A/N: Hey guys, I've been wanting to write a story like this for a while now, but never thought I'd be mature enough to write it. So, now with the proper research and encouragement from my friend V, I'm going to start it! Let me know what you think! By all means you do not have to read it if you don't want to. I know it's a sensitive topic.

Elijah Benjamin Caldwell came down for breakfast and he was surprised not to see Mammy there. Mammy was their house servant. He hated the word slave and what his father was doing to the African people, but always was too chicken to say anything. After all the man was paying for his Harvard education, so Eli didn't say much.

"Father, might I inquire where Manny is?"

"Who?" John Caldwell responded. Eli shook his head because the woman have been here is whole life and his father didn't even bother to know her name.

"You know house servent that basically raised me? And is like a second mother to me!" Eli raised his voice.

"Don't you dare disrespect your mother like that? And to degrade her to that woman? Eli what have they've been treating you at Harvard?" His father was enraged.

"They are educating me quite well father. All I asked was a question. No need to get upset." Eli replied calmly.

"If you must know, the slave is sick and have been ordered to rest up till she feels better." John replied to his son and went back to reading his paper.

"MAMMY! MAMMY! WHERE'S MAMMY?" Eli's sister panicked. She had never gone a day without Mammy in her life.

"GOD DAMN IT! WHAT IS IT ABOUT THIS SLAVE THAT YOU LOVE SO MUCH!?" John boomed with a heavy Georgian accent and everyone paused.

"Calm down Sally! She's not feeling too well so she's best ordered to rest. Plus if her sickness spreads to the other slaves, it's more money for me." John said to his daughter.

"Stop calling Mammy a slave father."

"You boy really want to test my nerves today huh? You can say whatever you want Elijah, but at the end of the day she is a slave. I own her. Hell I own all of them." John said to his son and laughed at the foolish boy. Eli stood up and almost punched his father, but he restrained himself.

"I think I've lost my appetite. If you please excuse me father." Eli spat at his father. He turned around to leave and ran into someone. She he caught her and they locked eyes, Eli was in love. She was the most beautiful woman he's ever seen in his life. She had sparkling brown eyes and her dark skin made her even more beautiful.

"I'm so sorry Master Eli….." When she spoke Eli was more hooked than he already was. Her voice sounded like an angel spoke to him.

"Please call me Eli…"

"No! You may call him Master Eli." John boomed from the table. He was not liking this interaction. He didn't want his son to want any ideas.

"My apologies Master Jonathan….." The girl lowered her head and went to serve John. Later on that day Eli and Sally were out on a picnic and Sally noticed her brother was not his usual self.

"Elijah, if you don't tell me what's wrong right now I'm going to choke it out of you." Eli laughed at his sister. She was the person who knew him the most and they were so close. She was five years older than him, but they always did everything together. He doesn't know what he'll do when a suitor comes for her and which there have been plenty. Sally always found her way out of it.

"Why are we like this?"

"I'm sorry dear brother. I'm afraid I've lost you." Sally laughed.

"Why do we enslave people? If we are the fine christians that we are. Why do we do it? In the book of Exodus. You saw how God was got his people out slavery in Egypt. These people who preach about the bible, when they are so blinded!" Eli said as he watched the African's his father owned picking the cotton.

"It's because my dear brother, people like our father will never understand the true value of a life. They don't see the African people as humans, but a working body that will pick cotton for them. And sadly not many people think like us, brother." Sally gave him a small smile.

"I saw you looking at our new house servent." Sally smirked at her brother.

"I haven't had a clue what in the noot in cranny you are talking about Sal." Eli cleared his throat.

"Who are you trying to fool Elijah Benjamin." Sally slapped her brothers arm.

"All I'm trying to say is my dear lovely brother. Be careful around dad. I don't care what you do, but just know that the girls life will be in danger if you aren't careful. There are consequences Eli. But, as the doting sister that I am. I will help you in any way." The brother and sister finished their lunch and headed back to their house. A couple of days have passed since Eli had seen the beautiful girl and he was on the search for her. When he couldn't find her anywhere, Eli had given up. He headed to the library to read some law books because that's what he wanted to be. A lawyer. Summer break he enjoyed the most because it gave him the freedom to read and think.

When the fall would come again it would be his junior year at Harvard. Eli was taken out of his thought when he heard someone enter the library. It was her! She's so beautiful. As she got closer, the most lost of words Eli became.

"Master Eli…..your tea and biscuits." The girl said not looking up to Eli.

"Please call me Eli…...You needn't not call me Master Eli when my father isn't here." Eli lifted up the girls head by her chin.

"Yes….Ma….I meant Eli….." When she said his name, Eli was so happy.

"Please tell me your name?" Eli spoke softly.

"My name is Maya…..Maya Pope."

"A beautiful name for a beautiful person." Eli smiled at Maya. When Maya was about to leave, Eli struck up a conversation.

"Do you read Maya?" As soon as he asked that question he wanted to kick himself, because that look in Maya's eyes told it all.

"I can't read Eli….." Maya gave Eli a small sad smile.

"I'm sorry…..That was awfully rude me…..Would you like to learn?" Eli smiled brightly. Maya bit her lip and nodded. From that day on the two became inseparable. Eli and Sally made sure their dad had no suspicion. Sally loved Maya, she was like a sister Sally never had. The three of them were good friends. Eli would teach Maya to read and when Eli was busy Sally would take over. He also read to her. Their spot was deep in the Caldwell land. There was a tree that sat on a hill. Eli read Maya books that she took a liking to. Oliver Twist, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Emma, and Maya's favorite Pride and Prejudice.

Eli was reading the last chapter of Emma, Maya paused and looked up at him. Soon before they knew it their lips were locked in a passionate kiss. He loved Maya so much. It was young love. They couldn't get enough of each other. All summer long they were inseparable. All the servants knew and made sure they protected the two. Mainly Maya, because she was a gem to them all. He fell in love with her strubboness, her kindness, her innounce, her beauty, her everything.

Eli was alway careful when they they would get in sexual intimacy, because one he worried about her constantly. Two, if he impregnated her the baby would have to deal with the consequences of their forbidden love. He also worried that he wasn't good enough for her. There was this other house servant his name was Matthew and he would always catch the boy looking at his girl. Today was like every other. Eli caught a glimpse of Matthew and Maya laughing up a storm and he got so mad. In reality he was scared. He didn't want to lose Maya. Although their tuition was rough, he still loved her very much.

Later on that day Maya met Eli at their spot. She ran to his arms, but Eli barely responded to her hug and kiss.

"Eli what's the matter?" Maya asked worried.

"Nothing…..Let's just read okay?" Maya nodded and went along with it. When he was done reading Eli kissed Maya's forehead and left. For a week he was like this. He was quite and detached. Maya was worried now and she thought of the worst. He had his fun with her and he wanted to move on.

They were finishing up "A hero of our time." Maya couldn't hold it in anymore.

"I know why you're acting like this Eli…..And it's okay….I understand…..I'll ask to go back to the field if you don't want me around anymore.'" Eli made a face and then responded.

"What are you talking about Maya?"

"You've gotten bored with me and now you feel bad…..So you feel obligated to keep me around. Well you don't have to. I get it okay. I'm leaving." When Maya tried to get up Eli pulled her down and hugged her.

"Oh my love…..I am so sorry….I saw you with that Matthew boy and I got jealous…..More of scared really…...He could give you the life you deserve…..Someone who can love you out in the open….."

"Who are you to decide that for me Eli? I don't care about all that! I care about you. About us."

"I love you Maya."

"I love you too Eli." Eli kissed her with everything he got. They made love and it was like no other.

As the summer went by, Eli and Maya's love grew. Soon it was time for Eli to head back to Harvard. He wanted to transfer to a Southern University, but Maya wouldn't let him. She was so proud of her man. They said their tearful goodbyes and Eli headed to Harvard. They wrote everyday and their love grew. It was when Eli came home for WInter break, when things went downhill. They both missed each other so much that, they weren't careful when they were showing their love physically. A month after winter break, Maya started to get sick. First she thought it was a stomach bug, but soon the women around her confirmed that she was pregnant.

Of all the time in her life, Maya was scared. When she told Sally, she was scared for her. Sally did her best to hide the pregnancy from her father, but the baby was growing and there was no lying for that. When Eli returned in May, he was shocked to see her baby bump.

"We made a baby…" Eli cried and creased her growing stomach.

"We made a baby….." Maya confirmed.

"I love you so much Maya….." Eli went into planning mode. They would run away together before the baby was born and settle in the midwest, in a unclaimed territory, but the plan took time and their baby was still growing.

It was a month before the baby was due when Maya started to feel pain. Then she felt a wetness. Her water just broke, Mammy took her to the slaves quarters and got her ready. Soon Eli and Sally arrived. Eli got to Maya's side and held her hand.

"I love you so much baby…..And I'm going to love our child…..We are going to run away and live our life….." It was a difficult birth, but two hours later their baby girl was born. Eli kissed Maya and thanked her. Then Mammy started to notice something. She given birth to plenty of babies so Mammy knew a thing or two. Maya was bleed too much and the girl looked pale.

"Mammy I can't feel my legs…..Is that normal….." Maya asked trying not to get worried.

"You bleeding too much child…..And I can't do anything to stop it…"

"WHAT ARE YOU SAYING MAMMY!?"

"Elijah….." Mammy gave him a sad look.

"No! No no no no no no…..Please God no!" Eli started to cry and Maya was slipping in and out of consciousness.

"Eli…..I'm sorry…..I love you….."

"Maya no you're going to be fine! You're going to be okay! We are going to be okay!"

"Take care of her Eli…..Sally please help him….." Maya was crying and there wasn't a dry eye in the room.

"Read to me Eli…...Let me hear you read to me as I am about to meet our Lord…..Let me hold my baby girl…." They placed the baby in Maya's arms. Eli took her in his arms and started to read a random chapter in 'Pride and Prejudice'. It was Maya's favorite. He always carried it around with him.

"There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me." As Eli read those words, Maya took her last breath on earth. She was gone the love of his life was gone, and he was a shall of who he was. Eli was numb, he couldn't feel anything. They made a life together and she left him. They were supposed to raise a family and grow old together. Sally still had to think about the baby. She told Eli her plan to take his daughter to the midwest and raise her for him.

He didn't care about anything at this point. But, Eli wanted his daughter safe, so he agreed.

"You haven't named her yet." Sally said as she was getting ready to leave during the night. Eli was quite for a while. Then he spoke.

"Olivia Maya Pope…Maya loved her mother and I want my daughter to always have a part of her. Do me a favor…..Don't come looking for me….It hurts me too much to look at our baby….."

"Eli….."

"No, Sally. I can't do it…..Just promise me you will watch out for her…"

"Okay Eli…..Okay….." They embraced and Sall, Olivia, and Mammy headed out.

30 YEARS LATER

Olivia looked out to her land. Well her Aunt Sally's land, but it was basically hers. Till this day she still think about her husband Edison. He was murdered by the confederates for being African American a year ago. It was the year 1863 and the Civil War was in full swing. Olivia prayed that the Confederates doesn't have control of Colorado, because as of now it was an unclaimed territory. Their little settle was small and close knit. Everyone lived together in peace. She damned Edison for doing business in Kansas. Now he was gone and she was left with a broke heart and two kids to raise on her own.

Her kids were all she had now and she damn well made sure they are going to live the best life. Sure she had her Aunt Sally, but her Aunt got her own family to rise too. It was a typical summer morning and Olivia was the first one up. She liked these moments when she could just think. Soon the children were up. Down came her oldest Carolyn and she was followed by Harrison her son.

"Morning mamma." They both said and gave her a kiss on her cheeks. The three of them had breakfast and got to their choirs.

The day passed and now it was supper time. When his meal was almost done Harrison realized something.

"Shoot."

"What is it baby?" Olivia asked her son.

"I forgot to lock up the barn Mamma."

"You better get to it young man! Dress warm it's getting chilly out there." Olivia warned.

"I'll help him mamma." Carolyn got up as well.

When the kids opened the front door a man fell into their house. He was wounded. Olivia also noticed her was a confederate. The man was tall and his body was well built. He had a long beard and his hair was long. Olivia immediately went to grab the gun and pointed at him.

"Please…...help…..me" That's all the man could say before he lost consciousness.