Co-written with Castle 1773. Hope everyone enjoys! Thanks for all the reads and comments they are greatly appreciated!
The Seasons flew by, JJ and Emily got another year older, skipping all those joyous holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, 4th of July, Easter and Valentines Day. Before they were taken the 4th of July was quickly approaching and plans had been made to have a grill out at Rossi's. Oh how their lives had changed. Both of them longed to be back in the company of their friends.
The past had continued to fade as they tried to embrace their new life. Their friends had become but a memory. Acceptance of the way things are, was an every day struggle but with the anticipation of Emily's baby's arival things finally seemed a little better.
Ivy had the ultra sound machine hooked up, looking at Emily's baby. In this hell the three of them found a smile and were able to share a moment of peace and be thankful for this precious baby, Emily was going to bring into the world. The beautiful, blonde haired Ivy who still had to dress like TinkerBell looked to Emily, "So have you thought of a name?"
"Yes, I wanted to pick out a name that meant strong or courageous, so I looked in the baby book and found the perfect name, Kyra Riley Prentiss. Kyra means strong woman and Riley means courageous."
Tears again welled up in her eyes, "That is so beautiful."
JJ looked at the screen and said, "I think we've determined that she has one week left until she is full term." She said adjusting her uncomfortable cheerleading outfit.
"That sounds about right." Ivy said. Then she shut the machine off, wiped off Emily's baby bump and they discussed the events that were to take place approximately six weeks after Kyra is born.
Six weeks was the allotted time that Mr. Heartwood gave them after the birth, before they would start using them again.
A week had passed and then another. Emily was really tired of being pregnant and ready to see her baby. They were playing the waiting game, but it wasn't long after the second week, that she gave birth to Kyra with JJ and Ivy by her side the whole way. Kyra was a healthy girl with all ten fingers and ten toes. With the homebirth equipment they weighed her in at around 8pds 6 ounces and she was 22 inches long and her hair was raven black.
JJ swaddled her in a receiving blanket and placed a pink, cotton, cap on her head. She cried and kissed her before handing her off to her mother. Emily was beside herself, she loved Kyra but she never thought she would be consumed by her love, it was overwhelming and a feeling that was sure to last a lifetime. Emily looked at her baby with a few strands of hair that had fallen from her ponytail, dampened by sweat and a blush face. She was half laughing and crying, completely overwhelmed. Never had she seen anything so beautiful.
JJ and Ivy looked on at what surely was a miracle and blessing to bring them such happiness. JJ's heart was over flowing. She wrapped her arm around Ivy's shoulder and Ivy said, "My cup runneth over." The three of them couldn't help but smile at one another.
After a minute JJ sat down next to Emily, "Em she is beautiful, a spitting image of you."
"Thanks Jayje." Emily said almost in a whisper. JJ wrapped her arm around Emily and leaned her head on her shoulder, Emily leaned her head next JJ and the two of them reveled in the moment, holding on to every second, making time their own, but time soon got away from them.
Ten minutes after her arrival, Emily, Ivy and JJ still had tears running down their cheeks, but the joyous moment was soon interrupted by the intrusion of Mr. Heartwood. He shooed Ivy out and sent her to Marion's room. Despite the privileges he had given Emily and JJ, Ivy was not so lucky. Her poor, frail body was battered and bruised for she still had to face the pain and torture of every day.
JJ stood up swiftly, "You didn't have to do that." She said fiercely at him. "She was perfectly fine staying in here with us."
Mr. Heartwood smiled at her, not in the least feeling threatened, "Now I remember why I liked you, it's because you're so feisty." JJ ran at him, trying to make him fall to the floor, hitting him, when and wherever she could. Mr. Heartwood stayed calm and tried to pull her off him while he called for William. William entered the room abruptly and with that JJ was pulled off and Mr. Heartwood said, "You're time is up, I hope you enjoy your evening."
As William was dragging her away she yelled, "But she needs me! You can't leave her alone in here!" JJ reached out her arms trying to get out of Williams grasp.
Mr. Heartwood didn't respond and Emily yelled with as much strength as she could muster, "She's right! Please let her stay!"
"No! She's leaving and she will be back later!"
Emily's tears of joy turned to ones of hurt as she heard JJ screaming down the hall. Emily pulled her baby in closer for her own comfort and to shield her from Mr. Heartwood. She was scared and suddenly felt extremely alone and very immobile to defend herself or her baby. As Mr. Heartwood sat on the bed she scooted achingly away from him and tried to hold Kyra out of his grasp. He leaned in and held out his arms trying to take her out of Emily's hold. Emily was shushing the baby softly, because she was now crying from all the commotion and it was her job to make her feel better. Mr. Heartwood placed his hands firmly around Kyra and Emily looked longingly at him, "Please don't hurt her. Can I hold her just a little bit longer?"
"No. I'm not going to hurt her, but it seems to me that you know how I felt when you killed our last one." His words pierced her like a knife.
Mr. Heartwood began to tug on Kyra and Emily reluctantly let go, so her baby wouldn't be hurt in a selfish struggle. She watched as Mr. Heartwood walked around with her, ceasing her crying. This made Emily furious, it was her job to get Kyra to quit crying, not his. After a couple of minutes she begged, "Please can I have her back. I want to hold her." She said sobbing.
"Not right now." Mr. Heartwood said gently as he comforted his baby, no, Emily's baby.
Emily leaned her head back against the headboard and felt exhaustion beginning to consume her. Her eyes started to blink shut but she forced herself to keep them open, afraid of Mr. Heartwood taking her baby. The tired words seeped from her mouth, "Daniel, please let me have her." There was no reply and before Emily knew it she had drifted off to sleep.
A few hours later she woke to a crying baby. Emily jumped at the sound and felt a hand on her shoulder, "Emily, it's okay. It's JJ."
"My baby, please can you bring her to me?" She said crying.
"Of course." JJ said shaking a bottle in one hand.
"Is she hurt? Did he hurt her?" Emily asked slowly getting into a sitting position.
"No, she's fine. I think she's just hungry. I've got her bottle right here."
Emily held out her arms as JJ brought her over. She cradled Kyra and fed her a bottle. When Emily saw that Kyra was satisfied she looked up at JJ and remembered her being pulled out of the room. Her eyes were immediately concerned for her and she asked, "Are you okay?"
JJ looked as if she was pondering something and said, "Yeah, you know it's kind of weird. Something has changed. William is being a lot nicer, and less harsh. His eyes show a kind of compassion."
"Hmm, that is weird. What do you think he's up to?"
"I don't know, do you think he knows of our plans?" JJ asked.
"I hope not." Emily said.
In six weeks time Kyra had grown rapidly, she had developed a smile, personality and many baby sounds she liked to express often. JJ and Emily enjoyed putting Kyra in different outfits and bows, and watching her sleep, they even enjoyed changing diapers and got it down to a science. Every moment passed by so quickly and they tried to make the most of it, despite their situation.
Emily had dropped her weight and slimmed back down, almost to the exact size she was before. The few extra pounds made her look healthier and despite all her bodily changes there was another kind of change. She seemed stronger, and she seemed to glow.
It was the day before they were to attempt their escape and Ivy was permitted to come in and have dinner with them. The plans had been laid out perfectly with the exception of the distraction and some news that Ivy was about give them.
Emily and JJ had studied behavior too long, they knew something was up when Ivy was exceptionally quiet. Emily held her baby in one arm and gently placed her hand on Ivy with the other, another significant change was the affection and mother hen role she took over, "You can tell us. What's the matter?"
Ivy let out a breath, "They just brought in another girl. She's chained up down stairs. They haven't done anything to her yet and I think their plans are to transport her out. Her name is Hayley."
JJ asked, "Do you have a way to get her out, by tomarrow?"
"I think so. The four or well five us should fit." Ivy said correcting herself as she looked at the baby.
"Then it's a go?" Emily said.
Ivy nodded, relieved that Emily and JJ were so recieving of another person coming with them. "But what about the distraction?"
"I got it covered." Emily said looking at her baby and before anything else could be said William barged into the room.
I hope Castle 1773 liked the suprise, there is more to come with that! The next chapter will be the escape or will it?