As the baby shower ended and Beka and Trance were left alone Trance looked at the giant pile of tiny clothes and baby supplies she'd received. "Am I the only one who's getting the feeling that they are expecting this to only be our first batch?"
Beka giggled, "Well with twins on the first try…" Trance smacked her on the arm playfully. Beka laughed harder, "You do know that all of the guys on board think of Harper as some sort of super stud now, don't you?"
Trance looked shocked, "Beka!" They both dissolved into laughter.
Harper peeked around the corner, "The estrogen brigade leave yet?"
Beka smirked, "All but me."
Harper swaggered in, "You're family. So how did it go?"
Trance and Beka looked at each other and began to giggle again. Harper looked confused and annoyed, mumbled something about women and turned to leave. Trance stifled it and called after him, "No wait, don't go Seamus, please. I'm going to need help getting this all to the nursery, my back has been bothering again, but worse this time."
Harper rushed to her side, "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Come on, you need to rest and lay down so your back can calm down."
"Seamus I'm fine I think I just aggravated it when I was trimming my plants that's all. And we need to get all this back to the nursery." She winced as she turned to point at the huge pile of baby supplies..
Harper gently helped her up, "I was afraid you would over do it today, Look, I'll come back with a lift to gather the baby stuff after you are safely resting, OK?"
Trance rolled her eyes, "OK," she'd realized by the second week that arguing with him over her health was a loosing battle. And her back really was bothering her. She glanced at Beka who nodded her understanding. Harper wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer. So Beka just watched him lead Trance out the door toward their quarters, a protective arm around her back.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner? It's not… you know… is it?" Harper was worried, seemed like he was always worried anymore.
"I don't think so, first it's one side then the other, contractions are supposed to be all around, but I'll double check with Rommie," that seemed to relax him a bit, she worried about his health too, all this worrying over her couldn't be helping his health either. And every time she shifted in bed he seemed to come wide awake to check on her, so he wasn't sleeping well either.
Once she was comfortably settled in the bed, Harper went to get the baby gifts, "I'll have Rommie stop in, so you can discuss this sore back of yours, OK?"
She smiled at him, "OK."
A few minutes later Rommie arrived, "Harper said your back was bothering you?"
Trance smiled, "Yeah, I think it's all this extra weight." She giggled but then she winced as her back twinged again, "You know those false pains you told me about, that's what it feels like, one baseball sized area will hurt but then if I change position it stops. And a while later another spot will start to hurt but it's all located around my back."
Rommie looked thoughtful, "That's not unusual, it could indicate that you are getting close to going into labor. Have you felt any nesting instincts?"
Trance frowned, "Well even though my back was bothering me before the baby shower, I pruned my plants. I can't explain it I just felt I needed to do it, it was actually the most activity I'd done in one day in a long time. Could that be the burst of energy you mentioned before?"
Rommie nodded, "Yes and pruning your plants may be your version of nesting too. I think you'd better come by Med-Deck tomorrow before lunch so we can see how you're progressing."
Trance nodded, "OK, before lunch." She yawned, "I think I'm going to nap now, it's been a busy day, and if you're right I may need all the rest I can get for tomorrow."
Rommie nodded and left.