Anna nodded. "Okay."
"Okay?"
Anna held out her hands. "May I hold her?"
I couldn't bring myself to open my arms yet. I wasn't ready. "Soon, yes. Unless you hear otherwise from me again, don't tell her the truth. She might begin to look for us, and that would be potentially dangerous."
"Dangerous?" Rupert fought the calming effect Michael and Gabriel's magic had on him. "Are we in any danger?"
"No, not at all," Gabe said. "We are removing ourselves from the situation, from the area."
"As a matter of fact," I whispered. My eyes were on my girl again, but I knew they were listening. "That's a part of the deal. You must never, ever, under any circumstances, reveal how you got this baby to anyone. You don't know me. You barely remember me from your work. I was just another patient that came and went."
Anna nodded. "Okay. We'll do it." She stood and circled her coffee table, sitting on its edge in front of me. "Constance, I will do everything in my power to raise your sweet girl to the best of my ability. I promise you that."
I knew without the magic, she never would've done this without many, many more questions and more hesitancy, but I was simply glad Michael and Gabriel were there to help.
"I know, Anna. I wouldn't leave this angel here otherwise." Handing Ariel over was proving harder than I expected.
Michael and Gabe stood on either side of me, but all my attention was on Ariel. After walking over, they spoke with Rupert, but the words barely filtered through. Something about bringing all the stuff from the nursery. They walked out of the room.
"All of Ariel's things are likely outside," I whispered to Anna. "We brought everything."
"Thank you," she said back. "Thank you so much." Tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked at my miracle. Her emotions helped me, somehow.
I was able to hold Ariel out, cradling her head so Anna could take her into her arms. She crooned as she pulled her close. "Hello, darling girl."
Ariel was in the best possible place for her. She was a human, a normal, ordinary human. And Anna and Rupert were going to be normal, ordinary parents.
Standing, I gave her one last look and walked from the room, into the kitchen where Michael shook Rupert's hand. The back door stood open with boxes of baby things outside. When I spotted her crib, I closed my eyes against the pain, trying valiantly to hold back the tears.
Gabriel put his arm around me and turned me around. We walked down the hall and out the front door. As soon as we were out of sight behind a tree, he zapped us back to my bedroom, where I broke down in his arms.
22
Constance-Lilith
"What the hell is going on here?" Lucian's voice cut through my torrent of tears as I sat on the living room floor in Michael's arms with Gabriel beside me. He'd been rubbing his hands on my legs, offering me what comfort he could.
I jumped up, shocked to see him home already. It wasn't quite four yet. He should've been another hour at least. Usually more. "Luc." Jellybean bounded between us, excited to have us both home.
He looked from my face to my stomach, then to Michael and Gabe. "Adam, why do you look different?" he asked Michael, but before Michael could answer, Lucian's eyes returned to me. "Why aren't you pregnant? Where is the baby?"
Panic and worry flashed across his face. "Why are you crying? Where is the baby?"
Rushing forward, I wrapped my arms around his waist. He didn't hug me back, but I buried my face in his chest and sobbed. "Do it!" I yelled. It was muffled, but Gabriel and Michael would hear me for sure.
"Do what?" Lucian stiffened under me.
I turned my head to see Gabriel and Michael moving closer. Luc wrapped his arms around me protectively. "Stay away from us," he warned. "Someone tell me what the hell is going on and where my child is!"
He hadn't had time to process that a pregnant woman shouldn't look like she'd never even been pregnant mere hours after giving birth.
Tightening his arms, he tried to turn us away from Gabe and Michael.
"Luc, calm down, man. We've got a lot to go over, but we need you to try to remain calm," Michael said. Of course, Lucian thought he was Adam.
"Why were you holding my wife as she cried?" he asked. "Is the baby gone?"
