[ WP ] Ten months after giving birth to Jesus , Gabriel visits Mary again to announce that she will soon give birth to God 's only daughter .

“ Mary. ” 
 
 “ Mary of Nazareth, mother of the Christ child. I am Gabriel, messenger of the lord and I bid thee hear me. ” 
 
 It was cold, cold enough for her breath to form tiny clouds when she exhaled. Mary pushed aside the furs and carefully climbed out of bed, watching her husband the entire time. He didn ’ t stir in the slightest, and she was not surprised. She reached over, started to stroke a bit of his hair off his forehead, then quickly withdrew her hand and headed outside. 
 
 Gabriel was brilliant, shining, and she held up that same hand to block the light from her eyes. His light did nothing to warm her. 
 
 “ Must you blind me so? ” 
 
 “ I am as I am, and always shall be. Unto you a child is born. ” 
 
 “ Yes, I know. God has blessed me with this child, and with a patient and understanding man for a husband. ” She pressed her lips together, lowered her hand, and looked back towards her home. “ I am not always certain he believes. He tries, and…I just see it sometimes when he looks at me. ” 
 
 “ His belief matters not. You are chosen to bear the child of God. ” 
 
 “ Yes, and I have born him. I shall love him, and raise him, and protect and teach him as best I am able. He will be a great man among men, and- ” 
 
 “ Not the Christ. His path is laid before him and can not be altered. Unto you, a daughter is born. ” 
 
 “ What? ” She turned back to look at the angel, squinting at his brightness, trying to see more than just his radiance. “ A daughter? ” 
 
 “ The only daughter of God is born unto you. ” She pressed her hand against her stomach. 
 
 “ A daughter. Of God. For what purpose? ” 
 
 “ Because you are bidden. ” 
 
 “ And what of Joseph? When shall I have the chance to bear his children? ” 
 
 “ You shall not. ” 
 
 “ Why not? ” 
 
 “ Because you are bidden. ” 
 
 She brought one of her hands from her stomach to her face, stifling a sob. She shut her eyes tightly, but twin tears slid out from between her eyelids and traced their way down her cheeks. The angel glowed. She swallowed down her sorrow. 
 
 “ What is her name? ” 
 
 “ Lillith. ” 
 
 The angel ’ s brilliance vanished, and Mary stood alone out in the dark and the cold. She shivered, then shuddered and fell to her knees before emptying her stomach of bile and grief. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, swiped some dirt over the mess, and went back inside. Just as carefully as before, she got back into bed. Joseph turned over, tucked her under his arm, and sleepily murmured, ‘ Go back to sleep. ’ Mary shut her eyes, and did as she was bidden. 

