blackamber- sorry this took so long, had to move in and choose my courses

Sadie- so what are you taking?

Amy- Suck up

Sadie- angry pregnant person

blackamber- people! this is me time. I'm taking Global History, Latin, Irish Gaelic, Instrumental Music, Vocal Music, and Anthropology

Sadie- sounds cool... so shall we get on with the chapter

blackamber- yes, let's

Amy- Usual disclaimer

Returning to the farm house/mansion that belonged to the Carters was a lot more enjoyable than Amy initially thought. As soon as she walked through the door, she was met with a warm hug from Norah, then- noticing the girl's condition- a harsh scolding, followed by warm words of encouragement, then scolding again. The cycle continued until little Emma decided it was her turn for attention, and demanded it from the older girl in question.

As Amy's attention went to the tiny two year old, Norah's moved to Sadie, asking her about where she was from, how she met Amy, the works. Of course from Derek, the doctor, there came the unavoidable question that Claire refused to answer.

"Amy, where's Tala?"

"We're taking a break," Amy stated almost coldly.

"How long of a break?" Derek asked warily.

Amy shrugged, "Whenever I feel I've had enough time to think things over."

"Before the baby's born?"

Once more, Amy shrugged.

"Before the baby's born," Derek insisted, "this is not something you should tackle on your own."

"I can take care of myself Derek," Amy growled.

"And that's why you're back here?"

Amy fell silent, in her mind the mood swing was shooting thousands of insults his way, but she held her tongue.

"Well," Norah clapped her hands together, "let's get you settled then."

It felt good to be lying in her old bed, alone. Well, semi-alone. She was alone from ten o'clock last night till seven o'clock the morning after. But now, now she sat cross-legged with her best friend sitting across from her chatting.

"So, when does Courtney get in?" Amy asked, knowing that Melissa and Kaylie were upstairs with Norah, Sadie, Derek, and Emma. It was strange how Courtney lived just beyond the border between Canada and the US, and yet it took her forever to get over.

Although most of the old team was at the house already, Brook was the only one who'd enter Amy's room without invitation; their close friendship was invitation enough.

"Sometime after ten," Brook responded, "it feels like it's been forever since we were all together, doesn't it?"

"You got that right," Amy smiled, leaning back against her head board.

"You thought of names?"

"Names?"

"For the baby."

"Not really," admitted Amy, grazing her hand across her stomach as she often did when someone reminded her that the bulge in her stomach was a living thing.

Brook chuckled, excited for her friend yet a little alarmed at how quickly it she had let it happen. "When I walked through the door, your little apprentice was off like a rocket. She said 'I know you! You're Brook Kon. Oh my God this is soooo cool! Did you know Amy's spawning a child? I mean you are her best friend and-

"Wait… she said I'm 'spawning' a child?" Amy asked.

"Yeah."

"I'd rather not think of it that way," mumbled Amy, "it makes it sound so… gross."

Brook broke down in laughter again, "Yeah it does, doesn't it?" She looked up at the ceiling, where the sound of chairs scraping against the hardwood floor of the kitchen rained down. "So, why didn't you tell me?"

"Same reason I didn't tell Tala." Brook hadn't been down there long, but long enough to be the first person to hear the whole story of what happened that lead to the break. And I say whole story, I mean whole story; every word of their conversations, every event, and the beginning hint towards the pregnancy.

"So, when are you going to tell him?"

"Eventually."

"Amy."

"I… I-

The door to her basement bedroom burst open, revealing the happy-go-lucky blond, three hours early. "AMY!" the blond cheered.

"Courtney, how's it going?" Amy greeted with a smile.

"Good, good. Where's Tala?" Courtney asked, a completely fake smile on her face, "I want to shake his hand then kick his ass!"

Amy sighed deeply, "Umm… please don't, I kinda need him alive."

"So you are going to tell him?" Brook asked, grinning.

"Eventually," Amy repeated, smugly.

"Wow, I can't tell who's more depressed, you or the dog," Bryan joked, looking between the young, sad eyed dog with his head resting on his paws and the clearly depressed red head.

"What'd you do anyways?" Ian asked, leaning back in the couch.

"What makes you think I did anything?" Tala snapped back.

"W-well, nothing b-but," Ian faltered under Tala's death glare.

"Whatever happened, you'd better hope it gets resolved soon. Kai's coming back to town," Bryan stated.

Had Tala been drinking anything at that moment, he probably would've either spat it out or begin choking on it as he sputtered the word, "What?"

Bryan nodded, "Yup, there was a message from him for Amy saved on the machine… you should probably screen those once in a while, it was a pretty old message."

"How old?"

"A week at most."

"Did he say when he was coming?"

"Next weekend."

Tala swore under his breath trying to think of what to do.

"You could always apologize and beg her to come back," Bryan suggested, even though he knew the response.

"I'm not going to beg her to come back."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to lie to Kai. I'll tell him she wanted to visit the Carters and Claire."

"What if he calls her cell?"

"Then I'll run like hell."

Spencer, who had been quiet most of this time, looked up at the team's leader. "You mentioned earlier that she's been acting strange for some time now, right?"

Tala looked uninterested, "Your point?"

"You ever think that she might be… given that you guys have… I mean." It was obvious this was awkward for Spencer to suggest, not only that but it was also dangerous waters to tread in.

"That she might be what?"

Spencer didn't respond, clearly not enjoying the topic of his thoughts.

"Oh," Bryan said, understanding exactly what Spencer was getting at, "he wants to know if you guys have done 'it'."

"If we've what!?" Tala bellowed.

"Don't get me wrong, Tala, it's not for personal interest. It's just… well… assuming that you two have, it's quite possible that she could be-

"No."

"How can you be sure?"

"She would've told me."

"Maybe she didn't-

"She would've told me."

"EASY!" Amy barked from her spot on a beach chair that Norah made her sit on. "Go slower, relax. Bey-shooting isn't about who can tear their ripcord out of their shooter the hardest, it's about the strategy of the shooter, and the strength and bond of the blade."

Sadie sighed irritably from her position across from Courtney who was her sparing partner.

"She's right you know," Courtney grinned, giving the younger girl a small wink.

"She doesn't have to yell," the younger girl grumbled under her breath.

"Oh, come on kid, she's a pregnant woman confined to a chair, she needs her fun," Courtney joked, earning a death glare from said pregnant woman.

Brook sat with her trying to sooth the prone to anger woman. "She's just teasing you, you know that," she cooed.

"Yeah, yeah… I know," seethed Amy, "by the way… how are you and what's his name?"

"Rin? We're good," Brook beamed, sighing in a daydreaming sort of way, "he wanted to come with me but I told him he didn't need to."

"I'm glad," Amy murmured, finding herself thinking of Tala. No… I'm not calling him… not yet.

Why are you so stubborn warrior? Hien's wise voice asked.

I'm just… not ready.

Really? Are you scared of his reaction?

No… It's just… he called me a-

Frankly, you gave him a good reason too. Sneaking around behind his back and not telling hi-

I DIDN'T KNOW!

No, you did know. You just denied knowing. You cannot, honestly, play dumb for three months Amy.

Amy didn't respond to the wolf's jibe. And when she was about to, something stopped her. A hard pound against her stomach stopped her. She stared down at the- somewhat- offending thing with amazement.

"Amy… is something wrong?" Brook asked, noticing Amy's expression.

"I think," Amy paused, "I think the baby just kicked."

Like a hurricane raging across the nation, Courtney rushed to Amy's side. "Let me feel!"

"Hey!" Amy snarled as her former team-mates but still best friends crowded around her.

"That's sooo cute," Melissa cooed, "I wish I was having a baby."

"No you don't," Amy winced, not understanding how such a small thing could cause so much pain.

"I'm sure your brother would be so proud," Kaylie assured.

At those words, Amy paled. Kai… she had forgotten all about him. He was going to kill her.

Bryan- blackamber wanted me to announce this, so far we have a tie between Cali and Thea for girl names, though of course this verdict doesn't need to be reached until much later.

blackamber- Uh-huh

Tala- please R&R before Kai comes and kills me