AN: Editing is done by me, but I'm not particularly good at it, if someone's interested at being a Beta reader let me know :)
Chapter 1: Beginnings
It was a warm autumn evening, a small breeze caught the fallen leaves, throwing them back into the air causing them to twist and twirl back to the ground again. Darkness was drawing in; the light was darkening by the minute. Amanda Burke stood in the kitchen thinking quietly to herself, she smiled when she heard a small quiet voice speak,
"Momma?" Amanda looked down to see her four-year-old daughter standing at the kitchen door.
"Yes Becca." She replied walking towards her daughter, they entered the living room together.
"Where's daddy?"
The question threw Amanda off guard, it was something she was wondering as well. She looked thoughtfully at the little girl, her pale complexion matched her own, her long curly auburn hair, matched her father, though it wasn't nearly as long. Amanda frowned remember the note she had received a few days ago.
Dear Amanda, I must leave
For the safety of you and your children
That was all the letter said, it wasn't signed but she knew who it was from. It had broken her heart, especially with another baby due in two weeks. Lightening streaked across the night sky followed by roaring thunder. Rebecca jumped up and buried herself in her mother's side.
"Shhhh." Amanda said softly, stroking her daughter's hair.
"Where's daddy?" Rebecca asked again looking into her mother's blue eyes.
"Daddy's – " Amanda stopped, did she dare tell her child that he had ran off? That he was in some trouble? She didn't know what to say, "Daddy's gone." She said, it wasn't a completely lie.
"Doesn't he love us?" She asked the question made Amanda's eyes widen like saucers.
"Of course he loves us." Amanda said trying to hid her emotions that were trying to bubble their way to the surface.
"Then why'd he leave?" Rebecca said thoughtfully, drawing a small laugh from her mother at her expression.
"Because, he has too." The words sounded hollow, false even to Amanda's own ears. The knowledge that he had left, burned. It was like a part of her heart had been torn away, left empty, a large gaping hole remaining.
"Doesn't he want baby brother?" Rebecca asked placing a hand on her mother's stomach.
Amanda decided she would change the topic, she would explain when she was older.
"You going to be a good sister to him?"
Rebecca nodded her small head enthusiastically, "best sister ever" She giggled.
Thunder began to roar again and lightening followed suit. Then it began to rain, at first was was soft, then it was pouring down. Rebecca sat burying her head in her mother trying to hide.
"Its just a storm baby." She said looking at her daughter.
"Scared." Rebecca mumbled back.
Amanda was thoughtful for a moment then smiled, "It's just the skies singing."
Rebecca perked up at this, a confused expression clouded her face. Amanda smiled and kissed her forehead then sang a song, her voice was soft and beautiful, like a nightingale.
Thunder roar
Bring the rain
Lightening soar
Feel our pain
Pitter patter
Don't cry
Spitter spatter
Don't fear
She sang the song a few times and Rebecca soon joined in though she struggled with pitter patter and spitter spatter, but it didn't matter.
Later that night Amanda stood in the doorway watching her daughter sleep peacefully in her bed, she could see nothing but pure innocent, pure joy in that calm expression as she slept. Her hands fell unconsciously to her stomach, she wondered how'd she go raising her daughter and son without a father. I'll take this one day and a time. She said, just like she and her husband and done with Rebecca.
"Sleep well Sirus." She said to her stomach.