Though I did miss being home, I wanted to continue to try to forget about it for just a little while longer. We had been on Spira for a little while now and although it was nice, I was ready to set my sights on another planet. I just wasn't sure yet if another planet was supposed to be home or someplace else...

Bella had already known that Dannen was thinking about her long before she had sought to know what he was thinking about. It was as clear as day in his eyes what Dannen was thinking about. Bella had seen that same look in his eyes many times before. Everytime she saw it, it always reminded her of the first time...

I will never forget the very first time I caught his eyes thinking about me, just like he was doing right now. Of course I knew that eyes never did any of the thinking, but his eyes, they spoke and expressed volumes to me. The first time I caught him thinking about me was when we had discovered the ancient castle ruins from our very first adventure alone together. It had become dark, though we had planned to go back to our transport vehicles just before dark, we ended up getting lost and had no way of seeing through the dark to make it back to our speeders. Eventually it got late and after much unsuccessful searching of trying to find our way out of the ruins, we ended up seeking shelter within one of the cramped corners of the castle ruins. The ground had been cold, I remember that about as well as I remember the look I'd found in Dannen's eyes, we had to nestle close to one another to keep warm. I really had not been comfortable with that scenario, but I had held trust in Dannen. So I saw no harm in the actions of having to have him close to me and I close to him to keep from freezing. I guess it might have seemed a bit premature of me to think that Dannen thought of me in a more personable way then, I guess such a thought even made me a little arrogant too.

"You're damn right I am."

Bella offered her companion an impish grin after superciliously offering him word to his unspoken thought. There was a time when Bella had not the confidence to think that she was beautiful but Dannen had managed to rebuild her inner confidence, by loving and accepting her just the way that she was. That alone made her feel beautiful.

Eagerly, with minor hesitation, Bella's mouth heatedly sought Dannen's. She then dragged him with her to fall into an area of secluded soft white sand where they remained for quite some time to bask themselves within sensual, passionate, lovemaking...

ella was beautiful, her almond brown eyes could entrance his very soul, her smile intoxicating, everything about her was radiant, and his love for her was forever, burning longer then the stars that dot the galaxy, she was so special.

"You're damn right I am."

Those words brought a smile to Dannen, in more ways then one, he wouldn't argue, her new found confidence was unbelievably gorgeous.

And when she guided him downwards both fell the soft white sand. Dannen continuing his heated and passionate kiss with her, exploring every last inch of her luscious lips..and downwards toward the neck.

The two made love for hours, the skyline quickly turned from sunset to night, and as both layed there in each others arms he spoke.

"I want to be there..for you, always. To help guide you, to take care of you, you're important to me; a life without you is unthinkable. I want to see you happy..I love you."

"I want to be there..for you, always. To help guide you, to take care of you, you're important to me; a life without you is unthinkable. I want to see you happy..I love you."

I had a secret to tell him. I had been waiting for just the right time to say it and the moment that we found ourselves in seemed like the perfect time and place for just such a reveal. I, of course, was going to have a little fun with him before I told him the truth. I loved to play teasing mind games with him.

Bella had yet to move from underneath her companion's warm embrace, her sparkling almond shaped brown eyes clung to Dannen's face as her smile drew to blaze up at him with great charm, warmth and enthusiasm.

"I know," Bella said, addressing his "I love you" with a scoundrel of a grin. That grin could have only meant one thing; that Dannen’s lady was up to something.

".. and we wish and hope to grace you with the same sentiments.."

Bella's gaze drew to an ice cool sizzle.

"..Oops, slip of tongue, I meant to say I, forgive me. Working out with you makes me say crazy things sometimes. Not to worry, mild side effect, as you know, it will ward off soon."

Bella did her best to try and wiggle out of her companion's embrace. She wanted to run, if only to play with his mind more, just for a little while longer...

Dannen looked over his wife quizzically, his brow risen in thought at her remark

We??

His featured flashed in amazement as his came to form a thoughtful smile.

"We?" He asked his light chuckle ending with the same question from his mind.

He felt her trying to playfully wiggle free but he couldn't find it within himself to let her go at least not yet.

He searched her brown eyes deeply, yet softly.

"Well the workout might have made you tongue tied but you remain all the more amazing."

He said coolly, coming to tickle her lightly.

I found myself not being able to hold my secret inside any longer. There was no other way to tell him the truth but to just come right out and say it.

The words shot out from Bella's lips all too quickly, though through a mixture of gentle laughter.

"I'm pregnant!" She squeeled, still squirming under his embrace. She never could resist a tickling gesture, no matter how big or small it was.

You're pregnant?!?! Wow...thats..." His eyes grew wide in amazement and he stopped tickling her.

A smile made it to his lips...he was about to be a father.

"For how long?"

He asked excitedly.

His hands that was tickling her before, gentley washed over her stomach. Thinking of their wonderful child to be.

I was actually surprised that I had been able to keep my pregnancy from him for so long. I often wondered just why he never sensed our child within me. Maybe he did but never bothered to ask me, but that wasn't like Dannen.

"Four months along tomorrow," she said while echoing Dannen's hand movements.

Bella did not know the gender of their child. Even she needed things to be kept from her from time to time.

He was overjoyed with the news, yet even he himself was puzzled about why he did not sense their child, it could have been that his senses were not clear or not well attuned.

He softly studied her eyes and beamed a warm smile, thinking of their wonderful child soon to come.

"You are an incredible soul and this is the happiest moment of my life."

He had so many questions, yet they would come in time as he held her - the warmth of the ocean wind sailing through.

I knew it was crazy to think with worry, but I could not help but feel that he might reject the news. It wasn't because of him, but just because of the kind of woman I was. Afraid. Sometimes afraid of my own shadow. In the deepest place of my heart, I knew that he would be overjoyed with the news. I knew I had been when I discovered that I was with child. Our creation. A part of Dannen was inside of me, growing, it was amazing and I felt so touched. I could always and forever look onto our child and see my husband. Something we would and could always share out of love, no matter where our paths would lead us.


"You'll have more moments like this, I promise."

A dreamy look crossed Bella's eyes and her face drew to flush with beaming pride and love.

She stroked Dannen's hair at the back of his neck, wonder in her heart and mind.

"What should the name of our first born boy or girl be?"

"I hope to, many more times." He said gazing upon her, almost as she was someone out of his dreams - and to his heart, she was.

He silently pondered peacefully over her question, hearing the waves of the sea in the distance, as he held her close.

"For the girl Araila, or Jenekah." He said smiling at the thought.

"And for the boy, Avetti or Jacob." He said his lips embracing her cheek tenderly.

"But we can name our child anything you like."

He said with a pleasant chuckle pulling her ever so closer.