25

Time moved on, the season slowly showing the first signs of letting go and it was a relief all around as everyone had noticed the winter being too long and too harsh for their liking. If it was like this for this year… what would next year bring?

Kathy was now large, eight month mark and marching. She was stood in the back yard watching the kids with a gun at her too wide hip. She would look every mooring at the big fat thing she had become … no. Not really. That gym had helped and despite the large belly she knew she was still in shape and her arse still looked great form behind. No. She was just feeling a little low today. She really needed something sweet but what little they had left in that regard was being kept for the baby's birth. They wanted to celebrate that in style. Christmas had come and gone with minimal fuss. The kids hadn't known and after adult discussion away from little ears they had all decided not to celebrate it this time.

Next Christmas this would all be a memory right? Next year they would all celebrate at a big town hall or something, eat out at a fancy restaurant. Surely by then some semblance of society would be restored. Right? If only they knew the folly of their false hope. Not like we can tell them though.

Dean was watching her as she watched everyone else. "Are you OK?"

"Yeah. Just thinking … this time next year this will all be a strange memory where we wonder how much is real and how much was a terrible nightmare" she answered.

"This time next year… Christ. I can't even see through past next week." He snorted, rubbing his face "do you think it will really all be over with? The troops are coming and all that?"

She shook her head not wanting to say it out loud. He nodded. Agreeing.

Best not.

"Hey, sandwich?" Danni asked, offering a plate heaped with sandwiches and Kathy hummed happily as she but into one with chicken and lettuce in it. God, she was famished now she had smelt that, hooking a second one and pointing to her stomach as she chewed. Danni laughed and nodded, then headed to the kids. A second plate back in the kitchen for seconds anyway. It was like a game she and Kathy did, Kathy grabbing a second… whatever… and Danni portending to be annoyed even though there was always seconds.

Kathy too another bite, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the sunshine, the laughter and the simplicity of the day.

"Sierra got one of her heads again?" Dean asked Danni as she came back with the empty plate.

"Yeah … she woke with it. Says everything smells funny…. Like burnt rubber" Danni replied as she passed him and he frowned, rising to go inside to check.

That evening she didn't want anything got eat, saying she could not keep it down.

"If she is still like this in the morning I think Doug and I have to examine her" Dean said to Dwight over the table "This is getting too common to be just a headache or migraine. I am starting to worry its blood pressure or something."

"You can try. You know she will only fight you on it. Hates fussing" he repaid, "I wish you would, I am worried too."

Kathy helped with the dishes despite everyone telling her off and by the time she was heading down the hallway to bed she knew the children were heading to bed as well, the twins in with their mother. Dwight on first watch.

She settled into the bed after a hot shower and soon Douglas was in with her, his arms around her as he whispered that the animals were all abed for the night, the livestock too. She snorted happily as she nuzzled into him warm, safe and happy.

.

.

.

.

Something woke her but she could not put her finger on what. She rolled to her husband who had rolled from her in the night, her body hotter these days. He was sleeping peacefully and she wondered if it was one of those weird dreams where you are falling and wake yourself with the fear of it. Instantly forgotten but the fear remains.

Now she needed to pee.

God damn it all to hell!

She slid from the bed and moved to their private bathroom, settling for a pee in the dark, no lights as they were conserving their fuel. Candles too. They were in the habit of all moving around in the dark now, the curtains open to let the moonlight help them.

Well … when there was moonlight like tonight.

She was cold, knew she should have got a dressing gown before coming in here but damn … peeing was a trickle as the baby not only sat on her bladder but was at one of those awkward angles. She smiled and forgave the little beast, rubbing her belly as she hummed in the hopes of sending it to sleep before it moved to a more painful position. Her spine.

She rose and closed the lid.

If it's yellow… let it mellow. Ya know? No need to flush and wake others.

She was moving for the bed when she heard something.

From the next room.

Must be Dwight heading in to bed after the shift change.

She paused to listen and heard something again.

What the hell was that?