AN: This is set a few weeks after Josh's death. He died in January. Marissa didn't show up until April. Marissa will turn up in this story, as I'm sticking to canon as much as possible. At this point, little embryo being born would be David's only living child.

I'm going to start peeling back all their layers very soon. I don't want one big knockdown, drag out argument. I want to peel it all back, slowly and methodically. If DE had been allowed a scene or three where they actually talked about everything that happened, I can guarantee everything would have been so different!

Hence, I'm here to fix it!

Chapter 8

Erica winced, eyes closed. She let out shallow slow breaths and gripped the sides of the exam table.

David was administering what they hoped would be her final injection before the transfer.

Three weeks of injections. Medications. Blood draws, and it was starting to take it's toll on both her body and her mind.

Dr. Anderson had warned her, and so had David. Yet she'd forged ahead, undeterred.

And while she had no regrets and would continue doing whatever she needed, she would be the first to admit that this was far harder than she'd imagined.

But she already knew she would do anything for her child.

"Stay there for a minute."

She'd nearly fainted one day after an injection, and he refused to let her forget.

"I'm fine. Help me up?" She lowered her shirt and held out her hand.

David shook his head and did as she asked. He never had been able to say no to her. "You are the most stubborn woman I have ever met."

"I know," She laughed. "Can we check those?" She pointed to the computer beside the exam and flashed him her most enchanting smile.

One she knew he couldn't resist.

Even now.

Dr. Anderson was allowing David to conduct her blood work and exams. He faxed back twice a week before Dr. Anderson would call them to discuss the results.

"Dr. Anderson said this could take up to five weeks..." He logged into the exam rooms computer and turned his eyes on her.

He wanted this, and he was willing to do whatever Erica needed to help.

He just didn't know how she would handle two more weeks if the results showed she wasn't ready for the transfer.

How would he handle two more weeks? He hated seeing her in pain. Hated knowing the medication and injections wrecked as much his havoc on her body as they did her emotions.

How she did it with a smile, he would never know. He had a feeling she would already do anything for this child and would push herself to the ends of the earth to ensure the transfer took.

"Open them, please."

Dr. Anderson was very clear on where she needed to be in order to facilitate the transfer.

That usually happened within three to five weeks of beginning the transfer regimen.

She studied David's face while he read through the results.

"Well?" She asked through a nervous breath.

"You're numbers are above the threshold needed. Your exam and ultrasound put you in well into acceptable range. We'll have to wait for Dr. Anderson to review everything, of course."

He watched her exhale from relief. Watched her smile go from nervous and anxious to wide and bright.

"Hopefully Dr. Anderson will agree, and we can do the transfer by the end of the week. This time next week, that little embryo of ours could be growing inside of me."

The thought of Erica Kane being the woman to bear his only living child still played against his heart in ways in shouldn't.

What he felt for was different.

It always had been.

Always would be.

But those feelings couldn't be hidden behind the rest of their past. Behind everything that had happened since their relationship ended.

"What? What is it?" She asked softly, her smile fading slightly from the worry she saw on his face.

He shook his and twisted around so he could slide the stool he sat on closer, so he was sitting in front of her.

"You're having second thoughts?"

If you could hear someone's heart break in just the tone of their words, he would have heard hers shatter.

"No. No. Not at all," He spoke calmly, evenly, his eyes meeting hers. "I want this. Maybe more than I want to admit."

"There is something bothering you, though. I can see it in your eyes. What is it?"

Jack's voice echoed in his ears. Was she unable to see past her grief to fully understand what they were about to do?

The last month had been one of the best in a long time. They were communicating. They were unwavering in what they wanted. They were united.

But they couldn't pretend that last nine years hadn't happened.

"Jack said something when he stopped by my office..."

Erica scoffed. "Jack has a lot to say about something that doesn't concern him."

David nodded. "I told him to take a hike, but he isn't completely wrong. We're talking about becoming parents. And as much as I've enjoyed the last few weeks, if we want to be good co-parents, we can't pretend the last nine years didn't happen."

He wanted to do this now? Here? In an exam room at the hospital?

"I'm not pretending. I'm choosing to focus on the positive and not the fact that you kept my grandchild from her family. Or do you want to go back further? To when you drugged a boat load of people, including Bianca..."

"Yes all of it," He interrupted quickly. This wasn't a conversation they should have here, now. "Leora is dead. Babe's dead. Trevor ended up not being my son. Every chance I've had to be a father, I've lost. I want to be better this time."

His words were choked, and he shook his head, hoping to force away tears he didn't want her to see.

"David," She said it softly, tentatively. "I know who you are. I know every miserable thing you've done before you came to town, and since you've been here. I know all the people you've hurt, including Bianca. And I'm still choosing to do the transfer. I'm still choosing to hopefully give your child life. Because I also know a part of you no one else does," Her eyes met him, and they both blinked back tears. "I've seen your heart and I know how much love you have to give. You'll be an incredible father," She finished with a gasp. "Yes there are so many things we need to talk about if this transfer works. But for now, I'd like to focus on the joy the mere idea of this child brings me."

She swiped at errant tears, and David tipped his head down, letting his tears fall. For a moment anyway. "You're incredible."

"I know," She nodded, offering him a bright smile. "Right now, you can take me to lunch. I'm starving."

He watched her slide off the exam table and head for the door. "I suppose I'm buying?"

"Considering you kept my granddaughter from her family, all meals should be on you for the rest of our lives."

He laughed. Hard. Full. His smile bright. "I'll get my wallet from my office and meet you at my car."

She offered him a knowing smile and let the door close slowly behind her.

David watched her go.

He didn't deserve her faith in him.

He never had.

But he wouldn't let her down. Not this time.

It would be a hard road to becoming happy, healthy co-parents who communicated and put their child first. But they would do it.

For themselves as much as their child.

TBC