Ally floated up meeting
Magneto and began a mental probe but it was fruitless. She watched her right hand begin to channel
Alex’s power and smiled as she began to freeze them.
Pietro hadn’t seen the
attack coming and tried to run but his joints began to swell with ice. He
looked to his father for help as he froze.
Eric knew Sabretooth would
guard him know as he continued to throw Warren off balance in the sky.
Vic looked at Eric ready
to leave and tired of the one sided fight.
“Remain after
Fire-cat.” Eric ordered watching Ally,
“The stakes have gone up.” He
chuckled. “We should have back up
soon.”
Logan saw Creed running
for the X-men again and tackled him before he got very far. He popped his claws and Growled as he and
Vic started the old fight.
Ally heard mystique move
and she began to fight with nightcrawler, each’s agility a match for the
others. Ally flew down with her foot in
Mystique’s cheek and Mystique howled but something stopped the blue woman in
her tracks.
Kurt and Ally looked at
each other questionably as she began to scream and hold her head.
“I didn’t hurt the child,”
Mystique cried to her unseen assailant and fell to the ground as she fell fast
into a pained sleep.
Scott had gone to Hayley
and scooped her to him. He dusted her
face from the debris and her stray hair.
He shook his head looking
at her wondering what power it was she had over him but he still couldn’t deny
the attraction. He let his fingers
dance over her lips and called her name lightly.
He sighed when she didn’t
open her eyes and kissed her head. He
picked her up and cradled her head to his chest.
Tears welled worried for
the child he still wished was his and he still wasn’t sure it wasn’t but more
so the tears were for Jean and the thought of her seeing him like this.
He turned to face Remy
whose eyes were narrowed and red.
“Ah see yo’ found somethin’
dat belongs ta me,” Remy snapped. He
lost his temper and hit Scott in the face sending Scott back with Hayley on top
of him.
Everyone’s attention was
caught when they saw a familiar bright light.
Very quickly, Jump appeared with a wicked smile standing possessively
close to Eric.
She ran to the X-men
laughing and chuckling. “So, where is
the high and mighty Justice.”
Ally’s anger built and she
let her ability flow trying to tackle Chloe’s mind but Chloe had her own way to
fight back with mind over matter as she moved closer to Ally.
“Looking for a way to shut
me down?” She smiled turning solid and
letting her true form almost seem vulnerable.
“Try it and you might put Justice’s baby to death as well.” She reached
at Ally with a slap to the face.
“What?”
“Give him the message if you would,” she smiled evilly, “this
child won’t side for his Uncle Xavier.”
Ally’s mouth dropped
wordless, “you’re lying!! Justice
wouldn’t touch you!”
A sinister chuckle began as
Chloe was lifted with the other members of the brotherood into protective
magnetic bubbles.
“We have not lost this
battle, X-men,” Eric said loudly. “The
war is ours,” he looked to Jump, “As you might now know.”
Ally felt tears on her
cheek as she realized chloe had turned to the Brotherhood and was bringing
Justice’s child.
Logan wrapped his healing
arm around Ally’s waist. “We’re all
safe now.”
“Yeah,” Ally mumbled moving
away slowly.
Logan took a deep breath
knowing his attempt to raise her spirits had failed and he began to look her
over for injury.
“I’m fine,” she shrugged
away slowly watching Remy and Scott arguing as Scott held Hayley. “Would you settle that?” Ally pointed.
He grunted and moved to
them and so did Beast. Remy and Scott
both eyed Logan as the ex and crossed arms as he made moves to take Hayley but
Hank interceded shaking his head at Remy and Scott.
Hank held his arms out for
the sleeping beauty and took her watching the looks between men, “I had thought
that we had passed this point gentlemen.”
His scolding look was lost on both men as Remy ran inside to retrieve
Rayne.
Ally stood next to Scott
rolling her eyes, “They weren’t really fighting hard.” She said quietly as they moved into the
school.
He nodded, “They seemed to be making a point with Jump.” He thought of their friend with the
brotherhood.
“What will Jordan
think?” Ally pondered aloud.
Scott gave her a curious
look, “About what?”
Ally folded her arms
realizing he hadn’t heard Jump and was thankful because it was personal. She thought it would be better if Justice
heard this first and she was entirely sure it was true. “Mystique lost conscious and I wonder if
Jean or my uncle was involved in the attack some how.”
“It looked like a telepath had gotten her all right but I had
assumed it was you,” Scott mumbled.
Ally sighed and shook her
head. She looked at him worried, “Don’t let Hayley get to again,” She ran off
before he could argue the point and so she could catch up with the others.
Storm loved Jordan, she
always had. She had been helping raise
the child since she was an infant and she even loved her defiant nature. She held Jordan now and realized as
Justice’s child she loved her even more. She could see his traits in her even features that he carried.
Ororo held Jordan in her
arms tightly as if to protect the child, as she had not been able to earlier.
Remy carried his valiant
little sister proud of her giving nature and the love they shared between
them. Once again, she had put him above
herself. He sighed, wishing she
wouldn’t do that again.
He looked ahead to Hayley
being carried by Beast and sighed.
Hayley had taken hits for him too but it still bothered him that this
all began because she had tried to get away from him, especially when he just
wanted to hold her now.
His heart ached but he knew
she was safe and as he looked at Rayne, he wondered if he would want his little
sister to fall in love. He wasn’t sure
he would be able to sit idly by and watch her go through what he and the others
went through with love’s curse. He
smiled and knew he wouldn’t be able to save her from the trials and
tribulations of love.
Jean took a deep breath
as Justice seemed to final settle down but his lips were moving now with no
words. She watched him intrigued in
what he was trying to say and she finally heard a whisper of a word.
“Jordan,” Justice
breathed and he stopped moving for the most part.
Jean’s heart went to him
and his concern for his daughter but what caught her attention was the fact she
could see that sapphire blue color peeking from under his lids.
“Justice you need to
heal, please settle down,” she said softly hoping not wake Alex. Before she knew it, her senses were
assaulted by a strong earthy smell. She
saw a hand reach out and pick some leaves off a low growing plant. Dr. Grey shook her head to clear it at first
but the images persisted. She then
realized that she was caught up in another one of Justice’s projected
memories.
She heard sounds of birds
chirping and wind blowing softly through the trees, then the snap of a
swig. Next, she heard Rayne’s voice,
“What took you so long Remy?”
Jean now knew that she
was experiencing one of Rayne’s memories.
She felt the girl’s annoyance at the thought of Gambit missing their
prearranged meeting that day. Rayne
wanted to berate her brother for standing her up and had choice words ready as
she stood and whirled around to face him.
However, to Rayne’s surprise and horror, it wasn’t Remy at all. It was the assassin named Edval. Jean recognized him from previous contacts
with Rayne’s mind, and knew he was an evil character.
“Why d’you hang around
dat no good t’ief?” Edval said with a
sneer as he took one step closer.
Rayne tried to appear
calm but inside she was terrified.
Edval was well known for his cruelty with his intended prey, and Rayne
suspected that she was indeed his prey. She recalled a day about a month back where she had the misfortune
to heal Edval of a gunshot wound. Tanti
had insisted that she was ready to handle this case on her own but Rayne had
doubts. Doubts, that appeared to be
well founded, for the experience left her shaken and second-guessing her
decision to become a traiture.
Edval took yet another
step closer, “Ah remember what you did ta me girl. Do you remember?”
‘Stupid question,’ Rayne
thought, recalling how she had to dig buckshot out of his scrawny butt. She was so nervous that she spilled
Mercurochrome all down his privates. He
had screamed in pain and told her he would pay her back someday. Now here he was, standing in front of her,
in a deserted, wooded part of town. She
felt trapped and Jean could feel panic rising within Rayne. “Ah said Ah was sorry, Edval.”
The assassin then closed
the distance between them, “Sorry, ain’t good enough.”
Rayne was engulfed by
panic then and tried to run, but he quickly grabbed her arm and spun her around
to face him again. “You’re not goin’
anywhere.” Jean felt the pain of him
twisting Rayne’s arm and grit her own teeth as well against that pain.
“Leave me be!” She said with all the courage she could
muster.
He stared at her for a
moment, then his eyes traveled down to her breasts. He ran his tongue along his lip as his eyes then took more of her
body in. He grunted, “You’re a fine
lookin’ filly. Ah bet you’d bed well.
What say Ah give you a test ride.”
Jean felt Rayne’s revulsion over what he said and she heard
Rayne’s silent pleas for Remy to come and save her.
“Let me go Edval. You’ve no right ta be here harassing
me.” She swallowed hard thinking about
how he was a trained killer from birth and that nothing she could say would
have much effect. Yet, she hoped beyond
hope that she could keep him at bay long enough for Remy to come.
Undaunted by her words,
the young man reached out and pulled her in against his body. She could hear his heartbeat quicken and his
breathing was more labored. An intense
jolt of fear ran through her when she felt his hand grab her breast. The jolt prompted action by Rayne and she
twisted from is arms and tried to run again.
His was quick though and
within a few steps, he had her in his grasp once more.
Rayne fought back this
time, scratching and digging her nails into any flesh she contacted. Her nails became bloodied with her efforts
as she tried to break free.
Edval slammed his elbow
into the side of her head then reached for her throat only to yell in pain when
she bit his hand. “Bitch! You need ta be taught your place.”
Rayne planted her feet
solidly on the ground and tried with all her strength to free her arms from
his. Repeatedly her mind screamed for
Remy to come and save her. Tears welled
in her eyes as she felt her strength giving out, but before that happened she
felt a sharp sting on her arm.
Edval then let her go and
stood there silently. She took a couple
of steps back then fell to the ground.
A burning sensation and numbness ran through her veins as the drug took
effect. She tried to get up but found
she could no longer move. She couldn’t
even blink.
“Ah was hopin’ Ah didn’t
have ta use dat. Its expensive and hard
ta come by.” Edval stepped over to
where she could see him. “Ah reckon
Ah’ll have ta make sure this is worth the price, non?”
All Rayne could do is
watch, while he unfastened his pants.
She felt helpless as he then pulled her skirt up and knelt between her
legs.
She wished again for Remy
to come and save her from this. She
pleaded with God to help her as she felt him tear her blouse open. She felt sick when his tongue slid over her
breast and his teeth clamped down on her nipples. Try as she might she could not move, scream or even close her
eyes.
“Your gonna be my bitch
now, and you’ll do what Ah say from now on.
Yo’ hear me?”
She saw his face appear
before her eyes. His own eyes were
slanted with cruel intent as he moved forward and forced his tongue in her
mouth. His tongue flicked in and
out. She heard him moan as his body
tensed and pressed against hers.
A glimmer of hope arose
when he went quiet and she felt him lift up.
She hoped that maybe he heard Remy coming and was going to run
away. All hope was ripped away when she
felt a sudden pressure and pain. Her
mind screamed in agony as he forced himself inside her.
Edvals cruel laughter
filled her ears. He knew that she could
see, hear and feel everything he was doing, and delighted in her pain. He shoved his face alongside her neck and
bit into her shoulder.
Rayne futilely screamed
more against the agony. She could smell
his sweat mixed with blood and the scent of his sex sent waves of nausea
through her. She prayed for a swift
death. She didn’t want to be tortured
anymore. She didn’t want to be his
plaything for the rest of her life. She
prayed again repeatedly for him to kill her and be done with it.
His body convulsed as he
grunted in her ear. “Oh yeah, oh yeah,
you’re my bitch. Your mine now.” He thrust inside her again to make his
point. “ Now you know what a real man
is, hanh? Not like dat worthless t’ief
yo’ always hang around. Bet he never
gave you dis kinda manhood before. No, dat’s right, you are brother and
sister.” He laughed. “Wonder how he’ll like his sister being my
cunt.”
Rayne felt him withdraw
then and shame replaced the fear. How
could she face Remy again? How could
she hold her head up in front of Tanti or Papa? She felt as dirty now as the ground beneath her. Tears slid down her cheeks.
Edval sat next to her for a
moment gloating over his victory.
Finally, he stood and fastened his pants. “Now, you will come to me whenever Ah call for you. Don’t go thinkin’ of runnin’ away cause
Ah’ll kill you when Ah catch you.” He
shoved his foot into her side. “An
don’t go tellin’ anyone either, cause Ah’ll not only kill you but them as
well.” He laughed at that. “Where is your precious Remy anyway?” He snickered, “He didn’t come ta save
you.” He stuck his face near hers so
she could she him. “He don’ care about
you none. He’s over at Aldus Doucets
with Belle.”
Rayne’s heart sank. Remy had promised to meet her here
today. He promised.
As Beast and the rest of
the people approached the infirmary, they were quickly pulled into the vision,
including Remy.
Remy gasped and leaned
against the wall for balance feeling overwhelmed. He hugged Rayne tightly.
“Mon Dieu, Rayne!” he said with tears in his eyes. “Merde.
Ah’m so sorry, chere. Ah came
too late. It’s all ma fault.” He whispered the words thinking he was the
only who saw it until he saw the pitiful looks from Ally, Beast, and
Scott. Wolverine looked at Rayne and
just grunted in acknowledgement.
Remy looked at
Rayne. Her face looked so peaceful in
her sleep. He thought about his sister
not being able to move as she was raped. That made His stomach churn. He kissed her head trying to hide his
tears. Then he thought about the others
having seen the memory. He knew she
would be mortified if she found out that everyone had seen her memory. He turned to the others before they could go
further, “yo’ saw dat?”
Wolverine cocked an
eyebrow and grunted pushing past them into the infirmary but the others stayed.
“I’m sorry Remy,” Ally
sighed.
He nodded glad she
seemed to understand, “Please don’t let her know you all saw dat.” He lowered his eyes, “she might run again.”
Scott didn’t always agree
with Remy but he understood what he meant, “Sure.” He mumbled passing through the infirmary doors.
Beast quietly nodded and
followed Cyclops. Ally walked over and
touched Rayne’s sleeping face.
“She’s a brave girl,” she
kissed her head. “I don’t know if I
could have gone through all that.”
Remy looked at Ally and
she knew he was still very emotional from what he had seen, “Ah’m all she has
in dis world. But Ah let… Ah can’t let
her go agian.”
Ally kissed his cheek
gently and moved past him with her hand on the door. “She loves you very much Remy.”
She wrinkled her brow trying to think of something comforting to
say. “She knows you love her too.” She put her hand on his arm. “You love each other a lot, and that is hard
to find even as siblings.” She smiled
as she pushed the door open. “Don’t
tarnish that love with self loathing.”
Remy knew what she said
was true but he felt a little breathless after hearing it verbalized. He shook his head remembering how much Ally
reminded him of Hayley but he doubted Hayley would have supported Rayne right
away.
Inwardly he wondered when
those two would get along but he felt they never really would and sighed
pushing the door open.
Jean was bustling about
helping Beast and they were bringing each other up to speed over what was
happening.
Hayley was hooked up to
the familiar baby monitors and Alex was waking slowly as Rayne was placed on a
bed.
Remy looked over to see
Scott sitting in a chair at the end of Hayley’s bed and Logan had made his way
to Justice’s sigh.
Storm carried Jordan in
slowly and called to Beast as she searched for a bed.
Ally and Jean fell to their
knees before Beast could go to the child.
Each woman grabbed her head and let a yell.
Logan grabbed Ally by the
arms to see her eyes were solid blue as Scott pulled Jean to him.
Storm noticed the commotion
and Ally’s glowing eyes, “Jordan is doing the same thing.”
Alex ran to Storm shivering
as she went, “It’s Justice.” She said
loudly feeling feeble unable to help them.
Remy looked over to
Justice who was still and raised an eyebrow.
He went to Alex who was shaking as she stood. Beast nodded for her to go back to bed with pleading eyes and
Remy held her gently by the shoulders easing her to her bed.
He sighed, “Yo’ aint gon’
do dem no good if yo’ don’t get better.”
He lifted her onto the bed and to his surprise, she didn’t struggle like
Rayne or Hayley might. She just sighed
in defeat and looked to her niece and sister.
Ally’s eyes stopped glowing
and she looked into Logan’s caring eyes as she wiped tears she hadn’t known she
had shown.
Jean looked over at Ally
having been released from his grip as well.
“Ally is that true?” Jean
wondered worriedly.
Ally’s eyes settled on
Justice, “I don’t know but I have a feeling Jordan might.”
“Jordan?” Ororo stared at them curiously.
“Justice was looking for Jordan
and found a bit more than he should have,” Ally sighed as Logan pulled her to
her feet.
Justice moaned and
everyone’s attention went to the injured man as his eyes flickered open against
the harsh light. Beast ran over and
began to check him over as he continued to stare at his friends. His lips moved but no words came from his
mouth and he tried to sit up but quickly regretted it and was back against his
pillow before anybody could tell him no.
Ally’s bright eyes shown at
him, “How are you feeling?” She made no
secret how happy she was he opened his eyes.
He nodded making an obvious
effort to stay awake, as he seemed to struggle against his eyelids. He fixed his glare on Storm and smiled
broadly in contrast to his slightly closed lids. “Storm?” was all he could croak in a low breath.
Ororo squeezed his hand,
“I’m here.”
His eyes open wider trying
to ease her to him to hold her. “Why
didn’t you tell me?”
“Justice you are hurt and
cannot hold me to your chest,” She bent to his ear so she was close to
him. “Tell you what?”
She didn’t get the answer
but found his eyes shutting rapidly.
She looked to Hank worried
but he merely smiled, “Ororo, whatever that was about I believe has given our
friend new strength.”
“Henry, I have no idea
what he means.” She rubbed Justice’s
hand as he slept again.
“He looks wonderful,” Beast
said taking his stethoscope from his ears and Justice’s chest, “he will have a
long road to recover but he constitution is marvelous.”
Ally looked worried as
did Jean and they both traded an uncomfortable look.
Remy smiled, “Probably
jus’ knows his daughter is dat close.”
He gestured to Jordan.
Scott led Jean to a
chair, “Are you all right?” He touched
her face and she nodded absentmindedly.
Remy sat in the chair next
to Jean with a sigh as he looked at Hayley’s and Rayne’s bed while Beast was
looking them over. “How dey look?”
“I think Rayne needs to
sleep off the affects of the drug but Hayley is another matter,” he sighed.
“The child’s heart rate seems a little erratic and so does hers.”
“She seemed to wake up from
de lightening before,” Remy got up, moved to her, and held her hand.
The door opened as Warren
walked into the infirmary slowly still feeling the effects of Magneto’s
attack. He looked over to Hayley and
Gambit’s concerned face, “How are the patients?”
Remy jumped at Warren
pushing him against the wall by his shirt, “Dis wouldn’t have happened if you
didn’t fly her away.” He felt somebody
pulling him off Warren. He turned to
see Scott and Logan on each side of him, each with an arm.
“This isn’t helping her,”
Scott reasoned.
Remy’s hot temper was
flamed and he shrugged them off landing a punch on Warren’s jaw before they
could catch him again. Scott jumped in
between both men as did Ally and Hank.
“Enough, Gambit!” Hank howled. “Take it outside or settle down.”
Ally’s sympathetic face was
clear as she touched Warren’s shoulder, “You were injured?”
“Not badly,” Warren said
keeping his eyes square on Remy as Beast looked over the cut on warren’s arm.
Remy scoffed and returned
next to Hayley and Logan walked up to Warren with a stogie tucked in his teeth,
“Where’d yo’ think you were taking her?”
“I wanted to talk with her
and being a flying mutant, I thought she might like a view that I have
enjoyed,” Warren said simply.
Remy looked over at him,
“yo’ knew she couldn’t fly and dat’s why you took her off.”
Ally put a finger on
Remy’s lips; “If you don’t keep silent while he is in here I will hold your
mouth shut with telekinesis.”
Remy started to argue but
thought better and snickered, ‘sounds like somethin’ Rayne would do.’
Warren was directed to a
bed as Beast cut his shirt and began to dress his wound.
Logan grunted and walked
out slowly and Jean went to check on the others.
Storm brought a chair
next to Justice waiting for him to waken again but Ally put a hand Storm’s to
get her attention.
“One of you will have to
be rested for Jordan,” she smiled, “She’s not very found of Aramis.”
Ororo nodded, “Will you
contact me if one of them wakes?”
Jean and Ally nodded in
unison and Storm left quickly.
Beast touched Remy’s
shoulder lightly, “you should also evacuate.”
Beast sighed. “I need to find
out what is troubling the youngest Adam.”
Ally grabbed his arm
locking hers in his, “let’s get some coffee, Remy.” She smiled at him watching Alex nod off as well and peace seemed
to restore itself in the infirmary.
Remy looked over his
shoulder at Hayley and Rayne leaving reluctantly.
Beast began reading her
print outs on the heart rates with a sigh.
Scott watched Jean,
Hank and Warren, “Why was Chloe here and on the Brotherhood’s side?”
“I took it to mean she
had joined Magneto,” Warren shrugged getting to his feet.
“I was afraid of that,”
Beast sighed. “Jump is a formidable
opponent to us.”
Scott silently agreed
and when he watched Jean looking silently to the wall he touched her hand,
“What? Did she tell you something?”
She shrugged her
shoulders, “I don’t want to speculate over anything.” She had been more than aware of what Justice had gotten from
Ally’s mind and she wasn’t convinced chloe’s pregnancy could be Justice’s
either. He loved Storm and was far too
loyal. She did feel for him, when he
seemed to mistake the information he had gotten and assumed it was Storm who
was pregnant. There would be a great deal to explain once he and Jordan woke
up.
Jean sat in the chair
and before she knew it, she was asleep.
Beast sat at the
computer as Scott moved Jean to Warren’s bed and he stood up straight.
Scott nodded to Beast
and moved from the room quickly in search of the Professor.
Warren found a chair
near Beast and sat down, “Jump was making a point, Henry.” Warren rubbed his jaw.
“How so?”
“She still wants
Justice,” Warren sighed. “I think she
will come back for him too.”
Beast nodded, “I will
step up security,” He was worried about Jump’s mutation and how stealthy she
could be. “We can’t endanger our friend
to her.”
Beast watched Warren
move to Hayley’s bed slowly and take her hand and Hank groaned.
“She’s bewitching,”
Warren breathed.
“Is she?” Beast challenged. “No more so than her sisters and I doubt you both know each other
well enough to make that assumption, Warren.”
Warren scoffed,
“really?”
“My dear boy you are
merely infatuated,” Hank winked with a grin.
Warren smiled, “I think
it’s more than that, Henry.” He brushed
hair from her face and took in her features slowly. He noticed she had some bruising on her face but it didn’t
diminish her beauty. He rubbed her hand
gently glad to be alone with her and brushed his fingers to her face. He was glad Hank didn’t chase him away,
yet. He bet forward and kissed her head
and then her lips.
“Warren,” Hank said in a
stern voice, “I think you should remember she is spoken for.”
Warren began to gesture
to him as he watched Hayley opening her eyes.
Hank made his way to her quickly.
“Remy?” Hayley said touching her lips and then she
focused on Warren confused.
Beast ignored Warren’s
advances and hoped Hayley would too.
“How are you feeling?”
She sat up feeling
queasy and tired, “fantastic.” She
looked at Hank hopefully, “Can I go to my own room?”
“Not yet,” Beast smiled
easing her back against the pillow.
“Besides a certain Cajun will be looking for you and his sister here.”
Hayley smiled then
thought of that blonde, “oh.” She said emotionless.
Warren bent closer, “Do
you want him here? Because if you don’t
we can keep him away.”
“UGH!” Hayley groaned pushing Warren from her face,
“get a breath mint feathers.”
Hank chuckled but Hayley
wasn’t done.
“I think the person who
needs to keep their distance is you not Remy,” she sighed and narrow her eyes,
“I thought I made that clear before.”
Warren rubbed her hand,
“Hayley, if you would like me to go I will.”
Hayley nodded as hank
fumbled with the papers recording data.
“Very well,” Warren said
and leaned down and touched her hair.
He cupped his hand behind her head and pulled her into a deep kiss. When he parted from her, he knew she had
returned part of the kiss and felt victorious but Hank pulled him from her and
pushed him to the door. “Sleep well and
see if you can dream of that Cajun now.”
Warren winked at her.
Beast groaned, “She is
correct Mr Worthington. You do
need a mint.”
Warren left abruptly with
remains of a smile from the kiss and Hank went to Hayley.
“Why do men try to
confuse a girl?”
“Hormones,” Hank sighed,
“For instance, Pietro was here and Alex will never mention it but she has
slight feelings for him.”
“What?” Hayley’s eyes
grew wider.
“It would appear he
wants her and has been confusing her, I could smell him when I came in the med
lab,” he sighed. “I think if she had
reservations about me then Jean would have mentioned so. He can’t win her over with sex or intimacy.”
“Really? What makes you think that?”
“You are loyal people
and not bought off easily and that is why you sent Warren away,” Beast smiled
and stood. “Get some rest.”
Hayley raised an eyebrow and the gentleman who was much more than he seemed to be and stifled a yawn. She felt like she was always sleepy anymore and hoped it was only because of her pregnancy because she wasn’t sure she could take it all the time.
She felt Hank place
another blanket over her and smiled as he moved away and she sighed feeling
warm and sleepy still.