The first week here was strange for me and that's putting it simply. I could blame it on the fact that I've never allowed myself a vacation, from the moment I graduated I hit the ground running. Worked at law firms and then the White House, then later opened my own firm. And the one time I escaped the insanity of this sea of vampires, I was somehow even more miserable on that island. I refuse to live here as if I'm locked in a cage. By the second week, I stopped watching and waiting for my phone to ring, praying for somebody in a dire crisis. And even with no communication from Quinn though it unnerves me, I finally allowed myself to enjoy the quiet. To finally find peace in the whistling wind and morning birds. That and rationally I knew I couldn't do anything from Rutland.

There's been a lot of adjustments, not just for me but for Kim and Javi. They've been quiet about the situation. Huck maintains that Kim doesn't want to know what's behind the dark curtain. But I see the curiosity on her face whenever we stumble into each other in the kitchen or the hallway. She wants answers but she's given up on the idea of getting anything out of Huck. It's my least favorite thing about him in this instance. Javi's a sweet kid, I'm most sorry that he had to be brought into this. An eight-year-old has no business fearing for their safety. But he's warmed up better than I had expected.

"I found you" Javi shrieked, in unrestrained, heartfelt laughter. His laugh interrupted my musing. I put the soapy plate under the faucet, it's the same plate I'd been scrubbing for the last ten minutes when my thoughts took me elsewhere. Huck came running with his son lodged between his ribs and arm, running like a quarterback across the fresh green lawn. Until he stopped and they fell to the grass laughing.

Huck was not the man I met on the subway all those years ago, he wasn't even the man I knew who tortured people for pleasure. The thing I thought my father had torn out of him is still there; his humanity. I see it every time he looks at that little boy.

"I'm counting…1…2…3…" Huck sounds off and Javi disappears on the side of the house again. Not that I could lean any further against the base of the sink to see outside. You would think I stuffed an oversized beach ball in my shirt. I knew the exact moment Javi's hiding spot was uncovered, cause a peal of giggles rang out.

The door opened and Kim came inside, lips stretched to her ears. She set three cups on the counter. "Oh, you don't have to do the dishes." She says.

"It's fine, it's kinda relaxing" I shoot her a light smile as I pull the last plates from the sudsy water.

She opens the fridge, reaching for the picture of fresh lemonade. She and Javi spent yesterday making it from the lemons growing in the backyard. "You don't do that often huh?" Kim says.

"Wash dishes?"

"Relax" My cheeks burn and I'm more exposed than I'm comfortable with. "You've been wound up the last couple of weeks." Pouring the yellow liquid into the two of the cups, she grabs a Fourth and pours me a glass.

"It just took some getting used to the quiet that's all. Passing traffic and the occasional jaywalker cussing out drivers for almost hitting them is what puts me to sleep. My phone ringing is what wakes me up." She's staring at me like she thinks I'm a little mad. I don't blame her, she doesn't know me. To ease the awkward silence I take a healthy swig of the crisp lemony sweet drink. Sweets have been my main craving these past weeks. Pastries, cookies, pies, and chocolate. This baby is gonna turn me into a diabetic before I deliver.

"You miss your old life?" Kim says.

"I'm going back. This is just temporary." I say, and I hate that it sounds like I'm also trying to convince myself.

"It won't be the same" And I catch as her gaze falls to my looming belly. "Babies change everything, everything you thought you knew will be challenged. Those jaywalkers and busy streets that are soothing to you will frighten you. Olivia the world is going to look different, it won't just be about you anymore. Right now you know where your baby is but in a few more months they'll be here and then all of your thoughts are gonna be consumed by that tiny human."

I guess I'm an open book for everybody to read. I've noticed that my thoughts and decisions have become more baby-centric than before. We only have five more months of sharing a body and by the day excitement is brewing, but there's also fear.

"I don't know everything about being a mother, because I'm learning every day but I know what it's like to be alone with a baby, just doing everything I can to keep him safe-" She didn't get to finish her thought cause, Huck and Javi burst through the door panting and laughing.

"Mommy, can I have more lemonade please," Javi asked, laying his head in her lap? His tired little eyes fighting to stay open.

"Yes but can you go with your daddy for a minute, so Aunty Liv and I can finish talking"

"Actually I have to get back to OPA, Quinn's been expecting me back before now."

Lemons and sleep suddenly an old, unimportant want to the eight-year-old as he perked from his mother's lap. Javi rushed Hucks's legs, locking his arms around one. "No, you said you'd stay for dinner." He whines.

"Next time buddy." Huck pries the small arms off his leg and lifts his son. "Aunt Quinn has a gift for you and I have to go get it so I can bring it back to you. Okay?"

Reluctantly Javi agrees, but I think he's now more interested in whatever gadget Quinn's programmed for him. Huck comes every other day and it's always the same song and dance. I was thinking about talking to him about maybe spending a weekend here. Maybe since Kim gave me a piece of advice today, I'll plant the bug in her ear.

"Baby, how would you like to help make burgers for dinner tonight." Even more than the prospect of another gift Javi's dejected frame perks at the mention of burgers.

XXXXX

The day started catching up with me when Huck left, so I took a nap upstairs while Kim and Javi continued their tradition of mother, son cooking time. When I woke up my room was filled with the savory aromas of grilled onions and french fries. I couldn't wait to get downstairs. That is if I could get up, sleeping on my back was becoming increasingly harder but sleeping on my side was downright uncomfortable. Tonight however was the first time I experienced being stuck in bed because of my size. I've noticed the sudden growth spurt but I also recognize that I've been adding to that weight as well. And If I didn't need more of a reminder, the chocolate chip cookies on the nightstand taunted me.

I knew if I could just flip to my side then I could shift off the bed and save myself the embarrassment of calling one of the agents outside of my door.

"Kevin!" There's a shift, he's probably shocked that I'm actually calling for something. "Help" the door burst open and he's at my service. Kevin doesn't make me tell him the issue.

"Ma'am," he says as we share the same tight smile, now that I am upright.

"Thank you." Down the hall, Javi's little feet pad the floor, he's running so I know Kim isn't behind him because she always reminds him not to run in the house. A thud and then a siren of wailing and tears. I found Javi clutching his knee crying and one agent kneeled to help him up but he recoiled and cried harder.

"It's okay, I've got him." Kneeling as best I can without putting myself in another predicament. "Can I see?" He squeezes his eyes shut and shakes his head. "Can I try to make it better?" I ask.

"It hurts."

"Let's go get it cleaned up okay" Before I even attempt to get up, Kevin is at my side lending his arm as my balancer. "Come on, Hunny" he unclasped his hands from his knee and took my hand.

After we clean up his scraped knee we go downstairs and the minute he smells the burgers, he's forgotten about his tumble. And I don't blame him, the minute I stepped into the kitchen I was salivating from the smell alone. Cooking has never been my thing, but I would love to learn a thing or two from Kim.

Javi ran off a while ago to play his video game. And Kim and I stayed talking.

"He's changed, Javi. Since Diego came home, he's always been an extroverted child but he seems larger than life now." Kim says, taking a sip of her white wine.

"Is that good?" I ask.

"Of course, but… What if he leaves again or doesn't have a choice and he's taken. I know the pain of losing him the first time, but my baby doesn't. And I don't want him to get disappointed."

"Huck didn't have a choice before, he's here to stay. I don't know what you feel. But I've known him a long time, it isn't just Javi he loves, he loves you too Kim."

She gives me a warm smile and says "I love him too. I'm just scared and confused right now." she sighs "I want them to have a relationship first and then whatever happens we'll go from there." She pauses like she's weighing the pros and cons of whatever she's fixing her mouth to ask. "Diego doesn't talk about what happened to him, he won't even give a straight answer as to why we're here but I know it has something to do with you and the President of the United States."

The sun is below the trees and at any time I can use that as an excuse to get up and walk away. I don't know why I don't. "I fell in love with the right man in the wrong world with a very powerful, controlling father," I say.

"Then love him, unapologetically-" She shrugs

"I did and that's why we're here in the first place. It was never gonna be me singing Papa don't preach and hoping he accepts my decision but I didn't expect all this destruction. My father is who Huck is trying to protect you from."

Kim is one of those people who know when it's time to throw in the towel. "How far along are you?"

"Twenty-four weeks tomorrow. Though I look like I could give birth tomorrow."

"I was that way with Javi, at first I thought I was having twins but we found out around this time it was just one big baby boy." She laughs and I look at my stomach. That never crossed my mind that it could be more than one. And frankly, the prospect of two babies made me anxious. I don't know the first thing about having one baby let alone two.

Whatever Kim saw on my face made her grin disappear "That sounded like I was calling you fat, I promise I was not. Do you know what you're having yet?"

I shake my head "I only had one doctor's visit and it was really early on. We were supposed to get something set up here."

"Do you think your father would find you here?"

"It's the one place he doesn't know about. And the only real place that's ever felt safe for us. That's why I chose it."

Kim nods, but I know all of this is bizarre and confusing. I don't blame her for not wanting to know more. I wish I could easily stand in the darkness without a worry about what could get me.

"I should go find Javi, it's getting close to his bedtime." Kim pours the half glass of white down the drain. "Goodnight"

"Goodnight"

I let out a sigh from deep within and a yawn followed. Footing off my slippers, I crawl into bed and curl up. For the first time in the past weeks that my belly's expanded it's not completely uncomfortable to lie on my side. As I was shifting to get comfortable-

"Oh my…god" I gasp. My hand went to the right side of my belly where I was feeling the movement. "Hi, baby. Oh my god."

His voice was raspy when he said hello, the sleep hadn't quite left his consciousness. "The baby just kicked, Fitz." The phone picked up whatever shuffling he was doing and then his voice came through again.

"You're kidding. What? How did it feel?"

"Magical. The most magical feeling I could ever imagine."

"I wish I could be there," he says, his voice returning to its normal base. "How are you?"

"Good. I'm happy. You probably won't even recognize me next time you see me." Fitz sighs, and I hear his footsteps. "Where are you?"

"Sleeping in Jerry's room. But I just walked from Teddy's nursery."

"Have you thought about baby names?" I ask, my hand rhythmically patting my stomach waiting for the next wave of movement.

"Madison if it's a girl" I wish I could see the huge, proud smile that's plastered on his face. "And I don't have one for a boy."

"Henry if it's a boy. And before we bring any babies into this house, the floors have to be redone. Javi was running and skinned his knee-" I say.

"So you definitely want to keep the house?" Fitz says. He doesn't have to ask but he likes the satisfaction of being right sometimes. He told me from the moment I set foot inside that I would fall in love with it. There is something rare built into this house that keeps me warm at night and smiling when I wake up. I can't ever imagine not living here.

"When the time comes I want us to raise our baby in this house, Fitz."

"We will, I promise." I don't cringe at the promise because for the first time I allow myself to take hold of it and breathe life into that promise. It won't be today and it won't tomorrow but he isn't going to let me down. "What?" I'll never understand how he does that.

"You're not worried I'll mess our baby up like my father did me?"

Fitz sighs, but not out of frustration or irritation but out of empathy. "No, I'm not worried about that. Because together we'll be better than our fathers, Livvie. We won't make those same mistakes."

"My mother was there and then she wasn't. I don't know the first thing about being a mother. But I love this baby more than life itself and I don't want him or her to grow up and hate me or you because we made bad decisions while raising them."

"They won't. Those little kicks and flutters you feel are just the beginning. Everything will work itself out. Okay."

"Okay."

"Ms. Pope, this is common when twins share an amniotic sac. Sometimes twins develop their own individual sacs, but when they share one, it increases the likelihood that one twin could be hiding during an early ultrasound. These twins are called monochorionic, monoamniotic." The doctor explains.

"And you're sure?" I ask. Pulling on my shirt to create some airflow. They must have the heat blasting in here.

"I'm certain you are carrying twins." He says again and it sounds like a lie and I want him to run more tests, and get a new machine because something is obviously broken here. "Now I'm not sure what you and your husband were hoping for but I was able to see the gender of baby A, baby B is still turned so I wasn't able to see but I have a theory."

"Breathe Ms. Pope." He says and I start paying attention to my shallow, shaking breaths.

"I wanna know what I'm having," I say.

Predictions? What do yall think Olivia is having?