"MR. HAWKINS!" Amelia's voice boomed throughout the entire Doppler household.
"Oh, no," groaned Jim, knowing full well that when the Captain used that tone of voice, it boded no good.
"Report to me now… front and center, immediately!" Amelia´s voice called in barely restrained fury. Jim gulped, but came running downstairs nonetheless.
"Yes, ma'am?" Jim asked innocently enough. He stood raptly at attention, his eyes riveted on a spot on the wall to the left of Amelia's icy green eyes.
"Two things, Hawkins," Amelia said in a pleasant voice, that dripped with her ire. "First, I would like to know why you found it necessary to inform nearly every living soul at the spaceport of my upcoming pregnancy," Amelia declared.
Jim blinked, and went pale. He suddenly found his mouth dry, and his hands were sweating.
"Secondly, I would most appreciate your opinion about this," Amelia said frostily, and handed Jim the letter from Silver. Amelia's lips were thin, and her posture stiff and unnerving.
Just as soon as Jim began to read, he knew he was in big trouble. He found his breathing labored by the time he finished, and he swallowed hard.
When Jim said nothing, and would not even meet her gaze, she growled in a low, dangerous voice. "Let me see if I understand this, shall I? That rogue commandeered my ship, tried to kill the three of us any number of occasions, and yet… yet… you---quite on your own, mind you---decided to let that blackguard go free?" Amelia asked in a voice that was quiet and terrible. Her ears now lay back flat against her head, and her eyes gleamed dangerously.
"Nothing to say in your defense, Mr. Hawkins?" Amelia commented, her voice still controlled, yet it hummed with anger. Jim held his peace, and that being the case, Amelia continued. "I could deal with this most disagreeable situation as a Captain, you know," she informed the silent Jim, who looked even paler, if that were possible.
"But… I will soon be a mother," Amelia commented, turning away from Jim, "something you so felt so keen to broadcast to all the world, for some reason. Now that being the case, of course, I shall deal with this as a mother then, shall I? Fine practice, I should think, hmm?"
Jim's expression was quizzical and troubled. What was she saying, he wondered.
All that become painfully clear to him a moment later. "Mr. Hawkins, as of this moment forward, you will be considered grounded for the next three weeks. You will be confined to this house until further notice. The only time you may go outside is in your mother's care. While this punishment is in effect, you will be in my care, and will do precisely as I instruct you to. Now, you are dismissed, sir. You may go to your room until dinner."
Jim looked at her incredulously. "What? You can´t be serious?" Jim returned, stunned.
Amelia simply turned, and gave him one single look.
"You're serious all right," Jim observed and looked to Amelia, who merely met his gaze with her own agate-hard green one."Aye aye, ma'am," Jim said then, knowing she could do far far worse to him if she chose to. So, he wisely turned and went up to his room.
Amelia nodded, and made her way into the living room. Upon seeing her, Delbert got to his feet from the chair he'd been sitting in.
"Hello, dear. Where have you been? I've been a bit worried," he asked, coming up and gently touching her back.
"Oh, I went to the spaceport," Amelia answered. "You know, square away the Legacy and all that." Delbert nodded in understanding. Amelia leaned over to softly buss his cheek, and told him, "Now, if you will excuse me, dear, I have to get myself something to eat."
"Ah, ah," Delbert corrected her, and took her hand, gently, "You just sit down right here, my dear girl, and I will get you something to eat. You simply must allow me to help, dear. You're supposed to be taking things easy, you know…"
Amelia sighed, torn between irritation and fondness for her husband. She knew she was pregnant and found Delbert's concern touching, yet meddlesome.
"Oh, do relax, dear. I am quite fine, really," she assured him.
"Hmm," Delbert returned, making a small grimace. "If I recall correctly, that was precisely what you said on Treasure Planet," Delbert observed primly and pointed his finger to the couch with a almost pleading look. Amelia could only shake her head, and let him have his way. She sat down on the couch, as he asked. A few minutes later, Delbert reappeared with a plate loaded with food. Amelia opened her mouth to protest the buffet he had brought her way, but she knew it was pointless to argue with her husband, so she simply began to eat.
Sarah then made her way into the living room, and looked in on Amelia. "I see that Delbert is taking care of you again, hmm?" she said with a smile.
"Oh, and whatever might of given you that particular idea, Sarah?" Amelia said wryly, casting an eye to the plate heaped with food.
Sarah laughed, knowing that Delbert meant well.
"Would you care to share, Sarah?" Amelia asked quietly.
"I heard that!" Delbert yelled from the kitchen.
"Of course, Amelia," Sarah accepted, and took one of the five sandwiches Delbert had prepared.
After Amelia and Sarah had finished eating, Delbert insisted that Amelia had to lie down and rest. "You must get your rest, Amelia dear," he told her lovingly.
"You're such a nice man," Amelia said warmly, and layed down lifting her feet up on to the couch. "Do you think…"
And before she could even finish her sentence, Delbert laid a snuggly warm coverlet over her. Delbert eyed his wife adoringly, and finally nodded, and went back to the kitchen.
"Hello, Sarah. Want to see something rather amazing?" Amelia asked, a clever grin painting her face. Then she slipped her foot free from under the coverlet, and touched it daintily to the ground.
Without even showing his face, Delbert scolded his wife, "Amelia Doppler, you get that toe up off of the ground this very instant!"
Sarah could only laugh, and was touched by the display.
"Isn't he just a darling man?" Amelia said happily. "Oh, by the way, Sarah, I've something to tell you about your charming boy," Amelia said sternly.
Sarah laughed. "All right. Exactly what has he gone and done this time?" she asked knowingly.
"Well," Amelia said, and began to tell Sarah everything that had transpired. "… and so, I'm afraid I have grounded the boy for the next three weeks, Sarah. I hope I count on you to support me on this."
"Of course. I just can't believe you only grounded him for three weeks," Sarah said.
"Before you think I may being a bit soft, do remember that aside for the brief times he's with you, he will be under my care," Amelia said.
"Hmm. Good point," Sarah said. They talked a while about all manner of subjects, until Delbert had returned.
"Hello, dear," Amelia said to him, giving him a fond smile.
Delbert simply kissed her in response. "Shouldn't you be considering retiring for the evening?" he asked, worried.
Amelia looked over at the clock. "Ah, you make a good point, darling. It is actually getting a bit late now, isn't it?" she said. "Very well, Delbert. I am going to bed. Good night, Sarah."
"Good night, Amelia," Sarah replied, briefly touching Amelia's hand.
Amelia yawned as she climbed the stairs, and prepared herself for bed. Finally, she laid herself, and began to doze. Just then, she felt something… something like somebody had poked her with a finger from within herself.
Amelia found herself smiling, and a warm feeling suffused her. One of her babies had gently kicked from within her womb. She closed her eyes serenely, oddly comforted to feel the first hints of life within herself. Maybe this won't be all that bad, she told herself optimistically. Then, she fell sound asleep.