Takes place during the time of Living a Life Unexpected, just after Christine is born:

Azazel hung back by the trailer, watching as she made her way over. He kept himself hidden, not wanting to draw too much attention. It'd been a long time since he'd seen her, too long in fact. A part of him felt guilty that he'd allowed their relationship to lapse, but the past few years he'd been so involved in other things. His life was so different now than it had been when he was with her. More complex, and less light hearted. He'd seen the world and it's offerings, and at times it made him long for the easier days with the caravan. Though he knew he could never return with the knowledge he had now, he couldn't turn his back on the work that he believed was making the world a better place for those like him. And since even then, things had changed all the more for him. Now he had new responsibilities, which is exactly what brought him here today.

As she reached her trailer door, he stepped out of the brush. She caught a glimpse of him from the corner of her eye and her body flinched, before turning and taking a defensive stance. Upon realizing who it was, her eyes widened. "Aleksandr?" her face split into a grin and she lunged into his arms, pressing her lips to his. "My God, Aleksandr!" She kissed him several times in succession. "Where have you been? It's been ages!"

"Margali," he smiled and hugged her close, returning the kiss. "Is good to see you."

"You as well!" she pulled away from him and gave him a look up and down. Her face pinched at his choice of clothing, the black suit he often wore when on missions. "Did you forget that colors exist, my Alek?"

He rolled his eyes at her. "We have much to catch up on."

"That we do," she gestured he follow her and they went into the trailer. "The children are sleeping, but we can chat quietly."

"Stefan and Jimaine?" he asked. "I haven't seen them since Jimaine was a baby."

"You have been gone a very long time," she took out a few glasses and a bottle of drink, before sitting at a small table. Azazel followed her suit. "Much has changed. The circus is growing by leaps and bounds. We still have your job available to you, if that is what you are wondering."

He shook his head and took a glass she offered. "Nyet," he said. "I have not come to stay. In fact, I cannot stay long at all. I have come to ask a favor."

"A favor?" she raised a brow. "You are gone for over five years and you come back to ask favors?"

"I am sorry I lost touch," he told her. "I don't want that to happen again, Margali, I promise that. I was involved in things that…" he trailed off, unsure how to describe it. "Just dangerous things. I am out of it now, however, and I need to find a safe place."

"Dear, you always have a place with us," she told him. "Absolutely always. I can make room for you here in my trailer until we find you your own." Margali reached a foot out to rub his leg and lifted her brows. "That is, if you want a trailer of your own."

He smiled a bit uncomfortably and pulled his leg away from her. "Is not just for me," he began. "I must find a safe place for my family as well."

She paused and pulled her leg away. "Family?"

Azazel nodded. "Wife and two children. Youngest is only few months old."

She stared at him for a long moment before letting out a laugh. "Wife? Children?! Aleksandr, are you serious?"

"Da," he said to her, reaching back to his wallet. He pulled out the picture he kept there, his soul mate and son, handing it over. "Do not have picture of baby yet."

Margali took the picture and looked closely at it. "My goodness. Aleksandr, husband and father. I thought I'd never see the day." Her eyes narrowed as she studied the image. "The boy doesn't seem to take after his mother much."

Azazel hedged a bit at that. "She is not his mother by birth. Is his mother by adoption. My daughter, though, is hers." He made his tone clear that he didn't wish to elaborate on the topic.

She handed the picture back to him. "I would certainly love to meet the woman who tacked you down, that is certain."

"I want you to meet her too," he said as he placed it back into his wallet. "Her name is Moira. Amazing woman. Our son is Kurt and baby is Christine. I want our children to meet too."

Margali smiled. "That would be nice," she paused. "Moira, your wife. Is she like you?"

He shook his head. "Nyet. She is human. American on top of it."

Margali laughed again. "They can't all be perfect," she reached over and took Azazel's hand. "I'm happy for you, Alek. I always thought you'd be a good father one day."

He smiled at her. "Is something I never expected but never want to change. Have two children now, in future want to have many more with her."

The woman nodded, then stood, moving to a cabinet. She opened it and dug around, coming out with a set of keys. She handed them over to Azazel. "Take your family to my house. You can convert one of the bedrooms into one for the four of you. It may be a little cramped once we come there for the winter, but the rest of the year it's yours."

Azazel nodded and stood, putting his arms around her. "Thank you so much, Margali."

"We are family, Alek," she smiled at him. "What's mine is yours. And maybe next spring, when your daughter is older, you can rejoin the caravan. I know many people who would love to see you back."

"I would like that," he responded. He pulled her into another hug. "I appreciate so much."

She held him tight, then pulled away. "You better get back to your family now, Papa."

He laughed and took a step back. "See you in the winter." Before teleporting away.

~&Q~

Seeing as though I got some feedback that Margali is a fav, I figured I'd post this here. I like going in to their relationship, which obviously changed a lot after this encounter.

I have much fewer stories for this fic, if anyone has a request, I am happy to see what I can do :)