Amanda didn't make eye contact with either man. She started to walk down the isle of shoes. She trailed her finger along the display rack.

Ritchie stood rooted to the spot on which he stood and dropped the packages he held.

Duncan took several large steps in her direction and spun her around.

He looked incredulous. His eyes were wide, his mouth half open. He stared at her and said again "What?!"

The anger in him was climbing up from the center of his being. His face was dark. He had to control himself.

Amanda took a step back and swallowed hard. In a tiny voice she said,"Well, it's my life."
Then she stepped forward, put her fists on each hip, leaned toward Duncan and said with much more force and conviction, "I did not ask for this! I don't want it! Why should I have to raise it? We are all orphans, foundlings, why should it be any different?"

Duncan was stunned. He didn't know what to say. His only thought was, "She called the baby an IT!"

Ritchie recognized immediately what he would call Duncan's "righteous anger" building up. Amanda seemed to notice, too, as she was apparently bracing herself mentally against the storm....

Ritchie made to leave, saying, "I can browse for a bit, if you two need some privacy."

"No stay here," Duncan said firmly. "Amanda should have no problem explaining why she's going to allow a child to enter this world abandoned."

Ritchie looked troubled, a little sheepish, but remained in place. Duncan's dark eyes were angry, hard.

Amanda hardened, too. Her jaw came forward and she stepped toward Duncan.

"This is MY PROBLEM! It is MINE to deal with as I choose! I didn't ask to be an immortal, I didn't ask to be part of this game! It's MY LIFE! Not yours! Not THEIRS! MINE!"

She glared at Duncan, her jaw trembling slightly with fury.

Duncan was quiet for a moment, then said softly," In your time of need, though, loved ones have stepped forward to help you, whether you asked for it or not. And soon, someone far more vulnerable than you will need the same. I can't make the decision for you. But I can help you bear the burden. But someone else is going to need you. Please, Amanda, don't abandon this child before he... or she... has a chance. Don't DO IT!"

"And what if I do? Will you abandon me? Amanda whispered.

"It will put us all in danger. Can't you feel its power even now? There are those gathering in the city now because of it. Duncan? Do you want me to die? The powers or whatever they are gave me this child to reintroduce the lost quickenings to the game. That means they PLAN for this child to die." Amanda's voice softened and was choked with sorrow, " Duncan? Sweetie? I can't do it. I've lost so many that I loved. Rebecca, Darius and many more that you never met. I know you never liked Kenny, but I loved him. Look what he became? That was as close to Motherhood as I ever thought I'd get. What chance does an immortal child have?" She looked down then looked up into Duncan's eyes. Her's were filled with tears, "Duncan, I can't carry, raise and love this child and send it out to die, Please, don't expect me to do that!"

Duncan hung his head a bit at the mention of Kenny. That one hurt. Sure, Kenny did turn out to be a bad seed... but...

"I know all that hurts, Amanda. But someone was there for you. Rebecca stepped up in your time of need. You tried for Kenny, and maybe if he had been found a few centuries earlier...?"

Duncan paused, gathered his thoughts, and then continued, "I'm not going to abandon you, Amanda. And for some reason, if you decide to abandon this child, I would take care of him myself, for however long he needed it. And I would try to find it in my heart to forgive you. But you don't have to do that."

"None of us has ever known the woman who wrought us into the world. That's one of the mysteries of our existence. You may be the first in more ways than one. Your child could be the first to know his biological Mother's love. Do it for him, Amanda. Do it for yourself. He will need you, Amanda. Do it for him. I'll be there with you, every step of the way." Duncan pleaded.

Meanwhile, Ritchie could be heard a little ways away, reassuring a security guard who had come in response to the commotion, that all was all right...

Amanda melted in Duncan's arms. "So do you have a book titled, "How to tell a woman what she wants to hear, exactly when she needs and wants to hear it?""

Duncan chuckled and laughingly said, "I guess I could write a book and make millions, but really, I can't tell a guy how to do this stuff. It's just me, from the heart."

She sniffed and took a Kleenex out of her purse. She blew her nose and looked up at Duncan. "Ok, Mac, as long as you're in it with me, I'll stick around. Who knows we may be able to keep the little tyke alive until adulthood? I just don't know how to be a Mother. It's kind of ..." Amandas voice trailed off.

Mac raised his shoulders, let out a huge sigh and said, "Yaw I know... I never expected to be a Daddy." His face broke into a big stupid grin...

"I'm going to be a Daddy!" A look of complete joy and awe came over him. " I feel like skipping!"

Amanda laughed, " well, its not that wonderful. Though I'd pay a lot to see you skipping down the Mall." She stuck her tongue out at Duncan. He made a grab for it.

Ritchie returned. " Well, guys they want us to leave."

Duncan and Amanda burst out laughing and arm in arm they skipped out of the store.

Ritchie shook his head and started to follow, then realized that he'd better gather up Amanda's packages. He hurried to catch up.