Wolf stretched and yawned as he rolled over in the queen-sized bed he shared his wife, Virginia. Automatically, his hands reached for the love of his life and he pulled her close to snuggle against the warmth of her back. He couldn't quite get his arms around her swollen middle nowadays, with her being so close to the time of their wolf child's birth, but just being near her was enough to bring a satisfied smile to his face. He looked forward to the days soon to come when he would be able to hold his creamy, dreamy girl tightly in his arms again and cuddle her close without the baby coming between them.

Virginia allowed Wolf to pull her to him but showed no sign of wanting to awaken. She had been so busy since their return to the Tenth Kingdom two weeks ago that she'd had little time to rest. Within just a few weeks of returning from Red Riding Hood's Second Kingdom in the past and saving the three kingdoms from the aggressive invasion of the Trolls, finally were able to enjoy a long-awaited honeymoon. Soon after, the wedding of King Wendell and Rose, Wolf’s sister, kept them hustling and bustling for a bit longer. Finally there was Virginias decision that she would make the Fourth Kingdom their home permanently, which led them to where they were now.

"Are you sure this is what you want Virginia?" Wolf had asked her. "This is my home and I know that you'd stay with me if you thought I'd be happier here, but will this life...this place really make you happy?

"Wolf, I've been thinking a lot lately," Virginia had responded thoughtfully. “For the sake of all of us, I know that we need to make your world our permanent home. Sooner or later, if we stayed in Manhattan, someone would be bound to realize that you're different. You can't hide that furry tail of yours forever," she had joked playfully. And how do I take a baby with a tail to a New York pediatrician, she'd added with a twinkle in her eye. Then there’s the small detail of a kingdom which needs a king,” she said, referring to the Second Kingdom of which Wolf was now the heir. Wolf had drawn her into his arms and looked longingly and lovingly into her eyes. "We can live anywhere, my succulent love, as long as we're together. He tried to pull her close for a kiss but Virginia grasped Wolf's forearms, holding him back as she looked earnestly up at him.

"But that's not all, Wolf," she said, watching him to make sure that he understood. "I want to live here too. After all that we've been through in the last few months, I don't want to go back. I have so much invested in my life here. I have friends who love me, adventure and excitement at every turn, and a sense of purpose…no… destiny, that I've never had before. And then there are the memories of my mother. This was where I found her again. For a short time I had a mother, Wolf,” she shared wistfully. “Can you understand why I need to stay?"

"But what about your past?" Wolf said studying her carefully. "You'll be leaving behind family and friends and your career."

At the word career, Virginia laughed and rolled her eyes. "Career! You know I was fired from my job the last time that we were here," Virginia reminded Wolf. "And family? You mean Grandma? I had no luck trying to explain our marriage to her the last time we came back, never mind introducing her to a grandchild with a tail. And do you really think my grandma would learn to love the man who tried to eat her for breakfast?"

Wolf looked at her sheepishly as her recalled how he'd followed his baser instincts that day and frightened Virginia's grandmother half to death when he threatened to throw her in the oven a piece at a time. "My family is here now with you and dad. And as for friends," she continued, "I've found truer friends in the Nine Kingdoms that I could have ever hoped for. King Wendell has opened his castle to us and accepted us into his family. Your sister, Queen Rose is the sister I've always wanted but never had. Then there's Snow White, who has appointed herself my ‘Fairy Godmother From Beyond’. It's not every day," Virginia teased, "that a girl gets herself a Fairy Godmother. I count Queen Cinderella and Matilde, the queen of the fairies and daddy’s future wife, among those whom I love. Oh Wolf, I couldn't ask for better friends!" Virginia exclaimed happily as she pulled her husband into her arms and snuggled against his strong, masculine chest. Wolf smiled happily, convinced that if Virginia believed that her choice was right for them both, then all would be well.

Later, when they'd both informed Tony of their decision, he had been elated. Tony had long ago decided that the life on an inventor to the king and husband to a fairy queen was preferable to that of a janitor. And now that he was soon to become a king with his upcoming marriage to a beautiful Queen Matilde, the decision was made even easier.

Virginia's one concern, she'd informed Wolf and Tony, was that she not leave as her mother had left them when she'd disappeared from their lives so many years ago. She felt a need, she'd said, to clean out their apartment and find closure with her grandmother. That done, she could depart her world in peace.

"I have to say good-bye, dad, for her sake and mine,” she had told Tony. “She's already lost a daughter. I don't want her to think we've disappeared too. I'll tell her we're moving far away to another country and maybe from time to time, I can send a letter back through the mirror to tell her that we're all right."

"That's fine by me," Tony had said. "And while you're there you could do me a favor."

"And what might that be?" Virginia said suspiciously.

"Well," Tony stated hesitantly, "there's not much from our old life that I need here. Even the money we've accumulated from the sale of the magical beer is useless in this world. But what I could use is a few of the mechanics and repair books that I keep in the study...along with a few new ones on...uh...the industrial revolution and inventions," he said quickly.

"Daddy!" Virginia exclaimed, looking at her father with a shocked expression crossing her features. "You're not going to bring our world here, are you? I mean, the cotton gin, heat and electricity is one thing but can you imagine what airplanes and taxis and skyscrapers would do to the beauty and peace of the Nine Kingdoms?" she said indignantly.

Tony turned to Wolf looking for support but Wolf shrugged noncommittally, trying to stay out of the argument. Tony looked back at his daughter, humbly realizing his defeat. "Fine. I see your point," he conceded. "Look. You choose the books you feel would best help me to serve the kingdoms. I trust your judgement." He smiled at his daughter.

Virginia had closed the gap between herself and Tony and stretched her small frame to wrap her arms around her father's neck. "Thanks, Dad for your faith in me," she said as she hugged him warmly.

By mid afternoon of the same day, Virginia and Wolf had returned through the mirror to the woods in Central Park, leaving behind instructions to turn the looking glass on for one hour each day at ten a.m. after their first two weeks away. Virginia wasn't sure how long they would be staying but she hoped that two weeks would be enough. And now, a little over three weeks later, they were ready to return home.

Wolf was roused from his reverie as Virginia shifted her position and groaned beside him.

"What is it, my love?" he whispered into her ear, which he paused to nibble while he was there.

"Wolf," Virginia moaned as she tried to turn toward him, then uttered a sharp cry of pain.

"Virginia," Wolf yelped with concern. "What is it?" He rolled her over to face him and looked into her eyes for a clue. What he saw brought a pang of fear to his heart. "Are you all right, my love?" he asked. Virginia couldn't answer. Her face contorted in pain and she drew her legs up, trying to curl into a ball. Wolf waited for the pain to pass as he stroked her forehead. Suddenly it dawned on him. "Is it time, Virginia? Is it the baby?" he asked as he bolted upright in bed.

"I don't know," she managed, between gritted teeth. "It hurts so bad. What do I do? This wasn't supposed to happen here. I'm not due for a few more weeks yet."

"Oh Cripes. Oh Cripes." He hopped out of bed and began to pace nervously. "Okay, okay. These things take time. It's still early. It's only eight thirty a.m. The mirror won't be on for another hour and a half. Oh Cripes. What do we do? Ok. If we can get you to the park, we can go back today. We should have plenty of time to get you home. Okay. That's it. Do you think you can make it my love? I'll carry you if you need me to." Wolf stopped pacing and looked at Virginia for an answer.

"I don't know, Wolf," Virginia whimpered as a tear rolled down her cheek. Wolf rushed back to her side and cradled Virginia's head in the crook of his arm.

"Oh, don't cry, love of my life. It will be alright. I'll get you safely home. You can count on me. Here. Let's see if we can get you up." As he spoke, he shifted Virginia into a sitting position and pushed back the blankets from around her. Wolf gasped as he looked at the sheets where she was now sitting, leaning against his arm. The deep velvety red of Virginia's blood was soaking into the bedding around her and was now running in a little stream down her legs. "Oh no! Oh no!", Wolf cried. "Virginia! What's happening?" he shouted as the fear he had been feeling now turned to panic. "Virginia! What's happening? What do I do?" he whimpered helplessly.

"I don't know," she cried, the fear in her own voice matching that of her husband's. "I need a doctor. Something's wrong Wolf. I need a doctor!"

"But where do I find one, my love? Where do I go?" he asked fighting the urge to run into the street and scream at the top of his voice for help.

Then Virginia spoke words that sent waves of nausea through Wolf's body. "You've got to go back, Wolf. You've got to get help. Go get Rose. She'll know what to do. And bring King Wendell's personal physician. If our baby is born here there's no telling what they might do to it. We can't risk getting a doctor from this world. You've got to go back."

"But Virginia," Wolf whimpered, "I can't leave you alone like this. How can I leave you?"

"You must, Wolf," Virginia gasped as another pain hit her. "It's our only hope." She clamped her lips tightly together and motioned for Wolf to help her lie back down on the bed. He settled her down carefully, resting her head on the pillow, and went to the closet to get some towels to absorb the blood that was continuing to flow from his wife. He knew she was right. She desperately needed help, he thought as he wiped up the blood, every drop of which contained a small bit of her life. Virginia closed her eyes to rest and Wolf sat down by her side, holding her hand and watching alternately the face of his beloved and the face of the clock on the bedside table. His anxiety increased with each time he changed the towels around her that had filled with her precious life giving fluid.

When finally the hands of the clock reached nine forty, Wolf spoke again. "Virginia. My love. It's time. Are you okay?" he whispered anxiously.

Virginia opened her eyes slowly and looked lovingly up at her husband. "I love you, Wolf," she whispered. He choked back a sob as he looked at her lovely, pale face. “If I go now, Tony will be turning the mirror on in a few minutes. It should be ready by the time I get to the park." He reached out to her and took her delicate hand in his. "I'll get you a doctor and I'll be back as soon as I can. Hold on, my sweet love.”

Virginia smiled faintly and reached out to him with her free hand. Wolf leaned close and gently brushed his lips against hers. "Oh, Virginia. Please be all right. I love you so. Please hold on," he whispered against her lips. Then he rose and, with a last reluctant look, he forced himself to move toward the door. He paused and sighed heavily, closing the door as he left. Then Wolf ran from the apartment, rushing headlong for the park, the mirror, and his only hope for saving the life of his wife and their precious unborn baby.