It was several hours later and the morning sun rising when Taylor finally stirred from the deep sleep she had been in, her immediate senses recognizing the fact she wasn't at her place and that, laying beside her and his hand still beneath hers and on her stomach, was Christian.

She felt herself smiling in response.

Christian awoke with the odd sensation of someone watching him.  Slowly he opened his eyes and looked at Taylor.

"How do you feel?" he asked groggily.

"Like I'm more of a morning person than you are." She teased, not fully awake yet but feeling better.

"What makes you say that?" Christian asked with a raised eye brow.

"My mouth." She replied humorously "Well that and my vocal chords."

"How's our daughter?"

Hearing the term 'our daughter' made Taylor pause for a heartbeat, just letting it settle over her, then she smiled softly "She's fine.  Can you feel her?"

She remembered him saying that last night and was still curious about it.  Would she, Taylor, be able to sense the two 'talking' somehow?

Christian closed his eyes for a moment concentrating on the baby.  "Yes, she's just waking up too."

"Our baby." Taylor whispered, looking down at their hands before looking back at him "And she's okay? Healthy...?"

She didn't know what she would do if the baby had been hurt from last night or from trying to help her.  She felt extremely humbled what with everything she had learned up to that point.

"Oh yeah, she's perfect." Christian assured her.

Taylor felt relieved on top of everything else.

"She's special isn't she?" She asked, speaking on more than just the Immortal blood the baby shared with Christian.  It only made sense that the baby girl was unique considering the trouble people had gone to conceive her.  Taylor just didn't know how, although she did know part of it was what she had experienced last night.

And that the surgery had been successful.  What were the odds of that?

"Yes she is." Christian agreed "But mostly to us.  The others who think her special only thing her body is special not her."

We'll take care of you, Taylor thought as she settled her head against Christian's arm again and admitting "I feel totally selfish in all of this in a way.  I had wished it had been me each time you and Gwen came in for the ultrasound and tests that... I'm not sure how to feel now."

"I wished it was you too." Christian admitted as well.

Taylor looked at him and added "And now it is...."

Christian smiled then.

"Yes it is." He agreed "Though this wasn't exactly how I pictured it happening.  And I never wanted you in danger."

Taylor lifted her other hand and stroked his cheek before kissing the tip of his nose and smiling gently "I know but I'm glad I'm here anyway."

She wouldn't want him to go through this alone.

"So am I." Christian admitted with a smile.

"What now?" She asked after a slight pause, wondering what they would have to do now to insure the baby's safety from those that had been after them last night.

And as if in answer, the front door opened as one of Sean's men arrived and they could both hear a set of low voices talking before moving to another part of the house.

"Make sure you are completely all right and then figure out where we want to go." Christian told her.  "The world is at your feet.  Start thinking about where you would like to go."

She knew that they would have to probably leave everything behind and she knew she would rather be with Christian than anything else, but she couldn't help wonder about her work in the medical field or Ross - or any of their other friends.  And then the more serious points about Ross popped up in her mind.

"What about Ross? He knows too much." She asked, knowing that the knowledge would put him in danger.

"I can take care of that," Christian assured her.  "If they corner him and talk to him, he won't remember a thing.  No matter who asks, but if he talks to us, it'll all be there."

"Will it be enough to protect him though?" She asked, wondering if just having been friends with her would put him in danger.

Unless..... unless something was set up to make it look like she had died? Even if the people that were after them knew differently, if - to them at least - Ross thought she was dead, they wouldn't bother him, would they?

"Well, it will keep him pretty safe." Christian admitted.

"Maybe..." Taylor started, only to tell him her idea and look at him for his reaction "Ross could still know, secretly, but for anyone looking at him, they would think that he thought I was dead so wouldn't bother with him... And I can continue my research wherever we end up and just send it to him to publish, under his name so he can help others...?"

They talked about the different options open to them before Christian nodded in agreement and held her close "We'll get with Sean and work it out.  But start thinking of where you'd like to go, okay? We might as well go somewhere we'll enjoy."

"Okay." Taylor agreed, not yet really ready to get out of bed or approach the others just yet.  She wanted to stay this way with Christian for as long as they could both get away with it.

The edge of Taylor's lips quirked as she reminded him "You owe me a cook out."

Just then someone knocked on the door "Tay?"

Ross.  He must be there to check on her.

"If I said I wasn't awake, would you go away?" She asked curiously.

"Ha ha," Ross retorted dryly "No, but I suspect you're feeling better. I just want to make sure as a doctor."

Taylor looked at Christian.  They would need Ross' help with Gwen.....

The plan they had discussed would be to use Gwen's body and make it look like they had died in a car wreck - at least it would appear that way to Ross and others that could possibly used against them if either Taylor of Christian continued their lives there.  But if the Organization believed that Ross and others thought them dead, there was a good to best chance that they would leave Ross and the others alone.

"You can come in," Christian told him "We're not doing anything unseemly."

Taylor couldn't help it and had to stifle a chuckle as Ross entered.  It was obvious her friend wanted to say something to that but that he also knew he'd probably get hit over the head by Taylor.  So he came around to the other side of the bed and sat on its side, thermometer in hand and motioning for her to open her mouth before he slipped it in.  Then, looking at his watch, he grasped her wrist and checked her pulse.

Satisfied with that, he pulled out the black band used to check someone's blood pressure and then put that around her upper arm before pumping the small rubber pump to tighten it about her.  Once he reached the setting it needed to be at, he started to release the air, again looking at his watch as he did so.

Taylor looked over at Christian and winked as Ross worked.

"In a hurry?" Christian asked Ross.

"Actually, yes." The doctor admitted "We were lucky and your friend had come and gotten me when my shift had ended, so I won't be missed during that time.  But if I'm not in for my next shift, eyebrows will raise."

"You might want to call and get someone to cover for you.  Tell them your plumbing is malfunctioning or something.  We need to talk and it can't wait until you get off."

"Then someone better go screw up my plumbing in case one of your friends checks."  Ross commented, having gotten the impression from talking to Sean that whoever was behind the would-be kidnapping would do just that.

"That shouldn't be all that hard," Christian told him.  "Get Sean up here."

"How about you yell for him since I'm checking -"

"Oh for goodness sake." Taylor cut Ross off before putting two fingers from her free hand to her lips and giving a high pitched whistle.

Seconds later and blinking in surprise, Sean stuck his head in "Uh, someone rang?"

"Yes," Christian told him "Did any dogs happen to come with you?"

He grinned at his friend "Could you get a plumber out to Dr. Ross' house, the toilet seems to be backing up.  It's a huge mess."

Taylor poked him in the side at his tease but Sean merely chuckled and nodded once, before asking "And how long is this problem supposed to last?"

"Oh a couple of hours," Christian told him  "It could very well be a sewage line problem."

Sean looked at Ross and then nodded before leaving.  He even had a guy that resembled the doctor that could be a stand in for.  That way if anyone did peek in on them, they'd see someone's head in there and would assume the doctor was home dealing with the problem.

Ross watched as the man left and then looked at DeWitt "So what is the situation we need to take care of?"

"Taylor's untimely demise." Christian told him.

Ross inhaled sharply and looked at the two, even as Taylor raised her hand to stop him from saying anything.

"Tact, Christian, please." She murmured to him before looking at Ross and explaining "If we can convince the people after us that you believe I'm dead, they'll leave you alone.  Which means staging it... with a believable corpse."

Oh she just knew he was going to have a hard time with this one.  She was but she was able to get past most of it because she felt the life inside of her and knew it was for the baby she was doing it for.

"We can have Gwen removed from the hospital.  I'll give orders for a cremation," Christian added.  "Then with some help from Sean we can stage a car accident with a fire."

"But, you aren't going to have Gwen really cremated are you?" Ross asked, seeing where this was going.  For those goons to believe both Taylor and the baby had perished, a body with the DNA proof that the child had been there - at least before the time of the body's death - would have to be produced.

He looked at Taylor for a long moment, knowing she had gone through the same thought, reaction and - finally - acceptance of what had to be done like he was at the moment.

"Then wouldn't it be more advantageous if I were at the hospital during my shift, so that I could help get the body out?" He asked.

Taylor looked at Christian.  Ross had a point.

Christian nodded "That is why we are only making you late.  You won't miss your shift."

Ross merely nodded.  It had to be done, there was no other way around it.

"When do we start?"

"We should start planning now," Christian told him "Everything must be choreographed so that it doesn't appear suspicious.  I don't think we'll have the body picked up until after you've been on call awhile.  Does the doctor on duty tend to be present for such things?"

"He is the doctor on call today." Taylor said, remembering the schedule "I took a few days off..."

Christian nodded, "Then the funeral home would have to ask for you?"

Ross nodded, taking the thermometer out of Taylor's mouth and looking at her wryly.  She had, after all, not bothered to keep her mouth closed and spoken while it was in, so probably messed up the results.

She grinned and opened her mouth again, this time remaining quiet until it was time for Ross to get it again.

"She's fine, right?" Christian asked, still a little worried even though he knew she was fine.  He just couldn't help it.

Taylor slipped her left hand into his and squeezed it, just as Ross finished and assured him "Temperature's normal, she's back to her witty self.... and her blood's changed but healthy."

Taylor blinked at that and looked at him "Changed?"

Christian nodded slowly.

"I thought it might have." He said and then turned his dark eyes toward Taylor "The baby changed it, when she helped to make you well."

"Changed it how?"

"I suspect," He glanced up at Ross for confirmation, "that she released some of what makes us immortal into your blood stream.  I'm no expert by any means, but I recall reading an article about gene therapy and the idea is if you inject a new gene into a cell it will permanently change the cell and make the cell take on the characteristics the new gene provides?"

He glanced at Ross again "I think that essentially the baby's blood has made you into one of us."

Ross motioned toward Taylor "She's the expert, I'm just the backup guy."

And what Christian said was true - Taylor just couldn't believe she had totally missed the possibility.  Was that why she felt so... different?

Her hand went to her stomach as she tried to take it in and realize what it truly meant.

"I'm not sure why it didn't happen to Gwen," Christian admitted, "except the baby either didn't or couldn't help her heal."

Taylor closed her eyes and.. Felt something and tilted her head to the side before opening her eyes again and blinking her eyes a couple of times.  She knew why but didn't want to reveal too much in front of Ross.  Not that she didn't trust him because she did... but this just felt too personal to be sharing with anyone except Christian.

"I should be getting to the hospital." Ross said, giving Taylor an understanding smile before standing.

"Ross," Christian called after him.  "Thank you."

"Anytime!" Ross called back to them both as he caught up with Sean and arraigned for a ride.

Taylor looked at Christian, speaking quietly "She didn't want her... and the baby knew it."

Gwen had actually welcomed what was happening in the end, knowing that - according to the emotions Taylor was feeling from the baby - Taylor would take the child, just because Gwen knew that the doctor loved Christian that much and had come to care for the child as well.

"No, she didn't." Christian admitted.  She'd never come right out and told him that, but he knew.  "I tried to get her excited about decorating the baby's room and shopping, but she wasn't interested.  So, I just did what I could not to cause her stress.  If she had lived, I was going to take the baby and leave.  I'd made arrangements for her as well and I think she probably would have been just as happy with that."

"You were going to leave.....?"

Christian nodded "It was already set up.  I didn't want those people to have any control over my child's life or yours.  If they couldn't find us then they would lose their power."

Taylor met his gaze, her own reflecting the shadow of the hurt she would have felt had that had happened "Promise you won't ever think of doing that again."

"I promise I won't do it with out you," Christian told her with a squeeze "But I can't promise we won't have to pick up and leave wherever we end up."

She returned his hug.  That was all she wanted, just the promise he wouldn't go thinking he had to leave her somewhere to protect her and disappearing on her.  She wasn't fooled and knew that moving around was something they would have to do, especially at first.

"I love you." She whispered, still hugging him.

"I love you too." Christian told her.  That was something he had wanted to say to her for a very long time.  He held her for a moment longer and then suggested  "Hey, would you like to go see what kind of breakfast can be had in this place?"

Taylor chuckled as she Felt the response within her as well as her own "We say good idea.  Excellent idea in fact!"

Christian laughed softly as he got up and moved to help Taylor up.  "Your not sore or anything are you?"

She paused and moved a little to see and shook her head "Nope, no soreness."

"Good," Christian said with relief as he led her downstairs and into the kitchen  "Should we make Sean cook for us?"

"Do you trust your daughter's and my stomach to the man?" Taylor asked humorously, sitting down at a stool.  She would have gone ahead and helped herself to maybe some juice or something but it wasn't her kitchen.  Come to think of it, she didn't know who's kitchen it was.

Christian laughed "Well, I think I can trust him."

He moved to the refrigerator and took out some juice pouring them each a glass, then he started the coffee perking.

Taylor took a grateful drink, not realizing until just then how thirsty and hungry she really was.

"Sean," Christian called "get in here and make breakfast."

Sean appeared in the door way.

"Did anyone ever tell you that you are pushy and spoiled?"

Taylor chuckled and took another drink of juice before adding "Please."

Sean bowed his head and rolled up his sleeves "For you, anything.  How about pancakes and eggs?"

"Perfect."

The black man went about getting the dishes and ingredients he needed to make the food and Taylor peeked over at Christian with a small grin, only to chuckle again what Sean turned to her and joked "If you ever get tired of him, let me know.  I always appreciate good looking polite women."

"Hey, what's to get tired of?" Christian objected as he poured himself a cup of coffee and sat beside Taylor.  "I've been told that people find me charming."

"Yeah, right.  Have them spend a couple of hundred years with you like I have.  I like you but no way in hell would I want to wake up beside you each morning."

Taylor slipped her hand into Christian's and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek and whisper "I would."

Then, in a normal tone and to give Sean a little pay back, she responded "I would hope not considering neither of you swing that way."

Sean almost choked in reaction before laughing outright "And quick on comebacks too!"

Christian laughed  "Good enough to keep up with you.  Another good reason to have her around."

Sean finished with the first plate and passed it to Taylor, along with silverware to use "What's the first, to add a pretty face so we don't have to look at your ugly mug all the time?"

"If you like." Christian responded, taking another sip of his coffee.

"Well, I like hers a whole hell of a lot more than yours." Sean teased as he set a second plate of food in front of Christian.

"What's wrong with my face?" Christian asked, taking a bite of his breakfast.

Taylor continued to eat and listen to them both.

"I already told you." Sean said, unable to help himself from teasing his friend "What, memory failing you now?"

"What else would you expect from an OLD man like me?  Come to think of it, you're probably experiencing senility, in which case no one should take anything you say seriously."

It took a lot for Taylor not to laugh at that moment - the two were obviously close enough to be acting like brothers trying to one up the other - and they were both giving it their best shot.

"You're older than I am so you can hit it first." Sean retorted, tipping his glass toward Taylor "I'll just admire the view."

"Before or after I turn into the Good Year blimp?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The view will still be good, even then," Christian told her "Besides aren't women supposed to "glow" when they're pregnant?"

"She's glowing now, what are you talking about?" Sean commented smoothly.

Taylor paid special attention to taking the next bite, feeling herself blush and asking the both of them "You sure the two of you aren't Irish? You sure are serving up the blarney."

"Not me. I don't know about Sean, he could be.  After all listen to his name?"

"Yeah, I'll claim to be Irish," Sean snickered "And he'll just be a good BS'er."

"Excuse me," Christian said "Where did you get that?"

"Don't let him fool you." Sean looked at Taylor "The boy can sell a Hawaiian shirt to an Eskimo."

The rest of breakfast passed in the same way; teasing and banter, until a couple of hours later when they were all finishing it up with a cup of coffee as well as ironing out the plan.

"Since we have to pop up anyway, for the agents or whatever to see us," She went on to ask "Do you think we can go by your house?"

She wanted to see the baby's stuff... and maybe collect what they could to take with them since he had picked things out with his child in mind in the first place.

Christian raised an eyebrow at her  "Yes, I think that can be arranged."

Sean didn't comment but did look at Taylor measuringly.  For a gal that usually stuck to doctoring, she sure caught on quick to baiting a trap.

"You can use my car." He offered "While me and the boys get things ready.  Then I'll give you a call."

He winked at Taylor before patting the counter and straightening, leaving the room to head toward the front of the house and the area the others were already working.

Taylor turned to Christian "Would you mind if we went pretty soon?"

"I'm ready when you are," Christian assured her.

"How about now?"

Christian and stood, calling out to Sean to let him know they were leaving.  Then he took Taylor's hand and led her out to the car and the pair headed back into town towards his apartment building.

There was nothing wrong with the place they had been in, but Taylor was thankful to be away from it for a little while.  And she wanted to see what had been done for the baby.  Laying her head back against the seat as Christian drove, she put her hand to her stomach and closed her eyes, thinking of things the baby would need after she was born - and was hit with the awe of what had happened and that the procedure both doctors had done had actually worked.

I'm glad you're still here, she thought to the baby.

Christian glanced over at her as he pulled up to a stop light  "Are you all right?"

Taylor opened her eyes and looked over at him with a whimsical smile "I'm fine, just talking to the baby."

"Oh," Christian said returning her smile as the light changed and he continued toward his place.

When they arrived at the penthouse apartments, he parked in his spot and turned off the engine before looking over at her again.  She looked to still be concentrating on the baby and a soft smile touched his lips  "We're here."

Which, seriously, was a good idea considering she didn't want to let anyone that might be watching and didn't know about the operation a chance to put two and two together.  So, after looking up and returning his expression, Taylor opened the door and got out and waited for him at the front of the car but careful not to look like anything was amiss.

Christian joined and then led her to the front of the apartments, escorting her past the doorman and to the private elevator that led to his penthouse before they opened and he led her in.  Once inside he inserted a key in the lock where buttons usually were and then turned it to the left.  The elevator doors closed and the gentle pull of the car signaled that they were being taken to his floor.

Taylor walked with him as he then went to the door at the end of the hall and, using another key on the key ring he had taken out of his coat pocket, unlocked the front door to let her in.

She stepped inside and let her gaze trail over the room and furniture inside, in a way hesitant in walking in and looking around his home.  It just seemed.... odd somehow, as if she might even be trespassing.

"Would you like the grand tour?" Christian asked, giving her a reassuring smile and taking her hand.

She hesitated for a moment and then nodded, squeezing his hand in return. It was odd being here.  This had been, even for a little while, Gwen's home.  Taylor had spent a good amount of private time actually envying the woman - and now here she, Taylor Morgan, was and in a way, taking her place.

But it was more than that.  Because, according to Gwen and even Christian, Taylor had been the one Christian had wanted in that position in the first place.

Taylor couldn't help but feel a little out of place, especially considering that particular confession.

Christian led her around the spacious apartment showing her every room, including Gwen's and ending at the baby's.  He opened the door and led her inside.

"It was turning out pretty cute actually," He said "I thought baby animals were good for either sex."

Taylor went in and walked slowly around, tracing the tips of her fingers along the edges of the baby furniture before reaching the small hamper of baby clothes that sat on a cabinet.  She carefully lifted out the first few items - soft unitards in different pastel colors - and smiled as she touched the soft fabric.