Chapter 1

"I can't believe this. Why are you keeping his baby?"

"Because I feel that it's wrong to kill an innocent child, no matter who the father is, Eret!"

"Well, if that's how you feel about it, maybe...maybe we're not meant to be together."

"What? Eret, you're being ridiculous!"

"That baby will be a permanent reminder of what that monster did to you! To us!"

"Oh, don't start with that 'what he did to us' crap! You weren't the one who was kidnapped and tortured and held hostage! That does it. I'm leaving."

"Where are you going to go?"

"As far away from you as possible."

Becky gathers her most precious belongings in a small bag (her baby blanket and cell phone along with a change of clothes) and grabs her purse.

She leaves without another word.

After walking for about a mile, she comes across a portal.

No one else seems to notice it, so Becky sticks her hand in it. It gets stuck.

"Umm...this is weird. Um, can someone help me, please?"

But no one stops to help.

"Screw it." Becky lets herself get pulled into the portal.

She lands hands and knees first into the other world.

Her hands are blue..everything about her is…blue.

She sees...unicorns going through the trash.

"Okaaay. Where did I end up?"

It starts to pour, of course.

She comes upon a house and knocks on the door, freezing and wet.

"I got it!" A gruff voice answers.

An elf answers the door.

"May I help you?"

"I'm so sorry to intrude, sir, but...my fiancé...well, ex-fiancé abandoned me."

"Where is this person who broke thy heart, fair maiden?"

"I don't know. And I don't really care."

"My sincerest apologies, fair maiden. Please, you may enter my humble abode."

"Barley! Don't scare the poor girl with your medieval speak!"

"Sure, Mom! Sorry about that. It's not often that I meet such a lovely lady."

"Thank you. Barley, was it?" Becky asks as Barley leads her into the house.

"Barley Lightfoot at your service, ma'am. So what exactly happened to you? I-if that's okay. You don't have to talk about it."

"I don't mind. I'm Becky, by the way."

"What a pretty name for such a pretty lady."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. So..."

"So...I got kidnapped and attacked by my ex-fiancé's ex-boss. And...he got me pregnant. And I refuse to get an abortion because this baby is just an innocent child."

"I see. Do you have anywhere to go?"

"I wouldn't have knocked on your door if I did, Barley. I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize. It's okay. So, your ex-fiancé's ex-boss, where is he now?"

"Dead."

"Good. So, how far along are you, if you don't mind my asking?"

"About three weeks."

"Well, I'll have to talk to my mom about letting you stay here, but it shouldn't be a problem."

Suddenly a dragon comes in to the room, and gets up on the couch, snuggling next to Becky.

"I think Blazey likes you. And I think she knows about the baby."

"Yeah, pets can sense that kinda thing sometimes. Who's a good girl, Blazey? Who's a good girl?" Becky pets Blazey, and Blazey continues to snuggle up against Becky.

"I'll go get my mom so we can talk. Can I get you anything?"

"No, thank you. And, please, don't wait on me hand and foot."

"If you hadn't told me that, I would've definitely waited on you hand and foot, but I respect your boundaries."

"Thank you, Barley."

"You're welcome. I'll be right back with my mom."

Barley heads upstairs to his mom and new stepdad's room. Having a stepdad had taking some getting used to, but Barley (and Ian) eventually welcomed their new stepdad with open arms.

"Mom? Can I talk to you for a sec?"

"Of course, Barley. What is it?"

"You know that girl I let in?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"Well, the thing is…well, I'll just let her tell you about her difficult past. Her name is Becky and she is the prettiest girl I've ever laid eyes on."

"Barley, do you have a crush on her?"

"Maybe. But don't tell her. Please."

"I won't. It's up to you to tell her."

"I was afraid you'd say that."

Barley leads his mom down the stairs and back to the living room.

(For those of you wondering, Ian is at school, Barley is still 19 and Becky is 21)

"Mom, this is Becky. Becky, this is my mom, Laurel."

"Nice to meet you, Becky."

"Nice to meet you, too, Laurel. May I call you Laurel?"

"Of course. So, Barley tells me you have a difficult past?"

"I do. The thing is, my ex-fiancé's ex-boss…he attacked me about three weeks ago. And…he…he got me pregnant. And I refuse to get an abortion because this baby is innocent, no matter who the father is."

"I understand."

"You do?"

"I do, being a mother. So your ex-fiancé didn't want you to keep the baby?"

"No. He didn't. I mean, his ex-boss tortured him, too, but…not in the way I was tortured."

"I'm so sorry you went through that. Do you have anywhere to go? Family members, friends?"

"No, I don't. But I'd never make it on the streets."

"She's right, Mom. She wouldn't. No offense."

"No, I'm with you, Barley."

"Well, since you have nowhere else to go, I guess you could stay with us."

"Thank you so much, Laurel."

"It's just until you get back on your feet. And if that takes nine months or more, then it takes nine months or more. I expect you to find a stable job and save up for an apartment. I'm sorry to be so strict, but I can't just let you and your baby stay here forever. This may seem like a big house, but two extra people is just too much. I'm sorry."

"No, it's okay, Laurel. I understand. Thank you for taking me in for now."

"You're welcome. Now, I have another son named Ian. He's 16. And my husband is Colt Bronco. Ian is at school, Colt is on the police force, and Barley here, he's taking a gap year."

"That sounds great. Do you have WIFI so I can start looking for a job?"

"Of course! I'll go get some snacks. Barley, help her get her phone connected!"

"Sure, Mom." Barley helps Becky connect her phone to WIFI as Laurel prepares some apple slices and carrot sticks.

After the snack, Becky goes onto a job website to search for jobs with little to no experience.

"So, you're telling me you've never had a job before?"

"Barley!"

"No, Laurel, it's okay. I have had a job, but a friend of mine had to vouch for me. I wouldn't have had that job without her."

"So, why don't you go work there?"

"Well, crazy thing is…do you guys believe in magic?"

"Of course we do! My late husband was a wizard, on the side of being an accountant. Wilden the Whimsical. You should hear the story of how my boys got to meet him…"

So, Barley tells the story of how he and Ian had gotten the Wizard Staff and the Phoenix Gem, and how they had to go on a road trip in less than 24 hours to fully meet their dad.

"Wow. That's quite the adventure."

"Thanks. So, why'd you ask if we believe in magic?"

"Well, I came across a portal in my world. In my world…I'm…I'm a human."

"A human? I've heard of your kind in Quests of Yore. They're basically a myth…no offense."

"None taken."

"So, you came across a portal to our world?"

"Yeah."

"Fascinating."

"The thing is, I was the only one who saw the portal. No one else saw it or helped me when my arm got stuck in it."

"I'm sorry your arm got stuck…and that no one helped you."

"Thank you, but it's okay. I actually don't mind having come into this world. You guys've been nothing but kind to me. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Ian should be home any minute now."

When Ian gets home, Becky introduces herself to him, and tells him her backstory.

"I haven't even put my bag down yet. That's a lot to take in."

"Sorry, Ian."

"No, no, it's okay. That's a lot you must've gone through."

"It was. Excuse me." Becky goes into the bathroom and soon, a sound of retching is heard.

"Ah, the sweet sound of morning sickness." Laurel says, reminiscing on her pregnancies with her boys.

"It's not going to last forever, is it, Mom?" Barley asks.

"No. It only lasts till she's 12 to 14 weeks along."

"Good. I hate seeing her like this."

"That's how you know you care about her, when you hate seeing her sick or in pain."

"Thanks, Mom. I'm gonna go check on her."

Barley goes to the bathroom and gently taps on the door.

"Come in."

Barley comes in, a soft smile on his face.

"Well, the good news is, Mom said that morning sickness only lasts till 12 to 14 weeks."

"Good to know."

"You okay?"

"Yeah. I think I'll turn in early. I'm tired."

"You can sleep in my bed. I don't mind sleeping on the couch."

"Are you sure?"

"As sure as there are two moons. Right this way, Becky."

"Okay."

Barley leads Becky to his room.

It has a dresser, a closet, a desk, and a double bed with the headboard pushed up against the wall.

"My mom could take you shopping tomorrow to get some more clothes."

"Sure. Sounds fun."

"I'll let you sleep. Holler if you need anything."

"Thank you, Barley. For everything." Surprising both Barley and herself, Becky plants a kiss on Barley's cheek.

"You're welcome. Night, Becky."

"Good night, Barley."