“I-am going to go take a long, hot bath. If you bother me while I’m relaxing, I will kill you.”  

                She stomped to their bedroom and slammed the door shut. Ray looked down at Frankie’s tilted head.

                “Now aren’t you glad we neutered you?”

                Ray dozed on the couch; one arm under his head, the other on Frankie’s small body. He felt the dog stir, then disappear off his stomach. Ray opened his eyes; Ryanne stood over him, holding the dog.

                “Is this the part where the knife comes out?”

                Ryanne laughed and sat next to his legs. She leaned down and kissed him, Frankie pressed between their bodies.

                “I’m sorry I was so pissy at you. I just have a short fuse these days! You know I don’t mean anything I say.”

                Ray sat up. “So, we can keep Xeon on the table?”

                Ryanne kissed him again and stood up. “Hell no.”

    Ryanne moved around the kitchen, searching through cupboards and scrounging through the fridge.

                “We just went shopping and I can’t find a damn thing I want to eat.”

                “How about we go out tonight, anywhere you want.”

                Ryanne turned towards Ray. “Really?”

                “Of course, I can’t let you starve can I?”

                “Not if you want this baby healthy,” Ryanne rubbed her stomach.

                “I want that baby to come out fat and laughing!”

                “We can fatten it up after I give birth!”