Title: The Devil Wears Vengeance
Chapter 3 – A False Sense of Security
"Donna?" Ed's sleepy voice is heard as he quickly pulls himself from his sleepy stupor, his ears picking up sounds of vomiting coming from the bathroom. With his heart instantly racing to top speed, he stumbles toward the hallway, flicking on the light and reaching the bathroom door, just as Donna stands up and flushes.
"Donna…you okay?"
"That spicy stuff…" she huffs as she looks at him with a flushed face.
"But…" Ed tries as his finger gently brushes a stray tendril away from her damp forehead.
"I'm okay…"
"How do you know? Should we call…"
"Ed…I'm fine. My stomach doesn't feel as bad now and trust me if it was something with the baby…well I guess in part it was…they," she pauses, hoping he'll smile – he doesn't, "they don't like curry. Ed, I'm fine."
Ed looks at her with a perplexed gaze and pursed lips, his mind racing with wonder if she is indeed okay or was downplaying for his benefit.
"I'm just gonna go to back to bed and relax. What? Ed…I'm fine. A reaction to certain foods is normal, trust me."
"Okay," is all Ed can manage before they both head back to bed, Ed making a mental note to pull out his book on expecting and make sure she wasn't just saying that too soothe his now anxious mind and was indeed okay. Watching her literally be dragged through physical and emotional hell like he had wasn't something he ever wants to do again. But remember…you can't become a police warden or you'll make her unhappy! And he had read that the mother's emotions and feelings translated directly into their growing child; it was a fine line they would be walking for the next few months.
Donna listens to the stillness in their darkened bedroom as her hand soothingly rubs her still somewhat agitated belly and knows that Ed's worried but just not saying for fear of maybe opening old wounds.
"Do you wanna read that right now?"
"What?"
"The chapter on foods that might not agree with a pregnant woman?"
"No, I'm okay."
"Liar," she shoots back in a mild tone.
"Just remember that day and…I'm worried."
Knowing he'd never get back to sleep properly and that meant less sleep for her, Donna gently rolls onto her right side, turns on the light and despite Ed's soft protests pulls out the book on expecting and reads to him that it was normal for the expecting mother to eat something either she or the baby, or both, didn't agree with and throw up. Nothing to be alarmed about unless it persisted or of course was accompanied by blood.
"Goodnight," she whispers as she kisses him on the cheek and turns off the light, bathing them once again in darkness. But despite hearing the words for himself, Ed's mind stays awake a bit longer, hearing her soft, anguished cries from that fateful night until he forces into his mind pictures of their wedding day and he can finally sink into a peaceful slumber.
XXXXXXXX
"So tonight you are taking me out for dinner," Donna states with a triumphant smile as she puts her hair into a ponytail before the head out.
"I am? Sure…" Ed shrugs. "Oh…I am," he finally shakes his head and then frowns as she giggles. "Anniversary."
"You forgot?"
"Actually, no," he smiles as he leans in closer. "I was teasing. And are we exchanging gifts tonight?"
"Paper gifts?"
"Did they really hafta be paper?" Ed asks with a deeper frown.
"Whatever you bought me is going to be amazing," she assures him before she kisses him on the cheek and they head out the door to work. "Just no more bomb calls okay?"
"Coulda been worse," Ed utters under his breath. "What time do we hafta be at Wordy's tomorrow?" Ed inquires as they head toward work. Donna's mind tries to focus on their anniversary party tomorrow night and their date in a few hours, but as soon as they near SRU headquarters, her mind flashes back to the day before and her talking to the perp and then talking to Greg just as she hears the bomb go off and then Greg's panicked voice calling for Ed and getting at first only silence in return. She feels her stomach twinge slightly as she sucks in, making Ed glance over in concern.
"Just breathing…trust me am okay," she replies in haste, making him nod and look away in silence. His eyes had caught a glimmer of tension on her face but he knows to ask her about every pang or twinge or soft gasp would only drive her to think him overbearing; but inside he can't help but be concerned.
Just one more day to get through… Donna's mind chants over and over as she heads toward Tom and Rachel; Ed in search of his team. One more day…well tell the team…and then…less stress.
"What's going on?" She asks in concern as she notices their two perplexing expressions. "What are you discussing?"
"Anniversary gifts…for you," Rachel replies with a smile.
"Ok-ay…so I should go get ready then?" Donna retorts with a nod and smile of her own as she heads toward the locker room, where she pauses just before entering, watching Spike showing Ed a bottle of wine and then Ed making some smartass comeback that she can only shake her head and whisper poor Spike before she enters the quiet locker room. Just before she's about to pull open her locker, her ears pick up a soft shuffling noise, like a small breeze and she turns to see an image of Ida watching her with an evil glare. She utters a small gasp before Jules frame walks through the image, instantly snapping her back to reality.
"Donna? You okay?" Jules soft voice asks in concern.
"Yeah…just tired," Donna tries to brush it off with a less than genuine smile; hoping her friend won't call her on it. However, that doesn't happen.
"You sure?"
"One year…I guess I just remember the events on that day and how I nearly lost everything due to…"
"Her," Jules whispers, not even wanting to utter Ida's name.
"Yeah. Am okay," Donna adds as she nods in confirmation, her mind trying frantically push the image of her still alive nemesis out of its subconscious. But she knows that as long as Ida Logan is alive and draws breath, no matter the location on earth she's situated, that she'll always feel a shiver of fear. She had faced many close calls and perilous situations in her time with vice and the SRU, but when Ed was kidnapped and she found him near death – thinking he was dead; she knew in that moment she had never faced losing something she valued more than her own life. Thank god she's in jail for the rest of her life! Donna's mind ponders as she takes her uniform and hurries to get dressed, resting a few seconds after fully clothed in SRU gear to clear the anxiety and quell the rising stomach agitation. Sorry little one, she silently soothes before exiting the locker room.
Ed watches Donna emerge, noting her stiff posture and closed fists as she heads over to Gary and Richard and knows something's not right. What's she not telling me? Is she really okay? Is the baby okay? Just one more day… they had worked so hard to keep things under wraps but Ed couldn't be more thankful that today was the last day and then he'd be able to tell…wait…tell Tom to keep an eye on her? I'm not her warden…ah damn it! His mind races. It would be a fine line to walk until the baby was born as he knows he can't ask team three to be her watchdog – that wasn't fair to her or them.
"Hey buddy what's up?" Wordy pats Ed on the back, forcing Ed to turn around with a frown and nod. "Late night?"
"Think she'll like my anniversary gift?" Ed asks in haste, wanting to deflect his best friend's insight and knowing if he didn't play up that angle, Wordy would pry the truth from him before the big announcement.
"Well it is paper…"
"Wordy," Ed groans.
"Trust me she'll love it. When have I ever steered you wrong?" Wordy counters looking at Ed before chuckling. "Okay your silence is…" his voice trails off as he gently steers Ed toward the team one meeting room. "One year."
"One year. Looking back now…nearly didn't happen."
"Yeah Ida..."
"May she rot in hell," Ed whispers under his breath, Wordy nodding in agreement. They had made a pact at home to not even mention her name; the devil incarnate, who had nearly destroyed everything they value and cherish; even at work her name wasn't mentioned often, Wordy's slip would be forgiven. I hope she's suffering there, Ed's mind seethes as Greg and Sam enter and it was time to start.
XXXXXXXX
~Northern Ireland~
"Alright go to the infirmary," the female prison guard looks at the rather nasty cut on Ida's arm and then nods in the direction of the intended hallway.
With a curt nod, Ida turns with a knowing smile, her face turning serious as she heads past a few other inmates; months of planning an escape finally coming to fruition. She shows her arm to the two armed female guards outside the medical room, offering them a small thank you as she enters; the main door always to remain open.
"Now…let's see what you did here," the female doctor, a woman about Ida's age and stature puts on her magnifying glasses to inspect the cut and see if there was anything foreign inside. "When is the last time you had…" her voice trails off as she asks about her immunization history. "We wouldn't want that to become infected," the doctor purposely states in a louder tone before she leans in closer.
"Did you get it?"
"It took some doing but will arrive tomorrow. Are you sure you wa…"
"I owe my husband this," Ida hisses in a low tone. "I want revenge and this is the only way I can take it."
"There is the risk the anti-toxin might not take effect fast enough."
"I'll probably die in here anyways," Ida retorts. "I need this. I have the money you know that."
"I do," the doctor pulls back just as one of the guards, suspicious of the growing silence peers in. "Okay so this looks…a bit infected…hold still while I tend to the wound."
Satisfied with the current progression, the guard pulls back and nods to her friend, Ida's angry glare returning from the two nosey guards to another inner ally, one about to be handsomely rewarded for her aiding in the Logan matriarch's escape.
"What time tomorrow?"
"You'll receive word…when I get the funds."
"I see the vial and I'll go to the library and push the transfer key. You are sure it can't be traced?"
"Use the account number I told you. It's untraceable."
"Perfect," Ida replies as her lips slowly twist upward. The doctor wraps her arm, sending Ida on her way with a note to return and follow up the next day as required. She looks outside into the late afternoon, her smile not turning down at the rather overcast sky that looks back. Her expression finally changes as she enters her cell and looks with some disgust on the picture of Ed and Donna and feels her temper flaring. "So…one year," she whispers in contempt. For the past year she had worked hard to find and then keep close allies, gather funds from outside sources and then work to secure her own freedom; wanting it to be rather uneventful, not wanting to raise any alarm bells as to her disappearance. She had waited…a year…somewhat patiently and tomorrow it would all pay off – one more night would be worth the wait.
"I do so hope you both enjoy my anniversary gift," her voice utters with a cold icy tone, her cell filling with an evil cackle that hangs in the air long after she had left.
XXXXXXXX
"Wow you look amazing," Ed whispers in praise as he enters their bedroom later that same Friday night, both of them ready to head out for dinner.
"I feel fat," Donna groans with a small huff as she fixes the side of her black jersey dress; her golden locks hanging loose in soft curls.
"You don't look it," Ed replies with a small frown as she turns to give him a brief smile. "I think you look amazing in that. In fact, I think it fits better now."
"That's because my boobs have gotten bigger."
"And that's a problem?" Ed chuckles as he kisses on the cheek. "Do you wanna stay in?"
"No. We are going out," she turns to him with a smile. "And you look very handsome so we better leave now."
Despite the fact that she could have been their designated driver and the day wasn't too taxing call-wise, Ed ops for a cab so that they don't have to worry about parking close to the restaurant in case it did rain. In the back of the cab they make small talk about the day and then trying to guess what paper gifts the team might get them.
"I think Wordy's gonna get us a new coffee maker."
"No paper gift?" Donna inquires as they head for their reserved booth.
"He might to throw us," Ed smirks as he takes his seat opposite her, offering her a loving smile as the hostess tells them in a few minutes their waiter would be with them. "One year."
"One…amazing year," she replies, Ed holding back the thought to add that it wasn't always amazing; shelving his anxiety over the dark blip in their married past; wanting to focus on the positive as she was obviously trying to do.
"Amazing," he replies softly as his fingers fondle the golden band on her left hand.
"Evening," the waiter introduces himself. "So are we celebrating anything special tonight?"
"First year anniversary," Ed states proudly, his fingers squeezing hers the moment the words leave his lips.
"Ah congratulations. So a bottle of wine? Or even champagne then?"
"I'm not drinking," Donna pipes up in haste, a small frown adorning her face. "But um…my husband…is."
"Sir?"
"I'll um…" he looks over at Donna and frowns, not wanting to have something bubbly to celebrate with if she was stuck drinking water; his mind not cluing in about other sparkling alternatives. "Suggest something."
"Very good. Any drink allergies?" The waiter looks directly at Donna.
"No, just a few food ones."
"Okay let me get you both something to celebrate with as you look at the menus."
"You can drink…I don't mind."
"Feels odd for you to celebrate…with water?" Ed lightly groans as she smiles. "Maybe we shoulda stayed home."
"You Sir have a one track mind," she just shakes her head, a few minutes later the waiter returning.
"For the Lady we have a sparking white grape juice mixed with…" the waiter's voice explains about the special drinks, Donna getting something non-alcoholic and Ed a glass of house champagne, the waiter not asking the reason why. They order their appetizers, the evening not in a hurry to end anytime soon. The discussion focuses around the restaurant and their party the following evening, Ed not wanting to broach the topic of her amended work duties once the teams were told the good news.
After their first two main courses are done, coffee is ordered and the dessert ordered taken, both of them decide it was time to present their personal anniversary gifts.
"Okay you first," Ed nods as they both pull out their somewhat thick envelops and then hand them to each other.
"How about at the same time?" Donna suggests as her fingers fondle the deep red envelope in her grasp.
"Okay," Ed agrees without too much resistance. But Donna purposely holds back on opening her envelope, waiting to see the look on Ed's face when he'd see her gift and what he'd think; her book on pregnancy sex she was saving for the following night at the anniversary party for a bit of fun.
Ed's eyes look at the anniversary card with the heading 'Happy Anniversary to my Loving Husband' and he can't help but smile. He reads the loving message and then lets his eyes drop down to the gift certificate before his brow starts to slightly crease.
"I had thought about a gift card to Artie's adult shop but…" Donna's voice nervously rattles off as Ed looks up. "Are you disappointed?"
"No. So a um…massage…for two."
"A couple's massage. Ed…if you don't…"
"It's a first but I'm glad I'm not going alone."
"Trust me I'd pity the poor man who you'd get."
"Man?"
"You think I'd let you have a woman touch you when you're half naked?" Donna arches her brows, making Ed's face break into a wide grin.
"But is it a…you know full uh…" Ed tries a Donna finally unleashes a giggle. "Okay so I haven't ever…been for a massage."
"By a man."
"I don't want a man touching me."
"A man's hands are stronger. Besides, I got myself a pregnancy massage and you and upper body massage…but you can tell him what you want. I really think you'll like it."
"A man," Ed states, making her sigh and then smile and nod. "It's at the Royal York."
"Yeah I thought…that's okay right?" Donna asks with a frown to which Ed shrugs. "Ed? What's going on? I know that look."
"Why not open mine," he suggests; watching in anticipation as she opens the anniversary card aptly titled 'to my Loving Wife on our Anniversary'.
Donna looks at the paper item, her face breaking into a wide smile and soft laugh as she looks up in almost surprise. "So did you talk to…"
"Wordy? And you talked to Shelly?" Ed completes her sentence.
"They are good friends," Donna states the obvious. "So we have a weekend at the Royal York and an hour massage for couples at the same place. Actually…that is pretty great and an added bonus for us."
"Why?"
"Well we'll be warm…loosened up and…oily," she winks. "Now I like the sound of that."
"I love you," Ed whispers as he leans in and kisses her on the lips, Donna's mouth happily returning the favor; the brief but loving moment the perfect way to show their heartfelt appreciation for the gifts given. Their dessert finally comes and the rest of their date night is spent discussing their gifts to each other and which weekend they'd use their romantic getaway.
"Come on…let's finish this at home," Ed offers a husky comment into Donna's ear as his lips nuzzle her skin and he helps her with her coat before leading her to the door and then into the cab and home.
"Happy anniversary my love," Donna tells Ed as they enter their quiet apartment.
"Happy anniversary," Ed replies as he takes her into his arms and crushes her lips; his arms starting to undress her as they head for the bedroom; Donna's hands returning the favor in undressing him and finishing off their perfect date night with a heated sexual encounter.
XXXXXXXX
~Northern Ireland~
However, despite the fact that a very happy couple, curled in each other's warm embrace and getting some muchly needed rest wasn't giving her even a second's thought; Ida Logan lays awake early Saturday morning looking at their picture with contempt.
"Your happiness will end very soon…for good."
Today would follow a strict plan. Morning routine, check to see if the means of her escape had come in, transfer the money from the untraceable account into another, a trip to the doctors office when the doctor wouldn't be there and then finally…
"Freedom," Ida whispers as her fingers curl around Callum's picture; the small picture that was now removed from the frame and in her grasp. Everything would stay just as it was as it would have to appear she had planned to return as she had every other night.
The alarm sounds and the doors click open. A small cryptic smile plays upon her weathered lips as she slowly stands up, fixes her silvery locks and heads out into the carefully moving crowd; her mind elated with its sense of purpose for the day. Freedom. Yes freedom and then death. Death for the Lane's.
XXXXXXXX
"Okay so we can dress casual tonight right?" Ed calls out from the bedroom to Donna who was putting on some makeup in the bathroom.
"Well you could show up wearing nothing," she lightly snickers as he heads toward her, shaking his head. "You look very acceptable," she praises his outfit of dark jeans and white button down dress shirt. "And me?"
"Always beautiful," he replies; his eyes in favor of her choice of a light skirt and flowy top. Donna watches Ed leave and head for the kitchen, humming a tune and feels a smile play upon her face. There were no anxiety pangs over the past few days and thankfully no new emotional flare-ups. She gently rubs her belly and smiles, her mind already anticipating the happy acceptance from their close friends and the stress that will dissipate in knowing she won't have to make excuses like she did the other week in the alley.
Not aware that on the other side of the world, an evil enemy is well into plotting her escape and their demise, Donna turns off the light, grabs her purse from the bedroom and heads toward the kitchen to find Ed; both of them getting their coat and plate of appies and heading out the door.
XXXXXXXX
~Northern Ireland (event happened mid Saturday afternoon)~
"Is Doctor O'Malley in? She told me to come and get my arm checked," Ida holds up the bloody bandage for the two guards to see.
"She's on a call right now. You'll hafta come back."
"She said if it looks infected I could get blood poisoning," Ida plays up her role with heartfelt conviction. "It looks infected."
"I'm sorry but she's not here. You'll hafta come back," the female guard restates with a firmer tone.
"Fine, but if I get blood poisoning and suddenly drop dead you'll both be to blame," Ida storms off, her falsely exaggerated wound fooling any onlooker. She heads toward Fiona's station and knocks on the door; being told to enter and closing the door behind her; entering a place prisoners were forbidden. It would be the last chat the two women ever have.
XXXXXXXX
"You brought food to your own party?" Wordy teases Ed as they enter, garnering a small frown from Ed as he looks at Donna who merely takes the plate and heads toward the kitchen beside Shelly. The young Wordsworth girls getting in their hugs and hello's before retreating back to the living room to continue the game they were just about finished.
"One year, I'm so happy for you two," Shelly hugs her friend and then looks at Donna with a slightly cocked head. "You look…almost glowing tonight. What's going on?"
"Like you said one year…" Donna replies with a smile as Shelly folds her arms. It was women's intuition and she knows if the situation were reversed she'd be suspect also. "Okay I need to tell you a secret but you hafta promise me you'll be…"
"Are you…" Shelly starts to guess as Donna nods.
"We are telling everyone tonight," Donna whispers with a wide smile as the two of them hug.
"What'd we miss?" Wordy asks as he walks into the kitchen the moment the two women pull apart.
"Donna was just telling me about their gifts."
"Yes very clever you two," Donna remarks as Ed appears. Donna quickly steers the conversation further into their upcoming weekend away at the Royal York; Wordy seizing the opportunity to tease Ed about the man massaging him and Shelly agreeing that it shouldn't be a woman.
"Anyone home?" Spike calls out as he enters, childish laughter being heard as all three siblings converge on the cute bomb tech. Greg and Marina soon enter followed by Richard and Gary and their wives, Sam and Jules, Tom, Rachel and Riley and their respective partners.
"Wow full house…alright lets get started," Wordy exclaims as helps set up the last dish on the table and then calls up the couple of the night to go first, Ed and Donna taking their plates, everyone else falling into line behind them. The chatter turns to the food and Spike's wine, happy laughter ensuing as the festivities start to get underway.
Shelly and the girls had decorated the loveseat with balloons and streamers; Ed and Donna making good use of their designated seating during their informal meal. Happiness is the order of the night, no one giving one moment's pause for the impending doom that would soon befall them all.
"Can we open the presents now?" Wordy's youngest asks with an innocent smile; about half hour after the meals had been consumed.
"Sure," Donna shrugs as everyone settles back in to see what the couple was about to receive.
XXXXXXXX
~Northern Ireland (event happened early Saturday evening)~
"I really need to see Doctor O'Malley…my arm…I don't feel…well…" Ida groans before she convincingly collapses outside the closed doctor's office, immediately pulling the guards down to their knees.
"She has a fever."
"Look at the cut…its all infected."
"I need…a shot…hurry," Ida's weak voice pushes aside her inner evil smile at the two hapless puppets at her side in favor of feigned fear.
Ida hears footsteps rushing toward her and knows its only a few hours now…a few hours and she'd be pronounced dead, her body disposed of and her casket shipped to the crematorium to be taken care of as per her wishes; a slight detour would put her on a ship bound for Canada.
XXXXXXXX
"Thanks this is…"
"It's a pastry blender," Chloe pipes up as she looks at Ed with a wide-eyed smile.
"Okay sure…"
"It's for blending butter into flour for all those pies you'll be baking me," Donna teases as she looks at the rest of the bake set the three little girls had put together with the help of their mother. "This is great you guys."
"Can you barbeque pie?" Ed asks as he looks at the cookbook, making the three girls giggle.
"Speaking of that…" Wordy stands up and hands Ed a picture; a computer print out of a barbeque.
"You bragging about yours?" Ed retorts.
"I used to but kinda moot now since we bought you the same," Wordy answers, making Ed and Donna look at each other in happy surprise.
"Really? You bought us a new barbeque?"
"Fits the balcony perfectly."
"That kinda spoiled it for the rest of us Wordy," Spike groans, making the room laugh once more. "Here's my newspaper."
"Hey now that was our gift," Greg pipes up, smiling at Spike who flashes his dimples in return.
"Wait until they open ours," Tom grins.
"Am almost afraid."
"Hey someone had to buy the embarrassing gift."
"Embarrassing?" Ed looks up from the sappy card in his hands.
"Is it kid friendly?" Wordy groans.
"It's um…no…but you can explain it to them later," Tom states weakly as he hands Ed the box from him and his wife.
"We can open it later."
"No way…open it now," Sam utters in a loud tone, the rest starting to chant 'open…open'…making Ed and Donna merely laugh as Donna snatches away the box from Ed's grasp and starts to open it. She pulls off the lid and then looks at Ed with a wide grin.
"That's um…officer naughty pants?" He gulps as the room explodes with cat calls and laughter, Ed pulling out the rather skimpy female adult costume and then looking at what's left. "Right so um…"
"Thank me later," Tom winks.
"You guys tired of frisking each other in full gear?"
"These aren't real handcuffs daddy," Lily, their youngest daughter holds up the plastic role-play toy, forcing the adults into another bout of laughter.
"No sweetie, they're um…toys."
"Can I play with them?"
"You have enough," Shelly smiles as Wordy looks over at Tom and then Ed; Tom laughing and Ed trying to downplay his male enthusiasm and embarrassment.
"When's their anniversary?" Ed looks over at Donna who nods in return.
"There's also a gift card in the bottom in case you wan…"
"Great thanks Tom," Donna states loudly as she looks at her team lead with a small warning and he stops, fresh laughter and ribbing ensuing. "Truck duty for Tom on Monday," Donna announces as Tom high-fives Sam. "You two are getting too close," she playfully teases.
"Well with Spike's wine making kit you can take turns arresting each other for drunk and disorderly conduct," Gary adds.
"Next time we leave all the kids at home," Wordy looks over at Gary who smiles back. The rest of the gifts are finally opened and then it was time for the couple of the night to take center stage as it were, stand up and give their speech.
XXXXXXXX
~Northern Ireland (event happened late Saturday evening)~
"Marcy I need a hand here…she's…this shot…its not helping."
"Was it a tetanus shot?"
"Yes for the infected cut but it's not working…her fever is getting worse."
"Do we give her another?"
"No…call an ambulance…hurry!"
"Help me…I don't feel…so well…" Ida moans with a weak, painful gasp.
"We are…just hold on…fight it Ida…fight it and you'll be okay," Doctor O'Malley leans in closer with a wink. "Take care my friend. Declan will meet you were we arranged," she whispers in her ear as she tucks something into her pocket. "I hope you get the revenge and closure you seek."
"Me too. Thank you and goodbye."
"Marcy!...She's flat lining…hurry!"
The two paid off medics enter the prison, the guards watching helplessly as they try to revive Ida Logan. A few moments later they step back as the small heart monitor shows a flat line – death.
"I will pronounce time of death."
"What do we do with her body?" Her assistant Marcy, who wasn't part of the plan so she could look and act genuine, asks in concern.
"She wanted to be cremated," Dr. O'Malley states, wasting no time in getting the escape under way.
XXXXXXXX
"Okay so since I made Ed give the wedding speech, I guess tonight it's my turn," Donna starts, Ed's arm wrapped around her waist as they stand up before their friends. "Over the past year so much has happened but it's really shown us who our true and closest friends are…" she starts before she goes on to personally thank each of them in turn before turning to their hosts and closest friends and thanking them a bit longer for the loving and supportive friendship and the amazing evening.
"I think we forgot something," Ed looks at Donna just as the last clap had died down after their thank you speech.
"I think we have. Gifts for each other."
"You guys did that last night," Wordy pipes up.
"We forgot a few," Ed shrugs as he hands Donna a small package and she does the same. The two of them open them at the same time and then look at each other's books with a few chuckles.
"What, you expected another one?" Donna arches a brow at Ed.
"At least mine was G-rated," he teases about the book he bought on the baby names.
"G-rated? What kinds of books are those?" Spike immediately wonders.
"Pregnancy sex and baby na…mes?" Wordy stops his reading as the whole group of friends goes silent.
"What?"
"Is that…for real?" Tom asks with a frown.
"It is. We're gonna have a baby," Donna whispers softly as her eyes water with happy tears as she looks up at Ed who kisses her firmly on the lips.
"Four months," Ed tells the group before they erupt with happiness.
"Congratulations!" Everyone stands up to converge on the couple, asking questions, offering hugs, kisses and happy smiles and support as both had expected.
XXXXXXXX
~Northern Ireland (midnight)~
Declan Rooney tucks the small envelop into his pocket just as he watches the barge pull away from the dock, offering the darkened figure on the bottom deck a brief wave before the figure disappears into the shadows and he turns and heads for his truck.
"We're even Callum. The blood oath has been paid."
A/N: Okay so hope the back and forth wasn't too confusing but wanted to show what was happening at the same time; as the title says a false sense of security. Hope you all liked this update and please do review – the tension is coming up next! Ahhhhhh (runs and hides) hehe
Note: Okay I looked up online and found a drug (that will be talked about later in the story) and while I am no scientist or doctor found that a person can be near death or even seem dead but then brought back to life or revived as it were by an antidote. Ah this is fanfic haha I am allowed to bend a few rules. But you had to figure that Ida's escape wouldn't be with loud fanfare right? *wink*