Karigan was finishing her lunch in the early afternoon when an assistant mender came to tell her Cade had woken up. Happily, she tossed back the covers and padded across the corridor to Cade's room.

He was sitting up in bed with his shoulder bandaged and his left arm immobilized in a sling. He gave her a slightly dreamy smile that told her whatever he'd been given for pain was still having an effect.

"I'm sorry you hurt your eye." Cade said, gently touching the bandage with the fingers of his right hand.

"I'm sorry you hurt your shoulder." Karigan sat on the edge of his bed and held his hand in her lap. "But it's your non-dominant side, it shouldn't stop you from beginning your Black Shield training as soon as you want."

Cade's face fell at her words and Karigan new something was wrong.

"I'm sorry. I didn't tell you the truth." Cade said.

"What do you mean?"

"There isn't a choice. Being a Weapon, you can't…" He trailed off looking down and their joined hands.

"Oh Cade, but it meant so much to you."

He raised his head with a determined look. "You mean more to me. I didn't know what I would be giving up to become a Weapon, but now I do. I want to have a life with you, to love you and raise our baby together."

"Wait," Karigan stopped him, reeling. "Our baby? What baby?"

"In Gossham, the true healer told me that he sensed you were carrying a potential new life. I know if may have been a lie, part of the interrogation process. But if it was true, well…" Cade didn't need to finish, the love written on his face was spoke clearly.

Karigan was struck by the image of a small boy, dark haired with Cade's smile and her own blue eyes. She had never really thought about children before. Of course she had assumed that someday she would have them but it had been a far-off concept. The image of the child, their child, faded and Karigan became aware of an ache; a sense of loss for something infinitely precious she had never really had.

That loss must have been clear to Cade because his face fell too.

"Maybe one day." Karigan said.

Cade leaned forward to kiss her gently and then held her against his chest with his good arm.

"Maybe one day." Cade murmured against her hair.


Mara Brennyn was going to the mending wing, to visit her friend. The captain had also asked her to bring Karigan a uniform. Mara was excited and pleased to be seeing her friend, having greatly missed her and mourned her when she thought her dead. She had hoped to visit yesterday when Karigan first woke, but the captain had wanted everyone to let her rest.

Mara was also interested to see the man who had shared Karigan's spectacular entrance the other night. The rider common room was as hungry for gossip about the mysterious 'man with vanishing clothes' as news about Karigan.

Two voices could be heard from the room the Menders directed her to, Mara looked in to see Karigan playing Intrigue with a dark haired man and guessed she wouldn't have to wait long to meet this Cade.

"You didn't have to let me win because it's my first time playing." Cade said as he took Karigan's king and ended the game.

"I didn't let you win," Karigan huffed. "On purpose, anyway."

Mara saw the man laugh and leaned across the board to kiss Karigan on the cheek. Oh. So that was how it was.

Looking away to give the couple some privacy Mara knocked on the door to announce her presence.

"Mara!"

Karigan stood with a blush on her cheeks to greet her friend. The two riders embraced a little awkwardly around the bundle of clothes and shoes Mara carried.

"I'm really glad to see you Karigan." Mara said. "Everyone has missed you so much."

"I've missed you all as well, you have to tell me everything that happened while I was gone." Karigan said pulling her into the room.

"Mara, this is Cade." Karigan introduced.

Taking up Mara's free hand Cade dipped his head to her. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." He said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too."

Mara giggled as she withdrew her hand and thought she might be blushing. His unusually formal manners and good looks where a powerful combination.

"Captain Mapstone asked me to bring you both some clothes." Mara said shaking off her giggles. "You will be asked to report to the king this afternoon."

As well as a new uniform for Karigan the captain had sent Mara with some clothing for Cade. After he had thanked her he left to change in his own room. Mara shut the door after him and turned to look at her friend curiously.

Karigan seemed determined to avoid her gaze as she started dressing.

"Tell me, what have I missed?" Karigan asked.

If her friend wanted to avoid the topic Mara wasn't going to push her. Yet.

The captain had asked Mara not to mention anything upsetting, so she told Karigan general rider news; about the new recruits and the new horses that had arrived. She also assured Karigan that Condor was well, and at the castle, undoubtedly excited to see her.

Mara offered to help with Karigan's hair. She brushed it out for her wile Karigan held a bandage over her injured eye. Mara braided Karigan's hair and tied it with a green ribbon.

"So, Cade seems nice." Mara began. "And he seems sweet on you."

Karigan gave her a sharp look as she re-secured her bandage. "That's not very subtle Mara."

"I'm sorry for being curious, but you are almost as well known for not having dalliances as you are for getting into danger." Mara exclaimed.

"It's not a dalliance." Karigan said brusquely pulling on her boots. "Oh, new boots. These need some breaking in."

"All of your old things where cleared out of your room when a new rider was moved in." Mara explained.

Karigan stopped doing up her boots and looked up in surprise. "My room was given to another rider?"

"Garth is fitting out a new one for you. But you will probably have to stay here a few more days." Mara explained. "I'm sorry, everyone thought…"

"I know, everyone thought I was dead. I guess it's lucky Condor didn't get given to a new rider as well."

Mara winced. That had only because he wouldn't let any green Greenies near him.

There was a knock at the door and Mara opened it to admit a dressed and freshly shaven Cade.

The clothing the Captain had sent seemed to fit Cade well enough. He adjusted the collar of his shirt under the blue jacket and looked to the green riders silently for approval.

"Nobody wears neckerchiefs at this time." Karigan reassured him. "You look very presentable."

Mara was a little confused by this exchange.

Karigan turned to her with a funny expression. "Cade isn't from here, or rather he isn't from now."

"What do you mean?" Mara asked.

"Well," Karigan began, "While I was gone I spent a little time in the future, and that's where I met Cade."

Mara though she had better sit down. This was quite something to take in. She looked from Karigan to Cade, who looked back at her seriously and nodded.

"I swear Karigan, if it was anyone else but you I would think they were having me on."


AN: It's always got to be awkward to tell your friend that you're dating someone from the future.

So the first time I wrote this I had Kari share a heart-felt confession of her feeling for Cade. However I decided that wasn't really true to her character, I'd like to know if you agree or not.