I don't own any of the characters…Tamora Pierce does.

Ch. 9- A Whole New Life.

3 months later

Kel and Dom began making plans for their child, and with that meant having to decide where to raise the baby.

" Kel, I know we basically live at the palace, but don't you want our child to grow up at his/her home? Masbolle is a great place and isn't too far from the capital."

For the past 3 months Dom had been trying to get Kel to agree with raising their family at Masbolle, and yet every time he asked she said no.

" I don't know Dom, I mean…at the palace there are kids, and then we will be near if we are needed for something. There are more than enough capable babysitters here than I bet there is at Masbolle." Kel said tiredly

Dom thought about this…. ' She's right, I mean there are only my parents there, and I know from experience that they aren't that fun to hang around with.'

Dom sighed and nodded, " All right, Kel you look exhausted, you should get some sleep…I need to talk to Raoul."

" Okay." With that said, Kel walked into their bedroom and went to sleep.

Meanwhile

Raoul was pacing his chambers, ' How am I going to break the news to Kel? She is going to be devastated….Why did Jon tell me I had to do it, not Dom?

A knock broke him out of his thoughts, and Raoul opened the door.

" Oh, good you're here Dom.!" Relief swept over him, ' Now's my chance, and we can discuss how we are going to break the news to Kel.'

Dom looked from Raoul to the warn carpet on his floor. " Sir, what's got you so edgy? Is something wrong?"

" Dom, please sit down. I have some very disturbing news from Mindelan…" Raoul looked more tired than ever as he was saying this.

" There was a small fire…no one knows how it started, but it grew and grew and…. Nobody knew they were still inside, but they were and when they couldn't find them…."

Raoul looked down to his hands, he just couldn't believe what had happened and to the most sincere, nice girl in the world.

" Sir, What happened with the fire? Who didn't make it out, you're not really making any sense." Dom was a little scared and confused now.

" Kel's family Dom, they were still in the house, The towns people were in a big mod, watching their castle burn down and having no control, they forgot that the family was in there. I'm so sorry Dom, I know you really liked them…. And now Jon told me I have to tell Kel and nobody else, and I don't know if I can…that girl is like a daughter to me and I… wait a minute! I have to go Dom, just don't go to your rooms till after dinner 'k?" Raoul looked still very sad but had a weird light in his eyes.

" Okay, I guess I'll go do some practicing…will she be alright Sir? I mean I should be there, especially with her in this condition…."

" No, she'll be fine I'll be there." With that Raoul got up and walked towards the kings private study.

Once Raoul had what he wanted from Jon, he went to Kel's rooms.

Knocking on the door Raoul heard movement inside; there was a groan, then the shuffling of feet towards the door.

He wasn't expecting what he saw when Kel opened the door, she had dark circles under her eyes, and she looked fragile. He noticed the slight swell of her stomach indicating the almost 4 months of pregnancy.

" Kel, are you alright, you look really tired…. have you been sleeping well?" Raoul momentarily forgot what he had come for as he went into a fatherly model.

He took Kel's arm and led her inside where she could sit on the couch.

" I'm just a little tired is all Raoul, I had a bad dream last night that kept me up, you sound like my dad." With that statement, Raoul tensed and remembered what he had come for.

" Kel, I have some really bad news to tell you, it's about your family." Raoul took a deep breather and started to explain what had happened.

After about an hour of crying and Raoul comforting her, he explained to her something very important.

" Kel, I love you like a daughter, and you have always been like one to me, I need an heir to my fief, and I am not getting any younger, and I know that Buri doesn't want to get married and settle down, since you and Dom are starting a family, and I need one, would you like to join mine?"

Kel looked up disbelievingly at Raoul, ' Did he just say he wanted to adopt me?'

" Kel, will you become my daughter, and heir to Goldenlake and Malories' Peak? And then you can divide them up between your children some day…and think about it, they will have a grandfather who is here and can take care of them as well." Raoul was getting even more nervous than when he first arrived.

" Raoul, you have always been like a father towards me, even when I was your squire, and I always wished you could be my father, but I have one…Had one. Now, more than ever, I would love it if you joined our family circle and become officially my father. I know you would keep me sane." Kel smiled a little.

" I should probably find Dom, he'll want to know about this change in family titles, he is now Baron of Mindelan." Kel looked sad once more, and Raoul hugged her.

They signed the Adoption papers, and finished it with combining their blood. Though not to much, Kel couldn't spare any.

" Bye Raoul…"

" Bye Kel, let me go find Dom, you should go back to sleep.

And with that, Dom became Baron of Mindelan, heir to the Masbolle fief, and Kel became Keladry of Goldenlake and Malories' Peak, Baroness of Mindelan.

And the life within her, had a loving family, and a wonderful new grandfather.

Kel fell asleep to these thoughts, thinking of the while new life she had.

The End ( maybe)

Sorry guys, I am so sorry I had my play 42nd Street and then midterms, and homework! It was a lot of stress, but hopefully I can write more on the weekends….please tell me if I should stop it here or when she actually had the baby.

Thanks to all those who reviewed on the last chapter and hopefully have given up on me!