Author: Regency

Title: I’ll Love You Forever

Summary: When Baby Winthrop takes a turn for the worst, Death comes for a visit and Theresa makes what may be the hardest choice she’s ever had to make.

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They all stand there and stare at each other. And Ethan just looks like the pussy he so truly is. Sometimes, Theresa looks at him and realizes why they didn’t work out, but he always shows back up and looks at her just the right way. Then, she loses her mind all over again. She’s only ashamed when she sleeps.

Eve knocks and steps back into the room. She can already see the show down she’s interrupted. She doesn’t care because what she has to say is more important than whatever they’re arguing about now.

“Theresa.” She jumps and turns to looks at the doctor. “You need to go and get scrubbed up in the anteroom. Something’s gone wrong and I think your baby needs you.” Theresa nods and without sparing anyone another look, slips out of the door and is gone.

“Dr. Russell, what’s going on? What’s wrong with our baby?” Eve holds a hand up to silence her.

“This needs to end now. This baby needs to be held, not fought over. I can see the environment that this child will be exposed to and this is not okay. If you don’t find a way to clear this up one way or another, I will be talking to Social Services and making sure that neither of you get her.” They try to protest. “No! I have the means to do it and I will do it. Do you understand me? This is a very sick child. Hear me and hear me well. Get. It. Together.” She makes eye contact with each of them and shares a glare with Rebecca. “Got me?” They all nod grudgingly. “Good.” She leaves the room and goes back to observe Theresa in the NICU.

~~~~~

Theresa gently strokes the baby’s belly. “Hello, angel. It’s your mommy. I heard that you were having a hard time in here by yourself. I just wanted to tell you that I was back and that I’ll never leave you, okay? Never, fate won’t have it. Fate gave you and your brother to me and it wouldn’t be so cruel as to take you, my little miracle, back. We will be a family. We’ll have a great big house on the beach and your aunt and your uncles and your abuela will come to see you. They will love you like I do. You will be our little princess. And one day, your father will return to us and we’ll really be a family then. I promise you this. Just hold on, honey. Just hold on.” She kisses her fingers and then presses them to the little one’s forehead. “My perfect, little girl. I can’t wait to see you grow up. And you will, oh, you will.”

Theresa shivers when a chill blew through the NICU. She feels dark eyes on her back and twists around to see something hideous watching her. Death.

“Who are you?”

“I am Death and I have come for the child.” She presses her body against the incubator.

“No, I won’t let you. You can’t have my baby.”

“You cannot stop me.” Death puts out a hand and steals the breath straight from the lungs of the girl. Her tiny body convulses as hypoxia takes hold.

“No, no, please. Please, no! Please, I’ll do anything. Just, stop!” Death releases his hold on the child and she starts to cry weakly. Theresa caresses her little face.

“Why?”

“Why? You’re killing my little girl. Why are you doing this? She’s only a baby. She’s done nothing wrong. What can I do? I’ll do anything?”

“Anything?” The interest in his voice freezes her.

“Yes. What do you want me to do?” His response stops her heart in her chest.

“Leave her.” She twists around so fast that she almost loses her balance.

“What? No, never!”

“Then, you would not do anything.” His hand rises again and her baby thrashes. Theresa falls to her knees and concedes.

“All right. All right, I’ll leave her. Just, let her live. Please, let my daughter live.”

“You will then, let the other woman have her?” Theresa nods, because she can’t speak beyond the rock lodged in her throat. “Then, leave her. Leave her now.” Theresa doesn’t say anything, but rises and looks at the little person with life finally returning to her cheeks. “Now!”

“I am, I am. I just want to say goodbye.” She strokes the beautiful dark hair and the perfect petite nose. “I’m so sorry, my baby. I don’t want to go, but I have to. Okay? I know I’ll probably never see you again.” She looks over her shoulder to Death and he nods. She knew that, but she had hoped for mercy. Why should she? Death has never meted out much mercy in her life. “I know I’ll never see you again, but that’s all right, because you know what…I’ll love you forever. I love you for always. As long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be. Gwen can never have you. You and I are forever bound to one another. If you ever need me, I will know and I will come for you. Fate will bring us together again. May it be, my precious girl. May it be.” She blows a final kiss to her teeny gift and backs away.

I’ll love you forever

I’ll love you for always

As long as I’m living,

My baby you’ll be

Theresa runs out of the NICU, yanking off her gown and stops only to look at Gwen and says, “You can have her. I won’t be the reason she dies.” Theresa steps close to Gwen and looks dead into her eyes. “If anything happens to that baby. I will come back and I will rip your black, burning heart out. Do you understand me?”

“You listen to me, Theresa--”

“No! Do you hear me? I will come back. Don’t force me.” She pushes the gown into Gwen’s hands and runs until she can’t run anymore. She finally stops in the stairwell, where she collapses to her knees. She hates Gwen for this. She hates her. How could fate be so terrible? How! She jerks her hands through her hair and lets out a scream that reverberates throughout the building and stops the hearts of all those who hear it. It’s the sound of sorrow, of grief and loss.

When she hears the sounds of people coming for her, she stands and runs down the stairs as fast she can. She has to get away, away from the woman who will raise her child as her own and who will forbid that she ever see her again.

As long as I’m living,

My baby you’ll be

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