It was a touching tableau, the sight of Trudy and Mega on the floor, talking and laughing softly as they watched Brady play. It was that time out of time, a perfect little oasis in the midst of so much confusion and disarray, a time they treasured beyond measure. An interlude made all the more sweet for its fleeting nature.

They sat on the floor, on a blanket in the old bedroom of Patsy and Paul and Cloe. Trudy's legs curled beneath her, while Mega rested an arm on bent knee, his other leg extended in front of him. They were watching the children, or more precisely, Mega was watching Trudy watch the children. Everything about her interested him—her smile, her compassion, her maternal instinct, her fierce protectiveness. It all appealed to him in ways he couldn't put into words. He smiled as she smiled, listening to Brady's not-quite-accurate explanation of something as she chattered happily to her young cousin.

"She's got your smile, you know."

"You think so?" Trudy's cheeks plumped and colored as she glowed at the comparison. "I always thought that she had her father's smile, not that anyone ever saw it much, but it was a beautiful smile, big and—" Her words died out as she met his intense gaze, his eyes piercing even through his dark-rimmed lenses.

"Both you and Brady are two of the greatest things to ever happen in my life, and I would be a fool to let you slip through my fingers."

He life her left hand, placing it on his palm and covering it with his other hand.

"Trudy, I know things aren't the best right now, but you would make me the happiest man on Earth in you would consent to being my wife."

Moisture gathered in her eyes and she blinked rapidly to hold it off.

"Don't cry. I thought you would be happy. No don't—okay, I take it back. You don't have to marry me; we can continue as we are…I can handle it—" She halted his words simply but effectively by pressing her hand over his mouth. Her own mouth quivering as she allowed the tears to fall.

"Mega—" She tore her gaze from him, the contact too painful to maintain, instead her eyes fell upon her daughter, playing so innocently not far away. It was just the element of resolve that she needed to continue. "Mega, I'm not saying no. I'm saying not right now. Look at Bray and Brady. Look at them!"

She gripped his chin and turned his head to face the children.

"I would love nothing more than to take your hand and declare before all our friends how much I care for you, but I can't…not yet. Not until I know that my daughter has a future where she's not constantly in fear for her life or a slave to some mad man's whim. I've lived through it and I don't want it for her…or for our future children. You can understand that can't you?"

His seeking eyes, normally so reserved, viewed the children for several moments before returning to rest on the face that haunted his dreams and his most desperate fantasies. Dreams and fantasies that he knew would now be changing, still featuring Trudy greatly, but now he could see her swollen with child, his child. He gathered her into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head.

A determined gleam lit in his eyes. "I do understand. And I swear there future will be the stuff of dreams."

Amber hummed as she putter around the bedroom cleaning surfaces as she went. She picked up a dust covered Teddy bear from the dresser and frowned, muttering to herself as she batted it gently but firmly, shaking loose the offending dust. Satisfied, she wiped the dresser top then replaced the bear. Totally engrossed in her domestic pursuits, she did not notice that the sole other occupant of the room had gained consciousness and was even now blinking awake and trying to swallow past a painfully dry throat.

Java blinked her woefully heavy lids as she fought past the pull of oblivion, then kept them at half-mast to protect her eyes from the seemingly over bright room. Her tongue felt too large in her mouth, swollen to twice its normal size and her throat flamed each time she tried to swallow. She moved her lips, forming a single word, but no sound came out. She licked dry, chapped lips, and swallowed back the tiny bit of moisture that had gathered in her mouth.

"Wa-wa-water."

Amber heard the feeble call and exclaiming "Oh!" rushed over to the bed, eyes wide and vacant smile on her face.

"You're awake. You must be so tired; here, let me help you up."

Supporting her shoulders and lifting her from the bed, Amber settled several pillows at Java's back—easing the weakened girl into a semi-sitting position. Java croaked out a barely recognizable 'thank you'

"Goodness, where has my mind gone? Here, let me get you some water."

She reached over to the night table, filling a cup from a pitcher resting there. Again, she held up Java's shoulders, tilting the cup to her mouth and helping her drink. When the ill girl made noises in her throat, Amber pulled the cup away and eased her back down. She replaced the cup on the night table and then adjusted the covers over Java, clucking all the while like a mother hen.

"Thank you." Java was able to say in a more recognizable voice, although she did grimace in pain.

"Oh dear, your throat is hurting. Let me get someone to help you."

So saying, Amber exited the room, practically skipping out the door.

Java let the hand that she had lifted to call the other girl back fall to her side. Instead, she settled back into the pillows and surveyed her body. Not visually, rather she closed her eyes and 'felt' how she was doing. Her eyes were sensitive to the light, but that was because they had been closed for so long. Her throat hurt, but was not as raw as it had felt earlier. Her tongue was returning to its normal size, now that she had had a drink. She didn't really hurt anywhere else—more a general feeling weakness, like after someone got a bout of flu. Her stomach did feel a little tender, however, and she brought her hands over it, stroking slowly.

She cried out as the familiar motion sparked memory…and an overwhelming sense of emptiness. Her hands pressed down on her undesirably flat stomach, as if she was searching. But as a barrage of images flashed before her eyes, she knew. She wasn't going to find her baby. It was gone. Lower lip trembling, she wrapped her arms about herself and drew her legs up curling up into that universal position of comfort: a fetal ball. Silently, tears streamed down her face as she mourned the loss of her unborn child.

That was how Salene and Pride found her, sobbing noisily on the bed.

They rushed to the bed, Salene squatting so that she was eye level with the distressed girl.

"Java? Can you hear me? Where does it hurt?"

The milk-chocolate toned girl was too inside her head to respond, instead holding her stomach even tighter and crying louder.

Salene blanched, getting an idea of what the problem was. She closed her eyes and bowed her head as she sucked in a deep shuddering breath. She raised her head when she felt Pride's hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently in support. Tilting back her head and smiling at him gratefully, she shook herself and rose to her feet before sitting on the bed. Leaning forward, she brushed the hair away from Java's face and cupped her cheek softly.

"Java, I know it doesn't seem possible now, but it will get better, I promise. You will never forget, but there will come a time when it doesn't…hurt as much." Towards the end, Salene's voice became choked and thick and she blinked back the wetness that threatened to spill.

Java hiccupped and looked up at Salene. "You?" Her face was a mess, her eyes and nose bright red.

The maroon-haired girl nodded, sniffing. "Yes. It's been a couple of years now, and I haven't forgotten, and although I will always hold a special place in my heart for that little one, it doesn't kill me a little inside anymore to see little Bray playing or Ebony pregnant."

"My little—Ebony's pregnant?" Java's breath caught and her eyes closed briefly. "It's okay, I can deal."

Salene bit her lip. "Er—"

"What? Don't tell me she's having twins or something?" Java's tone was a bit sharp.

"Not that we know of. It's just…"

"Siva's pregnant as well." Pride said softly, almost apologetically.

The girl on the bed gasped and began to cry again, her sniffles giving way to heaving sobs and a pain-filled keening.

Salene wrapped her arms around Java, holding her and rocking as she cried, tears streaming silently down her own cheeks.

"Looking out on the morning rain
I used to feel uninspired
And when I knew I had to face another day
Lord, it made me feel so tired
Before the day I met you, life was so unkind
But your love was the key to peace my mind

'Cause you make me feel, you make me feel, you make me feel like
A natural woman"

Amber was belting out the chorus when Ebony interrupted her.

"You're in a good mood." She said, circling her protruding belly slowly.

The taller girl froze like a mouse in the sights of viper, but then her smile blazed brightly.

"I know; isn't it great? There's just something about the love of a good man to make a girl feel…like a natural woman." She finished, chuckling.

Ebony arched an elegant brow and then laughed conspiratorially. "Oh really? And who's the lucky fellow? Who's put you in such a great mood?"

The blond glared at her former adversary before declaring, "Who? Who else? Bray of course. I know you had a thing for him and don't want to think he has moved on, but how can you forget with such tangible evidence as Bray Jr.?

The shorter girl's brow knitted in consternation, which Amber misinterpreted. She draped her arm around Ebony and gave her a quick squeeze.

"Don't worry about it; I forgive you. I mean, if I had lost out on Bray, I would want to forget about it too, especially if I had to see who he's moved on to everyday. I know you have Jack, and don't get me wrong, I love him, I do, but he's no Bray, now is he?"

So saying, she flounced off, an extra bounce in her step as she hummed under her breath. Ebony watched her walk away, naked concern upon her face. She was still standing there, lost in thought when Jack came down the stairs and stopped right in front of her.

"Sweetie, what's the matter? It's not the baby, is it? Because I am not ready. We—we don't have a name, or a place for it, what's that thing called? A crib! Or, or—a doctor! We don't have a hospital, or even a name!"

"You said that already." Ebony suppressed a laugh.

Trapped in his paranoid thoughts, he didn't hear her and began pacing, muttering under his breath. Then, as if some even more horrific possibility had occurred to him, he came to stop in front of her again. He swallowed convulsively and his hands shook slightly as his eyes fell to her hands still unconsciously stroking her beloved burden.

She blinked several times and centered her gaze on him, bringing her hands up to hold either side of his head.

"Breathe, Jack. I thought we had already been over this. Baby and I are great, especially since Daddy takes such good care of us. Right now the issue is Amber; I'm worried about her. Her distancing herself from reality has gotten worse since the attacks started. I'm afraid that if we don't do something soon, we're going to lose her completely."

Ebony surveyed the face she knew so well, searching the dark eyes with their extraordinary intelligence and the firm jaw, and his lips, so quick to curl into a smile, needing to see the concern that she felt for Amber, as well as a solution to this heartbreaking dilemma. She wasn't disappointed. Like the changing channels of a television, emotions flashed across the visage she found so very appealing. Surprise, concern and then determination as he mentally set himself to the task of figuring how to 'fix' Amber. There had been another emotion in there as well, so fleeting that she thought she imagined it, but for a second she could have sworn she saw guilt? She shook her head, the long braids falling about her shoulders. No, of course she had not.

"Why the long face? I didn't touch Bluebell, I swear I didn't, no matter what that cow says!"

Jack looked up and Ebony turned in his arms to face Lex. She looked at him askance, while Jack frowned until he puzzled out what Lex was referring to and burst out laughing.

"My God, it's been a while, hasn't it? So what actually happened to Bluebell?" Jack questioned.

Before Lex could answer, Ebony began to yell. "Who the hell is Bluebell? Lex, are you cheating on Siva? How dare you? What kind of name is Bluebell anyway; sounds like some morose prostitute. And to say it so casually too, as if it doesn't matter. I know about your reputation, Lex and so help me, if you hurt my sister—"

"But Ebony, it's not what you think. Bluebell is a—she has"

"Jack, will you shut up? You're even worse than him; you knew and you didn't say anything to me."

She glared over her shoulder at her husband who was howling so loudly that tears were streaming down his cheeks. Unable to take it anymore, she spun around, stomping off towards the kitchen. A hand upon her shoulder brought her up short.

"Jack, if you don't let me go this instant—" She growled low.

"Ebs, sweetie," he paused to begin chuckling, which infuriated her anew and she doubled her efforts to break free of his grasp.

"Ebony, Bluebell really is a cow!" Jack called out, stopping her.

"What?" She faced him, her anger pushed aside by confusion and dawning comprehension and disbelief.

"Bluebell is a…with four legs and a tail and….everything?"

Grinning, Jack nodded, then 'oomphed' as Ebony struck him in the gut with a balled up fist. He doubled over, holding his sore belly, frowning at her.

"What was that for?" He dropped to his knees, groaning.

Ebony thrust out her hip and crossed her arms over her chest. "That is for letting me believe the worst." She turned to Lex, who was grinning at them. "You'll be next if you don't shut it."

The sheriff swallowed the snicker that her words had caused, fighting a losing battle to present a straight face. He glanced at Jack and gave in, tilting his head back and laughing full out. Facing the absurdity of her accusations in face of the truth, Ebony joined in and soon all three of them were chortling about the whole thing.

Lex leaned against a wall for balance, wiping his eyes with the back of his other hand. Still chuckling. "A morose prostitute!" He set them all off again.

Several minutes later, they were able to get control of themselves and Lex inquired again as to why they Jack and Ebony had been so serious earlier. They related Amber's behavior and their concerns and were surprised at his response.

"You see it too? I was hoping it was just my imagination." He drove a fist through his hair.

"Lex, I must say that didn't think you would care much, to be honest." Ebony said.

He turned around to face her. "I admit it, I'm not now or have been an Amber supporter. But this—this childlike person, she isn't Amber, you know?"

Jack grimaced and shifted uneasily, clearing his throat. "I hear you, but we're going to make her better, really."

"And in the mean time? She's got a kid, Jack. Sure, they are plenty of others to look after him, but she's his mother. A kid needs his—" The sheriff's voice faded out as his eyes became hazy and indistinct. Then Lex's jaw flexed, and he released a growl. "I may not be able to fix her, but I sure as hell know who's responsible." Without another word, he stalked off to the basement.

"Ram, you crack pot dictator, you have a lot to answer for!" The dark-haired boy stood in front of the cage, his entire body bristling.

With studied nonchalance, Ram did not look up from the book he was reading.

"Ah, Sheriff, I thought I recognized your oh-so-delicate tread on the stairs. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company? Don't tell me that you've already tired of my Siva?"

Lex leaned in close to the cage, grasping a handful of links. "Don't you ever say her name again, got me?"

"Tut, tut, Sheriff. Your temper is showing. I was merely inquiring as to whether you had now exhausted my ex's comprehensive talents in the bedroom. I recall in particular her mouth. The things she would do…it wasn't a job to her, you know; more like a calling, if you will." Ram spoke as if he were discussing nothing more important than the weather, rather than words that angered Lex so much that his fingers were blue because of how tightly he gripped the cage. His head still down turned, Ram looked up at him.

"Did I say something upsetting? If anything, you should be thanking me for training her so well. She was such a great pupil, so thirsty to learn, always up for any and everything I could possibly think of. Has she demonstrated her pearl trick for you yet?"

It was the last straw for Lex. He roared and releasing his death-grip on the cage, began to look for something. He found it in the form of a brick and began to pound on the lock.

"Lex, no!" Almost in unison, Ebony and Jack implored Lex to cease. Brushing off concerned words form Jack about running down the stairs, Ebony ran over to Lex, holding his arm with both hands.

"Don't Lex, you're playing right into his hands, giving him exactly what he wants and he's so not worth it." She awkwardly pushed in between him and the cage, her growing bump making it more difficult. She held his arm until he released the brick and dropped his head onto her shoulder. His body shuddered against her and he swallowed convulsively as he reigned in his out of control anger.

"That's it, just breathe." Ebony spoke low, repeating the phrase until Lex quieted.

"That's so touching. I must admit to being surprised Ebony. From all accounts, I would have expected you to be egging Lex on instead of trying to calm him down. I guess impending motherhood really does make a difference. Shame really; I was so looking forward to tussling with you."

Ram stood at last, his overly large lips pouting as he eyed Ebony up and down.

"Though I must say I've heard of what pregnancy does for some women, and they look good on you."

Ebony felt Lex stiffen against her and could see his hands balling into fists. At the same time, she heard a low-volumed hiss from the direction of the stairs. She touched Lex's shoulder, stroking it in a soothing manner until he calmed once again, then she turned around to face the cage.

"Even better. Like I said before, being pregnant suits you, you, dare I say, glow with lush ripeness. A bountiful testament to womanhood; and yet I can't seem to stop imagining your nails dragging down my back those lips on my—"

"Over my dead body, you son of a ." Ebony's voice quivered with rage and her eyes flashed menacingly.

"Now is that any way for a lady to speak? If you were mine, I would have certainly taught you better."

"Good thing I'm not then, isn't it? I'm don't belong to you and Siva doesn't belong to you either. I know you've got this twisted little idea that you're some kind of lothario, but don't mistake me. If you ever lay a hand on me or mine, you will regret it and then you'll die."

He licked his lips slowly then grinned at her. "Is it cold in here or is it just me? I'm getting chills just thinking about it. You, me, subtle lighting, a paddle?"

"How 'bout you, me and my fist? I know all about you Ram, the little games you play; you talk big, but I hear the action's…not much." Jack edged around Lex to hold Ebony from behind, as if he could protect her from Ram by just holding her.

"Fire flashed in Ram's eyes and he bared his teeth at Jack before he regained control of himself.

"I don't believe we've met."

"Not that it matters, but my name is Jack, Ebony's husband? You'd do well to remember that."

The ex-Techno leader momentarily stilled, then he spoke. "Photographic memory; I recall all sorts of inconsequential things."

"Well remember this." Jack lowered his head to kiss Ebony, but she raised a hand to stop him.

"No Jack, I won't; not like this. I'm not some toy to be used in your game of one-upmanship." Brushing his arms away, she made her way slowly but steadily up the stairs.

"You know Jack, I think I will remember that. Most entertaining thing I've seen in some time." Ram said silkily. "You must teach me your technique."

Jack opened his mouth and then closed it again, unable to come up with a suitable response. Instead he turned and ran up the stairs, the mocking laughter of Ram following him.