For him the tiny bassinette was a herald of the future. Shai's glow increased daily, the morning sickness continued but they had managed to put a system together. She would be sick and he would prepare a small helping of crackers to help alleviate the nausea. This of course was greeted with mixed emotions depending on exactly how the Greek was feeling. He did what he could for her, knowing that she already had so much on her mind. The bulge in her middle had begun to show. He looked at it every day and couldn't help but grin at her. This was received with mixed responses as well.

He still pursued her, he doubted that would ever end for him. She was ever more beautiful in his eye. She glowed, it was a clich' thought but it was true. Not that magical glow that could be seen in his work from time to time. Nor was it like the metal heated and removed fresh from the flames. This was something that seemed to emanate from within and expand only so far as the surface of her skin. It cast no light on anything except for her. Whatever the reason this was intended for, it succeeded in making him do everything he could to see her smile broad and unconcerned with anything except for how he looked at her.

The others had become infected with her as well. Small gifts began to roll in, a crocheted blanket and knitted clothing. One of the women had even embroidered a set of bed clothes for the bassinette that he was looking at. They were still uncertain as to the sex of the child though the smith still professed loudly that it would be a girl. There were comments on how Shai was carrying, though the baby bump hadn't quite grown enough for that to be a determining factor. The men would tease him that he should know better than to expect a woman to comply with a man's wishes on these matters. Kruger would simply shrug off their comments with more of his own.

It was Marcus who asked the question though that they all had wondered about. Why did Kruger hope for a girl" "Tell me you don't see the answer when little Sophie has her daddy all wound round that little finger." He got laughs with his response from Anthony and Gio, Marcus simply nodded as though seeing it in his head. Perhaps he was seeing what would come in the future. One jovial smith set upon by the angel darling given him by Shai, and unable to resist her pull.

Rochelle doted on Shai. It was like her own grandchild was being born. The smith gladly accepted the teary eyed hugs that came nearly every day. He also got some amusement from the way the older woman seemed to know without ever being told".exactly what Shai would need and when. He had been on the receiving end of a hand slap or two as he tried to fish away pieces of a snack meant for Shai and her little one. This was always met with laughter from Thomas who had been spending a lot of time at the house of Kruger and Shai. Sophie when she came wouldn't leave Shai's side. Questions fell from the girl quickly and covered every possible angle of how did the baby get in there. Shai was deft in her explanations.

Kruger didn't try to head off the "what ifs", there were too many and came randomly. The questions needed to be answered by those who were doing the asking. Much as he wanted to, Kruger couldn't save them from their moments of doubt. He could only move forward doubtless in his own mind.

Kruger surveyed the grounds from his bedroom window. The four poster bed behind him still called warmly to him. How simple it would be to while away the day there with Shai as he had before. The holidays were upon him though. Yule had tiptoed up close and now it loomed over his shoulder breathing down his neck. He pulled a shirt over his head covering his body with freshly laundered cotton that hid the bulges in his back but couldn't suppress the wideness of his shoulders. Neither did it fall far enough to cover his nudity. The bed behind him was many things but in his time with Shai it had never been a place he could remain clothed for long. His relationship with The Greek was something that bordered on primal. He stood aloft looking at his little kingdom from meager heights as the object of his greatest desire lay sleeping behind him.

It would surprise none of the adults that occupied Belglade that the two of them made love so very often. It might surprise them to know the voracity of their attentions towards each other. He knew very little of what had driven them together with such solidity. He knew only how much he needed her when she was around. He knew that the need drove him to touch her and from one touch an entire reservoir of emotions would flood the valley that was Aristotle Kruger Allen. Shai seemed to have the same need for never did she deny him. Often enough he was certain she was encouraging him. Even her growing belly couldn't dissuade him from taking what she would offer him, however it might come.

Kruger pulled on trousers doing the thing that was furthest from his mind and preparing to leave for his day. The smith in him knew it was the right thing to do; the man however looked over at Shai as she lay on her side, dark skin contrasting the light sheets. His eyes roved over shapely hip and fought down a wave of desire. She had laughingly named him insatiable, while he had countered by calling her willing to indulge him. He stepped away from the window then moving around the bed and in front of her. He leaned into her placing the most chaste of kisses on her cheek. "Rest mon amour, and regain your strength. I will come again tonight and we can sing more Yule songs until the wee hours."

Kruger stepped from the room turning sideways to get through the doorway without brushing a shoulder. He thought he felt the dark eyes of her upon him as he left, and perhaps a sultry smile that spoke of things to come when next they were together. Then again it could have simply been his imagination.