A Little Sane

Chapter 25

Mercedes set on the couch laughing at the movie until she could no longer see it. There was another woman straddling her lap. Mercedes raised her eyebrows.

"Hi Abbe."

Abbe smiled. She leaned forward and gently pressed her lips to Mercedes's.

"I'm a little tired of the movie..."

Mercedes smirked and pulled Abbe back in.  Abbe scooted closer to Mercedes in her lap. Mercedes stuck her hand in Abbe's back pocket. Abbe held loosely onto Mercedes's neck. Jerome walked down the apartment hallways whistling his own tune as best as he could. It always frustrated him that he couldn't whistle like he used to. He stopped right outside the apartment door. He could hear giggling inside. He smirked and shook his head. He slowly unlocked the door and opened it. He walked in to his wife and Abbe having a tongue fight on the couch. Abbe pulled away and pressed her lips to Mercedes's neck. Mercedes smiled when she saw Jerome. The kids were sitting on the carpet in the floor playing with toys.

"Welcome home."

Jerome grinned widely.

"Am I interrupting something or am I on time?"

Mercedes and Abbe laughed. Mercedes shook her head.

"Neither. We actaully need to return our attention to the kids."

Abbe pulled away and turned around only to scream in horror. She jumped off of Mercedes's lap and onto the couch. Mercedes looked at Abbe confused.

"Abbe..? You okay..?"

Jerome saw the terrified look Abbe had while looking at him. He looked down and saw exactly what she was scared of. He didn't realize that when he shot Zachery, his blood had splattered all over his suit and face. It was a darker shade of red than the suit and was clearly visible. Abbe cowered in fear on the couch. 

"Jerome... What did you do...?!"

Mercedes tried to run her fingers down Abbe's cheek to calm her, but she jumped away from Mercedes. Jerome sighed and looked Abbe straight in the eyes.

"I killed him Abbe. I shot him in the arms and legs. I left him on his hotel bed to bleed out."

Abbe looked at Mercedes who's demeanor was completely calm. Her breathing was easy and steady. Abbe's expression changed to pure shock. 

"You... you knew he was going to kill that man.."

Mercedes calmly nodded.

"Yes I knew."

Abbe started shaking.

"And you just let him?!"

Mercedes moved closer to Abbe and she flinched. Mercedes looked at Abbe with pity. 

"Abbe.. you got lucky with not having to see anything like this for months, but this is the reality that you now live in.. surely you didn't forget that..."

"I... I just..."

Abbe had nowhere else to go when Mercedes moved as close to her as possible. She lifted her chin and eyes were stern.

"Listen to me Abbe. If you are going to stay here with us, you need to buck up."

Abbe's eyes showed straight fear. Mercedes gently stroked Abbe's cheek.

"Why are you still frightened Abbe? No one has ever tried to hurt you."

Mercedes leaned in and gently kissed Abbe. Abbe stayed frozen. Mercedes rubbed her cheek with her thumb.

"You are safe Abbe, but you can't go freaking out everytime me and husband do something like this."

Jerome stood in the middle of the floor staring at the situation. Abbe watched Jerome carefully. He bent down towards the twins. Jessie took one look at his father and started crying. Mercedes instantly moved to pick him up.

"Oh, it's okay baby.. it's just daddy.."

Jerome sighed and shook his head.

"I'll go clean up.."

Aislinn started crawling towards Jerome as he walked away. Aislinn stared crying.

"Jerome wait! Aislinn wants you. She's crawling after you."

Jerome shook his head.

"I don't want to scare her..."

Aislinn cried and reaching for Jerome. Mercedes gave Jerome a sad look.

"She wants you..."

Abbe's breathing had calmed down. She was still watching cautiously. If they were able to kill people what about the babies? Jerome sighed and gently picked up his daughter. Aislinn stopped crying. Jerome carefulyl stared at her. Aislinn's stare was blank for a few moments until she smiled. Jerome couldn't help but smile back.

"Hey my baby girl.."

Aislinn placed her hand on his cheek. He gently poked her belly and Aislinn giggled.

"Da.."

Mercedes and Jerome looked at each other shocked.

"Oh my God Jerome... she's trying to say daddy!"

Jerome spun her around in the air and Aislinn giggled. Jerome ran his fingers through Aislinn short forming curles. 

"You are such a beautiful little lady my sweet baby girl."

Aislinn's green eyes stared straight into Jerome's and he felt himself melting away. He gently set Aislinn down and Aislinn started to cry again.

"Hey.. Daddy has to go change and clean up.. I'll be right back.."

Abbe set up tall and cleared her throat.

"If you two can kill other people, then how am I supposed to believe the babies are safe?"

Jerome stopped dead in his tracks right before the hallway. He quickly turned around and feared Abbe's life. He looked at his wife and sure enough she had a dark glare that could scare even the scariest of demons. Abbe cowered on the couch.

"I. Would never. Hurt my children Abbe. Nor would I let someone else hurt them."

Mercedes's hands started to glow and Abbe shook with fear. Jerome stepped forward.

"Mercedes..."

"Don't. And I repeat don't. Go poking your where you don't need to... Abbegaile." 

Jerome gently grabbed Mercedes's arm and pulled her back. Her hands stopped glowing. Her glare only softened slightly.

"You are my friend Abbe.. I really like having you around... I would really hate to actually have to hurt you..."

A tear fell down Abbe's cheek as she nodded slowly. Her breathing was heavy. Mercedes knew Abbe only meant well for the twins, but she couldn't stand someone thinking she would let anything happen to her children. Jerome picked up Aislinn and Mercedes picked up Jessie. They both walked down the hallway leaving Abbe in the living room both shocked and afraid to even move. Jerome placed the twins in their cribs and turned to Mercedes who was breathing heavy and looking confused. He gently held her in place by her arms.

"Are you okay...?"

Mercedes shook her head.

"I don't know... I have to.. go apologize to her.. I don't know what came over me.."

Jerome gently stroked her cheek.

"You are a mother who loves her kids more than anything. Someone questioned that."

Mercedes sighed and put her face in her hands. 

"We just scared the shit out of her... I have to fix this..."

Jerome smiled and played with her hair.

"You will.. just give Abbe some alone time.."