Author's Note:

So much for getting this fanfic finished before the holidays. Thank you Whisperwings for accommodating betaing this chapter after the craze of the holidays!

Rebecca awoke to the sensation of a warm cloth being pressed against her forehead and listened to the crackling of a nearby fire.

The young woman slowly opened her eyes and began to make out the details of a familiar room as well as the figure sitting next to her bed.

"Ethel?" Rebecca whispered.

"Rebecca." Ethel Silver sighed with relief. "I feared the worst when Johnny brought yeh hear in yer condition. Pale as death yeh were, lass."

"Where is John?" Rebecca enquired.

"Downstairs with everyone else, worrying his head off 'bout yeh I'd imagine." Ethel sighed. "I can't do anythin' with the lad in the state that he's in now."

"Could you please send for him?" Rebecca asked.

"I will in a moment, lass," Ethel stated, "But there's something that I've been meanin' teh ask yeh." She placed the towel in a basin on the bedside table. "When I was tending teh yer wounds, I… noticed somethin'."

Rebecca's eyes widened as her hands brushed against the bandages at her sides. "You know?" She asked rhetorically.

"That I do, Rebecca." Ethel stated gravely. She shook her head. "What happened, lass?"

Rebecca sighed. "A lot has happened since we were last here, Ethel." She looked down in shame. "I'm sure you're well aware of what happened to Jim."

Ethel nodded and sighed. "Though Jim –God bless his soul- 'ad his heart in the right place, I knew somethin' bad was gonna happen teh him. Felt it deep in me bones. An' John…" She sighed.

Rebecca nodded in understanding. "I'm sorry for all of this, Ethel."

Ethel shook her head. "It was outta yer hands, Rebecca. Don't pin the blame on yourself so easy." The old woman digressed. "Now, I don't mean teh pry in teh yer business, but exactly whose child are yeh carrying?"

"It's-" Rebecca met Ethel's amber eyes and bit her bottom lip. "It's John's child."

Ethel simply nodded. "How far along are yeh?"

"Nearly eight months." Rebecca stated.

A hint of a smile tugged at the corners of Ethel's mouth. "An' I'd imagine that John hasn't 'ad the news broken teh him."

"No." Rebecca exhaled. "He- he doesn't know."

"Well, in all do honesty, Rebecca," Ethel began, "yeh might want teh tell him soon as yeh seem teh be short on time before he finds out the obvious way."

Rebecca nodded. "Could you send for him, please?"

Ethel smiled and nodded. "I suppose I'll get to see the day when I'm a great grandmother after all." She walked from the room, leaving Rebecca to her thoughts.

Ethel entered the living room, in which the group of travellers were gathered around the fireplace.

John stood from his seat. "How is she?" He asked.

Ethel smiled. "She's awake now. She asked for yeh, Johnny."

John nodded, his eyes lighting up from both happiness and relief, and he made his way to the upper floor.

Ethel turned to the rest of the companions. "Now… how 'bout we get the rest of yeh some food an' some shut eye?" She offered.

Rebecca sat up when she heard knocking on the bedroom door. "Come in." She called.

John entered the bedroom and walked to her bedside. Rebecca couldn't stop the smile from appearing at her face as she reached out to John. The young man seated his self in the armchair at the bed's side and clasped Rebecca's hand in his own.

"It's good teh see yeh awake, Rebecca." John smiled broadly.

"I'm sorry if I frightened everyone." Rebecca smiled weakly.

"No need teh apologize, Rebecca." John stated.

Rebecca's face fell as she thought about what she needed to tell John. The young man noticed this and his smile disappeared.

"Rebecca…" John cupped Rebecca's chin and looked her in the eye. "What's the matter?" He asked softly.

Rebecca sighed. "There's something that I've been meaning to tell you…" She fiddled with her fingers. "For- for the longest time."

John met Rebecca's eyes. "Yes?"

"I-" Rebecca's voice wavered under John's gaze but she refused to break eye contract with him. "John, I'm pregnant." She finally blurted out.

John's eyes widened, he released his hold on Rebecca's hand. "How-?"

Rebecca chewed on her bottom lip. "That night that you and I got drunk, after I buried my family… you didn't just fall asleep." Rebecca struggled with a means of explaining what had happened between them. "We- you and I-" The young woman was soon at a loss for words.

John's mouth made a perfect 'O' as the truth dawned on him. "Yeh mean?" He looked at Rebecca, who nodded. He pointed at her stomach. "Then that means…"

Rebecca set her hands down on her stomach and looked up at the young man. "You're going to be a father, John."

John's face paled from shock and he swayed uneasily in his seat.

There was a loud thump from the ceiling of the kitchen, which drew the attention of the kitchen's occupants.

Ethel Silver chuckled. "I'd imagine that Johnny's found out the truth, at last." She stated.

Scroop scoffed, rolling his eyes, "It's about time." He grumbled under his breath as he helped himself to more Bonzabeast stew.

"John? John!"

The young man came to, his eyes meeting Rebecca's who was kneeling next to him. Her pale green eyes were wide with concern and she clasped his organic hand between her own.

"Are you all right, John?" Rebecca asked softly.

John gently brushed his mechanical fingers against Rebecca's cheek. The young woman made no indication that this gesture alarmed her, however the concerned look on her face remained. "Yeah, I'm all right, Rebecca." He smiled, "Yeh just took me a bit off guard."

Rebecca caressed John's hand with her thumbs. "I suppose there wasn't really any other way of breaking the news to you." She stated.

John smile grew as he looked into Rebecca's eyes. "It's all right, Rebecca. I'm glad yeh told me." Rebecca gave him a weak smile. John eased up onto his elbows. "Looks like we 'ave teh make a short stop teh Treaka once Jimbo's buried."

Rebecca nodded. "We also have some mercenaries to return to Los Terrano."

John nodded in agreement. "But right now…" He set his hand on Rebecca's shoulder. "I think it's best that we get some food into yeh."

"That sounds like an excellent idea, John." Rebecca smiled.

Author's Note:

Happy 2011 Readers!

MG#6