I was humming to myself, traveling down the path towards my home as I pulled a small wagon of laundry, still wet from washing. I had made plans to go into town and visit with my friends and since today was laundry day, I decided to make an afternoon of it. So, after breakfast, I loaded up my pile of dirty clothes and went to see Azo and Dusca. They were a pair of forest fairies who had adopted me into their circle of friends after I married my husband several years ago. When I arrived in town they scolded me for letting my laundry get so behind, offering their help in the washing. Since I was seven months pregnant and was having trouble working around my large belly, I accepted. I smiled as I remembered our joyous conversation, happy to have such supportive friends.

I rejected their offer to walk me home, as I knew the path from the hidden forest town to my house on the hill was well protected, my husband seeing to that. He had taken me exploring when I first arrived at the sacred forest and I fell in love with a run-down old house at the edge of an abandoned Nephilim village. It was a small structure that sat in a field of lavender, surrounded by crumbling stone walls. My favorite part was the tiny greenhouse attached to one side, perfect for growing my favorite herbs and medicinal flowers. When my then future husband saw how much I loved the place, he set to fixing it up. I remembered how he gathered all of his friends from the village to rebuild the house and enchant the area nearby, protecting us from wraiths and other creatures. I worried to myself that he would dislike living outside of the village, away from all his family and friends. However, that proved not to be the case, as Alastar was somewhat of a loner who greatly enjoyed his privacy. It turns out that in his youth he would spend many hours sulking in the forest alone.

I was pinning the laundry up to dry on the line in the back garden when he snuck up on me.

"BOO!"

I jumped, shrieking a little in surprise. "Alastar! Why do you enjoy doing that?"

"Forgive me, I can't seem to help myself," he said, chuckling. I looked up at my giant of a husband, who I rebuked with a strong glare. He was dressed in his usual leather pants and boots, with a linen top, trimmed in fur at the shoulders. His large arms were covered in elaborately braided bracers, enchanted to aid him in his fight with the monsters of the forest. On his belt were several swords and daggers, all blessed by the sun god. His wild mane of burgundy hair reminded me of a type of feline beast I had seen in one of my books. I always loved the way it fluffed wildly around his head. He had large horns that started at his temple and curled backward and his ears were slightly fuzzy, long, and pointed like that of the elemental people. I self-consciously touched my own small pointed ears, wishing once again, that mine was as long as his. I was only one-quarter fae, so when my long ebony hair was worn down I could pass as a Nephilim with no problem, something I had done for most of my life.

Alastar watched me fidget with my ear, reaching out to touch it between his heavy fingers. I giggled at his touch, which tickled and he smirked, showing off his fangs.

"What are you doing home so soon?" I asked, taking his hand in mine.

"Just stopping in to visit you and the babe," he replied, glancing down at my stomach.

"I think you mean babes," I corrected, moving his hand down to caress my belly.

Alastar raised his thick eyebrows at me, smirking slightly. "Is this another Dusca prediction? She is very rarely right about anything."

"I had a dream if you must know," I sniffed, hurt by his flippant attitude. "The moon goddess spoke to me."

"Is this true?"

"Why would I lie about that?"

Alastar's face broke into a huge smile and he quickly crouched down to bring himself level with my giant belly. He pushed aside the many folds of my dress pressing his ear near my navel.

I laughed as he held me still, confused by his actions. "What are you doing, my love?"

"Shhh, listening."

I stood silently, staring down at the top of his head, wanting deeply to caress his hair between my fingers. I felt my desire growing as I examined his arms, recalling how they held me close each night. I blushed deeply as I thought about the night we conceived. I'm pretty sure it was on my birthday.

"It's true," he spoke out suddenly, rousing me from my daydreams. "I can hear two heartbeats."

"So I was right?"

"We have been truly blessed," he whispered, standing up slowly. As he rose he leaned in, planting a kiss on my lips. I returned his affections, placing my hands along his forearms, enjoying the sweet taste of his tongue.

He has been chewing peppermint again, I thought.

Alastar pulled away, smiling slyly at me and I knew what he was going to ask next. "Do you think we have time for—"

"For a snack? You'll spoil your dinner," I joked, cutting him off. "But I can see what we have in the kitchen."

He frowned slightly, rubbing my shoulders as he spoke. "That is not what I had in mind."

"You have to get back to the forest," I insisted, reaching up to pull his face back towards me. "Who else will guard us against the wraiths?"

"We can be quick," he whispered, kissing me again. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, my belly keeping me from hugging him as deeply as I usually liked. I felt his arms travel down the small of my back, pulling me closer.

"You're never quick," I teased, my breath tickling his ear. He laughed, pulling me up off my feet and carrying me towards the house. I tightened my grip, crying out in weak protest. "Alastar, stop! You'll get in trouble with your father for skipping work."

"Good thing I'm his favorite son," he replied, kissing me one last time before he opened the door.

I awoke, blinking slowly as I recalled the joy and excitement of my latest vision. I fully expected the dream to fade away as most had as of late. Yet as I lay there in my bed I could still remember the feel of Alastar's touch, the softness of his lips.

What the heck, what the heck?! I thought, sitting up suddenly. I hugged my pillow close to my chest as I felt my face turn red. Slowly I reached down to touch my stomach, still remembering the weight of my pregnant belly in my dream. This woman was the same one I had daydreamed about in the shower, and I was pretty sure she was also the bride in the forest wedding dream. If she truly was the same person, then I knew what was to become of her husband. He was the man I saw bleeding on the floor, reaching for me with his dying breath. I wondered how long my bride survived after that. Seeing that she was probably a past life of mine then it wasn't for long.

Did her children make it? How did the husband Alastar die?

I was still thinking about my dream as I wandered into the kitchen, in search of breakfast.

Alastar, Alastar? Where have I heard that before? I pondered, straining my memory banks.

"Good morning Dai-dai!"

"Hey Maya," I replied, not quite looking at them as I automatically went to the cupboard to look for my cereal.

"It's all over here," Maayan called out, waving at me. I walked over to the table where our assortment of cereal, the carton of milk and a stack of bowls and spoons sat waiting.

"Did you get this all ready?" I asked, picking out my favorite granola.

"I did," they smiled cheerfully.

I smiled back, sitting down to enjoy my bowl of cereal. My thoughts returned immediately to my dream as I stared out of the window, looking at the pile of leaves we had built next to the oak tree.

Where have I heard that name before?

Casimir walked into the kitchen and I suddenly remembered.

"You!" I said, a little too loudly. Alastar was the name I had said in the bed when Casimir was in his wine-induced dream sleep. When he kissed me and called me Selene.

Is Selene the girl from my dream?

I raised my finger to point at the young man, who froze as our eyes locked. I wanted very much to ask him what he knew but stopped myself, realizing that Maayan was sitting next to me, very much intrigued.

"I gotta go," he said lamely, turning to rush out of the room.

"Wait, Casimir!" But he was gone, the door to the bathroom closing loudly down the hall. I cursed under my breath, returning to my cereal. Maayan was staring, their brain pulsing with confusion.

"Is something wrong?" they finally asked, mock whispering over the table.

I shook my head, laughing to defuse the tension. "No it's fine, we're fine."

"You can be honest with me," Maayan pressed and I could see tears forming in their fairy's eyes. I felt bad, lying to Maya, who had been nothing but kind to me. I just wasn't ready to share any of this new information in detail, at least not until I could understand it better.

"Ah, um, it's just past life stuff," I confessed, stirring my cereal. "Awkward, embarrassing past life stuff."

"Oh, okay. That makes sense," Maayan said with a small nod. I smiled as the fairy began tapping their spoon across their lips, humming to themself as they thought.

"I promise when I get a better handle on it I'll talk to you about it."

"Deal!" Maayan chirped. "And if you need me to chase down Casimir for you, I'll help."

I laughed loudly at the thought of Maya chasing Casimir. "Sounds good."

We finished our breakfast and got dressed, returning to the living room to set up for my birthday party. Azar had finally woken up, deciding to watch us clean up the room as he chewed lazily on some bacon he had cooked for himself. At some point, Casimir must have come into the kitchen to eat because when I returned, after getting dressed, all the food was put up and there was a note on the fridge saying he had run into town. I knew he couldn't avoid me forever, especially if I threatened to turn him into Grandpa.

As we set up for the party we decided to use the fold-out table from the farmer's market to make a snack station behind the couch. I also got the bright idea to grab a few extra chairs and pillows for people to sit on, as the living room barely fit four people comfortably and we were trying to cram in six. I was fixing my makeup and changing into my cute but comfortable party outfit of leggings, a purple high-low top, and a long flowy cardigan when I got a text from Zola. They had arrived at the train station and I was still without a car. I texted Casimir, asking him to grab the girls at the station and he replied with a thumbs up and a smiley face. I rolled my eyes and returned to the living room, filling the drink bucket with the sad amount of ice I found in the freezer and doing any last-minute checks.

Grandpa walked into the room observing briefly my sad attempt at decorating, with balloons taped in the corner of the ceiling and a banner Maayan had made, hanging from the window.

"Looks nice in here," he commented, smiling.

"Not too shabby for a few hours of work," I joked.

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small colorful paper bag. "Happy belated Birthday, dear."

I took the present from my grandpa, smiling broadly. "Aw, what did you get me?"

"A bill for all the years I took care of you," he replied, snickering at his own joke.

"Ha-ha," I said, opening up the bag. "If that was true I'm sure I would be getting a much bigger box."

Grandpa shrugged, still smiling as he watched me pull out my present. It was a small keychain of my favorite childhood cartoon character, Sharky. He was a strange mascot turned cartoon star from Japan who had the head of a shark but the body of a teddy bear. He always wore a sailor cap and collar and went on wacky adventures with his other toy friends. I had no idea why I was so obsessed with this weird little critter, but that obsession seemed to follow me as I grew up. I knew grandfather must have braved the internet to buy this little guy because of the Japanese writing splashed all over the package.

"Oh my gosh, yes!" I cried out, examining him closely. "I love him, thank you!" I rushed forward to hug my grandfather, who wrapped his arms around me tightly.

"Now this one is extra special Diana," he began, turning on his lecture voice. "This little guy has been enchanted so that if you are ever in trouble you can press his stomach and it will alert us to your location."

"What? How even?" I asked, holding the keychain even closer now. It didn't seem special but then again, neither did my locket which had the ability to protect me against wraiths.

"I pray to the gods that this never happens but better to be safe than sorry."

"Amen to that," I mumbled. I opened the key chain, my grandfather showing me how to activate it when we heard the familiar sounds of people coming up the front steps. I stuffed my keychain into my pocket just as the door opened and my friends Zola and Sunita spilled inside, Casimir right behind them.

"We're here!" Zola sang out, holding a paper bag high above her head. "Let's party!"

"Hello Mr. Hartmann," Sunita greeted, nodding at my grandfather.

"Hello Sunita, Zola, good to see you again."

"We have stuff that needs unloading," Zola admitted, handing me the paper bag. "Here are your special sodas, birthday girl."

"Yeeeees, melon soda," I hissed, opening the bag happily. "I'm gonna put them on ice. Which reminds me, we have no ice." I looked over at my grandfather sadly who shook his head.

Casimir walked past, holding a bakery box and a few other items in his arms. "Oh I bought ice, don't worry."

"He's good," Zola commented, following Casimir into the kitchen to help him unpack. I went outside with Grandpa to help unload the truck and was given one feeble item to carry due to my arm. Azar and Maayan showed up to assist and the living room was quickly crowded with happy chatting and unpacking of snacks. Zola triumphantly showed off her new video game system she had brought, complete with a stack of games, one involving singing. Azar seemed the most excited because he apparently had played these games before with his roommate Joel. I had a hard time imagining this but he insisted he was pretty good.

I heard the jingle of keys and looked over to see my grandfather pulling on his coat. "Okay, kids I'm gonna get out of your hair."