Month Six

"Hey, Baby. How're you feeling?"

Abby groaned as she leaned backwards into her chair, letting her head fall backwards. Her hair hung loose and it fell just below the top of the chair. She closed her eyes and Jake disappeared from sight.

"I tell women during exams exactly what's to be expected...but I suppose it's different on the other side of the spectrum," Abby laughed.

Jake placed both his hands gently on her shoulders and massaged them. "Hmm...have I told you how much I love you?" Jake asked cheekily.

Abby smiled and her eyes remained closed. "About, oh, a hundred times."

"Well, I love you, Baby. I'm glad you decided to carry the baby instead of me," Jake chuckled.

Abby opened her eyes and swatted Jake's hands away. She spun around in the chair with a wide grin on her face. "Somehow, I don't think that would have worked out."

Abby held her hands out and Jake helped pull her up from her seat. "Hopefully this will be the last of the morning sickness, it's been slowing down lately," Abby admitted.

Jake released her hands and wrapped one arm around her shoulders, guiding her out the room. "I sure hope so, Doctor Griffin," he said.

The door opened and Abby and Jake exited into the main corridor, making their way to the Service Hall. All on the current Council were summoned to oversee the Consigning of the Chancellor Ceremony. Late the preceding night, Abby and Jake had learned of Diana Sydney's resignation from the Chancellor position, therefore entrusting Jaha as the temporary Chancellor of the Ark until an election could be held. However, what caused Diana's immediate resignation, neither Abby nor Jake could figure out.

"Thelonious as Chancellor...imagine that," Jake said absentmindedly. The pair turned a corner and slowly weaved through the people milling about.

"Well we always knew he was second in command, but..." Abby dropped her voice and whispered the last part. "...Diana Sydney resigning? Not a chance."

Slowly, they made their way to the Service Hall. Jake matched Abby's pace, giving Abby the occasional glance of assessment.

"What time is it?" Abby asked.

Jake raised his wrist and checked his watch. The fabric wristband was starting to show some wear with continued usage. He treasured the watch as Abby had given it to him as part of a gift for their first wedding anniversary.

"Almost 8am," Jake replied.

Jake and Abby turned one last corner, walked down the corridor, and stopped at a set of sliding doors. Jake reached out to press the button and the doors both slid open to reveal the Service Hall. Inside, two workers were hastily setting up chairs in neat rows across the previously empty room. The section of chairs were positioned to face the low platform at one end of the room. On top of the platform was a single row of eight chairs, separated in the middle by a worn, metallic podium.

On the left side of the podium, Commander Marques sat with one other government official, and an older woman. They chatted in hushed voices, their stoic expressions indicating business. One seat remained empty for Jake.

The right side of the podium held one empty seat for Abby. Occupying two seats were Thelonius and little Wells. Thelonius sat quietly with his arm around Wells, who was fast asleep considering the early hour. Kane sat in the remaining chair. His crossed arms and relaxed posture indicated boredom to some, but his eyes gave him away. They darted across the room from person to person, and it seemed he was entirely alert, searching for any persons of interest.

Jake and Abby walked across the room, passing first by Abby's seat on the platform. Abby took her seat, and lightly grazed Jaha's shoulder with her hand. Their eyes met in understanding. Jake placed a soft kiss to Abby's hair and quickly clapped Jaha's shoulder as he passed to his own seat.

The soft murmur within the room ceased as the older woman stood at the podium. Her dark hair had started to grey, and the silver threads were held tight in a bun at the back of her head. She stood with confidence and her previous position as a favoured Ex-Chancellor of the Ark gave her unprecedented authority.

"Thank you all for joining us on such short notice. We shall begin today..." Madam Ahmad said as the ceremony commenced.

As the speech went on, the words started to fade to the back of Abby's mind. The only things running through her mind at the moment were outrageous theories of what could have led to Diana Sydney's resignation.

Abby felt her stomach start to churn and she took a deep breath in. Now is really not the time, she thought to herself. In, and out, in, and out, Abby repeated to herself. Her breathing sped up and so Abby closed her eyes, blocking out the harsh glow of the fluorescent lights.

"Are you okay, Abby?" Kane asked, his voice low enough so nobody else could hear.

Abby's eyes remained closed and she quickly nodded yes to him. After a few laboured breaths, she tilted her head to the side and said, "Morning sickness."

Kane's mouth formed a small 'o' in understanding and he watched for a second as Abby breathed in an out. He hated to see her enduring this, but what was he to do? Kane reached underneath his seat and held out a metal cup half full of water. Abby opened her eyes after sensing motion from Kane and saw him offering his water to her. She took the cup and drank slowly, sip by sip, allowing the water to hopefully soothe her stomach.

"Thanks," Abby sighed, placing the empty cup in the space between her and Kane's chair.

A lock of hair fell into Abby's eyes and so she reached up to quickly braid her hair. She usually only tied her hair up during work hours so as to keep her face clear, but right now any kind of distraction seemed to bother her.

She looked in her peripheral vision to the right and saw Kane with his head tilted to the grey floor. He wasn't paying attention to Ahmad's speech as well. She whispered ever so slightly, " 'Voluntary resignation', huh?"

Kane reacted ever so slightly to her hushed voice and looked over at Abby's deft fingers tying off the end of her braid.

" 'Change of profession' is what they called it, I believe," Kane whispered back. Abby gave him an unbelieving look, prompting an explanation.

"I heard she wanted to work more with the Human Operations department...something about the 'working class'," Kane said. His eyes scanned the room briefly, as if searching for any intruders eavesdropping. Only Officer Shumway, a few fellow members of the guard, and few interested members of the Ark- residents that heard by word of mouth- remained in the audience seating area.

Abby took in a breath, thinking of the implications. What does that even mean? How could she have worked her whole life to be elected as Chancellor, only to completely abandon it?

Kane leaned in to Abby's side by a fraction, enough for her to hear his next words.

"I don't trust her."

Neither did Abby.

Only three months to go.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Happy return of the 100, I can wait for the rest of season 2 :) Please review, cheers!