Noble Rescue

"Sir! Sir!"

John turned his head up from his desk, the babies murmuring in their sleep.

Suddenly, Hestia and Penelope, Lonnie's ladies and helpers, came bursting into his office.

Sydney and Robin stirred, cracking open their eyes.

"Wha-" John started.

"Malcolm took Lonnie!" Penelope yelled.

John's blood froze.

Malcolm? Malcolm… has Lonnie?

"Where?" was all he said.

"In his estate. He plans to marry her right now!"

John took off towards the horse stables, yelling orders to the staff to help the wailing children as he raced towards his horse.

In almost no time, John was flying down the road on Balinor, his mighty, black-and-white-speckled steed. Riding bareback, he gripped his horse's mane tightly.

"Hiyah!" John urged Balinor, his sword slapping the horse's flanks.

They came up to the Turner estate and John burst through the front doors, ignoring the shouts of guards and the yelps of staff as a powerful horse bowled his way through the house.

"Lonnie!" John yelled, urging his horse down hallways.

He finally came to a large, cathedral-like room decked in white with lots of people. All heads turned to him.

"Lonnie!" he yelled again, jumping off Balinor and unsheathing his sword.

People murmured and pointed to him as he made his way to the altar. To the priest. To the horrified groom. To the beautiful bride who was elated and relieved to see him.

"John!" Lonnie screamed, trying to run to him, but Malcolm had her chained and he pulled her back.

"Guards!" Malcolm bellowed.

The adrenaline poured into his veins. Guards swarmed John and suddenly... his blade became a blur; his heart that had been pounding wildly... became steady.

People started screaming and rushed to get out.

John cut down the Turner's guards and soon made his way to the bride and groom.

"John!" Lonnie yelled again.

John held Lonnie in his arms, checking her all over for any injuries, before pulling her back.

"Stay still," John said and raised his sword.

It struck the chains with a loud clang and they shattered, leaving Lonnie in broken shackles.

Suddenly, John turned his head to the left, directly at Malcolm.

Malcolm, who was now as pale as a ghost and sweating buckets, timidly unsheathed his sword.

John made his way towards him, murder on his mind.

Lonnie, seeing his darkened state, grabbed his arm, pulling him back towards Balinor. Reluctantly, John sheathed his blade and mounted Balinor with Lonnie.

Lonnie's white bride's dress made it impossible to sit how she usually did and had to ride

sidesaddle. Although, it was bearable when John mounted behind her.

John and Lonnie made a quick getaway on Balinor and were soon outside.

"Where are we going?" Lonnie asked, seeing that they weren't headed home, and turned around to look at him.

John smiled, glancing at her before kicking his heels into Balinor's flanks. They sped off and continued riding in silence for a while before they came to a small lake.

John jumped down and surveyed the familiar grounds.

The crystal clear lake was rather small and flanked by large rocks and tall trees. Behind that were hills and more forest for several miles.

John turned to Lonnie who was staring at the beautiful scenery and offered his hand to her. Lonnie raised an eyebrow before slipping her hand in his. He helped her off Balinor before leading her to the edge of the water.

"Um…?" Lonnie held up her wrists which were still bound in shackles.

John pulled out his dagger and unlocked the chains. They fell to the ground in several clank!-s.

"Where are we?" Lonnie asked, looking to her right and directly at John.

"Lake Falsifur," he said. "My parents used to bring me here."

Lonnie smiled softly and took his hand in hers. John met her gaze and smiled as well.

They spent the evening on the shores, talking and laughing.

Much later in the night, the couple headed home. They stopped by the childrens' room and checked up on them. As soon as they entered, both babies started to wail.

"Oh," Lonnie said, shaking her head and laughing. "So pitiful." She picked up Sydney and cradled him in her arms. "Cow's milk will be fine for this little fellow. Isn't that right, Syd?"

John gazed lovingly at Lonnie and picked up Robin, who was cooing and reaching for attention.

Robin made incomprehensible baby noises and that drew John's attention. He copied her noises and made Robin and Lonnie both laugh.

"Can you say… 'Dadda'?" John asked Robin.

Little Robin blinked her doe-like blue eyes and then burst into spontaneous giggles.

"It's not that funny," John grumbled. "Say 'Dadda'. Come on, Robin."

"She wouldn't say 'Dadda'," Lonnie said. "She'd say 'Mum' or 'Momma'."

John gaped at Lonnie, putting on an offended expression. "How dare you!"

Lonnie giggled before turning her attention back to Sydney, who had stopped crying.

John narrowed his eyes at Robin before whispering, "Say 'Dadda'."

Robin made more noises before, "Da-da-da!" and then giggled again.

John's eyes widened before he jumped around, whooping.

"What are you doing?" Lonnie said. "Are you trying to make her spit up?"

"Lonnie!" John hurriedly walked over to her with his excited expression and voice and then said, "She said it!"

"Said what?" Lonnie said, feigning innocence to tease her beloved.

John's demeanor immediately became one of a saddened puppy.

"Da-da-da-da-da!" Robin suddenly said again.

John's face alighted and pointed to Robin.

"D'ya hear that?" he asked, elated.

Lonnie pursed her lips, smiling, and nodded before watching John shower Robin with kisses, making her giggle and squeak.

"She's going to be your little princess, isn't she?" Lonnie asked.

John smiled goofily. "Yep."

"Fine, then this one's mine," Lonnie said before tickling the baby in her arms.

"Lonnie!" John suddenly said. "Robin's going to start walking soon!"

Lonnie smiled before walking over to her shocked John and kissing him gently.

"There will be plenty of time for that later," she whispered. "For now… let's live in this moment."

John smiled and agreed. The only things missing from this picture were his parents, but he was sure they were watching over them.