A/N: It's finally finished! Thanks for sticking with me ;o) Please let me know what you think.

Chapter 10 - Congratulations

Kwame wanted to go after the pregnant American, but the girls stopped him, Linka volunteering to go instead, so the young African decided to walk along the beach to think.

After they had gone Wheeler rubbed his faced and asked, "How long have those two been in love with each other?"

Ma-Ti and Gi laughed, the Asian girl choosing to answer, "Ages, but everything seemed so complicated we thought it best to just keep out of it."

"Yes," the youngest planeteer took up the story, "but we did agree that if you hadn't all worked it out by the time the baby came, we would bang your heads together. Congratulations by the way."

"Oh yes, it's wonderful news," Gi said hugging the red head, "Linka told me yesterday that you'd worked everything out but the way she said it, I thought she meant you'd agreed to be just friends again, which would never work."

Wheeler laughed, "She wanted Trish to know first. Thanks guys, I know I let you think the worst and I'm sorry about that, I don't always think things through, especially where Linka is concerned, but you knew that." He grinned but he still looked troubled, "Do you think Kwame will be okay with the baby being Frankie's? I mean personally I can't see what difference it makes to him, after all she was pregnant before he met her…"

Gi shook her head, "Kwame was upset that Trish lied to him, he's already apologised, they just need to calm down and talk to each other."

Linka didn't bother to knock on Trish's cabin, instead she entered quietly and sat next to the unhappy girl, tucking her arm around her. "Kwame really didn't mean to be unkind Trish, he likes you too much. When he calms down he will realise that it was all Wheelers fault."

Trish hiccoughed as she laughed at that last through her tears, but said, "I don't sleep around Linka, I did love Frankie just not…" she shook her head. "You guys are a lot to live up to, I'll never be good enough for someone like Kwame, I've known that all along."

Surprised, Linka made haste to reassure the distraught woman, "Nyet, do not think like that, we do not, Kwame does not. Trish look around. Hope Island is beautiful and peaceful, the perfect haven, but it is not where we came from, any of us."

The Russian looked into the other woman's eyes and said sincerely, "It is easy to judge people's behaviour but I cannot honestly say that I would have acted any differently in your position."

Trish smiled, her tears drying a little, "Yes you can, Wheeler would never have left you."

Linka blushed, "It is different when you meet the right person da, but you know if all this hadn't happened, you would never have met Kwame at all."

"Maybe that would have been better." Trish said sadly, "Wheeler was my childhood sweetheart and losing him didn't hurt this much."

Linka wrapped both arms around the American, "It will be okay, you will see."

A couple of weeks went by and Trish and Kwame were still not talking more than necessary, a polite awkwardness having arisen between them. Linka took over looking after the American girls day-to-day needs, much to Wheelers irritation, though she made up for it by asking him to share her cabin permanently. In fact Wheeler didn't let go of his beautiful Russian unless he had to, a circumstance which compelled Gi to ask one morning, when the American left the room, "Doesn't that get on your nerves?"

Confused Linka asked back, "Does what get on my nerves Gi?"

"Wheeler…" Gi made vague gesture, "hanging on to you all the time."

The wind planeteer chuckled, and shook her head "Nyet, he does not do it enough for me."

Gi rolled her eyes and then joined in as Trish laughed.

Suddenly Trish's eyes went wide, and her hand went to her belly, "Oh!"

"What is it?" both planeteers asked in unison.

The American girl shook her head, her eyes filling with tears, "I don't know, it's too early isn't it?"

As the girls tried to ascertain exactly what the pregnant woman was feeling, she became more and more panicky. "I can't do this!" Looking up as the boys entered the room she repeated herself with more emphasis, "I can't do this!"

Immediately alarmed Kwame demanded, "What's going on?"

Still trying to calm the distraught Trish, Linka replied, "She might be in labour but she is so upset…"

"I can't." Trish all but shrieked.

Wheeler looked uncomfortable, "I don't think you have much choice Hon." Earning a glare from Linka

"It is too soon." Kwame said calmly and firmly, his voice penetrating even Trish's hysteria. Moving to kneel at her side, taking one of her hands and gently stroking her hair from her face, "It's probably just a false alarm, but we'll take you to hospital, either way it takes several hours so we have plenty of time."

Trish nodded, not taking her eyes from Kwame's and gripping his hand tightly, "You'll come with me?" she whispered, afraid that he would reject her.

"Of course." The earth planeteer replied, silently promising himself that he wouldn't be leaving her side again.

Three false alarms later, Trish gave birth to a healthy baby boy. Kwame, who had kept his promise and been present throughout, seemed to have forgotten that the baby wasn't his and was acting the proud father.

"What are you gonna call him Hon?" Wheeler asked the new mother as she sat in the hospital room cradling her son, with Kwame sitting protectively beside them.

"Frankie." She replied, "What else?" The planeteers laughed and nodded in agreement.

In the comfort of her boyfriends arms Linka said, "He is a gorgeous baby, but I can't believe that either of you would think that we would believe he was Wheelers with that skin tone!"

"I was counting on it." Wheeler replied, "You don't think I wanted you to believe it do you? I knew Frankies colouring would come through and you'd all have to beg my forgiveness."

Linka rolled her eyes as the others laughed, "What was Frankies heritage?"

"Native American of some sort I think." Her boyfriend replied.

The Russian shook her head, "Wheeler! He was your best friend and you don't even know where he came from?"

The American looked confused, "He came from Brooklyn…" Again the others laughed and Linka reached up to kiss him, "You are right of course, that was all that mattered."

"Erm," Trish wanted to get their attention. "Do you… do you mind if I stay on Hope Island a little longer?" she asked all of them. "I'd planned to have a flat set up by now, with the money from my paintings, but I'm not quite ready and…"

Kwame was looking alarmed, but it was Linka that answered, "Of course you can stay, you'll need help with the baby at first anyway, you shouldn't try to cope alone, especially when there is no need."

Trish shrugged uncomfortably, "It's not really fair on all of you."

"We don't mind," Gi asserted and Linka agreed.

That made Wheeler chuckle, and he gave his girlfriend a squeeze as he spoke "That baby has some Aunties that are just dying to be allowed to take turns, they aren't letting you go anywhere just yet." Then he admitted, "I'd kinda like to have you both around for a while too, and get to know my nephew." He meant it, but he also still felt a bit guilty for not saving the baby's father.

Trish smiled at her ex, "Thank's Wheeler. I feel bad though, you have Linka now and I'm only living on Hope Island because everyone thought the baby was yours, it's not right staying with you now."

"Then stay with me." Kwame spoke quietly but it was still heard clearly by all present and they wondered if they should leave.

Swallowing hard, tears starting in her eyes, Trish said, "What did you say?"

Smiling sadly the African replied. "I know I haven't handled all this in the best way but…" he looked into her eyes, "I love you Trish, I want you to stay with me… both of you." He stroked the baby's head and then looked back at it's mother waiting for her answer.

"Oh Kwame, are you sure?" Trish was still finding it hard to believe anyone could want her now, but the African quickly dispelled her fears by leaning forward to kiss her. When they parted Trish was crying freely, "I love you too, I don't want to leave you."

When everyone had finished congratulating the newest couple, Gi indicated the stone around the wind planeteers neck, "You'll have to dive down for a betrothal stone Kwame, like Wheeler did."

Wheeler closed his eyes, knowing what was coming. He wasn't disappointed as Linka turned to look up at the fire planeteer, "You did WHAT?!"

THE END