Part 6
"Mark?" whispered Elizabeth into his ear. "Mark, wake up. You're going to be late."
"Wahha?" Mark groaned. "'Lizabeth, close the blinds. It's too bright," Mark said, turning onto his stomach. He covered his head with a pillow trying his best to
block out the sun.
He sat up suddenly and came face to face with Elizabeth's hair. She was sitting on the edge of their queen sized bed, her face scrunched up in discomfort. Not wanting Mark to notice, she was faced the wall, hoping that it would subside before he got up.
"Elizabeth's what's wrong?" asked Mark worriedly. He placed his hands on her shoulders to let her know that he was awake and wanted answers.
"I'm.... I'm fine. Just that *someone* has decided to kick me in the chest." said Elizabeth a bit out of breath and trying not to wince.
"Maybe you should take today off? You've been having an awful lot of these kicks."
"I'm fine. Gaining a little more weight than usual, though." she said, finally getting up with Mark's help. "You need to be in at nine and Charlotte starts school at 8:45. Go take a shower."
"Ok. You want me to bring Charlotte to school?" asked Mark, grabbing a few items of clothing as he made his way to the adjoining bathroom that was conveniently near the bed.
"No. I already have an appointment to talk with her teacher at eight fifteen." answered Elizabeth who had begun to pull back the sheets neatly. Mark heard the rustling of the material and popped out of the bathroom wearing only his sweat pants.
"Oh, no you don't!"
"What now?" asked Elizabeth, tired that he was watching her every move. She stopped her work but didn't let go of the sheets.
"You have to be at the school in half an hour- is Charlotte ready?" Mark asked trying to find something for her to do other than make the bed.
"Yes, all she has to do is eat breakfast and she wants to eat with you too." defended Elizabeth.
"Did you eat yet?"
"Had a banana, I couldn't wait that long for you to get up."
"Well go, do something! As long as it doesn't involve lifting, pulling, pushing or anything strenuous!" said Mark he guided Elizabeth to the hallway.
"Mark, making the bed is not a huge job." sighed Elizabeth knowing that this was one battle she wouldn't win and that to go along with what Mark said was the only thing she could do.
"I don't care - go watch some T.V," advised Mark. He gave her a quick kiss before running back to the bathroom, leaving her in the hallway shaking her head. She continued her way downstairs to find something to do that Mark would approve of.
~*~*~*~
Charlotte looked through her new school bag - a pale purple, and blue colour and had colourful flowers accented with leaves for decoration. The television was on, its volume muted. On the screen was a children's program which included adults singing some sought of song where the words bounced around and lit up as each word was sung.
"Do you like your new bag?" asked Elizabeth as she sat down on the sofa next to Charlotte, one hand on her stomach which was covered with a large blue shirt.
"Uhuh. Elizabeth, Will I like my new teacher?"
"I don't know Char but I'm sure that she's nice." answered Elizabeth watching as Charlotte categorised her things into various pockets, lines appearing onto her forehead showing her concentration.
"Why do you have to speak to my teacher?" asked Charlotte finally looking up worriedly. "Is it because I can't read or write good yet?"
"Oh no, Charlotte that isn't so important, we can work on that. I just need to fill your teacher in on things that I was supposed to before you started school but as neither I or Mark have had time to do that yet I'm going to do it this morning." said Elizabeth coming up with an answer that was half true.
"Ok. When will Mark be ready?"
"I don't know but he'll be-"
"When can I call you Mummy?" asked Charlotte interrupting Elizabeth who was trying to stall for Mark.
"I don't know sweetie. When do you want to call me Mu- Mummy?" answered Elizabeth, stumbling on the word 'mummy'. She hadn't been expecting that question though she knew that it might come sooner or later.
"I wanna call you 'Mummy' now and Mark, 'Daddy'. Today. Elizabeth I want to have a family. Why can't I have a family with you and Mark in it?" asked Charlotte seriously. Her eyes seemed to glass up but strangely, Elizabeth couldn't detect any tears behind them.
"Well. You can call me 'Mummy' if you want. I you want to call Mark 'Daddy' I think you should ask him first. As for a family, Charlotte, those aren't as easy to get and Mark and I are not your parents-"
"But I want you to be..."
"Charlotte, you're going to have to be patient. Families aren't that easy to make." Elizabeth suddenly realised something and decided to question Charlotte. "Were you trying to create a 'real family' by calling me Mummy?"
Charlotte nodded slowly in reply and looked down, her focus on Elizabeth's stomach where her hand still rested upon.
"There is no such thing as a 'real family'. Charlotte, every family is different." said Elizabeth lifting up the young girl's chin softly.
"Yes but in each one there is a 'Mummy' and a 'Daddy'." said Charlotte stubbornly.
"Not always." said Elizabeth softly trying to convince the girl her point of view. She noticed that Mark was climbing down the stairs and knew she had to wrap up the conversation.
"I'll sorry Charlotte, but if you don't eat breakfast you're going to be late. I promise you that I'll go over families tonight, ok?"
"Okay." said Charlotte some what forlornly. "What do I tell the other children in my class?"
"Tell them that you have a 'special family' that is different from all of theirs." said Elizabeth with a proud smile.
~*~*~*~
"How did things at St. Michael's go?" Mark asked softly as he entered Elizabeth's office, closing the door behind him.
"Fine. Sister understood and agreed that if we tutored Charlotte ourselves that she will keep her in grade two." said Elizabeth dropping her pen.
Mark leaned over and kissed her on the lips. Elizabeth had been expecting a short peck but received one that deepened until she was quite out of breath.
"You ok?" asked Mark, taking note of how many times Elizabeth had become out of breath in the past few days.
"I'm fine and the OB appointment this afternoon will confirm that." said Elizabeth shuffling around the papers on her desk as she searched for a certain file.
"I'm just a worried husband with a pregnant wife who will not slow down. You know, soon our 'elopement' will be around the hospital. You know that right?"
"Yes. Vaguely." she answered sarcastically. "You told Haleh to meet us at the court house and with her was a large camera. I think more than just *words* would be out by now Mark."
"No pictures yet. The negatives are still in the shop." said Mark leaning against the edge of her desk which was the only spot left that was not covered with files or documents.
"Don't bet on it. Want to get some lunch?" Elizabeth asked. Giving up hope of finding what she was looking for, she took Mark's had and led him to the door.
"Can't wait?" teased Mark.
Elizabeth shot him a look. "I can but if I wait too long someone starts to complain and that's not so pleasant."
"Congratulations Dr Corday and Dr Greene." said a nurse hurriedly as the elevator doors opened and Mark and Elizabeth walked in.
"Thank you Shirley!" answered Elizabeth before nudging Mark. "What did I tell you?"
~*~*~*~
Charlotte looked around her. The children in her class were all very friendly and Charlotte's personality had gained her instant friends. So far though, one child that stood out the most was a young boy whom everyone called 'Ted'. He was a nice boy with curly light brown hair, green eyes that matched up with Charlotte's blue ones and was a couple of centimetres over her. Being the polite kid he was, he had invited her into his circle of friends.
The game progressed and a person was chosen to beit until they had caught another person who instantly became 'it'.
At first all was well and the game went on to be greatly enjoyable. However Charlotte didn't think so...
"Jamie's it! Jamie's it!" the crowd of screaming, giggling eight year olds yelled in delight as 'Jamie' tried to catch one of them, then the other. Charlotte at first ran away with the other children but soon found herself in the vortex of all the screams and yells all centered on the one boy, Jamie.
"I am going to catch you all!" he yelled victoriously with delight as he lunged forward to lightly touch one girl's shoulder. She ducked away smartly before he could get close enough.
Charlotte suddenly remembered a day, a day back when she had decided that her mother would be pleased with her if she brought her step father a drink....
******
"Hello Fr-Daddy." whispered a soft voice as she crept slowly up towards the bed that towered above her.
"Speak up yer lil one - can't hear ya!" came the rough voice, thick with alcohol. Charlotte crept towards the bed, this time holding her nose while trying to ward off the smell that her step-father emitted into the surrounding air.
"I brought you something Daddy." said Charlotte as best as she could. Her hair was unkempt and her clothes filled with stains of various unrecognisable substances.
"Yah!" he said, a slight trace of fake kindness in his voice. "What is it?"
"A beer Daddy." said Charlotte, a huge smile on her face. 'I will make him proud of me I know I can!' she thought to herself.
"Beer, huh? Hand it over child." he said as he leaned forward, lost his balance and promptly fell off the bed... right at Charlotte's feet. The beer still in her hand, waiting.
"What is with you, huh?" Frank yelled, getting up. He didn't bother to pull on some clothes; however he did have the curtesy to warp a bed sheet around his beer-belly waist.
Charlotte stood, silent as the stars. Her eyes emotionless feet rooted to the wooden floor boards like a tree hundreds of years old.
"Where's my beer?!"
Charlotte silently held the can within Frank's reach and waited for him to take it.
Once again he swiped at the open air and stumbled forward a tad, forcing Charlotte to take a few small steps back.
"Thats it. You don't respect me do you? Running away, won't give me my beer..." mumbled Frank loudly. Charlotte noticed the dangerous note in his voice and scampered off, her eyes large and round like the fish in the bowl her step father had broken a week ago.
"Get back 'ere!!"
Charlotte either didn't hear him or just didn't want to know. She ran, her small legs pounding the kitchen limonene and into the pantry cupboard that had a lock on the inside. Creeping as quickly as possible between the flour and a sack of rice, she locked the door and put her head down on her knees as she waited till Frank got bored or passed out.
The screams and shouts from the kitchen were getting louder and louder, swirling together like a storm into her head. The crashing of plates and forms of cutlery against the strong wooden door sounded like bullets, the sounds of her mother coming through the kitchen door was as welcome as the rains during summer. Charlotte buried her head deeper in between her knees and tried to shut as much of the commotion with one of the few songs she knew of…
"Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are."
And with that the crashes in her head ceased and another more painful hurting began.
The cries of her mother begging her stepfather to stop.
Stop it all because she wasn't worth it all.
Wasn't worth anything
~*~*~*~ end flashback~*~*~*~
The banging in Charlotte had gotten worse, the drum in her head was now beating so hard she felt like her head was about to explode. Putting her hands against her ears she pressed them as close together as possible and ran away, behind the only hiding place she could see that was not cluttered with those participating in 'tag', under the stair well that lead to the upper classrooms.
~*~*~*~
"Ohh..." whispered Elizabeth softly as she and Mark stared in wonder at the screen in front of them, the moving black and white splodges barely recognisable as a baby. The swoosh and beating of the baby's heart filled the room.
"It's a girl..." announced Mark to himself.
"Yup. Things seem to be going great. All we have to wait for now is the labs to come back." Confirmed Dr Mc Lucas as she wiped the gel off Elizabeth's growing bulge and switched off the machine. Mark helped Elizabeth into a sitting position as Dr McLucas looked over her notes.
"Any more morning sickness?"
"Just a bit, mainly after lunch." answered Elizabeth truthfully. Mark was a little surprised that she hadn't told him, but kept quiet anyway.
"Any problems at all?" asked Mc Lucas, wanting to make sure she covered everything.
"A few painful kicks and I think I'm a little over weight but that's about it."
"How painful on a scale of one to ten?" asked McLucas, a serious expressio on her face as she dropped her pen and looked into Elizabeth's face.
"About five..."
"I'm going to have to check you Elizabeth, I'm sorry."
"Do you think they were contractions?" asked Mark worriedly as Elizabeth lay down on the bed again.
"It's a possibility."
~*~*~*~
The playground that had been previously occupied by a large volume of children, now seemed drained and empty as he last few kids ran off to their classrooms, eager to continue on with lessons.
Sister Mary, a respected teacher and nun, looked around worriedly. All her class had already gone inside and reading had started. Charlotte however was no where to be found. 'Where can she be?' she whispered to herself.
"Ted! What are you doing here?" asked Sister Mary as she spotted one of her students whom she knew had warmed up to Charlotte from the beginning.
"I was looking for Charlotte, Sister. I couldn't find her after the game." said the little boy sadly.
"Do you have any idea where she is?"
"Well, I saw run to the bottom of the stairwell-" started Ted. Following where Sister Mary ran, they found Charlotte crouched like a ball, her face buried deep between her knees, her desperate sobs shaking her tiny body with thoughts that no young girl should have.
~*~*~*~
Mark held onto Elizabeth's arm as he led her to through the parking garage towards his huge white van. Elizabeth's face was a little pale and her eyes were red.
"You do know that you are going straight home, right?" asked Mark slowly.
"Yes. I do know Mark, I am not totally bedridden yet I can get there on my own..." protested Elizabeth knowing exactly where this conversation was leading.
"Nope. I'm taking you home. Luka's covering for me." insisted Mark.
Elizabeth didn't say anything but instead sighed and let Mark open the door to the passenger seat for her.
~*~*~*~
"Charlotte, sweet heart, will you come out?" asked the Sister softly, Ted standing only a meter away.
Charlotte looked up, striking the Sister with the haunted looked that seemed to drip from her eyes like liquid gas that flowed directly to her heart.
Slowly but surely, Charlotte creped out from her hiding spot and stood up, a few smears of dust and dirt covering her clothes. Reaching out for a hug, Charlotte enveloped her teacher in a close and very tight hug but in matter of seconds realized what she had just done, pulling away, her arms folded in a defensive position.
"What's wrong Charlotte?" asked Ted slowly as he took a step closer.
"Nothing." she answered keeping her eyes downcast.
"Ted, go back to class and tell everyone that I will be back very soon and to continue on with their reading," the older woman knew she shouldn't have left her class, but something inside her begged to take care of Charlotte. 'Mr Holstein is next door anyway,' she reminded herself.
"Charlotte, let's take you to the sick bay ok?" asked the Sister carefully, making sure that this was where Charlotte wanted to be.
Charlotte nodded in response and allowed her teacher to take her firmly but gently by the hand and lead her towards the office building.
~*~*~*~
"Are you going to be ok?" asked Mark gently as he opened the door to their house and guided Elizabeth over to the couch.
"I shall be fine Mark." whispered Elizabeth as convincing as possible. But Mark saw through the tough exterior that she had tried to put up around her. Taking her hands he sat down and made sure she was looking into his eyes before continuing.
"We didn't think that you would go into pre-eclampsia Elizabeth."
"Well I have, and I don't know what I'd do if I lost her-"
"We won't lose the baby."
"How do you know that Mark?" said Elizabeth forcefully, her eyes taking on a look of sorrow.
"Because, we are going to take very good care of you and you are going to rest as much as possible." stated Mark calmly.
"I know, I know, but it's going to be hard with Charlotte I don't want..."
"Charlotte will be fine. I can take care of her and the neighbours have already offered their help, you know how responsible Mrs Hayden is." said Mark, trying his best to calm her down.
Elizabeth just nodded simply, her head now down facing the wooden floors that seemed like her only place of refuge, although a lame one.
"Elizabeth, I have to go back to work now."
She nodded again. Mark softly caught the tear that had made its way down her face and gently titled her face to look up at him.
"I love you." he whispered before giving her a kiss.
"I love you too." she said, so quietly that Mark almost didn't catch what she had said.
Holding her in a tight but warm hug, Mark smiled to himself and at Elizabeth. Although she could not see it, she felt it radiate like satellite beams into her body.
"Everything will be just fine."
As he got up to leave, his pager went off.
~*~*~*~
"Charlotte, Mark is on his way to come and get you, ok?" said the nurse brightly.
Charlotte once again nodded using the only form of communication that she felt comfortable with at that moment.
"Are you sure you don't want to tell me what happened?" asked the nurse once again, this time a little more delicately.
Charlotte shook her head.
"Ok then, we'll wait for mark." said the nurse with a large smile on her face, trying to comfort the little girl. Her efforts failing miserably as Charlotte just looked back at her silently, her eyes almost lifeless except for the tiny piece of hope that lurked somewhere behind all the lies and hatred.
~*~*~*~
Thanks to Lisa once again who beta-ed this piece for me :)
"Mark?" whispered Elizabeth into his ear. "Mark, wake up. You're going to be late."
"Wahha?" Mark groaned. "'Lizabeth, close the blinds. It's too bright," Mark said, turning onto his stomach. He covered his head with a pillow trying his best to
block out the sun.
He sat up suddenly and came face to face with Elizabeth's hair. She was sitting on the edge of their queen sized bed, her face scrunched up in discomfort. Not wanting Mark to notice, she was faced the wall, hoping that it would subside before he got up.
"Elizabeth's what's wrong?" asked Mark worriedly. He placed his hands on her shoulders to let her know that he was awake and wanted answers.
"I'm.... I'm fine. Just that *someone* has decided to kick me in the chest." said Elizabeth a bit out of breath and trying not to wince.
"Maybe you should take today off? You've been having an awful lot of these kicks."
"I'm fine. Gaining a little more weight than usual, though." she said, finally getting up with Mark's help. "You need to be in at nine and Charlotte starts school at 8:45. Go take a shower."
"Ok. You want me to bring Charlotte to school?" asked Mark, grabbing a few items of clothing as he made his way to the adjoining bathroom that was conveniently near the bed.
"No. I already have an appointment to talk with her teacher at eight fifteen." answered Elizabeth who had begun to pull back the sheets neatly. Mark heard the rustling of the material and popped out of the bathroom wearing only his sweat pants.
"Oh, no you don't!"
"What now?" asked Elizabeth, tired that he was watching her every move. She stopped her work but didn't let go of the sheets.
"You have to be at the school in half an hour- is Charlotte ready?" Mark asked trying to find something for her to do other than make the bed.
"Yes, all she has to do is eat breakfast and she wants to eat with you too." defended Elizabeth.
"Did you eat yet?"
"Had a banana, I couldn't wait that long for you to get up."
"Well go, do something! As long as it doesn't involve lifting, pulling, pushing or anything strenuous!" said Mark he guided Elizabeth to the hallway.
"Mark, making the bed is not a huge job." sighed Elizabeth knowing that this was one battle she wouldn't win and that to go along with what Mark said was the only thing she could do.
"I don't care - go watch some T.V," advised Mark. He gave her a quick kiss before running back to the bathroom, leaving her in the hallway shaking her head. She continued her way downstairs to find something to do that Mark would approve of.
~*~*~*~
Charlotte looked through her new school bag - a pale purple, and blue colour and had colourful flowers accented with leaves for decoration. The television was on, its volume muted. On the screen was a children's program which included adults singing some sought of song where the words bounced around and lit up as each word was sung.
"Do you like your new bag?" asked Elizabeth as she sat down on the sofa next to Charlotte, one hand on her stomach which was covered with a large blue shirt.
"Uhuh. Elizabeth, Will I like my new teacher?"
"I don't know Char but I'm sure that she's nice." answered Elizabeth watching as Charlotte categorised her things into various pockets, lines appearing onto her forehead showing her concentration.
"Why do you have to speak to my teacher?" asked Charlotte finally looking up worriedly. "Is it because I can't read or write good yet?"
"Oh no, Charlotte that isn't so important, we can work on that. I just need to fill your teacher in on things that I was supposed to before you started school but as neither I or Mark have had time to do that yet I'm going to do it this morning." said Elizabeth coming up with an answer that was half true.
"Ok. When will Mark be ready?"
"I don't know but he'll be-"
"When can I call you Mummy?" asked Charlotte interrupting Elizabeth who was trying to stall for Mark.
"I don't know sweetie. When do you want to call me Mu- Mummy?" answered Elizabeth, stumbling on the word 'mummy'. She hadn't been expecting that question though she knew that it might come sooner or later.
"I wanna call you 'Mummy' now and Mark, 'Daddy'. Today. Elizabeth I want to have a family. Why can't I have a family with you and Mark in it?" asked Charlotte seriously. Her eyes seemed to glass up but strangely, Elizabeth couldn't detect any tears behind them.
"Well. You can call me 'Mummy' if you want. I you want to call Mark 'Daddy' I think you should ask him first. As for a family, Charlotte, those aren't as easy to get and Mark and I are not your parents-"
"But I want you to be..."
"Charlotte, you're going to have to be patient. Families aren't that easy to make." Elizabeth suddenly realised something and decided to question Charlotte. "Were you trying to create a 'real family' by calling me Mummy?"
Charlotte nodded slowly in reply and looked down, her focus on Elizabeth's stomach where her hand still rested upon.
"There is no such thing as a 'real family'. Charlotte, every family is different." said Elizabeth lifting up the young girl's chin softly.
"Yes but in each one there is a 'Mummy' and a 'Daddy'." said Charlotte stubbornly.
"Not always." said Elizabeth softly trying to convince the girl her point of view. She noticed that Mark was climbing down the stairs and knew she had to wrap up the conversation.
"I'll sorry Charlotte, but if you don't eat breakfast you're going to be late. I promise you that I'll go over families tonight, ok?"
"Okay." said Charlotte some what forlornly. "What do I tell the other children in my class?"
"Tell them that you have a 'special family' that is different from all of theirs." said Elizabeth with a proud smile.
~*~*~*~
"How did things at St. Michael's go?" Mark asked softly as he entered Elizabeth's office, closing the door behind him.
"Fine. Sister understood and agreed that if we tutored Charlotte ourselves that she will keep her in grade two." said Elizabeth dropping her pen.
Mark leaned over and kissed her on the lips. Elizabeth had been expecting a short peck but received one that deepened until she was quite out of breath.
"You ok?" asked Mark, taking note of how many times Elizabeth had become out of breath in the past few days.
"I'm fine and the OB appointment this afternoon will confirm that." said Elizabeth shuffling around the papers on her desk as she searched for a certain file.
"I'm just a worried husband with a pregnant wife who will not slow down. You know, soon our 'elopement' will be around the hospital. You know that right?"
"Yes. Vaguely." she answered sarcastically. "You told Haleh to meet us at the court house and with her was a large camera. I think more than just *words* would be out by now Mark."
"No pictures yet. The negatives are still in the shop." said Mark leaning against the edge of her desk which was the only spot left that was not covered with files or documents.
"Don't bet on it. Want to get some lunch?" Elizabeth asked. Giving up hope of finding what she was looking for, she took Mark's had and led him to the door.
"Can't wait?" teased Mark.
Elizabeth shot him a look. "I can but if I wait too long someone starts to complain and that's not so pleasant."
"Congratulations Dr Corday and Dr Greene." said a nurse hurriedly as the elevator doors opened and Mark and Elizabeth walked in.
"Thank you Shirley!" answered Elizabeth before nudging Mark. "What did I tell you?"
~*~*~*~
Charlotte looked around her. The children in her class were all very friendly and Charlotte's personality had gained her instant friends. So far though, one child that stood out the most was a young boy whom everyone called 'Ted'. He was a nice boy with curly light brown hair, green eyes that matched up with Charlotte's blue ones and was a couple of centimetres over her. Being the polite kid he was, he had invited her into his circle of friends.
The game progressed and a person was chosen to beit until they had caught another person who instantly became 'it'.
At first all was well and the game went on to be greatly enjoyable. However Charlotte didn't think so...
"Jamie's it! Jamie's it!" the crowd of screaming, giggling eight year olds yelled in delight as 'Jamie' tried to catch one of them, then the other. Charlotte at first ran away with the other children but soon found herself in the vortex of all the screams and yells all centered on the one boy, Jamie.
"I am going to catch you all!" he yelled victoriously with delight as he lunged forward to lightly touch one girl's shoulder. She ducked away smartly before he could get close enough.
Charlotte suddenly remembered a day, a day back when she had decided that her mother would be pleased with her if she brought her step father a drink....
******
"Hello Fr-Daddy." whispered a soft voice as she crept slowly up towards the bed that towered above her.
"Speak up yer lil one - can't hear ya!" came the rough voice, thick with alcohol. Charlotte crept towards the bed, this time holding her nose while trying to ward off the smell that her step-father emitted into the surrounding air.
"I brought you something Daddy." said Charlotte as best as she could. Her hair was unkempt and her clothes filled with stains of various unrecognisable substances.
"Yah!" he said, a slight trace of fake kindness in his voice. "What is it?"
"A beer Daddy." said Charlotte, a huge smile on her face. 'I will make him proud of me I know I can!' she thought to herself.
"Beer, huh? Hand it over child." he said as he leaned forward, lost his balance and promptly fell off the bed... right at Charlotte's feet. The beer still in her hand, waiting.
"What is with you, huh?" Frank yelled, getting up. He didn't bother to pull on some clothes; however he did have the curtesy to warp a bed sheet around his beer-belly waist.
Charlotte stood, silent as the stars. Her eyes emotionless feet rooted to the wooden floor boards like a tree hundreds of years old.
"Where's my beer?!"
Charlotte silently held the can within Frank's reach and waited for him to take it.
Once again he swiped at the open air and stumbled forward a tad, forcing Charlotte to take a few small steps back.
"Thats it. You don't respect me do you? Running away, won't give me my beer..." mumbled Frank loudly. Charlotte noticed the dangerous note in his voice and scampered off, her eyes large and round like the fish in the bowl her step father had broken a week ago.
"Get back 'ere!!"
Charlotte either didn't hear him or just didn't want to know. She ran, her small legs pounding the kitchen limonene and into the pantry cupboard that had a lock on the inside. Creeping as quickly as possible between the flour and a sack of rice, she locked the door and put her head down on her knees as she waited till Frank got bored or passed out.
The screams and shouts from the kitchen were getting louder and louder, swirling together like a storm into her head. The crashing of plates and forms of cutlery against the strong wooden door sounded like bullets, the sounds of her mother coming through the kitchen door was as welcome as the rains during summer. Charlotte buried her head deeper in between her knees and tried to shut as much of the commotion with one of the few songs she knew of…
"Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are."
And with that the crashes in her head ceased and another more painful hurting began.
The cries of her mother begging her stepfather to stop.
Stop it all because she wasn't worth it all.
Wasn't worth anything
~*~*~*~ end flashback~*~*~*~
The banging in Charlotte had gotten worse, the drum in her head was now beating so hard she felt like her head was about to explode. Putting her hands against her ears she pressed them as close together as possible and ran away, behind the only hiding place she could see that was not cluttered with those participating in 'tag', under the stair well that lead to the upper classrooms.
~*~*~*~
"Ohh..." whispered Elizabeth softly as she and Mark stared in wonder at the screen in front of them, the moving black and white splodges barely recognisable as a baby. The swoosh and beating of the baby's heart filled the room.
"It's a girl..." announced Mark to himself.
"Yup. Things seem to be going great. All we have to wait for now is the labs to come back." Confirmed Dr Mc Lucas as she wiped the gel off Elizabeth's growing bulge and switched off the machine. Mark helped Elizabeth into a sitting position as Dr McLucas looked over her notes.
"Any more morning sickness?"
"Just a bit, mainly after lunch." answered Elizabeth truthfully. Mark was a little surprised that she hadn't told him, but kept quiet anyway.
"Any problems at all?" asked Mc Lucas, wanting to make sure she covered everything.
"A few painful kicks and I think I'm a little over weight but that's about it."
"How painful on a scale of one to ten?" asked McLucas, a serious expressio on her face as she dropped her pen and looked into Elizabeth's face.
"About five..."
"I'm going to have to check you Elizabeth, I'm sorry."
"Do you think they were contractions?" asked Mark worriedly as Elizabeth lay down on the bed again.
"It's a possibility."
~*~*~*~
The playground that had been previously occupied by a large volume of children, now seemed drained and empty as he last few kids ran off to their classrooms, eager to continue on with lessons.
Sister Mary, a respected teacher and nun, looked around worriedly. All her class had already gone inside and reading had started. Charlotte however was no where to be found. 'Where can she be?' she whispered to herself.
"Ted! What are you doing here?" asked Sister Mary as she spotted one of her students whom she knew had warmed up to Charlotte from the beginning.
"I was looking for Charlotte, Sister. I couldn't find her after the game." said the little boy sadly.
"Do you have any idea where she is?"
"Well, I saw run to the bottom of the stairwell-" started Ted. Following where Sister Mary ran, they found Charlotte crouched like a ball, her face buried deep between her knees, her desperate sobs shaking her tiny body with thoughts that no young girl should have.
~*~*~*~
Mark held onto Elizabeth's arm as he led her to through the parking garage towards his huge white van. Elizabeth's face was a little pale and her eyes were red.
"You do know that you are going straight home, right?" asked Mark slowly.
"Yes. I do know Mark, I am not totally bedridden yet I can get there on my own..." protested Elizabeth knowing exactly where this conversation was leading.
"Nope. I'm taking you home. Luka's covering for me." insisted Mark.
Elizabeth didn't say anything but instead sighed and let Mark open the door to the passenger seat for her.
~*~*~*~
"Charlotte, sweet heart, will you come out?" asked the Sister softly, Ted standing only a meter away.
Charlotte looked up, striking the Sister with the haunted looked that seemed to drip from her eyes like liquid gas that flowed directly to her heart.
Slowly but surely, Charlotte creped out from her hiding spot and stood up, a few smears of dust and dirt covering her clothes. Reaching out for a hug, Charlotte enveloped her teacher in a close and very tight hug but in matter of seconds realized what she had just done, pulling away, her arms folded in a defensive position.
"What's wrong Charlotte?" asked Ted slowly as he took a step closer.
"Nothing." she answered keeping her eyes downcast.
"Ted, go back to class and tell everyone that I will be back very soon and to continue on with their reading," the older woman knew she shouldn't have left her class, but something inside her begged to take care of Charlotte. 'Mr Holstein is next door anyway,' she reminded herself.
"Charlotte, let's take you to the sick bay ok?" asked the Sister carefully, making sure that this was where Charlotte wanted to be.
Charlotte nodded in response and allowed her teacher to take her firmly but gently by the hand and lead her towards the office building.
~*~*~*~
"Are you going to be ok?" asked Mark gently as he opened the door to their house and guided Elizabeth over to the couch.
"I shall be fine Mark." whispered Elizabeth as convincing as possible. But Mark saw through the tough exterior that she had tried to put up around her. Taking her hands he sat down and made sure she was looking into his eyes before continuing.
"We didn't think that you would go into pre-eclampsia Elizabeth."
"Well I have, and I don't know what I'd do if I lost her-"
"We won't lose the baby."
"How do you know that Mark?" said Elizabeth forcefully, her eyes taking on a look of sorrow.
"Because, we are going to take very good care of you and you are going to rest as much as possible." stated Mark calmly.
"I know, I know, but it's going to be hard with Charlotte I don't want..."
"Charlotte will be fine. I can take care of her and the neighbours have already offered their help, you know how responsible Mrs Hayden is." said Mark, trying his best to calm her down.
Elizabeth just nodded simply, her head now down facing the wooden floors that seemed like her only place of refuge, although a lame one.
"Elizabeth, I have to go back to work now."
She nodded again. Mark softly caught the tear that had made its way down her face and gently titled her face to look up at him.
"I love you." he whispered before giving her a kiss.
"I love you too." she said, so quietly that Mark almost didn't catch what she had said.
Holding her in a tight but warm hug, Mark smiled to himself and at Elizabeth. Although she could not see it, she felt it radiate like satellite beams into her body.
"Everything will be just fine."
As he got up to leave, his pager went off.
~*~*~*~
"Charlotte, Mark is on his way to come and get you, ok?" said the nurse brightly.
Charlotte once again nodded using the only form of communication that she felt comfortable with at that moment.
"Are you sure you don't want to tell me what happened?" asked the nurse once again, this time a little more delicately.
Charlotte shook her head.
"Ok then, we'll wait for mark." said the nurse with a large smile on her face, trying to comfort the little girl. Her efforts failing miserably as Charlotte just looked back at her silently, her eyes almost lifeless except for the tiny piece of hope that lurked somewhere behind all the lies and hatred.
~*~*~*~
Thanks to Lisa once again who beta-ed this piece for me :)