"W-what?" Nikola stuttered, caught off guard.

"I am a doctor, Nikola. I can tell when a woman has had a child."

"Oh, that..."

He shouldn't be so surprised. Even if she wasn't a doctor, she was a woman and she knew her body.

"Yes, that," she said, rolling her eyes. "When were you going to tell me? I would have thought the fact that we are married with a family is a rather important detail."

"Married?"

"We are married, are we not?" Color was beginning to rise in her cheeks. "I just assumed...if we had a child, we would be married. Though I suppose we would not have to be."

She was stammering awkwardly again, her face getting redder and redder with each word. It was the most adorable thing Nikola had seen in a long time. It had been decades since he saw Helen blush. He'd forgotten how much he adored it. He watched mesmerized as the color crept down her neck.

"Nikola?" Helen tried to get his attention. "Nikola!"

Finally he pulled his eyes away from the flush spreading across her chest and back to her eyes.

"Nikola," Helen said in exasperation. "Do we or do we not have a child together? And if not you, then who's is it?"

He couldn't bring himself to tell her. What was he supposed to say?

Helen, you and John were engaged, but he went mad and started slaughtering a bunch of whores. But not before impregnating you. We found a way to freeze the embryo until you were ready to have it, which was about twenty something years ago. You can't meet your only child though because she died saving your life.

He didn't think she'd handle that very well. Who would?

"No, we are not married," he said very slowly, still struggling with what to say.

"Oh," Helen muttered.

Was that an edge of disappointment in her voice?

"Then who?"

"Ah, well I said we weren't married, but times have changed a great deal over the last century and a half," he back pedaled. "Just because we aren't married doesn't change the fact that I love you with all my heart. We don't need a piece of paper and a ring to spend the rest of our lives together."

She was finally looking at him again, albeit a little timidly. She gave him an uncertain smile and he returned it with a much more confidant grin. He hadn't after all really lied to her, everything he'd said was true.

"And the child...or perhaps children?"

"Um, no...there was just the one," Nikola stuttered.

"Oh please tell me about him, Nikola," Helen exclaimed, her eyes wide and bright in her enthusiasm.

Some people had assumed she'd become an old spinster, never to marry or have children. There had been rumors that she was un-marriable, too much of an oddity in the narrow minded society back then. But Nikola had always seen her having a family, even if it was a little later than was considered acceptable. He hadn't gotten to see her with Ashley, but he had no doubt she'd been spectacular.

"Her actually; Ashley."

"Ashley?" Helen mused wistfully. "What is she like Nikola? Tell me about her, please! When can I see her?"

"She'd be in her mid-twenties now I think, I was never good with dates and the years have sort of begun to blur together. She's not here anymore though, so you won't be able to see her."

"Not here? What do mean? Why would she not be here?" Helen asked, confusion clear on her face.

"Well.." He wasn't really sure what to say next.

"Oh, perhaps she is away at university?" Helen supplied. "Between the two of us she must be very bright."

"The world has changed quite a bit, Helen. Women going to college aren't even given a second glance, it's common, almost expected of all young people nowadays."

He just had to keep hedging. If asked later he could always claim he'd never lied to her. Because technically he hadn't. He couldn't help that she was coming to the wrong conclusions.

"That is wonderful, Nikola!" Helen exclaimed. "May I at least see a picture of her?"

"Of course!"

He rushed over to her bedside table, Helen following quickly behind him. There was a picture of she and Ashley sitting in a simple frame. It was a candid shot, the two of them laughing at some long forgotten joke. It was a reminder of happier times. Times Helen could no longer remember.

"We look so happy," Helen sighed.

"Yes, you do."

"Are there none of the three of us?"

"You know how terribly un-photogenic I am," he teased.

It was at that moment that Helen chose to yawn widely. Nikola seized the opportunity gratefully.

"I think that's enough for one night. You need to rest."

He guided her gently into the bed, surprised when she didn't protest. She must truly be exhausted. He had thrown quite a bit of information at her tonight. It was alot for her to have to take in.

"Are you coming to bed, Nikola?" Helen asked as he turned to leave.

Nikola managed to bite back a groan. Of course they'd share a bed if they were together as she thought they were. He was tempted to give in. He'd already crossed so many lines tonight, what was one more?

"In a minute, I have a few things to finish working on before I call it a night. You go ahead and sleep though."

"Alright," she sighed, already drifting off.

He'd sit guard over her while she slept. At least then he wouldn't feel like he was taking advantage of her. He was just trying to protect her, keep her dark past from hurting her all over again. That's what he was going to tell himself at least. He didn't want to admit the alternative, that he liked the reality she had fabricated too much and was willing to pretend it was true because it felt damn good. Maybe they could have had this if things had been different, if they'd both made different decisions in their youths. One thing he did know for sure, if Helen regained her memory she was going to kill him for letting her believe all these lies. He'd cross that bridge when he got to it though. In the mean time he was simply improvising.