Jack lifted a bottle of rum and poured a small amount into a gla.s.s. "Goofy, yes. Lethal, oh, h.e.l.l, yes, as long as I remembered to put the cartridges in the rifle."

Mal couldn't tell him how funny that was to an L.A. police officer. He knew her as sweet, uncomplicated Bridget Copper, a painter of abstract seaside landscapes. Her hands curved over her enormous belly. "This baby is actually pushing against my stomach with her hands and feet. I think she's just going to come through the skin."

Jack laughed, got up, dropped to his knees at Mal's feet and hugged her tummy. "Shhhh. It's okay, little girl. Your mommy won't seem as crazy when you get out here."

"You're a mean man, Jack," Mal said with a laugh and finished off her lemonade.

"Chicken is ready," called Erin from the doorway. "Jack, why don't you help me carry everything out and we'll eat there on the terrace."

Jack stood stiffly. "On duty to service my women," he said and saluted.

Mal grinned as he walked away and up the steps to take a big tray from Erin. Mal had fallen for the handsome, silly man who had practically moved in with her and Erin these past few months of her pregnancy, he was there so often. He and Erin had been a G.o.dsend for her and the baby. The child had grown so quickly, and even though she knew she had three more months to go, a woman in town last week told her she looked like she was full term.

Erin was taking her in to a local OB-GYN to check out the pregnancy this week. She would use her vampire abilities to intercept any blood tests and wipe the doctor's memory so that there was no chance that a first blood baby's medical information would be recorded and perhaps a.s.sessed as different. Mal was anxious to make sure everything was all right. She just felt so large for six months!

Erin followed Jack down the steps, carrying a cooler filled with ice and alcohol, which she and Jack would drink while Mal watched longingly. Erin was certain the alcohol wasn't a problem for a first blood child, but Mal refused to consider it. Smiling, she watched as Mal tried to get off her bench and Jack dropped the tray quickly to help her up.

These last few months with Jack and Mal had been some of the best of her life. Erin's relationships rarely lasted very long, the one with Kai had been the deepest she'd ever known, until now. The camaraderie, the laughing, the connections, were all so strong in such a short time between her unexpected houseguest, herself, and the displaced ex-marine, it was as if she had, for the first time in her life, family. As the days pa.s.sed, they meant more and more to her.

"Oh, for heaven's sake!" Mal yelled as Jack lifted her from the chair with a hand wrapped firmly around each shoulder. "How many babies am I having?"

Jack was, of course, unaware of Mal's supernatural connection with her unborn child, so he was ready with advice for a normal human pregnancy. "There's only one heartbeat, right? What did your doctor say?"

He didn't know that she hadn't seen one yet, but Erin had been insistent it wasn't necessary. She'd only agreed to take Mal to see the doctor in town for Mal's peace of mind since the pregnancy seemed so accelerated. While Mal trusted Erin, because they had become close these past weeks together, she was still married to the idea that a doctor was necessary when a woman was with child.

Upright again, Mal thanked Jack and noticed that he wasn't in a hurry to take his hands from her. She knew he was falling for her. And if she let herself, she could fall for him as easily. He was handsome, loving, humorous, and, most importantly, human. So s.e.xy that, even in her current condition, Mal often watched him working, the muscles flexing beneath sun-warmed skin, and wanted to take a bite out of him.

But it wasn't the time. She had no idea what to expect from this child, or what her life would be like. All she knew was that she loved living here with Erin, safe and happy, and that she wanted to bring her father to the island sometime soon when she was ready. More than anything, right now, Mal's mind was on family, by blood or not.

Jack pulled her forward, doing a little jig. "Dance with me, Bridge," he said, and continued to entice her with the silliest, funniest, dance moves she'd ever seen.

Nodding, her feet moving to the music that Erin had just started, a fast beat that had her tapping out beats, trying desperately not to look as awkward as Jack. Truly, the guy could not dance.

Mal started to execute a turn when something stabbed her in the belly. She doubled over as Jack grabbed her and swung her into his arms. The pain thrust deeply and she gasped. Erin was there immediately and laid a hand on Mal's arm.

"Is it the child?"

"It may be, but I'm not ready. It's too soon," Mal finally got out as Jack crossed the threshold of the house and laid her on the wide sofa.

"Erin, call the doctor and let him know I'm bringing her into the clinic." Jack sat beside Mal, his hand on her forehead. "What can I do?" He asked Mal.

"I really don't know. But it's too soon, isn't it? I'm only six months along. Jack, she has to be all right."

Jack brushed Mal's damp hair off her forehead. "It'll be okay. Your beautiful baby girl is fine, I promise. We need to get you to the clinic just as a precaution."

He turned towards the house. "Erin? Did you reach the doctor?"

Erin came out of the house with her keys. "No, but let's go on in. I'll drive, you take care of Bridget."

Jack easily lifted Mal and set her gently in the back of Erin's bright green dune buggy. It was one of six vehicles she kept in a large garage behind the beach house.

"I'll take it easy, Jack, but hold on to her."

He did, too, his hands supportive, but careful around her stiff body.

His eyes roamed over Mal's face, her expression a mixture of pain and worry that broke his heart. He wondered how this had happened. Eight years ago, when his marriage had ended badly, he'd promised himself that he was never going to fall in love again. Yet here he was, this woman who showed up in his life carrying another man's child had stolen his heart. He'd fallen, hard, and didn't expect it to go much better this time. Not one man in his family had ever had a long term relationship. His volatile relationship with his ex was more than enough for him for a lifetime. Until now.

Mal clutched his arm with both of her hands. "Don't let me go, Jack."

He pulled her closer and held her against his chest. She was shaking. f.u.c.k, all he wanted to do was take the pain for her and make sure that her baby was going to be okay.

He couldn't do either.

Erin parked right in front of the clinic that served as the primary medical care for this area of the island. She hurried in and found a young nurse right away.

"I have a pregnant woman who is having abdominal pain at 6 months. Can I bring her in here?"

The girl nodded.

Erin rushed back out. "Jack, bring her in."

"Come on, sweetheart. We'll get this taken care of."

Jack carried Mal through the doors and into a room the nurse motioned towards.

"Dr. Eimar will be here in a moment. Can you get into this gown?"

Mal nodded and tried to stand, but another wave of pain pushed her back into the bed. Erin swept into the room.

"Jack, wait outside."

"But..." Jack started to say, but Erin took his face into her hands and repeated the command. He nodded and turned without question.

Mal, the wave of pain already subsiding, smiled. "Do you know how many women would love to have that skill?"

Erin smiled back. "I do. I have used it myself on various men so many times through the years it is impossible to count. It's just so much easier than putting up with bulls.h.i.t, right? Now, sweetie."

Erin sat on the edge of the bed and touched Mal's arm, sent a calming compulsion, and plumped up a pillow beneath her head. "Better?"

With a big sigh, nodding, Mal said with relief, "Yeah."

"Good, let's get you into that hospital gown so he can check you over."

Mal was happy to give control over to Erin now. She was trying not to think the worse, that this baby girl she already loved and wanted so badly might not make it.

After Erin slipped the gown over Mal's arms and turned her to tie it, she turned Mal back around to look at her. "It's going to be okay, my friend. I'll stay with you and make sure that we control things. If something from my world happens, they won't know what they're seeing. I can erase inconvenient memories. Jack's another matter. He's going to be tough to keep away."

"I want him with me, Erin. You two are my lifelines."

Another pain struck and Mal doubled over, but when Erin placed a hand on her back, the pain lessened considerably.

"You haven't had any other pain before this?"

"No. Everything has been textbook perfect. Well, other than the fact that I'm carrying the child of man from an ancient vampire race."

Erin smiled. "Yeah. I can't wait to meet her."

"Erin, since the pain began, she's been silent. That's why I'm terrified."

"First bloods are incredibly powerful and durable. I can't imagine that their offspring are any different. Trust in her, Mal."

"Mal?"

Jack stood at the curtains, his eyes on Mal, then Erin.

"Nickname. An old one. Jack, come on back in, our girl is asking for you."

Moments later he was at Mal's side when the doctor finally showed.

Dr. Eimar, a fit, tall dark-toned man that reminded Mal a little bit of her baby's father, took a long look at Mal's belly.

"I'd say someone is going to deliver a baby by tomorrow," he commented as he pulled on a pair of latex gloves.

"I'm only six months along, doctor," Mal said quickly.

He looked puzzled, then slipped the gown up to examine her. "You certainly look full term. Who is your doctor?"

Erin stepped closer and said, "He's in America. We haven't seen anyone here yet."

"Oh. How long has it been since you saw him last?"

"Recently. Doc, just please examine her and tell us why she is having pain."

He listened to the baby's heartbeat and began an examination, then looked up. "I think you're in active labor, but I'll need to do a more thorough examination."

Jack nodded. "That means I'm out of here. Bridget, I'll be right outside."

Taking his hand, Mal smiled. "I know you will."

Dr. Eimar looked up at Erin and she waved her hand. "Do your thing, Doc. I'm staying."

After he examined her, he looked up at Mal. "You're dilated. This baby is coming. You're sure you're only six months along?"

"Certain."

Shaking his head, the doctor pursed his lips. "Well, he's big for that, and he's ready to come. We could fly you to the Hospital at Turks..."

"No, just do your job. Bring the baby, doctor," Erin said suddenly. "Go get something to drink and then come back."

Dr. Eimar nodded and left. Erin looked at Mal.

"I should have expected this. A vampire baby wouldn't necessarily have the same gestation period of a human baby. We're superior physical specimens. It makes sense that the child would develop quicker. Mal, my love, we are having a baby tonight."

"You really think I'm in labor? That it's okay?"

"I really do, Mal. But he has to move you to a room with no outside access because I think we'll be here when the sun rises."

"Okay. Okay, then, we're having a baby."

She came easily. With little trouble and no crying at all, Ahmose and Mal's little girl slipped into the world and opened blue eyes almost immediately.

Erin and Jack watched the nearly perfect little baby wrapped in white cotton, look around the world for the first time as if she was processing everything she saw. When her eyes stopped on her mother's face, Erin was certain she smiled. In spite of everything she knew about babies, it was apparent none of those things necessarily applied to a first blood child.

"She's remarkable," Erin said quietly as the nurse lowered the baby into her mother's arms for the first time.

Mal wanted to respond, but she couldn't speak. There were no words to convey her depth of emotion. Words weren't necessary anyway, because now that the little girl was no longer under the stress of birth, she could send her feelings to her mother. Mal knew in that moment that there was nothing greater or more pure and perfect that the bond of mother and child.

She'd grown this beautiful person inside of her!

Nothing could be more sacred! Tentatively, as if she couldn't believe she actually existed, Mal slipped a finger beneath a tiny hooked finger of her new baby. She was so overwhelmed at this precious contact that tears began to slide from her eyes. Mal glanced up and saw the same moisture in both Erin and Jack's eyes too.

"h.e.l.lo, lovely lady," Jack whispered.

"She says h.e.l.lo to you," Mal whispered back to him. "I can't wait until she's old enough to tell you that herself."

Erin shook her head. "The years do fly. But now, look at what you made."

Erin mirrored Mal's action by lifting one of the baby's fingers as well and studying the extraordinarily small fingernail. "I've never seen such a miracle," she commented with reverence. "A first blood child."

Although she'd whispered it, Jack heard what she'd said.

His head swiveled quickly. "What does that mean, Erin?"

Caught off guard, Erin smiled. "Nothing. An old Celtic saying, you wouldn't know it. It refers to something rare and precious beyond belief."

Jack's eyes went to the baby's face, which, unaware of her supernatural parentage, even he thought seemed incredibly alert for a newborn. "It seems right," he agreed.

"You haven't mentioned her name. Had you decided on one?" Erin asked.

Mal nodded. "My mother was such a loving, spiritual, beautiful soul. I'd like to honor her memory. So, Brigitte, I think. It's fitting and feels right." Mal smiled and looked up at her two friends. "My daughter approves."

Jack stood and came around the bed to the other side to embrace both Mal and her newborn.

"Then welcome to the world, Brigitte."

His eyes locked on the baby, Jack felt a little unsettled at the intensity of her unexpected blue eyes staring into his. He thought that his friend was right, the newly named child seemed to approve.

"She really is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen," he said suddenly, and realized how true it was. While he was looking at her, the baby pushed a hand toward him, her minute fingers splayed, her eyes on his, and he knew...somehow, he knew, she was reaching for him. For him. He responded slowly, because it all seemed surreal, but when he held that tiny hand against his huge palm, everything he thought he knew about the world shifted. Was it just this miracle of birth? Or was this child extraordinary beyond anything he'd ever known. Why did he believe that it was so?