Four hours into the night, which was a good hour after Howard's body shifted back to his monster form, he blinked awake from a coughing fit.

"Oh, hell no..." he hissed, as he coughed even more. Doppy jerked his head up and looked at him with a frown.

"Don't do it!" Doppy snarled. Howard coughed even more and didn't even have a chance to scream when Naght Seiger took over. The demon's form smothered over Howard's completely without a fight. At first, Naght was ready to attack Doppy, but then he remembered one thing. We are evenly matched now. He did have one thing that he could do to prove superiority to get his way. He had experience in Demonic traditions, and he was older. Much older. He moved from the bed smoothly and confronted Doppy. The two demons stared at each other silently and started hissing at each other in their own Demonic Tongue. In the end, Doppy was put in his place. Nodding with his defeat, he growled, "What are you going to do?"

"Mate...her..." Howard hissed with his bright red pupils, and he turned to face Sarine's sleeping form. There was an odd form of gentleness in his gaze. It was something that made Doppy pause at first before trying to get him to see reason.

"She's pregnant," Doppy snorted. At this, Howard's form turned and looked at him, as though he hadn't heard him right. Then he moved quickly to carefully lift her from the bed.

"Huh?" Eremes blinked awake and saw what was going on. He moved to intervene, but Doppy stopped him with a shake of his head. He waited until Howard took Sarine out of the room before explaining why Eremes was stopped.

"Not yet," he growled. "As much as I want to stop him, it's not safe in the house. He won't hurt us. He wants time alone with her."

"Doppelganger?" Eremes asked.

"He's good. I'll give him that," Doppy growled out. "He pretty much talked me down in various ways. Status and such. I'll give him an hour. Then I'll go after him."

"I'll follow him," Eremes muttered.

"Not too close. He can sense you," Doppy said knowingly, and Eremes remembered his own battle with Doppy before. Nodding with understanding, he watched Howard's enveloped form move with Sarine out of the house. At a safe distance, he Cloaked and followed them.

Howard carried Sarine swiftly to a far corner of the island that was still uninhabited by monsters and set her down here. At the feel of the chill breeze, Sarine shivered and woke up.

"What? Where am I?" she panicked and looked up. Her mouth dropped at Naght Seiger's ghostly form over Howard's body.

"My...mate..." he hissed, as he moved over her.

"Wait!" she said quickly. She placed a hand over her belly and took several deep breaths to keep herself calm. That made Naght stop and look at her.

"What...?" he hissed.

"I just...can I talk to you? Normally? Is there a way? Please, if I am your mate, surely I have this right?" she asked. Naght seemed to blink. It wasn't often that he was asked such a thing. In fact, it was the first time. The Demonic presence sank back down to such a depth that only Howard's pupils glowed a dull red like Doppy's. It was the same way he was when he first appeared to talk to her.

"Better?" he asked. "I grow impatient."

"Please, Howard," she whispered.

"I am not that name!" he snarled. "Call me by my real name!"

"Naght," she whispered softly now. That sent him trembling, and he gasped.

"You know who I am?!" he blinked.

"Yes. I was told who you are. Why did you want me to become pregnant? I'm bearing twins now. A boy and a girl. From you."

"Twins?!" Naght frowned and now moved closed to sniff her skin carefully. Then he grinned and laughed roughly. "Good. My bloodline will survive then."

"But, why?" she frowned.

"For over a thousand years, I have been locked away in a tower," he hissed. "A cell at the top of several floors filled with traps and designs to stop any that tried to reach me. At first, it was a human tower. I made it into a base for me to build an army. But...something went wrong. There was a lesser that was just below me that attempted to usurp me. In my own rage, I sealed the tower. In the end, I did make up my differences with the one that attempted to betray my trust, but I still believe that it may be short-lived. I won't know. Demons and minions from all over were able to join me when I called. I never had a short supply when it came to an army.

"But...none could leave. Any could come in, but none could reach me. Tales of my tower started up, and it became a proving ground for human warriors. They gave up after multiple failures, and my tower was forgotten. However, recent events from somewhere revealed my tower once again. When the humans reappeared after so long, they were finally strong enough to reach me...and defeat me. I was overwhelmed, to put it bluntly. I couldn't leave, but they were able to take what they could from me. They...stole...from me. The blood that made up my essence was taken for their purposes. Yet, it was through this stolen part of me that I have been granted freedom outside my cell! And then I find you..."

"I, too, was locked up in a cell. No windows. Barely enough light from candles," she said sadly. "It was rare that I got any form of light."

"You jest!" Naght said with disbelief.

"Can you read my mind?" she asked.

"Open it to me," he said. Since he branded her, and Howard was naturally in tune with her emotions, it would be easy for him. Nodding, she did just that by letting her emotional wall drop, and he scanned through her memories. Several hundred feet off in the distance, Eremes was watching with complete shock. She got Naght Seiger to talk to her normally. She got him to treat her like an equal. She really did bring out the most human of qualities in everything.

"You see?" Sarine asked, as he pulled away, and she reformed her emotional wall.

"That..." Naght started and flared out his full form again in fury. "Slaughter...all...of...them...!"

"No!" she said, as she ran up to hug Howard's chest tight. He gasped at the shock of it, and she continued to hold on.

"Why...?!" Naght snarled.

"Because the one that did that to me is now dead!" Sarine cried out. At hearing this, the rage was cooled, and Naght's form faded back down. She felt Howard's arms move around her tightly with a raw strength that wasn't there before.

"Never again!" he growled.

"I know," she nodded. "I do have one other question for you, Naght."

"What?"

"How can you be in this body, if your true body is at the tower?"

"That's a difficult question to answer. But, for you, I'll try," he nodded. "When my blood was infused into the body of this one, it took some time for me to feel out the body. Once it was easy to infiltrate, it didn't take much to take it over. Much like how it is now. You could say that my essence can travel from one body to the other. My awareness, you see."

"Can you...feel things in this body as well as yours?" she asked.

"I can to an extent," he nodded.

"Have you ever wondered," Sarine said carefully. "what it would be like to experience the pleasures of a man?"

"Mating you feels good enough," he grinned. "Why?"

She swallowed, pulled his head down to hers quickly and planted a kiss on his mouth. It caught him by surprise, but he didn't pull away. He did kiss her the first time he was with her, but he never actually felt it like this. He was too intent on impregnating her. In the next few minutes, they were both undressed, and she had him on his back on the sand. The feel of her mouth on him had him groaning harshly, and, when she moved onto him, he was sitting up to take her hard. Pressed against his chest, she moved her mouth to his neck, and he roared with release at her innocent bite. Holding her there when she whimpered, he panted from the force of it. He found himself kissing her again and wincing at another hard release.

"Nice?" she managed to smile.

"It's...different," he chuckled. "But, I prefer the old fashioned way."

"I'm sure you do," she nodded. "Tell me, Naght. If you had a chance to separate from Howard's body and be in your own, would you?"

"Well," he blinked and frowned. "I never gave it any real thought. I do know that I will want to be every part of our offspring's lives. I am partially their father, anyways."

"Well, what will happen if Howard becomes fully human again?" she asked.

"I..." he growled and hissed. "I will not be denied from them! Or trapped in that infernal place away from you!"

"Naght!" she whimpered, as he hugged her tightly.

"Husbands be damned!" he snarled. "You are rightfully mine!"

"I beg to differ," Eremes growled his challenge when he Uncloaked.

"Eremes!" Sarine whispered, as she looked over at him.

"Ah. The scum of Ifrit," Naght grinned. "Not even a real demon, either!"

"Take that back!" Eremes hissed, as his scorching heat seared outwards.

"Why? You think I really care? Besides, I doubt even you can hear me!" Naght laughed cruelly. Then the image of the fiery elemental of Ifrit appeared around Eremes's form, as his own eyes seemed to glow. Ifrit looked like a flame in the form of a man up on top and a rising flame along the bottom. His upper form was powerfully built, and his eyes glowed a brighter yellow than the rest of his body.

"How about now?! You think you're the only strong one out there?!" Ifrit hissed, his voice making Eremes's voice appear to sizzle and spit. "You're not the only one that has claimed that one as a mate!"

"Impossible!" Naght snarled and moved Sarine off him to stand up.

"Please! Stop!" she cried before gasping and hugging herself.

"What?!" Naght stopped quickly and ran to her side.

"No!" Ifrit hissed and was at her side as well.

"Please...don't..." she gasped, as she moved aside to vomit. Howard's form winced, and Ifrit's form died down into Eremes's body.

"Pregnant. I had forgotten," Naght sighed.

"To share a mate?" Ifrit growled.

"Four males already share her! I will not share with you!" Naght growled.

"We should separate from these weak shells. Fight each other without them!" Ifrit hissed. "Maybe then, we can see who is the strongest!"

"Perhaps. Then the others will want the same!" Naght spat, and he leaned over Sarine's form to soothe her. "She is all that matters."

"Of course, she is!" Ifrit growled. Then they both looked up when Muninn landed and shifted his form to that of his warrior one.

"You both are at fault! Look at her! The stress will hurt her and make her lose the children! Stop your bickering and work together!" Muninn urged.

"Work with you?!" Ifrit growled at Naght.

"Weakling," Naght hissed back at Ifrit.

"Stop..." Sarine begged, as she hugged herself. "I love you both and the men you possess! Please...just stop it!"

"She...?" Ifrit paused.

"Loves us?" Naght frowned.

"One who loves monsters..." Ifrit whispered.

"Muninn," Naght growled and looked at him. "can Odin help us?"

"Let me ask," Muninn nodded and looked up to the sky. After several minutes, he looked back at them with a frown. "It is possible, but you both must learn to work together first. It may be until after the children are born that you both may get what you desire."

"After the offspring are born," Naght thought aloud. "So be it."

"We should not possess so much. Does it not drain you?" Ifrit asked.

"It does. But, I want to be with her, too. Fine. I will try not to possess unless the time is needed. I will watch and wait for the right time," Naght nodded. With that said, both powerful creatures relinquished their control, and Howard screamed, as he collapsed to the ground. Eremes had sunk to his knees and was trembling all over with the chill of the cold. All of his body heat was gone, and it shocked him a bit.

"See to my sister!" Muninn urged and produced potions for them both. He didn't have the ability to Heal them. Then he gave them both his memories of what just happened before shifting back into the falcon form to fly off. They both downed the potions quickly and noticed Sarine was shivering and trembling like crazy.

"Sarine!" Howard cried out, as he moved to her side. She was still struggling to breath, and Eremes tossed him a knife. Cutting open his finger, he pressed the bleeding wound into her mouth. Whimpering now, she was able to regain herself, and he hugged her tight.

"Get her dressed and yourself, too," Eremes said, as he stood up. Collecting his knife, he closed his eyes to think hard. He had never been possessed by Ifrit before in this manner. Now he was worried of what would happen if the others came around. After Howard managed to dress, he helped dress Sarine. Once that was done, he lifted her into his arms.

"Wait," she whispered.

"What?" Eremes asked.

"Don't move," she said, as she squeezed her eyes tight.

"I just gave you my blood!" Howard frowned.

"I know, but this is just nausea from the pregnancy," she sighed. Nodding, he sat on the ground with her until she was able to move again.

"Ifrit came out of me," Eremes winced. "I had no control of it..."

"Now you know how it is with Naght and I," Howard grumbled.

"And, on top of that, they both want her as a mate! What are we going to do?" Eremes sighed. "I don't want them to fight each other! Ifrit will make me fight you!"

"I need to rinse out my mouth," Sarine sighed. Eremes pulled out a small red potion to give to her. It was a bit of a waste, but something was better than nothing. Using it, she felt a bit better, and she struggled to stand. Howard helped her, and she looked out over the ocean in a particular direction.

"What are you looking for?" Howard asked.

"Naght's tower. It's in that direction," she said, as she pointed south-east of them. "He let me see some of his memories in exchange for seeing mine."

"What?" Eremes asked.

"Are you serious?" Howard frowned.

"Naght...he truly does see me as his mate," she whispered. "And, I know for a fact that I will not be doing any fighting in the arena while I am pregnant. If even one thing happens to me, then all of you will Berserk."

"Heard and noted," Eremes nodded.

"As if I wanted you to fight to begin with!" Howard growled and hugged her tight. "The sun is starting to come up. We should head back."

"Why do I always lose sleep now?" she frowned and rested her head on his shoulder. He gathered her up in his arms to carry her, and Eremes led the way back. They paused when Doppy approached them, and they told him what happened.

"She loved Naght Seiger as a man?!" Doppy asked with amazement. "That says more than I could even imagine!"

"How?" Eremes frowned.

"It shows," Doppy sighed. "that he does love her. Normally, demons hate being anything associated with humans. But, if she was able to talk to him and make love to him like another human, then it shows that he is willing to do anything for her. And I do mean anything."

"Naght said that he would try to keep from possessing me unless it's needed," Howard nodded. "He also explained how he can focus out of his tower."

"Ifrit came out of me and claimed that he wanted Sarine as a mate, too," Eremes grumbled. That made Doppy's mouth gape, but it was Sarine that caught their attention.

"Need sleep..." she sighed. "and I'm hungry now. Oh, I'm starting to hate being pregnant! I was so happy at first, but now all these mood swings are getting to me!"

That made Howard blink, but he gave a soft smile and kissed her forehead. Then he paused, as Naght added his speed to Howard's.

"Naght," Howard sighed. "Thanks."

"Huh?" Eremes asked.

"Naght gave me his speed to get Sarine to bed. Try to keep up!" Howard grinned, as he suddenly ran with a burst of speed. Eremes swore and ran after him. Doppy was just amazed. The demons were working with the humans now. Grinning, he knew that nothing was going to stand in their way after this.

Back in the bedroom, Howard set Sarine into the bed, and he reclined next to her. Keltin was asleep through the whole thing, and Eremes woke him to tell him what happened.

"I slept through all of that?!" Keltin hissed. He looked over at Sarine, and he paused. He knew she wasn't happy.

"I'm hungry," she sighed. Eremes moved down the stairs to get something for her.

"Sarine," Keltin said, and he looked at Howard to gesture for her.

"Here," Howard nodded and let the Champion Bongun hold her. On shifting back into his Bongun self, he felt her sigh.

"What's wrong?" Keltin whispered to her. He felt her tense, as he held her, and she whispered to him. Now that he was in his more familiar form, her true emotions were trying to come out. He looked up at the others. He recognized what she needed. "You guys. Out."

"What?" Doppy frowned.

"Tell Eremes to wait on the food for a bit. Howard, you have the ability to feel her emotions, and she's about to give me all of them. I don't want you in here while she vents. Outside. Go," Keltin ordered.

"But..." Howard blinked then paused. Sarine was getting ready to cry.

"Human women have a tendency to build up hormonal emotions while they're pregnant and when having their periods. I know about her periods. I'm sure you do, too, and I've seen pregnant women while traveling with her. You aren't ready for these emotions. Especially now during her pregnancy. Get out of the room for ten minutes. You'll know when to come back in. If not, then I'll call for you," Keltin said again. Howard nodded and rose up to wait in the hallway. When Keltin looked at Doppy, the demon smirked and walked out as well.

"Why?" Sarine whispered, as tears started to fall.

"They aren't here now," Keltin whispered, and her mental wall finally shattered under the strain of it all. She had maintained her composure for so long that she finally had to either vent or snap. Keltin was there for her the few times it happened during her training and before going to Lighthalzen. When she felt she couldn't do it anymore, he was there to help her through the emotional fits. He was there for her now. He just held her and stroked her hair.

"It's just...it's so hard...and I feel...so alone...!" she gasped, and he sighed, as his hand moved through her hair to give her a form of comfort. Letting her complain, vent, and cry was all he could do until she was finally finished.

"I know it's hard. I know you're only one person. But, we are all trying to make it better. Aren't we?" he asked soothingly once she was able to hear him.

"No," she pouted. "I just feel like it's getting worse!"

"Oh, don't be like that. Remember during training? Remember the few times this happened? And you're not alone! Besides, who was with you before you met me?"

"How-How and the others."

"That's right. And who was with you to help you when they were gone next?"

"Doppy was."

"See? And after that?"

"You."

"So, why do you think you're doing this alone? We all want to help you and make sure you're protected and loved. So, don't think you're doing this alone! Didn't you always say that things happened for a reason?"

"Yes."

"So, why are you having problems now? Are you stressed? You never cried with me when you were stressed. You vented, but you never cried."

"I couldn't get stressed with you," she admitted. "It was all just emotional baggage. Especially during my periods."

"Especially during those," he nodded. "And, I'll still be here to take that emotional baggage during your pregnancy. Right?"

"Yeah," she smiled weakly.

"Feeling better now?" he asked. She nodded, and he kissed her passionately. Calling the others back in, Howard took a deep breath, as he walked into the room. Tears stained his face, and now he knew why Keltin told him to leave the room. If she saw me react to her, it would have only made it worse. Sarine put up her mental emotional wall again, and the Whitesmith walked over to her.

"Keltin was right. I wasn't ready for that. Wow..." he said, and she leaned over to hug him tight and wipe off the rest of his tears. "I knew your periods were bad when I had to experience them, but this was just a whole new level! And, it was Seyren that you ended up talking to when you didn't have Keltin!"

"It's going to get worse," Keltin sighed, as he lay back in the bed.

"How?" Howard asked.

"Labor pains," he grinned. Howard stammered and looked over, as Eremes appeared with a plate of lightly cooked meat, cheese, and fruit. Doppy walked in next with some pitchers of water. Sarine smiled and had Howard sit on the bed in a way that she could recline between both him and Keltin. Howard moved to rest his hand on her belly, and she blushed lightly.

"After this, you're sleeping more," Eremes said, as he started to feed her.

"You know, I could go for something cold," she blinked. This made Keltin pause, since she was never one for cold treats.

"Cravings?" Howard frowned.

"Already?" Eremes paused.

"I'm not sure if we have anything," Doppy frowned. "I'll check."

As she ate and drank, Keltin thought. Howard looked at him curiously.

"The only thing that I can think of is an ice cream cone. That may be the best thing to have. The monsters that can give us ice cream cones are the Carats in Glast Heim. They tend to give it over rather quickly, as well as a few other things," Keltin said, as the information came to him. Eremes moved down the stairs to let Doppy know what to look for. Keltin looked up at them when they came back with an ice cream cone. It had a scoop of chocolate over a scoop of vanilla. She didn't know what it was.

"We only had one. Here," Doppy said, as he gave it to her. Smiling now, she began to eat it with relish. When that was done, she blinked.

"Um, now I want something spicy," she sighed. "Or hot. I think..."

"Hot and cold?" Howard frowned.

"Her twins!" Eremes hissed. "It's their natures!"

"Ugh," Howard groaned. "All right, all right. What do we have that's spicy?"

"I think Kathryne can make something. Hold on," Doppy snorted and walked out of the room. She frowned at first, but then she winced when she heard Kathryne screaming at being woken up, followed by the sound of a dull explosion. Then Doppy's deeper voice rang out explaining what was going on. More talking was given at length, and soon the sounds of something being made was heard. Doppy came back in with Kathryne, and Sarine was handed something called a Bomber Steak. Sniffing it, she ate with the same gusto as the ice cream.

"I'll make sure to have more meals made for her. Sorry for the Fire Ball, Doppy," Kathryne sighed. "It's not often I'm awakened late at night. I honestly thought you were Seyren!"

"If it wasn't for her, I would have taken it as a battle invitation," he grinned. "And you thought I was Seyren?! I feel disgusted!"

Howard laughed at that, and Kathryne apologized again with a soft giggle.

"Um..." Sarine frowned.

"What now?" Keltin paused.

"Something in-between," she said.

"What?" Howard blinked. "What do you mean something in-between?"

"Are you having triplets?!" Kathryne asked.

"No! No," Sarine shook her head. "It's just a craving I want."

"Let me see what I have," Kathryne sighed and went back to her room to search. They didn't have to wait very long, and a small juice container was given to her.

"Mastela Fruit Wine," Eremes chuckled. "Good one!"

"Are you sure that wine is good for her?" Howard frowned.

"It's a weak wine. It should be all right," Keltin nodded. On sipping it down, Sarine finally felt drowsy and fell into a deep sleep on Keltin's shoulder.

"Wow," Howard blinked.

"I guess she's done?" Eremes chuckled and removed the plate and empty juice container from the bed to set aside. They thanked Kathryne, and she said that the others had found someone selling a whole stock of good cooking materials. She further told them that she would have the dishes ready to give out, now that they knew what she needed. She left to head back to her room after that.

Howard and Keltin set Sarine fully onto the bed, and they were just amazed at the deep sleep she was in. She didn't even mutter when they nudged her by accident.

"She never slept like this before," Howard mused.

"A pregnancy does different things," Keltin chuckled.

"She could react differently to any of us," Eremes said.

"Hopefully not too much differently. She did sleep deeply when she was with me in Geffen Tower long ago. This is likely just from her pregnancy," Doppy grumbled. "I would hate to realize that she can get enraged easily, if she's pregnant with my children."

"You are no longer part of this conversation!" Howard snapped, and Doppy laughed. Keltin grinned, and Eremes shook his head.

"Should we try to sleep now?" Keltin asked.

"Yeah," Howard nodded, and they got comfortable. Eremes moved to recline in his usual corner, and Doppy set up by the door. A light tapping was heard on the door, and Doppy snarled. Howard sat up in the bed and crossed his arms, while Keltin simply listened. Eremes cracked an eye open with a frown. At the door was Mitchell, and Doppy snorted.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I need some advice," Mitchell sighed. Howard groaned and lay back in the bed. Keltin just blinked and muttered. Eremes chuckled and moved to walk out the door with Doppy to keep from waking Sarine.

"What is on your mind?" Eremes asked.

"Kathryne has been...well...demanding lately. I like her. Seriously, I do. But, it's like, she's not letting up. Yeah, I started sleeping in the same bed with her, and it feels natural. But, now she wants more, and I'm getting uncomfortable. I'm not ready to move to that next step," Mitchell sighed. "I honestly don't know how to tell her."

"Have you kissed her yet?" Eremes asked.

"On the cheek," he blushed.

"And what do you know about sex?" Doppy asked.

"Oh, I know everything! Don't get me wrong!" the young man blushed. "I just...I want to go slower. If I rush, I might make a mistake."

"There are no mistakes when it comes to mating," Doppy grinned. "You just make it more fun! Sometimes, mistakes lead to new things!"

"Easy for you to say, since you're a demon!" Mitchell grumbled. That made Doppy chuckle, and Eremes thought.

"Have you let Kathryne know how you felt?" Eremes asked.

"I tried," he frowned. "She's so possessive, in a way."

"That's Kathryne," Eremes sighed.

"Mitchell?" Kathryne frowned, as she stepped forward.

"Oh! Um, hi!" Mitchell smiled nervously, as he turned to face her.

"I heard what you said. I'm sorry," she said. "I just...I never met another like you before, and I'm just afraid of losing you."

"Kathryne, you should know that that's not going to happen," he sighed. The other two looked at each other and slowly backed away into the bedroom to let them talk. "You are an amazing woman to me. I just need you to ease up a bit. I haven't been in a relationship before, and neither have you. We both need to go slow. Right?"

"I know. I just see the happiness the others have, and I want to get up there with them!" Kathryne sighed. Mitchell noticed the others had left, and he pulled Kathryne back into their bedroom. Taking a deep breath, he pulled her close and kissed her. Wrapping her arms around him, she blushed when he was done.

"Please, Kathy. For me, let's go slow. Okay?" Mitchell smiled.

"Okay, Mitt. I'll try," she nodded. He kissed her again a bit deeper this time and had to admit that it felt really nice. Then he realized why she wanted to be with the others on their level. But, he wasn't ready to reach that point. Not yet. Pulling away from her, he smiled and held her tightly to him.

"Soon," he said. "Not now. But soon. Okay?"

"Okay," she nodded. Smiling and giving her another kiss, they went back to bed.