Mar sat on a giant clam shell looking at the coral infront of her. It was golden red in color and had deep blue surounding it. Some distance from her, Kad was doing much the same yet the coral he was looking at was a deep green with yellow surrounding it.

An older siren sat some where between the two areas of coral working on something. Her hands were nimble as she threaded the pearls around the coral she was working with. The coral was very thin and delicate, almost too fragile to use for anything yet the mother siren worked with it easily. "Kadram." She said looking over at her son. "Come here."

"Yes Mother." Kad said swiming off the shell he was on. He held his hands out as the old siren motioned. As the pearl and coral touched his hands, they transformed into a necklace and ring for Dia and a ring for himself.

"Take these to your wife, my dear Kadram. And may your children be healthy." She said kissing him on the forhead.

"Thank you, Mother." He said holding the items. He placed them in a pouch he had on his waist and swam back to his shell waiting for Mar's work to be done.

The elder siren looked over at her once son but now daughter. A smile was on her lips as she worked with the pearl and coral. "Marina, come here." she said causing Mar to look up and blush a little.

She swam out to her mother and held her hands the same as Kad was shone. Once the pearl and coral touched her hands, they turned into a ring and dagger for Sai and a ring for herself.

"May your life be full of excitement still, my little Marina." the siren said before kissing her forhead.

"Thank you, Mother." Mar replied as she place the items in her pouch as well.

"Now off with both of you. I'm hoping your lovers are still waiting on the beach but if not, you know wehre to find them." The elder siren said as she swam off.

"Let's go. You still need to talk to Sai." Kad said earning a soft look from Mar.

"I know..." Mar said quietly. She had thought over what Sai had told her and was a little nervous. But she wasn't going to turn her back on him. If he needed an heir in teh course of a year, he would have one.

The twins surfaced and looked at the shore line to see if their lovers were waiting for them.

Dia sat looking absently at the waves. She was in no hurry to leave as it had been some time since she had seen the ocean. It was as beautiful as she remembered; an endless vast body of water, blue and green and often a mix in between in places. It was clear and shimmered in the sun like diamonds and she found herself smiling as she waited for her love, a hand on her stomach. She sighed softly, and waved when she noticed Kad. "Hey Kad." She called lightly.

Sai, on the other hand, was laying on the sand, curled up on one side, half-asleep. He had taken off his sword and it lay, still in it's sheath on a patch of sand close to him. He blinked a bit when he heard Dia call out into the ocean and he sat up, wiping sand out of his hair and face and plastered on a bright smile as he waved to Mar.

Kad swam back to Dia as Mar swam over to Sai. "Sorry it took so long." Kad said as he took his human form. "Mother was going crazy over Mar's new look." He said chuckling.

"Have a good nap?" Mar asked as she came onto the shore. She sat down beside Sai and looked at the ocean. "Mother was surprised to say the least..."

Dia shrugged, "That's fine. I was enjoying the scenery. We have to come by more often." She said to Kad with a smile. "It's very beautiful....I almost don't want to leave."

Sai smiled softly at Mar, "Yes, it did me good." He said as he wrapped an arm around Mar and gave her a half hug of sorts. "What were you two doing anyway, if I may ask?"

Kad smiled as he wrapped his arm around Dia's waist. "I would love for us not to leave. But until we are safe from Diablo's tyrany (sp) We must leave." He said kissing her gently. He took out the items from his pouch. "The surprise I was telling you about." He whispred handing hte necklace and ring to her.

"Getting blessings from Mother." Mar said softly as she took out the ring and dagger for Sai. "And..." She leaned over to whisper in Sai's ear. "I would be more than honored to bear a child for you, Sai. It is no pressure or stress on me." She said kissing his cheek gently.

((Dia's Necklace and ring))




((Sai's ring and dagger))

Dia gasped lightly as she saw the ring and necklace, her face softening. "Oh, Kad...." She said softly as she clutched them to her chest. "Thank you," She said as she slipped on the ring and necklace, both perfect fits, and hugged him tightly, tears of joy falling from her eyes. "I love you so much Kad..." She said softly.

Sai blinked, in shock, then smiled softly. "Mar...." He said softly as he slipped on the ring. The dagger was clutched lightly in his other hand. "Thank you. I love you Mar, always remember that." He said as he tilted her head up and kissed her deeply, but gently.

Kad held onto Dia and smiled as he kissed her gently again. "I love you Dia." He said nuzzling her cheek. "Oh please don't cry." he said as he smiled at her. "I know you are happy but you don't need to cry." He held his hand up for Dia to see. "They are all blessings from mother." He said quietly.

Mar closed her eyes as she returned the deep kiss. One of her thumbs brushed against Sai's cheek tenderly. "I love you too, Sai. I always will." She said smiling as they broke the kiss. She held her hand out to show off the ring her mother gave her.

((Kad's ring))


((Mar's ring))

Dia smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks, "I can't help but cry Kad...I'm so happy." She said as she hugged him again. "Your mother is very kind. So very, very kind." She said softly.

Sai smiled brightly, and held her hand in his, nuzzling her cheek lovingly. "I'll never leave you." He said softly as he hugged her with his free hand. "I love you so much Mar, thank you. Thank you for the gifts. I will cherish it forever."

A soft familiar chuckle came from the over look above the group. Kad looked up and smiled a little. "Seems our boss has found us." He mused as he hugged Dia again, wiping the tears away.

Mar leaned against Sai's chest, her eyes bright with happiness. "I'm glad, Sai." She said quietly ignoring the fact that Ket was there.

Levitan stuck his head out of the water and looked at the large female silver dragon that was on the over look. "Seems you are in a decent mood today." He commented.

"Decent." Ket repeated with a nod.

Dia smiled and looked up, "Hello Ket, I have good news." She said lightly as she huggled Kad. She was beaming and...had this odd glow to her like she was the happiest person in the world. "I'm going to have twins!" She said, smiling again up at her.

Sai smiled and wrapped both his hands around his love, before looking up at Ket, "Hello Ket, been awhile hasn't it. Sorry bout the unexpected vacation." He said in his usual good sense of humor.

Ket chuckled again as she looked at the four. "And I see our Mar has changed sexes on us." She mused as she jumped down, taking her human form. "Congratz, Dia. I thought you seemed to glow a little." She said with a knowing nod. She had three kids of her own after all. "And let me warn you, twins are a great handful." She said from experiance.

Mar blushed at what Ket had said but smiled at her when the dragoness turned to her and Sai. "I noticed you were missing. Had three units looking for you guys until I recived reports that Diablo had opened rifts around you. Are you all alright?" Ket asked worriedly.

"We are fine, Ket." Kad said smiling. "Tired and stressed a little, but other wise, fine."

Dia sighed, "I know, I happen to hang around a pair of twins." She said with a light smile. "At least they behave once in awhile." Dia said with a laugh as she leaned against Kad. Her smiled softened a bit, "And let me tell you, it's great to be back in Kyoko..."

Sai grinned, "We're great Ket, now that we're back. It was too stressing and new over there. I snapped a few times to, that was fun, but other than that, we are fine." He said as he nuzzled Mar's neck.

"It is a very strange world over in that relm. The powers are mostly hidden and the people aren't always kind." Ket said as she sat on a rock.

"Yes but we met some allies of your's." Kad said. "Alexander and company?"

Mar smiled as she cuddled with Sai. She was tired though and gave a slight yawn. Ket smiled a little more. "I'm glad they found you. Alex is a great friend of mine."

Dia smiled lightly, "We sorta guessed that already. He had pictures of you in your younger days." She said with a small laugh.

Sai chuckled, "Yes, he did seem quiet fond of you..." He said with a light smile as he patted Mar's arm. "Though, that cat was a bit odd. Never heard someone purr that loudly...." He said with a laugh.

Ket laughed. "Gaston is still around is he? I'm glad to hear that. Did he and Falon ever get together?" She asked tilting her head.

"Two kids. One 10 and the other born yesterday." Kad replied as he watched Ket's eyes light up again.

"That's great to hear. I miss them all of them." She said her hands behind her back.

"And...." Kad said eyeing Ket seriously. "We know about the rift." Ket's mood changed drasticaly. She looked away from the four of them. "You are going to sacrifice yourself?"

Dia frowned, remembering that particular conversation and it wasn't one of her favorites. "Ket....we understand, but it hurts nonetheless. Isn't there some other way?" She asked softly.

Sai had lowered his head, closing his eyes as he nestled his head between Mar's neck and shoulder. "You should've told us...." He murmured lightly.

Mar ran her hands through Sai's hair while Kad held on to Dia. Neither wanted to think about it.

Ket thought a moment, caught off guard and needing to gather her thoughts. "If I had told you sooner, would you have allowed me to do all that has been done thus far?" She asked quietly. "I didn't want to worry any one but I was also afriad that if certian people knew, they would try to stop me. I know you guys better than to assume that but since we started this, I had little time to dwell on who knew and who didn't...."

Sai closed his eyes and sighed, "Atela, we...I'll admit, we would've done everything in our power to try and...and find another way...." He said softly, "But you know us better than that. We know when your mind is made up, but..you could've told us. Given us some warning." He said softly, leaning against Mar as she ran her fingers through his hair.

Dia shivered lightly and leaned against Kad, trying to clear her head so she could think clearly.

Atela crossed her arms, leaning against the rocks and looking out to the ocean. "When we started this war 2000 years ago, we did research on rifts, remember?" She asked quietly as she thought about the time it had been brought it to the elder's attention that a rift to cut through space and time was possible. "I wasn't the one chosen to close such a thing back then. It was the gold dragon, Avarias... yet he fell by Diablo's hand. So naturaly, the task fell to me...."

Sai listened to Ket, as she talked, if anything, he wanted any background so that if he could, he could search for any and all other possibilities.

Dia looked up, she had never heard this and it was rare for Ket to speak of her past, even if only in passing, so she too, listened intently.

Mar was listening, her eyes closed. She was listening to the way she said her words mroe than the words themselves. Ket was having a hard time even talking about it though it wasn't very obvious.

Kad kept his arms around Dia as he listened to the dragoness. IT was hard to tell the past from the present with Ket, her's seemed to run together all the time.

"I knew of a rift but had no clue where it was. Even in passing, we were left clueless. After the fall of Home, Andorra and Asa to Diablo, we held only Ren and parts of the desert. Murkesh was left unchecked in the fight...." Ket's eyes were distant as she spoke. "When we arrived, I felt the rift but... even then we had no knowledge of what to do. It was a futile attempt on our part. We could do nothing to stop it then... and I'm not sure if the plan we have now will even work."

Sai remained silent, clenching his jaw as he glared at the ground. Diablo had ruined many a lives, and know he was...if this turned badly, taking Ket away from them. Let, who he looked up to as a (much) older sister and a slight mother figure, not that he would admit that minor detail. "And what is the plan?" he said softly. He wanted details and he'd rather have them now rather than later.

Dia looked up at Kad, before looking back at Ket, trying to understand and not spiral into a slight depression. "How long?" She asked softly, "How long till...till this happens. The closing of th realms."

"The rift has to be compleatly torn." Ket said as she still did not look at them. "If not, then trying to seal it will fail. It's too far open to just close it up like that. The spells though, both of them are forbidden spells. It will take a great deal of magic to compleat this task. Once it is compleatly torn, it must be reclosed. That though, is where a greater problem accurs. While both relms are open to the other, we are at a great risk of loosing many lives by the weapons of the other relm. Diablo won't allow me to reclose it so easily. He wants, needs me to tear it the rest of the way... So .... I am being played as a puppet in that manner... but I must become the puppet master to finish the task. I have to manipulate Diablo's powers adding them to my own to close the rift."

Mar and Kad both turned and stared at Ket. "That's suicide." Mar said flatly.

"You'll weaken yourself too much to reclose the rift." Kad added with shock.

"I'll be alright as long as I don't tire myself out before the battle." Ket said before chewing on her lower lip. "Just over a year.... next spring."

Sai grinned, his eyes flashing, "She won't be battling." He said softly. "Leave the battle to us Ket. I have a few favors to call in, you just worry on the rifts, we'll take care of the low-lives. Besides, if what you say is true, than the worlds, if only for a while, will merge allowing your friends from the other realm to fight as well. You have an army at both sides Ket, you...you just worry bout that damned rift." He said as he looked thoughtfully out to the ocean.

Dia looked at Sai oddly, she hadn't thought of it that way, but...he was right, if only slightly, about the army on both sides.

Ket smiled softly as she thought of the members of the BRC and OR. "I miss them... and I know they are going to help... in some way I know they will." She mused lightly. "But Diablo has his own army on the other side. He's been building it up slowly. Three diffrent units I believe."

"Then it looks like we'll have a lot of fun." Mar mused as she hugged Sai a little. "Lots of fun making them realize we aren't easy to over throw."

Kad laughed lightly at Mar's reply. "We'll take care of the fight as Sai said." He said looking at Ket. "Either way, we can't avoid it can we?"

"Not this time." Ket said shaking her head.

"I believe we should be going, Kauket." Levitan said chuckling as he listened to the story. "We have to get to the Celestial meeting. The dragons grow impacient waiting for the silver Celestial to appear... though they would be more so if it was a golden one leading us."

Sai nodded, "Don't worry bout us Ket, you got enough on your plate." Said Sai with a slight smile. "We may not be devils, but we sure as hell fight like one." He said, laughing a little.

Dia smiled, "You go to your meeting and we'll get back to camp. Although, I am afriad that I'm not going to be able to do field duty like before. I do not want to risk it if I can help it." She said softly.

"You are on leave until you are healed enough after the twins are born." Ket said seriously as she looked at Dia. "No field duty and you can aid at the Sun Temple with deploying troops and units on strikes."

"A wonderful idea." Dusk said as he appeared beside Kad, causing the male siren to hit him with a sword. "Nice... but not deep enough." Dusk said looking at the blood running down his leg.

Kad slapped his forhead as Mar laughed. "Ok you guys take care. Dusk, don't irritate the pregnate woman." Ket warned as she went over to Mar. She whispered something rather low in her ear so not even Sai could hear it. Mar blushed very deeply as Ket walked far enough away to take her dragon form. "Take care all of you." She said as she and Levitan took to the sky.

Dia yelped when Dusk suddenly appeared, then glared at him, hand over her heart as she took deep calming breaths. "Will you quit that!" She said as she eyed his sword wound. "You scared me half to death!"

Sai looked at Mar curiously, before he looked at Ket fly away, "You too!" he called to her, before looking back at Mar. "What'd she say?" He asked her, overly curious now.

Dusk smiled and pulled the sword from his leg. "I'm sorry Dia. If I didn't do that at least once a week, you'd think I was mad at you." He said pouting before Kad punched him in the stomach.

"Quit scaring her." Kad said with a light growl as he took his sword back.

Mar hid her burning face in Sai's shoulder laughing lightly. "I'll tell you when we are alone." She said shaking her head. "I'm too embarassed to say it in front of the others..."

Dia sighed, "Kad, as fun as it is to make Dusk feel pain, both for yourself and for him, you aren't doing any good." She said as she placed a hand on his arm. She smiled softly, "It's alright, I'm fine."

Sai blinked, both confused but willing to wait. "Alright, I suppose I can wait...." He said as he looked at her oddly, "Though, I might just tickle it out of you..."He mused softly.

Dusk smiled as he watched the two. "Healthy twins. You seem to be doing just fine, Dia. Just wait until the months get further along. You'll probably confined to bed rest depending on how they grow." He said seirously.

Kad looked at Dia. "HE scares me when he does that..." Kad said blinking. "Changing the subject that quickly I mean."

Mar eeped and shook her head laughing. "Don't tickle me." She said as she looked at Sai a mischievious look in her eyes.

Dia, although happy that the twins were healthy, pouted, "Confined to bed rest?! Are you sure?! I don't want ot be stuck in a bed..." She whined slightly and (fake) glared at Kad. "All your fault..." She said, the smiled and patted his arms, "but mine as well....I"m happy...just dreading giving birth...." She said, shuddering.

Sai grinned, mimicking her mischievous loon and pounced on her, immediately tickling her sides.

"it'll depend on how they grow." Dusk said laughing at Kad and Dia's fake glare exchange. "But it wouldn't hurt to limit yourself now. Twins are difficult to predict. One set can go with out a problem and another could be full of them. Best to be safe than sorry.

Mar squealed as she was tickled. "I said no tickling." She said laughing as she squirmed trying to get out of it.

Dia broke the fake glare fight to turn to Dusk, "Alright...but...I'm a first time mother, I don't know what to do!" She said, worrying for the first time. "Nor do I know how far along I am. Care to clear that up for me?" She asked him. She had been so busy with the war, she forgot to chart her periods and, in a sense, forgot completely about them.

Sai grinned as he tickled her more, "You also said no telling till we are alone. I have no idea how long that'll be and I am VERY curious." He said as he laughed at and with her.

Kad hugged Dia lightly as Dusk came around front and placed his hand a few inches from her belly. He closed his eyes, a soft yellow light coming from his finger tips. "Almost three months." He said opening them. "And it's diffrent for each mother through pregnacy. Just dont' do anything stupid like jumping off a building or falling constantly and yo'll be fine." He said only partly joking.

Mar shook her head as she continued to laugh. "But.. but..." She got out through her laughs. She was too busy laughing to think about how to word what Ket told her. "She said to keep in mind that the closer it is to my time of month, the easier it'll be for me to concive..."

"Too much information!" Kad said groaning and hiding his head.

Dia looked...shocked. "T-t-three months!?!?!" She said, a little breathless. "Why haven't I noticed! You'd think I would notice sooner!! Oh gods..." She said, getting very dizzy all of a sudden. She leaned against Kad and closed her eyes a bit.

Sai blinked and laid off tickling Mar, "Seriously? We can take our time you know...." He said as he leaned down and kissed her neck, before pulling back up and rolling off of her. "It would only take you...4 1/2 to 5 months to give birth and a year is 12 months. We can take our time...."

Kad rubbed her back gently. "Easy, Dia. There are some that don't realize it until they are ready to give birth that they are with child." Dusk said as he sat down in front of her. "You were a zombie for some time though. Your body is still adjusting to the change back to living form. It's not surprising to me at least that this has happened. I was worried that you weren't going to be able to have children...."

Mar mewed at the kisses. "she was just warning me." Mar said as she looked at Sai. "We can take our time but it was just a friendly warning. In case we wanted to plan a little..." She said her cheeks red.

Dia nodded, shuddering at a few memory flashbacks of when she was a zombie. Her hand went up to her throat where the black band, that marked her as a zombie, had been on her throat. She never told anyone, but it often times flashed on her throat...a warning that, even though she was free, he had marked her and when he could steal her away, he would.. She shuddered again. "I know what you mean, I was afraid as well..." She said softly.

Sai blinked, then smiled a little, "Planning is so overrated." He said lightly. "But, it's a good idea if you want. WE could plan or just have fun...your choice."

"Forgive me for bringing up a painful subject." Dusk said bowing his head to her. "You should expect me at least everyother day to check on you. This is a very delicate time. I'm not going to let anything happen if I can help it."

Mar laughed. "I'd rather have fun. Planning can cause strain on the relationship." She said winking as she quoted the rest of what Ket said.

Dia shook her head, "It's not your fault, but the nightmares...won't go away." She confessed lightly. "And...I understand. I suppose I'll have to get used to seeing you often?" She said, laughing a little.

Sai grinned, "I see, I see. Then fun and playful we are." He said as he nuzzled her cheek.