bunny3   Suppose the "Dragon Lady" had gone away for a few months and
returned to find Ben & Francesca married, and expecting twins! Note, in
this story, the Kowalski season never happened. This story is written
around the song, "Alone Again, Naturally" by Gilbert O'Sullivan.  Alone
Again, Naturally by Bunny ( Mercarmaid@aol.com )  

Meg Thatcher walked off the train confidently, feeling better than she'd
felt in a long time. In her extended absence (due to a serious case,)
she'd realized what she'd been missing. Namely, Benton Fraser. But, she'd
been gone so long ... Was it too late to tell him how she felt? Well, she
was about to find out. She went into the police station to find Vecchio's
sister perched on his lap! She could only see the three of them from the
back, but ...  

Oh, in a little while from now, if I'm not feeling any less sour,
 I promised myself to treat myself and visit a nearby tower.
 And climbing to the top, will throw myself off.
 In an effort to make clear to everyone, it's like when you're shattered
...
  

Suddenly, she noticed that Francesca got up with some difficulty. Meg
thought, my goodness! She's pregnant! Suddenly, the trio noticed her
standing there and went to make their greetings. Meg stood as if rooted in
concrete.  

Left standing in the lurch, with people saying:
 "My God, that's rough, she stood him up. No point in us remaining."
 May as well go home. Resided on my own,
 Alone again, naturally.
  

Francesca: (breaking into her thoughts) Hello, Inspector. It's nice to see
you again.
 Meg: (looked up in surprise) Oh, um, nice to see you again, too, Ms.
Vecchio.
 Francesca: (eyes glowing) It's Mrs. Fraser now, but you can call me
Francesca.
 Meg: Oh. I should've realized ... congratulations. When is it due?
 Ben: (proudly) It's twins; a boy and a girl. They're due in about 5
months.
 Meg: (looks into the proud face of the constable) Well, congratulations,
Constable.
  

It seems that only yesterday, I was cheerful, bright, and gay.
 Looking forward to, wouldn't do, the role I was about to play.
 Then, as if to knock me down, reality came around.
 And without so much, as a mere touch, cut me into little pieces.
  

Meg: And it's nice to see you, too, Detective.
 Ray: (trying to hide his shock) Yeah, you too.
 Meg: (trying to remain lighthearted) So, what else did I miss?
  

Despite the smile on her face, her heart was breaking. Meg thought that
surely he can see. They must all know. I feel like some pathetic
schoolgirl, and yet ...  

Leaving me to doubt, talk about God in his mercy.
 Oh, if He really does exist, why did He desert me?
 In my hour of need, I truly am indeed,
 Alone again, naturally.
  

Ben: (concernedly) Inspector? Is something wrong?
 Meg: (distractedly) Hmm? Oh, no; it's nothing.
 Ben: Well, it's just that I don't think you've heard a word I've said. I
was just asking you what you had meant in your message.
 Meg: (confused) Message?
 Ben: Well, yes, sir. You said you had some urgent matter to discuss with
me immediately following your return
 Meg: Did I? Well, it's, um, just a case. Not important. We can deal with
it when I get back into the office tomorrow.
  

It seems to me that there are more hearts than in the world that can't be
mended ...
 Left unattended ...
 What do we do?
 What do we do?
  

As she left, they didn't realize that she heard their shocked whispers.
  

Ray: Who was that? I've never seen her so ... I don't even know the word.
 Ben: Well, perhaps the long train ride has made her tired and distracted.
 Francesca: I'm with Ray; it's like she's a pod-person. She's never been
happy to see us!
 Ben: Well, maybe Ottawa mellowed her out.
  

Later, as Meg was leaving the station, she noted the changes in the man.
Not many, but he did seem a little happier. And his wife seemed to have
had some influence on him by way of slang. No, she couldn't interfere. She
was going to have to come up with an important case for him by morning,
though. Oh, well. It was nobody's fault, really. But, she'd believed that
better after sitting in her own apartment, alone in front of the
fireplace, a nice bottle of wine and some Glibert O'Sullivan on the CD
player. Tomorrow she would be rational. Tomorrow she'd let go. Tomorrow.  

Alone again, naturally.  The End