"I'm not so sure of that. I just caused her to have a flashback," Millie admitted.

Lek's eyes widened. "How?"

"I said I wanted to rebuild the shop. I was trying to assure her we would have a place not filled with horror and it all went very wrong," Millie replied. Tears filled her eyes. "Maybe I never had friends because I'm just not good at it."

Lek made note to not bring up Millie's shop. "But you've been a great friend to Pinja."

Millie shrugged. "Even the greatest of friends can make a horrible mistake and destroy a friendship." She stuffed several chunks of cheese in her mouth.

"But, you're still friends, right?" Lek asked anxiously. Now he was worried. If Millie could trigger Pinja to have flashbacks and lose her friendship what chance did he have?

Her cheeks were puffed out like a chipmunk with its mouth stuffed full of nuts. It took her a minute or two to chew and swallow. "For now, anyway. She asked me to return to the healing room after my walk."

"I really need to talk to her later." Lek said.

Millie frowned. "I'm not sure it's a good idea, not yet anyway."

"I don't think it should be put off for long..." Lek said.

Millie eyed her brother. "Just what are you planning?"

Lek looked down. "I want to help her."

"What she needs right now is time to heal. And too rest."

"I know she's pregnant." Lek said in a voice barely loud enough for Millie to hear.

"How did you find that out?!" Millie demanded.

"I should have realized it before." Lek said, still in that low voice. "I suspected that they... that they..." Lek's eyes shone and he shook his head. "She was throwing up like Mama did when she was pregnant."

"She doesn't anyone to know. You can't let on that you know. She was afraid Mama was going to tell you."

"Pinja didn't do anything wrong." Lek said. "I want to help her."

"I know she didn't. I'm telling you her wishes. She specifically said she didn't want you to know."

"I won't tell her I know... But I really want to help her." Lek said. "I care about her."

"Truthfully, I don't know that she will let you."

"I just... I'd never hurt her." Lek said earnestly. "I'll do whatever she wants me to do."

"She knows you wouldn't but sometimes...sometimes it's impossible to get past the fear."

"Aunt Lia and Uncle Aron got passed it." Lek said.

"Every one is different. Aunt Lia and Uncle Aron knew one another for years. Plus...Pinja has suffered a longer amount of time with a lot of brutality."