Gaia paced the waiting room at Dr. Maxine Drury's office. Several other pregnant women waited patiently, and two new mothers sat with their newborns. There were three toddlers playing with wooden blocks on the floor.

"Gaia, the Doctor is ready to see you now," the nurse at the desk said.

She followed her back and stepped on the scale to be weighed.

"I see you put on another three pounds this month. You're growing a healthy baby in there from everything we know," Maxine told her.

"I was so worried she was hurt in my fall when I hurt my shoulder. But she hasn't changed much in her activity levels. Rarely lets me sleep undisturbed anymore," Gaia said ruefully.

"Get used to it. I'm sure you will have many more," Maxine said. "Let's get you up on the exam bed so I can get a better look at everything."

Gaia changed into the gown provided and climbed up onto the table. At least her long legs made it an easy thing, and she wondered how some of the shorter women in the waiting room accomplished it. Scanning the room, she spotted a small step stool, and nodded to herself.

When the doctor came back in, she asked, "Can my husband attend the birth?"

"I don't see why not. As long as things are progressing normally, it would be a comfort. I'll tell you it isn't normally permitted, but I am all for the support. Does Harry want to come with you for your next appointment? You'll be over seven months by then, and even if the baby comes early, it should survive easily."

"She's a fighter. I expect she'll have an interesting life." Gaia stated.

"Healthy as far as I can assess too. Keep doing what you are doing. Drink plenty of milk and eat cheeses. It will help you keep your bones and teeth strong. But you know that already. What I'm more concerned with, is how you are doing with the aftermath of the Russo arrests?"

Gaia sat up and started dressing. Dr. Maxine was used to her complete unabashed disregard of nudity.

"I am good with it. Especially since Enrico Russo revealed himself at the very end. Such dedication to bringing down the evil in his family. I admire that. Killing Randolph Russo, well that's been a little more of an issue. I had no idea he was Enrico's brother." A shiver raised goosebumps along her arms.

"It was him or you. You decided to survive. A very healthy decision as far as I am concerned." Maxine handed her the blouse she hung over the back of the second chair in the exam room.

"That's exactly what I keep telling myself. But there's more to it than that." Gaia paused as she slipped the maternity top over her swollen breasts and fastened the row of tiny buttons.

"You understand anything you say to me is confidential and will not be repeated to anyone unless I have reason to believe you mean harm to yourself or others." Maxine's eyes remained steady on hers.

"But will you understand?"

"Try me. You might be surprised." The doctor ran her fingers through her short cap of titian highlighted brown curls.

"I'm a witch." Gaia tossed a glow up into the top corner of the room beside the counter with the sink in it.

Maxine raised and eyebrow. "Okay, not flash paper then."

"I'm a full fledged witch. Therefore, I'm subject to the tribunal at the Wizard's Council. At the moment, a sorceress of great power is leading it. Fiona is fighting her own battles against her father who has turned to the dark side, but that is another matter."

"And how does this apply to anything you do?" Maxine asked.

"The first and most potent rule of magic is and it do no harm. We add it to end of almost every spell. I killed a man. Harry did too. We didn't use our magic to do it, but we are still subject to this rule. The tribunal will decide whether the evil stopped was worth the price of a life."

"Are they reasonable?" Maxine was tapping her fingers on the counter and the sound made Gaia more anxious.

"Usually. Since Fiona banished her father to the realm between, we are governed by a group of twelve wizards and sorceresses who are chosen by election every three years. I'm sure we will be exonerated. Banishment is extreme punishment, but worse yet is the loss of your magic. Powerful healers have the ability to lock it away."

"So, it's a fair system as long as nothing sways the balance. I would love to meet your Fiona," the petite doctor said. "Is the head one of the twelve or the thirteenth and the tie breaker?"

"She's a force to be respected. And yes, her vote breaks the tie. But there is always that bit of worry when you face review by your peers." Gaia hugged herself.

"Understandable. We have similar review boards in medicine. Starting at the hospital level and ending with the Surgeon General. You can lose your license to practice medicine if a serious mistake cannot be reasonably explained. We use them to find errors and make new standards to avoid them in the future," Maxine explained. "A peer review is always nerve racking."

Gaia pulled her fisherman knit cardigan on. "It's close to Yule, Christmas for you. Do you have family here? You could come for our feast. Nonna and Nonno are planning two celebrations."

"If I can I'll be there. Let me know when. The twenty-first for Yule, right?" Gaia nodded. Maxine continued, "Christmas Day, I don't have children or a husband, yet. I'll be working at the hospital to cover for those who do."

"I'll let you know. By the way, if you didn't know, the end result of the Russo massacre was fifteen dead. All his men. Twenty women rescued and the dancer who was wounded will make a full recovery. Enrico is working with the IRS to clear his father's debts there and untangle the illegal profits from the legal. The warehouse with the nightclub is going to be a community theater."

"That's good to hear. Law enforcement didn't lose anyone did they?" Maxine sounded concerned.

"Wounded but recovered or recovering. It was an ugly scene, from what Harry saw."

"I have no doubt. The hospital treated a number of them."

"Thank you, for listening." Gaia stood up to stretch the elastic waistband of her skirt over her bulging abdomen.

"Anytime. Would you like to meet me for coffee some time?" The Doctor uncrossed her legs and stood.

"Yes, of course. But I will be drinking tea," Gaia cautioned.

"No matter. The little place in the local hotel serves both, and the best scones this side of Ireland," Maxine promised.

"Let me know when you have a moment. You have my phone number, call. I'll make the time."

Finally, Gaia thought. A friend just for herself. A woman who understood pressure and responsibility the same way she did.