Danger and Tattoos

Long Trip

                River's POV::

    I softly knock on my mom's office door. She stops typing and looks towards me with small smile. I walk in and sit on the short couch next to her desk. "Your starting to show," she says, lending down and touching my small baby bump. She was more happy than my dad was.
    "Yeah, I'm starting to actually feel pregnant. My morning sickness isn't as bad," I say. She shuts her computer.
    "What's wrong? I can tell somethings up, honey," she says. I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear.
   "I'm just stressed," I answer.
   "About classes?" I shake my head.
    "No, I actually wish I was still stressed about that other than this," I say. Her brows raise. "How did you know you wanted to marry dad?" She shrugs, smiling.
    "I just knew. I guess it was the way he made me feel; happy, sad, mad everything. I just enjoyed him and he was a man of trust and honor," she explains. I look at my clammy hands. "Are you having second thoughts?"
    "No...yes. I'm just-I'm just now realizing his life. I'll be stuck in it," I say. She stands and sits next to me. 
    "I don't know a lot about gangs, but I know how much some care. I was together with Luis, your biological father," she says. My eyes widen. "I let claim me, I was in love. But the life... That was what I hated. The fear, the unknown; some girls make it seem so easy. Then I met your dad, well uncle, and everything changed. Claiming is just a mindset that everyone has set in stone, but can be broken. Luis loved me, he loved me enough to let me go."
   Tears brim my eyes. "Every time he leave to go on a "job" I panic. I don't know if he'll come back, if he'll get hurt. And knowing that we'll have a kid makes it worse. What if he-if he gets killed and I would be a widow with a child who no longer has a father."
   She takes me in her arms. "There is saying what will happen. It's just a matter of how much love you have for each other."
    ×××××××
               Vito's POV::

   I look at the ring in my hand as we all wait for something to happen. "This isn't the time for that," Xander says, looking around us.
    "Sorry, it's all I can think about. She's been acting a little strange, so I'm not sure how she'll react to an actual proposal," I say. Fin nudges me.
   "It'll be fine. The girl has stuck with you for this long, let you claim her, why would she say no?" He says. I sit back in the seat.
   "Cause of all this." Kieran stands up, looking at all us before walking towards the door. We get up and follow him out. His girlfriend, Siren, stands in front of a car with a younger looking man.
    "Jordan," Xander says. He pushes Siren off of him. She walks to Kieran and wraps her arms around him. "This isn't a good place to bring children," he says. Fin pulls a little girl out of the gently and walks her over to the front with us. She looks at us with scared eyes. "You should know better-"
    "DON'T FUCKING TOUCH MY LITTLE GIRL!" He yells. Kieran and Josh walk over and pin him to the car.
    "You betrayed us, you know what we have to do," I say, bending down to the little girls height. "You love your daddy?" She nods. I take her small hand as I stand. "What a shame."
    "I'll tell you anything you want to know. Don't hurt her!" He says.
   "You don't know anything to tell.  You were with them for about a month, they wouldn't trust you that fast.  Say what you want to her."
   "Don't-"
   "We're doing anything to her, its you," I say. His eyes water as he looks at her.
    "I love you, baby. I'm sorry," he says. She looks at me confused. I pick her up.
   "Want to go inside and color?" I ask. She nods. I carry her back inside and sit down.
    "What's happening to daddy?" My heart breaks for her. I feel like a monster for allowing this to happen, but it's the life of this.
    "Those guys outside are taking him on a trip for a very, very long time. He'll be happy there," I say. She nods. I hand her some markers that Fin brought just got this.
   "Nothing to color." I look around to see she's right. I take my jacket off and give her my arm. Her blue eyes roam over the tattoos with wonder and awe.
    "Color them in." She smiles up at as she starts filling the tattoo on my elbow in.
    "Their pretty." I've never been told their pretty.
   "Thank you. What's your name?"
   "Rosemary."
   ×××××××
       
       "We need to talk," River says as I walk in. She notices the little girl sleeping in my arms. "Oh."
    "Do-do you mind changing her into some clothes then I can make up a bed for her," I say. She nods, obviously confused. I gently shake Rosemary awake. Her blue eyes slowly open.  "My wife is going to get you dressed for bedtime." She looks at River and nods. I set her down and watch as River helps her to the room.
   ××××××
             River's POV::

     "What's your name?" I ask the little girl. She's beautiful with brown hair, blue eyes, and a sunflower dress.
    "Rosemary. Rose," she says. I take down one of Vito's shirts for her to wear.
    "Where are your parents?" I ask. She looks at me sadly.
   "The man said he went on a happy trip, and won't be back for long time," she tells me. I give her the same smile she gave me. I take the dress off her and help her into the shirt that's huge on her.
    "Is that comfortable?" She nods. I sit down and take her ponytails out. I grab the hairbrush and comb through it. "I'll be right back." I get up and walk to the extra bedroom. Vito looks over at me as he prepares the bed. "A trip? Really?"
    "She shouldn't know the truth." 
    "She's a baby, her father is now gone. Is he dead?" He looks down. "That could be you with our child."
   "I won't betray-"
   "That's not the point. You can die and leave our kid wondering what happened," I say, crying. "Sleep here tonight. I don't want you close to me. She can sleep on the bed with me."
    "Riv-"
   "I don't want to hear it. Goodnight."

AN: Ooo conflict. Please comment and share! Believe in yourself -Vaeh