A/N: Hey there, this is my first fic that I have written and it's been written with Zoe. You're amazing hun, thank you for convincing me to write. :)
It's a PADDISON fic. Please R&R.
Disclaimer: We don't own them.
Enjoy.
Addison stood with a sleeping three year old Scarlet in her arms as she knocked on Emily's door. The door opened and revealed Emily with a surprised look on hear face. "Addison? What happened? What are you doing here?"
"I need to get away from him." She tried not to let the tears fall.
Emily didn't need to question any further. "Oh honey, just come in, it's cold out there."
Addison stepped in and held Scarlet close. "I'm sorry, I didn't know where else to go."
"Don't worry Addi, you know you're always welcome here. Just sit down on the couch and tell me what he did."
She nodded and walked into the lounge, sitting down on the couch and hugging Scarlet close still. "He…he…he tried to hit Scarlet." Tears rolled down her cheeks. Emily didn't know what to say. She knew that life hadn't always been easy for Addison since she started dating Daniel, but she never thought that he'd go this far. "I had to leave." Addison placed a kiss on her daughter's hair.
"God, Addison I am so sorry. How long did you have to put up with that? Was it a one off thing or did he hurt you and Scarlet regularly?"
"He'd never touched Scarlet before, never tried to, he'd hit me though, whenever he felt like it, I wouldn't let him touch her."
"If I only knew, I never thought that Daniel... our Daniel… that he would be able to do something like that..."
"He was so sweet at first, then I fell pregnant with Scarlet and it couldn't be better, then when she was about six months old, he started to get jealous and he'd start to hit me."
"I… I always felt like there's something going on between the two of you.. that you weren't happy. But I never felt like I had the right to say something to you, I thought you'd just get over it. Oh, honey I am so, so sorry, that I didn't do anything. You should have come so much earlier!"
"I wanted to." Addison squeezed her eyes shut.
"You can stay here as long as you want. The guestroom is free and I think I even have an old bed for Scarlet if you want to."
"Thank you, I have some bags in the car, I packed them while he was out."
"I'll just help you get them in and then we can put Scarlet to sleep. She has to be exhausted." Addison just nodded and ran a hand through Scarlet's red curls. "He will never ever get near to either one of you two." Emily stated before getting up to get Addison's bags from the car. Addison stood up as well, keeping Scarlet securely in her arms. Emily reached for her coat and opened the door, it was still raining. "Is it much? Maybe you just give me your key and I'll get everything in for you... just make yourself comfortable in the meantime."
"Okay." Addison handed Emily the keys to her car. "Thank you so much."
"You don't have to thank me Addi." Emily said as she left and went out in the rain to Addison's car.
"I'm so sorry baby." Addison whispered into Scarlet's hair as she slept. "I should have left sooner." Emily got Addison's bags and returned quickly. "Thank you Emily." Addison smiled at her as she returned.
"You're welcome honey. I can take Scarlet if you want to get ready for bed or something if you want. You have to be tired, just go to sleep and we can talk tomorrow if you want to. Don't worry. You're safe here." Emily said as she pulled Addison into a soft hug.
"I don't want to let go of her." She whispered. Emily nodded appreciatively and guided Addison and her daughter upstairs to the guestroom. "Thank you so much." Addison gave her a small smile.
"I'll leave you alone now. Don't hesitate to tell me if there's anything you need."
"Okay." Addison pushed open the door and walked into the guestroom.
Scarlet started stirring in her mother's arms as soon as Addison sat down on the bed. Slowly she opened her eyes, blinking through the light. "Mommy?"
"It's okay sweetie, I'm here." Addison kissed the top of her daughter's head.
"Mommy, I... I don't want to go back to daddy."
"It's okay sweetie, we're not going to, I'm not going to let him try to hurt you again."
"Mhm.." She murmured half-asleep again, as she cuddled her head into her mother's chest.
"Just go to sleep sweetie." Addison carefully changed Scarlet into her pyjamas and placed her in the big double bed, before she changed into her own pyjamas and slipped in, pulling Scarlet close and closing her eyes.
--
Slowly Addison awoke the next morning and pulled Scarlet close to her. Scarlet cuddled into her mother's chest, opening her eyes slowly. "Mommy, where are we?"
"We're at Emily's sweetie." Addison ran a hand over Scarlet's curls.
"I'm hungry Mommy."
"Shall we go get some breakfast then?"
"Mhm.. ." She answered, still half-asleep. Addison smiled before standing up and pulling Scarlet into her arms, before leaving the room and heading to the kitchen.
Emily was already awake, making some coffee for her and Addison. "Hey." Addison smiled at her as she entered the kitchen, with a sleepy Scarlet on her hip.
"Morning you two, want some breakfast?"
"Yeah, thank you."
Emily smiled warmly as she poured Addison a cup of coffee and took two plates out of the cupboard. "You have to be hungry, what do you want?"
"I don't mind, what do you want sweetie?" Addison looked down at Scarlet.
"Pancakes…" She mumbled.
"So how did you two sleep?" Emily asked while she started making some pancakes for her guests.
"Okay thanks." Addison smiled and sat down.
Emily had so many questions in her mind she needed to ask Addison. But she could only imagine how terrible she must feel after what she had been through and she didn't want to scare her even more. She knew she needed to wait until Addison was ready to talk about everything. "So, here you are." She said handing Addison the pancakes.
"Thanks." She smiled. "Come on sweetie, you need to move off mommy's lap now." Scarlet shook her head and snuggled closer to Addison.
"Are you working today Addi or do you have the day of or something?"
"I'm not going to go in for a while, I don't want to leave Scarlet."
"Yeah of course." Emily nodded as she took a seat next to Addison and Scarlet.
"Thanks for letting us stay." Addison smiled and cut a piece of pancake for Scarlet who ate it.
"Addi you know you don't have to thank me."
"But I do."
"Addi, do... do you have some, you know, kind of... plan or something?"
"Not really." She shook her head. "Just to get the hell away from him."
"You can stay here as long as you want. And if... if you want to talk or something I'm... I'm here for you."
"Thank you." Addison smiled.
--
Addison looked out of the lounge window and gasped. "No, no, this can't be happening." She quickly picked up Scarlet from the floor.
"What are we doing Mommy?" Scarlet asked surprised.
"Hiding from daddy." Addison looked at Emily scared.
"He's here?!" Emily was shocked and pointed towards the stairs. "Take Scarlet into the bathroom and lock the door. I'll talk to him." Addison nodded and ran up the stairs, locking them in the bathroom.
Emily tried to calm herself down as she heard a loud know on the door. "Let me in!" Daniel yelled.
"I'm coming." Emily shouted. "Daniel." She said as she reached the door. "What's the matter?"
"Where is she?! She has my daughter! She has no right to take her from me!" He pushed into the house. "Addison?!"
"Addison? What are you talking about Daniel?"
"I know she's here!"
"Daniel calm down, I have no idea what you are talking about!"
"Addison! She's left and taken Scarlet with her!"
"I am sorry Daniel but I haven't seen her."
"I know she's here!" He hissed and looked around.
"Why… why did she even leave?", Emily stammered trying to start a conversation.
"How the fuck am I meant to know?! I just want my daughter!"
"Daniel calm down. I don't know where she is."
"She's here." He turned towards the stairs.
"Daniel she is not. What are you doing?"
"Looking for her!" He reached the top of the stairs.
"Daniel please just calm down, why should she be just here?
"I don't know! All I want is my daughter back!" He pushed open a door.
"Daniel I told you she is not here! Can you stop scanning my house please?!"
He grunted and moved back down the stairs. "Fine! But if you see her, tell her I want my daughter back! She has no right to take her from me!"
"I... I don't know what happened, but I, I'll tell her if I see her." He mumbled something before he left. Emily exhaled relieved as she closed the door behind him and made her way up the stairs again to her bathroom.
Addison stood inside holding Scarlet close to her. "Addison?" Emily whispered as she knocked on the bathroom door. "It's okay, he's gone." Slowly Addison unlocked the door and looked at Emily. "It's okay, he left. And I don't think he will come here again anytime soon."
She nodded. "He wants Scarlet doesn't he?"
"Yeah."
"He's not taking her."
"He won't take her away Addi, you two are safe here. He has absolutely no rights to take her from you after all he did."
Addison just nodded. "Is daddy going to take me mommy?" Scarlet looked up with scared eyes.
"No sweetie, I'm not letting him near you again."
Emily stroked Scarlet's hair compassionately, feeling sorry for what the little girl has been through. "So, I started making dinner earlier. Are you hungry?"
"Not really, but we should eat."
Emily nodded and made her way down the stairs again towards the kitchen. "Did you tell anyone where you are Addison? Because if you didn't, I think people will start to get worried sooner or later."
"I don't want him finding me."
"Yeah I know and I really don't want to push you. I was just wondering... maybe you should notify the police or something."
Addison shook her head. "I just want to get away."
"Yeah," Emily nodded. "That's probably enough for now."
"I suppose I could go back to my parents."
"Oh no, I didn't mean it that way Addi. Stay here as long as you want. Please." She nodded and looked down at Scarlet. Emily quietly laid the table and took a seat next to Addison.
"Why did he have to pick me?"
"What do you mean honey?"
"Why did Daniel choose me?"
"I... I don't think that he planned on doing that when you two got together." Addison just nodded again. "I've know Daniel since he was born. I've been friends with his parents since ever. I never thought that he would be able to do something like that. I know he has a tough job and life gets complicated when you become parents. But that's... how could he do that?" Emily asked more to herself than Addison.
"I thought he was the perfect guy, I thought he was the one for me."
"Yeah, but maybe just everything went too fast for him... for both of you. You didn't know each other that long when you got pregnant. And once there's a child... it sometimes happens that conscientiousness wins over love."
"Then if it wasn't something he wanted he should have said."
"I think something like that, the reason why he did that to you… this reason lays deeper. Maybe even into his childhood. That's what it makes it so hard for me to believe. I don't what caused his doings. People who do something like that have serious problems."
"I just never want to see him again."
"Yeah."
"Mommy, I'm hungry."
"Oh right, the dinner. Sorry honey." Emily said as she stood up and took the food out of the oven. Scarlet watched from her mother's lap. "Here you are." Emily said as she handed Scarlet a plate.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome Honey." Emily said as she got herself some food. Scarlet turned to her food. They started eating in silence when a knock on the door broke it. Addison looked up scared. "Just stay here with Scarlet. I'll see who it is." Emily stood up, left the kitchen and closed the door behind her. Addison nodded and held Scarlet close again. Emily opened the door and gasped in surprise as she recognized who was standing in front of her.
"Hey mom." Pete said grinning.
"Pete!" She flung her arms around him. "Why haven't you come to visit before?"
"I wanted to, but I've been pretty busy you know." Pete answered, surprised at his mother's reaction.
"Come in, you must be tired."
"Yeah the flight was pretty exhausting."
"Are you hungry? I've just made dinner."
"Oh yeah dinner would be fine."
"Go on through then."
Pete started walking towards the kitchen as he heard voices from inside. "Do you have guests?" Pete asked surprised as he turned towards his mother.
"Yes, Addison and Scarlet."
"Am I supposed to know them?"
"I've mentioned them a few times on the phone." Emily walked into the kitchen and smiled at Addison. "Addison, this is my son Pete, Pete this is Addison and her daughter Scarlet."
"Hey." Pete said as he shook Addison's hand. "Pleased to meet you."
"Hi." Addison shook his hand back, just looking at him.
"Just take a seat Pete and get yourself some food." Emily said as she handed Pete a plate. Addison watched Pete move around the kitchen. "I don't know if I ever mentioned Pete Addison. He's my only son, he works and lives in L.A. and hasn't been here now for some years. I've visited him every one in while, he's pretty busy." Emily explained smiling.
"Oh, what do you do in L.A. then?"
"I'm a doctor, I do alternative medicine."
"Oh…"
"What work do you do?"
"I'm a neo-natal surgeon."
"Oh..."
"Yes." Addison just looked up at him.
"So we're like in the same branch."
"Medical, yes."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't believe in the whole alternative medicine thing." She shrugged.
"Yeah I thought it would be something like that. Most surgeons tend to dislike it. But have you ever tried it?"
Addison hesitated. "No."
"What makes you dislike it then?"
"It's just like witchcraft in a way."
"It's not witchcraft, it's a different kind of medicine." Pete answered laughing.
"Hmm."
"I can show you sometimes if you want to." He said smiling.
"Show me?" She raised her eyebrows.
Pete laughed. "Yeah alternative medicine, I can prove you that it works and that you should take it serious."
"What would you do?"
"Erm, I'm not sure yet. I'd need to make a short check up. But acupuncture is always good." He said smiling.
"Acupuncture?" She questioned.
"Yeah, you put needles on certain spots on your face for example."
"Needles?" Her eyes widened, she wasn't a huge fan of needles.
"It doesn't hurt."
"Okay…"
"Yeah we can try it sometimes if you want." He smiled.
"Hmm." She nodded slightly. He smiled contently.
"So, how long will you stay Pete?" Emily asked.
"About two weeks I think, if that's okay."
"That's fine." Emily smiled at her son.
"Good. Can I take my stuff in the guestroom then?"
"Your room isn't being used, you can use that one."
"My room? Since when do I sleep in my room when I'm here?"
"Whatever then." Emily shook her head.
"I mean, I can sleep in my room. I was just wondering, because I always stay in the guestroom. But it's okay, if you rather want me to stay in my room."
"Addison is staying in the guestroom."
"Oh." Pete said surprised, looking at Addison. "I... I didn't know that you're staying here."
"Yeah, we are."
"Oh, okay I'll just stay in my room then of course." He said slightly confused. Emily smiled at him. "So, I will just get my stuff from the car then."
"Eat first."
"Of course Mom." He said annoyed, feeling like a teenager again.
"Thank you." Silence settled over them as they ate.
"Wow, looks like the little girl was really hungry." Pete said smiling as he watched Scarlet eating. She nodded her head and her bunches bounced. "How old are you Scarlet?" Pete asked still smiling.
"Three." She replied shyly holding up four fingers.
"You held up four fingers." Pete said, reaching over the table and taking her hand. "That would be three." Scarlet looked at her fingers confused. Pete laughed. Addison smiled and kissed the top of her daughter's head. "I'll take my bags to my room now." Pete said as he finished eating and stood up. "I can help you clean up afterwards."
"No, I'll be okay." Emily assured him. Pete just smiled and left the kitchen.
"Why have I never met your son before?"
"I guess he just didn't visit since I've known you."
"Okay." Addison nodded.
"Mommy, can I watch a film?"
"Of course sweetie."
Emily smiled. "Just make yourself comfortable on the sofa then while I clean up the kitchen."
"Thanks." Addison smiled and stood up, walking into the lounge with Scarlet.