Chapter 4

The alarm rang in Helen's ear. With a groan she rolled over and slammed the alarm off. Stretching, she sat up in bed and looked around. Had last night been a dream? Then she felt the soft breathing by her ear. Nope. Last night had been very real.

"Good morning sleepyhead." Nikola said teasingly.

Helen grinned and slid out of bed. She beckoned to Nikola with a finger as she walked backwards to her bathroom. Nikola didn't need a second offering. He was out of bed and after Helen in a heartbeat. The woman turned the shower on and stepped into the hot water. Despite its heat she shivered. Then arms were wrapped around her stomach. Helen and Nikola picked up right where they left off from the night before. She wanted him and she wanted him now, damn it.

The water turned cold and Helen yelped. She was brought of her intense pleasure to find that the shower was no longer warm. With a sheepish grin she shut the water off, but found herself clean. With a curious look at Nikola she realized he was clean too.

"Well I guess we cleaned up good."

Helen smiled softly at her lover warmly. Once dry and dressed she left the room and ran into John who had a shirt in his hand. Helen thanked him and returned to her room to hand Nikola the shirt. It was not his style, but Nikola was thankful that he didn't have to wander around shirtless that day. Together Helen and Nikola set off to find some breakfast. In the kitchen area they ran into Henry and Erika with their daughter, Ashley. Henry's eyebrows shot up when he saw Nikola and Helen enter together.

"John was right then?"

"If John told you that Nikola and I are now together than yes he is right."

"Wow, Doc… Congratulations?"

Helen smirked and turned to Ashley. The little HAP girl was just learning to take her first steps. HAPs were very much different from humans and Helen found herself drawn to the little girl. She had dirty blonde hair. Erika's aunt had been blonde so it was assumed that Erika was the one that had passed on the blonde trait.

"Come here you."

Helen picked Ashley up who giggled and made grabby motions with her hands. Helen held Ashley close and looked at Erika expectantly. The dark haired woman nodded and watched as Helen began feeding little Ashley. The door opened again to show Will and Kate. The two looked like they had a rough night. Helen raised an eyebrow.

"You don't want to know." Was Will's only response.

Alright so she wouldn't ask. Soon Ashley was fussing and Erika took her back. Henry began explaining that John had been right and Helen rolled her eyes. So much for having a night to themselves. She looked over at Nikola who shrugged and seemed to say that it would pass over. Well it had better. Getting up Helen went and looked to see what she would eat for the day. Taking out a box of cereal she poured a bowl and put milk in it.

It was a better breakfast than most times at the old Sanctuary. She remembered when things would get hectic she would ignore all attempts at being fed. Plates of food had literally piled on her desk. Helen laughed at the memories. Everyone looked at her funny and she shook her head. They shrugged and let her get back to her musings. Once her breakfast was done Helen stood up.

"Alright. What is everyone doing today?"

"I'm going to make sure that everything is working order. By the way the Nubbins hadn't gotten out last night so no Nubbins attacking."

"That's good. I would hate to have to go through that again."

"Well I'm going to catch up on reports and maintenance forms."

"I hear you Will. I have to do the same." Helen winced as she said this. Her stack of paperwork was most likely a mile long and would only shrink if she worked on it.

Kate said she was going to take stock of any new intakes and then get the weapons checked. Helen knew in actually she wanted to see Ralphie. When Kate had first arrived she had tried to take the tusks of a mother stenopelhabbilis and Ralphie got out. He then ended up on the streets and then sewers where Kate and Henry found out that all Ralphie was doing was eating the things Kate ate. Kate was Ralphie's "mother" and the young woman was rather partial to the steno boy.

Helen waved them all away and headed to her office. She had barely sat down when John entered. The brunette felt a headache coming on and knew exactly why John was there. She did her best to ignore the looks he was giving her. Then the sound of a tapping foot filled her ears and Helen ignored that too. Finally, there was a loud slam and John was in her face.

"John last night wasn't any of your business. What happened between Nikola and I should have stayed that way. I was not ready for the others to know, but now that you went and blabbed the secret is out."

"Helen he's conniving! He doesn't deserve your affections."

"Oh and I suppose you do? John the same could be said for you. Nigel, James, and Nikola thought the two of us crazy for being together. You weren't my type then and were dangerous. You told me that you loved me and wanted to be my husband. After the Source Blood took full hold you became too much of a monster. Our daughter is dead now and the only thing I have of her is you! Leave me alone John. What I do with Nikola is none of your business."

"Helen listen to me, please! Nikola is only using you."

"If he is than it's his business and mine. Not yours! Either make yourself useful or get out. I have already been hurt by the pair of you too many times to count. If you truly care John then you will drop this matter and let me handle it MY way."

The anger filled the air. Soon John jerked himself away from Helen's desk and stormed out of the room. Helen held her head in her hands. Her friends James and Nigel would know what to do. Nigel had died many years before and James had just recently died. Their deaths still weighed heavily on Helen. They were good to her and were like brothers. They protected her when she needed protecting and were there when she needed them. Out of the five only four remained the same… mostly. A knock sounded on the door and Helen looked up to see a concerned Erika. Helen beckoned her into the room.

"I'm sorry Dr. Magnus. I couldn't help, but hear. I am sorry to hear that John blurted out your secret to the rest of us. No matter what he may have done in the past I am actually very happy for you and Nikola. No matter how long it lasts I hope you enjoy yourself. And well…. here"

Erika held out a rolled up piece of paper with a white ribbon attached wrapped in a bow. Helen took the scroll like paper and opened it. With each word she read her eyes get wider. When she was done Helen let it all sink in. This was great news! She looked at Erika and grinned. With open arms she hugged the other woman.

"I am glad you two are finally tying the knot. You and Henry deserve each other. I was actually wondering if you would ever do it."

Erika blushed.

"We almost decided not to, but we love each other too much to not get married. I was wondering if you would be my bridesmaid? You, Kate, and Abigail? Oh please say yes Dr. Magus. I would love it if the three of you were there."

"Of course I'll be a bridesmaid. Erika welcome to the family."

The two hugged again and Helen asked if she should call Kate in. Erika nodded and Helen called the younger woman. Ten minutes later a bedraggled Kate wandered in. She explained that Ralphie was a little overexcited this morning. Helen nudged Erika forward and the female HAP asked Kate to be a bridesmaid. To say that the reaction from Kate was understatement is entirely true. The dark haired woman hugged Erika and said she would be delighted to be a bridesmaid.

Soon word spread that Erika and Henry were finally tying the knot. A call to Abigail and the third bridesmaid was in. Helen offered to set it all up since she was a good person for the job and it would be entirely free for Erika and Henry. The woman was glad that the decisions would be taken off her hands. Helen immediately began planning for the wedding. There were many things to take into account. There was Abigail's job, where the wedding would take place at, what would be worn, what would be eaten, and more.

Kate would go to the wedding with Will while Helen brought Nikola. John was also invited, but the man made it clear that he wasn't interested. Helen was disappointed, but she didn't let it bother her. She focused on planning the wedding for her two friends. Things became hectic over the course of the next few weeks. As the weeks passed on Helen noticed a difference in herself.

Her strength seemed to drain away on days and others she was running to the toilet way too often, but not to use it. No she was puking her guts out every time she went. Worried, Helen went to Erika. After all the other woman was a doctor as well and would know what was going on.

"Erika? I can't stop throwing up. Can you check me over to see what's wrong?"

"Sure. I hope you're alright."

The worry was in Erika's voice alright. Soon Helen was sitting on a gurney while Erika took blood samples and checked out her pulse and whatnot. The results would not be in for some time so Helen just had to focus on the wedding plans. When the woman left Erika's presence Nikola was there.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Why?"

"Henry told me you weren't feeling good. I ask again. Are you alright?"

"It's probably just the flu or something. Nothing to be worried about."

Helen kissed Nikola's nose teasingly. Their relationship had become much more than lovers over the past few weeks. Now they were having dinners together and watching movies together. It was only a matter of time before Nikola asked Helen to be his girlfriend. If he asked Helen already knew she would say yes. With that they both parted and returned to their duties. For Helen she didn't just have the wedding to plan, but she still had her everyday duties to do.

Several hours later found Helen in her office making calls and planning things out. Erika knocked on the door and entered. She had Helen's results, but the look on Erika's face had Helen instantly becoming cautious.

"Erika?"

"Oh it's nothing bad. I am sorry if my expression seemed that way. No its… Helen… you're… you're pregnant."

Helen thought she couldn't get pregnant. Nikola was to be a father? What was she going to tell him? This was all too much. Helen sank into the chair and asked Erika what she would tell Nikola.

"The truth. If he truly loves you he will be there for you the entire way. If not this will be the best chance to find out what his true intentions are."

Helen sent Erika away to find Nikola. She had about twenty minutes to herself. The brunette wondered how she was going to present the news to Nikola. So far only Erika knew that she was pregnant. No one else knew and Helen hopped she would be the one to say it once she told Nikola. A tap on her shoulder announced Nikola's arrival.

"Nikola… I don't know how to tell you this so I'm just going to say it. I'm pregnant."

Shock crossed Nikola's face. He was speechless. Him a father? Helen watched as the vampire's mouth opened and closed. What was he going to say? Would he accept the child? Would he stay? Fear stabbed Helen's heart at the last one. What if he decided he didn't want to play the father? He would definitely leave. Being a father was not his plan. He would do anything to get out of it. Helen hung her head sadly and heard a snarl from Nikola. Had she gotten him wrong? As if he had read her mind Nikola was kissing her deeply.

"Helen. I know you thought I would leave. This is our baby we're talking about. I want to be here for him or her. Who knows? Maybe he or she will be as brilliant as us."

Nikola was going to stay! Helen leaned into Nikola's arms and just let the moment carry them. They were going to have a child. It was something she had not expected, but Helen would do anything for this child. She stared up into Nikola's beautiful blue eyes. They kissed to seal the moment forever. This had gone better than she had hoped.