Chapter Thirty: My Daughter:

I took good care of Bayu while she was pregnant. I worked hard to keep my promise. Anything she wanted to eat, I got it for her. I set up her bed to be as comfort as I could make it. I gave her so much of my attention. She seemed to perk up over the months. Despite that dark ring around her neck, everything seemed fine.

I created the baby’s room next door to Irani’s room. He was getting used to the idea of having another child around soon. Sure, he would be older but still, he wouldn’t be so lonely anymore, right?

Heaven and my kingdom won’t stop talking. They have seen my sons in the living realm. They are what you call nephilim. It sounds so strange to me. It doesn’t make sense either. It just kind of stuck. But what would child number five be?

“Here you are,” I said as I served Bayu her sweet plum juice.

“Thank you,” she said. I watched as she took a drink.

“Is there anything else I can get you?” I asked. My love shook her head. She held out her hand towards me. I took hold of it. Bayu gave me a little smile. I was aware that some of my subjects didn’t approve of my relationship to an angel. Some of them saw me as weak. They thought I didn’t learn from my years with Kayako. But I didn’t care. I loved my wife and I still do. I think they might be motivated by fear. They are afraid this child will overthrow me somehow. I didn’t think this child would. I was going to love them no matter who or what they turned out to be.

They called it a weakness. Maybe it was but somehow I was okay with that at the time.

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My daughter was born in the spring of 1616. I could see the little dark pink hairs on her head. Bayu spent most of the night in labor. I remember the night her water broke. Her screaming woke me up from my nap.

“Luci! My water broke!” she yelled. I jerked myself up from bed when it started to connect in his head. I leapt out of bed and ran to her room. Bayu lay in bed, holding her stomach.

“It’s here!” she cried. “I’m in labor! Ow!” I reached over to her bed and rang the bell. Everyone in my castle was wide awake from my bell. Two nurses made it to the front door.

“The baby is coming!” I shouted. “The baby is coming!” Everyone started rushing around to get to work. I held my wife’s hand.

“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered. “Just start breathing.” Bayu took in heavy breaths.

“Mama? Daddy?” I heard from the doorway.

“Get out of the way!” one of the nurses yelled. I turned in time to see a nurse pushing my son out of the way. She ran forward to Bayu and I. Irani fell back on his butt.

“Ow,” he said. I couldn’t go over to him.

“Just go back to your room,” I said. “Mama’s going to be fine!” My son looked up at me.

“But…” he said.

“Go back to bed!” I shouted. Irani looked upset but he quietly stood up. I watched as he walked back to bed. I knew that he would be back. Bayu squeezing my hand drew my attention back to her. Her screaming filled the room. I took all of it. I was going to stay by her side no matter what. I would take all of the pain and screaming like a good husband. I was there for Kayako through her childbirth. Bayu was going to be no different.

“I’m going to die!” Bayu screamed. I kissed her on the forehead.

“You’re not going to die,” I said. “You can do this.”

“She’s crowning!” one of the nurses yelled.

“Push!” the other nurse yelled. My strong beautiful wife started to push. I didn’t know that she had such a strong grip. I think she about broke my hand. It didn’t matter to me. I was going to keep my promise to her.

My daughter was born three in the morning. I remember that day. They said it was raining in the living realm. That meant nothing to me. When I held my daughter for the first time, I knew that everything felt right.