Chapter 11

 "Leia, don't even think about it," Greg reminded her, a smug look on his 
 face.
 Leia sighed and rolled her eyes.  She glanced at the object so near to her 
 grasp, yet still so far away.
 "You are so mean!"
 Greg simply grinned at his sister, glancing down at her bandaged wrists.  He 
 could still  remember her reaction when the doctor told her she needed 
 stitches.  Grinning over the memory, Greg watched Leia sit and pout, and she 
 seemed to grow more irritated as the moments passed.
 "I am not mean.  You do remember what the doctor told you, now don't you?"  
 Leia made a face, refusing to admit to anything.  "You know the doctor told 
 you not to use your wrists unless you really had to."
 "Then help me."
 Greg grinned mischeviously, staring towards the door to her room.
 "I can't do anything...not without Shawn's okay.  At this point I think he'd 
 kill me if I took over this meal."
 "You're right...I would."
 Leia glanced in the direction of the voice and cheered up quickly.  Shawn 
 stood at the door, a glass of strawberry milk in one hand, and his other 
 hand hidden behind his back.  He walked over and stood by the edge of her 
 bed, placing a light kiss on her lips.  She could only stare up at him, 
 smiling for what seemed like the millionth time that day.  He put the glass 
 down on the end table, intentionally keeping his other hand behind his back. 
   Leia's curiosity took over almost instantly, and tried to see what was 
 behind his back.
 "Uh uh...no peeking.  It's a surprise."
 Leia caught the twinkle in his eye and giggled slightly, throwing a glance 
 at her brother.
 "Don't look at me.  I have no idea what's going on..."
 Even as he spoke Leia knew he was in on the whole thing.
 "Syl!" Leia bellowed.
 Leia leaned back on her pillows, knowing it could be a while before Sylvia 
 actually got there.  She was surprised when Sylvia popped her head around 
 the door only moments later.  She sat next to Greg at the foot of Leia's 
 bed.
 "I haven't missed anything, have I?"
 "Syl, don't you ever come in without saying anything?" Greg asked.
 Sylvia just grinned mischeviously.
 "I told you what to do to shut me up..."
 Leia watched the two of them banter at the foot of her bed, then turned to 
 Shawn.
 "Are you going to show me what's behind your back?" she asked him, pulling 
 her voice low so that Greg and Syl wouldn't hear.
 "Are you always so impatient?"
 "You should know the answer to that..." she said, grinning impishly.
 Shawn began to laugh, and it was so infectious that Leia quickly joined in.  
 Greg and Syl stopped arguing to stare at the duo laughing hysterically for 
 no apparent reason.  They silently left the room, closing the door behind 
 themselves.  Leia laughed so hard she started crying, and she glanced up at 
 Shawn with her soulful brown eyes.
 "Would you mind..."
 Shawn caressed her cheek with his hand, brushing away the tears.  He ran his 
 fingers through her hair which had long since turned back to its normal 
 shade of blond.  He searched her eyes intensely, needing to know that the 
 love he felt was reflected there.  He kissed her warm lips, absently playing 
 with a strand of her blond hair.  Leia began to giggle, a sultry giggle that 
 was quite unexpected.  Shawn pulled back, not sure of what to make of it.
 "I don't mind your shutting me up this way, but you still haven't shown me 
 what's behind your back!" Leia said, a wicked grin crossing her face.
 "Well maybe I shouldn't," Shawn said playfully.  Leia crossed her arms in 
 front of her, pouting like a small child, a smile playing on her lips.  
 Shawn sat next to her on the bed, fighting a losing battle in his attempts 
 to keep a serious look on his face.  "Okay...I guess I could tell you..."
 Leia's mood perked up instantly, and she grinned up at him, knowing she had 
 won the battle...but couldn't help wondering from the look on his face if 
 she hadn't lost the war.
 "So...?"
 Shawn edged closer to her, gently taking her hand in his.  He gently ran his 
 fingers over the bandage at her wrist as he tried to gather courage.  Leia 
 saw the change in his mood...noticed the sudden seriousness of his attitude 
 as he glanced at her bandages.  She looked into his eyes, trying to tell 
 what he was thinking, but finding herself unable for the first time since 
 she met him.  A single tear slipped down Shawn's cheek, and Leia felt her 
 heart shatter into a million pieces.  Without a word she carefully moved 
 into his arms, resting her head on his chest, her bandaged wrists wrapped 
 around his waist.  She held him like that for a while, listening to his 
 heartbeat and his breathing.  He wrapped his arms around her, running his 
 fingers through her hair.  When she finally looked up at him his cheeks were 
 damp, as was her hair.  Shawn leaned forward and without a word he kissed 
 her, the package in his hand tumbling to the floor.  Leia slipped her arms 
 around his neck carefully and kissed him back with a passion, ignoring the 
 thump of the package that she had moments before desired to know the 
 contents of.  Shawn broke the kiss and Leia began to protest until he lifted 
 her into his arms and settled her back against the pillows.  She reached up 
 for him, but he avoided her hands, gathering them in his and placing a 
 gentle kiss on each palm.
 "Now love...remember what the doctor said.  You don't use your wrists unless 
 you absolutely have to...and i'm sure we can manage this without them."  
 Shawn undid the buttons of her nightshirt, and moments later she lay before 
 him dressed only in a pair of underware.  She watched as his eyebrow quirked 
 up in surprise.  "Red?"
 Leia simply smiled a slow, seductive grin that reached all the way to her 
 eyes.  She caught him by the waistband of his pants, pulling him towards 
 her.  She kissed him hard, her tongue searching out his.  When she finally 
 pulled back he looked dazed.
 "Now, why don't you let me worry about my own wrists..."
 Shawn could say nothing, still in shock over her last tactical move.  Leia 
 slid her hands down his pants, gently caressing and kneading the muscles at 
 his lower back.  As the moments passed her movements became more hurried, 
 her breathing erratic.  It took him a moment, but Shawn finally recovered 
 from the shock.  When Leia felt his possissive hand finding and stroking 
 intimate parts of her, she cried out in her need for him.  He rolled, taking 
 her with him so that he was on top of her.  Shawn kissed her possessively, 
 and in one quick movement made her his in the most intimate of ways.  Leia 
 was unable to hide the momentary flinch.  The pain didn't last long, and 
 Leia soon felt as if she were floating on a cloud.  The shudders overtook 
 them both, and they soon lay there exhausted and satiated.  Shawn rolled so 
 that Leia was resting on top of him, her head pillowed on his chest.  He 
 kissed her forehead, trying to find his voice.
 "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked in a husky whisper.
 "I was afraid...that you'd stop if you knew."
 He held her to him tightly, entwining his hands through her hair.
 "I couldn't have stopped what happened any more than I could have stopped 
 breathing.  I would just have gone easier my darling."  Leia hugged him 
 tight, placing a kiss on his chest.  She tried to stifle a yawn, but was 
 unsucessful.  "I think you're sleepy..."
 "I'm not..."she protested, unable to keep another yawn back.
 "Yes you are my darling.  It's time for you to sleep."
 Leia kissed him lightly then snuggled down into his embrace.  Shawn clicked 
 off the light and drew the cover up over them.
 "Night Leia."
 "Night Shawn...love you..."
 "Love you too."
 Leia was almost asleep, but the words reached her all the same.  She smiled 
 and hugged him tighter.  With a small yawn, she closed her eyes and fell 
 sound asleep.
 ********************************************************************************
 The click of the doorknob woke Leia up like a gunshot.  It was still dark 
 out, the light from the streetlamps filtering in through the shades.  
 Feeling a strong arm around her waist, Leia instantly knew it wasn't Shawn 
 at the door.  She went with  her gut instincts and nuzzled into Shawn, 
 closing her eyes and burying her head in his chest.  She heard footsteps, 
 and then a muffled oath.  Seconds later the light snapped on.
 "You have two seconds!"
 This time both Leia and Shawn bolted up, Leia clutching the sheet to her 
 naked body.  Greg stood at the foot of the bed, anger burning in his eyes.
 "Greg, calm down," Shawn pleaded.
 "Calm down?!  Calm down?!  You've got to be kidding me!  I'm supposed to 
 calm down when I walk in on you and my baby sister..."
 Greg simply glared at her, then turned on his heel and left the room, 
 slamming the door shut.  Leia ignored Shawn's look of concern and snuggled 
 closer to him.  He glanced down at her and smiled, instantly forgetting what 
 just happened.  Leia absently ran her hand over his bare chest, reveling in 
 the feeling of him under her touch.  She listened to his heartbeat and 
 breathing, and noticed that both were speeding up a bit.  She placed a kiss 
 on his chest, running her tongue over his skin lightly.  He tasted spicy, 
 bringing memories of the previous night flooding back to her.  She flushed 
 red, burying her face in his chest.  Shawn glanced down and hooked a finger 
 under her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze.
 "Blushing?  Do I embarass you?"
 Leia couldn't find her voice.  She simply shook her head, wishing she could 
 speak.  Shawn rolled to his side, then continued his roll off the bed.  Leia 
 could only watch him go, a sense of loss flooding over her.  She could 
 barely contain her elation when he returned moments later, package in hand.
 "Is that the same one from before?"
 Shawn nodded.
 "I intended to give this to you last night, but we...well, we got busy with 
 something else, and I wouldn't have interrupted that for anything.  Here."
 Shawn handed her the package, his expression changing from one of confidence 
 to one of worry.  Leia carefully unwrapped the package, throwing the 
 wrapping paper on the floor.  She opened the box, and pulled out two more 
 packages.  Leia glanced up at him, becoming just a bit impatient, but he 
 urged her to go on.  She opened the larger of the two, and gently pulled out 
 a chain.  She examined the silver pendant carefully, running her hand over 
 the intriquite carvings.  The dragon seemed to be staring back at her, as if 
 it held powers she didn't fully understand.  She handed it to him and pulled 
 her hair up off her neck.
 "Would you put it on for me?"
 She didn't need to ask twice.  Shawn placed the necklace around her neck, 
 kisssing her chest where the pendant rested.  Leia tried to kiss Shawn, but 
 he wouldn't let her, and handed her the last package.
 "Open it."  Leia needed no further coercion.  She unwrapped the small box, 
 then felt her heart catch in her throat when she saw another jewelry box.  
 She glanced up at him, afraid to go any further.  "Go on...open it."  Leia 
 clicked back the lid on the box, exposing a beautiful little heart shaped 
 diamond.  She glanced up at him, shocked by the worry in his eyes.  He knelt 
 beside her on one knee, naked as the day he was born, and took her hand in 
 his.  "Leia, will you marry me?"  Leia began to cry, tears streaming down 
 her face.  Shawn looked as if he'd been shot, and took her into his arms.  
 She glanced up at him, then kissed his warm lips.  He finally broke the 
 kiss, staring down into her eyes.  "Is that a yes is see there?"
 Leia smiled mischeviously.
 "I thought i'd let you sweat it out a little, but I find I can not.  
 Yes...I'll marry you...though I have no idea why you'd want me.  I make you 
 angry so easily, and I fight you every step of the way..."
 Shawn silenced her worries with a kiss.  He took the ring from its box and 
 stared at it.
 "I've had this since that day back at your house, and I'm not going anywhere 
 this time until It's on your finger."
 Shawn slipped the ring onto her finger, which caused another batch of tears 
 to stream down Leia's face.  He held her to him, pulling the blanket around 
 them.  Moments later Greg and Sylvia burst into the bedroom.
 "See?  Didn't I tell you?  Look at them!  He's my best friend and he's using 
 my little sister!  I'll never be able to trust him again!"
 "Greg darling, Leia's old enough to make her own decisions.  You seem to 
 forget that it takes two to do this kind of thing."
 "Yeah, but she was still too innocent to know better," he said, and made a 
 lunge for Shawn.
 Leia tightly clutched the blanket around her and Shawn and shifted them to 
 the right.  Greg missed them by a hair and toppled over onto Leia's bean 
 bag.
 "Serves you right," Leia said through hysterical laughter.  "You should 
 learn not to mess around with other peoples fiances."
 Greg was about to respond to that but was stunned into silence.  He stared 
 at his little sister in disbelief, taking note of the engagement ring on her 
 finger that she was flashing in front of him.  He glanced up at Syl, 
 reaching for the hand that was extended to him.  Sylvia pulled Greg to his 
 feet, her look as perplexed as his.  Sylvia escorted Greg out of the room, 
 dragging him downstairs to the kitchen.  It was a little after four in the 
 morning, too early to make breakfast, so Syl set to work making hot 
 chocolate.  Greg watched her putter around the kitchen, glancing at the 
 stairs occasionally.
 "Could you find the marshmallows for me?"
 Greg just nodded and set to work trying to find the package.  Shawn padded 
 downstairs moments later, and entered the kitchen in a pair of boxer shorts. 
   Syl said nothing.  She poured four cups, took the bag of marshmallows from 
 Greg, and popped a few into each mug.  She left two of them on the counter, 
 sipped from hers a bit, and took Leia's up to her.  Greg threw Shawn a 
 heated glance.
 "What are your intentions with my little sister?"  When Shawn didn't answer 
 quick enough Greg slugged him in the face.  "So, you have no gentlemanly 
 intentions towards my sister."
 Shawn looked up at Greg, his lip bloodied and bruised.
 "Why would you think I would do anything to dishonor your sister?  You know 
 quite well I would do anything for her, including giving up my life in a 
 heartbeat.  I almost lost her once, and i'm not going to lose her again."  
 The commotion downstairs worried Leia and Sylvia, and they hurried to the 
 staircase to see what was going on.  They hid in the shadows, listening to 
 what the two were saying.  "Damn it, why won't you let your sister go?  You 
 know I mean her no harm."
 Greg's temper eased.
 "I'm sorry Shawn.  It's just that Leia's the only family that I have.  I 
 mean, my aunt and uncle were my family, but they weren't as close as Leia 
 and I.  Leia's more than a sister to me, and I feel like she's growing up 
 too fast.  But now that I look at it, knowing that she'll be with you eases 
 my worried mind a bit because I know she'll be in good hands.  I'm sorry for 
 doubting you Shawn.  It's just that Leia and I have been through a lot 
 lately, and I just wanted to make sure that you truly cared about her.  I 
 know she loves you very much, and I wanted to make sure you felt the same 
 about her."
 It was the sound of quiet sobbing that drew Greg's attention to the stairs.  
 Leia sat crying, tears streaming down her face.
 "I'm...so...sorry, Greg...." Leia's voice was choked as she spoke, "I 
 never...never realised that...you...cared so...so much..."  Greg and Shawn 
 moved over to the steps, and Greg took his sister in his arms.  She clung to 
 him, her tears soaking his pajama top.  "I'm sorry...for 
 everything....i've....put you through....everything...."
 "Shhhh..."  Greg soothed his little sister, glancing up at Shawn.  The look 
 of pain in Shawn's eyes, which had been reflected in Leia's, was enough to 
 tell him that his little sister would be alright.  Leia held him tight, 
 burying her face in his shirt.  When she finally calmed she looked up only 
 to find that Greg's cheeks were damp with tears of his own.  Greg hugged her 
 tight, kissed her cheek, then handed her to Shawn.  Shawn immediately 
 enveloped her in his embrace, and she hugged him with all her strength.  She 
 glanced up at him and flinched slightly when she saw the blood on his lip.  
 She placed a kiss on it, then hugged him tightly to her.  They stayed like 
 that for several minutes until Sylvia broke the silence.
 "Listen, can we all please go to bed?  I'm exhausted, and we've got a lot 
 ahead of us."
 Sylvia took Greg by the arm and led him upstairs.  Shawn swept Leia up into 
 his arms and carried her back to the bedroom.  He lay her down on the bed, 
 then went in search of the blanket they had discarded earlier.  Laying down, 
 he snuggled her into his side and covered them over.  They both soon fell 
 asleep.



 Epilogue
 One Year Later

 Leia stared at the sword which was mounted on the wall above the sofa.  She 
 had often wondered if her parents hadn't been behind some of the power it 
 held, but there was no way of ever knowing.  Leia smiled, thinking about how 
 much she owed to the sword.  Its power had been drained in that last act of 
 selfless love, and had given her back the most precious thing to her.  It 
 had brought back her love.  Shawn.  Leia fingered the wedding band next to 
 the engagement ring on her finger, then glanced at her slightly rounded 
 tummy.  In less than six months and she'd see her son or daughter.   She 
 still didn't know how she was going to tell Shawn.  She bounced with 
 excitement and stared at the clock on the wall, as if she were willing time 
 to move faster.  It seemed an eternity later when she heard the sound of his 
 motorcycle pulling up into the driveway.  She had to force herself not to 
 race out to meet him.  She adjusted the skirt of her dress and glanced at 
 herself in the mirror, then slipped out the back door and into her garden.  
 She wandered over to the small pond and slipped her shoes off, dangling her 
 feet in the cool water.  She didn't know anyone was out there with her until 
 someone slipped their hands over her eyes.
 "Guess who."  Leia smiled to herself, recognizing his voice immediately.  
 Without a word she slipped her hands up and pulled his head down, kissing 
 him firmly on the lips, his hands still covering her eyes.  When she pulled 
 away he released his hold and she gazed up at him lovingly.  "I hope you 
 don't give that kind of response to just anyone," he teased.
 Leia scrunched up her nose, feeling just a bit moody.
 "You know very well I don't."
 Shawn immediately noticed the pendant around her neck.  She hadn't worn it 
 in weeks, and he had begun to get worried.  He immediately sense that behind 
 her mood change she was still bubbling with excitement.
 "Darling, I get the feeling there's something you want to tell me."
 Leia stared up at him wide eyed and disbelieving.
 "How did you..."
 "Come on.  You're bursting with excitement.  Are you going to tell me what's 
 going on, or do I have to tickle it out of you?"
 He gently tickled her sides, sending her into little fits of laughter.
 "Okay...Okay...I give!  I'll tell you."
 Shawn sat next to her, grinning as he noticed exactly how she was sitting.  
 Leia had woven little flowers into her hair, wore a simple little sun dress 
 that Shawn had purchased for her on a whim, and sat with her bare feet in 
 the pond.  She looked like a little girl, but there was something different 
 about her.  Something that was unmistakably adult in nature.  He leaned over 
 and lightly splashed the water, sending ripples everywhere.  Leia breathed 
 in deeply, reveling in the feeling of the warm summer breeze blowing through 
 her hair.
 "So...what's the news?"
 Leia smiled up at him.  Feeling mischevious, she giggled slightly.
 "You're going to have to give up your motorcycle."
 Shawn's look of shock made Leia go into a fit of laughter.
 "Why on earth are you laughing?  Why is that a good thing?  Why do I have to 
 give it up?"
 "Well, it's kind of hard to put a baby seat on a motorcycle."
 Shawn stared at her, the meaning of what she just said slowly seeping in.  A 
 slow smile crept over his mouth, and he searched her face.
 "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
 Leia nodded, biting her lip.
 "I'm pregnant."
 Shawn lept up and swept her into his arms, spinning around in circles.  He 
 kissed her hard, and when he finally let up and put her down she had to hold 
 onto him for support.  A look of concern passed over his face.
 "Are you alright?  Did I hurt you?"
 "I'm fine.  The baby's due in less than six months."
 "Six months...You're gonna be a...I'm...gonna be a..."
 Shawn promptly passed out cold.  Leia sat down next to him and put his head 
 in her lap.  She grinned, watching the birds fly through the trees, knowing 
 he will probably do this again when the baby is born.