I could be a father. Raphael stood dumbfounded at the notion. I could be a father, and there lies the woman who could be the mother of my child, despondent, broken, and an empty shell. He couldn’t let this go on a moment longer.“Serena.” He sat gently on the bed beside her. “Serena, you must know something very important. You must listen, Serena. You can still have children. Do you hear me? You were healed of everything wrong with you. Emma saw to that. So you can have the children you’ve been dreaming of, Serena.”She lay motionless, her stare devoid of all acknowledgment of Raphael’s presence. “Serena!” Raphael grasped her shoulders and shook her. “Serena! You’ve got to listen to me. You’ve got to snap out of this, sweetheart.” He grabbed her in a furious embrace that brought back tragic memories of holding Sirona in the same desperate way. Fear gripped him and frustration churned. He didn

Ecstatic! Phenomenal! But something held Serena back from saying so. How can I be a mother when I’m not even in my right mind? “How do I feel? I feel like we shouldn’t put the cart before the horse. I feel like we should find out for sure whether I’m pregnant or not.”“Shall I get Monica in here? She’s waiting right in the living room. She’s been here for some time now, taking care of you.”“Oh yes, please!” Serena cried out, sitting up in bed and fussing with the blankets.“Okay, wait here. I’ll be right back.”She looked around her as he left. Mortification set in as she remembered everything that had occurred, all of the things she had said and done. Her thoughts were interrupted by Monica breezing into her room.“Well, hello! Welcome back to the living, my dear,” Monica cooed as she sat beside her. “We’ve got a lot to talk about, haven’t we?”“Yes, we do. Thank you first for coming out and helping me. It’s been a difficult time to say the least. You know, Jared is dead.” Serena’s

Serena’s mouth fell open as she peered out the living room window, curiosity having gotten the better of her. She stared in awe at Raphael’s immortal magnificence. She’d no idea where his shirt had gone, but thanked the dear Lord for the loss, as he was a vision to behold. Muscles rippled across his broad shoulders and down his arms as she watched him inspect his hands. She smoothed her palms over the window, aching for it to be his hard chest and stomach beneath them instead. She watched as he raised his arms to the sky and took flight.Raphael caught her watching through the window and smiled back. She hid back against the wall, banging her head in the process. How embarrassing, to be caught doing a Peeping Tom act! A light tapping on the window told her he had flown over and awaited her response. Though completely humiliated, she found herself turning again toward the window. There he stood, wind whipping madly about, tussling his hair in glorious disarra

A stray sunbeam fell across Serena’s face, warming her cheek and gently stirring her awake. She groaned and turned over. She groaned again, this time from subtle aches she felt from deep within. With eyes still closed, she smiled, remembering how she had acquired those aches. She reached out across the sheets in hopes of finding Raphael beside her. And he did not disappoint. “Dreaming of me, sweetheart?” Raphael whispered. “I’m always dreaming of you,” she sighed, and scooted closer so she could wrap herself around his hulking mass. “You’re my dream lover, remember?” He held her right back, tenderly kissing the top of her head. “I much prefer being your lover when you’re awake. How are you feeling? I heard you groan a little. Would you like any particular spot massaged?” “Oh, aren’t you a randy little angel? Or should I say, devil? I’m a little achy, but it’s a real good ache. A shower should do the trick. You know what, though? You could massage righ

Although she wanted to, she couldn’t respond… at first. Stuck in a vicious cycle of being caught and murdered, she had to reach out to the present to pull herself free. After a short while, she opened her eyes and took in a deep breath. She looked at Monica and Raphael.“Serena, love…are you all right? Please, tell me you’re all right,” Raphael urged.“Yes, please. Tell us you’re okay,” Monica added.She lifted her hand and pointed at Raphael. “You…you’re Raphael. I called out for you and you never came. I…I was Sirona, the Goddess of Healing, and murdered for not giving my gift to those degenerates. I was…your wife!”As awareness dawned on her, she scuttled out of Raphael’s arms and stood strong on her own two feet. She may have been petite, but at this moment she felt like the fiercest Amazon warrior. “She’s the one who’s been in my hea