I waved at my fellow knights, Capitolinus's potential successors, and my dad.

"Hey, Princess. Feeling better," Zafir asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"You seemed down when you left earlier."

***

[Earlier]

Kimura let out a roar as Marina continued to avoid his attacks. He raised both arms high into the air and focused his mana into a crimson orb. It spun around, forming petals.

"Calm, calm!" Emon yelled. He and some of the other knights had gone ahead of Hyo and Hide. Mostly the more hyper members of their respective orders.

Eita laughed. "Feels like we're in a basketball game."

I nodded. "Yeah!" My eyes widened as the mana bud blossomed.

"Be gone!" Kimura yelled.

Marina giggled and struck the ground with her staff, creating a pool of water and vanishing into it.

"What was that?" Emon asked.

"My sister's angel tool has the special ability to create pools of water that only its owner can dive into. To everyone else, it's just a puddle," Zafir explained.

"Wow! That's amazing!" I said, leaning forward.

I turned to look at Zafir after he put a hand on my shoulder. "Say, are you really going to be a mom?"

I smiled. "Yeah."

He furrowed his brow.

"What's wrong?"

"Do you know what that entails?"

I looked at Anis and Rene who were knitting something for their babies. If not for Marina's match, I would've gone over to join them. Maybe I still could've. It wasn't like I couldn't have sneaked a peek at the match.

"Making booties!" I said.

He sighed. "It's more than just that."

I looked down. "Guess that I don't..." I pulled my legs closer and put my chin on my knees. "I barely remember what sort of things I did with my mom. Know she carried me, but there's more to being a mom than that, right?"

"Yeah, but that is an important part."

I closed my eyes and tried to picture my last memory with Mom. She held me in her arms, but her face was blurry. Setty yelling that she wanted to be held by her and not Dad felt clearer.

"I see. I'm not sure. I know, I'll go get some books on how to be a mommy!" I jumped to my feet. "Can you videotape the rest of the match for me?"

"Sure thing," the Seven Sea little girl said. It was pretty surprising how many children they had. Well, not that we Hills weren't the same a few years ago, but on average, they were younger than us. And it wasn't like I could've used my weapon at the time like Marina could. If only I had, I might've been more helpful back then and now.

I slapped myself. I had to stop thinking like that. Plus, no matter how much I want to help, I can't. Not with my little one on the way.

Shivers ran up my spine as I recalled what I had tried the day after the ball. If not for Hyo, my baby would've died alongside me.

"Well, I'm off!" I yelled, running off.

"Hey, take it easy!" Zafir yelled.

I slowed my pace. "I will!"

I exited the angel dome room and sighed. Was Tetsu as lost about what it meant to be a father as I was?

I pinched my arm. "Rosa, you got plenty of time to learn!" I yelled.

"Learn what?" a voice called out.

I gasped as I saw Piedad. Father was showing her around.

"Is something the matter?" Dad asked.

I forced a smile. "Nothing at all! I just have some reading I want to do is all."

He crossed his arm but didn't say a thing, turning to the door.

I waved and rushed away.

My feet tingled as I felt slight vibrations trailing behind me. I came to a stop by the stairs and looked over, but no one was there. The vibrations had also vanished. Was Papa following me? 

"Come out! I know you're there!" I yelled.

I gasped as Piedad poked her head out from one of the black pillars. "Seems I failed."

"Oh, it was you!" I narrowed my eyes. "Did Papa ask you to follow me?"

Her orange-brown eyes moved left and right. "Maybe..."

I sighed. So that's why he let it go...

"The king cares a lot for you," she said, finally looking at me. Her gaze fell to the purple carpeted floor of the hallway. "I know because of my demon half." She closed her eyes and winced. "She tried using his love for this country and you sisters against him."

"I know," I said. "Setty and I figured as much. He didn't push us away because he hated us, but because he wanted to protect us."

She looked up and smiled. "He's lucky to have you two."

I laughed as I remembered what kid Setty had said. Even if Mama hadn't died, I probably would've gravitated toward my dad still. In part because of my sister's antics. Sis... she was closer to Mom than I was. If she were the one becoming a mom, would she have felt worse than me?

Piedad tilted her head at me. "What's wrong?"

"I was thinking of my big sis."

"Want to go see her?"

I fidgetted. "I rather not get in her way." She was probably still moving the gear around.

"She's probably free now. Before we came here, Setsuko, her fiance, and your future husband left with the equipment. Conrad did too..."

I gasped. "You've yet to talk to him, haven't you?"

She nodded. "Yeah... I want to, but it's best that we keep apart. Our demons could awaken at any time."

"I'm not too sure that will happen if you meet. Conrad ran into Anestarte."

Her arms trembled. "Anestarte?"

I wrapped my arms around her. Probably shouldn't have mentioned the name of that witch. "It's alright. She isn't here."

She hugged me tightly. Tears drenched my shoulder. Piedad... just what had that woman done to her and my cousin?

"Let's go see Conrad," I said, patting her on the back.

She wiped her tears with the sleeves of her striped shirt and nodded. Based on her outfit, Kiara had probably loaned it to her.

Descending to the lobby, I found Tetsu walking out of the downstairs training room with Conrad.

"Hey!" I said, waving.

"Piedad!" Conrad yelled, running over and hugging her. "I missed you so much!"

"Me too," Piedad said, hugging him too.

Aww. How cute.

"If we were at peace, I would suggest a double date," Tetsuya said, grinning.

My cheeks turned deep cherry. "A d-date?"

Piedad turned away and mumbled something.

"Why double?" Conrad asked, blinking at his cousin.

I stepped toward him all of a sudden, causing the bunny to jump. "Con, I thought you were smarter than that! Don't tell me that your cousin and Kohri's denseness rubbed off on you!"

Tetsu narrowed his eyes at me. "Denseness? I'm not dense!"

I gave him the same look. "You want me to buy that?"

"No, because it's the truth. Between me and you, you're the dense one."

I bit my lip. He might've been right. "Well, I'm his cousin, so my statement stands!"

He laughed. "Right by technicality, huh?"

I chuckled. "The best kind of right they say."

"Who says that?"

"Not sure, I just read it online before."

He laughed. "I see. You're trying to be a little troll, huh?"

I puffed my chest. "You're always teasing and trolling me, so thought I would do some of my own!"

"Wanna go on a date, Pie?" Conrad asked, looking around. 

Piedad blushed but remained silent.

"Aha! You were faking it! You're just like your brother," Tetsu said, squeezing his head.

"Ouch!" Conrad said, frailing. He tried to stomp on his cousin's legs, but a barrier shielded the childish knight.

Piedad narrowed her eyes at him. "Let the bunny go!"

I kicked Tetsu. "Don't pick on the Bunny Boy! Plus, you're no better than him, Tetsundere."

My silly knight blushed. "I guess."

"You okay, Con?" Piedad asked, rubbing his head.

He blushed. "I am now."

"Aww! So cute!" I yelled, hugging the two. "Hope our kid is as cute as you two!"

Tetsuya smiled. "Probably will look something like Con, being our mutual cousin and all."

"True!"

Piedad smiled. "I also hope it looks as cute as Con."

Conrad's face turned as red as his pupils.

"Anyway, I better get going! Have to do some reading!"

"Reading?" Tetsuya asked, furrowing his brow.

"Yeah. I want to learn to be a better mom. Given my mom died when I was very little, I'm not sure what being one entails."

"What about your nanny? Wasn't she like a mom?"

"I can't say. I don't have much to compare her to. She felt more like what I expected a grandma to be like."

He sighed. "I see. I have a similar issue with being a dad."

"Why not talk to Uncle and Rosa talks to Auntie?" Conrad asked.

"Oh, that's a great idea!" I said, patting his head.

He smiled. "Thanks!"

Tetsu crossed his arms. "I don't know... Your uncle and I don't get along very well."

"That's not good," Piedad said.

He laughed. "You can say that again." He sighed and looked at me. "But maybe I should try to get along better with him."

Is he going to do that for me? How sweet! Nothing would make me happier than the two of them getting along instead of glaring at one another.

"Hey, why not try to see your mommy?" Piedad asked.

"Huh?" I said.

"Visit her grave. Maybe it'll give you an idea or trigger some memories."

"Would that work?"

"Not sure, but I read that in the manga your father had in his study."

"Manga? Which one?"

"Orantu."

Had no idea Papa read that. I did not expect it to be his taste in fiction. Hmm, maybe it belonged to Setty and she left it there when Piedad was here years ago.

"Alright! But, I should probably bring her something..." I would have felt bad going empty-handed.

"How about roses? She must like them if she named you after them," Tetsuya said.

I giggled. "That's assuming it was my dad who named me. But, I like the idea!"

He smiled. "Glad that I could help. Well, I'm going to find Yuko and see if she wants to train. You kids can join us."

"I think we'll do some catching up," Conrad said, smiling.

"Over what?" Piedad asked.

"Food! I can ask for some carrots!"

Tetsu laughed as the two wandered off. "Seems Con had tapped into his princely privileges."

"True, but he's still a sweet kid."

"That he is," Serra said as he and Setty emerged.

"Speaking of catching up, what are you two lovebirds up to?" Setty asked, looking back and forth at Tetsu and me.

Tetsuya put a hand on his neck. "We were just talking about going on a date is all."

My head felt like it was one fire. Why couldn't he have something else?

"I-I have to go!" I yelled, rushing off. "Going to see if Hyo and the others are back yet!"

***

[Present]

I put my hands behind my back and smiled slightly. "I wanted to give my mom something."

"Let me guess, your pregnancy made you think of her, right?" Dad asked me, closing his eyes as he sipped on his grape juice.

I looked away. He got me, again.

Dad put a hand on my shoulder and stared into my eyes. "It is alright. I think you will be an incredible mother, regardless."

I wrapped my arms around him. "Aww. Thanks, Daddy!"

"Plus, you can always ask us moms for advice!" Anis said, tapping Miyuki and Eiko, who flanked her.

"That would be great!"

Eiko sighed. "Not that I think I can give good advice on that front." She lowered her head. "Given how Eii turned out."

Miyuki sighed. "I'm not a great mother either. At least I haven't been to Hyo."

Anis pulled her hands away. "Alright. You can ask me for advice."

I smiled awkwardly. "Thanks! Dad, could you give some fatherly advice to Tetsu?"

He sighed. "Do I have to?"

"No, but it might help him."

He crossed his arms. "Fine, but I am only doing it for my grandchild."

Anis glared at him. "You better clean up your attitude first."

He sighed. "Cannot believe that we are going to be family."

She giggled. "What do you mean? We already were. Much to my annoyance."

Dad scoffed. "The feeling is mutual."

I sighed. Getting our family to get along was going to be harder than I thought.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter ^^. Thought? Theories? Predictions?**