Poppy Complex, Chapter 4

"Momma," Willow said as she walked into her room, which had momentarily become my dressing room, "I've been thinking about it, and I want a baby sibling. Preferably a sister."

I laughed softly, leaning into the mirror to make sure that there was nothing gross on my face. Tristan wouldn't see it, but we would have the photos, and I want to look fantastic.

"Baby, I can't really say when, or even if, we'll have another baby."

I turned around and picked her up, holding her at eye level.

She looked so sad, I felt like a horrible person for telling her she may not get another sibling. She look almost angry, after a second. I don't think she realized that I do want another baby, and just looking at her makes me want one even more.

"Why not?" She asked angrily.

"There is no particular reason for us not to have another baby," I put her down, my arms starting to shake from holding her up, "But if Daddy doesn't want one, I can't make it happen."

"But..." She pouted, "I want one."

"Willow," I scolded, trying to hold back the laughter, "I want to provide you with everything you need and some of what you want, but sometimes, I can't. In the real world, you can't get everything you want, just because you want it. I do want to have another baby, but I can't promise anything."

"Fine," She frowned, "But if Daddy says he wants a baby too, can I get a baby sibling?"

I laughed, "If Daddy says he wants one, then we'll work on it."

"Great!" She ran out of the room at super speed, giggling all the way. I heard her yelling "Daaaaddyyyy!" as she walked outside, to where he was waiting.

I shook my head and tuned out whatever they were saying, and started doing my hair into an intricate collection of braids that my veil would rest on, and a larger bun on top. Right before I placed the veil in, Willow skipped back into my room, confirming that Tristan wanted another child.

"I can help, y'know. I can help write a letter to the Stork asking him to bring you a baby."

I laughed, "Thank you, sweetie, but I'm sure we can do it on our own. Now, come help me put this veil in my hair."

A few hours later, I was exchanging rings with Tristan. We had decided on a sunset wedding, but we were late. My relatives crowded around and threw rice, my great Aunt Iris told me that Grandma Azzie would have loved to have seen this.

Afterwards, we went back to our home, where a bunch of lights surrounded a bench. We took our wedding pictures in our back yard. Willow was in most of them, which was perfectly fine for both of us.

My life went from being hell, to being almost perfect. I have my handsome, kind, husband, my beautiful daughter who I wouldn't give up for the world, and an Uncle who loves us--especially Willow--so much that he's willing to support us from his earnings as a stylist.

Briar took Willow on a little camping trip that night, to try to see the wild horses. Tristan and I spent a lovely evening working on fulfilling Willows request for a baby sibling. It was hard for me at first--the last time I had done anything like this, it was terrifying. Tristan was there for me though, he promised to be good and kind, promised that he would never hurt me.

It wasn't long before I started feeling sick, although this time I happily understood and welcomed what was going on. Once the pregnancy was confirmed, Willow never wanted to leave my side. Late into the pregnancy, she even tried to get me to call her in sick so she could stay, in case the baby came while she was gone.

She even tried to help us with naming the baby.

"What about Rapunzel?" She asked as we watched Tangled, "Or Belle, like from Beauty and the Beast. Or maybe Aurora! Did you know that Aurora is Sleeping Beauty's real name? It is!"

"That's fantastic, sweetie. And those names are very pretty, but I'm not sure about any of them for this baby."

"Aww fine," She sighed, "Maybe...hmm...maybe Lilac!"

"That's a beautiful name," I laughed, "Now, what if it's a boy?"

"It won't be, I can tell," She nodded wisely, "But, if I'm wrong...Flynn! Or Eugene, like Flynn's real name. Or Pascal!"

"Alright," I laughed, "Flynn or Eugene or Pascal it is."

*******

My baby girl was born a few weeks later. We named her Lilac, as Willow had suggested, and Willow protected her with her life. She actually wanted to share a room with Lilac, although we had planned on having her stay in our room until we built a second floor.

And Willow only grew more protective of her baby sister as time went on, and we found out that Lilac, like Tristan, was blind. We kept Lilac out of school a year longer than necessary, to help her get ready for the world. Willow turned 13 before I knew it.

She fought with us about what was best for Lilac all the time, but she never got as angry with us as she did the day she heard us talking about sending Lilac to a boarding school much like our own.

"No! You can't send my sister away like that!" She yelled, jumping out from her hiding spot near the bathroom. "Lilac needs me, how can I keep her safe when she's so far away?"

"The boarding school is safe, sweety," I told her, "It's much safer than public school, especially for her."

"No, I can't believe you're doing that. You went to boarding school, and you hated it! For the longest time, I've heard you talking about how boarding school was hell for youy. How could you know that, and then willingly put your daughter through it?"

I couldn't argue with her about that. It was true, boarding school was hell for me everywhere I went. I was convinced that it was hell for me because I wasn't lovable, and I knew that Lilac would do much better than I had, but Willow was right. I couldn't send Lilac away.

So I enrolled her in public school. She was six, which meant that she'd be older than most of the other children in her kindergarten grade, but I knew she's be perfectly fine.

"I love you, Momma," She said, hugging me goodbye. She walked to the bus, using a pole to guide herself and make sure she didn't trip on anything. Willow started to follow her, but I stopped held her back for a second longer.

"Take care of her all you can," I whispered, looking her in the eyes.

"I know that, Mom," she scowled, suddenly angry, "I'm not a baby. I've been looking after her as much as you have, since she was a baby, if not more."

She stormed past me, leaving me confused. I loved her to death; she, Lilac, and Tristan were my life. What had I done to make her so angry? I watched her go, trying to understand. She stopped a few yards away from me and turned her head to the side.

"Sorry, Momma. I promise to take good care of Lilac. Always."

"It's alright, sweet pea," I smiled, "Now go get on that bus."

I laughed as she ran to the bus and climbed on. She plopped down in the front seat with Lilac and started talking to her. At that moment, I wanted to follow them. I felt in my pocket, trying to find the car keys, and I planned on driving to school and watching them get off the bus, and going into school with them. But I ddn't. Instead, I turned to walk back inside.

"They're gone," I called as I walked in. I closed my eyes and shook my head, walking towards our bedroom, when I felt a hand grab me from behind. Assuming it was Tristan, I spun toward him, to find a knife pointed directly at me, and behind it, a face that literally came from my nightmares, staring at me.