Chapter 1

‘O.K. I can do this. If I just keep telling myself I can do this then things will be better... Nope, I can’t do this. I really can’t do this. What am I thinking? I can’t tell them first.’

My phone went off. I’m at the moment walking down one of the busiest high streets in St Louie, Ive just nearly screamed cause my phone has started to ring. What the hell is wrong with me? Get a grip on yourself, Anita.

“Hello” I said in to the mouthpiece.

“Hi, Anita, its Ronnie hear”. Ronnie is one of my best friends and incidentally, one of the people im about to meet.

“Hi, Ronnie, I’m just walking down the road to the restaurant. Is Catherine with you?” I asked

“Yeah, shes just arrived. How long will you be?” Ronnie asked. It sounded like a nice way to say ’ get your butt hear now, Anita’.

“ I’ll be less then a minute. Bye” and I flipped up the phone to cut the call.

I was having lunch with my two best friends to tell them the news which I had only found out yesterday. I was dreading telling them. I didn’t want to hear what they had to say, but I couldn’t keep it in any longer. I had to just tell some one or I was going to pop.

Standing out side the restaurant, I didn’t want to tell them at all, But if I just walked in there and said ’Sorry, girls, I’ve lost me nerve, bye’ I knew what they would do. They would sit me down and make me tell them any way. Besides, I had called them both a little under two hours ago. Catherine was a lawyer and had had to put off two appointments with prospective clients to make the ’meeting’. Ronnie was private detective, and although she, like me, was on vacation, I’m sure she still had other things she wanted to do with her days off.

I walked in side the restaurant and wondered ’what the hell am I doing?’ when I spotted them and they waved me over. I walked over to them with my head partially hanging down. I was, in my mind, thinking about how to put the news I was going to tell them in to words. We all hugged and sat down. There was an awkward silence for about a minuet. Im usually good with awkward silences, but this one was unbearable.

“So, Anita, how are you doing?” Catherine broke the silence with a small sentence.

“I’m doing aright. How about you? How are you and Bob doing?” I said back to her. ‘What am I doing?’ I asked my self, in my head, ’I can’t tell them’. Catherine had answered my question while I was thinking.

“Sorry, Catherine, what did you say again?” I asked quietly

“Anita, you’ve got us worried what is going on? This isn’t like you. What’s wrong? Have you and Jean-Claude had fall out or something?” This was from Ronnie. The tone in her voice made me look up. She sounded worried. Generally worried that Jean-Claude and I had fallen out. She hates him. That was it. I had to tell them

“Look, No one else knows what I‘m going to tell you now. I haven’t told anyone because I don’t know what to do about it yet. I wanted to tell you both first because you are both my closest friends.” I finished my little speech and looked up. They both looked so worried.

“I’m fine. I promise” I said. Trying to reassure them, but by the looks on there faces, they weren't having any of it.

“Anita, just tell us what's going on. Please” Catherine said. I think it was the tone in her voice and the please that finalized my decision to tell them. I could never say ‘No’ when one of my friends said ‘Please’.

“I haven’t been feeling to good lately, So I went to see a doctor friend who examined me and couldn’t find anything wrong with me” I looked into both there eyes and carried on

“She she called me back the next day, yesterday, to do one last test and it turned out to be positive.” Oh God, I’m going to tell them

“I’m....... I’m.. just over a month pregnant” I finished.

The look on their faces was identical. Utter shock. Ronnie slouched in her chair and Catherine just stayed looking at me. I just sat there with the same look on my face.

“Whose is it? Please tell me it‘s Richard’s.” Ronnie said quietly.

“Richard and I broke-up, you know that. I’m with Jean-Claude. I’m sleeping with Jean-Claude. It’s his. Micah had himself fixed and the operation was a success. There’s no one else it could be” I told them.

Ronnie did the one thing I didn’t want her to do. She got up, grabbed her coat and bag and walked out of the restaurant. That was all I could take. I put my head in hands and started to cry. Catherine moved and put her arms around me. I cried on her shoulder. Not loudly, I mostly just shook and shed tears.

After a trip to the lady’s room, a quick wash and some tissue, I was ready to go back out. I walked back to the table with my head high. So far it had gone how I thought it would, but not how I had wanted it to go. Katherine was drinking her espresso and my large cinnamon and almond coffee was waiting for me on the table. I sat down and Catherine just looked at me.

“Just say what you want to say, Catherine; at least you never left.” I said. My voice came out sounding weak and beaten. That is one thing I’m not. I looked at her with the cold eyes I pull when I’m looking at someone I’m not happy with. She noticed and recognized the look

“Anita, don’t look at me as though I’m your enemy. I’m not. I’m gonna help you as much as I can through all of this. I’ll be there for you. I won’t leave you.”

Hearing Katherine say that made me smile and it made my eyes fill. I laughed and started to wipe at my face and said “are you supposed to become this emotional this quickly” still wiping my eyes. The tears just wouldn't stop coming.

Catherine’s lips twitched and then she smiled

“There isn’t a time limit on anything when you’re pregnant.” She said. Her face sobered and she said

“Are you absolutely sure that you are? I mean, sometimes these tests can read wrong.” Her voice sounded desperate, as though she wanted me to say “HA, gottcha”. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t be saying that, even though half of me really wanted to be able to.

“I’ve been checked over by two doctors and done two tests on different days. I’m pregnant; there's nothing I can do about it”. I told her, with sorrow in my own voice.

“How can it be Jean-Claude's? I mean, He’s.....dead, technically. How can you be pregnant by him?” She looked me dead in the eyes when she asked me that question, as though willing me to tell her what has been going on these past few weeks.

“I don’t know Catherine, I just don’t know”. I lied. I did have an idea about how I got pregnant. The Arduer. But Catherine didn’t know about that part of life and I didn’t want her to.0

We finished our coffees and left the meeting on something of a higher note than when I first walked in. I left the restaurant and walked the short walk towards my car. I couldn’t stop thinking about what lay ahead for me now. I thought, that out of every woman I know, I would be the last one who got pregnant or the one who never did. Out of my true friends, I was the first.

Oh well.
 

Chapter 2

I walked into an empty house, which was unusual. Nathaniel was usually doing something around the house at this time of day. It was nearly two o’clock. Nathaniel was just about getting up now. It was Friday so he was probably at the gym. He never got up early, unless the funny thing was I just didn’t care at the moment.

I walked into my bedroom to find thirteen roses on my bed. Twelve white and one red. An impurity lost in all of the innocents that the white portrayed. There was a card, just poking up from the top of the paper the flowers were wrapped in. I recognized the handwriting at once. Jean-Claude’s hand writing was curls and swirls. It read;

“Ma Petite, I cannot wait to see you tonight. I have left you a little something, in your closet, for you to ware upon our meeting this evening. J’taime.“ ’ I love you‘. Under my breath I whispered “J’taime“ back to him, even though I knew he wouldn‘t be able to hear it. I looked in my closet and on the inside door hanging up was the most beautiful dress I’d ever seen. It was deep red, almost burgundy. It was a strapless corset, with a long fitted silk skirt. There was a split that was covered by another type of transparent material protruding from underneath the corset. There were shoes to match as well. They were again almost a burgundy colour, wedged, with lots of little straps that were designed to climb up your leg. They were a little bit higher than I’m comfy with but they were gorgeous. The whole outfit was.

I hung the dress back into the closet, along with the shoes, and then sat on my bed. I was suddenly really tired. I didn’t know how I’d managed to Jean-Claude from feeling the change in me. I think that the only reason he hadn’t figured it out, is that neither of us knew to look for a change. Micah had been saying lately that he could feel something different about me, but he couldn’t put his finger on what it was. He’s gone away to visit his family and to pack the rest of things from his old home. We’d decided to join our Pard’s and as I had to stay hear for Jean-Claude, his Pard had had no choice but to move hear or go to another Pard some where else. That was some thing else I had to think about. How could I possible bring up a child in the middle of all the crap I get?

I had only found out yesterday that I was pregnant and the thought of it was already beginning to get on my nerves. Oh well, worries for another day. When Lillian told me I just looked at her. She told me that the first time I went to see her about my being sick in the mornings, she did the pregnancy test without telling me. She did one and the second one, which was done two days after the first, using a totaly different brand, and they had both come back positive.

Thinking about it all had given me a head ach. I walked into my kitchen, to find no more surprises, thank God, and got some aspirin out of my little medical box. I got some water from the tap and walked back into my bedroom. I sat on the bed and took the aspirin. I got undressed, down to my undies, and climbed under the covers. I still had a little over four hours until Jean-Claude came to pick me up. I figure that I can get at least two hours of sleep, until I have to get up and get ready. I lay down in the softly lit room, amongst the cosy covers and it didn’t take me long to fall asleep. My last thought was, I hope jean-Claude doesn't pay me a visit.

I was standing in the middle of small, circular room. The room was dimly lit. I couldn’t even tell where the light was coming from as, hanging from somewhere, were loads of rouge and black drapes.

“Good evening, Ma Petite.” Came a voice, from the shadows. I looked around me, and there he was. As scrumptious looking as ever. He had on black, skin tight jeans and a vibrant red shirt which was held together by one button in the middle of his chest. He was looking at me with hunger in his eyes. He started walking towards me and I felt as though I couldn’t breathe. Even after all of these months, years, he still affected me thins way. Even in our dreams.

When he was close enough he touched his hands to either side of my waist and pulled me into his arms. He put his face against the crook of my neck. This was an old greeting among vampires. It shows that you trust them. To not accept the greeting had started wars before.

When he pulled back from the hug, he still had his hands on my waist. He looked in my eyes and I just couldn’t look him in the eyes.

“Ma petite, what is the matter?” He asked me in his oh so seductive voice.

“Nothing, I’m just not feeling too good, thats all”. I told him. By the look in his eyes, I could tell he didn’t believe me.

“Ma petite, something has been bothering you for two days. Why won’t you tell me what the matter is?” Jean-Claude asked me in a wistful tone. I looked in his eyes and knew I should tell him, but I couldn’t do it now, not like this. I started to shatter the dream but Jean-Claude held me back.

“Non, Ma petite, not until you tell me what is bothering you so” He said.

I pulled out of his grasp and walked a bit away from him. I was so not going to tell him hear, now. To me, it didn’t feel right.

“I have got something to tell you, but I’m not going to tell you now.” I could feel him trying to read my mind.

“No, not now” and before he could try anything else, I shattered the dream.

I woke up with sweat all over me. I was drowning in it. These dreams were beginning to get on my nerves again. I looked at the clock. I had an Hour and half until Jean-Claude showed up. I got out of bed and walked to the down stairs bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror and I looked shook. My long black hair, yes long black hair (I just haven’t found time to have it cut) was in a bit of a mess (again). My brown, nearly black, eyes looked something between like I’d seen a ghost and as though I hadn’t slept for about a month. My pale skin looked like alabaster in the yellow light of the bathroom. That meant that all of my scars showed up. The whole of my left arm was covered in scars from one thing or another. My right arm was beginning to catch up. My back has been suffering lately as well. About six weeks ago, I was in New Mexico with Edward, paying back a favour I owed him after I killed his back up. I’d had a contract out on my life. We’d been in the hospital when the shit had hit the fan. I’d ended up with over forty stitches in my back, as well as a set of teeth printed on my stomach.

I got in the shower and washed my hair. I’d started to get better where my hair was concerned. Nat had started to blow dry it straight for me. Thinking of Nathaniel, where was he? He was usually back from the gym by now. Oh well, he’d come back when he’d come back. I got out of the shower and walked to my bedroom. Just as I turned in to the living room, the front door opened. It was Nathaniel. He had been to the gym as far as I could tell.

“Hay, Anita. Did you have a good time at lunch with your friends?”. He asked me. He was wearing tight, short blue shorts and a white tank top. He had on Nike trainers with a blue swoosh and he had a gym bag over his shoulder.

I smiled at him and said “I left early. One of my friends put a damper on the lunch by leaving”. He smiled back. I loved his smile. It was honest and friendly.

“Do you want me to blow dry your hair?”

“If you’ve got the time that’d be great.” I replied.

I walked into my room and he followed. I sat on the edge of the bed and started to run a brush through it. He came behind me and took the brush off me and started to brush my hair. I looked in the mirror and seen the hair dryer in his hands. When he turned it on and started to dry my hair, I had a sudden memory of my mother doing the exact same thing. She used to sit me on her lap and wash the heat from the dryer all over me. I felt so safe when she did it. It was like no one in the world could touch me ever again. That false impression went out the window pretty quickly. I looked at my stomach and said a silent prier that I could keep my baby safe, no matter what happened. Then I remembered that I still hadn’t told Jean-Claude (I actually hadn’t forgotten). What would he say? Would he ask me not to have it? Would he not want it? Well, I’d find out soon enough. Even if he didn’t want anything to do with it, I’d still have to have it. I couldn’t have an abortion. Not only was it against my religion, it was against my morals. We’d have to work something out.

It always surprised me how short a time it took my hair to dry when I was using a dryer. Nathaniel clicked off the hair dryer and I looked in the mirror.

My hair was perfectly straight. “Thanks, Nat. It looks great”

“What's the matter, Anita? You seem so solemn. What’s happened?” He asked me in a concerned tone.

“I’m fine Nat, I promise. I’ve just not had a very good nights sleep. That’s all.” I lied. He seemed to accept it any way. The one good thing about Nathaniel was that he never questioned any thing about me.

“I’ll leave you alone to get dressed. Jean-Claude will be hear soon. Your going to the opening of his new restaurant, aren‘t you?” He asked

“Yeah, I am”

“Have a good time to night.” And he left and shut the door behind him.
 
 

Chapter 3

I got the dress out of the closet. It took me about ten minuets to get it on and done-up. I stood back in front of the full-length mirror. The corset made my breasts look smaller. Even I had to admit I looked great in it. Now for the make-up. This was never my strong point.

I felt Cherry approaching before she even got to the door. She Knocked and walked in. She was wearing a black mini skirt, fish net tights, black high heals, and I mean high, and black bra with a black see-through top. She must have been going to one of the clubs to night.

“Hi, Anita, want any help with your make-up?” She asked. Her tone was careful. Nathaniel must have told her something was up.

“Yeah, please Cherry. I’m not sure what colour's will go with this” I told her. Maybe if I lightened the mood she might calm down. The Leopards were always careful round me. Especially if they thought something is wrong.

“Stand up, let me have a look?” She asked with one of her brilliant smiles. I stood up. She looked and started moving round me, adjusting all of the skirts hear and there. She came back round to stand in front of me.

“You look....... Amazing, Anita, You look stunning” She told me.

I smiled at her and sat back down on the bed. Maybe I should tell Cherry. She had been there for me alot lately. She was the one who told me that lycanthropes had trouble carrying babies. Lucky for me I didn't turn furry every once in a while. She obviously knew something was wrong.

Cherry, out of all the Leopards, knew how to tell my moods most. She started my make-up without another word.

“Cherry, can I tell you something?” My God, how girly! She’d just started on my eye shadow.

I looked up at her and she looked worried. Why is it that when I tell some one I’ve got to tell them something, they automatically think something’s wrong with me? Maybe it was because I hardly ever told some one something they really didn’t need to know. Particularly when it come to me. Maybe I should talk to people more, Like ‘mellow’ out a bit. Me ‘mellow’ I think that this pregnancy was starting to screw with my emotions and hormones more than I expected.

“Don’t look so worried. I’m not dying, I’m not giving up the Pard, there are no threats on my life, that I know of, and none of you are in trouble”. I said, trying to reassure her and make a bit of a joke. By the look on her face I’d failed. Despite that, she still asked

“What’s the matter then?”

“You can’t tell any one, Cherry, not even Jean-Claude knows yet”. Oh that had her really worried. I put a smile on my face and told her.

“I’m pregnant.”

Her face split into a grin and she leaped up and hugged me so hard, I had trouble breathing. When she released me, she asked

“How far gone are you? It is Jean-Claude’s? Right?”

“I’m just over a month gone and, yes, it is Jean-Claude’s”

She seemed to relax even more. I hadn’t thought about what might of happened if it hadn’t have been Jean-Claude’s. The only other person I was physically sleeping with was Micah and, like I'd told Ronnie and Catherine, he'd been done ages before I met him.

“Oh, Anita, this is wonderful. You’ll be a great mum. I know you will. Look at what you do for the Pard!. When are you going to tell every one else?” Cherry seemed more excited about my being pregnant than I did.

“I’m going to tell Jean-Claude tonight. I’m sure that if I tell one person, all the Lukio, Pard and Rodere will find out eventually. You know how fast news travails around us lot. Every one will find out soon enough.” The more I talked about it, the more calm and happy I felt about the whole thing.

“What about Micah? And Richard?” That I hadn’t thought about.

“One problem at a time. I’d like Jean-Claude to tell Richard and I’ll tell Micah

my self.” I told her. See, I was making more and more plans as I go along.

She carried on doing my make-up with a smile on her face. She never said another word, but I could feel the happiness she had for me radiating off of her. Finally, about ten minuets later, the door bell rung. Nat shouted to us that he’d get it.

“O.K, your all done. Anita, you look gorgeous” I looked in the mirror. She had done my make-up brilliantly. She’d made my eye liner dark but my lids lighter. I never understood how she did that and made it look good. Cherry had finally got me off my blood red lipstick, and now got me using a lot of Gold’s and darker red’s. Tonight she put on the one which I really liked. It was a colour between red wine and burgundy. I guess we were going for dramatic. She sorted my skirts again and stood up. She lead me to the full length mirror. Even I had to admit it, I don’t think I’d ever looked better.

“Your ready” She whispered in my ear.

I opened the door to find Jean-Claude’s back to me. From the back, he was wearing black leather trousers and his usual knee length leather boots. His shirt Was a blue, as dark as the midnight sky.

He turned round and the breath I was ready to take got lost some where in my lungs. He always had that affect on me, But by the look on his face, something similar must have happened to him. The look on his face was utter shock. The look made me put my head down. I felt the air move. Suddenly there were a pair of very nice leather boots in front of my shoes. Jean-Claude put his hand under my chin and pushed my head up. He put his lips to mine. A light kiss, almost a whisper of one of our usual one’s. He pulled me into a hug and then he whispered in my ear “J’taime” . I whispered back “J’taime et aussi”. At that he smiled and started speaking some English.

“Mon Dieu, You look........ I can’t find a word Ma petite. I never thought I’d see you in something like this. You look beautiful”. He smiled and it warmed me down to my toes. He noticed and smiled even more

“ Shall we go?. The night await us and I would very much like to hear what you have to tell me, since you refused me the knowledge so harshly in our dream” Jean-Claude gave me a look that said he wanted to know very badly. Which means he hadn’t been trying to get in mind. Good. That would have pissed me off.

“I also have a little surprise or two for you too, Ma petite, I do hope you like them” He said with a wistful look in his eye

“Lets go then. the sooner we find out, the better.” I said. He held his arm out to me and I accepted.
 

Chapter 4
 

We walked out of my house arm in arm. Just in front of my house, a black limo was parked I put my head against his shoulder. When we got to the car the engine started up. Jean-Claude opened the door for me. I looked at him, but just this once I let him use his court act on me. It was my fault. I sort of invited it by wearing the dress. The problem with Jean-Claude was, it wasn’t an act. He was brought up to open doors for women, bow to people where it was necessary. He walked round and got in on his side.

“So, Ma petite, what is this news which has got you so worried? it must be big. Please, do tell me.” He said in a condescending tone.

“I’m going to tell you when we get to the restaurant” I told him. I then whispered, as quiet as I could, but still let him hear me.

“Who’s driving?”

“One of my newest flock” He told me with a little nod towards the front seat.

“Then I’ll tell you when we get to the restaurant. And you had best stay out of my mind or I wont tell you at all” I told him, but making sure he listened and understood I meant it.

He did a fake pout. It was the only time he ever looked cute. Any other time he looked either sexy or dangerous. Come to think about it, he rarely looked one without looking the other too.

“You take all the fun out my little power over you” He said, still doing his little pout.

“I don’t care, Jean-Claude this news is important. It will change both of our lives, incredibly. You have to take this seriously. I can’t be on my own for this” I looked him in the eyes when I told him this.

To night was the opening of Jean-Claude’s new French restaurant and dance thingy. You could eat your meal and watch others dance. Sort of like what they used to do in

the French courts. He’s called it Soyeux Dance ’Silky Dance’. I loved the name. The last time I went to the opening of one of Jean-Claude’s clubs, I’d had a contract out on my life. I’d had to help a woman, who’d been be-spelled by one of Jean-Claude’s vampires. I’d taken her to the toilet and a woman who helped me had been the contract killer. I’d only escaped because some woman had walked in at the right time. The killer got distracted and I’d shot her. The only thing that kept me out of prison was the fact the woman who came in told the police it was self defence. It also helped that I didn’t know them.

“Ma petite, what is the matter I have been talking to you for some time and you haven't answered or made any acknowledge that you have heard a word I’ve been saying. What are you thinking about?.” He was looking at me as though I’d done something wrong.

“I’m sorry, I’m just thinking about the last time I went to the opening of one of your clubs. I nearly didn’t survive it.” I told him. At least it was the truth

“Ah, yes, of course. That was not my fault. You already had the assassinate after you. You can hardly blame that on me, can you?.” He said.

We were approaching the district where all of the vampire owned businesses were situated. There were people every where. The good thing was there were police holding people back off the roads. I could just see the restaurant. The sign was saying the name was bordered in three different shades of blue and the title it self was written in curly writing and done in blue too. Every thing was done on a black background. The windows were framed by black with blue neon bars along them. From what I could see of the inside, Every thing was done in cream and blue. There were big booths, which by looking at them could hold about ten people. There were blue and white illuminated fish tanks holding either blue or whitish massive fish.

“What do you think so far?” Jean-Claude asked me.

“Beautiful”. It was the only word for it. He put his hand under my chin and used it to turned my head to face him.

“Not as beautiful as you, though.” He whispered to me and then kissed me. It was just a gentle kiss. He knew I’d moan if my lipstick got smudged.

“What was that for?.” I asked him.

“I’ve only kissed you once to day, thats all.” He replied. I smiled at him.

The limo came to a halt just out side the restaurant. There were people queuing up for the clubs around all over the district. You only went into the opening of Jean-Claude’s restaurant if you had an invitation or you booked a table, so this time there was no queues to worry about.

The door opened and an usher appeared to hold the door for us. Jean-Claude got out first and then he stayed back to hold his hand out for me. Yet again the press were there, but this time I felt better. To my knowledge there was no one after me. I tightened my hand round his. I’d started to admit to myself that I do really love Jean-Claude. He made me feel safe. I hadn’t admitted that to any one, but I think that most people knew it. The person who spotted it before any one was Zibrousky, one of my cop friends.

We’d just hit the press, when I noticed someone inside. Edward. What the hell was he doing hear?. Donna was sitting next to him. They were sitting at the most noticeable table. It was beautifully lit up and it was massive. My guess is that we were sitting there too. What was going on?.

So far all the press had done was take photo’s. The mixture of the police and the barriers had held them back. I couldn’t understand what any of them were saying. they were all asking questions at the same time. Jean-Claude stopped and so did I. The press sort of quietened so you could actually hear one question at a time.

“Jean-Claude, what actually happened on the night you were arrested for Anita Blake’s death?” One reported shouted over the rest. Why were they bringing that up now?.

“That is a matter between Ma petite, and I”. Jean-Claude told them. He looked at me when he said it.

Through my mind I asked him “What the hell is Edward doing in there?”

“I invited him.” He said simply.

The reporters were still firing questions but Jean-Claude and I were still looking in each others eyes. It was embarrassing. It was as though we, or at least I, had forgotten every one else was there. There was a chorus of Ahhhhhhas and giggling from the reporters.

One of the reporters shouted “Ms Blake, what are your plans for the future?”

I looked at Jean-Claude and said “I’m taking things one day at a time.”

We Carried on walking and I seen Edward walk to the door. We got in side, the Inside was beautiful. Jean-Claude told me before it became a derelict building, due to a fire, it used to be a bar with a home above it. Apparently, the wife of the owner had gone mad one night and burnt it to the ground. The husband was having an affaire with one of the bar maids. Well, thats one way to show you wont be mucked about. Edward walked right up to me and tried to pulled me away from Jean-Claude.

“Let me go, Edward.” I told him and I meant it. I gave him the eyes I gave Catherine earlier, but this time I was angry with someone.

“I need to talk to you, now.” He simply said, as though because he wanted to talk to me, it was alright to pull me round like a rag doll. I could feel Jean-Claude wanting to say something.

“What could be so important that you need to drag her away like a doll?.” He looked at me when he said it.

“I thought I told you to stay out of my mind?”

“It didn’t take much to tell what you were thinking, Ma petite, I’ve told you before, you have a certain way with words that one doesn’t forget.” He said in a hushed voice.

I looked back at Edward and said “What ever you need to tell me can be said in-front of Jean-Claude, he’ll find out soon enough any way.” I looked him straight in the eyes when I said it. The bar staff were giving us some funny looks.

“Fine.’ Edwards voice drew me back to look at him “I think Olaf is in St Louie.” Well I weren't expecting that.

“Who’s Olaf?” Jean-Claude asked. I could still see the flashes of the reporters cameras. They had just caught our little scene on camera. Great.

“Can we go and sit down now, please.”

We walked back to the table. Donna stood up and walked to meet me. We kissed on both cheeks and hugged. I could feel Jean-Claude’s gaze on the back of my neck. Shit I forgot I had to tell him I was pregnant. I hadn’t forgot, I just hadn’t thought about it for a while.

“Jean-Claude, meet Donna, Edwards fiancee.” I told Jean-Claude. He didn’t show the reservations I had. He walked past me, took her hand and kissed it. He did that alot. It would have bothered me if she weren’t engaged.

“ A charmer, I see.” Donna said, all giggles. Out the corner of my eyes I could still see flashes of the cameras. Why were they taking this many photo’s?.
 

Chapter 5
 
 

We all sat down. It was a big table and it was raised higher than all of the others. The table cloth was gold with silvery threads going through it. I looked round the restaurant. every table had the same things on. Table cloth, Candle, silver knifes and forks, and a four white roses with one red in the middle. I looked at Jean-Claude and smiled, he smiled back and then kissed me. I couldn’t help but smile.

“I thought that was our little thing?.” I said to him.

“No one but us will no what it means.” He looked at a waiter and they came over. I didn’t recognize him so he must have been new.

“Yes, Jean-Claude?.” He said. He was young looking with blonde-brown hair, clean shaven, tall, and by the looks of it, very tanned. He was the newly dead.

“Ted, Donna, what would you like to drink?.” He asked them

“We’ll get the first one, wont we Ted?.” Donna said looking at him, as though he should have thought of it first.

“My dear, you wont have to pay for any thing to night. This is the grand opening of my restaurant. I own it.” He told her with a slight smile on his lips.

I looked at Donna. Her mouth was open and her eyes were wide.

“I forgot to tell you. Jean-Claude owns a string of clubs, bars and restaurants.” I told Donna.

We all ordered, and when the drinks came back Jean-Claude started asking questions.

“Two things, Ma petite. One What do you want to tell me but wont tell me and two, who is this Olaf fellow?. The look on your face when Ted mentioned his name, Anita, you looked very frightened. But please, First I want to know, what do you want to tell me?.” He finished his speech and gave me very good eye contact.

“O.k, I thought it was just going to be us two, but I suppose you’ll have found out any way.” I looked at Edward and he put his drink down and rested his head and his entwined fingers. Donna narrowed her eyes and drank some of her dry white wine.

“I haven’t been feeling well lately, so I went to see a doctor friend. Lillian”. I said to Jean-Claude. He had put his elbow on the table and put the side of his head in his hands so that he faced me. His hair was thrown over one shoulder so it wasn't in his way. I couldn’t look at him.

“She looked me over and did some tests. The last test she did came back positive, though she wouldn’t tell me what it meant. She told me to go back the next day so she could do the test again. I did and that came back positive as well.” I looked round them as I told them the story. They were all giving me rapt attention. Edward looked worried. Oh well they’d know soon enough. I looked at Jean-Claude. He’d sat up. I held my hand out to him and tears welled in my eyes.

“Anita, your worrying me. Just tell me what it is. I could never hate you, for any thing, you know that.” He said with such feeling.

“Jean-Claude, I’m...... just over a month pregnant.” I looked away when I said it and I opened my mind to him. I felt him search through my body and feel the baby’s heart beat. Lillian told me that the baby’s heart had already developed and so had most of the organs.

I looked back up at him. His eyes were wide and his lips were parted. he looked as though he was trying to speak but couldn’t find the right words to say. The tears were rolling down my face. Donna got up.

“Come on, Anita. A trip to the ladies room I think.” She came over and took my arm. I stood and went with her. Jean-Claude didn’t move. I let go of his hand, when I stood up, I started to move away and he just sat there looking wordlessly in to space.

When we hit the ladies room I burst into tears. I put my hands in front of my eyes. Donna put her arms round me. I cried onto her shoulder. I didn’t really know why I was crying. All he’d done was be shocked that I was pregnant. The thing is, little surprised Jean-Claude. And when it did, he never showed it had shocked him.

Donna was rubbing circles round my back.

“Anita, what’s wrong?. calm down. There’s nothing wrong with being pregnant. It’s one of the most natural things that can happen to any women.” She looked me in the eyes, as though willing me to believe it was true.

I did believe it was true, I just didn’t want it to be me. Jean-Claude wasn’t the fathering type. He liked life with spur of the moment things. Like the night I think I became pregnant. He just turned up on my door step and we went out and then came back to mine and spent the night in the bath. I loved that night soo much. I didn’t ever want it to end. With a baby, that would all end. I also had to think about the Pard, the Lukio, Micah, my job and how dangerous my life was. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.

“I don’t think that me having a baby is such a good idea.” I told Donna.

The toilets were beautiful. The bottom half was painted blue and the top half was cream. The lights were high on the walls and they made the room seem intermit. The toilets were on the right wall and the black marble wash basins were on the right wall. By the door there was a black sofa. You could defiantly tell that Jean-Claude had had a alot to do with the decorating of this place.

“Why can’t you have it, Anita?. No one can take this away from you.” Donna said again. “I don’t know Jean-Claude at all and I don’t even know you that well, Anita, but what you did for me and my family in New Mexico more than enough proves that you can do anything you want to, Anita. Your brave, smart and get along with kids really well. I think you’ll do brilliantly. Now come on, you can’t stay in hear while your mans out there. You’ll get trough this. I know you will.” Donna finished.

I looked at her, and really thought about what she said. I would not sit in hear. My hormones were screwin me round, lately. I couldn’t stop crying. I never cried unless I was really hurt. I wasn’t hurt. I walked to the door with Donna at my back. Jean-Claude had his forehead in his hand and a glass of wine in the other. Edward was talking to him and he just kept on looking at the table, as though he couldn’t hear what the other man was saying. He looked at Edward, who was in front of me, and spotted me walking back and stood up. He stood up and Edward looked round and noticed us. Jean-Claude walked over to me and I stopped where I was.

He took my hand and laid his lips on it. I felt a tear slide down my cheek. He looked at me and smiled. I put my arms around him and buried my head in the middle of his chest. He started to whisperer to me in French.

I loved Jean-Claude, alot, but I wasn’t sure what to do. To have this baby, I needed him right by my side. He was the father so thats where he should be any way, but I couldn’t do it with out him. My life was just too dangerous for a baby really. God , what was I gonna do?!.

“Shall we go and sit down. I have a little explanation for you.” Jean-Claude said. He took my arm and lead me back trough the tables, towards ours. He pulled my chair out for me and helped me scoot under. I normally didn’t like him doing it but I didn’t want destroy the mood by telling him not to.

He sat down opposite me, reached out across the table and took my hand and looked at me as though I were made of glass. I didn’t like the look. It made me feel weak.

“Anita, do you remember Oliver? And how he was a council member? Well, when a master vampire is ready to become a council member, something clicks inside of them and they just know. The thing is, I wasn’t ready. I was challenged by him.”

The whole time he was talking, he never took his eyes from mine, not once. This was obviously important.

“Maybe when the council came, and we had to fight for our lives, I could have Finally attained the power to be part of them. That, maybe, was how you, fought and beat Padma.” He said.

It would make sense, but I had never heard of vampires being ready to become more powerful. I thought they just beat there opponents and got on the council.

Jean-Claude carried on “Anita, Vampires attain new powers when they get their new powers. One is that they sleep less so what ever keeps our body’s alive stays longer. And, for some reason it gives us the ability to produce children. Both female and male.” He finished.

I looked at him. Something occurred to me though. “but that means you became ready when Oliver came to town, wouldn’t it?.” I asked, speaking my thoughts.

“I’m not sure, Ma petite, It could mean that the day the child was conceived, I became ready. For my age, I rise early anyway. I’m just not sure.” He finished.

I looked at Edward. He’d kept quiet throughout the whole thing. It wasn’t like him.

“Do you have any thing to add to this?” I asked him. I looked at him and he sat up straighter. Donna looked between us. I’d forgotten she was there. Well, not forgotten. I don’t forget.

“I want to know what your going to do about Olaf.” He said simply, as though it was no big deal.

Donna looked at me then at Edward. “What do you mean, ‘What’s she going to do about Olaf?’. What’s he done? I thought he was alright.?” She looked at me when she said it. I was sure I’d had this conversation with some one else. Ah, that was it, the good professor.

“Trust me on this, Donna, Olaf is not all right in any sense of the word.” I told her. The look in her eyes said she wish she didn’t have to believe me. It’s hard finding out that monsters are real and you know one.

I looked at Jean-Claude. He asked me for the second time, I think “Who is this Olaf, Ma petite, I have asked you before, yet you still refuse to answer.” He was getting pissed off. Oh well, that makes two of us.

“When I went to Albuquerque to help Ed...... Ted, He had called in two other people to help him. One was Olaf and the other was the one.....”

“Who pretended to be your beau so you could question someone, I remember you telling me about it.” He finished off for me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see someone walking towards our table. Jean-Claude stood up and walked to meet him. I looked at who it was and recognized that it was the Mayor of St Louis. I turned around and let Jean-Claude get on with it. I’d never met him before, so I didn’t know him, but I bet that Jean-Claude was going to introduce us.
 

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