Anna's POV

I woke up to the sweet smell of pancakes. I went to the bathroom and did my morning rituals. Then I went downstairs to see what was cooking.

I entered the kitchen and saw Martha.

"Smells delicious" I said

She turned round
"Ms. Anna. It's so good to see you again" she said happily

I hugged her
"I missed you Martha"

"Me too" she said when I let go of her. Then she noticed my belly bump "Oh My! You have a little one inside you"

I nodded.

I saw she wanted to touch my belly but wasn't sure if I'd like it.

"Go ahead Martha" I told her

She smiled and placed her palms lightly on the belly bump

We both turned when someone cleared their throat.

"Mr O'Connell" Martha removed her hands "The pancakes are ready"

"Thank you Martha" Matt said

"I'll just serve them" she said and went back to work

Matt looked at me and walked towards me
"Good morning" he said "How's the baby?"

"It's...wo-oh!" I placed my hand on my belly

"What's wrong?" He was scared

"It...moved, again" I said surprisingly "This is the second time its happened"

"Ohkay, what's wrong with that?" He asked

"Nothing. It's just that..." you were there both times "...nothing, never mind." Before he could say anything else "I'm starving"

We had breakfast. Martha went to get groceries. My cravings included. I stayed in my room till I thought Matt had gone to work. Then I went downstairs to watch my favourite t.v. series Beauty and the Beast.

I was laughing at Heather who was trying to push J.T to get back together with Tess. And J.T was shutting her up but she kept on talking.

"Looks like you're not bored" I heard Matt say

I turned my head to look at him. Surprised he was still here.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him

"Hmm, This is my house" he said

"I mean, what are you doing home, you're suppose to be at work" I said

He came to sit on one of the chairs
"I kinda took a break"

"Matt. Taking a break from work. That's unusual" I said "Are you fine?"

He smiled "I am. Just had to take care of something very important"

"Important than work?" I asked

I thought nothing was more important than work for Matt.

"Much more"

"What could be much more important than work?"

He didn't say anything for a while
"You...and the baby"

My heart did a double take.
"Matt, you don't need to baby sit me. I can take care of myself and the baby"

"I don't want you to" he said "I want to be here with you"

"Matt..."

"No Anna. You act like you've forgiven me, but I know you haven't. The pain I caused you is still deep in your heart, and I'll do anything to earn your forgiveness...except letting you go. If I let you go again, I don't think I'll survive it." He said "Just tell me what I have to do"

I sighed.
"That's where you're wrong. I forgave you when I woke up in the hospital bed and you were right there. I have forgiven you Matt...but I can't give you my trust, you have to earn it" I said "As for the pain...it'll go with time. I just want to be able to bear remembering it"

He smiled and nodded.

We watched the movie together. We had lunch and dinner.

Days went by. Then weeks. We got into the routine.

Have dinner, watch movies, have lunch, talk, watch some more movies, maybe go out, have dinner, then back home.

I started becoming normal again. I was happy. Matt made me laugh. Sometimes he'd just place his head on my belly as I lay back. He said he could hear her.

Yeah.

Her.

As in female.

Then we argued about getting to know the gender and I told him I wanted it to be a surprise.

Everything went smoothly till I went to bed one night. After a long time. It chose now to hunt me down.

"Don't touch me" I said

"She's a feisty one" the one with the moustache said

"Get away from me" I said trying to push away from them, but they surrounded me and pushed me to a corner.

I moved back with each step they took towards me till my back hit a wall.

"Got you" the one with the cigarette said

"We're gonna make it quick" the other one said

"Please let me go" I said as I felt tears run down my face "Please"

"Not today darling" the fourth one said as he unbuckled his belt

An idea came to my head.
I kicked him in his shins and pushed him away but the rest of the pack caught me and slammed me hard into the wall as I felt their hands all over me; on my face, my breasts, my ass.

I was becoming unconcious with the impact of the wall on my head. My eyes were drifting close but I struggled to keep them open and fight these goons off me. It was not easy.

I felt them rip my shirt open.

I screamed so hard.

"...I'm sorry for your loss" the doctor said and left

What did I loose?

"Kat, what is it? Tell me! Jason?"

"Calm down Anna" Jason said

"Tell me now" I said

"Your mum...your mum..."

Mum!

"...passed away yesterday. Matt got her transferred back here but she didn't make it during the transfer"

I cried so hard and screamed for my mum hoping it'll bring her back

"Anna...Anna. Wake up. Anna..." I heard Matt call

I finally woke up. I was panting. My cheeks were wet with tears. He pulled me closer to him and I hugged him.

"Its okay. It was just a dream" he said

"It wasn't just a dream" I said as I placed my head on his shoulder

"What?"

Silence
"That night I left. I walked to KAT's. I bumped into some...men." I hesitated "They tried to...to assault me" I felt his grip tighten around me "I hit my head on the wall and passed out. I woke up in the hospital" I swallowed back the lump in my throat. "That's when I found out that I was pregnant. Jason had saved me from the men that tried to..." I released my breath "Then Kat told me"

Silence

"What did she tell you Anna?" I could heard the anger and distress in his voice

I swallowed
"She said you had transferred my mum back to the hospital she was in..." I felt him stiffen "...but she didn't make it through the transfer"

I felt him withdraw. His hands fell as he got up. I looked at him. His eyes had gone dark with fury.

"Your...m-mum's dead?" He stuttered

I nodded

"Because of me?" He asked

"Matt it wasn't your fault. You didn't know she wouldn't make it through the transfer" I tried to get up

"I am the reason your mum's dead. I'm the reason you almost got raped. I'm the reason for all the pain you've gone through...and yet you forgave me?" His eyes were now glistening with tears

I got up and went to him
"Matt, don't blame yourself"

"Don't come near me Anna. I didn't realise what I'd put you through. Now I know...and I'm not worth forgiving. You deserve to be with someone that gives you nothing but happiness. Not someone that's the cause of all the pain you've been through..."

"Matt don't say that" I was crying

Why would he say that? It wasn't his fault. None of it was.

"It wasn't your fault" I continued as I walked towards him "If Nick hadn't made you believe I cheated on you. We would still be happy together"

He looked at me
"Nick!" He said through clenched teeth that made me shiver "You don't know how sorry I am for all the pain I've caused you Anna. I'll never be worthy to have you" with that he left

"Matt! Matt!" I yelled for him to come back but he didn't

I heard the front door slam, then I heard his car roar to life.

Where the heck was he going by this time?

I didn't know what to do.

Elsa! Kat! Jason!

Who to call?

I dialled her number.

"Anna is everything okay?" She asked

"I don't know" I sobbed

"What happened?"

"I just told Matt everything and he just stomped out of here and drove to I don't know where" I was getting scared "Elsa I think he's going to Nick's"

"Shit" I heard Elsa curse

We both knew what Matt was gonna do to him.

"I really didn't know who to call. I shouldn't have told him, I shouldn't have said anything..."

"Hey calm down. I'm going to get Kat and drop her over then I'll go to Nick's" she said "Stay put. Don't do anything irrational. You have a baby in you"

"Okay" I said "Hurry"

"Okay" she hung up

I went downstairs and paced the living room.

Five minutes later, Kat and Elsa walked into the house.

"Are you okay?" Kat asked as she came to hug me.

"I don't know" I said

Elsa hugged me
"Okay. I'm gonna go. I've called 911 and given them Nick's address. They'll get there before I do and stop whatever's going on"

"Elsa no. Matt's gonna kill Nick, he walked out of my here looking murderous" I said

"Its better for my brother to be behind bars for getting into a brawl with Nick than beating Nick to death and being in prison" Elsa said

I nodded

"Okay I have to go" she said

"Call us for an update" Kat yelled as she walked out the door. She looked at me "And you need to sleep"

I looked at her
"I'm not gonna sleep a wink till I see Matt"

"At least just have a seat, for the baby" she said

I sighed and finally sat down tapping my leg impatiently.

"He's gonna be fine Anna, its not like he's killing the dude for nothing" she said

I looked at her
"Not helping Kat"

"Right. I'm gonna shut up" Kat said

***********************************************************
Hello readers,

So what do you think so far?

Is Matt over reacting?

Would he go to prison for killing Nick, or attempting to?

Find out in the next chapter.

Thanks guys,

J.L.