Tia

The time at Emerson’s parents’ farm was like a small, much-needed vacation. But coming home is just as sweet this time because the men have been working on a surprise for me. One that I knew nothing about.

“Are your eyes closed?” Em asks, holding my hand and guiding me down the hall.

“Yes. Tell me what this is about.”

“You’ll see in a second.” Fallon’s voice is behind me.

I can practically feel the men’s excitement around me.

“Okay,” Giles whispers in my ear. “Open your eyes.”

When I do, a small gasp escapes my lips. The large room that’s lain empty since we moved in, has been completely decorated in soft pastels. Six homemade cradles are lined up along one wall, two changing tables on the other. A large wooden toy chest is open, filled with toys that our children won’t be able to play with for years. And there’s a three-story dollhouse in one corner, complete with handcrafted wooden people.

I’m speechless by all the small details. The pictures of cartoon animals on the walls, the rocking chair that looks like an antique, but was obviously crafted by one of my husbands.

“What do you think?” Fallon asks. “If there’s anything you don’t like, we can change it.”

“No.” I shake my head, still in awe, tears forming in my eyes. “It’s absolutely perfect.”

Fallon’s arms wrap around me and he kisses me gently. “Only the best for you and our children.”

“You’re all so good to me.”

“This is only the beginning, sweetheart,” Huxley says, pulling me away from Fallon and tilting my chin up so that he can kiss me as well. “Everything I have is yours. I’ve made sure of it.” There’s an intensity to his words that worries me. “You’ll always be taken care of.”

He’s always showering me with presents, items that I have no idea how he gets hold of. But all that I really need are my men, and maybe a little more space. These cookie cutter houses weren’t built for a family of six husbands and six babies.

“Well, we may need to think about putting an addition on this place. One room for six babies is fine, but what happens when they start wanting space of their own.”

Banks coughs. “Actually Emerson and I were talking about that.”

I turn to look at him, surprised that Em and he talk about anything other than the hundred and one things they disagree on.

Emerson drags his fingers back through his long hair, the muscles in his biceps flexing as he does, and gives a sheepish grin.

“Are you going to fill us in?” Fallon asks.

Banks nods at Emerson to tell us.

“We...” A flash of insecurity crosses Em’s features, and he says quickly, “We were thinking that after the babies are born, once Tia has her freedom, that we could move to the island. I own a piece of land there. A large piece, actually.”

Huxley crosses his arms. “How’s that going to work when we all work here?”

“Again, it’s a large plot of land. We could build a small airport and have Fallon fly us on and off the island for work. And it’s really not that far by boat either.”

My heart leaps at the idea, but I see the unease in Em’s eyes as he watches the expressions of the others.

“That’ll cost a shit load of money,” Huxley mutters.

“Good thing you’ve got a shit load in your bank account,” Salinger says, grinning. “I love the idea.”

“So do I,” I say, my heart swelling when I see Em’s face light up. “What better place to raise our children? And we’d be close to Em’s mom. I could really use her knowledge and help when the babies come. And think about all that space. We could build rooms for each of the children, and a playground, and have our own barn, with animals... maybe even ponies.”

Both Emerson and Banks start laughing at something I said, but I don’t care, I’m excited. The dangers facing my pregnancy momentarily forgotten.

“We could start the plans now,” Em says. “Even if we work part-time on it, we could have the place finished by next year. And I know my brothers will help--”

“Aren’t we getting a little ahead of ourselves,” Huxley interrupts.

The room goes silent, and I can feel the tension mount. Because even though he doesn’t say the words, I know what he means.

If I don’t survive. Or if our children don’t survive, it would all be for nothing.

But they will survive. I believe it in the deepest part of my soul.

“Our children will be born.” I make sure to meet each of my husband’s gazes. “And they’ll need a home. If I don’t...” I swallow hard. “If I don’t make it--”

“That’s not what I meant,” Huxley mutters.

“Tia,” Fallon warns, ignoring him. “Don’t talk like that.”

“But I have to. I need you to know what I want.”

“Okay.” Fallon sighs, pulling me to him. “Tell us.”

I tremble as I speak, knowing the words need to be said. “Build a house for them on the island. Let them run and play. Let them be children without all the chaos of the world we know. Build them a home. And most importantly...” Emotions twist inside of me and I can barely utter my final words, but I force them out. “Be a family, even if I’m not there.”

I hear one of my men choke on a sob, but tears blind me, so I don’t know who it is. But when I blink and each of their handsome faces come into view, each one of them is holding back emotions.

God, I love these men.

“Okay,” Giles finally says, stepping forward and pulling me against his chest, his dark red beard tickling my chin when he brushes his lips against mine. His green eyes are full of strength and resolve when he pulls back and holds my gaze. “We will. You don’t have to worry about that.”

I let his strength surround me, and I feel a small amount of peace because I know Giles will make sure my wishes are brought to fruition. He’ll be the rock that holds them all together.

“You’re going to make wonderful dads,” I whisper, blinking back tears and making sure to hold each of their gazes for a long moment. “All of you.”

I know that no matter what happens, my children will be loved and cherished. My husbands really will make wonderful fathers.

I just pray that I’ll be there to see it.

“Where’s Huxley?” Banks asks when he comes into the living room, a deep frown drawing his features tight.

Huxley has been disappearing more and more often lately, and the darkness I sensed in him after he returned from St. Augustine's seems to have consumed him. I’ve tried to talk to him about it, but he just brushes my concerns away, growing more distant as the days pass.

“Who knows where he goes,” Fallon mutters.

“I think he went to the shop,” Salinger says.

I snuggle against Fallon’s chest as Giles rubs my feet. One of the benefits of being pregnant is that my husbands pamper me even more than before. I could get used to the way they wait on me. And even though my morning sickness is gone, thanks to Em’s flower, I allow them to indulge me any way they want.

I just wish Huxley was more at peace. As much as I love the gifts he showers me with, what I really want is to see his blue eyes sparkle with the light that’s been dimmed recently.

Banks paces in front of the television, seemingly agitated, or maybe excited, I can’t tell. Whatever it is, it’s clear he has something to tell us.

Salinger turns off the movie we were watching. “What’s wrong with you?”

Banks sits down on one of the free armchairs and breathes out heavily. “I wanted everyone here for this, but since Huxley seems to be MIA most of the time, I’ll tell you all now.”

I sit straighter, knowing whatever he has to say most likely has to do with me.

“Banks?” I ask when he doesn’t continue.

He leans forward, forearms resting on his thighs, hands locked together, knees bouncing.

“What is it?” Fear tightens my voice.

“I can save you.” He meets my gaze, eyes locking on mine, his expression serious.

Silence meets his statement because I’m pretty sure we can all hear the but that he’s about to say.

“You’re certain?” Fallon asks, fingers lacing with mine.

“Her hormones are stabilized thanks to the myosotis parviflora. And with the information I unlocked on the USB, I believe I’ll be able to keep her body from attacking itself and the babies. Obviously, the complications are still high because of the multiples, but with my treatment plan, I don’t believe there’ll be any more risks than there was in the past.”

I can still hear the but in his voice.

“Then what’s wrong?” I ask shakily, wanting to hold onto the hope his words should give me.

Banks can save me. Save our children. We’ll survive this, move to the island and raise our children. And no one will ever be able to touch us again.

“This is good, right?” I ask cautiously.

“Tia...” Banks meets my gaze and lets out a shaky breath before saying, “What your father did to you... It’s what will save you.”

I frown. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

Chills mix with heat racing down my core. “Then my father, he found a cure? That’s what you’re saying?”

Hope.

Hope.

Hope.

“It’s not that simple.” Banks stands abruptly and starts pacing again. “What he did to you, he’s tried the same thing on hundreds of women. You’re the only one that survived. The question is why?”

Banks mumbles something under his breath, something I don’t hear, but I catch Fallon’s gaze, and he frowns.

“What the fuck does it matter?” Fallon says. “If you can save Tia. That’s all that matters.”

“No.” Banks shakes his head.

A shiver races down my spine. “You’re scaring me. Just say whatever it is you’re holding back. I...we can handle it.”

“I think I know.” He stops, then starts pacing again. “I think I know why the treatment worked on you. Your father administered it when you were pre-pubescent. Before you’d become a woman.”

“So, that’s the answer then?” Giles asks. “Can you replicate the treatment?”

“Possibly. But it’s still dangerous. Even Tia...” He scrubs his hands over his face. “The files showed that she almost died. That she barely survived.”

Muttered and violent curses fill the room.

I barely remember that period of my life, and maybe that’s why.

“You were stricken with fever, bedridden for months,” Banks continues, but I can tell he’s in his head; that there’s more he’s not telling us. “I can’t take that risk with others. Even if I was given permission to start treatments. It’s barbaric. Won’t. Can’t.”

Silence.

While we should be celebrating the fact that Banks can save me and our babies, the weight of humanity’s fate seems to rest over the room. Even more so when Banks continues.

His hands curl and uncurl into fists. “I thought I was at another dead end, until...”

“Until what?” Salinger asks, words slow, leery.

“Until...” He rests his hands on the backrest of the armchair and his head and shoulders drop when he says quietly. “I administered some of your blood to a few of my pregnant test rats.”

“You did that without telling her?” Fallon growls out. “Or us? That’s something that should have been--”

“It’s fine,” I say, knowing I’d already given Banks permission to do what had to be done to find a cure. “And?”

“They all survived, including the pups.”

I suck in a breath. “You think my blood might be the cure?”

Banks winces. “For rats infected by the virus, yes. But with human subjects, I believe a more invasive procedure would be needed.”

“What?” I’m trembling, waiting for him to drop the bomb.

“Spinal fluid, possibly embryonic fluid. Injected in the early stages of pregnancy I believe--”

“What the hell does that mean for Tia?” Fallon barks out.

“I’d need to take a large sample--”

“No fucking way.” Salinger stands, looking like he’s ready to fight.

“Just let him talk,” I say, standing as well and placing a hand on Sal’s arm. “If I can help save millions of lives, I have a responsibility to do whatever I can.”

“What’s the risk?” Giles asks calmly despite the war I see raging behind his eyes.

Banks doesn’t answer right away. Finally, he says stiffly, “The chance of infection, of brainstem herniation, of miscarrying is high. Especially, since she’s carrying multiples.”

“Then the answer is one hundred percent no.” Fallon stands as well.

“What if we wait until after I’ve given birth--”

“It needs to be done while you’re pregnant. Your body is creating antibodies that aren’t produced normally. If I can study them, I think I may be able to create a vaccination.”

“A cure.” Icy fingers snake down my body as I realize what he’s saying. “You’re telling me that the only way to find a cure for all women, everywhere--to this entire worldwide population crisis, is to put my children’s lives at risk?”

He closes his eyes and nods.

Just when a sliver of hope is given to me, it’s snatched away. Because how can I live with myself knowing if I don’t give Banks what he needs. I was wrong when I thought the weight of the world had fallen on the room. It was the fate of humanity that now rested on my shoulders.

And I have no idea what I’m going to do.