The next few days pass peacefully. Meg sees a myriad of doctors from hematologists to obstetricians. All give her a favorable prognosis. The obstetrician performs an amniocentesis and confirms the baby is a girl. The news does not make Meg as happy as she thought it would.
The pain in her lungs fades. She begins to move more and gain some independence, but stays in the penthouse unless they're at a doctors. Since Billy is out of school for the summer, Adrian arranges a series of day trips for Miss Stacy to take Billy on. Billy comes back each day, happy and full of stories for Meg and Adrian. He sleeps through the night.
He doesn't have nightmares.
One day, all of Meg and Billy's belongings from their last apartment appear. They didn't have much. Ever since they'd gone on the run, Meg had insisted they live out of two suitcases and a backpack each. But in the past month, she'd been relaxing that rule. The baby was getting closer to being due, and she'd needed a place to nest. San Diego had seemed like a safe enough city to do that.
So. Billy had started accumulating toys. And Meg had started hitting thrift stores searching for bassinets and cribs she could afford. She never had been able to bring herself to pawn her wedding band and engagement ring. Even now, she tells herself it's because it would have been too easily traced back to her.
Meg's not sure it's true.
One day, Meg gets out of the shower to find her clothes in the closet and her journal on the bedside. Billy's happily playing with his toys in his room. She's not surprised the bassinet didn't make it–it'd been hideously ugly–but most of the other things she had bought for the baby were there.
Rorschach's journal is conspicuously missing from her belongings.
A week after Meg's released from the hospital, Adrian insists it's time for her to get out of the penthouse for fresh air.
"THe doctor said you need exercise," he says as he braids her hair.
Meg watches him sullenly in the mirror. "I'm not ready to face the masses."
Adrian's attention is focused on her hair. His long fingers sliding through the strands, expertly weaving them together. "It's a short walk around the grounds of the hotel. The crowd will be kept outside. Limited press with us."
She sighs.
His fingers tighten on the strands, pulling them. "The public needs to see you.
Meg's heart starts beating faster, pain prickling in her scalp. "That hurts." It comes out as a whisper.
Adrian immediately loosens his grip. Releases the strands completely and runs his fingers through her hair, palms flat against the sides of her head. "Please, Meg." He kisses the top of her head. "You've read the letters. Seen the news. The people are worried about you." He gathers her hair and pushes it over her left shoulder. Then, he rests his chin on her right. "Give them hope." His eyes meet hers in the mirror. He puts his arms around her.
They feel like a cage. "You are so manipulative."
He smiles. "I don't know what you're talking about." Adrian kisses her cheek, stands back up, and resumes braiding her hair.
When he finishes, he lays out a dress for her to wear and leaves the room. It's a light purple sundress with lace along the sleeves and the hem. Adrian is wearing a similar color, and Meg knows they'll look good together on camera and in photographs. She better get used to it. Her life is now one long publicity stunt.
She slips the white flats onto her feet and heaves a sigh. Then she exits the room.
Adrian is kneeling in front of Billy, tying the little boy's shoes.
"Billy's not coming with us," she says in dismay.
"Of course he is." Adrian stands and takes Billy's hand, smiling at Meg. "A nice family walk."
Her throat closes. For a moment, she can't breathe, can't think.
"Mom?"
The word breaks through her paralysis. She tears her eyes away from Adrian and looks down at Billy. "What is it, honey?" Meg reaches out her hand for him.
He takes it, then grabs Adrian's hand as well. Adrian beams at her over Billy's head. It's all Meg can do not to spit in his face.
Instead, they all walk downstairs together. As a family.
