Rourke smiled, leaned up, and kissed Emily. "Absolutely. She'll be like you in every way." Rourke embraced Emily, simply glad for the fact that she was home again where he and their daughter missed her dearly.



Rourke straightened from where he was bent over the anvil, just finishing the final set of shovel-heads for his former employer. I've certainly had a change, haven't I? Never before would I have thought I'd do this in a million years. He left the small forge he'd built in the woods behind their home and entered the house. "Hey! Done for the day, you two! Up for a little trek for dinner?"

Emily sighed as she heard her husband of nearly 5 years, and shook her head, little Malia tugging at her mother's leg. "Momma! momma! Look!" She exclaimed happily, and giggled, as she cuddled her stuffed bear, Emily had managed to sew for her. Malia had wrapped a red bow around the neck of the bear, and was ecstatic.

Emily picked up the girl, positioning her on her hip, and Malia laying her head on her shoulder, the bear still in her arms. "Malia.. you silly little girl." She chuckled, and looked to Rourke. "Baby, you know I can't leave with bread in the oven. Especially at this time of year. Everyone needs bread." She sighed at the thought of fall, and kissed Malia's head.

Setting Malia down suddenly, Emily leaned on the sink with her arm, and held her stomach. "Momma?" Malia looked at her father, for confirmation to her mother. Emily shook her head. "Not now, Malia.." She groaned, and suddenly made that all too familiar trip to the outhouse.

About half an hour later she came back. "Not again... Rourke..." Emily sighed, and rubbed her head as she leaned against the front door.

Rourke smiled at Emily and Malia in the kitchen, the very sight warmed his heart. He picked up Malia and placed her on his shoulders, lightly jogging around the kitchen as the child squealed with delight and glee. He kissed Emily on the cheek, setting Malia gently down afterwards. "Fair enough, honey. But there's no saying that we can't do anything when you're finished with today's loaves. We should go out then, it's been quite a long time since our last outing at the turn of spring. Besides, it's always good to let your hair down once in a while." Rourke turned from Emily to Malia, delighting in playing around with her.

At Emily's groan and sudden departure, Rourke sat up and watched the door. He vaguely remembered the last time Emily ran out like that. His suspicions were confirmed when she reentered some time later, looking sick. He laughed out loud, and bounced Malia on his knee. "Malia, believe it or not, Mummy just gave some really amazing news. You're going to have a little brother or sister in a few months time!" Rourke smiled at Emily, setting Malia down before hugging and kissing Emily. "The family's growing. And, this time, I'll help with the bread, too." Rourke rubbed Emily's shoulders, still smiling at Malia.

Emily nodded. She was pregnant again. "Can we afford another child? I'm only a baker, and I'm not even sure what you do anymore, nonetheless how much you earn. " Emily leaned her head against Rourke's sighing. "Are we ready for this?"

Emily's head filled with things she shouldn't even be worried about but still worried over them. After the first four months, Emily finally calmed down some, but then went right back worrying as she started to show, and couldn't do as much as she could.

Emily stared ou the window, in the early morning, laying on her back. She sat up then lifted her shirt revealing a noticeable stomach. Her hand traced circles on it, and she watched outside the window, watching for the sun.

"Emily, we can. We've gone through harder times, and we're still here. Don't worry." Rourke held her close, and brought Malia closer to the two of them. He ruffled her hair, and smiled back at Emily.



Rourke rolled over in bed, feeling Emily move. Morning pains? Morning sickness? He propped himself up on his arms, looking at Emily in the false dawn glow. "Morning, love. Any kicking bothering you this morning?"

"Not yet. It's a little early for that." She looked up at him, then sighed as she hugged his waist. Her head on his shoulder she smiled, softly kissing his neck.

"Well, thank goodness it's not the sickness. What can I do to help you with your pains?" Rourke glanced over at Malia, curled up in her bed, still asleep. He smiled, and sighed. "Soon we'll be four, instead of three. I can't belive how our family has grown, Em. But don't worry, we'll survive. Somehow. I could try my hand at baking again, but I'm not sure how well that'd go over." Rourke laughed quietly, remembering the one time he tried to help Emily bake for her clients. He didn't know bread could burn that badly.

"I'm not in pain, dearest. Just waiting." She smiled, and chuckled as he mentioned his helping her with the bakery business. "Oh goodness, Rourke, I thought you might have just burnt down the house." She chuckled with him, and then sighed, as she curled up next to him. "It's going to be a long next few months, I can feel it. " Emily shivered.

"Thank goodness you cut me off, or I really would have. I still don't know how you do it, but I can't argue with how great you make your bread. It's amazing. I'm sure everyone you bake for agrees with me, too." He shifted, curling around Emily and cupped her chin. "It'll be long, but we'll help you through it. And then the next chapter will begin, something we'll never expect.

"Shh... just calm down, Rourke. " She smiled at him, and rubbed his arm with her fingertip, just enjoying the silence. A rare thing with Malia older now. Emily touched Rourke's nose with her own, and brought her hand from rubbing his arm, up to his cheek, cupping it, and smiling. "You're such a good man." She whispered, and looked into his eyes.

Rourke smiled, relishing the cool touch of Emily's hand on his cheek. "I'm lucky to have a great woman with me. Two, really." He pulled her close and held her gently. "I can't believe how quiet it is. Lucky us, it's been such a long time since I could watch the sunrise with you, Emily." He inched closer to her, holding her close, gently massaging her shoulders.

"Mmm.." She chuckled as he massaged her shoulders, before sitting up. The sun had come in through the windows now. "I need to start baking, love." She smiled, leaning down above him and pecking his lips for slightly longer than usual. There was a slight bump but not too big as she was only 4 months.

(You there?)