Ariels POV

My breath escaped me. My eyes were wide, staring up at who I can only assume is God.

"...home?" I echoed his question.

"Yes," was the simple reply I received.

I thought it over for a moment. No more fire...no more screams. No more drama...no more pain.

No more betrayal...no more tears...

My brows furrowed, thinking back to the memory I saw before I fell back down here.

"Why...why did you stop showing me my memories?" I asked, and a soft chuckle radiated through the white void.

"Because you found the memory you needed to see the most...the memory you cherish the most out of every other memory you've made..."

The memory of the day he became my friend.

My mouth formed a thin line, and I looked up at the orb, but gasped when it slowly formed into a humanoid shape.

I stared up at the newly formed person in front of me. It had several eyes floating around its head, and a large smile similar to Alastor's but far less sinister.

The long robe it wore trailed behind it, reminding me of a wedding dress almost.

The entity didn't seem to be male or female, it just...was.

Although it's appearance seemed as if it should be frightening...I wasn't afraid.

They approached me slowly, that large smile softening.

Kneeling in front of me, they finally spoke, and this time the voice wasn't solid at all. It was several voices, some men, some women.

"While I give you this option...consider those you'll be leaving behind...." they said.

I blinked, unsure of what to think.

"A-aren't you supposed to...encourage me to want to come to heaven...?" I asked, my voice sounding small.

"My gorgeous creation...I encourage you to do what brings you happiness," they said, pointing a finger to my chest. A small white light appeared in the center of my chest, and I gasped.

"So let me ask you once more...would you like to go home...?"

My eyes widened, and I stared up at the entity before me.

"Yes..." I breathed out, and they smiled down at me.

"Very well."

But before they could do anything else, I grabbed onto their arm, "wait! Wait..."

At my outburst they complied to my request.

"C-can I see my daughter...? Just once before I go?" I asked, practically begging.

A soft chuckle radiated around me.

Gently the hand I was grasping removed from my grip and touched my cheek, cupping my face as if I were made of glass.

"She's already waiting for you...after all, I never take away a gift...I only save it for the right time..."

With that a brightness enveloped my vision, and my body felt as if it were on fire all over again.

I felt like I landed against something soft, and a sharp gasp ripped through my throat before I shot up straight.

My breaths came heavy and fast while I frantically looked around me.

It looked like...a hospital room?

I took in my surroundings. Then it all came back to me.

The fight...my pregnancy...labor...

Alastor...

"Alastor!" I called. My body felt too weak to try and get up. My voice was all I could seem to use.

"Alastor!"

Desperately I tried to reach the back of my hip. I need to touch the mark...I need to call him, I need-

"Darling...?"

The tired voice cut through my frantic thoughts. I looked down next to me, and there was Alastor.

His head was rested against the edge of the bed, and slowly his red eyes blinked open. In my panic I hadn't even seen him sitting right next to me.

In an instant his eyes shot open and he jolted up into a sitting position, suddenly wide awake.

He grasped my hand, "Ariel? My love, are you truly awake...?"

He smiled...that gorgeous smile I love so much.

I put my other hand against his cheek, then pulled my hand from his grasp and took his face in both my hands.

I laughed slightly, feeling that he was real, he's here...

"Yes it's me...I'm here..." I said, sniffing as happy tears pricked my eyes. He practically climbed into the bed, wrapping his arms around me tightly.

"My love I thought I'd killed you..." he whispered into my neck, placing a gentle kiss against my skin. Then he kissed my cheek and pressed his forehead against mine.

We stayed like that for a moment, and I brushed my fingers through his hair gently.

He pulled away, looking over my face with a smile, laughing softly before he pulled me into a kiss. Once he pulled away he smoothed my ears back, and I leaned into his touch.

My purr started, then quickly ceased when I remembered...

"Where's...?" My words fell off as I looked at him. His eyes widened.

"Oh...!" He exclaimed softly. His voice became hushed very quickly.

He got up and quietly walked over to a little bed a bit away from my bed. He reached down and very gently picked up what was in the little bed.

He held her for a moment, bouncing her slightly before bringing her over to me carefully.

He handed me the small baby, and my eyes widened at the sight of her.

Tiny button nose.

Soft, brown hair...the same color as mine...

Tiny little ears, tipped with black like her daddy.

And just above her tailbone was the fluffiest, tiniest little tail.

Slowly she blinked her eyes open, the little orbs glowing softly in the dimly lit hospital room.

They opened wide, looking round and big against her little face. She looked up at me, and I looked back.

For a moment...it was only us.

A voice rang through my head then...

"After all...I never take away a gift...I only save it for the right time"

Slowly I smiled, the happy tears in my eyes spilling over.

Alastor knelt by the bed again, reaching over and gently smoothing our baby's ears back before placing a kiss on her head.

"She looks just like you..." he said softly.

I chuckle, sniffing before looking over at him, "as if...she's got your nose," I said back playfully.

"And she's got your beauty," he said back with love filled eyes, then he grimaced, "which may end up being a problem later down the line..."

I snorted softly, shaking my head as I looked back to our baby. She had fallen back asleep, her hand now gripping onto my shirt.

"Did you name her...?" I asked quietly, looking towards Alastor.

He shook his head, "I wanted you to be awake when we did that..." he said softly, and I smiled at his thoughtfulness.

My eyes once again fell upon the sleeping baby in my arms. Her face glowed softly in the light coming through the window, her skin seeming lively almost.

"Angelica..." I spoke softly, not taking my eyes off of her.

Alastor chuckled, "quite ironic, don't you think?" He said lightly.

I hummed, gently brushing the hair from her face, "not as much as you might think, my love..."

He was quiet for a moment, and I looked over at him, "how about a middle name...?" I asked him, and his smile widened.

"Rose...?" he responded.

His mother's name...

My smile increased and I leaned over to kiss his cheek.

"Angelica Rose Winters..." I spoke quietly, "unless you'd rather her take your last name?" I asked him.

He shook his head, "no, my darling, yours suits her far better."

At that I simply smiled, and for the rest of the night we sat up and watched Angelica.

This little life that I've now nurtured twice...

I'm so glad I finally got to meet you.