Well a sequel is definitely in order for her dork his baby and I hope you enjoy this.

Double back to back weeks of guard duty plus being a lady in waiting left Cassandra at the palace with few breaks, little sleep and hardly any family time so it was good to finally return home through the cool dark forest and enter her clearing.

She saw her children, Michael and Rachel playing in the yard with Varian's raccoon while the young man was sitting on a stump watching with a bemused smile. Cassandra dismounted and let her reins fall, no matter how tired she was she would and could never resist seeing their smiling faces.

Rachel was the first to notice her but Michael was closer and they both crashed into her legs. "Mama! You're back!"

Cassandra bent down and held them close, savoring their touches and questions, softly kissing their foreheads.

"Did you kick anyone's butt mama? Or chase bad guys? Or, or take and throw them in the dungeon?" Michael asked excitedly, throwing his arms around dramatically. Cassandra ruffled his wavy hair and shook her head, it had been one of those weeks where there was heightened security but no threats.

"Mama, uncle Vari taught us how to make a volcano!" Rachel said excitedly, she absolutely adored her godfather Varian.

"Did you now?" Cassandra raised an eyebrow and smiled. "So aside from volcanoes what have you been doing while I was gone my angels?"

The twins began eagerly talking over one another in attempt to be the first to fill her in on the past two weeks.

Lance had brought them to the palace a handful of times but Cassandra was so busy she barely got a chance to spend anytime with them.

"Thanks for watching them Varian. They really enjoy your visits. Rachel especially." Cassandra said smiling softly at the still shorter than her young man.

"Aww thanks Cassie I mean who wouldn't want to spend time with them? I'd be here all the time if I could. I'll see you guys later, okay?" Varian bid the three Strongbow's goodbye before getting back in his small cart and trotting off.

In each of her arms Cassandra picked up both her children and brought them inside with her, still she could remember when she held both of them so tiny and fragile in her arms as they fussed or cooed as infants and even babbling toddlers. Come fall they would be old enough to go to school. Something she dreaded and looked forward to. More than anything she wanted to be able to stay home and teach them but her job just didn't allow the time and even though she had family that would be more than willing, Rapunzel and Gothel specifically, Cassandra knew she couldn't keep her angels shielded forever and knew that she shouldn't.

Setting the duo down to play Cassandra walked into the kitchen and sat at the breakfast nook, holding her tired head in her hands. Just a few minutes of shuteye and then dinner, she promised herself.

A few minutes turned into an hour long doze and as most children do, they got bored. Michael especially.

Rachel was content to look at a picture book that was gifted to them by Rapunzel but Michael being a child after his mother's own heart needed to be doing something and his sparring dummy was not the best swords opponent he could have hoped for.

So tossing his reciprocating wooden sword at Rachel he stood on the large chair where they were read stories before bed and challenged her.

"I don't wanna." Was all that was needed for the game to be afoot. Of course they kept it in their room to let their mother sleep.

A giggle, suspicious but not enough to fully wake Cassandra. A disgruntled shout was more attention getting but nothing enough to open her eyes or mind. Loud bumps were never a good sign and Cassandra was awake now, listening. A very loud crash accompanied by screams and I didn't do it's were worth checking out.

Cassandra inhaled sharply and got up. From one job to another.

"Ok now what's going on- OH MY GOD WHAT DID YOU TWO DO?" She opened the door and each child stood in their own corner, offending items in hand. She never raised her voice at them because she never needed to but it was only out of pure shock and lack of sleep that her tone peirced the air.

Lying on the floor was the rocking chair Lance had gotten her and over time he'd carved a very beautiful picture on the head rest, but it lay on the floor broken into peices, the headrest splintered and scattered across the room.

"He did it."

"She did it."

Both children were quick to point to the other and Cassandra tried to maintain her composure but she didn't have enough sleep to deal with this.

"I don't care who did it! Toys right now you both are grounded! I want every sliver of wood picked up, right now!" Cassandra snapped, holding a hand out for the toys and pointing at the mess with her other.

She began ranting and screaming, perhaps it wasn't even directed at her children, but she paced the doorway until they'd cleaned up the floor more or less to the best of their five year old abilities.

Lance poked his head around the door and Cassandra walked right into him.

"You done yet, curls?" He deadpanned absolutely unprepared for her senseless rant to be continued only pointed towards him.

"Alright, somebody needs a nap." Lance tossed Cassandra over his shoulder much to her chagrin and the children's delight.

"Lance put me down this instant!" She kicked but was rather pinned when he laid on top of her, leaving her fume before attempting to kiss her.

Once she calmed down, Sleep was eminent.

Whatever she was so riled up about could be addressed later once she had a full eight hours of sleep under her belt.

Lance got up and silently left the room to get dinner going. Of course it was as easy as reheating some leftovers from the snuggly duckling.

Cassandra stirred slightly when Lance got into bed with her that night but not enough to be considered awake. Still Lance spoke softly to her, enclosed in his arms. "You know as much as you love being a gaurd and being busy you've got to go on light duty again. For the kids' sake, curls."

He rested a hand over her midsection and felt her shift closer, moving her hand to rest atop his own. "Few more weeks... promise..." Cassandra mumbled.

"Ok I'm going to hold you to that." Lance pointed out as his arms were pulled by his wife to wrap around her in a strong, dark cocoon.

"No just hold me..." Cassandra mumbled, nuzzling his chest.

There was no place either of them wanted to be in that moment, held close in a tangle of limbs and loved by the one that completed them, two angel children and a miracle baby.

Nothing could go wrong.

So what's up with Cassandra?

And what'll happen next?

Do read on and review please.