'But I know someday that it'll all turn out

And you'll make me work, so we can work to work it out

And I promise you, kid, that I'll give so much more than I get

I just haven't met you yet'

We already had enough problems to consider because, of course, they had their say in all of this, even if I knew my decision wouldn't change.

So following the fast thuds of my heart, I announced, "We need to talk."

With these four words, the atmosphere switched completely. It hadn't been light to start with, but here, they were weighing on each of our movements from the drop of Spencer's Adam apple to Blade's tightening jaw and to my steps as I advanced towards the round table in the center.

Only then, did I notice they had taken the white sheets off, and I could recognize the white cupboards and dark blue countertops in the long seconds of silence.

Not a 'how are you feeling' or other trite question was spoken as Blade rushed to put away his cigarette, and Spencer did the same with the pancakes, and when they joined me around the table, it was clear what we were here to talk about...

"You sure you don't have fever or any pain?" Blade asked as soon as he was seated, not leaving me time to take a breath – at least, we would say it was the reason my voice was so unsteady.

"No, I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant, sorry."

"I'd rather that than appendicitis..."

Did he really? I lifted my head from my fiddling fingers to search for the sarcasm in his features, or maybe the same shocked stare as when we'd found Meteorite. 'I don't know how to take care of another life.'

But those words were so far from the faint breath of relief he let out and his haunted yet transparent gaze, and I wasn't sure if it calmed my heart or accelerated it.

"And... do you know from whom?"

My head snapped to the other side to catch Spencer's biting his lip, my heart becoming even more unstable. Spencer had always wanted a family and children, but after a beautiful wedding, not in those conditions.

"No, sorry..." I winced again. "I didn't even know I was pregnant until 10 minutes ago, and with four days apart, I don't think we can know. We'll have to wait and see when she or he's born."

My eyes widened, dropping down to my fingers over my belly as I realized what I'd let out. Well, it was in a rushed mutter under my breath, but still, it was out, and now, I just had to inhale deeply.

"Because I'm keeping that baby. I don't know how exactly yet."

I'd warned her or him about that. 'I'm sorry... you won't have an ideal mom. I'm a mess... I don't even know who your dad is.'

"But I'll try to keep her or him once they're born, and anyway, I'll do anything to protect her or him." That was what I'd promised in the silence of the bathroom.

'No one's gonna love you as much as I do.' I hadn't met this little being yet, but she or he was already taking a place in my heart, so much that it had stopped at the thought of losing them. It was surely beyond comprehension, but love was always, and it was for the same reason that my heart was hammering so strongly against my ribcage as my gaze moved from my belly to the Formica table, not moving farther than the metal edge.

"I'm not forcing you into anything, and I'll leave you time to make your own decision. I'll still love you as much no matter what." I finally breathed out, though the sigh felt nothing like relief as I risked my eyes higher.

I caught Blade's inked fingers fiddling with his cigarette pack – as he probably needed the nicotine to 'calm' himself – and one of Spencer's hands clenched tightly – the other surely running through his curls. Higher, there were the tensions in Blade's shoulders that his white tee-shirt couldn't hide, and Spencer's parted lips, from where no breath seemed to come out with the shock, and finally, the most important: their eyes... troubled crystalline and wide chocolate. What did it mean?

My head was spinning between the two, and I needed them to talk before I exploded. Yet I was paralyzed when Spencer's lips finally moved.

"My decision is already made. I'm with you, always. Did you really think I would let you down now?" He almost gasped, his hand falling from his hair, and his shocked eyes looking at me as if I'd grown a second head by thinking that, and not because of the little being growing in my belly. "Dorothy and Spencer forever, remember? It's not exactly how I imagined becoming a dad, but I won't let you down, nor this baby. Whether it's mine or not, I'll be there–"

"Whoa! Slow down, Romeo," Blade cut him off, the sarcasm in his voice as sharp as the tension in his muscles as he raised his chin. "That kid is 50% mine as far as we know, and I'm not stepping down. I'm with Dorothy whatever happens too."

"Then, I guess we'll share the paternity until we know," Spencer concluded, and as they stared at each other, it looked a lot like an agreement.

"Wait, are you sure?" It was my turn to be left stunned, or maybe tensed, as I glanced between their squinting eyes, trying to hold back my heart. "A baby is a lot of responsibility, and I don't want you to feel forced. I've already put you through a lot, and I understand if it's too much. You never agreed to all of this."

"DD, it takes two to make a baby, well, here, we're three... but it's the same."

I wasn't sure our maths teacher would agree, nor the biology one, but Spencer's specialty was the words, and with them, he managed to stretch a small smile on my dry lips.

"You're not alone in this. Like for Douglas's murder, you need to stop putting all the blame on your shoulders because first, these aren't bad things, and second, we have as much responsibility in them. You're not forcing anyone."

"Yeah, we followed you when all the pigs were on your tail, so you think a little kid will scare us?" Blade added with a smirk, his full dangerous aura that nothing could affect coming back – well, almost nothing.

"I thought a baby would scare you more than the police?"

Even if I knew he could kill someone, fight ten big guys, and even run away from the cops without blinking, I could also picture easily that gangster facade crumbling down faster than the blink of an eye if I put a crying baby in his arms at this instant, and he could too as his smirk wavered.

"True. But you know I'm crazy." He shrugged, his eyes transparent enough for me to glimpse the lingering fear but also the sparkle lighting up, and it pulled me a soft laugh.

It was a laughter for the lightness coming back, the craziness, but mostly, it was a laugh out of relief as I took in everything, my heart leaping faster and faster.

I had the two men I loved with me on this new journey – not that I'd expected any less from them, yet I'd also prepared for the worst, imagining myself alone to fend for this baby – and with them, I felt like I could face anything, even if it was still terrifying...

"I'm crazy too..." I admitted under my breath, my hands lightly sliding over my flat stomach.

"You're gonna be an awesome mom," Blade replied, as if reading my thoughts and all the questions there.

"No." This wasn't my word, although a small voice in the back of my head was screaming the same; it was Spencer's smooth one, and it made me jerk my head toward his smile. "She's gonna be the best," he said in the same tone as all his promises, and they both sounded so assured that even if I doubted it was in their powers to see the future, their words appeared like a glimmer of light in the blur of what-ifs and questions marks.

I wanted to be that, for them and for this little being.

"I'm not sure... but I have nine months to figure everything out."

Now, I had no choice, and if this baby was putting more responsibilities on my shoulders, she or he was also giving me more reasons to fight for my freedom.

***

"We need ginger."

It almost echoed like a code as Spencer uttered it with the gravity of a secret agent demanding ammunition in answer to Blade's 'how's it going?', and the latter understood instantly. Well, maybe the sour smell spreading in the small bathroom and my kneeling position in front of the toilet were giving a hint as he moved from the door frame to join us.

They'd been taking turns since last night, as I'd insisted they needed to rest a little, and they would have had no sleep if they'd watched over me every time I was sick because, yes, the nausea was still there.

I'd thought it would have passed now that I knew I was pregnant, but apparently, my body had more to tell me, like the fact that this baby didn't like sweets. I'd been fine yesterday, after our big discovery. I'd even eaten a normal meal. Yet I'd made the mistake of snacking a cookie from the open packet a few hours later, and now, we were still here, although the cookie was long gone.

"We'll stop for some grocery on our way out of here then." Blade kneeled behind me, his hand sliding all over my back until my neck while his fingertips traced mindless shapes like it could calm down the twists of my insides; it did in my stomach, but not in my chest, and I sat up abruptly.

"What? We're leaving already?" I cleared my throat at the cracking sound of my voice to continue more steadily. "I thought we could stay here a little while we figure things out."

I wasn't ready to go back to the real world yet, and I needed this enchanting getaway a little bit more. I hadn't got to savor anything, since I'd spent most of my time here.

I could say that there were exactly 224 and a half white tiles and 196 small black diamond-shaped ones on the bathroom floor, but I'd barely seen past the hallway, and my heart was breaking at the thought of leaving without a proper goodbye again.

"I agree." Spencer nodded, making my heart skips a beat of hope.

One was convinced, now the other... As I turned to Blade, I knew it wouldn't be as simple, and it wouldn't be Spencer's arguments that would help.

"We're away from people, most dangers, and stress, so I think it's the best and safest for the baby."

'For the baby', I couldn't count how many times Spencer had repeated those words, and it was adorable how it had barely been 12 hours, but he was already adjusting each of his actions in accordance with this little fetus's well-being.

Meanwhile Blade... He hadn't talked about this subject again since our conversation in the kitchen. He was even unusually quiet, and more times than Spencer had pronounced the word 'baby', I'd caught Blade staring at my stomach like he always did with my freckles, like his blue intensity was trying to pierce some mystery of the universe. I didn't know what to make out of it and the tingles it created in my insides.

"No." He snapped out of his stare to deadpan at Spencer before coming back to me softer, though the crease between his eyebrows stayed as embedded. "That place belongs to your family, so it's obvious the fuzz will look here at some point. It's already a miracle Kenneth hasn't turned up. We can't risk it."

"Oh, that?" That was the fear I glimpsed in his shadowed gaze? "There's no risk. Officially, no one knows it's in my family. My grandpa bought the house under a fake name from a time he was on an undercover investigation, and it's never been changed." I smiled as Blade's eyebrows finally relaxed to shoot up his forehead, and his penetrating eyes were now on my freckles.

"What? Did you think you were the only one using fake names?"

Grandpa had been far from 'ordinary', and Blade's chuckle as he shook his head was saying it all.

"So he had an evil genius brain too and good taste in revolvers?"

"You've found his gun?" My ears perked at the word.

We'd been searching for the gun for a few hours – well, initially, it had been me until I'd been interrupted by the turns of my stomach – and I was glad some of Grandpa's favorite things remained in the half-emptied house. It felt like he was still a little here with us.

"Yeah, a Smith & Wesson 17, light, but precise if you know how to aim," Blade hummed in approval. "He had good tastes. I'd have loved to meet him!"

"I think you would have loved him." I smiled, trying to picture the impossible scene, what they would have said...

They probably would have talked about guns, but I wasn't sure what else they could have had in common, and what Grandpa would have thought of Blade.

I knew he loved Spencer. He'd always said he was 'smart' and that he would go far because 'he'd understood the most powerful weapon was a pen'. But what would he have thought of Blade and his knife?

Grandpa wasn't one to judge on appearances, and he loved to pierce mysteries, so I liked to think he would have loved Blade too. At least, that was what my heart was telling me with strong and steady thumps.

"And your parents?"

"My parents?!" My heart tumbled down.

"Yeah, they must know about this place, and they'll probably snitch it to the fuzz."

"Oh um... no, I don't think so. My mom has tried hard enough to bury this place in her memories. She doesn't want to have anything to do with illegal stuff and risk her reputation, so they won't tell the cops."

It was by the way the reason why this property had been kept, and I was supposed to inherit it in 1965 under the name May Emerald, according to Grandpa's wishes.

"Besides, my parents are probably convinced that you've taken me to some dark place, putting all the blame on you." I winced at the sound of it, but it was the most likely possibility.

They didn't like Blade; that, my thundering heart was sure of it, though Blade didn't look offended, pulling his lips together in thought before letting them stretch into a devious smile.

"Okay, then we can stay here."

"Really?! That's awesome!" The little Dorothy jumped inside, and maybe the big me too as I threw my arms around both men, which resulted in an awkward hug. First because we were still seated on the floor. Secondly, because both Spencer and Blade melted against me but tensed away from each other, and also maybe because the circumstances weren't really 'awesome'. So I quickly landed back into reality, pulling away.

"I mean, it's the best while we figure... everything out."

"And for this, and for you to enjoy a little the refuge, we still need ginger." Spencer offered me a smile, and it was of no use for me to hold back mine, as he knew me too well.

"Okay, I'll go. Is it in the tea or drug section?" Blade asked, already standing up, and making my head spin as I looked up at him.

"Um, no, my mom always says only the fresh one works. She cuts thin slices."

"Fresh?!"

For a second, I wondered if I had spoken a foreign language in front of Blade's wide eyes, at least until Spencer replied,

"Yes, fresh, at the produce section. It's a sort of knobby roots."

"Roots?!"

I couldn't help the giggle escaping my lips as Blade's eyes doubled size, and Spencer held his head in disbelief.

"God... he doesn't know what ginger is..."

They could be funny when they weren't fighting.

"Forget it. I'll go!" Spencer got to his feet too, leaving me comfortably on the floor to watch the unique spectacle.

They'd both borrowed some of Grandpa's clothes from one of the many boxes in the house, as they had left with no spare outfits. It was better than nothing for the moment, except that Grandpa hadn't had their build, so it ended in a quite funny result. But they pulled them off perfectly, the striped tee-shirts tight around all those muscles, and their more or less defined two-days stubble underlining even more their manly features.

"No way, I don't want you to bring us back the pigs here."

"I thought we'd made it clear we're all in the same team. Besides, I already handled the grocery the other day."

"It was two days ago. The pigs got time to spread the news. We don't know what shit will be waiting for us out there, and I don't think you know how to shake them off?"

"But you don't know how to find ginger."

What had I said? I wasn't laughing anymore, and even if they were still handsome, it was a different kind of heat spreading in me as their tones started to rise, and I had to intervene.

"You can go together!"

This time, both snapped their heads to stare at me as if I'd spoken in another language, and they were agreeing to say that 'it wasn't safe to leave me alone'.

"Come on, we've just said it was safe!" I argued, standing from my kneeling position to look into their wide, worried eyes. "And I can keep the gun with me if that reassures you. I think we all know I'm more than able to defend myself. We wouldn't be here, otherwise."

"We don't even know if it's still working. It's been years, and the metal can deteriorate with humidity and–"

"Let's test it then!" I cut Spencer off with a determined smile, not leaving Blade a second to add another protest.

They didn't want to go together, and I understood, but it was more than this. For the past days, they'd kept looking at me with those eyes full of pity and worry, and those constant creases on their forehead were getting too much.

It seemed they had forgotten who I was, so I had to remind them, and maybe myself, as I walked out of the room with only this in mind.

That was why I stopped by the first window in the hallway, my favorite, at the base of the turret that gave a perfect view of the front yard and anyone that would have walked in. That was why I opened it and narrowed my eyes to take in the dirt road, the mossy driveway, the old gate, and even a tiny glimpse of red from the Cadillac that Blade had parked in the shadows on the side. That was why I announced confidently,

"Second picket of the gate." And I held out my hand for Blade to give me the gun as he observed me attentively.

"You sure?"

Yes, I was sure I wasn't a damsel in distress, yet I'd been so focused on proving it that I'd forgotten since when their worried frowns had settled in, since when I hadn't touched a gun, at least, until Blade put the gun in my hand.

As he wrapped my fingers around the handle, I was reminded of the last time I'd holden a gun and he'd extracted it out of my paralyzed hand. When I'd killed Douglas... The cold metal against my skin was bringing a shiver too close to powerlessness in my guts.

What if I was always left paralyzed with the images of that night every time I touched a gun? What if like people said about dogs that had killed, I craved blood and killed more people? I didn't want to be a damsel in distress, but I didn't want to be a monstrous murderer either. What if I was cornered between only these two options? What if–

I was already moving my fingers to give the gun back to Blade when I caught sight of the engraving on the handle, 'A.Q', and with it, another flashback appeared in my mind: my little hand around the same handle, Grandpa's quiet and patient voice explaining everything, and the dizzying circles of the target.

I had so many memories in this backyard, just outside, and there were also the ones from my birthday, the overwhelming emotions I'd tried to shoot out, Blade's piercing eyes appearing out of nowhere, and his hand held out for me, our bet, his taunting smirk...

It didn't erase the images of Douglas falling dead on the ground, but they were outnumbered by the adrenaline surging in my veins, the trail of sparks on my skin, and that competitive spirit that all together led my muscles to move in the familiar position, a steady breath falling out of my lips, and my fingers pulling the trigger.

Easily, instinctively, I shot, and this time, the bang wasn't deadly, on the contrary, setting the fierce beats of my heart and a powerful rush of pride in my veins as I took in the bullet marks several meters away, on the second picket.

Killing Douglas hadn't put me off guns. After all, what I liked wasn't the blood; I wasn't a murderer. No, I just liked to aim, for a picket, colorful balls on a green table, goal posts, or stars, and nothing would alter some of the best memories that I'd had with guns. Actually, like Blade could use his knife to kill and also to carve delicate pieces of wood, I believed I could still have beautiful moments with a gun in my hand, and as I put my other hand over my stomach, turning to Spencer and Blade, I created a new memory to look up to.

"Fuck, that was so hot," Blade whispered, his hoarse, almost drunk voice fueling the adrenaline, along with Spencer's knowing smile.

"A real pirate princess."

"A Shooting star!"

Finally, they both remembered who I was, and my heart echoed louder than gunshots as I met the pure adoration in Spencer'd eyes and the twinkling bad intention in Blade's. Though it didn't stop their worry.

"Don't hesitate to shoot if there's anyone coming close.

"Stay on your guard."

"But you can rest a little too."

"And drink water."

They recited their advice until they were standing by the front door, and still, I had to stop them.

"Okay, I got it. But you too, be careful."

It was them who were going out and taking all the risks for me, even if it appeared so casual as Blade offered me one of his devious grins.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

"And I've made a list, so we won't be too long." Spencer waved his folded piece of paper, which made Blade roll his eyes, and I smiled at their improbable duo. 

No one would bet on this team – not even themselves, as they clearly didn't want to go together –but I believed in them. Blade was the expert in crimes, fast actions, and well... evil genius, while Spencer was the quiet, gentle, and cautious strength, and he knew what ginger was. Their powers and weaknesses were completing each other, and together, they could be unstoppable.

I had not an ounce of doubt they would succeed in the 'mission', and even if my lips were itching to show them my belief with passionate cheering kisses, I settled for putting my hands over my lips and blowing each one a kiss.

"I'll wait for you patiently here!" That was the only thing I could do as I was left alone in the cabin, well, not really alone...

"It's only you and me now." I looked down at my stomach, some sense of comfort warming me from the inside as I imagined this little life.

"We'll be fine... it's just for a few hours, and it gives us a break! They can be tiring when they're bickering or worrying, but I promise they're not like this normally.

"You know, it's a lot for them, and they're still so kind and patient, and understanding... and they're still cute when they're like this, and handsome, and– Okay, I think I already miss them."

The roar of the Cadillac had barely faded away, and my thoughts were already trying to follow them.

It would be a long day if I started like that, and I wished I'd gone with them, although this was an impossible wish because they would have never let me go, knowing it was mostly me that the police were after, and I would have only made them lose time if another episode of sickness happened.

Finally, after trying so hard to prove I wasn't a damsel in distress, I was standing there like one: uselessly twisting my fingers and my brain as I waited for the return of my heroes. I even had the enchanting quietness of birds chirping, leaves' whispers, and morning dew, though this place was far from a castle. It was a hidden refuge for outlaws, or what remained of it under the white sheets and cardboard boxes.

The family room was barely recognizable, except for the striped beige wallpaper and the armchair, which had been uncovered by my prince charming like a brown and plush invitation to rest.

But someone wise once told me it was the people who made a home, and even if it surely wasn't in this sense, as I stepped around the emptied room, it gave me an idea to transform this place and do something useful.

What will she do while alone? 👀 No, the real question is what will Blade and Spencer do together? It will be in the next chapter (I know we need some fun after all of the serious stuff 😉)

In the meantime, tell me all your thoughts about this chapter? Did you expect she would decide to keep the baby? And are Spencer and Blade right that she'll be the best mom? 🥰 She'll definitely be unique! 🌠

And them, will they be good daddies? 😉

I hope you liked this chapter, and if so, don't forget to vote ⭐ and comment!

Your support means the world to me, and I love to see all your little notifications! 🤩🥰🌠😘