Reference: In order to hide their civilian identities, the Shitennou go by Knight names when they are in henshin.
Kunzite: North Knight
Zoicite: South Knight
Nephrite: East Knight
Jadeite: West Knight

Also, in case you don't remember from earlier...
Shingo: Blue Moon Knight
Haruki: Sun Knight


TW: talks about the loss of a child.


Sanctuary
A Christmas Story
Chapter Twelve


***Jadeite's POV***

Jadeite nearly screamed his warning aloud, but he had no chance before Rei became Sailor Mars. He ran around the corner at the two Cardians, attacking from behind. He could hear the commotion of another battle. Perhaps more than one, and his heart clenched in worry and fear.

Only one moment. He'd only been gone one moment, and everything had changed. He knew Haruki and Setsuna were at the back of the house and that Nephrite and Makoto were to the other side. He and Rei had been in charge of guarding the front while Ami and Zoicite took their break.

He'd heard something clanging and had gone to check, and in just the few seconds his back had been turned, the whole group was under attack. His mind raged at him. He was angry he had fallen for such a simple ploy. But there had been seven others on guard. One man off post shouldn't have resulted in this.

As he came around the corner Minako became Venus and Kunzite became North Knight. They fought alongside Mars against the two creatures, but both threw attack after attack, the Cardians still having the upper hand for a moment.

There was a strange whistling sound as one of the Cardians swirled something over her head, swinging it around and around. Unsure what else to do, Jadeite became West Knight, and launched an attack. He didn't have to think about it. The words and movements came to him like muscle memory, and his hands leapt forward in a smooth motion.

A dragon made entirely of flame flew out and caught the Cardian unaware. It faded to dust even before the other creature gave it's final scream and also blew in the breeze. Two simple cards lay in the grass atop their remains.

More fighting could be heard from inside and outside the house, and he turned and raced for the front door. Nothing would keep him from his duty. Mars raced alongside him. He knew somewhere Venus and North Knight were also working to reach their prince and princess. The others would do what they could as they could. They could let none of the Cardians escape.

As he reached the genkan just inside the doorway he heard the scream of the Cardian in the kitchen and knew it had been destroyed. Another stood in the living room, having leapt through the front window at some point before he reached the room. It was about to attack Mamoru from behind.

He didn't even speak. This time he pulled his sword and cut the creature's head from its body. He'd had no formal sword training in this life, but all the old lessons were still there, and before he had even completed a full turn, he reached out with his senses for any other danger. There was nothing.

Usagi and Mamoru stood in the kitchen, the remains of another cardian lying on the floor between them. Usagi was just turning from checking the twins, when he sheathed his sword. Outside he could hear the tail end of the battle. Dying screams of the cardians rang out through the night.

Never had he heard of such an attack. It didn't seem possible that the two aliens would have done all this just because one of them was angry with Usagi. It had to be something more. And then he remembered the glowing symbols the twins had worn in their distress. The female alien had been close enough to see them. He knew they would try again.

Kunzite reached him a moment later, Minako beside him. Jadeite reappeared as he released his henshin.

"I have an idea," Minako said, and the four of them put their heads together as they worked all the details out. Neither the prince or the princess would like it, and he was sure there would be others who objected as well, especially their two feline guardians, but there was no other option.


***Kunzite's POV***

They all gathered together in the living room after the attack was over. No one wanted to be separated from the royal couple, or their precious cargo.

"We have to move them," Kunzite said, staring at the group. Usagi and Mamoru sat quietly on the couch, each holding one of the infants. "I don't know if they're after the twins, or the prince and princess, but either way, this place is no longer safe for them."

His hand lifted to the shattered front window in mute evidence of his statement. Usagi shuddered and Mamoru quickly wrapped an arm around her.

"Where can we take them?" Rei was pacing forward and back. "Those aliens aren't the only threat. Someone wants those babies."

Kunzite searched her face, then nodded in understanding. They had very few places among them. And Usagi would not be parted from the children. The problem was, if they could figure out who the aliens were, those two could easily identify them as well. Their own homes would be just as vulnerable to attack.

"The command center." Luna spoke quietly, still staring out into the night. "Right now it's still uncompromised. But to keep it that way, they can't be seen going in and out. Someone needs to teleport them there." She turned and looked at Kunzite.

He nodded. They could teleport, even if Usagi and Mamoru couldn't yet manage on their own. It was a skill they remembered, but had not yet managed in this life. He and the other Shitennou, as well as some of the Outer Senshi, and even Shingo, knew how to teleport already.

"We can teach them later," Nephrite said. "Right now let's just get them to safety."

"Wait," Usagi stood and handed Chibi-Usa to Mamoru. She stood quietly and lifted the moon stick. For a long moment there was silence, before a flash of light caused them all to shield their eyes.

When Kunzite looked again, the damage to the house had been repaired. That wasn't all. Sitting in the corner of the living room was the fully decorated Christmas tree.

He looked back at Usagi, who blushed. "I promised," she whispered sadly.

He could only nod. Minako moved forward and took the twins. Then Kunzite took her by the arm and transported away, knowing instinctively where to go.

A few seconds later Jadeite appeared with Mamoru and Usagi. He left as soon as they sat, and Minako returned the twins to them. Both infants had taken to fussing when they couldn't see their future parents, and from the way Usagi and Mamoru clung to them, and each other, the feeling was mutual.

"We have a plan," Minako said quietly, and Kunzite worried it was too soon to let them know. The prince and princess were both in shock. They were exhausted, and had been seriously injured the day before. And then faced an attack in the middle of the night. "We need the pen," she added.

Usagi's head shot up and she shook it frantically. "No Minako!" she nearly yelled. "You can't!"

"We can, and we will," she said quietly. Kunzite couldn't have been more proud of her. "You can give me yours, or I can go home and get my compact, but one way or another, this is happening."

Usagi continued to shake her head, frantically trying to tell Minako it was a bad idea. The other blonde simply held her hand out and waited. Kunzite knew she would make good on her promise to retrieve her own item, but she wanted Usagi to agree. She wanted permission to put herself in danger.

Usagi sniffled and clutched at the baby tightly before she reached into her subspace pocket for the Luna Pen and handed it over. "Mina…" she whispered. "I just got you back. Be careful." It was a plea that could not be ignored, and Minako nodded before she took the pen and hugged her princess.

"I'll be careful," she said, and Kunzite planned to make sure she kept her promise. They had worked this out very carefully. There could be no mistakes now.

"Stay here," he ordered, "and do not move."

This was one of the few times himself or Minako could overrule the royals, and while they hated to do it, there was no other choice.

Nephrite appeared with several baby items for the twins, and a moment later Jadeite reappeared as well. None of the items from Usagi's house had been taken. They had found another source.


***Ami's POV***

Ami carefully kept an eye on Usagi throughout the school day. She was too quiet. It wasn't like her. Usagi was the happy one. The one who wore a perpetual smile. But today she looked serious and troubled.

They were all worried. The course of action they were taking was dangerous, of course, but it had to be done. There were no other options. Ami sighed and turned back to the other side of the room where Natsume continued to glare at the pigtailed blonde.

They wouldn't have long to wait, she was sure. She knew that Mamoru would be waiting at the gates to walk Usagi home when school ended. It was all part of the plan. Nothing could be out of the ordinary if this was to work.

As soon as the bell rang Ami moved to Usagi's desk, carefully waving Naru away with a look and a hidden motion that promised answers as soon as possible. Right now she had to ensure the princess' safety and make sure everything happened exactly as it was meant to.

Together they walked to the lockers and changed their shoes before leaving the school. Mamoru and Zoicite waited for them at the fence. She and Zo had to split up from them to go and retrieve the babies. They would meet up at the park near Usagi's house, and hopefully everything would finally be resolved.

She noticed right away that Seijoru followed her and Zo while Natsume tailed the other couple. With a few clicks she informed them that they were being watched, and received a confirmation that they had noticed her already. Others were in place, watching carefully to ensure their safety as they made the trip.


***Rei's POV***

Rei was ready when Ami and Zoicite arrived. She had stayed home from school and now handed over the twins, helping the couple get the stroller down the stairs before she turned and went back inside. Jadeite was waiting for her, and together they snuck out the back of the shrine and into the woods.

A moment later they had transformed and ran to make sure Ami and Zo were safe with the twins. The boy was still following them, but had not yet made a move. He seemed to be arguing with himself as to what action he should take.

Sailor Mars was not a patient person in the normal course of things, but she worked to keep calm and not show their hand. She and West Knight jumped from rooftop to rooftop, silently following. Seijoru didn't look around at anything. His eyes were all for the stroller Ami was pushing.

Whatever happened she had to protect the precious cargo inside. There were no other options. They could not come to harm. They were too precious, to all of them. Ami and Zoicite cut through the park, taking the shortest route to their meeting with Usagi and Mamoru.

She felt her communicator buzz and the message that Usagi and Mamoru were in place came through. She sighed with relief. Soon this would all be over.


AUTHOR'S POV

All of them knew it was only a matter of time before they discovered where the younger versions of the prince and princess lived. They were likely to be at one of those locations. To aid their search they found a local teenage hangout and rested there, watching and waiting as young people came in to play games.

Most of the young females tried their hand at flirting with the blonde man who worked behind the counter. From the intelligence the group had gathered, his family owned the arcade, and he worked there several days a week, usually behind the counter.

A younger, red-haired female, his sister from what they could learn, worked there as well, waiting tables. There was a cook in the kitchen, and another young waitress with curly cinnamon hair who served as a waitress as well. She was apparently the newest employee, and therefore would be the easiest to con if necessary to retrieve the desired information.

The leader sat, tapping his fingers impatiently on a table top, his wife across from him. They had decided on code names, basing them upon lore from this planet, and he heard her whisper.

"Lazarus," she murmured. "I think they're coming."

His head came up and he stared out the window. He could see them. The young versions of the prince and princess, holding hands and smiling at one another. But he saw no infants with them. Perhaps they were being watched by another.

"You're right Mary, my heart," he whispered back. "If they do not come inside, I will send the twins to follow them."

She nodded, looking down at the table for a moment. Her heart was beating rapidly, in fear or excitement, even she could not tell. The twins sat at a table across the room, each pretending to sip on a sugary drink made from iced cream and milk. A strange world, this.

They watched in silence as the couple entered the arcade and went to the counter at the front. They spoke to the blonde-haired man for a long moment, and were handed a cardboard tray with food and a couple drinks in paper cups with straws.

A moment later they were leaving again. The twins rose to follow them and the leader and his wife waited for twenty seconds before following. They moved swiftly, trying to maintain their cover while keeping a visual on the couple they were following. They had to find those babies.

None of the group saw the young waitress follow them out of the Crown Game Center. They didn't see as she was met by a tall young man with long wavy hair. None of them noticed when the two disappeared into an alley. The flash of light was brief and hidden, and then the couple was racing over the rooftops, keeping watch over the royal couple, and the ones following them.

Soon Usagi and Mamoru had reached the park and they stood, clinging to one another, waiting for Ami and Zoicite to bring the babies to them.


***Usagi's POV***

The day had been long and boring for Usagi. She was tired and feeling rather cranky. Worry had her biting at her fingernails and watching the clock. She wasn't sure how much longer she could pretend not to be frightened out of her mind. The hours passed slowly, each second taking years for her.

Mamoru wrapped his arms around her. "It will be over soon," he murmured, and she nodded, unable to speak. "It will be okay. The babies will be safe from harm, and everyone will be alright."

She turned in his arms and rested her cheek against his chest, praying to the kami that everyone would be safe. They were doing everything they could to protect their royals, and while that was admirable, and she was willing to accept the help for the sake of the children, she still felt like they were putting themselves in unnecessary danger.


***Natsume's (An's) POV***

Natsume let her disguise go. Now An, she stood, hidden in the trees, watching the couple standing near the bridge. Their disgusting display of affection angered her. She should be the one in the arms of the handsome man. Usagi was worthless. She didn't deserve a man like Mamoru. But Mamoru had to pay as well, for defying her and turning her down.

She thought of her plan. When they had taken the babies and drained them of their life force she would return and take Mamoru for her own. He would be her new plaything. She would keep him in a bubble and only take him out when she wanted him to pay attention to her. Soon he would grow to love her and would do anything for her.

She could see the blue haired girl coming over the hill with the stroller, and knew Seijoru would not be far behind. As soon as he arrived they could release a dozen Cardians and in the chaos they would take the babies to the tree. Thankfully the process was quick. She didn't want to deal with smelly infants screaming and crying for long.

Once they fed the tree, An knew she and Ail would leave this planet, and find another place. A place where the people were easier to take. She couldn't wait to see Usagi die. The girl was horrible. She should never have been born. No one should defy her. No one should get more attention than her.

What a worthless waste of perfectly good, breathable air.


***Seijoru's (Ail's) POV***

He didn't feel good about this. In his time as Seijoru, he had learned much, and most of it had been from Usagi. Now he would be forced to watch her die while An got everything she wanted, as always.

He wanted to kill Mamoru before she could get the chance. The man had taken Usagi from him, and had stolen An's affections as well.

With a heavy sigh Seijoru slipped into the trees and released his disguise, becoming Ail. The bluenette and her companion with strawberry blonde hair were nearly to the bridge where Mamoru and Usagi stood.

Soon this would be over. He regretted much of it. He didn't want to hurt the babies. He didn't want Usagi to die. He didn't want to leave this planet. With another heavy sigh he pulled out his instrument and began to play for the cards they had selected.


AUTHOR'S POV

The four followers watched as a blue haired girl moved closer to the couple still locked in their embrace. She pushed a stroller in front of her, and beside her was a young man with strawberry blonde hair. Somehow the pair seemed vaguely familiar, but none of them could figure out why.

The leader pointed out two strange people, with skin tinted slightly green, and hair that was light pink or light blue following each party. They would have to act before the interlopers could. Unsure what their plan of attack was, the leader lifted his hand and signaled the forward motion of the group. They could not be late to this particular meeting.

In a group they approached the girl with the stroller, moving rapidly. There was hardly a pause before the two babies were snatched up, the buckles undone, and the girl and her friend knocked to the ground.

Both children began to cry, even as they were held by the leader and his wife.

"Lazarus, we must hurry," the only female in their group said, moving rapidly toward the trees. And then Sailor Mars stepped out in front of her and reached for the child.

"Give us the babies," she commanded in a harsh voice.

"No!"

The woman with lavender hair clung even tighter to the child, who made a strangled sound as the breath escaped her lungs. The pink haired infant let out a piercing cry, and before any of them could turn Usagi and Mamoru were upon them, screaming for them to give the babies back.

Nothing was going according to plan. The leader wanted to retreat, but his wife clung to the child in her arms, desperate to hold on, desperate to give her love. It was pitiable, and the leader knew she was sad, but her needs were putting them all in danger. The treaty had already been broken in the future during their first attempt, and by the angry looks they were receiving now, they might not make it out of this alive.

"Mary," the leader growled. "This is not the way." He could not deny his wife anything however, and when she turned her sad eyes on him, he sighed, and continued trying to escape with the purple haired twin in his arms.

"Give the children to us," Usagi begged. "They aren't yours," she added, tears running down her face as she stared at the crying babies. "Please."

"They aren't even yours yet either," the one called Mary screeched. "I love them. I want them!"

There was a sudden sound of thunder and the leader felt fear. The prince could control the weather, and any other element on earth. He wanted to get his wife to safety. The twins flanked them, so that now they were standing in a huddle.

"How could you take children from their parents?" Usagi asked. "How could you destroy a family in such a way?"

The one called Mary began to cry, great wracking sobs taking her breath away. She fell to her knees, still clinging to the child she held. There was a strangled cry as her movements again took the breath of the infant, and the leader felt worried. She might harm the child in her anguish.


***Setsuna's POV***

While the others were distracted by the children's abduction, Sailor Pluto stood on the branch of a tree, Sun Knight at her back, one arm wrapped around her waist, and watched the two aliens. She could not hear what they were saying, but after a moment the male with the blue bodysuit began to play a flute of some kind.

The female held up several cards, and as the boy played, Cardians began to emerge from them. Immediately Sailor Pluto gave warning, sending out the message with the communicator. There were Senshi and Shitennou situated all around the park, and together they converged on the aliens, ready to take out the Cardians and remove the vile infestation from their planet.

She knew the others had the situation with the children well under control, and focused all of her attention on the two aliens. She and Haruki were charged with keeping their eyes on them. They had to find out where they were coming from, and what it was that they were collecting the energy for.

She saw Sailor Jupiter move in and strike the first Cardian. The battle had begun. Lightning streaked across the field from Jupiter and East Knight. Flaming dragons flew from West Knight. He threw up one hand, and then the other, dragons erupting with a strange rush of hot air from each palm as he advanced on the creatures and the aliens who had set them loose.

Saturn and Blue Moon Knight moved stealthily through the trees and put themselves behind one of the Cardians. She watched as the silence glaive lowered and a streak of blue light shot from the boy's open palms.

The ground shook as Sailor Uranus also attacked, and a moment later a wall of water flowed over the Cardians. Again and again they were hit with attacks, but Sailor Pluto had only half an eye on them.

She noticed the aliens retreating from the onslaught and she and Sun Knight followed. She held the computer Mercury had given her earlier and traced their energy as soon as they disappeared. Then Sun Knight took her in his arms and they appeared above an apartment building several blocks away.

She reached out with her senses and could feel massive amounts of energy, and sadness. Whatever the aliens were hiding, it was alive and had a mind of its own. She and Sun Knight moved to a balcony where the energy was strongest.

Sailor Pluto felt a disturbance in the air, and a moment later she and Sun Knight were being thrown from the balcony as the apartment seemed to shrink in on itself before a massive wave of energy exploded outward.

As she fell, she stared up, watching as a strange ship lifted out of the apartment and rose into the air. She could see inside for only a brief second, long enough to see a tree. A massive tree. And then it was racing into the sky, getting smaller and smaller as it disappeared through the atmosphere of the planet.

Something hit her from the side and she felt a strange tug, then pressure as Sun Knight transported them mid fall. Then she was landing on the floor of Central Control. Though she hit hard, it could have been much worse. She had been too startled to think during the fall.

She coughed once, then turned over and rose to her hands and knees. Sun Knight released his henshin, becoming Haruki, and he ran his hands over her, checking for injuries.

"Are you okay?"

She released her transformation and nodded. "I think my rib is hurt, but that's about it. We need to get back out there."

"No!" came a shout, and Setsuna looked up to see the princess, holding Chibi-Mamo as she rocked from side to side.

"Usagi, they're in the middle of abducting the babies. And there are several Cardians. We have to go back out there."

Usagi frowned and Setsuna could see the tears streaming down her face as she finally nodded her acceptance.

She stood and lurched forward, hugging the younger woman, before she grabbed her transformation pen and became Sailor Pluto. "It'll be fine, you'll see," she said. A moment later Haruki had become Sun Knight and the two of them arrived back at the park.

Both fights were still underway.


***Nephrite's POV***

East Knight charged forward and pulled Sailor Jupiter out of the way of the acid one of the Cardians was spitting at her back. He breathed a sigh of relief as they retreated a few steps and joined the circle that was now forming around the creatures. They could not let them get out and wreak havoc on the city.

Five Cardians remained, and each of them had to be destroyed. Attack after attack was sent out. The protectors of the solar system working as a team. One by one the Cardians were destroyed. Finally they were able to go to the aid of the others.

East Knight heard the whispered conversation between Sailor Pluto and Sun Knight. Apparently the aliens had left the planet. Somehow he was sure they would return.


Zoicite and Ami moved swiftly after they were pushed down. They ran for the trees and transformed. Zoicite waited for Jupiter to release several rolls of thunder before they moved forward. They flanked Sailor Mars, joining the fray, and stared at the group trying to kidnap the babies.

"Why are you doing this?" Usagi asked, her voice breaking as she stared at the children.

South Knight listened carefully. In his henshined form he felt confident that if he had to he could take the children without incident, but he had to be sure.

"Because I love them," the lavender haired woman answered. "My babies died in the sickness, and I fell in love with them, and I need them. My heart is breaking," she sobbed, clinging even tighter to the pink-haired baby.

"So you're going to make another mother suffer? Possibly start a war? How could you do that? Can't you see you're just frightening the children and taking them from their rightful home and family? And what if they get sick too? What if they die? Without their crystals they'll be weak. Without their planets of power they'll never become who they're meant to be." Mamoru's voice was passionate as he reasoned with them.

The woman shook her head wildly, not really listening. "I want them!" She squeezed even harder, and there was a sharp cry from the child she held in response.

A moment later the group gasped as there was a flash of light and the woman realized instead of Chibi-Usa she was holding a black cat with a crescent moon mark on her forehead. The cat scratched at the woman, howling in desperation to be released. Shocked, the woman's hands dropped and Luna raced away from her.

In the man's arms Chibi-Mamo became Artemis, Luna's white counterpart, and he too leapt away, racing to Luna's side. The black cat was shaking in obvious pain, and fell limply to her side. Artemis licked at her ribs and South Knight worried they might be broken or fractured.

The sounds of the other battle died away, and the others gathered around them. All of them stared at the group of four aliens who had intruded on their planet and tried to kidnap children who were precious to them.

There was a brief flash, and then Usagi and Mamoru appeared, in royal form. The children were not with them, but South Knight knew they were in a place no one would ever find. There was only one place the couple would have left them in a moment so fraught with danger.

The decoy Usagi and Mamoru released their disguises, become Kunzite and Minako. Gasps came from the four prisoners as they looked on.

The real Usagi moved towards Luna and placed a hand on her head. There was a silvery glow around the cat before she raised her head, then sat up. "Luna," she murmured, and the cat rubbed against her, showing affection. Then Usagi stood and turned towards the other group.

Usagi's face was a mixture of anger and empathy as she moved toward the woman with lavender hair. She had been listening to everything through the open channel on the communicator.

She continued forward until she reached the woman, and knelt down in front of her. "My heart weeps for you," she said, in a voice so soft he had to strain to hear. "The loss of a child is an unimaginable pain to me."

South Knight saw the evidence of her words on her face, as tears streamed over her cheeks. It didn't detract from her beauty, or her royal air. The woman before her continued to sob in desperation.

"I just wanted the babies. I need to give them love," she sobbed.

Usagi shook her head. "Taking those children is wrong. If my future self is anything like me at all, she would have offered you help and healing. She would have done anything to comfort you, and would have promised to help you find children who needed to be loved. There are thousands upon thousands here, in orphanages across our planet."

"But I wanted those babies," the woman said, her voice quieter now as her sobs started to slow.

"I can understand why you grew to love them," Usagi said in a very quiet voice. "I love them too, and I haven't even had them yet. But you cannot take them. Not now, not ever." There was a firmness in her tone now, a will of steel showing through.

She moved slowly, tilting the woman's head back. "You don't need my children. You have your own to care for," she added, with a tiny smile, and then she reached forward and placed her hand over the woman's belly. "Three of them," she added. "Two girls and a boy."

There was a loud gasp from the man with navy hair, and a sound of shock from the twin males. The woman looked at Usagi, her face full of hope, and fear.

"What if the sickness comes back?" she whispered.

Mamoru stepped forward, his princely armor clinking, and the cape swaying as he walked. "If it returns, call for me. I can heal," he told her.

South Knight frowned. He wasn't sure how the prince and princess could so easily forgive. He watched as they talked to the woman and what was apparently her husband and two brothers. They spoke for a long time, and he and the others stood guard.

Finally they disappeared, no longer a threat. The rest of them moved off quickly as the all-clear was given to the police. They moved swiftly through the woods, then leapt across the roofs as they went across town before dropping down behind the arcade and releasing their transformations.

When they were all settled around two large tables with food and drinks in front of them, Zoicite couldn't help but ask.

"Why did you forgive them so easily? Why did you promise help?"

Usagi cocked her head to the side and met his gaze before reaching for Shingo's hand. "Did you know we had a sister?"

She and Shingo shared a look of sadness then turned to the rest of them. "She would have been nine this year. Shingo and I were very young when she died. Our mother has never been the same. She's still a wonderful mother. Kind, caring, and devoted. But a piece of her heart is missing. It always will be."

Shingo cleared his throat. "I can barely remember her. She was just an infant when it happened. It all happened so fast. We didn't even know she was sick. Mom cried and cried. I didn't understand and kept asking when she was coming back. Usagi had to explain it to me." He frowned and a single tear fell.

"How could we see another woman lost in grief, and not realize the pain had driven her to what she'd done. We know now, what happened. Who knows, maybe we can even prevent the tragedy."

Setsuna shook her head. "It would cause an alternate timeline, I'm afraid. They would still suffer the loss in this timeline."

Usagi frowned at that. "In any case, we'll see she gets the help she needs. I'm sure our future selves will be just as sympathetic as we are."

Zoicite nodded. He had a lot to think on. But he was grateful his princess had such a kind heart. She and the prince had easily forgiven him and the others for what they had done when they were under the control of Metallia. If that could be forgiven, he supposed an attempted kidnapping could as well.


Author's Note: This part of the story was very hard for me to write. But it flowed out of me like nothing I've ever written before, coming all in a rush as I worked through some of my own emotions. For anyone who has lost a child, whether it be before or after birth, there is a heartache that never entirely goes away. Having other children doesn't replace the ones you lost. This idea came to me because of something that happened around the time my son was born. A grieving mother tried to take a newborn from a hospital after losing her own child. It was a heartbreaking story. She faced jail time, but eventually spent time in a hospital and receive treatment for a mixture of issues including an extreme form of post partum depression. So I just want to say to any of you who, like me, have lost a child, you are not alone. It never goes away, but it does get better.


Author's Note 2.0:

The next chapter ushers in the fun of Christmas and the joys of romance, as well as a few funny moments I hope you all enjoy. Now, it's 3:30 in the morning, and I'm going to post this chapter and go to bed!