A/N: More familiar character are included in this chap :D hope you'll like it and my muse says a big THANK YOU for the feedback
Enjoy
Chapter 04 : There's a fruits basket in my womb
When I was in 8th grade, our science teacher Miss Chendler made us watch a video on childbirth. Some women on the video described the process as the most painful experiment of their lives. I remember that one of them even compared it to having your skin ripped off your body. That day, I decided I wasn't having any children…Yet, few years later I had my first child Diana and what I learned from my labor was that:
One, it didn't feel like your skin was being ripped…It felt like somebody grabbed a pair of scissors and started cutting my skin…Wait, it's exactly what it was, which led me to:
Two, I wasn't stepping in a labor room ever again
I'm pregnant…I'm absolutely and beyond a shadow of doubt pregnant
One positive pregnancy test can have a certain rate of inaccuracy, two have a lesser rate, three have none. So, judging by the three white sticks with pink dots on them, I'm carrying an avocado in my womb whose seed was planted by no other than Nick Burkhardt.
Thank you life for your great sense of humor, I'm really amazed by your pranks
Although this child was conceived accidently and is in no way the result of an intercourse of two people in love, I know that I loved it the moment I confirmed it was here…and of course, once I was past my period of denial which lasted a week or so. I was so concentrated on my search for my daughter that I didn't even notice I was awfully late.
I rub my belly absentmindedly as I stare through the window at the snow blanket covering the pavement, winter is going to be particularly cold this year, I'm completely lost in my thoughts when suddenly a familiar voice startles me "Angry stomach?"
The pretty brunette of the spice shop takes the seat beside me at Dr Matha Jones' office, I fight the laugh that's bubbling inside my throat, she nicknamed me "angry stomach" for Pete's sake "Hi" I extend my hand "I prefer Adalind" I say with a smile
She shakes my hand excitedly "Rosalee" she gestures to my belly "Guess that's the reason behind your unhappy stomach that day…you must be excited"
"I am" I say honestly as I stroke my belly tenderly "I'm discovering the sex of the baby today"
Rosalee gives me a genuine smile "Wow" she looks around then back at me with her eyebrows furrowed "Guess the father couldn't come with you to the doctor's appointment"
I feel the heat rising to my cheeks at the mention of my baby's father. God, he doesn't even know I'm expecting his child. I mean I tried to tell him, I went to his place and was all but ready to knock at his door and announce the big news, but when I saw Juliette emerging from the house, I wasn't so sure it was a good idea. I don't want my child to feel unwanted or not enough loved. Nick doesn't like me and I don't like him either, I know many people worked through their differences for the sake of their children, but is Nick capable of that? Am I capable of that?
Even so, I know I should give him the choice, but the more time passed the more I believed nothing good would come out of it. I earn enough money at my law firm to give the baby a comfortable life, as for love, I know I'm capable of giving enough of it.
"He…Errr…" I stutter on my words, looking for the right thing to say
Rosalee blushes "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be nosy" before she has time to elaborate, the doctor's assistant calls my name. A sudden wave of stress washes over me, that's it, I'm about to discover if it's a He or a She, not that it matters as long as the baby is healthy. I try to get up on wobbly legs. I feel lonely all of sudden. I would have loved for somebody to come with me, but who? My mom wouldn't speak to me because I'm having a baby out of marriage and also because I refused to give away the identity of the father and other that her, I don't have anybody to accompany me here.
Rosalee reaches for my hand, probably noticing my sudden discomfort "Do you want me to come with you?"
Tears sting in my eyes "Would you?"
She nods and gets to her feet immediately. While the doctor pours the gel on my swollen belly and places the probe on it, Rosalee takes my hand in hers and smiles reassuringly at me. We're both in awe as the doctor proceeds to explain what's on the images.
"Well, well" Dr Jones gestures to the small screen "Looks like you're having a boy"
I'm having a boy, Oh my God, my mind drifts off to Diana immediately. My little girl is going to have a brother. I can't help the floods of tears covering every inch of my face. For the first time in a very long time, I feel happy. Rosalee squeezes my hand "Congratulations" she mutters with a giant smile.
"Thank you for everything" I tell her once we step outside the office, a wave of ice cold air grazing my skin.
"I'm glad I was there" she hesitates before adding "My husband and I are trying to have a baby…that's actually why I came"
Before I have time to say something, my phone buzzes in my jacket pocket, I retrieve it and check the message I got. It's a video from Sean, as I open it, I see my daughter opening gifts by the Christmas tree. Sean hands her a box in a red wrap and golden bow knot…I recognize it as the gift I begged Henrietta to deliver for me. It's already January, so the video was filmed about ten days ago.
"What is it?" she asks
"I don't know, open it, it's from mommy" it's Sean's voice
Diana shakes her head frantically "I don't want it…I don't like her anymore"
The happiness I felt earlier evaporates and my heart breaks into a million pieces, her last words echo in my head as if someone pressed on replay I don't want it…I don't like her anymore. I feel dizzy all of a sudden and start to lose balance, it all plays in slow motion as I see Rosalee's shocked expression, then my eyes travel to the ground I'm about to hit hard, except it doesn't happen. Somebody grabs me from behind and helps steady me
"Thanks God you were here, Monroe" Rosalee speaks to the man who's still holding my arm
"Are you ok?" What I assume is Rosalee's husband asks
I nod slowly, unable to produce any coherent sound
"What happened?" Rosalee's concerned face is all I can see, as I go on auto-pilot
"It was my ex husband"
Monroe shrieks unhappily "My best friend is a detective in Portland Police, if your ex is harassing you I can ask him to do something"
My heart contracts at the kindness of this couple "No, it's fine, don't worry. Thank you for offering though"
Rosalee and I exchange our phone numbers, she insists on checking on me later, just to make sure I'm fine.
%%%
The following months are quite uneventful, Rosalee comes with me to every doctor appointment. We have lunch together at the spice shop every Friday. She goes with me shopping for the baby and she never asks about the father. My life seemed to go back on track, until it all came crashing down.
"I can't believe you're already six months pregnant" Rosalee shrugs, while we're having our usual Friday lunch "I still remember that first time you came seeking a remedy to your stomach ache" she laughs
"How can you not believe it? look at me, I'm huge" I gesture to my stomach
She stares at me with a somber expression "I wish I was huge as well" I know she's referring to having a baby. Monroe and her are really eager to become parents and I'm sure they'll be fantastic ones. I reach for her hand and give her a gentle squeeze "Hey, don't lose hope, I have a positive feeling about that"
Rosalee forces a smile on her face and nods
My phone starts ringing, putting our conversation on hold "Hello?"
"You'd better tell me who is the father, Adalind or I'll squeeze it out of you and you know I'm not afraid to have blood on my hands" Sean's menacing voice sends shivers down my spine. He discovered I was pregnant a month ago, when I couldn't hide it anymore. I knew what was coming, Sean still has informants here and for some reason, he still believes I'm his.
I tell him what I always say "It's none of your business"
Rosalee murmurs an "Is it him?" and I nod
"Then don't blame me for what's going to happen. I gave you enough time, Adalind" he says before the line goes dead.
My heart pounds very hard against my chest, Sean has something behind his head and it's not going to be pretty, I have yet to know what it is and it doesn't take long for me to discover it. After I left the spice shop, I go buy some new pregnancy clothes because mine don't fit anymore, as I walk back to my car, a black SUV rushes toward me on high speed, intent on ending my life. I'm so shocked that my legs stay rooted to the ground. I hear people shouting, screaming, yelling, but I'm unable to move, then it's a blackout.
When I open my eyes again, I'm lying on a hospital bed, my arm is bandaged and my head feels like it's just thrown a wild party. It's throbbing like hell. As soon as I remember what happened in the parking lot, my heart goes on over drive "My baby…how is my baby?" I ask the nurse standing by my bed
She smiles reassuringly "The baby's fine and so are you, except for few bruises here and there"
"Miss Schade" a police officer with Asian features knocks at the door "I'm agent Wu and this is agent Hernandez" he gestures to the tall man beside him "Can we ask you few questions?"
I proceed to tell them what happened, what little I remember and Agent Wu explains that fortunately a car was about to leave the parking lot when the SUV came my way, so the driver charged toward it crashing hard against the SUV. I was relieved to know nothing happened to my savior. The SUV driver though, managed to run away. Police is investigating the case and they should find out more thanks to the vehicle's plate.
"FBI, I'm agent Burkhardt" Kelly shows the officers her badge when she enters the room "We're taking over"
Agent Wu raises an eyebrow, not appreciating the interruption
"Miss Schade is a valuable witness in a case the FBI is investigating" she clarifies and signifies for them to leave as she holds the door open with a fierce glare
The moment the police officers are out of sight, Kelly directs her unhappy scowl at me. I'm the victim here, why is she staring at me like I'm a criminal?
"What?" I ask defensively
"Tell me it's not Renard's" she flares. I've never seen Kelly lose her composure and somewhat, her reaction takes me by surprise.
"Of course not" the mere insinuation feels like an insult
I see relief on her face the moment the words leave my mouth, she nods slightly, then walks toward my bed. For the first time since I met Kelly Burkhardt, I see vulnerability on her face. I notice her wrinkled forehead, her tired expression and more importantly her concerned eyes. She brushes a strand of hair away from my face, in that motherly way my own mother never did.
"The first thing they teach future FBI officers at Quantico is to never get emotionally attached to cases, as it could be fatal" she strokes my hair absentmindedly "And I always abided by it, until I met you Adalind, I admired your courage to stand against a terrorist organization as big as BC, I admired your determination to get your daughter back, I admired how despite hurting in the inside you still held your head high, then slowly my admiration gave place to affection" I inhale deeply as her words reach under my skin and head toward my miserable heart "I stopped regarding you as a case and before I knew it, you became an extension of my family" she sits on my bed to faces me, her eyes shine with unshed tears "I have no right to tell you what to do or not do with your life, Adalind, just be safe"
A single tear escapes my eye "I will"
She glances at my belly and I dread what's to come "So, who's the happy father?"
I consider my options, but unfortunately there aren't many, it's either I tell her the truth or pretend it's the Immaculate Conception. Oh, wait, there's a third option, I could still faint and won't have to say anything, but it's just a temporary solution.
A phone call puts our conversation on hold "Sorry, it's my daughter" Kelly brings the phone to her ear "Yes, Theresa"
Nick has a sister! I didn't know that. He doesn't sound to be the type to have a sister. Do men who have siblings have a type? Why am I even wondering? Anyways, it's not like I know much about him. We barely stand being in the same room, let alone have a real conversation. That night was an exception…a mistake…which resulted in Nick planting a seed in my womb.
Kelly ends her conversation with her daughter and faces me again "Where were we? Oh, the baby's father"
I sigh, then flash her my best smile "So, how do you feel about becoming a grandmother?"
