In the bedroom, William undressed Grell, laying aside her clothes in a neat pile before fetching one of her nightgowns. "We'll always love him regardless of what happens."
"It doesn't feel like it. I feel like we're abandoning him into the world that we decided to get rid of ourselves in." She cleaned up her face some more trying to keep from the streams of tears along her cheeks.
"Wouldn't he be more miserable here?"
"I don't know... I just want to keep him here with us."
"I know."
She placed on her gown getting into bed. "Why does God spit in our face?" She groaned feeling James getting upset. "He hates us talking about him."
"How do you know it's God?"
"Spat in my face a good portion of my life. Why stop at death?"
"Doesn't answer my question."
"I assume it is." She groaned grabbing his hand. She placed it on her stomach groaning a little more. "He's getting aggressive."
"You need to calm down."
"I can't with all this now running through my head!" She tried to sooth him humming slightly.
"Perhaps I shouldn't have brought it up."
"You had the right to. You're my husband and want what's best for our son..." She grunted feeling a hard kick. "Little shite."
"Don't teach him bad language," William admonished, now changed and getting in the bed
"He kicked hard. Right to my bladder...excuse me." She up waddling off to the water closet.
William laid his glasses aside and settled into bed.
She came rolling her eyes. "I think he's going to have my attitude. One of my worst qualities."
"I hope not."
"Me too." She got back in bed hugging onto him. "I love you."
"And I do love James, you know."
"I know...what about Alexander as a middle name?"
"I thought we agreed on Cuthbert."
"I'm just throwing it out there."
"I like Cuthbert."
She smiled nuzzling into his shoulder. "Then we'll keep it like that. Oh! I forgot to tell you that my papers came in. My name has been officially changed."
"Who did you kill for them to let you change it?"
"No one! How rude... I filled out the proper forms and gave them a copy of our marriage certificate. The only thing I did was not give up." She smiled kissing his cheek. "I'm Mrs. Grell Spears now."
"Still seems suspicious to me."
"I didn't do anything wrong. Now, if someone was looking out for me, that's different."
"Let's just get some sleep. I think we both need it."
"We all do. I want one good night with my two favourite people in my life." She kissed his lips getting comfortable.
"Good night, Grell."
"Good night my love."
William fell asleep, concerned for Grell's drastic changes in mood just now.
She fell asleep holding onto him. She began to dream about their potential child. A dark haired boy with freckles. She cooed in her sleep dreaming of his first steps together with William. Another large belly with their second child, a girl.
William dreamt about a pigeon named Malloy and his struggles to live in the city. Malloy wondered if perhaps a holiday to the country was warranted as a means to destress and take a break from life. But then the ruthless Del Gatto with his red eyes came and interrupted his thoughts.
Grell moved in her sleep with James wanting to be more comfortable.
William stayed where he was and continued to dream about the pigeon named Malloy.
Her dream began to change. William and James had disappeared. Her belly still full but it felt different. Long black nails touched her stomach with a chuckle from the owner. "My, my. Our little one is almost here." She tossed in her sleep whimpering in a low tone.
Malloy took out his scythe and prepared to defend himself against Del Gatto. Del Gatto let out an evil hissing laugh. "Be gone, scum!" shouted Malloy.
She flipped to the other side facing her husband. "Will...come back..."
Malloy had fended off the dreaded Del Gatto and was relaxing in the countryside. He was learning about beekeeping to pass the time.
Grell woke up feeling the long fingers through her hair. Through blurry vision she looked around the room. She was safe at home. She laid her head back holding William's hand.
Malloy took a leisurely stroll along a riverbank. It was nice to stop and smell the flowers for once.
She let him go placing her glasses on her face. She made her way to the bathroom knowing William would be good to her.
Malloy didn't know how, but Del Gatto had found him there. He looked in horror as the cat pounced on a beautiful she pigeon Malloy had his eye on.
When Grell got up, William woke. He sat up, reaching out. "Del Gatto!" he shouted.
She stared at him, scared out of her mind. "William... What's going on?"
"Del Gatto, he..." began William before coming to his senses. "Never mind."
She smiled going to his side. "I think we've both had dreams that are a bit off."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, the first half of my dream was lovely. The second half, became a nightmare."
"I dreamed about...never mind about what," he said.
"I had a dream about James. He was beautiful..."
"Though he may end up looking like me."
"That's what I saw. Just like you but, with my freckles."
William knew better than to argue with Grell on the subject of his looks, so he didn't bother. "Let's go back to sleep," he said instead.
"Okay love." She got back into bed nuzzling against him.
Going into work the next day, they found the dispatch in chaos. "What is happening?" William asked, getting ignored. He pushed Grell gently out of the path and away from everyone before going to investigate.
She stayed in the spot he left her watching them all in a panic. She spotted her favourite underling waving him down. "Ronnie!"
"Grell!" He shouted, coming over.
"What the hell is going on?"
"Worthless lost his shit and now everything has gone crazy. He's locked himself in his office. Files are missing, reaps are getting mixed up, it's a mess!"
"My William wouldn't have let that happen
"We don't know w-"
Ronald was interrupted by William commanding the attention of the room. He began ordering the reapers about and setting things right.
She cooed clasping her hands together. "My hero!"
Soon William had the dispatch running like a well oiled machine again. Edgeworth's secretary escorted Edgeworth to the infirmary. "Cracked under the pressure," was the murmur around the office.
Grell found William leaning on his desk. "You're so incredible."
"I only did what was necessary," he replied. A short while later, a thin man with a skeletal face and brown hair tied back in a silk bow entered the office. A pair of wire rimmed pince-nez sat upon the long thin nose of Thomas Beedle, a secretary of the board entered the office. "Spears, *sniff* you are to step down now," he said, moving across the room on his long scrawny legs.
Grell looked at him, completely offended by his presence. "Um, you should be saying thank you for what he just did. The department's no longer in a panic."
"That's all well and good, however, I am here now and I will be taking over until further notice. And I would advise you, Mr. Sutcliff, to hold your tongue in the presence of your betters."
"It's Mrs. Spears. The gratitude you 'betters' show is an insult." She looked at William knowing she was a bit out of line. "My paperwork for my name change came through so, I would appreciate my addressing to be proper."
"You are out of line, MISTER Sutcliff. *sniff* One more outburst from you and I will put you on report. It would also serve you well to keep your nose out of managerial matters. *sniff*.
James turned making her hold onto desk. "It's Mrs. Spears. As for your response for my husband's actions, I'm disappointed but not surprised. Now if you excuse me, my son is kicking my bladder." She groaned moving away from them
"Consider yourself on report, Sutcliff," said Beedle as William followed behind Grell.
"You should have stayed out of it, Grell," he whispered. "Beedle was right."
"No he isn't. My name is your name and the least that man could say is thank you." She rubbed her stomach feeling nauseous.
"Not everyone sees it that way. Or is understanding of our relationship. He isn't required to thank me for doing what was needed."
"There should be a course in properly thanking a person." She stopped walking holding onto his arm. "I think I'm going to be sick."
"Do you need to go to the doctor?"
"I need the toilet." She moved quickly vomiting into a rubbish bin.
"Morning sickness?" he inquired.
She nodded taking in deep gasps before going again.
"I thought we were moving past it."
"As long as I'm pregnant, it can happen." She groaned holding his hand. "This is the worst part."
"Can you make it to the bathroom?"
"I think I can. I just got worked up again."
"You need to stop. I worry for the baby and your health."
"I hate being disrespected and talked to like an idiot." She grabbed his hand not ready to move just yet. "I'm sorry."
"It's not wise to pop off to management like that, even if they're in the wrong."
"That's a bunch of poppycock." She laced their fingers walking at an easy pace towards the restrooms. "What does he plan on writing? I was wrong so I'm putting a report on her?"
"Insubordination is really all he has to put. And with Beedle's long standing reputation with the Association, he is more likely to be believed.'
"Bastard." She stopped at the door letting him go. "I'll be just a moment."
"I should return to work. Will you be alright?"
"I'll be fine. I have a spare toothbrush in my bag. Get to work Mr. Spears." She blew him a kiss closing the door behind her.
William returned to work, being the model reaper and doing as told.
She cleaned herself up making sure she was decent before going to her office. She filled out some of the paperwork taking it to William's old office. As much as she wanted to finish her day early, she was rather tired from James's movement.
While she was gone, a note was placed on her desk.
She came back confused as to who put it there. She picked it up reading it.
"About halfway. Won't be long now." It said in the same spidery handwriting as before.