Galen was still in the kitchen when the phone rang, but he heard 
the message on the answering machine as clearly as if he were standing
right next to the phone.

'I can't believe it Merry's finally pregnant.' Galen thought to 
himself.  'I wonder who the father is,' and with that thought a bolt 
of fear went through him causing him to shudder, 'Oh Gods, I hope for 
all our sakes it not me.'
                
In the months since he had come to live with Merry and the rest of
the guards Galen had done alot of growing up and he knew that he 
could never be the king that Merry and the fey of the Dark Court 
needed.
                
He walked to the door of the kitchen and looked out into the living 
room surveying the rest of the guards' reactions to the news. 
He looked across the room to Frost who stood deep in thoughts of 
his own,'I sure hope Frost is the father, he really loves Merry and 
Merry loves him and I think it would kill both of them if she had to 
marry someone else.'
                
'Look at poor Nicca sitting there on the couch, he's as worried as 
I am. He's not strong enough to be king either, and I think he knows 
it. The poor guy looks like he's in shock.'
                
'Then there is Rhys, he looks awfully sure of himself. I don't 
know if we can handle having a Death God as a king. It could be 
worse though, what if its Kitto's baby, I don't think the royals will 
go for having a half goblin for a king.'
                
'Doyle is the only one of us who doesn't seem awfully worried at 
the moment, I wonder why.' and with that final thought Galen shook 
his head and took his own worries back into the kitchen to start 
preparing a big meal for the expectant mother and the rest of their 
little family.