Fred was lying down on the back seat of their car trying to regulate her breathing. "It's too early." She said in a panicked voice "Something's wrong."
"Only a couple of weeks," Wesley said "She's going to be okay."
"Something's wrong." Fred put her hands on her bulging stomach.
"Everything is going to be fine." Wesley assured her, more because he thought that was his job than any actual belief he had that it was true "We're almost to the hospital."
"Why was it there?" Fred asked "What did it want?"
"I don't know." Wesley said
…
"I'm not sure that we can trust Angel." Giles said over the phone
Buffy stood in front of the payphone, staring at the ground. She was having trouble processing all this, but stoically going ahead anyway. She knew what she needed to do and had instructed Giles on what he had to do. But his last statement gave her pause. "We can."
"They're his son and his friends." Giles said
"I know, but Angel's a big boy, he knows how these things have to go."
"Does he?" It was a loaded question.
"Just call Willow, I'll call Xander and Robin."
…
Faith lay in bed, completely nude, listening to Robin's short noncommittal responses to Buffy. Her name when he picked up the phone had been the only thing he'd said so far besides yes and no. It was strange. Faith started to get dressed. She sensed that something was off. Robin came back into the room as she was putting on her socks. "What's up?" She asked
"Nothing," He said "I love you." He sat down next to her and began to kiss her neck.
She pushed him back, gently. "Don't lie to me. We don't do that, remember?"
He nodded. "I do." He bit his lip and looked away. He took a moment and then looked into her eyes. "Do you trust me?" He asked as though the world depended on her answer
"You know I do."
"Sometimes I wonder." Faith reacted as though he'd slapped her, recoiling and staring at him with a mixture of disappointment, sorrow, and anger. He looked away again.
"How could you say that?" Faith asked "After everything we-" She stood up and crossed her arms over her chest. She stared into the hall, just trying to avoid looking at him.
"I do love you." He said
She whirled around to face him. "You just don't trust me?" Her anger and confusion was palpable. She glared in accusation. "Why? Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me?"
Robin rubbed his eyes. "The world's a confusing place." Robin said "Sometimes things get all mixed up. Sometimes I…" Robin paused for a few moments. "I have to just do the best I can. I love you, and I want to be with you. But if I can't have that, I guess that's just the way-"
Faith didn't let him finish. "What is this? You're breaking up with me?"
Robin shook his head. "No, I-"
Faith was distracted when hands grabbed her from behind and pulled her arms behind her back. Her assailant moved quickly and Faith's loud argument had kept her from hearing the man sneak up on her. She felt metal cuffs snap on her wrists and reacted using her honed slayer instincts. She kicked the man back and spun around. She fell back and pulled her hands over her feet, bringing them in front of her. She jumped back up. All of this took mere moments. She clasped her hands together and dealt the man a powerful blow to the head. "Xander," Faith was momentarily stunned when she realized who had attacked her. Robin gripped her shoulders from behind. She struggled as Xander headed for her with a taser in his hand.
"I don't want to use this." Xander assured her "It's best if you cooperate."
"What is this? What did I do?" Faith felt her heart pump at an accelerated pace. She began to flashback to cops chasing her, the sadistic men who worked for the watchers council attacking Angel's basement, Buffy stabbing her. She had thought she was done with being chased. By all appearances that wasn't so. She kicked Xander's wrist and the taser went flying into the air to land behind him. Xander backed up to retrieve it and Faith spun around and kneed her lover in the groin. "Why?" She asked "Tell me what this is about."
He fell back onto the bed. "Faith this is for your own good as well as the world's."
A taser made contact with her neck. Faith felt the jolt and hit the ground. She heard men talking. "Good you're here." Was that Xander? "You missed the fight, but you can help us carry her to the car." Who were they talking to? "Yeah she did give us a little trouble but-" Faith blinked and saw Xander hit the ground, clutching a broken bloody nose. The blood spilled onto his black eye patch and she saw a hand reach for the keys on his belt. Faith struggled to bring the world back in focus. Robin headed for the third man and Faith tripped him. He landed on the ground at the feet of… Angel. Faith brought herself to sitting position and watched Angel grab Robin's shoulder and shove him out of the room. Angel kicked Xander in the gut. Angel reached for Faith's hands and undid her cuffs. She grabbed his shoulders and pulled herself to her feet.
"Are you all right?" He asked
"What-" Angel grabbed her hand and ran. She followed without further question, grabbing keys and her wallet from the table by the door on their way out. They ran down the stairs of the apartment building she lived in with Robin, had lived in with Robin. They headed for the parking lot. "I thought you were in Italy." Faith said "I also thought Xander was in-"
"Which one is yours?" Angel asked
Faith headed for her car. "Australia, and that he wasn't an evil psycho." She unlocked her car and got in the driver's seat while Angel go in the passenger's side. "Care to explain that one?" She asked as she cranked up the car "Because I generally don't enjoy being attacked in my own home by my boyfriend and a guy that is supposed to be my friend." Faith peeled out of the parking lot at a breakneck speed. Angel pulled a cell phone out of his pocket. "Angel?"
"One second," Angel dialed a number that Faith knew. He put it to his ear and tapped on the glass impatiently. "Wesley," He finally said "When you get this call me back. It's an emergency." He hung up and dialed another number. His tapping was even more impatient this time. "Fred, I need you to call me as soon as possible. It's very important."
"Angel," Faith whispered intensely "Please tell me what's going on."
Angel dialed another number. "The first paid us a visit."
Faith felt her blood run cold. "Why?"
"Faith there's something I- Anne do you know how to get in touch with Conner? His number hasn't been good for a- Anne? Anne?" Angel shook the cell phone as though that would cause her to speak up. "They're already there." Angel threw the phone at the dashboard where it clanged against the windshield with a loud clacking sound that was reminiscent of gunfire.
"Is Buffy doing this?" Faith asked
Angel ran his fingers through his hair. "Yeah," He drew in a deep breath and then let it out all at once. "She is. She had Willow teleport us to different locations. Willow and Kennedy are going after Conner. Buffy is- You're infected Faith. When the Ram stabbed you in L.A you…" Angel hit his window, hard. If he still had vampire strength Faith was pretty sure it would have shattered. "Conner should be safe. She doesn't know how to get to him, hell I don't even know. She'll have gone to Gunn and Anne to see if they know where he is. Hopefully they don't. Hopefully he isn't even in L.A. anymore, he's on some school trip or…" Angel put his face in his hands. "I thought something might be going on with him, it seemed strange…"
Faith nodded. "Him missing the wedding, stuff like that."
"He kept being busy. I figured young man, we live in different countries. I didn't think, but I thought maybe…" Angel slammed his hand against the window again. "Maybe this whole time he's been getting sick. This whole time he's been in trouble and I was too blind-"
Faith reached out and grabbed his shoulder. She gave it a squeeze of solidarity. "Stop,"
Angel nodded. "There's more. I'll tell you I promise, but I need a minute." Faith nodded and allowed the car to succumb to silence as she barreled down the road without a single care of being pulled over. She decided she would wait until Angel was ready to ask him to explain. This had all been so overwhelming and even processing what she had just found out would take some time. Just a few minutes ago two people she trusted had attacked her. Faith didn't trust people easily. There were few she would ever consider trusting and for that reason she's thought she could let her guard down around the few she had bestowed that honor to. Faith supposed she'd been wrong. Faith passed a sign heralding the approaching turn-off for the highway. She would give Angel the time he needed, but there was one thing she needed to know. "Texas or L.A.?"
Angel frowned. "I… Wes and Fred didn't pick up, they have no idea what's coming. It's possible Conner isn't even in California. If he is Gunn knows and might be able to get a warning to him. Conner is a pretty capable kid…" Angel picked his phone back up. "Texas," He said
"It's the right call." Faith assured him "Conner is a lot more able to defend himself against a slayer than Wesley is able to defend himself and his pregnant wife against one."
Angel nodded. "I know one other person I can try."
The tapping was gone which Faith took as a good sign. Angel sighed with relief when the person at the other end picked up. "Roger, it's Angel. Yeah, listen this is really important. Do you know where Fred or Wesley are? The hospital?" Faith almost jerked the wheel. Her mind was filled with horrifying images of- "She's in labor." Faith breathed a sigh of relief. "Isn't she early? Yeah, I guess these things do happen. Anything supernatural going on?" Faith could tell Angel was mimicking Roger's own question to stall for time. She locked eyes with him and he made a decision. "Yeah, it's really important that I talk to one of them; are you on your way to the hospital? Of course, sorry; when you get there can you ask Wesley to call me? Thanks, and if you see anyone there that was at the wedding, don't ask in front of them, wait till you're alone. I know. Thanks Roger. You have a great day too, congratulations on your granddaughter." Angel hung up the phone and breathed a heavy sigh. "We'll see what happens."
"Why do you have his number?" Faith asked
"Roger?" Angel shrugged. "Fred's parents are really cool."
"Just please tell me you aren't Facebook friends." Faith said with an eye roll
"I don't have a Facebook."
"Thank God for small miracles." Faith teased
Angel let out a heavy sigh. "Okay, so what happened is this…"
…
"We should call Angel." Anne was sitting at the front desk of the homeless shelter they owned and ran. They had built this building on top of the site of the old Hyperion. Their home and offices were on the top floor. Gunn was sitting on the edge of the desk, having just told her what had happened. "We should tell him everything." She added "He needs to know."
"Conner doesn't want his father to know." Gunn said "We need to honor that."
"What about your friendship with Angel, do we honor that?"
Gunn fidgeted uncomfortably. He averted his eyes toward the sign by the front door. It welcomed any entrants to the Sunrise Shelter. Anne had picked out the name. "Conner is an adult." Anne rolled her eyes but Gunn kept going. "He can make his own decisions."
"And we can make ours. Angel needs to know Conner is sick and he needs to know that something is trying to get at him" Anne insisted "You know I'm right."
"We don't know for sure that's why whatever that was…" Gunn wilted under his girlfriend's glare. "Okay, we probably do, but this-" Gunn fell silent as two women entered the building. He realized it was Willow and Kennedy. How odd that they would be here.
"Anne, Gunn," Willow said "Have you seen Conner?"
Gunn shook his head with practiced ease. Have you seen Conner? Have you heard from Conner? Often he wanted to say yes he had, but his promise stayed him. This time though there wasn't that temptation to reveal the truth. Something told him he wouldn't be helping anybody if he told Willow where Conner was. "What's up? Did something happen to Angel?"
To Gunn's relief Willow shook her head. "Angel's fine."
"Good, well what-" The ringing phone cut Gunn off.
Anne picked up the phone. "Hello," Anne smiled. "Angel- what's wrong?" Willow threw out her hand and Anne went flying. The phone's handset slipped from her fingers and she hit the ground with a thump. Gunn jumped off the desk and ran toward the witch but was halted by a jab to the throat by Kennedy. Gunn fell to his knees, gasping. Willow walked over to Anne and pulled her up, standing her on her feet. "What-" Willow put a finger to Anne's lips.
"Shhhh," The witch said "I'm truly sorry about that, but we need to find Conner."
"We don't know where he is." A dazed Anne said
"Do you know who might? Friends? Relatives of his other parents? Someone?"
Anne shook her head. "We haven't seen him in a while, I swear."
Gunn pulled himself to his feet and Kennedy shoved him back down. "What about you?"
Gunn rubbed his throat as he lay sprawled on the floor. "What is this? Why are you doing this?" He pushed against the floor to rise again but Kennedy kicked him in the ribs.
"Kennedy," Willow said as Gunn fell on his stomach with a moan. "That isn't needed."
Kennedy nodded. "Sorry, I just thought getting the kid was top priority."
"Why?" Anne asked, still held in Willow's grip "Tell us."
"Conner is sick." Willow explained "He-" She saw Gunn and Anne exchange a look. "I see, you already knew that. Which means you know where he is. Tell us. It's for his own good."
"So you can beat him up too?" Gunn asked "I don't think so."
"I'm really very sorry." Willow assured him. "But people are in danger. I can help Conner if you just tell me where he is." Willow let go of Anne. "Is he in pain?" Anne nodded in confirmation. "I can make it stop." Willow told her "Is he here?" Anne hesitated "He is."
Gunn shook his head. "He's not, we don't-" Kennedy smacked him. "Oomph,"
"Charles," Anne ran for her boyfriend and Willow didn't stop her. "Please, I'll tell you where he is if you promise not to hurt him or Charles anymore. I'll tell you everything."
Willow nodded. "That's all we want."
"There's a vacation cabin his parents had a time share in. He went there. I don't remember how to get there, but I might have the address in my address book."
Willow nodded. "Okay,"
Anne walked over to her desk and opened a drawer. She pulled out an address book and flipped through the pages. "Here it is." She handed the book to Willow.
"Thank you." Willow said "Have a nice day." She left, Kennedy following close behind.
Gunn stood still, panting, waiting for them to be gone. Once outside the door they blinked away in a teleportation spell. Anne rushed over to him and wrapped her arms around him. "What the hell was that about?" She asked "Willow and Kennedy… We know them."
Gunn shrugged. "I think maybe we should call Angel back." He started toward the desk and stopped. "But first we need to get Conner out of here." Anne nodded in agreement and the two headed down the hall toward the thick metal door to Conner's room. They called it a room, though it was really a prison. It was where Conner kept the beast growing inside him.
…
Fred gripped Wesley's hand tighter. He either hadn't realized how strong she was before or pregnancy really did give you super strength because it hurt, a lot. Wesley looked at his wife's pale sweaty face. She looked like she was in a lot of pain. He felt a pang of misplaced guilt. She was lying on the hospital bed trying to go through the breathing regime they'd learned about at the birthing classes. The doctor and the nurse were whispering in the corner and Wesley was feeling something akin to utter terror. "This isn't supposed to happen." Fred said
"I know." He reached over with his free hand and brushed away some sweaty strands of hair. "But it's only a couple of weeks. You'll both be fine."
"Three weeks," Fred argued
"Two and a half," Wesley countered
Fred laughed through the pain. "Keep doing that."
"What?" Wesley asked
"Being obstinate, it's distracting."
Wesley took a moment to think. "You were wrong about how to spell colour."
"It's c-o-l-o-r." Fred insisted "We won the war and the freedom to choose how we spell things. Plus the right to not drink your horrible tea." Fred added
"You only won the war because you cheated." Wesley said
"We used superior tactics." Fred said "Our generals were better."
"Because they cheated."
"You used guerilla warfare in Pylea." Fred reminded him
"To free the slaves, not avoid paying my taxes."
"We freed the slaves… eventually."
"Britain outlawed slavery in 1833, America didn't do so until 1865; point for Britain."
"I object." Fred said
"To what?"
"Not having a good comeback for that." Fred squeezed her eyes shut. "Why does having babies hurt so much? I mean I know how the biological process works, but why should something so necessary for the continuation of life hurt so much. It doesn't make sense."
"I'll write a complaint." Wesley assured her and then brought her hand to his lips
Fred squeezed his hand still tighter. There was definitely going to be a mark there. "Do you think my mom felt like this when I was born?" She asked
"I imagine so."
"I should write an apology letter."
Wesley leaned forward and kissed her sweaty brow. "I don't think she minds."
Fred locked eyes with him. "I'm scared." She whispered "What if it comes back?"
"It won't." He promised
"You're just saying that." She admonished him "It could come back."
"It can't hurt you, either of you. It's noncorporeal." Wesley said
"It can hurt us. It did this. This wasn't supposed to happen. It isn't time."
"Shhh, the doctors know what they're doing. You're going to be fine."
"What if it's me?" Fed asked in a panic
"What are you talking about?"
"What if there still are pieces of her in me. What if it's too cold in there and our baby wants out. What if she's hurt? What if the stuff in me hurt her?"
"Shhh," Wesley kissed her again. "It's gone, she can't hurt you again or our little girl."
"But the first said it did, and quit shushing me. I'm not acting crazy. It could be true."
"The first is a liar and a manipulator." Wesley told her "There's no reason to listen to it."
Fred shrieked in pain. The doctor rushed over. "Another contraction?" She asked
"Uh-huh," Fred said
The doctor smiled. "That's good." She said "You're doing great."
…
"The Wolf and Ram aren't really dead." Angel explained as the unchanging landscape ran by his window. "We killed the forms they took when they crossed over, but not before they transferred their essences into vessels. The vessels are human beings."
Faith nodded, unable to react emotionally. "Me and Conner,"
"The Wolf scratched him, and the Ram stabbed you."
"I remember." Faith touched her abdomen. The scar still tingled. It always did, without respite, but she'd grown used to it. "So they're inside us."
"I'm unclear on how it all works." Angel said evasively
"So they are." Faith said with a nod "Just be honest."
"I am." Angel said earnestly "This is all so crazy. Buffy came back to the apartment after talking to Giles and said we had to bring in the people listed in the prophecy. She asked me if I could back up Xander and Robin. I told her we should just talk to you, but she said we couldn't take the risk. It was obvious to me the first was manipulating her, so I just went along with what she was saying so that I could stop Xander and Robin. Buffy will see reason when this is over."
"Yeah," Faith said "Just like last time."
Angel flinched. "This is different." He knew she was referring to the events in L.A. when Buffy had tried to kill Faith after the Wolf convinced Buffy Faith was a traitor.
"Doesn't matter," Faith said "I shouldn't have brought it up. B and I declared even stevens about the whole thing. But I don't intend to let her tie me up like a dog."
"Nobody wants that." Angel assured her
"Except the guy I thought loved me." Faith said bitterly
Angel didn't know how to reply to that so he just fell silent. He considered saying he was sorry, but he doubted that would faze her much. He considered reminding her of the first's power but that excuse would ring hollow. He looked out the window at the trees. Were Wes and Fred all right? Had she delivered her baby? Was Buffy there? Too many unanswered questions.
…
"You look nervous." Wesley jumped out of the uncomfortable hospital waiting room chair and whirled around to face the slayer. He forced himself to relax. Buffy smiled at him.
"Buffy, what are you doing here? I thought you were in Italy."
"I had to come to the states for business. I thought I'd stop in and say hi. When I heard Fred had gone in to labor I had to come by and give you my congratulations."
"Thank you," Wesley said evenly, concealing his breakneck paced heartbeat. "That's very kind of you." Wesley looked behind her at Dawn. The young woman was watching him with an utterly emotionless façade. "Hello Dawn."
Dawn forced a large smile onto her face. "Congratulations Wesley."
Roger stood up from where he was sitting next to his wife and clapped Wesley on the back. "Yep, our Wesley's a father now; or near enough at any rate."
Wesley nodded. "Shouldn't be long." He looked into Buffy's eyes. Did she know he knew? She had to know about Angel by now, but it was plausible to think Angel hadn't been able to get a hold of them amidst all the chaos. If only the first hadn't shown up and caused Fred to go into premature labor. They could have just ran. But that was far from an option right now.
"I figured you'd be in there with her." Buffy said
"Well when the doctor asked me to leave I figured it was best not to argue. This is her job after all. But I assure you there is no where I'd rather be than with my wife right now."
Patricia put her hand on her son-in-law's shoulder. "Don't worry. Women have been having babies for a long time. We've gotten pretty good at it."
"Right, I'm not worried. Well that's a lie I'm terrified." Wesley left out that the thing he was most terrified of was standing in front of him. "But that's natural right?"
"Roger had a panic attack when Fred was born." Patricia said
"That's true I did. That was the happiest day of my life when I met my little girl. She's just about the best thing that ever happened to me along with my wonderful wife."
Wesley watched his in-laws smile at each other in that knowing way old married couples have, with a look that told a hundred stories. He knew exactly what Roger was talking about. He would die before he let anything happen to his wife or kid, and with a deranged slayer in the room that death was a very real possibility. Wes needed a plan, preferably before his daughter was done being born. He was reasonably confident Buffy wouldn't make a move until then.
…
"I don't believe it, we've been had." Willow said as she and Kennedy finished examining the cabin. "Conner was probably at the shelter the whole time we were talking to them."
Kennedy nodded in agreement. "They're long gone by now."
Willow sighed in frustration. "Buffy isn't going to be happy." Willow pulled out her cellphone. "I've got a feeling Faith got away as well. It takes a lot to put her down."
Kennedy nodded in agreement. "Maybe we can catch them on their way out of town."
Willow finished her call and put the phone to her ear. "Xander did you-Yeah no luck here either. How's Buffy doing? In labor? Yeah definitely best to wait. Good luck. Thanks." Willow hung up the phone. "You're right." She told Kennedy "Let's start back at the shelter and see if we can track them from there. Faith's gone by the way, her and Angel."
Kennedy flinched. "I doubt Buffy is taking that well."
"I agree." Willow said "He's a dangerous variable."
"He's human now." Kennedy reminded Willow "He won't stand much of a chance against any of us. I'm surprised he even got the drop on Xander and Robin."
"Faith had a lot to do with that by all accounts. A slayer is hard to pin down, even when you take her by surprise. She gave the boys a good beating and Angel finished them off."
Kennedy shook her head. "We'll get them." She said
"I hope so, the fate of the world depends on it."
…
Conner leaned against the passenger door of Gunn's truck. He shivered. Sometimes he was hot, and sometimes he was cold. Nothing really eased his discomfort. It hadn't been this bad at first. Three months after L.A. he'd caught a flu that wouldn't go away. A few months later Wesley and Fred got married, and Conner was still sick. He'd moved in with Gunn and Anne who promised to make up an unconcerning lie for Angel. Back then they all still thought he was just sick. About seven months ago he'd moved into the room he now occupied. A month after that he'd stopped leaving it. A month after that the chains had become necessary. Now he was out of the room for the first time in six months, unshackled for the first time in five months and he was terrified. He was terrified the monster would wake up and take over. The world was so unfamiliar when the monster was in control. Colors were different. His senses were foreign to him. Whenever he woke up after the monster was in control he always felt sicker, weaker. He knew there would come a day when he wouldn't wake up. That's why he'd kept it a secret from his dad. He didn't want to make his dad watch him turn into this thing. He didn't want to make Anne or Gunn have any part of it either, but that was unavoidable. They didn't know the whole truth, but soon they would. Soon they would realize what he was becoming. Then what?
"Conner," Anne spoke his name from the other side of the bench seat where she was driving. It had gone unspoken that Anne was driving because Gunn wanted to be between her and the boy that turned into a beast, but they all knew it anyway. "Is there anything we can do?"
"Lock me up." Conner said "As soon as you can."
Anne frowned. "Where do we go?"
Gunn shook his head. "I don't know, east?"
Anne shot him a murderous glare. "Good idea," She said sarcastically
"Northeast? We can't go to Wes and Fred's, Buffy is there. We can't go to Faith's, she's on the run. If we meet up with Faith and Angel, or try to go help Wes and Fred, we risk putting Conner in a dangerous situation. We need somewhere safe to stash him." Gunn looked over at the boy to make sure he wasn't offended by the phrasing but Conner just nodded. He wanted that too, even more than they did. He knew how dangerous he would be if he changed.
"What about New York?" Anne asked
Gunn shook his head. "I don't know if we can trust Spike."
"Lorne is there." Anne said
"That won't stop Spike from calling up his old flame to give her the 411 on our whereabouts. Spike isn't exactly the president of the AI fan club if you know what I mean."
"I think it's our best option." Anne said "I think we can trust him."
Gunn sighed. "Hell I don't have a better idea. Who's up for a road trip to the big apple?"
Conner groaned. "It's too far. I won't make it."
Gunn gripped the boy's shoulder. "You'll make it."
Conner nodded. He had to, or Gunn and Anne would die. If he had to use up every ounce of will power he possessed he would make sure he didn't hurt them. Even if it was the last thing he did in this world he would keep them safe from the most dangerous monster around, him.
…
Panting with exhaustion Fred watched the doctor hold up a baby. Fred was in shock. Was that her baby? Was that the little girl that had been growing inside her for ten months? She heard a voice from far away, the doctor maybe? "Do you want to hold your baby?" Fred wanted that more than anything. She reached out for the child. The girl was so tiny and fragile. Fred was afraid she would break. She cradled the child in her arms. "What's her name?"
Fred looked up at the doctor and grinned. It was the classic Fred grin, big and sunny and full of unabashed joy. "Her name is Cordelia." Fred told the doctor
The door to the hospital room opened and Wesley stepped in. He looked at his new daughter for the first time and he took on that boyish demeanor she saw when he was really truly happy without doubt or reservation. It was her favorite of all his expressions. But when he got closer and knelt down by her bedside to get a closer look at the newest member of his family she saw something creep into his eyes. She felt her heart skip a beat in fear. He moved even closer to her and leaned in to whisper in her ear. "Something happened, we have to go."
She looked over at the doctor, who was watching them. Fred kissed Wesley on the cheek and then spoke loud enough for the doctor to hear. "I love you too." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "What happened? Does this have anything to do with the first?"
Wesley subtly nodded. "It's Buffy. Dawn is here too and there might be people I haven't seen. The first is manipulating them or something to that effect. We have to leave."
Fred held her brand new baby closer to herself. Something was happening, something dangerous. Her new child was in danger. Wesley reached out to touch the new child, and that was the perfect word. She was full of newness. Fred knew that this was what innocence was. She wanted to protect her and keep her safe from anything that might tarnish her newness. She looked at Wes and knew he wanted that as well. He wanted that just as much as she did, which seemed impossible, because she wanted to protect this baby more than she had ever wanted anything in the entire world. How could he feel as strongly as she did? But she knew he felt all of that. She knew he felt the love and the need. She leaned forward and kissed him. "You're going to be a great dad." She assured him "You are." She kissed him again.
He stared into her eyes and that smile was back, doubtless and pure. "She's so tiny." He said "I didn't realize how tiny she would be." He suddenly became concerned "Is that healthy?"
The doctor walked over with her clipboard. "At a robust nine pounds and eleven ounces your new little girl is well within the healthy range." She patted his shoulder. "Don't worry."
"Right, no worries." Wesley echoed "There's nothing to worry about." Yet even as he spoke, even as he looked at the new life he'd helped create, he was very, very worried.
