Abigail made her way through the city, content to talk to Clarissa and point out all the fun and beautiful things in the city. She stopped to speak with friends and acquaintances alike. She was just out enjoying the day, her heart light and feeling free of her burdens. Keeping Clarissa had been the right decision after all, and she was endlessly enthralled with her growing little baby.
----
Adam had gotten completely lost. His plan had been to ditch his brother and sister and then locate some flowers and find that lovely little blood elf he had seen at Stephen's house. Millie was easy to ditch, she wanted to stay with Katie and Enwoo. Aaron had been a little more difficult, as they had always done everything together. However, in his attempts to ditch his brother, Adam had taken a few too many random turns.
Adam was in the process of trying to retrace his steps when he backed into someone.
She let out a little "oof".
He turned to apologize and found him staring at his blood elf beauty. "H-hi." He stammered.
Abigail eyed the man warily. "You really should watch where you're going." He looked down at Clarissa. "You could have tripped over my child."
"I'm sorry." He racked his brain. "Abigail, is it?"
"Yes? Who's asking?"
Adam rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess you don't remember me. You were a little preoccupied. I'm Adam, Stephen's brother. We sort of met the other day at his house."
"Oh. Oh! I'm sorry. I was a little out of sorts."
"Stephen told me what happened and why you were there."
Abigail frowned. "Hm."
"He got what he deserved." Adam said quietly.
With a shrug, Abigail pushed the stroller. "I'm over it."
He severely doubted it, but he wouldn't push. For now. "Can we walk together?"
"It's an open kingdom." She shrugged.
With a grin, he fell in step beside her. "So, your baby, what's her name?"
"Clarissa." Abigail smiled. This was her favorite topic.
"She's very pretty, like her mother."
"Hm. Thank you, I guess." That killed it.
He winced at her tone. "So, how does a blood elf wind up in Stormwind?"
"My parents brought me here from Draenor.
"Oh?"
"My father is human, and when he returned to Stormwind, he brought along me and his pregnant wife, my mother. She is the blood elf."
"So, you're only half?"
Pausing in her walk, Abigail glared. "Got a problem with that?"
Adam held up his hands for peace. "No! None at all, just piecing things together!"
She resumed her walk. "Anyway, the way it is told, Elunara the night elf, that's my aunt, was captured by a horde orc that was obsessed with her. My mother was given to her as sort of some weird present? That's my understanding. Anyway, Elunara rescued my mother and put her in my father's arms. It was love at first sight from there."
Considering her words, he eyed her. "Do you believe in love at first sight?"
With a sigh, she stared off into space. "For my parents, yes. For myself? No." She shook her head and continued on her walk.
"I believe in it."
"Good for you."
This was going to be tougher than he thought. "How old is Clarissa?"
"Eight months."
"Cool. Cool. What's it like? Having a kid?"
Abigail considered her answer. "It has its ups and downs, especially on my own. My parents help out when they can, and my grandmother is typically nearby, but they all have their own issues and things to be doing. Lulu also comes by... our babies are about three months apart. So that's helpful. All in all, I wouldn't trade it for anything."
Adam put his hands behind his head to keep from touching her. "I've always wanted kids. They seem fun. Our farmhands bring their children by occasionally, and they play with the horses."
"I'm certain you'll find someone willing to give you children. If not, there's always Stormwind orphanage."
"I have an eye out." He grinned.
"Good for you." They walked in silence for a moment. She was lost in thought, and he kept looking at her.
Gods, she was hot. His mind drifted to what it would be like to have her under him, panting and calling his name. He needed something, anything to woo her. He cursed the lack of flowers. Maybe jewelry was her thing? "What's your favorite color?" He blurted.
"Green. Why?"
"I'm only trying to learn more about you."
"Whatever for?" She stopped and looked at him fully.
He was stuck then. "I... well, I think you're gorgeous. I can see this sadness in your eyes, and I want to take it away from you. But I don't know how." Adam dropped his hands.
Abigail frowned. "I'm a bad bet."
"Now, why would you think such a thing?"
"Haven't you heard? I'm a whore who doesn't know who the father of her child is."
Adam blinked repeatedly. "Oh, that's just bullshit." He balled his fists. "Who said that?"
"The only man I've ever loved." She looked away and touched her cheek.
"Was he the one Stephen killed?"
"Yes." Her voice was so quiet he almost didn't hear her.
"Then, it's good he's dead, or I'd go kill him myself."
Abigail looked up sharply. "What?"
Adam was filled with rage that had no outlet. "That asshole did a number on your mind, and for that he deserves his death." She flinched away from him then, her body seeming to curl in on itself. His heart stopped when he realized. "Oh, beauty, I would never hurt you."
Abigail abruptly turned, put her hands on the stroller and pushed, all but running away.
"Wait!" He cried out. "Abigail, please wait."
Freezing, she stood there perfectly still, a deer ready to bolt.
"Abigail, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."
"Abigail! There you are!" Jenny stopped in front of Abigail. "When you didn't show up, I got worried." Noticing Abigail's discomfort, she eyed the man even as she stepped in between them. "Who is this?"
Adam held out a hand. "I am Adam, I'm Stephen's brother."
Jenny lightly took the hand. "Jenny. I am Clarissa's grandmother."
It took a moment, but the gears clicked into place. "Oh." He cleared his throat. "Then I am doubly honored to meet you."
"Honored?" Jenny's eyebrow shot up.
"I..." Adam hesitated, unsure of what to say or how to explain it.
Turning to Abigail, Jenny smiled. "Why don't you go on in. There's tea and cookies waiting."
Abgail nodded and made her way into the house with Clarissa. When Abigail was safely in the house, Jenny looked Adam up and down. "What do you think you're doing?" Jenny was a momma bear set to defend.
Adam held his hands up. "I--"
"If you don't answer me honestly and correctly..." She raised her full five foot one. "I'll make you regret it."
Adam swallowed and stared at the woman. She was a full head shorter than he, but he knew she meant every word. "Listen, I met her the other day when she came to Stephen's house to forgive him for the death of... what I assume is your son. She was so sad but determined. I want to know more about her. I want to see her smile. I want her to smile at me. That pretty little baby in there, I want to see her laugh and smile too." His words come out in a rush. "I mean no harm, to either of them. I swear it. I've never seen a pair so beautiful and special. I know that must mean she's your daughter in law."
Jenny narrowed her eyes. The longer Adam talked, the deeper his blush. "Hmm."
"I'm sorry, but your son did something awful to her, and it makes me so angry, I must have frightened her with my flash of rage toward somebody I've never met. I didn't mean to make her feel that way."
Jenny's lips thinned as she pressed them together. "He hit her." Adam sucked in a breath. "In front of me and my husband. We raised him better than that, but he hit her anyway. Then in front of the entire training yard claimed her a whore." She looked back, to be sure Abigail was tucked safely inside. "She hasn't been back down there since."
"By the gods..."
"Abigail finds it difficult to move past all of those hurts, and why should she?" With a shake of her head, Jenny looked in the boy's eyes. "If you are good for her, then I wish you luck. If not... If you hurt her any more than she's already been hurt, I'll make sure Elunara finds out."
"The Queen?"
Jenny laughs softly. "Queen, goddess, easily pissed off assassin. Call her what you will, but she will make you suffer in unimaginable ways."
He swallowed hard. "Then I am glad I mean no harm."
Considering the kid in front of her, no older than her own lost son, she sighed. "I do wish you luck, that girl needs someone to love her. Someone who will love her no matter what."
"I'll leave her alone today. I've done enough damage." He turned to leave then hesitated. "Where does she live, by the way?"
----
In Jenny's house, Abigail was cuddling a squirming baby. She looked up when Jenny entered the house. "Is he gone?"
At Jenny's nod, some of the tension went out of Abigail. "He apologizes for scaring you. He really didn't mean it." Jenny sat on the couch next to Abigail. Jenny brushed Abigail's hair out of her face.
Abigail tensed and buried her face in her baby's back. "I don't know why he frightened me so. Just the way he said he wanted Grodan dead, I guess."
"Sweetie..." Jenny sighed.
Carefully sitting Clarissa with her toys, Abigail buried her face in her hands. "I still miss him. I miss what we could have had."
Clarissa picked up a block from the floor. Pulling herself up by tugging on her mommy's skirt, she tried to hand the block up. "Bah!"