Good Morning, my lovelies!

I'm sorry about the posting delay, life is insane and some days I don't stop at all.

Thank you as always to Mel and Pamela!

XXIX

BELLA

5 March 2347

Nouveau Stockholm, The United Republic of Nye Europa

Bella was only three years old when she found Maman doubled over, hands wrapped around her middle as she wept. Bella thought she sounded like an injured animal, and her maman's sadness brought on Bella's own tears.

How could her bright, wonderful maman know such pain?

"Maman?" Bella asked, her voice small and shaky.

Bella watched as Maman pulled herself back together, string by string, like a marionette straightening out.

Maman uncurled, her chest heaving, her cheeks damp with sorrow as she took in the face of her daughter. "Mon cœur, it's late," Maman admonished gently, wiping at her cheeks. "What are you doing up?"

Bella moved forward, compassion she didn't understand yet propelling her into her maman's arms.

Maman stiffened, ever so slightly, before she folded herself around her child. She sank to the ground and Bella climbed into her lap, her tiny fingers clutching the curls of Maman's hair.

"I'm sorry, mon cœur," Maman whispered against her hair. "I'm so sorry."

Bella didn't know what her maman was apologizing for. Nothing in Bella's world was amiss.

Maman continued to stroke Bella's hair, muttering apologies into her scalp while Bella pressed her cheek against her maman's heartbeat.

After a time, there was a noise, and both Bella and Maman looked up to see Pappa in the doorway, his dark eyes heavy and wet with tears.

"Renée," he whispered, his voice thick with pain. "I'm so sorry."

Maman's tears started anew, and Pappa dropped to his knees, wincing as he landed hard. He reached for Maman and Bella and gently pulled them into his embrace.

Bella did not know what was happening, but she had never seen both her parents cry before. They wept, muttering words Bella didn't understand between them. What did it mean to lose a baby? Could they not find it again? Maman was excellent at finding lost things.

Eventually, Pappa scooped Bella into his arms and carried her back to her room, settling her down in her bed.

"Is Maman okay?" Bella asked, her voice laced with her fear.

"Ja, Bella. Maman will be okay," he said gently, rubbing a hand over her hair soothingly.

"Why is she so sad?" Bella asked, feeling her own tears prick at her eyes.

"Her heart is heavy," Pappa explained.

"Why?"

Pappa let out a breath. "You will understand one day," he said gently. "Though I pray it is never for the same reason."

Bella didn't understand that, but her eyes were growing heavy and her drowsy mind couldn't summon any further questions. Before she could voice another word, she was drifting to sleep again, the feel of her father's lips pressed to the top of her head the last thing she was aware of.

19 August 2350

Nouveau Stockholm, The United Republic of Nye Europa

Bella had seen her maman through many emotions over the years, but it wasn't until now that she saw that grief return to her.

Bella was supposed to be sleeping over at the neighbors' with Lucas, but she'd forgotten her pajamas and asked to walk home.

Not seeing a problem with it, the neighbor had sent her.

Maman was crying—wretched sounding tears that immediately tore at Bella as soon as she walked into their home.

Maman wasn't supposed to cry like that. No one should cry like that.

Bella hurried down the hall to her parents' room and found Maman curled on the floor, her body bent over her folded knees as she wailed.

Bella felt her heart and her stomach collide in herself. Something was terribly, horribly wrong.

"Maman?" she asked, her voice too shaky to control.

Maman looked up, her eyes wet with her tears. "Bella," she sobbed. "What are you doing here?"

Bella motioned behind her vaguely. "I forgot my pajamas," she answered. "What's wrong?"

Maman's face crumpled in dispair and she held her hands out to Bella.

"Come to me, mon cœur," Maman begged.

Bella hesitated, despite herself, but then moved across the room and sank against Maman's body. Maman pulled her in tight, her arms shaking as they wound around her.

"What happened? "Bella asked.

"It's nothing, mon cœur," Maman said, pressing a kiss to her hair. "It is not for you to worry about."

But Bella did worry. She remembered Maman crying like this before. Back then, she vaguely remembered hearing Pappa say something about a lost baby.

Bella twisted in her mother's arms. Had she lost another baby?

Maman gave her a weak smile, and every second that Bella looked at her maman, the stronger the smile grew, until it seemed—apart from her wet eyelashes—Maman had never been crying at all.

Was her maman in pain? Why was she smiling?

"Maman," Bella started.

"One day," Maman said, gently running a hand through Bella's hair. "You will understand." Maman's voice had a note of finality in it, and Bella realized she would not answer any more questions. For whatever reason, Maman was going to hide her sadness, keep it locked away.

Maybe, to stop it from touching her loved ones.

Bella took in everything Maman said, and even more importantly, everything Maman did, and stored it all deep in the core of her memory.

One day, she hoped to be as strong as Maman.