"Well hello there." The dark-haired young woman looked behind her to see who the odd demon man was talking to. But there was no one else in the room but her.

"I said hello." He repeated with a frown. She opened her mouth but no sound came out as he watched her gesture frantically. He glanced away from her as Gabriel walked in cradling his new daughter in his arms. When he looked back at where the girl had been she was gone. 

"Who were you talking to?" Lucius shrugged. 

"I'm not sure. Maybe it was those delectable drugs your good doctor gave me. Very capable and interesting woman." Gabriel froze as his daughter sneezed then settled again.

"You look terrified." The vampire gave a half-laugh.

"You have no idea. She's just so..." the vampire trailed off.

"Perfect." Offered the demon. Gabriel nodded.

"Yeah. Just like her mother." Lucius winced as he shifted in the bed to get a better look at the infant. She had tiny golden horns and even tinier brass fingernails. 

"Looks like your girl is no longer the last of her kind." The new father adjusted the infant's white gown and stroked her sleeping face with his finger. 

"No, she's not." He beamed. 

"So where is Mummy and why are you down here with me?" 

"You tried to save them. You must have known you couldn't beat Zeus." Lucius shrugged. 

"I'm fairly sure you would have done the same if the boot was on the other foot." Gabriel nodded, eyeing the man questioningly. "You're a lucky man Gabriel. I have fame, fortune and power. If I click my fingers ten women will fall to their knees and offer to pleasure me. Hell, they'd bear me all the children I could ever want. But I'd give it all up and then some to have what you have." Both men went quiet for a moment and watched the infant sleep. 

"Who was she?" 

"Ah, Gabriel. If I haven't told your brother and possibly my only true friend. I'm not likely to tell you, am I?" Smiled the demon. "Let's just say she was the kindest, gentlest and most beautiful creature alive. There will never be another for me." The vampire nodded and turned as Winston entered the room carrying a suit bag and shoe box. 

"Did you hear Zeus' comment about Kaia's blood?" 

"Yes." 

"Any idea what he meant?" 

"No, sorry old chap, I'm as in the dark as you. But I will see what I can find out." Gabriel nodded. 

"Thank you, Lucius, I will leave you to get sorted." Said the Vampire, as he reached the door he turned back to the demon. "I mean it, Thank you." Lucius nodded and watched the Vampire leave. Then groaning sat back against the headboard. 

"Winston. I hate to ask..." 

"Of course, I will help you dress, Sir." Lucius laughed as the dwarf helped him to his feet. 

"Are you sure your mother wasn't some kind of empath Winston? You always know everything." The dwarf helped the demon to seat himself in a chair across the room. 

"Yes, Sir. She was human. And it is my job to anticipate everyone's needs, Sir." The demon watched as Winston pulled a black sock over his clawed toes and up his foot. 

"Is there anything you don't know Winston?" The dwarf looked up at the demon and studied him for a moment before starting to put on his other sock. 

"I don't know how to express the full extent of my gratitude to you for trying to save my family yesterday. But I do know she loved you as much as you still love her." The demon froze and had a very rare moment of not being the host and entertainer, the man with the answers.

"Loved Winston? Past tense?" The dwarf slipped the demon's feet into his trouser legs and helping him stand, assisted in helping him get them up and buttoned. 

"I don't have that answer, Master Lucius." 

"Guess I found the one thing you don't know then." 

***

Gabriel found Marie sitting in her small office trying to redress her own hands. The burns were healing already but she must have been in pain, especially with the surgery she had performed on Lucius to remove the huge lump and all the splinters of wood from his body. 

"Duncan not here to help you?" She looked up and sighed. 

"If he knew how bad they are he would be going out for blood and he definitely wouldn't have let me operate on Lucius yesterday." Looking about the office Gabriel placed the throw from Marie's sofa on the floor and placed his precious baby daughter on it. 

"Let me help." Marie smiled at him gratefully. 

"Doctor, heal thyself isn't always that simple as it sounds. But I am grateful to be healing this fast. As a human, it would have taken months not days." Gabriel took the bandage from her and started to unwind it to redo it neatly. 

"I was thinking before what happened yesterday. You could do with help here. I know you're quiet most of the time but Duncan said you are thinking of advertising your here and when we have a crisis like yesterday you are pretty much on your own." The baby whimpered on the floor as she fidgeted in her sleep. 

"Who did you have in mind?" Asked Marie as she watched the tiny infant. 

"Cas. He's not much of a fighter, just ask him, he'll tell you he's more of a lover." The vampire pulled a face as he spoke. "It might give him something to do with his time other than spend it with the likes of Dita." 

"She is an interesting character." Nodded the wolf. 

"You know she tried to talk Kaia into trading her soul?" 

"And she still lives?" He sighed. 

"I don't fancy Lucifer's wrath if I killed her." Marie looked over her hand. 

"You've done a good job." She observed as he started on the blistered skin of her other hand. 

"Not the first time I've dressed a wound." Replied the vampire. 

"If Cas is willing I'd be happy to train him as a medic." Once Gabriel had finished dressing her hands he picked his little girl back up and Marie came round her desk to coo at her. 

"Let's take her out to some better light and have a little look at the petite babe." 

"She's perfect Gabriel. Small as she's a little premature but perfect from her tiny gold horns to her shiny brass toenails." 

"She's a hind?" He asked in a low voice. 

"Oui." Replied the doctor as she buttoned up the baby's dress. 

"Not a hybrid." 

"Well, I have never seen a baby vampire. But she appears to be a hind to me from what I know." 

"Infant vampires have tiny fangs." 

"Have you seen fangs in the petite mouth?" 

"No." 

"Then I would say she is not a hybrid." Gabriel sighed. 

"You did not want a vampire child?" 

"Kaia was the last of her kind. She's felt very alone." He took his daughter from Marie and held her on his shoulder, rubbing her tiny back. "Now she's not alone." The french wolf smiled at him. 

"You are a good man Gabriel Angelus." He gave her the smallest of nods and headed back to the house. 

***

Marie just reached the room she'd placed Lucius in as he was leaving. 

"Mon Dieu. I only just sewed your guts back into your body. Where on earth do you think you are going?" She folded her arms and glared up at the finely dressed demon who held onto Winston for support. 

"I really must be leaving my good woman. Your amazing healing touch has made all my ills pass." She poked his chest gently with one finger and watched him grimace. 

"Bed. Now!" She said in a stern voice.

"Madam I really must be getting back..." Marie stepped closer to the demon. 

"I can see the blood on your shirt where you are pulling out my stitching. You can either return to that bed and stay put until I tell you otherwise. Or I will call my mate to put you back into your bed." She shot a glance at Winston. "I cannot believe you would bring him clothes, Winston." 

"The gentleman requested them." 

"I do not care if he requests the moon. He goes back to bed and stays there until he is on the mend." 

"My dear lady. I am the son of Lucifer. I cannot die and will heal in a few days." 

"Good. You can heal in that bed for a few days where I can make sure you don't get infected or make it worse. Now back to bed." 

"My good doctor. I really cannot stay in this house." 

"Why?" She eyed him then Winston." 

"I cannot say." 

"Well, then I cannot let you leave. Back to bed now." With a sigh, Lucius nodded. 

"You win dear lady. Winston if you could assist me again." Marie watched until the dwarf had the demon sat back on the bed. 

"My good dwarf. When time permits I would appreciate it if you could fetch some of my own sleepwear. These pyjamas could ruin a demon's reputation as a fashion icon." 

"Indeed, Sir." Replied Winston as he helped him lay back in the bed. The dwarf left, leaving Marie to examine the demon and ensure he hadn't undone all her work. 

When Marie left Lucius sighed and closed his eyes, he didn't want to spend this much time here but the drugs Marie had given him before leaving did feel good. 

"Thanks for your help, Mother." He said aloud to no one. He knew she had come but didn't bother to open his eyes. 

"Are you in much pain?" Her voice was soft and sweet. He didn't want to find it comforting, he should hate her as much as he did his father but he couldn't help but want her to love him. 

"Do you care?" 

"Of course I do." 

"You didn't help me yesterday." 

"I came. I just couldn't let anyone see me." 

"Of course not. I'm not one of your legitimate children, am I Mother? Can't be seen with the demon spawn can you?" He heard her sigh then felt the familiar prickle of his skin as she used her magic to go back to her perfect home with her perfect children and her perfect lover and complacent husband, leaving him alone. Always alone. Opening his eyes he saw the odd girl back in the corner watching him, her eyes wide. 

"Are you real or is it the meds?" He asked as she soundless shouted at him. But his eyelids grew heavy and he felt sleep overtake him.