“He’s so small.” Freya wouldn’t move from the window, staring through, even though she could see virtually nothing.

“I know, ai ren . “ Mal put his arms around her, holding her strongly against his chest.

“I should have known. I should have been able to hear …” Her voice barely registered.

“Frey, don’t.”

“Why didn’t I?”

“Frey, please –“

“I'm his mother. I should have known.” Her eyes closed and tears spilled afresh down her cheeks. “I can’t … Mal, if I … if we …” She leaned back into him, trying to gain some comfort from his body.

“We won’t. Simon says these are the best doctors on this rock. And you believe him, don’t you?”

“We tried so long after Alice … I didn’t think we’d ever … Mal, don’t let me lose him.”

She turned in his arms, holding him so tightly there was no way to tell where she ended and he began.

“You won’t. You won’t, my Frey. I promise.” Please don’t make me break this one , he prayed silently. For both our sakes .

“Not sure I can watch this,” Hank muttered, staring at the two people who probably meant the most to him, outside of his Zoe. “My heart’s tearing apart as it is.”

“So are theirs,” Zoe said.

“Yeah.” He turned away to look out of the window, at the sleek hover cars whistling by in the light rain that had begun to fall from a leaden sky. “How long does this take?”

“Simon said maybe four hours, maybe less. Ethan’s so small …” She rubbed her belly lightly, feeling her own son inside. Was she gonna be like this if he got sick?

“He won’t.” Hank was gazing at her.

“You picking up on being psychic?”

“And have their kinda problems?” Hank nodded towards Mal and Freya. “No way. But I know what you’re thinking, the way you’re stroking yourself.” He stepped towards her, their eyes on a level. “I’m worried about that too. And scared.”

“That we won’t be good parents.”

“Yeah.”

Zoe sat down in one of the comfortable armchairs dotted along the wall. “Most of my life I've only ever really had to look out