An: This is a full chapter, it is just really short. Also, if you don't like Ero, you won't like this. :)

Chapter 15: Is it Better than Free Cake?

The light of a single candle in a darkened room drew the attention of the tiny little fairy. She gazed at that candle with a gentle and solemn expression before taking a deep breath and blowing at it with all her might. The flame went out and two cheers echoed through the room.

“Happy possible pregnancy!” exclaimed Aria with a genuine smile.

“I need a second job now!” proclaimed Scott at the same time. He too wore a bright and genuine smile.

Ero laughed sweetly then lifted up the cake knife, a tool larger than she was, and did her fairy best to slide it home. She had to cut the cake as it was her special day. She may or may not be pregnant.

Since none of them had any real idea what to really do or say about that, Scott had decided that they should have some sort of party. Ero now had her fairy own potential pregnancy cake.

Even the cake was in on it, as it had been decorated with the words Happy Potential Pregnancy! There was a single candle upon the cake because Ero had felt a second light inside of her. That candle represented that tiny little light. Though, it had been strange to blow the candle out because of that.

Tomorrow morning they would return to ARS, there was much to do. Tonight, however, they would celebrate and enjoy being together as a family.

After Ero cut the cake, Scott reached forward and pulled out a slice for her so that she could have the first taste. The little fairy clapped her hands together once then thanked him for the help. She did not bother trying to use a fork as that would be like trying to eat with a pitch fork. Instead, she tore a hunk of cake out with her hand and then took a bite.

Ero’s eyes lit up and she made a pleased noise. “So good!”

Scott reached out and lightly stroked her stomach with the tip of his finger. “I’m glad.”

She giggled gently then nibbled on her cake some more. Ero was fairy happy about the attention, and that no one was mad at her. She had been worried since she realized that she had a second light within her.

“Don’t hog her” said Aria before she reached forward and rubbed Ero’s side. The fairy girl’s face turned slightly red and her smile grew bigger.

“She’s my fairy BFF you know.” said Scott playfully.

“Learn to share.” said Aria.

“I dunno, is there enough of you to go around?” Scott asked Ero.

The fairy girl nodded her head quietly, but her smile did not diminish. She was too happy to speak at the moment.

The party continued for several hours. The happy little family became even closer than before.

Eventually, Ero entered Scott’s mind. Scott and Aria went to sleep in anticipation of the day to come. They had to finish up the mermaid quest then head off to level up, get high-end equipment, and prepare for the future.

As Scott slept, he inevitably entered a dreamscape. It was a scene out of the past, a memory of being on one of the islands during the Shar-Shar events.

A lone figure in a diaphanous wrap-around dress stood at the shoreline. Scott recognized her immediately.

He walked to her and slid his arms around her waist. A soft sigh escaped Ero’s lips as she leaned against him. For a moment, they gazed silently out at the sea, watched as the setting sun created a glorious masterpiece of light upon the water.

“Scott?” asked Ero gently. He made an agreeable noise and she continued. “Is this really alright?”

He kissed her gently on the ear then said, “What could be more alright than raising a child with my best friend?”

A warm smile rose upon her lips even as she cast her eyes down to the sand. “You’ve always been so sweet to me even though I cause problems with you and Origin.”

“You’re not a problem Ero.” he said.

“Aren’t I? The entire reason you even came to ARS is because she loves you and believes in you. You only stumbled across me.” said Ero.

Scott lightly caressed her hip then kissed her on the back of her ear. “Ero, we both love you.”

“Do you? Do you really love me, Scott?” Her lower lip trembled slightly as she asked.

How did someone answer a question like that? It’s easy to say yes or no, but how did he actually answer it and have her know it to be true? He decided to say what he honestly felt. “Since we merged, you have become the best part of me. Even if it was possible, I would not want to be separated from you.”

A sharp intake of breath was followed by a soft sigh. Ero took a moment then said, “What if I am wrong? What if I’m not pregnant?”

“Would you like to be?” he asked her.

She released a sweet, deprecating, laugh. “I don’t know. I’m still so young, and…”

Scott’s hand slid down between her thighs and she unleashed a soft gasp of surprise. “Pregnant or not, you’ll always be my best friend.”

Ero laughed in a dulcet manner, her voice deeper and more sensual than before. “Oh, if you keep touching me like that I’ll definitely be your best friend forever.”

Scott laughed then rested his chin on her shoulder. “There’s that voice again.”

She leaned her head against his. “Am I strange?”

“Yes.” said Scott simply.

She chuckled gently then slid one hand down to rest atop his. As his fingers continued to express his love she could not help but smile. She adored Origin in any of her incarnations, but it was moments like this that she longed for above all. Tender moments with the man who had saved her and given her life purpose once more. Every sensual trill of pleasure that slid along her flesh reminded her that she had come close to ending everything. Every soft gasp or moan that his fingers elicited from her was a reminder that she was alive and that life could be wonderful.

“Scott…” she breathed out softly before pressing back against his groin.

“Ero.” he replied gently.

She closed her eyes and reveled in the dream, in the sensations that flowed throughout her body and soul. They had done things much more interesting in the past, but when he held her like this she could not help but feel a sense of peace that she rarely had otherwise.

His gentle touch became more aggressive. Her eyes fluttered open briefly even as she leaned her head back and unleashed a loud moan of approval.

“Does my cute little BFF like that?” he asked her lightly.

“Fairy much so…” she said, her words trailing off as her eyes closed tightly once more.

“Better than the cake?”

“Not sure…” she said before taking a quick breath. “Keep trying.”

Scott smiled at her response. It promised to be an interesting night. He had to show her that he was better than free cake after all. “Do you really think that cake is better than me?”

“Sweet- I have a sweet, tooth.” she said before uttering a cute little moan.

“That’s fairy odd.” said Scott.

“What was- Oh!” she started to ask him what was odd, but he had done something that made her entire body quiver.

“Isn’t everything about you sweet, not just your tooth?” he asked her in a casual tone of voice.

Ero laughed leisurely then said, “Keep that up and I’ll get extra pregnant.”

“You did order twins earlier.” He responded without missing a beat.

She unleashed an explosive laugh of pure joy. “Yeah, you need a little brother or sister, right?”

“I’m not sure that’s how it works, Ero.”

“It doesn’t matter. I’m magic!” she said with a laugh.

“Yes, you certainly are.” replied Scott warmly.

They continued to discuss the possibility of how the pregnancy thing worked for a while. Somehow, during the conversation then wound up lying face-to-face on the sand.

Scott reached out and gently stroked her cheek for a moment. She placed her hand atop his and then spent a while simply looking at each other.

Ero’s eyes searched Scott’s for a moment. Whatever it was that she sought in them, she found it. Her smile grew and became even brighter than before. “You do love me, don’t you.”

Scott did not say anything. He didn’t have to. Ero had not spoken a question, she had stated her answer. She knew how he felt about her, and that was the best happy possible pregnancy gift ever.