Chapter 3
Friday, February 13th
9: 47 P. M.
"So, vampire babies are common?"
Louis Drayven grinned at Josephine. "Well, not exactly. But they're not as rare as most vampires suppose them either. I've heard of vampires giving birth to healthy babies lots of times. I even know a vampire doctor who helped with a birth. You should have nothing to worry about."
"Even still, I'm apprehensive," Josie said, glancing around. She was at Darkness Falls, a Goth club at which the vampire population of Hill Valley could be themselves without fear. Josie often went in hopes of getting information about vampires of this reality. Once in a while her family would join her, pretending to be the other Browns and McFlys.
She felt Doc poke into her brain. I heard something about a vampire doctor. See if Louis can find out where he is.
You anticipate me, darling. How's the movie?
I don't know if I just hate it, or if I loathe it, Jennifer butted in.
I think it's hilarious.
Josie just stopped herself from shaking her head. "Louis, can you find that doctor for me? I'd feel a lot better with someone knowledgeable around -- no offense," she hastily added.
"None taken. I can give you some tips now, if you want. Stock up on blood, you'll be drinking a lot of it. And you'll want to involve that human doctor as little as possible."
"I know, I know. It was a miracle I was able to convince him my vampirism was a rare disease." She related an altered account of the "calling the fake doctor" episode. Louis laughed as she explained about her shock at their ability to stay awake and have the conversation. "I wouldn't worry about that. Even a vampire like you, with the early form of the virus, can get used to being awake in sunlight. According to what you've told me, you guys get woken up a lot during the day." He glanced at his watch. "Have to excuse myself now, I'm afraid. I'd like to get to know that pseudo-vampire by the bar better." He got up and patted Josephine's hand. "Good luck with the baby," he said in parting. "I'm sure you'll make a wonderful mother."
"I hope so. And don't forget to get that doctor over here." She watched as Louis wandered over to another part of the club. I sort of wish you guys could have come with me, she thought, suddenly feeling very alone.
I wish we could be with you too. This movie's terrible!
You have no sense of humor about this stuff. You have to appreciate its crappiness.
You're weird, Marty. Can't we change the channel?
There's nothing else on worth watching.
Not true. I saw a Clint Eastwood movie on one channel. Marty-2 likes those.
I don't. Biff always watched them in the hot tub. Sometimes he'd force us to watch them with him. I must have seen A Fistful of Dollars ten million times. No thanks.
Oh, for god sakes, give me the remote. I'm not watching any more Godzilla Vs. Mothra.
Listening to Marty and Jennifer argue, Josie found herself wondering about their fitness as siblings. What kind of a mother are you? she privately chided herself. After all they've been through. . . .
But the idea wouldn't leave. During their first days in this world, she and Doc had made it a point to read up some on child abuse. Practically all of the books had said that abused children were likely to become abusers themselves. Both Marty and Jennifer had been some of the worst-treated kids ever, she was sure. What if their experiences had corrupted them? What if jealousy over a new child turned them into sadists?
Hoping to relieve her mind, she called Doc privately. Emmett?
Doc recognized the tone and detached himself from the web of links. What is it? Still worried about the baby?
You could say that. . . . Josie thought hard. She had to put this in just the right terms. Her husband adored Marty, and she didn't want this to degenerate into a fight. It's more about Marty and Jennifer.
How they'll react to the new sibling.
Basically. I'm scared they'll be jealous.
They might be, but I'm sure everything will be fine. They've lived with each other for over a year, right?
Josie bit her lip. But about their pasts -- your little outburst raised a good point. Our pasts do affect us. Remember what the books said?
Doc picked up on what she was implying. Marty is not Biff, and Jennifer is not her pimp, Josephine, he said in a firm tone.
No! I know that, Josie rushed to assure him. But if they are jealous, they might express it violently. I don't think they'd want to hurt the baby, but there's always a possibility they could.
She felt Doc's brief anger ebb. I don't agree with you. Books aren't gospel by any means. Marty and Jennifer could be jealous, granted. But I don't think they'll express it violently. If anything, I think they'd want to protect the baby.
Oh Emmett. I can't stop worrying just because you say so.
Fine, I won't stop trying to convince you. They're good kids. I know they are. You've got to trust them, otherwise things could get nasty.
I'll try, Emmett. I promise I'll try.
Monday, February 16th, 1987
Hill Valley
7: 53 P. M.
Marty-2 closed the door behind him. "Okay, buddy, what did you have to talk about that's so private?"
Marty wondered how to begin. "It's about me and Jennifer," he said.
"You guys jealous 'cause Josie's having a baby? That's normal; remember what I told you about how I acted when Doc first met Clara?"
"Actually, no. We're nervous that Mom and Dad are going to forget us in this whole 'new baby' rush, though. We're gonna talk to them about it later."
Marty-2 shook his head. "I know it's been over a year, but I still feel weird when you call Dr. Brown 'Dad.'"
Aha, there was a lead-in. "I've been feeling weird myself lately, about Jennifer. I think I've got -- you know, feelings for her."
"So?" Marty-2 shrugged. "What's the big deal?"
"What's the big deal?! Jennifer's my sister, if you haven't noticed!"
"Your Jennifer? Sorry, I thought you meant mine."
"Huh? Wait, that didn't bother you?"
"I fell in love with her, right? I figured you weren't about to make any moves, and if you did, I'd tell you straight-out she likes me -- But your Jennifer?" Marty-2 frowned, then shrugged again. "You guys aren't blood relatives. . . ."
"Not in the usual way, but it's possible. Josie made both Dad and Jennifer. Dad made me. If you look at it vampire-wise, she's technically my aunt."
"Everything about you people is weird." Marty-2 shook his head. "I dunno what to say."
"Oh, hell, I don't even know if what I'm feeling is real. I'm constantly watching you guys act lovey-dovey. Maybe it's rubbing off on me." He sighed. "I just don't want to ruin what we have right now. You know that we really couldn't stand each other those first few days."
"Do you think she feels that way?"
"Got me. We haven't talked about it. It's too -- embarrassing."
"I guess you'd better get over that. Unless you guys talk, this is gonna hang over your heads until something bad happens. And with a new baby on the way. . . ."
"I know, I know." Marty decided to change the subject. This talk with his twin hadn't really helped. "I wonder if I'll be a good brother?"
"Dave and Linda haven't killed me yet," Marty-2 joked.
"That doesn't mean they don't want to," Marty shot back playfully. Then his mood became serious again. "I think you were right before, about me being jealous. It's because of Dad. I don't want to share him."
"But you're already sharing him. With Josie and your Jennifer."
"Sort of. We don't say we do, but we play favorites. I love both Mom and Dad, of course, but I feel closer to Dad. I was with him longer."
"Sounds normal to me. Dave's close to my Dad, and Linda's close to my Mom. I guess I'm the odd McFly out."
"So was I," Marty nodded. "After George died, and Biff -- he was the first guy to actually take care of me. He loved me. Once the new baby comes along, I'm gonna have to share that."
"You've got nothing to worry about," Marty-2 tried to reassure him. "Dr. Brown saved your life, turned you into a vampire. If he's willing to do that, you'll be fine once the new baby comes along."
"What about that time he ignored me? When Josephine showed up again?"
Marty-2 looked at the ground. "He hasn't done that since -- has he?"
"Not after that scare Jennifer and I gave both of them. But once the new baby arrives, I dunno. . . ."
"So talk to them too. I know you said you were gonna, but better sooner than later, right? Trust me, it's best to get it all out in the open. If I hadn't snapped in 1885, and we hadn't told Clara the whole situation, things could have gotten ugly."
"Maybe you're right. I need some time to think about it, though." He smiled a little. "Thanks."
Monday, February 16th
8:08 P. M.
"So, have you thought of any names for the baby?" Jennifer inquired, flipping through a magazine.
Doc grinned. "Well, we were thinking of letting you two choose."
"Why us?" Jennifer asked.
"We don't want you to feel left out. It's your sibling. We've got something worked out that I think you'll agree with. If a boy, Marty chooses the first name, Jennifer the middle; vice-versa for a girl."
Jennifer nodded her assent. Marty gave a nervous laugh. "It's a nice thought, but -- Jesus, I wouldn't know what to name a baby."
"Why not George, after your dad?" Jennifer suggested. "That's what I'm doing. If it's a girl, her name's Lesile."
"Lesile?" Marty frowned thoughtfully. "Huh. Marty-2 told me that his Jennifer's mom was a Jane."
"More proof I come from another reality. So how about it?"
Marty shook his head. "I don't really want to call him George. I barely think of him as my dad anymore." He looked at Doc. "Got any ideas for me?"
"If I was naming them, I'd pick a science-related name. You don't have to, but it's a jumping-off point."
"Isaac Grey. . .Albert Grey. . .Thomas Grey. . .none of them are appealing to me."
"Johannes Grey?" Doc suggested, a slight grin on his lips.
"Where the hell did you come up with that?"
"Johannes Kepler. He's a famous scientist too."
"No weirdo names. Something like -- Marie. Lesile Marie doesn't sound too bad."
"Better yet, Lesile Ann-Marie," Jennifer grinned. "My biological Mom's middle was Ann."
"Good. Better hope you're having a girl, Mom."
Josie chuckled. "It can't be that hard to think up a name. There must be one you like."
"Isaac's not horrible, but I'd stick to that for a middle name or something. You got any ideas, Mom? I could really use a hand."
"Don't look at me. Babies back in my day were named things like Jupitea or Marcus Aurealis."
"Jupitea??" both teens echoed, eyes wide with disbelief.
"That's my name," Josephine elaborated, looking slightly annoyed. "My parents were expecting a boy to call Jupiter."
"Oh, brother. I'm glad you changed it to Josephine."
Before Josephine could respond, there was a knock at the door. "Josephine? Are you home?"
The group froze for a minute, unsure of what to do. Then, quick as a flash, Doc, Marty, and Jennifer were gone. Josie got up and answered the door, to find Louis and a strange vampire standing there. "Hi, I didn't know if you'd left for work yet. This is the vampire doctor I told you about. Dr. William Gardner."
Dr. Gardner extended a hand. "Well, in private I'm Dr. Gardner. In public, I thought I'd better be Dr. Claude Wells, Dr. Elisabeth Well's husband."
"I see Louis has informed you of my situation. Nice to meet you, Dr. Gardner." Josephine caught an inkling from her husband to keep "the line open." "I must say, it feels a heck of a lot better to have an expert around her."
Dr. Gardner chuckled. "Well, I'm not exactly an expert, per se. It was mere luck I was present to watch the birth of a vampire baby."
"It's still reassuring. Now, a vampire birth is like a human birth, right?"
"No differences I could see." He sniffed suddenly, frowning. "I think we may have eavesdroppers. You, up there, scat!" he yelled at a vague shadow on the Burger King. Josie somehow smothered a grin.
"Why don't we take this inside," she offered as her family sought a less-noticeable hiding place. "I've got a ton of questions to ask you. Would you like a drink, my sister's husband -- they know, I had to tell them -- fixed this neat little device up for me."
"Well, I could use a glass of the red stuff. . .but that's human I smell in there."
"Oh, don't worry, I work at the blood bank. I take all the stuff they can't use anymore, that's all."
"All right. A glass of O Negative, please."
"Nothing for me, Josie, I already ate," Louis said, sitting on her couch. "The place looks very nice. Your in-laws must be a great bunch. How is Clara, anyway?"
"She's fine. She's expecting herself," she added for Dr. Gardner's benefit, passing over his glass of blood and sitting down. "Human in her case. The vampire that got me missed her."
"Aha." He examined Josie's stomach over his glass. "Well, already your life-glow is getting brighter in response to the new baby. I'd say you're about four, five weeks along."
"Wow," Josie grinned. "A whole month and I didn't even know until recently."
"Better now than later. Do you have any more appointments with Dr. Masters?"
"Yes, a few. With my family's help, I managed to fake a disease that would explain my vampiric symptoms. Heck, I might have not even needed to call you if he hadn't insisted on talking to Liz Wells."
"It's probably best that you contacted me anyway. Although vampiric pregnancies work like human ones for the most part, we're going to have to smooth out a few minor details that could come back and bite us." He smiled. "Would you like to ask me anything?"
"I was curious about how I was supposed to gain the necessary weight, being on an all-liquid diet."
"Just drink as much blood as you can. Your abdomen will swell, but I'm still not sure whether it'll be from weight gain or water retention." Josie chuckled. "Do you mind me asking who the father was?"
"Some vampire who split the minute I told him I was pregnant," Josie said, faking bitterness.
"You're positive it's him?"
"Yes, I only sleep with one person at a time. Why is it so important?"
"This is only a rumor, but -- well, I've actually heard of vampire/human hybrid babies -- kids that automatically change over after death. I was wondering if I'd actually get some proof of those."
"Not this time, Doctor. Sorry."
"It's all right. If you have no objections, we'll start with some sort of physical. . . ?"