Cinder had fallen asleep on Kai again.

She was tired all the time now that she was pregnant, and while she didn't enjoy it, Kai didn't mind all the times she fell asleep against him.

It was a little after nine p.m. and they were seated on the couch in the castle's biggest sitting room. They had been watching a net drama together, neither of them really into it, Cinder tired from her pregnancy and Kai tired from a long day of work. Now that Cinder was asleep he turned off the net drama and felt his own eyelids drooping. It was pretty early, but he briefly entertained the thought of going to sleep.

"Kai?"

Iko walked in, chipper as ever, and sat down on the couch across from Kai and Cinder. Kai put his finger to his lips. "Sh. Cinder's sleeping."

"She is," Iko said. Kai put his hand over sleeping Cinder's, and Iko leaned back in her seat, sighing. "I can't wait for this baby to be born!"

"You have a while to go," Kai said, running his pointer finger up and down Cinder's hand, tracing her fingers absently. "We're not due for twelve more weeks. You know that, Iko."

"I know," Iko said. "It's just so hard to wait!"

Kai smiled. "For me and Cinder, too. Cinder especially."

"You're telling me!" Iko shook her head, her blue braids swinging lightly. "You know how hard it is to find cute maternity clothes? And she doesn't even bother trying!"

"That's not what I meant, Iko," Kai said, smiling. He brushed some hair off of Cinder's face. He was glad Iko had stopped obsessing over him. He liked her better when they could just be friends.

"Well," said Iko, "trust me. It's awful."

She stood up and stretched her arms out, yawning. Kai smiled. Iko didn't need to yawn, nor did she really get tired, but she still did it when she felt it was socially appropriate.

"I'm going to go, I think," Iko said. "I have stuff to do before bed."

"Yeah," Kai said. "Me, too.

He didn't know what the stuff he had to do was. He was too tired to think about it.

"Well, good night!"

"Good night, Iko."

She left the room, leaving Kai and sleeping Cinder. He closed his eyes and leaned his head on top of hers, taking her hand in his own. "Good night, Cinder."

Iko found them like that in the morning, Kai still holding Cinder's hand.