Saving Grace Extras

The Moment His Life Changed

"I'm pregnant," she said.

She'd shown up, out of the blue, around lunchtime, though Tony had just woken up, and that was only because Jarvis had alerted him that she was at the door. He didn't even recognize her when he got down the stairs. She had to remind him.

And then she said that.

One moment, he was tired, waiting for her to ask him for whatever money for whatever reason so he could go back to bed, sleep off his hangover. He wasn't even looking at her, as his head was in the fridge while he searched for something to eat.

And then he froze.

She was pregnant.

"It's yours," she added. "I know it is."

Shock overtook him, the thought of it consuming his mind. The thought of a baby — not just any baby, but his baby — growing in her, a life he'd made with this woman he didn't even remember the name of not five minutes before.

His DNA. A baby. His baby.

And he wanted this baby.

He had to shape up. He had to. He had to get it together, start saving money, make up a college fund, turn one of the rooms into a nursery.

And he had to be there, not with some stranger in the middle of the night, his mind half gone. He had to be in that nursery, holding hold his child as they cried because that's what babies do and it will be his baby — their baby — a baby he wants more than anything to love and care for, to raise. To be father to, better than his dad ever was.

He wanted this baby. He needed this baby.

She, apparently, thought he'd been silent too long. "Relax," she said. "I'm getting an abortion. But you're paying for it."

He never even thought... He never considered. That's not what he thought she was there for at all.

He turned. "A-Abortion?"

"Yeah," she said. "You're paying for it." Then, she added, pointedly, "And maybe add a little extra so I don't go blabbing to the press..."

"I..." he started, and then he took a deep breath. How to word this? "I don't know... if this is gonna matter to you at all, but... I want the baby."

She was surprised. "You... want the baby?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I really do. And, you know, if you don't want to have it, then that's totally up to you, it's your call, I just... I couldn't not say anything about it and then regret it for the rest of my life. So... just putting that out there."

"You're crazier than I thought you were," she replied, and he chuckled mirthlessly.

"Yeah, I know."

She went quiet then, and Tony could see that she was thinking, debating. And he waited with bated breath for her to speak.

She sighed. "You know what? Okay. I will have this baby-"

"Oh, thank you-"

"-but," she continued, stopping him, "I have a few... conditions."

"Of course," Tony said. "Whatever you need — whatever you want."

He almost thought she'd smiled. "One, you have to pay for everything — the doctor's appointments, the hospital bills, whatever expense related to this baby. That's on you."

"Of course."

"Two, you're gonna pay me some money for my troubles. The press would certainly love a story like this, and I'll be willing to give it to them if you don't pay up. Understand?"

Tony nodded. "Perfectly." But he didn't, not until she gave him her last condition.

"Three, once this baby is born, I don't want to be involved in this kid's life — at all. It'll be your responsibility, completely. I don't have time to raise a child, nor do I want to." Tony was silent for a moment, so she said, "You get that?"

He started, then nodded. "Yeah, yeah. I got that."

"Good. Before I get out of here and I guess talk to my doctor or something, I want all your contact information."

"Of course. Yeah. Of course..."

She left soon after, and Tony felt excitement at the thought of his child, who would be there sooner than he knew it. He was going to be a father.

And then it hit him again, and he was absolutely terrified.