Disclaimer: As before please, for the love of God, don't keep making me write it out people:O) Celeste and Suriana are 13th C. names and ones I think fit this story very well.

All reviews, and constructive criticism, gratefully received – but no flaming please; and I will try to update regularly.

'Thoughts'

"Speech"

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KING ARTHUR:

Fallen Knights Return

Chapter Thirty– Happiness

4 months later, Guinevere's time had been and gone and thankfully for Arthur it went well. She delivered him a son, Torvald. He was a strapping boy, and thrived well.

The delivery had gone much the same as San's, only without all the heartache; all the knights waited in the hallway outside, trying desperately to placate their anxious friend and leader.

Sandrina, Vanora and Merlin all helped; Ilara could not bring herself to aid her friends. She felt badly but knew they would understand; to help bring another life into the world, when she herself could not, was too painful to face.

The terror he knew Arthur went through did nothing to help calm Lancelot. He was worried about Amila; though San was taking great care of her cousin, which did help him a little.

Amila's mood swings were barely noticeable, however her cravings were legendary among the knights, and caused him more sleepless nights than worrying about the birth.

They lay in bed one night, wrapped around each other; his head on her rapidly expanding belly, smiling in his sleep as the baby would occasionally kick in protest at being squashed so.

Amila could not sleep, her stomach growled – she was hungry. She wanted…….something. Her mind wandered - fish stew and honey; just the thought made her mouth water.

She nudged Lancelot, his deep even breathing barely stirred. She nudged again. "Are you awake?"

"Nay….go to sleep…" he groaned.

"I am hungry!"

"Again? You ate three bowls of porridge this evening as well as a full meal…"

"I am eating for two…."

"You, my sweet, are eating for a whole army!" He sat up rubbing sleep from his eyes.

She grinned "You are awake!"

"Nay, my eyes are open; do not read more into it than that." He grinned at her. "What is it you desire now, harpy of my heart?"

"Fish stew and honey….."

"That is disgusting."

"Normally I would agree; but…."

"I'll see what I can do." He sighed as he hauled himself out of bed "but you will owe me a….." he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, before dropping a kiss on her swollen stomach "Love you…"

She fondled his curls "I love you too…"

"I was talking to my son."

"What if it is a girl?"

"So long as she is like her mother, I will be just as happy; driven mad mayhap, but happy!"

Laughing, she threw a pillow at the door as he left. He was back an hour later, to find her sound asleep. He groaned, before climbing back into bed and settling down with her again.

As he laid his head on her stomach, the baby kicked "do not you start!" he whispered "Your mother is trouble enough" then he kissed her soft skin. Her hand snuck up and curled itself in his hair, tugging gently.

He raised his head "What now? I thought you were asleep…."

"Love me?" she whispered.

He pushed himself up the bed, gathering her into his arms "You know I do."

"You do love us, do you not?"

"Nay, I hate you both; what other reason is there for my heart to feel as if it is being tugged from my chest every time I look at you - what do you think, you foolish woman?"

"Aye, but I am fat and ugly….."

"Yes, and I love every extra inch of you, because it means our child is within you; and you are beautiful for the same reason."

He got no further, as she smothered him with kisses "you know you can be quite charming." She grinned when they came up for air.

His reply was to kiss her soundly; his hands wandering over her body making her gasp….

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The days slipped past and soon it was spring; Alima's time was now near.

Tristan was keen to make San his, but she seemed in no rush to wed him. For the first time he began to doubt she would wed him, which made him wonder why.

One night they lay in bed, listening to Bethan and Lucan coo at Milo in the other room. "They are very happy; apparently Bethan is sharing Milo with Lucan as he can have no siblings. We will now have three to look for!" She smiled against his arm, kissing the skin.

They were spooned, her back to his chest, his arms possessively around her. She had seemed more serene these days; back to the quiet woman he knew when they first met.

But he missed her fire, they all did. She still sparred with Lancelot, still looked after Gawain and Galahad, worked at the tavern, helped Vanora and Bors with the children, and had helped birth Arthur's son; was planning to do the same for Lancelot's baby. She loved Milo and Bethan; but there was something missing.

He hugged her tighter; nuzzling against her neck "What is it?" she could tell something was bothering him.

"Naught."

"Tell me."

"You will not wed me."

"I will."

"When?"

"Soon."

He sighed in exasperation.

"What?"

"You have been saying that for the last six and a half months San."

"Things have been busy." she felt him stiffen and knew she had said the wrong thing.

"So you are too 'busy' to wed the man you have cheated death for - twice?"

"That is not what I meant."

"What then?"

She merely sighed.

Finally his exasperation won, he turned her over to face him "what has happened?"

"Naught" she would not look at him.

"Then look at me when you say that."

She couldn't; he took her face and stared deep into her eyes, they were dim. "You love me."

"Aye."

"Then we will marry in two weeks..."

"I do not get a say?"

"Nay."

"Why not, pray tell?"

"I am making the decision, as you will not."

"I see."

"You have not had Bethan nagging you about it." He smiled sardonically "our children wish to have us wed; even Milo agrees."

"Milo is only six and a half months old, he is not yet talking."

"He has very expressive eyes; I can read them."

"You are making fun of me now" but she smiled.

"I cannot be faulted for what our children want."

"Our children; aye, we have our children." She sounded as if a truth were dawning.

"So that is what it has been about." Realisation dawned.

"I have been incredibly selfish; I have two wonderful healthy children; but I still felt a failure, half a woman - empty." Tears welled.

"Not to me; never to me. You are the world and the Heavens to me San. Will you come back to me, to all of us?"

"I have been here all along; just a little lost."

"Then let your scout lead you home." He kissed her, and for the first time in many months she kissed him back with real passion – deepening the kiss and letting her hands caress him.

He groaned in the back of his throat as she dropped feather light kisses on his face, then down his throat and along his chest. He pulled her up and kissed her passionately, trailing his lips in burning circles down her neck; his hands running over her body "I have missed you San." he growled against her skin.

"I have missed you too – I am so sorry." She pulled him back up to kiss her - he saw her eyes, the fire in them gradually returning. He kissed away the tears; and slowly the ice around her heart thawed, as his love warmed her and his passion set her on fire.

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Nearly dawn, and Amila's time had come. She rose to use the water closet, the child heavy in her now. As she walked across the room, she felt a pressure and then…….

"Oh!" The feeling took her by surprise. She realised her waters had broken. The pains had not really started and there was no blood. She looked across at Lancelot; their time alone was ending…..

She put some cloths down to clear up the mess, when he sat up in bed "What are you doing woman? It is barely dawn and you are cleaning the floor, and in your condition?" He got up and, sweeping her into his arms, took her back to bed.

"My waters broke, idiot – I was just clearing up the mess…"

He hovered over her "What!"

"My waters broke…the baby is coming; I mean I am as big as the fort Lancelot! It was going to happen some time!" she giggled at the look on his face.

He fell off the bed "I have to get San, Vanora, Merlin….." he flew to the door.

"My lover?"

"What?" he skidded to a halt.

"Arthur might not appreciate you running around the fort stark naked." she laughed out loud.

Lancelot looked down "SHIT!" he dragged on his trousers as he ran out.

"Mayhap boots?" but he was gone. "Oh Lancelot, I love you!" She laughed.

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The frantic knocking roused Tristan and Sandrina, they had spent most of the night making love and were exhausted.

Tristan flung the door open "What?" He only needed to look at Lancelot's frantic face. "San, it is time" he looked back at his friend and brother "I will come with you."

Within ten hours Amila had been delivered of identical twin girls, Celeste and Suriana; Lancelot was so shocked that Tristan and Dagonet actually had to hold him up when San told him.

"It would explain why she was so big Lancelot." She grinned.

He went into see her "Twins? Alima you never do things by half - most women would be content with one baby!"

"I am sorry one was not a boy." She smiled sadly.

"I care naught, you are safe and I have two beautiful daughters; what more could I wish for?" He sat on the bed, hugging her and his children.

'I am a father, I am a father!' he thought, happier than even he thought possible. He had been a womaniser, and vowed never to give his heart or have children – and here he was having done both those things, and was very happy about it into the bargain.

"Marry me."

"What!" Amila looked tiredly at him.

"Marry me; I want you to wed me."

"You do not want to be tied down with a wife and two children; it is the shock talking Lancelot…"

"Nay, it is not."

"Well, ask me again when you are calm and these two have had you up in the night to change their nappies." So he did, every day; some times up to eight times.

This went on for three days "Alright - alright! I will marry you if you stop nagging me!"

"HA! I knew I would win!" He grinned, sweeping his daughter's into his arms "She will marry me!" and he danced round the room with them.

"You lunatic man!" she chuckled as she rolled her eyes in amused disbelief at him.

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He was discussing the wedding with Tristan. "Why do we not double up?" asked the scout.

"Would you?"

"Aye."

"But you are getting married the day after tomorrow."

"Less time for her to change her mind, trust me - let me know." The scout walked away with a smile.

Lancelot, in his infinite wisdom decided that he would not tell Amila until they were with San, Tristan and Merlin. San was not convinced, but agreed to keep his secret as did the other knights.

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Bethan was with Milo and Lucan "I love you little brother." she cooed at the boy.

Lucan laughed "I cannot believe this is the same Bethan who was so jealous of him before he was born!"

"I know" she smiled "but you are so cute, are you not Milo?" she murmured as the baby gurgled happily at her. He adored his sister, always holding his arms up to her to be picked up as soon as he saw her – she lavished attention on the boy, taking him everywhere with her whenever her parents would let her. "Come, we must practice; I have not touched a sword in a week, all because of you little man. Mother is getting ready for the weddings, so I..."

"Weddings – do you not mean wedding?"

"Nay, Lancelot is luring cousin Amila into a double wedding with my parents!" she whispered, leaning closely to Lucan.

She was grinning up at him; he was drowning in those huge blue eyes of hers. She was nearly ten and he had just turned twelve, and suddenly nearly three years of pent up emotions pushed to the surface – he leant forward and kissed her, pressing his lips to hers.

Bethan froze, and broke the embrace. "You kissed me!"

"Did you not like it? To be honest I am not sure if I did it correctly."

She thought for a moment "aye, I did. Do it again."

He happily obliged "Well?"

"It is nice…but I would not want to do it too often."

"Why not?"

"It makes me feel funny; in a good way, but…still funny." She smiled. "I think you are a good kisser Lucan. Not that I have ever kissed anyone else like that."

"I am pleased to hear it. Do you think you ever will…….want to kiss someone else I mean?"

Again a pause as she thought "Nay, I think I will only ever wish to kiss you. Now come on, while we take little man here to practice. I have to do my sword and bow work today!" They trotted off laughing, Bethan carrying her brother on her hip; Lucan the other side of her, his arm round her shoulders.

Gawain and Galahad stepped out from behind the pillar where they'd be watching. "I think we need to have a chat with Tristan and Dagonet" smiled Gawain "our little scout and her playmate are growing up."

"Oh, they are yet but babes!" laughed Galahad.

"Nay, they are not; that is the problem." Gawain frowned at the other knight "They are growing up and they are beginning to care for each other the way adults do; you understand Galahad?"

"Methinks the Gallant Sir Gawain is getting all protective of his little scout!" he smiled.

"Shut up, Galahad!" he marched off in search of Tristan and Dagonet.

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Gawain found both men in the stables, he explained what he'd seen and advised them that maybe the sleeping arrangements should be altered from now on. "They act like a little family, Tris; I just thought you both ought to know. Little scout, is not so little anymore."

Tristan nodded "We will watch them."

Dagonet agreed "the problem is we forget how they are growing."

"Look…" Gawain pointed to the practice field. Lucan was sparring with Bethan, who was pulling faces at her brother, whilst he was laying on a blanket, every time she ran past and was making the little boy squeal with delight. Every time Bethan won and would do a little victory dance, he would clap his hands. Lucan grabbed her and swung her round….

"I love you so much Bethan!" his voice floated across to the stables.

Gawain looked pointedly at the two men "Well?"

"They are growing up alright; but it has been nearly three years, I suppose we forget that."

"I could not imagine life without them now; could you?" asked Gawain.

Both the men shook their heads, Lancelot wandered in"We three did not have one, did we? We were dead….."

They all laughed. But Tristan and Lancelot smiled at each other, Dagonet caught their train of thought. They were not only alive, they had families now……

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And so the wheels of Destiny begin to slow; her path for this story now nearly complete. Amila will be pleased, to at last snare the dark knight, won't she? But how will Lucan take to being separated more often from his Bethan?