"Tomorrow we can look it over, love." Marreck said as he set his empty cup in the sink. "I'm pretty tired from today and want to get a headstart on some sleep." He laughed as he put away the things he'd used for tea before giving her head a light kiss. "I'll see you in the morning, Jessi." He said, giving the elf a small wave before disappearing down the hallway and into the bedroom.

Finishing her tea, Emelaide smiled as she watched Marreck leave.

"I am glad to see you are not fighting anymore," Jessi said kindly as he sipped his tea.

"So am I," Emelaide said with a warm smile as she looked up at Jessi, "I do not like it when we fight.. And we've only started fighting on account of this pregnancy.. It is understandable, but still.. I wish everyone would believe me to be less fragile than they all think. Still, it is better to just accept it for now instead of constantly fighting over it," Emelaide added with a nod. "I like it much more when we are not fighting."

"Which is how it should be," Jessi said with a warm smile as he finished his tea and gathered the dirty dishes to wash them. "When did you decide to create a green room?" Jessi asked curiously.

"While you were gone, actually. Your tree gave me the idea," Emelaide said with a smile. "I think I shall head to bed as well. Goodnight Jessi."

"Goodnight Emelaide," Jessi said with a wave as he washed the tea dishes. When he was finished, he headed into the living room and read for a bit before turning in as well.

When Emelaide entered the bedroom, Emelaide quietly entered and shut the door behind her. Getting into bed, Emelaide curled up behind Marreck, wrapping her arms around his waist as she placed a tender kiss upon the back of his shoulder, "Goodnight my love."

"Goodnight, love." Marreck murmured as his hands held onto her's, holding them against his chest before drifting off to sleep.

~~~

In Elimlee, Ariala was not so peacefully sleeping as she tossed in turned, holding a pillow in place of her husband and praying that the night would be over soon.

Flopping onto his back, Dimitrius sighed as he stared at the ceiling. He loved Ariala, and he missed her warm frame beside him. But how could she have gone to her lessons with Dimeria hurt like that? How could she do it? Groaning, Dimitrius ran his hands over his face with a sigh. Getting out of bed, Dimitrius threw on a light jacket, pulled his hair back, and headed to Elimlee.

He had to know why. Why and how. He couldn't let it go. He had to understand what was going through her mind at that moment. Running through the snow, Dimitrius' thoughts ran a muck as he tried to figure out Ariala's actions and how best to ask her about it.

Ariala groaned in fustration as she tossed her pillow to the floor, and ran her hands through her hair. She missed having Dimitrius holding her and she flopped to her side. Ariala sighed as she thought about whether or not Dimitrius would ever want to sleep next to her again and she quickly blinked the tears from her eyes. Don't go there... She thought to herself before turning over and attempting sleep again.

When he reached their home, Dimitrius sighed. Opening the door, Dimitrius hung up his jacket as he shut the door. Heading to the bedroom, Dimitrius knocked on the door. "Ari? Are you still awake?" Dimitrius called softly, hesitantly.

"Dimitrius?" Ariala shot upright in the bed, sure that she was hearing voices. "Dimitrius." She said softly as she tossed the blankets aside and all but ran to the bedroom door, opening it and feeling an entire flood of feelings that she couldn't name or separate at the moment. "You're really here." She said feeling both elated and terrified as she clutched her arms around her stomach. "Is everything okay? Did something happen?" She asked hesitantly as she ran over the reasons why he'd come back in the middle of the night.

Caressing her cheek, Dimitrius placed a long, tender kiss upon her lips before pulling her close and resting his forehead against hers. "I want to know why. Why you chose lessons over Dimeria, and how in the hell you managed to say it. I need to know," Dimitrius murmured softly as his fingertips lightly caressed her back.

"I-" Ariala started though froze when Dimitrius' lips touched her's and greedily wished they would again. Once her thoughts had found their way back in order she opened her lips again. "I don't know why I said it, Dimitrius. I wish I could find some reason to tell you why I said those things but the only real reason is that I was in shock of what was happening. I never should've mentioned lessons over Dimeria, you know I love her completely and I hate that I acted otherwise. I never went to my lessons, I ran to Cindalina's only minutes after you left." Ariala said softly, the tears starting to flow as her hands held onto Dimitrius' sides for support. "I'm so sorry, Dimitrius. I'm sorry about the way I acted and I'm sorry that I got Dimeria hurt." She finished slowly.

Dimitrius sighed a sigh of relief as he pulled her close in a tight embrace. "I don't want to fight anymore.." Dimitrius murmured into Ariala's hair, "Promise me you will never say something like that again. If it happens again.. I.. I don't know if I can forgive you.. I'm finding it hard to do it now.. Still, I love you with all of my being and hate us being apart like this. Please, just promise me this will never happen again."

"I promise." Ariala said, sagging in relief as her hands wound around his waist. "Dimitrius, I know I made a mistake and I swear to you that it will never happen again." She swore before pulling away a bit. "How is Dimeria? Is she still in pain? What did the doctors say?" She asked, searching Dimitrius for answers.

"We will know in a few days if she will be scarred or if they can heal it with no markings. Right now they've induced her into a slumber, but what happened to Emelaide when she over did things and used up the last of her strength. It will help keep her from feeling the pain. Right now they have herbs and ointments on her wound wrapped in bandages. Other than the possible scarring, she's going to be just fine," Dimitrius said with a warm smile before placing a long, tender kiss upon Ariala's lips.

"I'm so sorry." Ariala murmured between kisses, her arms wrapped tight around Dimitrius's neck. "Dimitrius, I'm so sorry." She continued to ramble on, a few tears threatening to fall. "Will you stay here tonight?" She asked softly once she was able to compose herself a bit.

"Of course, my darling," Dimitrius murmured as he wiped her tears and kissed her gently. "Come on, it's been a long day, and you've been in hysterics for most of it. We both need to rest so we can be there for Dimeria tomorrow," Dimitrius said gently as he led Ariala to the bed.

Curling behind her upon the bed, Dimitrius placed a tender kiss upon her neck. "I love you, Ariala."

"I love you too, Dimitrius." Ariala said softly, leaning back into the familiar embrace of her husband. "So much." She added as he eyes began to close and she drifted into a much more peaceful sleep.

Smiling as his face rested in her hair, Dimitrius felt calmer from the fruity smell of her hair. Glad that his wife was beside him once more, Dimitrius drifted off to sleep with a content smile upon his lips.

----

The next morning, Emelaide awoke to a sharp pain in her stomach. Cringing, she held her abdomen tightly. However, soon her eyes were wide as she felt her stomach moving.

When the pain finally resided, Emelaide smiled as she caressed the small bulge that had grown. "So this is what my mother felt when she was carrying me..." Emelaide whispered with a wide affectionate smile. "You really scared Mommy," Emelaide murmured to her little ones as she sat up and looked down at her abdomen. "Next time give Mommy a warning before you start growing," Emelaide teased with a laugh before turning to Marreck and taking his hand.

Pressing his palm to her abdomen, Emelaide gently awoke Marreck and called, "Marreck, feel. Our twins are growing!"

"Hm?" Marreck started as he sat upright too quickly and gripped his head in response. "Em?" He asked as he turned to face her before what she said had set it. "They're moving!" Marreck laughed happily once he'd placed one of his hands over her stomach. "Good morning, little ones." He cooed softly.

Caressing his hands with her own, Emelaide smiled as she placed a tender kiss upon Marreck's forehead. "They decided to scare Mommy by causing her terrible pain for the past hour and a half. But it is worth it to feel them growing at last. The doctor said after their magic developed to a certain point, their body would grow to match it before the magic started again. I guess it looks like we have a month of semi-bliss before the magic starts making me sick again," Emelaide said with a small laugh as she looked down at the small bulge of her abdomen. "But Mommy is so happy to know everything will be just fine in the end."

"And Daddy is very excited to meet you." Marreck said before straightening his back and giving Emelaide a soft kiss. "Hm, its strange to think that I'm going to be a dad. Isn't that for old people?" He laughed softly against her lips, his hand still caressing the smooth line of her stomach.

~~~

"Dimitrius." Ariala mumbled as she began to wake up, burying her face in his chest to avoid the sunlight. She wasn't sure last night had really happened until she put an arm around his side, checking to see if he was still there. Ariala knew she had a made a huge mistake the day before and she felt extremely lucky that he'd forgiven her.

"Mmm," Emelaide murmured teasingly between kisses as her fingertips wrapped gently around a lock of his hair, "But you are old, my darling. I didn't want to alarm you, but I'm beginning to see grey hair amongst that dark brown I love so much. However, this small little moving bulge is going to one day be two beautiful babies that look just like you. Then I won't mind your grey hair so much," Emelaide added with a wink.

----

"Hm?" Dimitrius murmured sleepily. Giving a small, sleepy chuckle as he saw Ariala and felt her hold onto him. Gently caressing her back, Dimitrius placed a tender kiss upon the top of her head. "Don't worry, I'm still here," Dimitrius whispered as he continued to caress her back.

"Oh really?" Marreck asked with a laugh. "As I remember it, Emelaide you're older then I am." He reminded her. "The difference is that I'm classy enough not to point out your obvious signs of aging." Marreck teased as he left small kisses on her neck. "You best watch what you say, love." He murmured before giving her lips a light kiss.

~~~

"Good." Ariala said softly as she curled against him. "Its hard to sleep without you here." She added quietly as one finger traced the length of his arm. "Would you like some breakfast, love. Or did you want to go to Winterglade early to check on Dimeria?" She asked, tilting her neck some to look at her husband.

"Pish posh!" Emelaide laughed as she placed a long, tender kiss upon Marreck's lips, her tongue lightly playing with his. "A woman never talks about her age, but for your information I shall remain one-hundred twenty-six for all of time while you grow older and older until I cannot even begin to fathom your age," Emelaide murmured teasingly against his lips as she pulled him closer, "In four years time you shall be older than I."

Flopping back onto the bed dramatically, the back of her hand pressed to her forehead, "But really darling, how could you say I have obvious signs of aging when I am clearly flawless from head to toe?"

-----

"I know how you feel, my love. I couldn't sleep without you beside me either," Dimitrius admitted with a small smile before placing a tender kiss upon Ariala's lips. "But breakfast sounds wonderful, my love. What did you have in mind?"

"Flawless are you?" Marreck laughed as he leaned over his fiancee, giving her neck soft kisses. "I think flawless is taking it a bit far, love. Maybe more along the lines of flawed but if that's what you need to tell yourself then who am I to burst your bubble?" He asked before stealing a quick kiss from her lips and standing from the bed.

~~~

"What ever you like." Ariala yawned as she sat up in the bed, leaning back on her hands. "Maybe some eggs and toast. I think there's still blueberry jam here." She pondered before getting out of bed and walking to the kitchen.

Emelaide laughed as she threw a pillow at Marreck, "Is that any way to talk to the mother of your twins? Honestly. We're going to have to teach you some proper manners!" Sliding into her wheel chair, Emelaide shook her head with a laugh as she opened the bedroom door. "Just for that, your punishment will be to make me raspberry pancakes, your special juice, and a side of scrambled eggs with salt, a mix of cheeses, and spinach."

----

Following her as he rubbed his eyes, Dimitrius called, "I think it might be time to go shopping then, hm? Eggs and toast sounds fine, love. I'll get the tea started while you cook. Any particular flavor you'd like?" Dimitrius asked as he opened the tea cabinet.

"What an awful punishment, Em." Marreck teased as he turned to give her a quick wink. "But I think I'll manage." He laughed as he walked into the kitchen and began whipping up a batch of pancake batter, tossing in a few raspberries to it.

~~~

"Could you make the kind my mother gave us?" Ariala asked. "My stomach is feeling a bit off." She said as she reached for bread to toast before heating up a pan for the eggs.