"You spent a good amount of time with that one," Doctor Ross commented as his associate came out of one of the rooms a patient was in "Of course, not as long as you pulled with Mister High Society..."

Taylor raised her dark eyebrow at him as she read through Miss Hammond's charts "You repeat that and I'll make sure you're scheduled for a vasectomy in an hour.  But Miz Hammond's been having a rough time of it and her husband is still stuck in Alaska so can't be with her."

Taylor Morgan was the leading obstetrician for Memorial Hospital and the West Coast - had on many occasions been asked and traveled in other regions as a specialist for troubled pregnancies.

The person Ross had commented about, 'Mister High Society', was actually one of the members of the hospital Board and had spent some time in the Emergency Center and later in a private room after he had had a serious enough accident that had required emergency surgery and was touch and go before he finally pulled through it and started on the road to recovery.  Successful business man Christian Isaac DeWitt.

And Christian had no idea she had spent the whole time, during his surgery or after while he was unconscious, sitting nearby keeping watch.  It was just something she had never brought herself to admit, although they were on speaking terms and even got together to talk about the hospital or other things.

She knew it was because of that wall he had up around himself.  Even with her - with most people around them unspokingly having her on a closer level to him leaving it to her if something needed to be taken care of by a senior Board Member and it being something that would usually get knocked down any other way.

Like the new heating system she was about to approach him about.

Taylor looked at Ross and handed him her patient's chart "Her husband should be getting in today, keep an eye on her until then and let me know if she needs something."

"Have fun." Ross said wryly with a little salute as he moved off to go do his rounds.

"Yeah, yeah yeah." She mock mumbled as she headed toward the elevator and managed to catch one on its way up.  She never did get how other people thought Christian was unapproachable.  Admittedly he kept people at arms' length.....

Something that you hate, she thought to herself before closing her eyes and reaching up to unclasp the barrette holding her long, dark hair, shaking it and running her fingers through it to help take the weight off of her head and relieving the usual pressure she felt at wearing it in that fashion for too long.

She was shaking her head and running the fingers of both hands through her hair when the elevator doors opened and stepping out - right into Christian's chest.

Taylor had no idea which was more pink at the moment... her ears or her scrubs as she took a sheepish step back and apologized "Sorry, wasn't watching where I was going... you okay?"

And there it was again, that little something inside of her whispered, that reaction to him that she always had to work at covering when he was around.

"I.. was actually just coming to see you."

Christian raised his eyebrow curiously.  "Really?  Well you've found me."

He stepped back from the elevator.  "Does this conversation require the use of my office or may we go get some lunch?"

Taylor adjusted the stethoscope about her neck and looked relieved "Actually, if you feed me, I would be forever in your debt."

She pressed the button for the elevator since the doors had ended up closing as she explained "I took Marcus' shift since he's out with the flu so haven't had time to get home to do anything except shower and change."

And that had been... what, yesterday afternoon?

The doors opened again and she stepped in, pressing the button inside to hold the doors open for him "Hospital gourmet or the real stuff?"

"Real food." Christian said stepping in beside her and pushing the button for the lobby.

"How much longer is this shift of yours?" he asked as they reached the ground floor and exited heading outside.

Taylor looked at her watch "After lunch another hour, then I'm home free."

Christian lead her to a nice little restaurant he liked that was just down the street a few blocks.

Once there the doctor couldn't help but sigh as she sat down and was able to finally rest her feet.  She even closed her eyes to enjoy the sensation before opening them again and grinning sheepishly.

"Are you sure you're going to make it another hour after lunch?" Christian asked with smile.  "I don't know what I'll tell them if I turn up back there without you.  They might try to lynch me."

She had pulled a few of the shifts like this one - especially when he was a patient there, just so she'd have a reason to be there, although no one but Ross knew about it - so she just shrugged with a whimsical smile before admitting "If you don't come back with me, they'll just think I bombed when asking you about the heating system upgrade we need."

"Heating system?  What's wrong with the one we have?"

"It's working overtime to try and heat the additions to the hospital we've had over the years." Taylor explained "I fell asleep in the doctor's station and woke up thinking I was in cold storage somewhere."

It was a slight stretch of the truth, except she really had woken up with a chill and learned of the heater situation after she had asked the nurses if someone had the temperature low in that wing.

"I know it is going to cost a pretty penny," She admitted "But if we're waking up cold and are in health and only sleeping there to handle multiple shifts, just imagine how our patients feel."

Christian was thoughtful for a moment.  "Are you certain it's the heating system?  I always thought hospitals were kept cool on purpose.  Isn't that why they have those heated blankets?"

"Positive." She promised "I would have come to you sooner but I wanted to make sure of that myself and researched it and had guys come in and check it out."

What she didn't say was that she had paid for the inspection and cost of adjusters to come out and take that look.  The hospital was on good financial feet but some of the Board members would have tried to stall because of those reports and the costs.

"The hospitals are kept at a certain temperature and the main part of it stays at that temperature, but the newer wings are suffering and it's going to be showing up in people's health if it's not taken care of soon."

"So, what is it that we need exactly?" Christian asked her.

The waitress came just then and Taylor took out a couple of folded papers she had been carrying in her pants, giving the lady her order of a club sandwich and a cup of coffee before unfolding it and passing it to him "A heater set up there on the blueprint so that it will work at heating up the new part of the hospital and, because of the make, be able to continue to heat on additions we may put on in the future - well, as long as it's not a whole other building but it would be years before or if we got that big."

The waitress wrote the order down and turned to get his order.

Christian ordered and then began to look at the papers he'd been handed.

"This all sounds good, but there is one thing the Board is going to be most interested in.  Will this be cost efficient?  Will it save them money in the long term?"

"I have the figures back at the hospital but yes, especially considering the possible cost it would mean out of the hospital if a patient's health - or even a doctor's - by the lack of controlled temperature.  And you're also looking at possibilities of samples and tests going wrong, also because of temperatures."

Christian was quiet for a moment as he thought all of this over.  "All right, give me the numbers when we get back and I'll see what I can do."

Taylor put her hand on his arm before realizing what she had done and removed it, but not with it dampening her smile of relief "Thank you."

Christian returned her smile and took a sip of his iced tea.

"Anytime." He told her honestly.
 
 

Across the street a black car sat, its inhabitants watching the two without them noticing......
 
 

"The staff will be relieved to say the least." Taylor admitted as they headed back toward the hospital "You might just get an invitation to the bar-b-que us lowly staffers are having.

"Well, with an invitation like that to look forward too, how can I possibly refuse."

She had said it in a teasing tone and chuckled thinking he might have been responding the same way, but then became thoughtful for a moment. If Christian did go, maybe the others would see he wasn't as unapproachable as they seemed to think he was.  So she tilted her head to the side and offered curiously "Would you like to hang out with the doctors and nurses for an hour or so?"

"I think I might," Christian admitted.  "Though, that Dr. Ross tends to give me odd looks."

Taylor actually blushed a little at that and scratched her head sheepishly and shrugged "He gives everyone odd looks."

"Really," Christian replied "and here I was thinking I was special."

He smiled at her.

"Actually," She added with an answering grin before they reached the main doors, stopping to look at him and meaning the invitation this time "I hope you do come."

"I would love to." Christian replied as he led her to the elevator.

"Saturday at five? It's going to be here in the back parking lot so people working can come out and enjoy it during their breaks.  A moral booster and time to just hang out without a surgical table being center stage if you know what I mean."

A more personal atmosphere, without making it so personal that some people might feel uncomfortable being involved.

"And before you ask," She added, unable to keep from grinning as she answered the more practical aspect of the cookout and turning toward him as she entered the elevator "It's been cleared with health and we even have the fire chief cooking so we have the mandatory fire person on hand while having a staff function on hospital grounds."

"That's good," Christian agreed "but I was going to ask if I could bring anything."

"Yourself and an appetite for food and a little company."

She leaned against the far wall of the elevator and couldn't help but look pleased that he had accepted her invitation, even if she was moderating it as she put her hands on either side of her stethoscope and watched as the doors closed and the lights started toward the fourth and fifth floor - the first stop being hers while Christian's office was on the fifth.

"Want me to bring by the paperwork now or after my shift?" She asked, wondering which time frame would be better for him.

"Which ever suits you best," Christian told her.  "I'll see you then."

The elevator had stopped and opened in mid-sentence for him and she stepped forward, putting her hand on the door to hold it open before looking back at him "Pick a time.  I'm good for either."

"How about you come up now, so you can go home and go to bed straight way after your shift." He suggested.

Taylor nodded "I'll be up in ten, just want to check on a patient."

She moved her hand and watched as the doors closed, then to go get the papers.  On her way back toward the elevators she stopped in on Mrs. Hammond to find out that the woman's husband had just arrived.  So she stayed to explain the situation with him, as well as the options they had available to them.

Needless to say it took a little more than just the ten she had promised.

Christian headed to his office, the whole time musing about this situation.  His feelings for Taylor were rather deep and he wished with all his heart that he could act on them.  Unfortunately, his life was no life to bring her into.  It wouldn't be fair to her on so many levels.

He was kicking himself for letting this happen.  He knew it wasn't practical to get involved with someone who wasn't his own kind.  Yet, the feelings just happened and he didn't seem to have any control over them.

He entered his office an began looking over the agenda for the meeting that afternoon.  However, his mind kept slipping back to Taylor.  It just wasn't fair.  Though..... when had life ever been?
 
 

The woman read the sheet of paper and looked at the directory in the front of the hospital and ran a manicured finger nail down the list until she found the one she had been looking for.  Once she saw what floor the office was on she turned and started toward one of the nearby elevators.
 
 

Taylor entered Christian's office a few minutes later and knocked on the door to make sure she wasn't intruding "Okay to bug you still?"

"Absolutely," Christian replied.  "Nothing but stale reports to entertain me in here."

"Too bad you can't have housekeeping clean that out for you." Taylor joked as she came in and over to his desk, handing him the folder of reports and sitting in the chair across from him.

"Hmm, do you think if I accidentally knocked them into the trash can they would haul them away?"

"No," Taylor grinned "But if you really need help I know someone that can probably knock it out for you -"

Just then there was a knock on the door and she looked at him curiously, wondering if maybe there was a meeting he might have forgotten about or something.

Christian just gave her a baffled look and shook his head.  She was the only person he had been expecting.

"Come in." He called.

A blonde haired woman entered, her brown gaze regarding them both before settling on the one she had been looking for.

"Christian." She said, her tone one of a person knowing the one she was addressing.

Taylor looked at him, wondering if she should excuse herself.

"Yes, I'm Christian DeWitt," He responded, having never seen the woman before in his life. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Well," the woman admitted wryly, putting just a little emphasis on a couple of words so that he would pick up on the fact she was here for specific reasons "It has been forever and a day since we've seen one another.  Seems like centuries in fact."

Then she looked at the woman sitting with him, recognizing her instantly but needing to speak to DeWitt alone "Would you mind excusing us for a moment? I wouldn't ask except this is quite important."

"Uh, sure." Taylor said, looking at Christian for a moment as she stood "Why not just catch me on the pediatrics floor.  I'll... hang out for a while."

Christian was completely floored by this woman's forwardness.  He knew damn well he had never seen her before and the complete confusion and irritation he was feeling was beginning to become evident in his eyes.  He stood up and managed a smile at Taylor.

"Yes, I'll meet up with you as son as I can." He promised.

He watched as she left and then turned his eyes on the intruder.  "What is it you want?"

The woman looked at him and raised an eyebrow "They were right you know, she is a very becoming woman.

"But," She went on, putting her hand on her still flat abdomen but gaze intent and serious "Is that any way to speak to the mother of your child?"

Christian stared at her.

"What are you talking about?" He demanded finally "I never laid eyes on you in my life."

She dropped all pretenses and walked over to his desk, dropping a folder on it for him to open and waited for him to do exactly that.

Inside were photos of him with people - and with Taylor, including today - and then of images of them alone, doing every day things with a few close ups of Taylor smiling at something or someone, her blue eyes clear.  It was obvious that whoever had taken these photos had been close enough to all of them to catch them at different moments of the day.  Close enough to zoom in on them and even catch the expression in their eyes.

There was even a picture of them in their separate homes, at night time, moving about their places and unaware of anyone watching their every move.

Christian looked at the pictures an ever increasing anger filling him.

"What the Hell is the meaning of this?"  He was fighting to control his temper and keep his voice from rising to a shout.

"No," the woman admitted after his outburst "You've never have met me before.  But that didn't stop the Organization from impregnating me with samples taken from you while you lay healing from that skiing accident a while back."

"She looks very tired in those last few pictures." She further noted, meaning the pictures that the photographer - whoever he was - had taken of Taylor during one of her bed side vigils when Christian had come out of surgery.

He looked at those exact pictures, realizing for the first time exactly what it was of and suddenly realizing what Taylor had done for him.

At the same time the woman's other words began to sink in.  His child?  How dare they!  Who did these people think they were?

"What do you want?" He demanded again.

"It's not what I want, it's what the Organization has already done and want to happen." The woman said, sitting down "I was placed in hyper sleep and impregnated.  One of a dozen people with samples from your kind.  Yours is the only one that actually succeeded.  Now, they want to see us become the John Q of households."

"They want to see if you can raise the kid and be a happy home maker." She added, just in case he didn't catch her first explanation.

"And they're so serious about it, they'll kill the person you care most about if you don't go along with it.  Like they did my boyfriend."

Even her own involvement in all of this had been, at first, done against her wishes.  But she had been a part of it for so long she had given in to them and was now a more willing participant.

Just like DeWitt would be.  She was no fool.  She had seen the way he had looked at the other woman.  He'd bend just on that one reason alone.

Another just may be, She thought, the child itself.

Christian was quiet.  He couldn't help but feel for the woman, but damn it why did that give her license to play around with his life and Taylor's?  It was quite obvious Taylor was the person in she was so casually discussing murdering.

"I want proof that this is my child," Christian said finally "And I want you to tell me everything you know about this organization.  Who they are, what they want, why they are doing this?"

"Would you like your.... friend to do the testing? And they know what you are.  They're curious."

"Curious," Christian laughed harshly.  "People who are merely curious do not do things like this.  And no we'll find an independent lab to do the tests."

"They do when they consider your kind a threat." The woman commented casually, standing.

Christian could see how some people might find his kind threatening, after all wasn't that why none of them ever told anyone?  So why try to 'reproduce' more of his kind?  It sounded like Nazi experiments to him.

He glared at the women and pulled his rolodex over flipping through the cards.  When he found the number he wanted, he dialed and made an appointed for DNA testing.  They would of course have to do an amniocenteses, which could be risky, but there was no way he was going to go through with this charade until the kid was born and then find out it was all a lie.

He hung up the  phone and looked at the woman.  He felt nothing but loathing for her and her precious Organization.

"You never did tell me who these people are."

"The Organization.  That is all I know, that's all you'll know." She said "If you really do care about her or your child.  Try and dig, they'll make sure one of them suffers for it.  And since they want this kid, they'll lean towards the other target."

Christian glowered at her.

He had his ways.  In fact he was positive he could dig up information without their knowledge.   They obvious had their resources, but he had a few of his own.  He jotted down an address on a card and handed it to her.

"You be there at 3:00 p.m.  Now get out."

"Aren't you worried I might tamper with the tests?" She asked with a raised eyebrow.

"They won't start anything until I arrive." Christian informed her  "When you arrive you will be told to wait in the waiting room.  Now get out."

The woman tsk'd at him as she left "You really should watch your temper there."
 
 

Pediatrics Ward....

"You seem pleased with yourself.  I take it you got the golden boy to go for the heating system idea?"  Ross asked, finished with his rounds and stopping beside Taylor as she read over charts at the nurse's desk.

Taylor looked up and gave him a warning look, before admitting with a half grin "He'll do what he can - and stop calling him golden boy.  I don't think he'd take to kindly to that at the barbecue."

Ross blinked "Come again?"

"The barbecue.  He's going to come to the barbecue."

"How did you manage that?  Maybe the others are right and you do have the magical touch."

Taylor half whapped him with the metal clip board she was reading in response to his teasing before answering honestly "I asked and he accepted."

Ross chuckled at her reaction but then grew serious, looking at her for a moment "Don't get too deep okay? I know you care about him but.... "

Well the truth was, he didn't want to see his friend get hurt.  And it didn't take a brain surgeon to tell that Mister DeWitt had always been stand offish with most.

Taylor looked at him and he raised his hands in surrender before she could say anything.  He wouldn't push.

Unless DeWitt did something stupid.

"I thought your shift ended already?" He asked, noticing the time  "Don't tell me you took another person's shift again..."

"Nope, just waiting around." She answered, finishing with the chart before turning it in to the nurse nearby.

"For me I hope." Christian said from behind her with a teasing smile, though there wasn't much frivolity in his gaze.

Taylor turned with a pleased smile, only to have her gaze turn curious when she looked into his eyes and knew something was wrong.  She would have even asked about it but they weren't alone.

"Doctor Ross." Christian greeted the other man before he moved to lean against the nurses station.  "The new heating system has been added to the agenda of the next meeting and I called in a few favors.  You'll get enough votes for it to pass."

"Looks like I'll have to start using the freezer again to keep my fish sticks frozen." Ross commented with dry humor as he returned the Board Member's greeting with a nod before adding "I hear you'll be joining us for the barbecue."

"Yes, I plan to." Christian confirmed, meaning Saturday and not the doctor's comment about the fish sticks.

Taylor was glad he hadn't changed his mind and straightened from the nurse's station "How about a walk so we can let Ross here get back to work."

"Party pooper." Ross teased her before getting his next round of patients from the nurse's station and nodding at them both "But you're right, nose to the grind stone.  DeWitt."

He had said his name by way of excusing himself before lightly tapping Taylor's arm with one of the charts "And I'll bug you later, Tay.  Go get some rest."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Taylor chuckled wryly as Ross left, then looked at Christian "Is everything okay?"

Christian shrugged, "Fine.  He's right you know, you need to get some rest."

"I will." Taylor promised, not believing him for a moment about things being fine but also not going to push on the issue either.  "Was The lady able to take care of whatever it was she needed?"

Wait, that was nosing into personal area and she shook her head, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear "Never mind, none of my business."

They left the nurses' station and headed toward the elevators.

Christian was quiet as he walked her to the parking lot and to her car.

Then in a rare moment he looked at her and responded to her question.

"She didn't get everything she wanted taken care of, but she probably will." He told her and the look he had was of distaste, but not towards Taylor  "Get some rest and I'll see you later, all right?"

"Are you sure you're all right?" Taylor asked, concerned and not yet getting into her car.

"I'll be fine," He assured her.  "Now go, I couldn't stand to be the cause of you getting into an accident because you stayed awake so long you fell asleep at the wheel."

Taylor rolled her eyes and opened the car door "I've pulled a few of these, Christian.  I'm not going to fall asleep at the wheel."

Then she hesitated and looked at him.

"Call me if you need anything okay?" She asked, unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong but that he didn't want to trouble her with it. Even with the general distance he usually kept with everyone, there were times he did open up and had been able to do so with her.

"Thanks," He replied "I will."

Then he waved good-bye and started towards his own car.  He got in and, once he started the engine and pulled out of the lot,  headed for the lab.

Once there, he parked his car and headed inside.  He checked in and then looked around for the woman, realizing he didn't even know her name.

Though, he truly didn't care.

"Looking for me?" The woman spoke from behind him, having been in the waiting room down the hall.

Christian turned and nodded curtly.

"What are you called?" He asked.

"My name," She corrected his speech "Is Gwen.  And after this little test is complete, it'll be DeWitt."

Just then a doctor spotted Christian and came over "I cleared my schedule.  You sounded like it was important when you called.  What's up?"

"I need to know if this woman is carrying my child," Christian told him "And I need to know as soon as possible."

The doctor blinked and looked at the woman.  What he was thinking, although he didn't say, was clear.  The woman just didn't look like someone Christian DeWitt would have.... well - "All right.  Come with me."

He turned and led them both to a room, opening the door and waiting for them both to enter "Gown is in the corner, Mister DeWitt would you care to fill out the paperwork while she's changing or stay here?"

Christian nodded and took the clip board, filling out the form as best as he could.  Unfortunately, He didn't know most of her information.

"I'll be right back, I just need to let the nurse know to get the lab ready." The doctor said, leaving the room to do just that.

That was an odd one, He thought, not hearing what Mister DeWitt said once he left.

"What's your last name," Christian called to her as Gwen stepped behind a curtain to change "and your address, your age, are you allergic to anything?"

"You might as well get used to it, DeWitt," Gwen said, almost done "And put down your information for residence and so forth.

Christian scowled, his hand tightening on the pen as he filled out the form

"Birthday." He practically barked at her, writing down the answer she gave.

"And no," She added as she came out from behind the curtain and sat on the examination table "I'm not allergic to anything.  I was picked because I am a perfect breeding specimen for your kind.  No allergies, no medical problems, no nothing.  Just pregnant with your child."

"How far are you along?" Christian demanded as he came to another question requiring her answer.

"Three months.  I was the only one that succeeded actually." She added, a little surprised herself - both at the results and the slight confession to him.

"Aren't you special." Christian replied sarcastically.

She sighed and looked at him, sidelong "Look, I didn't ask to become pregnant, I didn't ask to be stuck here, but I've come to realize that I have to do this or I'm not worth much to them.  And when you end up not being worth anything, you're taken out.  So if you don't mind, drop the damned attitude and let's just get this experiment over with."

"I really don't give a damn about your problems," Christian informed her as he finished the paperwork.  "You chose to sell your soul.  That's your problem not mine.  If you don't like my attitude you can just leave anytime. Otherwise, I suggest you "accept" that as well."

Gwen could understand his anger - had felt it for years after she had lost her life and the control in it.  But she had finally succumbed to the Organization's control.

"Were you wanting Blue Eyes to be the one?" She asked suddenly, actually finding herself curious.  Something within her remembered what it was like to care about someone.  It was just a part of her she had long ago pushed away and didn't put stock in entertaining.

To do so would be detrimental to her in regards to the Organization.

Christian's jaw tightened and he put the pad down moving over to the table and grasping her arms roughly.

"Don't you ever talk about her to me again!" He hissed.  He wasn't going to stand around idly and let her make snide comments about Taylor.  As for her question it was none of her damned business.

"Let.... go of.... me." Gwen said, emphasizing each word and glaring back at him "You touch me again and I promise you, you will not like the results of your actions."

"They aren't playing a game, DeWitt.  They will hurt her if you go against them and that means jeopardizing their test.  And considering being pregnant with this.. thing inside of me is an iffy damn thing to begin with, having a miscarriage because you're pissed about losing your girlfriend is one thing you do not want to make happen."

She would have said more but the door started to open just then, so she swallowed her reaction and worked on controlling her expression.  By the time the doctor came back in, she looked almost bored with the whole thing.

Christian let go of her and back away sitting down in the nearby chair.  He was furious.  He ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes for a moment.  He prayed silently that she was lying.  In fact, he mentally begged God for that.

The doctor accepted the questionnaire, read it and then set it aside as he came close to Gwen "Okay, I'll need you to lay back so we can get started.

Gwen did as instructed, letting the doctor perform his tests and just staring up at the ceiling as it progressed.

An hour later and having left after taking the samples he needed from both the woman and Mister DeWitt, he came back, the results in his hand.

"Well, it's official." He said, giving the paperwork to Christian "She's pregnant and you are the father."

Gwen got up while they spoke, going back behind the curtain and changing out of the hospital gown and into her street clothes.

Christian cursed silently as he read the results.  How was he supposed to live with a women he couldn't stand the sight of, much less raise a baby?

His baby....God, he never thought that would happen.  It was so hard for women to conceive with his kind.  And the chances of falling in love with someone of his own kind were not exactly good ones.  Though it happened to some, and some children had been born, that was how he knew it wasn't completely impossible, but still.

"Thank you," He said to the doctor "Please make sure the bill is sent to my home."

He didn't feel much like chit chatting, even though this doctor was somewhat of a friend.

He started out towards the car, stopping to hold the door for Gwen, but not shorting his stride for her in the least.  When they stopped at his car he turned and spoke to her in a low and deadly voice.

"If anything happens to Taylor and I mean anything, all bets are off."  He'd find away to get his child, but he wanted her to understand with great clarity that he would leave her hanging in the wind.  "So, don't you EVER threaten her again.  Do you understand me?"

Gwen met his gaze, unflinching, before pointing out "It's not me you have to worry about DeWitt.  I just know what they'd do to her if we don't do what they want."

"Your as much a part of this as they are," Christian replied as he pulled out his keys "Let's get this over with.  You can follow in your car."

He was right, to a point.  But it was a moot point so she went to her car and got in, fastening her seatbelt before following him to wherever it is he was going.

And she knew, although she couldn't see them, that the Organization was watching.

Moments later, Christian pulled into the parking lot at city hall and waited for Gwen to park before getting out.  He then led her inside and told the woman he needed a marriage license and that they needed to be married straight away.

It all took half an hour.  As soon as that half hour was done, Christian headed back to his car and drove back to his place, with Gwen DeWitt following in her own car.  They stopped and parked at a penthouse overlooking the water.

Gwen took a quick look around as she got out of her car and, locked, headed over to him.  Neither one of them said a word, nor really wanted to.

Christian led Gwen past the doorman and to the private elevator that led to his apartment.  Once there he showed her around and then led her to the bedroom furthest from his.

"This will be your room." He told her.

She accepted it and went in, closing the door behind her.

The experiment had begun.