Generation 1.6: Three's a crowd...

Sera cherished every moment she had to spend with her precious little girl. Everything about Amanda made her smile - the baby powder smell, the soft pink swaddling, the gurgling and the coos that told her Amanda recognised her as the centre of her world.

She even slept in the rocking chair in Amanda's room, having a baby had her so tired and her eyes so sore, she felt like she was going cross-eyed.

However, as much as she would have loved to stay at home all the time, she needed to visit the Fire Station to work off those baby pounds, and to maintain the alarm and fire truck.

She hadn't realised Silas would be here, although she should have thought of it. It wasn't that she didn't want to see him, she did! But her feelings for him were becoming confusing, and for the sake of her marriage she had decided to avoid him.

"Sera, hi!" Silas hugged her. "Wow, you look great!"

Sera hugged him back, trying hard not to notice how nice he smelled, how good it felt to be in his arms.

"Thanks," she laughed. "I feel like the truck ran over me! I never realised how hard it was to have a newborn in the house!"

 

They sat down on the chairs in the study. Silas looked at her closely. 

"You seem...upset." He said finally.

Sera felt her eyebrows go up in surprise. "I am..." she said slowly. "But...I don't really want to talk about it. I'm figuring things out, and I just need space..."

Silas smiled at her. "Space is why you've been avoiding me, then?"

"I...yes, I suppose so. I'm trying to make things work, Silas. For Amanda. She deserves to have her dad."

"But is Andrew really a dad, Sera? Where is he now?"

"Home, with her. He knew I had to work."

"As long as you're okay and he's doing his thing."

"We are." Sera said firmly.

The next day, Sera mulled over Silas' words as she pounded the treadmill at work. Andrew had indicated to her that he wasn't happy she was going in to work, but she had to. How else was she going to keep fit and get everything done? Besides, she needed her space from him, too.

Meanwhile, at home, Andrew had had enough of listening to Amanda's shrieking. He still wasn't even sure that the brat was his, and he certainly hadn't wanted her. Frustrated with the world, he decided to leave and have things out with the one responsible.

Not only has he got Sera eating out of his hand, he's flirting with other girls too, Andrew thought scornfully when he got to the Fire Station. He couldn't see Sera around anywhere, she was probably on her way home or something. Not that he cared, he was here for one thing and one thing only.

"HEY!" He yelled. "Don't you get enough flirting with my slut of a wife without trying to add more to your harem?!"

"Sera is not a slut, Andrew," Silas hissed angrily. "Be careful who you say things like that around. After all, this is your wife's place of work. Do you really want her to have a hard time here because you're some insecure little mama's boy?"

"Pfft, everyone here knows it's true. That brat isn't even mine, anyone can tell. No one in my family has purple eyes!"

"Whatever Andrew. I'm not going into this with you," Silas growled. "Just leave me out of whatever 'manly' endeavour you're aiming for."

As soon as his back was turned, Andrew attacked.

Unfortunately, this being his work, Silas had no chance. He would have been fired if he dared throw a punch while on duty.

Satisfied, Andrew headed home.



Needless to say, he was not impressed to find Sera still not back. He would have to speak with her.

Sera was at the gym when she got a call from Silas. "Silas? What's up?" she asked.

"Can you come over?" Silas asked. "I need your help."

"Silas , what happened?! she exclaimed.

"Andrew," Silas said thickly. "I wouldn't have called, but I thought you ought to know and..." he grimaced. "And I couldn't bear the thought of you going back there without my telling you.

"Silas, I've been a fool!" Sera cried. "I can't keep letting him do this!"

Silas hugged her. "Don't worry, Sera,  you're strong. You can do this."

"I don't know if I can," she sobbed. "I don't want Amanda to get hurt but..."

Silas took a hold of her hands. "I'll be here for you, Sera. In whatever way you'll let me. But for now, you should go home and speak to him. You need to sort this out, one way or another. But I'll always be here."

Sera nodded shakily. "I know. Thank you, Silas."



As she headed home in the taxi, she thought seriously about what she was going to say. This had to be perfect. She had to make things absolutely clear.

"Finally back, I see," Andrew sneered when she walked in the door.

Be strong, Sera thought as he walked towards her. He can't hurt you. You're a fireman for heaven's sake. She tried hard not to remember Silas's bloodied face. "I have to do things for work, Andrew," she said evenly. "Speaking of which, I hear you were there earlier."

"You leave me here to look after your bastard brat while you fuck your lover!" Andrew screamed. "Damn straight I paid him a visit!" A vicious smile spread cross his face. "And very nice he looked with his nose spread over his cheekbones. I'll be revisiting that image a few times over the next few days."

"I can't believe I ever loved you," Sera said, sickened.

"You're evil!"

"I only give you what you deserve," Andrew spat venomously. "If you're going to spread your legs you frigid whore, you'll get what's coming to you. In a better society I'd be allowed to kill you."

As he stepped towards her, Sera instinctively moved away. He wouldn't, she thought, horrified.

As his hand came up, she pushed him away and ran for Amanda's room.

She spent the night sleeping in the rocking chair, too scared to go upstairs. She'd ask Silas to come over in the morning.

The next day, safe in the knowledge that Silas was hidden in Amanda's room if she needed him, Sera confronted Andrew again.

"Decided to apologise?" Andrew sneered. "I might forgive you, if you start being a real wife." He looked her up and down.

"It's over, Andrew," Sera snapped, disgusted. "I'm not letting you near me, or our baby. Despite what you believe, she is ours. I wouldn't cheat. But I won't have you around her. I've called the police. They know what's going on. And I've got back up. So get out, and there won't be any trouble."

"Fine, I'm leaving! I can find better than you anyway!"

Shakily, Sera watched as he left. Then she went into the bathroom and locked the door. She didn't come out until Silas had left for work.

That day she slept alone in her bed for the first time ever.

And that night, Amanda became a toddler.

Generation 1.5: And baby makes three...

WARNING: ANDREW USES SOME BAD LANGUAGE IN THIS CHAPTER, DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED.

Early the next morning, Andrew woke to find Sera still gone. He was not impressed, and decided not to  go into work that day.

Sera swallowed nervously when she saw Andrew sitting on the couch. Remember, this is for your little one, Sera. She reminded herself. She or he doesn't deserve to grow up without  father. Everyone deserves a father...

"Finally decided to grace me with your presence, I see," he sneered.

"Hello, darling," she said calmly. "Why aren't you at work?"

"Sera, I have been thinking all night about what I want to say to you," Andrew said viciously.

Be strong, you're a brave firefighter, you've saved hundreds of lives, you can get through this fight. Sera told herself sternly.

"You ask why I would be at work right now. Where I would have everyone asking about my pregnant whore of a wife?" He spat. "When all yesterday, INCLUDING LAST NIGHT you were elsewhere?!! We were robbed last night you stupid woman! I HAD TO HEAR FROM AN INCOMPETENT POLICEMAN THAT YOU SPENT THE NIGHT WITH SILAS GREEN OF ALL PEOPLE!!"

"Andrew, no, I didn't. I stayed at the firehouse. I went to see Silas, yes, but that's because he's my best friend, not my lover," Sera pleaded. "You're my husband, and we're having a baby."

Andrew screamed in rage. "How do I believe that?!"

"You stink of his house, dammit! You smell like him! You're nothing but a filthy whore!"

"Andrew..."

"I don't even know if this brat is mine! You certainly don't want to have Woohoo with me! For all I know you've been sleeping with the whole firehouse, as well as our neighbours!"

"Enough, I'm not listening to this," Sera said, storming into the lounge.

Andrew followed her. "I don't even want it! I'd rather you had an abortion!"

"Andrew you're stressing me out and it isn't good for our child!" Sera yelled. "I would never sleep with anyone else while I'm with you!"

"Prove it!" Andrew screamed.

"The only person I have Woohooed with this week is you! And you DRUGGED ME! But I'm willing to work past it because we're married and having a child! There's only one person I love in this world, and I would do ANYTHING to keep them happy and safe!"

Sera did her best to keep her hands from straying to her belly as she spoke. While everything she said was true, she was talking about her baby, not her husband. After drugging her, she knew she could never love him again. But at the very least, she needed to keep him happy.

Andrew's face softened. "Really?"

"Of course, Andrew. You know it," she pleaded. "Now can I go to the bathroom? Unfortunately, hormones..."

"Yeah, okay...I'm going to work."

Sera sighed in relief as she watched him leave the house.

And promptly took a nap. She'd been up all night.

Meanwhile, Andrew had not gone to work. Instead, he went down to the Firehouse. There he was. The no good scum who was making moves on his wife.

"SILAS!" He yelled.

"Andrew, hi," Silas said, surprised. "Congratulations on the baby."

"Don't you congratulate me, you stinking piece of scum! That's my wife you've been flirting with."

"I wouldn't flirt with your wife, you idiot," Silas snapped.

"Don't give me that," Andrew snarled. "She was with you last night when she should have been with me. She talks about you all the time. And now you work in the same place! I'm not an IDIOT, even though you two obviously think I am!"

"I'm not listening to this, you're crazy," Silas replied, turning away.

As soon as he turned his back, Andrew jumped.

And, because Silas wasn't about to beat up Sera's husband if he could possibly help it, Andrew won. Satisfied that he'd taken care of that problem, he went to work. If he was going to have a kid, he'd better make some money.

Later that day, refreshed from her nap, Sera headed to work to fix the alarm. The stupid thing broke constantly, and she was the only one qualified to fix it.

"Did you hear about the fight earlier?" She heard one of the trainees say in the kitchen. "Poor Silas...what did he do to Andrew Edgeworth anyway?"

"Andrew thinks Sera is cheating," another trainee replied. "Rubbish, Sera would never...but then, from what I understand, he wouldn't need much prompting. Pretty vicious piece of work."

Sera dropped the screwdriver and ran outside to catch a taxi.

"My Watcher, Silas, are you okay?!" Sera demanded when she got inside his house. "I heard about what happened earlier."

"Fine, Sera," Silas smiled. "It hurt, but he doesn't pack as much of a punch as he thinks. I just didn't want to hurt him. Hurting him would hurt you..."

"Do...you wanna go somewhere?" Sera asked shyly. "Just as friends, of course."

"I was thinking of going for a swim."

"Swimming is good for the baby," Sera said, smiling.

Going for a swim with Silas was some of the best fun she'd had in days. She felt like all her stress had been washed away in the pool water.

After the swim they got a coffee.

"I just don't know why you stay with him, Sera. You're better than he deserves."

"It's difficult to explain," Sera sighed. "We married because of a pregnancy scare, and I don't really believe in divorce. My parents were so happy...they completed each other."

"But are they really happy to see you with him?"

Sera looked away. "My parents are dead," she said softly. "I was a late baby, they were elders before my teens. Andrew is all I have."

"And now the baby," Silas reminded her.

"Yeah," Sera smiled. "My baby."

In the distance the full moon rose...

"What are you going to name your little one when he or she arrives?" Silas asked.

"I...don't know. But I should probably go...it's late and I'm tired."

"Of course. I'll see you later."

When she got home, Andrew was waiting in the hallway.

"Andrew, I'm pregnant and I'm tired," Sera said crossly. "Can this wait?"

"I never realised that pregnancy made women glow so much," Andrew replied. "You look beautiful."

Touched, Sera gave him a hug. "Thank you, Andrew."

"Could I feel your belly?" Andrew asked shyly.

"Of...of course," Sera said, surprised. "It's your baby, too."

She felt slightly uneasy when he rubbed her stomach, seeing the small bruises on his knuckles. She knew where he got those.

Do I really want him having access to my baby? She wondered. Stop it, Sera, you're just tired.

In the middle of the night Sera woke up to stabbing pains in the stomach. At first, she thought she was just hungry...

But when she got to the kitchen she realised it was more than that...and there was no time to go to the hospital.

Oh no, she thought, I'm going to give birth at home...

It took a long time, and she was tired before she was done. Andrew just stood and watched.

But when it was over, and Amanda was born, she realised it was all worth it. Her sweet little darling...this was the best day of her life.

She'd never loved anyone more than she loved this little girl. And while she was a bit concerned that Amanda had been born under the full moon, she couldn't see how it was really relevant.

---------------------------

Outtakes:

Silas is sexy and he knows it. Especially under the light of a full moon.

If I were Sera, and my husband was thinking about garden forks and shovels during a fight with me, I would be very scared...