"Yes please, thank you, Joey," Cerdiwen replied. She settled next to Bastian as the rest of them filed out of the room, and it was only then that she started to cry.
Bastian seemed to sense that she was distressed and started to fuss too, and Ceridwen scooped him up and began rocking him. "Shh, shh," she soothed him. "I'm sorry, cheri." She wasn't sure who she apologizing too, Jesse or Bastian.
"I can't help it," she replied, sniffling. "One of my babies was hurt, and yet again, I didn't know, and when I did, I couldn't help. It is the worst feeling in the world for a mother."
"It wasn't your fault," Jesse told her. "It's no one's fault but that crazy bitch's. I'm here now. I'll heal up and I'll go home, and things will slowly get back to normal."
She nodded, but didn't speak. So Jesse asked, "Could you...could you put Bastian up here? I can't really lift my arms, but they still bend alright at the elbow. I've really missed holding him."
"Of course, sweetheart," she said, rising and arranging Bastian in the loose circle of Jesse's arms.
"Hey, big man," he said, running his hand over Bastian's back. "You're OK. And I will be too, eventually. I promise."