Ties That Bind
14. Last Time AroundAround lunchtime, there was a knock on the cabin door.
Everyone hid while Nikki answered the door. When Zac saw it was only Derek, he came out of hiding, Beth and the kids following soon after.
“Hey there Zac, I brought my family over to meet yours. This is my wife Danielle and our kids, Mason and Madison. I bet the kin will become real good friends.” Derek affirmed looking down at the four kids now playing quietly on the floor with some toys Derek’s kids had brought over with them.
“That would be nice for the twins to have some kids to play with that are close to their age.” Zac replied nodding his head.
“Well Zac, maybe the adults should talk quietly away from the kids. We should get some planning done.” Danielle suggested nodding to the kitchen table in an adjacent room.
Zac agreed as he took Beth’s hand and followed Derek and Danielle into the next room. Nikki joining them a moment later.
“I’m glad you accepted our help Zac. The first thing we have to do to keep you all under the radar is to buy hair dye and change all your hair colors. I am thinking blond. It’s the most drastic change from the hair colors you have now.” Danielle explained but Nikki cut in.
“To hell with you! I’m not going blond!”
Zac turned towards Nikki giving her an evil glare. “Nikki! Shut it!” Zac chastised.
Nikki gave him the same glare back as she folded her arms.
“I am not going blond. I refuse. Pick a different hair color, I am ok with anything but red and blond!” Nikki argued.
“How about black? Is black alright with you pain in my ass?” Zac retorted back sarcastically.
“At least its better than being blond!” Nikki muttered under her breath.
“You’ll need new names and some fake ids, which I can call in a favor from one of my brothers old friends.” Danielle said as Derek spoke right after.
“What would you like to call yourselves?”
Zac looked over at Beth, “What do you think we should call ourselves and the kids?”
“I kinda like our names.” Beth replied looking down at the table.
“I know baby, but we need to call ourselves something different if we have to go out in public. How about Franklin and Eleanor.” Zac suggested, rubbing her hand.
Nikki snorted, then let out a half assed laugh. “Way to be obvious, Franklin! And what’s your last name going to be Roosevelt?”
Zac looked at her as she carried on.
“And what should we name the kids, Harry and Herbert?” Nikki continued laughing.
Zac’s eyes slit in anger, pursing his lips together, he shot Nikki the dirtiest look he could muster. She stopped laughing and a frown replaced her smile as she sat back in the chair, looking at Zac sadly. Zac turned back to face Derek and Danielle.
“We’re going with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and the kids names are Anna and John.” Zac affirmed.
“Sounds great Zac. I mean Franklin.” Derek said extending his hand out, shaking Zac’s hand.
“Thanks Derek.” Zac replied smiling.
*
Two days later, Derek and Danielle came back to the cabin.
“Here’s your new identities, everything you’ll need to start a new life. Birth certificates, social security cards and three drivers licenses for you and the girls.” Derek explained handing Zac a brown manila envelope.
Zac shook his hand. “Thanks man, I appreciate it.”
“I love to dye hair and I am stocked up with six bottles of black hair dye. Who’s my first victim… I mean - who’s going first?” Danielle chuckled, holding up a box of hair dye.
“Thank god, you didn’t decided on the blond hair coloring, Zac. At least she can’t bleach our hair white!” Nikki muttered to herself. Danielle turned and gave her a dirty look.
A few hours later everyone’s hair was dyed jet black.
“So, what does everyone think?” Danielle asked excitedly looking from Zac to Beth to Nikki.
“I hate this! I look like Elvira - Mistress Of The Dark.” Nikki mumbled, grabbing some of her hair and looking down at it.
“Great! That suits your personality. Grim at best!” Danielle retorted.
Nikki rolled her eyes.
“I look alright, I guess. But I don’t really like how the kid’s hair turned out.” Beth said frowning, looking to the twins watching TV.
Zac looked over at the twins before looking back to Beth, putting his arm around her and leaning in.
“Remember, we talked about this. It’s for the best. Our family comes first and foremost.”
“I know.” Beth whispered. Zac rubbed her upper arm.
“I love you.” Zac whispered back, then leaned in, kissing Beth several times on the lips.
Nikki groaned at the sight and looked away in disgust.
*
Four days later, while Zac was next door talking to Derek. Nikki walked up behind Beth in the kitchen.
“I’m on to you, bitch.” Nikki whispered.
“What?” Beth uttered as she remained looking down into the dishwater.
“I want you to get out of here with your brats and stop sleeping with my man!”
“I don’t want to sleep with him but you told me to make sure he was happy and to do things to please him. I only did -” Beth began as Nikki cut her off.
“Yeah and I don’t want you pregnant by him either! So start refusing him or something!”
“Don’t you think it might be a little too late for that? We’ve been together for three weeks already.” Beth pointed out.
“I would have said something sooner but he wouldn’t leave you alone long enough for me to tell you anything.” Nikki snapped. “So, are you late for your period?” Nikki pressed.
“No, I’m not. I am due for it next week.” Beth answered.
“You’d better tell me if you get it or not!” Nikki slit her eyes in anger.
“And what if I don’t?” Beth challenged.
“Oh, don’t even go there!” Nikki snapped.
“It’s actually none of your business, it’s only mine and Zac’s. He wants more children, I am sure you are aware of that?” Beth pointed out.
“Yeah, I know but I don’t want him to have any more with you, I want to be the Mother of his children!” Nikki spat angrily.
“But you told me yourself that he doesn’t want you - he wants me, so how can you even begin trying to have kids with him if he won’t sleep with you?” Beth pointed out.
“Oh, that’s really easy. It’s by getting rid of you!” Nikki said in a sinister tone as she grabbed Beth by the back of the neck and forced her body forward and pushed her head into the dirty dishwater. Beth struggled against Nikki, fighting to get her head above the water, but Nikki was resilient and held her where she was.
“Beth!” Zac called out as he entered the cabin, slamming the front door.
“God damn it!” Nikki muttered as she pulled Beth above the water quickly. “Don’t tell that sex pot anything or I’ll be sure to make sure you die next time with or without him walking in to save your precious ass!”
Beth nodded just as Zac walked into the kitchen. As soon as he saw Beth standing there soaking wet, he immediately rushed over to her.
“What happened baby? Are you alright?”
“She’s fine she just tripped and fell into the sink.” Nikki explained, trying to cover up the act of death she tried on Beth and acted like she was helping her.
“And how do you know that’s what happened?”
“Cause I was just walking by her in the kitchen saw her fall and I just plucked her out of the sink.” Nikki explained sweetly, smiling at Zac hoping for some praise.
Zac raised an eyebrow, looking to Nikki suspiciously.
“Uh huh, yeah, I bet that’s what happened. I will only tell you this once - stay away from my girlfriend and if you ever try to harm her again or even lay a finger on my kids.” Zac paused for a moment. “Well, you really don’t want to know what I’d do to you if you ever pulled this shit again!” Zac gave Nikki a dirty look as he put his arm around Beth and lead her from the room.
“Come on baby, let’s go get you dried off.”
*
Zac didn’t let Beth out of his sight after that day. He kept her close to him at all times, to ensure Nikki couldn’t try hurting her again. Zac didn’t want to lose his girl, not so soon after getting her back into his life and his bed. He was really hoping she was pregnant again.
One morning, about a week later. Zac awoke before Beth. He propped himself up on his elbow and laid there watching her sleep. He memorized each feature of her face, it’s a face he never would or even wanted to forget as long as he lived. She meant everything to him and he hoped she was finally seeing the real Zac, not the man she had previously known as her attacker. He was trying so hard to be the perfect boyfriend and Father.
Beth stirred for a moment before opening her eyes, only to see Zac staring back at her lovingly.
She crinkled her nose, it was rather unnerving that he was staring at her like that.
“Why are you staring at me like that?” Beth asked looking at Zac strangely.
“You just looked so beautiful sleeping, I didn’t want to wake you. But now that you are, I have to ask, are you pregnant - or can you find out yet, I mean?” Zac asked nervously, acting as if he was about to find out if he was going to be a Father for the first time all over again.
“No, I don’t think I am. I’m expecting Aunt Flo any day now.” Beth relayed this to Zac who looked at her with a complex, yet confused expression on his face.
“Aunt Flo?” Zac asked dully.
“Yeah, my Aunt Flo is coming to visit from Red Creek.” Beth explained shadily.
“Why is your Aunt Flo coming to visit us and why didn’t you tell me you secretly called anyone?” Zac accused angrily and was now quite agitated.
Beth took one look at Zac’s mixed emotions he wore all at the same time and burst out laughing.
“It’s not funny! I wanna know when we are going to have someone coming to the cabin for a visit, if you haven’t forgotten we are still on the run from the law and I am not going back to jail and miss out on our new baby, if there is one.” Zac was becoming more agitated as he spoke.
“Zac, calm down. Aunt Flo is not a person its another name girls give their period when they tell someone they are expecting it. But it was kinda cute to see you getting a little hot under the collar when you thought Aunt Flo was a person.” Beth laughed again.
Zac smiled as he watched Beth laugh, her eyes sparkling at him. It made his heart melt to finally see her happy and just knowing that he had just caused her to laugh, made him feel even better. He leaned down and kissed her tenderly on the lips, he moved within the sheet they shared, easing himself onto her, not breaking their kiss just yet. He wanted it to last a few more moments, to remind him of this happy moment in their relationship.
Zac finally broke away, now looking contently into Beth’s eyes.
“You mean everything to me. I don’t want to lose you.” Zac began making love to Beth as he continued talking to her. “You’re mine forever babe. Don’t want to lose you.” He began to breath heavily. “Or the kids. I - would - die.” Zac laid down on her, burying his face into her neck, half kissing it, as his moans became louder. “I love you - so much.” he groaned, as his movements became quicker and a bit sloppy, knowing his release was eminent. “Just - love me - baby, please. Do you?”
But before Beth had a chance to answer Zac’s question, he began to climax inside of her. Momentarily forgetting his question as he let his orgasm overtake him. Beth breathed a sigh of relief that she had dodged that question. Even if she did give him an answer, she knew it would only be another lie. One of the many she had gotten used to telling him since they had been hiding out in the cabin. They all had been there almost a month and she wasn’t sure how much more she could take.