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Jay Gatsby is dead. 

Daisy only heard of the news shortly after moving back to Chicago when she read one of the morning newspapers. Apparently, Myrtle Wilson's husband shot Gatsby dead and then turned the gun on himself. All because Gatsby took the blame when Myrtle got killed in a hit-and-run that Daisy was behind the wheel for. 

For all of her faults, Daisy didn't intend for Gatsby to die. Perhaps the same can be said for Myrtle as well. After all, she jumped right in front of Gatsby's car, calling out for Tom. 

It stung Daisy. Yes, she didn't love Gatsby the same as she did five years ago. Yes, she was being vain and shallow, making her prioritize Gatsby's materialism more than his person for the most part– he just happened to be more pleasant than Tom but the latter's wealth was more stable and certainly not made from crime. But Gatsby didn't deserve to die and she knew it. 

The guilt soaked in within minutes but Daisy ought to not speak about it, especially in front of Tom. He was already distant from her but that was to be expected if you cheated on him and then proceeded to run over his mistress. If she dared to utter Gatsby's name within his presence, she'll most certainly anger him and a furious Tom is one of the most frightening things she has experienced, so it's best not to summon him.

Daisy let those emotions build up within herself, putting on a fake smile as usual. Most were none the wiser, but Jordan, oh, Jordan, she caught on. They stuck by each other's side since childhood, so Jordan was devoutly loyal to her and knew her every secret. Why else would she move to Chicago with the Buchanans?

On one of these nights, when the stars were dimmer than usual, Jordan and Daisy sat at the Buchanans' porch. It wasn't as large or glorious as the one in the red-and-white Georgian Colonial back in East Egg, but it had a sleek, fashionable look to it.

"There's something on your mind, isn't it?" Jordan asked.

At this point, it shouldn't surprise Daisy that Jordan was the only person to keep seeing through her, but she hesitated to utter out what has been lingering in her mind.

"It's about Gatsby," She said. "I'm responsible for his death."

"Well, it's more on him taking the blame."

"No! That's exactly how I sent him to death. He took all the blame and responsibility for me. He did it so I can get thrown under the rug; so I can get off scot free and avoid facing George Wilson's barrel."

Jordan paused to gather what she just heard. She didn't expect Daisy to be defending Gatsby, let alone not point the finger at someone else.

"So, there is some love for him there," Jordan said. "But not enough to leave Tom."

Jordan was quite accurate there as it turns out. 

"And Pammy too…" Daisy added.

Her little girl. Ever since she told the nurse that she hoped that her child would be a beautiful little fool, Daisy had yearned for a better life for Pammy. She wanted Pammy to have a more fulfilling existence than she ever had. She wanted Pammy to do more than she ever did. She wanted Pammy to be more free than she ever was. Yet, Daisy wasn't sure if she conveyed those hopes well to Pammy. While Daisy did spend some time with Pammy, the live-in nannies did most of the raising. It didn't help that Daisy was so drawn into the drama surrounding her that it bordered on being neglectful.

She should've been a better mother and she knows it.

Gatsby didn't help matters. He lured her away with his charm, fortune and beautiful shirts to the point she'd largely forgotten about Pammy. But during that outburst at the Plaza Hotel, where Gatsby lashed out at Tom, his flaws became clear to her. His wealth wasn't guaranteed to last and if Daisy tried bringing Pammy with her to leave, it's possible he wouldn't allow her.

"Oh, how's Pammy?" Jordan asked.

Daisy was taken out of her train of thought.

"She's doing alright, she's getting used to Chicago. I'd been thinking of being more involved in raising her. There's a difference in attention given by a nanny and attention given by a mother, after all."

"Fair enough."

Jordan looked behind her shoulder to see whether or not there's anyone else nearby. She then turned to Daisy, looking right into her eyes as she caressed her bobbed, dark hair.

"You know I'll always love you, even if we never end up running away together," She whispered.

Daisy's arms reached over to Jordan's shoulders and the two moved closer to each other. They fell onto the grass in a locked embrace, kissing each other passionately.

They were on and off again lovers since mid adolescence, thus always enjoyed each other's company. Jordan had a streak of aggression when it came to demonstrating her love but she knew how to be gentle if requested. Daisy particularly savored Jordan's affection due to how varied it was and how Jordan essentially never leaves her side. However, between her, Tom and Gatsby, Jordan was the riskiest person to exclusively stay with.

For one, Jordan wasn't as wealthy as the two men and most of it came from an elderly aunt. And there's the simple fact that Jordan's a woman. If the world found out about Daisy and Jordan's love, they would be damned beyond hell. Getting exiled from high society was at least the softest punishment that they could face for it. That's why Daisy can't just run off with Jordan even though the latter desired to do so. 

Nonetheless, Jordan understood her. She knew that Daisy only felt safe within her high status even if she felt empty within. So, Jordan begrudgingly accepted her choice.

After several minutes of kissing, Daisy and Jordan stared into each other's eyes tenderly. Jordan stroked Daisy's check and noticed the green stains on her white sleeves.

"Red lips, green sleeves," She commented. 

Daisy laughed at Jordan's comment. 

"But we didn't go beyond kissing this time," She said. 

Jordan smirked.

"We could if you want to."

"No thanks, I think Tom will be home soon."

Jordan nodded and the two got up to head inside. Daisy made sure to change clothes so Tom wouldn't spot the green stains. She rested on a sofa where she spotted Pammy playing with some blocks. She got off the sofa and walked over to Pammy, kneeling by her. 

"Can I play with you, sweetie?" Daisy asked.

"Sure, Mommy."

Daisy and Pammy spent some time stacking up blocks to creature structures. The result was a rudimentary building that would’ve looked more impressive in Pammy's imagination.

"We made such a pretty castle together!" Daisy said, playing along.

Pammy giggled, giving a smile on Daisy’s face. She ruffled Pammy's hair affectionately with her heart at ease.

It was a sweet moment that enabled her to bond with Pammy and Daisy sought for more of it. Thus, instead of the nanny, Daisy was the one to carry her tired daughter to bed and tuck her under the blankets. She walked over to a shelf, trying to find a book to read to Pammy.

"Pammy, what story do you want to hear?"

"Hmm…" Pammy pondered for a moment. "Oh! That lady duck story!"

Daisy re-read the titles of the books to see what she was referring to before finding the right one and pulling it out– The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck .

Daisy held the book wide open as she read it out loud, showing the colorful illustrations of the titular Jemima and a sly, well-dressed fox contained within its pages to Pammy. By the time she got to the end, Pammy was fast asleep. Daisy gently kissed her on the forehead, returned the book, and slowly left the room.

When she entered her room and laid on her side of the bed, Daisy was all alone. She'd expected Tom to be here, but he still hasn't come home. She immediately figured that he's spending the night with a mistress. It wasn't surprising but it still disappointed Daisy, though she scolded herself for being no better than Tom in that aspect.

Within a few hours, she dozed off into a lonely sleep.

It's been two months since Jay Gatsby's death.

Daisy carefully opened the door and walked over to a sleeping Pammy. She crouched down at the bed's level and gently nudged Pammy.

The little girl woke up with a big yawn and looked in Daisy's direction.

"Good morning, Pammy," Daisy spoke softly. "Breakfast will be here soon. Let's get dressed."

After helping Pammy put on a cutesy blue dress and matching headband, Daisy led her to the kitchen. They sat down at a marvelous marble table and waited for a maid to serve them breakfast. Across them is Tom, reading a newspaper in his hands.

He glanced away from his paper to see his wife and daughter before returning to the paper. 

Even though they'd been in Chicago for some time, Tom was still distant with Daisy. He still hasn't forgiven her over Gatsby it seems but she hasn't gone out of her way to try reconciling with him for now.

"Daisy, I'll be going to a business meeting with some friends soon," Tom said. "I expect to be back around evening." 

After a few more bites out of his meal, Tom placed his paper down and left the table. Whether he was telling the truth or was actually heading out to meet up with a mistress, it didn’t matter. Tom was gone and it's rare for him to come home before dinner. So, Daisy was left alone with her servants and Pammy. She normally would invite Jordan over to chat and express their love, but she had been making the effort to spend more time with her daughter, so she prioritized that instead.

"Pammy, dear, what would you like to do today?" She asked.

As Pammy excitably went on about her ideal plans for the day, a sudden wave of nausea hit Daisy. She stood up abruptly and rushed to the nearest bathroom where she vomited into the toilet. The gagging throbbed her throat and it lasted for several minutes. When it stopped, Daisy coughed as a byproduct of the vomiting and swiftly wiped her mouth with her hand.

"Mommy, are you okay?" Pammy had come over to check on her mother.

Daisy turned to face her with a fragile smile.

"Mommy's not feeling well, so I'll have the nanny care for you today. I'm sorry, dear."

"It's okay, I hope you feel better."

After the live-in nanny ushered Pammy away, Daisy locked the door behind her and she stared into the mirror, grasping the side of the sink tightly.

Her eyes expressed the exhaustion from the ill feeling within her stomach. It's not the first time she got a bout of nausea this month.

She'd been getting nausea spells every now and then for the past several weeks. For the first few times, she shrugged it off by eating something bad on those particular days. Yet, they keep on arriving, appearing regardless of the time.

Daisy thought and thought about why they keep coming. She wondered if she should go to the doctor at this point. She thought more about her body, about how she felt more fatigued than usual, about how she complained to Jordan the other day about the soreness of her breasts, and that her period should've arrived a week ago but it didn't come. In fact, it marks the second month in a row that she missed her period. 

And that was when she made a startling realization.

She's pregnant.

And it's very likely that Gatsby is the father; no, she's certain that Gatsby is the father.

Even before she rekindled with Gatsby, Tom wasn't interested in making love with Daisy for some time, preferring to chase other women. She recalled that only a couple days before that faithful visit to the Plaza Hotel, where all hell broke loose, Gatsby invited her to his bed with his soothing, charismatic voice. They took off their clothes and… well, they unknowingly conceived a child that night. 

Daisy began hyperventilating, fearing about how Tom would react to the news, knowing that he'll immediately figure out that the child is not his. Her mind created frightening scenarios which ranged from intense arguments, Tom striking her down with his fists, and being forcibly dragged to an abortion clinic.

None of these soothed Daisy's panic. It didn't help that she worried about how Tom would treat the child if he allowed it to be born. 

There is no good outcome for this situation. 

At least if Daisy tried handling it just by herself. There's only one person that could help her out.

Jordan.

Daisy hurried over to her bedroom and hastily dialed Jordan's number on the telephone. The call was picked up instantly.

"Oh, hey Daisy, how are you?" She asked casually.

"J-Jordan! I need to tell you something very important. Please come as soon as possible."

"I see, I'll be on my way." Jordan sensed the urgency in Daisy's voice right away.

After Jordan hung up the phone, Daisy sat down at the front yawn, anxiously waiting for her arrival. 

Within ten minutes, a bright red car drifted across the lawn in high velocities. It moved so quickly and recklessly that it barely stopped in the nick of time before it could hit a nearby tree.

A blonde woman wearing a cloche hat exited the car-- it's Jordan.

"Jordan!" Daisy called out as she ran towards Jordan despite her nausea.

"What's going on?" 

"I-I'll explain when we get inside."

The two women headed indoors and entered Daisy's room. Upon arriving, Daisy peeked through the door crack to check for anyone nearby before shutting it and locking the door.

Jordan sat on the bed, worried for her lover.

"Is it about Tom?" She asked. "Did he do something to you?"

"No, it has nothing to do with him. You see, I'm pregnant and Gatsby is most certainly the father. I'm scared what Tom would do if he finds out and that's why I need your help, Jordan."

Jordan was flabbergasted. She didn't expect to hear such news and she glanced at Daisy's stomach. There's no sign of a baby bump and it looked just fine.

"Alright, how far are you along?" 

"Around two months I think. I just found out about the pregnancy but I did sleep with Gatsby within that time frame, so I made an educated guess. I can't go to the doctors about it since I worry that I might get exposed." 

"I see, well, the most quick and efficient solution to your problem is simply aborting it."

Daisy shook her head quickly.

"No, I don't feel comfortable with that option. Even if I wasn't, I'm not sure how safe such an operation would be from what I have heard."

"Then, convince Tom to fuck you and reveal the pregnancy to him around a week later. That way, he'll believe that the baby is his." 

Now, that suggestion sounded good on paper, but Daisy needed to think whether or not it would work out. She thought for a moment before realizing some major flaws with it and sighed.

"I like that idea, but as I mentioned earlier, I'm two months in. From everyone's perspective, the baby will be born during the seventh month and would be quite healthy for a preemie. Not only that, it's possible that the baby would end up looking a lot like Gatsby. With these conditions, Tom would get suspicious and doubt its parentage."

"Damn, those are some seriously fair points."

By then, Jordan was stumped. As always, she wanted to help Daisy out when she gets in trouble, but this particular situation proved to be quite tricky. It took a moment before she got herself a bright new idea.

"Let's try hiding the pregnancy, give birth in secret and put the baby up for adoption. For now, you can wear whatever you want, but as that bump shows up, you'll need to wear more loose and baggier clothing-- even to bed. Hell, you can give birth at my place; it's only me there besides the occasional maid that I hired to clean it."

Daisy lunged towards Jordan and hugged her in a tight embrace, tears of gratitude running down her cheeks. She was on board with that final idea, as she saw it having the highest chances for success. She was truly grateful to have Jordan by her side, helping her in dire times and expressing her tender love towards her.

"There, there," Jordan spoke softly, returning the hug. 

They were in each others' arms for what seemed to be an eternity until Daisy let go, the nausea hitting hard. 

"I'm not feeling well," She said. "As you may have figured out, it's morning sickness." 

Jordan understood right away and helped Daisy get settled in bed. Once she was under the covers, Jordan went out of the room to get some supplies and returned with bottles of water, some crackers and a bucket for Daisy to puke in. 

She stayed by Daisy, making sure that she's drinking her water and catering to her needs. When she became drowsy, Jordan slid into bed and the two cuddled. Daisy's hair was stroked consistently and Jordan kissed her on the forehead right as she fell asleep. 

Several hours later, Daisy woke up when she heard a door opening. She glanced over the clock and saw the time.

"O-Oh, Jordan! I think Tom's home now."

"I'll handle him." Jordan responded, getting out of bed.

She left the room and found Tom heading in her direction.

"Jordan, what are you doing here?" He said aggressively, glaring at her.

"Well, Daisy got sick today and I came over to care for her."

"Alright, how is she feeling now?"

Tom asked that half-sincerely, making Jordan wonder if he didn't want to get sick as well and thus would intend to avoid Daisy even more.

"I believe that she's feeling better now." 

"Good."

Tom entered the room and sat across Daisy on the bed. Unlike Jordan, his presence was intimidating and Daisy instantly began fearing for both herself and the unborn child. A part of her became paranoid that Tom would catch onto the pregnancy right away, but in reality, it was very unlikely.

"Hello, Tom," Daisy said, hiding her true emotions.

"Hello, Daisy,"

Tom unbuttoned his jacket and vest, leaving his dress shirt on.

"Today was exhausting," He said. "So, I'll be sleeping early tonight."

"Alright."

For once, Tom was true to his word. Two hours later, he was fast asleep. Daisy meanwhile stayed awake, her back turned toward Tom. Alongside the anxiety centered around Tom, Daisy reflected on her relationship with Gatsby. She wondered how he would take the news about the pregnancy. Would he be delighted? Wary? 

As she weighed on these hypothetical possibilities, she subconsciously caressed her abdomen. It took a moment for Daisy to realize what she was doing.

She shouldn't be attached to the child as it caused her great stress so far and she was going to give it up for adoption after its birth. Yet, her maternal instincts were greatly developed after all of that time bonding with Pammy, so they had a different say in this.

If she could love Pammy, her mind reasoned, then she could love that child as well. 

Until she fell asleep, Daisy gently hummed to her baby like birds singing toward their eggs.

It's been almost nine months since Jay Gatsby's death.

Daisy's pregnancy has been developing steadily. The bump has grown large enough to the point Daisy regularly wears giant fur coats in public and baggy bathrobes in private despite the warmth of April. She celebrated the New Year and Pammy's fourth birthday with a secret extra guest that everyone but Jordan was unaware of. Her bond with Pammy deepened significantly, with her maternal love boosted by the pregnancy. 

On a breezy night, Tom was gone all day and Jordan was over at the Buchanan's. Daisy sat on her bed, her hands placed on her stomach. She giggled in joy.

"Jordan! Come here please, the baby is kicking a lot."

Jordan, who was across from her, obliged and came over. She rested her hand on Daisy's stomach and felt the persistent kicks.

"The baby sure is hyper, how do you sleep with all of that moving within your body?" Jordan commented. 

"Sometimes, I'm kept awake all night because of the baby."

The two laughed in unison, but there was the looming dread over the child's upcoming birth. 

Daisy had grown incredibly fond of the child. She'd bought herself a rocking chair placed in Pammy's room that she spent evenings in, cradling the child and singing lullabies towards it. Sometimes, Pammy caught her in the act and asked questions. Daisy made a quick excuse about needing to massage her stomach. She knew it wasn't remotely believable, but Pammy, being young and gullible, accepted that answer. 

Yet, she has no choice but to give the child up. It pained her every time she thought about it but as long as Tom is still around, it was necessary for the child's sake. 

"So, if I'm correct, the baby should be here in around two weeks. I'm thinking of coming over to your place next Sunday and staying there for the remaining week." Daisy said.

"Yeah, that'll work," Jordan responded. 

The two chatted more about the plans for the upcoming birth, discussing supplies that Daisy would need, how to deliver the baby and so on. The conversation about that day lasted for a couple hours before Tom came home and Jordan had to leave, giving Daisy a quick goodbye kiss on the cheek. 

When that faithful Sunday came, Daisy packed up her bags, ready to leave.

"Tom!" She called out towards her husband who happened to be home. "I'll be going with Jordan to her golf tournament! It'll last for around a week." 

"Okay," Tom responded monotonously.

Pammy overheard what Daisy said from another room and ran towards her.

"Mommy, don't go!" She begged, tucking at Daisy's dress.

Daisy smiled at Pammy, crouching down at her level and patting her head.

"Don't worry dear, I'll be back after a week. I'm just hanging out with Aunt Jordan and cheering her on in her games. In the meantime, I'll make sure to call you every day. Love you, Pammy."

"Love you too, Mommy." 

After kissing Pammy's forehead, Daisy headed outside where she found Jordan's car parked in front of the house. She placed her bags in the back and sat in the shotgun seat.

Jordan glanced at her lovingly as she started the engine. As she drove, Daisy noticed that Jordan seemed to be driving much slower than usual. She knew that Jordan was normally a reckless driver who often speeds and was frequently on the verge of colliding with other cars. Yet, Jordan is being much more careful this time around, perhaps not to risk harming Daisy and her soon-to-be born child. 

The spring breeze ran through their hair during the drive as the car's metallic exterior shone under the sunlight. The two held hands together and Daisy was grateful for everything Jordan had done for her. She was there for her during her darkest moments, giving her solace. She wished that she could run away with Jordan and raise both of her children together, but it was simply impossible to do so within this world. The best she can do is stay by Jordan's side.

When they arrived at Jordan's home, Daisy exited the car and headed toward the door. Jordan got her bags and opened the door for her, not wanting Daisy to exhort herself in the last week of her pregnancy. 

Daisy was led to Jordan's room, where she found the latter's bed whose upper half is covered by soft pillows. The fleece blanket is large yet sleek enough to throw it over something with ease.

"I confess I might've gone overboard with the pillows, but I wanted you to be comfortable." Jordan said.

Daisy smiled.

"Thank you, but that means I'll be giving birth in your bed."

"Nah, that's fine. I was planning to get a new mattress anyway." 

Content with Jordan's reply, Daisy took off her coat and went into the bed, with her body sinking into the mattress. She rolled a bit in the blanket and laughed. Pleased with her cheerful state, Jordan joined her in bed. They cuddled with the pillows and occasionally playfully threw them at each other, leading to a series of giggles.

Throughout the week, when she wasn't resting in bed, Daisy watched Jordan practice her golf swings on the yawn and called Pammy at least once a day as she promised. She found herself visiting the bathroom quite frequently and got sudden bursts to reorganize the whole bed she was sleeping in. She didn't pinpoint the exact cause of the latter but she assumed it might be some maternal nesting instinct. She also occasionally fidgeted with an elaborate, heart-shaped bronze locket that she brought with her and when Jordan asked what was inside the locket, she opened it and showed its contents to her– a lock of Daisy's dark hair encased within it and underneath it are the small words "I'll always love you - your birth mother" written in her handwriting.

"It's a memento for the baby," Daisy explained. "So it'll have a piece of me by its side."

Jordan nodded, seeing the bittersweet tenderness in Daisy's eyes and silently hugged her. 

The night after Daisy showed the locket to Jordan, the two were in bed, peacefully sleeping. However, Jordan was abruptly awoken when she got accidentally elbowed in the chest by Daisy. When she looked over Daisy, she was in a cramped position with her hands grasping her stomach and heard her whimpering.

"Daisy, are you alright?" Jordan asked, nudging her shoulder. 

"No, I think the baby's coming. My water didn't break but I felt a couple contractions."

"I thought the water was supposed to break first." 

Suddenly, Daisy's water broke and her companion noticed the spotted leak of clear liquid that came.

"Speak of the Devil," Jordan commented. 

Daisy winced in pain as she kicked off the blanket. The contractions were like dozens of pins and needles stabbing her hips. As she was under the twilight sleep when she previously gave birth, she was largely inexperienced when it came to raw, unmedicated labor. Through logical reasoning, she had concluded that it would hurt to push out a new life from her body but she'd underestimated the pain.

Jordan hastily grabbed a book about childbirth from a table stand to desperately refresh herself on what to do in this situation as Daisy grabbed her hand and squeezed it. She tried her best to aid Daisy, applying a wet towel on her forehead, massaging her shoulders and back, checking on the progress the child was making in its journey, and telling her to either push or breathe.

Over time, the sheets were stained heavily by blood and amniotic fluid with Daisy's once pure white dress being in a similar condition. The contractions strengthened in intensity and the needle-like sensations turned into spasms that made the worse of Daisy's menstrual cramps look like a minor stomach ache in comparison. Her back twinged and she felt the pressure on her lower abdomen.

By then, Daisy was in agony. She was thoroughly exhausted, nauseous and terrified. She was on the verge of passing out but some inner determination kept that from happening. She screamed and cried, often calling out Jordan's name. Jordan herself whispered soothing words into her ear to try consoling her.

Despite showing off a cool, serene face, Jordan was distressed from seeing Daisy in such a state. She was very aware of the suffering her beloved was in and it hurted her every being. She wished that she had access to the drugs that'll enable Daisy into a deep slumber so Jordan can deliver the child all by herself just like what the midwives and nurses did with Pammy. Just so both can be spared from the pain of what nature could provide. 

Some relief would come soon to Jordan when she checked up on the cervix, she spotted the baby crowning.

"There it is! I can see the baby's head. Just another push or two, hun." She then positioned herself to where she could scoop up the child.

With Jordan's words, Daisy gathered the strength for one final push.

And at long last, a series of loud and vigorous cries rang through the room.

In Jordan's arms is the wailing child, its skin colored pinkish from the mix of blood and vernix covering its body. Jordan cut off the umbilical cord with a switchblade she had on her. 

"It's a girl," Jordan said as she handed over the baby to Daisy. 

Even with her battered state, Daisy looked at her second daughter with wonder. She gently shushed the child as she cradled her in her arms. The child rested contently on her mother's chest, its warmth making her feel safe.

Jordan scooted over on the bed to gaze at the child. She stroked her cheek, leading to the baby grabbing the finger and holding it tightly. Jordan smiled and glanced at Daisy.

"What are you gonna name her?" She asked. "It's only right that you do so."

"Jay, after her father. I know it sounds 'boyish' but who knows, maybe she'll grow up to be a tomboy." 

"And now she may or may end up just like him." Jordan said jokingly.

Both women laughed and shortly afterwards, Jordan took a glimpse at the window. Dawn had just arrived. 

The afterbirth came quite smoothly, with Jordan disposing of the placenta quickly as she didn't want Daisy to get disgusted by it. 

Daisy, meanwhile, was bonding with the little Jay. She sang lullabies to her as the baby cooed in response. She now wanted to keep Jay so badly, bring her home and introduce her to Pammy. She wanted to raise and care for Jay, teach her how to adapt to a world that treated women as lesser. She wanted to give Jay a better, more accomplished life than she ever had. But, as long as Tom is around, that is simply impossible. The only option was to give Jay away and hope that she'll have a happy life. This weighed on Daisy's soul tremendously as she couldn't bear to let go of Jay yet she had no other choice. She held onto Jay and sobbed. 

Jordan placed her hand on Daisy's shoulder, knowing how truly difficult this was on her.

"We'll give her away tomorrow," Jordan said. "That way you could at least spend a whole day with her."

Daisy looked over at Jordan with reddened, teary eyes. After going through so much emotional turmoil, it was hard to think critically but that didn't mean it wasn't possible. A moment of silence passed before Daisy uttered another word.

"I appreciate the offer, but as hard this will be, it'll become even harder the more time I spend with her. So, we should give her away as soon as possible."

Jordan understood right away. She handed a small blanket to Daisy who bundled Jay in it. Daisy then grabbed the locket from the nightstand and gave it to Jordan. Before she gave the baby to her lover, Daisy held Jay for a little longer, staring directly into her eyes.

"Goodbye, my dear Jay, you'll have another mother that'll love you just as much as I did." She whispered to the girl before planting a soft kiss on her forehead. 

With Jay in her arms, Jordan glanced at Daisy.

"I'll drop her off at a nearby orphanage." 

Daisy silently nodded and Jordan slowly walked out of the room, with the former having one last glimpse at Jay before she was gone forever.

After thirty minutes, Jordan returned with no sign of Jay anywhere. Upon arriving, she immediately hugged Daisy, allowing her to cry into her arms.

The original plan at this stage was for Daisy to come home after a couple hours. However, it was clear to Jordan that Daisy needed some extra time to recover both physically and emotionally. Her body and mind were wrecked.

Once she carried a dozing Daisy off to a couch so that she could change the sheets (and try getting that new mattress as soon as possible as the stains from the birth leaked through the old sheets and entered the current mattress), Jordan dialed Tom's number.

"Jordan, why the hell are you calling me at this hour?" He grumbled.

"Oh, I'm just letting you know that Daisy caught the flu last night. So she'll be staying at my place for a few more days."

"Alright, but she has to be home as soon as she gets even remotely better. She's been gone long enough."

Tom hung up the phone and Jordan scowled at his hypocrisy. She didn't have enough golf clubs to count how many times Daisy ended up sleeping all alone back home. It just proved how reliant Daisy was on her.

For these next few days, Daisy did almost nothing but rest. The only times she did more than sleep and briefly chat with Jordan, was when she continued her promise to call Pammy and when Jordan helped walk her over to her warm baths. 

Daisy wasn't as social and talkative as she used to be. Her heart went numb from the pain of Jay's departure and her cynical outlook on the world descended into pure apathy. Even with sleeping hours on end, she still looked constantly tired and her face became scrawny. Jordan did everything she could to comfort her but Daisy wasn't entirely receptive. 

One night, Jordan huddled close to Daisy whose back was turned on her. She blankly stared at the wall, thinking of nothingness. 

Rather suddenly, she started tearing up.

"I want my baby," She said. "I miss her so much and I can't take it anymore."

Her tears turned into full blown wails and Jordan cradled her in her arms, resting Daisy's head on her chest.

"Shhh, it's alright, Daisy, it's alright." Jordan whispered. "It was the right choice. That was the best thing you did for her."

Daisy's sorrow for her little girl had become that of the grief a parent would have for their deceased child. She was essentially mourning Jay even though she was still alive and well. 

She spent the rest of that night sobbing into Jordan's arms until she fell asleep.

Two days later, Daisy was now prepared to head back home. Jordan helped her get dressed, styling her hair and putting a fur coat on her. Despite already giving birth, her body was still bloated, so she must keep hiding it.

Jordan took Daisy to her car and drove to her house. While Jordan stuck by her side, Daisy had to guide herself to the door as she couldn't risk getting caught holding hands with her in a more open place.

Upon opening the door, Daisy heard a young, familiar voice call out for her.

"Mommy! You're back!" 

Pammy eagerly rushed towards Daisy and hugged her tightly.

"I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too, sweetie." 

For the first time in a while, Daisy felt genuine joy upon seeing Pammy after so long. It was far from replacing the pain but she now became more devoted towards her firstborn child.

She can't bear to lose another daughter after all.

"Heya, Pammy," Jordan greeted, catching Pammy's attention.

"Hi Aunt Jordan! you're here too! How was the golf torra-meant?"

"Tournament. It was good but I got fourth place."

"Oh no, I hope you win next time."

"I sure will try." 

Daisy picked up Pammy and went to the latter's room. She sat down at the rocking chair with Pammy in her lap.

"Pammy, dear, I want you to know how much I love you," She spoke softly. "I want you to know how much I want you to be happy. How much I want you to be satisfied with your life. How much I want you to be more than a beautiful little fool."

Daisy held Pammy in a loving embrace, rocking back and forth in the chair. 

Pammy herself was confused about her mother's behavior, but she didn't question it that much. She knew instantly that her mother was just expressing her love to her. 

With her remaining daughter in her arms, Daisy found some peace for once.

She still had a little girl to look over.

It's been five years since Jay Gatsby's death.

It's a sunny day in 1927 and Pammy is now 8-years-old. She's a curious and intelligent child, often exploring her surroundings and finding wonder in them. Daisy and Jordan go on daily walks with her to satisfy her wanderlust.

Down the busy streets in Chicago, a little girl around four years younger bumped into Pammy. She almost fell but Daisy caught her.

The girl had messy, short blonde hair and round blue eyes and was dressed in overalls. She was wearing something around her neck though Daisy initially didn't get a good look at it. From a distance you would've mistaken her for a short boy. 

"Jay, watch where you're going!" A middle-aged woman called out.

Daisy was caught off guard by that name. It's not every day you find a young girl named Jay.

But is it really her ?

The young girl's parents came over. The mother had her curly brown hair in a ponytail while the father had a noticeable gut and a leather satchel over his shoulder. Both were wearing modest, plain clothes that would've passed as worker outfits.

"We're so sorry about that," The girl's mother apologized toward Daisy. "Our kiddo's rowdy but she means well." 

"It's okay, don't worry about it." Daisy responded politely. 

The father nudged the girl to apologize to Pammy as well.

"Sorry, um, I'll give you something to make up for it." 

The girl pulled out a five dollar bill from her pocket and gave it to Pammy.

"Oh, I appreciate the sentiment but we're well off already. We don't need more money." Daisy said.

Pammy handed the dollar back to the girl. Meanwhile, Jordan was smirking the entire time as she found the situation to be amusing. 

"Jay, that's your name, right?" Pammy asked.

"Uh-huh." 

"I'm not sure why, but there's something about you that makes me want to be friends with you. My name is Pammy by the way."

The girl giggled in excitement.

"Nice. Can I tell you about my dream?" 

"Sure!"

"I wanna be the richest girl ever. I wanna do all of these cool things I heard that rich people do like having parties and stuff."

That awfully sounded a lot like Gatsby. It nudged Daisy to look at whatever the girl was wearing around her neck.

And there it was.

That bronze, heart-shaped locket. 

It was the very child that Daisy had given up so long ago. A few tears ran down her eyes but she quickly swept them away before anyone could see them. Jordan spotted the locket and made the same realization, holding Daisy's arm to support her.

And by the looks of it, that girl shared the same dreams of fortune her father had. 

Like father, like daughter.

Jay's adoptive parents laughed.

"We ain't poor," The father said. "We're just your typical middle class. But our Jay, when not rolling in mud, has shown to be quite ambitious as you have seen." 

Pammy and Jay talked more and more. Right off the bat, they connected and became fast friends, unaware that they were sisters from the same womb. 

Around the end of their conversation, Jay's adoptive mother had to tell her that they had to get going soon.

"Wait!" Jay said. "Pammy, wanna be pen pals? I wanna talk to you again!"

Jay pulled out a folded sheet of paper and gave it to Pammy. Upon opening it, it had her address written on it.

"I always ask new friends if they wanna be pen pals. But no one has given me a letter."

Pammy turned to her mother.

"Mom, can I write letters to Jay?"

Daisy couldn't believe it.

This was an opportunity for her to be able to connect with her lost daughter after so long in some form and the best part is, Pammy would get to know her sister. It would be foolish of her to pass it up.

"Of course, dear." 

Pammy then returned to Jay.

"Yes!"

"Yay!" Jay exclaimed.

"Well, we better get going, Mrs…" The mother didn't know Daisy's name.

"Buchanan." 

"Oh! It was nice meeting you, Mrs. Buchanan. Have a good day!"

"You too!"

Jay's family walked away, with the father telling the mother it was indeed that Buchanan. 

Daisy, meanwhile, was tempted to call out towards Jay. But she didn't as Jay was accompanied by a family that was caring for her. Instead, she told Pammy not to lose the address that Jay had given to her.

Jordan then gently elbowed Daisy.

"Certainly wasn't what I expected. I'm sure you still miss her and now she's gonna be pen buddies with Pam." 

"I wasn't expecting this either."

As Daisy watched Jay head off into the distance, memories of her time with Gatsby came flooding in. From their first meeting at Camp Taylor ten years ago to that reunion at Nick Carraway's house, Gatsby bringing her to his mansion and throwing his beautiful shirts toward her, that heated argument he had with Tom at the Plaza Hotel and when he tried taking the wheel from her and activated the emergency brakes as Myrtle jumped in front of his car. 

Gatsby was most certainly a complex man full of flaws and dreams. Yet, he didn't deserve to die.

But now, a part of him will live on.

A part of him that Daisy had yearned to see again.