Chapter 8 - Bar-S Ranch

Emily poured through books as the owner of the ranch watched her, “As I said, there are three bunkhouses that are scattered across the property.

Emily nodded, “I see that. Let’s hit the horses. I want to take a look.”

The Rancher frowned, “You sure you should be on a horse?”

Emily controlled the anger that the comment brought, “I’m fine, let’s go.”

The Rancher already had two thoroughbreds saddled and ready to go. Emily used a bale of hay to climb onto the mare, and she followed the rancher along the property line. There were fences along the entire perimeter and irrigation ditches already flowing across the farmland.

“So what brings you to Montana?” he asked, smiling at her.

“Just time for a change. I had a ranch up by Cascade once, and I think it’s time to start again,” she said, looking closely at the layout of the ranch.

“Just you and your husband, or do you have kids… well… other than the one on the way,” he asked.

“It’ll just be me,” she said bluntly, hoping he would drop it.

“This is a big piece of land for one person.”

“I have an overseer already, and I’ll hire some workers,” she told him. They were quiet the rest of the way back. When they arrived back at the barn, Emily slid off of the horse and turned to the Rancher.

“I’ll take it.”

The Rancher smiled, “Great! I finally get to retire.”

Emily smiled at him, “Get the papers drawn up, and I’ll come and sign them.”

He nodded, “I suspect you have a loan already?”

“No, actually… it will be a cash transaction,” Emily said, and ignored his shocked expression.

She slid into the seat of her Durango, just as another pain hit. She leaned against the steering wheel and breathed through it, then put it in gear and headed for her hotel. As she passed the tiny town hospital, she sighed and pulled into the Emergency Room.

“Good evening, can I help you?” the young nurse asked with a smile.

“Yes, I’d just like to make sure I’m not going into labor,” Emily said, blushing.

“Oh, right away. Follow me,” the nurse said, suddenly looking anxious.

Within a few minutes, Emily was in a backless gown and had large round monitors on her stomach. She watched the baby’s heartbeat while she waited for the doctor.

“Well hello,” the doctor said when he came in. “I’m Dr. Price, the on-call obstetrician… Emily, right?”

Emily nodded.

“How far along are you then?”

“I don’t really know,” she said, wincing at his expression.

Dr. Price smiled, “Let’s see if I can get a general idea then.”

Emily nodded and watched as he brought in a large machine. Dr. Price put gel onto the end of the ultrasound machine and suddenly, Emily was looking at her baby on the monitor.

“Baby looks good, good heart rate, good lung development. I’m guessing you’re almost 35 weeks… but, the baby’s pretty big,” Dr. Price said, watching the monitor closely.

“Yes, so was my last one,” Emily told him.

“I have to be honest, Emily. I’m tempted to induce you right now. Your blood pressure is dangerously high, and the baby is going to be too big for you,” Dr. Price said, looking at the monitor.

“I’m not from here. I’ll go back and talk to a doctor in my hometown,” Emily lied.

“I’m not really comfortable sending you out like this,” Dr. Price said to her. “Can we at least call your husband, have him come and get you?”

Emily shook her head, “He’s not in the country right now.”

Dr. Price sighed, “Let’s keep you and induce, it’s too risky. If your blood pressure gets any higher, you’re going to start having seizures, add the big baby, and I think it’s time.”

“So I’m not in labor at all, right?” Emily asked, sitting up.

“Not yet, those are called Braxton Hicks and will just get stronger. Course, once I admit you they won’t matter,” Dr. Price said, and left the room.

Emily quickly dressed and slipped out through the back kitchen door of the hospital. She pulled the Durango out into traffic just as Dr. Price ran from the ER door. She made it back to the hotel and was locked inside before she relaxed. She had left the ranch address as her home contact and her cell phone as the number at the hospital. She was sure she covered her tracks enough that no one else would know she’d gone.

Emily was lying on the bed when her cell phone rang. She picked it up without looking at the ID.

“Hello,” Emily said.

“This is Dr. Price,” the voice on the other end said.

Emily sat up quickly, “I can’t have this baby right now.”

“You don’t understand the health risks, please, come back and talk to me at least,” Dr. Price said. She could tell he was nervous about her.

“I’ll check with my hometown doctor. I’ll be home tomorrow.”

“Your mailing address is here,” Dr. Price said skeptically.

“I’m buying that place. Right now I live out of town.”

“Please come in, I’m very worried.”

“I’m ok. I’ll be home tomorrow, but thank you,” Emily said, and hung up.

She sighed when the phone immediately rang.

“I’m not coming back there,” she said, irritated.

“Why not?” Chevalier asked.

Emily took a deep breath, “Sorry, I thought you were someone else.”

There was a long pause, “What’s going on?”

“Nothing, I’ll be back there tomorrow,” Emily assured him.

“Who did you think was calling?” Chevalier asked.

“They want me to come sign papers on the ranch tonight, but I’m tired and told them I’d be back next week,” Emily said calmly.

“Oh, ok. So you are going to get it?”

“Yes, I really like it,” Emily told him.

There was more silence before Chevalier finally spoke, “Tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, tomorrow,” Emily said, and hung up the phone.

Emily reached over and turned off her cell phone, then flipped through the TV until she found a good movie on HBO. She settled back with some orange juice and watched the movie in peace and quiet.

Chevalier was waiting in the garage when Emily pulled the Durango into its spot. She hadn’t had time to clean it, so it looked awful compared to the shiny sports cars around it.

He opened her door before she even slipped her seat belt off and kissed her.

“Welcome back,” he said, smiling.

“Thanks,” she answered, and grabbed the paperwork for the ranch from the seat. She spent some of the night before marking out the address with a sharpie, in case he got nosey.

Chevalier took her bag in one hand, and her hand in his other, and they headed inside. He was pleasantly unquestioning about the new ranch.

Once back in the room, Emily laid down on the bed and grinned, “Always good to be home.”

“Yes it is. You have no idea how insanely nervous it makes me when you leave,” Chevalier said, and laid back beside her.

“How’d it go here?” she asked, looking over at him.

“Fine, nothing happened. I’ve spent the entire time with Allen. He’s going to need some help with this,” Chevalier said, and took Emily’s hand.

Emily nodded, “I figured.” She sat up when someone knocked on the door.

“Come in,” she said, and then frowned when a strange heku entered.

“Oh, Emily, this is Dr. Alona,” Chevalier said nervously.

Emily looked at him, her eyes narrowing, “Nice to meet you.”

Dr. Alona seemed friendly, but Emily hated how he kept looking at her like she might fall over at any moment.

“Friend of yours?” Emily asked Chevalier, but kept her eyes on Dr. Alona.

“Sort of a friend of the faction doctor,” Chevalier said, smiling.

“Mhmm,” she mumbled, not believing him.

“I told the faction doctor that I’d be happy to take a look at you while I’m visiting. I’m a certified obstetrician,” he said, smiling.

“How convenient,” Emily said, irritated.

“Why don’t you have a seat then,” Dr. Alona said, and pointed to the bed.

“No,” Emily told him bluntly.

“Hey, Breeder, are you being a pain in the ass again?” Damon asked from the door.

“No, I’m letting you keep that job,” Emily scowled at him. She was partially glad though, it’d taken the doctor’s attention away from her.

“Why don’t you sit down nicely, and let the doctor do his thing?” Damon asked with a smirk.

“Why don’t you drown?”

“I can swim,” he replied, grinning.

“Great, next time you go, let me toss you a toaster.”

“You couldn’t kill me if you tried.”

“Is that a challenge?” Emily snapped.

“Bring it, Child.”

“Don’t even tempt me.”

“Stop it!” Chevalier scowled. “Damn you two.”

Emily froze when she felt the tightening in her stomach. She knew the pain was coming, and ran for the bathroom, locking the door.

“Damnit,” Emily said as she bent over. The tightening continued until the pain started. She fought against making any noise, but a small groan escaped at the height of the pain.

“Emily, what’s wrong?” Dr. Alona said, knocking on the door.

“Stubbed my toe,” Emily said, panting.

When the pain in her abdomen stopped, she sunk down to the floor of the bathroom and pressed her palms into her eyes. Her headache started when Damon first spoke, and was growing worse. She saw the little flashes of lights in her vision and tried to calm herself down.

Emily felt her temper rising, despite her best efforts to calm down when she heard Dr. Alona talking to Chevalier about what she needed. She didn’t need anything, and was getting frustrated when no one believed her. She was fine as long as everyone just left her alone. Her headache worsened and she felt the familiar dizziness creeping up on her.

Emily knew that if she passed out, it would be too late for her to defend herself against the new doctor. She pulled herself up to the sink, and tried to splash some cool water on her forehead to see if she could stop the world from spinning.

“Don’t get that,” Emily called out into the room when she heard her phone ring.

It rang three more times, and then Emily heard Damon answer it.

“Damon here.” The flashes of light got brighter in her eyes.

“Doctor who?” The world leapt violently to the side and she felt herself hit the tiles.

“Oh really?” Darkness crept into her vision and soon took over.

***

Emily could hear the voices around her before she could open her eyes. She felt a pressure across her chest and something on her face making it so she couldn’t breathe. She pulled it off and tried to speak, but no sound came out.

“Leave that on,” she heard a strange voice say, and then she felt someone replace the mask.

Emily opened her eyes finally, and once they focused, she could tell she was in the back of an ambulance. She could feel the slight swaying, so she knew they were in motion. She saw the I.V. dripping from the ceiling into her arm, and the straps on the gurney that held her down.

“It’s ok, we’re on the way to the hospital,” the female paramedic said. “You had a little seizure.”

Emily groaned and reached toward her I.V. She felt firm fingers holding onto it tightly, so she pulled her mask off again instead. She couldn’t breathe with it.

“Emily, leave that on,” she heard Chevalier say, sternly.

She was extremely tired. She just needed everyone to leave her alone so she could sleep. The paramedic was putting something on her stomach, and she pulled one of them off before she felt someone grasp her wrist.

Chevalier held both of her wrists, and felt her relax as she fell back to sleep.

“You weren’t kidding about the medical phobia,” the female paramedic said to Chevalier, with a smile.

“Nope, wish I was,” he said, watching Emily sleep. Even by just touching her wrists, he could see the swirls of her dream starting.

“Baby’s looking good, good strong heartbeat,” the paramedic said, and Chevalier looked up at the sound of the rapid thumping.

“When’s her due date?” the paramedic asked as she grabbed a clipboard.

Chevalier sighed, “She won’t go to a doctor, and won’t tell anyone.”

“Wow,” the paramedic said, and wrote something down. “Wait… says here you’re her brother?”

Chevalier nodded.

“So where’s the father of the baby?” the paramedic asked.

“He’s coming. He wanted to bring a car along,” Chevalier explained.

Chevalier felt the two bumps as the ambulance drove into the hospital’s emergency entrance. The back doors flew open, and the paramedic reached in and pulled the gurney out. They met several doctors and nurses directly inside the doors, and they whisked Emily away to a room, but kept Chevalier back for some questions.

Kyle ran in a few minutes later and stood beside Chevalier.

“Are you the husband then… let’s see… Keith?” the nurse asked.

“Yes,” Kyle lied. He was surprised how handy it was to have Keith’s ID from his wallet, and how nice it was that they looked somewhat alike.

“Just sign here, that’s a consent to treat and a consent to admit,” the nurse said, handing him a pen.

“So they are admitting her?” Chevalier asked.

The nurse nodded, “Yes, her blood pressure alone will keep her here until delivery.”

“She’s afraid of hospitals, I.V.’s, oxygen masks, the works. She’ll tear them off if you let her,” Kyle said to the nurse, and she smiled sweetly and nodded.

“He’s not exaggerating,” Chevalier said.

“It’s ok, we have it under control,” the nurse said.

A doctor came out to talk to them. He looked too young to be a doctor. Silver braces on his teeth made him seem even younger, and Chevalier took an instant dislike to him. The young doctor put his hand out for Kyle and they shook.

“Hi, I’m Dr. Chen. I’m a perinatologist. I’ve just looked your wife over, and I have some concerns,” he said, checking the chart.

“Concerns?” Kyle asked.

“Yes, first, her blood pressure is way too high, that’s what caused the seizure. Then the size of the baby is of concern when the mother is small boned, like your wife is,” he explained.

“Ok,” Kyle said, not sure what else he could say.

“We’re going to have to induce labor immediately. If she has another seizure, it could harm both her and baby,” he said.

Kyle nodded, “Do what you have to. Is that done with an I.V. by chance?”

“Yes, a medicine will be added to her I.V.”

“Yeah… she’s never, in her entire life, kept an I.V. in,” Kyle said bluntly.

“We’ll secure it as best as we can. Once she understands the risks to the baby, I’m sure she’ll be fine,” the young doctor said, smiling. “I’m missing the name of the doctor who delivered her previous baby though.”

“That was an emergency home birth, in the middle of a hurricane. We didn’t have a doctor,” Kyle explained.

“Oh wow, let me note that here,” Dr. Chen wrote something down.

“Can we see her?” Kyle asked.

“Not yet, the nurse gave her some medicine for anxiety,” Dr. Chen said.

“Anxiety medicine?” Chevalier asked.

“Yes, for Nosocomephobia… fear of hospitals. It’ll make things a lot easier if she’ll relax and stop fighting everything,” Dr. Chen explained.

“And she took it?” Kyle asked skeptically.

Dr. Chen nodded, “Sure, then she went into the bathroom. When she’s out, I’ll send a nurse to get you.”

“She’s Alone?” Chevalier asked.

“Yeah,” Dr. Chen said, frowning.

“That means her I.V.’s out,” Kyle said, sighing.

“Dr. Chen!” a young orderly said to him frantically. “I can’t find the patient in 3.”

“She’s in the bathroom,” Dr. Chen said, smiling at Kyle.

“That’s what we thought, but we can’t find her,” the orderly said again.

Chevalier glanced at Kyle, “See if you can find her.”

Kyle ran back to Chevalier a few minutes later, “She just left in a cab.”

Chevalier growled and headed back for the car with Kyle.

“Wait!” Dr. Chen called. “Are you going to bring her back?”

Chevalier ignored the young doctor, and sped away from the hospital, “If I get her back here, I’m bringing the restraints.”

Kyle thought for a moment and then spoke, “You know as well as I do that she’s not going to come back here willingly. You will do more harm than good if you start yelling.”

“Oh, I’m going to yell,” Chevalier said angrily.

“Why don’t you take the long way and calm down before you see her?” Kyle suggested.

“No chance,” Chevalier growled, and stepped on the gas to prove his point.

Chevalier left his car at the side doors of the palace and stormed inside. He grabbed the collar of the first guard he saw, “Where is she?”

“I… I… haven’t seen her,” the guard said nervously.

Chevalier threw him against the wall and blurred upstairs. When he saw her room was empty, he turned to the door, but was blocked by Kyle.

“Seriously, you’re going to hurt her if you don’t calm down,” Kyle said.

“Get out of my way,” Chevalier hissed.

Damon appeared behind Kyle, “Let Kyle and I find her first, Elder. Just wait here.”

“If you two don’t want to find your heads separated from your bodies, I suggest you let me by,” Chevalier growled.

“If you hurt her, she’ll take off again and you know it. You know how badly she pushes buttons, and I can promise you, right now, she’s going to send you over the edge of reason,” Damon said respectfully.

“I’m going to find her. You can come with if you want,” Chevalier said, and blurred out of the room. He stopped at the main foyer and shut his eyes, inhaling deeply.

“You can’t find her that way. The entire palace smells like she does,” Damon said, watching him.

“If the guards didn’t see her, maybe she went directly into the garage and took off?” Kyle asked.

Kyle matched Chevalier’s speed and stopped just behind him in the garage. He looked around and saw the Durango and the Humvee parked in their normal spots. His Ferrari was there also. He wasn’t sure she’d take anyone else’s car, not after being arrested for car theft once in her life.

“Stables?” Damon asked, and cursed when Chevalier disappeared. He was able to catch up with the Elder at the doorway.

Chevalier looked around carefully. His furious eyes took a fast inventory of the horses. All were accounted for in their stalls.

“Damn, where is she?” Chevalier growled.

“Maybe she didn’t even come back here, maybe she went somewhere else,” Damon suggested.

“Where though?” Kyle asked. “She doesn’t know anyone near enough to get to in a cab.”

The smallest sound sent all three heku into a spin to look behind them. Chevalier moved forward slowly, his hands still balled into tight, angry fists. They all looked up when their keen hearing picked up the sound of slow, rhythmic breathing.

Chevalier blurred up the ladder and froze, his eyes wide. Damon and Kyle stood beside him, ready to grab him if he sprung.

Emily was lying on the straw, deep asleep with a horse blanket thrown over her. She looked peaceful and frail. Chevalier’s hands softened and as he watched her, the anger flooded out of him. Kyle and Damon both noticed the change as the anger in their Elder dissipated. They quietly jumped down into the stables and went back into the palace.

Chevalier sat down beside her on the straw, and watched her sleep. He wasn’t used to looking at her and seeing the delicately fragile mortal that she was. Her vicious temper and strong mind kept those thoughts far away from views of her, but seeing her now, they came back to him. He watched as she slept through the night, afraid his touch might wake her. He couldn’t tell what her dreams were, but she didn’t move all night.

When Emily started to wake up, Chevalier reached over and brushed the hair back from her face. She opened her eyes and sat up suddenly, looking around. She remembered finally where she was, and then her eyes fell on Chevalier.

Emily studied his face for a moment, and then spoke, “Are you mad?”

“Not anymore,” he said truthfully.

“I need everyone to leave me alone,” she said, curling up against his side.

He wrapped an arm around her, “I know.”

“I’m not going to let them take the baby early,” she whispered.

Chevalier kissed her forehead, “The baby is developed enough that they aren’t worried about it. The doctors are more worried about you.”

“I’m ok, if everyone will just back off,” she told him.

“You had a seizure. They said it can kill you.”

“I got stressed out. Keep Damon away from me and I’ll be fine,” she said, and stood up slowly.

Chevalier stood up too, “Can’t we compromise somehow? I can’t lose you.”

“No compromises on this. I have the baby my way,” Emily said, and started down the ladder.

“What do you mean, your way?” Chevalier hopped down from the loft easily.

“I mean… alone,” she said, turning to him.

Chevalier frowned, “Alone? You almost died.”

“Almost. I’m not going to put heku at risk because I’m in pain,” Emily told him, and crossed her arms.

“That’s it? You’re worried about us?” Chevalier sounded amused.

“You wouldn’t think it was that funny if I ashed the entire palace, would you?” she asked, frustrated.

“Kyle and I were with you for Allen. You didn’t ash us,” he reminded her.

“I can’t guarantee that again, and I won’t risk it,” Emily said, and started in for the palace. She needed a shower and new clothes.

Chevalier appeared in front of her and she almost ran into him. He put a hand under her chin and brought her face up towards him, “Please take it easy for now, until we decide what to do.”

Emily hated when he looked down at her like that. When they were standing that close, it made her feel like a child that was about to get chastised by her dad.

“Define… take it easy,” she said, and stepped back a bit so he wasn’t towering over her so badly.

“Stay in bed,” Chevalier answered bluntly.

“If I stay in bed, will you back off?” Emily asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

Chevalier sighed, “If that’s what it takes, then yes.”

“And Dr. Alona can go back to wherever it is he came from?”

“How about he stays in the palace, but we keep him away from you? If we have a question, it can be relayed,” Chevalier suggested.

Emily nodded, “Fine, I’ll give you that.”

She crawled into bed after a hot shower and noticed the TV had been moved closer to her. She also saw a tray on her bedside table, but didn’t see anyone around. She lifted the dome and grabbed the plate, suddenly very hungry. She put the plate on top of her stomach and dug into the pancakes.

Damon knocked and walked in just as Emily was finishing off the bacon.

“What do you want?” Emily asked, and put the plate back on the tray.

“Don’t get your panties in a wad, I offered to come,” Damon said, and sat down in the chair by the bed.

“Why’s that?” Emily asked suspiciously.

“The Valle and Encala have representatives in the palace, talking to the Council, and the Council thought it wasn’t a good idea that you were alone,” Damon said, and sniffed at the juice on her tray.

Emily grabbed the juice and moved it to her bedside table.

“Oh, and Chevalier thought it would be a good idea to send you?” she asked.

“He was a little busy at the moment, so Maleth sent me,” Damon said, smirking.

“I should go. They’ll be more civil if I’m in the room,” Emily said, and swung her legs over the side of the bed.

“No can do, Tiny. Orders were to keep you away from them. They’re pretty nasty today,” Damon told her.

“Was it that or was it more like… ‘Keep the mortal from passing out in front of guests,’?” Emily asked, grinning.

“Yeah, it may have gone something like that.” Damon laughed.

Emily groaned and bent over, grabbing her stomach. Damon jumped to his feet and looked at her nervously.

“Sit,” she moaned, and he sat back down, but watched her closely. She relaxed finally and looked over at him.

“Going to pop that kid out now or what?” Damon asked, his voice was still joking, but Emily could see the panic in his eyes.

“You know what I like about you, Damon?” Emily asked, and smiled.

“What’s that?”

“Nothing,” she said, and grabbed her book from the nightstand.

“Don’t you even wonder what the Valle and Encala are here for?” Damon asked after a few awkward minutes of silence.

“Is it about me?”

“Well, no.”

“Then no, I don’t,” she said, turning the page in her book.

“Want to play Vampire Attack IV?” he asked, looking over at the Wii.

“No,” she said, still reading.

“Hungry? I could get you something.”

“No”

Damon sat and watched her read, tapping his foot against the floor.

“Damon!” Emily yelled.

Damon looked up, “What?”

“Why are you here?”

“I told you why.”

“If it’s not about me, then why would Maleth send you up here to irritate me?”

“Is that what I’m doing?” Damon asked.

“Yes”

“Hmm,” he said, and sat back against the chair.

“Why don’t you sit outside the door?”

“I can’t irritate you from out there.”

Emily’s eyes rolled back and she collapsed on the bed. Damon stood up and shook her softly, “Emily?”

When she didn’t respond, he blurred from the room.

She sat up and grinned, “Amateur.”

Emily was sitting up cross-legged on the bed reading when Dr. Alona, Chevalier, Kyle, and Damon blurred into the room.

She looked up as they stopped by her bed, “Can I help you?”

“She… she…” Damon said, shocked.

“Got you,” Kyle said, laughing, and walked out of the room. Damon yelled in frustration and followed him out.

Dr. Alona looked at her carefully, and Emily sighed when she realized she was getting checked over.

“What?” she asked, looking up from her book.

“Just one blood pressure?” he asked, rocking nervously on his feet.

“Whatever,” Emily said, and stuck out her arm, still reading.

Dr. Alona moved quickly, afraid she would change her mind. He took the blood pressure and smiled, “Thank you.”

“Sure… go away,” she said, irritated.

“It’s still too high,” he said to her.

“I figured… go away.”

Dr. Alona left the room and Chevalier sat on the bed beside her, “You really scared Damon.”

“Yes, well he’s an idiot,” Emily said, and sat the book on her lap.

“He was doing Maleth a favor,” Chevalier said, in a tone very close to patronizing.

“I want to go back to the island,” Emily told him.

Chevalier nodded, “Sure, after the baby…”

Emily cut him off, “Today.”

Chevalier frowned, “We can’t go today.”

“Why not? I don’t want to be here,” she said, watching him.

“The heku in this building have grown accustomed to your scent over time. It doesn’t affect them because the scent grew gradually. The servants at the castle aren’t used to you. It’d be too dangerous,” he explained.

“I’ll stay in the bedroom. They don’t have to come near me,” Emily said.

“There will be too much blood when you have the baby, they won’t be able to resist it,” Chevalier told her, and touched her cheek softly.

“I don’t want to have the baby here.”

“I’m hoping you’ll be at the hospital, far away from any heku.”

“I don’t want to have the baby at a hospital either.”

“Where exactly were you hoping to have it then?”

Emily shrugged, “I told you, alone somewhere.”

“It’s too dangerous. Your family has a history of dying during childbirth. I’d rather have you around,” Chevalier said softly.

Emily looked down at her hands, “I’m afraid of killing everyone in this building.”

“I don’t think that will happen. If you’ll feel better, we can send Damon away, just in case,” Chevalier said matter-of-factly.

“They already think I’m the spoiled Elder’s wife. See how badly they hate me after I’ve ashed the lot of them,” Emily said, fighting back more tears.

“They don’t hate you. If they did, they wouldn’t be in the palace,” Chevalier told her.

“They will if I ash them all.”

“That didn’t happen with Allen, so I’m sure it’ll be ok.”

“Why were the Valle and Encala here?” Emily asked after a brief silence.

“They want Exavior and Sotomar back,” Chevalier told her, and leaned back against the headboard on the bed.

“Did you let them go?”

“We were discussing it when we were rudely interrupted by a frantic Damon,” Chevalier chuckled.

“So you’re still supposed to be down there?”

Chevalier nodded.

“So go. I’m ok, I just want to read.”

Chevalier kissed her on the forehead and left quickly.

***

Emily sat up in bed and looked at the clock, it was 3am. She looked around the room and saw she was alone. The two fireplaces were roaring enough she could see all around the room. She stepped out of bed and pulled on a robe, then headed out into the hallway. She saw the guard chairs were also empty.

Yawning, Emily headed down toward the kitchen, still mostly asleep. The halls seemed extremely quiet, and if she didn’t know better, she would think she was alone in the palace. The kitchen was dark and quiet, so she turned on the light and started making herself a sandwich. She grabbed a bag of chips in one hand, and her sandwich in the other, and headed back up the stairs. When she got to the fourth floor, she heard loud shouting.

“The domination of the Equites is ending,” an angry voice yelled.

“No one said the Equites are trying to dominate anything,” Maleth said sternly.

“By laying claim to more than one Winchester, you are obviously trying to build an army that no other faction is capable of defeating,” another angry voice yelled.

“No one is saying we have more than one Winchester. You know as well as I do that her son, Allen, is mortal and has no abilities at all,” Maleth replied.

“She is with child, is she not?”

“Yes, she is,” Maleth said.

“Then if it is a female, will the infant be given to another faction?”

“No, she would not be,” Quinn said.

Emily sighed. She was tired of the factions fighting over her and her baby. She would rather die than go to the Valle or the Encala. The Equites seemed to spend a lot of their time trying to keep her safe and under their protection, and it was getting old. She was tired of hearing the Equites argue with the others about any claims to her. She did what she pleased, and that never included the Encala or the Valle. They acted like the Equites were holding her against her will.

Emily walked around to the hallway behind the council chambers and opened the door as she took a bite of her sandwich. The Council turned around, shocked to see her at this hour.

“Em? What’s wrong?” Chevalier whispered, as he stood up and moved to her.

“Nothing,” she said, and handed him the bag of chips to open.

“Then what are you doing?” he asked, opening them and handing the bag back to her.

Emily peeked around him as the shouting started again. They didn’t know she was in the room because the fans were keeping her scent away from them.

“Just looking,” she said, and took another bite of her sandwich.

Chevalier shook his head and grinned, then returned to his seat. Emily listened for a bit while the enemy heku couldn’t see her.

“This discussion is tiring. We demand the factions become equal again, and the only way to do that, is to share the Winchester blood,” an angry voice said.

“Yes, this discussion is tiring, you’re not getting any of my children,” Chevalier said coldly. Emily was sure he was holding back his anger because she was in the room.

“That they are your children is irrelevant. All we care about is the mother.”

“Ha! Like you care at all about Emily,” Damon said angrily.

“And you claim to? That’s a joke. You’re using her to reproduce and to extend the Winchester line, don’t kid yourselves,” the strange heku said.

“She’s nothing more than a breeder, and you know it,” another voice yelled.

“Oh you’ve done it now,” Emily heard Damon say with amusement. She could feel her temper rising at the stranger’s comment.

“What do you…” the voice was cut off when Emily appeared with the Council.

“What did you call me?” Emily asked angrily.

A murmur ran through the twelve gathered enemy heku at the appearance of the Winchester.

“I apologize. That came out wrong,” the heku said to her.

“Nothing more than a breeder? What, like a purebred bitch? Oooh she’s in heat again, best get some more puppies,” Emily said, glaring at him.

“No, Child, we do not think of you like that,” he said quickly.

“Yeah right. Here’s the deal… now that I’m here, you’ll keep a civil tongue in your mouths, and address this Council with the respect they are due. You won’t talk about me like a piece of property, or a baby factory, either. Get out of hand and I’ll ash you, simple enough,” Emily said, and got some joy at the way they stepped back from her as she spoke.

Emily glanced quickly at Damon when he turned his chair, and she could tell he was laughing.

Emily sat down on Chevalier’s lap. Something she never did around others, but she was through caring at the moment. She leaned back against his chest and took another bite of her sandwich. She felt Chevalier chuckle, and he wrapped his arms around her.

“It’s… it’s hard to discuss this while she’s here,” one of the Valle said.

Emily ignored his comment and finished her sandwich.

“She stays,” Damon said. He was enjoying the discomfort of the enemy.

“It’s just that… she’s watching us,” he said to Maleth.

“Do go on,” Maleth said. “We have a busy night ahead of us.”

“We feel it only fair that each of the factions be given some of the blood from the Winchester,” the Valle said nervously.

“Come get it,” Emily said, and held her wrist out.

Chevalier grabbed her hand and put it into her lap, laughing “That’s not what they mean.”

“Oh… they want a baby,” Emily said, nodding.

“Yes, that’s what we want,” one of the Encala members said.

“Sure, why not,” Emily said, and dug for a chip.

“You… you agree?” the Valle asked.

“Sure… why not just pop out a kid every year, and then you can each have a few. Is it ok if the baby is Chevalier’s, or were you planning on doing that yourself?” Emily asked, eating another chip.

Emily felt Chevalier chuckle, and then his lips as he kissed the back of her head.

“We… we aren’t picky about the father,” the Valle said.

“Are you having fun?” Chevalier whispered softly into Emily’s ear.

Emily nodded.

“You would allow us to father our own Winchester?” the Encala asked.

“Of course… I’m already getting it on with the entire Equites Council, why not throw you in too,” Emily said, looking over at Damon. He was still facing away from the enemy.

The Valle and Encala looked at one another, and then turned around, whispering.

“Hey, Quinn,” Emily said to the Elder. “Tonight’s your night, Big Boy.”

Quinn looked at Chevalier with wide eyes.

Emily stood up, “I wonder if we have any strawberry ice cream.”

“Yes, I believe we do,” Chevalier said, chuckling.

“Hmm,” she sighed, and left the council chambers.

The Valle and Encala turned around and faced the Council, and then looked around, “Where did she go?”

“I think she heard some ice cream calling,” Chevalier said, raising an eyebrow.

“Will she be back?” one of the Encala asked.

Chevalier shrugged, “Honestly, I have no idea what she’ll do next.”

Damon finally composed himself and turned around, “These talks are getting us nowhere. We’ve offered to return Sotomar and Exavior back to you, but you aren’t getting any of Emily’s children.”

Emily walked back into the council chambers with a bowl of ice cream. They watched her closely as she sat back on Chevalier’s lap and leaned against him.

“Did I miss anything?” Emily asked.

“We… we have discussed it, and want to take you up on your offer,” the Valle leader said to Emily.

“Which offer? I forget,” Emily said, taking a bite of ice cream.

“To father our own Winchester,” he said softly.

Emily looked at Damon, “Did I offer that?”

Damon nodded with a grin.

“Dang, I shouldn’t talk when I’m hungry. Who wants a piece of me first?” Emily asked, looking out over the enemy factions.

One of the larger Encala stepped forward, “That’d be me.”

Emily stood up and handed her bowl of ice cream to Maleth. He took it and watched her carefully.

“You think you can handle me?” she asked, leaning forward slightly toward him with her hands on the desk.

“I do,” he said, and ran his eyes down what he could see of her.

Damon started to laugh again as the large heku fell into a pile of ash.

“Listen to me,” Emily said, her voice was soft, but angry. “Get this through your sick, twisted minds. I’m no one’s property, and I am not a baby factory. You ever try to lay a hand on one of my children, you’ll be ash before you can yell for help. I’ll die before I’ll see any of my blood in the hands of scum like you.”

The heku from all three factions looked at her, shocked. Her tiny form was fierce and commanding, and they hadn’t heard her speak with such conviction before. Emily turned and took her ice cream from Maleth, and then sat back down on Chevalier’s lap. His arms wrapped tightly around her.

“I think she’s spoken,” Damon said, standing up. “As she’s not Equites property, and has every right to speak for herself, I think the matter is solved.”

“It’s disgusting the way you let the mortal run things. She needs to learn that heku are superior to humans, and should be taught respect and obedience,” the Valle said angrily.

“She obeys, watch… Emily, ash him,” Damon said, and watched the Valle turn into a pile of ash at the feet of his faction members.

“Yes, Sir,” she said, and took another bite of ice cream. She could feel Chevalier chuckle again.

“Stop it!” one of the Valle said. “We came as a peaceful representation of our factions and are outraged at the violence we have encountered.”

Emily slowly put the bowl down on the table when she felt a pain start in her back and shoot toward the front. The familiar tightening started, and she the panic begin. She waited until the pain fully stopped and she was sure her legs would be strong enough to hold her before moving.

“Done toying with them?” Chevalier asked when she stood up.

“Yes,” Emily whispered, and felt a hand on her arm.

“What’s wrong?” Chevalier asked her, his eyes watching her closely.

“Nothing, I’m just tired,” she said, and bent over when she was hit with another hard contraction. This one was much worse than the last, and it couldn’t have been more than three minutes.

“Emily?” Chevalier said, kneeling in front of her. “What’s wrong?”

Emily moaned as the contraction peaked. She felt a warm rush of water run down her legs as the pain began to back off.

“Get them out of here,” Chevalier whispered, and saw the confused look on the Council’s faces. He picked her up and blurred her up to the room.

Chevalier was just laying Emily down when Kyle, Mark, Damon, Quinn, and Maleth appeared.

Emily grabbed Chevalier’s shirt, “You have to get me out of here.”

“You’re not in danger. That’s why we’re here,” Damon said from the doorway.

“She’s not worried about herself. She’s afraid she’ll hurt us,” Chevalier explained.

Emily felt another contraction start, and she fell back on the bed and groaned. The heku watched her helplessly as the labor progressed.

“Get the doctors,” Chevalier said to Damon.

“Elder, they went to feed. The doctor at the hospital assured them the baby was a good month away,” Damon said, watching Emily with wide eyes.

“They both went?” Chevalier growled.

Maleth nodded.

“Get an ambulance,” Kyle said.

“No,” Emily said sternly.

“Em, we can’t do this. We don’t know what to do,” Chevalier said, brushing her hair away from her face.

“No hospitals,” Emily said again.

“Get Sam,” Chevalier said, and Kyle disappeared.

Emily screamed when the pain started again. She wasn’t getting time to rest between contractions, and they were getting harder, faster.

“Do something,” Damon said as he watched her.

“There’s nothing to do but wait,” Chevalier told him.

“How far apart are the contractions?” Sam asked, stepping past the heku at the door.

“A minute, maybe a little longer,” Chevalier said to him.

“You should have called me sooner,” Sam said angrily.

“It’s only been about 30 minutes,” Chevalier said, irritated at the familiar.

Emily fell back onto the bed, panting, “Not Sam, please. Not Sam.”

“He’s all we have, Em,” Chevalier said softly.

“No, I can’t trust him,” she said softly, and then shut her eyes, trying to rest some.

“He’d be lucky to get away with anything while I’m on watch.” Kyle scowled at the familiar.

Chevalier nodded, “He’s your responsibility.”

Kyle nodded and grinned evilly.

“Damon, Mark, you take the door… everyone else needs to leave,” Chevalier whispered, trying not to wake Emily.

Emily sat up suddenly, and her scream turned into a groan as she bore down.

“Sam,” Chevalier said quickly.

Sam turned around, “Already?

“What’s going on?” Damon asked.

“She’s pushing,” Kyle said. “To get this far last time took hours.”

“Don’t touch me,” Emily panted as she lay back on the bed.

“Yes, Emily,” Sam said, and pulled away from her. He looked nervously at Kyle when he felt the strong hand on his shoulder.

“Go back to jail, Sam,” Emily ordered, her last word turned into a groan as she pushed.

Sam turned and walked toward the door.

“No, Em, bring him back… he’s the only one that knows how to do this,” Chevalier said nervously as he supported her shoulders.

Damon blocked Sam from leaving.

When Emily relaxed back on the bed, Chevalier touched her cheek softly, “Emily, we need Sam. Bring him back, please.”

“I don’t trust him,” she said, out of breath.

“I don’t either, Kyle is watching him,” Chevalier told her. “Please, Emily, we don’t know what to do.”

“Damn!” Chevalier heard, and looked up to see Dr. Alona come into the room. “How long has she been in labor?”

“Almost an hour,” Kyle said, relieved.

“Has her water broken?”

“Yes”

“Started pushing?”

“Yes”

“I don’t want him either,” Emily whispered, and began pushing again, groaning deeply.

“Get a cold rag,” Dr. Alona said, and pulled the sheets up from the foot of the bed.

Damon handed Dr. Alona the rag, and the doctor looked up at him strangely, “Not me… her.”

“Oh, right,” Damon said, and laid the rag across Emily’s forehead. The heat coming from her body was surprising to him.

“Clear out the palace, and if you are in this room, you are to have on a menthol mask,” Dr. Alona ordered. Chevalier was surprised at how quickly the doctor had taken over. He felt a mask pulled over his face, and suddenly, Emily’s enticing scent disappeared.

Hours passed while the doctor barked out orders and Emily pushed. Chevalier felt helpless as he watched Emily endure hour after hour of intense pain. Damon pulled the heavy curtains shut when dawn broke. The entire palace was quiet, as only the few of them in the bedroom remained. The city waited to hear word from the palace on the gender of the newest Winchester.

Kyle watched the doctor closely. He was looking worried and fatigued as time passed. He saw the excitement on the doctor’s face each time Emily pushed, and then the concern when the baby didn’t move fast enough.

Too low for Emily to hear, Dr. Alona told Chevalier that he needed to get an I.V. going. Chevalier glanced at Kyle and Kyle shrugged.

“She won’t leave it in,” Chevalier told him.

“She’s going to start losing a lot of blood. I have to be able to replenish that,” Dr. Alona explained.

“Em?” Chevalier said softly, and she opened her eyes slowly to look at him.

“We need to get an I.V. in,” Chevalier told her. He waited for her to fight back, and almost hated it more when she nodded and shut her eyes again.

Dr. Alona was able to insert the I.V. and get the fluid flowing before her next contraction hit. Kyle watched the I.V., concerned that she hadn’t pulled it out yet.

Chevalier growled when Dr. Alona pulled a scalpel from his bag and turned to Emily. Kyle’s hand shot out and grabbed the doctor’s wrist.

“Watch it,” Chevalier growled.

“Let me do my job,” Dr. Alona hissed, and pulled his hand away from Kyle. “Do you want this baby to kill her or not?”

“Fine,” Chevalier said warningly.

“She can’t keep this up. The baby is too big,” Dr. Alona said, and Emily screamed as the smell of blood assaulted the heku in the room through their masks.

“Come on, Child, push,” the doctor said as Emily leaned forward and groaned. Chevalier could tell her energy was gone, so he reached an arm around her shoulders to help.

“I need blankets and towels,” Dr. Alona said, and Kyle appeared beside him with an armful. The towels disappeared beneath the sheet, and then were dropped in a heap on the floor in a bloody mass.

Kyle picked the towels up carefully and tossed them into the fire.

Chevalier noticed the color draining from Emily. Her face and arms were deathly pale, “What’s going on?”

“She’s bleeding out,” the doctor said frantically.

Dr. Alona reached up and turned her I.V. up so it was flowing faster through her veins.

“Give me a push, Child, come on,” Dr. Alona said as another contraction started. Emily sat up weakly, and pushed, groaning with the strain.

“I see a head, Emily, keep going. You can do it,” Dr. Alona encouraged, and threw another set of towels to the floor.

Emily collapsed back onto the bed, her breathing shallow and strained. Dr. Alona grabbed something from his bag and worked hurriedly under the sheet. The sound of a baby crying filled the room and the heku all looked toward the doctor.

“It’s a girl,” Dr. Alona said, and handed the tiny, screaming baby over to Kyle. Kyle wrapped her gently in a blanket and took her over to Chevalier.

“I need B positive, now!” Dr. Alona yelled, and Chevalier turned to him. The faction doctor appeared with bags of blood and hooked one up to Emily’s I.V. As the flow of blood started through the tube, the doctor pressed the bag between his hands to up the flow.

Kyle disappeared into the nursery, and Damon and Mark stepped further into the room. They watched, wide eyed as the doctors fought to save Emily.

“Get that blood in faster,” Dr. Alona ordered.

Chevalier looked back at Emily and growled deeply. Her eyes were open and dull, and her hand relaxed in his grip.

“I have to get her on the floor,” the faction doctor yelled as he pulled Emily roughly to the floor. Emily’s lifeless body fell limply, and her blood soaked nightgown clung to her unmoving body.

Chevalier sat on the bed, too stunned to move as he watched the doctors at work. The faction doctor started pounding on Emily’s chest while Dr. Alona changed out the bag of blood and pressed it, sending a fast flow of blood into her.

A fourth and fifth bag of blood was poured into Emily as the doctor continued to do CPR. The look on the doctor’s face was frantic, and the sound of grinding bones filled the room.

“Don’t do this, Emily... stay with us,” the doctor begged, as he pressed against her heart with his hands.

Dr. Alona stopped pressing on the bag, and looked at the doctor on the floor, “She’s gone.”

“No, she’s not gone,” the faction doctor said as he continued CPR.

Chevalier stood up in a crouch, his hands balled into fists as a growl erupted from him fiercely. Damon and Mark both met his crouch and watched the doctors. Chevalier ripped the mask from his face and began to hiss when Emily’s scent was missing from the room.

Maleth and Quinn appeared in the room, and looked down at Emily’s blood soaked body.

“She’s gone,” Dr. Alona said again, and touched the faction doctor on the shoulder.

“No!” he yelled, and pounded a fist directly over Emily’s heart. “Get more blood into her.”

“It’s too late,” Dr. Alona said.

“Do it!” Chevalier growled at him. Dr. Alona sighed and reluctantly hung up another bag of blood.

Quinn blurred to Chevalier and took his arm, “Elder.”

“Fix this,” he growled at the doctor.

“Chevalier, it’s too late,” Maleth said softly.

“Hush!” the faction doctor said, and the heku all fell silent. He leaned his ear against Emily’s chest and listened, “It started… her heart started. Get more blood!”

Dr. Alona began to press against the bag of blood and Emily took a slow breath. The faction doctor picked her up gently, and laid her on the bed. Chevalier watched her chest slowly rise and fall, willing it to keep going.

After the eighth bag of blood was empty, Dr. Alona put up a clear liquid and smiled reassuringly at Chevalier. Kyle stepped out with the baby, and Chevalier took her from him. He looked down into the tiny face, amazed that such a small creature could cause so many problems.

“Is… is it a girl?” Quinn asked.

Chevalier nodded, “It’s a girl.”

“Another Winchester,” Maleth said, smiling.

Chevalier touched her tiny hand and she gripped his finger.

“Let me see her,” Emily whispered, her arms were held out toward Chevalier.

Chevalier knelt by the bed and supported Emily’s arms as she held the baby and looked at her, smiling. A tear fell from her tired eyes as she looked at her daughter. Emily touched her soft black hair and ran her finger along the baby’s fat cheek.

Chevalier handed the baby back to Kyle, “Everyone out.”

Emily shut her eyes as the heku slowly filed out of the room.

“I don’t want to leave yet,” the faction doctor said, checking her I.V., and Chevalier nodded.

“She needs to sleep,” Chevalier said, watching her.

The doctor nodded and began to gather up the blood soaked towels and linens, and tossed them into the fire.

“Hold her for a moment,” the doctor whispered, and Chevalier picked her up gently, wincing as she moaned softly.

The doctor ripped the sheets off of the bed and burned them, then disappeared from the room with the blood soaked mattress from her bed. He returned a short time later with a clean one, then slipped clean sheets onto the bed and replaced the blankets.

The doctor looked at Emily for a moment, and then up to Chevalier, “Let’s change her.”

Chevalier nodded, and the doctor carefully ripped the nightgown off of her and threw it into the fire. He came back from her dresser with another and somehow managed to slip it on her without too much pain.

Chevalier laid her back on the clean bed and pulled up the covers. The doctor listened to her heart and lungs and took a blood pressure, then adjusted her I.V. and left.

He looked up when the door opened, and Allen stepped in reluctantly. Chevalier smiled and motioned him forward. Kyle brought the baby back out and handed her to the Elder.

“Is it another boy?” Allen asked, looking at the tiny baby.

“No, it’s a girl,” Chevalier told him.

“Ew, I wanted a brother.”

Chevalier laughed, “I know you did, but the entire species wanted a girl.”

Allen reached over and touched Emily’s face softly, “Mommy?”

“Shhh, don’t wake her,” Chevalier said.

“Is she ok?”

“I don’t know yet,” Chevalier said as he glanced at Emily’s pale, drawn face.

“What’s the baby’s name?”

Chevalier shrugged, “I don’t know that either.”