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I looked down at my mate, fast asleep on my arm. Weak light was streaming through the window, illuminating her with a soft glow. I gently smoothed her hair away from her face, running my thumb over her cheek where her tears had fallen the night before.

"You silly girl," I murmured. "As if I could ever leave you. I'm so wrapped around your fingers I couldn't ever be without you."

She nuzzled closer as I moved, intent on getting up. I sighed and lay back down, waiting patiently for her to wake up so I could leave the bed. I ran my hands down her back, patting her belly as I went.

"My poor, poor Sadie," I murmured. "Are you ever going to see how beautiful you are?"

"Probably not," Sadie mumbled.

I almost jumped out of my skin. "Sadie! How long have you been up?!"

She nuzzled my chest, squirming closer to me. "Just a little while. Mm, you're warm."

I pulled her closer. Sadie was like a personal space heater. The only reason I was warm was because I'd had her curled next to me all night. I smiled, burying my nose in her neck.

"You have such a high body temperature," I murmured, hugging her tightly. It was like having a personal sun, warming me and brightening my day up-even if she could be irritating.

"I'm glad you think I'm hot," Sadie said sweetly. "But I'm starving. Food would be lovely."

"Oh, yes, you look famished," I teased, running my fingers across her stomach, making her bubble with laughter. She writhed at my hands.

"Anubis!" she laughed. "Stop it!"

I danced my fingers around, grinning as she laughed, trying her hardest to squirm away.

Eventually I let her go and she panted, curled over her belly so I couldn't tease her again. I smiled and she looked up to glare at me. I grinned playfully, leaning down to nip at her nose.

"You're quite cheerful," Sadie pointed out, giving up on pretending to be mad at me and cuddled closer to me. She looked confused. Then I remembered on the few daybreaks that I stayed with her before, I'd been grouchy and irritable. For some reason, I felt a lot of remorse over that all of a sudden.

"I used to hate mornings," I admitted to her, tucking piece of loose hair behind her ear.

"Why the change?" Sadie asked quizzically, looking up at me with big innocent blue eyes. My heart melted.

"Before morning were a reminder that I was alone," I explained, trying to word this correctly. I rarely ever talked about my feelings. It felt strange, in a way, but nice too.

"The hall was quiet and bunny and cold. The only beings around were the dead, and they were depressing company most of the time. I sort of had one friend, but Nico and I just tried to kill each other every now and then, so I don't think that really counts. Sometimes he'd wander in for food and to catch up with me, but he stopped for a little while…I don't even know if he's still alive." Sorrow filled my heart and I realized my one and only 'friend' was probably dead or had forgotten about me. I couldn't decide which option hurt more.

Then I had a warm had brushing my cheek. I didn't even realize I was crying until Sadie did that. I buried my head in her neck, vaguely aware that I was shaking softly.

"Hush, its okay Anubis," Sadie soothed.

"Well, it is now," I said, my voice muffled by her shoulder. "You're here."

I let myself wallow in my own grief for a few more moments, mostly to lap up her attention. Sadie pet my hair and rubbed my back and it felt so good to feel the warmth of her hands and the lovingness of the gesture that I didn't want to move.

"Why are you so happy about mornings now if everything is so miserable?" Sadie asked curiously, letting me go. I put my chin on her head, mostly so she couldn't see me blushing about my behavior.

"Because now I have you," I admitted quietly. "I'm not alone. Even if you can be irritating and steal the covers, and eat half the food off my plate, I still love you. And now," I added pressing my hand to her stomach, "I'm really not alone. I have you and our child."

I stole a peek at her. Sadie's cheeks were lit up in a blush so bright it seemed to illuminate the room.

"I love you," Sadie said, her face turning even redder.

I cupped her cheek, "I hope you never stop doing that."

"What?"

"Turning red," I said sweetly. "It's very cute."

She scowled and punched me in the shoulder, her feisty gleam coming back to her eyes. It warmed my heart, even if it did hurt my arm.

"I need breakfast," Sadie said again, snuggling into bunny me. "Your offspring requires food."

I chuckled and prodded her belly with my hand, "you aren't very far along for how hungry you are."

She pouted, but there was real hurt in her eyes, "Are you calling me a pig?"

"Of course not," I assured her. "But I'm taking you out today, so you better eat and get ready."

She blinked, "where are we going?"

"To see an acquaintance," I said.

"Anubis, are you sure?" Sadie asked for the hundredth time.

"Yes."

She bit her lip, "I just don't want you to get in trouble."

I looked up at the Eighth House of Rest and sighed. If we were turned in, she would be the one in trouble. She could be executed. The thought made my blood run cold-or colder than it already was. Sadie was my sun; if she died my world went back to being frigid. At the thought, I almost turned on my heels and dragged her away.

No, she needs to be able to have access to a doctor, I thought firmly.

"C'mon, everything will be fine," I said, trying to make both her and myself believe it.

Sadie nodded and squeezed my hand, as if she knew I was only pulling a brave face for her.

Gods, she looked so beautiful. Her hair was up and her draping top and nice jeans made her look like a queen. Her fierce blue eyes were rimmed with a fine line of kohl. What was I going to do if this all went to hell?

"C'mon, we aren't doing anything out here," Sadie said. She grabbed my hand and pulled me up the steps.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yes."

I stifled a smile at how impatient she sounded.

We stood at the door and before I could have another second thought, Sadie raised her hand to knock.

There was a moment of silence while the sound of her knock echoed in our ears and we waited.

I'd met Tawaret before, but she still surprised me. The door flew open and a larger-than-life woman opened the door, saw Sadie and swept her up in a hug.

Tawaret looked as I remembered. Her black hair was up in a net and her grey-ish skin was smooth like a hippo's. Her stomach bulged in a state of permanent pregnancy.

"Oh, Sadie! You'll never guess," Tawaret gushed, releasing my mate. "I'm pregnant!"

"Fantastic, so am I," Sadie said.

"Well, dearie, you seem quite healthy," Tawaret appraised. "Someone's been taking awful good care of you."

Sadie was laid out on a hospital bed, several machines at her side. Tawaret was sitting next to her, looking over a paper that had Sadie's state of health: temperature, weight, height (short), etc.

"Yes, Anubis has been spoiling me rotten," Sadie admitted, trying to sit up. Tawaret placed a hand on her, pushing her back down gently.

"I need you to stay lying down."

"Alright," Sadie said. "…Where is Bes?"

"Oh, well, my cravings have been a bit, well, constant," Tawaret admitted, her grey cheeks turning pink. "He went out to get me more sushi."

Sadie wrinkled her nose. "Sushi?"

"I know, I used to hate it," Tawaret admitted. "Now I can't get enough. Have your cravings started?"

"Not really, I'm just hungry all the time, not for anything particular."

"Except sex," I muttered from the corner of the room.

"Oh, well, that's normal," Tawaret assured Sadie, whose face was turning bright red. "Now, you seem to be in fine health, if not a little warm. But I'm going to assume your usually a little on the warm side."

"Yeah, she's always like that,' I said, nodding.

"Okay, then we can start on looking at the baby," Tawaret said cheerfully. Sadie shifted nervously and Tawaret patted her hand in a motherly fashion, soothing Sadie a little.

"You two are both so cute, that baby will be absolutely gorgeous," Tawaret said. She reached for a bottle of blue gel on the cabinet and squirted it into her hand. "Raise up your shirt sweetie."

Sadie shifted and slid her shirt up, revealing her tan torso. There was the slightest curve to her stomach, too small to really notice-but my heart warmed never the less.

"I have to put this on so we can do an ultrasound," Tawaret explained, rubbing the goop on her hands together. Sadie shied away when Tawaret tried to touch her.

"It won't hurt," Tawaret assured her. She put her hand on Sadie and rubbed it in. Sadie squeaked in surprise and arched up. I darted to her side, thinking it actually had hurt her.

"It's just really, really cold," Sadie assured me, her teeth chattering.

"Yes, I should have warned you about that," Tawaret admitted. She reached for something attached to a cord and showed it to Sadie. "This will let us hear the baby's heartbeat."

Sadie nodded and looked at me, anxious and vulnerable. She squeaked again when Tawaret placed the lens on Sadie's belly, pressing the cold goo farther into her skin.

There was a static sound and rustle sound as Tawaret moved it around Sadie's stomach slowly.

Then a small tap-tap sound started. Sadie gripped my hand, her eyes widening.

"Is that- is that the baby?" Sadie asked softly.

"Babies," Tawaret corrected.

Sadie bolted up, making me jump. "What?!"

"There's more than one heartbeat here," Tawaret said, her eyes glittering.

"I-can I," Sadie swallowed hard. "Is there a way to see them?"

Tawaret smiled and nodded, "oh yes, if I turn on this screen, you can see them, but you have to lie back down."

My head was swimming. There was more than one. My Sadie was pregnant with twins.

"Love, are you okay?" Sadie asked weakly.

I looked down at her anxious face, so beautiful and trusting. I leaned down and clamped my lips on hers, kissing her lovingly.

"I'm more than okay," I assured her.

"Well, I hope so," Tawaret said, plugging in the screen. A fuzzy black image lit up the small screen.

"Oh dear, there's definantly more than one," Tawaret said smiling. She pointed out three small white lines.

"Triplets!" Sadie squeaked.

"No wonder you're already showing," Tawaret said, ruffling Sadie's hair.

"Can I sit down?" I asked weakly. Sadie looked at me in concern and I sat down on the bed next to her, trying desperately to see straight. Sadie sat up, looking genuinely concerned for me.

"Are you okay?" Tawaret asked worriedly.

"Um…maybe?"

Sadie's eyes took on a scared edge. "Y-you still want the babies right?"

"Of course, it's just hard to stomach-"

"Tell me about it," Sadie said, patting her stomach in an effort to make me smile. I chuckled and leaned over to kiss her forehead.

"What am I going to do with you?" I teased weakly, patting her stomach.

By the time we arrived back at the temple, it wasn't my children I was worried about, it was Sadie. She seemed to have slipped into a state of shock after her attempt to make me laugh. Tawaret had ordered me to take her home and be gentle with her and contact her if Sadie wasn't back to normal by tomorrow morning-not even Tawaret would see her when Sadie was like this.

She gripped my hand tightly, letting me lead her up the steps. She didn't seem to be able to speak or process what I tried to say to her, so I stayed quiet. She didn't seem to be able to see straight either, because several times she nearly cracked her scull tripping over the steps.

She's going to kill herself before he even get to the door, I thought worriedly. I leaned down and scooped her up before she could trip again.

It was much easier to carry her than try to lead her. In minutes, we were at our room. Not really knowing what to do, I sat down on the windowsill, still holding Sadie to my chest. She was quiet and I think that bothered me more than anything else. I teased her about talking too much all the time, but that didn't mean I wanted her to stop. I loved hearing her constant babble and laughter-even if I wouldn't admit it to her.

After a few moments of me worriedly waiting for her to talk, Sadie shifted around so she had her back to my chest. She crossed her legs and settled down into me, pulling the ultrasound picture from her pocket. A tear slid down her cheek.

"No, no, no, please don't cry," I said, sitting up to wrap around her tightly. Gods of Egypt, I hated seeing her cry. "Tell me what's wrong, please."

She shook her head, looking shell-shocked. Her hand-shaking violently-clasped into mine and pulled it around to her stomach for a second she just sat there, trembling in my lap, holding my hand to her torso.

Through my concern, it dawned on me how tan her hand was. In the light, she looked like a golden statue, holding my ivory hand. It was quite a pretty picture-or it would have been if she didn't look so scared.

"What's wrong?" I asked again. "Please tell me."

She slowly turned her head and gave me a weak smile. 'I-I don't really know what to do."

"You don't have to do anything," I said, confused.

"I don't know if I can raise three kids," she said, her eyes filling with anxiety. "I can barely keep myself running, let alone-"

"Don't panic," I soothed. "It's okay. You'll be a fantastic mother. There's nothing to cry about, promise."

Sadie squirmed up and gave me a weak smile. "I suppose now I have a perfectly good excuse to be tired. Three perfectly good excuses actually."

I chuckled and hugged her. It wasn't unusual for a goddess to carry more than one child, but I knew for a mortal, it was rare.

"I'm going to have to keep an eye on you, aren't I?" I teased gently. I kissed her warm neck and smelled her scent. She smelled pleasant, like spring and earth. She smelled like life.

"Are you sniffing me?" Sadie asked, a giggle breaking through.

"Mm, you smell good," I purred, nuzzling the curve of her neck with my nose. She giggled again and I smiled mischievously, knowing how ticklish she was. I slipped my hands under her shirt and began to dance my hands around her belly.

She burst into giggles and writhed in my lap, unable to control her laughter. It was so cute to watch her giggle that I kept on, until she was panting and worn out.

"Evil," she panted. "You are absolutely evil."

I kissed her nose, "mm, but you love me anyway."

She buried her head in my chest and stretched out, getting comfortable, "I suppose I do love you. And the three miniature you's as well."

I chuckled and looked down to tease her, but she was already asleep, snoozing on my chest. I hugged her tight.

"Oh, my love, if only you knew how much I loved you," I said lovingly.