A Little Sane

Chapter 111

Mercedes smiled in the rearview mirror. All three of her children were passed out. The car was almost dead silent. She move her gaze to the back window. Jeremiah was trailing their car. A warm and gentle hand landed on her thigh. She looked at Jerome with a smile.

"Are you tired? You can take a nap. I won't mind doing the rest of this drive with just myself awake."

She placed her hand on top of his. She kept her same smile as he returned his gaze back to the road.

"I'm a little tired, but I'm okay. I'm so glad the hospital had a car seat for her. We left ours at home not knowing, plus it was out of date and no longer safe."

Jerome stared at the road and was silent for a few moments. He finally asked a question Mercedes already knew the answer to.

"What are you going to do about Ecco...?"

Mercedes smiled to herself.  She left out a sigh that was almost in relief.

"Actually... Nothing."

Her eyes wondered to Jerome who was still looking at the road, but she could tell he had a confused look. She laughed.

"I honestly don't think Ecco would do anything to harm Mariana. I... I actually trust her... I think she'll help take care of her when she's at the bunker. I'm okay with that. I know how Ecco feels about children.. I'd trust any of my kids with her. That's just one feeling I know. It's a mother's intuition."

Jerome chuckled. Mercedes smiled in the mirror again.

"I'm so happy to have our kids back.. I missed them so much.. It was so sad having to say goodbye to TaTyana and Ed though.. Aislinn was just excited about the baby and once the baby excitement was over, she was so happy to see her daddy. Like dang forget mommy then."

Jerome chuckled again. Mercedes stared out the window thinking about the relationship Jerome and Aislinn had. She also thought about the relationship she knew Jeremiah would have with Mariana. She had been thinking a lot about her daughter lately and the world the live in. 

"Doll face..? Are you okay..?"

Mercedes snapped out of her trance and gave Jerome a loving smile. 

"I get to go home with you. Of course I'm okay."

Jerome smirked as he turned back to the road. 

"You know, you aren't done owing me for your little dominate stunt."

 Mercedes bit her bottom lip and grinned.

"How many children do you want me to have? Plus, you can't fuck me for a while. You know that."

Jerome jokingly groaned and shook his head. He gripped the steering wheel a little tighter.

"Your just making your punishment worse with every word."

She looked at him with a wicked smirk.

"Then let's have an entire conversation the rest of the ride home."

Jerome chuckled shaking his head. He cautiously spoke.

"Um.. how do I say.. you really like to have sex in a nice way..?"

Mercedes laughed quietly. She shrugged.

"I've been having sex my whole life and now... I actually get to have sex that I want to have, the way I want have and with someone I really truly love... I'm not letting go of the power I regained.. If my being this sexual bothers you.."

Jerome instantly placed his hand back on her thigh. He shook his head.

"Hey no... I'm all for you being comfortable as you. I think it's totally okay for women to be really into sex."

Mercedes rolled her eyes jokingly.

"Yeah, because you're on the receiving end of it."

Jerome smirked, looking back at the road.

"Well, that is a plus."

"Mommy...?"

Mercedes lifted her eyes to the rearview mirror to see Jessie half asleep. She slightly turned around in her seat. 

"Yes baby?"

He yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"Are we going home...?"

She smiled and handed him a jacket in the back floorboard. Jessie instantly covered up with it.

"Yes my sweet love. We're going home. We still have a long ride though. You can go back to sleep."

Jessie snuggled back into his seat. Mercedes turned back around in her seat. Jerome's was slightly shocked by the small voice he heard from the back of the car.

"I love you daddy.."

He looked in the rearview mirror and a smile slowly formed on his lips. 

"I love you too buddy."

Jerome kept driving for a few moments and started thinking to himself.

"You know what?"

He turned on their hazard lights and pulled over. Jeremiah pulled over behind them. He watched them confused. Mercedes watched Jerome as he walked around the car to Jessie's door. Jessie stared at his father half asleep as he opened the door. 

"Jerome.. what are you doing..?"

Jerome smiled at he unbuckled Jessie. He pulled him into his arms and set on the ledge just at the car door. Jessie laid his head against Jerome's shoulder and wrapped his arms around his neck. Jerome gently rubbed his son's back and kissed on the top of his head. Mercedes smiled lovingly. Jessie had completely fallen back to sleep. Mercedes stared at her phone after it buzzed. 

"Everything okay?" 

Mercedes responded to Jeremiah while continuing to watch Jerome. He just set there with his head against his son's and rubbing his back. 

"Yes everything is fine. Jessie just woke up. I just think he just needed a daddy moment to go back to sleep. We'll be moving again in a few."

Jerome's eyes lifted to see Mercedes' gaze. He rolled his eyes.

"What..?"

She shook her head and continued to smile.

"Nothing... I just.. love you guys.."

Jerome gently placed Jessie back in his seat and buckled him back up. He smiled at Mercedes as he set back in the drivers seat. She yawned. 

"You know.. on second thought, that nap sounds like a great idea."

She leaned over and pecked Jerome on the lips. He chuckled as she re-buckled herself and snuggled into her seat with her eyes closed. He turned the heat up slightly. 

"Goodnight. I'll wake you when we're home."

Jerome pulled off and Jeremiah followed. Jerome was ready to be home. He couldn't deny that he loved their vacation though. He didn't hate Mercedes' idea of moving. He actually liked it a little more than he wanted to, but he couldn't see how they would be able to just move and be different. He couldn't see himself ever being different. He felt that no matter where he went he would always be that psychopath that needed to be locked up. He wished more than anything that he could give Mercedes the life he felt she deserved, but he didn't see how it was possible.