Sonia, normally a strong and active presence, was out of sight. She lay in her bed, the sickness from the child weakening her at the moment. She'd been ill several times that morning and now she was just so very tired that the thought of leaving her bed left her exhausted. Her maid came and went, checking on the woman, but left her be for the most part. The doctor was sent for.

Dr. Witaker came and went, and a a bunch of people crowded around the bottom of the stairs in concern for the woman who was doing too much to try to make things better for them. "She needs rest and mustn't do too much. Her child is taxing upon her." And he would answer the questions that were bandied his way.

"Well, perhaps we should take turns sitting with her so she isn't alone, the poor lamb," said one.

The madame shook her head, "For now, we go on as normal."

There was a certain tension in the air as the group continued to look upward toward the door of that lavish room but nobody seemed to want to intrude upon the woman when the last thing she needed was to be left alone completely.

Meanwhile, Sonia rested. She was deep in thought as she rested her head on the pillow. Rest, the doctor had said. How could she rest when there were things to be done?! The child moved and she felt the world tilt just a little, glad for the fact her head was already on the pillow.

With a frustrated sigh, she rolled out of the bed, or rather... tried to roll out of bed.