Author's Note: Hi everyone! I'm back. :-) I think I've got my priorities straightened out... or as straight as they're gonna get... so I'll be updating sporadically. Summer is always busy 'cause it's growin' season (notice my accent there...) so I'm not sure I'll have a lot of time to write... but I did decide that I'm finishing this story no matter what... or long... ;-)

I'm not terribly thrilled with this chapter but I figured my loyal few deserved an update so I'm just gonna stop messin' with it. Please review it. I really need some criticism.

Thank you so much C.A.S. for your continuing support. Thanks Alix for the ice cream... it was yummy... although I did pick off the coconut... I'm sorry, darkArtist, I didn't mean to let ya down, forgive me? You guys make this dark lonely journey in the land of little reviews a happier place for me, thank you, I couldn't make it without your encouragement.

~Spoo'

XXX

Chapter 6

"What am I doing?" Jadyn asked Bailey, cradling her shoulder as they waited, briefly wondering if she was

making a mistake. The bus to London pulled up to the station and she stood, gathering her pack and Bailey, and stepped on the bus. I'm committed now. She thought as the door squeaked shut behind her.

Avoiding the driver's eyes, praying he wouldn't try to initiate a conversation, she paid him and plopped wearily down onto a seat near the back. Bailey curled up under her feet, groaning contentedly. Now that the adrenalin had faded her shoulder was protesting enough to make her lightheaded and slightly nauseated. She wished she'd packed some ibuprophen. At least the pain will keep me awake, she thought dryly.

The two hour bus ride seemed to stretch on into eternity but at last she was standing outside Heathrow's terminal 3. An American Airlines flight was scheduled to depart for O'Hare in just over an hour at 6:15. She bought a ticket and made sure everything with Bailey still checked out, hoping she still had time to grab some food and find some OTC pain medicine before returning to the security checkpoint.

An hour later she sat in her seat waiting for takeoff. The Tylenol she'd purchased at an exorbitant price in one of the gift shops had taken the edge off her pain and the McDonalds she'd subjected her system to had eased the roiling of her stomach. If only she had something to ease her emotional pain as well. Am I doing the right thing? She asked herself, not for the first time since embarking on this tumultuous journey. She was about ready to run off the plane when she reminded herself of the conversation she'd overheard not 4 hours ago. Yes, she assured herself, this was the best course of action. As much as she thought she loved Marak, she would not be rushed or forced into a hasty marriage. Even though she knew that was the last thing he would want as well, there were too many variables, too much at stake for her to risk staying. As convoluted as it sounded, running was her only hope for a relationship with the Goblin King.

XXX

He was so angry he couldn't think straight. Angry at Faran for spooking Jadyn, angry at Sage and Koal for their inability to stop her, angry at Jadyn for running instead of talking it over with him. If he was completely honest though, the person he was the most angry with was himself.

Cursing in the strange Goblin tongue, Marak knelt beside the unconscious Koal and began inspecting the shallow gash, Sage observing mutely. "I should just leave it to heal on its own." He muttered. "Serve you right for letting your guard down." Shaking his head in annoyance, he stood up to locate his healing pack. He'd dropped the small satchel just inside the back door. Koal was kneeling, cradling his head when he returned. "Did you have a nice nap?" Marak asked sardonically.

Koal stood quickly, grimacing. "Sire, I-"

"Save it." Marak seethed. "What'd she hit you with?" He asked, tending to the wound with quite a bit less than his usual tenderness.

"A flashlight." Koal answered, chagrined.

Marak chuckled mirthlessly. "She get you with a flashlight too?" He asked, turning to inspect Sage's temple.

"No." Sage replied quietly.

Marak handed Sage the satchel. "Go take care of your head. I expect a full report when you return."

"Sire, don't you want us to go after her? Discover where she's headed?" Koal asked, incredulously.

"No. It's too late now." Marak replied tersely. "And I know exactly where she's headed."

XXX

The plane touched down in Chicago at 9:35 CDT, they had made good time over the Atlantic and with the difference in time zones the 8 hour flight was transformed into a 3 hour flight. Or something like that, time zones had always confused her, Jadyn reflected as she went in search of Bailey.

"I guess we'd better call them first, huh girl?" Bailey responded with a whine. "Or we could eat first." Jadyn grinned humorlessly. I really need to get this shoulder fixed. She thought as another stab of pain shot through her, a wave of dizziness quickly following. Too bad Marak isn't here. She dismissed that thought as soon as it formed. "Okay. Food, then medical assistance. I don't think I have the guts to set my own shoulder." She informed Bailey, heading toward concourse H where, if she remembered correctly, The Fresh Departure was located.

An hour later, shoulder set thanks to the ministrations of the UIMCC doctors in terminal 2, and stomachs satiated with deli sandwiches, Jadyn stood in front of a bank of payphones, working up the nerve to call her sister. Steeling herself, she dropped the quarter in the slot and dialed the number. Kira's voice answered, slightly breathless on the fourth ring. "Hello?"

Taking a deep breath, Jadyn replied. "Hey, sis, it's me. I'm in Chicago…"

XXX

Marak didn't know whether to laugh or rage at Sage and Koal's accounts of Jadyn's departure. He settled somewhere in the middle, shaking his head ruefully. "Koal, I need you to inform Faran of last night's events. Let him know that I'll be returning to the kingdom after dark and that we need to set up a meeting with Aeron as well."

"I'll leave at once, milord." Koal responded, his aura betraying his regret and vexation at his failure of his liege.

"Peace, Koal. I know just how stubborn my little Jade is, you could not have kept her here without inflicting serious damage. Stop berating yourself my friend, it is a poor outlet for your energy. And that goes for you too, Sage, neither of you are to blame." Marak's sigh was nearly inaudible.

"Perhaps you should take your own advice, my King. If Koal and I are not at fault, then you cannot blame yourself either. How much harder is it to contain a woman when you are not even present?"

Marak smiled at the older goblin, a hint of his former humor returning. "Thank you, Sage, but it is the King's prerogative to find fault with whomever he wishes, himself included."

Sage and Koal exchanged knowing looks as Marak retreated upstairs.

Memories assaulted Marak as he entered Jadyn's bedroom. He glanced mournfully at the unmade bed, an uncommon sight as that was Jadyn's first act in the morning. Obviously she'd left in a rush, he reflected, taking inventory of the things she'd left. The dresser caught his eye and his eyes narrowed in surprise. She took our picture. He realized, after checking behind the dresser to make certain it had not simply fallen out of view. Hope surged through him, but he quickly quashed it. Hope was a luxury he could not afford.

XXX

Kira, despite Jadyn's protests, had insisted on picking her up from the airport. Jadyn hugged her sister carefully, afraid of injuring the delicate and very pregnant younger woman. She shrugged off her questioning gaze and instead helped Bailey into the car. "I've missed you." Jadyn sighed, reclining her seat back a bit.

"I've missed you too, but what are you doing here, sis?" Kira asked, pulling out into the thick Chicago traffic. "Don't just shrug at me." She warned.

"Ooo! You've already got that tough mom voice going on." Jadyn teased with an exaggerated shrug.

"Stinker. I can't believe you're older."

"Yeah, no one else can either."

"So…" Kira prompted.

"It's complicated, can I sleep first?" Jadyn asked, yawning for effect.

"Oh for heaven's sake, Jada. How complicated can it be?"

"Remember that guy I was telling you about, Marak?"

"The mysterious goat guy or the weirdo in the woods?"

"The mysterious goat guy." Jadyn smiled wanly. "I don't want to get into all of it right now, but basically, he wanted to marry me, I wasn't so sure, so I left to clear my head." She leaned back into her seat and close her eyes, exhausted and needing to escape her sister's penetrating gaze.

"So you hopped on a plane in the middle of the night, without taking the time to pack more than a backpack or call me, because you needed to 'clear your head'?" Kira raised an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Hey, I warned you that I didn't want to get into it right now, you'll just have to wait until later for a better explanation." You'll just have to wait until I figure out how much I'm going to tell you. Jadyn sighed, understanding for the first time how hard it must have been for Marak the past three months, deciding just how much to tell her and when.

"Okay grumpy, I get it. I'm only letting you off the hook temporarily, and then you will tell me what I want to know." Kira grinned, emphasizing "will" and waving her hand around in an imitation of a Jedi.

"Now Kira, you know those Jedi mind tricks only work on the weak-minded."

Kira snorted. "Yeah, and your point was?"

"Very funny." Jadyn retorted, failing in her attempt to keep from smiling.

"I like to think so." Kira stole a glance at her obviously exhausted sister and forced herself not to pry. The remaining few minutes continued in silence as Kira focused on driving on the snow-slicked roads and Jadyn dozed. "Jada?" Kira shook her sister awake. "I'm not carrying you inside." She teased.

"Mmm" Jadyn groaned, mumbling incoherently. She levered herself out of the car, grabbed her pack and called to Bailey, following Kira up the icy drive to the apartment. "Hey Buster." She greeted Matt and Kira's fat Garfield look-alike. "Is Matt home today?"

"He just went in for a half-day, he should be back soon." Kira answered, locking the door behind them.

"Why don't you take a shower and get some sleep. Maybe you'll be in a more compliant mood by dinnertime." She teased. "We've turned the 2nd bedroom into a nursery but you'd probably prefer the loft bedroom anyway."

"You're insufferable, but I love you anyway. Thanks, sis." Jadyn hugged Kira before heading to the bathroom.

"I know." Kira grinned.

XXX

Marak slowly opened the envelope, a strange mixture of excitement and dread swirling in his chest.

Marak,

This is the fifth draft of this letter and I still don't know what to say except that I miss you. I miss England. I miss the Lodge, and Cherry, and the forest… but I don't regret leaving. I have to admit to feeling a bit betrayed by what I heard that last night in England. The thought of you forcing me to marry you is repulsive to me. Please don't misunderstand. It's not the thought of marrying you that is repulsive but rather that you could and would make me. I thought you were better than that, I know you're better than that. I know under any other circumstances you wouldn't, but I also know that you need to do what you feel is best for your people and I don't want to put you in a position of choosing between me and my feelings and desires or them. Marriage is not something I can enter into lightly. Especially to you, with all the unique circumstances that would present themselves. I have to weigh the costs and I just can't when I'm around you. I fell in love with you before I knew what you were and now that I know, I can't let those feelings from before influence the decisions I have to make now. I know that doesn't make much sense to you, it barely makes sense to me, but this is the way it has to be for now. I need to find out if I can love Marak the Goblin King the way I loved Marak the human goat guy. If you can't wait for me to figure that out, it's okay, I'll understand. Thank you for giving me this time.

I wish you could have met Kira and Matt; you would have liked them. I love being here with them, but the city is already becoming tiresome and I can't imagine staying four more months. Oh well, seeing my little niece will be well worth it. I can't wait to meet her! Kira and Matt have waited so long for this; it is hard to imagine the time is almost here.

If you could ship over some of my stuff to this address, I'd really appreciate it. Just some clothes, my laptop, and the book I was reading, it is next to the couch in the living room, I think. And anything else you'd think I would want. You're awesome.

Tell Cherry I love her and I'll be back soon. Tell Sage and Koal that I'm still sorry. I hope you weren't too hard on them, it really wasn't their fault. And tell Faran where he can stick his opinions. Just kidding, mostly.

Well, I hope you aren't terribly mad at me, but if you are I completely understand. I'd be really mad at me too. You'd better write back though, I don't care how mad you are. You can even write in all CAPS if it makes you feel any better.

Well, I guess that's it. Take care, Marak. I'll see you in four months or so.

Love,

Jadyn

Marak sighed as he laid the paper on his workroom desk. Wordlessly, he handed it over to Faran who read it anxiously.

"And just where would you like me to stick my opinions, Jadyn?" Faran murmured, amused, laying the letter back on the desk. He sat back, studying the King for a minute before deciding on optimism. "At least she specified a time frame." A delayed wedding was infinitely preferable to no wedding at all. In four months time Jadyn would return, Marak would once again sweep her off her feet and they'd be wed by the spring months. This turn of events, though disappointing was only a minor setback and their affections for each other would most certainly quicken the conception of an heir. Yes, Faran was feeling quite optimistic.

Marak, picking up on the direction of his advisor's thoughts, glowered at his friend. "Could you try to be a little more sensitive? Jadyn and I are not pawns and she certainly is not just a means to an heir."

"Of course she isn't, Marak, I never said she was. You can't fault me for thinking of the greater good, though, someone around here has to as you're too busy pining for the girl you scared off." Faran retorted angrily.

Marak's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Get. Out." He bit out through gritted teeth.

Faran beat a hasty retreat, slamming the door behind him. The two door attendants exchanged knowing glances. Faran and Marak's fights, though infrequent, were legendary. They wouldn't stay mad long. Neither man was the type to carry a grudge and both were humble enough to admit when they were wrong. All would be forgiven and forgotten by weeks end.

Marak laid a weary head on his desk, already regretting his reaction. What's gotten into me? He wondered dismally. Faran was just being Faran. Annoying, yes. Plotting and calculating, most certainly. Callous and uncaring, not so much. Faran really did have his best interests and those of the kingdom at heart. He would do well to follow his friend's example, Marak realized, and not allow his feelings to rule him. Raising his head back up he quested out with his mind, identifying Sage just as he reached the door. "Come in." He spoke before Sage had a chance to knock.

The diminutive goblin glided into the room, silently shutting the door behind him. "You have need of me, milord?"

"The boxes I packed for Jadyn need to be sent. She will not be returning for awhile."

"I'll see to it, Sire." His soft voice betrayed not even a hint of emotion. He stood in silence for a moment, studying Marak, and then spoke in his soft, gravelly voice. "Jadyn Summer is a brash and impulsive woman, but she also possesses a wisdom and foresight beyond her years. If what she feels for you is true, she will indeed return. If what you have together is more than simply emotion, she will be willing to do whatever it takes to be with you. The costs are high, the sacrifices great, but I believe you have found the one person to brave them willingly."

XXX

"I'm sorry, Ebon, what were you saying?" The Elf King forced his attention back to his lieutenant who was futilely trying to discuss the spring defense plans and camp rotations.

Ebon sighed. "Milord, if you wish we can discuss this another evening, you obviously have other things on your mind." He tried to sound annoyed, he really did, but who can be annoyed when the moon is shining, the weather is warming, and your best friend is grinning distractedly at his pregnant wife's attempt to dance with the children.

Aeron tried to look innocent. "Really, Ebon, the only thing on my mind is the defense plans. You should know me better than that."

"Of course, Sire, I must have been mistaken. Perhaps it is I who is distracted. I suggest we take a break for awhile." Ebon replied with a mischievous grin.

"Excellent idea. I can't very well make important decisions when my second is not at his best…" Aeron teased, leaping up before Ebon could change his mind. He ran to his wife, scooping her up and twirling her around.

Natalie squealed with delight, laughing breathlessly. "You really shouldn't excite a pregnant woman like that." She admonished.

"Then you should tone down that radiance a notch; you're irresistible, you know." He informed her, stopping her protests with a passionate kiss. "Guess what?"

"What?" Natalie asked, grinning.

"I love you."

"Oh, I knew that, silly."

"You did?" Aeron asked, feigning surprise. He looked down at the assembled crowd of children. "Did you know that too?" He asked them.

"Yes!" The chorus of little voices answered excitedly.

"Imagine that, they knew too! I wonder why no one told me? I am the King, after all, I should be informed about important matters such as these." His voice was gravely serious; the children looked at him, confused for just a moment before laughing and running back to the dancing circle.

Natalie just shook her head, laughing at her husband's antics. "Guess what?"

Aeron looked delighted, "What?"

"I love you."

"Well of course you do. Honestly, woman, you come up with the silliest games." He replied, dodging her playful punch. He hugged her gently. "You seem to be feeling better tonight, love." He observed.

"I think I'm through the worst of the nausea, Mara gave me some herbs that have helped a lot."

"That was nice of her. I'm glad you have her to help you through this, I know it's not always been easy."

Natalie giggled, her eyes glinting mischievously. "Don't worry, the benefits are worth it." She replied, looking him over meaningfully.

"Mmmm, playful tonight, are we?" He murmured huskily, nuzzling her neck. "Now what are we going to do about that?"

Natalie tapped her head thoughtfully. "Hmm… let me think about awhile and I'll let you kno--" Her sentence ended in a shriek as she was swept off her feet and carried unceremoniously to their tent.

XXX

"You're supposed to be lying down, gorgeous." Matt scolded his wife, gently taking the teapot from her. "Where's Jadyn?"

"Oh for heaven sake I can fix a cup of tea, Matt, stop being so protective." Kira shrugged, feigning innocence. "I sent her to the store. Jada has been a life saver but she hovers almost as badly as you do, I needed a break."

"We're just worried about you, darling. You're too independent for your own good." He tweaked her nose. "Jada got a letter." He said, changing the subject before she could protest.

"From England?" Kira asked hopefully, peering at the stack of mail he held.

"No, from her publisher." He laughed at his wife's crestfallen expression. "I'm kidding! Yes, from England."

Kira snatched the envelope out of his hands, confirming its origin. "You're mean." She growled, allowing him to lead her back to the couch. "Hopefully it's a good one, she's been moping ever since he shipped her stuff without even a note."

"You can't really blame the guy, Kira, I can imagine how I would have felt if you had run off after I proposed." Matt replied, reasonably. "I'm sorry, honey, but your sis is a bit of a nut."

"Ha! You're one to talk, that's probably why you two get along so well." Kira laughed. "Let's call her so she can hurry up. Do you think she'd mind if we took a peek?"

"Don't you dare, you little stinker. You'll be lucky if she lets you read it." Matt admonished.

"Oh, she'll let me read it alright." Kira replied confidently, and then raised her voice so Jadyn, who had just walked in the door, could hear. "Won't you, Jada?"

"Won't I what?" Jadyn asked, juggling five paper grocery sacks on her way to the kitchen.

"Let me read your letter."

"I got a letter?!" Jadyn exclaimed, dropping the sacks. "Where is it?"

"Will you let me read it?"

"Maybe."

"Not good enough, you don't get it until you promise I can read it when you're finished." Kira smirked.

"Kira…" Jadyn said warningly, and then turned pleading eyes on her brother-in-law. "Matt, will you make her behave?"

"Uh uh, you are not going to drag me into the middle of this." Matt answered, vacating the room. "I'm going to go put away the groceries."

"Coward!" Jadyn called after him. "Okay, Kira, I'll let you read it, but I get to read it alone first."

"Deal." Kira handed over the envelope she had hidden under a couch cushion.

Jadyn thanked her and went upstairs to read in peace. Her stomach fluttered with nervous anticipation as she broke the seal with trembling fingers. She pulled the thin sheets out slowly, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath before she read the contents.

Jadyn,

I'm not angry. Hurt, frustrated, and confused, maybe, but not angry. Not anymore, anyway. I'm sorry about what you overheard. I don't know what to say. Please know that I would never force you to marry me. I would have, at one time, and I swore to, but after coming to know and love you I realized I couldn't. I love you, Jadyn, I hope that you can love me back, but if you can't, I understand. I understand, too, your reasons for leaving. I admire you for it, even, but I don't know if I can wait. I will wait four months, Jade, but I cannot promise anything beyond that. As much as I love you, my people have to be my first priority. I'm not saying this to manipulate you or to hurry you into making a decision. I was recently reminded of the costs and the sacrifices you'll have to make, and I realize you must take this time to think it through, but is it too much to hope you'll think quickly? I miss you, Jade.

Did you get the packages I sent? I'm sorry I didn't include a response then, I was still sorting through my emotions at that point and licking my wounds.

I wish I could have met Kira and Matt as well. Take lots of pictures, I want to see that precious niece of yours when she arrives. Maybe some day I will meet her in person.

Sage and Koal forgive you. Faran wants to know where exactly you wanted him to stick his opinions… Cherry misses you too.

I love you Jade, please come back to me.

Love,

Marak

Jadyn slowly tucked the papers back into the envelope. What if he moves on? What if by the time I get back it's too late? He may not have been trying to manipulate her, but it was working all the same. Is this a sign that I still love him? She groaned. These thoughts were not productive. Marak had said he would wait four months for her, and he would. Rather than worrying about things beyond her control, she needed to be searching herself, weighing the odds, finding out if she was willing to make the necessary sacrifices.

Jadyn rolled off the bed, grabbed the envelope and headed downstairs to make good on her promise. "Here, you can read it now, I'll get dinner started." She escaped to the kitchen, putting off any awkward questions until later.

Matt and Kira exchanged worried glances at Jadyn's odd behavior. Kira shrugged and began to read, Matt straining to see as well.

The questions didn't start until after dinner. "What's the deal with him 'forcing you to marry him' anyway?

That's really weird, Jada." Kira questioned, worry reflected in her grey-blue eyes.

"It's not as bad as it sounds. He means pressuring me. His family and the people in his province are hung up about him marrying and 'producing an heir'." Jadyn was surprised at how easily the half-lies came. "The political situation there is really unstable and they're worried about preserving the line of ascension, or something like that."

Her explanation seemed to satisfy the both of them and Jadyn breathed a mental sigh of relief. She got up to help Matt who had been rummaging through the Tupperware cabinet trying to find a lid for the container he'd put the left over pasta in. "Hey Jada, since this whole heir thing seems to be a huge deal to Marak, don't you think you should go see an ob-gyn and get everything, you know, checked out?" Kira asked, somewhat awkwardly.

"Kira--" Jadyn groaned.

"Hey, I know you're all weirded out about it, but you've never been to one, and with all the problems I've had it would probably be a prudent thing to do, considering the circumstances."

"Jada, I agree with Kira. Our ordeal was a pretty major strain on our marriage and we weren't even too concerned with having biological children. I'm pretty sure adopting wouldn't be a very good option for you two with the concern with maintaining the lineage involved. Now, that's all I've got to say so I'm just going to go read while you two discuss this." Matt interjected, kissing Kira and retreating to the living room.

Jadyn continued when he had gone. "I understand your concern, Kira, but I don't think there's much to worry about. Infertility is not a hereditary thing. Just because you had issues doesn't mean I will."

"Infertility in general may not be hereditary, but some of the causes are, Jada. Why are you being so resistant to this? It couldn't hurt." Kira pressed.

Jadyn sighed, seeming to wilt as she sat back down at the table beside her sister. When she finally spoke, turning her head toward Kira, her eyes, shadowed with worry. "What if they find cancer?" She whispered, her voice tight.

"Oh Jada." Sympathy and tears mingled in her eyes. She reached out to pull her sister into a hug. "They won't find cancer. And if they do, it's better to find out sooner. Early detection--"

"They found Dad's early on too, Kira, and we fought it and he still died. If I have cancer I don't want to know. I don't want to waste my life fighting a battle I can't win." Tears of self-pity pooled in her mismatched eyes and she blinked to clear them.

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself. People survive cancer all the time and you don't even have any cancer to survive so stop wasting your time worrying about stuff that might or might not happen." Kira snapped, angrily, standing up and shoving dishes in the dishwasher with a vengeance.

Jadyn, stunned into silence by Kira's outburst, stood and edged toward the sink. "Um, Kira, I think the plates are sorry, you can stop slamming them around now…" Jadyn said, trying a tentative smile on her sister.

"I'm sorry for yelling." Kira said quietly. "It's just the thought of losing you too..."

"I'm sorry too. I don't know what's wrong with me, I get to feeling sorry for myself and say stupid things. I'm overwhelmed, I guess, but I'm sorry. You still love me?"

"Of course I love you, dummy, but you're still a pain." She grinned, hugging her. "Do you want me to call to Dr. Coris for you tomorrow?"

"Oh for heaven sake, sis, I can make a phone call. Being a pain does not make me inept." Jadyn rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

"Yes it does, this is a fact." Kira responded solemnly.

"Whatever you say, Tenel Ka, now go sit down and let me finish cleaning up." Jadyn grinned, referencing her sister's favorite Star Wars character, Tenel Ka, an all too serious Young Jedi Knight.

"So what are you going to say?" Kira asked, sitting down at the table and tucking her short red-gold hair behind her ears.

"What am I going to say to whom?"

"To Marak, silly, in your letter."

Jadyn was silent as she started the dishwasher and put the teapot on the stove. "I don't know." She said truthfully, as she sat back down.

"Jada, what's stopping you from marrying him; you're obviously in love with the guy." Jadyn opened her mouth to protest but Kira continued. "Don't bother denying it; I've never seen you so grumpy in my life."

Jadyn thought for a moment before responding. "I just want to be sure before I make that kind of commitment. It's a huge change, an entirely different way of life. I want to be sure I can live like that the rest of my life."

"If you love the guy, does it really make a difference how and where you live? I understand that you'll have to make sacrifices, Jada, and goodness knows I wish you'd fallen in love with a man from around here, but I don't want you to spend the rest of your life wondering what it had been like if you'd said yes."