Merlin, something as innocuous as tea and she wasn't sure whether she ought to stay or go. Ben knew how rocky their relationship was, of course, but moments like this really cemented it for him. Melody wasn't sure if she wanted to stay in the same room as him long enough to make a cup of tea. What was she afraid of? He wasn't going to bite her. They'd had their fights, of course, but not for months. He'd been trying to stay civil and calm whenever he was around her so as not to add any extra stress. They'd had their fair share that spring, and he knew she was struggling enough with the pregnancy as it was.

(Of course, it was easy when they talked to each other so little — there was nothing to fight about. Maybe she was worried if she stayed and talked, they'd find something. Maybe she was right.)

"You can stay," he said with a shrug. "I can make you some tea. I was already going to cook something." A thought occurred to him and he winced. "Oh — sorry, would the smell bother you? If you want to go back upstairs I could bring you tea in a few minutes. It's no trouble."

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