Mikael stepped out of the hardware store, bucket of yellow paint in one hand and a bucket of blue paint in the other. He had decided on joining both of his and Sybil's favorite colors in the nursery, and he was going to paint the whole thing as a surprise for her.

As he pictured the smile she'd give him when he revealed his handiwork, he felt himself bump into someone. "Sorry," he apologized.

"No problem," replied a recognizable voice. "I wasn't watching where I was going." It was then that Mikael blinked and found himself face to face with Arthur Gray.

"Well, well, well, Mr. Gray. What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same question, Mikael Mikaelson," Arthur returned. "Although the paint buckets make it pretty obvious. What's the matter? All your help quit on you? You don't seem the type to want to get your hands or anything else dirty." He was grinning widely.

"You would think, from the high position you believe yourself to be in," Mikael told him, swinging a bucket in a way that made Arthur's eyes widen as he backed away a little.

"And you can't blame me for being curious," Arthur defended himself. "What's an Original doing in a hardware store anyway?"

Mikael's eyes narrowed. "Not that it's any of your business but perhaps I would like to paint the nursery of my future children by myself!"

Arthur swallowed, avoiding Mikael's gaze as it bore into the top of his head. Then he took a deep breath and looked up, smiling to hide some lingering unease. "Well, good luck with that," he said and tried to gracefully sidestep him. "Until we meet again."

"Wait!" Mikae cried. It was definitely an order.

"Yes?" Arthur said.

"About Gabrielle," Mikael continued. "The way I see it, you should tell her everything now, early on before things go too far and her heart is broken in so many pieces. Then, at least, she'll know you had real feelings for her."

Arthur shook his head and chuckled. "I have no idea who or what you're talking about," he said.

"Is that so?" Mikael asked, raising an eyebrow. "Cause I was young once too. I thought I knew everything there was to know about eternal life, and I thought that was enough. I didn't know how much of a sad and lonely life I was leading until I met Sybil."

Arthur scoffed. "I hate to say this because you're putting so much effort into this pep talk, but I think-"

"I know," Mikael interrupted. "I know that you're going to say I'm still those things and I suppose I should concede that I am still a pretentious jerk. But not with Sybil; never with her. I saw the way you looked at Gabrielle. She's an amazing woman and trust me. It's very rare that life gives us second chances to find women like them. I would re-think this ridiculous contract you have with her before it's too late."

Arthur threw his head back and burst into laughter. "I never knew you were funny, but good job proving me wrong. You do realize that I'm just having a little bit of fun with her, right?" He was lying through his teeth and hoping Mikael wouldn't notice.

Mikael grinned and got closer to him, causing him to back away. "What sort of a fool do you take me for, boy?" He asked. "A man who blushes at the mere sound of a woman's name wants more from a woman than to just have fun with her."

Arthur shut his eyes tight and stared at his feet again. "That might be the case for you and Ms. Vane and I wish you the best of luck with that, but Gabrielle and I will most definitely not be following suit."

"Why?"

"Why what?" Arthur questioned. "What do you mean 'why'?"

"Why are you being such a fool when I know and you know that she is the only thing, person, whatever, on this planet, who will save you from the miserable, rudderless life you're living?"

Arthur gave him a piercing look. "Why do you care so much about what I do and how my life goes? Did my mother put you up to this? Since I won't talk to her, did she send you to do her dirty work for her?"

Mikael burst out laughing at this ridiculous suggestion. "Come now. That's an even more ridiculous idea than you thinking you're not in love with Gabrielle! Your mother and I are barely speaking to each other, except in particular circumstances. I did this on my own."

"Well, thanks for trying, I suppose, but...Gabrielle isn't for me. I'm not meant to be her Prince Charming and if I was...I pity her bad luck being saddled with me. My own mother couldn't stand me, so what chance do I have with other women unless I'm paying them?"

"That doesn't mean anything!" Mikael shook his head. "I didn't think I was meant to be Sybil Vane's and yet, through some miracle, we're expecting twins and about to be married. Think about what I've said, Arthur. Think long and hard before you do something that will make you lose Gabrielle forever."

Then he turned on his heel and walked to his car without waiting for Arthur to respond because he had much better things to do.

"Mikael? Mikael, where are you?" Sybil called out, wiping her eyes as she roamed around the penthouse. She'd been napping while he'd gone to the hardware store and now she didn't know where he was. During her roaming, she nearly tripped over Niles, who was asleep on the floor. The noise she made stopping herself from falling made him get up, bark gently, and nuzzle her foot.

"It's okay, sweetie," she said. "Can you tell me where Daddy is? Where did he go?"

Niles began trotting in the direction of a room they were planning to use for the nursery, only to come face to face with Mikael and his trays and buckets full of paint.

"What's going on?" She asked as Niles trotted in and Mikael let out a howl.

"No, they aren't supposed to come in here! They're going to make a mess!" He then gave her a sheepish look. "Sorry, my dear. Did I wake you?"

Sybil shook her head, eyes wide.

"I hope you like the nursery," he said. "I thought it would be a nice surprise for you. I hope you don't mind yellow and blue. I thought those would be nice because we don't know whether we're having a boys or girls."

"We can ask Sean," Sybil shrugged. "If it would make you feel better." Then she grinned and picked up Niles, setting two of his paint covered paws on the wall. "Don't paint over those," she said. "I want him to be included in this. And Princess Leia too. I'll go get her!" Then she paused, smiling before giving Mikael a quick peck and a hug. "You really are an adorable man, you know that?"

Mikael shrugged and blushed. "Well, I'm far from adorable. I'm a fierce original vampire and you and I will tell that to anyone who is listening!" He gave her a light spank on the bottom and then wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Yeah," Sybil grinned. "But we both know that there's more to you than all the macho crap, right? Even if only certain people get to see it?" She brushed some of his longer curly hairs behind his ears. "And did I mention how sexy you look?" Her eyes swept over his light wash jeans and the tight white shirt he was wearing, along with some medals and chains around his neck that undoubtedly held sentimental value for him.

"Not lately," he winked and kissed her palm. "But it's always nice to hear." Then he held her at arms' length. "I know you want to get Princess Leia in here and all, but I think you should be elsewhere until I finish painting. You're pregnant and the fumes could harm you and the children."

Sybil smiled and stayed where she was. "It's sweet of you to think of us," she said, putting a hand on her belly. "But we're not in any danger; demons can convert toxic air into oxygen."

"Really?" Mikael asked, raising an eyebrow and giving her a small grin. "You're not just putting me on so I'll let you stay?" He was intrigued.

"Yes," Sybil nodded, "But it doesn't surprise me that you don't know that. I know demons weren't your favorite before you met me."

"Very true," Mikael admitted. "But now I want to know more because of the babies coming."

Sybil smiled. "Well, anything you want to know, I'm here. In fact, if you give me a brush, I can sit and paint the lower part of the wall while we talk." She paused. "So...what sort of design were you thinking?"

"Three yellow walls, one blue wall. And the yellow walls could have blue clouds on them or something. If that's all right with you."

"Oh, yes! I love it!"

"All right," Mikael nodded. "Let's do it then!"

Sybil reached over and patted his foot. "Before I start, I want to thank you."

He turned to face her, amazed to see the love in her eyes. "Why would you want to do that?"

"For the little things you do," she shrugged. "Like getting me those cookies or surprising me with painting the twins' nursery."

"You're welcome, dear."

Sybil nodded and began painting, blushing at the look he was giving her. "So...do you think Selina will be able to handle our wedding? I hope it's not too much pressure for her." She paused. "I know you two haven't always gotten along. This isn't some sort of punishment is it?"

"I think she'll definitely be able handle it," Mikael nodded. "And it would be more of a punishment to leave her out. She just loves to be in the thick of things."

"I suppose you're right," Sybil nodded, making a streak of yellow on the wall.

"Are you...are you still nervous about it?"

"I love you dearly," Sybil assured him. "And I would never want to be with anyone else. But I don't want people to hurt you or spread lies about you."

"Sybil dear, even if they did, I don't give a damn about what those fools think. You know that, don't you? I'll be more than happy to repeat it until you do."

"You've said that and I hear it but I can't help but think that on some level you're hiding your feelings, and-"

"Oh, for crying out loud, woman! Just paint, will you?"

"Oh, all right," she said, laughing and then going silent.

Then he slowly sneaked over to her and got a little bit of paint on her cheek.

"No fair!" Sybil cried and flicked some paint at him, getting it on his pants.

"Do you really want this to be a fight?"

"You started it!" Sybil cried, doing her best to get to her feet. "I was just defending myself!"

He smiled and grabbed her, nibbling on her earlobe a little. "Well, run the best you can," he whispered. "Cause you don't want to know what will happen when I catch you."

Grinning, she took off the best she could with paintbrush in hand, laughing and glad that she could still actually run and have fun. If she was waddling, this would not have been a fun game at all.

"Need help?" Eloise asked after arriving in the kitchen where Adrian was washing the lunch dishes.

"No, I'm almost done, thanks," Adrian shook his head. "It took the girls a while to get to sleep, didn't it?"

"Yes," Eloise sighed. "Maybe we should have them nap in separate rooms so they don't stir each other up." She looked at the clock on the wall. "Shit. My class starts in twenty minutes! I have to run!" She headed off and then paused. "Are you gonna be all right after I leave?"

"Well, I have to be, don't I?" Adrian asked. "It's not like I can tell you otherwise."

Eloise put her hands on her hips. "If you want me to put off law school until the girls are grown, just say so. This passive-agressive pouting isn't attractive."

He frowned. "It doesn't matter," he said. "They'll be grown soon enough. Now, didn't you say you needed to go?"

"I did until I remembered I was a witch," Eloise told him. "Bye!" She then snapped her fingers and Adrian reached out and grabbed her wrist. "Wait. I have to ask you a question about Astrid. Can't you stay a little longer? Cause talks about Astrid are important. You remember who Astrid is, don't you? And Alistair? My father's friends and Helene's parents? Something very strange happened to them."

"Of course I know who they are," Eloise crossed her arms. "What's your point, Adrian?"

He frowned. "Well, I just think that it's unbelievable that their baby had this disease that could only be cured or at least made less troublesome if Astrid had demon blood in her. And now..."

"Now what?" Eloise blushed. "Hurry up and make your point because I really need to go!"

He clicked his tongue and shook his head. "Is something wrong? It's unlike you to be so unkind!"

"What?" Eloise asked. "I didn't mean to be unkind. Sorry, please go on!"

"Well, the baby was born and it turned out that his condition wasn't as bad as they originally thought, and do you know why? Cause Astrid somehow had demon blood in her body! Isn't that fascinating?"

"I guess," Eloise shrugged and tried to stay relaxed. "I don't know why you're telling me this. I don't know anything about it and I'm not a doctor."

"Uh-huh." Adrian got close to her. "Any theories on how Astrid got demon blood inside her?"

"Not at the moment no," Eloise shook her head and gave him a quick kiss. "Now I gotta go. Bye!"

But she was blushing deep red and Adrian could sense all sorts of nervous tension in her body. She was keeping something in and he knew it."

"Busted, babe," he said, looking at the empty floor where she'd been standing before she disappeared. "Babe, you are so busted!"

Madeline picked up her doll and got to her feet. "Daddy, how come you and Mommy never kiss like Isabella's parents do when they pick her up? Don't you love each other?"

"Of course we do," Ludovic assured her. "But Mommy...your mommy wants to keep it a secret. Can you believe she doesn't want to show your daddy any love?"

"Why?" Madeline wanted to know. "Is it because boys have cooties?"

"Yes," Helene nodded without looking up. "Exactly. Can we change the subject please?"

"Do you think Daddy has cooties?" Ludovic asked Madeline.

"No," The little girl shook her head and kissed him. "Look, Mommy! Daddy doesn't have cooties! He's safe! Would you kiss him like in Cinderella, please?"

"Yeah," Ludovic grinned. "Please Mommy?"

"No, Daddy, I won't," Helene replied without thinking.

He got close to her and whispered in her ear. "It does things to me when you call me Daddy," he said. Then he took her face in his hands and kissed her.

"Yay!" Madeline clapped and danced on her toes.

Helene didn't let it go on very long before she pushed Ludovic away. "Yes, yes, enchanting. But it's not like in Cinderella, because your father is not a prince!"

"But he is!" Madeline told her. "He said so! You know that. Did you forget, Mommy?"

Ludovic smirked. No way she'd forget, and she wouldn't let him forget it either. No one did.

"I love you sweetie, but please don't remind me of what your father is or isn't, or doesn't want to be. It's not information I can handle right now."

"Okay," the little girl nodded and stood up. "Can I go play in my room, please?"

"Sure," Helene nodded. "Go ahead, sweetie!"

As Helene watched the little girl scamper off before burying her nose in her magazine again, Ludovic cleared his throat. When she didn't respond, he cleared his throat again louder. "Yes," she said at last. "What can I do for you, oh, Great One?"

"Oh, nothing really," Ludovic grinned. "I just...I was just wondering something. You know what I find odd?"

"I'm sure you'll tell me even though I don't care," Helene drawled.

But Ludovic was unperturbed. "It's your mother, frankly," he said.

Now Helene looked up. He had her attention. "What about her?" She asked, eyes narrowed with suspicion.

He shrugged. "Well, she was pregnant with this baby that had a terrible disease that would have killed him and your mother both since neither had demon blood, then lo and behold, not even a day after that's discovered, she has demon blood in her system suddenly and everything is better. It's a miracle, I suppose. Or something odd. What do you think?"

"I think I'm just glad my sibling is lucky enough to have a chance at a good life with a minimum of pain," Helene answered.

"Naturally," Ludovic nodded. "Cause you're a good big sister...a good big sister who had nothing to do with it happening, right?"

"Well, obviously!" She scoffed. "I'm not a demon girl, Ludovic!"

"Right," Ludovic nodded. "But you're a very stubborn woman who gets what she wants when she wants it and if you wanted to save your brother with demon blood, I'm sure you'd find some poor sucker willing to help you."

"Anything else to say?"

"No, I was just curious," Ludovic replied.

"Well, you're getting on my nerves." She huffed and stood up, straightening her skirt, which had been riding up a little in back. "I'm gonna go read in my room now."

As soon as she left, Ludovic picked up his phone and made a call.

"Yeah, it's me," Adrian huffed. "Make it quick because the sound of your voice is making me queasy."

"Oh, come on, Adrian," he chuckled. "I thought we were becoming best friends!"

"In your dreams, Ludovic!"

"I just...I have to say that I believe Helene did it," Ludovic said. "The stuff in the hospital with her mom, I mean."

"Doesn't surprise me," Adrian got out. "And I think Eloise was her accomplice."

"So we were right!"

"Yeah, we were. This'll be fun."

"Yeah," Ludovic finished, thinking of what they would have to tell the hospital. "Yeah, it will."

"Sean! Sean! Sean!" Sean finished recording something on his patient's chart before standing up and striding out to meet Alistair, who was full of adrenaline.

"What's going on?" He asked. "Is it Astrid?"

"Yes," Alistair panted, his normally perfect dark hair askew. "She's in labor!"

"Well, let's not stand here another minute, shall we?" Sean asked, putting a hand on Alistair's shoulder before they both ran to Astrid's room.

"Hi," Astrid got out, wincing and letting out a cry. "Thank you for coming!"

"I heard someone here was in labor," he said in his smoothest voice. "So how could I not come?"

"I'm...I'm scared," Astrid confessed, reaching for his and Alistair's hands. "The last time I had a baby was ages ago. What if something goes wrong?"

"Don't be silly!" Sean told her. "You have the best doctor in the world, me, here to deliver this baby, and other than the stuff that was mostly fixed with the demon blood, you've been healthy, so I don't see a problem. Now, are you ready to have your baby?"

"Well, I don't know!" Astrid panted. "I mean, at first we thought I wouldn't be able to get here without dying and it wasn't that long ago that I was told I have demon blood in my body!"

"Don't worry about that," Alistair told her, gripping her hand and lightly kissing her sweaty forehead. "It'll be okay!"

"Easy for you to say!" She grunted and then swore. "You don't have a person coming out of your vagina!" Then she screamed again.

Alistair blushed and gave Sean a look.

The doctor just shrugged. "Well, she's not wrong about that, is she?" He asked.

Then, as he saw the baby's head come out, he said, "the baby's almost here. Are you ready?"

Astrid nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be!"

"Come on, honey! You can do it! You can do it!" Alistair tried to encourage his wife. "You're almost done! You're doing good!" He then winced as she squeezed the hand that held hers.

"I know you're trying to help," she hissed, pulling him close to her face. "But if you don't shut up right now, I'll do it myself by putting my fist in your face!"

Sean snorted and looked away from between Astrid's legs for a moment and let out a chuckle.

"I'm just trying to help!" Alistair cried.

"Well, you can stop helping!" Astrid yelled back. "You've done enough! I'm in this position because of your stupid newfound sexual appetite!"

"Okay, way too much information, but I have to say that in this case, he's right," Sean said. "A few more pushes please and then your son will be out."

After those few pushes, the loud cry of a baby filled the room. Sean cut the cord, then gave him to the nurse to wash and weigh. At four pounds, he wasn't very big.

Sean swallowed and then summoned a smile for his parents. "I have good news! Your son has just greeted the world!"

"Our son!" Astrid cried and hugged Alistair.

"Yes," Alistair cried. "We have a son!" Then he looked at Sean with concern. "But why was he crying so loudly? Is something wrong, or is that just a normal baby thing?"

Sean looked down at the baby, whose leg was slightly deformed, and then looked back up at his parents with a weak smile. "He's alive and has a strong set of lungs, but he'll have a few challenges in front of him."

"How challenging?" Astrid wanted to know, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Sean, what's wrong with my baby?"

"Not so challenging that he won't be able to have a full life," Sean said quickly. "I swear. If there was truly something to worry about that would require a complex fix, I would tell you."

"Our baby will be fine," Alistair assured his wife. "It'll be okay. We'll figure everything out."

After promising his parents that eventually they would get to visit him, the nurse took the little boy to a unit full of other small babies like him, where they could grow and heal.

"It'll be all right, little one," she whispered as she settled him in his incubator. "I just know someone is watching over you." Then she turned and strode over to one of her co-workers. "Now that Astrid Fale's baby has been delivered and settled, I'm going to go on my break. I'll be back in fifteen."

"All right, Lois. See you."

She wasn't wrong about someone watching over the tiny warlock. When she was sure no one was looking or paying attention (cause even though she was invisible, she could never be certain with witches), Azrael, the Angel of Death, sneaked from the corner where she'd been watching over to his incubator to get a closer look at the boy. She reached out and touched his hand, looking at him in amazement. If not for the demon blood, she would have had him already. And his mother. But here he was. Surprisingly, she felt the urge to brush his cheek and pick him up.

"I wasn't expecting you to survive," she said. "I thought I was going to have you much sooner. I mean, we'll see each other eventually. I see everyone who isn't immortal and you, my dear baby boy, are not." Then, she gently kissed his head, winced at how small he was, and then put him back, hoping she wasn't hurting him before disappearing for good from the unit.

"Why didn't you say something to me?" A frowning Astrid asked Alistair, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Because," Alistair sighed as he ran his fingers through his thick dark hair. "Because at first it was just a possibility that I couldn't get out of my mind, but the more I thought about you having demon blood in you, I realized that there was only one person who could have or would have put it there?"

"Who?" Astrid cried.

"Our daughter, that's who!" Alistair cried. "I mean, you'd think she would learned from her first experience with crime, but apparently not."

"I think you're being paranoid. Helene doesn't have demon blood to give me!"

"Not herself she doesn't but think hard about who she knows that does!"

Astrid thought for a little bit and gasped. "Are you...are you sure? It all seems so ludicrous that...Adrian! Eloise!"

"Exactly!" Alistair nodded. "So I called both Adrian and Ludovic to see if they could confirm or dispute my suspicions."

"And?" Astrid asked, clutching hunks of blanket in her fists. "What did they find out?"

"It seems I was correct," Alistair sighed.

"Oh, my god!" Astrid gasped. "Do you realize how unethical that is?"

"Yes," Alistair sighed. "And the only reason poor Eloise agreed to it was that she's a sweet girl who didn't want you to lose our baby. Helene told her the blood would make sure you didn't."

Astrid felt sick to her stomach. "They shouldn't have taken that risk for me! They'll be prosecuted by the Council if anyone ever finds out!"

"Yes," Alistair nodded and took her hand. "I...I had to tell Sean and beg him not to file any charges."

"Oh, my god, Sean!" Astrid was hyperventilating now. "And...and what did he say?"

"He promised that he wouldn't as long as we let him talk to the girls and decide on some sort of lesser punishment."

"Good," Astrid nodded, able to take deep breaths again. "I guess that's something. But what do I do now? If I have demon blood in me, I'm not really a witch anymore. Not that I was a whole witch to begin with since I had a human father. My witch mother was the only reason anyone put up with me, and once they find out I have demon in me, they'll cast me out! Take me away from everything I've ever known!"

"Shhhh!" Alistair tried to soothe her by kissing her hair and holding her close. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

Just then, there was a knock on the door and Sean poked his head in. "Sorry to interrupt. Can I have a moment of your time?"

"Sure," Alistair nodded, hoping he sounded relaxed.

"Hi, Astrid," Sean greeted her and patted her foot. "How are you feeling? You look well!"

"I feel all right, all things considering," Astrid told him. "How's our boy?"

"Still under observation," Sean told her. "One of his legs is causing him a lot of pain. It seems the demon blood cured most of what was ailing him except for that part of his leg. I don't think it's going to change. It's going to be something he has to learn to live with."

Astrid gasped and squeezed her husband's hand. "Alistair, did you hear that?"

"It will be okay," he told her. Then he looked at Sean. "Is it possible to treat it?"

"Not permanently, but there is medication that can be taken to make the pain bearable." He cleared his throat. "So are...are they coming?"

"Yes," Alistair nodded. "Helene and Ludovic should be here soon."

It didn't take long for there to be a knock at the door before Helene and Ludovic entered the room.

"Mom, Dad," Helene smiled. "I saw my little brother! I'm so happy for you!"

"Me too," Ludovic added, placing some flowers on the dresser. "Congratulations on the birth of your son!"

Then Helene sat next to her mother on the bed and put a hand on hers. "What's wrong?" She asked, noticing her mother's frown. "Why aren't you happier? You had a baby that was gonna die and bring you down with him and now you're alive and so is he!"

Astrid sighed. "Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm overjoyed, but...we just had a little setback. Nothing that can't be worked with but...not exactly what we hoped." She tried to give Helene a smile, but it didn't stop her daughter's worrying.

"What...what's wrong with my brother?" She asked. "Can it be fixed?"

"Well, it just...most of his disease was destroyed by the blood, but some isolated itself in his leg and didn't go away," Sean explained. "He's alive and otherwise healthy, but...he'll be pain the rest of his life. Manageable pain, but pain nonetheless."

"No!" Helene howled. "That's not what was supposed to happen! The demon blood was supposed to cure him!"

"And what makes you think it would do that?"

Helene blushed, but before she could respond, there was another knock at the door and Adrian poked his head in. "Hello, can we come in?" He was holding more flowers.

"Sure, the more the merrier," Alistair nodded.

Adrian strode in and put his flowers next to Helene's, with Eloise following soon after, and hiding herself behind her husband. "My father and Amy send their good wishes too and say they'll be along later if you're up for it, Astrid."

"Of course," Astrid nodded. "And thank you for the flowers, Adrian. They're lovely."

To keep up the charade, Helene scowled at Eloise. "What's she doing here? Why did you bring her?"

"She's my wife, Helene," Adrian snapped. "Remember?"

"I don't care!" Helene snapped. "I don't like your blonde bimbo wife...much."

"I don't like you either, brunette!" Eloise retorted.

The display was so unconvincing that their husbands rolled their eyes.

"All right, enough!" Alistair cried. "Why don't you two stop this nonsense and tell the truth?"

"Truth?" Helene asked. "Truth about what, Daddy?"

"Astrid was able to give birth to your brother because someone injected demon blood into your mother's body and that healed most of your little brother's disease. And we have strong suspicions that the two of you are responsible," Sean told them.

Eloise went pale, gagged, and then looked at her feet, while Helene blushed redder and shrugged. "I don't know why you would think that. I can't even stand her! This is ridiculous. Why would I trust her to do anything? I tried to kill her, remember?"

"Cause we know you," Ludovic raised an eyebrow. "That's why."

"Yes, we did it!" Eloise burst out, not being able to handle the guilt. "I gave her my blood so she could inject it into her mother and save her little brother's life. I'm so sorry!"

"Damn it, Eloise!" Helene cried. "Couldn't you have kept your mouth shut?"

"What you two did is inexcusable!" Sean cried. "Criminal even. What if the blood hadn't done the good it did? What if it had killed your mother? That's why we don't just let anyone come in off the streets and do treatments! That's why I had to spend all that time in medical school!"

"Weren't you like a genius who got through it in record time?" Helene asked.

"That doesn't matter!" Sean snapped. "The point is, I have Dr. in front of my name and you don't so you shouldn't be conducting hospital business!"

"But it...but it worked, didn't it?" Helene asked.

"You got lucky," Sean told her.

"We still don't have any idea what the full consequences will be for your mother or your brother," Alistair scolded her.

"Well, you're welcome for taking a risk to make sure you still have a wife and a son!" Helene snapped.

"I know you two meant well," Sean continued. "I know you didn't mean any harm. But this...I can't just brush this under the rug. There needs to be some sort of punishment."

"Oh, please," Eloise begged as tears filled her eyes. "Please, I can't go to prison. I have three little girls at home!"

Helene rolled her eyes. "For crying out loud, can you shut up and take your punishment like an adult?"

"Speaking of punishment," Sean told her, "at the request of your father, I've agreed not to let what you two did go beyond this room. No one on the hospital board will hear of it and no one is going to jail."

Helene and Eloise breathed a sigh of relief. For a few seconds.

"However, in place of prison," Sean continued, grabbing a toilet brush he'd brought with him, "the two of you will spend a hundred hours each cleaning the toilets in this place and making sure they're clean and fresh!"

As Helene and Eloise looked on in horror, everyone else laughed behind their backs.

"What?" Helene asked, grabbing the brush. Then she grabbed Ludovic and shoved him at Sean. "I...he's a werewolf prince, remember? And I'm his wife so I'm a princess, and I guess that means I can't scrub toilets! It could cause outrage with the werewolves cause of the indignity and-"

"Oh, no," Ludovic chuckled. "I mean, it would if I told them, but...let's just make this our little secret, huh...darling?" He grinned and spanked her as an added indignity while she gritted her teeth, thinking that if she'd just kissed him with more enthusiasm earlier, she would have gotten out of this mess.

Eloise, meanwhile, was sobbing with relief. "Oh, thank god! Can I do it after my classes at law school?"

"It doesn't matter when you do the hours as long as they get done," Sean told her.

"How about never?" Helene spat. "I'm not cleaning toilets!"

"Fine, then I'll report you and it'll be back to prison," Sean told her, arms crossed. "I'm sure the cells are just as comfy as they were last time."

"It's fine, there's no need for that," Eloise said and took up the toilet brush. "We can start now!" She grabbed Helene by the arm and dragged her out of the room.

"Go to the nurses' station nearest here," Sean called after them. "The nurse on duty is named Lisa. She'll tell you where to start."

"Thank you for your kindness," Eloise called. "Thank you so much!"

"Kindness? In cleaning toilets?" Came Helene's shrill voice. "We saved my baby brother! We're the kind ones!"

Adrian closed the door as their voices drifted away, a grin on his lips. "Helene's voice is still shrill enough for a dog to hear it seems," he said. He was laughing enough that tears were flowing from his eyes. "Oh, god, this is making my day!"

Ludovic smiled. "You can say that again! I hope she'll learn a good lesson from this."

"Thank you, too, Sean," Alistair told him. "Astrid and I really appreciate your discretion."

"Yes," Astrid agreed. "She didn't mean any harm. She had good intentions."

"Yes, well," Sean nodded. "I know that. That's the only reason I agreed not to report them. But let me make it clear to everyone that I don't want this to happen in my hospital again, good reasons or not. Understood?"

Everyone else nodded as Sean's name was called over the intercom to deliver another baby. As he left and shut the door behind him, Ludovic chuckled and nudged Adrian. "Since they're gonna be here a while, you wanna go and get a beer? Make Helene think she's gonna be stuck here for a long time? I'll be better than sitting on our asses doing nothing for who knows how long."

Adrian grinned widely. "I'll call the sitter and tell her I'll be out for a little longer and let's do it," he said. "I'll pay."