“Your sister is a doctor then, not a healer?”  Mai smiled, “You could use all the help you can get. I’m not saying that you can’t handle this on your own, but it’s always easier with others.” She pulled her hand away. “This… Is a lot to take in. It’s huge.” She leaned back in her chair and bit her lip.

“You’re tired. “ One of the side effects of pregnancy was fatigue. It was only going to get worse with triplets.

“Would you like me to go, and let you rest..?” Mai wasn’t really sure what it was Aisling wanted. “Just… Tell me what you need, I can do my best?”
 

"All my family are Muggles," Aisling said, pushing herself back to a somewhat more respectable posture. "But I promised Teagan that I'd let her run tests, make sure everything is going well. Though she'll worry even more now, I suppose." It was hard to blame anyone for that,  given the circumstances.

She waved for Maiko to stay seated. "Please, stay, I just need a moment. I'm glad for the company."

Krix appeared with a soft pop, and tipped her head questioningly.

Aisling smiled over at the House Elf. "There's no need to worry.  I'll let you know if I should need anything." There would be enough of that soon. Sooner than she'd wanted. Triplets would tire her out so swiftly.

Maiko understood why some people had a preferred gender for a pregnancy, but it didn’t necessarily mean that she felt the same way. To her, she thought that if people really wanted a child, they should be happy with whatever they were biologically, and whatever gender that child identified with. However, these opinions were not ones that she would so readily share with just anybody. She liked to avoid conflict, when possible. And now wasn’t the proper time. Besides, she was sure that Aisling would be happy with whatever her children turned out to be. It seemed to Mai, that Tarron was a different story.

“I understand what doctors in the family can be like. Overwhelming. Aggravating. But you can’t help but be thankful for them.”  She smiled gently, squeezing Aisling’s hand back. Her grandparents had been a surgeon and a nurse, respectively. They were always checking in on her, to make sure she was being properly medicated and making sure that she wasn’t having any risky flareups with her lupus. It was a bit overwhelming and stressful at times, but she loved knowing that they cared so much.

“I’ll stay then. Please, do let me know if you need anything. I mean it. I can babysit on weekends, or…  Just keep you company if you get lonely.” Aisling would likely be put on bed rest before too long.

"Overwhelming, yes. But I would like to get all the tests done, learn what I can. Even if it does mean I have to deal with her fussing as well as the Healers." Aisling's smile would be best described as bemused, and perhaps a little tired. This couldn't be changed, and it didn't alter the most punishing aspects of her pregnancy, the ways it already damaged her sleep.

Simply more tired atop an overwhelming quantity of it.

"And I would appreciate the company. Though I fear I won't be much of a hostess at this rate, even  if it does explain why I have been so terribly exhausted." She sighed.

"Maybe I'll finally have time for writing."

“You don’t need to be a hostess.” Mai replied quickly, “No, no. I can host myself just fine.” She smiled. Plus, Aisling had her lovely house elf to help her out. It seemed that the house elf was happy in this home, and loyal to Aisling. That was a good sign—it meant that the elf was being treated with respect and kindness. Elves who weren’t treated often obeyed just enough to follow commands. 

She clapped her hands together, “You must come over sometime! We can have a girl’s night? I can invite Aileen and Abby over and we can…  Just relax and have fun!” Mai hesitated, “Only if you’re interested though. I mean, if that’s too stressful we can do something else.” Maybe the last thing Aisling wanted, was to be around a bunch of people. 

Aisling's smile could not have been called energetic, but it was warm. "A girl's night would be lovely. I haven't had much chance recently to see Abigail outside of work."

She let herself savor her tea, shoulders slumping, her eyelids drooping slightly, and her feet sliding away from the couch as she leaned backwards. "I haven't done such a night in years. Not certain that I would even remember what to do with it." She waved  her free hand and sighed softly. "Suppose that's a sign that I should do such more often."

Then she set the tea down and folded her hands in her lap, skin pale against the bright blue of her dress. "Did you have a date in mind?"

“Weekends are probably best for me—“ And for Aileen, as well. They both worked at a school, and the weekdays were the busiest. Mai’s weekends were often busy, too—but that was because she filled them with activities, hobbies, and people to be around. All she had to do was pick a date and stick with it. 

“I’ll have to ask Aileen. But maybe an early weekend next month if you’re feeling up to it.” Who knew how Aisling would be feeling. “Or one of the later weekends this month.” She raised her eyebrows. “I’ll make sure my younger brother is ready to wait on us!” Mai was joking. Mostly. Kohaku would likely try to make sure they were comfortable and check in on them to keep Mai from pestering him whenever she felt like giving him attention. It was a tactic he had learned young—show up enough, say hi, and you’ll be left alone when you want to be.

"Next month would be best for me, I think. I'll need to tell Abigail beforehand, though I fear that I'm unsure as to just how I should approach that." Aisling blinked, the gesture just a fraction of a second too long. "Suppose that it still feels odd, telling Tarron's family such news."

She leaned to the side, propping one elbow against the couch's armrest. "And thank you, but there's no need to bother your brother on my account. I'm not that out of sorts." A grin, soft, returning the tease.

"Or, if I am, I won't admit to it, just yet." She shook her head.

“Trust me, my brother needs to be bothered!” Maiko grinned impishly. Bothering Kohaku was among her favorite things to do. 

Maiko picked at her fruit, though she didn’t eat it yet. “Everyone’s out of sorts, to an extent.” She said softly, “It’s just—nothing is ever perfect. We rarely feel perfect. Some people are better at hiding it than others. It’s normal. I think you’re carrying on well, so far. You’ve definitely handled the news with grace.” With much more grace than most, Mai thought. If she had discovered that she was pregnant with more than one child—oh, she didn’t even know how she’d react? Maybe she’d do a bit of crying?

“To the health of you and your little ones!” She put the fruit down and picked up her tea cup, raising it to Aisling.

"Thank you," Aisling said, as she lifted her own cup to return the toast. "Though I expect that I'll start to worry again once I've thought further on it. Merlin, so many names." She leaned one cheek into her hand and sipped from the cup.

"It took us so long to choose names for the girls. Though I think we were both content with them, in the end." She slumped a little, and sighed, frowning. "I must apologize, it seems that I am more exhausted than I had hoped. I do look forward to the girl's night."

At least she could hope for a bit more energy at that time. And with that company.