Author's Note: I received my first review for this story and I do thank my reviewer for their feedback. I will be updating the story summary with the pairing info. It's been 14years since I last wrote fanfiction and I've forgotten a few things. If anyone has any other feedback, I'm always open. However, if you just want to read without reviewing and enjoy, that is all good too.

Eva's Wish

Chapter 5

Some days it was easy for Lady to be lulled into daydreaming about staying in Bell's Harbor and raising her child. About the time this would happen, Trish would call and Lady would have to come up with an excuse on why she couldn't meet up or talk for long. She knew time was against her. She needed to get back to her old life.

It was a Tuesday in late September that started out like every other day. Lady walked to the bar to open up. Blue had restocked before closing so she wouldn't be lifting any heavy cases. She opened the bar at 11 on the dot. The usual lunch crowd was in and she had poured a few pints. Resting on the stool she tried to look down at her feet. It was difficult to see them around the swell of her stomach. She wondered if she'd ever have ankles again. She was broken from her reverie by movement. Looking up, she smiled. "Another pint, Dave?" she asked. Dave, one of her regulars, nodded. Filling the glass, she made small talk. "Will Helen be in tomorrow night?" Lady asked.

Dave grinned at her. "You know it," he said. "Friday night date night."

Lady smiled, handing Dave the refilled glass. "She's a lucky lady. Blue was telling me you guys have been doing this for 15 years now. That's some dedication and love."

Dave smiled and patted her hand. "It'll happen for you too Frannie," he said, "just you wait and see." Lady forced the smile to stay put as he returned to his table. Her thoughts were far from hopeful.

Finishing up her shift in the early evening, she walked back to her apartment. Dropping into her cushioned chair by the window, she felt her entire body aching. Suddenly she was hit with another round of false labor. Breathing through the tightening of her abdomen, she waited for it to pass-thinking about how it didn't feel so false to her.

Realizing that if she didn't get up and get something to eat, she'd probably just fall asleep in the chair, she stood up. As she stood, she felt a rush of wetness down her leg. Looking down she realized her water had broken. False labor wasn't going to be false for long.

She left her apartment and walked the short distance to Dr. Baum's office. With the start of salmon season, he'd extended his hours. Walking in she saw Dr. Baum's young assistant behind the desk. She was on the phone and it was obviously a personal call. Lady waved to get her attention and the woman held up her pointer finger in Lady's face, never meeting her eyes. Lady growled as a stronger contraction started to grip her. Reaching across the desk, she took a handful of the woman's lapel and pulled her forward. "Tell Dr. Baum I'm in labor," Lady said, trying to breathe through the pain.

The receptionist's eyes widened and she told the person on the phone to hold. Covering the receiver she yelled, "Dr. Baum, labor!"

Lady rolled her eyes. Dr. Baum hurried out from one of the back rooms. "Frannie, time for that little one to arrive?" he asked.

Lady nodded. "My water broke about 15 minutes ago. I didn't wait like you told me," she said.

Dr. Baum smiled. "Good. You know I'd prefer you were here since you're on your own. Come with me and let's get you set up in a room in the back," he said, turning down the short hall. Lady followed him to a cozy room in the back that had soft pink walls and a bed. "Right, you get settled in and I'll be back in a few minutes. I'm going to let Shirley know I'll be here late tonight. Don't be surprised if she comes by. I know she likes you," he said. "Now I don't want you to be afraid. It's just like we talked about. Your body knows what to do. I'm just here to help if there's a hiccup." Lady nodded and sat down on the bed as he left, groaning through another contraction.

For almost 24 hours straight her body labored, giving her waves of pain she thought would kill her. Every time she thought she'd taken all the pain she could stand, there was a new high to the pain. She was tired and sweating, struggling to make it through these last stages. She felt like her body was tearing itself in two and she wasn't sure she could stand much more. Shirley had come for encouragement and Dr. Baum's young assistant was back helping with getting him supplies.

"Frannie, this is it. The baby is crowning," Dr. Baum said. "I need a big push from you."

Shirley rubbed Lady's back. "C'mon sweetie, you can do this," she instructed. Lady took a deep breath and pushed.

"Frannie, hold," Dr. Baum ordered. "You've got to hold off pushing for a moment. The cord is around the baby's neck. I'm going to move it. Just hang on for a moment."

Lady cried, the tears streaming down her cheeks. The pain was so much. She just wanted to be through this. But she listened to Dr. Baum and tried to breathe through the pain. "Ok got it, one final push," Dr. Baum said. "You can do this."

Lady gave a harsh scream as the baby slipped from her body. "It's a girl," Dr. Baum called out. Lady collapsed back on the pillows behind her. Shirley rubbed her shoulder. Dr. Baum handed the baby to his assistant, asking her to clean up the baby. Moving over to a basin in the corner of the room, she proceeded to clean up the baby. "Frannie, you've got some pretty bad tearing. I'm going to need to stitch you up. Hold tight ok?" Dr. Baum said.

Lady weakly nodded. Shirley advised she was going to check on something and left the room. The assistant came over with the baby and started to hand her to Lady. Lady recoiled. "No," she said, panic in her eyes.

Dr. Baum peered and saw what was happening. "Diana, the little one is going to Our Lady of the Glorious Sun. Go give Sister Elizabeth a call. They're expecting this little one," he said. Diana nodded and turned to leave.

"Wait," Lady called, her voice cracking. "Can I see her?" Diana turned back, nodding. She came over to Lady's side and angled the baby so Lady could see her. The baby's skin was red and wrinkled. She had full cheeks. Lady couldn't tell what color her eyes were. Diana had put a little pink cap on the baby's head. "Does she have any hair?" Lady asked.

Diana nodded and removed the cap. "Her hair is so blond!" she exclaimed. "It almost looks silver in this light." Lady nodded. 'Dante's hair,' she thought. 'She got Dante's hair.'

Dr. Baum came up and looked the baby over. "Well I'll be. You know she's the second baby I've delivered with hair that shade. Very rare. First time I ever saw that was one of the first births I attended in this town. Little boy if I recall correctly," he said.

Lady nodded, only half hearing him. "Will you do me a favor?" she asked. Dr. Baum and Diana looked at her. "Please tell the nuns, her name. Her name is Lilith Eva-Ann. I know when she's adopted they might change it, but until she's adopted, please tell them."

Dr. Baum put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "We will tell them my dear. You get some rest. I'll be back to check on you in a bit." Lady nodded and Dr. Baum held the door and Lady watched her daughter be taken from the room, trying to memorize every detail of her small face.

As the door closed, the tears started to fall until she was wracked with huge sobs as all the emotions washed over her. She cursed herself for not being stronger, for not being able to raise her daughter. But the logical part of her brain whispered back. How could she raise her? All she knew was hunting demons. She'd vowed to rid the world of demons. She couldn't do that and care for a baby. She couldn't rely on Dante. She couldn't even tell him they had a child. She ended up crying herself to sleep, exhausted and mentally spent.

Dr. Baum had her stay in the clinic for the first week citing concern for her stitches ripping. He stated if she was on her own she'd do too much and this way they could give her some time to heal. Lady suspected his motives were something different. Her hormones were raging out of control-her body aching to care for a child that wasn't there. The pain with just simple things felt overwhelming. She felt like this would break her. Dr. Baum and his wife Shirley nursed her through the worst of it. She'd never met two people who were so non-judgmental. They accepted her decision and didn't make her feel bad for it.

Shirley confessed one night to Lady that the women who sacrificed raising their children to give another a chance were angels in her opinion. As she had been unable to have a baby of her own, it was someone like Lady who'd given her a gift of such magnitude. Talking with Shirley helped. Lady was able to confess the feelings she had and the guilt for giving her daughter up. Shirley helped her to process it. The pain didn't go away but it eased with talking it out.

After a week, Dr. Baum allowed her to return to her apartment. He wouldn't let her back to work for another week. Feeling stir crazy, Lady snuck out and made her way along the beach. There was a cove a little ways down. She had grabbed her Desert Eagle and brought it with her. Finding some discarded bottles from a beach party, she set them up. Firing off some rounds and destroying the bottles made her feel slightly better. Like she was reacquainting herself with the person she used to be. 'But part of you will always be different going forward,' she thought. The week passed by slowly and she was finally able to return to work.

Blue cocked an eyebrow when Lady walked into the bar. "You sure you're ready to come back?" he asked. "Doesn't the little one need you?"

Lady felt her heart clench. She hadn't really discussed her plans with anyone but Dr. Baum. "The little one has been put up for adoption Blue," she said. "She's not with me." Lady tried to take deep breaths to hold her composure.

Blue gave her a soft look. "Oh Frannie, you sure you're feeling up to being here?"

Lady nodded. "I need to concentrate on something else right now. Unless you want an overly emotional sobbing mess on your hands," she said.

Blue shook his head. "Get to it, Frannie," he said. Lady gave him a weak smile and got started taking stock.

The time passed with days flowing into weeks. Dr. Baum cleared her to return to heavier physical activity. She relished lifting crates of alcohol and building her muscles back up. She would often head down to the cove on the beach and resume target practice while practicing flips. She was becoming used to the new normal of her body. The pregnancy weight slowly came off but not fully. Her body was different. She found herself looking in the mirror one day. To the causal eye she'd probably look the same but she noticed the subtle changes she'd always carry with her. Her hips were slightly wider, her breasts slightly fuller. Her shape was slightly more of an hourglass than before. She had new scars to add to her collection. Both hips had stretch marks on the outside. Her skin would always carry the reminder of the child she'd said goodbye to.

Three months after delivering the baby, Lady knew it was time to go back to her old life. She'd given her notice to Blue, said her goodbyes and left Bell's Harbor in her rearview mirror. She returned to the city. Picking up a cheap motel for the night, she settled her few belongings and headed out. Parking on a familiar street, she stared at the neon sign. The building was standing and in much the same shape as when she'd left almost a year ago. She'd pictured this moment over and over in the months prior but now that it was here, she was petrified. She knew she couldn't stay away forever. She gave herself a mental pep talk and swung her leg off the bike.

Approaching the building she lightly ran up the steps, mentally steeling herself. Pushing open the door, she stepped in and stopped at the threshold. Dropping her sunglasses slightly she surveyed the room-same jukebox, same ratty couch, same pool table. Heck, Dante was sitting in the same spot she'd left him in. Except he seemed a little different-a little scruffier, maybe a touch of something else she couldn't quite put a finger on.

When Dante heard the front door open, he inwardly groaned. Dropping the corner of the magazine he was holding, he glanced over and felt everything come to a stop. She was standing there. She was the same but different too. His eyes took in every detail-her hair was longer but still cut in that cute spikey fashion that he loved on her. Her shape was what really struck him. She'd always been beautiful-lithe and lean but it was now as if a woman stood where a girl once had been. Dante felt a surge of excitement and true joy.

"Well would you look at what the cat dragged in?" he whistled. "Looks like they fed you on the job." He gave his best roguish smile.

Lady laughed. Dante was still Dante. She sidled over and sat on the edge of the desk. "Fed me and paid me. Quite the concept, you should try it out sometime," she said, grinning.

"I could feed you if you'd like," Dante said suggestively.

Lady shook her head. "Let me guess, pizza?" she asked.

Dante grinned. "Pizza does sound good. I can spring for a celebratory pie," he said.

Lady widened her eyes. "Why Dante, you would buy me a pizza? Such a gentleman," she said, laughing lightly.

"Hey, only the best for my best friend," he responded, hitting the desk with his boot, causing the phone receiver to jump. He caught it mid-air and started dialing the familiar number. Lady kept a light smile on her face, standing and wandering over to the pool table. Internally she felt her emotions roiling. Dante had called her his best friend. What kind of best friend was she? She'd kept something huge from him. Somewhere out there, he had a daughter.

She pushed the thoughts away as she heard him hang up the phone. He'd watched her walk away and could sense something was off. Even now when she turned back to look at him, he could see a touch of sadness in her eyes. It echoed what he'd been feeling without her there. He was determined that he'd drive that sadness away. He wanted her to be as happy as he was now that she was back. "How about I show you just how much better I've gotten at pool?" he suggested.

Lady laughed. "Somehow I doubt you've gotten that much better, but you're on," she said. They'd played pool, eaten pizza and talked most of the night. Lady kept most details about her "job" out of the conversation, citing the non-disclosure agreement she signed so she didn't have to talk much about her time away.

After that night, they fell into an easy routine of hunts, parties and banter for a few years. Until one fateful night when Morrison entered Devil May Cry with a mysterious client-V and news of a new demon threat in Urizen. Now a year later, Dante was gone but so was the child Lady had never expected.

**Present day**

Lady snapped out of her thoughts and memories and saw Nero patiently waiting. Sighing, she gave him a brief explanation of how she and Dante had slept together and when she found out she was pregnant she'd left and given the child up for adoption. Nero quietly listened. When Lady was done with her explanation, Nero shook his head.

"She was right here the whole time. Another piece of this family so damned close but so far way," he said. Lady was taken aback by his words. Nero looked around the room and back to her. His look became serious. "I know how to get her back," he started. "But Lady, I have a price for my help."

Lady furrowed her brows. "What is your price?" she asked.

"When we find Lilith, when we bring her back-she doesn't come back here," he explained. "I don't care if it's you or the old man who takes her. Heck if neither of you will do it, then she comes home with me and Kyrie. But she doesn't come back here," he said, emotion punching through his words.

Lady found herself taken aback by the vehemence in his voice. "Nero, I…," she started.

Nero stepped away and looked at his hand. "Lady, I don't want Lilith to grow up wondering what's wrong with her-thinking that she's a freak who doesn't belong. Damnit Lady, she's family. As fucked up as this family is, it's still a family. She's got Dante's blood, Sparda's blood in her. I don't know how that might manifest for her, but I know it will. I don't want her to grow up like I did," he finished.

Lady was speechless. She'd never considered that Lilith would travel a similar path to Nero. The boy had grown up lonely and shunned. Only Credo and Kyrie's family had taken him in, but not until he was older. She'd always told herself that her daughter would be adopted by a loving family. 'But that didn't happen did it?' the voice in her head said. 'She's still here in this orphanage. No loving adoptive mommy to tuck her in at night. Just a shared room and no one to protect her from the demons.'

Lady felt like she was going to throw up, the guilt overwhelming her. Nero reached out and squeezed her arm. She looked up at him with wide eyes. He could see the guilt ready to overtake her. "Lady," he said softly, "will you bring her home?" She nodded, tears starting to fall. He hugged her awkwardly as she shook with sobs. He let her cry while he held her. Once she'd wrung the last of the sobs out, she stepped back furiously wiping her eyes, trying to get some semblance of control.

"Sorry about that," she said. "I…"

Nero cut her off. "No apologies needed. You're family now. I mean you always kinda were, but you're bona fide family now. We need to stick together."

Lady smiled. She liked the idea of Nero being family. "So what's your plan?" she asked.

Nero rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, it's not going to be easy, but hear me out. So I don't know if you asked around about the demon who took Lilith, but when Morrison called with the details, I made some calls while Nico brought us over here. No one has ever heard of a demon like this one before."

Lady nodded. "Yeah, none of my contacts had heard anything either. Complete unknown. So where do we begin?" she asked.

Nero bit his lip. "So no one up here knows about this demon, so we need someone who knows the underworld really well. Only one person comes to mind," Nero said. "My fa…Vergil," he finished.

Lady blinked. As much as she hated the thought of asking Vergil for anything, Nero's logic made sense. She frowned. "Okay, I can see where you're coming from and it makes sense but how do we get to him? I mean he did use Yamato to seal the breach between the two realms that the Qlipoth formed," she said.

Nero smiled. "Portal," he said.

Lady quirked an eyebrow. "Got one in your back pocket? Cause I don't and I don't know where one is," she said.

Nero grinned. "I know where one is," he said. "C'mon." He turned and started to walk down the aisleway between the beds. Lady rushed after him. "After the order fell I took a bunch of records. As you know, Agnus had done a bunch of research into use of demons and demonic power. Well where do you think he got the demons he experimented with?" Nero asked. Lady shrugged. "He figured out how to create portals between here and the underworld. Now when Dante showed up he busted up all the obvious portals that the Order had strewn about. Turns out Agnus had a secret portal for something he was working on. There were enough clues in his notes that I patterned out where it was located," Nero said.

Lady felt a glimmer of hope. "Do you think the portal is still there?" she asked, as Nero waved to get Nico's attention.

"I'm betting on it," Nero said, as Nico pulled up. Opening the back door of the RV for Lady, Nero smiled. "What do you say Lady, you up for a possible suicide trip to hell?"

Lady laughed. "Desperate times," she said, getting in the RV.