"So what is it like, expecting your first grandchild and your first child in twenty years?" Leia asked Phil as she placed her chin in her hand and looked at him with wide eyed admiration. Lina decided to focus on the biscuit she was eating. Sylphiel and Rick had brought them back from their honeymoon, and their buttery crispness was a welcome distraction.

"Well, it's not uncommon among royals." Phil explained, as indifferent to her mother's admiration as he was to the disgust he usually tended to evoke, "We're supposed to keep propagating the line as long as we're able."

Ugh, I do not need to think about Phil propagating his line! Lina thought as she sat her biscuit down as the bile rose in her throat, and openly rolled her eyes as she saw the way her mother was looking at Phil. She glanced at her dad to see how he was holding up, but merely sipped his wine leisurely.

Zelgadis, meanwhile, moved his chair to the ottoman Amelia had perched her feet on and started to massage them. Lina looked over at Gourry and tried to stifle a laugh. Since Phil had arrived Zelgadis had been putting in the hard work to get into Phil's good graces. Granted, if Phil still held a grudge over their elopement he didn't show it, but Zelgadis was unusually nervous around his father-in-law, and seeing the man so dismissive of the approval of others bend over backwards for once never ceased to tickle Lina.

"I just can't imagine, having children the same age or younger as my grandchildren." Leia said.

"I don't want to imagine you, Lina and Luna pregnant at the same time." Han muttered.

"Whoa, that's like a horror story!" Gourry said.

"What's this about?" Luna asked as she walked in.

"Mom being weird." Lina said as she stood up, "Sis, I'd like you to meet Prince Philionel of Saillune. Phil, this is my sister, Luna."

Lina watched to see if Luna would give any hint of disgust, or worse, share the poor taste in men that her mother had. But Luna's expression was one of diplomatic cordiality as she curtsied, "Your highness."

"I'm here to support my daughter," Phil said with the same humbleness Amelia often displayed that was so rare among royalty, "There's no need to be so formal."

"As you wish, your highness." Luna said, and then she looked at Lina, who tensed in anticipation. Yet she merely handed her a package, "The Eternal Queen sent this for you."

The tension melted away as Lina took it, and she had to resist the urge to open it right there, "Thanks."

"What sort of request did you make?" Luna asked sharply, and Lina felt the tension snap back into her shoulders.

"It's for the good of the kingdom, and that's all you need to know." Lina replied just as sharply, and then she held her breath as she hoped Luna wouldn't threaten her in front of Phil. Her stomach rumbled as the child within her woke and started kicking and punching, as if sensing her fear and wanting to fight whatever threatened them as she felt the glow start.

"Yeah, if the Eternal Queen didn't tell you, then it must mean she didn't think you needed to know." Gourry said as he put his hands behind his head and leaned back on the couch, his manner deliberately clueless. Luna's eyes flashed as she directed her attention from Lina and unto him. But rather than flinch, he merely smiled at her as he blinked rapidly, his blue eyes brimming with innocence.

"Do you know what's in the box?" Luna asked, her voice so frosty that the windows glazed over as Lina put her hands on her stomach and reminded herself to breath slowly and deliberately.

Gourry shrugged, completely indifferent to the brewing storm as he said casually, "Don't need to. I trust her, don't you? Afterall, she's the one who defeated Shabranigdu twice, not you."

Damn, Gourry, Lina thought as she shook her head. You are playing with fire, but I kinda love you for it.

Luna's hair seemed to float up as her fists clenched, and while Luna's anger had been redirected to him, it was still a clear and present danger. That was until Leia cleared her throat and asked, "Luna, are the new students here?"

Luna trembled a little, and then took a deep breath as the tension in the room dissipated. "Yes, they are in the dining hall. The old ones will be back tomorrow."

Lina pocketed the package. She would have to wait till Susan was back to open it. The glow started to dissipate, and she took a deep breath and thankfully her voice was steady when she said, "So, four new students."

She stood up, and Gourry got up with her, and she quickly grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze in thanks as she rested her head against his arm. He moved to wrap an arm around her as he whispered, "You okay?"

"Yes." She said back.

"Did you read the reports I compiled?" Luna asked as she headed towards the door and most of the people in the room got up to follow her. Only Phil remained behind.

"Yes." Lina said, "Considering I was impressed that you were able to find 22 talented students last year I was surprised to find that there were a few more who had been overlooked. I'll say, though, Arnold Rimmer's report is particularly notable. I mean, I guess I shouldn't be so skeptical given my accomplishments, but taking down a horde of demons single handedly and Deep Sea Dolphin's priest? All by himself?"

"I know." Luna agreed, "The Ceiphied Knight I sent interviewed the whole town, though. They couldn't stop singing his praises! His head is a bit big for his shoulders if you ask me, but that's to be expected I guess."

"Wow, it will be so amazing to meet him!" Amelia said, "Anyone who can do that must be a strong ally of justice!"

"I'll make sure he's one of the first we have dinner with." Lina said as they reached the dining room. Lina cracked the door open a little and saw a scrawny boy with curly brown hair regaling another boy and two girls about his exploits.

"And then, even though I had never been trained in magic, I knew it was now or never! That my beloved hometown, Hollyred, would be destroyed if I didn't act. So I begged Ceiphied for the power I needed to destroy the menace! And then, just like that, I cast my first Dragon Slave!"

Lina snapped around to look at Luna, "No way! The Dragon Slave takes time to learn!"

"I agree." Sylphiel added, "I studied it intently for about a year before I got it. And I was an adult, he's still a child."

"And you have to have some background in magic." Zelgadis said, "You don't just get the nuances of the harder spells without mastering the basics."

Luna's eyes narrowed in suspicion, "Perhaps he's exaggerating his lack of education?"

"Nice," the other boy, who appeared roughhewn with dreadlocks said, though he didn't bother to look up from his food until Nelly came by to put more rolls on the table, "Hey, doll, by chance can you bring me a brewsky?"

"Excuse me?" Nelly asked as her eyebrows hit her hairline.

Meanwhile, a girl with purple hair crooned, "Ooo, that sounds nice!"

Luna started to shake her head in disbelief as Nelly started yelling at them as she muttered dangerously, "This is what happens when I delegate!"

Usually Lina would have been tickled with the knowledge that some Ceiphied Knights were about to get their butts kicked, but at the moment she was more concerned about just who had been brought to her school. "Who are these kids?"

"Excuse me!" The boy with brown curls, who had to be Arnold, said, "We were talking about my heroism!"

"That's Arnold." Luna's whisper confirmed. "The other boy is Dave Lister, and the girl with the purple hair is called Betty."

"I don't remember a Betty." Lina interjected.

"It's short for Mary Elizabeth Jennifer Rachel Abergavenny Slocombe."

"Damn," Lina said, "And here I was thinking she was called Mary for short."

"Mary makes sense." Gourry said.

"It sounds as though her parents couldn't decide on a name." Zelgadis said dryly.

"That's strangely relatable." Lina said as she put a hand on her stomach. Unlike Amelia and Zel, she and Gourry were no closer to settling on a name. "Who's the other girl?"

The second girl, who appeared to be wearing her best dress, was openly cringing and red faced as though embarrassed to be in the company she was keeping.

"Hyacinth." Luna said as she shook her head, "Don't let the wretchedness of the rest of them fool you. She's a terror."

"What do you mean?" Amelia asked.

"You'll see." Luna said ominously as she squared her shoulders and steeled herself. "Let's get this started."

Luna pushed opened the doors and brusquely walked in, and the room went silent as the kids realized that the party was over. Luna reached the head of the table and placed her hands on her hips and favored them with a hard stare, "May I remind you that you are here to serve your country and not to party. That it is a privilege that many seek and few receive to be educated here by my sister, and that if you're wanting to drink and party and recite impossible stories then you can do it at some other school!"

Arnold gulped, while Dave considered Luna with a smirk as Betty examined her nails with a mild hint of disdain. Hyacinth alone appeared to be on the edge of tears, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm better than this! Please don't lump me with these ruffians!" she stammered.

"Did I say you could speak!?" Luna yelled.

"Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am, so sorry!" Hyacinth said as tears started to roll down her face.

Luna took a deep breath and ran a hand through her hair, "This is not a typical school. There will be danger. Already this school has been attacked, and we are preparing to be attacked again."

Lina watched as the color drained from Arnold's face. Meanwhile, Dave smiled in anticipation and Betty and Hyacinth remained unmoved. After a dramatic pause, Luna continued, "Letting your guard down and being flippant about this opportunity could be a fatal mistake on your part."

"F-fatal?" Arnold asked.

Luna glared at him, "Is the hero of Hollyred scared?"

"Not at all!" Arnold protested, "It just seems as though you should be accountable for my safety."

"We're fighting Mazoku, not trained clerics." Luna said, "And right now the world is in greater danger than you can possibly understand. In fact, one of our bravest and most competent students was gravely injured over the summer and he barely survived. So if you fear death, now is the time to go."

Arnold started trembling as Betty sighed indifferently. While Luna gave them a good few minutes to leave, Arnold remained in his seat, as did the other three. "Now that we are understood, I am going to introduce your headmistress and teachers, and then you will be taken to the dorms to get settled in. Without further ado, let me introduce Dame Lina Inverse."

Lina strode into the room. It was quite different this year with such a small class, and Lina wondered if this is how it would be from here on out or if the class sizes would get larger again. As she reached the front of the table she took a moment to glance at each student. Dave was looking at her appraisingly as if wondering if she was the real deal, while Betty waved nervously and patted her hair. Hyacinth's smile was so wide and saccharine that Lina wondered if there was any substance beneath her coiffed appearance. And Arnold was…Arnold was blatantly looking her up and down as his eyebrows raised and he let out a breath as if to say, "Damn!"

That's it. This is the bottom of the barrel! Lina thought to herself as she yelled, "Eyes on my eyes!"

Arnold reddened and immediately looked contrite. Lina took a few more moments to glare at him as she wondered if their first class was a lucky fluke. "Now that that is clear, welcome to the Luke and Milina School of Swordplay and Sorcery."

While she braced herself for more shenanigans, the group was refreshingly attentive as she launched into an explanation of how the classes would work as well as the school rules before she introduced Gourry, Zel, Amelia, Sylphiel, Rick and her parents. Arnold deliberately looked at the floor every time one of the women was introduced and folded his arms across his chest and sulked as he considered the men. Lina decided then and there that if he didn't live up to his reputation that he would be walking back to Hollyred.

Lina finally finished with her spiel and then braced herself as she asked, "Any questions?"

Hyacinth's hand shot in the air, and Lina nodded at her. Hyacinth stood up and smiled as she said, "I just want to say what an honor it is to be here and to bask in your knowledge, Dame Lina."

"Thank you." Lina said as she thought that Hyacinth may not be quite that bad. "For now go ahead and get settled into your dorms. The rest of the students will be here tomorrow. Get some rest. And remember, we expect greatness from each of you!"

Lina's stomach growled, and she started thinking about the dinner waiting for her as Luna escorted the four out. "Is it just me," Gourry asked as he wrapped an arm around her, "Or does this group seem less impressive than our previous one?"

"You'd noticed that, huh." Lina said.

"Every child can blossom with the right guidance." Leia said. "We can't give up on a student before we've had a chance to mold them."

"That's the right attitude to take!" Amelia added, but as Lina rubbed her back she privately thought that between her worries over someone kidnapping her baby and the discomforts of the third trimester, breaking in some roughhewn students was definitely on her list of things she did not want to be bothered with.

"All the same, once rot has started, there's not much you can do to reverse it." Zelgadis said, "And Arnold may be very accomplished, but that young man is rotten to the core."

"Arnold I tend to agree with. Dave, he just needs a good, strong father figure." Han said, obviously eager to take a young miscreant under his wing, "There's still time to turn him around."

"Right," Lina muttered, "Come on, I'm hungry, and it's rude to starve a pregnant lady."

Lina had been initially nervous when she got up to leave the dining hall with Gourry and Luna followed them. Even the typically agreeable Gourry glared at Luna warningly as she fell in step beside them in the hallway. But when Luna did speak it was fortunately on a safe topic. "Wow, Mom is really wrapped up in Prince Phil."

"Isn't it nauseating?" Lina replied.

Luna looked around to make sure no one could overhear as they climbed up the stairs, "Well, between you and me, when I first saw him I was so relieved that Harold is decent looking enough. I don't see how his poor bride could go through with it!"

"It's been hard enough to not vomit!" Lina exclaimed. "I don't need to think about his poor bride! Ugh, his poor, pregnant bride! I mean his daughters are lovely, I have to admit, but the thought of carrying a bit of him…eww!"

"Thanks for the nightmares." Luna said dryly as she shuddered. "Well, this is my hallway. Get some good rest, take care of your baby."

"Night." Lina said as she walked with Gourry to her room.

Once the door was closed behind them, Gourry sat on the bed and said as he took off his boots, "How can she do that?"

"Do what?" Lina asked.

"Go back and forth. Sometimes she so nice and other times, well, you're seven months pregnant and have enough on your plate. You'd think she'd let off on you."

Lina took the package out of her pocket and walked over to her cabinet and grabbed a key to unlock a compartment within it. She placed it inside and then relocked it, reflecting for a moment on how Gourry had not asked what was in it even though they were now alone. Then she turned around to look at her husband as he pulled his shirt up and off as she silently admired him, even as she noted the way he slouched forward. Once again, he was worried about her. She smiled as she remembered the first time she'd seen him so worried on her behalf, way back in Saillune City after she'd been attacked by Zuuma and then later, a giant beetle, and had started to realize just how much he cared. "I wouldn't worry so much, I mean, she won't push me more than I can take."

"She should stop pushing, period." He said as he looked over his shoulder at her. "You don't need more stress right now."

Lina smiled as she chanted a levitation spell and effortlessly landed behind him on the bed. "That's why it's good to have you around. And that's why I challenged Hellmaster to get you back." She said as she gathered his hair and pulled it off his neck and around his shoulder and then leaned down to kiss the spot where his neck met his shoulder as she wrapped her arms around him, "You do take good care of me you know. It makes up for having to put up with Sis."

She continued to plant kisses along his neck as she leisurely drew her fingers across his chest, and she stopped only to whisper in his ear, "Let me take care of you now."

He drew in a breath, and then turned to face her as he fully moved onto the bed. She drew back a bit to give him space, and then they moved so they were laying on their sides facing each other to accommodate her bump. They wasted little time in grabbing each other and pulling the other in for a kiss, which he pulled away to say, "You never did tell me if you cried when I was gone."

"Shut up, jellyfish." She said as she pulled him back to her for a bruising kiss.

AN: So I decided I needed some PIA students to mix in with all of the amazing ones, and it took me awhile to find the right sources. You'll either get the references, or they'll fly over your head. While I had a lot of fun doing the contest last year, this year I'm just not up for it (I am really, really one shotted out), I still figured I'd give people a chance to guess if so inclined before naming who is who with the next update.

Also, as someone noted, the kiss at the end of the last chapter was inspired by a picture that has been making the rounds on Tumblr, and if you're on Tumblr, you know exactly which one I'm talking about, by anxioussailorsolider. I love the L/G stuff they've been putting out!

Finally, I've gotten some nice guest reviews, and I feel bad when that happens on FFN because I have no way to reply back and give thanks. So if you are a guest who has been reviewing, thanks and I appreciate it so much!