Quinn POV

Before I could respond my phone rang again and I groaned upon seeing the number. "Oh no. Hello?"

"Hello cupcake. How goes the plan to rescue your mother?"

"We've come across a bit of a complication."

"Oh?"

"Dr. Strange said that he would sign the release forms for our mother but with a stipulation."

"I take it you didn't like the stipulation. What exactly does the good Doctor want?"

Quinn sighs "it's not what, it's who. He wants one of us to remain behind in her place. I told him that you would never allow Bella or I to remain with him so we've reached a bit of an impasse."

At this, Jeremiah let out a sinister chuckle. "You really shouldn't put words into my mouth kitten. If Bella is what Dr. Strange requires in exchange for the release of your mother then so be it. Go ahead and let him have Her. It's you who I really want anyway."

"Your joking right? Tell me your joking.." Quinn replies in shock. She can't believe what she just heard. This had to be a joke. A cruel sick joke.

"Nope." Jeremiah replies popping the p for emphasis.

"But why? She's your baby sister."

"Consider it the first part of your punishment sweetheart. I told you not to bring Bella with you when you went to visit Barbara and you snuck behind my back and did it anyway. I told you there would be consequences that you wouldn't like and this is one of them."

"I know you Quinn, I know that it will break your heart knowing that you have to choose between your mother and the girl you consider your daughter/ sister. Knowing that in order to obtain your mother's release from Arkham Bella looses her freedom and knowing that I won't help rescue her will eat you up inside."

"Jeremiah please don't do this. I'm sorry for all the times that I compared you to Jerome. If it's any consolation, I don't care about him at all anymore. I will come back with you. I promise that I'll stay with you and never try to run away or escape. Please don't do this. If not for my sake then for Bella's. She's your own flesh and blood."

"Oh Quinn this has nothing to do with being compared to Jerome. Like I said, I told you there would be consequences for your actions. Tell Dr. Strange that you agree to his terms. That in exchange for your mother's release he can have Bella. Oh and Quinn, you are to take full credit for this decision. Oh and one more thing, your to tell Bella that she's a fool if she thought that you would choose her over your mother and sister."

"How can you be so cold hearted? Please don't make me do this. I'm begging you."

"Alright, you don't have too, but your mother and sister will pay the price for your refusal to cooperate. You need to decide who is more important to you. Your mother and sister or Bella. Oh and do say hello to Molly for me will you?"

"How did you...."

At this, Jeremiah chuckles. "Let's just say a little birdy told me. Your time is running out. If I have to come get you then you really won't like the consequences."

"You can't just leave her with him." I reply.

"I can and I will. Make your choice. Your family, or my sister, and remember I'm watching you. Say one word to Bella about this conversation and I wont hesitate to kill Molly. And I know right where to find her." Jeremiah replies. How could he do this me?

Upon seeing the look of disparity on my face Bella's gaze grows dark and almost unrecognizable. "Give me that phone." She says grabbing it out of my hand before I can stop her. "Now listen hear you donkey, I don't know what you said to Quinn, but mark my words you are going to pay for every tear she has shed!"

"Now Bella, little girls don't call other people names or use bad words. Especially good girls. I'm going to have to give you a sound spanking upon your return home."

"Go to Hell! If you think Quinn and I are ever coming back to you, your delusional. If you even think about laying a hand on me your going to loose an arm. I'm done playing games! Stay the hell away from us Jeremiah! Or so help me, I'll kill you!" Bella snarled into the phone.

"Bella give the phone back to Quinn I'd like to have a word with her."

"Yeah well that's too bad because this conversation is over!" With that Bella hit the end call button.

"Bella what have you done?" I groan. "You just made the situation go from bad to worse." No sooner had Bella handed the phone back to Me it rang once more.

"Do I even want to know how or why Bella snapped out of her toddler mindset? It couldn't possibly have been from visiting Barbara. I know the two of you made amends just as you made amends with your big sister Molly.  You forgive people far too easily. Keep that up and people will walk all over you."

"Anyway, back to the subject at hand. What happened to my sister? And Quinn, you know that I can tell when your lying so do us both a favor and let's skip that shall we? Who is responsible for waking adult Bella?"

"Please, I can't. If I tell you their name you'll kill them."

At this, Jeremiah laughed "do seriously think that I don't know who's responsible? Molly will pay dearly for waking adult Bella."

"No. Please, please don't hurt her."

"Alright, I won't harm a hair on dear Molly's head but it will cost you. Instead on twenty four hours you now have only two. Do you still want me to spare her?"

"That's not fair."

"Life's full of tough choices isn't it. Oh and Quinn, one more thing, if choose to rescue your mother and give Bella to the doctor, I'm fairly certain that Bella will revert back to her toddler state. If she does and she calls you mama/sissy, You are to tell her that your not her mama, that you've never been her mama or sister, and you will never be her mama. Before you leave tell her goodbye."

"Jeremiah please I can't. You don't know what that word means to her when she's a toddler..."

"Oh I know exactly what it means to her. Either you say it or she suffers the consequences and believe me when I say, that in her toddler mental state she won't be able to endure them. The choice is yours. I hope for your sake and  hers, that you make the right one. See in little over a hour."

Upon hanging up I slump to the floor and groan. "Quinn what's wrong? What did he say?" Molly asks in concern.

"He knows. He's been watching us ever since we left the compound. He knows everything that's happened and he knows that your responsible for waking adult Bella. He isn't happy Molly, he's not happy at all."

"What's he going to do to me?" Molly asks her face going white as a sheet.

"Nothing."

"I don't understand. This is Jeremiah your talking about. There's no way that he's just going to let me walk away consequence free."

"He's agreed not to hurt you Molly, but it comes at a cost. I now have only two hours in which to rescue mom and return to the compound before he comes to fetch me.  This is all my fault. I should have never brought Bella with me then none of this would be happening."

"That's not true Quinn, the truth is that it's my fault. I knew there would be consequences for leaving the safety of the compound but I didn't care. I wanted to go on an adventure."

I could hear Bella talking to me trying to reassure me that none of this was my fault but it knew the truth. It was deeper then just bringing Bella with me to the club. In his warped mind I had chosen both Bella and Jerome over him on multiple occasions and  to him that was the ultimate betrayal. I had compared him to Jerome one to many times and now I was suffering for it. "I am so sorry. I'm sorry Jeremiah. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." I whimpered rocking back and forth.

"What's wrong with her Doctor? Why is she acting like that?"

"Based on her behavior I'd say that her sprit has been broken, but that's unlikely. Miss Young is far too high spirited for that to occur. I wouldn't be too concerned about her I'm sure she will snap out of it any minute now."

"There's something else is bothering you.What is it? What did Jeremiah say to you that has upset you so much? It's ok Quinn, you can tell me. I can help." Bella says concern etched across her face. "If you won't talk to me then at least talk to Molly. Fine, if you won't tell me what's going on then I'll just ask him myself."

I groaned as she hit the redial button and hit the speaker phone. "Hello?"

"What have you done Jeremiah? What did you say to Quinn? Why is she so upset?"

"That Bella, is none of your concern. It's strictly between Quinn and myself. Oh and tell Quinn I saw what she just did and she it will cost her later."

Molly POV

While Bella dials the phone Quinn whispers
to Me and tells me everything that Jeremiah has told her. "How can he be so cruel? No wonder your heartbroken."

I couldn't help but feel a little guilty. Maybe I should tell Quinn the truth. "Quinn there's something that I need to tell you..."

Before I have a chance to explain the truth Bella hangs hands it to Me. "Jeremiah said that he'd like to talk to you."

"Me?" I squeak and Bella nods. I gulp but then reluctantly take the phone from Bella. "Hhhello?"

"Hello Molly. If I am not mistaken it almost seems as if you truly did reconcile with Quinn and were planning on betraying me."

"Betraying you?"

"Molly, if I thought for one moment that you were going to betray me, I would be forced to take the drastic measures I warned you about. Or is it that you want a family reunion?"

"Oh no..."

"Oh Yes. Your husband is so looking forward to seeing you. What were you going to tell Quinn just now?"

"I was going to tell her that she needs to do
what you least expect. She needs to make a decision."

"I see. For a moment I thought that you were going to slip and tell her the truth. But no, you wouldn't do that. Not after my warnings. That would be stupid..."

"Tell her the truth? After your warnings? Absolutely not..."

"Good, then play the part you've been assigned or you'll have a family reunion earlier then you think and it won't be with your mother." With that Jeremiah hung up leaving me pail.

Quinn POV

I could tell Molly wanted to tell me something but after she spoke to Jeremiah she seemed to change her mind. "You were going to tell
Me something. Something about Jeremiah?"

"Oh, yeah that... I was just going to say that you have no choice but to do as Jeremiah as instructed. Your going to have to make a choice
and your going to have to make it soon. Time
is running out."

I sigh in defeat and glance over in Bella's direction sadly. "I'm sorry Bella. Let my mother go." Bella looks at me in confusion.

"Huh? Why are you apologizing? What's there to be sorry for?"

"You'll see." Molly replies with a smirk.

"We've been over this Miss Young. What can you offer me in exchange for your Mother's freedom? I must have something of equal value and your mother is quite precious."

I couldn't stop crying and was barely able to get the words out. As I choked down a sob. "B. Bella."

"Huh?" Bella's eyes go wide with shock.

Molly leans down and whispers something into Bella's ear. "Did honestly think that Quinn would chose you over her own family? You really are nieave child. Do you want to know what made it so easy for her to offer you as a replacement for our mother? The answer is simple, your an adult and you can take care of yourself. Look at yourself in the mirror, can you honestly tell me that you seen an adult?"

"That's not what the world sees. The world sees a small helpless little child. So why fight what society says that you are? If you really were a toddler then maybe this would have been a much harder choice for Quinn to make. Maybe, she wouldn't have made it at all. But alas, your an adult, not a baby. Your all grown up and you don't need anyone else looking out for you anymore."

"If I become a toddler again will Quinn change her mind about exchanging me for your mom?"

"She might."

I watched as tears streamed down Bella's face and Molly smiled as she walked away from
Her.

"Done. You have yourself's a deal. Susan please bring patient 263 to my office along the proper release forms."

"Yes doctor."

"Molly, while I fill out the paperwork call Barbara and tell her what's going on."

"Why bother? I doubt that she will risk her crew for Bella. Besides, what's done is done. You can't take it back, so let's focus on getting mom out of here."

"Quinn? Molly? Is that you? I never thought that I'd see you again." She says giving them a big hug.

"I hate to cut this reunion short but there is the little matter of the commitment papers that need to be signed."

"Sissy?" Bella calls to Quinn as a guard picks her up and tosses her over his shoulder.

"Molly who is that little girl?"

"She's no one important mom. Just some
random kid. In fact, I've never seen her before in my life and neither has Quinn."

"Molly don't you dare lie to me! Who is she and why is Quinn so upset?" She demands grabbing ahold of Molly's ear tightly.

"Quinn, please don't let them take me away..." Bella begs reaching out for me but I turn my head away and focus on the paperwork. I can't stand looking at her heartbroken gaze.

"Alright, alright. I'll tell you. She's Jeremiah and Jerome's baby sister. Due severe PTSD and being hypnotized She has the mentality of a toddler. Though she can occasionally behave and talk her actual age. Quinn basically adopted her as her own ever since Jerome was killed in a shoot out with the cops. Jeremiah was sprayed with some sort of insanity gas and it caused him to go completely mental. He forced Quinn to chose between us and his sister. It broke her heart to have it do it, but She chose us."

"Oh Quinn want have you done?" Her mom
whispers sadly. "I can't let her do this."

"Mom, what's done is done. Jeremiah knows where Bella is and if he wants to remove Bella from here he can. But if we make any attempts to rescue her or convince Quinn to change her mind Jeremiah has said that he will kill all of us."

"Mama/Sissy?" Bella calls in her infant voice.

"Oh no. This isn't happening, this not happening. This has to be a nightmare. Wake up Quinn. You need to wake up."

"Mama/sissy?" Bella says again this time the toddler in her voice more prominent. I groan. This wasn't a dream. This was really happening. Why now? What had made her become baby Bella again? Was it something that Molly had said to her? I am at my breaking point. I just want to grab Bella and run out of there as fast as my legs can carry us but I can't. A deal is a deal.

Molly sighs "I'll be right back mom. I have to help Quinn for a moment. She doesn't have the strength to do this on her own."

"Do what? Molly what are you going to do?" Our mom calls to us but Molly doesn't respond. Instead she stands in front of Bella with a determined look on her face. She knows that I can't do it. I can't finish fulfilling Jeremiah's instructions. I just can't do it.

"I can't Molly. I can't do this to her. I just can't. It's one thing to throw adult Bella to the wolves but baby Bella? I can't do it."

"Remember what Jeremiah said Quinn, if you don't break Bella's heart she will suffer the consequences and he warned you that as baby Bella she won't be able to handle them. Is Jeremiah known for making empty threats?"

"No. When he says he's going to do something he does it without hesitation."

"I know that you love Bella with all your heart."

"Of course I do. She's like a little sister to me."

"If that's the indeed the case, then you want to protect her at all costs. Am I right?"

"Yes." I whisper. Not liking where this conversation was headed.

"Unfortunately, in this circumstance the only way to protect her is to break heart. You have no chioce Quinn. You have to do this, for Bella's sake." I groan. I really don't want to do this.

"Mama?" Bella says reaching towards me but I take a step back. "Mama, please don't leave me here."

I winced maybe that had been a bad idea. I knew that I had to fix this or Jeremiah would know that I hadn't followed his instructions. I knew what I had to say but it was killing me to have to do so. There was only one way to break her sprit. So I turned to her my face void of emotions. "Don't ever call me that again! I am not your mama. I have never been, nor will I ever be your mother."

"Your mother hated you and with good reason. You are such a spoiled brat. I can't stand being around you and neither could Jerome. He would rather commit suicide via cop shoot out, then to have to be your guardian. It's your fault that Jerome is dead. As for Jeremiah, the only thing you are to him is a unwanted burden. You should do the world a favor and disappear. If I ever see you again it will be too soon. Goodbye Bella. Come on Molly we have a boat to catch."

With that, I turned and walked out of the room. Once we've exited the building I began to sob. That was the hardest most heartbreaking thing that I've ever had to do in my entire life and that includes watching Jerome die not once but twice. I swear, I will never forgive Jeremiah for this. Never. Despite being outside I can still hear Bella's screams for me not to leave her. I can still hear her begging me to come back. No matter how hard I try I can't block them from my mind.

"Noooo! Mama! Please don't leabe me mama! Mama please, come back! MAMA!"

"What have I done?" I moan as we reach the Asylum gates.

"You had no choice Quinn. You did what you had to do." Molly replies.

Bella POV

"And what are you going to give me in exchange for your mother's freedom?"

I could see in her eyes that Quinn was begging me to forgive her though I failed to understand why. That is, until she answered Dr. Strange's question. "B... Bella. You can have Bella." She replies her voice barely above a whisper.

This can't be happening it has to be a nightmare. It can't be real, but the sadness in Quinn's eyes told me that it was. Within a few minutes my whole world has been torn upside down. I could tell by the look in her eyes that it was breaking her heart to do this. What I fail to understand was why she was doing this. Molly answered that question quickly.

"Perhaps, if you were a toddler then this would have a harder choice for her to make. Perhaps, she wouldn't have made it at all. But alas, your not a baby. Your an adult and you don't need a mother's protection anymore. You don't need anyone."

"If I become a toddler again do you think she will change her mind?"

"She might." Molly replies with a shrug.

"Mama?" I call to Quinn multiple times but she ignores me. "Mama! Mama please come back! MAMA!"

Quinn paused for a split second before turning to me. What she said next shattered my heart into a million pieces. She turned to me her gaze cold and her voice void of all emotions. "Don't ever call me mama again. I am not, nor have ever been, nor will I ever be, your mama. Your mother cursed the day you were born. She hated you and with good reason. Your a spoiled brat. "

"It's your fault that Jerome is dead he would rather committed suicide via cop shooting, then be your guardian. As for Jeremiah, the only thing you are to him is an unwanted burden. You should do the world a favor and disappear. If I ever see you again it will be too soon. Goodbye Bella. Come on Molly, we have a boat to catch."

Watching her walk out the doors and never once look back broke my heart and I let out a wail and digressed further into the mindset of a toddler.

"Are you thirsty little one?" I shook my head though in truth my throat was burning from
all the screaming I had done. Dr. Strange chuckles as he picks me up. "Still as stubborn as ever. I promise little one, I won't do anything to hurt you. You can trust me."

"Come on little one, you need your milk." He said sweetly as he placed a nipple at my lips and I reluctantly started sucking. Soon I greedily guzzling down the bottle's  contents. "Woah there, slow down little one, or you'll give yourself a tummy ache."

The Strange man said as he pulled the bottle
away. I instantly began to whimper I wanted my baba back. The man chuckled as he patted my back. What was he doing? I didn't need a back rub I need my baba back. Surprisingly, I let out a burp and he smiled at me. "There now, all better." He said as he returns the bottle to my lips I eagerly chugged down the rest of its contents.

I could feel myself getting sleepy as I let out a big yawn. "Awww, is the little one getting sleepy?" I yawned again and soon I was fast asleep. About an hour later, if that, the man returned with another bottle. I looked at him in confusion hadn't I just done that?

"Open up little one, it's time for your second bottle." Second bottle? How many babas was this man going to give me? Eventually, I wound up loosing count. It seemed as if he woke me up every hour on the hour to give me another bottle. Soon I had a full bladder and I wet myself. So what did I do? I began to cry and instantly the man was in my room. What's wrong little one? Aww I see, the baby's got a wet diaper. You poor thing." The man cooed at me.

WC 3997