DISCLAIMERS

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. I've probably got Tamaranean culture, and names, COMPLETELY wrong in this story. But I did read up on it, so if it is off the mark, blame Wikipedia and ComicVine...

3. This might seem like a rather abrupt ending. But as said at the start, this is more of a prologue to a later, hopefully-more indepth story. So when you reach "THE END" at, er, the end, simply add a "... FOR NOW."

PART 11

"Dick!"

Kory rushed to her husband as he slumped against the door to the ambassadorial suite. Before he began to slip down to the floor, Kory reached him and grabbed his shoulders. "Darling, what's wrong?"

Taking deep breaths, Dick took his wife's hand in his. "Nothing, honey... just... "

"Nothing?" yelped Kory. "X'Hal, you can hardly stand!" She shook her head repeatedly. "I knew it was too soon for you to start your duties! You still need to get used to this world's atmosphere! Oh Dick... please forgive... "

Dick silenced her with a finger to her lips. "Don't," he said. "It's alright. Just give me a few minutes... "

"More like a few weeks!" As soon as Kory said that, part of her regretted it. She knew it would not take that long for Dick to climatise... but her emotions where so wild at the moment, she was having trouble thinking clearly.

Once she and Dick had had their "rest period", Kory had begun her new queenly duties. Talks with the various captains of the colony ships had included topics such as government, building construction, housing, security, commerce and medicine. Pretty much everything. Priliminary talks, all of them, but every society had to start somewhere... or restart, in Tamaran's case. The discussions had lasted all day: Kory's coronation was in the early morning, and she had finally called a close to the day's meetings at nightfall. So far, this world's daylight hours were a couple less than Earth during winter, but it was still a long time for nonstop talks, especially as Kory was never very adept at politics.

However, there was another reason she called a halt to the talks...

Before Kory could mull over things, Dick spoke again. "I think I'll go to bed... "

"Of course," said Kory. "Do you need an... "

"Kory... " he said softly. "Don't worry about me. I'll be... fine. Please... just relax."

At that, Kory felt like letting rip. How could she relax? She was queen now! In command of an entire species! She could never relax again! And her husband was suffering! And to top it all of, she might be...

He kissed her lovingly. "When I'm... feeling upto it," he then said, "I intend to give... you a coronation night... to remember."

Despite the situation, Kory blushed. "I'm honoured... just as long as you're well. You have no idea how much it hurts me to see you... "

When he closed his eyes in fatigue, Kory knew Dick had to rest now. Wordlessly, she helped him to the suite's bedroom once again. "By the way... " Dick said as they walked. "Thanks for the Eskrimas. They're great."

Kory's worry temporarily lifted. "I'm glad you like them," she said. "I asked for them to be made after we agreed to come. I made sure they would be ready for when we arrived."

"And I didn't get you anything... " Once he was resting comfortably, Dick stroked her cheek. "Sorry, babe... I'm not exactly... the pillar of support you need, am I?"

Kory kissed him tenderly. "You could be nothing else. Now please, just rest. I have... something to... to... "

Dick, despite his tiredness, frowned at her. "Kory... what... wh... " Before he could continue, he slipped into sleep.

Kory stared at her husband silently for several moments, her hand never leaving his. Sighing heartily, she realised her life was about to change in more ways than she thought. She remembered back to how she had felt during the day.

Several times, she had felt uneasy. The feelings of dizziness and nausua had returned at various points, and twice she even had to temporarily excuse herself. As before, she had thought she was simply stressed about her new position.

It was only once she returned to the private suite at the end of the day, and once again vomited in the bathroom, that she realised what might have been going on. She prayed she was wrong.

Now was not the time to be pregnant.

THE END