(Edward's POV)

After the run-in with my vomit-covered brother Peter, I went into one of the spare rooms to check on Will.

When I entered the room, I found him bent over the side of the bed, retching into a pail.

"God you look terrible."

"Thank you." Replied Will sarcastically before vomiting again into the pail.

"It looks like you're just going to have to let this pass." I said, placing a damp cloth on my brother's forehead.

"Jolly good." He replied sardonically. "How is Mary feeling today?"

"Better than you. She hasn't even thrown up today."

"Good for her." Replied Will dryly.

"You'll get there, just rest. In the meantime, I'm going to go downstairs to get some food for Mary."

(Back to Mary's POV)

It was half past noon. Edward had brought my dinner up to the master bedchamber and sat with me as I ate.

"How are Braden and Brielle?" I asked.

"Thomas said they were behaving well. They miss you though, and Brielle has been having a hard time getting to sleep at night. Other than that, they are well, and Thomas has gotten the chance to brush up on his sword fighting skills as Braden insists daily on practicing."

I laughed.

"He's just like his father. William has always insisted on staying sharp on his military skills, even after he went out of active duty. And it's obvious we have blades and pistols all over the house, and Braden knows it, as does Brielle. However, the blades and pistols are all mounted, like the sabre above the door in this room, which is in fact, the sabre William used during the war in the American colonies, and it's still sharp; or they're unloaded, or stored away under lock and key. The only weapons open are the loaded pistol William keeps under our four-poster beneath the floorboards that the children don't know about, and the unloaded pistol in the stables, which is kept at the back of Belial's stall."

"And they aren't interested in the weapons so as to touch them in any way?"

"They're interested, but they're not allowed to without William's consent and supervision. Brielle can't touch them at all."

"Have they tried to get to the weapons without consent?"

"Braden tried, once; he didn't get very far either before William caught him. Like all the other guns in the house save for the one under our bed and the one William carries on him, the pistol was unloaded and cleaned. But William still had some very harsh words with Braden that he said to him in front of his sister for emphasis on consequences for her, should she ever try. Braden never tried again, and Brielle never attempted."

"I guessed as much; Will is a strict man."

"He's a military man. He's got to be strict to lead men."

"True enough." Edward replied.

"How has Cristabel been doing?" I asked. "I haven't seen her lately."

"She's at home. She hasn't been feeling well."

"Really, why not?"

To this, Edward smiled and replied, "Cristabel is pregnant."

"Well now, she is?"

"Yes. Our first child is due in seven months." Edward replied, his eyes glittering with excitement.

"Congratulations. I do hope you know what you're getting yourself into." I said with a mischievous smile.

Edward laughed.

"At least I've some practice with my niece and nephew."

"True." I replied with a nod. "But with Braden and Brielle, you can always send them home."

"Yes, I can't necessarily do that with my own child when it's born."

"No." I replied. "You can't. There will be plenty of sleepless nights, in which you'll wish you could, but it will all be worth it."

"I know." Edward replied." "And when the baby is born, my life will never be the same."

"True, it won't be the same." I replied. "But being a father will be more fulfilling than anything else you've ever done."