Song: You'll Always Be My Baby by Sara Evans

Charlotte

It was the middle of the night at the hospital where Janine spent time with Charlotte, her baby, not the Putnams. While the family in question were dead asleep on the sofa and Aunt Lydia in the arm chair, Janine sat by the window in her underclothes, cuddling a very much alive infant who was dangerously close to death hours ago. It is this precious moment that she wants to savor in this horrible place. She knew the moment Aunt Lydia and the Putnams wake up, it will be a long time before she can hold her baby girl again.

"Beyond jewels, beyond treasures, nothing is more beautiful than the sound of a baby's laughter." Janine looked up with a soft gasp when her only eye saw the fabled Saint in her white clad glory floating outside the second story window. "Forgive me for startling you, I didn't want to risk waking up the Putnams. What I'm doing right now is communicating with you telepathically." Carrie explained with a kind smile as she watched Janine and Charlotte.

Janine allowed a big smile to grace her face as she held Charlotte securely. "Can you hear my thoughts then?"

Carrie nodded, "Yes, and they are by far the purest I've seen ever since I woke up."

"You're her, you're the Saint." Janine stated her thoughts to the other, "None of the Handmaids are allowed to talk about you. Aunt Lydia says that if we so much as whisper your name, we'll be punished."

The Saint let out a disappointed sigh as she shook her head at the old woman's harsh acts. "Well, it's a good thing we are not actually speaking then. I came here to help you...help her specifically." she nodded to the baby in Janine's arms.

"My daughter?" Janine glanced down at her baby to see her dozing off in her arms.

"Yes. You saved her with the love you hold for her, one she shares only with you in this dreary place. All babies need love in order to truly live, and she cannot thrive if she remains a prisoner here. I fear she will not survive if she is taken back by the Putnams again." The Saint said with a shake of her head.

Fear shot through Janine's spine at the very idea of letting Mrs. Putnam putting her arms around Charlotte again. No way. She'd have rather died than let that heartless bitch take her baby away from her again.

"I know. You are Charlotte's true mother no matter what anyone says. Which is why I must ask you to make a choice for your child." Carrie thought to the girl who held her daughter protectively in her arms. "I can take her far away from here, to a place where she can be free. She can grow up and be happy, fall in love on her own, and not by the will of someone else."

Her words echoed in Janine's head as a tear of hope and joy streamed down her cheek and fell onto Charlotte's little head. "I want her to be free from this place. Even if she's not here with me, anywhere is better than here." she stifled her sobs as she looked up at the Saint's tear filled eyes, "Can I just be with her, just one last time?"

Carrie thought about it for a few moments before she nodded then whispered, "Before midnight."

Janine smiled and whispered back, "Thank you."

Carrie smiled before she levitated herself away from the hospital to prepare for another stolen child's liberation from this place.

That morning, Aunt Lydia and the Putnams woke up to the joy of seeing the baby alive, healthy, and giggling in Janine's arms. While the Putnams prepared to take 'Angela' back, Janine sang one last song to Charlotte...

In the sunlight or the rain
Brightest nights or darkest days
I'll always feel the same way
Whatever road you may be on
Know you're never too far gone
My love is there wherever you may be
Just remember that you'll always be my baby

Janine swayed as she walked around the room in her red uniform, the beautiful moment seemed to last for an eternity.

Aunt Lydia opened the door to see her surrogate daughter with the baby. While it breaks her heart to separate a mother from their child, this is what she felt was best for everyone.

"Janine." the one eyed girl looked up, but didn't stop her movements. Aunt Lydia stepped aside to let the Putnams in where Naomi pushed the baby carriage to receive the baby again.

"It's time." Aunt Lydia said in what sounded like regret.

Janine was silent before she nodded, knowing that it was useless to put up a fight. "Okay."

The young Handmaid carried little Charlotte over to the baby carriage and gently laid her inside. "There we go. You'll be alright. You're such a good girl." she whispered lovingly to her baby, unmindful of the others in the room. "You're gonna go now. I need you to be strong for the both of us." Charlotte seemed to want to protest at being out of her mother's arms, but calmed down when Janine consoled her. "Hey, it's gonna be alright, what I'm doing now, it's all for you. Just know this little one, no matter where you are, I will always love you." Janine bent forward and kissed her softly on the forehead, which calmed her down enough to make her close her eyes.

Janine stepped back from the baby carriage as she turned to the Putnams. "Thank you. May God's love keep her safe." she said as she bowed her head, fight the urge to hold her baby once again.

"Under His eye." Naomi stiffly said before she pushed the carriage out of the hospital room with her husband following beside her.

Janine's heart broke once more when she saw her baby girl being taken from her again. She made a move to follow them, but Aunt Lydia held her back, holding her in an effort to give her some comfort. "It'll be alright Janine. She's alive now."

Janine froze before a smile crawled onto her face, "You're right." she laid her hand over the Aunt's, "This is for the best. She won't need me anymore. She's in good hands."

Aunt Lydia smiled tearfully at Janine as she held her face in her hands, "I am proud of you." she said as she brought her surrogate daughter in for a hug.

Janine closed her eyes and prayed, "God, please deliver her to a safe place."

That night, while the Putnam house was asleep, the Saint arrived on the second floor of Charlotte's room through the window. Her blue-green eyes stared down at the beautiful child who suffered from the lack of parental love at the hands of the Putnams. She sighed through her nose as she pulled a piece of paper from the inner pocket of her cloak and placed it beside Charlotte's head then gently picked her up from her crib.

Charlotte stirred in her sleep, but Carrie's gentle voice calmed her down, "You need not fear anymore nightmares little one." she turned to the open window and flew out into the night sky with her precious cargo in her arms.

By daybreak, the Putnams were woken up by the panicked screams of one of the Marthas assigned to take care of Angela. The Commander and his Wife were outraged and scared that 'their' baby was stolen from them. The only thing that was resting in the crib was a folded piece of paper which Warren picked up and read its contents out loud to a disheveled Naomi.

'This child was a precious gift from God, one you stole from her true mother. The love you claim to have is not in your hearts, not for each other, and especially not for this child. Your lack of love and affection was killing her, you'd have been murderers of an innocent babe. That in turn, makes you unworthy to care for His precious gift. Now that she's free, there's nothing you can do to hurt her. May God keep her safe from your cruelty and neglect.'

Warren looked up and saw his wife shaking in anger as tears streamed down her face before she began to scream for all of Gilead to hear.