To change a life

The beginning of the end

Danny sat next to Riley's bed, one hand holding her hand, the other hand wrapped around a squirming Emma's waist. He'd just learned that Riley was pregnant with Ben's baby. He suspected that's what had started the fight yesterday.
Riley stirred and moaned a little.
"Riley?" Danny said in barely a whisper
Riley turned to look at Danny.
"My head.." She croaked out.
"Yeah, Ben gave you an amazing shiner. And you've got two broken ribs from hitting the table when you fell. Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant Riley?"
"I wanted to, I was going to tell Ben and then tell you, but he blew it up."
"And when I find him, I'm gonna hurt him."
"Don't Danny, it won't help."
Emma bounced on Danny's knee.
"Someone missed you." Danny said
He set Emma on the bed next to Riley.
Emma laid her head on Riley's chest and cooed "ma ma ma ma".
Danny silently made a promise to himself that he would always protect Riley and Emma, and the new baby who was no bigger than a jellybean growing warmly inside Riley's body.

Tucker waited impatiently back at the apartment, confused on his feelings. Ben was his best friend, but how could he be friends with someone who would hurt someone as innocent as Riley? Danny came through the door, and shut it behind him, setting Emma down on the ground.
"Oh my gosh, I've been waiting for hours! What took you so long?"
"You know you've only been here for an hour, which is how long it takes to get from the hospital."
"How's Riley?"
"A black eye, two broken ribs, and a broken heart."
"How could Ben hurt Riley? He'd be never hurt Riley!"
"I don't know, but next time I see him he's gonna be sorry."
Suddenly, Bonnie Wheeler came through the door. "Oh good, you're home! How's Riley?"
Danny told her everything.
"I just don't understand." Bonnie said
"Oh, pregnant? It means when there's a baby that gets inside a woman..."
"No I know what pregnancy is!! I was talking about how I don't understand how Ben could hit Riley!"

In the next few days, no one saw anything of Ben. They assumed that Angela had an apartment somewhere and that's where Ben was.
One afternoon, after visiting Riley,
Danny, Bonnie, Tucker and Emma came home to find the door kicked in and everything of Ben's had been cleaned out. His room, his softball trophy's, everything. All they found was a note that said "I want Emma. Don't try to find me. Ben."
"Well, he's gone for good now," Danny stated. "But over my dead body is he getting Emma. Not after what he did to Riley."
Danny wrapped his arms a little tighter around a sleeping Emma. "Don't worry Emma, as long as I breath you'll be safe."