Robin grinned briefly and towed her into the bedroom before he stripped and settled down so he could sleep. Ishiah trailed after them, letting Khalid get in first so she could get comfortable. Which seemed to be increasingly difficult for her.

Khalid followed Robin into the bedroom, although she changed into a simple shirt rather than just stripping down. Then she settled down on the bed as well and waited for Ish to join them.

And this time, she wouldn't yell at them for wanting to touch her, either. Mostly.

A few days later Jeane was back in the apartment. She hadn't even gone to the bar after she got off work, instead just going straight home. She was tired and she had a headache, and she just wanted to sleep for a while. Like a week or two.

Yes, research was going that well for her.

"Jeane?" Khalid asked. She'd been waiting for her friend to get back, and was actually kind of surprised that the historian hadn't gone to the bar first. "You alright?"

"Tired and headachy." Jeane dropped her purse on the table next to the door and kicked off her shoes, letting them land wherever, which was not normal for her. She slouched her way towards the bedroom with a little grimace.

"Did something happen?" Khalid prodded as she snapped her fingers gently. The shoes disappeared and reappeared near the door.

Jeane hesitated for a few moments. "I dunno. There's something I'm trying to research, and no one seems to know the answer and all the books don't have any real answers, and Cal's been weird lately." She shrugged. "Guess I just need a nap or something."

"Jeanie..." Khalid sighed. "You know I'm here to help you. You should have told me you were working on a project, I could have helped." She walked over to the bed and sat down next to her.

"Actually, I don't know if you can." Jeane fiddled with the hem of her shirt. "Not unless you know how to release a djinn from a contract, anyway."

Khalid blinked. That had been unexpected.

"You're researching what?" she asked. "Why?" She was fairly sure she knew the 'why,' actually, but she wanted to hear Jeane's reasoning.

Jeane shrugged. "You deserve it. I mean, you've been hauled all over the world for who knows how many years, and I think you deserve to not have to live like that. Especially with the baby. But that's not the only reason I'm doing this. I've toyed with the idea for a while, but I couldn't figure out where to start. The baby just sort of... jump started it."

"Too many years," Khalid murmured. She shook her head and looked at Jeane. "You don't have to do that... I couldn't ask you to. I'm used to it." She didn't admit that Jeane had a point, though; Khalid couldn't be taking the baby with her when her bottle changed hands, and she wouldn't leave him or her behind.

"No, I know you wouldn't ask. Which is why I'm volunteering." Jeane smiled faintly. "I mean, if you really want to stay this way, I won't do anything. But otherwise..." She trailed off meaningfully.

"Jeane..." Khalid sighed. "Yes, given the chance at freedom, I'd take it. Anyone would do the same. But I can't ask you to go out of your way for it. So for now, I'm still at your beck and call, just like usual." She looked at Jeane. "Now, what's going on between you and Cal?"

Jeane shrugged. "I dunno. Half the time it seems like he's trying to prove himself or something, and the other half of the time he's all surly. I told him I was going to do some research, and he didn't say anything."

"Maybe you should talk to him," Khalid replied. She shifted a bit where she was sitting when the baby started kicking her again. "I mean, from what I can see, there are two options. Talk to him and hash it out, or give each other space."

Jeane nodded. "Alright. I guess I'll try talking to him, and if that doesn't work then we'll see." She sighed and flopped back on her bed, still tired. She yawned briefly. "After a nap and dinner."

Khalid nodded.

"Alright," she said. She hesitated for a moment. "You know... the baby is kicking, if you want to feel..." She didn't mind, if it was Jeane. The men were just too clingy for the moment, which was what really annoyed her.

Jeane smiled and gently put her hand over the little lump. "Oh wow. He's a fighter, that one." She grinned and left her hand there for a little while.

"Yeah," Khalid replied with a small, fond smile. "Won't let me sleep, sometimes." She rolled her eyes a bit. "And Robin and Ish won't stop trying to touch."

Jeane laughed quietly. "Well, you can give 'em hell after the kid is around," she said with a grin. "Payback."

"Oh I plan on it," Khalid replied, grinning. She rubbed her stomach a bit. "I'm waiting for that bottle I commissioned to show up... Once it does, I need to filch one of Ish's feathers to finish it." She sighed slightly. "I don't even know if we'll end up needing the bottle, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared."

"Exactly." Jeane smiled. "You might not end up needing it after all. But for your sake I'd rather you have it and not need to worry about that."

Khalid nodded.

"That was my reasoning as well," she replied. She sat there for a moment longer before getting up. "Anyways, you said you were going to nap, so go ahead. When you get up, think about going to talk to Cal. The two of you need to get back on the same page."

Jeane sighed and nodded, although she was already getting comfortable so she could take a nap.

"Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Khalid."