May 5th, 1890

Hannah was counting the days until she'd see her baby. She was patiently counting the days until she'd have to push their baby out of her body. She was counting the days until she would hold her bloody baby on her breast and cry of Joy. At five months pregnant, Hannah held her belly protectively. She spent her time cooped up in her room, the library or the study. She didn't venture, she made sure to stay near to Alois. Claude nor anybody else would take her precious child away from her. She was so close too, just next month she would finally meet her baby, their baby.

Hannah woke up every morning to Alois' face. They slept together almost every night. He would hold her and she would gently sing to him or maybe they'd talk about the future. Sometimes they'd reminisce on the past. Hannah felt as if she was in a better place in her life. She'd never known happiness like this. She never knew what it meant to have somebody hold you when you're scared, dry your tears when you cry, somebody to love.

"You're beautiful," Alois whispered as he twirled a strand of her hair. Hannah gently smiled and looked down from his stunning sky blue eyes. She gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "I feel homely." Hannah looked up, into his sky blue orbs. Alois offered her a gentle smile. "You're gorgeous Hannah." He whispered. "Your skin, your eyes, your hair... Your body." He placed his hand on her shoulder and trailed it down, taking her hand he gave it a soft squeeze. Hannah felt a strong emotion wash over her. She herself did not know what it was. She did not know what to say or what to do. She did not know how to act.

"Jim," She whispered.

The day soon began. Hannah took her usual bath and dressed in a loose, big gown mainly to hide her pregnancy, for Alois had many visitors at this time of the year. She pinned her hair back with a blue butterfly hairclip, hoping Alois would fancy it. She was like a crushing school girl, dressing in a certain way for him and acting a certain way too.

They met in the hallway and walked to the dining room. Alois had done a 360 from his usual wardrobe, he'd changed it months ago but this was when Hannah was beginning to notice. He wore colors that suited him, like black or maroon. Today he wore black pants tucked into knee-high black boots with a white dress shirt and a Forrest green suit vest. Alois still wore his trademark charcoal ribbon.

Claude and the triplets were there waiting when they arrived. Alois pulled a chair for her and she gratefully sat down, offering him a smile. Alois sat in the chair next to her and smiled back at her, saying "Why do you do that thing when you smile?"

Hannah tilted her head. "What thing?" She asked curiously.

Alois let out a chuckle. "You make me smile."

Hannah's cheeks gently burned with a blush. "You're such a goof." She reached forward and took the teapot, pouring him some tea. Alois watched as she added three sugars and a cream, just how he liked it. Hannah stirred it and presented him the teacup. "Just how you like it." She said warmly. Alois gratefully took the teacup and locked eyes with her as he took a sip of the tea. Hannah smiled and helped herself to some tea. Her smile was contagious, it made Alois smile.

"Just how you like it." She said warmly. Alois gratefully took the teacup and locked eyes with her as he took a sip of the tea. Hannah smiled and helped herself to some tea. Her smile was contagious, it made Alois smile. Breakfast was a silly affair. Alois cracked little jokes and commented on how Hannah did things. She felt herself swelling, about to bust. He was in a great mood this morning. Was it because of her?

After breakfast, Alois placed down the tea cup and turned to face Hannah. "Hannah," he said, calling her attention.

Hannah looked up from rubbing her swollen belly. "Yes, Jim?" she replied. Her sapphire eyes held love and kindness, her expression was soft and lucid.

"I wanted to tell you, but I never made the time." Alois began. "I hired some replacement maids because I don't really want you stressing yourself out with the baby and all."

"I don't have a problem with that. I'm glad you told." She reached out and took his hand. Alois placed his other hand over her own and gave it a squeeze. Their eyes locked, sapphire on baby blue. Alois smiled at her and she smiled back at him. The love practically oozed off of their beings. Hannah's cheeks began to burn and she ducked her head, looking away.

After breakfast, Hannah retreated to her bedroom. Alois was busy with pressing matters, things Hannah doubted she'd even care to understand or watch. Hannah sat by the window in her rocking chair. She held the plastic baby doll, wrapped in a piece of cloth. She did not use the rich blue blanket she had knitted for him, no one or nothing would be the first to feel the warmth of her love other than him. Hannah looked down at the baby doll, into the lifeless blue eyes, a gentle smile on her face.

This was like waiting for a Christmas gift but you already knew what you were getting, but you couldn't have it until Christmas. That was how Hannah felt, denied. In her heart she knew not to rush things, he was taking the time to grow inside of her womb and she would carry him until he was ready to come out. Hannah took a small plastic hand and held it in her own, giving it a soft squeeze. She kissed the plastic forehead and closed her eyes, trying to imagine their child.

She assumed he would weigh a little more than he needed to, Alois made sure she ate even when she didn't want to. His hair would be soft and curly, lavender hair if not Flaxen. Hannah was a demon and Alois was a human, his genes were weaker than her own and it would be rare for his own to win over her's. His skin would be a warm beige or maybe tan beiege, a mulatto. His eyes would be blue, sapphires like her own or baby blue like his own. Maybe he would have Alois' wide eyelids and his deep set eyes, maybe he would have Hannah's hooded lids and her close set eyes. Maybe he would have Hannah's upturned button nose or maybe Alois' long, narrow nose. Maybe he would have Hannah's long, oval facial structutre or maybe Alois' heart shaped, sculpted features. Maybe he would have Hannah's plump lips or maybe Alois' thin lips.

The possibilities were endless.

Hannah opened her eyes and pulled back from the baby doll. She placed it on the windowsill and sat back in her rocking chair. She placed both hands on her swollen belly and sighed. "I can't wait to meet you."

...

Alois had come to retrieve Hannah around 3 o'clock. He found the pregnant demoness dozing in her rocking chair, hands on her belly somewhat protectively. Alois stopped by the bed and leaned on the tall mahogany post. He watched Hannah with a soft smile. she seemed so peaceful, so happy. Alois knew if he found her like this month's ago, he would do something irrational. Maybe hit her not caring that she was pregnant, with his child at that. Maybe he would thrash her, maybe he would degrade her or poke out her other eye. Alois found these things to be irrational, now that he looked back on it. Hannah did nothing wrong to him or to provoke him, so why would he hit her? Alois liked to believe he was young and stupid.

Taking a step forward, Alois called out her name. "Hananh," He said softly. He crouched down in front of her and took her hands into his own. "Hannah, it's time to wake up." He cooed. Hannah's face was serene, she didn't react. She must have been in a deep sleep then. Alois reached up and moved a strand of hair from her face then he carressed her soft face. "Hannah..." Alois said once more. "Hannah wake up."

Hannah's eyes fluttered open and she sat up a bit, looking around. "Huh?" She said.

Alois softly chuckled. "The maids are arrivng in about twenty minutes, I thought you'd want to meet them." He said as he took her hands and gave them a soft squeeze.

Alois was yet to baby proof the study, nevertheless the mansion. Hannah worriedly touched the edge of the desk, the sharp wood edge. She could see Royale hitting his head or bruising something on it. Hannah for one, knew he'd be in here a lot. If she did infact bore a boy it was more Alois' child than her own.

"Why isn't there a plastic cap on the corners of this desk?" Hannah asked as she walked around the desk and leaned on the back of Alois' chair. She took a strand of his flaxen hair between her fingers, looked at it and then let it fall back to his head.

Alois had his feet up on the desk and his hands clasped on his abdomen. He was trying to appear lucid ot the maids. "I haven't gotten around to doing that." Alois shrugged.

"Alois," Hannah sighed. "You know he'll be in here alot."

"Woah, woah, woah," Alois twisted his neck to look up at her. "Where did Alois come from?" he asked. "That isn't my name."

Hannah looked down at him with a calm expression. "I'm trying to communicate with you on a serious level because when I call you Jim you really don't take me seriously. You just stare at my lips." She tapped his nose and leaned off the chair and then walked to the desk a leaned on it.

Alois sighed and ran a hand through his hair, watching Hannah. "I can't help it. You have nice lips." He said in a low tone. Alois cleared his throat. "Maybe you should enforce emotion and tone in your voice. Your voice is always so soft."

Hannah shook her head, pressing her lips togehter. "A woman with a soft spoken tone and voice is considered proper. I cannot do that."

Alois shrugged. "So?" He asked. "I am pretty sure you have a voice and you can scream, so why not use? I'm sorry, I don't see anyone else other than me in this room or this estate other than the triplets and Claude." Alois flipped his hair in a feminine way. "Aren't you the mother of my child? You're gonna have to scream at some point, so why not start now?

Hannah gently laughed and nodded. "Or maybe our child can be like me, quiet and obedient."

"Oh, no, no, no Hannah. This is the seed of Jim Macken we're talking about."

Hannah laughed but quickly covered her mouth. She crossed her arms and looked down at her belly. "Or maybe he can be like both of us, quiet but mischievous."

Alois slowly clapped his hands. "Mischievous is right, still remeber that time I was trying to take off my shoes and you just came in butt naked and tackle me." Alois wiggled his eyebrows and shrugged, throwing his hands up and stretching. "But what can I say? I was mischievous-er."

Hannah closed her eyes and bit her lip. She felt the burning in her cheeks as she remebered. It was safe to say it was what got their sexual relationship and escapes going. It happened almost every day until she started to show. Hannah couldn't even formulate a proper reply.

There was a knock on the door, cutting through the silence. Alois scrambled to sit up straight and pull his chair up to the desk. He propped his elbows up on the desk and interlocked his fingers, staring at the door. Hannah quickly got behind Alois' chair and leaned on the back of it. Alois let out a breath andbegan to speak-

"No, wait I'm not ready," Hannah said softly as she leaned off his chair and walked around it, sitting on the desk. Alois looked at Hannah with mild annoyance and amusement in his eyes. Hannah scooted her bum futher on to the desk so she wouldn't fall. Then she sat up straight, even though it ached her back and faced a certain way so her pregnancy wasn't that noticeable.

"Okay, you can continue." Hannah said.

"Really Hannah?"

"What?"

"You couldn't lean on the back of the chair?"

"But my feet start to hurt after a while..."

"Here, wanna sit in my lap?"

"..."

"It was sarcasm,"

"Oh I know, I was just not answering you."

Alois gave Hannah a look and then blinked. "Disrespectful," he said before turning to the door. "Come In."

Claude opened the door and stepped inside. He stepped aside and two young women came in after him. Claude bowed. "Your Highness, the replacement maids have arrived."

Alois waved his hand. "That'll be all, Claude." He said flatly. Claude bowed once more and silently left. Alois picked up a sheet of paper on his desk and read it over. It was silent in the study for a few minutes. Hannah took that time to look the replacements over, just for her own personal amusement. One was tall, presumably around 5 ft. The other was short, around 4 ft. One was blonde and the other was a brunette. The brunette fidgeted and looked around nervously. The other was doing the same to Hannah, looking her up and down in curiosity. Hannah could practically feel her itching to know whether she was pregnant or just fat. Hannah could tell she was perplexed by her exoticness.

Alois cleared his throat and set the two women with a look. Hannah liked when he did that, switching from his usal playful self to this serious mature man. "Good afternoon, I am Earl Alois Trancy and this is Hannah Annafellows." Alois smiled. "Now which one of you is Crystal stewart?"

The tall blonde woman stepped forward, a soft smile on her face. "It is i, My lord." She glanced at Hannah once more before setting her sight on Alois.

"Uh-huh, so tell me why you need this job and why I should hire you?" Alois asked as he glanced down at the paper.

Crystal cleared her throat, gently. "I need this job because I am in dire need of a salary. I can clean and cook and I am willing to work 24 hours a day, six days a week with the exception of Sunday, my lord." She bowed her head, looking at her shoes.

Alois glanced at the paper again. "And you are from America, correct?" he asked, looking back at her.

"Yes, my lord."

"The north or the south?" Alois pressed.

Crystal blinked and looked up at Alois. "I'm sorry, what does that have to do with-"

"Because I don't tolerate prejudice in this household." Alois answered flatly. "I am well aware what is going on in America, in the south to be frank. So you do well to answer the question."

Crystal blinked. "The north, born and bred My lord."

Hannah picked up the paper Alois was looking at and took a look at it. He had a background check on both of them, a thorough check. She learned the other, Lilla Kingsley was orphaned at a young age. She was still very young, herself.

"Are you willing to live in? Or do you have another place to stay?" Alois asked as he played with the Trancy Family ring on his finger. He glanced over at Hannah.

"I am more than willing to live in," Crystal said.

With a nod, Alois picked up her resume and stamped the fresh wax with his ring.

"Lilla Kingsley?" He said as he twisted the ring on his finger. Lilla, short, pale and brunette stepped forward. "Me," she said softly.

Alois looked the girl up and down, seemingly studying her. Then he took Hannah's wrist, calling her attention. "Will you be a dear and show Lilla and Crystal to the servants quarters?" He asked.

Hannah nodded. "It's not a problem." Hannah looked at Lilla and offered her a warm smile.