Falling From Grace

AN: This story takes place when Todd and Marty were kids and will have scenes of child abuse. I do not own these characters. The characters belong to ABC's "One Life to Live."

Chapter One

Marty and her aunt Kiki were on their way to the place that Marty had just learned that she would be staying. "I don't understand, why can't I just stay with you?

Aunt Kiki let out a sigh in frustration, "Marty, we've been through this before. You've been to much of a handful and I just can't be expected to clean up your messes any longer, but Mr. Peterson has assured me that you will be very well taken care of."

"As if you care," Marty mumbled under her breath.

"See this is what I'm talking about. You have such a smart mouth for a six year old. You're mother spoiled you rotten. Maybe you'd prefer if I just left you on the side of the road and you can fend for yourself."

"No, I'll be better, I promise."

"You better be. Just remember, little girls who are bad go to Hell."

Marty was silent the rest of the drive. Her aunt was in one of her moods and the little girl knew from experience that her aunt would have no problem deserting her on the side of the road. Marty had fallen asleep when they had pulled up to the mansion on the hill.

"Come on Marty, wake up, you'll be asleep in your new bed soon enough."

Marty rubbed her eyes as she stepped out of her aunt's car and followed her to the door. Marty liked this place already, there was a fog that gave the house and surrounding hills an ominous, but intriguing feel. Marty fantasized about all the adventures she could find at this place. Her aunt kiki's place had been so drab in comparison to this house on the hills.

Aunt Kiki knocked on the door and a dark-haired, tall man answered the door. Marty felt so small in this stranger's presence.

"Come in, you're late," the stranger said.

"Sorry, Marty can be such a handful sometimes, well you'll see soon enough."

The man glared at her aunt, tightened up his fists, and squatted so that he was at the same eyelevel as Marty. "You must be Marty, how terribly rude we are being, talking about you like you're not here."

"That's okay Mr. Peterson, I'm glad to make your acquaintance," Marty said as she curtsied. Aunt Kiki hade made her practice at home and Marty was glad that this was almost over. She couldn't wait until she could take off this uncomfortable dress. Her aunt had made it clear that she needed to make a good impression.

"Call me Michael; you're just as beautiful as I imagined you would be. You have your mother's eyes," Michael said. Marty recognized the pain that had filled his face when he mentioned her mother. She felt connected to him and his pain mirrored that of her own. Her parent's death had manufactured a hole in her heart and it was frustrating that others didn't understand. Her aunt Kiki at times seemed glad that they were dead. She had little patience for Marty's grief and even went so far to dismiss it. She had often told Marty to get over it when the little girl would call out for her mother. "You knew my mother?"Marty asked.

"Yeah, I knew her well. Come on in, you can sit on this couch, while your aunt and I discuss some business," Michael said as he pointed to a couch in the living room.

Marty sat down on the couch as Michael pulled her aunt in the next room. Michael shut the door to the foyer behind him; he didn't want Marty to hear the things that he had to say.

"You got my money?" Kiki asked.

"Yeah I got your money you filthy whore, not that a piece of trash like you deserves it" Michael said as he got close to Kiki's face. How much did you have to drink tonight before getting in a car with her?

"I haven't had a drink tonight."

"Oh give me a break; you reek of the alcohol that you didn't drink.

"I didn't come here to get lectured, I came here to give you Marty in exchange for the five million you promised me, but if you don't want her, I'll take her and go." Michael walked to the desk and pulled out a envelope and handed it to Kiki."A deals a deal, but if you come anywhere near her again, I'll break your neck."

"Then the brats all yours," Kiki said as she walked out of the foyer. Marty saw her aunt leave without saying goodbye.

Michael came out of the foyer and sat down by Marty. "You guys were loud."

"Did you overhear us fighting?"

"Were you fighting over me?"

No, we weren't fighting; I just wish that she took better care of you."

"Oh."

"Marty,I need to talk you about something important. Do you know how to play make-believe?"

"Yeah."

"That's good, I need you to go by the name of Michelle while you stay with me and to tell others that I am your uncle. Can you do that for me?"

"Why?"

"cause if you don't they will take you away from here and I won't be able to take care of you. You don't want to end up in an orphanage where you will be all alone, do you?

"No. I don't want to be by myself."

"Okay, well I want to take care of you and make sure that you never end up that way, but in order to do that, I need you to help me by pretending to be my niece Michelle. Can you do that," Michael asked. Michael was a psychiatrist and he knew exactly how to play on Marty's fear of abandonment until she agreed to keep her identity a secret and to change her name to Michelle.

Once he had Marty's promise that she would go by the name of Michelle, he walked her up the stairs and showed her to her new bedroom.