#wtbb epilogue

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When The Bough Breaks : Epilogue

A Rafe Cameron Mini Series

[THIS STORY WILL CONTAIN THEMES OF NON-CON/DUB-CON, MENTAL-EMOTIONAL-PHYSICAL ABUSE, ETC. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK. 18+. MINORS DO NOT INTERACT]

WC: 2.3k

Dividers provided by @firefly-graphics

FINALE | MASTERLIST

            You felt far away, Rose’s voice a distant mumble in the background. She prattled on beside you to the employee behind the counter. She picked out a couple onesies & insisted on getting them customized with the name of your unborn child, a feature the maternity store offered. But you felt nothing, could feel nothing. Only time you did is when the baby kicked or hiccupped. You wanted to feel ecstatic, lose yourself in the memories & joy from your first pregnancy. But the man who kissed your nearly full term belly at night & whispered to it good morning was far from who you would’ve picked to be a father.

            Rafe had spent the last nine months of your pregnancy being the doting husband & affectionate father he prided himself to be. You couldn’t believe how seemed to be completely removed from the reality of the situation—that from the beginning you were an unwilling party. Yet there you were. Shopping for more baby clothes with Rose. You had plenty already, enough to clothe the children of America, but Rose never took no for an answer.

            The only relief your pregnancy brought you was that Rafe stopped trying to sleep with you. One night, in the midst of your second trimester, you had woken to blood soaking the sheets. Rafe panicked, sure that the baby had been lost. But the doctor was happy to announce to the both of you that the baby was fine & healthy. However, she did say that sexual activity should be reduced to a minimum, if at all, to prevent any more scares. That’s how often Rafe fucked you.

            You dreaded having the baby, not only because it would forever tie you to Rafe, but it meant Rafe would have at you as much as he pleased. You feared another pregnancy. Never before had you prayed for menopause to come early.

            “_____.” Rose gently shook your shoulder, her manicured nails piercing you through your sweater. “Have you two decided on a name?”

            You mean has Rafe decided on a name, you wanted to say, wanting absolutely nothing to do with this pregnancy. You bit your lip & shook your head. The employee behind the counter frowned, but it wasn’t a hard one. It was almost like she sensed your misery. Rose chuckled awkwardly, “I suppose I’ll ask the father.”

            “Ask me what?” Rafe appeared behind you, an arm wrapping around your middle. His hand placed at the center of your swollen belly. He kissed the side of your head.

            “The name!” Rose chirped, “I want to get a couple onesies customized.”

            “It’ll outgrow them fast, Rose, really it’s not necessary.” You responded, feeling caged in by Rafe & Rose.

            “’It’?” Rose sneered but kept the same bright, forced smile on her face, “You two are still insisting on not knowing the gender, I don’t understand.”

            It was Rafe who spoke for you, “It’s a surprise. For the both of us.” He brought you into his chest, as if you had a say. You didn’t care what it was. It’d be a monster like it’s father.

            “Charlie.” Rafe announced jovially. You glanced back up at him, your brows creased.

            “Charlotte if it’s a girl, Charles for a boy.” Rafe held your stomach, “Charlie.”

            “Oh, that’s lovely.” Rose turned to the employee, “Charlie it is.”

            Rafe pulled you away then, wanting you to join him as he browsed. You didn’t understand why you had to be here. You never suggested any ideas: clothing, names, the nursery theme. It was all Rafe & Rose. Even the outfit you wore was courtesy of Rose. She had said that she never had a pregnancy & wanted to spoil you with maternity clothes. You were positive it was just a way to humiliate you, she dressed you like a Floridian grandmother.

            “How much longer?” You questioned once you were a decent distance from Rose.

            “Why, are you feeling sick?” Rafe asked but there was no amount of concern in his voice.

            “Sick of all of this, yes.” You glared at him. He only smirked in return.

            Then he cupped your face, bringing his face in to kiss you. To anyone, you may look the happily married couple, sharing in the enjoyment of their little bundle of joy, but it was all an illusion. Rafe stayed closed to you as he whispered, “You’re stuck with me, _____. Or did you forget our wedding?”

            You tried, often, to forget that day. It was a beach wedding. Less than 100 people were in attendance but none of them your friends or allies. It was a day for Rafe to lay claim to his property, not to profess your undying devotion to one another. The whole day was a blur. It’s how you preferred to keep it. Because Rafe was right, you were stuck with him. For better or for worse.

            “Now smile.” Rafe dragged a finger under your chin, “You’re too beautiful to frown.”

            Rose joined the two of you then, holding up three onesies, “What do we think?”

            Charlie Cameron, Daddy’s Little Girl, & Mommy’s Little Boy.

            “They’re great, thank you, Rose.” Rafe spoke for the both of you. You ignored the onesies.

            “My pleasure.” She grinned, stuffing them into a bag & handing it to you.

            You reluctantly took it.

            “Now, we must be off.” Rose checked the time on her phone, “We’re meeting your father for lunch remember.”

            Ward. If getting pregnant & marrying into the Cameron family was the deepest pits of hell, Ward Cameron was the devil himself. He was the only one that wasn’t trying to fake anything, at least in front of family. In public, he was proud to show you off—the mother of his first grandchild. But in private, he made it no secret that he held you to a certain standard, to remember a certain threat.

            Leaving the maternity store, the outlet mall was bustling. It was peak tourism season. Rafe kept a hand on your lower back as he walked at your pace. This pregnancy was incredibly more uncomfortable than your first. With Jesse, you were in bliss & your body responded well to the changes. This one however, your feet were swollen beyond recognition, you suffered indigestion, & your post-partem depression was already settling deep into your bones. The thought & feel of it all made you break into a sweat. You were beginning to feel dizzy.

            “I need to sit.” You announced quietly, moving towards a nearby bench. Rose appeared mildly annoyed but gave a tight smile, “Oh, alright.”

            “Do you need anything?” Rafe sat beside you, his hand holding yours.

            A glass of wine & bottle of pills, but you pushed the quip away, “Water, please. Cucumber water.”

            The cucumber was an excuse to send him away, hopefully both of them. Rose sighed but pulled out her phone, “Well go on, Rafe. I’ll call Ward, let him know we’re running late.”

            She stepped a few feet away to make the call. Rafe glared at her back before facing you, “God, she’s annoying.”

            It was the first time you managed a genuine smile, even if it was small & short-lived.

            “I’ll be back. Don’t go anywhere.”

            “Like I’d get far.” You mumbled. Rafe cocked his head but smirked, “I’ll chase you down. Always.”

            That was a promise, you knew. But thankfully, Rafe left you. For the first time in what felt like weeks you breathed a sigh of relief. Cracking your neck, you ghosted your fingers across your belly, feeling for any movement. It was sleeping. It liked to sleep most often during the daytime, choosing to keep you awake at night. You had a nagging feeling that once it was born sleeping habits would remain the same.

            You had your eyes closed, focused on your breathing when you heard footfalls approach you. Initially, you assumed it was Rose, but she had a discernable stomp in her heels. Slowly, you pried your eyes open, perhaps expecting to see a friend of the Cameron’s. But who you saw made you gasp.

            “Moses.”

            It was really him. He was wearing a powder blue button down tucked into a pair of jeans. His face was clean-shaven, a look unlike him. You stared at one another, though his clearly exhausted eyes were aimed directly at your belly.

            “So, it’s true.” The sound of his voice brought tears to your eyes. It was really him! After the divorce was finalized, you never saw or heard from him—only in your dreams. His eyes shifted to the ring on your finger, “That’s not the one I gave you.”

            Instinctively, you covered your hand. You wish you could hide your belly but there was no attempting that at the size you were.

            “No, I—” But words failed you. What could you say? There was nothing.

            “What are you doing here?” You changed focus.

            Moses finally looked you in the eyes & your heart ached. It was the same heartbroken expression he carried the night you told him you wanted a divorce. You recalled he had asked you if there was someone else. You had lied. But your lie was on full display now.

            “You look…” He started. You finished the sentence in your mind. I look horrid, ghastly, monstrous, an infidel, a whore.

            “Beautiful.”

            Tears spilled from your eyes as he looked you over. He wasn’t happy, but he wasn’t angry. You knew him well enough to know. He was simply sad. Deeply sad.

            “Moses, I. I don’t know what to say.” Your voice shook.

            He gave a half-hearted smile, “Are you happy?”

            No! You wanted to scream it, to beg him to whisk you away. In a second, you imagined a life with Moses with another man’s baby. Maybe you could love your unborn baby then, if Moses was the one to raise it alongside you.

            But you said nothing in response. Moses nodded in minor understanding, “That was rude of me. It’s not my business.”

            “No, it’s okay.” You went to stand but he threw out his hand to steady you as you wobbled, adrenaline coursing your veins. “What are you doing here?”

            Moses frowned but faked a courtesy smile, “Had some last minute business to finish before moving to my next location.”

            “Oh? Where to now? Back home?” You imagined him back in the city, amongst friends & family, all the people there to support him.

            “There is no home.” It was an instinctual response, one that you knew wasn’t meant to be said out loud, but you winced still.

            “I mean, I am taking a couple years off. Going to travel. See the world.”

            A dream the two of you shared. With Jesse.

            “That’s…” Awful. “..amazing.” You gulped, “Where are you off to first?”

            “Amsterdam.” Moses said faintly, but his eyes could only take you all in as you stood before him.

            “Moses, that’s—”

            “_____!” You jumped at the sound of your name. Spinning around, it was Rafe, holding a plastic coffee cup with water & floating cucumbers.

            “No.” You whispered it so lowly, only you could hear it.

            Rafe looked murderous. His eyes strained directly on your ex-husband. But Rafe hid his animosity as best as he could, joining the two of you, his arm draped across your shoulders. Moses pressed his lips together, a deep frown forming.

            “Rafe, this is—”

            “I know who it is.” Rafe smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. He held out his hand, “The ex-husband. We’ve actually never met before.”

            “Only once, actually.” Moses replied, the same feigned kindness in his voice, “You were flirting with my wife in the backyard when we came over for dinner long ago.”

            They shook hands. You watched as Rafe tightened his hold on Moses’ hand, “My wife now.”

            Moses half-scoffed, half-chuckled, lowering his hand, “She’s an excellent one.”

            “I know.” Rafe’s voice hardened, likely annoyed that Moses was unfazed by his attempt to assert dominance.

            “I’m sure you do.” Moses peered at him suspiciously but finally looked to you, “It was nice seeing you, _____.”

            “You, as well.” It took everything in you to not spill the truth about everything. But picturing him behind bars stopped you. It always did. Now you were only strangers.

            “You’re going to be a wonderful mother.”

            An inaudible sob escaped you. You brought your hand to your mouth to keep from crying uncontrollably.

            “Thank you.” Rafe answered for you, his eyes never leaving Moses. But Moses didn’t give him any more attention.

            “Well, goodbye.” Moses took a step back. You went to mirror him, follow him, but Rafe tightened his hold on you.

            “Goodbye, Moses.”

            Tears skipped down your cheeks as you watched Moses walked away from you.

            Rafe exhaled loudly, heavily. He stepped into your line of sight, cutting out Moses entirely.

            “That was…eventful.” His hands smoothed your hair before wiping at the tears on your cheeks, “But it’s time you move on. We have our own adventure waiting for us.” A hand fell to your belly. Rafe smiled proudly.

            “Whatever you say.” You mumbled.

            Rafe kissed you on your cheek before bringing his lips to your ear, “Smile, _____.”

            He pulled back to look you in your eyes. Your stomach kicked.

            “It’s the beginning of the rest of your life. And I will always be by your side.”

            And you knew it to be true.

            But you decided then, in that exact moment, that you were going to be everything Moses said you were. You were going to be a wonderful mother. If not for yourself, but for the sake of the life inside you. The baby couldn’t help who it’s father was, but it could benefit from having you as their mother. You swore, you promised.

            Rafe had won. You couldn’t be saved. But your baby could. And you’d dedicate your life to protecting & loving the life within you.

and that is the end. WTBB is officially over. this is by far my proudest work to date, & it's a major thank you to all my readers & supporters who have given me so much feedback to this series. so thank you to all of you!

as always, comment, reblog w reviews, talk to me. i'm excited to hear everyone's thoughts!

thank you for reading

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