Harlee POV
"Your turn Sands! I'm done for the day. I swear if ONE more Reaper asks me why we're on double time I'm going to lose my SHIT! Does NO creature of the Divine or Demonic keep up with the news?!" Sam exploded as he appeared in the living room, flames dancing around him briefly before he waved a hand to snuff them out. "Oh hello Harlee, Prince Cael."
The others had taken my nickname for our son seriously and now referred to him as if he were royalty. I rolled my eyes and adjusted my shirt slightly so Cael could breathe better while he nursed. I couldn't help rocking him and patting his bottom or back while he fed. I knew there was a supernatural entity and intelligence within him, it was infinitely obvious when you held him and he sent out little whispered requests into your mind. But he was also still a baby, and the look on his face when he closed his eyes and let the mind-numbing comfort take hold was enough to encourage me. He looked up at me suddenly and I knew what was coming before the whisper through my mind began. He wanted me to hum.
"Really bud? The TV's on, but you wanna hear your mom's old scratchy voice instead?" I griped. There was a slight quirk to the corner of his lips. He was such a solemn, quiet little creature, and he was growing so quickly. Just barely outpacing a fast developing child, but it was noticeable if you were paying attention. The small grin undid me though, so I sorted through some melodies in my head until I found a soothing one-a Christmas carol of all things, but I ran with it. Cael closed his lids halfway about two seconds into the song. I kept pace with steady circles on his back, the soothing motion meant to calm a troubled mind.
"Why 'Silent Night'?" Sam asked me abruptly. He had sat down beside us where Sands had been and I hadn't even noticed. I blinked, I had nearly put myself in a trance instead of the kid.
"It was always one of my favorite Christmas Songs. I don't even know why. I just remember... my mother telling me that." My voice hitched. Sam hesitantly scooted closer and wrapped an arm around my shoulders and hugged me gently.
"I'm not as good at this as Sands, but, do you think you're feeling a little nostalgic? Maybe homesick even? Do you think you should go visit her? I know she may not recognize you, depending on the day, but it might make you feel better.. You could take Cael and introduce him. He's a Nephilim, the memory will always be with him." Sam squeezed my shoulders gently and I let loose a gut wrenching sob, which made Sam freeze again, before smashing me against his chest in a tight hug, which made me cry a little harder.
Zeev POV
"You really don't have to do this.." I reminded Harlee as she packed a diaper bag through another storm of tears.
"I know, but I think I have to." Harlee replied stuffily.
"Are you sure?" I prodded. I could sense her hesitation, and wasn't about to let her walk out the door without a fight. She closed her eyes.
"I think Sam is right. I think I want this. I know Cael is still young, but the side of him that's Angel, that's part you, will always retain a memory of his grandmother. I think it's important he knows her. Or at least meets her." Harlee went from rubbing her temples to standing with her hand on my chest, looking up at me adoringly. "And I want you there because I want her to meet the father of my child. To know the magnificent, beautiful, loving man who shares my life and helped me create such a treasure." She slid her hand up to rest on my face. I could feel my very Heart glowing. I leaned down and kissed her gently.
"You're laying it on thick today." I whispered and she giggled. It made me feel better to see her expression lighten, if only temporarily. "Are you sure you don't want Sands or Ash or someone else to come with us?" I murmured. She shook her head, biting her lip.
"I think one Demon in the care facility will be enough. Besides, I don't know how mom or the other residents will react" She frowned. "After all, you're a freakin' Fallen Angel Zeev! What if she somehow sees through your 'disguise' and freaks out? Or somebody else does? Sam says it happens sometimes with the innocent.." Harlee trailed off. What Harlee was referring to was occasionally a child, elderly person, or someone who has entered a divergent mental state, such as someone on their deathbead or someone with a mental illness, would sometimes catch a glimpse of our natural or True States. Which, as Harlee pointed out, we'd be going into a care facility with a half Angel child, a Corrupted human with half a soul, and a Fallen Angel. Yipes.
"I see your point." I relented. Harlee giggled again.
"Ash would be a lot of fun though, eh? Getting all those older ladies all worked up, flirting with them." She giggled again.
Harlee POV
The hall was deathly quiet that led to my mother's room. I clutched Cael to me a little tighter, and he wiggled, voicing a complaint before I felt his thoughts brush mine, a simply worry. What's wrong?
"Shh, sorry baby, your momma's just upset. Ugh this is so complicated to explain!" I loosened my grip on him and looked into his unfathomable eyes. At times they looked as innocent as an infant's, at others, like now, the wary intelligence sprang to the forefront, and broke my heart. I stopped in the middle of the hall and clutched him against my chest. "Cael baby.." I murmured. "You mamma loves you so much. I wish I could protect you from all the pain in the world, and I know you've already seen so much of it. Forgive me." Surprise registered from Zeev and Cael's brush against my mind. I just shook my head and hoisted Cael a little higher so he could look around and continued walking.
Zeev POV
I knew it was going to be bad when we entered this place, but the waves of depression and regret rolling off Harlee nearly crippled me. Ash bolstered me with their gentle fortitude through our link. Ash desperately wanted to be here, to comfort Harlee. To hold us both, I realized with a jolt. But Ash understood Harlee's concerns.
'Be strong for us both Zeev, she's gonna need it..' Ash murmured in my mind, lending me strength. I clenched my jaw with a nod.
'You have work, you can't be splitting your focus right now!' I scolded, but it was halfhearted and we both knew it.
'It's fine, it's dead around here.' Ash replied, showing me briefly, and then we entered Harlee's mother's room and Harlee's grief nearly knocked me down. There was a wordless exclamation from Ash.
'You're too close to this Zeev-with half her soul and the link! You're feeling her emotions too intensely without being used to them! Why didn't you tell her this would happen?!' Ash cried.
'It's never been this bad before!' I yelled back, taking an unsteady breath. Harlee had paused before her mother's chair by the window. I was was still in the doorway, propping myself up using the frame.
'Damn, damn, damn. The tie! When we used your Heart to tie your soul fragment to hers, it's wound the two of you all the tighter. Shit! Should have expected that, you two have been obsessively clingy since we forced the tie! Crap!' There was a mental sigh and the equivalent of Ash running a hand over their face. I felt Ash leaving the counter and going to the breakroom to sit on a bench.
'Move over Zeev, I'm coming in.' Ash said.
'Wait, what?' I yelled and then Ash's cool presence merged with my own in my mind, and immediately there was a swarm of emotions and memories and then blissful calm as we got Harlee's emotions in check. Breathing a sigh of relief, Ash and I moved forward to place a loving hand on the small of Harlee's back, a gentle and subtle reassurance that we were there to support her.
Harlee POV
Mom was sitting in her chair by the window when we entered her room, staring vacantly out of it. Immediately, my worst fears were confirmed. It was one of her bad days. She probably wouldn't even recognize me. Nothing I told her would stick and Cael's memories would only be of a lost, querulous old woman instead of the fierce, beautiful creature she had been. The grief that overwhelmed me was almost enough to make me turn back, but a gentle nudging from Cael made me stride forward. I hesitated behind her chair, unsure of what to say or do. I scarcely registered Zeev had hung back until he walked up and placed a gentle hand on my back. It radiated warmth and comfort. I heard him set the diaper bag down and then his other arm wrapped around me and Cael in a brief, protective hug.
"Whenever you're ready." He whispered in my ear, and I took a deep, shuddering breath.
"Mom?" I asked quietly, moving forward again.
Zeev POV
Harlee crouched by her mother's chair, Cael tucked safely against her chest.
"Mom, it's me. Harlee." She spoke softly, trying to get the woman's attention. Her mother smiled and looked towards Harlee.
"Harlee?" The woman said and Harlee blinked, hope flooding her face and our link. "Harlee's in school today." Her mother smiled and Harlee's face and mind crashed with howling disappointment. If it hadn't been for the fused state of Ash's and my consciousness' I might have gone down to my knees.