Starchild
sat in the chair next to the bed.
Celestial and Beast together pulled Demon out of the room. He needed food and rest even if he wouldn't
admit it. Hours passed and Demon
returned.
"Where
is she?" Demon was concerned.
"She
still sleeps."
"It
has been too long. Something must be
wrong." Demon headed for the bedroom door.
"Stop
Demon." It was Celestial. "She needs sleep."
"She's
been sleeping too long." Argued Demon, "something is wrong."
"She
has experienced much today and needs the healing that only sleep can
provide. She is fine."
Demon
did not like his answer but also knew Celestial was right. Andrea needed sleep. He would just have to be patient. Andrea slept all day and into the night as
The Masters paced waiting for her to awaken.
Finally
late in the night, wearing only her robe a disheveled Andrea emerged from her
bridal chamber. Each of The Masters
stopped their pacing to stare at Andrea, each uncertain as to how she really
was. Andrea saw the look of anticipation
on the faces of each of The Masters and she smiled. She walked to each of them and one by one gently kissed them,
assuring them she was fine. When she
came to Demon she saw the look of concern in his eyes and talking his face in
her hands, "Oh my Dragon" she smiled and then passionately kissed
him.
Demon
wrapped his arms around her and picking her up he carried her to his chair
where he promptly sat down with her in his lap as he massaged her back and held
her protectively.
Starchild
smiled at his friend and The Lady. She
belonged to all of them but knew that she now held a special place in Demon's
heart.
All
was good in the manor. Soon the
prophecy would be complete and he would finally allow someone else to battle
The Dark Ones.
"Starchild."
"Yes
Stephen."
"Can
I talk to Andy now?"
"Just
a minute Stephen."
Starchild
went to a dozing Andrea, "My Lady, someone wishes to speak to you."
With that he placed his hands on both sides of her head and released the
binding spell he had placed there days ago.
“All
right Stephen, you can talk to her now.”
"Andy."
"Yes
Dot."
"I've
missed you."
"I
know Dot."
"You
sound funny Andy, are you okay?"
"Yes
Dot everything is fine. I was just
sleeping."
"I'm
sorry I woke you Andy."
"It's
fine Dot."
"Well,
I just wanted to make sure everything was okay."
"Stephen."
"Yes
Starchild."
"Would
you like to come for a visit?"
"Can
I?"
"Yes,
you can come for a visit."
"Andy
is it really okay?"
"Yes
Dot. I would like you to come
visit."
"Can
you get me right now?"
"
I will send Beast and Celestial to get you tomorrow."
"But
Andy can't you get me?"
"It
would be better if Beast and Celestial brought you Dot."
"I
forgot. Father can't tell them
no."
"Exactly."
"When
will they come get me?"
"In
the morning. But promise not to tell anyone."
"I
won't tell. I promise. See you tomorrow Andy."
"See
you tomorrow Dot."
"Andy?"
"Yes
Dot."
"I
love you."
"I
love you too Dot."
*****
You
have made him very happy Starchild, thank you."
"It
was a promise that needed to be fulfilled.
But come you must eat. Demon
loosen your grip The Lady must eat so she can stay strong since she now carries
our child."
Each
looked at Starchild in surprise. Each
knew The Lady was to bear them a child but none had spoken of it, not wishing
to jeopardize the event in any way.
"How
do you know that I carry your child already?" Andrea asked surprised.
Starchild
smiled, "Come and eat."
CHAPTER
59
Just
after dawn Beast and Celestial materialized in the throne room before King
Bartholomew and Queen Levinia.
"King
Bartholomew,” Beast began, "we have come to take Stephen…."
King
Bartholomew interrupted Beast.
"You already have one of my children. You cannot take another."
Beast
and Celestial looked at each other in amazement. They had not expected this reaction. Just then Stephen came rushing into the throne room.
"Mother,
mother, I'm gong to visit Andy." Stephen said excitedly.
"No! You are not going anywhere." King
Bartholomew bellowed.
Stephen
looked at his father with a determination they had never witnessed before,
"I'm going to visit my Andy.
Starchild said I could, Beast and Celestial have come to get me. I'm going and you can't stop me."
The
tone in Stephen's voiced held so much authority that the king was afraid to
argue with him. After all, the King had
seen his son when he got angry and King Bartholomew did not want to see it
again.
"I'm
ready to go now." Stephen said as he took the hands of Beast and
Celestial. With that they three were
gone.
Stephen
found Andrea sitting alone in the garden.
"Andy!" Andrea turned around as Stephen launched
himself into Andrea's arms with such a force it almost knocked both of them
down.
"Andy
I've missed you!" Stephen wrapped his arms around Andrea giving her a big
bear hug.
Laughing
Andrea picked up Stephen and swung him around.
"Oh
Dot. It is so good to you."
"Andrea!"
Demon bellowed surprising them all.
"You must be careful."
Stephen
walked over to Demon and taking his hand said, "It's okay Demon, Stephanie
says she is okay."
All
eyes turned to Stephen.
"Dot,
what are you talking about? Who is
Stephanie?"
"Your
baby." came the simple reply.
Andrea
looked from Stephen to each of The Masters.
"Stephen,"
began Starchild, "how do you know Andrea has a baby?"
"She
told me."
"Dot,
I didn't tell you about a baby."
"Not
you. Stephanie told me, the baby. She told me her name and that it was okay
for me to give Andy a big hug."
"Dot
how did the baby tell you?"
"Up
here Andy." Stephen said as he pointed toward his head. "Like you talk to me. Is this your garden Andy? It sure is pretty." Stephen ran from flower to flower until he
stopped at The Lady's Rose, Andrea's rose.
Stephanie says she likes this one best but Starchild when you grow her
rose she doesn't want it to be prettier than Andy's. Andy's rose should be prettiest.”
"All
right Stephen, tell Stephanie I will."
"She
can her you Starchild, she hears everything.
Demon she likes to fly with you.
She wants to do it again."
Demon
stared wide-eyed mouth open, for once Demon had no reply.
Stephen
spent the day with Andrea and The Masters. He ran and played always staying
within site of Andrea. As Stephen
played with Beast who had become a cat he noticed that Andrea was no longer in
the garden.
"Where
did Andy go?"
"She
was tired so she went to lay down." Celestial told him.
Stephen
looked perplexed. Andy didn't get
tired, maybe he should go find her.
Stephen started inside.
"Where
are you going Stephen?" Beast asked.
"I
need to find Andy." With that he ran inside the manor.
"Think
we should go after him Celestial?" asked Beast.
Celestial
laughed, "Not me."
Stephen
went running up the stairs headed for Andrea's room. He opened the door.
"Andy!"
Both
Andrea and Demon jumped as Stephen stood at the door. Stephen looked at them in
confusion then turned and left the room.
"I
better go after him." Andrea said.
"I
suppose." Demon wasn't happy he wanted to hold Andrea.
"I'll
be right back."
"Dot. Where are you going?"
"Out
to the garden to play with Beast."
Andrea
noticed a rather odd tone in his voice.
"What
is wrong Dot? You don't sound
happy."
"Andy?"
"Yes,
Dot."
"Do
you still need me?"
"Of
course I do."
"Do
you still love me?"
"Dot
why would you ask such a thing? Of
course I do."
"Stephanie
told me to go outside and play because I wasn't needed." Tears streamed
from Stephen's eyes.
"Dot
I will always love you and I will always need you. You are my protector but right now I am having adult time. Do you understand?"
Stephen
shook his head no.
Andrea
sat down on the steps and pulled her little brother onto her lap as she cuddled
him.
"Stephen
do you remember when you told me I needed to get married and have a baby?"
"Yes."
"Well,
I married The Masters and that means that sometimes I need to be alone with
them. It doesn't mean that I love you
any less or that I don't need you. Do
you understand?'
"I
guess so. Andy is Stephanie gong to
need me?"
"I
think she will need you even more than I do."
Stephen
smiled, "Stephanie says so too."
With
that Stephen crawled out of Andrea's lap and headed down the stairs eager to
play with Beast.
Stephen
spent 2 days at the manor when Celestial took him back home with a promise that
no one would know about Andy's baby. Weeks
stretched into months as the baby inside Andrea grew. The Masters watched over Andrea and catered to her every
need. She could not teleport or change
into her animal forms so dragon took her where she wanted to go. Nothing had been heard from The Dark Ones
but Starchild felt they knew about Andrea and the baby so he kept a watchful
eye on what was going on in the land.