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*Day After Christmas*
Adam's gaze fell on his beautiful but sick little girl as he led her by the hand up the drive and to the house. They had just gotten back from a quick trip to the doctor. Much to the blond man's relief, Mandy would be okay.
The dogs jumped up excitedly as they entered the house, but Mandy surprisingly didn't pay them much attention as she usually did. Instead, she ran down the hallway through the living room and to her parents' bedroom - directly to Amy.
The redhead was in bed, propped up by an array of pillows and in a pretty nightgown. She opened her arms to her daughter, and the child went straight to her.
Adam stepped into the doorway just in time to see Mandy climb into the bed, her little head resting on her mother's slightly protruding belly as she clung to her. Amy looked up, meeting his gaze with worry as she smoothed some strands of the girl's fine blonde hair.
"She'll be all right," he said calmly. "She has a stomach virus."
In spite of her daughter's condition not being grave, the redhead's hazel eyes filled with tears. Damn that Matt Hardy to hell and back! Mandy had gotten sick while she'd been with *him*, and she highly doubted the circumstances would have been the same if he'd never taken the girl.
Amy glanced down at her little angel, surprised to see that Mandy had actually fallen fast asleep. Her hand was gentle as she stroked the soft skin of her cheek.
"She still has a fever," she said softly, dismayed to note the child's face was still quite warm to the touch.
Adam nodded as he entered the room further and sat on the edge of the bed. He removed his shoes, then swung his long legs up and stretched out beside his wife and daughter.
"The doctor wants her to stay in bed and eat stuff like soup, eggs and toast until her fever breaks." He gazed down at Mandy and caressed her soft cheek as well. "She has to drink lots of water, too. And I got some Gatorade, too. Can't take any chances of dehydration."
The redhead sobbed, her shoulders sagging and shaking.
"Hey, it's okay," the Canadian said, reaching out for her. He held her in his arms as she continued to cry, his hands in her long red hair. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "She'll be all right, baby."
"I know..." Amy moaned, pulling out of his embrace to stare tragically up into his kind, concerned green eyes. "... It's not that, Adam... I..." She shook her head, hazel eyes filling with another torrent of tears. "... I feel like about the worst mother in the world! I mean... I can't even protect my daughter - and then she gets kidnapped and sick!" She shook her head, not allowing her husband to cut in as he opened his mouth to protest. "For God's sake, I can't even keep the baby I'm carrying safe! Who knows if this baby will even be... normal." She bowed her head and sobbed harder.
Adam felt his heart breaking in several different pieces. Reaching for her again, he pulled the distraught woman back into his embrace.
"Shh... Stop," he commanded gently. "You're the most awesome mother I know next to my own. The two of you are tied in that department." He smiled slightly and kissed her tear-stained face, then tipped her head up so that she met his gaze. "I love you," he whispered. "And I don't ever want to hear you put yourself down like that again. Understand?"
The redhead kept her eyes fixed on his, astonished that he could be so calm, so loving when she had expressed such self-loathing. She nodded.
"Good," the tall blond man said. He kissed her tenderly on the lips, and her breath was lost by the burst of love and affection. Then, pulling back enough to speak, "And the baby will be just fine."
She blinked, wishing she could feel as optimistic as he did. She remained silent and thoughtful and allowed him to hold her in his strong, secure arms for several moments. Then, he finally shifted, thoughtful before he spoke again.
Adam gazed down at the sleeping Mandy. She seemed peaceful and cozy, still curled up between them, her head still resting on Amy's belly.
"Let's get her into her own bed," the Canadian said. Gently, he shifted his weight off the bed and then picked the child up, relieved when she didn't awaken.
Amy watched with her heart in her eyes as he carried their small daughter out of the room.
*
Matt awakened to the sounds of footsteps outside his bedroom door, as well as the voices of his brother and at least two other men whom he didn't know.
"I swear," he heard Jeff said, "I am not protecting Matt. He hasn't been here since six days ago."
Shit! The dark-haired man was suddenly instantly awake as he realized what must be happening...
... The authorities were here for him.
He bolted up out of bed and scrambled for the pants he'd worn yesterday. They lay discarded in a small heap on the floor before the bed, exactly where he'd left them the night before.
He felt his pulse pounding in his ears as he heard one of the police officers mention that they had a search warrant. That was followed by Jeff complying and saying they could search the entire house if they wanted - and then, the door was suddenly opened, just as Matt was heading for the window to escape.
"Matt! When did you get in?" Jeff asked, very real surprise in his voice and on his face.
"Mr. Hardy," one of the officers began as the other approached him with a set of handcuffs. "Just the man we were looking for. You're under arrest for the kidnapping of Amanda Copeland. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney..."
The policeman's voice was drowned out by the eerie silence of his brother - and even worse was the unmasked shame
and contempt on Jeff's face as he stared at him.