Short chapter, but I'll have another up as soon as I can. This is just fluffy stuff, not important to the plot but I hope you'll still enjoy it!
"Are you and your little princess ready to go home?" Addie cooed, cheek pressed against Teddy's now-prominent baby bulge.
"Home?"
"My place. I have the spare room all set up and I brought some stuff from your apartment over. I just thought it'd be best for you to near us all; your place is so damn far away."
"Oh, Addie, you didn't have to!"
"Well, I did anyway. And as your obstetrician, I'm putting you on bed rest – you're still at risk for preterm labor, and too much movement will only heighten that risk."
Teddy nodded; she understood.
The prospect of living in Addie's place daunted Teddy just a little, but that made her laugh – after all they'd been through, what other insignificant fear could match?
"What's so funny?" Addie asked, stroking Teddy's cheek. She loved the sound of Teddy's laugh, and how her laughter warmed her eyes. Those laughs were so hard to come by now.
"Oh, nothing." Teddy turned her gaze to her belly in awe and wonderment. In just a few months' time, she'd be someone's Mommy.
"Have you thought… have you thought about a name for her?"
"I don't know. What do you think?" In truth, Teddy had been giving the subject a lot of thought, just to keep her mind off the darker things, the places she didn't want to go and the drawers she liked better when they were tightly shut.
"I… oh, no, you shouldn't be asking me…"
"Why not, Addie? You've been here with me all this time; you've taken care of me and my girl. I'd like to know what you think." Teddy smiled as she cradled one of Addie's hands lightly.
Addie tilted her head in thought. "Hmm. What's your middle name?"
"Why?"
"I'm just curious."
"It's Jayne. J-a-y-n-e. I know, it's weird."
"No, it's pretty! Just like your baby will be."
"Jayni." Teddy experimented.
"Jayni? That's a nice one. Hi, Jayni." Addie hand hovered over Teddy's belly, trying the name out too.
The baby gave a flutter and Teddy gasped.
"Jayni…" She whispered. Teddy touched the fingertips of her right hand to her mouth, and moved it to exactly where her little girl had kicked her. She willed her little Jayni to hear what she so desperately wanted to believe.
Hey little fighter, soon it will be brighter.
We're over the stormy end.
That's it for now. The next chapter may involve a police voice line-up and a whole load of angst, so stay tuned!