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A/N: hey guys! Not sure if there will be a chapter tomorrow, I'm trying to find time to work on it. I'm still having home issues and also it's the end of my college semester so I'm busy finishing up my classes, as well.

Hopefully the schedule will be back to normal within the next week or so! Alright, lovelies, you may continue.

Fawn's POV

I was pacing the living room, Hazel asleep on the couch close by so I could watch her.

Alastor has been gone for over an hour and a half, now, and I'm getting worried.

Mostly because Lilian should have been here to get Hazel by now. I tried phoning her house, but all I got was a busy signal...like the line had been cut.

My fingers tapped nervously against my arms, both of them crossed flat over my middle in a makeshift hug.

Al should be back...he never takes this long, so where is he...I have a sick feeling in my stomach.

Suddenly, my steps halted when the sound of the door unlocking breached my panicked thoughts.

I barely gave it two seconds before I went into a spiral, "oh my god, Alastor, you had me worried sick, why were you taking so—"

The moment I turned to face him, I threw my hand over my mouth to stifle the shriek that tried to bypass my vocal chords.

He was covered, and I mean covered, head to toe in blood. His glasses even had blood dripping down the lenses.

Even more unsettling...he wasn't smiling...why isn't he smiling, he's always happy after a kill, why isn't he smiling.

"A-Alastor, wh..." I gagged slightly, my hand going back over my mouth as I turned away from him. My brows furrowed and I screwed my eyes shut to block out the image.

"Fawn, baby, come here..." he said softly, his voice sounding a bit somber.

I already had tears building in my eyes. There was so much blood on him I could smell it.

Although, it wasn't really that...no, it was this sinking pit at the center of my stomach telling me that he's about to deliver some terrible news.

Slowly, my eyes opened and I took my hand away from my mouth. My lips quivered slightly, his image a bit blurry through my misty eyes.

He held a blood soaked hand out to me, and I glanced from it up to his eyes. There was no malice behind them...if anything, he looked a little sad, if not completely emotionless.

I hesitated, but stepped towards him and reached a shaking hand out to intercept him. Gently, he took my hand into his, the blood immediately transferring to my skin, looking even brighter against my paler complexion.

Once I was in front of him, he brought his other hand up to my face. I turned my head, flinching away from the crimson liquid on his fingers.

He sighed, cupping my cheek carefully.

"W-where were you...?" I asked him quietly, and he drew in a deep breath, holding it for a few seconds before letting it out through another sigh.

"Lilian is dead..." he stated, brushing his thumb over my cheek.

I stared up at him, and his image just gradually got blurrier at the confirmation of something I had told myself was a completely irrational fear...

My hands clutched his jacket and I laid my forehead against his sternum, sobbing softly.

"Oh, god..." I whimpered, "what happened..."

He laid his hands against my back and brought me into his chest, resting his chin on my head.

"After I finished with my kill, I heard screaming...so I followed the sound, but when I arrived the killer retreated before I could catch him...when I checked on the woman...well..."

I didn't even want him to finish.

It was Lilian.

The poor girl got murdered...such a horrible way to go...and so young, too...

"I wasn't fast enough..." Al mumbled, tightening the hug he had me in, "I should've been faster..."

The iron scent was absolutely overwhelming me, but I pushed away my discomfort as I realized behind his emotionless eyes he's beating himself up about not being able to save her.

"There's nothing you could've done, Alastor..." I said, sniffling slightly, "it was probably over for her before you even had time to reach her..."

He was quiet after that, both of us just embracing one another, and then, very quietly...

"She died...in my arms..."

I stiffened, my eyes widening at that.

His voice was barely above a whisper, and my hands that were clutching his front gently moved around to his back.

"...was she in any pain...?" I nearly whimpered the words, scared of the answer.

"At first...but I held her in my lap and tried to make her feel as comfortable as possible..." he muttered, "her wounds were just too severe, I...I wish I could've..."

He didn't finished his sentence, his voice falling silent.

I sighed softly, "oh, Al...it wasn't your fault, don't be hard on yourself for something you couldn't control...it's just awful that it happened, and that's that..."

Again he tightened his hold on me, "it just tears me apart inside knowing this foul creature is killing these women and my title is being plastered on the crime."

His odd morals confuse me slightly, but I could hear in his voice this truly does bother him. Bringing my hands up, I carefully ran them through his hair.

The soft strands were matted with blood, and I gently worked out the clumps, twirling the pieces as I got them detangled.

This successfully caused him to release the tension in his body, the stiffness in his back relaxing.

"I know..." I said softly. 

Suddenly, a third voice entered the conversation.

"Mama?"

My eyes widened and I pulled away from Alastor's chest, looking over at where I'd laid Hazel down. I completely forgot she was there.

She's probably confused as to why she isn't home yet.

Oh, this poor child...

My heart hurt all over again, realizing she's now an orphan, having lost the only mother she's ever known...

Slowly, the baby pushed herself up, and I moved to go to her but froze when I looked down at myself.

I had blood splotches and smears all over me, and I cringed and then glared at Alastor.

He mouthed "sorry" and then slipped past me and up the stairs, probably to go wash off.

I quickly scampered to the kitchen, scrubbing my face, arms, and hands of any blood I could see. My clothing is still stained, but it's alright.

I just didn't want to accidentally get some on Hazel.

Hurrying back to the living room, I was just in time to see the child trying to lower herself off the couch.

Quickly, I intervened, snatching her up before she could fall and hurt herself.

My tears had already stopped, but I had to clear my throat slightly before I put on a warm smile. 

"Hi, baby! Did you have a good nap?"

She looked up at me sleepily, and then nodded slightly, "Mmhm...mama?" She asked me, looking around for the woman in question.

My smile faltered slightly, and I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

Then I bit my lip, and tried to think of what to say...what am I supposed to say?

"Um...no, Hazel, honey...mommy's, uh...you'll be staying here for tonight, how's that sound?"

I stumbled over my words, and Hazel's big eyes stared up at me for a long moment.

Then she smiled, "ok!"

I could've cried, I was so happy she didn't fuss or keep asking for her mother.

After letting out a relieved smile, I nodded, "that's a good girl...ok, let's get you a snack, and then back to sleep, alright?" I said, hoisting her up onto my hip.

Now just to figure out what the hell we're going to do now that we have absolutely no one to give her back to...

**

I walked out of the bathroom, wringing my hair out with a towel.

The first thing I needed to do was shower off this blood that Alastor kindly covered me with.

He was currently seated on the bed, watching Hazel as she slept. The look on his face was thoughtful, and my expression softened as I walked over.

"How's she doing?" I said softly, reaching up and running my fingers through his still slightly damp hair.

He sighed, "sleeping good...it's not like she'd understand even if we..." his words were slightly mumbled, and he didn't finish his sentence before he shook his head and put his hand over his face.

"I just..." he chuckled, but it was dry and there was no humor behind it, "fuck."

My eyes widened a bit, but it's not like I could be too surprised.

This is a "fuck" situation.

I kept my fingers in his hair, gently rubbing his head in a way that I hope was comforting.

He leaned into my touch, letting his hand fall away from his face. His eyes were closed, and eyebrows furrowed in thought.

My lips pursed together and I looked down at the sleeping baby. She had her thumb in her mouth, curled up under the comforter on Alastor's side.

I smiled, then, in a bit of dampened amusement.

"Looks like your side of the bed is popular among the ladies," I joked lightly, and he scoffed.

"Strange, is it not? You put her on the bed and she crawled right to that spot. I guess I smell good or something," he said, shrugging.

I hummed, sliding onto the bed next to him and running my fingers down his arm, "you do, actually," I said with a gentle smile.

He chuckled, "good to know, I suppose..."

Then, he turned his head to look at me and I leaned forward to brush our noses together. His eyes closed and he returned my gesture before laying his forehead against mine.

I gave him a soft kiss, "it'll be alright..." I whispered when we parted, and he hummed.

"I know...this whole situation just isn't ideal, and now we have a child that we have no one to return her to...I mean...I don't know much about Lilian's personal life, so who knows what her family looks like..."

A bit of worry gnawed at my chest, "do you think there's anywhere for her to go?" I asked sadly, and he sighed.

"We can only hope...I mean, it's not like we could keep her if there's not..."

My eyes cast down, and I picked at my fingers in my lap.

I thought about it for a second, and then raised my eyes back to his, "well, why couldn't we? It's not like we don't have enough—"

"No."

His tone was final, and my lips sealed immediately, my eyes falling again to my hands.

Moments later, his fingers were under my chin, lifting my head back up gently.

His eyes had softened, his thumb brushing over my cheek.

"Fawn, look me in the eyes...and tell me honestly you think my home is a safe space for a baby."

I shook my head, "you wouldn't hurt her..." I protested softly, and he sighed.

"No...you're right, I'd never hurt her. However, what happens if she got into that room I warned you about? Or found the cellar? What if the police came knocking on the door with a warrant for my arrest, how do you think that would affect her?"

My lip quivered slightly the more he explained what I already knew. His thumbs wiped away my tears, and he pulled me closer to him, "my darling, we can't keep her...you know this..." he murmured as he brought me into his chest, "please, don't cry..."

I clutched onto him, sniffling quietly as I tried to hold back my tears.

"I just feel so bad..." I croaked out, "I don't want her to go into an orphanage...they'll hurt her, and it'll be too crowded, and she'll never even have a chance..." I whimpered.

He was quiet for a moment before I felt him kiss the top of my head, "she'll be fine..." he whispered, "even if there is no family for her to go to...I will personally make sure that she will be treated just as well in a childcare facility...I promised Lilian as much before her last breath, and I'm nothing if not a man of my word."

My sniffling quieted and soon I was just laying against him. His fingers ran up and down my back, and I could feel the exhaustion setting in.

"In the morning, we'll take her to the police station...they will handle it from there," he continued, "now, get some rest..."

He slipped out from under me, setting me into the bed gently. I looked up at him through heavy eyelids, "what about you?"

Alastor is notorious for not sleeping at night. I've noticed on multiple nights he'll hold me without ever sleeping himself...he sleeps for a few hours at a time, and that seems to be enough for him.

He gave me a soft smile, and brushed his fingers through my hair, "I'll stay up and watch you two in case anything happens...you're my number one priority, and who knows, maybe the killer followed me since I got a glimpse of him...just get some sleep, and I will be waiting for you when you open your eyes," after that statement, he placed a kiss on my forehead.

I let sleep pull my eyes shut, not protesting anymore to him. He's hardheaded, and it would be a pointless battle.

Soon, I was drifting off...falling into a restless, anxiety fueled slumber.