Before Henry could say anything, his cell rang.
"Coreen?" Henry's brow furrowed. He listened intently, told her he'd meet her there and hung up.
"Vicki, why did you lie?" Henry asked simply.
"What's wrong with Coreen?" Vicki was on her feet.
"You first," he ordered.
"You first, is she okay?" Vicki pressed.
"You certainly seem worried for someone who has been so disconnected lately, accusatory if you will." Henry tried a new approach and it didn't go over well.
"Let's not rehash things, okay. Blame it on hormones, think I can do that?" Vicki snorted.
"I would have a resounding yes if it were any different from your normal personality," Henry smirked. Vicki ground her teeth, clenched her fists and set her mouth in a line of defiance.
"What-is-wrong-with-Coreen?" Vicki asked once more, this time through gritted teeth.
"She's not feeling well," Henry finally told her, "she's at the hospital as a precaution. The doctor says it is stress, can you imagine?" Henry tilted his head and raised his eyebrows.
"Are you blaming me?" Vicki was calm and steady but underneath, she was angry and worried although outwordly she hid it well. Henry could sense apprehension, fear and anger rolled into one.
"No, I'm not blaming you per se but do you not accept the fact your behavior as of late is a little upsetting? Vicki," Henry took a step forward, Vicki took one back eliciting a sigh from Henry, "please, let me be there for you. For once in your life, open your heart. I won't hurt you. Aren't you the least bit excited about becoming a mother?
The words rang in her ears, 'becoming a mother'. They sounded so bizarre when said out loud and Vicki wasn't sure she was ready to let that sink in.
"I.." Vicki turned away from Henry, "I never thought about it truthfully. It's not like I've had the best of relationships with a man to plan a future with. I didn't see this one coming, that's for sure. And I haven't decided if I'm keeping it," Vicki added much to Henry's dismay.
"I understand, whatever your decision is, I'll understand. But," Henry's voice wavered and Vicki was afraid to turn to look at him, afraid her own tears would spill over and bring his, "if you don't want the baby, I do. I will care for it, I will hire someone during the day to be there. Please, consider it. I do love you, I will always love you and if you don't want my child, I'll understand. I get it, I know Coreen did something you consider intrusive but she did it out of love and friendship for us both. Do you know what she told me?"
Vicki could only shake her head no, her arms wrapped around her, her eyes staring out of her window and taking in the Toronto skyline with wonderment at being able to see it this way. Henry had no clue it had nothing to do with not wanting to be the mother of his child, he didn't know the depth of her feelings and she wasn't going to let them out at this point in time.
"She said," Henry was right behind her, his hot breath in her ear speaking softly, "that she wanted us to be happy. She wanted you to have something in your life that didn't hurt you, leave you or disappoint you. That is a gift, to want that for someone. She's going through hers with me granted but it's not the same, I hope you understand the risk she took as well." With that, Henry was gone.
Vicki let the tears fall and the sobs took her into a deep sleep until mid-morning when she awoke curled up on the couch, still in her clothes from the night before. Shaking off her dragged out feeling, she headed to make coffee then stopped when the realization that she was pregnant reminded her coffee would be out for awhile. Her mind drifted back to the conversation the night before. Henry had offered to raise their child..THEIR..child. That seemed odd to her. Vicki wasn't sure how she felt about anything. The fact she was going to have a baby was still sinking in followed closely by the fact the father was a centuries old yet teenaged vampire.
Who could she talk to? Her mother was out of the question. She would have a complete nervous breakdown. Mike? Maybe. After taking a long, hot shower, she decided the first person she needed to talk to was Coreen.
Talking to Coreen and trying to apologize was much scarier than facing any demon...