Author's Note: Heya! Sorry, this is my first time uploading anything here. I'm still tryin' to get the hang of things. For some reason ffnet won't let me have large gaps between paragraphs in my story (hence the awkward dots). I tried using other programs but it never preserves my original document. If anybody knows the problem please lemme know. Otherwise, enjoy!

E x p e c t i n g

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Dearest Flint,

Hello darling! I know we'll be seeing eachother in two more days, but I decided to write you because I cannot contain my excitement. As much as I enjoy visiting my mother and father, I'm beginning to feel homesick and can hardly go a moment without thinking of you. I thank heaven for blessing me with such a loving husband, as well as the children that we will soon bring into this world. I still can't believe we're going to be parents. Isn't it exciting! The babies have been lively as ever, kicking all day long, and sometimes late into the night. It's a little tiring! But I can't help but smile knowing I will soon be able to hold them in my arms. That silly neighbor of ours said there was no way I could know we're having twins, but I do! I know they're both going to be boys too. Brave and strong, just like their father. It's called "Mother's Intuition", you know.

I know at this stage I need to be at home with my mother, the only midwife in town, just in case the twins decide to come into the world a little early. I also understand you need to look after the house and sheep, but how I miss being home, and how I miss you. Have you managed okay without me? Are you eating enough? Have you been changing your pantaloons every day? ...Oh my, I'm beginning to sound like a Mother already.

Well, you needn't worry about me, dear. I've been eating more than enough for three, and my mother has been treating me like... well, a baby, since I got here. We're all getting ready for the babies' arrival.

Get here soon, and safely!

With all my love,

Hinawa

P.S. Next time, let's try having the baby at home. Yes, I said next time!

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I'm so sorry, Flint... but... Hinawa... she didn't...

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... H i n a w a ...

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"Mornin' Flint!"

The rancher barely lifted his head when a female voice greeted him warmly, if not vigilantly, and listened silently as footsteps drew nearer and nearer. It was always just enough to pull him out of the dreary reminiscence that consumed him from time to time, but never quite enough to will out much of a response from him. Arlene, a stout and fair-haired neighbor of the family, knew Flint had never been a man much for words, so she was not quite sure if her greeting was even heard or if Flint was just off in his own world again. A smile curved her lips upward however, when the man finally regarded her with a single nod, then returned to his work.

It was just another typical morning. Day after day, cotton candy clouds would form perfectly in the dawn sky. Day after day, Flint would rise and get to work around the ranch. Day after day, pesky neighbors would casually drop by to 'check in' on him and say the most irritating things.

"You sure are lookin' better these days. It's so good to see you back workin' regular."

Things like that. Flint hated to be reminded of how things were before 'better' had come along. Especially since, in so many ways, things were still not "better". He'd learned to ignore the woman, or whomever else might trigger unpleasant memories, and instead focused on the task at hand; Today, that would be hammering a wooden post into the ground. Seemed he was restoring the old fence, observed Arlene. Being the local Seamstress and self-proclaimed dear friend, she came down to the ranch to check in on him every now and then and see if he would be producing more wool any time soon. Winter was only a couple seasons away after all, and nothing would make her happier than to knit some warm wool sweaters and scarves for everyone in the village!

"...Give it about a week more. I'll have some good wool for ya then." Flint said, finally, after an uncomfortable silence between the two. This perked the woman up a great deal, blue eyes sparkling and pink lips smiling something fierce. "That's wonderful to hear! In turn, let me make you a nice sweater! And what about Lucas? He's surely growing out of those old clothes of his. How about I make him a new outfit as well!" Arlene was clearly blind to the man's disinterest, but once she promised him and his son a new wardrobe she was off on her way soon enough. Things to do, people to see, after all. The woman always meant well, but it still left a dismal imprint in his heart when she inadvertently reminded him of the hell he'd gone through over the past years

But dwelling on such things was hopeless, Flint had learned. There were sheep to tend to, work to be done, after all. So that's exactly what Flint was going to do, and what he did do every single day.

Lucas, his boy, however, was another story.