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Natalie stared dully at the news channel. The reporter was speaking in a high pitched, whiny voice, wondering why the lady had been raped and murdered.

Natalie glanced at the time. Where was Dan? It was already 7:30. He should have been home two hours ago!

She ran a hand through her sleek, shiny hair, and tried not to look at the exquisite clock on the deep, blue walls.

Natalie was terrified to get up. Last time she'd gotten up, she'd thrown up, and the time before that, she'd thrown up too. She was starving, but after her encounter with the pancake this morning, she really didn't feel up to anything.

Pregnancy blogs had recommended finding that ONE food that you could eat, and eating it often. Natalie didn't feel like sitting down, and trying lots of different kinds of food, just to find which one suited her tastes.

She stared at her phone, which she had retrieved only two hours ago, with the expense of having to run to the toilet to puke.

She went to her contacts, and called, "DannyHoney." It rang like eight times, and then he answered.

"Hello?" He asked, his voice extra deep and scratchy.

"Where are you?" Natalie asked. "I haven't heard from you in like, forever, and you're late!"

Dan didn't say anything. "Uh, I." He paused for a long moment. "I, uh, went out with Ian."

Natalie's mouth fell open and she smacked her palm to her face. "And you couldn't tell me this?" She shrieked.

Dan swallowed. Natalie could hear it over the phone. She sighed. "Come home." Then she hung up.

What is wrong with him? Why couldn't he bother to tell me he went out...with my brother? Not that I care that he went out, but he couldn't tell me? Seriously, guys these days so don't know how to communicate!

Natalie frowned, and ran a hand through her hair. She was so hungry, but she didn't want to get up. She looked down at her stomach, and involuntarily placed a hand on it.

Quick as a flash, she yanked it off. If Dan notices me with my hand on my stomach, he'll guess for sure! Natalie thought, pursing her lips with determination.

She glanced up at the clock. 7:45. Depending on where Dan had gone with Ian, he wouldn't be back for a while. When he got back, she'd ask him to make her something to eat.

"And I'll stomach it this time." She said, narrowing her eyes. Then she sighed, and turned off the TV.

She leaned back on the couch and pulled a fluffy blanket over her small body. Then she closed her eyes and drifted off to troubled sleep.

-39-

When Natalie awoke, Dan was shaking her, which only made her stomach churn in apprehension.

"Hi." She said, glaring up at him. It was hard to mad at him, especially when he was so good looking. His green eyes and his blonde hair...she sighed, and leaned up to kiss him.

Ian's smooth voice stopped her. "Sorry sis. I came to see you, not see you and Dan..." He stopped, and coughed.

Natalie turned a bright red. "Oh, Hi Ian." She said, waving a delicate hand.

"Goodness Natalie!" Ian said, rolling his amber eyes. "Do you have to look like you're in a parade?"

Natalie narrowed her dark eyes at Ian. "Seriously?" She said, arching her eyebrows.

"Uh, yes." Ian said. Then he arched his dark eyebrows at her. "Dan tells me you've been acting funny lately." His eyes narrowed, and they seemed to probe into the depths of her soul.

She almost blurted, "I'm pregnant." But she held her tongue, and snapped. "There's nothing wrong with me!" It was true. There was nothing wrong with her. Pregnancy was normal.

Ian turned to Dan. "Yeah. It's PMS." He shook his head. "Pity girls have it. Life would be so much easier for guys if girls didn't get it." He said, glumly.

"I am not on!" Natalie screeched. "Life would be so much easier for girls if guys DIDN"T EXIST!"

Ian held up his hands in mock surrender. "Whatever you say." He said.

Dan cocked his head. "Except for me, right?"

Natalie smiled at him. "I should rephrase that. Life would be so much easier for me, without certain boys named Ian."

Dan smirked at Ian. "You lose. I win."

Ian rolled his eyes. "Remind me again why Natalie married you?"

Dan held up his hands. "Hey! She asked me!"

"Yeah, yeah." Natalie said. "Blame the girl." She put her hand up to her mouth in mock surprise. "How can boys do that?"

Dan rolled his eyes. "Natalie, I brought you something. I hope you like it." He turned around and grabbed a dish Natalie hadn't noticed before.

Her stomach growled hungrily, like an enraged lion about to be fed. Dan laughed. "Good thing I brought you this. I, uh, didn't like it too much."

He held it out to her, and she seized it like it was a jewel of great price. She yanked the lid off and gasped as a wonderful smell invaded her nostrils.

It was a kale salad, complete with mandarins, and cranberries. She smiled sweetly at Ian. "Brother dear, will you go get me a fork?"

"Oh, really?" Ian frowned. "You want something, and then I'm brother dear?" He shook his head, and walked to the kitchen.

Dan looked down at Natalie, his face full of concern. "Are you sure you're ok? It's like, eighty nine degrees out there, and you're dressed like its thirty!"

Natalie stared up at her husband, wishing she could tell him, wanting to, but just as she opened her mouth to tell him, the truth, Ian walked in.

"Here you go!" He said, holding up the fork like it was a long lost gem.

Natalie blurted it out before she could think. "I'm fine." She said, reaching for the fork. She took a bite, chewed, swallowed, and waited for the nausea to come.

It didn't. It was so good! She licked her lips and ate the whole salad in front of her brother and husband. This was something she could eat.

Ian and Dan stared at her, and she looked up at them. "What?" She asked, innocently.

"Why did you look like you haven't eaten anything all day?" Dan asked.

Natalie shrugged. "Cause I didn't feel like it."

Ian's mouth fell open. "Are you sure you're ok?"

Natalie nodded, a bit too fast, and hard. Her black hair flew everywhere.

Ian's eyes narrowed. "I'm sending Amy over. She's staying here until you tell us what's wrong."

Natalie gulped. If anyone could stuff out of her, it was Amy Cahill.

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