Chapter 7: Forever

A few days later, Kimberly had come out of her daze to Hannah's relief. However, she just stared out the window most of the time. "Mom?" Hannah called. Kimberly looked up and she saw Hannah come into the room.

"Hey, sweetie," she answered.

"How are you feeling?" Hannah asked.

"Better."

Hannah sat next to her mother and she pushed her hair out of her face. "How are you doing sweetheart?" Kimberly asked.

"I'm hanging in there," she replied.

Kimberly placed her hand on her daughter's knee. "You can pull through this. You have been through so many things that no kid can compare," she pointed out. Hannah drew her knees up to her chest.

"Mom…was dad in ever this kind of trouble?" She asked.

"As in with the law? No, I can't say that he has," Kimberly replied.

Hannah sighed sadly. "But baby, I know how you're feeling okay? You're pregnant and you feel alone," she murmured. Hannah nodded her head slowly. "Sweetheart, you're never alone," she assured her. Hannah sniffled and she leaned over, putting her head into her mother's lap.

"This really sucks, mom," she muttered.

"I know it does, but you know that we'll find a way to prove that Conner had nothing to do with trying to kill Coach Schmidt."

Hannah wiped her tears away. "Has Coach Schmidt waken up yet? He's the only person who can tell the court that Conner had nothing to do with what happened," Hannah stated.

"No he hasn't," Kimberly replied.

Hannah let out a sob. "I want Conner home," she sobbed. Kimberly wrapped her arms around her daughter, rocking her back and forth gently.

"I know you do, baby, I know you do," she answered.

"What if Conner never gets out? What if he's put in jail forever and I'll never see him again? I can't raise a baby by myself. I have no job, nothing. I can't raise a baby by myself."

"Sweetheart, Conner's not going to be put in jail forever. He's going to get out. Even if he doesn't you wouldn't have to raise the baby by yourself. Unlike me when I had your sister, you have people who love you and want to be here for you."

Hannah calmed down for a minute. "It took me a long time to get back up on my feet. Thanks to your Grandpa Mitchell and Dana, I was able to achieve the things I want," she pointed out. She ran circles over her back.

"But your dream was to be a great gymnast," Hannah answered.

Kimberly smiled slightly. "Hunter said the same thing to me once. I'll tell you what I told him. My dream is for my kids to get the greatest life you could ever get. Your guys' happiness is my dream," she told her.

The two of them stayed in silence for a moment. "I'm a little scared about this baby, not just because I might raise it on my own, but will it love me mom?" She asked. Kimberly placed her hand under her daughter's chin and had her look at her.

"The baby's going to love you, sweetheart. Get some sleep," she replied.

Hannah smiled as she laid back on her side and Kimberly stroked her hair. "Down the road we'll never know what life may have in store…" she sang quietly. Hannah closed her eyes and she fell asleep. Kimberly kissed her daughter's cheek and she continued to stroke her daughter's hair. Her cell-phone rang and she carefully reached over and picked it up. "You've got her," she answered quietly.

"Hi, mommy," Kylie greeted.

"Hey, baby, you being good for your dad?"

"Uh huh."

"Good. How's your brother?"

"Fine."

"Fine, just fine?"
"Yeah."

Kimberly giggled quietly. "Mommy, are you going to finish your dream?" She asked. Kimberly sat back against the window with a quizzical look.

"What are you talking about sweetie?" She asked.

"Hannah said you were doing gymnastics again. Are you going to do the games again?"

Kimberly bit her lip. "I don't know, sweetie," she replied.

"You should, mommy, you said you always wanted to compete again," Kylie commented.

Kimberly looked down at Kylie. Coach Schmidt was down one gymnast and she could probably still make it to the Pan-Globals if she worked hard. She rubbed the back of her neck. "Maybe, sweetheart, maybe," she answered.

"Do you want to talk to daddy?" Kylie asked.

"Sure, put your dad on the phone."

She waited for Tommy to come on and she sighed. "Hey, Beautiful, everything okay?" He asked. Kimberly pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Our daughter wants me to do my gymnastics again," she replied.

"Well, she wants you to finish your dream."
"My dream is Hannah's dream now."

"She can't finish that and you know why she can't."

Kimberly bit her lip. "They won't accept me, I'm too old," she answered.

"Just try, babe," he murmured.

Kimberly sighed and she nodded. "Yeah…I'll try," she answered.

(Jailhouse)

Hannah sat in front of Conner and she placed her hand on the glass. "We're just waiting for Coach Schmidt to wake up. When he wakes up he'll tell them that you were trying to save him," she murmured. Conner sighed and he shook his head. "Just hang on a little longer," she stated.

"I'll try, I'll try as hard as I can," he answered.

Hannah bit her lip. "You and me," he murmured.

"Forever," she answered.