Then the doors of the medical unit burst open and a short woman with light brown hair, cut into a neat bob, walked in.
“Liz,” JD said. “Thank God you’re here.”
“What’s the situation?” she asked.
Vivien told her all she needed to know, then left the room. She went in search of Gabriel and found him in the lounge. The hunters had returned and everyone was anxiously awaiting news. While the hunters had been away, Shawn and Linda had arrived back at the Sanctuary and were desperate for news of their grandchild.
Vivien gave them an update, then settled down in Gabriel’s arms. All they could do now was wait.
Silence descended, broken only by Sarah crying out. Nobody knew what to talk about. Jonathon was shifting uncomfortably in his seat. He wasn’t the only one not at ease.
“I’m sorry, I can’t do this any longer,” he finally said. “That woman,” he continued, pointing at Vivien as he spoke, “kidnapped Sarah, putting both her and the child she is carrying in danger. Why are we letting her sit here with us?”
Gabriel tensed. He didn’t want to fight Jonathon, but he would if he had to. And he would not hold back.
Vivien placed a restraining hand on his arm. “It’s alright. They have the right to know.”
She then explained who she was, how she was connected to both Luke and Gabriel and why Gabriel wasn’t treating her as an enemy. Everyone listened intently, but her words did nothing to put them at ease.
“I nearly turned into a vampire because of you,” Craig said to her, his hostility toward her evident in his demeanour as well as his tone.
“That was not my doing,” she said. “That was your choice. It’s not one I would have made.”
“Why did you take Sarah?” Katie asked before Craig could retaliate. Now wasn’t the time for accusations and recriminations.
Vivien gripped Gabriel’s hand tight, but did not look at him as she spoke. “I lost the only man I have ever loved. It took a long time, but eventually I gave up all hope of ever seeing him again. When you live forever, a life without hope is empty and meaningless. I drifted from place to place, existing rather than living. Eventually I ended up here and I met Sandra. Something she said gave me hope once more.”
“If she told you about Gabriel,” Jane said, “why didn’t you seek him out? Why take Sarah?”
“She never mentioned Gabriel. The hope she gave me was that I could become human again. I learned that drinking the blood of a half-breed, half human and half vampire, would cure vampirism. I never dreamed that such a creature could exist, until I heard about Sarah. It’s probably just myth and rumour, but I had to try.”
If Natalie hadn’t been in his arms, Craig would have launched himself at her. “So you planned on killing the baby,” he snarled.
“Of course not.” She sounded genuinely shocked. “Just take a little of his or her blood every few days. I had no intention of harming either of them. What sort of monster do you think I am?”
“The sort that kidnaps pregnant women,” Jonathon said.
Vivien went quiet. The point was well made. An uncomfortable silence filled the room once more.
“You have no idea what it’s like, wanting to die and not being able to,” Vivien said quietly.
“I do,” Gabriel said. “After you disappeared, I lost count of the number of ways I killed myself.”
Nobody commented.
“What are your plans now?” Natalie asked, just to break the atmosphere.
“I have no idea. I haven’t given it any thought.”
“She’s moving in with me,” Gabriel said. “The others won’t mind.”
“Is that what you really want?” Vivien asked him. “You don’t know me anymore. I may have changed a lot over the years.”
Gabriel placed one hand in her hair, pulled her closer to him and kissed her. “You could never change,” he said.
Everyone had to look away as he kissed her again, this time more passionately.
————————————-∞————————————-
In the medical unit, Sarah was sucking on the gas and air mixture once more.
“You’re doing great,” Liz said. “I can see the baby’s head. Just a few more pushes and it will all be over.”
A few minutes later, Liz was holding a little bundle of crying flesh and bones in her arms.
“Congratulations. You have a healthy baby boy.”
Doc clamped then cut the cord and the baby was wrapped in a blanket before being passed to Sarah. Tears of joy were flowing down her face.
JD wiped them away then kissed her forehead. “I am so proud of you.”
“We did it,” she said. “We actually did it.”
“Yes. We did.” JD looked down at his son, overcome with the feelings that flowed through him; love, happiness, relief and an overwhelming need to protect him.
“We need to think of a name,” Sarah said.
“Alexander Simon. Alex for short.”
Sarah was taken aback. “Are you sure?”
JD kissed her forehead once more. “The man you would have married, had he lived, helped make you into who you are. I owe him a lot. Naming our son after him is the least we can do.”
“I love you,” Sarah said and her tears began to flow once more.
Liz, Doc and Silvia left the happy couple alone and went to give everyone the good news. They didn’t mention the name; it was not their place to do so.
Soon Sarah began to fall asleep. She had been through a stressful few days and the birth had taken a lot out of her.
“Sleep,” JD said to her gently. “There are a few people I’m sure are eagerly waiting to meet the new arrival. I’ll bring him back to you soon.” Sarah’s eyes were closed before he reached the door.
Everyone in the lounge was so busy talking that they didn’t notice JD arrive. He cleared his throat to get their attention and a reverent hush filled the room as soon as they realised what he was holding.
The baby was sleeping peacefully. JD moved the blanket away from his face and held him out so all could see him. “Let me introduce you to Alex Simon Albery.”
Craig’s eyes filled with tears and he had to quickly wipe them away, praying as he did so that nobody would notice. Only Natalie did and she just smiled at him. Alex had been his best friend and he had taken his death hard.
Jonathon grinned at JD. “Are we supposed to call him AS?”
“Not if you want to live.”
“Can I hold my nephew?” Katie asked, holding out her arms.
JD turned away from her, putting his body protectively between Katie and his son. “Oh no. He is mine. Nobody gets to hold him except for me and Sarah, at least for a while.”
“Does that include his grandmother?” Linda asked.
“Yes. You will have to wait until tomorrow.”
“JD—” his father started to say, but JD cut him off.
“This is not up for discussion.”
“Well at least sit down so we can all see him properly.”
Space was made for JD on the sofa and everyone jostled each other for a good view.
When little Alexander woke, he began to cry.
“Time to wake his mother up,” JD said. “In case he’s hungry.”
“We should be going,” Gabriel said once JD had left the room. “I have a whole family I need to introduce Vivien to.”
“Thank you for all of your help in getting Sarah back,” Jonathon said and shook his hand. Then he turned to Vivien. “It’s going to take us a while to accept the fact that you will not be punished for your actions. Give us some time to get used to the idea, then come and see us. We will make you welcome.”
“What do you mean she isn’t going to be punished?” Katie said. “She’s going to have to spend the rest of her life with Gabriel. I, for one, class that as punishment.” She winked at Gabriel and he growled at her.
————————————-∞—————————
———-
The sound of crying woke Sarah as JD walked into the medical unit, carefully cradling their son. She sat up and held her arms out. JD passed Alex over and Sarah undid her blouse and lifted up her bra. She would have to change into something more comfortable, but that could wait.
The baby successfully latched on to her breast first time and began to suckle. JD watched Sarah feed his son, his eyes filled with love and pride.
“Doc is busy phoning all of the Sanctuaries,” he said. “Telling them all the good news. Gabriel has already spoken to Luke. Anna is a little shaken still, but otherwise okay. She wants to come and visit tomorrow.”
Sarah was looking down at her son as JD spoke. She nodded her head without altering her gaze.
It didn’t take long for Alex to drink his fill and fall asleep once more.
“Is he a normal baby?” she asked. She didn’t really care. She was just curious.
“I have no idea. There are no signs that he is a vampire, but then again, a vampire has never fathered a child before so we have no way of knowing.”
Sarah held out her hand to JD. He took it then lay down on the bed beside her, wrapping her and his son in his arms.
“Sanctuary 7 will want to know. What will you tell them?” she asked.
“The same as I am going to tell everyone else. We will just have to wait and see.”
From Trudie:
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