"You put me in here," said Alison.

"Ali, you agreed. I just want what's best for you," said Donnie.

"I can leave anytime I want to," said Alison.

"I don't think that would be such a great idea," said Donnie.

"Really, Donnie. Spying, leeching Donnie," said Alison.

"Ali, you have issues, and until you get those sorted out, I don't think you should be around the children," said Donnie.

He couldn't threaten her children, they were her babies.

"That is not your decision to make," said Alison.

"It is if you leave rehab before the program is finished. At least that's what my lawyer says. Get well Ali," said Donnie.

He kissed her on the cheek, and walked out. He couldn't take her children away, could he? As her husband he could do that. Panic coursed through her body. She slumped down on her bed.

Or was he playing her? As her monitor could he leave? She was upset and wanted a drink. She wanted to wash this pain away.

Maybe she did have problem. Although the circumstances were extreme, she did have her reasons. Her occasional drink, had become her daily, no hourly one since learning about being a clone.

Who wouldn't want to drink that away? And now Donnie had been her monitor all along, and Ansley... poor Ansley had just been trying to help.

She had let her die. This was how far she had come.

She thought about Felix, sweet Felix. She would stay here for this program and get better... get stronger... and there was no one to monitor her. Whatever it meant. She craved vodka.

Damn, she didn't have a problem. Her problem was her situation.

She would get her mother to check on the kids, and if she could Uncle Felix. Sarah and Cosima were too busy for her. She could take care of herself. She would prove to them, she could handle this.

Slowly, she got up and went to her suitcase. If she was going to get better everything would have to be in its place. She would be the Martha Stewart of rehab. If Martha could make jail beautiful, she would do the same with rehab.

Her hands twitched as she unzipped her bag. She carefully started placing her shirts in the middle drawers. Her undergarments in her top-

Alison paused. She saw a small electronic device in the drawer. She nudged it a little with the tip of her finger and moved in closer. It was a bug. Donnie had bugged her.

She should have trusted her initial instincts. He was a spy, and not a very good one. Who did he think installed all the nanny cams in the house? She hadn't noticed before, but now she was aware. She carefully closed the drawer.

The Dyad institute thought she was just going to behave under Donnie's watch. She re-opened the drawer and as she put her undergarments down she sat down on the bed. She centered herself and performed.

"Oh, god. I can't lose my family. Oh, Donnie, I can't lose him too. He was right. I need to stay here and be better for my family, and be better for my children. I can finally live without a monitor, I should be grateful. I can do this. I can do this," said Alison to room, "Just breathe Alison and rest, you can do this. You can be a champ, be a champ for the kids. Be a champ for Donnie."

She closed her eyes and breathed deep. She could win. She could win. Couldn't she? She could act just as well as Donnie could, if not better.


2006

"Donnie, I can't do this anymore," said Alison.

"But Ali-" said Donnie.

"We have to face it. I can't have children. We have seen every specialist. It isn't you, it's me. I can't be a... mother," said Alison.

She started to sob, she let herself fall into Donnie's arms.

"I tried Donnie. I tried, and I failed. I can't be anyones mother. I'm defective. I can't be the mother of your children, we can't have Gemma and Oscar," said Alison.

"Ali, listen. I love you. You didn't fail. You can't fight biology. You didn't do anything. You didn't do anything wrong. I promise, we will get through this," said Donnie.

"How- how can we go on like this? I am jealous around my friends. I can't spend a minute around them without wanting to scream that it isn't fair that they can have babies, and I can't. How is this fair to you? You always wanted kids," said Alison.

"Sweetie, we have other options," said Donnie.

"Adoption, I know. I was adopted, of course I know. But Donnie, my parents were on waiting lists for years. I don't know I can wait that long," said Alison.

"Well, your parents wanted a little girl who looked like she was theres. They didn't tell you until you were 10 years old," said Donnie, "That takes time."

"And I forgave them. What's your point Donnie?" said Alison.

"My point is that if we look for more ethnically diverse babies, we have a better chance to speed up the list," said Donnie.

Alison bit her lip. Donnie's parents and hers were very conservative. They would call any choice other than caucasian... Urban, or Foreign.

"Are you sure? Your parents? My parents?" said Alison.

"To hell with them. I didn't want to lie to you Ali, but I put our name on a list last year-" said Donnie.

"Donnie!" said Alison.

"Now don't Donnie me- we had a chance, and I took it. It paid off. I got a call today, and if we act soon. We can have her," said Donnie.

He pulled out a photo of a dark skinned young baby.

"She looks practically newborn," said Alison.

"She is, born yesterday. And she is ours. I just have to make a call and say yes," said Donnie.

"Gemma, our Gemma," said Alison.

Her finger lingered over the picture.

"Is that a yes?" said Donnie.

"Yes, go get out girl. I need to get working on a nursery for tonight," said Alison.

Alison beamed, and she got up and kissed Donnie on the lips.

"Thank you," said Alison, "I don't know what I would do without you."


Donnie went to the hospital, and with little Gemma in his arms he smiled. He was a Dad. It was real.

"I'm glad, this all worked out," said Leekie.

"Mr. Leekie, isn't she beautiful. You were right about putting ourselves on the list right away, and that Alison couldn't have kids. You saved us," said Donnie, "How can I thank you?"

"Keep watch Donald. That's your job. We don't have any problems with that, do we?" said Leekie.

Donnie looked at the tiny gem in his arms. She was beautiful. Things were complicated with Alison. He had fallen back in love with her the past few years, he was sure he did. He had felt guilty the other week, and failed to send a report to Leekie. But they wouldn't be able to afford the life they had without it. He had been feeling like their life wasn't even real. But then he looked at the little girl in his arms. She was real. This was real. It would make the rest of it real.

"No problem at all," said Donnie, "As we discussed, it's for Alison, she just doesn't need to know about it,"

What did Leekie want? Donnie was curious, but he wouldn't give up his life for anything. He would fight for his life, and for his family.