"And on a final note, the body of one Robert Ford was found recently. Mr. Ford had been shot eighteen times. Additionally, the bodies of several ex-company employees were found with their hands bound and killed by a single shot through the back of their heads. The individuals in question were all suspected members of the Association. It would seem our sheriff has been busy lately. While I applaud his efforts to remove the cancer in our midst, why hasn't he moved against the Black and Tans? Is he afraid of them—or is it something more sinister? This is Virgil Vox bringing you the news the company doesn't want you to hear, signing off."

"What a load of crap," exclaimed Jeri. "You and your deputies are the only ones in Seefra City who will stand up to the Tans. Or has he forgotten how many times you've forced them to behave in a civilized manner when they were doing business in south-side. They're the ones afraid of you. And anyone who knows you would know you're not the kind of person to kill someone in cold blood, like those Association members were."

Thanks to Andromeda's medical efforts, Jeri had recovered from the worst of her injuries and was now staying in Rhade's stateroom while she finished her recovery. Rhade had talked Beka into giving him a ride to Andromeda when she had last dropped by the Oasis. Beka had been pleased enough to hear that Jeri was recovering that she hadn't charged him for the trip. Earlier Andromeda had offered to send down a slip fighter so he could visit on a regular basis, but Rhade had declined. He didn't want to give Dylan an excuse to quite literally ground him. But after nearly four weeks without Jeri, Rhade would have walked to Andromeda. He and Jeri had communicated via radio, but since Dylan had moved Andromeda out of near Seefra orbit and into the system's Oort cloud, the time lag was between Rhade's 'how are you's and Jeri's 'I'm fine's had been hours.

"There are times I wish the company police would find his transmitter and shut him down," admitted Rhade. "He seems more interested in stirring up trouble than in reporting news." He deliberately refrained from commenting on the killings. He was sure that Ford hadn't been killed by any of his deputies, but he wasn't so sure about the Association members. He wouldn't shed any tears for the dead men if they were the ones who had paid Ford, but he couldn't have his people killing people just because they were associated with the Association.

"I used to think he was a gallant warrior fighting a lonely battle against the company," said Jeri. "Now I just wish he would go away. He seems determined to make a bad situation worse." She sat up a little straighter in her bed and focused her eyes on Rhade's. "Rhade, do you remember the first morning you spent with us, and how you said that it didn't matter which one proposed as long as everyone was properly married before the baby arrived? Well, one of us needs to propose."

"You're pregnant?!" exclaimed Rhade. He already knew thanks to his conversation with Elaine, but he also knew from his previous marriage how important it was for the woman to be the one to let her spouse know about the pregnancy, so he feigned surprise. "Are we having a boy or a girl?"

"I don't know. When your ship told me and asked if I wanted to know the sex, I said no. I want it to be a surprise."

Andromeda's holographic self appeared in the stateroom. "I'm still not going to tell you if it's a boy or a girl, but I will tell you that you need to pick out more than one name."

"Twins?" asked Rhade and Jeri simultaneously.

"Twins," agreed Andromeda, obviously pleased by the other two's reaction.

"I guess we should start letting people know we're getting married," said Rhade.

Andromeda's core self appeared in the stateroom's viewscreen. "Actually, under Seefra common law, the two of you are already married."

"What do you mean—?" began Rhade.

"We're already married?" asked Jeri, finishing the question.

"Finishing each other's sentences," said holo Andromeda to her sister self. "They're definitely married."

"They are," agreed her core self. "Seefran law states that if a man and woman live together for an extended period of time and take on all the duties and responsibilities of husband and wife, then they are considered legally married. The two of you have been together for several months now, Rhade has taken over the responsibilities of a father for Samuel, and you have another child on the way. Since the term 'an extended period' is never clearly defined, I would say the two of you are married under Seefra law. And, as the Systems Commonwealth recognizes the validity of marriages performed outside the Commonwealth, the two of you are married under Commonwealth law as well. However, there's no reason you can't have a formal ceremony with friends and family attending."

"Provided Jeri lets us be her bridesmaids," put in holo Andromeda.

"Exactly," said her sister self. "Rhade, I assume you will be sponsoring Jeri for High Guard spousal privileges and adopting Samuel." Taking Rhade's stunned silence for assent, Andromeda continued, "I have the sponsorship and adoption documents prepared. The two of you just need to sign them. Congratulations to the two of you and welcome to the family Mrs. Rhade."

Andromeda's two incarnations disappeared from view, leaving the two suddenly newlyweds alone in the stateroom. After a moment, Jeri gave Rhade a look that should have triggered Andromeda's fire suppression system. "Rhade," said Jeri in a come-hither voice. "If we're married, we need to consummate our union. Andromeda told me that as long as I was careful, I could do anything I did before I was injured. Like this." She leaned forward and reached for the fastener of Rhade's pants.