Gem unwaveringly made her way down the London streets, a cloak encasing her entire body. Her hood covering her hair, but Gem's face remaining visible.
The woman's maturity leave was over, and she needed to return to her normal daily routine. Which obviously would not be normal since your being hunted by the authorizes and a society of divine beings forced to seek refuge in a mortician's shop.
Gem huffed, her thoughts going to Undertaker who was at home watching her newborn. She was still upset with him, clearly, since this morning the woman had not said a word to him before she bolted out of the door.
She felt guilty for her anger, but the man or in this case reaper had mocked her pain. Gem took a deep breath and tossed the thought out of her mind; she finally reached the small news building and as always strolled into the alley to the backdoor as always.
Secretly, Gem hated having to do this. For once, she wanted to enter the front door like a normal employee.
But Mr. Crowds had insisted, good writers were a dime in dozen and Gem had a rare talent for it. Furthermore, females had a bad standing in society so this habitual incentive was necessary for everyone's benefit or so he had told her.
Gem knocked three times on the door before a young woman with bright orange eyes and creamy mocha skin answered.
"You're late." She smiled and hugged the woman.
" Yeah, I know that Ira. Gem hurried into her office, hanging her cloak on a hanger hook, just as Ira handed her a cup of coffee as she sat in the chair in front of the desk.
"So, I see you got yourself in a bit of trouble," Ira stated taking a seat, her legs crossed.
Gem sipped the beverage her gaze refusing to meet her friend's gaze. Ira somehow had the ability to read people like an open book.
"You know about the police?" Gem asked as Ira nodded.
"Does Mr. Crowds know?" She asked again, this time Ira shook her head.
" No, and I have made sure he won't find out until this is all over." She took out a huge bag filled with wanted posters with Gem's face on them. The new mother smiled, feeling some weight lift from her shoulders.
" Thanks, Ira. How did you manage to get all these before seven?" Gem asked always suspicious but always knew the answer. Ira was a five-star employee, she made things happen and got her work completed tasks before hours before the day was done. How she did things was somewhat inhuman.
"I'm only half human remember? I can move very fast, besides the posters were not hard to locate. Now let's change topics I need details on the newborn!" Ira said leaning until her face was inches from Gem's. Gem chuckled at the sight.
"Okay, okay! You have a healthy god-son who has been named Ryder." The new mother stated watching Ira squeal happily.
"I knew you would have a boy! Oh, Andrew would have been so proud!" Ira said thinking of all the presents she could spoil the child with.
"Yeah, he did want a son, but there is a slight problem." Gem stated. Ira stopped her face expressing worry.
"What is it?" Ira asked Gem took in a breath.
"Ryder has Andrew's eyes." Ira froze, immediately she sat down to think about the situation.
"The eyes of a reaper. You know, if you weren't human I would suggest moving to the realm of the reapers but since Andrew was murdered they are probably after you too." Ira muttered.
"Yes and the reason I staying with Undertaker." Gem said when Ira's eyes lit up.
"Awesome you're staying with Adrian?" Ira asked as Gem looked at her confused.
"Adrian? Wait, you know him?" She nodded moving her chair closer to Gem.
"We were old friends a few centuries back. Adrian Creeven is his real name. In the reaper realm, he is known as a legend!"
Gem was awestruck, from her first encounter with the mortician she would have never known he was famous.
"Then, what in the world is he doing decorating bodies for funerals?"Gem asked very confused on Undertaker's riches to rags story.
Ira moved closer to her friend so their eyes met.
"For some reason, Adrian went into early retirement. He came to London where he made a new life for himself away from his kind." Ira explained to Gem as she allowed the words to seep into her.
"I wonder why he left?" Gem asked causing Ira to shrug and get up from her seat.
"I have to go. I'll leave you to your writing." Ira was halfway to the door when Gem stopped her.
" Oh, Ira please tell Mr. Crowds that I will be working from 7-12 from now on," Gem muttered as Ira nodded.
"Of course, if he needs an excess I'll tell him it's because of the baby." She then walked out, shutting the door behind her.
The rest of the day was spent writing advice for her segment and answering fifty questions at a time. It was hard but brought Gem a sense of joy and determination for her work. When the clock struck 12, Gem gathered her cloak. Adjusting it so she would remain concealed from the world.
She waved goodbye to Ira who promised to come by and visit her at the shop soon. Gem smiled, walking out of her office, she froze when on the roof in front of her were three reapers.
Gem hid in the shadows of the alley, from where she was their words were well-defined in her ears.
"Did you find him yet?" one reaper asked the other two.
The pair shook their heads indicating no.
"We need to find him soon. There is no way I'm telling William he's disappeared." The reaper stated as the other two reapers nodded, fear evident on their faces as they ran across the tops of the roofs.
Gem held a hand over her heart, relieved that they did not find her.
She managed to slip out through the other end of the alley, recognizing the path to the shop. When Gem reached the parlor, she hung the cloak and collapsed on the sofa exhausted.
"That was too close!" she muttered. Precautions had to be made if she wanted to stay out of trouble.
She looked around not hearing Undertaker or Ryder. Gem got up and found a note on the kitchen counter.
Dear Gem,
I had to deliver a few guests to their homes. I know I had to watch the baby, so I took him with me.
You should just see the way he shows interest in the bodies! He will make a great reaper someday. Anywho we will see you soon!
-Undertaker
P.S: Don't cook we are bringing food home.
She nearly bent over with laughter at the note, his handwriting was not the best but Gem was able to read the words. Since Undertaker had Ryder, this was a good time for her to get some rest before he handed her charge back.
The new mother yawned as she made herself comfortable on the sofa.
A sense of bliss washing over the young woman. Her eyes began closing until she heard a knock at the door.
Gem groaned, she had forgotten this was a funeral parlor after all and Undertaker forgot to switch the sign to closed. She got up, straightened her hair and proceeded to answer the door like a noblewoman would have if she truly were one.
"Hello, welcome to Undertaker's shop," she said greeting the customer with a smile.
The figure walked in covered in red from head to toe, Gem stared in shock at the man in front of her. He was very handsome and strangely he looked familiar. Her heart stopped when she saw his yellow-green eyes.
"Thank you, darling. I'm here to see Undy, unfortunately, he does not seem to be here." The reaper said not paying attention to the woman.
"Y-yes he's out." Gem stuttered, slowly moving to a nearby wall, her hand trying to locate the broom.
The man began walking to the door, " Well, if he comes back tell him Grell Sutcliff came by."
Gem stared in shock, she knew that last name.
"Sutcliff?" Gem whispered as Grell turned around his eyes widening.
"Y-you're the girl!" He shouted, shutting the door and walking towards Gem.
"I have been looking everywhere for you!" Grell said getting closer.
She panicked grabbing the first thing she felt, which happened to be a mop. Gem swung it at the red reaper's head. Luckily, he ducked at the right moment as she fled into the living room still swinging the mop at his head.
"You and your pals will never have my son! He's the only reminder of what I've lost!" Gem yelled continuing to swing the mop before Grell swiftly caught it.
"Look Gem is it? I didn't come here to take your child. As his uncle, I came to protect him from my boss, William who wants to take him." Grell explained hoping the human woman would calm down.
Gem wedged the mop from his grip as the reaper continued to talk. She noticed a few tears covering his eyes.
" Like you, that baby is the only thing I have left of Andrew and there is no way I'm letting Will have him either."
Gem threw the mop in the corner and embraced the red reaper who tightened his hold on her.
"Thank you, big brother." Gem said as Grell smiled pulling from the embrace.
"So, my darling brother married you?" Grell asked looking over her while Gem blushed.
" I wanted to invite you to the wedding but Andrew said you really couldn't keep a secret." Gem stated as He crossed his arms.
"Sad but it is true! Your wedding would have been headline news in Dispatch!" Grell exaggerated making Gem laugh watching at how eccentric her brother in law was compared to Andrew.
Gem had heard many stories of them as children, but they didn't do Grell justice. Andrew and Grell were polar opposites how they got along were beyond her understanding.
" Since you're here Undertaker took Ryder with him for work purposes so how about you sit here and I'll make some tea." Gem said welcoming the red reaper.
She went to the kitchen and looked curiously when Grell began following her.
"Oh please let me help darling. Tell you what I'll make scones for the tea!" The reaper went to the cabinet pulling out the necessary ingredients.
"Are you sure Grell? Andrew said you weren't good at baking."
He frowned again and began mumbling.
"He breaks a tooth on one of my first batch of cookies and I never hear the end of it! Don't worry Gem I can do this, and I was a child when I made those cookies." Grell reassured her.
"Ok." Gem said nervously pouring water into the kettle.
Five minutes later Gem and Grell sat the tea and scones at the table, they spent their time talking and drinking tea.
Fortunately, those were only things that did not get poisoned since Grell mistook the salt for sugar when he was preparing the scones, but Gem fixed the mistake.
"Why does William want my child doesn't he any of his own?" Gem asked when her brother in law chuckled his sharp teeth visible.
"That's not really the case darling, its dispatch that is ordering this. You see they believe that humans should only raise fully moral children not ones who are half."
Gem frowned, outraged she slammed her tea on the table after hearing Grell words.
"It is not my fault that I fell in love and got married to a reaper! You said it is common for reapers to pair themselves with non-reapers!" Gem shouted addressing Grell who sipped his tea, unfazed by his sister in law's temper.
"It is but many of the half breeds are born in our realm, Dispatch has problem with them because at least one parent is a divine reaper. Now as you know if Andrew were alive-.
Gem sighed cutting Grell's sentence, she knew what he was about to say.
"I know. The situation would be different but my situation is already difficult since my child will outlive me." Gem muttered. Grell stared at his sister curiously trying to understand where their conversation was going.
" You see when I married Andrew I shared his lifespan. Now that he's dead my mortal span has been restored." She stated down sadly at her half-eaten scone, as Grell reached a hand to rub her shoulders.
"Ryder will outlive you since half breeds have a normal reaper lifespan." Gem nodded tears escaping her eyes, Grell pulled a velvet tissue from his pocket and gave it his sister.
"Darling, do not fret I promise to look after Ryder if anything happens to you and if you want I can be the one to take it!" Grell stated unusually giddy about the prospect of taking his sister's soul. Gem's eyes widened in fear, Andrew had that same happiness when it came to human life and death. It didn't unnerve, until now.
"That won't be necessary Grell! I would appreciate if you would raise Ryder if anything happens, but as for my soul no thanks." Grell shrugged his shoulders, unaffected by the rejection.
" Suit yourself, darling," he stated placing a scone in his mouth. Gem took the opportunity to pour more tea into their cups. Just as their talk ended, Undertaker came walking in with Ryder giggling in his arms.
At seeing Grell he took action with swift speed, Undertaker set Ryder on the sofa and went for his scythe, but was grabbed before he could reach it. His yellow-green eyes met Gem's lovely reddish ones her eyes holding sadness and longing.
"It's okay Undertaker, Grell's on our side and he is my brother in law." Undertaker's mouth gaped, his eyes widened beneath his bangs.
"Your husband was a Sutcliff?" Undertaker said taken aback that someone like Gem could somehow be related to Grell. She nodded, Undertaker went silent before bursting into a fit of uncontrollable laughter, he held his sides and fell to the floor.
"Of all the reapers, you choose this crazy reaper's brother!" He forced himself from the floor only to be met with a deadly stare from the angry twosome.
"Undy, that was not funny! You are absolutely horrible for saying that!" Grell said as Gem nodded in agreement. She walked over to pick up her son.
"Don't worry Grell, I was mad at him yesterday for a similar reason, now I have another prolong it." Gem explained watching Undertaker frown at having made Gem twice as angry in only a few days.
"Come, Grell let's continue our chat in the parlor." Gem said positioning Ryder on her hip while carrying the tea to the shop. Grell followed carrying both teacups but paused to talk to Undertaker.
"By the way, Undy I have decided to spend the night. My sister needs more family bonding plus I will not have her be influenced by a half-mad hatter!" He yelled retreating to the parlor.
Undertaker sighed and removed his hat showing off his luxurious locks.
" This is going to be a long night."
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