"Because he'll get the crap kicked out of him, that's why."

"Okay, what names do you like?"

"Normal names, like Josh or Sam."

"Fine, but I get to name the girls."

"Only from an agreed list."

"I think I want my daughters to have strong names ... strong but pretty, y'know?"

"Sounds great. Can we go to sleep now?" Xavier turned and curved his body into mine. I could hear his breathing become deeper but I was still wide awake. I knew I should let him sleep, but I wasn't ready to part with his company just yet.

"If I give you some examples of girls' names, can you tell me if they make it onto the list?"

"If you insist." Xavier blinked hard and propped himself onto his elbow to face me, trying to take my game seriously.

"Caroline?"

"In."

"Billie?"

"No way, she'll be gender confused."

"Isadora?"

"Is she from Middle Earth?"

"Fine. How about Dakota?"

"Place names are out."

"That's not fair." I pouted. "Most of my favorites are places."

"Then I get to throw in some places of my own."

"Like?" I asked curiously.

"How about Ohio?" Xavier said. "Or better yet, Milwaukee."

I had to giggle. "Okay, we can ditch the place names."

"Thank you." When Xavier stifled a yawn and flipped over onto his back, I feigned indignation.

"Did you just yawn? Are your unborn children boring you?"

"No, but they are making me sleepy."

"All right." I laughed. "I'll stop now. Good night."

"Night, Mrs. Woods."

That reminded me. I was Mrs. Woods now. Xavier's wife. I felt an overpowering urge to reach out and wrap myself around him, to absorb his warmth and find comfort in his touch. But I held back, knowing it was too risky. I didn't want to make things harder than they already were. Instead I turned over and cradled my pillow. We'd made so many sacrifices already. How much longer could we go on living like brother and sister?

Before I closed my eyes, I couldn't help looking at the midnight sky through the window. A few flashes of lightning illuminated the clouds. I wondered whether a storm was far off. Then I saw a beam of light that didn't look like lightning. I thought about waking Xavier, but he was finally sleeping so soundly and I knew it wouldn't be fair.

The beam lingered and moved lazily across the trees, scoping the forest ... looking for something.

5.

Walking on Water IN the morning I woke to a chorus of birdsong and the scent of pine. In my half-conscious state I felt around for Xavier in the bed and was startled when I couldn't find him. The sound of a kettle whistling reassured me that he was already downstairs making breakfast.

Xavier had turned on an old Bakelite radio and tuned it to a classic rock station.

"Good morning," I said, unable to repress a smile as I watched him whisk eggs to the beat of "Blue Suede Shoes" on the radio. He was wearing boxer shorts and a white T-shirt and his hair was still rumpled from sleep. Living under the same roof with Xavier over the last few days meant I got to see a side of him I'd only ever caught glimpses of before. For as long as I'd known him and before he'd got dragged into our supernatural mess, Xavier's life had been crammed with more activities than he had time for. I realized now how much of a homebody he was at heart.

"I hope you're hungry."

Even in my oversized flannel pajamas I was still shivering. I grabbed a throw from the nearest sofa, wrapped it around my shoulders, and sat huddled in a kitchen chair. Xavier poured me a mug of tea and I wrapped my fingers around the china to warm them.

"How can you not feel cold?"

"It's time you knew the truth. I'm a werewolf," he joked, hunching his shoulders and narrowing his eyes.

"A very domestic werewolf," I teased. "Why didn't you wake me?"

"Thought you could use the sleep. It's been a rough couple of days. How are you feeling?"

"Fine."

Xavier studied me thoughtfully. "You'll feel better once you have something to eat."

"I'm not really hungry," I said, hoping I didn't sound too unappreciative.

"You're passing on the famous Woods' fry-up?" he said. I couldn't bring myself to deflate his enthusiasm. Besides, it had been awhile since I'd seen this old carefree Xavier and I didn't want him to disappear just yet.

"I wouldn't dare." I grinned. "Can I help with anything?"

Looking around I saw bacon already sizzling in a pan and the table had been set with country-style plates and silverware.

"No, ma'am. Just sit back and enjoy the service."

"I didn't know you liked cooking."

"'Course I do," he said. "And cooking for your wife is half the fun."

He cracked an egg and it sizzled as it slid into the pan.

"A good husband wouldn't make fried eggs when his wife likes them scrambled," I said playfully, drumming my fingers on the counter.

Xavier glanced up and fixed me with an amused expression. "A good wife would appreciate her husband's speciality and not complain."

I smiled and rocked back in my chair, wishing I could throw the windows open and invite the fresh air in. It was getting seriously stuffy in here.

"You called me Mrs. Woods last night," I said suddenly, recalling the conversation we'd had.

"Yeah?" Xavier looked up. "So?"

"I'm still getting used to it," I said. "It's strange to think that's me now."

"You don't have to take my name if you don't want to," Xavier said. "It's completely your decision."

"Are you kidding?" I said. "Of course I want to. It's not as if I've even been Bethany Church for that long. Besides, I've changed so much I don't even know who she is anymore."

"Well, I do," Xavier said. "She's the girl I married. Even if you lose sight of her, I never will."

The fire hadn't managed to chase away the chill in the air, so I moved into the living room to warm up. I didn't think I could face another day idle on the couch.

"Can we drive into town today?" I called out to Xavier, trying to sound blase. "I really want to get out of the house."

Xavier came into the living room, frowning. "Beth, you can't be serious! It's too dangerous for us to be seen anywhere in public. You know that."

"We don't even have to get out of the car. I'll wear a blanket over my head if you like."

"No way. It's too risky. Besides, Gabriel will blow a fuse when he finds out."

"Might do him good," I grumbled, and Xavier's face lightened.

"True as that may be I don't think we should push our luck right now. Don't worry; we'll find something to do right here."

"Like what?"

"Why don't you have a look around while I finish getting breakfast ready?"

I suddenly realized how petulant I must sound. "Okay."

"That's my girl."

It occurred to me that Xavier was much better at staying upbeat than I was. I couldn't help complaining about being trapped. I shouldn't even be mourning the loss of "normal" life when it wasn't supposed to be mine to begin with, but I found the isolation disconcerting. Ever since I'd come to earth, there had always been people around. Milling around in the town square, walking their dogs, eating snow cones on the pier, waving across the street as they mowed their lawns. Now their absence made me uncomfortable. I desperately wanted to hear the hum of human voices in the background or watch people from a distance, even if we couldn't speak to them. But Gabriel's instructions had been clear: Stay out of sight.

I hated that after all Xavier and I had been through we still couldn't be a normal couple, which was all we wanted. But I tried to remind myself that however difficult things were, at least Xavier and I were together. When Gabriel and Ivy had found us in the chapel, I was almost certain we'd be separated. I wouldn't exactly have been in a position to argue with them and I was relieved it hadn't come to that. They must have known neither of us would cope well with being apart.

I decided to take Xavier's advice and find something that would help fill the hours and at least give the illusion of normality. I checked the stack of magazines on the mantel of the stone fireplace but they were mostly dated and on the subject of interior decorating. Then my eyes happened to fall on the old travel chest in the living room that doubled as a coffee table. Up until now we hadn't thought to open it, but when I lifted the lid I found some DVDs hiding under a stack of old yellowing newspapers. The movies were mainly Disney cartoons, so I figured the family who owned the cabin must have young children. I tried to imagine them sitting in this very room, drinking hot chocolate and watching their favorite films.

"Hey, Xavier, I found something," I called out. He poked his head around the corner before coming over to examine my find.

"Not bad."

"I know, right? How can we be bored when we can watch a movie about..." I turned one of the DVDs over expectantly. "Fish?"

"Don't knock Finding Nemo," Xavier teased, taking the DVD from my grasp. "It's a modern classic."

"Is it seriously about fish?"

"Yeah, but really cool fish."

"What about this?" I held up a battered copy of Beauty and the Beast. "It sounds romantic." Xavier wrinkled his nose.

"Disney ... I don't think so."

"Why not?"

"Because if anyone found out, I'd never live it down."

"I won't tell if you don't," I pleaded, and Xavier shook his head in defeat.

"The things I do for you," he said with an exaggerated sigh.

After breakfast we finally got the DVD player to work after we found a missing cable. I kept interrupting the movie by asking a lot of questions that Xavier managed to answer with endless patience.

"How old do you think Belle is supposed to be?"

"I don't know, probably our age."

"I think the beast is sweet, don't you?"

"Do I have to answer that?"

"Why does the crockery talk?"

"Because they're really the prince's servants that the beggar woman put a spell on." Xavier frowned suddenly and looked mortified. "I can't believe I know that."

Despite being captivated by the magic of the story and having the lyrics of "Be Our Guest" set on permanent replay in my brain, I was restless again as soon as the movie was over.

I got up and began flitting around the room like a caged bird. Just like Belle, I wanted to be out in the world living my life. Even Ivy and Gabriel had failed to make their routine appearance so we couldn't even get an update on how the negotiations were going. I knew they were working as hard as they could to obtain some sort of reprieve for me. I was grateful for everything they were doing but I just wished I knew what was going to happen, one way or another. At least if I knew what my fate would be I could begin to prepare for it.

"I wish my life was more like a Disney movie," I said heavily.

"Don't worry; it is. Didn't you notice all the crap those two had to go through before they could be together?"

"That's true." I smiled. "And there's always a happy ending, right?"