Born in a Small Town

"Margo."
"Margo?"
"Yeah. Says here it means 'Pearl'. It's not common, not overly girly, has a cute ring to it-- and our friends in Champs Le Sims will like the French origin..."

Alesha Kane lifted another finger to flip to the next page of her book. Trying to decide on baby names was tough; she wished they'd decided at some point their daughter had been in her belly, but they'd gone back and forth on so many names that none of them seemed right anymore.

But even looking at the next long list of names beginning with 'N', she kept flipping back to look at 'Margo'. What about Margot, or Margaux? 'No, we live in a redneck town where most people can't spell their OWN name. Best keep it simple,' Alesha thought to herself.

"I suppose I'll let you pick the middle name," Alesha said with a smile as she looked over the top of the book at her husband across the room, sitting with their daughter in his arms. "That'd be fair, right?"

From his seat, Bradley began to chuckle, speaking softly so not to stir his little girl from her resting. "Well, you are the one who had to carry her around for ages, and then give birth to her... I'm fine with that compromise."

And it'd been quite the uphill battle, as well. They'd had to go in a whole day before Alesha was due to give birth; she'd been feeling ill most of her pregnancy, and they were worried about both of their health.

Still, despite the worries of the doctors, Alesha had been a trooper. Never once had she complained, only asking that Bradley never left her side. She was a saint compared to most stories Brad had heard about women about to give birth, and under the influence of their raging hormones... He was amazed she was able to keep it together.

... At least, until the baby decided it was time to come, that is.

The birth was long, too. They said it was normal for the first child to take a while, but when it hit the 20th hour, Brad began to grow tired. He had to keep leaving the room to prevent her from seeing his worry, and though the doctors assured him that they didn't have any concerns, he couldn't help it.

Alesha was everything, to him. If something had happened to her... Or to their baby...

But in the end, everything had worked out better than they could hope. Alesha, despite her exhaustion, was asking to see her baby as often as she was awake enough to hold her, and the little bundle of joy she'd produced was perfectly healthy, if a bit small for her age.

"Well," Bradley said as he approached the bed, carefully cooing to his girl as she began to awake in his arms. "I think Margo is perfect. Our little pearl, huh?"

Alesha weakly looked up at her husband, smiling. "Exactly. Who knew an ol' clam like me could make something so precious?"

"Don't jest like that, honey," Bradley scowled. "You aren't anything like a clam."

Brad turned his eyes to his little girl, and then, with a beaming smile, carefully lifted her above his head.

"Well, little missy... I guess it's decided. You're our little Margo Kane. Margo... May... Kane."

When both Alesha and Margo looked like they could barely keep their eyes open any longer--which wasn't much more than a few minutes--Brad carefully toted his daughter to the infant ward, and let the nurses take care of her from there.

He watched her carefully be placed in her crib with a smile on his face; he couldn't stop thinking about how, because of his and Alesha's love for each other, she was created. It was a more amazing feeling than he'd ever imagined.

With a smile of pride, Brad shoved his hands into his pockets, and looked at his girl with the fondest gaze. She was his pearl... And, because of her, everything was going to change.

But now, he was finally ready.

---

Amelia couldn't help but notice how amazing it was outside. Twinbrook wasn't known for it's lovely weather, so when she woke up, surrounded by unpacked moving boxes and a lists of things to do, the unexpected sunshine told her exactly what she wanted to hear: It can wait.

Twinbrook was small enough to walk from pretty much any Point A to Point B in a matter of minutes, so she threw on some comfy shoes and made her way up the winding sidewalks to the first place that came to her mind.

The Blue Bottega. It was an art studio that had opened so recently you could still smell the fresh paint on the walls when you walked by--and though normally something like that wouldn't really interest Amelia, this particular opening did.

And that was because it was owned, remodeled and run by her mother.

"And I think she outdid herself this time," Mia mumbled to herself as she cast a glance at the vibrant color her mother had chosen for the studio's exterior walls. "But... I guess it could be worse. She could've gone with neon orange."

When Amelia walked into the building, the bell on the door ringing as she crossed the threshhold, she instantly caught sight of who she was looking for: her mother, who was animatedly speaking to what looked like one of her employees.

Meredith Kane, her mother; she didn't do anything plain. The building was chaotic in design and color, and it looked absolutely nothing like a business... which was a fairly good representation of what Meredith was like. She didn't open this studio to make money: she opened it to have fun. Mia (usually) loved that about her mother--she was almost never serious.

Amelia was broken from her train of thought when her mother's voice suddenly came ringing out over the sound of background music playing in another room. "MIA!" Meredith squealed, bounding over to her daughter with more youth than someone you'd expect her age to have.

"Mom!" Amelia responded equally as enthusiastically. "Mom, this place looks amazing!"

"Yes yes, it looks great," Meredith spoke dismissively. "But why are you here?! I thought you weren't coming back into town for another week!"

Amelia grinned. "It's... a long story. I'll tell you about it while you show me around!"

The pair squeezed through all the rooms, careful not to bump into any recent art pieces cluttering the studio. When they finally made it outside after touring the lower floor, they relaxed against the deck railing, looking over the patio area.

"So everything is settled then?" Meredith asked, turning to look at her daughter.

"Yep. The rights to my band's last album are taken care of, the band's been completely dissolved--our manager is taking care of the rest. As of now, the Yelling Birds is no more."

"And are you okay with that, sweetheart? Becoming a rock star was your dream..."

"I guess some dreams just aren't meant to come true," Amelia said, her gaze turning to her mother. "But it's okay, I'm honestly fine with it. After what I went through, I've been starting to reconsider what I want to do with my life. I mean, Naomi's already got herself a job at the Business complex... Maybe it's time I rethink my own ambitions."

Meredith smiled and nodded. "As long as you're happy, dear. That's all that matters to me."

"Well, honestly," Amelia chuckled, looking out over the grounds. "I couldn't be more happy after seeing all of this. You've done a fantastic job, Mom. It's amazing what you've done with the place... And amazing you're finally getting something you've always wanted."

"I can't believe it, myself. The last few months have gone by so fast..." Meredith's smile lit up. "But it all wouldn'tve happened if it weren't for your father. We had to come to a bit of a bit of a deal about the place for him to agree to pay for all of it, but... Well, it all worked out for both of our best interests."

After a long moment with both of them looking proudly over the area, Meredith nodded her head towards the door and said, "C'mon, there's one last room I want you to see before you go."

"Mom, it's... Wow. You seriously outdid yourself."

Meredith looked at her daughter with a bright smile. "I actually had you in mind when I designed this room. Lots of yellows, bright reds, eclectic furniture... I wanted someplace that you could come and relax, that always felt a bit like home, even when things get rough for you."

Amelia was taken aback. "Mom, it's unbelievable. Really. I don't even know what to say." It wasn't much, but it was things like this that reminded Amelia why she loved her mother. Even if she wasn't very good at being a mom sometimes, she never, ever forgot about her kids' needs.

"You don't have to say anything. Just promise me that you won't hide away forever. It's been months since everything happened, and you're still not--"

"Mom, can we please not talk about that right now?" Amelia cut her off. It was that nosey-ness that Amelia didn't like about her mother.

"I'm sorry dear, I didn't mean to upset you." She frowned momentarily, but, Meredith almost instantly bounced back with a smile. "In any case, there was something I wanted to ask you, if you're willing..."

Amelia was still a little annoyed, but she nodded. "Sure, go ahead."

"Well, see... Everyone in town has been so excited about you moving back. Everyone really loved your music, Mia... And well, I was thinking, to help promote the studio, and help get you back on your feet again, maybe you could put on a bit of a show here sometime? The outdoor painting platform would make a great stage, and I honestly think it would be so good for you to keep on performing..."

Amelia paused. Performing: it'd been her dream. For a while, her life. The Yelling Birds, her band, had been everything to her--she'd worked so hard to get them noticed, to get them record deals, to get their music to bring her fame... But not all attention is good attention, and she'd paid the price for that once. She never wanted to, again.

But music... It was still her life. The past few months not playing had been excruciating, as much as she didn't want to admit it. She missed her guitar dearly. She just was too afraid to pick it up again.

"I'll... I'll think about it, Mom. It's a great idea, I just need some time to think about it, okay? I'm just not sure if I'm ready yet."

"That's fine, sweetheart. Take as much time as you need. The last thing I want to do is pressure you, alright?"

Amelia could feel the tears welling up in her eyes, so to avoid them being seen, she quickly pounced her mother with a hug, squeezing her tight and burying her face into her shoulder. "I love you, mom," she sniffled, her emotions overwhelming her.

"I love you too, Mia-Bean," Meredith said with a smile, squeezing Amelia tight in her arms. "But for now, let's worry about other things, hmm? I've got a new grandbaby, and you a niece, sitting in the hospital just waiting to be showered with love. Let's escape a bit and go see them, mmmkay?"

Still sniffling, Mia nodded, slowly pulling away. "Okay, Mummie!" Her mom was right; because if there was anything that could make her happy again, it was her family.

---

"And the shipment? From our good friends at Simcott Industries?"

A cold silence swept over the conference room like a stiff breeze, jarring the confidence of everyone present. The sound of a chair shifting, someone clearing their throat, and a hand brushing dust from their sleeve echoed in the small, dark room with a tense, ominous ring.

Again, Jebidiah Kane's voice asked, "Well?"

"Sir," a brave voice finally spoke from the other end of the table, his hands raising in defeat when his gaze turned to his superior. "The shipment hadn't arrived before the police raid, but... It was close. Too close." The man--Shark Racket--took a deep breath before continuing. "If I could speak frankly, sir, I don't think the warehouse is safe for this particular cargo anymore. If we get another uninvited visit again--"

"I understand," Jebidiah spoke abruptly, cutting his henchman off. "Which is why I've already made arrangements for a new... storage facility. You may have the pleasure of moving our present from Simcott there once we're finished here, since you somehow managed to skirt past the cops last night unharmed."

An audible sigh of relief could be heard coming from almost everyone at the table; they'd escaped Jebidiah Kane's wrath... At least, for now.

"Any news from the business sector?" Jebidiah asked, his voice still firm.

On the other side of the table, the blonde woman suddenly sat up straight, coming to attention now that all eyes were on her. "I haven't been at High Products Corporation long, Mr. Kane, but they're already dropping hints of making me a Junior Executive. From there, I'll have a lot more... influence."

"What about their current loyalties, Naomi?"

Naomi had to stop and think for a moment, but she confidently answered, "As far as I can tell, they're up for grabs to the highest bidder. Right now High Products is in the pocket of our newly elected Governor, but I imagine it'd be easier to twist the arm of the Grant family rather than try to buy him off or push them out of the picture."

For the first time that meeting, a thin smile began to grow across Jebidiah's lips, putting amused creases in both of his aging cheeks. "Funny that you should mention that," he commented with a chuckle, turning his eyes to the woman sitting next to Naomi.

"How are things coming along with our dear, newly elected Governor, Marta?"

Her own smile turned wicked as everyone's attention was turned to her. "Well, as it so happens... You're now looking at the future Mrs. Sam Grant."

Jebidiah chuckled. "If only everyone would learn from your example of dedication to our cause, Ms. Tomasi. My congratulations to your success. And when's the lucky day?"

"A month from today. However, I think it's safe to say he's already wrapped quite securely around my little finger, if you don't mind me saying..."

"Not at all, not at all, Marta... I'm quite pleased with your work." With a quiet, but menacing laugh, Jebidiah drummed his fingers together and turned his eyes to the rest of his 'employees'. "The rest of you could only hope to live up to such standards. It's about time you all took a page out of her book."

The sternness in his voice caused the majority of the table to look at their shoes, avoiding their boss' icy gaze as it turned to each and every one of them.

"In any case," Jeb continued, clearing his throat to break the uneasy silence. "Let's move on. Officer Larson, care to elaborate on that unfortunate police raid last night, and why we weren't informed until moments before?"

"Moments is a bit of an exaggeration," Tana Larson spoke up from the opposite end of the table. "Ten minutes is all I could spare. You know if I'd have had the opportunity to tip you off before that, I would have, Jeb."

"That's Mr. Kane to you, Tana," He responded coldly.

Tana sneered. "Yes, Mr. Kane."

"I'm starting to think she's losing her touch, sir," someone else finally spoke up--this time, the words of scorn were coming from Junior Notorious, seated at her right. "If this happens much more we'll be out of business. Maybe it's time we look into finding someone else on the force that's more capable of doing her job."

"Junior," Jebidiah drawled, his brows furrowing frustratedly. "This isn't the time to point fingers. You could have just as easily planned a better exit strategy and found a better way to hide the goods I put you in charge of. Officer Larson is doing her best... However, I do agree it may be time to bring a few more police officials to our cause, rather than rely on Tana alone."

There was a moments pause where everyone nodded in submission, but Jebidiah continued promptly. "So Tana... How are our friends, the Lemans, doing?"

The Lemans: Thomas and Carolina, who were Jebidiah's bitter rivals in the field of crime... Were being the operative word.

"Carolina's still resting comfortably in prison, thanks to you," Officer Tana offered with a smile. "I think she may finally be starting to make herself at home there, she's been causing a lot less problems for the guards lately.

"What about her husband, Thomas?"

"Ever since he was released, he's been keeping true to his word, and hasn't put a toe out of line. Apparently he's just growing vegetables or... something. We've still got him under tight surveillance, though, just in case he decides to change his mind about turning over a new leaf."

"Well then," Jebidiah spoke with a curl of his lip. "If you can come up with a few more badges to add to our belt, I may just let you back into my good graces, Tana."

"I... I think I may actually have a solution to that, sir," she replied uneasily.

"Oh?"

"Our new Police Chief? I've been doing some digging... It turns out he's got a criminal record he's been trying to keep under wraps. I'm not certain yet, but it's possible he still has some inclinations for crime--"

"And if not," Jebidiah cut her off. "A little blackmail never hurt anyone, right?" His words were met with pleased chuckles from the rest of the room.

"Well, my friends," Jebidiah finished with a slowly, easy voice, his eyes scanning the room with a brow lifted in pride. "It sounds as if all my goals are finally starting to come to pass. I am... very... pleased."

Jeb's hand reached up to close his notes, and he lifted his chin with a smile on his face; he could feel the power his plans had granted him, and it filled him with imponderable glee. Everything was falling into place so smoothly, so elegantly. He'd never imagined it would be this easy to be the Emperor of Evil...

... but, perhaps, not all good things are meant to last forever.