«Rennie… I'm pregnant with our child,» she murmurs with a radiant smile, pressing her hand gently over mine against her belly.

Tears of joy stream from her eyes like rivers, her gaze shining with happiness.

«O-Our child…» I repeat weakly, my voice trembling.

Isabelle… does she really carry my child? Could that even be possible? I'm a vampire, she's human… I never imagined our two species could conceive. I should ask John Hawkley to confirm, though the thought of his answer terrifies me.

If the answer is no… it would mean the child isn't mine. But then what should I do? Pretend not to know she's pregnant with another man's child? Demand a DNA test? Isabelle wouldn't take that well. Still, raising a child while knowing it isn't mine… wait.

Raising a child…

If it's not mine, it would bother me. But if it is? I'm only eighteen… am I really ready to become a father? What a messed-up situation… And yet Isabelle has always taken birth control—not that I paid much attention, since in my mind a child between a human and a vampire was impossible. I never bothered with protection… and considering how often I came inside Elaine… no, that's the last thing I need.

«Rennie… please, say something…» she sobs. She hugs me tightly, while the joy slowly fades from her face, probably scared by my silence. Her tears are no longer of happiness.

What exactly should I tell her? I don't even know myself. But I certainly can't stay silent…

«I thought you were on birth control…» I murmur, trying to stay calm. «Anyway… how long?»

«Yes, I was on birth control, and I kept taking it until I found out I was pregnant…» She clings to me even tighter, as if afraid I might abandon her, run away and leave her alone. «It all started my first day in Ashiya… that evening, we had a business dinner at a Japanese restaurant. I ate sushi, and halfway through the night I felt sick. I had nausea and vomiting and immediately thought it was food poisoning. But when they rushed me to the hospital and ran the tests… it turned out I was three weeks pregnant. I don't know how it happened—the doctors said birth control is effective but not infallible, and that even certain foods or generic medicines can interfere with it. Besides the doctors, whom I asked for strict confidentiality, you're the only one who knows—my colleagues think it was just a stomach issue. I know you're still young, and surely the last thing you'd want right now is to become a father, since you're still in school, so I would understand if you told me you're not ready. I'll do whatever you ask, even give up the baby, but please… talk to me…»

Isabelle is now a torrent of tears, so much that I can barely understand her words even though she tries hard to enunciate. And seeing her like this… it really breaks my heart. She was happy when she told me, probably expecting a different reaction from me…

«Do you… want to be a mother? I mean, the mother of your own child, not an adopted one,» I ask her.

She shakes her head frantically—her tears scattering left and right with the movement.

«That's not what matters. I… I just want to be happy with you, Rennie! Your happiness is my happiness!»

«That's not what I asked you,» I reply firmly.

Silence falls. Heavy, suffocating silence.

At last, Isabelle nods faintly.

«I'd be lying if I said no…» she sobs, regaining a little calm. «Because of my work, I never had the time or chance to be with men—in fact, to be honest, I didn't even have a private life outside of work, let alone find the love of my life. And yet, deep down I've always wanted to be a mother. That's why I adopted you. But now… now you're my first and only love. I feel ready to finally be a mother, to give birth to the blood of my blood—our blood—conceived with the only man I have ever loved and ever will love. That's why I said what I want doesn't matter, because if it depended only on me, I wouldn't hesitate to bring this child into the world. But I'm not so selfish as to ignore your feelings…»

After hearing her bare herself like that—opening up more than she ever has before—it would make me a real bastard to ask her to give up what might be her last chance at motherhood, now that she's well past forty. She said her happiness is my happiness, but the same is true for me. Seeing her happy is the only thing that matters to me.

Since the day she adopted me, she has always worked herself to the bone, making endless sacrifices, working inhuman hours, giving up her own life outside of work just to make sure I never lacked anything. And now it's my turn. My turn to do everything I can to make her the happiest woman in the world. And besides, I'm sure I'll get used to having a little Ren running around the house.

I cup my hands over hers and stare deeply into her eyes.

«Isabelle, I want you to promise me something.»

She wipes her tears and nods quickly.

«Promise me you'll take a long break from work, and that we'll raise this child together—I don't want babysitters around the house.»

«R-Rennie…» Her tears start flowing again, but this time they're tears of happiness. She throws herself into my arms, hugging me with all the strength she has. «I promise, Rennie. I promise. In fact, I'll quit my job altogether—with the money I've saved in nearly twenty years of work and my severance pay, we can live in luxury for the rest of our lives. I don't want to miss a single moment of our baby's growth! I can't wait to breastfeed him, change his dirty diapers, and sing him lullabies to sleep. I'll make him plenty of healthy vegetable purées, and when he's a little older, I'll read him books and draw with him. I've wanted this so much, Rennie, you can't even imagine. And knowing you'll be by my side makes me the happiest woman alive. I'm certain you'll be a wonderful father, Rennie. A caring, loving father—the best father that's ever existed. We'll be a family, Rennie. The most beautiful family in the world!»

Hearing her words, I can't help but smile with gentle compassion. They're sincere, straight from her heart—it's clear that Isabelle wants to be a mother more than anything else in the world. And I'll be there for her. I know what it means to grow up without parents, and I would never, for any reason, let the blood of my blood go through the same. I'll be by their side, always, and I'll do everything to be a man and a father Isabelle can be proud of.

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