A Little Sane

Chapter 57

Jerome quietly walked into his bedroom. His eyes drifted towards the bed. Two redheaded, four-year-old twins were curled up on either side of Mercedes fast asleep. She was lying flat on her back asleep with an arm around each of them. A children's book was lying open across her chest. Jerome's scarred lips stretched into a slight smile. Abbe stood next to Jerome and whispered. 

"She loves her kids.."

Jerome nodded without taking his eyes off of them. 

"That she does."

Abbe left the room. Jerome slowly walked over to the bed. He gently took the book off of her chest and placed it on the side table. He dragged the blanket over his wife and kids. He turned to leave the room, and a small voice stopped him.

"Daddy...?"

Jerome turned around with a smile. 

"Hi Aisie bear."

Aislinn set up with a sad look.

"You leaving again..?"

Jerome gave her a reassuring smile. He walked to the other side of the bed and knelt beside it.

"No baby girl. I'm not. Daddy is just going to go lay on the couch."

Aislinn looked confused.

"Why you don't sleep with mommy..?"

Jerome chuckled. 

"Because you little stinkers are in the middle of the bed hogging mommy and the entire bed."

Aislinn smiled and started to climb out from under the blanket. 

"You can have my spot daddy."

Jerome smiled and stopped her.

"Oh, no baby girl. That's okay. Thank you though. I think mommy would really love to sleep with you tonight." 

Jerome leaned forward and kissed her forehead. 

"You have to help Jessie keep mommy safe and warm."

Aislinn giggled. She flipped back over and snuggled deep into Mercedes. 

"Good night daddy.."

Jerome couldn't help his smile.

"Good night Aisie."

Jerome walked to the other side of the bed. He leaned over Jessie and kissed Mercedes on the cheek. He kissed Jessie on the head. Jerome walked into the livingroom and turned on the tv. 

Zella set in a dark alleyway beyond angry. She followed Jerome and Abbe to the bunker. She witnessed the entire incident. The loving look Mercedes gave Jerome before she ran to him, disgusted Zella the most. She couldn't stand Mercedes and wanted to get rid of her. She felt that she was better for Jerome. That Mercedes didn't have what it takes to be Jerome's wife. Zella knew absolutely nothing about Mercedes. She understood nothing Mercedes had been through. She also did not understand that Mercedes and Jerome knew each other their entire lives, but just lost touch. Zella thought about their kids. She groaned. The thought of Jerome and Mercedes having sex and how many times they probably did it sickened her to her very core. She clinched her fists at the possibility that they could do that right that very second. She wanted to destroy Mercedes, but was still afraid the rumors about Mercedes might be true. That she might have killed people and shown a true crazy side. 

Mercedes slept with her children in her arms peacefully. She could finally shut her mind off. None of the problems she was facing could touch her. Mercedes knew that she had to talk to someone. She couldn't go on like this anymore. She sometimes scared herself, though she knew she was strong enough to get through anything. 

"You have an hour then it's back to your cells inmates!"

Mercedes's mom set at a table in front of her husband.

"So Mercedes came to see you."

Her husband smiled warmly. He took a bite of the rather disgusting food Arkham fed them.

"She did and I have to say, our daughter is something special."

Her mother nodded to agree. She was studying his face. He seemed way too happy. 

"She told me about her plan."

Her mother tilted her head. 

"She told you? Well.. what did you say?"

Her father stared at his wife with loving eyes.

"That I believe in her.. I listened to her problems.. I asked how she felt about being married to Jerome and the kids. It feels so nice to be on her side. I think she might actually forgive me someday. That would be the most wonderful thing."

Mercedes's mom narrowed her eyes for a spilt second and then smiled. 

"I shouldn't have been so hard on her... I shouldn't have threatened harm to her first baby that she lost... We were the terrible parents.. How could we do that to her?"

Her mother didn't like what she was hearing. Her husband had gone rogue and lost the plot. He no longer shared the vision that was handed to him. He was now a threat to the bigger picture. Bigger things were coming. Mercedes's father finished his food and returned his tray. He smiled to his wife as he walked by. He patted her shoulder.

"I'll see you tomorrow, honey."

Mercedes's mom smiled until he left for his cell. She narrowed her eyes hard and couldn't stand the sight of her husband anymore.