Chapter 4

Visitors

When Takumi returned inside with the others he spied Urd surrounded by Belldandy, Hasegawa and Megumi in the living room pouring over magazines. Actually trapped in the living room might have been a better description. Though his first instinct was to flee he paused seeing the stress on her face. "What is it Urd?"

She stepped between them, "Tai, it seems babies require a lot of gear to keep them going, and have almost unlimited outfits they can wear," she mused hesitantly.

"They don't need it. You can just let them wander around in the ocean."

"Okay, we really don't have time to get in to your screwed up childhood right now. And that's just the start of it. I mean where will we live?"

"Well, we can go to the residence."

"And what is the school system like in that abandoned area?"

"Okay yeah I see your point. But look the seals will probably teach them everything they need to know. And they're a bargain in terms of babysitting."

"Ha, ha. I just mean we don't want our offspring growing up like - some people," she said as Skuld poked her head out.

"We'll figure something out . . ."

That evening Urd settled back in the bath with Belldandy.

"Bell, I just don't want to hear any more!" she sighed.

"How could you not want to hear more?" Belldandy replied thinking about all the ways the baby's things could be configured. "What is it? What's bothering you?"

"I just . . . Bell be honest with me. What kind of mother do you think I'll be?"

"A good one," she encouraged.

"Really? I mean look at the history. I'm not exactly the maternal type, and my mother – well we both know she's not going to win a prize in that department anytime soon. And Tai and I? We don't exactly scream parents of the year."

"There's more than one way to be a good parent."

"Says the perfect parent," muttered Urd.

"You really think so?" replied Bell lost in her own fantasies.

Urd sank lower in the tub. "There's just . . . it's a lot."

"You only feel uncertain because you haven't tried it yet. It will all look better tomorrow."

"Yeah, tomorrow," Urd sighed.

Tomorrow indeed came as Takumi awoke, observing shuffling in Urd's closet. Peering over the covers he saw a small girl turn and look back at him. "Uh, who are you?"

The girl frowned saying nothing.

"Belldandy, we've got a visitor here!" he called.

The door slid opened as Belldandy appeared.

"Do you know who this is?!"

"Well yes it's umm - Urd," she replied.

"What?!" he looked at her more closely. The girl reached up squeezing his nose. "Quit screwing around Urd!" he said as she jumped up running off down the hallway.

"Is it dangerous to . . . well you know?"

"I don't think so," replied Belldandy.

"But why is it happening? Is this a goddess thing?!"

"No. I think she's trying to work through her feelings about her childhood."

"Childhood?" He went outside to find her dangling from a tree. "Doesn't she know that any childhood will be very different from hers?" He walked up unceremoniously blowing on Urd's stomach, causing her to laugh letting go from the branch. He caught her as she fell throwing her over his shoulder. "Well, you're a lot easier to carry in this mode," he said walking back to the house. At the doorway Keiichi yawned before unexpectedly looking directly into Urd's eyes.

"Oh man, not again," he said as Urd reached out her hands to play with his face.

"What do you mean? She's done this before? You were pregnant before?!"

"Stop it," she said slapping his head squirming out of his grip, running outside once more. Takumi spent the better part of the morning searching the grounds, asking the Nekomi Tech members if they had seen a young girl running around before finally spotting her bouncing on her futon.

"Hey!" she shouted putting her hair up comically, trying to drape the tee-shirt around her sexily. "I'm cold. I feel the need for cuddling," she pouted looking back at him innocently. "C'mere," she said encouraging him.

He leaned down her. "Look I'm going to be honest with you Indigo, I'm not completely comfortable with –."

"YAA!" she shouted jumping on him, riding him like a horse. "Giddyap!"

"What?"

"Go horsey go!" she yelled slapping his behind.

"Urd, I'm really not happy about this," he said as she drew a towel down around his mouth, gagging him using it as a bridle. "MPPPTT!"

"Go you lazy horsey, go!"

"Urd I'm getting upset -," he warned in a muffled voice.

She led him around the bed kicking her heels into his side. "I'm an excellent rider," she commented.

"Urd, I'm getting pissed off," he said starting to buck.

"Whoa, whoa, he's a jumper, he's a jumper!" she cried having far too much fun to pay him any mind. "Yeeha!" she shouted.

"That's it!" he said bucking to throw her off. She flipped over landing on the futon. "Now I've got you, you little brat" he said pinning her to the bed. Just then a noise caught his attention behind him. He looked up to see a horrified Hasegawa staring back at him blankly from the doorway. "Uh, this isn't what it looks like, there's nothing weird going on or anything," he said trying to calm her.

"Yeah I'm just here because this guy said he had candy", Urd replied helpfully.

He looked at her murderously slowly getting up off the bed. "No, no, she's just -," he replied creeping Hasegawa but she was gone, running down the hallway.

"Just here for the candy!" he said turning on Urd as she smiled.

"Oh relax. What's the worst she could think?"

"That I bring little girls in here for candy!" he shouted.

"Well sure if you say it that way it sounds bad," she agreed.

"Remember what you told me you used to do to Skuld? Well it's your bath time now lady," he said tickling her.

"Ah Tai stop, I can't breathe," she cried laughing until she collapsed. He was about to move her when he saw Hasegawa once more in the doorway, mustering her courage to return with Megumi. "I'm telling you he –," they both gasped at seeing him. "Did you just knock that girl out? Is – is that part of it?!" Hasegawa whispered to him.

"It's not part of anything!" he cried in frustration. "She's just – BELLDANDY!" he shouted.

"Well at least it all worked out," Urd recounted laying on the couch now at her normal size.

"Worked out?" Takumi huffed putting down the plates. "You're just lucky Belldandy was so efficient at modifying their memories. Otherwise you would have been carted off t-," but he stopped sensing something in the trees outside. "I think we have a visitor," he said.

"We do," Urd replied. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice as I'm in enough hot water already," she said going outside.

Up in the trees he saw their guest, "So I see you're still here mongrel," said the voice from the courtyard.

"Of course," Takumi replied lifting his head. "Of course it's time for this little idiot to show up. You know what I think every time I see you? He does have eyes, doesn't he? I mean my god, how does a man, I mean any real man, knowingly leave such a woman? It never fails to astound me. But then, she is a warrior. I'm sure that was intimidating in many ways for you," he observed pleasantly, closing his fists behind him.

"Of course it's natural for you to think in such primitive terms," Troubadour said, plucking a sharp note on his harp. "A creature like you could not hope to understand our relationship. For our love was -."

"Trust me it wasn't that epic," interjected Urd. "More like a short story."

"Yeah from what I heard a very short story," Takumi smirked.

"That's not what she means!" cried Troubadour.

"Goodness you seem upset. Must be closer to the truth than I thought," observed Takumi.

"There's no need to be impolite," urged Urd.

"If mister one minute wants polite, he should go elsewhere," said Takumi.

"You know that she's just trying to look graceful in front of you, right mongrel? But the truth is our love was one for the ages," he said leaning back against the tree.

"When I was 16 maybe. But time's shown me there's a lot more to the world, things you can't imagine."

"Perhaps you could guide me then?"

"Is Belldandy's rule about no killing on temple grounds a firm rule - or just a guideline?" Takumi asked stepping forward.

"C'mon now there's no need for that. After all we're glad you dropped by, aren't we Tai?" He huffed in response.

"It gives us a chance to tell you the news. It seems we're going to be blessed with a sprite!"

"WHAT?! How is that possible?!"

"That answers a couple of questions for me," muttered Takumi. "Like why I'm standing here and you're not."

"Are you kidding me?! Urd, if you were so desperate for an offspring I would have gladly assisted you."

But Troubadour had made the unfortunate error of taking his eyes off his rival. Who was now behind him. "I can see you're real purpose in coming here today was to get very seriously injured," he said squeezing Troubadour's throat causing his eyes to bulge comically.

"Tai, what did I just say about being polite?! Let him go."

It took several further threats and bribes to actually make him let go, but when he did there was no mistaking the look in his eyes, "You know someday she won't be here to save you," he muttered. "-And on that day, you and your harp are going to have a very uncomfortable music lesson."

"-And perhaps scaly insects will begin to erupt from your skin," replied Troubadour.

"How exactly is that going to happen?" he questioned. "I mean with no arms - or head?" he said pinning him to the tree.

"Okay boys, everyone's had enough testosterone for one day," Urd said pulling Takumi by the ear.

"Ouchy!"

"Don't give me that. Get in there!" she said.

Time flew over the next several months as the new and growing responsibilities kept pace with Urd's stomach. The temple saw more and more 'exciting' shopping trips to all manner of stores as Belldandy dragged Urd from one spot to another searching for 'much needed' items. The new parents found themselves increasingly confused but Bell seemed to be on top of it all. However, beyond the walls of the temple the Nekomi Tech auto club members were far from the only eyes watching the situation . . .

It was well after midnight when the Lord of all Demonkind received the summons, descending the stairs to the main level of her citadel. "This had better be important," she said entering the walled outer foyer holding her primary detachment. The guards knew well the beautiful bougainvillea gracing the walls of her Spanish style villa were far more than they appeared and gave them a respectable distance. She opened the door in her dressing gown coming into the torchlight of the waiting assembly in the outer portico.

"Sorry to interrupt. But you told us to keep you informed of any - unusual developments regarding the situation on Terran," the leader said addressing her.

"-And?"

He sighed as several of guards moved to one side revealing the distraught form of Takumi, crouching between two guards wrapped in a black cloak. Her eyes moved to the leader giving him a quizzical look.

"Yeah well. . . we caught this guy at one of the outer gates, demanding to become a member of our guard."

Hild rubbed her hands to her forehead tiredly. "I see. Well I suppose that constitutes a development. What's this all about Takumi?" she asked folding her arms.

"I urgently request you take me on in the demon realm!" he replied frantically.

"And why would we, or you, want to do that?" she asked scanning him for traces of alcohol.

"Because I'm a monster!" he shouted rather melodramatically. "I'm not fit to be around normal people!"

"Yeah well that's a um . . . kind of relative term around here," she said surveying the guards as she pulled him in.

"You see that guy?"

"Yeah?" Takumi said observing the monstrous guard.

"Urtog, what did you have for breakfast today?"

"Squirrel," he replied without hesitation.

"Okay that's a little weird but -,"

She waved for silence. "Why exactly?"

"Guy had it coming, cut me off on the way to work."

"Yeah I see your point. Might not want to make that guy the crossing guard but -."

"Follow," she said dismissing the guards as she retreated inside. "Tell me exactly what you think makes you a monster?" she asked ascending the stairs.

"A horrible nightmare!"

She turned eyeing him. "You're a monster because you had a bad dream?"

"You don't understand. It was awful. There was this cat - being slowly cooked alive! What kind of person thinks that!"

"Some say it brings out the fear flavor," Hild shrugged.

"This isn't funny! I have no right to be a parent!"

"Hmm. Let me ask you - was this cat young or old?"

"What difference does that make?!"

"Humor me."

"Old. It was just some scruffy old cat. But that doesn't mean its life was any less worthwhile!" he said close to tears.

"Uh-huh. And you watched this cat being cooked?"

"Yes. Don't you see? I'm sick!"

"And there was nothing you could do to stop it?"

"I don't know."

She laughed at his stupidity. "Takumi. You really have no idea of the meaning of your dream?"

He looked back at her blankly.

"Takumi - you are the cat."

"WHAT?!"

"Think about it. You're the cat being cooked. You didn't kill the cat. You felt sympathy for it. That scruffy old cat slowly getting the heat turned up on it."

"What are you talking about?!"

"Takumi isn't it possible you're just a little concerned about becoming the parent of a supernatural being? Concerned you might not measure up? "

He slowed considered her words. "You really think that's it?"

"Yes."

"I, well . . . How did you know?!"

"Because I am the Lord of all Demonkind. I know all."

He eyed her suspiciously. "How did you really know Hild?"

"Odin did the same thing when I was pregnant with Urd."

Something resembling color began to creep back into his face. "What?!"

She nodded recalling the memory. "Sleip and I caught up with him on the road out of Sessmumiir muttering something about joining the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps!" she laughed.

"That only means we should both be whipped!"

"Perhaps, but I suspect you've suffered enough for one night."

"How did he get over it?"

"Well, we talked a bit about what he'd be gaining and losing by embarking on the endeavor. At some point I may have pointed to my stomach saying, 'you need to be at least as committed to this project as I am!' Also may have helped that my father was a god of war. In any case trust me, you don't want to miss out on what's coming. Even if you don't do it perfectly."

He looked at her standing there in the moonlight, wondering if he was seeing something in her for the first time. There were times she could be so like Urd. He steadied himself. "Thank you Lady Hild (Now there's a phrase I never thought I'd say). "How can I repay you?" he said in all seriousness.

"Be a good father Takumi. Better than the one you are now. And get out of here." Once the escort had taken him, Hild picked up the phone, "Hello Urdy how are you? Oh no reason, I just thought I'd call you and see how things were on your end. . . ."

"I think I know where he is -," Urd muttered putting down the phone as Belldandy stood beside her in slippers.

On his return Takumi seemed to put any doubts behind him over his role in the coming arrival. If Urd had any in him she never spoke it. For these were the days of quiet contemplation, a time of preparation during those calm days of spring. For the Morisato household; and the Auto Club. Today they had all come to the temple following cherry blossom viewing, gathering together in the tearoom to play a board game.

"I'm not sure we're playing this right," remarked Keiichi.

"Of course we are! My armies have already sacked 7 small

villages and people are fleeing at their highest levels yet,"

proclaimed Urd.

"I don't think this game has armies. Oh and those people that are fleeing are your own townspeople."

"Hmm, that goes a long way towards explaining my low ruler-popularity ratings. But my country isn't the only one that's weird. What's going on over there?" she said pointing to Otaki's section of the board. "Why do your towns have such a large fashion industry?"

"Uh, just making certain kinds of costumes," he replied.

"And this one over here is just making auto parts."

"What's wrong with that?" replied Tamiya.

"The game is set in the Middle Ages. But actually I'm more worried about the country to my West," Urd said glancing at Skuld. "This chain of bridges -?"

"They're toll booths. I'm building up interstate commerce. Soon you will all be my slaves!"

"You've gone mad with power! Light the straw!" said Takumi.

Skuld's jaw dropped as her bridges went up in flames.

"That's it! My guys are emigrating to big-sis's country!"

"I knew something like this would happen. I'm stopping all payments to your dragon training school – the teachers are all under contract to me!" said Urd.

"Unfair!" cried Takumi.

"Uh, maybe we should stop," observed Keiichi. "It kind of looks like the world is going into food shortage - apocalypse mode, and I think that phase might upset Belldandy."

"Nonsense! My group has been readying themselves for this all along," said Skuld rubbing her hands together.

At that moment Belldandy came in carrying the tea. "What the heck happened?!" she said seeing the state of affairs. "We were doing so well. I was only gone a few minutes!"

"Words to live by," mused Urd. "Hey, where are you going?"

"You said I wasn't ready the other day," replied Takumi. "I want to show you my outfit for the game tomorrow." He returned a moment later as everyone stopped. Keiichi continued to stare as Urd clapped her hands to her mouth seeing his ears and paws.

"What is that?!" asked Keiichi.

"This? It represents your school doesn't it? Neko Tech?"

"Uh - no," replied Keiichi.

"I thought all Urd's weird cat stuff . . . you mean that wasn't even related to the school?!"

"Oh my god he's got a tail too!" Urd said grabbing the back of his outfit.

"It's Nekomi Tech!" said Keiichi and several others. "You know, the name of the town?!" In response Takumi could be heard muttering something concerning the word Nekomi.

"Okay enough. Get outside you crazy cat!" Urd said playfully chasing him out the front door.

The two laughed as they reached the bamboo gate. "You did that on purpose didn't you?" Urd said once they were away.

"No, I really thought . . . oh never mind. I do love to see you laugh though."

"And that's important to you? To keep me happy?"

"Yeah it's important," he said putting his arms around her looking out at the setting sun. "You ever think about this time of day? Whenever I do I think about when we met."

"I remember," she replied. "But the truth is I'm even happier now. I can't believe it but I am," she said leaning back.

"Me too Indigo."

"Really?"

"Yeah really. Also one of my other jobs is pointing out strange phenomena – like that!" he said, only now noticing Belldandy standing on the peak of the roof. "What's she up to?"

"Haven't you noticed? Belldandy's become very protective of everyone in the last few months - Keiichi, us, even the Auto Club. Just look at her standing there, like some shipwright guiding us onward. You know what she told me today? This doesn't just affect you . . .

"Well you said she would need to be involved." It's a good thing she is too. She counterbalances your badness," he teased.

"How am I so bad?" she asked cuddling with him.

"Well, your hair is too long for one. I'm sure that's against the rules in Heaven."

"Oh?"

"And you're waaay to sexy. There's no way that's allowed up there."

"Well they have thought about putting a limiter on that," she nodded. "But I mean, what can I do about that?" she said batting her eyes.

"Well, if they put you next to someone who was a lot less sexy, it might even things out. You know neutralize your natural

sexiness to normal levels."

She was kissing him now. "I don't know. I'm pretty up there. He'd have to be a real scoundrel."

"Well we'll just have to keep our eyes open," Takumi agreed.

"Oh my god Belldandy! They're doing it again," cried Skuld.

From the roof Belldandy turned to look at them, but they were already running for the woods. "Leave us be Skuld or you'll be the first one on diaper duty," Urd called.

"Gross," she said going inside.

They climbed the hill, finding a comfortable spot to sit and listen to the party below. Urd sat down wrapping her arms around her knees, "I can still do this," she said as he came behind her. Below them they heard the members of the Auto Club discover that Belldandy was no longer among them. As they called for her she turned, instead looking in their general direction. Takumi had the strangest feeling she could see them. They watched her depart rejoining the party.

"You know it's strange. We're going to have a kid yet there's still so much I don't know about your family. Which region of the demon realm were you born in?

"Huh?"

"I mean they must have neighborhoods . . ."

"I was born in Sessrumnir! One of the grandest sections of the old heavens. I lived in a castle when I was small!"

"What?! You were born in the heavens? I thought you were half demon. How can that be?"

"Oh yeah that's right you don't know about our history. Well basically there was argument that led to a battle, a lot of things happened, blah, blah, blah and a lot of stuff got split in the process. . . like my parents."

"Are you kidding?"

"What do you mean?"
"Well it's just that I know Belldandy told me her parents were married. Wait a minute, was your mom - you know . . ."

"Are you trying to say I'm illegitimate?!"

"Well it's just that . . ."

"Odin was with Hild . . . before Freya."

"You mean there's divorce in the heavens?"

"I'm not sure what that means."

Takumi's eyes bulged. "You mean there's polygamy in the heavens?! Oh man I can see why the call it . . ."

Urd's eyes narrowed, "I don't know what your saying, but I have a feeling it's somehow another dig at my parentage . . ."

"I just mean, your father was formally recognized to be with Hild, then he was recognized to be with Belldandy's mother?"

"Yeah how else would it work?"

"And your father, Odin. He's god?"

"Obviously he's a god."

"No but I mean . . . he's God."

"I just said that!"

"No I mean -." He whispered to her for several minutes.

Urd clapped her hands to her mouth. "Ha! Oh right, he would just love that!"

"But, is that right?"

"Of course not! He may be one of the principle councilors but he's not the council!. It's their combined voice that . . ."

"Okay. But I'm still a little nervous meeting him though."

. . .

Over the next months spring grew into summer and Urd slept more and more. Takumi would often find her now with Elegance asleep beside her. "And what do you want?" he said one day seeing the angel sitting up blinking her eyes. She leaned forward whispering. "That's sick," he replied as she playfully pushed him over. However over the next few weeks he grew accustomed to the softness of her presence, Elegance often sleeping between he and Urd. Slowly the two worked together, gathering the things they would eventually need.

"Keiichi come here," Takumi called from the door of Urd's room one day. "I need an engineer! I'm not - you know, getting the best of help with what I've got here," he said nodding beside him as Elegance pouted.

"What's the problem?"

"I'm trying to put this damn crib together. I can't make heads or tails of the instructions. Apparently babies need them."

"Well what do we have to do?"

"It says insert pole A onto hole – Elegance smiled leaning forward - Elegance I swear to god if you say 'that's what she said' one more time we're going to see how well the inverted form of this box holds angels."

"It's alright I think I've got it," said Keiichi twisting. "Can you push it more on your end?"

"I've got a grip on the rod but -Elegance!" Takumi shouted once more as she leaned in.

"Well at least you two are working together," said Keiichi.

"Yeah outside of crib constructions she can be pretty useful," Takumi acknowledged.

"She's teaching you stuff?"

"Yeah - get the book," Takumi urged as Elegance snuck behind the bookcase retrieving the old book.

"So what kind of – AHH! Don't show me that!"

"Eh what's the problem. It's nothing you haven't seen before by this point - am I right?"

"I'm beginning to see why you two make such a good pair," Keiichi sighed. "Wait is that true?!" he said looking at a page. Though Keiichi's reading of the angelic script was no better than Takumi's, the tenor of the book's figures were fairly easy to interpret. Keiichi averted his eyes, "You're not using this with Elegance to find out what Urd likes are you?"

"Heaven forbid. What kind of person would even think about doing something like that?" Takumi replied in a conspiratorial whisper rapidly turning pages. "Hey, you know what drives them crazy?" he said looking down the page.

"I don't want to know!" cried Keiichi.

"Elegance is this true?" he asked to her nodding.

"Keiichi this is nuts. It looks like . . . rubbing between the shoulder blades? Like – the connection with the angel maybe?" though Elegance's posturing seemed to indicate the reverse.

The cherished days of spring wove their way into summer and with it Urd seemed to pick up, spending more time awake. The change was cause for celebration among the Morisato household as they returned to the eastern shores of Chiba.

"I'm amazed they allowed me in," Urd pouted lying beside Takumi on the blanket. "Seeing a beached whale here might cause people to panic," she said under the umbrella.

"Oh don't be like that. Nobody's going to confuse you with a beached whale."

"Really?"

"Of course not. Your skin's too dark. An Orca - maybe," he said taking a bite from his sandwich as she glared back at him.

"You know I'm kidding . . ."

"But the rest of me is okay, right?" she asked crossing her arms, picking up her leg rubbing it.

"The truth is you've never looked more beautiful," he said kissing her. "That's why Bell wants you to have that kid. You're too beautiful now."

"Idiot," she said biting his shoulder.

"The only thing I miss is that we can't surf today. But seriously are you okay Urd? I mean with everything that's planned?"

"Part of me wanted to have our new addition down at the seaside residence. But Bell won't hear of it."

"I kind of get her point. She tries to act carefree but she's been on edge lately. I can tell she's anxious too."

"She just wants to get her hands on that sprite."

"No - she's anxious about her big sister, the person that's most important to her. And I agree. Only one thing matters to me Urd, that all my summers are with you," he said embracing her.

"Aw."

"I mean it. You remember what we said?"

"I remember Tai," she whispered leaning in.

They were just about to kiss when Belldandy came from behind squeezing Urd's stomach. "Ah Bell stop doing that!" she cried.

"It's just – this is just so much fun for all of us to be here!" Bell said rubbing her.

"Keiichi tell your girlfriend to stop squeezing Urd!" he said turning to see Skuld close behind them, giving him the same look she'd been giving him for months. A look which seemed to say – 'pervert who knocked up my sister!'

"Everyone starts out this way," Urd said to Skuld following his glance.

"That's a dirty lie!" Skuld spat running off down the beach.

"Alright so a career in medicine for her is probably out," Urd mused.

"And a couple of other things," agreed Takumi.

The end of summer brought long walks and quiet nightly conversations around the fire pit the Auto Club had decided they needed in one corner of the courtyard. Keiichi had protested, but Tamiya and Otaki cast it as a team building exercise. Most nights Urd and Takumi would sit on the porch watching the group, each of them trying to guess what the other was thinking. Tonight Bell and Keiichi too had joined them, though no one seemed to be speaking much.

"This temple is a good place," Takumi said running his hand over the beam. "Looks like it's been here a long time. How did you know to come here?"

"The wind told us to come," Belldandy replied.

"The wind?" he asked.

"-And we were here when we were young," Keiichi said taking Belldandy's hand. Belldandy smiled looking back.

"You two must be ready," he observed looking at the night sky.

"Really? It seems to have all flown by so fast," Takumi replied.

"Yeah I'm ready," said Urd. "Believe me when you have to carry around a turkey every day it doesn't seem to fly by."

"Are you talking about me or the baby?" said Takumi.

"Not you, without you who would get me ice cream when I need it?"

"Is that a hint?" he said standing up.

"So that's where the ice cream's been going. I thought Skuld was just making it up," said Keiichi.

"Don't tell her but I've developed a taste for it of late," Urd said as Takumi ducked inside.

"Doesn't she see you?"

"Oh Tai and I just start talking about kissing and she takes off."

A shadow from the courtyard came into the light as Skuld appeared. "Are you talking about me?!" she demanded.

"We were just wondering where you were going to live," Takumi said coming out carrying something under his jacket.

"Yeah we should be kicking you out soon" remarked Urd. "I don't think there will be enough room once the new addition comes. Isn't Skuld's room to be the diaper disposal area?"

"Big-sis!"

"Don't listen to them Skuld they're just teasing," assured Belldandy.

"Yeah, remember they're the visitors," agreed Keiichi. "As long as we're here there will always be a place for you Skuld."

"You see that? I'll always be here. Because I'm going to outlive you all!" she shouted running off.

"She does that a lot," observed Takumi.

"That's her thing now -," remarked Urd.

One morning soon after, Belldandy was making breakfast at the temple as Keiichi and Takumi swept up the swirling leaves outside. "Belldandy are you doing this?! - Is she doing this?" Takumi called to Keiichi as their gathered piles of leaves continued to defy them in the gusty winds.

But inside Belldandy did not hear them. She was watching Urd through the doorway, sitting up straight in the tea room, her back arching as she watched TV.

"Urd?" she said putting the food away going to her. "What is it?"

"I think it's time Bell," she said pressing her hands to her legs.

"C'mon," Belldandy said taking her to her room, sounding as though they were embarking on a sleepover. "I think it's time!" she shouted outside. Immediately the boys came in.

"It is?! I'm not ready," cried Takumi.

"You're not ready?!" replied Urd.

They worked to arrange things according to Belldandy's instructions, with Keiichi and Takumi politely removed to the veranda to make room for their coming guests. Keiichi tried to sound casual as they talked outside, but of course he and Bell had previously planned how every aspect of the undertaking would go. Takumi looked up hearing the sound as the sky behind them changed, heralding the arrival of several goddesses, most of whom he did not know but then Keiichi sprang to his feet. "Peorth!"

"Hello!" she said hugging him. "Well, you know why we're here so I guess we should go in."

"Do they know what they're doing?" Takumi said anxiously.

"We're from the Heavens. We always know what we're doing," Peorth replied heading inside.

"Coming from someone dressed in a leather bikini that's not really reassuring," he said sitting down on the steps.

As they sat waiting other visitors began to appear at the temple; first Megumi, then members of the Nekomi Tech Auto Club. Since none of them had any warning of the day's event they had come ready to help Bell and Keiichi, but soon adapted as best they could - mostly by entertaining themselves in the courtyard. "Sorry guys I don't think we're going to be able to do much today. We're just going to sit here. Takumi's a little anxious," hinted Keiichi. "

"Oh gotcha," replied Otaki. "Hey Mr. Sato, you want to go help me find some herbs?"

"What?! No, I don't want to go get high! Well maybe I do, but I'm not going to! Urd would kill me!"

As he left Takumi looked out at the group, "You know Keiichi I have to say, now that I'm looking at them, I'm noticing a lot of weird stuff," he said.

"I'm sure they could say the same about us," Keiichi replied.

"Like that Nazi guy," Takumi continued. "What's up with that dude?"

"He's not a Nazi guy! He's a History major!"

"Okay. And what about the guy dressed like Jason?"

"Taro's a Theater major!"

"I don't know. Sometimes I feel like your club is a cover for some . . ."

"I know what you mean dude -," began Otaki whom neither of them had seen coming to stand beside them. "There sure is a lot of sexy cat girl stuff out there . . ."

"And that!" Takumi replied. "That is definitely not right!"

He got up going into the house, finding Belldandy speaking with two other goddesses in the tea room.

"Is everything okay Bell? Do you need anything?"

"We're doing fine," she replied.

"Does she want me in there?" he asked.

"She does. It's us who are keeping you out," she said.

"What?! If she wants me in there . . ."

"She wants you in there but I'm not sure it's a good idea. She keeps saying things like - 'He did this, get him in here!"

"Oh I see. Well you may have a point."

And so once more Takumi positioned himself on the front porch, pacing as Keiichi tried to reassure him. "It's just, I don't know, I feel . . . helpless. The most important thing in my life is happening fifty feet from me and I feel . . . scared somehow - in a way I never really have before."

"It will be alright," Keiichi replied as behind them a dome-like shield began to appear forming over the temple.

"Okay what is that? That can't be good!"

"I think it just means we're entering the end game," Keiichi replied. Takumi sat down trying to clear his mind, trying not to dwell upon fear, time becoming a kind of white noise within which he did not see, did not hear until finally Belldandy finally appeared in the doorway.

"You can go and see her now," she said.

He was up moving before he knew what he was doing. Pushing through the doorway he passed Skuld in the narrow hall. "Good job Skuld," he said as she continued to wander out into the daylight, a dazed horrified look on her face as she came into the courtyard.

Sentaro came running up to greet her. "So how did –."

"Don't touch me," she said, her face pale, continuing to stare blankly ahead. "Sit over there – farther," she said squatting down numbly, still staring at the front gate. The two teenagers sat in silence for a moment. Finally Skuld spoke, "You know what Sentaro? Biology is . . . gross."

. . .

For most of his life Takumi Sato had sought to maintain an image of external toughness, an image which fell away as he appeared now in the doorway of Urd's room. Peering in he could see Urd on the futon, curled up with a small package in her arms. "Hey you . . ." he said quietly greeting the tiredness in her eyes.

"Hey you -," she said looking back. "There's someone here I want you to meet," she said moving the blanket aside to reveal the bright eyes and small face below."

Takumi knelt down beside her, tears coming to his eyes. "He's so beautiful," he said. "He's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Are you okay Indigo? Really okay?"

"I'm okay," she whispered.

"I love you so much," he said hugging her. "I never thought I could feel -," he cried holding her.

"I know," she replied.

"He's so perfect," he said picking the child up. "And look at his long lashes, and that thick head of hair!"

Urd smiled watching him gingerly picked up the sprite, wanting him to have his moment but knowing it had gone on long enough. "Takumi . . ."

"And look at that grip," he said as the baby held his finger. "He's going to be –."

"Tai . . ."

"Yeah?"

"It's a girl."

His eyes shot back at their new family member.

"What?! Are you sure?!"

"Uh yeah pretty sure," she said smiling back at him.

Now his eyes truly lit up. "Well, isn't that just the most fantastic thing," he said kissing her.

The new addition had tolerated the intrusion well. But enough was enough. She had important things to do. Like napping. She looked down her nose at the stranger blinking her long lashes at him, letting him know that her time for such trivial meeting was presently over.

"She looks rather imperious," Takumi said peering at her as a small hand pushed him back. There's a limit to how close commoners can approach.

"I was the same I'm told," Urd said taking her back as her small arms gently wrapped around her mother's. She gripped her mother possessively, her eyes close, but not quite the same as Urd's. The baby yawned with an attitude of - I've spent enough of my attention on you, now I must sleep, and with that drifted off to slumber. Soon enough Urd and Takumi were in a similar state, oblivious to whatever was happening in the greater world.

The next morning Takumi rolled over only to discover something was missing. Baby! he thought instantly dropping to the floor. Door! he realized seeing it open. Scrambling on all fours he shot into the hallway like some deranged animal. "Front Door!" he cried seeing it was open. He bounded down the hallway just in time to see Peorth throw his child 50 feet in the air toward Belldandy. "AAAAAAGH!"

At the scream a startled Belldandy looked over as the package sailed over her head toward the ground.

"AAAAAAAGH!

He watched as the baby bounced hitting the ground, tumbling as though in a bubble.

"AAAAAAAGH!"

"God will somebody tell that little girl to stop screaming?" Urd said coming to the doorway. "Why is there so much screaming so early in the morning?" she said putting her head to the door.

"HAJAWA?" Takumi said still searching for words.

"That was Takumi," Belldandy said going to pick up her playmate.

"Oh I see. Yeah I probably should have told you. Sprites aren't exactly like babies. Our protections tend to make them a bit more - springy. Comes in handy given the architecture you see in the heavens." Takumi said nothing looking at her.

"She's very smart Urd - watch," Belldandy said tossing the baby gently in the air in front of her. But whatever trick she was hoping for her to pull off, the child simply smiled mischievously, drifting back down into Belldandy's arms.

"No, remember? What we were just doing," she said as she continued drifting back. "Well she was doing it a minute ago, wasn't she Peorth?" Peorth looked up from the morning glories she was waving in front of the child nodding.

"Okay, if that's all the excitement - and screaming for awhile, I'm going back to bed," Urd said as Keiichi waved to Bell. "Oh that's right. Urd, Takumi, Hasegawa has been waiting to give you something." At Belldandy's remark Hasegawa appeared from the temple steps holding a basket of baked goods. "Something for the new parents. It's so great to see you again!" Hasegawa said handing the basket over to a somewhat confused Takumi.

"Thank you. Why is that girl acting like that every time she sees us?" whispered Takumi.

"Bell says she thinks we named the baby after her," said Urd.

"Her name is lil' Urd?"

"I told you we're not going with that name!" Urd replied. "We agreed on Sora – after Lind's relation and the reason we met."

Over the next few days Sora began to sort out the people around her; even if she was still a bit cross-eyed and had trouble holding her head up. There was:

-girl with glasses I want to taste/wear (Hasegawa)

-happy girl (Belldandy)

-girl to nap on (also called Ur)

-girl who looks confused in my presence (Sko/Skul?)

-guy with spark plug I am planning to suck on (Ota!)

-muscles (Tami), who upon witnessing Sora walking along beside him on all fours like a bulldog whenever he was around remarked, "now this is a girl who knows the importance of physical fitness."

-happy girl or possibly Sko's servant (Keiichi)

-guy who's always looking at me (Takumi). Trying to interfere with my relationship with nap girl.

-girl who's tooth I grabbed in a coffee shop but couldn't get it out - either of them (Mara)

Those first days that Fall were the most restful, the most peaceful and fulfilling Takumi had ever known. He quickly became accustomed to the nature of the protections surrounding their new family member, and slowly accepted the fact that a baby flying 50 feet through the air was not an altogether unusual sight in the world of goddesses. Still, he was always happier when Sora returned to the ground, seeing her resting in either Urd's arms or Belldandy's as they slept. Skuld had initially been left alone, but soon baby Sorano began following her around imitating her work, moving her hands as she sat beside Skuld using her own make-believe tools. Yet it was hard for the temple to keep up enough action for Sora's liking (Takumi always had the feeling when he was watching her cuddle in someone's sleeping arms she was merely waiting for them to close their eyes). When she was bored she would protest. "Aww sweet pea, what's the matter?" Urd asked picking up a crying Sora that evening. "I know we're just getting acquainted, but I can't imagine ever giving you up," she said kissing the child's forehead. "Not like that old bat I inherited," she muttered.

"Why are you thinking about that?" asked Takumi.

"I can feel it, she's coming," replied Urd. In the distance the heavens rumbled as the winds to the south grew suddenly wild.

"Maybe it's a summer thunderstorm?" suggested Takumi.

"I don't think so -," replied Urd scanning the entrance to the temple. A moment later winds abated, leaving in their wake the solitary form of the leader of all Demonkind at the top of the stairs. "May I come in?" she said after a moment.

Given everything that had transpired over the last few years there was certainly no reason to let her in. And yet, here she was. And Takumi couldn't help feeling that there was something different about the Hild that stood before them now. She didn't seem to be the same Diamakaicho he had come to know, more like a lonely grandmother asking to see her child. He realized it could be a trick but somehow he didn't think so; and there was the matter of the assistance she had provided him earlier. In any case he knew it was not his permission to give. He turned to Belldandy who was already beside him. "Bell I understand if you and Keiichi -."

Belldandy stood watching her quietly.

Hild looked between them. "Oh very well - may I come in on this one occasion in which I confirm I hold no ill will or intent toward any member of this household as per my solemn vow?" she said raising her hand. "I have after all waited the requisite 2 days."

"Two days?" asked Takumi.

"Yeah, nice of you to check on me and see that I'm not dead!" shouted Urd from the porch.

"Odin's eldest daughter giving birth? Really? Tell me he didn't send the most qualified of his healers," insisted Hild. "Or did he send two?"

"He sent three -," Belldandy murmured beside her.

"Well I gave birth to you while we were on a hunt!"

"I thought you said I was born at Sessrumnir!"

"Well Sessrumnir has a big yard. Big!"

"You see what I'm up against Tai?!"

He turned to Belldandy.

"It's your choice," Belldandy replied standing beside them. "But I would let her in. She would not hurt someone on such an auspicious day."

"I agree."

"Are you guys crazy?!" Urd shouted behind them on the porch.

"She just wants to see Sorano," Takumi said apologetically.

Urd moved back defensively, baby in hand.

"Is that a yes?" Hild asked turning to Takumi.

"Of course Lady Hild," he said bowing as she passed.

Urd approached, comically turning the baby's head toward her before turning it away. "There – now you've seen her. Though I suppose we should show her to you - given your role in all of this," she hissed.

"My role?" Hild said clutching her hand to her chest, "Oh that the magic of my children has fallen so far!" she cried dramatically. Seeing her outburst fail to elicit the proper response she stepped forward, stroking the baby's nose and eyebrows as numbers appeared above her head. The baby looked up trying to grasp the curiously floating glowing digits.

"Wait what is that? Is that a date?" asked Takumi. "But that's not her birthdate, it's too – wait. Is that her date of - ? But that's still not right. It says December 22nd but we didn't go to the pools until the 23rd . Unless, wasn't that the night -."

"Ha, ha, yeah - we don't need to get into all the specifics here, there are children present," Urd said covering Sora's ears.

"Then your offer of the pools - did you know then?"

"Who remembers?" shrugged Hild waving her hands.

"Then it was for some other reason?" asked Takumi.

"Well, there are those who say that the pools confer uncommonly good luck," Hild observed with an unconscious glance at Belldandy. "December 22nd - not really an uncommon birthday for demons," she remarked. "I would have thought you'd have figured that out," she said to her daughter's blushing face. "Ah well, now that we have that settled let's see what this future ruler of the world looks like," she said trying to feign indifference. Urd approached and though not normally inclined to hand her over, the title did have a certain ring to it. Sorano looked up at the ruler of Demonkind as though mildly bored until Hild dangled several baubles in front of her. The child's eyes lit up, reaching for the glittering treasures.

"I can see she has a taste for the finer things," she observed.

"And those same regal eyes."

"I told you she'd mention that," Takumi whispered to Urd, having noticed himself the similarity in coloring with Hild's.

"In fact she seems very - Ahhhhhh!" Hild shouted as Sora spotting a new treasure in the form of Hild's dangling earing quickly pulled on it.

"She's got a good grip doesn't she?" Takumi said attempting not to smile with the rest of them as Hild untangled herself.

"Not to worry," Hild said smoothly producing a curiously shaped object from her right hand. The glowing amorphous form which Sora's now readily traded for Hild's earring changed its symphony of colors in response to Sora's chewing on the deformable material. She began having her own intense conversation over it.

"How is she with flight?" Hild said putting out her hand.

Keiichi had never thought of Hild is someone experienced in subtlety. However as Sora's small body began to gently float upward, he began to see the degree to which she could manipulate the elements around her. Up Sora went, 100, 200 feet in the air. Then as suddenly as she had risen she began to fall. Leaning back she headed for the ground as 20 feet from its surface she spread her hands turning to land on her feet, wobbling a moment before taking up her preferred position on all fours. "Well she seems to have inherited my attitude of no fear," Hild said sweeping her hand to create a small throne in front of her.

"Might be because someone's always been there to catch her," Takumi muttered as Sora, noticing the throne crawled up on it. "Ha, finally someone who knows their proper place," Hild said sitting down next to the child. "Now have a look at this - these are the queen's treasures" Hild declared magically conjuring objects before her as Sora's eyes lit up.

"Boom!" the child shouted as one after another the objects she pointed to blew up at her command pleasing her immensely. She seemed to have hit the jackpot with her new friend!

"Yeah, no concerns about that," Takumi said worriedly watching the objects explode into burning embers of light. "Am I the only one finding this kind of disturbing?" he asked.

"Well it's early days -," Urd said putting an arm around him.

"And it's not like she'll be spending a lot of time with her," added Keiichi.

"And she has us," reminded Belldandy brightly.

After a bit more playing with Sora, Hild kept to her word and left without incident. But as she did Sora held up the chew toy offering it to her. "Oh that's for you my dear," she said touching the child's nose as Sora happily took it back. Something about the way Hild pulled her cloak around her almost made Takumi feel sorry for her. "Well I suppose I should be getting back. The Demon Realm isn't very good at running itself."

"I suppose so," Urd replied just as awkwardly.

"Take care of the little one . . . and yourself," she said leaving as the winds grew around her.

Urd sat quietly with Sora in her room for the rest of the evening. For Sora the excitement had made her sleepy. But Takumi could see her mother was working on a few things. He sat beside her playing the video game.

"C'mon, admit it. You enjoyed her visit," he said to her finally.

She shrugged feigning interest in his game. "What are you

doing?" she asked.

"Just playing," he replied focusing on the screen.

She folded her arms leaning them over his shoulders, "That cat is telling you to go to sleep."

"Yeah but I don't have to listen to him . . ."

She squinted watching, "The Teacher - really?"

"I like to learn things," he said smiling back at her devilishly.

"Do you now?" she replied getting into bed.

"We could always play a game?" he suggested.

"What game?" she said sitting up.

"Demon girl - and guy who wants to have sex with demon girl," he replied.

"On your side mister! There are children present you know."

"So - you were born in a castle."

"Eh, or on the back of a horse depending on which lie you want to believe from the queen of darkness."

"Oh come on. She was nice tonight."

"It was nice of Bell and Keiichi to let her in," she sighed.

"Yeah, but they have our best interests at heart. Did you see Belldandy when you handed her over?"

She shook her head.

"Her hands were doing that little scrunching thing."

"She's holding it together pretty well. Tai?"

"Yeah?"

"We - we're doing a pretty good job aren't we?"

"You mean beside the fact that you've done all the hard work up until now? I'd say it's a little early to hand out any awards – we do have the terrible twos to stripper pole years coming up, but yeah I think we've made a decent start. And we've got some good back-benchers to help."

She settled back in his arms, "When I was young I was always so focused on Bell. This is the first time I've thought so much about something else for so long."

"You don't suppose that means she'll go the wrong way now do you?"

"You're an idiot," she laughed. "You always make me laugh. Remember when we started out? Did you ever think we would wind up like this?"

"With a kid that's a superball and a mother-in-law that generates her own weather patterns? Um no - not really."

"Go to sleep," she said cuddling against him.

"It's weird. Like we're all part of this connected thing and it's still going on. Even right now."

"Mmm," she murmured.

"I was pretty close on the superball baby, only I thought it was going to be a fish!"

"I can't believe I spent nights worrying about you . . ."

Late the following night Urd opened her eyes sensing something in the air. "Smoke? Could it be?" Quietly she picked Sorano up, wrapping her in her blanket going outside. There on the veranda she saw him, resting easily in an old wooden chair smoking his pipe as he rocked. "There you are," he said sensing her behind him as she smiled.

"I thought it was you dad," she said putting Sorano into his arms, seating herself onto the blankets of the opposite chair.

"I take it everyone else is 'sleeping' by your design?"

"I thought we might have a quiet moment alone," he shrugged. The baby continued looking up at the white bearded stranger, considering him with quiet wide eyes. Then considering the matter resolved after a moment of study she yawned promptly went to sleep.

"Ha, will you look at that? Reminds me of you, you were just as imperious," Odin said as Sora stretched in his arms.

Urd smiled. "It's good to see you. This all feels so familiar. Nights outside in the open air, sitting on the porch. Someone asleep in your arms like that."

"Who? Verandi?"

"No, I was thinking about mom. The night before the festival. Bell I were so excited - we couldn't sleep and so we snuck downstairs. When I looked out the doorway I saw you smoking that pipe, looking up at the stars with mom asleep in your arms. Those, they – they were good days," she said reminiscing.

Odin smiled changing the subject away from Freya. "Any indication of the little one's elemental affinity yet?"

"No not yet. She's probably just taking her time. She's highly selective you know. What do you think?" she asked.

"Hmm. Hard to tell with her parentage. Maybe a bicore," he suggested rubbing her brow.

"Really?"

"At this stage it's hard to judge," he said passing her the sleeping child. "Speaking of mothers, I sense yours has been here to give her stamp of approval."

"Yeah you should have seen her. Didn't even destroy anything. Oh . . . I suppose you did."

"I might have looked in for a moment or two," he confessed.

"Dad - can you tell if, you know . . . Sora will be happy? Will she have a happy life?" Urd asked suddenly.

"I find it best not to look into such things too deeply," he replied. "The interplay of factors is just too complex."

"Why?" she insisted stubbornly. "Why is it such a bad thing to try and assure that the one you love is happy?"

"Because I tried it once. It didn't work out so well."

"Mom?"

"Yes - both of them." He stood up to leave. "Which reminds me - you should trust her more. You don't really think she would have interceded in a matter as important as your child?"

"Have you met her?" Urd grumbled as he leaned in to kiss his eldest daughter before disappearing.