______________________________________________________
*Three Months Later*
Amy exchanged glances with Adam as the blond man put the car in park. They merely sat there in silence for a full moment before he finally spoke.
"You know you don't have to do this. I can just start the engine again and we can turn around and leave."
The redhead nodded.
"I know."
She started to unbuckle her seatbelt when she was suddenly startled. Stopping what she was doing, she reached down with both hands, pressing them to her belly, which, at seven months pregnant, had grown quite large.
"What's the matter?" Adam asked, his green eyes filling with alarm.
"Nothing," Amy said, a small smile quirking at her lips. "It's just that the baby is kicking."
"Oh." The tall blond man was unbelievably relieved. Months earlier, after all the incredible stress his wife had been under, the doctor had told her there was a chance she could lose the baby. That, of course, had been during the trying time they'd had thanks to Matt Hardy, and the bitter bastard kidnapping Mandy. It had been a damn close call, and Amy had of course been bedridden for some time. Now, with what the redhead was insisting on doing, Adam had feared she could have been having a relapse. After all, they were right outside the prison at which Hardy had been sent three months earlier.
"So restless and lively..." Amy said, both hands still on her stomach. She had a bright smile on her face as she looked up to meet his eyes. She was glowing, and the blond man thought he had never seen her look more radiant than she did at that very moment. He felt his heart burst with love.
"... Just like Mandy." The lovely smile grew even brighter. "Feel it." She took one of his hands as he outstretched it to her, and pressed it to her belly.
Adam kept his intense gaze on her sparkling hazel eyes as he felt his child moving around inside of her. It was amazing, like a miracle. He had always been sorry to have missed out on these moments when Amy had been pregnant with Mandy... This was truly amazing.
"I love you," the blond man said. His green orbs were still fixed on her, drinking in the ethereal beauty of her.
Amy smiled again, actually blushing for a beat. She was positively beaming.
"I love you, too."
He leaned in closer and kissed her, a muffled sigh escaping him as he felt her free hand go up and into his hair. It went on for a few moments until she pulled back, although he tried to linger.
"Mmm..." He made a deep sound from his throat, as though miserable that she had pulled her lips away from his.
"Come on, let's go in there," Amy said, hooking a thumb over her shoulder. "The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can get back home - to Mandy."
The tall blond man nodded, sighing with resignation. He undid his seatbelt and pulled the key from the ignition.
"You're right. Okay, let's do it."
They left the car, and Adam rushed over to the passenger's side to help the pregnant redhead out. Usually, she would be stubborn and get up on her own and even insist on it, but this time, she smiled as she gratefully took hold of her husband's hand.
Like Mandy had been, this baby was big - at seven months, she looked damn near term. They didn't even know the sex yet, as they wanted to be surprised. However, Amy secretly hoped for a boy this time... A little boy who would look just like his incredible, handsome, sweet father - it took her breath away just thinking about this. She tended to think that Adam wanted another girl, although he had stated he didn't care what sex the baby was as long as it was healthy.
They held hands on the way into the building, and Amy knew she was nervous. Still, she felt as though she had to speak to Matt, get answers from him, and something more. Adam, of course, had nothing to say to his former friend. He was only there for her, to be there for her and to give her moral support. And he had absolutely refused to let her come here alone.
Moments later, they were inside the facilities, and a guard questioned them. Adam did the honors and explained their presence, and their reason for coming.
Shortly after, they were brought to the closed door of a room where people visited inmates. Because Matt had been involved in a kidnapping rather than a violent crime such as murder or rape, there were no windows in this room to separate prisoners from civilians. Yet, Amy felt an oddness come over her, as though Matt could very well attack Adam. It wouldn't be anything new for the two of them to get into a physical altercation.
It didn't matter much, as, a moment later, the tall blond man leaned over and whispered to her.
"I'll be right out here." His green eyes looked very serious, and she knew what he was thinking - that maybe he should accompany her inside after all, despite the armed guards who would be present to monitor the visits.
"Okay." She gave his hand a squeeze before walking into the room.
In an instant, she spotted Matt over at a table in the far corner. He was wearing standard issue prison garb, his hands folded neatly on the table before him. She was actually surprised to see no trace of malice on his face as he spotted her.
She sat down across from him, her large stomach making the normally simple act slightly difficult.
"Hello, Matt."
"Hi," he replied, looking her over. "Wow, look at you - you're quite big now."
Despite herself, the redhead smiled.
"Yeah... I'm carrying another big baby." She grew serious afterward as her thoughts shifted to her other child.
"You know why I'm here," she said, and he nodded, albeit resignedly. "Why did you do it, Matt? Why did you take Mandy?"
The dark-haired man sighed and raised his gaze heavenward. The truth was, he was embarrassed by what he'd done. He hadn't been thinking clearly and had merely acted.
"Truthfully? I knew that would be the best way to hurt you - and *him*."
Amy eyed him silently, her face grave as she absorbed his answer, which was something she'd known all along. Of course taking Mandy was the easiest way to hurt her, to hurt Adam.
"You hurt my little girl, too, you know. You took her away from us and everything she knew. She was so terrified, Matt. And during Christmas?" The question was rhetorical, and she shook her head.
Matt nodded and lowered his gaze, meeting her eyes for the tiniest fraction before shifting them lower still. She could easily tell he was filled with shame.
"Yeah, I know. And uh... I'm really sorry about it, Amy. I truly am."
"Okay." She merely eyed him, her heart pounding like mad. She was so nervous, but she knew she had to say it. "I forgive you."
Matt stared at her with surprise. Finally, he managed to smile, and then he posed the question on his mind. "So... When's your baby due?"
The redhead smiled and placed a hand on her bulging stomach.
"End of May," she replied.
"Wow, that's just two more months... You must be excited."
She nodded.
"Yeah, I am."
"Well, I wish you all the best," he said, and for the first time in many months, Amy could see in his face that he was being genuine.
She stayed there to talk with him for awhile longer before leaving and heading back to Adam.
The blond man's face was full of question marks as she approached him.
"Everything okay?"
"Everything's fine."
Adam hugged her, and she smiled and wrapped her arms around him.