Disclaimer: Okay, folks, I don't own the characters, not making money, etc. This is part three, which obviously follows part 2. There are lemony scenes in this one, too, so don't be surprised. If that sort of thing offends you, just skip the last part of this installment. I haven't proofread this part yet, so please be kind. I tend to write everything half-asleep, so sometimes my pronouns and homophones get mixed up. Hope you enjoy, and reviews are greatly appreciated

Absolution Part III
by the Prime Minister

"Mom, there's someone coming up the walk," Val said from where he was perched at the window.

"Who is it?" Filia asked, concentrating on her needlework.

"A man, a woman, and a little girl," Val replied, taking another glance before returning to his reading.

"Do we know them?"

Val looked out the window and narrowed his eyes. "I think I've seen the grownups before," he said. "They're almost to the door."

Filia sighed and shook her head, still not taking her attention from her project. Winter was in the air in the mornings, and she really wanted to get finished with the blanket edges. "Fine, fine," she muttered. "Go greet them and find out what they want."

"Okay," Val said, sliding from the window seat and walking over to the door. She heard the door open and him step outside. "Hello. What can I for you?"

"If it isn't little Val!" she heard a familiar voice say, and her blood immediately turned to ice in her veins. She knew that voice, knew it in her bones, and her fingers went completely numb, the needlework sliding from her limp hands. No, it couldn't be, it just couldn't. She was imagining things.

"Do I know you?" Val asked, partially hidden from view by the door.

"I was here about four and a half years ago," the familiar voice replied. "But I don't expect you to remember that. You were still very little. Is your mother here?"

"Hey, Filia!" a new voice shouted, and Filia recognized that one, too. It didn't make her blood run cold like the other voice, but it was no more encouraging.

"Oh no," Filia moaned, sinking back in her chair and closing her eyes. "No, no, no."

"Val, go get your mom," the male voice, the voice that made her bones freeze, said.

"Mom!" Val called, leaning back into the room so he could make eye contact. "Could you please come here? There are some people who would like to see you."

Filia stared in horror at her son for a moment, then sighed. Well, if it really was them, they certainly wouldn't just leave. She had best find out what they wanted so she could get rid of them quickly. "Coming," she growled, hoisting herself out of her chair and trudging to the door. She threw it wide, preparing herself, and found that despite her efforts she was woefully unprepared for what she saw. "Good gods!" she cried, leaning against the doorframe and putting a hand to her collarbones.

Lina chuckled and put a hand behind her head. "Yeah, it happened again," she muttered.

"You're as big as a house!" Filia exclaimed, shocked, then let her eyes slide over to Xellos. There was something different about him but she couldn't quite tell what it was.

"Greetings, Miss Filia," Xellos said politely with a little bow.

"Shut up," she snapped at him, then noticed a little girl clutching his leg, her large, amethyst eyes wide and a finger in her mouth. "Oh, who is this? Is this little Lecia?" she said, trying to be more gentle.

"Yes, you remember her, don't you?" Xellos said, fondly stroking the child's shining hair.

"Of course," Filia said sharply, then smiled at the little girl. She hated to admit it, but Xellos and Lina had produced a fine-looking little girl. The child's bone structure had all of Lina's petite characteristics but with Xellos' length. Her eyes were a breathtaking color and beautiful shape, and her hair was just as thick and glossy as her father's. Everything about the girl suggested great beauty upon maturity, and Filia, despite her deepest wishes, was impressed. "Hello, Lecia," she said gently.

Lecia just stared at Filia, mouth hanging slightly open. Xellos nudged her gently. "Come now, little one, don't be rude," he said. "Say hello to Filia."

"Hello, Miss Filia," Lecia murmured, and copied her father's little bow.

Filia squealed in spite of herself at the darling sight. "What an adorable daughter!" she chortled, surprised that such a nice, feminine creature could come from Lina's body.

"Yeah, she's pretty cute," Lina replied, a strange, wistful tone in her voice.

Filia turned her attention back to the pregnant woman, questions wheeling through her mind. "Lina, what's going on? Why are you here, and how on earth did you get pregnant again? And what's this piece of filth doing with you?"

Xellos chuckled and put his arm around Lina. "We're having another baby!" he announced. "Lecia thinks she'll have a little brother, but I don't know why she's so certain."

"But, but," Filia stammered, brow furrowing. "But how can you, if you're a..." Then she noticed that Xellos' dark hair was shot through with silver, the strands gleaming in contrast with his glossy locks.

"The hair's the least of my change," he said with a grin, and then he slowly opened his eyes.

Filia stared into round pupils. His eyes weren't Monster's eyes, they were human eyes. Her mind reeled at the implications and she managed to utter a single noise of surprise before she fainted dead away.

They all stood there, staring at Filia, for several long moments. "You were hoping she'd do that, weren't you," Lina muttered.

Xellos laughed. "Well, let's just say I'm not disappointed," he chuckled.

"Mom? Mom? Are you okay?" Val asked, dropping to his knees and frantically shaking Filia.

"Is she dead?" Lecia whispered, eyes wide.

"No, she just fainted," Lina said roughly. "Filia has always been overdramatic."

"Mom?" Val cried, voice cracking.

Xellos sighed, still smiling to himself, and bent down, taking Filia in his arms. "Come along," he said gently to Val, and they all filed inside. Xellos set the dragon down on the sofa and sat next to her, fanning her softly with a piece of paper he found on the coffee table. "Wake up, Filia."

Filia groaned and squirmed, scowling. "Mom!" Val said, clutching at her hand.

"Wha?" Filia moaned, sitting upright. "What happened?"

"You looked at Xellos and fainted," Lina explained roughly. "And I know what you're going to say next. Let me save you the trouble. Yes, he's human, yes, he's the father of my children. He fought Xellas and lost, and I had to save him. That was several months ago, and he hadn't been human too long before I got pregnant."

"That's the short version," Xellos said sagely, winking at Filia.

"Mommy said that you would help her when she has the baby," Lecia added, her eyes slowly sliding over to Val.

"So, will you help?" Xellos asked brightly. "I'm afraid I don't know any healing spells and Lina obviously can't cast any, and we didn't know where to turn."

Filia looked as if she was going to refuse, but then she caught sight of Lecia's wide, hopeful eyes and sighed. "Fine," she said. "I'll help you."

"Say hello to your new home, Lecia!" Xellos announced.

"WHAT?" Filia screeched. "You can't stay here!"

Lecia blinked. "How come? Mommy and Daddy said you'd help us!"

Filia's brows knitted and she seemed less certain than before. "Well, er, I will help you, but I don't think you should live here."

"Don't you want us?" Lecia asked, lower lip quivering.

Xellos watched his daughter proudly, uncertain if she was being devious or not. If she wasn't, that was fine, it was doing the trick. If she was she was truly his daughter and he had never been so impressed in his whole life. "It's okay, little one," he said gently. "We'll just find another place to live."

"But, Daddy, this house is nice," Lecia stammered, tears starting to form in her eyes.

"You heard him," Lina said sharply. "Let's get out of here."

Filia took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Fine, you can stay here, but you owe me."

"Yaaay!" Lecia said, breaking out into a little dance. "We're home!"

Xellos smiled and moved to a chair, leaning back heavily. His leg throbbed and sweat was popping out along his hairline. "Thank you," he said gently. "I'll fix supper tonight."

"He's a good cook," Lina said smugly. "But before he does anything stupid, Filia, I'd like you to look at his leg."

Filia frowned. "Why?"

"He got injured defending us from bandits and Monsters on the way here, and he's been absolutely pigheaded about getting it looked at."

"I wouldn't say pigheaded," Xellos said, pouting.

Filia glared at him, then sighed. "Fine, fine, I'll take a look," she grumbled. "Please remove your trousers."

Lina chuckled. "You'd better figure something else out," she said. "He doesn't wear underwear."

Filia shot him a horrified look and paled. "Whaaat?"

Xellos winked at her and grinned. "I prefer to be au naturale."

Filia turned a deep shade of red. "Ah, well, uh, I guess we'll just have to cut away your trouser leg," she stammered.

"Are you sure? I can take them off, you know. I'm not ashamed."

"Xellos," Lina warned.

"Well? Should I be, Lina dearest?"

Lina blushed a bit, biting her lip. "No..."

"Stop it, you two. I am NOT going to look at Xellos naked," she growled. "We're just going to cut the pant leg away. Val, my scissors."

Val went over to her sewing basket and handed her the scissors. She made short work of the fabric, cutting it all the way up to his hip and pushing the cloth aside. "Well?" Xellos asked, amused as she let her eyes travel the length of his leg. Her gaze lingered a bit on the toned muscles of his thigh and flickered over the bulge of his crotch. She saw that he had caught her looking and turned an intense shade of purple. "See anything you like?" he murmured.

"See why I keep him around?" Lina chuckled, shaking her head.

"Er, no," Filia said sharply, finally turning her attention to his wound. "Dear gods!" she breathed.

"Xellos!" Lina growled. "I TOLD you to have it looked at!"

"What?" he asked, blinking down at his leg. Sure, it was infected and festering and hurt like hell, but he wasn't going to die from it. He might not have white magic, but he knew enough tricky spells to be able to keep the infection from spreading. "It's fine."

"How can you say that?" Filia gasped. "This wound is incredibly infected! I'm surprised it hasn't spread and killed you already!"

"I tried to keep it clean," he explained,"but it IS a Monster wound, after all, and probably poisoned."

"You shouldn't play games with your own life," Lina said sharply. "What would we do if you died, you idiot?"

"I'm not going to die," he sighed. "I can't heal it, but that doesn't mean I can't do other things to prevent my own demise."

"I'll never understand you," Filia growled.

"Me, or men in general?" Xellos smiled.

"Both," she replied, and cast a spell.

Lecia, in the meantime, had moved over the Val and was regarding him with interest. "You have pretty hair," she said, reaching up to touch it. "I like green."

Val stared at her. "Uh, thanks," he stammered.

Lecia narrowed her eyes and walked around him. Returning to face him, she stared at him and rose up on her tiptoes. "Your eyes look like my Daddy's used to, except they're gold."

"Huh?"

"You have pretty eyes, I like them."

Lina spotted the two children and laughed. "Hey, Filia, how old is Val now?"

"Eight."

"Not too much older than she is, then. How are things going?"

"He's a dream child, hardly ever misbehaves. I wanted to send him to the school in the village, but he still has problems controlling his transformations and now all the other children are afraid of him."

"That's a shame," Xellos murmured, watching the glow of Filia's hands over his thigh as the flesh began to return to a normal color.

"Why are your eyes like that?" Lecia asked.

"Because he's a dragon," Xellos answered from across the room.

"Really?" Lecia breathed. "Like in the books?"

Xellos smiled, catching Filia's glare. "Yes, just like in the books."

"But he doesn't look like one," the little girl said.

"I am!" Val protested, frowning. "I'm as good as any dragon!"

"Of course you are," Filia cooed over her shoulder. "You're the best dragon ever."

"Or at least the strongest," Xellos said beneath his breath. He approved of the interest the children were showing in one another. Lecia wouldn't be afraid of Val just because he was a dragon; after all, she had been raised by Monsters. Because of her fearlessness, he had hopes that Val would befriend her and care for her. That way if anything ever happened to him, Val would be able to defend his daughter from his enemies. Val, aside from Lina, was probably the only person on the planet strong enough to do so.

"If you don't look like a dragon, how come you are one?" Lecia asked, narrowing her eyes again and reaching up, fingering Val's pointed ears. "I want ears like yours," she muttered.

"I AM a dragon!" Val growled. "I can change forms, so I can look like a human or a dragon."

Lecia's eyes went huge. "Really?" she breathed. "Can I see?"

Val grinned and his body hunched. "No!" Filia cried. "Not in the house!"

Val stood up straight and pursed his lips. "Aw, Mom!"

"Do it outside, and don't let anyone else see you," Filia instructed. "Just show her, change back, and come inside right away."

"Okay," the boy pouted, taking Lecia by the wrist. "Come on!"

"Kay," Lecia said, and the two dashed outside.

"Lecia's never had a friend before," Lina said with a small smile, gaze on the door the children had left through.

"Val really hasn't, either," Filia mumbled, hands still hovering an inch from Xellos' thigh.

"See?" Xellos grinned. "We can help your family, too!"

"Great," Filia grumbled, and he flinched as she finished the spell, pinching the soft skin of his inner thigh.

"Hey!" Xellos said, rubbing the spot where the wound had been.

"All better," Filia spat.

There was an ear-splitting roar from behind the house and the sound of timber breaking. "What the hell?" Lina said with a scowl, looking out the window.

"Oh, no, Val!" Filia cried, jumping up and racing out the door. "Not the garden! Not again!"

Lina sighed and shook her head. "Must be hell having a dragon for a kid."

Xellos studied her carefully, thinking how tired she looked. "Are you glad we came?" he asked gently.

She glanced out the window. "Yeah," she said wistfully. "I think it'll be good for Lecia. Still, I wish we had more time alone. We're hardly going to have a moment to ourselves once the baby is born."

"We'll make do," he murmured, watching her from underneath his heavy bangs.

Lina's eyes licked up and down his body, then she bent down and traced the inside of his muscular thigh. "Mmm," she said with a smile. She drew her finger up to the inside of his hipbone and down again, letting it slide beneath the remaining fabric of his pants and to more sensitive regions of his body. His eyes went wide and he jumped, caught unawares at her boldness, then pulled her into his lap.

"We'll definitely have to find a way to make do," he whispered, leaning over her and kissing her. The kiss began innocently enough, but before he knew what was going on she had her hands tangled in his hair and they were each thrusting their tongues into one another's mouths.

"That boy," he heard someone grumble, coming towards the door, and Lina nearly toppled to the floor in her haste to get off of him. Filia closed the door and turned, studying them with narrowed eyes. Xellos cleared his throat and crossed his legs, doing his best to smile normally. Lina, however, was a dead giveaway, blushing deeply and her arms crossed over her swollen abdomen. "Did I interrupt something?" she asked, eyebrow raised.

"Nothing we can't pick up later," Xellos answered glibly. "For now, I think, my women need to be fed."

Lina's expression brightened considerably at the prospect of food. "Yes, I think it's time for food," she urged him.

"But dinner is only in two hours," Filia protested.

Xellos smiled and stood up. "Don't worry, she'll be able to eat again soon," he told the dragon. "Is there a room in which I can put our things?"

Filia frowned. "What things?"

Xellos patted the brown leather bag that was still at his side. "Oh, Lina brought along a couple hundred books and her full wardrobe, and we have all of Lecia's toys and clothes as well. I only brought a few outfits with me and a few personal affects I simply couldn't do without."

"And all that's in there?"

"And more," Lina grumbled. "Am I gonna get food soon or not?"

"Of course, dearest," Xellos replied. "I just need to put this pack down and change into a new pair of pants, unless you'd prefer I cook like this."

Lina smiled, the expression frightfully devious, then she glanced at Filia. "I don't care, just so long as you cook," she said slowly.

Xellos smiled slightly at Filia. "Before Lecia was born and Lina and I were living in our cabin, sometimes I wouldn't wear anything but an apron when I cooked. Lina found it highly diverting, but I'm afraid we were often distracted from the preparing of food. You have no idea how much crockery we broke."

"Too much information," Filia growled. "I'll show you to your room. You two can take the guest room, and I suppose Lecia can share Val's room, if he doesn't mind."

Xellos followed Filia down a hallway and into the guest room, the only bedroom on the first story of the little house. He set the bag down on the bed, rummaged around, and pulled out a new pair of trousers. "Are you going to watch?" he asked her lightly, watching with satisfaction as her eyes widened in horror. "I don't mind, you know, but Lina tends to be a bit possessive."

"Of course not!" she snorted, slamming the door closed.

Xellos smiled to himself and changed, thinking that the trip to Filia's might not have been such a bad idea after all.

He was in the kitchen, cleaning up after Lina's snack and beginning to prepare supper when Filia appeared in the doorway. She stood and watched him for quite some time, a strange expression on her face, and finally his curiosity got the better of him. "Yes?" he asked, not looking up from his task.

"Why are you really here?" she blurted.

"Because you are particularly well-suited to care for Lina during this ordeal," he said. "That's the truth."

"Like I'm going to believe you," she said. "Honestly, why here? You could have found any number of cities with qualified healers, if that's what you were worried about."

"And you expect me to come clean with you, a dragon?"

"Shut up, Monster filth."

Xellos laughed and set down the bowl he was cleaning. "I'm not a Monster anymore, Miss Filia," he said.

"But you're not human."

He smiled and shook his head, leaning against the counter. "Actually, I'm just barely human. I'm obviously close enough to the real thing to father children, but my abilities and awareness still extend far beyond that of a normal human. In those respects I'm as human as you are."

Filia stiffened a bit at his remark but didn't take his bait. "So why did you come to me?"

Xellos sighed, remembering back to the morning that Lina had oh-so-roughly announced her pregnancy. "It was Lina's decision. She thought it would be a fitting punishment for me. If I made her miserable by getting her pregnant, she was going to make me miserable by forcing me to live with you."

"Lovely," Filia said sullenly.

"That's what I thought," Xellos admitted. "You know I don't pretend that there's any love lost between us. But, as I examined it, I realized it really wasn't such a bad idea after all."

Filia's eyes narrowed. "Okay, now you're frightening me."

Xellos felt his jovial mood drain away and he opened his eyes, catching her gaze directly. "Lina didn't tell you the whole story," he said softly, gesturing her closer. "In fact, I haven't told her the whole story myself. I think you need to know it, though, because it occurs to me that I may someday need your help."

Filia eyed him suspiciously for a moment, then reluctantly moved closer. "What happened?"

"I was on a mission with one of Dolphin's generals and one of Dynast's underlings. We were destroying a city when Lina showed up. Well, of course she fought us, and the other two Monsters were very upset that she was there. Dynast sent down the orders that Lina was to be killed, and I was the one to do it."

"No!" Filia gasped, putting her hands over her mouth, eyes wide.

"There was no way I was going to kill Lina, not after everything we went through, even though I was a Monster at the time. So, I simply killed my compatriots and all the witnesses."

"You killed your own people?"

Xellos shrugged. "Of course. It was them or Lina."

"And you chose Lina."

"Obviously."

Filia sighed and sat down in a chair, putting her forehead in her hands. "And?"

"I knew that Dynast and Dolphin would come for me eventually, and there was no guarantee my own mistress wouldn't try and execute me, either. I went to fetch Lecia and returned to Lina, and we were about to make good our escape when I realized something was very, very wrong with my daughter."

"Where was Lecia?"

"Whenever I was on assignment she stayed with her Grandma, the Greater Beast, and Lina went journeying."

"WHAT?" Filia growled, slamming her hands down on the table.

Xellos made a gesture pleading for silence and Filia glanced toward the door uncertainly. "Lina doesn't know some of this, and I don't think she needs to right now. I'd like to wait until after the baby's born."

"Fine," Filia murmured. "But you had better explain to me why you let a Monster lord take care of that darling little girl."

Xellos sighed. "Several reasons. First of all, Xellas volunteered, after a fashion. She was curious, as she has a tendency to be. Secondly, I made quite a few enemies by breeding with a human, and many people sought to harm those who meant anything to me. Lecia was especially despised, and no one could protect her better than Xellas, not even myself. Third, Lina wouldn't take care of her, and who else did I have to turn to?"

Filia regarded him flatly, mouth pressed into a tight line. "I really hate it when you make sense. It never bodes well."

Xellos closed his eyes and lowered his chin. "If it's any consolation, I didn't want to leave my daughter with Xellas. I didn't trust her or her motives, especially after she turned me human and then changed me back. She tried to break me, you know, and wean me of Lina. I was tortured for months, but it didn't work. You saw me almost immediately after I was set free the last time."

"I remember," Filia whispered, bowing her head.

"Well, when I got Lecia back from Xellas and was going to take my family and escape, I realized why Xellas was so interested in my little girl." Xellos paused, face going hard, and looked straight at Filia. "She had been adding astral energy to Lecia's astral form a little bit at a time. If she had been allowed to continue she would have eventually made my daughter into a Monster."

"No!" Filia gasped, eyebrows furrowing in horror.

"Yes," Xellos hissed. "I hadn't noticed because it had been so gradual. That last mission had taken me nearly half a year, though, and enough had been added by the time I saw Lecia again that I definitely noticed the change."

"But why would she do that?" Filia breathed, still obviously shocked.

"Our numbers were growing smaller, and she also needed a replacement for me. You see, I wasn't acting Monsterly enough for her. Some human clung to my soul and she couldn't get rid of it. Not that Lecia wouldn't have been 'tainted' as well, but Lecia would serve her out of love and not out of fear, as I did."

"So you just picked her up and saw she was different?"

"Not until I got back to Lina. It was then that I realized what had happened. Needless to say, I went into a rage and became completely irrational. I left Lecia with Lina and went back to my mistress. I challenged her in battle and lost."

Filia's mouth dropped open and she stared at him for long moments. "You challenged your own mistress? Were you crazy? There's no way you could have defeated her!"

Xellos clenched his jaw. "I had to try. I had to find some way to make her pay for tampering with my family."

"And then what happened?"

Xellos smiled at her, amused by her sudden curiosity. "Lina came to my rescue and cut my astral form free from Xellas' with some new spells she learned. She managed to wound Xellas enough that she could get me out of there. Lina took me back to the mainland and tried to nurse me back to health, but she had cut too much off of my astral body and I was 'bleeding' to death. I was comatose for quite some time, and then Xellas returned and made a bargain with Lina."

"WHAT?" Filia gasped, face pale.

"Trust me, I share your opinion," he said bitterly. "Lina made a pact with her to save my life, even offering her soul. Xellas didn't want that, luckily."

"What was the bargain?"

"Lina made a pledge with Xellas that she would not stand in Xellas' way when my mistress came to collect payment. It was never specified what that payment was. If Lina breaks her promise and tries to fight Xellas, Xellas gets my soul."

"How awful!"

"Yes, but it saved my life."

"Then what?"

"Then I healed, got Lina pregnant, and traveled here."

Filia sat back in her chair, silent as she absorbed all he had told her. "So why did you agree to come here, Xellos?"

Xellos pressed his lips together and took a deep breath through his nose. "Because Dolphin and Dynast are still after me. If anything should happen and I die, I know you and Val will be strong enough to protect my family. No one but a Monster lord can defeat a golden or an ancient dragon, especially if they're working together. You're the only hope I have of keeping my family safe once I'm gone."

Filia stared at him. "I can't believe you'd put that sort of faith in anyone, Xellos," she breathed. "You honestly think they'll find you and kill you, don't you?"

"I know they will," he said flatly. "It's just a matter of when. I still have some time left, but I can't bear the thought of my family still being in danger from Xellas without me around to protect them. Between you, Val, and Lina you'd actually have a fighting chance."

"I don't know," Filia said, hands curled into fists on the top of the table. "I don't know if anyone could beat Xellas."

Xellos nodded. "She's crafty and patient. Still, you're my only hope."

Filia was quiet for quite some time, eyes focused on her hands. Xellos barely dared breathe for fear he would interrupt her train of thought, and he had to have her support. He really didn't have anywhere else to turn. "You've changed," she finally said. "I remember the days when you would have killed Lina without a backward glance."

He nodded slowly. "I do, too. Those days ended when I became human. Even as a Monster, when I couldn't have any feelings for her, I knew I didn't want her harmed."

"They're precious to you," Filia murmured.

Xellos felt a nameless, intense emotion well up inside of him, and when he spoke it was with passionate ferocity. "They're worth my very heart and soul," he replied.

Filia studied him carefully, face seeming pinched with concentration. "Do you love Lecia?"

"With all my heart."

"And Lina?"

Xellos blinked. "It's different than what I feel for Lecia. What I feel for the child is concrete. My feelings for Lina are no less intense, but how do I know if it's love?"

Filia stood and pushed in her chair. "Fine, Xellos. I don't know how, but you've convinced me. I can't believe I'm actually believing you, but I do. You have my help."

He bowed his head. "I can't express my gratitude," he replied.

"I'll collect someday, don't you worry."

He bowed again, but this time gave her a lecherous wink. "I look forward to it."

Filia looked scandalized and blushed. "Pervert!" she hissed, going to the door. When she was in the entryway she paused and turned to him, face serious. "Xellos?"

"Yes?" he asked, returning to his tasks.

"If you really do love her, you'll know it," she replied, and was gone from the room.

"No, you can't put that there," Val said, pushing the puzzle pieces out of Lecia's way as the children sat on the floor.

"Yes I can, it goes there," Lecia protested.

"No, it doesn't," Val insisted.

"Yes, it does, see?" she declared with a flourish, pushing the two pieces together.

"You just forced them together."

"So?"

"That's not how you play!"

"This game is dumb," Lecia growled, crossing her arms and glaring at nothing in particular.

"Children, please don't argue," Filia said, sitting next to the fire, working on her needlework.

Lina sighed and looked down at Xellos, who was sitting on the floor in front of her rubbing her stomach with oil. His hands were warm and gentle, and the slight pressure felt very, very nice. That, combined with the large quantities of delectable foods he had fed her for dinner, made her quite content. She really looked forward to sleeping in the large, soft bed in Filia's guest room instead of on the ground. It would be good for Xellos, too, who sorely needed a good night's sleep. "Better?" he murmured, climbing up to sit next to her on the soft.

"Yeah," she replied with a smile. "I could use even more of it."

"Here, then," he said softly, moving her so that he could sit behind her and rub her shoulders.

"Good," she breathed, closing her eyes and leaning into him.

Her bliss was interrupted only by the squabbling of the children, who were beginning to annoy Filia, if her tone of voice was any indication. "Val, stop it and share right this instant," the blonde woman snapped, and Lina threw her a glance.

"But Mom," the little boy whined. "Lecia doesn't know how to play."

"I do so!" Lecia protested, standing up and stamping her foot.

"You two stop it right now," Filia said sharply.

Lina heard Xellos sigh. "You can't expect them to understand how to play with one another right away," he said gently. "Each of them has never had a playmate before and it will take them some time to get used to it."

"Val wasn't raised to be overbearing and selfish," Filia replied stiffly.

"You raise children by example," Xellos countered, and Lina could feel Filia twitching all the way across the room.

"And what sort of example do you give?" she snapped.

"Shut up," Lina interjected. "No one cares. It's late and they're tired. Xellos, put them to bed."

Lecia immediately began to prance around the room. "Bedtime bedtime!" she squealed.

"I don't wanna go to bed!" Val protested.

Lecia stopped in mid-step and stared at the dragon child. "Why not?" she asked, honestly surprised.

"Because I'm not tired."

"So?"

"I wanna stay up and play some more."

Lecia crept over and crouched in front of Val, staring him straight in the face, her nose only a few inches from his. "But bedtime is story time!" she said softly. "Doesn't your daddy tell you stories at bedtime?"

"Val doesn't have a daddy," Filia explained gently, picking Val up.

"Mom!" he cried. "I'm not a baby!"

"You'll always be my baby," she cooed, nuzzling him. Val squirmed a bit, but he was smiling and really didn't seem to mind that much.

"Daddy, me, too!" Lecia said, jumping up and down with her arms raised.

Xellos chuckled and scooped her up, kissing her on the top of the head. "Very well, little one. Shall we put your jammies on, brush your teeth, and go to bed?"

"Yes!" Lecia giggled, throwing her arms around her father's neck and kissing him on the cheek.

Lina smiled and watched as the four of them climbed the stairs, her smile fading as the disappeared from sight. Xellos and Filia, although strange and awful in their own ways, were very, very good parents. They knew when to discipline and when to dote, and she had no doubts that the children would grow up feeling loved by the two. Still, where did that leave her? She felt very left out at that moment, her hand unconsciously straying to her bulging stomach. The life inside of her lashed out, making her narrow her eyes as she tried to ignore the motion. Was she a good mother? Would she ever be? It seemed like she was very out of place in the household, almost as if it was Xellos and Filia that should be raising children together.

She was still brooding when Filia appeared at the bottom of the stairs. "How's everything?" Lina asked nonchalantly, effectively concealing her earlier angst.

"Wonderful," Filia replied faintly, as if she herself couldn't believe it.

Lina couldn't help but smile. "Who would have thought a man who used to be a Monster would be so great with kids, huh?"

Filia pursed her lips, then sighed. "Yes, I hate to say it, but as insufferable as he is, he's very, very good with children."

"Yeah, he's gotten even better since becoming human. He was sweet with Lecia even before, but now she's his sun and moon, and he's hers. I don't think that little girl will ever want for love."

Filia nodded and sat down on the sofa next to her. "You could have done worse," she said reluctantly.

"Yeah..." Lina replied, feeling an odd sorrow well up in her.

"It's strange to see Xellos actually acting like a man," Filia mused.

Her words brought a smile to Lina's lips. "He might not seem like it by most people's standards, but he's definitely all man. Manhood isn't all bravado, muscles, and machismo."

Filia smiled as well. "Miss Lina, please forgive me for asking, but why are you with him again? When I saw you last you were going to take up with Gourry again."

Lina felt all the old emotions and pain rise within her once more, but oddly enough they weren't as awful or intense as they had once been. "Xellos found me and showed up with the baby. Once Gourry found out the whole story he left me."

"What?" Filia said, eyes wide. "I can't believe that!"

"Well, it's true," Lina replied quietly. "He said he wouldn't be the reason a family was broken up."

"He just left?"

"Well, actually, he sort of forced me to leave with Xellos."

"So you were stuck with him?"

"Yeah. Xellos had a beach bungalow built for me and nursed me until my heart healed. By that time Lecia was walking, and soon after she started to talk. I really couldn't find it in me to leave them, after that. Those intervening years weren't so bad, and then Xellos became human again..."

Filia stared off into the fire for long moments, then drew a breath. "Human Xellos... That first time with him meant a lot to you, didn't it?"

Lina scowled, not liking to be reminded. She still thought of Gourry as her other half, and didn't particularly care to remember that Xellos answered things within her that the swordsman never could. Her focus almost always remained on the things that Gourry provided for her that Xellos never would. She still couldn't decide which was better. "What's with all the questions?" Lina asked testily.

Filia rubbed her temples. "I'm just trying to figure all this out. One day you show up at my house pregnant with Lecia, then there was that awful scene during her birth. You were Xellos' lover for the better part of a year, then after you had his baby you just waltz off to be with the man you finally figured out you loved. Next thing you're off with Xellos again, and now you're having a second child with him. Please forgive me, but I'm incredibly confused. Weren't you meant to be with Gourry?"

"I thought so once, but I don't know anymore," Lina explained. "Xellos told me once that he had a theory. He said that this was most likely the only dimension in which he and I ended up together. He fully admits that I was probably supposed to be with Gourry forever, but that just didn't happen this go around. Sometimes I wonder what it must feel like to be one of those other "me"s, what it's like to be able to love Gourry forever and be with him. I used to wonder if they were happier than I am, then I realized that they probably weren't. It took me a while, but I don't think that Gourry could make me any happier than Xellos does. It's not better or worse, it's just different."

"But you loved Gourry," Filia said gently. "Do you still love him?"

"A part of me always will," Lina replied. "I don't think it matters."

"It's love, Lina! Don't you think you should be with the man you truly love?"

Lina shrugged. "You always were a romantic, Filia," she said. "This is the real world. We don't always get to be with our fairy tale princes."

"If you don't love Xellos, why are you with him?"

"Lecia, mostly, and now this new one. Gourry was actually right for once; I'd never forgive myself if I missed out on my own children's lives."

Filia rested her head on the back of the couch and gazed into the fire for long moments. "To tell you the truth, Miss Lina, I'm sort of jealous."

Lina snorted. "Of what?"

"You have someone to help you with your children. I know you've only been here half of a day, but I've seen how Xellos treats you. I've never seen a man so considerate of his mate. You never have to point out things to him or ask him anything. He just always seems to know what you want or need. He spent an hour massaging you, for example, and he not only cooked dinner and cleaned up, but now he has bathed your child and put both of the little ones to bed. Next thing you know he'll be down here helping you to bed, where he'll probably stand guard over you until you're fast asleep. It just doesn't seem fair."

Lina blinked at Filia, not knowing what to say. She had never really considered how lucky she was. Her first pregnancy had been awful, she remembered that, but she hadn't really thought to compare the two pregnancies since they were so completely different. Instead of feeling strung out, tired, and afraid, like she had been the first time, she felt like some sort of fertility goddess, her every whim and need taken care of. When she thought about it, she seriously doubted many men pumped midwives for knowledge of pregnancy and childbirth every chance they got. Xellos was most likely more knowledgeable of what was going on with her body than she was. She was about to reply to Filia when Xellos appeared at the bottom of the stairs, smiling and unrolling his shirtsleeves.

"Tired?" he asked Lina, and suddenly she was. She was very, very tired.

"Yeah," she replied, taking his hand as he helped her off the couch. He kissed her on the temple and put a hand on her back, gently escorting her to the back room. "Good night," she said to Filia.

"Good night, Miss Lina, and welcome," Filia replied softly, her smile wistful.

"Come, now," Xellos whispered, and led her to the bedroom.

"I can't believe we're finally here," Lina said as Xellos unbuttoned her shirt. He reverently kissed the tops of her breasts and then her throat.

"Forgive me," he murmured. "They were too beautiful not to pay homage to."

Lina smiled and ran her fingers through his dark, silver-streaked hair. She couldn't tell he had silver hairs until she got up close, and then she actually enjoyed seeing them. The contrast was just lovely. "That's all right," she replied, untying her pants and letting them slip to the ground. "I really like this bed. Lecia was born in this bed."

"Filia said this was the room, when I came here and learned how to care for Lecia," Xellos commented, turning back the covers and arranging pillows.

Lina sighed as he helped her into the bed and tucked the covers around her with a smile. He went to the other side of the room and undressed, sliding next to her in bed and wrapping his naked body around hers. She smiled and leaned into him, loving the feeling of all his silky skin pressed the length of her. "This is nice," she whispered.

"Things will be better from now on," he said softly, and soon she fell asleep.

Weeks passed uneventfully and Xellos was thankful for it. Lina was getting absolutely huge with child and was becoming increasingly immobile. Being forced to stay put, of course, made her very, very touchy. "Filia's a good mother," she said, interrupting his thoughts as he prepared lunch.

Xellos raised his head and looked out the kitchen window, seeing Filia run and play with the two children. Val and Lecia were working well as a team, simple strategies passing between them wordlessly in order to catch Filia. He watched them for a few moments, then nodded his head, returning to cutting carrots. "Yes, I suppose she is. She certainly loves little Val and isn't afraid to show it."

Lina sighed and rubbed her monstrous belly. "I wish I was a good mother," she murmured.

Xellos set down his knife and turned to her. "You're a good mother. Lecia knows you love her."

"But I'm not as affectionate as Filia, and I'm not good at playing."

"That's what I'm for," he said with a smile, walking over to her and kissing her on the cheek. "Please, don't worry about it. Everything will be just fine."

Lina nodded and he returned to the counter, every once in a while glancing out the window to make sure everything was okay. Val and Lecia were still chasing Filia when Lecia switched tactics, instead turning and tackling Val. The little boy squealed and hit the dirt, a wrestling match immediately taking place. "Do you really believe in all that alternate dimension or timeline stuff?" Lina asked suddenly.

Xellos turned and shrugged. "Not particularly, but it's entirely possible. Let's face it, the situation had to be just right for us to get together, and in most universes it probably never took place."

Lina nodded, gaze still fixed on the people outside. "I was just thinking that Filia would have been perfect for you, had things been different."

Xellos paled and stiffened. "Hardly," he sniffed, turning back to his cooking.

"No, really," she said. "You two would have been the best parents on the face of the planet. It would have been a great team. Besides, I think she thinks you're attractive, now that she's seen your human side."

"Well, the feelings aren't mutual. I can hardly stand her."

"Oh, you'd probably get over that with time. She's a pretty woman, you know."

"I fail to see it."

"That the way I think it might have been, in one of those alternate universes you talked about," she muttered, then fell silent.

Xellos looked out the window, studying Filia. She was pretty, he realized, and although he thought she was particularly annoying, her temperament wasn't quite so different from Lina's. Both lacked a certain degree of self-control, were stubborn, and violent in their volatility. Still, he preferred Lina. Filia wasn't stupid, but she wasn't brilliant like his Lina, nor did she burn with passion the way the mother of his children did. Lina loved every single moment of life and was filled with ambition, and these things were what he appreciated about her. What Lina had said gave him pause, though. How many different timelines could there be? How many times was he denied humanity and therefore Lina? "I like it this way," he said under his breath.

"Val, look there," he heard Lecia say, pointing at some trees.

"What?" he asked, golden eyes wide.

"This!" she giggled, kissing him lightly on the cheek. Val turned and stared at her, a blush staining his pale cheeks.

"Lecia!" Filia gasped. "You're only five! You shouldn't be kissing boys!"

Lecia's brow furrowed and she looked up at Filia, obviously confused. "Why not? Daddy kisses people he likes. He kisses me and Mommy all the time, and if he liked you, he'd kiss you, too."

"Yeah, Mom, you kiss me all the time," Val protested, going over to Lecia and kissing her back on the cheek. "See? Why is that bad?"

Filia turned a shade of red and began to splutter. "Well, it's just not proper, I mean.."

"If they're friends, let them kiss," Xellos called out the window. "It's better to teach them to get along, don't you think? Besides, they're just children."

Filia pursed her lips and stalked off, busying herself with her gardening. Lina grunted and he turned to look at her, seeing her shove away from the table. "Dammit, I hate being so huge," she growled.

"Do you need assistance?"

She shot him a look full of daggers and stood slowly. "No, I need to have this damn baby you put in me," she replied sharply.

Xellos clenched his jaw, distressed at how unhappy she was. The strain on her body was considerable, and he worried about her nearly constantly. "Is there anything I can do?"

Lina stopped at the door and looked at him. "Actually, you can pack up that lunch. I want to eat outside."

"Are you sure? Can you really walk that far?"

"I can walk as far as I want to, and I want to eat outside. Filia has some nice land here and I'd like to move about while I still can."

Xellos nodded and began to gather the necessary accouterments. "Very well, dearest," he said.

"Meet you outside in ten minutes," she replied, and left the room.

"Lecia!" Xellos called out the window. "Can you come in here, please?"

"Coming!" the little girl yelled, running screaming toward the house. It was odd, but she was so noisy that he barely even heard her anymore. He must have gotten used to her racket. She materialized at the back door, rocking on her heels. "Yes, Daddy?"

"I have a very important job for you and Val," he said.

He was interrupted by Lecia turning and screaming out the door. "Val, come here!"

"Now, now, that's not a very nice way to ask someone to do something for you," he began, but was cut off again.

"Please!" Lecia screamed, looking at him and beaming.

"Very good," he said, wincing.

"Yeah?" Val said, appearing behind Lecia and giving her a gentle shove. She shoved him back, and soon Xellos had to peel them apart, ending their impromptu wrestling match.

"I need you two to help me carry the food," Xellos explained patiently. "Mommy wants to eat outside today."

"Picnic?" Lecia squealed, grabbing Val's hands and leading him in a lurching dance around the room. The boy smiled and followed along, but his eyes were wide with panic and his steps faltered more than once.

"Yes, little one, a picnic. Now, are you done raising a ruckus so we can get ready?"

Lecia immediately stopped in her tracks and released Val, obediently going over to her father. "What should I do, Daddy?" she asked.

"You stay here and hold open the picnic basket," he said gently. "Val, would you please find a suitable blanket for us to sit on?"

"Sure, Mister Xellos," Val said, and dashed off. Xellos couldn't help musing on Val as he watched the boy trot away. All the anger and bitterness Xellos had seen in Valgaav was gone, leaving behind a hopeful, bright mind. He was happy that Val hadn't agreed to become a Monster. It might have meant the destruction of too much.

"Daddy!" Lecia said, snapping him out of his thoughts. "It's time to pack for the picnic!"

He smiled and knelt in front of her, gathering her into his arms. "You know you'll always be my precious baby, don't you?" he whispered into her silky hair.

Lecia squirmed and laughed. "Of course, Daddy! Now can we get ready?"

Xellos released her and smiled. "Certainly. Please hold that steady while I put the dishes in it, okay?"

"Okay," Lecia replied, her face screwed up with concentration.

It didn't take long to get everything ready, and Xellos even managed to convince Filia to tag along. It was just as well she was coming; they were using her dishes, flatware, and picnic supplies. Lina was already waiting outside, arms folded over her chest impatiently, and Xellos slung the basket over his shoulder, walking up to her. "Are you ready?" he asked gently.

"Do I look ready?" she snapped. "Now let's go find a pretty spot to eat."

"There's a little pond on the northwestern edge of the property," Filia said.

Xellos eyed Lina with concern. "How far away is it?"

"It's only about a ten minute walk," Filia replied. "There are plenty of trees for shade, too."

"Is that too far away, Lina?"

"Dammit, do I look like a porcelain doll to you? Let's just get going," Lina replied sharply.

Xellos nodded and herded the children in front of him, then took Lina's arm. "Here," he murmured.

"I don't need your help," she said roughly.

Xellos took a deep breath and cleared all the annoyance and sharp words from his thoughts. "I know you don't need it, and that you can do it yourself, but I would like to make it easier for you," he murmured and leaned forward, kissing her on the temple.

"Whatever," Lina mumbled, but she glanced at Filia and blushed deeply.

"Shall we?" Xellos asked brightly, and they moved on.

Filia was correct in her estimation of the distance to the pond, and it wasn't long before Val and Xellos had the blankets spread out. Lina sat, watching the preparations, and Filia began to set out the food. Lecia simply pranced around them, singing some nonsensical song, every once in a while rushing to Lina and putting her ear to her mother's stomach. Soon they were all eating, and even Lina's mood improved considerably. Lecia barely ate anything at all, standing up again almost immediately and proceeding to run around even more. "What do you want to do when you get older, Val?" Xellos asked.

"Xelly, he's just a child," Lina said.

"Xelly?" Filia mumbled, scowling and shaking her head.

Xellos smiled broadly and raised an eyebrow. "And just what do you think Lecia's going to be when she grows up?"

Lina sniffed and raised her chin in the air. "She'll be a sorcery genius, of course."

"So, Val, what are you going to do?"

Val shifted uneasily, trying to act like an adult but obviously wanting to run and play with Lecia. "Mom wants me to take over her business," he said carefully.

Xellos chuckled. "That's only natural," he replied, "but what do you want to do?"

Val looked down at the cup he held in his hands, then met Xellos' eyes and smiled. "I want to travel the world and have adventures, just like you guys did in Mom's stories."

Lina nodded in approval. "Good idea. Just don't get attached to anyone, okay?"

Val regarded her carefully. "Uh, all right," he replied. Xellos grinned and watched as the boy grew increasingly antsy. "Mom, may I be excused now?"

Filia smiled and inclined her head. "Of course, sweetie. Have fun."

Val's face split in a grin and he was on his feet in a second, chasing after Lecia. "Watch what I can do!" the little girl shouted, grabbing his hand and pulling him around.

"Val has such good manners," Xellos said wistfully, cradling his cup of tea as he watched the children. "I've done what I can with Lecia, but I fear it's not enough ..."

"That's because she's spoiled rotten," Lina chuckled. "She's Daddy's little girl and can do whatever she likes, whenever she feels like it."

Filia's face softened in a smile and she was about to say something when Val reappeared. "Mom, can I borrow that pitcher?" he asked.

"And?" Filia asked.

"May I borrow that pitcher please?" Val repeated with a sigh.

Filia glanced at Lecia, who was waiting right behind Val. "Very well," she replied. "Just don't leave it behind when we pack up, all right?"

"Okay. Thanks!" Val said, snatching up the pitcher, and the two children dashed to an area a few meters away, where they immediately huddled around the pitcher.

Filia and Lina began talking again, but Xellos found himself distracted when he heard Lecia ask Val to watch something. All his attention was immediately riveted on his daughter, and slowly the edges of his magic-sense began to tingle. "Oh, Lecia, don't!" he cried, but it was too late. Lecia screamed and there was a loud, percussive sound as smoke began to billow out from in between the children.

Filia shouted as well and her eyes became the size of saucers. "What was that?" she gasped, a horrified look on her face as she clutched at her collarbones with her free hand.

Lina took one look at the children and sighed, shaking her head. Xellos pressed his lips together and exhaled through his nose. Their eyes met and they shrugged simultaneously, then looked at the young ones. Val was staring at the charred grass and pottery fragments, a bemused look on his face, and Lecia was waving her hands back and forth, constantly glancing back at her parents with a frightened, worried expression on her face.

"My pitcher!" Filia wailed, finally spotting the wreckage strewn all over the grass.

Lecia looked at Filia and her big, amethyst eyes filled with tears. "Daddy!" she gurgled, getting to her feet and running to him as fast as her little legs would carry her. She threw herself in his lap and buried her face in his shirt, weeping.

Xellos bit his lip, trying not to laugh, and gently hugged his daughter. "You should have known better to cast a spell you can't control yet," he said softly.

"I'm sorry, Daddy," the little girl sobbed.

"It's okay, Lecia," Lina said. "We'll just get Filia a new pitcher. You don't need to cry, you just need to apologize."

"I'm sorry, Mommy," Lecia whimpered, peeping over Xellos' bicep at her mother.

"I appreciate that," Lina replied, "but Filia's the one you need to apologize to. It was her pitcher."

Lecia turned to Filia, eyes brimming with tears. "I-I'm sorry," she hiccuped. "I'm sorry I broke your pitcher."

Val appeared at Xellos' side, a gentle smile on his face. "I thought it was a fun trick," he said softly. "Thanks for showing it to me."

Lecia just stared at him, blinking as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Lecia, what do you say to someone who tells you something nice?" Xellos prompted.

"Thank you, Val," Lecia mumbled, pressing herself into her father's body once more but keeping her eyes on Val.

"Mom, I'm sorry we broke your pitcher," Val added, going over to Filia.

Filia tore her attention away from the smoking remains of her pottery and blinked at her son. It seemed to take her a moment to realize what was going on, then she smiled weakly at the boy. "It's okay, honey, we'll just pick up a new one from the shop tomorrow."

Val brightened considerably and sat down next to his mother, helping collect the remaining dishes. Xellos smiled, feeling content as he rubbed Lecia's back, then looked up at the sky. "It's going to rain," he said. "We should go."

The rain began before they got in the house, Xellos holding one of the blankets over everyone's heads as they neared their home. He ushered everyone inside, then shook out the blanket and followed them. As he stood in the kitchen, water dripping from his bangs into his eyes, he noticed that Filia was the only one left in the room. He wrung the blanket out in the sink, then hung it next to the hearth, spreading it out as best he could. His shirt was soaked through and through, clinging to his skin, and it felt clammy and cold from the autumn rain. Grunting, he tore off the shirt and wrung it out in the sink as well, noticing that Filia's eyes were roving over his torso as he turned to hang his shirt next to the blanket. Filia caught his eyes and blushed deeply, turning away. "Like what you see?" he grinned.

"No," she said sharply, then realized how that sounded. "I mean, you're a lot more muscular than you look, for a thin man, I mean, well ..."

Xellos put his hands on his hips and chuckled. "Just as uptight as ever, I see," he said brightly. "Honestly, you are so easy to embarrass."

"I am NOT uptight!" Filia growled.

Xellos waved a hand in her direction, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, come on. You see a half-naked man and your composure completely crumbles. Honestly, it's not like your attracted to me or anything!"

Filia pursed her lips and scowled at him for a moment, then her expression turned to one of sadness and she rushed from the room without a word. Xellos stared after her for a few moments, then sighed. Damn that Filia, she was always trouble. It was just one more reason why he hadn't wanted to visit her.

Having put away most of the picnic supplies, he decided it would be in his best interest to make sure Lecia wasn't somewhere in the house in her wet clothes, ruining furniture and catching cold. Filia must have fled to her room to change, for she was nowhere in sight, and after a brief search he found his daughter. She was, surprisingly enough, in with her mother. Lina was changing the little girl's clothes, just buttoning up a dry shirt, when Xellos walked in the room. "Thank you," he said to Lina.

She shrugged and patted Lecia on the back, signaling she was finished. The girl threw her arms around Lina's neck for a moment and squeezed, then bounded out of the room, calling Val's name. "She's my kid too, you know," Lina said quietly.

"I know, and I'm glad for it," he replied. He walked over and sat next to Lina on the bed, putting his arms around her. "How are you doing?" he asked.

Lina sighed and leaned into him. "I can't believe it's only three o'clock," she murmured. "It feels like it has been years since this morning. I'm just exhausted, and I'm tired of being pregnant."

"I know, I know," he crooned, stroking her fiery hair. "It'll be over in just a couple more weeks."

"Thank the gods."

"Is there anything I can get you?"

Lina shook her head and scooted past him, reclining on the pillows. "No, I just want to sleep," she mumbled, stretching. "I'm so tired."

Xellos smiled and helped her position herself on the bed. "Shall I wake you for dinner?" he asked.

"If I'm up I'll eat, if not I'll grab something later," she sighed.

"Very well, then," he said softly, tucking her under the covers. "Sweetest of dreams."

"I'll try," she replied, and he sat with her until she dropped off. He stayed for a few long moments, examining her dainty features and petite frame. Her skin was pale and smooth like porcelain, and her hair was such a brilliant color he wondered for a moment if someone so fair could possibly be real. He couldn't imagine a woman more beautiful than Lina, and for the first time he seriously suspected that she had captured his heart. It had always been obvious to him that he cared for her, but it seemed that perhaps it went more deeply, right to the core of his soul.

"Is this what's called love?" he asked quietly, reaching down and gently taking a lock of Lina's shining mane, lifting it to his nose and inhaling its lovely scent. He fingered her silky hair for a while more, then stood. At the door he paused and turned back to her with a smile. "I'm grateful to you, Lina, for showing me what it means to be human," he murmured, and closed the door silently behind him.

It had been quite the trick convincing Lecia and Val to play games quietly so Lina could rest, and supper had been a touch-and-go affair. Still, the sun went down, the children went to bed, he cleaned up after supper while Filia worked on her needlepoint, and it was finally his turn to rest. He slipped into bed next to the slumbering Lina and fell asleep listening to the rain beating patterns on the ground outside.

It seemed like he had only been asleep a few minutes, but when he awoke with a start he saw that the clock read after midnight. Falling back on the pillows, he heaved a great sigh and rolled over, groping for Lina. His hand touched only empty air, however, and he sat up again in bed. "Lina?" he whispered, knowing as he opened his mouth that she wouldn't answer. Only the pattering of rain echoed through the room and he slid from the bed, pulling on his trousers. He left the bedroom and padded through the entire house, his sense of alarm growing as she was nowhere to be found. He had just finished searching the kitchen when he spotted movement out of the corner of his eye, and he immediately went to the window. Lina was outside, standing in the rain with her face upturned.

"Lina!" he hissed, dashing outside after her in his bare feet. "What are you doing out here?"

She turned and looked at him, eyes shadowed by her bangs. "It was too hot inside," she explained.

Xellos immediately wrapped his body around hers, trying to keep off the rain. "You'll get sick, standing out here in nothing but your nightgown!" he protested. "It's the middle of autumn!"

"I don't care," she murmured. "It feels nice."

"Please, let's go inside," he begged, moving around to face her and taking her by the hands.

Her fingers came up and traced the grooves between the muscles of his abdomen, his skin already slippery with the cold rain. "I don't know what to think," she whispered, her voice almost drowned out by the sound of the storm. "I don't know what to feel. You used to be a Monster, but you're not anymore. You're just a human man, the father of both my children. Sometimes I wonder if I had any choice in the matter, or if I was always doomed to have your offspring. How did my life change and warp so much that I'm with you now? Why you?"

There was an odd tenderness in her words, but there was also much confusion and pain. He felt adrift and helpless at that moment, feelings not helped by the fact that he was half-naked and shivering in the rain. Answers to her questions eluded him, and if there was one thing Xellos was used to having, it was answers. "I don't know," he breathed. "I don't know what happened, and I don't care. All that matters to me is that you're happy and safe."

"Am I safe?" she asked him, raising her face so that he could dimly see the outline of her jaw in the darkness. Her eyes caught what little light there was and glittered in the shadows, impossible for him to read. "Am I happy?"

Xellos felt something twist inside of him. "I can't answer those questions for you, dearest Lina," he said softly. "I only can hope that the answer is yes, and, if it isn't, that there's something I can do to make it yes."

"Xellos," she groaned, pitching forward and clinging to his bare, wet shoulders.

"Lina," he replied tenderly, folding her into his embrace.

"No, Xellos," she gasped, her fingernails digging into his skin. "Oh gods, it started!"

Xellos' eyebrows knitted and he stared down at her. "What?" he asked, alarmed.

"The baby, it's time," she groaned, gripping him tightly.

"Oh!" he cried, quickly sweeping her off of her feet. "We have to get you inside!"

"Dammit, I hate this part," she wheezed, eyes shut tight.

Xellos kicked open the back door and raced through the house, stripping her of her wet nightgown and setting her on the bed. He tucked the covers up around her and dashed up the stairs, not even bothering to knock as he entered Filia's room. "The baby's coming!" he hissed, shaking her awake.

Filia sat up partway in bed, rubbing her eyes, her blonde hair sticking every which way. "What?"

"The baby, my baby's coming!" he repeated, voice intense but quiet.

Filia's eyes napped wide open and she batted away his hands. "How much longer?" she asked, leaping from her bed and throwing on a robe.

"How should I know?" Xellos replied anxiously. "I've never been present for a human birthing before!"

Filia clutched her robe shut and began to hurry down the hallway. "And just what sort of births have you been at?" she growled.

"Just the creation of Monsters, if you can call that a birth," he whispered.

Filia snorted and rounded a corner, bursting into Lina's room. She rushed over to the panting woman and put a hand on her forehead. "Miss Lina? Are you okay?"

Lina scowled at Filia, most of her face in shadow. "I'm in labor, god damn it all! Do you THINK I'm okay?"

Filia pursed her lips and looked at Xellos. "Light," she ordered, and he was immediately busy lighting candles, his heart pounding.

"It's coming into the world!" he breathed. "My child's coming!"

"Shut up!" Lina hissed. "How dare you do this to me?"

"Miss Lina, please try to calm down. It'll just make it more difficult if you're angry. Now, how far apart are your contractions?"

Lina clenched her jaw and made a low, pained sound. "There was one," she panted. "I'll let you know when the next one comes."

Xellos watched the clock anxiously, every second seeming like a thousand years. "There," Lina groaned.

"Five minutes," Xellos reported. "What does that mean?"

Filia's eyes went wide. "How long have you been having contractions?" she cried.

"At least a couple of hours," Lina replied, suddenly seeming drained. "I got too hot, so I went outside, and then my water broke."

"How long were you in that rain?" Xellos exclaimed, feeling very, very worried.

"Hell if I know," Lina said, leaning back into the pillows and closing her eyes.

"I have to get the midwife," Filia murmured. "Stay here with her."

"As if there's any other place I'd rather be," he said softly, pulling up a chair and sitting by Lina's side. He took her hand in his and squeezed it, smiling at her gently. "You are so incredible," he whispered.

"You'll be even more impressed when you see me push something the size of a watermelon through an opening the size of a lemon," she growled.

"Is there anything I can do?" he asked anxiously.

"Not unless you can make the pain stop," she said angrily.

Xellos smiled as something occurred to him. He carefully undid the ring around her neck and slid it onto her finger, repeating the process with himself. "I'll do my best," he replied.

Suddenly she turned to him, looking him straight in the eye. "I don't like pain," she whispered. "I'm glad you're here this time."

"I would rather die than be anywhere else," he said earnestly.

"Val went to town to fetch the midwife," Filia announced, entering the room again, and Xellos could just barely hear the flapping of wings.

"He's awfully young," Xellos commented. "Will he be okay?"

Filia sniffed. "He might only be eight, but he is a dragon. Dragon forms mature much faster than human ones. He'll be just fine."

Quite a bit later Val returned with the midwife, Lina letting loose a scream just as the woman entered the room. Xellos gasped as he felt Lina's pain rip into him through the rings, and he thought he would pass out. Apparently giving birth was at least as painful as being ripped to shreds on the astral plane.

The midwife rushed over to Lina's side, trying to push Xellos out of the way. Lina somehow found the strength to sit up and scowled at the woman. "Don't you dare take him away from me," she snarled. "He'll stay right where he is."

The midwife paled and backed off, putting a hand on Lina's abdomen. "Is this your first baby?" she asked.

"No, second," Lina grunted, falling backwards onto the pillows. Her face shone faintly with a thin sheen of sweat, and strands of her hair were already beginning to look matted.

"Here, I'll give you this to bite on," the woman said, trying to insert a stick between Lina's teeth.

"What are you doing?" Xellos said sharply, snatching the stick away. "You're not going to put that in MY mate's mouth!"

Lina cried out again, writhing on the bed. "What's going on?" a little voice said, and Xellos turned to see Lecia and Val come into the room. The boy's hair was wet and he was shivering and pale. Lecia stared at her mother, eyes wide. "What's wrong with Mommy?" she demanded, groping for the nearest physical presence, which happened to be Val. She latched onto his shirt, and clung there, lower lip trembling.

"She's having the baby," Xellos said as gently as he could, motioning her over.

"Are you okay, Mommy?" Lecia asked, dashing over and crawling into his lap. She put her little hand over Lina's and gripped it hard.

"Fine," Lina panted. "It's normal. Yours birth wasn't any easier."

"See, she'll be all right," Xellos said with a smile. "Your mom's the strongest woman on the planet."

"Don't you forget it," Lina growled, squeezing her eyes shut and clenching her jaw.

"Kiss Mommy and go wait outside with Val," Xellos ordered, watching as Lecia carefully kissed Lina on the cheek.

"Be careful," Lecia said, her voice grave.

"Sure," Lina replied. "Now scoot."

Lecia slid off of Xellos' lap without a word and let herself be led away by Val. "How much longer?" Xellos asked the midwife.

The midwife examined Lina, then shook her head. "She looks fairly dilated, but it's hard to tell. It could be an hour, maybe six."

"That long?" Xellos gasped.

"It was very, very long with Lecia," Filia added. She had been standing in the corner the entire time, blue eyes filled with worry.

Lina screamed again. "That's it, I'm pushing!" she declared, her face red.

"No, you can't, not yet," the midwife protested as Lina roared in pain.

Xellos almost fell out of the chair with the awful tearing sensations the ring was conveying to him. "No, it's not supposed to be like this," he said sharply. "The midwife in Abton said that Lina would have an easier birth if she was sitting or squatting."

The midwife scowled at Xellos. "I believe I'm the authority here," she said sharply.

Xellos felt anger flare up inside of him, and he could tell by the expression on Lina's face that she was aware he felt it, too. "Not if I say you aren't," he said coldly. "I've spoken with numerous midwives on the way here, and the general consensus seems to be that the easiest way is the opposite of the way you're having her do it."

"It's the mother's choice," the midwife sniffed.

"Well, dearest?" he asked the groaning Lina. "Can trying something new possibly be any worse than last time?"

Lina regarded him. "Hell no," she replied after a moment.

Xellos nodded. "Fine, then. She needs to be made to feel as safe and comfortable as possible, and I think she'd be more relaxed if you two weren't in here."

"What?" the midwife howled. "But who will deliver the baby?"

"Xellos, I don't think this is a good idea," Filia added.

"Hush, both of you," he ordered. "It's Lina's baby and I'm the father. We'll decide what happens. As to the delivery, I can do it myself, and I can call you in when Lina's finished. If there are any complications I'll let you know right away. After all, you'll only be on the other side of that door."

"Sir, I don't think that's a-" the midwife began, but was cut short by Filia's hand on her shoulder.

"I know it seems strange," Filia said softly, "but let him do it. He won't let her or the baby come to harm, I know it."

Xellos felt oddly tender towards Filia in that moment. "Thank you," he mouthed, and Filia merely nodded, ushering the midwife from the room."

He smiled tenderly at Lina, who looked at him as if she was dazed. "Let's try this a different way, all right?" he asked gently.

"Do you know what you're doing?" she grated.

"I know what I've been told," he replied. "It's just you and me, now. Do you trust me? Are you comfortable with me?"

"Yes, I trust you, and if I wasn't comfortable around you I wouldn't have let you touch me the way you do," she answered, weakly taking his hand.

"I won't let anything happen to either of you, I promise," he said solemnly, lifting her from the bed and helping her to squat next to the hearth. He put a thin blanket around her shoulder and let her cling to him for support.

"I believe you," she whispered, closing her eyes.

He rubbed her back gently, clearing her hair from her face. "Relax, Lina," he cooed. "Don't focus on the pain. Just let that baby be born."

"But it hurts," she groaned, her body tightening.

Xellos took a deep breath and reached through the ring, snatching her agony from her and taking it into his own body. It felt as if he was being ripped in two, but he was used to that feeling. He had been tortured well enough by Xellas and Lina both that it was nothing new to him. "How's that?" he said as brightly as he could.

She turned clear, ruby eyes on him, her lips parted. "It's gone," she whispered. "How did you do that?"

"The rings," he replied simply, not trusting his voice to stay strong. "Now, just concentrate on pushing."

Lina squeezed his hands more tightly, leaning against him, and grunted, face scrunched up as she tried to expel the baby from her body. Xellos moved behind her so that she could relax into him, his hands resting lightly on her womb. Lina took a few deep breaths as he constantly funneled her pain away from her through the rings, then she pushed again.

"Good," he murmured. "You're amazing. It'll be over soon."

"Define 'soon'," she growled. "If you think it's so much fun then maybe you should try it."

"I'd do it in your stead if I could," he explained. "Now, again."

Lina let out a long, slow breath and her body dropped slightly. The ripping sensation he was taking from her increased, and he knew that the baby was close to crowning. He wasn't sure how, but through the rings he could feel the tides in her body change, the lines of energy and strength altering every so slightly. His heart began to pound away rapidly in his chest and he was excited and exhilarated, in spite of Lina's birthing pains. He couldn't believe he was actually witnessing the arrival of a new life into the world, a life he had helped create. "AH!" Lina cried, pushing again, and Xellos felt something inside of her give. He slowly moved around to face her, kneeling in front of her and letting her brace herself with her hands on his shoulders. There, he could see it! He could see the baby's head!

"I can see it," he breathed, so excited that he nearly forgot to continue to siphon away her pain. "I can see our baby!"

Lina was too busy concentrating to answer, pushing again. "Augh," she groaned, sweat streaming down her skin.

"Just a little more," he murmured, readying his hands beneath Lina.

"Easy for you to say," she wheezed.

Xellos was lightheaded from Lina's pain, but he forced himself to stay focused. Between the agony and the anticipation he thought his head would explode, but somehow he managed to keep his attention on Lina. "There," he said. "Just one more big push and it's all over. You can do it, Lina."

"Screw you," Lina panted.

Xellos managed to catch her eye and winked at her. "Anytime," he said with a smile, and Lina began to laugh. She laughed so hard, in fact, that the motion caused her final contraction and the baby slid from her body into Xellos' waiting hands. He froze, staring at the tiny squirming figure in his hands, unable to comprehend what he held. "Sweet dark lords," he breathed. "It's our son, Lina, we have a son!"

Lina groaned and sat down heavily next to the hearth, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. "Thank the gods," she murmured.

"It's a baby boy!" Xellos chortled, excitement completely washing away the pain he had felt just moments before. He wanted to get up and shout, to dance and scream his joy to the world. Such elation had never filled him before in all his existence and he thought for sure his heart would stop from the power of his own emotions. "Oh, you beautiful miracle-worker!" he cried, leaning forward and kissing Lina passionately on the mouth. "What a wondrous thing you have bestowed upon me, giver of life!"

Just then the baby began to cry, his little limbs shaking. "Here," Lina said, holding out trembling hands, and Xellos reluctantly gave the child up.

"Midwife! Filia! Come in and meet my son!" Xellos crowed, scrambling over to Lina and cradling both her and the child.

Filia burst through the door and rushed over as the midwife produced some of her tools and deftly cut the baby's umbilical cord. The woman proceeded with cleanup, taking care of the afterbirth and the like while Filia began to cast her healing spells on Lina.

"What? What?" Lecia cried, trotting into the room.

"Lecia!" Xellos called, gesturing her over. As soon as she was within reach he snatched her up, including her in his embrace. "You were right, little one! You have a baby brother!"

Lecia grinned and stared down at the baby. "Hello, little brother," she said gently. "You and I are going to be best friends." She examined the newborn carefully, then looked at her parents and wrinkled her nose. "He's awfully gooey and he looks like a raisin," she giggled. "Babies are icky!"

"He'll get cuter with time," Xellos explained. "After all, he's just been through a traumatic experience."

"Finished," Filia said, and Xellos felt a wave of relief from Lina through the rings.

"May I examine the child?" the midwife asked, and Lina immediately gave the baby up. The midwife carefully studied him for a few moments, then rattled off a list of instructions to Xellos. "Unless I don't need to tell you any of this, since you know it all," she said somewhat sharply. "Still, he's a very healthy baby, even for being a bit early."

"He's an Inverse," Xellos explained with a smile. "They rarely adhere to convention." He watched as Lina took back the child and held it to her breast. "Better than last time?" he whispered.

"A million times," she murmured, gazing gently down at the baby.

Xellos grinned. "Filia, could you please make sure this good woman is paid and arrives home safely?"

Filia nodded. "You had better pay me back, Xellos," she growled, but she was smiling.

"Of course," he replied.

"Please, this way," Filia said, escorting the midwife.

Lecia bounded from Xellos' embrace and pranced around Val. "I have a baby brother! I have a baby brother!" she sang.

Val smiled at her. "You're lucky," he said.

"I know!" Lecia squealed. "Mommy and Daddy had him just for me to play with!"

"Can I play with him too?" Val asked.

"Sure!" Lecia agreed.

Lecia sang and danced until Filia came back. "Come, children. Let them rest. Having babies is hard work."

"But-" Lecia began to protest.

"Little one, your mommy and brother need rest," Xellos said gently. "You can see them in the morning, when they are stronger."

Lecia hung her head. "Okay," she mumbled, then dashed over. She hugged Xellos and Lina, then very reverently leaned down and kissed the top of her brother's head. Xellos wasn't sure, but he thought he spotted some moisture in Lina's eyes as she watched Lecia's lips meet with the crown of the newborn's head.

"Good night, little one," Xellos murmured.

"Good night Mommy and Daddy! Good night brother!" Lecia squealed, then was towed out of the room by Val.

Xellos sighed as the door shut, feeling relief and joy wash over him. "Absolutely amazing," he breathed. He gathered up Lina and the baby and carried them to the bed, leaning down to smell the newly-cleaned baby. "You are a miracle-worker, dearest Lina."

Lina reached out and caught his hand in hers. "Thank you, Xellos," she said, voice thick and eyes shining. "Thank you very much."

Xellos smiled and stepped away, removing his trousers and going over to the other side of the bed to slip in beside her. "Thank you," he replied, and gazed at Lina and their newborn child until they fell asleep.

Xellos awoke before Lina, gently clearing her tangles of hair from his face and propping himself up on his elbow so he could better see the new addition to his family. Pride and joy washed through him like a flood, obliterating any thought but the happiest and most wholesome. He felt clean and pure, his skin warm from the pride that was burning inside of him. Lina was a woman like no other, he was sure of it. She was strong, passionate, and intelligent. Her might had brought their son into the world, and Xellos felt his face stretch in a smile.

Lina's countenance in slumber was one of the most beautiful things he had ever beheld in his life, and he remembered feeling pleasure looking at her even when he was a Monster. It wasn't the same kind of pleasure, but it had been satisfying nonetheless. Now, to look at her through mortal eyes, she was breathtaking indeed. Her pale, flawless skin was slightly rosy with body heat, her eyelids shining faintly above thick lashes. Her rosebud lips were parted slightly, and he longed to be the breath that passed between them. The full lower curve of her breast peeked out from underneath the comforter, and pressed against it was his son. His son, flesh of his flesh, life of his life. He had two children, a boy and a girl, and the knowledge filled him with a sense of completion. His life was full and balanced. Now, if only he could clear things up with Lina.

He was just beginning to worry about his relationship Lina when his gaze swept over the infant boy. The child's fingers seemed very long, and suddenly Xellos felt an image flash across his brain. It was a vision of a young man with a brilliant smile and sparkling eyes, tall and sturdy of frame. The man's laugh rippled through his awareness like the ringing of a silver bell and Xellos blinked, dazed. The image faded in his mind, and as he examined his son's tiny hand he realized that the boy would most likely grow up to be tall, perhaps even taller than him.

Slowly he reached over to the child, tracing the curve of the chubby, pink cheek with the tip of his finger. The baby's skin was softer than anything he had felt in his life and something inside of him melted. How precious the infant was! His heart suddenly grew heavy when he realized that he had missed seeing Lecia so new in the world. He smiled sadly and gently stroked the baby's head. The child had plenty of hair already, and what was there was red and unruly, random curls threatening to form here and there. "You have your mother's hair," he murmured, overwhelmed with tenderness.

Lina awoke as he spoke, eyes fluttering open and fixing him with her ruby gaze. Her face was nearly lost in the cascade of her fiery hair as it spilled every which way. "What time is it?" she asked softly, slender hand caressing the baby's back.

Xellos cleared the hair away from her face and kissed her on the forehead. "It's a few hours after dawn," he replied. "I think Filia's up, but the children must still be in bed. It's far too quiet."

Lina smiled and nodded, rolling onto her back and setting the baby boy on her chest. "I'm actually not too tired," she muttered, fingers toying with the child's hair.

"I wish I could say the same," Xellos said, scooting over to her and putting his arms around her, resting his head on her breast so he could be at the same eye level as the child. "I'm pleased you're feeling well, however, and am glad you're not exhausted."

"Well, it's no wonder why," she sighed. "You didn't have to do what you did."

"What do you mean?"

"I've given birth before, and I know how bad it hurts. Last night you took all the pain away from me. I know you did, so don't even think about lying to me."

Xellos chuckled and nuzzled her full breast. "What was I supposed to do? You were in agony and I knew how to remedy it. All I did was act upon that knowledge."

He closed his eyes and smiled as he felt Lina run her fingers through his hair. "Thank you," she murmured.

Just then the baby woke up, making little cranky noises and weakly moving against Lina. Xellos sat up and stared in amazement, a part of him unable to believe that the tiny creature was actually real and not some sort of doll. "Is he okay?" he asked.

Lina chuckled and sat up as well, hastily arranging some of the pillows behind her. She reclined and shifted the child. "He's just hungry. He's not used to having to feed," she explained. "Watch."

Xellos stared as Lina lifted the baby to her nipple and the child began to suckle. He watched for a few moments, entranced, then noticed that Lina was looking at him. Faking a sigh, he shrugged and shook his head. "I can't believe I'll have to share them," he said wistfully, then winked at her.

"I didn't nurse Lecia more than a few times," Lina murmured, her smile fading. "I left too quickly."

Xellos rested his hand on her knee and leaned in, kissing her on the cheek. "Please don't fret over it," he replied. "It's in the past, and I'm certain she doesn't hold it against you."

"If only things had been different..." she sighed.

He studied her carefully for a few moments, then turned the full force of his amethyst gaze on her. "If my life had been my own, they would have been."

Lina smiled and nodded. "I believe you. It took me a while, but I believe you."

Xellos grinned and cuddled down next to her again, watching in hushed amazement as his son fed. He couldn't believe how incredible Lina's body was. Not only did it make babies, incubate them, and send them into the world, but it fed them after the birth as well. Finally the child seemed sated and Lina wiped off her nipple with a corner of the sheet. "Are you hungry as well?" he asked.

Lina's smile widened. "Are you really asking me that?"

Xellos laughed and slid out of bed, pulling on his trousers and a shirt. "You're right," he chuckled. "The arrival of the baby must have made me foolish."

"Definitely," she replied, handing him the baby as she also got out of bed and dressed.

"He's so beautiful," Xellos murmured, rocking back and forth slowly as he looked down at the child. He gently fingered the baby's chin and chest, smiling in delight.

"Don't worry, he'll get cuter with time."

"I don't see how. He's perfect already."

Lina laughed. "You won't think so when he's up crying all night. Besides, surely you remember what diaper-changing was like."

Lina reached for the child and Xellos reluctantly returned him. "Let's go get something to eat, shall we?"

They were only up for about fifteen minutes, Xellos' body feeling achy and sore from taking on all of Lina's pain the night before, when Lecia burst into the room, hair wild and eyes excited. She was towing a sleepy Val, who also had bed-head and was rubbing his eyes as Lecia tugged on his sleeve. "Mommy! Daddy!" the little girl shouted. "How's the baby?"

"Hush, Lecia," Xellos said gently. "You shouldn't yell. It might scare your brother."

Lecia's eyes grew even wider and she clamped her mouth shut immediately. "Sorry," she whispered from between clenched teeth. "How's the baby?"

Val blinked and looked around. "Where's my mom?"

Xellos shrugged and picked Lecia up, holding her on his hip as he flipped eggs with his other hand. "I assume she went into town. Would you like breakfast?"

"Yes, please," Val said, constantly sneaking looks at the newborn.

Xellos smiled and kissed the side of his daughter's head. "Would you like to see him?" he asked the boy.

Lina nodded. "Here, Val, take a look," she said gently.

Val crept over to Lina and stared down into her arms at the infant. "He's really small," the child breathed.

"He's brand-new," Xellos chuckled. "Don't worry, he'll get bigger."

"My brother's brand-new," Lecia repeated with a giggle.

"He's sorta wrinkly," Val blurted, then looked at Lina with wide eyes, cheeks stained pink. "I-I'm sorry..."

Lina laughed. "Don't be. Newborn babies are actually pretty gross. He won't get really cute for a while yet."

"Did I look like that, Mommy?" Lecia asked, still clinging to her father.

"You sure did," Lina replied. "You looked like that for weeks and weeks."

"Ewwww!" the little girl squealed.

"Eggs are finished," Xellos announced, setting Lecia on the floor. "Set the table, please."

"Okay!" Lecia shouted, the volume of her voice making the baby squirm and make little sounds.

"Babies don't like that much noise, Lecia," Lina said gently.

Lecia ran over to Lina and stared down at the baby. "I'm sorry," she whispered, kissing the infant's soft skull.

"That's better," Xellos said. "Now please help with the dishes."

"All right," Lecia murmured, quickly setting about her task.

Before long, Xellos had whipped up some pancakes and sausage as well, Lina shoveling food into her mouth as Xellos sat in a chair nearby and cooed at the baby. Val and Lecia muttered to one another, every once in a while casting glances at the child, and Xellos would merely shoot them his typical smile. "You're my little treasure, do you know that?" Xellos crooned to the baby, who merely blinked at him myopically. "You're my very own little son, and I will always be there to take care of you." He gently traced the tiny palm of his baby with a finger, inhaling sharply with delight as the child's small fingers closed around his digit.

"He already knows he's safe with his father," Lina murmured next to him, putting down her knife and fork long enough to give him a tender look.

Xellos smiled beatifically, feeling as if his face would split with joy. "I can't believe we made this, dearest Lina," he whispered. "I can't believe this miracle is ours."

"Mine, too!" Lecia protested, coming over. "When will he start talking?"

Lina reached over and kneaded the baby's foot gently. "Not for a long time. He has a lot of growing and learning to do before he can start speaking."

Lecia stuck out her lower lip. "When can he play with me?"

Lina reached out and pulled Lecia into her lap, kissing the girl on the crown of her head. "Not for a couple of years. You're quite a bit older than he is, and while you started to grow pretty quickly, there's no telling what he'll be like."

"He'll be wonderful, if he's anything like his mother," Xellos replied. "He has your hair, you know."

"And he'll probably battle with it all his life, like I have. Look at his eyes, Lecia. Whose do they look like?" Lina said softly, pressing her cheek to her daughter's.

Lecia's eyes narrowed as she peered at her baby brother. "They look like Daddy's," she declared. "And they look like mine, too. We're both Daddy's babies."

Xellos smiled and nodded, kissing the boy. "Yes, you are my children. You both have the same blood, and you have to take care of one another no matter what. No one else in the whole wide world will ever be your brother."

"He's my only brother," Lecia mouthed. "Can I hold him?"

Xellos looked at Lina. "I think she can, so long as she's in your lap. She won't be able to drop him if you're holding on to both of them."

Lina shrugged. "Okay. Hold out your arms, Lecia, and don't you dare let go of him."

"I won't," Lecia breathed, her eyes wide with wonder as Xellos gently put the infant into Lecia's arms. She carefully held him, supporting his head, and stared down at him in wonder.

Xellos smiled and sat back in his chair, reveling in the sight of Lina holding both their children in her lap. They actually looked like a family, and even Lina looked content. The scene made his insides warm and it felt sweet, as if he was drunk on honey. His smile broadened as his heart became full, and then he spied Val.

The boy was sitting at the far end of the table, his plate cleaned off in front of him, golden eyes fixed on Lina, Lecia, and the baby. His little body was slumped somewhat in the chair and he pressed his lips together. Something in the child's golden eyes seemed hollow, and Xellos felt compassion wash over him. It was an entirely new emotion, he realized. He had never felt tender towards anyone not of his family before. Well, perhaps he knew Val well enough to consider him part of the family. "Come here, Val," he said, and the boy stood.

"Yes?" Val asked, stopping just inches from Xellos' knee.

Xellos grinned and scooped the boy off his feet, pulling him into his lap. "You're not alone. We can all be a kind of family, okay?"

Val was tense at first, then tentatively put an arm around Xellos' shoulder. "Okay," he murmured, and Xellos smiled, giving the boy a hug. Val eventually leaned back into Xellos' body, relaxing, and leaned his head against Xellos' collarbones. "I like having you guys here."

"We like being here, little Val," Xellos replied. "Pretend like Lina and I are your aunt and uncle, okay? Lecia and the new treasure can be like your cousins."

Val opened his mouth to reply, then shut it again as his eyes wandered past Xellos to the door. Xellos turned his head to see Filia standing in the entryway, hand on the door frame. Her expression was soft and kind, but there was a longing behind her eyes that he would have had to have been blind not to notice. "It's okay, Val," she said quietly. "They're like family."

"Okay, Uncle Xellos," Val murmured, smiling as he leaned into Xellos' chest again.

Xellos patted the boy's back and watched Filia come over to him. She stood and stared at the baby for a while, then bowed her head. "He's quite comely, for a newborn," she said.

Xellos felt his gaze linger on the child and Lina. "Yes," he replied. "He has his mother's hair."

"Well," Filia sighed. "Come along, Val. Lecia, you should come, too."

Val slid reluctantly from Xellos' lap and went over to his mother, throwing his arms around her and squeezing. Lecia's mouth wrinkled, but she let Xellos take the baby from her and ran to Val, immediately tugging on his shirt. "Why do he have to go?" she asked.

Filia touched the girl gently on the head and smiled. "Because your parents are nesting," she explained.

Lecia scowled. "Nesting?"

Filia nodded. "That's what we dragons call it, when a male and his mate take time to bond with their hatchling. What they need now is some time alone with the newborn."

"But I wanna stay!" Lecia complained, looking at her father with teary eyes.

"He's your brother, silly," Val interjected. "He'll be there for the rest of your life."

Lecia studied Val, then grabbed his hand. "Then you'll have to play with me until he's old enough," she declared. "Let's go."

Filia smiled and ushered the children out the door. "Go back to bed, you two," she chided. "I can take care of things until you're rested."

Xellos nodded and gazed lovingly at his son. "Thank you, Filia," he replied, then felt Lina's hand on his shoulder.

"Let's go nap," she prodded, and they went back to their room.

Xellos decided upon waking from his nap that having children was the best thing in the world. Lina insisted that it would get more difficult, but after lying in bed naked with the other two all day, he was hard-pressed to believe her. It was wonderful to feel his son's bare skin against his own, Lina's silky flesh winding in between both of them. Seeing the infant at Lina's breast made him feel all fuzzy inside as well, and he knew that with the birth of this new child he was thrown even farther into being a human. He already loved his little boy fiercely and he didn't even really know him yet, after all. "I wish this moment could never end," he murmured against her bare shoulder, gazing softly at the nursing baby.

Lina grunted. "Can't say I feel the same," she muttered. "He'll be spitting up and pooping soon enough."

"That's why I wish THIS moment would never end," he repeated, forcing away his emotions. He hadn't been human long enough to describe how her words made her feel. There was a quality of disappointment to them, but also annoyance and hurt. All of it had the effect of making him feel uneasy. Did Lina really hate being with him so much, and did she so detest bearing his children?

"Whatever," Lina mumbled, not looking at him. Her gaze was fixed on the newborn, who let Lina's slippery nipple slide from his mouth as his head lolled in slumber. She didn't seem happy, but she didn't seem upset, either.

"Are you okay?" he asked, sitting up next to her in bed.

Lina tucked her breast back under the covers and nestled the baby into the curve of her arms. "I'm fine," she replied. "I'm just tired."

He pursed his lips and studied her bowed head, her hair shining like fire in the dim, wintry light. "Is there anything you'd like to talk about?" he said gently.

A great sigh left her and she shook her head, the silky threads of her hair flying every which way with the movement. "No, I'm fine."

Xellos leaned back against the headboard and took a deep breath. Something was going on in Lina's head, and he was willing to bet that it had to do with Gourry. Was she wishing the child was the swordsman's or perhaps reminiscing on the past? "Well," he said after a few long moments, "if you'd ever like to talk, I'm here."

Lina didn't respond and he was on the verge of genuine worry when the bedroom door flew open and Lecia bounded into the room. "Daddy, Mommy, baby, it's dinnertime!" she shouted, pouncing on the end of the bed.

"Quiet, please," Xellos said quickly, glancing with alarm at the baby, but it was too late. The infant began to squirm and make little noises, and even Xellos, who had no experience with newborns, could tell that crying wasn't far behind.

Lecia clapped her hands over her mouth and stared at him, eyes wide. "Sorry," she breathed from behind her palms, eyes sliding over to the baby. "Auntie Filia says it's time for dinner," she whispered.

"Lecia," a voice hissed from the doorway, and Xellos spotted Val. The boy was leaning around the door, a scowl on his face and his golden eyes narrowed. "Mom told you not to bother them!"

Lecia pouted at Val. "She's not my mommy," she growled. "She can't tell me what to do."

"Can, too," Val retorted.

"Nuh-uh!" Lecia protested.

"Yuh-huh!" Val replied angrily. "Don't be such a stupid girl!"

"Shut up, both of you," Lina snapped, eyes crackling with ire. "Get out of here and let us get up."

"You heard your mother," Xellos added, hoping his aid would improve Lina's mood.

Lecia scowled at him and stamped her foot, but she left the room nonetheless, Val disappearing behind her. Xellos slipped from bed and shut the door with a sigh. "Hold him while I dress," Lina ordered.

He felt oddly defeated as he took the infant in his arms, staring down at the child's shock of red hair. "Kids," he muttered.

"They're such a pain," Lina said, tone suggesting that he had uttered a complaint she agreed with.

Lina took the child from him and he dressed, then the two of them moved to the dining room, where Filia was just putting down the remainder of the food. "Did you have a nice nap?" she asked brightly.

"Sure," Xellos replied halfheartedly, pulling a chair out for Lina. She didn't thank him or even look at him, merely handed the child over and began to scoop copious amounts of food onto her plate.

"Are you feeling all right, Miss Lina?" Filia asked, deep blue eyes flickering with concern.

"Yeah, those healing spells you cast on me did the trick," Lina muttered, shoveling food into her mouth before the others were even served.

Filia stared at Lina for a few moments, then turned to Xellos and the baby. "He's just precious," she cooed, caressing the infant's cheek, and her gaze was almost a physical sensation as it slid up Xellos' neck and met his amethyst eyes. He held her eyes for a moment, then glanced away, slightly uncomfortable. It was odd, since he had always considered Filia beneath him, but she was making him rather uneasy. "What's his name?" she murmured.

Xellos realized he didn't know. "I named Lecia, so I believe it's Lina's turn," he replied.

Lina didn't even look up from her food. "Gorran. His name's Gorran."

Blood turned to ice in his veins and Xellos was certain his heart had stopped beating momentarily. Gorran was awfully similar to the name Gourry, and he suddenly became confident that his earlier speculations on Lina's brooding were correct. Lina had never really wanted to be with him, and he didn't know why he was so surprised. Her heart had always belonged to Gourry and it always would. "Gorran Inverse," Xellos murmured, glancing down at Filia only to find her searching his face.

Something in her expression tightened at the same time her gaze softened. "I can hold him, if you'd like to eat," she said gently.

"I'm not hungry," he murmured, but gave the child to her anyway. "Lecia, are you all served?"

"Yeah," the girl replied, and he looked over at the table. Val was serving her food, taking such huge scoops that he couldn't have eaten his daughter's portion. Chunks of the various dishes were all over the table, not to mention Val's clothes.

"Val, what are you doing?" Filia gasped, moving toward the mess, but Xellos halted her with a hand on her shoulder. Filia looked up at him, lips parted as a slight blush stained the bridge of her nose.

"Don't fret. I'll see to it," he mumbled, and reduced Lecia's portions to a reasonable size as he began to clean up the mess.

"I was just trying to help," Val said defensively, but Xellos could tell his eyes were moist.

"I understand," Xellos replied. "You just need more practice, that's all."

"He tried, Daddy," Lecia repeated, and Val's eyes widened at the sudden, unsolicited support.

"I know, little one. Did you thank him?"

Lecia shook her head, sticking her spoon in her mouth. "Thank you, Val," she mumbled around the flatware.

"Uh, you're welcome," Val said awkwardly, shooting glances at his mother.

Xellos finished tidying up and shot a glance at Lina. She had already plowed through half of the food and showed no signs of stopping. "I'll wait in the parlor with Gorran," he said, nearly choking on the child's name.

Filia seemed reluctant, but she gave the baby up. "Okay," she said softly, her hand plucking at his sleeve. "If you need anything, please let me know."

"I will," he replied, and took his newborn son to a quieter place.

Xellos couldn't believe how quickly the weeks were passing. Winter was upon them full-force, snow blanketing the ground. Gorran was using the time to grow like a weed, his amethyst eyes bright and curious as he slowly became capable of focusing on objects more than a few feet away. Still, it hadn't been easy for Xellos. The wonder he felt at watching Gorran grow was combated by the strange, unsettling emotions he felt for Lina. He cared about her, he really did, and he was starting to get discouraged by the fact that she obviously didn't feel the same way. She seemed to like the baby boy all right, but she wasn't too attached to him. The child was sleeping in a cradle next to their bed, and it wasn't long before Lina was pressuring him to have sex with her, but he just couldn't do it. He felt as if she was using him somehow and just couldn't move past his emotions. Whenever he would feel her silky, smooth touch on his shoulders, neck, or hips he would simply roll over and try to sleep, which certainly didn't improve her relationship. It was difficult to feel so unsatisfied all the time, both for the emotion itself and the fact that it was preventing him from being the best father he could be to his son. He wanted Gorran's life to be free of doubt, strife, and unhappiness, but unfortunately those emotions were exactly what their lives seemed to be filled with at the moment. The only person that didn't seem to notice was Lecia. Even Val sometimes carefully crept through the room when Lina was berating Xellos for something or another, and Filia often made herself scarce when the redhead began using harsh words with the father of her children.

Xellos was locked into his dark thoughts, staring at the gray sky and falling snow, when Filia walked in the room, wiping her hands off on an apron. She had tried to get Xellos to talk about his feelings, but a few utterances of "it's a secret" seemed to make her realize that he really didn't want to discuss such things with her. In all reality, he didn't even see her that often. Filia went to work in her shop during the day, and Lina had taken to accompanying her, bringing Gorran along. Xellos was never invited, nor was he actually asked to stay home. It sort of bothered him sometimes that he was simply expected to stay home and care for Lecia and Val. Not that he minded playing with the little ones, since he adored them, but he found that he would have liked some say in the matter. In the old days, when he was a Monster, free will hadn't mattered to him so much. He had taken in stride the fact that others made his decisions for him. Now, as a human, he decided he liked having free will and was peeved that he didn't ever seem to get the opportunity to exercise it. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.

"Define 'okay'," he replied.

She paused as she came even with him, her eyes also searching the falling snow. Slowly he felt a pressure on his wrist and he looked down to see that she was gently touching the skin of his forearm. Her cheeks were slightly pink as she looked up at him. "It'll all be fine," she murmured with a faint smile.

"Is that another prophecy?" he asked with a wry curve of his lips.

She shook her head. "We're both different people now, Xellos," she said softly.

"That's certainly true," he replied.

"Xellos!" he heard someone say sharply, and he jerked his forearm away from Filia's touch, feeling oddly guilty to have been comforted slightly by the dragon's nearness. Lina stood in the doorway, cradling Gorran, and glared at him.

Filia took a hasty step away from him and cast her eyes on the floor. Xellos glanced at her, brow furrowing a bit, then fixed his attention on Lina. He wished that the sorceress wasn't so damn beautiful, he decided. It was awful having his breath taken away every time he looked at the person who was making his life such hell. "Yes?" he asked, trying to keep an iron grip on his ever-fleeing patience. The tension between them was really getting to him. After all, it was bad enough that he wasn't sure how he felt about her, but the uncertainty of her feelings and the friction between them was becoming unbearable. There was simply too much confusion and bitterness happening for him to see and move through it effectively.

"Where are the kids?" she snapped, suddenly glaring at Filia.

Xellos felt his stomach turn to lead and sink inside his abdomen. "They're not out back?"

Lina shook her head, her flashing eyes, not quite the color of blood, fixed upon him with withering intensity. "No. There's a storm moving in, too."

Filia paled and clutched at Xellos' sleeve. He tried to pull away as he saw Lina's expression darken, but Filia was gripping him too tightly. "What? And they're still outside?"

"They said they were going to play in the snow," Xellos said. "Lecia promised me they'd stay right out back."

"Well, they're not there," Lina said sharply, rocking back and forth as she cradled Gorran.

Filia turned to Xellos and moved her grip up to his biceps, this time grabbing him with both hands. "We have to find them!" she said frantically. "It's almost dark!"

Xellos gently pried her fingers loose from his clothing. "I know, Miss Filia," he said as calmly as he could. He had to fight the rising panic inside him, no matter what. "I'll leave right now."

He was already on his way to the door, grabbing his cloak, when Filia grabbed his wrist. "I'm coming with you," she said, blue eyes flat and determined. Her golden eyebrows were drawn together and he thought he had rarely seen her exhibit such inner strength.

Xellos studied her for a moment, measuring her, then nodded once. "All right. Go get your cloak. I'll only wait a second," he replied. Filia dashed from the room and up the stairs, and Xellos took the opportunity to move over to stand in front of Lina. "You'll be okay alone with the baby?" he asked softly.

Lina scowled at him. "Of course, you idiot. What could possibly happen?"

Xellos swallowed all the possible things he knew could go wrong. "You're right, you can take care of yourself," he said. "You've never needed a guardian."

Something in Lina's eyes wavered and she glared at him hatefully. "If anything's happened to Lecia..." she grated.

"I won't let it," he responded, and leaned forward to kiss her on the lips. Lina turned her head at the last moment, forcing him to kiss her cheek. He crushed back the disappointment that raged within him once again and was on his way to the door when Filia trotted up behind him.

"Come on," she urged, grabbing his hand, and the last thing Xellos saw was Lina standing in the middle of the room, clutching their son, refusing to watch him leave.

It wasn't long before he and Filia found themselves in the forest, snow falling silently all around them as the daylight faded. "Val!" Filia screamed. "Lecia!"

Xellos listened intently but heard nothing. No branches broke, no childish giggles could be heard. "Damn it," he whispered. "Lecia?" he shouted, waiting again as silence closed in around them.

Filia clutched at him, blue eyes watery and wide with fright. "Something's happened, I just know it," she moaned.

She was throwing herself against him with such pain and fear that he found it impossible not to put an arm around her as she shivered. "We'll find them, don't worry," he tried to reassure her. "I would rather die than let anything happen to them."

Filia looked up at him, blinking away tears. "I believe you, Xellos. I believe in you. You're a different man than you were five years ago."

"Not just that, I'm an entirely different race," he commented wryly, and was gratified to see a brief smile cross her full lips. Not that he particularly cared about Filia, but things would be easier if she wasn't panicking.

She breathed for a few moments, her breath making little clouds in the chilly air. "I can't hear anything," she said under her breath.

Xellos nodded grimly and concentrated, wishing that his hearing was as sensitive as it had been as a Monster. He regretted losing some of his powers at times like this, not being sure what was more important: his ability to love his family or the power to protect them. Then he heard something; a small, shrill noise came to him from across the snow. "There," he hissed, pointing off through the forest.

Filia's eyes widened and they could barely make out the sound of a little girl's terror-filled shriek. "It's Lecia!" she gasped, but Xellos was already running.

His feet pounded through the deep snow as he chanted his time manipulation spell. He couldn't teleport without putting incredible strain on his body, but he could slow the flow of time. The snow fell more and more slowly around him, and he knew that he could cover quite a bit of ground while the spell lasted. He forced his legs to move as quickly as they would carry him, focusing on the direction he head heard the scream from, and then nearly fell down as time popped back to normal. "Lecia!" he bellowed, his voice echoing back to him.

He had gone far enough that he could clearly hear frightened cries. "Filia!" he shouted. "This way!" As soon as the words were out of his mouth he was running again.

"Coming!" she cried, and he could tell she was flying to him as quickly as she could.

Cursing, he tore through the snow, then saw what was going on. A river coursed in front of him, covered in ice. The pounding of the water drowned out nearly all other noise as it crashed away to the south, only one patch of the flowing liquid visible. The ice on the surface of the river had cracked, leaving a hole, and he saw Lecia clinging to a rock in the middle of the water, clothing soaked and clinging to her. "Hold on!" he screamed, dashing to the riverbank.

"No!" he heard Filia scream, and he could tell she wasn't far behind him.

Xellos clenched his teeth as he levitated to the rock, leaning over and plucking his daughter from the raging current. "Daddy," Lecia sobbed, shivering. Her little lips were blue and her skin deathly cold.

"It's okay, love," he murmured, rubbing gloved hands over her skin, tearing off her wet clothes.

"Is she okay?" Filia asked.

Xellos nodded. "Put her in your clothes and try to warm her up," he directed.

Filia took the little girl and folded her into her cloak, hugging her against her body. "Where's Val?" she asked, eyes wide.

Xellos felt fear rip through his chest and he stood, peering through the increasingly heavy snow. "Val?" he shouted, then heard Lecia crying.

"He went under," she wailed, clinging to Filia.

Filia paled and her knees buckled, nearly sending both her and Lecia face first into the snow. "Val," Filia screamed, tears streaming down her face.

Xellos fought off panic. "It'll be just fine," he said. "Just keep Lecia warm."

"What will you do?" Filia sobbed, crushing the girl's body to her own.

Xellos pressed his lips together, then began to remove his cloak and shirt. "I'm going to go get him," he growled.

"What?" Filia asked, blue eyes wide.

"I'm going to go in that blasted river and find your son," he repeated, bending down and sliding out of his heavy boots.

"But, your clothes," Filia said, lips barely moving.

"I can't swim quickly enough with them on."

"But you'll freeze!"

"Better me than your son," Xellos said quickly. "Listen, I know you'll protect my children. On my honor as a Monster, I can't let you best my efforts."

Her brows furrowed. "But you're not a Monster anymore, Xellos! You're a human!"

Xellos smiled and shook his head, already hopping from one foot to another in the snow. "You know, I do believe you're correct," he said, then turned and dashed off to the river.

"Xellos!" he heard Filia cry, then went deaf as he plunged into the icy water.

The shock of the temperature almost made his brain shut down completely, but he fought past it and forced his limbs to move. The current immediately whipped him away and he grunted as his back hit the ice, shredding his skin. The flow of his blood into the water was the only warmth he had as he turned himself around, desperately trying to see in the frigid water. He kicked out his legs and began to pull himself through the river, searching for any sign of Val and finding none. The breath burned in his lungs as he held it, and he mercifully found a pocket of air. Dammit, what spells would help him? How could he possibly find the boy, and would it be too late?

Plunging beneath the surface again, he ignored the pain in his arm as the current smashed him against a large, sharp rock. He had only been in the water a few minutes and already his fingers and toes were going numb. It wouldn't be much longer before hypothermia would set in and he would be no use to anyone. Well, there was no choice, then, he realized as he braced himself against another rock. When he was secure he opened his senses, channeling his human energy onto the astral plane. He had plenty of astral energy,but it was hard to tap into his alternate awareness when his physical body was under so much stress. He resolutely ignored the cold and shut his eyes, concentrating. Where was the boy? His dragon's form should be easy to spot... There! Downstream a ways, wrapped around a log! With a shove Xellos launched himself back into the current, his long, powerful strokes moving his body along even more quickly than before. Rolling onto his back, he summoned his magical energy and punched through the ice, trying to keep his movements steady despite his shivering. He grabbed onto the edge of the hole he had made, the ice slicing through the skin of his palm, and pulled himself up into the snowy, freezing air. "Val!" he half-shouted, the other half of his voice consumed in a gasp. He squinted through his thick, dripping bangs as he clambered onto the ice, the bottoms of his feet so cold that he felt as if they were being burned. His toes lost purchase and he fell, scrabbling at the ice with his hands, and the surface cracked underneath him ominously. The ice wouldn't hold for much longer, and he had to find the boy before they were both dead.

He searched for a few more frantic moments, then he located the boy. It should have been easier to see Val, except that his black, feathery wings were draped over his body as he hugged the log. "Val!" he cried, slipping as he scrambled over to the child. He quickly took Val up in his hands, the bleeding cuts on his arms and chest smearing red fluid on the child's pale skin. The boy's flesh was cold and rubbery, his lips violet. Val had apparently tried to transform into a dragon to save himself, but the transformation was incomplete, the wings and tail being the only manifestations of his dragon form. The heavy, dark wings were made even more cumbersome by the fact that they were soaking wet, ice already forming on some of the feathers. Fear clutched Xellos' heart and he pressed his ear to Val's thin chest, trying to listen to a heartbeat over the chattering of his own teeth. It was there, but it was faint.

Xellos realized that time was of the essence. Levitating over to the bank, he paid no heed to his own freezing skin as he set Val in his lap, tilting the child's head back. Pinching Val's nose shut, he sealed his mouth over the boy's and breathed. The breath did not go in and Xellos' heart sank. "Work with me," he hissed, rolling the boy onto his side and gently compressing his ribs. Water flowed from the child's mouth and nose and Xellos picked him back up, trying the procedure again. It still didn't work. He repeated the process a few more times and was finally rewarded as the child began to cough. "Val?" he asked. "Val, hang on."

"Uh?" the child moaned, twitching.

"Hang on," Xellos grated, teeth clenched to keep them from chattering. "Everything will be okay." His body was numb and cold, blackness hovering at the edges of his vision. The skin on his limbs felt heavy, yet fragile, and it was difficult to move. He could no longer feel his feet or his toes, and the bare skin of his chest burned with pain and the freezing air. Ice hung from the ends of his thick, limp hair, and he was tired, so very tired...

With a jerk he sat upright