I'm putting on my asbestos undeerwar for this one. C&C welcome. WARNING: 
THIS IS A LEMON. fIRTS ONE I'VE EVER SUCCEEDED IN WRITING. IF YOU ARE 
UNDERAGE, HIT THE DELETE BUTTON *NOW*!

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HITCHED
A Slayers fanfiction
By Michael Hopcroft

�No!� said the Priest in Atlas City. �We don�t want you in here!� His 
scowl was decidedly uncharitable.

�Come on!� Lina Inverse replied, offering a small bag of gold. �All we 
want is a simple little marriage ceremony.� Gourry Gabriev was standing 
behind her, blushing slightly and looking a little bewildered.

�Absolutely not! This temple only serves the true followers of Cepheid, 
and it would be defiled by the presence of the Mortal Enemy of All Who 
live!�

�For two bags of gold?�

�NO!� The priest slammed the door in her face. As if anticipating her 
temper, a golden field of protection appeared surrounding the temple.

�Dammit! I really thought Atlas City would have forgiven me for that 
time!� Lina fumed.

Gourry stomach began to grumble. �Lina, it�s almost lunchtime. A good 
meal will calm you down.�

Lina brightened at the thought of food. �I can�t believe a 
jellyfish-brained stud like you can actually have a good idea every once 
in a while! But I�m afraid a meal won�t be enough to calm me down from 
this.�

�Then how about�.� And Gourry bent down and whispered some things into 
Lina�s ear that brought a flash of color to her cheeks.

Lina was torn between slapping him for suggesting such a thing in a 
public place and stripping down to perform the act right on the spot. 
�All right, Gourry, after lunch. I think that will definitely calm me 
down � in addition to being a lot of fun.�

Gourry smiled, at the dual pleasures in store for both of them.

****

After Lina had recovered from her unplanned �exercise�, she sat down at 
the desk of their room at the inn. A few months after Gourry had 
confessed his feelings to her and proposed marriage, Lina had taken to 
taking single rooms in the inns they visited. She told herself it was to 
get herself used to the idea of sharing a room, but the fact was that 
she had developed an insatiable appetite for Gourry�s body. The thought 
that she could finally let go of all those desires she�d been 
suppressing all those years had been replaced by a desire for Gourry 
that bordered on addiction. Even during �that time of the month�, she 
had found ways to pleasure her partner that did not involve penetration. 
When she was available for intercourse, it happened every night, and 
somehow each time was getting better than the last.

Gourry sat up in bed. �Who are you writing?�

�Amelia. I think she�s in the palace at Seyruun. She might know a 
solution to our dilemma.�

�What dilemma?�

�Why we can�t get anyone to marry us, jellyfish! Why every priest or 
justice of the peace we visit turns us away. Much as I enjoy the way 
we�re living now, I�m tired of getting the fish-eye from all the 
innkeepers.�

Unfortunately the word seemed to have gotten out that Lina and Gourry 
were looking for a place to get married, and there were no takers. They 
had wandered the length and breadth of the countryside for weeks, and 
most of the temples and shrines either only married locals or were 
scared away by Lina�s fearsome reputation.

�Can Amelia marry us?� Gourry asked. �Isn�t she a shrine maiden?�

�Yes, but she�s also a princess. She hasn�t had to perform shrine duties 
in months.� Lina sealed the letter. �There, at least she�ll know about 
our plight before we arrive. I�ll ask the innkeeper to put it in the 
post for me.� One advantage of the Subcontinent was that, with Seyruun 
leading the way, the local city-states in the region had developed a 
very efficient, safe postal system. If you knew where someone was, you 
could get a message to them. Lina had already sent a letter to her 
family explaining what had happened and why she wasn�t coming back, but 
since she maintained no fixed address she had gotten no reply. Which was 
just as well, she thought, as the last thing she had wanted to hear was 
the righteous anger of an outraged Big Sister.

A few minutes later the letter was on its way and Lina had paid the 
innkeeper for two week�s rent in advance. �In case we get turned away 
from Seyruun, too.� Lina explained to Gourry before they went back upstairs.

***

It only took a week for a reply to reach the inn, but it came in a most 
unexpected fashion. A man in very fancy clothes had walked up to Lina 
and Gourry�s table during lunch.

�I�m on vacation,� Lina said, �do if you�re offering me a job I�m not 
interested. Try in a week.�

�Ahem.� The man said. �I am Count Weyland, Ambassador to Atlas City from 
the Court of Seyruun.�

Lina gulped. �Is there trouble?�

�Probably. I bear a letter from princess Amelia wil Tesla Seyruun, but I 
have been asked not to read its contents.� He handed Lina an 
ornately-decorated letter. Lina opened the letter and began to read it.

***

Lina-san,

That is such great news! I saw it all along, of course, and wondered 
when you would swallow your pride long enough to admit to yourself that 
you�d found the right man.

I talked it over with Daddy, and we agreed that you can have the wedding 
here in Seyruun. I want to go over some of the details first, so if you 
could come to Seyruun, I�d really appreciate it. This�ll b e so great! I 
wish you�d come to me first! You could have saved yourself a lot of 
headaches!

***

Lina grinned broadly and showed first Gourry and then Wayland the 
letter. Weyland looked a little bit surprised. �This seems highly 
irregular to me, but if His Highness says so. I shall arrange your 
transportation to Seyruun as soon as possible. Would a carriage suit you?�

�Make it enclosed.� Lina said with a wink directed at Gourry. �We don�t 
want to be disturbed.�

***

That night they had climbed into the carriage and, to the sound of 
galloping horses and cries from the coachman, drove away. Then suddenly 
the sounds stopped.

�Is something wrong?� Gourry asked, wondering if he should inquire about 
the driver.�

Lina smiled predatorily. �No, I just cast a Silence spell so the driver 
can�t hear what�s going on in here.�

�And what�s going on in here?�

Lina got down on her knees on the floor of the carriage. She crawled 
until she was kneeling right in front of Gourry. �Spread your legs, 
darling.� She said.

�OK.� Gourry spread his legs and Lina snuggled between then. Then she 
reached for the fastenings of Gourry�s trousers. �What are you doing?� 
Gourry asked in astonishment.

�What do you think?� Lina answered mischievously, tugging open his trousers.

�Here? IN A CARRIAGE?�

Lina tugged down his undergarments. �Looks good enough to eat to me. 
Ikedakimas!�

�What if the driver sees us?� Gourry asked in a mixture of surprise, 
anticipation and panic.

�That�s why I cast the Silence spell, silly!� Then she set to work, and 
Gourry was almost instantly in too much of a pleasant daze to say 
anything except the usual noises associated with the activity Lina was 
performing. When she had achieved the result she wanted, Lina did up his 
trouser again and smiled. The only sign that anything had happened was 
Gourry�s blissful expression and a little drop of something best not 
mentioned on a family website on the corner of Lina�s mouth. She wiped 
it off with her finger. �Well, I almost got every drop.� She said 
gleefully. �Why the hell weren�t we doing this two years ago?� She got 
up and kissed Gourry on the cheek. �Don�t get too sleepy, Gourry. In 
about half an hour it�ll be my turn.�

�I�ll do my best,� Gourry replied dreamily. Of all the sides of Lina he 
had come to know, the �sex maniac� side continued to be the most surprising.

***

A few days later the carriage arrived in Seyruun�s capital. The driver 
stepped down opened the door, and shut it again.

Amelia, in full court regalia, had walked up to the carriage. �What�s 
the problem, coachman?�

�I think we should wait to let them out of the carriage until they are, 
er, completely dressed.�

�Dressed? Why wouldn�t they be dressed for a carriage ride?� Amelia 
flung open the door and gasped. Gourry had not even noticed the door 
opening, and was paying full attention to a topless Lina, who was 
sitting back and moaning in clear enjoyment at the things Gourry�s hands 
and mouth were doing to her.

Amelia closed the door again, blushing a bright red. �Oh my,� she said, 
noticing that her body had reacted to the sight of her friends� foreplay 
in unexpected ways. �Wait here until they open the door on their own 
then show them to their rooms. I�m going to go douse myself with cold 
water.�

***

A few hours later Lina had settled into her room in the Palace. She was 
disappointed that Gourry was in a separate room � he had definitely lit 
a few fires that she wanted put out.

A knock came on the door. �Gourry!� Lina cried in hope.

�Actually, it�s Amelia? Can I come in? Are you decent?�

Lina felt like pouting. �Yes, I�m decent. Come on in.�

Amelia entered the room with a deep crimson blush on her face. �I�m 
sorry about that back there,� she stammered, �I didn�t mean to peek.�

Lina blushed as well. �What did you see?�

�That your breasts aren�t as small as you thought they were, and that 
Gourry seems to like them a lot. And why was his hand between your legs?�

�I�m NOT going to demonstrate!� Lina said. �You�ll just have to find out 
for yourself when you get a boyfriend. Fianc�e. Husband. However you 
princesses do it.�

�That brings me to my point, Lina. Do you want Zelgadis to come to the 
wedding?�

�Of course I do! Is he here?�

�NO, but I�ve sent for him. The medallion I gave him is like a beacon. 
It lets me know where he is. I�ve already sent a court messenger to 
fetch him. Lina, can I ask your advice � as a woman?�

�As a woman?� Lina was slightly puzzled.

�Do you think Zelgadis would marry me?�

Lina gulped. �First, you�ll have to convince him he�s worthy of marrying 
anybody. That�s not going to be easy. Then you�ll have to convince your 
father to let you marry him � either that or run away from home, for 
good this time. But if you can do that, yeah, I think it�ll work. But 
it�ll take some doing.�

�So I shouldn�t wait for him to propose to me?�

�Hell, no! If you want to wait that long you might as well become a nun!�

Amelia shook Lina�s hand. �Thanks a lot, Lina! You�ve been a huge help. 
Just for that I�ll tell you how to sneak into Gourry�s room when the 
guards aren�t looking�.�

***

A few days later Zelgadis appeared at the palace in the company of a 
herald. Amelia greeted him at the gate. �What took you so long, Mister 
Zelgadis?� she said. �I was hoping you�d come by for months!�

�I�ve been searching fruitlessly for a cure. I didn�t think you�d want 
to me to show up at the palace looking like this.�

�You look fine, Mister Zelgadis. You got the message that Lina and 
Gourry are going to have their wedding here?�

�Yes, and that the priests might not allow Lina to wear white. I read 
the whole letter, Amelia. Who would have thought it of them? You 
actually SAW them�.�

�Yes, and I was surprised by my reaction. I should have been shocked or 
angry that they would do such a thing in a carriage I provided, in the 
middle of the palace courtyard, but watching them sort of addled my 
thinking.�

One of Zelgadis� eyebrows shot up. �Really? And what did it make you think?�

�Come with me�.� Amelia said, and took Zelgadis by the hand and 
practically dragged the chimera through the palace.

***

When Amelia opened the door and pushed Zelgadis into the room, he was 
stunned. First of all by the collection of stuffed animals in heroic 
poses, second by the canopied bed in the center of the room, and third 
by Amelia emphatically shutting the door behind them and locking it.

�I don�t want us to be interrupted.� Amelia explained. �We have to talk.�

�This is not a room for talking, Amelia, this is the room where you sleep.�

�It�s also the one place in the entire palace where I have absolute 
privacy, as we need that for what we�re going to d � I mean talk about.�

Zelgadis sighed heavily and took a seat on the bed. �All right, Amelia, 
what did you want to talk about?�

�Mister Zelgadis, if I have to wait for you to propose to me I�ll die an 
old maid. I don�t want that.�

�Isn�t Phil going to be�.�

�No, Daddy is not selecting a husband for me. What you keep hearing 
about princesses and arranged state marriages does not happen in 
Seyruun. We�ve been marrying by our own choices for several generations. 
So you�re not getting out of this that easy!�

Zelgadis looked stunned. �I suppose I should also forget about Seyruun 
princesses being demure, blushing flowers. What do you want from me?�

�Simple. Lina is getting married in a few days. I thought it would be an 
excellent idea to surprise her with a double wedding. But you�re so down 
on yourself that you�re never going to realize what�s really been going 
on between us all this time and propose. So that�s become my job.�

Zelgadis� eyes widened. �Amelia, are you serious about this? How can you 
marry a monster?�

Amelia sat down beside him. �First of all, you�re not a monster. You�re 
more human than anyone I know. Secondly, I am in love with you, and I 
have reason to believe you�re in love with me. Thirdly, you are the 
hottest thing on two legs and I can�t possibly let you fall into the 
hands of some other woman.�

�But � but � what if I hurt you? What if our children turn out to be 
chimeras?�

�Then we have children who are chimeras. I�ll love them just as much. As 
for whether you will hurt me, there�s only one way to find out��

�You don�t mean � you can�t mean �� Zelgadis gulped. Amelia was grinning 
at him with a combination of wickedness and innocence. �I guess you do 
mean. But it may not be the best indication � how will you tell the 
difference between any damage I�m doing and what normally happens with 
girls their first time?�

�Didn�t they ever tell you about that spell they teach all the shrine 
maidens? The spell took care of that for me long ago.�

�You mean it doesn�t matter whether or not you�re a virgin?�

�Not for pain purposes. Now, will you marry me or not?�

Zelgadis smiled. �I guess this IS what I�ve always wanted. All right, 
Amelia, I�ll do it.� He then leaned over and kissed her. They broke the 
kiss a moment later with a sharp intake of breath from Amelia.

�Does the rest of you taste like this? Like soft, warm stone?�

�I don�t know.� Said Zelgadis. Amelia stepped away and turned her back 
to him. �What was that for?� Zelgadis asked.

�Fastenings. It takes me fifteen minutes and three handmaidens to get 
into this dress. Do you have any idea how to get me out?�

�Do you have another dress in here?� Zelgadis asked. Amelia nodded. 
Zelgadis chanted a spell and in an instant the fabric disintegrated, to 
reappear completely intact in a heap a few feet away. �Wouldn�t want to 
ruin the dress, if that was what you were wanting.�

Amelia turned around and raised her hand. Before she could do anything 
though, Zelgadis had placed a hand on one of her now-exposed breasts and 
was beginning to gently massage it. Amelia felt like she was going to 
melt � no man had ever dared touch her there before, much less with such 
gentleness and feeling. �Ooh, Mister Zelgadis, that feels so nice.�

�Glad you like it,� he replied, as he found the nipple and gently rubbed 
it between his fingers. �I can teach you that disrobing spell if you 
like. Saves a lot of time.�

Amelia smiled. �I heard the incantation�. She proceeded to recite it, 
and Zelgadis suddenly found himself completely naked, his clothes in a 
rumpled pile at the foot of the bed. Amelia smiled with approval. �You 
look just as gorgeous without your clothes. And that thing between your 
legs � it looks pretty big.�

It was Zelgadis� turn to blush. �It�s not normally like that. Is there 
something I should do about it?�

Amelia sat down beside him and placed her hand on the member. It was 
smooth to the touch, like marble, with little pebbles on the head and 
sides. �You know, I don�t think this is going to hurt at all. But I 
don�t know if I�m ready for it yet. Make me ready? Please?�

�As you wish, princess.� said Zelgadis with a smile, as he reached 
between Amelia�s legs and began to caress her thighs. �You have such 
gorgeous white skin,� he said, �I hope I�m not damaging it.� He leaned 
over and kissed her more deeply, while his hand explored her private 
regions.

Amelia clung to the member she was holding even more tightly. �Oh, 
Mister Zelgadis, you�re sending me to heaven!� Zelgadis� fingers were a 
little clumsy, but they felt really good against her privates. Amelia 
was feeling very warm and moist in that region. When Zelgadis leaned 
over and took one of her nipples into his mouth, Amelia felt an 
incredible feeling of closeness to him. Then she felt one if his fingers 
gentle enter her and she began to moan uncontrollably.

Suddenly the finger wasn�t enough. She pulled away, silently guided 
Zelgadis onto his back, and seated herself astride him. Although there 
was no penetration, she felt his member hot and hard against her 
privates and it was an incredibly feeling of warmth.

�I�m ready now, Mister Zelgadis.� Amelia said. She lifted herself up, 
positioned him in what she thought would be the right spot, and guided 
him inside her. After inserting the head, she bore down onto it, letting 
gravity do the rest of the work. Zelgadis let out a throaty moan as a 
feeling he had never experienced gripped him, as his penis was gripped 
by Amelia�s most secret place. �Aaah!� Amelia sighed, caught up in the 
feeling of being full and seemingly complete for the first time in her 
life. Soon, without any conscious thought, Zelgadis began to push 
himself upwards, deeper into her, with Amelia thrusting herself down to 
meet him. Their pace quickened, and Amelia felt a hot pressure building 
up and spreading all over her body. She was riding him for all she was 
worth, her hands clutching the sheets to her side ever more tightly. She 
felt like she was building towards the feelings she had gotten touching 
herself, only ever so much better. A few more bounces and she toppled 
over the edge, mentally shattering into a million pieces. Moments later 
Zelgadis gave out a cry and his hot semen shot into her with astonishing 
force.

Amelia fell forward onto Zel�s hard chest. She hungrily kissed his face 
and lips and stoked his shoulders. �That was incredible!� she said. �I 
never realized this could be so good.�

Zelgadis looked tired but extremely pleased. �I never knew either. Being 
inside you like that is the most wonderful feeling on Earth. I�ll never 
leave you again, Amelia.�

�What about your cure?�

�If I can make you this happy,� Zelgadis said, �is there anything really 
wrong with me?�

***

The announcement of the very brief engagement came at dinner that night. 
The courtiers that had assembled for the state dinner expressed surprise 
silently, then looked to Phil for guidance on how to react. When Phil 
applauded they applauded too.

�I�m looking forward to fine, strapping grandchildren who will be stout 
Warriors of Justice!� Phil declared while lifting his wine.

�I�m sure you�ll get them� Amelia replied with a blush, �but it�s not 
like I�m going to retreat into some cloister and become a baby-making 
machine. I have my duties still, my work.�

�Which brings me to the point,� Phil said. ��Amelia, you�ve been 
handling more and more of the details of state for the last several 
months,, and now you have a fine, intelligent and resourceful helpmate 
to advise you. I long for the road, for the simple life of the 
adventurer. I want to spread justice in person. So as soon as you get 
married I�m going to retire from ruling and become a full-time adventurer.�

The entire crowd gasped in astonishment.

�Daddy, is that wise? You could get killed!�

�Besides, after your sister�s disappearance and the way she gave up her 
claim on the throne, it�s time you received your due, Amelia. You are to 
be my successor. Amelia I, Queen of Seyruun! And you, Zelgadis my old 
friend�.�

�I will not take a throne that is not mine.� Replied Zelgadis. �If my 
darling Amelia wishes to give me a title, she may, but I will not be 
King. That privilege belongs to the Royal house.�

Amelia smiled. �You�ll be my Prince Consort then, plus chief advisor. 
Uncle Christopher, will you remain as Prime Minster?�

Christopher, who having removed himself from the line of succession 
three years before had settled nicely into the role of counselor, 
smiled. �Of course, my darling niece. I will serve at your pleasure.�

�Well, I guess this means my adventuring days are over.� Amelia sighed. 
�I�ll miss them, but then again if I�d never have gone out and seen the 
world I would never have met Zelgadis, or Lina, or Gourry, or all my 
other friends. But now I can throw my passion into statecraft and work 
for the benefit of my people. And please, everyone, not so formal. I�m 
still the Amelia you�ve always known.� She then turned her attention to 
Lina and Gourry. �You will always be welcome at my court, Lina, Gourry.�

Lina smiled. �Just because we�re finally making it legal doesn�t mean I 
have any plans to settle down. I�ll just think of Seyruun as our safe 
haven in times of need, but for now it is the life of the road that 
calls to us. There�s still places I haven�t seen, food I haven�t eaten, 
wonderful things I haven�t tried. The life of a court sorcerer or a 
duchess would bore me to tears. I need excitement! I need adventure! I 
need more food!�

***

Lina sat in the women�s bath in the royal chambers later and started to 
kick herself. She realized Amelia had been about to offer her a very 
high position in the court, and she wondered whether she should have 
accepted it. The hot water was soothing, though, and eased her concerns. 
The door silently opened and closed and Amelia, wrapped in a towel, sat 
down in the bath beside her.

�I see you got things worked out with Zelgadis,� Lina said. �Did you 
propose or did he?�

�I followed your advice and pressed the issue.� Amelia said. �It�s going 
to be hard making marriage work � Zel still has a lot of issues. But 
it�ll be worth it if what I had today will be available all the time.�

�You didn�t!� Lina giggled. �How was he?�

�Hard as a rock, of course!� Amelia laughed heartily, grateful she 
finally had someone to confide in. �It was wonderful, like smooth marble 
only hot. It was awkward, but gods did I enjoy it!�

�I could have told you � once you�ve had a man you love there�s no going 
back. And it gets better with time and practice, especially if you both 
apply yourselves.�

�Does Gourry apply himself?�

�Does he ever! He pays more attention to me when we�re in bed than the 
whole rest of the day put together. He�s developed some skills you would 
not believe. And of course, since our hearts are tied so closely even 
when we�re tired or down it�s still great. The connection is the 
important thing � having found the right man. Even if he does seem to be 
a few cards short in the smarts department.�

�Of course, what I thought was the happy ending is turning out to be the 
beginning. You know how they say �and they lived happily ever after�? 
Well, this is my happily ever after, and it�s going to be hard work. I�m 
going to have to run a kingdom and raise a family, and that�s going to 
take effort and perseverance.�

�Was Phil serious about grandchildren?�

�Not only was Phil serious, but if when I�m detecting in my own magical 
signature is any indication I may already be pregnant.�

Lina gasped. �From the first time? No way!�

�A shrine maiden learns to become very much in tune with everything that 
happens in her body. Already I�ve noticed some changes. The priestess 
who taught me told me that if I was really in tune with myself I�d know 
it the moment I conceived. And I think I have. Don�t tell Zelgadis yet, 
OK? He�ll panic if he finds out!�

�We don�t want a panicked groom on our hands,� Lina agreed. �Would you 
know if I was pregnant?�

�Of course I would! I�d be able to read it in your aura. You�re not 
pregnant, by the way. But the way you two go at it it�s probably 
inevitable unless there�s something wrong with him.�

Lina sighed. �If a baby comes, I�ll live with it. I�ll never give up the 
life I lead, Amelia. I love it too much, especially now that I have a 
true companion and lover to share it with. If we have children, they�ll 
be vagabonds like us, going wherever we�re needed doing whatever we have 
to do.�

Amelia smiled blissfully. �I would have offered you that court sorcerer 
position if you wanted it. And don�t worry � as long as I�m the ruler in 
Seyruun you�ll never have to worry about going broke. You�ll always have 
a refuge here, and when it does come time for you to have children our 
healers and temples will be at your disposal. You�re my best friend, 
Lina. Without you none of the wonderful things in my life would have 
happened. I�ll always be grateful for that. Without you I would never 
have met the wonderful man I�m going to share my life with.�

Lina gave Amelia a tap on the shoulder. �I owe you a lot too, Amelia. If 
you�re ever in trouble here in Seyruun, seek me out. I�ll be in there 
fireballs at the ready.�

***

Despite Amelia�s original intentions, it was finally decided they would 
have separate ceremonies for the two weddings. That way Lina and Amelia 
could be each other�s bridesmaids, and Gourry and Zelgadis could be best 
man to each other. The royal wedding was an extravagant spectacle, with 
all the pomp and ceremony due a soon-to-be-Queen. The High Priest made 
his pronouncements, the couple made elaborate ritual vows, and the 
feasting and general rejoicing lasted five days.

Lina�s wedding was, at her request, much simpler. Instead of the High 
Priest, it was the Palace Chaplain, a lower ranking prelate, who 
performed the ceremony. Instead of a huge crowd, the ceremony was 
attended by a small gathering of friends of Amelia and friends that Lina 
had made on her previous visits to Seyruun. Much of the Sorcerer�s Guild 
was in attendance, as were most of the higher-ranking officers of the 
Royal Guard (who privately expressed disappointment that the redoubtable 
Gourry Gabriev had not been offered a place in their ranks). The vows 
were much simpler than Amelia�s as well � a simple pledge to love, 
honor, cherish, protect and nurture. But when it was all over, the 
result was the same � Lina and Gourry were married.

At first Lina had wondered if there was any real point in a honeymoon, 
given how active they had been before their marriage, but Amelia had 
convinced her that a week in a mountain resort would do them a world of 
good. And she had been right � although they had spent a lot of time in 
their room with an obvious call not to be disturbed, they had taken time 
to take in some breathtaking scenery and to become ever more intimately 
acquainted.

The couple made it back to Seyruun in time for Amelia�s coronation. Lina 
was grateful she would not have to play any part in the ceremony 
crowning Amelia as Queen, and could enjoy the spectacle for the grand 
show it was. She could tell, however, that Seyruun was nearing 
exhaustion from what had become a month-long party, and soon she was 
anxious to get on the road. It was a great relief to check into an inn 
along the road and be able to sign the register �Mr. and Mrs. Gourry 
Gabriev�.

One night a few weeks later news reached Lina that Amelia�s pregnancy 
had been confirmed and that the child would be a chimera like his 
father. In Amelia�s letter, she did not express the least bit of 
disappointment. �When Zelgadis once thought of as a curse will soon be 
know the world over as a mark of royal blood, as the sign of a proud 
lineage and a noble spirit,� Amelia had written in her letter. �When 
Zelgadis found out, he suddenly lost all desire to be cured. Believe me, 
I�m working on keeping him cheered up. But it�s almost like Zelgadis has 
been rediscovering himself through me. It�s a wonderful feeling.�

Lina handed Gourry the letter. �Say, Gourry, what do you think our 
children will be like?�

Gourry smiled. �Does it matter? No matter whether they turn out to be 
geniuses or jellyfish, we�re going to love them. Why, do you think you 
might be pregnant?�

�I don�t think so. But if we do have children, it�ll be fine. We�ve 
taken on gods � how hard can a baby be?�

�Babies,� Gourry said quietly, �can be harder to deal with than gods. 
Gods don�t wake you up at one in the morning because they need their 
diapers changed or because they need to be fed. Gods don�t have to be 
pot trained. And gods won�t make you worry your head off when you 
suddenly realize they�re growing up.�

Lina stood agape. �You�ve � you�ve really thought about this, haven�t 
you? How is that even possible?�

�A warrior is prepared for all emergencies, even fatherhood. Let�s just 
say that whenever you�re ready, I�m ready.�

Lina smiled at him wickedly, the flush in her cheeks indicating desire. 
�Gourry, let�s get started on that baby.�

THE END




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