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“If you keep hovering, I’m going to stake you.”

“You wouldn’t. You love me way too much.”

I shove my beautiful and amazing mate away. She might be a walking wet dream come to life and one of the best things that’s ever happened to me but that doesn’t mean I appreciate her hovering. I’m only pregnant. I don’t need her to help me with every little thing. I’m not some helpless princess, thank you very much.

“I do,” I concede, “but you’re on thin fucking ice.”

Page helps me sit down in the grass. My stomach is round and I can feel our baby kicking around inside of me. It still fills me with wonder that I get to have this at all. A baby? A mate? A familiar?

Fuck, it really wasn’t that long ago that I was mystified by all of this, so fucking sure that it was all an elaborate prank. Turns out, just because I refused to see the truth doesn’t mean the truth wasn’t right there in front of me the entire time. I just needed to open my eyes and see it.

Speaking of my familiar. “Where’s Casper? He’s supposed to be here by now.”

Casper sits down beside me with Ash in his lap. “I’m here. Sorry I’m late. Ash was taking a nap and I didn’t want to wake him,” he says but there’s a blush to his cheeks that tells me he’s only telling half the story. His hair is a mess and there”s a new love bite on his throat.

“Right,” I say slowly, “naptime went long. Uh huh.”

“Shut up,” he says back, elbowing my arm.

Page growls at him before she can stop herself. “Hey, babe?” She looks at me like a love sick puppy. “Can you go get us some ice cream?”

“I’m on it.”

Once she’s gone, I pull Ash into my lap. “Hello, my little love bug. How’s my favorite godson?”

Ash smiles up at me. I never used to like babies. And maybe I still don’t. But this baby? I love this baby.

The five of us have no plans for the day for once, just meeting at a park and enjoying the gorgeous weather before it starts to get cold. I lean forward, kissing Ash’s adorable face until he’s screaming and pushing me away with a giggle.

A little purple butterfly flitters over to where we’re sitting and I smile to myself.

Not every spirit I meet is someone in need. Not all of them are here against their will until they learn to find peace. Some of them flit across the veil, just to take a peek, just to make sure their loved ones are doing alright.

I hold out my hand, letting the wispy, translucent butterfly land on my pointer finger. I reach over and take Casper’s hand. He opens himself up to me like he always does, allowing me to run my magic through him until he can see what I’m seeing.

“Oh, that’s lovely,” he breathes out.

“Yeah, it’s beautiful, isn’t it?” I turn towards him, squeezing his hand. “And I wouldn’t have it if it weren’t for you.”

“Lady Fate brought us together,” Casper says with a grin. “Her timing might not have been your timing, but it all worked out nonetheless.”

“It really did.” I lift my hand higher, watching as the butterfly flies up into the sky before disappearing once more. I have no idea who it was checking up on us, but I have a feeling they liked what they were able to see.

I lean back into the grass, putting my hands on my round belly. I breathe a sigh of contentment. Lady Fate has a sense of humor to make someone as cynical and emo as me into someone who helps usher people into the afterlife, but hey, at least I have the aesthetic for it?

This isn’t the life I pictured for myself, but it turns out, Lady Fate really does know best because it’s the best life for me and those around me. I can’t wait to see what else She has in store for us.

The End