"Don't worry about it," Noroa said, shaking her head. "I'm sure he was a hot topic of discussion before today, seeing how he'd never been around the apartment." She absently moved her hand toward her stomach. "But as for the baby, yes I am excited. More than I can bear, actually. I looked at expectant human mothers and have always wondered what it would be like, expecting a new life … and I guess I'll know before long." She laughed. "I'm just glad I took your advice, and had my cycles adjusted to human levels, like you did, or Garen and I would be swimming in kids right now. There's no way he would've been able to handle that!"
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Mericlou said, and laughed along with her. "It's too bad we were originally made for the rich. They could afford large families. Having our cycles adjusted was entirely too expensive. Thank god it was something we'd only have to do once." "But it was worth it in the long run," Noroa said.
"Well, I wouldn't know that," Mericlou remarked innocently. "I just did it to be on the safe side. And besides, even if anything were to happen between Aldrec and me, there wouldn't be any worry about me getting pregnant anyway."
"What did you just say?" Noroa said. She gave her sister a wry grin.
Mericlou nearly fled in embarrassment. "Oh my god!" she gasped. "I didn't … I mean that's not what I …"
"Sister, it's okay!" Noroa said comfortingly, moving in close beside her. "You should never deny your feelings."
"He's only a friend," Mericlou pleaded. "That's all he ever has been; you know how elves are!"
"It's obvious that he's a friend, little sister," Noroa said in a gentle voice, "but it's just as obvious that you want him to be more."
"How do you know that?"
"Well, during the party, it was more than just a little apparent how you two were fawning over each other," Noroa replied with a slight titter. "But I think it really hit me when I saw you picking the bread crumbs off of each others' faces."
Again, the terrible, wonderful blush came to Mericlou's face. "You saw that? But … but you were on the other side of the table!"
Noroa laughed, and then gave Mericlou a wink. "I happen to have good peripheral vision. But what I'm trying to say is that you'll never know unless you ask."