"AJ, I have to tell Mama. I have to! She's like the only family I have and if I dont tell her, I'll feel guilty for the rest of my life!" Mysty yelled as she paced the kitchen. "No! Remember what happened last time you went to the apartments? Yeah, um, we almost got shot! Are you insane?!" AJ yelled back, getting up in her face.
"Fine, dont go. I'LL go ALONE. How's that?!" Mysty hollered, collapsing in a chair. "No. I wont let you go my yourself." AJ said a little more quietly. "Then come with me. This is important to me..." Mysty whispered, gently rubbing her swollen belly. "Its been months since everything happened, I mean, look at my stomach! I need to tell Mama." AJ smiled at her round body and agreed to take her up to the apartments where she used to live.
"Mama? Are you home?" Mysty called through the door. Footsteps got closer and closer, but no one answered the door. There was a loud shattering behind her and Mysty swung around in time to see AJ fall to the floor, shards of glass littering the floor. Jimmy grabbed Mysty by her hair and dragged her into their old apartment. He threw her to the ground, kicking her in the ribs everytime she tried to stand up. "Jimmy! Stop! Please- quit!" Mysty begged through her tears as she clutched her stomach with both hands, trying to protect the life that lay inside.
"Get up you dumb bitch! Get up!" Jimmy screamed at her, pulling her up by her hair then smacking her back down. Mysty begged and pleaded that he leave her alone, wrapping her arms protectively around her dormant baby. Jimmy noticed the huge bulge of her stomach for the first time and that threw him into a fit of rage. He yanked her arms away from her body and slugged her in the stomach, sending her flying across the room. She cried and cried, terrified for her yet-to-be-born child. She began to pray silently for the life of her baby, her own life, and AJ, whom she hadnt seen since he collapsed outside. Jimmy came flying at her, shattering a beer bottle against the side of her head. She closed her eyes, but could feel the steel toe of his boots still kicking her, in the stomach and in the ribs... then...
The monotonous beep of the heart monitor beside her, gently tugged Mysty awake. Her arms were attatched to multiple IVs, and a bright light above her, reflected off the white of the room. She looked around, noticing the smallness of her stomach. Tears welled up in her eyes as she remembered blurred details.
"And how are we feeling Ms.Wilson?" A young nurse asked as she walked in, pulling aside the curtains, letting in the warm sunlight.
"Like I just got the living hell beat outta me." Mysty mumbled. "You did, honey. You did. But luckily, your boyfriend got ahold of that monster and saved you." she replied sweetly, checking the needles, tubes and heart monitor. "Honestly, hon, we didnt know if you'd make it or not."
"What about AJ?" Mysty asked, trying to sit up, but being forced back down by the nurse. "Where's AJ?!" "Oh Ms. Wilson, didnt anyone tell you?" The nurse sat gently on the end of the bed, and Mysty began to weep. She feared the worst, and began to shake with uncontrolable tears.
"Jesus, what the hell did you say to her Becca?" AJ interupted, giving the nurse a quick hug. "Mysty- honey are you ok?" Mysty looked up at the foot of her bed, seeing the beautiful form of AJ. His eyes, peered over a pair of dark sunglasses, and his muscular arms protruded through a sheer button up shirt. He leaned down and wrapped his arms around Mysty, hugging her as tightly as the IVs would allow. She wept some more, but this time for joy, smelling his familiar smell and feeling his familiar body pressed against hers delicately.
"AJ..." Mysty sobbed, pointing down at her shrunken belly. AJ put his fingers to her lips to quiet her and quickly replaced them with his lips.
"Its going to be alright..." "Ok, AJ, she needs some sleep- go on out now." The nurse said with a a playful shove. Mysty recieve one more kiss then he was gone and her eyelids closed heavily, lulling her into a deep sleep.
"Yeah, thats mommy right there. She's sleeping so you have to be quiet." AJ's deep voice whispered quietly in the room. Mysty's eyes flittered open, gazing into his big brown eyes, then noticed the small bundle he was holding.
"What'd that?" she mumbled groggily. "This..." AJ said, laying the bundle in her arms. "...is Destiny."
Mysty looked down into what she held in her arms, seeing for the first time, the big beautiful brown eyes that looked so familiar to her, that belonged to her new baby girl. She looked up at AJ.
"I'll explain later... right now, just enjoy our creation." AJ murmured against her ear as Joey came tumbling in the room, running straight for AJ's lap. Mysty's eyes filled with tears as she looked at her family. Joey, AJ, and now baby Destiny... Her heart clenched tightly. Now that everything was perfect- what would happen next? Something bad... she could feel it.
It was awhile before Mysty was allowed to leave the hospital, but she was greeted warmly back at home by AJ and his friends. She was shocked to walk in and find Mama there, all decked out in her sunday best, there to welcome her too. Mama had moved out of their old apartments in with her niece and nephew-in-law further out of town. It was a nice neighborhood, according to Mama, and ooohh how she loved the new baby! Mama had warmed up nicely to the guys and had taken to Nick especially. It was funny to watch them tease each other. Mysty walked slowly around the house, hugging the guys, kissing AJ and holding her precious baby girl.
Late that night, Mysty was strolling slowly through the dark house, carrying and rocking her beloved Destiny. She was passing by the front door when she heard a soft tap. Assuming one of the guys had left something vital at the house, she eased over to the door and opened it. Looking outside, she saw nothing. The balmy night made the air feel thick, but occationally a light wind would cut through the air, making breathing possible. Mysty shrugged, stepping onto the porch and breathing in deeply. Her baby stirred in her arms, cooing softly, then dropping back into deep slumber. Mysty sighed and headed back into the house, but she had barely reached the front door when a leather hand wound around her mouth. A strong arm pulled her back against a hard body, ripping her baby from her arms. A harsh whisper hissed through her ear.
"Scream, and the baby dies. Now get in the house." The arm that held her so tightly, propelled her through the doorway as she collapsed on the floor, sobbing. The last sound she heard before the roar of the engine was the voice of her baby crying, as unfamiliar arms dragged her into the night....
"AJ!! AJ WAKE UP!!" Mysty screamed as she tore through the house, throwing herself onto the bed.He jumped up, grabbing Mysty by the arms trying to calm her down.
"What?! Baby, whats wrong?!" he asked worriedly, holding her shaking body in his arms. "Destiny! He took her! He took my baby!" Mysty screamed, falling against AJ's body, trembling, gripping at his body. Her hands were ice cold and AJ tried to understand what she was saying.
"Who took Destiny, Mysty? WHO took my baby girl??" AJ asked, jumping off the bed towards the phone. "911? Someone has just kidnapped my baby girl! Get someone over here now! NOW!" AJ yelled into the phone, then slammed it down, tears streaming down his face as he went back to comfort his hysterical girlfriend.
"Is that it?! Are you doing all you can?" AJ yelled to the police officers as they walked around the brightly lit police station. AJ and Mysty had been escorted down there to answer some questions and get some pictures out, etc. Mysty just sat in a daze now crying non-stop but not uttering a single noise.
"Mr. McLean, we are doing everything we can, but I'm going to be honest with you." A police officer said as he sat AJ down and took the seat beside him. "Thousands of children are kidnapped or lost everyday. Once in awhile we make a pleasant reunion between parents and kids. But most of time, even though I hate to admit it, the reunions are between parents and bodies, or there is no reunion at all. We are doing all we can, Mr. McLean, and we promise to let you know if we hear anything." "Great." AJ muttered, slumping against the uncomfortable plastic chair. He looked over at Mysty. "How are you holding up, baby?"
Mysty didnt answer, she just sat there, crying silently. AJ groaned loudly, followed by a deep sigh and stood up. He began to pace the station, stopping by the coke machines to get a few drinks, then he continied pacing. Finally, a smal, cold hand reached out to his. "AJ, sit down. You're making me nervous." Mysty said quietly, releasing his arm and going back to her silent daze.
Weeks passed, months passed, finally years began to pass. AJ and Mysty never talked about their lost child, but deep in their hearts, they still hoped she come back to them one day...
"Joey, honey, go see if Lissa is awake." Mysty scrambled around the house, trying to get Joey's lunch together before the bus showed up. Joey was 8 years old now, and was attending the second grade. He loved every minute of it. "Yup. She's playing in her bed, Mom." Joey said as he pranced out into the kitchen, giving his mom a quick hug. "I have to go now."
Mysty heard the bus honk and sent her son on his way. Then, after she waved to the bus, she walked into the bedroom, where her little one and two-year old daughter sat tossing her stuffed animals around.
"Hey Lissa." Mysty said softly, glancing towards the tangled sheets on her bed. AJ had been gone for about a month and was coming home tomorrow. Anxiety was setting in.
"Hi mommy." Lissa said with a smile, looking up from her stuffed animals. Her hair was the same curly brown that AJ's was, naturally, but her eyes were the same big green as Joey's. Mysty smiled. This was a beatiful baby. She was just starting to get Lissa dressed when the doorbell rang.
Pulling her hair into a loose ponytail as she walked, she opened the door and there stood a police officer.
"Ms. Wilson?" the officer asked politely. Checking the legal pad and clipboard he held in his hand. "Yes, thats me..." Mysty replied. AJ still hadnt proposed, but he was so faithful, so loving that it was Ok with Mysty for the time being. "Ms. Wilson, I think we found something that belongs to you." the officer said, straight-faced, and Mysty feared the worse. It must be AJ, she decided, and he died in a car or plane crash... "We found your daughter."
Mysty chocked on those words. "You found Destiny?" she asked, tears filling her eyes. "Yes ma'am. Your ex boyfriend Jimmy took her and was actually taking quite good care of her, well, the best he could. He admitted to having taken her, and we now have him in custody. Would you mind coming down to the station to get her?"
"Um, sure. Let me get my baby, and call Joey's school... would you like to come in for a second?" The officer smiled and came inside. Mysty ran around with the cordless phone stuck to her ear, talking to Joey's school explaining that if they needed anything- she'd be in reach with her cell phone. She continued talking a rapid rate, collecting her other child and heading out the door, setting down the cordless just before she walked out.
