Christmas dinner was delicious, and we'd all decided to wait to open presents until after dinner, which Ezra didn't mind one bit, as there were still a bunch for him to open. I smiled and watched from the couch, my gifts hoarded around me, a fair few from Penny's maternity line, some things especially picked out by Rose, which truly touched me. There was a final box, however, that Pops found, hidden behind the tree, all forgotten. He said it was for me, and I leaned forward then and took it from him.

"Weird," I said then, shaking my head.

"What is it, kiddo?" Pops asked.

"It says it's from 'Cherry'," I said, and I couldn't for the life of me figure it out. "I think that's an associate of Penny's. She's been nice to me before, but I've been calling her Cherie. Must be the pregnancy brain," I joked then, and Pops and Uncle Ian laughed.

"Open it!" Franny cried, holding onto Ezra in her lap, who was half-asleep. Jay had his arm around her then, and I was a little perplexed by his meaning of his statement earlier, but had decided not to dwell on it. "Do it, or I'll just open it for you," Franny warned.

"All right, all right, Miss Bossy," I said, sticking my tongue out at her before I unwrapped the box, the velvet soft on my fingertips. I slowly opened the box then, my eyes widening at what lay inside of it. Inside the velvet box was a platinum necklace on a matching chain, with a heart pendant—which I quickly realized was a locket—which was studded with diamonds. I turned over the pendant then, and it red A Nell's Rags Original, so I knew then that it was from Penny's company, and I vaguely remembered looking at a concept for it a few weeks back, but never expected to be gifted one myself.

"What is it?" Uncle Ian asked.

"A locket," I replied, reaching out and taking it from the box, and clipping it around my neck without hesitation. "How's it look?"

"You look beautiful, kiddo," Pops assured me.

. . .

"I know this is going to sound crazy, but I want you to hear me out before you totally refuse, okay, Iana?"

I was sitting with Axel in his apartment, on the couch, watching a movie. The commercials had been boring, so he'd muted the T.V., before he'd started speaking. I quickly maneuvered myself so that I was facing him, not wanting to miss a moment of what could be lurking just beneath the surface of his words. "Okay," I said. "Talk. I can do crazy."

He sighed. "Look, we've been doing this for almost two months... Sneaking around, I guess you could call it," he said.

I laughed. "Almost two months?! It has been two months," I said. "I came to the prison two weeks before Halloween. A week later, that's when this started. We started this on the twenty-fourth of October, and it's the day before Christmas Eve tomorrow. So... Okay, yeah. Two months if you round up," I said, grinning at him.

"My family's having a Christmas party tomorrow and I want you to come with me."

I felt my jaw drop then as he said this. "Wait. Come with you?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I want you there with me."

"Axel, you know I can't," I whispered.

"Why? Do you have a family thing?"

"No," I said, shaking my head. "Not because of that."

"Then, why can't you come with me?"

"Several reasons," I replied, counting on my fingers. "One, I'm fourteen. Two, what am I even to you? Three, I'm Cara's client. Four, you could get fired. Five, you could go to jail. And six, Cara's already asked me."

Axel grinned. "So, you'd be there?"

I smiled back at him. "Yeah, I'll be there. Lawrence says he's cool with me joining, and Cara says that Laurie can't wait to meet me."

"Well, Humphrey and Mom's house is pretty big..."

"Yeah?" I asked. "How big we talking here?"

"A fucking mansion on Dearborn built in the 1880's," he replied. "Been in the family for a few generations or something. Humphrey inherited the beast as a wedding gift."

"You ever spend any time there?"

"My old childhood room is still intact for Laurie," he said with a shrug. "Mom pretty much let Humphrey have his way on everything."

"Yeah?" I asked. "Like what?"

"Like sending me away to make something of myself when they got married," Axel replied, and quickly unmuted the T.V. as the show came back on, obviously not wanting to delve further into the discussion.

. . .

I managed to get myself into a deep green velvet maternity dress that Rose had given me for Christmas, which was surprisingly very flattering, given that its sleeves showed off my neck and shoulders. I was dressing for the New Year's Eve party that Penny had invited me to, and knew that I had to be on my best behavior. She had been quick to inform me that Liam would be there, but Rose would be there as well, and so I felt better knowing that I had two strong women on my side that night. I clipped my new locket into place and pulled on my winter coat before I stepped downstairs, giving an obligatory smile to Pops and Uncle Ian before I left the house.

The drive across town would've been quicker, had there not been an abundance of snow on the ground, but somehow I made it work and arrived at the party fashionably late. I parked in my usual spot and headed inside, my faux fur coat keeping my warm as I made my way towards the elevator inside. Once I stepped in, I clicked the right button and didn't dwell much on the ride upwards and, once it reached its peak, I stepped out and made my way towards Penny's suite. I knocked on the door, waiting anxiously for a response, and smiled broadly when Rose herself answered the door.

"Ah, Iana, darling!" she gushed, stepping forward and embracing me, air-kissing me on each cheek before bringing me inside. "Pierre, this is Iana Milkovich. Please take her coat," she said to the gentleman standing there.

"Very good, ma'am," he said to Rose, and took my coat and small clutch bag, which Rose assured me would be kept safe.

"Don't you look gorgeous!" Rose gushed, her tone absolutely sincere. "I absolutely knew that color would look fabulous on you!"

I smiled. "I'm very grateful for it, Rose. I love it."

"I'm glad. And that necklace—it's beautiful!"

"Thank you. It's one of Penny's."

"Of course—I'd recognize the design anywhere. She prefers curved lines to straight ones. And the diamonds—a true Kennedy touch. Was it from her?"

I shook my head. "No. The handwriting was a bit muddled, so say the least. It looked like it read 'Cherry'..."

"Cherie, Penny's personal secretary," Rose said, patting my arm. "Such a sweet girl. I went to school with her mother. She's just a few years older than you, dear. Now that she knows you're practically one of the family, she must have gifted it to you. Penny or I may have mentioned you admiring the prototype, but Penny insisted that upon a few perfections, that we should only make one, which you now have."

"This is one-of-a-kind?" I whispered.

"Of course, darling," Rose replied. "Penny wouldn't have it any other way."

"And how is Penny this evening?"

"Penny's in an absolute tizzy, I'm afraid," Rose said softly.

"Why? Is she all right?" I asked.

Rose smiled. "She will be," she assured me. "Desmond Cole is here tonight, and my little girl could really use her best friend right about now."

"Best friend?" I asked stupidly.

"You, of course, darling," Rose said, squeezing my arm as we walked. "Although I quite think of you as the second daughter I never had. But Penny has spoken so highly of you that I absolutely think you're the sister she's always needed." Rose brought me over to where Penny was standing by one of the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, her black cocktail dress not an inch out of place, of course. "Darling!" Rose trilled. "Look who I found!"

Penny turned then, her blonde hair a perfect curled halo as she spotted me on her mother's arm, relief flooding her face. "Oh, finally you're here!" she whispered.

"I'll leave you girls to it," Rose said, squeezing my arm again and Penny's shoulder before flitting like a ballerina through the crowd.

"She took lessons as a child," Penny said, and my eyes snapped back to hers. "Ballet. Jazz tap. I guess you could say she's a natural."

"Clearly," I replied. "I can't move like that in heels, even when I'm not pregnant."

Penny laughed then, but her clear nervousness from before was clearly not alleviated, so I stepped closer, and Penny immediately made a grab for my arm. "I take it that my mother spoke to you upon your arrival..."

I blinked, surprised at the formal back to her words. "Well, given that she seems to like me as a person, I think that, generally, anyone would greet a guest of their child's. Besides, it's the holiday season, after all..."

Penny pulled her lower lip into her mouth then, looking uneasy. "Did she happen to mention Desmond Cole to you?" she asked.

"She did," I replied. "Which one is he?"

"Over there," she said, nodding over her shoulder to a six-foot-two god; he was blond-haired, blue-eyed, dapper in a suit, and was speaking to Liam, a glass of champagne in his hand. "He's sixteen, just turned, and Liam's taken him under his wing. His father, Robert Cole, was best friends with Dad, so he and I have known each other for years."

"Who's that next to him?" I asked, nodding to the girl next to him, who had the same blue eyes, but silky-looking, chestnut-brown hair, and was nodding along with the conversation, her blue cocktail dress matching her eyes perfectly.

"That's Lacey Cole, Desmond's twin sister," Penny said softly, almost as if she was a priest giving a holiday blessing.

"The Cole Twins," I mused, putting on a dramatic voice. "Coming soon to Netflix, about a pair of rich twins who solve mysteries. A modern take on Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys."

"Mom's got it wrong, you know..."

I blinked, turning back to look at Penny, who looked a combination of ashamed and nervous as she looked back out the window. "What is she wrong about?" I asked.

"Me...liking Desmond," she said, her hands wringing themselves on her black skirt. "I get all happy whenever they're around and she automatically assumed it was because Desmond was there but it's not..."

"It's because of Lacey," I said, figuring it out.

Penny turned to look at me then, fear in her eyes. "Only Liam's figured it out, and now you," she said softly, her voice nervous.

I nodded. "When did you know?"

"Right before Dad died. I was nine," she said softly. "And then when I was twelve, Lacey had a boyfriend and Liam thought I was jealous because he was so cute, as he put it. But I wasn't...I was jealous, I mean, but I wanted Lacey, not the boyfriend..."

"She still have that boyfriend? Or any boyfriend?"

"No," Penny replied. "She's single."

"You guys close?" I ask her, deliberately keeping my voice quiet.

She nodded. "Yeah. Other than you, she's probably my closest friend."

"Does she know?"

Penny scoffed. "Jeez, if she did know, she probably would've ended our friendship a long time ago," she said, blinking back tears. "For Christ's sake. Here my mom is, practically planning my wedding, and it's to the wrong Cole twin! She thinks I'm in love with Desmond..."

"But you're in love with Lacey," I said softly.

"You're what?"

Penny lets out a gasp then and we turn around, and I know that we could do one of several things here, as Lacey now stood opposite the pair of us. "Lacey..." She whispered. "Um... This is Iana Milkovich, that friend I was telling you about..."

"So, you're Iana," Lacey said, smiling at me and extending her hand. "Penny's told me all about you. It's so nice to meet you."

"You, too," I replied, taking her hand and shaking it. "So... You still in school?"

"Oh, no," Lacey replied waving it off like it didn't matter. "I graduated high school at thirteen and then Penny here asked me to be her main model, so that's what I do. I make bank, so Penny and I have our penthouse across town. It's great."

"Wait, you live together?" I asked, and Penny flushed.

"We do," Lacey said, answering for Penny. "Which surprises the hell out of me, considering that Penny's apparently in love with me."

Penny sighed. "I wanted to tell you, Lace, but my mom was so dead set on me being with your brother that it was easier for everyone to accept..."

Lacey pursed her lips. "So, you lied?"

She sighed. "In a way, yeah, I did."

Lacey nodded. "Okay. You want a truth, then?" she asked, her blue eyes flashing. "What in the hell took you so long?!"

Penny gasped as I covered my mouth to keep myself from laughing. "What took me so long? I mean, we're best friends..."

"Right, we're best friends. And I've been having these feelings for you since I ended things with Travis four years ago," she said, putting her hands on her hips. "Do you realize how much it hurt me to hear Mama Rose talk about you and Desmond getting married and giving her grandchildren one of these days?"

Penny shook her head. "No. I had no idea."

"Course you didn't," Lacey said, sighing, "because I didn't say anything either. Oh, fuck this," she said then, stepping towards Penny and taking her by the hand, whereupon she kissed her in full view of the party.

I knew that, despite being out in the open, that the pair would likely need some space to talk, so I migrated over to the other side of the room. I stared out another floor-to-ceiling window, taking in the beautiful city lights and enjoying the lull of conversations from behind me. I heard footsteps a moment later and, turning, saw Liam standing there. "Hey there," I said, not hoping for a repeat of Halloween.

"Hi," he said, turning and looking over his shoulder for a moment, where Penny and Lacey were making out on the other side of the room. "You know about that?" he asks, turning back to me and pointing in their direction.

I laughed. "Not until a few minutes ago, no."

Liam nodded. "Right," he said. "So, I heard you met my mother?"

I smiled. "I did," I told him. "Don't know what you and Penny were so worried about," I went on then, seeing Rose hugging both Penny and Lacey a moment later. "Seems to me like she's well-adjusted to Penny... Guess she couldn't really be herself while your dad was still here," I said quietly, hoping I haven't overstepped.

"None of us could," Liam admitted. "We weren't happy."

I nodded. "I get that," I replied. "And I'm sorry."

He smiled. "So am I," he said.

"Liam..."

"Look, I know we need to talk at some point, Iana, but it's New Year's, and this is Penny's party, and I guess, in a way, her coming out," he said, his voice a little unsteady. "So, I was thinking that, maybe, we can put everything on the back burner for now, and just enjoy the night?"

I nodded, smiling up at him again. "I'd like that."

"Great," Liam said. He turned then as the orchestra started up what could potentially be a slow dance number, and hesitated for a moment before turning back to me. "Dance with me?" he asked then, his voice nervous.

I blinked. "You sure?" I asked. "I look like a beached whale..."

Liam inadvertently cut me off then, by taking my hand in his and kissing it. "You've never looked more beautiful to me, Iana," he replied. "Dance?"

A slow smile spread across my lips. "Okay," I replied. "But forgive me in advance if I step on all your toes..."

He grinned. "You can step on my toes anytime," he replied, and gently pulled me out onto the dance floor with the other couples, and we danced next to Penny and Lacey, whereupon I caught Rose's eye, and she immediately smiled in approval.

. . .

The notion that I would be sneaking off at some point during the Christmas party to rendezvous with Axel caused me to sit a little bit straighter in my seat as Cara drove the four of us to the party at her parent's beautiful house. I'd figured out, based on the description, which house was theirs by looking online, and it was just as beautiful in person. I got out of the car, and thought it was endearing that Laurie took my hand to walk up to the house, as the four of us trooped up the walk and towards the front door, which opened immediately.

"Ah, Cara darling," said Humphrey Hastings, who had Cara's eyes but was well over six-feet tall, taking Cara by the hands and kissing her on the cheek. "Lawrence, my boy," he said, shaking his hand and clapping him on the back. "And my little Laurie!" he said, bending down and scooping up Laurie, who rewarded his grandfather with a shout and a laugh. "And this must be Iana Gallagher-Blomqvist, what I think will prove to be your greatest achievement."

"She's not a piece of pottery or a vase, Dad," Lawrence said, shaking his head at Humphrey, who pouted slightly at being reprimanded by his son-in-law as we were all guided into the house itself.

"That's right, she's also a dear friend to me," Cara said, putting a protective arm around my shoulders. "And we're not here to discuss the case. Remember, no mixing business with pleasure during the holidays," she quipped.

"Right, right," Humphrey said, turning his gaze onto me. "So, Iana, I hear from my daughter that you hate cops."

I smiled at Humphrey. "So, Humphrey, I hear that you prefer your daughter to your stepson and show it whenever possible."

"Iana!" Cara cried. "Dad, I don't know what she..."

Humphrey held up his hand to his daughter, but kept his eyes firmly upon me then. "I hear that your father is close friends with Mason Crowe."

I nodded. "Yeah, he is."

"His son Clark is just out of the academy now and patrolling the streets. We've got high hopes for that young man," he said, smiling. "But, you seem to have a quick wit and a sparring tongue, Iana. Use both of those well," he said, and guided us into the lavish living room.

I caught sight of Axel immediately, whose eyes quickly darkened at my appearance; I was wearing a knee-length red dress with a daring neckline, black sweater tights, and my black Mary Jane shoes. I gave him a clandestine smile, and milled around for a moment, introducing myself and making conversation until Margot Hastings put herself in my way and doted over me, as one might a new family member. I was shocked, but then saw the sherry in her hand and could smell it on her breath, and caught wind of just how good a mood she was in.

After twenty minutes, I excused myself to find the bathroom, and, when I found it, was just about to step inside when I felt a pair of hands on my face. "Who is it?" I asked then, hating that I couldn't keep the fear from my voice.

"Just me," Axel whispered, whipping me around.

"Hi," I said, but was cut off by his lips finding mine. I threw my arms around his neck and pulled him with me into the bathroom, and he promptly kicked the door behind him. I let out a slight squeal then as he effortlessly lifts me onto the counter, and drags down my tights and panties, and I let him, before wrapping my legs around his torso, bringing him closer to me and unzipping his pants. "Hello there," I whisper.

"And hello there," he says, inching his hand up my leg, which ignites another squeal from me, and I yank him back towards me then.

"Wait, wait," Axel said then, and I still held his face, but permitted him to pull away enough to look into my eyes. "I love you."

I gasped then. "What?" I whispered.

"I love you," he replied. "Be mine. Be my girlfriend."

I smiled up at him. "I love you, too," I whispered, pulling him close again. "Of course I'll be your girlfriend, Axel," I whispered into his ear.

After we'd finished, Axel made sure that I was all put-together again before he quickly left the bathroom. I did my business before I washed my hands, straightened my clothes, and left myself, making my way back towards the party. I went down a different hallway, thinking it would take me in another direction, and came to a stop when I heard voices. I figured I was close to the kitchen, due to the hanging pots on the wall opposite me, and I could tell that the voices belonged to Humphrey and Axel.

"How long has it been going on?!" Humphrey hissed at him.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"With that slippery little bitch that Cara's representing—Iana!"

There was a smashing of something then, and my heart raced in my throat. "Don't you dare call her that!"

"Ah-ha! I knew it. She does mean something to you."

"We're just having fun, Humphrey."

"Fun?! Jesus, Axel. If you were ten years younger, it would still be seen as controversial, what you've been doing."

"We haven't been doing anything."

"My security cameras beg to differ," Humphrey replied. "Did you honestly think I wouldn't turn them on, knowing that my grandson, daughter, and son-in-law would be visiting?"

"Shit," Axel whispered.

"Shit is right. They caught you kissing your little ghetto whore outside the bathroom. I saw the look on her face, and god knows what you were doing when the door closed..."

"Don't call her a ghetto whore, because she's not."

"You all like to flock together, don't you?" Humphrey demanded. "Probably the only thing that gets you up, your kind."

"Stop talking about us like we're not human, just because of where we come from!" Axel said, speaking through his teeth.

"You may as well not be, the way you've been behaving," he shot back. "Now, tell me. What does she mean to you?"

"Nothing," Axel said then, his tone filled with hate. "She's a child. Probably acted like this because she saw what Cara's lifestyle was like. Likely assumed that, as her half-brother, I'd live similarly, but, of course, I don't, since you've made it abundantly clear over the years that I'm not your son."

"You're damn right you're not my son," Humphrey growled. "Any son of mine wouldn't act this way, swayed by a teenage girl who comes from a questionable background. She's seeing a therapist, you know, for the trial. Your sister is trying to get a not guilty by reason of insanity defense issued for her."

"Jesus," Axel whispered.

"Even if this were to be kept under wraps until she was of age, it would be never be appropriate, considering her background, and the notion that she's violent, as well as mentally ill. And just consider how she'd look. She'd never measure up to be in this family. Besides, she's not nearly pretty, or worthy enough..."

"I know," Axel said, growling at him. "Don't you think I know that? Why do you think I kept her hidden away? Because she didn't fucking matter to me, Humphrey. Ever."

I steeled myself for a moment then, and walked around the corner, so that they both could see me, and both looked shocked to see me standing there. "You can both go fuck yourselves, because you're both fucking assholes," I said simply to them, hating that I was crying, but no longer caring completely as I ran from the kitchen, through the living room, and out of the house as quickly as I could.

. . .

My next day at Patsy's was four days later, and I was assigned to work from eight until two, with a break at noon for a half-hour for lunch, which was much less than my six-hour typical shift. I said nothing about it, even though I'd been counting pennies like mad to make sure I'd have enough for baby necessities in the next couple of months. I arrived in the employee locker room, just as Franny was tying her apron in place, and she hugged me.

"So, how was that big, swanky party you went to?" she asked.

I grinned back at her. "It was nice," I replied.

"Yeah?" she asked, checking her phone. "Our shift doesn't start for another five minutes, so spill to me, Iana."

I rolled my eyes playfully then, hanging up my winter coat inside my locker. "Well, turns out that Rose was wrong about Penny, big time..."

"Wrong about...?"

"Who she was into," I said. "Apparently, Rose was dead-set on Penny being into this guy, Desmond Cole, who is pretty gorgeous, but, it turns out, Desmond's got a twin sister, Lacey, and she's Penny's roommate, other best friend, and main model..."

"And Penny's in love with her?"

I nodded. "Ding-ding-ding," I replied.

"How'd Lacey take it?"

"Walked right in on our conversation," I said with a grin. "She heard everything. She was shocked, to say the least, and then she tells Penny she loves her, too. So, now they're a couple that lives together..."

"How'd Rose take it?"

"She literally didn't give a fuck," I replied, laughing. "I think, at the end of the day, she just wants her kids to be happy..."

"And, speaking of Rose's kids, how did Liam behave?"

"Surprisingly well," I said lightly. "He apologized, and we agreed that we needed to talk, but put the conversation onto the back burner, because it was Penny's party," I replied.

"When are you going to talk?"

"No idea," I said. "He took a red-eye from O'Hare to Tokyo to sign a business deal of some kind right after the party, and he'll be gone a few weeks."

"Maybe you'll have the baby before he gets back..."

I laughed. "I've still got a while. Don't rush her."

"All right, girls," Mom said then, stepping into the employee locker room. "Franny, we have hungry customers. Get out there, please."

"Right, Aunt Murphy," Franny replied, squeezing my shoulder. "Talk to you later," she said quietly to me before slipping out into the dining area.

"Iana, my office, now," Mom said, and I did my best not to groan as I got to my feet, making my way down the hall after her and into her office. "Why don't you sit down?" she asked, and nodded to her desk chair.

"Thanks, but I'm fine standing," I replied, crossing my arms. "What did you need to talk about? I have customers waiting, too."

She sighed. "I wanted to talk about you taking some maternity leave."

I shook my head. "Not gonna happen."

"Is this about the money? Because if it's about the money, Nicholas and I will get you anything you need for her..."

I shook my head again. "No, thanks. I've got it."

Mom dragged her hands through her hair. "Look, Iana, I've been trying to be patient with you while you have your 'I'm not going to live at home until you respect me' rebellious streak, but this shit ends here. Come home."

I gritted my teeth. "Not happening."

"Why not?" she demanded. "Why won't you come home?"

"Simple," I said, scoffing. "Because I don't fucking want to. Not the way things are, at least. I'm tired of feeling like an..."

"A what?" she asked.

My eyes snapped to hers. "An outlier," I replied.

"What are you saying right now?" she cried out. "You're not..."

I rolled my eyes at her. "I knew you wouldn't understand," I said. "I've got to get out there and wait tables. No maternity leave," I told her, my voice firm as I left her office, slamming the door behind me.

. . .

I stepped into Cara's office at the appointed hour. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yeah," Cara replied, waving me in, and I perched on the chair, while Cara stared at me for a moment, looking concerned. "You look thin."

I shrugged. "Things are bound to change. I haven't seen you in a month."

"Because you refused to see me. Only phone consultations since December," she replied, her tone clipped. "Is this about something that happened at the Christmas party? Because nobody's telling me anything..."

I fixed my gaze onto hers then, knowing that the time was now. "I was fucking Axel," I said then, my voice devoid of any emotion.

Cara blinked. "You were what?"

"Axel. Your brother," I said, hoping to god she didn't think I meant her son. "Axel and I were fucking since a week after we met."

"Jesus Christ," she whispered.

"We kept it from you, from everyone, because he could've lost his job," I say with a shrug. "Not that any of it matters now..."

"Fuck, what'd he do?" she demanded.

"Your dad caught us at the party," I said. "We hooked up in the bathroom, and his security cameras must've picked something up."

"Holy fuck," Cara said, putting her head into her hands.

"Son of a bitch told me he loved me, asked me to be his girlfriend," I said, my voice still cold and unfeeling. "I said yeah, I would. Then, once I left the fucking bathroom, the fucking asshole told your dad I didn't mean shit to him. Said he was just having fun with me," I said, a bitter laugh escaping my lips then as tears slipped down my face. "I should've known, though, right? I mean, the thirteen year age difference is controversial at best, illegal at worst... God, I'm just a fucking idiot..."

"You're not," Cara said firmly, looking back up at me.

My eyes locked back onto hers. "Why? How the fuck could you know?"

"Because it was fucking different with you, that's why!"

I rolled my eyes, the tears still falling from my eyes like there was no tomorrow. "Right. Yeah, sure," I muttered.

"He loves you," Cara told me, her voice so firm that I thought it could splinter her desk. "He's never told anyone that before. And he asked you to be his girlfriend? He fucking meant it, Iana, believe me."

"Then why the fuck would he say all that fucked shit to Humphrey?!" I demanded, turning back to look at her. "If he loves me, if he wanted me..."

"Christ. He did it to fucking protect you!" she said, and I stared at her then, shocked. "If my dad wants to go after somebody, he does. He'd have gone after you, fucked you up even more than you already are. He may be my dad, Iana, but he's a son of a bitch."

"He... He meant it?" I whispered.

"If he said it, he meant it," Cara said softly. "Axel never lies, unless it's to protect someone he loves," she tells me.

. . .

With four more days of the month to go, I decided that a quiet night in was just what I needed, so the knock on the door is surprising to me that evening, as Franny and Ezra had been invited out by Jay earlier that night. I'd been invited along as well, but was taking Dr. Lennox's advice and taking some me-time. However, I was touched when Jay offered to bring me something back and, despite his cryptic manner on Christmas, I accepted. Whether I liked the fact that he was keeping secrets from Franny or not, the man was a damn fine cook.

I approached the front door, slightly annoyed as I'd had to delay progress in the book I'd been dying to read, and marked my place with my thumb, hoping that I'd be able to return to it quickly, and that whoever was at the door wasn't important. I peered through the spyhole then, and felt my eyes automatically rolling back into my head, as I spotted my mother standing there, illuminated by the porch light. I felt a sigh escaping through my lips, knowing that I had to remain calm, and that, even though my mother was a stressor in my life, I couldn't allow her to get to me.

I reached out then and opened the door, plastering a smile on my face as I stood there in my jeans, T-shirt, and normally baggy sweater, which was straining against my expanding belly. I had my socks and sneakers on, because my feet were so cold these days, and I automatically wrapped my arms around myself then, either to ward off her potential cruel words, or just from the waft of cold air that came from the opening door. As I stood there, staring at my mother, and wondering who would be the first to speak, I decided it best to take control of the situation, and permit myself to speak first.

"Hello, Mother," I said plaintively then, keeping the forced smile in place. "How may I help you this evening?"

"Franny or Ezra in?" she asked.

I shook my head. "They're out with Jay," I replied.

"Not you?"

"I'm not into third-wheeling. Besides, Ezra's got that covered," I said with a slight shrug. "And Dr. Lennox told me to rest, as you know very well, given the doctor's note I was obligated to hand over to you."

She sighed. "I didn't come here to fight, Iana."

"Great," I replied, stepping back a little. "Then by all means, come on in."

She looked surprised by the invitation, but nevertheless stepped over the threshold. "Thank you," she said carefully, stepping inside and moving towards the couch as I shut and locked the door behind her. "It was getting cold out there," she continued then, perching on one end of the couch and taking off her earmuffs, which I knew were a gift from Nicholas.

"So... Can I get you anything to drink?" I asked, knowing that I had to be hospitable, and she was my mother, despite everything.

"Water's great. Thanks. I don't want you to trouble yourself, Iana..."

"No trouble," I called over my shoulder then as I traipsed into the kitchen, already breathing better now that there was some space between us. However, as I got the water filtration jug out of the fridge, my teeth immediately set on edge when I noticed my mother leaning over the kitchen island, staring at me like I was a fucking monkey in a zoo. "The kids doing okay?" I asked then, knowing that the most normal thing to do was to keep the conversation going, but I felt my wrist shaking slightly then as I poured her a glass of water.

"They're fine," Mom replied, and I knew that she saw my shaking wrist, but didn't want to draw attention to the fact that she'd seen it. "You?"

I shrugged, turning around and returning the water jug into the fridge. "Can't complain," I said lightly, moving the glass towards her.

"Thanks." She sipped the water carefully, almost as if she'd thought I'd fucking poisoned it or some shit. Her purse was placed beside her on the island, and I saw that there were papers sticking up out of it.

"What are those?" I asked, before I could stop myself.

"Mmmm," Mom said, almost as if we'd come to the direct purpose of her being there, and she dipped into the leather bag then, and showed them to me. "Checks for you and Franny," she said, and I nodded, looking towards the larger document at the back. "And here is a plan I've come up with for you to take maternity leave."

I gripped the other side of the island again, remembering to work on my breathing, knowing full well that I couldn't rise to her. "We've discussed this already," I said then, doing my best not to speak through my teeth. "I won't be taking maternity leave, Mother. I can't take maternity leave because I can't afford it."

"Iana, don't be ridiculous—of course you can afford it!" she cried out then, quickly growing exasperated with me. "I've drawn up a plan here. I've also taken into account how many tips you get per shift, and averaged them out per week, and added them to your fee. So, you'd really be making close to fifty bucks more a week, meaning that you'd be making close to eight hundred per week..."

"Mom, get this straight here," I told her, trying to keep my voice as level as possible. "I cannot afford maternity leave. Franny and I are going to make sure that our days off don't match up, so that we can split the child care..."

"Honey, you know that'll never work," Mom replied, and I hated how condescending she sounded and all-knowing she thought she was. "It can't work. Franny's got expenses, too, so you probably couldn't bring the baby to live here..."

"Franny says I can," I told her.

"Baby, she was likely just being polite. I'm sure she doesn't mind if you crash here now and again, but a baby is a huge responsibility. I know Mickey and Ian likely wouldn't mind if you stayed with them long-term, but your real place is at home..."

"So, that's it, then," I said, shaking my head. "God, I can't fucking believe this. You just waltz in here with what you think is an automatic answer to all my money problems and then you give me the golden carrot—you want me to move home so that you can micromanage my parenting. You want me to fail!"

"Iana, just calm down," she said.

"No, I will not calm down!" I cried out then. "I'm sick and tired of you treating me this way, like I'm nothing!"

"You're my daughter. And as your mother, I command your respect."

"Fucking earn it!" I shouted. "Don't be my mother when it's convenient! Don't wave around that title like you've won something! You haven't won shit, especially the right to be my mother. You seek to tear me down at every turn, blabbing about my diagnosis to anyone who will listen. Not to mention you dragging out your backstory every moment you can, like you're the fucking champion of people who've survived traumatic shit! You don't know half of what I went through, Mother, and for good reason. I don't want to compete with you, because I'm sick and tired of you thinking you're an automatic winner."

"Trauma doesn't make you a winner, Iana!" she shouted then, coming around the island like some kind of fucking venomous viper. "You'd be nothing without the sacrifices I've made! You wouldn't have shit!"

I scoffed then, rolling my eyes as I felt the heat radiating out from every pore over my body, which couldn't be good, but I was beyond caring. "Maybe it would've been better if you'd just gotten rid of me and had the chance, and fucking waited to have kids with Nicholas."

"Yeah," she said, glaring at me. "Maybe it would have."

I opened my mouth to say something then, but no words came out as I felt something lurch from inside me then. I felt my eyes widen then at the unexpected pain that I felt, whereupon I lowered my eyes, and saw that I was literally standing in a pile of blood. I felt all color drain from my face then as I looked up at my mother, who looked appalled. "Fuck," I whispered to her, feeling faint then as my knees buckled, and I crashed to the ground.

"Iana?!" my mother screamed then. "IANA!" she yelled, as my head hit the floor, and everything went black.