Chapter 0986
“Ariel,” dad says, his voice low with warning. Rafe, Mark, and Jesse sit very quiet on the couch, looking between us.

But I ignore all of them, shifting my eyes to mom. “And what about everything you were saying this morning,” I snap, vanishing my flame away. “About being able to have it all, to not have to limit myself simply because I’m pregnant?”

“Baby, I meant every word of that,” mom says, pressing her hands to her heart, her eyes going wide. “But you have to acknowledge the reality that your life is different now – your life is going to change in a very physical way. And if your first pregnancy is anything like mine, you may need a great deal of bed rest! Why don’t you simply…delay your education until the girls are born? Take a minute to

“If I stop now,” I say, my voice getting creaky with sadness and worry, “I won’t go back – how many women does this happen to? Who say ‘oh I’m going to just take a step away for a moment,’ and then they never go back? Why not do it now!? Just finish while I’m pregnant and the babies are young enough to sleep most of the day -”

“You’re underestimating how much care and dedication an infant needs, Ariel,” dad says, his voice stern but full of feeling. “Let alone two of them. The Academy is a dangerous place – you were injured and nearly died there several times -”

“So, I won’t do any of the physical stuff!” I blurt out, desperate. “I’ll – I’ll just do the book learning!” I hesitate for a second. “And the sniping!”

“Yes, always a great idea to bring the infant children around the gigantic gun,” Rafe says, going for some humor to lighten the situation. I spin my head to glare at him and he grimaces, putting his hands up in apology.