Alone in her apartment, Snowhawk sighed and flopped onto her couch. She lightly placed a hand on her stomach and closed her eyes. “At least not everything is lost.” She rested for a few moments, then thought to herself, I shouldn’t be so tired this early. She pulled a blanket off the back of the couch and curled up; within the next five minutes, she had drifted to sleep.

Several hours later, a hand gently stroked her equine face as a male’s voice quietly spoke. “Wake up, Snowhawk.” Her eyes shot open as she immediately awoke and tried to get away from whoever else was in her apartment. The male grabbed her arm and kept her from running off. “Calm down, love,” Legacy’s voice said.

Snowhawk panted for a moment, then she kicked at him once she’d somewhat recovered. “Don’t do that, dammit!”

“Sorry, dear,” he smiled. “You need to relax a bit, though.”

“You know I can’t afford to,” she responded, smirking at him.

“Where were you?” he asked as he sat down next to her.

“I went to make sure Jerome found the right house.” She yawned quietly. “He did. On his first try too, surprisingly.”

“Good,” Legacy nodded, then paused to look at his mate. “Are you ok, love? You look... paler than usual.”

“I’m fine,” she stated.

It had been little more than a month since they last had this conversation. Rather than try to get her to tell him what was wrong, Legacy again felt her face. “You have another fever. Or did you ever get rid of that last one?” he questioned, leaning toward her.

The lavender female just pulled her ears back and looked away. She looked back at him after a couple minutes. Her nervousness was apparent, then more so as she began to speak. “Legacy, I’m...”

“What, love?” he asked tilting his head to the side, curious as to what was making her so uncomfortable.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and decided the best way to tell him would be the most direct way. “Legacy, I’m pregnant.”

Legacy stuttered for a moment, shocked, surprised, and even a little confused, then asked, “Since when?”

“Four months ago,” Snowhawk quietly stated.

He blinked, now more confused. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because you worry about me enough as it is,” she replied. “I know you know this is dangerous for me. But I’ve been through it before. I’ll be careful.”

“Will you change any of your plans?” he questioned, concerned.

“No. I can’t afford to at this point. As I said, I’ll be careful. But I’ll do what I have to do to get Nytehawk back.”

Legacy sighed and shook his head. “I’m not even going to try and talk you into changing your mind, but can I at least carry you to bed?” She nodded, smiling a little as he stood, and picked her up.

*********

“So, how long have you been here, Sophie?” Jerome asked the blonde maned female sitting across from him.

“I found Hunter three days after Nyte vanished,” she responded, trying not to make eye contact with him.

The golden Guardian leaned back in his chair, watching her. “Does he know about your past?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “And I’d prefer he didn’t know. Hunter wouldn’t let me help if he knew.”

“I can’t say I blame him. Your track record makes you a little hard to believe, Sophie.”

She flinched at his words. “That hurts, Jerome. I’m not here to cause any more trouble for her. I’m here to make up for what I did. I didn’t have any choice other than a very slow, very painful death back then.”

“So I guess you’re better off now,” he said, looking off.

“As I've said, I have at the very most two years to live. I have wasted my life trying to do what I was told to do. Then when I finally stopped doing that, I was sentenced to death. I want to at least do one thing right.” She dropped her head, then placed her hands on the back of her neck.

“Whatever your plan turns out to be, just don’t get us killed,” he stated, then stood and walked out of the room.

*********

Nytehawk could do little more than twitch as yet another vehicle pulled in front of Janus’ estate. “Pretty freaking brave of him to throw a party. Especially here.” She then turned to see a pale yellow, Asian-styled dress hanging on a hook next to a full length mirror. “And especially wanting me to join him. I guess he really has lost his mind.”

The knock on her door caught her attention. “Are you coming down?” Janus’ muffled voice asked.

“Not on your life,” she growled.

“Come now, Nytehawk. Don’t be so stubborn,” Janus said, partially opening the door.

“No,” she restated.

“Nytehawk--” he began, but was promptly cut off.

“What are you gonna do, Janus?” she asked, stomping her hoof. “Do you even think it’s a good idea to ‘show me off’?”

“Wouldn’t you enjoy getting out of your room?” he asked, avoiding her question.

She thought for a moment, then gave her silent reply by raising her middle finger at him and scowling.

“Not very tactful, are you?” he commented, unaffected by this display.

“What do you expect from this little party?” she asked. “That Snow’s gonna show up?”

“It would be a nice end to the night,” ne nodded. “And should she appear, I have no intention of making her stay.”

“Right,” Nytehawk scoffed.

“You may not get a chance to see her for a while, Nytehawk,” Janus noted.

She turned away from him. “My answer still stands.”

“Suit yourself,” he replied, then closed her door and locked it.

“Bastard,” she growled.

*********

“Why are you doing this, Snow” a worried Legacy asked as his almost naked mate walked from their bathroom to her large closet.

“Because I think I can get Nytehawk back,” she calmly replied, browsing through her clothes.

“At least let me come with you,” he pleaded.

“No. I need you to go meet Jerome and Hunter to let them know what’s going on.” She pulled a long, dark violet dress off a hanger and slipped it on.

“I think you’re seriously underestimating him, love,” he told her as she walked past him and kneeled down to look under their bed.

“I’d be amazed if he accomplished anything, Legacy,” she returned.

“I’m worried about you, Snowhawk. You’re already getting exhausted really easily,” he mentioned, leaning against the wall.

She pulled out a pair of black velvet anklets and buckled them on, then stood. “I’ll be fine. We will be fine,” she repeated.

“It just seems convenient,” he pointed out.

“Convenient or not, I will be fine.” She picked up a knee length, light amethyst velvet cloak from the bed and draped it across her shoulders. “We don’t have much time, Legacy,” she began, her voice deathly serious. “I don’t foresee another chance if we pass this up.” Legacy reluctantly nodded in agreement. She pulled the cloak’s hood onto her head and gave him one last kiss. “Take care, Legacy,” she quietly said, then quickly left their apartment.

*********

Legacy left their apartment some twenty minutes after Snowhawk. “What are you planning, love?” he asked the evening haze as he walked down the quiet street to Hunter and Nytehawk’s home. He looked to the clouding sky and at the few stars peeking out. “What indeed?” He traveled for more than an hour after leaving the apartment, finally reaching the gate of Nytehawk’s home. Slowly, he walked to the front door and knocked.

“Long time no see, Legacy,” Jerome smiled as he opened the door for the younger Guardian.

“It has been, Jerome,” he replied, stepping inside.

“So, what brought you here?” Jerome asked, closing the door.

“Snowhawk sent me.”

The golden Guardian looked confused. “Snowhawk? But, we thought she’d gone back to Janus.”

Legacy shook his head. “She’s been with me the past two years. She went to retrieve Nytehawk tonight and sent me here to let you and Hunter know.”

Jerome blinked, again confused at what Legacy had told him. “She went to Janus’ estate. Alone.” Legacy confirmed this with a small nod. “That’s what his plan was,” the golden one said quietly, having finally put the pieces together.

“She insisted I not go. But, I’m sure you know how stubborn her and Nytehawk are.” Legacy sighed. “There’s too much at stake now. I didn’t want to her to go.”

“What do you mean ‘too much at stake’?” he questioned as they walked into the living room.

“Snowhawk is four months pregnant. She refused to change her plans. Now I fear she won’t come back,” he admitted as he sank onto the couch.

Jerome sat in a chair next to the couch. “Did she tell you not to come after her?”

“No, but I don’t think Janus is exactly the sharing type,” he dryly replied.

The older Guardian nodded. “We’ll just have to wait and see what she does.”

*********

Snowhawk was not surprised that that she was allowed into the estate without question. She was not surprised that no one followed her when she left the main hall to look for her cousin. She was, however, surprised that Janus did not immediately track her down the moment she walked in the door. In fact, she had not seen him all night. Maybe he’s losing his touch, she thought to herself as she checked behind another door with no success. “I should have asked Jerome where she was,” she whispered as she opened another door and stepped into the room. She found herself in one of the estate’s large studies.

Sitting on a couch directly across the room from her was Janus. He grinned when he saw her. “I knew you’d come tonight.”

“Where’s my cousin?” she immediately questioned, trying not to be distracted by him.

“You always were so direct,” he grinned. “Wouldn’t you like to talk?”

“No. Where is she?” Snowhawk sharply returned.

“On the other side of the estate,” he casually replied. “Don’t worry dear,” he began as he pressed one of the buttons on a remote on the table next to him, closing and locking the door. “No harm will come to her. I intended on bringing you here tonight to talk. That’s all.” He stood up from the couch and walked toward her.

Snowhawk dropped her head slightly and quietly asked, “What’s there to talk about?”

“Plenty, love,” he smoothly replied, placing his right hand on her right shoulder, then walking behind her and doing the same with his left. “We never did talk after your-- accident.”

“It’s been almost two and a half years, Janus,” she noted. “There’s nothing to talk about anymore.”

He grinned as he reached for the closure of her cloak. “I think there is, dear bird. I think there is much we haven’t discussed.” He pulled the cloak off her shoulders, then almost whispered to her, “Might as well get comfortable, love.”