I smiled as Vee lifted her baby higher so that I could view it through the Skype camera that connected us. He looked just like Vee, with his round cheeks and soft blond hair. You could barely tell the boy was Gavin's, only in his eyes and nose. Everything else about him was pure Vee.

"Meet my little man, Gavin Louis Smythe the Third," Vee announced proudly, holding the cooing baby protectively in her arms.

"Gosh, Vee! He looks just like you!" I exclaimed, laughing.

Vee smiled, glowing with pride. "You think so, Babe?"

"Of course!"

I heard the front door open and close and Patch's familiar footsteps begin to climb the stairs to our bedroom. He was finally home. As Patch appeared in the doorway of our bedroom, Vee saw how distracted I was. She typed a quick instant message to me and ended our Skype call.

The message read: Nice talking to you babe, have fun with Patch. ;) xoxo, Vee.

I smiled and clicked out of the browser, shutting down my laptop just as I felt a pair of warm, strong arms envelop me. Patch's minty breath tickled my neck and caused me to sigh lightly. I felt his cheek tug up in a smirk against my hair. Miss me, Angel? He spoke into my thoughts, kissing my neck gently.

Another sigh escaped my lips. "Only a little."

Patch chuckled and unraveled his arms from around me. "Was that Vee?"

I nodded, swiveling the desk chair to face him. I stood up, taking his hand in mine and leading him to our bed. He sat down and I quickly crawled into his lap. "She had her baby. He's just gorgeous. Looks just like her."

"Mmm…" Patch breathed against my hair, running his nimble fingers over the soft auburn curls that flowed down my back.

We sat there for a while, captivated in each other's arms. I thought about Vee becoming a mother, how a sense of normalcy was seeping back into our lives. Vee had gotten married, just had a baby, and taken the normal route of life after the war had ended. There were no more fallen angels… well, none other than Patch. Nephilim were free to do whatever they pleased without having to worry about Cheshvan or swearing fealty. That's what I was. A Nephilim. Before now, there had never been a Nephilim and a fallen angel in a relationship. But Patch and I had made an oath to each other, to love each other. That was what you could call our "marriage". And children? Well…

I cleared my throat, turning my head up at Patch. "Um…"

Patch lifted his head from my hair, looking at me curiously. "What's on your mind, Angel?"

I had to just say it. "Patch, what do you think about babies?"

Patch smirked slightly, his dark eyes glinting with humor. "Never been around much of them, really. Not my kind of crowd."

I felt warm blood rise to my cheeks and I turned my head away. "I'm being serious."

Patch's finger nudged my chin and turned my face to look at him, All humor had faded from his eyes, and he seemed to be searching my face. "What's this about, Nora?"

I sighed. "Well, we've been together nearly seven years now, and Vee and Gavin just had a baby, and…" My voice trailed off, and I heaved my shoulders in a shrug.

Patch grew still, and I could practically see his mind trying to grasp what I was saying. His mouth was set into a tight line, and his eyes roamed mine, searching for something he seemed to be intent on finding. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I heard his voice, quiet and almost timid, in my head. Is this was you really want?

I nodded my head, and Patch sighed. "Angel, we don't even know what species the kid would be. I'm pretty sure a Fallen Angel and a Nephilim have never had a kid before."

"We could ask the archangels."

Patch's eyes glazed over. "No."

"Why not?"

"Because as far as I remember, they still aren't too fond of me."

"Basso let you feel again."

Patch smirked, but it disappeared as fast as it came. "That still doesn't mean that they like me."

"We at least could try."

"And what if they don't know?"

I narrowed my eyes. "You know, it wouldn't kill you to be a little more optimistic."

Patch rolled his eyes. "Nora, I'm just trying to be safe here. I don't want our child to bring havoc to the world. And most importantly, I don't want to hurt you."

Irritated, I stood up and took a few steps away. "When will you realize that I'm immortal too? Nothing can kill me."

His black eyes seemed to darken more, and he stood up. At six foot two, he towered over me, but that didn't mean I was backing down. "Just because you can't die doesn't mean you can't be hurt enough to wish you were dead. I don't want to see you in pain, Nora."

I threw my arms up, exasperated. "We don't even know if I can have children!" I pushed a few auburn ringlets away from my face and looked away from Patch. "It was just a thought. Forget I said anything."

"Nora…"

I turned towards him, my face set in a harsh grimace. "I said forget it."

I grabbed a jacket that was draped over a chair in the corner of our bedroom and slid it on, walking out of the room.

"Where are you going?" I heard him call behind me as I bounced down the steps of our two-story modern house.

"Out."

"Out where?"

"To clear my head!" I shouted up to him as I opened the front door and slammed it shut behind me.