Gifted Connections 4

I detested the woman standing there. She had wrecked her sons. She had hurt them more than she would ever know. She might try to justify her actions so that she could sleep better at night, but she was still a heartless, selfish bitch.

“I chose my children,” I scoffed. “You heard Horatio threaten them. There’s no way for me out of here, so why fight it? I’ll make the sacrifices I need to stay with my children and make sure they are happy.”

“You may have your bath but don’t try anything funny,” Alison said after several moments of silence.

She removed my halo, and I immediately went into the adjoining room closing the door behind me, not deigning to give her an answer.

The warm water felt amazing against my skin. The bathtub was deep, and I was able to completely submerge myself under the warm bubbles. I had already washed my body and hair in the shower before I decided to take a long soak.

I felt my eyes grow heavy with sleep. Now that I was no longer drugged, sleep barely claimed me. My nightmares were back, and I didn’t have any of the guys to help me. Last night I woke myself screaming, and one of my guards came rushing into the room only to realize it was only a nightmare. He hadn’t been amused, and now I was afraid to sleep.

Now in bath, I allowed the warm water to lull me into sleep and embraced the possibility of napping, even for a little bit. I was so tired, and growing children was hard work. I lived in a constant state of nausea and exhaustion.

“Blake!” I heard a woman cry happily.

I opened my eyes and blinked in a somewhat dazed. It took me a moment to realize I was lying on a comfortable chaise lounge in a cabana surrounding by sheer white curtains on the beach. I could smell the ocean and hear the waves crashing against the shore.

I sat up and noticed I was wearing a long, flowing, white dress, and my feet bare. I felt better than I had in weeks.

“Blake!” I heard my name being called once more.

I turned to see Alex and Anna walking hand in hand towards me.

“Hey,” I cried happily before I braced myself for Alex launching towards me.

I prevented him from crashing into my baby bump.

“Where are you?” Alex cried out as happy tears coursed down his face.

“I’m at a beach,” I said in bewilderment as I bestowed several kisses on Alex’s little face. “Where are you?” I teased back.

Even if this was a dream, I wasn’t going to refrain from showing Alex how much I loved him. His peals of laughter warmed my heart.

“We’re back at base,” Anna said slowly as she sat on the other side of me. Her eyes were wide as she reached out to tentatively touch my belly. “You’re pregnant,” she said slowly with shock.

I smiled at her. They were the only reason I continued to live. They were the only reasons I hadn’t succumbed to the depressions and hopelessness I was feeling. “I know. Twins.” I told her. “Bi-paternal twins. Ever

heard of them, because I never have?”

“May I?” she asked as she continued to stare in wonder at my belly. “What’s bi-paternal twins?”

I nodded, and she placed both hands on the little bulge I had going on.

“This is one of strangest dreams I have ever had,” I laughed as I felt her hands reverently stroke me. “I got pregnant with two babies by two of my connections.” I laughed a bit caustically. “I guess I wasn’t content with having eight gifts or seven connections, I had to add the icing to the cake and become pregnant by two different men at the same time.”

“Are they boys or girls?” Alex asked in awe as he stroked my belly too. “I’m going to be an Uncle?”

I laughed. In here I could easily forget the rest of my world outside. “I have no clue yet, but yes, you sure are.”

“Where are we?” Anna asked once more after a brief moment of silence.

“On the beach,” I responded back with bewilderment.

“Is that where you’re staying, living?” she asked insistently.

I was baffled and thought I heard a door opening in the distance. I looked over my shoulder with a scrunched brow. “No… But that’s where we are.”

“No, Blake,” Anna said insistently. “I need to know where you are right now.”