Yes I am uploading two chapters because they are kind of short, but we are
near the end now so hope you enjoy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------
When Wesker walked into the living he wasn't in the best mood. It wasn't hard for Isabel to tell, he was always quieter when he wasn't happy.
"Come sit by me." Isabel said, patting the space to her left on the couch.
"I have things to do." He answered, walking over to stand in front of her.
"Sit down anyway." She said, again patting the space next to her.
Giving an exasperated sigh, Wesker sat next to Isabel. He knew she had something to say and she wouldn't give up until it was said.
"You have something you want to talk about." It wasn't a question.
Isabel just looked at his profile for a few minutes, before realizing he wasn't going to look directly at her. Albert was definitely not happy about having played mediator.
"Albert, I have something to tell you... I'm pregnant. You're going to be a father." She said taking his right hand and placing it on her swollen stomach.
"Of course.... So you heard?" He said finally taking off his sunglasses and looking at her.
"Yes, I heard and it's the only thing in this whole situation I regret. I should have been the one to tell you, so I'm telling you now."
"Are you sure? How far along are you?" Wesker asked playing the game for her sake.
"Yes, I'm sure. To answer your other question I don't know how far, a couple of months at least." She answered laughing, unable to control the giggles that welled up in her.
Isabel's laughter was contagious. Soon Wesker was smiling, his foul mood forgotten. He hadn't even noticed what she was doing until it was too late.
"I don't deserve you." He said sobering and looking into her eyes.
"But you have me." Isabel replied nestling closer to him.
They sat that way in silence for a while, neither one needing to speak, just content to be near each other. It was Isabel who finally broke the silence.
"OW!" She yelped clutching her left side.
"What's wrong? You're not in labor, are you?" Wesker asked immediately alert.
"No, your daughter just gave me a good kick in the ribs." She answered rubbing her side.
"So it's my child when it does something you don't like?" He asked reaching for the spot she was rubbing and beginning to massage it lightly with his thumb.
"Yes."
"And every other time?"
"Oh, she's mine." Isabel replied smiling at him again.
Wesker was about to tell her exactly what he thought about that theory, when Leon entered the room, tray in hand.
"Claire and I realized we ruined your breakfast, so we made you some more." Leon said handing Isabel the tray.
"You didn't have to bring in a tray. I have one built in right now." Isabel replied motioning to her stomach.
"You are not going to use my child as a tray." Wesker spoke up giving her a stern look.
"Why not, I wasn't going to plop it down on her head. Rebecca told me she turned last week. I think her butt can handle it." Isabel shot back but took tray and all.
"You do realize one of these days your mouth is going to get you in trouble." Wesker said as he got off the couch and leaned over to give Isabel a kiss on the cheek.
Swallowing her food she answered. "I thought it already had."
Wesker didn't say a word. He just shook his head and walked to the bedroom to get ready for his trip. He hadn't told Isabel yet, but he needed to make a short trip to pick up her engagement ring. Wesker had decided he wanted to marry Isabel before the baby was born. The ring in question was his mother's and it had been in his family for generations, Wesker wanted Isabel to have it. Right now it sat at the house he'd grown up in. After his mother died, he kept the house, even now he wasn't sure why. No one from either corporation he'd worked for knew he owned it, so it would be safe enough to get the ring. Isabel still had a good week to go, so he figured he would be back in time.
Soon after Wesker had gotten up, Claire and Chris joined Leon and Isabel in the living room. Chris sat in the arm chair that wasn't occupied by Leon and Claire sat in the spot recently vacated by Wesker.
Isabel thought Albert was acting a little strange today, but couldn't put her finger on why. He'd been his usual attentive self, but she was beginning to think there was something he wasn't telling her. Isabel ate the rest of her food quietly lost in thought. It wasn't until Claire waved her hand in front of Isabel's face that she realized Claire was speaking to her.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Isabel asked snapping out of her trance.
"I asked if you had any advice, one pregnant lady to another." Claire asked repeating herself.
"Yes I do. For one, don't let Leon boss you around too much, and two make sure you sleep on the side of the bed that's closest to the bathroom." Isabel stated smiling.
"Okay, you're not allowed to listen to Isabel anymore, except maybe on the bathroom thing." Leon said trying not to laugh.
No one in the room could keep a straight face at that. Everyone knew that Leon would never try to boss Claire around, it just wasn't his style. Besides that Claire wasn't the type to be bossed by anyone. Knowing the tension that had pervaded the kitchen earlier, Isabel took it as a good sign that Chris was laughing with them.
Wrapped up in their conversation no one noticed Carlos come down stairs, until he spoke.
"Oh man, not another one. I mean great... another nine months of mood swings and weird cravings. That's it, I'm never touching Rebecca." Carlos said walking up to the back of the couch.
Carlos had heard the whole conversation while coming down the stairs. He knew Leon had taken to sleeping in Claire's room, but thought it was because he was uncomfortable being in the same room with Rebecca and himself. Carlos had kept his word and was taking it slow with Rebecca, so they hadn't even talked about having sex yet. He just figured Leon wanted to give them privacy.
"Carlos, dear, no one asked you." Isabel replied, in a feigned sweet tone.
Still laughing at Carlos' reaction, Claire got up, collected Isabel's tray and took it to the kitchen.
"Someone needs to help me up. I have to go to the little girl's room." Isabel said struggling to get off the couch.
"Hey, I helped her up twice yesterday." Carlos said looking at Chris.
"Yeah, well so did I." Chris shot back.
"Okay rock, paper, scissors then." Carlos stated, trying not to laugh.
"You two are asses," Leon said getting up and walking over to Isabel, "How do you want to do this?"
"Just give me your hands and be my anchor so I can pull myself up."
After a few minutes Isabel was on her feet and making her way to the bathroom. Turning around Leon saw that Carlos had slipped into the chair he had been sitting in.
"You guys are real mature." Leon said looking from Chris to Carlos.
"Gee, we were only playing, and besides you need the practice." Carlos said defending himself.
Leon was about to call him an ass again, when Claire came back into the living room. He wasn't quite sure how to act around her. It was weird, Leon knew she was pregnant, but she wasn't showing any of the symptoms yet. There was nothing he could do for her, but he felt like he should be doing something. Leon was tempted to ask Wesker how he dealt with Isabel's pregnancy, but he had the feeling it wouldn't be well received. Isabel's re-entry into the living room pulled Leon out of his present thought.
"Carlos, get out of the chair." Leon said looking at him.
"I stole this chair fair and square." He replied.
"It's not for me idiot, it might be easier for Isabel to get up from than the couch." He shot back.
"Well, in that case be my guest." Carlos said rising so that Isabel could take a seat.
Everyone noticed the change in Leon's mood. He'd gone from joking with the rest of them to irritable, almost instantly. Isabel was about to ask him about it when Wesker cam back in the room, duffle bag in hand.
"I need to speak with Isabel, alone." He stated looking at her.
Everyone took that as a not so subtle hint to get the hell out of the room. Chris, Claire and Leon all rose in unison from their seats, Carlos who hadn't sat back down made it to the kitchen first. Claire and Chris made it through the door before Leon and as he was about to leave the room Wesker spoke.
"Kennedy I need to speak with you also."
Leon stopped in his tracks, turning to face Wesker. He had no idea why Wesker wanted to speak to him. Leon had the feeling that he wasn't going to like the conversation. Walking back into the living room, he stood behind the couch quite uncomfortable.
"Albert, what's going on?" Isabel asked her voice full of concern.
"I'm going to get your engagement ring." He answered crouching down in front of her.
"Why do you need the bag, there's a jewelry store in town."
"The ring I want you to have was my mother's and I have to go pick it up. I'll only be gone two days, three at the most. I fully expect you to still be pregnant when I return." Wesker gave her a slight smile at his last statement.
"Yes captain." She replied smiling back.
"I love you, and I will be back as soon as humanly possible." He finished, kissing her on the lips.
Isabel took the news better than Wesker had expected. He could still see the worry in her green eyes and for an instant he almost faltered. To Wesker it was very important for Isabel to have this symbol from him. In the month and a half since he'd proposed, she had not once brought the subject back up. It seemed enough for Isabel to know he wanted her as his wife. She seemed content with the way things were, but Wesker wanted her to know, he meant what he said.
Isabel was slightly surprised that Albert would show such a display of affection with someone in the room. It passed quickly though, worry taking it's place. She didn't want him to leave. Isabel wanted him here where she knew he was safe. Albert seemed so set on this that she didn't have the heart to ask him to stay and Isabel knew that all she would have to do was ask him to stay, at least until the baby was born and he would.
When he'd finished kissing her good bye, Wesker turned to look at Leon.
"Kennedy, I trust you will make sure that Isabel isn't allowed to do anything to strenuous while I'm away.
"Um, okay." Leon answered; not at all sure he wanted to be in charge of Isabel.
"Good." With that Wesker picked up his bag and walked out of the house.
After a few minutes they heard Wesker's jeep start up and pull away.
"So do I get hazard pay for this?" Leon asked breaking the awkward silence.
Both he and Isabel smiled at his question as the rest of the group filed back into the living room.
"What was that all about?" Chris asked sitting back down in the arm chair, he'd vacated earlier.
Isabel couldn't help herself. She wanted to get Chris and Carlos back for their joke earlier. Letting herself tear up, Isabel put her hands to her face.
"Albert left. He said he couldn't pretend anymore. He said he'd be back from time to time to check on the baby, but he realized he didn't love me." Isabel said, her voice muffled by her hands.
In an instant Chris was out of his chair and crouched in front of Isabel.
"It's okay, everything will be fine. You don't need him. We'll take care of you." He said, reaching up to take her hands in his. He really hated Wesker now, how could he do this so close to her due date?
"The little one will have all three of us, for fathers" Carlos said, coming over to put his arms around her shoulders.
Claire was about to go over to Isabel also, when she saw the look on Leon's face. He was trying his hardest not to laugh, lucky for him the other two men in the room were so focused on Isabel they didn't see him losing it. Claire had a feeling that what ever Isabel was up too, her brother and Carlos deserved it.
"I just don't know what I'm going to do. I can't do this by myself." Isabel continued her shoulders beginning to shake, not with tears, but laughter.
"Isabel, don't upset yourself. He isn't worth it." Chris said, not sure what else to do.
"There's just one more thing I need to tell you," Isabel said, wiping tears from her eyes, "Gotcha."
Leon and Claire burst into laughter, along with Isabel. Carlos and Chris didn't know what to say, they just stood there with their mouths open.
"Damn, Isabel that wasn't funny." Chris finally said when the shock wore off. What she pulled was the last thing he would have expected from her.
"Good, remember that next time, I need help getting up." She replied straight faced.
"I'm never messing with you again," Carlos said going to sit on the couch, "You're wicked."
"So what did Wesker really want?" Claire asked, sitting next to Carlos on the couch.
"He went to get my engagement ring. He left Leon in charge of my wellbeing." Isabel answered.
"Sucks to be you, man." Carlos said, looking back at Leon who was still standing behind the couch.
There was no way Carlos would want to have to answer to Wesker, on anything, especially Isabel. Leon looked as though he were taking it pretty well, he only looked slightly nauseous. What Carlos couldn't figure out was why Leon? Chris had more or less been their leader. Even though everyone had a say on any decision made, they usually followed his lead. Chris was who Carlos would have picked to look out for Rebecca in such a situation. Not that it really mattered, everyone would look after Isabel. She was an important part of their group. If Chris was their unofficial leader and the father figure of the household, then some how Isabel had become the mother figure. Everyone at one time or another had turned to her for advice or help. It was funny how she had seemed to merge with them, even in such a short period of time. Thinking about the group dynamic, Carlos suddenly realized Isabel was the oldest member, being a year older than Chris.
"Isabel, I just realized you're the oldest one here." Carlos stated in amazement.
"It's okay Carlos, there are classes for slow learners, we'll enroll you in one." Claire said patting him on the back encouragingly.
"Seeing how your in a delicate condition, I'm going to ignore that Redfield." He shot back.
At the mention of Claire's pregnancy Leon lost all trace of humor on his face. Watching Carlos and Claire bicker back and forth for a moment, he decided to go to his room and try to figure a few things out. No one but Isabel noticed him walk quietly up the stairs.
"Carlos, get your ass over here and help me up." Isabel said, breaking up his conversation with Chris and Claire.
"Not another bathroom break?" He replied rolling his eyes.
"Oliviera, just do it."
"Damn woman, you've been around Wesker too long, you're starting to sound like him." Carlos stated getting off the couch and helping her up.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Isabel replied heading for the stairs.
When Wesker walked into the living he wasn't in the best mood. It wasn't hard for Isabel to tell, he was always quieter when he wasn't happy.
"Come sit by me." Isabel said, patting the space to her left on the couch.
"I have things to do." He answered, walking over to stand in front of her.
"Sit down anyway." She said, again patting the space next to her.
Giving an exasperated sigh, Wesker sat next to Isabel. He knew she had something to say and she wouldn't give up until it was said.
"You have something you want to talk about." It wasn't a question.
Isabel just looked at his profile for a few minutes, before realizing he wasn't going to look directly at her. Albert was definitely not happy about having played mediator.
"Albert, I have something to tell you... I'm pregnant. You're going to be a father." She said taking his right hand and placing it on her swollen stomach.
"Of course.... So you heard?" He said finally taking off his sunglasses and looking at her.
"Yes, I heard and it's the only thing in this whole situation I regret. I should have been the one to tell you, so I'm telling you now."
"Are you sure? How far along are you?" Wesker asked playing the game for her sake.
"Yes, I'm sure. To answer your other question I don't know how far, a couple of months at least." She answered laughing, unable to control the giggles that welled up in her.
Isabel's laughter was contagious. Soon Wesker was smiling, his foul mood forgotten. He hadn't even noticed what she was doing until it was too late.
"I don't deserve you." He said sobering and looking into her eyes.
"But you have me." Isabel replied nestling closer to him.
They sat that way in silence for a while, neither one needing to speak, just content to be near each other. It was Isabel who finally broke the silence.
"OW!" She yelped clutching her left side.
"What's wrong? You're not in labor, are you?" Wesker asked immediately alert.
"No, your daughter just gave me a good kick in the ribs." She answered rubbing her side.
"So it's my child when it does something you don't like?" He asked reaching for the spot she was rubbing and beginning to massage it lightly with his thumb.
"Yes."
"And every other time?"
"Oh, she's mine." Isabel replied smiling at him again.
Wesker was about to tell her exactly what he thought about that theory, when Leon entered the room, tray in hand.
"Claire and I realized we ruined your breakfast, so we made you some more." Leon said handing Isabel the tray.
"You didn't have to bring in a tray. I have one built in right now." Isabel replied motioning to her stomach.
"You are not going to use my child as a tray." Wesker spoke up giving her a stern look.
"Why not, I wasn't going to plop it down on her head. Rebecca told me she turned last week. I think her butt can handle it." Isabel shot back but took tray and all.
"You do realize one of these days your mouth is going to get you in trouble." Wesker said as he got off the couch and leaned over to give Isabel a kiss on the cheek.
Swallowing her food she answered. "I thought it already had."
Wesker didn't say a word. He just shook his head and walked to the bedroom to get ready for his trip. He hadn't told Isabel yet, but he needed to make a short trip to pick up her engagement ring. Wesker had decided he wanted to marry Isabel before the baby was born. The ring in question was his mother's and it had been in his family for generations, Wesker wanted Isabel to have it. Right now it sat at the house he'd grown up in. After his mother died, he kept the house, even now he wasn't sure why. No one from either corporation he'd worked for knew he owned it, so it would be safe enough to get the ring. Isabel still had a good week to go, so he figured he would be back in time.
Soon after Wesker had gotten up, Claire and Chris joined Leon and Isabel in the living room. Chris sat in the arm chair that wasn't occupied by Leon and Claire sat in the spot recently vacated by Wesker.
Isabel thought Albert was acting a little strange today, but couldn't put her finger on why. He'd been his usual attentive self, but she was beginning to think there was something he wasn't telling her. Isabel ate the rest of her food quietly lost in thought. It wasn't until Claire waved her hand in front of Isabel's face that she realized Claire was speaking to her.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Isabel asked snapping out of her trance.
"I asked if you had any advice, one pregnant lady to another." Claire asked repeating herself.
"Yes I do. For one, don't let Leon boss you around too much, and two make sure you sleep on the side of the bed that's closest to the bathroom." Isabel stated smiling.
"Okay, you're not allowed to listen to Isabel anymore, except maybe on the bathroom thing." Leon said trying not to laugh.
No one in the room could keep a straight face at that. Everyone knew that Leon would never try to boss Claire around, it just wasn't his style. Besides that Claire wasn't the type to be bossed by anyone. Knowing the tension that had pervaded the kitchen earlier, Isabel took it as a good sign that Chris was laughing with them.
Wrapped up in their conversation no one noticed Carlos come down stairs, until he spoke.
"Oh man, not another one. I mean great... another nine months of mood swings and weird cravings. That's it, I'm never touching Rebecca." Carlos said walking up to the back of the couch.
Carlos had heard the whole conversation while coming down the stairs. He knew Leon had taken to sleeping in Claire's room, but thought it was because he was uncomfortable being in the same room with Rebecca and himself. Carlos had kept his word and was taking it slow with Rebecca, so they hadn't even talked about having sex yet. He just figured Leon wanted to give them privacy.
"Carlos, dear, no one asked you." Isabel replied, in a feigned sweet tone.
Still laughing at Carlos' reaction, Claire got up, collected Isabel's tray and took it to the kitchen.
"Someone needs to help me up. I have to go to the little girl's room." Isabel said struggling to get off the couch.
"Hey, I helped her up twice yesterday." Carlos said looking at Chris.
"Yeah, well so did I." Chris shot back.
"Okay rock, paper, scissors then." Carlos stated, trying not to laugh.
"You two are asses," Leon said getting up and walking over to Isabel, "How do you want to do this?"
"Just give me your hands and be my anchor so I can pull myself up."
After a few minutes Isabel was on her feet and making her way to the bathroom. Turning around Leon saw that Carlos had slipped into the chair he had been sitting in.
"You guys are real mature." Leon said looking from Chris to Carlos.
"Gee, we were only playing, and besides you need the practice." Carlos said defending himself.
Leon was about to call him an ass again, when Claire came back into the living room. He wasn't quite sure how to act around her. It was weird, Leon knew she was pregnant, but she wasn't showing any of the symptoms yet. There was nothing he could do for her, but he felt like he should be doing something. Leon was tempted to ask Wesker how he dealt with Isabel's pregnancy, but he had the feeling it wouldn't be well received. Isabel's re-entry into the living room pulled Leon out of his present thought.
"Carlos, get out of the chair." Leon said looking at him.
"I stole this chair fair and square." He replied.
"It's not for me idiot, it might be easier for Isabel to get up from than the couch." He shot back.
"Well, in that case be my guest." Carlos said rising so that Isabel could take a seat.
Everyone noticed the change in Leon's mood. He'd gone from joking with the rest of them to irritable, almost instantly. Isabel was about to ask him about it when Wesker cam back in the room, duffle bag in hand.
"I need to speak with Isabel, alone." He stated looking at her.
Everyone took that as a not so subtle hint to get the hell out of the room. Chris, Claire and Leon all rose in unison from their seats, Carlos who hadn't sat back down made it to the kitchen first. Claire and Chris made it through the door before Leon and as he was about to leave the room Wesker spoke.
"Kennedy I need to speak with you also."
Leon stopped in his tracks, turning to face Wesker. He had no idea why Wesker wanted to speak to him. Leon had the feeling that he wasn't going to like the conversation. Walking back into the living room, he stood behind the couch quite uncomfortable.
"Albert, what's going on?" Isabel asked her voice full of concern.
"I'm going to get your engagement ring." He answered crouching down in front of her.
"Why do you need the bag, there's a jewelry store in town."
"The ring I want you to have was my mother's and I have to go pick it up. I'll only be gone two days, three at the most. I fully expect you to still be pregnant when I return." Wesker gave her a slight smile at his last statement.
"Yes captain." She replied smiling back.
"I love you, and I will be back as soon as humanly possible." He finished, kissing her on the lips.
Isabel took the news better than Wesker had expected. He could still see the worry in her green eyes and for an instant he almost faltered. To Wesker it was very important for Isabel to have this symbol from him. In the month and a half since he'd proposed, she had not once brought the subject back up. It seemed enough for Isabel to know he wanted her as his wife. She seemed content with the way things were, but Wesker wanted her to know, he meant what he said.
Isabel was slightly surprised that Albert would show such a display of affection with someone in the room. It passed quickly though, worry taking it's place. She didn't want him to leave. Isabel wanted him here where she knew he was safe. Albert seemed so set on this that she didn't have the heart to ask him to stay and Isabel knew that all she would have to do was ask him to stay, at least until the baby was born and he would.
When he'd finished kissing her good bye, Wesker turned to look at Leon.
"Kennedy, I trust you will make sure that Isabel isn't allowed to do anything to strenuous while I'm away.
"Um, okay." Leon answered; not at all sure he wanted to be in charge of Isabel.
"Good." With that Wesker picked up his bag and walked out of the house.
After a few minutes they heard Wesker's jeep start up and pull away.
"So do I get hazard pay for this?" Leon asked breaking the awkward silence.
Both he and Isabel smiled at his question as the rest of the group filed back into the living room.
"What was that all about?" Chris asked sitting back down in the arm chair, he'd vacated earlier.
Isabel couldn't help herself. She wanted to get Chris and Carlos back for their joke earlier. Letting herself tear up, Isabel put her hands to her face.
"Albert left. He said he couldn't pretend anymore. He said he'd be back from time to time to check on the baby, but he realized he didn't love me." Isabel said, her voice muffled by her hands.
In an instant Chris was out of his chair and crouched in front of Isabel.
"It's okay, everything will be fine. You don't need him. We'll take care of you." He said, reaching up to take her hands in his. He really hated Wesker now, how could he do this so close to her due date?
"The little one will have all three of us, for fathers" Carlos said, coming over to put his arms around her shoulders.
Claire was about to go over to Isabel also, when she saw the look on Leon's face. He was trying his hardest not to laugh, lucky for him the other two men in the room were so focused on Isabel they didn't see him losing it. Claire had a feeling that what ever Isabel was up too, her brother and Carlos deserved it.
"I just don't know what I'm going to do. I can't do this by myself." Isabel continued her shoulders beginning to shake, not with tears, but laughter.
"Isabel, don't upset yourself. He isn't worth it." Chris said, not sure what else to do.
"There's just one more thing I need to tell you," Isabel said, wiping tears from her eyes, "Gotcha."
Leon and Claire burst into laughter, along with Isabel. Carlos and Chris didn't know what to say, they just stood there with their mouths open.
"Damn, Isabel that wasn't funny." Chris finally said when the shock wore off. What she pulled was the last thing he would have expected from her.
"Good, remember that next time, I need help getting up." She replied straight faced.
"I'm never messing with you again," Carlos said going to sit on the couch, "You're wicked."
"So what did Wesker really want?" Claire asked, sitting next to Carlos on the couch.
"He went to get my engagement ring. He left Leon in charge of my wellbeing." Isabel answered.
"Sucks to be you, man." Carlos said, looking back at Leon who was still standing behind the couch.
There was no way Carlos would want to have to answer to Wesker, on anything, especially Isabel. Leon looked as though he were taking it pretty well, he only looked slightly nauseous. What Carlos couldn't figure out was why Leon? Chris had more or less been their leader. Even though everyone had a say on any decision made, they usually followed his lead. Chris was who Carlos would have picked to look out for Rebecca in such a situation. Not that it really mattered, everyone would look after Isabel. She was an important part of their group. If Chris was their unofficial leader and the father figure of the household, then some how Isabel had become the mother figure. Everyone at one time or another had turned to her for advice or help. It was funny how she had seemed to merge with them, even in such a short period of time. Thinking about the group dynamic, Carlos suddenly realized Isabel was the oldest member, being a year older than Chris.
"Isabel, I just realized you're the oldest one here." Carlos stated in amazement.
"It's okay Carlos, there are classes for slow learners, we'll enroll you in one." Claire said patting him on the back encouragingly.
"Seeing how your in a delicate condition, I'm going to ignore that Redfield." He shot back.
At the mention of Claire's pregnancy Leon lost all trace of humor on his face. Watching Carlos and Claire bicker back and forth for a moment, he decided to go to his room and try to figure a few things out. No one but Isabel noticed him walk quietly up the stairs.
"Carlos, get your ass over here and help me up." Isabel said, breaking up his conversation with Chris and Claire.
"Not another bathroom break?" He replied rolling his eyes.
"Oliviera, just do it."
"Damn woman, you've been around Wesker too long, you're starting to sound like him." Carlos stated getting off the couch and helping her up.
"I'll take that as a compliment." Isabel replied heading for the stairs.