On watch

Amanda Mellon relaxed in bed. She felt enormous. The doctor had warned her that she had to have plenty of bed rest in the last month. He was sure there was more than one baby, but he was worried there might possibly be even a third.



The time was close. She could feel the babies in her belly jostling for room.



The entire house was still awake. Caliburst, their servo who never needed sleep, was continually cleaning the house, tending the new garden Green had put in for her, and making grilled cheese sandwich platters (which he generally ate all on his own). Normally, the smell of the greasy grilled cheese sandwiches made her sick, but she had actually found an appreciation for Caliburst's tendency to always have a platter of sandwiches ready. When she was ravenously hungry, he would hand her a plate and sit down with her as she swallowed it in one gulp. It was more than Green had done for her.



Green spent his time in the small study working on his novel. Most of his time, at least. This afternoon, Amanda had gone downstairs to see her husband with a strange woman in the house. They had simply been too close for Amanda's comfort. And that strange woman, the way she looked at him. Her eyes were too bright, her smile too large. She said she was Aden Mellon's fiancée, but she hadn't looked attached to anyone when Amanda had caught a glimpse from the door way to the living room.

Ann's seaside shack (How it stays up, I don't know!)

To make matters worse, Ann (or as Amanda was beginning to think, "The mother-in-law from hell") called often. She had moved out to a seaside shack as soon as the decorations from the wedding had been cleaned up. But that didn't stop her from calling every other day anxiously waiting for news about babies. Even Green shuddered when the phone rang. Of course, his response was to take the phone out of the study where he worked.

Amanda closed her eyes as the babies kicked her belly and probably each other. She had laid in bed all day and most of the night, but she had not felt any better. The babies were due any time now.

Clothes-- Amanda felt a need to get dressed. She couldn't stay in bed any longer.

Just as soon as she had put on her newest maternity outfit, her belly began to ache. Sharp pains poked her in her sides, causing her to clutch at her stomach. They ebbed quickly before a newer, stronger onslaught of pain stabbed over her entire belly.

Amanda jumped to her feet and grabbed her large belly. "It's time!"








Silly picture time:


Apparently Elizabeth hadn't left after all. (Perhaps she was coming through to catch that can kicker.)

I love her look of worry, which almost matches Green's. Neither of them are having the babies. (Although Elizabeth is looking over at Green as if she is more concerned for him. Sort of an "awww" moment for me, even if it was a bit stalkerish for her to wait around for the birth.)