Converse with Lexie.

After spending about another hour in bed with Lexie you finally start to feel much better. You let her know that you have a lot to do this final day before you leave south. In fact, in almost exactly 24 hours you will be leaving to head south.

"Even though I could stay here all day with you, I really need to go do somethings today." you lean into Lexie, giving her a kiss on the top of her head.

"I know...I know. It's just it's my last full day with you. I just want to be with you..."

"I'll be back though, after Rathkin."

"You don't know that." she sounds a little more sad.

You just wrap your arm around your back, pulling her close into your side "Lexie, I know you want to come, but you can't...I will be back, you have my word."

"It's just...it's war though." she lets out "You can't guarantee anything. What if Rathkin has a big plan? Or an ally shows up? What if the Syndicate fails? What if you get fatally wounded? What if.."

"What if we win easily and I'm back in under a week?" you cut her off "What then?"

"That could happen...I just.."

"It will happen." you interrupt her again "Stop thinking of all the bad outcomes, Lexie."

"Yeah but, what about..." she pauses "Him." her head tilts, looking at your face.

"Don't need to worry about that. I'll take care of him."

"Darien, he's never been beat, I worry about that."

"This is where that changes. Lexie, over five years ago this journey started for me. Rathkin killed my village, killed my family, HE, took my sister. He Kil..." you stop, your teeth clenching down hard on each other, not wanting to say that word "I need to do this. For me..." you swallow briefly, your body starting to get fired up thinking about everything. You slowly turn your head looking over at Lexie "This is for you as well. And also..." your left hand reaches down and gets placed on Lexie's stomach, your thumb just lightly rubbing right above her belly button.

"I know, Darien, I know." she brings both her hands up front, holding onto yours "It's just...I've always been on the front lines, fighting for the Syndicate, fighting because my mother did. But now, when I want to fight for you, fight with you, I can't."

"Lexie, you can. I know you could still come with us. I know you would kick all sorts of ass. But I also know you shouldn't. You're not just thinking about yourself now..." you continue to rub her stomach with the palm of your hand and your thumb "...you're thinking about our child now."

It was the first time you said those words...our child. "Our child..." you think again as you lean your head on top of Lexie's once more.

"I know." she holds your hand on her stomach even tighter "I know that."

The two of you sit side by side for another handful of minutes until you realize that you still have a lot to do today before you leave for war tomorrow. You have a couple people to meet with, a couple last minute errands to run and apparently a speech to inform the Sunriders what's going on tomorrow and to get them hyped up. "Hey Lexie..." you begin "I could stay here forever but..."

"I know." she cuts you off once more "I'll see you later. I don't care what, or who you do tonight, just...just make sure I see you one more time before you leave for war tomorrow. I want to be alone with you one more time..."

"Lexie..."

"Promise me! This can't be our last time alone together before you leave."

You smile at her "Promise." you lean forward, giving her cheek a kiss "I'll make sure it's a night worth remembering" you smile at her "Oh, and Lexie...sorry once more about the room." you both laugh slightly "I'll get it fixed...but until then, just stay in my chambers, okay?"

Her head turns, looking at you "Of course." she smiles "Sounds good to me. Anyway, get out of here" she begins to softly push against your side, trying to push you out of the bed "You have things to do, leave!" she playfully orders you.

You smile and shake your head at her "Oh you..."