KEL AND JOREN: MEET THE PARENTS

Author: Minerva (The Blind Assassin)

E-mail: Styx3852@aol.com

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Seriously. All the characters you recognize belong to Ms. Pierce and her publishers (lucky bastards).

Author's Note: Here's the epilogue, my lovely readers. It's short and full of disgustingly sweet fluff. I am simply disgusted with Joren, in fact, but it was all I could come up with. Let me just say that I'm happy I've completed it, because I feel exceedingly bad for having like…4 unfinished fics. Heh. Well, I hope you enjoy it, and don't forget to review (even if you don't)!

* * *

"I came here to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage."

Piers Mindelan narrowed his eyebrows at the young knight standing across from him in his private study. He had been expecting this, but it was still a bit of a shock. At first, he was adamantly against the idea of a union with Stone Mountain in any way, but after arguing about it with his wife for the last few days, he had been brought around.

He sighed and stood up, hoping the ominous silence had scared the boy enough. "You wish to make Keladry your wife?"

"Yes, Baron." He said, without missing a beat.

"And you know that if you so much as harm a hair on her head, you will have hell to pay?" The Baron asked. He may have been a small, peaceful man, but when it came to his children, he tolerated nothing.

"I am well aware of that fact, Sir." He said, respectfully.

He pressed his lips together and surveyed the young man appraisingly. The young Joren was very much like his father—always cool, always haughtily aloof. He looked proud, confident and calm at all times, and didn't seem as if he was nearly as scared as he should have been. The only time he had seen the boy even flinch was that night when he came to their bedroom window by accident. "Do you love my daughter, young man?"

Joren looked squarely into the eyes of the Baron. "I do."

Piers sighed and offered Joren his hand to be shaken. "Then I give you my permission," he told him as they shook hands, "And my blessing."

"Thank you." Joren said humbly.

"You have my leave, Joren." He said, sitting back down at his desk. "And tell my daughter that I wish to see her."

Joren bowed his head briefly, "Of course, sir. Good afternoon."

Kel entered a few minutes later. "Keladry, come and sit," Piers said upon seeing her. "I've told that insolent young man that he had my permission to marry you. I hope I made no mistake—"

"You made no mistake," Kel told him with a grin. "I am pleased that you approve."

The Baron sighed. "His father and mine—well, we do not agree on many things. A wedding would mean a union between our houses that I do not wish to make unless you are sure that it will be one that is strong and supported by love. Do you understand what I am saying?"

Kel nodded. "Yes, of course. Joren and I know as much."

"Does Burchard know of this—union?" Piers wanted to know.

"No—not yet." She grimaced. "He won't be pleased, but Joren is prepared to face the consequences." Kel simply dreaded the idea of meeting his family, but it was something that would have to be done, if the wedding were really to take place.

"Even if it means a complete disassociation with his family?"

Kel nodded. "He expects the worst, but frankly, I think his father will come around."

Her father raised a skeptical eyebrow. "I think you overestimate him. You have too much faith in human ability to change, my dear."

"Joren did. His father may follow his example, for all we know." She shrugged. "Someone has to have faith in them, otherwise they won't have any reason to change."

Piers smiled ever so slightly and stood, a sudden pride for his daughter swelling in his heart. He now felt guilty for judging the boy so quickly simply because of his grudge. "Very true, Keladry. Very true."

* * *

At dinner that night, before the dessert plates were brought out, Kel stood and cleared her throat. She raised her goblet and knocked her fork against it a few times in order to get everyone's attention.

"Excuse me!" Kel called, her cheeks slightly pink. "Joren and I have an announcement to make."

"Ohmigod, You're getting married!" Oranie shrieked before Kel could say so herself. Kel groaned as everyone around them laughed, but she was smiling when her sister continued in apology. "Sorry—I just knew you two were going to do something like this! Another wedding! How exciting."

Hearty congratulations resounded from all directions as dessert was brought out. Joren, who quietly accepted the kind words, was yet again surprised at how satisfied he was with the idea that he was going to get married. They were nearly finished with dinner when Joren looked up at the door and saw a tall, dark-skinned woman standing in its frame.

Clio stepped back into the shadows as Joren called Kel's attention to the demi-goddess. As far as the couple could tell, no one had seen the woman in the doorway, but both Joren and Kel rushed out at the close of dinner and ushered Clio off to Kel's rooms before anyone could see her.

Joren slammed the door behind him when Clio and Kel were both inside. "Good to see you again, Ice boy," Clio remarked.

"Likewise, Clio," Joren said, rolling his eyes. The two had never gotten along well, but they had been through so much together that the two couldn't help but have a bit of affection for one another.

"I'm glad to hear that you two are getting married," Clio said. "It's not everyday that the most uncooperative, unfriendly man in the world gets engaged."

Joren snorted. "I've gone soft, in case you haven't noticed. The least you can do is to refrain from rubbing it in."

Clio laughed. "With you as a father, this child is going to need plenty of help from Auntie Clio." Kel had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing at the idea of anyone calling the aloof demi-goddess "auntie".

"Have you come to bless it?" Kel asked, placing a hand gently on her stomach.

"Of course," Clio said. "Now just lie down, Keladry." Clio stood over Kel with Joren a few feet to her left and placed a hand on the young knight's stomach. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, before pulling her hand away and frowning.

"Gods!" The demi-goddess breathed. "There's no baby!"

"What!" Joren yelled. "There has to be a baby. You told her she was pregnant!"

"I know that, Ice boy, thank you! Do you think I'm stupid?" Clio pursed her lips and looked down at the speechless Keladry. "I am so sorry, Kel! She must have made a mistake!"

"She?"

"Maeve takes it upon herself to watch over you two as well. She has a soft spot for the Ice King here," she told Kel, indicating Joren with a tilt of her head. "She's the one who told me you were pregnant." Kel sat up, dizzy with relief.

"I can't believe this!" Kel said, relieved but just a tad disappointed with the news. Once she had gotten used to the idea of being a mother, she had sort of been looking forward to it. "I'm not going to be a mother…"

Clio bit her lip. "I'm going to have a talk with my dear sister before I return to the Conservatory," she said. "Take care, children." And with that, Clio disappeared from their view.

Joren sighed and sat down next to her on the bed. "We're not pregnant, Kel."

"We're not pregnant?" Kel snorted. "As far as I remember, I was the one who would have had to go through childbirth."

He smirked. "Yeah, but I would have had to put up with you. And that is bad enough."

"Men." Kel said, shaking her head. "You have no appreciation for what we have to go through for you, you know."

Joren rolled his eyes. "We're starting to sound like we're married."

"About that—" kel began, taking a deep breath. "Do you still want to get married, even though there is no baby?"

"Of course." Joren said without missing a beat. "I didn't propose to the baby, Keladry, I proposed to you."

Kel hugged herself absently, knowing that she still wanted to get married too. "You know, I really do love you." she told him after a moment.

He rolled his eyes. "You had better," he teased, pushing her down on the bed and capturing her mouth for a kiss. "Because I love you too."

* * *

Early the next morning, Kel climbed over Joren and out of her bed. The dark sky was lit at the horizon in pink and orange by the rising sun, providing enough light so that Kel could get around her room with ease. She pulled on her dressing gown and sat at the vanity table by her window, thinking about everything that had happened since she had come home to Mindelan.

The pregnancy scare had been a frightening jolt, forcing them to seriously consider their relationship—and has painful and alarming as it had been, Kel decided that she was glad it had happened. She and Joren never would have talked things over or expressed their doubts in one another. Joren wouldn't have proposed, and she never would have even considered marriage otherwise. And Kel certainly wouldn't have found herself wanting to start a family as discovered she was now.

It certainly was a bizzare but wonderful accident. Kel wondered how the goddess had made such a careless mistake, but it gave her some comfort to know that the goddess was looking out for the two of them.

Kel took a quick glance at her reflection before standing, and her eyes were drawn back to the face in the mirror again. It was her face, but far lovlier. Her skin was unblemished and white and her bright hazel eyes seemed wiser then Kel had ever hoped to be. Maeve, she realized in awe. Kel felt her mouth drop, but the reflection in the mirror simply smiled back at her mischievously and winked.