Authors Note: This is my first Sanctary Fic and the first one I have written in several years. I have multiple chapters in mind with it ultimately becoming Helen/Nikola but let me know if you are interested in it continuing.

Don't own them - no money being made

The two men watched as Helen took a chair opposite them in the small drawing room of her father's house. She had always preferred to take company in this room. Aside from being an intimate size for entertaining, the fire warmed it quickly which on a night like tonight had been important. It had always been the room where she had mulled over problems or discussed them with her father ad she had never really faced a proble as big as the one she was facing presently.

Both men sitting opposite were in love with her, knew it. Thankfully neither had pursued her in that manner before John or since, thankfully it didn't stop either of them stopping whatever it was they were doing and coming immediately when she had summoned them.

Helen took a breath before speaking, "James, Nikola, thank you so much for coming this evening." She looked at each of them. Hoping that she would not have to reveal all the sordid details of how she landed herself in her current predicament. She momentarily thought of the evening John had teleported into her bedroom swearing he had changed, swearing his undying love for her and when she refused to believe him swearing that he would prove she still had feelings for him. Tears welled in her eyes as she thought of the way her body had betrayed her mind that night.

"Helen? What is it? Why have you called us out in this godforsaken weather?" Nikola asked impatiently.

"Gentlemen it seems I have found myself in quite a dilemma and I am hoping you will both help me."

James looked at her and all the pieces suddenly fell into place for him. Something had been 'off' about her for a couple of weeks and it was only now he realised what it was, he mentally kicked himself for not seeing it sooner.

Helen watched as realisation dawned on James – if she were honest she had been expecting him to confront her since she first realised herself. "I see James has appeared to have worked out my predicament." She smiled at her friend and then turned to Nikola.

"Nikola I am pregnant". She waited for him to absorb this information before speaking again. "Before either of you suggest it, I am not looking for ill-considered marriage proposals. No, the help I require is far more complicated."

Nikola was still trying to digest the fact that Helen was with child. He knew she and Druitt had been engaged but had thought it had all ended some time ago and he definitely did not want to entertain the notion of that deranged psychopath laying a finger on Helen's perfect body and now there was physical, tangible truth that he had done much more than just lay a finger. A jealous rage surged through his body and he involuntarily 'vamped' up .

"I will kill that bastard – I will hunt him down and kill him!" Nikola growled.

"Calm down old boy." James suggested fully understanding the vampire's reaction – having felt the same way himself, only not showing it in such a physical manner. "Knowing our Helen as I do, I will hazard a guess that she has a far more practical solution to her predicament already worked out." He smiled as he turned to Helen.

Helen returned the smile, and not for the first time, wished it had been stable, dependable James she had fallen in love with – how different her current situation would be. "As usual James you are correct. We are all aware of how society will treat me as an unmarried mother and how my child will be treated as it grows. None of that is acceptable to me. Nor is the manner in which women are treated as second class citizens - should I have a daughter I want her to have every opportunity available – including those available to men. James, Nikola what I am proposing is going to propel the boundaries of science far into the future." She paused to make sure both men were fully understanding her.

"What exactly are you planning my dear Helen?" Nikola asked, his eyes alight with unknown challenge.

"I am planning to suspend the pregnancy until such time as society will accept my child unconditionally and until such time as I can be sure that there will be no genetic repercussions regarding her parentage"

"You mean you want to try and find some kind of cure for John's bloodthirsty rage and make sure it isn't handed on to his progeny – admirable" Nikola said still not sure of what it was Helen wanted them to do.

Helen winced at Nikolas turn of phrase – whilst it may not have been the most diplomatic way of assessing the situation it was a fairly accurate one. "James, I have studied the female anatomy in some detail and I believe I have found a way to extract the embryo without harming it, I need you to perform the surgery. And Nikola I need you to invent some kind of stasis chamber that will keep the embryo viable for an indefinite period of time." Helen let them both digest what she was asking of them before speaking again. "Will you help me?"

"Of course" they answered in unison.