The Devil Walks Among Us; Book l - Completed 4/21/22

If it Hadn't Been for Love

Mia returned from a long day at work, sighing heavily as she removed her shoes at the door and hung her bag on the hook, taking her lunch bag to the kitchen to empty it of its dishes. The John's had gone out to dinner to celebrate their anniversary, leaving Mia and Michael to have the house to themselves.

After hearing footsteps from above, she smiled to herself as she knew that around seven every other day, Ella was being bathed. Seeming to be the one who managed to sneak up on Michael for once, she peered into the bedroom, seeing Ella laying on her back on the bed, seeing the familiar pattern of the heated blanket Michael had splayed out for her with her new set of pajamas next to her. She leaned against the doorway as she watched Michael tend to Ella, his fatherly instincts coming very natural to him. His touches were feather-like as he treated Ella as if she were paper. The infant smiled up at him as he used a fresh towel to ensure that her skin was dry before he put on her pajamas. She chuckled slightly as she watched him double-check his diaper applying skills for a second time as he was worried he didn't do it right.

"Momma will be home soon, honey." She heard him whisper to Ella, letting her grip his index finger as his other hand buttoned up the infant's clothing. "I think she'll be proud of me for actually bathing you right. I don't see any soap I left in your hair this time." He chuckled, looking at Ella's perfect face. It amazed him that he could create such a beautiful being.

"For the record, you didn't leave soap in her hair last time," Mia giggled, entering the room, seeing Ella now held in Michael's arms as he was getting ready to walk down the stairs to get her bottle from the counter he had left to get to room temperature. "I was only teasing you."

He grinned at her as she approached, leaning down to let her kiss his bearded cheek before greeting her infant, his heart fluttering as he watched Ella smile at her mother. This will never get old.

"How was your day?"

"Rough, per usual." She scoffed, leaning her head on Michael's shoulder.

"Did they keep you overtime today too?"

"No, I went straight to the horses to feed before coming home. I didn't feel like going back out." She chuckled.

"You know I don't like you going out there by yourself," He shook his head. "Not after everything that happened..."

"Believe me, I've been keeping up with that. He's pending trial and serious jail time. I highly doubt he'll be stupid enough to come after me again."

He scoffed, "He was stupid enough to come after you after taunting me that day too." Referring to the time Mia had crossed paths with him at the store while she was shopping for baby supplies.

"I know, but don't think I didn't take my gun with me. Those cameras I got out there now have been making me feel better since the horses aren't exactly in my backyard anymore."

"I just don't want anything to happen to you." He huffed.

"I'll be fine, Michael. You've done more than enough to make sure I'm safe but know I'm not completely defenseless." She assured him.

"I don't doubt it," He sighed, watching her remove the elastic from her hair, sighing as she removed her jacket and laid it over the chair. "You okay?"

"I'm just tired, Michael."

"I know you are," He replied, putting a now sleepy Ella in the bassinet before approaching Mia. "I'll go get a bath ready for you and make you something to eat."

"No, Michael, it's okay," She waved her hand. "I have to get ready for work tomorrow. I still have to make a bottle or two to stay ahead because I don't want her to run out-"

"We have formula too for when we need it, Mia," Michael reassured her. "You're stressing yourself out again."

"I know, but I can't help it."

"Yes, you can. You don't need your heart monitor going off again."

She huffed, "And I'm trying for it not to, but-"

"No buts, Mia," Michael raised a brow. "How many times has it gone off today?"

"I can't remember, but I wrote it down on a piece of paper and carried it with me. I think I palpitated three or four times throughout the day..."

He huffed, "Let me see."

She looked at him, pouting before extending her wrist out to him, showing him her watch that had also been tracking her heart rate. "It's gone off four times today, Mia..."

"Something like that, I guess." She frowned.

"Is work really stressing you out that bad?"

She fought the tears welling up in her eyes, chewing at her lip as she looked around, desperately trying to ignore Michael's intense gaze. He knew exactly what was going on in that head of hers. He just wished she'd tell him.

"It... It's not just work, Michael. I-" She frowned. "I'm stressed out about all of this. We don't have a house anymore, I'm constantly worried about the horses, I'm worried about how the insurance is going to play out, some of the girls at work are constantly questioning me about Ella and if things got settled with Kevin, I'm worried about him coming after me again-"

She was babbling again.

Like usual, he put his index finger over her lips to silence her. He knew why she was stressed out and quite frankly, so was he. However, he didn't have the worries of a gruelling job on his back, but he could admit that he kept himself busy when Mia left up until she came home. He too was worried: worried about his baby girl and if he had played his cards right on being a first-time father, worrying on how he would get rid of Kevin, worrying about Mia and her palpitations and other health issues, afraid that she would relapse, worried about keeping her and Ella safe... The list goes on.

"I know why you're worried," He assured her. "You need a break."

"How am I going to take a break when I have all of this going on in my head? I can't just take a break from being a mother-"

"I'm not saying that. I'm saying you need a break from work."

She huffed, "I only have a couple of weeks for paid time off..."

"Then why don't you plan for somewhere for us to go? Somewhere that you can keep your mind off of things here?" He suggested. Although he hated the idea of going out of town, he too wondered if that's what he needed too. After all, he has been in Haddonfield his whole life.

"Like a vacation?"

"What else would it be?" He chuckled.

"I don't know. It seems odd that you're the one wanting to take a vacation."

He shrugged, "Just giving ideas."

"What if I were to take the horses with me? Like what if we went camping somewhere-"

"It's whatever you want to do. Being isolated somewhere in the woods sounds better than some hotel..." He grinned.

"Yeah, I think I know why," She scoffed. "You can really be yourself, huh?"

"We're way past that. I was thinking of something else..."

"Michael!"

"What?"

She shook her head, "Nothing. So, I guess I'll start looking at some places..."

"Do you want to ask your brother too?"

"Oh, no, no, mister," She shook her finger and arched her brow. "I know exactly why you want him to go!"

"Why?"

"So you two can watch stupid football and leave me and LJ to babysit you two!"

Michael scoffed.

"And because you don't have nobody else to drink beer with!"

"Fine. Just me and you." He chuckled.

"Hmph. Besides, John doesn't much like camping anyway. He's always been a clean freak."