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"As much as I'd love that, baby needs a walk. My legs are stiff." With a big huff, she hoisted herself out of their big fluffy bed and was on her feet, smiling at her small victory. Pretty soon she'd just want the baby out and in her arms instead of having them always weighing her down.
"And now the stairs! How will I face this next challenge?" She laughed again and reached out for his hand.

Lorey noticed that, too. He was no longer cut like a diamond, but still in very good shape. It made him more cuddly, she had said, and she was actually quite thankful that he'd eased up on his exercise. She had always been worried that he strained himself when he didn't need to.
"I was thinking of making some bread and giving it to Damian and Raquel... think they need anything home made?" she wondered as they made their way down the stairs. Every time she did, she felt like a princess in her castle. A queen, even.

"True." Lorey held her hand over her stomach where the squirming baby was. It made her laugh to herself, feeling that little life in there. Two more months, and they would have a sweet baby. A crying baby, true, but time would fly so fast, as it already had.
"Richard... what would you say if I told you that I think we're going to have a boy?" she asked as they sat down for breakfast.

"Oh, just mother's intuition. But we'll find out for sure tomorrow morning." Lorey winked at him with an excited light in her eye. Their appointment for a sonogram was just the next day, and they'd find out for sure what the baby was. Lorey was so sure, though, that they would have a baby boy.
"You're going to be wonderful... I can see them running around in the clean air and all that grass, getting tan and coming home with dirty feet."

"You're worried," she said. "I can see it on your face."
Lorey had every reason to worry, too. Though her mother was a good parent in most respects, their old living conditions didn't always nurture affection and love. She had been surrounded by violence, once she had been struck by someone she trusted, and always she had been afraid. It was still deep inside her, but Lorey wondered if maybe that would make her a paranoid parent.

"This baby's been cookin' for months now and I want them out of the oven," she said, laughing. Though she had to ask, "Am I allowed to break your hand when I'm giving birth and scream at you?"

That was another thing she was afraid of: giving birth. The pain, the aftermath. Her mother was gone and Richard's was far away. All other friends had never had children, and Lorey was high and dry without knowing what to really expect.

Lorey looked down for a moment in thought. She did want someone to help her... so, so badly. She was scared, and wanted to know that everything would be alright with several people looking after the baby and her.
"...I wish my mother was here," she said finally. "I miss her so badly."
The sting hurt her again like it had all just happened all over again. She wanted her back for comfort, and just to have her mother with her again.