Jasmine couldn't look at the monitor as the doctor pushed the ultrasound apparatus against her protruding belly. Her face was turned and it took all her strength not to cry. The room was dark, the walls appearing grey in the small room as she lay on her back, her shirt lifted and her pants slightly pushed down. The gel was cold when it made direct contact with her skin and the pressure of the probe made her want to scream. She bit her wrist to keep her scream contained.

Five months into her pregnancy and she finally found the nerve to schedule an appointment to see a gynecologist. As much as she didn't care about her well being, and as much as she wanted to deny a baby grew within her, she could not ignore the needs of the innocent life growing inside her. She needed to make sure everything was okay and the fetus was striving.

The video screen was to her right and her head was turned to the left, refusing to look at her baby.

"Have you been able to feel any movements?" The doctor asked.

"It sometimes feels like butterflies are fluttering." Jasmine answered meekly.

Doctor Nash smiled. "Thats good news. In todays visit, I will be viewing the baby's development, movement, breathing and heart rate. You will be listening to your baby's heart for the first time and any sounds of movement–"

Jasmine panicked. "Please, I don't want to know anything. All I ask is you confirm if the baby is doing well. Please."

I cannot bear listening to the sound of his/hers heart, I don't want to see black and white pictures of a head, little toes or fingers. I don't want to know the sex either, she wanted to add but she didn't want to sound like a heartless mother that didn't want her child. She was in denial, yes, but she couldn't bear knowing more information about the fatherless child growing inside of her. The less she saw the less she had to accept.

All she cared about if the baby was healthy.

"Are you positive?" The doctor asks, her tone full of disbelief and lifted the probe from her skin. "Are you alright Ms. St. James? I can stop if you need a moment. . .or if you'd like someone here with you we can easily reschedule your appointment for another time."

Jasmine turned her head and shook her quickly, hastily wiping a lone tear that escaped from the corner of her eye. "I do not need anyone here. I'm fine. I'd rather not know the sex nor do I want to listen to anything." She insisted.

The doctor watched her oddly. The woman was baffled by her behavior. Jasmine was sure no one had made such a request. Most mothers couldn't wait to listen to the heartbeat of their unborn child. Some even asked to keep the sex of the child a surprise until the birth.

She couldn't cope with knowing more about her unborn baby. The more she knew, the more her heart would break and the farther she would drown in her misery. She couldn't feel weaker than she already did. Carrying her mistake, and the proof of that mistake in her womb for nine months was enough torture. Moving on from what happened to her would be impossible. Her wounds would never heal knowing she brought an innocent little life into her dark life.

This was supposed to be one of the happiest times of her life but the truth of it is, she despised herself and her reckless heart. The innocent life she carried that didn't deserve her as a mother. The innocent baby in her womb didn't deserve to be conceived under the circumstances that occurred. This child just didn't deserve a mother, but a father as well.

"Please continue." Jasmine whispered, bracing her hands along the edges of the bed and staring straight ahead.

With a reluctant sigh, the doctor resumed her task. Any sounds were silenced and the doctor turned the monitor facing away from Jasmine's sight. The only sounds she heard was the tapping of a keyboard and clicks every now and then as the doctor took the baby's measurements and pictures. Although the procedure was non-invasive, and quite simple, the constant movement of the probe against her sensitive abdomen made her skin crawl over the course of the thirty minutes of so she was on her back.

With another sigh which sounded somewhat sad, the doctor lifted the pressure of the probe and ripped off her gloves, handed Jasmine a white cloth to wipe off the remaining gel and swiveled on her stool and faced Jasmine, hands clasped between her legs. The doctor looked somber and troubled as she wiped the gel and pulled her pants up.

"Ms. St. James, is their any particular reason why you don't care to learn anything about your pregnancy? I've gathered a substantial amount of information that you should be aware of. I'm only speaking out of concern for your well being. You are free to speak to me about anything that ails you. What's spoken between us stays confidential." Dr. Nash urged.

Panic shot through Jasmine's heart. "Is there something wrong? Did you find a heartbeat?"

The doctor rested a reassuring hand over Jasmine's white-knuckled fist. "Rest easy, everything I found is as it should be." She reassured her. "But you must know what else I found that you may find delightful."

Jasmine shook her head quickly, her hair falling over her shoulders in her anxious movements. "If everything is alright, than that's all I need to know."

Doctor Nash hesitates, her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. "Is the father present in your life?" She asks while studying her carefully like she was a glass flower if she didn't handle delicately would crack. Jasmine could feel the pity emitting off the woman in waves and she hadn't even answered her question. It wasn't difficult to detect the broken air that seemed to follow her wherever she went.

When she entered any establishment, if bystanders were close by, they would open doors for her, sending her sympathetic smiles. Random strangers would greet her with a "Good Day" when she took brisk walks to clear her head, minding her own business. People were kinder, smiled more often and sales clerks insisted to assist her with purchased items and carry them to her vehicle. Although she hid the pregnancy well with loose fitting clothing where nobody could notice she was pregnant, they must have sensed the sadness and the emptiness that consumed her. She sensed people felt sorry for her without knowing why. Although their acts of kindness was welcoming it was also unnerving. It only aided in reminding her of her troubles.

"The father is not present in my life, no." She admitted, casting her eyes downwards. Jasmine couldn't stand to see more pity well up in the woman's eyes.

There was a short pause.

"That's quite alright. We ladies can do a lot all by ourselves." She says, trying to make light of the situation.

Jasmine detected her cheerful attempt to lighten the mood but she still couldn't look her in the eye.

"May I suggest you speak to someone, such as counselor to help prepare you for being a new mother? I understand its a difficult adjustment in ones life and we must be prepared–"

Sammy was all the counselor she needed and much more.

Jasmine cut her off, holding a hand in the air. "I already have help in that department, thank you for your concern. I will be traveling to the United States. Is it safe to travel? And if so, I'd like to ask you make the necessary arrangements and have my medical records transferred. I am planning to give brith in the States around my family."

"Very well. It's safe to travel anytime before you begin the eighth month of your pregnancy. I can transfer your chart records electronically. All I would need is the clinic you will be checking into and the doctors name."

Jasmine wasn't fooled. Doctor Nash's smile didn't make it to her eyes. She wanted to ask more questions and try to understand Jasmine's decision not to know anything about her unborn baby. But to her relief, she stood, switching the lights on, flooding the small room.

"If you ever need anything, anything at all, don't hesitate on contacting me." Was all she said.

Jasmine sighed in relief and murmured her thanks, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed and standing. The doctor hesitated at the threshold for but a moment and Jasmine watched the reluctance in the set of her shoulders. Jasmine tensed her own shoulders and held her breath, praying the doctor would leave her be. She watched her almost turn, as if ready to say more, but ends up deciding to stay silent and letting go of the door, leaving it wide open. Jasmine closed her eyes, taking deep breaths through her nose, trying to calm her turmoil.

The worst of it was over. Now it was time for one more important factor she needed to conclude.

It was time to go home.

*****

The clinic was three blocks from the hotel and Jasmine decided on walking back instead of hailing a taxi. The streets were chocked with people that morning. Taking a walk seemed like a good idea to her at the time so she could think and reflect until was too acutely aware and cautions of all the footsteps trailing ahead of her, beside her, and behind her.

It was late February and since the holidays passing, business was booming at the St. James hotel. It was customary for Jasmine to travel to the states during the holiday season and spend the first few days of the New Year with her family back in California but one thing stood in her path.

Her condition.

Not a living soul knew of her pregnancy except for Sammy and her doctor. She didn't even mention it to Zayn. After she came back from Italy, she contacted her parents who had recently arrived back to the states from their vacation in Africa. However, they were oblivious to her missing from work for so long.

She made Zayn promise not to say a word to them about her kidnapping and of Cristiano. He didn't like it but after begging and pleading with him he eventually agreed. With the Bed and Breakfast still keeping him occupied, it was easy to hide her condition from him even when he visited. She hadn't been showing all that much until recently.

They spoke over the phone more often than they usually did. Zayn was always worried about her.

Camelia was even surprised Sammy hadn't come back after such a long visit. Sammy spoke on her behalf one day, swiping the phone from her hands and talked about how England was rubbing off on him. Afterwards he steered the conversation quickly by asking her about her sex life again. Needless to say, Camelia stopped asking questions.

Jasmine did what she could to keep everyone in the dark about her pregnancy. It was the only way for her to deal and cope. Because if anyone found out how she became pregnant . . .all hell would break loose.

Whoever said ignorance is bliss, could not have come up with a better saying.

Something strange brought her back from her thoughts as she walked down the sidewalks. The little hairs on the nape of her neck tingled. Quickly brushing it off as a reaction to the cold winter weather, she wrapped her scarf securely around her throat. She continued to walk for another minute before she received another warning.

The weight of someone's pointed stare at her back.

Someone was definitely following her.

Every horror movie she had ever watched with Camelia when they were kids portrayed the heroine running for her life before she was caught by the killer. They would run, stumble, run again until they were cornered and eventually killed or hurt. And now, Jasmine felt as if she were in those very same movies having the urge to run but too scared because it would only mean the person following her would run and eventually catch her too.

But the monster responsible for stalking her was dead. But how was it possible? Unless . . .

Her blood runs cold at the conclusion she had difficulty believing.

Cristiano.

Jasmine didn't need to see her reflection to know her skin had gone pale.

She quickened her pace, fighting the urge to look over her shoulder. The clattering of her feet on the even pavement and the sound of her own heartbeat blocks out noise of voices and cars.

A part of her didn't want risk meeting his eyes letting him think she was oblivious to his attention.

Was it possible after all these months. . .? She could no longer avoid the answer to her question. It was highly possible. The only reason he would come back after all these months was because he must have found out about her condition.

She felt like she was struck with stones, her breathing fogging puffs in the air from the force of her breaths.

Please God, Please, anyone but him.

The demanding urge to look over her should was too great. She had to make sure and scanned the faces frantically searching for him. After a quick glance and a scan of faces, she saw nothing suspicious or out of the ordinary. People were speaking on their cellular phones, others with their families. Some brushed passed her in their haste to make it work before they were late.

Ducking into the crowd, her feet moved at a fast pace, following the path she knew would lead her to the hotel, to the comfortable room where she could hide safely away from him. She turns onto the next street, her feet unconsciously taking her towards The St. James hotel as it loomed ahead. She tries to catch her breath, tries to push down on urge to scream move to the tourists who were moving at a slower pace, absorbing the sights and sounds of the city.

Jasmine's hands dig into her handbag and automatically closes around the pocket stun gun Sammy bought during the first week they were back in the city.

When he placed it in her hand before she started going back to work, he said, "Just in case we have an unexpected visitor. Zap his balls out."

Her mind was too numb with fear to scream help. Even if she tried, anyone who stopped to help her would think she's crazy because Cristiano would cunningly blend into the crowd unseen. If it was him, her mind interjected.

Not taking the risk to find out, she continued moving, reeling the follower along like a fish on a hook. Try to make them reveal themselves somehow, someway.

She had to know who it was even if she was putting herself in the line of fire. It was the only chance she'd have to escape this new nightmare she was walking into. Jasmine decided to sneak into a souvenir shop. The man behind the register gives her a nod in greeting as a bell rings above her head.

Jasmine nods back, not trusting herself to speak. The shop was void of customers expect for her and loaded with colorful trinkets tourists paid full retail for to take back with them to their respective countries.

Pretending to inspect the shelves of souvenirs, she glances over her shoulder. Nobody entered after her. She could no longer feel the eyes she felt tracking her earlier. Wasting another five minutes looking around and watching the swinging door, Jasmine swiped a snow globe, the size of her hand. Engulfed by water and glitter, the city of London was miniature compared to its true size in the water dome.

Handing the object to the man, she paid and murmured her thanks as he handed her new purchase in a plastic bag. Dropping it in her large handbag, Jasmine took a deep breath, standing behind the glass of the door, watching people pass by. She scanned past the faces to the other side of the street to inspect if anyone was out there watching and waiting for her.

But once again, she saw nothing out of place. People were going about their business and completely oblivious of her presence. Biting her lip, she pushes the door and exits the shop as a gust of cold air coated her face. Standing there, she looked right then left and proceeded to her destination. Her senes were on high alert all the way back to the hotel, shuffling as inconspicuously as possible through the crowds.

The people surrounding her on the streets were like mocking carnival masks. Her brain was in sensory overload. Perhaps all the stress was making her self-conscious. Perhaps this was some kind of trigger her subconscious made up to remind her to keep focus on the well being of her baby.

Continuing on her course to the hotel, Jasmine nearly ran until she reached the sliding doors of the hotel and slammed into a body. Nearly tripping and falling on her knees, she was grabbed by the elbows and helped up. Jerking away from the hands, her arms went up to ward off whoever it was trying to assist her.

To her surprise, she came face to face with a red-faced Humphrey.

"I'm terribly s-sorry Madam. I did not see you. I'm sorry if I did you any harm. I was only attempting to assist you."

He face turned a furious shade of red, nervously shifting on his feet, retrieving the laundry bag that was knocked from his hands when she collided with him.

Jasmine took a deep breath and glanced behind her. Shaking her head at her clumsiness, she returned her attention to Humphrey and adjusted her loose fitted shirt shielding her protruding belly.

"It's quite alright, Humphrey. It was my mistake to rush into the lobby. I should have been more careful." She said, forcing a smile. "Tell me how is Reginald this morning?"

Humphrey cleared his throat, not meeting her eyes. "He is well. He instructed me to notify you, he will be returning to his duties. The extended holiday didn't sit well with him, Miss. He's quite eager to return."

"I'm very eager for his return. I'm glad he is doing well."

Jasmine glanced around the lobby, bursting with guests. Goosebumps spread all over her body. The eyes were back and she couldn't tell where they were coming from. But nobody, especially Cristiano, wouldn't dare approach her in a public setting and make a scene.

Involuntarily, she shudders. Jasmine had to disappear and fast.

"Ma'am, are you. . .are you alright?" Humphrey stutters, his eyes darting passed her head at the direction hers took. "I-I-are you expecting someone?"

"Yes, of course and no, I thought I recognized someone." She lies, forcing a tight smile. "Can you tell me if Sammy has left the building at all this morning?"

Humphrey clears his throat. "N-no Ma'am. Master Princeton ordered me to deliver a martini to the penthouse and asked me about your whereabouts. I just returned with his laundry for dry cleaning." He explains indicating the garment bag in his arms.

Jasmine was careful to keep her mild irritation to herself. Since they'd been back, Sammy and his martinis were inseparable and so were his demands.

"Thank you Humphrey. Forgive me for nearly running you over, it was entirely my mistake. Do continue with your duties and keep me updated on the day. If you will excuse me, I need to speak to Sarah about some last minute details."

Humphrey inclined his head. "Good day, Ma'am"

With one last glance around the lobby, she hurried on her way. She wanted to run and hide like a hibernating bear until she felt safe. Her life looked like it was taken out of a horror movie.