Disclaimer: Same as before….

THIS IS DEDICATED TO CALLIANN FOR BEING SUCH A GREAT MATE AND A CONSTANT NAG TO COTINUE THE STORY!

Calliann: I am so glad you liked this story and, obviously, the last chapter! Hope this one measures up and I promise you find out what I've been hinting at! LOL I loved the lined you mentioned, but I have to say (in honour of our agreement, as I wasn't sure if it covered our separate work as well as joint story) my favourite bit was the bit with the bucket:O)

Sorceress Misha: I know…but hopefully this chapter will make up for it. :O)

lilstrummrgrl527: I am so pleased and hopefully you'll like this chapter too. Oh and it is…mine actually more so! LOL

SpectralLady: Well, we've all been there and heard it haven't we – I remember my old neighbours when we lived down South! The first time I couldn't look them in the eye for weeks! ROFL Lucan is such a sweetheart, he'll be made up I'm sure!

Twilight Falcon: I figured he would, just to take the mick! But I admit I do do that too…..don't we all - sometimes it's the only sense I get:O)

Marblez: Glad you liked it and I'm very glad you've got a better boyfriend!

Aelia O'Hession: Still no storms, not even light showers! LOL Said I'd make this a happy for our man! BTW, isn't he due back to me now? It must have been two weeks and I'm missing him! LOL Yeah, let me know about the battle scene…. :O) Oh, Boston cream pie would be gorgeous on or off the delicious Dag:O

Babaksmiles: Yeah Tristan can be a little bugger can't he! I wish I was Devon! LOL But yeah, she's brilliant! We've started the joint story already! Oh and to your friend's note! Yah, the lady has taste! Hope you like this chapter too!

June Birdie: Well, I hope you still like it in this chapter….hopefully, you'll like the way I've written you. Lancelot is such a sweetie!

Evenstar-mor2004: Well, hopefully you'll like this chapter too. Lancelot is wonderful and so easy to write! Dag will be a brilliant Dad!

Lucillaq: Trust me having your head in a bucket when you're pregnant is not great, but I'm really flattered that I made it seem so with that bit! LOL Lancelot and June will be fine.

Sea Cucumber: I think we all do at some point! LOL Hard to get is the way to play it with Lancelot – but he is such a sweetie, in a tall, dark and handsome way, you'd play it whatever way you had to win him wouldn't you! LOL

LaurelinRe: Well, I hope you like this chapter too. But I think you may want it to continue…. :O I think he trusted the Saxons as he wished to make peace….but to be honest I think he was a fool! I loved Lancelot in the movie as he was so funny!

WARNING: HAPPINESS!.

All reviews, and constructive criticism, gratefully received – but no flaming please; and I will try to update regularly.

'—' signifies thoughts.

"—" signifies speech.

Anyway…chapter Twenty!

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Heart & Soul

Chapter Twenty– Happiness

Devon's time was near when Calli sought her out, it had been 6 months since she had told everyone of her pregnancy – or rather her brother had.

She sighed, Tristan was a complete sod at times….she had long since found he had an evil sense of humour but because he was so calm and passive you never knew when he was planning something. She'd begun to believe he was actually worse than their other sibling, Lancelot.

Mind you in converse to his older brother, who, now he had a lover and was happy, had begun to become a little more jovial – which by anyone's else's standards would make him the life and soul of any celebration, Lancelot had calmed down and become much more at peace with himself since meeting June.

Devon liked the olive-skinned dark haired woman. She was good for Lancelot, it had taken two months for him to get her into bed for one thing.

A record for the dark knight to remain interested that long; but also she stood against him - when other women would weakly acquiesce to his whims, June wouldn't. She would argue with him and rage at him as he argued and raged at her.

But mostly they were in love and happy, and the best part of their time was spent just being in love like most couples.

But today was different…Calli looked decidedly the worse for wear and as soon as Devon saw her she waddled over with a grin "Have you told him yet?"

"What?"

"That you are with child? Calli, surely you knew?"

"Well, I suspected – my moon blood is very late….." she sighed "he will wish me gone now….he will not wish to be tied down with a child."

"Who else do you take to your bed Calli, for it is not my brother of whom you speak?"

Calli looked shocked and leapt to her feet from the bale of hay they'd been sitting on, but Devon grabbed her arm "Nay sit, sit! I jest only with you…..I know you to be faithful and true to Tristan; if you were , would not still be breathing…." She smiled.

"Will he be angry?"

"Nay why would he?" Devon put her arm round her friend's shoulder "He has lost much in this life – has he not told you?"

Calli shook her head "Aye well, mayhap it is high time I did then. He lost his sister and betrothed a long while back. But then when we fell in battle and he, Lancelot and I went to the land of the dead he found his whole village there –everyone perished, the black death.

He had no one of his own…..he has always been a loner I think, certainly since I have known him – but even the scout has his limits. To find that all those he loved were dead; well, it near finished him, and me, for I would not come back without him. So when we did return, Dag and Lance would not let tarry us too long, I became blood bound to him and a little later Lancelot joined with us too.

So then he gained a brother and sister, then I married Dag – so he went from friend to brother-in-law – and he also got a nephew in Lucan, as well as this one" she patted her large belly "and then we adopted Nanna – you know, Aida?

Then Lance met June, so he got a sister…albeit they are not wed and appear to have no intention of doing so…..but why would they need to? They are happy and in love as they are." she smiled "Finally he found you and you now are with child, his child…..what on earth would he be angry about?

Tristan loves children – adores them, though he never shows it, but he does. He will be a wonderful father Calli; and he will be the happiest man alive when you tell him…..but he will not show it, for it is not his way.

Lancelot and Dag go wild with joy and wing us around and shout and be loud. Tristan will hug you and murmur, but he will not display his feelings for the entire world to see…"

"I do not mind – so long as he still loves me, for I would not wish to travail this land or the next without him."

"Courage friend and fear not – you will not have to…." she pulled her friend to her feet "now go tell him and then hurry back, my water's have just broken!"

"I can't bloody tell him now, You need help!Anyway he's on the mission – they all are!" Calli flew to fetch Van.

0-0-0-0-0-0

10 hours later Devon was delivered of a healthy baby girl. She had had a hard time of it, but was faring well – though in truth she was exhausted. Dory, for Devon felt that was as close to Dag's name as she could get, was a bouncing baby who she knew would be the apple of her father's eye….as well as her brother's.

Lucan was in raptures with his little sister and Aida came in all gummy smiles too.

The boy regarded his sister with total adoration in his eyes, as he sat carefully on the bed cradling her in his arms.

"Father will teach you to heal, Uncle Lancelot will teach you the tridents, Uncle Tristan the single sword and the bow, Uncle Arthur how to be fair and wise, and Uncles Gawain and Galahad how to be funny and play jokes. Uncle Bors will teach you….umm…..many things – probably drinking and fighting - and you can play with his children as I do. Seven is the best though." He smiled.

I will try my hardest to be the best brother any little girl could ever want. Nanna will love you too and teach you stories." He thought for a moment "You are the luckiest little girl in the world Dory, to have such a wonderful family. We may not be the richest people in gold little sister, but we are in other ways….there are many others who would gladly be in our place."

Aida looked at him "what of your mother, grandson? What will she teach my little grand-daughter?"

Lucan looked at her with shining eyes, before looking once more at his baby sister "Mother? Oh mother will teach her to be an angel just like her…."

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Ganis had been despatched to bring the knights back, and 2 hours after Dory was delivered Dagonet burst into the room hotly pursued by both Tristan and Lancelot.

"Is she alright?" Gasped the large knight.

"To which she are you referring Dag?" Asked Van with a grin "Your wife or your daughter?"

"D…..daughter? I have a daughter?" he stammered.

Van held out the little bundle who he folded into his big arms, long used to toting Bors brood. But this bonny babe was his own…his own. That was such a miracle to this man, this little scrap of humanity was half of his making….large blue eyes like her mother stared at him and he knew she couldn't really see properly, but it was as if she was saying hello the way her little arm waved and she grabbed at his finger.

Calli looked at Tristan and decided to take the plunge "I'mwithchild!" she blurted out.

The scout looked at her, quirking an eyebrow "I'm assuming I was meant to understand that?"

"Yes…well…" Calli began then stopped. It had seemed so easy after all that Devon had said and now…

"Say it slower and I might….." he flashed a smile that made her heart melt and she knew a way she could tell him.

"Can I borrow Dory?" she asked Dag, gently taking the babe from him.

"Dory?" He looked at Devon.

"Well, it was as close to Dagonet as I could get…" she smiled.

Dag picked Lucan up and hugged him "Now I have one of each…a boy and a girl!"

Aida looked pleased "A few short months ago I lost all, now I have so much more. Thank you daughter!" she kissed Devon's cheek "Want more?" she gestured to the little girl.

"Aye, Nanna…if the Goddess is willing, I would…" she looked adoringly at Dagonet "He will be a wonderful father…..maybe we could give Bors and Van a run for their money."

Dagonet blanched "Nay lass, as much as I love their brood - that is too many!"

"I'll let you have some of my mine girl….we could spare 'em!" Bors laughed as he entered, cooing at Dory.

"I jest my husband…." Devon was crushed in a tight embrace.

"I love you," Dag whispered in her ear "I love you more than you will ever know or comprehend."

"Ye Gods Dagonet – my sister has only just had a child!" Lancelot announced with a grin "Give her a little time to recover!"

The large knight laughed "Aye…well, she will have as much time as she wants…"

Devon rolled her eyes "I will tell the lot of you now, I do not intend to be wrapped in blankets to keep from harm any longer – the last 6 months have been a nightmare; well, its over and we have a daughter….now I am back!"

The three knights rolled their eyes. Calliann called Tristan over "She is lovely, is she not?" she asked nodding at the baby in her arms.

Tristan let Dory grab his finger "Aye she is that…and a good grip too. I think she will wield blade and bow equally well. Proud I am to call her niece." He smiled, his eyes soft and tone as proud as his words; before masking his face and voice once more.

"So….." She took a deep breath as Aida came for a cuddle, oh well she was on her own now "you would not mayhap mind one of your own?" She looked expectantly and a little worriedly at him.

Tristan looked puzzled at her "Nay….I would not mind, if the Goddess is good enough…."

June, who had come in with Lancelot, looked over "She already has been, dolt!" she grinned with a roll of her eyes "Our Calli is with child…a baby!"

All Calli remembered was being crushed against his chest in the most breath taking kiss she'd ever had, and he had administered quite a few, but this was his most devastating yet – before being picked up and swept back to their room.

0-0-0-0-0-0

Lancelot and others watched them leave amused "I take it he's happy then?" June asked with a smirk.

"Whatever gave you that idea lady?" Lancelot chuckled.

"You do realise that, when it is our turn, I will also expect a similar heartfelt

response?" she smiled.

"My love, when it is our turn you can have whatever your heart desires so deliriously happy will I be!" he beamed.

"Hmm….mayhap fish stew and honey…my mother adored that when she was pregnant with me!"

Lancelot wrinkled his nose "So long as I do not have to eat or smell it, aye – even that!"

A few moments later there was a loud crash from next door "Either the hormones have kicked in or they're getting carried away…." Dag laughed.

Lancelot put his ear to the wall "The latter my brother…definitely the latter…."

Just then Tristan's voice could be heard "I love you Calliann. I love you so much…"

"I hope that was just a protestation of his love – otherwise it were a bit quick!" Devon roared with laughter, despite her tiredness.

Dagonet sat on the bed and hugged her, Lucan and Dory to him. "I think it was the former." He pulled her tighter to his large frame "You saved me in more ways that one my love….I have more here in this room, than I ever thought possible and all thanks to you…my little mystery archer."

Aida, Lancelot and the others agreed – even Tristan who had arrived back looking a little red and a blushing Calli.

She smiled at Devon…….who mouthed 'told you so' back.

Tristan went to move the battered bucket by the door "Leave it Tris….that's my bucket."

"Yeah" said Lancelot "he's been through some scary times with her – she calls him 'Paily' or 'Pail' for short…he's like family now, isn't that right sister dearest?" Lancelot winked at Devon.

"I just might need it again…or you might?" she said innocently winking back, as her brother stared open mouthed at a grinning June.

THE END?