New York, one of the busiest cities in the world, surrendered to the forces of nature, as each intricate snowflake fluttered down upon a light wind to bank in drifts on the streets below, causing the city to come to a virtual standstill, on this twelfth night of January.
The futile sounds of car horns blared throughout the city, as if something could be done to accelerate progress, to finally admit defeat, as one by one car doors slammed, keys were heard tickling in locks, and the drivers left their vehicles, to trudge to the nearest subway.
By nightfall the flurries were thick and heavy, and soon the deserted streets were coated in a virgin carpet of snow, which knew no boundaries as it sifted through cracks and crevices into buildings, under doors, and piled up high against window ledges. The yellow of the street lamps cast a honeyed glow upon the snow. Like some spotlight with no celebrity to shine upon.
Anna Pater walked dejectedly through the forsaken streets, with one thought in mind. Somewhere out in this desolate city was someone that needed her. She knew not where she was going, only that her heart ached for someone lost to her.
Her hands and feet were frozen, her face pinched by the cold, but she did not seem to notice as she walked steadily onwards seeking something, anything, that would bring relief from the void that she felt. A gnawing need that drove her onwards through the silent night, searching every shadowy corner, every lonely alley for she knew not what.
Listening intently, through the muffled sounds of the city, she stilled herself, as a tiny cry floated towards her on the wings of a breeze. Anna’s heart lifted just fractionally, and as the cry came again, she quickened her pace towards the sound.
As she neared the grounds of St. Vincent’s hospital her heart sank. No doubt the sound had come from the maternity wing. She looked longingly at the building, brushing away a tear. This was the last place she should have come.
Memories flooded to mind, bringing with it a gush of tears she had until now, been unable to shed. All her dreams crashed around her, as she sank wearily to her feet.
She tortured herself with one thought; ‘I should be a mother.’ Seeing the lights flooding out across the grounds from the hospital windows, Anna suddenly knew what she had been missing. Her arms ached to hold her own baby, to have someone of her own to cherish, to cradle to her breast.
Yet that was not to be since her own child had been denied the right to life. Anna had withdrawn inside herself since that fateful day, refusing to believe her own child had gone forever, and she had searched for him ever since.
Warm tears broke through the numbness of her skin, and Anna realised just how cold it was. A person could die out there in the snow, yet until this moment she had been unable to feel the frozen earth, as the flurries swirled around her. Getting to her feet, she noticed not far from where she stood were some footprints, and idly she followed them with her eyes. They led towards a bush, and then backtracked. Anna thought it was rather strange, and curious, she decided to follow them.
They were large prints, obviously a tall man, or a short man with big feet; the thought amused her as she conjured up images of the person who had made them.
It was rather a large bush, and Anna had to hold back the branches to see beneath, taking care that they did not scratch her face. The light was not good here, but she was just able to make out a bundle of something, and hesitated, before reaching out a hand. Half way to it, she stopped. What was she doing? Picking up someone’s discarded rubbish, it could contain all kinds of distasteful muck. Pulling back her hand, she let go of the branch and straightened, desperately looking around to see if she had been noticed. Anna sighed with relief when she saw there was no one nearby. The sound of her sigh, ruffling the amber coloured silken scarf that she wore around her neck.
Stepping back, she trod on a fallen twig that snapped between her foot and the frozen earth, causing a loud crack. Instantaneously a sharp wail came up from the area of the bush, and Anna was down on all fours in a flash. Tugging back the branch once again, her hand reached for the bundle that lay beneath, her heart pounding in her chest as she carefully withdrew the ragged shawl surrounding the tiny child within.
A lump caught and constricted in her throat, as she carefully pulled back the shawl to reveal one of the most startling faces she was ever to lay her eyes upon.
In that moment Anna and child fell in love, as eyes met eyes, and Anna smiled for the first time in weeks.
Carefully snuggling the child beneath her coat, Anna, looked around quickly, then, as no one appeared to have noticed her, she hurried away towards home.

Announcing her arrival the pipes quietened as Anna walked into her own chamber, to lay the precious bundle upon the bed. Carefully extracting the ragged shawl and bringing a candle nearer to see better, Anna gasped as the full delight of the child lay beneath her. His eyes an intense shade of blue, stared back at her, his little clawed fist grasping the air between them. Anna could not believe what she was seeing; only knowing that this child was unique and needed her protection and love like no other. It seemed to her that the fates that had brought them together were meant to be. Her own child stillborn, leaving her bereft with grief, and this child motherless needing love and security.
A rustle in the doorway caused her to straighten, and she turned to shield the child from prying eyes, to find her husband John stood there, a mug of hot soup in his hands. “”You have been gone for hours Anna, you must be frozen.” he handed her the mug, and as she hesitated, asked her, “What have you got there?”
A reply was unnecessary, as a sharp wail came from behind from this momentary neglect, and John strode across to the bed to stare down at the child.
“What is it?” he demanded, “An animal?”
“No!” Anna rushed to pick up the baby, cradling it against her, “It is a child”, she told him.
“Let me see it again.” he asked her.
Slowly, Anna turned the child towards her husband. The child’s eyes challenged his, defying him to call him an animal again.
Putting out a hand, John stroked the baby’s face, “How unusual” he spoke as if to himself, “Has Jacob seen it.”
“No. No one has. I have only just come in with him.”
“Then let us go and see him, perhaps his doctoring skills can throw some light on this miracle.”
Warmed now by her husbands’ acceptance, Anna took his hand and the pair of them took the child along to Jacob Well’s chamber.

“He’s incredible.” Jacob’s eyes widened with delight as he gazed down at the baby, minutes later. “Are you certain it’s a boy, Anna?”
“No, but I just feel that he is.”
“Would you mind if we looked at him properly. I should like to see the rest of him.”
Anna nodded, “I should too.”
Unwrapping the tiny mite carefully, all the while talking to it, as each vestige of clothing was removed to reveal a part of the child’s anatomy, the three onlookers gasped. Finally naked upon Jacob’s bed, the child was indeed, found to be a male. Anna smiled, “See what did I tell you.”
“He’s remarkable”, Jacob told them, “I have never seen anything like it in all my life.”
“How do you suppose he came to be this way?” John asked.
“If I knew the answer to that John, I’d be a millionaire. Could be a freak of nature, a form of bestiality, a scientific experiment, who knows, whatever caused it, he is just perfect. Look at that body hair, why it’s like a soft golden down from head to foot. Yet the feet look at them, almost human, long and silky smooth, not like his hands at all. I wonder what he will grow up like?”
Anna looked at the two of them; “Will we be around to see that. I mean can he stay here with us?”
“My dear”, Jacob linked his arm through hers “Can he stay anywhere else? He needs the sanctuary of our world here, Below the city streets. Whatever forces were at work this night to have you find him, must not be angered by turning him away. Of course he must stay.”
“I wonder what power lies behind those hands.” John mused, as if to himself. “He could be a leader, a warrior. I bet he will be a fearsome beast when he is grown.” his mind conjuring up ideas already for the child’s future.
“John!” Anna spoke sharply to her husband, “Don’t. Please don’t. He is only a baby, how can you be thinking of him that way. He is a child, not an animal. Don’t let me ever catch you calling him a beast again, ever, do you hear me?”
“I hear you Anna, and I promise you will never hear me say it again, however, I cannot promise that I won’t think it.”
Anna glared at him, “Then I will not consider you as his father John. From this day forth, that right belongs to Jacob. He and I will bring up the child, between us.”
“No!” John flung the words at her, “You are my wife. And if you accept this child as your own, then he becomes my son. And he will grow to be a great warrior; you’ll see Anna. With one such as he at my side, we will go from strength to strength, and we will be unstoppable.”
“I don’t think I like the sound of that John.” Jacob told him seriously, “What we have here is a haven for peace, and if you have other ideas against this, then you had best learn to forget them now. There is enough violence in the world Above, without bringing it here to our world. This child has the potential to become great, yes, but great in the works of love, compassion and honesty, not hate and injustice.”
John Pater glowered at him and as he turned to leave the room, they heard him mutter, “We’ll see Jacob, we’ll see.”

The first three days were the worst. The young child cried solid for the entire time. First Anna, then John then Jacob cradled the mite, pacing the floor of their chambers’ trying to soothe the baby. The problem was what to feed the child. Not fully aware of his make-up, it appeared that formula milk was too harsh on his tender stomach, and neither of them knew of anything else that could be given.
Fearful that the formula would do some damage, Jacob tried the last resort to pacify the child to sleep against giving him more milk, and he started to sing to the baby, a soft lilting lullaby, remembered from his own childhood. The words at first lost from his thoughts, a few words here, some humming there, until at last they jogged his memory and suddenly a full flood of words slipped into place, as they were recalled to mind.
The child stilled to listen, not just to the voice, but to the expressions that chased across Jacob’s face, as he tried to remember the song. Aware now that the child had stopped crying Jacob looked down into that sweet little face, and smiled as the big blue eyes still wet from tears, scrutinised him. It was almost as if for the first time, some bonding was taking place, and Jacob knew at that moment a swell of love within his heart grow rapidly for the baby. Bending his head, he placed the gentlest of kisses, upon the downy head, and stroked the tiny feline nose with one finger. The baby sighed, and settled deep into his embrace, closed his eyes and slept peacefully.
Jacob let out the longest of sighs as his body relaxed, and he laid the sleeping child into the makeshift cot. The baby stirred a little, making Jacob hesitate, praying with all his might that the child would not wake, and smiled when the baby put one of its own thumbs into its mouth to suck while sleeping. ‘Maybe that’s it’, Jacob thought to himself, as he straightened, ‘if I could find someone willing to breast feed the child, that could be the answer to this problem about feeding’. Feeling somewhat at ease now, Jacob tiptoed away to put a message out on the pipes, for any member of the tunnel dwellers with a small baby to contact him.

While he waited, his own son, Devin came to find him. The boy was about four years old, and since his mother died in childbirth, Devin had been brought up by his father, and anyone else who would spend time with him.
“Hello Devin, what mischief are you in now?” Jacob asked the child, ruffling the mop of black hair, absentmindedly.
Devin scrowled, why did his father always assume, he was up to no good. “Came to see baby”, he told his father defiantly.
“The baby is sleeping Devin, you can see him when he awakes.”
“Want to see him now.”
“Not until he wakes. Run along now, go and find Anna, I need to close my eyes for a while.”
“Anna is sleeping. Want to stay with you.”
“Well you can’t, I’m tired, I have been trying to get the new baby to sleep for hours, let me rest now, run along. Devin.”
Resentment filled the young child’s heart, as he stood motionless glaring at his father.
“Do you want scolding?” Jacob asked the boy, “Do as I tell you. Now go.”
Devin ran out of his father’s chamber, but stopped outside the door. As soon as he felt his father was asleep he crept back in and made his way towards the baby. It was unfortunate for Devin, that as soon as he gazed down with disbelief at the strange looking baby, that Jacob woke, and seeing Devin stood there, he jumped to his feet, crying out, “Don’t touch him!” The sound of Jacob’s voice woke the sleeping child, and a wail came up from him, soon followed by a hearty cry, and Jacob groaned, “Now look what you have done!” he yelled at the cowering boy,
“It wasn’t me.” Devin trembled, as his father brought down his hand to slap his leg, “You woke him.”
“Don’t be insolent.” his usual calm attitude disrupted by lack of sleep, made the boy cringe, and bending to pick up the baby, Jacob told him, “Leave us, and don’t come back until you are sorry for what you have done.”
Devin ran then, the tears be-dimming his eyes, threatening to overflow, bravely holding them back, until he was well away from his father’s chamber, where the tears began to fall so fast he was unable to stop them. That’s where Anna found him, his little body shaking uncontrollably, his heart broken.
“Devin,” her soft voice cut through his misery, “What grieves you so?” Devin hiccuped, “Him”, he pointed a finger back in the direction of his father’s chamber, “Arh” said Anna, understanding at once, “Your father, eh?”
Devin nodded, unable to speak, and Anna enfolded him into her arms. “Don’t fret so love,” she told him, “Your father is tired, we all are, me, John and your father. The baby has cried for days, and we are exhausted, can you understand that. Tiredness makes us all short tempered. Your father will be better when he has had some sleep, just like I have had. I was on my way to take over from him.”
Devin looked at her with his big brown eyes adoringly, his lips still trembling with sadness. “He said I woke the baby.” Devin told her. Anna’s eyes lit up; “The baby was sleeping! Why that’s wonderful.” her eyes took on a distant look, and Devin had to touch her before she came back to the present to speak with him again. “Yes?” she questioned him; “Did you want something else?”
Devin re-coiled. For a moment he felt that someone cared about him, and then as soon as the baby was mentioned, he was forgotten.
Resentment flared in his young heart, hampered by a touch of jealousy. Everyone it seemed preferred the baby. Anna’s next words confirmed this, “Devin, I have to go now. If the baby is awake again, your father will be relieved to see me. Run along now wipe away those tears. Big boys don’t cry.”
Then she was gone, leaving him standing there, feeling lost and alone, as the tears gathered and fell once more.

“Have you thought of a name for him, Anna.” Jacob asked a few days later, when the baby had settled into a routine, and tempers were less frayed.
“No. Many names have gone around and around in my head, but there is nothing I can decide upon. Have you any ideas Jacob?”
“Only one. You found him outside St. Vincent’s Hospital did you not. Why don’t we name him Vincent?”
Anna’s face lit up, “That would be lovely Jacob. Yes I like that. And have you found anyone to wet nurse him yet?”
“No-one specific. Some of the young mothers, express their own milk and bring that along, and it does seem to me that is what he needed, for a certainty, he hasn’t had a tummy upset since we stopped giving him formula milk. Why do you ask?”
“I was reading one of your medical journals last night. It tells me that anyone who has given birth will have milk, even at times when it seems to have dried up, with stimulation it can be brought back again, in some cases even years later. I was wondering, do you think I could give it a try? It would mean so much to me to be able to look after him in this way. I feel so useless, and though I have a baby to hold now, its not the same as having the one that was lost to me. What do you think, can I try?”
Jacob’s face was wreathed in smiles, “Of course my dear, that would be a splendid idea. It is only three weeks since your own baby...well, you know.”
“Died Jacob. Its all right I can say it now. Don’t be afraid to talk about it, I’m not.”
“Then would you like to take the baby and try now. I have to go out for a while, you shouldn’t be disturbed, if you would like to stay here and try, and I’ll call out before entering, when I return.”
“Thank you Jacob, that’s very kind of you.”

When he had left, Anna took the still crying child, and undressing enough to expose one breast, she very carefully placed the nipple into the baby’s mouth.
The result was instant, as soon as the baby felt the obtrusive nipple; he latched on tightly, and sucked as though his life depended upon it.
Anna laughed, “It’s a good job you know what to do, for I’m a little unsure. Is that better now?”
The big blue eyes stared up at her, while the tiny mouth sucked for all it was worth. Anna could see that nothing was coming out, but she was optimistic, and at least the breast comforted the child. Soon the lids closed over those beautiful eyes, and he was sound asleep. Anna smiled, for the first time since she had found him, she felt he were truly her own.

Each time the child woke hungry, Anna would do this, and then after extensive sucking, she would reward him with a bottle of warm expressed milk, donated by other mothers Below. Yet within thirty-six hours, Anna found her own breasts filling with milk, and jubilant she went along to his cot, picked him up from his slumber and put him to her breast. Even in sleep he nuzzled her found the nipple and sucked. Anna was overjoyed as she heard and saw him swallowing, and a great feeling of pride and love swept over her, to know that now she was his life force, and her body the sustainer of life for which she had been brought forth.
From that day, the child could only progress in leaps and bounds. Anna had found her joy in life, and Jacob standing by to help as much as possible found his heart bursting with love for this child that had survived and was thriving against all the odds.
Only two resented the time that the baby was given, John Pater and Devin Wells.

Vincent was growing rapidly with every passing month, when a confrontation came between Anna and John. The time she had spent away in Jacob’s chamber incensed him. “Why can you not, bring the child to our chamber?” he yelled at her one day.
“Because it makes sense to feed him in Jacob’s, that’s where the crib is after all. As soon as the child is asleep, I can lay him down, come back to you, and know that Jacob will look after him in my absence.”
“I don’t understand. You found the baby, and made yourself his mother, I am your husband, and it stands to reason, that the child should be with us. While you go about your daily business, it is I that should have the right of looking after the child, not Jacob.”
Anna glared at him, “Jacob loves him.” she told him, as if it would make it right.
“And you think I do not?” he challenged her.
Anna tugged at her lower lip with her teeth, “It’s not that John, it’s just, that, that...”
“Its because of what I said isn’t it. You know the day you found him. I told you he would make a warrior. I still believe that Anna. I think he will grow to be a mighty one among us. But as to love, well I love him no less than Jacob.”
“How can you say that John. Why you have spent so little time with him? I cannot believe you love him as much as Jacob, or, or I.”
“Then you are wrong. Perhaps the love I feel is not so intense as what you feel, how can a man begin to know the maternal instinct of a woman, but I do love him, and I see him as my son, and I intend to take him with me when we leave here.”
Anna’s eyes opened wide, her mouth refused to utter the words her mind was telling her, “We’re leaving?” she whispered in disbelief, “When, where?”
“Not yet but soon. While you and Jacob, have been playing mummies and daddies, I have been opening up some of the lower tunnels. Its a bit colder down there, so I want to wait until the child is stronger before taking him there, and then when he is, we shall go, and we shall start a new life for ourselves with our son.”
Anna started to shake her head, slowly from side to side, “No John, I won’t let you. To take the child away from Jacob, why it will break his heart.”
“And what of my heart Anna. Jacob already has a son, one he does not even want or love. Can you not see what he has done to Devin? Why the child is starved of affection. Do you not think Jacob knows this? He feels it is too late to re-capture what he has lost with his own son, so he has stolen mine, to start afresh. I won’t allow this Anna, the child is mine, and he and I together will become great in the eyes of this community, and no-one will challenge my leadership with my son at my side.”
“Is that all he is to you! He is, isn’t he? That’s the only way you need him, as a means to accomplish this bitter dream you have. I cannot allow you to do this John.”
“You have no say in the matter, as long as you are my wife, and the child is your son, then he is my son, but even if you were no longer here, he would still be my son. I can offer him a better life than the one he will lead here with Jacob. I can offer him the life he was born for. Do you not see that those features of his were created for a purpose, I shall give him that purpose.”
“You will make him into a monster John. In your quest to be great, you will keep him locked deep in the bowels of the earth to carry out your every whim, moulding him to suit yourself, he will not be able to do a single thing of his own making. I cannot allow you to do this.”
“You keep saying that to me woman, I tell you, you have no choice. The child is mine; he was sent to me, do you not see that. He was the answer to my prayer, and he needs me as much as I need him.”
“No!” Anna shook her head, the tears be-dimming her eyes; “I do not believe you. Just look into his eyes, what a wealth of wisdom they portray. He will be great among people that is true, but with a heart that throbs with love, and the capacity to give of himself to the benefit of others, many others, not to you alone. The way you wish to use him would be barbaric.”
“The only barbarian Anna is the one that caused his birth, whoever that was. Do you disbelieve my words Anna, a child such as he, was created for a purpose, and I intend to let that purpose find fruition. Imagine the strength behind those limbs when he is fully grown, why, if I desired, together we could rule this city, have the people in total submission.” John’s eyes filled with a craving for his dream.
Anna’s eyes opened wide with horror, “And then what, of Jacob’s world, the one he has created here, what of that John?”
“Jacob’s world? It is my world! Anna, we took Jacob in, not he us, yet you would have him take over what we started here. Jacob is a cissy. Reading books all day, looking after the afflicted ones, it makes me sick. What we have here Below, in this secret world of ours is the ability to rule. Why we could be so great, and the authorities would not be able to touch us, and with the child, even better, for fear would prevent them from coming to search for us. All the riches of this city could be ours; all the gold could be mine. Power, Anna, can you not feel it, does not the thought stir you. To be greatest among men, it is all I have ever dreamed!”
Anna stared wide-eyed at her husband; “I don’t think John, that until now, I have ever really known you. These dreams you harbour are wicked dreams, fed from your wicked heart. I can tell you now, that I will fight you all the way, and while I am alive you will not take the child away from here.”
John Pater glared at his wife, “As your own mouth has spoken so shall it be.”
Anna did not know whether to feel relieved or afraid, as she left the chamber in search of Jacob.

Sitting in Jacob’s chamber some time later, the child at her breast, with a shawl draped over to shield herself from Jacob’s eyes, Anna unravelled the sorry tale to him, as tears slid silently down her cheeks.
Grave faced, Jacob listened, “We cannot allow this Anna” he told her when finally her words were spent. “How do you feel about living without your husband?”
“What do you mean?” Anna whispered her eyes wide with anxiety.
“I mean, one such as he with the desires such as he has, is not welcome in our world. His lust for power will be the undoing of all we have strived to achieve here. This world of ours is a safe haven from the wickedness Above, we do not want our world Below to become a reflection of the callous world people have come down here to escape from.”
“Then what are you suggesting Jacob?” Anna asked almost afraid to know.
“John has to be exiled Anna. It is the only way to ensure safety for those that live here and ultimately safety for this child. We cannot allow John to take the child from us, he will turn him into the beast that we strive to take from him.”
Anna nodded, “Then I wish to stay. I have no love for John, not like I have for the child. When do you mean to carry out this deed.”
“As soon as I have spoken with members of the council. It will be done.”

John was furious when he found out what Anna had done. Even more when he was called to meet with the council and they spoke of their fears for his intentions, and bade him to leave them. “And you must never enter our world again, you have become to us, as a traitor, and anything you say will be taken as trickery. From this day forth you are banished from our world. Collect your things and go.”
John spluttered in his anger, “The only things that are mine, are my wife and my child. I intend to take them with me.”
“The child and Anna are to stay with us.” Jacob told him. His voice unwavering.
John was furious, “You have a son you don’t want Jacob, and you concede to take mine, why so that you can disregard him too a few years from now, just as you have with Devin?”
Jacob’s face contorted with anger, that was below the belt, and he would not stand and listen to it, “Get out, get out of here, and never return, but know this the child belongs here with us. He is not your son, neither is he my son, but his home is here, where he will grow to know the meaning of love and compassion, not hatred and lies.”
John and Jacob glowered at one another, and then John swept out of the chamber without another word.
Anna followed her husband, perhaps she should not have, but something within her, some tie of loyalty bade her do so. Watching as he packed the few things he would need, he neither spoke nor looked in her direction. Sitting on the bed watching him, she knew he was too furious with her to speak, and softly she apologised to him, “I’m, sorry John. You know I cannot possibly come with you. The child needs me. Perhaps when he is weaned, things will be different, and I will come to you.”
John spun round to face her; “You needn’t bother” he spat at her, “You and I are finished. You hear me. Call yourself a wife! Traitor!”
Anna cringed from the fury in those eyes. Eyes which once looked at her with love. Or did they? Did he ever really love her? Anna doubted the possibility once she began to analyse the man she had married. Had he changed, or had she? Or was it that she had never really known him? Whatever, she knew now that the love she once had for him had abated. When it had happened she had not been aware, but she knew now without a doubt that if she never saw him again it would be too soon. “As you wish.” she told him softly. There was nothing more she could say. Still he scowled at her, casting her looks of venom between his ministrations of packing.
That done he took a last look around the chamber, and his eyes came to rest upon the kettle they used for boiling hot water over a stove. For a moment his eyes softened when he looked at her, and she was taken aback by his words, when he said, “Shall we share one last cup of tea together?”
Anna smiled, just slightly as she remembered the way they had met, over a cup of tea in a bar. Capturing her thoughts he whispered softly, “Yes Anna, the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, this is the way we should end it. A cup of tea, was at our beginning, it is only fitting is it not, that it should be at our ending?”
Anna nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Her eyes cast downwards into her lap, as John boiled the kettle, took two mugs from off the hook, and put milk and sugar inside them. Anna did not notice, as her husband took a small piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it and sprinkled some powder into her mug. Filling the teapot with hot water, and stirring it round, he brewed the tea, and poured the hot liquid into the mugs. Then he handed her the poisoned mug of tea.
They drank the tea in silence, though John’s eyes never left Anna’s face over the rim of his own mug. And when he was satisfied that she had taken every last drop, he took the mug from her, washed it out, and put it back on the hook. Anna watched him without a word, until he picked up his bags to leave, then she walked with him to the door. “I’m sorry it has to end this way.” she whispered, “Goodbye, John.”
He looked down at her, and she recoiled under the weight of hatred in those eyes, and something else, contempt yes, but more, something she could not put her finger on. It wasn’t until she walked away towards Jacob’s chamber that she realised what she’d seen there. It was pity.

When Anna arrived at Jacob’s chamber it was void of his presence. The baby stirred in his cot as Anna pulled back the sheet, and lifted him to her. Settling down upon the bed, Anna lay the child at her side, and breast-fed him there. One arm protectively around the child, she relaxed in the feel of his warm mouth upon her breast. “At least you are safe little one” She told him stroking his downy head. “Sleep now, sleep and know you are safe, and with people that love you.” She kissed him, and feeling suddenly very tired, she gathered him close to her and closed her eyes, never to open them again.

Vincent was a year old before Devin was trusted to sit with him. Looking upon the child as a younger brother, Devin no longer resented his father spending time with Vincent, instead he drew from the child all the love he needed, and that Vincent loved Devin went without question.
Those big blue eyes would follow his brother’s every movement, his face lighting up with joy as soon as Devin entered the chamber.
“Hello Vin.” Devin would welcome him, as he bounded down the steps each morning after breakfast, “How you going mate?” he’d ask him.
Father would frown, “Now you know that isn’t the way to talk Devin. I don’t know where you get it from. What you should say is, “Good morning Vincent, are you well? Perhaps you could try this tomorrow morning, eh, then that would please me?”
Devin glared at his father. What right did this man have to tell him how he should speak, when he had never cared before for anything he had done. He would not do anything to please him.
The following morning, when he came down the steps and gave his usual greeting, Jacob was furious, “Devin. What did I tell you yesterday? Did you not hear a word that I told you?”
Father and son’s eyes locked in mortal combat, and Jacob sighed deeply, “What am I to do with you Devin, for a certainty I do not know where you get this rebellious streak from.” Then his voice softened as he told him, “I have to go out for a few moments, can I trust you to sit with Vincent while he plays on the floor. See that he doesn’t do anything to hurt himself. I won’t be gone long.”
Grateful for the rarity of the time spent alone with his brother, Devin smiled, and Jacob realised quite suddenly that he had never seen the child smile at him before. He found he rather liked it, but a deep-seated resentment bade him from doing anything about making it happen more often. Leaving the two children together he went about his business.

From that day forth, Devin would spend every spare moment he had playing with Vincent in his father’s chamber, and as the first year rolled into two and then three the two brothers became inseparable. Vincent simply could not bear to be without Devin to such a degree, that Jacob finally conceded to have the two of them share a chamber alongside his own. Thus for the first time in his life Devin had a family, be it that he felt his brother was the only one to truly love him.