Verona sighed loudly once again. She found herself sighing quite a bit lately, and it seemed to only be getting worse. Before her lay another feather cloak, this time she was using the bright and soft cloth from Frindal as a base, but work was painfully slow. Not because stitching the feathers to the cloth was particularly difficult with the new fabric, she just did not have the energy and enthusiasm.

"What's wrong?" Kal asked softly. She sat in the far corner of the room, legs brought almost to her chest to act as a stand for the book she was reading. Her bright green eyes had not left the pages.

"I..." Verona sighed and leant back. The chair wobbled and Verona's hands clasped onto the table. This time Kal did look up, her exposed legs tensed with anticipation.

"I'm fine." Verona smiled and lightly patted her stomach. "I really shouldn't be moving like that with this one in here."

Kal nodded and returned to reading.

"I feel just...Bored." Verona rested her head on the table. "It's cold outside, Atros is calm and safe and-"

"And Anton isn't here." Now it was Kal's turn to sigh. "At least when we were in The Shadow Isles it wasn't too difficult to see him. Even though..." Kal rubbed the end of her long, furred ear. "Even though he punished me for your actions."

Verona laughed. "It all worked out in the end, didn't it? I honestly thought he would have gone for Calo and Sheso before Mezot."

"Really?" Kal raised an eyebrow and began to smile wryly. "I think he likes the intelligent, bookish women. I-"

"Is that why you're reading?" Verona laughed. "So you can beat a Master Principle Mage that has spent most of her life surrounded by books?"

"At least I could read when I first arrived in Atros." Kal flicked the page. "And you still can't. I think Rasha's doing better than you."

Verona stuck out her tongue and continued working. Beside her table sat a series of small shelves, containing small open boxes bursting with different coloured feathers. Ever since the Chiroks had arrived they now had a near unlimited supply of their black and blue feathers, especially from the energetic pups who seemed to eat copious amounts of food just so they could shed their feathery coat. Unfortunately they had not been able to capture any more of the Rainbow Birds and her supply of brightly coloured feathers was starting to run low.

"Damn." Verona snapped her fingers. "I'm out of large red feathers."

"It has been a while since Ceccitol and the Dusk Reavers caught those birds." Kal spoke softly. "Perhaps we should ask one of the other Dark Elf clans if they could help you? We are both married to Anton so it shouldn't be too difficult."

"Yeah." Verona stretched her arms over her head, letting out a tiny squeak as her muscles began to protest at the strain. "That sounds like a good idea. Marion...Marion hadn't heard anything more about the Dark Elves acting up or suspiciously, has she?"

“No.” Kal snapped the book shut. "And I don't think they would try and involve a Beastkin that's so close to us, to me specifically. Leran was just testing the waters, so to speak."

"I hope it's nothing." Verona smiled. "Once we've got more Dwarves and Beastkin than Dark Elves it'll be hard for them to do anything anyway."

"It'll be harder for them just because of the colour of their skin." Kal rubbed her face. "I already get enough bad looks because of this."

It sucks that both sides dislike you. Well, most do. I know a fair few that don't.

Verona jumped from her chair. "Let's get something warm to wear before we head out. Unlike you I don't have any fur to protect me."

"Don't act like I'm somehow immune to the cold." Kal gently placed the book down as she stood up. "I'm only half Beastkin, and not one with a thick coat either."

---[]---

Verona wrapped her thick cloak tighter against her body. She wasn't cold, far from it, wearing a Bebbezarian cloak, but it felt good to have the warmth all to herself. Kal walked by her side, her cloak pulled tight around her head as her furred ears caught some of the snow that continuously rained down around them.

"The first winter where I'm not freezing." Verona laughed. "Still...Still hard to believe that last winter I was all alone and freezing underneath a table. Just...Incredible."

“Same.” Kal smiled. “For many it will be their first winter free. But...I think that there isn’t much more to say.”

“Except that we’ve still got a long way to go.” Verona pumped her fist into the air. “A lot more Beast-kin to free and other people to help...Speaking of. What did you think of those Hamtaro’s that Anton brought from Frindal? Not what I was expecting.”

“Could you honestly expect that?” Kal raised a brow.

“Do you think that we should at least check in with them? The Hamtaro’s, I mean. Anton can’t be expected to do everything by himself, there’s no reason we can’t.”

“Delegation is important.” Kal smiled. “At least that's what Cetina’s said. She knows quite a bit more than she lets on.”

“I know what you mean-”

“Not that.” Kal lightly slapped the back of Verona’s head. “But she knows a lot about...merchants and business.”

“That she does. Did you end up finding out where they were going to live?”

“Eider told me.” Kal’s eyes narrowed. “She told us when we first met them. Don’t tell me you were fantasising about Anton and Mezot. Or Zuhura?”

“I was a little distracted. But which way did she say?”

Kal led them towards a large cluster of buildings. Even with the snow raining down around them construction continued unabated, or perhaps because of the cold the people wanted to keep working to stay warm. Atros did not have the capacity to heat every home all the time, at least for now. The building was a little more odd than normal, even for Atros. Everything was being enclosed, the multiple buildings turned into one massive structure without removing the former walls of the buildings.

“Why…” Verona smiled. “I get it. It’s so they’ve got even more room than just those six odd buildings. That’s not a bad idea.”

“Must be one of the Dwarves' ideas.” Kal said idly. “They are really good with this stuff. You remember how happy they were when Anton said they had the opportunity to design whatever they wanted?”

“I do. They looked like I do whenever Anton’s cooked something new.”

Kal prepared to retort but let it drop. Verona smiled as Kal was forced to not chastise her, at least this time.

A few sleepy guards stood outside the buildings, standing around a small brazier as the Human and Dwarven labourers worked around them to not only complete the building but create a tall wooden wall. They gave Verona and Kal a rough salute, their backs straightened at the very least, and allowed them in.

“Oh wow.” Verona stopped, grabbing Kal’s arm. “That looks so adorable.”

She pointed to a miniature playground, currently covered in snow but the perfect size for Hamtaro children.

“It’s good that they’re going to stay and settle down.” Kal slowly nodded. “Hopefully Anton’s fears aren’t about to come true.”

“Yes…”

It’s kind of what he was saying about the Centaurs. There were just so many...And if they were fighting and keeping their numbers low...Hm. I need to ask him about it.

A door to the structure remained open. Within Verona could see the Hamtaro’s, the large mice people skittered about on their hind legs, all chittering in a language she could not understand. As they neared some of the Hamtaro’s noticed and pointed towards them. For a moment they grew nervous but a few chitters to their neighbours and they visibly relaxed.

“Hello.” Verona spoke softly as she passed through the door. She didn’t think the Hamtaro’s were frightened by loud noises, no more than normal people, but she didn’t want to just in case. “How are you all doing?”

The Hamtaro’s chittered to one another, unsure of what to make of them. Verona knew they would not have forgotten them, there was only one person in Atros with silver hair, but spending their entire lives as slaves, pets really, had not done anything good for them.

“Do…” A female Hamtaro, Verona guessed it was female based on the softer features on their face. “Do you want to see Midas?”

“Not particularly.” Verona smiled. “We were just passing by and we wanted to know how you are all going. Everything seems to be going well.”

She nodded to the rest of the building. It was surprisingly spacious, even for the six hundred or so Hamtaro’s, with multiple levels and small spaces for them to sleep. What would once house one or two people now could hold thirty or forty quite easily. Verona had forgotten they could simply sleep on large shelves and take up vertical space. The Snowberry had something similar for the sailors but she did not think something similar would be used here.

“This isn’t too cramped for you?” Kal asked. “How was it like before? In Frindal?”

“Much worse than this.” The Hamtaro smiled. In the distance Verona saw the Hamtaro’s began to clear a path, for a younger male Hamtaro. “But this is so much better. We haven’t had to do much yet...Even though…”

“It’s fine.” Verona smiled. “You haven’t been here long, not to mention that it’s winter and we really can’t ask you to do too much. Not when you’re still wearing rags.”

“Are there better clothes coming?” Kal asked. “It’s probably a little difficult for our seamstresses to get your sizes right.”

“Children's clothes are good enough for us.” Midas, the warrior Hamtaro, said loudly. “We are about the same size. Have you brought any more for us?”

“No.” Kal glanced outside before closing the door slightly. Immediately the cold air dropped and the Hamtaro’s moved a little easier. “But I’m sure we could. If you’re comfortable wearing Bebbezzarian clothes.”

“Why wouldn’t we?” Midas tilted his head, his nose twitched slightly. “Wool and cotton is the same, no matter where it comes from.”

True. But I’m sure that we don’t want to buy it from the Seocurians. All the gold we give them would only end up supporting the slavers.

“I’m more worried about the colours.” Kal smirked at Verona. “Especially if Cetina was in charge.”

Verona laughed. “Of all the things that girl can’t do, she can’t pick any colours that look good. It’s always so...In your face.”

“It wouldn’t matter what colour it was.” Midas did not know about Cetina’s preference in colour schemes and could only frown at their strange objections. “So long as it keeps us warm.”

“We’ll make sure someone goes out.” Verona nodded. “So...Everything is going well?”

“It is.” Midas folded his arms. “We have food, water and our injuries, such as they are, are being healed. Later today some of us are going to help with some sorting...But that’s about it. Some of us are going to go for some training after lunch...But…”

“There’s only so much that we can do right now.” Verona chuckled. “Anton’s been saying that a lot recently. But you shouldn’t worry too much about getting ready to fight or work too hard. Your people have only just been freed and most are old or very young.”

“I know…” Midas clicked his mouse tongue. “I’ll never forgive the Frindal’s for what they did to us.”

Guess that’s what the Beast-kin feel to the Seocurians. Just how long are those refugees from Jaka going to be able to stay here? Soon there’ll be thousands of Beast-kin, and they won’t know them from their former masters.

“Nevertheless, we just wanted to make sure that everything’s going well.” Verona continued. “But if everything is we’ll leave you to it.”

“Everything is going well.” Midas shrugged. “Some of the younger Hamtaro’s are asking if they can start training, using weapons like me…I don’t know if they’re ready but they’re determined, I’ll give them that.”

“You are the only reason that they’re alive.” Kal smiled warmly. “So I think they just want to try and emulate you.”

“Perhaps.” Midas smiled. “I just...No. There’s no point in thinking about that now. There’s nothing anyone here could have done. But I just wish to ask that they do not get sent into battle right away. We are so few in number.”

I wonder if those Elders found that special someone for you. Just for keeping your species alive should get you something. I’m sure that if Anton really wanted he probably could have had any woman in Atros he wanted…

“You don’t have to worry about that.” Kal began. “Anton only takes volunteers for combat. But I don’t think that he would be taking them anywhere dangerous.”

“I see.” Midas slowly nodded. “I suppose that will curtail the more exuberant amongst us. Hopefully.”

“Let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.” Verona moved to the door. The Hamtaro’s realised there was about to be a gust of cold wind and began to move away. “Don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions or if something’s not right.”

“We shall.” Midas gave a small wave. “Thank you again. For saving our people.”

“Thank Anton when you see him next.” Kal gently pushed the door open. “He is the one that ensured your freedom.”

The cold air began to flow the moment the door opened and the Hamtaro’s scattered. Thankfully it was almost playful, at least that’s what Verona felt it looked like. They gave the Hamtaro’s one final wave before returning to the snow.

“Not much we really can do then.” Verona’s eyes fell upon a worker hauling up a bundle of wooden planks to extend a roof section. “It’s all just…”

“Happening on its own.” Kal nodded. “But that is a good thing. We don’t have to always be doing something just to get things going...Does that make any sense.” Kal rubbed her stomach. “It feels like Anton’s words are rubbing off on me.”

Verona laughed. “I know that feeling. But we are carrying his children. Maybe that’s why...Hello. Who do we have here?”

Standing outside of the perimeter were a smattering of Dwarves, with Umikgruid at the front. They seemed to not care that the snow was building on their beards and waited patiently with a quiet excitement.

“I wonder what’s got them so excited.” Verona asked aloud. “Maybe it’s those rifle things that Anton’s had them working on. That would make his day, don’t you think?”

“The way he talks about them.” Kal smiled. “It sounds like they’re more important than anything that we’ve done so far. Maybe they really will change the world?”

---[]---

In the Dwarven hold beneath Atros the air was considerably warmer, so warm that Verona felt sweat bead on her eyebrows. It wasn't surprising as the Dwarven Smiths worked tirelessly over roaring forges, designing and perfecting one of Anton's mad ideas.

"Over this way please." Umikgruid smiled and beckoned them to follow. "The testing area is this way."

"Too dangerous to try it in here?" Verona nonchalantly waved to the forges and tables littered with half-finished components and papers covered in frantic scrawls.

"Of course. Far too dangerous." Umikgruid signalled the guards to step aside. "We've already run a few small tests and we think it might be just as deadly as Anton said it was."

"He'll be very happy." Kal said softly. "They'll work against the Seocurian Masters too, won't they?"

"A piece of metal travelling at extremely high speeds does not care for your skin colour or race." Umikgruid said. "Absolutely does not care."

Kal smiled. "If it works just like Anton said imagine the Beastkin slaves with these?"

"Terrifying." Verona smiled. "Utterly terrifying."

Umikgruid led them into a long and almost empty cavern. While it had been roughly cut there were many metal supports and reinforcing running along its entire length.

"Isn't it safer to do this above ground?" Kal waited until Umikgruid looked back at her. "If you have all these supports..."

"For some of the larger things, absolutely. But this isn't going to cause a cave in. Not to mention the sound of this weapon will send all of Atros into a panic."

"I suppose."

Kal didn't look entirely convinced. Verona held her hand until Kal smiled at her.

Umikgruid pointed further along the empty cavern. Several Dwarves stood around a large iron plinth, a metal device lay on top, bolted and strapped down. Verona had asked Anton enough to know what it was. It was a rifle, the first ever produced in Atros and quite possibly the entire world.

"Here are the fruits of our labour." Umikgruid said proudly. "Anton...Your husband does love his complicated requests."

"Don't tell me you didn't enjoy the challenge?" Verona asked slyly.

Umikgruid scoffed. "Of course not. Our Master Smiths were kept up all day and night thinking about this. Now that it's complete I can say their sleepless nights have been worth it."

I hope that you're saying they wanted to do it rather than being forced. I'll tell Anton later, see what he makes of this.

Umikgruid waved the other Dwarves away and revealed their creation. The rifle from The Shadow Isles lay next to it, completely rebuilt to act as a comparison. There were several distinct differences. Firstly the barrel, the long cylinder coming out of the main structure, was longer and not as smooth. The other components, names of which Verona did not know, were larger and more bulbous. The wood, however, appeared to be of a better quality than the original, fashioned from the hard black and red marbled wood of The Shadow Isles. Overall it was far more menacing than the one from Earth.

The Dwarves had done their best but it was technology and craftsmanship completely foreign to them. Not that Verona was about to criticise them. She would be the first to say she could not do better.

"Looks...Pretty close." Verona gave an appreciative nod. "It looks very good."

"Thank you. But we also have these." Umikgruid held in a small cylindrical piece of bronze that tapered to a point at one end. "This...This damned thing was far more difficult than the rifle itself."

"Definitely more delicate." Kal said softly.

"Delicate?" Umikgruid scoffed. "That's an understatement."

He stepped to the other side and produced a large box. Verona took the time to whisper into Kal's ear.

"He doesn't talk like this to Anton."

Kal smiled. "No. But you wouldn't talk to someone like Leo the same way? Actually..."

"I probably would." Verona smiled. "And I think Anton already has."

Umikgruid waited until they were finished before unveiling what lay in the box. Hundreds upon hundreds of the brass cylinders lay inside, neatly stacked and sitting in the same direction.

"This is all that we currently have. Three hundred bullets. That's it."

"I'm sure Anton would say that is a lot." Kal frowned lightly. "The Shadow Isles were taken with ten."

"I...Wouldn't know either way." Umikgruid picked up a bullet. "This entire pointed section is a solid piece of metal. The rest is filled with the blue explosive powder and a small, unstable granule of Fire Dust at the base here."

Umikgruid pulled back a lever on the rifle, placed the bullet inside the rifle and slid the lever back to its original position.

"There is a pin inside which will cause the blue powder to explode and propel the bullet, the small solid piece at the front, towards the target."

The nearby Dwarves began to clap softly. Umikgruid looked a little embarrassed but allowed it to finish naturally.

Sounds just like Anton explained it to us. Now it's just seeing if it works.

"Since this is the first real test, and given how dangerous this could be, we shall be outside until the test is complete."

Before either could speak the Dwarves collected the box of bullets and the original rifle and began to leave. One tied a thin piece of Arachnid silk, Verona could tell by the colour, to the trigger and began to walk outside. Umikgruid made sure they were all outside before even considering firing the rifle.

"Everyone out?"

The Dwarf holding the silk string glanced inside and gave a nod. Umikgruid could not hold back his smile.

"The first time the Dragon Guard were allowed to create something new and it could change the world." He coughed and steadied himself. "When you're ready."

The Dwarf pulled hard on the silk string. For a single instance Verona was disappointed. The next her ears hurt from the sound of an explosion, followed by metal striking dirt. The Dwarves threw one another worried looks as they peered in.

"It sort of worked." The Dwarf holding the string said.

Umikgruid pushed him aside and entered, a great sigh escaped his lips.

The rifle had ruptured, to a degree. The main piece of the rifle was still in one piece but the barrel had ripped one side completely apart. Verona saw the thin metal piece lying to the side, fresh rock dust covered the metal from where it had struck the ceiling.

"Shit." Umikgruid bit his lip. "This...This is not what I was expecting."

"What actually went wrong?" Kal asked. "Why did it break free?"

Good. Keep him focused on the job and not on his own feelings.

The Dwarves approached the damaged rifle. Small wisps of smoke rose from the broken section. Verona did not know if that was good or bad.

A Dwarf tried to pull back the lever but simply could not. It took three Dwarves to release it, a mangled piece of brass came loose.

"That's the casing." Umikgruid mumbled. He looked to the far wall, to a fresh spot of dust. "So it did actually go out...So why did it do this?"

Verona and Kal approached. Though they were not smiths or metalworkers there was a chance they might spot something they had overlooked.

"It ruptured from the inside." Kal said softly. "How does this Fire Dust and the blue powder mix?"

"Do you think it could be that?" Umikgruid asked. "So far there hasn't...Ah. It's never been inside the rifle before." He ran his hand over the busted barrel. "Perhaps it became too hot? That could be it. Pressure? But..."

He looked down the barrel and clicked his tongue. "There's a massive gouge mark on the inside here. The bullet tried to dig its way through the metal and ripped it apart. Well, at least we know now we need to look at how the bullets are made. Perhaps the Fire Dust slipped and only burned on one side? Something we will have to investigate further and quickly."

"It still did a great job." Verona pointed to the hole in the far wall. "It took out a huge chunk of that stone. Imagine what it would do to a person."

Umikgruid nodded. "Yes...I'm sorry but we're going to have cancer any further tests until we can get the bullet situation sorted. I wish I had a test that worked flawlessly..." He sighed and patted the rifle barrel. "But it is not to be. And we won't test them in the original rifle either, just in case you tell Anton and he's worried about that."

"We will." Verona smiled. "I know he'll be very impressed."

"Apart from that there isn't a lot to show. Most of our effort I'd on perfecting this weapon and beginning production. We're still making weapons and armour for everyone above but this has taken all of our attention."

"That's fantastic." Verona watched the Dwarves begin to disassemble the broken rifle and inspect the bullets. "This is important but not if Atros falls as a result. If you need anything just let us know. While Anton's away you just need to give us the request."

"And for you to give it to someone that can read." Kal said snidely.

Verona jabbed her side but Kal managed to swat her hand away before she could do it twice. They both smiled as Umikgruid watched in silence, unsure of what to make of them.

---[]---

Verona barely had time to step out of the portal before a messenger danced around her face.

"What!?" Verona snapped. "What is so important?"

The Portal guards stood ready to intervene but this time it wasn't necessary.

"It is Sam." The breathless messenger began. "While you were...gone, she has started contractions."

"She's giving birth?" Kal asked. A clawed hand moved to her stomach. "Right now?"

"Yes. I was told to get you specifically." The messenger looked at Kal. "In case there are complications."

Verona and Kal shared a worried look. Though they were both delighted to be bearing Anton's children the actual act of birth was quite a frightening prospect. They had been warned of the pain, an unimaginable pain as the baby would come out of a hole simply too small, and that it was no short affair. It could easily take half a day. And then there were things to be really worried about. Giving birth was not without its risks and if things went wrong they could die.

"We'd...We'd better get going then." Verona laughed nervously. "Don't want to keep her waiting."

The messenger left while they hurriedly walked through the snow to Jeff's house. They continued to throw one another worried glances, the fears of having a baby slowly mulled through their minds.

"We'll be fine." Verona held Kal's arm. "I know we will."

"I'm...I'm only a bit worried about mine." Kal rubbed her stomach. "I'm not really worried about giving birth, but what it'll be. Will it be a quarter Beastkin?"

"So long as it's got fluffy ears and a fluffy tail they'll be fine." Verona smiled. "We'll all be fine. Besides, Anton has his knowledge from that Earth place. He'll know what to do."

Verona wasn't sure if she was trying to reassure herself or Kal. Either way it really didn't work.

Verona first heard the screams. At first she wasn’t sure what she was hearing, echoing down the city streets, but it was undeniably her. Sam screamed so loudly that she could hear her from several houses away. Those walking by took notice, especially the Beastkin and their sensitive hearing.

"She sounds like she's in a lot of pain." Kal bit her lower lip. "A lot of pain."

"Yeah." Verona looked down at her stomach. "There's no way a baby could fit through there." Verona shook her head. "This is going to be one of the most painful things we've ever done."

Two guards stood outside Jeff's house, keeping the curious and worried people at bay. They saw Verona and Kal sift their way through the people and let them in. The screams were very loud now, little more than pleading wails.

You can do this...Kal used to say that lot.

One quick glance and Verona knew she still was.

The guards allowed them in, the screams were now shrill and ear piercing, so loud that Verona winced. They found Sam in her bed, legs splayed open as she held her stomach, her face contorted in unimaginable pain. Sweat drenched her face and pale skin, her hair was stuck to her face. Jeff sat at her side, holding her hand. She held onto his so tight that both had turned white from lack of blood. At her other side stood Bertram and Sybil. Bertram spoke to Sam, not that she was really listening, while Sybil tried to feed Sam a strange green broth.

“Hello.” Sybil waved them closer. “Birth is always such a painful-”

Sam screamed even louder, she doubled over and kicked her legs back and forth. Bertram and Jeff held them down as Sam’s screams ebbed back to a terrible whimper.

“Such a painful thing that all women have to go through.” Sybil continued. “This will help with the pain and help the birth itself. But I think that your magic, Kal, would be best.”

“Right.” Kal reached out and held Sam’s foot. “Do you just want me to take the pain away?”

“Please.” Jeff pleaded. “I can’t bear to hear her scream like this.”

“I was like this when I gave birth to you.” Sybil smiled. “But diminishing the pain should be a good start.”

“Right…” Kal bit her lip and began to chant.

---[]---

“He’s beautiful.” Sam could barely muster the strength to speak, let alone hold her new baby boy in her arms. “Don’t you think?”

Verona nodded. “He is. He really is.”

Verona lent closer and poked the baby’s cheek. The baby squirmed away but did little else but sleep and breathe.

“Don’t they want to suckle right away?” Kal asked. “That’s what Marion said that’s what babies do.”

“Most do.” Sybil gently stroked the wispy hairs on the baby’s head. “But I think he might just be tired.”

Sam smiled at her baby, bringing it closer to her face. “Thank you. Thank you, Kal. I don’t think I would have been able to manage it without you.” She laughed nervously. “I didn’t think it would be so painful.”

“I can’t believe it passed through.” Verona muttered. “There’s no way that should be able to pass through that.”

“It was actually quite a small child.” Bertram said. “All things considered. I’ve seen larger. Much larger, and from women far smaller and frail than Sam.”

Verona didn’t think Sam’s baby was particularly small but she did not doubt Bertram. It only made her worry more about the baby growing in her own stomach.

“Regardless,” Sam waved Jeff closer. “I’m glad it’s over. And that it’s a healthy baby boy.”

Jeff smiled and gave Kal a curt nod. Until now all of Sam’s pregnancies had ended in miscarriages. She was not doing well and Jeff was rightfully concerned that she might not survive, at least mentally, another miscarriage. Kal also healed the baby just after it was born, just in case.

“Have you thought of a name for it yet?” Verona asked. “Any ideas?”

“Not a good one yet.” Sam looked to Jeff. “We’ve got a few floating around, but I don’t think we’re in a rush. Right?”

“No dear.” Sybil gently stroked Sam’s slick hair. “You can take as much time as you need...Actually. Bertram?”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t Sam the first person to give birth after Anton arrived?”

“I…” Bertram held his chin. “Not exactly. But, she is the first of the original people of Atros that has given birth since his arrival. At least...At least a full gestation.”

“That’s something.” Verona rubbed the baby’s head again. “Hey? The first baby since Anton arrived.”

I don’t think that you would call him Anton. Right? That...No. That would be too weird. And I don’t think either of you are like that...What should I call mine? Come to think of it I haven’t given it much thought. Strange, since it’s going to be my child.

“It is.” Sam smiled at Jeff again. “Do you think we’re going to be good parents?”

“Of course we will.” Jeff squeezed her hand back. “I know we will. Thank you, Verona, Kal. Thank you for coming.”

“It’s alright.” Verona felt a silence descend upon them. “We should probably leave you two alone. You’ve got a lot to talk about.”

Verona tapped Kal’s arm and gently pulled her towards the door. Kal frowned at her but already Sam and Jeff were engrossed by each other and their new baby, so much so that they were almost ignoring Jeff’s parents as they tried their best to clean up the mess left behind by the birth, not an inconsiderable amount of mess.

“Let’s go home.” Verona whispered to Kal. “I think we’ve done enough for one day. Don’t you think?”

“We need to get dinner ready.” Kal said absentmindedly.

“After all that?” Verona chuckled. “I don’t think so.”

“Even if I cooked with those Frindal spices? Maybe some chicken and potatoes?”

“Well...When you put it like that.” Verona smiled at Kal as they exited Jeff’s house.

Verona knew these brief moments of life and joy would not last, not with so many horrible things in the world and what they wanted to do to stop them, but they had to enjoy them, no matter how fleeting. For in the end it was simple little moments like this that they were even fighting for.