-10-

Claus was getting pretty good at the parenting thing. He had learnt how to juggle both his girls at the same time. It also helped that Egypt was so independent, once she was bathed and fed she was good until nap time. Sahara was also a sweetheart, she only cried when she was hungry, Claus was sure that this one would eat him out of house and home when she got older. 

What Claus was unsure of was how a new baby would fit into the mix of personalities and tantrums. 

Jaylee came into the nursery around midday, somebody had already settled Sahara so all she had to do was tend to Egypt which was harder then it sounds as Egypt's new obsession with being a 'big girl' made her difficult. 

"I don't wan' a badowl!" Egypt shouted and folded her arms.

"Egypt, Mommy is tired, please just drink the bottle and I'll put you in your crib.

"No! Don't wanna!"

Jaylee stared at her eldest, she never argued with Egypt, she usually just waited until the girl tired herself out with a tantrum, but she decided to take another approach. "You're not being a big girl right now Egypt. You're supposed to help Mommy while she's pregnant, but you're being difficult. Big girls aren't difficult."

Egypt pouted profusely. "Big girls not drink badowls."

"Let's make a deal. If you behave for Mommy while she's pregnant, you won't have to drink another bottle after the baby is born. Okay?"

"No!"

"Okay, okay. Well just drink this bottle and you won't have to have another."

"'kay."

Jaylee had gotten an ultrasound the day before, she knew that they were having a boy, but she wanted it to be a surprise for Claus. He adored their daughters but Claus had always wanted a son.

"Why can't you just tell me?" He whined as he listened to the baby's healthy heartbeat though Jaylee's swollen stomach. 

"Because I told you the first two times."

Some months later, Jaylee was rosy, nearly ready to pop Other than her feet swelling from time to time and the expected backache, Jaylee's pregnancy went smoothly. Erika had a small get together for her birthday and invited her little sister over, just to get Jaylee out of the house.

"Hello Denver!" Jaylee greeted her nephew when she got to her sister's house, the boy handed for his aunt who was more than happy to oblige him. 

"Are you sure you can get up from that crouch?" Erika joked, "My baby brother is really keeping your barefoot and pregnant isn't he?" 

"We can't keep our hands off each other, but this is the last one, I'm getting my tubes tied."

"I think Frederick and I will have one more...maybe. I'm fine with the two I already have."

Jaylee bounced Denver gently. "You and Freddy are so good at making babies, just look at those two you have, they're adorable."

"And so are my nieces. Maranda should be home soon, I'm going out back to make sure that there are still snacks there."

Jaylee managed to stoop once more to rest Denver back on the floor. Jaylee arched her back when she stood and was startled to find a woman standing behind her.

"Can I help you?"

"I do not understand..." The tall, slender woman murmured. "I sense that you are one of us, but you are with child."

"That I am." Jaylee smiled. "I'm a hybrid, my father is human."

"How is that possible? I have heard of human women becoming pregnant with occult spawn, but never of a vampire baring a child for a human. Her mother must have been human."

Jaylee shrugged, she knew nothing of her maternal grandparents, one thing she was sure of though was that her mother was centuries old. How far back did hybrids go? How long did they live?

"May I?" The woman asked.

"Sure." Jaylee allowed the vampire to rub her round stomach, the baby became excited by her touch. 

"Ah, he is a strong one, that is good, he will have to be strong for what the future has in store for him. For you all."

Jaylee froze, "What?"

"This thing that you are doing, this thing that you are trying to achieve. Heartache waits in your immediate future." The woman stood  and wrung her hands. "Beware the sins of the parents Jaylee Winter, for they befall the children. What will you call him?"

"What?"

"The baby? Your son? What is his name?"

"I'm calling him Cupid."

"Ah, the love-bringer. It was nice talking with you, I do hope I see you around."

"Are you okay?" Erika asked seeing the look on her sister's face when she returned.

"That woman, she gave me a bad omen and then immediately asked me about my baby, as if..."

"Oh don't mind her. She's our crazy next door neighbor, Maranda adores her stories but I always tell the girl to stay away from her, she's a bad influence."

Erika wagged her finger meaningfully at her daughter then rushed away to tend to one particularly drunk guest.

"Aunty, did you just pee yourself?" Maranda giggled.

Jaylee looked down just as a sharp pain shot through her abdomen. "Maranda go get your mother."

Claus had been busy when  Erika brought Jaylee in, but one of his colleagues kept him updated on his wife's condition. After a 36 hour sift, Claus was exhausted, Jamie advised him to go home and rest, after all, Jaylee wasn't going anywhere. Claus wound up spending the rest of his day off at home, Egypt was being moody and Sahara was being clingy. He did speak to Jaylee on the phone at around midday and she assured him that they had a healthy baby.

At eight, Jamie called to let him know that he could come pick up his wife and baby. Claus looked at the tiny  blue bundle in his wife's arms and immediately burst into tears. 

"His name is Cupid." She told him. 

"He's beautiful." Claus sobbed. "He's our son? We've finally got a son? I'm so happy."

Jaylee forced herself to smile. Her encounter with the seer made her nervous, but the woman had to be wrong. There was no way that anything bad could happen. She and Claus' family was now complete, they had two lovely daughters and a new, wonderful son. Or perhaps this was too good to be true.