Dream

I ran through the war strewn streets. Slicing through magiteks and shooting through imperial snipers easily.

"Damn it." I cursed and wiped my eyes. My chest hurt. My heart hurt. I was crying.

I heard a gun shot. Multiple gun shots. I turned and ran towards the sound. I came across the park I would beg for money in as a child.

A boy was there. Still a young teenager, yet he wore the crownsguard uniform. He looked at me and I knew who this boy was.

"Mom!" He called out to me. I ran to him and pulled him in to my arms.

"It's okay, honey. Mama's here. You're safe now." I said. I looked at my son. Blonde hair and bright blue eyes. He looked like my mother, but he had Cor's nose, eyes and my freckles.

"Mom... what are we going to do? The king..." He said.

"Don't worry, baby. Everything will be fine. Just have faith in the prince." I said. He nodded.

"I love you, Mom." He said.

"I love you, too, P-"

A gunshot ran out and I felt warm blood splatter across my entire torso. My eyes widened and my heart stopped. I fell to my knees.

My son laid dead in my arms.

I looked up and saw General Verstael of Niflheim standing over me. A gun clutched in his hand.

"The New will always replace The Old. Even in death." He said. He aimed the gun at me.

"Bastard!" I screamed and summoned my gun.

—

I sat up in bed. Sweat caused my hair to stick to my head. Cor snored beside me, sleeping soundly. I panted softly.

"Fuck." I whispered. I stood up and walked in to the kitchen and grabbed a cup from the cabinet. I filled the cup with water.

My hand was shaking. No, my whole body was shaking. That dream scared the hell out of me.

"Dawn? What's wrong?" Cor's tired voice came.

"C-Cor... everything is fine. It was just a bad dream. Go back to sleep." I said. He came over to me and pulled me to him.

"Tell me what happened." He said. I sighed. Cor was just as stubborn as I am.

"It's fine. Just a dream. I'll forget it by sunrise." I said. His grip tightened on me.

"Dawn." He said. I sighed. It was too early to argue with him.

I told him the dream. The city ravaged by war. My son. My son dying in my arms.

"Dawn." He said and tilted my chin up so I was looking at him.

"Wether I am the biological father of your child or not, I will not let anything hurt you or them." He said.

"That's what makes the dream worse, Cor." I said. He hummed in confusion.

"You were already dead."

—

"Damn it, Dawn!" Cor snapped.

"What? Just what the hell crawled up your ass and died, huh, Cor?" I snapped back.

"Apparently you!" He snapped back.

"I'm just doing my fucking job!" I snapped.

"Your job is the assignments His Majesty gives you!" Cor yelled.

"Am I not doing that? I have done everything Reggie has asked me too. He's never scolded me for anything I've done so tell me just what the hell you're so pissed off about!" I yelled back.

"You! You went off alone again! This was a team effort, not a Dawn effort!" He snapped.

"I did what I was told!" I said.

"You did what you damn well pleased like you always do!" He snapped. I threw my hands in the air and turned away from him.

"This is just like when we met." I sighed. He said nothing. I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.

This had been happening for the past few missions. I'd go check out what I found questionable like I was told and Cor would get angry. Saying I was selfish and not working in the team I was supposed to.

Should I tell them before I leave? Probably. Do I? No. Is that my fault? Absolutely. Do I own up to it? Yes. I always let Nyx, Crowe and Cor know why I ran off after I investigate.

"I'm done, Cor." I said.

"What?" He growled.

"I said I'm done. If all that's going to happen is you yelling at me, then I'm not coming home with you anymore. I'm done. Come talk to me when you're ready to stop yelling and start listening. When you're done acting 17, call me." I said and walked out of his apartment and drive home.

I was willing to separate work from personal life. I tried to, even. Especially with my nightmares recently. A new one each night. Someone I love dying in my arms.

Cor, Cid, Clarus, Regis, Jett, Jenny. Sometimes my son or daughter. They all died in my arms.

And then there's the situation at work. Crowe and Nyx seemed to understand my reasoning each time. Regis understood my reasoning each time. But Cor just had to lecture me about unsafe behaviors all the time and not just at work. It was starting to affect our relationship. Years in this relationship and he can't separate work from personal life.

I couldn't do it anymore.

—

I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe it.

I was pregnant.

I haven't spoken to Cor in two months. I just found out that I'm four months pregnant.

It started with morning sickness, then I realized that I had missed my period. A lot. I went and had a blood test and sure enough.

"Miss Caramella?" The Doctor asked.

"Keep this to yourself." I said.

"Miss?" She asked.

"I can't afford to miss work, okay? If His Majesty finds out, he'll send me on leave. That will drive me crazy. At least until the baby is born." I said.

"Would you like to know the gender of the baby? We can do another test." She said.

"No. I want to be surprised." I said. She nodded.

"I understand. Have a nice day, Miss Caramella." She said. I nodded.

"The same to you." I said. I left the hospital.

"Dawn? What are you doing at the hospital? Are you alright?" I looked up and saw Miranda Casavant standing there.

"Mira. Wow, I haven't seen you since high school. How ya been?" I asked.

"I'm okay, but don't dodge my question." She said. I chuckled.

"Can't get anything past you, can I? I've just been feeling under the weather recently. Past few weeks. I just wanted to make sure it was nothing serious. Good news; it's not serious." I said. She sighed in relief. She bought it.

"Good. We'll have to get together and talk some time." She said.

"Agreed. I'll call you." I said and turned to go to work.

—

"Dawn, His Majesty wishes to speak with you in his office." Clarus said. I yawned.

"On my way." I said. I already knew what this was about.

I was six months pregnant, now. Hadn't seen Cor in four months. But Regis and Grace had seen me plenty of times. One of them had to have figured it out by now. Crowe definitely knew. She just never said anything.

I stepped in to Reg's office.

"You called for me, Reg? I asked.

"Take a seat, Dawn." He said. I sat down in front of his desk as he asked me to.

"Dawn... You're pregnant, aren't you?" He asked. I stayed quiet. He sighed.

"Dawn, if this is you trying to get out of the conversation-"

"I'm not. I'm just waiting for you to stop asking questions that have an obvious answer." I said.

"Why didn't you say anything sooner?" He asked.

"And have you send me on leave when I can still work?" I asked. He sighed.

"Dawn, how long has it been?" He asked.

"Six months now." I said.

"Have you told Cor, yet?" He asked. I was quiet for a second.

"No." I said. Regis sighed.

"Don't tell him, Reg. It'll just be another lecture. That's all he can do." I said. Regis stood up and walked over. He took my hand and knelt beside me.

"You can't hide it forever." He said. I dropped my head.

"I know." I said.

"Dawn, I know you still want to work as much as you can, but... You can't go on scouting missions anymore. There's no paper work for you. Go home until the baby is born." He said.

"Reg-"

"No, Dawn. Think of the baby's health. It's better you don't work." He said. I sighed.

"I'll go mad." I said.

"You'll find something. Pick up a hobby. Drawing, Painting, Sewing, crossword puzzles, anything. Meet with friends. Now go home. You'll be okay." He said. I sighed.

"Is that an order from my king?" I asked.

"A request from a friend that has your best interest in mind. But if I have to order you to, then I will." He said. I sighed.

"No need to pull rank, Reg. I'm clocking out. See you in about three months, aye?" I said. He nodded.

"As long as you have someone staying with the baby." He said. I nodded. I went down to check out. I said bye to Crowe and Clarus.

"Dawn!" I heard as I was leaving. I looked up and saw Cor running towards me. He grabbed my shoulders.

"You're leaving?! Why? Is it my fault?"

"Cor..."

"If it bothers you that much just transfer jobs!"

"Cor."

"His Majesty will still let you keep the job, just-"

"I'm pregnant, dumbass!" I yelled in his face. He stopped and stared at me in shock.

"You're..." He panted.

"And it's yours. Anything else or can I go home now?" I asked. He stared down at me in shock. His eyes fell on my large stomach. His grip on my shoulders fell away.

"I'm... I'm a father..." he murmured. He gently pressed one hand against my swollen stomach.

"How long?" He asked.

"Six months." I said. The baby kicked and pushed against their father's hand. A tear rolled down Cor's cheek. He tilted my head up and kissed me gently.

"I'll take you home." He said and kissed my forehead

"I'm pregnant, not dying." I said. He held me close.

"I know." He said. He got permission and took me home. He sat with me on the couch. His hands rested on my stomach.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"For what?" I asked.

"For yelling at you. I just worry about you. I don't want anything to happen to you. Especially now." He said. I chuckled.

"Who knew you were such a softy." I joked. He rested his head on my shoulder.

"I mean it, Dawn." He said.

"And I forgive you, Cor." I said. He kissed my cheek.

"I love you." He said.

"I love you." I said.