This sort of thing always embarrassed me, and I discovered that I could now flush, which embarrassed me further.
"It was nothing," I mumbled, attempting to wave off the praise.
"It might be nothing to you, but it means a great deal to us. That's why you'll join a select few in receiving a second Medal of Freedom tonight. Lissa, will you stand to receive this honor?" The President stood and Gavin had to help me stand as everyone else in the room stood as well. My knees were knocking together, I was so nervous. The Vice President handed the velvet case to the First Lady who opened it, allowing the President to lift the medal out so he could place it around my neck. He leaned down and gave me a peck on the cheek, too, as he shook my hand.
"Thank you," I barely got the words out, dipping my head a little. Thank goodness, our group was small; I was obligated to wear that thing for another hour as we made small talk. The First Lady admired my ring, so of course I had to tell her that Gavin was my husband. Surprisingly, he was quite smooth about the whole thing when she started asking questions, such as how we met and how long we'd been married. He only gave the facts, stating that we'd met in Texas and had only been married a short while. She might have been shocked out of her shoes if she knew all the particulars in between.
"Will we see other female vampires?" The Vice President joined the conversation. Gavin cleared his throat.
"Most female vampires are much too shy," René offered a disarming smile as he and Tony came to the rescue. Winkler grinned and winked at me from his place at Bill's side.
"Lissa is the only vampire I know that could do this sort of thing," Tony added. That much was certainly true.
"How do you feel about joining their ranks?" The President asked Tony.
"I like it very much," Tony replied. "Although it does have its drawbacks." The First Lady found that amusing.
"I take it you were near death after the bombing in Paris?" The Vice President wanted to know.
"That is correct, otherwise it would not have been considered," Tony inclined his head. René placed a hand on Tony's shoulder as a warning—not to give too much away. We finally were allowed to leave, after assuring the President that Bill had our number. Bill walked out with us and got us loaded into the Limo. "The President wanted to meet with you alone, Lissa," he told me before shutting the door on my side. "The Secret Service wouldn't allow it."
"Are the other three all right?" I asked, meaning the foreign heads of state I'd hauled away from Camp David.
"They're fine; perhaps a bit disgruntled over their shuffling off to the White House for the meeting. Camp David is being put back together as we speak. Hafer won't ever see the free light of day again." Bill closed the door and our driver pulled out.
"We will leave tomorrow evening for Oklahoma City," Gavin said after we got back to the safe house. He'd gone outside for a while to have a private conversation with Wlodek and came back in with a grim expression on his face. I had no idea what the conversation entailed, but I'm sure it involved me, somehow. I packed up Medal of Freedom number two and placed it in the bottom of my suitcase, along with the green dress and heels. It was unlikely I'd be wearing them again before this trip was done.
September was nearly over when we landed in Oklahoma City; Roff pointed that out to me. His watch was working just fine, thank you, and once again, I contemplated smacking Gavin for giving it to him. "We have two days here and then we must travel to Kansas City," Gavin informed all of us on the drive from the airport to the house in Nichols Hills. Something about that bothered me, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Gavin wasn't talking much, either, for some reason. Normally he didn't talk much, but he was bordering on complete silence now and that worried me.
* * *
Winkler was eating in the kitchen the following evening with Michael, who'd flown in separately. I'd made spaghetti for them—with meatballs, of course, when Winkler's cell rang. Trajan, Winkler's Second was on the other end; I recognized his voice.
"Boss—it looks like Kellee's in labor. No false alarms this time," came through loud and clear. Winkler was standing up as soon as the words were out of Trajan's mouth.
"I'll be there in a couple of hours," Winkler said and terminated the call. "I'm going to the airport," he said. "I'll leave my things here; I can pick them up later. Michael—Bill said to tell you to give him a call when this is over and he may have a job for you. Lissa, gotta go."
I stood there, gaping like a fool at Winkler. What else could I do? I thought Winkler was going to be with us through this whole thing. I should have known better. Multiple births tend to come early and not the other way around. Somehow, I wished I could go with him, just so I could see the babies when they were new.
"Winkler, you're gonna be a good father," I came over and hugged him, trying not to cry.
"Lissa, I'll make sure the twins know they have an aunt. I hope I see you again really soon." He leaned down and gave me a kiss—he didn't care that Gavin had just walked into the room. Winkler waved as he strode swiftly toward the front door and then he was gone. I wanted to run after him, but that wouldn't do. I stayed right there, rooted to the spot while Gavin came to put his arms around me.
"Children on the way?" he asked softly.
"Yeah," I nodded against his shoulder.
"If there were any way, I would take you," he murmured against my hair.
"I know," I said, reaching up to wipe away the tear that insisted on falling. Gavin led me out of the house and I went with him, climbing the steps to our second-floor guesthouse. Kifirin was there when we opened the door and Roff stood beside him, his bag packed. He looked as miserable as I felt.
"I am sorry, avilepha, but I must take Roff back to his home, now. Giff has already been taken there, earlier today. I regret that I must take him at such a difficult time for you, but I have no choice. Roff must go home." Kifirin's dark gaze held torment, and I had no explanation for it. Gavin held me up when my knees threatened to buckle. I wanted to fall in the floor and weep. I thought all my tears had been spent five nights ago, but I was very wrong. I knew if I said the word that I wanted to say—why?—that I would break down again.
"M'hala, it must be so. Do not forget that my love is forever," Kifirin sighed and he and Roff disappeared before I could reach out to touch either of them.
* * *
"Mr. President, do you think I haven't asked already? That Director Hancock didn't ask before me?" Bill huffed as the President looked at him across his desk, fingertips together and a slight frown on his face. "The ones we deal with—the ones in charge—will not allow her anywhere near the Middle East. That was a stipulation in order to get her help at all. In fact, when Director Hancock took her on that trip to the Arabian Sea, he was breaking his agreement with them."