Okay, so the general consensus was... yes, i should continue!
Thank you guys SO SO SO much for your reviews, they were all so sweet and so encouraging. I hope this chapter does you justice and that you enjoy it.
Henry turned to look out of the window. Her new apartment really did have a spectacular view. He stared out of it, wondering how this night was going to go… what could he say that would justify him leaving? He'd been over what he'd say thousands of times, how he'd explain it all and beg her forgiveness… and tell her how much he loved and needed her.
"Henry? I want you to meet someone…" Henry turned to her. In her arms she held a quietly sleeping baby, wrapped in a blue blanket.
"Say hello to your son."
Henry stood unmoving, staring at the tiny bundle held within Vicki's arms. He opened his mouth to speak, say something, but could not find the words.
Vicki took a step towards him. "I know what you're gonna say… that he can't be yours…"
Henry looked up at her. Her features were soft and she spoke above a whisper as she walked towards him. "…but I promise you, he's your son."
He still could not find the words to speak. Vampires couldn't have children… never in the recorded history had there ever been an incident when a Vampire had fathered or borne a child. Was this some cruel joke Vicki was playing upon him? Was this payback for the way he treated her when he left?
The look in her eyes dismissed all of that. Her gaze upon him held sincerity, honesty and love… and not a single morsel of a lie.
He managed to find his voice after what seemed like an eternity of silence on his part.
"But, vampires can't…"
Vicki cut him off gently, "I know… believe me, I questioned it too. You are the only man I have slept with in over two years. Not only that but the timing adds up perfectly… I gave birth nine months to the day after we slept together." She looked down at the sleeping child in her arms. "I knew he was yours, I felt it… it was like I was connected to you." She smiled. "Besides, any hint of doubt I had was destroyed when he opened his eyes for the first time."
Henry looked down at the baby and let out an unneeded breath. The smile that adorned his features made Vicki want to weep with happiness.
"I have a son." Henry spoke in a matter of fact tone.
Vicki moved close to Henry and held out her arms and placed their son in Henry's embrace. He clutched his son to him like he were made of glass, his gaze taking in every feature on the little boy's face.
A sudden panic rose within him.
"Is he…"
Vicki knew what he was going to say and finished for him.
"He's human…" she smiled at him warmly and laughed softly. "He's got one killer grip though."
Henry laughed softly too, "That's my boy."
Vicki moved around him to sit on the sofa behind them and as she did Henry joined her, holding his son carefully within his embrace.
She leant back resting her head on the back of the sofa. "When I found out I was pregnant I cried for days… not for me, but for you… and for our child. I cried because I thought I might never find you. The thought that you might never know you had a child, or that our child would never know his father… it almost killed me."
She took a breath and continued. "When I managed to pull myself into some semblance of order, I went over to your apartment. It seemed so empty. I managed to find some shirts you'd left behind. Your scent was all over them… when I smelled them, it felt like for a second you were with me again. So I took them back with me and vacuum packed them."
At Henry's inquisitive gaze she continued.
"When Peter was born I opened up one of the packs and placed it in his crib next to him so he could get used to your smell… so he'd feel like you were with him… I guess I was holding onto the hope that one day you'd come back to me… to us, and at least Peter would know who his father was."
Henry looked back at his son.
"Peter." He whispered.
"Peter Henry Fitzroy." Vicki stated softly.
Henry gazed at her in awe. After everything he had put her through, the fact that he had left her alone in her time of need… she still gave their son his name.
"There was no question about the name. I wanted him to always be linked to you… even if you never returned I wanted him to know who his father was."
Vicki turned so she was facing Henry, one elbow resting on the back of the sofa, propping her head up. She felt a warm sensation inside her, watching Henry holding their son so safely in his arms… and the look in Henry's eyes was one of pure awe and joy.
"Please, don't think for one minute that I didn't try to find you. As soon as I found out I was pregnant I spent months trying to track you down. Every time I got a new lead it turned out to be a bust and it nearly destroyed me and I got ill… I couldn't do that to myself… I couldn't put our baby at risk."
Henry closed his eyes and threw his head back against the back of the sofa with a soft thud.
"God… Vicki…" He turned his head to look into her eyes. "I am so sorry… there's nothing I can say, or do that justifies my leaving you…if I'd known…" Vicki cut him off with a finger on his lips.
"Exactly… you didn't know. If you'd have known I was pregnant would you have stayed?"
"Of course… at the time I was just so angry… I felt betrayed, but more than that I was angry that you would risk killing yourself to save me…"
She shifted closer to him. "Don't be mad okay… but that hasn't changed… I'd do it all over again if it meant saving you…"
Henry opened his mouth to interject, but again Vicki placed a finger to his lips, "There are only two people in the world I would die for… and they're both in this room."
Henry leant towards her and captured her lips in a sweet, loving kiss. He pulled back and rested his forehead upon hers.
"Can you ever forgive me?"
She smiled softly and placed a hand to his cheek caressing it gently. "I forgave you a long time ago."
Suddenly Henry felt Peter moving within his blanket. He looked down and gently prised the blanket open. Peter moved his arms out from the confines in which it had previously been held. Henry was overcome with emotion… he was so tiny. His eyes opened slowly and Henry laughed softly.
"See what I mean… he has your eyes."
Peter's eyes were an exact copy of Henry's, the tiny cerulean blue orbs the most eye catching feature on the beautiful boy's face. Henry lifted him gently to hold him in front of him and Peter reached out and placed a hand on Henry's mouth, a tiny smile on the little boy's lips. Henry laughed again and kissed his son's hand.
A lone tear escaped from Vicki's eyes as she watched father and son meeting properly for the first time.
"He has your nose… and your mouth." Henry smiled and turned to her. "What's wrong?" He asked upon seeing her tears.
"Oh, no… these are happy tears. Really." She smiled.
Henry turned back to his son, and breathed a laugh. "God…" He kissed Peter on the forehead and lay him down on his chest, the boy's head resting on his shoulder, Henry clutching his son to him like he could lose him, one of his hands resting lightly on the back of the boy's head and resting his own cheek atop of his son's head.
"Thank you Vicki."
Vicki leant into him and he moved his arm to wrap it around her body, holding her to him. Vicki brought her hand up to caress her son's cheek. "Are you happy Daddy's home?" She whispered to him.
His reply was a happy gurgle which caused both parents to laugh gently.
Vicki didn't know how to ask the next question, but knew if she didn't ask it now, she probably never would. Her insides twisted at the possible answer, but her heart took control, forcing her to speak,
"Um, Henry… not to uh, dampen the mood or anything… but, how long are you back for?"
He twisted his head to look at her over the top of his son's head. The hand that was wrapped around her came up to caress her cheek.
"How does forever sound?"
Vicki smiled, relieved. She took Henry's hand in hers and brought it to her lips, kissing his palm.
"Forever sounds perfect."
She snuggled into his embrace, her head resting on his chest next to her son. Henry did not sleep, he couldn't… he was revelling in listening to the heartbeats of his son and of the woman who had given him new life… the woman who, against all the odds had given him a son… the woman he loved.
As Peter and Vicki fell asleep he watched them quietly, thanking God for the two miracles he held securely in his arms.
Okay, so, how was that? I know it wasn't as long as the last one, but i felt that was a good place to leave it for the time being.
I'm gonna write another chapter tomorrow, it'll probably be the last chapter, or second to last, or even third to last (and so on and so on!) I don't know… I just write what the plot bunnies command!
So, more coming up.
Stay tuned folks and let me know what you thought!