It had been months since Rayn agreed to give Zacarias another chance, but she could not be happier. He had agreed to her being a hunter as long as she only hunted with him. She readily agreed, not just for the hunt, but for him. If she did not know better she would say she was going soft.

"Darling, what are you looking at?" Zacarias had come to stand on the balcony with her. There was a breeze that brought the scent of the jungle, wild and dangerous, but there was also the scent of the spices that they grew in their garden, soft and intoxicating. Rayn smelled none of this, all she could smell was Zacarias, his musk was a drug to her. The cooling breeze did little to lower her temperature, anytime he was near her body melted. "I am glad to hear that."

Zacarias chuckled. Rayn huffed and stepped away from him, she needed to think.

"Zac, would it be possible to, I mean, could we-"

"What would you like sweets?"

"I want to fly with you." She sighed at the open sky, it was beckoning her.

"Anything for you love." He shifted to the form of a hawk, sleek and deadly. Rayn chuckled at his show of masculinity and chose a smaller bird, the rainbow lorikeet. A bird with a green back, wing, and tail, blue stomach and head and a red chest

Zacarias' breath caught in his throat. She was beautiful. The colors dazzled him, the softness of the feathers tempted him, her aerial acrobatics amazed him. She cooed at him and he took flight. Rayn was bursting with joy as she took in the veiw.

"Rayn, is there something on your mind?" Zacarias noticed her joy, but he saw something in her eyes that spoke of trouble.

"Yes, no, I don't know. Its so confusing." She mumbled as she flew higher and faster, seeking the thrill of speed and danger.

"What is it?" Concern suddenly gripped his heart, was she in trouble? pain? danger?

"I am moody, happy one minute then sad the next. I have the urge to cry often and lately I have had stomach cramps. Carpathians do not have periods do they? I never had one." She was confused and as she explained her symptoms Zacarias relaxed visably.

"I see your problem. Perhaps a visit to Gregori?"

"No. I will not let him see me when I am not at my best."

"Oh you are at your best. You are in the family way." Zacarias gloated. The news struck Rayn in the gut. No, it was not possible. Never could she be a mother. She did not have it in her. The news shocked Rayn so much that she lost the image in her mind. In a whirl of feathers and fear, Rayn fell to the earth. Zacarias had to out manuver her to catch her before she struck the trees.

"Do not do that again." Zacarias weezed, the breath had been ripped from his lungs, his heart exploded in his chest.

"I am sorry, I just, I can not be pregnant."

"Why not?"

"I never got along with kids, they are loud, messy, and they touch everything." Rayn explained calmly. Zacarias landed back on the balcony and walked inside, his lifemate in his arms. He laid her down on the bed carefully, as if she might break, and he left his body to search for the answer she wanted. She laid, scared, afraid, terrified that she was carrying children. She felt him leave her and his smile was all she needed but his words caused her to faint.

"We are going to have twins. A boy and girl." Zacarias stared n shock at his lifemate. She was a hunter that was unparalleled yet at the forst sign of babies she passes out. He laughed and revived her.

"NO!" Rayn cried. "I am not motherly material."

"I am not a good fatherly figure either, but we will learn together."

"You are so certain of our abilities as parents." Rayn mused as she sat up in the bed. The comforter was a gift, safeguards woven into it to protect, ease, and to aid in sleeping. She looked up at Zacarias and he saw her eyes grow large as her self doubt tried to take over.

"I believe in you. It will be a learning experience. We will raise the children to be hunters… both of them."

"Truly?" Rayn was suprised at his agreement to his daughter hunting.

"If she wants to be a hunter then yes, she will be a huntress. If she does not then we will love her just the same, though she will learn self defense." Zacarias at least wanted her to know how to kill one should the need arise. Of that he was certain.

"I love you when you see reason." Rayn jibed.

"Too bad that is not that often." Zacarias joked.

"Too bad. Hey, what will we name them?"

"I was thinking a nature name for the girl, like her mother and a family name for the boy, like his father."

"Like what?"

"Tempest maybe, or perhaps willow."

"I like willow, strong and proud."

"And for the boy? Vladimir"

"Very nosferatu"

"That is what I was going for."

"How about Dracul or perhaps Caleb?"

"I am liking Dracul, Caleb seems too modern."

"You are such a caveman." Rayn laughed. She grabbed a pillow and whipped it at his face and with a burst of feathers, it found its target. He growled, it was low and menacing but Rayn just laughed and pounced on him. The battle was short since neither really meant it and it ended with Zacarias laying on his back, and Rayn on his stomach, facing him.

"You are such a predator." Zacarias praised. Rayn blushed a scarlet and tried to rise but for a moment it seemed like Zacarias was not going to let go until she leaned down and kissed him deeply. He was shocked and released her and she ran from the room ,leaving a shocked Zacarias behind. "She always suprises me."

"Brother? Is everything alright? We sense a disturbance in the force." Zacarias laughed at Rafeal's words.

"Rayn is pregnant." The new was still shocking to him as he relayed the message to his brother.

"Congratulations brother."

"Many thanks, now I must show her what happens when she messes with me."

"Good luck Zac." Zacarias laughed and left the room to find his prey.

Rayn sat on the porch watching the moon cross the sky while Zacarias trained some of the farm workers in battle. She was days from her due date and she was peaceful. A cramp snuck up her back and she fidgeted but continued to watch the sky until another cramp struck her. She shifted again but another cramp came. It was like a throbbing. She was about to say something to Zacarias about going to lay down when a warm liquid flowed down her legs. She looked down to see the clear puddle at her feet.

"Zacarias" She screamed. Zacarias stumbled and spun around to see what had happened. He rushed to her side.

"It is alright, this was supposed to happen. Everything is fine. Now, let us calmly make our way to the sleeping chamber." He helped her from the chair and led her slowly to the chamber. Rayn was scared, this pain and uncertainty were not her thing. She was laid in on the earth and she grabbed Zacarias and would not let go. He smiled at her clinging form and tried to help her through the contractions. She screamed in pain as a baby was brought into the world. "A son." Zacarias announced as he cleaned the baby and wrapped him in a blanket. The second came soon after. Zacarias cleaned her and wrapped her as well and both were given to Rayn to hold.

"Willow and Dracul, my babies." Rayn cooed. "Welcome to the rainforest. We are going to have to work together these next few years but I think we will be alright."

"I know we will." Zacarias said as he proudly looked on as his family finally came together.