Once again - MANY THANKS to Karen, she's the Bestest beta ever, and Vasalysa - who keeps the cheese to a minimum, and offers endless advice and help. What would I do without the two of you?

Comments are always welcome at Geek

The next few days proved to be quite busy. Dill received visits from the 58th everyday, and McQueen spent every spare moment with her and the babies. Iona spent a great deal of time with her, discussing the practicalities of their eventual journey home. She even received a couple of visits from Commodore Ross. The only person who hadn't visited her was her father, which she understood, as he couldn't be expected to drop everything and fly over from the Washington. But she was healing fast. The doctors had been quite surprised at how well she was doing, until she told them her father was an in vitro. Then they'd just nodded and left her in peace.

She was sitting in a chair, nursing Cameron, when Iona popped her head around the door. "Alright if I come in?" she asked.

"Of course. Pull up a chair and tell me all about you and Cooper." Dill grinned wickedly. "You've been very close mouthed about him."

"Yes, well… let's just say things are going well." Iona grinned, sitting herself down. "He's a real sweetie." she said, picking up Hamish for a cuddle.

"Who? Hamish or Cooper?"

"Cooper." she smiled shyly. "He's such a sweetie, and he's lovely."

"Just you be careful, Iona. I wouldn't like him to get hurt." Dill warned her.

"Oh, Dylan! You take the biscuit, you really do!" Iona laughed. "You know me better than that!" She swiftly changed the subject. "So where's Colonel Cutie today?"

"I wish you wouldn't call him that. One day he'll hear you!" Dill laughed. "He's on the bridge. The 58th have a patrol. You know he's always there when they're out."

"I know, that's why I'm here. No Cooper." Iona sighed. Then she threw a quick glance at Dill. "Not that I wouldn't have come to say hello anyway, but you know what I mean!" she laughed.

"I know." Dill grinned back. "Is there any news on my father yet? I'd like him to meet Ty and the babies before we have to go home."

"I don't know. Colonel Cutie was dealing with it." she laughed. "You'll have to ask him."

"Iona!"

"I'm sorry, but it suits him!" she chuckled, gently rocking Hamish as he began to wriggle.

"Here, pass him over. You take Cameron. He's asleep now anyway, and that young monkey wants feeding again, no doubt!" Dill smiled.

Swapping babies, they sat and talked for a while until the nurse came in to check on Dill's progress and tell her to rest. Obediently Iona rose, handing Cameron to the nurse, who tucked him snugly in his makeshift crib.

"I'll see you later, Dylan." she said, planting a kiss on her friend's forehead. "I expect Colonel Cutie will be here by then, too!" Grinning at the exasperated look on Dill's face, she disappeared out of the door.

"Colonel Cutie?" the nurse asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Don't ask." Dill smiled, putting Hamish down to sleep and climbing onto the bed.

"Suits him." the nurse laughed.

McQueen was feeling pleased with himself. His plans had come together better than he had expected. Glen Ross had agreed to it, as had the chaplain, and to cap it all the 58th were back safe and sound. The transport from the Washington had arrived. Which was where he was off to now - to meet Dill's father.

Striding into the landing bay, he stopped, surprised at the sight that confronted him. There was no mistaking who this man was, but somehow McQueen had expected him to be smaller, like Dill. He was taller than McQueen - taller than Hawkes, even. But his smile, as he smiled at McQueen, was Dill's.

"You must be Colonel McQueen." he rumbled, his voice deep. "Your reputation precedes you, sir."

McQueen shook the offered hand. "I think, sir, that as you're about to become my father-in-law, we'd better drop the rank. Call me Ty, please."

"Then I guess you'd better call me Dylan. I never did like sir much." The older man chuckled. "So when do I get to see my daughter and grandsons?"

"If you'll follow me, sir…Dylan…" Ty shook his head, and made for the door. "This is going to get mighty confusing."

"Well, I allow my friends to call me Dill."

"That's what I call Dill." McQueen chuckled over his shoulder. "So that'll be as bad. She doesn't know you're here, or that I've arranged this. So although everyone is ready, I just need a moment or two with her alone first."

They arrived in sickbay to find everyone waiting for them. There were a few raised eyebrows as McQueen made the introductions.

"Ty, I still say this should have been dress uniforms." Ross told him, the 58th nodding their agreement.

"Dill doesn't have anything nice to wear." McQueen responded. "We've been over this, sir. We'll do it now just as we are. We can do it again later in the full regalia, if she wants."

"Colonel?" 'Phousse spoke up. "I'm sure we could find her something."

"Let me go in and speak to her. If she wants, we'll do it in dress blues. But let me ask her first."

"Sir?" This time it was Hawkes. "You got a ring, sir?" he asked.

Seeing the concern on his face, McQueen smiled. "Yes, Hawkes. I have a ring. Thanks to the Commodore here." Ty turned to Ross. "Thanks, Glen. You're a life saver." he whispered. "Now let me go talk to Dill."

McQueen pushed the door open, smiling at Dill as she sang softly to the babies. "Hey, Dill."

"Ty!" she smiled back, and rushed into his arms for a hug. "You were gone so long, I started to get worried."

He sat down in a chair and pulled her onto his lap. "I have something I need to ask you, so stop wriggling and listen." he said sternly.

"Sir, yes, sir!" she giggled, squirming even more in his lap.

"When you agreed to marry me, we thought we'd wait until after the war, yes?"

"Well… yes." she said hesitantly, all her wriggling stopped at this unexpected question.

"How would you feel about doing it sooner?" Ty asked, his hand gently stroking her back.

"How soon?"

"Well… now." he grinned. "If you want to, that is."

"I really wanted my father to be there when we got married." Dill said quietly.

"He will be. He's waiting outside with everyone else."

"Then yes, please!" she grinned, kissing him thoroughly. Moving herself so that she straddled him, her hands wandered to the zip of his flight suit.

"No, Dill. Definitely not now! Everyone is outside, praying you'll be up for this." he smiled.

"I suppose you better let them in then." she sighed, climbing off his lap. "But just you remember, this is my wedding day. I want some privacy for us tonight. We may not be able to get as busy as I'd like, and we'll have to be careful of my stitches, but we can certainly have some fun."

"You really are insatiable, do you know that?" he laughed, getting up and kissing her. " But the twenty-four thousand dollar question is… do you want us in our dress uniforms? There's dissention in the ranks."

"Oh no!" she giggled. "I think you're damned sexy in that flight suit. It's how I always think of you. What better to get married in?"

With a grin, he headed to the door. Popping his head round it, he told the crowd outside, "It's on, and no dress blues. Come on in."

The group all trooped in, and in the presence of their closest friends and family, Dill and Ty were married. Their infant sons behaved themselves impeccably, and except for a short moment when Hamish was sick on his grandfather, the whole thing went as smoothly as the proverbial baby's bottom.

Fin.

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