Welcome to Gaia! ::

The morning sickness sat in two weeks after the visit to the clinic. She'd put up with it for two days, afraid to take a test and have her growing hopes shot. There was a virus going around. It was just that.

After the third day, Bob took notice. He frowned and held her hair back as she again threw up her breakfast. "You need to see a doctor?" He asked, offering her some water. She rinsed out her mouth and shook her head.

"No... I'm sure it's just a bug." Bob frowned, pulling her into his arms, giving her a little kiss on the cheek.

"Don't works so hard." He murmured, gently scolding her. Pep smiled against his chest, breathing in. She'd never get tired of his scent, nor of the feeling of his arms. He was so wonderful, so protective...

"I need to go to the store for a few things." She murmured, nuzzling against him. "So I'll be out this afternoon. But I'll come back in to rest, all right?" She added, feeling him frown.

"All right." Bob rumbled, kissing her cheek again. "I'll have to close again tonight, so don't wait up." He sighed. Goddamn, he needed more people to work his bar.

Pep smiled and gave him a little kiss, which he of course tried to take farther. You gave the man an inch, he tried to take a mile. Laughing, she disengaged and went into the shower.

"Like that's going to make me wanna go to work anymore." Bob said, obviously quite interested in this. Pep just grinned and pulled the curtain shut.

"Go off, my big studly man, and support me." She teased. Bob grumbled and joined her in the shower. Work stopped all his fun.

---

It was nearly midnight before Bob got in. He sighed and lit up, much like last time. However, a noise from the kitchen made him open his tired eyes.

"Hon, I told you not to wait up..." He sighed, heading for the table where Pep sat, wrapped in a blanket. He watched her sleep, smiling. His very own sleeping beauty. He sat in the chair beside her, leaning over to gently kiss her awake. She smiled and sighed, blinking.

"Your bed's much more comfortable, love." He murmured, caressing her cheek. She sighed, and he scooped her up and headed to the bedroom. She tried, several times, to get him to go back down. But he judged from the bags forming under her eyes that she needed to rest more than she needed to talk to him. "Go to sleep. Whatever it is it can wait." He scolded, tucking her back in and heading for the shower.

She peered after him sleepily, then sank back to the pillows. It could wait. Bob moved from the shower back to their bed, pulling her to him. She smiled and leaned against his chest. It could wait until the morning.

When morning came, Bob was awakened by the sound of his wife again getting sick. He frowned, moving to the bathroom.

"Pep, I think you should see a doctor." He said, sounding worried. Pep washed her mouth out and closed her eyes.

"They can't do anything for me, Bob, except maybe prescribe some vitamins." She said, leaning against the sink. She opened the door, smiling and biting her lip. "I'm pregnant."

Bob blinked. "I'm sterile." Was the only answer he could come up with. Pep sniffed, shaking her head.

"Apparently not." She said softly, one hand resting on her stomach. Carefully, Bob reached out to touch it as well. She leaned against him, both hands covering his. "I... I went to a clinic, got a fertility shot."

"When you bought the new pretty things?" Bob closed his eyes and leaned his head against her shoulder. "Knew it was too good to be true." His voice sounded annoyed, but there was a hesitance to it. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't... I didn't want you to blame yourself. If it didn't work." She kissed the side of his head. "We're gonna have a baby~"

Bob leaned up and kissed her softly. His every move was strangely gentle. "We're going to need a bigger house."

Bob led his lady around the house they were looking at, eyes behind his glasses narrowed. It was a nice place. Would take some fixing up, but would be able to house his wife and child- And more.

He still remembered the promise he'd made, to find his sister's Lost children. This house was big enough to house them if needed, certianly big enough to hold family gatherings-

"What do you think?" Pep asked softly, twining one of her hands with his as they stepped back out onto the patio. It'd be easy to put a pool in, Bob thought. He smiled dragging her hand up to his mouth for a kiss.

"S'nice." He murmured. "I can fix what needs to be fixed. You can make it a home." Pep smiled and leaned against him.

"All right. I'll work on the paperwork. Could you go find me some pastries? With the creme filling?" She made big eyes at him, and he couldn't help but grin. He started off on foot towards the bakery.

Once he'd found enough of the doughnuts to feed a small army, Bob started back. However, as he moved down the street, he stopped dead in his tracks. The sound of a chain clanking, dragging on Asphalt...

Rene.

If she was close enough to hear, where was she?! He turned and looked, trying to remember how small she was. And, there- a small feathery wing. Bag still in hand, Bob moved towards the wing.

And there she was. Gripping Chaya's hand tightly, looking annoyed, and heading away from him. Bob reached out and grabbed her shoulder. The girl turned, snarling, and raised a hand against him.

But it fell. Chaya grabbed him and squealed, and the two stared at each other a moment. Bob removed his glasses to get a better look.

She was thinner than he remembered, and harder. She was a strong young woman who had only gotten stronger. "Hey."

"Hey." She returned, crossing her arms. Chaya continued to squeal. "What happened with you?"

"Pep and I got blasted back to Ehru with her kids and Spice." He said, sliding the glasses back on. "Just got back to Gaia in the past few months. You?"

"Got stuck with Chaya. Been mostly living on the streets." Her voice was rougher, no doubt due to that irremovable chain on her throat.

"Just bought a house." Bob blinked. "Pep's working on the paperwork. C'mon." He held out his free hand, but wasn't surprised when Rene declined to take it. Chaya did, however, and they walked back home.

That night, Pep tucked Chaya into a bed they'd made on their couch after reading many bedtime stories. Bob and Rene sat across from each other at the table, sipping coffee.

"Good to see you're well." Bob said, glasses still on the table. Rene smirked and snorted.

"It's been ********' hard." She rasped. "Really ********' hard. But Chaya won't show it, thank God. Did everything I could to protect her."

"You're strong." Rene smirked and gave a nod, accepting the compliment.

"Must've got it from you."

Bob just laughed and picked her up, ignoring her protests, and brought her to the guest room. He sat her on the bed and told her where the bathroom was, then moved to stand.

Her hand reached for his, keeping him there. Before he could turn, her arms were around him, face against his chest. Bob closed his eyes, ignoring the wetness on his chest, knowing her pride would smart if he made any comment.

"Don't... Don't tell Chaya." She said, voice muffled. Bob gave her a squeeze.

"I won't."