Well friends, this has been fun. I've enjoyed sharing this story that's close to my heart with you. I took a gamble putting out a story that's this AU with so many details. But it has been brought to my attention that it's time for our next adventure. So here it is, the ribbon, the final chapter. Thank you all so much for sticking with me.
Check back in with me every couple of days for my new story, or take a look at my older two Kickin' It stories.
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Kim became worried two weeks after her and Jack had sex on the hilltop in the Void because she was late. This would be an interesting talk with Jack...
Jack was in the training yard with some of his men when Kim awkwardly approached him, her hands played with the long golden tassels that hung from her white dress.
"At ease, men!" Jack called, giving his soldiers a rest when he saw Kim approach. He stuck his sword point first into the dirt and jogged over to her. "Hey Kim, what's up?" Jack asked happily.
"Jack, you may want to take a seat for this," Kim warned. She took Jack's hand and sat him on the porch of the barracks that surrounded the Company's training yard.
"Is everything okay?" Jack asked with worry when Kim stood in front of him instead of sat with him.
Kim took his rough and calloused hands, placing them on her belly. "I'm late, Jack, and it's been two weeks since we made love on the hill."
Jack's mouth instantly dried and his eyes bugged, then focused on Kim's belly. "Are you saying that you're..." Jack couldn't get the words out.
Kim nodded, not sure how to take Jack's utter and total shock. "I think we're going to have a child..." Tears brimmed in Kim's eyes when Jack stayed unmoving.
In the blink of an eye, Jack was on his feet with Kim in his arms, spinning her around and laughing maniacally. "I'm going to be a dad! You're going to be a mom!" Before Jack couldn't feel his feet, but now he can't feel the ground.
The men around them cheered for the ecstatic, fearless couple that led them. Julie gave Milton a small pouch of coins, and Jerry gave Est one. They were all smiling, though.
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Kim woke up early one morning about two weeks later, making a mad dash for the bathroom and knocked Jack out of the bed in the process. Jack was right behind her and caught her hair just as she unloaded the contents of her poor belly.
"Morning sickness," Kim declared with a scowl. "I'm SO pregnant."
"Yeah, I've been upping my meditation game so you're inevitable mood swings don't get to me," Jack said with a chuckle, but he meant it. "I'll get you some mint tea for your little tum-tum," Jack said.
"Did you just say 'tum-tum'?" Kim asked in disbelief.
Jack paused in the doorway, realizing he just had. "Pssh! No!" Jack ran off before Kim could challenge him further.
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Winter wore on and Kim got bigger as the baby grew. Jack was with her every step of the way, any time she needed him. Jack had even missed Warden Councils on her worst days.
The first day of Spring, the entire might of Vakker and the Void would befall on Thosea in a sweeping wave that could not, would not be safe until Emperor Ty yielded.
Jack returned from an early morning Council to find that Kim was still sleeping like an angel. Jack tossed the small item that he intended to give her in the air and caught it with a smile. He knelt beside the bed on her side, and kept vigilant watch over her until she woke.
When Kim did wake up on her back, unable to sleep on her belly, she turned her head and noticed Jack wasn't next to her. She felt his half of the bed to find it cold.
"Damn it, Jack," Kim quietly cursed. "I need you this morning," she said as she buried her face in her hands. "The baby's so close now, I can feel it."
Kim removed her hands and her eyes were still closed, stopping her from seeing Jack when he kissed her temple. "Jack," she breathed with a warm smile.
"I need you too, and I'm not going anywhere, ever." At this vow, Jack produced the ring. "You've been my love, you will be the mother of our child. Before the baby comes, I want to call you my wife," Jack whispered, his brown eyes burrowing a hole straight through hers and into the soul.
"Before our baby is born, I will call you my husband," Kim whispered back with a teary smile.
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The new Brewer is due any day and Kim's discomfort grows, as does Jack's absence with the promise of war looming again. His wife yearns for him to be there with her, but knows he has duties to his men and women, and to keeping her safe.
Brody has promised the Jack and Kim that the army will not march until the day after Jack holds the new life and his wife in his arms. It's the second day of Spring, and Brody's physicians expect the baby in no more than three days.
Everything threatens to crumble around the newlyweds when a hawk arrives from the new Ranger outpost. Thosea has come. An army beyond count is but three days away from great Epineio, Emperor Ty at the head with his adopted son, Kai. The only possible purpose behind such a force could be the total genocide of Vakker.
Two days after the news, the entire Vakkerian army is behind the walls, the people in the provision stocked and torch lit catacombs under the city.
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On the third day, Kim was on a leisurely walk through the palace gardens when she shrieked and her knees buckled.
"Kim, are you okay?" Claire, Est and Julie were at her side in a moment.
"I think my water just broke," Kim said alarmed. "I think the baby's coming, where's Jack?" Her eyes darted around, looking for her absent husband.
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A Ranger burst through the palace doors, panting and out of breath. "Captain Brewer, your wife is in labor!" she shouted.
Jack left Brody at a sprint, but stopped half way through the hall when the city's warning bell rang and a great chorus of horns sounded in a distance. Jack turned to Brody, his mind unable to focus in its own, torn between duty and his new family.
"Go," Brody said with a nod of his head. "Epineio stood long before Jack Brewer," he said with a smile.
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(A/N: I felt I needed to through this in here. I've never seen, and know little to nothing outside of TV what goes down. Forgive any inaccuracies on my part, but I felt I couldn't gloss over this.)
"Kim!" Jack shouted as he burst through the infirmary.
"Jack!" Kim grunted through a contraction. She held her hand out and Jack damn near plowed through a pair of nurses to take her hand. She squeezed with all her might as another contraction seized her, making her cry out.
"I'm here Kim, I'm here," Jack brushed sweat soaked hair from her forehead, replacing it with a kiss. "You're going to give birth to a beautiful baby and you're going to be the best mother," Jack whispered as Kim's breath came in ragged and short.
"God Jack, it hurts!" Kim cried out and almost ripped Jack's arm from the socket.
"It's coming Kim, it's coming," the physician told her. "Push Kim, push!" she urged Kim to fight.
Kim did as told, huffing and puffing, her face unbelievably red. Jack continued his head rubs and squeezed her hand, matching the pulse of her heart. With every squeeze of Jack's hand, Kim found the strength to push again.
"It's crowning, I see the head!" the physician cheered. "Keep pushing, nearly there, Kim. You're doing so well! I have neck and now shoulders!"
Air filled the new life's lungs and Kim smiled as she heard it's first cry. It was healthy, strong and alive.
The physician had the whole child, and as soon as she did, she rested him on Kim's chest, Kim's arms instantly yet most tenderly, wrapping around her new world. "Congratulations you two. It's a beautiful, healthy baby boy," she said with a smile.
With the baby in one hand, Kim used the other to pull Jack down with the other, crashing her lips against his before letting him go. "Look at him, Jack. Our sweet baby boy. He's precious," Kim said with the biggest smile.
Jack had never seen so much unbridled love in the eyes of another human. Before him in this bed was his wife and child. "Can... can I..." Jack couldn't find his words.
"Your daddy wants to hold you now, okay Peanut?" Kim said to her son as she carefully handed him off to Jack.
Jack took him in his strong hands and held the little guy. "I'm holding my son, our son," Jack said with a stupid smile.
Jack and Kim heard voices outside and then a loud crash, followed by a return whoosh. Jack closed his eyes and sighed.
"Go Jack, they need you. But please, come back to us," Kim's eyes and voice begged as she kissed their son's head. "I'm not naming him without you."
Jack captured Kim's lips in a needing, searing kiss before kissing his son's head. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
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Exited the empty palace and as soon as he reached the end of the courtyard, he saw the endless army of Thosea sprawling out beyond the walls. Great projectiles flew at the city and were answered from within.
Jack left the city square and sped down the streets until he found the Cynerics on the wall, catching one of his banners next to Edgil's. He climbed the stairs and the Cynerics parted for him until he reached Edgil.
"So?" Edgil asked, knowing the baby was due today.
"I'm the father of a strong little man," Jack replied with a smile.
"Jack! What news?" Brody yelled from a high up rampart that allowed him to command the city.
"It's a boy!" Jack replied.
"You hear that Vakkerians? Our Captain Brewer is the proud new father of a baby boy! Let's end this quick and get him back home to his wife and son!" Brody thrust his sword high in the air and the city erupted in cries and cheers.
The Thoseans heard the cries go up and decided it was time to begin. A great horn sounded the charge, and immediately the great wave surged forward across the open field, eating projectile fire from trebuchets until they were in range of bows, and then javelins.
The field was already forming a new top soil of bodies when they reached the walls and ladders went up. The Thoseans would have to fight through a living wall of steadfast Cynerics and massive Magnons, were they to get over the wall and into the city. Great siege towers filled with the Thosean rabble docked and the draw door came down to begin the flood.
The Magnons and Cynerics fought valiantly on the walls while the wall-like Epineians waited already in formation as the great Thosean ram neared the door. The Rangers did what they could, but the tide was immense.
The ladders and siege towers reached Jack and Edgil. As the ladders made their way up, Jack flashed red. The siege tower door began to lower, and Jack saw his beautiful Kim and most precious baby boy, not even two hours old.
When he saw the first head, he went ballistic. Jack threw down his shield and took up his ax instead. He ran to the first ladder and cleaved straight down through the leather helmet, driving through the skull. Jack kicked the ladder and repeated down to the siege tower.
Jack waited anxiously, bouncing up and down. The door was open just enough for him to yell, "Come on!" and rushed forward, storming the tower before the Thoseans could leave. Ten Cynerics followed him into the tower and they fought their way down, where they held the bottom and refused to pull back, the tower now useless and one less spot they could be over run.
"Hold this tower, no matter what!" Jack shouted, patted the Cyneric's shoulder and went back to the wall where he was needed. At the top he saw that the Magnons were heavily engaged on the wall, but showed no sign of giving in. The Magnons were too proud, would die before retreating.
Jack refocused as the Cynerics around him fought for control of the wall that seemed to be becoming more narrow by the second. They would run out of room to stand before they ran out of men to fight. Jack ran back into the fray, wanting, needing to see Kim and his boy again.
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Kim felt like she was on the sidelines of Hell, sitting in a bed while her friends were out there, fighting for everything they had. She understood she couldn't be out there with her friends and husband because of the little bundle that hasn't left her arms.
Knowing Jack was out there standing against thousands didn't make it any easier. What was it like in Jack's head, Kim wondered. The pressure he's under must be immense, knowing he's what stood between an army and his family. With that thought in her head, she knew that nothing could stop Jack.
She could hear the sounds of war just outside the walls, and it scared her. She knew though, that death itself couldn't touch her Jack with what was at stake. That allowed her to nod off into a peaceful sleep with her child.
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"Edgil, Jack! Pull off that wall, they're about to push you backwards!" Brody shouted from his rampart.
Jack quickly dispatched a Thosean and turned to Brody, nodding. Brody was right. The Thoseans were pouring onto the wall quicker than the Vakkerians could kill them. They were being smothered.
"Pull back! Down below the wall!" Jack ushered men passed him. Jack was the last one off the wall and fought his way backwards down the stone steps to the open space between the city streets and the wall.
"Shield wall!" Edgil called, effectively holding the Thoseans to the wall. But the Thoseans were a machine, living and breathing wave with no respect for human life, their own including.
They threw themselves against the shield wall, trying to overpower it, trying to flood over it. The bodies stacked, giving the Thoseans a fleshy ladder, and the shield wall had no option but to backpedal, but it's back would soon be to the houses and stores, unable to back up further.
"Jack, with me! Over the wall!" Edgil shouted. He along with Jack and few others took a running start and leapt over their own men, crashing with a fury into the Thoseans. This bold move was the momentum shift needed, giving the Cynerics the courage to push out and attack with berserking rage, pushing the numerous Thoseans themselves back, and cutting their way in.
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With the audacity and relentless ferocity only the Magnons could possess, they had not only held the wall, but gone over the other side and fought into the horde. Jerry, Fedelmid and Magnus were in the front of it all, carving through the masses.
One half of the Hahkmaki Riders and Epineian heavy cavalry took this as their sign to move in, rushing the left flank in an attempt to reach the Magnons and roll the Thosean lines.
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In the center of the city, the Thosean ram was nearly through the weakening gates that would give entrance to the city. Milton and his Epineian spearmen waited in the other side of that gate anxiously.
As soon as that gate gave way, if Milton gave way, the city would be breached and all but lost. Milton had never been under more pressure in his life. Retreat was not an option, only victory or death. Milton could only hope it was the first option.
Finally, during Milton's musings of his approaching fate, the gate cracked and the Thosean horde spilled in and collided with Milton's bronze wall. The Thoseans pushed, and Milton pushed back.
Brody, from atop his ramparts, saw the danger of the situation. The central courtyard was the key. It lead into the city and could allow for the walls to be taken from behind. If the center was lost, it all was.
Brody drew his sword and rallied his guard. "Let's go, Royal Guard, and deliver death until we meet ours or intake the iron tinted scent of victory!" With those words Brody left his ramparts and charged headlong into the courtyard, he and his elite guard cutting deep into the Thosean effort.
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The battle continued to rage for hours that felt like days, the balance of ground constantly teeter-tattering.
The Magnons were between the walls and a semi circle of Thosean soldiers, pushing in and then pulling back like a lung, breathing but not puffing out to the point of popping. Spreading too thin would cause them to be steam rolled, while pressing out allowed them needed breathing time and space.
The Cyneric wall was under control and manageable now that the fight was fractioned into three places. Ladders and men were coming at the same rate they were sent back.
Jack looked to the center and saw Milton's phalanx nearly surrounded but holding strong. What worried Jack was Brody and his Royal Guard, who were pushing too far ahead and were now entirely enclosed.
"Edgil, we need get Brody out of there!" Jack called.
"We can't give up the wall, Jack!" Edgil claimed.
"I'll do it myself!" Before Edgil could argue, Jack was sprinting across the wall to where it overlooked the gate.
"Jack!" Edgil cried as Jack stood at on the edge. He swung his arms and bent his legs, then jumped off the wall. He landed on a pile of Thoseans, where Brody got to him immediately.
"Jack, are you mad?!" Brody couldn't believe what he just saw. "If Kim heard about that, she'd kill you!" Brody said as he and Jack fought side by side like old brothers.
"Brody, you have to back your royal ass up!" Jack figured all politeness be damned at this moment. "Look around you, we're completely surrounded! This is where Ty wants you!"
"Bring his head to my sword then!" Brody challenged.
As if on cue, Brody cut a man down only to stare face to face with King Ty, Kai right beside him.
The circle widened around the kings, both sides prepared to watch the showdown of the age: King against king and prodigal son against prodigal son.
The four men took stances and squared off. "King against king, eh Brody?" Ty asked with a chuckle. "What do say, if I win, I get your kingdom, you win, you get mine?"
Brody laughed and shook his head. "Kingdoms are bigger than the kings that rule them, Ty. If you were a real king, you could see that."
"Enough talk. I'll kill you, and then raze your city to the ground (1) with everyone in it." Ty rushed forward towards Brody, and Kai at Jack.
Jack could only focus on Kai. He had faith in Brody's skill, anyway.
Kai was about the same size as Jack, if not a little larger. Kai was savage with his hand and a half sword, constantly keeping Jack on the defensive and waiting for Jack's blocks to break.
Jack relied on his superior agility and hoped his endurance was better as well. The problem for berserkers was running out of steam too quickly.
Jack dodged as much as possible and parried as little as possible. Dodging would allow Jack less wear and took less physical effort. It also served as a taunt, almost, enraging Kai and making him more likely to slip up.
Jack's chance came when Kai lunged too deep and Jack caught his shoulder with a hard crescent axe kick, rendering his shoulder useless.
Kai reacted by charging down Jack, never even raising his shoulder again. Jack came down hard on the blood covered cobblestone. Kai raised his arm high and brought it down before Jack could recover, but Brody was there in a flash. He had locked blades with Kai and pushed him back.
Brody offered Jack a hand, and Jack took it. Before Jack could scream, Brody tensed and Jack looked down to see the bloody tip of a sword poking through his armor.
"Jack," Brody whispered as Ty withdrew his sword from Brody's midsection, Brody falling into Jack's arms. The shock of the unspeakable move that brought their king to the ground enraged the Royal Guard and the battle ensued around them with unbelievable fervor.
"Jack," Brody whispered again.
"I'm here Brody, I'm here," Jack said, squeezing Brody's hand.
"I know your fate, Jack," Brody fought to speak. "When I first heard of your coming, I went to the Tree myself and ate of it's fruit. I saw this day," Brody sputtered and hoarsely inhaled. "You and your wife, your friends... are the future of Vakker."
"What? What does that mean?" Jack pressed.
"When my life fades, you are to be king, Jack. Kim is to be your queen and together with your friends, you will breath new life into Vakker. You will begin our Golden Age and your line will see that it continues. The Tree will not tell you how to get home, because you are home. Rudy was with me, will vouch for my words."
Brody's eyes slid shut but with a forceful shake from Jack, brought him back. "Damn it Brody, Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light (2)!"
Brody briefly focused long enough to say, "Embrace the people as they will embrace you. The king is dead. Long live the king." King Brody's eyes shut for the final time.
Jack rested Brody's body to the cobblestone gently and rose, absolutely seething with his and Brody's swords. He charged out at both Kai and Ty simultaneously, slashing and hacking wildly. The two backpedalled until Kai's bumped into someone.
Kai turned his head long enough to see who was behind him, not sure if it was friend or foe. This was all Jack needed to run him through, ending the life if the heir of Thosea.
Ty was enraged by the death of his near son and pupil. He tried to rally himself like Jack had, but Jack put him right back down again.
Ty cleaved down and Jack crossed his swords in an 'x' to cradle catch the blade. With the flick of Jack's wrists, Ty was disarmed.
"A king does not kill a king! A king does not kill a king!" Ty cried out shamelessly as he fell to his knees as if he hadn't stabbed Brody in the back.
"Thing is Ty... I haven't been crowned yet."
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The Battle of Epineio was the bloodiest conflict in Vakkerian and Thosean history. Thosean casualties reached 87%, Vakkerian final count tallying 59%.
The Thoseans had vast numbers and a hammering battle plan. Vakkerian strength came in training, arms, and above all, leadership.
Once the fight was said and done, the leaders of Vakker gathered at the gate, where lied the bodies of Brody, Ty and Kai.
"The cost of a day is high when two kings are in the reckoning," Edgil said sadly. "Brody was without a wife or child. Whatever happens, the Wardens must divide," Edgil warned.
"Actually, King Brody did leave an heir," Rudy said, stepping up before falling to one knee at Brody's lifeless side. "He named you, Jack."
The Wardens didn't speak, though all their eyes trained on him.
"You are here for a reason, aren't you?" Magnus, the oldest of them asked.
"They are here for a reason. Brody and I learned of their arrival, we went to the Elder Tree together and asked who they were, why they were here," Rudy explained. "Brody foresaw his death here today. He saved your life, didn't he Jack?" Rudy asked knowingly.
"He did. He saved me from Kai, " Jack told them, looking each Warden in the eye in turn. "Brody saved me and told me what Rudy has said. He said that all of us together were to bring Vakker into it's golden age. He said that the Tree won't tell us how to get home because... we are home."
Milton had Julie under his arm and Est under Jerry's. "We are home, yo," Jerry nodded. "Go see your family."
Jack looked around, asking to be excused with his eyes. Instead of a verbal answer, those around him kneeled and thumped their chests.
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Jack damn near broke the door off the hinges as he and the others entered the infirmary that was quickly filling up with wounded Vakkerian officers.
"Where is she!" Jack shouted beside himself when he saw Kim and his son were not there.
"Captain Brewer!" a nurse shouted and rushed forward. "She and your son were brought back to your chambers, sir."
Jack ran out, the rest of his friends were hot on his heels.
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Jack took more consideration this time as he slowly crept in to see his wife and his son asleep in a bassinet next to their bed.
Kim was resting peacefully, her beautiful eyes were closed to the world and her chest rose and fell to a quiet rhythm. Jack hated to wake her, but he felt he needed to.
"Babe, hey babe," Jack stroked her soft cheek with a single finger.
Kim woke up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes, thinking she was hearing things. When she saw Jack's smiling face, she wanted to jump to life and throw her arms around him, but she was weak from her experience. Instead she held out her arms and wanted him to come to her.
"Kim, as much as I want to wrap you in my arms right now, I'm a little messy..." Jack motioned to his body, still covered in the blood and gore of a terribly costly victory.
"I popped a baby out of me today, and I've been in battle before too. Get over here," Kim wouldn't budge so Jack relented. He joined her on the bed and wrapped his powerful arms around her with the most tender caress.
Jack released her and went to the bassinet where his son slept. "How's our little man doing?" Jack asked quietly, kissing his head.
"He's good. Quietest baby I've ever met," Kim said with a laugh. "How are you, Jack?"
"I should be asking you that. Sure, I killed a bunch of dudes today, but you gave birth to life," Jack pointed out.
"I'm okay now that you're here, and I know you're safe. I knew you would be, that you'd come back to us, but knowing while you're gone is nowhere near knowing when you're here now, when it's over," Kim admitted the turmoil she had been fighting. "Where's Brody, he's the only one not here," Kim said as she shared glances with everyone.
A teary eyed Claire stepped up and said, "Brody didn't, uh... he didn't make it," Claire said from Rudy's supportive and friendly arms.
"Brody's dead?" Kim asked in shock, sadness not having had time to catch up yet.
"Brody died... saving me, Kim," Jack's own voice nearly died in his throat. Brody and Jack had been more than comrades, they had even established a real friendship. Brody gave his life and his crown to save Jack, to ensure that Jack could see his wife and kid, to ensure that Jack could fulfill the Elder Tree's prophecy.
"There's more to it, Kim," Rudy continued, "Brody had to save Jack because we'd been to the Tree. Brody knew he had to save Jack because... Brody named Jack as his successor, the one who the Tree said would launch Vakker into it's golden age. Jack, your husband is king, and you our queen," Rudy said as he and the others kneeled to the new royal family.
"This is our home, Kim. Our family is here now, Jack motioned to everyone. The Tree won't tell us how to get home because we ARE home. This is our calling, our duty. We were brought here to give this world the best age it has ever known. Our friends, our family," Jack said with a smile.
"We have a lot of work to do then, don't we, Jack? You, me, our loyal and best friends, and baby Brody here, of course," Kim said with a teary smile.
"Prince Brody Brewer," Jack addressed his son. "These are our friends and most trusted council," Jack introduced the others. "Together, we can rebuild and advance. We can because the greatest kingdom Weite has ever known. But Kim, you're right. We have a lot of work to do."
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(1) "Razing a city to the ground" means completely and utterly destroying it, making it nearly uninhabitable.
(2) "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Last Good Night" is a poem by Dylan Thomas.