Author's Note: Stephen King owns Bag of Bones and all the characters and places I mention in his own cunning brain. I'm not sure whether to envy him or not.

Summary: Johanna Noonan's last thoughts. As evidenced by that last sentence, great big spoilers are in store for you here. If you haven't read Bag of Bones then you might not understand this. Hell, I'm not sure I understand it. Anyhow, enjoy and please leave feedback!

I'm Sorry

by Taskir

A piece of fish and my allergy medicine. That's what I said.

And it's true. That much isn't a lie; I have picked up my medicine and...this other thing, and now I'm going to grab that fish for dinner.

I should tell Mike. I know that's the right thing to do; we've been trying for so long now and it would make him so happy...but how can I?

Knowing what I know?

How can I tell him I'm pregnant?

The research I've done...it all points to one fact. If I have the baby, and if it's a girl and Mike insists we do name her Kia, and if we go back to Sara Laughs--

Stop it, Johanna. Do you realize how many ifs are in that damn sentence? Mike would have a conniption. If if if.

But I know what I know.

What would Mike say if he heard all this?

Dammit, be reasonable, Johanna Noonan.

I could just be sick. It's possible I'm not pregnant. I'll get home and take the test and it will be negative, all my worries for nothing. So that would be alright.

But I know what I know.

The baby could be a boy. A little boy, with my hair and Mike's smile and maybe his father's talent for words, and if not maybe my penchant for crafts. Nothing to worry about there.

But I know what I know.

I can feel it, sense it. I am pregnant. I am going to have a daughter. Mike will want to name her Kia, and soon enough we'll end up in the TR and then Mike will....

No. It wouldn't be Mike. It would be her.

I won't let her.

She's not getting my Kia.

I'm going to tell him. Dammit, I'll tell him and we'll figure something out, we'll move out of Maine, out of the country if we have to. We'll get away from her and what she wants to do to our daughter. Things will be alright. I just have to tell Mike. I won't even get the fish, I'll go home right now and---

What was that crash?

Is someone...I hear laughter.

Who's laug--I can't see--she followed me--

Oh Mike

Kia...

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