He was watching her slightly confused. Then he started to see where she is going. "You mean... she... she can have a baby just like any herm?"

"Of course... well, technically speaking, it's possible. She may have a womb, but whether she can have a baby only time can tell."

"I have to tell it to her." He turned away.

"Wait!" she caught his sleeve. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not? She will be happy!" she let him go.

"Yeah, but that will put a stress on her body and mind. Think of it that way – If all Darklings would know she can have a baby, wouldn't most of them want to be the father? It could end ugly." She let him think about her words. "I think every girl should have a say in what person will be the husband. Does she has someone on her mind already?"

He scratched his forehead. "I have no idea. She always tended the garden."

The white bat made a small smirk. "I think there is already someone who thinks she is pretty," she giggled.

Black Death looked at the group seeing Rhygenta is approached by hedgehog-darklings Magnus. The boy was slightly blushing and they seemed to talk about the trees, as Rhygenta touched them and pointed up. Black Death smiled a bit.

Moriana left him, going to her tent to prepare some ointments. At the entrance, she saw a familiar figure. She frowned, continuing. "Need something?" she asked him rather coldly.

Cregal shivered. "It's... just nice to know you are doing fine."

"I suppose I can't complain."

The awkward silence spread between them.

"Care for a cup of a tea?" she asked and he quickly nodded. "Then come inside." He followed her. The tent was quite big as it dubbed as simple space for a wounded person or for anyone who needed some longer-term treatment.

Cregal sat down on one provisional bed and waited for the tea to be done. It didn't take a long before the cup was put in front of him. "It smells nice," he said taking a sip. "This is... my favorite!" He looked at her surprised.

"I know."

"So... you still remember?"

"You mean the time when I found you in the forest after that big storm, how I nurtured you back to the health, how we spent time together and how you actually left without a word?" With each sentence, his head was getting lower and lower. "Yeah, I remember it too well. Like it was just yesterday."

"I'm sorry... I couldn't stay any longer..." He cried. "I didn't want to say goodbye! Because you won't see that person ever again!"

The big ears twitched. "Then just say, see you soon."

"You can say that?" he asked confused.

"Of course, it's normal," she smiled at him.

His face brightened up and he jumped around her neck, pinning her to the ground kissing her. She returned the kiss and when he let her go, she pinched him pulling the cheek.

"Ouch! Ouch!"

"Alright young man, guess you should learn some manners first. Don't go jumping around girl's neck like that." She let him go and the cheek turned exceptionally red.

"But I was just so happy you forgave me!" he rubbed the swallowed place.

"By the way, how old are you?"

"Almost fifteen."

"Hmm, I'm not sure if I like my boyfriend to be younger than me."

"How old are you then?"

She frowned at him. "Lesson number one, never ask a girl her age. They are very sensitive about it."

"How's that so? It's just an age." He shrugged his shoulders.

"You men take it differently, but if you say how a girl is old in front of other people, it can be depressing. Especially since you are the long-lived race. Time flows differently for you."

It seemed he was thinking about it. "I'm not sure if I understand it, but I won't ask about it."

"Good, let's clean the mess then," she looked at the floor as the tea spilled everywhere.

He nodded, getting a rag and wiping the floor.

[** More days later **]

The routine in the colony was established and most of Sonic's soldiers returned home thru the magic circles. Black Death promised he will help the kingdom at any time if it should be threatened and Sonic promised the same thing.

In the end, only Eclipse, Lancelot with the family and Galahad with his stayed behind. There were obvious reasons for it as they needed extra time to recuperate. Eclipse came to terms with the incubator understanding he is still the little one's mother.

Aalis started to tend the twins, spending time with them and it seemed the twins accepted her as well. Magnus started to concentrate more on his education which surprised his father. Not that he was lazy, but he still liked to play more than studying.

It didn't take long for him to realize he is in a love with Rhygenta, and his son obviously hasn't told her yet. The ebony knight discussed it with his wife, finding it a bit disturbing. He was at most four years old in his mind. Eclipse wasn't that much surprised, during the second and fifth physical year of growth the mental abilities of Darklings are undergoing huge changes, boosting them.

In other words, his body may be small but his mind will be developing at frightening speed making him absorb information at unimaginable speed. Lancelot was a bit skeptical about it and he was worried when Blurk started to show an interest in his first daughter Amyce. He still decided to heed his wife advice to let it go for now. There is no harm in small love. He was still having a watchful eye on them.

In other words, everything seemed to be fine, but dark clouds will always come to cover the light... but that's a story for another time.