Chapter 14
Disclaimer and AN: I'm going to skip ahead a bit in the next few chapters just to move the story forward a bit faster, it won't be anything major, I'm not going to make Eve go from thirteen to sixteen in the course of one chapter or anything, but she will age a bit within the next few chapters, in order for my story line to unfold the way I want it to, she has to be older, but that's all I can say without spoiling anything. Also, I don't know if anyone else ever read the novels based on the movies but I don't recall them ever giving Michael's age when he was turned, so I just said he's forty-two because that's the age Scott Speedman is and he will always be who I picture Michael being, the young guy that played him in Blood Wars for one scene doesn't count as Michael to me. I do vaguely recall the novel for Evolution mentioning Selene being nineteen or twenty when Viktor killed her family though. As always, I don't own them.
Michael awoke to a strange noise, it took awhile for his sleep fogged brain to figure out what the sound was but he quickly recognized it as vomiting, he grew concerned when he saw the bed beside him was empty.
"Selene, you okay, baby?"
He heard the toilet flush and the sound of running water before she spoke.
"I'll be out in a minute, Michael."
She left the bathroom turning out the light and sat on the bed burying her face in her hands.
He rubbed her back soothingly.
"That's the fourth morning in a row you've been sick, maybe we should throw out all those blood bags in the fridge and get a fresh supply before Eve or any of the others get sick."
"It's not the blood bags or any kind of food poisoning, I'm late."
He looked confused for a minute and then his medical training kicked in.
"Late for what…ohhh. Um, we should get a test and make sure before we get upset, let's go talk to Olivia."
She stood up pacing around the room.
"How could this happen, Michael, we were careful, did the condoms break or something? We're not ready for another child yet, we've just gotten used to Eve, she's finally settled down and put the abuse she endured in Antigen behind her, she doesn't have nightmares like she used to. What if she thinks we don't love her anymore or that we'll love the new baby more?"
Michael reached out putting his hands on Selene's shoulders to stop her frantic pacing.
"First of all, Eve is thirteen, not five, sibling rivalry usually only happens in young kids, not teenagers, if you are pregnant which we don't even know for sure yet, by the time the baby arrives, Eve will be almost fourteen, I don't think we have to worry about her being jealous, she knows how much we love her."
She stopped pacing and looked at him, he was shocked to see tears in her eyes, he couldn't remember ever having seen Selene cry.
"What if the test comes back positive? I'm not sure I can raise a baby, I took care of my nieces, but that was in the 1400's, more than six hundred years ago, we live in a completely different world now, I thought Eve was difficult at first and she was twelve, how am I going to handle an infant being dependent on me for everything?"
Michael hugged her tight, rubbing her back.
"Hey now, you're acting like you have to do it alone, you don't. This baby will have a father and a big sister to help with things, plus you know Lena will probably kidnap him or her the second they're born, she loves kids, she adores Eve, I'm gonna go find Olivia, I'll be right back, okay? Calm down and stop crying, I love you."
She smiled, wiping her eyes.
"I love you too, my handsome hybrid."
While he was gone, Selene got dressed frowning as she zipped her leather suit. Soon, she may not fit into it anymore and the thought bothered her more than she wanted to admit, even to herself. It was the only thing she'd worn since becoming a death dealer so long ago and it almost felt like a part of her, she couldn't imagine wearing anything else. She was brushing her hair when Michael returned with Olivia, she set the hairbrush on the dresser and turned to face the doctor.
"Good morning, Olivia, how are you this morning?"
She smiled as she placed her medical bag on the bed and pulled a stethoscope and a blood pressure gauge out of it.
"I'm fine, Selene though Michael tells me you're not feeling very well, what seems to be the trouble?"
Selene bit her lip nervously.
"I think….well, I've been throwing up every morning for about the past week and my period is overdue by several days."
"I see, have you taken a pregnancy test?" Selene winced slightly as the blood pressure cuff tightened around her arm.
"Not yet, I was hoping you could help with that." She jumped at the slight hissing sound the blood pressure cuff made as it deflated and the rip of the velcro as Olivia removed it from her arm, placing it back in her bag.
"Of course, but don't be so jumpy dear, everything will be fine, I promise."
Michael held her hand as Olivia drew blood and then handed her a pregnancy test. He looked concerned as she headed toward the bathroom.
"Do you know how to take that, do you want me to wait with you?"
She sighed, rolling her eyes in exasperation,
"I'll be fine, Michael, I think I can manage to pee on the stick perfectly fine, it's not exactly nuclear physics, you know, now please stop fussing, you're driving me crazy."
He sat on the bed staring at the closed bathroom door until Selene came out and sat beside him taking his hand.
"Now we wait three minutes, I set the timer on my phone so we'll know when to check the test."
She turned to face him taking his hands in hers and smiled softly.
"My love, please don't think I don't want another baby with you, nothing would make me happier than to give Eve a sibling and have a chance to experience all the things we were robbed of with her, it's just…I can't help being nervous about it too."
He nodded.
"I know, I am too, I was an only child, never had brothers or sisters, I used to babysit my younger cousins occasionally, but that was when I was like fifteen. I'm forty-two now or I would be if I still aged at a normal human rate. Speaking of which, when will Eve stop aging, do we know?"
Selene nodded.
"According to the histories recorded in the Death Dealer journals, pure bloods like Eve and David stop aging in their mid twenties to early thirties, which is why David will still look like he's twenty-five even when he's over six hundred years old like me. He may age a tiny bit more, he won't ever look older than thirty though, neither will Eve."
Before Michael could say anything, they heard the timer on Selene's cellphone go off, she quickly shut it off, squeezing his hand nervously.
"Well, are you ready to find out if we're going to be parents again?"
He grinned, trying to reassure her.
"Let's do it and remember, if the test is positive, we have plenty of help here, so please don't freak out on me again, okay? I hate seeing you cry, it's heartbreaking and I can't handle it. Babies are happy occasions, remember?"
She smiled and kissed him.
"I love you so much, Michael Corvin, as scared as I am, I would love nothing more than to give you another child, I'll be right back."
She went into the bathroom and came back a minute later, smiling.
Michael looked hopeful.
"Please tell me that smile means yes."
She nodded.
"Yes, you're going to be a daddy again, love."
She smiled as a huge grin spread across his face.
"Oh my God, babe, that's incredible."
Selene gasped in surprise and laughed as Michael picked her up, spinning her around.
"Michael!"
He set her back on her feet quickly, a worried look suddenly appearing on his face.
"I'm sorry, I didn't hurt you, did I?"
She reached up stroking his face lovingly.
"No, of course you didn't, don't worry. I just feel a bit nauseous still, that's all."
"I'll make you some dry toast and tea, it'll settle your stomach."
He started toward the door to go downstairs but she grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Michael, didn't I ask you not to fuss over me? I'll be fine, go take a shower, you kinda look like a caveman right now, you're in wrinkled pajamas, your hair is sticking straight up and you have some serious five o'clock shadow on your face. If you go downstairs like that you're liable to scare the crap out of Eve and Lena."
He laughed going into the bathroom.
"Alright I'll clean up and make myself look presentable, if you promise you'll put something in your stomach and don't say anything to them about the baby until I get downstairs please."
She shook her head.
"I'll eat some toast or crackers and don't worry, I won't say a word until you're there, but seriously love, you have to relax and stop worrying because if I have to deal with nine months of this, I might snap and shoot you."
He laughed.
"I'll behave, I promise."
Selene went downstairs and after making some toast and ginger tea, walked into the main room to find Eve dressed in her riding clothes preparing to go to the stables with Lena.
"Good morning, Mom, where's Dad?"
Eve hugged her mother tightly, smiling.
Selene returned the hug.
"He's in the shower, he'll be down in a few minutes, can you two postpone your lesson for a few minutes, your dad and I have some news for you."
Lena raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest and smirked at the other elder.
"You are suspiciously happy this morning, much more than usual and I can smell the ginger in your tea, upset stomach, perhaps?"
Eve pulled back giving her mother a worried look.
"Mom, you're eating toast, you hate toast, especially dry toast with no jelly or jam on it, you always said it was like eating cardboard, are you sick?"
"No darling, of course not, I promise just as soon as your dad comes down, I'll explain, I just promised I wouldn't say anything until he gets here."
"I'm here, I'm here, don't say anything yet."
Eve narrowed her eyes looking back and forth between her parents.
"Don't say anything about what? C'mon you guys, just tell us already, what's the big secret? I'm dying here."
Michael looked at Selene who nodded, then back to his daughter.
"Well, remember a few weeks ago, when you told me you wanted a puppy, how would you feel about a baby brother or sister instead?"
Eve's mouth dropped open as she stared at her parents in shock.
"Shut up, are you serious right now? If this is a prank, I will never speak to you again, I will put myself up for adoption or move to the Eastern coven with David, are you really having a baby, Mom?"
"Yes love, I really am."
They all jumped, startled as Eve suddenly shrieked, jumping up and down in excitement, clapping her hands.
"Oh my gosh, this is amazing, I…"
They looked surprised as Eve's face suddenly crumpled and tears ran down her cheeks. Selene stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her daughter, stroking her hair and murmuring soothing words in her ear.
"Shh, darling, please don't cry, Daddy and I will still love you just as much as before, I promise, that will never change."
Eve pulled back, wiping her eyes and smiled.
"Mom, I'm not crying because I'm upset, I'm crying because I'm happy."
"You are?"
She nodded.
"Of course I am, all my life growing up, all I wanted was a family and now not only do I have better parents than I ever could have dreamed of, I get a baby brother or sister, too, that's awesome."
Michael laughed.
"Does that mean you don't still hate us for grounding you? You gave us the silent treatment for a week straight, told us you'd never speak to us again, remember?"
She giggled, sticking her tongue out at him.
"Dad, stop teasing me, that was like three months ago, pretty sure I'm over it by now. Besides, I did kinda deserve it, running away was really stupid, no matter how mad I was at David. Besides, being grounded sucked, I've never been so bored in my life, that two weeks felt more like a month, by the time it was over I was so sick of reading books, I seriously considered burning down the library, but I thought Lena might kill me, it's like her favorite room in the entire castle."
Lena laughed, hugging her.
"Sweetie, I wouldn't have killed you, but I can't promise I wouldn't have cut all your hair off while you were asleep or put your hand in a bowl of warm water or something."
Eve looked confused.
"What does that do?"
Her parents both chuckled
"It makes you pee the bed."
Eve made a face.
"Eww, gross, I haven't done that since I was like three. You wouldn't really do that to me, would you, Lena?"
She laughed, shaking her head.
"Of course not sweetie, I was just kidding, why don't we skip riding for today, you and your parents should spend some time together, celebrate your news."
Eve nodded.
"Okay, I don't really feel like riding today anyway, I don't feel good. I think I'm gonna put on some comfy clothes and watch TV in bed, maybe take a nap, is that okay?"
Selene nodded, feeling Eve's forehead.
"Of course, love, you don't have a fever, though, why don't you go change and get in bed and I'll bring you a drink, okay? I ordered something from Amazon for you that arrived today, I'll bring it when I come up."
"Okay, thanks Mom."
Selene went into the kitchen and poured a glass of tea for Eve, going upstairs.
"Sweetie, where are you?"
She heard crying coming from the bathroom, Eve was sitting on the floor leaning against the bathtub, still in her riding clothes, her head was resting on her drawn up knees and her long hair hid her face.
"Baby girl, what's the matter, do you feel bad, you didn't throw up, did you?"
Eve shook her head, looking up at her mother with tears running down her cheeks.
"No, but my stomach was hurting really bad and when I went to the bathroom, there was blood in my underwear."
Selene smiled, helping Eve to her feet.
"Don't be scared love, I promise you're not sick, you just started your period, that's all. It's nothing to be embarrassed about, it happens to every woman sooner or later, it just means you're growing up. I'll be right back, I'm going to get you some clean clothes."
Selene walked to the dresser and came back with a pair of dark blue fuzzy pajama pants with yellow stars on them and a long sleeved pink t-shirt. After explaining to Eve what she needed to do, Selene closed the bathroom door and sat on the bed, waiting. A few minutes later, the bathroom door opened and Eve came out looking much calmer. She sat on the bed with Selene and took a drink from the glass of tea on the nightstand.
"Thanks, Mom, I'm sorry I freaked out and started bawling like a big baby."
"It's okay, it's perfectly normal to be scared the first time. Oh here, I almost forgot, I have something for you, two things actually, one's from me and one's from Lena. I remember you said you wanted another iPad case so you didn't have to use the keyboard all the time, I know it's in the way when you're not typing, so I got you a pink and green Otterbox case, it's the same kind I have on my phone, I hope you like it."
Eve smiled as she grabbed her iPad off the bedside table taking off the keyboard case and putting on the Otterbox, she held it up.
"How does it look?"
"Very pretty, I actually like it better than the keyboard case."
Eve smiled.
"Me too, the keyboard was hard to use sometimes, the Bluetooth never worked right, it kept disconnecting."
Selene handed her a small purple iPod nano.
"Lena felt bad that she never got you a birthday present and she figured you probably wouldn't want to carry your iPad everywhere just to listen to music, so she bought you another iPod since your old one broke. This one is smaller and is only sixteen gigabytes instead of thirty like your other one, you can use my laptop to put music on it if you want to."
Eve hugged Selene tightly.
"Thanks Mom, I'll tell Lena thank you as soon as she gets back from whatever errands she's doing today, as for the iPod storage, sixteen gigabytes is more than enough, it'll hold around five thousand songs, it would take me ages to download that many. My old one held seven thousand I think, though I only had about five hundred on it, it wasn't anywhere near full, that would probably take years. At least this one will fit in my pocket, my other one was too fat."
"I'm glad you like it, baby, here." Selene went into the bathroom and came back with two Advil.
" Here take these, it'll help you feel better."
Eve took the pills and swallowed them as she climbed under her covers and smiled as her mother tucked her in and handed her the TV remote.
"I'd better go downstairs before your dad comes looking for me, do you need anything else, love?"
"No, Mama, I'm okay now, thank you. I'm just gonna watch TV and maybe take a nap."
"Okay love, feel better and call us if you need anything okay?"
"I will, I promise."
Michael stood up from the couch as Selene came downstairs, a worried look on his face.
"Everything okay, is Eve feeling okay? You were upstairs with her for an hour, should I get Olivia to check on her? I would do it myself but it's been so long since I've done anything medical, I don't really even consider myself a doctor anymore."
Selene smiled, kissing him.
"My love you worry entirely too much, Eve is fine, she just had some cramps, that's all. No big deal, she's in her room resting and watching TV. Now, Lena is going to be gone all afternoon, Eve is occupied, what do you say you and I go upstairs, hmm?"
She gasped in surprise and laughed as he suddenly scooped her up, racing up the stairs toward their bedroom.