"Merlin, I feel so special," Hestia joked back at him over him being the one to send the Howlers. She could tell he was worried, even after all these years, even with the strange new face, and she was touched by it, but it also didn't help her own fears.

After glancing to the door, assured that no one was entering immediately, she looked up at Gideon.

"Does this get easier," she said, gesturing to her stomach, "or is this conditioning for when he's here wailing because his nappies are soaked and he's hungry, all while we're both running on absolutely no sleep?"

It wasn't a telling question, even if they'd been overheard, so she felt safe in asking it.