Chapter Forty

Four Years Later

"Annabeth, stand still for Daddy," Eddie told her six-year-old daughter. "Your pony tail will be crooked."

"Ouch! It's too tight! Mommy you make it please. Daddy is making it tight," Annabeth replied. Eddie sighed, Connie had been making Annabeth's pony tail but today she was taking JJ to his first day of school in another district.

"Mommy can't honey, just hold still so Daddy can finish okay," Eddie said.

"Why can't you?" Annabeth asked. "Aunt Connie does and Kelly's Mommy does too."

"I know honey, but Mommy can't. Daddy is almost done," Eddie said. They hadn't really had to explain Eddie's limits before Annabeth had gone to summer camp, but now...

Jamie finished Annabeth's hair, making sure the ponytail was loose. "There, you look so pretty."

She smiled and spun around showing off her skirt and blouse. "It's almost time to go, let's get Mommy in the van. Henry, come on Buddy."

Henry came walking out of his room, "I can beat you to the van," he laughed taking off at full speed.

Annabeth laughed and ran after him, she was built like Jamie, all legs and easily over took her brother. "No fair," Henry complained. Jamie laughed turning to Eddie.

"You sure you want to go?" he asked. She had been very emotional with the summer camp thing.

"I want to see Annabeth on her first day of school," Eddie said.

Jamie nodded and opened the van door, so Eddie could get in. He secured the chair then the kids. "My Dad and your Dad are meeting us there," Eddie told him.

Jamie smiled knowing both grandparents would want to be there too. "Great," he said

They pulled up outside the school and saw Frank and Armin already there. Annabeth ran out to them as Jamie got Eddie's chair out of the van.

"Annabeth, you look so beautiful sweetheart," Frank caught her.

He scooped her up for a hug, "You all ready to learn new things and make friends?"

Annabeth nodded, "I can't wait hope it'll be fun." She turned reaching to give Armin a hug.

He took her and held her tight, as the rest of the family approached. Henry went to Frank, "I go too!" He shouted, he had one volume.

Frank picked up his grandson, "You'll go to school soon buddy."

Eddie was glad to have Henry home a little longer. They were discussing a third baby before she got much older but only discussing it

"Are you ready Annabeth?" Eddie asked softly not sure if she was ready.

She nodded, "Come on!" She climbed on Eddie's lap for a ride to her line.

Eddie and Jamie headed to the yard where all the other kids waited. "Here you go honey hugs and kisses."

Jamie took her off Eddie and gave her a hug. She joined her line and when her teacher came out, she turned to wave before disappearing without a second glance.

Eddie had tears running out of her eyes as Annabeth left them. Henry saw his Mommy crying he didn't like that ever, next to Jamie he was her staunchest protector.

The little boy squirmed to get down going to her side, climbing up on her lap for a hug. "Don't cry Mommy."

"Mommy's okay, buddy," Jamie soothed. "She misses Annabeth."

"But Annabeth is in school, she'll come home later," Henry looked confused.

Eddie held him a little tighter, "Yes she will." Henry didn't understand but hugged Eddie, so she would stop feeling sad

They went to breakfast and met Connie and Marcus with the twins. "This is my treat," Armin told them

Marcus looked around the table, "That is very kind of you Armin."

Frank looked a bit put out, but he bit his lip, he would provide the coming home from school ice cream. The conversations began casually Henry and the twins entertained.

Connie and Marcus had gotten married a year ago. It was still hard for Eddie to see her half-sister in Melissa's place. Henry colored a picture for Eddie with bright crayons as he chatted away.

Eddie watched the kids play and draw the desire for one more as strong as ever.

Frank took Henry to the park while Eddie and Jamie went home. She was down.

Jamie sat with her waiting until they were alone to bring it up. "What's wrong Eddie?"

"Our babies are growing up," She replied. "Henry will be in school next year and Annabeth just ran off, she didn't even cry"

"I know it's hard but that's what we want honey," Jamie held Eddie tight.

Eddie shook her head, "No, it isn't what we want. We want our babies to need us and be close by us."

"She still needs us Eddie, Annabeth is still little," Jamie soothed softly.

Eddie sniffled, "She didn't even cry for her Mommy..."

Jamie held her, kissing Eddie's head softly.

"I do want to talk to Dr. Eisenberg about another," Eddie pressed

"You're ready for another," Jamie asked softly

"Yes," she replied. "Oh yes."

Jamie kissed her forehead, "Make an appointment with Dr Eisenberg then."

"Are you sure?" Eddie asked. "You said two was enough."

"I know we can at least hear what the doctor says then talk about it." Truth be told, Eddie was getting older and it really did frighten Jamie to even think about it. But he would listen with an open mind, although he felt the two they had were a blessing and in Eddie's condition, truly a miracle.

Eddie smiled and hugged Jamie tight. "I can't believe that she didn't even cry for her Mommy..."

"Miss independent has her Mommy in her. Doesn't mean she won't still need us though."

As it turned out, Annabeth was crying for her Mommy that very minute.

She had found Kelly, her friend from camp, but in her class, she had other friends and didn't talk to Annabeth. She found the swings and sat down to push herself.

"You're on our swing, we always play here during recess," another girl said coming up behind.

"Nobody else was here," she replied and kept kicking her legs back and forth. "I'll share I'll be done in a minute." She was taught always to share.

The girl moved forward flanked by two others. "Get off now we use these first." Before Annabeth could move, the oldest girl pulled her off the swing by the hair.

She let go quickly forcing Annabeth to tumble and scrap her knees and bump her head.

The teacher ran over to her quickly and helped her up, Annabeth was sobbing. "I want Mommy," she cried as the teacher called for the school nurse.

The teacher tried to console her, but the little girl still cried.

The nurse came checking Annabeth's head first then knees. "Mommy," Annabeth sobbed.

The nurse bandaged then called Eddie and Jamie at home.

Eddie could not stand to hear her baby so upset. "Okay, Mommy will come to school." She hung up and looked at Jamie. "Let's go get her."

Jamie nodded getting up to grab the car keys, so they could drive and pick up Annabeth.

She had stopped crying but was still sad when they arrived her feelings hurt more than her knees or her head.

Eddie rolled in first, "Annabeth? Hey honey come here are you okay?"

"Mommy, got an ouchie..." She held her mother tight, climbing on her.

"I see that honey. Tell Mommy what happened," Eddie urged.

"I was swinging because Kelly doesn't like me anymore," she sobbed." And the big girls came and pulled me off...and I fell. I was going to get off and share I promise…"

"Wait two bigger girls pulled you off the swing?" Eddie looked up at the nurse.

She nodded, "And then I fell down. The end."

"I want to have a conversation with the principal and teacher," Eddie said

"Eddie..." Jamie sighed. "We can't make a huge deal out of this."

"Two kids pulled her off the swing and she hit her head!"

"I know..." Jamie sighed. "Annabear, sit with Sister for just a minute while Daddy and Mommy talk." Annabeth nodded sniffling while slipping of Eddie's lap and took a seat.

"Eddie, if we overreact here we won't ever get her back to school again," Jamie suggested

"So, we won't overreact in front of her, but this has to be addressed Jamie."

"Okay" Jamie agreed. "But for now, it's another cuddle, another kiss and back to class."

Sighing Eddie agreed turning to roll her chair back in, "Annabeth come here honey."

Annabeth went to her mother and wiped her eyes, "Can we go home?"

"No honey its best if you stay in school. You're okay, Mommy can give you one more hug and kiss"

Annabeth started to cry all over again. The kids were mean, school was big and scary. Why didn't Mommy let her go home? She held on tight, so tight Eddie couldn't pry her loose. "Annabeth listen to Mommy, I know it's scary but there are nice friends here too."

She sobbed and sniffled, she wiped her eyes and nodded, "Okay, I'll go."

"Mommy and Daddy will be here to pick you up. We love you Annabear."Annabeth took a deep breath and headed back to her class, Eddie's mother's claws were honed and sharpened.

"I need to speak with Sister about this," she said

"I know," Jamie replied. "Let's go..."

Eddie took a deep breath driving out of the nurse's office clearly upset.

They didn't get far with the school, except that the matter would be looked into and the child in question punished. Eddie did not get to confront that child's mother as she wished. Jamie hugged her close, "See what happens Eddie, they're going to punish the girl."

Eddie sighed, "And Annabeth was scared to go back, she was scared and we forced her to go back."

"I know we'll talk to her when she comes home" Jamie assured

She nodded and smiled, "Okay, our first big job as parents...You up for it Dad?"

"More than ready," Jamie kissed her head smiling.

There was only a few more hours until Annabeth was done, they stayed in town near the school so they weren't late.

Annabeth searched for her parents when she was done. She ran right to her mother and climbed up on her lap. The other kids and their parents stared but it didn't bother anyone

"Hey how the rest of your day?" Eddie asked her.

"Okay," she replied. "We have to do homework and make a paper. It's in my folder." Jamie nodded and got his family into the van. Frank would be returning Henry shortly

Eddie talked to Annabeth about school what she learned as Jamie drove home

Henry was on the porch with Frank when they pulled up. "Oh my, what happened to my sweet pea?"

"I got an ouchie, Grandpa," Annabeth showed him her injuries.

"You did! Let Grandpa kiss it and make it feel all better..." Frank gave her big kisses and took her and Henry inside.