"Not all." She shrugs, a little. "Just--it makes it harder. Stress on the system. Too much and the fetus is--split, I guess. It's hard on it."

And nine months is a very long time.

"And I phase in my sleep most the time," she half-whispers, smiling crookedly and without humor.

And then Kate doesn't say anything for a moment before saying quietly, "I do want them. With you."

That makes it worse, she thinks.