Chapter 48
Will
Four days had passed since Tobias addressed the vampires of New York.
Will and Vixen had moved back into the guest room at Rion’s penthouse, with the baby’s nursery remaining in the other guest room.
According to Rion – That palace is no place for a child to thrive.
This baby shall reside here along with you and Vixen. You shall want for nothing.
Tobias visited as soon as the sun went down every evening, before tending to any of his kingly duties. They were all finding a new normal and it felt strange. Will kept expecting to wake up and find it had all been a dream.
Vixen didn’t have any charges yet, as the angels of the Outer Realms believed she should take time to recover from her transition, and bond with their daughter.
She had another month before they would call on her, and things would start out slowly.
A couple of charges to begin with, and more to be added once she felt ready.
He was so damned proud of her. Watching her fulfil her parental role with Aurora was such a privilege. He’d seen it all before, but this time it was different. He was allowed to love her, and the child was his.
Will stood on the balcony smoking, but rather than gazing at the view, he was looking into the penthouse. On the other side of the glass in the great room, Vixen had fallen asleep with the baby in her arms.
Aurora still had wings, and had not reverted to a mortal form. Will suspected it was because she had never been beyond the In-Between. He wasn’t concerned about it, but definitely curious. Kitty was the only other winged Holy baby, but her infancy had been vastly different.
“Will.” Uriel had materialized nearby.
“Hey,” he greeted with a smile.
“Motherhood suits her,” Uriel mused fondly.
“It really does.” Will grinned and took a drag on the cigarette. “What’s up?”
“As the mortals would say, I have pulled some strings.”
One brow lifted in question. “Oh?”
“I’d like you to join me in Ramiel’s realm. Vixen and Aurora will come too.”
He cocked his head to one side. What was that crazy angel up to this time? “Why do you need all three of us?”
“Cease these suspicions, and trust me for once.” Uriel gave him a wry look.
“Fine, but you can deal with Vixen when she realizes you woke our sleeping baby.”
“Nobody said we had to wake her. You really do have a flair for the dramatic sometimes.” Uriel chuckled as he opened the door and strode into the penthouse.
Will crushed out his cigarette and followed him in.
“What’s going on?” Vixen asked sleepily.
“We’re going to the Outer Realms,” Will explained.
“All of us?”
“Yes, yes. Right now.” Uriel was starting to grow impatient.
“Uriel… you are funny.” Vixen cradled the baby to her chest with one arm as she arose, and took Will’s hand.
Uriel flashed them directly into the palace. He marched down the corridor as though speed may impact the success of whatever they were about to do.
“What is this about?” Vixen asked in a low voice.
“I have no idea,” Will replied, still gripping her hand.
Uriel led them to the very same room Will had sat in, waiting for news of Vixen’s transition.
Ramiel stood just inside the door. He moved to one side to reveal a small girl sitting on the chaise lounge.
Her little legs dangled over the edge in mid-air, swinging gently back and forth.
Her soft blonde waves hung loose about her shoulders, with a tiny portion pinned back from her forehead with a shiny silver hairclip.
Her turquoise dress had tiny white daisies on it and white lace around the hem.
White socks and white Mary-Janes completed the ensemble, the one they’d chosen for her burial.
“M-May?” Vixen’s voice wobbled.
“No way,” Will breathed.
Vixen gently placed the baby in Will’s arms and ran to her older daughter. Tears and sobbing followed, and the pair clung to each other as if they never intended to let go.
“I could have chosen my true spirit form when I was brought here,” May said. “But I wanted you to know it was me. I wanted there to be no doubt. So, I chose the form you would recognize.”
“I’m so glad to see you,” Vixen wept.
“I missed you,” May said, stroking her hair to offer comfort.
“It was wrong that they be separated,” Uriel said to Will. “Not when the Outer Realms can give her an even better afterlife.”
“You were right,” Ramiel interjected. “Vixen has been through enough. You have all been through enough.”
“How did you manage to pull this off?” Will asked.
“Michael.”
That one word not only explained everything, but added so much more meaning to the situation.
“Ramiel and I discussed it, and I went to the higher realms to make it so. The angels in May’s realm do not know about the Outer Realms, so I spoke to Michael directly. He made the arrangements.”
“Thank you,” Will engulfed Uriel in a one-armed hug. He did the same with Ramiel, who recoiled in horror as if he had never received such affection before.
“Will,” Vixen called. “Sit with us.”
“I missed you too, Willy.” May gazed up at him fondly. Her attention was soon redirected to the bundle in his arms. “Whose baby is that?”
“This is your sister,” Will’s voice hitched on the last word, as emotion rose to the surface. He sat on the other side of May, sandwiching her between himself and Vixen.
“Momma had another baby?” May peered into the bundle of blankets and grinned. “She’s so pretty!” She kissed Aurora on the cheek. “Who’s her daddy?”
“I am,” Will said.
“She’s so lucky! I’m glad for her.”
“Me too,” Vixen said with a soft laugh. “Will and I can bring her to visit you all the time. Would that be all right?”
“Yes!” May exclaimed. “It’s been lonely without you.”
“You don’t have to be lonely anymore,” Will promised. “And Ramiel’s palace is a pretty cool place to be, right?”
“Yes, it’s nice.” She paused for a moment, deep in thought. “You should give my sister my bunny Fred. Then she won’t be lonely without me.”
Will hugged her. “That’s very sweet.”
“We love you, May,” Vixen said.
Across the room, Uriel let out a contented sigh. “I told you this was important.”
“Did I ever disagree with you?” Ramiel said with slight irritation. “Honestly. Everyone pretends I am so intimidating. Did you not consider that I may be overjoyed to assist in the creation of a happy outcome?”
“Relax Ramiel,” Will said from the couch. “Uriel is messing with you.”
“He, what?” Ramiel gave Uriel an unimpressed look.
Uriel feigned looking at his watch, despite not actually wearing one. “Oh look, is that the time. I’d best be moving on.” And, with that, he flashed out.
“I’m reluctant to go home…” Vixen sighed.
“Me too,” Will agreed.
“We should, though. Imagine Rion’s face when he gets back from brunch and we’ve all disappeared. I don’t want him to worry.”
“May,” Will said, “Would you like to see us tomorrow?”
“Oh yes.” She beamed.
Will kissed the top of her head. “It’s a date.”
Will and Vixen returned to the In-Between with Aurora, rejuvenated in a way they hadn’t known they needed. Less than a second after their re-entry, Aurora began to wail.
He rocked her gently and started singing. Holy song, which was powerful enough to put Hell beasts to sleep, usually worked wonders. It had never not worked.
Peeling back the blankets, he found the problem at once. It appeared Aurora had left her wings in the Outer Realms and found her mortal form at last.
“Well, that’s a relief,” Vixen said with a chuckle. “I was starting to wonder how we would manage her in public.”
“It’s okay baby girl,” Will cooed. “It’s only temporary.”
In the background, the sound of the front door opening and closing could be heard. It always amused Will how Rion used doors and elevators by choice.
“Oh!” Lori rushed into the room. “There you are!”
“We have the most exciting news!” Vixen gushed.
“Me too!” Lori squealed, and held up a hand. An enormous diamond sparkled furiously as she wiggled it back and forth. “He proposed at brunch!”
“Holy shit!” Will shouted.
At a more sedate pace, and much more immaculately coiffed, Rion walked in.
“Congratulations!” Vixen ran over and hugged the newly engaged couple. “This really is a fantastic day! Omigosh, I need to hear all the details.”
Will caught Rion’s eye and they both grinned at one another.