#riley b

The City of Oaks

A Special Birthday Fic one shot for @dcbbw

The Book:  TRR AU: No Royals

The Pairing:  SGL x Riley B

Status: Still in the writing process

She opened the letter knowing completely what it was. A loud groan escaped Riley's lips and she  flopped down on her couch to think, still holding the letter in her hand.

Every three years her family got together in the JoCo, the cut of North Carolina and had a weekend of family togetherness….a family reunion…. that usually resulted in someone getting arrested, getting in a drunken fight, the law being called, or a combination of all three.  But that’s what the JoCo was.  It’s the country, and it’s out in the cut, and it’s a state of mind.  People take their drinks out on the porch and drink it on those summer evenings with their friends. A place where having a bonfire has nothing to do with the temperature but more to do with what your uncle’s cousin’s sister’s husband's ex wife’s baby daddy had to burn.  

Music could be heard from the lawns of the people, not utilizing the cooler temperatures in the evening to be on their riding lawn mowers cutting grass to avoid the heat of the day, and not to mention the smell of cut grass, the long fields of corn and cotton, and tractors and farm hands everywhere.  

Riley remembered those summers well with her cousins Mia and Jilian on the back porch being told by her Grand Mommie Ethel to ‘go outside and play.’  They instead got on her bike and rode down to the creek bridge to play and swim in the water playing spin the bottle and truth or dare with the neighborhood boys Nico and Jaiden.  Grand Mommie Ethel was turning 98 this year, and was still in fairly good health and was the matriarch of the Brooks family.  

“What’s wrong Riley B?”  Liam asked as he came out of the kitchen, heading towards the couch.  “I know that particularly loud Drake-ish brooding sigh.”  

Skipping Across the Pond

University Student Ellie: Chapter 4

The Book:  Beyond TRH

Pairings:  Liam x Riley /  Ellie x Nic (Ellie x M!OC)

Status:  Still in the writing process

Ellie woke up the next morning hearing Nicolai’s heart beating softly in her ear.  His heartbeat was slow and steady like a metronome.  She remembered the steady sound from when her father tried to teach her piano when she was young, which she was good at but she didn’t love it and her father could see right through her.    

Eleanor Alexandria Rys had more in common with her mother than meets the eye.  At first glance everyone would swear she was a carbon copy of her father however, bearing her mother’s strikingly beautiful features.  Ellie’s true love for music came from her mother singing at her crib, and when she came home from California with her brothers, and her family was whole again, lulling her to sleep strumming a white and gold guitar.  

Ellie enjoyed playing the guitar like her mother, and had her natural talent for it.  And well, even though  Ellie didn't want to admit it, she had similar taste in men like her mother.. A Karahalios man pulled at her heart, the way Nico had pulled at her mother's before she was queen. Ellie was in a way following in her mother's footsteps.

She glanced down at  Nic, finding him still sleeping peacefully.  She had never woken up to him next to her before, and there were butterflies  in her stomach as she stared at him. He was so handsome to her.  Her eyes traveled down his bare chest, her stomach did a somersault. But as much as she cared, he never told Ellie those three words that truly mattered. She would miss him dearly indeed. But as far as Ellie was concerned she was going to America, to Hartfeld as a single young woman.

Eating For One

The Meet: Chapter 8

The book: TRR (no royals)

The Pairing:  Liam x Jilian (Liam x F!OC) / Leo x Bebe (Leo x F!OC)

Status: Still in the writing process. 

Bebe glanced at Leo.  Damnit, Bebe had ghosted people and put them on block for less.  She wanted to still be mad at him, but looking at his face, he was beating himself up enough for the both of them.  

“I’m going to have to take a shower before we go out to dinner, I feel disgusting.”  

“Alright.”  

Once back at Liam and Leo’s apartment, Bebe quickly greeted everyone and made a quick beeline for the shower to get freshened up for their night out.  

The restaurant was crowded but thankfully they had gotten reservations so there wasn’t a wait, as they were quickly seated when they arrived.  

When the waitress arrived for drink orders  Leo ordered himself a drink and one for Bebe.

“I’m not drinking tonight, can you make that rum and coke a sweet tea instead?”  

He looked surprised at Bebe.

“I have to work tomorrow, and early.  I’m not trying to be all messed up at work.”  

“I understand.”  

He took Bebe’s hand, and she smiled at him.  

Jili raised an eyebrow at Liam.  

“You guys know i’m indecisive. What's everyone getting?”  Bebe asked.

“The whole left side of the menu looks great, I think I’m going for that.”   Jili chuckled.

“You’re worse than me Jili.”  

There was silence as everyone looked at their menus and ate the complementary bread and butter.

Liam affectionately put his arm around Jili as she sat in the booth with him, they smiled at each other.  

“Jili and Liam… there’s actually something we wanted to tell you.” Leo started saying.

Jili’s eyes widened.

“Oh my GOD!!!!  You’ve never turned down alcohol Bebe, are you pregnant?”  

Bebe spit out her drink she had been sipping.

"What do you have for us so far, besides the staff's inability to answer their mobile devices when their King calls them."

"Let me assure you King Liam that will never happen again." Bastien reassured him.

"Bastien, it is not your assurance I am looking for."

The room looks at Nico. "What do you want for me to say, Your Majesty?"

Riley could almost see the steam rising off Liam.

Liam slammed his hand down on the table. "I WANT THIS ROOM CLEARED NOW!"

The staff dispersed leaving Nico, Liam, Riley, and Bastien.

"Bastien, would you help my wife leave the room?

“Liam, I should be here for this.”

“No.. I think you shouldn’t.  Please help the Queen  Bastien.”

“Yes Your Majesty.” Bastien helped Riley walk out of the room.  Riley glanced over her shoulder in panic seeing Nico and Liam staring each other down.  

Liam waited until the door closed behind Riley and Bastien before he spoke to Nico again.

“Why didn’t you answer my calls Nico?” Liam hissed.

Nico remained silent.

“You knew I was calling right?”  Liam's anger was building however his voice was eerily calm.

Nico nodded.

“And yet you chose to ignore me.  Your King.  Why?  His ice cold stare lingered on Nico.   Then Liam couldn’t hold back.  He exploded again.   

“YOU TELL ME WHY GOD DAMNIT!!!!!”

“RILEY NEEDED ME, AND I WANTED TO BE THERE FOR HER!”

Liam laughed out loud.

"Riley needed you?" Liam said the words, his voice dripping in sarcasm.

"Yes, she did. She was afraid, Your Majesty. I was there to calm her."

“YOU FORGET WHO YOU ARE NICO. YOU FORGET WHO SHE IS!!!!! SHE IS NEVER JUST RILEY TO YOU!!! SHE IS MY WIFE!!!! SHE ENDED OUR AGREEMENT WITH YOU WHEN SHE ACCEPTED MY PROPOSAL!!!!! SHE IS YOUR QUEEN NOW. SHE WILL NEVER BE ANYTHING ELSE TO YOU!!! YOU DO A SERVICE FOR US. YOU ARE RILEY'S GUARD THAT'S IT, AND IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO SO, YOU'D BETTER GET YOUR HEAD OUT YOUR ASS AND KNOW WHO SHE BELONGS TO!!!!  MY NAME IS WRITTEN ON EVERY INCH OF HER BODY, INSIDE AND OUT.   THIS IS MY HEARTBEAT YOU THINK YOU ARE TRYING TO FUCK AROUND WITH. THIS IS YOUR ONLY WARNING NICO. UNDERSTAND?!?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I do."

"Go get the others so our meeting can continue."

"Yes Your Majesty."

Riley and Bastien come back in first. Liam pulls her chair protectively closer to him.

"Liam…"

"He's young, Your Majesty. It's a harmless infatuation with the Queen. Isn't that correct, Queen Riley?"

Bastien had totally put her on the spot. She had learned over the years to guard herself just as well as Liam. She looked at the two of them, but she knew she was telling the truth when she took Liam's hand in hers. Especially after the conversation last night, and remembered the sweet story of how they became to be. The story of their love.

"It's you, My King. It's always been you that carries the key to my heart, no one else.  Nico is living in the past. I would never do anything to jeopardize what we have together.  I love you. I love our family we have together."

Riley leaned in to kiss Liam, which he quickly reciprocated, as the others walked into the room. She noticed Nico quickly look away sitting quietly in his seat.

"Bastien, what do we know about what happened?"

Bastien cleared his throat, beginning to speak.

"A low grade explosive device was attached to the chandelier.  The "jingle" that you mentioned you heard Queen Riley was the aftershock of the device  going off."

Bastien continued, but he tried to soften the next part as he knew this would greatly upset the Queen. "The device was not on a timer and had to be set off via remote. The person who set off the bomb, was in the room, at the time, so this was not random.  Queen Riley was the sole target."  

"So this really was just about me then?" Riley couldn't hold back the tears in her eyes. 

"In front of my children? They tried this in front of my children.  Riley winced remembering the sounds of Ellie and Adam screaming. "For what reason?"

Liam's grip on Riley's hand tightened as he looked at her. "If this is too much for you My Queen, I will handle this for you. Anything for you,"  he whispered softly. 

A lone tear slid down Riley’s cheek.  She quickly wiped it away.  

Riley took a deep cleansing breath. "No I'm not going to run from this. We will face it head on. Together. "

"The way we always do." Liam ran his thumb over her knuckles and kissed her hand. "Bastien please continue."

"It could be so many reasons, and we have to investigate every one, factions we thought were gone, Bradshaw and Isabella are a strong candidate.  Queen Riley, you did find the tiny loophole in Cordonian Law that both couple's signatures had to be on the marriage alliance contract for it to be valid. They were not happy at all when the marriage alliance was dissolved six months ago. As this was a recent development,  I would say to start there as our first lead."

"Bradshaw said I would regret my decision not to sign."

"Then that's where we start."

"Any assistance you may need, you know I am here as support for the crown in any capacity," Olivia interjected.

"Thank you Duchess Olivia."

“I will also pay my idiot ex husband a visit in jail to see if he knows anything as well.”  

“No stone should be left unturned.”  Bastien remarked.  

"Lets adjourn for now. "  Liam said and the group dispersed.

He watched Riley as she  got up using her crutches to hobble over to the balcony. He remembered when Riley and Olivia hated each other. Now they were best friends and Liv had went over there to comfort her.

"How are you holding up?" Liv asked looking at Riley, but she knew the answer.  Riley's eyes were wet with tears.  

"Not too good."

Olivia looked concerned.  

“I keep hearing Ellie and Adam’s screams.  They were so afraid Liv, and in that moment i couldn’t calm my babies down.  And someone did that to me with them watching.  Who would do that to my innocent children?”

Olivia let out a painful sigh and stomped her foot.  Flipping her head back in frustration, letting out a huge groan.  “ God, hobble over here already.  Come on before I change my mind.”    Olivia opens her arms and Riley comes in to hug her.

“There there.”  She said softly. A muffled “thank you” she heard from Riley as her face was buried in her shoulder.  Olivia looked up seeing Liam smiling at her.  “I hate you both.”  she said whispering.  

“No you don’t.” Another muffled comment from Riley via Liv’s shoulder.

Liam never thought he would see the day.  He knew Liv was a cactus.  She had always been, but he never thought in a million years, the person Liv used to hate the most, and my GOD she used to hate Riley with a biblical passion had brought out the softer side of her.   Liv had cried when each one of their children had been born.  Of course she would deny it.  But she did.  

“You should take today and just spend some time with Liam and the kids, “ Turn their tears into giggles.  It’s a beautiful day.  Get her cripple ass in a bathing suit and put a trash bag on her foot and you carry her into that pool Liam!!!”  

Riley laughed.  Liam walked over to her.  His look said it all.  “Thanks Liv.”  He saluted her.  He picked up Riley.  “Come on Queen Cripple Ass, let’s get you in a bathing suit and a stylish trash bag on your boot foot.”  

It was the afternoon the family desperately needed.   Princess Ellie and Prince Adam in their little floaties in the  pool  giggling tossing water at each other.  Liam Carrying Riley and Jaiden in his arms, gently dousing with water to cool them off.   Bastien and Nico watched them. Bastien had a smile on his face.  He could see their happiness.  Nico looked indifferent and a little hurt as the couple giggled and kissed each other.  

That night Liam kissed Riley’s cheek.  She saw a glint in his eye.  “What is it?” she asked.

Liam smiled ruefully at her and did not say anything.  “Out with it.  I know that face,  Liam Rhys, and I know it well enough to know when  you have something on your mind.”

“I just don’t know how you’re going to take it. When I ask; It’s been on my mind for a while.”  

“Okay, out with it.”  

He gently rubbed her cheek then her stomach.  “Was it really so bad when we had Ellie and Adam back to back?”  

“I mean I don’t think it was terrible.  They say if you want to have more children to have them closer together.  So they can get out of the stages together.”  

“Yeah… they do say that… so what do you think about that?”

She was used to Liam being a little more direct.  “Well….. If we wanted to have another child… sooner would be better than later.  “Do we want another child?”  Do you want another child?”

“I should have told you sooner, this past 24 hours has made me realize how much i truly want this with you.”

“Can we wait until I’m not Queen Cripple Ass, as Liv so eloquently put it?  Because I want to have some fun with this, if we’re gonna have one more.”

“I accept your terms.”  He smiled at her.  “We’re going to have another baby.” He said in awe.  "Yes we are My King. One thing they can't say about me is that I didn't give you enough heirs."  Liam laughed. "That is entirely true." She snuggled into Liam’s arms and fell asleep.

They were ripped from their peaceful sleep by Ellie’s screams.  She was screaming for Riley.  Liam was already jumping out of bed heading to the door. Before he could get the words, "Riley don't!" out of his mouth, Riley had jumped up too,  forgetting about her broken ankle and had fallen crashing to the floor.  

Bastien and Nico hearing the commotion and screams, were both up into the room.   Liam ran out of the room to Ellie.  

Finding her screaming in her bed, he scooped her up into his arms, bringing her out of her bedroom.  She held tight to him.  Tears streaming down her little face.

He had just walked out of her room when Adam started screaming too.  

Bastien’s eyes met Liam’s.  He looked at Nico.  “Riley fell out of bed, please help her up.”  

Bastien followed Liam to Adam’s room. 

Nico walked into their royal quarters, he had never been in their room before.   He saw Riley on the floor trying to get up.  She was crying and trying to grab the side of the bed to pull herself up.  

“I got you, King Liam sent me to help, let me help ok?” Riley nodded.

He pulled Riley up laying her back down on the bed.  

“Did you hurt yourself more when you fell?”  

“It hurts more, yes.  I wasn’t thinking when I heard her scream, I just jumped up.”  

“I’ll go get your medicine ok?”  

“It’s here,”  she said, reaching in the drawer beside the bed.   Her hands were shaking so much she couldn't even open the bottle.  Nico poured her a glass of water, taking the bottle from her to open it.

“Just take a deep breath okay?   I’m pretty sure they’re both okay, they were just having bad dreams.”  

She nodded. 

How Jaiden slept through all this, was beyond them.  Maybe he was more like Riley than they thought.   

Liam walked back into the room  holding Ellie,  Bastien, holding Adam in his arms.   Both wanted Riley.  

“We’re going to keep them in here tonight with us,” Liam said.  “Thank you Bastien,  Nico.”

“Yes Your Majesty.”  They closed the door behind them.   Riley laid down on her back.  She was sandwiched between Ellie and Adam, one on each side of her.  They both clung tightly to her.  Liam turned off the light.  

Riley stroked each child’s hair softly humming.  Their cries had softened to little whimpers and sniffles as they started to fall asleep again.  Their little arms were tightly gripping Riley’s middle.    Riley looked at Liam, even in the dark he could see Riley’s eyes were filled with tears.  

He looked down at his injured Queen, and still crying children.  “Whoever did this to our family is going to pay dearly for it.”    

“With their lives Liam.  With their lives.”

“RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYY!!!!” The woman’s voice screamed.

Then Riley heard her own voice in a way that she’d never heard it before.  Her voice was heavy, incredibly full of panic and pain.  Her heart raced in her chest.  

“Poor kid…her life will never be the same, if she ever wakes up..” She heard him say.  She felt a pin prick to her arm, and all the voices faded away.

Riley always knew she was different from her parents.  From an early age, she had always noticed some insensitive looks when she called her Mom “Mommy or her Dad, Daddy,” out in public.  It shouldn’t have been that way… but it was.  

Riley had light brown skin when her parents well…. didn’t.  Riley’s sweet smile would brighten the darkest night.  Ren had braided her hair tight round the crown of her head, and had adorable  ringlet curls falling  down her back.  Even though Ren didn’t know much about Riley’s hair type at first, her mom made sure she was an expert on it, as Riley aged.  

Riley hopped off the bus, and leaped into the arms of her mother.

“My Jumping Jelly Bean!” Ren exclaimed, pulling Riley close, kissing her on both cheeks blowing raspberries. Riley’s high pitched giggle was so infectious her mother found herself chuckling too. She put her back down and took her hand.  Riley walked with her mom swinging their arms.  

Riley was at the breakfast nook working on homework when her dad walked in wearing his police officer  uniform.  Ren  busied herself chopping vegetables next to her.

“Is that for me?!?!?!?!” Riley exclaimed happily as she saw her dad standing in the doorway, with a bouquet of flowers in one hand, and a plush teddy bear in the other.  She jumped up and down finding it hard to contain her excitement.  

“It sure is!!!!”  He instead held out the bouquet of flowers to Riley.  “Here you go Jelly Bean.”

Ren giggled.  “For the most beautiful princess in the whole wide world.”

Disappointment filled in Riley’s eyes, as she glanced at the teddy bear in her dad’s right hand.

“Jelly Bean,” he had a huge smile on his face, as he put the plush toy on the counter, “One day when you think you are all grown up, you will start liking boys.”

Riley made an ugly face, and said “Ewwwwwwwwww!” Sticking out her tongue.  Her father doubled over in laughter.   “Please stay exactly like this forever.  But if a boy you like one day does not bring you flowers for no reason, he doesn't deserve your heart.  You are my beautiful princess Riley, but the one who captures your heart, he should be a King, to make you his Queen.  You deserve nothing less than that, my darling beautiful girl.”

Her father handed her the stuffed animal that she quickly took and hugged it tightly to her chest.  Before he gave the flowers to Ren though, he gently pulled out one of the roses from the bouquet and handed it to her.

Every time from that day on, if Riley’s dad brought her mom flowers, Riley got flowers as well.   Ren decided to get her a vase to keep all the perfectly dried flowers in.  

Riley’s mom helped her put on her pajamas and climb into bed.  

“Time to dream,” she said softly tucking her in and giving her eskimo kisses.  Riley giggled.

“We love you to the moon and back again, Jelly Bean.”  Jason gently stroked her hair and kissed her forehead.  

Riley snuggled down into the covers feeling loved and fell quickly asleep.

Riley had trouble making friends.  Jason never understood why.  Riley was so sweet and kind and playful.  He would find out though that next day.  

The next morning Jason had to get Riley ready for school.  He waited at the bus stop holding Riley’s hand until the bus came.  Jason noticed when Riley got on the bus, instead of sitting with someone she grabbed a seat by herself.  

Riley opened her back pack and quickly got her book  out to read, so no one would bother her, keeping to herself.

“Riley!”  

“What?”  She remarked looking at him.  She wasn’t even on the bus a minute when he started bothering her.  Tucker Adams liked to bother her every day.  “Who was that you were with?”

“My Dad.”  Riley commented not looking up from her book.

“He is  not.”  

“He is so.”

“Then the lady you’re usually with isn’t your Mom.”

“She is too!!”  Riley exclaimed slamming her book down.  

“Riley you’re Black.”

“So what?”  

You can’t be you and have White parents..  Riley’s ADOPTED!”

“I AM NOT!!!”  She didn’t know what it meant, but he made it sound like it was a bad thing. As everyone was now laughing at her.

“You’re so stupid Riley.  You don’t even know what it means.  Being adopted means your real parents didn’t want you, and the people you were living with couldn’t have their own kids, so they were nice enough to keep you instead.”

“It doesn’t matter, my parents love me.” She screamed at them, turning towards the window.  She wouldn’t let them see her cry.  She quickly wiped her tears away.

Every day was like this on the bus.  Every day Jaiden had to watch Riley cry, and get bullied by those idiots.  

Jaiden scooted a little closer to her.  Too close because Riley jumped.  Riley felt an ice cold wave hit her shoulder, and the only time she had ever felt that… she gasped.  

She looked right at him but couldn’t see him.  “Is that you Jaiden?” she whispered.

“Who are you talking to? There’s no one sitting with you Riley.  You’re so weird.”  

“Maybe she’s talking to an imaginary friend.”

“She doesn’t have any friends.  Even her imaginary ones won’t talk to her.”

"Why do you hate me?" Riley asked wondering what she did wrong to have to put up with this every day.

"Because you exist." Tucker laughed and all the others laughed with him.

“Just leave me alone.” Riley’s voice broke as she said it, her eyes filling with tears.  

As soon as the bus pulled to a stop at school,  Riley was the first one off the bus, running to her class.  

He would be there too. But at least she could be alone for a few minutes before he got there.  

Riley liked Miss Raven’s class.   Especially on Tuesdays they had Show and Tell.  Riley pulled out the framed sonogram pictures of Jaiden.

When Miss Raven asked for volunteers on who wanted to go first, Riley’s hand shot up into the air.  

“Riley you can go first.”  

Riley held up the picture so everyone could see.

“This is my brother Jaiden.  He doesn’t look like this anymore.  That’s how he looked when he was a baby.  He’s older than me."

“I didn’t know you had an older brother Riley. What grade is he in?”

She shook her head.  "This date is the date he went back to Heaven.  But then he came back!  We used to talk all the time.  He was my friend.  Then he had to go away again.  But I think he’s back!"

“Riley’s brother is a ghost!”

“Tucker! Don’t be mean!”  Miss Raven pointed to Tucker.

“Riley storytime is on Fridays.”  

“But it’s not a story, it's true Miss Raven it is.”

“You can take your seat now Riley.”  

Riley walked back to her desk, as she passed by Tucker, he said “GHOST GIRL!!!”

The whole class laughed at her.  

Her next two classes she sat there and didn’t say a word.  

Recess was one of her favorite things.  She could play on most of the equipment by herself and keep herself busy.  Riley’s favorite thing was the monkey bars.  Since she worked out with her Dad a lot Riley was strong and could pull herself up easy, and liked doing pullups on  the monkey bars.  She was next in line, and just when she was about to grab the equipment, she was pushed out of the way.

Riley fell to the ground. 

“Hey!  It was my turn.”  Riley got up off the ground and dusted off her clothes.

“Sorry I didn’t see you Ghost Girl.”   Tucker laughed at her.

“That’s not funny.”  

“What are you going to do about it, Ghost Girl?”

Riley balled up her fists.  Tears filled her eyes.  Her breathing quickened.

“Are you going to cry Ghost Girl?”  

Other people started saying it too.    They were laughing at her yet again.

As he started stepping close to her, it looked like he was tripped, and he fell flat in front of her.  She took a few steps back so he wouldn’t fall on her.  

Riley smiled. It had to be Jaiden. It had to be.

He jumped up looking around.  “What was that?”  Did your stupid big Ghost Brother just trip me, Ghost Girl?”  

"Hell yeah I did!"  Jaiden exclaimed. He was surprised it happened. But how did I do it? He wondered.  

“Don't push me down again, and he's not stupid!!!!!”  Riley screamed, taking her boxing stance her Dad had taught her and punched Tucker smack in his face, in the nose and he hit the ground, blood gushing everywhere.

"Ow!!! Riley you freak!”

The kids on the playground looked shocked at Riley.

Jaiden looked at Riley impressed.  “That’s it, defend yourself little sister.”

Riley wound up in the principal’s office.  

Jason showed up a little bit later along with Tucker’s Mother and Father.    Before he met with the parents he wanted to speak to Riley alone first.  

When she walked in the room, he knew something was wrong with her.  

“What’s wrong Jelly Bean?”  

Riley burst into tears.  “He picks on me every day. He calls me names.  Stupid and Adopted,  and Ghost Girl.  And he pushed me, So I hit him."  

The only words that stuck out in Riley’s rant was that he pushed her, adopted could wait until they were home.  They never told her,  but they were going to eventually talk about it.  

“Wait, he put his hands on you?”  

Riley nodded.  “He pushed me down.  I fell on the ground.”

“Riley how did he touch you?”  

She demonstrated how he pushed her down.

Jason was almost seized in anger.  

He was ready to meet with POS parents now.

"Sorry my wife could not be here."

“We’re going to send you his medical bills.”  

“Nope, not going to pay them.  Self defense for your piece of crap son pushing my daughter to the ground.”

“Piece of crap son?”  Mrs Adams remarked.

“Yes, piece of crap son.  What kind of example are you setting for your son Mr. Adams, that he thinks it’s perfectly okay to put his hands on a girl?”

“Are you accusing me of something Brooks?”

“If the shoe fits.  I’m glad she knocked the shit out of him.  You people here have been sitting idly by and letting her get bullied by him for months.  Finally my child has the courage to stand up for herself, and you come down on the person getting terrorized?"

"Mr. Brooks!"

"You're lucky we don't press charges on your son. I think it's ridiculous, Riley is getting suspended for 5 days for defending herself, which i taught her to do, and he gets a slap on the wrist."

"Three days suspension is not a slap on the wrist Mr. Brooks. Riley drew blood."

"You think the only pain is physical pain?  My child burst into tears the moment I saw her.  I'm done here."

He walked out of the office. Slamming the door behind him. He looked at Tucker Adams sitting on one side of the waiting room chairs, Riley was on the opposite side.   He walks up to him. "You put your hands on my daughter or bother her again, I will lock you up under the jail, and I'm a police officer, so I can do it."

Tucker’s eyes widened,  "Yes sir!"

Jason had never been happier to be wearing his police uniform. He glanced at Riley winking. Riley had a huge smile on her face. He held out his hand.

"Let's go Jelly Bean."

Riley took her dad's hand walking away with him.

Jason was driving his police cruiser.  He didn't want to put her in back so he put her in the passenger seat. "I thought I would be heading back to work. Now we have to go back to switch cars. It's okay though."

"Are you mad at me Daddy?"

He looked at Riley, and her lower lip was trembling.

"No Jelly Bean, I'm not.  I will never be mad at you for defending yourself when someone puts their hands on you.   No one should ever touch you without you telling them it is okay to. But you should have told us he was bothering you when it started."

"I thought he would just leave me alone."

"Next time come to us."

Riley nodded.

"After we drop by the station,  how about we stop for ice cream on the way home. Get some mint chocolate chip? Your favorite?"

"Before eating lunch?" Riley was flabbergasted.  

"Don't tell mommy."

Jason drew a zipper across his lips, locked it, and threw away the key.  He started mumbling at Riley.

She giggled at him. He pointed to her lips. Riley did the same motions he had, and they spent the next 10 minutes mumbling at each other.

That afternoon Ren and Jason sat down with her and explained about her adoption. They showed her the hospital wrist band.  

"Why doesn't it say my name?"

"Because when your real  mom and dad brought you in they hadn't named you yet.  When they don't know the names of babies in the hospital they name them  Baby Girl Doe, or Baby Boy Doe."

"But mine says Baby Girl Doe 2?"

"That means there was another baby girl that didn't have a name either I guess. We never thought about it."

"Even though you didn't grow in Mommy's tummy, you grew in our hearts. We are still your parents."

"I know you love me." Ren and Jason hugged Riley tightly.

**************************************************************************************

"That is just so sad,"  Ren commented watching the screen.  Riley walked over to the television as well.

"What is it mama?"

"The funeral for the Queen of Cordonia is today."

Riley sat next to her mom listening to the newscast.   "Cordonian flags fly at half-staff today as a country mourns the death of their beloved Queen Eleanor. We go earlier taped footage of the funeral procession."

Her casket was covered with brilliant beautiful flowers. Trailing behind the casket a man and two boys.  It was King Constantine to his right Crown Prince Leo, and Prince Liam.  Following them looked like a security detail. As the procession stopped for a second the camera panned to their faces. The last face they rested on was Prince Liam's. He was trying his hardest to look stoic during this sad event, but his eyes told the story of his hurt.

Tears pooled in his sky blue eyes. Riley burst into tears looking at him. "He looks so sad mama." Ren hugged her but Riley couldn't pull herself away from staring at Prince Liam's face.  He closed his eyes and tears fell in rivers down his face, causing Riley to cry harder.  “It’s like i can feel his sad and it hurts.” 

"Calm down Jelly Bean... I'm sure he is sad. He lost his mom. She wiped Riley's eyes. But he'll be fine. He has his Daddy, and his big brother to be there for him."

“Jason…. Maybe we should take Riley to see a professional.  She still believes that Jaiden is here.  She doesn’t have any friends, and she just burst into tears watching a little boy halfway across the world on television that she doesn’t even know, because he looked sad to her.”

“Riley is fine,  she doesn’t need a counselor.  There’s nothing wrong with being a loner.  Let me tuck her in tonight, I’ll talk to her. She’s had a very emotional day.   But no counselors Ren, she doesn’t need one.”

That night Jason tucked Riley in, he wanted to because he had also received a call from Miss Raven about show and tell.

"Miss Raven told me about Show and Tell Riley, about Jaiden."

"Daddy he's back. I know he is!"

"Can you see him?"

"No, but I can feel him, and he tripped Tucker after he pushed me. It had to be him."

Jason smiled.  "He's protecting you. Maybe he's your guardian angel Riley."

"That would be cool!"

"Riley, Mrs. Raven told me something else. She says you don't have any friends."

"I don't because I don't need them. Everyone thinks I'm weird anyway. And when I tell them about Jaiden, they leave. A real friend believes.  You're my only friend Daddy."

Jason's eyes teared up. "I believe you Jelly Bean."

"I know."

Riley liked activities that she could do alone. So over the years  that's what Jason got her involved in. She still liked to work out with him, and he had introduced her to some new fighting styles. She seemed to really pick up the bo staff which he liked too.  They practiced in the lawn in their back yard a lot. 

They tried horseback riding but he could tell Riley didn't really enjoy it. Riley didn't seem to mind track as long as they were individual activities.  Riley liked to compete with herself .  And then there was music. Riley had this innate ability to sing and play music. So much so that Jason took her to a Music and arts store for her to pick out an instrument, that he would get her lessons.

Riley tinkered along the aisles touching the instruments.  She stopped in front of a guitar.  She put the band over her shoulder.  The clerk ran over to her. "You're not going to be able to play that one."

"Why not?"

"You're a southpaw right?"

Riley nodded.

"Well that makes you’re special like me, and there are left handed and right handed guitars.  Here's how you tell which guitars you can play. Hold the guitar up facing you like this. Now you try."

Riley imitated how he held the guitar.

"Now look at your strings. The thickest string will be on the right or the left.  If it is on the left, that guitar is made for a right handed person. If it is on the right it's for a left handed person. Which kind is this….uh…"

"Riley, her name is Riley."

"Riley, she's already got a Rockstar name. Okay Rockin’ Riley, which kind of guitar is this?"

"It's a right handed guitar.”

"Give me some skin, half pint!" Riley looked at him confused.

“High five?”  Riley jumped to high five the clerk.

"We have a couple of leftys over here but they're more expensive.  Most people are right handed."

"Go pick one Riley," Jason nudged her.  

"Pick it up, try it out, you don't pick the guitar,  it picks you."

Riley's eyes were drawn to a pink fender acoustic guitar.

"Ahhhh, so the pink lady has caught your eye. Try her out."

He placed Riley’s  hands on the strings.

"Watch my hands Riley and move them just like mine.”

He picked up another guitar and strummed the chord.

Riley mimicked his hand motion and produced a nearly flawless chord.

Jason flipped the price tag and winced.

The clerk noticed, and called out, "It's a custom job that was never picked up."

"But is there really a high demand for left handed hot pink acoustic guitars right now? She's also gonna need a teacher. We could pay for that steady revenue stream."

"Half price and lessons for 6 months?"

"Yeah I could swing it."

"Solid!!”

Are we in a timewarp?  Jason thought to himself.  It didn’t matter.  Riley was beaming, and happy and that’s all that ever mattered to Jason.  He was dad of the year and Riley’s smile proved it.  

By the time Riley was 13 she was playing guitar on her own, composing her own songs she had written in a small notebook. She was still running track, individual events only, and working out with Jason daily, and Riley was super strong.

"Just one. You know my drink of choice."  Liam called it, her White girl wasted alcohol. It was the cheapest thing in their extensively filled liquor cabinet.

Sure being Liam's wife, and Queen, had definitely refined her tastes.  She loved the fine wines he had introduced her to; even that whiskey was decent too. But, when Riley was kicked back with friends like right now, she liked the simple things, her old faithful, and for that, it was a serious vanilla rum and coke.

"Share a bit of whiskey with me first, to start the night off, and I promise to keep your favorite coming to you on demand the rest of the night.”  

He also wanted to make sure whatever drink he put the Heaven in, Riley would drink the whole thing, and Riley loved her serious vanilla rum and cokes.

Riley called them “Serious,” because that meant there was at least a double shot of liquor in the drink, when it was made.  

He was smart about the whiskey, even though Riley drank most of it, she clearly didn’t want it.  Riley could down a drink rather quickly, when it was something she really liked.

“I know what you are ready for.  One of my special drinks.”

“Make it serious!”  Riley chuckled.

As Drake stood behind the counter.  He poured the clear liquid GHB into Riley’s glass first.  “Oh it will be,"  he said.  

“Get you another beer Hana?"

"Yes please."

He swirled Riley's drink as he walked it over to her.

"One serious rum and coke for the lady wearing the crown."

"Why do you like to wear that plastic old thing when you get drunk? You have a real Crown, multiples, you could wear, that are real diamonds and crown jewels?" Hana asked.

"I wore this, my last birthday in New York. Daniel got it for me. Who knew I was dressing then for the job I was going to get? It just reminds me how far I've come."

"Well… you're still drinking cheap ass drinks." Drake remarked laughing.

Riley took a big gulp of the drink. Drake glanced at his watch. 9:39pm.

"Yeeeeaaaaahhhh!" As she waved her hands around the room, "In my own fucking estate, one of my 12 estates, and not including a palace, and multiple apartments, I now share with Liam, that we have around the world.  I have definitely leveled up."

Riley finished her drink in one gulp. I'm ready for another." She pointed to her empty glass.

Drake smiled from ear to ear. " Perfect." He said. It's go time.

Riley started on her second drink. As she walked across the room Hana noticed she was already staggering a bit. Riley never got sloppy drunk but she already was a bit.  As she was leaning against the bar she lost her balance. Drake caught her in his arms.

Riley giggled holding on him.

"Hi," She said to Drake.

"Brooks, you okay girl?" He still had a tight grip around her hips.  

She rested her forehead on Drake's. " You smell good, like a classy lumberjack."

Drake laughed. "Are you clowning on my plaid shirt I'm wearing right now?"

"Well I think a classy lumberjack would smell nice. Well I mean before they were lumberjacking."

You mean chopping wood?" Hana asked.

"That's what I said." Riley commented.

Hana looked weary at her, as she still lingered in Drake's arms, and he wasn't letting go of her.  

"Riley, maybe you should come sit down with me."

Cock blocking little cunt . Drake thought, looking at Hana.

"I'M GOOOOOOOOD!!! I'm gonna dance it out."

What she thought was tossing her phone to Drake was actually a throw, a very hard throw.

"Jesus Brooks, a little warning!"

"Pump my playlist 'Club Beats' on the stereo."

Drake was happy to oblige.

The music started coming over the speakers.  

"Aaaaaaaaahhhhh yeah!!!" Riley kicked off her shoes and started gyrating to the beat of the music.  "Turn it up! Turn it waaaaay up! DRAKE, YOU BETTA DO IT!!!!"

"You gotcha, not only am I the bartender, I'm the DJ, it’s about to get LIT!!!!!"

Drake turned up the music louder; it was now blaring from the speakers.

"Woooooooooooooooooooo!!!!" Riley screamed and started giggling. She felt like she was at a rave.

She waved her hands in the air, clearly like she did not care.

"HANA, are you gonna leave me on the dance floor by myself?!? Get over here girl!!!!"

Hana walked over to her laughing.

The music picked again she started dancing subjectively  with Hana."  Hana followed Riley's sexy moves. Riley swayed her perfect hips to the beat of the music.  A pink flush started showing on Hana's cheeks when she backed that thang up on her, dropping it like it was hot. Each time she went low from where Drake was standing, he caught a glimpse of Riley's pink panties she was wearing. Damn she was shaking her ass, in that little skirt.

Drake licked his lips. She had no idea what she was doing to him.

Hmmmm..  Riley… interesting…. I might get some girl on girl action out of this, a true two for one.

When the song ended. Hana excused herself.

“Hurry back,” Riley replied, smacking her butt.  Drake laughed. Check. Inhibitions close to zero.

Drake  checked the time he had given Riley his special drink mix 10 minutes ago.  He turned around to look at her; she was still swaying her hips to the music, in her own little trance. It was so hypnotic. When she saw him looking, she pointed to him.  

Then she gave a come here motion with her finger.  Drake walked up to her, looking in her eyes. Riley’s eyes were already glassy.  He could tell the drugs were starting to take effect on her.

“Dance with me Walker.”  Her voice was soft, smooth, and oh so sultry.  His hand grazed Riley’s hip, then gripped her tightly as she grinded against him in beat to the song on the radio.

Riley was being so sensual with Drake. Their eyes were locked on each other.

The way she move her body

She might see the Maserati

She wanna put it on me

Trying to show me her tsunami

She make it hard to copy

Always tight never sloppy

And got an entourage

And her on paparazzi

Now here she go again

Riding through the stormy weather

You better button up, if you wanna go getta

Cuz it is what it is

And everybody wanna love her

But when she pop it boy, you better run for cover

She moves her body like a cyclone

And she makes me wanna do it all night long

Going hard when they turn the spotlights on

Because she moves her body like a cyclone

A mighty cyclone…..

She had never seen Riley act like this. Liam would have never let her act like this. With any man, especially not Drake.

Hana walked up to them.  "Riley, I need you for a second."

She pulled Riley from his grasp. She pushed a bottle of water into Riley's hands. "Drink this."

"Come on Mom, seriously."

"Better yet, I think me and Riley should turn in for the night."

“One more beer for the road then, Hana?”  He made the decision then, he was going to give Hana enough of the heaven to knock that little meddling ass bitch out.

Damn, that should have been his plan from the start.

“I’m fine, thank you, and Riley’s had enough.”

Hana grabbed her arm, starting to pull her, and Riley resisted her.

"I'm not even tired."

Hana pulled her over to the couches. "You're not acting like yourself Riley. You should just sleep it off. Let's turn in for the night."

“I’m fine,” Riley said annoyed.  

“Maybe you should call Liam, and see where he is.”

“I’m not going to harass him Hana. He’s already trying to cut his meetings short, so he can make it to the ribbon cutting. I’m not going to bother him when he’s already doing everything he can to get here.”  

It’s time for some psychological warfare.  He had to turn Riley against Hana.  

“What’s your problem, we’re having a great time spending time with friends and  you’re making it weird and might I say a little awkward Hana.”  

“She’s had enough Drake.”

“Riley is a grown damn woman, she can decide for herself when to cut herself off.”

“I’m fine Hana, you’re the one making things all weird.  I know my limits, I'm not a child.”

He put his arm around Riley pulling her closer to him.  “You’re having a good time right Brooks?’

“Yes, I really am.  You’re ruining the vibe, Hana. Maybe You should turn in for the night.”

Easier than he thought it would be.  

“Yeah maybe i should.”  She handed Riley the bottle of water.  “Just drink it ok?”

Riley took the bottle of water from her, and with an exasperated sigh.  She takes the bottle of water,  Opens it and takes a long sip.

“Good night, “ Hana said, walking out of the room.

“So what do you want to do now, “Drake inquired looking at Riley.  He knew what he wanted to do.  

“First things first,” Riley crawled across Drake.

“What are you doing woman!?!”  He watched as she poured the water, from the water bottle into the potted plant.

Drake chuckled.  “You’re such a bad girl.”  As she crawled back across him, Drake josled his legs, causing Riley to land on him.  He pulled her into his lap, gripping her hips.

Riley wrapped her arms around Drake’s neck.  “Why do you think i’m a bad girl? She said looking at him innocently, as she grinded her hips into his. She looked down at him.  She could feel him hardening against her.  

“I take it back… you’re a very good girl…please let me feel how good you are again. You were so good to me in Vegas.”

He pulled her close, and kissed her.  God she tasted so good, and so sweet. She was kissing him back.  Then all of a sudden,  It was like she woke up.

“What am I doing?'' she quickly pulled away from Drake.

She shook her head.   “My brain feels like it’s swimming. Maybe Hana was right.  I think I'm gonna turn in for the night.  

“Stay with me.  Please Brooks, stay…”  She stumbled away from him. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”  

Riley climbed the stairs, in a dizzy haze, to her quarters.   She changed into her nightgown and went to sleep.  What felt like several hours for her, was only 30 minutes.  Drake had stood at the clock watching it like a hawk.  Riley was fast asleep when he walked in the room watching her in her bed.  She felt the bed settle when he got into bed with her.

“My King, I’m so glad you made it.”  

It was not her King.  

Ren always talked to Riley as she changed her diaper.

“So did you have a good nap?”

Riley babbled  for a few seconds.

Ren gasped. “That is so good to hear, great news!!!”

Riley continued babbling.  

“I know that part sucks about being an adult.  I don’t get to take naps mid day.”

Riley let out a loud high pitched squeal.

“I KNOW RIGHT!!!! I couldn’t agree more!!!!!”  

Riley babbled yet again.

“You’re so sweet. I enjoy our talks too.”  She kissed Riley’s cheek.

As Ren giggled, so did Riley.  Somehow, she felt in her heart of hearts, Riley understood everything she was saying to her, in these mini gab sessions she had with her.

“I’m home!” Jason called from down stairs.

“Let’s go say hi to Daddy.”

Ren came into the room holding baby Riley in her arms.  “Hey you.”  He gave them both kisses.

“What’s this?” she said pointing to the huge box on the floor.

“I think it’s something Riley is going to freaking go nuts about. It’s a jumperoo.  I’m gonna put it together right now, and see how she likes it.”

“Read the instructions, because this one is too small for you to get into.”

“Oh ye of little faith Renny Brooks my God!!!”

He followed the instructions closely, and put the jumperoo together.  

“It’s ready, come look.”  

Ren came into the room holding Riley, with her investigative eyes on.  

“I know you’re looking for extra parts, there weren’t any.”

She put Riley in.  

Riley sat motionless, looking at them.  She was not impressed.  

Ren looked at Jason, “Oh yeah, that really looks like she’s going nuts about it.”

“No give her a few to figure out what it does.”  

She still sat there looking at them.  

“I don’t think she likes it Jason.”  

“Be like daddy, Riley.” He bounced a little on his feet, and Riley mimicked him.

He saw the spark in her eyes, and she giggled. She started bouncing happily.

“And we’re off!!!!!!”   Jason exclaimed.  

Riley was bouncing away in the jumperoo, full of high screeched giggles.

“Our Jumping Jelly Bean.”

“I told you she’d go nuts about it!! What was that Renny, I can’t hear you…..?”

“Ugh Jason, you were right, my goodness, but do you really have to rub it in like you’re a five year old?”

“Would you strangle me if I said yes?”

“Yes, I would strangle you a little bit!”

“I told you so!”

He tried to run from Ren before playfully hit his shoulder.

“But in all seriousness right now Ren, look at her go!!!!”  Jason laughed.  “Best. Investment. EVER.”  Riley is going to sleep all night tonight.”

“You think?” Ren said looking at her.

This child had been jumping in it for hours.  

“She’s already barely awake right now. She won’t stop. She looks drunk!”  

Ren watched baby Riley.  Her little head was rolling forward, and her little brown eyes were closing.  She would catch herself , and wake up, and start jumping again for a few jumps.  Then head roll, stop, startle herself and jump a few more jumps.

Ren laughed.  She really was exhausting herself out.

Jason moved up closer to her, kneeling.  Riley was asleep.  Just as he leaned in closer, Riley jumped, her head colliding with Jason’s face, his nose hard.  

Jason fell backwards onto his back, covering his nose.

Ren gasped.  Riley thought Daddy was being funny and started hysterically giggling.

Jason got up, and turned to Ren.  He removed his hand, looking at it, seeing the blood.

Ren was laughing so hard that she was snorting.  Her face was bright red.  “I can’t believe that actually just happened?!?!?!?!?!?”

Jason pinched his nose, trying to control the blood dripping from it. 

“Don’t bleed on my floor Jason!!!”  She ran, getting him a washcloth.  

“Here,” she said, giving him the cloth for his nose.  “Not head back, Jason, head forward.”

She rubbed his shoulders still softly chuckling.  “What are even the odds that something like that would even happen?”

“It’s just my luck Ren.  You know my luck.”  

“Can’t be all bad, you got me.”  

He looked at her, even though his mouth and nose were covered by the cloth, she could see a smile in his eyes.  

“I love you too,” she said, patting his knee. “I’m going to go start dinner.”

Jason nodded to her.

Sure enough Jason was right on all accounts about the jumperoo.  

It was the first time Riley slept through the whole night.  Ren actually had to wake her up to feed her, and homegirl was mad as hell. She went right back to sleep after Ren fed and changed her.

Ren slipped back into bed with Jason.

“Well?” He asked.

Ren kissed his lips.  

“BEST INVESTMENT EVER!!!”  She snuggled close to Jason and the two of them fell right back asleep for the rest of the night.

Jason’s alarm went off early the next morning.  Ren was still sleeping, no not sleeping, as she was rubbing his leg, and not a peep from the baby monitor from Riley.  He touched his face, and his nose hurt still.  He turned over to look at Ren.

“How bad does it look?”

Ren gasped, his nose was black and blue.

“Don’t tell the guys at work, you got beat up by a baby!!!!”

“I can’t believe Riley beat me up.” Jason groaned.

The tech turned on the machine, she looked at the monitor. They all did with bated breath.

“Is he ok?”  Jason asked.

She moved the wand around.  

“There he is!” the tech said proudly.  Typing a few things on the screen.  But what happened next  wasn’t what they expected.  

They expected the whooshing sound of the baby’s heartbeat that always filled the room.   There was nothing but silence.  

“Is it on?” Jason was starting to get worried.  He looked at Ren.  Her eyes were tightly clenched shut.

The tech turned off the monitor,  “Maybe it’s best we just wait for Dr. Abernathy to get here.”

She touched Ren’s hand, “She’ll be here shortly.”

When she closed the door behind her, Ren finally let out the sob she was holding in.

“Hey, hey, hey, it’s going to be ok.  She was just a tech.  She had no clue what she was doing.  Dr. Abernathy will be here soon, and everything will be ok.”  

She never wished so hard that she could believe something Jason said as much as she could at this   moment.  But the truth was… it wasn’t ok.

Dr. Abernathy came in a few minutes later with Ren’s chart and a somber look on her face.

“Ren?”

She opened her eyes to look at Dr. Abernathy.

You understand what’s going on?”

Tears welled in her eyes as she nodded. “Yes I understand.”  

“I need to check you to confirm.”

“What’s happening?”  Jason whispered.  Deep down he knew, but he didn’t want to admit.  Admitting his worst fear in this situation would be making it real.  

Dr. Abernathy turned on the ultrasound machine.  She grabbed Jason’s hand.  

She gently placed the wand on her stomach and began to move it around.  Immediately she had an image of the baby.

Jason gave her hand a soft squeeze back in reassurance.  There’s our baby boy.  Jason thought.  It still wasn’t right.  The look that passed between Dr. Abernathy and Ren.

She turned off the ultrasound machine. Ren’s grip on Jason’s hand turned painfully tight.

“Jason, Ren, my tech was able to get an image of the baby, as have I, but i’m sorry to tell you this, neither of us can detect a fetal heartbeat.  The baby did not survive the fall.  I’m so sorry.”

Lauren let out a wailing scream, that the only thing Jason knew to do was to hold Lauren  while she sobbed hysterically in his arms.  Tears pooled in his eyes.  He had to be the strong one for her, though he felt like his heart had been broken in two.  He flinched every time Lauren screamed. He closed his eyes, and kept whispering to her.  “I’m here. We’ll be ok Lauren, I promise.  We’ll get through this.”  

A nurse came in with a syringe.  Lauren saw her coming and  knew sweet relief was coming from this nightmare for a few hours.  It was almost immediately after the injection Lauren fell into a calming sleep.  Her facial expressions that had been so tense the past few hours had finally relaxed.  

Jason exhaled a shaky breath.  

“Is there anything you need?” Dr. Abernathy asked him.

“I need…….. I need a minute to process what just happened….  How long will she sleep?”

“A few hours.”

He walked down the hallways feeling numb.  One minute they were celebrating, the next minute they had lost their son.  They were just too happy.  For people like Jason and Ren,  being too happy in life always seemed like it invited disaster.  

As he walked by the waiting room he noticed officers from his precinct.  He wondered what had happened.  Lawson, who had driven him to the hospital so many hours earlier, stood up.

“Seeing Jason’s confusion, he said, “We’re here for you brother.”  

The others stood as well.  

“How’s Ren?”  

“She’s sedated.”

“How’s your son……?”

“He didn’t…….he…. He…. “ Jason finally began to cry.  Lawson hugged him.

“I’m so very sorry.”

Looking around the room at all the officers that had come and gathered in solidarity for the two of them was the most somber, yet supportive thing Jason had experienced in his life.

“Thank you for supporting us.  I know Ren would appreciate it.”  

Jason was at Ren’s side when she finally woke up.  

His eyes were red, and slowly she remembered the events of the past few hours.  Lauren’s eyes teared up again.  “I’m right here,"  Jason’s voice was strong and secure, soothing Ren.

“I want to name him,” she whispered. “ I want to name him so he knows, he had a family here who loved him even though……….  he never got the chance to meet us.”

Over the next few minutes they decided on the name Jaiden Anthony Brooks.  

Dr. Abernathy came back into the room a little bit later and explained the next procedure that would take place, to end the pregnancy.  

“Is there anything else you need before we discharge you for the night?”

“Can we get a last picture of him…. Of Jaiden before tomorrow’s procedure, before he’s truly gone?”

“Of course,” Dr. Abernathy obliged turning on the ultrasound machine again.  Finally Jason broke down in front of Ren.  She had never heard him cry before. 

“Why did this have to happen to us, Dr. Abernathy?  We’re good people. We work hard.  We wanted this, we wanted Jaiden so  much.  We tried two years for him.  Just to lose him.  It’s not fair.  And the people who are terrible parents keep having truckloads of kids, and the people who would do right by their child… “

Ren hugged her husband as they cried for the loss of their son together.  

“Sometimes, some things are not for us on this side to understand,”  Dr. Abernathy said softly.  

“I’ll go get your car.  Do you remember where you parked?”

“The staff parking lot Jason.”  Lauren snapped at him.  

“I’ll find it.”

“I’ll show you where the staff parking lot is,” and besides I'll show you the shortcut, that only staff members can use.”

“Thanks Dr. Abernathy.”

“Don’t take her snapping at you to heart.  She doesn’t mean it.”  

“I know.”

“Well the good news is we’re here… I just don’t know what level she parked on.”

“No it’s good, I see her.  This one’s her’s, she’s just gonna lose her shit, that i have to adjust everything to drive it, which is why we don’t drive each other’s cars.”

“You sound exactly like my husband. he  knows.”  Dr. Abernathy chuckled.

“Thank you for being there for us today.”  

“You’re very welcome, and I’m so sorry this time didn’t work out for you two. Don’t give up okay?   You two would make very loving parents someday.”

“Thank you.”

He pulled out front waiting for Lauren.

“Are you hungry?  I could stop for takeout.  It’s too late to try to get dinner started.”

Silence from Ren.

“Maybe Chinese?  You think from the place you like?”

Ren still said nothing.  Staring blankly ahead at the road.  

“Ren did you hear me?”

“I heard you. Whatever. Get it, don’t get it I don’t care.”  She snapped at him.

“You need to eat Ren.  You have to be hungry by now.”

“Why does it matter so much?  It’s only me now.”  

“Because you matter to me.  I love and care about you, and because I can’t lose you too Ren.”

She whispered something.. That he couldn’t hear.

“What?”  

“You blame me.”

“WHAT?!?!?!?  REN?!!?!?! GOD!!! NOOOO!!!!”   Jason jerked the wheel slamming on the breaks pulling Ren’s small SUV over in the highway median.

  “This was an accident Ren.  A horrible terrible accident that I don't blame you for.”

“You have to blame me.”

“Why are you so sure of this?”

“I BLAME ME!!!  THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!!!  I KILLED OUR BABY.  I SHOULD HAVE JUST WAITED FOR THE ELEVATOR.”

He wasn’t getting through to her, at all.  If he said what he was thinking, it could blow up in his face, but he was out of options. So he decided to do it.

“You know what, you’re right Ren.”

“What?”  he could hear the confusion in her voice.

“Yeah, you go up and down stairs at our house every day, multiple times of the day, and i let you think that was okay.  I should have been carrying you up and down those stairs every time, to protect our baby.”

“But how would you know, something like that would happen?”

BINGO…

“That’s right Ren, how would you know something like that would happen?”

Ren was stunned into silence.

“I don’t want to hear you ever say that again Lauren, I mean it.  Any of that. This was not your fault. It was a horrible horrible accident Okay?”

Ren nodded.  “Decent use of reverse psychology by the way.”

Jason looked at her smiling, and she knew right in that second why she had fallen in love with him.  He was trying so hard to hold up a brave front for her, even though she could still see the sadness in his eyes too.

" I am pretty wisdomous.”

A small smile emerged on Ren’s lips.  Albeit small, but visible. Jason saw it as a tiny victory considering the day from hell they had. And tomorrow would be just as bad he was sure.

“Can we go get food now?

If he wanted food that’s what she was going to do.  He always fought for her, ever since the moment they met.