Lupe is coming!

Yesterday, Rome had explained to Rei her theory of time. While you couldn't actually travel backwards or forwards in the physical sense, your mind could travel "up the river" or down and you could experience (but not interact) with a point along the timeline. While Rei did not fully subscribe to the theory, he could not refute Rome's evidence. They put the discussion aside because Rei had something that had been nagging at him since they left Helome and he finally remembered to ask Rome about it:

     The private moment Rome and Virga shared before they took Virga home flashed into his mind. “Hey,” he said, pulling his head back. “There’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.”
     “Yes, mau emir?” She put her hand on top of his, caressing it tenderly.
     “When we were tussling with the Sipre, in the ethereal world, I saw your spirit as a bright red flame. But there was this little pink spark, like a pixie, that seemed to always follow you around. That spark was so bright but it never strayed from being beside you. It wasn’t one of the Onsira children. Their sparks were black or at least they were until Bonnie came along.”
     Rome took Rei’s hand and began moving it in a circular motion around her abdomen. “That tiny spark was Lupe,” she said, smiling. “She is coming.”
     “What?” Rei said, sitting bolt upright. “I’m going to be a father again?”
     “Yes,” Rome replied, her smile getting even broader. “She was conceived during our training night together. I suppose it was just the right time.”
     Rei laughed. “That is so sleek.”
     Rome cocked her head. “You’ll have to wait and see about that. You may end up changing your mind.”
     “Why?” Rei asked, confused.
     “I have already spoken to her.”
     “You have?” Rei tried to act surprised but in this brave new world, almost nothing surprised him anymore.
     “Yes, but unlike Aason, I must give you fair warning. This one is going to be a handful. I believe your word for it is a brat.”
     “A brat, huh?” Rei breathed. “Daughters always are,” he said, kissing Rome’s nose. “But we’ll love her all the more.”
     “Yes, we will,” Rome said. She smiled seductively and took Rei’s hand and moved it even lower. “But for tonight, it is just you and me and we are home again.”
     Rei nodded his head vigorously and focused on his wife, his beautiful wife, the love of his life. She was the one he was fated to be with since the beginning of time. Their enemies had been vanquished. There was peace everywhere. Their love-making began in earnest knowing all was right with the world, no, the universe, now and forever more.

These two people have been through a lot. They deserve a little peace and quiet. And happiness. And now they are going to have a new baby. Yet another adventure.