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“Why? It is so close to the floor,” Quin said.

“But that’s better for me. Did you not notice that the one upstairs is so high that Asl and Kail made me steps to put on my side so I could get out of the bed without having to jump or climb?”

Quin shook his head resignedly. “I did not.”

“Don’t worry about it. They took care of it.”

“But I should have noticed. I have been very distracted, my attentions not focused on you.”

She shrugged. “You have a whole planet to run. I can wait.”

“I’m beginning to think that we should have remained on Command Warship 1,” he confessed.

Vivian had been looking at her hands, but she raised her face to look at him. He was truly distressed that he’d not noticed so simple a thing. “You know what? I think we’re right where we need to be.”

“Do you?” he asked doubtfully.

“I do. It’s the normal progression of things. We can’t live all our lives on a ship. We’re going to have a baby who will be running around in a year or so. He or she will need space to run and play and grow, not a simulation to pretend they're outside.”

“A few months, not a year,” Quin corrected.

Vivian sighed. “Things are going to be so very different for all of us. It’s probably better that we are here where we can get help when we need it. And it’s just time. We can’t live in a holding pattern on a ship because I feel more secure there.”

“But you do feel more secure there.”

“And I’ll learn to feel secure here, too. It’ll be fine. I’ll be fine. I’ve just got a lot to adjust to with the baby and all, otherwise I’d be more excited, exploring and learning all about everything and everyone. And I will be, just, it’ll be a little while.”

“Perhaps tomorrow we can take a little while for ourselves to show you a few of my favorite spots,” Quin said.

“I’d like that.”

I am sorry I didn’t notice you needed a shorter bed.”

“It’s okay. You’ve been getting up and carrying me to the bathroom every time I tried to get out of bed anyway. That’s probably why you didn’t notice me struggling with it.”

Au'revele walked into the bedroom from the bathroom, stopping short when she saw Quin sitting beside Vivian on the bedside. “Vivian, your bath… I’m sorry, Sire. I didn’t realize you were here.”

“No need for apologies, Au'revele,” he said, standing.

“I’m going to take a nice long soak in a steamy bath,” Vivian said, smiling up at him.

“I think that’s a good idea,” he said.

“It’s ready?” Vivian asked.

“It is,” Au'revele said, standing just outside the bathroom door, her hands folded, waiting for Vivian to need her assistance.

Vivian very carefully slid from the bed and stretched her back a little this way and that. “I’m hoping it relaxes my muscles and helps me sleep a little.”

“I am, too. If you need help getting in or out, please call to me. I want to be here for you, Vivi, just like always.”

“I will. But I’m sure we’ll be fine. And Au'revele has offered to spend the night in the nanny’s room in case I need her during the night. I’ll be fine until you come to bed. Go make them feellike they’re welcome,” she said, gesturing toward the living room where Bart and Samuel were.

“If you are sure.”

Vivian lifted her face and puckered her lips, waiting for him to kiss her. After he obliged, she flashed him her ‘I’ll be okay no matter what smile’, and headed toward the cleansing chamber.

He stood and watched as Vivian waddled through the cleansing chamber door, then disappeared inside with Au'revele closing the door behind them. He smiled at the thought of the friendship that had blossomed between the two women. He was thankful that Vivi had Au'revele at her side. And Vivian was right, it was important to have friends you trusted at your side. Staff and servants were one thing, but someone who was basically family, who was a trusted friend and had an uncanny ability to put you at ease, was invaluable. For a long while it had been just him and Vivi. It was a good thing that she’d found Au'revele. She needed that extra support, and that was something he’d never really thought about for her. Because he’d always had it with Kol, and Jhan and Ba Re’, he’d taken it for granted. At least until Ba Re’ had come back a changed male. Now, he knew just how valuable that kind of friend was.

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