Past
It's been a year already that Charles has her under his control. Charlotte hates him with everything in her. In an old worn-out dress, she paces up and down in the room rubbing her swollen belly. Her back hurts and her body is bruised.
"Everything will work out," she promises and looks down at her belly. "I'll fight for you. Even if this wasn't what I wanted, I still love you."
Present
Charlotte puts on a dress that Anna gave her just so she can have something. She brushes out her long blonde hair and lets it hang loose.
"Can I go see my kids before I face...before I face them?" Charlotte asks doctor Green and Anna. They both look at each other and then back at her nodding. She hugs her stomach and walks out after the doctor down the hallway. A million thoughts are filling her head. How would they react? Does Sam know what happened in these twelve years? Do her girls know?
She enters the room to Oliver that laid on the hospital bed with a drip in his arm. He never had the right nutrition, saw daylight, or had to run as fast as they did when they finally got the chance to. He looks a lot like Charles, but that doesn't make Charlotte love him less.
"Hey," she greets him and takes a seat next to him taking his hand.
"We made it, mom," he whispers and presses his mother's hand.
"We made it," she repeats and touches his hair. "I'm so sorry, Oliver. I'm sorry about everything you went through. Now that we're free, it's time you live normally. Both you and Millie."
"Where is she?" he asks sleepily.
"Rest sweetheart," she says and kisses his forehead before getting up. "I love you."
He moans softly falling back asleep. The medication makes him exhausted. She walks out and goes to the children's side to see if her three-year-old is still asleep. There the blonde little girl lies awake. She looks at her mom and smiles. Every morning when they woke, she would smile at her mom giving her hope to face every day and keep fighting for them. Only this smile is a little different. It's filled with joy, yes fear, but more peace.
"Hi sunshine," she goes to her and hugs her.
"Where's daddy?" She asks. Charlotte looks at her and cups her cheek. "Is he gone?"
"We're safe now love," Charlotte smiles and takes a seat on the bed. "Can I just hold you?"
"Yes mommy," she climbs into her mother's embrace sharing this moment with her. Charlotte doesn't have a favorite between Millie and Oliver. No, she loves them both equally, but Millie is her little girl and she nearly had let her down as well.
Sam waits patiently in the waiting area along with his two daughters. They've grown into two beautiful young ladies. Olivia anxiously looks at her dad that smiles softly at her.
"She'll be here now," Sam tells her and sits back. "Girls, a lot has happened and your mom...she didn't ask to be in the position she was, okay?"
"We know dad," Olivia replies and stands up to get rid of her anxiety. She's a nervous wreck, especially having to stand in for Charlotte to make sure Mila will have everything she needs as a female role model and have the childhood she deserves.
"What do we call her even?" Mila asks her father. "Mom? Aunt? Ma'am?"
"She's still your mother, despite what you call her," he says. She nods and looks up at Olivia. The girl looks at the door and froze. Her chest is moving up and down fast. Sam stands up to see what she's looking at. Mila gets up as well and pushes her tiny hand into Sam's.
Charlotte opens the glass doors and looks at the two girls with wide eyes. Olivia rushes to her and grabs her tightly in her arms.
"Hi," Charlotte whispers with tears in her eyes and hugs her back. Olivia stands back with a strange look and looks down at her stomach. Charlotte notices it and just touches her cheek. Mila finally gets the courage to hug her as well. The girl was too young to understand when her mom left. All she remembers is her mother's humming and playfully feeding her.
"You're pregnant?" Mila asks and looks at her stomach. Charlotte smiles at her and finally looks at Sam.
"Hi Sam," she greets him. He steps closer trying to stop himself from crying. His heart breaks seeing her alive before his very eyes. She hesitantly put her arms around his waist hugging him. He folds his around her shoulders and holds her as tight as he can.
"I can't believe you're alive," he cries. She forces herself away which he immediately allowed to happen. She quickly dries up her tears and looks at her kids. Showing weakness in front of her children made her feel vulnerable. Acting strong made her feel proud and smart, even if she wasn't strong.
"I'm seven months pregnant," she tells them and rubs her tummy. "The doctor told me it's going to be a healthy baby boy."
"We're having a brother," Mila gasps and grab Sam's hand.
"Are you going to stay with us?" Olivia asks her. Charlotte inhales deeply and looks nervously up at Sam.
"Should we talk in private?" he asks. She shakes her head nicely and rests her arms on her daughter's shoulders.
"I will sort out everything," she says and looks at them. Her eyes meet Olivia's. The love she feels for them is just the same as the day she gave birth to them. "Wow, you two have grown so much."
"Charlotte, we had to pack up your house," Sam says getting her attention. She looks surprised at him breathing heavily. "Someone broke in already and left a great mess, so we just packed up what we could."
"The house?"
"There's barely a wall standing," he replies. She nods her head slowly and inhales nervously. "You can stay with us. I'm sure you'd like to catch up with the girls. Also, being alone while pregnant is..."
"Thank you for the offer," she nods unhappily. "But uhmmm...it's not so easy, Sam."
She looks down and inhales deeply to calm herself. Her body is feeling numb and shaky.
"There uhmmm, there's somebody...well, two people I'd like you to meet," she finally says and looks at him with tears in her eyes. "We are still after all...family. I just...I'm sorry, I need time to adjust."
"We understand," Sam nods helplessly. "Even if you bring ten people, my house is open, Charlotte."
She looks at Mila and touches her hair with a perfect little smile. With a sigh, she pulls the girls back into her embrace hoping she won't wake up and find that this was all just a dream.