Walking through the hospital lobby, my skin prickles at the sensation of the magic in the air. I'd asked Ailin to make sure this place was secure, like battle worthy secure and she had done it. The whole sensation was new though despite being able to sense magic was something that was natural to us, but this. This was different. It was as if I could feel it, maybe even reach out and touch it if I wanted to. Every part of me was feeling recharged, like drinking too much coffee and looking at my hands, they trembled.

"You'll learn to switch off," Logan tells me.

"Switch off?"

"From the magic. Your powers are still super new and uncontrolled, so now it can sense more power, and it is tapping into it. Like how Alfie can tap into others energy to make him stronger, your body is just doing it on its own."

"It is?" I frown. "How do I stop it?"

"Practice I guess. Just focus less on it, don't overthink it." He stops walking. "I forgot who I'm talking to."

"Jerk."

"Hey, you do have a tendency to overthink things. I'm just pointing out the facts." Logan shrugs before leaning over to kiss my forehead. "Come on, forget about all of that now. We're not here for a magic lesson."

He makes a good point and nodding we continue walking inside. A small group of people stand in a circle, and one of the men is holding a massive bunch of flowers. I regret not bringing some now and wonder where the gift shop is here so maybe I could just get a bunch from there. Instead, I'm suddenly trying not to drop the arrangement that appeared from nowhere into my hands. I freeze, and Logan's eyes widen in surprise.

"Shit!" I mumble, looking around cautiously. "Do you think anyone saw?"

He gives a subtle look around, and thankfully no one seems even to be looking our way. Nurses are busy filling in discharge forms, the group are too involved in their own business, and the few other people walking around all seem to have too much on their minds to notice whether or not these flowers had always been here.

"You're fine. Just don't start wishing for an elephant or something, okay?"

"I'll try not to." It comes out harsher than I intended and taking a deep breath, focus on finding the stupid lifts before I manage to conjure up an elephant now that he's put the idea in my head.

We follow the sign to the left and at the start of what looks like a very long corridor I have never been happier at seeing those sliding metal doors. A few people speaking in a language I don't know direct a wheelchair to stop near us and the old man seated there isn't looking to be in good shape. Glancing up at the lady beside him, she's a little older than me, and her eyes are trained on Logan who hits the up button for possibly the twentieth time in thirty seconds.

She tosses her long black hair over one shoulder, jutting one hip out slightly as her look is a little more suggestive than I like. I don't blame her really. Logan was attractive. Apollo Logan is well, god-like. He finally leaves the button and steps back to my side, causing her to now glare at me as if she even had a chance. The doors open and we let the small group go in first before another wheelchair appears and keeping the doors open, let the couple in. Now the tiny box is crowded, and I hesitate in following just as Logan pulls me back.

"Let's get the next one?" He suggests, squeezing my hand in his, seemingly oblivious to his admirer. "Sure you want to use the elevator? We can just go up or even use the stairs?"

I don't know why I'm suddenly feeling so anxious. Maybe it's because I am a terrible friend. I already suck at being a godparent. Raya and Keiran's little girl has been in this world for nearly three weeks, and I am only just coming to visit her. Maybe because I am just remembering how much I hate elevators.

"Bunny?" Logan asks, moving to stand in front of me as the doors shut.

"The lift is fine." I smile, acting like it's nothing and well, it should be.

He hits the button again, and we wait for a new one to arrive. Thankfully it's only us going up this time, and within seconds I'm regretting my decision. We suddenly stop at Level One, yet no one is there, and I hate how the elevator is now feeling too warm. It's larger than most, but that doesn't stop the claustrophobia sneaking in. My heart starts to beat that little bit faster as my mouth goes dry and I know a panic attack is brewing. I try to breathe in and keep calm, yet disinfectant and that weird, musty yet clean hospital smell make me feel nauseous. Glancing up at the security camera, I wonder how closely monitored it is. Could we just vanish and no one will notice?

"The sign said maternity, level seven. Pressing every button until then isn't helping!" The doors shut as we leave level two and like a child, I notice Logan has pressed nearly all the buttons on our way up.

Going up is helping. Typically, our hospitals are in basement levels deep underground where we can recover in peace and safety. I hate being underground, more than I hate being in an elevator and just as much as I hate hospitals in general. I don't know why our people thought going underground was a good idea because when attacked it makes it very hard to get out quickly. This was made a point of a couple of years ago when our enemies discovered one of those 'safe places', and I lost a few of my friends. Just thinking about being trapped like that sends a new surge of panic through me and closing my eyes, Logan's hands are instantly on my arms as he draws me close.

"Breathe Bunny." He soothes, his voice deep and reassuring.

I do as he says and in case you haven't realised it yet, I have a few issues that need more than some breathing techniques to work out. It's just a perk of what we are, whether Hunter, Tracker or Slayer. When you deal with the monsters that live in the dark and face death frequently, losing friends and family - if you're lucky enough even to have them in the first place; like some people lose spare change, is a hazard of the job. We don't get to quit either. Oh no, that would be too easy and trust me, I've tried. We're all cursed, it's in our DNA. Even if you leave this life behind or in some cases, like my mother, don't even know your dear old daddy is one of us and that vampires aren't just something to watch in a teenage drama series on TV - this life will still find you. Usually, it will kill you too, and that's not even me being dramatic.

"I'm fine," I tell him as we hit the seventh floor.

Fresh air and stronger magic hit me as we step out and I breathe it in. I half expected this floor to be chaos. You know, screaming women in labour, babies crying, doctors running around, but instead the nurse's station was filled with one friendly looking older lady who looked up at us and smiled. Classical music floated on the air, and the serenity of being in such a calm place was a new sensation.

"Hello there! You've just made visiting hours. We close the ward in fifteen minutes for morning rest time. Do you know which room you need?" She greeted warmly.

"Yes, thank you." Logan smiled at her. "We're seeing Baby Stanton. Room Twenty-Two?"

She clicks around on the computer for a few seconds. "That's right love. Just to the left and around the corner."

"Thanks," I tell her, starting off in that direction with Logan right behind me.

We find the room quickly and yet before going in, I feel something isn't right. The magic here is different, charged in a different way to the rest of the building. Looking at Logan, his brow wrinkles in concentration, but he still knocks. Once. Twice.

"Something isn't right," I whisper.

The door swings open and it isn't a hospital room we find ourselves staring into, but Raya and Keiran's home. Logan looks at the doorframe, touching it before relaxing and Keiran is suddenly there, pulling us inside in a big group hug.

"So glad you guys are here!" He grins, slapping Logan on the arm before crushing me in another hug and saying softly, "I know Raya has been wanting to see you."

"I'm sorry." I quickly say, guilt blooming in my stomach.

"Don't be! I think she's just sick of me constantly hovering over her." He laughs.

"Congratulations!" Logan tells him, offering up the pink gift bag he'd been carrying.

"Thank you!" Keiran exclaims, looking more like an excited puppy than the tired and exhausted new dad I expected.

Sure he had dark circles around his eyes, and he did have the tart aroma of vomit on his clothes, but his excitement was contagious, and my earlier fears vanished as we followed him through the living room and down towards their bedroom.

"Hope the portal didn't freak you guys out. We came home three days after she was born, but thought it best to keep up the pretence of being in the hospital for as long as we can. The house is guarded too, President Ailin came by, and something was done to hide us. You know how dangerous it can be for our babies." Keiran explained as he opened the bedroom door. "Raya, guess who's here?"

I followed Keiran while Logan lingered behind and I soon saw Raya, every inch a glowing new mother. It was so strange to see her this way, and Keiran. They were a tough pair, and this, relaxed, suburban parents vibe was something else. There were no knives, guns or weapons strapped to their waists. The only thing that was leather now wasn't anything you wear, just an overstuffed rocking chair in one corner.

Raya's dark hair was down in soft curls, rather than pulled tightly back or braided. There was no anger or fear on her face, just a blissfully content smile that only grew as she saw us come in. Her tattoos were covered in a soft floral kimono, and if I were only just meeting her for the first time, I would not believe what she was trained to do or how deadly the hands that now cradled the pink bundle so carefully could be.

"You came." She sounded relieved, and again, guilt bloomed in the pit of my stomach. Before I could say anything - make an excuse or apologise, she looked down to the infant in her arms. "My darling, you have a very special visitor."

"And they brought presents!" Keiran added.

I remembered the flowers in my hand and quickly handed them over to him too.

"I'll go get some water for these." He got up and nudged Logan as he went by, the two men disappearing.

"Raya, I'm sorry I wasn't here sooner." I started, but she shook her head.

"There's no need to say anything Elise. Come, sit." She shuffled over slightly and patted the space on the bed beside her.

I sat their awkwardly as she came closer. "You're ready to meet her now?"

"Yes." I was sure of it, and as she extended her arms, preparing to hand her daughter over to me, I froze. "If you want to keep holding her that's okay. Babies always cry and-"

I shut up as she bent my arm and guided the bundle to sit against me.

"We finally decided on a name a few days ago. Olivia after Keiran's Mum, and Elise, for without which, none of us may even still be here today." Raya told me softly, but I barely heard her.

Plump pink lips opened and closed before Olivia yawned raising one tiny fist up towards my chin. Without thinking, I reached out and her little fingers wrapped around one of mine. She sighed, blinking for the briefest of moments to reveal deep blue eyes before her whole body wriggled before tensing then relaxing. There were no tears, not from her anyway as she settled into sleep, not letting my finger go.

Looking at Raya, she seemed blurry, and as I blinked, a few tears ran down my cheeks. She was perfect. This tiny, little human - with her mass of dark curls like her mother and her father's nose and that determined way she held her chin.

"Oh, Raya," I whispered, enthralled by the sleeping baby.

"I know. I've literally spent days just laying here watching her sleep." She paused. "Will you still be her godmother? I know when I asked before, you weren't sure, but you know, if anything does happen to us. I can't have her being alone."

"I am going to bibbidy bobbidy boo the shit out of being her godmother. Cinderella will be wishing I had turned up instead of that old fairy." I told her.

Looking at her now, we both turned serious as we couldn't hide what she was really talking about. I would do all I could to ensure Olivia never had to know what growing up without her parents was like, something Raya knew all too well. If I couldn't stop that from happening, she would always be loved and cared for.

"She will never be alone Raya. Ever." I promised as she leaned over and hugged us both.

"Thank you." She whispered.

I stood up and went by the window, holding onto the little girl in my arms as if I would never let her go.

"I'm sorry I was too scared to come and see you sooner Olivia. But I'm here now, and you won't ever lose me." I promised her. Her features twitched, a smile appearing as she squeezed my finger and I hoped that was her way of telling me she understood.

"Oh wow, this is great!" Keiran exclaimed, startling me.

Turning back to the room the flowers were now in a vase on the bedside table, Raya sipped a cup of tea and Keiran went through the few bits of baby clothes and things the shop assistant told me babies needed. He held up a musical bear, pressing its foot, so it started to sing the alphabet.

Raya laughed, shaking her head. "I think you're going to get more use out of these toys than Olivia."

Logan came over to stand beside me, looking at Olivia in a mixture of curiosity and fondness. "Suits you."

"No, don't think so. I'm scared to move in case I break her," I admitted, looking back at her. Long lashes tickled her cheeks, her breaths deep and slow as she slept. "It's kind of amazing though, right?"

"Very." He agreed, the click of a photo being taken causing me to look back at him. "Your Mum is going to love this."

"What?" He turned the phone around, and for a second I didn't even recognise myself. What magic did babies possess to make us all so, soft and happy looking?

Raya got up and looked too, before showing Keiran.

"Oh Elise, you need one of your own!" Keiran teased, handing it back.

My cheeks started to burn. "No. Olivia is enough for me, thank you very much."

"Maybe not right now, but one day?" Raya prodded.

"One day." I shook my head. "Maybe."

Or never, but looking back at the baby maybe never was not as realistic as I had always thought. I was different now. Immortal. I could protect a child, my family, better than I ever could before. There was no big danger in this world now. It was over. The future was ours, and anything was possible. Right?

Logan took another photo, and reluctantly I handed Olivia over to Keiran, who then stood by Raya, and Logan took a few more pictures to send to Mum. It was time for us to go, but to leave this bubble of love and bliss was becoming harder and harder to do. Especially when Raya surprised Logan and passed Olivia to him like it was the most natural thing for her to do. If I had been shocked, Logan was overwhelmed entirely by holding the baby and then I finally understood what it felt like to be clucky as seeing him with Olivia brought on an even bigger wave of emotions. One look at Raya though told me that had been her plan all along.

"This life Elise, it's not easy. You've been through more than any of us, but just remember, you do still get to have a life. There is more to it than what we do." Raya hugged me as we headed to the front door. "So, so much more. Thank you for coming today."

"I am sorry it took me so long."

"I get it. It's fine. You're here now, and that's all I care about." We hugged again as Olivia started to cry. "Duty calls. Stay safe."

We said goodbye Keiran and left them to it. As soon as we left the hospital, I felt utterly exhausted, emotionally, mentally, all of it. Logan was unusually quiet as we got the car, and once we started to head back to our hotel.

"Dollar for your thoughts?" I offered, winding down the window to let in the warm afternoon air.

"It's been a very, very long time since I last held an infant." He finally said.

"Strange isn't it?"

"Do you think that one day, we will. I don't mean, now, but will we have, one day-" He mumbled, and I knew what he was saying.

Will we have our own baby one day?

"Maybe? Right now, I'm just trying to get to the weekend, never mind working out a five-year plan and where kids fit into it." I sigh, reaching out to put my hand on his where it rested on his leg. "Logan, we've just got back together and-"

"I know. It's fine, just forget about it."

The air changed between us then, and with a slight nod, he pulled his hand away, so both were on the steering wheel. After a few minutes, I turned on the radio to break the silence, and we stayed that way for the rest of the drive.