The Stolen Child

For How Long?

"What's up?" I said as nervousness overcame me. Was he rethinking the baby? My whole body tensed up as tears began to settle behind my eyes. I thought we were on the same page with the baby. Everything was set and ready to go. Cass and Luke were both on board, all we had to do was schedule the doctor's appointments. He couldn't possibly be rethinking it all. Not now.

"You know how we talked about me not going out into the field anymore?"

"Yeah." Relief began to wash over me as the conversation wasn't taking the 'baby' direction. At least not yet.

"Well, they want me to go out on one last mission before I throw in the towel."

"No. Really?" I said as I sat up off of him.

"Yeah, really." Brody leaned over towards me, his eyes searching for my response.

"Well, you're not going to do it, right?" He remained silent as I awaited his answer. "Right?" I repeated as tears welled in my eyes.

"Babe, I…" Brody reached out and gently grazed his fingers along my jaw bone.

"You what?" I said violently as tears began to stream down my cheeks. I already knew his answer. He was going to go. He was going to leave me, just as we were going to start our family.

"I want to go. I want to do this. Just one last mission before we start our family. One last time, babe. That's all I ask. I swear I will never do another mission after this." He pleaded with me to accept his wishes. I hesitated as I mulled over a response. Of course I didn't want him to go. We were going to start our family, and even though I wouldn't be pregnant, I still didn't want to go through it alone.

"Babe?" He said, begging me to speak.

"You really want to do this, huh?" I swallowed back my tears. How could I deny him one last mission. He loved his job, and because of my wishes, he agreed to sit behind a desk. I didn't want him out risking his life, possibly leaving me and his child behind. He agreed, but I knew it was reluctantly. I couldn't deny him one last opportunity.

"I do." His face was full of hope.

"Well…uh…how long will you be gone?"

"I don't know yet. I don't know the specifics. Six months, tops though."

"Six months?" I gasped. It really wasn't unreasonable, but it was longer than I wanted him to be gone for.

"Babe, let me find out more. Please. Relax, okay. I will call John in the morning and get more details, okay?"

"Okay." I said as he reached out, encompassing my hand in his. I leaned into his chest as he kissed the top of my head and gently rubbed my shoulder.

—--

"I can't believe you're leaving." I stood near the front door, my hands loosely folded across my chest. Brody was pacing back and forth in the hallway, tucking things in his bags and making sure he was well prepared.

"I'll be back before you know it babe." He paused, pecking my lips before returning to his things. "At least it's only four months."

"I know. But four months without being able to talk to you, or see you. It's such a long time. I won't be able to tell you about the pregnancy."

"I know babe. But I will be here with you. I will contact you every chance I get, okay?" He rubbed his hands over my arms and I looked to the floor. I choked back tears, trying to keep myself together. The sound of a car honking outside interrupted our moment.

"That's my ride, Noe." He excitedly reached for his bags, making his way out the front door and to the car. I watched from the front steps as he tossed his bags in the trunk of the car, a giant grin on his face. I couldn't help but smile watching him pack his things. He was like a giddy kid getting ready to go to the park. Excitement just bursting from him. It had been a while since he had been out in the field on an undercover mission. I know he loved them. His team was like family to him. They had each other's backs, and they had to trust each other one hundred percent. It was definitely his element to do his missions, and it would be wrong for me to keep you from doing what he loved while he still could. He was making sacrifices for me, the least I could do was to allow him just one more opportunity in the field. I watched as he bounded up the driveway and to the front steps.

"I'll be back before you know it, Noemi, I promise." He wrapped his arms around me tightly.

"Promise me." I whispered in his ear.

"Promise what?"

"Promise that you will come back to me." A tear escaped my eye as he pulled away from me. He looked intently into my eyes before planting his lips on mine. His tongue pressed against my lips, begging for entrance into my mouth. I obliged, allowing our tongues to dance passionately between our lips.

"Babe, I promise I will come back to you." He pulled away for a breath of air. The car honked again and Brody kissed me quickly.

"Sorry babe. I have to go. I can't miss my flight." He hugged me quickly before hurrying down to the car, pausing as he opened the door.

"I love you Noemi. I will call you as soon as I can." He blew me a kiss before he disappeared into the car. I watched as it disappeared down the driveway and out of sight.

I sat at a table in my restaurant, picking around at my food. The house was too quiet and I had to get away. I wasn't ready for Brody to leave me. We were about to start a family, and I felt like I really needed him with me. I know I wasn't going to be the one who was pregnant, but we were supposed to be with Cass at every doctor's appointment and every ultrasound. He was going to miss it all, at least the first few months of it. I was so torn about the whole thing. I knew he really wanted this one last job, and I was happy he was happy and doing what he loved. But on the other hand, I was sad that he would be missing out on the baby.

"Noemi. How are you?" I looked up from my trance to see a beautiful blonde girl standing in front of me. Her shiny tendrils spilled down over her shoulders. Her body was hugged tightly in a gorgeous tan and black striped dress.

"Ashley, hey." I smiled brightly at her. "How are you?"

"Good. How are you?" Her smile turned to a frown as she studied my face.

"Fine, I'm fine. Sit, please." I gestured to the empty chair across from me. She pulled the hem of her short skirt down before hanging her purse from the chair and sitting down. I gestured to one of my waiters who quickly came over to take her order.

"He's cute." She giggled as she watched him walk back to the kitchen.

"He's new." I smirked. "And he's too young for you."

"Hey now." She giggled as she fake glared at me.

"So, what's new? I feel like I haven't seen you in ages."

"I know. It's been a while. Brody just left this morning for a job."

"Oh, sorry honey. How long this time?"

"He says four months. But we'll see." I frowned.

"Well, I heard you're having a baby." She tried to change the conversation. Ashley was Cass's boyfriend's sister. She worked with Cass and I had met her when I attended a work party with Cass. I enjoyed Ashley. She was a very caring woman with a wild side. It balanced Cass and I's gentle, shy personalities.

"Yeah. Cass and Luke agreed to help Brody and I."

"That's what Cass said. I'm happy for you guys."

"Yeah, I was."

"Was?" She c****d her head, her brows furrowed in confusion.

"Now that Brody is gone, I'm not as excited about the baby as I was before. He's going to miss so much. All of the appointments, everything."

"You said he's only gone for four months, right?" She questioned.

"Yes."

"Well, Noe, he's only going to miss like, one, maybe two appointments. He'll be here for everything else. He'll be here to feel the baby kick, and to see the first ultrasound. He really won't miss that much. I know you're sad, but he will be here." I thought about what Ashley said. We hadn't even started the process of getting pregnant, even though my doctor had already harvested an egg in preparation for this. It would be a couple of months before we even found out if the pregnancy would take.

"You're right." I sighed, smiling up at Ashley.

"I'm always right." She smirked.

I was thankful for Ashley. Her timing couldn't have been more perfect. I was glad that the house was so lonely. Had I not got out, I would probably still be wallowing in my self pity. Ashley had talked some sense into me and made me feel a lot better about the situation. She was absolutely right. Brody would be home before I knew it. He would probably miss the first appointment, but he would be here for everything else. He would still get to experience it all with me. I smiled as I got up from the table. Taking me dishes back to the kitchen. Ashley had calmed my restless spirit and I was now renewed with hope for what the future held for Brody and I.