TIME LATER...

Several months had passed since Jinx and Isha had been together as a family. In those months, the two had learned to speak sign language, and Isha could now communicate more easily with anyone who spoke to her. Sevika had also taken control of Silco's business, something Jinx was happy about.

Jinx, who was already over forty weeks pregnant, was making clothes for her baby, whose baby she still didn't know if it would be a boy or a girl.

"I just hope these clothes are enough, so you'll at least have something to wear," Jinx said to her enormous bulging belly. The young woman felt Isha hug her from behind, and Jinx hugged her back.

"You already know what it's going to be called," the girl signed.

"No, I don't know yet, and I don't know if it's going to be a girl or a boy. When the baby is born, I'll decide on a name, and you can think about it too," Jinx commented to Isha.

"I'll think of a name for the baby, don't worry."

"I hope so." At that moment, Jinx felt a slight pain in her lower belly. She'd been feeling those pains for a few days.

"Are you okay?" Isha asked worriedly.

"Don't worry, this baby moves a lot, nothing out of the ordinary." Jinx got up from where she was sitting and walked over to the small box full of clothes she had for her baby. She also put in more clothes and blankets she had made over the past few months.

The young Zaunita had also gotten a small crib for the baby with Sevika's help. Isha decorated the crib with small butterflies painted in different colors, as well as other different designs.

"You'll be born in just a few days. I'm dying to meet you and find out if you look like me or him," Jinx said to her baby. "You know, even if you grow up in this shitty world, I'll never abandon you. You and Isha will be with me forever. You and Isha are the best things I have in life."

Isha approached Jinx and gently stroked her belly.

"I think she's having a girl," Isha said.

"You think so? She's having a girl." The girl just nodded. "I hope she's as cute as you." Jinx tenderly stroked Isha's cheek. "Go to bed, it's time to sleep."

Isha complied and went to sleep. Jinx felt lucky that you wouldn't be as alone as before.

In the morning, Jinx woke up with a slight pain in her lower belly.

"My God, these pains are more constant. AHHH." At that moment, the pain grew stronger, and Jinx took both of them to her belly.

The blue-haired woman let out a moan of pain from the contractions she was starting to feel at that moment. This caused Isha to jump up, startled by the sound of Jinx complaining of pain.

"What's wrong with you? Are you okay?" Isha asked worriedly.

"Don't worry..." Jinx said, panting from all the pain she was feeling. "Go get Sevika and tell her...to bring the midwife I told you to. Go quickly, please."

Isha didn't think twice as she left the room in search of Sevika.

Jinx started pacing to try to slow her contractions down a bit. But just as she was walking, her water broke, and a white, viscous liquid ran down her legs.

"No, no, no, this can't be happening right now, because the hell?" Jinx screamed at the top of her lungs. The pain in her back and upper abdomen was getting worse and worse. Jinx didn't know what was going to happen now that her baby was about to be born. Throughout the day, Jinx's pain grew so severe that she could barely bear it.

The labor lasted almost seven hours. When it was time to push, Jinx was very scared and nervous about what was going to happen.

"Okay, dear, it's time for you to start pushing. You're quite dilated, now it's time." The midwife, who was a bit older, told her.

"I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO SAY THAT FOR SEVEN HOURS," Jinx said, panting and moaning from the pain she'd been experiencing for the past few hours. She was also sweating. "I'M READY."

"Perfect. When you feel a contraction, push, okay." Jinx just nodded.

Jinx complied, and with each contraction, she pushed to finish her labor faster. The pain was excruciating; it felt like everything inside was being ripped apart.

But every minute was worth it.

In a matter of minutes, Jinx's screams ceased, and then the faint cries of a baby were heard.

"That's it, you did wonderfully, my dear, you had a baby girl."

"SURELY, SHE'S A GIRL LIKE THIS!" said Jinx, feeling a sense of happiness she had never experienced before.

"Look, here she is. Meet your daughter." The woman placed a small girl in the young woman's arms, her skin dark, barely noticeable, and her hair was the same color as her mother's.

"She's...so tiny and fragile," said Jinx, tenderly caressing her daughter's face. "You're the most perfect little thing I've ever seen," Jinx said to her daughter.

The midwife announced to Sevika and Isha that they could come see Jinx.

"How did everything go? Are you both okay?" asked Sevika.

"Yes, you're in perfect condition." The baby girl was delivered to term, and Jinx had no complications.

"Okay, here. This is your payment for everything you did." Sevika handed a bag of coins to the woman.

"Look, Isha, you were right. She was such a beautiful girl, just like you." Jinx said to Isha. The girl looked lovingly at the baby, who gently touched her head and kissed her.

"You're as pretty and beautiful as the moon," said Isha, who couldn't stop staring at the baby.

"Well, I have to give you a paper with the mother and baby's information. To avoid problems later, you already know the baby's name."

"Yes, her name is Loona, that's what she'll be called." clarified the woman who kissed her daughter on the forehead.

"Perfect. Loona is lucky to have a mother as loving as you. It's a shame there are other babies who aren't as lucky."

"Why do you say that?" "Jinx asked.

"Early this morning, I attended the birth of a young woman who had a baby girl. Unfortunately, the mother died, leaving the child alone.

"And what will happen to her baby?"

"A friend of the mother offered to take care of her daughter. At least the little girl will grow up with someone who will give her love, but it won't be the love of her mother."

"It's already a good thing that she's not alone; loneliness is horrible."

"Well, my work is done. I'm leaving, and congratulations on the birth of your daughter."

"I'll walk you out." Sevika commented, walking the woman out.

Meanwhile, Jinx and Isha were so happy about Loona's arrival.

(•••)

It had been fifteen days since Loona was born. Both Jinx and Isha were finding it difficult to adjust to having a baby, as she sometimes cried at night. Jinx found it hard to get her back to sleep, although Isha sometimes helped her with that.

"Okay, Loona. You're bathed, changed, and eaten. It's time for your nap." Jinx began to rock the baby slowly back and forth, trying to get her to sleep.

"Jinx, Isha brought you some food," Sevika told them both.

"Go eat, Isha. I'll be right there," Jinx exclaimed to Isha, who was out eating. To which the girl complied.

"How are you and the baby?" Sevika asked Jinx as she approached the baby.

"I'm fine, and so is Loona. Don't worry, I'll take good care of her."

"Ekko would be happy to see that his daughter is in very good health," Sevika said, causing Jinx to look at her in amazement at what she had said. "That boy is the father, right? Because he looks so much like him."

"Yes, Ekko is the father. But he doesn't even know it," the Zaunita commented, somewhat sadly.

"Many are saying that the people above killed him..." Sevika couldn't finish her sentence because Jinx interrupted her.

"NO, HE'S NOT DEAD. I KNOW IT." Jinx said aloud.

"He's been missing for quite some time, and it's very unlikely he's okay."

"Well, I don't care. I know he's fine and will soon meet Loona," the blue-haired woman said. "My daughter will grow up with a family; she will never be alone."

"I'm sure of that. He has you, Isha, and I'm with you too." Now more than ever, you have to protect yourself from outsiders, especially the girls. If someone finds out you have a daughter, they'll not only come after you, but the girls as well. It's best if you stay hidden for a while, Sevika told Jinx.

"Don't worry, I would never leave the girls alone." Jinx approached her daughter's crib and placed her in it. "I'll always be with them, I promise."

Jinx promised herself she would take care of Isha and Loona with her life; they were both important to her. And she would keep that promise for many years to come.