Author's note: My word. I am so sorry. This is so incredibly late. I apologize. I love my readers so much, I hate to think I've upset them!

Please review…please?

Almost a week had passed since Arrow had died. Although, any passerby wouldn't have been able to tell from the way the ship was carrying on. Despite the initial shock and confusion caused by the disaster of the supernova and Arrow's death, a few days later, the ship was back to nearly normal working order, with Mr. Turnbuckle assuming Mr. Arrow's place.

Doppler had announced earlier that week that according to his calculations, due to the solar energy involved in the supernova, the Legacy had been propelled toward Treasure Planet. Nearly a month had been shaved off of their journey. That seemed to improve the crew's spirits in a much more boisterous manner than it should have. Rather bizarre. Doppler made a small mental note of it, but quickly forgot it to focus his attention on Amelia and how she was doing.

Speaking of her, she was standing on the deck, looking out into the Etherium. Her back was to him, she stared out in the stars, giving no indication she knew he was there. He stood near the cabin door, careful not to disturb her.

"Doppler, you know I know you're behind me," Amelia said, without turning around.

Doppler gave up the charade of going undetected. He walked up to the deck beside her. "I know. Nothing gets past you, does it?"

"I'm a Felinid. Nothing's supposed to be able to."

He chuckled. "Oh…well… good on you then." He looked out into the Etherium. He swallowed a lump in his throat before asking "How are you?"

"Can't complain. The nausea has mostly gone away, but the cramps have gotten considerably worse. I suppose that means that they've started growing."

Doppler took off his glasses to wipe a smudge off the lens. "No..no..I meant…although that is good that they're growing…I meant how are you…emotionally?"

Her right ear twitched. She sighed. "Getting along. Some days are better. Some days are worse."

"How much worse?" Doppler glanced over to her.

"Not nearly as bad as the first night, if that's what you're worried about."

Doppler exhaled with relief. After the first night, they agreed that, to continue to keep up their secret, they would not meet nightly as they had before Mr. Arrow's death. But, that didn't stop him from walking her to her quarters each night to make sure everything was in order.

"You don't have to worry about me, you know."

"I'm not worried."

"Please, doctor, I may be pregnant, but I'm not blind. I can see you checking the locks on my windows.

Doppler scoffed. "No I don't."

Amelia raised her right eyebrow and crossed her arms. She looked at him with a face that suggested saying 'I am a hormonal pregnant woman. We are standing on the deck of a ship. I could easily pitch you out into the Etherium if I so desired.'

Doppler blushed. He had been found out. "Fine…I am worried. But to be fair, you did try and jump to your death."

Amelia stood silent for a moment. "Touché," she replied. "But you really don't have to be concerned. I wasn't thinking nearly as clearly that night as I am now."

"Well, he had just…died. No one was expecting you to be perfectly alright. Honestly, I think the crew is even more afraid of you now. They expected you to have been an absolute wreck and beside yourself. And when you weren't, it really shocked them."

Amelia laughed silently. "That's not who I am. I was raised in a military home, emotions were not the norm. Besides, that's not how Arrow would have wanted it."

Doppler looked at her, confused. Your best friend didn't want you to mourn his death?

"He would have wanted me to carry on with the voyage. That's how he always was. Always one to continue on, regardless of the setbacks. He was that way when we lived together, and was that way right to his death."

"The two of you lived together?" Doppler asked, fiddling with the cuff of his shirtsleeve. This is new information…

"Oh tish tosh Delbert, only for a week. It was our first year at the Academy, they mistook my name for my brother's. That's how we met, actually. He just opened the door, and there I was. Took the dormitory office a whole week to realize and pull me out of the all-boys dorm, but by then, we'd become fast friends. Lucky for us, we stayed that way for the rest of our time at Academy. We never fought, and he was always happy to congratulate me on my accomplishments, and I his. Imagine how thrilled we both were when we were assigned to the Legacy."

Doppler smiled. "A rather fortuitous mistake, if I may say so.

Amelia sighed and smiled. "It really was."

They looked out into the Etherium.

"He really was a wonderful man."

"Mhmm."

"I told him about our situation a few days before his death."

"And? What happened?"

"At first, he was confused, but, after I explained what happened, he was very sympathetic. He told me he would be there for me. Should we decide to keep them, of course." A tear rolled down her cheek, which she flicked away. "But, I told him that wasn't going to happen. There's no conceivable way."

"No conceivable—Amelia, Captain, don't you see, there is a way!" Delbert bust out without a second thought.

Amelia stared at him. "Delbert, what are you talking about?"

"There is a way! A way for us to keep the children, and be together! I could stay with them, continue teaching, take leave when you are out voyaging, return when you return, and it will all work out. You'll see…"

"Delbert, have you gone mad?!"

"Maybe I have. But don't you agree that what I have proposed is a valid option?"

Amelia looked at him. She blinked, and her eyes flicked away out to sea. "No. No, Doppler. It's not."

Doppler was stunned. Why did she switch back to our old way of addressing one another…? What is she talking about? "Wh…what do you mean?"

"I mean that it is never going to work. Between us. With these children. I'm sorry. I know that's what you want. But…but…I can't do it. It's not what I want. I'm sorry." With that, she turned, and ran to her stateroom.

In her wake, she left Doppler, staring in disbelief. He looked down at the deck and sighed. Amelia…I still love you. But if this is what you want…this is the way it must be, as much as I wish differently.

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