ZEDD - FIVE YEARS LATER

"Thomas, stop pacing please. You're making me nervous."

"Sorry." He immediately comes over to my side and takes my hand. "The wait is killing me, mate."

I know what he means. We've finally decided to start trying to have our family and after the initial 'minor' surgery needed to insert the pouch I'll need to house the little one – which was hardly as painless as I was led to believe by the way - Pina implanted our future offspring a week ago for the second time. The first time didn't take and, after some testing, she realized that some of my chemical levels were off from where they needed to be. Not a lot, fortunately, but enough, and I swear I've never felt like more of a failure then I did at that moment. Still though Thomas refused to let me dwell on it, making the point that I wouldn't hold him responsible if the same thing occured when he attempted to carry our next child and that in mind I very quickly pushed any signs of distress aside, not wanting him at all to think that any troubles that he might have are due to something he did wrong. Still, that set back aside, I'm still worried as we're once more waiting to hear the results of her newest scan.

She approaches us and I tighten my grip on Thomas' hand slightly. She looks awfully serious and if something is wrong once more, I'm not sure I can handle a third try so soon. "So I have the results."

"And?"

"And I don't want you to be upset if it's not what you were expecting." Fuck. "I mean when you think about it, a baby is a lot of work. There's late night feedings, and lessons, vaccinations, not to mention if it holds any power."

Looking at me in concern, Thomas lays his free hand on my back. "Spit it out, Pina."

"Well like I said this isn't going to be easy for you two to handle I'm sure, but - have you decided what you're going to have the baby call you guys?"

We both freeze for a minute. Suddenly Thomas laughs sounding very relieved as he hugs me. "It worked! We're going to be parents!"

Not quite as overjoyed as my mate, my earlier failure still hanging over me, I can't help the anxiety in my voice as I address the female warrior. "So everything is okay? You're sure?"

She nods firmly. "Also, since it took this time, the presence of the baby will help alter your body chemistry to help maintain the pregnancy. It's going to be okay, Zedd, barring any major physical trauma there should be no problems with your body rejecting it this time."

"Wait, altering him?" Suddenly pausing in his celebration, Thomas gives her a curious look.

"Just during the time he's carrying it" Pina assures him. "And really aside some weight gain and his brief loss of the definition in his abdominal muscles when the child grows large enough, you probably won't even notice as most of the changes are on a chemical and hormonal level to help him adapt…well strike that he might be moodier than normal, but given how he normally is I doubt that'll be noticeable either." Ha ha.

"True." Thinking on this, Thomas quickly returns focus to our offspring however. "Can you tell what it is yet or is it too soon? Because we still can't agree on names."

Pina had informed us that, while it was possible to choose the gender of the baby, she didn't have the necessary knowledge and skills just yet and it would probably have taken her another five to ten years to gain them - or she'd have to bring in outside help. After a lot of talking and debating, we decided to take our chances on the first one and she could work on it for the second one.

Pina laughs. "You still have time, Tommy. Remember that the gestation period is longer than that of a human female. And no, I can't tell yet so unless you're going with neutral colors you're going to have to hold off on painting the nursery."

"We can still get furniture."

No sooner does he start making plans for said furniture than Goldar pokes his head in the infirmary. He and Scorpina got married last year and thanks to that seeming to strengthen their bond I've no doubt he felt her relief before we knew all was well. "So?"

"It worked!" Thomas grins at him.

"Congratulations!" He shakes hands with Thomas and gives me a brief hug. Over the years the two have developed a strong friendship. Granted, nothing on the scale of Thomas and Jason or Dar and myself, but strong none the less. "So who are you going to tell first?"

I sigh. "We should probably call my mother first. Ever since Thomas mentioned to her at the ceremony that we'd discussed the possibility of children, it comes up every time she or Serena calls."

"Sorry, mate. I should have realized that mothers are pretty universal. If my own mother was alive - either one of them - they'd be doing the same thing."

"After that, perhaps Sam and then Jason - unless there's a chance we'll wake their baby." A year after Thomas and I got married, Jason and Hayley did too. A couple of months ago, they had their first child - which in truth was what sparked Thomas and I discussing it again. Until that point, we both had kind of let it sit, just enjoying our lives together and in no real rush.

Thomas rolls his eyes. "He has a name, Zedd."

"I know, but I find it difficult to understand why they would have chosen your middle name for him." I shake my head. "I mean really, James Lee Scott? Why not use Hayley's father's name since they used Jason's father's name?"

"Because neither one of them liked it and her dad asked her not to because he doesn't like it either. Besides I am his godfather" he reminds me with a smile. "Come on. Let's go get these calls out of the way."

It's not long before we're in our room, seated side by side as I type in the codes to call Mother. A little nervous, I take his hand again as we wait for an answer. "Hello, Zeddic." There's a pause. "What's wrong?"

Thomas glances at me and speaks up. "Hi, Mara."

"Hello, Tommy. Why does Zeddic look like he's waiting to be scolded?"

"I think it's just shock. How are you doing?"

Her eyes narrow. "Don't mess with me, Tommy. What's going on?"

"Good news, actually. Pina's just confirmed things. You're going to be a grandmother again."

It takes a moment for this to sink in, but when it does, she turns and calls out, "Kerch! We have another grandchild on the way!"

"Oh for the love of-! Is that Serena again? Isn't she tired of this by now?"

I can barely control my laughter as Mother answers him. "No, it isn't Serena. Actually, it's Tommy and Zeddic."

We can hear his voice moving closer as he responds. "Thank the powers. I really don't think I could take her having another one already. Hello, my sons."

Father joins Mother on screen and smiles at us. In the years since I presented Thomas as my mate and Father has seen - as he puts it - the changes in me, he has relaxed and backed off me considerably. The time before last that Thomas and I visited, Father and I were actually able to have an entire conversation without either one of us getting enraged at some point. Of course, the last time we visited, we nearly blew all that to hell and back.

Thomas and I were relaxing and talking in one of the main rooms with my parents when the commotion in the front hall started. In a moment, the four of us are on our feet and heading to see what happened. Just before we get there, Talic meets us. "It's Lady Serena and the children."

He's been the head of the staff for hundreds of years, handling many crises without batting an eye. So the shaky tone of voice has me very concerned and quickening my pace. Rounding the corner, I see several of the staff dealing with crying children, an injured Serena and her five eldest offspring, who are also hurt. The four of us descend on them. "By the hells, Serena, what happened?"

"He can't help it, Zeddic. He's deteriorated too far."

"Who?" Thomas demanded.

Her eldest answered. "Father."

Mother gasped. "Marcus did this?"

"I only found out a few months ago. He has a degenerative brain condition but he led me to believe that he had years before he would get to this point. I don't know what set him off, but he snapped tonight."

Her eldest son sighs. "It might have been me. We were talking about something and he wasn't making any sense about it. I told him that he was crazy and he started ranting and raving. He'd only struck me twice when you came in, Mother."

I'd felt my power surge with the immediate and intense desire to kill - something I'd not felt at such a level for quite some time. I forced myself to regain control when my father said warningly, "Zeddic. Not in front of the younglings."

We made sure that the children and Serena were all cared for and settled down before I prepared to head out to kill him. Thomas caught me on my way to the door. "Wait, Zedd."

"No."

He'd grabbed my arm. "I'm not letting you go alone. Give me a minute and I'll go with you."

I hesitated. "Fine. One minute."

He disappeared down the hall. Before he returned, there was a knock at the door. Being the closest, I opened it. The law enforcement officials standing there looked nervous for a moment before the senior officer addressed me. "Lord Zedd. Is Lady Serena here?"

My eyes narrowed. "Depends on what you want."

"We have some troubling news for her regarding her husband."

It turned out that I didn't have to kill him, as he'd inadvertently killed himself, apparently so lost in his dementia that he threw himself out of a tower window. As they hadn't gotten along in several years, Serena was saddened but not completely heartbroken. Since then, she's had a number of - liaisons, a few of them resulting in more offspring. The last I knew, between the now infamous family dinner when she was pregnant with number nine and now, she was up to thirteen total younglings.

I return my attention to the moment when Mother says, "And you say that Pina has confirmed it?"

"Minutes ago" Thomas nods. "We called you first."

"Well then you must have several other calls to make then" Kerch says. "Of course you will let us know when it's time to have the youngling." Not too far from a demand.

"Of course."

"Don't forget to call your sister. We'll let you tell her and tomorrow, if you like, we'll inform the rest of your siblings."

I can't help the sigh. "If you really think it's necessary."

"They'll be pleased for you, Zeddic" Mother scolds gently. "They should know."

I have no doubt that most of them will. Jax, on the other hand, probably not so much as he blames me and Thomas for our parents finding out that he wasn't exactly being above board with the business. Once Father found out how bad things really were, he removed several accounts from Jax's care and took them over himself. It took months for Father to straighten everything out and to regain the reputation he'd so carefully built up.

"I suppose so. We'll talk to you later, Mother, Father."

We call Sam and David next. True to my prediction so far, Sam is still going strong. I wouldn't be surprised if he sees not only this baby, but the next one as well. Despite them having no problem with our relationship and having explained some time ago that, with some help, we would be able to conceive and carry young, they seem very surprised at the news. Thomas was briefly upset by this until they both admitted that they thought that we would have waited longer, given how long our life spans are. Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, Thomas relaxed considerably.

Jason is next. I'm surprised, however, when we call and get Kira. "What's up, guys?"

Instantly worried, Thomas asks, "Where are Jason and Hayley?"

"Hello to you too" she answers amused. "They're getting ready to go out and I'm going to babysit Jimmy. Jason! Hayley! Tommy and Zedd are calling!"

Shortly the couple is in front of the screen. "What's up, bro?"

"Good news. And it's a good thing that Kira's there. It'll save us a call. Pina's just confirmed things. Zedd's pregnant."

Hayley laughs. "Inspired you, did we?"

"Actually, yes" I admit. "When you had your little one, we started talking about it again."

"How does that work?" Kira asks curiously.

"You'll have to talk to Pina about that" Tommy replies. "Especially if you want medical details."

"Maybe I'll call her later when Jimmy goes to sleep." She doesn't quite seem her usual cheerful self.

"Kira, what's wrong?" I ask. I still haven't taken to the boys, so much, even if they are far more tolerable then they were when I first met them. It's easy to see why she's Thomas' favorite.

She shrugs. "Just going through a rough patch, Zedd. No big deal."

Thomas and I exchange glances. "You could always come and visit us for a while if you want. Take a break from life. Help design and set up the nursery."

She laughs. "You just want free labor" she teases. "Besides, Zedd talks so much about me coming to work for him, I'm not sure he'd let me come home."

While I'm well aware that she knows I'd never keep her against her will, I still answer straight faced. "Thomas has made it clear that I'm not allowed to abduct people to increase either the business or our family here."

Jason sounds amused. "Was that even a question?"

Thomas laughs. "Some years ago when we first talked about having children, Zedd had said that even if we couldn't have any of our own, we could still acquire some and I was worried that he was talking about kidnapping, not adoption."

Laughter all around, we soon wrap up the call so that Jason and Hayley can go out. Thomas looks thoughtful. "I wonder what's going on with Kira."

"Perhaps one of the boys knows. After all, the last time we talked to her, school was going well, she was dating what's his name and that was going fine, home was all right."

"Maybe I'll call one of the boys tomorrow or call her back and see what we can find out."

"She said that she might call Pina later. Perhaps she can find something out."

"Maybe" Thomas agrees. "I'll run and let her know that Kira might be calling and ask her to see what she can find out."

"Maybe while you're gone, I'll just give Lisa a quick call and see if she can find out anything significant."

He shakes his head as he stands up. "You know, I wouldn't have ever thought that my ex-girlfriend's current mate would have as much help as she has been. Good thing she didn't piss you off like Becky did." I laugh as he heads out of the room, pleased that I'd approached her before we left that weekend about doing some side work for me.