AN: I kinda stole from myself for this chapter- Merric's gift has been seen before in chapter 16 (2nd D/N) of "Tell Him." This chapter has another cliff-hanger. I think after the next chapter I'm going to skip ahead a couple of years so that Domi is like 5. I have ideas for then, but I don't think I can stretch out his infancy much more. It'd get boring. If anyone has ideas, I'm open for them. Thanks again for reading -LOB

Review Returns:
Mrs. Dom Masbolle: Thank you! Nutz Nina: Thanks for reading. Starlight and Notebook: I'm glad you enjoyed it. Redneck girl: Thanx for r and r-ing. red rose of love: I like Roald. I'm thinking of doing a story about him, but I haven't quite decided on a plot. Thanks for reading! Annmarie Aspasia: Keeping Kel in-character isn't that hard, which is why it baffles me that it's so rare! Thanks for the complement. The ORIGINAL Meathead: Thanks for reading!

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Hope Comes From Within
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Chapter Ten: High Hopes
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September
463
Corus
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"Just what makes that little old ant
Think he could move a rubber tree plant?
Everyone knows an ant can't move a rubber tree plant
But he's got high hopes
He's got high hopes
He's got high apple-pie in the sky hopes-"

Kel smiled. She sang to Domi all the time, in the privacy of her own rooms. But now, hearing Tobe, Kel knew that she couldn't carry a tune if it had handles. Domi was standing shakily, holding on to Tobe's hands for support.

"Come on, little guy," Tobe prompted. "You can do it! Just like that little ant!"

"He's almost got it," Kel said, sinking down two feet away. Domi gave Kel a hammy grin and reached one hand towards her. As he let go of Tobe, he fell and landed on his behind.

"Oh, poor Domi," Tobe said. The baby looked like he was going to cry. Kel stood him back up.

"Don't ever give up, Domi," Kel said. She smiled at Tobe. "That's today's lesson. Never quit. Have high hopes."

"If your mama had quit, I'd still be a black-and-blue inn-boy," Tobe told Domi. "Now if your mama can go into the Chamber of Ordeal, don't you think you could take three silly little steps."

Kel held out her hands.

"Come here, Domi," she said. He took hold of her hand and moved one foot closer to her. Then he moved the other. When he started to take his third step, he went down again, but landed in Tobe's hands.

"You did it!" he said. Kel was smiling in a special way that she reserved for her baby. She picked him up and gave him a tight squeeze.

"Good job, my boy."

As Kel helped her baby climb back to his feet, Tobe began to tell her of the progress that his pony, Fawn was making.

"You and Domi should come watch us tomorrow afternoon," Tobe said.

"I think Domi would like that," Kel said, leaning over her baby and holding his little hands as he toddled across the room.

"You might have to put a leash on him," Tobe said.

Kel glared at the boy, but continued her game with Domi.

.…..

When Kel arrived at the stables the next afternoon, Tobe was nowhere to be seen. Instead a large open tent was set up. Under this canopy, Kel saw Shinkokami, Roald, Yuki, Neal, Merric, and several of her other friends.

"What's going on?" she asked warily, knowing that Tobe had tricked her.

"My wife realized that you were never given a baby shower," Roald said.

"So we're having a party for Domi," Shinkokami said. "There's even cake and presents."

"You shouldn't have," Kel said quietly. But deep inside she was touched that her friends wanted to do this for her.

"Just say thank you, Kel," Neal said, pulling out a chair at the head of the table.

"Thank you, everyone," she said softly. Neal passed her a plate and she occupied herself with the conversation and feeding Domi small bites of cake.

Her friends began to pass her gifts, and Kel opened each one with Domi on her lap. There were clothes and toys for her boy. His favorite seemed to be a stuffed rabbit from Merric. It had big, sappy eyes, and long floppy ears. Domi grabbed one of these ears and hurled the rabbit around to hit the ground. It let out a squeak. Domi repeated the action to be rewarded with another squeak.

Kel glared sharply at Merric, then looked up at Neal.

"When he has children, remind me that I owe him," she said.

"I knew you'd both like it," Merric said with a grin, taking the baby and the rabbit. He went near Roald, who was holding Omiya gingerly.

Kel looked over at Shinko. The two women were alone, as most everyone else was admiring Domi, his new toy, and the baby princess.

"I really do appreciate all this," she said in Yamani.

"You really do deserve it," Shinko returned, hugging the other woman. "You've been through so much."

"Thank you," Kel said again. She felt a tug on her sleeve, and she turned to see Tobe.

"Obe!" Domi said, delighted.

Kel looked up in shock. My baby said his first word! She realized suddenly. She felt a twinge when she realized that her son's first word was a variation of 'Tobe;' she had thought he'd say 'mama' first. Shinko grinned and put a hand on Kel's arm.

"The Wildmage sent a gift for you, along with her regrets that she could not be here," Tobe said dutifully, handing Kel a package. Then he went to Domi and lifted him into his arms.

"Obe!" Domi said again as a tickle-war began.

Any jealousy she felt vanished as Kel watched her boys playing. Kel looked back at the Yamani Princess, hazel eyes dancing.

"I may have been through a lot, but I think I'm the luckiest mother in the world."

…..

Over the next few days Domi starting picking up small words rapidly. A couple of times he woke Kel up with his talking. Once, right after she got him back to sleep, Kel heard a knock on the door.

"Kel?" she heard, and groaned.

"Go away, Neal!" she called. "The sun's not up and neither are we!"

"Ma-ma?" Domi asked from his crib. It was the beginning of a string of babbling. "Ma, ma ma, ma, ma, ma!" Domi had learned that his mother came when called.

I guess I was wrong, Kel thought. She gathered her baby into her arms and took him to her bed. As she climbed back in, Owen's voice rang from outside.

"Come on, Kel. We hear Domi, and it's important!" Kel sighed and carried Domi to the door.

"What, Owen?" she asked, pulling it open.

"I was here first," Neal said.

"Fine," Kel said, moving Domi to her hip.

"But mine's more important!" Owen insisted.

"But I was here fir-"

"Why don't you both tell me at the same time so we can go back to bed?" Kel interrupted.

The two men eyed each other before speaking in the same excited tone.

"I'm going to be a father!"