Chapter 9

"Are you warm enough?" Killian asked as he adjusted the sleeves of his hoodie on Kiara.

"Yes," Kiara smiled as she leaned into his arms and placed her chin on his chest to look up at him. "Thank you."

"Of course," Killian kissed the top of her head, sending her heart flying out the window.

"I'm a bit nervous," Kiara confessed. "I kind of feel sick."

"There's nothing to be nervous about," Killian wrapped his arms around her. "I'll be there, your parents will be there. We're never leaving you."

Kiara let his words sink into her mind slowly. The corner of her lips curved up into a small smile as she gazed into his dark blue eyes.

"We're going to see my baby," she cooed. "I'm so excited to see her."

"Me too," Killian's eyes grew tender. "And now that I'm thinking about it, I'm kind of nervous too."

"Don't be," Kiara reached up and brushed her lips over his. "You'll be wonderful with her."

"So will you."

"Of course," Kiara laughed. "She's my whole world."

"And both of you are my whole world," Killian meant every word of what he said.

Finally, after years of seeing Kiara through a looking glass, always beside him, but somehow always out of reach, she was finally in his life. He got to hold her and tell her how much he loved her. He was going to share his life with her. She was always the center of his universe and now she was adding the moon to his dark skies.

"But you didn't want this," Kiara's soft voice made all the images of little pink dresses and shoes halt in Killian's mind.

"What?" Killian Laughed.

"You didn't want this with me," Kiara said, looking at him through her lashes. "A life with me....a baby..."

Kiara's words pinched Killian's heart. He felt his stomach twist as she pinned him with her watchful brown eyes. There was a strange pressure on his shoulder, a guilt he didn't really understand.

"Kia..." Killian cupped her face. "I'm so sorry for everything. You know how sorry I am for ever thinking I could live without you."

"So you don't deny it," Kiara reached up and placed her hands over Killian's. "You really didn't want this?"

"I....what....," Killian's head felt funny as he tried to make sense of what Kiara was asking him. "I want you. I want our baby. I want all of it. Before, I didn't really know myself. I didn't know who I wanted to be. But you know that....you know how much I love you."

"Hmm," Kiara took in a deep breath. "I know you love me."

"I do," Killian took a step closer. "With all my heart. Only you."

"And not the baby?"

"And the baby," Killian laughed, his chest growing tighter by the second. "I love both of my girls."

"She's so beautiful," Kiara tilted her head as Killian held her face. "She has my eyes."

"My nose," Killian scrunched up his nose.

"My smile."

"My hair."

"We both have black hair," Kiara frowned. "But her hair is curly. So obviously she takes after me more."

"I wouldn't want it any other way," Killian laughed, kissing her tenderly. "Shall we go?"

"Yes," Kiara sighed.

She once again felt her heart start to flutter as Killian took her hand and led her out of the room. She felt calm, excited, like everything was under control.

Beside her, Killian ran a hand through his hair and watched Kiara from the corner of his eyes. The tightness in his chest still hadn't alleviated. He felt sticky guilt coat his thoughts as he began to think back to how much he had pushed her away just a few months ago. She didn't deserve that. Kiara was the only one that ever stuck by him no matter what happened. He wasn't going to ever let her feel as if she wasn't the sun in his world.

In the quiet halls of the dome, the pair arrived in front of the double doors of the infirmary. Kiara placed a hand over her belly, making Killian's heart melt. He squeezed her hand and pressed a kiss to the side of her head before pushing the door open and leading her inside.

Posey and Tobias waited with the doctor in one of the small rooms that had a panoramic view of the mountains that surrounded Rhea. The summer sun was high in the sky, drowning the room in warmth. Posey walked up to her daughter and kissed her forehead before taking the paper gown from the nurse and ushering Kiara into the bathroom.

"Are you okay?" Tobias placed a hand on Killian's shoulder and shook the boy. "You look green."

"I'm fine," Killian lied.

"Excited?"

"Yeah."

"Nervous?"

"Slightly."

"Scared?" Tobias smiled.

"Extremely," Killian let out a laugh.

"Everything will be fine," Tobias comforted the boy. "Persephone and I are here."

"Were you nervous when Posey was pregnant with Kiara?"

"As the god of the underworld, I am not allowed to be nervous or scared," Tobias laughed. "It's not in my nature."

As Killian slowly nodded his head and stared at the bathroom door, Tobias realized that's not what the boy needed to hear. He felt an odd sense of responsibility in him as he watched the side of Killian's face. Tobias knew he would always protect Killian the same way he would always protect Kiara.

"Killian," the god said after a short pause.

Killian shifted his gaze from the bathroom door and looked at Tobias.

"When Persephone was pregnant with Kiara, I didn't go to work for months," Tobias confessed.

"Why not?" Killian asked.

"I....I couldn't bear to be away from them even for a few hours," Tobias shook his head. "We had been trying for years to have a baby and when it finally happened, I didn't want to miss a single second."

Killian felt every word the god spoke. He couldn't explain the need he had to stay beside Kiara. But looking at Tobias he knew he didn't have to. The man got it.

"Plus Persephone was always alone in the underworld," Tobias continued. "I hated the idea of her being alone at a time like that."

"Is that why you bought the house in Italy for her?"

"Yes," Tobias nodded. "She liked the sun and the beach. Kind of like you."

"Did that help?" Killian asked. "When you guys stayed at the house?"

"Yes," Tobias nodded. "It helped tremendously. We had neighbors, a farmers market, servants Persephone could talk to. Gemma and Exton visited a lot. It all helped. Persephone was like a flower that was wilting in the underworld but Italy was her spring."

Killian slowly nodded. His mind wandered to Kiara as he began to think of all the things she liked. The girl couldn't be more different from her mother. Kiara hated the sun. if Killian ever bought her a house in sunny Italy, she would away like a flower left out to dry.

No, Killian thought. No sun for his flower. Kiara needed rain.

Just then, the door to the bathroom opened and Kiara walked out. Her hair was tied up into a bun with bits and pieces falling out to frame her face. She had her socks on and the pale blue hospital gown grazed the skin right below her knees. Her eyes lifted to Killian as he walked up to her and helped her onto the examination bed.

"I'm starving," she said, laying back as the nurse lifted her paper gown and placed a blanket over her legs.

Killian took her hand and intertwined their fingers. He bought them up to his lips and kissed each of her fingers before pushing the hair out of her face and kissing her forehead.

"We can go out of lunch after this," he whispered.

Posey watched the pair before reaching out and taking Tobias' hand. She looked over her shoulder and smiled up at the god with her eyes shimmering.

"I'm going to be a grandma," she whispered to him.

"A very beautiful grandma," Tobias whispered into her ear and pulled her closer.

The room filled with excitement and grand plans for the future. Kiara beamed with joy as the doctor sat down on the stool beside the bed and got to work. She held Killian's hand tightly as he stood on the other side of the bed with his eye glued to the screen. Kiara could feel how fast his heart was beating. For a few seconds she had trouble separating her heartbeat from his. They were both holding their breath as the doctor began to apply the cool jelly on Kiara's teeny tiny bump.

The seconds dragged on like slow torture. Kiara's throat was beginning to dry up as she watched the doctor's face. She wondered why the woman was so quiet. Unknowingly, she had pulled Killian a bit closer as three seconds turned into ten and then twenty.

"Kia," Posey called out to her daughter. "Relax, baby. Everything is okay."

"She's just like you," Tobias shook his head with a smile. "This was exactly you when we had our first ult-"

Everyone froze.

Kiara's eyes snapped up to the screen as the most beautiful sound filled the room. She knew that beat. Every inch of her, every part of her soul, every ounce of her memory knew that sweet beat that played out in the room.

"That's a nice strong heartbeat," the doctor smiled.

Someone in the room gasped with excitement. Someone kissed Kiara's forehead, someone told her how much they loved her....but Kiara could focus on nothing but the screen. Her eyes had begun to water as she gazed at the small black and white image. The baby's heartbeat played out in the room, pulling at the new mother's tears.

"See right here," the doctor circled a blurry mass on the screen.

Killian leaned forward as Kiara slowly raised her head.

"That's your baby," the doctor smiled. "Congratulations."

Killian couldn't stop smiling. He stared at the screen with wonder and amazement as his heart did hundreds of flips. He looked at Kiara and found the same expression on her face. Their eyes locked and he prayed to every god that she saw how happy and in love he was.

"That's out baby," he whispered to her, taking her face into his hands and kissing her lips.

Kiara was speechless. She didn't know what to say as she felt Killian's warmth and happiness surround her. Her eyes moved to her parents and they too wore the same expression as Killian.

Everyone's eyes were filled with love. They had unanimously decided to soak in the moment and let the bliss and joy play with their hearts. Posey rushed up to Kiara's side and kissed her cheeks repeatedly before Tobias squeezed his way between the two and congratulated his daughter.

"How are you doing?" Tobias laughed, looking at Killian. "Is your head still spinning?"

"Holy shit," Killian ran a hand through his hair and let out a shaky breath. He tried to control the smile on his lips but it was useless. "That's my daughter."

"Daughter?" Posey's head snapped up. "It's a girl?"

"It's still a bit too early to tell," the doctor said but Kiara cut her off.

"We know," she assured the lady. "It's a girl. I'm having a girl."

"Oh my god!" Posey squealed loudly, throwing her arms around Kiara. "A baby girl! I have so many of your baby dresses and bows and socks!"

And then there was no stopping Posey. She spoke a hundred words a minute as she told Kiara about all the baby items she had saved. Tobias had to pull her away to let Kiara off the bed and change back into her clothes. Killian couldn't stomp grinning as he listened to Posey and about all the plans they made for their new family member.

"Mom is going to spoil Lila," Kiara said as she felt Killian slip into the bathroom behind her.

"I don't mind it," Killian said, locking the door and leaning back against it. "She raised you and you are wonderful. I want Lila to be just like you."

"She will be," Kiara laughed. "She's my baby."

As Killian watched, Kiara placed both hands over her small bump and looked down. The smile on her face was breathtaking, making Killian wish he had a camera to capture the moment. He pulled a magnetic pull towards her as his body moved away from the door and towards her. Kiara looked up as Killian wrapped his arms around her and captured her lips.

"I love you," he whispered, in between kisses. "So much."

"I love you too," Kiara looped her arms around his neck.

Their lips danced with each other as Killian gently held her against himself. One of his hands slowly moved away from her face and moved towards her belly. He was just inches away from her tiny bump when Kiara suddenly pulled away.

"What's wrong?" Killian opened his eyes, wondering if he had pulled her too tightly.

Kiara shook her head and adjusted her hair. She turned away and pointed to one of the first ribbon on the back of her paper gown.

"I'm getting cold in this," she said. "Untie me, please."

Killian stepped forward and placed a kiss on the base of her neck. He silently undid the ribbons and watched Kiara take the gown off. When he looked up, his eyes landed on her reflection on the vanity mirror.

Kiara did not notice as Killian's eyes lingered on her belly. She did not see the way he admired her with love and innocent affection in his eyes. Killian could still hear Lila's heartbeat in his head. And every time he heard the sound, all the colors in the world grew brighter.

"Kia," he said as Kiara dressed.

"Yes?" Kiara looked over her shoulder as she pulled on her jeans.

"Do you remember when we used to play pretend with Annabelle and Birdie?"

"Yes," Kiara laughed. "Because you were too stubborn to go play with Hayden or Elian."

"No," Killian shook his head. "I just didn't want to be away from you."

"Is that so?" Kiara shook with laughter.

She pulled on Killian's hoodie and pulled her hair out from underneath. Killian smiled with approval as she walked over to him and took a seat on his lap. He knew as soon as she returned home, she would go back to her prada dresses and high heels. He had to enjoy her in his hoodies as long as he could.

"Why are you thinking of that?" Kiara asked.

"Because I remember how we used to use Annabelle's doll as our baby," Killian tucked a strand of her dark hair behind Kiara's ears.

"The one with the creepy eyes that opened and closed when we moved her?" Kiara shivered.

"Yes," Killian laughed. "You used to swaddle it and walk around the garden pushing the carriage."

"I didn't want to look at the face," Kiara laughed.

"I don't blame you," Killian reached up and kissed her cheeks. "I want to get Lila a white carriage. Just like the one we had for the doll."

"With the baby blue lace?" Kiara's eyes lit up.

"Yes," Killian smiled. "You can walk around the garden with her in the carriage."

"Not in the carriage," Kiara shook her head. "My baby will stay only in my arms."

"What about when she gets tired and has to sleep?"

"She can sleep in my arms," Kiara shrugged.

Killian was about to say she couldn't possibly carry the baby around all the time when they were interrupted by a small knock on the door.

"Are you guys okay in there?" Posey asked.

"Yeah," Killian called back. "We're good."

Kiara rose from his lap as Killian opened the door and stepped aside for her. She walked out and slipped on her shoes feeling her mother's eyes on her.

"What?" Kiara asked.

"Just be careful," Posey said. "Don't bend over."

"I got it," Killian said as he lowered himself and tied the laces of Kiara's shoes.

"You passed round one," Posey teased.

"Where's dad?" Kiara looked around the room, not seeing the tall man.

"He's outside. Talking to Clare," Posey said.

"About what?"

Posey's smile wavered just a tiny amount. She thought Kiara wouldn't notice but when the girl's eyes narrowed, Posey knew Kiara had seen it.

"Our lunch plans need to wait for a little while," she held her smile.

"Why?" Kiara raised a brow.

"Clare wanted to speak to you," Posey said. "She has some questions."

__________________________

Hayden sat at his desk staring at the portfolio Ares had passed along to him in the morning. His mind was a scattered mess as he read the details of how the hit needed to be carried out. Something about the office didn't feel right to him. It was too still, like everything was holding its breath.

Upon his request, Clare had soundproofed Hayden's office. But despite the lack of outside distractions, Hayden could not focus. Something was ticking and the small sound was driving him insane.

His eyes scanned the room as he tried to find the source of the sound. All the computers were off, the coffee machine was cold, the printer was unplugged...What the hell was that noise?

Irritated, Hayden rose from his seat and clicked his tongue. He walked around his desk to see if he could get a better sense of where the sound was coming from. Once again, his eyes scanned the room, his ear sharp and alert.

Tick tick tick tick.

"Of course!" Hayden's eyes darkened.

He walked over to Nora's desk and picked up the small wrist watch she had left behind on top of her calendar. The delicate hand spun around and around as all the wheels inside turned and ticked like a beating heart. Hayden shook his head and closed his fingers around the watch.

He was about to put it inside her drawers when the indentations on the back of the watch rubbed over his palm. Curiously, Hayden turned the watch over and angled it to get a better view of the writing.

"I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times, in life after life, in age after age, forever... " ~ Rabindranath Tagore

Hayden read the words over. His fingers traced the intricate calligraphy as he held the watch up to the light. He found the simple words to be beautiful. They reminded him of his parents. Loving each other, finding each other through time. Hayden quickly pulled out his phone and took a picture of the words.

He was about to open Nora's desk drawer and put the watch inside when suddenly the idea seemed very insensitive to him. He closed his hand around the watch once more and turned on his heels. Walking out of the room, Hayden tried to reason with himself that what he was about to do was not necessary.

But it was the right thing to do, Hayden thought. The watch was obviously something special for it to have engravings on it. Nora would want it with her. Maybe she was worried she lost it. Who was it from?

Questions and thoughts jumbled in Hayden's mind as he walked towards Nora's room in the infirmary. His hand held the watch in his pocket as he slowly approached the door and paused when he noticed it was slightly ajar.

"And then there was a mermaid!" Nora's voice squealed. "She was so beautiful. Long hair and these eyes! Oh my god, Aunt Lidia, you had to see the eyes. So pretty."

"You almost drowned and got saved by a mermaid," a woman laughed from inside the room. "Wow, this job has more excitement then my T.V shows."

"Too bad I'm not staying," Nora snorted.

Hayden stood outside the door and listened to her words, his finger brushing back and forth over the watch in his pocket. He knew he shouldn't be eavesdropping, but he couldn't walk in mid conversation. That would be rude.

"But you are staying," the woman said. "You? Nora Kennedy? Disappointing Professor Clare?"

Hayden heard the woman gasp.

"I already told Hayden I quit," Nora said. Hayden automatically knew she rolled her eyes.

"You're going to let that jinn scare you?"

"No!" Nora protested. "He doesn't scare me. He annoys me! He's so arragone. And a dick. I wish he was like his dad. His dad is so nice. He calls me peanut."

"Maybe he likes you?"

"Ew, what?" Nora laughed. "Hayden's dad?"

"No!" the woman shouted. "Hayden."

"What?"

Hayden leaned in a little closer.

"Maybe Hayden likes you," the woman said. "You know how boys in school tease the girls they like."

"You think Hayden likes me?" Nora asked, her voice calm and serious.

"Yes..."

"Aunt Lidia, are you day drinking again?" Nora asked. "Or have you started taking drugs from the junki under the bridge? Hayden does not like me. That makes absolutely no sense. It's a ridiculous notion."

I agree, Hayden thought, standing outside.

"How do you know?" Aunt Lidia asked. "How do you know he doesn't like you?"

"Because I'm not his type."

"What does that mean?" Lidia asked.

Yeah, what does that mean? Hayden suddenly wanted to walk into the room and ask.

He heard Nora sigh, "Boys like Hayden do not like girls like me. And nothing against Hayden. He's free to have his preference. But come on, it's the way the universe works. It would make no sense. We have different interests. We come from two every different social circles. It's like asking an apple tree to grow an orange."

"So you don't find him attractive?"

"Sure," Nora said.

Hayden held the watch in his pocket so tight, it was beginning to warm.

"But would I date him? No." Nora added.

"Why not?"

"Because it would never work!" Nora groaned. "Why are we talking about this? This is ridiculous. It's the same nonsense as you planning your wedding to Chris Evans. Never happening."

"Leave Mr. Evans out of this," Lidia sassed. "I was just trying to help you."

"I don't need help," Nora said. "I'm fine. I just need a new job."

"I agree," Lidia said. "This job is too dangerous. I thought you were going to be behind a desk."

Hayden didn't stick around to hear Nora's answer. He backed away from the door and headed back to his office. His footsteps were too loud and it was starting to make him angry. He wanted to take off his shoes and just stop moving. Maybe then the world would freeze and shut up.

When Hayden arrived at his office nothing seemed to be working. He paced back and forth, taking deep breaths but the ticking of the watch was stuck in his head. He wanted to toss the thing away, but he liked how the silver warmed in his hand. After several minutes, when he couldn't get his mind to quiet down, Hayden opened a portal and disappeared out of the office.

But leaving campus was a huge mistake.

As soon as Hayden arrived home, Birdie's loud awful music greeted him in the living room. Hayden covered his ears and took the stairs two at a time. He marched up to the girl's room and used his feet to push the door open.

"What the fuck?" Hayden asked, finding Birdie laying in bed with her head hanging over the edge and her eyes scanning a book.

"Hai hai," Birdie lowered her book. "What are you doing home?"

"Turn off the music."

"No."

Hayden flickered his hand and the music turned off. Birdie protested as she sat up with a sour look on her face.

"What the hell?" she asked.

"Where's mom and baba?" Hayden asked.

"When are they ever home at this hour?"

"What are you doing here alone?"

"Recovering," Birdie jumped off the bed. "I have a concussion, remember?"

"Is that why you were hanging upside down like a bat?"

"Since when are you a doctor?" Birdie snapped. "And why are you home?"

"I couldn't work on campus," Hayden said, walking in and taking a seat at the edge of Birdie's bed.

"Why?"

"Too many people."

"Are you..." Birdie looked over her shoulder at her brother. "Are you okay? Should I call mom and baba?"

"No," Hayden shook his head. "I'm fine. It's not that."

"You look irritated," Birdie observed.

"I'm fine."

"Something's on your mind."

"Not really."

"You can tell me," Birdie slowly lowered herself to the floor and sat by the glass wall in the room that looked out into the woods. She stood out against the dark green background of the forest with her silver hair and bright eyes. Hayden watched as she waited patiently for him to speak.

"Hayden?" Birdie's voice softened. "What's on your mind? You always tell me what's on your mind."

Hayden let out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. He didn't even understand why he was feeling so jittery.

"Do I have a type?" he finally asked.

"What?"

"Do I have a type?" Hayden asked. "Like girls I dated."

Birdie pondered, "Horrible bitches? Is that a type?"

"What?"

"Sorry," Birdie laughed. "I never liked any of the girls you dated."

"I don't care," Hayden shook his head. "I just....have they all been the same? Like similar?"

"I don't know," Birdie shrugged. "They were all super tall. And kind of mean....a bit scary at times."

"Why scary?"

"They were all queen B's," Birdie said. "Yeah....I think that's the right word. They were all kind of like Kiara."

"What do you mean?"

"Popular, confident, attractive."

"That's my type?"

"I don't know man!" Birdie said. "It's an observation."

Hayden slowly nodded.

"Why are you asking me this?" Birdie wanted to know.

"No reason." Hayden shrugged.

"Hai Hai," Birdie raised a brow. "You can't lie to me."

"I'm not lying," Hayden laughed. "Just because I don't tell you the whole truth doesn't mean I'm lying."

"You suck." 

What do you think is bothering Hayden?