Chapter 2

Velma tried to stop thinking of the past and more of the future, of her son, and of her hubby. They went out deeper into the frightening streets, huddled together, making their way home. When they got there Buddy was standing at the door in alarm, preparing to defend their home from outside invaders and burglars. But when he saw Roxie and Velma approaching, he sighed in relief. He ran and grabbed Roxie in his arms.

"Oh my. I'm glad to see you too!" she kissed him on the cheek.

Velma came in a second later, locking the door behind her. She came over to where Billy and her son Clyde were sitting. She took Clyde into her arms as Billy rose to give his wife a quick peck on the cheek.

"How are you, hun?" she asked.

"I'm alright. And you?" He wondered, gravely concerned about her state of mind.

"I'm ok." she smiled as they kissed softly again.

Velma looked into Billy's eyes, Billy all the while meeting her gaze.

"Are you ok?" he asked, as her eyes started to well up into small tears.

"Oh Vel." He took Clyde from her arms and set him down gently on the couch. He wiped her tears with his thumbs. "Its ok, hunny, you're Velma Kelly, I'm Billy Flynn, and we, us the two stubborn people that we are, have a child. We're gonna make it. We're gonna be fine." He smiled and he took her into his arms. He hugged her as her tears fell onto his satin striped jacket. He rubbed the back of her head, finding her mane as smooth as it had always been, not one hair out of place.

Buddy quietly interrupted. "May we use your bedroom?" He asked. Billy nodded. Buddy was going to do what he had discussed earlier with him. Billy knew it was going to be hard, especially for Velma. She released herself from his arms, picked up her son, and he wrapped his arms around the both of them. Roxie smiled looking at the small family and turned to follow her husband into her friends' bedroom.

"Roxie, I have something to tell you." Buddy began.

"What is it?" she looked into his eyes as they sat on the edge of the bed facing each other.

"I think the best thing for both of us..." he sighed. "For both of us is to... go" he stated blandly.

"To go?"

"Yes. I know how this is going to work, The Depression, I mean--as some are calling it already. It's going to get worse. I think we should 'flee'" He said.

Roxie looked confused, but seemed to share a vague understanding with her husband.

"I think it's best if we leave as soon as we can. I have our things packed. But... Billy and I discussed that it's probably best we don't say goodbye. ---Only in a letter. Its less heartache that way."

He placed his hand over Roxie's. She got up and paced around slowly for a minute. Buddy knew she was excepting it, knowing it was the right thing to do, he could also tell she was getting upset. He got up and hugged her. Buddy had lost more then half of his money, and he had to keep enough for the baby Roxie was now carrying.