Chapter Eight

Drake

What the hell was happening to me?

I was sitting on Bethany's couch in the middle of the night with a sleeping baby in my arms and a fallen angel dozing at my side. This wasn't just unusual—it was surreal. I'd seen a lot in my long, complicated existence, but nothing quite like this.

Lily had woken up, her tiny cries shattering the stillness of the apartment, and I'd automatically picked her up, bouncing her gently until she settled against my chest. Bethany, exhausted from the day and everything that had happened, was fast asleep next to me, her head resting against the arm of the couch. She looked peaceful, her bent halo sitting on the coffee table, and I couldn't help but smile at the sight.

As Lily continued to fuss quietly, I went in search of the bottle of formula that Bethany had prepared earlier. After taking it from the fridge, I returned to sitting on the couch. I positioned the bottle and hesitated, taking a moment to wonder if I was holding it correctly. It wasn't as if I'd ever done this before, but Lily's tiny mouth latched on almost instinctively, and she began to drink.

The apartment was silent except for her soft sucking noises and Bethany's gentle breathing. The smoky scent of the extinguished candles lingered in the air, mingling with the faintly sweet smell of Lily's baby lotion. It was such a simple, quiet moment, yet it held more weight than anything I'd experienced in centuries.

I looked down at Lily's small face, her little hand resting against my fingers, and something inside me broke open. A flood of emotions that I had long since locked away, or perhaps forgotten, came rushing back. Regret. Longing. And—of all things—joy. Real, bone-deep joy.

And then I realized I was crying.

It was absurd. I hadn't cried in over two hundred years, not even when I thought I'd lost all that was left of my humanity. But now, here I was, with tears streaming down my face, dripping onto Lily's tiny fingers. She cooed softly, as if sensing my turmoil, and I couldn't help but smile through the tears.

"I'm a mess," I whispered, my voice barely audible in the quiet apartment.

I looked over at Bethany, her face soft and relaxed in sleep, and I knew then, with a certainty that shook me to my core, that I loved her. I loved everything about her—her determination, her kindness, her humor, her imperfections that made her who she was. And somehow, she had become the most important person in my world.

Nothing meant anything to me anymore but this—right now—Taking care of these two people. I didn't care about power or wealth, not anymore. I cared about them—about Bethany and Lily. And the thought of being a father, of creating a life with Bethany, was more appealing than any amount of power or immortality could ever be.

"I love you," I murmured softly in the stillness, my voice breaking. I looked down at Lily, her eyes fluttering closed as she drifted back to sleep. "And God help me, I love you, too."

What was I supposed to do with that?

Before I could spiral any further, there was a knock on the door. A soft, tentative knock that broke the silence like a ripple on still water. Bethany stirred beside me, her eyes fluttering open as she blinked sleepily.

"Did I fall asleep?" she asked, her voice thick with exhaustion.

"Yeah," I replied, my voice still hoarse. "There's someone at the door."

She frowned, glancing at the clock on the wall. It was nearly three in the morning. "Who could it be?"

"Only one way to find out," I said, shifting Lily gently so she was cradled in one arm. I didn't want to put her down. Not yet.

Bethany stood, stretching before heading toward the door. She opened it cautiously, and I heard her sharp intake of breath as she recognized the visitors.

Standing on the doorstep were two police officers, their uniforms crisp against the backdrop of the dimly lit hallway. Beside them was an older woman with silver hair pulled back in a neat bun. Her face was lined with age and weariness, but there was a warmth in her eyes that made her seem familiar, even though I was certain I'd never met her before.

"Are you Miss Bethany Snow?" one of the officers asked.

"Yes," Bethany replied, her voice tinged with worry. "Is everything all right?"

The older woman stepped forward, her eyes softening as she looked at Bethany and then at me, holding Lily in my arms. "My name is Rose-Marie Chamberlain," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "I'm Lily's grandmother."

The relief that washed over me was almost overwhelming, and I felt Bethany relax slightly beside me. But Rose-Marie's expression was still heavy, and I knew there was more to the story.

"Please, come in," Bethany said, stepping aside, allowing them to enter.

The police officers stayed in the hallway, but Rose-Marie walked in slowly, her eyes fixed on Lily. I could see the emotion welling up in her eyes, and I knew without a doubt that she was telling the truth.

"I...I can't thank you both enough for taking care of her," Rose-Marie said, her voice trembling slightly. "My daughter, Lily's mother, has been struggling with her mental health ever since her husband was killed in the service. He never got to meet Lily, and it's been...so hard on her."

I glanced at Bethany, seeing the tears already gathering in her eyes. I struggled to keep my own emotions in check as I listened to Rose-Marie's story.

"She had a moment of crisis," Rose-Marie continued, her voice breaking. "She made a poor choice leaving Lily the way she did, but she's agreed to get help, and we're doing everything we can to support her. My husband and I will be caring for Lily and her older brother Liam until my daughter is ready to take them back."

Bethany couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She let out a quiet sob, covering her mouth with her hand as she tried to regain control. I felt my own throat tighten, the weight of everything pressing down on me.

"We've fallen in love with her," Bethany said, her voice barely audible through her tears. "In just a few hours...she's precious. She's..."

Rose-Marie nodded, her own eyes shining. "I know…She is. And I promise you, she's in good hands now."

Bethany wiped at her tears, sniffling softly. "Can we...would it be all right if we came to visit her? Maybe...babysit sometimes?"

Rose-Marie's face softened into a genuine smile. "Of course. Lily's brother, Liam, just turned four. He could use a positive male role model in his life. If you're willing, Mr. Youngblood, I know he'd love to spend time with you. Maybe playing ball at the park?"

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her words settle over me. I knew I shouldn't promise something like that, not when I was supposed to return to New York. But as I stood there, with Bethany by my side and Lily in my arms, I couldn't imagine leaving. Not now. Not ever.

"Call me Drake," I said quietly, meeting Rose-Marie's eyes. "And I'd like that. I'd like that very much."

The older woman smiled warmly, reaching out to take Lily from my arms. I hesitated for just a moment before letting go, feeling an unexpected sense of loss as the child's warmth left my chest. Rose-Marie held her close, whispering softly to her as she rocked her gently.

"Thank you," Rose-Marie said, her voice full of gratitude. "Thank you both."

Bethany managed a watery smile, nodding as Rose-Marie and Lily turned to leave with the officers. I watched as the door closed behind them, the weight of the goodbye settling over the apartment like a heavy fog.

And then, without warning, Bethany burst into tears. She collapsed against me, her body shaking with sobs, and I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close as she cried into my chest. I pressed my lips to the top of her head, whispering words of comfort that felt inadequate against the depth of her pain.

"I love you," I murmured, my voice rough with emotion. "Bethany, I love you."

She looked up at me, her eyes red and swollen, but there was a light in them that hadn't been there before. "You do?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"If I can find a way," I continued, my voice steady despite the chaos in my heart, "I want to stay here. In Sweetberry Hollow. I want to make a life with you, curse or no curse. If you'll have me. Even though I am what I am."

Bethany let out a soft laugh, her tears still streaming down her cheeks. "Yes," she whispered. "Yes, I'll have you. And I love you too…just as you are."

I leaned down, capturing her lips in a kiss that was soft and full of unspoken promises. It was a moment of clarity in the midst of all the uncertainty, a moment that made everything else fade away.

But then, there was another knock on the door.

Bethany frowned, pulling back slightly. "Who else could it be?" she asked, wiping at her eyes.

"Maybe Rose-Marie forgot something," I suggested, though there was a sinking feeling in my gut that told me this was something else entirely.

Bethany crossed the room, opening the door cautiously. And there, standing on the threshold, was Delilah.

The evil witch grinned wickedly, her crimson lips curling into a smile that sent a chill down my spine. My heart plummeted as I took in the sight of her, standing there in all her elegant, wicked glory.

"Who—?" Bethany started, her voice laced with confusion.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what was about to happen. "Bethany," I said slowly, "this is Delilah Montgomery. My...boss."

"Delilah Montgomery?" Bethany repeated, her eyes narrowing. "The devil?"

Delilah laughed, the sound sharp and full of dark amusement. "Close enough, darling," she purred. "I followed Drake here because I couldn't trust him to follow orders. And now that the shop is doing well—congratulations on the blood drive, by the way—it's time for Drake to come back to New York where he belongs. Back to work for Montgomery Enterprises."

I felt my anger flare, the heat of it pushing back against the icy fear in my chest. "No," I said firmly, stepping forward. "I'm not going back. I've decided to quit and stay here, in Sweetberry Hollow. This is where I belong."

Delilah's smile faded, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "You're defying me?" she asked, her voice deceptively calm. "Even though I own part of your soul? You gave it to me quite willingly, as I recall. We had a deal."

"That's right," I said, meeting her gaze head-on. "And I'm taking it back now."

For a moment, there was silence. And then, to my utter confusion, Delilah's lips curled into a genuine smile.

"Good," she said, her voice soft with approval.

I blinked, completely taken aback. "What?"

Delilah turned slightly, gesturing to someone behind her. "I didn't come to town alone," she said, her voice laced with anticipation. "I brought my husband with me. This seems like the perfect time to introduce you—and Bethany—to him."

A figure stepped out from around the corner, and as he came into view, I felt my heart stop.

He was tall and imposing, with golden hair and piercing blue eyes that seemed to see straight through me. There was an ethereal glow about him, a light that was both blinding and comforting at the same time. And as he stepped forward, I recognized him immediately.

"Gabriel," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Bethany's eyes widened, recognition dawning on her face. "Gabriel! You're here!"

Delilah laughed, the sound light and joyful as Gabriel smiled, bent his head to hers and planted a light kiss on her red lips.

"Haven't you heard?" She continued as she and the archangel circled their arms around each other's waists. "Opposites attract. We're two sides of the same coin."

Gabriel's expression was warm and reassuring as he gazed at us. "Delilah was hoping you'd reclaim your soul all along, Drake," he said, his voice deep and resonant.

"Yep," nodded Delilah. "It only took you two hundred years."

I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. I was too stunned to process what was happening.

"Are you sure you want to be human again?" Delilah asked, her voice gentle in a way I'd never heard before.

I looked at Bethany, the woman who had changed everything, and I knew there was only one answer. "More sure than ever," I said, my voice steady.

Delilah nodded, and with a simple gesture, I felt the weight of the curse lift from my shoulders. It was as if a chain I hadn't known was binding me had finally been broken, and for the first time in centuries, I felt...free.

Gabriel turned to Bethany, his eyes kind. "Now it's your turn," he said softly. "You've earned your wings back, Bethany. You helped Drake and Lily find their ways home by opening your heart. Would you like to come with me now to your heavenly home?"

Bethany looked at me, her eyes searching mine, and in that moment, I saw her make her choice.

"I don't want to go to heaven," she said, her voice steady. "At least, not yet. I'm in love with Drake, and I've realized that I don't need to be perfect to be happy. All I need is love. I want to make the most of my time here, instead of hurrying to what comes next. My parents can wait a little longer."

Gabriel nodded, his smile widening. "Indeed. Your wish is granted," he said, squeezing Delilah to his side. "We wish you both well."

And with that, they lifted their hands in a wave and disappeared, leaving behind nothing but a faint shimmer in the air.

I turned to Bethany, my heart pounding in my chest, and without another word, I pulled her into my arms, holding her close as we both tried to process everything that had just happened.

"It's over," I whispered, my voice thick with emotion. "And I'm staying. For good."

Bethany smiled up at me, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "You mean, it's just beginning."

And as I pressed my lips to hers, I knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, we would face them together. This was the end of one story, but the beginning of something new. Something beautiful. Something real. And at last, I was ready.