Surprise! We decided to upload this as a quick Christmas present, we won't be writing anymore chapters until after Christmas now!

Have a happy holiday!

-C.H.

"We can't. Tetra, I hate to say this..." He squeezed her hand, "Go with Svain."

Tetra's eyes widened in horror.

"Listen to me," Link said in a stiff voice, "go."

"Follow Svain?" Tetra cried as she stood up and backed away from him, "You can't be serious, Link! You aren't in your right mind!"

"Yes I am, you would be safer-"

"No, no I wouldn't! I'm pregnant, Link, I have to stay here!"

Link closed his eyes and breathed deeply through his nose, agitated no doubt by this news. He wasn't against her pregnancy but he was uncertain if it was safe either way.

"If they come back they could kill you and our baby, Tetra." Link sounded very upset just then.

Tetra recoiled at the thought of those soldiers killing her child in cold blood. Her hands went over her stomach protectively. "And you think going with Svain is safer for us?" she snapped, "How? For all I know, the outcome would be no different than if I stayed here!"

"It could be, but if you are on their side they are less likely to kill you! I'd go too, but I'm dead in their eyes! You aren't dead and I refuse to let you pretend to die in public, if you accidentally got a wound like this our baby would be in jeopardy!"

Tetra sat back down and put her head in her hands, tears flowing down her cheeks and over her palms.

"But I can't go without you..."

"Yes you can. Be the Tetra I know and love, you can do anything without me and be independent. You know I'll always be here."

Tetra sighed as she realized Link had a point. She fumbled with the necklace he gave her, her fingers tracing over the wing. "I guess you're right," she said as she looked up, "If we're going to be apart, we need to find a way to communicate with each other without alerting the army."

Link looked up at the domed ceiling as he thought of a way to solve that problem. From what he heard, the Svain Army had taken over Dragon Roost Island and made it into a bomb factory. He didn't know if the postal service was still operating.

"What about gossip stones?" Tetra asked, "Do you still have yours?" She felt fairly certain they had them somewhere but she wasn't sure if they were on the old ship or not.

"Yeah," Link said as he remembered, "I always carried it with me since our first adventure." He thought of it as a good luck charm whenever he's not using it to communicate with Tetra when they were apart. "It should be where they put my clothes."

"Gotcha," Tetra said as she went over to where the clothes were drying and searched the pockets. But then she stopped herself and looked back at him.

"What?"

"I'm not going!" Tetra snapped suddenly as she crossed her arms over her stomach.

"Yes you are!"

"I am not!"

"Yes you are!"

Tetra walked over and jumped onto the bed surprising Link, "I am staying right here!"

Link blushed as he felt her body against his. "But I thought you're going with the army..." he said.

"Hey, you were the one who told me to be the woman you knew," Tetra pointed out, "Well, I am and I have made up my mind to stay with you!" She poked his chest as she spoke. "And furthermore, I can't just leave you behind like this! What if the soldiers came in while you're still in bed recovering?"

"And what will you do?" Link poked her belly. "There's a baby inside of you and all that energy..."

"I know!" Tetra rolled her eyes, "I'll be just fine and the baby will be fine!" She felt uncertain inside but on the outside she was showing confidence. She laid a hand over her belly and looked down, "She's tiny enough right now..."

"She?"

"I guess."

Link was a little bewildered for a moment before his hand joined Tetra's on her stomach. He couldn't help but smile as he thought of the tiny baby forming within his wife. "It's strange," he said softly, "That something good happened to us for once in the light of recent events. Kinda makes you feel there's still hope for the world."

Tetra wasn't sure what to say to that, she wasn't sure what to think about anything anymore and she felt shaky. She laid down next to him and rested her head against his chest.

Link smiled and wrapped his arm around her body, feeling the comforting warmth as he felt her snuggled against him. He closed his eyes and held her close. "I'm starting to feel better already," he murmured.

"Me too," Tetra said before she yawned. She suddenly felt really tired and wanted to just lay there and snuggle with her husband.

The next day Tetra knew what she had to do. She dressed accordingly and put on her Svain crest before leaving through the tunnels while Link slept. She knew, since it was figured that Link was dead that maybe it would be easier to bring things across to Markada. She had to leave the army, retire maybe since she was pregnant. Her heart raced as she walked around the corner and came towards the dock where the ship still loomed eerily.

Slowly she climbed aboard, grabbing her stomach when it lurched uncomfortably. It felt like something was stabbing her and she nearly crumbled.

"I need to stop working so hard..." She panted before she got to the top, it was so painful for that moment until she stopped and caught her breath, wiping sweat from her brow. Tetra walked to the lower deck where Markada's quarters were, it was time to have a talk with her.

Tetra tapped lightly on the door three times and heard Markada's voice from the other side calling 'enter'.

"What is this about, Tetra?" Markada asked as she laid her feather pen down and rested her hands on the desk, clasped together.

"I'm afraid I must retire from the army."

Markada's eyes widened and her brows furrowed slightly, "You must have a good reason for this."

"Yes... you see the man that was killed a couple of days ago, he was my husband. And just recently I found out that I'm with child."

"Hmmm..." Markada put her hand to her chin and stroked it as she thought. "Well this certainly is a mess," she murmured as she glanced at Tetra, "But he did ask for ownership of his home island, so it is only fair that you, as his wife, shall inherit it. Think of it as compensation for all the trouble."

Tetra's eyes widened in shock. Were they letting her go this easily? There has to be a catch somewhere along the lines! She wasn't sure if she could trust that woman, though. "I hope you don't mind me asking you so," Tetra said nervously, "But are there any strings attached to this offer?"

"Well, we'll have a medic come over and do an examination to see if you are pregnant. How did you find out?"

Tetra frowned. Would a simple human being believe it? She looked away and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her pointed ear. She felt horribly nauseous just then and clutched her stomach.

"I'm... still having morning sickness."

"Mhm..." Markada looked skeptical.

"And I have been cramping a lot lately," Tetra said, feeling sick and nervous, "I also just found out my period is late."

"Uh-huh," Markada muttered, unconvinced, "In case you don't know, these symptoms you described could be from conditions other than pregnancy." She looked over at some of the papers on her desk before continuing, "That is why we have to get a medic to check you over. Furthermore, I want to see if you're telling the truth and not making up your pregnancy just to desert the army."

Tetra sighed. This was much too tedious for her but a few minutes later she found herself in the sick bay laying down with her hand over her stomach. Markada was across the room and the medic was beginning the examination. She moved her hand aside and he began to press on her belly, the more he did however the more she felt ill. She whimpered suddenly.

"E-Excuse me." She shot up and went to the waste basket at the other side of the room where she fell to her knees and began to vomit. The medic walked over to Markada and glanced at Tetra who was still pouring out whatever she had for breakfast and it didn't take long to realize she hadn't eaten because she soon began to dry heave.

"She's pregnant." The medic said.

"How unfortunate... locked away on this pitiful island." She scoffed, "And her husband is dead."

"Now do you believe me?" Tetra managed to say between heaves. She felt so weak and just wanted to curl up and die. She wanted out of this horrid place and go back to the hideout where she could lay in the darkness for hours.

"I guess I should get started on filling out the paperwork," Markada sighed as she left the room, "It's a shame. Those two recruits we got have potential to make in the Svain Army. Oh well, I guess can't be helped."

The medic pulled Tetra up off the floor and looked into her eyes after Markada was gone. It was quiet and no one was around.

"Is he really dead?"

Tetra snatched her arm back, "Yes, he's dead." She reached for the handle on the door but the medic grabbed her arm again.

"How unfortunate. A child needs a father, those rebels..." The medic pulled her back towards the bed and Tetra snatched her arm once again.

"What do you want from me?"

"Nothing. I just wonder why you have no sense of mourning his death or why you refuse to make that one of the reason for retirement."

"I guess I'm still in shock from all the news," Tetra lied, hoping the medic would buy it, "Give me some time and I might be able to grieve for him properly." She just wanted to get as far away from that medic as she could!

"I see," the medic said, looking her over, "Then I'll let you go to wait until Markada finishes filling out the paperwork."

Tetra knew she had to return to Markada's office. She walked slowly down the hall cradling her stomach with a bit of discomfort, she felt tired and uncertain of what was going to happen next or even if Link's 'death' would be believed for very long.

Meanwhile, the medic was getting suspicious. After all, Tetra was not showing signs of a typical grieving widow. I wonder if she's hiding something, he thought as he dumped the contents of the waste bucket out into the sea, She could be having an affair with someone else and wanted to kill her husband to just to get the island! Or maybe it could be her husband faked his death and they were planning to desert us! He toyed with the idea for a moment, mulling over the possibilities. But why would they do that? What madness drove them to commit such and act of treason? I must get to Markada's office at once! And with that, the medic left the room, quickly making his way to his destination.

Tetra sat quietly in Markada's office staring down at her belly and wondering what would come of all of this. They'd won their island back but there were so many others that had to be won and just when she felt her thoughts couldn't worsen the medic stormed into the room.

"Markada!" the medic shouted, causing a huge racket, "I have something to tell you!"

Markada snarled, her concentration broken, and glared at the medic. "This had better be important," she growled, "I was in the middle of some urgent business."

The medic cleared his throat, ignoring the sounds of unbridled annoyance. "I have every reason to believe that this young lady," he said, dramatically pointing at Tetra, "Is planning with her husband to embezzle us and faked his death to do it!"

Tetra's eyes widened in horror and confusion. She desperately prayed that he didn't blow her cover though she wondered where the embezzlement plan came from.

Markada just stared at the medic with a dull expression. "Seriously?" she asked in disbelief, "And what evidence do you to prove this?"

The medic could only gulp as he realized he had no proof. He then remembered what happened after Markada left. "I had noticed she wasn't grieving!" he stated, "That could either mean she doesn't care for her husband or he is alive!"

Tetra suddenly rose from her seat with a hurt and angry look on her face. "My husband is dead!" she shouted, "I saw him die at the docks! He even bled in the water!"

"Then where's the body?" the medic asked smugly, "As far as I know, no one has fished it out yet!"

"Just because a body isn't discovered doesn't necessarily mean they're still alive!" Tetra retorted, "His body might have been carried away by the currents!"

"And how do you know that?" the medic asked, "What makes you think he didn't just swim away and then got back on land where no one could see him?"

"Enough!" Markada shouted, having had her fill of this nonsense. She glared at the medic, who trembled in fear. "You," she snarled, "Has it occurred to you that the reason she isn't actively grieving is because she is still in shock from the news, not to mention she just found out she's pregnant with his child?"

The medic stammered slightly as he looked at Markada, she was beginning to scare him with that harsh glare she was giving him.

"And furthermore," Markada said as she gathered the papers, "People handle grief in different ways, so it comes as no surprise they don't usually follow the usual grieving process." She took a piece of paper and handed it to Tetra. "Here," Markada said, "This is the deed for Outset Island. Be sure to keep it in a safe place where it won't get stolen or destroyed."

Tetra reached out, taking the deed with trembling hands. She couldn't believe that she actually pulled it off!

"Now, you find somewhere to rest and take care of yourself. Grieve in your own way..." Markada glared at the medic which was her way of telling him to leave.

The medic took the hint and ran off, feeling humiliated and scared.

"I will, thanks," Tetra said as she stood up walked out of the room. Once she got a few feet away from the door, she let out a sigh of relief. Now to go back to Link and tell him the news, she thought as she made her way out of the warship.

Markada, meanwhile, sat at her desk, thinking about recent events. They had lost one recruit and another had an early retirement, which felt like a bad sign. She sighed as she went back to her paperwork. The Leader will not be pleased.

Ten Days Later

After the ships left the island it was time to meet the rebellion. Link was doubled over a little as he walked to the main room of the hideout, clutching his side painfully.

"We should just bring them to you." Tetra said as she grabbed his arm.

"I'll be f-fine..."

"But you'll open your wound..."

"I'll be careful, then."

Tetra held on to her husband's arm and stared into his eyes. "This is isn't something you can just shrug off," she said, "You nearly died from it and the fact you were in contaminated water at the time doesn't help!" She had been worrying over Link in the past ten days, making sure the wound was healing properly and wasn't infected. Of course, he had been telling her that he was fine and she needs to stop worrying for the baby's sake.

Link groaned and fell to his knees, clutching his torso while taking some deep breaths as he fought against the pain.

"Link..." She had her hand in the crook of his arm, trying to support him. "You need to go back."

Sweat poured down his temple, "Not now."

"Yes now, why are you being so stubborn?"

"Because I survived worse than this," Link said as he struggled to get up, "And the wound's healed enough, I'm not bleeding every few seconds." The pain was so agonizing he had to bite his lower lip to keep from crying out.

"Link," Tetra said, losing her patience, "You are going back to bed and you will stay in it even if I have to sit on you. And I mean it." She was ready to drag him, kicking and screaming, back to his bed.

Link glared at her for a moment but he should have known better than to test her patience. She pushed him against the wall and lifted his tunic after undoing his belt. She took the bandages off and sighed with emotional pain in her eyes.

"It's opening."

Link said nothing.

"We'll meet them later, now..." Tetra pulled him up carefully and then walked him back to the room, they hadn't gone far so it wasn't too bad.

Link didn't say a word as Tetra helped him into the bed and changed his bandages. She could see the blood bleeding red as she cleaned the wound once more. "You know, I could have gotten the meeting here and you wouldn't have to go through this," she muttered.

Link grumbled a little, a small part of him admitting she was right.

Tetra looked at the wound one more time and sighed, "Link..." She was about to say something when she noticed that he was asleep with his head tilted to the side a little. He was more tired than he let on.

She kissed his temple and then his lips before preparing to leave so she could let the rebellion know that he wouldn't be coming tonight. It was for the best.

As Tetra left the room, a faint smile formed on Link's face as he slept.

To Be Continued...