"I mean, isn't everyone concerned with what Ebony's big bad intentions are?" Ebony walked into the room, with Jack running ahead of her to pull out a chair for her to sit. She touched his shoulder by way of thank you and lowered herself into the chair, crossing her legs. "Well Siva, you can put your mind at ease. I have bigger things to worry about than power, or chaos." She instinctually rubbed her bump, looking up at Jack who stroked her shoulder soothingly.

Siva's eyes rounded. "Ebony, you and Jack, you're going, you're…"

"You're really having a problem finishing your sentences tonight, aren't you? Yes Jack and I are going to have a baby, in about five months. How far along are you?" Siva's hand slid to her own stomach, also rubbing in that way that pregnant women do. "Three months." She smiled widely. "We're hoping for a little boy, with his daddy's dimples, right Sheriff?" She grinned at a beaming Lex.

"Shh!" Mouse slapped a hand over Sammy's gaping mouth. "We don't want them to hear us." Sammy nodded, showing he understood, and the little girl removed her hand. "That Ebony girl is pregnant," he whispered, looking at her with wide-open eyes. "I heard; and that guy Jack is the daddy." She whispered back. "I think we should tell." She straightened up from her bent position, turning towards the stairs. Sammy got up, catching up to her. He began to run, causing the smaller girl to do the same. They pounded down the stairs, bursting into the café. "Salene!" Sammy shouted, drawing everyone's attention. Not to be outdone, Mouse interjected, "Ebony's pregnant!"

Stunned silence met the young girl's announcement as the teens processed this new twist. Salene spoke first. "Mouse, Sammy how do you know this? Did Ebony and Jack tell you?" The children lowered their eyes to the floor, Sammy's ears pinkening. "Um, no." Mouse mumbled, shuffling her feet. "Guys, we told you about listening to other people's conversations, You know that that is rude." Pride chastised them. "Ebony's pregnancy was for her and Jack to share, when they were ready. Now, I think the two of you should go to your rooms and think about what you've done. Sal or I will be up to see you in a bit."

The pair's heads continued to hang as they went up the stairs, stopping half-way up, seeing a pair of shoes coming down. They looked up to see Jack, and they paled, looking at each other and running up the remaining steps to their rooms.

"Don't tell me, even the children are upset about me and Ebony?" Jack smirked as he walked down the staircase, following Lex's earlier path, only much quieter, taking a cup from the cupboard and sitting down at the table with the teapot, filling his cup. He took a sip before looking around, noticing he was the focus of everyone's attention. "What? Do I have dirt on my face or something?" He looked at his reflection in his spoon, wiping at his face, smearing his markings.

Amber swallowed a laugh and she could hear muffled titters around her as well. "No. Of—course not Jack. We're all, um, very…ah happy for the both of you. Stop wiping; you're making it worse." She broke into giggles, moisture welling up in her eyes. "Oh Jack, I have missed you so." Jay dangled a handkerchief over her shoulder and took it, squeezing his fingers briefly. She dabbed at the corners of her eyes, saying, "Oh, I forgot, in all the excitement of your arrival. Jack this is Jay. Jay, Jack." Jack threw Jay a distracted look, nodding absently as he continued to swipe at his face. Jay grinned back at him

"Jack, let me do that. You're just making a mess of it." Salene had walked over to where he was sitting, squatting and using a damp towel to clean off his face. "There you go. It's all gone now, only your face is red from your rubbing." She rested a moment, looking at him. "Our little Jack has grown up. You've filled out very nicely. Don't you agree, Amber?" She turned to grin at the knot-headed girl, who smiled back. "Yes, Jack you're looking very handsome. I must say Ebony has very good taste." She raised her eyebrows at him.

He had steadily been getting redder and squirming under the teasing admiration he had been receiving from his two friends, but his face lit up at the mention of his love. His lip quirked up as he very nonchalantly rubbed his nails against his shirt, admiring their shine and saying, "She does have good taste, doesn't she; the very best taste, don't you think?"

"Oh you!" Laughing, Salene threw the towel in his face, standing and going back over to perch on Pride's lap, wrapping an arm around his shoulder as he encircled her waist. Jack lifted the towel off his head, grinning at her. "So speaking of Ebony, just how did you and she get together Jack? We figured you were captured together that day that you went to do reconnaissance on the Technos, but were never sure." Amber asked.

Jack's grinned slipped, dark memories briefly flitting across his face. He shook them off and smiling again, responded to Amber. "Yeah, we were guests of the Technos, as Ebony likes to say. The food was bad and the service was worse, but that's a story for another day. I'm bushed, so I'll talk to you guys tomorrow." He got up and went upstairs to his room.

I just wanted to thank Lauren for all her help. She helps me with all the chapters, but this one was being a pain in the , and she really helped, so thanks, Mel