Zac glanced at the clock, and raised his eyebrows. Okay, he knew he had gotten a little distracted playing computer games with Saku, but he hadn't realised it was that late.
"Huh, weird," he said. "Who could be visiting at this hour?"
Saku shrugged, an unreadable expression on his face. The game was paused and the two made their way to the front door. Zac looked out the window.
"Can't see anyone," he frowned.
Despite this, Saku opened the door, and swallowed hard, seeing the baby on the doorstep.
"What the..."
"She's gone now," Saku said softly. "Wrong... all wrong..."
"I agree. Who leaves a baby on the doorstep?" Zac said, kneeling down to check on the child.
"No... not that..."
Saku stepped outside, looking around.
"Must have gone," Zac said. "Well, guess we'd better get the baby inside."
Zac picked up the box, and Saku absently picked up the bag and they carried them in.
"Anything of interest in the bag?" Zac asked.
Saku opened it. The first thing he saw was a thick envelope, which he handed to Zac, and then put his attention on the baby. Zac opened the envelope and pulled out a number of pages. His eyes rested on the one on top.
"It's from Wendy," he exclaimed, and read on:
"Dear Zac,
This is your daughter, Heaven Lee Harrington, although I imagine you would like to change her name to Hanson. Tony found out that she was yours and not his, and well... he was very angry, as I'm sure you can imagine. Mostly for the deception, but the fact that she was yours in particular annoyed him - we both know what he thinks of you.
I love Heaven very, very much. Please understand that I would not have done this lightly. When Tony found out, he started looking at Heaven differently. If it had just been hurt in his eyes I may have waited it out, but there was more than that, and I was afraid."
Saku felt a shiver run down his spine at those words.
"I love Tony, and I really want to continue our life together. We hope to have children that belong to both of us one day. But I know I cannot keep Heaven for this to happen. Tony would always see her and know what she symbolises, and that would get in the way."
Zac frowned.
"She's crossed this next bit out: I cannot be certain that she would be safe."
Saku shuddered.
"I hope one day I can be reunited with Heaven, but in the meantime, I have enclosed the custody papers and her birth certificate. In the bag, as you may have noticed, are her clothes and toys.
Please, don't try to contact me. Tony and I are moving, and it would be best if Tony doesn't find out we're in contact.
Take care of our baby girl,
Wendy"
Saku whirled around and grabbed Zac's wrists.
"Get her out of there, Dad!"
"Who?"
"Wendy! Get her out of there!"
"I don't know if I can do that, Saku."
Saku pulled back and put his hands on his head.
"Saku? Saku what is it?"
"It's all wrong! Wrong, wrong, wrong!"
"What is? Saku, why do I need to get Wendy out of there?"
Saku pulled his knees up to his chest, wrapped his arms around his legs, buried his face and wept. Zac looked at him in surprise.
"Saku?"
"She was afraid that Tony would hurt Heaven. Physically hurt Heaven, Dad. And... and I think he hurt her too..."
Zac looked at Saku in silence. He didn't like Tony, but he didn't actually believe he was capable of hurting Wendy or Heaven. On the other hand, Saku had uncanny instincts for protecting women and children, no doubt a legacy from his grandmother.
"She said that she was moving - "
"She may not be gone yet! And you know their last name - Harrington!"
"I'll try, okay?" Zac said. "I'll do my best, but I can't make any promises. And I wouldn't want to do her a disservice by revealing my ugly mug anywhere Tony can see it, okay?"
Saku was silent.
"Okay," he said finally, in a still, small voice.
"Now," Zac said. "We can't do anything right now, except get Heaven sorted. I don't have an extra crib - we'll have to get one tomorrow. Actually, it's after midnight now isn't it? So we'll get one later today then. I guess she can stay in her box until then..."
Saku nodded.
"Oh, and look at this," Zac said, "A little medical history for me. That's useful."
Zac chatted on, checking on everything that Wendy had supplied, and sounding cheerful, although Saku's declaration had him rattled. After a few minutes, Saku leaned over, waved his hand over Heaven and mumbled something. Zac gave him a curious look.
"Protection spell," Saku explained, eyes focused on his half-sister. "I put one on Elektra and Dee Dee and even Brock. Keep them safe."
Zac put his hand on Saku's shoulder.
"Thank you," he said softly. "Thank you."