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"Did ake you,over the furs and holding a hand out to me

I push ot loose fro was I asleep? How long have you been home?"

"It does not matter," he says in that easy way of his that tellsme sleep for a while He haulsarm around my back and puts a hand on my belly He nuzzles ainst my skin in the way he knows I love "How do you feel?"

Better now I suck in a breath, because it doesn't nant and half-asleep and it's been a long day and he s to hiht, where I was too big and ungainly to do s inin his arood"

"Yes, you do," he teases "Food is ready Are you hungry?"

"I should be taking care of you," I protest Soht not like to be a hocare ofsure that everyone around me is comfortable and happy Maybe that's one reason why I'nant—everyone takes care of me instead of the other way around "Take a seat Let me fix up a bowl for you"

Dagesh presses a kiss atop my head and then steers me toward my normal seat by the fire "Hush You are tired and your belly is big Let me take care of you"

It doesn't matter how much I protest Within moments, I'm tucked in securely in thea firainst it Anna tucks a thick fur around esh ins to braid ain, but ood that I bite back a moan

It's quiet except for the click of bone spoons against bowls as the girls eat and I e a few mouthfuls of food

"Have we been good enough for a story tonight?" Anna asks

Oof I was hoping they'd forget