She finished double checking her work quickly and uploaded the document to the shared network that they all used. Taking a breath she hit the final post button allowing the rest of the Head of Houses in on the secret she had kept for only one more week. Sara was crawling now and moving fast towards standing with the aid of furniture.
Taking the girl out of the play pen in the room Helen held her close kissing her cheek and tickling the girl's stomach. Sara let out a glorious giggle that only prodded Helen to continue in her torment of the child. Sara's genetics were no mystery, but how Dana Whitcomb had accelerated the growth process was and unfortunately without that bit of knowledge, the process was also irreversible. Baby Sara was growing faster than any normal child and the more she grew the faster her body aged. It was an exponential process that had started and would not stop until the child's death, which would be in just under a year.
Taking hold of the girl's sides, Helen threw her lightly into the air catching her as she came back down. This was one of Sara's favorite games at the moment and Helen gladly obliged in the playing of it. She caught the girl quickly and swung her down to her hip looking up suddenly. She found John standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame watching her.
"John?"
"Helen." He was smiling; he hadn't seen her like this in years, so blissfully unaware of everything, focused on something or someone that would bring her great happiness. It had been before the source blood. "I didn't know you were expecting." He didn't move.
"Neither did I, her name is Sara." She was swaying slightly to a natural rhythm but was still able to keep a stoic atmosphere about her. "She's our daughter." Her voice was quiet, hardly above a whisper.
John stood quickly, his back pin rod straight at her comment. "Pardon?"
"I thought you killed Dana Whitcomb. You want to explain to me how she took our daughters DNA and cloned her, genetically recreating this life, but altering her to allow her to grow rapidly all while she was supposedly dead? How many more people have you 'killed' that I should know about?"
"Is this a cruel joke?" His voice was raised and she did step away from him, moving to the fire that began to warm her side not losing her ability to watch him. She didn't let go of the child, she would not let him harm her like he had harmed Ashley. He watched her carefully and determined she was not making a joke; she was being completely honest with him.
He moved quickly over to Helen and laid his large hand on the girl's shoulder before pulling back. "Our daughter." Helen only nodded in response as Sara lifted her arms wanting to be held by John. He looked at the woman, silently asking permission. Against her better judgment, Helen handed the child over to him. The girl looked so small in his large arms and frame. "I don't expect anything, Helen."
"I know." She whispered the words watching the child's face light up as John smiled down at her. The girl's hand reached out and slapped lightly against John's cheek, right on the spot where his scar was from the first time Helen had tried to kill him. How ironic, she thought. He probably didn't even notice, his eyes were lit up like that of a new father's, in the way she had always hoped she would get to see. Helen took a step forward laying her palm against the girl's back and rubbing lightly her face glowing. "No matter how much I hate you John, I do love you. You must know that."
"I do." He stated simply, his eyes only leaving his daughters face for a moment as they moved to glance at the mother.
"I will not deny you this, this time. I understand my mistake in lying to Ashley and I cannot deny the knowledge to her or to you. She will know the truth."
"I would expect nothing less."
"Good." Making a quick decision, or two, she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "Would you like to watch her? I have a conference call I have to make and it would be a nice respite."
He looked bewildered; she hadn't seen that look since the first time she asked him to her bed. His eyes moved over her face in all seriousness trying to figure out if she was being honest and how to get himself out of this situation. He had never been alone with a child before. "I don't think—"
"I can have Will join you, if you would like. He is quite adept at taking care of her."
Conceding he replied, "That would be most appreciated." John bowed his head lightly and left the room with the girl as Helen reached for her phone to talk to Will. That would be a pleasant conversation.
She was halfway through the conference call when she received not one, not two, but three phone calls from Declan and a text message that stated: Emergency, Call ASAP. She ignored him and finished her call before taking a deep breath. Declan was a wonderful Head of House, but she was afraid he was relying too much on her. However, she had an inkling that this conversation was not as emergent as the Brit declared.
Finally hanging up the phone after calming the Brit down Magnus turned to see Will standing at her door leaning against the frame. "So, words out?" She nodded curtly and began to arrange the files on her desk. "And the result?"
"Panic, as was expected; confusion, as well. I still don't have an answer for them on what to do. Declan wants to have a plan; he wants to know exactly what is going to happen when this backfires. He thinks she should not be here, that I shouldn't be the one caring for her."
"We knew that might happen." He lifted off the wall and moved toward her coming to stand on the other side of the desk.
"Yes, but still, to think that I can't be a mother to my own daughter? It's insulting and infuriating." She let out a breath in an attempt to calm herself. "There is a Head of House call tomorrow that I am not looking forward too." She paused, thinking over her next words carefully. "Would you join me for it?"
"I thought you'd never ask." He smirked at her, trying to lighten the mood.
"Sara?"
"Sleeping. Druitt is as well, passed out about the same time the girl did. I guess she wore him out."
Magnus smiled softly, "John has never been good with children: they make him nervous. It was good that you were there."
"And you let him be alone with her because?"
"He's her father, Will. He does have some rights even if he lacks the responsibility."
"He's the Ripper!" His voice rose and her head snapped in his direction at it.
"I am very aware of that fact, thank you. I denied him to Ashley and Ashley to him. It was a mistake to not let her know who he truly was—she needed to learn about him in order to better understand herself. I will not make that mistake again or deny another child the rights of having a father because of my fear he will make a mistake. Yes, he will be under supervision with her and all situations will be closely watched, but I cannot do that to her again."
"I trust you, Magnus, really I do, but I have to question your judgment in this. How can you let a man, who has killed countless times, into your life and your daughter's without so much as considering the danger?"
It was her voice that rose this time; she stood and stalked over to him. "Do you think that I don't know what I'm doing? I've considered the dangers, Will. I know he has a tendency for violence but I do not believe he would harm his own child. What reason would he have?"
"Like he didn't harm Ashley? Like he didn't try to kill you multiple times?"
"I am not having this conversation with you." Her hands moved in front of her body to signify the end of the discussion.
He pulled her arm towards him to jerk her body closer, so she could understand the seriousness of the situation, "Please Magnus, just think about this ok?" His voice was calmer. He wasn't going to continue beyond, but she had to know that he disagreed with her choices.
"I have thought about this Will, since before Ashley died. This is not a decision that I will change my mind about, or regret later."
Doubting her last statement he answered, "Ok." He released her arm and stepping back. He ran his hands over his face and through his hair sighing. "Ok." Once again, he was going to pick up the pieces after Druitt left. He knew it was going to happen, but there was no way around it.
The tension in the room fled as soon as he let her have her way once again, not that there was anything he could really do to stop her, but he could at least try. She grabbed his fingers and squeezed tightly, "I do appreciate your opinion, Will, I do. It's just that this is a matter that does not concern the Sanctuary, it is a personal choice and one that I have made." He only nodded in response, still holding her hand in his.
They stood like that for a while, their fingers interlocked and testing the ground. He leaned his head towards hers, but she spoke first. "I don't know Will. With everything going on and what people are saying, I don't think it's a good idea."
He stopped his advances, but didn't move. "It lowers your guard." She looked at him long and hard before she nodded her head. He made a sound of agreement to her confession before leaning into her ear, "Sometimes it's good to lower your guard."
She was quick to respond, but her heart sped at the feeling of his breath on her neck, "Sometimes it is detrimental to the situation."
He pulled back until he could look into her eyes; the blue was beckoning him, "Point taken." Before he could draw back further her other hand snaked up to his neck and pulled his lips to meet hers. She drew in a deep breath as their skin collided and leaned back pulling him further into her body. His fingers found her hip and dug into the flesh and material there before he backed away from her. She was smiling when he looked at her. Her tongue dashed out to wet her lips as her eyes danced in front of him. "What was that for?"
She only shrugged and tilted her head to the side. "Point taken, William." He half chuckled and shook his head; she could be ridiculous some times. He leaned in to press a chaste kiss on her lips but she had other ideas. Opening her mouth she let her tongue dash out to taste him, it sent tingles from his mouth throughout his entire body and his lips parted in response.
Her tongue slid into him as her hand reached up to cup the back of his head. His fingers moved from her waist to her back pulling her body into his. She bumped into him and he stumbled backwards at the unexpected force, but their lips never left each other. Their fingers unlocked from each other and his made way into her hair, pulling the curls to her back as he massaged her scalp.
She pulled away from him smiling when she heard the throat clear in the doorway. Stepping away but not too far to feign embarrassment she saw her oldest friend was looking on at the two of them judging reactions. Magnus was grinning like a teenager and Will just looked like a lost boy trying to hide his extremely flushing and blushing cheeks. The Big Guy stifled a laugh with his shoulder when she began to speak, "Hello, dear friend. Something I can help you with?"
"Just bringing afternoon tea." He lifted hands to show her the tray he was carrying.
"Fantastic, would you care to join us Will?" Her hands were clasped together as she made her way to her favorite chair.
"No thanks," he glanced at his watch, "I think I'll go check on John and Sara, she should be waking up soon." She nodded to him as he left and she still couldn't wipe the grin off her face. It wasn't long before John appeared in her office. Her old friend was just finishing his tea when the man sauntered in carrying a glass of swirling brandy in one hand and the sleepy child curled against him in the other.
Helen reached up and the girl slid from John's arms to hers. Sara laid her head against Magnus' chest her face plastering itself to her mother. Sara's fists rubbed at her eyes as her head rolled along Magnus's breast. Helen leaned down and dropped a kiss on the girl's head. "Have a good sleep, darling?" Helen crooned at the child and ran a finger over the girls sleep warm cheek.
Biggie stood grabbing the tray, but leaving her cup and moved out of the room—Druitt made him uncomfortable. Helen watched her friend leave sensing his unease; it would just have to be something he'd have to get used to because she was fairly sure John would be around for a while longer. The man sat on the sofa and spread out, as any man does. His legs stretched, his arm covered the top line of the fabric as he swirled the brandy before taking a sip.
"She's slow to wake," Magnus stated running a hand in circles over the girl's back.
He swallowed another sip slowly; savoring the flavor, Helen always had the best. "Like her mother." Helen looked up at him them, her eyes speaking volumes that he couldn't understand and didn't dare attempt to decipher.
She looked back down at the girl in her arms, "I have a meeting tomorrow with Will; it'll probably take a few hours, would you mind watching her? Would you be comfortable with her by yourself?" She didn't move her eyes back to his face. She didn't think she could look at him right then, with their child in her arms and the emotions flooding through her.
He waited patiently until she finally locked eyes with him, "I would be delighted." Drinking down the last of the brandy he laid the glass of the table between them. "Helen—"
"It's alright John. I do trust you with her."
He paused waiting a beat for her to continue but when she didn't his voice echoed in the room, "You shouldn't."
She looked at him then, her eyes studying his body, his face. "What does that mean?" He gave her an incredulous look and resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "You're her father, John; I cannot and will not deny that as I did before."
"Nothing has changed, Helen. I am who I am."
"Stop it, John." Her voice was short and curt. "I know exactly who you are and what you are capable of. I trust you with our daughter. Stop being so self-deprecating, that is not like you." Sara was mostly awake at this point so Magnus stood and placed her in the playpen that had been brought into the room. When she straightened John was directly behind her.
His fingers cupped her cheek and a hand curled around her side. "What has changed? Why am I trustworthy now?"
"John—" His lips cut her off as they glided across hers. She didn't respond when he dragged her body into his. She could feel the hard planes of his flesh and his tepid skin when she moved a hand to his chest and pushed him back. "John. Stop."
He ignored her and moved his mouth to hers again laying soft and sweet kisses over her lips, chin, along her jawline and to her neck. The hand on her cheek moved down her front and over her breast and he squeezed lightly in a teasing manner. Magnus did not take the bait; she waited him out until he pulled away from her to look at her face.
She shook her head. "No, John. I will not go down this road with you again. As you said, nothing has changed."
He stepped back from her at that point to bow his head and body, "Forgive me, Helen." She nodded her agreement and forgiveness to him before moving behind her desk. He grabbed the brandy glass off the table before leaving her office to find the snifter.
Will was walking with her back to the nursery after a late dinner. Helen was carrying the girl on her front with one arm wrapped under Sara's legs and the other holding her back and head as she dipped Sara down causing the girl to erupt in a fit of giggles. Will grinned with his hand on Magnus' back as she dipped forward again quickly. The result was the same: a fit of giggles from the girl and a mysteriously fantastic smile from the woman.
It felt rather domestic, but only slightly awkward as Magnus changed the girl and swayed with her in her arms trying to get her to fall asleep. Helen was humming a rather simple and very Celtic tune to his surprise, but her eyes were all for the child in her arms. Her hips swayed back and forth as her hand bumped in time on the infant's bottom.
Finally the child was asleep and Magnus laid her gently in the crib. Standing straight she moved over to him as he looked out the window. She used a hand on his hip to turn his body towards her. Leaning in her lips planted on his in a quick and chaste embrace. He chuckled to himself quietly before whispering, "I don't think I've ever seen you smile this much."
She gave him a flirtatious wink before responding, "I don't think I've had this much to smile about in a long while." Leaning forward again she pulled his lower lip into her mouth and suckled gingerly. She moaned quietly as his lips covered hers again; his hands found their way around her and dragged her body into his forcefully. His tongue began a tango with hers as his hands explored her body. She groaned before pulling back and breathing heavily. Grabbing hold of his hand she quickly grabbed the monitor on the changing table and pulled him out of the room and down the halls towards her bedroom.