The Devil You Know: Epilogue

Seven and a half months later, Todd, sitting on the edge of a hospital bed with Blair by his side, marveled at the sight of his newborn daughter.  A brief cloud appeared, remembering Jack as a newborn, but the brilliance of this little girl chased it away.  She was perfect, ten little fingers and ten little toes.  The only problem he was having was the bright red hair.  He usually associated it with the more annoying members of his family, Tina or Natalie.  But, for a brief instant, he thought he felt as if someone swatted his arm and he smiled, knowing this baby’s namesake was admonishing him still.



“Red hair,” Blair pointed out, a smirk playing on her lips. 



“Yeah, well, she’s a Lord.  Sadly, I kind of figured that was how it was going to be,” he answered. 



“I’m sure everyone is waiting outside to meet her,” his wife said.



“Let them wait.  I want a little bit of time with just the two of you all to myself.”



As if to protest his words, the door opened and in stepped Starr, Jack and Sam.  “We can’t wait any longer,” his firstborn said.



Todd smiled and nodded for them to come in.  Sam, naturally, jumped up on the bed, but Blair calmed him down and he settled against her.  Starr stood next to her father and Jack leaned against the bed.



“Hello there, you beauty,” she cooed.  In response, the baby opened her eyes and looked at her sister, green orbs staring at Starr in detached curiosity.  “She has mom’s eyes!”



“And hair as red as Aunt Tina’s,” Jack commented.  “You know that’s what she’ll think.”



“Let her,” Todd growled.  Despite his wedding vows, there were still a few family members who he would always barely tolerate and Tina was at the top of the list. 



As if reading her father’s mind, Starr reached into her bag.  “I thought the baby would like to be able to, well, ‘meet’ her namesake.”  Out came a picture from the mantle, of another red-headed Lord. 



It was Sam who spoke up.  “This is our aunt.  She’s daddy’s sister and his guardian angel.  And we named you after her!”



“I still can’t wait to see Aunt Dorian’s face when we tell her that.  You know she’s gonna have a comment or five hundred on it,” Jack remarked.



“Well, then, I’ll just have to tell her that the baby’s middle name was my idea.  That may shut her up,” Blair told him.   



“You really think that will stop Dorian?” Todd asked in a sarcastic tone.



Blair shrugged her shoulders.  “There’s always hope.”



After another fifteen minutes or so of the Mannings alone with the new baby, Viki poked her head in.  “I don’t really want to disturb you or your time with the new baby, but…”



Todd let out a sigh and looked down at his daughter.  “I guess it’s time for you to meet the rest of your crazy family, kiddo.”  Todd handed the baby to Blair and repositioned himself on the bed as Viki was followed in by Clint, Cord, Tina, Victor, Tea, Jessica, Natalie, Joey, Sarah, CJ, Dani, Cassie, Dorian, and surprisingly, Larry and Dan Wolek.  Todd eyed his sister and she smiled, signaling him her reasons silently.  “Okay, in order, this is your aunts Viki, Tina, and Tea, your uncles Clint, Victor and Cord, your cousins, and the one right there is the head of the Cramer Coven, Auntie Dorian.”  Then he took the baby in his arms and brought her over to Larry.  “And this is your Uncle Larry.  He was married to the woman you were named after.”



At that Larry looked at Todd.  His mouth was forming a question, but he was unable to ask it, as he was becoming overrun with emotions. 



Todd nodded.  “We decided to name her Meredith,” he answered simply.



Behind him, Blair piped up.  “Meredith Victoria Manning, after her aunts and uncle.”  Then she turned to Dorian, waiting for the explosion she was expecting.  Surprisingly, none happened. 



Larry Wolek found his voice as his son, the firstborn of the Lord grandchildren, greeted the youngest.  “Hello, my little darling.”  He looked her over.  “Red hair, just like your aunt.  I know she would be overjoyed to know you and know you were named for her.”  He handed the baby back to Todd, who brought her back to her mother, as the rest of the family greeted Meredith Victoria Manning.   


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