“Well, Serena, everything appears to be normal.” Dr. Roberts tidied up his papers as she put her clothes back on. “Except for your low body weight, but under the circumstances that’s understandable.”
   “Thank you, doctor.” Serena felt, as always, relieved. The past six months had been much harder than either she or Cyprus could have guessed. Having to hid the pregnancy while attending all of Upper Society’s functions, not to mention not making Von Richter suspect. But it was all worth it; the baby was growing within her perfectly normally. Not once had Dr. Roberts made any comment to the otherwise, and he didn’t even know she was not completely human.
   “Are you sure you don’t want to know whether it’s a boy or a girl?” he joked, raising an eyebrow as he turned around.
   Serena laughed. They’d been over this since the fifth month of pregnancy, when the child’s sex had become apparent. “This has all been one big surprise after another for my husband and I; I don’t see why the end should be any different.” Something as simple as a joke about their choice to be kept in the dark until the child was born was a welcome reprieve to the stresses of her day-to-day life.
   “Well, if that’s the case, then I don’t think I’ll be able to stand you not knowing for another month.” Dr. Roberts, while still talking lightly, had a serious look on his face.
   “What do you mean?” Serena didn’t follow him. But he had a particular sense of humor, and she was used to having him explain his meaning to her.
   “The baby is fully developed. The next month is basically just growth and adding body fat. If the child were to be born within a week, there would be no health concerns.” He saw he hadn’t cleared things up nearly enough for her. “I could induce labor now, and after some time in the preemie ward, no one would know the difference.”
   She looked at him, confused. “Why so soon? Cyprus and I have been saying we would finalize an adoption next month.”
   “That’s exactly why I think we should induce labor. Have it born on a day suitable for you, change the birth date on the records, and it would be impossible to connect the child to you. The adoption would go as planned, and no one would be the wiser.”
   Serena was interested in spite of herself. “Would that really work?” One of their concerns had been if anyone would notice how she would have had to take time off so close to adopting the baby.
   “I don’t see why not. And don’t be concerned about a premature birth hurting the child; above all else, your baby’s a fighter. Why don’t you go home and talk it over with Cyprus?” In the short time he had known the couple, he had become quite protective of them.
   “I’ll do that. And, Dr. Roberts?” She laid a hand on his shoulder. “Thank you for going to all this trouble for us. I realize that it’s not exactly…ethical.”
   “My dear, in this situation, I believe any other course of action would have been unethical.” He smiled at her. “Of all the patients I’ve ever had, I think you two deserve a child of your own more than anyone.”
   She smiled back. “Thank you.” She readied herself to leave.
   “There’s just one thing…” Dr. Roberts said, almost reluctantly, as she put on her coat.
   “Yes?” She looked back at him. “What is it?”
   “When you first came to me, you said that you could not have the child publicly because of your family.” He stared at her, his face unreadable.
   “Yes? What of it?” She didn’t understand the sudden change of topic; what did that have to do with anything?
   “I have been making some inquiries, and it turns out both you and Cyprus have almost no family to speak of. In fact, you both just seemed to appear out of the blue two and a half years ago. There are records, such as birth certificates and your wedding license, but all of them could have been easily falsified.” His eyes narrowed slightly.
   Serena was shocked. Of all the people they would have to fear, Dr. Roberts was the least they would have suspected. But if he had been looking into their past, had realized how flimsy it truly was, he could be as dangerous to Serena and Cyprus as Von Richter. Maybe more so.
   “And then there is the matter your interesting medical histories.” He opened a cabinet behind him, removing something she could not see. “In particular, that strange enzyme in your and I assume Cyprus’s blood.” He turned to reveal a glowing green vial. Serena cried out despite herself. “An enzyme that is more likely a byproduct of an acid similar to this.”
   “What - what does that have to do with us?” she stammered. “I mean, are you accusing us of…”
   Dr. Roberts continued as though she had not spoken. “This is a very interesting acid. Not made by any known organism in nature, and impossible to produce by technology I’ve heard of.”
   “Where - where did you get it?” she continued, her mind racing.
   “A man was brought into the emergency room two months ago. We were understaffed that night, and I was filling in as an assistant doctor. I was alone with him for a moment; at that time, his vital systems suddenly stopped, and he vanished before my eyes. All that remained was his clothing and this vial.” He added almost to himself, “If we had not been as busy as we were, I doubt I would have been able to cover up the disappearance.”
   “If you have had it for two months, why are you telling me this now?” Serena demanded, frightened beyond belief. Everything couldn’t end now, not after everything they had gone through…
   “There have been many strange going-ons in the city for the past few years; nothing noticeable, unless you were looking for a pattern. Prominent people that suddenly had major personality changes. Companies rising and falling without apparent cause.” He picked up a flask of a clear liquid, and poured it into the vial. Serena gasped as the solution bubbled and became a pale red. “But there has been nothing to connect you to this pattern but this strange acid.”
   “What are you doing?” Serena felt more confused than ever. The entire situation had the qualities of a dream, a bad dream such as she had never had before.
   “Neutralizing it,” he replied, then calmly dumped the concoction down the sink. He moved to leave the room. “Call me when you and Cyprus have decided what to do about the baby.” With that, he departed, and Serena was standing slack-jawed alone in the room.
   There she stayed, stunned, while the clock above her ticked off the minutes. Then she slowly smiled as the truth dawned on her.
   They had a friend.