing hunks of Iblis' mane when his big sister had her weekly riding lesson. Peter had noted the sudden jump in apparent maturity level in Aisling the previous spring, so he wasn't suprised at her ability with her little brother. He knew Maggie attributed it to the riding, and for all he knew, she might be right. He was grateful Thea was more attracted to Emma's company than Iblis' at that point!

His mind wandered to his students at school, reviewing names and faces to put the one to the other early on in the year. He thought about whether one child was dealing with some trouble at home, or another was coming down with something, if this one was doing so well that perhaps they could help a struggling classmate. Pondering it all, despite the pub noise, he began to drift off to sleep. As he did, he offered a small prayer of thanks for how incredibly happy he was, even though his life had taken a 190 degree turn in just one short year. He had a career doing something he really enjoyed, living in a town that had felt like home for years, married to the love of his life, raising their first child together. Leaning back into the corner of the settee, snuggling the baby close, Peter closed his eyes, and determined to nap, but, of course, Fate intervened. The back door of the kitchen opened, and Connor Devlin came in, though, noting Peter and the baby, he tiptoed softly, after flipping the light switch off.

 The light leaking in around the two doors from the pub into the kitchen let him move around the table, and stop in front of the settee.

"Peter, let me take Thea so you can stand up without waking her, and then take her upstairs. You'll sleep better in bed." Connor holds out his arms.

"Yeah, I will, and so will she. Assumpta'll come up when it's time to feed her." Peter hands the baby to Connor, who immediately pulls her in close, and bends over her to kiss her soft, tiny cheek. "Of course, the *real* reason you want me upstairs is so you can have the settee to nap on, while you wait for Orla to get done, so you can go home." Peter smiles at the picture made by the curly-haired bear of a man holding the tiny baby close. Connor is cooing to little Thea.

"An' how's the most precious, perfect little princess in the world tonight? Is she goin' to wake up an' say hello to her Uncle Connor, is she? No? Ah, such a perfect princess needs her beauty sleep, she doesn't need to wake up for silly old Uncle Connor!" Just then, of course, Thea does wake up, but, recognizing the face above her and feeling securely held in strong arms, does not cry, just yawns, and then stretches her arms up to grab at the curly brown hair. Her Daddy's close-cropped hair is not so amenable to manipulation by tiny fingers as Uncle Connor's, though, of course, Momma's long auburn locks are best.

Hearing Connor come in, Orla pops her head in the kitchen, and sees Connor holding an active baby. She turns and calls for Assumpta, knowing the baby will be hungry soon, now she's awake. Connor, meanwhile, has discovered the consequence of holding a baby just waking up, and makes an attempt to hand Thea back to her father, who is laughingly refusing to take her.

"Oh, no, you woke it, you change it! I'll go get a clean nappy!" Peter heads to the far door and, going through it, goes up the stairs to his room, returning, a minute later, with a towel and diaper. "Here ya' go, Uncle Connor!" Peter lays the towel on the counter next to the sink. Assumpta has also come into the kitchen, and, seeing the dilemma Connor is in, is, instead of preparing to relieve him, is standing to one side, ready to coach "Uncle Connor" through the procedure.

"It's been a few years since I changed a nappy!" Connor is still hoping to weasel out of the task.

Assumpta can't stop the giggle. "Well, Connor, babies still have two legs, and a bottom, and nappies still have three corners, that hasn't changed a bit. Here, give me the soiled one." Assumpta takes the nappy into laundry, and drops it into the diaper pail, it only being wet, not "messy". She washes up in the laundry tub.

Connor, after his first clumsiness, has managed to get the clean diaper on the baby, assisted by the existence of the monumental improvement on the diaper pin, velcro!

"Well, Uncle Connor, looks like you remembered after all, but I think I had better take over for the feeding portion of the baby care this evening." Assumpta picks up the re-clad baby and goes to the settee to feed her. Connor washes his hand and goes out to the front room of the pub to pick up dirty dishes from tables, though the customer population is diminishing, now that supper is served and consumed, and only the customers still unwinding with a drink are still there and not gone home.

Peter sits down close beside Assumpta, who leans back against him, he in turn leaning back into the corner. He wraps his arms around his wife and daughter and leans his head over Assumpta's shoulder, watching in quiet happiness as his daughter nurses. He sighs.

"What, Peter?" Assumpta asks, hearing the soft sound.

"Jus' happy, 'Ssumpta. I wish I'd a known one of the teachers here in BallyK was goin' to retire, an' I'd have skipped a lot of interviews. Still, it surprises me sometimes, when I think of how everythin' sort of fell into place for us to move back here, back home. Folks are still a bit shocked, but the kids are great, an' most of the parents I've spoken with are willin' to accept me as a teacher, instead of a priest. The rest'll come round, as long as the kids do well. I'm workin' on some ways to make maths more interestin', an' startin' some science projects, too. D'ya think Maggie'd come to talk to the class about medicine? She an' Siobhan are a bit less scary than Michael Ryan, the kids won't be worryin' about jabs from the vets!" Peter is smiling, though Assumpta only guesses at his expression from his voice.

"I'm sure she'd be happy to, Peter, maybe she and Siobhan together, once the practice slows down for the fall, before lambing starts up in late winter. Connor could come and talk to them about aquaculture and global fisheries depletion, and the role climate change is having in oceanic change and fish populations." Assumpta switches Thea to the other side, and the baby settles right back into her rhythm.

"Aquaculture?" Peter asks. The term is familiar, but he is not certain he knows exactly what it means.

"Fish farming, mostly salmon here, I think." Assumpta answers. "You'll want to talk to Connor for details, so you can have lessons in advance. Probably ought to talk to Siobhan and Maggie, too, for the same reason."

"Say, just who's the teacher in the family?" Peter asks, mock indignation in his voice.

"Just remembering what it was like to be a student, dear. I was always wanting to know more." The baby is full, and is drifting off to sleep, so Assumpta sits up slowly and turns, handing Thea to Peter to hold while she gets her shirt buttoned up again. The baby doesn't stir, the smells of both her parents familiar and comforting, and the full tummy sending her off to sleep deeply.

"I wish all my students wanted more, love, some of 'em don't want to learn anythin' at all!" Peter hands the baby back to Assumpta, who is now standing. He then stands, and takes her back. "I'll take her upstairs and put her in her bed, an' take a nap, so I can come down and clear, when you an' Maggie come up, later." Assumpta puts a hand on his arm, stretches up, and kisses him on the cheek.

That's lovely, Peter, but you go to bed, we can finish up here. It really isn't that busy, and you've had a full day at the school." Assumpta leaves her hand on Peter's arm, and he bends to kiss her back. Just then, the back door of the kitchen opens, and a silver-haired man steps into the room. He reaches for the light switch, but stops himself, seeing Peter and Assumpta, with the baby, backlit by the lights of the pub out front.

"Sorry, I don't want to wake the baby. Let me put my notebook down, and I'll go out front and leave you two alone." James O'Connor sounds apologetic.

"No, Jim, I was just goin' upstairs with Thea, to put her down, an' Assumpta is goin' out front. Go ahead and turn on the lights." Peter heads out the door to the stairwell, and Assumpta goes back to the bar, so O'Connor does indeed turn on the lights, and sits at the table, organizing his notebook, and beginning to read the work that has been submitted for the week's lesson. Maggie comes into the kitchen from the front of the pub.

"So, Jimmy, did the class go well tonight?" Maggie sits down at the table beside O'Connor.

"Yeah, it did, mostly. When I was the pastor, I didn't have time to actually teach religious education classes, that was always the responsibility of lay youth ministers. Now, here I am, a lay youth minister! I'd forgotten the kind of questions children can ask, and they can't be fobbed off with sophistry, either. I'm wondering what Aidan's roped me into." O'Connor runs his hands through the thick silver mane, pushing it back from his face.

"Well, Jimmy, I was tempted to make 'lamb to the slaughter' similies when you offered to help, but I held my tongue. Really, I suspect a lot of the volunteers that used to teach or do other things around a parish are now all working outside the home, and just don't have the energy any more. And of course, with fewer and fewer nuns, as well as priests, the Church is getting short-handed. I guess it's only fair that I let them borrow you back a few hours a week, since I stole you away in the first place." Maggie smiles, and leans over to give O'Connor a peck on the cheek, then stands. "Back to the salt mines, Jimmy. Are you going up to bed soon, or do you have some energy left to lend a hand, so Orla and Connor can go home?"

"I can help, Mags, send the kids home, I know Connor must be exhausted, getting his boat ready for winter mooring, and Orla's been here all day, too." James closes the notebook and stands.

"Thanks, dear, you're right, Connor's dead on his feet." Maggie and James go out front, but Maggie steps back into the kitchen as James begins to clear, Assumpta manning the taps.

"So, Maggie, was I right, or was I right?" Connor Devlin smiles at the vet-turned-publican, as he puts on his overcoat. Orla is doing the same.

"You were right, Connor. I was sure he was gone for good, but he came back." Maggie opens the dishwasher, unloading and putting clean dishes in the cupboard, in preparation for loading another batch of dirty dishes coming in. "This place is turning into Grand Central Station, it's a good thing you two have your own house! When Peter and Assumpta have their second, or third, or fourth, Jimmy and I will be retiring to my crafter's cottage for a bit of peace and quiet!" Maggie hugs Orla and Connor. "Goodnight, dears, drive careful, it's started to rain, and it'll be slick."

The pair leave for home, and Maggie shuts the door behind them, and turns to go back up front, where Assumpta is polishing the bar. O'Connor has just finished loading a tray of dirty dishes, and he backs his way through the swinging door into the kitchen as Maggie circulates from table to table, making sure the customers have everything they want. Both women turn their heads as they hear footsteps on the stairs. Peter Clifford is descending, his coat and tie off, and sleeves rolled up.

"Thea's sound asleep, and now I'm wide awake, so I might as well help, or at least keep you company!" Peter looks around and sees no clearing needed, so he goes to sit in front of Assumpta as she stands behind the bar. "Where are Brendan an' Siobhan, d'ya suppose?"

"Home with Aisling and Padraig, I would think, Peter. It does seem odd, not to see them sitting down here at the end of the bar, but, as much as has stayed the same here, things have changed, too!" Assumpta leans forward to kiss Peter briefly. "I'd have never done that, a few years ago!" She smiles.

"I should say not!" Maggie comes back behind the bar, slipping behind Assumpta to go on into the kitchen. Opening the door, she sees James has gotten the washer loaded, so she steps back into the pub. "Things have changed even since I came here, Assumpta. Kathleen's off to England with Dermot, and her nephew is running the store. Vincent is the PP in Cilldargan, and Orla's brother is the curate here now. Iblis is back up at Danny Byrne's place, but there's a mare here in Ireland, and another in England, growing heavy in foal to him, and maybe more mares next spring, so he's not a grumpy old bachelor any more!"

"Who's calling me grumpy?" James comes out of the kitchen. Maggie chuckles, and Peter and Assumpta smile.

"You're not a bachelor, technically speaking, Jimmy." Maggie slips an arm around behind O'Connor's waist.

"And that's why I'm not grumpy!" O'Connor kisses Maggie on the cheek.

"Hey, no neckin' in the pub, you two!" Assumpta waggles a finger at her cousin and her cousin's fiancee'.

"Like you should talk," Maggie leans over to whisper. "It's almost the anniversary of the night you two did alot more than kiss and cuddle, and Thea's the proof of that."

"Hey, it is, isn't it?" Peter looks at his wife, then to her cousin. "Maggie, I still owe ya' a huge debt, helpin' Assumpta an' me meet back up, helpin' us get together again."

"I know, I know, I'm doomed to burn in Hell, I've lured *two* priests away from their priesthood!" Maggie shakes her head.

"Now, Mags, don't be so hard on yourself, I made my own choice to take the path I did, and so did Peter. If any fault is there, it's whatever ancestor you two share that gave you your looks. Angels would leave Heaven if they ever got a look at either of you!" O'Connor squeezes Maggie's waist as she stands beside him.

"Visited Blarney Castle on your way back from the States, did you? Lying will get you an adjoining cell to me in Hell, Jimmy, so be careful how thick you slather that stuff on!" Maggie chuckles, and drops a hand to swat O'Connor on the rump. Peter and Assumpta exchange a look, clearly saying "Oh, boy, there they go again!", but before their laughter boils over, Maggie cocks an ear. "Thea's waking up, Assumpta, why don't you and Peter go upstairs, we'll be all right here now." Several more customers have left for the evening, only a handful remain.

"Really?" Assumpta glances around the pub, and up and down the bar. "I'll just pick up what's ready before we go up, Maggie, and start the machine if it's full."

"Yes, really, go on, the both of you." Maggie makes shooing motions, and Peter goes to help Assumpta clear up, then the pair head into the kitchen.

"Mags, are you sure you don't need more help?" O'Connor sits on a bar stool.

"No, Jimmy, we'll be fine. We can sleep later than they do, because Peter has to get to the school. So Assumpta opens, and I close. Soon, the last of the tourists will be gone, and we'll all get plenty of sleep until next summer, when we'll be run ragged all over again. How are you holding up, Jimmy? Are you burning out, instead of enjoying your retirement?" Maggie picks up the towel Assumpta put down, and resumes wiping the bar down.

"I'm getting into the swing of it, Mags, and, as you say, things will be very slow any time now. Plenty of time to spend with you, as well as with the youngsters. Maybe even time to get married this winter, quietly, do you think?" O'Connor leans over the bar hopefully.

"Jimmy, you just won't give up, will you?" Maggie puts the towel down, and leans towards O'Connor.

"Nope!" He has a wide grin pasted from ear to ear.

"Well, I suppose I can't see the harm in it, not any more. Nothing fancy, mind, just the Registry office is all, Jimmy. Will you settle for that?" Maggie takes James' hands in hers.

"Yeah, I'll settle for that, so long as our friends are there. Do you want to try for the Spring, so Annie and Fritz can come over?" James kisses Maggie on the lips, just a light brush, and sits back down on his stool.

"Give them a call tomorrow, and talk about when they'd want to travel, Jimmy, and we'll make plans accordingly." Maggie lets go of O'Connor's hands, and goes to the taps to pull a pint, having seen a customer raise a hand for another drink.

"Sounds like a plan, Mags!" The silver-haired man stands up from the stool to head to the kitchen. Maggie tilts her head, she hears the rain starting in earnest, now, and knows that soon her customers will all go home, eager to avoid as much of a soaking as they can and still have time to dry off and warm up before going to bed once there. It has grown fully dark outside, the days are shortening again, from Mid-Summer towards Mid-Winter. The eternal circle of the seasons, year in and year out, rolls onwards. There have been storms and disturbances and things gone wrong in the past, but this autumn, in Ballykissangel, the wheel of the year is spinning smoothly and evenly, troubles ironed out. The river may roil again next Spring, Maggie thinks to herself, but for now, all's well. Time enough to worry about a trouble when it gets here, no sense in worrying ahead of time.

The rain falls steadily, the sky dark and soft as velvet, with nary a star to break it's smoothness, as night draws in, bringing peace and rest to the little village of Ballykissangel.


 THE END