I wanted to feel bad for the staff that remained at the restaurant yet it was mostly their fault, because they refused to leave and I wasn't in a rush to go anywhere. I sat on a lounge that hadn't been by the window when I arrived, curled up in a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate cradled in my hands with no intention of leaving any time soon and none of them knew what to do.

Well, now they had a glimpse of what it was like to live my life.

The world before me was from another planet. A beautiful, isolated one with an endless sky of diamonds above a landscape that was glowing silver. I couldn't see the moon to know it was the source, I didn't have to as nothing else could light up the night how it did. For a while there i considered going for a walk to get completely lost in the cold to try numb some of what I was feeling, or at least scream into the abyss of the valley while there was no one else to hear but Blueberry kept me grounded enough to know neither of things were really options right now. Super hot baths are not recommended during pregnancy and icy hikes are probably frowned upon as well.

The second I felt his presence I sighed; relief or was it disappointment briefly followed before I titled my head back to see his face as he appeared.

"Do you want to be alone?" Cain asked softly, leaning down to kiss my forehead.

"Alone but with you is my favourite kind. I was hoping if I waited long enough, Hecate would come by." I admitted. "Make sense of everything or make it worse."

"It went that well, huh?" He sat beside me as I created space for him, willingly sharing my blanket as we got comfortable with each other. "Honestly, I wasn't sure how I'd find you. I sensed she'd gone, but you never came back to us."

"Sorry. Im fine enough. She said the fourth isn't what we want it to be, and that this time it would be up to me to create the balance. She, he, they, this fourth myth doesn't exist anymore and anything they left behind are just, trinkets"

"And you dont believe that?"

"No. She got a little more helpful after I, um, lightly, threatened her. Pissed her off a little. She told me about this whole, twin flame deal and get this, Hecate is like, an original soul, like one of the ones before they all got destroyed or split up."

That had him quiet, Cain's attention drifting beyond the view much like how I'd just spent the last hour and a half. "Makes a lot of sense actually, and explains most of what I've never been able to understand about her. She created the Crossroads, and no one in history has been able to do something like that."

"You made three superior human races, that's pretty impressive too. If you hadn't, I would never exist." I point out.

"That was different and you can't know that for sure." He shrugged it off, yet looked at his watch that I had never noticed before but let it go.

Cain wearing a watch wasn't something to think about when I already had an infinite amount of what if's, could haves and should have beens with everything else.

"I just keep thinking it over, trying to find the angle she was coming from, or a clue she was giving me in that unclear way they all talk. Other than Uranus really isn't someone we want to win this, they can't directly fight each other hence the need for toy soldiers to do it for them, and a heads up on why Hecate is how she is, all I can really take from it is this is a favourite restaurant of hers and they make a good mocktail. Oh and I think she's a cult leader."

"Ah. Right. Well maybe that's all you need to take away from it then and the rest, will-"

"Don't say what will be will be." I warn.

"It will work itself out." He shrugged.

"That's just as bad."

"Forget it then. Let's focus on what we do know. Ares and Artemis are off gathering our allies, we keep preparing for this battle that's coming and I did something that can take your mind off all of it, if you feel up to a class that might help prepare us for what's coming."

That got my attention, the smirk on his face making me feel a little uneasy as I shifted around to face him better. "They teach classes on preparing for a primordial being centred apocalypse now? Damn it. Why wasn't that on the schedule when I was at the academy?"

"Funny. It's not that type of class." He held out his hand, and I put mine in it. "Trust me?"

"Always, except for now because you are giving off some weird vibes and since when do you wear a watch?"

A second later we're outside a hospital and right on queue, Doctor Katie is walking towards the doorway we're now blocking. She doesn't hide her fright well, a hand holding the space over her heart as she lets out a big breath. I'm impressed by how fast she recovers.

"You're here!" She smiles, reaching out to pat Cain's arm before daring to give me a hug. "When Cain answered my email, I really wasn't sure he'd get you to do this, but I think it'll be a great first step to prepare you. Come on in, we start in fifteen."

As soon as she leaves us, I'm glaring at Cain. "What new, fresh hell have you just dragged me into and since we've been to hell, I really do mean that literally."

"It's birthing classes, Elise." He sighed, checking his watch like it's been a life long habit.

"Excuse me?" He may as well be speaking another language right now. "Explain."

"As soon as you left with Gaia, I returned to this realm feeling like this is where you'd gone. It was, and then you sent that text to your parents to try and get word out about where you were, I was at the bar. Your Dad went there looking for me, or even Apollo and Kara to pass it on deciding if you were here we'd be too. So to kill some time, I checked my emails, got my own phone out and messaged you but you clearly haven't checked it since. Doctor Katie had sent us an invite to this class, hoping it would help prepare you beyond the only birth plan she's received so far. I can only imagine what that actually is after our discussion with Hermes." Cain failed at hiding how he still felt about that chat and stepping back from him I hugged my stomach.

He looked at the watch again, then glanced inside.

Nervous.

If he was nervous, well I had no chance of going in there.

"I just had dinner with Gaia, how do you think sitting around on fit balls is going to help prepare us for what is coming?" I snapped.

"Fit balls?"

"I've done my own research, and Raya told me I'd want one." I shrug. "I don't want to do this."

"I want to do this." Cain said firmly.

We stepped aside as a much happier couple went by us; the woman who looked twice as pregnant as I did laughed as her partner was talking about something to do with a pram and an emergency brake.

"We're not those people. We don't get to do this!" I shout, unable to stop myself.

"Tonight we can be!" He didn't back off, and so we stood there angrily staring at each other as another couple went in and a bit after that, Doctor Katie was back.

"We're about to start," She looked between us hesitantly. "Cain, Elise? Please come inside."

"I can't." I shake my head, and turn to start walking away.

"Elise, wait." Doctor Katie runs in front of me, her face flushed and it's easy to see how nervous she is. "Please do this. For both, no for the family you're creating. We have option a, but you haven't actually considered any others at all have you? This class won't give you all the answers, I don't expect to see you at all of them but you can't avoid the fact you are on the final countdown. Most women stop counting by months now and go by how many weeks left. You might find a way to connect with the mothers in there, many of our groups go on to create an amazing support network once the babies and born, for mothers and fathers as you're all on the same journey and-"

"Fathers?" I question, not meaning to.

A support network for Fathers.

On the same journey or at least, a similar one.

I look around the doctor and see Cain looking even more uncomfortable than I feel, still hovering by the front entrance, mostly avoiding making eye contact with anyone that goes inside. Not that it's hard to do as they all give him plenty of space.

"I don't want to be this person, but if nothing else, maybe just do it for him? Just this once." The guilt trip angle is clearly one she isn't wanting to use but she saw the opportunity and took it. "So long as you haven't gotten yourself into any mischief, I'll even let the last checkup you missed slide. For tonight. I still want to see you now we're down to eight weeks."

"What?" My stomach dropped. That wasn't meant to be for like another four weeks or something? Since when I was down to single digits?

"Most women are happy to hear that." She tried and failed to make light of the situation.

"I'll go." I give in.

"Thank you." This time she didn't look nervous as we headed back to where Cain waited, and taking his hand, I held it to near bone crushing status as we were guided to one of the oversized meeting rooms.

Sure enough, everyone was on fit balls, forming a circle around a woman in scrubs who was already leading the way with deep, calming breaths. The look on face made me think this was something extremely unnatural for her and she had none of that comforting presence I'd noticed with the other midwives, nurses and doctors in this area.

"Judy, this is Cain and Elise." Doctor Katie introduced us, practically pushing me along with her hand at my back to the space reserved for us. "I'll be around if you want to talk later."

Judy waved goodbye as the doctor left, introducing herself as one of the head midwives and tonight's teacher on all things labour related. The birth plan I'd been avoiding was brought up, in numerous ways as she went over pain relief, birthing suites and a few worst case scenarios. We were nearly done when I realised the bulk of this group were Hunters, excluding the Tracker couple opposite us.

"I don't mind the fit ball." Cain whispered, raising his feet to roll back and forth while Judy was not paying us any attention.

I learnt quickly she didn't appreciate snide comments or giggling whenever she said vagina or birth canal. If I could fail this class, I had no doubts I would be.

Sorry Blueberry.

"Now, Tasha has asked a great question. In the case a c-section is necessary which has a minimum of 6 weeks recovery for any woman, even with us, the Council offers temporary sanctuary. Safe houses that have been warded by our most superior light fae are there for any of you post-birth and especially those who may need a greater recovery time. Taking up this offer should not be based on your baby's delivery. We don't need heroes when it comes to guarding the next generation." She looked at all of us and I wasn't sure if I wanted to laugh again and risk feeling her wrath or cry like Veronica beside me.

Her partner gave her one of the most awkward cuddles I had ever seen, which only got worse as he passed her a tissue and nearly poked her in the eye.

"Sorry, I'm sorry. This. This is hard to do without him." She sighed, before louding blowing her nose.

"Without who?" I asked, clearly the only one willing to voice what we were all thinking.

"My brother. He was killed a couple of months ago." The guy with her, Lewis, I think his name was, answered.

Everyone murmured their apologies and attempted to look anywhere else in the room while I couldn't look away from her. Lewis's attempts at soothing her were stiff and unnatural, the grief on his face obvious now it had been made clear why he was even there. I thought he was a jerk, only with her because he had to be but he was obviously doing the best he could. They both were.

"You're all old enough to know the cost of this life." Judy said slowly, looking at each of us yet the not so subtle eyebrow rise as we made eye contact did not go unnoticed. "So take what help is available to you. You're all about to start a different battle now, nothing will ever be the same once the babies arrive."

"What if we want to release ours for adoption?" The Tracker woman asked. "We understand the need to keep our kind going, but we have discussed this at great length and do not actually want to be responsible for the baby or its care."

"That's a conversation we'll have in week three and we have a counsellor coming in, but I'll be happy to discuss it with you further after class." Judy said easily, not bothered by the question. "Now, please help yourself to the refreshments in the back. We're finished for tonight."

I heard her mumbling something about Doctor Katie and wasting her time as she went past us, shepherding the collection of oversized rubber balls to the storage cupboard. The urge to shove her into it as well forced me to follow the group to where a small assortment of cakes and drinks had been left.

"Between us, Judy scares me." The woman next to me whispered, one hand resting on her bump while the other hand keenly loaded up tiny cakes onto the paper plate in front of her. "I've heard about it though. She used to be in the ER but got attacked by a vampire and lost part of her vision, so she couldn't work there anymore."

"Birthing classes seem like a ridiculous relocation option." Veronica mumbles.

"Be thankful she likes you." I add, turning to look over at her cursing at the door that wouldn't close.

The Tracker couple had disappeared and I realised Cain wasn't with me now; in fact none of the men were near us as they seemed to group further down the table around the coffee machine. I watched them all passing the coffee pot around, looks of fear and relief in different stages on each of their faces.

"Your bump is so little. It's cute." Veronica snaps me back into their conversation and I look around to find them all staring at me.

"She's younger than us, I bet she bounces back quicker too." The plate of cakes is carefully balanced between her stomach and hand now. "I'm Jess by the way."

I hadn't really noticed the age gap between us until she made that comment. Veronica had plenty of grey strands appearing in her dark brown hair, and Jess just looked tired, and puffy but there was an element of age in the lines around her eyes.

"I'm Elise." So much for being the Empress right now; these women gathered around me like I was up for inspection and I only wanted to shrink and disappear.

I looked down to Blueberry, not really knowing if it was small or big, though compared to theirs I was a bit smaller.

"Is that a thing? Am I too small?" I was going to have to see Doctor Katie now. "Do you think he's okay?"

Oh shit. What if that trip to hell did something?

"We all carry differently, your bump is fine Elise. I'm Myla." The woman with the shaved head smiled. "My sister has three kids. Second one we all knew she was pregnant from how quickly she blew up before I think she even did."

"Wait, I thought you looked familiar. Are you Elise Bunting?" Veronica gasps.

"Oh, you're right! It is her!" Jess agrees. "I mean, you are that Elise!"

"And she's here?" The other blonde Hunter looks away from the snacks now, the group of five inching even closer to me with a mixture of curiosity and excitement.

"I get that alot, I'm just Elise. Different Hunter." I force a smile.

"Makes sense, you're so much younger than I'd expect her to be anyway. Isn't she in her thirties now?" The blonde frowns. "How old is the oldest Van Helsing? Her and Tom are friends from the academy days aren't they?"

I forgot all about the size of my stomach or the fact I wasn't that Elise. "Excuse me?"

"Imagine a Van Helsing Bunting baby!" Jess practically swooned. "I saw Jordan at an Underground once. I never got up the courage to say hi, but I also met my fiance Steven during that stay so it didn't turn out too badly. Besides, I'd rather meet Elise than Jordan any day."

Point to me.

"That girl has made so many of the old, traditional types give the rest of us some respect. Perhaps one day we'll get to meet her and say thank you for what she's done." Myla met my gaze. "I was there that night when the Alpha opened the portal, and at the Academy when the Warlocks attacked. She probably doesn't even know who I am, or knows that she saved my life when we followed her with the President through the ditches to get closer and try to take down one of those monsters."

I know she knows who I am, and she's right. I had no idea who she was. That night was a blur, the bits I remember only clear when death was involved. I flexed my hands, trying to shake the feeling of Lily's slipping from my grasp as she let go to save me.

"That would have been amazing!" The blonde one stopped eating to join in the conversation. "I mean, to see, not be there. I had a cousin at the portal that didn't make it. My uncle wasn't the same afterwards."

"I pity that girl if she ever does have a kid. Things are hard enough for the rest of us, but Elise, well, good thing she is a Bunting." Jess sighed.

"What does that mean?" I ask.

"Mention Bunting on the street and half the monsters run and the others think their tough shit and want to take us all down. What chance does that kid have if word gets out about who its Mum is? Never mind the father." She looked thoughtful. "It'll have to be a Van Helsing. Not many families out there would be able to even compete with those two. The Grimm girl is married isn't she? She would have been smarter to go with either of those families."

I tried not to be offended or laugh at the idea of being with a Van Helsing. Drew and Nigel were practically brothers to me and Tom, well. Tom is Tom. Penny with any of them was nearly as hilarious.

What bothered me though was the fact that these strangers could see the kind of life any child of mine could be facing. How many times had I already obssessed over it, the fear I felt for him was real and warranted. Only I wasn't the Hunter they thought I was and I couldn't imagine another man being a better father to any of my babies. Looking over at him now, all of our partners still seemed way too interested in the coffee machine but Cain and Lewis chatted easily with one of the others, the awkwardness easing. I really understood what Doctor Katie had meant now.

He did need this.

"Her Dad probably wanted her too. He's traditional that way, my parents think he's amazing because they went on one mission together like fifteen years ago." Veronica added bitterly.

"You don't agree with them?" I can't help myself.

"No. He left the group, gave away their location and had a small pack of shifters going after them. My Dad was in hospital for weeks after that and yet because the mission was a success, he claimed the glory."

Sounded like Penny's dad. "What an asshole."

"Exactly." She agreed. "His daughter isn't much better."

"She has her moments." I shrug, regretting that as all eyes are back on me. "I've heard things. We both went to Huntingtons."

When Alfie is suddenly with me, his tail around my legs and poised to strike, nothing I say now will have them believing I am not that Elise. Myla actually smiles, though she is the only one as Judy lets out a scream of pure terror. No one else moves, I think they've all forgotten how to as I spin around to look up at him.

"Not the time, Alfie!" I scold, not meaning it as I instantly hug him. "What are you doing here?"

A second later the sirens warning of a threat have us all covering our ears and Alfie is forgotten as everyone begins to move. Judy disappears through the doors while the pregnant ones are moved to windowless side of the room in a group that I am apparently not a part of. Was it because of the giant snake?

No one really knows how to take Alfie and as the sirens stop, the emergency lights kick in so the room is glowing green.

"Elle?" Cain called from the doorway.

"Go."

"You are her!" Veronica gasps, pushing Lewis out of the way as he weakly stands in front of her like that will save them all.

"The snake demon thing!" Jess points at Alfie who ignores her completely. "How are you actually Elise Bunting? Here!"

"What?" Her partner seems to struggle with this. All of them do, so I ignored them.

"You still sensed I was in trouble?" I patted his side, raising my hands to hold his head as he lowered it down to me. I kissed his nose. "You're such a good boy."

Two of the partners go to leave as they realise Cain is missing. I nod at Alfie and he's instantly blocking their way out.

"Trust me, you could not be safer right now. Stay here. Wait it out." I tell them.

"Because you're a Bunting, we listen to you now?" One of them huffed, only to have Myla slap him on the back of the head.

"Do not test me right now. Sit your ass down, and focus on keeping me calm." She ordered, winking at me as he obediently turned around. "This is very stressful and not good for the baby."

A second later the fit balls were all back out.

"Here. You may be the Bunting girl but you're just as pregnant and vulnerable as the rest of them." Lewis rolled me over a ball.

"Thank you, but I'm not exactly what you think I am. Just, keep everyone calm and happy. Cain will be back soon enough and I have my Alfie." I smile and he looks at Alfie cautiously before nodding.

"Okay." He shrugged.

I sat on the ball, letting Alfie rock it back and forth with his tail as he inspected it closely. Every now and then he'd push it a little far or hard, making my heart jump as I scrambled to keep my balance. I felt Cain everywhere, which probably meant he was shielding us but it made it hard for me to work out what was happening.

Despite their gossip skills, I wasn't about to abandon everyone and there wasn't much that could get past Cain anyway.

"Hello?" The familiar sound of Doctor Katie's voice grew closer and leaving Alfie to bounce the fit ball like a basketball he'd been waiting so patiently to do, I went out and met her in the hall. "Elise? Oh good, you're still here."

"What's going on?"

"I don't know. I was called in to an emergency c-section after I left you. This wing has been completely closed down, but this class was scheduled to be finished so no one would have checked on you all assuming it's empty. Is everyone alright?"

"Yes. Is there somewhere safe we can go? I can take them all anywhere."

"Do you know the council headquarters near here at all?" I nodded. "That will be a good- Look out!"

She tugged me towards her as a blur of bright red shot past us, the tell tale thud of the bounce stopping both of us as the fit ball rolled away and Alfie's head sheepishly poked out of the room.

"Gone, Elissse?" He spotted it and went to chase only to force himself back. "S-s-sorry."

"Alfie!" I sighed. "I'll get them out, is there anyone else that needs to be taken anywhere?"

"No, everyone has gone to the meeting points or already left for the day. Judy wasn't there so I thought you might be with her?" She asked hopefully.

"She left at the first alarm." Blueberry began to move, the pain in my hip suddenly flaring back to life. "Is my bump small?"

"What?"

"The others are almost double the size I am." I frown.

"Everyone is different, once this is over, we can have a check up, okay?" She promises.

"Thank you."

I push Alfie back into the room and Doctor Katie comes up with a story of organising an emergency evacuation for everyone. It was so nice to be back in the land of technology, and I sent Ailin a heads up as the doctor spoke so when I had them all reappearing in a meeting room at the Council a few minutes later no one was surprised; not even Ailin as she appeared a second later to greet them all.

"What is going on?" I ask her, noticing the shadows climbing down the walls around us.

That meant she needed big security.

"Something is attacking us. I'm glad to see you." I hugged her without thinking, missing her more than I realised. I didn't care what our onlookers thought before she turned her attention back to them. "You'll be well cared for as long as this threat takes to be neutralised. Doctor?"

"I'll be sure to let you know if anything changes here, President."

I smiled at Myla before following Ailin out of the room, Alfie keeping pace as we went up to her office. Cain appeared a second later, looking like he was ready to kill someone while also smelling freaking amazing.

"What did you find out?" She asked Cain.

His arm came out in my direction and I slipped in beside him. "Furies were here. Whatever they did was simply to disrupt everything."

"Oh come on." I groaned, burying my face into his side now. "But why?"

"No progress with them then?" Ailin frowned, and looking over at her she looked a little judgy judgy for my liking.

"Their being powered up by Uranus, as in the primordial being. Think Gaia but possibly an even greater pain in the ass." Alfie nudged my back and letting Cain go, I turned to hug him. "Please stay close to Old Bloods. If the Furies are here, I don't know what they might be up to and I need them to be kept safe."

"Alfie keep sssafe. Elissse sssafe?" He asked.

"Yeah Alfie. You're such a good boy." I itched under his chin until his tail wagged and then let him go. "Anytime I come back here, trouble seems to follow me and I make everything worse."

"Nieve pulling that stunt with Olivia wasn't your fault. This isn't your fault." Cain assured me.

"Nieve." I look up at him. "Is she here? Gaia said we should focus on killing her. That will release all the power of Fate to find new vessels, and that would then bring back a balance. He has three, she has three."

"And where do you fit into that?" Ailin asked cautiously.

"She did say I bring balance. I take out Nieve, make it an even playing field again? Well, you know, and bring an army to face them."

The President looked a little thoughtful for my liking. "In a battle you've seen yourself die at how many times?"

"She isn't going to die." Cain glared at Ailin, making her sit back in her chair with a sigh.

"I know, but maybe think over your plans and try to avoid the very scene you've already seen play out in different ways but with the same results." She boldly argued back.

"Good idea. Great plan. Is this like the night that will never end? How many time zones do I need to jump to get into tomorrow already?"

Who said you can't run from your problems?

"What do we do? Right now I have all of my best defending one of our smallest hospitals for no other reason than these, Furies, think you're in there? It's predominantly maternity, what message do you think they want to send?" Ailin looked at us expectantly.

"They're not attacking, I put a ward up so your people can save their energy. This is for attention and already whatever they did is easing." Cain closed his eyes. "I don't think they're even in this realm anymore."

"How do you know for sure?" I ask.

"I don't, not completely but thinking globally and seeking out their energy, it's missing."

I closed my eyes, trying to do that too but got nothing. "We'll get out of this realm, Ailin. I don't want to push our luck."

"You don't have to, Elise. You've barely been back!" Ailin stood, coming around the table.

"I know and I decided to stay away as much as I can after the Olivia thing. When it's over, I'm coming home and you'll get sick of seeing my face everywhere." I smile, gladly holding her as tight as she was holding me.

"Be safe." She let me go, looking at Cain. "Both of you."

He only nodded in response, and then we were back at the hospital. The building had returned to normal, no more lights or sirens as the threat was gone.

"I can feel something, it's weak though." I frowned, walking outside.

"Maybe they were feeling left out. Tartarus, Gaia." He shrugged. "I doubt all three were even here. It had to be targeted towards you though, for Alfie to sense it."

"They were right though, weren't they. The other women were talking about me, I lied to start with so its not their fault, but-"

This would be normal. Threat after threat - unless we got rid of them.

"I heard. How about we get out of here?" Cain wrapped his arms around me and we went home.

Our home.

It was dark and quiet, with everything as we left it.

I wanted to let the sofa swallow me and hide under a pile of blankets and cushions while watching TV and eating doughnuts.

I had no idea what month it was, what we'd missed, if the world was even still turning. I'd barely given anything else apart from what we were dealing with a second thought. Did I miss Mums birthday?

I kept my arms around Cain's neck, breathing in that amazing way he smelled. He smelled like a feeling, like this apartment, like home.

Safe.

Warm.

Mine.

His hands rubbed my back, before settling over my hip where it had started to hurt again. A warm flurry of tingles followed and I wanted to cry because that one little gesture was just done, without asking or expecting anything in return. I'd go to a hundred birthing classes if he really wanted me to.

"The other women think Elise Bunting is just a Hunter, like them, who may have just got lucky as the ones who came before her did. Our son may have a target on his back but it doesn't matter because we will be watching it."

"Just when I thought I couldn't love you anymore than I already do," I sobbed, sticking as close to him as I could despite wetting his shirt. "Happy tears. Don't say a thing about it."

"So I shouldn't bring up the whole Baby Van Helsing subject?" He smirked.

"Ew. No. Ew." I laughed, giving up and wiping my face with his shirt now. "Aren't you glad you're stuck with me now?"

"Always, which is why I thought it might be time for this."

"For what?"

I smiled up at him, closing my eyes as he gently wiped under my eyes with his thumbs and placed a whisper of kiss on the tip of my nose. Then he stepped back, and I opened my eyes to reach for him, not willing to even consider personal space right now, only instead I froze.

What the-

Candles lined the kitchen bench behind him, the dining table and most surfaces as I spun around not entirely sure what was happening right now until Cain moved to be down on one knee.

Oh no, he isn't-

I didn't breathe as he slowly lifted the lid on the black velvet box that appeared in his hand and instead of seeing what was hidden away in there, I closed my eyes again.

Is this actually happening?

"Marry me, Elle. Be mine, in every way you can be, as I am forever yours."

Oh, fuck.

He did it.

——————-

Not sure if that timing was right... this end might change but if so I'll let you know with the next chapter. What do you think? Did Cain get it right?