Elijah

The next couple of weeks went by smoothly, considering everything that had been going on before then. Dawn had no nightmares, and she seemed to be doing much better. She still had quiet moments, but she had always been the quiet type of person, even when she was younger. Lizzy was a month old, and the papers I needed had come in. Dawn and I were officially Elizabeth’s parents. The DNA test results came back, so Kaleb and I knew that the girl, Joanna Miller, was the mother. She was in social services for years, and she ended up aging out of the system. The DNA also matched Erick, so there was no question about who Jessica was spending her time with before she was eighteen.

Joanna’s body was thoroughly autopsied, and the doctor found out that the baby was at least eight months in the womb, just from looking at the placenta. I was happy to find out that Elizabeth wasn’t as young as we first thought—she was just small, but that could easily be because her mother didn’t eat well, or took drugs.

We hadn’t ventured out much because I had a feeling Morgan had something planned, and I didn’t want him to have any chance of getting to Dawn. In the interview Kaleb had conducted with both him and Joan, they had hinted that they would do anything to have her back. Why, we had no idea.

Morgan had said he’d be back to get what was his. I was more than willing to move, but Dawn wouldn’t let me do that.

“I like it here. I can’t see me being comfortable anywhere else I know you haven’t been,” Dawn had said. I didn’t make us pack everything and move within days, like I wanted. I did purchase an apartment that was furnished with everything we needed, in case we had to leave at a moment’s notice.

Kelly and Kaleb had been over a few times, and we’d played a couple of card games, just having fun. Somehow, Kaleb talked us into playing a truth game. I groaned, not knowing how Dawn would take to all this, but at least us guys were still coherent and hardly had much to drink at all; someone would have to get up with the babies.

“I’ll go first . . . Elijah, what is your favorite position?” Kaleb started.

“Do you really want to know?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yup,” he nodded.

“I’d have to say…doggy style, or spread eagle…can’t decide between them.”

“I love doggy,” Kelly said brightly with a giggle.

Dawn sat there staring at me, with only a slight blush. I couldn’t help but wink at her, making her blush darker.

“I like any style,” Kaleb said with a shrug. “I’m not picky. I do love to be on the bottom sometimes, when the opportunity arises.”

“Dawn?” Kelly asked with a smile, waiting for her to answer. I really didn’t expect her to.

“Um, I don’t know,” Dawn answered, looking off to the side.

“That’s okay. Eli will help you figure that out,” Kelly laughed.

“Okay . . . Elijah, your turn,” Kaleb said.

“Alright. What’s your favorite TV show?” I asked.

“Ohh! Anything with vampires. They are sooo hot,” Kelly said dreamily. “Vampire guys are yummy to look at.”

“I’m more into anything supernatural,” Kaleb said. “Two guys fighting demons…now that is entertaining.”

“Oh, that angel guy is cute,” Kelly winked.

“Where was your first kiss?” Dawn asked bashfully.

“Which first kiss? I’ve had a few,” Kaleb winked.

“Any first kiss, I guess,” she shrugged.

“Hmm. Well, with Elijah, my first kiss was in my playroom. With Kelly, it was at the club where we met,” Kaleb answered easily.

“Hmm. That was a great first kiss,” Kelly said, licking her lips after taking another drink.

“What about you, Dawn?” I asked, not letting my eyes fall from hers as she sat next to me.

“I’ve never really been kissed—not that I’ve been able to like, at least,” she said sadly. I had briefly kissed her weeks ago, but it was just a peck, so it didn’t count as a first kiss. At least not to me.

“Well, can we change that,” I said, leaning my forehead against hers.

She nodded, before taking the few inches that separated our lips. Her lips were soft and warm as they met mine. I wasn’t going to push it any further, but I let my lips stay there until she pulled away. Her cheeks were red, but her eyes were lit with happiness.

I couldn’t help but press my lips to hers again a few more times because Kaleb whistled at us, making her blush more.

Most of the night went like that, each of us asking questions everyone had to answer to some extent. Dawn didn’t really ask anything personal, but she answered a few here and there that she could. She hadn’t watched much TV or movies, so she didn’t know what to answer.

By the time midnight rolled around, both girls were nearly passed out and there were two hungry babies. I sent them up to bed while Kaleb and I took care of kids. Lizzy was still small to be a month and a half old but was healthy. At least there were no delays in her growth, except she didn’t eat as much in one setting, and sometimes was hungry an hour afterward, while other times she could wait up to four hours to eat.

Once Lizzy and Lilly were both fed and changed, we made our way upstairs to put them in their beds. We had recently bought a playpen we’d set up in the spare room. We couldn’t help but laugh when we saw both girls passed out on the same bed. Of course we took pictures, because drunk nights were always something that had to be documented.

Turning the light off after I grabbed the bassinet and I wheeled it into the spare room, we decided we’d just sleep together, as we’d done it before with no issues. Plus, we’d be woken up by the little ones soon enough.

“Think the girls would be mad if we woke them up early in the mornin’?” Kaleb asked as he laid on the bed.

“Kelly would,” I laughed quietly so I didn’t wake the sleeping babies.

“You’re right. She’d have my balls, and more,” Kaleb yawned. “Now, no cuddlin’.”

“You’re the one who likes to steal the covers,” I joked, remembering how we would always fight over them.

“Whatever,” he mumbled sleepily.

* * *

Dawn

That next morning, I woke up with the sun shining brightly through the crack in the curtains. It seemed to be brighter than normal, so I squinted against it as I slowly made my way out of bed, leaving it empty. I padded towards the bathroom, hoping a shower would help clear the fog that covered my sleepy brain.

My lips tingled, thinking about that kiss. I hadn’t willingly kissed anyone before. Elijah’s lips were soft and warm. I didn’t expect them to be so . . . perfect. I was used to hard, demanding lips tainted by drugs or cigarettes.

It was so much better than the little peck weeks ago, before Morgan showed up, and before I had to come to the conclusion that I had a reason to live, to get better, and try to be someone Elijah and Lizzy could possibly deserve.

I was falling for Elijah—hard. I’m not sure when it happened, but my heart beat for him. It could have been watching him with Lizzy, being there for me when I needed him the most, or everything all together.

Last night was fun, and I learned a few things I didn’t know about everyone, myself included.

When I got downstairs, things didn’t seem so bright. The smell of pancakes and bacon was in the air, making my stomach growl. I had started eating more, which made Elijah more than happy. Reaching the kitchen, I saw Kelly sitting with her head in her hands, while Kaleb laughed at her.

“Good mornin’,” Elijah said, giving me a hug once I reached him at the counter, where he was finishing off the last batch of pancakes. “Sleep good?”

“Hmmhm,” I answered, not wanting to part from him. I craved his warmth and never wanted to leave if I didn’t have to.

“Good,” Elijah said with a smile. “How ‘bout you go sit down? I’ll bring the food over.” I was hoping he’d kiss me again, afraid to take charge and do it myself.

Knowing he wouldn’t let me help, I took a seat at the table. Lilly was in the high chair, looking around, while Lizzy was in the swing, fast asleep. She had grown and was an absolute joy. Joslyn loved to spoil her, and she had so many things already, I didn’t think she’d ever want for anything.

Last week, Elijah had taken me to a clothing store to pick out some I could choose myself. I didn’t really want much, nor need anything, but to make him happy, I picked out a few nicer things. I was starting to find my clothing tighter as I gained weight.

Last time I looked in the mirror, I could see my green eyes were brighter, and my face wasn’t as thin. My ribs were no longer black and blue. It took them the longest to heal. I was happy I was looking better, knowing that it pleased Elijah.

“Since you’re both finally up among the living,” Kaleb began as we all started to eat, “the trial start date, for at least Galvin and a few others, will start January 27^th. As of right now, they have enough evidence against them that Dawn won’t need to testify. Her statement, along with her signed affidavit, is more than enough. Plus, a few of his guys gave out more information, thinking they could get less time.”

“I thought mafia families were tight and didn’t rat anyone of their own out,” Kelly said between bites.

“Yes, they usually don’t. It’s clear as day that this mafia team is not as tight as the bigger ones. Galvin won’t be seeing the light of day for a very long time,” Kaleb went on. “Most of his men will be in the same position.”

“What about Morgan?” I asked. He had yet to be found—same with my mother. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to call her my mother anymore.

“Once he is found, and there is a nationwide search for him and Joan, he will be put in jail without bail. Now, since he is a flight risk, and the one who captured the most girls off the streets, his will be a more detailed trial. They may want you to testify against him and your mother, since you once did live with him. But you don’t have to if you really don’t want to,” Kaleb answered.

“What will happen if I don’t?” I asked, needing to know so I could think about what I should do.

“Once again, with the evidence we have against him, he would be sentenced to life. If he has a lawyer half as good as Elijah’s, he may be able to get less and be out within twenty years. Same with Joan. If they have any type of money to have that type of lawyer, that means if you testify, you could be rewarded money for the abuse you were subjected to.”

“I don’t want money, I want them to pay for what they did,” I said.

“Of course, you don’t,” Elijah said with a smile. “You’ve hardly wanted anything at all.”

“Why would I? I don’t need anything more than I have now,” I simply answered.

Elijah gave me a look that said more than words ever could. It was filled with happiness and hope, and something else I couldn’t place.