STA: If you didn't read Cue The Storm yet you're welcome to try and follow this one, but a lot of stuff happened in that fic that influenced things in this fic, so you might want to go check it out first.

Also, a quick timing note: the two years listed in the story summary refer to since Sting first mentioned having a second child. The three years mentioned in the second paragraph refer to when Rogue became pregnant in CTS. I know someone is going to tell me I couldn't keep my time difference consistent if I didn't clear that one up.

For a third and, Rogue made Sting promise, final time, the professional life ruiner was going to visit their apartment.

Maybe it wasn't entirely fair to refer to Maple that way, if for no reason other than that no one actually paid her to ruin lives, and thus life ruining was not her official profession. But for as little love as Rogue had for her, he didn't care. Void of any noteworthy aspects beyond her talent for accidentally spawning disaster for everyone she met, he knew he ought not to be so harsh with the Mermaid Heel reserves girl. After all, she hadn't meant to screw up the spell three years ago that left him pregnant with Sting's child, and she certainly hadn't deliberately caused any of the chaos he found his life in after that, even if the whole mess was a direct result of her botched spell.

And the child that came out of that mess? Alex? Rogue loved her to death. The little toddler currently clinging to the end of his cape and peeking at the stranger from behind his leg was the most precious thing in his life. She'd been well worth whatever struggle he'd put up with while having her. But that didn't mean he'd enjoyed that struggle. It just meant he was happy to look somewhere other than his daughter when placing blame. And Maple, who had now come back into his life and was forcing his precious family through drama again, was an easy target.

"Are you sure you don't want to try again after this?" she asked. The question was asked in innocence, but it made Rogue growl. Alex took that as a sign that the stranger was bad, and ducked under his cape.

Sting smiled for her and shook his head. "Last time."

He didn't want this to be their last attempt, Rogue knew. Sting had insisted they have a younger sibling for Alex since the girl was only a few weeks old. Claiming that he would be the one pregnant this time around, since Rogue was so adverse to carrying another child himself. A few months earlier Rogue had finally given in completely to Sting's persistent begging, agreeing that Alex would be old enough by the time the next child came for parenthood to remain manageable for the two of them. The only concern he'd had was that, with the timing of things, their second child might be born too close to Alex's birthday.

This was no longer a concern. Even though Sting had tracked down Maple the very next day and coaxed her into recreating the accidental spell that had left four men pregnant, and come home that evening already suggesting names for the child he was then carrying.

After all, that child had been lost a month later. The second time, Sting had only been pregnant two weeks before miscarrying.

Deep down, Rogue suspected Sting's body was well aware of his own concerns. The ones that Sting seemed not to be touched by. Only a few weeks before Alex was born, Sting had been injured horribly. He'd been in a coma for almost a week, monitored in the hospital several weeks more, and in a wheelchair and then on crutches for months and months after. And even if the doctors swore Sting was good as new, even if he could fight the same way he used to, Rogue had never fully squelched the fear that those injuries might still drag his lover down.

But it was just his imagination, those times he saw Sting limping slightly on a leg that hadn't been struck that hard in a fight. Probably nothing. He hoped it was nothing. And if not, then maybe Sting would miscarry again, and not hurt himself in this third attempt.

Rogue felt wicked for wanting that, remembering how brightly Sting had beamed coming home with the news that he was pregnant, and how hard he'd cried when he no longer was. Looking at Sting now, anxious but hopeful as Maple cast her spell, he almost wanted to take back his order that this be the last attempt. It would just kill Sting inside, he knew, if this time failed too, and he had to give up his wish for another child.

But then Rogue had watched that wish come to consume him over the past few months, taking more and more of Sting's focus as it started to look less and less likely. If it wasn't possible, then it would be better for Sting to accept and move on.

"Mama?" Alex pulled down on Rogue's cape, pulling the clasp that held in place tight against his neck.

He coughed and tugged the cape the other way so as to more easily breath, then turned and dropped down onto one knee so she wouldn't have to look up so high to speak to him.

"Is something wrong?"

"Mama, bad lady?"

A bigger person than Rogue would have assured their child that Maple was a good person and that there was no reason to be afraid of her. Rogue, however, was afraid of her, and wanted Alex to stay far, far away from the woman.

He kept a distance from Maple while she worked with Sting, carrying Alex back into the nursery and digging around for toys to keep her entertained with. She had no shortage of stuffed animals, and in no time he had her set up so he was resting against a giant stuffed bear, cuddling a little stuffed dragon in her arms, and sucking on her thumb as he kept her entertained by making a miniature production from manipulated shadows.

Being his daughter in a million ways that she would never be Sting's, Alex was quite possibly the least afraid of the dark of any two-year-old in the history of mankind. Having been a small child himself while being raised by a shadow dragon, Rogue envied her for that.

She was giggling at his shadow knight, fumbling to try and impress a princess, when he heard the front door slam. It was less than a minute later before he saw Sting go into their bedroom. Odd. He'd expected Sting to come bursting into the room talking about how this time they really would have a second child.

Alex took priority. Rogue spent the next two hours playing with her until she began to nod off, at which point he set her back in her crib and went to check on Sting.

Sting, to his surprise, was lying away in their bed, curled up and staring blankly at the wall. It looked like he'd begun to change into pajamas, but given up while only halfway done undressing. Good for him. Noon was too early to get into pajamas.

"Did the spell work out alright?"

"Yeah."

"How are you feeling?"

"Dizzy."

"That should pass soon enough." Having once been the subject of Maple's male impregnating spell himself, Rogue remembered how disoriented he'd been immediately after being exposed to her magic. "I can make you lunch. Is there anything you want?"

The offer wasn't as generous as it might look to an outsider. So talented was Sting at burning food that if Rogue didn't cook, put together sandwiches, and even pour their bowls of cereal, they went hungry.

"Chicken noodle… I guess."

"You guess?"

"I'm not hungry."

"Is the dizziness that bad?"

"No. I think I'm developing an immunity to it. The room's only tilting a little. It's just…" Sting glanced up at Rogue. "This is my last chance, you know?"

Because Rogue had decreed that the third attempt had to be the final. He looked Sting over, lying dejected, half naked in bed. Then he glanced across the hall to the nursery door, where Alex was asleep. Was now a good time? There had been a few moments here and there where Rogue had thought it was finally time, only to be interrupted by Alex screaming or crying, but once she laid down to nap she was usually out for an hour or two. Now was probably the best chance they'd have for a while.

Couldn't hurt to try.

Rogue shut the bedroom door, undoing the clasp that held his cape in place and letting it drop. The cape was followed by his shirt. Now only wearing pants, Rogue got onto the bed, crawling over Sting.

"How about we do something to celebrate your being pregnant? To cheer you up?" he offered. "And if it doesn't work out, then we can do something special again. As consolation."

Sting, bafflingly, didn't take the hint. Not even after Rogue bent down and kissed him. So Rogue was forced to lean over so his body was just above Sting's. He kissed him again, on the cheek, then bit Sting's ear, tugging softly on it before whispering, "Whatever you want to do…"

"Maybe later."

Rogue froze

"Maybe… later?"

"Later," Sting repeated.

"Are you kidding me?" Rogue rolled off of Sting. "You've been pestering me for sex of the better part of a decade. The one time I'm in the mood you want it later? You do realize Alex will be awake later, right?"

Sting blushed and averted his gaze. "Please just make soup or something."

"Sting."

"Later, Rogue. Just…" he put hand on his stomach. "Once they're bigger. When they've had time to… when I know they're staying. I don't want to do anything, I mean anything, that might make me lose this one."

"Fine." Rogue rose from the bed and went to put his shirt back on. "But from personal experience, here's a bit of advice: sex is easier when you aren't late term."

Sting growled and pulled a pillow over his head. That was his usual reaction to the reminder that, when the two of them had hit a rough patch and ended up separating for almost a year, Rogue had ended up sleeping with Natsu. It was an act Rogue felt no guilt over. Sting was the one who'd initiated their split, and as Sting was going to learn if his efforts kept him from miscarrying a third time, nothing sucked worse than being a pregnant virgin. Besides, he'd been dating Natsu at the time, and he was allowed to sleep with his own boyfriend.

"I'll make soup," Rogue announced. "If you're taking it easy the next couple weeks, then you look after Alex and I'll focus on work."

A muffled thank you drifted out from beneath the pillow.

"It's not a big deal. But Sting… whatever happens, don't beat yourself up over it."