In the bigger bunk, only one of the occupants was asleep. The other was sitting at the desk, deep in contemplation.

“I’m afraid. Scared. It’s not like I haven’t been afraid before, but this …” Zoe stared at her reflection in the mirror on the other side of the room. She looked so … small.

She glanced down at her belly. “How can I be a good mother?” She stroked her skin through her robe. “I want to be a good mother so bad.”

“You will be,” Hank said, turning over so he could look at her.

“I thought you were asleep.” If the lights hadn’t been dimmed he would have seen her blushing.

“I was. But I’ve gotten used to you being next to me, hogging all the blankets.”

“I don’t hog the blankets.”

“Sometimes I wake up with certain portions of my anatomy more than a little chilly.”

“Certain …”

“My feet, honey.” He grinned, pushing his hair out of his eyes.

She smiled a little. “Sorry.”

“But I still heard you.” He looked at her, his grey eyes amused. “And, I have to say …You? Afraid?”

“I’m human, Hank. And pregnant. That’s enough to scare anyone.”’

“Sweetheart, I’d be more scared if I were pregnant.”

“This isn’t a joking matter, Hank.”

Hank sat up in bed, the blanket pooling around his hips. “No, it isn’t. And I’m sorry for suggesting it was.”

“I can’t help how I feel. I’m not ready for this.”

“It’s not like you’re on your own,” he pointed out.

“I know. But it doesn’t … somehow it doesn’t help.”

“I wish I knew what to say, Zoe.” He sighed. “But I’m figuring there ain’t anything to help you right now.”

“Probably not,” she admitted.

He tried anyway. “You’re gonna be a great mother. I’ll be a good dad. Our son’s gonna grow up on board this ship and he’s gonna play with Ethan, Bethany and whoever else comes along. Okay?”

“Sure.”

“Wow, you have got it bad.” He lifted his legs up so he could rest his elbows on his knees. “So what’s got you in this mood?”

“I don’t know. I just woke up feeling …”

“Afraid?”

“Yeah.”

“The