I couldn't bare the pain anymore. The depression never ended. All I wanted was a child, and I could never have one. I knew I was cruel to Cedric, but I knew no other way to be. I wanted to be alone, I wanted to die alone and if Cedric weren't there all those years, I would have gone mad. Now he was gone. I knew I really didn't have the courage to step out into the sunlight, but the idea of the suffering gone was such a welcome idea.

Where he would go and what he would do I had no idea, but I knew it was all in a wasted effort. I would spend eternity a mother without a child.

Cedric POV

I ran as fast as I could to the nearest village. It was unusually warm this September night and many people had there widows open. I knew my task be easy, it was late and no one would suspect. I knew what I was planning was unthinkable, but the needs of my love were the only thoughts I had. I would give her what she wanted, even if it meant another suffered.

I moved swiftly through the small narrow streets. The town was poor, and it made the job all the more easy. I walked to a young woman's bedroom. I had seen her earlier in the month. She was well along in her pregnancy and guessed correct when I saw the newborn near a cradle by the window. She was alone because I remember her lover who I had earlier hunted several months before.

The child was pink and wrinkly. I saw no appeal in this child, but guessing by its size was just delivered several days before. I hated to do this to this young woman but she was a perfect candidate. She was supposed to marry her lover before anyone found out about the pregnancy, but soon he was dead and she was left to raise her bastard child. She was poor and had no job. She would hope that her baby grow up better than she could ever imagine.

I was doing her a favor. Her baby would be raised with two parents, in a loving home, in which it would have all the things it desired. She would cry for many nights over the loss of her baby, but my love would not suffer another day.

I snatched the newborn through the window and took off at full speed. The child stirred in my arms. I held onto him tighter as the sky rumbled and began to pour. The child began to cry as if it were trying to drown out the thunder.

When I reached the manor Elise stood in the doorway waiting for me. "Cedric, what have you done?' she asked furiously.

"I've brought you your child." I held out the crying child so that she could see its face.

"Oh my God. Come in immediately so that it doesn't catch cold." I rushed into the living room to warm it by the fire. Elise had her nose pinched between her fingers. "What were you thinking Cedric?"

I was confused. I thought she be happy. "I've brought you what you wanted, why cant you be happy?" I asked.

"Because you stole a child! I would never wish that upon a mother! To have her child stolen in the night,… no, you must take it back. Immediately."

I've failed her. I only wished to please her. "I cannot take it back tonight. Its nearly sunrise and there wont be time. I'll take him tomorrow night."

The child cried louder, Elise came over to me and took the child from me. Rocking it back and fourth to quiet the cries. "As soon as the sun sets?" she asked.

I nodded.

She looked back down at the child and smiled. I don't think I ever saw her smile in over eight years. "I'll need to get some milk. Is it a boy or girl?" she asked me.

"I…don't know. I didn't think it matter."

She nodded. "It doesn't," she looked under the blankets and smiled. "Aren't you the most handsome boy there ever was?" she cooed.

I nodded in agreement. "He certainly is."

Elise's POV

I cradled his little body to my breast, as I sang to him. He was already fed, bathed, and wrapped tightly in a warm wool blanket, but his crying would not cease. I sang a little louder so he could hear me, I touched the soft curls upon his head. Dark locks of hair with dark grey eyes. I realize that it won't always be like this, his eyes will lighten up soon and I have a feeling they'll be blue. A beautiful radiant blue that girls will love him for.

"Your mother will have to bat those girls away with a broom," I say to him. He begins to quite, until he stares up at me with an intense expression as if he's trying to figure me out. "What is it, little one?"

He keeps on staring and I begin to laugh. "I bet you'd like all that attention. You're going to be a real heartbreaker." I tease.

He yawns, forming his mouth into a little 'o'. I rock him gently and try to think of an old Irish song I learned years ago.

It was down by the Sally Gardens, my love and I did meet.

She crossed the Sally Gardens with little snow-white feet.

She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree,

But I was young and foolish, and with her did not agree.

In a field down by the river, my love and I did stand

And on my leaning shoulder, she laid her snow-white hand.

She bid me take life easy , as the grass grows on the weirs

But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.

Down by the Sally Gardens, my love and I did meet.

She crossed the Sally Gardens with little snow-white feet.

She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree,

But I was young and foolish, and with her did not agree.

When I was sure he was sound asleep, I turned down my bed and crawled into the cool covers. I tucked him in tightly to be sure he didn't catch a cold. I held him close to me, to be sure he was there. I loved this feeling, to know he depended on me, and for that he loved me unconditionally. I was exhausted, so I knew the sun would be just rising, but I wanted to be awake to watch him. Because… he wouldn't be with me for much longer. So I held him tighter and prayed that my selfishness would not overtake me because somewhere I young mother would be crying soon to find an empty cradle, and I was tempted to keep it empty forever.