Behind The Mask

Chapter 73

Anouk's POV

It was suspiciously quiet all around me. Neverland is usually buzzing with activity. I am confused, after a very deep and profound sleep – to which I'm prone lately. As Baby Applehead grows bigger, my energy levels drop lower and lower. I exist on a complex diet of foods, vitamins, shakes and whatnot.

But after a close encounter with death, I should count myself lucky.

"I am so fucking lucky", I mumble patting my growing stomach.

Baby Applehead approves with a bump. Wait! Did my unborn child just kick me??? Seriously??

"Michael....baby....you with the huge feet who got me pregnant! Hello!"

I stand up and...what the hell is going on??? This is not our room....this is not our bed....where the fuck am I? Did I get kidnapped???

Just as I was getting ready to panic, a door opens and Michael appears, all dripping wet and with a towel hastily wrapped around his waist. Why did he bother?

"Nooki, you're awake! Did you just call me?"

"Yes. I have three questions to ask you. One: where the hell are we? Two: why the hell are we here? Three: your huge-footed baby just kicked me, is that normal?"

Michael was in the process of answering my first question, I presume, but he just remained stunned, eyes wide open and mouth agape.

"Did you say....the baby kicked???? Oh my gosh, did he really kick???"

"Yes, and it was rather painful. That was a humongous baby foot I felt."

"Oh, boy, I missed that! Maybe he does it again."

"AGAIN????? Like, the next three months or so, I'll get all bruised up inside???"

"Nooki...this is normal. This is what babies do. It's not that they want to hurt you, they are telling you that they can hear you...this is how they show that they love you....Plus...if you were to be cooped up in there for nine months, wouldn't you want to stretch a little bit?"

I look at my tummy and sigh.

"I guess I should have read some of those maternity books you keep reading..."

"That's OK, baby. I know everything you want to know. Just ask me, Okay?"

"Sure thing...I revert to my original question: where are we?"

"Well, since your mom and Wayne are on their honeymoon, I thought we deserve one, too. At least, some peace and quiet for a couple of weeks. We are in the Bahamas."

"Huh?"

"You were out cold thru the boarding and flight, which is a blessing. It was a nightmare flight. There were turbulences and the plane was shaking like....I don't know....like it was going to fall apart....It was terrible. I honestly don't know how you managed to sleep through this ordeal. I begged and prayed I could fall asleep or faint or something."

Michael looked really miserable. He generally hates flying. It doesn't take much to get him worked up. So, most probably, there was just a little turbulence or two. Hearing him describe it, you'd think we survived Noah's Flood and the Ice Age one after the other.

I do the only thing I can: I pat the empty side of the bed.

"Come here and unwind a little. We got here safe and sound, OK? Here we are, down on solid ground, and there's peace and quiet all around. Time to relax a bit."

Michael nodded a hopped in bed, still wearing that pointless towel around him.

"So, what can we do around here?"