Disclaimer: Tin Man doesn't belong to me.

So, in hindsight, maybe she shouldn't have just sprung that on him. Wyatt was utterly still as he looked at the hand she had put on her stomach. Considering she thought that had been an excellent delivery this wasn't going very well in her opinion. Was mentioning this a bad idea or had the timing been off? It wasn't like she could hide this for more than a couple of weeks. Then again she was a bit shocked when Kalm mentioned the fact that she was going to have a baby. Since he was a seer she asked the obvious questions while they searched through the library for a book on economics. Kalm wanted to know more about how they worked and she remembered reading a fairly understandable one early on in her lessons. At least Toto started her off easy before plunging into the hard stuff. They went hunting for the particular volume when the subject came up.

"DG will have a cub."

Flipping through a book in her hand she was trying to remember if this was the right one and answered distractedly. Kalm usually said some pretty cryptic and alarming things. She had gotten used to his assertions over the last few years. The statements he made were generally far off in the future. After the first dozen or so she stopped going into panic attacks over possible life ending scenarios he would mention out of hand. At this point he could have told her the O.Z. was going to explode and she would have nodded in agreement. She could only assume that at some point in time it would happen via magic or meteor impact. "I figured at some point. Do you have a specific date?"

The young viewer looked at her with innocent brown eyes while she flipped through a book. "When leaves fall off trees."

"That's good to know." This wasn't the right book. She put it on the shelf again and started sorting through the others. "Maybe I can name her Autumn if it's a girl."

"Not sure Tin Man will like that name. Should ask before decide." She wasn't shocked the young viewer knew she was seeing Wyatt. In fact, it had turned out to be the worst kept secret in the palace. They had assumed no one knew but Jeb and Laura but apparently they weren't as sneaky or smart as they thought they were. Az had walked into her suite while she and Wyatt were playing cards a week after the raid, looked at the necklace she was wearing, and raised an eyebrow. Then her sister had asked, with bluntness that put her usual comments to shame, if they were going to move in together or if she would have to continue to try to guess where she was all the time. She had blinked at Az who had huffed and told her very firmly to tell her where she was staying from now on. Wyatt suppressed his obvious mirth as her face heated up, probably pleased it was her turn for a family interrogation, and she mumbled that she would let her know the next day.

After some discussion they settled on his room and she magicked her things in that night. A fight over drawer space had ensued. She won that much to her pleasure. Actually, much to both of their pleasure if she was going to be honest about it. She reconsidered the whole incident and was suddenly and deeply suspicious that Wyatt didn't care one wit about drawer space. That wasn't cool. He was paying for that at some point. Sneaky tin man.

She grabbed a book that was the same color as the one she put back. She was sure the one they were looking for was blue. "Considering we have a few years to decide that shouldn't be a problem."

Kalm took the book from her and repeated his earlier statement. "Have till leaves fall."

Admittedly, she started to get a bit nervous at the wording. "What leaves?"

He pointed toward the window. "Leaves on trees."

Her head snapped around to look at the sunlight pouring in the tall windows. "As in those leaves? The ones budding on the trees at this very moment?"

"Yes." He opened the book and smiled at it. Then he closed it and touched her stomach with a gentle hand. "And will be girl. Thank you for finding book for Kalm." Then he turned and walked toward the door as if nothing life altering happened. She was left standing alone with her mouth hanging open before she put her hand on her stomach. That was four days ago. As if that stress wasn't enough Wyatt decided to disappear on her. Having no idea what was happening in his head she was loath to mention the fact that she was pregnant. If he was mad about something she thought they should work that out before she dropped this on him. Stress was a little high. But that stress melted away after she got the puppy. Now it was back with a vengeance.

His silence wasn't helping to lower her stress level either. The excitement of the last few hours vanished as she started to gnaw on her lower lip. "Wyatt?" His eyes snapped to her face as she jolted him out of his thoughts. "You really need to say something now."

"What are you saying?" His eyes returned to her stomach as he asked.

"I'm pregnant. You know. Making a new person."

"Pregnant?"

Her stomach began to knot up unpleasantly. His voice was flat. "You aren't happy." It was a statement. A miserable one. This wasn't how she had envisioned this going. She stepped away from him and all of a sudden he wasn't a statue anymore. He grabbed her and pulled her back to him quickly. Dragging her onto his lap he sealed his lips over hers. Surprised by the sudden show of affection after the stillness she fell into him.

When he broke away he stroked her face lovingly. She had never seen his eyes so soft before and she relaxed. "We're havin' a baby?" He kissed her again before laying her on her back on the blankets. "Oh, Darlin'." His voice was low and gruff. Leaning down he kissed her stomach before stretching out next to her and kissing her again. He set his open hand over her abdomen and smiled brilliantly down at her.

Relief coursed through her as he touched her. "You're happy?" She needed to be sure.

"Unbelievable happy." He peppered her face with kisses and she let out a small breath when he rubbed his nose over her skin and reached up to run her hand through his hair. She watched his face as his hand strayed down to her stomach. He started stroking her abdomen as he inspected her more closely. Her stomach was still as flat as it had ever been. Not even a little bump. "When?"

"Three weeks. Kalm told me a few days ago but you were never here."

He didn't stop running his hands over her stomach as she grumbled at him. He was still absorbing the information. "We're goin' to have a little one."

"Yeah." She rubbed her hands down his shoulders. "I know the timing isn't the best-"

He cut her off before she could go any farther with the thought. "There couldn't be a wrong time for this."

"We aren't married. I've noticed that's a big deal on this side." His eyes finally left her stomach. For her, this was the biggest problem. Not for her. For him. She wasn't going to put him a position he didn't want to be in. She had grown up with different standards and ideas than the ones on this side of the rainbow. She was secure here and wasn't bothered with the idea of being unmarried and pregnant even if it threw the rest of the palace and kingdom into a fit. She knew Wyatt wasn't thinking about it in the same way. It wasn't that she thought he would run or even think about leaving, she just wasn't sure he wanted to be married again. She wanted him to have a choice. She needed him to know that she would give him one. She wanted to know that if he did want to marry her it was because he loved her regardless of the baby. "I don't want to push you into that."

He searched her eyes. "Push me?"

She stroked his cheek with her knuckles. "I know you." She tapped on his head gently. "I think noble runs through your bloodstream. God knows I love you for it but I don't want to get married because I'm pregnant."

He kissed her stomach once before he sat up and dragged her with him. "Come with me."

She followed him to the door. "Where are we going?"

Taking her hand they passed Sookie sleeping on the floor with her paws up in the air. It was the cutest thing she had seen her puppy do yet but she was slightly distracted by the events at hand. Wyatt went to the hall and led her downstairs. Heading toward his workroom he held the door open for her, nodding to Glitch, who was banging on what looked like a giant metal dish, and ushered her inside. She looked at him in confusion and he picked her up and set her on his worktable gently. Stepping between her legs he kissed her tenderly as he brushed her hair behind her ear.

"Dorothy Gale, I love you."

She smiled at him. "I love you too."

He leaned forward and set his forehead against hers briefly. Reaching around her he covered a cloth with his hand before putting a few inches between them. "I had intended to do this differently. I was picturing something a bit more romantic than my dirty forge but I can't think of anything that could make me love you anymore than what you just told me. And believe me, I didn't think it was possible for me to be happier."

She was watching him as her forehead crinkled up. Picking the handkerchief up he set it on her lap. She went still and he smiled as he lifted a corner so she could see what was underneath. Two beautifully made silver rings sat shinning in the center of the handkerchief. "They're not quite finished yet but I was hopin' you might consider acceptin' my offer of marriage all the same."

Her voice was soft. "You made me a wedding ring?" That was about the sweetest thing he had ever done and that was really saying something. She couldn't believe these were almost done. He had been thinking about this. He had been thinking about asking her for a long time. She knew how meticulous he was when he was making something like this. Something that mattered. He must have started these when they got back from their fight with the longcoats. That was almost five months ago now. Long before she had gotten pregnant. Long before she was considering that he might even be thinking about asking her if he was going to.

"Been makin' em for a couple months now. I have to tell you I'm a little nervous. What if you don't say yes?"

Slowly, she picked the handkerchief up and set it to the side. "You know I'll say yes."

He cupped her face. "Doesn't mean I'm not nervous."

She closed the distance between them and kissed him with all the passion she could muster. It wasn't hard to find passion where Wyatt was involved. She moaned against him and he pulled her closer to him. Groaning, he palmed the nape of her neck and tilted her head back as she wrapped her arms and legs around him. When they finally broke apart she was smiling brilliantly, even if she was nearly breathless. "Yes."

Letting out a completely undignified whoop the Tin Man picked her up and swung her in a circle. She started to laugh happily and the sound bounced around the room. "Wyatt! Put me down you crazy man! I'm getting dizzy!"

With a bark of laughter he set her on her feet. Holding her in a hug he rumbled happily as he rubbed his head on her hair. "You make me so happy, Darlin'."

"You make me happy too." Her arms were wrapped around his shoulders as she grinned up at him. "You know…"

Growling he leaned in and nibbled her neck as her tone turned teasing. "What?"

"Kalm came told me something else."

"Meanin'?"

"He was a lot less mysterious than he usually is."

He rolled his eyes as she strung it out. "What about it?"

"Do you want to know what it is?"

"What, what is?"

"The baby."

Delight filled his face. "You know?" He plopped her gently on the table again and she laughed at his sudden and absolute curiosity. He refocused on her stomach, tickling her skin as his hand darted under her blouse.

"Yeah."

He looked up at her and her eyes twinkled as she continued to gaze at him. Amused and impatient, he tickled her ribs. She squealed as he hit every sensitive spot over her skin. "Wyatt! Stop!"

"Tell me." He kissed her face as she thrashed.

"Ok, ok, ok!" She batted at his hands and he went back to rubbing her stomach. "It's a girl." His lips were over hers immediately as he hummed happily.

"A girl?"

"A girl." She confirmed. His blue eyes sparkled. She was sure she knew what he was thinking. His life would be filled with dresses, and dolls, and magic. And suitors he could use for target practice. He started to chuckle and she simply smiled at him as he bent down and started to murmur to her belly. She ran her fingers through his hair again. Silly man thought he was going to get a little doll of a girl. If she was anything like her he was getting a Tom Boy. One with magic and full to the brim with mischief. If she was anything like him she would be stubborn to a fault. His daughter would drive him ten types of crazy. "I would like to talk to you, seriously mind you, about names. She will not have some sort of crazy twelve syllable long one. I don't care how popular they are here. Can we agree on that?"

"Yup." No fight at all. He nuzzled her belly and she snickered when he hit a ticklish area.

"Would you stop that?"

He stood back up and kissed her. "We need to tell your parents soon. Not to mention your sister, Jeb, Laura, Glitch and Raw."

"Why not now?"

"Because-" He kissed her much more passionately. "-right now I'm taking you back upstairs so we can celebrate properly." His eyes heated up and he grinned playfully at her before sweeping her off the counter. He didn't set her down until they got to the door of his workroom. Mischief raced over her and she traipsed out of the room in front of him. He growled low in his throat at her blatant teasing and followed close behind her. Glitch waved to them as they left and she grinned up at him before they escaped into the hall. She and Wyatt had a lot to talk about. But she thought it could all wait until tomorrow. Right now all she wanted to do was curl up in bed with him again. Right now she was perfectly happy about everything. She thought, this time, that just might last. One look at Wyatt's happy face and she changed that might to a definitely.

That thought lasted the full five minutes it took them to get back to their room. He opened the door for her and she stopped dead in the doorway. The entire room was covered in white feathers. The Tin Man's jaw dropped as Sookie growled around a pillowcase and shook her head sending another shower of feathers in every direction. Wyatt began to scold the puppy. "No! Bad dog!"

Sookie looked up at him as he approached and then turned and ran out of his reach. He cursed as she avoided him and feathers flew out of the destroyed pillowcase behind her. The tin man growled and went after her again and she shut the door to keep the puppy in. A second later and the sight of Wyatt racing after a four pound puppy trailing goose down was too much for her. She burst into gales of laughter and he shot her a look. Moving to him she wrapped her arms around his neck as white fluff floated around them. "I love you."

"I love you too. Enough that I won't kill your dog."

She snickered and kissed him. "Sweet."

His arms wrapped around her. "I try." He kissed her again before letting her go. "I think we best start trainin' her now. Otherwise there won't be any pillows for me to toss you on while we celebrate." Her eyes twinkled at him as he turned his back and started stalking the puppy. This was utterly ridiculous in every way. She was fairly certain puppy catching hadn't been part of the tin man's plans for them this afternoon. Then again a lot of things that happened to them weren't part of a plan. She supposed sometimes things were just better that way.

Author Note: Whew. That's it. The end. I'm really sorry it took so long. I would list the reasons it took me so long to get this to you but you would get bored and stop reading. Hope you liked this one and as an added bonus I'll tell you I have a chapter for a new story done. I'll have that posted in a few days.