A.N.: Diabetics beware! I realize that last chapter was getting a bit sentimental, and I'm afraid the sugary-sweetness may get worse here. Truth be told, I'm really horrible when it comes to romance. It seems sarcasm and anger are my stronger points, but I'm trying all the same. For those who have been complaining, just rest assured the "marshmallow"-ness won't last forever. Theme song: "Stars All Seem to Weep" by Beth Orton.

Husband. The word reverberated in her head with a clarity she found disconcerting. She had grown used to the idea of being a mother, but a husband, a family; it was all so much bigger, almost too real. Granted, it was what she had been hoping for from day one, but to have that hope realized? And now it was here, staring her in the face and Sarah had no idea how to react. Trying to lighten the mood that was threatening to engulf her, drown her, she quickly reverted to wit.

"You'd better be. I won't have my daughter being introduced as your 'love child'." she quipped. He smiled briefly, but he saw through her defense mechanism.

"I mean it Sarah." he told her very seriously. "I meant it from the very beginning. I won't apologize for what's happened, because I don't regret this. I only regret I hadn't told you before leaving that morning. You shouldn't have had to go through this alone."

"Well, not completely alone. I mean I have Beth and Tori…" she started.

"I would hope that's not quite the same" he interrupted, one hand trailing over her breast.

"I don't know Jareth, seven months is a long time –" she teased, but she didn't get to finish before his mouth covered hers.

* * *

Trey was storming around his room, throwing curses at the robed figure of Azreal leaning against the dresser.

"You are all fools! Why won't you listen to me, we need the mother!"

"No, Trey, you want the mother, there is a difference. If it means that much to you, take her and be done with it, but don't think you can compromise the position of the group just because you want a new toy."

"You're not listening, she has a protection spell! I felt it when I made contact with her, which means the child has one as well. We can't just take the babe, she will have to give it to us."

"Surely you've touched her before, so excuse me if I'm a little dubious about this 'spell' deciding to raise its ugly head now." Azreal commented, eyebrow raised meaningfully at the still-ranting Trey.

"Of course, I've touched her before. It's just that this was the first intimate contact we've had." Trey admitted, slightly embarrassed.

Azreal remained silent for awhile, thinking over this new dilemma. "Now, this protection spell is Fae magic, correct?" When Trey nodded he continued, "But the child is not entirely Fae, and I seriously doubt Ms. Williams even knows she possesses Earth magic. Therein lies her vulnerability."

"What are you getting at?"

"It will take a little research, but if this works out the way I think it will, then we may be able to come up with a solution everyone will agree upon. Contact me tomorrow evening, after you've gotten a better feel on the woman's reaction. I will have reached a decision by then."

Without another word, he was gone. Trey, for lack of something better to do, decided to check up on Sarah. However, the crystal was showing nothing more than a gray fog. 'What the hell?' he wondered, but then with a shrug made the crystal disappear. He had had a problem finding her before; he knew one of the rooms at Tori's had an Earth protection spell, and he would see her tomorrow anyway. 'Only two more months' he thought.