(A/N) This chapter might be considered a little fluffy, but I think it suits the story SO THERE!! Please Read and Review. Remember that I don't own a single character here!! They all belong to wonderful "Tamora Pierce"!!! (Lots of clapping a cheering)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Chapter Four - The Surprise Midwinter gift

The period of time between when Daine and Numair announced their engagement and the beginning of Midwinter was pretty much uneventful. Queen Thayet, Alanna and Daine worked on the wedding preparations whenever they had free time. Daine and Numair had agreed to have the wedding ceremony on the summer solstice, that way Daine's mother and father could be there.

~**~

The first day of Midwinter found Numair and Daine working on one of Numair's many experiments. They were trying to come up with a spell that would enable people to sense immortals like Daine could. It was coming along but they had yet to succeed. Daine closed her eyes sleepily. "Numair, can we stop for the day, I need to rest." She opened her eyes to look into his pleadingly.

He smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "Sure sweet, it's about time for lunch anyway." He stood and picked her up. Carrying her into the bedroom he laid her down on the bed.

"Sweet are you ok?" Numair looked a bit worried.

"Yeah, I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?" She asked curiously.

"Well you've been more tired than usual and you seem different..somehow."

Daine gave him a skeptical look and fell back onto the pillows. "There's nothing wrong with me. I'm probably trying to fight off a bugg or something, nothing serious."

She looked to see what Numair would say. He just looked at her and smiled. "If you say so my magelet."

Numair got up to leave but Daine's hold on his arm stopped him. "Please stay." He turned back and sat on the bed. "Do you have to be anywhere now?" She asked. Daine moved over and patted the spot next to her with her hand. She then pulled Numair's arm and he laid down beside her. "Now, tell me, why should I stay, while you wanted to sleep and I need to tell Jon about the progress on the spell?" He asked her a bit mockingly.

She leaned over and whispered in his ear. "This is why you should stay." And she kissed him teasingly.

"Oh really." Was Numair's response when she broke the kiss.

Daine nodded her head sheepishly.

Numair pulled her closer and kissed her passionately. She kissed him back with equal wanting. When they broke the kiss to breathe, Daine rested her head on Numair's chest and closed her eyes.

"I love you Numair." She said after and few minuets of silence.

Numair's hold on her increased as he replied. "I love you to my WildMage."

Daine chuckled then drifted to asleep.

Numair was about to ask Daine if she wanted to go the riders mess for lunch or to a place in the city when he looked down at Daine to find her asleep. He grinned from ear to ear and leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

~**~

Daine woke suddenly as her stomach started to roll. She sat up to find Numair was not in the room, which she was grateful for as she ran into the privy to throw up. She heaved two times before her stomach settled. Daine reached over to get and towel and water to rinse out and wipe her mouth.

Daine was halfway back to the bed when Numair walked in. He looked at Daine's drawn face with worry. He walked quickly over to her. "Daine are you ok?" She looked up at him and gave a watery smile.

"I'm as well as anyone can be after throwing up what little they've had yet to eat that day." She said sarcastically as she sat on the edge of the bed.

Numair sat down beside her. "Daine do you want to go see Alanna or someone?"

"If you want me too?" Was her reply.

With that, Numair took Daine's hand and helped her to her feet and made their way to Alanna's suites.

~**~

A knock on her door drew Alanna's attention from the book she was looking through. She stood up slowly and made her way to the door. Alanna opened the door to admit Numair and Daine. "Hello Numair, Daine, what do I owe this visit?" Alanna motioned to the couch for them to sit. "Well, let's see, I've been unusually tired lately and have been nauseous." Daine bluntly went straight to the point. She would rather be sleeping at that point.

Numair nodded agreement.

Alanna looked thoughtful. She already had an idea as to what was causing these symptoms, but would wait to say anything till it was confirmed. She brought a stool over to sit beside Daine and took her hand. She let her gift flow through Daine. Immediately, Alanna knew what the problem was. With a mischievous grin, Alanna sat back and looked at the two. "Well you might want to move the wedding date up. Or you won't be able to fit into your gown."

They both looked at her confused. "What do you mean?" Numair inquired.

"Well I think Daine knows." Was Alanna response.

Numair looked from Alanna to Daine. "Well?" He said softly.

"I think what Alanna is poking at, is that she thinks I might be with child." Daine looked to see Numair's reaction.

Numair eyes grew large and so did his grin. "You mean," Daine nodded. "That we're going to have a baby." Daine nodded again and smiled at Numair anticipation.

He looked back at Alanna. "Are you sure?" He asked full of hope. Alanna nodded and tried not to cry. "How far along am I?" Daine asked serious in thought. "I would say about a month." Alanna answered. Daine nodded as she thought about the events a month ago: She had made up her mind about marrying Numair and shape-shifted into hawk form then flew to Numair's room. "Shape-change", Daine mentally kicked herself, whenever she shape- shifts the only thing that stays with her is her Badger's claw.

Looking up to Numair she reached over and hugged him. He hugged her back and pulled her into is lap. After a few minuets of cuddling, Daine asked. "Can we go back to your rooms so we can talk?" Numair nodded. "Sure my love." They stood up and looked at Alanna. "Thank you Alanna." Numair said and Daine echoed him. Alanna walked over to them and gave them a hug. "What are friends for." She looked up at Numair and said. "Can you excuse us for minuet. I want to talk to Daine real quick." Numair nodded his head, still smiling and walked over to wait by the door.

Alanna turned her violet eyes back to Daine. "I'm so happy for you Daine." Daine looked into Alanna's eyes with surprise and relief. "Really, your not mad or upset?" Alanna embraced her as she began to cry a little bit. She couldn't believe that the girl or woman rather that she had felt like a mother toward was going to be a mom herself. "No, no I could not ever be mad or upset with something like this. But is a good thing you are getting married." Daine giggled and looked at her stomach as Alanna let her go. "I think I will take your advise and hold the wedding sooner" Both of them laughed.

~**~

As soon as they got back to Numair's room, Daine went and stretched out on the bed. Numair followed her. "Daine?" Numair started. "Hmm?" was her reply. "Not that I'm not the happiest man alive right now, because I am! But when did we, you know, without your charm?" Daine not at all surprised at his question as she sat up on her elbow. "Well, do you remember when we decided to get married?" Numair thought for a minuet then nodded a yes. "Well that afternoon, I flew to your rooms. I was to excited to bother to walk to you, or to remember, or realize that after I shifted back into human form, all I had on was my badger's claw." Numair was quiet for moment. "Are you mad at me." Numair looked at Daine a little startled that she had to ask. "No, I'm completely the opposite!" He sat up and took her in his arms. "Daine, I couldn't be more excited and happy than I am right now!" He lifted her chin up to look at her face, she was crying. Numair held her face in his hand and wiped away the tears that fell onto her cheek with his thumb. "I love you Daine. I always have and always will." Daine sniffled and said. "Even when I'm unbearably moody, constantly hungry and tired, even when I'm the most miserable people to be around?" Numair chuckled softly as she said this. "Of coarse." He paused. "How else are mothers to be supposed to get back at the ones who helped get them into that predicament?" Daine laughed and buried her head in Numair's shirt. "I'm glad that I don't have to go through this alone." Numair chuckled and held her tighter. "I'm just as glad my magelet."

After a moment Daine slowly sat up. "Numair, do you remember that first lesson you gave me, out in that clearing by the rider barracks?" Numair nodded. "And we saw that Undine." Daine nodded. "So your remember that spell you did to help me see my magic?" Numair nodded again. "Well, do you want to use that spell to see or hear our baby?" Numair froze with thought. "I don't see why not." He couldn't keep the excitement from his voice. He sat up and moved to sit in front of Daine. "Do you want to do it now?" Daine also sat up and crossed her legs at the head of the bed. "Better do it now, or I'll be to sleepy to later on." Numair nodded and got comfortable. They sat on the bed close enough that their knee's touch.

Numair placed two fingers on each of Daine's temples and they closed their eyes. They did the same thing that they did when they were in the clearing six year's ago. Only one difference, instead of looking for a fountain of wild magic, they were looking or listening for heartbeats. Numair and Daine could hear her heart beat, slow and steady, after a second they heard a second faint beat. Daine could feel Numair smiling wildly through the spell as she did so herself. Then after a second the one faint beat separated into two distinct rhythms. Daine gasped with shock as Numair gulped. "Two beats, one a tad slower than the other." Daine whispered with awe. "You know what that means?" Numair answered as broke the spell and opened his eyes. "What?" Daine opened her eyes and looked at Numair. "A girl's heart beat is slower than a boys. And there's both." Numair grinned and pulled Daine into his lap. "So are you telling me that our Midwinter surprise is doubled!" Daine nodded her head happily and giggled as Numair started to kiss her neck, shoulders and face.

Daine and Numair were about get up and go get something to eat when a somewhat agitated voice sounded out of nowhere. "Mage, what are you doing with my daughter?"

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(A/N) Ok, I'm trying for a bit of suspense here, so bear with me. I think you all know who the voice belongs too, but you'll have to wait and read the next chapter to confirm it. All reviews are appreciated so just leave something. I hope you like the story so far!!!!