Disclaimer (applies to all chapters): I do not own any characters, places, or objects created by Tamora Pierce. Oh, how I wish I did.

A/N: This takes place about a year after It's Great To Be Home. I would advise reading that fic before you read this one, just for some background (Don't worry it's only four chapters long!). Also, between these two fics, Yuki has already had her child, a girl, who is now almost a year old. And I also give credit to Mrs. Dom Masbolle for the title of this fic and the inspiration…Thanks! And now, here it is!

Chapter One: Unexpected Surprise

Border patrol was no knight's favorite duty, and the Lioness and Lady Knight Keladry were no exception. The two lady knights were standing together, resting after their morning's work out on the practice courts. It was a chilly fall morning, and a light fog was still settled about the fort where they were stationed. The mixture of the coldness in the air and it being the early morning put Alanna in a sour mood.

"Gods curse it, its fall and it's already freezing!" complained Alanna, glancing about at the fog. "No wonder Scanrans fight all the time…it's too cold to just sit around!"

Kel smiled, not minding the weather in the least. Mindelan was close by and she was used to the weather. However, she was not used to the funny feeling that was filling her stomach. What did I eat that's making me feel so weird? She thought to herself curiously. The sickness in her stomach had occurred the morning before also.

Kel decided to ask Alanna. "Does your stomach feel funny? I think it's something I ate…"

Alanna chuckled, while leaning back against the wall of a nearby building. "I've traveled many places, Kel. I have an iron stomach, even when it comes to the poorest of cooking. The only time I ever experience a weak stomach is when I'm on the water. Oh, how I hate boats…" Her face contorted to show her disgust of that mode of transportation.

"I've never had a weak stomach either," Kel thought aloud, "my brother, Conal, would put all sorts of things in my food when I was younger…and I never once got sick."

Alanna, who had still been thinking about sea voyages, laughed at this. "If my brother Thom would have done that when we were young, he would've never made it to the University."

Kel smiled, though she was still distracted by the weird feeling in her stomach.

The Lioness, seeing Kel's pale face, stopped smiling and pushed herself away from the wall she was leaning against. "Here, let me see what I can do."

Using her Gift, Alanna reached out to her. What she found was very interesting. Retracting her magic, she looked at Kel.

"So?" asked Kel, waiting for a response.

"Um, Kel, when was the last time you saw your husband?"

Kel gave her a quizzical look. "About two months ago before he left with the Own, why?"

At this Alanna bit back a smile. Then seeming to forget the topic at hand, she told Kel, "You know, the only other time I've had a weak stomach was when I was pregnant with my first child, Thom."

"Alanna, what has that got to do with what's the matter with-" Kel stopped short. Then her eyes widened at the sight of Alanna's grin. "Are you telling me that I'm-I'm-"

"Yes, Kel, you're pregnant," stated Alanna, her grin turning into a large smile.

"I-I can't be. I mean, I have things to do. I can't be pregnant now!" she said. Then quietly she added, reddening visibly, "Besides, I had my pregnancy charm on…"

"They don't always work," said Alanna, laughing softly, "Though I will admit that they are usually quite reliable." Then she added, thoughtfully, "Didn't you wonder why you didn't get your monthlies?"

Kel smiled sheepishly, "To tell you the truth…I never even noticed. I'm usually so busy that I never even pay attention until it comes…And I've been so busy these last few months with patrol and traveling and all. And now what am I going to do? I won't be able to train and I have so many things to get done."

The Lioness laughed, "You sound like me when I first found out I was pregnant! Of course, I was in denial for most of my first pregnancy, and went about my usual routines as if I hadn't suddenly gained so much weight. At first George thought I was out of my mind, and let's just say my temper did not improve any…I think everyone fled our castle during both of my pregnancies. Except for George of course, he was amused at the sight of me eating for what looked like a whole squad of men."

Kel smiled. She could just imagine a pregnant Alanna- who had a famed temper without the added hormones.

Then the Lioness continued, "But believe me; you don't have to be bed ridden when you're pregnant, no matter what Dom or Neal might try to tell you. I was still going about, doing my regular things till I was practically in labor with Thom. Pregnancy might be a burden at times, especially in our line of work, but it's definitely worth it." Alanna smiled wistfully, before adding wickedly, "Or so George made me believe."

Chuckling, Kel placed a hand on her abdomen, copying the same wistful smile Alanna had just shown. "I've wanted a child for some time now, I just didn't know if I was ready quite yet, but I guess being pregnant won't be so bad."

"I was afraid that I wasn't ready also, but I soon found out I was. I love everything about my children, and if I could go back in time, I would choose them over my work any day…though I might opt out of actually having them again. That was not fun." Seeing Kel's face, she then quickly added, "But, even though being pregnant was not easy all of the time, especially when I was trying to stay in shape, I was treated wonderfully by my husband. I had never felt so pampered in all my life, and the way he would look at me and walk around our castle with a proud smile on his face, made it all worth it. Even the birthing."

Noticing that Kel still looked a little pale, Alanna smiled, "Here I am rambling on about my life while you're feeling sick to your stomach. Follow me to the infirmary. I'll make you some special tea."

With that, Kel followed her gratefully. It really did help to have another woman here to tell her what to do. She could only imagine what the men there at the fort might do if they found out her condition. She imagined them raising such an alarm that the Emperor in Carthak would be able to hear them…or perhaps Alanna's own daughter in the Copper Isles.

It would be another two weeks until she returned to Corus, and hopefully to Dom, too. In his last letter he and his squad, along with most of Third Company, were in a small fief in the south, having been called to aid them in a centaur attack. They had succeeded, but were still helping to fix the damages to the village that the immortals had made.

That letter had arrived over a week ago, and Kel was sure they would be gone from the fiefdom by now. She did not wish to tell him her news in a letter, but she was saved the temptation, not knowing where he would be anyway.

As she lay down to go to sleep, thoughts kept racing through her mind. How would Dom react to hearing that they were going to have a child? Would the child look like her or Dom, or a mixture of them both? Did all women go through that terrible morning sickness? How did her own mother go through nine pregnancies? And the question that kept popping up in her mind as she drifted off to sleep: How am I going to tell Dom?

A/N: Well, that's the first chapter! How'd you like it? Sorry I didn't get this up sooner, but so many things have happened lately…Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it and tell me what you thought! (And if you're wondering about Ilane having 9 children…it's true! Tammy said so herself once on SHEROES! All I have to say to that is: Wow! I have a lot of respect for that woman! lol)