Vicki sat in stunned silence when Henry finished. Unable to gauge her reaction, Henry searched her face for something, anything that would tell him what to say without creating a situation. Vicki was by nature a tad volatile, a pregnant Vicki could be dangerous.
"Vicki? What are you thinking?" Henry asked tentatively.
Tilting her head, she responded almost a little too calmly, "I'm thinking that I'm not sure what I should do."
"What do you mean?" Henry was fearful she would want to get rid of the baby after he shared the tales of children born of human/vampire unions.
"I'm wondering whether to pinch myself to see if I'm dreaming or to laugh hysterically. You can't be serious Henry, these stories, are they real or just rumors?"
Henry shrugged, "I really can't say. With the territorial issues between vampires, nothing could ever be confirmed."
"What about your friend Augustus? Didn't he know or couldn't he find out? Isn't he a liaison of sorts between the vampires?"
"Well, yes he is but I've never thought to ask him," Henry's brow furrowed. Augustus would be the only one that would be able to get close enough to another vampire to find out that type of information.
"Of course, maybe they made these stories up to discourage people from attempting it or maybe to protect the actual children born to them," Henry offered.
The words daywalkers, died during childbirth, died during pregnancy, child killed mother and changes in the human parent…kept swirling in Vicki's mind.
"This is…a lot to deal with Henry," Vicki put her hands up. She got up to get dressed.
"Where are you going?" This is why Henry had hesitated in telling Vicki.
"I'm going to find someone to check me out, do blood work, sonogram, something, I have to know Henry," Vicki slid her jeans on, pulled her shirt over her head and flipped her hair out before pulling it into a low ponytail.
"Vicki, I know you don't want this child if it's a…" Henry stopped.
Vicki froze, she knew he was going to say monster and that's not what she intended. Making her way back to the bed, she sat beside him and put her hand on his cheek.
"Do you think I don't want your child because I'm afraid it will be a monster of some sort? Is that what's been bothering you? Is that what you've thought this entire time, that I see you as a monster?"
Henry turned away so Vicki couldn't see his tears of shame and hurt. She pulled his face back toward her with both hands.
"Henry, look at me. I don't care if this baby is vampire, human or both. I want to make sure it's healthy. I didn't know I was pregnant, I didn't take care of myself and surely didn't eat well. I don't believe that shit about dying or the baby killing the mother. That's all bullshit as far as I'm concerned. I never ever thought I'd have a child, hell..who'd want me for a mother but it's happening and I couldn't think of a better man to have a baby with than you," with that speech, Vicki kissed Henry passionately on the lips, the salt from his tears sliding into her mouth as she kissed him. Vicki gulped back her own tears wanting to remain strong for him.
"I'm sorry you felt that way, " Vicki said as she pulled away and wiped his tears with her thumbs.
"You're not a monster," she reminded him. Vicki kissed him one more time and got up to leave.
"Thank you," Henry called after her. She smiled and headed out of his door to get her own answers.
Henry realized after she left that she said there was no other man she'd rather have a baby with. He silently wondered and then smiled thinking to himself that he finally outranked the detective. Still, Henry had a nagging feeling that if Vicki found out something was wrong with the baby, she might not want to keep it.
Henry prayed the stories were nothing more than fairytales…
Vicki hailed a cab and headed for the morgue. She trusted Dr. Mohadevan and knew Rajani would keep her secret. On the drive over, Vicki placed her hand on her stomach and smiled to herself. She'd be lying to herself if she wasn't somewhat thrilled to be having Henry's baby. There was still however, that underlying worry that something was wrong or could go wrong. She hoped Rajani would have some sort of answers for her.
As soon as Vicki left, Henry called his trusted friend Augustus. After telling him his dilemma, Henry heard nothing for what seemed like eternity on the other end.
"Augustus? I know you're there, I can hear you breathing," Henry said with a hint of annoyance.
"Yes, yes, I'm here," Augustus sighed.
"Well? Are the stories true?" Henry pressed.
"Henry, the stories are true to an extent," Augustus told him everything he knew then added, " and congratulations by the way." Henry thanked him then remembered something.
"Why is it that Vicki seems to have subtle changes?" Henry told Augustus about her eyesight and sudden penchant for his blood. Augustus chuckled on the other end which Henry did not find amusing. After Augustus told Henry what that meant, Henry was silent then added a curt thank you before hanging up.
Henry knew when he saw Vicki next, he had much to tell her but how would she take the news….??