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As Elle entered the living room, Liberty turned and giggled with delight. “Are you going to play tag with me, Aunt Elle?” The child came over and bounced in front of Elle.

 

“Oh, Liberty. Aunt Elle needs to sit down. The baby is making me so tired.” She said softly as she propped her arm on the couch behind her and lowered herself into the cushion. She sighed with relief, putting up the footrest and smiling, closing her eyes. She leaned her head against the back of the couch.

 

Liberty watched Elle, then climbed up onto the couch and laid her head on Elle’s lap. Elle smiled and began to stroke the child’s hair tenderly. She began to hum, watching as Liberty’s eyes slowly fluttered closed.

 

Troy came into the living room then, just as Liberty had fallen asleep. He smiled at the sight, and came and sat down in the recliner that was place right next to the couch. He reached over and took Elle’s hand, the ring on her finger glistening in the light as he took it. “I can’t wait for that to be our little girl.” He said softly, kissing the top of her hand lovingly.

 

Elle couldn’t help but smile at that. He life seemed so perfect, even with everything that had happened. Even though her past had been so rough, her present was amazing, and her future looked hopeful- something that Elle had never thought would happen. She leaned her head back against the couch once more, and before she closed her eyes, she saw someone leaning over her, their silver eyes boarding into hers. She yelped immediately, jumping up from the couch.

 

Liberty woke with a start, almost instantly crying due to her rude awakening. Troy got up and picked Liberty up, eyeing Elle carefully. “You alright, hun?” He asked. Elle shook her head, and then nodded in contradiction. She then looked to where she had seen those silver eyes. Whatever is was, it was gone.

 

Was it a hallucination? Elle thought carefully. Those seemed awfully familiar.

 

“Maybe you should go lay down for awhile, Elle.” Troy urged her as he tried to calm Liberty down. She was sniffling, wiping her runny nose with the back of her little hand. Troy kissed Elle’s cheek and began to walk. “Im going to put Liberty down for a nap.” He told her, walking up the stairs.

 

Troy’s departure left Elle alone in the living room to ponder what had just happened. She sat back down on the couch, searching the room for what she could have sworn she had just seen. Though, no one else had seen it.

 

“Elle. Would you mind coming and giving me a hand?”

 

“Sure, Emily.” She called to the kitchen before rising from the couch.