ooOoo

The Dark Ones smiled, sharp fangs glistening in the moonlight; beside them in the shadows sat a creature. All that was seen of it was large, glowing orange eyes. "You know what to do," they hissed together in unison, empty eyes looking upwards towards the Palace. This was what they had been waiting for, ever since those holy elves had found their containment silo. Despite their reluctance to speak, the two Dark Ones had manipulated them into it and discovered where they were; Spargus, a desolate wasteland on the outside of Haven City. Where he was.

At long last, he was found.

Haven City was calling to them, or rather, it seemed as though he was calling to them. His energy drew them to where he rest like Metal Heads to open eco wells.

"Go quickly, and do not be seen," She whispered. He nodded slowly at Her side.

"Or they will find you, and there will be nothing-"

"Nothing-"

"We can do."

The creature stepped out of the shadows, showing his sharp claws and large jaw. He bowed low to the ground. Grunting he returned upright and left, making sure to stick to the thick darkness spilling out from under the Garden's high walls.

"Do you think it will succeed?" He asked Her.

"It must," She mused, dark eyes roaming the sky. "Or we have planned for nothing."

He nodded, and together they melted back into the shadows, and were no more.

ooOoo

Keira woke to Jak hurriedly pulling on his clothes at the side of her bed. Making sure to keep the sheets wrapped tightly around her waist (not that it really mattered; more or less a force of habit) she sat up. "Jak?"

He turned as he attempted to tug on his left boot. "Morning, Keir." There was something off about his voice. Managing to get the left boot on he pulled on the right.

"Jak, what's wrong?" Keira looked at him curiously. Her bangs had fallen in her eyes, obscuring part of her vison but it didn't matter. "Is everything alright?"

He sighed to look at her. "Someone got into the Palace last night," he said finally. Keira's stomach plummeted.

"But... what? How? The Palace? Ashelin's alright, right?" Her voice took on an edge of panic she quickly pressed Jak for answers.

"Babe, relax," Jak said comfortingly. "Everything's fine. Ashelin's okay, just worried. Torn's practically running around like a kangarat with its head cut off trying find somewhere to keep her safe." It seemed as though after the fourth attempt on the Governess'- and more importantly his wife's -life Torn was on edge of a mental breakdown. Not that the intruder's intent automatically was to harm Ashelin, but Jak wasn't that naive. "Everyone's fine."

Keira sighed in relief. Now that Ashelin and Torn had announced that they were to be having their first child (and heir to Haven City, seeing as Jak wasn't about to take over the throne anytime soon) crimelords everywhere had been sending assasins to kill Ashelin so that they may take the position. None had succeeded so far, thankfully. But seeing as Torn had been a commander in the Krimzon Guard and Jak- and one could add Daxter -could beat the crap out of anyone who tried to, the chances of that happening were pretty slim.

But concern seemed to be permanantly etched on Jak's face even as he struggled- and miserably failed -to put on his eco ring. "Hon, it goes over your left shoulder," Keira told him, amused at his struggle.

"Oh yeah."

Deciding not to force whatever Jak had to say out of him (not that she would succeed anyway) Keira continued to watch him as his bemused expression never faded. At last he spoke. "Hey, Keir?"

She nodded, waiting for him to continue.

"Could you do me a favor and go stay with Samos today?"

Curiosity got the better of Keira and she couldn't help but ask why.

Evidently debating whether or not to tell her Jak shrugged "Well..." Keira waited patiently for his reason. "It's just that whatever broke into the palace wasn't human."

Wasn't human.

A sense of dread filled Keira but she wasn't sure why. "But if it wasn't human than what was it?"

Jak sighed. "Torn thinks it was a lurker."

Lurker?

No, that couldn't be possible. Lurkers were peaceful species; they wouldn't break into the palace. "But lurkers haven't tried to attack humans since..." Keira trailed off. Jak nodded grimly knowing the unfinished word: Sandover, the unspoken taboo.

"I know. That's why I want you to go visit your dad. You'll be safer in the forest." Of course. Once again, everyone else was telling her to stay safe. It wasn't as if she couldn't protect herself After all, she had only been alone in Haven for twofreakingyears just like the rest of them.

Keira scoffed. "Safer?" But Jak's eyes were pleading as he looked at her, begging her to just listen to him, just this once. For a moment they just stared at each other. Unstoppable force meets immovable object. Keira was the first to break. Sighing, she nodded. "Fine. But once you get home, you will tell me everything you know, got it?" She pointed her finger at him accusingly.

Jak nodded in mock serious, but there was a air of ease on his face now. "I will." Leaning over he kissed her gently on the forehead. He turned to leave, but not before tossing his jacket to Keira, who caught it deftly. Smiling she ran her fingers over the worn, blue fabric. It smelled of Jak; all types of eco blending into one.

"Your other one's hanging by the door," she told him. This had been their ritual ever since the Second Metalhead War, before they had even begun dating. When he left on missions he would give her one of his jackets, just in case he didn't come back.

Thankfully, he always did.

"I'll see you later then. Tell Samos I said hi." In other words, just-because-I'm-leaving-now-doesn't-mean-you-aren't-going-to-your-father's-house.

Keira swiftly rolled her eyes. "Just go Jak, before Torn loses it and locks Ashelin in the basement." Snickering Jak made his way to the door. "And be careful. I mean it."

Turning around he flashed her one of his famous lopsided grins. "I always am love. Always am." Listening until she heard the front door slam shut, Keira got up and began to dress. Upon discovering that there was virtually nothing she could do with her total disarray of hair except tie it up she quickly did just that. Besides, she had been thinking about a new upgrade for the Jetboard- not to mention the bombardment of questions of her and Jak's relationship by her father -and she thought better with her hair up.

After a moment's hesitation Keira decided on keeping Jak's jacket- Samos could deal with at least that -and made her way out of the door.

ooOoo

"Jak says he'll be here in about twenty minutes Ash," Torn said, wrapping his arm around his wife's shoulders. She nodding, bringing her hands to cradle her protruding stomach. Putting his lips on the top of her head he continued, voice slighty muffled by the dark locks of red. "Nothing's going to happen to you, I promise everything's under control."

Apparently he hadn't worded that just right.

"Do you think it's me I'm worried about?" She burst out, standing up from their bed and glaring at him. "Is that what you think?"

That or the hormones were kicking in. Again. Swear to Mar, if this was bad karma from all of the bad things he'd done and said to Daxter, Torn was going to murder someone. Right now this was the last thing he needed. The past six months had been hectic, between running Haven, protecting Ashelin and the baby, and now there was a break in and he probably had a crapload of more paperwork to fill out. Couldn't he catch a break? Just this once?

Forcing himself not to yell back- her moods came and went; Torn never knew what emotion would come next -he spoke calmly.

"I know you're worried about the baby, I am too. But if you're not protected than the baby isn't safe either. And for another thing-" Taking her gently by the elbow and pulling her back to a sitting position he stared pointedly into her eyes. "Ashelin Marie Praxis, don't think for one second I don't care about our baby. If something happened I don't know what I'd do. I'm just trying to keep both of you safe."

Letting out a shaky sigh she grabbed his hand. "I know Torn, I'm sorry. It's just-" her voice broke off suddenly as tears pooled in her eyes. "I'm just scared Torn. What if we do lose her?" Her hand pulled out of his and dropped in her lap. "And if we don't, how do we know if we can even raise her? We can't be parents, we don't know how! Just the thought of it-"

"Hey," he said softly, cupping her chin in his hands. "It's okay sweetheart. Just breathe. Nothing is going to harm our baby as long as I'm around." She opened her mouth to reply but he quickly brought his finger tenderly to her lips. "And I'm just as scared as you are about parenthood. Hell, maybe even a little more. But I promise you, our baby will have the greatest mother in Haven, maybe even in the universe." Smiling wryly he nudged her shoulder. "And how do you know what it's going to be a girl? It could be a boy for all we know."

With a smile of her own now Ashelin pushed him back. "Because it is a girl. I can just tell."

"Oh yeah? Willing to bet ten orbs on that Governess?" His raspy voice was jovial as the two began to forget about impending parenthood, assasination attempts, and the break in. Although at times the thought rarely crossed their busy minds, at least they had each other.

ooOoo

Jak paused before the doors of the Naughty Ottsel, trying his hardest not to look the giant- and quite comical -ottsel perched above his friend's bar in the eyes. Shaking his head he stood for a moment, rocking back and forth on his heels as he thought about the strange statue. Against much persistance from Jak and others, Daxter had bought this one after the first had been destroyed by missiles and target practice during the Second Metal Head War.

But what could Jak say? It was Daxter after. Somewhere in his twisted little mind he had a reason for everything - although more often than not the reason held no conherency. Turning away from the figure that continually kept nodding it's head and pumping its fist as though listening inaudible music, Jak walked into the bar to find it empty- after all it was only eight in the morning -and Tess idily cleaning glasses near the back.

"Hiya Jak," she chirped, setting down the rag and glass which she had been cleaning. Tess hopped from the red stool where she sat using her tail to steady herself as she landed. "Looking for Daxy?"

"Mornin' Tess," Jak told her. "And yeah, Torn call you too?"

"Just got off the comlink with him and got back to cleaning when you came in." Despite the smile still lighting her features there was worry in her eyes. "You think you guys will be able to figure out whoever it was that broke in?"

Jak shrugged honestly. "I hope so."

"Yeah, me too..." Looking down she trailed off and they were silent for a few heartbeats. "But Daxter's getting ready so he'll be out in a moment."

He smiled back at her. "Thanks Tess. I'll be outside." Pure sun was a rarity in Haven, and Jak didn't want to waste a minute of it. Who knew how long it would last? Once outside he leaned against the grey building and let his thoughts wander. Maybe he should send Keira a message, make sure she really was going to Samos' house...

"Aaaand Orange Lightening is in the house baby! Although I suppose I am outside-" Jerked from his thoughts Jak straightened up from his leaning position just as Daxter crawled up quickly onto his shoulder. "Well did'ja miss me buddy?"

"Hi Dax," Jak replied, rolling his eyes. "Yes. I missed you very much."

"Hmmm..." Daxter pursed his lips. "This sarcasm you speak of..."

Jak began to walk away from the Port and to the looming figure of the Palace as Daxter's constant chatter never left his ears.

Gah! I'm alive!

The first half of this chapter was beta-ed by none other than Fishyicon. (Told ya I'd get it done even if it's not as long as I expected, my short buddy!) Seriously, go check her out. She rocks!

This originally was going to be a super duper long chapter, but I'm splitting it into two, or maybe three parts. Because my brain is starting to hurt and I really want some chips... But I always want chips soooo...

Torn wasn't too OOC, was he? I mean, he's all macho and stuff, but with a wittle baby on the way... The man has emotions. I swear!

Read and review.