Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That morning I decided to paint. Since I had begun to spend the majority of my time in the attic I had been unable to watch television as much. I started to go back to the other activities that had taken up my time before that electric introduction. Although I knew my paintings never were as detailed and accurate as Chris's were, I still enjoyed my feeble attempts. And Chris would say they were beautiful, no matter if I thought they were lacking.

It was one such morning that I felt a jerk in my stomach. I had felt things like this before, but never so strong. It was with joy that I realized that the baby was kicking.

"Chris!" I called

"Come here quick"

Chris came bounding through the attic, jumping over several trunks along the way.

"What is it Cathy, are you all right?" He asked, concerned.

"Oh I'm o.k. Here feel this." I said quickly grabbing his hand and bringing it to my stomach.

His eyes lit up when he felt the baby move. He quickly gathered me into a hug and planted a chaste kiss on my cheek.

He gently led me to our old swing and started to push be back and forth slowly. My feet brushed our paper flowers.

"Our baby will be perfect, Cathy, I know it." He said quietly into my ear from behind me. I closed my eyes, relishing the moment and hoping with all my being that he was right. As he continued pushing me I caught a glimpse of Cory's old decorated snail, still hanging on the opposite wall.

"Chris, do you think the twins will come back soon?"

"I hope so." He answered simply.

"What if they don't?" I asked again, driven by my never ending pessimism that always seemed to dominate at the wrong times.

"We'll have to figure out which hospital they are at. And then we'll leave. After you have our child we can go and get them. But no need to worry about that. We have two months until you'll give birth, I'm sure they'll be back by then." I could feel his encouraging smile without even having to turn around. I leaned back into his chest and looked up at his face.

"Why do have so much hope, after everything we've gone through you should be just as black hearted as I am. But you're still my cock-eyed optimist." I finished lamely looking back down to the floor, tears clouding my vision.

Chris came around from behind me and kneeled in front of me, our faces level.

"Look at me Cathy." He asked gently. When I continued to stare at the ground he reached out and tilted my chin upwards.

"You are not black hearted. You are my Catherine Doll, the most beautiful ballerina to ever grace this world. I have hope because I have you."

I smiled and reached out to hug him close to me, he was my only constant in this sea of lies that had become my life.

I sank against him, enjoying the comforting feeling of his arms around me. Apparently he took this as a sign to continue because his arms drifted steadily lower and he began to nuzzle my neck, pushing my thick sweater lower so he could kiss my throat. I recognized his breathing change and become faster, just as it had that night. Against my will, or so I would like to think, my hands circled behind his head. My fingers knotted in his hair, trying to bring him closer.

And then I heard a voice from our room below.

"Chris, don't you want to greet your mommy?"

It was Her. Chris quickly pulled away from me. The desire quickly leaving his eyes as he started to come back to reality again.

"You should go see her, before she comes up here and sees me." I told him.

He nodded, brushing his now messy hair from his face and trying to regain a look of composure.

"Be right back." He added as he jogged down the stairs.

I followed him and listened at the door as I often did now.

"Oh Chris I have wonderful news!" Mommy exclaimed when she saw Chris.

"The twins are coming back?" Chris asked hopefully.

There was a slight pause.

"Well no...but the good news is that they are getting better. The doctor confirmed that they both had an internal condition. Something about their stomach acid eating away their surrounding tissue, or whatnot. The main point is that they are getting better."

"hmm, well that's good." Chris answered, I could tell he was still confused about what exactly the twins had.

"So um...what hospital did you say they're staying at?" I smirked from behind the door. So Chris did listen to my worries. At least he did, I thought bitterly.

"Oh...the hospital you say?" Corrine said feebly. I could tell she was twisting her pearls.

"Yes...Well they aren't at a hospital."

I had to cover my mouth before I inadvertently made any noise.

"Where are they then." Chris asked, a dangerous tone to his voice.

"Well... you see I couldn't very well take them to a hospital, too many questions you know. But my father has the best doctors. So I asked one whom I trust, to look after the twins at his home."

"His home, where is his home, who is he?" Chris asked again, his voice getting louder.

Suddenly I heard the door to the hallway open. And the grandmother's voice soaked through.

"Corrine, I'm sorry to break up this charming chat you're having, but your husband needs a word with you...Now."

"Yes, mother. Well, I'll talk to you soon, Chris. Isn't wonderful the twins are getting better?" She went up to him and planted a quick kiss to his cheek.

"Goodbye Chris."

Chris didn't respond as the door slammed. He opened the door to the attic, and saw me sitting on the steps.

He closed the door behind him and sat on the step below me. The corridor to the attic was completely dark.

"You heard everything?" He asked, his back to me.

"Yes." I answered simply.

"What do you think?"

"It's going to hard to get them out of someone's private home."

"Yea, I thought the same thing."

The silence stretched on. Until I heard him echoing my previous question back to me. It hurt to hear doubt in his voice.

"So what do we do?"

I knew it my turn to be strong for him now. And although my answer lacked the hope that Chris's had it was true all the same.

"We do what we've always done...we wait." The cold determination in my voice leading me to believe that perhaps one day all four us could be united once again. How wrong I was...

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So what do you think?? Extreme drama coming up in the next couple of chapters, oh goody! Please review, they are greatly appreciated and make me extremely happy!