The needle disappeared like a darting fish in and out of the layette waves. Sianna's fingers deftly guided it to smock yet another garment for the babes. Feet propped up on an ottoman, she lifted her gaze to the sight of her husband sprawled on the sofa. The late afternoon sunshine was spilling in the windows. Sighing contentedly, she rested her work in her lap. "Ye know, if ye're determined tae keep me plump an' pregnant more than this once, ye'll have tae see about ordering an extra large davenport sae that we can cuddle together on happy days like this, aye?" Bright blue eyes and a sweet smile were only enhanced by the glow of pregnancy.

From his comfortable sprawl over the entire length of the soft, there was a low baritone laugh. "Ya'd en' up stabbin' me with yer needle'r somethin'. B'sides, this's comf'rtable too, an' ya know it." Silver-meshed fingers casually tossed aside another folded bill and moved on to the next envelope, tearing into it with casual ease. "I ge' ta sprawl withou' worryin' abou' kickin' ya'r somethin'..." His voice faded off as he unfolded the letter in his hands.

"I still am fond of th' cuddling, let th' needles and kicking hang. Ye can sprawl all ye like as long as I get tae as well." Giggling quietly, she went back to her sewing, dark head bent over the intricate stitches.

"Uh-huh. Bigger sofa nex' time..." His voice was distracted while he read the letter, brows pulling together into a frown. After one full read through, he swung his legs down and sat upright, bracing his elbows on his knees while he went through the missive a second time and more carefully.

The lift of her gaze noted the change in his position, yet she bit her tongue, knowing that he would bring it up when he was finished. Just the same, she quickly ended off the row of stitches she had started.

Long mesh-covered fingers raked back through his hair while he read, and when he finally put down the letter on the table, he rubbed both palms over the scruff of stubble on his jaws. Emerald eyes were haunted when he looked back over at Sianna. ?Ya ever been really torn abou? wha?s th? righ? thin? ta do??

"Aye, when I decided tae leave home and set out tae th' road tae make m'own way for one." She tossed the embroidery hoop back into her work basket. "I assume ye find yerself in such a position at th' moment, leannan?"

?Ya could say tha?, yeah.? Again Johnny ran his fingers back through his hair, and then he took a deep breath. ?Letter?s from th? wife?a a frien?, a good frien?. Guy I owe m?life ta, more?n once. He?s in a spot?a trouble, an? she thinks I can do somethin? abou? it. Trouble?s tha? I?ll hav?ta go there ta take care?a thin?s, an? it?s like ta take a coupl?a weeks.? And there was the source of his worry, when he looked over at her.

Her eyes softened a bit as she realized she was the source of the worry, or rather she and the babes. "Ahhh. Now it seems a bit clearer." Sianna rubbed her temples while she thought. "Well, 'tis clear that ye should probably go tae his aid. So then what remains is whether ye take me along or no'."

Emerald eyes widened with alarm at even the thought of Sianna going along, and on more than one count. Between the difficulties of her pregnancy, the hazards of space travel, and the mess that he was likely to find on the other end, Johnny?s instinctive reaction burst out without thought. ?No! Ain? havin? ya goin? ou? inta this mess!?

?What d'ye plan tae do then, aye? Tie me tae th' foundations and forbade me tae go?" Sianna leaned back and folded her hands on top the rounded swell of her belly. "Cause I canna say that I'm ower fond of th' idea of ye going intae a mess. Even less so th' thought of ye going alone."

?Ain? somethin? I?m tha? fon? of either, bu? I owe Evan. An? leas?wise if?n I go it?s jus? m?self at risk an? no? th? babies too. Ya?ve been havin? too hard a time, Si-love, it?s too risky fer ya ta be hoppin? onta a liner jus? like tha?.? Other arguments might be more effective, but this was the one that mattered the most to Johnny. As much as he owed Evan, if Sianna insisted on coming along, he would find another way to fill the debt.

"Aye, if ye go alone, it's jus' yerself ye risk." She bit her lip, her eyes welling with tears. "I dinna like it." Nor would one expect her to. They had not been parted since that first week that they met.

When her lake-blue eyes filled, when the distress and misery were so evident on her face, Johnny moved to cross the distance between them. He took a knee beside her chair, reaching for her hands. ?Nah, love, don? be cryin? now. Don? ya worry abou? i? ? I?ll fin? some other way if?n yer tha? bothered.? It wrenched him to see her tears, and the concern of it was plainly evident on his face.

Not satisfied to simply hold his hands, she wrapped her arms around him, resting her cheek against the crown of his head. A few plump tears rolled down her face slowly. "I wish I could help being selfish about you, leannan... but I canna. But ye would no' be th' man I loved if ye shirked from doing right by those ye care for."

Johnny?s breath came out as a long, slow exhale while he leaned into Sianna?s embrace over the arm of the chair. His arms went around her as hers went around him. ?Yer firs? thin? in m?life, m?gal, an? I don? wan? ya thinkin? otherwise. This trouble Evan?s in ? well, I don? think it?ll take more?n a week?r so ta sor? ou?, another week mebbe fer travellin?, dependin? on th? ship schedules. Now ya be hones? with me, love. If?n I go, will ya be able ta manage fer two-three weeks wi? jus? th? family ta help??

"I dinna think otherwise, how could I? Ye have brought tae me everything I never thought possible, aye?" Her voice was quiet, yet husky with emotion. "But aye, if ye go, I will find a way ta manage but I shall miss ye something fierce, just th' same." Her fingers brushed the hair back from his temples in a soothing, almost hypnotic rhythm. "Will ye need tae leave soon then?" A deep breath was released slowly as the sound of her heartbeat echoed in his ears.

?Ya know I?ll be missin? ya too, th? whole time.? Emerald eyes closed while Johnny searched his memory. It had been some time since he?d been to the Spaceport, but fortunately the departures were on a regular rotation. ?If?n nothin?s changed, should be able ta catch th? Tuesday launch an? route through Demeter. Otherwise i?s th? Wednesday launch an? routin? th? lon? way roun?.?

"Oh, well at least I'll have ye tae m'self a little while longer. Though ye'll need tae check. I'd rather have ye get there quick so ye'll be home sooner than be delayed in th' travelin'." She placed a gentle kiss to the top of his head.

Looking up at her tear-marked face, he lifted one hand to brush away a last drop of moisture and cradle her cheek lightly. ?Ya know I?ll be back jus? as soon?s as I can be. An? we?ll make sure ya go? plen?y of help with th? shop an? all while I?m gone so?s ya don? strain again. Wish tha? Juli an? Hudson weren? gone a? th? same time, though. Ma an? Gabby an? Tali?ll all do wha? they can, I know.?

She nodded slowly. "Aye, I ken ye will. Dinna doubt ye for a moment, ceisd mo chridhe." A wavy smile spread slowly. "An' Evan is verra lucky indeed, for I canna think of anyone else I'd wish about me than ye when there's trouble about."