"I love you too, Marreck," Emelaide promised as she eagerly returned his kisses, placing her hand over his upon her stomach, "Forever."

"Mar? When I sleep, will you sleep beside me? I hate being alone.." Emelaide whispered with a small blush between kisses, "I guess.. I guess I just got used to having you beside me, is all. Not to mention I feel safe and as if I'll be alright when you're near me.. And I can kiss you anytime I want," Emelaide added with a laugh as she continued to kiss her fiancee.

"I'll stay here as long as you like." Marreck promised between kisses as he put his arms around her waist to bring her closer to him. "I love you, Em. And I love our twins." He smiled happily as he broke their kisses and looked down at Emelaide's flat stomach, wishing he could feel the babies the way she could.

"And we love you too, Marreck," Emelaide said with a warm smile as she caressed his cheek tenderly, a large smile set upon her lips as she looked down at the father of her children lovingly, "The twins cannot wait to be able to speak to you through movement next week. They are very excited to be able to speak to their father."

"Speaking of the twins.. We're wanting some of that juice you made me this morning as well as some apple pie.. Does Cindalina have either?" Emelaide inquired with a small chuckle and another kiss.

Marreck couldn't help but laugh as he sat up, loosening his grip on Emelaide. "I'll check, love." He said before giving her another quick kiss and disappearing from the bedroom. "Cindalina?" He asked when he entered the kitchen.

"Yes Marreck?" Cindalina inquired in a worried tone as she set down her tea her tea, "Is Emelaide alright? What's wrong?"

"She's alright." Marreck said with a smile, not able to keep it off his lips since Emelaide had woken up. "But she wanted to know if you had any apple pie and berries so I can make the drink I made her this morning." Marreck said.

Cindalina breathed a sigh of relief as she nodded, "Aye, the berries are in the ice box. They're frozen, but Careon can fix that for you."

Nodding, Careon stood and headed to the icebox and looked at the array of frozen fruits, "Which would you like?"

"Now that Emelaide is alright, I'm going to take Dimeria home. Tell me if anything changes, alright?" Dimitrius said with a warm smile as he stood from the table, holding Dimeria in his arms.

"Yes, of course," Cindalina said with a warm smile as Dimitrius placed a kiss upon her cheek, "Tell Ariala I said 'hello'."

"Of course," Dimitrius said with a warm smile before holding his hand out to Marreck, "Good luck, Marreck. Try not to worry too much, alright? Em's made it through worse than this, she'll be just fine."

After shaking Marreck's hand, Dimitrius headed out of the house and headed off towards Elimlee and Ariala.

Marreck headed over beside Careon and pulled strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries from the icebox to put them on the counter. "These will work." He said as he got out a glass and put ice in it.

Careon nodded with a smile as she unfroze them quickly, "Anything else you need?"

"Why don't you warm a large slice of that pie up, Carrie?" Cindalina said with a warm smile as she pointed to a cloth covered dish upon the counter.

"Sure thing," Careon laughed as she walked over and cut a generous slice for Emelaide as well as a slice for Marreck. Placing them on plates, Careon let her magic work on warming them up as she placed the cloth back over the pie and placed the knife in the sink.

"All set," Careon said with a warm smile as she sat back down at the table and poured herself some more tea.

"Thank you." Marreck smiled warmly as he crushed the berries into the glass and added a small bit of water. Balancing the drink in one hand, Marreck picked up both plates and brought the pie into the bedroom where Emelaide was. After setting down the drink beside Emelaide, Marreck put a piece of pie in her lap and set his own on the bedside table in case she wanted more.

Grinning as her eyes lit up with happiness at the sight of food and the juice she craved, Emelaide leaned over and placed a long, hard, tender kiss upon his lips, "Thank you Marreck! It smells delicious!"

After taking a large swig of her drink, Emelaide picked up her fork and eagerly dug into the pie, consuming half of it in just a few bites. Giggling as a bit of cinnamon and apple clung to her lip, Emelaide licked it away and set her plate upon her lap before taking another swig of her drink.

"Guess I was hungrier than I thought," Emelaide said with a laugh. "How come you're not eating?" she added curiously as she took another bite of her pie, this time slowing down and not taking such large bites.

"I'm not that hungry, love." Marreck smiled. "You can have my piece if you want." He offered as he gestured to his piece of pie on the nightstand.

Finishing her slice, Emelaide blushed as she looked at the slice on the stand, "I'm going to blow up like a blimp, just like they say... Won't I..." Emelaide said softly, not looking at Marreck as she spoke and pondered what she should do. She wanted the slice, but didn't want to blow up like a balloon and then have Marreck fall out of love with her. To eat the pie, or not to eat the pie. That was the question.

"Emelaide." Marreck laughed with an eye roll as he reached over her and handed her the slice of pie. "You're not going to blow up. And even if you did I'd think you were just as beautiful as you are now if not more." He promised as he kissed her cheek.

~~~

Ariala woke confused as she stared up in a daze at the ceiling. Rubbing her forehead to will away the headache she had, Ariala went into the bathroom, dropping her clothes as she walked before stepping into a hot shower. The steaming water cleared her head somewhat so that she could easily dress and go to the kitchen to find something to eat.

Emelaide laughed softly as she took the pie and began to eat it, "You're absolutely terrible, my love; trying to make me blow up as you are. However, I still love you, so I think I can forgive you," Emelaide teased as she leaned over and placed a long, tender kiss upon his lips before digging into the pie slice.

-

Dimitrius sighed as he managed to climb up the ladder with a sleeping Dimeria in his arms. Heading into the house, Dimitrius's mood perked up as he saw Ariala.

"Welcome home love, how was your lesson?" Dimitrius inquired softly as he made his way to Dimeria's room and laid her upon the bed. After tucking her in, Dimitrius headed out to the kitchen and walked over to Ariala, slipping his arms around her waist and placing a long, tender kiss upon her lips.

Marreck simply smiled as he put his arms around Emelaide, bringing her closer to him as he laid beside her. "I love you too, Em." He said as he rested his head in the crook of her shoulder and traced his fingers over her stomach absentmindedly.

~~~

"Long." Ariala smiled as the sleep seemed to vanish from Dimitrius's touch like a shot of adrenaline. "But I'm glad you're here now." She said as she put her arms around Dimitrius's neck and gave him a small kiss. "Did anything interesting happen?" She asked curiously.

Emelaide smiled as she placed a tender kiss upon his forehead before finishing her pie and setting the plates upon the stand beside the bed. Her strength slowly returning to her, Emelaide shifted closer to Marreck as she linked her fingers through his upon her stomach, the twins inside her reacting to Marreck's fingers upon her abdomen. "I think the twins like having you around," Emelaide murmured sleepily against his forehead with warm smile upon her lips and a light, tender kiss. Resting her head against Marreck's, Emelaide stifled a yawn as her eyes started to close.

-

Dimitrius sighed as he eagerly returned her kiss before caressing her cheek and explaining the story of Emelaide and his confrontation with Erreminette.

"..It was my fault for her being so angry, but honestly.. What was I to do? Emelaide could have been dying.. I was worried.. I couldn't bring myself to go have fun in the meadow with the girls when Marreck was going crazy over Emelaide and her predicament.. Are you angry with me?" Dimitrius finished as he placed a light kiss upon her forehead.

"Sleep Emelaide." Marreck coaxed as he pressed a kiss in her hair. "Sleep and dream happy dreams. I'll be here when you wake up." He promised.

~~~

"No." Ariala assured him as she gave his lips a quick kiss. "I'm just worried about Erre." She admitted as she dropped their embrace and searched for food in her kitchen. "She normally doesn't get so heated and when she does its because she's been keeping something bottled up." She said as she found bread and made herself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

"I love you Marreck," Emelaide whispered as she slid and rested her head upon Marreck's chest, hugging him close as she fell asleep, the late-afternoon glow of the sun coming in through the windows and resting upon the couple.

-

"You should go talk to her," Dimitrius said with a forced smile, though it wasn't apparent that it was forced, "Right now she probably needs someone, you more than anyone, to talk to about everything."

Ariala frowned as she felt Dimitrius tense up and walked over to him, putting her arms around his lower waist. "Dimitrius." Ariala sighed before giving him a small kiss. "I'm sorry she upset you by talking bad about Emelaide but this isn't Erre." She explained. "She wouldn't have acted like that if there wasn't something going on." She said as she rested her chin on Dimitrius's chest.

Holding her close, Dimitrius nodded as he looked down at her and caressed her cheek, "I know.. And I am very sorry for saying what I did in the manner I said it. However, I do not apologize for saying what I said to her for I know perfectly well she meant what she said, as did I. Ari, my love, why don't you go speak with Erreminette. Perhaps all she needs is a little female talk to open her up and make her feel better," Dimitrius added thoughtfully as before placing a couple of long, tender kisses upon her lips, his tongue caressing her own as he caressed her abdomen gently; wondering if Erreminette simply wished for a family of her own and felt out of place due to her two best friends having found their life-mates already while she herself had no one.

"I love you." Ariala whispered against Dimitrius's kiss as she felt his hand graze her stomach. "Perhaps I'll talk to her tomorrow morning. I'm tired from my lesson." She frowned. "But the rain is easier to manage now." She smiled before going to the icebox and pouring herself a glass of juice.

Dimitrius chuckled as he cut a piece of pie from the dish on the counter, gesturing towards Ariala's pie in a silent inquisition if she wished a piece or not as he spoke aloud, "Oh? I can imagine that tiring you out! I am very glad to hear it is better, my love. I take it you and Hathom are the cause of the large puddle by the rope ladders?" Dimitrius teased with a wink, "I suppose one good thing came out of the ordeal. I trust your Master is proud?"

Ariala shook her head at the pie as she replaced the juice and took her glass in both hands. "Yes, they needed an easier way to come to the ground with Emelaide so I made it ran and Hathom froze it." She explained as she sat in a nearby chair, the muscles in her legs sighing in relief.

Taking his pie and sitting opposite of Ariala, Dimitrius smiled as he leaned over and placed a tender kiss upon her lips, "I am very proud of you, my dearest Ariala. Perhaps one day soon, when you do not become as tired from it, you will show me your rain. How are your other lessons coming along? Are you progressing well?" Dimitrius inquired as he took a bite of his pie, wondering to himself if Ariala's magic was being affected like Emelaide's was, part of him fearing it may be so and wondering if she would ever tell him if it were.