As Alistair carried a sniffling Madeline through the hospital doors, he did his best to hide the sight of the unconscious Astrid being wheeled away from her.
"Is Grandma dead?" She asked seriously as he put her on her feet.
"No, sweetheart of course not," Alistair said. "But she's not feeling well." He breathed a sigh of relief as a nurse approached and took her hand. "You be an angel and go with this nice nurse. I'm going to go watch Grandma Astrid and make sure nothing bad happens to her."
"If she's not dead, then what's wrong with her?" The little girl pressed, her eyes wide.
"I don't know," Alistair shrugged. "But I'll find out, I promise!"
As the nurse led the little girl away to one of the play rooms, Sean approached. "How long until we find out what's wrong with her?" Alistair asked. "I hope it's nothing serious. I hope she'll get well."
"Well, we don't know yet," he replied replied and put a hand on his shoulder. "Just stay calm. We'll do some tests and figure out how to treat her, so she and the baby will be safe, all right?"
"Yes," Alistair nodded, all right." He ran his fingers through his hair. The image of Astrid losing all color and becoming unconscious was going to stay with him. It was a wonder he could be calm at all.
Sean went and got him some tea. "I know this isn't much and it's definitely not the tastiest, at least not compared to what you're used to, but...I hope it helps just a little. You drink it and I'll go help make sure Astrid is stable so you can see her."
"Thank you," Alistair told him with a nod and took a sip of tea. It had flavor, and it was warm and for now, that was good enough. "Is Astrid going to be all right? You can be honest with me."
"I can't be certain until I know precisely what's going on, but I can assure you that I'm going to do everything i can to keep Astrid and the child safe and alive. All you need to do for me, for Astrid, for everyone, is to stay calm."
"Right," Alistair nodded. He would try, even though it would be near impossible until he knew for sure Astrid was awake. "Right. I'll do that."
Sean started to walk away, but Alistair reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you for everything, Sean."
"You're welcome."
Once he was gone, Alistair decided that he couldn't delay anymore; He had to call Helene and tell her what was going on, even if doing so turned the whole situation into something he couldn't ignore. He pulled out his phone and put in her number.
"What?" Came a tired and testy voice.
"Helene, it's your father, are you all right?"
"Oh, I'm sorry!" She said, brightening up considerably. "It's just...I was expecting it to be my mother in law. She just can't stop herself from giving me little suggestions about how to run my new life and I'm starting to get sick of it. But anyway, what's up with you?"
"Well, there's really no gentle way to say this, so I just will: your mother is in the hospital. I'm there now."
"What? Why the hell are you at the hospital? Did something happen with the baby? Will Mom be all right?"
"We're not sure exactly," Alistair told her. "Your mother and I were talking and all of a sudden, she just went pale and collapsed. Sean's doing tests at the moment, but so far, the baby seems fine."
"Good! And...and what about Madeline? Oh, my gosh, that poor girl! She was with Mom, so she must've been there when everything went wrong. Is she okay too?"
"She is," Alistair nodded. "I'm sorry but I had to bring her to the hospital with me; I didn't know what else to do. She's in a play room right now."
"It's all right, you did well, Daddy," Helene told him. "I can't just let you be there alone; I'm on my way."
"Dear, will you do your old father a favor?"
"Yes, Daddy, what do you need?"
"Call Klaus and Amy and tell them what happened, will you? When I left, I only planned to be gone a few minutes."
"Sure," Helene assured him. "I'll give them a call on the way to the hospital."
Alistair could do nothing but pace as he waited for news about Astrid and the baby's conditions. He got so involved in it that when Sean came out and touched his shoulder he let out a shriek.
"Sorry," Sean apologized. "Didn't mean to scare you."
Alistair blushed and shook his head. "No matter, my boy. No matter. Now...about the tests...and Astrid, how's my wife?"
Sean swallowed and put a hand on his shoulder. "Maybe you should sit down. Can I get you some coffee or water?"
Alistair felt sick. "When doctors talk that way, it doesn't mean anything good. But just in case...it's not...it's not twins or something is it?" He laughed weakly at his attempt at humor.
Sean opened his mouth to continue but was interrupted by Helene. "Dad!" She cried and ran to him. "Are you okay? Is Mom okay? What's going on?" She hugged him hard, then looked at Sean. "Sorry, am I interrupting something?"
"I was just about to share your mother's test results," Sean replied.
"Can I hear them?" Helene asked. "Or is it private?"
"Of course you can stay!" Alistair said, pulling her close as she rested her head on his shoulder. "Where's Ludovic?"
"Don't worry about him, he's with Madeline. And I did call Amy, just like you asked."
Then, Junior cleared his throat. "Now, before I say anything about Astrid's tests, let's all take a seat, shall we?"
"Yes, of course," Alistair nodded as he and Helene sat down. "Now, about my wife...is something wrong with her and the child? Are they ill?" He reached out his hand to Helene and she took it and squeezed.
"Well, she has...she has a condition that we've been seeing pop up in almost every species," Sean told him. "And we're not exactly sure what's going on or why it's happening."
"Oh, my god," Helene put a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide.
Alistair swallowed and took a deep breath. "What sort of a condition?" He asked, sounding braver than he felt. "Is it lethal for my wife or the baby? Will they die?"
"It's..." Sean nodded. "It's very possible. This condition has been spreading throughout all species that can bear children and we don't know if it's the mixing with humans that brought it in or what, but...it causes the bones to have trouble developing on their own so the baby tries to get more nutrition from the mother than they would in a pregnancy where the baby doesn't have this problem."
"All right," Helene nodded. "So my sibling has this condition. Is there any way to fix it? Or at least lessen the effects? There has to be something!"
"There's not much we can do, I'm afraid," Sean said apologetically. "Either the baby will die before birth and take Astrid with it, or if it's able to survive to term, its bones will be so fragile that it won't survive the stress of delivery."
A choked sob escaped Helene's lips and Alistair swallowed as they hugged each other hard.
"I'm sorry," Sean shook his head and put his hand on Alistair's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I wish I had better news for you, but...I see no reason to string you along."
"And...so there's absolutely no way to fix this?" Alistair asked.
"There's a way to save Astrid," Sean nodded. "If we terminate the pregnancy, she'll just need a few days of recuperation and she should be all right, at least physically. That's what I recommend we do, and as soon as possible."
"You said that what's happening to my mother happens in almost all the species," Helene said between sobs. "Who hasn't been affected?"
"Demons," Sean replied. "For some reason, we haven't seen one case in the demon population."
"Why?" Helene cried. "What makes them so special?"
Sean shrugged. "I couldn't tell you. But something in them makes it easier for them to carry the baby to term. Although the child doesn't completely escape consequences: they usually end up having some sort of physical handicap. But I have to emphasize that the children still live."
"Can I...can I see Astrid now?" Alistair wanted to know.
"Yes," Sean nodded. "She's in a private room and I had to sedate her to help her recover from everything her body is going through. And it should go without saying that you shouldn't tell her what I've shared with you just yet."
"Of course not," Helene shook her head and sniffled, wiping tears out of her eyes. "We won't say a word." She gave Alistair a big hug. "Go, Daddy! Go see Mom!"
"I will, darling," Alistair nodded and kissed her hair. "I love you."
It seemed like it took all the strength she had, but Astrid finally opened her eyes, her breath quickening just a little when she saw Alistair's admittedly handsome form standing by the window with his back to her. She opened her mouth to speak, but coughed first, then whispered his name, which made her cough more.
"Oh, my goodness, you're up!" He cried, coming over to her and giving her a small smile. "Thank heavens!" He paused and took her hand. "How are you feeling? You look nice, however it is." He paused. "Thank goodness you know who I am. You do, don't you?"
"Yes," Astrid nodded. "I may be a little disoriented, but I...I do know who you are. You're no stranger." She paused. "I'm...I'm a bit thirsty. Would you...?"
"Of course," he nodded and went to get her a small glass of water, which he held against her mouth as she drank. "Do it slowly now. You don't want to dribble it all over yourself."
Once she'd finished the cup, her mind cleared just a little. "The last thing I remember is you and I arguing," she said. "Then I fainted. And...why am I at the hospital? I am I...how bad is it? Did something happen to the baby?" She rubbed her belly and shut her eyes tight, hoping not.
"You need to take some breaths and be calm," Alistair told her. "Worrying won't help anything." He took the cup from her hands and ran his fingers through her hair. "No need to be melodramatic. You fainted, yes. But you're fine and now they're just running some tests on you so that something like this won't happen again." He lied and she probably knew that he was lying but he couldn't do anything else.
"What about Madeline?" Astrid wanted to know. "Since I know you brought her with you since that's what a sensible person would do, where is she now?" She paused, eyes narrowed. "You did bring her with you, right? She's not wandering aimlessly alone around the house?"
"Do you think me so dim-witted that I would leave a child her age alone?" Alistair snapped, speaking in a way he only spoke when stressed or outraged.
Astrid pulled the sheet over herself. "Well, I don't know what to think about you anymore!"
"Well, just so you know, woman, she's in the children's area with Ludovic and Helene."
Astrid felt ill. "Ludovic and Helene are here? Whatever's going on with me must be bad!" She shut her eyes tight and put a hand over her mouth. Her whole body was shaking.
"Hey, hey, stop that now!" Alistair told her. "You're a kickass woman. You'll get through this! The woman I used to have to drive home after long nights and bar fights wouldn't act like this."
Astrid chuckled weakly. "I know who you're talking about...I even know that person was me. But it seems so long ago. Like a story or a dream." She shook her head. "I don't even understand why you liked her. She made messes all over your car."
"Well, luckily I had magic and could fix them," Alistair reminded her.
"Yeah, but...you didn't need to fix all of them," Astrid replied. "You should have stopped me, or...decided that I was too...too risky to be involved with. It wasn't like you needed the excitement."
Alistair snorted. "That's true. But I just...I liked taking care of you. I don't know if it was a knight in shining armor thing or what, but...you were a woman taking a hard world on by herself and if I could give you just one little place where you didn't have to work so hard...or work at all, then it always felt like I'd done my job."
Astrid's lip jutted out. "And I haven't done a good job getting with that program, have I?" She sighed. "I...I don't think I ever will, so...you can go now. I know you have the right to know what's going on with the baby, but..." He'd almost drawn her in, talking about the past, but she couldn't let him soften her up.
"No but," he shook his head, pulling her to him and kissing her hard. She was surprised at first, but it didn't last long before she was kissing him back. "I hope you're done with this nonsense because I'm not going anywhere."
Astrid scoffed and pushed him away. "You want to stay at the bedside of a woman you're so intent on divorcing?"
"No," Alistair said firmly and kept his eyes on hers. "I'm staying at the bedside of the woman I love."
"What sort of foolishness is that?" Astrid spat. "Why say this now? Is it because I'm wounded? Vulnerable? Unable to get away and having to rely on others to care for me in this...hospital?" She then broke and started to cry. "Is it not even because of me but because your child could be in danger?"
"No!" Alistair shook his head. "I love you and it's the damn truth, but you just want a fight, so you're too stubborn to notice!"
"I'm stubborn?" Astrid cried. "You...you..."
"I'm...I'm...what?" Alistair asked, eyebrow raised. "Can't even finish that sentence? What I am is extremely pissed that you were in love with that...that...Malachai! Also that you hid the fact that you were carrying our child from me. And yet, even in spite of it all, I'm as in love with you as I have been since that first day I saw you handing out cigarettes and gum to scads of adoring men who were much more attractive than myself. I thought I would never have a chance, but...somehow, I did. I got it and I decided I would never let it go."
"Never?" Astrid asked skeptically. "Don't lie to me. You can't say that you never had another relationship when we were separated."
"True, I can't say that," Alistair admitted. "But what I can say is that none of them ever made me feel like I do with you. There's no replicating it. Which is why it makes me so sad, so angry...when things go wrong."
"Pretty words, but I know you wouldn't be saying them if I wasn't in the hospital."
"Oh, my god, woman!" He had never been so frustrated in his whole life and that was saying something. He stood up, pulling at his hair. "I...if I have to prove my devotion to you, fine! You can believe what you want, but I'm staying here. I'm not leaving you."
"Alistair?"
"What?"
"What if something is wrong with the baby?" Astrid asked as tears fell down her cheeks.
"It's all right," he said, taking her in his arms and letting her head rest on his shoulders. "Whatever happens, I'll be right here."
"Here you are," Ludovic said when he found Helene sitting on a balcony. "You're very hard to find. Five minutes more and I would have gone home!"
"Well, that's fine, considering that I didn't ask you to come here in the first place!" Helene snapped without looking at him. Then she looked up, guiltily. "Sorry. I mean...can I start over? Hello." She paused. "Where's Madeline? I know my parents are kind of busy with each other and I'm here and you're here, so..."
"Nico is with her. I asked him to come."
Helene scoffed and shook her head. "You should have just taken her home. A hospital is no place for children...at least not when they're not sick. They shouldn't be subjected to this. First they lose their parents in the fire and now...well, I know my mom isn't on the same level, but...they're close enough that it could matter. It could matter that they see her ill, and possibly dying." She sniffled and wiped her eyes, hating that he was seeing her cry. "That's it. You take them home and you don't come back."
"No," Ludovic said firmly. "A husband's place is with his wife, Helene."
"Maybe in books husbands are like that. Lucky me, I get a prince who forgets to tell me he is one."
Ludovic scoffed, crossed his arms, and looked heavenward. "Is that really how you want to do this? The same woman I loved in the woods wants to fight with me forever?" He leaned against the guardrail and watched her.
Helene looked up at him at last. "Well, I know I'm not exactly a ray of sunshine these days, so maybe you should go find yourself a mistress! Isn't that what princes in arranged marriages do anyway? Don't want to stand in the way of your royal privilege!"
He burst into laughter. "Even if I did that, I know it wouldn't last long. You'd kill the poor woman in her sleep! You're very territorial when it comes to your men. You can't let anyone go! You're even still hung up on your ex-ex husband!"
"I am not still hung up on Adrian!" She lashed out savagely. "It's just...maddening that he could never show me the respect and love he's showing your sister! Don't think I don't have any right to be mad about that!"
"Well, if you're not still in love with Adrian, who are you in love with?"
Helene sighed. "I don't really know. Love's never treated me right."
Ludovic put her chin in his hand. "Maybe because you never let it. How's your mother?"
Helene burst into tears and threw herself in his arms. "She's not well at all. The baby is in distress and could die."
Ludovic sucked in his breath and held her tight, running his fingers through her dark hair. "Oh, sweetheart, I'm so sorry! Is there anything they can do? Any treatment that will keep your sibling alive?"
"No," Helene sniffled. "Sean said there wasn't. That Mom could come out of it if she had an abortion but there's no way for the baby to. I mean, if they had demon genes, they would make it through, but they don't." She got up and paced around the balcony, wiping tears from her eyes.
"Come here," Ludovic ordered, holding his arms out.
"Why?"
"Because I want to hold you in my arms again, wife! I think it'll be much better for you."
"What if I don't want to be in your arms? And even if I did, it wouldn't mean anything!"
"Why do you keep lying?" He asked. "It doesn't help anything." He smirked as she came closer and hugged her hard. "It's going to be okay."
"Not if I can't save my mother," Helene shook her head stubbornly. "If only I could get my hands on some demon genes and get them in her body!" She then raised her eyes to meet Ludovic's, a grin curving her lips that made Ludovic nervous.
"I don't know what's going in that head of yours," he said. "But whatever it is, I don't think you should do it."
"You don't even know what it is," she said, an idea forming in her head and getting clearer and clearer by the minute.
"Ugh," Sybil winced as she made her way through the hospital doors. She hated places like this. Demons, by and large, were very self-sufficient creatures, relying on their own rather than asking for any sort of aid from others in the supernatural world, who mainly saw them as subservient. She shuddered. Just like Mikael still did, for any demon who wasn't her. And yet, here she was, doing his bidding as always.
Suddenly, her phone rang and she grabbed it out of her gray crossbody bag. "Yes?" She asked Mikael. "If you're calling to check and see if I'm at the hospital, the answer is 'yes'."
"Good," Mikael told her. "Thank you."
"Thank you for saying 'Thank you'," Sybil told him. "I appreciate that you're being so polite." She paused. "Are you happy that I'm doing what you ask once again?"
"Extremely, but you know, darling, that I'm not just doing this for fun. I'm genuinely worried about your health."
"That's sweet, but...you're still a pain in my ass."
"Is that a request?" He asked teasingly as the man at the ticket counter raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't sure you were into that last time, but, if I may say, I'm very glad to hear that you are. When I get home, I'd be glad to give a repeat performance."
"Gee, that would be really nice, but...my place is fixed so I'm not at yours anymore. Where are you?"
"At the airport. My flight leaves soon and I should be back this evening."
"Have a good, safe trip then," Sybil swallowed.
"Darling, I hope you would tell me if something was wrong."
She froze. "Oh, I gotta go. Bye now!" She then threw her phone in her bag and made her way to the nurses' station. "I have an appointment with Sean Mikaelson," she said. "My name is Sybil Vane."
"Sybil!" She turned as Sean approached. "Well, look at you! I'd heard you were alive again and couldn't quite believe it. Want to come with me to my office?"
"Sure, but I promise this appointment has nothing to do with that," Sybil told him. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice."
"Well, it was either that or be killed by my sort of, but not really grandfather," Sean said with a wink. "And we wouldn't want that."
"No," Sybil shivered. "He can have quite a temper, can't he?"
"How did you two meet?" Sean asked. "It's well known that he's not the biggest fan of the demon community."
She blushed. "It was a pure accident. Sometimes people can just cross paths, can't they?"
"They can," he nodded. "So, what can I do for you today?"
"Well, it shouldn't be a surprise, but I...I don't feel well," Sybil shrugged. "I was in a fire a few weeks ago, and since then, I've been dizzy and queasy. It's probably just smoke inhalation."
Sean scribbled some notes on his pad. "That's a good place to start, but I don't want to just decide your diagnosis without thinking of all the possibilities." He cleared his throat and looked her in the eye. "Mikael says your body disappears sometimes. Want to tell me more about that?"
"He wasn't supposed to say a word about it!" Sybil cried and brought her fist down on Sean's desk. "It wasn't his place!"
"I'm sure he was just concerned for you," Sean replied, getting up and out of reach of her fists. "I'm sure he just wanted me to make sure I couldn't find anything weird that could be causing it."
"Well, it's still happening," Sybil confirmed after taking a deep breath. "But it's because I'm under some sort of spell and it has nothing to do with my dizziness and nausea, which has only been going on a few days."
"All right," Sean nodded. "Let's get you ready for a few tests, if that's all right with you."
"Sure," Sybil nodded. "We won't be able to figure this out otherwise, will we?"
Thirty minutes later, she was waiting nervously for the results, tapping her nails against her knee. Finally, Sean approached with a stack of paper in his hands. "I have your results!" He said. "Would you come back with me to my office?"
She went in ahead of him and he closed the door behind them. "Take a seat please."
"Thanks," she nodded, sitting and rubbing her hands nervously. "Since you shut the door behind us, I guess it's not something good. You can tell me the truth." She sobbed. "There's something wrong with me, isn't there?"
"Oh, no!" He shook his head and handed her a tissue. "Just procedure. We always shut the door for privacy when we share test results."
"So I'm not dying again?"
Sean smiled. "I can assure you that you're not," he said. "Actually, you're in very good shape, so there's no reason you would die. There's nothing wrong with you except for that spell that is making your body disappear."
Sybil breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you for reassuring me of that. You don't know how much better I feel! So the dizziness and all that was from the smoke?"
"Well, not exactly."
Sybil's eyes widened. "But you said there was nothing wrong!"
"I wouldn't say 'wrong'," he said. "In fact, a lot of women in your position are overjoyed by it."
Sybil froze. "What do you mean?"
"Well," he took her hand in his. "Your blood tests showed that you're pregnant! Congratulations!"
If she hadn't been in a chair, she would have fainted. "No, I'm not!" She shook her head. "I can't be!"
"You are," Sean nodded. "There's no doubt about it."
"There can be!" Sybil cried insistently. "I took a pregnancy test before and it was negative!"
"Those tests are more accurate for humans," Sean told her. "Did you get a human test from a human drug store? Because if a demon uses a human test, it shows inaccurate results every time."
"Oh, my god," Sybil stood up and began pacing. "What am I going to do? What am I going to do?"
"This isn't good news, then?"
She waved her hand. "It's complicated."
"It doesn't have to be," Sean told her. "A baby is always a gift."
"Oh, no. Is that meant to cheer me up?" She asked. "Or are you going to try and talk me out of ending this pregnancy if I want to?"
"No, of course I wouldn't, but...I don't see what the big deal is. What's there to worry about?"
"Well, I...I'm not in a stable relationship, my home is very small, I just started school...you want reasons? I can give you more."
"I don't need..."
"Oh, and here's the big one:" She turned and brought both palms down hard on his desk. "This child is Mikael Mikaelson's!"
Sean spit out the coffee he'd just swallowed. "Excuse me. What?"
She leaned in closer as he tried to rub the stain off his jacket. "I think you heard me the first time."
Sean shook his head. "I had no idea you were so well acquainted. I thought it was just a one time thing, but apparently it's more than that."
"Please don't tell anyone," Sybil begged. "I didn't know he could get me pregnant. I thought all vampires were infertile, otherwise I would have insisted on protection. And I'm gonna murder him for not taking the responsibility himself!"
"Sybil," Sean tried to calm her. "Have a seat and take a deep breath. Would you like a bottle of water?"
"Yes, please."
He gave her a bottle and sat down as she opened it. "Since you are officially my patient, I can't and won't mention this to anyone, especially not him. And I definitely wouldn't share the infertile comment. I don't think that would make him happy."
"Thanks, but it still doesn't help me know where to go from here."
"Well, it all depends on if you want the baby or not. And just as an FYI, Original vampires were turned via a spell and didn't have to die in order to be vampires. Thus, they can produce all the babies in the world, who are then also vampires, like myself. So use protection from now on unless you two want to...build a family, oh, god. I can't believe that came out of my mouth."
"Why is that bad?" Sybil asked.
"Well, Klaus and Mikael don't have a good relationship, you know, and I'm descended from Klaus...or at least grew up with people from Klaus' line...so I think I'm somewhat obligated to hate the idea that Mikael is still reproducing. No offense." He paused. "So...do you want the baby?"
Sybil put a hand on her belly. "I do, but I don't want to force Mikael into something he wouldn't be up to. I don't want to have to raise this child alone."
Sean leaned forward. "He doesn't strike me as the kind of man who would make himself suffer unnecessarily. I've been a doctor for a long time and this is the first time he's ever asked me to check up on someone. He must care about you a lot...enough to even start a family with you, maybe."
"I should be way further along than this," Sybil said. "Demon genes really accelerate pregnancies."
Sean shrugged. "It could be that your demon genes and whatever being an Original does to the body are having some sort of battle oyale and his genes are winning for the moment, giving you more time."
She heaved an exaggerated sigh. "Even his genes are macho and trying to one-up me!"
Sean laughed. "Well, at least you have more time to figure out what you want to do about all this. I hope it's a comfort to you."
"It is," she nodded. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Sean nodded. "And if he calls to ask what's going on with you, I'll say you're in perfect health. Cause you are, for someone in your condition."
"Perfect. Thank you! That's best, don't you think?"
"Yes," Sean nodded. "I'll schedule an appointment in two weeks so we can hear the heartbeat. Will that work for you?"
"Sounds good." She rose to her feet and headed to the door. Her hand was on the doorknob when he stopped her one more time.
"And Sybil?"
"What?"
"It'll be fine, no need to worry, okay?"
And as she looked at his earnest face, Sybil knew that at least for now, it would be.
"I don't know what I'm gonna do, Princess Leia," Sybil sobbed into her glass of apple juice while stroking her cat. "I'm pregnant with his child! I don't want him to feel obligated to be with me because of my condition, but I...I want to keep the baby because it's...it's both of us. It's proof that we...we have some sort of feelings for each other. And in spite of everything, even though it's crazy and makes no sense, even if a sensible woman would have run the other way, I'm pretty sure I've fallen in love with Mikael Mikaelson! I know I've lost my mind, but...there's no other explanation." She blew her nose and took another sip of apple juice, putting the cup down as she heard a discreet knock on the door. Curious, she went to answer it. Hardly anyone knew she was here, so she wondered who it would be.
When she saw who was standing in the entryway, she shouldn't have been surprised. "Hello, Mikael. Just how did you get in? I know I didn't give you a key."
"Mrs. Anderson came in about the same time I did and let me in after her," Mikael explained. "She's very kind."
"Is there...something wrong?"
"No, but can I please come in?"
She stepped aside. "Of course."
He stepped through the door and looked around the small studio.
"I know it's small," Sybil told him. "Don't judge me!"
"Of course I wouldn't judge you because of the amazing job you're doing living on your own but I'm not going to keep quiet about how you deserve better. Where in the world is the bedroom?"
He looked on in barely disguised distaste as Sybil pointed at the sofa. "It pulls out. It's very comfortable."
Mikael growled and rubbed his temple. "I don't like this. I don't care how comfortable it is."
Sybil growled and narrowed her eyes. "Well, I don't care and you're a judgmental ass! I got this place on my own and I'm very proud of what I'm accomplishing!" Her eyes widened as she realized something, looking back and forth between her and the cat, who was curled up in a chair. "Wait...you're not sniffling!"
"Of course I'm not," Mikael told her. "I took some of my medication before I told my driver to bring me here."
"Why did you feel the need to come?" Sybil pressed.
"I want to know about your test results. When I called Sean, he wouldn't tell me anything, other than the fact that you're well. But something in his voice told me he wasn't telling the complete truth."
"Oh, that," Sybil swallowed and rubbed her hands together. "There's nothing more to tell, really. I don't know what you want me to say."
He took a few steps toward her and cupped her face. "I come here and I see that your face is red and puffy. You've been crying, haven't you? What's wrong? Please tell me."
She decided to lie through her teeth. "It's nothing serious. I just had a lot of tests at the hospital and hospitals make people tired anyway. I'm worn out but it will pass."
"You're lying to me." Mikael shook his head.
Sybil took a deep breath and stepped away. "I...can I offer you anything, Mikael? Tea, Coffee? I...don't think I have wine, sorry."
"I don't want wine. I want the truth. I know I'm not always the best man, but...I do care about you. Please tell me."
Sybil sighed and took a large swig of water, choked a little, started coughing, and then, when she could take a breath, spoke. "I promise, there's nothing wrong with me that you need to worry about. It's just frustrating that Sean couldn't find a reason for...for..." She began crying and then started to disappear.
"No!" Mikael cried and reached for her shoulder, his eyes wide with panic. "Don't you do that, woman! Come back to me!" He muttered under his breath. "Damn it!" Then she appeared for just a moment, and he took it, pulling her to him and kissing her hard, smiling after a moan escaped her lips before she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again.
"Don't you scare me like that," he whispered in her ear. "Do you understand me?"
"I'm sorry," she murmured into his shoulder. "I'm sorry."
"Oh, my," he murmured and kissed her hair. "You really know how to give me a fright, don't you?"
"How was your flight?" She questioned, trying to move on from the emotionally charged moment.
"I don't give a damn about the flight," he snapped. "I only give a damn about you, and don't try to distract me because you won't be able to until I've figured everything out."
"You're a real piece of work, Mikael."
"Right back at you, Vane. Must not be difficult to recognize!"
Sybil just shook her head. "I know you probably don't want to stay much longer in what is to your eyes, a small and crappy hole in the wall, but...could you hold me for a little while before you go?"
The question surprised him and his expression softened. "Of course. I'll even sit on the terrible couch for you."
She chuckled. "You're a snobby, pretentious, and chauvinistic man!"
He sat and took her in his arms. "Tell me something i don't know," he drawled as he tried to get comfortable. "How can you sleep on this?"
"It's actually quite comfortable."
"Not more comfortable than my bed with me in it. I know that for a fact!"
She rolled her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder. "Nothing is as comfortable as being hugged by you," she told him.
I know this is very strange timing, but please meet me for coffee. I have something to discuss with you.
Eloise raised an eyebrow at the message on her phone. She and Adrian had just finished putting the dinner dishes away and he was doing what he could to put the girls to bed, and then she would take over. Ludovic knew the routine. He knew never to ask for outings at night.
I can't. I'm busy getting the girls to bed. You know this! She stabbed the keys hard as she typed the last three words.
I know, and I'm sorry, but this is an emergency. One time thing. Please?
Eloise rolled her eyes and sighed. They'd only just met and already she was wanting to bend the rules for him.
Oh, all right. But just this once.
Then she called to Adrian that she was going out for a little bit and made her way to the coffee shop that was about an hour from closing, taking a table, tipping the server big, and warming her hands on a cup of green tea. Then, all of a sudden, she looked up and almost spit it all over the table. Helene was coming toward her.
"What?" She asked. "Ludovic texted me to meet him here. Is he sick? Please tell me that's the only reason you would be here and not him."
"Actually," Helene had the grace to blush a little. "I sent you that text, not him. I knew you wouldn't come if you knew I had done it."
Eloise crossed her arms and frowned. "And what in the world would possess you to do something like that? Lying is not going to improve our relationship or make me more willing to do whatever it is you think you want me to do."
Helene looked around. The people at the counter were staring. "Would you stop making a scene and just sit down again? The more you fuss, the longer we have to be around each other."
"No!" Eloise said in an outraged whisper. "I'm not interested in any sort of chit-chat with you, polite or otherwise, because I never agreed to meet with you in the first place!"
Helene growled softly and ran her fingers through her hair. "For god's sake, will you sit your behind down in that chair and let me talk to you, Eloise? I'll make it as painless as possible."
Eloise stayed where she was, frowning and stomping her right foot.
"Please," Helene insisted. "It's very important."
"Fine." Eloise sat and glared. "So what do you want? And make it quick because I don't want to stare at you more than necessary, and I don't want to leave Adrian holding the bag with the girls for much longer."
"I'll do my best, because believe me, the feeling is mutual. My...my mother is in the hospital."
Eloise's jaw dropped. "What? I'm so sorry! I had no idea. You'd think that Adrian's mom and dad would have said something but they didn't. They're close friends with your parents, you know."
"Of course I do," Helene replied with a roll of her eyes. "I'm not an idiot."
"Well, again, I'm sorry for what's going on with your mother, but I don't see how it's my problem. Why are you dragging me into this?"
"She has a rare condition that makes the baby's bones very brittle. If the pregnancy goes to term, they'll probably all break when the child is born, if it doesn't die beforehand."
Eloise put a hand to her mouth, feeling tears begin to well up. "Oh, my gosh. That's terrible!"
"Yes," Helene nodded and nervously rubbed her hands. "But...but according to Sean, there's a way to lessen the effects of the condition, and that's what I need you for, even though it pains me to have to ask you for such a favor."
"Why? What could I possibly do? Do you need help with a spell or something?"
"No," Helene shook her head. "Not that side of you. The other one. Sean says the condition is less...final...in demons, so if my mother had demon blood in her, the child could be born and live. It would have a disability and deal with some pain, but it wouldn't die, and neither would my mother."
"Oh, no, no, no!" Eloise shook her head. "What you're asking for is highly immoral and unethical! It goes against everything I stand for! Things Adrian taught me, by the way!"
"Yes, yes," Helene shook her head. "Adrian is the sun, Adrian is the moon, blah, blah, blah! I'm not asking you to do this for me! I'm asking for my mom and my future sibling! I'm asking you mother to mother."
"Oh, damn!" Eloise winced and nodded. "Of course you had to go there. But...even if I did agree to help you, how would we accomplish this insanity? It can't be done!"
"Don't worry about that," Helene waved her concerns away. "I have a plan!"
"You have a plan," Eloise rolled her eyes. "Cause you're so good at plans, like the one to kidnap me and trap me in a dungeon while I starved to death!"
Helene closed her eyes, her hands balling into fists. "You are the most infuriating person I know!" She raged. "Do you always have to put yourself above everything and everyone? Perfect St Eloise! Well, I'm sorry I'm not as noble and selfless as you are! And if you don't help me, I'll ask every demon in the city until someone does, although who knows what could happen if I wait too long. That's how important it is to me to save my mother and this baby!"
They stared at one another for what seemed like several minutes until Eloise finally caved. "Oh, all right, I'll do it! But I'm not doing this for you, just like I will never do any favors for you. I'm doing this for your mom, your dad, and Adrian's parents."
"Thank you," Helene said, then, realizing what a scene they'd made, stared sheepishly at the counter. "Um..."
"We close soon," said the young man at the register. "If you want something, you better get it quick."
"Fine," Helene nodded and put twenty dollars in the tip jar. "I'll have a vanilla latte, decaf."
After she got her coffee, she followed Eloise to the door. "I can't say 'Thank you' enough."
"Well, it's not for you," Eloise told her. "I can't say that enough either."
Helene waited until they were out of the coffee shop before they spoke again. "I hope it doesn't intimidate you that in order to accomplish this, we'll have to do something that's a teeny bit illegal."
"Doesn't surprise me," Eloise shook her head. "But if we get arrested, you're paying the bills, got it?"
"Yeah," Helene nodded. "That's fair."
"You're here, good," Helene said as Eloise met her in the hospital parking lot. "I honestly wasn't expecting you to come. I thought I would have to come and get you myself."
"Well, no," Eloise shook her head. "I still hate you, but I wouldn't lie about helping your mother and your sibling. But just...how in the world do you expect us to accomplish what you want?"
"We'll have to get into my mom's hospital room, you give me the blood, and I'll give it to her," Helene replied.
"They don't let two random people just stride into a hospital room and do medical stuff!" Eloise cried. "Have you lost your mind?"
"They'll let us if they think we're nurses!" Helene said triumphantly. "Don't worry, I have the outfits and everything."
Eloise scoffed. "I don't believe this. You have lost your mind. Do you know how to actually get the blood in her? It's no good if you can't actually do it."
"I can," Helene nodded. "I read it in a book."
"Oh, good," Eloise replied with a roll of her eyes. "That gives me so much confidence in you."
"Okay, okay," Helene rolled her eyes. "You better be done. Are you done? I was generous before, letting you vent because I know I've caused a lot of trouble for you but you say one more word in that tone and you better watch your back!"
"Well, you know what?" Eloise looked at her watch. "I think I have somewhere to be. I don't think I can help you today!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Helene got out quickly. "But really, are you done with the smart remarks? I think it'll save time if we don't talk unless we absolutely have to."
"Fine with me," Eloise nodded. "Now, what's the plan? Is it gonna get us arrested?"
"Not if we're careful it won't," Helene told her. Then, she pulled two dress bags out of her car trunk. "We have disguises. We can pretend to be nurses."
"Where did you get two nurse disguises..." Eloise started to ask. Then she shook her head and put her hands up. "You know, don't tell me. I don't want to know."
"Get your mind out of the gutter," Helene said and handed her a dress bag. "Just put that on. And I hope you're in a badass frame of mind because I can't have you wimping out at the last second."
"I won't, don't worry," Eloise told her and winced. The outfit was a little snug but it still fit. "Let's just get this over with." Then she stopped and froze. "No, why are we doing this? There are better ways! Have you talked to Sean at all? Maybe he can help you figure out a way to help your mother without getting anyone in trouble!"
Helene scoffed. "Oh, yeah, if there had been a legal way to do this, he would have mentioned it, but he didn't. This is our only way out! And I always blab all my evil plans to the authorities before I do them. When I had you kidnapped, it was just the same!"
"Okay, okay, it was just a suggestion," Eloise huffed. "Excuse me!"
"Now that you have that out of your system, do you have all the stuff? Where's your mask?" Helene wanted to know.
"Here," Eloise took it out of the dress bag and put it on. "I can't believe I'm doing this. It's insane!"
"Yes, but remember the good you're going too," Helene got out, sensing that Eloise was beginning to lose her nerve. "Take a deep breath and let's go."
"Will you hurry up?" Helene hissed as she and Eloise made their way through the hospital to the nurses' lounge. "This is an important mission, not a walk in the park!"
"My outfit is too snug and my shoes pinch!" Eloise said. "It's very uncomfortable!"
"I don't care," Helene rolled her eyes. "Get your butt moving! And don't expect me to do anything like carry you."
"I wouldn't ask you to do anything like that!" Eloise said.
Finally, they ran into a doctor and Helene could see that Eloise was so nervous that she probably was going to blurt out the whole plan. So she deftly stepped in front of her to address the man. "Hello, Doctor. We've been assigned to help with Astrid Fale and her baby. Where's her room please?"
The doctor gave Helene a look. "I wasn't aware that Ms. Fale had a new doctor assigned to her. When did this happen?"
"Just recently," Eloise got out. "They want to try a new procedure." She then held out a paper that said exactly that and had Sean's signature. "See?"
The doctor looked it over. "Well, all right, it seems legitimate. She's in room 51c on the second floor."
The doctor left and they both took deep breaths while making their way to the elevator. "That was close!" Eloise whispered. "How could you not know where your mom's room is? We could have gotten in big trouble because of you!"
"I know, I just...I was nervous too!" Helene snapped. "I wasn't expecting to run into a real doctor!" She paused. "How did you get that note?"
"Forged it," Eloise replied. "I had some notes with Sean's handwriting on them from my appointments with the girls and I...I thought it would be good to have something like that just in case."
"Wow, you're smart," Helene smiled. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," Eloise told her. "But next time we run into trouble, you're gonna be the one saving our butts. I've done my bit."
"Right," Helene nodded. "I suppose that's fair. Do you have the stuff to get the blood? Are you ready to do it? You don't get woozy when you see blood, do you? Probably should have asked that before."
"No, I'll be fine," Eloise assured her. "Do you know how to do the transfusion?"
"I read up on it. I think I understand," Helene assured her.
"And does your mom know we're doing this?"
"No," Helene shook her head. "And if we're lucky, she won't wake up."
"We can't just do something that she never consented to!" Eloise said as they made their way into Astrid's dark room. "You never told me that part of it."
"Like I told you, it's the only thing that will save her," Helene said firmly, trying not to choke up as she looked at her unconscious mother hooked up to beeping tubes and machinery. "And I won't let her stubbornness about right and wrong kill her! Now, please give me your blood so we can get this over with!"
"All right," Eloise nodded, quickly cutting herself and filling up a syringe before handing it to Helene, who quickly injected Astrid.
"Please don't wake up," she whispered. "Please don't wake up."
There was a moment when they thought she would, but it was just involuntary movement as the needle entered her skin and then she went still again and both girls breathed a sigh of relief.
"There," Helene remarked once the syringe was empty. "All done. Hopefully this worked." She turned to Eloise, who was rubbing the sore spot on her arm. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," Eloise winced. "Let's just get out of here!"
They headed out into the parking lot, mercifully meeting no one else, then quickly changed their clothes back. As they prepared to get in their cars, Helene put a hand on Eloise's shoulder.
"What?" She asked.
"Nothing," Helene shook her head. "I just wanted to say 'Thank you'. This was crazy and dangerous and you had no real reason to help me, but...you did it anyway. I'm very grateful."
"You...you're welcome," Eloise nodded. "I hope everything works out like you want it to. Best of luck to your mother and the baby. Good night, Helene."
"Good night, Eloise. And thanks again."
"You're welcome again," Eloise replied, getting in her car and driving away.
Helene stayed in her car until Eloise had disappeared. It seemed she had underestimated that little half demon, she thought as she started her car. She'd underestimated her and just maybe, it wouldn't hurt to try and make things up. Eventually.