Pickle 14 & Watermelon 28
Author: Casey
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, Post NIEE
Challenges: Pickle 14 (cut the cord - My Treat: Leigh gives Jackson to Kelly) & Watermelon 28 (killing me softly)
Toppings & Extras: Caramel (superCaramel), Hot Fudge (Leigh)
Word Count: 589
Rating: PG
Summary: Leigh knows she has to leave him behind.
Notes: Still enjoying this My Treat!
She’s amazed by how small the child is - the little nose and fingers and he’s just so tiny. Already, she sees so much of Will in him, even though it has only been a week. Or maybe she just wants to see Will in him, longs that this little boy, this fragile creature they so accidentally created, will look more of his father, allowing him a safe life in the future.
She brushes the wisps of blond hair away from his eyes as he sleeps, hands clenching at nothing. He is only hers until tomorrow when they will reach Oakbridge and she will leave him forever, however long that lasts.
“I’m doing this for you, Jackson,” she says quietly. “If you’re my son, that puts you in a tough, dangerous position. If you’re only Will’s son, then the whole world is open to you and then some, because of who your father is.”
She lets his hand curl around her finger. Jackson changes things. She’s already tired, but knows there is no escape, no end to the games unless she creates one. Her mind is now moving in that direction and she suspects she’ll have a plan soon. Kelly will take good care of her baby until it’s safe for Will to take him.
She is up early the next morning, arranging Jackson in the sling she’s designed for just this purpose. By mid-morning, they arrive in Oakbridge without raising the slightest bit of suspicion. Just a woman and her baby. In fact, the guards all coo over Jackson’s cuteness before letting her through. She rides up to Kelly’s house, not particularly surprised to find her old friend sitting on her front stoop, darning a pair of socks and watching a gaggle of children race around the street.
She looks up at the sounds of hooves, though, and hops up. “Leigh!” she says in surprise. “What…?” she asks and then sees the sling, her mouth rounding. “Oh. May I?”
Leigh feels herself smile for the first time in far too long as she passes her precious bundle down before dismounting. “His name is Jackson.”
“Oh, Leigh,” Kelly says, gently cradling the infant, “he’s beautiful. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I needed time to decide what to do.”
Kelly looks up at her and Leigh knows she knows. “Are you sure?”
“If you’ll take him.”
“You know I will. Are you staying?”
She glances down at her little boy and resists the urge to snatch him from Kelly’s hands, fingers tightly clasping the horse’s reins to keep herself from doing so. “No, I think it’s best if I left right away.”
“What about Will?”
“He doesn’t know and must not know.” She turns and digs in her saddlebag before extracting a letter.
Kelly expertly shifts Jackson to one arm and takes it. “What’s this?”
“Just the…let’s say rules I need you to follow. It’s very simple, not more than half a page. I want Jackson to be safe, Kel,” she says softly. She will not cry, not even over her baby.
Her best friend tucks the letter into her pocket and steps forward, hugging Leigh. She’s the only one, other than Will, who can get away with this. “I will take the best care of your son.”
She forces another smile. “I know, Kelly, that’s all I ask.” Then she’s back astride her horse. She looks down at Jackson. “You’ll tell him that I love him, right?”
“Everyday.”
Leigh nods and turns for the gate.
She does not look back.
Story: Nothing is Ever Easy universe, Post NIEE
Challenges: Pickle 14 (cut the cord - My Treat: Leigh gives Jackson to Kelly) & Watermelon 28 (killing me softly)
Toppings & Extras: Caramel (superCaramel), Hot Fudge (Leigh)
Word Count: 589
Rating: PG
Summary: Leigh knows she has to leave him behind.
Notes: Still enjoying this My Treat!
She’s amazed by how small the child is - the little nose and fingers and he’s just so tiny. Already, she sees so much of Will in him, even though it has only been a week. Or maybe she just wants to see Will in him, longs that this little boy, this fragile creature they so accidentally created, will look more of his father, allowing him a safe life in the future.
She brushes the wisps of blond hair away from his eyes as he sleeps, hands clenching at nothing. He is only hers until tomorrow when they will reach Oakbridge and she will leave him forever, however long that lasts.
“I’m doing this for you, Jackson,” she says quietly. “If you’re my son, that puts you in a tough, dangerous position. If you’re only Will’s son, then the whole world is open to you and then some, because of who your father is.”
She lets his hand curl around her finger. Jackson changes things. She’s already tired, but knows there is no escape, no end to the games unless she creates one. Her mind is now moving in that direction and she suspects she’ll have a plan soon. Kelly will take good care of her baby until it’s safe for Will to take him.
She is up early the next morning, arranging Jackson in the sling she’s designed for just this purpose. By mid-morning, they arrive in Oakbridge without raising the slightest bit of suspicion. Just a woman and her baby. In fact, the guards all coo over Jackson’s cuteness before letting her through. She rides up to Kelly’s house, not particularly surprised to find her old friend sitting on her front stoop, darning a pair of socks and watching a gaggle of children race around the street.
She looks up at the sounds of hooves, though, and hops up. “Leigh!” she says in surprise. “What…?” she asks and then sees the sling, her mouth rounding. “Oh. May I?”
Leigh feels herself smile for the first time in far too long as she passes her precious bundle down before dismounting. “His name is Jackson.”
“Oh, Leigh,” Kelly says, gently cradling the infant, “he’s beautiful. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I needed time to decide what to do.”
Kelly looks up at her and Leigh knows she knows. “Are you sure?”
“If you’ll take him.”
“You know I will. Are you staying?”
She glances down at her little boy and resists the urge to snatch him from Kelly’s hands, fingers tightly clasping the horse’s reins to keep herself from doing so. “No, I think it’s best if I left right away.”
“What about Will?”
“He doesn’t know and must not know.” She turns and digs in her saddlebag before extracting a letter.
Kelly expertly shifts Jackson to one arm and takes it. “What’s this?”
“Just the…let’s say rules I need you to follow. It’s very simple, not more than half a page. I want Jackson to be safe, Kel,” she says softly. She will not cry, not even over her baby.
Her best friend tucks the letter into her pocket and steps forward, hugging Leigh. She’s the only one, other than Will, who can get away with this. “I will take the best care of your son.”
She forces another smile. “I know, Kelly, that’s all I ask.” Then she’s back astride her horse. She looks down at Jackson. “You’ll tell him that I love him, right?”
“Everyday.”
Leigh nods and turns for the gate.
She does not look back.