[This exchange occurs shortly before the beginning of Guardian Knight: A Smoothly Run Operation.]

"She looked so small on that gurney."

Devon looked over at Michael, who was sprawled on the sofa. "Melissa? She'll be fine. Dr. Wesley is a very good surgeon, as you yourself can attest. Besides, I've seen her smaller."

"When she was an infant?" Michael grinned.

"Yes. She was born premature."

"I didn't know that."

Devon contemplated Michael for a moment, then walked over the sideboard. He poured himself a small glass of whiskey and expertly opened a bottle of beer. He gave the bottle to Michael, and then sat back down again.

"One of those conversations?"

"Yes, I rather believe so." Devon stared at his glass, gathering his thoughts. "Elizabeth . . . was not meant to have children."

Michael snorted. "There's an understatement. I mean, the only reason Melissa turned out so well is that Elizabeth pretty much ignored her." Devon raised an eyebrow, and Michael explained, "Melissa calls Wilton 'Dad' but calls Elizabeth 'my mother'. When she mentions Elizabeth at all. Doesn't take a genius to figure out the family dynamics."

"Yes, well, I was speaking literally, not metaphorically. Elizabeth had difficulty conceiving and bearing children. She doted on Garthe in large part because she thought he would be her only living offspring."

"And Melissa? What about her?" Michael sounded slightly outraged on his ward's behalf.

Devon sighed and drank some of his whiskey. "Elizabeth did not have an easy pregnancy with Melissa. She was put on bed rest, then hospitalized. She went into labor early, at six and a half months. She nearly died during delivery. They both nearly died. Wilton was beside himself."

"And Garthe?"

Devon grimaced. "Garthe was 15 when Melissa was born. He saw no reason for Wilton and Elizabeth to have another child, not when they had him. Especially one so much younger than he was. Plus, Elizabeth was so ill for so long. Well, he resented Melissa's existence before she was even born. Having his mother nearly die in childbirth for a younger sibling he didn't want . . ."

"No wonder Garthe hates Melissa so much."

"Indeed. Elizabeth remained in hospital for almost a month. Melissa was there closer to three before coming home. By the time she did come home –"

"Elizabeth was back to doting on Garthe, so she ignored Melissa."

"Not exactly. You see, Elizabeth wanted to hire a nanny for Melissa. But Wilton refused. Because Garthe hadn't had one. They had quite the row. Elizabeth finally told Wilton either they hired a nanny for Melissa or he could take care of her."

"Let me guess: Wilton picked the second option."

Devon had a slight smile of reminiscence. "He set up her crib and changing table in his office. The same spot, as a matter of fact, where he set up your hospital bed and equipment when you were recovering after Tanya Walker shot you."

"Really?"

"Oh, yes. He scheduled business meetings around Melissa's sleeping schedule." Devon chuckled. "And took great pleasure in talking on the speaker phone during diaper changes. Said it put him in the proper frame of mind for some of the – to use his word – crap that he had to deal with."

Michael laughed. "I've sat through some meetings like that."

"As have we all." Devon drained his glass. "Speaking of which, I have a meeting with the Foundation's Board. I assume you won't be attending."

"Not without some diapers."