Neda looked at him with furrowed eyebrows as his mood changed. The girl giggled as his fingers teased at her soft thigh, her hand moving to push his away. “Hey, you can’t do that anymore.” She told him with mock irritation. “I’m not a kid anymore.” One didn’t tickle adults and she was thoroughly not a child anymore, her rounded belly stating the obvious.<br/><br/>“Well…” Neda scratched the side of her head awkwardly. It wasn’t like she got a say in anything. If he didn’t want her in the house, she couldn’t argue. She was his wife. “I’ll be able to go back in a few months at least.” Her shoulders shrugged, trying to make the best of a bad situation.  Her fingers gingerly traced along her stomach, thinking that she should be able to live in her home, but she didn’t voice that opinion. It wasn’t her place.<br/><br/>Teija met Marlon’s eyes as she rubbed Neda’s belly, her dark make up giving her an almost sinister grungy look with her deshelled hair and pale skin. At his words her eyes left his, looking down at Neda’s belly before she withdrew her hand. Neda looked at Teija, seeing the hurt that Marlon had just caused in those lack luster eyes. “Marlon….” Neda whined on Teija’s behalf. Teija shrugged but said nothing, not wanting to get into that argument again. It wasn’t Neda’s place to comment on the duties of a wife but he had been rude, calling Teija out for her inability to conceive, in front of guests to boot! When her foot was placed back on the floor she covered her knees with her skirt, sitting up straighter.<br/><br/>Neda sighed with he asked about Ariela. “Yes, she has been meeting with the butcher’s son the last few days. I think they might begin courtship.” Neda said, an excited tone in her voice. “It isn’t who I would have picked for myself but Ariela seems content.” Her shoulders shrugged, hand caressing her swollen belly.<br/><br/>Teija looked up as Marlon moved, pulling out a few crumpled bills with something wrapped inside. Was it an apology? Was he trying to make nice for his harsh words in front of Neda. Teija never wanted kids, she loathed the little bastards, but pointing out her short comings and her inability to perform a woman’s sole responsibility and duty was embarrassing. Especially to Neda who was fulfilling her dutiful role as wife and now mother.  Teija’s gaze followed the bills as he touched them to his face, a clever way to make her look at him. “Yes.” She stood up, the attention to Neda’s belly gone. Ned watched the two interact, eyebrows raising in confusion. “Help?” Neda asked, unable to mind her own business.<br/><br/>Teija looked down at the blonde girl then at Marlon. “Yes.” She agreed, her neck stiffly nodding only once, trying to obscure her enthusiasm in front of Neda. Neda sighed. “I can take a hint.” She grabbed Marlon’s hand and used his weight to help her get off the low couch. A groan escaped her lips as her large belly made it difficult to stand. Her hand caressed her womb before she leaned up and kissed Marlon on the cheek. “Glad you’re back.” She mused before moving to give Teija a hug. Teija expertly dodged it, pretending to cough and holding her hand in front of Neda. Neda stopped moving forward, arms outstretched before they fell to her sides. “Don’t tell me you’re getting sick!” She covered her mouth, not wanting to catch the illness while pregnant. Neda looked at the other apologetically before leaving the house, her waddle of pregnancy slowing her movements.<br/><br/>Teija watched the petite woman go. Even seven months pregnant the girl looked small from behind, carrying the full weight in the front. Her gaze slowly turned back to Marlon. The girl punched his shoulder, hard enough to make him feel it but not aggressively. “That was mean!” She growled at him, anger boiling up for his comment earlier. It was like those little words were harsher than his physical treatment of her, that his words were the worst thing he could do to her.