#What do we learn from that? Juliett should not stay with her family. Noted!

[janamensch]

A drawing of my beloved OC Juliett that came to me in a dream (I had a dream that I was sketching this drawing so when I woke up I tried to actually draw it to see what would happen) and I like how it turned out!

[highwaytothedangerzone502]

Foxtrot Alpha Alpha - Chapter 38

Pairing: Hangman x Female OC

Word Count: 2104

Warnings: Swearing, insinuation of sex

Summary: Hangman learned his lesson a long time ago to never show his true feelings when someone's words or actions hurt him. To do so showed weakness that could be exploited, and Seresin men couldn't show weakness. Of course, there was an exception to every rule, and Jake's always came in the form of women, three in particular: his mom, Juliette Kazansky, and the girl whose name he could no longer bring himself to speak. She was the girl that got away; she was his biggest 'what if' and his biggest regret; she would forever be the ghost that haunted his dreams. Jake believed that's where she'd stay, for he would surely never see her again after what he did.

Or so he thought.

Notes: This is the sequel to India Lima Yankee; I'm using the same callsign for the Female OC as in Ghost Story because I just really like it, but they are different characters; chapters in italics are flashbacks.

Chapter Songs: Exile The Last Time

****

Ghost

When Ghost finally returned to her own apartment later in the day, she ended up going back to Hangman's with a bag of stuff and stayed overnight.

And the next night.

And the night after that.

This happened for the next couple of weeks, but she hardly minded. Ghost had missed having Hangman around, to be able to tell him immediately when something funny happened or when she just needed to be around him because his presence calmed her frayed nerves. They played guitar and sang songs together, and posted them on her Instagram account. Only Jules, Jackie, and Wolfie recognized the new companion in the blurred videos as Hangman, and all of them texted Ghost demanding answers about her new relationship with the Texan aviator. Ghost realized that she and Jake had probably confused their friends and family by covering Taylor Swift's 'Exile' and 'The Last Time,' which weren't exactly happy love songs.

Ghost continued to shield herself from the outside world, ignoring her mom's phone calls and only texting Charlie to declare that she needed space. This was a partial truth. The other truth was that Ghost ached to detach from the chaos around her and spend her days with Hangman in his cozy apartment, relishing the bubble of peace and happiness he brought her before confronting her next challenge.

"What are the plans for tomorrow?" Hangman asked while he and Ghost scrubbed the dishes from dinner. "Should we go for a drive? Head to the beach? Maybe we could visit Princess and-"

"Oh, speaking of Juliette," Ghost remarked, glancing at the buzzing phone on the counter beside her. She answered it and put it on speaker, letting her friend know as such.

"Hey, how are you doing?" Jules's chipper voice sounded forced, causing the two pilots to share a concerned glance.

"I'm good. How are you? You sound like something's wrong," Ghost replied casually in hopes her gut instinct turned out to be incorrect.

"Honestly, I've had better days. Can I ask you a huge favor?"

Hangman turned off the faucet and braced himself on the counter to hear better while Ghost said without hesitation, "Of course. What's going on?"

"Rooster and I are going to head to the hospital after we return home with the dogs because my blood pressure spiked and won't come down. Would you and/or Hangman be able to watch Raptor and Lightning for a few days until we return?"

"Absolutely. We'll finish the dishes, pack our bags, and head over."

"You're both saints. Rooster and I will drop off the keys to the house on the way to the hospital. Also, we have a ton of food, so help yourselves to anything you'd like while we're gone."

"Sounds good. We'll see you in a bit."

Ghost hung up and chewed her lip, mind racing over Juliette's health. Hangman slipped an arm around her waist and kissed the side of her head, saying, "I'll finish up here. You go pack."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, besides—" he nipped her lip playfully— "you have more to pack than I do."

"Yeah, because I don't immediately look like a god rolling out of bed like someone I know."

"That's because you look like Heaven, which I would argue is ultimately more beautiful than a god."

"You really need to get your eyesight checked if you think I look like Heaven in the morning." Ghost patted his cheek and started walking off, but Hangman grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him, pinning her against the counter. His green eyes pierced hers, devouring her soul and breath. He leaned next to her ear, kissed the sensitive spot below it, and whispered huskily, "You look and taste like Heaven to me."

They had somewhere to be, things to do, and Juliette to worry about, but feeling every inch of Hangman against her body, despite having felt him as such every single night since they reconciled, Ghost's mind could focus on one thing, and one thing only.

"Fuck," she breathed before dragging her hand into his hair to pull his head back just enough so she could crash her lips onto his. Hangman reacted instantly. His hands slid down to the backs of her thighs and effortlessly lifted her onto his counter. Ghost had always been curvy and self-conscious of her weight, and she had never had that perfect body like the models and actresses in magazines and Hollywood, but the man before her made all of that doubt disappear.

The doorbell rang, and Ghost groaned in annoyance at the interruption. "Oh, fuck me."

"Ignore it, and I will," Hangman replied between kisses to her chest. Deciding his idea better than answering the door, she obliged and continued the makeout session with her man, knowing it would inevitably lead to more until-

"Hangman? Is Ghost with you?" The voice shattered the passion between the two aviators as Ghost stilled, her eyes locking with Hangman's.

"What's Maverick doing here?" she whispered.

"I don't know," he said, and judging by the crease between his brows, Ghost determined he meant it. "He won't leave until we answer, though. If you don't want to face him-"

"I'm going to have to at some point. I'd rather have support when I do."

"Then let's continue this later." Hangman gently pulled Ghost off the counter, and she took a deep breath to steady herself. Kissing Hangman once more, she tore herself away from him and, plastering on an expression that feigned indifference, opened the door. 

"Hey, Maverick," Ghost greeted. Her voice came out steadier than she expected but also quieter, exposing her true feelings about the situation at hand.

Relief flashed in his misty green eyes. "Hey, Ghost. I, uh... your mom called me. Said you weren't talking to her and wanted me to check on you. Make sure you're alive."

"Honestly, I'm surprised she didn't ask you sooner," Ghost admitted shyly, moving aside. "Would you like to come in?"

Maverick hesitated, then stepped inside, taking in the scene before him: Ghost's shoes next to Hangman's, her jacket hanging on the hook beside his, and Hangman himself still standing behind the kitchen counter where Ghost had left him. She wondered why he remained there but quickly deducted after their brief but intense makeout session that he probably had a particular reason for staying there lest Maverick figure out what activity they'd been engaging in before he arrived.

"Hey, Pops," Hangman said casually, shifting back to the sink and scrubbing the remaining dishes and pans. 

Maverick nodded in acknowledgment. "Hangman. I'm assuming you know about-"

"That my girlfriend is your daughter?" 

A small thrill bubbled in Ghost's chest at the sound of her title to Hangman. She'd been wondering what they were now that they'd crossed that line with each other, had wanted to assume they were dating, but hadn't been able to bring herself to ask the question even after all these years in fear she'd find herself dreaming up false fantasies.

Maverick's head cocked. "You two are dating now? Since when?"

"It only just happened," Ghost said with a shrug, regaining her ability to speak. "Uh, we have to pack, but if you'd like to continue talking, you're welcome to."

"Are you up to it?"

"I don't think I ever will be, so no time like the present. Come on." Ghost motioned for Maverick to follow her, and Hangman said he'd join them shortly. Ghost shot him a knowing grin, which he flipped her off in response when Maverick wasn't looking. Having Jake here, even if they weren't in the same room, brought Ghost a tremendous amount of comfort. 

When they reached the master bedroom, Ghost pulled out her duffel bag from under the bed and began grabbing her clothes from the closet and dresser drawers. An incredibly awkward silence fell over the Captain and Lieutenant, both trying to formulate some sentence to break the tension between them until finally, Ghost quietly asked, "How long have you known?"

"I received confirmation about it around the same time you did, but I'd started suspecting it before then. Your flying in the air reminded me a lot of myself when I was your age, not to mention your age aligned with when your mom and I met in California the second time. When did you-"

"Started wondering the night you found me on the beach. Some of the things you said made me question things, so I had Jackie help me with the investigation."

Maverick sat in the chair in the corner of the room, his eyes swirling with so many emotions that Ghost couldn't determine a single one. And, rather than have the awkward silence envelop them again, Ghost did what she did best in such situations. She rambled. "Outside of you and obviously my mom, no one else knows about my newfound heritage except my sister and Hangman. I'll tell Jules and Rooster at some point, but maybe after she gets out of the hospital."

Maverick stiffened. "Juliette's in the hospital?"

"They're heading there tonight. Depending on how long you stay, you might see them. They're dropping off the keys to their place so Jake and I can watch the dogs." Ghost swallowed the slight pang of jealousy at the relationship between her best friend and her father. She had no right to feel such a thing. Ghost had no idea who Maverick was to her until recently and had had an amazing dad growing up, whereas he'd been like a second father to Juliette since she was a toddler. They would always have a bond that Ghost doubted she'd ever have with him. Still, she wanted one like it. It's not like he had ignored her all these years. Maverick hadn't known about her. Then Ghost realized something, and the question burst from her before she could stop it. "What would you have done? If you'd known about me sooner?"

The Captain hesitated, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly. Ghost regretted asking the question despite being unable to stop it from escaping her lips, but Hangman—whether he knew of his impeccable timing or not—entered the room and said, "Bradshaw and Princess just got home and are packing some stuff before swinging by. They should be here soon."

"Oh, good. I should be done shortly, so we can leave after they do, if not at the same time as them," Ghost replied nonchalantly, praying to whatever gods existed that Hangman wouldn't notice the tears rimming her eyes. If he did, he mercifully refrained from pointing them out. Still, Ghost had to get out of the room, if not simply to catch her breath and steady her racing heart. "I'll be right back. I left my phone in the kitchen."

It was a blatant lie, but Ghost could pass it off as forgetting that she'd put it in her pocket earlier. Enough had happened in the past few minutes to warrant the memory loss of such an insignificant event.

Deep breaths, Annalise. Deep breaths... She repeated the mantra in her head while she walked purposefully to the kitchen, only to sag against the kitchen bar once she rounded the corner and out of sight from Hangman and Maverick, unwilling to let either man see how horribly the whole situation affected her. Ghost hated showing weakness. It was one thing in front of Hangman. At least, now it was. But Maverick... she could see him struggling himself, but Ghost wouldn't let him pity her or, even worse, act on that pity.

Get it together. Stop crying and get your shit together. Juliette and Rooster need you, and the last thing you want to do is make them worry about you again when they should be focused on Juliette's health. Ghost furiously wiped the tears from her cheeks and huffed an annoyed sigh at herself. Easier to be mad at herself than sad. 

After checking her reflection in her phone's camera to ensure any evidence of her mild breakdown was erased, she went to the front door, where her backpack lay nearby.

Ghost had just started bending down when the door flew open. She barely jumped back in time to avoid being struck in the head, but not the calloused hand that firmly grasped her elbow and yanked her to him.

Ghost let out a short scream before the man clapped a hand over her mouth and snarled, "Shut up. This is what you get for not talking to me when I asked."

Ghost's blood ran cold at the words and at the man she now recognized before her.

Kyle.

****

Tags: @lgg5989 @shanimallina87 @polikszena @summ3rlotus @icemansgirl1999 @supernaturaldawning @thedarkinmansfield @lyannaforpresident @lapilark @getmyprettynameoutofyourmouth @simpofthecentury @shadeops21 @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy @double-j @bradshawsandbridgetons @catsandgeekyandnerd @peachiicherries @multifandomcnova @fandomsstolemylife00 @bookloverhorses @mak-32 @midnightmagpiemama @luckyladycreator2 @ellamae021 @kmc1989 @atarmychick007 @rotating-obsessions

Chapters: Chp 1 Chp 2 Chp 3 Chp 4 Chp 5 Chp 6 Chp 7 Chp 8 Chp 9 Chp 10 Chp 11 Chp 12 Chp 13 Chp 14 Chp 15 Chp 16 Chp 17 Chp 18 Chp 19 Chp 20 Chp 21 Chp 22 Chp 23Chp 24 Chp 25 Chp 26 Chp 27 Chp 28 Chp 29 Chp 30 Chp 31 Chp 32 Chp 33 Chp 34 Chp 35 Chp 36 Chp 37 Chp 38

If you're not on the tag list and want to be, just let me know :)

[lastbluetardis]

And Baby Makes Seven (10/?)

Things don’t always go as planned. Faced with an unexpected pregnancy, James and Rose have to work quickly to get everything prepared for their fifth child, and to prepare their eldest children for a new addition to the family. Ten x Rose AU, Soulmates AU. Tagging @doctorroseprompts

This chapter: teen, 5200 words

Ages of the Tyler-McCrimmons at the start of the chapter: James: 39, Rose: 34, Ainsley: 9, Sianin: 6, Twins: 7.5 months

If you like reading my stories, consider leaving me a tip? Or leave a reply on this post to tell me what you thought? And as always, reblogs are very much appreciated so more people can see this.

AO3 | Perfectly Matched Series

Ch1 | Ch2 | Ch3 | Ch4 | Ch5 | Ch6 | Ch7 | Ch8 | Ch9 |

Now that Ainsley had been let in on the secret of the new baby, Rose and James didn’t need to work as hard to uphold the facade. Sianin, bless her little heart, had no idea what was going on, but was glad that her mum wanted to laze around the house, which translated into Sianin getting plenty of snuggles on the sofa as they watched cartoons.

James seemed to be taking “over-protective” to a whole new level. He jumped at the chance to care for their children, either taking over or joining Rose in all bedtime routines. If a twin awoke in the middle of the night, he sprang out of bed before her groggy brain could even realize Hannah or Maddie had made a sound.

But when she brought it up to him, he flashed her a charming grin that never failed to melt her, and simply asked, “You’re upset that I want to care for my children?”

And really, when he put it like that, her irritation with him evaporated. She had to keep reminding him to let her help, though, lest the twins forget they had a mother.

James and Rose also used the opportunity to place more responsibilities on Sianin’s shoulders, to the girl’s displeasure. Since Rose wasn’t supposed to do most of the normal household chores, James taught Sianin how to vacuum, wash the floors, and a host of other minor but daily tasks.

Rose, though guilty that she was lounging around the house all day when she ought to be cleaning, was glad that Sianin was at least performing the tasks James assigned to her with minimal complaining. 

Ainsley, meanwhile, took it upon herself to help her dad with anything he was doing and to check in with her mum to see if Rose needed anything.

“How long d’you have to rest for?” Ainsley asked as she settled in with Rose and Maddie on the couch for her nightly reading. Hannah was already in her crib for the night, but Maddie was stubbornly refusing to fall asleep in favor of getting snuggles and kisses from her mother.

“A few weeks,” Rose replied, blotting at the drool dripping down her baby’s chin with her jumper sleeve. Maddie scrunched her nose and turned her face away. “We’ve got a follow-up appointment next week to check the status of the bleed.”

Ainsley tilted her head to the side. “Why do you always do that? Make it plural? You said we’ve got an appointment, not I’ve got an appointment.”

Rose snorted. “You’re right. But your dad is joining me at the appointment. Plus, it’s an appointment to check on the baby, who is both his and mine. It feels wrong to claim sole ownership.”

“That’s actually really cute,” Ainsley admitted. She sighed dreamily. “Dad takes such good care of you when you’re unwell.”

A flood of adoration overtook Rose, squeezing her chest until inexplicable tears burned her eyes. She listened to her husband, who was in the kitchen assembling the girls’ lunches for tomorrow. He was humming to himself as he worked, the notes slightly flat and offkey.

“Yeah, he does,” Rose croaked.

“I hope I find someone just like him one day,” Ainsley said with a wistful sigh.

“I hope that for you, too.” Rose kissed Ainsley’s temple. “I hope that for all of my children.”

“How do you think it’ll work with Sianin and her soulmates?”

“What do you mean?”

Ainsley shrugged. “It’s hard to imagine having two soulmates. How can she love two people as equally and intensely as you love Dad?”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, eh? Who knows whether Sianin’s relationship with Elena and Juliette will evolve into a romantic one.”

“I suppose,” Ainsley allowed. “But for argument’s sake, how would it work if they decided to let it be romantic? It seems so strange to be involved in a relationship with two people.”

“Strange as it might be to you, it’s normal for others. Love in all its forms is a beautiful thing, remember that.”

“It feels like it would be hard to make sure you aren’t showing favoritism to one versus another,” Ainsley said.

“Well, your dad and I have four children—we love you all with equal intensity and try not to show favoritism. I imagine it’s something similar.”

“Hmm. I don’t think I would want to be in a relationship with more than one person,” Ainsley admitted. “I want one person who is mine, and mine alone.”

“That’s perfectly reasonable,” Rose said. “You need to decide what works for you, just as Sianin will decide what works for her.”

Ainsley was quiet for several long seconds, but Rose could practically hear her daughter’s mind churning. While she let Ainsley think, she used the time to give kisses to the baby in her arms. The baby was finally getting drowsy; she had her cheek planted above Rose’s left breast, and her head rose and fell with her mother’s breaths. Any time Maddie’s eyes began to droop shut, she wrenched them open and gazed up at her mother.

Being the singular focus of her baby’s attention always made her heart squeeze with love and gratitude. She was the whole world to this tiny, perfect little human, and for a moment, as Rose got lost in her baby’s blue eyes, Maddie was her whole world, too.

“Do you think her eyes will stay blue?” Ainsley asked.

“I think so,” Rose said. “Usually if they change, they would’ve changed by now. All of my babies’ eyes started out blue. In Sianin’s case, they turned brown after a couple months. Yours stayed more or less the same color. And the twins’ appear to be brightening… they kind of look like Gran’s, don’t they?”

Ainsley peered down at Maddie. The baby shifted her sleepy eyes to her big sister, and offered a smile that widened into a yawn. Ainsley snorted and rubbed Maddie’s back. The baby grunted and wiggled around before face-planting into the crevice between Rose’s breasts.

“Silly girl,” Ainsley murmured. “Yeah, they do look like Gran’s. How does that work? I mean, I sort of know how it works. But her DNA is half you, half Dad, and yet she has Gran’s eyes. And apparently I look like Dad’s mum.”

“My DNA is half my mum and dad, and your dad’s DNA is half his mum and dad,” Rose said. “There are bits of all of our past family swirling inside of us, and it’s a lottery draw as to which traits get passed on to a baby.”

“That’s kind of neat,” Ainsley said. “It’s so fascinating that so many things have to happen perfectly to create a baby.” She paused, then continued in a rush, “We had the talk at school today. Y’know, how the girls and boys should be starting puberty soon, if they haven’t started already. One girl in my class had her first period months ago, which is mad. She’s nine! They also explained how in a couple years we’ll all be sexually mature and be able to make babies and so we all have to be very, very careful to prevent unwanted pregnancies as we’re exploring our bodies.

“They went over how a baby is made. Just the basics. Y’know, penis in vagina, sperm meets egg equals baby. I didn’t know that men released millions and millions of sperm when they had sex. That seems like overkill, doesn’t it?”

“What seems like overkill?”

Rose jumped at the sound of James’s voice right behind her. Her mind whirred, trying to wrap itself around the sudden turn their conversation had taken, as well as the fact that her baby was old enough to be learning the basics of human reproduction in school already.

“Did you know you made and released millions of sperm at a time when you have sex?” Ainsley asked, her eyes bright.

James was silent for a beat, cheeks pinkening and mouth going slack. He cleared his throat. “Er… yeah. Yeah, I did know that. But where did you learn that?”

“They gave us the talk in school.”

“Ah,” he said, wincing.

“Why do you make millions of sperm when only one will actually fertilize the egg?” Ainsley asked, cocking her head to the side. She then glanced down at Maddie, who was drooling into Rose’s shirt. “Er, or I guess two?”

“Actually, it was just one sperm,” Rose corrected.

Ainsley frowned. “But… there are two babies.”

“But they’re identical,” James said. “Genetically, they’re the same. Basically, one of my sperm met your mum’s egg, then that egg divided somewhat incorrectly to begin producing two separate babies with the same exact genetic code.”

“Oh. So your egg accidentally made a clone of itself?”

Rose snorted. “Something like that.”

Ainsley looked impressed. Then she said, “But still. Why make millions of sperm? That’s a bit wasteful, isn’t it?”

“It’s all about statistics,” James answered, scrubbing at the back of his neck. “Would you rather try to hit a target with one arrow or many? What if that one arrow is defective somehow? Or your aim is slightly off? By releasing tens of millions of sperm in one go, you increase the odds of fertilization; and the egg can be a bit choosier by only allowing the strongest of the bunch to fertilize it and begin making a baby.”

“Oh. That makes a lot of sense, actually,” Ainsley said. “What stops all of the sperm from penetrating the egg and creating a million babies?”

“Once a sperm meets the egg, it basically walls itself off from getting fertilized again,” James explained. “When sperm meets egg, a biological cascade effect begins. The woman’s egg recognizes it’s been fertilized, so it begins producing chemicals and hormones that tell the rest of the body to prepare for the oncoming baby. And it shuts down egg production so there’s no chance of multiple fertilized eggs trying to grow a baby after one is already growing. Imagine how cramped it would get in there. And imagine how hard it would be on the woman to have multiple babies all at different stages of development in her uterus. Evolution has figured out how to control everything so that doesn’t happen.”

“That’s so cool,” Ainsley said.

“It is a bit cool,” James said, smiling.

“It’s weird that women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have, but men keep making more and more sperm ‘til they die. That’s way more efficient. What if something happens to the woman and her egg supply is damaged? At least with men, they can regenerate their sperm.” Ainsley cocked her head at her father. “In theory, you could help make a baby when you’re a hundred, right?”

James choked. “I… well… yes, technically. But my baby-making partner would also be a hundred—well, ninety-five—and since she would no longer be fertile, I wouldn’t be helping to make any more babies. Besides, the… ehm… the quality of sperm deteriorates over time. It’s not usually a good idea to procreate after a certain age. And, ehm… the act of making a baby gets… ehm… more difficult in old age. So… ehm… I’m not sure we’d… that we’d… Although I would truly love to be with your mother in that way in our old age, statistically it’s not all that probable so I’m not really expecting to… not that I wouldn’t want to… but…”

Rose kneaded the heel of her hand into her eyes as James’s gob ran without stop and without filter. She eventually reached over and pinched him. He squeaked, but snapped his mouth shut. Ainsley, meanwhile, was in stitches on the sofa, cackling madly as both her parents’ cheeks blazed.

oOoOo

Two weeks and two days after learning she had subchorionic hemorrhage, Rose walked into her OB-GYN, this time with her husband at her side. Despite the fact that her bleeding and cramping had stopped nearly a week ago, she was a little nervous to see what Elizabeth would have to say.

James must have sensed her anxiety, because he threaded their fingers together and rubbed at the back of her thumb while they waited for Rose’s name to be called. He talked to her about nothing in particular, filling the silence between them. Rose let the soothing rhythm of his voice calm her until Elizabeth appeared in the waiting room and called name, gesturing for her to follow.

“How are you feeling?” the midwife asked as she took Rose’s height and weight. “You’ve lost some weight since I saw you two weeks ago. Nothing worrying, but something to keep an eye on. Especially since you ought to be putting on weight as your pregnancy progresses.”

“My appetite is still finicky,” Rose admitted. “Nausea is mostly gone though. I’m hoping that will help. But otherwise, I feel fine.”

“Any bleeding? Cramping? Dizziness?”

Rose shook her head and stepped off the scale, following Elizabeth down the corridor to an exam room. James followed silently and settled into the chair beside the exam table. An ultrasound machine already sat in the corner of the room, and, familiar with the routine, Rose reclined on the table and exposed her belly.

Déjà vu settled over her as she remembered the utter terror of two weeks ago, certain her midwife was about to confirm her worst fear. Her pulse thundered in her ears and she began to tremble as her mind warred with itself, half of it trying to calm her, and the other half spinning out of control. James scooted his chair closer to her and leaned his elbow onto the table above her head. His warmth and scent surrounded her.

“You’re okay, love,” he whispered, kissing her forehead softly. “You’re okay. I’m here.”

“What a cute little bump,” Elizabeth cooed, squirting cool gel onto said bump between Rose’s hips. “Let’s see the cute little baby inside it, eh?”

Rose reached over and grabbed James’s free hand, linking their fingers together and squeezing tightly. He bent down to kiss her forehead again, then he brought their joined hands to his mouth to kiss her knuckles one at a time.

“Here we are,” Elizabeth said, tapping a few buttons into her keyboard.

Rose looked at the monitor and her heart clenched at the sight of her baby. They seemed to be about the same size as before, but Elizabeth was pleased with the baby’s appearance.

“They’re rather active,” the midwife noted, readjusting the probe when the shifting baby went out of focus. “Are you able to feel them, Rose?”

“Not yet,” she croaked. She desperately wanted to, though. She wanted that little flutter of life between her hips. She wanted the undeniable proof that her baby was alive and healthy and growing, because what if the scan was somehow wrong? Rose squeezed her eyes shut and focused deep within herself, trying to sense any ripple of movement in her uterus.

Her eyes shot open when the midwife tapped a few buttons and the heartbeat echoed around the room. 

James let out a soft, “Oh,” his grip on her hand turning vice-like.

Rose glanced up at her husband, but his gaze was locked on the monitor, his eyes glassy with unshed tears. The sight of them made her own eyes prickle. She would never tire of seeing the awe on his face as he beheld their children. He treated each day with their kids as though it was the most precious gift he’d been given; this baby was no exception, and Rose could already see how in love her husband was with the tiny fetus inside her. She could plainly see him, seven months from now, weeping as he held their newborn for the first time, curling his body around theirs as though he could physically shield their baby from any harm the world might bring to them. She could see him sitting with the baby in the dead of night, half asleep himself, yet holding their small child to his chest as he rocked them.

God, she wanted that, was impatient for these visions to come true. Even though she regularly saw him holding and snuggling the children they already had, Rose was desperate to give him his fifth child and bring completion to their not-so-little-anymore family.

“Our baby looks healthy,” James said, his voice hoarse. Rose blinked away the visions in her mind’s eye and was brought back to the present, where her husband was no longer looking at the baby on the screen, but rather down at Rose. She flashed him a small smile that he returned before he focused on the midwife, his gaze intense. “But how is Rose? How is the hemorrhage? Is she healthy and safe?”

“Let’s take a look at that next.” Elizabeth zoomed out away from the baby, and instead shifted the focus of the ultrasound probe to the gray masses surrounding the baby. “Here we go.”

After taking a few seconds to orient James and Rose to what she was talking about, Elizabeth pointed to a black blob along the edge of the placenta. “Here’s the clot. And yes, it is just a clot now. It appears to no longer be actively bleeding, which is excellent news. The placenta is intact, which is also great news. Sometimes a concern is that the bleeding will cause the placenta to pull away from the uterine wall, but that is not the case here. I am very, very happy with what I’m seeing.”

Rose let out a deep breath. James, too, relaxed a fraction.

“Can I go back to business as usual?” Rose asked.

“Let’s not be hasty,” James answered instead.

“I wasn’t asking you,” Rose drawled, reaching up to pat his cheek.

Elizabeth pursed her lips around a grin. She wiped the expression off her face and said, “I see no reason why not. Obviously you are limited as any other pregnant woman is, and I would try to take it easy for the next couple weeks as the clot dissolves, but yes, you should be able to resume all activities as normal.”

Rose was fairly certain she’d read between the lines correctly, yet she asked, “Sex too?”

James let out a little squeak that had Rose rolling her eyes. Elizabeth’s entire profession revolved around people having had biologically-successful sex. They themselves were here because they’d had successful sex. Nutter.

“Yes, you may resume your sexual activities,” the midwife answered.

Rose nodded. She hadn’t been in the mood for sex lately, too concerned was she with the baby and will following the instructions to rest. She knew that James’s sex drive had mirrored her own in his double concern for her and the baby. While she still didn’t have the desire to drag James straight into bed when they got home, Rose was glad it was at least an option, if the mood struck. She’d find other ways to satisfy James if or when his sex drive returned while hers remained elusive.

“Is Rose okay to travel?” James asked. “We were planning to take the kids up to Scotland for half-term break next week. Probably travelling by train.”

“I’ve been cleared to shag your brains out, but no, the movement of a train will be far too vigorous for my delicate condition,” Rose muttered out of the corner of her mouth.

James flicked her nose but didn’t reply.

“Yes, she should be fine,” Elizabeth said, pretending not to have heard their exchange. “Just listen to your body, Rose. It will do a good job of telling you what it needs. Try not to overexert. Rest when you’re tired. Make sure you’re getting enough vitamins and nutrients. Things like that.”

“Thanks,” Rose said. “And while we’re talking about it, do you happen to have any connections with midwives in Scotland? Near Glasgow? James and I are going to be relocating our family. The move isn’t happening next week or anything; we’re getting the kids used to the area and the house we’ll be moving into.”

“And you say I’m chatty,” James teased.

Rose rolled her eyes.

“Funnily enough, I do,” Elizabeth said. “One of my very close friends. We went to school together. I can send you her contact information, as I don’t have it on hand right now. I can also reach out to her to see if she can see you next week, if you’d like? A consultation visit, mostly, assuming she is taking new patients and is near enough to where you’ll be living.”

“That’d be brilliant,” Rose said, accepting the moist towels the midwife handed to her and cleaning off her belly.

Elizabeth made a few notes on her computer, then printed out another scan of the baby for them, despite them having one from two weeks ago. She also scheduled Rose’s twenty-week appointment, which would be shortly after the holidays. Rose was already impatient for January sixth to be here; it would be the appointment when she and James would learn the sex of their baby, something Rose always loved learning. But this time was the added game of being able to tease James for his apparent inability to produce a Y-chromosomed sperm. As though that was something he could control. (A fact he liked to remind her of often.)

“As always, you can call us if there are any questions or concerns,” Elizabeth said as she walked them to the front lobby. “But I’m very pleased with everything I’ve seen today.”

After thanking her, James slipped his fingers between Rose’s and guided her out to their car.

oOoOo

The following week, James and Rose willed themselves to have endless reserves of patience as they readied their children for the trip to Scotland. It felt like they had to pack up their entire house to ensure they had enough supplies for all the kids, including toys and games in addition to the endless articles of clothing.

Robert, bless him, was accompanying them, to help with child care and to give his opinion on the work they might want done to the manor house. James had reached out to half a dozen different remodeling companies to have them come out and take a look at the work he and Rose wanted done; they were due to arrive at the end of the week, since James and Rose wanted the first few days to walk around the house and make lists of repairs and upgrades that could be done, both internally and externally to the grounds.

The train ride went as well as could be expected when travelling with four children. Ainsley was content to read for the entire journey, but Sianin loudly proclaimed she was bored barely an hour into the trip. The twins were awake and wanting to crawl around, but there was only so much space in the compartment car. James, Rose, and Robert took turns walking a fussing baby up and down the length of the train, introducing the infant to cooing passengers who fawned over how beautiful she was. The passengers were extra delighted to realize they were identical twins.

Finally, the train docked in Glasgow, where the Tyler-McCrimmons picked up a rental vehicle and made the half-hour drive out of the city proper to the manor house.

The excitement at the prospect of permanently living in the “castle” evaporated Ainsley and Sianin’s travel exhaustion. As soon as James unlocked the front door, they bolted inside and began chattering to each other about where their playroom should be and calling dibs on the bedrooms.

“I want this one,” Sianin announced, gesturing to the master suite.

“That one is off-limits,” James said lightly, tweaking the end of her braid. “Available to mummies and daddies only. Same with the guest suite on the other side. That’s for when Gran or Grandad stay to visit.”

Sianin deflated a bit, but perked back up when James reminded her that there were plenty of other bedrooms to choose from.

Rose, meanwhile, immediately began to visualize how she would decorate. The current color scheme of the manor was dark, but not gloomily so. Even still, Rose thought that brightening the wall colors from burgundy to a rich cream or ivory would help open up the space and blend the rooms together. It would also make the house feel cleaner, and with five children tearing it apart, Rose knew she and James could use all the help they could get in that department.

The floors were in excellent shape, having been replaced shortly after Ainsley was born. Robert had come to her and James when he was having the work performed so they could help pick out the color and style of the various hardwood, tile, and carpeted floors in all of the rooms. Belatedly, Rose realized that Robert had done so because he knew this home would belong to them in the near future.

From the foyer, which was lit from the warm glow of the chandelier hanging from the high ceiling, Rose stared straight ahead into the formal dining room that used to be a ballroom; the kitchen extended beyond that through a set of wide oak doors that were currently closed. She already knew that the kitchen was huge and open, thanks to James’s grandmother having remodeled it to use up more of the defunct ballroom space. The kitchen housed a long table that would easily fit their large family; therefore, the formal dining room wouldn’t be necessary until they hosted holidays or had friends over. Otherwise, that could easily be a place for the children to do their homework.

To her right was what used to be a receiving room, but had evolved over the last century to be the living room. It was already furnished with a couch, a love seat, and a few reclining chairs placed strategically around a television. A fireplace sat along the far wall, and Rose could already see herself sitting in the rocking reclining chair and nursing her new baby, or snuggling with one of her other four children or husband as the fire crackled merrily beside them. Goosebumps prickled along Rose’s skin at the thought of her and James making love by the fireplace, a vision straight out of a Victorian romance novel.

Blinking away that fantasy for the time being, Rose continued her mental mapping of the manor. Behind the living room was another room that had been a different receiving room—most likely, she presumed, a space for the gentlemen when the ladies had overtaken the first receiving room. Because God forbid men enjoy their wives’ presence.

James’s parents had converted that into a study area for James; Rose thought it would make a nice playroom for their family. It had plenty of room to store the kids’ endless number of toys, and it had a closet where they could keep their games. The flooring in there was currently hardwood; Rose made a mental note to chat with James about replacing it with something softer.

Extending beyond the living room was a narrow hallway that opened up to what had once been servants’ quarters. Rose knew that James’s grandmother had remodeled it and created a larger footprint, converting the area into a spacious a guest suite; it was where Robert always slept when he visited, unable to stomach being in the master bedroom ever since he’d lost his wife.

To the left of the foyer was a long, wide corridor with several rooms branching off of it. One of those rooms was a library that Rose already knew Ainsley would practically make her second bedroom. Rose planned to outfit the room with a variety of comfortable furniture and a desk. Directly beside the library and connected with a door was a formal study; she figured James would like to make that his space, filling it with textbooks and knickknacks and turning it into a place he could mark papers and exams on the weekends or weeknights.

Directly beside the study and again connected through a set of doors was a secondary study. This one was at the end of the manor, and therefore had windows on the two external walls. It was filled with plenty of natural lighting and Rose thought it would make a perfect place for her to set up her art studio.

On the opposite side of the corridor from the library and studies were a series of small rooms. There was a half bath that was mostly just a closet with a toilet and a sink, and two small rooms that Rose genuinely didn’t know the purpose of. They were far too big to be closets, but a tad too small to be bedrooms. Rose didn’t care what they used to be; instead, she planned to make the rooms a nursery: one for the twins, until they were big enough for proper beds, and the other for the new baby. It would be perfect, since the last room at the end of the corridor was the master suite. 

Rose already knew the suite was enormous, yet it took her breath away to behold it. The room would easily fit their king-sized bed and all of their bedroom furniture, and still have room for more. Perhaps they could put a cushy rocking chair in this room as well as the nurseries; there could never be enough cozy furniture to cuddle her children, Rose thought.

There was a giant walk-in closet connected to the bedroom, as well as a double-vanity ensuite. The bathroom, too, was huge, outfitted with a tub and a walk-in shower stall; both the tub and shower had plenty of room for her and James to share, which would be perfect for intimate date nights.

Moving from room to room, Rose catalogued how she would arrange furniture and paint colors that would look good in each room and blend the entire ground floor of the house together. She took note of the flooring, and which rooms should be outfitted with carpets rather than hardwood floors or tile, or vice versa. When she and James helped Robert pick out the floors, they’d only had Ainsley; at the time, she hadn’t been able to imagine having five children. Now, she couldn’t imagine anything differently.

“I can see that beautiful mind of yours at work already.” James came up behind her as she weighed whether the library ought to be carpeted or left as it was with hardwood floor. He wrapped his arms around her waist and casually splayed a palm on her lower belly, kissing the side of her neck and sending pleasant tingles across her skin. “What are you thinking?”

Rose leaned into him, tilting her head back to catch his gaze. His eyes were bright with joy and soft with love; she found herself falling in love with him all over again. She turned in his arms, draping her forearms over his shoulders.

“I’m thinking,” she murmured, pushing up onto her toes so that her mouth hovered mere inches from his, “that this already feels like home.”

And though she planted a kiss to his lips as she finished speaking, his answering smile was dazzling.

[hunter-the-sad-skeleton]

Two birds on a wire inspired oneshot?

(Trigger warning for: self harm mention, self destruction, suicide, ect! Ask to tag!) July 15th, 2010. Time: 2:07 PM. Hunter ran off, tearing up, from home. She heard of a movie studio about an hour or two from home, so she went there to, hopefully, get a job. When she arrived, she stood back, gazing up at it in awe. It was so much larger in person...! She soon shook herself from her stupor and took a deep breath, slowly walking in and up to the reception desk. There was an awkward silence. He hadn’t spotted her yet. Hunter waited a few minutes. Then it turned to ten minutes. Eventually, she gently tapped on the desk as if knocking, getting his attention. “Huh?! Someone there? Robin, I swear, if you’re pranking me again, The Conductor’s gonna hear about it!” The receptionist said. “Down here sir, I’m by no means a Robin, I’m a Hunter, sir...!” Hunter chirped. The Receptionist looked around before leaning over the desk, looking Hunter over. “Oh! Hey there little Chirper!” The receptionist smiled. “What can I do for ya?” He asked gently. 

“I was curious if any job slots were open, sir...!” Hunter answered.  The receptionist thought it over. 

“None that I ca-” the Receptionist started. 

“PECKNECK!!!!!” A voice cried out. The receptionist winced. “OF COURSE NOW IS THE TIME YE CHOOSE TO COME DOWN WITH THE BIRD FLU!!!” It sighed heavily. A door to the left of the desk slammed open, a golden yellow owl(?) storming out, running his hands through his feathers. “Receptionist, how do ye feel about being a detective?!”

“Why? What happened to the original?” The receptionist asked. 

“Went and got himself sick!!” He barked. The receptionist sighed. 

“Kid, this is the Conductor. He’s a director here.” The Receptionist said tiredly. Hunter smiled. 

“Pleasure to meet ya, Mister Conductor, sir!” Hunter beamed. The Conductor waved her off, pacing in the lobby, leaving skid marks every time he turned around again. 

“Well, I can’t be the detective, I’ve got work to get done. The kid here was looking for a job, so why not he-” the receptionist started. 

“WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT. GO BACK, HOW OLD IS SHE?” The Conductor asked. 

“Um...almost 12, sir.” Hunter answered, rocking on the balls of her feet back and forth. 

“ALMOS-WHERE ARE YER PARENTS?!?” The Conductor squawked. 

“.........they’re the reason I’m getting a job.” Hunter said coldly, falling still. 

“Eh?” The Conductor asked. 

“I basically carry the whole family. I know how to pay bills, balance checkbooks, pay rent, that kinda stuff.” Hunter chuffed. 

“When did ye learn this stuff?” The Conductor asked, anger growing in his tone. 

“Around....Six years old, sir.” Hunter said. 

“BUHDUHZUHBUH!!!! SIX?!?!?!?” The Conductor squawked. 

“Six.” Hunter confirmed. 

“Well-how good are ye at acting, lass...?” The Conductor asked gently. 

“Sorta good.” Hunter said. 

“Convincing?” The Conductor asked. 

“I played Juliette in Romeo and Juliette and everyone thought I was actually dead.” Hunter answered. 

“Oh.” 

“Yeah, oh.” Hunter said. 

“Well, ye wanna be a Detective in a myrder Mystery, lass?” The Conductor asked. 

“Sounds fun!” Hunter grinned. 

August 24 2010

“Hello, darlin! Welcome to our moon set! Today’s simple! Lead the parade around! Don’t forget to drop by the refreshments! Ya gotta stay hydrated!” Grooves beamed. “But wait! Your current outfit isn’t really parade material....go over to the changing room there” Grooves pointed  “and get changed, Okay darlin?” Grooves asked. Hunter nodded, hopping over.

When Hunter changed, she hopped out, twirling slightly. Grooves laughed at the silly little action, but figured she was having fun, so that was all that mattered.

Hunter ran around, occasionally jumping from wire to wire, even swinging on them. Hunter hopped to a rooftop, grabbing a small bottle of apple juice, gulping it down swiftly before running off again when the parade owls were ready. Hunter finished by hopping from one of the platforms and landing on the main building and taking a bow.

(Timeskip a few years.)

“-ow are we gonna tell her, Conductor, Darlin?” Grooves asked. 

“Honestly and to the point. This doesnae need to take long. It can be quick and painless.” The Conductor said. 

“I dunno, darlin-that seems kinda harsh...” Grooves grimaced. 

“Harsh or nae, we have to tell her.” the Conductor barked. 

Hunter skipped in and dread filled the lobby, express owls and moon penguins dispersing to their work stations. “Hey guys, what’s going on with everyone today? They’ve been almost ignoring me and I feel weird about it...did I do something?” Hunter asked. 

“No, darlin....! Not at all!” Grooves assured. 

“Lass, let’s talk. Let’s have a heart to heart.” The Conductor said, rushing to the point. “

“Oh! Okay!” Hunter said. 

“Darlin, we’ve appreciated what you’ve done for us lately, truly! We do!” Grooves started. 

“I’m glad!” Hunter beamed. 

“I...wasn’t done, darlin...” Grooves grimaced. 

“Oh...sorry sir!” Hunter apologized. Grooves grimaced, looking over at the Conductor. He was still frowning. Oh God. The plan was still go. 

“Darlin, I wanna preface this by sayin ya in NO WAY did ANYTHING wrong!” Grooves stated. “Ya know how plans....sometimes don’t...work out...?” Grooves asked. 

“Huh? What’s that have to do with anything?” Hunter asked, confused. 

“Darlin, look, I-” Grooves started. 

“Grooves, yer taking too long, lass we have to remove ye from the projects.” The Conductor snapped. Hunter’s heart stopped. She felt tears growing in the corner of her eyes and her chest tightened. Why...? What had she done wrong to warrant this action...?

“Wh...What...?” Hunter choked out. 

“Darlin, please understand that this is NOT an easy decision for us to make...!” Grooves pleaded. 

“Why?!” Hunter hiccuped. 

“Yer getting yer own section lass. Animation. We donnae need any idea theft.” The Conductor barked. 

“I’D NEVER DO THAT!!” Hunter hiccuped. Hunter rubbed her eyes with her hoodie sleeve, tears returning shortly after. “I don’t understand...!” Hunter hiccuped. 

“We know darlin, this is just a precaution...!” Grooves padded. 

“IF YA KNOW, WHY DO YOU NEED THE PRECAUTION IN THE FIRST PLACE?!” Hunter sobbed. 

“We bend rules for ye, the rules bend for others, lass.” The Conductor barked. 

Hunter fell silent. “Darlin, we wish we didn’t have to, but-” Grooves started. 

“I....have something to deal with.” Hunter said blankly. Hunter hurried off to the elevator, pushing the button for the basement.

“DARLIN WAIT!!!” Grooves yelped, hurrying after her. As Grooves reached the elevator, dread started bubbling in his stomach. 

“Grooves, What’s wrong?” The Conductor asked, hurrying over.

“Is anyone else downstairs...?” Grooves asked shakily, eyes still trained on the closed elevator doors. 

“Nae, everyone is upstairs, why?” Conductor asked. 

“Is there another way down...?” Grooves asked shakily.

“Nae, just the elevator. What’s going on?” The Conductor asked. 

“...dammit...” Grooves muttered. 

“What was that?” The Conductor asked. 

“I SAID DAMMIT, CONDUCTOR!!!! DAMMIT!!! DAMN YOU AND YOUR DUMB PECKING TEMPER!!!!” Grooves snapped, tears streaming down his face. 

“What...?” The Conductor breathed shakily. 

“IF YOU’D JUST PUT YOUR PECKING EGO ASIDE, WE WOULDN’T BE IN THIS MESS!! I COULD HAVE TOLD HER NICELY, CONDUCTOR!!!” Grooves snapped. The elevator doors opened and the two directors hurried in. 

“............Grooves...? I.....I’m sorry I talked to her like that....I shouldae been more patient....” The Conductor admitted. 

“Yeah. Ya shoulda been.” Grooves said coldly. The Conductor shuddered at the new nature from the moon penguin.

“......do ye think she’ll be okay...? Maybe after we’re done here, we can go hang out-swing by that diner she likes and grab a few root beer floats...” The Conductor suggested. Grooves sighed heavily, taking his glasses off, rubbing his eyes. 

“I don’t know....” Grooves droned. Grooves turned, look at The Conductor, worry evident in his eyes. “I’m scared for her....we were one of the only good people in her life....what if she-” Grooves started. 

“Nae.” The Conductor cut off. 

“What if she-” Grooves restarted. 

“NAE. SHE WON’T. She’s strong, Grooves. She just needs a hug.” The Conductor interrupted again, not wanting to imagine her committing the act Grooves was implying.

“What if it’s not just that, Conductor?!? What if it’s more serious?!?” Grooves hiccuped. 

“It’s nae-” the Conductor started. 

“YOU SAW HER ARMS, DARLIN. THOSE WEREN’T AN ACCIDENT!!” Grooves hiccuped. The Conductor fell silent. The rest of the elevator ride was in silence. When the doors opened, Grooves rushed to Hunter’s typical hideout spot, face draining of colour as he looked up at the loft.

“GROOVES, DID YE FIND HER?!?” Conductor called. Grooves tried to respond, but no sound came out. His little darlin was gone. Hanging from the loft like a coat in a closet. “GROOVES, DID YE HEAR ME?!” Conductor called. Grooves got up, walking over to a desk, gently unfolding a note and reading it. 

“In here....!” Grooves called, shaking violently. The Conductor hurried in, freezing in the doorframe up spotting Hunter.

“Grooves-” the Conductor started. 

“We’re too late, darlin...” Grooves croaked handing the note over. The Conductor gingerly took it from the moon penguin’s flippers, reading it.

“Dear Grooves and Conductor, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry. I guess I ain’t as strong as ya think, huh? I never told ya guys what was going on in my head since I-quite frankly-didn’t wanna freak you out. It scared me, the thoughts I could get. But! At least those thoughts won’t bother anyone else now, right? =) anyway, I guess that I should explain. I did this because it got to be too much. I couldn’t deal with the thoughts anymore. I couldn’t listen to my head anymore. I couldn’t deal with myself anymore. I couldn’t bear it anymore. So I chose to not bear anything ever again. Guess mom ‘n’ dad were right, huh? Conductor, I know you’re gonna find this note-you’re clever like that-but I have a special request for you. Hug your family. Tell them you love them. Tell them you love them, and hug them, and kiss them, and NEVER. LET. GO. it could be your last time seeing them. And Grooves, I know ya! I know it’s gonna be sad for ya that I’m gone, but please-I’m begging you-Don’t let your films lose their sparkle! Keep em special! They don’t need me to be successful! They never needed me to be successful! Ya just needed confidence! Don’t lose that confidence! Heck! Don’t see my death as sad! Use it to inspire you! To inspire OTHERS! You can even use it for a story for a movie if ya want! Use it for an inspirational story about being strong enough to know when to ask for help! Strong enough to admit that you NEED HELP. That you’re not okay. That you’re reaching your breaking point. That you’re hurting but don’t wanna tell anyone for fear of coming off as stupid or pathetic or useless! To show that it’s okay to not be okay! For the both of you; work together. Please. I’ll still be watching ya! So every time ya argue, I’ll shake my head disapprovingly! I’ll waggle my little ghost finger at ya! Don’t think I won’t! Anyway, my hookshot is callin for me, so I gotta go! Swing by ya later, my buddies! -Hunter Bridgette Burkes.”

The Conductor’s throat tightened. She was hurting-and for so long-how did he not see it? How did he not see the signs? If only he wasn’t blind to it-if he only told her she was doing such a good job! If only he wasn’t caught up in his ego! If only he wasn’t such a peckneck! If only...he’d just listened to Grooves and stood back. He folded the note back the way it was gently, putting it back on the desk. He stood back, looking at Hunter again. It was horrible. She shouldn’t have been there. She should have woken up-dropped down and chirped out ‘surprise!’ Ages ago! She should have heard Grooves’ distress and dropped down, hugging him tightly and apologizing instead of hanging there, lifeless as a  statue. He felt tears start to make their way down his face. This wasn’t fair-HE wasn’t fair. She shouldn’t be dead-NOT at such a young age. His shoulders shook as his vision started to blur. It wasn’t fair. He fell to his knees, head in his hands as the tears flowed. HE. wasn’t. Fair. 

(Timeskip to when The Conductor comes home.)

“I’m home...!” the Conductor called hoarsely. 

“Welcome home!” Mary called from the kitchen.

The Conductor plopped down on the couch after putting everything down. Mary poked her head out of the kitchen, worried at how quiet her husband was being.

“Did something happen at work today, sweetie?” Mary asked  

The Conductor shuddered. “What about Aunty Hunter?” Poppy asked. 

“Aunty Hunter?” Max asked. 

“Purple hoodie, crow?” Poppy asked. 

“Oh! Hunter! She was nice! I wonder if she’s gonna babysit us again soon!” Max beamed. The Conductor shook slightly. 

“Con?” Mary asked. The Conductor walked over to Mary, hugging her tightly. “Oh!” Mary exclaimed in surprise.

“I love you so much, Lass.....I hope ye know that...!” The Conductor sniffled. 

“Con, what happened...? You’re shaking like a leaf...!” Mary asked, concerned. 

“Kids, can ye please go upstairs...? Mama Mary and I have to talk about something ye don’t need to know yet...” The Conductor asked gently. Poppy nodded, taking everyone else upstairs.

“What’s going on? Is something wrong?” Max Asked as he was taken upstairs.

“What happened at work today, Con?” Mary asked. Tears filled The Conductor’s eyes. 

“She’s dead, Mary...” The Conductor hiccuped.

“What?” Mary asked, confused.

“Hunter’s dead...! Suicide...!” The Conductor hiccuped.

“Wh-What....?!” Mary gasped. 

“I shouldae seen the signs...! I didn’t know....!” The Conductor hiccuped. 

“Oh, Con...” Mary frowned. The Conductor hugged her tightly.

“I shouldae been more gentle....! How am I gonna tell the kids...?” The Conductor sniffled. 

“Truthfully...they deserve it.” Mary advised. 

“I donnae wanna break their wee little hearts...!” The Conductor sniffled.

“I know, but they’ll keep asking when she can next babysit if you don’t tell them...” Mary said. 

“Aye....” The Conductor said. “I....I think I’m gonna go tell them as gently as I can...” The Conductor took a deep breath, walking upstairs to the kids’ room.

The Conductor knocked, opening the door gently. “Hello, kiddos, I have an important announcement to make, so....gather ‘round...” The Conductor said. The kids hopped over. 

“What’s wrong, papa?” Ray asked. 

“Did something happen at work today?” Max asked. 

“Aye, lad...it was nae something good....” The Conductor shuddered. 

“Is Aunty Hunter okay, papa?” Ray asked. 

“About Aunty Hunter.....” The Conductor sighed. He took a deep breath.

“Is she okay? Is she hurt?” Poppy asked, concerned.

“Aye, badly...” The Conductor asked. 

“Like you when yer train blew up at work that one time?” Max asked.

“Nae, worse...” The Conductor shook his head.

“But ye almost died...!” Max said. 

“Aye.....” The Conductor nodded.

“What happened...?” Poppy asked.

“....today, at 2:57 AM, Hunter took her own life....” The Conductor shuddered.

“Oh no...!” Poppy gasped.

“Whe-When’ll she be back...?” Max asked.

“Lad, ye can’t-there’s nae coming back from death....she’s gone fer good...” The Conductor said sadly. The Conductor laughed sadly. “In part, it was me fault....I was the one who snapped at her...”

“Papa, it’s not your fault...!” Poppy assured.

“Poppy’s right...!” Max nodded. 

“Hunter may not be alive anymore, but she’s still alive in our hearts...!” Poppy said. “And family never leaves your heart-no matter what!” Poppy added.

“I love ye all.....” the Conductor sniffled.

“We know, papa....we love you too...no matter what...” Poppy said, hugging The Conductor with everyone else.