Author's Note: Here you go guys! I hope you like this chapter!! I wanna thank… Cait for being the coolest (yea ranting queens!), Kathy, Nina and others who are just so cool!!
Disclaimer: The character's are mine but other's have been used with permission from mun's. Otherwise…the world of Tortall belongs to Tammy and Random house…yadayadayada…..
A week later, Adira was in her room making her bed when she heard a knock at the door. Expecting Rascal, she frowned at seeing her eldest brother Madison, looking down at her with a frown.
"May I come in?" he asked.
"Sure," responded Adi as he walked in and she closed the door behind him. Madison was 6"2 and had brown hair and piercing green eyes. The only one to inherit the pale skin of the Veldine line, Madison burnt very easily unlike Adira and her other two brothers Xavier and Elton, who all tanned well.
"So," said Madison as he took a seat in Adi's desk chair. "I hear you're dropping our of the University next semester."
"I'm not dropping out," snapped Adira. "I'm just taking a needed break." Originally, Adira had planned on telling her family at Midwinter when she went up to Veldine, and was three and a half months pregnant.
"Would you care to tell me *why* you need a break?"
"Would you mind telling me how you got this information and *why* you were checking up on me?"
"Actually, I wouldn't mind at all," responded Madison with a grin. "I was checking up on you because I haven't seen you in over a month and we usually have Sunday dinner together and I was worried.
"Oh," responded Adi as she began to finish making her bed.
"Oh?"
"Yes, 'Oh,' " responded Adi with a grimace.
"Bunny, what's going on?" asked Madison with a worried look on his face.
"Bunny? You haven't called me that since I was nine years old!"
"Stop trying to change the subject. What is wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong!" shouted Adi as she heard a knock at the door. Adi ran to it and found the one person whom she didn't want to see at that moment: Rascal. Adi grimaced and said, "Rascal this really isn't a good time right now."
Madison, standing behind Adi, sneered down at Rascal and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Rascal frowned and said, "I'm her boyfriend and the father of her child. I'm here to see her. That's why."
"The father of her what?!" shouted Madison.
"Now Madi I…" said Adi with a whimper.
"You're pregnant?! How are you going to tell Mom and Dad? Are you going to tell Mom and Dad? I can't believe my little sixteen-year-old sister is pregnant, "mumbled Madison as he started to pace around the room.
"Madison…" began Adira.
"Shush!" snapped Madison. "Let me think."
"About what?" Rascal asked.
Madison frowned and pointed a finger at Rascal, and advanced upon him saying, "You! You got my little sixteen-year-old sister pregnant?! How old are you?"
"Sixteen," said Rascal as he looked up at Madison, who looked incredibly intimidating at that moment despite being only three inches taller than his own 5"11. Madison, regardless of being a Master in Sorcery, was very muscular. For he was the heir to Fief Veldine, and had been taught since he was six how to wield a sword and how to fight. Adi's parents had originally wanted Madison to be a knight, but he had insisted on going to the University, being the first of the four children not to obey their parents.
"So," Madison continued. "How long have you two been together?"
"Two months," mumbled Adi.
"And how many months along are you?"
"Two months," Adi repeated.
Madison took a deep breath and said, "So my little sister was de-virginized and impregnated by the one and only Rascal Sky of Stone Mountain."
"How d'you know him?" questioned Adira.
"Oh, everyone talks about him at the university," responded Madison with a frown. "Well, at least the professors do. He is after all a senior; thank the gods, and not only one of the more intelligent students but one of the most arrogant. He is also famous for sleeping and dating many women. So Rascal, how many people have you slept with since you started dating my sister?"
Rascal looked down at his hands rather than respond as Adi sat down on her bed and put her hands on her knees.
"Rascal," she asked. "How many people have you slept with since you started dating me?"
"One!" responded Rascal quickly. "Only you Adira."
"Are you sure about that?" prompted Madison as he sat down next to his sister.
Adira looked into Rascal's eyes and asked him again, "Rascal, how many people have you slept with since you started dating me?"
"Adi…"
"Please, Rascal," said Adira as tears began to fill her eyes.
"Adi, I love you," responded Rascal. "I would never do anything too…"
"Tell me now Rascal, or leave."
"Four," said Rascal. "Including you.
"Four?" rasped Adira.
"Well, one just after I met you and then two other girls in your class," responded Rascal with a monotone-like voice.
"So four girls? Including Adira," said Madison.
"Yes."
"Did you get any others pregnant?"
"No."
"Rascal," said Adi. "I think you should go."
"Adi…"
"Just go Rascal," prompted Adi. "I'll come by in a couple days to talk with you."
"If we must do it this way," responded Rascal. "I'll talk to you in a couple days." And with that, Rascal turned around and walked out the door, closing it softly behind him.
Tears streaked Adi's face as her elder brother took her into his arms and cooed, "Everything'll be okay bunny. Everything'll turn out all right in the end."
"I can't believe this happened," sobbed Adira. "I mean, this week we were even talking about getting engaged and married after the baby was born."
"Even though I don't like the kid, you have to think about this. Did he cheat on you in the beginning of your relationship? When you guys just started dating or just before you told him you were pregnant?"
Adira frowned, "Thanks for the encouragement Madi. I mean, I only told him a week ago! I found out my self practically three weeks ago and he had moved out of the palace. I had no idea where he was for six days! What was he doing then?"
"I don't know bunny, but I would advise not to think about where he was or who he was with. It would just make things worse between the two of you. And you need to make this work for your baby, okay?"
"Can you stop calling me bunny?" giggled Adi.
"Why bunny?" teased Madison. "You can still wiggle your nose, can't you? I know you haven't done it since you were ten but…"
Adi rolled her eyes and wiggled her nose before saying, "I can't believe you've started calling me this again."
"I can't believe you're pregnant," replied Madison. "Are you going to keep the child?"
"I'm not going to have an abortion, if that's what you're asking," replied Adi.
"So you won't put him or her up for adoption, either?"
"No Madi, I won't."
"Good! Is it a boy or a girl?"
Adi smiled and replied, "It's a boy."
"Yes, Rascal wants to name him Julian Elisten, it's some Stone Mountain name," grumbled Adi. "I want to name him Justin but I haven't convinced him yet."
"You should be able to," replied Madison with a grin. "You've always been good at debating or fighting with everyone else."
"Hey!" said Adi as she pushed him off the bed and then giggled when Madison muttered a word and a bucket of water was dumped over her head. "That was cold!" she shrieked as she pointed a finger at Madison and feathers started to stick on him.
"These are going to stick!" he shouted as he stood up and walked over to the door. "I better go Bunny. I'll come by later this week to see what's up, okay?"
"Okay, Madison," replied Adi. "I'll see you later." With that, Madison opened the door and left, leaving a wet, cold and confused Adira behind.
Adira got up and went into her washroom, where she took a long, hot relaxing bath. She then got out and proceeded to put a long gypsy-style skirt and shirt on. After putting all of her hair in small braids and then in a bun, she put on black eyeliner and a light green shadow on her eyes. She then put on a deep red lip-rouge, bringing out the features of her full bow-shaped lips. Putting her silver rings and bangles, on, Adi was preparing herself to go down to a bar in Lower Corus named "The Hung Chicken." She frequented this bar saying she was a commoner when she didn't feel like going to the Dancing Dove and seeing any of her friends. Putting silver studs and stoops in her ears, she then took her black, hooded velvet cloak off a peg on her wall. Pulling the hood up over her hair, Adi opened the door and took off down to Lower Corus.
Entering the Hung Chicken, she revealed her face only to receive a cheer from the Head Table. Adi grinned and walked over to it. Over the years, the Hung Chicken had become home to the Court of the Rogue; home to all of the thieves and murderers of Tortall. The current King was Allen Clarkson, a good friend of Adira's who had met her when she first came to Corus. He introduced her to the world of the Rogue; he taught her how to knife fight and how to be a good pickpocket.
"Adira!" shouted Allen.
"Allen!" shouted Adi back with a grin.
"I've got someone for you t'meet m'dear," he said with a grin. "I know yer pregnant and datin' some noble but I still feel like I need to introduce you to him."
"Okay," said Adi rolling her eyes.
Allen dragged Adi over to a table with two chairs at it. Facing there was a young man with short-cut black hair and piercing blue eyes. His skin was pale and clear and he was dressed simply; in black breeches and a light blue button down shirt. He wore black boots on his feet and one silver ring on his thumb.
"Adi, this is Kieran Anderson," said Allen. "Kieran, this is Adira Gibran."
Kieran stood up and shook her hand, "Nice to meet you Adira."
"She's a noble," interjected Allen before Adi could get a word in. "But I'm the only one who knows it so don't mention it."
"Allen knows all my deep dark secrets," said Adi as she elbowed Allen.
"Yes, like you're datin' an ass named Rascal whose a fellow noble and got ya' pregnant the first time y'all had sex which was also the first time you had sex. Which also was only two months ago and now you're two months pregnant," ranted Allen before Adi punched him in the stomach.
"Shut up Allen," said Adi with a grin. "I'd rather tell Kieran my own appraisal on the situation."
"Yes mommy-dearest," whined Allen as he walked away with a grin. "Now you two get to know each other."
Adi roller her eyes and sat down in the seat opposite Kieran, "Nice to meet you too by the way."
"Oh don't worry about it Adira, Allen's just bein' himself," said Kieran with a grin. "So other than being a noble, and being pregnant with a supposedly assholish-guy's baby, what d'you do?"
Adi frowned and replied, "He's not *that* much of an asshole. Well at least not to me. But anyways I'm an Adept In Healing; I'm supposed to be a master by the end of next semester but I'm taking the semester off because of the baby."
"Don't frown Lady Adira, "replied Kieran nonchalantly.
"So what'd you do?" asked Adira, obviously ignoring Kieran's previous comment.
"I'm an actor in a Gallan Acting troupe that just relocated it's office to here in Corus. So we'll be touring out of here now," Kieran replied.
"Really?" asked Adi with a smile. "What sort of roles d'you play?"
"I'm a principle," he replied with a grin.
"That's cool," said Adi with a smile.
"Would you grace me with your wonderful presence and come see the matinee performance tomorrow?"
"I love you," Adi said, squeaking immediately after. "Sorry, I mean. I'd love too."
Kieran laughed and said, "Okay Miss Adi. I'm honored that you'll be coming to see me tomorrow."
Adi grinned and said, "Great."
"You don't plan on bringing your boyfriend, do you?" asked Kieran with a concerned look on his face.
"Oh of course not!" replied Adi smiling at him. "We're kind of in the middle of a break period at the moment anyways."
"Why?" prompted Kieran.
"Oh…um," mumbled Adi.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, " Kieran replied with a soft smile.
"Well," said Adira as she looked down at her hands. "He kind of slept with three people since we've been going out and when we met my brother earlier today my brother kind of freaked, and I don't know quite what to do about the whole situation."
"Oh," replied Kieran. "Why are you staying with him if he cheated on you?"
"He's the father of my child," said Adira. "But I don't know if we're staying together still or not. I'll figure it out in a couple days or so."
"Oh," replied Kieran.
"Oh?"
"Yes," he said. " 'Oh'. What d'you feel about it?"
" I don't quite know what to feel about it, " Adi replied solemnly.
Kieran smiled and reached across the table to pat her hand, "Things'll work out how you want them to."
Adi smiled back, " I hope so."
They both talked the rest of the night; never having less than one eye on each other. Allen had come over at one point to tease them but they just rolle their eyes and ignored him. At two in the morning, they both stood up and walked out of the Hung Chicken. Kieran walked her back up to the palace and gave her a kiss on the cheek and whispered, "See you tommorow."
Adi smiled and said, "G'bye Kieran." Adi turned and walked down the hall to her room.
Well , Adi thought. That was interesting night. Adi began to get ready for bed as she continuted to think about the whole situation. Kieran's a great guy. But I just met him, I don't know anything about him and I'm dating Rascal. Well, at least I think I am.
And with that, Adi got into bed and fell fast asleep
Kieran lay in his bed in his room above the Hung Chicken, thinking of Adira. Wishing she could be his, Kieran knew that she would tell him how things were going with Rascal, the next time he saw her. He wished she would be his, but knew that the moment her child came, the baby would be first in her life. Not Rascal even, and never him. He felt a strong connection with her, something he'd never felt in the entire twenty years of his life. And he was sure that she felt the same way, but knew he could never do anything about it.