Chapter Sixty Three - Heart's shudder
 
 

          **12:35 AM**

Victor froze as he heard Nikki’s words, he didn’t want to believe it. He swallowed hard and looked at her, his eyes filled with shock and hurt.
It was the look Nikki knew she would see, the look she dreaded and feared.

He struggled to find his voice and then whispered "I didn’t hear you right"
Nikki nodded, trying to control the tears "Yes, you did…I know you did"
Stunned, Victor looked at her and asked her, his voice raising with every word "What do you mean ‘I’m not sure the baby’s yours’ – who else’s?!"
Nikki opened her mouth, but the words didn’t seem to come out…
Victor’s eyes, searching her face, suddenly filled with the fury and pain that came with the realization "Don’t tell me you’re talking Brad Carlton"
Nikki took a deep breath, and willing herself to look at him, said, "He is the only other man, but you, that I’ve been… that I’ve slept with".
Her voice trembled, and she forced herself to keep it steady "I’ve missed a few pills…it was just when everything looked so terrible for Nicholas…"
She shook her head and said in a small voice "I don’t remember if I even had my last period, it might not have come and it just slipped my mind...I don’t know when I conceived so…" She wiped the tears away and said "I just don’t know…"
Victor stared at her, trying to make sense of what was happening, and said in a stunned voice "I can’t believe this. What about 20 minutes ago, inside the house when you asked me how I would feel about another baby, and I said I loved the idea…"
He looked at her, completely confused "You were thrilled, you… you acted as if anything is alright, you never once said the baby isn’t mine!"
Nikki, crying, defended her actions "The baby still might be yours! God, can’t you see why I didn’t tell you? I only just found out this morning I was pregnant, and ever since I realized I couldn’t be sure who the father is I was sick inside! It was killing me, and I didn’t want to tell you until I’d know for sure, I didn’t see the point of doing that to you"
Victor just stood there quietly, looking to the floor… distraught, not knowing to do say or think.

Nikki said, sniffing "I didn’t mean to mislead you, it just happened that way – you just assumed the baby was yours, I never said it…and I got carried away with the emotions of the moment"
Victor said bitterly "So it’s my own damn fault isn’t it? For not realizing you did not know if I’m the father?!"
Nikki shook her head and said "I never said that…" Her breathing ragged by tears she said "I’m just trying to explain this to you and it’s taking a lot out of me to do it. Please…it’s hard enough, don’t make it any harder on us than it has to be"

Victor moved away from her, and paced around the stable, his growing distress evident in his every move.
He stopped next to the exit door, and turned around to look at her and asked her, his voice more hurt than angry "How the hell could you have been so careless? You know practically nothing about him, I can’t believe you would even allow yourself, to take the risk of a pregnancy!"

Nikki glared at him "I can’t believe you’re asking me how  *I* have been so careless? Yes, I wasn’t as careful as I should have and Brad didn’t bother to make sure, but I don’t remember you going out of your way to make sure I was even on the pill before we hopped into the shower together, and we certainly didn’t use any other protection."
Victor snapped back "I’m not talking about you and me! And I’m deeply offended that you would even make the comparison between the special connection that we share, and your meaningless relationship with him! How could you go to bed with that man to begin with?!"
Nikki stared at him, shocked that he would even ask "We’ve been seeing each other for months, what did you think we did all that time, Victor? Held hands? I cannot believe the fact I’ve slept with Brad comes as a shock to you, nor it should. And don’t call any of my relationship meaningless, it’s demeaning. Do you think that all the other relationships in your life have been meaningless just because they weren’t with me? I bet not, I wouldn’t even expect you to say it"

Victor flinched, he regretted what he said, the image of her making love to Brad was driving him mad with jealousy, and the idea she was pregnant with his child…he didn’t want to even think of what that would mean.

Feeling angry was a lot easier to deal with than the confusions and the doubts. He took a deep breath and said, looking away from her, "I don’t want to talk about you and Brad"
Nikki said in quiet, pained voice "I know you don’t, you never could realize that I had needs that needed fulfillment too"
Victor glanced at her and then replied "I was married to you, I know that very well"
Nikki said quietly "I’m not just talking about physical needs, Victor. I’m talking about feeling loved"

She continued, trying to keep her voice steady "You don’t seem to understand is that the year you were married to Hope was the loneliest year in my life. The kids were a grown and didn’t need me as much. You were off *having a baby* with another woman and that hurt me more than you could ever imagine.  And I really couldn’t motivate myself to find something new to do, I was too busy feeling sorry for myself"
 She took a deep breath "And then Brad entered my life, and he was a nice, attractive, interesting man and I liked him!" She continued through her tears "So don’t blame me for sleeping with a man I thought I might have a future with! Because for the first time in a long time someone was giving me back a little of what I was giving him, and that’s something I just didn’t have with you at the time!"
She sighed and said through her tears "This is not the first time I’m telling you this, you know it all. You’re the love of my life, you always have been, from the moment we met. You know that, I know that, even Brad knew that…" She wiped her tears angrily away "But was I suppose to take an early retirement from life and love, just because you and I were divorced?"

Victor couldn’t bear to look at her, he stood there, his gaze fixed on the ground, knowing in his heart that is exactly what he hoped she would, and how incredibly selfish it was of him.
He said quietly, his voice filled with pain "I wish I could deny that, you’re right, I never wanted you to date anyone. I know it was selfish, I know I wasn’t thinking of what was best for you… "
He took a deep breath and tried to continue, but his voice was choked "The only thing I have in my defense is the feelings I had in my heart every time I’ve looked at you. I was afraid of that, afraid of you, from the moment we’ve met"
Nikki looked at him, she didn’t understand "Afraid of me?"
Victor finally raised his eyes to look at her, and she could see the tears in them "You took my heart from the moment we met, you didn’t even ask me if you could"
He smiled at her, a smile that was shadowed over by tears… "You just showed up in my life one day and stole it away, and then you never gave it back. You always kept a piece of it with you, no matter what I said or did, you never let it go…and you gave me yours, only I didn’t know what the hell to do with it"
Nikki, tears rolling on her cheeks, smiled tenderly to him ‘You didn’t do such a bad job, I let you keep it, didn’t I?"

Victor could bring himself to smile back at her. He was overwhelmed with the pain and realization he might facing the possibility of losing her again, losing the promise of a wonderful future together, that only hours ago looked so bright.
He touched her face, and just held her face in his hands for a moment, looking into her eyes…caressing her cheeks, moving his fingertips around the eyes, around the quivering lips.
And then he pulled back sharply, averting his eyes, can’t help thinking about the baby she was carrying, the plans they have made for their future, and how everything might be falling apart.

Just from seeing the look on his face, Nikki knew what he was thinking of.
The sweet moment was gone and all was left was reality, cold reality of confusion and uncertainties.
She looked at him, and said in a voice that was between whisper and a choked sob "I’m scared… I don’t know what’s gonna happen, I just know that don’t want to lose you"
Victor slowly returned his eyes back to her, there was a moment of hesitation, and then he pulled her into his arms into an embrace, enveloping her in his arms tightly and whispered to her "Nothing like that is gonna happen, alright? Come here…"
Nikki wrapped her arms around him, and burying her head on his shoulder she sobbed "I want this baby to be yours so much, it just can’t happen any other way, it can’t! I don’t…I don’t know what I would do if…" She started sobbing uncontrollably "I can’t do this, having to make this choice a second time…"
Holding her in his arms, Victor, too was thinking of the same thing.
The time, 4 years ago, when Nikki had to choose between a future with him and giving back to Jack’s baby.
She chose the second option and the events that followed - the premature labor that was partly his fault, the fight with Jack, the rift between them - shattered their lives for years – and he felt like he was on the verge of re-living that nightmare all over again.

He smoothed over her tousled hair and in an unsteady voice, trying to calm her down "Sweetheart, It’s pre-mature to talk about all this now, we don’t know anything yet…please don’t do this now, everything may turn out just the way we want it"
Nikki whispered "And it may not…"
Victor shook his head resolutely "Nikki, we are not going to do this, not you nor I, otherwise we’re gonna drive ourselves crazy"
Nikki looked at him uncertainly for a moment and then nodded, knowing he was right.
Victor paused for a moment and then asked her with curiosity "You said you just found out today"
Nikki nodded "Yea…"
Victor frowned "What did you do, take a home pregnancy test? Because you know, I heard they aren’t very reliable"
Nikki shook her head no and with a sigh sat back on the hash "No, I got a call from Doctor Noah’s office. He is back from his trip so he took over as my doctor, when I was injured in the car accident they ran some tests, blood tests, and that’s how he found out"
Victor asked her "Did you tell him that you…"
Nikki completed the sentence for him "Wasn’t sure who the father is? Yea…"
Victor sat down next to her and asked gently "And what did he say?"
Nikki said "That I should talk to doctor Lasky, my OBYN… he wasn’t on…" She suddenly paused and grimaced "Oh…"
Victor looked at Nikki with concern "Are you alright?" Nikki didn’t reply, her eyes were closed shut as she tries to get beyond her dizziness.
Victor touched her forehead with the back of his hand, and then with his lips.
She was warm, which stood in contrast with the coldness of the room. He said worriedly "You know, I think you have a fever, you’re warm"
Nikki removed his hand from her forehead and shivered "Warm? I feel so cold"

Victor looked outside the window. Thunder struck outside, and the wind began howling again, penetrating into the stables. He was beginning to feel the cold intensely himself, and the rain was falling hard on the roof.

He said to her "We’ve been here for too long, and you’ve been here even longer. You shouldn’t be out here in this weather, you’ve also fainted before… I think I should take you to the hospital"
Nikki protested "No, Victor. I’ll be fine as soon as I get home, I probably fainted because of my pregnancy, I know the signs, it happened to me in the past"
Victor shook his head and said firmly "You don’t know that, and even so it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get checked out…we shouldn’t have stayed here as long as we have"
Nikki looked at him and despite the fact her head was turning, she smiled a small smile "Thank you"
Victor asked "What for?"
Nikki touched his cheek with the tip of her finger "I know how must be feeling right now and I know you’re probably mad at me and you’re putting it aside right now for me"
Victor said quietly "I’m not mad at you"
Nikki said, "You did before"
Victor said pointedly "I was shocked and caught off guard and you know it"
Nikki sighed, "Okay, you’re not mad. You’re hurt and confused and disappointed in me for letting this happen, and you feel helpless, which I know you hate, and you have no idea what’s going to happen now, what will happen or what I would do if the baby isn’t yours. Does this describe you feelings better?"
Victor couldn’t deny that "Yes it does, and I have a lot of questions I want to ask you but now isn’t the time for that. It’s very late and it had been a very long day for both of us"
He looked at her and said emotionally "I worry about you, I have been worried all day long, and I can see just by looking at you that you’re not feeling well, you can’t deny that. Now tell me what you’re feeling?"
Nikki relented and admitted "Like I don’t have any energy left, and my head is killing me"
Victor got up, and said in a voice that told Nikki she has no point arguing with him "Come on, I’m taking you to the hospital"
Nikki sighed, "Okay…maybe… maybe it’s not such a bad idea"
Victor said "I’ll go get my car, we will pick yours up later"
Nikki asked him "Where did you park?"
Victor paused, his car was parked on the other side of the house. And he didn’t want Nikki to make all this way in the snow, and it would be next to impossible because her heel was broken.
He said, "It isn’t very far, I will get the car here though, because it began snowing again and you can’t walk outside with those shoes. Just wait here…"
Nikki said, "Let me just take off your coat so you could wear it"
Victor said in a definite tone "No you’re not, you’re not staying here wearing just your dress, you’ll freeze"
Nikki protested "But it’s raining outside"
Victor said "And I won’t melt, don’t argue with me now"
Nikki sighed, knowing she would lose the battle, and said, "Okay…"
Slowly she got up from the hay and went to him and said, "Just be careful, okay? It’s really pouring out there"
Victor looked at her somberly, slowly he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek, and then he got up and said "I won’t be long"
He opened the door of the stables, struggling as the wind was blowing against it.
He stepped outside, getting soaked in seconds, and closed the door behind him.

Nikki watched him go, fighting the rain… She went back to the haycock, and sat on what looked to her to be the warmest spot, and brought her knees to her chest. She closed her eyes, just wanting to let her eyes rest for a moment.
 
 

 **12:40 AM**

Jack looked at his watch and said, anxious to get away "Well, you kids party, I’m going down to find my wife, she must be wondering where I went"
Nicholas looked at Vicki and said, "Lets go down too, I want to find Sharon, I don’t like to just leave her like that, she doesn’t know anyone here…Plus, there is no point in staying here"
Catherine nodded "Yes, I need to head downstairs as well"
Victoria agreed "Yea, I suppose I should find Cole, I’m dying to tell him the news… and to Brad…Oh, I’d kill to see the look on his face when he hears about mom and dad!"
She looked at Jack "You think he is still around?"
Jack shook his head "I wouldn’t count on it, and you shouldn’t tell him anything, it’s your mother’s duty"
Victoria grinned slyly "It may be mom’s duty… but it would be my pleasure"
Jack said pointedly, thinking it would be best if Brad knew nothing at all "It isn’t nice to kick a man when he’s down, Victoria"
Victoria raised her eye brows "Not when that person is Bradley ‘can’t get a clue’ Carlton…I’ve put up with his arrogance regarding mom for months now, it’s time I’ll get to have some fun, too "
She sighed, but a devious smile spread on her face when she said  "Oh well, there is something to be said about delaying satisfactions, Brad can wait until tomorrow…"
She started going down the stairs, and looking back she asked cheerfully "Are you three coming?"
Nicholas, Jack and Catherine exchanged looks, and followed her.
 

Luan Abbott looked for her husband, she didn’t see him anywhere…
Sharon approached her "Are you looking for Jack?"
Luan nodded "Yes, he just disappeared on me, have you seen him?"
Sharon nodded "He was upstairs the last time I saw him… Oh!" She called as she looked over Luan’s shoulder "There he is"
Luan turned just as Jack approached her, she asked him with a smile "Where did you disappear to?"
Jack sighed as he kissed his wife "I’ll explain later…" And added when he noticed Luan’s curious expression "Hon, it’s a long story"
Ryan grinned as he looked at Victoria, who took an entire Champaign tray from a waiter and started passing it around "Just looking at your face tells me what’s going on here, as if I couldn’t guess for myself"
Victoria grinned "You know me too well… here, there’s your glass, drink with me"
Ryan shook his head no "I can’t, I have to drive home, and you know two glasses are my limit"
He smiled at her "I don’t have to ask what’s cheering you up, your folks are back together?"
Victoria said cheerfully as she took a sip from her glass "Isn’t it great?"
Ryan said "I know you’ve wanted it for a long time"
Sharon looked at her boyfriend, amazed "Nicholas, are you sure about this?"
Nicholas shrugged "I think, I guess so… they didn’t say it in so many words, but that’s the only thing that makes any sense"
Sharon said, impressed "Wow…that’s fantastic!"
Victoria sighed  "I wish they’d get back here! The curiosity is killing me!"
Nicholas asked her, frowning "Curiosity about what?"
Victoria said enthusiastically  "Everything! Don’t you want to know how long it has been going on? And why they didn’t tell us? I mean, if dad hasn’t pressed mom about the pregnancy, we never would have known… I have so many questions I want to ask them… There must be someone who has all the answers, aside from mom and dad…."
Nicholas suggested "Miguel?"
Victoria snorted "Someone that would actually tell us something! Miguel would never break mom confidence that way, trust me, I know what I’m talking about"
Nicholas thought about it for a moment "What makes you think they told anyone what was going on? They didn’t tell us"
Victoria replied, deep in thoughts "Dad probably didn’t, it’s not his style to talk about things like that, uncle Douglas isn’t in town, he is the only person Dad might tell him that"
A knowing smile spread on her lips as she added, "But there is no way mom would have kept something like that to herself, she didn’t tell us, she didn’t tell Catherine…she had to tell someone. Someone she trusts not to tell anyone, someone who knows her, knows Dad, …someone she’s close to…"

She suddenly got very quiet, and sent a sharp look toward Jack, as if she was noticing him for the first time. Her eyes narrowed and she smiled. A small, devious smile.
 "You’re being awfully quiet, Jack"
Jack shrugged "What am I suppose to say?"
Victoria replied "I don’t know, I’d think you have a lot to say about the possibility of mom and dad getting back together, plus… you don’t seem at all surprised"
Jack replied innocently "Victoria, you of all people should know how unpredictable your parents can be, After you’ve known them long enough, they stop shocking you"
Nicholas and Victoria exchanged looks, they didn’t buy it, they knew Jack for too long and now he was lying through his teeth, Victoria exclaimed accusingly, "You knew all along!"
Jack still tried to deny it "Victoria, I don’t know what you’re talking about"
Nicholas pressed "Come on, Jack! If you know something, tell us!"
Jack raised his hands, defensively "I didn’t know anything about your mother’s pregnancy, that was a total shock"
Victoria responded cleverly "I thought you said nothing that happens with my mother shocks you anymore, Jack"
He retorted dryly "Well, I thought she would have more sense than that, but I still knew nothing about it"
Victoria waved her hand impatiently "Okay, you didn’t know about the pregnancy, she wouldn’t have told anyone before she told dad anyway. But you knew they got back together, mom confided in you! Just tell me, I promise I won’t tell her it’s came from you!" She smiled to him her sweetest smile "Please?…Pretty please?"
Jack moved restlessly in his place, he hated being pressured like that, and he liked Victoria a lot, but he really did not want to get into it. "I will never deny that your mother does confide in me from time to time… We’ve been friends for a long time. Victoria, the word is *confide*…That’s means she told me a secret, and didn’t want me to tell it to anyone, look it up!"
Victoria rolled her eyes and Jack continued "If she wanted to tell you anything, she would have, she told me because she trusted me not to tell anyone, especially not you two"
Nicholas said, his tone victorious "Aha! So she *did* tell you something"
Jack groaned and asked them "Do you know what your mother would do to me if she finds out he am blabbing her secrets? She will be furious with me! I have no desire to get on her bad side"
Victoria glared at him, frustrated, the smile disappearing from her face "Do you rather get on my bad side?"
Jack was getting annoyed with her, she reminded him so much of Victor at that moment. He replied coldly, a little more coldly than he meant to "Pulling your father’s tactics on me won’t do you any good, Victoria, intimidation is the last thing that will get me to tell you anything. You should know me well enough to know that"
Seeing the expression on her face, he said in a softer voice "It’s nothing personal, sugar. I just want to honor your mother’s wishes. I think you should do the same. Don’t push your parents, this is exactly why they told you nothing to begin with, and I can’t say that I blame them much. Plus, I also work for your father, and I don’t wish to do anything to ruin my working relationship with him, our relationship is complicated enough as it is"
Victoria rolled her eyes "You’re relationship isn’t complicated, it’s just very bad"
Nicholas touched Victoria’s arm "Vic, drop it, he won’t budge"
Victoria sighed "Fine, Fine…I’m going to find out myself whether you help me or not and you know it. Now I’m going to find my husband, excuse me"
She walked off in a huff.
 

10 minutes later, Victor was struggling to park the car as near as possible to the stables, the road was filled with ice and he was worried the car may slide.
He looked around in the car and found his umbrella, it wouldn’t do him any good as he was dripping of water already.
He opened the doors of the car, and made it back to the stables in a quick dash.

Victor opened the door and stopped at the entrance when he spotted Nikki, asleep on the hay.
He approached her slowly,  and sat down to watch her for a moment.
Seeing her lying there, cuddled in his long coat, her hair falling on her face, he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and tell her that she has nothing to worry about.
He couldn’t.
There was a possibility that the baby is indeed Brad’s, and knowing Nikki the way he does he realized there is a very good chance that she may still decide to keep the pregnancy, he knew that the thought was torturing her as well.

Victor had a hard time even thinking about it, he wanted and loved Nikki with all his heart but he wasn’t sure he even wanted more children till Nikki told him she was pregnant.
He knew that no matter how hard he would try, he would feel differently about the pregnancy if the child weren’t his, he wasn’t sure he would be able to be a good step father.
And even if he could there was still Brad’s involvement to consider… he would never let Nikki go if he would ever find out she’s having his child, and there will be a link between them forever.

A thunder struck and Victor snapped out of his thoughts. He didn’t want to think about it anymore, as he told Nikki, it was pointless now. He brushed the thoughts away, and touched Nikki’s shoulder gently "Nikki?"
She barely even stirred, he moved the hair from her face and caressed her cheek and said quietly "Try to wake up, please?"
Nikki’s eyes fluttered open with a low moan, the brief sleep didn’t help her feeling at all, in fact she felt 10 times worse, like she was coming down with a nasty bout of flu.
She held on to his arm and made an effort to sit, but the wave of dizziness that hit her made her lie down again "God, everything is spinning… "
Victor said worriedly, "Okay, just try to sit down slowly…don’t stand yet"
He supported her to a sitting position and helped her lean on the wall of the stable.
Nikki looked at him regretfully "Oh, my god, you’re just soaking of water, you should have let me give you the coat back"
Victor shook his head "It’s not  a raincoat, would have been useless in that storm"
Nikki murmured, sending her hand to wipe the raindrops from his face "I’m sorry that you felt like  you had to follow me to this… freezing hell….I’m…" Her voice faltered and her eyes nearly closed again, she was exhausted and frozen.
Victor, not wanting her to fall asleep again, put his head on her forehead to feel if she was any warmer, she wasn’t.
He shook her awake softly asked her "Nikki, The car is right outside, where are your shoes?"
Nikki pointed out to the corner of the room, Victor went and got them for her and she put them on.
Victor asked her "How are you feeling?"
Nikki responded weakly "I’ve been better, maybe you were right and I am coming down with something – I still rather just go home"
Victor said "I know you rather go home, but I don’t think there anything wrong with a doctor seeing you"
Nikki sighed "Fine…we’ll go to the hospital, it’s on the way home anyway, but what about the children? We can’t just take off like that, maybe they are waiting for us"
Victor frowned "I can’t imagine they think we are still here, they probably went home"
Nikki looked at Victor fearfully "What are we going to say to them? They are going to have so many questions"
Victor sighed "I just hope they are waiting to hear from us before they…"
Nikki said sadly "Start celebrating – but they must have felt something was wrong"
Victor said, "I’m not sure, they will believe everything is the way they’ve always wanted it"
Nikki averted her eyes and a tear fell down on her cheek and she said slowly "I don’t know how I’m gonna do it, I can already see Victoria’s reaction, she’s gonna hate me…"
Victor said softly "Sweetheart, she’s not going to hate you"
Nikki gave him a look of skepticism, "They were there Victor. They heard me saying I was pregnant, and they saw your reaction. Victoria is never going to even think about the possibility the baby might not be yours. She’s getting all excited about it as we speak, I know I’m right about this Victor. And I’m going to have to burst that bubble…even if we find out eventually the baby is yours, we can’t just let them think that till we know for sure"
Victor sighed. He had no reassurance for her… he couldn’t imagine telling his children what was going on either, but he didn’t think they could hide the truth from them any longer.
So he just said "We have plenty of time to think of what we’re going to do, the children are probably home now, and by the time we get back from the hospital they will probably be asleep. Now lets go, I don’t want to waste any more time in here"

Nikki nodded tiredly, and moved toward the edge of the haycock she was sitting on.

Victor asked her softly "Do you feel well enough to make it to the car on your own?"
Nikki nodded uncertainly so he stood up and helped her get up from the hay "Yea, I think so…"
As they approached the door they could hear the wind howling outside, and the heavy rain that was banging hard on the roof above them.
She looked at Victor worriedly "How bad is it out there?"
Victor said shortly "Bad. I’ve parked the car as close as I could but it’s still a couple of feet away"
Nikki pulled the cap over her head and tied the laces under her chin to keep it in place.
Victor opened the door and both of them got wet immediately as showers of rain and ice welcomed them…
Together they hurried toward the car. It was covered with a thin layer of ice.
Victor had left the engine running, so as they got into the car, wet and shaking, a wave of warm air welcomed them.

 "Brrr…. Oh god, it’s so cold out there" Nikki said through clenched teeth as she finally managed to fight the wind long enough to close the door behind her.
Victor rubbed his hands together, trying to get warm, his clothes were so wet and cold he knew it was pretty hopeless.
He undid the buttons of his tux Jacket, and threw it to the back seat, and did the same with his shirt, his undershirt was relatively dry underneath. He pushed his seat backwards and removed his shoes and socks, his pants were soaked too but that could not be helped.
He lied it all in the back, hoping it would get at least half dry when they get to the hospital.
He looked at Nikki who turned the heater to the highest temperature possible and then snuggled to a little ball on the front seat, trying desperately to regain her body warmth.

He asked her, pulling her seat backwards as well "Are your clothes wet?"
Nikki, shivering, replied "Just my stockings"
Victor said "You should take them off, they will get dry faster that way, and in a few moments it will be warm enough here and you won’t need them"
Nikki nodded, she leaned her foot on the airway of the heater, and let the dress slide up her leg...and unsnapped the strap holding the stocking in place, and then did the same with the other one.
It was much more comfortable and warm, with her legs up on the heater airway, and she immediately felt better, although the dizziness and the headache were all still there.
Victor couldn’t help getting his breath caught in his throat as Nikki let the dress slide to her thighs as she warmed her feet up on the heater.
Even like that, sick, tired, wet, upset, her hair in a mess - she was still the most beautiful woman in the world.

Nikki caught his expression and turned her head to look at him, and their eyes met... Nikki smiled at him, a quiet, subdued kind of smile "Feeling any warmer?"
Victor gave her a little nod "I’m getting there. What about you, how are you feeling?"
Nikki said quietly "Better, warmer, at the very least"
Victor said "It’s going to be a long drive to the hospital in that weather, try to get some rest in the meantime"
Nikki just turned to the other side and cuddled on the chair... and stared out of the window into the storm.

 **1:31 AM**

 

Jack sighed "Great…"
He looked at Nicholas "Well, working with her is going to be a barrel of laughs in the next few days"
Luan told him empathetically "You did the right thing, it’s not your place to interfere"
Jack groaned "You’re telling me?"
He looked at Nicholas "You do understand why I can’t tell you kids anything?"
Nicholas nodded and said "Sure I do, Jack… mom would hang you from the balls down"
He snickered and added "But don’t expect Vicki to understand, you know her, when it come to mom and dad, it’s her way or the high way."
Jack rolled his eyes "I know your sister ever since she was a toddler, and she always had a one track mind regarding your parents. But I think you know very well why I don’t want to be in the middle of this"

"There you are!"
Nicholas and Jack turned, Cole was standing behind them, looking annoyed.
He asked Nicholas "Nick, where is your sister? I’m looking for you all for over an hour!"
Nicholas told him  "Cole, hey. She went to look for you just now"
Cole said, "And it’s about time… where were you?"
Nicholas replied "Upstairs… Hmmm, Cole, I think you better find her, she has exciting news she want to share with you" He grinned widely.
Cole blinked, were Vicki’s news what he thought it might be? Last time he saw Victor, he practically thought it was the end of the relationship between him and Nikki… and surely that won’t make Victoria excited. Or did they make up?
He asked Nicholas "What sort of news?"
Nicholas shook his head no "No way man, Vicki would kill me, she wants to tell you herself"
Cole was guarded, he didn’t want to make any slip in case Nicholas wasn’t talking about the same thing he was talking about "Does it has anything to do with your parents?"
Nicholas looked at him, surprised "How did you know that?"
Cole ignored the question "Just answer me, Nicholas"
Nicholas scratched his head "Yea, it does… I think. Well, Vicky thinks, and I think she’s right – that they are back together"
Cole let out a sigh of relief, the secret was finally out… but he had to be careful "How did you figure that out?  They were fighting through most of the party"
Nicholas tried to make Cole understand what he didn’t really understand himself "Uhmm, as it turns out…mom’s pregnant"
Cole stared at him, shocked "What?!" That was a new twist.
Nicholas told him, seeing the expression on his face "Yea…that was our reaction too… She was worried about how dad might react, that’s what got her to behave so strangely. But dad was really happy to hear about it, so I guess that tells you everything"
Cole shook his head and tried to make sense of the mess in his head "Woah, Woah…wait a second, Nicholas, Nicholas…. How do you know that? Did your parents tell you that?"
Nicholas struggled with the words "Well, not exactly… Mom was sort of told dad and we just… overheard"
Cole was getting even more confused "You mean they didn’t know you were there?"
Nicholas shook his head "No… they did know… they were just…too caught up in everything that happened to think much about it, I don’t explain it well… you should have been there to understand"
Cole was shocked. After all he heard about Victor and Nikki’s plans to tell Nicholas and Victoria that they are finally together, he didn’t expect this is how it would all happen.
He shook his head in disbelief "I don’t believe it"
Nicholas smiled "Join the club"
Cole looked around and asked "So, where are your parents?"
Nicholas jerked his thumb to point behind his shoulder – outside.
Cole asked, "What are they doing there? I went outside for two minutes to get some fresh air and it’s freezing"
Nicholas explained " Right after she told dad, mom just…split" He frowned "I really couldn’t figure out why though…she said she wanted fresh air, she didn’t feel well before, and she fainted… that’s when she told dad"
Sharon interfered "She didn’t exactly tell him willingly, Nicholas"
Nicholas said, "Well, I can’t imagine this is how she wanted to tell him…I mean, I never thought dad would want another baby. This was *not* a good time to tell him that, no wonder mom was stressed out. But surprise surprise, dad acted like it was the best news he ever heard"

Jack glanced at Sharon, hoping the girl won’t stir the pot.
Sharon decided not to interfere anymore. But deep down, she didn’t think Nikki looked stressed out like a woman who is pregnant from the man she loves, she has seen her behavior through the party, it had to be more serious than that. Something was eating her from the inside… it couldn’t have been so simple.

Cole asked Nicholas "So, what did your father tell you, after your mother left? I imagine Vicki had a dozen questions"
Nicholas said, a bit irritated "She still does, dad told us nothing! He took off after mom, and said he didn’t want to talk to us about it without her in on the discussion"
Cole rolled his eyes, he never met two people that can screw up their plans so royally than his parents in law. He groaned, and not really thinking about what he was saying, he blurted out "Oh man, this is not how they meant to tell you they are getting back together"
Nicholas blinked and looked at his brother in law "This is not how they meant to tell us? What do you mean by that?"
Cole realized his error the moment the words came out of his mouth "Nothing, nothing…"
Nicholas didn’t buy it "What do you mean nothing? You just said this isn’t how my parents wanted to tell us they are getting back together.  How would you know what my parents meant to do?"
Cole stared at him blankly, and then he caught Ryan’s expression as he was looking at something, or someone, behind his shoulder.

Cole turned around, and found himself looking straight at his wife.
Victoria was standing behind him, and she stared at him like it was the first time she ever saw him.
"Yes, Cole, I would like to know that too" She said, her voice filled with suspicion. "How did you know what my parents wanted to tell us?"
Cole gulped, he was busted, he couldn’t get out of it now "Victoria…please hear me out before you get all upset"
Victoria put a hand on her mouth, as she stared at her husband with blazing, hurt eyes "Oh my god, you knew all along didn’t you? You knew – and you never told"
Cole tried to keep his composure, he did nothing wrong, his all motivation was to protect his wife and he had to make Victoria see that.
"Victoria, try to understand, I was doing what I thought was right, I tried to protect you" He said to her, trying to maintain his cool, and not to be dragged into a fight.
Victoria looked at him, angry tears standing in her eyes "Tried to protect me? By lying to me for god only knows how long??!! Gee thanks Cole, really"

Cole looked at the crowd, hoping for some assistance, but Ryan looked mighty happy he wasn’t in his shoes, Jack felt badly for him, but realized that at least now he was off the hook, and Nicholas didn’t look too thrilled with him either.
Cole objected "I wasn’t lying to you, I never lied to you"
Victoria asked, livid "Well, lets see, are my parents back together?’
Cole nodded "I think so"
Victoria glared at him "And did you know about it before today?"
Cole paused and then sighed "Yes, I did"
Victoria pulled away from him, and trying to keep the tears from rising she asked him in pain "How could you do it? How could you keep something like that from me? We had how many talks about it? How many times did I tell you over and over through the years how much it would mean to me if my parents got back together? You find out about it happened before I do – and you don’t even tell me? What kind of a husband are you?!!"
Cole was getting upset "A husband who loves his wife! I didn’t tell you exactly because I knew how you feel about it, and I didn’t want you to get hurt in case it didn’t work out, and it’s something that your parents should have told you, not me!"
Victoria wiped a stubborn tear from her cheek and yelled "You know what Cole, you did a real lousy job, because now I am hurt, but not by my parents, by you!"
Cole tried to explain to her "I implored your parents to tell you the truth, I found out by accident, they didn’t tell me themselves. They wanted to wait till your brother was out of jail, so the entire family would be together once they told you. They wanted it to be a special moment for you all, I can’t blame them for wanting this for their family. They were going to tell you today, before we all went to the party, it didn’t happen because your mother never showed up"
Victoria and Nicholas looked and Nicholas mumbled "So that’s why they didn’t tell us"
Victoria’s expression softened for a second but then she glared at Cole again "That’s not an excuse, you should have still told me! I felt like I was going crazy these past few weeks, I could tell something was going on between them, and all of you told me I was losing it"
Cole said "I never ever told you that, you had these fights with Nicholas, not with me"
"But you knew the truth!! And you still didn’t say anything, you let me stand there and defend what I knew in my heart!"
Cole shook his head "I don’t understand you, I thought you would be delirious from joy, instead you’re picking up a fight with me"
Victoria said emotionally "I just found out my husband lied to me, that kinda put a damper on my joy, Cole"
Cole shook his head and than said "Nothing I’m going to say right now is going to pacify you"
Victoria looked away from him and sniffed "You’re right about that, but you could start by telling me a few things, for starters, when did you find out, how, and how long has it been going on between my parents"
Nicholas interfered "We know the truth now, so what’s the point of keeping it a secret?"
Cole sighed deeply "I really wish you would let your parents tell you all that, I made a promise to your mother I wouldn’t tell you anything, she wanted it to come from her"
Victoria groaned and than said "Oh great, another one who has made my mom a promise"
Cole looked at her confused "What do you mean, who else knew about it?"
Victoria pointed toward Jack who gave Cole a sympathetic glance.
Victoria told Cole in a sharp voice "You know what the difference is, Cole? Jack is my mother’s friend, and as much as I hate the fact he told me nothing, I can respect that, because he owes his loyalty to mom, not to me"
Jack managed to smile "Well, thanks Victoria, I’m glad you can see that"
Victoria ignored Jack, and continued, her tone raising with every word "You on the other hand, are *my* husband, and any loyalty whatsoever you may have toward my family - how ever honorable and commendable - should be secondary of your loyalty to me. Either you’re going to tell me, or you’re sleeping in an empty bad tonight, because I won’t be able to sleep in the same with someone who isn’t being a 100% truthful with me"
Cole paused, he really didn’t have the power to argue this anymore "Can we got home first, and talk about it there?"
Victoria brushed her hair back from her face tiredly and said "I wanted to wait for my parents"
Ryan looked at his watch "It’s 1:45, Vick, do you think they are even still here?"
Victoria said thoughtfully "Mom’s purse and coat are still here"
She glanced toward her brother "I didn’t think about it before, it’s awfully cold outside for her to go out without a coat"
Nicholas said "I think they already went home, Vicki, they probably think we are waiting for them there…plus" He rubbed his forehead "I had too much to drink and I feel queasy"
Victoria sighed and said "Fine, lets go home…no point of staying here if mom and dad aren’t"
Victoria glanced at her husband "Did you drink much?"
Cole shook his head no, and Victoria said, "You drive, then"
Sharon suddenly said "In which car? We rode with your father"
Nicholas went to the window and looked out, he caught site of his mother’s red new car in the emptying parking lot, but not his father’s Rolls"
"Mom car is here, but dad’s isn’t"
Victoria said, "Well, I guess we can go back in mom’s car…"