Marco shot up in bed, covered in sweat, still shaking from his nightmare. His hands shaking, he picked up the phone and dialed Rachel's number.
"Shhhh, ANnie, time to sleep now," Rachel said gently, rocking her daughter back and forth in the oak rocking chair, when the phone buzzed on the table.
"Hello?"
"Do you ever wake up with the taste of Taxxon blood in your mouth?"
"Yeah," she said softly. "Bad dream?"
"Yeah. We killed so many innocent, Rach."
"There will always be casualties in war, Marco, think of all the people we saved."
"We were high-school students, 14 years old! We had no business getting into a war!"
"We had no choice."
"Just, just tell me it was worth it. Please, just tell me that something good came from all the pain."
"We did a lot of good, Ratboy, I promise." Marco smiled a little.
"How's Annie?"
"Fussing. She's a little colicky, but usually if I play some Hanson she mellows right out." Marco laughed.
"Oh, did Cassie tell you I'm pregnant again?" Marco grew silent, until a crack in his ear alerted him that he was squeezing the phone so hard it was starting to splinter.
"Who's the lucky daddy? Zac again?"
"No, Clint. Clint Moffatt. And please don't make a fool of yourself again, at the next tournament. I don't need you and Jake 'defending my honour.' It's not the 15th century anymore," she said, giggling.
"Is he gonna suppost you at least?"
"He doesn't even know yet. I'm only a little over 2 weeks pregnant, dude. I just found out 2 days ago."
"Oh, have you been to a doctor yet to confirm it?"
"No, I have an appointment next week."
"Okay. Are you hoping you are, or are you hoping for a false alarm?"
"I don't know. I mean, it's a little soon, butI do want lots of kids," Rachel said. Marco yawned quietly.
"Why don't you try to go back to sleep, Wormtail. Call me if you have anymore nightmares, though, okay? I'm always there for you."
"Night, Chica."
"Night," Rachel said, and as soon as Marco heard the other line hang up, he spoke up.
"I love you." He hung up the phone and went back to sleep.