Marcus slept for along time yet woke suddenly remembering Selene and was alert to someone in his room. He sat up strait to see Gayle the old woman who watches over Selene from time to time staring at him
"What are..." he stopped as Gayle flapped her arms about and held a finger in front of her mouth shushing him.
He was about to snap at her for entering his room without asking and what she was doing in there when he realised there was someone else in the bed with him. He frowned as she smiled he knew then as she pointed to the left of him, at the edge of the large bed was a lump of another body.
Marcus knew by the scent it was Selene, he lifted the covers ever so slightly and slowly to see her pale face snuggled into the pillow, she was still fast asleep. Gayle quietly crept over to him
"Why is she in my bed?" He whispered
"She's fine and will be fine they brought her back to her room a few hours ago"
"Yes but how is she in my bed?"
"I'm getting to it. She was hesitant on sleeping on her own, when I walked into her room she was up and coming in here on her own" She explained. Marcus looked at Selene and smiled.
"She obviously felt safer and could sleep easier with someone who could protect her and the baby near by. She was laying on the couch at first but couldn't get comfortable then got in on the far side of the bed"
"She's right on the edge?" he asked, Gayle nodded as Marcus looked over the other side of Selene if she where to move she would fall out. Gently he grabbed the bottom sheet she was on and pulled it towards him slowly without rolling her off. Without waking Selene he had pulled her to the middle of the bed.
"I can watch her from here on in tell them to bring up two breakfasts"
Gayle nodded then hobbled away leaving Marcus in awe of the sleeping Selene.
He pulled the covered back up over her and laid in closer to give her any of his bodily warmth, she seemed colder than usual.
He couldn't wipe the smile off his face she had come to him for safety. Maybe it was a new trust, she did seek his company his name was the first name she yelled for she didn't just yell help she yelled for him. He then realised he was sitting over her his chest puffed out, becoming alpha male and protective without realising it. Sitting back he feed his own ego with his thoughts she did like him and trust him, she went to him Erika was right. Watching her and feeling his stomach full of butterflies he gently brushed a strand of hair out of her face so he could see all of her delicate features. Nothing could seem to threaten his good mood for the moment, until she began to stir.
He had no idea how she was going to react of what she would say if she saw him awake, in a quick decision he put his head down and pretended to be asleep.
She sat up slowly a little groaned. He could feel her eyes moving over him sussing out the situation, then to his astonishment she lay back down this time with her head over his shoulder and on is chest, causing him to smile widely again. She was still drowsy and began to drift off to sleep again. He lifted his head to see if she was fully asleep but she wasn't and woke her at his movement.
He was greeted with her brown orbs gazing at his
"How are you feeling?" he asked softly
"Better than I did a few hours ago" he could hear a slight vacancy in her words.
He knew she was waiting for him to ask why she was there.
"That's good"
She tried sitting up, it was still too painful
"Don't sit up if you're comfortable stay, don't move because of me I will move if you want me to"
"No it's your room"
"I insist. Lay back" he guided her back by her shoulders to lay against the pillows.
"I suppose you are wondering why I'm here"
"You don't have to tell me I already know don't go warrior on me and deny it, I stopped Amos you could sleep more safe and sound in here" He spoke sweetly to her, she nodded her head a little showing he was right.
"Where is Amos?"
"We have her in captivity she wont be going anywhere in a hurry, we're interrogating her. The main thing is you and the baby are fine"
There was a quick silence, Selene closed her eyes but continued to talk
"Why did you sit over me like you did?"
Marcus hesitated was she awake she asked himself hoping she hadn't been.
"When?"
"When Amos attacked me after you flung her across the room you sat over me, well sort of leaned over... just the way Michael did when the Lycans came..."
He froze he never even realised he did it was so instinctual
"I just did it, I was protecting you"
Selene was satisfied with the answer but her thoughts still dwelled on it more. Only males did it and they only did it over young, a mate, a mate with young, or an intended mate.
Marcus wanted to say 'who's the protective moron then' he stopped himself he would be being the prick she called him. He was on her good side and wanted to stay there.
Marcus helped Selene sit up when their breakfasts where brought in, they ate in silence, then chatted about the fate of Amos, who was to be held prisoner till Selene saw fit.
About two o'clock they where disrupted when Erika knocked on the door.
"Come in" Erika walked in to see Selene in the bed with him she couldn't help but smiled and lift a brow at the sight of the two.
"Selene there you are, looks like the two of you are alright"
"Yes where fine"
"Um Marcus about the thing, you know the" she pointed out the door
"Oh, yes, Gayle?" Marcus yelled, Gayle came jogging
"Could you stay here for a minute?"
Gayle nodded and took a seat. Marcus jogged out to talk with Erika
"Hmm, the two of you seem to be quite friendly"
"Not now Erika"
"About her surprise are we going ahead with it?"
"I haven't finished painting it"
"Shadows done it, he's cleaning up now"
"Oh" he seemed a little disappointed wanting to do it himself
"But she will love it now more than ever"
He had to admit Selene did need for something to go right for her.
"Alright get everyone there in an half an hour"
Erika smiled exited, they where both disrupted when Cass sprinted out of the room across form Selene's, covered with a large blotch of azure blue paint, Shadow chasing her.
Marcus grabbed the puppy that was wagging her tail about and throwing about her legs then handed her over to Kraven.
"She got into the tin of paint" Kraven said taking hold of Cass. Marcus sighed
"Make that an hour" he told Erika returning to Selene.
"Could you wash the paint off her while I clean up the mess she made" Kraven asked Erika very politely and in a desperate need manor.
"Alright" She took hold of the puppy holding her away from her body so she didn't get any paint on her cloths.
"Alright you, bath time"
Cass wagged her tail loving the attention not even registering what's installed for her.
Erika ran into Duncan and Kahn on the way to the bathroom
"Duncan, Kahn, Selene's fine and where going to have her surprise in an hour so can you help me wash Cass, she got into the paint I haven't got much time"
Duncan looked to Kahn to see if he could, Kahn gave him a nod of agreement then retired to his quarters to change. Erika handed Cass over to Duncan while she half filled the bath with warm water.
"Hey little pup" Duncan put her down and began to play with her and took off her collar while Erika fetched an apron to cover herself. Cass jumped around playing happily
"Alright Cass in you go" Erika picked up Cass who's tail was still wagging, until she saw the water. She let out a little moan and tilted her head and gave a pathetic look learning what 'bath time' meant. Erika placed her into the water, Cass started kicking around, not liking it one bit
"It's alright its just water, Duncan hold her still so I can scrub the paint off"
"Alight" He held Cass while Erika got a small blob of shampoo in her hand and lathered it up then began scrubbing Cass. Cass wasn't liking the water until then, with Erika rubbing the shampoo in she was beginning to like the fuss and started to wag her tail.
"Are, see pup it aren't so bad" Duncan let go and helped Erika try and wash the paint off. It was slowly coming out Cass was trying to chase the bubbles in the water, while Erika and Duncan scrubbed her fur. They laughed at Cass, Duncan made more bubbles and soap suds Cass tried to fetch.
"Right that's all of it out lets rinse you off" She stood up looking for a cup or something to scoop the water up with and rinse out the shampoo. Duncan watched Cass sitting in the bath all wet and pathetic looking
"Oh look at that little fuzzy face! she's so cute" He scooped up a handful of bubbles and plopped it on top of Cass's head giving her a afro of bubbles.
"Look its disco dog" Erika turned and they both laughed at Cass, whose ears dropped
"We shouldn't laugh, they say dogs know when you laugh at them" Erika said returning to her search. Duncan was half way in getting to his feet when Cass decided to make a run for it, she leapt out of the bath, ran through Duncan's legs and toward the door still covered in soap suds shampoo and lots of bubbles. Duncan tried to grab her but stood on a puddle of water and shampoo slipping arse over tit accidentally kicking Erika's legs from under her, she tried to get her balance from going over, slipped in another puddle and ended up going face first into the bath.
Cass galloped down the halls on her way back to Selene, only to be followed by a just as wet and covered in bubbles Erika, Cass heard Erika behind her and picked up her speed going under furniture where Erika couldn't reach.
Marcus had left his door open, both Selene and himself heard the running down the hall, they saw Cass gallop past covered in bubbles and soap then they saw Erika trailing behind.
It was followed with a loud
"Shit!..." thud, crash "You little..." thud of a body hitting the ground, a galloping came back along with a sniffing along the carpet, Cass stopped in the doorway seeing Selene in the bed, her eyes and ears perked seeing her, she ran in
"Cass no!" Marcus staunchly instructed but Cass still came running and leapt up onto the bed Selene smiled in amusement at the wet cuteness of Cass she still had the blob for bubbles on her head. Cass jumped into the middle of the bed, then shook all the water out of her coat sending a spray everywhere over the bed and over Marcus and Selene.
"Erika!" Marcus yelled she came running in seeing bubble blobs all over his face and body as well as Selene.
"Cass!" Erika's tone annoyed, she put her hands on her hips.
"Why are you bathing her?" Selene asked wiping some bubbles off her face.
"She got into some stuff and she was all dirty and smelly" Erika fibbed. She waked over and picked up the wet puppy the marched out the room her cloths squelching.
"Its everywhere" Marcus moaned, he was irritated at the wet puddle patch in the centre where Cass had been sitting.
"I need a bath anyway"
"I'll run it for you and get them to change the sheets" Marcus got up without letting her argue that she'll do it on her own. Erika put Cass back in the bath then began to wash off the shampoo conditioned her then rinsed her off again. Duncan took her out with a towel then began drying her off she chewed the corner of the towel ripping it. Both Erika and Duncan stopped what they where doing when Shadow stepped into the doorway, covered in a spray of the same blue paint as Cass was. Cass had run under him and Erika ran strait into him causing the bucket of paint he held to spill onto him after he had painted over the mark Cass had rubbed off the wall last time.
"Marcus said I have to use this bathroom since it has already paint in it"
"Sorry" Erika winced then finished cleaning up.
Selene sat gingerly on the side of the bath, it hurt to move around and she found it difficult to get up and down. Kara in the end helped her undress and get into the bath.
Marcus sat outside after checking the job Kraven had done of the painting, he was pleased with it. Kara came out and took the sheets away
"I'll be right back" she reassured him since he didn't want to go into the bathroom and embarrass Selene.
Sitting at his desk he heard the little trot of Cass returning this time dry. She trotted in and jumped up on the bed to see Selene wasn't there. He watched her sniff around tracking Selene she jumped off the bed sniffing the floor then followed her scent to the bathroom. Cass pushed to door open and popped her head around the corner Marcus knew she had spotted Selene, her tail wagged like mad then disappeared around the door.
Selene saw Cass trot in
"Are, déjà-vu" Selene remember the time when Russ came in. Cass stood up on her hind legs paws against the side of the bath, looking in the water. Selene patted her head,
"You're nice and soft, you've had your bath" Selene smiled at Cass. Next thing Selene knew Cass was up over the side and in the water splashing about
"Cass!" Cass settled and began doggy paddling over Selene's legs in the deeper water. She had her mouth open tongue hanging out panting making sniffling sounds as she swam in circles.
"You want me to get her out" Marcus called form the main room
"No she's fine" Selene was laughing at Cass's nuttiness in swimming around and around in circles.
It was short lived the same pain returned as the pain at the dinner came back.
She let out a small yelp, enough to gain Marcus attention
"What is she doing" He asked her, thinking Cass was annoying her
"Nothing, I think I'm in labour, I'm having a contraction" she moaned out
He jumped to his feet and stopped at the door,
"Kara!" no response, he wanted to enter but couldn't
"Just breath Selene, can I come in?"
"Yes" she moaned covering herself with a towel. He barged in grabbed the dog pulled her out the water then dove is arms into the water and wove them under Selene
"No leave me in the water" she grunted stopping him from lifting her out
"It helps"
"Someone!" Marcus yelled beginning to rub Selene's back.
Kahn came in
"Get the midwife"
Kahn scrambled away to return with a new midwife which just so happened to be Julian's sister Elaine
"Selene" Elaine recognised her strait away
"What are you doing here?" Selene puffed focusing on her breathing.
"I was just hired" She began checking Selene
"I don't know if it's another random contraction or I'm in labour"
Elaine pushed in on the sore area the last woman did but not as hard and only once each side, Selene winced
"Sorry, I know it hurts and sorry to say your not in labour, you haven't dilated any either"
Selene gasped throwing her head back annoyed.
Marcus could sense Selene was allot more comfortable with this woman and wasn't yelling at everyone including himself.
Duncan and Erika arrived
"Duncan where the hell have you been?" Elaine said running into him on the way out leaving Marcus to get Selene out of the bath.
"I live here now"
"You could have told Julian that, someone smashed up then burnt down hers and your apartment she's been living with me"
"Do you know about everything? you know the Vamcan's and stuff"
"Yes, I'm working here and living here aren't I?"
"Living?"
"In the working quarters I was going to ask if Julian could get a job here they pay well for secrecy sake"
"Okay I will see to it she can, call me" Duncan gave her a number from his pocket.
Erika walked over staunchly
"Who was that and why did you give her your number?"
"My old flatmates sister, I told it to give it to her sister so she can get in touch"
Erika glared at him
"Eh, it's not like that your the only one, she's just a old friend who I owe big time, I did get her house burnt down"
Erika sighed letting it go.
Erika and Kara ended up helping Selene dry and dress then get back into the bed.
Marcus sat with her comforting the pain while Erika dried off Cass again.
Selene recovered allot faster then last time allowing her to sit up and about.
Kraven managed to pull Marcus away from Selene
"Are we still going to give her the surprise I can carry her there"
"I will see how she is, gather up everyone else"
Marcus left Kraven a few minutes for everyone to get ready, then asked Selene
"Are you alright if I carry you into the next room?"
"What for?"
"Just something for you, your surprise"
"I suppose"
"No, if you can't it can wait"
"No I'm fine I will go"
She sat up ready to walk but he scooped her up then carried her out into the hall, she let out a small snare of disapproval of being carried everywhere.
"Okay close your eyes"
She sighed and did as he asked. He pushed the door open with his foot
"Keep them shut" She felt him place her down on something soft.
"Okay open you yes"
Selene opened her eyes to find she was in a nursery as everyone yelled surprise she was sitting in a lazy boy surrounded.
It was full of soft toys, children's books, a blue cot and a cradle, baby cloths, bibs nappies everything she could possibly need, she was over whelmed she smiled from ear to ear.
Everyone had got their own gift for her and the baby it was sort of a baby shower.
"I don't know what to say"
"You don't have to say anything just sit back and relax" Erika said taking a seat next to her.
"Marcus made the cot and cradle himself, then painted it" Erika told her
"Yeah so be careful not to put anything heavy in it" Duncan joked to receive a poisons glare from Marcus. Kahn and Duncan couldn't stay long but they gave her their presents and a hug then returned to their post and training.
Leavening Selene with Erika, Marcus and Kraven who packed everything away so Selene would know where everything was. Erika was more interested in the small cloths, beginning to annoy Selene with her Awing at every cute tiny garment there was.
Selene was more laughing at a Sesame St count Dracula
"Funny the ways people think Vampyre's live and sleep in coffins, I've never slept in a coffin, I don't think any Vampyre has"
Marcus cleared his throat
"Oh except for the elders entombed" Selene put the toy down and rubbed her eyes
Marcus saw she was becoming tired.
He picked her up
"What are you doing?"
"We can finish this tomorrow, you should get some sleep"
Selene looked over Marcus shoulder and rolled her eyes Erika giggled.
"Thank you" She told Kraven and Erika who where moving the cot that was still wet with paint away from a shelf.
"Your welcome"
Marcus without asking took Selene back to his own room and put her in the bed
"What are you doing?"
"Don't worry I will sleep on the couch, I will be right back"
He left not giving her any time to argue, she was to tired anyway and fell to sleep in minutes, Marcus's plan worked he stood outside the door waiting for her to drift off to sleep, everything was under control once again but he couldn't be fully relaxed he was understanding how Selene felt, what was installed around the corner waiting for them.