A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long to put up! Thanks so much for the follows and favs, and a HUGE thank-you to those of you who reviewed! I really appreciate it! Enjoy~!

Chapter 4

Leafpool couldn't help but sigh as Firestar bowed his head graciously and let WindClan cross the tree-bridge first. She couldn't scent ShadowClan at all yet, but RiverClan's distinct smell was especially strong.

"What's got your tail in a knot?" The lithe tabby nearly jumped out of her fur as Squirrelflight sidled up beside her. Her sister's green eyes were shining more brightly than they had since she and Brambleclaw had started drifting apart. "Excited to talk to Mothwing?"

"Mothwing?" Leafpool echoed absently. Mouse-brain! The medicine cat nodded energetically. "Yes!" She hurried to cover her distracted response. "I've… found some herbs." The explanation sounded lame even to Leafpool, and Squirrelflight narrowed her eyes. Before she could pry, Rainwhisker joined them.

"Firestar's called for us to cross," the dark gray warrior spoke to both of them, but his clear blue eyes never strayed from Squirrelflight.

"Right," Squirrelflight's suspicious gaze dissolved instantly in pools of the dark gray warrior's eyes. "We should go then!" She gave Leafpool a friendly nudge before bounding away. Rainwhisker dipped his head in a small farewell before hurrying after the energetic she-cat. Leafpool was left dumbfounded as she stared after the two warriors.

When did Squirrelflight become so close to Rainwhisker? She had known for a while that her sister and Brambleclaw hadn't been getting on as well as they had during their journey—Brambleclaw's frosty glare as he watched the pair cross the tree-bridge was testament enough to that. I've been so caught up with finding time to see Hawkfrost that I've hardly spoken with Squirrelflight at all… Guilt crashed over the young medicine cat, making her fur prickle with an uncomfortable warmth. Taking a deep breath, Leafpool shook the feeling from her pelt and forced herself to cross the bridge to the island. I'll try harder, she promised herself quietly as she followed her Clan-mates to the clearing. Her heart began racing as she saw RiverClan and WindClan mingling together in the clearing. I'll try harder tomorrow. I'll tell Hawkfrost to try harder to talk to his Clan-mates, too.

Those thoughts were swept from her mind instantly when she spotted Hawkfrost's glossy tabby pelt. He caught her eye immediately, and flicked his ears towards the undergrowth. The lithe tabby nodded minutely and slipped away, towards the small alcove they usually met at. She was startled when the great RiverClan warrior didn't even speak; as soon as he pushed his way into the cozy hiding spot a purr spilled over and he wrapped himself around the young medicine cat.

"I've missed you," he exhaled, licking her ears forcefully.

"I can tell," Leafpool laughed, pushing her head against his snowy chest. "How have things been in RiverClan?"

Hawkfrost shrugged. "Fine. There's plenty of prey, as usual."

"It's been a mild leaf-fall," the lighter tabby acknowledged with a contented sigh. She leaned heavily against the warrior beside her, and he wrapped his tail protectively around her.

"We haven't met for nearly a half-moon and you still seem tired," the dark brown tabby observed quietly. Leafpool blinked curiously up at him.

"Do I? I feel fine." His icy gaze didn't relent, and finally she surrendered. "I feel tired but I've been sleeping soundly every night—sometimes well into the morning…"

"Are you ill?" His tone took a hint of concern, but Leafpool shook her head firmly.

"I'm a medicine cat, Hawkfrost, I would know if I was ill!"

His whiskers twitched in amusement. "Excuse me, great medicine cat, I know better than to ask now."

Leafpool's amber eyes softened, and she gave the RiverClan warrior a few gentle licks on the cheek. "I'm sorry for snapping, I know you're just worried." She paused before continuing helplessly, "But I've checked my symptoms over and over, and still I can't think of anything that might be wrong with me. And that's not the first time I've been impatient—Cinderpelt nearly had my ears for the way I snapped at Mousefur the other day…"

Hawkfrost snorted. "That old badger? Her temper's so bad she practically snaps at herself."

Leafpool cuffed Hawkfrost over the ears playfully, but she couldn't stop her whiskers from twitching. He touched his muzzle to hers. "I'm glad it at least looks like you've reached a healthy weight."

"A healthy weight?" The medicine cat glanced at her flanks. "I'm not sure how, prey has already begun to slow down in ThunderClan's territory. Already our warriors are growing thin." Now that she looked, it was clear to her that her flanks were in fact a little more rounded than they had been before. But how…? I only eat once a day, especially now that prey is running so thin—the queens and elders need it much more than I do…

"Leafpool, are you listening?"

The light brown tabby started as Hawkfrost gave her a rough nudge. "I just heard B;ackstar call this Gathering to a close, we should get back to our Clans."

"Y-yes," she stammered absently. She stood beside him. "When should we meet next?"

"Not tomorrow," Hawkfrost growled. "You'll be tired from the Gathering."

"The day after, then?"

The RiverClan warrior nodded. "I'll be on the WindClan border waiting for you."

As she padded back into the clearing, Leafpool was certain to brush pelts with every cat she passed, masking and mingling the scent left from Hawkfrost's warm flank. It wasn't until she had nearly reached the group of ThunderClan cats that she felt it—the tiniest twinge in her stomach. She froze in her tracks, the ground seeming to fall away beneath her as she put the pieces together. Oh. She whirled around, her amber eyes desperately seeking out Hawkfrost's familiar pelt again. I have to tell him now. I have to. As she pushed her way through the throngs of cats, a feeling of dejavu crashed over her.

"I love you." Hawkfrost's gaze was clear and unwavering. "You're all I can think about, Leafpool, so please… Meet me at the ShadowClan border three days from now at moonhigh."

"H-Hawkfrost, I…" Leafpool took a step back, trying to look anywhere but the RiverClan warrior's eyes. The ice had broken and thawed, leaving nothing but raw emotion—emotion much stronger than Leafpool had known he was capable of. "I'm sorry, but… I'm a medicine cat. It's against the warrior code, and you… You could be RiverClan's leader some day… Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

"No." His gaze locked with hers, and she found herself unable to look away. "I cannot change the way I feel about you Leafpool, and frankly I don't want to."

"But," her objection was cut short as he waved his tail.

"I'll wait," he murmured. "As long as it takes for you to admit you feel the same. When that day comes, just let me know, and I'll meet you any time." He stepped so close that Leafpool could feel the heat radiating from his thick fur, then bent and rasped his tongue across her ear in an uncharacteristically gentle show of affection. "Goodbye for now, Leafpool." With that, he turned and shouldered his way through the undergrowth, leaving Leafpool staring after him. Her mind was reeling, and her heart had nearly leapt out of her chest. She remembered their brief, though memorable encounters on the Great Journey; the way he seemed to scorn every cat except her when it came time to make that jump in the mountains. She remembered the playful taunts and affectionate glances, as every single one had made her blood catch fire in her veins. Suddenly, she understood.

The recently-named medicine cat scrambled to race after him, pushing her way through the closing Gathering to catch up to the dark tabby warrior.

"Hawkfrost!" She hissed desperately, flicking her paw out as fast as lightning to swipe at the tip of his tail.

He turned quickly, his icy eyes glowing. "Leafpool."

"In three days," she whispered quickly. "At moonhigh. I'll be at the ShadowClan border." She didn't give him a chance to reply, the joy in his eyes was answer enough, so she added quickly—teasingly, "Goodbye for now, Hawkfrost."

"Hawkfrost!" She could only hope that he would hear her, as far ahead of her as he was. By the grace of StarClan, he turned, his eyes widening in surprised when he saw her hurrying after him. She flicked her ears towards the undergrowth, and the dark warrior followed without question.

"Quickly," he muttered. "Leopardstar just-"

"I'm expecting kits!"

"I—Leafpool, what?" He blinked incredulously at the young medicine cat.

"Kits." She reiterated. "Your kits. I can't believe I didn't realize sooner… It's the only thing I didn't think of, but just now I…" She trailed off as the confusion in Hawkfrost's chillingly pale blue eyes began to smolder into the same type of pure, unwavering love she had seen there when he had first confessed to her at her first Gathering as a full-fledged medicine cat.

"Leafpool that's great!" His purr shook his whole form as he pressed against her and showered her with affectionate licks.

"Is it?" She glanced up at him, but her concern didn't seem to touch him.

"Yes," he growled forcefully, pressing his muzzle against hers. "They'll be perfect in every way."

"But Hawkfrost!"

He slapped his tail across her muzzle. "No," he murmured. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, your job is to stay stress-free and healthy for our kits. I'm here for you, Leafpool, okay? You don't have to worry about a thing."

"Okay…" She stared at her paws for a moment, and Hawkfrost continued to groom the she-cat's ruffled tabby pelt.

"ThunderClan, we're leaving!" Firestar's yowl finally drew her away, but not before she promised again to meet Hawkfrost the day after tomorrow. She was walking on clouds as she fell in step behind Cinderpelt. I'm carrying Hawkfrost's kits!