April 10th, 1890

Hannah was officially 4 months pregnant now. It seared into her mind like a hot iron, Alois' philosophy. She wasn't 4 months pregnant until today and the tenth of every month until she gave birth. Of course Hannah knew this wasn't true, she knew not to let his words impact her but she couldn't stop thinking about it.

Was she this feeble minded? Was she this vulnerable? What exactly had Alois done to her mind through the years? Was this this how it felt to love someone? Was their word law if you loved someone?

But still, Hannah believed she was her own demon. She had been four months pregnant since April 1st and her word was law in her mind. After all it was not Alois who was carrying this baby, it was not Alois who was feeling this baby grow inside of him, it was not Alois who had to go through humiliation to get this baby. It was her. It was not Alois who got horrible cramps, it was not Alois who had morning sickness, it was not Alois who would have to push this baby out. It was her.

Hannah constantly found herself wondering if it would ever work. She and Alois. There were so many reasons why they wouldn't work. She and Alois were from completely different worlds, species and they were different people. She was a demon, he was a human, she was from the Hellian Planes (another Dimension), He was from England Arachnophile. He was loud, vibrant, happy. She was quiet, blue, awkward. But they were both broken, in one way or another.

Hannah felt a little movement in her lower stomach and it pulled her from her train of thought. Her baby was moving, Royale was moving! With newfound excitement Hannah placed down the book she was reading and stood, quickly making her way out of her room and down the hall to the study.

She didn't even knock. She just barged right in. Alois and Viscount Druiitt looked up in surprise from their conversation.

"He's moving," Hannah said, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Sorry," Alois said to the Viscount. He stood and walked around the desk, taking Hannah's hand he led her out of the study. Hannah was far too submerged in the moving in her lower stomach to even notice she was about to get a scolding.

Once they were outside, Alois closed the door quietly then turned to her. "Do you ever knock?" He asked.

Hannah looked up from her belly. "You didn't tell me anyone was coming over." She answered.

Alois studied Hannah. In truth, he couldn't even be mad. He didn't tell her the Viscount was coming over. He never really told her anything to be honest. Alois didn't really feel like his business was her own. But Hannah was his equal, right?

Alois began to feel guilty. If Hannah was his equal and things have changed then she should know about things like this. She should know what was going on in the manor. It was another level of disregard and disrespect Alois had for Hannah. It was a habit he needed to break.

Alois slowly took Hannah's hands in his own. He sighed and closed his eyes. Then he opened them. "You're right, I'm sorry, I should've told you Hannah." He said in a sincere tone. Alois leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her dark lips.

Hannah could barely mask her surprise. Alois never really told her sorry, and when he did she was always surprised. And he kissed her. He kissed her after telling her sorry! Hannah could barely comprehend it nevertheless form a reply. She gently sighed, staring at Alois in a dreamy manner.

Alois took that as a beacon to continue. He let her hands go and placed his hands on her swollen belly. There was a pause. Then Alois felt shifting under his fingers. His eyes widened with happiness and a smile played on his lips. "I can feel him, I can feel him!" He said, moving his hands to the bottom of her stomach.

Hannah felt happiness pulsating through her body. Hannah didn't know she was crying until she felt the tears roll down her cheeks. She abruptly turned away from Alois and covered her face as she choked up.

Alois arched his eyebrow at her. "Hannah? What's wrong?" He asked.

Hannah shook her head and waved him off. "N-Nothing." She said in a breaking tone.

Alois refused to take no for an answer. He walked around her and took her wrist then pried them away from her face.

'Why Is she crying?' Alois thought. 'Is it because of me?'

Alois wordlessly released her hands and cupped her face. He wiped away her tears with his thumbs as quickly as they came. Hannah's wide uncut sapphires stared at him in disbelief.

'Why is he doing this?' Hannah thought. 'I'm not that special.'

Alois brought Hannah into a hug, one hand on the back of her head and the other on her back, rubbing in a circular motion.

'He's so warm.'

'I'm such an ass… I always make her cry. Way to go on fucking up Alois.'

'He smells good. I'm ruining his jacket.'

'God, Hannah.'

'I want to call him Jim…'

The hallway was quiet, except for the little sniffles and hiccups of Hannah. Birds chirped outside. They could hear the fountain. It felt like a nostalgic moment.

Hannah pulled away and looked at his handsome face. He was leveled with her now, if not taller. She did not have to tilt her head down to look him in the eyes. Hannah sniffled and then rubbed her nose.

"I'm fine." She said.

"No, you're not." Alois argued.

"I'm happy." Hannah said. "I cry because I am happy." She looked him in the eyes as she spoke. She wanted him to feel what she was saying.

Alois quiet. He reached up and took a strand of her hair. He twirled it. A soft smile played on Alois' lips. "I'm happy too."

Hannah shyly smiled and looked down. Her stomach was swollen and his stomach was flat. "You should get back. The Viscount is waiting."

Alois chortled. "Right." He kissed her head before going back into the study, closing the door behind him.

Her baby was still moving later on that day. Every 5 or 10 minutes he'd shift or kick her. It didn't hurt. It made her giggle, mostly. Hannah found herself near the servant's wing and she decided to visit her old room. It was small and dark. She could see just fine, so she didn't light the candle. Her room had a small bed with a bare beru. In the drawers were her old maid's uniforms.

Hannah sighed softly and sat on the bed. She remembered that day. The day she found out she was pregnant. She didn't feel good. She didn't feel normal. She missed her scheduled lady days, that made her feel the least bit human. She sat here, contemplating on leaving. Yes, Hannah wanted to run away and never show her face here ever again. She didn't think she was capable of motherhood, or even loving this child. But she had to be reasonable. If she was pregnant, with Alois' child, she couldn't just run. She would not only deny Alois an heir, she would deny her child it's birth right. She couldn't provide a life for her child, but he could.

She would deny all three of them happiness, and Hannah wanted happiness more than the most succulent soul in the world. She'd tasted a bit of it and she wanted more.

Hannah stood from the bed and walked over to the beru. She ripped open the drawers and snatched the maid's uniforms up. Hannah closed her eyes and focused, channeling all of her anger. The uniforms went up in black and blue flames. They burned in her hands, slowly but surely. They turned to ashes and Hannah burned the ashes away too.

Those maid uniforms held bad memories for her. Bad memories of Alois. She wanted to forget them all. She wanted to start a new chapter. She wanted to make more happy memories.

Hannah's hands were burned and charred like dead, burned flesh. They began to heal, returning to their former state. Hannah stared at her hands, a smile playing on her lips.

With these hands, she would shape her future.