"Of course." Marreck said as he lifted Emelaide from the bed with one arm under her knees and the other around her back before going into the bathroom. Marreck set Emelaide gently on the floor beside him, leaning against the bathroom wall, as he began to run a bath, setting out shampoo, conditioner, and a towel for her.

Emelaide smiled as she wiped her face and neck upon her shirt, "Thank you, Mar, I appreciate all of this.. I love you so so much.. I promise I will make it up to you," Emelaide promised with warm smile as she looked up at him and began to undress herself as best she could.

"You don't need to make up for anything." Marreck said as he helped Emelaide undress. "I only want you and our children safe, Em. Can you do that for me?" He asked with a small smile as he lifted Emelaide in his arms again and set her in the cool water. "Is this any better, love?" He asked as he put a hand on her back to support her.

Emelaide nodded, "Yes, and I will. I promise, if nothing else, our children will get through this," Emelaide said with a warm smile as she began letting the water run through her fingers and over her skin. Wiping her face with her wet hands, Emelaide looked up at Marreck with a small blush, "Will you wash me? I don't think I'll be able to..."

"Of course." Marreck said with a smile as he picke up a washcloth from the side of the tub and lathered it with soap. Running the cloth over Emelaide's skin, Marreck washed her gently before setting her cloth back on the side of the tub and cupped water in his hand to rinse away the soap.

As he rinsed her off, Emelaide reached up and tenderly caressed his cheek, "I love you Marreck.. Thank you," she murmured softly against his lips as she placed long, tender kisses upon his lips.

"I love you too, Em." Marreck smiled against her lips as he gave her a few soft kisses. "And I love the small elves you have inside of you." He said as he swept his fingertips over her stomach. "So take care of them, my beautiful Emelaide." He urged as he gave her a few more kisses before running water through Emelaide's hair. Lathering it gently with shampoo, Marreck washed her hair gently before running water through it to wash away the shampoo.

~~~

Ariala stirred in her sleep, slipping quietly out of bed to the kitchen to put a kettle on to boil. The nasuea in her stomach rolled over her though she held strong against it and hurriedly poured some of her mother's tea to calm her stomach.

Pulling her knees close as he rinsed her hair, Emelaide rested her chin upon her knees. "What if I can't?" she whispered softly, "What if they die.. because of me?"

-

Stretching, Dimitrius yawned as he heard Ariala making tea in the kitchen. Slipping from the bed, Dimitrius threw on a pair of boxers before heading to the kitchen. Placing a kiss upon her cheek, Dimitrius inquired softly as he tenderly caressed her stomach, "Do you need anything before I shower, love?"

"Emelaide Ioveanu." Marreck said, his voice firm as he lifted Emelaide's chin so that her eyes met his. "Our children are not going to die." He assured her, his thumb gently caressing her cheek as his other hand supported her to sit. "You're going to tell us when you don't feel well and you're goig to get better. Then we're going to have a beautiful wedding with all of our friend and family, then we're going to deal with all the craziness of a pregnancy, and then we're going to have two beautiful children." Marreck told her before giving her lips a feathery kiss. "Then we're going to raise those children and grow old together. And that is how we're going to live our lives, Emelaide." He promised.

~~~

"No, I'm fine." Ariala smiled as she set her tea on the counter and leaned into Dimitrius. "I'm just going to have a light brekfast before my lesson." She said as she wrapped her arms around Dimitrius's neck and gave his lips a soft kiss.

"Only two?" Emelaide teased with a tender kiss, "I was hoping for three or four. But I like the sound of our life; it seems perfect," Emelaide whispered against his lips, "I love you Marreck, with all of my heart. And I promise you, I will do everything I possibly can to keep our children safe," Emelaide promised between kisses as she used her magic to dry off her arms so she could wrap them around Marreck's neck.

-

Dimitrius smiled as he returned her kiss with a long, tender, passionate one of his own, "I'll see you after lessons. Try not to overtire yourself, alright my love? I'll see if Liah is free for Dimeria to play with, give her someone to play with for the day in the gardens."

"We can have as many children as you like, Em." Marreck smiled between kisses. "As long as you keep them and yourself safe." He said before breaking their kisses to condition her hair, quickly rinsing it. Marreck rolled back the sleeves of his shirt before lifting Emelaide from the tub and wrapping her in the towel he had laid out. Marreck brought Emelaide into the bedroom and propped her against the pillows as he looked through their shared closet. "What do you want to wear, love?" He asked as he looked over her racks of clothes, unsure of what to pick out.

~~~

Ariala simply smiled as she gave Dimitrius a few tender kisses before returning to her tea. "But today you have to remember to wake her up from her nap." Ariala teased. "Otherwise I'm making midnight toast." She laughed as she took an apple from the icebox and took a crunchy bite, some of the juice trickling down her chin which she quickly wiped away with her thumb.

Drying herself off with her magic, Emelaide smiled as she looked at Marreck, a seductive smile set upon her lips, "What if I said I wished to wear nothing at all?" Emelaide felt her strength leaving her, knowing she'd soon revert to a deep sleep as she had when she over used her magic. Before she reverted into the sleep, not knowing how long she would remain that way, Emelaide wished to make love to her husband, but only if he wanted to.

-

Dimitrius chuckled as he kissed the rest of the apple juice away from her face, his tongue tenderly caressing her skin. "Aye, I will. If not, you'll find a way to punish me I'm sure," he added teasingly with a wink.

"Em..." Marreck said softly as he sat next to her on the bed, taking her hand in his. "Are you sure, love?" He asked softly. Marreck did want to make love to his wife but his concern for her health caused a small twist in his stomach. Marreck tenderly caressed her cheek softly as he pulled her forward for a soft kiss.

~~~

Ariala felt her toes curl against the wood floor as she sipped her tea delicately. "That's right." She smiled happily before turning back to the table and settling to the chair as she ate her apple.

Emelaide smiled as she returned his kiss with a tender one, trying to soothe him, "I'm sure. I know my body, Marreck, and I haven't got much strength left.. By tomorrow I'm going to be asleep like before.. I don't know how long I'll be asleep," Emelaide whispered as she rested her forehead against his, not wanting to lie to him and keep how she felt from him. "Please make love to me?" Emelaide asked softly, as she placed a tender kiss upon his lips.

-

Placing one last kiss upon Ariala's lips, Dimitrius headed into the bathroom to take a shower.

"Now how could I say no to you, Emelaide?" Marreck asked gently as he tugged once against the towel so that it felt around them, revealing Emelaide to him. "I love you." He whispered softly against her lips before resuming thier kisses, laying Emelaide back against the pillows as he did so.

~~~

Ariala finished her tea, rinsing out the cup and replacing it in the cupboard before tossing away the apple core. Ariala went into the bedroom and changed quickly into a pink dress with gold lace trim around the neckline. Ariala slid into her gold flats before heading out of the bedroom and leaving the small house, going to the castle for her lesson.

"I love you too," Emelaide whispered as her hands slipped up his shirt and barely managed to take it off. Letting it fall to the floor, Emelaide's hand slid into his soft hair and pulled him close as best she could with a smile upon her lips, "I love you so so much, never forget that."

-

Finishing his shower, Dimitrius quickly headed for the bedroom to dress. Coming out of his bedroom dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a white T-shirt, Dimitrius headed into the kitchen to prepare breakfast for himself and Ria, who would surely be up once she smelled breakfast.

Marreck smiled warmly at Emelaide as he traced the length of her jaw before removing the rest of his clothing. Slipping them both beneath the covers of the bed to make love to his wife.

Hathom rolled his eyes at the couple in the bedroom. "She's going to kill herself, the stubborn mule."

Sighing, Hathom sat down with a good book as he ate some fruit in the living room, keeping the temperatures, that were going even more out of whack on account of Emelaide's happiness over making love to her future husband, in control.

-

Dimeria woke up shortly after smelling the apple cinnamon waffles Dimitrius was making. Running to the kitchen with a big grin on her face, Dimeria smiled up at Dimitrius with her teddy in hand, "For me?"

Dimitrius chuckled as he nodded, "Aye, for you. Now to wash your face and hands before breakfast. Then after breakfast, you're getting a bath."

Dimeria frowned as she went and did as she was told, "I want to play.. I don't want a bath.."

"But you want to be all clean for when we see if Liah can play today, don't you?" Dimitrius called with a smile upon his lips.

Dimeria's mood instantly brightened as she ran back to the kitchen and looked up at Dimitrius, "Honest Trius?"

Marreck smiled as he laid beside his wife, not bothering to fight away the silly grin that filled his face. "I love you, Emelaide." He said as his fingers absentmindedly caressed every inch of her smooth skin that was within reach.

Emelaide smiled weakly as she softly caressed Marreck's cheek and whispered, "I love you too, Marreck. I'm so so sorry I won't be able to marry you in a few days. I'll make it up to you, I promise," Emelaide assured him as she leaned in and placed long, tender kisses upon his lips.

-

"Honest, love. Now scoot to that table or you won't be able to eat the waffles I made," Dimitrius teased as he placed a few cooked waffles onto the table and covered them in apple syrup. Seeing the waffles, Dimeria darted to the table and climbed onto her chair, a grin on her face.

Setting silverware down and a glass down, Dimitrius poured her a glass of pineapple juice, "Dig in, love."

"Thank you Trius!" Dimeria said happily before digging into her breakfast as Dimitrius prepared his own breakfast and sat down at the table.

Marreck couldn't help but laugh softly as he rested his forehead against Emelaide's, still tracing the length of her jaw tenderly. "Emelaide, you needn't make up for anything. I love you and only wish for you and our children to be safe." He told her before giving her lips another kiss.

"I'm still sorry, none-the-less," Emelaide whispered with one final kiss before yawning and leaning back into the pillows. "And I'm sorry I couldn't stay up longer... I love you," Emelaide whispered as she snuggled close to Marreck, falling into a deep slumber moments later.

-

After they finished their breakfast, Dimitrius set Dimeria in to start the bathwater as he quickly washed the dishes. Coming in moments later, Dimitrius put bubbles into the water as well as Dimeria's bath toys before undressing her and placing her in the tub. Giving her a quick wash, Dimitrius rinsed her off, drained the tub, put a towl around Dimeria, and put the toys away.

Picking Dimeria up, who was still chattering on and on about the possible play-date with Liah, Dimitrius brought her to her room, picked out an outfit, and dressed her before grabbing his jacket, sending Ria to put the towel in the bathroom hamper, and leading Ria by the hand to Erreminette's house.

Knocking on the door, Dimitrius laughed at Dimeria and tried his best to calm her excitement down.

Erreminette tried her best to stifle a yawn as she sipped her tea, tired from the late night before where Liah had insisted on spending the night with her cousin to chatter about meeting Dimeria. "Liah, love-" Erreminette tried to interrupt, having heard the knock on the door yet the young elf continued to rant abotu Dimeria between shoveling toast into her small mouth. Sighing, Erreminette made her way to the door and opened it to see the two winter elves in front of her. "Kitchen." Erreminette yawned, pointing to the kitchen where Liah sat as Erreminette leaned against the doorframe, leaving room for Dimitrius and Dimeria to pass.

Dimitrius laughed as Dimeria ran to the kitchen and hopped up onto a chair to talk to Liah.

"You too?" Dimitrius teased as he headed inside, "How long's she been at it? Ria's been at it all morning; ever since I suggested she may be able to play today. I dread how long she talked about it to Auntie Lina before she fell asleep!"

-

Feeling Emelaide's magic change, Hathom sighed as he set his book down and headed back to the bedroom. Knocking on the door, Hathom sighed, "Marreck, get Em dressed. She should probably stay in Winterglade for awhile. If you take her to Auntie's, Auntie Marie is going to be worried sick, not to mention the house is cramped enough. Do you know of anywhere else to stay? Dimitrius's old house perhaps? Or even Cindalina's?"

"All night." Erreminette sighed as she walked sluggishly into the kitchen. "I think I got about an hour's sleep." She said, her fingers at her temple as she leaned against the counter, Liah chattering away with jam covering her lips. "Liah..." Erreminette sighed as she set the tea on the counter and took a washcloth, washing away the jam from Liah's face and hands.

~~~

Marreck moved carefully out of the bed, not wanting to disturb Emelaide, before hurrying into a pair of sweatpants. "What am I supposed to dress her in?" Marreck asked, confused, as he covered Emelaide up with the sheet before going to the closet. "There's too many clothes..." He murmured to himself.