No Choice At All
Written by: Juana
Story Summary: Felicity informs Eli of her choice concerning the baby. Ben patches things up with Felicity and they start over…as friends. Felicity is dealt a crushing blow that alters her life yet again.
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in my story. They belong to the brilliant writers and creators of the hit WB show.
INT: FELICITY’S ROOM-DAY
FELICITY IS SITTING AT HER DESK. TYPING A PAPER. THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR. SHE ANSWERS THE DOOR TO FIND NOEL STANDING THERE.
NOEL: Hi.
FELICITY: (she is short with him) What do you want Noel?
NOEL: I want to apologize…for telling Ben.
FELICITY: So it was you?
NOEL: Yes…I don’t know what I was thinking.
FELICITY: That makes two of us.
NOEL: I know you don’t owe me anything…but I’d really like it if you could find it in your heart to forgive me.
FELICITY: Why should I?
NOEL: I was hoping…because we’re friends.
FELICITY: Friends? I hate to see how you treat your enemies.
NOEL: That’s not fair.
FELICITY: Neither was telling Ben…but you chose to do it anyway.
NOEL: I just…well I thought he needed to know.
FELICITY: (getting angry) And I told you…I was going to tell him…didn’t you believe me?
NOEL: I really thought you we’re just trying to handle this on your own. If I’d know it wasn’t Ben’s baby…
FELICITY: Did Elena tell you it wasn’t Ben’s?
NOEL: (realizing his mistake) Um…I should probably go.
FELICITY: So you know it’s not Ben’s? This is just…great.
NOEL: I’m not gonna tell anyone…I swear.
FELICITY: Whatever…it’s not like it matters now anyway.
NOEL: How did Ben take the news?
FELICITY: Not well…not well at all. He left town.
NOEL: Really? Where did he go?
FELICITY: Nobody knows.
NOEL: So have you made a decision yet…about the baby?
FELICITY: Yes…I actually thought you were going to be Eli…I’m expecting him any minute.
THERE IS A KNOCK AT FELICITY’S DOOR.
FELICITY: That’s probably him.
NOEL: Okay…we’ll I’ll just talk to you later.
FELICITY OPENS THE DOOR. ELI IS STANDING THERE.
NOEL: (walking out) Hey Eli.
ELI: Hey.
ELI WALKS INTO FELICITY’S ROOM. FELICITY SHUTS THE DOOR.
FELICITY: Thanks for coming.
ELI: You said on the phone that it was important.
FELICITY: It is…I’ve reached a decision…about the baby.
ELI: (nervous) Oh…and what would that be?
FELICITY: Okay…well please know that this isn’t a decision I reached lightly…I’ve thought about this a lot.
ELI: I don’t like the sound of this.
FELICITY: I know this isn’t what either of us had planned for our teenage years…having a baby. But we both did something irresponsible by having unprotected sex…we took a gamble and we lost.
ELI: But it doesn’t have to be this definitive change…you don’t have to have the baby.
FELICITY: I know this probably seems so black and white to you Eli…but it’s just not that way for me. I’ve decided to take responsibility for my actions…I’m *not* going to be terminating this pregnancy. That’s my choice…wether you decide to be a father to this baby or not…that’s your choice.
ELI: It’s definitely not the choice I was hoping you’d make…but I’m not gonna bail on you…although right now…that’s what my brain is telling me to do.
FELICITY: Thanks.
ELI: Yeah…I’m sure it’s gonna be fine…once I get used to the idea.
INT: BEN’S LOFT.-DAY
BEN COMES INTO THE LOFT. SEAN IS SITTING IN FRONT OF THE TELEVISION. AT THE SOUND OF THE DOOR HE TURNS EXPECTANTLY AROUND.
SEAN: Oh it’s just you.
BEN: Yeah…good to see you too.
SEAN: Yeah…sorry. I was expecting Eli.
BEN: And this is exciting because?
SEAN: Felicity called and asked him to come over…so we think she’s made her decision.
BEN: Her decision?
SEAN: About whether or not to keep the baby.
BEN: Oh…what do you think she decided?
SEAN: Hard to say.
ELI COMES IN FRONT DOOR. SEAN PRACTICALLY JUMPS HIM.
SEAN: So?
ELI: You were right…she made a decision.
SEAN: And?
ELI: And…I’m gonna be a dad.
SEAN: Are you okay with that?
ELI: Yeah…It’s really okay…unexpected…but okay.
BEN STANDS TAKING IN THE NEWS. GRABS JACKET OFF OF COUCH WERE HE THREW IT AND GETS READY TO HEAD OUT DOOR.
SEAN: Where are you going?
BEN: Out…I just need some air.
BEN EXITS THE APARTMENT.
SEAN: How do you think he took it?
ELI: Not well.
SEAN: Yeah…me either.
INT: FELICITY’S ROOM. –DAY
FELICITY IS LAYING DOWN TAKING A NAP. THERE IS A KNOCK ON HER DOOR. FELICITY STILL GROGGY GETS UP AND ANSWERS THE DOOR. BEN IS STANDING THERE.
FELICITY: (rubs her eyes) Ben? (not sure if she’s dreaming)
BEN: Yeah…I’m back.
FELICITY: (hesitates) I’m glad…how was your trip?
BEN: It was good…can I come in?
FELICITY: Sure…yeah…please…come in.
BEN ENTER FELICITY’S ROOM AND CLOSES THE DOOR. FELICITY GOES AND SITS BACK DOWN ON THE BED. BEN STARTS TO BUT INSTEAD PULLS A CHAIR UP CLOSE TO THE BED. THIS DOES NOT GO UNNOTICED BY A HURT FELICITY.
FELICITY: (VO) Dear Sally…Just knowing he was too uncomfortable sitting by me…well that really brought home to me how deeply I had wounded him…and us….I didn’t know why he was there, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t to reconcile.
BEN: So I heard your news.
FELICITY: (confused) My news?
BEN: Eli came back to the apartment before I left…he told us you’ve decided to keep the baby.
FELICITY: Oh…yeah that’s true.
BEN: I’m proud of you.
FELICITY: (surprised) Really?
BEN: Yeah…I’m sure that wasn’t the easiest choice to make.
FELICITY: One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life.
BEN: I’ve always thought women got the raw end of the deal in situations like this.
FELICITY: On that…I support you.
BEN: Thanks…but I actually had another reason for coming here today.
FELICITY: You did?
BEN: I made a decision too.
FELICITY: (VO) Dread absolutely filled me at those words Sally. I knew I had no right to expect anything from him…but I have to admit…I had been *hoping* he would find someway to get past the pain…and want to stick around in some capacity…I had a sick feeling that all those hopes were about to be dashed.
BEN: (cont.) I went to see a friend for some advice…it was really a good thing…I was able to see things from a different perspective…to start helping myself to deal.
FELICITY: So you said you made a decision…what about?
BEN: Us.
FELICITY: Oh.
BEN: I know that your life is going to be completely crazy in the coming months…so I wanted to make sure that before that happened we understood where we stood with each other.
FELICITY: Where we stood?
BEN: Yes…and after a lot of thought…I realize it’s pretty simple for me…I don’t want to lose you.
FELICITY: What are you saying Ben? Are you saying you forgive me?
BEN: Yes…at least I’m trying…the pregnancy is a constant reminder.
FELICITY: So where does that leave us?
BEN: I think it’s important for us to start over…as friends.
FELICITY: Friends?
BEN: Yes…if all goes well there…well we’ll see.
FELICITY: (VO) So Ben and I had started over…as friends…and Sally I forgot what a great friend he could be. In the following month…he was there for me around the clock. I knew I could count on him and the bridge of trust that I had so carelessly shattered…well he was helping me to rebuild it. As I was approaching my third month…everything seemed to be going good…Ben seemed more like the baby’s father and Eli seemed content to let him take that place…And I guess…so did I.
INT. DR. OFFICE-WAITING ROOM-DAY
FELICITY AND BEN ARE AT THE DOCTOR’S WAITING FOR HER CHECKUP. HER NAME IS CALLED AND SHE GETS UP AND GOES IN.
THE DOCTOR COMES IN AND FLIPS THE CHART OPEN.
DOCTOR: Miss Porter…how are you today?
FELICITY: I’m fine…thanks.
DOCTOR: No pain…or cramping?
FELICITY: Not like last week…no… things seem fine.
DOCTOR: Okay…I think though…based on some of these test results…I think I’m gonna go ahead with the sonogram…just to rule out some possibilities. Did you want Ben to be with you during the sonogram?
FELICITY: Um…I don’t know…I guess.
DOCTOR: I’ll have the nurse bring him back.
INT. SONOGRAM ROOM-DAY
BEN HAS BEEN USHERED INTO THE ROOM. HE WALKS OVER TO FELICITY WHO IS LYING ON THE TABLE WITH HER STOMACH EXPOSED…WAITING FOR THE NURSE TO PUT ON THE SONOGRAM GEL.
BEN: (to Felicity) Are you sure you want me here?
FELICITY: Yeah…if you don’t mind.
BEN: Mind? No…I’m glad.
DOCTOR COMES IN AND PROCEEDS TO DO SONOGRAM. AS HE IS MOVING THE MACHINE WAND AROUND IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT SOMETHING MAY BE WRONG.
FELICITY: (VO) It was when the doctor asked to see Ben in private that I knew something was wrong…horribly wrong.
DOCTOR: There could be a problem…she is definitely pregnant…but I’m afraid it might not be a viable pregnancy…We need to do a laproscopy.
BEN: I don’t understand.
DOCTOR: It’s to rule out an Ectopic pregnancy.
BEN: What is that?
DOCTOR: The egg rather than traveling all the way to the uterus…attaches itself inside the fallopian tube and starts to grow there.
BEN: (getting scared and upset) So what does that mean?
DOCTOR: If it turns out the baby is in her tube…I’m afraid we are going to have to remove the baby.
BEN: And then what?
DOCTOR: There is no and then what…she will no longer be pregnant.
BEN: She’s not gonna let you do that.
DOCTOR: She doesn’t have that choice…if the baby continues to grow inside her tube…it will rupture…and she could die.
BEN: Really?
DOCTOR: Yes…we need to do the procedure today.
BEN: (shocked) Okay…yeah…you should do that.
DOCTOR GOES OVER AND TALKS TO FELICITY. BEN IS STANDING BEHIND HIM.
FELICITY: You can’t be serious…please tell me this is just a joke.
DOCTOR: I’m sorry Miss Porter…truly.
FELICITY: (VO) So it turns out Sally…it was never really my choice to make at all….Just God’s way of teaching me a lesson… probably…for cheating on Ben. I had never felt so…alone in my life…then when I was laying in the recovery room…after the operation.
BEN WALKS INTO THE RECOVERY ROOM. FELICITY IS LAYING DOWN CRYING. BEN HESITATES BUT THEN WALKS OVER TO HER.
BEN: I tried to get a hold of Eli…no luck. But I left a message.
FELICITY: Thanks.
BEN: Are you okay?
FELICITY: No…I don’t think I’ll ever be okay again.
BEN: I know it was rough…but you will get through this…we’ll get through this.
FELICITY: It’s just so unfair…I mean I struggled and lost so much for the baby…and it all turned out to be for nothing…I don’t have you…and I don’t have the baby. How am I suppose to get through losing everything…I can only take so much.
BEN: You haven’t lost me…I’m still here…and as for the baby…I don’t know…It sucks…but it happened…we will find a way to deal with it.
FELICITY: Maybe if I’d just…
BEN: No…don’t. This is not your fault…there was nothing you could have done to prevent this…nothing.
BEN GOES OVER AND HUGS FELICITY. FELICITY HUGS HIM BACK.
FELICITY: I’m so sorry for everything…you have been so good to me.
INT. BEN’S LOFT. –NIGHT
BEN WALKS IN WITH FELICITY. HE FLIPS ON THE LIGHT SWITCH. SEAN IS LYING ON THE COUCH. AS THE LIGHT COMES ON HE JUMPS UP.
SEAN: Hey…(to Felicity) Are you okay?
FELICITY: I’m better…thanks.
SEAN: So you got a second Ben?
BEN: Sure. What’s up?
SEAN: I need to talk to you…in private.
BEN: Okay…Let me just get Felicity into bed and I’ll be right back.
FELICITY: I can get there myself…I’m not an invalid.
FELICITY WALKS PAST SEAN AND UP THE STAIRS TO BEN’S ROOM.
BEN: What’s up?
SEAN: Eli’s gone.
BEN: What?
SEAN: Yeah…he left me this note…with a check for like five months rent.
BEN LOOKS AT THE NOTE.
BEN: Unbelievable.
SEAN: Are you going to tell Felicity?
BEN: No way…not tonight…she’s already got enough to deal with.
SEAN: Yeah…good point.
BEN: Thanks Sean.
SEAN: Yeah…if you guys need anything…just let me know.
BEN WALKS UP THE STAIRS TO HIS ROOM AND SEE’S FELICITY FAST ASLEEP ON THE BED. HE WALKS OVER AND LAYS DOWN NEXT TO HER. HE PULLS HER INTO HIS ARMS AND NESTLES HIS CHIN IN HER HAIR.
SALLY: (VO) Dear Felicity…Ben called me and told me what happened. I am so sorry. I know you are going through a tough time now…I’m glad that Ben is there for you. Life often doesn’t turn out the way we plan or hope and alterations have to be made to get our life back to a normal place. You have been dealt a major blow…and I know things seem hopeless at this point…but keep the hope around. I imagine a couple of months ago you would have held out no hope for you and Ben…but look at you now…Friends. So as horrible as this thing that has happened to you is…it’s for a reason…one that isn’t clear now…and maybe never will be…but take life’s up and down’s and know they are there to teach us.