Trixie pushed her hair back off her forehead. She stood at the sink chopping vegetables for their annual Thanksgiving open house. The kitchen was unusually warm from the oven being on continuously with the turkeys, pies and dressing.

It was the day before the holiday and they were down to the last minute preparations. Honey worked beside her on the last of the pies, this one an apple. She had volunteered to help them get ready, stating that she had nothing better to do anyway. Trixie knew better. She knew Honey wanted to be at the farm when Brian got home.

Not that Trixie blamed her. She was waiting for a certain red head herself. The girls hadn’t seen their boyfriends since they left for Harvard at the end of August.

The school year had started out busy and neither she nor Jim had been able to go to visit the other. College for the girls had proven challenging. They were not only experiencing college life, but it was the first time they had lived on their own.

Honey, Trixie and Diana had moved into the Wheeler’s penthouse apartment after Matt Wheeler had generously offered it. He had made it sound like the girls would be doing him a favor as he and Maddie never went to stay there anymore. They paid him rent, although they knew the amount he charged them was nothing compared to what rentals went for in the city.

Diana had come home too, but had left earlier than they had. She was at her house with her family. The Lynch’s were expected for the party the next day.

Mart and Dan were arriving home that day. They went to NYU also, and lived in the dorms. Mart had waited for Dan, because he had a late exam.

Helen Belden moved to the oven and pulled out the last of the turkeys. She set it next to the platter that she was going to slice and put the turkey on.

Reddy, their now elderly Irish Setter was somewhat more subdued, but just as much of a rascal. He barked and Helen looked up from slicing the turkey.

“I wonder who that is.” She glanced at the clock over the door as she dried her hands on a towel.

The girls quickly washed their hands and followed her to the door, hoping it was Jim and Brian.

“Hello Mart, Dan. How was your drive?”

Honey and Trixie were visibly disappointed, and walked back into the kitchen.

Mart kissed his mother and grabbed his bag from the trunk of Dan’s car. Dan got out and walked into the house.

“It’s only you.” Trixie frowned.

“Good to see you too.” Dan said with a grin.

“Oh, that’s not what I meant. It’s just I was expecting you to be someone else.” Trixie tried to reassure him.

Dan shook his head and waved his hand.

“Don’t worry about it. I know what you meant. I’m sorry I’m not a redhead.” He grinned.

Honey put her pie into the oven and turned around.

“We get to see you a lot. We don’t have time to miss you.”

“Yeah, we know! Remember we’ve been there listening to you two on the phone and watching you type frantically to send them emails.” Mart said.

“What time are they supposed to get here, anyway?” Dan asked.

“About half an hour ago.” Trixie said, rinsing the last of the vegetables.

“Maybe traffic was tight. You know it’s the day before a major holiday.”

“Yes I know. It doesn’t make the waiting any easier.”

“Well-" Mart started, but was cut off when Reddy barked again.

Trixie and Honey both screamed and wiped their hands off on a towel running for the door.

Trixie pushed the door open and stepped out into the chilly November air without a jacket. Jim and Brian were getting out of Jim’s car.

Honey was right behind her and rushed to Brian, hugging him close. Trixie ran to Jim and leapt into his waiting arms.

Jim buried his face into the crook of her neck. He sighed in contentment.

Trixie wrapped her arms around his neck, and hung on when he lifted her feet from the ground.

“Finally home.” He said into her ear.

“I missed you. so much.” Trixie kissed his cheeks and then his lips.

Brian and Honey were in a similar embrace and the group as a whole was oblivious to each other.

A clearing of a throat brought them all around. Dan and Mart stood on the porch smiling.

“Hi guys! How was your trip? How was traffic? We just got here, thanks for asking.” Mart grinned.

Jim let Trixie slide to the ground and instantly noticed she didn’t have a jacket. He took his off and put it around her shoulders. Trixie smiled her thanks, and they all turned to go into the house. Brian stopping long enough to grab his bag.

Helen had some hot apple cider and a plate of cookies waiting for them inside.

She greeted her eldest son with a hug and kiss on the cheek, and motioned for them to all be seated. She left the tray on the table and said she had more work to do in the other room.

The first half hour was spent exchanging news on the other’s life. Finally, Dan said he had to get going. Regan was expecting him.

Mart stood up, “I have to let Di know I’m home.”

He left to make his call upstairs, leaving the two couples alone again.

“I don’t know what is up with him and Di. She hasn’t spoken to him all week.” Trixie said frowning.

“Trouble in paradise?” Brian asked.

“I’m not sure. Di’s not talking.” Honey said.

Jim leaned over to speak softly into Trixie’s ear.

“I can’t wait to be alone with you. When can you get away?”

Trixie looked back to see if her mother was around, then said, “We made pretty good progress today, I think I can get away later after dinner.”

Honey’s head shot up. She had heard Trixie’s response.

“Oops, I forgot to ask you to come to dinner tonight at our house. Miss Trask said your mother had enough to do, and thought we could have dinner up at the Manor House.”

“Oh, I’m sure that’s fine. Moms hasn’t started our dinner anyway.”

Helen came into the kitchen and agreed that they could go to Honey and Jim’s for dinner.

“That will take a load off me, be sure to thank Miss Trask for her thoughtfulness. I can have your father get some take out for the two of us, and Bobby is already staying with Larry and Terry tonight. In fact you girls did so much today, that you can go now if you’d like.”

Trixie jumped up to kiss her mother. “Thanks Moms. I’ll pick up my mess from the veggies, and we can go.”

Jim followed Trixie, telling Brian and Honey to go on up to the Manor House if they wanted. He and Trixie would be up soon.

Trixie went into the kitchen and started to wipe off the counters and dump the vegetable waste into the trash. Jim came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

“Did I tell you I missed you?” Jim said into her ear.

Trixie leaned back into his body, and said, “You can tell me that as much as you want.”

She turned her head to kiss him and then reluctantly pulled away to finish cleaning up.

In no time, they were in Jim’s car driving up the hill.

“Do you think we’ll get snow?” Trixie asked.

“They’re calling for 3-6 inches tonight and tomorrow.”

“I know. Remember when Tom and Celia got married? It snowed then too.”

Jim smiled at her as he put the car into park. He turned in his seat to face her.

“I remember something else about that weekend.”

“What?” she asked looking at him.

“I seem to remember a certain blonde, blue eyed creature nearly giving me a heart attack when she pretended to love Ben.”

“Oh that.” Trixie said, trying not to laugh.

“Oh that? Your ‘yen for Ben’ almost did me in.”

“Baby, you weren’t that done in, because you still told him you wouldn’t get yourself engaged to someone as dumb as me.” Trixie wrinkled her nose and stuck her tongue out.

“Give me a break, please. I was 15 and the girl I’d had my eye on just put me through hell. I thought I’d lost you, and not only that, but I lost you to Ben!” Jim’s face showed the horror that thought still had on him.

“And you still took your sweet time making a move.” She reminded him.

“I know, I was so stupid.”

“Never stupid! You were just careful.”

“Does that mean slow?” Jim quirked his eyebrow.

“Interpret that as you will. But, no matter how long it took us to get together, I’m so glad we did.” Trixie grinned and slid closer to him to kiss him. She kissed him tenderly at first, then, they got more passionate.

A knock on the car window doused the flames. Jim whipped around and saw Mart and Di peering in. Trixie giggled and hid her face in Jim’s shoulder for a minute.

“Come on. I’m sure we won’t hear the end of this one.” Jim patted her knee and opened his car door. Trixie slid across the seat to get out on his side too.

“Hi Trixie. I’m sorry, I told him we should just keep walking and leave you two alone.”

“That’s ok Di. We were heading inside soon anyway.” Trixie reassured her.

Neither Jim nor Trixie missed the glare Di sent Mart’s way. His cheeks were red, but he didn’t say anything. The four of them walked into the house. Mart held the door for everyone. When Trixie went past him, he whispered. “Sorry Trix.”

Trixie looked up in surprise at him. “That’s ok, really.”

Diana had kept walking into the house. Celia greeted them and informed them that the rest of the Bob whites were in the family room.

Diana hurried ahead, leaving Mart to walk with Jim and Trixie.

Trixie looked at Jim and raised her brows in a question. Jim shrugged and shook his head.

Honey, Brian and Dan were all seated in the family room.

“It’s about time you all got here.” Honey said.

“So, what are we all doing?” Trixie asked.

Di had sat down on the loveseat with Dan. That left Mart to take a seat in the chair on the opposite side of the room.

“Dinner will be ready soon, so we can hang out here until then. After dinner, we can go into the game room, maybe shoot pool or darts or something.” Honey said while looking at Di and Mart. Frowning she turned to Trixie, and Trixie shrugged.

Jim was the perfect host and made sure everyone had a soda before Celia called them into dinner.

They sat down at the table and were surprised to see the Wheeler’s weren’t there.

“Mother and Daddy are coming home late tonight. Dad’s business took longer than expected.” Honey explained.

Dinner was a ruckus affair. Everyone talking at once. Celia brought in their dinner of burgers, with all the fixings, and home made fries and left them on their own.

Miss Trask stopped to tell them she was going out and to enjoy their evening.

After dinner , they got up from the table and went to the game room. On the way, Trixie pulled Honey closer.

“What’s up with Mart and Di? They had a great relationship, and suddenly they don’t?”

“I noticed too. She’s paying more attention to Dan than Mart. And Mart is very quiet.”

“I’m going to find out what’s up.”

Trixie followed the group to the game room and watched for a moment she could catch Mart alone. Jim and Brian played Dan and Mart in pool first. Diana and Honey were going to take on the winner, which turned out to be Jim and Brian.

When their game had ended, Mart stole out the sliding door and stood outside on the patio. Trixie followed, noting the snow had begun to fall lightly.

“Mart? Why are you out here?”

Mart was startled, and he turned to face his sister.

“I just needed some air.”

“Is everything ok? I mean, with you and Di?”

Mart took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

“I don’t know.” He sighed.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I don’t know. Everything was fine,Trix. Then about a week ago, she started acting strange. We didn’t even have a fight.”

“But why?”

“I wish I knew. She’s acting mad at me and I don’t know what I did.”

“She’s been quiet at our place, but nothing else seemed out of the ordinary. She came home earlier than Honey and I, though. Is something happening at home?”

“She says nothing happened, nothing is wrong. She brushed me off when I tried to talk about it. And then it was time to come here. She came with me, but she hasn’t spent any time with me or talked to me.”

“We noticed. I wonder what’s up.”

Mart sighed and shook his head.

“She won’t discuss it with me.”

“Maybe she’ll talk to Honey or I.”

“I hope she does, maybe it will help.”

They returned to the house to find that Di had left and asked Dan for a ride. Mart decided to leave then and he walked out of the room before anyone could say a word.

“What is going on?” Honey asked.

Trixie told them everything Mart had said to her while outside.

“And he has no clue why she is upset with him?” Brian asked.

“He says no. He says everything was fine until a week ago.” Trixie said.

“I have to say, I think she was fine at the apartment. She came home earlier than we did, though. She was home this morning, and we came in the afternoon. She didn’t want to wait for us.” Honey added.

“Maybe she has a problem at home.” Jim said

“Maybe, but she seems to be taking it out on Mart.” Trixie said.

“Well, we can’t do anything about it tonight. Tomorrow’s a busy day. Let’s say we call it a night.” Brian said.

Trixie nodded. Jim walked her back to the farm. The snow was still light.

“It feels so good to hold you and touch you again.” Jim said, stopping and pulling her close.

“I missed you Jim.” Trixie stood on her toes to kiss him.

They stood in each other’s arms for just a minute more when they heard Brian walking down the path. He coughed to make his presence known, and walked past them with a grin.

“That’s my cue to go in.” Trixie laughed.

“Good night, sweetheart. I love you.” Jim kissed her one last time before turning to walk back home.

Trixie entered the kitchen and there was a light burning over the sink. Clicking it off, she went up stairs. The situation with Mart and Di weighed on her mind.

By the next morning, the ground was covered with 3 inches of white snow. Brian and Mart had to go outside after breakfast and start the clean up so it would be ready when the Open House started at 3pm. Trixie busied herself helping her mother until it was time to get dressed. She hadn’t had time the whole day to contemplate the possibilities of Di’s problem.

Trixie was reminded of Diana’s ‘problem’ when the Lynch family arrived. Diana was markedly cool towards Mart yet again. She stayed away from him as much as possible, and either visited with her family or Miss Trask and Regan.

Trixie helped her family with the food and clearing of dirty dishes. Jim helped her and Honey floated around, pitching in a hand where needed. Mart and Brian were tied up parking cars.

Finally, the major part of the crowd had eaten and Trixie and Jim were sent to find the others to tell them they could come in and eat. Jim went for the guys, and found Dan helping them too. Trixie got Honey and they decided to talk to Di.

But, they couldn’t find her. They knew she had been there and her family was still here.

“Let’s check upstairs.” Trixie said, leading the way.

Trixie pushed her bedroom door open, and Di was sitting on her bed.

“Di, are you alright?” she asked.

Honey followed her into the room, and sat on one side of Di, Trixie on the other.

Diana had been sitting there, staring into space, but now with her friends’ concern, she buried her face into her hands and sobbed.

Trixie and Honey exchanged glances over her head.

“Di, what is it? What’s wrong?” Trixie asked.

“Can’t you tell us? Maybe we can help you.”

Di looked up, her makeup streaking with her tears. She shook her head and took a hiccupping breath.

“No, y- you can’t help. T- This is my problem.”

Honey rubbed her back and spoke quietly.

“Maybe we can’t help, but we’ll listen. You are so upset, it will be good to talk about it, won’t it?”

“I- I don’t know.” Di wiped her face with the tissues that Trixie pressed into her hand.

She looked up at her two best friends, whose faces showed their concern.

“It’s- It’s all my fault!” the tears were threatening to start again.

“What is your fault?” Trixie asked.

Diana got up and walked to the other bed and retrieved her purse. Opening it, she took something out. Turning, she held out her hand and both the other girls looked to see what she held. Both Trixie and Honey’s eyes were saucers as they looked from the object in Di’s hand back up to Di’s face.

“Is- Is that what I think it is?” Honey asked, her face paling.

Diana wordlessly nodded.

Trixie stared in shock. “You think you’re pregnant?”

Di again nodded, tears streaming down her face.

The other two girls stood and wrapped their arms around her and they all cried together. After a few minutes of group crying, they reached for the tissue box next to the bed and wiped their tears.

“Is this why you’re mad at Mart?” Trixie asked.

“I’m not mad at him.” Di answered.

“Well, you give a good impression of it then. What happened, did he get mad when you told him? I know how guys can be, but, Di! I didn’t even know you two had moved that far.”

“It only happened once. And, I haven’t told Mart yet.”

“Haven’t told him?! Oh Di, he needs to know.” Trixie looked to Honey for support.

“Di, I agree with Trixie, he needs to know.”

“But, I told you, it’s all my fault. I- I went on the pill, when we were getting closer to- you know- it.”

“That’s good.” Honey encouraged.

“Yeah, but not when you forget to take them. I missed a couple right around the time when we did it.”

She hid her face in her hands again and Trixie and Honey patted her back.

“Di, you should tell Mart. He’ll understand.” Honey said.

“I don’t want him to think he’d trapped. That he has to stay with me because I’m pregnant.”

“And you pushed him away in your efforts not to make him think he’s trapped?” Trixie asked.

Di nodded.

The girls sat in silence and then Trixie spoke up.

“Di, that test you have in your hand is sealed. You haven’t taken a test yet?”

“No, I was afraid to.”

“Well, then, take it, you might not have any worries at all.” Honey said.

Diana knew she was right. Until this moment she had been afraid to find out if she was or not. If she was, well, she wasn’t sure how she would handle it. Then there was Mart and their families to think about.

Di slowly walked toward the door intent on going to the bathroom. She shut the door behind her and Honey and Trixie looked at each other.

“Oh my goodness!!!” Honey exclaimed.

“I know! I never thought- this!”

“Ok, let’s just wait for the results, then we’ll know our plan of action.” Honey said reasonably.

A few minutes later Di was back. Her face was still tear streaked so they couldn’t tell by looking at her what the results were.

“Well?” Trixie asked impatiently, tapping her foot and wringing her hands.

Diana walked to her bed and sat down.

“I’m - I’m not pregnant.”

“Oh thank god!” Trixie and Honey exclaimed at once.

Di lay back on the bed suddenly exhausted. She sighed a great sigh of relief. The she nervously giggled.

“I have to talk to Mart.”

“Yes, you do!”

The girls went to the mirror and fixed their faces, and made themselves presentable again for the guests down stairs. The trio went down and searched out their boyfriends. They found them in the kitchen. They had just finished eating.

“Sorry girls, we tried to wait for you, but we were starved.” Dan apologized.

Jim stood to hold Trixie’s chair for her, but she took his hand and silently led him into the den. He frowned. She might have tried to cover it with makeup but he could tell she had been crying. She moved them both into the den then shut the door behind them, pushing Jim back against the closed door. Trixie grabbed his head and brought it down to receive her kiss. It was a forceful kiss, which left Jim surprised.

“I loved that kiss- but is something wrong?” He asked.

“I love you James Winthrop Frayne II!!! Nothing is wrong, it’s right.”

“I love you too.” His thumb came up to trace her cheek. “Are you ok?”

Trixie nodded.

“I’m wonderful. I want to thank you.”

Jim grinned, looking down at her.

“Your welcome! What for?”

“You didn’t let us get carried away with hormones. When I wanted to rush us into sex, you kept your head and pulled us back.”

“Oh. I just don’t think we’re ready for that yet or the consequences of having a sexual relationship.” Jim absently ran his fingers through her hair.

“You are absolutely right!!” Trixie kissed him again.

Meanwhile, Honey sat at the table with Brian and Dan. Right after Trixie had pulled Jim away, Di had pulled Mart outside. They were still gone, and Honey wondered how it was going.

At that moment outside:

Mart had been led by Di to the door. They stopped long enough to grab their coats and they went outside on the porch. Diana buttoned her coat and seemed to be thinking something over. Mart felt his stomach clutch. Was she breaking up with him?

“Mart, we need to talk”

Mart nodded, unable to speak.

“I’m sorry I have been terrible to you the last week. I should have told you the truth.”

Mart looked at her, noting her red eyes. Please no!

“I don’t know how to say this.” Di looked into his blue eyes and saw their turmoil.

“Just say it Diana.” He whispered, closing his eyes.

“I pushed you away because I was afraid I was pregnant and didn’t want you to feel trapped.” She said in a rush.

Mart opened his eyes. That wasn’t what he expected to hear.

“But- I, I thought you were on the pill.”

Di started to cry. “That’s just it, Mart. I forgot to take them a couple of times. Then I was late, and I was so afraid. I bought a home pregnancy test, but was afraid to take it.”

“Did you take it?”

“Yes, finally, after Trixie and Honey found me crying in Trixie’s room.”

“And ?”

“I’m not pregnant!” She rushed to reassure him.

Mart released a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

He pulled her into his arms and she buried her face in the crook of his neck.

“Di, you can tell me anything! You should have told me! We would have dealt with this together. Not because you trapped me into it, but because I love you and share this responsibility with you.”

Diana lifted her head, and looked up at him.

“I’m sorry. I felt awful. We aren’t ready for a baby.”

“No, but if it would have happened, I want you to know I would have stood by you. I had a part in this, and I love you. I wouldn’t leave you to do this alone. Besides, that would be my child. I’d want to be in his life too.”

“I know. We really have to be careful. Maybe take some extra precautions against this kind of thing, aside from the pill. I realize abstinence is our best bet, but, we might not follow through with that. Maybe we should use condoms too.”

“Absolutely! I don’t want you to worry about this.”

“I love you Mart!” Di kissed him and he held her tightly.

The snow started to fall again and they realized they were chilled standing outside.

“Come on, let’s warm you up!” He put his arm around her and they walked back into the house. He heard the laughter from his friends and family, and Diana was in his arms. He was very thankful indeed.

Original Universe

Weekend in New England