[FweepFwopFwoop]

"Ah hope so. Ah really do. Ain't nothin' ah'd like more."

[Eskal]

Valen kissed Arnwen's lips.

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Once the two lovers were done in the bath house, they decided to spend some time at an inn. On the way there, though, they passed by a store for babies, and Arnwen pulled away from Valen to gaze into the window. There were cribs and blankets, high chairs and rocking chairs, little clothes and toys of all kinds. Decorations for a nursery, food and vitamins, diapers and rings for teething. Arnwen felt out of place just looking at it all.

And he was out of place. Never before did he look or feel so out of place. As he stared inside, he saw pregnant men and women like him, but they all looked so much better off. Their clothes were nice, their hair was washed and neat looking. They all looked happy and certain of what they were doing. Many of them were openly holding hands with their partners, or were being followed by happy looking children, maybe both. And all of them looked healthy and well-fed. They all looked like they had money to pay for what they needed. And some of them stared back at him.

And there was Arnwen gazing in through the window at all these things. Him, in his ragged clothes with holes and patches and dirt and dust, with his messy hair, layers of dirt and grime that couldn't be scrubbed off with just one wash, and thin straps of leather that could barely qualify as "shoes". 

"'S not fair. Our baby deserves all that too." He said quietly.

[Eskal]

Valen took Arnwen's hand. "I know."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Arnwen sighed and placed a hand on his belly. "Ah don't know what we can do fer baby..."

[Eskal]

"We'll figure it out," Valen said.

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"Ah hope so." Arnwen winced and put a hand on his back. "Let's git to the inn. Muh back hurts."

[Eskal]

"I'll give you a nice back rub once we get there."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

The two men rented a room, and once inside the first thing Arnwen did is kick off his sandals, take off his shirt and pants, and lie in bed.

[Eskal]

Valen smiled and began giving Arnwen a back message.

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Arnwen smiled. He laid on his side and looked out the window. "D'ya fink the cap'n'll realize ah'm pregint? Or 'll he just fink ah've been gettin' fat?"

[Eskal]

"I don't know. I mean I think it's fairly obvious that you're pregnant. If you were gaining weight, you would gain it everywhere, not just your gut."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"Tha's true, ah guess. But cap'n ain't real booksmart, ah guess. Ah hope." Arnwen closed his eyes. "Ah miss th' flutters. Ah wish baby'd move."

[Eskal]

"Maybe we should see a healer while we're here," Valen suggested.

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"Can we 'ford it, though?" Arnwen asked.

[Eskal]

"Can we afford not to? What if there's something wrong? I'm sure I can find some odd jobs around here while we're in port."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

"We're only 'ere fer... Ah fink free days."

[Eskal]

"I can get enough to see a healer. A cheap one, but it's something."

[FweepFwopFwoop]

Arnwen nodded. "I'll 'elp too, if ah can."

[Eskal]

"Just don't push yourself too hard."