"He's a…better version of an old friend."

-Philip Wittebane aka Emperor Belos.

Most fans believe that the 'old friend' is his brother, Caleb.

I do not...own 'The Owl House.'


Chapter 8

My Name is…


Luz walked into the kitchen. "Alright, my mom's asleep. How are those fake ID's coming, Gus?"

"I got all of them done except Hunter's." Gus said as he finished Vee's ID and put it in the pile. "Why do we need one for Vee?"

"We're going with the story that I'm her twin sister who moved here from Rhode Island and was living with our aunt." Vee said in her Luz form, sitting across the table from Gus. "We're still working on my backstory."

"I would like to go on record to say that I am not okay with this." Hunter said as he finished brewing the coffee. "This is illegal, isn't it?"

"Well…yeah…yeah it is." Luz admitted. "But you guys need ID's to go out and do stuff. Namely, get jobs so we can all help out my mom with expenses while you're all crashing here."

"What's wrong, Golden Guard, don't like breaking the rules?" Amity asked, leaning back against the wall by Luz.

"As a former head of law enforcement, I do not enjoy the idea of committing felonies. Also, please don't call me that." Hunter poured himself a cup of coffee. "Anyone else want a cup?"

"How can you drink that stuff?" Willow asked from her seat at the table.

"You gotta try it with creamer and sugar." Hunter said as he added some to his own coffee. "I know it's late, but this stuff is super addictive."

"Dude, I tried some of that stuff and I threw up." Gus said. "So did Amity."

Amity shuddered with disgust. "It was like trying to drink boiled mud."

"I swallowed a small sip, and I threw it up in the sink." Willow admitted. "It just wouldn't go down."

"There were a lot of things I couldn't digest on the Boiling Isles." Luz said. "I guess there are some things witches can't digest in the Human Realm."

"Huh." Hunter took a drink from his cup. "I guess I'm just…built differently."

"Hey, Hunter, I need to finish your ID, man." Gus said as he picked up another blank ID. "What's your last name?"

Hunter blinked. "My last name?"

"Yeah, your last name." Gus said.

"Um…" Hunter shrugged. "I…I don't know."

"You…don't know your last name?" Willow asked.

Hunter drummed his fingers along his coffee mug, standing still and looking embarrassed. "Belos never told me it, and I never asked. I always assumed it was Belos."

"Hunter Belos?" Luz asked skeptically. "Is that honestly what you want to go by?"

"Okay, fine. How about Hunter…Grim? Spelled with two 'm's to make it look more like a surname." Hunter suggested.

"Hunter Grimm?" Amity asked. "That sounds kinda evil, don't ya think?"

"So says Miss Blight?" Hunter countered.

"Hey, my name is Amity. That literally means 'friendly relationship'." Amity argued.

"How about…Hunter Gold?" Luz suggested.

Hunter raised an eyebrow. "For real?"

"It makes sense," said Luz. "I mean, yeah, Hunter Grimm sounds way more badass, but let's try to make your new name sound more friendly."

Hunter sighed. "Fine, whatever. We'll go with Gold."

"Hunter Gold it is." Gus said as he got to work on Hunter's ID. "Actually has a nice ring to it."

Willow continued to gaze at Hunter with concern and care brimming in her eyes. "You really don't know your own last name?"

Hunter stared at the floor and sipped his coffee. "I'm not even sure I have one."


(hundreds of years ago)

"Do you love her?"

"Of course I do."

"Well, then…tell her."

Caleb took a deep puff from his clay pipe. He held it in for a second before blowing out a steady stream of smoke. Caleb didn't have much tobacco left, so he was trying to savor every smoke.

"...I'm afraid," Caleb confessed. "If I were to confess my love to her, then that's it. There's no going back. I confess to her, and I officially renounce my place in the Human Realm, and lay claim to a life in the Demon Realm."

River shrugged. "Is that so bad?" A waitress came and sat a mug of apple blood down in front of him. "Thank you, Lissa."

Caleb took another puff from his pipe. Thankfully, the tavern allowed smoking indoors. "I am not unhappy here. To speak the truth, I am happier here in Bonesborough than I ever was back in Gravesfield. That town was a nightmare. You wanna know why it was named Gravesfield? Because we have the largest cemetery in the colonies."

"Well, this town is called Bonesborough because of the giant rib cage." River said. "Not…entirely different."

Caleb sighed. "Ever since my mother passed away, I can't remember a time when I was truly happy. My career was laughed at and disdained, no one in town liked or respected me, and the only friends I had were my brother and the birds I set up feeders for."

Flapjack chirped on Caleb's shoulder.

"Yes, you are my favorite bird. Do you really have to make me say it every time I bring it up?"

"In Bonesborough, you have a good job, you have friends, you have Flapjack there, you have a lady friend who clearly loves you just as much as you love her." River nodded. "Most would agree that you have a pretty good thing going here."

"I would love to hang my hat in this town," Caleb said. "But to do that, I would have to leave behind…everything."

River took a drink from his mug. "Did I ever tell you why I became a bard, of all things?"

"Well, you're really good at it," Caleb said. "When someone's good at something, they normally stick with it."

"My parents are both incredibly powerful witches, talented in multiple forms of magic." River said. "They raised me with the intention of making me just like them. They homeschooled me, and it was brutal. I was rarely allowed to even leave the manor unless it was for training. That's actually how I know Archibald. My parents were always bragging to everyone about the witch I would one day become, including the Blights. When we were children, Archibald targeted me, wanting to prove to everyone that he and only he was the best."

"Did your parents teach you bard magic?" Caleb asked.

"They taught me everything but," River replied. "To them, bard magic was a joke. To me, it was the only type of magic I cared for. I had a talent for it actually, but mother and father did their best to suppress it. They made me study abomination magic, oracle magic, beast keeping, pretty much everything that wasn't bard magic. But every now and then, I would sneak out and practice my music and my magic. That is, until my parents found out and threw all of my instruments into the fireplace while I watched."

"Damn," said Caleb. "For what it's worth, my father was a horrible person."

"After spending my childhood and teen years being homeschooled to be everything except what I actually wanted to be, I had enough." River sighed and stared at the table, his silver eyes brimming with remorse. "And so, when I turned eighteen, I packed what few belongings I actually valued and I left. On my way out the door, my parents said many things to me. Horrible and heartbreaking things. I won't go on with the details, but believe me, you don't have to raise your fists to hurt someone. Words can do just as much damage. I left my home and my parents, I came to Bonesborough and changed my name to River Whispers, and I never came back or saw my parents again."

"What was your name before you changed it?" Caleb asked.

"Not important." River replied. "But here's the thing: I do not miss that place. Not even a little bit. Coming to and staying in Bonesborough was the best decision I ever made. I became a bard. I play my music for places like this one and I love it. I even started seeing a girl."

"No kidding?" Caleb asked excitedly. "Who?"

River looked over at the waitress who had brought him his drink. She smiled sweetly at him before going back to serving drinks and meals.

"Congrats, my friend," Caleb said.

"I am happy here." River stated. "And so are you. Don't pass up happiness, Caleb. And when you have it, never let it go."

Caleb remained silent while he pondered River's words. He puffed on his pipe and blew another smoke ring, which Flapjack flew through just for fun.

"It's your choice, Caleb. However, I urge you to make the correct choice. The one that brings you the happiness you deserve." River smiled and steepled his fingers. "There is a quaint little shop at the end of town, owned by a rather pleasant fellow named Martin Porter. Tell him I sent you, and he'll treat you well. Tell him why you're there, and he'll hook you up."

"Why am I there?" Caleb asked.

"Because he has what you need for when you confess."

Caleb's eyes widened. "...Oh."

"Well?" River drained his mug. "...What will you do?"


(the following night)

"There it is, see?" Maggie pointed up to the starry, night sky. "Follow my finger as I trace. You can see him."

With Maggie resting her head on Caleb's chest, she moved her finger in the air. The two of them were lying back on a blanket of leaves out in a field of grass overlooking the Boiling Sea. Maggie had insisted on the location, saying she used to come here as a child all the time.

"Okay. I think I see it." Caleb raised his own finger and traced the constellation in the sky. "...What is it supposed to be?"

"It's an old legend, popular among witches," Maggie explained. "Look. See his spear? And the bow slung on his back? And the knife on his belt?"

"Who is he?" Caleb asked.

"I believe your people call him the Grim Reaper; he who finds and brings the souls of the deceased to the land of the dead," Maggie explained. "In Wiccan lore, he's more like a bounty hunter. A druid warrior who tracks down wicked and evil souls to send them to an eternal prison in the void."

"So, he's like an avenging angel?" Caleb asked.

"He's the spirit of retribution," Maggie said. "Once the souls of the wicked depart from their bodies after death, he finds them, he strikes them down, and he sends them to the void. He protects the souls of the innocent both alive and dead from the deceased souls of the wicked."

"Not the living souls of the wicked?" Caleb asked.

"Those who have life, also have hope." Maggie quoted. "He waits for you to die, then he comes for you. He's always watching from the shadows, determining whether or not to put your soul on his list."

"What do you call him?" asked Caleb.

"Sealgair," said Maggie. "The Hunter."

Thunder rumbled up above. Stormclouds rolled in and lightning flashed.

"Oh, not again," Maggie whined. "I hate the rain."

Maggie sat up and cast a magic spell, creating a leaf and branch hut around them. As the clouds floated over them and rained down boiling water, Caleb and Maggie sat in the dark, windowless hut. Maggie traced a small, magic circle and summoned a ball of light, which floated up to the top of the low ceiling and illuminated the dome hut.

"Here we are again," Caleb said. "Stuck in the rain."

"Hmmm." Maggie grinned and snuggled up against Caleb. "Perhaps I should be more appreciative toward the rain."

Caleb wrapped an arm around Maggie and held her close, the rain and the thunder providing a wonderful ambiance.

"...Maggie?"

"Hmm?"

"...I…" Caleb took a breath. "...I have decided that…I want to stay on the Boiling Isles."

"You have?" Maggie asked excitedly, raising her head to look into Caleb's eyes.

Caleb smiled and propped himself up by his forearms. "I have come to terms with the fact that I have nothing great to go back to in the Human Realm. But here on the Boiling Isles, I have…everything…I have…you."

Maggie's happy smile became teasing as she twirled Caleb's loose strand of blonde hair around her finger. "And what, praytell, encouraged you to make such a decision?"

"I will admit, it was not an easy decision to make. I am reluctant to leave my world behind. But…"

Caleb brought up one of his hands and took Maggie's hand in his, holding it against his heart and smiling at her lovingly. "If it means being a part of your world, then I am willing to leave mine behind. I want to be with you, Maggie…I love you."

For once, it was Maggie who seemed at a loss for words. She took a moment to stare at Caleb with a look of surprise before returning the loving smile, eyes shining with affection. Maggie then moved in and kissed Caleb, grabbing the back of his head and pulling him in. Caleb, in return, lied back down and wrapped his hands around Maggie's waist. The two of them made out for what felt like hours, simply enjoying being with each other.

Then Maggie pulled Caleb back up and moved her hands to his shoulders, sliding Caleb's silver coat off of him and pulling his gloves off of his hands.

It took Caleb a hot minute to realize what was happening. When he did, Maggie had already slid his suspenders off his shoulders.

"Woah, hold it." Caleb gently grabbed a hold of Maggie's wrists before she could start unbuttoning his shirt.

"Oh, come on." Maggie pouted. "You just confessed your love for me, what were you expecting to happen next?"

"Maggie, I'm-"

"A Christian, I know. Premarital intercourse is against the rules, blah blah blah." Maggie ran a hand through Caleb's hair and nuzzled his neck. "Can't you take at least thirty minutes or more to respect my beliefs for once? And by that, I mean shamelessly take me right here and right now?"

'The Lord gives me strength, the Lord gives me strength, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.' "Uh-actually, I-I bought a gift for you." Caleb managed to say.

"Another gift?" Maggie asked. "Caleb, you spoil me."

Caleb picked his coat back up and dug into its pockets. He grabbed what he was looking for and pulled them out, hiding the small objects inside his fist. "River recommended a shop at the edge of town. It was there I bought us…these."

Caleb opened his hand and revealed the two rings.

Maggie's face lit up with shock and her eyes sparkled. "...Caleb?"

Both of the rings were made of gold. The groom's ring was a golden band decorated with a line of runes, while the bride's ring held three diamonds that shined like a trio of stars.

"The kind man who ran the shop recommended them," Caleb explained. "See, the runes on this ring spell out 'may the stars aid your journey,' and the gems on the other ring are incredibly rare star diamonds, called so for their unique luster."

Caleb held Maggie's hand and looked into her eyes. "Margaret Clawthorne of the Boiling Isles…will you marry me?"

For a minute, Maggie just stared at the rings with a look of wonder and awe on her face. Then suddenly, she took the rings from Caleb, put on her ring, then took Caleb's hand and put his ring on for him.

"Dear God and great Titan, please find some common ground and bless this matrimony. By the power vested in me by absolutely no one, I pronounce the two of us husband and wife. We are now technically, sort of, married, and I am sick of waiting."

Maggie then tackled Caleb to the floor.


(the next day)

"I don't like him."

"You mean you can't think of any good reason not to like him."

Ethel groaned and rolled her eyes. She walked down the street, holding hands with her husband. "Why do you like him so much?"

"Ethel, he's a good, kind man," Hector said. "He makes Margaret happy."

"Yes, I know Margaret likes him," Ethel replied begrudgingly. "I still think he's just a round-eared weirdo."

The raven on her shoulder cawed in agreement.

"See? Even Shadow agrees."

Hector chuckled warmly. "Remember when we first started seeing each other? Your father threatened to murder me."

Ethel laughed and rested her head against Hector. "By the Titan, he hated you.

"I never understood why, though."

"Oh, he was just being overprotective," Ethel replied. "He didn't think you were good enough for me. But I loved you, and that's what counted."

Hector grinned. "Sound familiar, my love?"

Ethel frowned and blinked. "Oh, you set me up for that, you big, hairy trickster."

"He saved our daughter's life." Hector reminded Ethel. "He learned potion brewing in a few days and staff combat in a few weeks. He is kind, he is smart, he is talented, and our daughter loves him."

Ethel sighed and leaned on her husband. "...Margaret and Dorathea grew up so fast. Dorathea got married at eighteen and Margaret began traveling the Isles at an even younger age. I miss being a mother."

"You still get to be a grandmother." Hector offered.

Ethel smiled. "Here's hoping." the two of them stopped in front of the herb store. "I still don't have to like him."

"Can you at least try to be nicer to him?" Hector asked.

"I don't have to be nice to him either…but I will accept the fact that our daughter loves him, the same way I accepted that Dorathea loved Morgan." Ethel leaned up on her tiptoes and kissed Hector's cheek. "I'll be in and out. No reason for the both of us to deal with Snapdragon."

"That woman is awful." Hector agreed. "I imagine all of her descendants will be the same."

Ethel walked into the herb store, leaving Hector behind.

"Hector?"

The big man turned around and saw Caleb walking up to him.

"Ah, Caleb." Hector greeted. "How are you, today?"

"I am well," Caleb said. "Hector, I must speak with you."

Hector's eyes widened. "...You are wearing a wedding ring."

Caleb gulped and nervously rubbed the ring he was wearing. He had ditched the gloves he often wore to show off his new ring.

"I…" Caleb cleared his throat. "I confessed my love to your daughter, I bought the both of us a pair of rings using the money I saved up from working for Thea, we had a…small ceremony at the spot where Maggie likes to go, and we are now technically, sort of, married."

Hector continued to stare at Caleb. Flapjack flew off Caleb's shoulder to hide in his coat.

"You and Margaret," Hector began. "Are not moving in with Ethel and I."

Caleb blinked. Flapjack poked his head out of his hiding place.

"Is…is that all you have to say?" Caleb asked.

"Honestly, my boy, I knew this would happen from the day I first met you." Hector said. "I will admit, I am surprised that it happened so fast."

"Maggie is…not a patient woman," Caleb said.

"No, no she is not. Gets it from her mother." Hector agreed. "Son, if you were expecting me to make some list of threats and demands, I must disappoint you. Like I said before, if you make my daughter happy, then you have my blessing."

Caleb smiled. "Thank you, sir."

"Where is Margaret, by the way?" Hector asked.

"I'm not sure," Caleb asked. "Perhaps she went to tell Thea the news."

"I also went to see the town's oracle."

Caleb and Hector looked up to see Maggie flying down on her staff. She landed in front of the two men and Woodrow shrank back into a bird, perching on Maggie's shoulder.

"Margaret, my dear." Hector came up and embraced his oldest daughter. "Caleb told me everything. Congratulations. We still need to give you two kids a proper wedding ceremony, however, but congratulations nonetheless."

"Thank you, papa," Maggie replied with a big smile. She then went over and planted a kiss on Caleb's cheek. "He didn't tell you everything, though."

"I believe I included as much detail as necessary," Caleb said, a light blush on his cheeks.

"Why did you go to the town oracle?" Hector said. "You know, they say it's bad luck for newly or soon-to-be weds to look into their future together."

"That's not…quite what I wanted the oracle to tell me." Maggie took Caleb's hand and grinned knowingly. "I have discovered something wonderful."

"We end up living in a really nice house?" Caleb asked excitedly.

"No, I'm pregnant."

Caleb and Hector went slack-jawed and wide-eyed. Caleb could barely remember how to breathe.

Slowly, Hector turned his head toward Caleb. "...Okay, now I will make a list of threats and demands."

Ethel chose that moment to exit the herb store. "Same to you, ya dirty crone!" she shouted over her shoulder with a bag in each hand. Ethel left the store and stopped in her tracks when she saw everyone.

"...I miss something?"


(later that evening)

Philip finished packing and pulled the string on his duffle bag, closing it shut. Once everything was packed, he sat down at the table and began writing in his new journal with his ink quill. Philip's beard had grown longer, he hadn't shaved since he and Caleb had been brought to the Demon Realm.

Philip took a moment to look at the picture memory of his mother. He paused his writing and his gaze softened.

"...You loved the world God gave us, mother," Philip said softly. "I promise you, I will protect it."

There was a knock and Caleb opened the door, entering their room.

"Hello, Philip." Caleb looked at the duffle bag on his brother's bed. "Are you…going somewhere?"

"Caleb, I'm glad you're here." Philip put his ink quill away and closed his journal. "You remember that witch man I told you about? Vathic?"

"What about him?" Caleb asked.

"As you have probably noticed, I've been doing some studying," Philip said. "Vathic has told me about a hidden treasure, possessing…remarkable properties. I have been attempting to find its location."

"That's what you've been doing?" Caleb asked. "A treasure hunt?"

"Indeed," Philip said. "I'm going on a treasure hunt and I want you to come with me, brother."

"Oh," Caleb said. "Uh…I…can't do that, Philip."

"What? Why not?" Philip leaned forward. "...Did someone strangle you? There are marks on your neck."

Caleb brought his hand up and rubbed his bruised neck. "Yes, my mother-in-law did not take well to the sudden news."

"Wha…what do you mean mother-in-" Philip's eyes widened in what could have been identified as horror. "...You're wearing a wedding ring."

Caleb rubbed his new ring anxiously and sighed. "I asked Maggie to marry me, and she said yes."

"What?" Philip asked.

Caleb nodded. "I am here to tell you the news, and to invite you to the ceremony."

Philip brought his hand up and ran it down his face. "I…I can't believe this. You're getting married to that witch?"

"Well, we're technically, sort of, married." Caleb shrugged. "That's up for debate, though."

"How could you let this happen?" Philip demanded.

"You make it sound like I committed some kind of crime," Caleb said. "I'm engaged to the woman I love."

"You're getting married to a witch," Philip said. "Do you plan to bring her back to the Colonies?"

Caleb sighed. "No. No, I don't."

"So you plan to stay here, don't you?" Philip asked.

Caleb nodded. "I'm not going back, Philip. I'm staying here with Maggie."

"You're choosing to abandon your own world? Your own reality?" Philip took a step forward. "Your own brother?"

"Philip." Caleb pinched his brow. "...My plan was to abandon you ever since Maggie came to our town."

Philip blinked. "What are you talking about?"

"You and General Belos were going to kill Maggie, right after they tortured her into giving up how to get to her family so they could kill them too," Caleb said. "All because of our culture's lack of tolerance and excessive ignorance. Gravesfield has tortured and killed men, women, young children torn from their parents. I was going to leave for New York and join the Navy because I could stand that town's madness no more."

"You were going to forsake me?" Philip asked with a pained look and hurt in his voice. "You promised me, on the day our mother died, to never leave me. And you're going to abandon everything, including me, because you prefer some mad world of witchcraft and the company of a thief wielding hellfire?"

"Philip, I'm not trying to shoo you away like some stray dog." Caleb walked up and grabbed Philip's shoulders. "My brother…Maggie is pregnant."

Philip's eyes widened as he gasped.

"I'm going to be a father," Caleb said with a giddy grin. "And you're going to be an uncle. That child is proof of unity between the Human and Demon Realm. Our family, our family, Philip, is expanding. I don't want to lose my brother. But I need you to cease your close-mindedness and put aside your hatred for witchcraft. I want you to continue to be a part of my family and my life. That has not changed. It's the one part of my life I don't want to change."

Philip stared into Caleb's eyes for a long time. The younger brother sighed and looked downward.

"...I can't do that." Philip stepped back away from Caleb. "I'm sorry, Caleb. You're my brother, and I love you. But…"

Philip shook his head. "The life you've chosen…I can't be part of it. My purpose is to protect humanity, not forsake it." He picked up his journal and put it in his coat pocket. He reached for the picture memory of their mother and the two of them, but stopped his hand before he could grab it. "You know what? You keep it. Perhaps it will remind you of where you belong."

"Philip," Caleb said softly. "Please don't go."

Philip walked over and grabbed his duffel bag, slinging it over his shoulder. He turned to Caleb and met his gaze with his own unsympathetic gaze.

"...I'm not the deserter," he said. "You are."

With that said, Philip walked out of the room, slamming the door shut on his way out.

"Philip!" Caleb reached out toward the door, but did not pursue his brother. With a sad and defeated look, he made his way to the table and sat down. Caleb picked up the picture leaning against his magicked ship in a bottle and held it up to gaze at it. The two boys in the picture looked so happy, and their mother looked so kind and so beautiful.

Caleb bowed his head and silently sobbed, letting the tears fall. Flapjack flew out of his coat and perched on his shoulder, offering his comfort and rubbing affectionately against Caleb's cheek, but it did little to ease Caleb's pain.


(nine months later)

Caleb had paced back and forth so many times he had tread a path on the carpeted floor. Outside of the witch doctor's office, Caleb waited, more nervous than he had ever been in his entire life.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Caleb quoted from the Bible to ease his worry. "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen."

One of the witch doctor's assistants, a demon woman with blue skin and horns wearing white scrubs, came up to Caleb as he paced.

"Can I get you anything, Mr. Wittebane?" she asked. "A glass of water, perhaps?"

"No, I am fine, don't worry," Caleb said. "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

The assistant smiled and placed a hand on Caleb's shoulder, ceasing his pacing. "All will be well," she promised. "Healer Hagan is the most talented witch doctor in all the Boiling Isles."

"If Jesus, Mary, and Saint Anne were all in there, I would still be just as fraught with worry." Caleb said.

Flapjack chirped in a calming manner and rubbed his head against Caleb's jaw.

"Thank you, my friend," Caleb said.

The sound of loud, high-pitched crying sounded from the other side of the door.

Caleb immediately turned to the door, his face going slack and wide-eyed. A few moments later, Healer Hagan opened the door. Tall and dark-skinned with shining amber eyes, wearing furs and charms and talismans on his person, the old-school witch doctor was surprisingly intimidating for a healer. But his eyes and his smile held nothing but kindness and professionalism.

"Mr. Wittebane," said the witch doctor in his trench-deep voice. "Come on in."

Caleb rushed past the Healer Hagan and into the room. Laying on the bed, wearing a white gown, was his wife, Maggie. She looked exhausted, but still she smiled down at the bundle cradled in her arms.

As if unsure whether or not it was a dream, Caleb slowly made his way to Maggie's side and knelt down beside her. She turned her head and smiled at Caleb, planting a kiss on his forehead.

"It's a boy."

Healer Hagan chuckled as he came up beside Caleb. "A healthy baby boy," he announced. "Has all his fingers, has all his toes, and he let out a battle cry as he was born."

Caleb barely heard the witch doctor as he reached up and gently rubbed the sleeping baby's cheek. The boy seemed to mostly take after his father. His soft, blonde hair was the same color and he had the same skin tone. Although, his ears were apparent evidence of his witch heritage.

Woodrow flew out of Maggie's hair and flew down to the baby. Flapjack did the same, flying off Caleb's shoulder. The two birds affectionately rubbed against the baby, causing him to coo and stir in his sleep.

"Easy, you two, you'll wake him up," Maggie complained.

They did indeed. The baby let out a little yawn and opened his eyes, revealing the magenta, wine-colored eyes he inherited from his mother. He blinked his curious eyes and stared up at his mother and father.

"Hey there." Caleb smiled and offered the baby his finger. "You know who I am?"

The baby reached his little hands out of his bundle and grabbed his father's finger, putting in his mouth and suckling on it.

"Looks like I'm the favorite parent," Caleb said.

"Hey, I gave birth to this little gremlin. If anyone gets to be his favorite parent, it's me." Maggie argued.

Caleb laughed and knelt down to kiss the baby's head, earning a coo from the baby boy as he continued to suckle on his dad's finger. "Happy birthday, son." Caleb's smile widened. "This is the…happiest day of my life."

"Get the #$ % out of my way, you ugly demon!" The two parents heard a shrill voice scream from outside the doctor's office. "My grandbaby's in there!"

Caleb cringed. "Oh, great…your mother's here."

The door to the office burst open and Ethel stormed inside. "Why didn't you let me know the baby was coming?!"

"There wasn't any time!" Caleb said. "We rushed to the Healers as soon as Maggie's water broke."

Ethel and Shadow both glared at Caleb. "Well, here's a crazy idea: When you have the next baby, let me know!"

The baby started to whimper, lip quivering and on the verge of crying.

"Oh, no no no, I didn't mean to scare you." Ethel came over and picked the baby up with the gentleness and tenderness of a grandmother.

Ethel cradled the baby and rocked him back and forth, calming the little infant down. "Oh, you are the cutest little thing." she kissed the baby on the forehead. "Even if you do look like your father."

Caleb rolled his eyes.

"The baby has healthy gums." Healer Hagan said. "He'll have his father's tooth gap, I wager."

"You mean this poor kid's gonna grow up lookin' just like his father?" Ethel asked. "Ah, shoot. At least he's got his mother's eyes."

"Same as my eyes," Hector said as he stepped into the office. "Sorry for being late. I'm a big man, and I'm an old man. Now, let me see my grandson."

The baby looked up at Hector and blinked his curious eyes. The eyes he inherited from his mother, who inherited her eyes from her father. Magenta met magenta as Hector gazed lovingly at his grandson.

"Why, hello there." Hector reached up and tickled the baby's chin. "Look at you. You really do have your mother's eyes."

The baby reached up a grabbed a hold of Hector's honker.

Hector laughed. "And it seems you have your grandfather's nose."

Randall and Shadow flew down from their perches and landed on Ethel's arms. They both cawed affectionately as they nuzzled against the baby. The baby, in return, giggled and swung his arms and legs excitedly.

Thea and Morgan suddenly burst into the room. "Are we too late?!" Thea shouted.

Ethel turned to Thea and Morgan. The baby stared at his aunts with wide eyes.

Thea gasped loudly and brought her hands to her mouth. "By the Titan, he's adorable." Thea came up and scooped the baby out of Ethel's arms. "Hi there, you! I'm your Aunt Thea! And this is your Aunt Morgan!"

Morgan smiled and waved her hand. "Hi!"

The baby stuck his tongue out at his aunts.

"Don't you stick your tongue out at your Aunt Thea." Ethel scolded the baby. "You can stick your tongue out at your Aunt Morgan all you want."

Morgan rolled her eyes.

"Congratulations, you two!" Thea said to Maggie and Caleb. "Caleb, you wanna hold him now?"

Caleb nodded. Thea came over to hand over the baby to his father. Caleb smiled down out his son, who stared up and smiled at his father.

"I knew I wouldn't regret staying," Caleb said. "Perhaps I should thank God for this miracle, or perhaps I should thank the Titan. Maybe I'll just thank the both of them."

Caleb reached up and stroked the baby's cheek with his thumb. "Your grandfather once told me that I would be the better of both worlds. But I am not. You are. Both a human and a witch. A child of God and the Isles. A son of two Realms. A literal half-a-witch."

The baby sneezed like a kitten.

"And absolutely adorable." Maggie took the baby back and cradled him against her chest.

Flapjack flew to the baby. The cardinal tilted his head and chirped at the infant. The half-witch baby giggled and grabbed Flapjack, holding and cuddling the bird like a teddy bear and falling asleep against his mother. Woodrow flew down and cuddled against the baby like he was warming an egg. Randall, Shadow, and Blue flew over to the baby and did the same. The baby went to sleep covered in a blanket of feathers, all the Clawthorne palismans caring for the newest member of the flock.

"Welcome to the family…" Ethel frowned. "Hey, what's this kid's name?"

Maggie and Caleb both frowned and looked at each other.

"We never decided on a name."

"No we didn't, no."

"Are you serious?" Ethel groaned and pinched her brow, shaking her head. "Grandma's gotta do everything. Alright, the kid's name is Aldrick."

"Eh, how about Mathew, or Isaac?" Caleb said. "Ezekiel, perhaps?"

"Magnus?" Hector suggested. "After my father?"

"You could name him Morgan." Morgan offered. "It's a gender-neutral name…I think."

"Oh, I have an idea for a name," Maggie said. "Something both human and witch, just like him."

"Yeah?" Caleb asked.

"Remember that night you proposed to me?" Maggie asked with a smile. "Remember the constellation we were looking at?"

"You wanna name him Sealgair?" Caleb asked.

"No, not Sealgair," Maggie said. "Hunter."

Caleb's eyes widened. "...That's…" Caleb smiled. "That's perfect."

Maggie and Caleb smiled down at their son.

"Hunter Clawthorne Wittebane."


"I don't know if I'm a witch, or human. All I know is that I'm a copy of someone Belos made disappear."

Hunter Lnu