"Your wife has contracted the Black Death."
Those were the words repeating in Bash's head over and over. A guard had overheard someone say it, and felt the need to tell Bash immediately. Presently, he was blindly running through the halls of the castle with only one thing on his mind. I have to get to Kenna. I have to get to Kenna. I have to get to Kenna. He repeated the mantra in his head over and over. She had only just come into his life; they had only confessed their love for each other a month ago; he couldn't lose her now. He needed her, and she needed him. It seemed like God was determined to punish her for something he had not done. Not to mention little Pascal; he had come to think of her as his mama. Pascal needed her too. He prayed to God that the guard had heard wrong; it could not be true. They couldn't lose each other so quickly.
"Monsieur de Poitiers?" the castle physician asked as he approached the door.
"I need to see my wife," he demanded.
"I'm sorry; she's in no condition to see anyone."
"Do I look like I give a damn? Let me see my wife!"
"I'm sorry, you can't-"
Bash pushed the doctor out of the way, and tried to open the door. He groaned in frustration; it was locked.
"I told you, she's in no condition to see anyone."
"Not even her husband?"
"She said not to let anyone in."
"Bash?" he heard her small voice from behind the door.
"Kenna? What's going on? Open the door, love."
"I…I can't."
"Why not?"
"I can't tell you."
"To hell with it, then."
Bash started kicking the door, and kept kicking it until it gave way. Kenna was standing there, looking as perfect and healthy as ever. She ran to him, and he picked her up and spun her around. He kissed her cheek before he set her down.
"I thought you had contracted the Black Death," he said in between kisses to her cheeks.
"What? No, no. I'm perfectly healthy, Bash."
"Then what can't you tell me?"
"Promise you won't be upset?"
"I promise…" he said, a little weary.
"I'm pregnant," she blurted and looked down.
"What?" he smiled widely. "Love, that's wonderful news!"
"You really think so?"
"Yes! We're going to have a child of our own!"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
He punctuated his sentence with a kiss.