***Darius POV***

I received a call from Persephone.

"Darius, Aubrey is in labor. She's headed to the hospital." Persephone announced.

"Well, what should I do?" I questioned.

"We wanted to see if you would go to the hospital and be with her during the birth." Persephone suggested.

"Sure, I love guts and gore" I snorted.

"Just be there for her, pose as a midwife and help her." Persephone requested.

"Give me a few to round up Jackson and I will be on my way" I promised.

"Thank you sweet man" Persephone cooed.

Once I got off the phone I mind linked Jackson.

"Jackson" I called.

"What's up Commander" he asked.

I rolled my eyes at his creative terms for Alpha.

"Aubrey's in labor." I announced.

"That's great, soon she will be so happy." Jackson stated.

"Can you look after everything? I mean I know you can. But, will you please?" I asked.

"Sure thing Alpha." He promised.

Finally! Respect! I thought.

I descended to the human world and ran to the hospital. On the way, I conjured up some scrubs and an "authentic" ID badge for labor and delivery.

I snuck in the back door and acted nonchalant as I entered the Emergency Room to intercept our angel.

Aubrey smiled thru the pain as she caught a glimpse at her new midwife. I smirked.

Glad to see she still has her wits. I thought.

She's beautiful. Ultor cooed.

What the fuck? He sounds so mesmerized.

Shaking off my wolf, I hurried down the hallways to get Aubrey settled into the delivery room.

"Good evening Ms. Aubrey" I greeted her.

This is the first time I ever actually talked to the angel who held me captive for almost two decades.

"Hi" she grunted out.

"What's your name?" She asked after the contraction passed.

"Darius Knight" I exclaimed giving her a comforting smile.

"Will you be with me the whole time?" She pleaded.

"I'm right here sweetheart. Don't worry. I won't leave your side." I promised.

Aubrey started giggling.

Maybe they gave her the good stuff for pain.

"What's so funny Angel?" I inquired.

"Your last name!" She smiled.

"Oh" I said a little bewildered.

"I'm not trying to be offen-sive" she gritted out the last word as a contraction hit her hard.

"It's okay. Breathe. Squeeze my hand." I cooed as I rubbed small circles over her hand.

"This is intense" she sighed.

"I can only imagine." I concurred.

"Anyways, your last name is Knight and you're my Knight in shining armor." She stated.

Ah yes! Drugs!

Then I noticed her charts were only giving her fluids.

Well isn't she adorable! I thought.

"She surrrreee isssss!" Ultor swooned.

Damn he's talkative tonight!

"Keep going angel, you're doing great" I encouraged.

A very painful contraction must have landed cause she bit me hard on the hand that was enveloping hers.

I smiled thru the ache while she heaved her breaths thru the pain.

She was doing very well. She's amazing.

"Mr. Knight?" She called.

"Call me Darius honey." I corrected.

"I'm thirsty." She complained with a smile.

"Here, I can give you ice chips" I said while spoon feeding her the cool chips.

She sighed with content.

"You smell divine" she confessed.

"Well thank you" I chuckled.

"You're too kind" I complimented.

Hours went by and the nurses continuously checked her until she was ready to push.

I constantly fed her ice and dabbed the beads of sweat from her forehead.

She continuously thanked me in return.

Aubrey was so strong thru the whole process. Figuratively and Literally.

At one point she had a massive contraction and ripped the fucking side rail straight from the bed frame.

I'm not even gonna tell you I wasn't a little freaked out.

"Push" the doctor ordered.

Aubrey strangled my hand while she bore down and pushed with all her might.

A couple hours of pushing and she became exhausted.

The doctor let her know he was gonna perform an episiotomy and she eagerly complied.

Next thing we know the doctor announced the baby's head was crowning. He slowed down the process and encouraged Aubrey to hold off on pushing while he did his work.

Soon enough the doctor requested one last push. And Aubrey came off the bed a little as she struggled to release the baby from her womb.

Once the baby was born the nurses rushed out of the room with the infant in tow.

The doctor stitched Aubrey up and cleaned her.

Then I took her to the postpartum room to await her new arrival.

We sat there for a long time with me reassuring her of what a wonderful job she did.

She thanked me profusely.

Before I took my leave I bent down and kissed her on her forehead.

"Enjoy your sweet baby" I whispered.

"Thank you Darius. I truly don't know how to show my appreciation." Aubrey confessed.

"It's my job" I stated as I left from the hospital room to join Persephone in the Chamber of Judgement.

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

***Persephone's POV***

Darius soon joined us as we watched in the Great Fountain for the joy that would encompass Aubrey as she met her new daughter.

"A girl" I squealed.

"Apparently" Darius deadpanned.

"Why didn't you wait with Aubrey to see the baby?" I questioned.

"I didn't want to intrude. She deserved privacy while she bonded with her baby." Darius concluded.

"Well I see the doctors walking in." I announced.

"Let's intrude from the fountain." I exclaimed.

Serriphina, Darius, Alejandro, Mekhal and I watched patiently for the arrival.

Alejandro conjured up speakers so we could hear. (Nosey much? Yes!!)

As we listened we wish we had not.

"Where's my daughter?"

Silence

"Ms. Winters there were complications during the delivery." The doctor reported.

"Is she okay? Is she in NICU? When can I see her?" Aubrey asked.

"The nurse will bring her by for you to spend time with her in just a minute." He replied.

Oh thank god. Aubrey looked panicked.

"Aubrey, she didn't make it. The cord was tightly wound around her neck. I'm so sorry for your loss." The doctor cried.

I'm not sure whose cries broke us from our view.

Gasps filled the air and tears stained the marble floor.

Our angel was crushed by fate once again.

"I can't" Serriphina cried.

"This isn't okay" Mekhal whispered.

"How could this happen?" Alejandro bellowed.

"I don't understand" I whimpered.

"I was right there, the baby was healthy. The heartbeat monitor never faltered." Darius shook out with despair.

One by one we fell into heaps of sorrow upon the floor of the Chamber of Judgement.

Sobs broke the silence as an angel and Deities weeped for our broken angel.

<<<<<<<<<<<

Later we checked on Aubrey. Giving her time to say her goodbyes to her forever sleeping child.

She was fast asleep. The nurses were giving her more meds in her IV.

"The time is coming" Serriphina announced with certainty.

"What?" I snapped.

"I feel it. The time to meet our Angel is near." Serriphina confirmed.

"Darius?" Mekhal called.

"Yes Mekhal?" Darius replied.

"Go announce to Beta Jackson, Gamma Ethan and Delta Bryan to be ready by tomorrow afternoon. You will escort them here. Do you understand?" Mekhal ordered.

"Yes. Your Majesty!" Darius bowed his head before turning and leaving the Chambers.

"What's the plan" Serriphina asked.

"Persephone? What do you want to do with Aubrey?" Alejandro requested.

"Hear me out." I begged.

All the dieties waited for my instruction.

"Darius and Aubrey" I started.

They looked at me with a "duh" expression.

"I want to mate them." I whispered.

Mekhal spoke "And, what's so wrong with that?"

"To each other!" I exclaimed.

Stunned silence filled the air.

A squeal sounded thru the Chamber.

"Perfect!" Serriphina chirped while clapping her hands together.

"Excellent!" Alejandro interjected.

"Oh this is gonna be Great!!!" Mekhal encouraged.

"Do you think I'm crazy?" I asked to everyone and no one alike.

"I think your a damn genius!" Mekhal congratulated.

"Mekhal? Please bring me my Crown of Fidelity." I ordered.

Mekhal stood before me with my crown that was woven in intricate golden filaments and encrusted with ice diamonds, the blue roses neatly interwoven.

I bowed my head as his hand secured my crown to my head.

Lifting my hands above the Book of Souls, I chanted my prayer.

"Placuit Dario Kinught Winteri placiti moti inter duo fati modum torsit animarum, facti sunt aequales, ut se conjungant," (Darius Knight and Aubrey Winters, two souls twisted by fate, combine together to become mates)

The Orb of Intertwined Souls glowed brightly as the strands from Darius' and Aubrey's life tapestries unraveled. Dimming as the threads singed, successfully intercepting their current fates.

A white aura illuminated the sphere as two new strands formed. Once Darius and Aubrey meet and accept each other as mates, The Orb of Intertwined Souls will merge the strands, so only one will exist. No beginning and no end, just two souls forever conjoined as one.