Chapter 26

Third year in Space…

"Atticus!" Bellamy called out after his two-year-old son. "Stop running around Jasper, you're making him dizzy," he said, barking a laugh. These two little guys were the main entertainment on the Ark.

"And you're making us dizzy, too," Raven said, laughing.

Jasper Greene was fifteen months old, and highly sharpened by his older friend, Atticus. The two boys were confirmed partners in crime. You could always hear them laugh and run around the ring, with one of the adults trying to keep up with them. If you didn't hear them, they were either sleeping – and you better prayed it was the case – or getting into trouble somewhere.

This time, they were being clowns, knowing very well that they were loved and cherished by all. Jasper laughed so hard that he toppled over. He was silent for a second, and then laughed even louder. Atticus laughed, too, and ran faster and faster.

Jane laughed with the others, her hand pressing some sore parts of her yet again growing belly. She was sitting in front of her husband, her back to his chest, and he had his arms around her.

"You okay?" he said softly, noticing that she was pressing her hand on her belly.

"Yeah," she breathed out. "A small contraction. Don't worry."

"Already? But you're not due until next month."

"I know. It happens sometimes. Don't worry," she said again, holding her breath until the contraction passed.

After some more laughing and running around for the boys, Bellamy stood and caught his son mid-run. "Okay, young man. Enough for today. Time for bed."

"Nooooo," the little boy whined and tried to squirm himself out of his dad's arms. But Bellamy held good.

"Okay, let's say goodnight to everyone." He lowered Atticus to each person's face so Atticus could place an awkward wet kiss on their cheeks and receive one, too. And last was his mommy.

"Good night, big boy," Jane said, placing a kiss on his forehead and shuffling through his dark curls. Atticus blew a kiss to his mom and Bellamy took him away airplane-mode, making noises all the way to his room. Jane noticed now easier it was to raise Atticus on the Ark. And she felt a sore spot in her heart, thinking of her oldest daughter, trapper under the ground, in a bunker with 1100 people. She was four years old, now. Jane tried to imagine how she would look like, now.

Harper also took Baby Jasper to bed, and now the 'adults' could rest without the two troublemakers running around. Raven helped Jane up from the floor and they all sat on the makeshift couches. Again, Jane held her breath, waiting for the contraction to pass.

"Hey, everything okay?" Echo asked Jane.

She showed a thumbs-up, gritting her teeth against the pain. When she could breathe again, she said, "Fine. Happens all the time."

Raven frowned. "You're not due 'till next month."

"I know. But it's totally normal, trust me. I read every single thing on pregnancy I could find on the Tablet. It happens."

"You sure?"

"Yes." She tried to breathe and relax, but she knew a contraction would come again. It was not unusual for a woman to have strong contractions for a week a month before the due date. She just had to rest and not walk around too much.

After talking with Monty – who had joined Harper and Jasper – for a bit, Murphy joined Raven on the couch and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. Jane smiled. She had always wanted to see Raven happy. And ever since she and Murphy were together, she knew she was happier than she had ever been.

Being with Murphy had given Raven a new motivation to her life. She started seriously looking for a solution for Hydrazine, but it was no use. She might as well rack her brain to find something, nothing useful came. The only thing she was able to do was fix the radio Echo had destroyed to keep Bellamy away from Clarke. It took new scavenged parts and wires, but she managed. "Did you actually meet me?" she said when the others didn't believe she had fixed it.

x-x-x

Two weeks later, Jane and Bellamy had their third child, a little girl, whom the named Persephone. Bellamy somehow managed to convince Jane that this was a good name, and Jane accepted. But she secretly hoped it would be a boy so she didn't have to call her daughter Persephone. But it was a girl. She didn't have time to be disappointed, though, because when she saw her baby girl, she loved her with all her heart, and was the first one to call her by her given name, Persephone. This time, Bellamy stayed with Jane during the whole delivery, while Monty and Murphy watched over Atticus.

Jane stayed in bed for a week, leaving Atticus to Bellamy and the others, while she waited for her strength to return. She had lost a lot of blood during the delivery. But Persephone was strong and a beautiful little lady with her daddy's eyes. She was the only one with Bellamy's eyes.

At the end of her resting week, she heard a small knock on her door.

"Come in," she called out, Persephone in her arms, cooing.

Monty walked in, closing the door behind him. "Hi," he said awkwardly. "How are you doing?"

"Better. You? What's up?"

Monty sat at the foot of Jane's bed. "You know Raven fixed the radio, right?" Jane nodded. "Well, I just heard Clarke."

"She's still alive," Jane said in awe. "The girl is invincible, immortal. I can't believe it. What did she say?"

"Pretty much the same, really. Hi Bellamy, it's been 1207 days since Praimfaya, but I'm still alive. Yada, yada. She just talks about her day and what she's been doing and all." He frowned. "She also mentioned someone called Maddi or something."

"Who's that?"

"No idea. She must have already talked about him or her in previous messages." He paused, searching Jane's face. "What do I do with Bellamy. Do I tell him I heard Clarke again?"

It didn't take long for Jane to decide. "No. let's keep it to ourselves, for now. It's no use telling everyone and keeping Bellamy in the dark. I don't want him to go rogue like last time." She rolled her eyes.

"I'm not sure he would, though," Monty said.

"No, maybe not. But let's not take any risks. Just change the frequency where Clarke is. You can listen to her if you want. But I think that until we have a solution to go back down to Earth, listening to her messages is not a priority."

"You're right," he finally said. "I'll make sure no one knows."

"Well, you can tell Harper, if you want."

"Nah. She and Clarke weren't even that close. She wouldn't care." He chuckled. "I'll change the codes to the Com Room again in case Bellamy wants to wander there in the future."

Janes chuckled and cooed back at Persephone on her lap, who was protesting because her mother had her attention elsewhere…

x-x-x

A week later, Jane was carrying Persephone around on her back in some king of sling-shot baby carrier, trying to keep up with Atticus and Jasper running around. It was just after lunch and everyone was digesting in the couches. It was Jane's turn to look after the kids.

"Jane?"

Jane turned around at the sound of her name. "Hey, Echo. What's up?"

"Nothing. They're all sleeping back there. It was kinda boring. And you know I can't sleep during the day."

Jane chuckled. "That makes two of us." Persephone started to whine and squirm in Jane's back.

"You want me to give her to you?" Echo offered.

"Yeah. I think she's hungry."

Echo took the baby girl in her arms and gave her to her mother who sat on the floor, her back against the wall, and started to breastfeed Persephone. Echo sat next to her, keeping an eye on Atticus and Jasper.

"Hey, boys!" Echo called out. "Stay here, don't go too far."

Atticus stuck out his tongue to Echo.

"Atticus, come back here!" Jane said. And Atticus knew that when his mommy used this tone of voice, he had to obey. He carefully walked back to his mom, but didn't stop too close to her. "Closer, Atticus."

He obeyed, not making eye-contact. He stole a glance to Echo who was trying hard not to laugh.

"Don't stick out your tongue, honey," Jane said softly. "It's not pretty and not nice. And aunt Echo doesn't like it. Say you're sorry."

Atticus stayed silent.

"You want me to tell daddy?" Jane threatened him.

Atticus shook his head. "Sowy", he said softly.

"Aw, it's okay, buddy," Echo said. "You can go play, now."

Atticus didn't have to be told twice. He ran back to Jasper who was waiting for his friend on the other side of the hall.

"Thanks for not laughing out loud," Jane said to Echo, and both burst out laughing.

"It was hard, I have to admit. That poor kid!"

"Oh, come on. He needs to be taught what's right and wrong before we go down to the Ground. Whenever that is." Jane rolled her eyes. "Do you think we'll ever find a solution to go back?"

Echo sighed. "I really hope so. I don't think I could live my whole life up here."

"Yeah, neither can I." They were silent for a moment and Jane switched Persephone to the other side. "Speaking of the Ground, Monty heard Clarke again."

"Oh, crap. Does Bellamy know?"

"No. And we're not telling him."

"Good choice. What did she say?"

"The usual. Last time she called, it was 1207 days since Praimfaya. But look who's counting."

Echo chuckled. "I stopped counting after three months. We're stuck up here, and we don't even know how long." She paused a few seconds, not hearing any noise. "Atticus? Jasper? Where are you?" she stood. "I'll be right back."

Hi everyone! sorry for the waiting, We had a 3-day WE, here, and i didnt have internet or my computer... and sorry for the rather short chapter. But thanks for still sticking up with me and my story! see ya soon!