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

"Dammit!" was the muttered curse Brianna heard as she made her way down the hallway towards her office after having enjoyed a full breakfast in the Senate dining room. She sped up her steps, wondering who'd found it necessary to be cursing in the building at daybreak. What she saw caused her heart to hesitate but her steps to speed up.

"Let me help," she offered, seeing Charisma struggle to hold onto her briefcase, unlock the door and juggle a cup of coffee while cradling her still sleeping son to her chest. Before Charisma could even think to protest, Brianna relieved her of her briefcase, coffee cup and keycard, swiping it quickly and pushing the door open so Charisma could enter the office ahead of her.

Charisma nodded her thanks, making her way from the outer office and towards her inner sanctum. Without a word, Brianna swiped the card again, unlocking the second secure door and opening it so Charisma could pass in front of her once more.

Charisma made her way to her couch, laying Adam on it and covering him before she turned to find Brianna's eyes on them. She straightened, but before she could clear her throat to speak, Brianna whispered, "He's beautiful, Ri."

Charisma smiled, then bit her lip to keep the tears from falling unchecked down her cheeks. She turned back to look at Adam still sleeping so peacefully. "He's my pride and joy."

Brianna smiled. "I can see why," causing Charisma to look at her again.

"Oh for... give me that stuff," Charisma demanded curtly, holding out her hands. "I didn't mean for you to stand here holding it like some sort of pack mule."

"It's all right, Ri. It was worth it to see your son. Someday I'd like to meet him." Charisma nodded but didn't answer verbally as she took her things and put them on her desk. "I guess I better go," Brianna added when Charisma turned around again.

Charisma looked hard at Brianna then, noticing the dark circles make-up couldn't hide. "You weren't here all night, were you? You don't want to get into that habit, Brianna. You'll burn out before you get settled in if you push like that."

"It was only one night, Ri. And I don't plan to be around here long enough to burn out. Politics was never my thing - you know that. I appreciate your concern though," she added with a gentle smile as she made her way back towards the door.

"Why did you take the appointment?" Charisma asked quietly, keeping the desk between them. Brianna turned back towards her but didn't move from her spot near the door. "As you said, you've never been interested in politics, and you knew I was here... that we'd be back in one another's lives at least peripherally if you came here. So why did you accept the appointment? You stayed away from me for almost twenty years."

Brianna stood quietly for a long moment, hearing the layers of hurt and anger and confusion in Charisma's voice, though she doubted Charisma was fully aware of them. "Michael asked. Richard really does hope to return to work by election time. So I make the perfect placeholder until Richard is better. When Michael asked he knew I wasn't interested in making a career change. I like what I do, Charisma. And I'm very good at it."

"I know," Charisma said simply, causing Brianna's brows to jump into her hairline. But when she didn't expound on her response, Brianna picked up the thread of conversation.

"Besides," she continued wryly, "when I was offered the job, it was pointed out to me not-so-subtlely that we're both adults and should be able to make this work." She didn't add that it had been Okasa making the statement nor did she share some of the other directives Charisma's mother had given her.

Charisma waited, but Brianna didn't expound further, so she nodded. "Thank you for your help this morning. I probably would've been wearing my coffee if you hadn't come to my rescue."

"I was glad to do it," Brianna assured her warmly. "Though," her smile turning to a contemplative frown. "How come you had Adam with you this morning?"

"His nanny had an emergency and it's a teacher's holiday at his school."

"Everything all right?" Brianna asked with concern at the expression Charisma wore.

"I hope so. Ame's been with us since his birth and she's never missed a day, so it must have been pretty serious. She's supposed to call me later."

Brianna nodded. "I hope everything's okay," she said simply as she turned to go.

"Me too. Thanks, Brianna." Brianna lifted a hand in farewell and left the office without another word. Charisma thoughtfully watched her go before shaking her head to clear it and turning her concentration to her briefcase, ready to start her workday.

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

"Ow," Ame complained, holding the side of her face as she was guided back to the bed. "What hit me? Saphira's sword?"

"Brianna's car," Esmeralda replied softly. "Though in fairness they probably feel about the same," garnering smiles and snickers from around the room as the rest watched with concerned eyes.

"OW," Ame reiterated. "Why did Brianna's car hit me?" trying to glance around the room in an attempt to look for answers, but finding the effort too much. She closed her eyes and blew out a breath, hoping to quell the roiling she felt in her belly. Ame was pretty sure she didn't want to throw up as badly as her head hurt at the moment.

"It wasn't my fault," Jas whined, drawing everyone's attention. "At least, not ALL my fault," she continued in response to the incredulous looks she was getting. "She walked into my path!"

Esmeralda held up a hand before anyone could make a remark. She and Saphira had been woken out of a sound sleep by the ruckus that had followed the accident and they had stumbled out of the room just as Ame was carried in the door by Indi and Opal.

"Maybe we should call a doctor... or go to the hospital."

"No," Ame groaned. "I just need to lie still. I'll be all right."

"All right, ladies," Esmeralda said, rubbing her hand over her face in an attempt to stimulate wakefulness. She smiled when Ruby put a cup of hot coffee in her other hand. "Thanks, Ruby!"

"C'mon, girls," Ruby invited, ushering most of the women out the door. "We've got to get to work. Es can sort this out without all of us hovering." She turned back to Esmeralda as the room emptied. "I already called and left a message with Charisma, and Opal will give Charisma the message again as soon as she arrives in the office."

"Thank you, Ruby," Esmeralda offered with a tired smile.

Ruby grinned. "It's what I do, honey. Let me know how it goes," jerking her head towards the bedroom where Jas and Ame were currently laying side by side talking in low tones. Esmeralda nodded.

"I will. Have a good day, Ruby."

"You too, Es," Ruby offered, closing the door and leaving the four of them in silence. Esmeralda turned back to the bedroom, passing Saphira as she exited. She cocked a brow in question.

"I may as well start some breakfast. Coral and Amber will be here sooner or later and we may as well eat with them before we go try to get a little more sleep. Go find out what happened."

Esmeralda brushed a kiss over Saphira's neck, then stepped into the bedroom. She gave Jas and Ame a long look. "You two all right?" asked as she sat on a corner of the bed.

Ame didn't move, but Jas nodded. "Yeah. It was an accident - I swear!"

"I'm sure it was," Esmeralda agreed distractedly. "At least on your parts," she added. Jas frowned.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Esmeralda sighed. "This may be my fault."

Finally Ame stirred, opening her good eye. "Es, unless you've suddenly become omniscient, I'm pretty sure this wasn't your fault. This happened because I was careless and Jas is tired."

Esmeralda pinched her bottom lip between her finger and thumb thoughtfully. "Maybe. Why don't you two tell me what happened?"

"And then you'll tell us how you think this could possibly be your fault?" Jas pressed. Esmeralda nodded her agreement. "All right. Well, I was coming home this morning - Brianna was working all night and she sent me home after I took her back to the Senate Building at oh-dark-thirty this morning." Esmeralda motioned for her to continue. "Right, well - I must have gotten distracted for a minute or something... I dunno. I just know that I looked and there was no one there and the next minute, I was running into Ame. I swear, Es - I didn't see her. She wasn't there when I looked."

"All right, Jas - calm down. I believe you." She took a deep breath and turned to Ame. "What about you, Ame? What's your story?"

"Pretty similar," Ame replied softly. "I mean, it's not like I don't normally look around before I walk out the door, you know? I did - I looked and noticed both Turq and Jas had already left for the day. I didn't know Jas hadn't made it home yet. The next thing I knew, I'm seeing stars... both kinds," she added drolly, getting a wry grin from Esmeralda. "I thought all those cartoons were just trying to be funny." She put a hand on her forehead. "Who knew it was the truth?"

"At least they weren't tweeting birds," Jas snarked.

"Thank heaven," Ame replied. "I think that might have pushed me over the edge this morning."

"Are you sure you don't want to go to the doctor? Ame, this could be serious."

"I'll be all right, Es. I just want to lie here and be still for a while. It doesn't hurt as bad if I don't move." Ame closed her good eye. "So spill... why do you think this might be your fault?"

"Because I was hoping to facilitate communication between Charisma and Brianna by bringing Adam into the mix."