This chapter jumps around a lot, and I'm not entirely happy with it, but here you go. After a long cuddle with goddaughter today, I figured I better post this chapter, because I was getting nowhere. Anyway, read and review and tell me what you think!

Rhyleigh xoxox


That night, the Barton house was silent. It hadn't been that quiet since Kelsea was born- but that night, not a sound. Rachel and Jake didn't know what to say, as they lay there in bed, worrying about their little girl.

Where was she?

Rachel moved a little closer to her husband, tears welling in her eyes. Jake pulled her close, unable to fathom life without their Kelsea Jean. His life- and his wife's- had changed for the better when their little blue eyed beauty came into the world, and he hardly imagine life without her.

"She's going to be okay", Jake whispered, as their red digital clock rolled over to three a.m. "we're going to get her back".

"We're going to get her back", Rachel whispered back. "We have to get her back".

But forty eight hours passed, and with the whole of Australia searching for little Kelsea Jean, Jake and Rachel were in tears.

"Jake", Rachel whispered, three nights later.

"Don't say it", he snapped, turning away.

Kelsea had the ability to brighten someone's day, with her cheeky smile and sweet giggle. Rachel hadn't smiled since Kelsea had wrapped her arms around her last. As far as she was concerned, there was nothing to smile about.

"Rachel, you're going to make yourself sick", Julie pointed out, as Rachel pushed around the mashed potato on her plate. "Darling, you've got to eat".

"Mum, leave it". Ben shot their mother a look, as Rachel pushed her plate away.

"I'm sorry, Mum", Rachel mumbled.

Jake wrapped his arm around her, allowing her to lean her head on his shoulder.

"I miss Kelsea", Ruby spoke up.

"Eat up, Rubes". Retta pointed to Ruby's half empty plate with her own fork.

"But Rachel doesn't have to eat her 'tatoes", Ruby mumbled, resuming the use of her fork.

Jake and Rachel had almost abandoned their own house, moving into Rachel's childhood bedroom. After almost a week without their daughter, they were in no mood to see Kelsea's pink bedroom. in Dave and Julie's house, they had the support of their families,

"Mummy", Rachel heard Ruby say, as they lay in Rachel's bed. "is Kelsea going to be back soon?"

They heard Dave and Julie talking, long after they had gone to bed.

"Can't imagine how much pain they're in, she's a perfect little girl".

"Who would take a little girl like that?"

They were especially careful not to let Ruby into the front yard, and both had almost forgotten about their work.

"You alright?" Jake whispered, as Rachel shifted beside him once more.

"No, actually, I actually feel really sick". Rachel groaned, her stomach lurching. "I'll be back".

Stumbling a little, she swung open the door and headed towards the bathroom. The slam of the bathroom door in the early hours of the morning was enough to wake up the members of the house.

"Whassa matter?" Ruby wanted to know, leaning sleepily against her doorway.

(The little girl could sleep through an earthquake and yet the slam of a door had awoken her from her slumber.)

"Go back to bed, munchkin", Jake whispered, as both Sammy and Nathan emerged from their bedroom. "Sorry, guys, sorry. Rachel?"

"Is she okay?" Sammy wanted to know.

"I don't know, Sam, go back to bed".

Rachel was bent over the porcelain bowl of the toilet, gagging.

"Oh, baby". He knelt down beside her, rubbing her back and brushing her hair back. "Shh, it'll be alright".

"Jake, I feel like crap". She sobbed, holding onto her husband for support. "I want Kelsea back".

Perhaps her mother was right. She hadn't slept or eaten properly- no more than a slice of toast or a mouthful of whatever Julie had prepared for dinner- since the day Kelsea had gone missing.

"I want her back too".

"She's so sick", Sammy whispered to Nathan.

"Think about what's they've been through, Sam, it's understandable". Nathan pressed a kiss to Sammy's lips.

But, as the day progressed and the sun rose into the sky, Rachel didn't get any better. She crawled into her bed, hiding under the purple blankets, trying to sooth her churning stomach. She felt sick and bloated, and worried sick about her daughter.

"I'm going into the kitchen, alright Rach?" Jake checked, brushing his hand over her forehead. She nodded, squeezing her eyes shut.

"How is she?" Julie wanted to know, offering Jake a slice of toast.

"Is she still sick?" Ruby wanted to know, waving around her cereal spoon in greeting.

"Little bit, kiddo". He shook his head, declining the toast.

"I'm gonna go and see her", Sammy decided, "Before I go to work".

"Hi guys", Melissa called, coming in the front door with Ben at her heels. Ruffling Ruby's curls, she followed Sammy into the room Rachel and Jake were residing in.

"Hey honey", Melissa said gently. "How are you?"

"Sick and bloated". Rachel let out a shaky laugh, rolling onto her back. "Morning". Kicking off the blankets, she sat up. "God, I feel gross".

Sammy rubbed Rachel's back- but it didn't stop her mind from ticking. She had seen Rachel the way she was once before in her life- when she first found out that she was pregnant with Kelsea.

But, as it turned out, she wasn't the only one thinking like that.

"No!" Rachel cried, when Melissa quietly spoke up. "I'm not pregnant, Mel. What the hell?"

Only weeks earlier, before Kelsea's third birthday, she and Jake had discussed giving her a little brother or sister. There were two years between Rachel and Ben, and four years between Jake and Alex. They both wanted another baby- a little boy, Jake had laughed- but had decided that they didn't have to have another one right away. If it happened, it happened.

"Oh holy shit".