"Oh, I have some things of my own to decorate with... Just because it isn't permanent, doesn't mean it shouldn't be homier in here." She had lots of afghans and quilts to throw about, she had a nursery to warm up a little... She wasn't setting roots down, just making things less depressing. "Maybe I could go for a walk in the garden... The previous tenants left flowers. Maybe I can pick some for the table."

Pony seemed in thought before nodding. "Sounds fine. Do you need my help with anything ?" She looked over as he was elbow deep in the dish water.

"The trunk is a little heavy if you wanted to get that. I do have to unpack anyways. I can walk in the garden first, you don't need to rush and get the trunk right now." Since he had taken it upon himself to wash dishes, something she didn't remark upon. Her hand moved to her belly and she gave a surprised huff before turning and rushing off toward the water closet to take care of herself before anything.

"Are you alright?" Pony asked and nodded. He'd get it moved as soon as he was done with the dishes. He tried to keep an ear out in case she called for him so he could come and help her.

"Yes... Just things that happen to pregnant women, nothing to alarm yourself over," she called out as she shuddered. She rinsed her mouth and left the water closet after a few minutes so she could sit down and give herself a chance to relax after that. "The joys of impending motherhood," she muttered.

"I can't help but worry." He said before coming over after drying his hands. "Do you need anything? I don't know a cure for morning sickness but I'm sure I can get something to ease it."

"I will be fine. I think." Her eyes were soft as they regarded her brother. She looked tired from the purge that had just happened. "It will be alright, ginger should work. Ginger bread, perhaps?" Ginger really was the best.

Pony smiled weakly as he did worry at her and looked at her face, exhausted from the purging. He hugged her slightly and guided her to sit. "I think.. I have some ginger tea and honey. You sit and I'll make you a cup, alright?"

"Aye, brother," she whispered and then settled down in her chair. Her eyes glanced over to him and watched him. "I m just tired for the moment, that's all. That sounds lovely... Ginger and honey."

Pony nodded and smiled. "Coming right up." He started the water and put the tea leaves in the pot and pulled out the honey. When it was ready he made it quickly and carefully poured her a cup. "Here you are.' He carefully spooned in some honey and stirred it well before handing it over.

She took the tea and gratefully sipped at the hot brew, then let the cup set for a moment to cool off a little. "Thank you, brother." She smiled and then after a long time, sipped some more. The nausea ebbed with each sip. "I wish I'd thought of this sooner. Sometimes it gets bad, the morning sickness. Something else about twins is they intensify everything, which is why we thought there were two."

"Well, hopefully it'll calm soon. I don't think morning sickness lasts the entire time. I can make you tea for breakfast every morning if it'll help." He smiled hopeful and went to grab her trunk to move for her as she had asked.

"Oh, it doesn't happen every day for me, just every once in a while. It differs between women. I noticed that while moonlighting at the hospital. Some women complained about being sick for a long time, others didn't seem bothered." She sometimes missed nursing.

Pony agreed but seemed uncertain. "Just take it easy.. ok? "He noticed she seemed uneasy. His arm looped around her into a small hug. "how about.. after the baby .. or babies.. are born, I buy you a pretty dress? And I see if I can get a nanny to help out, just for the first month or two when you're most exhausted?" It really cut into his savings, but it was Karen that needed him.

"I can give ye money for hiring a nanny," she said, "I have enough money to be comfortable on for the rest of my life, I don't even have to mend clothes, it is just somethin' ta do. Ye don't have ta pay for a dress for me, I'd rather ye spoil yer niece or nephew or both."

Pony rolled his eyes and playfully nudged her shoulder. "You can buy yourself stuff, but it isn't a gift or a surprise if you do it."

"I draw the line at ye supportin' me financially as much as that when I can do that part. If ye want ta gift me, I suppose ye could always find me that courtesan we keep talkin' about." She laughed and nudged playfully. "Or ye could just keep the Scotch Eggs coming."

Pony wagged a finger. "You can't have them that often. I'll go looking for courtesans. I may need to try them out first. "He winked and laughed as he moved the trunk and then started to grab some stuff to make a lunch before he headed out for the day.

"Augh, Pony, but they are delicious." Except they were also slightly greasy, which is probably why she got sick. But it mattered not to her. She would die eating them. "Make sure he is a braw laddy." She giggled, "With no brains. I don't want ta talk," she laughed some more.

Pony stuck out his tongue. "No way. It'll be a delightful woman who is great with her hands and a voice like butterscotch. Smooth and sweet. Just the kind of girl I'll allow around ya." He chuckled as he wrapped up the simple sandwich and headed towards the door. "You'll be alright ?"

"Aye, I will be fine, brother." Hell, she was probably going to walk to the nearby church and pray a little, though it was somewhat far of a walk and Pony would probably get cross with her. But she needed the release of prayer and perhaps the voice of reason in the form of a priest and was too embarrassed to admit. "I will be here when ye get back. Probably sleepin."

Pony nodded and patted her shoulder. "See you later then. Take care, if you have any emergency, I'm sure a neighbor would come if you called." He smiled and turned and left.

It wasn't long before she took herself to church and back. She may or may not have had a ride. When she arrived, she plopped into her chair and promptly fell asleep. She had not been gone for TOO long.

It was only lucky for Karen that Pony did not find her in the church for he would have been angry and taken her home himself. When he did come many hours later, he brought in a few things to help her out, including some yarn and knitting needles. "Surprise."

She snorted awake and looked at him, looked down to what he had in his hands, then up to his face again with sleepy expression across her face. "Hi, she murmured tiredly.

Pony smiled and spoke a little lower than usual. "Sorry to wake you. I got you this so you can keep yourself busy if you feel like it when you can't walk too much. I think you'll enjoy it. Want me to leave you to your nap?"

"No, no... I need to wake up," she said and sighed, "I just... decided ta go to the church for a short time and asked the priest to come bless the house," and then she held her hands up in defense, "I got a ride from a neighbor, please try not to be cross."

Pony frowned sharply. "If you wanted to go to town, you could have asked. I wouldn't have minded taking you myself." He shook his head, wondering what she was going to do paying a priest to say silly words. It wouldn't do anything, the house wasn't haunted. "Just put salt by the door."

"It was a last minute choice, and we're not going to fight over it." Her brows were raised, "I am not going to ask ye for permission to have this house blessed." Her eyes got all dewy. She looked away and then stood, "Thank ye for the things," and she quietly padded to the bathroom.

Pony growled in frustration. He slapped a hand against a table and took a deep breath to calm himself. He grabbed his coat and headed to the door. "I'm going back to town, don't wait up." He shook his head and moved quick to get Jenny back to the cart and go. This was the last thing he wanted to deal with. He was trying to help but she always felt she knew best. There wasn't even a hint of anything strange there. She was wasting her time and money and he'd have no part of it.

Except she wasn't paying for it that she was aware of... Why did he have to take it so personal? Now she was angry with him because he didn't understand why she asked for a blessing. It wasn't because there was weirdness happening but in prevention of said weirdness. He hadn't witnessed what she had. He hadn't seen his spouse possessed by some demon and die in front of him, not that she had told him Harold had gotten possessed.

The next afternoon she felt glum even after the blessing. The neighbor had come to witness, nothing inappropriate happened... But she was still upset with him and wondered how to make him see why she did what she did.

Pony didn't arrive home until late. He came in to make sure she was in one piece before going to the room he claimed for his own and he laid on the bed to sleep, wanting to avoid any more arguing.

She sighed tiredly when he made a beeline for his room. Then there was a frustrated growl. "Yes, make it all about ye and how ye feel," she muttered. "Don't ask me why I did it." She said this all quietly after he was already in his room.

Pony couldn't hear her. So he laid there, a mix of sadness and anger on his face as he laid on his bed. He wished he had never gone to the last town, then things would have stayed the same. As much as they sometimes fall back into the old ways, problems kept bubbling up.

The stress must have gotten to her... He might hear the sounds of her crying out with nightmare, for she was dreaming of that awful moment in time that the answer obsessed husband of hers died in her arms, his face twisted in fear and pain as the entity twisted him about. She woke up with a scream, and then calmed herself down.. Sweat poured from her face.

Pony did race in, looking quite afraid. When he got to her room and saw her in one piece he looked around the room in case they were not alone. Everything seemed in order and he sighed finally relaxing. He rubbed his tired eyes and looked at her. "Why'd you scream?"

"I'm sorry," she said groggily, then curled up on her side. She sniffed loudly and said, "I had a dream, that's all. They happen quite often since Harold was killed. I didn't mean to scream, I was just... reliving some things."

Pony sighed and rubbed his head. He sat at the foot of her bed before laying back on it, "Shall I stay here a while? Will it help you sleep, Karen?' He said as he glanced at her.

"But I thought ye were angry with me, Pony," she said, the catch in her voice indicating she was upset, but clearly not at him right then. She sat up and wrapped her arms around her belly, taking a few deep breaths at the cramps she felt, and said, "I thought maybe if I had the house blessed, the nightmares would go away. I am losin' my grip on faith." And then she sighed and sank back down, starting to drift off into slumber again, though one last mumble was given, "Ye don't have ta stay, but I wouldn't mind."

"Of course I'm angry. I miss the days we didn't fight all the time. But it's not you, it's the situation, Karen. And I rather avoid the fighting especially since you don't need this stress. I think it isn't helping you with your nightmares."

He laid on the bed beside her over the blankets and slipped an arm behind his head so she could have the pillow to herself. "Maybe if you have someone nearby it'll make you think of happier times and you'll get a good night's rest. Certainly couldn't hurt. Besides, it also means I can't sneak away in the morning without you realizing it. " He chuckled slightly and sighed. "I hope you sleep better, I don't like seeing you this way. So close your eyes and give it a try."

She sighed and wanted to agree with him, but she was so tired. She fell into a deep sleep again the moment he arranged himself next to her, and passed the rest of the night without incident. She did not wake up at her usual time, either, she woke up late again. The next day was quiet... the last of the dishes taken back to the neighbors... things unpacked and the house looking welcoming and warm... but she took frequent naps.

Pony had left shortly after she woke and came home with a couple of scotch eggs. "Here, to cheer you up. Everything go alright ?"

"I got everything done that I needed to. The laundry is hanging, the dishes are back at the neighbors, and I made the house pretty." She gestured. Indeed, it was much homier than before, with blankets draped here and there strategically, rag rugs on the floor, pictures on the walls, et cetera. "Do I smell sausage?" Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn't eaten since breakfast.

Pony nodded as he took a cursory glance around the place. It did look nice and decorated like it was actually lived in. "I just hope you're not over doing it." He held out the packaged scotch eggs to her.

"I rested between tasks. I took several naps today.... Lord, but I am tired." She took the offered food and said, "You're the best. Thank you." She gave a hug and sat back down, opening the food and eating gingerly, not wanting a repeat of the last time.

"Of course you're tired. You shouldn't be doing so much. I want you to rest all day tomorrow unless there is an emergency. " Pony sighed and sat nearby. "I am the best, don't you forget it.' He smiled weakly and sighed. "Need to make sure we have plenty of healthy food for you, since most of the stuff given by the neighbors is gone."

She pulled out a purse of money for food, "Here, this is for market. I was going to ask to go there today but I don't feel like it. I will take a break but I cant sit and do nothing all day," she added, "I will at least catch up on work, that isn't hard at all."

Pony pushed away the money. "You save that for paying for this place. I will take care of the market. " He sighed a little and rubbed his head. "I don't want you working. Come on, Karen. Just relax a little, alright?"

"Pony..." she said with a sigh of exasperation and then threw her hands up in surrender. "Fine, I'll stop even though sewing is not strenuous. It's the same effort as knitting, truth be told. I just want something to do. That's all."

Pony sighed. "You can sew, but don't go walking to your customers or cleaning the house. I don't want you on your feet." He rubbed his head feeling an ache coming on.