Trauma of the Forest (Meadema)

~ Chapter 85: Deserved Punishment ~

Warning: mentions of past atrocities committed against Beth and Viv (raping, kidnapping, hostage-taking, starvation, etc.).

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Three weeks later the time had come, a moment they were looking forward to but also dreading. The trial. As victims, they would have to share their side of the story with the judge, they would finally be able to make the unspoken words known to the judge, finally this would be the thing that would close this terrible chapter in their lives.

Beth was exactly 34 weeks and 6 days pregnant today, the moment of truth was creeping closer and closer. The past three weeks have been fantastic, finally a life outside the doors of the house again, finally enjoying the spring sun on their faces. Finally Viv could proudly show her pregnant wife on the street, finally they could get their night's rest back and they could give the last baby things a place in the house in peace. 

But it was strange, it all felt very strange. When they walked through the forest for a while, they couldn't help but stay on their guard, constantly looking around to see if a man would suddenly appear from somewhere in the bushes. When they walked in the supermarket, they would look around, when they walked through the park. It would take a while before they were really completely at ease.

'You ready to go liefje?'. Beth nodded, her beanie on because of the still cold spring morning and besides, it was still quite early. They would have to travel all the way to London, because that is where the hearing would take place. And despite the fact that this hearing will not start until 3pm, they had to be in the car at 7am to be there well in time.

They both got into the car, in the meantime they had decided to buy a new car, since they had to return the borrowed car and would never know 100% whether there were still trackers in the materials of their old car. So now that they got into the car together for the first time, they had secretly put the maxi-cosi in the car and attached the mirror to the headrest to see how it would look.

'Look honey, your blanket and here I have some breakfast'. Viv put the blue blanket over her. For the first time since she became pregnant Beth is wearing proper clothes, well actually Viv's proper clothes because her own clothes have become a bit too small, but that didn't mean a nice warm cozy sweater, but a T-shirt with a neat blazer and trousers.

'Thank you'. Viv looked at her wife, who put the breakfast in her lap and started to look down. 'Hey liefie, you okay?'. A deep sigh left Beth's mouth. 'I just want it all to be over and focus completely on the baby'. Viv bent down and stuck her head in the car, she put her hand next to Beth's on her baby bump and rubbed it. 'It's okay lieverd. Just a little while longer and then those men will be gone for good, then we can prepare ourselves for the arrival of our baby'.

To their great gratitude, it was quiet on the road, they could certainly just drive past the busy cities. And yet, despite the fact that Viv knew that those men were nowhere, she couldn't help but immediately see that image of Peter and Jack driving behind them when she looked in her rear-view mirror, which made her automatically grab Beth's hand.

'You okay sweetheart?'. Beth looked at her, she seemed to see that Viv's face seemed to darken slightly. 'Uhm yeah, just a little flashback but I'm okay'. Beth knew immediately that Viv was having flashbacks to that moment of realization in the car, because she saw her constantly looking in her rear-view mirror. 'You know what Vivi. When you look in your rear-view mirror, look a little to the left, if you think about that instead of those men, that's much better'.

Viv did as Beth asked her, looked straight into the mirror, which gave her a view of the maxi-cosi. Suddenly a smile appeared on her face and her hand that had been in Beth's hand, now went on Beth's belly. 'You're right liefie, that's way more interesting'. Actually Beth had expected Viv to pull her hand back, but no. Her hand remained on her belly, Viv continued to rub her belly softly.