"Almost home, Liv," Jade says quietly. She shifts her daughter onto her other hip, trying to powerwalk as she went. She finally put her down half way through, and let her toddle beside her. "Come on, baby, run." So she did, and kind of kept up.

They reached home about half an hour later. A worried Beck and Adam wait at the door. It is opened as soon as they step up the path.

"Thank god," Beck breathes. "Hello, baby!" He takes Olivia off of her.

"What did you think I'd do to her? Drown her in the pond? Give her away to a childless couple, or rely on the local pack of wolves to finish raising her?"

"Give it a rest, Jade." Beck snaps, passing Olivia to Adam. "You need to stop running away."

"I'm sorry," Jade squeaks, so innocent looking that Beck can't stay mad. "I just get so panicked and can't cope and need air."

"Just tell me. We'll go for a walk. Or a ride in the car," he says. Olivia starts screaming.

"PINK PINK MOMMY…" Jade cringes inwardly.

"I told her we'd take her shopping," Jade says. She pauses. "And then take her home."

"That's fine," Beck says casually, as if Jade said could you pass her the salt. "I'll get the hotel room key."

"Beck," Jade says coldly, treading the water, "Home home."

"I see." Beck hesitates. "I'll get the phone." He is walking slowly, in a daze. Jade picks up Olivia.

"I'm sorry." She says, not quite brave enough to catch her dad's eyes.

"You know, when your mom died, I thought I had nothing to live for – but then I remembered you." He pauses. "I'm so glad you came back," Jade bites her lip. "But you have your own life to lead, with your own baby."

"Thank you."

They leave in about half an hour later, with all their bags packed.

"Okay. The agenda: shopping, home, heartfelt talks!"

"Yes mommy," Olivia says, giggling. They reach a store on the outskirts of the town and Jade helps Olivia out. Beck carries her into the baby place, named Baby Doll. He takes Jade's hand in his and they look like the perfect little family.

"I like that."

"What?"

"Baby doll."

"I thought you would." Jade says as they walk inside. She slips her hand into Beck's and sighs contented.

"You get the stuff we need. Coats, hats, boots," Jade says, making a mental note to get some woolly gloves and socks. "Toothbrush, toothpaste-"

"She only has three teeth!"

"Well, she needs to brush her three teeth. Um, get one p-a-c-i," Jade spells. She means pacifier (or soother, as Livvy calls it) but it's only for the road to keep Livvy quiet.

"Mama, want dada." Olivia cries.

"Okay, darling, go with your daddy. Mommy will be back in a moment."

"Mommy stay!"

"Be a good girl," Jade says, walking off. She grabs socks, underwear, vests, mittens, and a bath towel while she is in that aisle, and then turns for bottles, sippy cups, wet wipes, and baby soap and shampoo. She finds the aisle with necessities like formula and cleaning solution for baby dishes. She also grabs a "my first cutlery" set, and bath toys. Most things Olivia had grown out of very quickly so they'd given them to a charity shop, using the money Beck made in the town her dad lived in.

"Excuse me," a young girl asks Jade. Jade turns.

"Yes?"

"I'm…I'm only seventeen, and I'm pregnant, and I wondered if you could tell me what I need?" Jade's eyes trail to the girl's protruding pregnant belly, and her eyes are full of sympathy.

"Of course," Jade says. "I'm Jade. My husband is with my daughter somewhere in the shop, so we'll scan the aisles for what you need. What's your name?" Jade asks gently.

"I'm Rebecca."

"Well, Rebecca, you'll need a lot. Have you got family to support you? The father?"

"No," she says, blinking hard. "I have some money though."

"Okay, we'll get what we can."

They walk down the aisle and Jade points out the items she'll desperately need, less important and don't be fooled.

"Get the bottle – or are you breastfeeding?"

"I..I don't know." She hesitates. "What did you do?"

"I didn't have the choice, sweetie. Bottle feeding was all I had."

"Bottles are expensive, right?"

"Well, no. The formula is expensive, not the bottles."

"Okay, I'll breastfeed."

"Think about it. Are you in school?"

"No,"

"Are you working?"

"No,"

"Then you'll be fine." They walk across the next row. "You'll need a cot."

"Can't I co-sleep?" Jade knew what that meant – sleeping with the baby next to you.

"Well, I don't recommend it," Jade frowns. "How much have you got?"

"$300,"

"That should cover a cot."

"Great."

"It can't be too expensive, though the basic ones are fine, you can buy a mattress and bedding from the reduced section – Christmas bedding, boys blankies, whatever will do for a newborn."

"Does the baby need blankets when they go to sleep?"

"No!" Jade says. "No, please don't put loose blankets in the crib. Use a sleep sack." Rebecca nods. "When are you due?"

"September. I'm six months." Jade takes one look at her stomach and looks doubtful.

"And it's only the one?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"I think so." Jade nods.

"Okay. Let's, uh, get some more stuff,"

"What?"

"Moses basket, stroller," Jade says, thinking. "Well, you'll need diapers and clothes, we forgot the essentials," she giggles. "Sorry. Back to business." She smiles.

"I have diapers."

"Oh, how many packets?"

"One,"

"Haha, you'll go through that in a couple of hours!"

"Really?" Rebecca asks quietly. She lowers her icy grey eyes.

"Yes, sweetie." Jade says. "Here, I'll get my phone to work out how much we've bought so far." Jade adds it all up.

$60 – stroller

$35- Moses basket

$62 – cot

$20 – mattress

$40 – 2 packs of 140 pampers diapers

$20- tub of formula

$50 – clothes and pacifiers

It comes to under $300, so they pay and Jade calls Beck. "Yeah?"

"Where are you?"

"Just paying now," Beck says. "You?"

"I'm helping a teen get her stuff sorted for her baby. I'll pay after her then meet you at the car?"

"Yeah. Don't be too long. Liv is missing you. Love you."

"Love you too." Jade smiles at Rebecca. "Ready for baby now?"

"I really hope so," she says. "I couldn't have done it without you. Thank you so much, Ma'am."

"Oh god, I'm not that old am I?" Jade says, flipping her hair. " She winks. "Call me Jade, honey!"

"Well, thank you Jade."

"You're very welcome."

Jade pays and then says goodbye to Rebecca. "Take care!" And then meets Beck at the car. She smiles.

"She seems sweet."

"Yes, she was," Jade confirms. "Just very young."

"Hmm."

"I hope she's okay."

"Me too." Jade bites her lip. That girl, a little seventeen year old was probably going to be a better parent than her. It made her curse herself.

A/N:

Happy Monday! :)

It's not Monday anymore, I'm aware. I'm so sorry for that last chapter! I didn't check like I usually do. Silly me. Apologies!

- Happy Friday! :P

Caitlin