"No you don't," Ezio reminded gently as he stretched out next to her. Reaching over, he gently pulled her closer and cuddled her a bit.

"Yes I do," Anna grumbled, allowing him to cuddle her. "I'm tired half the time and I don't like it."

"I'm sure it will get better," Ezio soothed. He used his hands to rub gentle circles on her sides and belly.

Anna sighed quietly but let him work, slowly relaxing until she was comfortable again and unwilling to move.

"I can't grump properly with you spoiling me," she said, although she was smiling.

"That's the point, la mia dolce," Ezio replied as he kept going. Once he was sure she was relaxed, he stopped and just cuddled her, his hands resting on her belly.

Anna let him, still amused at his touchy-feely tendencies, but she let his hand stay where it was.

"Just keep in mind we still have a few months to go."

"I know," Ezio replied. "I still like to feel now. I think it's amazing."

That, of course, made Anna flush. But she still smiled a little. "You're going to be giddy once you can start feeling the little one move."

"Doubtless," Ezio agreed. He grinned. "It will mean the little one is doing well."

"Based on all the trouble he's giving me, he's doing just fine." Anna rolled her eyes, cuddling closer to him.

Ezio let her cuddle closer.

"I will be more reassured when I can feel the little one moving myself," he said.

Anna just chuckled and shook her head. "I'm not surprised. You'll just have to wait, though."

"I don't mind waiting," Ezio said, gently rubbing her belly.

Anna nodded and settled down there for the moment, content to rest for a bit. But only for a bit. She wasn't completely useless yet, she could still do some things to help.

And Ezio made sure to include her in the training when he could, up to a point. But he also made sure that she didn't overtax herself, either.

Anna didn't grumble too much, but sometimes she couldn't help it. Especially once she was eight months pregnant and felt like a whale. At which point she spent most of her time watching rather than actively participating.

Ezio was ridiculously pleased when Anna told him the baby had started kicking, and he made it a point to try to feel it at every opportunity. By the time she was eight months pregnant, he knew exactly how to get her and the baby to both relax for a while so Anna could catch a bit of rest.

Anna sat down at the end of the day once they were back home, groaning quietly. "I feel like a balloon," she grumbled. "Or a giant berry or something. And it's your fault."

"Only a few more weeks, la mia dolce," Ezio soothed as he rubbed her shoulders and back for a little while. "You wanted a child too, remember."

"Clearly I didn't know what I was asking for," she grumbled, although she let herself relax some. It wasn't so bad, really. Not right now, anyway.

As she relaxed, Ezio slowly moved from rubbing her shoulders and back to rubbing her sides and belly. He grinned when he felt the little one move under his hands.

Anna shifted a little at that, and the little one squirmed around for a bit before finding a more comfortable place to sleep.

Ezio waited for Anna to settle in again before he resumed 'petting' her.

"The little one isn't kicking too hard, is he?" he asked.

"Not at the moment. Only when he wakes up or can't settle down to sleep." Anna smiled a little, relaxing there. "But it's not too bad."

"Get some rest while you can, then," Ezio said. He pulled her close and cuddled her. "I plan to do the same."