Author’s note: If you DO get the original book for this fanfic, you should be warned that I have changed the hero’s character, as I have mentioned before, to a more caring, sensitive person. I have also expanded the "Jason" character – once I began writing him, I got to like him so much that he appeared in more and more scenes. But the book is excellent and a romantic read for a rainy day.

"Brenda, I’m tellin’ ‘ya, I don’t care how much my brother Louie yells at me, I don’t want his snotty little kid bein’ my flower girl!" Lois exclaimed as she rose from her chair and went to get another cookie from the bag on the counter.

Brenda pushed her chair back from the large kitchen table that had been converted to "wedding central" in preparations for Jerry and Lois’ wedding. She rubbed her temples and then put one hand to her back to massage the ache there that had plagued her ever since waking that morning.

Lois came back to the table, holding up a Marshmallow Pinwheel. "Do you want one of these?"

Brenda waved her hand in the air and frowned. "No thanks. I’ve had some killer indigestion ever since lunch."

Lois paled. "Are you OK?"

Brenda smiled and pulled her chair back to the table. "Yes, I am, Lois. Don’t go getting all hysterical on me just because I had a little pain. Jax does enough of that already, thank you very much."

"Pain? What kind of pain?" Lois began shoving papers aside on the table, frantically searching for the cell phone and Jax’s number.

Brenda put her hand over Lois’s. "It’s NOTHING, Lois. Dr. Meadows said since I’m getting so close to my due date I’m going to have these little Braxton-Hicks thingies." She pulled a large notebook back to the place on the table in front of her. "Now, let’s get back to planning the wedding."

Lois shook her head. "Sometimes I think maybe Jerry should just buy a ladder and we oughtta elope."

"Now, you know that your mother and Lady Jane would both be severely disappointed if they didn’t get a chance to weep at their children’s wedding." She pointed an accusing finger at Lois, but then smiled and looked back down at the page. "Besides, it will be worth it just to see Jerry have to wear a tuxedo."

Lois giggled. "Yeah, I know! He’s already hatin’ the idea of it!" She smiled at Brenda coyly. "Of course, your motives wouldn’t have anythin’ to do with seein’ Jax in a tux, would they?"

"Of course not." Brenda pretended innocence, but then broke into laughter. "YEAH, RIGHT!"

Just then, both women heard the sound of the front door of the gatehouse slamming and Jax’s triumphant voice. "Where is everyone?"

"We’re in the kitchen," Lois shouted in return, and a few seconds later, Jax and Jerry marched through the door. Jax looked ecstatic and he immediately came over to Brenda and kissed her soundly. Lois looked at an equally happy Jerry. "What’s goin’ on between you two?"

Jax pulled some papers out of his pocket. "Ladies, do either of you have any idea what these are?"

Brenda’s eyes grew as large as saucers. "Oh, my God, Jax! Is that the final divorce decree?" She squealed in happiness and threw her arms up for another hug.

"I went to court with Jax this morning. It’s all signed, sealed and delivered," Jerry explained to an equally happy Lois. He motioned to Lois and she got up from the chair so he could sit down, happily making room for her in his lap.

"I still can’t believe that witch finally caved that quickly," Lois said, reaching behind Jerry for another cookie.

Jax went to stand behind Brenda and moved her slightly forward on the chair so that he could rub her lower back. "I know," Jerry added. "After all that time, all it took was one visit from my future sister-in-law and old Randy folded like a house of cards." He reached up to break off part of the cookie Lois was about to eat. "I don’t think I’ve ever seen Jax as surprised as he was the next day when Alexis called to tell him Miranda gave up."

Jax kept massaging Brenda’s back and she sighed occasionally in contentment. "Well, in a way I wasn’t surprised." Brenda’s eyes flew open and she stared up at him. "I mean, you told her that you didn’t intend to give up anymore. She knew she had lost the game. Once she found out you loved me and didn’t have any plans to leave, she knew there was no point in beating a dead horse," Jax looked at Jerry as he opened his mouth, "so to speak."

"So now it’s finally over," Jerry said, grabbing another cookie out of Lois’ hand.

"Yep!" Jax said happily, stopping Brenda’s backrub long enough to take the decree off the pile of papers on the kitchen table. He crouched down next to Brenda’s chair. "So what do you think, princess? Want to get married tomorrow?"

Brenda didn’t answer right away, but just kept rubbing her stomach. "I don’t think we should get married tomorrow, Jax."

Jax shrugged his shoulders and laughed. "OK, the next day then."

"No, not the next day either." Brenda smiled wanly at Jax.

"Would you care to tell me why not?" Jax’s face suddenly paled. "Brenda – is something wrong?"

"Nothing that we didn’t know was coming for seven and a half months," Brenda answered weakly, taking Jax’s hand. "I don’t think we’ll be getting married tomorrow, Ace, because I think I just went into labor!"

Jerry jumped up from his chair, dumping Lois in the process. "Bloody h*ll! Boil water! Somebody boil water!"

"I swear to God, Jerry Jacks," Lois said, getting up and dusting herself off, "If you say something about not knowin’ nothin’ ‘bout birthin’ no babies, I’ll slap you silly! Got it?"

Brenda was holding Jax’s hand tightly, but she was smiling at Lois and Jerry’s antics. "It’s OK, Jerry. You don’t have to panic. It’s just the beginnings of the labor." Then she turned to Jax. "But I don’t think we’ll be getting married today or tomorrow, honey."

Jax’s eyes narrowed. "When did these pains start?"

"Only about half an hour ago. They’re still not that strong, but they’re there. Why?"

Jax glanced down at his watch. "That means it’s do-able." He leaned down and kissed Brenda quickly. "You’re going to be Mrs. Jacks before that baby is born."

"But, Jax…..there are laws in California," Brenda protested weakly.

Jax was already moving towards the wall phone. He pulled the cell phone out of his jacket pocket and tossed it to Jerry. "Have you got a cell phone, Lois?" She nodded. "Good." He turned back to Brenda. "I know there are laws in California, love. That’s why we’ll be getting married in Nevada."

"Nevada? Jax, are you crazy?"

"Crazy in love with you, princess." He looked towards Jerry first. "Call LAX. Have them gas up a Lear and file a flight plan for Las Vegas. Tell them I’ll be taking off in about 30 minutes."

"I’LL be taking off, you mean," Jerry insisted, already dialing. "I’m not hangin’ around in the back of the jet to see if I can catch another view of my nearly naked sister-in-law. It’s YOUR place to hold her hand while she’s in labor."

Jax shrugged his shoulders in concession. "But Jax, I’ll be scared," Brenda interrupted. "What if something happens and the baby comes early?"

"That’s where the second part of the plan comes in." He looked towards Lois. "You call Dr. Meadows. She should be at her office today – got the number?" Lois nodded. "Tell her….." Jax glanced down at his watch again. "…..we’ll be there in 15 minutes to pick her up. She’s taking a little trip with us to Las Vegas to monitor a patient. Tell her I’ll make it up to her in her fee…..just charge me for whatever appointments she has to cancel today."

"Gotcha." Lois began dialing as Jerry was speaking with the Los Angeles terminal, barking orders.

At that point, Jason burst into the kitchen. "Geez, what’s going on in here? It’s looks like World War III."

Jax patted him on the shoulder. "No, Jase. More like Jacks baby #2. Brenda’s gone into labor but I’m flying her to Las Vegas first to get married."

"You got the final decree? All right!" Jason high-fived his father, and then turned around and looked at Brenda. "But you’re not flying. I will."

"You’re not old enough, Jason. Uncle Jerry’s flying," Jax said calmly, dialing a number on the wall phone at the same time.

"Then I’m going in the co-pilot’s chair. No way I’m going to miss this wedding or my sister’s birth."

Jax smiled. "I was hoping you’d say that. Go up to the house and tell Grandma and Grandpa what’s going on and that they’re invited to the wedding if they can be in the limo out front in 5 minutes." Jason nodded and turned to leave when Jax caught him by the sleeve. "And go up to my room and grab the overnight bag that’s next to the door. We’ll probably have to go straight to the hospital from the airport when we get back and it’s got Brenda’s stuff in it."

Brenda finally managed to get a word in. "Well, THANK GOD someone finally thought about ME and my stuff!"

Lois clicked her phone shut as Jason raced out the kitchen doors. "Dr. Meadows says she’ll be ready and it sounds like a plan to her." She looked towards Brenda. "And she told you not to worry – first babies usually take a long time, and she would probably not even have you come to the hospital for at least a couple of hours."

Brenda nodded wearily. "I know. She told me that in the very beginning she encourages moms-to-be to walk around a lot anyway."

Jerry clicked his phone shut. "Well, you should have no problem pacing on the plane, beautiful. The weather’s clear between here and Vegas so we should have smooth sailing."

Jax hung up his phone. "OK. I cleared all my appointments with Addie for the next three days and told her how to reach us. She’ll patch any important calls through to the jet." He went to Brenda and carefully helped her out of the chair. "Come on, little mama," he drawled. "We’ve got a wedding to go to!"

"That’s it, Brenda," Dr. Meadows crooned. "You’re doing fine. This one’s almost finished." She checked a monitor next to the large leather chaise where Brenda was resting, and then turned to the assembled crowd. "Mother and baby still doing fine." Jane and John heaved sighs of relief and went to talk to Brenda while Dr. Meadows pulled Jax aside. "Where exactly is this wedding taking place?"

"Probably a wedding chapel near the airport," Jax replied. Worry crossed his face. "Why? I thought you said there wasn’t a problem!"

"There’s not," the doctor reassured Jax, grabbing his arm. "It’s just that the contractions are getting a little stronger and closer together, so we might want to move this ceremony along as quickly as possible." She looked around. "Although you certainly have done everything to make me feel comfortable about Brenda flying while she’s in labor, I would still feel better delivering the baby in a sterile hospital environment."

Jax thought for a minute. "No problem. I’ll go call ahead to Vegas and have a justice of the peace and a minister meet us at the gate. We’ll be married aboard the jet and then turn her around and go back to LA."

Dr. Meadows nodded. Jax went up to the cockpit and she went to see Brenda again. "You know, this is quite an adventure for me. I think it’s the first time I’ve ever monitored labor while crossing state lines!"

Brenda smiled weakly. "Yeah, well it’s getting a little intense down here. Will I be able to get something to dull the pain once we land?"

"I’ll have to check how far you’re dilated but we’ll be able to start the epidural before the pain gets too intense," Dr. Meadows reassured her. "In the meantime, just try to follow your Lamaze training and concentrate on something when the pain hits."

Jax reappeared at Brenda’s side and she crushed his hand in hers. "Dad’s up front taking over for Jerry for a while," he explained as Jerry stuck his head around Jax and waved at Brenda, making a goofy face. "What’s going on?"

"Dr. Meadows just told me to concentrate on something when the contractions hit to help ease the pain." She smiled up at Jax. "I think I can do that now that you’re here."

"Oh, no, don’t concentrate on THAT," Jerry said with a wicked smile. "THAT’S how you got pregnant in the first place!"

Lois gave him a playful shove, and the flight continued in relative calm. As soon as the jet landed at the Las Vegas airport, a justice of the peace and a chaplain were ushered aboard. Brenda remained on the chaise with Dr. Meadows immediately behind her. Jax took her right hand and with Jerry and Lois acting as best man and maid of honor, the ceremony began.

Jax had just agreed to love, honor, and cherish Brenda for the rest of his life until death parted them when Dr. Meadows leaned down to Brenda. "Are you sure you want some pain medication for the delivery?" she whispered quietly.

Brenda was just in the throes of another contraction. "YES! DEFINITELY YES!"

The justice of the peace laughed. "Well, it’s not exactly "I do," but it certainly means the same thing!" Everyone laughed as they realized that Brenda had answered the doctor just as she had been asked if she promised to love, honor, and cherish Jax. The minister stepped forward to bless the marriage in the sight of God and within a few minutes, Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Jacks were legally wed and receiving congratulations from everyone present.

"Everyone buckle up – we’re headin’ back to LA!" Jerry shouted above the din, and as soon as the JP and the chaplain were ushered off the plane, the hatch was sealed and the tower cleared them for takeoff.

Brenda’s pains began getting closer together as the plane neared LAX. "I really hope Jerry doesn’t have to circle for long," Brenda wheezed. "This baby REALLY wants to be born pretty soon."

Jax smoothed the hair back off her face, which was growing damp with perspiration. "I think he swore at every traffic controller in the tower and they gave him immediate clearance," her new husband smiled.

Jax looked up as Jason came back to the cabin. "How’s Brenda doin?" Jason asked. Just then, another contraction hit and Brenda began to grimace and pant. Jason’s face lost color when Dr. Meadows lifted her gown to check her dilation, even though he was behind Brenda and not in a position to see anything. "Uh…..Uncle Jerry just told me to tell you guys we’ll be landing in ten minutes. So…..’bye!!" He hurried back to the cockpit to the sound of everyone’s laughter.

The plane landed without incident and Brenda was rushed into an ambulance that Jax had waiting at the gate for them. Dr. Meadows climbed aboard with Jax and Brenda, and everyone else piled into the limo for the trip to the hospital.

As they entered the emergency entrance, Dr. Meadows shouted to the nursing staff, "This is Brenda Barrett. She’s dilated 7 centimeters and I want a delivery room and I want it NOW!"

As the party rushed by the admitting desk, Jax stopped them for a minute. "That’s Brenda Barrett Jacks. Mrs. Jasper Jacks. Get the name right." He flashed his wedding ring at the smiling nurses and then ran to catch up with the gurney bearing his wife and child.

"Remember, honey, this is absolutely normal," he said to Brenda as she grimaced through another contraction. "Women do this all the time. Just concentrate. Concentrate."

"I’m concentrating, all right," Brenda said in a hoarse voice. "I’m concentrating on that castration clinic in Santa Monica that I’m sending you to right after the baby’s born!!"

Everyone else was ushered into the Maternity Waiting Room as Jax was quickly gowned to be in the delivery with Brenda. When he walked into the brightly lit birthing suite, he was momentarily dismayed that something had gone wrong by all the beeping machines and flashing lights.

"Right over here, dad," a smiling nurse called to him. As he finally found his way to Brenda’s side, Dr. Meadows came rushing into the room, gowned and scrubbed. Brenda was in the middle of another contraction, and Jax had his hands full just trying to help her get through the pain. As Dr. Meadows seated herself in front of Brenda, the nurse checked some monitors. "She’s fully dilated, Doctor."

"That’s good news, Brenda," Dr. Meadows said. "On the next contraction, I want you to push."

It wasn’t long before another contraction racked Brenda’s body. Jax pulled her to a sitting position and counted with her as her face turned red with the strain of pushing a new life into the world. "That’s great, Brenda," Dr. Meadows encouraged. "One more push and we should see the head crowning. It won’t be long now."

As Brenda lay back against the pillows, she looked lovingly into her husband’s eyes. "Have I told you today how much I love you?" she asked in a whisper. "I don’t think I had a chance at our wedding." She laughed weakly. "And I don’t think we’ll have much of a wedding night tonight – I’ve got a little bit of a headache, honey!"

Jax laughed. "That’s OK. The whole rest of our lives will be our wedding night!" He saw Brenda catch her breath as another contraction began to build.

"Good, Brenda," Dr. Meadows encouraged. "I can see the top of the head now. Keep pushing." Jax held Brenda’s hand tightly and when the contraction eased, he gently lowered her to the bed again.

"I wish I could do this for you, sweetie," he said, anxious at her pallor and exhaustion.

She gave him a grim smile. "I wish you could, too!"

Dr. Meadows watched the monitor and then smiled at Brenda as another contraction started. "OK, Brenda, here we go. Give me a good push this time and let’s welcome the newest member of this family to the world."

Jax supported Brenda to a sitting position again and she squeezed his hand so hard he feared she would break a few of the fingers. But then after about 30 seconds of pushing, they both heard the loud cry of an infant.

"You did it!" Dr. Meadows exclaimed. "Now just one more push, Brenda, and you’re home free!"

"Jax, I don’t know if I can…." Brenda said weakly.

"Sure you can," Jax urged, his blue eyes connecting with her brown ones deep in her soul. "Just think – this is a piece of cake compared to dealing with Miranda. Just think about how determined you were that day you went to see her after talking with Jason."

As the contraction hit Brenda again, she surprised Jax with a loud wail and a determined grimace. "That’s it, love! You’ve almost done it!"

There was a frenzy of activity as Brenda pushed the baby out with a final gasp of pain. "Great! We’ve got ourselves a winner!" Dr. Meadows exclaimed, busily swaddling and checking the squirming bundle of baby Jacks.

The baby was crying lustily as Jax and Brenda both strained to see it. "Is it OK?" Brenda asked fearfully, trying to see Dr. Meadows’ face.

Finally she stood up from her position between Brenda’s legs. "Perfect. Absolutely perfect." She placed the partially draped baby on Brenda’s stomach as tears streamed down both her and Jax’s face.

Jax leaned over and kissed Brenda’s temple. "Thank you, my love. I love you so much."

Brenda was stroking the baby gently and cooing. "And I love you too, Jax. I’ll always love you."

Dr. Meadows gently cleared her throat. "Um…excuse me, folks, but I need the baby back so I can get it cleaned up." Jax started to move away, but Dr. Meadows stopped him. "Mr. Jacks, you’re welcome to stay in here while I take care of Brenda here for a few minutes."

Jax blushed a little and gave Brenda one more kiss on the forehead. "Thanks, Doctor. You’ve been very patient with the whole lot of us today. But I have one more special favor to ask." His eyes suddenly twinkled and he leaned over to whisper to a nurse, who nodded enthusiastically and turned to leave the delivery room.

About 15 minutes later, a protesting Jason was led into the delivery room. As a nurse struggled with him to pull a gown on his arms, he was shaking his head. "But I’m not the father! I really don’t belong in here and nobody told me…." A look of utter panic crossed his face and he swiftly turned to where Brenda and Jax were. "Oh, my God! Is something wrong!" He rushed over to the delivery table.

Jax turned to him with a smile, holding a small swaddled bundle. "Everything’s fine, Jason." Jason’s gaze traveled from his father to a smiling Brenda and back again. Jax inclined his head, motioning for his son to come nearer, and then placed the bundle into his astonished son’s arms. "Jason, we wanted you to be the first to meet your new little sister. This is Brittany Isabella Jacks." Jax opened the blankets so that the baby’s face could be clearly seen. "Brittany, this is your big brother, Jason."

Jason was visibly shaking as he held the baby. "But dad! Is she….she’s so little! Is she OK?"

Brenda laughed. "She’s perfect, Jason. All babies are that little. You were too, at one time."

Jason shook his head, his eyes still wide with wonder. "Nah, I was NEVER this little. No way." He looked up at Jax with tears in his eyes. "What if I break her or something? Shouldn’t you be holding her?"

Jax peered at the tiny sleeping face. "I personally thinks she looks pretty happy to me right now, Jase. And you’re doing fine. Just relax."

Jason looked carefully at the tiny baby and smiled at Jax. "She’s got your hair, dad. It’s so blonde it’s like she’s bald or somethin’. And your chin." He laughed as the tiny cleft was clearly visible.

"I hate to disappoint you Jason, but that blonde hair could easily get much darker as she gets older," Brenda warned.

But Jason was in a world of his own, and was beginning to rock the baby from side to side gently in his arms. "Hey, there, little sister. I’m your big brother Jason." The baby stirred slightly and Jason’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Yeah, that’s right. I’ll take real good care of you and make sure no big boys ever hurt you or break your heart."

Jax had put his arms around Brenda while his son was bonding with their daughter. "I don’t think you can make that promise, Jason. Sometimes you just have to take a chance of a broken heart." Brenda looked warmly into Jax’s eyes as she spoke. "Because there’s always a chance that you’ll fall in love instead." As Jax leaned down and placed a soft kiss on Brenda’s lips, Jason suddenly gave a soft yelp.

"Uhhhhh, dad….she’s movin’. I think……" Brittany cut loose with a loud wail that made Jason’s eyes as big as saucers. "Uh…dad, I think you’d better take her. I don’t think she’s happy with me anymore."

Brenda opened her arms and Jason gently placed her there. "I don’t think she would be too happy with either one of you right now." She glanced at them both with a knowing look. "I think she’s probably hungry."

Jason turned to Jax, who patted him on the back. "That’s our cue to scram, son. Let’s go tell Grandma and Grandpa they can break out the champagne."

"All right, you little bugger," Jax said through grit teeth. "Your grandfather thought he was pretty hot stuff because he got away from me, but your days are numbered." Jax stood motionless in the shallow waters on the beach, poised with his spear in hand, aiming at a small yellowtail.

Brenda walked down the beach at a leisurely pace, stopping to watch her husband for a moment in the setting sun. The golden rays made his blonde hair look even more sun-kissed, and she caught her breath at the sight of his bare chest, glistening with perspiration and salt water. Brenda wore a hibiscus print halter top in shades of turquoise that was basically a square of fabric tied behind her neck and at the small of her back. A turquoise silk wrap skirt left one leg bare to the waist and fell just below her knees. She shaded her eyes with her hand and laughed softly as Jax swore in frustration when he missed the fish again.

"Jax, honey, don’t get yourself so upset! It’s just a little fish," she called out to him.

Jax never took his eyes off the fish. "He thinks he’s quicker than I am, Brenda. It’s a matter of principle. And dinner."

Brenda put her hands on her hips. "Jax, we don’t NEED the fish for dinner. We’ve got that whole cooler of steaks that Thao packed for us when we left the Isabella. And even if we burn them all, there’s more just a phone call away."

With divine timing, the cell phone near the tent further up the beach began to ring. "Get that, Brenda!" Jax shouted. "It’s scaring the fish!"

Brenda shook her head as she ran to the ringing phone. She answered it and talked for a while, but then came back down to the shore where Jax still was aiming the spear at the elusive swimmer. "That was Jason."

"Is Brittany OK?" Jax’s gaze still never strayed from his quarry.

"She’s fine," Brenda giggled. "But Jason thought she needed a diaper change. So he when he was changing her, he had the wet diaper off and she started making these cooing noises at him, and poor Jason thought it was so cute he started making noises back at her."

"Before he put the new diaper on?"

"Uh-huh."

"And he got sprinkled." Jax shook his head, never looking up. "When will that boy learn that his little sister just loves to pee on unsuspecting Jacks men? She got dad last week, you know." Jax continued to aim at the fish, faking a lunge once in a tricky maneuver. "He was changing her and she gave him that smile and flashed those eyes of hers at him. He got so caught up in it, the next thing you know, she had soaked his hand."

"Jax! She’s just a baby! She can’t help it," Brenda laughed. "So now he’s got Thao helping him find new pads for the changing table, and Jason says Thao is cursing in a language he’s never heard before."

Jax finally looked up. "Where’s Jerry?"

Brenda rocked back and forth from heels to toes. "Your brother and his new wife are behind closed doors. Jason said he doesn’t want to disturb them on their honeymoon."

Jax grimaced. "Tell Jason to go knock on the door anyway." Jax looked back down at the fish. "They get to play island castaways tomorrow night. Tonight they’re on babysitting duty."

"Oh, is that what we’re doing? Playing island castaways?" Brenda’s voice was teasing.

Jax lunged at the fish again and missed. "Can’t you tell? I’m the big strong man, providing dinner for my woman." He sighed and caught sight of the fish again. "Now don’t you move again, you little……" As he aimed his spear one more time, Brenda’s voice drifted out across the water like a musical note.

"Jaaaaxxxxx." He finally looked up to see his wife au natural, standing at the very edge of the water. Brenda had shed her sarong and halter on the sand and was seductively trailing her big toe back and forth in the water. "Isn’t THIS how we played island castaways?"

Jax never made it from the water to the sand in so few steps. He tossed the spear onto the beach somewhere as he pushed his own shorts down and quickly stood next to her in the first hint of twilight.

"Have I told you lately how beautiful you are and how much I love you, Mrs. Jacks?" He pulled her to him and his hands roamed up and down her bare back.

Brenda ran her hands up his perfect chest to tangle in the hair at the nape of his neck. "Do you know your problem, Mr. Jacks?" she said softly. When he shook his head, she smiled sexily. "You don’t know how to relax."

"Then why don’t you show me," he replied as they sank into the shallow waters of the beach. As the sun became just a memory in the west, Brenda and Jax renewed their vows to each other in their own little corner of paradise in the South Pacific.