The Others Soul (novel form)

[Yak]

ccsakura: ummm...well, Steven won't be too big of a problem. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> Thanks for reading!

zzzbeauty: Yes, there will be more death. <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0"> I'm spoiling my story, so better shut up now. See ya! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Yak]

Chapter 39: The Decision

The dreadful mourning period is slowly washed away as weeks past by. Things are slowly moving toward the positive side with a bit more relaxed atmosphere. Like usual Louis go to work in the morning, leaving his wife home to accompany their guests. Like before Frankie, Kenix, and Steven are still looking for flat and store to rent and continue with their plan. But they have decides to pick a smaller flat since they are one person short now. In the morning Frankie and Kenix will go out to look for flat and store to rent while Steven stay home to look after his son Kevin.

For the past few weeks Annie has been secretly trying to figure out what Ada wanted to say about the button. She has a feeling that it was not an accident that Ada fallen on a rock or else why would Ada give her this button. Annie has concrete believe that the button belongs to the person that causes Ada death. And the memory of the way Ada looked at Louis even puzzled Annie more. Could this have to do with Louis? But how could it? He weren't home that day. It must not be him, but why did Ada want to keep the button away from Louis?

Annie pondered for weeks already. She hasn't tells anyone about her suspicious toward Ada death. She didn't want to share with Louis, what if somehow he is partially responsible? She didn't dare to tell Frankie, Kenix, or Steven either, not wanting them to jump into conclusion and blame Louis. Another reason is that Annie doesn't want to bring Steven more pain in knowing his wife is killed instead of an accident. With no one to turn to Annie decide to solve this alone. She also remembers that someone has stolen Helen's dairy too during that day. Somehow these two things seem to be tied together. But who could the mysterious person be?

Even though with million of things to worry and ponder about, Annie still have a small warmth of happiness provided by Louis and her unborn child. How Louis been caring for her for the past three weeks is the sweetest thing, but in a way it’s also a dread. Annie been feeling really drain and tired all the time cause of her pregnancy. She constantly felt nauseated and light headed with all of her energy drained. Seeing his wife having so many complications with her pregnancy, Louis has tries to pressure her to have the abortion. For Annie safety, he wanted to convince her to abort the child by next week. Every time he try to bring the subject up Annie would quickly change it to something else or pretend she is busy to avoid him. Louis know very well how Annie is feeling, he don't want to abort the child too, but to him Annie is much more important then the child. He don't see what wrong with waiting for a second chance, they are still very young. Why must Annie risk her life?

With Annie stubbornness and constant pleading, all Louis could do is try to minimize her risk by constantly protecting her and not letting her moves a muscle. Even though Annie love the fact that he cares so much about her wells being, but he is starting to be too overly protective. And the way he constantly bring up the topic of abortion is getting on her nerve. She just wants to be like normal pregnant mother, being able to enjoy her process of child bearing instead of having the constant reminder and worry of miscarriage. Annie have tell him multiple time that it’s normal to have morning sickness and dizziness during the first couple months, but still Louis couldn't rest his heart and wanted her to abort the child by next week. Annie knows that she must convince him before the dead line come. But how?

It is pass midnight now; both Louis and Annie are peacefully asleep. A sharp cry of an infant alerted Annie to wake up. She sighed knowing that it’s Kevin again. He has been crying every single night ever since he is born. Louis drowsily awakens too with his body rolled to the other side frustratingly trying to block out the sound. But the sharp cries continue causing the restless Louis to toss back and forth trying to ignore the screaming noise of that baby and go back to sleep. Annie felt her husband movement, she turned to him and scooted herself closer to him in order to snuggled into his body. Louis turned to face her and saw her brilliant smile glowing with the minimal light from the moon. He wrapped his arms around her cozily and sighed with stress while the crying sound of the distressed baby continues loudly in the background.

Tilted her head up, Annie smiled sweetly and pecked her husband. “Sorry honey,” she whispered. Lovingly she reaches her hand to gently place on his left cheek, “Go back to sleep, I'll go cradle Kevin back to sleep okay?”

Shaking his head and mouthing no, Louis just pulled his wife closer with his head rested against her head and closed his eyes. “Let just ignore him for tonight,” he suggested with a soft chuckle. Right at that moment they heard Kevin cried peaked louder searching for attention, the coincident made both of them chuckle. Annie frowned at her husband signaling him that she wanted to go help the poor child sleep, but Louis frowned at her childishly wanting her to stay. They then hear Kenix and Frankie voice which seem to be in Steven room trying to help Steven out with Kevin. “They can take care of him,” Louis said. Annie chuckled at Louis when she saw his grin under the moonlight. Leaned in to peck her forehead, Louis softly added, “Annie, see how much problem a child can bring?”

His wife immediate reaction is to roll her eyes at him and asked with her pouting tone, “You are not going to head into that topic again are you?” Annie pouted and snuggled closer against Louis chest feeling his warm body around her. She let out a soft tired sigh about this topic, “Honey, I know you love me and worry about me, but just trust me, Louis. I'll be fine. Can we just be happy and excited for the baby?” She heard Louis soft sigh, and it made her a bit gloomy, with an anguish tone she added, “I just want you to be happy and not worry too much. Is that too much to ask for? I know you love me but...” she tilted her head up to beam at him with her soft round eyes. She continued, “…can't you love our child too? She deserves a chance to live.” She is pouting with her face stern with stress, “I don't want to talk about abortion anymore. It not fair that you get to make the decision. Why can't you...”

Cuddled her like she is a fragile soul, Louis whispered, “Shh...okay, okay I'm sorry, calm down don't stress out, you need...”

With a hopeless sigh, Annie cuts in with her irritated tone, “You are doing it again. Louis I know how to take care of myself, really.” She looked at him seriously, “Trust me okay?” Annie pecked his lip tenderly, “I want you to be excited about being a father.” She moved his hand onto her abdominal, “Don't you love her? She is our.”

Beamed at their hands, Louis nodded with a worry face, “Of course Annie, but I just...”

Stubbornly, Annie shook her head, “No but. If you love her then you should support my decision. Please Louis, I really don't want an abortion.” She sighed, “Haven't you heard those old folk always say that it hard to get pregnant again after an abortion?”

Louis released her and lies flat on his back with his eyes rolled at her disbelievingly, “Annie...”

Annie scooted over to rest her head on top of his chest with Louis softly brushing her hair. “No, I'm serious,” she stubbornly said along with her pout and puppy eyes. “What if we never going to have children again if I abort this one?” Her expression became a bit gloom with worry mind, “I know you like children, what are you going to do then if I can't have baby anymore? I'm not going to let you marry another woman.” Annie tilted her head up to beam her eyes at him, “You are not going to get a mistress right?” Her husband just chuckled at her silliness.

The worrisome, wife sadly moved her head back downward and continues, “But then maybe your parent wanted you to marry a mistress too.” Louis just narrowed his eyes studying his wife with his soft chuckle while his hand rubbing her arm. “You know how much they wanted a grandchild, your mom kept bring bat soup over lately. I know they will certainly going to make you devoice me if I couldn’t have baby anymore...and I wouldn't even get a voice to say no...”

Louis grabs hold of both Annie hands into his and held it warmly, “Lo Poul ah...(wife) you are not making sense.” He sighed at her silly thought and kissed her hand reassuringly, “Of course I'm not going to get a mistress, at least not in the next million years.” He chuckled at her silly worry, “And who say you are going to be infertile after an abortion? Didn't you hear what Dr. Lau say?” Caringly he embraced her warmly with a chuckle, “We are going to make millions of little Louis and Annie.” Louis continues to laugh with his eyes stare into her.

“I’m serious here!” Annie exclaims with a slap on his chest and pouted again.

The husband couldn’t help but laugh at his wife childish pout and behavior. He remembered how uptight and shy Annie was when they first met. Everything has changed so much, but Louis is grateful for the change. “So am I!” he stated. He let out a sigh and teased, “Annie, I'll still love you even if you are infertile.”

Annie darted at him seriously with hard eyes and a stern pout, which cause him to chuckle at her again. “You are just mean, I'm not talking to you,” her pouting voice told him. Then she turned around to let her back face him instead. Her hands are twisting their blanket angrily for him to just laugh at her worry.

Seeing that Annie is getting mad at his teasing, Louis quickly sneaked his arm under her waist and the other one around her and pulled her toward him so she is against his body. He pecked the side of her forehead and reassured in his sincere deep voice, “Annie, I meant what I say. You have to admit, you been feeling exhausted and weak all the time during these last three weeks. You almost fall down the stair when you fainted last Friday. How are you going to carry on for six more months? I just don't want to lose you…” his voice trailed of with serious concern.

Turn to face him, Annie snuggled on him, “I know. But I really want this baby.” She looked up at him, “Please? I have confident that she will be just fine.”

Her husband swallowed before he asked, “What about you?” He stares at her in the silent with the minimal light from the moon shined on her eyes. “Won't you miss me?” he softly whispered.

A frown show up on Annie face, “I'll be fine,” she weakly assured. The room was silent afterward, she quietly listened to his heartbeat and both of them have ignored the crying baby that seems to be downstairs now. Annie sincerely told her husband, “Louis, I'll always love you. But...”

Louis nodded and cuts in, “Then listen to me.”

Tilted her head up to beam at him with a pout, Annie asked back, “Why can't you listen to me instead?” She couldn't help herself from leaning in to kiss him; he looked so loving and handsome, especially with his dark grin. “Just once Louis? Please? This will be all I'll ever want,” she pleaded.

The husband expression glum with concern right away, he stare at her and saw those wishful eyes that making him weak but he really don't want to promise her yet. Thinking that maybe he could convince her later. Instead of agreeing or disagreeing with her request, Louis peck her forehead, “We'll talk about it in the morning. It really late, you need your sleep.”

“But...”

Stubbornly, Louis shake his head, “No but, close your eyes.” Annie pouted and did as he said so. Louis smiled sweetly at her and softly kissed her close eyes. He warmly wrapped his arms around her waist to sleep. He too close his eyes to sleep but the piercing cry of Kevin is really loud and it finally got their attention again. He sighed loudly in frustration, “Why do he have to cry every single night? Benny wasn't like this back then.”

Annie opened her eyes staring toward the door. She patted Louis hand signaling him to let her go, “Let me go cradle him to sleep.”

“Then who’s going to cuddle me to sleep?” Louis asked with his foolish pout.

Laughed, Annie throws her pillow at him, “Be a good boy, I'll be back very soon.”

“You want me to go with you?” Louis offered.

Shakes her head, Annie kissed him lovingly, “No, you need your rest; you have work tomorrow.”

Walked out of the room, Annie hears the cry coming from the living room. When she walked down she saw Kenix trying to calm down Kevin crying but it's not working. Frankie is yawning with his mumbling of a lullaby sleepily. Annie walked up behind Kenix with her chuckling at Frankie, “Let me have him Kenix jie.”

Kenix was a bit startled by the sudden voice behind, “Oh he woke you up too?” Annie nodded with a motherly smile toward the crimson red crying face of baby Kevin. Kenix yawned and hand him over to Annie, “I'm so glad you came, he always quiet down when you cradle him.”

Carried Kevin in her arms, Annie gently rocked him a bit, “Shh...” She held him closer against her with a warm soft soothing voice, “Hush now child...I know you are sleepy right?” She brushed his fine soft hair soothingly, “Shh...shh..” Kevin quickly quieted down right away and snuggled on Annie cozily with his soft moan.

Puzzled with a bit of jealousy, Kenix asked feeling unfair, “How did you do that all the time? I try doing the same thing but he wouldn't calm down.”

Frankie quickly popped up to check on Kevin, he teased, “Honey he like to pick on you. Or you are just plain mean and rough to him.” Kenix stares at him with her hard eyes. He saw his wife stern stare that quickly warn him to stop his joke, he purposely yawned and stretched his arms in the air. “I'm so sleepy,” he sweetly smiled at his wife, “Honey you are sleepy too huh?” Kenix rolled her eyes at her husband. Frankie wrapped his arm around her shoulder, “We should of just get Annie help right at the beginning.”

Agreeing, Kenix nodded, “Isn't it strange though? I mean how he cries each night and only quiet down with Annie cradle him. But he is fine with us carrying him in the morning.” Kenix softly run her hand on the soft fine baby hair, “Maybe cause he sense motherly love from you, Annie. You are pregnant you know.”

Annie smiled pleasingly, she love to be a mother, “I guess,” she softly patted the baby in a steady rhythm.

“No wonder he cried louder when you carry him, honey,” the talk before thinking husband said to Kenix.
.
Kenix cleared her throat with her eyes piercing at him, “Ah hem.”

Annie laughed at them; they are always amusing to her. “Where is Steven?” she wondered.

“He is in the kitchen heating up milk. But I don't think Kevin is hungry, he just sleepy,” Kenix exclaim, she yawned with her head shaking tiredly.

Frankie wrapped his arms around Kenix waist from behind with his sleepy head rests on her shoulder, “Lets go to sleep honey, Annie could take care of it from here.”

Kenix looked at Annie with uncertainty. Annie nodded to reassure her, “I could handle him, go ahead.”

Finally able to catch some sleep, Frankie happily pushed Kenix toward the stair, “Goodnight Annie!”

“Good night,” Annie replied back. They headed up, Annie yawned with a little sniff trying to stay awake. She rocked Kevin a bit to help him sleep deeper. “What take your daddy so long? Lets go check on how he is doing with your meal okay?” she giggled at herself and brings the baby up higher to peck his cute pink cheek.

Walking toward the kitchen with Kevin in her arms, Annie looked around for Steven. All she notices is that the water is boiling on the stove but there is no sign of Steven anywhere. She quickly turned the stove off and looking for Steven. “Steven?” her soft voice called out.

There is no sign of him anywhere; this is strange to her. Annie saw the backyard door opened, so she assumes he walked out into the yard. She headed out too and saw him sited on the backyard patio with his head dig into his folded arms. Annie knows he must be over stress about everything that has going on lately. Sited herself next to him, Annie comforted in a soft caring voice, “Steven everything will be brighter from now on.”

Turned toward Annie with his redden eyes beaming on his son, Steven discouragingly said, "I don't know how to be a father. Why is this world so unfair? What did Ada ever did wrong? She doesn't deserve to die. Kevin doesn't deserve to be motherless."

While they were talking, Stephen stood by the side of the backyard door silently with one of his eyes peeked through the crack of the open door. Annie patting Steven shoulder comfortingly, "I know how you feel, just hang in there, you just need time to get use to it. Ada will look after you and Kevin."

Steven gently sweep his hand across his son soft fine hair, he let out a sigh, "He cried every night for some reason and he wouldn't stop crying no matter what I have tries." He softly added with his eyes beamed at Annie, "He only quiet down when he is in your arms."

Annie smiled warmly at the baby, "You just need to be patient. Don't worry Kevin will grow up before you notice." She giggled a bit to loosen Steven gloominess, "I bet he will look like you." Annie pecked the baby soft forehead, "He is just so cute."

Smiled weakly at his son, Steven wishfully said, "Wouldn't it be nice if Ada is here?" He turns to look at Annie with his warm eyes thinking something else. Seeing his son bond so well with Annie, it kind of make him wish that Annie is the mother and that theirs relationship has never end. He sighed knowing that it impossible, he turned back to stare up into the dark sky with the twinkling stars and glowing moon.

Seeing him so deep into thought, Annie thought he was missing his wife, so she tries to cheer him up. "Ada must be really happy now knowing how much you missed her." She patted Steven lap, "Don't worry everything will turn out just fine. It really late you should sleep." Annie hand Kevin over. Kevin immediately cried loudly with stress.

Standing up, Steven rocked and cuddled his son, but Kevin wouldn't stop crying. "Shh...hush Kevin. Okay, okay, shhh..." the inexperienced father pleaded. Kevin just wouldn't stop with his face turning tomatoes red in second. Steven is a bit frustrated by his son who is swinging his arms around with his legs kicking. "Why are you so difficult? Shh...hush..." he soothed. Annie is curious to why Kevin seem to only quiet down when she carry him too. "Okay daddy going get you some milk," Steven told his crying baby.

"Let me get the milk for you," Annie offered as she rushing into the kitchen. Stephen saw her coming so he quickly stepped back into the servant room to observe instead. Allowing Annie to help him, Steven nodded while he tries to calm Kevin down by rocking him in his arms. "Hum to him, it help," Annie suggested. Steven hummed the village song, which cause Annie to chuckle while she mixes the milk powder up with the boiled water. Shaking the bottle, Annie teased, "I meant lullaby Steven." She laughed at him teasingly and hand the bottle to Steven. But instead of drinking it, Kevin just turned his head away and cried louder with his arms swinging distressingly. "Here let me carry him again," Annie told Steven.

Didn't want to bother Annie anymore, Steven shakes his head, "Is alright Annie, he will stop when he is exhausted and fallen asleep. I can't bother you each night. Go to bed, you are pregnant yourself, you need the sleep," Steven reminded.

Annie just giggled at him with her eyebrows narrowed at him, "Don't be silly! I could always sleep in the morning. Now come on, hand him over." Steven hesitated but he did as she said. Annie cradled Kevin and whispered softly, "Shhh...hush little baby don't you cry..." Amazingly the crying stops again with little sniffling. Annie smiled proudly and wiped the baby teary face with her gentle touch. "He does like me huh?" she sweetly stated while she brings Kevin head closer and pecked it warmly. "Go to sleep now," Annie angelic voice told Kevin.

She is reaching over to grab the milk bottle, "Steven, you look exhausted too, why don't you go to bed, don't worry I got Kevin. I'll bring him back to you when he falls asleep. Go on," Annie insisted. She place the bottle close to Kevin mouth and he suck on it with his eyes opened to look at her while he drink. Annie smiled joyfully looking at his round little eyes. "You are a naughty boy huh? Trying to pick on daddy," Annie smile widened, she looked at Steven who is chuckling at her. "What?" Annie asked with a bit of irritable tone. She doesn't like to be laughed at much, cause she is easily embarrassed.

Meanwhile, Stephen studies them and didn't quiet like how close Annie and Steven seem to be. Especially when Kevin keep crying and wanting attention from Annie, which help bring Steven closer to Annie.

Steven shakes his head to his ex-girlfriend offer. "Nothing, I just notice that you are very good with baby," he complimented.

"Of course, I'm going to be a mother!" Annie proudly exclaim. She laughed at herself along with Steven, while Stephen clenched his fist with his angry stare darted at Steven. Annie nudging Steven, "Go on, go to bed. I'll bring Kevin up when he's asleep."

Tiredly, Steven still stubbornly shakes his head, "No, I couldn't just leave you to take care of him yourself."

"Don't worry, don't you trust me?" she grinned sweetly.

Steven chuckled at her. To him, she is still cute and sweet like always. "Of course," he answered with no doubt.

Annie signaled him to go to bed with her chin tilted toward the door, "Then go to sleep. You need to take care of him tomorrow morning." She darted at him, "Don't expect me to wake up early."

Her friend nodded with a soft laugh, "Alright, thanks Annie."

"No problem, right Kevin?" Annie asked with bright smile. Annie giggled at the baby in front of her who is reaching his small little fist toward her. Steven walked back to bed after saying his good night. Annie headed up toward her bedroom with Kevin wanting to lure Louis into wanting a baby by seeing how cute Kevin is. After they all left Stephen stepped out with his stern face staring up the stair.

Once Annie got in the room seeing Louis sleeping on his belly with the pillow over his head, she couldn't help herself from giggling at her husband state of frustration cause of Kevin. She headed over to the bed and gets on it with Kevin still drinking his milk. She lean her body over toward Louis and nudged him trying to get his attention. "Honey are you asleep?" Annie softly asked in her angelic sweet voice, trying to sugar coat her voice.

There is no response so she frowned a bit and sighed. Her round eyes warmly stare at Kevin alerted round eyes looking at her, "Aww... your uncle Louis is asleep already." She pouted at the baby, "And I thought you could help me plead him. He will have second thought about being a father if he could just see how good I'm with you. Right baby? You are such a cutie pie. Only if your uncle Louis is awake now."

Meanwhile, Louis pressed his lip trying not to laugh at his wife silly conversation with the baby. He quietly pulled the pillow away from his head and softly turns trying not to disturb Annie who is facing her back at him. His arms sneaked around her waist and pulled her toward him with a playful jerk. Annie was startled and screamed, "Ahh..." she thought she is going to fall.

Her husband laughed at her while the baby cried cause of the sudden jerk and scream. Annie angrily darted her eyes at her husband warningly. Louis grinned ear to ear with his arms still cozily wrapped around his wife. He knows she is not mad at all. "Why did you bring that crying monster in here?" he questioned as he beamed at Kevin teasingly.

Annie ignored her husband remark, she just rocked Kevin to calm his crying down again, "Shh..shhh..don't cry. Don't listen to that meany okay?" Kevin quieted down and picked up on his drinking again with his eyes beaming toward Louis innocently. Annie beamed at her husband too but with her piercing hard eyes, she mumbled under her breath, "Idiot."

Louis laughed at her pout and angry face, it never looked serious to him. He sited upright and pecked Annie neck from behind. "I thought you wanted me to response," he whispered teasingly. He is now more awake then ever.

His wife shrugged her shoulder to get him away, "Not in front of the baby," she softly told him. Louis laughed at her and smooched her loudly on the neck, which made her pout at him with warning eyes. "I thought you were asleep," she said with her pout turning into a smile, since Louis wouldn't stop it.

With a chuckle, Louis beamed his eyes at the soft round eyes of Kevin, "How could I sleep with you chanting with him? You are basically trying to wake me up."

Sheepishly, Annie grinned with her eyes glinted playfully at Louis, "Aren't he cute?"

Her husband just shrugged casually, "I guess, when he don't try to wake me up in the middle of the night." Louis sighed with his eyes beamed at the clock that is stating three thirty in the morning, he know he can't have much sleep tonight. "Where is his father?" he asked wanting someone to just take Kevin back, so he could have his wife back.

Playfully, Annie gently nodded at the baby while he stares back at her. "Asleep," Annie answered her husband. Louis is hanging his chin on her left shoulder. Annie smiled proudly at him, "Kevin only follows me, see how good of a mother I can be?"

"I have never doubts you before have I?" Louis sweetly asked back.

"So you agree..." Annie tries to trick her husband, but he cut in before she could finish.

"No," Louis flatly and firmly said while he shakes his head knowing where she is heading.

Childishly the nineteen years old wife pouted, "You are just plain unreasonable." She smiled at the baby who finished his milk, "Huh Kevin?" Annie holds the baby up and place on her shoulder to burp him. "Lets not talk to unreasonable people baby, they can easily cause more wrinkle," she purposely said trying to make her husband feel guilty. But Louis just laughed at her remark.

Louis turned her to face him, "I thought you promise to let me make the decision?" he reminded her.

Annie lifted Kevin and holds him toward Louis, "Now cradle him and pretend he is our son, if you could honestly tell me that you don't want him then I'll think about the abortion."

The husband chuckled at her choice of word, "Think?" Louis slumped his shoulder. His voice became serious, "Honey." Annie didn't let him complain and just dropped Kevin in his arms. He cradled Kevin and rocked him soothingly, he does have experience of being a father.

Smiled pleasingly at her husband, Annie is a bit amazed, "He don't cry with you carrying him either."

"Of course, I'm a good father. Right Kevin?" Louis proudly stated and asked. Annie giggled with her head rested on Louis arm. Louis sighed with his eyes studying Kevin who slowly shut his eyes to sleep. "He does resemble a bit like Benny," his deep voice claim.

His wife rolled her head up toward him, "Louis, how did Benny die?" Annie curiously asked.

Frowned with his face quickly darken, Louis deep flat tone said, "Lets not talk about him."

Nodded understandingly, Annie reaches her hand out to gently brush Kevin face, "He is adorable huh? Wouldn't it be nice if we can have a son like him?" Louis nodded which cause Annie to grin with hope, "See you like him too, so you would definitely want our own right?"

Louis turn to seriously look at Annie, "Annie, do you really wanted a child this badly?" Annie nod repeatedly with wishful eyes. "Even when you know that you might die and never see me again?"

Annie wrapped her arms cozily around his right arm, "Yes, if I know that we have a child of our own, anything is okay with me. I'll still be with you even if I died, the child is part of both of us." She smile and hugged him warmly, "And who say I'm for sure going to die? Wouldn't it be nice to have both our daughter and me to love you?"

Looked at the sleeping Kevin, Louis gazed back to his wife seriously, "You won't regret this?"

With definitely smile, Annie shakes her head, "Never." She lean her head back on his shoulder. Her sincere voice told him, "Knowing you love me forever is enough."

Sighed, Louis knows he will regret what he going to promise but he wanted her to be happy. Hesitated, Louis finally agreed, "Alright, you can keep the baby..."

His wife excitedly hugged him tightly and smooched his cheek loudly, "I know you would understand!"

Louis felt like he is regretting already, "Not too fast..."

Annie pouted at him, "You promise already, you can't take back your words now!"

Her husband sighed, "I know I'll regret it. Don't worry what I say will never change." He seriously looked into Annie eyes, "Promise me to take care of yourself first and tell me everything that is going on."

Nodded joyfully and excitedly, Annie snapped, "Anything you say!"

Louis turn to kiss her forehead, "And you need to drink the health soup, medicine, and dessert each night?" Annie nodded joyfully as her husband continues to list. "Also to rest more and be careful, and don't climb up and down...and..."

Laughed at him, Annie saluted, "Yes Mr. Koo! When have you turn into a worry freak?" she beamed at him with her eyes sparkled with gladness that he is her husband, she just love him so much. Hugged him tightly with a glister of tears in her eyes, "I love you."

The charmingly grinning husband smiled warmly from his heart. Annie is rubbing her head on his. He whispered genuinely, "I love you too." But deep down Louis felt a sense of fear grew over his body, he always felt this strange sensation that something really bad will happen to his wife. Life is never perfect for him, the more warm and joyful they are now, the more he fears that all of this will disappear and leave him to nothing. "Promise to never leave me, Annie," he softly pleaded.
****

[Danielle Lin]

Aww, that was so cute, I can pratically imagine that scene!

I hope you manage to pair Steven in the end, but NOT with Annie! <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"> Sorry, guess I'm greedy that way. But Louis and Anne are such a cute couple. Honestly I can't imagine Steven and Anne as a couple. (But I'm thinking of Steven Ma so...)

Hehe... oops I missed the last update. But I agree with zzzbeauty, if this kiling thing continues we all might need more than a BIG box of tissues! <IMG SRC="smilies/crying.gif" border="0">

And I'm glad ccsakura mentioned the Steven topic, which hopefully won't cause a 3 sided relationship triangle. (Sounds better in chinese; sum gok luan)

<font size="1">[ May 02, 2003: Message edited by: Danielle Lin ]</font>

[Yak]

Chapter 40: Forgotten Soul

Annie is peacefully napping in the cool afternoon breeze of her backyard. She heard the soft sound of bird chirping and sense the rosy sun toasted her cheek warmly with soft fresh breeze passing by her hair. She felt her body being rocked by the hammock that she is lying on. Her face smiled sweetly with her soft breathing while her hand automatically and soothingly rubbed her four and a half month pregnant belly. It felt so nice and refreshing to sleep outside under the sun with a little shade of the trees.

Her ears are alerted to the sharp crying sound of an infant and a soft voice of a boy. Faintly behind the voices of the child and the crying of the baby, Annie could hear a soft gentle female voice whispering, "Don't worry you could go home soon." Puzzled to the voices, Annie head slightly turned toward the direction, then she heard another voice that sounded really old, "No, I'm not well yet. You don't know what you're talking about. Where is the..." the whispering voice fainted away when Annie heard a loud distressed cry of an infant.

Still subconsciously lost and in her half drowsy state of sleep, Annie turned her head toward the sound of the baby. Her body jerked awakes cause she thought she is going to fall off the hammock when her body shifted position too far to the left. As a reflex her hands tightly grab onto the white net of her hammock to steady herself from falling over. Her heart rate dropped so fast she thought she would faint. The voices that she heard earlier seem to evaporate leaving only the soft whispering of a boy. Within second it was total silent except for the gentle sound of waving tree branches due to the soft breeze.

Slowly, Annie eyes focus to the bright outdoor light trying to find the source of the cry she heard earlier. But there is no one around and she is alone in the middle of the summer day along with the fresh green yard. After observing for a while and still see no sign of crying infant, Annie yawned tiredly rubbing her eyes and shifted her body over to nap again. But once she closes her eyes she heard another sharp cry piercing into the nice warm day disturbing the peaceful summer.

Once again, Annie opens her eyes and turned in all direction to search for the cries. "Kevin?" she called out with uncertain mind. It sounded like it was Kevin cry but she why would Kevin be out here? Isn't he with Steven? Annie is confused and searching around to look for the baby, "Where is Kevin?"

A soft humming of a child voice is heard that caught Annie attention right away, she turned to the left and notice a little boy sited on the grass field with his back facing her just a couple of feet away. Annie carefully studies the image with her foggy vision slowly focusing. She recognizes the clothing of the child. "B-jai?" her soft voice called out. Her voice carried a hint of worry cause she don't know what this child want this time.

The eight years old boy turned around once he heard his name being call. Sited a distance away, he smiled at Annie warmly with the sun just hitting on his cheek. "Hi," he simply said with a bit of respect. With that short greeting, he turned back to his original position humming a lullaby, with his back facing Annie.

Annie is curiously observing the appearance of B-jai. Somehow he looked different this time. He seems more lively and energetic looking more like a child. His feature is more human like with his skin more flushed and creamy instead of the bluish purple tone that she remembers seeing him like from her last dream, which is about three months ago. Annie heart suddenly felt alerted with her eyes scanning the area. ¡¥Is this just another dream squeal again?' she wondered. She felt lost and confuse with her heart pounding faster wanting her husband to be here by her side. Still lying on her hammock, Annie weakly looking around the endless field of grass, her weak voice asked, "Where am I?" Her eyes gazed on the back of that boy with fear. "Is this just another dream?" she asked with a tit bit of fear. Her voice became even more weaker, "What do you want Benny?"

Surprised the boy turned around and smiled at her warmly, "You know my name." Annie swallowed with her nervous pounding heart. He sighed at Annie fear and turned back to continue doing what he is doing before, letting his back face Annie. "Yes, this is a dream," he reassured Annie with his calm voice. Deep down he is not too happy with her for feeling this afraid of him.

Annie is a bit frustrated and fearful for her own safety, she don't want to be here with him. Suddenly remembering that B-jai stated before that he is here for her child, Annie quickly wrapped her right arm around her belly protectively. She demanded the boy with her voice being a bit angry, "What do you want Benny? Why do you keep haunting my dream?!" Annie saw his head shaking to her questioning.

The child didn't turn to give Annie his attention. He is not too happy that Annie kept treating him like a demon. "This is not your dream, is baby Annie dream. You are just sharing dream with her," B-jai informed in his empty voice, since Annie isn't that nice to him, he figure he doesn't have to be a good boy to her. Annie gazed at her belly confusedly, her child dream? Why would her child dream of B-jai? A loud distressed cry filled the air again jerked Annie attention toward B-jai direction cause it sound like it coming from over at where he is. B-jai patted at the baby in front of him, "Shhh...don't cry..." he grinned at the three month old baby in front of him.

Alertly darted her eyes at his back, Annie is wondering what the heck is B-jai doing with a baby? The thought of it might be the little girl she saw last time made her heart stiffen with fear. She quickly pulled her body upright and turning herself to have her feet over the edge of the hammock wanting to get off. She carefully got off the hammock and with her hand on her abdominal she slowly walked over to where B-jai is with her heart worrying about the baby that he is playing with. Her eyes widen at the infant, who is naked with only his diaper on and is now lying on the cold grass in front of B-jai, the baby continue to cry loudly for attention. She quickly bended down to pick the child up and cradle him in her arms protectively.

Caringly, Annie is brushing the baby fine hair with her gentle touch. The baby moaned with little sobbing sound and watery red eye on Annie. "Shh...is okay Kevin, I'm here," Annie motherly whispered to the baby. She rocked the baby and covered him up securely with her warm arms. Her eyes darted at B-jai with anger causing B-jai to drop his head guiltily for some reason. "You do not play with a baby like this!" Annie inflamingly scolded, "He could catch a cold! What were you doing to him?!"

Pouted at the tall adult in front of him, B-jai explained with his irritated tone, "This is just a dream, you don't catch a cold in a dream! I didn't do anything wrong, I just getting to know him and trying my new trick out. I'm just experimenting with him."

"You do not experiment with a baby! He is not some kind of toys for you to play with and mess around with! He is a living being!!" Annie angry voice scolded the boy. B-jai eyes Annie with his pout and softens eyes feeling sad cause she is scolding him. Somehow he has always felt this warm feeling from Annie cause she looked so much like his mother. "Don't you dare touch him again!" Annie warned.

With a soft sad sigh, B-jai tries to explain to calm Annie scolding down, "It doesn't hurt him, I just enter his dream and play with him..."

"No wonder he cry each night, how long have you been bothering him?!" Annie accusingly asked.

The not too patient boy is beginning to get anger too cause Annie is accusing him now. "This is the first time I learn how to enter other people dream! You don't have to be so mean!" he shouted back at her and turned around with his arms folded angrily along with an obvious childish pout, he is a ghost but also a child too.

"If it weren't you bothering him then why would he cry?!" Annie asked him. She don't trust this child that much.

B-jai shrugged with his hasty tone, "How do I know! He is a cry baby?!" he suggested with a hiss. His leg is starting to kick on the grass in front of him to release his anger.

Annie saw his action and long angry face that made her a bit guilty for scolding him. In a softer voice, she warned once more, "Well, I want you to know that you can't play with him. You heard me?" B-jai nodded obediently which surprise Annie. How come she weren't afraid of him anymore? He does look just like a child to her now. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to yell," Annie guiltily apologized.

Childishly, the boy turned around to face her with an accepting grin. "Do you want to see my new trick?!" he smiled proudly, "I learn how to enter other people dream!"

"You always enter my dream," Annie confusedly reminded him.

B-jai shakes his head, "No, only when baby Annie dream of me. But I learn how to enter other people dream myself!" Excited to show off, he reached his hand out toward Annie, Annie stepped back uncertain to his intention. "Don't move! I want to show you my new trick!" he told her.

Annie puzzlingly gazed at him while he approach. "What exactly are you trying to do?" Annie asked with unsure voice.

"Trust me, I don't mean any harm," he pouted with his shoulder dropped sadly. "When have I hurt you?" he asked and disappeared right in front of Annie eyes, she turned around to look for him and he popped right in front of her again.

"Ahhh..." Annie squealed at the boy that startled her. B-jai is chuckling with amusement and stood in front of her with his large eyes staring at Annie softly. Annie panted with her arms wrapped around Kevin protectively, "Don't you ever do that again!"

Rolled his eyes at the fearful adult, B-jai mumbled, "Sorry, sheehs you are easily scared." He grinned at the baby, "If you let me, I'll send him back."

Annie saw his hand spreads and reaching toward her again. "What are you going to do to him?" she asked.

The child just grinned proudly, "Get him out of his dream." His hand reach toward Kevin forehead, then he slightly turns his hand slowly. Annie saw a little pink marking on his right wrist that looked like some kind of a scare or birthmark.

The next second Annie notice that Kevin has disappears from her arms. She is shock and concerned, as she looked around, "What did you do to him?! Where is Kevin? What did you do to him?! Give him back now!" she demanded.

B-jai rolled his eyes at the nagging adult, "Of course he is not around, he have awaken." He covered his ears, "Stop yelling at me!"

Calmed down, Annie felt relief that Kevin is fine. "Well, wake me up too," she requested.

The boy stares at her motionlessly, feeling a bit irritated by her, "I can't do that, remember?" He places his hand on Annie belly, "You ask her to stop dreaming of me." He mumbled grumpily to himself, "Like I want to see you. All adult are mean and unreasonable. Especially daddy."

Annie felt the warmness of his hand this time instead of the icy coldness. "Why would my baby want to dream about you?" she asked with puzzled mind.

Shrugged at the question, B-jai looked at Annie with a bit of annoyance by all of her hard question, "How do I know? Why don't you ask her? All I know is that I could communicate with her and that I'm suppose to wait for something." He ran over to the hammock and climbed himself into it making it automatically swing him. Annie walked over with her eyes studying him and wanting to know more.

Stopped the hammock, Annie got on too, sitting next to B-jai. B-jai got it swinging again and he is climbing toward one end of it. Annie never notices this childish side of him before, all she felt from pervious experience is fear but now it more of a curious feeling. "B-jai how old are you, seven?"

"Of course not! I'm almost nine," he answered with a bright proud grin.

Annie smiled at him after seeing his charming smile having a slight resemblance to Louis. "B-jai how did you die?" she softly asked.

A frown immediately shows up on B-jai face. He lets go of his grip on the tree, to allow his body to slide down from the end of the hammock toward the middle like a slide. He is now sitting by Annie side. Emptily with his eyes gazed into the field, he simply answered, "Daddy kills me."

Annie eyes enlarged in disbelief. Annie shakes her head, this can't be it, her husband is not a killer! "You are lying, Louis would never do so!"

B-jai dropped his head, with sadness in his eyes, "I didn't lie."

"That can't be, why would he do so?" Annie will never believe that Louis would have the heart to kill a child.

Bitterly B-jai murmured under his breath with his soft eyes welled with tears, "Daddy said I'm not his B-jai. Daddy say he don't want me anymore." The hammock slowly stopping swinging so he could jump off. B-jai is sadly walking away from Annie. Annie followed after him, he is walking toward his grave. "Daddy don't love me anymore after mommy left," the poor eight years old stated.

Soft hearted, Annie felt sympathy for this little ghost. In her soft voice, "Did your mommy really left?"

With a sighed, B-jai nodded. He is sitting down next to his grave. "Yeah," he answered with a disappointed frown with his eyes gazing toward the driveway. "She lie to me, she promise she will be back but she is gone for six years now. I been waiting for her here since I was three but she never come back." Annie hand automatically patted B-jai head and she felt his fine hair slide smoothly under her hand. "I still remember lots of things about her and when I was alive. You get your memories back after you die, even those that you don't remember when you are alive," he informed Annie. He smiled warmly with his eyes gazed into Annie's pair of eyes. "I still remember she looking just like you and I also remember she telling me that she will be back for me," his voice weakened, "But she lies. When I wake up she left already. Daddy said mommy would never come back for me cause she don't want me. After mommy left, daddy locked up my room and wouldn't let me in anymore and he don't care about me anymore. He wouldn't play with me or talk to me, daddy pretend I'm not there most of the time. He only remembers me when he switches."

Annie is disbelieving what she is hearing, why would her husband be so cold to this child, even if he is not his. Benny is only three back then how could Louis treat him like that? "Then where did you sleep after he locks your room up?" Annie curiously asked.

The brave child takes in a puff of air and continues his story, "Anywhere in the house, daddy doesn't care." He smiled, "I usually sleep in the sewing room cause mommy use to love sewing a lot and she sewed lots of clothes for me. I thought she would be back to that room, but she never did, I waited for so long." B-jai frowned with his hand start picking on the grass in front of him absentmindedly with a pout. "Daddy works really late each night leaving me with Stephen and Bobby. They moved over after mommy left cause daddy has fired all the other servants. He say he don't want anything of mommy in the house including all the servant mommy hire."

This is just strange to Annie but a very interesting topic, she is getting to know more of her husband past. "Louis never comes home before you sleep?" her sad voice asked.

The early matured child shake his head, "No, daddy does come home early sometime but he wouldn't want to see me." B-jai gazed ahead motionlessly like he is trap in his memories. "I was only three but I remember everything about daddy really well or everything that happen during my living years really well. Even when I was a baby and don't know how to talk, isn't that funny? Being a ghost is not that bad, but it's a bit boring. Especially when no one could see or hear me." B-jai got a bit side tracked as he rambles on about being a ghost.

Annie is a bit skeptical to what he is saying, how could anyone remember what happen when they are a baby? "How old were you when you die?" Annie asked to bring him back.

"Four years, seven months, and twenty days old," B-jai sadly said in detail, which kind of amaze Annie. But he haves nothing to do but remembering detailed things of his life. B-jai frowned with his head dropped toward the grass before he continue, "After mommy left us, daddy turns really strange, he kept switching, that what Daai Bak (eldest uncle, he mean Gilbert) told me. Daai Bak said daddy is ill and couldn't control himself something and that I shouldn't take what he said seriously, he also told me to hide when daddy is home, but I wanted to see him. The illness causes daddy to change very often, especially when something about mommy is mention. He is like two different persons and he don't remember what he said or did. It very scary."

"Did someone get a doctor to help your daddy?" Annie curiously asked.

B-jai shrugged, "I don't know, but there is a lot of stranger walking in and out of the house. Some bring bells and red wooden sword, saying something about ghost and they are really noise mumbling something over and over in the living room and also in front of my old room. I don't know what they are doing but daddy weren't home."

"Who ask them to come? Is it your daddy?" Annie asked in confusion.

"I don't know but they talk to Stephen, I don't understand a word they said, it was confusing but I remember something about black dog blood. Oh yes! Stephen wanted to kill Bobo and I wouldn't let him, Bobo is our black watchdog, he is my pet too, of course I wouldn't let him take Bobo away," B-jai exclaim, his voice is getting a bit angry as he recall what Stephen did to his pet. Annie is getting really suspicious. She know what B-jai is describing, those people must be Taoist that help capture ghost. And black dog blood is one of the methods to get rid of ghost. But what ghost are they trying to get rid of? "Stephen even pushed me away and hit me when I try to stop him. He finally took Bobo with him, and I never get to see him after that. But he replace Bobo with new black watchdog," B-jai sadly added in a matter of fact tone, "he killed many dogs already."

"That Stephen," Annie slightly mumbled, she looked at Benny with sympathy, "Did you tell your daddy that he been hitting you?"

His head shakes as he explain, "Daddy wouldn't care and he weren't home then either. I don't know where he went but he left for many days and hasn't come back during that time."

Annie concernedly asked, "How long had he been abusing you like that?" B-jai stares at her confusedly. "I mean how long have Stephen been hitting you."

B-jai smiled at her reassuringly, "He don't dare to touch me in front of daddy or Bobby, so I stay close by Bobby a lot when daddy is not home. Bobby is really nice, he always give me snack when I ask for it. And he even plays with me when he is free."

Annie nodded with a warm smile while she gazes into Benny cheerfulness when he talks about Bobby. "Benny, what else do you remember about those group of people? What else did they do?" she wanted to find out more.

Trying to remember, he speak what come up to his mind, "Awhile after Stephen took Bobo away, I saw him carrying a bucket of something walking into the forest. I bet it's Bobo blood, he probably wanted to feed it to the forest monster."

Hearing a hint, Annie eyes widened with her heart dropped a bit. "Forest? Which forest?" Annie weakly questions with hope to solve Ada death. B-jai pointed toward the wood where they found Ada, Annie followed Benny arms with her heart feeling a bit eerie and fearful to what she just found out. The button that Ada give her telling her that her injury was not an accident and it have something to do with Louis but Louis is not home when Ada accident occur, so could it be Stephen? Annie swallowed her fear when she concluded her theory, but why would Stephen kill Ada? That make no sense, they don't know each other. Annie urgently asked, "Benny do you know what is in the forest? Why would Stephen want to go there?"

The young boy shakes his head, "I don't know, I'm not allow to go that far. And it's scary in there. I bet there is a green forest monster."

Annie stare at him in disbelief, "You are a ghost and you are scare of monster?"

"So? Ghost can be scare of things too," B-jai sheepishly said.

Pressed her lip, Annie couldn't help but laughed at his expression, "Do your daddy ever walk into the forest?"

"I never saw daddy walk into it, but Stephen always walk in there. Usually on the first or fifteen of the month too and he been doing it for this past six years," B-jai said. Once again Annie is daunted by what B-jai say cause Ada die on the fifteen. This is getting really mysterious to Annie, but why didn't she notice Stephen walking to the forest during the last year? Now Annie is determine to get to the end of this. Stephen is the key to all of this, but she knows she must be careful and think clearly before she act.

"What else Benny, do you notice anything else that is weird?" Annie pestered.

After thinking for a while, B-jai face brightens, "Oh they gave Stephen some kind of yellow paper with red marks. They gave me one too, but daddy took it away, he is mad at Stephen and yelled at him for a long time and gets rid of all those chanting people and everything that they bring in. I never see daddy so mad before."

Hearing what B-jai just said, Annie is a bit relieved. "So Louis is not behind this. Benny does you remember what your daddy yell at Stephen about?"

B-jai shake his head, "No, cause they were upstairs, I could only hear daddy loudly shouting something at Stephen and Stephen is quiet the entire time. So I bet daddy is scolding him. But that night daddy switched again."

"Switched?," Annie asked with confusion to the word.

A nodded came from B-jai, "Yeah cause of his illness. Sometime daddy would miss mommy a lot and he would cry wanting mommy to come back. He would hug me and cry with me wishing that mommy would be back again. Daddy will say he loves me and he is sorry for yelling at me or ignoring me. He will promise that he won't do it again and that everything will be fine." Annie could see a glister of tear lingering in his pair of sad still eyes still remembering the past. "But then sometime daddy would change into a very mean mood. He will yell at my old room really mad and angry, he would pound on it, and yelled mommy name with hatred, and say something about uncle Julian."

Alert, Annie still eyes are on B-jai as she wonder, ¡¥is it the Julian, I read in Helen dairy? Could he be Benny father if Louis kept saying Benny is not his?' Annie snapped out of her thought, "Who is this uncle Julian?"

"Daddy and mommy best friend. He come over a lot and always brings me candy or toy," the child answered.

Annie is trying to lure out more information and to know more about Julian and Helen. "Do he come over when your daddy is home or when he is at work?"

After thinking for a while, "In the morning when daddy is not home."

Getting impatient, Annie asked, "What do he usually do when he is over?"

The boy shrugged, "Play with me, talk with mommy, and have dinner with us. He is really nice, just like daddy."

"Do your daddy know about this? I mean all of uncle Julian visit," asked the anxious adult.

B-jai nod then shake his head, "No, mommy never mention to daddy and she wouldn't let me tell daddy either, mommy say is not important enough to concern daddy." Annie is a bit shock and angry at Helen, she is having an affair! How could she? She doesn't sound like this in the dairy. "And uncle Julian is weird, he get shaky and doesn't want to play with me when daddy is around. Like he is afraid of daddy and he don't talk much to mommy either," B-jai added.

Annie angrily asked because she felt unfair for her husband, "How long has this been going on?"

The child shrugged, "I don't know, as long as I remember things." Annie sighed with her head shaking. "What is wrong?" asked the oblivious child.

With a shake of her head, Annie said in a glum tone, "Nothing. The night that you say daddy switched, what did he do?"

Not really wanted to discuss about Louis problem, B-jai gnawed his lip and sadly continue, "Same usual things when he is mad. He will yell, pound on the door and get really mean and angry. I try to hide but he caught me before I could run into the sewing room." Within second his eyes is filled up with tears, "I don't like it when daddy is this mean, his eyes look really scary and he grab me really hard making my arm hurt. Then he would..." he dropped his head. "I know is not really daddy, is just that he is ill and he can't remember me." Tears welled in his eyes and redden it right away.

Sadly, Annie eyes narrowed at B-jai expression and whispered, "He hit you?" B-jai shakes his head.

Frowned with his eyes gazed toward the front door, B-jai continues, "No, daddy never hit me." The poor boy eyes are water up with tears. "But he locks me out of the house that time cause he is really mad at mommy and me. He don't want anything of mommy in the house including me..." A drop of tears finally rolled down his cheek and he wiped it away quickly. "It was really cold and snowing too, I pounded on the door but daddy wouldn't open up for me. Stephen and Bobby wouldn't open up either cause daddy told them to ignore me. Daddy wanted me out of his life, he told me to go find mommy and my real daddy. I don't know what he meant." He sniffed his tears and blinking trying to get rid of his weakness. And he do have a hint to what Louis meant back then, cause he is now growing up too and understanding more, but he deny it being true. He looked at Annie stilly, "Do you know what he mean aunty Annie?"

Not knowing what to say, Annie pulled him into her arms and hugged him with a sighed for her husband to be so cruel to a child. "I'm sorry B-jai, it really not your fault at all."

The boy is kneeled in front of Annie with his arms wrapped around Annie neck he started to sob on her shoulder. "Daddy use to love me a lot, he always play with me once he get home. He is always happy when I called him. I was only one and a half but I remember it so clearly, everything, every little detail of daddy and mommy. But they've forgotten me." He sniffed and snuggled his head on Annie, "I remember daddy would wake me up when he come home late. Mommy would go to the kitchen and bring the dessert out, she would feed me and daddy would stick his head over wanting mommy to feed him too." He giggled slightly with his arm wiping his tears. "I still remember it, why did daddy forget?" he sobbed and cried louder, he is only an eight years old. Annie rubbed his back soothingly, she is a bit angry with her husband for being so mean to Benny, how could he be so heartless?

"Benny do you hate daddy?" she weakly asked.

He shakes his head, "No, it's not daddy fault. He is ill that's why he doesn't remember me. The next morning when he remembers he opened the door and carried me in. He cried for what he did and he promise he won't do it again but he never remember." B-jai sniffed and released Annie. "I know daddy wouldn't do it to me on purpose."

With her hand run along the side of his head, Annie cupped his cheek, "You were in the snow for the entire night?"

B-jai shake his head, "No I was on the porch the snow didn't get me but I was really cold and freezing, I got really sick that time and almost die. From then on daddy never come home again or he would come home when I was asleep already." Annie gulped, it sounded just like how Louis use to avoid her. Was Louis afraid that he would harm Benny if he returns early? Annie felt sad for both father and son.

With her curious round eyes at the boy in front of her, she don't feel fear of him anymore, he is such a sweet boy that loved his daddy a lot. "Then how did you die?"

A sigh sounded, "There is one day that daddy came home early and he took me over to grandpa and grandma for dinner, cause Sia Sok (youngest uncle, meaning Raymond.) returned from his study. That was the first time I met Sia Sok, he was nice, but he don't seem to like me much either. Both grandpa and grandma weren't too happy with me. They were never happy with mommy and me and have always scolds at me for everything. Mommy use to tell me not to believe anything they say cause none of them were nice except for Daai Bak and daddy. And daddy wouldn't go over to grandpa and grandma unless it something big, cause he don't like it when grandma scold mommy and me."

Annie nods finally knowing why her husband doesn't seem to be too close with his family anymore. "That day was Sia Sok return, so I guess it was a big enough event for daddy to take me over for a visit. I haven't been over there for a year. And it was the first time I was over there without mommy too, so it was quiet boring and only Daai Bak would play with me. We were playing with the netted ball and it was kicked toward the room daddy and Sia Sok was in. So I ran over to pick it up and I saw daddy was shouting at Sia Sok. Daddy is getting really angry with him and even punched him for something. I told Daai Bak so he ran in the room to separate them. Daddy was furious with Sia Sok and angrily grabs my wrist and dragged be back home. I saw Sia Sok guilty eyes on daddy, which changed into an angry one on me. I have no idea what is going on."

This is really strange to Annie and interesting too, no wonder Louis dislike Raymond so much but what happen? "Do you hear what they were saying in the room?"

B-jai trying to recall things that he don't understand back then, "Something about the moon festival and it about uncle Julian. I heard Sia Sok saying sorry to daddy over and over but daddy is just mad at him more and say something about why he didn't tell him earlier. And why he helping them keeps a secret." The boy shrugged cause he don't understand, "I don't know what they are talking about."

Confusedly, Annie tries to analysis her thought out loud, "The moon festival? Raymond must know something. What secret?" Annie eyes widen, the moon festival could it be the one that the dairy stopped. The one entry that contain Helen's tears? What did she do wrong? Could it be that she started her affair with Julian and Raymond know about it? It seem like the puzzle is falling into place, but why did Raymond help them keep it as a secret? Annie looked at the pour soul in front of her that is gazing at his grave with empty eyes. "Benny did daddy switch again that night?"

Nodded and answered with his sad empty tone, "Yeah." Annie softly places her hand on B-jai shoulder and he turn to look at her. "It was my last time having to go through it," he turned back to his grave again. "Aunty Annie, why don't daddy want my name on my grave? I want to have my name on it." he turn to Annie with tears in his eyes. "Benny Koo."

Annie nodded to him with tears rolling out of her eyes too. She swallowed her tears, "I'll ask him to write it on for you okay?" B-jai nodded vigorously. "Benny did daddy really kill you on purpose?" Annie can't believe she is asking this, she can't believe that her husband would do this to a four year old.

The child shakes his head, which help eased Annie glum. "Is not the real daddy that did it to me. I know daddy would never do so he loves me, why would he want to kill me," he wetted his lip with his eyes close and the scene came to live right in his mind again. "I remember looking up at daddy seeing his face darken and his eyes hard with tears, I know he has changed cause I could feel the fear in me and I couldn't run away either. Daddy dragged me back home and shut the door really loudly then he dragged me toward my room. I started to cry cause I felt scare. He got even angrier hearing me cry and pleaded him to let go but he didn't. He kneeled down to my level and grab both of my arms really tightly, I never felt so much pain on my arms before." He opened his eyes and rolled his sleeve up to show Annie the bruised finger imprint on both of his arms, that is still there.

Annie eyes were in tears with her soft fingertip gently touching the still purplish discoloration. "How could he?" she angrily asked with disbelief. Annie pulled Benny in to hug him, "Sorry Benny, your daddy really shouldn't do all of these things to you."

"It not daddy fault. Right?" B-jai innocently reminded Annie. Annie nodded with tears cascading down her cheek. "It really didn't hurt anymore," the boy tries to ease Annie tears. "I remember daddy was frustrated and yelling at me while he shakes me vigorously. I try to make him stop but I couldn't and daddy eyes weren't exactly looking at me. He was shouting really loudly at the door asking why mommy didn't take me with her while he continue to shake me and it was harder and I felt like I couldn't breath. The next thing I notice was that there is a boy that looked exactly like me. Daddy weren't holding me anymore and I saw daddy with the boy in his arms. Daddy snapped out and kept calling my name with his hand slapping the boy face. I shouted to daddy to answer him but he doesn't seem to heard me or see me. It is then that I notice something is wrong with me cause I could see through my self when I look at my body and hands. Not after a long while before I finally notice that I'm a ghost and the boy daddy was calling to was my body."

"So Louis did kill you," Annie concluded with disappointment. She can't believe this, how could he? But Annie also know that Louis couldn't control himself, this is the switch he has try to warn her about earlier. Now she understand Louis more and felt sorry for him, he must be devastated knowing that he killed the son he has loved before, with his own two hands. Annie sighed heavily and gaze at the child in front of her feeling sympathy for him too, he is a poor lost soul being trap in between his parents. Annie smile at B-jai sincerely, "You really not angry with your daddy?"

"I'm angry. I still want daddy back but he hated me after I die. He wouldn't let me have my name on my tombstone. And he wouldn't let Daai Bak bring me toys or flower or even to just come and visit me," he sighed, "Daddy wouldn't even let you come to visit me, if it weren't for Nicola who clean up my grave before he return, he will get really mad at you for visiting if he know."

Surprised, Annie asked, "What do you mean?"

"Daddy never knows you visit me, that's why he was never mad at you." The boy sighed, "Am I really not his son? Why else would he treat me like this?"

It was too sudden, that Annie doesn't know how she supposes to tell him, "Benny it really doesn't matter anymore right?"

"It matter," the boy said, "It will explain why daddy hates me if I'm not his son." His head dropped, "I'll know that daddy do it cause of a reason and not because he don't love me." He turns to look at Annie, "You know what I mean?"

Annie nodded, "Will you still love him if he is not your daddy?"

B-jai eyes enlarged on Annie, "So he really isn't my daddy?" Annie nodded, Benny shoulder slumped disappointedly, he wanted to be Louis son, that is the only father he ever knows. "That's why he hates me," he whispered.

Annie pulled B-jai into her arms to comfort him, "You know what? I'm going to make him put your name up and visit you."

The boy stare at her with hope but also a bit of disbelief, "He wouldn't listen to you."

Chuckling, Annie rubbed her tummy, "But he will listens to her." They both chuckled.

"Then what will my name be?" B-jai confusedly asked.

The caring aunty smiles warmly at him, "Benny Koo." Benny smiled brightly and suddenly everything spinning and Annie jerked awake. Annie looked around and notice that she has awakens and it was in the middle of the night. She turned over and saw her husband sleeping peacefully.
******

[Yak]

Danielle Lin : Don't worry there will not be a love triangle between Annie, Louis, and Steven. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> Yes, Steven will love Annie, but Annie only love her husband. <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0"> And as for who he will get pair up with, you have to read till the end <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"> I can't spoil it, sorry. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Danielle Lin]

<IMG SRC="smilies/read.gif" border="0"> Wow, that was a very, very intriging chapter. In the beginning I could pratically feel my goosebumps raising.

Poor B-jai, he had to endure so much, no wonder he's kinda <IMG SRC="smilies/rolleyes.gif" border="0"> . Aside from that I'm kinda curious about the reason Raymond and Louis have such a bad relationship, and the 'secret.'

Phew! I'm glad there isn't going to be a three sided relationship! Oh, well... <IMG SRC="smilies/sigh.gif" border="0"> Now, I'll just have to wait and see the pairings, either that or guess.

Anyhoo...Update soon! <IMG SRC="smilies/thumbsup.gif" border="0">
~~~
P.S. The school band (plus me, I'm a flute) is going to St. Louis for a competition so I might not be able to drop a comment, till next, next week! Sorry!

<font size="1">[ May 03, 2003: Message edited by: Danielle Lin ]</font>

[annalee]

Hi! I've finally caught up! Oh my god, B-jai is so so so cute! I absolutely love him.He is so adorable. Anyway, your story is really good.

[jeh]

I feel so sorry for B-jai. He went throught so much and he is only a little child <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0"> Hmm, I wonder what happen between Louis and Raymond <IMG SRC="smilies/thinkingof.gif" border="0"> Did Helen get rape by Julian? I mean, I don't think Helen started the affair with Julian on purpose. I think she got rape by him. That's why Raymond have to keep a secret for them. Well, that's just my guess <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0"> Please update soon. I really want to know what will happen. Glad that there won't be a triangle relationship between Annie, Louis, and Steven <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Yak]

Danielle Lin: Good luck with competition!!! <IMG SRC="smilies/thumbsup.gif" border="0"> All the best for your band and you! <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

Annalee: Thanks for reading and commenting! If you enjoy reading about kid, try reading my other fanfic, Daddy's & Mommy's Little Angel. <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

jeh: No, Helen didn't get rape by Julian, but you are very close with your guesses, just a bit off. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

[Yak]

Chapter 41: Sign

Continue from last chapter...

Annie looked around and notice that she has awakens and it was in the middle of the night. She turned over and saw her husband sleeping peacefully. She sighed heavily at Louis, she felt something changed after hearing B-jai story. Gently Annie felt her husband face and lean in to peck his nose softly. "B-jai has always love you Louis, do you know that?"


Louis moaned and opened his eyes to beam at his wife sleepily. Annie silently stares at him with her glum expression. Her husband reaches his hand over to tug Annie bang behind her ear. "Nightmare?" his gentle voice asked.

Annie shake her head with stills eyes on her husband, "No, a visit to the past." Louis narrowed his eyes on her confusedly. Annie scooted in and snuggled herself close to her husband. Louis grinned at her action and places his hand gently on her enlarged belly. Annie sighed, "Louis, I want you to do me a favor."

Playfully, Louis chuckled with his eyes rolled, "Don't I do enough favor lately?" He saw Annie seriously looked at him so he seriously nod, "You know I always say yes."

Smiled, Annie nod pleasingly, "I want you to engrave Benny name back on his tombstone and pay a visit to him."

"Annie what are you talking about?" his stern voice asked. He never like to mention about the past, especially B-jai.

Annie frowned with her sympathy eyes beamed at Louis, "You owe him a lot Louis, he is just a child that wanted your love. Why do you have to be so cruel to him?"

Her husband stubbornly turned away, "You know that I don't want to talk about him, Annie. He is not my son and who told you this?" he turned to stare at her angrily.

His wife pouted with stern eyes, "He did. I dream of him and he told me everything. How he die, how you treated him and everything."

Weary to the topic, Louis sighed with his eye gazed out the balcony window toward the tombstone direction. "I don't want to mention about him again, Annie. I want to forget everything in the past. He is not my son, he couldn't blame me."

"He is just four when he die!" Annie angrily reminded her husband. She swiftly turned her body and felt a sharp pain on her abdominal, "Ow.."

Immediately, Louis alertly checking her out, "What is wrong? Are you in pain?"

Annie doesn't know what's wrong either, she pressed on her abdominal where she felt the pain and see if she still feels it but it didn't occur. She let out a breath of relief and turns to her husband. "The baby wanted you to treat Benny better too," she said.

Her caring husband is rubbing her tummy soothingly and pecked it, "Good night baby." He rolled back to lies down on bed and shut his eyes, ignoring his wife request about B-jai.

Pouted angrily at him, Annie elbowed him. "Meany idiot heartless jerk...meany idiot heartless jerk...," she grumpily mumbled and repeated a couple more time making Louis chuckled at her and wrapped his arms around her pulling her in for a passionate kiss. She rests her head on his chest afterward. "Please Louis, can you just visit him? He really wanted you to love him. It really isn't his fault." Annie rolled her eyes up to look at her husband, "I know you love him deep down inside. Or else you wouldn't keep comparing Kevin with him. Just let it pass it will make you more happy and Benny more happy."

Louis finally responded with a sigh, "You really dream of him?" Annie nodded with her head cozily snuggle on her husband. Her mind is also thinking about what B-jai told her about Stephen, but she decide to keep it low until she fine out more clue. "Why can't he just leave us alone and go bother his own parents?" Louis bitter voice stated.

Annie sighed hopelessly at her stubborn husband, "You are his parent Louis. I know what you going to say, but so what if he is not your flesh and blood? You treated him like one and he treated you likewise too. Why do you have to care so much about him being yours or not, rather then just accepting him as yours? He is a great boy, I don't mind having him as a son."

Louis did missed Benny deep down inside, but he couldn't help himself from getting really mad when he saw Benny grave. It makes him remember too much about Helen and his past, while he tries to forget. "Lets sleep, I'm tired," Louis flat voice said.

Rolled away from him, Annie scooting off the bed, "I don't care, I promise him to have his name engraved on his tombstone and I'm going to keep my promise."

With one arm under his head, Louis just watching his wife with a chuckle, "Where are you going? Engraving it now?"

Annie sticks the tip of her tongue out at him with the bridge of her nose wrinkled, "Your daughter need to use the bathroom." She walked into the bathroom. Louis stood up and walked toward the balcony gazing at the tombstone a couple feet away that is covered with a light layer of snow. He silently studies the tomb with some memories of B-jai coming back. While the cold winter air frosted his face a bit.

"Why? Why can't you just leave?" his soft voice asked. Annie walked out of the bathroom and saw him outside in the balcony so she walked out with her arms sneak up around his waist from behind startled Louis back to reality. He felt his body shakes and his lip pealed. He gnawed on his lip and smiled at Annie, "It cold out here, lets go back in to sleep before you get sick."

Nodded, Annie walked in with her husband climbing back into bed. "So are you going to help me do the favor?" she bugged him.

Her husband sighed, "Do we have to?" Annie nod with her definite smile. Louis hesitatingly nodded, "I'll get someone to come by to do it."

Excited, Annie smile cheerfully and hugged him tightly, "I love you!"

Louis chuckled at his cute over joy wife, "You are squashing the baby." Annie smiled joyfully and felt so happy to have Louis always listening to her and bend a bit for her request. He pecked her forehead, "But I really don't want to visit him." Annie looked at him. "I'm serious Annie, the most I can do is have someone engrave his name on and he is not going to have a last name either. Only Benny and that is it."

"Louis," Annie said in her sad voice.

Stubbornly, her husband shakes his head, "No, it's final." Louis pecked Annie little pouted lip and ordered, "Now close your eyes." Annie did as he say, it is better then nothing, she thought, at least he didn't get mad when she mention about this. Louis like usual pecked her close eyelid and close his own eyes to sleep too.
---------------

The next day after her dream, Annie woke up early just to have breakfast with her husband before he need to leave for work. Her guests are still all asleep. Annie has also set her mind on reminding Louis to accomplish B-jai wishes. Louis is reading the newspaper while waiting for Annie, who is in the kitchen making breakfast for him. She insisted on doing so cause she enjoy doing it. Bobby didn't mind that Annie take over his kitchen today, instead he is grateful because he is not feeling well.

"Honey, I think you should sleep more," Louis said behind his newspaper. He didn't hear a response, which caught his attention. "Annie?" he called out. There was no answer again. Worried, Louis immediately dropped his newspaper on the table and headed into the kitchen to check on his wife. "Annie are you okay?" he asked as he stepped into the kitchen in search of her. Louis couldn't see her anywhere, his eyes gazed at the counter with fear thinking that she must have fainted behind that counter. Since Annie has several episode of fainting lately. He immediately rushed over to check, but Annie isn't there, which relaxed him a bit.

A sound came from the backyard drawled Louis attention, he quickly looked out seeing Annie squatted down to collect chopped firewood that is place in the shed. With a disappointed sigh at his wife, Louis opened the backyard door to step out. Annie turned over to the sound of the door being open. Seeing her husband, she quickly dropped all the firewood that she is carrying, cause she know that he don't like seeing her work. She smile brightened at him trying to cheer him up. "Be a bit more patient, the breakfast is about ready," she sheepishly stated. Annie notices her husband face is still darkens to a stern with disappointment in her.

Louis shakes his head at her and pulled her to stand back upright, "Annie, why are you even out here? It so cold out here and you didn't even put on a cloak. And bending down like that, you know you are not allows to do so. Don't you remember how easily you could faint? You worried me half to death. I thought you fainted again..."

"Louis calm down," Annie chuckled with her sweet smile. "I'm sorry, I know you worry about me. I promise it won't happen again. Please don't stay angry honey," Annie pleaded with her puppy eyes trying to settle her husband disappointment. But stubbornly Louis kept his disapproval posture. He is serious when it comes to Annie and their unborn child. Annie hooked her arm into her husband and coiled his arm, "You don't have to worry so much about me. I didn't go far, just getting some firewood. Beside baby been treating me really nice lately. Yes, I fainted once, but that doesn't mean I'm a weakling."

"You fainted more then once," her husband flatly corrected her. "BOBBY!! WHERE ARE YOU?!" shouted Louis making Annie winched her eyes to the loud voice.

She rolled her eyes at her husband for always over reacting. Annie sighed at her husband, "Have some heart Louis, Bobby is sick. He caught a cold yesterday. I'm the one who order him to sleep in late." Right when Annie finished, both Stephen and Bobby walked up to them. Bobby still in his pajamas, while Stephen help balance him a bit.

"Yee Seeu," Bobby greeted guiltily.

"Bobby go back to sleep, don't have to mind him," Annie assured.

Louis nodded, "Go back to bed," he turned his attention to Stephen, "Stephen you help Annie get the firewood."

"Yes, Yee Seeu," both of the servants said. Bobby headed back to his room, while Stephen headed out to collect the firewood that Annie drops.

"I know you are not that cold hearted," whispered Annie with a bright smile, she is proud of her husband.

"It doesn't make me cold hearted even if I tell him to work. It's his job," Louis coldly stated, not willing to agree that he is being too demanding. His deep eyes darted at Annie, "And you, go back in now. Let the servant do the work next time. Don't you let me caught you endangering yourself again," he warned, which make Annie laughed at him. "I'm serious."

"Alright, alright, you're starting to sound like an old grandpa. I promise it won't happen again. Shehs, all I did is pick up some wood, not like I did cartwheel in the snow," Annie mumbled, she stopped when she notice her husband serious eyes on her. Instead she smile at him, "Go back to read your newspaper. I'll be back with your porridge."

Louis moved Annie to stand in front of him and seriously looked at her, "I regret that this morning I agree to let you cook breakfast for me from now on. You need to rest and sleep more. Forget about what I promise, from tomorrow on, you stay in bed till at least nine okay?"

"What?" asked the laughing wife. "You are too worries about the baby, I told you many time to treat me normally. I feel great to be able to wake up early and cook for you. Louis don't band my only hobbies alright?" she asked with soft eyes.

"You could eat breakfast with me, but no more laboring yourself in the kitchen," Louis said and quickly added cause he could tell that Annie is going to protest, "And that is final."

Pouted slightly, Annie gave in, she is tired out a bit to cook herself anyway, "Fine. But I'm still the chef this morning, so get out." She shoved her husband toward the dinning room. Annie chuckled and gently rubs her abdominal, "Don't ever listen to your daddy, he worry about nonsense. He will probably strap you in bed in the future just to make sure you don't fall off."

The bubbling of the porridge causing the lid to clatter against the pot, Annie quickly stepped to the stove to stir the pot of plain porridge. Right at that moment Stephen stepped in with firewood and dropped them on the corner making a solid bang. Immediately Annie turned to the sound, the sudden sight of Stephen startled Annie a bit causing her to let out a slight squeal. "Annie?" Louis called from the dinning room after hearing her sharp squeal. Stephen stares at his mistress frightened eyes, wondering why she is so scares to see him.

"I'm fine Louis!" Annie loudly reassured her husband. "Sorry Stephen, I thought you were someone else," Annie quickly apologizes with a lie.

"Sorry, Yee Seeu Lie, I didn't mean to startle you," the butler mannerly apologized back with broad expression.

"It's not your fault," Annie said, as she closely observe Stephen outfit trying to see if his shirt miss any button. But the shirt he have on don't even have blue button.

Seeing Annie studying him, it made Stephen curious to what she is trying to look for. He flatly said, "I'll return to my position now." Annie nodded to him, he walked back out to stand behind Louis like always.

Curiously, Annie peeked through with a shrug, he seem normal. "Don't scare yourself like that Annie," she softly told herself and returned to add some salt into the porridge.

Outside in the dinning room, Louis eyes are glued to his newspaper as he sipped on his coffee. Annie just stepped out and grabs his cup of coffee before he could take another sip. He looked at her with a sheepish smile and released his cup. Annie confusedly asked him, "How did you get coffee, I purposely didn't make you any already."

"There is such thing called an automobile that Joe drive," her husband reply with a sly grin trying to tick her off.

She replaced his coffee with a glass of milk, Louis sighed at the plain drink. Annie grinned at him, "Be a good influence for the baby," she teased and headed back into the kitchen.

"I didn't have much sleep last night Annie. The coffee is very important. And it took Joe quite some time to buy me the coffee," Louis whined. Annie returned with a bowl of plain rice porridge and a fry breadstick. After seeing the white milk and porridge, Louis loss his appetite for seeing it being so plain. "Good thing I said today is your last day," he murmured.

Sited next to him, Annie started to eat, "My aunt always said that porridge is the best thing to fill us up in the morning and it help our digestive tract. And if you know that it a hassle for Joe to buy you the coffee, then remember not to order him to do so." Louis just nodded as he added a bunch of soy sauce into his to make it brown instead of plain white. "Louis when are you going to hire an engraver?" Annie slightly reminded.

Wiped his mouth, Louis ordered Stephen, who has been staying behind him the entire time, "Stephen, help me contact someone to come and engrave Benny grave with only his first name and his date of birth and death."

A bit surprised that Louis actually allow B-jai name to be engraved, Stephen was a bit speechless. He looked at Annie and slightly moved his eyes when he notices she is studying him. "I'll get it taken care of Yee Seeu," Stephen usual empty tone said. He didn't really like the idea that Annie is changing Louis, and even have the power to soften Louis anger toward B-jai.

Meanwhile, Annie continues to eat and observe Stephen. She doesn't want to jump into conclusion with just her dream and no other evident. No matter how she looks at Stephen, he doesn't seem to be the type that will abuse a child or kill other. Especially Ada, there is just no purpose. Annie thinks that she is probably thinking too much and making simple things complicated. She tries to remind herself to stop being judgmental against Stephen.
------------

Three day later, Stephen has arranged an engraver to come engrave B-jai tombstone. Annie is glad and relief to know that today is the day she is able to make B-jai wish come true. Outside is slightly snowing, but Annie wanted to go out to pay a visit to B-jai grave and make sure the tombstone looked good. Her husband has warned her to not go out cause it snowing and the ground is slippery. Obediently, Annie stood in the living room gazing out into the front yard in order to check on the tombstone instead of going out. Stephen just came back from outside, Annie quickly asked, "Is it done?"

Stephen nodded firmly, "Yes, Yee Seeu Lie."

Annie smiled, "Thanks Stephen, now B-jai can rest in peace. I hope he don't enter my dream anymore and keep telling me weird things. Stephen have you ever dream of him?" Annie casually asked as she walked to sit at the sofa gesturing Stephen to settle down to talk.

The butler followed her, but instead of sitting, he stood stiffly there like always. "No, Yee Seeu Lie," he answered shortly as his mind wonder why Annie bring up the topic. He notices that Annie has been asking him a lot of things lately, but he has always answered her question with the same monotone that is steady and emotionless.

Released a sigh, Annie continue, "I don't know why I kept dreaming of him." Annie chuckled, "He even told me that he believe there is a forest monster in the wood, that why he never enter it before." Annie looked at her servant with a frown, "Talking about the wood, it always remind of Ada. Why would she even wander over there for? Too bad it snowing or else I'll walk over to check. Stephen have you ever been into the wood before?" Annie wisely asked with casual voice.

"A long time ago," Stephen said which caught Annie attention. "I use to go chop wood, but now I only get the wood from the outside tree," informed the butler with stern face. Annie nodded to his explanation. "It's just a typical woodland. I don't go in anymore cause it easy to get lost in there." Stephen glanced over toward the clock, "Yee Seeu Lie, I have to get back to work now." Annie nodded to excuse him, he stepped away.

Standing up with her thought, Annie eyes followed Stephen back. She don't know what to think anymore, Stephen seem normal. And yesterday was the first of the month, but Annie didn't see him walk into the wood at all, not like what B-jai said. Annie walked to the kitchen and opened the door to look for the two watchdogs. She called them to come wanting to check them out and make sure that they are still the two watchdogs as always. Annie squatted down to check their ear cause she has secretly made a small marking on their ear to keep track, since all watchdog looked pretty much the same, she wouldn't be able to tell the different even if Stephen replace them. Annie grinned with relief to see that they are still the two she has made a mark on.

Meanwhile, standing behind her is Stephen watching what she was doing. Stephen eyes are icy cold with flame. He is starting to get irritated by Annie action and suspicious questions that she kept asking him. He growled slightly and stepped away to return to his work.
----------

Annie is sited in the living room practicing her stitch work, she wanted to make a blanket for her baby. She is now five months pregnant. There weren't really much of any complication except for feeling a bit drains every once in a while and getting a bit short of breath sometime, especially when she is walking up the stairs. She didn't mention it to Louis or anyone else cause she don't want her husband to be too worry and get over reacted.

Nicola stepped up to Annie with a bowl of dessert, "Yee Seeu Lie the dessert is ready."

"Thanks Nikki," Annie sweetly said. She stopped her stitch work to eat the dessert. "Is Kevin asleep?" she asked. Nicola nodded. Steven has goes out with Frankie and Kenix leaving Kevin home. They been having problem with deciding on store location and rental price. Both Louis and Annie didn't mind that they take their time, so Frankie really take his time to pick out the best flat and store he could find. Especially since they don't have much money but wanted the best spot.

"Yee Seeu Lie this is really pretty," Nicola complimented as she observe Annie stitch work.

"You like it?" Annie asked happily, "It should be a bit more colorful huh?" She finished her dessert like she suppose to. Annie wiped her mouth and return to her stitch work while Nicola returned to the kitchen.

After an hour later Annie yawned tiredly, but she didn't want to put down her stitching. Concentrated on the thin thread and needle Annie kept working, she sewed a flower. Suddenly a crimson drop of liquid dripped on the flower that she is stitching, she is confuses to where it came from. Annie looked up toward the ceiling, she didn't see anything suspicious. Quickly, Annie tries to wipe the crimson stain off of the neatly stitched flower, but two more drops landed. Finally, she notices that it was blood cause she could smell it. Annie felt the upper part of her lip being a bit wet, so she gently wiped. Her eyes widened at the blood on her finger, "Nikki..." her shaky voice called for Nicola attention after knowing that the blood came from her.

"Yee Seeu Lie, your nose is bleeding!" Nicola shocked voice said when she rushed out seeing Annie. "Are you feeling okay?" Annie nodded with uncertain mind to what is going on. Nicola quickly pinched Annie nose and tilted her head back trying to stop her bloody nose. "Yee Seeu Lie did you accidentally injure it somehow?" she asked in concern.

Annie shake her head, "I probably ate too much health food, it all Louis fault." Her maid chuckled. Annie felt a bit dizzy cause her head felt really heavy and even triggering a headache. "Has it stop?" she asked in her weak voice. She felt a bit stuffy and can't breathe, her heart rate increased. Annie wanted Nicola to let go of her nose, so she pushed her hand away.

Slowly Nicola let go of Annie nose, it stopped bleeding. She smiled in relieve, "It's stopped."

Wearily but relieved, Annie let out a breath, "I'm really tired. I think I need to take a nap." She stood up to head toward the stairs with Nicola beside her. Nicola is walking up the stairs with her. Annie suddenly felt a sharp pain on her side. She stopped walking up the stairs cause she is feeling a bit short of breath too. Her face paled within second, while her lip whitened and trembling a bit.

"Yee Seeu Lie?" Nicola confusedly looked at Annie with concern. Annie started to pant and her chest felt really painful. Her knees weakened, Nicola quickly balanced her. "Help!! Stephen! Come quick!" she shouted out for help.

"I'm okay, don't startle everybody," Annie said between pant. "I need to sit down for a while," she told her maid. Nicola helped Annie sit down on the step and brushing her back trying to help her relax her breathing. Stephen just rushed up to them and gazed at Annie with his dark empty eyes. Annie looked at him and shakes her head, "I'm fine, go back to do your things." Annie suddenly felt a sweep of nervousness shaking through her body. Her heart beats really rapidly like she just ran up ten flights of stairs. She don't know what is going on and she is really scare that she will lose the baby.

"Yee Seeu Lie are you sure? You looked really pale," Stephen solid voice told Annie. Annie forced herself to nod, she don't want Stephen to tell Louis her discomfort. She fears that her husband will force her to abort the child once he knows about this.

"I'll be fine Stephen. I don't want any of this mention to Louis, both of you understand me?" Annie eyes are only keeps on Stephen, cause she trust her maid to obey her words. Stephen nodded with no hesitation, he has no intension to tell anyway. "Go back to your work," Annie told him steadily. After he walked away, Annie clenched to her chest in pain. She don't seem to get enough oxygen no matter how labor her breathing is.

"What could I do to help you, Yee Seeu Lie?" asked the frantic maid, who is looking at Annie with fearful eyes.

"Get me to my room," Annie ordered. With Nicola help she is able to walk back to her room. Good thing that no one is home today, Annie thought. She sited on her bed breathing heavily trying to catch her breath while she felt all of her pulse is running wildly. "What is going on?" her soft voice asked with confusion. She tries to calm her breathing but she couldn't control it.

"Maybe we should get you to the doctor now," Nicola urgently suggested.

Stubbornly, Annie shakes her head to that suggestion, she didn't want to make a big deal out of this. "Open the balcony door," Annie requested as she tries to control her chest pain. Nicola obediently opened it wide allowing cold fresh air to enter. After several minutes the fresh air is able to helped Annie relax and breathe much more smoothly. Her airway seems to be relaxed and breathing is no longer a problem. Slowly, her heart rate settles down too. She rubbed her hand on the side of her abdominal to ease down the pain. She could see Nicola worriedly stare at her. "I feel better now. This is strange," Annie said, all her pain disappeared within the next few minutes.

"Yee Seeu Lie, I think you should at least let Yee Seeu know..."

"No!" Annie snapped, she softened her voice, "Nikki, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell. I just don't want him to know. He worry and being too overprotective already, if he knows about this he will go crazy. Lets see what happen, if this happen again, I'll tell him."

Hesitated, Nicola nodded, "You want a glass of tea?" Annie nodded, Nicola quickly walked out to get Annie a glass of tea. Meanwhile, Annie breathed in and out relaxingly trying to calm down her nervousness and heart rate. Exhausted, Annie plopped down on the bed with her eyes rolled up tiredly. Her hands gently place on top of her abdominal, she mumbled softly with her heart, "Gods please don't do this to me. Please protect baby and me," Annie prayed.
----------

That afternoon Annie has told Bobby to cook her some porridge for lunch instead of eating what the rest is eating, cause she didn't have much of an appetite. While Kenix is upstairs checking Annie out, Nicola is in the kitchen scooping a bowl of porridge for Annie. She has also scooped the extra onto another bowl and is eating from it. Stephen just walked by the kitchen and saw her doing so, he quickly grab the bowl away from Nicola hand. He thought that she is eating up Annie lunch.

"You are not supposes to eat this! Is for Yee Seeu Lie, you know better than this," Stephen angry voice scolded Nicola.

The young girl chuckled at him, "Stephen relax, I'm not stealing food." Nicola walked away and reveals another bowl that is full. "This bowl is Yee Seeu Lie. I'm just eating the extra to test out the flavor. I notice that Yee Seeu Lie is losing her appetite lately. I wanted to see if the porridge needed any extra seasoning, just to make it taste better. Don't worry I know my rule."

Stephen nodded, but he poured the bowl Nicola was eating down the sink not wanting her to finish. Nicola stares at him strangely. She thinks that he is a bit odd to act this way. Brushed the thought off her mind, Nicola shrugged, she has tested tasted the porridge and had no intension to finish up anyway. "I'm bringing this up to Yee Seeu Lie," Nicola told Stephen. Stephen nodded to her.

Meanwhile Kenix and Frankie are in Annie room chatting with her making her chuckle at their long complain about each other during the visit to the city. "Honey, you were the one that think the store is too small," Frankie tries to remind his wife, who is denying it.

"I did not!" Kenix argued back, "I said the door is too small, not the store. We could always make the door bigger. But noooo someone has to complain that it's facing west and it will be really hot for our costumers. Come on by the time we decided on a store, Kevin is old enough to married."

"Shhh..." Steven, who just walked by hushed them. "Can both of you keep it down? I just got Kevin to nap."

"Kenix, we have to take those thing into account," Frankie tries to reason. His wife nodded partially agreeing with him. But she just don't think it that right to keep bothering Annie and Louis. They have stayed in their house for more then three months now. Frankie wrapped his arm around Kenix, "I know what you are thinking. But don't worry, Annie don't want us to move out and leave her here alone, right Annie?" He grinned ear to ear. His wife rolled her eyes with a chuckle and a 'why bother' look.

Annie chuckled at Kenix expression, and Frankie shameless remark. "Honestly, I don't mind. The mansion is pretty empty without you guys. I'm happy to have someone to talk to and listen to. Especially someone like Frankie that always act like a clown to entertain me." Her cousin darts at her warningly making her chuckle with the tip of her tongue stick out at him. Annie sincerely grabs Kenix hand and gave it a squeeze, "Kenix jie, you don't need to worry about bothering Louis and me. We have plenty of room to share. Beside Louis is glad that you are here to keep a look out over me. I'm not making this up, you could ask him yourself tonight."

"Still, we couldn't just take forever to choose a flat and store," Kenix stated with eyes on her husband, since it was Frankie that have the most complain about each flat and store they look at.

Foolishly, Frankie frowned at his wife with his body tilted toward his right to bump into her, "Honey, I just wanted a great house that will make you happy for the rest of your life. A great store that can bring us lots of money, so you could just sit there to count money. Beside, our house needs to be roomy enough for our future children to play around. We need to grow root you know?" he winked at Kenix making her laughed at him in disbelief to his reasoning.

The maid entered the room with a tray carrying Annie lunch. "Yee Seeu Lie, your porridge is ready," Nicola handed it to Annie. She then politely smiled at the three, "Mr. Lam, Mrs. Lam, and Mr. Ma, lunch is set up downstairs already."

"Thanks," Kenix said to Nicola. "Annie, we're going down for lunch now. You rest more if you feel tired."

Annie nodded to them as they leave, "Go enjoy yourself, don't worry about me. I'm fine." They left leaving her and Nicola. "Nikki can you help me open the balcony door a bit? I want some fresh air." Obediently, Nicola headed to open a crack.
*******

[jeh]

So my guesses is a little bit off eh? Hmm, I'm still thinking. Woah, it was so scary how Annie's nose bleed for no reason and then she can't breathe. I hope the baby and her will be fine. Update soon.

[zzzbeauty]

Thanks for the update Yak.

Wow....hmmm....to me it seems that Stephen is posioning Annie. I hope Stephen suffers tragic ending. <IMG SRC="smilies/angrystick.gif" border="0">

I hope someone finds out soon, or else she might lose her baby. <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0">

[Yak]

jeh and zzzbeauty: Thanks for the comment <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0"> The next couple chapters are quite scary, hope it suspendful to you guys! Enjoy!! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> I'll try my best to edit the following chapter quick so I won't make you guys hang there too long, <IMG SRC="smilies/tongue.gif" border="0">

[Yak]

Chapter 42: Revisiting Nightmare

A few days has passed, Annie didn't mention her problem with anyone including her husband. She didn't want him to worry about her cause she know Louis too well. While Louis is showering Annie sneakily opened the small jewelry box of her and took out the blue button that Ada gave her. She rubbed her finger on the button while she tries to figure out whose it belongs to. She stepped toward the glass balcony door looking out into the snowfield leading toward the dark wood. It is pitch black now since it is nighttime and the fact that the moon is being hovered over by thick clouds
.
Annie been wondering about Stephen and has observed him closely for the past month after her dream of what B-jai told her. Annie notice that Stephen didn't head to the wood on the first or fifteen of the month like what B-jai said. And Annie also checked the two watchdogs that they have in the backyard, they are still the same two that has always been there. So it doesn't seem like Stephen has been killing the two watchdogs to get blood. Annie has also questioned Stephen and tries to lure him into giving her some kind of guilty conscience mistake, but he is very steady and calm in answering all of her questions with his innocent look. His guilty-free answer kind of giving Annie second thought about her theory of him being her target to Ada accident. Why would he want to kill Ada? It just doesn't make any sense. And none of what B-jai said seem to be true.

Stephen seem to be very normal other then his usual cold and empty expression. He is very obedient and mannered with respect toward her and Louis. Annie thought he is weird but still she can't imagine him being a killer and what could he hide in the wood? No matter how she studied Stephen, he just seems to be a loyal servant to her and nothing more. Annie really can't see him as being the missing link of her puzzle.

She pondered with her eyes gazed out toward the cold snow scene, if it weren't for it being winter now and the fact that she is pregnant and needed to be stabilize, she will certainly take a walk into those wood to get more clue for her puzzle. But even though she is home bound, she keep a close eyes toward the wood to make note of who enter it, so far no one has for the pass month.

While Annie is busy with her thought, Louis stepped out of the bathroom looking refreshed ready for bed. He saw his wife standing like a statue with her eyes gazed out through the glass balcony door. An automatic warm smile spread across his face seeing her soft eyes blankly staring into nowhere. He then notice that Annie still hasn't eaten her dessert yet, so he walked up to her and gently held her hand. His sudden appearance startled Annie so the button she was holding onto dropped to the carpet. She swiftly looked toward her husband with surprise and try to bend down quickly to pick up the button, but Louis stopped her action.

Not wanting Annie to bend down since she is five and half months pregnant, Louis offered, "Let's me get it for you honey." He bend down and pick up the button before Annie have a chance to say no. Annie gazes at him studying his reaction to the button but he doesn't have a clue to it importance. Louis curiously asked, "Where did this come from? One of yours dresses? Well, don't fix it. Just throw the dress away, I'll buy you a new one."

Annie rolled her eyes at her husband, even though she been married to this wealthy man for a year and a half, she is still irritated by the way he waste things. "No, it not mine," Annie told him. Louis hand it back to Annie and grab her hand again to guide her to sit down on their bed. She wanted to test her husband and see if he could help, "I don't know where it came from; I found it." She smiled at him with her sharps eyes, "Louis have you seen it anywhere before?"

After examining it, Louis shrugged, "It's just a plain button, just throw it away." He held his hand out, "Give it to me, I'll throw it away for you."

Shaking her head, Annie closed her palm, "I want to keep it, it look special."

Shrugged again, Louis lean over to pick up the bowl of red bean dessert and hold it in his hand. "Time to finish the dessert so we can go to sleep," he instructed.

The young wife chuckled at him while he scooped the thick gluey dessert with a soupspoon and holds it to Annie lip. Annie let him feed her and try to reach for the bowl, "I can eat it myself. You want some?" Louis shook his head with a disgusted look and let her have the bowl. She grinned at him mischievously and scooped a spoonful toward his mouth. "It pretty good," she assured, her eyes widened on him, "Open up." She demanded while her husband obediently open up for her to feed him. She chuckled at him while he swallows down the sweet dessert quickly with his tongue sticking out in disgust.

Louis is never a sweet tooth, he hardly ever eats anything that is sweet. Even his coffee are plain black coffee, but Annie is determine to change his eating habit cause she believe that life should be a mixture of sweet and bitterness. "Honey does it taste a bit bitter to you?" he curiously asked.

"Really?" Annie shrugged with her head shaking, Louis thought it might be too sweet to him that it bitter. Annie enjoying her dessert while she continues to praise Bobby, "Bobby really is a great cook. He could think of so many different kind of dessert for me and even the simple dessert like this tastes different." While she is eating she suddenly remembered how good wonton taste and got this strange craving for it. She beamed at Louis pleadingly with bright round eyes. A signal that she been practicing ever since she started to have craving cause of her pregnancy.

Louis laughed at her with his head automatically shaking knowingly, "No, you are not going to ask for anything."

Annie pouted and drinks up the rest of the red bean dessert. "I thought you promise to take care of my need during my pregnancy," Annie pouting tone reminded him. She hands the empty bowl back to him. Louis took it and set it back on the nightstand as he shake his head at his wife childish behavior. Annie rubbed her belly, "Daddy is a liar huh baby?" She purposely wanted him to feel guilty.

Ignoring her, Louis lean down on her belly, Annie pushed him away with her pout. He just snuggled his head closer on her belly again. Louis gently stroke her abdominal and talked to the baby, "Don't you ever listen to your mother, she don't know what she is talking about. It snowing outside and the temperature is below zero, if mommy really love daddy she definitely won't ask daddy to go out in this weather huh? I know you are much more understanding and loved daddy more, right?" He pecked Annie belly while she softly giggle and try to keep her pout. Louis turned to press his ear against Annie belly to listen again, "Honey, I think it kicking you. Can you feel it?"

With a set of puppy eyes, Annie begged with her dragging voice, "I want wonton now Looouiss..." she pleaded with her husband rolling his eyes and covering his ears ignoring her. He climbed into bed and go to sleep. Annie whacked him with her pillow but he ignores her and not giving her any attention she wanted. "I want wonton NOW!" she demanded while pushing him and tickled him but he just press his lip together and ignore her.

Exhausted, Annie slumped her shoulder after knowing that he will not satisfy her carving. She lies down with her head rested on her husband abdominal like a pillow. "Louis do you remember when you first take me out to the city and asked the waitress to buy me a bowl of wonton from the street behind? I remember it tasting so good now, the clear soup base with the smooth wonton pasta that have perfectly seasoned ground meat. The chopped green onion that enhanced the favor." Annie sighed with her carving growing wilder, "Lo Gowng ah (husband), can you go buy me a bowl now?" She rolled her eyes toward her husband who just snored. She mumbled grumpily, "How rude." Annie scooted her head closer toward his chest and stare at him stilly waiting for attention.

Yawned tiredly with his eyes sleepily gazed into Annie alert one, Louis weary voice asked, "Aren't you sleepy?" His arms wrapped around her and gently place on top of her enlarged belly.

His wife shook her head and playing with his fingers as she answered, "No, I basically napped five times a day." Louis chuckled with his nod. "I want wonton," Annie demanded in a softer voice with wishful eyes.

Tiredly, Louis yawned while he shakes his head, he is exhausted from work. "Lo Poul ahhh... (wife) Even if I'm willing to buy it for you now, the restaurant is closed at this time. It midnight honey. Come on let's sleep, I'm tired, I still have a meeting to attend in the morning. And we plan to go shop for baby stuff in the afternoon. You won't get to sleep much tomorrow, so let's earn your sleep now. We can drop by that restaurant for lunch tomorrow. Let's sleep now," Louis suggested.

Not really wanted to sleep, Annie frowned with disappointment that she can't satisfy her carving for wonton, but she nodded to her husband request cause she know he is tired and sleepy. Annie yawned softly too and shut her eyes to sleep on Louis chest. Louis smiled warmly and pecked her head. He pulled the comforter over to cover himself and Annie cozily keeping the winter air out. Within minutes the room is filled with the icy cold air and the soft breathing sound of the husband and wife. Louis head turned a bit and fallen deeper into his sleep cycle with his eyes rapidly moving as he enters the dream cycle.

In his dream, it's a rainy day with the air being a bit humid and the sky being a bit gloomy. The rain has stopped but the sky is still dark and gloomy with cool breezy wind. That morning Louis got to work extra early hoping that he can return home by the afternoon to surprise his wife and son. He wanted to take them out to celebrate B-jai three years old birthday. Sharply at three in the afternoon, Louis has return from work. He is sitting in the car while Joe is slowly driving the car up into the driveway where B-jai is playing. Louis immediately rolled the car window down to talk to B-jai, "B-jai step away from the driveway, boy. You'll get hit."

Surprised to hear his father voice, B-jai swiftly turned around to confirm it, a bright cheerful smile quickly glowed on his face after seeing Louis returned early today. He dropped the branch that he is holding onto, which he was using it to poke the muddy driveway. "Daddy!" the short birthday boy greeted. Louis chuckled at him and got out of the car right away to picked him up and swing him in the air. B-jai chuckled loudly with joy as he screamed, "Daddy!" After Louis stopped swinging him, B-jai started to dig Louis pockets. "Toys? Candy? Present?" B-jai asked as he continues to search Louis suit pocket.

Teasingly, the father shrugged and chuckled, "I don't know, you have to hunt it yourself. I'll give you a hint is somewhere in the house." Louis chuckled at his three years old son and rubbed his hair. "So how is my three years old birthday boy doing? Where is mommy? Why are you here alone?" He carried B-jai in the house, his eyes is looking around searching for Helen.

"Mommy said to wait outside," the innocent voice of B-jai informed.

Louis puts B-jai down on the living room. "Really? Is mommy planning to take you out?" Louis asked in confuse. B-jai shrugged, Louis rubbed his hair again. "I'll go find mommy, while you go hunt for your present, then we'll go out, okay?"

The young toddler nodded excitedly, "Toys in house?" Louis nodded and walked away toward the stair heading up to look for his wife, leaving his son to scavenger hunt around the main floor. Louis walked into their master bedroom and there is no sign of Helen. He opened up the walk-in-closet and picked up the present that he has hide for B-jai.

Meanwhile, Helen thought her son walked back into the house, so she loudly instructed, "Benny didn't I told you to wait for me outside hon? Go back outside to wait, mommy is coming dear." There was no answer so she continue to write her letter in her son room after she has packed his clothes and belonging in a suitcase next to hers.

Louis followed the voice and smiled knowing that she must be in B-jai room, probably picking up his toys. He walked over wanting to surprise his wife. Helen heard the footstep behind her and notices that it was an adult footstep. She never thought it was Louis, because he hardly ever gets home early. Helen continues to write trying to speed up her writing. She thought it was Julian footstep cause she was expecting him at this time. "Jule I'll be ready in just one more minute, why don't you carry Benny and my luggage down first?" Helen steady voice said as she continue to scribble down several more word on the letter that was addressed to her husband, Louis.

Confused to what his wife is talking about, Louis turned toward B-jai crib and saw two suitcases sitting by the crib. His mind is lost to what going on, it seem like his wife is running away and taking his son along. He beamed his eyes on Helen back speechlessly with confusion. Louis swallowed his anger with his firm voice he asked, "Where are you going?" He stepped further into the room and drop B-jai present rocking on the hardwood floor.

Startled by his voice, Helen entire body jumped with her eyes widen nervously. With fear of Louis being angry with her, Helen quickly crumbling the letter that she just wrote. Slowly she stood up and turned to face him with her hand behind her back trying to hide the letter. "Why are you home so early today?" she asked in her weak shaky voice.

Instead of answering her, Louis eyes are sternly stares at her while he steadily held his hand out. "Let me see it," his firm voice ordered, a lingering of fear and disbelieve grew in his heart. Helen gulped and her fist tightened on the letter. She is not brave enough to confront her husband with the truth. Louis face darkened seriously, cause he have a slight hint to what is going on, but he is too stubborn to believe his eyes and ears. "What are you trying to hide? Let me see it Helen," he demanded.

His wife shake her head, she is afraid to how he will react if he see what she wrote. Louis charged over angrily and grabs her wrist to pull the letter out. "What is this?!" he shouted fiercely loud like thunder that causes Helen to tremble nervously. She scooting away while her husband unravel the crumble up letter to read, the letter was addressed to him, telling him that she is running away with Julian and she is taking B-jai too. Along with it are a paragraph of explanation and a paragraph of apology. Louis crushed the letter tightly in his fist while his eyes dart at Helen with disbelief. "What do you mean you are running away with Julian?!" his raged solid voice demanded for an answer.

After hearing his father loud voice, B-jai quickly ran upstairs. He run into his room and saw his daddy stern face while his mommy is nervously getting close to him. "Daddy?" he called out to Louis with confusion to what is going on. His eyes caught the wooden horse rocker that he never saw before sitting in the middle of his room. His face brightened up knowing that, this must be the present his father is talking about. He ran to the horse and got on it with his face lifted up to look at Louis. "My new toy daddy?" he asked obliviously to what happening between his parents.

Louis gulped his anger down with tension filling the room, he didn't reply fearing that he will shout at his son if he does speak up. B-jai rocked himself joyfully while the room is so quiet with thick tension filled atmosphere. The only thing that is audible is the sound of the rocking horse pressing against the hardwood floor and little giggling of B-jai enjoying his new toys. Helen saw her husband still gaze at her the entire time and she know she needs to speak up. She walked over to B-jai and picked him up with Louis darted at her every move with flaming eyes. She dropped B-jai at the door and turned him around to face the hallway.

In a calm motherly tone, Helen instructed her son, "Benny be a good boy and play outside. Mommy and daddy need a talk."

Obediently, B-jai nodded with his curious eyes on them, "We going out?" he asked with simple sentence structure.

Nodded to his question, Helen nudged her son to walk away. "Yes, go to the driveway and wait for mommy okay? Mommy will be out really soon. Go on," Helen gave him a slight push toward the hallway. B-jai nodded obediently, he is running down the hallway and heading out of the house. Helen watches him and make sure he is away before she turn back to face her husband. She gulped and felt her heart stiffen nervously cause she don't know how to explain to him in person. "Louis..."

Before she could continue, she felt the burning pain on her cheek. Her husband has slapped her hard on the cheek. It was so fast that she didn't even get a chance to block it. Tears immediately welled Helen eyes as she rubbed her cheek. Louis still dark eyes is glared at her, as his right hand stiffly and slowly closed into a fist. He couldn't believe that he actually slapped her, he has never hit her before. And the feeling afterward is horrible cause he really loved her. He swallowed down his clogged throat and shouted at her in disbelieve, "YOU BEEN HAVING AN AFFAIR BEHIND MY BACK, AM I RIGHT?!!! How dare you put a green hat on me?!" His dry eyes are slowly drowned with fluid.

Still rubbing her stinging cheek, Helen gnawed on her lip and slightly nodded guiltily. Louis started to pace around angrily and frustratingly shoving anything that is in his path. Helen eyes beamed on him and hardened, "Could you blame me?"

Louis sharply turned his hurtful eyes on her, "What do you mean by that?! Are you trying to say that I made you?!"

Helen is getting angry at her husband too. She shouted at him, "I have been waiting for you to keep your promise Louis! It has been four years since you promise me that you will be home for me! Look at Benny, he is turning three years old already! How many times have you come home early to play with him? Even if you do play with him, it always in the middle of the night when you return! You make us felt like we are vampire cause we only get to see you at night!"

"Don't pull our son into this!" Louis inflamed loud voice warned her. "He has never minded about me being late!"

Hissing her anger, Helen emotion is erupting, "Cause he is only three! What do he know? I have enough of living like this! I want a normal live and a loving husband that will be here for me at all time and that will be there for my son and play with him or take care of him!"

"So Julian is the right type?" Louis coldly asked with his fist clenching tight.

The room suddenly silenced with the two of them looking at each other in the eyes. Helen know she is hurting him really deeply cause she could see his eyes feeling the pain. But their marriage has crumbled down to nothing within several years. After a long empty moment Helen softly answered under her breath, "Yes."

Her husband shake his head at her in disbelief, "How could you?!" Louis darted at her with confusion. He has always thought that their relationship is as stable and pure as diamond. "You know how much you meant to me! How could you sleep with another man?! And with Julian?! YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU!"

"I don't know!" Helen shouted back at him with her anger. She pouted with tears, "I really don't know how much I meant to you! It seem like your family and work meant so much more! You can move back with them when I leave!"

Still shocked with what he just find out, Louis rushed his fingers into his hair frustratingly. "Why do you keep pulling them into every argument?! There is nothing to do with them! This is between us!" Louis reminded her.

"No it not! If it weren't for them our love wouldn't be drifting apart! If it weren't for your Daai Gor (older brother) and Daai Sewl (older sister-in-law), we would of be in England! If it weren't for your father factory, you would have been home like a real husband! If it weren't for your mother distrusting me none of this would have happened! I have enough with you and your family! I just want my own life back!" Helen exploded her feeling toward his family like a volcano.

Louis eyes dart at her with rage. When did she turn so bitter? Louis mind kept asking. His head slightly shakes at her with disappointment, "When have it became my family and not yours?! Don't you forget they are the one that take you in and raise you too! You use to call them mom and dad before we even date! If it weren't for them you would still be in the middle of the street! You use to love them and respect them. What did they do, that is so wrong? You are just unreasonable and selfish!"

With hurtful tears flowing down her cheek, Helen sardonically chuckle at her ignorance husband, "I am selfish? You have no idea what I been through four wholes years! You have no idea how suffering it was to have your parents constantly accusing me of having an affair, when I didn't! Well, they are right now, cause you and them are the one that push me to Julian! You have no idea how suffering it was to marry a husband that never home for me! You have no idea what I been through Louis KOO!!"

Helen nodded with tear continue to show her emotional stress, "Yes I'm selfish...I'm selfish for you to love me...but have you ever really put me in your heart? You broke all of the promise you ever made to me. I really don't want to hope and disappointed every time. I'm tire of this Louis, I'm tire of not knowing how our future will be. I'm a female, I need love and I need security. I need a husband that will be there for me and promise me that everything will be alright."

"So you decide to sleep with him to ensure a better future with him?!" Louis fiercely snapped at her.

His wife swallowed her tears, "If it weren't for Julian I'll be dead years ago. What you expect when you leave a wife at home alone without you for years? You weren't here when I need you, but he is. He is here to comfort me, he is here to protect me. Where were you? He is here through all of my bad time while you are at work. I don't want to talk with you anymore, it will always end up the same anyway. I want a divorce!" Helen bravely and angrily stepped over to pick up the two suitcases.

When she is about to storm out of the room, Louis forcefully grabs her wrist and jerked her back with fierce flaming anger. The husband eyes are hard and cold darted right into her hard one too. Helen slightly trembled, she never sees Louis this threatening before. Bitterly, Louis threatened her, "You are not going anywhere! And you are definitely not taking my son with you!"

Helen is struggling to swing his tight grip off her wrist, "You can't make me stay! And I'm not afraid to tell you that Benny is not even yours!"

Shocked, Louis ragingly jerked her to face him and stare straight into her eyes seriously. Their faces are only an inch apart. In his cold icy flat tone he asked firmly, "What did you just say?"

Gulped, Helen bravely confirmed in a cold bitter tone, "You heard it right." Louis heart weakened with disappointment, he is stunned. His hand loosened, Helen sees it as a chance to slip out, but before she could Louis shot his hatred gaze at her and tightened his grip on her again swinging her against the wall and held her there. Helen is more angry then fearful of her husband action. She has lost all hope or love for him, he is no longer the Louis that she once carves to see. He has become distanced through out the years. Helen wetted her lip in her cold tone she warned, "Let go of me."

Louis wouldn't let go of her, his eyes are steadily on her with a bit of tear glared in them. "How could you do this to me? You know how much I love you. You know how much you and B-jai mean to me," Louis stated with his aching heart. He sniffed in his weaken heart and shouted at her with burning eyes, "HOW COULD YOU?!" Helen shuts her eyes when he shouted like thunder. Seeing her afraid of him for the first time, Louis heart ached painfully. His voice softened and thickened with emotion, "What happen? Why didn't you tell me when there is problem?"

"When have you been here for me to share?" Helen coldly asked him. Her tears are uncontrollably leaking, not because of fear. It's because she has bottled up so much emotion inside her that Louis never know about. She wetted her lip, "When have you take my complain seriously? You bring this upon yourself Louis. How many nights have you been here for me? What is the chance of Benny being yours? You could figure it out too. He is never yours..."

Not wanting to hear this painful truth, Louis angrily grabbed her neck to stop her from continuing, cause it hurt to hear how she confessed her affair so openly. Helen tries to remove his hand cause she is losing air. "Mom is right, you are a ****! You want to leave I'll help you!" Louis bitterly stated. He has lost his mind and all his senses.

Feeling the pain and not able to breath, Helen is struggling with her legs kicking trying to get her husband off of her. "Lets go of me!" she shouted with all of her might while her arms swinging trying to push him away. Tears are streaked down her cheek. Louis weakened after seeing her cry, he has loved her so much. His hand loosened a bit. Helen quickly stomped his foot and rushing out of the door while she coughed harshly. But Louis jerked her back with force swinging her back to the wall again. He don't want her to leave him. Fearfully, Helen panted for breath, "Louis it's over between us. You know I won't be happy staying here."

"I'm not going to let you run away with him!" Louis flamingly exclaimed. "You are my wife and you will be my wife! I don't care what happen before, we can start over! I love you and I know you still love me!"

Helen is scooting back trying to keep a distance from her husband, "We can never start over! I've lost all the feeling for you already, it will never come back! You know you can never be the husband I wanted!"

A jealous flame waved in Louis hard eyes and stern face. "So Julian is the type of husband you wanted?" he asked with still voice, his eyes were icy sharp on Helen giving her a sense of fear. "Answer me!" he demanded.

Distracted, Helen eyes beamed toward the hallway, she heard little footstep walking up the stairs, in an urgent tone she shouted, "BENNY STAY OUT SIDE!" Louis turned toward the hallway, Helen quickly pulled him back fearing for her son safety. "Don't you touch him!" she warned her husband.

Puzzled to what going on, B-jai stopped in the middle of the stairs after he heard his mother order. His eyes curiously beamed toward the room, but he couldn't see what's going on. "It raining!" the birthday boy loudly explains to his parents for the reason he came back into the house.

With his burning jealous heart, Louis angrily pushed Helen away causing her to forcefully banged her head on the corner of the window frame and blood is starting to flood out of the back of her head while she felt dizzy. Fearing that Louis will hurt B-jai, the worry mother weakly shouted, "Stay out Benny! Stay out!" She looked at her husband with pleading eyes, "Louis please don't hurt him. It's not his fault."

Meanwhile, on the stairs B-jai nodded obediently, "Okay," he walked back out to stand on the pouch so he is out of the rain.

After hearing B-jai walked out of the house, Louis turned back to his wife. His face paled a bit seeing Helen bleeding. He didn't mean to hurt her. He quickly rushed up to her and checking her head out. He felt so messy and confuse with worry about her. "I'm sorry...I didn't mean to hurt you. Are you okay? Helen, I'll get you to the hospital now!" Louis worry voice told his wife.

Stubbornly, Helen angrily pushed him away, "I don't need your help! Just leave me and my son alone. I don't want anything to do with you Koo..." Her hand is reaching out toward the suitcases.

Louis heart sank seeing the one he loved all his life, has changed so much. He beamed at the luggage and picks it up to throw it farther away. He hissed his disappointed anger at her, "Why? WHY?!" he gulped, "I'm not letting you get away," his voice was so cold and his eyes are so empty that it give Helen a tremble of fear, she scooted herself as far as she could but there is no where she could scoot out of Louis way.

"Don't you dare touch me!" she warned with hatred. Louis right hand tightened into a fist and loosened to tightly grab her neck again while the thunder roared loudly outside. She tries to kick him but he forcefully holds her still. "Help! Help...I hate you...hate you..." Helen mouthed as she felt the pain on her neck and her face is turning blue.

Tears are in Louis eyes while he squeezed tighter, but once again he felt weak with his hand loosen. He can't do this, she is his wife, the one that he has loved since his childhood. She is the one that he wants to share the rest of his life with, how could he kill her? Louis shake his head, "I have done so much for you. I always loved you and no one else. How could you? You deserve this," he reminded himself out loud and tighten his grip again. Helen struggle to remove his hand but she couldn't and she is losing air with her face turning red while blood is smearing on the wall cause of her bleeding head. "Don't blame me...don't blame me..." Louis repeated. The next second he felt a blow of pain on the back of his head and everything is spinning really fast and the image of his wife is blurred out.

Louis body jerked upright in bed. "Don't blame me!" he yelled loudly. Louis is panting with sweat covering his entire body while his heart pounded on his nightmare. He slowly calmed down knowing that it was just a dream, it the same dream that has haunted him for so many years already. He turned toward his right and saw Annie sleeping peacefully with a warm smile. He shuts his eyes in relief that he is out of the dream and plopped back down on bed with his heavy breathing. The room is bright with the morning sunshine beamed in cozily. He is glad that it was not nighttime, which mean he don't have to go back to sleep.

He relaxed himself and calmly breathed to stop his heart from racing. His mind kept reminding him that it is the past and he should forget about it. And his brain kept denying it ever happened and that it is only a dream. He shuts his eyes with a gulp and pushed the haunting dream away. Louis released a breath to relax himself farther and turned over toward Annie side of the bed. Seeing Annie sleeping so peacefully with her sweet smile, it help relaxes him. Louis smiled at her with his calm relaxed eyes on her, gazing at her warmly. His eyes squinted shut cause he felt a persisting heavy pressure building up in the back of his head triggering a headache.

Louis pounded his head with his right fist trying to release the tensely build pressure, he hasn't have this headache for months already and it finally revisiting him again. He shook his head and his eyes suddenly still and blankly stare ahead straight at the mirror of the makeup table and saw himself. He froze there looking at the reflection blankly with his mind shifted elsewhere and bringing back some of what happened in his dream and old memories. In his mind, the reflection of himself is grinning evilly at him with his sly cold stern face. His eyes harden more and more as it darted straight ahead with his fist beginning to tighten tensely with his breathing harsh a bit to a pant.

With his eyes still stare at the smirking image of his mind, he quickly got off bed rushing over toward the mirror throwing his robe over the mirror and covered his own reflection with his head shaking vigorously in disbelief. He pushed all Annie makeup stuff off the desk with frustration and stressfully with fear. The robe slides off of the mirror cause of the violent movement of the makeup table, revealing the haunting image to Louis again. Louis head slowly lifted up and stair at the mirror with his fearful widen eyes. He sees his reflection as a separate soul.

To be continue...
******

[jeh]

Oh my gosh, it is scary!!! <IMG SRC="smilies/shocked.gif" border="0">What is happening to Louis?! I wonder who hit him? Was it Julian or Stephen? <IMG SRC="smilies/confused.gif" border="0">Update soon. This story is very good. <IMG SRC="smilies/thumbsup.gif" border="0">

[zzzbeauty]

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Wow!!! What a cliffhanger; hmm...i wonder who hit Louis on the head. I agree with Jeh if could be Julian or Stephen.

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Lol....you've got me all excited and I can't wait until your next updates. <IMG SRC="smilies/smile.gif" border="0">

I think Annie is a better wife compared to Helen; Helen should have talked to Louis regarding their problems before having an affair. Or maybe I'm just biased. <IMG SRC="smilies/wink.gif" border="0">

As always, thanks for the chapter Yak.

[Yak]

Thanks jeh and zzzbeauty for the comments! I'm happy that both of you are enjoying this fanfic! <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> The following chapter is a bit more scary, lol. Enjoy!! <IMG SRC="smilies/alien.gif" border="0">

As for who hit Louis, the future chapter will answer that question, so can't help you there. As for what is happening to Louis, maybe you guy could guess after reading the following chapter.

Warning the next chapter is a bit harsh.

[Yak]

Chapter 43: Reflecting Mirror

Recap from last chapter....

Louis pounded his head with his right fist trying to release the tensely build pressure, he hasn't have this headache for months already and it finally revisiting him again. He shook his head and his eyes suddenly still and blankly stare ahead straight at the mirror of the makeup table and saw himself. He froze there looking at the reflection blankly with his mind shifted elsewhere and bringing back some of what happened in his dream of old memories. In his mind, the reflection of himself is grinning evilly at him with his sly cold stern face. His eyes harden more and more as it darted straight ahead with his fist beginning to tighten tensely with his breathing harsh a bit to a pant.

With his eyes still stare at the smirking image of his mind, he quickly got off bed rushing over toward the mirror throwing his robe over the mirror and covered his own reflection with his head shaking vigorously in disbelief. He pushed all of Annie makeup off the desk with frustration and stressfully with fear. The robe slides off of the mirror cause of the violent movement of the makeup table, revealing the haunting image to Louis again. Louis head slowly lifted up and stare at the mirror with his fearful widen eyes. He sees his reflection as a separate soul.

Lost in his thought, Louis head slowly swinging side to side in disbelief. He shouted at his reflection, "It not true! I didn't kill her! She is not dead! I didn't do it! I saw her with him! Just a couple months ago..." his voice trailed off with a bit of uncertainty. The day when Frankie and the rest first arrive, Louis went to the nightclub after he thought he saw Helen and Julian in the middle of the street. But when he try to catch up with them they has disappear. He can't be sure what he sees is real or not, but he wanted it to be real.

Frustrated at himself, Louis pounded the back of his painful head with his palm trying to stop the sharp piercing pain. He shouted at his reflection like he's trying to convince the mirror image being wrong. He see his image as a separate soul that kept telling him that it alright to kill Helen, that Helen deserve to die, that he shouldn't feel responsible for her death cause he did the right thing. Louis just kept his frustrated stare at his reflection denying everything, he kept telling himself that the event never happened, that it was only his nightmare. But deep down inside he know it did happen. The only reason he locked the room up is so he can continue to deny everything and hide from what happened that day.

Louis pounded on the makeup table forcefully with his eyes darted with hatred at the laughing image of his mind. "She's not dead! I didn't kill her...I didn't...I wouldn't kill Helen...I wouldn't...I wouldn't..." he kept telling the guy in front of him.

His facial expression quickly switched to a fierce one with his brow furled with hatred and a weird wicked grin glow coldly on his face without him noticing. "You did the right thing, she is the one who want to leave," his voice trailed off coldly with his eyes mesmerized by the cold reflection.

Suddenly he shivered cause of a cry he heard from outside, coming from Steven room. Louis snapped out and puzzlingly studies his room feeling a bit lost and light hearted with confusion. He started to turn around and around in circle cause he heard laughter of his former wife Helen filling up the room. He shouted loudly in his state of frustration, "Leave me alone! Leave us alone! I didn't mean it, you force me! You force me!" His voice is horsed by his shout. Annie moaned cause of the noise, causing Louis to turn toward her direction and gaze at her sleep. He felt fear crept behind him, he swiftly turn around to look straight into the mirror of his reflection again. Louis mind sees his mirror image laughed at him bitterly with it evil eyes beamed at him testing his anger.

In a split second, his voice has changed into a deep cold one that hide a hint of revenge, "Don't look at me, you're the one who did it. There is nowhere to hide Louis, there is nowhere to hide. You have to face it, you did it to her, and she deserves it, she deserves to die. All of them deserves to die, it all a lie, don't trust them Louis, don't. Both of them never love you, they are just lying to you. Helen is dead and she deserves it, so is Annie."

Fearfully, Louis shook his head and shouted with his dark hard eyes, "NOOO!!" Angrily and frustratingly, Louis shoved the rest of the stuff off the table causing them to fall off and scattered on the floor. Louis pounded his fist on the polished oak table trying to release his frustration. "Annie is different! She loves me! She say she only love me! She's my wife, I love her and she loves me," Louis tries to get that fact hammered into his mind.

When he looked into the mirror, Louis see his mirror image grinned at him with a pair of cold eyes beaming at him with only a slit opening of his eyes. Louis voice switched into a cold flat one, "That's what Helen say too. But see what happen? She is a liar and so is Annie. Why would Annie love you? She has Steven already. Just like how Helen have Julian. They are just using you. You did the right thing for killing Helen, now Annie must die too. She's the same, don't wait till she change and hurt you. Kill her Louis, kill her."

Emptily, Louis steadily turned his head toward Annie with his eyes glued to the closed eyelids of Annie peacefully sleeping face. "She is the same?" he whispered with unsure tone.

A split second later his cynical tone answered, "Yes."

Snapped out Louis swallowed with his fist tightened. "NO! SHE IS DIFFERENT!! Annie will never betray me!" Louis loudly stated. He turned toward the mirror image angrily with his flamed eyes, "Annie is not Helen...She will not have an affair...She doesn't deserve to die... And I didn't kill Helen! She is not dead!!" he pounded on the makeup table causing it to shook violently.

Meanwhile, Annie finally wakens up by the racket that her husband is making. She rubbed her sleepy eyes and focused at the vision of her husband back, trying to interpret his action. Louis suddenly stopped his pounding and his arms stiffened pressing against the desktop with his eyes widely stare at his own reflection motionlessly without a blink. He sees his reflection teasing him and laughing, telling him that he is a murder. Telling him that Helen deserves to die anyway and he should be happy about it and all he needs to do is kill Annie too. Louis gaze at his reflection with hatred cause he missed Helen, he never wanted her dead and he certainly won't kill Annie! Helen is never dead in his mind, she just ran away, and it was just a dream, he never kills her. How could he ever kill her? Helen is his first love and she is still living in his heart.

Confusedly to her husband stillness, Annie called out in her soft sleepy voice, "Louis? Is it time for work already?" Louis didn't reply cause he is locked inside his own world and didn't even hear her. Annie eyes slowly focused, she finally notice that her makeup materials are all over the carpet messily. She don't understand why. Her attention returns to her stiff husband standing a distance away. "What happen Louis? Are you okay?" she asked from the bed.

The room is silently tensed with confusion while Annie quietly studying her husband and her husband is staring at his own reflection with disbelief like he is lost in another world debating in his mind. Annie senses that something is not right about him, her heart rate increased unsettlingly warning her that something is really wrong. This is not usual of him. She swiftly lifted the thick comforter off of her and drawn herself toward the edge of the bed to get off holding to her pregnant belly. Somehow this chilly image of Louis reminded her of how he use to be, like how he is on their wedding night and the time they first kissed. Annie felt fear slowly wagering her heart, cause she really doesn't want to deal with the old Louis.

"Honey... Louis?" Annie weak voice echoed into the silent tense room. She sighed softly under her uncertain breath, "Louis please don't scare me like this. Are you alright?" Annie gently and softly approaches Louis with her heart pounding in worry to what is happening to him, why is he standing there so stiffly? A creep of fear also evident in her eyes fearing that she will provoke the old husband back if she is not careful enough.

Meanwhile Louis is captivatingly lost with the reflection of himself that causes his eyes to stare at the mirror image of his own eyes with fear and pain growing momentum as his mind kept conjuring old memories and flashback of Helen and B-jai death. The flashback of how he shakes B-jai and how he tightens his grip on Helen, kept hammering into his painful migraine. Regret, guilt, fear, and a touch of anger are shown in Louis pair of motionless eyes.

Concernedly, his pregnant wife stepped up next to him and stand quietly by his side not knowing how she can calm him down, she is afraid that she will upset him more. Somehow the look of his fierce hard brown eyes took her voice away and clotted her throat. She didn't dare to speak up or ask him, he looked pretty angry at something, all of this reminded her of how they use to be and that just bring her tears that he will slip away again. Annie gulped at the silent room that she sworn she could only hear his and her heart pounding and the shallow breathing of her worry soul. The room is chilly with crisp winter hollowness that made Annie heart extra anxious.

Nervously she wetted her lip to give herself a bit more courage to care for her husband. Slowly and gently her hand softly place on his shoulder, her hand is actually trembling a bit fearing that he will get provoked into an angry rage. "Louis," her whispering voice is so soft with uncertainty, while her fingers slowly curve around her husband shoulder blade warmly. Her pair of eyes is pleading him to return to her.

Louis eyes seem to be wakens up by her call and it hardened again with it dark sharp glare at the image ahead that return the same fierce angry eyes. Annie notice how he has progressed into a more harsh expression, it really cause her heart to stiffened with terror and worry about him. Her eyes softened on him with sad tears beginning to glow and glistered at the image of her husband behavior changing back to his old self again. Why? Why do he have to change? What is wrong? Annie couldn't find any answer to her questions.

With loving eyes glued to him, finally Annie is able to force another word out, but it was very soft, "Louis, are you okay? What's wrong? Please don't scare me like this...tell me Louis..." her hand slowly and carefully run along his arm, lowing toward his hand. She wanted to hold his hand and calm him down. "Please Louis, don't do this to yourself and me," Annie pleaded while she try to turn him around to face her but he is too stiff and stubborn. "Louis look at me, I'm Annie," her gentle voice filled the background.

Louis head slowly rotated to the right very steadily with uncertainty as his eye kept still on the image ahead, which is Annie but his face is blank and expressionless like he don't even see her. In a flat emotionless tone, he tries to search for reassurance, "You're different right? Annie won't lie." Then he turned to the other direction with his eyes glued to the mirror again. Annie trying to process his meaning while she stares at the mirror confusedly, what so interesting about the mirror that kept her husband so mesmerized? It's just his reflection.

Annie snuggled her head on his right shoulder, she tries to search that secure feeling from him, but he seem so distanced. "Of course I won't lie to you. Louis, what are you staring at?" Annie weak lost voice asked. Her husband didn't answer her at all. She sighed softly to herself and smiled weakly at him, "Never mind, you probably too tired. Lets get you wash up, I'll cook breakfast for you okay?" Annie suggested. She just wanted him to step away from the mirror.

The confused minded Louis shrugged her off and stepped aside to stare at the mirror image. In Louis mind he sees his mirror image talking to him in a cold icy tone, "Come on Louis, there is nothing wrong with us, we are the one who done the right things they are the one who did us wrong. Remember how great it felt like to kill Helen with your bare hands? We are not heartless, we are just doing what is suppose to be done."

Louis shook his head to the mirror while Annie just silently study him, she can't heard any of the stuff Louis thought his reflection is saying, it was just his mind playing trick with him all along. "Face it Louis, accept the fact, it not shameful to admit that you did it. No one will blame you for killing a wife that been lying and cheating behind your back. It's a righteous thing to kill a dissolute wife like Helen, and she deserves to die. So is Annie. Annie is the same as Helen. Annie been lying too Louis, she still love Steven or why would she care about Kevin so much? She always go over to Steven room each night and use Kevin as an excuse. You know she is lying to you. You know she don't love you, she is just using you like Helen. Wake up Louis! Kill her!"

Angrily, Louis darted at his reflection while his right hand clenched into a fist showing his whiten tense knuckle popping up along with the tendon on his wrist. He can't take anymore of his uncontrollable mind, cause he can't accept the fact that Helen is dead and that he is the one who send her away. And he's getting really fearful to what his reflection is saying about Annie. Annie is different! He kept reminding himself while his fist get so stiff and tight that it turning a bit red. With one harsh inflamed glare at the mirror he swiftly throws his tighten fist ragingly on his reflection shattering it quickly into sharps pieces of staggered glass scattering all over along with the warm crimson red liquid dripping drop by drops onto it.

Horrified, Annie eyes widened with her jaw dropped slightly while the loud sound of shattering glasses echoed into the silent room and out toward the empty house. Annie heart dropped dauntingly with her face paled to witness what her husband just did. Her eye flooded with tears that streamed down two sides of her cheeks when her eyes slowly followed her husband arm and stopped at his hand that is bleeding with his warm blood dripping slowly on her makeup table that is now filled with shattered fragment of her husband and her reflection. She is shocked speechlessly to her husband action of endangering himself like this. Annie shake her head in disbelief with her heart ached seeing him hurt himself like this for no reason. And his expression is still stern with lost eyes, he seems like he didn't feel any pain at all, his soul is lost somewhere else.

Soft and expressionless, Louis firmly tells his other soul, "You are wrong, Annie is different." His voice was so soulless that it gave Annie a shiver.

The terrified young wife can't contain her emotional self anymore, she started to cries uncontrollably in silent with her heart aching to see him like this. With her sobbing sound echoing into their large room, she looked at her husband with her watery eyes wanting him to explain to her what just happened! Why he is doing this to himself and her?! Why is he back to scare her again?! What happen to those happy carefree warm days? She wanted to shout out what she is feeling now, but she couldn't squeeze a single sound out other then her silent sob of fear. Cold tears fled her eyes uncontrollable with her eyes on him demanding him to not do this again!

Annie attention and blurred vision turned back to Louis injured hands with her head locked stiffly in position. Her trembling hand reaches his and she gently try to remove his stiff hand that is still against the wall now since the mirror has shattered. She tries to lower his stiff strong hand away from the wall and examine his cut, but he seems to not even notice that he is bleeding or feeling pain. He just continue applying pressure on his fist pressing it against the wall cutting his hand deeper with the fragment of glass that is still in between his knuckle and the wall. Annie felt more pain for him than he does for himself.

In a weak voice that progressed into an angry shout, Annie demanded, "Louis, let go... let me see your hand!" Her voice became teary as she scolded her husband with anger, "How could you do this to yourself?! You are hurting yourself!" Annie voice softened, "You are hurting me too..." she sniffed her tears away and in a lighter voice, "Please Louis, let me see your hand."

Slowly turned his head toward Annie, Louis stare at her dully with confuse lost eyes that show his agonizing pain that is in his soft soulless pairs of eyes. Annie heart weakly bleeding at the sight of his obvious painful and struggling pair of eyes that show his state of disoriented mind. Annie quickly leaned toward her husband warm chest and hugged him tightly with her two hands tensely grabbing the back of his pajamas showing her knuckle whitened with fear of losing him. She clings to him closely snuggling her head on his chest crying in fear. She felt her abdominal pressed against his warm body making her felt a bit secure from his warmth.

The room immediately illuminated with her sobbing and soft hiccups along with Louis cold steady breathing of lost and sorrow. Tears quickly flooded his eyes and glistered as he heard his wife suffering sobs. Louis eyes lower to looks at Annie from her head down, his heart is aching to see that he made her suffer along with himself. The tears that were glistering in his cold eyes escaped and rolled down his cold dark toned cheek and off his chin soaking into Annie's hair.

He is lost and he knows it, but he couldn't control himself. The thought of him not being able to control his own problem bring fear to him. Cause he don't want to make Annie suffer with him, he don't want to be the one who hurt her. His eyes caught the image of his wife pregnant belly and it brings him more fear that one day he will harm Annie and his unborn child unwillingly. He doesn't want to make her suffer any longer, but how can he guarantee that he won't harm her? The most fearful part is that he know he couldn't control himself and he never know when he will do it again.

"Louis please don't scare me like this..." Annie murmured in her teary voice, she rolled her head up and stares at his eyes with her pair of worry one. "Please? I love you, I don't want to lose you. I want you to be here for me, like you have promised. Please Louis? Please don't hurt yourself like this again. I'm worry about you..." her trailed off cause her throat is thicken with tears.

Louis couldn't force a word out, his eyes are locked into hers teary one which made his eyes drowned with guilt and sorry for doing this to her. He couldn't promise her, cause he doesn't know when his problem will provoke again. His lip slowly closed pressing it gently shut and swallowed his fear. His eyes are kept on her with worry and he couldn't promise her anything. His stiff arm slowly loosen and releasing it stubbornness with blood still dripping painlessly on the cream carpet. Slowly his arms elevated and loosely wrapped around Annie with his eyes still on her showing his fear and guilty dark eyes.

Grateful that he finally listen to her and released his hand from the wall, Annie watery eyes lifted up to gaze into her husband. "I love you," her deep emotional voice sincerely tells him. She sniffed and leans on his chest rubbing her head on his warm body to get the secure reassuring feeling that she needed.

"I'm sorry," Louis softly whispered with his empty tone that is a bit chilly. That simple apologize causes Annie to cried more emotionally, he wrapped his arms around her cozily with a warm squeeze, holding her body tightly against his body with his eyes shut releasing sorrow tears as he rubbed his chin warmly on Annie forehead. His voice is a bit shaky and filled with heavy emotional suffering, "I'm sorry...I don't want to hurt you..."

He released her and slightly stepped back with his right hand gently stroking the side of her hair, Annie could see his bleeding hand from the corner of her eyes that causes her heart to ach more. He pressed his lip together and tenderly brushed her smooth pale face with his firm hand trying to dry her tears. But the sight of his bleeding hand and gentle touch just causes more of Annie tears to escape freely. Louis softly in a sincere voice that echo through out the room, "Please forgive me..."

Sniffed her tears back, Annie tenderly hold his injured hand firmly. "Does it hurt?" she asked in her trembling voice cause of her cries. Her husband slightly shook his head reassuringly with eyes that are still glued into hers with guilt. Annie stares at him seriously with her heart feeling the pain for him. Her voice is an anguish worry tone showing that she is mad at him and concern about him at the same time, "How could it not hurt? It's bleeding." She hissed softly at her husband with anger and walked away into the bathroom.

Within a minute she stepped out with dressing and a bottle of Chinese liquid medicine to stop the bleeding. Her husband dark deep eyes are kept at her the entire time. He felt guilty to make her scare and worry about him like this. "Hold still," Annie soft tone ordered with a hint of being mad at him. Louis didn't move a muscle and allow his wife to help him wrap up his bleeding hand. The dark pool of his eyes became vivid with dry tears while he kept it still on her. He could see Annie tears dripping off her chin as she sniffed and concentrate on taking care of him. Louis heart drowned with sadness for causing her pain. He moved his hand wanting to help wipe his wife tears away. "I said don't move!" Annie snapped at him with anger and an aching heart.

Stopped his action, Louis gazed at her instead as she continue. "Are you mad at me?" his deep barely audible voice asked. Annie kept silent and sniffed as she continues. After she is done, Louis quickly pulled her into his body for a tight embrace. "I didn't mean to make you mad and worry. I'm sorry Annie. Please forgive me," he sincerely apologized with thick emotional tone.

Nodded to his request while wiping her tears on his front shoulder blade, Annie murmured, "I love you." She took in a breath to settle her emotion a bit. Slightly stepped back, she looked at him seriously. "Louis... Louis, why can't you share your pain with me? What happen? I want to help you release your suffering. It's not good to trap it all inside you. Please? Please let me take some of your burden away. This is not right, you can't go on like this. Please let me help."

Louis shuts his eyes with a droplet of his tear shed and fallen on Annie hand that is cupping his cheek. "I didn't do it Annie. Do you believe me?" his deep voice asked with emotion cause how Annie thinks is very important to him. Annie nodded just to follow along with him, even though she isn't clear about what he is talking about. Louis continued, "She is not dead, I saw them Annie..."

"Who?" Annie asked weakly with curiosity.

Her husband heart stiffened with a bit of hurtful anguish. "Her and HIM!" Louis shakes his head with tears streaming down painfully, "She ran away with him..." He slides down and sat on the carpet drawing his knees up to his chest and elbowed his elbow on his kneecaps with his hands grabbing his hair tightly with painful memories. His eyes caught a glimpse of his reflection from the shattered piece of mirror. He shakes his head vigorously at the reflection, "I DIDN'T DO IT!! SHE IS NOT DEAD! SHE IS STILL ALIVE! She just ran away! She just ran away....she is not dead, I saw them...I saw them...she is not dead, I know she is not dead...she can't be dead...I didn't do it..."

Annie slowly kneel down in front of Louis with her confuse eyes gaining fear as she sense that something extremely bad happened in Louis past. Trying to remove his arms from grabbing his hair, Annie gentle soothing voice pleaded, "Louis please don't do this to yourself. Louis please? Listen to me, we need to get you some help. You need to see a doctor." Annie removed his arms and his head slowly lifted to level his eyes on Annie. Suddenly fear filled his eyes as he stares at Annie with his eyes enlarged frightfully. He swiftly scooted away with his head vigorously shaking at her. Annie stare at him with her lost eyes to his fearfulness toward her, she try to approach him and he quickly shoved her away causing her to fall to her side.

"I DIDN'T MEAN TO KILL YOU!! GO AWAY!! I didn't mean it! I really didn't mean it! I didn't do it! You force me!!" her husband shouted fearfully.

When she falls, Annie felt a sharp pain on her abdominal, but it dulled out quickly. Annie eyes widened in disbelief to what he just say. In a weak ponderings voice, she questioned her husband urgently, "What do you mean by kill? Did you kill Helen?" Annie is more thinking out loud then really asking Louis those questions. Fear grew in Annie confuse eyes. She could understand that he accidentally caused B-jai death cause of his frustrated violent shaking, but Helen too? She swallowed and denied her thought, she got herself kneeled in front of him again with her hands gently holding to his hands that is on his head. "Louis what do you mean? Tell me Louis, tell me you didn't kill anyone on purpose," Annie begged.

Louis continues to shake his head and tightly grab his hair in frustration as his legs slowly drawn closer to his body and hide his head into his knees. "I didn't kill you..." he murmured as he is shaking his head, "I didn't do it...I didn't do it...DON'T BLAME ME! I was just going to scare you. I was frustrated, I didn't know it was too hard. I was going to let you go. I didn't kill you. I didn't!! You left, I let you go. I didn't squeeze tightly like I say so, I loosen my grip, I really did. I don't know that it was too late... You are not dead Helen, I saw you." Louis tries really hard to convince himself that he didn't do it, but deep down he felt guilty and painful, he grabbed his head tightly and screamed loudly, "AAHHHHH!!!!!"

Steven who is in his room feeding his son like every morning at seven, he is alerted by the shout of Louis. It is really strange to him, so he curiously stepped out of his room with Kevin in his arms drinking his bottle of milk. Steven followed the shout and ended up standing in front of the master bedroom with his puzzled face staring at the closed door. What were Annie and Louis doing? Why did he scream? Steven stood there not sure if he should interrupt, but his heart is growing concern for Annie, cause Louis sounded really rough and angry. He wanted to knock but he stopped his action and decides that it will be better if he just listen and see what going on first before he takes action.

Meanwhile, Annie quickly scooted herself closer to Louis and sitting next to him on the carpet, she pulled her husband head into her arms, her fearful lost eyes are filled with concern seeing him suffer like this. Something unpleasant filled her heart worrying that he killed Helen. Annie gulped and tries to calmly sooth Louis down, who head is now rested just on top of her abdominal with his agonizing expression of stress and frustration about the past and mostly fear of her cause he see her as Helen.

Annie tries to calm herself down as much as she could so she can function rationally. In her soothing tone, "Shhh...yes, yes you didn't do it. I believe you..." Annie lied, she don't know what she believe, but she want to ease her husband suffering, even if it mean to lie. "I know, I know you didn't do it."

Confused, Louis shakes his head with his face paled, "No. She is gone...I send her away..." His voice became frustrated, "Why do she have to do this to me?!! I didn't mean it! Why do she have to take Benny away?! Benny is mine! He is mine...B-Jai is mine..." his voice changed into a bitter one, "Is all B-jai fault! If I weren't trying to stop her from taking him away, she wouldn't have..." Louis swallowed, "He is not even mine!" His head loosely shakes, "How could she say he is not?"

Suddenly, Louis sited himself upright and looked at Annie with his soften eyes that is glistered with tears. "Why Helen? Why don't you love me anymore?" Out of his mind, Louis forcefully pushed Annie away causing her to feel a second sharp pain striking her abdominal. But Annie ignored the pain, she is too caught up with her husband sudden change in mood. "Why?! Why can't B-Jai be mine?! Why are you having an affair?! I try to give you everything already!! IS THAT NOT ENOUGH?!!" Louis begin to vigorously shakes his head with his fearful large eyes dilated on Annie, "YOU MAKE ME DO IT!!"

Steven brows narrowed with confusion, he has no idea what Louis is shouting about. Who the heck is Helen? B-jai? Affair? Do what? He is totally blanked out to what Louis meant but one thing he know is that Louis is very mad about something that got to do with Helen. He continues to listen with his mind pondering about what Annie and Louis are arguing about.

Annie stare straight into Louis eyes steadily with her shocked face, is what he saying meant he killed Helen? Annie didn't know how to react to this, everything is a blank and she couldn't process him being a killer. Did he intentionally kill Helen cause she is having an affair? Weakly with her voice that is barely audible, Annie wanted clarification, "What did you do to her?" Her eyes stare at him full of fear and worry about him. Louis didn't answer her.

In a whisper so soft and weak cause she know she won't like the answer, Annie asked again, "Tell me you didn't kill her Louis..." Annie voice was so soft that Steven couldn't hear what she just said. Steven is too curious that he can't help himself approaching the door more closely and leaned his ear against it to have a clearer sound wave.

Shook his head, Louis shuts his eyes tightly mumbling over and over, "I didn't do it...I didn't do it...it not my fault Helen. You're the one who wanted to leave. After how much I have done for you, you still wanted to leave me! I moved out of the house with you already, why can't you be satisfied?!" Louis darted his fierce eyes on Annie, "Why do you have to run away?! WHY HELEN?!! WHY YOU PICK HIM INSTEAD OF ME?!!"

Seeing how Louis looked like and his voice, Annie is able to felt his pain and suffering that cause her heart to sink along with his, she looked straight into his eyes demanding an answer, "Louis, did you do it?" Steven just don't understand their conversation, do what? And who the heck is Helen?

Frustrated, Louis shouted loudly like he's trying to force himself to believe, "NO! She is not dead!" Dead? Steven thought, who is dead? Louis continues to debate with himself while Steven try to put the puzzle together, "I saw them! I saw them!" Louis eyes shifted again and stare at Annie, "I didn't mean to! You ask for it! You deserve it!" He fiercely darted at her and it send a creep down Annie spine when she saw that familiar cold hatred stares revisited again. His hand tightened in rage and swing toward Annie wanting to grab her neck. Annie quickly fallen back and scooted away with her eyes widen with fear on her husband.

Annie shakes her head as she scoot further back. Shouting loudly, Annie tries to wake him, "LOUIS IS ME!! IS ANNIE!! LOUIS, I'M ANNIE!!"

"WHO IS ANNIE?!" her husband fierce voice asked back. Annie heart sank with her eyes flooded with tears that he can't even remember her. How could he forget her? She stares at him sadly with angry disappointment. Why is he doing this to her? Louis in a cold voice with his sharp dark eyes, "Why do you keep lying Helen?!" He reaches for a piece of staggered glass on the floor, Annie heart lighten with fear and her eyes enlarged knowing what her husband wanted to do. Steven is really confuses to what is going on in there but hearing Annie tone he know that she is in trouble. He wanted to rush in but his hand is occupies with Kevin so he quickly ran back to his room to safely put down his son first.

Meanwhile Annie tearfully screaming at Louis, hoping that he will snap out of it, "I'm Annie! I'm Annie, Louis! Please wake up..." She is under a lot of stress from seeing her husband wanting to kill her, her heart started to panic as it beat nervously. Louis stepped ahead toward her with his eyes inflamed at her with hatred and his anger continue to boil up and his hand is bleeding cause the glass is cutting into his palm. Annie know that he is not going to snap out of it, she turned her head toward the door. With one push she quickly gotten herself up and running toward the door to get out. Louis has warned her before to run away from him when he change, now she knows what he meant. But it too late, Louis darted at her with anger and ran to block her way.

Tears streamed down Annie eyes uncontrollably as she cried. She is feeling fear from her own husband, the one that she go to for comfort is making her felt threatened now. "Please Louis! I'm Annie!!! Wake up Louis! Please wake up! Don't come close!" her hand is holding to her belly protectively while she tries to think of a way to run away.

She could see that Louis eyes has lost all sign of life, it is cold and hallow with evil glow. Annie only sense the coldness from him and she felt that he is no longer her husband, his eyes has lost all sign of life, it is like a dead soul being trapped inside. Annie felt a little pressure against her abdominal, her hand protectively press against the side of her tummy to ease the dull pain. She know she have to calm herself down and not stress her body and mind too much, but how can she calm down now with her husband trying to kill her?! She gulped in fear and shakes her head at him with fearful tears. She hasn't felt this much fear from her husband before.

Meanwhile, Steven has dropped Kevin in the middle of the bed and rushed out hearing Annie shouting to Louis. He knows that she is definitely in trouble. He pounded on the door that is across from his, which are Kenix and Frankie room, "Wake up now Frankie!!! Annie needs help!!" He wants all the help he could get! He rushed over to the master bedroom and turned the doorknob but it was locked. He pounded on the door loudly, "Open up! Louis!! Don't you dare touch Annie!"

Frankie and Kenix confusedly stepped out and headed toward Steven. Frankie stare at Steven with confusion since inside of Annie room is currently quiet. "What the matter Steven?"

Both Annie and Louis turned toward the door when they heard Steven voice. Louis seems to be more angered with his hatred eyes on the door and back to Annie. Annie lip paled with stress and she felt weak with her heart pumping so fast that she felt pain. She is starting to feel chest pain again, while breathing became a bit difficult. Louis is stepping closer to her. Annie started to pant a bit as she pleaded her husband, "Louis no...Louis I'm Annie..." she shake her head with fearful expression of her whiten face with pale white lip. "I'm not Helen..." Annie weak voice said.

She suddenly notices that there are droplets of blood on her maternal dress just above her abdominal. Annie felt her nose and lips being a bit wet, she quickly wiped her nose and was frightened to see her hand covered with blood. Paled to the sight, Annie head shakes with fear, as she mumbled, "No, this is not happening." She looked up at her husband who is approaching her with unkind mean, "Please honey, don't do this to me..." Annie trembling voice begged while she kept wiping her nose trying to get rid of the blood. Her body begins trembling, as she cried hopelessly not knowing why she is bleeding like this. Seeing that Louis is still heading toward her, Annie darted toward the door that is only ten feet away. "Help Steven!" she screamed loudly with fear.

Frankie face daunt in surprise along with his wife. He pounded on the door rapidly, "Annie! Are you okay?! What's going on in there?!! Open up now!"

Steven started to charge himself against the door trying to open it, "LOUIS DON'T YOU HURT ANNIE!" Frankie helped with the door while Kenix just stand there with her worry and confusion to what is going on. Stephen, Nicola, and Bobby are woken up too, running toward them.

Defensively, Stephen stopped Steven and Frankie from running themselves against the door, "What are you guy doing?!"

Impatiently, Frankie shoved the butler away, "Something is wrong in there! Annie!!"

Gulped with her trembling body, Annie shouted, "FRANKIE GET IN HERE NOW!" While they continue trying to break through the door. Louis angrily hissed at her with his cold eyes, he is heading toward her. Annie quickly turned to the side to run as far away from him as possible. She felt like she couldn't get air as she run and her chest is hurting really badly. "Don't do this to me, Louis! Wake up now!! You're hurting me and our baby..." she frantically screamed for him to stop chasing her with that sharp glass. Annie turned toward him and he is just right behind her. She felt light headed because of her bloody nose and shortness of breath. "Please don't come close..." she begged with her weaken voice.

Louis angrily grabs her wrist and jerked her around to face him. Annie felt pain in her abdominal cause of his forceful jerk, she grab on to her nightgown and moaned to the pain. Luckily the pain didn't persisted for long. Louis angrily with jealous flaming eyes, "Why do you want to run away with him?!" he turned toward the door with rage. "What did Julian give you that I can't?!"

The fearful young wife cried hopelessly, "Stop it! STOP IT LOUIS! I'm Annie!! Wake up please! You are hurting me..." her eyes rolled up and she fainted, collapsing in front of him right when the loud sharp cry of Kevin was also heard.

To be continue....
******

[jeh]

Oh no, is Annie okay? What will happen to her?! And Louis?! Did he really kill Helen?! So many questions needing to be answer. Please update soon!!! I'm really eager to know what happen!

[zzzbeauty]

Omg, what's wrong with Louis??? <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0">

He seems like he has gone insane, but he was fine before.....hmmmm....or was he?

First it seems like Stephen was posioning Annie, and now this; could Stephen be the one behind Louis's strange reactions. <IMG SRC="smilies/thinkingof.gif" border="0">

Call me a biased Louis fan, but i don't think he killed Helen.

*crossing my fingers and toes*

It was sad to see both Louis and Annie suffer. <IMG SRC="smilies/frown.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/crying.gif" border="0">

Thanks for the chapter and please update soon.

i'm anixous to find out how gang would treat Louis after this incident and how Annie would treat him too. And Annie's health condition as well.