"So, there's going to be another little 'you' running around?"

The young trainee smiled as the mighty Power caressed her belly with a gentleness some didn't think the strongest warriors in Heaven (save Michael of course) could possess, rubbing his thumbs over the smooth skin under his hands, and she nodded when he looked up at her.

"Yes."

Haniel grinned brightly, leaning forward to press his lips to her belly for a brief pause, and leaned back to stand back up. "We'll be ready for them this time." He caressed her cheek gently. "We already raised his or her mama."

Akeelah smiled up at him. "You did great."

"I know we did." He gestured to the others around them. "We're us. We're great at everything we do."

She looked around her, smiling at the others where they stood, some had their arms crossed, others leaned against the wall lightly, but they all returned her smile in kind.

"I'm surprised that you're all so calm about it."

From her right, Titus was leaning against the wall, and gave her a kind smile in amusement. "We're leaving the losing of ones mind to the Commander." He pushed away from the wall and crossed to stand before her again, pressing his right hand to her belly, he smiled at the feel of it. "We're all at a loss for words." He looked up to meet her eyes. "We're just better at working with it."

"I, for one, can't believe that Sasha and Paul knew before you told us, do you think so little of us?" Abraxos had his arms crossed, he didn't sound angry despite the question he asked, and she turned to look at him. Shaking her head, she looked down, pulling Paul's tunic back down over her belly. "I didn't want you to think less of me." Fingers playing with the hem of the tunic, she gave a small sigh. "You know I have things I want to accomplish. I didn't want you guys to think I was weak."

"We would never." He bent slightly to meet her gaze. "Needing to take a break, and admitting it, is not weakness."

"I didn't want you to be mad, either."

"Ahh." He nodded in acknowledgement. "We would never be angry with you. Perhaps at him. But never at you." She smiled at the comment and he returned it. "Not at you, or the little one who will become our niece or nephew, we adore you two."

Akeelah smiled, tears pooling in her bright starry eyes, and she stepped forward to hug him. He leaned up away from the wall, uncrossing his arms, and hugged her back.

…

If Michael thought it odd to witness his Powers walking with his charge across the training field during midafternoon, he never made any statement on the matter, he concluded that there was possibly something that needed addressed, and despite her being able to handle herself, his Powers were still rather protective of the 'Baby Power' they had adopted into their family.

And he turned to return to his own work.

…

Others turned to watch the caravan as they moved down the Axis, not having witnessed the elders guide the young lady through the Axis since she was a small fledgling swinging from their hands or clutching at their trouser legs, and stared as they moved passed them as they continued down the Axis towards the Infirmary.

Akeelah stopped at the bottom of the granite stone stairs that led to the imposing building above them.

A hand settled on her shoulder, and she turned to see who it belonged to, Nisroc smiled to her encouragingly and the others nodded in kind with him.

"We're right behind you."

She nodded, curling her fingers around his hand tightly, his large fingers curled around hers. He nodded to her, and they stepped up the first stair together. The others stepped up just behind them, watching mindfully as their grown 'Baby Power' took the stairs one step at a time.

They had all been rather confused when their Captain had told them to cancelling their squads training for the day and meet him in his office, and concern had overcome them when they saw their beloved little member sitting so silently in the chair behind his desk. Her admission had been quite a surprise to them, that she would continue to train so strenuously, and that none of them had noticed.

Akeelah came to a sudden stop when they entered the Infirmary, going unnoticed for the moment as healers bustled about to tend to their patients, mix tonics, clean wounds, the duties every healer tended to everyday. Some turned to look, the ones that were nearest them, eyes widening at the sight of them all standing there.

She shook her head. "I can't do this."

The fingers curled around her gave a slight squeeze. "Sure, you can. Here," she watched in horror as he raised his hand, just as the Captain of the Virtues looked up from a chart he was filling out and nodded in affirmation that he had seen his silent calling. "I'll help you."

"Nis!" she hissed, reaching over to smack him in the stomach with her free hand, it only caused him to huff and chuckle with the impact.

But the deed was already done, as Oren finished writing in the chart and passed it to the healer standing at his side patiently, patients could only be released by the Healer's permission or one of his Virtues. The healer nodded in appreciation and turned to return to their charge. Oren stepped through the bustling healers with a practiced sort of ease.

He gripped Nisroc's forearm in greeting and turned to the young lady clutching to the Power's hand, curling his hand softly over her upper arm.

"What brings you here, today?"

The fingers around her hand squeezed again, after a long moment of silence, and she looked up into the Virtue's concerned eyes.

"I need….I…"

"You need what, baby sister?"

She swallowed hard and nodded to herself, she could do this, and she looked up to meet Oren's gaze.

"I need to be looked over."

"Okay." He nodded slowly, nodding to his side, as he guided them officially into the Infirmary for an empty bed. "What needs to be seen?"

The female warrior in training took a deep breath to steel herself against any possible reaction there may be. It was bad enough telling Puriel, who had her tell Nisroc, but telling everyone who has known her since she was just a small boisterous fledgling was no easy task to complete.

"I've been training this last month." Akeelah took a deep breath as they neared the bed. "While pregnant."

They came to an immediate stop, just before the bed, and she pulled away from his side to sit on the edge. Walking these distances was no easy task at the moment. The Powers were all rather surprised that she had kept up with the pace of training with her belly the way it was.

Oren turned to look down at her in shock, mouth opening and then closing, and she gave a silent nod. The Captain of the Virtues turned immediately to look at the Captain of the Powers, Nisroc gave a single nod, and he turned back to the one waiting patiently for him on the bed. He knelt before her silently, reaching out hesitantly to feel her belly, as though trying to prove her words wrong, or reveal the punchline to some prank being played, and the young lady gave a slight nod to his silent inquiry.

It was quite humorous the way his eyes widened when his hand curled around her belly, even over the tunic, he could feel the curve of it. There was a slight kick to his hand, a fiery little spirit, just as the mother was, making itself known to him.

"You're with—" he cut himself off quickly, shaking his head as though the trouble was comprehending it, and looked up to her. "Does he know?"

Akeelah smiled, nodding to his question. "Khonsu does, he's ecstatic, the moons been full three times in the last month." She curled her hand over his. "He says I get to pick the names, as if I'd let him do it, his names all suck."

The others chuckled behind him, but Oren just stared at her, as if he finally seemed to register her words and the feeling he just felt.

"Do you know what it is yet?"

She shook her head. "No. We went to Isis early on. But I haven't had time to with training."

He nodded sharply, turning to the Power behind him. "I hope you know that I'm pulling her from training for the time being." Nisroc nodded, crossing his arms lightly, and gave her a light glare. "I would have pulled her from it myself had I known."

"But—"

He squeezed her knee lightly, Oren turned back to his patient, smiling in hopes to calm her trembling nerves. "You are not being pulled completely as though you were unfit. You will return after our young new friend here joins us, after an appropriate amount of time of course, but you will return."

That seemed to reassure the young woman, and she smiled in relief, curling her free hand around the top of her belly.

He seems relieved at the relief that's filled his beloved young friend.

"Let me go get a few things." He rubbed her belly softly and made to stand. "And we'll get you looked over, alright?"

Akeelah nodded, and he guided her around to lay against the pillows, stroking his hand over her cheek as he left them to get what he needed for the exam. She looked down to her hands, crossed over the top of her belly, not watching as the others settled down around her. A protective circle of mighty Powers.

A hand came into view and she looked up to meet her oldest friends eyes, the same eyes, giving the same comforting look, that she had seen plenty when she was a little fledgling following after him excitedly.

She took his hand and squeezed as hard as she could, eyes turning to peer around for the one she didn't want to know they were here, and the fingers that curled over hers squeezed back.

"Everything's alright." She turned to look at him, and the Power nodded affirmatively. "He'll know you're here. There's little that happens in this place without him knowing. But it'll be alright." She nodded fearfully and went back to surveying the Infirmary for any sign of him.

Oren returned shortly after, setting down a few instruments on the side table next to her bed, and sits on the edge. He turned to look at her, rubbing a small soothing circle over her belly. "I need to lift the tunic."

"Do you have to?" The nervousness in her tone was understandable, as far as he knew, she had told no one, save for Paul and Sasha and Zaves, and he knew that his Commander would most certainly react to the news rather strongly.

He nodded. "I do."

She nodded slowly, lifting her hands, and he slowly rolled the tunic up over her belly. His eyes went wide for a moment at the sight of it, as if this was the moment that it was really solidified that the words spoken were as truthful as they come, and he smiled when she shivered in return to him setting his hand on her bare tummy.

"Sorry." Oren chuckled lightly at her glare. "My hands are a bit cold."

"A 'bit cold' he says!" Akeelah huffed and crossed her arms. "Your hands a freaking ice cube."

He continued to chuckle as he felt around her belly, ignoring her light glare as he did, and smiled when he felt the little one kick just a few times, as though to ensure that they didn't like his cold hands either.

"They're feisty little ones." He winked at his young friend. "Just like their mama."

Around him, the Powers straightened and stiffened, and her eyes went wide at his statement. He was sure they'd caught on to the first part rather quickly.

"Oren?" Nisroc touched his arm, and he turned slightly, knowing that the Power was asking for them all. "Little ones?"

"Yes." He nodded in affirmation. "Little ones." He reached for her hand, and despite her shock, she pressed the back of her hand into his palm for him to guide her. "The heart beat is a bit hard to feel. But their grace is strong. Vibrant even. Here." He guided her hand around to feel where he'd felt. "One." And over to the other. "Two." The Virtue nodded. "Therefore, little ones."

"Are you sure?"

"I believe I know what I'm doing, yes." Oren rolled his eyes slightly, turning towards him. "Do you want to feel them too?"

Nisroc looked first to his young charge, waiting for her to nod or shake her head, and nodded to the Virtue when she gave him permission.

Smiling in amusement, the Virtue positioned the Powers hand over the mid right side. The clear buzz of grace tingled under his fingers. "One." And then a bit to the left. "And, two." He followed him with smug eyes when the Power leaned back in his chair with shock shining in his eyes. "May I continue my exam, now?"

They nodded lightly as they absorbed the latest information.

Akeelah huffed in irritation, glaring at the Virtue again, he had taken one of the instruments in hand, stuck two ends in his ears, and the other end against her tummy.

"Why are you being so mean to me!" She whined at him, and he chuckled. "I'm not meaning to be. I swear. It was just chilly today."

"Then warm it up!"

"It'll only be a few moments." He wiggled a few fingers over her belly to cheer her back up. "Tough it out."

"You're a jerk."

He poised the fingers of his free hand over her tummy. "I'm a what?"

"A brilliant healer."

"That's what I thought you said."

The Virtue checked a few more things, listened just a bit longer, and leaned back.

"Everything sounds fine." He gave her a stern look. "But since someone insisted on training with two little ones in their belly, I'm going to keep you, at least overnight."

Akeelah nodded, turning to look at the Captain next to her, she knew he would have to return to training. They couldn't continue to put it off longer then they already had. They shouldn't have even cancelled it that afternoon. Nisroc smiled when their eyes met, and he gave her hand another squeeze.

"I'll stay for as long as you need me." He spared his Legion a look. "The others can handle things in my absence." The rest of the Powers nodded in affirmation.

"And because I'm so nice," Oren produced a blanket from somewhere, "I got you a blanket."

He chuckled when she reached for it, smacking her hand away playfully, and draped it over her. She sighed happily and leaned back against the pillows, curling the blanket around herself tightly, and he watched her in amusement for a moment.

Shaking his head fondly, Oren stood after a moment, patting her cheek lightly.

"I have to check on a few others, you rest for a bit, I'll be back to check on you in a while."

The young lady nodded, her eyes already closed, and he smiled fondly down at her as he stroked his thumb over her cheek.

The Virtue turned to his friend. "Nis, make sure she rests."

"Always."

He nodded thankfully and stepped away to tend to the others who needed his attention, immediately being accosted by a fellow healer, and he was gone in an instant. Nisroc watched his young charge rest, rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand, and turned to the others.

"You will handle things until I return?"

Puriel nodded. "Stay with our Baby Power. We will cover for your absence."

They sat in silence for a while, talking quietly between each other, surrounded by the bustling of the Infirmary hard at work. The sun shifted through the sky, casting a shadow over the large spacious room, and the great torches on the walls lit on their own into bright brilliant flames.

Nisroc had not been lying when he said there was little that could happen in the Infirmary that the Healer would not come to find out about, and it came as no surprise when he came to join them, peering worriedly at his young charge who lay upon the bed fast asleep.

"Is everything alright?"

He sat on the edge of the young lady's bed, stroking the back of his fingers over her cheek lightly, and looked to the Captain that still held onto her hand lightly.

"Has something happened in training?"

Each Power exchanged a look and turned as one to their Captain to answer the question being asked, he glared at them all for metaphorically throwing him under the proverbial bus.

"Nisroc?"

The Healer called out to him, his voice taking on a commanding edge, raising slightly in impatience. Under them both, the young woman stirred lightly, her free hand curling into the blanket she was snuggled in.

"Not exactly—"

"Would you keep your voices down," he sighed in relief as the Virtue joined them again, leaning over to stroke a finger over the bridge of the sleeping girl's nose, she scrunched her face up and fell back into sleeps grasp. "Don't wake her up."

"Oren," the Healer turned to his Captain in question. "What ailment brings her to us?"

He crossed his arms lightly, smiling in amusement. "I wouldn't let her hear you calling them 'ailments'. It'll just upset her."

"Them?"

Oren nodded once. "Ahh, I remember, she hasn't told any of you yet."

"Told us what?"

He gestured to her belly, hidden under the blanket, and Raphael followed his gesture.

"The little ones."

"Little ones?"

"Twins, to be precise."

The Healer stared at him.

"She has little ones growing inside her belly."

"That would mean that she's with child and there is no way she's with child at this age."

Oren crossed his arms. "I do know what I'm doing." He gestured to her belly again. "If you don't believe me, then check for yourself, she has two little ones in there. Twins. Just as vibrant as she is."

Raphael stared at him for another moment, before turning and doing just that, preparing himself to tell his Virtue off for saying such a thing about his little bear. He was gentle as he uncurled the girls fingers from the blanket, and folds it back, she shivers slightly but doesn't wake.

He stares at her belly for a long time.

It was rather swollen and rounded, and he stared at it, hesitantly reaching out to lay his hand on it. His hands were warm, much warmer then Oren's were, and she only murmured but didn't wake. Immediately, under his hand, he felt a slight kick.

A small smile slowly crept over his features. "Vibrant, indeed." He felt around her belly, pressing his free hand to the other side. "You said there was two?" there was another kick, different then the first, and he hummed in amusement. "Twins, indeed."

"mmhmm…Big bear?"