My Baby
@>~~~~~
“We’re going to have a baby? Really? Oh my gosh! Thank you, Doctor, thank you!” I hung up the phone and leapt into my boyfriend’s arms. Carson gave me a kiss and held me tight. Sure the pregnancy was unexpected, but we were still excited about it.
“Oh, Kate, this is wonderful. This will save our relationship!” Carson exclaimed.
“Hold on a minute. Save our relationship? Save it from what?” I let go of him and eyed him suspiciously.
“Well, you know we were having problems. Now we can fix them.”
“We were having problems. We aren’t anymore. Unless, of course, you have something to say about it.”
“We don’t have to talk about this now, do we?” Carson said uncomfortably.
“Of course we have to talk about this now! What is going on?”
“I didn’t want to mention it, but I’ve been sleeping with someone.”
“Who?” I remarked, getting angrier.
“One of my coworkers. But it doesn’t matter now, because we’re going to have a baby!”
“It matters to me! I’m not going to have a baby with a lying bastard like you. I’m beginning to believe I might not have a baby at all.”
“What do you mean Kate, have an abortion?”
“Well, yeah. I’ll have an abortion.”
“Kate, you’re being totally unreasonable here.”
“Unreasonable? Were you being reasonable when you did your coworker behind my back? Were you being reasonable last month when you said, ‘Don’t worry honey, we don’t need a condom.’ Were you being reasonable when you believed that a baby could save a relationship? Damn it, Carson, get out of my building. Get the hell out of my life too.” I stomped to my bedroom and slammed the door. I could hear Carson leave the apartment.
@>~~~~~Four months later~~~~~
“My name is Lucian LaCroix. I’m calling about the apartment for rent,” the British voice on the other end spoke in a smooth tone.
“Hi. I’m Kathryn Myers, the landlady,” I replied.
“I will only need the place for a few months while my own apartment is being remodeled.”
“Well, I could lower the rent.”
“That isn’t necessary. Please tell me about the place.”
“It’s a little small. There’s just the one bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and living room. It’s furnished, though.”
“I work at night. Does it have large windows?”
“No, they’re small, but they don’t have curtains. I could put up some peach ones if you like.”
“Black will be fine, thank you.”
“You can move in as soon as you like. Just stop by my apartment for the key. I’m in number 12 on the first floor.”
“I shall be by at midnight, tomorrow evening.”
“Well, I’ll be waiting.”
@>~~~~~
“Here’s your key, Mr. LaCroix. If you have any problems, just buzz me,” I said.
“Please, call me Lucian. I will try to be quiet as I move my things in.”
“Can I get you anything to drink?”
“Do you have any wine?”
“I do have a bottle I was saving for a special occasion, but since my boyfriend is gone, I don’t need it anymore. It’s red, is that okay?”
“Red’s my favorite.”
I went to the cupboard and took out a glass. As I poured the wine, Lucian said, “Won’t you be having any?”
“It’s a little late for me to be drinking............ and I’m pregnant.”
“Pardon me, I don’t mean to intrude, but I heard you say earlier that your boyfriend was gone. Will you be raising a baby alone?”
“I told Carson I was going to have an abortion, but I changed my mind. There are too many murderers in this city, anyhow. I wouldn’t want to add to them.”
“Who’s Carson?”
“He’s my old boyfriend. He was cheating on me. That bastard actually believed that a baby could save our relationship. I threw him out and told him to get a life. That was a few months ago, and he hasn’t bothered me since. He probably skipped off with his ‘coworker’.”
“Thank you for the wine. I must hurry with my things. Goodbye, and good luck.”
“Goodbye, Lucian,” I waved to him as I shut my apartment door.
@>~~~~~
I walked up to the third floor and knocked on apartment number 28. Lucian came to open it after a few minutes.
“I just came up to see how everything was doing. You don’t need anything, do you?” I asked him.
“No, everything is fine Ms. Myers.”
“You can just call me Kate if you like. Oh, I have the curtains. Would you like me to put them up?”
“Go right ahead. I’m not very good with....... home repairs.”
I walked into the apartment and went to the window. As I was putting the curtains on the rods, I was watching Lucian out of the corner of my eye. He was sitting in a chair, observing me.
“Do you need any help?” he asked after watching me struggle to reach the hooks in the wall.
“Well, you are taller than me. You just have to get the open end of the rod on that thing sticking from the wall. That dohikey thing; I wouldn’t know what you called them.”
“I wouldn’t know either,” Lucian hung the rod on the wall and arranged the curtains so that the entire window was covered. Then he walked to the kitchen and poured a glass of water. “You must be tired,” he handed the glass to me.
“Well, my bedtime was an hour ago. I didn’t want to come during the day because I figured you would be sleeping.”
“I was.”
“So, have you lived in Toronto long?” I sat down on a nearby chair.
“About a decade or so. I don’t keep track of the years. There are so many,” Lucian pulled a chair close to mine.
“Well I’ve lived here all my life. I don’t find this big city too entertaining. I would love to move out to the country, but my parents wouldn’t hear of it. They would have a fit. What about your parents? Do you keep in touch with them?”
“I don’t have............ parents.”
“Did they die?” Lucian was moving closer to me, and I was beginning to get a little uncomfortable.
“You could say that. You know, you have the most beautiful eyes, and a lovely neck too.”
“Well, I have to go. It was nice visiting with you. See you later, bye,” I said in one breath as I set the glass down and rushed out of the apartment. As soon as I was down on the first floor, I let out a whoosh of air. Lucian was an enchanting man, but I didn’t want to lead him on. I had broken up with my old loser boyfriend just a week ago. Plus, the situation had gotten a little awkward.
@>~~~~~
On the other side of town, in a sleazy bar, a man sat alone, drowning his sorrows in beer.
“Hit me wisth anuzer wun, burtandur,” Carson said, a very noticeable slur in his voice.
“I think you’ve had enough, Mister,” the bartender said, taking away the empty glasses.
“I’ll till yew win I’ve had enuf beer,” Carson got up from his stool and grabbed his coat, “I’m gonna go get my gurlfend. Zhe’s gonna have my babee.” Carson walked out of the bar with a definite lean in his walk.
@>~~~~~
Lucian walked up to the door and rang the buzzer. I sleepily got up out of bed and threw on a bathrobe. I walked to the door and opened it to see Lucian standing there.
“I would like to invite you over tomorrow. Oh, I didn't wake you, did I?"
"Of course not! I was just, um, reading. Well, I would love to. What time?"
"Eleven thirty would be good. I'll see you then."
"Okay. Bye," I smiled at him and shut the door.
@>~~~~~~
On another side of town, in another sleazy bar, that same man sat alone, drowning his sorrows in beer once again.
"Gimme anuzer beer," Carson said while downing the last bit in his glass.
I don't think so buddy," the bartender said, while gathering up the empty glasses.
“I want anuzer beer!” Carson exclaimed before passing out on the counter.
@>~~~~~
I walked up to Lucian’s door and rang the bell. He opened it up and smiled at me.
“Come right on in,” Lucian said, opening the door wide.
“I brought over a casserole for you. It’s tuna noodle,” I handed the dish to him and sat down.
“Oh, um, thank you. It looks......... delicious,” he put it on the counter and covered it with a towel. “I don’t want it to get cold. I’ll eat it later, thank you.”
“So, why did you want me over?”
“Just for a visit. Would you like anything to drink?”
“Just water will be fine.”
Lucian poured me a glass and handed it to me as he pulled up a chair beside me.
“You only wanted me over for a visit? That seems rather suspicious. What did you really have in mind?”
Lucian took my hand and kissed it. “I only wanted to see you. Did I ever tell you that you have the most beautiful eyes?”
“Yes, last time I was over. When I was putting up the curtains.”
“Kathryn, I think you are the most exquisite woman I have ever met,” he pulled me close and started kissing my neck.
“Um, just call me Kate,” I said rather uneasily. He moved up to my lips, and then to my nose, and then to my eyelids. Then Lucian began kissing his way back to my neck where he nibbled on my ears. It was rather erotic, but I was still a bit uncomfortable. ‘What’s wrong with you? You have a handsome man kissing you and you aren’t responding? Kiss him back!’ my mind kept telling me. Finally, I couldn’t stand it anymore. As soon as his lips found their way back to mine, I kissed him back whole-heartedly. We touched tongues and explored each other’s mouths. As I ran my tongue along his teeth, I hit a set of fangs. I pulled back in surprise and saw him open his eyes. They were no longer blue, but instead were a deep gold. He opened his mouth wide and hissed at me as he descended on my neck. Instead of biting me, he began kissing my neck, his fangs scraping my skin.
Just then, the door burst open and Carson came in, weaving and knocking into everything.
“Yew dunt no whuz good fer yew, Kazryn. I’m gonna git yew beck.”
Lucian led Carson to the door. “I can handle this, Kathryn. I always have drunks at my club.”
“You have a club?” I stood there as Carson tried to fight Lucian as they walked out the door. I shook out of my daze and followed them to the landing. “Carson, I told you. I don’t want to go out with you anymore. Leave me alone.” I was standing near the stairs.
Carson looked at me and squinted before saying, “Geez Kate, yew gained alotuv weight!”
“I’m five months pregnant, you idiot!”
“Yew tuld mee yew were having an aborzun! Yew lide too mee, yew ungratfil winch!” Before I knew what was happening, Carson pushed me down the stairs. I landed on my stomach when I reached the bottom. Before everything went black, I thought I saw Lucian take Carson by the neck and snap it. Carson fell to the floor and then I lost consciousness.
@>~~~~~
I woke up in a hospital room. Lucian was sitting beside me and watching me closely.
“Where am I? What’s going on?” I said. I felt a bit disoriented. I couldn’t really see anything either. Everything was fuzzy.
Lucian rubbed his face before resting his head in his hands. “Carson pushed you down the stairs. You, um, blacked out. I took you to the hospital.”
“You had....... fangs. Your eyes were yellow and you..... you were going to bite me.”
“Your delirious. You hit your head pretty bad.”
“No, it was before Carson was there. Carson, um, what happened to Carson?”
“He, um, had to go.”
I put my hand to my stomach and tried to feel the baby, but my stomach was flat. “What happened to my baby? Where’s my baby?”
“Kathryn,” Lucian put his hand on my arm, “Kate, you lost the baby.”
“No! What happened to my baby? What did you do with my baby?” I started looking around me frantically. Lucian got up and tried to hold me down.
“Calm down Kate.”
“Where’s my baby?”
“Kate, you lost the baby. I’m sorry. The doctors couldn’t do anything about it, Kate. I’m sorry.”
“No,” I refused to believe it, “I want a second opinion. Get me a doctor.”
Lucian walked out into the hall, “I need a doctor in here.” A bald man walked in and introduced himself.
“So, how are we doing today?”
“What happened to my baby?” I demanded.
He looked at his chart, “The pregnancy naturally aborted because of the trauma to the fetus when you fell. We removed the fetus and put you on an antibiotic. Is there a problem?”
“No,” I started crying. I turned over on my side, away from the doctor. “Go away. Just go away.” The doctor walked out of the room and Lucian came back to my bed. “I said go away.”
“There’s nothing they could do.”
“Just leave me alone.”
“Kate, don’t push me away. I understand how you’re feeling.”
“How? How could you understand? Your just another man, another unfeeling man.”
“You don’t think I’ve had my share of pain?” Lucian’s voice began to rise. “I’ve lost children too. I understand the pain of loss. I know the pain of loneliness. Don’t push me away, Kate. I don’t want you hurting as much as I did! Damnit Kate, I don’t want you to be alone.” I looked up at him and saw him crying, but his tears, he was crying blood.
“What’s wrong with your eyes? You’re crying blood tears!” I reached out to touch his face. He moved closer to me and knelt on the floor. He closed his eyes as he took my hand and kissed it. Those tears! His tears were made of blood! “Tell me what’s wrong, Lucian? I want to be part of your life.”
“Kate, I love you. I don’t want to lose you. I...... I can’t tell you the truth.” He continued crying as he held my hand to his lips.
“Lucian, I haven’t blocked you out of my life, don’t block me out of yours,” I gave him a light kiss on his forehead.
“I’m afraid to let you in. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You can never hurt me, Lucian LaCroix.”
He opened his eyes and looked up at me. His face was stained from tears. “I’m a vampire. I have spent my lifetime watching my children die. My real daughter was killed, and my blood daughter was caught in a burning building. I cry blood, I sweat blood, and I drink blood. Kate, I don’t want to hurt you. I love you.”
“I love you too,” I choked out between sobs. We sat there in the hospital, crying and holding each other.
@>~~~~~Two years later~~~~~
I felt the bulge in my stomach as the nine month old fetus kicked my hand. Lucian walked over to me and kissed my cheek.
“How was your day, my darling?” he asked as he wrapped his arms around me.
“Fine, I guess, if you count the fact that I can’t see my feet,” I tried looking over my protruding abdomen, but all I could see was the floor. “Lucian, was it really a good idea to have a baby? I mean, it isn’t even yours. It’s just the product of some test tube experiment.”
“I don’t care about that. I’ll love this child no matter what, and as soon as you have the baby, I’ll bring you across.” Lucian lifted my chin and planted a kiss on my lips. I kissed him back, and we stood there in our apartment, hugging each other.
“Lucian, I think we have to go to the hospital.”Disclaimer:Lacroix isn't mine.