One Tough Choice by Ella713 Rated PG

[Ella713]

Moonlight Fanfiction
By Ella713
One Tough Choice
Rated PG 13

Amy goes into premature labor and she and Ted have to make a very hard decision.


Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.


Amy patted her round belly each morning as a way to give thanks. Ted watched her in amusement and stole up behind her. He placed his hands over hers and kissed her neck.
“I can’t believe that’s our child in there” Ted said in wonder.
“I know. Time is going by so quickly. I really wanted to just enjoy being pregnant, but here it is a month to go” she said with a frown.
“Enjoy being pregnant? The morning sickness, the mood swings, the not being able to sleep?” Ted mused.
“Yep! I’ll miss it all” she said with a smile.
“Can I get you anything?”
“Maybe a glass of milk” Amy said smiling at Ted as he left for the kitchen. So much had changed. For the better too. Ted had become the man she knew he was capable of becoming. Hard working, kind, considerate, loving. And she couldn’t be happier. Things had gotten kind of dicey when Ted found out about vampires, but now things were perfect. Ted and Gabriel couldn’t be closer. Even Brian who some thought would hate Ted until the bitter end, had turned completely around and became one Ted’s best friends.


Zoe was so busy singing and hanging up decorations that she didn’t hear the doorbell ring.
“Zoe! Can you get that?” Gabriel called out but the doorbell still rang. Finally he got up from his computer and saw that Zoe was connected to her iPod, singing in a completely oddball off key manner that Gabriel adored. He went to the door.
“Hi Mom, you know you’re early?” he said with a smiled.
“I know. I just thought maybe Zoe could use some help” Beth said coming in with her arms loaded with gifts. “I picked up some food trays from the caterer for Amy and Ted. They’re in the car, would you grab them for me?” she said.
Zoe looked over and saw the door open and switched off her music.
“Hi Beth!” she squealed running over to give her a big hug.
“I thought you might need some help” Beth said looking around.
“Boy could I. That son of yours is no help whatsoever” Zoe teased.
“Hey! I heard that!” Gabriel said catching the tail end of the conversation. “Someone’s got to bring in the bacon around here.” He teased back carrying the food into the kitchen.
“I’m so excited for Amy!” Zoe said “A baby! A cute little baby girl” she sighed.
“Who said anything about a girl” Gabe asked.
“Of course it’s going to be a girl!” Zoe said exasperated “Look at the way she’s carrying”
Gabriel not for the first time stared at his wife in total confusion.
“I have no idea what that means” he said.
“She’s carrying the baby up high. That means it’s going to be a girl!” she said rolling her eyes.
“Sure hon” Gabriel chuckled and walked back into his office.

“It will be so wonderful having a baby around again. But this time will be better because it’s someone else’s baby!” Beth said with a smile remembering how hard it was raising Gabriel.
“And of course Amy will have the best babysitters in Los Angeles at her fingers!”

Isabelle since Dragos had died was becoming softer and less rigid and Josef liked the change. She was wearing dark rinse blue jeans of all things and a white short sleeved polo shirt.
“Blue jeans?” Josef asked pointing.
“What do you think?” she asked turning around for Josef to see. Her long legs encased in tight denim ending with delicate gold sandals on her feet.
“I think I love it” he said with wolfish grin walking towards her.
“Oh no you don’t!” She said backing away from him. “I have to get to the baby shower”
“Oh right. I don’t have to go do I?” Josef said dreading the very idea of it.
“Women only my darling” she said kissing him lightly on the lips and grabbing her purse.
“Thank God!” Josef whispered as she walked out the door.

Gabriel and Brian took Ted out for a drink while the party was going one.
“What do you think they’re doing?” Ted asked over his beer
“Well Zoe was up all night thinking of games to play, like name that famous baby or something” Gabriel said. Brian looked at him as if he had lost all his marbles.
“How do babies get famous? That sounds like a very stupid game” Brian said shaking his head. Gabriel and Ted cracked up at the stoic Brian.
“I fail to see what’s so funny” Brian said looking at both of them
“Brian I think the fame of the baby comes along with the fame of the parents. Like you say Gwyneth Paltrow and the answer would be Apple which is the name of her baby” Ted explained still laughing.
Brian took a sip of his club soda.
“It still sounds like a stupid game” he muttered.

The baby shower was going quite well Zoe thought to herself. Streamers in a soft pink shade hung everywhere. Pink and red balloons floated all about. Everything was perfect.
Zoe walked around filming the party the entire time.
“Okay Amy open this one!” Nicole shouted handing her a beautifully wrapped box.
Amy carefully unwrapped the box and inside was the most beautiful music box she had ever seen.
“Oh!” She gasped placing her hand over her mouth “My mother had given me a music box just like this when I was little but it broke when I was moving.” Amy explained.
She looked around and saw that everyone was just as surprised as she was. She picked up the card that came with it and read.
“I know how important this was to you, so I hope you will pass on the magic to our little treasure” she read and then started to cry “I love you Ted” she finished.
“That is the most beautiful gesture I have ever witnessed!” Isabelle said quietly.
Amy ran her fingers over the music box and smiled.
“Your daddy loves you very much” Amy whispered to her stomach.
She was handed another present and was about to open it when a sharp pain caused her to drop it to the floor.
“Amy are you okay?” Beth asked running over to her
“I don’t know what’s happening……Oh God!!!!!!!” she screamed out loud doubling over.
“Isabelle grab her and take her to the car!” Beth yelled. Isabelle swiftly picked Amy up in her arms as if she weighed no more than a newborn and rushed her out to Beth’s car. Beth got in and sped off with everyone following close behind.
Zoe quickly called Gabriel and told him what had happened.

“We’re going to have to cut this short guys. Amy just went into labor. Mom’s driving her to the hospital!” Gabriel said stranding up quickly. Ted sat frozen in place for a few seconds then yelled out.
“It’s time! Oh my God, it’s time!” he yelled out.
“Come on Ted, we’ll take my car. It’s faster” Brian said as they all ran to his car.

Amy knew something was wrong. She could feel it. She wasn’t due for another month! Something was wrong with their baby!

Gabriel, ted and Brian all came running into the hospital.
“Zoe! Where is she?” Ted asked anxiously.
“She’s in the emergency room with Doctor Fuller. They haven’t told us anything yet” Zoe said. Ted ran to the nurse’s station.
“Where’s my wife? Her name is Amy Ferguson” The admitting nurse typed swiftly.
“Mr. Ferguson, your wife is in premature labor. The doctor will be out momentarily to speak with you. Please have a seat and try to remain calm.” The nurse said politely.
“Are you kidding me?!” Ted screamed. “I want to see my wife now!”
Gabriel placed his hand on Ted’s shoulder.
“Ted, have seat. I will find out what’s going on ok?” Gabriel whispered.
Ted nodded and sat down.
Gabriel closed his eyes and let his mind roam over the nurse. Amy was suffering from Polyhydramnios. That meant that Amy had produced too much amniotic fluid in the womb and it was causing problems for the baby. They were going to do an emergency c-section. Gabriel didn’t know how he would break the news to Ted. This was serious.

[francis]

Oh the poor parents! I hope they will be okay.

[jen]

OK. Gabe was able to discern what the problem was, and I think he is wise enough not to lay that on his friend all in one dose. Break it to him in stages and maybe a mental suggestion for strength and calmness right now would be a good thing.

Hard choices...I'm getting a bad feeling about this.

Great start, Ella!

Thank you!

Jenna

[Ella713]

Ted looked at Gabriel anxiously.
“What’s going on Gabriel? Tell me!” Ted pleaded.
“She’s early so they’re going to perform an emergency c-section” Gabriel said cautiously.
“There’s something else….God Gabriel, tell me!” Ted cried out. Gabriel walked over to him and laid his hand gently on his shoulder.
“Ted, Amy is suffering from Polyhydramnios. Her body produced too much amniotic fluid for the baby to handle.” Gabriel explained. Ted crumbled into a chair and cried. Zoe ran over and held him tightly.
“Don’t do this Ted! Amy needs you right now!” She said sternly. But all Ted could think of was that karma was finally coming back at him. And it planned to take away everything and everyone he held dear.
“It’s all my fault” He cried.

Amy slowly opened her eyes and saw Ted sleeping in a chair next to her bed.
“Ted” she said hoarsely. Ted’s eyes immediately were open and he was at her side.
“Oh honey!” he cried. “I thought I was losing you” He said as he stroked her cheek. Amy looked around.
“Where is my baby?” she asked remembering that she went into premature labor. Ted didn’t speak right away. He couldn’t bring himself to say the words that would destroy his wife completely. Amy looked at him and saw the look of pain in his eyes.
“No, no, no….” She cried
“She slipped into a coma…..they…f..fear that because she’s so young, she may have brain damage if she pulls through” Ted said through tears.

Zoe looked at the tiny baby hooked up to all the machines needed to keep her alive.
“This isn’t fair Gabe” she said sadly, pressing her face against the glass.
“I know it’s not.”
“There’s go to be something we can do”
“Honey, there’s nothing that can be done” Gabriel said holding her in his arms. Zoe went rigid in his arms.
“You or Brian can give her some blood! Right? Vampire blood has all kinds of healing properties….we could save her” Zoe said.
“Zoe……we don’t know that for sure. It may very well kill her” Gabriel said. “We don’t know what vampire blood could do to an infant. What if it turns her? We can’t take that chance Zoe”
“Gabe we can try!” she cried staring at the helpless infant behind the glass

Dr. Fuller walked into Amy’s room.
“Dr. how could this happen?” Amy wailed.
“Mrs. Ferguson, what happened to you happens to maybe less than 1% of the female population. It’s rare.” He began to say. “You’re alive and chances are very good that your baby will live, but there are some things I need to discuss with you and your husband” he said seriously. “Infants that slip into comas suffer from mild to moderate retardation, down syndrome or in rarer instances Cretinism” He said looking at his chart. “I’m very sorry. I wish I had better news”

Zoe drove to Julian’s to speak with him.
“Zoe, what’s wrong?” Julian asked noticing her tear stained face.
“Julian it’s Amy, she went into premature labor. Her baby is in a coma” Zoe said. Julian shook his head slowly. No matter how long her lived he would never understand the hand of God.
“Julian, I want to give the baby vampire blood. Is that possible? I mean has anyone ever done it?” she asked anxiously.
“No one really knows the full effects of vampire blood, but it has shown to be a powerful healing agent in humans. Zoe know that healing by vampire blood is frowned upon by the Ancients. A healing of that sort raises questions that cannot be answered.” He said
“Julian, I know. But it can heal?”
“Yes, but you are speaking of a newborn. A premature newborn.” Julian said. “That will complicate things”
Zoe threw herself down on Julian’s sofa. There had to be a way.


Ted drove back to an empty house and an empty bed. He cried as he went into the baby’s room. He lightly touched the crib that he had spent hours putting together. The stuffed animals all dye free that he and Amy had picked out. He barely noticed the soft knocking at his door. He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and opened the door.
“Ted we have to talk” Zoe said walking in and shutting the door behind her.
“I have an idea that….well, I don’t know what you’re going to think but….I think I know a way to save the baby” She said.
“Zoe, what are you talking about? The doctor said that even if she came out of the coma the chances are high that she would be retarded”
“What if we could stop that?” Zoe asked.
“Stop it……No Zoe! I know what you’re getting at and you are not going to turn my child into a vampire!” Ted screamed.
“Ted calm down. I’m not talking about turning an baby! That’s crazy! What I’m talking about is vampire blood. Look Ted, what I’m going to tell you, no other human on the face of Earth knows. Okay?” Zoe asked. Ted nodded.
“Okay” he said.
“Vampire blood can heal humans. I don’t know why, Julian doesn’t know why, but it does. Heals them completely” Ted looked at Zoe in surprise.
“That’s not possible” He finally said. Zoe opened the file that she was holding in her hand.
“These are medical files from the Specialist. He was a vampire doctor. These are all the tests he had run on vampire blood.”
Ted opened and file and saw detailed documented proof of the healing properties of vampire blood. He read how one man recovered his sight after being treated with vampire blood.
“Zoe this can’t be true. Because if it were someone would know by now.”
“Julian thinks that the Specialist never told his patients what he was treating them with.” Zoe explained. Ted continued to look through the files.
“I don’t see any records of testing on babies.” He said turning the pages over.
“There haven’t been any Ted. It’s never been tried” Zoe said quietly. Ted closed the file.
“So you want to try this with my child! A human guinea pig! No way Zoe! No way in hell! Get out Zoe! Just leave!” Ted screamed walking to the door and holding it open for her.
“Ted just think about it” Zoe said.

[Ella713]

Amy shuffled down to the nursery ward dragging her IV along side of her.
She let the tear spill freely as she looked at her beautiful daughter hooked up to machines and tubes. She looked so tiny she thought to herself. So tiny and helpless. Why wasn’t anyone doing anything? It was as if everyone was just waiting for her to die.

Ted checked his wife’s room but she was gone. He knew where she was. He ducked his head out the door and saw her standing outside of the nursery ICU ward. He walked up behind her.
“She’s going to be alright honey. I don’t know how I know it, but I do.” He said hugging her from behind, and gently pulling her away from the window. Once he got her settled back into bed, he held her hand.
“Zoe came by to see me” Ted said. Amy said nothing. She just stared into space.
“She said that she knew a way to save the baby.”
Amy turned to face him suddenly.
“Do it” she said firmly.
Ted looked down at her in surprise.
“Amy, Zoe doesn’t even know if it will work. She wants to give our baby vampire blood. She says vampire blood contains some sort of healing agents for humans, but it’s never been tested on a baby before. She doesn’t know what the outcome will be” he explained in a rush.
“I don’t care! Do it!” Amy said again with more force.
“Honey…..look I know you and Zoe are best friends, but I think I have a say in this.”
“Listen to me Ted. If there is even one far fetched chance to save our child, I’m willing to risk it. Why aren’t you?” she said defiantly. Ted closed his eyes and shook his head slowly, but nonetheless he pulled out his cell phone and phoned Zoe.

Zoe and Julian explained to Brian, Josef and Isabelle what needed to be done. After weighing all the pros and cons, it was decided that Brian would give the little baby a small diluted amount of his blood which held the most healing properties. When Brian left they all hoped they had made the right decision.

Brian willed himself to the hospital and in the shadows he crept. He materialized into the ICU. He looked down at the little girl. He could sense that her brain was in immediate danger. He also sensed that she would not live beyond tomorrow. He injected the blood into the IV. He sensed that someone was coming so he quickly vanished but watched from above hovering like a shadow. The nurse was checking the machines and writing information down and all of sudden she heard a baby cry. She put her clipboard down and ran over to the crying infant.
“Oh my god!” she gasp with a huge smile. “You certainly are a fighter aren’t you?” she said. The nurse quickly called Dr. Fuller.

Dr. Fuller watched Amy holding her baby girl.
“You know, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed it” he said scratching his head.
“I know!” Amy said looking down at her daughter and kissing her head. “She’s a real miracle”
“Milagra” Ted said sitting at the foot of the bed watching Amy as she started to nurse their daughter. “That’s her name. Milagra. It’s Spanish for miracle”
“Milagra” Amy said rolling it on her tongue. “I like it” She said finally. Ted came forward and placed light kisses on both his wife and his daughter.

“Can we come in?” They heard a timid voice say at the door. Zoe was peeking her head around.

“Zoe, come on in. Meet Milagra” Amy whispered. “Milla, meet your aunt Zoe”
Zoe walked over to the bed and looked at the beautiful little girl with pale blonde hair.
“Oh Amy she is so beautiful.” Zoe said and began to cry. Ted looked over at Zoe. He didn’t have to say anything, but Zoe knew he was saying he was sorry. She reached over and patted his hand.





The End

[francis]

Oh I'm so happy that it worked. Do you think she will have special powers because of this? Who donated the blood?

[jen]

Wonderful outcome!

It could so easily have gone the other way.

There wasn't any reference to the healing properties of vampire blood in the Moonlight episodes we saw, but I saw the DVD of the TB premiere it was mentioned there.

Francis brought up an interesting question--who donated the blood? I am leaning toward Brian and that brings in the whole Davros angle, but it could be someone different. I'm suspecting that the baby will have some other abilities. This may be adding two and two together and coming up with sixteen, but I'm guessing that because the baby has a functioning (albeit compromised) immune system, the vampire blood would eventually be processed and eliminated. When a sufficient portion of the blood is removed so that the immune system 'crashes' just before death, the properties in the vampire blood rewrite the DNA resulting in a redesigned human being.

A baby, expecially one that is so premature, is still in a state of organ systems being formed. Could the vampire blood have a greater effect than simple healing in this case? There could be other definitions to hybrid than a Prius!

Time will tell...

Thank you!

Jenna