Pray For Me

Little Bird

Two Days Later

"Welcome home, love," Jude smiles, holding the baby close to her chest as they walk into the house.

"Wow, how does it feel to be downstairs again?" Timothy asks, setting the bags down by the stairs.

"Hey," Jude says, getting his attention, "Fuck you."

He laughs and rolls the baby's bassinette beside the couch.

"Timothy," Jude says, looking through the mail while holding the baby in one hand.

"Hmm?" He asks, looking up from his shoes.

"We need to name our child," She chuckles, setting the birth certificate down on the kitchen table.

"Oh, that," He says, kissing the baby on the head as he walks by.

"My sweet baby girl, what do we call you?" Jude asks, gazing lovingly down into her daughter's hazel eyes. She smiles as the baby coos, eating her fingers.

"Octavia," Timothy blurts, looking up from the table.

"That's beautiful. Where is it from?"

"It was my sister's name. She died when we we're kids. Drowned in the lake during a summer holiday. We were so close," He says, smiling sadly down at his hands. Jude's heart clenches, and she makes her way around the table to him.

"I didn't know. I'm so sorry, love."

"Thank you."

"Octavia... I love it. What's her middle name?" Jude asks, placing the baby into Timothy's arms.

"Hello, little bird."

"Focus, Tim." Jude chuckles.

He shrugs and looks up to her.

"Faye, after my mother. If that's okay?" She asks, pulling her hair up into a ponytail.

"Of course it is. Octavia Faye Howard. What a beautiful name. For a very beautiful little girl."

Octavia looks up at her father and closes her eyes. He places the baby on his chest and kisses the top of her head.

Jude smiles and pulls Timothy up from his seat, holding the baby between them.

"Will you take the bags upstairs? I'll order in and we can watch TV."

"Sounds great, rare bird," Timothy smiles, kissing her quickly before hurrying upstairs with the bags from the hospital. Jude lays Octavia, now asleep, in her bassinette and orders Chinese food for delivery.

"Timothy," Jude calls, bouncing Octavia in her arms. He rushes downstairs to open the front door.

"Hello," He greets the delivery man, pulling his wallet out of his pocket.

"Oh, God," Jude gasps, watching the interaction.

"Judy?" The man asks, looking over Timothy's shoulder.

"This is not happening," She groans, holding Octavia to her chest and rocking with her.

"Jude, what is this?" Timothy asks, turning more towards her.

"Casey, you need to leave."

Casey. Jude's malicious ex-boyfriend, who used to abuse her. Timothy immediately steps in front of her, ready to protect her and the baby.

"How are you?" He asks, trying to look over Timothy. She shakes her head and strokes Octavia's dark curls as she coos.

"No. You don't have the right."