It had been seven weeks, three days, and several hours since the Pie-maker and Olive Snook returned from the Sisters of the Divine Magnatum. Olive Snook, now thirteen weeks pregnant, has begun to 'show'. Barely noticeable to the untrained eye, the Pie-maker was the only person to detect the change, other than Olive herself.

Olive enters the kitchen to grab more pie, and notices Ned's eyes following her as she walks.

"You're staring." She said with a smirk.

"Sorry." he looks back down at the pie he's making with a big smile on his face.

"What were you looking at?" she said as she cut a pie into perfectly even slices.

"Nothing." he lied

"Liar." She teased.

"You know you still haven't given me an answer about that date. It's been weeks and every time I ask, you always find a way out of it." Ned said.

"I know, I'm sorry. I promise the next time you ask I'll say yes." she said

"How about tonight."

"Ohh, I'm really sorry, I have a doctors appointment after I'm done here." She said guiltily

"An appointment for...the baby?" he inquired.

"Yes. You're welcome to come...if you want to."

"yeah...Yeah I'd like that." he said with a grin.

"And after the appointment, if you feel like feeding me I wouldn't be opposed." she said.

They smiled at each other.

"How big is it this week? Last week you said something about a plum?" He asked

"The book I'm reading describes the size of the baby at each week by comparing it to fruit. Last week it was as large as a plum, this week a lemon, next week...peach." she said.

"A peach? It's growing fast." he stated.

"Yup." She nodded in agreement.

"Well...I better get back to serving." she said with a nervous smile.

As she exited the kitchen, the Pie-maker truly realized how happy he was becoming. Then looking down at the pile of mail on the counter he was hit with a wave of guilt, something reminded of the cost of his actions. A post card addressed to him. No return address, it simply says: From Chuck. He turned the post card over and read:

Dear Ned,

I'm not writing this to tell you how badly you hurt me, or to remind you, or make you feel guilty. I'm writing this to let you know that instead of lying around wallowing, I decided to take a trip. I'm seeing the world, just like I've always dreamed. This time I intend to live through it, so no more smuggling plaster (gold) monkeys, and I'm flying rather than going on a ship. France was wonderful and tomorrow I begin my exploration of Italy. Finally, I'm putting my knowledge of these places to good use. The world is so beautiful. It's just like I've read about countless times. I've decided to visit a few more places, and then I'm coming back. I miss my aunts. I know that you told me before, that telling them would be too dangerous, but I miss them and I think they'd understand. I'm doing it no matter what you think, but I thought I'd at least let you know. I haven't forgiven you, but I'm trying to. I hope one day that I can.

- Chuck

"You ok?" Olive asked as she grabbed the coffee pot off the counter.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine." he said.

"What's that?" she asked in reference to the card he held.

"Uhhhh...postcard."

"From?.." she asked.

The Pie-maker paused, only for a second, to think about what he should say next. He was unsure of how Olive would react to the postcard, and he did not wish to cause her unnecessary stress.

"From... My friend... John."

"John who?"

"John...Johnson"

"You have a friend named John Johnson? How come I've never heard of him?"

"He was an old friend of mine back when I was in boarding school...and oh look more customers shouldn't you go take their orders? Wouldn't want to keep them waiting."

"Guess not...you ok? You seem a little jumpy." she asked.

"No... no I'm fine." he said.

"Ok." she said with a skeptical look.

Olive Snook could tell there was something that the Pie-maker was withholding from her, but she knew that pushing him further for information would not be advisable. Looking back at him, she continued about her job, taking orders and serving pie. She didn't ask him about the postcard again, and soon enough it was time to close. Olive grabbed her things and waited by the front door for the Pie-maker.

"Ready to go?" She asked.

"I'm ready if you are." he replied

The two made their way to doctors office, and after waiting in a brightly colored room, they were directed towards the examination room. After ten minutes of mostly comfortable, but occasionally awkward, silence, the doctor entered with a clipboard in hand and a smile on his face.

"Good evening Mrs. Snook."

"Ms." she said quickly.

"Oh pardon me. I presume that this is the father-to-be?" The doctor asked in reference to the Pie-maker.

"Uh yes. That's me." Ned said with a nervous chuckle.

"So Ms. Snook, you are approximately thirteen weeks along, I'm just going to run a few tests to make sure everything is alright. After we complete those tests, we'll be able to listen to the baby's heartbeat, and I can give you an exact estimate on your due date. Rather exciting, I know." The doctor said quickly.

As the doctor continued to ramble on about testing and prenatal care, the Pie-maker began to imagine what his and Olive's child would look like. He imagined a little girl, age 5, blond hair in pig tails, and blue eyes like her mothers. Then he imagined the possibility of a little boy, brown hair, and blue-green eyes, the spitting image of his father. He attempted to discern which he would prefer, a boy or a girl. He knew that as long as the child was healthy, he'd be happy. The Pie-maker once again arrived back to reality, only to realize that the doctor had not only finished talking, but he had also performed all tests but one.

"Are you ready to hear the heartbeat?" The doctor asked.

"Yes...yes go ahead." Ned stuttered

After Olive lifted her shirt and the gel was squirted on her stomach, the doctor began to move the probe around. Suddenly he stopped and adjusted the machine. He turned the screen to face them and two heart beats rang out clearly. One being Olive's, the other being...

"The baby." Olive said barely above a whisper. Her eyes, filling with tears of happiness.

"Indeed it is. Everything looks good, and your due date looks to be...January 14th. A winter baby. Congratulations. I'll print out some photos for you to take home." The doctor said as he continued to push buttons on the machine.

"Wait. Can you tell the gender?" Ned asked.

"Not for about three more weeks. At your next appointment, hopefully we'll be able to tell. When the time comes do you want to know the gender?."

"No." Ned said.

"Yes." Olive spoke simultaneously.

"Well I suppose you two can discuss it, but make sure you have a decision made by the time the appointment comes up. Here are your ultrasound photos, and you are free to go." The doctor said, while turning the machine off.

The two looked at each other and proceeded to exit the office.

"If...you want to know...we can find out the gender at the next appointment." Ned offered.

"Thank you, but I change my mind. I think I want to be surprised."

The Pie-maker smiled, and Olive smiled back.

"Well, I promised you food. What do you want to eat? You get to choose. Anything you want." he said

"Anything?" she asked.

"Anything." he stated.

"You're gonna think I'm crazy." She said looking away.

"No I won't. What are you craving?"

"Pie." she giggled

"Okay you're a little nuts. You're around pie all day."

"I know...it's just... I don't eat it all day."

"Alright. Pie. Any type in specific?" he asked

"Apple." she said confidently.

The Pie-maker smiled a bright and genuine smile. The pair made their way back to the place they had left just a few short hours ago.

"Ok you grab the apples and start slicing, I'll work on the dough for the crust." Ned said, putting on his apron.

"You got it!" Olive said as she went to fetch the apples.

After an hour of hard work, a delicious pie had been created out of simple ingredients, and two hungry people began to devour it.

"You know, this is probably the first time I've ever seen you eat your own pie. Why is that? They're amazing. You're missing out."

There was a silence and the Pie-maker simply stared at Olive Snook until she caught on to what the stare was saying.

"No! The fruit? No wonder the pie is so reasonably priced." she yelled

Ned chuckled.

"Every once in a while I taste it, but usually I can't eat the pies I make."

She laughed and he moved in closer.

"Come here." he said softly.

She walked closer to him, her eyes never moving from his.

"You have flour on your face." he said, as he wiped it away with his thumb.

Olive snickered.

"So do you." she said

As the two stood there, Olive waited for the Pie-maker to close the distance between them and kiss her. Sadly, no such movement would occur.

"I should go check on Digby, you stay here and finish your slice." he said, moving away from Olive.

As the Pie-maker wandered away, Olive began to clean up. Dusting the flour off the table she noticed a piece of paper. She recognized it as the postcard Ned claimed was from one Mr. John Johnson, an old friend from boarding school. When she turned the card over to read it, she noticed immediately that it was not from Mr. Johnson, but rather one Charlotte Charles, better known as 'Chuck'.

"Hey! Digby's all good. I gave him a bit more food to make sure he.." Ned was cut off

"Why didn't you tell me this postcard was from Chuck?" She asked

"Uhh, Olive I didn't...you were in such a good mood this morning I didn't want to remind you.." he said, but was cut off again.

"So you lied to me to protect me?" She asked sarcastically.

"Yes?" he said guiltily

"I can't help feeling this about something more than that." she said

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"I mean...that you're still in love with Chuck, and it confuses me when you act like you like me, but then continue to put your feelings for her first." she said, as tears began to fill her eyes and spill over.

"Olive.." he said reaching out for her hand, but she flinched backwards.

"No. Ned this isn't fair. I'm not asking you to choose to be with me, but you need to let one of us go and I'm here, not her. You need to decide who..." This time it was Olive who was cut off.

"Chuck." he said with wide eyes.

"What?" She asked as her voice broke.

"No. Olive...Chuck." he said pointing towards the front door that her back had been turned to.

Olive turned around to see the figure of a woman coming into the light, revealing herself to indeed be , Chuck.

"Surprise! I'm back early...And I need your help in proving me innocent."

"Innocent of what?" Ned asked.

"Murder." Chuck stated dryly.