by Kim Iverson
“You ever notice you try never to talk about the child growing within me? And when you do, you call it some semblance of a thing? What, is he poisonous to mention?” She chuckled and shook her head, preparing the chicken for roasting.
“Hate kids, so that would be a yes.”
“Selfish. That’s all you are, Mister Finnegan. A selfish rude, crass, playboy.”
“Tell me how much you hate me, darling.” He lounged back, a little too comfortable.
Lana narrowed her eyes until he laughed. If he didn’t knock off the names, they would never find his body. “I hate you.”
“Don’t I know it.” He winked. “You make it fun to pester you.” Lana rolled her eyes. “Can’t you use your little magic and make instant dinner?”
“What do I look like? Samantha? No, I can’t make food appear out of thin air. Lords. Oh!” She snapped her fingers, then pointed at him. “You know where you can get instant food?” She jerked her thumb toward the atrium. “The fast food joint back in the city. Let the door kick you on your butt on the way out.”
Finn laughed behind her. He sounded at ease. A good sound in her kitchen. Lana placed the chicken in the oven and smiled. She avoided looking at him so he wouldn’t see the smile. She didn’t plan to encourage him.
Her smile died a second later. A cramp struck her in the stomach. She took a deep breath in, then slowly let it back out. Her fingers dug into the edge of the counter.
“Ya good?” Finn asked from behind her. He sounded like he was getting up.
Lana forced a smile. “Yes.” She started the rest of the dinner, but when she checked the chicken, another cramp hit. She gasped and hunched over. Finn rushed to her side and wrapped his hand around her waist. He guided her to the booth.
“No, you’re not. What’s going on?”
The true concern in his tone made Lana lean back to look him in the eye. No lies lay in his attention on her. She was taken aback. For once, she saw a side of Finn she had never seen before. A caring, gentle man. The real Finnegan. She found it charming as hell, and worrisome.
Lana shook her head. “Just a cramp. I pushed it too much today. The more I use my magic these past two months, the more exhausted I feel. It’ll pass.”
Finnegan placed his warm hands against her stomach and her lids drooped. The pain eased out her system and she floated into neverland. She snapped her eyes open. Finn was watching her with a genuinely warm smile.
“I can’t dry someone off, but I can ease the pain.”
She shoved his hands away, uncomfortable with how good they felt. “I’m fine. I have to check on the chicken.”
“Forget it. You keep that butt still, woman. I’ll check it.” With great authority he strode to the oven, then halted in front of the door. He gave her a sheepish smile. “What do I do?”
Lana burst out laughing, then winced, and bit down on her bottom lip. After waving his concern off, she put her hand on her stomach. “I’m fine. Open the door. Look for a browning of the skin.”
Finnegan did as told, being far more careful than was needed. Lana watched him with a new appreciation. Second time she had seen this different side to him, and all with her. This was a different man than the smug, ‘he who knows everything’ person she had grown used to dealing with.
A wave of pain worse than before hit her and she cried out. In an instant, Finn slammed the door shut, flipped the oven and stovetop off in a blur, and rushed to her side. “What hospital do you go to? You’re not okay.”
Lana was too busy gritting her teeth to speak for a few moments. The electricity in the room crackled, sputtered, and the entire room went black. A gush of liquid slid down her legs. The lights flickered on, then went out again, and back on. Blood puddled on the floor.
Another bout of pain hit, tears slid down her face. She managed to blurt out where Elizabeth and her family’s practice was located. Right after, his strong arms scooped her out of the booth and cradled her in his grip. “I’m taking you there. Now. Call her.”
“I don’t—”
“Yes you do. You can do anything. Summon her. Summon them all, Lana.”
The authority in his voice slid through her. Lana tried her damndest to follow his instructions.
Finn ran inside the room. A bald eagle screeched from the top of her atrium. Finn’s wings burst forth in all their glorious black beauty and Lana’s head fell back. Another fury of pain cut through her middle and she screamed. Her gaze landed on an eagle. The eagle was much larger than normal. The bird of prey let out a long hunting call and leapt into the air. A moment later a burst of air washed over Lana’s face as Finn too, followed into the sky.
The eagle held one path. Once aloft, a few more of the same joined. They would find Elizabeth and family as fast as they could and direct the family to the hospital. The unconscious form in Finn’s arms used the eagle’s call before, but never to summon anyone. Elizabeth knew Lana held the eagle dear to her heart. The birds of prey would get the family to the hospital.
Chapter Ten
Lana peeled her eyes open. A man she didn’t expect to see stood at the window with a stiff back. The side of his face was in view. He looked haggard around the edges. A slight stubble graced his jaw. He appeared as though he had been awake for days. Gone was the blonde haired, blue eyed playboy, and in place remained a concerned friend who wore the same t-shirt and jeans she had seen him wearing in her home. Only someone seemed to have cleaned off the mess her birds left on his shoulder.
The warm covers cradling her within, beckoned her back into blissful sleep. She forced herself to keep her eyes open. She swept her attention around the room, trying to remember what happened. All she remembered was the pain and then . . . nothingness. The steady beep . . . beep . . . beep . . . of the EKG machine next to her bed lulled her back to sleep.
The baby!
She sucked in a breath and struggled to her elbows, intent on leaving the bed in search of her son. Finn rushed over. Gently pressing her back down, he said, “You’re okay, Lana. Take a breath.”
Her attention shot his way and her eyes widened. “Dean. Where is he?”
Finn’s eyebrows drew together. “Dean?”
“My son. Where is my son, Finn. Is he okay?” Tears welled up and she choked out, “Is he dead?”
Finn’s gaze shot over to the door and returned. “No. I mean yes. Yes, he’s okay. It was touch and go, but he’s okay.”
“Touch and go?” Lana allowed him to help her sit, adjust the pillows, and then adjust the blankets back around her.
Finn sat on the edge of the bed. “Yeah. I don’t think they were prepared for you shorting out their electrical systems. It was . . . interesting. You would’ve thought they were trying to revive Frankenstein.”
Lana let out a small chuckle, relaxing. “Oh, gotcha. And him?”
“Just as difficult as his mother,” Mason said, walking in carrying a small bundle in his arms. Mason looked as proud as any man could get. Lana’s heart skipped a beat. She smiled.
Finn moved back over to the window and Lana’s attention remained on him. The muscle in Finn’s jaw pulsed before he turned further away from her scrutiny. She kept her eyes on Finn until Mason came up next to the bed. Lana felt a touch . . . guilty. Not only had he spent all this time with her, watching over her, but he must have spent every last minute here during the birth. When did Mason show? At the last minute?
Mason sat on the edge of the bed to hand Dean over and she was overcome with joy. The small bundle caused a tear to slide down her cheek.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Mason asked.
Lana looked into his eyes for a long time. That old familiar feeling slid through her system and everything seemed right with the world again.
“I’ll be back later,” Finn ground out on his way out.
Lana’s attention jumped over to him and her heart raced. “Finn,” she called out.
He stopped at the door and for a moment it didn’t seem like he would turn a
round. Lana’s heart sped up even more. What the hell was she to say? She didn’t want him to leave. He couldn’t leave. Not now. He couldn’t stay away. If she let him leave without saying a word, she had a hunch “later” would remain a lot longer than a day, maybe months.
Maybe more.
Would she ever see him again? Her cheeks burned.
His normal crystal blue eyes were as dark as the clouds at sea during a storm. The muscle in his jaw ticked away the seconds before she lost him forever.
“Thanks for being here,” Mason said, giving his best friend a smile.
Finn’s gaze flicked to Mason with a nod, and back to her. “Later.”
Mason pressed a kiss to the back of Dean’s small hand.
No, no you won’t be back. Please, don’t go. Lana nodded at Finn and her eyes welled up. How do I say thank you? How do I beg you not to leave for good? I need my friend here. She swallowed her tears. Faking as calm a tone as she could, she said, “Don’t go far.”
Finn went to turn away. Her words caught him off-guard and he froze. He turned to look her way and she forced herself not to cry. Mason reached forward and caught her face with his hand. He pulled her forward and kissed her cheek. A single tear fell. Finn gave her the barest of nods. He disappeared through the door.
Mason leaned back and wiped the tear away. “I’m here.”
Lana’s bottom lip quivered and she could only nod. Please don’t stay away, Finn. Footsteps came in the door and Lana’s attention jerked to the door. Finn!
“Good looking boy you got there,” Elizabeth said with a smile.
Lana’s gaze remained on the doorway for a moment longer before she smiled and said, “Thanks.”
Mason watched Liz check the EKG machine. “How is she doing?”
“Good. Vitals are back to normal . . . for her.” She laughed. “Should be okay to leave by tomorrow night. I want to keep her for observation. Not a normal birth, or circumstances, so I want to make sure you’re okay before I release you.”
Lana nodded. “Finn told me the power surged. I understand.”
Elizabeth laughed. “That’s his name? Gosh, Mister Corporal wanted take over. I called him that, didn’t think about asking his name. Have you ever mentioned it?”
“More than likely,” Lana said.
Liz shrugged. “Yeah, well. I’m glad he’s gone. Pain in the—”
“Baby?” Mason interjected with a stern look.
“Right. Sorry. The man kept treating me like I was five so I think my temper got the better of me. Apologies.”
Lana smiled. “He does that.” Lana adjusted Dean, then glanced at Mason staring at her. “What?”
“Don’t hate him anymore?”
“Hard to hate a man who takes care of me when I’m spewing blood.”
Mason’s jaw clenched. Elizabeth cleared her throat. “Excuse me. I’ll be back shortly to check on you. See if you can get Dean to nurse, Lana. If he has a problem latching, press the call button.”
Mason left the bed and wandered to the window. Lana shifted her focus to trying to get Dean to feed, and ignored Mason for a moment.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to stay gone so long.”
“And you’ve never heard of a phone? A carrier pigeon?”
Mason leaned against the window to glare at her. “Other people need me too, Lana. It’s not just us in the world. We have an obligation.”
“Yes, I do,” she said with a loaded glance at the nursing baby. “You’re leaving again, aren’t you?” She averted her attention, no longer able to look at Mason.
“Tomorrow night. That’s all the time I can spare.”
Lana snorted. “Spare? Well god, Mason. Heaven forbid Dean be an encumbrance. How terrible for you.”
“I didn’t mean—”
“I need to nurse. Please leave me alone. I’m exhausted and can’t have this conversation right now.”
Chapter Eleven
Mason left. As he said. The night after she gave birth, he said he would help her home, then he had to leave. Lana stared at him for a long time before telling him to leave. Elizabeth would take her home and help her set everything up. She didn’t need his help. It tore her apart to have him make it seem like her and Dean were a burden.
She cried the entire way home, trying her damndest to stop, but she couldn’t seem to make the tears go away. The pain was deep. The loss of Mason, the possibility that she may never see Finn again.
Elizabeth took the next day off work to help Lana settle in. In the afternoon, she left. Lana and Dean were all alone once evening settled in.
A few days after the birth, Lana stood in the open patio doors, letting the cool breeze into the nursery’s sitting room. She stared at the moon. Yes, she loved Mason, yet could it ever stop? Would he ever give that life up?
Off in the distance came the screams of innocent victims. She shook her head. Were these humans less important than the ones Mason was off saving? The sounds dispersed a second later and a small grin touched her lips. No doubt a certain fallen angel saved the day. Someone was becoming used to using his newfound wings.
Lana remembered the black wings sweeping upward before he went to take off the day she went into labor. She had remained conscious long enough to see them. Such brilliance. The wings slid out of his back and the silk feathers caressed her fingers. She rubbed her fingertips together in memory. Comfort had spread through her, knowing she was safe.
A gust of wind caressed her cheek. It happened quick, and on the one side of her body. Warmth slid through her cheeks, down her spine, to her littlest toe. She hadn’t seen him since that day at the hospital. She didn’t think she would ever see him again. Knowing he came back filled her with incredible butterflies. And a happiness that shocked her.
Lana smiled, then forced it down before she faced him. She didn’t know yet whether she should feel that way or not. Maybe he only came to see how Dean was doing. Maybe he had other reasons that had nothing to do with her or Dean.
Finn was leaning casually against the doorway that led into the main nursery, studying her. A sight to behold, all right. His eyes danced in the moonlight, appearing like molten silver, and her breath caught. Without wishing them to, her eyes watered. Finn’s concern came forth. He pushed away from the doorway, and walked over to her.
Lana instinctively moved as well. The moment she stood in front of him, he opened his arms and embraced her. She pressed her face into his chest, taking a deep breath in, trying to capture his every scent so she wouldn’t forget how he smelled.
“Mason told me his plans last night.”
Lana murmured into his chest, “He left this morning.”
Finn pushed her back. “He told me he wouldn’t be leaving until tonight. Wanted to settle you two in first.”
A tear fell down Lana’s cheek. “I didn’t want him to come here. I told him to go. I knew the longer he stayed, the harder it would be to let him go. I just . . . I couldn’t do it, Finn.”
Finn nodded and enclosed her in his arms once more. “Sorry, Lana.”
Lana closed her eyes. “What made you come back? I didn’t think I’d see you again.”
“Figured someone needed to harass you and make sure you didn’t screw up.”
Lana chuckled against his chest, in no hurry to leave his embrace. “And the real reason?”
“You. The look on your face when I was leaving. Didn’t think I’d ever see that look from you. I couldn’t bear to hurt you.” Finn released her. Dean grumbled in his crib, interrupting their moment.
Lana took Dean out of the crib, sat in a chair surrounded by windows, and went to feed him. She stopped when an idea occurred to her. Finn might not want to be a witness to Dean nursing. She glanced up with an apologetic look. “You can go.”
“Do you want me to?” She shook her head. “Feed the big mouth, would ya? I’m with him. When a man wants to eat, your job is to feed him.”
Lana was about to feed Dean, then Finn finished speaking. She
shot him a dirty look. “You’re a terrible influence already.”
Finn’s eyes twinkled. “You still owe me dinner, sugarpop. I’ll have to stick around long enough for you to pay me back. I’d say you owe me two now. Since that stinker took my other meal.”
Lana shook her head while Dean fed. “You’re terrible,” she whispered.
Finn kept his voice low to avoid disturbing the biscuit, “When Mason told me he was leaving, I knew you would need someone here. And as much as you claim to hate saving people, I know you enjoy helping people. Someone will have to step up since he’s needed elsewhere.”
“You’re not telling me everything.” Lana gave him a steady stare, grateful he decided to stay.
“You should have let me go, Lana.”
Lana watched him for a long time. That tone. His tone said what his words didn’t. “When?”
“When I wished it was me you kissed, not him.” Finn looked a little uncomfortable.
Even though she could lose him, she couldn’t lie to him. She couldn’t lead him on. Somewhere in there, he had become an incredible friend and she couldn’t stand the idea of losing him. “I can’t love you that way, Finn. I can’t explain why I do, but I love Mason. More than I could ever love anyone else.”
Finn held her gaze with complete confidence and authority. He told her straight out, “I won’t leave. I’m not asking you to love me like you love him. I know how you feel about him. I’m asking you to let me love you. Let me be there for the both of you. Give me a chance. You deserve to be loved as we both know I can. You don’t know what the future holds.”
Lana’s eyes welled up. Who was this man? This fantasy standing in front of her shouldn’t exist. “What are you asking me?”
Finn’s eyes flicked downward to the little beast still sucking away. “Come find me when you’re done. I think you know where I’ll be.”
