It was a few hours after lunch, Sara found Ray and Nora in the backyard playing tag with Cyrus, Dayland and Chanel.
"Hey!" Sara called out, "Can I play?"
Sara didn't really see any other choice. If she wanted to talk with Ray and Nora about Charlie, she would have to play tag.
Cyrus glanced at Sara, briefly, "Sure. Dayland's it."
Sara smiled as she ran over to Ray, making sure to stay away from Dayland so she didn't get tagged 'it'. She would have to talk to Ray while running.
"Ray." Sara spoke, "Does Charlie seem different to you?"
"She seems like Charlie to me." Ray admitted
Sara hummed, "Hmm...she doesn't...um did you know that Charlie is pregnant?"
"She is?" Ray uttered, "Oh...well good for her."
Dayland tagged Ray on the side, "Tag! You're it."
"Aw." Ray fake pouted, "You got me. Guess I'm it."
Dayland just giggled, before running away from Ray.
Sara rolled her eyes at Ray as she ran away, running over to Nora, who Chanel was staying very close to.
"Nora." Sara said, "Did Charlie seem different to you?"
She shrugged, holding Chanel's hand behind her back, "I don't know. She's pregnant, Sara. Maybe it's just hormones. Charlie's stubborn. She wouldn't change for anyone."
"Yeah." Sara mumbled, still running. This time staying away from Cyrus, who Ray had just tagged.
'Maybe Nora's right.' Sara thought, but she had this nagging feeling telling her that Charlie was different and it wasn't just the hormones. Sara was going to investigate this. If Charlie really was different, Sara would find out why. And save her if need be.
Meanwhile Mick was reading his latest book to Star, Mayanah, Startle, Pages and 4 year olds Shoshanna Doyle and Ramiel Andrade, who were seated on the floor, surrounding the front of him.
About three years ago, Mick had branched away from the sci-fi romance genre. He still wrote sci-fi novels because his inspiration was coming from the legends missions, but his books were more kid friendly. His latest book was called 'The Englishman'. It was about Rip Hunter, but he used Rip's child name of Michael.
Mick was currently at the part where 'Michael' and his team find out that a deadly assassin in service to the keepers of time has targeted his and his teams' younger selves.
'The keepers of time' are the 'time masters'. Mick changed the name to fictionalise the story.
The kids really liked the book. They were all so engaged and intrigued, wanting to hear more. They had laser sharp vision on Mick.
"And then the English captain and his team dropped their younger selves off at Michael's mother's house before flying away in their ship to face the assassin nicknamed White Out." Mick read as he finished off the chapter.
'White Out' was the fictionalised name that Mick gave to the assassin named 'The Pilgrim'.
"More! More!" Startle chanted
Shoshanna and Ramiel banging their fists on the floor as they joined Startle in her chant.
"More! More!" They chanted, and then the rest of the children joined in too.
Mick shook his head, "No. We'll read more tomorrow."
The kids all pouted, giving Mick their best puppy dog faces.
"My voice needs rest." Mick told them as he got up from the chair and started towards the kitchen for water.
Most of the kids stayed on the floor pouting, but Mayanah and Pages got up, following Mick to wherever he was going.
Rachel was in the kitchen fixing dinner - chicken, rice and spinach. She had heard the door swing open and turned around to see Mick with Mayanah and Pages chasing after him.
She laughed, looking at Mick, "I see you have two little shadows."
"Yes, I do." Mick replied, his voice sounding gravelly and hoarse.
Mayanah and Pages were giggling behind him.
"Are you alright, Mick?" Rachel asked, concerned
Mick nodded, going over to the cupboard and grabbing a cup, "Yeah. Just need some water."
Picking up the water pitcher, Mick poured himself a glass of water. He practically drank the whole cup in one gulp.
Rachel's eyes widened and then a smile grew on her face, "Wow! You really were thirsty."
Mick hummed, "Yes. I was reading some of my latest book to a few of the kids." Pointing at Mayanah and Pages, "Hence the shadows."
"Aw." Rachel uttered, "Well...good luck with your shadows."
"Nah. They're fun little girls." Mick told her before he heard Mayanah and Pages giggling behind him again.
Mick turned around suddenly and the girls shrieked as he scooped them up in both of his arms, lifting them up in one fluid motion. The girls shrieks, exploding into laughter.
Rachel laughed as she watched Mick rush out of the kitchen holding Mayanah and Pages. Then she turned back to the pots on the stove - one with rice and the other with the spinach. The chicken was cooking in the oven.
Nate was able to get away from Chica and Little One after eating lunch a few hours ago. Now Chica and Little One were torturing John with another never-ending performance. Nate found himself sitting in the living room with David Thibodeau, talking about God's great love for us. Over the last five years, Nate had taken a real interest in the Bible, God and religion.
"You know what verse I like." Nate started, "John three verse sixteen. I just think it's so amazing that we have a God who loves us so much that He was willing to sacrifice His own son - His one and only son - so that we could be saved."
Thibodeau nodded, "I agree. I'm not a father, at least not to any biological children, but I love my three step-daughters like they were my own, and I can't imagine having to sacrifice any of them. Even if it was to save all of humanity."
"Yeah. I couldn't imagine it either." Nate agreed
"One passage in the Bible that I think is really powerful is Psalm eight. In which verse two says, out of the mouths of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength," Thibodeau uttered, "Something as weak and helpless as a baby, God can give strength to."
Nate gave a nod, "He's a God of great power and love, but he's also a God of mercy."
Thibodeau smiled, shaking his head, "Well...that's true, but there's so much proof in the Bible of God being a God of vengeance. He's only a God of love and mercy to those who deserve it or who fear Him. To His enemies or the enemies of His people, He is vengeful. And we could go back and forth talking about this all night, but you know...I think dinner is ready so let's go eat instead."
"Yeah. I can hear Dave calling everyone for dinner." Nate said, referring to David Jones.
That night Audrey wasn't feeling well. She'd been throwing up since dinner, so David had taken her to see their nurse. They had a great nurse and midwife. She had delivered the last ten of David's children, and she was going to deliver Rachel's and Charlie's babies.
Anyways Charlie was doing the bedtime routine with Audrey's daughter: Glory.
Charlie was rocking Glory in the rocking chair as she sang 'Silent Night'. The eighteen month old baby girl was drinking a bottle of milk.
Sara stood in the doorway, leaning against the doorframe with her arms folded across her chest. She was watching Charlie and had heard the lullaby that Charlie was singing to the baby.
"Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love's pure light." Charlie sang, "Radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. Jesus, Lord, at thy birth."
When Charlie finished singing the last verse of the song, she glanced down at Glory -
Parenting tip # 1: Never make eye contact with a baby that's about to go to sleep.
Noticing that Glory was fast asleep, Charlie carefully stood up and placed the baby in her crib.
"I love you." Charlie whispered to the baby, before turning to walk out of the room. She stared at the doorway - looking right at Sara.
"So that baby is…?" Sara asked, speaking in a whisper.
Charlie pushed Sara out of the doorway, exiting the room and gently closing the door behind her.
"If you are asking if she's God's child, then yes, she is." Charlie replied, "And I'm not saying that because we believe David is God. God sits on a throne in Heaven. But we believe that we are all God's children and Jesus is our brother. We are all sisters and brothers through Christ, because God adopted us."
Sara tilted her head, like she didn't believe, "Charlie...since when do you believe in all this? You used to be a fate and you gave it all up...you broke the loom to give everyone free will."
Charlie shook her head, "See? That's why I didn't tell you. I knew you wouldn't understand. And God may be all-knowing, all-powerful and a God of vengeance, but He's also a God of love and mercy. He gave everyone free will."
"And what about David?" Sara questioned, "Did you have a choice in carrying his what...twentieth child?"
"Twenty-fourth." Charlie corrected, "And yes, I did. I chose him after God chose me for him."
Sara gave a slow nod, raising her eyebrows, "And did David tell you that God chose you?"
"Why are you questioning him now?"
"Because I'm concerned." Sara said, "Charlie, you seem brainwashed."
Charlie scoffed, "Well I'm not. I don't need saving, Sara. I've already been saved."
"By David?"
"No. By God through David." Charlie clarified, "Like in the Bible how John the baptist was able to baptise people in the Holy Spirit, because he had Jesus in his heart. Because he believed." She pointed at Sara, "That is the power of God and of faith."
Sara hummed, "Hmm...Okay."
Somewhere on Earth-38, someone was working on a new plan, still trying to figure out a way to get their hands on the twenty-fourth.
"You know…" The person started, talking to themself, "It's a good thing that I still have seven months and a lot of faith in myself. I may not have a working plan yet, but I will. I have to. I need the twenty-fourth."
Hope you enjoyed. Leave a review if you liked it.
Do you think something is off about Charlie? Or do you think she just has something to believe it?