The game of Connect Four Sedna was trying to distract me with to keep me from thinking about her brother wasn't helping, much to her disappointment. This was the seventh game she has played with me today hoping I would stop worrying. Unfortunately, it only made me worry more. It had been three weeks since Delmare had left and I had been on bed rest since then, my back pain getting worse as I got nearer and nearer to my due date. Claire had written to be a week ago, wanted to come to visit and would be arriving today. I was glad she wanted to visit, but I felt like I was being watched, as if I would breakdown any moment.

"Anna, are you listening?"

"What?" I asked, looking up as Sedna placed her final token, making four in a row.

"I was asking if you were hungry."

"Oh, I'm not hungry." I replied, flipping the bottom piece to make all of the pieces fall to the table.

"Are you sure?" She asked, an eyebrow raised as she threw the red and yellow pieces back into the box just as my stomach growled, betraying me.

"I just," I paused, looking away feeling a little quilty that I lied, "I don't feel like eating."

Sedna sighed, shaking her head at me as she the game back into it's cubby, "Well, you're going to have to eat something. You can't just not eat because you don't feel like it."

"I know." I replied just as the door opened and Theodosia strode in, her violet-colored hair up in perfect braids, unlike my hair which I knew was a total mess.

I had noticed that the children hadn't been as active as they have been weeks prior and I wondered if it was because we were so close to the due date. I was due in a week and not only was I stressed about giving birth I was also worrying about how Delmare was and if we was okay. I haven't heard from him since he left and I had no idea if he was alive. As if Theodosia could read my thoughts, she came over to me, wrapping her arms around me tight as she whispered soothing words into my ear, hoping her words would help even though I knew there was nothing she could do.

"How about we have brunch in the dining room." Theodosia suggested with a smile.

"That sounds great!" Sedna smiled as she turned to me, "That sounds great, doesn't it Anna?"

"Mhmm." I hummed, as my stomach growled again, urging me to get out of bed and eat, "It sounds fine. Are you sure I should be getting up and everything?"

"Of course, a walk will do you good." Theodosia replied helping me out of bed so I could stand after weeks of not doing anything.

Linking their arms in mine we slowly made our way towards the dining room. What I expected when we opened the doors to the dining room was a delicious breakfast, what I...