What Price Pleasure
Dropping the Bomb!

BY: Cassy

Disclaimer: What? You still don't know what's going on? *throws hands up in air in disgust*

Asher, meanwhile, satisfied that his friend meant Tamara no harm, went to find Gigs. He'd wanted to tell her about this in private, but she'd been out with the children. Now, he didn't want to leave Tamara unattended for too long.

He found his wife-to-be playing with their triplets in the nursery. "Amante, do you think you could leave Nathaniel to tend the children for a while? I need you to come with me," he spoke softly, holding out a hand to her. "We have a situation."

"I guess so," Gigs said, taking his hand and letting him help her up. She was puzzled that he seemed to be blocking her. she wondered what was bothering him. He led her back to the computer room. There she saw Tamara sitting and crying, with Jean-Claude kneeling and holding her hand. If it hadn't been for the sheer terror she was sensing from her third, it would have looked like the vampire was proposing to Tam.

"Please, Jean, if it turns out to be yours, don't ask me to get rid of it," Tam pleaded.

"If what's his?" Gigs demanded. "Tam, hon, what's wrong? Why didn't you call me through the marks? Are you all right?"

Tamara looked over at Gigs with a shaky smile. "I'm okay, I think...just scared and a bit upset," she answered. "It seems I'm pregnant...but we're not sure who's the father yet...only that he's a vampire."

Gigs' face registered shock. "But...I thought you said you couldn't *get* pregnant!" she nearly accused.

"Apparently I was wrong," was Tam's nervous response. This wasn't exactly the reaction she had thought Gigs would have to the news.

"I see," Gigs said quietly...too quietly. "These two are good at taking care of their own. I'm sure your child will want for nothing, regardless of who's the father. Congratulations." Then she turned to walk out of the room, shaking off Asher's hand and sparing him a cold glare.

"Gigs...," Tam called after her friend.

Gigs started to walk down the hall.

Tamara followed her. "Gigs, none of us planned this, I swear," she pled with her friend.

Gigs stopped without turning to face her. "I know...you stay. Stay and be comforted by the men. I just need some space right now."

In frustration, Tamara reached out, grabbing her third by the shoulder and forcing her to turn around. "Screw the men!" she nearly shouted, then recovered herself. "Okay...bad choice of phrase there. Dammit, gigs...you're my friend and my third...*talk* to me!"

Gigs pursed her lips.

Finally, she said, "This made me realize that I'm not as far past my jealousy issues as I thought. It really bothers me that Asher might father children on other women, all for the sake of his ardeur."

"Gigs, the only reason I didn't use protection was because I honestly didn't believe I *could* get pregnant," Tam protested. "I mean, twelve, nearly thirteen years with Derik, never using protection, and nothing ever came of it...."

Gigs held up a hand to stop her friend. "I know you weren't expecting something like this to happen, Tam. I just need some time alone to sort this out in my mind. I'm not sure how I feel about this." She turned and headed towards the nursery. Tamara didn't try to follow or stop her.

Softly, as she watched the were-tiger walk away, she said, "For what it's worth, I'm not sure how I feel about it either."