A/N: Hope you guys are still enjoying :) Work on the sequel is being somewhat slowed down by school, but I'm still working at it, promise :)

xx

The further Lily's story unfolded, the more Olive felt like she was in something of an awkward position. So many things she was discovering, she knew Chuck would be well in her right to know. And yet, there were problems to this supposition.

For one, discovering these stories and these secrets would no doubt push her to go running home. And though she didn't fully understand her motivations, it was certain Chuck had her reasons.

Another point was that Lily spoke to her in confidence. She had only known Lily for a certain time, but she was well aware of the privilege and trust she'd been allowed. She felt like she was handed a bomb and somehow expected to know how to handle it.

As the story came a sudden pause, Olive knew the next phase ahead was one that held even more emotions for Lily and for all of them.

x

The day had been as uneventful as the last few that had preceded it. At this juncture, the impending birth appeared the furthest thing from their mind, as awaiting it had only left them ever more frustrated and deceived. So it had fallen to a tactic of ignoring the child, hoping indignation would draw it out.

As it was, as Lily Charles went to bed that January night, one Charlotte Charles was – in these terms – negative nineteen hours and forty-seven minutes old. The moment where Lily's head would finally find a pillow and rest would be extremely short-lived. Seconds later, rest had to take a backseat to the impending wild activity.

When Lily opened her eyes, she knew. She knew not only that her life was about to change, but that Charles, Amelia, and Vivian were in for it too. It took a moment for her to move, to accept to set things in motion. The moment she alerted them she was effectively saying goodbye to this child, relinquishing it to the position of nephew or niece.

"See you on the other side," she spoke softly as she pressed a hand to her belly while she stood.

When she walked out into the hall she found Charles, returning from the kitchen with tea for Amelia. He saw her and knew. The starting pistol was fired.

"Amelia, Vivian!" he called, suddenly aware of the hot cup in his hands again. "It's time!" Depositing the cup on a nearby table, he approached his sister, taking hold of her hands, smiling. "Are you..."

"I'm fine," she nodded. "We should hurry though," she breathed.

"Right..." Charles nodded. At that moment Vivian burst in from the stairs, out of breath.

"The bag is by the door," she announced.

"You get Amelia," Lily told her brother, still relatively in control. "Help me?" she turned to Vivian. Without a word, Vivian went to her sister's side to help her down to the car. Five minutes later, they were off.

Many things ran through Lily's mind as the car hurried down the empty night streets. The first was how fast the last nine months had gone by. Not only for the baby, but her eye... She'd hardly had time to give it more consideration, and for that it had become so part of her life she didn't give it much attention anymore. Still, it would forever be tied to this time, and this she'd come to cherish in a way.

Then she thought of what would happen if... when Amelia would be lost. It wouldn't be long, they all knew it though they would step around the subject. Lily wondered what her part in this would become should Charles find himself alone with the baby. Of course she didn't want him to have to go at it alone if he needed the help, but...

Somewhat lower in priority, but still present, there was the future of the Darling Mermaid Darlings. Would they return? As the months had passed, it appeared to be a shared thought that they needed an indefinite break. The spark had gone, got lost... And for a time they would not seek it again.

Further musings were unceremoniously shoved aside as contractions took the stage all to themselves. Vivian would attempt to calm her through a jittery offering of 'Moon River' and for the rest of her life Lily would remain unable to hear the song without feeling her insides give a quiver.

"Vivian, I beg you..." Lily squeezed the arm rest as she tried to breathe. The muttered plea was never heard, buried under the sound of the brakes. Once again, Charles attended to Amelia while Vivian took Lily into the hospital. It had been agreed on that Vivian would be the one to follow into the delivery room. This wouldn't be for some time though as, despite having started her descent, the baby appeared content with taking her time.

After hours spent in rising anguish, it seemed they were close at last. This would be another moment forever held in memory, for both of the sisters. It all came in a look, as Lily expressed her fear and sadness, while Vivian gave back in strength and understanding. They grasped hands and didn't let go.

Lily felt every push was expelling another small part of this emotionally contradicting time away from herself. And while she'd told herself time and time again how this was right, she knew she would forever treasure this time.

It was 6:32 in the evening, and cries rang out. Charlotte Charles was three seconds old.

Lily had cried, from the moment she knew it was imminent, through her daughter's first cries, until she'd be taken back toward her room. Once the nurse had the girl cleaned and wrapped, she handed her to Vivian, as had been agreed, so that she may take her to meet Charles and Amelia. Lily had requested time before she was to see the daughter she'd call her niece.

Vivian would later retell to her sister taking the infant to meet her parents. Charles had taken the fussing girl into his arms, crying happily as she'd settled to him, turning curious eyes up to him. He'd crouched before Amelia's chair, offering at last what he'd long promised her. She hesitated.

"What if I drop her?" Amelia spoke, eyes mesmerizedly locked on her daughter. Charles smiled, willing his wife into trying nonetheless.

"You'll be fine," he promised. And indeed she was, by the mere sensation of the warm little person snuggled in her arms. Amelia hadn't looked this well in weeks.

"Oh..." she breathed out, smiling. "Oh, sweetheart. Look at you," she cried, brushing gently at the fine hair on her head. "You're here..." Her tears were happy ones, refusing to think of her illness in that instant. It was perfect. She wouldn't ruin it.

"So... it's like we decided?" Charles couldn't help smiling, looking upon his wife and their daughter.

"Yes," Amelia smiled back with a nod as she looked back to the baby. "Our Charlotte Lillian Charles." Vivian joined the crouching Charles soon, observing her niece. She could already see Lily in her. Thinking of her sister, who would be in her room by then, she left the new family to rejoin Lily.

As she entered the room, she found her sister was asleep – or so she assumed. She made to leave the room again, when...

"Vivian?" she turned back and saw Lily's eyes were now opened. Vivian took the steps back up to her sister.

"I thought you were..."

"I tried," she explained. There was a moment of silence, of questions unable to be asked.

"She's with them now. They're so happy." This helped. "She's really something," Vivian too her sister's hand.

"Charlotte..." Lily spoke the name, knowing of Charles and Amelia's choice. She didn't want to cry anymore, had no reason to, save for... She didn't want to cry, so she didn't. She still wanted to, and just knowing it was enough.

"Try to sleep. I'll find us something to eat for when you wake up." Lily nodded, closing her eyes again after a moment. Vivian waited a moment then went as she'd told.

When at last Lily did sleep, she found her dreams didn't hold much in the form of comfort. All she saw in them was a vast nothing... empty. She'd always considered herself a strong person, but was she tested as she'd been on that day. She'd let her guard down, left herself vulnerable. And the feelings it brought were something which left her like her dreams... empty, nothing.

This held nothing of what would come a week later.

After everyone had returned to their respective homes, it began what was to be the new period of their lives. Charles would call and inform Vivian of how things were going with little Charlotte. Lily wasn't ready, for any of it. Still, Vivian would make sure to take these calls from Charles within earshot of Lily, replying to his statements by repeating them in a happy question. Lily didn't mention it, so neither did Vivian. Still she'd see it made Lily feel better.

And then a call came in, but this one wasn't to share Charlotte's latest accomplishments. The moment Vivian had heard her brother's voice, it was clear. She turned to Lily, face blank. Lily looked back, concerned. As Vivian spoke with Charles, Lily understood what was happening. It was Amelia...

"We should..." Vivian started after hanging up. She looked to her sister then. "You'll come?"

Lily had not yet set eyes on the baby. She knew she would, eventually, that she'd see her grow up before her eyes. But that first time still kept her back. When Vivian asked if she'd come, Lily looked up.

"Y... yes. Yes, of course. Come on..." she went to get her jacket and keys.

She knew there was fault to this visit. She wanted to help her brother, she wanted to give him some comfort after losing his wife, but she knew the moment she saw the girl, she would be lost to him. As they arrived at the house, Lily froze on the path to the door. Vivian noticed her absence when her steps couldn't be heard on the steps. She turned back to Lily.

"You go," Lily nodded. "I'll be there in a minute." Vivian hesitated, then went in. Lily remained in her spot, arms wrapped around herself. She just had to take that next step. One step and the others would follow. It didn't happen in that first minute.

And then she heard, through the door left open by Vivian... the cry. It reached clear through to her heart, to her feet, and willed her to move. As she entered the home, she found Charles still wrapped in their sister's arms. The cries came from upstairs, and Lily knew Charles needed them, unable to attend to the girl though he wanted to.

She ascended slowly, each step giving her heartbeat a ramp in speed. She passed Charles and Amelia's room. The door was shut – they were still waiting for them to come pick up the body. She reached the nursery, the world she'd given her daughter to. The door was adorned with a large wooden 'C', pink with flowers. The door was ajar.

TBC