01. Surprise!

It’s never quiet in Del Sol Valley, not even here in the suburbs. Planes are constantly thundering low across the roofs, vehicles are rumbling down the motorway and things are banging and thumping somewhere. Dogs bark. Drunks howl. There’s always noise, even at 2:30 am. The residents have learned to live with it – eventually the plane noise doesn’t register anymore. And for the rest there are soundproofed windows.

But the own doorbell ringing up a storm… Yes, that wakes up even the most thick skinned Del Sol Valley resident.

„It’s not even 3am! Who rings doors Wednesdays at 2:30am?!“

Bowie B., a classical trained actor, a professional heartthrob and best known as Dr. Grant from the long running soap opera Residency of the Heart (nobody dies as pretty as he), swings his leg into his silk pyjamas and of the bed even before the tousled blonde next to him is fully awake.

„Somebody who wants to join our little celebration?“ the blonde mumbles from under the covers.

But Bowie shakes his head.

„I’m not inviting a fourth without asking you two well ahead of time! Wait here, I’ll take care of it.“

But as Bowie walks to the door, the attractive young man jumps out of the bed.

„Bowie, aren’t you afraid of your fans?“

„I’m not that famous, Morgyn.“

„I worry about your stalker, Fuzzhead. What if it’s him?“

The actor simply grins:

Inferniate.

„That’s not what I trained you for, Bowie. Be careful. Please.“

„Oh, I’m not going to do anything permament, I promise. But tell me that guy hasn’t deserved to be on fire for ten minutes or so.“

The Sage of Untamed Magic laughs quietly and shakes his head.

„I just don’t want anything to happen to you, you dolt.“

Said dolt throws an air kiss to the blonde and strides towards the door.

„Darling, it wouldn’t be the first time that this idiot flails screaming in front of my door. And the camera that can tape magic hasn’t been invented yet.“

Morgyn rolls his eyes and goes to search for his clothing, while his (very, very) good friend proceeds to the front door.

But before Bowie reaches his goal, he’s intercepted by a striking Blonde striding out of his bathroom.

„Bowie, who’s at the door?“ she asks with a rich, well trained voice.

„No idea, Beautiful. Feel free to jump back into the tub. I’ll take care of it.“

„Hm.“ She tilts her head, „Scream if it’s your ‚fan‘.“

„But Harley!“ Bowie slaps his hand on his heart, „but then every single mutt in this neighbourhood will come running! I can’t do that to the poor beasts!“

The Blonde glares at Bowie and lifts a perfectly plucked eyebrow. The gangly actor shrugs.

„The camera’s running, goldfish. Back into the tub with you. I’d like you to be at full strength should I really need you.“

The glare continues for a moment, then she nods and pulls the door closed.

Bowie may be of the opinion that his friends are a little bit overcautious lately, but they’re not completely wrong. (What if his mother finds out about his stalker? A mysterious murder in his periphery wouldn’t fit at all into his PR strategy.) That’s why he checks the camera before he opens the door. It shows woman outside – she feels familiar, too, although he can’t put a name to her pretty face at the moment. But she’s blond and athletic and thus exactly his type.

And she’s got a baby in her arm.

Crap.

So he proves that despite all the claims to the contrary in the tabloid press he’s not just a pretty face but also a gifted actor: He calmly walks out of the door and smiles at the not-quite-unknown lady with his best rascal charm – all while he racks his brain to remember her name – or how he knows her.

Ah, yes…

That producer’s party from a little more than a year ago. She was part of the catering team – and afterwards they took the party to something more private. All in all a great evening – at least in his opinion.

„Kelani, right?“ Bowie is now all heartthrob, „and here I thought you lost my phone number.“

„I did. Congratulations on your big premiere. It was quite the effort to find you; You change your address like other people change their underwear.“

The young actor nods amiably. Kelani wouldn’t be the first to spontaneously remember him after his first big film role. There’s no point in getting upset about it. She will tell him what she wants from him.

Instead, she simply hands him the child.

Bowie turns pale. It’s not the big blue eyes that tell him she’s his daughter. Nor is it the cosy, homely feeling of his own magical bloodline thrumming in her. No. It’s the ears. Bowie really can’t deny those.

„Oh.“

„Exactly,“ Kelani replies, “Oh’.’

The silence drags on for a moment, then the not-so-young man clears his throat.

„If it’s about money, I’ll pay,“ he says.

That would be a disaster for his image as a heartthrob, but that is slowly reaching its sell-by date anyway. Yes, he might’ve to switch to character actor a little earlier than planned, so what? Bowie has always been absolutely reliable in regard to his duties – one of the reasons why the producers are always happy to work with him, despite all his quirks and star affectations.

But the blonde laughs bitterly.

„If it was only about money, I wouldn’t be here!“

„I don’t know how, but the little one set my flat on fire. Then the office. My boss’s car. His husband’s car. Then two ambulances and a rubbish bin. It nearly took a block of flats with it.“

She sighs.

„And now I am wanted for aggravated arson.“

Kelani tickles her daughter under the chin.

„But never mind. Her name is Anne-Mariechen Moonlight Fairy and she doesn’t deserve to go into the foster system just because they want to jail her mama. So…“

I would’ve set everything on fire with that name too, Bowie thinks and almost misses Kelani waving to him and her daughter and promptly turning round.

„Good luck!“ she shouts…

…And bails.

And there Bowie is, with his strangely calm daughter in his arms. He has to breath deeply for a few minutes just so he doesn’t fall over. Well… That’s how quickly you can end up with a child.

Then a thought penetrates the shock:

Wow. The tabloids will be delighted.

01. Surprise!