"I hate this stage in pregnancy," Ellie told Amy as she caught her eye in the gynecologist's waiting room. "I know I have to sit down but I always wonder if I'll be able to get up again."

"I hear you," Amy agreed. "It took Klaus a full ten minutes to get me out of the easy chair in front of the TV yesterday. I don't think I've ever been so embarrassed in my entire life. Luckily, he took it in stride and still finds me attractive!"

"Well, we just have to tell ourselves that this is a temporary situation and we won't be fat forever," Ellie got out, trying to sound optimistic. But Amy could tell she was troubled still.

"Are you all right?" She asked. "Or is there more going on than just feeling uncomfortable?"

"Oh, well..." Ellie sighed. "I still can't believe it about Helene and how she could hurt Eloise like that!"

"I know," Amy nodded. "I'm shocked too. I mean, Helene was always sort of bossy when she was younger and Adrian didn't like it but I thought it was just a little thing, you know? Something she'd grow out of, especially with parents like hers to bring her back to Earth. I had no idea that it could turn into kidnapping and torture!"

"And poor Astrid is just a mess!" Ellie added. "We had a meeting the other day to talk about something the witch government wants to use Hell space for and she just...she broke into tears right in the middle of it and it took an hour to calm her down again!"

"Yeah, I know," Amy added. "Alistair's not much better! He and Klaus have been talking and Alistair even wanted to move back in with us and do his old job."

"Really?" Ellie's jaw dropped. "Astrid didn't mention that. Things must be really bad then. I just wish I knew how to really help them."

"I don't know if we can," Amy shrugged. "Maybe we just have to ride it out and tell them that we'll be there for them."

Ellie squirmed uncomfortably. "I'm not good at doing it that way when it comes to my friends being sad," she said. Then paused. "At least I can deal with what's going on at home that way."

"What?" Amy asked. "Are you and Lucifer fighting?"

"No," Ellie's lip curled. "But now I can truly see why he's always had so many difficulties with his father over the years. The man is so controlling and bossy!"

"What did he make you do?" Amy asked. "Other than date Lucifer on his terms rather than yours, I mean?"

"Well now he's doing the same thing to Remiel!" Ellie raged. "She got pregnant and now he wants her to move in with the father because they're a dream couple of his, and she has to do it now, or else!" Her hands balled into fists! "I know we've never been friends, but I just feel so bad for her!"

"And just...just who is the father of the baby?" Amy asked, very curious to know the sort of man who would be attracted to Remiel.

Ellie swallowed. "It's Selina and Elijah's grandson, Ricky. But please keep it between us and don't tell Klaus!"

"All right," Amy nodded. She had every intention of keeping her promise, but hoped a situation wouldn't come up where Klaus would have reason to get it out of her because she was lousy at keeping stuff from him once he figured out that was the case. "As for Steve, I don't know what to tell you. It's his thing to stick his nose in other people's business and lives and what can we do about it, really?" Then she did a double take and shook her head. "You're still mad about Lucifer? I thought you loved him!"

"I do!" Ellie nodded. "He's everything to me! But because our whole relationship was on Steve's terms, things weren't always sunshine, chirping birds, and roses, you know?"

Amy nodded. "I do. Klaus and I had a nightmarish beginning too."

"And yet, here we are, carrying their children." They eyed each other, nodded, and smiled, then winced and put hands to their bellies as a flurry of kicks began.

"My gosh," Amy blinked. "Why is it that whenever I'm around you, a war happens in my belly? She's never this active any other time."

"Me too!" Ellie nodded. "That is so weird!"

Then their eyes began to close. "Are you tired?" Amy asked. "I'm so..."

"Sleepy all of a sudden..." Ellie finished, and then nodded. They fought to stay awake because they knew their appointments were soon, but they just couldn't help themselves and dozed off in their chairs.

"I can't believe you made our mothers fall asleep! Hurry up, would you? If you're gonna go to all the trouble to do that, don't dawdle!" Growled the tiny red-head, teeth bared. Her hair was a definite contrast to complete white of the dimension they were in. "I don't have all day, Morningstar!"

"Oh?" The dark haired young man raised an eyebrow and began taking one step at a time. "Really? What else do you have to do besides suck your thumb in your mother's belly? It's not like you're doing anyone any good!"

"And you are?" Ellie and Lucifer's youngest son raised an eyebrow at Natalie's retort, even as she kept speaking. "Really? Please enlighten me about how."

He got close to her and began pulling at her hair. "And what sort of name is that for someone who looks like you? That's a girl's name and..." He looked her over. "I'm not even sure you are one."

"Oh, fuck you, Morningstar!" Natalie cried. She knew his name was Milo, but she didn't want to create any sense of familiarity with him. "Why don't you just shut up?" Then she kicked him hard enough in the shin that he fell backward.

"What is your fucking problem?" He cried. "Damn it!"

"Well, that's nice language for God's grandson," she smirked. "Have a bit more decorum!"

"I'm sure I'd be forgiven for swearing after someone kicked me!" Milo cried. "In fact, you'll probably get in big trouble for that!"

"Oh, you think I'm scared of a man who needs his grandpa to fight his battles for him?" Nathatlie scoffed. "Please! The last thing I'm scared of is you and your ugly face!" She then took a deep breath and stepped away from him. "You just keep away from me before the sight of you makes me throw up!"

Milo began backing away, hands raised. "Well, all right. Not that you have to tell me twice. I have no reason to want to be near you, anyway. And neither would any other man. You know, if you made your face up, you'd actually look decent! Not gorgeous but...less ugly than you do now."

"You pathetic Mommy's boy!" Natalie yelled. "If the whole point of this was to insult me, you're gonna get as well as you give!"

"Oh, I'm so scared!" Milo retorted and stuck out his tongue.

Natalie then gave a zap and suddenly, Milo was bald. Then she grinned broadly and held a mirror up to him. "Not so pretty now, are you?"

"What have you done to my beautiful hair?" Milo yelled, his face scarlet. "Put it back, put it back!"

"Okay," Natalie chuckled and put it back, but now it was long and curly and had pink bows in it. "Oh, look, you're so pretty! So like a girl!"

"There," Milo grinned smugly and took the bows out, then shook out his new dark mane. "Not so bad," he told her and looked in the mirror again. "Not bad at all. You should try it. Guys like playing with long hair, you know."

Natalie growled and stomped her foot, her evil scheme gone awry. Then she gave him his original hair back, but not before kicking him in the crotch for good measure. "Fine. You know, I don't care if you like it. Why don't you just go back to your mommy's belly before I really hurt you!"

"I will if you will!" Milo returned.

"Fine," Natalie rolled her eyes. "Whatever!"

"Amy? Ellie?"

Amy and Ellie both woke up and saw a nurse peering down at them.

"It's time for your appointments," she said. "The doctors will see you now."

"Sorry," Ellie apologized.

"Yeah," Amy nodded. "We must've been really tired since we fell asleep!" They helped each other out of their chairs and then made their way to the exam rooms to see how their babies were doing.

Leila, now a toddler, was sitting in her room and playing with a new doll Lucifer had bought her, introducing her to her friends.

"Hi, Dolly! These are my other dollies from Grandpa and Daddy." She then made her voice high pitched, as if giving the other dolls voices.

"Hi, Dolly!"

She made it like the other doll was walking toward the group. "Hello!" She then hugged the toy and then gently kissed her head. Then she heard a noise and looked up with a smile, seeing Malcolm standing next to the doll shelf. He smiled and put a finger to his lips.

"Hi Uncle Malcolm!"

"Hi, sweetheart," he told her. "Grandpa gave you a new toy, I see."

"Yeah," Leila nodded, her red hair bouncing on her shoulders. "Mommy was mad but I get to keep it."

"As well you should!" Malcolm told her. "It's not nice of your mommy and daddy to fight all the time."

Leila nodded and handed him one of the boy dolls. "Be him please." She paused. "I wish Mommy and Daddy were nice like you."

Malcolm's dark eyes glinted and he took her in his arms and twirled her around before sitting her back down. "Well, even if they aren't, you know you always have me, right? I'll always be nice to you."

"Good," Leila smiled. "You're my bestest friend, Uncle Malcolm!"

"Yes, I am," Malcolm agreed. "And I hope you'll always remember that."

"I will," Leila swore as she held his gaze. "I promise."

"Wonderful," Malcolm told her. They played for a little while longer, then Malcolm stood up and patted her head. "I have to go now, darling, just for a little bit. But I promise I'll be back.

"Where are you going?" Leila questioned after getting to her feet. "Can I come too? Mommy and Daddy are busy and I'm bored!"

Malcolm bit his lip on a smile, ran his fingers through her hair, and shook his head. "You'll get to come with me someday, I promise," he told her. "But now it's too soon."

"But how long do I have to wait?" Leila squirmed. "I want to go now!"

"I'm...It's very good that you feel that way. It's just a little while longer, I swear."

"All right," Leila sighed, then held out her pinky. "Pinky swear?"

"Oh, yes!" Malcolm nodded. "And I never break a promise. And remember, don't say a word about me to your parents, either." He knew she would break that promise and just maybe, give her parents something to think about. He then gave her a smile and a wave, heading out of the room and leaving her alone with her dolls.

"I'll get it!" Leila cried and ran for the door as the bell rang. It was a day her father visited and she was very excited.

"No, Leila!" Isabella cried. "It could be a stranger! We have people to do that for us!"

Leila pulled the door open and she and Tyler grinned at each other, then Leila turned. "Silly Mommy! It's not a stranger! It's Daddy!" She threw herself into her father's arms and gazed up at him adoringly. "Hi, Daddy!"

"Hi, sweetheart," Tyler greeted her and stared right back. Then he rubbed noses with her. "Who's my little princess?"

"I am!" Leila cried and laughed.

Then they both looked up as Isabella made a retching noise.

"Are you okay, Mommy?" Leila asked. "Why did you make that noise?"

"I bet your mommy's not feeling very well, angel," Tyler told her. Then he looked at Isabella. "Is that right? Are you okay?"

"Yes," Isabella snapped. "I'm fine!"

"Come on!" Leila told her father, her mother quickly forgotten. "Let me show you my new doll! Come fast!"

"Wait just a minute now," Tyler told her. "Don't you think we should be polite and ask Mommy if she wants to come play with us?"

Leila rolled her eyes and turned. "Okay. Mommy, do you want to come play with us?"

"No, thank you," Isabella shook her head and pulled a nail file from her purse. "I'm very busy."

"Okay we were polite," Leila said and began pulling at Tyler again. "Let's go!"

Tyler obliged and followed her to her room where Leila immediately pulled out her doll. "See? Isn't she pretty?"

"Yes," Tyler nodded. "Where did it come from? Did Mommy get it for you?"

"No, Grandpa did," Leila told him. Then her mouth twisted. "When Mommy saw, she got mad and tried to take it away from me."

"Well, that's not very nice," Tyler told her and took her in his arms. "How about I get you another one to make up for it?"

"Okay!" Leila smiled. "Thank you, Daddy!"

They began playing and it wasn't long before Leila said, "Daddy, do a voice for him like my friend did. We played together this morning!"

Tyler gave her a look, put the doll down, and stood up. "Excuse me, angel," he said. "I have to run to the bathroom, but I'll be back." He then left the room, excuse made, and strode up to Isabella, who was still filing her nails. "Leila talked about her imaginary friend again," he said. "Should we be concerned?" He was both surprised and pleased when his question was taken seriously and answered politely.

"Supposedly we shouldn't worry about it," Isabella told him with a sigh. "I asked around; lots of small children have imaginary friends. She'll grow out of it eventually."

"Good," Tyler nodded. They walked together back to Leila's room, talking along the way.

"How's law school going?" Isabella asked. "Since I don't see a lot of you on campus?"

Tyler smiled. "I like it a lot. It's a good challenge. Thanks for asking!"

They reached Leila's room and Isabella watched from the door as father and daughter played. This went on for a little bit before she got bored, excused herself, and headed downstairs for a snack, not noticing Tyler watch her go, and sigh deeply once her footsteps had gone quiet, wondering how long, if ever, it would take for them to be able to have a real future together.

She had been hoping to just grab some cookies and go, but when she found her mother in the kitchen making tea and a peanut butter and jelly, she knew that wouldn't be possible.

"So, it's Tyler's day," Ellie remarked. "Are you all right, Isabella? Should I hide all the alcohol?"

"No," Isabella snapped. "What Tyler does with his princess Leila is none of my business." She growled and her hand became a fist. "His little princess Leila."

Ellie's jaw dropped a little. "Isabella Lucy Morningstar, are you jealous of Leila? Oh, my gosh, you're jealous of Leila! You're just like your father!"

"No, I'm not!" Isabella proclaimed. "I don't know where you could get such a silly idea, Mom!"

"Yes, you are!" Ellie said, not fooled for a minute. "You're jealous of Leila just like your father's been jealous of his sister, Avery, ever since she arrived!"

"Why in the world would I be jealous of my daughter?" Isabella snapped. "That's just ridiculous!"

"I don't know," Ellie said. "You tell me. I think it would be good for you." She waited, and Isabella stood in tight-lipped silence, rocking back and forth on her heels until, at last, she confessed.

"Oh, all right," she huffed. "Tyler's ignoring me and giving Leila all the attention cause he doesn't like me anymore, and I don't think I like it. Are you happy now?"

"No," Ellie shook her head. "I think what you're saying is complete and utter bullshit. The guy's been in love with you for years. And believe me, between what I hear about Amy and Klaus and your aunt Selina and Elijah, Mikaelson men don't give up on those they love so easily. He's just living life and growing up, and I don't think it would hurt you to figure out who you are too."

She waited for Isabella to say something, feeling hope as her daughter's eyes lit up.

"You know what? I think I have the perfect way to get Tyler to like me again. I just need to find that new lingerie I bought!"

She turned and ran and Ellie heaved a big sigh and looked heavenward. "Or you could completely ignore me. Sure, why not?" She shook her head and sat down with her sandwich, trying to stave off the headache that came with trying to talk sense into her husband, and now, her daughter.

"I'm not sleepy!" Leila protested, though she was yawning openly as he father eased her on to her bed and tucked her in. "I want to stay with you!"

"I know," Tyler told her. "I want to stay with you too, but it's time for your nap now."

Leila held on to his sleeve and gazed up at him, wide eyed. "Will you come back?"

"Of course I'll come back," Tyler told her. "You'll see me soon, I promise."

Leila studied him, then nodded at last. "Okay," she nodded. "If you promise." Then, as her eyes closed, he looked her over, brushed some red hair out of her eyes, kissed her forehead, and went to tell Isabella he was leaving.

He knocked on her bedroom door, and when the door opened, his jaw dropped. She wore a nothing but a gauzy white robe and a tiny pair of white lace panties.

"Hi there," she said. posing seductively against the door. "Leaving so soon?"

"Yes," Tyler nodded, backing away while biting his lip. "And just in time too. What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"What?" Isabella purred and pinned him against the wall. "You don't like it?"

He then shut his eyes and sucked in a breath as her hand cupped his crotch. "A bulge is telling me otherwise."

"Oh, for fuck's sake!" Tyler growled, able to hold her at a distance at last and give her a good hard shake. "Enough of this! I came for Isabella...I mean, Leila, and not for you!"

"Ouch, you're hurting me!" Isabella cried. "Does this mean you want it rough? Cause that's okay with me."

"No," Tyler growled and pushed her toward the bed. She just missed it and landed in a heap on the floor beside it.

"Have you lost your mind?" She cried. "Rough sex is one thing, but this is another. If you're just gonna hurt me, I won't put up with it! I'm gonna tell my father!"

"Oh, yes, the act of an absolute child!" He scoffed. "Just what I expected!"

"Well what else can I do?" Isabella yelled. "What the hell do you want from me, since you clearly don't like me anymore?"

"I want you to grow the fuck up!" Tyler cried. "I can't be with you if you're gonna be immature and childish and only think of our relationship as being about sex. You're beautiful and sexy and all, but I need more, and I know you could be that person if you just tried. And besides that, Leila needs her mother to be a mature, responsible adult. Do you get that too? Doing what's best for her should be our top priority right now." He was very pleased how mature and responsible he sounded in the face of a woman who wore no shirt and had very nice boobs but if he gave in now, it would undermine the whole thing he was trying to get across, so he couldn't.

Isabella growled. "Leila this, Leila that! You can't shut about her anymore! What about me? It's okay to have a life outside of kids, you know!"

"What about you?" Tyler wanted to know.

"Well, do you not like me anymore?" Isabella questioned again. "There was a time when I could dress like this and we'd be in bed and like animals!"

"Enough about you!" Tyler snapped. "I've always wondered...do you want me? Truly want me? Not just as a lover, but as your husband and the father of our child? Are you ready for that?"

Isabella sniffed and stomped her foot. "That doesn't sound like fun! I want to have fun! You never gave a crap about whether or not I wanted you before! You always just assumed I did without asking. What's changed?"

"I have," Tyler said. "And I...I suppose you have a point. I'm sorry that so much of our relationship was me making choices for you that were more about making me happy. But that's done now. I want our relationship to be equal. I want us to work hard and play hard. But in order for that to happen, you have to stop being a child and become a woman."

Isabella's eyes narrowed. "I don't think you're listening to me," she said. "And for once, I'm gonna stand up for what I want! I want to have fun and if you don't, then we're done! I'll find myself another man! It won't take me any time at all!"

"What a relief!" Tyler yelled. "And best of luck to him for all that he's gonna have to deal with. As long as I get to see my daughter, you can do whatever the hell you want!"

Isabella then stepped forward and gave him a good hard slap. "I hate you!"

"I hate you too!" Tyler cried, a hand going up to his reddening cheek. "How can I hate you so much and still want you so much?"

"Get out of here!" Isabella screamed in his face as tears of frustration ran down her cheeks. "I don't want to see you anymore!"

Tyler then grabbed her by the throat and lifted her onto her toes. Then they started into one another's eyes, panting heavily before he let her go and she fell into his arms. Then they began kissing furiously, her unbuttoning his shirt as her hands roamed all over his torso, and him running his hand down her back and doing the best he could to slip off her panties. But then, when they finally paused to breathe, he realized what he was doing and untangled himself from her, once again leaving her on the floor. "You're not gonna do this to me," he panted, his face covered in dark red lipstick. "Not again. When you finally decide to grow up, you know where to find me." Then he turned his back on Isabella and left the room, slamming the door behind him without another word.

"There!" Ellie tied the tie of her snug gray sweat pants and checked her butt in the closet mirror. Then, satisfied with how it looked, hopped into bed where a bag of grapes was waiting for her to munch on, texted her husband and waited.

A few seconds later, he came in, but he wasn't looking at her. His mind seemed to be elsewhere. Definitely not on late afternoon sex like hers was. "Hey, sweetie!" She cried, trying to get him to look up. "You want a grape? Or to watch me eat one? Then I thought after we could have a little fun, or eat in bed, or watch some TV...I know I was mad about what happened at your dad's house, but...I...I'm not mad anymore. I hope you're not mad at me."

He didn't look at her, but instead advanced toward his dresser and began rifling around in his drawers.

"Hey!" She cried. "Did you hear me? And how could you not look at me? I'm not even wearing a bra! Are you okay?"

"Yes, I heard you," Lucifer sighed. He turned and faced her, his face somber. "What is it you want?"

She sat on the bed. "I just...I want to talk..." she patted the empty space on the bed beside her. "Please."

"That isn't a talking outfit, Eleanor," he said, looking her over but, to her shock, unmoved by the sight. "And even if it was, we've done enough talking; I've had enough. You've made your point loud and clear for ages and it finally makes sense to me. I've come to a decision."

"What decision?" Ellie swallowed nervously. "What are you talking about?"

"Just what I said," Lucifer told her. "You told my father that you wouldn't have been with me if he hadn't made you!"

Swallowing her fear, she went over and hugged him, even though he seemed fifty feet tall. "That's not what I meant and you know it. I meant that if he hadn't interfered, I would have met you in Europe while I was, you know, doing language immersion or something. You know, as a worldly young co-ed! That's not the same as rejecting you! Please, just come sit down and talk to me, and we'll sort this all out."

He kept his eyes on her and shook his head as he pushed her away, a firm tone to his voice. "Let me go, Eleanor. Please."

She let herself pout a little. This was becoming a desperate situation. "What are you doing, Lucifer?"

"Granting you your freedom, since you seem to want it more than anything," Lucifer told her.

"That's not what I want at all, and if you think it is, then fuck you!" Ellie cried. "Once again, I'm a tool in your stupid rivalry with your father! At least the first time, I was used to bring you together! Now I'm being thrown away just because you want to give him the finger! And I bet you don't even care that it makes me feel terrible, or that I'm carrying your child while you do it!"

Lucifer shrugged, although Ellie could see something like a flash of regret or pain in his eyes that disappeared before it could be properly identified. "What's one more?" He shrugged. "It's not like this is the first time."

Then, without even taking time to think about it, Ellie gave him a good, hard slap.

As she lowered her hand, his expression changed from anger to shock while his hand went up to his reddening cheek, while Ellie stepped back and waited to see what he would do next.

She didn't have to wait long for his eyes to go red as he grabbed her by the wrists and held her against the wall with his body. At any other time, she would have been turned on, but not now. Not when he was so angry.

"I see," he told her. "You want to have sex now. And clearly that matters more than anything else at the moment so why don't I just unzip and we can get it over with?"

"Screw you!" Ellie yelled. "I don't want to anymore! Not when you're like this! Now I just want you to get away from me!"

"Well, that's what I was trying to do before you so rudely tried to force me to stay around," Lucifer replied. "I will pack up my things and be on my way. And once I have a chat with a lawyer, the papers will come soon after."

Ellie scoffed. "You can send them if you want to, but I'm not gonna sign them. I don't want to be divorced. I love you and I love our family, and I love our life!"

"Well then why do you feel the need to bring up how miserable the beginning of it was?" Lucifer shouted. "What's the point if you're not miserable now and you don't want out?"

"I just...I just want it understood that I wish it would have been on my terms, and not something I had to grow into!" Ellie clarified. "Why is that so hard for some people to understand?"

"I think it's unnecessarily hurtful," Lucifer shot back. "If it has nothing to bear on the present situation and will do nothing but cause hurt, just keep it to yourself from now on. You've said your piece. We understand. No need to keep beating a dead horse."

Ellie sighed. "You know, I've had just about enough of you. If you want to go, just go. I've had enough of you, especially how you keep acting like a child and whining about Avery. It's truly pathetic!" Then while he was leaning over and putting stuff in his bag, she grabbed him. "But here's what you'll be missing!"

She then kissed him soundly, her hands all over his body and in his hair. Growling in frustration, he picked her up and threw her down on the bed. They ripped off each other's clothes, and then he pinned her arms over her head. "You know what you need, Eleanor?" He hissed. "A good spanking!"

"Go ahead," Ellie returned. "Make my day! Do whatever you want. You think I'm scared of you?"

He then tied her wrists together, turned her on her side, and spanked her until she was screaming. "Have you had enough?" He said.

"No!" Ellie hissed. "Is that all you've got?"

He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her head back. "Certainly not. I love hearing you scream!" He then got out of bed and ordered her up too. Then he gave her a gentle push against the nearby wall and buried himself inside her from behind until she nearly collapsed. When he caught her, she bit him and slowly licked the blood from her bottom lip. "Tasty," she breathed, smiling to show that her teeth were still covered in blood. "Had enough?"

"You're disgusting!" Lucifer returned as Ellie just stuck her tongue out at him. Then he ran his hand over her belly to make sure that situation was still okay. When strong kicking met his hand, he nodded, stepped away from the wall, dressed, grabbed his bag, headed out with Ellie's shouts that he'd be back ringing in his ears.

He soon bumped into an equally disheveled Tyler who was still reeling from what had happened with Isabella. They gave each other a long look, muttered an apology, then, as they were about to go off on their own, Tyler spoke.

"You need to do something about Isabella. You should have taught her how to be an adult, instead of the absolute child she is now."

Lucifer scoffed. "That's not the devil's job," he said. "Teaching people how to be responsible is not the same as sowing chaos everywhere, is it? And besides, you're the one who forced yourself into our lives because of some foolish destiny you thought my daughter was part of. Maybe you should have been more careful."

They then glared at each other, turned on their heels, and when their separate ways, everything going silent once more.

Soon after, a grinning Malcolm picked up his pace a little when he saw Tyler disappear over his shoulder. He made his way to Leila's room, where he found her sobbing into her pillow, her face and eyes as red as her hair.

"Darling Leila, what's the matter?" He asked, taking her in his arms. "Why are you so sad?"

"Mommy and Daddy are mad at each other," Leila said. "Everyone is yelling. It's loud and making me sad."

"Well, there's no reason for you to have to put up with that," Malcolm told her and stroked her hair. "I'll take you away somewhere where you can have peace and quiet."

"And lots of cake?" Leila added hopefully.

"Of course," Malcolm smiled. "Lots and lots of cake. And no one will fight and you'll have all the pretty things you want."

"Really?" Leila perked up. "Let's go!" She hopped out of bed and began pulling him to the door. "Come on!"

"Right now?" Malcolm asked in surprise.

"Yes, Mommy and Daddy are busy," Leila explained. "They won't miss me!"

He held on to her and kissed her hair. "I admire your enthusiasm, but let's wait until tomorrow, all right? Tomorrow morning? I want to give you a chance to get your beauty sleep."

"But I'm already beautiful!" Leila countered. "I don't need sleep!"

Malcolm chuckled. "You're a persistent little one, aren't you? Can you wait one more day? Just for me?" He took her hand and gently kissed it. "Please, my darling?"

"Oh, okay," Leila huffed. "But only because I like you." Then she let him tuck her in and wish her a good sleep.

"So we go on a trip tomorrow?" Leila asked. "Will it be a fun trip?"

Malcolm nodded. "It will be the most fun you'll ever have. I promise!"