Guards flanked Taylor on the left and right as she stared up at the slate grey sector gates. Her bag had been searched twice, once by a guard and then again by an Atrian representative to ensure she wasn't carrying anything illegal or dangerous into the sector. "Put this on," Gloria commanded, handing Taylor a scarf, "Blonde hair isn't very common in the sector. I'd rather not make more of a spectacle out of you than you already are. Remember what we talked about. You must follow the conduct guidelines at all times."

Being human made her target enough; she knew not to draw unnecessary attention to herself. Ignoring Gloria's intense gaze at her back, Taylor smiled softly at Roman and Sophia who had turned out to greet her. Walking quickly to their side, Sophia's hand snaked out and grasped hers. "We can take her from here." Sophia beamed, "Come on, I can't wait for you to meet my mother!"

Roman stood stoically, arms folded over his chest as he stared Gloria down. They were reluctant allies in this critical time. It was unfortunate that seeing her reminded him that his father had been unfaithful to his mother. He wondered fleetingly if she was aware Taylor's predicament and if that was the reason she'd sanctioned this. Though if Gloria knew, she certainly wasn't letting on. "I'll look after her."

"See that you do. She has until nine-thirty to work on her project and she has to be outside the sector gates before lockdown at ten." She replied curtly. "Have the guards radio me if there's any trouble." Her heels clicked rhythmically as she strode out of the compound.

The girls hurried to the pod. Sophia was incredibly eager to show Taylor around. Roman remained a few steps behind, keeping a watchful eye over the Atrians loitering around. As he stepped over the threshold he was surprised to find his mother crying softly on the couch. Panic seared through him as he rushed to her side and knelt, "Mother?" It took quite a lot to bring his mother to tears. Even after losing their father, she had remained strong and stoic. She shed very few tears in the presence of her children, choosing to be their rock instead. Seeing her so distraught now shook him to his core, "What's happened? Tell me what's wrong."

Her eyes were red-rimmed and swollen as Maia pulled away from him. She wrapped her arms around herself, speaking to him softly in Sondiv, "Did you think I was not going to notice that the human girl is carrying an Atrian child?" It was the first thing Maia had realized when Taylor walked through the door; she could spot a hastily-covered pregnancy from a mile off. She looked up at him curiously, "How could you, Roman?" Her hands slid to his cheeks, holding him still, "My precious son..."

"No!" Roman practically shouted, cringing when his mother visibly flinched. "That is not my child." He grasped her hands, holding tight. He could tell that she was instantly relieved. Settling beside her, he slipped his arm around her and held her close. "Mother, I would not be so careless." He and Emery had not yet consummated their love but when they did, he knew all the ways to protect her. "The child may not be mine but Taylor still needs your help…" He murmured softly, "She plans to have the baby."

Maia averted her gaze momentarily, the sorrowful look on her face fading to one of doubt. "The girl is either brave or stupid." One hand gently smoothed Roman's hair as she had when he was a child. "Helping her could get all of us killed…" Sighing heavily, she peered into his eyes, so like hers, "But this child is one of ours. There is no other option but to lend aid to this human girl." Standing up suddenly, she turned to him, "Your sister cannot know. I do not want her burdened with this secret." Walking to the closet, she opened it up and took out a small jar of dried herbs. "The fewer people that are aware, the safer we will be."

Roman agreed wholeheartedly with his mother. Sophia needed to be protected; he just wasn't sure how to keep it from her when she would be able to see the evidence with her own eyes very soon. "Emery and I…and Drake, of course," He cleared his throat, shifting uncomfortably as he watched the realization dawn. Drake was just as much a son to her as Roman was.

Maia turned her back, heart twisting painfully. "Oh Drake…" She murmured. There was a sense of guilt that washed over her. He had yearned for a family for so long, never truly believing he belonged here. It did not surprise her that he'd want this child more than his next breath. Guilt washed over her before she could stop it; she owed him this. Sighing heavily, she moved toward the stove and began to heat a pot of water. The tea once brewed acted as a potion that would stabilize the radiant light within Taylor's veins and allow Maia to determine the health of the child. "Sophia!" She called, "I need you to go to the market and pick up a few things for supper."

"But mother—" Sophia stepped out from the bedroom looking aggrieved. "I want to show Taylor everything first." Of course her mother had to go and ruin her fun, "Why can't Roman do it?"

"Now, Sophia," Maia's tone left no room for argument. Shepherding her daughter to the door, she bit back a smile at her beautiful daughter angrily stomping away. Sophia might not understand why Maia was doing this now but someday she would thank her for protecting her. Closing the door to the pod and locking it, she turned to Taylor. "We don't have much time," Maia switched to English as she grasped her hand. "Roman, the tea should be finished. Pour a cup and then meet us in the study."

Taylor's heart pounded as her nerves kicked up; the blue aura shimmered brighter instantly. Following Maia into a small room, she settled down on a small cot. Biting her lip, she ached for Drake to be here right now. Everything was new and frightening…she just needed him. Unfortunately, there was a Trag meeting this afternoon and Drake needed to keep up appearances. He was there to learn what the plans were in the sector and to determine the level of danger that she and the child were in. That left Roman to fill the void this afternoon. He handed her a cup of tea and she shook her head, "Oh I'm fine, thanks."

"It's not for thirst," Maia replied curtly, "Drink." Tilting the tea forward into the young girl's mouth, she knelt in front of the cot. Very gently she tugged away several layers of cloth covering Taylor's belly. A small smile curved over her features as the cerulean refractions slowed and then pooled over her skin. To the untrained eye the patterns looked random, not wholly unlike the Atrians' own markings. However to Maia they told a very different tale. The heaviest concentration of light was low in Taylor's belly and pulsed with each beat of the child's heart, "This is a good sign." She smiled, "The child is healthy. The heart is strong."

Taylor let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding. Before she could stop them, tears pricked in her eyes. "I've been so worried. I don't know what I'm doing. I'm afraid I'm going to hurt the baby without even knowing it." Sitting up slightly, she stared down at her body. It seemed foreign to her, almost like it didn't belong to her at all. "What does all this mean?" She asked softly. Her lower belly was glowing brilliantly; she assumed that's where the child was. But then there were also markings peppering her throat and, as she'd often noticed, a particularly large orb circling her heart.

"Pregnancy is a sacred experience shared between two partners." Maia said softly, "As Atrians, our bodies react to the blood of our mate flowing in our veins. The markings collect and pool mirroring your chakras. The stronger the light the stronger the child." Even with her vast experience, she had very rarely seen the light radiate this strong. There was some comfort in knowing that Taylor also cared deeply for Drake and this child, the light encircling her heart was proof of that. She smiled softly, "I can tell that you care deeply for Drake."

Taylor peered over at Roman. She was inordinately glad that he hadn't abandoned her; he had quietly remained by her side, lending his much-needed strength. He had taken it upon himself to help her and she was so very grateful. When Maia mentioned her caring for Drake, she bit her lip, "Roman told you?" Peering between mother and son, she nodded. "It's true. I do care about him deeply." And she wasn't sure she could do this without him. Gently, she rested a hand on her belly. It was still flat as ever, though she wondered how much longer that was going to last. "Is my baby going to have two hearts and two sets of lungs? What about Atrian markings?"

Maia let out a short breath, "I am not sure that I know the answer to these questions. Each child is unique but takes on characteristics of both parents. There will be no way to tell before the child is born." Taking the teacup from beside the cot, she carried it into the kitchen. She returned with a small jar filled with dried herbs. "Every evening I want you brew yourself a cup of tea. It has nutrients that the baby will need." She handed it to her, "Only at night as it may cause the markings to glow more brilliantly. We don't want anyone at school to notice."

"I really appreciate this Mrs…Nox…" Taylor placed the Mason jar into her bag, carefully arranging it so that no one would see it on her way out of the sector.

"Maia, please," She chided. "If you are to go through with this, you will need all the allies you can get. I will want to see you again in a month to check on you and the child." Grasping her wrist, she settled next to Taylor on the cot, "If you begin to experience nausea, try adding a slice of ginger to the tea. It's fairly normal to experience physical discomforts. You may feel pain in your hips or back and your gait may change as your body prepares to birth this child." She peered over at Roman, "If you begin to bleed or if you notice the markings growing weaker or if they change color even slightly, let my son know. I will find a way to help you."

Feeling teary all of a sudden, Taylor threw her arms around Maia. "Thank you…" It had been so very long since she'd had a strong female role model in her life. Even though this situation was far from ideal, she found herself wishing that she had her mother to talk to. Wiping at the wayward tears that had escaped, she quickly composed herself. "Do you happen have a mirror? My mascara is running," She smiled brightly, following after Roman as he brought her into the back of the pod. "I…want to thank you for everything you're doing for me." She licked her lips, "I know that I'm not exactly your favorite person."

Roman had been morbidly curious to find out how pregnancy was affecting Taylor. One day, many years from now, he planned on marrying Emery and he needed to know what to expect when they made the decision to start a family. He was immensely grateful that Taylor had allowed him to stay and be privy to this very private moment. He was slowly starting to realize what Drake saw in Taylor, a partner that challenged him on every level. "I don't know what you mean," He leaned in the doorway as she dabbed at her eyes.

"I get why you don't like me," Taylor turned to him, resting one hand on her hip. "I seduced your best friend and now I'm pregnant. I'm also a lot of woman for most people to handle. The word 'grating' has been thrown around once or twice." Her blond hair fell over her shoulder as she gave him a gentle smile, "It means a lot that despite all of it you're putting your ass on the line to help me and this baby. So if there's anything I can do to help you, name it." She faced herself in the mirror again, reapplying her mascara and straightening her clothes once more, "Especially if you need help in the whole human girl department. I've seen the way you moon over Emery."

Raising an eyebrow, Roman frowned markedly, "I do not moon."

"Oh yes you do and I think it's adorable." Resting her hands on his shoulders, she held his gaze, "Drake mentioned that you want to tell her about everything." It was difficult keeping this quiet; it meant that she didn't have anyone to talk to. God, she wished that Zoe were still around… "It's okay. Emery deserves to know the truth." She smiled, "I don't want you to keep anything from the woman you love."

"Thank you for understanding," Roman grasped her arm gently, leading her back into the living room. "For the record, I don't dislike you. You are certainly different from anyone I've ever known but you make Drake very happy." Settling her down on the couch, he perched on the arm of the couch, "It was you who made him finally understand that what the Trags are trying to do is wrong. You've forced him to confront the fact that his anger is from losing his mother, not at the human race. In eight weeks you've been able to accomplish what I've failed to do in eight years."

"Give yourself a little more credit, Roman. Drake loves you like a brother. Sometimes it takes someone new to make you see things from a fresh perspective." Taylor gnawed on her bottom lip, "Drake mentioned that he's part of the Trags. He said that they're dangerous and they might come after me." She looked over at him, "He said you were going to take the Trags on…" Resting her hand against her belly gently, she shook her head, "I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because of me…"

Perhaps the Queen Bee of Marshall High wasn't the girl he thought she was. She didn't just care about Drake…she also seemed to care about him. "I already have a plan in place. Right now, Drake's playing his part. He's got to find out what they have planned for you." He patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Try not to worry about the Trags, Taylor. I won't let them hurt you and neither will Drake." He couldn't stop himself from smiling when she stood and threw her arms around him. He hugged her tight, reassuring her as he patted her back.

The door opened behind them, and Sophia hurried in with her arms filled with bags. Dropping them unceremoniously on the table, she turned to her brother hugging the woman that she loved. Clearing her throat, she folded her arms. "What's going on?" It took a lot to temper the annoyance in her voice. Moving into the living room, she settled herself across from Taylor and Roman as they broke apart. Whatever was going on between them, she needed to know now. "You should really stay for dinner, Taylor. I'm sure my mother won't mind."

"Actually, I should get going." Taylor replied gently, "I have to give an oral report tomorrow and let me just say, my French is vraiment mauvais." She gave Sophia a quick hug, which seemed to alleviate some of her disappointment. "I'll see you in school tomorrow, okay? We'll have lunch together." Grabbing her bag, she slung it over her shoulder and replaced the scarf over her head. "Roman would you mind walking me to the gates? Gloria told me not to go anywhere without an escort."

"Sure, come on." Roman rested a hand on her back gently as he ushered her out of the pod and away from Sophia's prying eyes.

As Taylor was leaving the pod, she caught sight of Drake winding through the crowded streets. Lingering for a moment, she had to hold back a smile as he winked before disappearing back into the throng of Atrians all around them. It wouldn't do to melt at the sight of him in front of the entire compound. When she reached the gates, she gave Roman a little wave as she sidled out to where she'd parked her car. Of course it hurt not to have been able to spend time with Drake today but knowing that the baby was healthy and that she could count on Roman was comfort enough for now. No one said this would be easy. As her stomach growled, aching for sustenance, she knew it was only a matter of time before it got very, very hard.

Drake took the long way around to Roman's pod, sneaking through the back and climbing in the window. Roman hated when he did it because Drake startled him every time. Tonight was no different. Roman was on high alert as soon as he sensed an intruder behind him. He lashed out to protect himself but his blow was easily blocked by the Vwasak warrior. He huffed, "I've told you a hundred times not to do that!" Roman pushed Drake aside, laughing despite his general annoyance. "How'd it go?"

Grabbing a chair, Drake sat down on it backwards, "Vega's insane as ever but the news that a human has a sector pass hasn't reached her yet." He shook his head, "She has all these ideas on retaliating against the humans. She even went so far as to suggest we poison the groundwater. Thankfully someone spoke up to remind her that could kill the earth and land us right back where we started, on a dying planet, searching for a way out." He discussed the meeting but the whole time he couldn't stop picturing Taylor. He glanced up at Roman, finally unable to contain the question any longer, "How are Taylor and the baby?"

"Great," Roman smiled broadly. "My mother said that the baby is very strong. She gave Taylor some tea. Remind her that she has to drink it every night." Settling down on his bed, he leaned back against the wall, "I can see why you care for her. Taylor's very…feisty. I've never seen her like that."

An overwhelming sense of relief speared through Drake. "I've been worried sick. Forget being able to concentrate, I wanted to stomp out of that meeting and come straight here to claim her as mine in front of every human and Atrian on the planet." That would have gotten them all killed. He leaned back in his chair, sighing heavily. Refusing to dwell on the negative, Drake decided to lighten the mood. "I don't need to worry about you trying to steal my girl, do I?" He teased.

"Not a chance." Roman chuckled, "I'm kind of in love with someone else."

"I don't feel that way about you, Roman. Move on already…" Drake smiled broadly, accepting Roman's pitiful punch with a laugh. Pushing him back, he stood up, "Come on. I'm sure your mother wants to cut me into small pieces and feed me to the echeneis."The echeneis were the Atrian equivalent of sea monsters; they were massive, saber-toothed fish that had claimed the life of more than one fisherman in their day. They may not have that danger here on earth…but many other threats had sprung up to take their place.

Roman nodded, "That's for sure." He headed for the bedroom door but stopped to face Drake. "Sophia can't know about this, okay? My mother was very clear on that. She needs to be protected so don't bring it up in her presence." He patted his shoulder, "Later though? You'll be lucky if all you escape with is temporary hearing loss."

Drake groaned, "Damn." Heading out into the living room, he could already tell by Maia's expression that he was in deep shit. She set the table with more force than was necessary and they all ate in silence. He took comfort in the fact that Taylor and the baby were safe, Roman had stuck by his side and that Maia cared enough to be pissed. For now, things were stable and that was the best that any of them could hope for.

I am so sorry about the wait! has been having some sort of uploading problem. I've been trying to post this chapter for almost 2 days! Sorry to keep you waiting. Thanks so much to those of you who have reviewed, please keep it up! I love it! Also, if you're interested I have written and posted another story in this genre called 'Torn to Ribbons'. This fic is rated M and not for underage readers…but if you're sick and twisty like me, you will love it.

Thank you SO MUCH to JustVisiting80 again for helping me. I would have screwed up this chapter SO MUCH if not for her. She saved me! Woo!

PS I would super appreciate it if people would refrain from posting spoilers when you review. I prefer not to be spoiled and this time, I really had no choice. I actually have a hard time getting muse when I get spoiled like I did this time. It took several days for me to get it back too! Thank you for your cooperation!

Have a wonderful weekend, hope your Passover was great and a Happy Easter to all!