All That Matters

Spoilers: All Episodes, 3x13 Thanks for the Memories, 4x09 William, 4x10 The Trouble with the Troubles, 4x11 Shot in the Dark preview

Disclaimer: I own nothing...

The hospital was a disaster zone from the hotel explosion, even the hallways were filled with injured. Despite that, when Audrey arrived Dr. Basten was immediately taking over her care. He pushed the young doctor and nurse out of the way and began shouting orders to clear a room for the police officer who laid having yet another seizure.

"What happened to her?" Basten looked at Nathan and Duke as they stood beside the gurney, the doctor looked at the nurse beside him. "Get me 10 mg of Clonazepam immediately and get me that room clear."

"We were chasing after a suspect that we believed caused the explosion and she just started seizing. The suspect was shot when her gun went off during the seizure, he's with Gloria now." Nathan took a step forward. "Will this harm the baby?"

Basten shook his head, "repeated use would cause harm but this one time dose will just stabilize her, there shouldn't be any adverse effects to the baby."

The nurse returned with a syringe, by that time Audrey had quit having the seizure so Basten administered the drug to her arm. "The room is clear Doctor."

"Good, let's get her in there." He looked at Duke and Nathan, "while we get her set up and review her condition as well as the baby's, why don't you get started on paperwork."

Her gurney was rolled down the hall and Duke looked at Nathan, "paperwork right, not to put a damper on the situation but now that we know who Audrey is, do we go with her fake identity or actually tell the truth. I mean, it's Haven and everyone is Troubled in some way or another so a 425 year old woman isn't going to make anyone think we're nuts."

"That's up to Audrey to carve her identity now that she knows the truth." Nathan stared down the hallway she'd been pushed down. "For now we use the identity she has, the one the hospital has on record."

It seemed like hours before they were allowed in Audrey's room, Duke and Jennifer sat by the window in chairs while Nathan sat beside her bed. He grasped her hand, rubbing circles in it and speaking to her about everything that had happened while she'd been Virginia.

"You think she'll still be Virginia when she wakes up?" Jennifer was the first one to pose the question and both me looked at her. "It's a valid question."

Nathan just looked back at Audrey, "she said something in the woods as William laid dying. She said that she'd been turned from a child into a monster but that wasn't who she was. She stated that she was meant to be a healer and a mother, and she'd get to be those even if it meant being them as Audrey Parker and not Virginia Dare." He rubbed her hand, "I think the part of Audrey in her was stronger than Virginia and she realized that so she gave up."

Duke shook his head, "well Audrey is a fighter, she wouldn't let go without a battle. I'm just glad she was able to knock some sense into Virginia."

"She was protecting our baby," the whisper made everyone look at the bed and they found Audrey opening her eyes. She gave a small smile as she spoke again, "she realized William would kill the baby once he found out because it would change her. The darkness prevented a life from being created and it was something she could never have but wanted. I convinced her that if it was my child, it was hers as well because we're the same person. Her maternal instinct practically overrode everything and she was driven to protect our baby…even if that meant killing William. She knew there was no coming back after that, the darkness in her was gone so it meant she would be gone too."

Nathan moved to stand and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "You gave us all a scare but Basten said everything was alright, that you and the baby were alright."

"The Troubles?"

Jennifer shook her head, "still around, but they aren't getting any worse."

"Maybe they'll fade with time." Duke spoke up and everyone looked at him. "I mean, Virginia faded away and William died so maybe they'll die one day when we least expect it."

Nathan smiled at the woman lying in the bed, "doesn't matter, what matters right now is you two getting better so we can get back to being small town cops with a baby."

"I think it's time for us to go." Jennifer stood up and pulled Duke up, "we'll see you tomorrow."

Duke waved to Audrey, "see you tomorrow, glad you're yourself."

Audrey looked at Nathan after their friends left and took his hand in hers. "You know I just have one wish, well two wishes after all this."

"Yeah what are they?" He moved to the bed and leaned in till they were a foot apart.

"I just wish for a healthy daughter, one that doesn't have to witness that darkness ever again." His eyes narrowed and she pointed to her head. "She was there with us, the one that made Virginia change her mind and I don't know if it was magic or if she's Troubled or what but she was there and she was so much stronger than anyone I'd met before."

Nathan chuckled, "like her mom, what was your other wish?"

A smile crossed her face as she squeezed his hand, "that her daddy can feel her. I can deal with a Troubled kid, I can deal with a hyperactive kid but I don't think...it would break my heart if you couldn't feel her."

"What is she's the one that can't feel?"

"Trust me, she can feel…she was crying that she was hurting when Virginia's darkness was spreading. Something tells me that's not just metaphorical." Audrey just kept on smiling, "and she looks like you or at least I hope she looks like you, maybe the appearance was my projection I don't know but if she ends up looking like I think she'll look," a chuckle came before the answer. "Well Daddy and Uncle Duke are gonna be hunting down boys for sure."

"If she's anything like you at all I'm not going to have to worry about that." He smiled and leaned down to kiss her hand. "She'll be tough and put the boys in their place, the leader of the pack for sure." His face got serious as he remembered something. "Virginia said something to me before she shot William, she said 'our mother's name was Eleanor, I miss her very much.' I wonder what she meant by that."

Audrey chuckled, "she was making a very subtle request that we name the baby Eleanor, after our mother. You are so dense sometimes Wuornos, how can you be so clueless?"

Both of them ended up laughing before a nurse broke it up and Basten arranged to exam Audrey. Nathan just stood by as she answered question and underwent exams for health, a constant support for her and their baby.

A/N: Next we see six months ahead and an old friend returns. Give me your thoughts in a review...tell me what you'd like to see ahead in chapters.