G III: Chapter 13

**Writers note : You might notice a couple of changes on the blog here. To the left we have : Newsflashes, the Name Bank and any polls going on. Newsflashes are for when someone gets a promotion, or a skill point. These are just for fun, inspired by another Legacy I read, The Antebello Legacy. Keep an eye out for new polls over there! At the bottom there is a Fuller Legacy collage, just made for fun**

Back to the story

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That very evening Isabel came home and spent all of her time getting a room ready for a baby girl. She just could not let a woman like Starr raise a baby. Not only was Starr a major criminal, but she seemed to have no soul. Or at least no regard for other people. Isabel was at least going to help James get his little girl and have a room here for when they visit.

Charlie came into the room to find out what all the noise was about. When he walked in his eyes opened wide. "Are you expecting a baby mom?" He asked, grinning.

"Well Charlie, yes and no." She proceeded to tell Charlie about his brother's problem. "So I'm just getting the room ready for when James and Johanna visit, because I know he'll get her back."

"Okay, I get it." Charlie said, still processing the information. "Wow. Why would she leave Dylan, just to have another baby and be determined to keep that one? That just confuses me."

"I thought about that. I figured maybe she only wanted a girl. I think she planned to leave Cedric no matter what, but if it was a boy - leave the baby with Ced. If it was a girl - take the baby away. Of course this is all assumption. I really don't know." Isabel thought that was the only thing that made sense, that Starr wanted a girl - like her - to follow in her footsteps.

Outside, the boys were playing tag most of the day. When it started to get cool out from the sun setting they each came in to do some learning. It was a Saturday, so Daphne was off work and she and Dylan played chess together while Brian practiced speaking in the mirror.

Everyone but Isabel had dinner together then went to bed. Isabel finished up the upstairs bedroom, fitting it for a princess. She went to bed pretty late, but set her alarm to get up really early. She had something to do.



Isabel got up before the sun, showered and had breakfast. The daylight had just begun to touch the houses of Twinbrook when Isabel pulled out of the driveway. Starr's house was jut across the stream, only about five minutes away.

Isabel stepped on to the porch and knocked on the door. Starr opened it slightly and her mouth dropped open in surprise. Of all the people in the world, Isabel was the last one Starr would expect to come calling. Starr came out and invited Isabel inside.

As much as Isabel wanted to yell and scream at Starr, she kept her composure. Starr didn't know that Isabel was aware of who's child Johanna was. Isabel didn't want to ruin any chance she had of her plan working.

"Hey Starr, how have you been?" Isabel asked politely. "I see you have a cute baby girl to keep you company." She fought the urge to be sarcastic and say 'Is she yours?', she needed to keep calm.

"Uh, yeah." Starr looked slightly uncomfortable. "She's a handful." She paused a moment before asking, "Is there something I can do for you Isabel?"

"Actually, I just heard through the grapevine that you lived here, and I wanted to stop by and tell you that Dylan is fine." Isabel said. She tried not to say it in an 'attacking' way, but it sounded like that anyway.

Starr flinched a little at the mention of Dylan. "Well that's great, I was concerned."

"May I pick up your daughter? She's so cute." Isabel asked, ignoring Starr's lie.

'Of course, she's not shy."

Isabel bent down and picked up the baby.

"Her name is Johanna." Starr said.

"Hi Johanna." Isabel said to the girl. She tossed her in the air, and tickled Johanna's sides. Isabel could tell that this baby was starved for attention. She probably never got it from busy mom.

Isabel glanced around the room and noted that there were no toys. Actually there was nothing to show that a baby lived here at all. She decided she really couldn't hold back anymore. Isabel put Johanna back down on the floor and turned to Starr.

"Starr what are you doing? Do you even know? You know you can't handle a baby!" Isabel tried not to shout, but her voice was rising. "I know this is James's daughter, and he needs to see her. If not keep her. At least he has a well respected job! He's one step away from being the top in his career! What can you offer her like that? Lessons in being a criminal?"

Starr was shocked at Isabel's outburst. She said nothing at that moment, though she did look a little guilty.


"Starr, I'm telling you, this is someones life you're messing with. She's not just a baby doll that you can play with when you want, then throw away. Johanna is a person, and she has feelings, and needs. She is very impressionable and you're about to teach her all the wrong things! She doesn't even have any clothes on! What do you feed her? Anything? Please, I'm actually begging you to give her to her father. She would be so much better off. I'm asking you to think about someone other than yourself for a change, think about Johanna!"

Starr waited to make sure Isabel was finished. Then she asked her to leave. "This is my life, not yours." She told Isabel just before she closed the door behind her ex-mother in law. Isabel chanced a glance back at Starr and thought she saw a touch of feeling in her eyes. Maybe even regret.

Isabel drove home slowly, wondering if her plan worked. She wouldn't know for a while and all she could do was worry.

That afternoon at the table the family sat together while the boys did their homework. Isabel filled Daphne in on the situation. Daphne was shocked, and more than willing to help. She remembered how much she had wanted a baby girl, and Charlie too. Now Starr has one, and was apparently treating her badly.

"I've even already set up a room upstairs, if Charlie hasn't told you yet." Isabel said.

Charlie spoke up, "No, I didn't. I wasn't sure if you would want me to." He looked at Daphne and smiled. "It's fit for a princess."


That very evening, Starr visited James.










Starr walked slowly up to James's front door. She didn't even have to knock, he met her out there as quick as he could.

Before he spoke he looked at the child Starr had in her arms and assumed it was Johanna. She was beautiful. He fought the urge to reach out and snatch her from her mothers arms. His gaze shifted back to Starr, she seemed to have been crying.

"What do you want Starr?" He demanded.

Starr tried to speak in a normal tone, but it came out high pitched and cracked. "James, I'm sorry I did this to you. Your a nice guy and didn't deserve that." She paused waiting for a reaction, but got nothing. "Look, my job is calling me away. I have to leave town now, for a long time. Where I'm going is no place for a little one. As much as I do want to keep her, and love her, I can't do right by her. I've messed up a lot in my life. If there is one thing I want to do right, it's Johanna. She'll be fine with you, and your family. I know it." Starr was crying now, her words tough to get out over her sobs. "Will you keep her?"

James wasn't sure what to say. He could only nod. He wasn't sure where this was coming from at all. Starr seemed to be the vulnerable woman he knew one night, not the side of her that he has heard about.

Starr took his nod as agreement, and put Johanna on the ground. She leaned over and kissed the baby's forehead.












Before she completely burst into tears, Starr ran away.

James only watched her leave for a second before he scooped Johanna into his arms. He cuddled her close to him. "Oh, you don't know how happy I am to hold you." He told her, almost crying himself. He pulled Johanna back and looked at her. She was so beautiful, even if she did resemble her mother quite a bit.

James then thought about his house. It was way to small for him and a baby. He only had one room, and it wasn't even a room - it was a loft. There was no place for a crib, much less another place for when she gets older. He couldn't have her here.

James made quick decision and made his way to his parents house. As much as he didn't want to give her up when he just got her, but he didn't have room for a baby in his house.

"Hey mom." He said when Isabel answered the door.

Isabel gave James and Johanna a very big and warm smile. "Why hello!" She said, "Come on inside."

James walked in and began telling Isabel about what happened earlier that evening. Isabel's smile remained during the whole story. She couldn't be happier, Starr had taken the bait. What's more is Isabel realised that Starr actually had a heart, somewhere in there, she had feelings too. Isabel had touched the right nerve when she had laid into Starr that day, and her plan worked.

After they talked, James admitted how tired and hungry he was. He stayed to have dinner with the family, Johanna in the highchair that was out. After everyone had their fill, James picked up Johanna and brought her upstairs. Isabel had told him about Johanna's room. He tucked her into her new crib and kissed her goodnight. It was very hard for him to put her down and walk away, inside he was afraid that she would disappear or that this was all a dream and he would wake up. He waited there until Johanna fell asleep, then he went back downstairs to talk to his mother some more.

"So, mom, you've seen my place. I don't have room for a baby there - as much as I want her with me. Also, I can't afford to move. Can she stay here with you? I will visit as much as I possibly can. I wouldn't want her to think I abandoned her too, I could never do that. Maybe when I have enough money, I could get a new place and she could join me. She would be old enough by then to make her own decisions."

Isabel nodded and said, "I understand James, no one thinks your leaving your daughter. We know you love her, we can see that. It's understandable you're unprepared for a baby, you weren't expecting her. Of course, there is always room here. She can stay. I would love her company."

James hugged his mother and said goodbye. He was nearly passing out, he was so exhausted. James went home that night and dreamt of his daughter. He woke up many times thinking that she was in the bed with him, only to remember that she wasn't. He was happy that Johanna had a good place to stay, but he really did want her with him. He would have to visit so often it would be like he lived there.



Johanna woke up early that day, and Isabel was there to hold and comfort her. She gave her an early breakfast and pulled out the baby toys for her to play with. Isabel hadn't slept very well and was still very tired. She stayed up long enough for Johanna to get tired again, and napped when the baby did.

That eveing Charlie took care of Johanna when she woke up, he let Isabel sleep.









Charlie wasn't sure how old Johanna was exactly and decided to test her knowledge of toddler things. He started with talking, "Little Jo-Jo, can you say 'bug'?"

Her response was nothing but a coo and blowing bubbles out of her lips. She didn't seem to know anything about talking yet, they would work on that.

Charlie then took her to a toddler potty to see if she had learned anything there. Johanna looked at him like he was crazy, unsure of what he wanted. Charlie said to her, "It looks like this is your first lesson in potty training Princess. Don't worry, you'll get there soon enough."

Charlie remained with her almost all evening, just playing and talking to her. Johanna acted as though no one had ever played with her. Like she wasn't sure what to do. Charlie was determined to make sure she knew that she had a good family now, and she was loved.










Daphne's job was going well. She had recently been promoted, and given and upgraded version of her Banshee Banisher. She loved the new tool and used it often. One house she went to, she scanned for spirits and found three angry ones in the kitchen alone. She talked two of them in to moving on, but the third remained to angry, so she banished him with her banisher and planned to donate that one to science.

Dapne didn't get home until 2AM everyday, and just like the boys when they were toddlers, that was about when Johanna was waking up. Daphne could take care of her until Isabel or Charlie got up in the morning so they could take over. She was happy to have a little girl in the house finally.