I gasped, greedily taking in air as I broke from the surface of the water, fighting to keep my head above the water as the current thrashed me about like a rag doll and I could already feel myself struggling to keep myself from swallowing water.

I could already feel the rapid current carrying me, but I quickly thought better of trying to fight it. It was fast. A lot faster than I would be on my own two feet considering I couldn't shift because of my pregnancy.

It was the fastest way to put distance between the bounty hunters and I, and the closer I'd be to finding my way home.

All I knew was that all I wanted was for my daughter to be healthy. And I knew that not a thing on this green earth would keep me from seeing her be born healthy and alive.

So I let it carry me, grateful for the remnants of a broken tree that was racing down the river that I held on to. I don't know how long I was floating on this log, but I couldn't feel my lips, so I just replace my head against it as I coursed along the river and closed my eyes, allowing it to take me away.

I sighed as I fell back, finally able to rest, my limbs still regaining feeling from being in the freezing water for so long, but I would rather be numb and alive, then captured and my child in danger. The thing that worries me most was that she was moving. A lot.

I smiled at the fact that I could no longer see or hear the river, my strength depleted from having to fight the current from pulling me under.

I was alive.

I was fighting the current for what felt like nearly an two hours. I knew with how fast it was carrying me that I had to be at least fifty or sixty miles away from whoever in the hell was trying to find me.

I was thankful that the current would wash away my scent and leave my kidnappers on a blind trail.

I took the little clothes I had off and laid them out on a rock in the sun so they would dry. I wandered quietly for only ten minutes when I found some berries and dressed again and I walked back to the huge hollowed out tree trunk that I decided was safe to sleep in for the night, thankful for its secluded feel of willow.

I had was only asleep for a few hours when I felt myself wet. I thought I had peed myself, but when I started to cramp shortly after , I knew exactly what it was.

I cried out in pain as a contraction coursed through me, my abdomen feeling like it was burning as my muscles contracted.

"Oh, baby girl. You sure you can't bake a little longer?" I whispered.

I bit down on my lip as the pain continued, but I tried my best to steady my breathing.

"You just have to breathe Charlotte." I told myself, wincing in pain as another contraction began.

This continued for nearly three hours on and off again and I thought it was over until I felt pressure in my lower region and I felt an urge to push.

I sucked in a breath, growling as I pushed.

I could feel myself stretching as the baby was crowning.

I relaxed momentarily as I regained my steady breathing.

I continued a few small pushes for nearly half an hour. I was exhausted, but I knew she was close.

I sighed as I watched the sun peeking into the tree now, the night long gone, and breathed in one last time and growled out as I pushed.

I gasped in shock as I felt her slip out. I looked down, immediately picking her up, worrying when she didn't make any noise.

I cleaned her nose and mouth, making sure her airway wasn't blocked.

"Come one baby girl." I said as I laid her on my chest, immediately rubbing her back to try and get her to cry.

"Come on. Please. Breath baby girl. Don't you want to see your daddy?" I cried.

I let out a breath as she cried out and began to stretch her limbs out. I used my teeth to cut her chord and wrapped her in my shirt after cleaning her.

I laid her on my chest, thankful that she was healthy and okay.

I smiled as she quickly found her own way and began eating.

"Somebody is going to be a big eater." I whispered to her.

I wrapped my arms around her after a while, patting her gently as she slept soundly on my chest.

"Get some rest baby girl, we have a lot of work to do tomorrow, but first I think we should name you now shouldn't we? I was thinking Willow, it's only fitting seeing as you were born in one pretty girl." I said.

I watched as she cracked what I could only call a smile, little dimples appearing on her face.

I chuckled down at her.

"Well aren't we going to be s real heartbreaker with those, little Miss Willow." I said and kissed her head softly.