Connie felt like her head was going to split open. She put Luna down on a cushion, letting the infant burble up at the ceiling while she frantically thought.
She remembered Josie. Remembered bullying her, frankly. She'd listened to her entire schpiel with growing dread. Of course this whole thing was some kind of revenge plot. She wanted to get on her knees, to beg and plead that she be turned back.
That Kendall be turned back.
She wanted to vomit. She stood up, pacing - no, staggering. She pressed her hand to her mouth. Sweat beaded from every pore.
Josie, behind her, smirked. Here was Connor Black about to sell out someone who was willing to give up everything for him; she'd yank the chance away from him and then dangle it in front of Kendall again, that he'd offered to sacrifice himself for someone who cared so very little. Josie knew this to be the case, knew it in her bones.
Connie felt like her insides were on fire. Freedom! Freedom from the endless nights with the twins, freedom from this body that she wasn't born to. No more periods, no more breastfeeding.
And all she would have to give up were those same twins, and Kendall.
It was easy to say, when the option wasn't in front of her, that she would be fine with them ceasing to exist if it meant going back.
She felt her heart jerk in her chest.
She was not fine with it, she realized. Her babies...and as for Kendall...
She dropped to her knees and screamed like a dying thing, eyes welling with tears. Josie jerked back; this was...not part of what she expected. Connie clutched her head and wept, wept, wept.
Finally, she stopped, and cleared her voice. Josie leaned in, eager for him to prove he was nothing more than-
"...no."
Josie spluttered.
"Wh-WHAT?!"
"I can't. I can't leave them. My babies, and Kendall...oh God, Kendall..."
Connie turned, scrambling, grabbing at Josie's skirt. Her eyes were wild, pleading. Josie tried to shove her back out of reflex, but Connie's grip was surprisingly strong.
"Please! Please, I'm begging you! You can help all of us, I'm begging you, please, I'll do anything, I'm sorry for all I've done, if you can help me you can help him too, PLEASE!"
She released Josie again, collapsing into a sobbing heap. Luna by this point had realized her mother's distress and was crying; soon Leo was awake and crying too.
Josie stared. What? What the hell??? This was Connor Black! This asshole...was willing to give it all up, because he couldn't bear to leave his family? How???!!!