TOMMY - THREE DAYS LATER

I wake up, glad that nothing hurts majorly this morning. There are still some aches and pains, but some of those bruises were bone deep! I've not told Zedd but I've had a few bits of memory return - brief flashes of consciousness before returning to the comforting, pain free darkness.

I exhale and wonder idly how long I've been out. I know that Zedd woke me a few times to get me to eat and drink something. Once or twice I think even managing to get me out of bed to use the bathroom. I also vaguely remember Zedd washing me up a bit as well, but I still feel a bit grungy. Cautiously, I get out of bed and head for the bathroom. Aches and pains aside I know I at the very least need to wash up and get dressed before even daring to try and face the world again.

A quick shower and not too much pain later, I dress carefully and head downstairs. I hear Mara Jane talking to someone. Shouldn't she be at school? What the hell day is it? As I get closer to the kitchen, I can hear the sounds of sparring outside, smell coffee and - ooh, coffee cake! - and pick up what my daughter is saying.

"It doesn't matter, really. Both Daddy and Papa have said that I'm not allowed to date for years yet. According to Papa, if we were on Eltar, I'd have a good fifty years before I'm even allowed to consider any suitors."

I raise an eyebrow at the answer - and who's giving it. "Oh that's true. Typically, girls do not have their - what did Kira call it? - coming out party until they're about seventy five or so. However, that's for full Eltarian girls. You, however, are only half Eltarian and therefore probably won't have quite as long a lifespan so you could have yours sooner I suppose. However that, as you know, is really more up to your grandmother and aunts as they're typically the ones that plan such an event."

"I don't see why I have to have this thing at all before I can even consider being courted."

"It's sort of tradition, baby. You know how Eltar is. I mean as rebellious as your Papa is even he let his upbringing take over, desiring a tradition Eltarian wedding ceremony with your Daddy."

"But, Uncle Dar, we're not on Eltar. We're on Earth and some girls my age are already going out. I mean, hell, I'm supposed to start drivers education in the spring!"

"Language, young lady. I'm fairly certain if either of your fathers heard you talking like that and me allowing it, they'd have my hide."

"Papa's sparring in the backyard with Aunt Pina and Daddy's still asleep."

"I wouldn't be so sure. I'm fairly certain I heard him moving around upstairs a bit ago. Either way, it's their decision to make, not mine. You are not my child, darling girl. Much as I love you and your brother, I have no business telling them how to raise their children."

"But you could talk to them, couldn't you?"

"You just said that you're not all that interested in this male, so what difference would it make?" There's silence for a minute before Dar speaks again with knowing tones. "You think that if you are allowed to date this one, that word will spread that you can date and one of the males you are interested in might ask you. Right?"

"Maybe." Her deliberately nonchalant manner speaks volumes.

"Sweetie, take it from someone who knows. These boys aren't worth your time or attention. You are far too good for any of them. Not to mention you aren't experienced enough to tell if they actually care for you or if they're just trying to score points with other males."

"What?"

I hear a chair slide out. "Mara Jane, didn't either of your fathers talk to you about this? About how - especially on this planet - some boys are all about getting as much as they can so they can brag about it?"

Reluctantly, she replies, "Yeah, I know but I thought that was mostly them being overprotective."

"It's not. Some boys will go so far as to use force to get what they want and if that were to happen to you, well, I guarantee you won't want to see what your fathers would do to such a boy. And if not them, then me for sure." Yeah, there'd have to be something left of them first, Dar. "Be patient, angel. Your time will come and when you find someone worthy, I promise you it'll be worth it."

"Did you?"

"What?"

"Did you wait?"

"No, but my circumstances were different. Remember, things are different here."

"Still sounds like a double standard to me."

He sighs. "Look, this is really not something I should be discussing with you, but- Quite frankly, I did wait for a long time. Once I joined the Evil Alliance, I - stopped waiting. If you repeat this, I'll deny I ever said it, but I wish I had waited. Your Aunt Pina - if I'd known someone like her was in my future, I would have. She's worth waiting for."

"But how would you have known she was the one if you hadn't dated others?"

"I didn't date others, so much. I just- Anyway, I didn't know at first. But once I figured it out, she - well, she came dangerously close to being an obsession with me. I tried to court her when we were still evil and trying to take over Earth. Unfortunately, the other side kept making a fool of me by beating me in battle."

"They beat her too. Wouldn't that mean that they made a fool of her too? And I know you're talking about Daddy and Uncle Jason and the rest."

"No, I mean, yes they beat her, but they didn't make a fool of her as they did me."

"They had an unfair advantage, my love. Six of them against you, me and one monster at best." Pina steps in. "The fact that they were children created the necessity of numbers."

"Even so-"

"If it helps, I never felt they made a fool of you."

I move into the kitchen, realizing that Dar and Mara Jane's heart to heart talk is over. I pat Dar on the back, smile at Pina, hug my daughter and kiss my husband on the way to the coffee pot. I fill my mug, take a quick swallow and face the room once more, brow furrowing as I realize that my son is nowhere to be seen. Unsure if I can speak or not, I shoot a puzzled look at Zedd. "Morning, love. The last I knew, Jacob was in his room."

A brief glance out the window shows me that the weather is beautiful. On days like this, he usually prefers to be outside so why is he in his room? Dar stands up and moves to the stove. "He's been worrying about you, brat. At least, that's what he's been saying."

Oh no. I sigh, setting my cup down. Zedd says, "I've tried to get him to tell me what's wrong - worrying about you aside - but he keeps insisting that that's all it is."

A trait he may very well have gotten from me. Gesturing to the others that I'll be back in a minute, I head up to our son's room. I tap on the door lightly in my signature pattern and wait for him to respond. "Come in, Daddy."

I open the door and find him sitting on his bed. Crossing over and sitting down quickly, I raise his chin to look at me. We study each other for a minute and I can see the questions and confusion in his eyes. I pull him into my arms and hug him tightly, which he returns. I pray my voice has returned so I can talk to him. I take a breath and say, "What's wrong, little man?"

"I've been worried about you. You were hurt so bad and then you've been sleeping for three days."

"I'm much better now. And as for sleeping, well it's like when Papa got hurt in his car accident, the more we rest when hurt the more our quickly our powers heal us. It doesn't mean something's wrong, it just means that my powers were working extra hard to help me get better."

"I guess."

"What else has been wrong?"

"I just don't understand."

"Don't understand what?"

"Why, Daddy? Why did the bad man hurt you? Why did Papa say that sometimes it's not as simple as good and evil? Yesterday, I heard Aunt Pina say that you'd had to sleep a lot to heal after you had me - why?"

I'm strongly reminded of the time I asked Pina a string of questions like that not all that long after Zedd had saved me and took me to (then) his palace. I have no doubt that my eyes held much the same confusion. And where the hell do I begin to answer his questions? I shift on the bed so that I'm sitting next to him and settle him against my side as I did with Mara Jane some years ago. "I'm going to tell you a story, buddy. After I'm done, I'll explain everything you don't understand."

Once more, I tell the 'fairy tale'. He's much younger than his sister was when I told it to her, but I have no doubt he'll understand it. My heart sinks though as I do. My son's innocence has been destroyed as surely as his sister's was - and at practically the same age and for the same reason. Me. Reminded suddenly of Zedd's panic attack when only a week or so into carrying Mara Jane, his fear that he would be the one to corrupt our children or cause them to be surrounded by death and destruction I can't help but realize I was right in my reassurances that he would do no such thing. He's done nothing to cause our kids to suffer and be thrust into our world of darkness - I have.

I return my focus to the story as Jacob suddenly looks concerned with my stumbling, questioning if I'm okay and assuring him I just got distracted. When I'm done, I wait for him to take it in. "Daddy, I still don't understand why. I mean, he's the one that hurt you while you were in the care facility, right?"

My hand clenches against my side where he can't see it as I take a deep breath and struggle to keep my emotions under control. Finally, I say, "Yes, he is the same one."

"Okay, so why did he hurt you before then?" Breathe, breathe and push it back. Don't lose it, he has yet to see you lose it like Mara Jane has and I'll be damned if I add that to this mess.

Focusing on what Zedd told me the first time if revealed all of what was done and asked him near the same thing, I repeat his words to our son now. "He did it because he's nothing more than a bully and I couldn't fight back then. Some people are like that, Jacob they just-" get off "-get joy out of causing pain."

"Oh." I know he understands, having been bullied himself and truthfully that's all that matters. He has no reason to ever know what actually occurred there and why and I can only pray that despite her having seen me in the grips of a flashback before Mara Jane is still too young and innocent to fully grasp what occurred either. Attention pulled back to my son, I cringe slightly at his next question. "But - you won, right? I mean, you beat him because you got better."

"That's not quite-"

"That's what you tell me - beat them by being a better person."

It's not even close to the same thing, but I don't know how to make him understand. Deciding again that he really doesn't need to understand right now, I let it go. "Right. So, all good? Do you feel better now?"

"Why did you sleep a lot to heal after you had me?"

The abrupt change in subject throws me for a moment. "Papa and I explained that to you already, buddy, remember? About how Aunt Pina had to help you be born?"

"Yeah." Suddenly frowning and studying me closely his next words make me cringe one more. "Sissy says you got hurt then too."

"She did?"

"I asked her how come you and Papa had scars on your stomachs and she said it's from when we were born."

"Right."

"But yours is worse."

"I'm not Eltarian like Papa is, buddy. I don't heal quite as fast or as well as he does."

"She said you got it saving us." Recalling all too well how I'd nearly failed to do so when Essa's failure of an assassin had tried to gut me I in the end give a tight nod.

"I wasn't fully better yet after having you and we were attacked. Sissy was actually the one that protected you while I fought off the attacker until Papa got there. I don't want you to worry though, I got better after Pina fixed me up, you were both unharmed, and Papa-" Again thinking back to Zedd's deadly words of making an example out of Essa, refusing to have a repeat of anyone coming after our children, I realize with near certainty that I will very likely be getting a call or visit from Brady in the next few days as I've no doubt he will suddenly find himself minus one prisoner. "Papa made certain it was known that attacking me and trying to harm you kids was a bad idea."

"Besides I don't mind the scar, if anything it's one of the few I'm proud of, the same with the one Papa has from Sissy. We love you both more than anything and we're so lucky we got to have a chance to have you as in truth we honestly weren't sure if we'd be able to at first."

"So is that why you only have Sissy and me? Because you can only have one each?"

"No, we could have as many as we want as far as I know. We haven't had any more children because- because- well, Papa and I haven't really talked about it."

"Well, I want one."

"What now?"

"I want a baby brother or sister. I want to love them and take care of them like Sissy does for me." Pride in my children wells up in me. Pride for my daughter for being such a good example that her brother wants to emulate her and pride for my son in wanting to be like her. However-

"As I said, that's something that Papa and I will have to discuss as a lot of different factors come into play like you and your sister going to school, our work, where we live, not to mention if something should occur that we'd have to move back to the castle for a little while..." Remember the warning we'd gotten of a new evil emerging in the future, one neither Zedd or myself have any desire to be a part of or have our children around I know we very likely will have to leave Earth for a time, I only hope it's not so soon as to disrupt the children's lives. Suddenly, I also realize that my son has not seen Zedd or the others in their monstrous forms. There has just never been a need, however if we are looking at a potential attack at some point... I have to discuss this with them and soon.

"Papa worries about you a lot, huh?"

"He's mostly worried when I get hurt, but he's better than he used to be. I think he just feels bad because he thinks he should be able to protect me at all times and while he knows that's not possible, he can't help feeling like he should."

"Hmm, so why did Papa say that sometimes it's not as simple as good and evil? I mean, something is good or it's bad, right?"

"What's good to one person might be bad to another, Jacob. If someone was starving and stole food from someone else who wouldn't give it to him, who is the good and who is the evil?"

He's quiet for a minute. "The one who wouldn't share?"

"But that was his. Does it make it okay for the starving man to steal?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Maybe the man with the food needed it to feed his family, but now he doesn't have enough because some of it was stolen." I pause to let him think about this. "That's what Papa meant. Sometimes it's not as simple as 'good' and 'evil' or 'black' and 'white'. It's what's known as a gray area and me and him being who we are, well that's the area we tend to lean more towards depending on the situation."

"But - Papa's a good man now. He left the side of evil you said."

"Yes, I did, and yes he is a good man, but..." Even if he doubts it at times. I remember an analogy Zedd used a long time ago. "It's kind of like breaking a mirror, Jacob. You can tape it together or mend it with glue, but it will still have those cracks in it no matter how hard you try to fix it. Papa is a good man, but that doesn't mean that he hasn't or doesn't want to do bad things."

Firmly, Jacob says, "But he doesn't do them. That's what makes him good now."

I almost tear up at the conviction in his voice and words. His faith in Zedd is unshakable, no different than when Mara Jane saw his evil form all those years ago and didn't fear him.

"No, what makes me 'good' now is your father, you, and your sister." Leaning against the doorframe, watching us intently, I can see and feel his inner turmoil. "I didn't make the choice to be 'good' for myself, Jacob. I made it because you three need me to be, and I just as much so need you all in my life. However, that part of me that none of you want to see, that I know still makes your Daddy and sister worry about me, that is the part that keeps you three safe." Meeting my gaze he gives me a knowing look.

"But we are safe."

Ignoring our son's comment for the moment, eyes still on me, he continues softly. "It was Essa all over again, love. Coming to protect you, praying I wasn't too late, but knowing I was. The only difference was that the children thankfully weren't involved this time."

"Zedd-"

"I can't go through that again, Thomas. Dar was right, you are stronger than him and me. I know I can't protect you from every threat, I know there will plenty of other attacks where you get hurt in the future, however, what I can do is make damn well certain there will be one less by handling this attacker now. I won't have him coming after you again, or worse yet, one of the children in retaliation."

"You promised Mara Jane."

"I promised I wouldn't kill him, and I won't, but I promise you this, when all is said and done, he'll wish like hell I had."

As much as I want to argue, I know I can't. I got my chance with Annwyl and he has the same right he allowed me. I just don't want to see him go back to his old ways and I'm afraid that he might if given this opportunity. Before I can say anything else, our son steps in. "Papa, I want a little brother or sister."

I can feel him shove aside his feelings for now as he turns his focus on Jacob and his statement. Sounding more than a little amused, he says, "Oh you do, do you?"

He nods. "But Daddy said that you two have to talk about it."

Zedd raises an eyebrow at me. "Didn't realize you were thinking about it again, love."

"Since before your accident" I admit. "I was planning to talk to you about it that weekend, but…" I shrug. "Things didn't work out."

"And in the months since?"

"It didn't come up." Weak, I know and the look he gives me confirms that. "Mate, there really hasn't been a good time."

"We'll talk about it tonight." His tone brooking no discussion, I sigh to myself before changing the subject.

"You feel better now, son?" He nods and I give him a quick hug before getting up. "Good. When things like that worry you, you need to talk to us and not stew over it, okay?"

"Yes, one of you doing that is more than enough" Zedd murmurs softly, but not without another pointed look at me.

"Okay, Daddy." I head out of the room, Zedd following me downstairs.

Once in the kitchen, I look at the others. "It's past time for Jacob to see your other forms."

"What?" Glancing up from the pan on the stove, Goldar looks at me in interest, even as Zedd is already opening his mouth in protest.

"We've been lucky so far in the attacks we've faced since the children were born have been minimal, however if something should occur, he needs to prepared for what the people protecting him will look like, the same as Mara Jane had to be."

"Just because Mara Jane took it well, doesn't mean that he will" Zedd objects. I can feel his fear again - much like that day ten years ago. "Jacob is-"

I cut him off. "If you say anything about him being more sensitive or more sensitive like me, I will kick your ass, Zedd."

Mara Jane sighs loudly. "Seriously, Papa? He knows what you looked like back then."

"He's never seen me change."

"He doesn't have to see it to know. Or have you forgotten how his room has been decorated since before he was even born?" I can't help but smirk at the sheepish look that crosses Zedd's face. Obviously, he had forgotten.

"There is a world of difference between a four inch figure and one that is six foot tall and moves on its own."

Dar starts laughing. "That was weak, Zedd, even for you!"

Reluctantly, he owns up to it. "All right, maybe it was, but I don't want him to be afraid of me."

Mara Jane waves this away. "I'll help him, Papa, if it's necessary. He's stronger than you give him credit for. Apparently, just like me." Uh oh. "After all, you almost didn't give me a chance."

"Honey, you were five and that look has struck terror in the hearts of much older people."

She rolls her eyes and it's all I can do not to laugh out loud. "Papa, your reputation preceded you. Of course they were afraid! Lord Zedd, right hand to Dark Specter, was there to conquer their world! Jake doesn't have any such information."

"I just told him the story" I inform her.

"That's still not the same and you know it." Mara Jane shakes her head at me. "Come on, Daddy. I expected you to know better."

Pina and Dar have been listening silently. "After dinner" Dar says finally, after a look at his own mate. "Just like before."

Several hours later, we all troop outside. I look at my son. "Remember I told you in the story that there was a time when Papa was evil? He had a different look then and so did Aunt Pina and Uncle Dar. We're going to show you what they looked like in case they ever have to change to protect you."

He nods and watches intently as Mara Jane moves over to his side and takes his hand. Pina goes first, this time reversing her transformations - Ninjetti first followed by her warrior form. I'm not surprised to see that he's unfazed by this, even going so far as to ask her if she can move her tail like a real scorpion. After a quick demonstration of striking at a tree, he seems fairly impressed, though states it would be scarier to the bad guys if she still didn't look so pretty.

After she changes back to her normal attire with a smile Goldar goes next and Jacob examines him much as his sister did years ago. Touching his face, wings, and even going so far as to scratch behind his ears, he seems fairly pleased with the fact his uncle can essentially turn himself into an overgrown animal, which given his love for all animals is actually not very surprising.

Zedd and I forgo sparring before his transformation this time, my body still not quite up to it, and his own nerves at least a bit better than they were when doing this for Mara Jane. However I'm more than a bit startled to see Jacob get upset when Zedd does change, clinging to his sister. Softly, she reassures him like I did her then, but it doesn't seem to be helping. Quickly, I cross over to him, gesturing to Zedd to wait on shifting back. "What's wrong, Jacob?"

"I don't like it when Papa looks like that."

I crouch in front of him. "But it's just Papa. Kind of like the movie monsters we talked about, remember? He just looks like that, but it's still Papa inside."

He shakes his head at me, eyes not leaving Zedd. "I know, but it doesn't feel right. It makes my skin feel weird." This can't be good.

I frown and close my eyes, trying to see if I can feel what he does. I can sense Zedd's power if I focus hard enough, but that's really it. Suddenly, Mara Jane speaks. "Papa, change back." Once he does, Jacob breathes a sigh of relief only to cringe slightly when Mara Jane makes one of her power orbs appear. "Can you feel this too?"

He nods firmly and she quickly dissipates it. I frown. "That's never bothered you before. When Papa summons his staff, can you feel that too?"

"I don't know, Daddy." He twitches suddenly and I'm sure that if I turn around, Zedd will be holding his staff.

"What about when I summon mine?"

Quickly, I do. He doesn't flinch but still nods firmly. "It feels different."

In a moment, Pina's at his side. "Did you feel it when Uncle Dar or I changed, sweetie?" He shakes his head, puzzling me further. Pina glances over her shoulder at Zedd. "Zedd, change back to your normal form."

Once he does, Jacob nods. "That's better."

As quick as thought, Zedd's at his side. "Jacob, I'm so sorry. I don't want you to be afraid of me or hurt by me."

Jacob shakes his head again. "It doesn't hurt, Papa. It just feels weird."

Pina frowns herself. "Zedd, I want to check something. Let your power surge a bit."

"No! Are you crazy?"

"No, just do it." Reluctantly, he does and Jacob cocks his head.

"I can kind of feel it, but not like before."

Pina runs them through a series of tests - varying Zedd's power level and distance from Jacob. Apparently, it only feels 'weird' when Zedd transforms. Otherwise, he can feel it but it doesn't bother him. Pina repeats the tests with Mara Jane and then with Dar before finally having me morph. Mara Jane's power only bothers him at high volume and close range and he can't feel Dar at all, no matter how close. He can feel me and my power, but no matter how close I am, it doesn't bother him.

"I don't understand" Pina says. "It's all dark power except Tommy's."

"No" I say suddenly. "It's Zedd's dark power he feels. It was passed on to Mara Jane genetically. It may have come from the same source originally as yours, but he's held it and controlled it so long, it must have changed slightly somehow. He's part of Jacob - same as I am, so Jacob must have a bit of it - at least enough to feel it. My power probably doesn't bother him because I carried him and it protected him. It feels familiar but since he hasn't really been exposed to Zedd's, that doesn't!"

"Makes sense" Pina admits. "He can sense it because of the genetic link. And, yes, it feels weird because he's not felt it like this before. Theoretically, more exposure to it would get him comfortable with it. A little at a time, of course."

A while later, the kids are in bed while Pina, Dar, Zedd and I are in the kitchen. Zedd fixes me with a look. "Now, about having another child."

The other couple looks extremely interested in the conversation change. "Like I said, mate it was just something I was thinking about. Of course that was before everything got thrown at us, and I probably should have taken into consideration that despite thinking we're safe on Earth, we're still somewhat vulnerable. On the other hand though, I mean it's not like we haven't faced attacks before and if it is our child chances are high it'll have some power like Mara Jane or Jacob to protect it. Zedd, if you don't want to, that's fine. I just -"

"I was the one who said five, if you recall, love." Cutting off my rambling with a smile he shakes his head as it takes a moment to grasp what he's said.

"Yeah, I know I just wasn't sure if maybe you'd changed your mind after everything with Jacob and Mara Jane."

"Do you want another child?"

I can feel my face flush slightly as my gaze drops to my hands. Softly, I admit, "I miss it, you know? Don't get me wrong, I love Mara Jane and Jacob with all my heart, but-" I don't know how to explain what I want to say. I shrug. "Maybe it's just me being foolish or sentimental. I mean I know we can't have another kid every time I miss the ones we have being babies. It's just Mara Jane is so independent now, she has a good grasp on her power, Jacob while still our little boy has what you know Sam would have called an old soul. I know they need us, but at the same time they don't. You know?" Sighing, I run my hand through my hair knowing I very likely sound idiotic and not at all logical. "If you don't want another one, mate, it's fine."

"Actually, Thomas, I'm fine with that."

I look up at him, studying his face. "Don't say it if you really don't mean it, Zedd. I don't want you to do something that will ultimately make you unhappy just because you think what I want is more important."

"As much as your happiness means to me, and as much as I would give you the world were you to ask for it, trust me love bringing another child into said world is one of the few things I would have to protest if I thought it a bad idea or did not fully desire one. I promise I'm not simply agreeing for the sake of agreeing. I think another young one would be nice, and much like you, I miss having someone need me in that way."

I can't help grinning like an idiot. "Well then, all we have to figure out is who will carry it and what we want to have."

"Not you" he says instantly, shocking me.

"Why not?" The moment the question is out of my mouth, I know the answer. "Oh. Because I can't protect them. Or is it because I keep destroying their innocence at the age of seven or so. Because if that's it, there's no point in having any more kids if -"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

I raise an eyebrow at him. "Why I can't carry the next baby."

"Wait a minute. That makes no sense. Can't protect them? Destroying their innocence?" He shoots a confused look at the other two. "Love, you have completely lost me."

"Why can't I carry the baby then, Zedd?" I challenge him.

"Because you almost died when it was time for Jacob to be born."

"I- what now?"

"Now what are you going on about not being able to protect them or destroying their innocence?"

Ignoring him for the moment, I pin Pina with a very serious look. "What have you not told me for nearly eight years? Did I nearly die? Is that why my recovery was so much longer at the start?"

She sighs. "You were bleeding worse than I told you, yes, but you weren't nearly as close to death as Zedd would have you believe."

"Close enough" Zedd growls, clearly disliking her easy take on the matter. "You were bleeding out, it took an hour for them to get you stable."

"It wasn't an hour. And as I told him then, now that I know what to watch for, it should be preventable. Less than one percent chance of it happening again and that was then. I have done considerable research since then and I think I can reduce that even more now."

"How much?" Zedd demands.

"Without actually running the numbers, I'd say - probably less than a tenth of a percent."

He shakes his head. "Too much."

My eyes narrow. "Pina, what's Zedd's risk of having the same problem just as bad?"

The warrior frowns as she considers this. "The exact same problem? Zero, but only because he has to have the pouch and you don't. A similar problem with the same complications?" She thinks for a minute. "About five to ten percent."

I almost want to laugh at the shocked look on his face. Truthfully, it's all I can do to keep the smug tone out of my voice as I ask, "Weren't expecting that, were you?"

Pina speaks again. "Quite frankly, Zedd the whole thing is actually a bit riskier for you than for him. You do have to go through two surgeries to his one, not to mention if word gets out that you're carrying, what fools that do consider attacking us will very likely do so feeling you unable or unwilling to fight as you should in that state. We were lucky with Mara Jane, we managed to hide the fact you were carrying her through most of the time, we might not be that lucky this time around."

"Whether word gets out or not I highly think anyone is so stupid as to attack me regardless."

"She does have a point though" I say slowly. "It honestly seems like the risk would be greater if you were the one to carry, not to mention it'll be harder for you to help teach Mara Jane to control her powers with your temper and hormones completely thrown by the thing."

"He's right, Zedd" Pina agrees calmly. "If you both want another child I would have to suggest that the safest option is for Tommy to carry as again all other factors aside he's genetically better suited for it."

"But at no time did I almost die because I was carrying our child! He did! What part of nearly losing him again are you not grasping here?!"

I barely catch the soft gasp just outside the room. In a second, I'm on my feet and hurrying for the hallway. I'm dismayed but not surprised to find Jacob leaning against the wall, tears running down his face. Quickly I take him in my arms and he hugs me tightly. "Shh. Jacob, buddy, everything's okay. What's wrong?"

"I don't want a baby brother or sister anymore! I don't want you or Papa to die!"

"Oh, Jacob. Having another baby doesn't mean that one of us will die." Without letting go of him, I stand and pick him up, carrying him into the kitchen. I settle back in my chair with him on my lap. I have no idea how to make him feel better without lying to him. How can I make him understand how small the risk is - especially when compared to the rewards?

Cursing softly in Eltarian and no doubt blaming himself now, Zedd looks at our son desperately, "Why, why aren't you sleeping?"

"I was thirsty and came to get a drink, but then I heard you all arguing."

"We weren't arguing, we were having a discussion" Zedd protests quickly, though does seem to relent somewhat at our son's doubtful look. "Sometimes adult discussions sound a lot like arguing, but we weren't arguing." Weak, seriously weak, Zedd.

"Well you don't have to discuss anymore, I don't want a little brother or sister."

"Why not?"

Look at his father as if he's an idiot, Jacob wipes his eyes before answering with a sniffle. "I don't want you or Daddy to die!"

"Jacob, everyone dies eventually. However I can assure you that me or your Daddy having another child will not be what eventually does us in."

"But you said-"

"I say a lot if things. Most of which are really, really stupid." Giving me a slight look and smile he continues with a sigh. "Especially when having 'discussions'. However I wasn't right, okay?"

"I still don't want one."

"Well too bad, I do and I'm your father so I trump you until you can take me down in battle." Sticking his tongue out at our son, I realize with growing awareness I already have a third child of sorts.

"But-"

"No buts, listen I don't know if we're going to have another child or not yet, all right? However if we do, I promise you I would never let anything happen to your Daddy the same as he wouldn't let anything happen to me."