Nick shifted suddenly and grabbed onto Udonna's arm, clinging desperately to it and crawling around on her, whimpering, clearly frightened by something. She rubbed his back and asked, "Did you have a bad dream, Bowen?"
Nick nodded and she pressed, "Was it your father?"
Nick nodded and began shaking violently. Udonna rubbed his back and murmured, "It's OK now. He can't hurt you anymore. He's gone now. He's not coming for you. I won't let him."
Nick nodded, but Udonna knew her son still feared his adoptive father—and she didn't blame him. She too was slightly frightened by Gregory Russell, but she always hid that fear so that she could protect her son. She found herself wishing Leanbow was home, to help protect their son. She rocked her son and the memory of when she'd learned of the abuse flooded her mind.
Bowen entered Rootcore shaking violently. "Bowen, what are you doing here? Don't you want to drop your school things off at home?" Udonna asked. "No, Mommy, don't make me go back there. I wanna stay here—at home—with you and Clare," he sobbed, grabbing onto her leg, breaking her heart. "Why not?" she asked, picking up the crying six-year-old. "What's wrong, Bowen?" Bowen wouldn't look at her and buried his face against her chest. "Bowen, what is it? What's wrong?" She asked, growing concerned. He raised his tear-stained face and the instant she saw the back eye, knowing his tendency to get into fights with the class bully, she asked, "Did you get into a fight at school?" "No, Mommy," he whimpered. "It's OK, you can tell me. Then who did this to you, my little one?" she asked, comforting her son. "Father, Mommy," Bowen clung to Udonna, crying harder. Udonna clamped her teeth together and said, "That does it!" She and her son went to the Russell household, where she informed Cynthia of what was going on with her husband and Nick and Udonna informed the stunned Cynthia, "Bowen will stay with me until you've gotten away from Gregory. I entrusted the care of the most important person to me—my ONLY son—to you and your husband and I refuse to helplessly stand by if he's being abused." Cynthia nodded and within weeks, what would become a lengthy divorce was underway. Unfortunately, Cynthia and Udonna were both immediately locked in a fierce custody battle for Nick against Gregory. Nick, however, refused to let anyone take him away from Udonna. He told the social worker that he felt safest with his Mommy holding him and since that day, referred to Udonna as Mommy when something was troubling him and when he was in intense pain. Udonna and Cynthia agreed to continue with the current system, but instead of going to visit Gregory like his sister, Nick would stay with Udonna on those weekends when his sister was with her father.
Udonna did feel slightly bad but no one could hurt her baby and get away with it.
Nick continued squirming around and Udonna carefully led him up to his room, where she tucked him into bed and began singing his lullaby.
"Come, stop your crying. It will be alright. Just take my hand. Hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, don't you cry. For one so small, you seem so strong. My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm. This bond between us can't be broken. I will be here, don't you cry. 'Cause you'll be in my heart. Yes, you'll be in my heart from this day on now and forever more. You'll be in my heart, no matter what they say. You'll be here in my heart, always. Why can't they understand the way we feel? They just don't trust what they can't explain. I know we're different but deep inside we're not that different at all. And you'll be in my heart. Yes, you'll be in my heart from this day on, now and forever more. You'll be in my heart, no matter what they say. You'll be here in my heart, always. Don't listen to them 'cause what do they know? We need each other to have to hold. They'll see in time, I know. When destiny calls you, you've got to be strong. I may not be with you so you got to hold on. They'll see in time, I know. We'll show them together 'cause you'll be in my heart. Believe me, you'll be in my heart. I'll be there from this day on, now and forever more. You'll be in my heart, no matter what they say. You'll be here in my heart always. Always… I'll be there for you. I'll be there for you always, always, and always. Just look over your shoulder. Just look over your shoulder. Just look over your shoulder. I'll be there, always."
Nick fell asleep and Udonna smiled as Nick began to sleep peacefully.