He waved his arm and the black blood disappeared from the corner of my living room, the walls and floor returning to their pristine state.
"Thanks." I sank onto the couch and rested my tired head on the back. "You know what it was?" I asked.
Michael sat beside me and took my hand. "Yeah. I saw Jellybean outside with it."
He stared at me. "Gabe is right."
"I know." Tears filled my eyes. "I know what I have to do, but I don't want to do it."
Michael took my hand. "I went to the nurse's house."
That perked me up somewhat. I hoped he had good news for me, but if he did, that was all the more reason I had to stop delaying. "What did you find?"
"That's where I've been ever since Gabe told me. She didn't see me, of course. I started with her, then the boyfriend, then most of their families."
He squeezed my hand. "They're good, Lil. Honorable, with good hearts. I’m confident and reassured about leaving the baby with them."
"What about the dad?" I asked.
"I dug into that, too. Couldn't go to Hell to look for him, of course, but I got the attention of one of your lieutenants and he dug into it. He's long since been reborn. Turns out there was some physical issue with his DNA that humans can't understand yet. It made him crave violence." He paused. "I checked. No one else in the family has the same problem."
I nodded. That happened sometimes but was one of the rarer explanations for such behavior. "That's good." At least it wasn't some hereditary thing. "So, she's perfect?"
"Yes, and there's more. The boyfriend wants to be a father, but he's unable to have children due to a motorcycle accident years ago."
Well, that did it. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I stared at Michael. "I have no reason not to do I?"
He shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry."
We sat in silence while I tried to brace myself. I'd been forming a plan in my mind, but it was time to set it into motion. "Is the baby ready?" I whispered several minutes later.
Michael put his hand on my stomach. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the sensation of my Turtle rolling around inside me.
"She's perfect," he said. "She'd be fine anytime you want to deliver her."
With a nod, I stifled a sob and took still a few more minutes to compose myself. "Okay." I sucked in a deep breath. "Can you get Gabe?"
"Be right back." He disappeared, just long enough for me to miss the warmth of his body near me, but then he returned and scooted closer, pulling me into his arms.
Gabe appeared seconds later. "What's up, Lil?" He dropped to his knees in front of me when he saw my face. "Is the baby okay?"
I nodded and wiped my nose on my sleeve. Gross. Michael conjured a tissue from somewhere, then waved his hand and my dirty sleeve cleaned itself. "It's time."
An irritated look crosses Gabe's face.
"What?" I asked.
"You know I'm as anxious as anyone to get this show on the road and get Lucifer back to Hell." He squeezed my knee. "But I still can't find Raphael. That makes me nervous."
"Yeah." Michael agreed. "And we questioned Sandalphon further, and neither of us believes he is behind the Lucifer stuff. Just the pregnancy."
I sighed. "Well, whatever the reason, we have to put all our efforts into getting Lucian back to Hell, and that means I must have this child."
Rubbing my stomach, I considered how it would feel to not have her inside me. To not have my constant companion. "I've been looking online at adoption agencies. I hacked into a few. I can't find anyone I like more than Anna, especially now that Michael has given her his approval."
Gabe nodded. "He told me."
"Come back tomorrow morning as soon as Lucian goes to work. Give me time to come to terms with this." I closed my eyes and set my jaw. "Bring Sandalphon and be–" My voice hitched as I spoke. "Be prepared to help me go into labor."
