Family - Part 3

[queenwillie]

Title : Family

Author: QueenWillie

Pairings : Connor/Wilhelmina, Wilhelmina/Daniel

Rating : R to be safe

Disclaimer : Don’t own ‘em, never will

Summary: This is a take off from my previous drabble also named family. It is also in response to the meade_slater prompt list re - the baby being born (named Christian Slater Meade lol) and Daniel wanting to be involved.

Part 3 of 4



Chapter 11

‘What?!…I mean how?..WHAT!?’ Spluttered Daniel.

Willie sank down into the chair behind her.

‘There’s gotta be a mistake.’ Connor exclaimed.

‘There’s no mistake Mr Owens, the test is conclusive.’

‘WELL RUN THE GODDAMN TEST AGAIN!’ He bellowed.

‘Sir, every precaution is taken with these tests to ensure their accuracy. They are run at least three times to ensure we have a viable match. Mr Meade is the child’s biological father.’

Connor looked from the doctor to Willie who was still slumped in the chair, to Daniel who was on the other side of the room with his hands against the wall and then stormed from the room.

‘How?’ Spoke Daniel in a low voice as he turned around to face the doctor.

The doctor held a hand up and motioned between Daniel and Willie. ‘Well…you two…’

‘Christian was conceived through IVF using a surrogate mother, before you even suggest that.’ Said Willie.

‘Well Mr Meade, did you ever donate sperm?’

Wilhelmina looked at him, heart beating fast, scared of his answer.

Daniel exhaled loudly, ‘Once…but it was years ago.’

‘Oh my God.’ Said Willie quietly and put her head in her hands.

‘Well there you have it. The wrong specimen was obviously used in the fertilisation process. This has never happened before. I’m uh not sure what the protocol is here. I’d better get in touch with the legal department.’

‘No!’ Willie’s head shot up, ‘I mean…no, there’s no need. We’re not going to sue you.’

‘We’re not?!’ Asked Daniel incredulously.

‘No we’re not, I don’t care how he got here, our main focus needs to be helping him get better.  He’s what’s important, a law suit isn’t going to change anything or help him.’

Daniel nodded, ‘You’re right. My God…’ He sat down in the chair next to Willie. ‘…I have a son.’ He turned to look at her. ‘With you.’

Willie just stared ahead, unsure of what to say. Daniel was Christian’s father, how the hell could things have gotten so mixed up. She was going to kill that intern if she ever saw him again. Obviously the moron didn’t have the balls to harvest sperm from a dead man so substituted his sample, she bet the boy couldn’t believe his luck when he saw another Meade listed in the bank.

That was the reason she didn’t want to have a legal battle with the hospital, then it would all come out that Bradford never willingly donated sperm and she knew Clare would have her thrown into jail without a moments hesitation. She couldn’t let that happen, she couldn’t be away from her son.

‘I need to speak to Connor.’

-xxx-

Connor stormed into the baby’s room and stood staring at the small boy in the cot. This wasn’t how it was meant to be. Christian was supposed to be his son, part of his new family. He jumped when he felt a hand on his arm. It was Betty, she and Marc were both looking at him with concern.

‘Connor…is everything ok? What did the doctor say?’

‘Wilhelmina isn’t a strong enough match for Christian.’

‘Oh God I’m sorry.’

Connors eyes went to the door as he saw Willie and Daniel coming towards it.

‘It’s ok…his fathers a match.’ He was staring at Daniel.

‘His…’ Betty’s eyes followed Connors and landed on Daniel. ‘…father?’

Connor pushed past them at the door and marched down the corridor, Willie called after him and followed him.

Daniel came further into the room and stood by Christians cot.

‘What was Connor talking about Daniel?’ Asked Betty, her voice full of trepidation.

He looked away from the small sleeping form and looked to Marc and Betty, smiling wide and unshed tears shining in his eyes.

‘He’s my son.’

Chapter 12

Wilhelmina eventually caught up to Connor in the parking lot. She grabbed his arm and spun him around.

‘Connor, talk to me!’

‘What’s there to talk about Willie, He’s Christians father! He’s going to be there, making decisions, pushing me out.’

‘Your doing a pretty good job of that yourself Connor, Daniel doesn’t need to push you out.’

‘Excuse me?!’ Connor narrowed his eyes.

‘Since Molly died and Daniel has been at the apartment you have been like a dog marking your territory. All these ridiculous accusations about Daniel, they’re what’s pushing me away…not him.’

‘But now you have a child together.’ he said, his voice softening.

‘And? He may be Christians biological father but that’s it Connor, he’s nothing to me but a test tube.’

‘But…’

‘But nothing Connor, I don’t have the time or the energy for this. Christian is my priority right now. I can’t keep reassuring you that you are the one I want to raise him with.’

Connor walked to her and enveloped her in his arms.

‘I’m sorry. I’m being selfish. Christian has to come first…I know that.’

She kissed him gently. ‘Thank you.’

‘Lets go back in and see how our boy’s doing.’

As Connor led her back across the parking lot, she let her mind wander. She knew she had just lied to Connor, Daniel wasn’t nothing to her. Even before she knew he was Christians father there had been something brewing. When the doctor had said Daniel was the father she had felt shocked, stunned…but she couldn’t deny that somewhere deep down she felt…happy.

Walking back into her sons room with Connor she took in the shocked expressions of the two assistants. Daniel had obviously told them. Betty looked as if she was trying to work out a particularly difficult maths equation in her head and Marc looked like he couldn’t wait to burst out of there and call everyone he knew.

Connor walked over to Daniel and cleared his throat. Daniel turned around and everyone in the room held their breath until Connor extended a hand to Daniel. Everyone exhaled with relief as Daniel shook the other mans hand.

The doctor appeared at the door, ‘We’re ready for Christian now.’

Marc and Betty exchanged glances and left the room. Connor walked up to the side of the cot and stroked the soft hair on the baby’s head. He turned to Willie and Daniel.

‘I’ll give you a minute.’

Daniel nodded in appreciation as Wilhelmina let out a shaky breath. As Connor left the room Daniel bent to give his son a kiss on the forehead. Wilhelmina looked up and blinked rapidly to try and stop her tears before copying Daniel and bending to kiss their child. As the nurses began to wheel Christian from the room Willie lost it and couldn’t keep the tears from falling as sobs wracked her body. Daniel quickly pulled her into a hug, shushing her as his own tears fell into her hair.

‘He’ll be fine, he’ll be fine, he’ll be fine.’ Daniel repeated over and over like a mantra.

Three people were watching the scene unfold from the window. Marc turned away, unable to handle raw emotion from his calm and collected boss. Betty looked wildly round her trying to stop herself from crying also. Connor looked at the way Willie was gripping Daniel to her…and knew she had lied.

Chapter 13

‘Could you direct me to the room of Christian Meade please.’

Wilhelmina who was in the corridor, spun round at the familiar voice saying her sons name.

‘Clare?’

Clare Meade turned around and took in the sight before her. Jeans, vest top, no make up, hair in a messy ponytail and red rimmed eyes. Wilhelmina looked broken, under normal circumstances she would have been jubilant at seeing the woman who destroyed her marriage in the mess she was, but as a mother herself she couldn’t bring herself to feel anything more than pity.

Clare walked slowly up to her. ‘How is my grandson?’

Willie looked at the floor. ‘You’ve heard.’

‘Daniel called me last night. You know Wilhelmina, this puts you in a very precarious position. You only had control at Meade because Bradford was believed to have fathered your child. If Daniel or Alexis contest it you could end up with nothing now, there may not even be a place for you at Mode.’ Although she was sorry for the woman’s plight, she couldn’t help feel a little smug as she spoke.

‘Fuck Mode.’

Clare choked. ‘Excuse me?!’

‘You get the contracts drawn together and I’ll sign everything back over to Daniel and Alexis right now. We are talking about my son, my name on the masthead doesn’t mean shit Clare. All I want is to take him home, but I don’t know when or if I ever will. We still don’t know if the treatment worked and if it didn’t….’

Willie looked away from Clare and her voice began to crack. ‘Daniels bone marrow is the best chance he has.’

Clare felt a wave of guilt come crashing around her. In all the time she had known this woman all she had cared about was getting her claws into Mode and here she was willing to give it all up for her son. She watched the woman in front of her fighting an internal battle, not wanting to show weakness in front of her, when she saw Wilhelmina’s lip tremble she moved forward and hugged the woman she had hated for years.

‘Let it out.’

From further up the corridor, Daniel watched them and smiled.

-xxx-

Daniel was sitting by his sons cot watching him closely, it could be his wishful thinking but he was sure there was more colour in Christians cheeks. He turned around as he heard the door open and saw Wilhelmina lead his mother into the room. Clare quickly put down her purse and moved to her grandsons side, picking up one of his tiny hands in her own.

‘He looks so fragile.’

‘He’s a fighter mom.’ He turned to look at Wilhelmina. ‘He takes after his mother.’

Clare laughed, ‘Well then, he should have no trouble should he?’

Just then the doctor came into the room. Daniel stood quickly.

‘I have Christians preliminary results, do you want me to wait for Mr Owens?’

‘No he’s at the office, just tell us.’

Daniel held his mothers hand, Wilhelmina’s hands were gripping the doctors arm so tight he could see the white of her knuckles.

‘Christians blood count has improved greatly. We’ll keep checking it over the next five days. If it keeps improving at this rate and there’s no sign of infection, you could be taking him home next week.’

Wilhelmina pulled the doctor to her and hugged him fiercely. ‘Thank you, oh my God, thank you.’

Clare squeezed her sons hand and kissed the top of his head smiling. Daniel released his mothers hand and pulled Willie away from the doctor into his own arms. Hugging her tightly. ‘I told you, didn’t I tell you?’

She moved her head away from him, the rest of her still caught in his embrace, he moved one hand to wipe the tears from her face.

‘Hey, no more tears. We’ve all shed enough tears for a lifetime.’

She nodded and Daniel smiled and pulled her back in for a hug. Clare remained next to her grandson, watching them with a bemused expression.

Chapter 14

‘Here we are!’ Connor opened the door to the apartment and Wilhelmina followed him in, clutching a giggling Christian in her arms. Daniel was last in carrying a vast assortment of balloons and stuffed animals.

It had been one week since the news at the hospital and Christian had been making huge improvements every day. His blood count was now that of a healthy 12 week old baby. He would need regular check ups as a precaution until he was 5 before they could officially say he was in remission but the doctors were optimistic.

Willie looked around her smiling, she had not been in this apartment in the 7 weeks Christian had been in hospital. She hadn’t been home, hadn’t been to Mode and hadn’t had to face the reality of her new situation with Daniel.

Connor walked to Willie and took Christian from her, he held the infant above his head and kissed his belly, making the child laugh.

‘Ok, I am going to give this young man his feed. He needs his strength for this afternoon, he has a very excitable grandmother coming over and from what she said on the phone I think she’s cleaned out FAO Schwartz. You two have some issues to discuss, so go discuss…no arguments.’ Connor smiled weakly and left the room.

Willie and Daniel stood looking at each other. ‘I guess we do need to talk.’ Said Willie.

Daniel nodded, ‘You want to go for a walk, get out the way of crazy grandma?’

‘Sure, just let me get showered and changed. I haven’t had couture on for weeks, I think my skin’s starting to react.’ She smiled.

30 minutes later she walked back into the kitchen to find Daniel leaning over her kitchen counter, staring at a picture of her and Christian when he was about a month old. She hadn’t even been aware Connor was taking the picture, too transfixed by the tiny bundle in her arms.

‘Should we go?’

He looked at her, she was wearing a loose azure blue satin top with a fitted black skirt. He couldn’t help but notice the familiar glow had returned to her skin and the colour of her top made her eyes shine.

He nodded and ushered her to her door. As they opened it the found Clare with her hand raised to knock. Looking out into the hall they saw 4 deliverymen from New York’s biggest toy store, all laden down with boxes and bags.

Wilhelmina laughed and shouted over her shoulder, ‘Oh Connor, delivery!’ She and Daniel walked past Clare out of the apartment.

-xxx-

Their walk had led them both to familiar territory and they found themselves standing in the conference room at Mode. It was Saturday and the offices were deserted.

She sat down in the chair she always occupied at meetings and he perched on the desk next to her. He had poured 2 glasses of scotch and handed one to her, he held his in the air. ‘To our son.’

She raised her glass slightly and downed the bitter amber liquid as he did the same.

‘How are we going to work this?’

‘I honestly don’t know.’ She replied.

‘I suppose the traditional thing is he stays with you during the week and I get him at weekends’

‘Oh great so I get to see him for 2 hours every night when I get in from work and you get him the entire weekend. Try again.’

‘Weeks about?’

‘Neither of us could handle a full seven days without him Daniel.’

‘Okay…leave things as they are.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘I’ll stay at yours during the week so we get equal time with him and we can have alternate weekends.’

She raised an eyebrow at him, ‘Holidays?’

‘Spend them together.’

‘Fine.’

‘Wow, that was easy.’

‘Yes this part was, telling Connor you’re going to be living with us 5 days a week won’t be.’

‘Well it’s only until he’s a little older and we can sort out something more long term. I just don’t want him out of my sight right now. He’s only 5 blocks away and I miss him.’

‘I know.’

‘So…how are things with Connor?’

‘You’ve been around us, how do you think?’

‘Not great huh?’

She sighed. ‘When he asked me to marry him he told me he wanted to be a father to Christian. He feels like you’re taking his place.’

‘Well I am Christians father.’

‘You jerked off into a plastic cup to earn pocket change to go out whoring, that doesn’t make you a father Daniel.’ She snapped.

‘No, being there for him every day, loving him and oh saving his life does Wilhelmina! What is it about being inside these walls that turns you into…this.’

She stood up, ‘I guess old habits die hard. I’m sorry, I just didn’t think this was the way things were going to go. I wanted this baby for the most selfish if reasons, to get what I wanted, but now that I have him, I don’t care that I’m going to lose it all, he’s more important.’

Daniel screwed his face in confusion. ‘What are you talking about?’

She gestured around her, ‘This, Mode…Meade, I’m only back here because Christian was thought to be your fathers child. I have no claim on anything here, it’s all yours Daniel.’

Daniel bowed his head, ‘I spoke to Alexis.’

Now it was her turn to be confused, ‘So?’

‘She’s happy in France, she has a relationship with DJ. She has no interest in the business. She’s not going to contest anything…and neither am I.’

‘What?’ She whispered.

He stood up and took her hands. ‘This was my fathers legacy for his children. Now it’s our legacy for Christian.’

She shook her head, ‘But after…’

‘It doesn’t matter. It’s in the past, all that matters now is our son.’

She shook her head and smiled, she sat on the edge of the table. ‘Our son…I still can’t believe Daniel Meade is the father of my child.’

He sat next to her, ‘Hey it’s not what I imagined either, I thought if I ever had a baby it would be with…’ He trailed off and looked down.

‘Molly.’ She finished for him.

‘Yeah, you know, it’s only been three months, but I feel like I’m forgetting her. I haven’t thought about her in weeks.’

‘Well its been a crazy 3 months Daniel.’ She rested her hand on his.

Daniel looked at her. ‘You know…at the hospital, Connor said it wasn’t just his role in Christians life I was replacing.’ He said softly.

‘I know, he said the same to me…a lot. I told him it’s insane.’

‘That’s what I told him.’ He moved his head forward slightly, ‘but I’m starting to wonder.’

He moved closer to her, he heard her hold her breath. He stopped just millimetres from her lips and looked into her eyes before closing the distance and pressing his lips to hers gently.

A crash from outside the office caused them to jump apart. Looking out into the hallway they saw a cleaner going past. Wilhelmina stood from the table, refusing to look at him.

‘We should go.’

Chapter 15

‘No, no way, absolutely not!’  Connor was moving around the kitchen sorting bottles for the baby.

Wilhelmina was leaning against her kitchen counter with her hands over her eyes. She groaned. ‘Connor, it’s not like he’s going to be living with us permanently, it’s just weekdays and only until we figure something more suitable out.’

‘I’ve got something more suitable, he stays the hell away!’

‘He’s Christians father, he has every right…’

‘Yes fine, he has every right to see his son, but he does not have the right to stay in my home playing happy families with my fiancée!’

‘Number 1 Connor. This is my home. I don’t remember asking you to move in, you think putting a diamond ring on my finger is an invitation to run my life? Well its not. Number 2. Daniel and I are not playing happy families, we are trying to make the best of our situation for Christian.’

Connor had stopped moving around the kitchen. ‘You’re right, you didn’t ask me to move in…but you did ask him didn’t you?’

‘He suggested it Connor.’

‘But you didn’t say no did you.’

‘I did what I think is best for Christian, I thought we agreed he was our priority.’

‘Yes Wil, our priority.’

‘Urgh! How many times do we need to go through this? He is Christians father, I can’t change that!’

Connor put the bottle down on the counter. ‘I don’t think you would, even if you could.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘I can’t keep doing this, think whatever the hell you want.’

He started to walk from the kitchen. ‘I see your not even bothering to deny it.’ He opened the door.

‘Where are you going?’

‘Out, I’m staying at my place tonight. Like you said…I don’t live here.’ He slammed the door and was gone.

She threw a glass against the wall in frustration and grimaced when it smashed. She walked over and began cleaning it up.

‘You okay?’

His voice startled her and she slipped, cutting her finger with a shard of glass.

‘Ouch! Damn it!’

Daniel leaned over her sink and ran the cold water. ‘Here.’

He took her hand and held it under the stream. Leaving her there he finished clearing up the glass and looked in her cupboards for a band-aid.

Drying her hand, he moved to put the dressing on it. She snatched her hand away.

‘It’s fine.’

‘Let me see.’

‘It’s fine!’

He grabbed her hand and examined the small cut. ‘I guess you’ll live.’

He remained standing there with her hand in his and looked into her eyes. Their earlier kiss on both their minds as he slowly moved his hand up to the back of her neck. A shrill cry suddenly pierced the silence in the room. Wilhelmina took a step back, away from his touch.

‘Would you…uh…mind feeding him. I don’t feel too great, I’m gonna lie down.’

He sighed as she moved away. ‘Sure.’

20 minutes later he knocked on her bedroom door. He walked in holding Christian.

‘He won’t feed.’

She sat up in the bed, suddenly alarmed. She had changed into a vest and shorts for bed and began hunting around for a robe.

‘Okay, call the doctor, I’ll…’

‘No, no, he’s fine. He thinks it’s a game, he’s laughing look.’

She looked at her son and breathed a sigh of relief as she saw his chubby cheeks raised in a smile.

‘I didn’t mean to scare you.’

‘It’s ok, he so much as hiccups lately and I’m dialling 911. Give him here.’

Daniel handed the baby to Willie who lay Christian on a pile of pillows in the middle of the bed.

‘He used to like this when he was a newborn.’ She lay down next to him and propped the bottle up at his chin and with her free hand ran a finger down the outline of his nose.   Christian yawned and latched on to the bottle and began suckling contentedly.

‘Traitor.’ Said Daniel as he sat on the other side of the bed, their son in between them.

Wilhelmina moved the hand he was using to stroke her sons face to support her head and the baby cried softly at the loss of contact. Daniel shifted his weight until he was lying down and used his hand to mirror the movements Wilhelmina was making a moment ago.

As Daniel watched his son drift to sleep he felt his own eyelids grow heavy. Wilhelmina yawned as she moved to scoop her now sleeping child in her arms and settled him in his cot. When she turned around Daniel was sleeping. Having no desire to wake him, she lay on top of the covers and went to sleep.

At some point in the night their bodies had shifted and they were curled together in the bed. His arm was around her waist and her leg was hooked over his. The baby started softly crying in his crib. As both Daniel and Willie stirred he began to quieten.

Wilhelmina blinked to become accustomed to the darkness. When she could make out the face of Daniel lying next to her, she saw his eyes were open and looking right back at her.

Without speaking he inclined his head slightly, his bottom lip making the briefest contact with her top one. He let it linger there for a second before moving his head lower and deepening the kiss. Her hand went to the nape of his neck as the arm around her waist tightened and pulled her closer. She pulled away from him, breathless.

‘What are we doing?’ She whispered in the darkness.

‘Something stupid…do you want me to stop?’ His voice was husky.

She answered him by lowering her mouth to his again and he groaned as their kisses became more urgent. He rolled over until he was on top of her and pressed her into the mattress.

-xxx-

Across town, Connor was nursing a Scotch in his hand and sitting in the darkness of his living room. Why was he sabotaging this, he was the one pushing Willie away. Of course there could never be anything between her and Daniel.

-xxx-

Hands were sliding across skin as clothes were removed and discarded on the floor. Lips leaving wet trails on bodies as they explored every inch as they uncovered it. Legs and arms entwining on the bed as they tried to draw each other closer than was physically possible.

-xxx-

Connor downed the last of his Scotch and walked slowly to his kitchen. Sitting on the counter was a picture of him and Wilhelmina from their vacation in the Alps. They were looking at each other and smiling. They were happy, what had happened, how had he let this wedge grow between them? He picked up his phone and dialled her number.

-xxx-

Her back was arching off the bed to meet him as he moved slowly in her. His mouth capturing hers again as her legs lifted high on his back. Her hands clutched the back of his head, forcing his mouth down upon hers. He grabbed her hips as his pace quickened. Sweat slicked bodies sliding over each other. She began moaning loudly as she felt it building within her.

-xxx-

Connor dialled and hung up 3 times before finally letting it ring. He didn’t know what he was going to say. He just knew he couldn’t leave it like this. He needed to hear her voice. He sighed as he heard her voicemail pick up.

-xxx-

His head pulled away from hers and he lowered it to her neck and kissed and licked the spot he had discovered made her wild. She arched off the mattress and he felt her tighten around him as she cried out. Crushing his lips to hers once more as he shuddered in his own climax.

-xxx-

‘Willie…it’s me. Uh…I guess your still mad at me, I don’t blame you. I’ve been an ass, I shouldn’t have said the things I did. After…Molly, I guess…I guess I’m just scared of losing you. I’ll see you in the office tomorrow. I really want to work this out.’

-xxx-

Still breathing heavily, Daniel was still pinning her to the mattress under him. Her hand was cupping his cheek and he lowered his head and kissed her softly. Rolling over he pulled her with him. His arm returned to her waist and once more she hooked her leg over his.

Christian gurgled happily in his cot as his parents slept.