BARBEQUE AT GLENRIDGE STATION RR PARTS:

"You sure you feel up to it, Darling?" Ahnna asked. It would be Alistair's first big community outing since the fire.

"I'll be fine," he smiled. "Haven't been to something this big since Ben and Liana's wedding. I'm really looking forward to seeing everybody again. I've really let what's been going on in the Glen slip out of my ken since...well, you know."

"You know I'll be watching you like a hawk, mister."

"I do know," he grinned.

"I hear Travis has got big fire pits. There'll be smoke."

"I'll keep my distance. Are you ready?"

She sighed, then returned his smile. How could she not? It was just that she'd never ever be able to take that smile of his for granted again. Now that he was so nearly well again, she realized more than ever that she was the one who'd been left with inner scarring from the mill fire. As he drove them to the Meridius' house, she was glad they'd decided to go together with Maximus and Joimus. Robin and Julie were coming, too. In fact, Robin was just opening Julie's car door as they arrived.

Maximus and Joimus, hearing the cars, had come out their door and were now at the gate. Joimus watched how Ahnna kept her eyes
continuously on Alistair. "She's not gotten past almost losing him," she murmured to Maximus.

"I have not gotten past almost losing you during the flood," he whispered back.

"Yes, but you don't look at me like you think I'm going to expire any second. Not anymore."

"You won't do that, will you?"

"Expire? I shall certainly try my utmost not to do so. Just for you," she added, sliding her arm through his.

"I'm not so sure about this," Robin was saying quietly to Julie. "You know almost all the local residents are expected to be there."

"We've been outed, Robin," Julie replied, "you and your heroic rescue managed to accomplish that quite nicely."

"It wasn't heroic, Julie. It was something that needed doing and I was the only one there to do it."

Her lips twitched. She wasn't about to argue heroism with him. Let him toss it off lightly if he wanted. She knew better. "Ah," she whispered, as he handed her out of the car, "and what needed doing seems to have arrived now, too." She turned to face Alistair and Ahnna as they approached. "Good to see you again." She actually meant it. She liked the newly-wed couple. If her Robin had to go and risk his life to save someone, she was glad it had been Alistair.

After the greetings, they all piled into Joimus' station wagon with its three rows of seats. "It is not far," Maximus explained as he drove.
"Travis' station adjoins ours. By horseback, it is even shorter between our houses, but the road takes us a bit more round about."

Checked through the security at the gate, Maximus found a spot where the station wagon would be under the shade of a large tree. He knew how Joimus disliked getting into a hot car when it was time to leave. He saw Travis speaking with Richie and waited for them to finish. There was a certain tenseness between the two men. He didn't know what it was about, but going by Travis' expression, he could tell it was serious. Hopefully it was just some legal matter.

Travis saw the General and his party arrive and grateful for the distraction he walked over to welcome them to Glenridge.

“Hey General Meridius welcome to Glenridge, you’ll have to introduce me around,” Travis smiled at his party.

"My wife, Joimus," Maximus said, his arm around her. "You'll have seen each other at public functions, I am sure. And I think you know Alistair and his wife, Ahnna." He paused, smiling slightly at Robin, aware of his discomfiture. "And this is Robin Loxley and his lady, Julianna St. John."

“I’m pleased to meet you all, Alistair glad to see you out again. Travis looked at Robin trying to recall, “I believe you’re a local hero, you did save this man’s life?”

Robin rubbed his palms up and down his thighs a couple of times, casting a sideways glance under his lashes at Julie to his right. This was why he hadn't really wanted to come. The whole 'hero' bit was not his cup of tea.

Alistair, very aware of Robin's hesitation, spoke up to spare him having to. "He did, indeed. He has my gratitude," he grinned at Robin, "thankfully my undying gratitude. And it's good to see you again, Travis."

Julie smiled to herself. Probably everyone Robin met today would make some similar comment to what Travis had said. "Gird your loins," she whispered, leaning close to his ear.

He lowered his lids more, put his mouth to her ear and murmured, "I can think of things I'd rather my loins were doing than being girded."

"Later," she chuckled. "Right now there's a half a cow with your name on it."
 

“Please make yourself at home here today, there’s a well stocked bar and also lemonade and soft drinks so drink your pleasure, and indeed there is a half a cow with your name on it,” Travis winked at Robin. “I hope you will all enjoy yourselves and if you need anything let me know.”

Robin took Julie's elbow, steering her in a roundabout way past the edges of clumps of conversing people toward the main barbeque pit. "I don't suppose he's serving deer testicles in sweet and sour sauce," he commented softly.

Pressing her lips together, she turned her head to look up at him. "You...didn’t' t."

"Of course. Quite delicious."

"One hesitates to ask what else."

"Pig stomachs stuffed with ginger and stuck with nuts," he smiled pleasantly, "or baked salmon belly in sugar."

"I think I'll stick with half a cow."

"Such a barbarian," he grinned. "Totally uncivilized. "

Ian standing by the fire pit looked up, “You pick it out sir and we’ll grill it to your liking, all cuts are over here ready to go on the fire,” he indicated a large cooler where various cuts of meat were laid out.

Julie looked over the cuts then back at Ian. "Do you have anything...small? "

"Small?" Robin interjected.  "When  a cow's been halved, there isn't all that much that's small,  my la...Julie."

She grinned now herself, batting her lashes at him. "I understand, my dear sir, that you know little of the ways of, um, small things, but still my appetite for devouring hoofed beasts is not all that...large. "

"Ribs," Robin said to Ian. "Cook the lady a nice slab of ribs."  He turned back to her. "I'll help if you're not up to the task of it."

Her lips were twitching. "I'd best not reply to that, my liege, in less than privacy."

“Ribs it is mate,” Ian hefted a slab of ribs out of the cooler and laid them on the grill, “I’ll send one of the boys to find you when they’re ready.”

"Shall we go find the General again?" Julie asked.

Robin extended his arm for her to take. It was habit for him and her presence did nothing that encouraged him to want to break it. He liked the feel of her arm through his. "Certes, I see him yon," he said.

"Yon? Are you regressing, Robin?"

"It must be the smell of cooking animal flesh," he grinned. "Brings out the primal male of olde in me."

"I thought I did that."

"Oh, you do...and you shall. Let me sate myself with beef and then I shall be ready to..."

"You are ready now, Robin, are you not?"

"Always," he murmured close to her ear, "but for the nonce we find ourselves here amongst the populace and so but one kind of satedness may be attended to."

"Then back to the greensward?"

"Yes...back."

"How long does it take to cook ribs?" she asked.

"Too long."

*********************

Sid handed Katherine out of the silver convertible, which he'd parked off by itself, not wanting any of these clods to open the doors of their vehicular transportations and scratch his paint. His eyes searched out Travis since he was the official host of this quaint food fest and he headed in that direction. His concession to the lowbrow nature of the event was that instead of an Armani suit coat, he wore simply his Armani slacks and a silk shirt in a pale heather color, which he'd left unbuttoned at the neck so the well-molded curve of his upper chest showed clearly.

Noting Bridgid and her well-barnacled seadog not far from Travis, he raised his voice in his greeting to their host. "I figured you needed the future mayor of the village in attendance today, Turvid," he smiled benignly, still holding Katherine's arm through his.

Travis lifted his chin slightly, “Travis McGee, I don’t believe we’ve met,” he smiled and extended his hand.

"Sidney Harbor," Sid replied, taking Travis' hand in what was probably an over-firm grip, "and this perfection of the female form you see at my side is Katherine Harbor, my wife."

“How nice to meet you,” directed at Kate, “I understand you’re running for Mayor also.” He never understood the need for crushing handshakes what was this guy trying to prove?

"Nice to meet you, Travis," Kate replied, smiling warmly. As Sid had instructed, she was being as polite to everyone here at the party as she could. No need to piss off potential voters, after all. Even if they were all beneath them.

Sid withdrew his hand. How easy it was to forget how weak these mere humans were, how frail their flesh. "Yes," he smiled, glancing over at the portly Captain, "can't have an octopus salesman as mayor of our fair burg, now can we?"

 “I hope you will enjoy yourselves here today, there’s a full bar and good beef on the grill. Please make your selves at home.” Travis maintained the friendly smile as he turned and walked away.

"Thank you," Kate replied, "I'm sure we will." Though, the thought of eating grilled beef was causing Kate to turn three shades of green, due to her current condition. She attempted to smile, but instead ended up covering her mouth and trying to breath in the smell of charred animal flesh wafting through the air all around her.

"You do not seem to be functioning correctly," Sid commented, looking down at his wife.

Just then Alistair and Ahnna walked by on their way to the fire pit to join Robin and Julie. Alistair paused, gently resting his hand on Kate's shoulder. "Are you not feeling well, Katherine?"  He was aware of this most different couple in the Glen, though Maximus had told him nothing really about Sid other than that there was some past history of bad feelings between them. Katherine looked like she were in distress, though, and that was all that mattered to him.  "Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Don't think the baby likes the smell of BBQ, I'm afraid," Kate replied, attempting to smile, as she clutched Sid's hand. "Maybe a glass of water?"

"Ah!" Alistair smiled broadly. "Well, then, I think what you need most of all is to stop standing downwind from the fire pit."  They were right beside the coolers and Alistair opened a lid, closed it because it was beer, opened another and found bottled water, loosening the cap and handing it to Katherine.  "Why don't we move over there into the shade of that eucalypt?"  He looked at Sid. "If that's all right with you, of course."
 

Sid was also very aware of who Alistair was, the town goody-goody who'd almost been barbecued himself not long ago. "It is fine with me. I imagine you're not all that fond of the smoke yourself."
 

Alistair let that pass, maintaining his smile. "I don't believe you've met my wife." He turned, smiling down with great fondness. "Ahnna, this is Sid, who is running for mayor, and his wife, Katherine."
 

"Hello," Ahnna said shyly, not comfortable with Sid's manner. She turned her attention to Katherine. "A baby? How exciting."  Her eyes then wandered back to Alistair's profile as she imagined what his child would be like.

"Yes, it is very exciting," Kate replied, barely able to contain her joy, as she sipped the cool water Alistair had given her. "I can hardly believe I'm actually going to be a mother. Sid and I are so happy over this blessed surprise," she turned to Sid, "aren't we, darling?"

Sid blinked as though turning some switch deep inside himself. He'd just recognized Colin and his little entourage getting out of their car. "Happy? Why, yes, of course we're happy. What news could possibly be better?"  The purchase of Queensland, perhaps. Yes, that would be better. 

Alistair's eyes followed where Sid was gazing intently. He wondered just what made the man's eyes suddenly gleam so brightly in anticipation. It didn't seem to be to him the anticipation of someone intending to greet a good friend. No, it reminded him more of a cat that's just cornered a mouse in the pantry. A cat not hungry for food but for...pleasure. No, he'd wait and see. It wasn't his place to judge Sid's motives on such short acquaintance. 

*****************************

Colin, never being one to turn down the offer of free beer and food, grabbed his crutches and was out the door in a flash (well, as much of a flash that someone with a broken ankle can be, anyway). He'd been sitting alone in his big house, feeling sorry for himself for the past few days and now he was ready to have some fun - broken or not.

They pulled into a parking space and walked up to the crowd that had already gathered, looking around for anyone they knew.

Sid saw the mechanic leaning on his cripplesticks, surveying the crowd. The eucalypt Alistair was steering them toward was conveniently nearby. Deliberately he paused and lay his palm in a curve over Katherine's belly in a way that a man has of saying without words, "This is MINE! I did this! Behold the fertility of my seed!"  He knew even someone with the limited mental capacity of the retard Aussie would understand that.

Colin's smile suddenly faded as he saw Sid with his hand placed over Kate's belly. The bastard was actually gloating, taunting him!

"Motherfucker, " Colin cursed under his breath, as he stood locking eyes with Sid.

"Wha..?" Alex began, then saw what Colin was staring at. "Oh. Oh...shit. Colin, he's not worth it. We're here to have fun, let it go."

"Besides, you've already got one broken leg, Colin," Arthur reminded him, handing him a VB.

Colin, however, wasn't listening. He popped open his VB, took a swig, then made his way over to the group before Alex and Arthur could stop him.

"Kate," he said, interrupting their conversation with Ahnna and Alistair. "I see congratulations are in order?"

"Why, yes, they are," Sid said smoothly. "My beauteous bride has proven most fruitful. Haven't you, darling?" He moved his hand, now caressing her face. "Of course, constant sex tends to lead to fruitfulness," he purred, batting his eyelids innocently.

Kate smiled and blushed, wrapping her arms around Sid's waist. "Thanks, Colin," she replied, then looked down at his cast, wondering if she should mention to him what she'd heard about his 'fall'.

Colin didn't take his eyes off Sid, however, only barely hearing what Kate had said. He nodded, his teeth and fists clenched, momentarily forgetting about his current condition.

All right, that was enough. Electricity almost crackled visibly in the air between Sid and Colin. Alistair stepped forward, putting himself between the two men.

"I'm so sorry I didn't make it into the hospital to visit you, Colin.  I truly wanted to but I've been a bit slow on the uptake for a while now and haven't been upto par on my visiting. It's so good to see you out and about, though. I know how that feels."  He lay his hand on Colin's forearm, a gesture he frequently seemed to use though he didn't really stop and think of it as a method of letting the peace flow out of him into someone else. It tended to have that result more often than not, however.  "I know it's hard to balance a plate and use crutches at the same time. Why don't I walk with you and together we can see what you might like to eat?"

Colin blinked, unclenched his fists. Was someone talking to him? He turned, saw Alistair's friendly smile. Taking a deep breath, he relaxed, looking around the group, nodded to Alistair, casting one last look at Sid and Kate as he turned to walk away.

Alex and Arthur, who had been watching at a distance, let out a sigh of relief as they saw their friend being led away from the group.

Maximus joined them, having witnessed the encounter. Joimus had gone on to be with Ahnna despite Sid's presence. "You are managing well with the crutches, Colin," Maximus commented. "I used them for quite a while myself back in England not long before we moved here."  His eyes flickered back to Sid and he frowned slightly at the smile curving the nanotech's lips.

"I'm managing, not too sure how well, though," Colin replied quietly, still steaming a bit from his encounter with Sid. He couldn't help but note the look Maximus had cast Sid and realized there must not be any love lost between the two of them, either.
 

*****************************

"Ahnna," Joimus said, ignoring Sid, "would you like to come on with me where Alistair and Maximus are headed?"

"This is Katherine, Joimus," Ahnna smiled, gesturing toward the young woman she'd just met. "She's having a baby. Isn't that wonderful?"

Joimus stared at Sid, knowing full well he had nothing like natural male seed. Still, she didn't speak to him, but managed a small smile for Kate.

"Congratulations, " she said, wondering how the woman could possibly believe Sid was the father. "I hope it's everything you've always dreamed."

It was, indeed awkward to find something to say with Sid looking at her, knowing she knew.  He would also count on her being civilized. Someday, though....

"Thanks, Joimus," Kate replied, smiling ear-to-ear. "It's even more wonderful than I could have ever imagined, being married to such a loving and generous man, and now carrying his child." She smiled up at Sid. "You live just over the hill from us, I believe, don't you Maybe you and your husband would like to stop by some time for a visit?"

Joimus licked her lip, trying to think how best to answer Kate's innocent invitation without offering offense. A quick glance at Sid told her he was waiting to see what she'd say. Hmmmm? Maximus would never enter Sid's doorway and Sid knew that. "Why don't you and Ahnna come by the greenhouse some time and pick out flowers? I know there are none in your yard, of course, but perhaps some, um, tiger lilies," her glance tracked to Maximus, "inside might be nice. Or," she looked up at Sid, "maybe babies' breath? That might work out nicely."  She blew out a breath of relief, hoping Kate had been sidetracked from her invitation.

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Kate replied, brightly. "I'm not much of a gardener, killed more plants than I can count, actually. Maybe you could give me some tips?" She looked up at Sid, thought a moment, then added, "if it's okay with you, Sid, that is."
 

"If you wish to play amongst the vegetation? It's fine with me. I have nothing against greenery."

"Good," Joimus smiled, with no good will behind it. "My greenhouse happens to be called The Greenery." She paused, locked eyes with him. "Katherine is always welcome there." 

"Am I not?"

"Why, Sid, you know exactly how I feel about that."

"Is that why the good General keeps a pike so close to the doorway?"

"For heads?" She chuckled mirthlessly. "Come now, Mr. Harbor, why ever would you think such a thing?" She couldn't help but notice that both Kate and Ahnna were listening to them with widened eyes.  "Why General Meridius hasn't had call for piking a head since we've been in the Glen. Not yet."

"Such restraint," Sid grinned.

"And should be appreciated, " she added.

"Joimus!" It was Maximus, come part way back toward his wife and signaling her to join him.

Joimus took Ahnna's arm, leading her with her away from Sid. "You know that man?" Ahnna asked in almost a whisper.

"I'm afraid so," Joimus replied, pausing and letting go of Ahnna's hand as she closed her eyes and ran both hands through her own hair.

Maximus was there beside her instantly. "He did not...?"

"No, darling, it's all right. He was just being himself. It's been a while, you know, and he rather washed over me like some evil black tide."

Maximus took a step toward Sid but Joimus grasped his arm. "No. Not here. He would enjoy it. Don't give him that."

He stopped, nostrils flaring, and glared at Sid several yards away. "You are right," he agreed. "I shall not permit him even so small a victory."

After they walked away out of earshot, Kate turned to her husband and asked, "Sid, what do the Meridiuses have against you? Why would you not be welcome at their home?" She was concerned that maybe she shouldn't keep company with someone, no matter how nice she had seemed, if they did in fact loathe her husband for some strange reason.

"Oh," he shrugged, "nothing much. Nothing important anyway. I've known them for some years. We just have different opinions about a lot of things. Don't worry your pretty head about it.  It's all right for you to go to the Greenery."  He knew Joimus, knew she wouldn't blab unless absolutely forced into a corner.

Kate relaxed a bit upon hearing this, laid her head on Sid's broad shoulder. "Oh good, I was worried for a minute there, seeing how they are neighbors of ours and all. Still, I can't understand why anyone would find you anything but completely charming, the way I do, darling."

Sid smiled, watching Maximus' back as he walked away. "You're a good wife, Katherine." 

Kate smiled, kissed him on the cheek, then, with an eyebrow raised, teased, "And later I'll show you just how good a wife I am, too."

***************************

Thinking she should meet all the other candidates, Liana had so far spoken to Maximus Meridius, Jack Aubrey, and Arthur. She was unsure about speaking to Richie Roberts right now, after what Toni had told her. Looking to put off talking to him, she walked up to Sid Harbor and his wife, Kate.

"How nice to see you two here." She was being pleasant, despite her reservations about Sid. Ben did not like him and that was reason enough for Liana not to like him as well, but she felt she should give Kate the benefit of the doubt

"G'day, Liana," Kate replied, brightly. "Good to see you, too. How was the honeymoon?"

"Oh, it was wonderful!" Liana was enthusiastic, but she blushed a little. "And I'm pregnant," she burst out. "Three months!"

"Congratulations! " Kate exclaimed, enthusiastically. "Guess that's something we have in common then; I'm nearly 3 months along, myself. Sid and I couldn't be happier." She beamed up at Sid, who managed a slight smile and nod of his head.

"Glad to hear you're happy there, Mr. Harbor," drawled Ben, coming up to Liana and putting a protective arm around her as he eyed Sid.  Ben didn't like that man being anywhere around Liana. "Hopin' for a son, are you?  A chip off the old block?" 

Sid's lips twitched at Ben's use of the word 'chip'. "Mr. Weed," he acknowledged, then turned and placed his hand on Katherine's middle again. "I don't waste my time with, how would you put it, 'druthers'. Whatever Katherine produces in her womb will be sufficient." He smiled at Katherine, somehow not in the mood to converse with the man. "Come," he said, "let's go feed the bairn."  With that he turned his back on the Wades and guided his wife toward the long tables groaning with food. It all looked disgusting to him, but he knew women needed fuel for gestational purposes.

Ben gave a knowing grin at Sid's dismissal, as he watched the two head toward the buffet.  "Guess he's not after my vote for mayor," he drawled to Liana.  Sid might be off to feed his wife and the unborn child, but he wouldn't eat anything himself.  Ben had already noted that fact from seeing the man several times at the restaurant and at his and Liana's wedding reception. It  was one of the things that made him positive that Sid Harbor had something about himself to hide, and determined that he'd find out what it was.

Liana, though, had hoped to ask Katherine to go baby shopping with her sometime.  She made a mental note to herself to call the other woman soon after the barbecue.

**********************