A/N: Ack...I'm so sorry that I've been gone for so long! I know it's been almost two months, but I've been battling writer's block, and then I went on vacation and finally today sat down and said "Farky, you are not leaving this computer until you write chapter seven." So I did, much to the displeasure of my sister who also wanted the computer. See, I faced older sister's wrath for you guys. Shows dedication. Anyway, I would like to thank Lady Epicness and db-listener for their continued support and for their reviews on the past chapter. Again, very sorry for the long wait, and I hope that you all can forgive me. Oh, and also, my baby related poll is still up, so if you haven't voted yet, feel free. Girl is winning right now.

Disclaimer: Guess what isn't mine? Yeah, Elder Scrolls. Still.

Afterwards, Laietha stayed. She knew what would happen if someone came looking for her and found them together; like this. And still, she stayed.

Feredir was laying on his back staring up at the ceiling, his fingers combing lazily through her tangled hair. She lay on her side, snuggled up against him with one of her hands holding his, resting on his bare chest.

"Feredir…"

He turned his head to look at her, eyebrows raised. "Hm?"

"Have you ever been in love before?"

He gave her a soft smile and a loving kiss. "Only with you. Never before now."

She let out a content sigh. Somehow, everything seemed better knowing that. And things were already incredible.

"You?"

"Same."

There was a moment of silence.

"Do you think they're done yet?"

"I know my professors. They'll keep your father talking all through the night."

He kissed the top of her head and moved his hand from her hair to her bare shoulder, rubbing it gently with his thumb. "I think we're safe until morning."

"Do you think they've noticed we're gone?"

"Well, me walking out on something important without giving anyone notice is nothing new so I'm sure they're not worried about where I am, and seeing as they're probably talking about philosophy and politics, I don't imagine they'd expect a young lady such as yourself to stick around for long. They probably think you're wandering through the gardens or doing something equally feminine."

"Should I take offense to that?"

Feredir shrugged. "Interpret it as you wish. It doesn't change the fact that you instead chose to follow a particularly dashing scholar up to his quarters to get…better acquainted…"

"I didn't have a choice. Even if I had refused to come here, I don't think the Gods would've let me get away from you."

"Do you believe in things like that? Fate? Divine Intervention?"

Laietha shrugged, moving her head to his chest. "I don't know. I'd like to think it exists somehow. To think that everything that happens in our world is determined by the choices of mortals is terrifying. And I shudder to think that if I had done something so simple as say no to you…"

She trailed off and Feredir smiled.

"I wouldn't have let you get away that easily, but I know what you mean. Just don't think about how things could've been, think about how they are. You, me, together."

She looked up at him.

"Forever?"

His lips came down to meet hers.

"Forever."

Fredas, 13th of Rain's Hand

Today is Laietha's and my six month anniversary. Not really a big deal since most people only celebrate each year, but half a year is still a long time, and I won't pretend that I'm not lucky for having her for this long. I have a surprise planned for her, but I'm writing this right now because when I went to wake her up, she looked so peaceful, and I would've felt bad about it, so I'll let her sleep for another hour. It's still the middle of the night so we'll have a few hours. And I have a feeling we'll need them.

"Laietha…sweetheart, get up."

Moaning quietly, the young woman opened her eyes and looked up at her husband in confusion.

"Feredir…what are you doing? What time is it? Come back to bed."

He smiled and brushed her hair away from her forehead.

"It's early, and I know that, but just get up. I promise it'll be worth it."

Struggling to sit up, she put her legs over the side of the bed and absentmindedly rubbed her stomach, allowing Feredir to help her stand.

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see. Just follow me and stay quiet."

"You'd better be glad I love you." Laietha grumbled as Feredir led her outside and looked around before continuing off to his left.

Sneaking past the charging Dwemer Centurion, he started breathing again when it stayed in its station and they made it past without incident. Reaching a lift blocked by a gate, Feredir pushed a nearby button and slipped under the gate as it rose, pulling Laietha in after him. He pulled the lever inside and wrapped his arms around his wife as it began to rise.

"Where does this go?"

"Up."

"How far?"

Feredir smiled and brought his lips down to her ear. "Up to the surface."

Laietha looked up at him with wide eyes. "This can't be allowed. We'd be in serious trouble if they caught us, wouldn't we?"

"I imagine so."

"You are an ass, Feredir!"

He chuckled and rested his chin on top of her head. "I know that. But Sthovin agreed to cover for us if anyone came looking for us."

She huffed, but her tone was less hostile when she spoke up again. "So why are we doing this?"

"Because it's our six month anniversary."

She leaned her head back against his chest. "Is it really? It's seemed like so much longer."

"Well…" He rapped his knuckle against her swollen belly. "This little guy acts as a reminder that we've only been together for less than a year in total."

Laietha didn't respond because the lift stopped with a jerk and the gears beside them shifted and groaned as the gate before them opened and allowed them access to the snowy mountain outside. Stepping out, she twisted away from her husband, but kept a firm grip on his hand, looking up at the sky and smiling.

"The stars…"

"Happy anniversary."

Looking back at Feredir with tears in her eyes, she hugged him tightly and whispered against his shoulder. "Thank you." Teasingly, she added, "It's almost worth you dragging me out of bed at this ungodly hour."

"I can make it worth it."

Shaking her head in amusement, she looked back up at the stars and held both of his hands where they locked around her waist. "You already have."

Feredir nodded and breathed in the cool night air, closing his eyes and smiling as the chill of the arctic atmosphere wrapped itself around him. For Snow Elves, being trapped underground was nearly unbearable if only because of the lack of their natural environment and being able to be out in snow again was a much appreciated reward.

Lifting her finger to the vast expanse of the night sky, Laietha pointed at a cluster of stars and asked quietly, "What's that one?"

"That's the Mage."

"And that one?"

"The lady…"

Searching the sky for the familiar curve of stars that shaped her husband's birth sign, she spotted it and smiled. "And there's the lover."

Resting his head against hers, he nodded and fiddled with the ring on her left hand.

"Do you ever regret meeting me?"

"No. Never."

"But…if you hadn't…"

Turning to look up at him with a stern expression, Laietha placed a hand on his chest and shook her head.

"If I hadn't met you, I wouldn't be happy. I would be married to some arrogant rich man who only wanted me for sex and my father's favor."

"Umm…well…"

"No…that's not why you wanted me; it was just a benefit."

"Is that what you tell yourself?" Feredir teased playfully.

"Mmhm."

Standing on her toes, she kissed him and enjoyed the familiar feeling of his tongue winding its way around her own and exploring the inside of her mouth. Before he could attempt to take things a step further, she pulled away and flopped down in the snow, curling her fingers in it and sighing happily.

Feredir smiled and in a fit of mischief, rolled a snowball between his hands and threw it at his wife. She sat up and looked at him in disbelief.

"You can't do that!"

"Why not?"

"Because I'm pregnant. And defenseless."

He chuckled and picked up another handful of snow. "Nice try."

She dodged his next shot and scrambled to her feet, hiding behind a tree as he started making a small pile of fluffy, white ammunition at his feet. Picking up one of her own, she chucked it at him and laughed when it hit him squarely in the face.

"Not fair! You have cover!"

"Well then find your own tree!"

The next hit him on the arm as he made a run for the next closest boundary. Peeking out from behind his tree, he stuck his tongue out at Laietha and she rolled her eyes, looking between him and the abandoned pile of snowballs. Deciding to take her chances, she bolted toward it at the same time her husband did and he ended up gently tackling her to the ground.

Laughing breathlessly, they attempted to untangle their limbs and Feredir settled down with his legs on either side of her hips and his hands beside her shoulders. Giving her a toothy grin, he leaned down to give her a kiss and she teasingly turned her head to the side so he missed. A bit miffed, but willing to accommodate, he placed light kisses up her neck and along her jaw line, sucking on her earlobe and running his teeth over it as his hand slid up beneath her dress to lay flat against her thigh.

"Feredir!"

Unlike the needy moan he had been expecting, her cry was one of slight panic and he pulled away, turning his head to look to his left and squinting when he saw a pair of indistinct figures trudging in their direction through the snow.

"Who is it?"

"I don't know, but we're not supposed to be here. If it's a Nord hunting party, they'll kill you!"

Nodding, he got up and helped Laietha up after him, taking hold of her elbow and steering her back toward the lift as he glanced back over his shoulder with a frown. As soon as they got inside, she pulled the lever and gave a sigh of relief, collapsing back against her husband.

"That was close."

He looked up toward the quickly receding surface and nodded slowly, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "Yeah…"

"Was that him?"

The Nord looked down the empty elevator shaft and shrugged.

"I thought so, but…I'm not sure. I imagine there are plenty of tall elf men in this area with pregnant wives."

His Dunmer companion came to stand beside him and snorted, crossing her arms.

"Sure, but how many that would actually try to get it on with said wife out here in the middle of nowhere…and what are the odds? Out here, by a Dwemer city. You have to admit, it's an eerie coincidence if it is one."

"Yes, I suppose it would be. Well, there's only one way to find out for sure."

He took the sleeping infant from his wife's arms and turned to look at the winding staircase on the cliff below them.

"We'll have to go down."

"Well, Feredir, I heard from someone that you were seen out in the city this morning. Would you care to explain why?"

He shifted in his chair and rested his elbows on his knees, putting on his best convincing smile. "Couldn't sleep."

Arthion didn't look convinced so he continued.

"So…I went for a walk…"

"With my sister."

"With my wife."

"Because she also, couldn't sleep?"

Feredir nodded. "Yeah."

His brother-in-law sighed and gave him an obviously unamused look. "And you expect me to believe that?"

"Yes. Arthion. Sir."

"Feredir, where did you go?"

The younger man hesitated then decided to try his luck on the hope that Arthion wouldn't risk his sister getting punished. "To the surface."

Arthion's expression hardened and he narrowed his eyes.

"You know that's forbidden, don't you?"

Feredir nodded.

"So why did you go?"

"It was Laietha's and my six month anniversary."

When he didn't provide anything further, Arthion raised his eyebrows. "Am I supposed to care?"

Feredir clenched his jaw and ground his teeth together. "Frankly, yes. She wanted to see the stars, so I took her up there. Because I care about her."

"As do I. And do you know how I show her that I care?"

Before he could answer the rhetorical question, Feredir butted in. "By deliberately beating her husband in a public fight that you set up because you knew you would win?"

Arthion returned the glare thrown in his direction with a level stare.

"No. By not putting her directly into harm's way, which is what you have done."

"It was worth it to see the smile on her face when we got up there."

"Touching, I'm sure," Arthion drawled unsympathetically, inspecting his already immaculate fingernails. "But nonetheless, you broke the main rule set out for our people by the Dwemer King."

"Am I supposed to care?"

Frowning at the mockery, the Falmer leader steepled his fingers and leaned forward. "Here's the deal, Mr. Aranion. Right now, I'm planning on telling the Dwemer about your little escapade, excluding Laietha's involvement of course, unless…"

Feredir narrowed his eyes. "Unless what?"

"Unless you—" He hesitated as he spotted his sister standing quietly in the doorway and looking at him in expectation of an answer. Sighing in annoyance, he looked back to Feredir and shook his head. "Nevermind. Just consider this a warning. Next time anything like this happens, I won't hesitate to report it."

Surprised by his answer, Feredir glanced over his shoulder and relaxed slightly when he noticed Laietha, giving her a small smile which she returned. Turning back to Arthion, he nodded.

"Understood, Mr. Hamirryl. There will be no more problems, I assure you."

He nodded curtly and looked down at the papers on his desk. "Good. See that that remains true."

Feredir stood and sighed as he walked to the door, putting his arm around Laietha's shoulders when he reached her.

"That was close."

"No, that was almost blackmail. There's obviously something you know about him that he'd prefer not get out, and he was going to use it against you."

Well…there was one thing, but it wasn't Arthion who was keeping him from revealing the secret.

"Or he just wanted money."

Looking up at her husband in concern, she took his hand in her own and squeezed it gently. "Don't underestimate him, Feredir. He can hold a grudge for an impossibly long time, and he definitely has one against you."

"Yeah…I know. It's only because he's jealous of my superior good looks."

Laietha laughed quietly, but still managed to give him a stern look. "Don't just laugh this off. He's a potential threat to you so long as he's alive, and Falmer live a long time, so just be careful."

"Alright, I will. But only for you." Looking down at his wife's stomach, he smiled and added. "And for you too."

"Something's missing. See that socket there? Something has to go in there, and we don't have what it takes."

The Dunmer mage sighed in exasperation and muttered a stream of elven curses, pounding her fist against the golden metal dome.

As if on cue, it began to spin and both of them stepped back in surprise as it opened to reveal a staircase. The source of the change became known when a young Dwemer scout came up and looked at them in surprise and a hint of fear.

"What are you doing here? Have you been granted access to Blackreach by any of the city leaders?"

The two travelers exchanged confused glances before the Nord stepped forward. "No, we came here looking for someone. A Falmer."

The scout's eyes widened and he looked down at his feet, muttering a quiet, "There are no Falmer here," before trying to push past the burly man in front of him.

"Not so fast. I know there are Falmer here. And we're not here to hurt them, or you. We just need to speak to one. His name is Feredir."

Hesitating, the Dwemer looked back at them and nervously chewed on his lip. "I don't have the authority…"

"Just turn around and tell him we're here, okay?" The Dunmer cut in impatiently, moving her son to her other hip. "He'll want to see us."

"Okay…but…" His faltering ended as the man before him nonchalantly rubbed his fingers together to produce a crackle of electricity. "Right, Feredir. Okay. Umm…what's your name?"

"Alahaxa."

After an hour of waiting, the staircase finally opened again and Thormir stood up, his broad smile fading when he saw the man standing before them.

"Arthion."

"What are you doing here?" The Falmer asked coldly, his gaze flicking over to where Alahaxa was moving to stand, resituating the infant in her arms.

"We're here to see Feredir."

"What do you need from him?"

"We'll tell him that when we see him." Alahaxa responded with equally icy words.

Arthion's pale blue eyes narrowed dangerously and he looked down at them both. "You shouldn't be here. For all I know, you're working for Ysgramor."

"We're not." Thormir said warmly, attempting to dissipate the frigid atmosphere between his wife and the Falmer.

"And you expect me to take your word for it?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then you're dumber than I always thought." Arthion replied, stalking toward the Nord and causing him to stumble backwards. Alahaxa stepped in front of her husband and stared defiantly up at the Snow Elf.

"We're going to see him."

"No, Alahaxa, you're not."

The sound of her name falling from his lips brought back suppressed memories and he didn't fail to notice the pain that flickered for a moment in her blood red eyes.

"I'm going to let you two leave alive this once, but if you ever show your faces here again, I won't hesitate to kill you myself."

Drawing the dagger from his belt, he ran it lightly along Alahaxa's exposed neck and brought his lips to her ear. "I think I'll start with Thormir. You can watch. Maybe I'll even let you live…and you wouldn't want your child to be without its father would you?"

The Dunmer bit back a savage retort and she met his smug gaze with one of fury. Thormir looked nervously between the two and let out an audible sigh of relief when the weapon returned to its home at Arthion's hip.

"You can go now. I'll send Feredir your regards."

Before either of them could respond, he turned on his heel and sauntered back down the stairs, the entrance to Blackreach closing behind him.

Alahaxa sighed and slumped against her husband, leaning her head on his shoulder when he gave her an empathetic smile and wrapped his arm around her waist.

"I can't believe I ever loved him," she muttered, then looked down at her son as he looked back up at her with wide pale blue eyes. "That, Tynan, was your father."

Fredas, 13th of Rain's Hand

I don't care what Arthion says. What I did this morning was worth it. I think Laietha's a little on edge after seeing those people up there, but for some reason, I get the strange feeling that I should've stayed. I almost want to go up again, but she would kill me if I tried to do that. I just hope she can forget about it soon so she stops looking over her shoulder every two steps.