Song: Bad Wings by The Glitch Mob

DELILAH

4 months later

Doctor Murphy smiled back at us. "Yes, two centimeters already."

"Holy shit," I breathed, my eyes widening in both surprise and fear. "It's been so long since I've you know... pushed anything out of me... I don't know if I'll be able to do it," I said. Liam shook his head, taking my hand in his.

"Your body will remember what to do, Delilah. Besides, dilation doesn't mean you'll go into labor any time soon. There's always medicines if you want for pain while in labor but I promise, you'll be just fine, we're all here to make this goes as smoothly as possible."

"Can Liam be there with me?"

"Yes, dear. We've talked about this before and the answer hasn't changed. You can have in the room whomever you want, Liam being your fiance and the father of the baby can definitely be there."

I sighed, taking Liam's hand while he helped me sit up. I couldn't understand how it was humanly possible for me to do much of anything anymore. My feet were incredibly swollen, I had a watermelon in my tummy and it was a struggle to be on my feet any. And goodness, it was always so hot. Being pregnant in the summer wasn't easy.

Liam had met me at the doctor's and sadly, now he had to go back to work while I picked up Adrian from school. I was still working but I'd decided to take half a day off for the appointment. I leaned against the SUV, feeling how the baby moved yet again, digging his little feet under my ribs. I winced at the uncomfortable feeling. 

"I'll be home in a few hours," Liam said, cradling my neck. 

Rolling my eyes, I turned around ignoring him. I felt so frustrated, for no reason at all. I was just so... tired. 

"Come on, baby," he said turning me back around, pulling me as close to him as my large, watermelon belly would allow. "Stop being so moody."

"You'd be moody too if you were carrying a child that's feeding off of you. I'm going to use one of those fake belly's and breasts so that you can experience what it's like," I muttered. 

Liam only smiled, knowing not to counter any of what I said. He leaned down and kissed me, his tongue grazing my bottom lip and asking for entrance, There in the parking lot, he kissed me profoundly, his hand tangling in my hair. 

I broke off the kiss, inhaling sharply, trying to catch my breath. 

"Now, after you get Adrian go home and relax, okay? When I get home I'll give you a massage, maybe a few other things," he murmured in my ear. 

I felt myself flush at the innuendo, but nodded more than eager. He smirked, nuzzling my nose. "I love you, Delilah."

"I love you too," I smiled.

"Text me when you get home, okay?" 

"Yes, sir," I replied with a smile. 

I got in the car, the whole time Liam patiently waiting for me to leave before even getting in the new truck he'd bought. 

The last months of my pregnancy had been the easiest and most fulfilling that I could imagine. I worked, took Adrian to school, my cooking skills improved considerably and we'd started preparing things for the small wedding. There was never a moment in which my mind wasn't busy.

Little bits of fear had started to appear. Like, 'how am I going to get through the day with two kids?' and 'what if I can't handle it?' The difference this time was that I didn't keep quiet. I voiced my fears to Liam who was always more than eager to soothe any doubts I had.

I realized how much his support meant to me. If I had told him how I felt the first time around well, our story would have been different.

There was no point in dwelling in the bleak past though, not when our future was so bright.

We had yet to pick a name for our son and while there was many suggestions, we just couldn't seem to agree on one. The time was nearing and at this rate, we'd be bringing a nameless baby into this world and that didn't sit right with me.

I saw my parents often, nearly every other day and if I didn't we would speak on the phone. Our relationship had strengthened. They were there for me and I realized in their example, even my mother who'd taken so long to forgive me, that a parent is capable of forgiving almost anything from their child. That's how strong the love is, and I felt it now with Adrian and my unborn son.

Jo and Christopher's relationship wasn't as smooth sailing though, they argued quite a bit. However, my friend was head over heels over Chris and I couldn't blame her. He spoiled her rotten and truly cherished her, something I knew she'd been missing for a long time.

I'd been so entertained with my thoughts that I didn't even realize when I'd made it to Adrian's school. I shifted on my seat uncomfortably. My back hurt quite a bit and no matter how I sat the ache wouldn't go away.

I waited in the car rider line until I saw Adrian was talking and smiling with a girl... a lot.

Something told me that Liam would be very proud of that.

Me?

Not so much.

"Hi mom," Adrian said, jumping into the backseat.

"Hey bud. Who's your friend?" I asked, eyeing the little girl who was still looking towards our car.

"Oh, she's my friend Liz." Adrian buckled his seatbelt but I didn't miss the blush that formed on his cheeks.

"Friend, huh?"

"Yeah." Through the rearview mirror I saw him lowering his gaze, picking at the invisible lint on his backpack.

Friend my ass.

"Does your dad know about this 'friend'?"

I shot him a look and he knew better than to lie. He nodded. Of course Liam was behind this. My little boy had his first real crush and though it was upsetting to me, it was adorable.

"You should invite her for dinner at the house," I suggested. His face lit up at the idea. "We'll ask her parents for permission and invite them over. What do you think?"

"Oh, I have her phone number already!"

I pressed my lips together.

Just like his father.

A feeling of unease settled once we arrived home. I didn't know why or how it happened, but something just didn't feel right. Sure that it was only that I wasn't feeling good, I ignored it and walked into the house, setting my keys on the kitchen counter and ready to prepare something to eat.

I sent Liam a text, letting him know that we'd arrived safely and his reply made me blush.

Good. Now relax and when I get home I'll give you that massage you need... Among other things. ;)
-Liam

I rolled my eyes. It was just like him to be constantly thinking about sex. Soon my phone chimed again and I smiled like an idiot at it.

I love you, Delilah. Don't you ever forget it.

I told him how much I loved him as well before preparing spaghetti and meatballs, something that I had been craving all day. I breathed through the dull ache in my back again and took a seat on the sofa, feeling much more tired than usual.

"Are you okay, mom?" Adrian asked, sitting next to me.

"I'm just tired," I said with a small smile.

"Is my little brother tired to?" Adrian poked my belly before placing both his hands on it, searching for the baby. I guided his hands to the top, near my very unlucky ribs and laughed when Adrian flinched after a strong kick.

"I can't wait until he's here," Adrian stated.

"Trust me, me neither," I replied.

I excused myself to go to the restroom which was now basically my second home and saw my humongous mid section. I enjoyed my pregnancy but was so ready for the baby to join us. And by the look of the pains I was getting, I was starting labor. By the end of the day I was sure we'd have our little son with us. I let my hair down, splashed some water on my tired face before going back to the living room with Adrian.

Except when I got there, he wasn't alone.

"Carissa," I breathed. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting," she said simply. 

We'd told Adrian to not open the door for strangers, never taking into account that she wasn't a stranger. Adrian still very much trusted her. 

The mind games weren't over, I realized. 

Or maybe the final game had just begun.

"I suppose you want to talk?" I asked, my mind raced trying to find a solution, trying to find a way to either get her outdoors or get the police here. Carissa nodded, lips pressed together in a thin line... Malice in her eyes.

Why did she wait until now?

"Go to my room and lock the door, do not come out, do you understand me?" Adrian frowned but nevertheless nodded and obeyed my order.

 After I heard the lock turn, I leveled Carissa with the same glare she was giving me, refusing to show any fear. 

"What do you want?"

She tsked me, shaking her head with amusement and walking over to the kitchen. 

Where the hell is my phone?

Carissa came back with a folder, shoving it in my hands. Not quite understanding what she wanted me to do with it, I opened it and looked inside. So many photos of the past few months were there. From me leaving the doctors appointments to leaving work, to Liam and I's engagement, every little thing we'd done.

"But Caleb is in jail," I said.

"He's too much of a coward," Carissa snorted, taking a seat on the sofa. 

"You never left," I breathed, shaking my head. Caleb had been telling the truth. 

"You see, Delilah dear, I really didn't think you'd last. I didn't consider you much of a threat. But of course, Liam with his good heart forgave you easily and here you are, where I should be. Where I deserve to be because of all I did for that man and his son. And instead, you're here..." Carissa shook her head, taking something out of her jean pocket. Something shiny. I gasped, taking a step back. "Oh, don't be scared, Delilah." 

"What the hell are you planning?" I sneered. "Get out of here. Liam will be here any minute."

"I'm sure he will be. Bastard can't stay away from you now that you're pregnant," she said, eyeing my belly. I cradled it, at the same time trying to ignore the sudden contraction that appeared. 

"Anyways, the deal I have to offer you is pretty simple. You do what I say, we all leave this place unharmed."

"No. No to whatever you have to say."

"Oh, but you're so good at what I'm about to ask," Carissa said, standing back up. She  walked past me with a smile. "Leave."

"What?"

"Leave," she repeated. "I'll drive you to wherever the hell you want, the airport, bus station... Pay you a one way ticket so I can take the place that I rightfully had earned before you returned."

"I can't leave," I said shaking my head. "There's no compromising this, Carissa. They are my family, he's my son and I'm having Liam's baby. I can't - I won't leave." 

"See, that makes things difficult. If you don't leave I'm afraid this time I'll personally have to take Adrian with me since Caleb let him go so easily. I won't be the same." 

I heard my phone ringing in the distance and I realized it was in my room. Thank God. It was probably Liam who was letting us know he was on his way.  I had time to stall, fifteen to twenty minutes; less if Adrian told him that Carissa was here. 

"Leave Carissa," I gritted out. "Just leave and I'll forget that this happened."

"I'll leave if you come with me."

"Jesus," I sighed. "He doesn't want you Carissa. Have some dignity, have some res-"

I was cut off by her pushing me against the wall, pain radiating from my head all the throughout my body, my stomach tensing with the power of another contraction. I couldn't help groaning when I felt it. This was so not the way I expected my labor to go.

"He did want me," she snarled angrily. "I was everything to him until you came along, you selfish bitch. I didn't have anyone, I don't have anyone but him and Adrian and maybe I've lost my mind, but I'll be damned if I just let him go like that."

"You're fucking insane," I cried out.

"Maybe," she said, bringing up the knife to my belly. "If he wants to be with you, I can at least take every bit of happiness that you have away, starting from this."

My eyes widened in horror. I fought against her, attempting to push her away but with the pain and the dizziness I felt, it was proving much too difficult. I closed my eyes for a few seconds, wishing away the contractions for just a minute and when I was sure that it had gone away, I pushed hard against her the wall attempting to remove the knife from her hands. 

It didn't work. 

Instead it ended up on my throat. 

"You won't win," she said, confident that it was over. I felt the thin blade, cutting my skin and the warm trickle of blood that began running down my neck. "Do you know that if I cut just a little deeper, your carotid it would all be over? Just like that you would die. Disappear."

"Psycho," I whispered. "You are a fucking psycho."

"Maybe, but you deserve every part of this."

I grunted again, this time out of the pain of another contraction setting in. My mind was freezing up on me, I couldn't think, couldn't figure out what to do. And then a deafening sound brought me out of it. 

My eyes flew open, finding Carissa's shocked one's on me, the knife falling to her side. She gasped, then fell to her knees with lifeless eyes staring back at me.

"Oh God," I whimpered, looking down at her. My hands began trembling as I looked at the dead woman in front of me, eyes wide open and blood spilling out of the back of her head. 

An arm pulled me from where I was, surrounding me and cradling the back of my head as I tried to process the fact that a dead woman lay on my kitchen floor.

"It's okay," Brian murmured. "It's over, dear, it's okay."

"Sh- She's d-dead," I stuttered. 

"It's okay," he repeated, cupping my face in his hands, green eyes shining back at me with so much care and...

"I told her not to hurt you."

*****

A/N: Welp. 

There it is.

This one was a bit longer than I anticipated but I couldn't find a way to cut it.

Thoughts?

-Luz<3