Two Pink Lines

chapter 22: safe

It took Taylor two months to get pregnant again. Two months before she saw the two pink lines beaming back at her. Two months before she was able to jump into Joe's arms, sobbing happy tears.

Now Taylor was one and a half months along, and tomorrow she was going to her first ultrasound. The pregnancy was going well, especially since they already had experience. "How are you feeling?" Joe whispered in her ear, placing a gentle hand on her stomach. They were finally going to bed after a long day. Taylor had been feeling nauseous the whole while, and only just now vomited.

Taylor scooted closer to him, curling up so she fit right into his chest. "Good," She mumbled, exhausted.

"I'm excited for tom-" Joe was interrupted by a loud crash. They both sat up in a flash, turning to each other and speaking simultaneously . "James."

"I'll see what's up," Joe said in a rushed voice, already out the door. Heading towards James room, he heard another loud crash. It was coming from the kitchen. Knowing he needed to get back to Taylor as soon as possible, he grabbed James out of his toddler bed, trying to keep him asleep. Rushing back to the room, he found Taylor shivering under a thin layer of covers, a look of pure terror on her face.

Locking the door behind him, he brought James to the bed. Joe took Taylor's hand in his, looking her straight in the eye and whispering, "Love, it's going to be okay. Let's just stay calm."

Taylor nodded, her attention changing to James, who was still asleep. Picking him up in her arms, her motherly instincts returned, "Safe room."

Joe nodded, after they had James, they had a safe room installed in the house. They wanted to take extra precautions now that they had another human with them. Walking towards the closet, Joe pushed passed a bundle of Taylor's dresses, revealing a door that blended right in with the wall. He hurriedly grabbed the key that was lying on the dresser, his hands shaking as he turned the knob. Opening the door, he motioned for Taylor and James to go in first. He locked the door as he closed it, taking a seat on one of the small chairs they had set up

James was now awake, being rocked back and forth slowly by Taylor. Her face was a pale white, a ghostly reflection of her usual spirited self. Joe rubbed her arm calmingly, though he was freaking out himself. Joe took out his phone, dialing 911. Before he had the chance to call security as well, they heard a low voice shout from what they presumed to be the bedroom. "Honey, I'm home!"

"Tay tay, sweetie pie, c'mere," He said, and there was another loud crash. "I hope Alwyn isn't home. We don't want that, do we." Taylor placed her hands over James' ears, hoping he wasn't hearing anything. "Let's make a deal. You come out here, I don't hurt anyone. I'm giving you ten seconds."

He began to count down, "Ten... nine... eight... seven... six..." The look of terror on Joe's face grew, as he pulled Taylor and James into a tight hug. "Five... four... three... two... one."

"BANG!" he shouted, and a loud gunshot echoed through the air. This provoked a loud wail from James, who began to sob uncontrollably in his mother's arms.

"Shh," Taylor whispered softly, peppering his face with light kisses.

"Darling, is that my son? Is that little jamesy?" The voice called. "I warned you about going and getting knocked up by someone else. Next time, DON'T FUCK SOMEONE ELSE!"

James wailed louder, and there were loud footsteps headed in their direction. Joe stroked the back of James head, trying to calm him. "I can hearrr you," the voice came again, and the closet door opened. They could hear the clothes being shuffled around, and Taylor moved closer to Joe, trying to calm James who was still bawling.

"Police are coming," Joe whispered in Taylor's ear, hoping that would be a small sliver of comfort for her.

Taylor took ragged breaths, silent tears rolling down her cheeks. "COME OUT OR I'LL START SHOOTING!" He screamed, already releasing a warning shot.

Joe glanced at Taylor's petrified face, motioning for her to come to the floor behind the chairs. "Shh, honey, it's okay," Taylor comforted James. Joe tried again to redial the security, but they weren't picking up.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, "I KNOW YOU'RE IN HERE MOTHERFUCKERS."

James began coughing wildly, and Taylor looked up at Joe with a worried face, whispering, "Asthma attack."

Joe crawled around, reaching into the small shelf that they kept in the safe room. Mixed in with food and water, there was James inhaler. Ignoring the loud shouts from the intruder, Taylor helped James with his inhaler, though it was hard with his constant sobs. There was another gunshot. Close. Too close. Quickly tears were pulling down all their faces, as they huddled closer together.

"POLICE! Please put down your firearms!" Came a shout from downstairs.

The rest was a blur. There were more gunshots. Lots of shouts. Soon the door opened, and Taylor, Joe, and James were hustled out of the house. They were being asked questions, then the next thing they knew was Taylor vomiting on the sidewalk, and Joe comforting her.

Taylor looked around frantically after she finished, "James. Where's James?"

"He's with the nurse," Joe rubbed her back. "It's okay. We're okay."

"I need to find James," Taylor said desperately, running towards the direction of the blinking ambulance lights. James was in the arms of a nurse, still sobbing.

"He's all good," The nurse assured Taylor, handing him back into his mother's arms.

Joe looked worriedly at them both, "They're looking over the house tonight, so do you want to stay at my mum's?" Taylor nodded, still having a hard time verbalizing her thoughts. "I'll call her and let her know we're coming."

Upon arriving at Joe's parents house, Elizabeth ushered them in quickly. "Are you guys alright?"

"We're good," Joe assured her. "I think some sleep would be good."

"Of course, of course," Elizabeth smiled at the both. "You guys can take the guest bedroom."

James was already asleep on Taylor's shoulder. After settling into the bedroom, Joe was ready to hit the sack. It was 2 AM after all. Taylor had forgotten to bring pajamas, so was instead dressed in Joe's old blue sweatshirt and sweatpants.

"You alright?" Joe asked, whispering so he didn't wake their sleeping child. Taylor nodded from her spot on the bed. Joe reached over James, stroking her cheek gently, "You sure?"

"I'm scared," Taylor admitted.

Joe frowned, "Me too. But it's okay, because everything's okay now."

"I just- If something happened to James... or to you... I don't know what I'd do," Tears sprouted in Taylor's eyes, threatening to fall down her rosy cheeks.

He took her hand into his, rubbing small comforting circles on her palm. "Don't focus on the hypotheticals. All that matters is that we're here now." Taylor sighed, and Joe could tell she still wasn't at ease.

Lifting himself over James, he crawled towards Taylor. She had her leaned back against the upholstered headboard, her eyes closed to hide that red that plagued her blue irises. Wrapping his arms around her fragile frame, his lips made contact with her messy blonde hair. Taylor began to sob softly, her body shaking in Joe's arms.

"It's okay," Joe reassured her. "Everything's okay."

"I'm so scared," Taylor repeated. "I'm so scared."

"Deep breaths," Joe coaxed, caressing her back. Taylor's breath only quickened. Joe moved a hand down to her ever-so-slightly bigger stomach. "Stress isn't good for the baby, love. Take deep breaths for them."

This caught Taylor's attention. For the baby. Trying to calm herself, she eventually relaxed, taking slow, even breaths. Burying her face into Joe's gray t-shirt, she hugged him tighter. Joe let her clamber onto his lap, so she was tucked in between his legs. "We're safe now," Joe said softly. "We're safe."

I'm incredibly uncreative so could you guys maybe comment baby name ideas if you have any? Anything that you think Taylor and Joe might name their kids. Thank youuuu :)

-Livi <3