(Untitled)

[chelleuncurled]

Michelle didn't mean to come into the bar, which is probably why she's got a pint of ice cream in one hand and a copy of "What to Expect When You're Expecting" clutched to her chest.
The first few chapters of the book are marked with post-it note tabs and her place is kept with a yellow highlighter.
She's wearing Freudian Slippers (a gift from

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[_mother_dearest]

A young woman in a sober bordering on grim black silk dress sat elegantly at a table with a cup of hot tea in front of her. She nodded to the woman calmly and spoke in her heavily accented speech.

"Greetings, Lady Michelle."

[chelleuncurled]

"Hello, Lyrae." Michelle says politely, still a little uncomfortable around the woman since she saw her in a very fragile state.

"How have you been?"

[_mother_dearest]

Lyrae nodded calmly, and studied Michelle rather clinically. Not too much time had passed, though she was probably in need of an examination.

"Much as ever. Are you doing well?"

[chelleuncurled]

She doesn't break eye contact, although she feels like she's in a doctor's office.

"I'm...doing as well as I could be."

[_mother_dearest]

A slightly more stern tone of voice from Lyrae. Her tone was motherly but betrayed a great deal of doubt as to a proper answer.

"Have you had a proper Delving? It is imperative for a woman carrying a child to have them regularly so that health can be assessed and any problems corrected."

[chelleuncurled]

Michelle blinks, "I've seen my OB-GYN and she's assured me that the baby's healthy."

Considering the way she felt that first month, she'd been worried that her grief caused problems, but Dr. Davis ran all the tests and told her that she was carrying a very healthy and normal child.

[_mother_dearest]

Lyrae frowned slightly. She was not certain what constituted proper pre-natal care in Lady Michelle's world, but she was certain that it would frighten her.

"I was meaning have you seen Lady Kim, or someone with similar powers who could perform a proper examination with the Power."

[chelleuncurled]

Michelle looks at her for a moment longer than normal. "I like Kim, but I'm not sure that I trust her to....do that." Especially since she's heard she's not that great at healing.

[_mother_dearest]

Lyrae thought for a moment and responded blandly.

"I am unsure of her abilities in those areas."

[chelleuncurled]

She gets the feeling that Lyrae won't let things go.

"I'm not busy right now, if you wanted to check on the health of the baby for yourself."

[_mother_dearest]

Lyrae nodded calmly, and gestured at the seat across from her.

"I can certainly do so. Sit down, and have a cup of tea. It is easier if you are warm."

[chelleuncurled]

She reluctantly leaves her milkshake and goes over to Lyrae's table.

"It's warm in LA right now."

[_mother_dearest]

A faint glow burned around Lyrae as Michelle's robe warmed interlaced with tiny flows of fire.

"Much warmer than the ambient temperature. I have been caring for expectant mothers and delivering children for nearly four centuries. Relax."

[chelleuncurled]

Michelle's visibly startled by Lyrae's action and she only just stops herself from throwing off the robe.

"Okay, I'll relax," she takes a breath, reminding herself that Lyrae won't hurt her.

[_mother_dearest]

Lyrae peered at her for a moment before offering her hot tea. In a few minutes, she would be warm enough. She remembers how difficult it was for her raising her son after her husband abandoned her.

"Remember that raising a child alone compounds the difficulty, and so you will have great tribulations, and there are grim consequences for failure."

A pause, and a sip of her tea.

"Take heart however, others have done it before."

[chelleuncurled]

Her face pales at the words. "How could I forget?" She asks, accepting the tea.

"I know, but I won't be...entirely alone. I just won't have my -- "