He had left behind most of his 'otherworldly' sense when he'd left Louisiana behind, but there was a real feeling inside of his chest that said that Allie knew something was wrong.
That Keith hadn't made it.
He knew he shouldn't say a word.
He had no idea what Harmony needed to do.
He just didn't want to see Allie realize... that her husband was gone.
"Do you know, Allie..."
Mid-push, she turned her head toward him, her eyes bright and wild.
"Boy or girl?"
Her expression softened and when Harmony turned her head toward him, he saw something akin to... thanks?
Appreciation?
"I... We," Allie changed her words and he felt trepidation in his chest, wondering if he'd stuck his foot in his mouth, "we wanted to wait."
His hands fisted tighter at his sides, and he felt his close-cut nails dig into his palms.
"My mom," he smiled at her, trying to turn her attention away from the topic they'd stumbled into, "thought I was going to be a girl, like all the rest of my sibs."
"All?" Allie grunted and bore down when Harmony called out the command. "How many... sisters... do you have?"
"Six." It felt oddly... intimate to answer her question, but Allie was on her back, her skirt up around her hips, sweat coursing down her forehead, bearing down to give birth.
She was in a much more intimate setting and position.
"I think," he murmured almost under his breath, "she was a little disappointed when she had me. She didn't have a boy's name picked out."
"Oh? We've got names for both. Girl and boy." Allie sagged back against the gurney. "But... I think I'm done for now."
She sounded exhausted.
He didn't blame her.
Hell, he was exhausted just standing by.
"I want my husband," she was panting, her breathing ragged. "Where's Keith?"
Shit.
Crois wasn't someone who considered his thoughts particularly quick on his feet when it came to talking.
He could kick ass physically.
Tactical things?
He was above average.
Speaking his thoughts and feelings?
Those things were left to other people.
He was out of his depth here in so many ways.
