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Claire is by the fire. She is reading to Seth from Winnie-the-Pooh. Seth is pretending to focus on the moving pictures. Really though he's just trying to break his own record of five consecutive spit bubbles.

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Seth wobbles his head, maybe in reply, maybe not.

Claire notices the tiny baby belly. "Ah, are things going okay?"

She grins and nods. "Going as planned. I'm three months in now, and she seems to be doing well. Sort of wish there was a doctor here though."

Claire nods understandingly. "There are some excellent healers and midwives though."

A month after the fact, now that she and Seth are fine, Claire doesn't remember her labor as being so intense.

She raises an eyebrow.

"Oh? Could you introduce me to them soon? I really should have her checked just to be sure."

"Sure." She smiles. "I don't know any of the healers personally, but they worked on me when I first got here. I'm sure somebody who's been here awhile could introduce you. As far as midwives, mine was a lady named Eska. She's usually here earlier in the daytime and she's almost always over there by the trilobyte tank."

She points ~~vaguely~~.

She nods. "Eska. I'll look around for her in the morning. How are you feeling? Was your delivery all right?"

"We're okay." She smiles. "It was sort of hard, because Seth didn't want to come out and it was right in the middle of an earthquake, but it actually went pretty smoothly considering."

"Jesus, you delivered during all of that?"

Claire snorts. "Yes. I did."

She grins and smoothes a tiny strand of Seth's hair down. "Hey, would you like to hold him?"

She grins and holds her arms out.

"I'd love to. Need the practice."

She shifts him into her arms carefully. Seth tenses at the new unfamiliar contact and then squeaks non-commitally. He goes back to perfecting his spit bubbles.

That probably means he likes her.

She cuddles and coos at him.

"Hello, Seth. Oh! Look what you can do! Such a clever little guy."

Seth squeaks again.

Claire laughs. "He loves attention. I think he's going to be so spoiled. He already has most of the bar wrapped around his little finger."

She laughs too.

"He'll have more uncles than he'll be able to puke on."

"He already does." She grins. "Uncles, daddies, friends, and I hear more than a few girls are now wanting babies of their own. We're very lucky."

Bethany laughs again.

"Oh no, maybe that's why I'm here. I'm a Planned Parenthood counselor."

Claire smiles. "I bet there are several boyfriends in here who would like to have a word with you."

She reaches over to stroke Seth's arm. "But I think his powers are way too effective."

"Maybe I should advertise my services. I need a way to pay my tab anyhow."

She bounces Seth a little and kisses his forehead.

"Yes, the cuteness and sweetness are very persuasive. They just need to know that poopy diapers and long nights come with that package."

Claire nods. "Very long nights."

She sighs. "I was going to give him up for adoption, but now I am so glad I have him to love."

"What made you change your mind?"

No judgment, just curiosity.

She laughs soemwhat ironically. "I was in a plane crash and stranded on a deserted island. There wasn't much choice to make."

She rubs her now much flatetr belly thoughtfully. "But I think I realized I loved him as soon as the plane went down. He was the only thing I could think of. Even myself."

"Awww, that's so sweet."

She kisses Seth again.

"I'm glad you decided to keep him. Seems like he's good for you."

"He is the best for me." She grins. "Did you know you wanted to keep your baby?"

She nods emphatically.

"Oh, yes, she's a blessing from God. My uterus was dead for years before I got pregnant with her."

"Then she really is a miracle." Claire smiles. "Is the father going to be around?"

She asks it casually, but with a sympathetic smile. Claire knows all about fathers who split.