So- did the fake ending scare you? Probably not- you know I wouldn't do that to you guys-
Anyway- here's the next chapter. I thought I'd had better update this fic before I go off for a few days- Spring break! Actually it's more like 'Paper Writing Days of Hell'…. stupid school…. Enough from me- story!
Thanks for you loyal reader/reviewers! This is for you guys-
You know the disclaimer by now.
-

Several hours later, the doctor from town was examining Sora. Kari had gone into town to get him. As the doctor exited the room he was met with two worried females.
"Is she ok?" "What's wrong with her?" They questioned.
The doctor simply smiled. "It's nothing too serious. She'll be as good as new in about seven to eight months."
"Eight months?" Mimi asked.
"She's about a month or two along already." The doctor finished. The two girls were shocked.
"You mean…. she's…"
"Expecting? Yes, your friend is pregnant." He said as he packed up his stuff. "I have explained to her what she needs to do. But you'll have to make sure she doesn't exhaust herself like that again. I'll try and check back in when ever I can." He tipped his hat and left.
The two girls entered the bedroom they all shared. On one of the three beds, Sora laid crying.

"Sora…" Mimi went over and hugged her friend. "It's alright… everything will be alright." She comforted her.
"Sora, did you know that you were… well you know?" Kari asked. Sora shook her head… her mind was a jumble. She was scared.
"Do you know the… father?" Mimi questioned.
In Sora's mind the night before Tai left flashed before her-
They were walking in the woods together near her house. After they ate their picnic lunch… her eyes welled with tears now, remembering Tai's loving touch and kisses. How that magical moment happened… together they had created this life…
"Oh Taichi." She sobbed into Mimi's shoulder. She didn't know if they were tears of joy for having his child- a physical sign of their love- or if she was crying due to fear. Maybe a mix of the two.
"I can't do this." She cried. "Oh Mimi I'm so scared… What am I going to do?"
"Don't worry we'll be there for you… and we'll help you find him. Until then it's just us four."
"Four?" Soar questioned.
"You, me, Kari and the baby!" Mimi smiled hugging Sora closer.
"Thank you so much. I love you guys." Sora cried.
"Now how about we get you something to eat." Kari said as they helped Sora up.

-

"Wow was that a bad fight." Izzy said. "Completely unorganized."
"Yeah, but they put up a good fight. Those rebels are going to loose, however, because they are facing us!" TK said as they began to make camp after a successful battle.
"Have you guys seen Tai?" Joe asked.
"Yeah- I need to thank him. He saved my butt back there." TK said.
"He's coming." Izzy informed them as he sat down. "He was talking with the commander."
"Do you think he's going to be promoted?" TK asked.
"Well he did go above and beyond the call today. I wouldn't doubt it." Izzy added.
"Maybe the added work load would help him get his mind off this Sora girl. He's always reading that letter and it only gets him depressed. It's not healthy." Joe commented.
"Hey guys." Tai said as he sat down. "Some show today."
"Hey tai- what did the commander want?" Joe questioned.
"Nothing much." Tai shrugged.
"Come on and spill it!" TK smiled.
"Oh fine. I got promoted." Tai smiled. "But that's not the best part."
"What could be better?" Izzy asked.
"The war's ended." TK suggested. Tai shook his head.
"We get a break then?" Izzy inquired. Still Tai shook his head 'no.'
"Well then tell us." Joe exclaimed. They had guessed almost everything from good food to better beer- but Tai still gave them a 'no' response.
"We might be heading towards Georgia. And we'll pass by my hometown on the way! I'll get to see Sora again!" Tai's face light up.
"How long will it take us?" TK inquired.
"A long time marching. My poor feet. But by train not too long." Izzy answered. "I'd have to see a map to calculate the actual ETA time."
"How long has it been since you saw her last?" Joe asked.
"Too long." Tai sighed. "It's been exactly five months and 15 days since I left her… God I miss her smile."
"I'm sure she misses you too."
"I wonder what she's doing right now…" Tai went off into a daydream thinking about her. In his dream she was at her house, her father was keeping her safe. Tilly was running and yelling after her for causing trouble and all Sora did was smile… that smile. When she smiled, her face shown brighter than the sun itself…

-

However, Tai's dream was nowhere close to what was really happening to Sora. She stood barefoot at the kitchen counter chopping vegetables for a stew she was preparing. Her dress was loose fitting and her apron was tied snuggly around her swollen waist. She was definitely showing and everyday her womb grew larger as her child grew inside her.
She had gotten use to the sickness and side effects of her condition a while ago. Mimi and Kari wouldn't let her work out in the garden anymore- so she was stuck to the housework. She had helped Tilly enough to know the basics of keeping a clean house.
But the more she got use to her new lifestyle, the more she missed Tai.
He had no clue he was going to be a father… and that hurt the most. He deserved to know, and they deserved to be together.
'Oh Taichi… what I would give to be back at home on the plantation with you, Tilly and father.' She thought as she worked on.
Through the months Sora stayed in the small cottage with her new family. They had been lucky to avoid the war's full wrath. However they had seen their fair share of the horrors of war. The retreating confederate forces, and the reinforcements marched by almost daily.

-

The war was going well for the Union. Tai was becoming a better officer everyday. Izzy, Joe and TK also worked their way up in the ranks.
Their regiment's original goal was Georgia. But like all things in life- nothing went as planned. Their supplies had been stalled, which in turn caused serious troubles. They were waiting at a train station for several days now.
"I hate this." Tai grumbled. "We can't fight without ammunition and other necessities."
"Tell me about it commander." Izzy said. "There's a war going on and they're taking their dear sweet time."
"Will you cut out the commander and sir stuff? You know I hate that- especially when you guys say it." Tai complained.
"Sorry si… I mean Tai- force of habit." Izzy just smiled.
"I'm going to walk up the track a bit and see if there's a problem with the track."
"Ok Tai. Maybe we should go too?" TK said as he heard Tai's comment.
"Alright TK, grab some gear. Maybe we can barter with the locals for fresh food as well." Tai said as he grabbed his officer's hat and put on his blue union coat. It gleamed with medals and honors that he and his troop had received.

As they walked they spotted several small houses all clumped together.
"Let's ask the locals if the train's been coming regularly." Tai suggested.
"That's a good plan." TK replied.
They noticed that as they got closer to the central area, the community was comprised mostly of freed slaves. But there was something different about these people… Tai felt as if her remembered some of their faces.
Suddenly the most familiar faces of them all stood up from the small garden and looked at Tai. They were both at a loss for words.

"Tilly?" Tai asked. "Tilly is that you?"
A/N: I'll be back probably around Friday with a new chapter- that is if I survive…. Oh well- see you all later!