(A/N sorry...had some copy and paste trouble. Enjoy!)

Kel and Tobe arrived in Corus. Shinko went out to greet them, stomach swollen. She smiled, and told
them she had set up a room in the palace for them.

"A baby already?" Kel asked, rasing an eyebrow. "Or have you eaten too many candies?" Shinko laughed,
abandoning her Yamani mask. "Congradulations," Kel said. She then turned to Tobe. "Take care of the
horses," she told him. "Shinko, come upstairs to my room, please. We have to talk."

"Talk or gossip?" the Yamani woman asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Both," Kel smiled. "Let's go."
Kel sat on the bed and spread out the letter. Shinko studied it for a few minutes and then looked at Kel,
clearing her throat.

"Dom's been gone for months. He's with his lover Melora of Rain Peak."

"Then who wrote this? It had to have been Merric."

"No," Shinko said slowly. "Merric has been busy...," her voice trailed off. "Busy...locked in his room. He's
in love, obviously. I just didn't think it was you. No offense," Shinko bowed her head.

"He kissed me," Kel whispered, just as Tobe ran in.

"Lady? D'you want anything?" he asked, breathless. "I couldn't find you, this place is big an' fancy."

Kel and Shinko smiled. "Tobe, why don't you go eat? It was a long journey," Kel suggested. "The servant's
wing-," she began.

"You may eat in the dining room. The food is better there," Shinko winked. "Just down the hall. Follow your
nose."

They watched him leave. "That's the infamous Tobeis Boon?" Shinko asked.

"That's Tobe. I worry about him," Kel said. "I drag him around everywhere and he's just a boy. Twelve
years old is all. And next year, his papers say he's free. But he's just a boy, so I don't know what to do.
I can't turn him out, but servants aren't cheap. I'll just find a way to keep him."

"Adopt him," Shinko teased. "We'll be mommies together," she said, putting her hand on her belly. "You,
me, and Yuki."

"Yuki's pregnant, too?" Kel asked. "Neal hasn't said anything in his letters."

"She just found out about a week ago," Shinko said.

Kel sighed. "All of you, married and pregnant. All but me."

"Well," Shinko said, eyes twinkling. "There's Merric. HE'D wed you, I'm sure. You said he kissed you, eh?
Sounds like love. But maybe you're mistaking it for....lust?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Hush!" Kel scolded, hitting Shinko with a pillow.