For sorcerers and sorceresses, they had the first week of school, school off to learn the basis of being Regular. Trainers had to wake up at five to get the day ready. I walked to my closet and slipped on my red dress. The women Trainers had to wear red dresses until the cloaks came in. Guys could wear what they wanted. I looked weird in red. Not bad, just weird. I shrugged at myself in the mirror and went to help make breakfast for everyone.

Macey was already dressed and down there. I laughed and heard her talking to someone. I walked in quietly, but they didn't notice me. I grabbed plates and listened in. What would it hurt?

"So, you get up at four every morning?" the girl asked Macey.

"That's right. I can't believe you were up so early," she laughed.

"I've always been an early bird. My foster parents were... Different."

"Well, in four short years, you'll be able to meet your real family," she said.

"What about that one Regular? She knows her family," she said.

"That was accidental. You'll understand it later on," Macey said.

"I wanna go through whatever she did to get to know her family," the girl sighed.

"Jade... I heard bits of the story... I don't think you do," she said.

Jade was up this early?

"What happened?" she asked.

"Well, Katlyn was kidnapped with Darnellel and--"

"Bad things," I whirled around. "Bad things happened to me, and, Jade.... You don't want to go through what I did to know your family. You really don't."

They jumped at my voice and blinked. "Katlyn, I'm so sorry," Jade said.

"Kate. And it's okay. You didn't know. But don't ever wish that on yourself. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy," I said.

Jade nodded and it got quiet.

When nine rolled around, all the Regulars came and it felt like we were at a restaurant. The mansion never felt so crowded. After everyone was seated, I sat with Ryder. I laid my head on his shoulder as he ate. I rested my eyes and heard Darnellel and Jade giggling. I opened them and she seemed like a little kid that he was babysitting or something. She seemed like she was thirteen. But her records showed she was sixteen.

"You're not hungry?" Ryder asked.

"Huh? Oh, no, not right now," I said.

"You sure?" he asked.

I nodded. "Just sleepy."

He chuckled and kissed my head. "You really do look tired."

"Been up since five," I told him.

"Why the dress?" he asked.

I explained the concept of us girls having to wear dresses until the cloaks came in.

"Oh, okay," he nodded.

"Katlyn White!" Macey called.

"Yes?" I looked for her.

"You have a letter," she called.

I got up and took it from her. Kayla sent me a letter. I went to my room and read it. It said:

Hi, Kate!! Kayla and Stormy here! I--Kayla--am gonna write first, then Stormy will say what she wants. Yep. Okay, so I met this worlock named Nathan, and he's amazing!! He's so cute and everything!! I don't know if he likes me though. Anyway, I hope your sorcery is going well! We need to hang out more as a trio!! We can talk gossip and whatnot. Kay, Stormy's turn! Bye!

Hey, Stormy here! So, I met a wizard named Wes!! He's super-duper cute!! And sweet and funny!! His pack is fun! I'm gonna be an older sister soon, too!! So excited! I'mma have a younger brother!! He'll be all cute and stuff as a baby, but then he'll be all mean when he gets older. But anyways, like, Kay said, us three need to chill when we get time!! Love ya! Write back!

Kayla and Stormy!! <3

I laughed. Their letters were always short and brief. And we spent practically every summer day together. I hoped Nathan didn't hurt Kayla. I wasn't sure if he had changed, because I lost contact with him. I took my paper and pen and wrote:

Hey, guys!! Sorcery is going very well, thank you!! Kayla, be careful with Nathan. He cheated on me, and I don't want him to hurt you, too. You're too nice for that. And y'all do realize that we spent nearly the whole summer together, right?? Haha. I'll hopefully see you soon! And I don't know Wes, Storms, so hopefully he's good to you. :) Gotta go. Bye!!

Kate ;)

I put it in an evenelope and wrote the information on it. I then went downstairs and outside to put it in the mailbox. I went back inside and sat with Ryder again, putting my head on his arm. He knew about Kayla and Stormy. They had met him about three months ago--the day I told them I was pregnant. They immediately wanted to meet the father, so I called him up, told him, and they instantly loved him.

I scanned the entire room, just seeing faces. I liked doing that sometimes. Just seeing who was around me. It felt like high school in a way. I wasn't exactly sure how to explain it. I mean, you had the girls who couldn't stop talking, then there were the girls who never talked. And in the guys department, there were jocks, some guys that looked like Harry Potter, and Ryder. (Darnellel would be considered a half-jock).

Then I saw Darnellel with Jade. They were cute together. I was really happy for them. I liked seeing everyone content with themselves. And the girls that didn't talk, I needed to boost their self-esteem. I wasn't sure how, but I was going to. Apparently I was good at that sort of thing.

"You okay?" Ryder asked. "You haven't said a word all day."

"Tired," I said.

He kissed my head and I looked up at him. He just had a smile on his face. Little things like that made my heart all warm.

"What are you smiling at?" I laughed.

"You," he said.

"I love you," I closed my eyes, nuzzling against his arm.

He kissed my head again and whispered in my ear, "I love you, too."

We just sat there, as he ate and chatted with people around us. After a while, I fell asleep. A hard nudge on my stomach, made me gasp awake. Ryder was the first to make sure I was okay. I held onto my stomach, hoping the pain would subside. When it didn't after three minutes, Macey had another Important--Alex--take me to the hospital.

"Are you okay?" a male voice asked.

I let out a breath. "I'm in pain... And you're gonna ask me if I'm okay... Smart.... Ow!"

"Sorry," he whispered.

"Okay, guys, what is the problem?" the same guy asked someone else.

"She looks about three months pregnant, but most babies don't start kicking till later..." a woman said, skeptical. "Miss, is the father a--?"

"Human... Well, was a human.... He's a sorcerer now..." I choked.

"Was he a human or a sorcerer when you found out you were pregnant?" she asked.

"Hu..." It started to become more difficult to breathe. "Human..."

"Shit!" she exclaimed. "Prep an OR. NOW!"

"Wh-what?" I looked at her.

"Did you not know the rules? You can't be with humans. Because if you have children with them, the child won't be normal," she snapped.

"He already won't be normal!" I yelled. "He'll be surrounded by mythical creatures!"

"It's a boy?" she asked.

"I don't know! It's better than saying it," I snapped.

"No, but--"

One more hard nudge on my stomach and I was out.

****

I don't know what they did to me--or my baby. But when I woke up, I felt better. The same woman--whose nametag said Vivian--was sitting next to me.

"How are you?" she asked.

"Better," I nodded.

"Okay, I need you to listen very carefully," she said. "Since you are having a half human, half sorceress baby, it--he--won't be normal. Like... At certain points in life, he could magically get older. Or he might have special abilities. Like, mind-reading, shape-shifting.... The possiblities are endless."

I let that process. "Is he okay?"

She smiled. "Yes. And we still don't know if he's a he yet."

I nodded. "I was expecting that."

"Ryder is here to see you--says he's the father."

I smiled and nodded. "That's him."

"He seems lovely," she stood and walked away.

Lovely?

He came in and I watched him sit next to me.

"How are you?" he asked, taking my hand.

"Fine. Sorry for the scare," I looked down. "The baby's okay, too."

"Good," he nodded.

I sat up and took off the blanket. "I'm sick of hospitals."

Ryder just chuckled, and helped me up.

When we returned to the mansion, everything resumed as it was. Humans have an easier pregnancy than us. Like the nurse said--the possiblities are endless. Training began and I took Ryder to a park. (Macey had assigned each set of Regulars and Trainers to a sopt--we got the park).

"Do what I do," I said, stepping up to the basketball goal. I gently held my hand in front of it and moved my hand up, making the goal higher. "See?" I looked at Ryder. "Now you try."

He nodded and did what I did. Instead, he brought it down, back to where it was. I was impressed. I looked at him and laughed. "Better than I thought you'd be."

"Thank you," he laughed.

He hugged me and I looked up at him. He kissed me lightly and chuckled. "Who'd ever thought we'd be here?"

I shrugged.

"Kate!" Mason's familiar voice called and I looked at him.

"Mason, hey!" I hugged him. "Erica," I smiled at her and hugged her.

"I recognize you," Ryder pointed at Mason.

Mason scratched the back of his neck, remembering how they met.

"Guys, this is Ryder. Ryder, this is Mason and Erica," I said, trying to ease the tension.

"Aren't you supposed to be training him?" Erica asked me.

I nodded. "We did. He lowered the goal."

"Oh," she nodded.

"How's the pack?" I asked Mason.

"They, uh, they miss you," he said.

"Well, I've been busy," I shrugged.

"What's new?" he asked.

"Well, I've been training Ryder," I smiled wrapping my arm around his waist. "And, just, y'know. Sorcerer stuff."

"Looks like you've put on a little weight, too," he chuckled.

"I'm actually pregnant," I said.

"Congratulations!" Erica shrieked.

Mason didn't seem so happy. "Congrats."

"Is it yours?" Erica asked Ryder.

He nodded. "We're hoping for a boy."

He was?

I looked up at him, a shocked smile on my face. I'd told him plenty of times I wanted this to be a boy, but he had never really given an opinion. Hearing him say that, made me feel special. Like, he was really looking foward to being a parent. Like, he was really looking foward to being a dad. I looked back at Mason and Erica and just continued to smile.

I noticed how they weren't holding hands or anything like me and Ryder were. Did they feel uncomfortable? Were they in a fight? Or were they one of those couples that didn't really display anything for the world. Erica touched his arm, wanting him to look at her, but he didn't notice. She gripped a little tighter and he blinked into reality.

"Did you see something?" she asked.

"See something?" Ryder chuckled. "What the hell?"

"It's a wolf thing," Mason explained. "And yes, I did see something."

"What did you see?" Erica asked.

"Nothing bad," he shook his head at her. "Don't worry about it."

She let go and folded her arms. "You've been saying that for two weeks now."

"It's just wolf business. You know I'd do anything to protect you, and I'd let you know if someone was going to get hurt," he said, holding her arm the way she had done him.

She looked at him, still a disappointed look on her face and she searched his eyes for any signs of a lie.

I nudged Ryder to slowly walk backward as I saw the invisible sparks fly in between them. I could feel she had forgiven him. I could feel she had regained trust again. Ryder and I went to an open swing while Mason and Erica had their moment. I laid my head on Ryder's shoulder as we swung.

"So, you want a boy, too?" I asked.

"Of course," he chuckled. "Whatever you want, I want. It's how it works."

I rolled my eyes. "You're so crazy sometimes."

"Hey," he poked me. "I love you."

I laughed and looked up at him. "I love you too."

He kissed me and we let ourselves get lost in the time--not caring about what time we had to get back. Just enjoying this moment with us--and our son.