Kyou Kara Maou : The Pirate Wedding

Summary: Wolfram and Yuuri's second wedding attempt is waylaid by pirates. But – might they still get a child as a wedding gift? Sequel to any of my KKM fanfics so far.

Disclaimer: I have no rights to Kyou Kara Maou, of course.

Please review.

Chapter 10 : Homecoming

"Hey. You don't have to prove you're a man to me, Wolfram," Yuuri said, gently relocating his hand from where it had wandered. They'd just gone to bed in their cabin on Gwendal's hydrofoil, now underway back to Shin Makoku. Yuuri wasn't opposed to role reversal, even instigated it sometimes. But… he had a suspicion he knew where it was coming from, this time. "I know who you are, and love you that way. What's up, love?"

Wolfram sat up, leaning against the bulkhead and cuddling Yuuri to his chest, stroking his hair and jaw the way he liked. And as Yuuri expected, he circled round instead of facing the question directly. "I invited Efram to stay with us a few months a year. And even if we adopt Frieda, I still want to adopt Dierdra and Chichiue's baby. And babies and adolescents are a lot more trouble than a girl Greta's age… Are you really OK with us quadrupling our children, Yuuri? "

"Very," Yuuri said, nuzzling Wolfram's chest. Wolfram didn't continue, and he sighed. "I think… raising children will give you some scope. Being my political advisor isn't enough to keep a man of your talent and energy occupied. Advising me is kinda frustrating, too, since it takes us so much back-and-forthing to come to some point in the middle – that's a good thing, but it is frustrating. You love raising children, you're good at it, you find it fulfilling. And I love doing it with you, though you'd do most of the work. And… as for you going back to active duty in the military… Do you remember that conversation we had with your father, when he declared you 'healed enough' after your rape in Mizrat? When he said… that one suicide attempt in action might be something you could get past in time, and be restored as a line officer, but two…?"

"He called it an 'established habit of heroic self-destruction', and officers like that tend to get themselves and their men killed instead of getting the job done. And who do you suppose the medical examiner for Bielenfeld officers is?" Wolfram said bitterly.

Yuuri stroked Wolfram's chest and side. "That's not really the point, is it? It's not a question of 'getting past Manfred'. You could try. Eventually I imagine the appeal would land on my desk, or Gwendal's. And for us, the question would end up exactly where it started – is he right? You volunteered to go with Efram with the words, 'I'd die for you'. And you damned near did, by your own choice of… heroic self-destruction. Wolfram, what you did… worked. You saved Efram's life. Maybe it was the only way, maybe it was the best way. But it seems Manfred's point was, that he feared you'd set yourself up that way, time after time, until you got killed, if anyone let you. So… you tell me. Was he right? When this appeal comes to Manfred's desk, or Gwendal's, or mine, would we be signing a death warrant? We love you, Wolfram."

"So you'll permanently retire me as a mental case. Because you love me."

"If you really need to make it my fault, or Manfred's, go right ahead. I'm sure we'd both rather take the blame for that, than for signing your death warrant. But it's not our fault. I don't think it's your fault, either. It's not a question of fault. Was it Manfred's 'fault' his leg is permanently lamed? He took irreversible damage in the line of duty. So did you. Something happened that royally sucks, and you bear the consequences for the rest of your life. It makes me furious to think anyone would call what happened to you any more shameful than what happened to him, or any more your 'fault'. When you're ashamed of you… I cry for you, love."

Wolfram started crying softly, and hugged Yuuri tight . "It scares me," he said. "I'm so dependent on you. And yeah, it's like… I'm not a man because I'm so dependent."

"Stop that." Yuuri held Wolfram's face and looked him in the eye. "I depend on you, absolutely. So does our family. There's nothing wrong with depending on the people you love. If that makes me less a man, then screw being a 'man'. I'd far rather have you."

Wolfram sniffed a half-laugh. "…Yeah. You're right. I guess I'd never be willing to give up being dependent on you. I guess I'm kinda stuck with just… forgiving myself for that."

Yuuri laughed out loud. "Uh-huh. Well. When you forgive yourself for being in love with me…"

Wolfram wiped his eyes and chuckled. "I think I've already managed that. Thanks… I guess I needed to talk."

"You're welcome. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to have a beautiful blond make love to me for a change."

"And here I thought you were objecting to that," said Wolfram. He flipped Yuuri onto his back and pinned his hands, and threw a leg over his legs to pin them as well.

"Nope. No objection. In fact… I think we should make it part of our 'make love to make a baby' magic. Third time's a charm."

Wolfram kissed him, still pinned, deep and hard. "No going Maou on me tonight, I hope."

"Oh, been there, done that already today. Every day for the past three, actually… You're calling you a mental case? What do you call a man who has no control over an über-powerful monster inside him who comes out and kills 96 people…" Yuuri's voice was bleak.

"I call him… Yuuri," kiss, "my love," kiss, "wimp… So, OK, two mental cases. I'd offer to give you a chance to talk, Yuuri, but I'm afraid I'm just too busy right now." Kiss. "Oh, Mazoku soul, brave enough to have two mental cases for fathers, let our love-making draw you to us…"

-oOo-

Manfred sat on the steps from the gallery, looking out on the entrance courtyard of Blood Pledge Castle, waiting. Efram made it up from the harbor first, having taken a running leap off the yacht before even the crew did, and ran the rest of the way uphill. He flew into his father's arms, knocking him back. Manfred hugged him tight.

"So, am I grounded for life? I did leave a note. Did you tell Hahaue? I missed you so much. I was scared! Was the baby born yet? I talked Aunt Cheri into 'opening it up' on the yacht on the way back. That was so cool! Gwendal ate our wake!" Manfred laughed. "What? Aren't you going to ask me how I am?"

"Ask what? You're obviously fine, and you had the time of your life. And, you didn't let me get a word in edgewise, fire pixie."

"I'm sorry." Efram hugged him again, and held on this time. "Did I tell you how much I missed you yet?" Manfred nodded and held him just as tight, until he started to wriggle, then sighed and reluctantly let him go again. "Oh, Chichiue! About the baby. I talked with Wolfram. I know I said I didn't want you to give them the baby, but I take it back. I think you should. And… I want to stay here with them for a few months, with the baby. Or if the baby's going home with you… I'd want to stay with Wolfram a few months anyway. We want to be 'more full brothers'. Is that OK?"

He's growing up so fast… "Very OK. In fact… it would probably be best for now, because… I need to live at Castle Bielenfeld most of the time this year. I don't think you'd be very happy there, commuting to the Institute."

"Blech. How come you're moving to the castle?"

"Um, mind if I hold onto that story until the grown-ups get here? I don't feel like telling it all day. However. While you're waiting, you can go give your Aunt Dierdra and your new baby brother a kiss."

Eframs eyes lit up and he grinned and threw his arms around his father again briefly. "Are you keeping him or giving him to Wolfram? Did you decide yet?"

"Well, I decided to keep him, but then the damnedest thing –" Manfred broke off laughing. Efram was already dashing up the gallery toward Dierdra's room, yelling "Hey, everybody! We're home!"

"Energetic youngster, isn't he?" asked Ted von Trondheim, coming to join Manfred on the steps. "Done with your sleight of hand yet?"

"Not quite –" He broke off, all other thoughts evacuating his head, when Cheri rode into the courtyard. Ted just looked away smiling. Cheri dismounted and ran into Manfred's arms. "I'm so glad you're safe," he murmured into her hair. He held her every second he thought he could get away with, then let her go and gallantly bowed her to be seated on the stairstep next to him. "So, no passengers?"

"Just Efram. I trust he already zoomed by?"

Manfred chuckled. "Been and gone. He's greeting his new baby brother now. He'll be back when Dierdra gets tired of him bouncing off the walls. I imagine Greta's with him by now, too. Do we… have a few hours before Gwendal gets here?" he asked hopefully. "Efram said you 'opened it up'..."

"Only for a few minutes. Someone told him about climbing the rigging. Oh, before they get here, I spoke to the Shibuyas. Mother Miko votes eighteen, father Shouma twenty-one, elder brother Shouri twenty-five. But they won't push their views on their son… Well, I can relate." Manfred nodded ruefully – not easily done. "But we can manage eighteen, right? Did you get rid of all the wedding guests?"

Manfred laughed. "I don't run this castle, woman! But yes, wedding successfully cancelled, guests evicted. You want to tell them for us? Ted and I'd be much obliged…"

"The guilty isn't here, is he?" observed Ted wryly.

"Hold ranks, Ted," Manfred advised. "We lead with the Mizrati invasion, then take group kudos for evading disaster. Then tell them their wedding was a casualty. If you break ranks and pin blame, heaven help you with Aldrich's next scheme…"

"Oooh! There's no way I'm going to get this story before they get here, is there?" pouted Cheri. "Oh, well. The baby! Does he look like Efram? I'm picturing cornsilk-yellow-green hair and gorgeous green eyes. Are you still going to give him to Wolfram?"

"Yes, just like Efram, cornsilk-green hair. Actually, his eyes are a bit on the aqua side – gorgeous, of course." Mazoku babies grew slower, but started out a bit advanced over human ones, eyes open within a few hours of birth. "I'd about decided to keep him myself, but the damnedest thing –"

"Ah!" Cheri interrupted with a finger to his lips. She whispered in his ear. "I hear the mob coming. This is sure to be a circus. Can I slip into your room tonight?"

"Definitely…" Manfred stood, slightly-taller gorgeous blonde on his arm, as Gwendal's company rode in. He let them come to him – it just made people uncomfortable when a cripple limped to meet them.

Gwendal and Conrad dismounted and greeted them first, the Gratz brothers hanging back. Manfred's eyes narrowed at the baby Adelbert was carrying – none of the bird-borne briefings had mentioned her. But Gwendal said, "Lord Bielenfeld, I presume? Congratulations. Any… casualties? No? Good."

"Lord Bielenfeld?" said Cheri, eyes wide, head spinning with the possibilities.

Manfred shook his head at her to wait. One thing at a time, love. "And congratulations to you, Gwendal. And Annissina! May I kiss the bride?"

"No," answered Gwendal.

"Of course!" answered Annissina, and flung her arms around Manfred to exchange a kiss.

"I didn't offer to kiss you, Gwendal," Manfred said through her red hair, with a demon smile.

As the Shibuyas arrived, Cecilie made the introductions,Yuuri and Wolfram having lagged behind from waving at the crowds. "Shibuya Miko-san – Miko-chan, yes, haha… – Shibuya Shouma-san, and Shibuya Shouri-san. I'd like you to meet Wolfram's father, Lord Manfred von Bielenfeld."

Manfred didn't correct her. "Hello, hello! Pleased to meet you! It's clear where Yuuri gets his looks." And hopefully his heart, and not his brains. He beamed smiles. "We were so relieved to hear of your safe recovery from the pirates. You've had quite an adventure."

"Manfred-sensei," Shouma greeted him, shaking hands. "Yuuri tells us you're a cockroach-scientist."

"I beg your pardon?"

Conrad stepped in hurriedly, before Manfred's sense of humor got loose. "The translator does interesting things with words that don't translate. Ah – Manfred, they have a kind of healer who specializes in mental problems. Yuuri was perhaps over-simplifying…"

"Ah! Blecch, no. Ah, Mazoku healers, we don't specialize. We just heal with all that we are, and that… grows over time, with what we've experienced in life. And sometimes, we have cases that lead us to mine the experience of previous soul lives as well…"

"You said we're not supposed to do that," said Efram and Wolfram in unison, arriving from front and back about then. Efram came with Aldrich and Greta, who leapt down to throw herself into her fathers' arms with a whoop.

"You weren't ready yet," clarified Manfred. "Ah, perhaps Yuuri also told you, all the men in our family – the von Bielenfelds – share one of the healing gifts –"

"But Chichiue's the best," interrupted Efram.

"Actually, my Uncle Friedrich's the best, and you're interrupting," said Manfred.

Wolfram asked, "But then why did he give Annette to you, Chichiue?"

"She was completely non-responsive and a friend of mine…" Manfred got distracted by a grizzled sergeant in Bielenfeld blue coming into the courtyard. He waved the man over, since he would have hung back rather than interrupt – unlike his sons…

Aldrich picked up the conversation thread. "Wolfram, when someone deadens out, the first trick is to break through and engage them. But… people deaden out for a reason, because they believe they can't handle something. And they're right. So, my father was using Manfred's relationship with Annette to break through, before she just drifted away beyond reach. He probably would have taken her back for the long haul. She just… broke through faster and harder than they expected."

"You've handled cases like that, too? Completely nonresponsive?" Wolfram didn't think such cases were common.

"It's just a matter of degree," said Aldrich kindly, meeting his eye. "Someone at that level of deadening out – I'd leave to my father and yours." Though I could probably have handled someone at the level you suffered two years ago, went unsaid, though Wolfram caught it. Aldrich and Friedrich were just as talented as Manfred – they were just busy running the domain. Manfred had outstripped Aldrich, but Friedrich had spent several centuries devoted to healing, before he and his grandson Wolfred unexpectedly inherited Bielenfeld.

"Ah, Shibuya-san-tachi, my elder cousin Lord Aldrich von Bielenfeld – my surrogate older brother," Manfred belatedly introduced. "Sorry, a bit of a three-ring circus here this afternoon. Ah, Sergeant Griesel – all in order, then?"

"Ready to roll, Lord Bielenfeld," said Griesel, bowing and handing him a sheaf of paperwork.

"Griesel! Good to see you!" said Wolfram, coming up and giving the elder man a hug. "Where are von Dienst and Andrei? Wait – Lord Bielenfeld?" He addressed that last to his father.

But Griesel answered. "We left Andrei at home when we mobilized. Von Dienst is with the regiment at Mizrat Prospect garrison. I'm just here leading the supply train."

"I don't think they got any of our birds, sergeant…" murmured Manfred, who was getting Cheri's help with some arithmetic on his paperwork. Cheri looked boggled.

The expedition had not received any birds from Shin Makoku. It's far easier to train a bird to 'fly home' than to 'fly to a boat somewhere in the ocean'. They had techniques that made the probability of success greater than zero, but no one really expected the mail to get through.

Wolfram found it hard to know what part of Griesel's remarks to grab hold of. "Aren't you… a little senior to be supervising a supply train, Griesel?"

Griesel laughed. "Not this supply train."

"I would have sent his officer, as well," mentioned Ted, the Blood Pledge Castle garrison commander. "That the last of it?"

"I have every confidence in Sergeant Griesel," Manfred said, smiling at the man. "And no idea whether to trust the Krist and Khrennikov commanders. Better to leave von Dienst in Mizrat Prospect. Almost done, Ted…" Manfred bent back to his paperwork.

"Did you say von Dienst?" broke in Adelbert. "How in hell did Friedrich get the genius von Dienst back in the field? I tried everything! Even offered him my job!"

"Boy bait," murmured Manfred. "I got him to take the Bielenfeld Regiment about a year after you left, so he'd train Wolfram. You're bound to miss episodes of the hometown news if you stay in exile this long, Bert…"

Adelbert laughed out loud. "Pandering your firstborn? That's a new low even for you, Fred!" The Shibuyas smiled politely, hoping they hadn't understand this correctly.

"Manfred, just sign the damned thing," Ted coaxed, evil gleam in his eye.

"Don't do it, Manfred!" said Aldrich. "Cheri, please check his math carefully?"

"What is the 'damned thing'?" inquired Gwendal darkly, of Manfred.

"What's on the supply train?" inquired Wolfram lightly, of Griesel.

"Most of the food, wine, and beer from your wedding. That's why I'm handling it, sir, with two junior sergeants along. Three regiments' worth of wine for a month. That's a lot of wine." Griesel grinned broadly. "I hope we'll see you and Yuuri at the party? Von Dienst would love to see you, sir, and the men."

Yuuri twitched. "Ah… why… the food and wine… from our wedding?"

"And the flowers," said Ted, "but Aldrich handed in his homework on time, Manfred. Speaking of which… where's Hube?"

"Right here," said Gegen Huber, having quietly joined them. "Griesel sent my food along first – it can't sit around in the sun all day. My 'homework' is attached to Manfred's. Give us a break, Ted. Ah, Conrad, welcome back." He realized his boss was looking at him with a very pained expression. "Ah, the junior Aristocrats – Gratz, Weller, and Bielenfeld – were tasked with recouping soldier salaries from perishable wedding supplies. Milord."

Wolfram, arms crossed on his chest, and eyes about to cross as well, said, "Junior. Bielenfeld? Chichiue…"

"I'll finish. The paperwork. Soon," said Manfred, head bent to Cheri's. "Ah! In fact, now." He signed three pages and handed one to Griesel, who briskly bowed and left. He tried unsuccessfully to hand one off to Aldrich, who refused it, and ruefully folded that one up and put it in his pocket. He handed the remaining sheaf to Ted von Trondheim.

Ted read quickly, eyebrows raised. "Well done!" he murmured. "Ah – yes, well, Maou-heika, Lord Chancellor. Welcome home. I'll be ready for your briefing and handoff whenever you are."

"Here. And NOW. Would be good. If you could be so kind. Commander von Trondheim," suggested Yuuri, twitching.

"Yes, Maou-heika. There was a bit of a coup, in your absence. And a… counter-coup. Regiments from Bielenfeld, Krist, and Khrennikov were dispatched to the Mizrati frontier, von Dienst of Bielenfeld commanding overall –"

"It wasn't supposed to get that far," said Gwendal, twitching.

Aldrich shrugged. "They can deploy troops unilaterally. They only need to vote before they invade."

"Invade?" asked Yuuri, rather loudly.

"Yes, but… that went to a vote of the Eleven," continued Ted. "Which failed. So the troops were successfully ordered to stand down, in Mizrat Prospect. Um. Backing up a moment, during the Mizrati invasion vote, Lord Friedrich von Bielenfeld was forced to retire in favor of our current Manfred Lord Bielenfeld. However, complications ensued when Lords Krist and Khrennikov realized that all three domains had to pay their activated reserve regiments, full pay for at least a month, and tried to pin the bill for all this on Bielenfeld. Bielenfeld objected that it had actually voted against the motion raised by… a prior Bielenfeld, and should not be expected to bear all the expenses."

"Bielenfeld did, my ass," commented Brendan. "Aldrich, give me my proxy back now."

"Oh, cousin of little faith," replied Aldrich, handing over the proxy. "I didn't make Gratz owe anything."

Ted grinned. "I stand corrected, Lord Gratz. Yes, I believe it was Gratz' proxy who objected. However, Lord Aldrich is right. In the… fullness of his proposals, Gratz ended up owing nothing."

"And Shin Makoku?" inquired its Chancellor Gwendal, fists clenched.

"Uh, yes, the Eleven voted to let the Shin Makoku federal treasury pay for it all. But, since Bielenfeld cancelled the wedding –"

"What?!?" screeched Wolfram.

"It's not legal for Lord Bielenfeld's heir to marry anyone but a full-blooded Mazoku, you know that," murmured Aldrich. "We may address… alterations in the succession… next year. It's not legal to do so again this year. Cousin, I remind you that my father's sudden retirement prevented Shin Makoku's invasion of an innocent ally. And delayed your wedding by a year. That's not long."

Wolfram stood down unhappily. He couldn't argue with that.

Ted pressed on. "Well, since the wedding was cancelled, and there were substantial perishable supplies on hand, we… paid for the soldiers' salaries by selling off the wedding supplies. The three junior Aristocrats were tasked with this – Gratz the flowers, Weller the food, and Bielenfeld the wine. And," he waved Manfred's paperwork, "we were just finishing up."

"And the treasury?" prodded Gwendal.

"Is… out the cost of a wedding, and no more," replied Ted. He handed over Hube and Manfred's sheaf of papers, plus another sheaf of his own and Aldrich's. Gwendal skimmed them quickly, started chuckling, and then laughed out loud.

"Aldrich… you amaze me," said Gwendal.

Aldrich bowed with a green-eyed demon smile. "Any time."

"Anyway," wrapped up Ted. "Shin Makoku is fine. And, should you wish to attend, there's one hell of a party going on this month at the Mizrat Prospect garrison."

"And my wedding guests?" asked Yuuri.

"They went home," replied Ted. "Well, Lords Bielenfeld and Wincott are still here, of course, and a few proxies. Lord Wincott and I usually have tea in the afternoon."

"So the Lords did take over the country," said Gwendal.

"…Yes. Well, the previous Lord Bielenfeld did, briefly, and since then… Lord Wincott. Who is now senior of the Eleven. And very easy to get along with."

"Well done. Very well done, I commend all of you gentlemen," said Gwendal. "Ted, if you don't mind, I just got married, so… I leave tea-time to you and Yuuri. My dear?" he offered an arm to Annissina, who was quite surprised. They left quickly, before Yuuri or Wolfram could whine any further about their wedding. A lot of other extraneous people took their cue to wander away as well.

Manfred didn't budge. "Adelbert? The baby?"

"Yuuri and I are going to adopt her, Chichiue –" started Wolfram.

"Stop," Manfred cut him off. "Adelbert? Bring me that child." Adelbert reluctantly did so. Yuuri remembered the first time Gwendal had mentioned Manfred and Adelbert, raised almost as twins – Strong-minded men. "She's beautiful," Manfred continued, holding her and playing peek-a-boo. "Why would you do that, Adelbert?"

"I can't stuff her in a pack-saddle to ride back to Dai Cimarron, Manfred." Adelbert had his arms crossed on his chest, stubborn.

"Then come home, already!" Manfred handed Frieda to Cheri, as the baby didn't like how mad the men were getting.

"To what? Be a cowboy in the back range of Gratz, dump her on a babysitter while I visit Brendan and Hahaue and the Bielenfelds for Winterfair, because half-Mazoku aren't allowed in the ruling family?"

"Don't give me that crap, Adelbert. We left home when we were Efram's age. After your father died, Brendan did a great job running the place, and you were happy to leave him to it. Gratz is Brendan's. Shin Makoku is your home."

Brendan had his arms crossed on his chest, too, and disputed none of this.

"Shin Makoku exiled me – as a traitor. Shin Makoku hates humans, and I have a half-human child."

"Same here," interjected Gegen Huber. "I'm sorry to butt in, Adelbert, but I have to say it. Maou-heika – Yuuri – welcomed me back, with my Suberian wife and half-Mazoku daughter. He pardoned me for my part in the anti-human wars. He brought back many other Suberian women with half-Mazoku children, too. Now I'm working for our new Lord Weller, an Eleventh Aristocrat to represent humans and half-Mazoku. We're changing Shin Makoku, Adelbert."

"My father Dan Hiri Weller started this work, under my mother as Maou, settling Lutenberg with half-Mazoku refugees from Dai Cimmarron," said Conrad. "I'm continuing it under Yuuri heika. Join us, Adelbert. With this new Eleventh domain, we have a blank slate, to create a new era in human-Mazoku relations. If you could find someone to care for the child for you while you're away, I'd love to have you do field work for us, I told you that. Maybe Wolfram and Yuuri would be willing to foster Frieda instead of adopting, or maybe you'd find someone else."

"We would," said Wolfram. "We'd foster her, or adopt her. We don't need to cut you out, to take her in."

Surprised that Wolfram had said it first, Yuuri put his arm around him, smiling. "Definitely," he added.

"Did you say, Frieda?" Manfred asked, distracted.

"Yeah, Ethel sucked at names," explained Adelbert. "I told her if I had a son, I'd name him in your honor. Cheri says she got you and Friedrich mixed into 'Manfried', then had a girl… Sorry, Manfred, but I… never would have named a girl after you. I was thinking something more like 'Alfred'."

"Quite alright, Adelbert. Though… 'Bertram' isn't bad. We haven't named my newborn yet. So stick around and we can watch them grow up together."

"The baby –?" Wolfram tried to cut in, but Manfred waved him to wait, eyes riveted on Adelbert, compelling an answer.

"Stay," said Conrad. "You'll make your own job, and Frieda will grow up among humans and half-Mazoku and Mazoku who love each other."

"Stay," said Yuuri. "We can make the shared parenting thing work. And Shin Makoku wants you back. You've got a pardon, if you'll take it. I owe you for Wolfram's life, my parents' lives – you've helped us so many times! Come home."

"Stay," said Manfred. "You're my best friend, and I miss you like hell. Come home, Adelbert. Raise this beautiful little girl."

"I… Alright. Wolfram and Yuuri, thank you, I'd be honored if you could foster my daughter and raise her with me. Conrad, if you think you can do with me."

Conrad nodded, with a quiet smile. "Let's you and Hube and I sit down and talk it through tomorrow, where to begin."

Adelbert took Frieda back from Cheri, and held her, smiling. "I guess… we're in this together now Frieda." The baby smiled, too, grabbed his nose, and giggled. At a whisper from Yuuri, Miko summoned Greta over, and introduced her to Frieda, so Yuuri and Wolfram could talk with Manfred without Greta drinking in every word.

"Chichiue…" said Wolfram, gulping. "Did you… decide not to give us the baby?"

"Well, I decided to keep the baby – not quite the same thing – and raise him with Efram, but then the damnedest thing happened." He stopped in reflex, but no one interrupted him this time. "The baby doesn't have a Bielenfeld soul."

"He's… not your son?" asked Cheri.

"No, he's definitely my son. He looks just like Efram as a newborn, except the aqua eyes. And that's just a variation on green – a pretty one."

"So you can't keep him without a Bielenfeld soul?" asked Wolfram, perplexed. He wasn't aware of any rules regarding Bielenfeld souls. They just… did what they did. It wasn't a law or anything.

"No, it's not that… It's… well, I recognize this soul. The baby chose you. Both of you. I'm… pretty sure of that."

-oOo-

Thank you to those who have written reviews! Please write more? If only to say that you want me to write more?