Moffitt would have insisted on riding day and night if he didn't care so much about their horses. He and the others were eager to get home, but they were all in agreement that the horses needed to rest. It forced Moffitt, Dietrich, and Janvier to rest as well, even though they all found it difficult to get to sleep.

The closer they got to Tunis, the greener the landscape became. Moffitt knew he would be missing the desert before too long, but for now, he was looking forward to returning to the rainy streets of Cambridge.

Dietrich was able to rest more comfortably once the group had boarded a ship bound for Britain. Moffitt and Janvier had a lot of time to just talk and figure out where to go from there as far as their old friendship went. It was a bit appalling for Moffitt to learn that Janvier had considered stealing a sample of his blood to sell as antivenom, but he appreciated Janvier coming clean and being honest about his thoughts.

"This isn't something I need to worry about, is it?" Moffitt asked. "You sneaking into my house and trying to take blood from me?"

"No. Dietrich brought up a good point—I would not get past Anah," Janvier replied. "That, and doing such a thing is wrong in general."

"Exactly. I've only just started trusting you again. Don't botch it up."

"Thanks. You have my word that I will not discuss this with anyone. There are a lot of people out there who would kill to get their hands on you, and many of whom have the resources to get past Anah." Janvier lowered his voice, glancing nervously around the ship's cafeteria. "Former Sorcery Division, especially. I did tell you one of the people I talked to when I was initially looking for Anah was former Sorcery Division. That was how I got my hands on a device that temporarily stunned her."

"I had a feeling."

"How many people know about this… gift you have?"

"I'm not sure how many exactly, but I've told everyone I have the utmost trust for, and I know they wouldn't tell anyone."

"Maybe now, but people can fall on hard times, and when their lives get difficult, they may do things they never would have done otherwise."

"I know my friends and immediate family wouldn't do such a thing."

"No, but some of your colleagues in Cambridge, the ones you do not know all that well, might. That, however, can become an advantage."

"How so?"

"Those who do not know you very well will not know how to defeat Anah."

"Most of the Cambridge faculty knows Anah, though."

"Yes, but do they know just how powerful she is?"

"Some, not all."

"There you go. I doubt you need to worry."

"There's also the fact that if anything were to happen to me, the rest of my unit, along with Dietrich, would stop at nothing to help me. Trust me, you don't want to cross Troy when one of his men is in trouble."

"I would not mind meeting your unit someday."

"I'm sure you will eventually."

The two also had a lot of time to talk once they reached Britain and brought Dietrich to a hospital in Cambridge. Moffitt stood by a door, watching through the glass as a team wheeled Dietrich on a gurney to the nearest operating theater. An older, stocky woman organizing paperwork said in an accent much thicker than Moffitt's, "He'll probably be in there a couple of hours, sir. Have a seat and a cup of tea while you wait."

"Thank you." Moffitt turned and went to sit next to Janvier. "I'll probably be returning here in a month, when Vanora has the baby."

"You know, I never said 'congratulations' about that," Janvier replied. "You will make a wonderful father."

"I'm… not sure I will."

"Oh, here we go again, dear," Anah said with a sigh.

"I'm terrified! I just… don't know I can do this—ow! Quit poking me with your bloody tail, Anah!"

"How many times do we all have to tell you that you are going to be just fine with the baby?" Anah asked. "Janvier just returned to your life and even he is telling you that you will make a good father. Does that not mean anything to you, dear?"

Moffitt sighed. "It… does, but—"

"Then stop worrying. You have me, you will have Dietrich—"

"Dietrich isn't going to be able to do much of anything for a while."

"He still promised to help. Remember, everything will be okay. Trust your friends and family. We all love you and we are going to help as best we can."

Another sigh. "Thanks, Anah."

Even after three cups of black tea—with the right amount of sugar and milk this time—Moffitt was exhausted while sitting in Dietrich's room, waiting for him to wake up. He had slept decently on the return trip to Britain, but he missed his own bed, and the company of Vanora. He could feel his body was ready to quit for a little while, but not yet. He knew Dietrich became anxious in hospital settings and didn't think it would be right for him to wake up alone. Despite that, Moffitt was fighting the urge to fall asleep in a chair next to Dietrich's bed.

Janvier left to use a restroom at some point. Moffitt changed how he was sitting, trying to prevent himself from getting too comfortable. He noticed Anah had fallen asleep, which certainly didn't help. His head was heavy, and he could feel the last several weeks of travel in harsh conditions settling on him. His eyes closed, and he jerked himself back up. That didn't last very long, and he found himself nodding off once more.

"So, I just wake up, and you fall asleep on me?"

Moffitt opened his eyes, seeing an equally tired-looking Dietrich smirking at him. "Yes, I'm ready for a very long nap," Moffitt said. "I feel like I could sleep for a week."

"Same here."

"Then let's do that." Moffitt put his head and arms on the sides of the bed. "Let's just take a nap. For a whole week."

Dietrich nodded in agreement. "Sounds good to me."

They didn't rest for very long. A few minutes later, a nurse entered the room, a bearded man in tow. The nurse began checking over Dietrich's vitals when she saw he was awake, while Nicholas broke into a big smile and opened his arms for a hug from his son. "Jack! Oh, it's good to see you're alright."

"Thanks, Father," Moffitt replied, accepting the hug. He felt Anah shifting as she emerged from her nap. "How's Vanora?"

"She's doing marvelously. No, the baby hasn't come yet."

"Good. I don't want to miss it."

After releasing his son, Nicholas looked over at Dietrich. "If you need any help for the next few months, do let us know."

"I will actually be staying to help with the baby anyway," Dietrich replied. "Falling down a ravine is not going to stop me."

"You fell down a ravine?" Nicholas turned to Moffitt, a shocked look on his face. "You three must've had some incredible adventures out there in the desert."

"Oh, they were incredible alright," Moffitt said, exchanging a look with Anah. "We also… brought someone back with us. Someone you and I haven't seen in a long time."

"Who?"

"He should be back soon."

As if on cue, Janvier returned to the room. His eyes widened upon seeing Nicholas, but he quickly looked down at the floor in shame.

"Ghislain Janvier!" Nicholas said. "How long has it been?"

"A… very long time, Professeur," Janvier replied. He, too, was grabbed in a hug.

"How have you been? How did you run into Jack again?"

"That is quite a long story," Moffitt said. "You might want to sit down for it, Father."

Over the next hour or so, Moffitt and Janvier did their best to summarize the events of the last several weeks, along with the incident with the fox's paw from twelve years ago. Nicholas's expression rapidly became grim and melancholic as he learned of what had been transpiring in Janvier's life. When each story was finished, he looked at the floor, sighing and running his fingers through his dark, graying hair.

"I made a lot of very bad decisions," Janvier said. "I am asking… for forgiveness, since I repeatedly put your son's life in danger."

Nicholas was quiet for several long minutes, looking very deep in thought. "I wish, all those years ago, when you stayed with us, that you talked about what was going on back home," he said with another sigh. "But, what's done is done now. There's no changing it."

"No, Professeur. I understand if you never want to see me again."

"I would be no better than your father if I said I never wanted to see you again. It takes a strong man to admit to his mistakes, but it takes a stronger one to correct his path." Nicholas's smile finally returned. "You had a good start traveling with Jack and helping Dietrich when he hurt himself. Keep it up."

"Thank you, sir."

"Your horse can stay with mine until you can get properly situated. Do you wish to stay in England?"

Janvier nodded. "Jack told me he can set me up with a job."

"Aumeier's boarding stable," Moffitt said. "I'll talk to him once everyone's rested up."

"Sounds like a plan," Nicholas replied. He turned back to Janvier. "This is a new beginning for you. Don't waste it."

"I will not, sir."

Moffitt squeezed Janvier's shoulder. "We'll go riding together someday. Just like we did all those years ago."

Janvier managed a smile. "Should we attempt that same trip someday? Ride from Algiers to Tunis again?"

"I'd love that."

It wasn't until a little later in the day when Moffitt decided to take a walk with his father alone outside, leaving Anah with Dietrich. He went a little more in depth with the details of the long journey through the desert. He hesitated a bit when he came to discovering his own missing memories with the blackthorn tree in the temple. When they paused at a crosswalk, waiting for the signal to go, Moffitt put his hands in his pockets, then sighed as he said, "Do you remember… when I was about fourteen… I was bitten by an adder?"

"I do remember," Nicholas said. "That was quite a scary day."

"Why didn't you tell me about it when I told you I'm immune to snake venom?"

"I didn't see much of a reason to. Why? Don't you remember that day?"

"No—well, I do now. I didn't discover that memory until touching the blackthorn tree in the temple."

"I had no idea that you didn't remember."

"That's alright. I just… wondered, that's all. There were clues all my life that there was something different about me, weren't there?"

"As a matter of fact… yes. There were many, and I wasn't sure what any of it meant. Admittedly, part of me was afraid of what some of it could have meant. I also remember… nothing strange had ever manifested with Michael."

A lump started forming in Moffitt's throat. "He wasn't part of a prophecy. No magic." A knot of grief tightened in his chest. "Nothing special to keep him safe." He didn't react when his father touched his shoulder. "And he… never learned about the prophecy or Anah or… what I was given."

"No. Just because he wasn't part of a prophecy or blessed with anything supernatural doesn't mean that he wasn't special. He was special to you, me, your mother. He had a heart of gold with so much love to give."

"Exactly. He didn't… didn't deserve this. He was far more worthy of being part of a prophecy than I am."

"I don't think the supernatural cares whether or not any of us perceive ourselves as 'worthy.' It thrusts challenges upon us and expects us to complete them to the best of our ability. It is not our ally nor our enemy, until we make it so."

"Anah's told me something similar over the years."

"She would know better than anyone."

Moffitt nodded, chest still heavy with grief. "With… everything that happened immediately after I learned of Michael's death, it's… I-I don't think I'll ever be able to truly move on."

"Why do you think I gave Ghislain another chance?"

"I don't know." Moffitt shrugged. "He asked for it?"

"Because if I denied him one, then I shouldn't be talking to you, because what you did in the wake of Michael's death was equally reprehensible."

"That was sudden, driven by madness. What Ghislain did was calculated."

"Does it matter? What you did was still murder. You both made horrible choices, which is why I think you're the best person Ghislain will have to talk to as he starts to put himself back together. Not just because you were friends twenty years ago, but also because you let your anger control you, and it led you to do something that you regret to this day. You understand."

"I haven't exactly gotten past it, though."

"Are you happy in life? You're married, you have a child on the way, you're still close with your friends, you're doing very well in your career."

"I'd… say I'm happy for the most part. I think."

"You've found a way to live with it, and continue living your life as well as you can."

"Yes. That's the best way to put it."

"I think you can help Ghislain get there, and maybe he can help you as well."

"Maybe. It's worth a try."

The two turned back to return to the hospital. Moffitt was quiet for most of the walk, until they were climbing up the steps to the hospital lobby. "I can't say this for sure, but I wouldn't be surprised if learning about Michael's death was among Ghislain's turning points. Anah said he became less angry, and a bit sad, when she told him."

"Michael got along with just about everyone, and I remember he was the one who suggested including Ghislain in more of our own activities at home, to help him feel more welcome," Nicholas said.

"It seemed to work. Ghislain was still quiet, but he smiled a bit more." Moffitt looked down at the pavement before they entered the hospital, thinking about his conversations with Janvier while they were still traveling through the desert not even a week ago. "He hasn't said much of anything about Michael since he found out."

"I would suggest talking with him about your brother. Eventually. You all need time to rest. You especially, Jack." Nicholas patted his son's shoulder. "You have another exciting adventure ahead of you."

Moffitt tried to smile, then he remembered what Dietrich told him about actually asking his own father for advice. "Um… may I ask… I…" He sighed. "I don't feel truly ready to be a father. I know Anah and Dietrich and everyone else have told me I'll be wonderful, but… I don't feel that way."

"Well, one thing I will say is, don't make the mistakes I did. There were many things I could have done better, things I'm sure you want to tell me but haven't had the courage to because you're afraid it'll upset me." Nicholas shrugged. "You're allowed to be honest, Jack. I know I made mistakes, so you can go ahead and tell me where you feel that I messed up."

"You already apologized for pushing me too hard when I was preparing to get into Cambridge. That was the biggest thing, and frankly, I didn't help. I was as much a stubborn pain as you were."

"It could've been worse with you, but I didn't see until far too late just how much time you lost when you were still in secondary school. Time where you could've been exploring other things, honing other skills. Instead, you spent all that time with your nose in your studies. You were already an incredible student. You could've taken the time to do things you enjoyed, and your marks wouldn't have suffered."

"I know. I didn't want to risk it, though."

"I should've told you that. Told you that you could take more breaks."

"You know I don't hold this against you. Now, I'm not going to do the same thing with my child. I want them to explore, find things they're good at, and enjoy life. I…" Moffitt bit his lip, bracing himself for a negative reaction from his father, "don't plan on pushing them into the university. I want that to be their decision."

"You do realize that's well over two hundred years of tradition you'd be breaking."

"I know." Moffitt didn't hear any disappointment in Nicholas's voice, but he continued resisting an urge to wince.

"And a good portion of the family won't be happy with you."

"I've already been disowned from a lot of people because of Anah." Moffitt looked at the floor as they walked through the hospital hallways to get to Dietrich's room. "Are you angry with me?"

"No."

"No?"

"No." Nicholas shook his head. "With how unique your friends are, and how close you are with them, it wouldn't surprise me if your child becomes interested in something else, something that may not require them to go to any university. All I care about is that they find something that makes them happy and successful, whatever that may be."

Moffitt managed a smile. "Really? I… I-I was terrified you'd be upset."

"Upset? Me? No. No, no. I'm too old to be getting upset at things like that, and with everything you've been through, I want to see you happy. You're it. I'm not getting grandchildren from anywhere else."

"I can only imagine how excited Michael would've been to learn he was going to be an uncle."

"He would've been thrilled, and he would absolutely put everything down to help out."

Moffitt noticed his father's tone saddening. They made it to Dietrich's room, where upon opening the door, they were treated to Dietrich ranting to Janvier and Anah about how bad the hospital porridge was.

"Oh, dear," Moffitt said.

"'Oh, dear' is right," Nicholas replied with a nod.

"Poor Dietrich needs a good homecooked meal when he gets out of here."

"I'm sure your mother will be happy to oblige."


After several weeks of eating the same thing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus another few days of bland hospital food, Dietrich was looking forward to having some decent food while visiting Moffitt's parents. He couldn't help with getting a room set up for Janvier, so he was left alone in the kitchen with Adeline.

"You have no idea how happy I am to see you and Jack and Anah are home safe," Adeline said while setting a plate piled high with gooseberry crumble and vanilla ice cream in front of Dietrich. "Hopefully, the baby will convince Jack to take less risks."

"I hate to say it, but I highly doubt he will do that," Dietrich said.

"No, you're right. He's just like his father, and that probably means his baby will be just like him, too." Adeline looked at Dietrich. "For Vanora's sake, I hope it's a girl. Moffitt boys tend to be quite big."

Dietrich focused on his crumble and ice cream. It was absolutely heavenly after weeks of nothing but dates and granola, and the disgustingly watery hospital porridge that probably only had one grain of sugar in it. My dream said that Moffitt will have a son. Sorry, Vanora.

"At least you can just rest for the next few months, Hans." Adeline added water to a kettle. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

"Could I have coffee instead?" Dietrich asked.

"You may."

"Thank you. I was deprived of coffee for the last few weeks."

"Well, you can have all the coffee you want here, and have more of that crumble if you want. Nothing goes to waste here." Adeline set the baking pan with the rest of the crumble in front of Dietrich so he didn't have to get up.

When Dietrich finished what was on his plate, he immediately scooped out another huge helping of the gooseberry crumble. "This is very good," he said.

"Why, thank you, Hans," Adeline replied. "Would you like more ice cream with that?"

"Yes, please."

Moffitt came downstairs, holding a set of folded sheets. "Mother, is the washer being used?"

"Nope. All yours, Jack," Adeline replied. "I'm brewing tea for you, Nick, and Ghislain. Hans is having coffee."

"It's nearly three in the afternoon, Dietrich," Moffitt said. "You'll be bouncing off the walls tonight."

"I do not care," Dietrich said with his mouth full. "I would like my coffee."

Moffitt sighed. "Just like Troy." He sniffed the air and looked at the baking pan. "Good gracious, Dietrich, how much of that crumble have you eaten?"

"I will eat the whole thing if I can. It is good, and it is not made of dates or granola."

"Anah's not going to be happy if she hears you insulting her granola again."

"Look, her granola is good, but I got tired of eating it every single day."

Moffitt shook his head, then disappeared into the laundry room. When he came back to the kitchen, his father was coming down the stairs, saying, "Jack? You haven't walked out on us, have you?"

"Of course not," Moffitt said. "Dietrich's eating all the blasted crumble and insulting Anah's cooking."

"What is he saying about my cooking?" Anah said from Nicholas's shoulders.

"He's complaining about your granola again."

"I am not!" Dietrich snapped.

"You just were!"

"Alright, lads, that's enough arguing!" Adeline shouted over them. "Jack, go help your father, then you can all sit with your tea. Nick, pass me Anah. I'd like to show her how to make beef Wellington."

"She knows how to make beef Wellington, Mother, and it's damn good beef Wellington."

"Is it as good as my beef Wellington?"

Moffitt froze. "Uh…" His eyes flicked rapidly between his mother and Anah, then settled on Dietrich, with a pleading "help me" expression.

Dietrich grinned, shoveling a spoonful of ice cream and gooseberry filling in his mouth. There was no right answer with this.

"I… don't think I can answer that, Mother," Moffitt said.

"Anah does make good beef Wellington," Nicholas added.

"Nick!" Adeline glared at him.

"I didn't say it was better than yours, Adi. It's… on par with yours."

"I think that's a fair answer," Moffitt replied. He snapped his fingers. "I know! Let's have Dietrich try both of your beef Wellingtons. That'll settle who makes it the best."

"Why me?" Dietrich asked.

"Because you've never had beef Wellington."

"I'm trying to make a good dinner for you to celebrate you coming home safe and sound, Jack. I'm not having a cooking contest," Adeline said. "You can like whoever's beef Wellington better. I'm only pulling your leg."

"It would be fun, though."

"Maybe another time. Go finish getting Ghislain set up."

"Do you not want me helping with the cooking, then?" Anah asked.

"You can help if you want, little one."

Dietrich watched and listened as Anah and Adeline worked together to prepare dinner. He noticed Anah didn't seem to be constantly looking for Moffitt. Even when Moffitt was in the room, Anah wasn't acting like she wanted to drop what she was doing to curl around his shoulders. When dinner was served, though, she took her usual place around his shoulders, looking much happier than Dietrich had ever seen her before.

"I will admit, I have missed your cooking, Madame," Janvier said.

"That's very nice of you to say, Ghislain. We've missed your company around here," Adeline replied. "It'll be nice having you around for a little while. Just remember—you live here, you pull your weight."

"Understood, Madame."

"And don't forget to thank Anah. She made the potatoes."

Janvier looked over at Anah. "Your cooking is quite good as well."

"Come over for fish and chips some evening," Moffitt said. "That's one of her best dishes."

"We could do that tomorrow," Dietrich said.

Moffitt gave him a look. "How can you already be thinking about dinner tomorrow?"

Dietrich shrugged. "Why not?"

"You ate nearly all the crumble, and now you're having second helpings of tonight's dinner. At least swallow what's in your mouth before you start thinking of tomorrow night's blasted dinner."

Nicholas laughed a little. "Jack, you and Dietrich are both poor doers. Let him eat as much as he wants."

Dietrich gave Moffitt a confused look. "'Poor doers?'"

Moffitt sighed. "It's a horse term. Poor doers are horses who can get thin very easily and need a lot of food to stay at a healthy weight."

"Can we really say you are a poor doer, though? You do not eat very much to begin with. Look at how little is on your plate."

"That has not changed," Janvier said with a grin.

"No, it certainly hasn't," Adeline added. "It takes Jack months to go through the Christmas biscuits I give him."

"They're quite good. I like to savor them," Moffitt said. "I don't just stuff all of them in my mouth." He glanced at Dietrich. "Unlike some people."

Dietrich glared at him. "Are you sure you are not getting me mixed up with Troy?"

"I distinctly remember two Christmases ago, you taking two gingerbread biscuits, putting them together, and eating it like a sandwich with no filling. You couldn't even dunk them in hot cocoa first."

Dietrich sighed and rolled his eyes. "The gingerbread cookies were a tad thin."

"I can make them a little thicker if you'd like," Adeline said.

Janvier suddenly looked a bit shy. "This will be… the first Christmas with people I have had in a few years."

"I remember you really enjoyed Christmas with us," Moffitt said.

"I did."

"We'll be happy to have you with us this year, Ghislain," Nicholas said.

"Thank you, Professeur, I… cannot express how grateful I am for you letting me stay while I figure out what I want in life now."

"Just don't try to shoot my son again. He's the only one I've got left now."

Dietrich glanced over at Moffitt, expecting him to get upset at the mention of his brother not being around anymore.

"You weren't a very good shot," Moffitt said.

"I was trying to not hit the horses," Janvier replied.

"No, you're a bad shot. Remember when we went grouse hunting? You missed every single shot you took."

Janvier's face was red, but he was still smiling. "Alright, maybe I am a bad shot. Perhaps you can teach me."

"If you want to learn how to shoot better, talk to Troy or Tully. You won't find better marksmen."

"I would like that."

"Hitch was a good shot," Dietrich said.

"I know, but Troy and Tully were better shots," Moffitt replied. "You're not saying I'm leaving Hitch out, are you?"

"No. I am just saying that he is as good a shot as Troy and Tully."

Moffitt smirked. "Please, don't tell him I said any of this."

"I make no promises."

It was dark by the time Moffitt decided it was time to head home and reunite with Vanora. Dietrich hoped he would sleep well that night, despite the cast restricting his knee. It wasn't his own bed, but he had slept over at Moffitt's enough times to be comfortable with the couch in the sitting room. After all, that was going to be his bed for a little while, since he was keeping his promise of staying to help with the baby.

Moffitt set his bags down and called, "Vanora! I'm home!"

"In the sitting room, love!" Vanora called back.

Moffitt kicked his boots off before jogging into the sitting room, leaving Anah with Dietrich.

"Well, we made sure we were home before the baby arrived. I would say that is an accomplishment," Dietrich said, trying to adjust himself on his crutches.

"I agree," Anah replied.

Dietrich thought for a moment, wondering if he should say what he was thinking. "May I say something, Anah?"

"Of course, dear."

"Are you glad we undertook that journey?"

"I wish you had not gotten hurt, and that we met Janvier under better circumstances, but, yes, I am glad we took that journey."

"I am glad as well. You seem a bit different. Less burdened. Less stressed."

"I will not be completely unburdened until the prophecy is fulfilled, but you are right. I do feel much better. I am… more certain that my involvement with you all was not a mistake."

"Good. If you ever need something like this again, I would be honored to accompany you. Just wait until my knee heals, please."

Anah grinned. "No worries, dear. I will wait. I doubt I will need to go on anymore quests anytime soon. Right now, I have a big challenge ahead of me—that of helping Moffitt raise his child."

"You will do just fine. You, Moffitt, Vanora. I cannot think of a better family." Dietrich looked toward the sitting room. "I would like to get a shower, but they should go first."

"Ask," Anah said.

Dietrich made his way to the door of the sitting room, mindful of the step. "Moffitt? Are either of you—oh." Dietrich wasn't sure whether to smile or not at the sight of Moffitt and Vanora locked in a passionate kiss. He moved back, giving them some privacy, and looked at Anah. "I think they need some time. I will take my shower."

"I highly doubt they care who goes first in the shower. Take your time, dear."


One Month Later

Moffitt was gentle while taking one of the baby's hands in his. The newborn squeezed Moffitt's index finger, prompting him to smile while glancing at Vanora. "He's adorable."

"Yes, he is," Vanora said. There were tears staining her face from a myriad of emotions.

Moffitt's gaze shifted back down to the baby. Anah was curled up with him. She finally seemed worn out after gushing and cooing as soon as the newborn had been placed in Vanora's arms. Moffitt stroked the top of Anah's head, unable to remember the last time she had been that happy.

"I love him," Anah said. "Oh, I love him so much."

"We know," Moffitt replied, his grin widening. He kissed Vanora's cheek. "Would you like me to get you anything, darling?"

"Not yet," Vanora said. "Would you like to hold your son?"

"I would."

Anah slithered up Moffitt's arm as he gently took the swaddled newborn from Vanora. He paced the room, while staying close to Vanora. Eventually, he paused, and looked at his wife. "So, this is real?"

"Yes, Jack, this is real," Vanora said.

"I'm glad it's real." Moffitt kissed the baby's forehead. "I'm glad he's real, and that he's healthy, and we're all here together. All four of us."

There were two knocks on the door. A nurse opened it, and said, "You have a visitor," before stepping aside to let Dietrich in.

"I am not interrupting anything, am I?" Dietrich asked.

"No, not at all," Moffitt said.

"I take it the smiling faces means the baby came out alright and is perfectly healthy?"

"He is. Please, sit."

Dietrich was slow and careful when he sat down due to his broken knee. He set his crutches on one of the chairs next to him, and made sure he was comfortable when Moffitt approached him with the newborn.

"Dietrich, I would like you to meet Jules Michael Moffitt, my son." Moffitt placed the baby in Dietrich's arms.

"Oh, goodness, he is… a rather large baby," Dietrich said with a grin.

"You don't have to tell me twice," Vanora laughed. "He's over ten pounds."

Moffitt smiled proudly. "I was over ten pounds."

"Yes, and your mother told me that you were outgrowing clothes and diapers faster than she could get you the next size up. Not looking forward to that."

"That's why we have a lot of my old stuff, so we won't have to worry about that."

"Still. I'd like to have things that'll last as long as possible for Jules."

"He's a Moffitt, darling. He's going to grow quite fast and not stop for a long time."

"I would not be surprised if he has grown a few inches right here in my arms," Dietrich said. "To be honest, though, the last baby I held was Tully's daughter a few years ago, and she was a year old at that point. I do not have much experience with what a baby is supposed to feel like."

"Jules is big, but he's healthy." Moffitt leaned over Dietrich's shoulder to observe his sleeping son. "At least we'll know in a few months which of us he gets his eyes from."

"I'm not sure if a miniature version of Jack will be a good thing or a bad thing," Vanora said.

"I beg your pardon, Vanora, but… 'miniature?'" Dietrich lifted Jules slightly. "This is by no means 'miniature.'" He carefully adjusted himself to maintain his comfort, bringing Jules back to his chest. "He is cute, though. Very quiet, too."

"He's only cried once, and that was when he came into the world," Moffitt said. "After that, he's been quiet. Bit of whimpering, but that's it." He pulled back the blanket to see more of Jules's face. "Isn't that right?" He put the blanket back. "Do you want to keep holding him, or do you want me to take him?"

"No, I can keep holding him," Dietrich said. "That is all there is to it, right?"

"Yes. You can rock him a little."

"Before I forget, you have no idea how grateful we are that you'll be helping us out, Dietrich," Vanora said.

"Not a problem. I do not expect to be paid for this. It gives me something to do."

Moffitt whispered, rather loudly, "He's bored without Troy."

"I am not," Dietrich grumbled. "Shut up."

"Admit it, dear, you miss Troy," Anah said.

"You also miss Troy, you know."

"I do. I wish he and Hitch and Tully were here, experiencing this moment with us."

"That would make it far more special," Moffitt said. "They'll get to meet Jules when they return home."

Moffitt, Anah, and Dietrich eventually had to leave for a little while to let Vanora rest. As they left the hospital, Moffitt felt an overwhelming urge to go back. "I know I'll have plenty of time with Jules in a day or two, but… I just want to be there."

"Patience, dear," Anah said. "Like you said, a day or two."

Dietrich weakly smiled, then his expression sobered. "Well, that dream I had said you would have a son, and now… you have a son."

"I've been trying not to think about that," Moffitt said, his smile quickly fading. "As I recall, though, the young man in your dream was in his teen years, right?"

"I believe so, yes."

"Then we have a long way to go before we need to worry about what that dream could be trying to show us." Moffitt was quiet for a moment. "I've actually been thinking about that for a few days. Early one evening, I looked out in the backyard, and saw four magpies. You've heard that old rhyme, right? 'One for sorrow, two for joy?'"

"I have."

"Four magpies is supposed to mean one will have a boy. I saw four magpies in the yard that evening."

Dietrich was quiet for a moment, looking deep in thought. He briefly looked away from Moffitt and Anah when they paused near the parking lot, and leaned on his crutches. "What number does that rhyme go up to again?"

"Thirteen."

Dietrich glanced at Moffitt. "There were fourteen birds in the dream."

"Were they magpies?"

"I am not sure. They were silhouetted."

"As you pointed out, we have many years until this may come to light," Anah said. "Hopefully, this will remain nothing but a dream. It does happen."

"I hope so, too," Dietrich replied. "Regardless, we will face it together."

"Indeed we will." Moffitt put his arm around Dietrich's shoulders. A little under a decade ago, the idea of being so close to Dietrich seemed impossible. It wasn't something Moffitt ever thought of, even after receiving the prophecy. Things were certainly different now. For him. For Dietrich. For Anah. Especially for Anah. In spite of everything, Moffitt was glad that he had given Anah a new chance at life. Seeing her so happy with Jules made it all the more worth it that they undertook that journey to the desert, to the places Anah had bad memories of.

Moffitt knew not all of his fears had been conquered, but at least he had helped someone else conquer some of theirs. He just hoped that someday, that could be done for him as well.