Abe Sapien and the Witch

Chapter 47

Chapter forty- seven

"...She's what?" Liz asked, leaning closer to the couple to get a better look.

"She...she's not Laufeys daughter at all, she is Abe's daughter!" She replied, her eyes welling up with joyous tears at the astonished look on Abes face.

He placed the child in Her arms, then embraced them both. "I can't believe it, I thought that I couldn't have children of my own..." he whispered into her ear, before kissing a tear from her cheek.

"Wait, what?" Liz asked, confused. "She's...yours?"

"I'll just get her cleaned up for you, then we'll take good care of mum." the nurse said, snipping the umbilical cord before stepping out of the tank. She then took the baby from her mothers' arms and walked over towards a table that was prepared with all sorts of instruments and towels.

Liz followed the doctor over, leaving the two joyous new parents to hug one another in the tank. Before the nurse swaddled the child up in a soft, pink blanket, she held her up so that Liz could get a good look at her.

"Are they...?"

"Gills," the nurse replied, pointing at the small slits in the child's neck. "She looks quite human aside from that, actually. I really wouldn't have been surprised if she were born with blue skin also."

"Well, Abe wasn't born like he is now, he was...transformed to be that way, so I guess it makes sense that she wouldn't inherit too many Ichtyo Sapien genes..." Liz added, amazed.

*****

Soon the child was back with her doting parents, now situated in the med bay. The nurse was teaching Her how to breastfeed her daughter, while Abe stood out in the hallway explaining the situation to his friends.

"She really is my daughter..." he said for the umpteenth time, all but jumping for joy at the unexpected turn of events.

"I'm so happy for you, buddy!" Red said, chewing on an unlit cigar, "I thought you couldn't have any kids?"

"Well, yes, Professor Broome surmised that I would be an incompatible match with a human, and so it was thought to be the case."

"Maybe because she is a witch, her biological makeup is more open to different DNA?" Liz said, more a quiet musing to herself rather than a question.

"Perhaps!" he said, wringing his hands together, "This does mean that she was pregnant before she was ever taken away by Laufey..."

"Oh wow, you're right!" Red added, elbowing his friend in the side, "maybe since that special night at the Spring dance, huh?"

"Well, perhaps, though it could have occurred on any number of occasions..."

"Woooo" Red added, laughing now, "look at you, a regular Casanova!"

"I don't mean! Well, I suppose...um..." he stuttered, face darkening until the nurse appeared in the doorway. "Are we all ready to meet the little one?"

"You betya!" Abe said, disappearing inside.

"He's not gonna have to eat the placenta, is he?" Red asked, a look of disgust on his face now. "Red!" Liz admonished, "Of course he doesn't have to eat it! I mean he could, but..."

"Please..." Johann said, raising a hand in the air, "let's not talk about ze eating ov ze placenta, yes?"

"Why?" Red teased, "you don't like the taste?"

Johann shook his head, turning away to study a poster on the wall while the two snickered behind his back, in good moods.