Satin Bruises

Months passed after what the people of the Circus referred to as "the Romanov Fiasco," and things calmed down considerably. Jean-Claude, Asher, Reilly, and Raleigh unified the city's preternatural community into the single most effective system seen on the North American continent. The eyes of the entire world turned toward them, and preternatural creatures the world over came to St. Louis for advice or sanctuary. Reilly won custody of Conner and Jean-Claude moved them into the lap of luxury in a beautiful Victorian house, minutes from the circus. It became an unofficial haven for the down-on-their-luck magical beings of St. Louis. Jean-Claude and Asher spent so much time there that Raleigh took to running the circus at night. Micah and Raleigh moved into a penthouse in the Circus, but only after promising Jean-Claude that this one wouldn't be covered in blood within the first week of them living there. As for Conner, there was no happier eight-year-old. His life was transformed from the world of his controlling grandfather to having two legitimate fathers, who fell all over themselves to spend time with him. Reilly teased Jean-Claude and Asher mercilessly about the boy, but the idea of an heir was still too novel to phase the old world men. Life was good for everyone, especially for Raleigh. Especially this particular morning.

Micah had left Raleigh in the morning. She could barely remember his lips against her forehead as he crawled from underneath the blankets. She finally got out of bed around ten and instantly knew something was awry. She stumbled over to the calender posted on the refrigerator, staring tiredly at the glossy paper. Her eyes fell upon the week highlighted in red, the week of her period. Raleigh pulled out her phone and looked at the date, then looked back at the calender. Unless someone had played a cruel joke on her and changed the date...

"You can not be serious," she mumbled as she stumbled back to the bedroom for clothes.

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"Oh my god! Are you serious?!" Reilly shrieked, jumping up and down. Raleigh squealed and joined her sister in her giddiness.

"When are you telling Micah?"

"As soon as I see him!"

Reilly continued giggling, then froze. "Shopping."

"What?"

"We need to go shopping...like now."

"For what?"

"Baby stuff!"

"We don't even know what I'm having!"

Reilly grabbed her car keys and purse. "Ever heard of unisex?"

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The twins parked the Camaro at the end of the street and began walking among the adorable stores. They ducked into a children's boutique and bought a few onesies and tiny little socks. Then they raided an antique book store, fighting over the last copy of a H.P Lovecraft leather bound first edition. As they meandered down the street, they laughed and joked. Then, suddenly, Raleigh froze outside of an Italian restaurant. She stared in the window.

"Reilly," she whispered. "I'm hungry."

Reilly rolled her eyes and dragged her sister into the restaurant. As they waited to be seated, Raleigh inhaled the full bodied scents of the meat sauces. Her newly heightened senses were going hay-wire. Suddenly, in the midst of all the voices and smells, Raleigh heard a familiar laugh. Her eyes scanned the crowd until she found him.

On the other side of the restaurant sat Micah...with another woman. She had dirty blonde hair elegantly pulled up in a ponytail. Her hands were animated as she recanted some story to Micah, who smiled and laughed harder. Raleigh nudged her sister harshly and jerked her head in the direction of her Nimir-Raj.

"Who the hell is he with?" Raleigh growled. Reilly, stunned, was unable to find words.

"Um...I...I'm not sure."

"Well, I'm about to find out."

Raleigh sauntered angrily over the their table and, before either one of them took notice of her, pulled up a chair, sitting down with a huff.

"Who is she?" she demanded, glaring at Micah. Reilly ran up behind her, trying to tell her not to make a scene.

"Shut up Rie," Raleigh snapped. She pointed at the blonde woman. "Micah, Who. The. Fuck. Is she?"

"Raleigh, this is..." Micah began, and was rudely interrupted by his girlfriend.

"I mean, Christ! Really?! After all that we've been through and all that I have done FOR YOU?! And you repay me like this?!"

People around them were started to shoot the group nasty glares. Micah and Reilly shot them apologetic glances, the witch visibly agitated at the commotion. Finally, in a rush, Micah answered her question.

"Raleigh, baby, this is my sister."

Raleigh froze, her mouth slammed open. Behind her, Reilly tried to hide her face so nobody could see she was trying not to laugh. Raleigh's hand shot to her agape mouth, shocked and embarrassed. Slowly, she rose out of her chair and walked outside, leaving the rest of the party confused. After a brief pause, Raleigh returned to the table and held her hand out to Micah's sister.

"Hi, I'm Raleigh and I'm not out of my mind, I promise," she said charmingly. Micah's sister shook her hand and laughed.

"I'm Beth and I don't think you're crazy," she said nicely. "Please, sit down and join us." The twins accepted gladly, Reilly relieved beyond reason that things had been resolved. The group enjoyed a pleasant lunch, until Reilly realized what time it was.

"Oh no!" she yelped, looking at her watch. "I have to go get Conner from school and then I have tons of applications to go through."

She snatched up her purse and shopping bags, gave Raleigh and Micah tight hugs, and shook Beth's hand, telling her that it was a pleasure meeting her. Then, she bolted from the restaurant.

"Applications?" Beth said curiously. Micah and Raleigh nodded.

"We are going to start a boarding school in one of our half-way houses," Raleigh explained. "So Reilly is going through applications for professors."

"Boarding school? For...kids? There are were...kids?" Beth asked stunned.

"Unfortunately..." Micah answered. "Most of these kids either lost their parents in an attack and they got infected, or they had parents who were infected. Not all of the kids we have are were's, can you imagine having a little psychic or witch in a fundamentalist family? More often than not, they're put out on the street without training."

Beth stared at the pair in disbelief. "That's horrible," she mouthed.

"It's sad, yes, but at least they have a place to stay were they'll be looked after and taken care of," Raleigh sighed. "A few of them have really taken to your brother."

"Well that's sweet. Kids have always loved Micah and he's always liked them," Beth added, winking at Raleigh. Raleigh winked back at her King's sister and Micah rolled his eyes. The girls continued chatting back and forth, losing track of time. Micah looked at his watch, then at the most important women in his life.

"Ladies, I hate to interrupt you, but Raleigh and I have to head out. We've got a pard meeting tonight."

"Oh lord that's right," Raleigh mumbled.

The couple bid Beth a fond fare-well and left the restaurant arm in arm. Micah lifted Raleigh into the Tundra, ever since he installed a lift kit and bought larger tires Raleigh couldn't get in it without help. Micah climbed into the driver's seat, started the car and pulled out into the street. Raleigh began reading her new Lovecraft book, Micah slyly eying the bags at her feet.

"So," he started. "Who's the baby stuff for?"

"Who's what?" Raleigh asked, still immersed in her book.

"The bag of baby stuff at your feet. Who is it for?"

Raleigh looked at the bag and shrugged. "For you."

"For me? What the hell are you...wait...are you?"

"I'm pregnant!!!" Raleigh shrieked, slamming her book shut and jumping around in her seat, clapping her hands. Micah stopped the car and stared at her, his mouth and eyes wide.

"Are you serious?! How?"

"Come on Micah...really?"

"That's not what I meant. I mean I had a vasectomy when I was with Anita. They used silver."

"Well," Raleigh began, beginning to deflate, fearing that Micah would not share her enthusiasm. "Were's heal quickly. It could have easily reversed itself."

Micah sensed his Nimir-Ra's excitement waning, replaced instead with fear. Her eyes were no longer shining, her smile began to fade as her hands fidgeted in her lap. Micah turned off the car, undid his seat belt, and got out. Raleigh's eyebrows furrowed together in confusion as she undid her own belt. An angery man behind them laid on his horn and shouted something at Micah as he walked to Raleigh's side of the car. Micah stopped at pointed at the man.

"You shut the Hell up! he snapped. "I'll come back there!"

Micah opened the car door and grabbed Raleigh by the waist, pulling her toward him. Raleigh's heart raced as she wondered what he was doing. The Leopard King held his queen around her hips and kissed her tenderly, pressing his forehead against hers. His green eyes met her hazy silver ones and he whispered.

"I don't care how it happened. I'm just happy that it happened to us."

Tears of joy spilled down Raleigh's face as she smiled widely, kissing Micah a thousand times over. All the while, the angry man behind them slammed on his horn and screamed at the lovers.