The Gathering (94 page)

"You are all in trouble!"

Brian turned and pointed to the sky.

"What?
 
It's raining."

He stepped backward as he laughed and felt a strong hand on his shoulder.
 
He turned slowly and saw Sean staring down at him.

"Please try not to antagonize her."

"But it's so easy."

Sean fought the smile that tried to break through his lips.
 
He managed it with much difficulty and closed his eyes.

"Bri, I'm begging you."

"Brian Grant Stark!!"

Sean's shoulders dropped.

"Too late."

Alia walked out into the rain.
 
She was wrapped in a red cloak that covered her head, but it did nothing to cover the enormous bump in her middle.
 
She pointed to her son and then at her feet.

"Come here!"

Brian swaggered and moved up the steps, stopping in front of his mother.

"Go inside and apologize to your sister.
 
She's freaking out and we have to leave.
 
Go now!!"

She watched him walk in.
 
Then she turned and walked down the steps and over to Sean.
 
She put her head on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her.
 
He could barely hear her muffled voice.

"Do we have to go?"

"Yes… your kid is getting married."

She raised her head.

"Oh yeah…"

Janeen came up to her friend.
 
She bit into an apple and leaned on the wagon.

"What's the hold up?"

"Teenagers."

"You know, since you got knocked up, you have no control."

"Bite me."

Janeen smiled and then took another bite out of the apple and walked up the steps.
 
She swallowed the apple and bellowed.

"EVERYONE GET A MOVE ON!
 
WE ARE LEAVING NOW!!
 
LET'S GO!!"

Alia laughed as children came pouring out of the castle doors, racing down the steps and leaping into the wagon.
 
Helen followed them as she held on to Amanda's hand.
 
She lifted Amanda into the wagon, as well as herself, joining the other children.
 
They were soon followed by the other nannies.
 
Janeen walked back to her and Connie’s wagon and climbed in.
 
Sam leaned in the back of the lead wagon and Coeli smiled.

"Hi, Babe."

"I thought you were riding on horseback."

"Oh, no, it's wet, but you have fun."

Sam nodded and smiled.

"Yeah… fun…"

Coeli grabbed his hand and he turned back to her.
 
She leaned forward and kissed him.
 
He thought about how her lips were as soft as the night before.
 
She leaned into his ear.

"I promise, I'll help you dry off when we get there."

Sam gave her a crooked smile and raised his eyebrows.

"Promises, promises."

Scott was pointing at Sara, who just smiled and shook her head as she tried to help Rebecca dry her hair.

“Sorry… I'm staying dry.”

“What if I catch pneumonia?”

“I'll make you chicken soup.”

“C’mere.”

Sara leaned forward and kissed Scott.
 
Brandon threw his hands in the air.

"Awww, come on!!
 
That's gross!"

Sam and Scott stepped back, laughing and walked to their horses, where the twins were waiting already on horseback as Myron ordered the gates open.

Sean looked down at Alia and walked her to the front of the wagon, lifting her gently up the wheel and steps.
 
She wrapped the cloak around her and then felt a blanket wrap fall over her belly as Sean sat next to her.
 
She looked at him and smiled as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.
 
Sean snapped the reigns and the horses moved forward.
 

Alia held her belly and looked at the gray sky before them.
 
Six months had passed and things had changed.
 
She felt her throat tighten as she thought to herself.

“My baby is getting married.”

She glanced up to the Fail rampart and saw Vance, his lean silhouette against the dark stone and gray sky.
 
She noticed that he smiled and nodded at her and she raised her hand and blew him a kiss.

She took a deep breath and looked over at Sean, who had been watching her.
 
She smiled.

"I'm fine… really, I'm fine… Ohh...”

"What?"

"They kicked."

Sean raised his eyebrows as Alia grabbed his hand and placed it on her protruding belly.
 
They waited.

"Hey!"

Alia laughed at Sean's shocked expression.
 
He began to take bets on whether the twins would be boys, girls or one of each.
 
She had been looking forward to another Gathering.
 
St. Paul's would be a welcome vacation, despite the planning of a wedding, and she was looking forward to seeing old friends and eating her weight in Pasadena éclairs.

She leaned back and closed her eyes, feeling the subtle rocking of the wagon as the train moved steadily north.
 
She fell asleep, a smile on her lips.
 
She hadn't even noticed it had stopped raining.